Speaker gives parties 3 days to resolve issues
As the row between the ruling and opposition parties over the constitution amendment bill deepens, Speaker Onasari Gharti has renewed her call to the major forces to resolve the issues in three days.
Syria conflict: Russia-Turkey brokered truce comes into force
A nationwide ceasefire between Syrian government forces and rebel groups has come into effect.
'Threats' made to Sydney's New Year's Eve
Australian anti-terror police have charged a man for making threats against Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations.
Two policemen hurt in firing at Nepal-India border
Two police personnel sustained gunshot wounds after an unidentified gunman shot at them near Nepal-India border at Krishnanagar in Kapilvastu on Thursday.
Voting begins for Integrity Idol award
Five high performing civil servants have been shortlisted for the Integrity Idol 2016 award.
Water woes
Water storage projects are necessary to tackle the approaching water crisis in South Asia
YAN central member injured in Khukuri attack
Ten days after CPN-UML-affiliated Youth Association Nepal (YAN) Rupandehi chapter Chairman Durga Tiwari was shot dead, YAN Central member Santosh Budathoki was attacked by a group of unidentified assailants in Kohalpur, Banke on Thursday night.
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HOLMEN Edward K. Tunks Jr., 71, of Holmen passed away with his loving wife, Carol, by his side Tuesday, Dec. 27, 2016, at Gundersen Health System, following a long battle with COPD.
He was born Jan. 16, 1945, in Ada, Minn., to Edward and Mae (Hall) Tunks, Sr. Ed was a Vietnam War veteran having served his country in the Navy from July of 1963, until his discharge in July of 1967. He then served two years in the U.S. Navy Reserve.
On May 24, 1986, he married Carol A. Taylor in La Crosse. Ed and Carol met at a dance and continued to enjoy dancing with one another for as long as Eds health would allow them. Ed worked as an independent truck driver in his earlier years, and later as a dump truck driver for Harter Trucking, for many years. He was a perfectionist who enjoyed woodworking and just putzing around in his garage.
Ed was the love of Carols life and someday they will dance together again in heaven. Ed was a very kind and thoughtful man who loved all kinds of animals.
In addition to his wife, Carol of Holmen; he is survived by a daughter, Tammera Tunks of Janesville, Wis.; four grandchildren, Melissa (Adam) Runice, Jonathon Bankes, Tyler Bankes and Zachery Bankes; four great-grandchildren; a sister, Diane (Randy) Tadych of Evansville, Wis. He was preceded in death by his parents; a brother, Lawrence Tunks; and a sister, Sylvia Brewer.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Friday, Dec. 30, at the Schumacher-Kish Funeral and Cremation Services, 200 West Ave., S., La Crosse. Pastor Ted Dewald will officiate. Burial with military honors will follow in Mormon Coulee Memorial Park Cemetery. Visitation will be held from 9:30 a.m. until the time of services Friday at the funeral home.
Online condolences may be left at www.schumacher-kish.com.
Eds family would like to thank the 3rd and 6th floor staff at Gundersen Health System, for their excellent care. They were very kind and helpful.
If sitting around and staring at a hole in the ice doesnt fit with your idea of fishing, take heart theres an open-water alternative even in the coldest part of the year.
Winter trout fishing opens Sunday and continues through April 7 on about 750 miles of trout water in southeast Minnesota.
Fed by groundwater, many streams there remain relatively ice-free all winter, and the trout living in these streams more often than not cooperate with anglers to provide excellent winter fishing opportunities, said Vaughn Snook, Lanesboro area assistant fisheries supervisor with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources.
The winter southeast stream season is catch-and-release only, and it applies to all designated trout streams in Dodge, Fillmore, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Wabasha and Winona counties.
Winter trout fishing may require the angler to experiment with different tactics, Snook said. As water temperatures drop, so does fish activity. Anglers may want to carry a thermometer with them. Fish are most active at temperatures of 38 degrees and above.
Other tips that could increase an anglers success:
Fish slow and deep; trout are most often out of the main current flow.
When fly fishing, effective patterns include scuds, midge pupa/larva, and small pheasant tail nymphs. Fly anglers should watch for midge hatches that can increase trout feeding activity.
For spinning and spincasting equipment, keep your reel cranking by using a Teflon lubricant thats not affected by cold. Single hooks on spinners help keep fish handling to a minimum. Clipping one hook off of a treble also helps.
With winter trout waters often crystal clear, trout grow wary, so keep a low profile. Its often best to stay out of the water.
Look for springs flowing into streams, where the water often is warmer. Ground water is typically around 48 degrees Fahrenheit.
While the trout are willing to bite, the weather can bite as well this time of the year, so Snook advises people to make safety a priority when fishing open water in the winter. Dont take any chances with shelf ice that may form along stream banks. If you stay dry, youll stay warm. Let someone know what youre up to and where you are going.
Its a good bet that Chris Johnsons mom, Beth, isnt interested in reliving a New Years Eve party she attended as a college student in Decorah, Iowa, 30 years ago today.
But Johnson himself is jazzed about revisiting the place where she ended up that night and he spent the first three months of his life.
So stoked, in fact, that Johnson is traveling about 225 miles from his home in St. Cloud, Minn., this weekend to tour Gundersen Health Systems La Crosse hospital, where he was the first baby of 1987 back when the facilitys name was simply Lutheran Hospital.
Johnsons reason for the visit is simple, as he explains: Just being the 30th (birthday), and it was pretty dramatic.
The drama revolved around the fact that Johnson was born via an emergency cesarean section, 11 weeks premature and tipping the scales at 2 pounds, 3 ounces. Beth had become sick during a New Years Eve party and diagnosed as having acute toxemia at a Decorah hospital, requiring her transfer to Lutheran in La Crosse.
The birth also was a momentous one for Dr. Charles Schauberger, the on-call ob/gyn that day.
For some reason, I remember the delivery, Schauberger said in an interview this week. I have no reason to, but I do. The mother was a student in Decorah who had complications and was admitted with an eclamptic seizure. The parents were nice college students.
Johnsons interest in spending part of his birthday in the hospital where he was born albeit a markedly different facility amazed Schauberger and nurses, the physician said.
Even more surprising is that I remember his name, Schauberger said with a laugh. After 4,000 or 5,000 deliveries, you lose track.
Johnsons birth occurred just days after the hospital opened a new labor and delivery unit, dubbed the New Life Family Center, Schauberger recalled.
It was way ahead of every unit in the country in design, he said. It was beautiful for the marketing department to show off as a family-friendly facility with six birthing rooms.
I found it ironic that we were trying to emphasize our low-risk, beautiful labor and delivery, but darned if the first baby of the new year wasnt a very high-risk delivery, he said.
Even with the marketing people all lined up, the babys arrival time and circumstances dictate the story line, Schauberger said.
Im thankful that both my mother and I survived, said Johnson, who recalls stories his parents have told him of the newly built NICU. Her initial condition was pretty extreme.
Johnson was in a dicey condition as well, he acknowledged, adding, They threatened me with heart surgery if my heart valve had not opened. I remained in the hospital for three months until I got to full weight.
His parents, Beth and Troy, went back to Decorah to finish their studies, but they made the 60-mile trek back to check on their son as often as they could, he said.
After the Johnsons graduated from college, the family lived in several cities, including Columbus, Neb., and Lindenhurst, Ill., in connection with Troys job with the Boy Scouts of America, Chris said. Eventually, they moved to Madison, Ohio, where the couple still live.
Johnson has not suffered any lasting effects from his premature arrival, he said.
Im all OK, he said, noting that he served 6 years in the U.S. Navy, including three years aboard the USS Lake Erie, a guided-missile cruiser, and two years stationed on the USS Decatur, a destroyer.
He is studying electrical engineering in St. Cloud, where he also works part-time in security and is a member of the Navy Reserves.
Ive always been interested in electrical engineering, and Im good at math, he said. I also was a weapons tech in the Navy, and that was helpful.
When Johnson, perhaps accompanied by his fiancee, arrives at Gundersens front desk to begin his tour, he will find things a lot different than he would have when he arrived 30 years ago even if he had been in a position to scope the landscape.
For one thing, nurses who will guide Johnson through the NICU will require him to scrub in for three full minutes before he can enter the unit, said Heather Gilles, associate development director at Childrens Miracle Network, a service of the Gundersen Medical Foundation, who coordinated the visit.
Its not that Johnson is under suspicion as a petri dish of bacteria but rather that everyone entering the unit must follow that protocol during flu season.
The venue also has undergone a sea change, Gilles said, adding, When he was here 30 years ago, he was in a unit that has been torn down and the new hospital is there.
The nurses and, perhaps, Schauberger, will be able to explain the evolution of Lutheran Hospital into Gundersen Lutheran Medical Center and, now, Gundersen Health System.
Thats his mission, to see the hospital, Gilles said. CMN helped him and his mom a lot.
I found it ironic that we were trying to emphasize our low-risk, beautiful labor and delivery, but darned if the first baby of the new year wasnt a very high-risk delivery. Dr. Charles Schauberger
A Democratic National Committeeman from Wisconsin, Jason Rae, has launched a bid for committee secretary, which would make him a leader of the national party after a disastrous 2016 election for Democrats nationally and in the Badger State.
Rae is challenging the incumbent DNC secretary, former Baltimore Mayor Stephanie Rawlings-Blake, who has said she is seeking re-election. Wyoming Democratic Chairwoman Ana Cuprill also is running.
Rae, a Milwaukee political consultant, said in a statement at his website that he's running to "increase transparency about DNC business."
In an interview with the Wisconsin State Journal, Rae said the issue of transparency surfaced during the Democratic presidential primary, which he said left the party divided.
"A lot of people felt it was a tainted process," Rae said.
Rae, 30, also said he sees value in electing DNC leaders from swing states such as Wisconsin, which voted Democratic in every presidential election since 1988 before supporting President-elect Donald Trump this time. Adding younger leaders also will help diversify the party, Rae said.
"I really want to make sure that this next generation is represented in our leadership," Rae said.
DNC members will hold leadership elections the weekend of Feb. 23-26. The highest-profile race will be the one for DNC chairperson, for which the candidates include Congressman Keith Ellison of Minnesota, U.S. Labor Secretary Tom Perez and others.
In 2004, Rae became the youngest-ever member of the Democratic National Committee when he was elected at 17. Rae has been re-elected to the committee three times since.
Rae ran for Democratic Party of Wisconsin chairman in 2015 but lost to the current party chairwoman, Martha Laning.
The La Crosse Area YMCA is seeking last-minute donations to close out its Annual Campaign with a bang. The 2016 fundraiser is on track to carry record funds into the new year, but $17,000 is still needed to complete an ambitious $800,000 goal.
The Annual Campaign, the YMCAs largest fundraiser, seeks an 18.5 percent increase from 2015s total of $675,000. As of Thursday, the organization was just 3 percent short, and mission advancement director Amy Holte is hopeful the YMCA can close the gap by midnight Saturday.
Because of the growing needs of the community, we needed to raise our goal, Holte said. The donations help fund our outreach programs and financial assistance for our classes. We want to make sure the Y is affordable for everyone.
About one in four of the YMCAs 22,000 local members receives some kind of financial aid, and resources such as the Teen Center, which offers free arts, leadership and healthy lifestyle programs, are supported entirely by donations. The campaign also benefits the LIVESTRONG cancer survivor program, a 12-week session focused on regaining strength and restoring emotional well being.
The campaign has an enormous impact on making the Y an experience everyone can be a part of, Holte said. Not just for low income families but for people with chronic diseases or with spouses in the military who are maybe living on one income and need some temporary assistance.
Donations of all amounts make a difference: $50 covers swim lessons for one child, $150 lets a team of children with special needs participate in Miracle League sports, and $1,000 provides a year of after school child care.
Through all these little programs were really reaching out to the people who need it most, Holte said.
Donations for the annual campaign can be made online or dropped off or mailed to the Dahl Family YMCA, 1140 Main St.
Here is a listing of the top 10 weather and climate events for 2016 in the NWS La Crosse Warning and Forecast Area. This includes areas of southeast Minnesota, northeast Iowa, and southwest/central Wisconsin.
This listing is the result of voting (33) among NWS La Crosse staff members, Emergency Management Directors, and members of the media.
Climate related data and numerous images courtesy of the Midwestern Regional Climate Center (http://mcc.sws.uiuc.edu/) and National Centers for Environmental Information.
Honorable Mention: One of the Warmest Year on Record
In addition to being one of the wettest years on record (see below), 2016 went down into the record books as the 4th warmest year on record for La Crosse, WI (50.9 deg F) and the 5th warmest ever for Rochester, MN (47.4 deg F). (Data is through Dec.29th) Most locations saw their warmest Fall season on record as well.
10. Aug. 4 Damaging Wind
Several clusters of strong to severe thunderstorms impacted parts of the area on Thursday, Aug. 4. During the afternoon and into the early evening, severe storms produced wind gusts up to 70 mph and torrential rains. Most of the wind damage was across west central Wisconsin and northeast Iowa. 1-2 inches per hour rainfall rates were common with the storms, resulting in urban flooding.
This severe weather event is documented at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/aug0416
9. Sept. 6-7 Severe Weather
Severe thunderstorms brought large hail, damaging wind, funnel clouds, flooding, and at least 1 brief tornado to the region. The largest hail reached 2 inches in the Black River Falls, Wis., area, while a brief tornado or two briefly touched down near Cresco, Iowa. To make matters worse, 4 to 7 inches of rain fell later that night which led to river and flash flooding, which led into even more significant flooding a few days later.
There were eight warnings issued by the La Crosse NWS Office.
This severe weather event is documented at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/sep0616
8. Feb. 2 (Ground Hog's Day Winter Storm)
A winter storm moved through the region on Feb. 2. Snow spread across Iowa early that morning, with the heavy snow reaching the Interstate 90 corridor mid- to late morning. Snowfall rates of 2 inches per hour were common during the peak, which led to snow covered roads very quickly. Hazardous travel conditions developed shortly after snow onset.
Snowfall totaled 5 to 9 inches for most areas and with winds of 35 to 45 mph, there was also significant blowing and drifting. Nearly all schools were closed on Feb. 2.
A full summary of the storm can be found at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/feb0216
7. March 23-24 Winter Storm
An early spring storm brought a mixture of precipitation types ranging from thunderstorms to heavy snow. A band of snow of 8 to 13 inches fell from northwest Iowa, across southeast Minnesota and through central Wisconsin. Freezing rain left 1/4 to 1/2 inch of ice in some areas, leading to damaged branches and downed power lines.
A full summary of the storm can be found at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/mar2316
6. Aug. 11 Heavy Rain/Flooding
The first of many significant flooding episodes struck parts of southeast Minnesota and west central Wisconsin during the early morning hours of Aug. 11. Four to 8 inches of rain fell over a several county area leading to flash flooding and mudslides.
All the rain and associated flooding caused extensive damage to many area highways and secondary roads, including damage to culverts and bridges. Gaps in roads formed from all the washouts and many roads were closed. There were even rescues and towns that became "islands" surrounded by rising waters.
A full summary of the Aug. 11 Flash Flooding can be viewed at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/aug1116
5. Late Freeze in May
A late freeze in mid May (May 13-18, 2016) proved to be one of the latest first freezes on record, which caused significant damage to area fruit crops, including vineyards and fruit trees.
Crop loss was well into the Millions of dollars and ranged from 30% to as much as 90%, depending on location. This resulted in USDA disaster declaration, especially in western Wisconsin.
4. July 5 Damaging Wind/Tornadoes
A line of intense thunderstorms moved across southeast Minnesota into western Wisconsin on July 5, producing sporadic wind damage and at least four tornadoes. The tornadoes were all small and mainly damaged small buildings and trees. In addition, there were numerous reports of wind gusts in the 60-70 mph range, including a 68 mph wind gust at the La Crosse Regional Airport.
There were 13 warnings issued by the La Crosse NWS office that day.
A full summary of the July 5 Severe Weather event can be viewed at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/jul0516
3. Aug. 23-24 Flooding
Thunderstorms that kept reforming near the Minnesota-Iowa state line produced 5 to 8 inches of rain from the evening of Tuesday, Aug. 23, through the early morning hours of Wednesday, Aug. 24. This led to widespread flooding, especially across northeast Iowa into southwest Wisconsin. There were numerous road closures, water rescues, and homes inundated by flood waters. One man was killed in rural Chickasaw County, Iowa, when his car was swept away by flood waters north of Lawler.
Rivers were also impacted with record flooding observed along the upper parts of the Turkey River and along the Upper Iowa River in northeast Iowa.
A full summary of the Aug. 23-24 flooding can be viewed at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/aug2416
2. Record Annual Precipitation
Numerous communities across northeast Iowa, southeast Minnesota, and into southwest Wisconsin experienced above normal rainfall from late June into September. This was one of the factors why the region experienced so many significant flooding events in August and September 2016.
1. Sept. 20-22 Heavy Rain and Flooding
Several days of thunderstorms produced rainfall of 3-7 inches, and in some areas 9-11 inches were reported. Combined with above normal rainfall the previous couple months, runoff was extreme and led to significant flash flooding, mudslides, and subsequent river flooding around the region. Nearly all rivers in the area crested at Moderate to Major flood stage.
Many areas, including much of northeast Iowa into southwest Wisconsin, were declared Federal Disaster areas with widespread damage to infrastructure (roads, bridges), crops, homes, and businesses. There were two fatalities in our service area, both in Vernon County, Wis. This included a mudslide that killed a man when it slide through his home, and a man who drove his truck into flood waters.
A full summary of the Sept. 20-22 heavy rain and flooding can be viewed at: http://www.weather.gov/arx/sep2116
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The New York Post took a jab at 90s icon Brendan Fraser on Wednesday when it published a piece with the headline Fans trying to save Brendan Frasers career need a hobby.
As noted by the Post, the mission to revive Frasers career has now become A Thing on the internet, especially after it was announced that Tom Cruise will star in a reboot of The Mummy, snatching the starring role that Fraser had formerly occupied (as the stout Rick OConnell) when the action movie first came out in 1999. Fraser would reprise the role in two proper sequels. When asked on the radio program SwaysUniverse why he wasn't in the reboot, Fraser said that he was busy raising his kids, adding that he's also "got a horse" to mind.
The revived fanfare was also partly inspired by a December interview that Fraser did at AOL headquarters, which made some fans concerned about the actors well-being. Some viewers believed that Fraser, speaking on his recent role in the Showtime series The Affair, appeared to be a little out of sorts. He does, indeed, speak in a gruff and quiet tonea departure from the confident, magnanimous personality that millennials have come to cherish.
The fervor over Fraser has manifested itself in many forms. Theres a whole SAVEBRENDAN subreddit, for instance, thats devoted to rejuvenating the career of the Encino Man. In a post titled Our Current Plan, an admin lays out the groups mission statement:
First of all I propose a Twitter, Facebook, and Google+ campaign (among other sectors of the social media sphere) and lobby Directors, Producers, absolutely anyone involved with tv or film production into giving our man Brendan a good solid role that he deserves.
Redditors had also given birth to a gaggle of hashtags that include #SaveBrendanFraser, #savebrendan, #dontforgetbrendan, and the very unwieldy #dontputtheerasertothefraser. This has led to an uptick in Fraser activity on Twitter, with many fans espousing their admiration of the actor:
Two movies no one ever mentions is 'Blast from the past' & 'Airheads' great and funny classics. #SaveBrendanFraser DakovP (@Deltapie7) December 23, 2016
The support for Brendan Fraser over the last 24 hours is amazing, hope he knows so many people are wishing him well #SaveBrendanFraser Charlie (@MoistCr1TiKaL) December 18, 2016
Theres also a Change.org petition that has garnered over 34,000 signatures (it has set a goal of 35,000). The signees aim is to call on all networks to please consider Brendan for any upcoming shows/movies that are planned. It even wades into some serious territory, noting that Fraser had petitioned the courts in 2013 to reduce his alimony (he was divorced in 2009). The petition claims that Fraser said he was unable to pay the annual $900,000 that was required of him.
Before we go any further, some things to consider:
1. A lot of the appreciation takes on a jokey tone, suggesting that some people are supporting Fraser in a display of irony. This is most evident when people claim hes the "best actor in all history" and proclaim him as a "god."
2. When it comes to the topic of Frasers alimony issue, some commentators inch a little too closely to mens rights territory, which is in of itself a problematic can of worms.
But, having said that, Fraser really does deserve a comeback. Frasers appearance in The Affair was a good reminder of his acting chops, according to the A.V. Club, which says that the role is a bit of a star-turn for him, adding that he is almost unrecognizable in this villainous role and that hes doing such a good job with a relatively minor spotlight.
In the 90s, Fraser rose to (relative) prominence not just as a teen idol; he was versatile actor as well. He had enough of the goofy charms to supply comedic relief, and he could put on a straight face when the moment called for it (many may have forgotten the Dick Wolf-penned School Ties, or the weirdly affecting With Honors, in which Fraser, a Harvard student, befriends a homeless man played by Joe Pesci). And while Fraser had the build of an action star, his face had a kind of elastic quality that could evoke a wide spectrum of emotions. Could you say that about Cruise? Whose expression usually ranges from Serious to Even More Serious?
All these qualities made Fraser a good pick for The Mummy, which called for a brawny hero who also toed the line as an everyman. Fraser's problem, perhaps, was that he was too good at playing a lovable oaf, which pigeonholed him into roles where he was forever the hapless (but well-meaning!) goon. The fare resulting from this vein ranged from the kind-of-memorable (Airheads, Encino Man, Blast From The Past) to the instantly forgettable (Monkeybone, Dudley Do-Right). And perhaps this has all cast a shadow over the talents that he possesses.
Anyway, to further our recent appreciation of Fraser, here are some select clips from his oeuvre:
And here's him speaking with Charlie Rose in 1999:
Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier
Those who habitually put items in their recycling bins that don't belong there are the target of the ordinance amendment, not those who make an occasional, accidental mistake, said Public Works Director Jeff Demers.
Today we look back at some of the biggest news stories of 2016. With stories of conflict, tension and peace, it was a complicated year.
First on many peoples list was the result of the U.S. presidential election.
The U.S. presidential election tops most lists
On Election Day, the New York Times reported that Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton had an 85 percent chance of winning the presidency.
But it was Republican Donald Trump who won. It was one of the biggest political upsets in United States history. Trump will become Americas 45th president on January 20.
The billionaire businessman and television star was not even expected to win the Republican Party nomination. At the beginning of the year, political experts expected one of his many Republican opponents to become the partys nominee. But Trump won the most Republican primaries.
Then, on November 8, Trump won four important industrial states: Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Wisconsin. Those key victories helped him win the presidential election.
Trump has promised to bring back factory jobs lost to other nations. During his campaign, he promised to make America great again.
Here is how Trump explained his victory over Clinton: As Ive said from the beginning, ours was not a campaign, but rather an incredible and great movement made up of millions of hard-working men and women who love their country and want a better, brighter future for themselves and for their families.
The presidential campaign was divisive. Trump called his opponent crooked Hillary. Clinton described Trump as being temperamentally unfit and totally unqualified to be President.''
Clinton won the national popular vote by more than 2 million votes. But she lost several industrial states that Barack Obama, also a Democrat, won in 2008 and in 2012. Those losses hurt her; she was not able to receive enough electoral votes in the Electoral College.
Members of the Electoral College base their votes on the winner in each of Americas 50 states and the District of Columbia. Trump gained more than the 270 electoral votes needed to be the winner.
President Barack Obama campaigned for Clinton. After the election, he told National Public Radio (NPR) that the Democratic Party failed to give people in rural areas a sense day-to-day that were fighting for them.
Surprise result in Vote on EU Membership in Britain
Another political surprise took place with Britains referendum on whether the nation would remain in the European Union. The movement was known as Brexit.
London, Scotland and Northern Ireland voted to remain in the European Union. But, other parts of Britain voted in favor of Brexit. Many supporters of Brexit were shocked -- as were opponents of the move -- when they won the vote on June 23.
British Prime Minister David Cameron, who supported remaining in the E.U., resigned as a result of the vote. That cleared the way for Britains second woman Prime Minister Theresa May. She has promised to start the process of leaving the group. It will require new agreements on everything from trade to security.
British money, the pound, lost exchange value against other currencies after the vote.
Europe hit with terror attacks
Several major terrorist attacks took place outside of conflict areas in 2016.
The deadliest terrorist attack took place in France when a man drove a truck through a celebrating crowd on Bastille Day, July 14, in the coastal city of Nice. Eighty-six people were killed and more than 400 were injured.
The driver was a Tunisian man living in Nice. He was shot and killed by police. French President Francois Hollande promised new security efforts. Nothing will make us give way in the fight against terrorism, he said.
Germany faced a similar attack days before the Christmas holiday. A man drove a truck into a crowd at a Christmas market in Berlin. Twelve people died and injuring many more.
In July, attackers killed 41 people and wounded about 240 more with gunfire and explosives at Istanbuls main airport in Turkey.
Earlier in the year, suicide attackers killed 32 people in bombings at the citys airport and a subway station in Brussels, Belgium. Islamic State claimed responsibility for the attacks.
A summer of gun violence shakes U.S.
In the U.S., a series of shootings brought attention once again to gun violence.
The deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history happened in June at a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida.
The gunman, Omar Mateen, killed 49 people over three hours before dying in a shootout with police. Many more people were injured. During the incident, police said Mateen called himself an Islamic soldier and promised loyalty to the Islamic State.
In July, a series of incidents involving police shootings and attacks on police made news.
In Baton Rouge, Louisiana, a white police officer shot and killed Alton Sterling, a black man, during a struggle outside a store. The incident was captured on video and widely watched on social media.
This led to large protests, violence and mass arrests. About two weeks later, a gunman in Baton Rouge killed three police officers and wounded three others.
Soon after the shooting of Sterling, Philando Castile was shot and killed by a police officer during a traffic stop in Minnesota. Part of the incident was captured on video by Castiles girlfriend.
Then, a peaceful demonstration against those police shootings turned deadly when five police officers were shot and killed in Dallas, Texas.
The gunman, who was black, told police he was targeting white officers. He was killed with an explosive device on a law enforcement robot.
President Barack Obama and other officials attended a memorial service in Dallas for the officers killed.
The U.S. Supreme Court goes to work with only eight justices
United States Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia died suddenly in February. President Obama nominated Merrick Garland, a U.S. Court of Appeals judge, to fill the nine-member court. However, Republicans in the Senate did not want Obama to appoint a replacement for Scalia, who was a strong conservative voice on the court.
The Senate refused to consider the nomination, saying it was too close to the end of the presidents term. The refusal angered Senate Democrats and left the Supreme Court with eight instead of nine justices.
A humanitarian crisis continues in Aleppo, Syria
The conflict in Syria remained intense during 2016. Forces loyal to Syrian President Bashar al Assad regained control of rebel areas of the city of Aleppo, with help from Russia. The cost was a humanitarian crisis made worse by many failed attempts at a ceasefire in the city.
The United Nations says more than four million Syrian refugees have fled to neighboring countries. Hundreds of thousands are seeking asylum in Europe. Experts say E.U. member nations are becoming less willing to accept immigration requirements coming from E.U. headquarters in Brussels.
North Korea tests two nuclear devices
Only one country has tested nuclear devices in the 21st century. In 2016, North Korea carried out two nuclear tests: first in January and then in September. In both cases, the United Nations Security Council answered by placing strong sanctions on the country. The sanctions included trade restrictions.
North Koreas actions worried its East Asian neighbors. South Korea answered the Norths threats with its own sanctions. It also closed the Kaesong Industrial center, a joint development project meant to build trust.
In response to missile threats, South Korea agreed to the deployment of the U.S. THAAD missile defense system on its territory. The move led to increased tensions with China.
American President visits Cuba
For generations of Americans, the idea of a U.S. president visiting the island of Cuba seemed impossible. No American president had visited the country since Communist revolutionaries led by Fidel Castro took over in 1959.
But in March, President Barack Obama made a historic to Cuba. His visit came seven months after the U.S. reopened its embassy in the capital city of Havana. The U.S. still has trade restriction on the country and denounces the island nations human rights record.
In November, Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro died at the age of 90. His passing could signal political change for Cuba. But his brother, Raul Castro, still remains in power. The younger Castro has ruled Cuba since 2008.
Colombia peace agreement approved
The Colombian government and the countrys largest rebel group, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, known as FARC, reached a peace deal this year. The agreement aimed to end more than 50 years of conflict that has claimed more than 220,000 lives.
The public signing of the deal earned a Nobel Peace Prize for Colombias president Juan Manuel Santos.
However, the Colombian people voted against it in a referendum held in October. Critics, including former president Alvaro Uribe, said the deal gave amnesty to drug traffickers.
This week, Colombias Congress approved a law giving amnesty to thousands of FARC guerillas guilty of minor crimes. The deal does not include fighters who have carried out war crimes or human rights violations. The law also extends to the countrys military.
Both the Congress and Senate have passed the new agreement. It includes reforms and payments to victims. FARC will become a political party under the deal.
And those are some of the top news stories for 2016.
Im Alice Bryant.
I'm Dorothy Gundy.
And I'm Mario Ritter.
Bryan Lynn wrote the story on terrorism and U.S. gun violence with additional material from VOA News, the Associated Press and Reuters. Bruce Alpert wrote on the U.S. presidential election. Mario Ritter adapted the remaining stories for VOA Learning English using material from VOA News, AP and Reuters. Ashley Thompson was the editor.
What did you think the biggest news story of 2016 was? What do you think was missed by the news media? Tell us in the comment section.
_____________________________________________________________
Words in This Story
upset - n. occurrence in which a game or election is won by a person or team that had been expected to lose
primary - n. an election in which members of the same political party run against each other for the chance to be in a larger and more important election
temperamentally - adv. unpredictable in behavior or performance
unqualified - adj. not having the skills, knowledge, or experience needed to do a particular job
subway n. a system of transit trains operating underground
gay adj. sexually attracted to someone of the same sex
amnesty n. a decision to put aside punishment for a person or group
American Larry Colburn, who became famous for his actions during the Vietnam War, died earlier this month.
He was 67 years old.
Lisa Colburn, his wife of 31 years, told the Associated Press that Colburn died three months after they learned he had cancer.
He was a very peaceful man who had a great desire for there to be a peaceful world, she said.
Lawrence Colburn joined the United States military during the Vietnam War. The U.S. government supported South Vietnam in its battle against North Vietnam and its allies.
Colburn was the last surviving member of an army helicopter crew that halted the killing of hundreds of Vietnamese civilians by American soldiers. The incident took place in the village of My Lai on March 16, 1968. It is now called the My Lai massacre.
The three-man crew had been sent to the village to try to find enemy soldiers. Instead, they found murdered, unarmed civilians and U.S. soldiers who were prepared to kill more villagers.
Hugh Thompson, the pilot, landed the helicopter between villagers who were still alive and troops who were planning to shoot them. Thompson told Colburn and the other crew member, Glenn Andreotta, to prepare to shoot the Americans if they tried to kill the civilians. Colburn and Andreotta agreed.
In 2006, Colburn told the Democracy Now radio program that the helicopter crew saw troops walking toward about 10 villagers who were hiding in a bunker. He said the crew decided that if we didnt do something within the next 30 seconds, these people would die. So (Thompson) landed the aircraft in between the advancing American troops and the villagers.
Thompson spoke to the leader of the soldiers and asked him how we could get these people out of the bunker. They were obviously civilians. And the lieutenant replied hed get them out with hand grenades. Mr. Thompson, who was outranked by this lieutenant, actually gave the lieutenant an order, told him to keep his people in place. He had a better idea, and I think he told him, If you fire on these people when Im getting them out of the bunker, my people will fire on you.
An Army investigation later found that the soldiers had begun killing the villagers without warning. Before the helicopter crew was able to stop the killing, 504 civilians -- mostly women, children and old people -- were dead.
Trent Angers wrote a biography about Thompson called The Forgotten Hero of My Lai: The Hugh Thompson Story. He said that Colburn stood up, shoulder to shoulder with Hugh and Glenn, to oppose and stand down against those who were committing crimes against humanity. Without his assistance, Hugh might not have done what he did.
Many years after the incident, Colburn and Thompson were given the U.S. Armys Soldiers Medal. It is the U.S. militarys highest award for bravery not involving conflict with the enemy.
Glenn Andreotta was killed in battle three weeks after the My Lai shootings. Hugh Thompson died in 2006.
In 2008, 40 years after the My Lai massacre, Larry Colburn returned to the village. He met Do Ba, whose life Colburn had saved on that day.
Charles Pierce wrote on Esquire.com that Colburns actions are one of the more astonishing displays of courage of which Ive ever heard. He wrote that Colburns funeral should be on national television. Children (should) read about him in school. There (should) be memorials on the National Mall and at West Point.
Im Jonathan Evans.
The New York Times and the Associated Press reported this story. Christopher Jones-Cruise adapted the reports for Learning English. George Grow was the editor.
We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments Section, or visit our Facebook page.
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Words in This Story
bunker n. a strong building that is mostly below ground and that is used to keep people, soldiers, weapons, etc., safe from attacks
grenade n. a small bomb that is designed to be thrown by someone or shot from a rifle
outrank v. to have a higher rank or position than (someone)
shoulder to shoulder expression united together to achieve a shared goal
astonishing adj. causing a feeling of great surprise or wonder
National Mall n. an area in Washington, DC where there are many monuments and memorials
West Point n. town in New York where the United States Military Academy is located. The USMA trains young men and women to be military officers.
12 things that will drop on New Year's Eve that aren't the Times Square ball
It is often asserted that the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989 proved that HWA was right and he really did see the future.
This of course is nonsense. Herbert W. Armstrong said that Christ would return within twenty years in his book Mystery of the Ages. (PCG has since deleted those words so someone in there knows HWA spoke nonsense.) How convenient for them to forget this.
Also Herbert W. Armstrong never said the Soviet Union would collapse. He thought it would survive intact until a few years after Christ's return. It shows how biased some many in the COGs are that they never seem to notice this. This inconvenient truth is just tossed into the memory hole.
It is true that HWA said that some Eastern European states would break away from Moscow's orbit and join the European Empire he said would arise at any moment. But he never talked of the Soviet Union collapsing. He did not teach that. Also he portrayed the rise of the European Empire to be far quicker then what has actually happened. In Mystery of the Ages Christ was supposed to return by 2005 at the most.
So assertions that the fall of the Berlin Wall somehow prove that HWA was right is just complete nonsense spread by people who, for whatever reason, are still in denial that HWA was a false prophet who merely talked out of his own "human reasoning".
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A Winter Haven woman was offended after she found her car vandalized in her neighborhood.
Winter Haven woman offended after racial slur written on car in mustard
Deputies are calling this a case of vandalism
A naked woman was also drawn in the mustard
"I felt like it was just a racist attack to me," said Sanders.
Cecila Sanders went out to her car Thursday morning where she was working as a home health care provider to find a naked woman and a racial slur drawn on the hood of her car in mustard.
"I got offensive [sic] about it," said Sanders. "I dont know ... I got scared, I know that because of course Im black and the word said n-gg--r, so."
Tyrone James, who lives nearby, said hes never had concerns about his neighborhood. But he is concerned about this incident.
"It may be just some kids out doing whatever theyre doing, but the nature of what they did is more, I think it went past prank," said James.
"Thats not a prank, said Sanders. Thats my life, Im proud to be black but thats my life and people need to take that into consideration."
The Polk County Sheriffs Office says at least two other houses in the neighborhood were hit. The vandals wrote a curse word on a mailbox in mustard and flung mustard and jelly on a couple other cars.
The Sheriffs Office is investigating and right now considers this a case of vandalism. The Sheriffs office has increased patrols in the area and asks if anyone saw anything Wednesday night between 9:00-10:30, to please call: 863-298-6200.
By J.R. Wu
| TAIPEI
TAIPEI Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit through Houston and San Francisco during a January visit to allies in Latin America, her office said Friday, prompting China to repeat a call for the United States to block any such stopover. Tsai's office declined to comment on whether she would be meeting members of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's team, but the U.S. mission in Taiwan, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said the visit would be "private and unofficial".Trump angered China when he spoke to Tsai this month in a break with decades of precedent and cast doubt on his incoming administration's commitment to Beijing's "one China" policy.An adviser to Trump's transition team said he thought "further high-level engagement for the foreseeable future is unlikely" when asked if any meetings were planned. The adviser did not want to be identified by name.China is deeply suspicious of Tsai, who it thinks wants to push for the formal independence of Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing regards as a renegade province, ineligible for state-to-state relations.China's Foreign Ministry repeated a previous call for the United States not to allow the transit and not send any "wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces".
"We think everyone is very clear on her real intentions," the ministry said, without explaining.The United States, which switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, has acknowledged the Chinese position that there is only "one China" and that Taiwan is part of it.Tsai is transiting through the United States on her way to and from visiting Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. She will leave Taiwan on Jan. 7 and return on Jan. 15.Tsai will arrive in Houston on Jan. 7 and leave the following day. On her return, she will arrive in San Francisco on Jan. 13, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang told a regular news briefing.
The AIT said the transit did not contradict the "one China" policy."President Tsai's transit through the United States is based on long-standing U.S. practice and is consistent with the unofficial nature of our relations with Taiwan," Alys Spensley, acting AIT spokeswoman, told Reuters."There is no change to the U.S. 'one China' policy," she added.
Spensley said Tsai's transits would be "private and unofficial". The U.S. State Department said AIT chairman Ambassador James Moriarty would greet Tsai in Houston and San Francisco.China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communist forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to the island.Speaking to members of China's largely ceremonial advisory body to parliament on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping said next year China would make "unremitting efforts" at unification and developing peaceful relations across the Taiwan Strait, state news agency Xinhua said.Taiwan had as many as 30 diplomatic allies in the mid-1990s, but now has formal relations with 21, mostly smaller and poorer nations in Latin America and the Pacific and also including the Vatican. (Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Beijing and David Brunnstrom in Washington; Editing by Nick Macfie and James Dalgleish)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Six migrant workers died of suffocation in a fire that broke out in a Pune bakery early morning on Friday, reports said.
Maharashtra: Six die after fire broke out at a bakery shop in Pune early this morning pic.twitter.com/cPwSzyj15s ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
The incident took place in a Bakes and Cakes outlet near Talab company in Kondhwa Khurd locality of the city. Though the reason for the fire is not known, a police contorl official told IANS that the fire is believed to be caused by a short-circuit.
The victims, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh, were caught unawares as the blaze quickly engulfed the mezzanine floor on which they slept inside the bakery. Rescue officials said the owner had locked the bakery shutter from outside, trapping the workers inside and seriously hampering the relief operation.
"We received a call at around 4.45 am on Friday and immediately fire tenders were rushed to the spot. As we reached the spot, we saw smoke emanating from the shutter of the shop, which was locked from outside," a fire brigade official told PTI.
While efforts were on to break the shutter, the bakery shop owner came to the spot and opened it.
"As soon as the shutter was opened, we saw a huge fire inside and got information that there are bakery workers who were trapped at a loft inside the shop," the fire officer said.
The fire brigade personnel wore breathing apparatus sets and climbed a staircase inside to reach the victims. "There were six workers, who were found in an unconscious state. They were rushed to the Sassoon General hospital, where they were declared dead," said the officer.
The deceased have been identified as: Ishad Ansari (26), Juned Ansari (25), Shanu Ansari (20), Zakir Ansari (24), Faeem Ansari (21) and Zishan Ansari (21).
"Since the main shutter was locked from outside, all the six got trapped inside and died of suffocation," the fire official informed.
Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap also told Hindustan Times, "
The bakery is owned by three partners. "We have registered a case and investigation is on," an officer at Kondhwa police station said.
A video shared by YouTube shows the fire spreading to nearby shops. Firstpost, however, couldn't independently verify the authenticity of the video.
With inputs from agencies
Chennai: A day after a Madras High Court judge expressed doubts over the circumstances leading to the demise of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, DMK on Friday sought a comprehensive probe by a sitting HC judge into the death.
"A comprehensive probe must be done by a sitting judge of the High Court and people should be told the truth," DMK Treasurer MK Stalin said.
Against the backdrop of the court raising questions, he said it was imperative for the government to come out comprehensively on the medical treatment provided to the former AIADMK chief.
In a statement in Chennai, he said complete medical bulletins, video footage and photos of her getting treatment at the hospital should be released.
Citing Justice Vaidyanathan's observation on Thursday that he may consider ordering exhumation of the body of the departed leader, he said, "it is imperative for the government to release comprehensive information."
Stalin, who had earlier sought a white paper on the treatment given to Jayalalithaa, said there was no statement from the government ever since she was admitted to the hospital on 22 September.
He said the Centre and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had a duty to answer questions related to the treatment provided for the late leader. Doctors from Delhi's AIIMS too had treated her, he said.
If the ruling regime had explained the "true (health) status" of Jayalalithaa and released pictures of her getting treatment, the issue could not have reached the doorsteps of court, he said.
He recalled a statement of his party chief Karunanidhi seeking release of pictures of Jayalalithaa being treated and said, "had the ruling side not viewed it from the prism of politics, the issue would not have come to such a pass".
Only such activities has cast a "cloud, giving room for suspicion," among the people, he said, adding it was the right of the people to know about the treatment given to her and the circumstances leading to her death.
New Delhi: Even as new political development unfolds in Arunachal Pradesh after Chief Minister Pema Khandu along with six other MLAs were suspended by their own party early Friday on ground of anti-party activities, the president of Peoples Party of Arunachal Pradesh said that the ousted seven were trying to merge the regional outfit with the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In a brief interview with Firstpost, Kahfa Bengia, president of People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) said, "Since the PPA is already a participant in the North East Democratic Alliance a platform created by the BJP itself, hence there was no need to merge it with the saffron party."
He further said that one of the prime mottos of the PPA is to promote the regional identity of Arunachal Pradesh.
"Since BJP is a national party, trying to merge our party with it is seen as an activity against the principle and motto of the party," he said.
Along with Khandu, the other legislators who were suspended from PPA include Jambey Tashi, Passang Dorjee Sona, Chow Tewa Mein, Zingnu Namchom, Chowna Mein and Kamlung Mossang.
Earlier in September this year, then Congress chief minister Khandu joined the PPA along with 42 other MLAs.
The Congress accused the BJP of engineering the mass defection, alleging that the PPA is the illegitimate child of the saffron party.
Khandu was sworn in as the Congress chief minister on 17 July after an apex court order to reinstate the partys government replacing the alliance government ruling at that time led by the then chief minister Kalikho Pul with support from the BJP.
After the PPA suspended Khandu, it elected Takam Pario as the next chief minister.
Arunachal Pradesh has been going through a tumultuous political journey with Pario being the fourth chief minister to rule the state in a single year.
Nabam Tuki, the Congress chief minister was ousted when the Centre imposed Presidents Rule leading to a constitutional crisis in the state in January this year.
Later on, Pul took over as the chief minister, who deserted the Congress party along with a large chunk of MLAs to form the government with support from the BJP only to be ousted by an apex court order to reinstate the Congress government.
Pario is also the richest MLA in the state Assembly with a declared asset worth Rs 187 crore.
By Jakub Iglewski
| WARSAW
WARSAW Polish President Andrzej Duda and hundreds of mourners on Friday attended the funeral of Lukasz Urban, the Polish truck driver who was killed and his vehicle used to crash into a Berlin Christmas market last week.The 37-year-old father of a teenaged boy was among 12 people killed in the attack claimed by Islamic State.Germany's Federal Prosecutor's Office said on Thursday Urban had died shortly before the attack and forensic tests were needed to determine whether he had been shot with a gun later found on the attacker in Milan.Mourners packed a small church in Banie, the driver's home village, for mass, while several trucks parked nearby honked their horns to honour the driver, private television channel TVN24 showed.
Duda laid a wreath and briefly kneeled in front of Urban's white coffin, after attending mass in the village in northwestern Poland, 15 km (9 miles) from the German border.Prime Minister Beata Szydlo said earlier Urban's son and wife would receive a special pension, while an internet crowdfunding campaign started by a British truck driver has raised more than 177 thousand pounds ($218,000) for the family.
"Poles have fallen victim in terrorist attacks before," Szydlo said in a letter to the family read during Friday's church service. "But the tragedy in Berlin is extraordinary in terms of its ruthlessness and brutality."The suspected Berlin attacker, 24-year-old Tunisian Anis Amri, was shot dead by Italian police on Friday after a European-wide manhunt.
A local trucking association boss, Romuald Szmyt, laid the blame for Urban's death on the company due to receive his cargo of 24 tonnes of steel elements, saying its officials should not have made the driver wait to unload."Lukasz Urban was a very good driver," he told mourners. "He was meant to unload on Tuesday but he arrived early. Two German drivers arrived and they were unloaded on Monday. He had to wait." (Reporting by Jakub Iglewski; Editing by Justyna Pawlak and Janet Lawrence)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
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The Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ) expects to spend 14 percent more on subsidies for students who attend schools that are part of the citys free education system. Additional subsidies have also been planned to support Macau students studying in Guangdongs non-tertiary schools.
Aside from the aforementioned increase, special funds for students who study specific majors will also be increased, the DSEJ announced in a press conference yesterday.
Sit Weng Tou, head of the Division of Socio-Educational Aids of the DSEJ, said that the bureau expects to spend nearly MOP2.6 billion next year on approximately 68,000 students studying in schools within Macaus free education system.
Next year, six schools will join the free education system, at which point the system will cover 94 percent of schools in Macau, providing benefits to 2,300 families. The subsidies will also extend to 15 grades of non-tertiary education.
In the upcoming academic year, 60 extra scholarships will be offered at tertiary institutions with the aim of training more students in specific majors, in particular Portuguese, speech therapy and physical therapy.
Currently, there are 390 opportunities to attain DSEJ funding for students who not only study the aforementioned majors, but also those who study primary school education and special education, alongside other educational and cultural subjects.
Students who pursue an education degree in Macau, mainland China and Taiwan are granted MOP4,560 every month, while those who study in other locations receive MOP6,960.
The subsidy for Macau students who study in Guangdongs kindergartens, primary and middle schools is also expected to be increased.
According to Sit, there are currently approximately 4,900 children studying in mainland kindergartens, primary or middle schools. The city is only providing subsidies to those who study in Zhuhai, Zhongshan, Jiangmen, Guangzhou and Foshan.
Starting from next year, Shenzhen and Dongguan will be included as eligible cities for the fund. JZ
Centralized kindergarten registration gains support
Leong Vai Kei, head of the Department of Education of the Education and Youth Affairs Bureau (DSEJ), claimed that the Centralized Registration Measure for First-time Infant Education Students is supported by 97 percent of schools and by 98 percent of parents for students who are studying in the academic year of 2016/2017. Leong informed that the DSEJ estimated that approximately 6,500 infants will enrol in the first grade of kindergarten education next year, and further said that there will be enough openings for all students; somewhere around 7,000 across the citys schools. Starting from next Thursday, parents can commence registering their childrens applications.
The Forum for Economic and Trade Cooperation between China and Portuguese-speaking Countries (Forum Macau) has announced that it is receptive to the entry of Sao Tome and Principe to the group.
Sao Tome and Principe is one of the family members of the Portuguese-speaking countries and the Permanent Secretariat [of the Forum Macau] has an attitude of receptiveness regarding its participation [in the group], said a spokesperson of Forum Macau to Lusa, adding that if the country submits a request to join Forum Macau, the Secretariat is willing to submit [this matter] to the Forum members for discussion.
The statement comes after last weeks re-establishment of formal relations between Sao Tome and Principe and the Peoples Republic of China, after they were severed by the mainland in 1997 in reaction to close relations between the African country and Taiwan.
Since the announcement that Sao Tome and Principe would discontinue its diplomatic relations with Taiwan in support of the mainlands One-China policy, the possibility of the African country becoming a part of Forum Macau, which has been a longstanding goal of the Sao Tome and Principe government, now seems to be on track to be achieved.
Sao Tome and Principe is the only Portuguese-speaking country that is not part of Forum Macau, despite being permitted as an observer. This is a consequence of its former recognition of Taiwan.
Over the past 20 years Taiwan has worked with the African nation on various projects, but recently suggestions have emerged that the partnership with Taiwan was not as fruitful as initially expected. During the ceremony marking the reestablishment of diplomatic ties with China, Sao Tome and Principes Foreign Affairs Minister Urbino Botelho stated: We need to correct the mistakes from the past. He also reaffirmed the countrys recognition of the One-China policy. RM
The Cultural Affairs Bureau (IC) is launching the 2016 Subsidy Programme for the Production of Original Animation Short Films.
As part of the Subsidy Programme Series for Macaus Cultural and Creative Industries, the newly launched scheme is an initiative that aims to promote the development of the regions animation industry.
According to a statement released by the IC, the scheme intends to nurture localss in animation creation, production and planning, as well as to promote local animation development through participation in exhibitions, public screenings and online promotion.
To qualify, applicants must have already directed or produced at least one animation short film of over two minutes, which must have been screened in public. The proposed film, which could be a single film or a film series, must be a fictional animation film to qualify for the scheme.
In the initial review, the adjudication panel will select a maximum of 12 projects for the second review based on criteria including creativity of the story and expression techniques, character design and potentiality, feasibility of production plan, promotion and marketing plan, budget rationale, and the applicant and film crews capacity for implementation.
The adjudicating panel based on these criteria will select a maximum of five beneficiaries. Each beneficiary will receive a subsidy of up to MOP240,000 to initiate the production, promotion and marketing of their new animated short films.
Applicants must hold a valid Macau Resident Identity Card and be aged 18 or above, and be the director or producer of the proposed film.
Applications are open until February 27.
Cleaning up the Fukushima nuclear plant a task predicted to cost 86 times the amount earmarked for decommissioning Japans first commercial reactor is the mother of all salvage jobs. Still, foreign firms with decades of experience are seeing little of the spoils.
Safely dismantling the Japanese power plant, wrecked by the 2011 earthquake and tsunami, will cost about 8 trillion yen (USD68 billion), the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry said Dec. 9, quadrupling the previous estimate. While a contract to help clean up the facility would be a windfall for any firm with specialized technology, the lions share of the work has gone to local companies that designed and built most of Japans atomic infrastructure.
The bidding process for Fukushima contracts should be more open to foreigners as Japan has never finished decommissioning a commercial nuclear plant, let alone one that experienced a triple meltdown, according to Lake Barrett, an independent adviser at Japans International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning. While the Fukushima cleanup is unlike any nuclear accident in history, foreign firms that have experience decommissioning regular facilities could provide much-needed support, according to Barrett and even the plants operator, Tokyo Electric Power Co. Holdings Inc.
Internationally, there is a lot more decontamination and decommissioning knowledge than you have in Japan, Barrett, a former official at the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission, said in an interview in Tokyo. I hope the Japanese contracting system improves to get this job done safely. There is this cultural resistance it is almost like there is an isolated nuclear village still.
An opaque bidding process plays to the heart of criticisms tabled by independent investigators, who said in a 2012 report that collusion between the government, regulators and the plants operator contributed to the scale of the disaster.
Of 44 subsidized projects publicly awarded by the trade and economy ministry since 2014, about 80 percent went to the International Research Institute for Nuclear Decommissioning. The group, known as IRID, was established in the wake of the Fukushima disaster and is comprised entirely of Japanese corporations, according to the ministrys website.
Japans trade and industry ministry awarded funds directly to only eight foreign firms during the same period. Many of the contracts had only one or two bidders.
Of about 70 contracts awarded since 2014, nine have gone to foreign companies, according to an official in the ministrys Agency of Natural Resources and Energy who asked not be named citing internal policy.
To provide opportunities for foreign companies, the ministry has created an English website for bids and also provides English information sessions to explain the contracts, the official said.
IRIDs contracts are given to its members, including Toshiba Corp., Hitachi Ltd. and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd., which have partnerships and joint ventures with foreign firms, spokesman Yoshio Haruyama said by phone. While it doesnt directly contract work to companies overseas, IRID taps foreign experts as advisers and participates in international collaborative projects, he said.
Mitsubishi Heavy has about five or six contracts through IRID, but cant share how many partnerships it has with foreign firms, spokesman Shimon Ikeya said by phone. Hitachi has sub-contracts with foreign suppliers related to the Fukushima cleanup, but cant provide details about these agreements because they arent public, a spokesperson said by e-mail.
Toshiba doesnt directly bid for ministry contracts, and instead works with IRID, company spokeswoman Yuu Takase said by e-mail.
IRID, which aims to gather knowledge and ideas from around the world for the purpose of nuclear decommissioning and was receiving over 20 billion yen in government grants in March, doesnt disclose how much of their funds ultimately go to foreign businesses, according to its spokesman. Barrett, its adviser, said he thinks its very low, but should ideally be 5 percent to 10 percent.
Japans biggest nuclear disaster isnt void of foreign technology. Toshiba, which owns Pennsylvania-based Westinghouse Electric Co., and Hitachi, which has a joint venture with General Electric Co., are tapping American expertise. A giant crane and pulley system supplied by Toshiba to remove spent fuel from the wrecked reactors employs technology developed by Westinghouse.
We bring in knowledge from foreign companies, organizations and specialists in order to safely decommission the reactors, Tatsuhiro Yamagishi, spokesman for Tokyo Electric, said by e-mail. While the company cant say the exact number of foreign firms involved in the Fukushima cleanup, companies including Paris-based Areva SA, California-based Kurion Inc. and Massachusetts-based Endeavor Robotics are engaged in work at the site, according to Yamagishi.
However, foreign firms independently securing contracts is still a tall task.
When it comes to Japans nuclear industry, the bidding system is completely unclear, said Hiroaki Koide, a former assistant professor at Kyoto University Research Reactor Institute, in an e-mail. The system is designed to strengthen the profits of Japans nuclear village, he added, referring to the alliance of pro-nuclear politicians, bureaucrats and power companies that promote reactors.
Tokyo Electrics annual cost to decommission its Fukushima plant may blow out to several hundred billion yen a year, up from the current estimate of 80 billion yen, the trade and industry ministry said in October. As of June, almost 1 trillion yen has been allocated for decommissioning and treating water at Fukushima, according to Tokyo Electrics Yamagishi.
With that much money at stake, Japan has become ground zero for a plethora of companies looking to benefit from the cleanup work. The structure of Japans nuclear industry and the closed procurement preferred by the utilities that operate atomic plants means that the most lucrative opportunities for foreign companies are in the area of subcontracting, according to a report by the EU-Japan Centre for Industrial Cooperation released in March.
Foreign firms have long argued that the Japanese bidding process is one that is ripe for corruption due to a lack of openness and transparency, Daniel Aldrich, professor and director of the security and resilience studies program at Northeastern University in Boston, said in an e-mail. For nuclear decommissioning there is even less clarity and transparency due to security and proliferation concerns, he said.
The Fair Trade commission raided the offices of five companies last year in relation to rigged bids for maintenance contracts from Tokyo Electric, according to Jiji Press. Eleven road-paving companies were fined in September on projects to repair roads following the March 2011 earthquake and tsunami, Jiji reported.
Andrew DeWit, a political economy professor at Rikkyo University in Tokyo, agrees that the contract awarding process isnt transparent. A lot of foreign companies seek Japanese partners to better their chances, he said.
Salt Lake City-based EnergySolutions Inc. agreed this year with Japan Atomic Power Co. to create a venture focused on decommissioning Japanese reactors. David Lockwood, president of EnergySolutions, said they needed a local partner to break into the market.
Purolite Corp., a closely held water purifying company, spent millions of dollars developing and testing a system that could be used to treat radioactive water at Fukushima. Pennsylvania-based Purolite partnered with Hitachi to help win a contract to use its technology at the wrecked facility.
Purolite is now suing Hitachi in New York and Tokyo, alleging that Hitachi is using its technology at Fukushima in breach of agreements made in 2011, shutting it out of more than $1 billion in contracts, according to court documents filed in September. Hitachi doesnt comment on ongoing legal matters, a spokesperson said by e-mail.
With a smaller pool of competitors, firms can expand their profit margins, said Northeastern Universitys Aldrich. There are French and Russian firms that have the technical expertise to participate in nuclear decommissioning processes, but it is unclear if they will be able to compete on a level playing field with Japanese firms, which have far more experience with Japanese regulations and expectations. Stephen Stapczynski, Bloomberg
Thailands military-appointed parliament has granted the king absolute power in naming a supreme patriarch, the top ecclesiastical position of Thai Buddhism.
The amendment approved yesterday means the king can eliminate the traditional vote of the senior monks body, the Supreme Sangha Council.
The power struggle over leadership of the Buddhist hierarchy in Thailand centers around 91-year old Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, who has been accused of corruption in a dispute that mixes politics and religion. He has ties to the Dhammakaya sect, which has a reputation for encouraging materialism and showiness and is unpopular with mainstream Buddhists.
Phra Ratchamangalacharn was nominated by the council to be the supreme patriarch in January but was never formally endorsed by the prime minister. He is now unlikely to get the top job.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said yesterday he will insist on a ruling of an international arbitration that invalidated Beijings claims to most of the South China Sea if China starts to extract oil or gas from the area.
His statement in an interview with CNN Philippines was a departure from his earlier pronouncement that he would set aside the ruling because he does not want to impose on China.
Duterte also criticized the United States, saying it did not do anything when China started building artificial islands in the disputed sea. Duterte, who took office in June, has taken steps to mend relations with China that grew hostile during the time of his predecessor over the long-unresolved territorial disputes. Former President Benigno Aquino IIIs administration took the disputes to international arbitration in a move backed by Washington after China seized a disputed shoal from the Philippines in 2012, then went on to construct seven man- made islands despite outside objections.
China has refused to recognize the arbitration tribunal, saying it has no jurisdiction. Asked under what circumstances he would bring up the tribunal ruling with China, Duterte said: Yes, when the minerals are already being siphoned out.
If that happens, he said, he will tell China: I thought were friends? We share economic bounties [] so how about us? I have this title, so what do you think? Dont you think we should talk now?
Duterte added that if Chinas construction in the disputed waters was a serious concern then the United States should have led the way and stopped it right at the beginning, when the first spade of soil was tossed out to the area that was being reclaimed.
Why raise an issue putting the countries into distress or under stress when you are not going to do anything, when it is you who have the arms? he added.
China is pitted against smaller neighbors including the Philippines in multiple disputes over islands, coral reefs and lagoons in waters crucial for global commerce and rich in fish and potential oil and gas reserves.
The U.S. says it is not taking sides in the disputes but insists on freedom of navigation in international waters and is against coercion by any side against the other. AP
Russias president and the Syrian army said yesterday that a nation-wide cease-fire agreement has been reached with opposition rebels, set to begin at midnight. The deal was confirmed by the Turkish foreign ministry.
Vladimir Putin said the cease-fire, which excludes extremist groups such as the Islamic State group and al-Qaida affiliate, will be guaranteed by Russia and Turkey. He said it will be followed by peace talks between Syrian President Bashar Assads government and the opposition, and that the Syrian parties would take part in talks to be held in Kazakhstan, without specifying a date.
Syrias military said it agreed to a nationwide cease-fire starting at midnight, adding that it paves the way for reactivating negotiations to end the conflict. It said the cease-fire comes after the successes achieved by the armed forces, an apparent reference to the capture of rebel-held neighborhoods of Aleppo earlier this month.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the truce will include 62,000 opposition fighters across Syria, and that the Russian military has established a hotline with its Turkish counterpart to monitor compliance.
Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said that that President-elect Donald Trumps administration will be welcome to join the Syrian peace process once he takes office.
Russia is a key ally of Assad, while Turkey is one of the main backers of the opposition. Several previous attempts to halt the civil war have failed but the recent warming of ties between Turkey and Russia may prove to be a game changer this time.
It comes on the heels of the Syrian armys retaking control of Aleppo, Syrias largest city, ending the oppositions four-year hold over parts of the city.
Putin said he ordered the Russian military to scale down its presence in Syria, where it has provided crucial support to Assads forces. Putin didnt say how many troops and weapons will be withdrawn. He said Russia will continue fighting international terrorism in Syria and supporting Assads military.
Putin also said that the Russian military will maintain its presence at both an air base in Syrias coastal province of Latakia and the naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartus.
Earlier yesterday, Turkeys Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called on Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters from Syria. The group, which has sent thousands of fighters to support Assad, has been playing an instrumental role in Syrias civil war since 2013, mostly in areas near the border with Lebanon, the suburbs of the capital Damascus and the northern city of Aleppo. The group is not likely to withdraw from Syria in the near future as its leader repeatedly said that their presence there is mostly to prevent attacks by extremists deep inside Lebanon.
Foreign fighters from around the world have joined both sides of the Syrian conflict that has so far killed more than quarter a million people, displaced half the countrys population and produced more than four millions refugees.
Syrias Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem had said that fighters from more than 80 countries have joined insurgent groups trying to remove Assad from power while the Syrian government is backed by fighters from countries including Lebanon, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan and Russia.
The Turkish minister said all foreign fighters, including the Hezbollah, should withdraw from Syria.
Those various groups have to leave Syria and the Hezbollah should return to Lebanon, Cavusoglu said in the interview with Turkeys A Haber news channel.
In Damascus, seven civilians were injured by a mortar round that fell near a school in the western neighborhood of Tajheez, according to a report by state news agency SANA.
Earlier, SANA said that two persons were injured by a mortar round that was fired by insurgents on Damascus al-Mazraa neighborhood where the Russian embassy locates.
On Wednesday, Russias Foreign Ministry said its embassy in Damascus was hit by mortar fire, blaming the attack on extremists opposed to a peaceful settlement. It said a mortar round landed in the embassy courtyard without exploding, and another fell in the vicinity. AP
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit through the U.S. en route to Central America next month, a routine stopover that has taken on added significance after President-elect Donald Trump spoke with her by phone and separately questioned the One-China policy.
Tsais office will unveil the details of her U.S. stops at a later date, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Eleanor Wang said in a text message. Her Jan. 7-15 trip announced last week to Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador will boost cooperation and deepen friendship with Taiwans Central American allies, Wang said.
While the ministry had said previously that Tsai wouldnt transit in New York and wont meet Trump, the stopover risks further tensions between the U.S. and China ahead of Trumps inauguration. Trump has already signaled a more antagonistic approach to China as president, with the self- governing island potentially becoming one of the biggest flash points between the two global powers.
Supporters of Taiwan and critics of China in the U.S. will obviously welcome this move as not bowing to Chinese pressure, said Ja Ian Chong, an assistant professor with the National University of Singapore who specializes in Asia-Pacific relations. This could set the tone for an even more contentious and tumultuous U.S.-China relationship.
Ma Ying-jeou, Tsais predecessor, transited in Houston and Los Angeles during a March trip to Central America. Still, China yesterday urged the U.S. to stop Tsai from passing through. America should not send any wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a regular briefing in Beijing. She urged relevant countries to handle Taiwan issues with caution.
Tsais trip comes at a particularly sensitive time after Trump angered Beijing in accepting the protocol-breaking phone call from the Taiwanese president.
The 10-minute conversation on Dec. 2 was the closest a Taiwanese leader has come to getting formal recognition from Washington since the U.S. established ties with the Communist government in Beijing almost four decades ago.
In a later interview with Fox News, Trump said his support for the One-China policy which has underpinned U.S. behavior toward Taiwan since the 1970s will hinge on cutting a better deal on trade. Adela Lin, Ting Shi, Bloomberg
A top Chinese general has been placed under investigation for corruption, Chinas Defense Ministry said yesterday, announcing the highest-level active duty military official to be ensnared in a sweeping anti-corruption drive.
Military prosecutors have been investigating Gen. Wang Jianping on suspicion of accepting bribes, ministry spokesman Yang Yujun said in a briefing, without elaborating on the case.Wang is the deputy chief of staff with the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, which is led by Xi Jinping, Chinas president and leader of the ruling Communist Party. Since he came to power in late 2012, Xi has launched a wide-ranging crackdown on corruption that has felled scores of mid-to-high-level officials but that has also been seen as targeting threats to Xi.
Wang was formerly the commander of Chinas armed paramilitary police force for five years. The South China Morning Post has reported that Wang was an ally of Chinas former domestic security chief, Zhou Yongkang. Zhou was sentenced to life in prison last year on charges of accepting bribes, but was perceived to be targeted also because he was deemed the center of a vast patronage network spanning the state-owned oil industry, the state security apparatus and the southwestern province of Sichuan.
Three other top Chinese generals have been accused of corruption but were officially retired when their investigations were announced. Among them was Guo Boxiong, then a top general and former vice chairman of the military commission, who was sentenced by a military court in July to life in prison for taking bribes.
Guo, 74, was also stripped of his rank and forced to hand over all his assets to the Chinese government.
Some top generals are reported to have accumulated stunning fortunes through corruption in both cash and gifts, including golden statues of Mao Zedong and cases of expensive liquor stacked to the ceiling in secret underground caches. Along with the selling of ranks and positions, such practices are believed to have had a strong negative effect on morale, discipline and combat preparedness in the worlds largest standing military. AP
For years, Toyota Motor Corp. focused on pushing its hybrid models in Europe, avoiding a diesel-for-diesel competition with market leaders including Volkswagen AG. The Japanese carmakers strategy is finally paying off.
In the first full year since Volkswagens emissions scandal threw the German giant into disarray, Toyota is on track for roughly a 40 percent jump in annual sales of gasoline-electric vehicles in Europe. Hybrids are set to account for more than half of Toyotas deliveries for the region by the end of the decade, according to Karl Schlicht, executive vice president of the carmakers European division.
Toyotas Europe dilemma was a product mismatch rather than a regulatory crisis. At the beginning of the decade, when demand for its Prius was surging in other markets like the U.S., the model barely attracted buyers in Europe, where more than half of industrywide sales are diesels. After Volkswagens scandal undermined those powertrains, Toyotas strategic decision to avoid pitting its models directly against diesel vehicles and force its dealers toward hybrids is now yielding results.
When you have a strategy driven by necessity and its doing the right thing for the customers and the world, its a very powerful force, Schlicht said in an interview. We kind of had to do it, and that made us focus.
Toyota is still a small player in Europe, where it had a 4.3 percent market share in the 11 months through November, well behind the leader Volkswagens 24.1 percent, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association. Still, its in an enviable position with Volkswagen and diesel-reliant peers including BMW AG, Daimler AG and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV now needing to shift gears to electrified powertrains.
Eric Felber, a spokesman for the Volkswagen group, declined to comment on the rise in hybrid sales at the expense of diesel cars.
Shares of Toyota have fallen 8.7 percent this year, compared with Daimlers 8.7 percent drop and gains of 2.1 percent at Volkswagen and 2.4 percent at Fiat Chrysler.
UBS analysts in a report this month forecast that diesel will almost disappear by 2025 and be replaced by hybrids and battery-electric vehicles. Athens, Madrid, Mexico City and Paris have pledged to phase out diesel vehicles by 2025 in a bid to curb pollution.
Diesel is on its way out for cars; weve seen the beginning of the end, Alexander Nix, a Toyota dealer in Germany since 1980, said by phone. Once we see further restrictions on emissions, its just going to be too expensive. Weve already seen that now.
Dealers were singing a different tune when Schlicht, the Toyota Europe sales chief, returned to an executive role in the market in 2012, after a stint managing Lexus product and marketing planning in Japan. His assessment of the carmakers position at that time was grim: Toyota lacked the scale, visibility and pricing power to compete.
Our dealers at the beginning of this period were very much like, You guys need more diesels, Schlicht said. Before auto shows in Geneva, Paris or Frankfurt, he braced for criticism. Put your helmet on; youre going to get beat up because we dont have enough diesels.
Toyota started directing its distributors and dealers to focus entirely on hybrids, even though they were accounting for just a fraction of the companys sales mix. If a customer wanted to go for a test drive in, say, a Yaris, they had to take a spin in the hybrid before they could try the diesel.
When Toyota coupled this retail strategy with an all- hybrid marketing campaign, its auto buyers started becoming hybrid converts. Dealers had little trouble reselling used hybrids that were traded in by customers because they tend to retain more of their residual value.
There is no strategy that the carmaker can make if the front line doesnt buy in, Tom Fux, the Cologne-based president of Toyota Germany, said by phone. For us, hybrid is the key focus.
By the time hybrids reach about 50 percent to 60 percent of Toyota Europes sales mix, the company will be selling about 400,000 or 500,000 units per year, Schlicht estimates. In the January-November period, hybrids accounted for about 32 percent of its sales in the region.
Corporate fleet operators and leasing companies, which play an outsize role in Europes auto market, have begun to feel exposed as residual values for diesels begin to shrink, and theyre starting to talk with Toyota about increasing hybrids as a portion of their business mix.
Another significant factor will be the newly introduced C-HR, a latecomer to the fast-growing compact sport utility vehicle segment. Toyota will build the model at a plant in Turkey, and about 75 percent of initial orders have been for the hybrid version, Schlicht said. The model wont offer a diesel engine option.
Were not anti-diesel, but the mindset has shifted, Schlicht said of Toyota Europes dealers and distributors. Its moved on, and now theyre really into selling hybrids. Craig Trudell, Elisabeth Behrmann, Bloomberg
TWIN FALLS A man convicted of robbing a Burley pharmacy in 2014 and released from prison on parole earlier this year was arrested Wednesday after leading police on a pursuit while under the influence of heroin, police said.
Chandler Lee Palmer, 24, of Twin Falls was arraigned Thursday in Twin Falls County Magistrate Court on a felony count of possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor counts of driving under the influence, resisting arrest and driving without privileges.
Palmer pleaded guilty early last year to robbing the Burley Walgreens in November 2014, the same month his brother, Bradley Cole Holcomb, and two others were arrested on charges of robbing several pharmacies throughout Twin Falls.
A Cassia County judge sentenced Palmer to one to 10 years in prison and he was released on supervised parole May 13.
In a series of interviews this year with the Times-News as part of a special reporting project about a string of seven intertwined pharmacy robberies, Palmer said that when he was released from prison, he was expecting nobody to believe in me.
Ill have to prove myself, which is cool, Palmer said in February from a Boise prison. I dont really care what people think. I get that I have to prove myself to society that Im not a lost cause.
On Wednesday, an off-duty police officer said he saw Palmer crash into a pole near Swensons on Addison Avenue, court documents said. When the off-duty officer approached Palmers car, he saw him slumped over the wheel and (he) appeared under the influence of a substance.
Palmer left the crash scene, and when an officer attempted to stop his car about 4:20 p.m. at Eighth Avenue North and Shoshone Street North, he accelerated away, leading a chase that wound through downtowns icy streets, court documents said. At one point, he drove the wrong way on Second Avenue East and through alleys on Main Avenue.
The pursuit came to an end in the parking lot of The Car Store, 701 Main Avenue E., when Palmer crashed into a parked car at the dealership, court documents said. Palmer fled on foot and an officer gave chase, watching him throw a silver object before trying to climb a fence.
The officer tackled Palmer and detained him, and a search later revealed the silver object was a metal spoon with heroin residue, court documents said. Palmer told hospital staff he uses heroin intravenously on a daily basis and admitted to using earlier in the day.
Heroin is an opioid, just like the prescription painkillers Palmer and his brother were convicted of robbing. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports the U.S. is in the midst of a prescription opioid overdose epidemic, with more than 28,000 people dying from opioid overdoses in 2014.
In his interviews earlier this year with the Times-News, Palmer talked openly and honestly about his addiction.
With opiates, you cant function without them It controls your life, Palmer said. If you do it every day, its not that intense anymore But if you dont do it, youre strung out, and thats the worst feeling you can imagine. Theres not a more desperate feeling in the world.
Palmer is being held in custody at the Twin Falls County Jail in lieu of $75,000 bond. Hes scheduled for a preliminary hearing Jan. 6.
JEROME A judge sentenced a 21-year-old Jerome woman to 45 days in county jail and admonished her to honor the life of the teen she killed in a crash after running a stop sign in July 2015.
Cynthia Belem Martinez, originally charged with felony vehicular manslaughter, pleaded guilty Thursday to a misdemeanor count of the same charge. She also pleaded guilty to misdemeanor counts of inattentive driving and driving without insurance.
These are tragic cases, there is no doubt about it, 5th District Magistrate Judge Daniel Dolan said Thursday. Theyre tragic for the family of the deceased, first and foremost. Theyre tragic for the people involved in the death.
Dolan imposed on Martinez a one-year jail term but suspended all but 45 days of the jail sentence. He also ordered four years of supervised probation, two years of a restricted license she can drive only to and from work and school and 200 hours of community service, including at least 50 hours spent educating students about the dangers of distracted driving.
While distracted driving has not been established in this case, I think that would be an appropriate matter for you to deal with, Dolan said.
The judge will also order Martinez in a future hearing to pay restitution, which could be as much as $53,000.
Martinez, 19 at the time of the crash, admitted that about 7:45 p.m. on July 19, 2015, she was driving a Hyundai Elantra when she ran the stop sign at 300 West and Bob Barton Road, crashing into a Toyota Tacoma pickup driven by 19-year-old Alec Nicholas Humbach, of Jerome. Humbach, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the pickup and died at the scene.
Martinez was also injured in the crash, as were her passengers Dakota Cortez, 19 at the time, and another girl who was 15 at the time and was flown by helicopter to St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center in Boise.
Humbachs immediate family lives out of state and was not able to attend Thursdays hearing, but his aunt, Dawn Soto, spoke on behalf of Humbachs mother.
He was a tremendous young man, Soto said of her nephew. He loved animals, he loved people, he was our gentle giant. He had a heart of gold. He stood up for his friends, he didnt like bullies He was well on his way to being a very productive citizen. He had an excellent job and was a talented welder.
Soto told the judge no punishment could bring Humbach back, but asked Dolan to impose a sentence that would send a message to other teens that there are consequences for making mistakes while driving.
When Martinez was given a chance to speak, she turned to Soto and delivered a tearful statement.
I want to tell the family that Im really sorry for this happening, Martinez said. I dont understand what you guys are going through, and I never will. But I just want you to one day, hopefully, forgive me. This really was an accident.
Her attorney, Keith Roark, called the misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge an anomaly because the crime is completely devoid of intent or even criminal negligence.
Originally my client was charged with felony vehicular manslaughter, and we felt all along the state did not have evidence to sustain that, and eventually all parties agreed, Roark said. She did not intend, by any means, to run the stop sign. She certainly did not intend to be involved in the collision that killed Mr. Humbach.
After hearing arguments from the attorneys and the statements of Soto and Martinez, Dolan took almost 25 minutes in chambers to decide the sentence, then imposed it while admonishing the 21-year-old.
Ms. Martinez, you have an obligation, the judge said. You can either let this case define you as a person who struggles for the rest of your life and comes back before this court for several different reasons. Or, you can make this case define your life to move forward, to honor the deceased by making your life better, as we heard his life would have been if he continued to live. Thats your responsibility, to honor his life in that way.
GOODING A 62-year-old Gooding man charged with shooting and killing his son-in-law told police the victim was abusive to the mans daughter and the shooting happened accidentally during an argument over the abuse.
Jimmie E. ONeal Sr. was arraigned Thursday in Gooding County Magistrate Court on a felony count of second-degree murder.
Prosecutors say ONeal killed his son-in-law, 34-year-old Steven Lawrence, with a .38 special handgun in a slaying that was willful, unlawful, deliberate, and with malice aforethought, but without premeditation. He faces 10 years to life in prison if convicted.
ONeal and other witnesses told police Wednesday that Lawrences wife showed up to ONeals house with snow covering her pants after Lawrence pushed her over during an argument, court documents said. Angered by the abuse, ONeal said he went to Lawrences house to kick his ass.
ONeal said that he was tired of his daughter being abused and that this was the final straw, a detective wrote in a sworn affidavit. ONeal said that he had full intentions of going over to kick Stevens ass but that he did not intend to shoot him.
At the Lawrences home, ONeal found the door to Lawrences bedroom locked, and the two men began arguing through the door, with ONeal yelling at Steven to come out of the bedroom so that he could kick his ass, court documents said. ONeal said that Steven told him more than one time to get out of his house.
ONeal told police he ended up forcing his way through the door and saw Lawrence standing by the bed pointing a black pistol at him, court documents said. ONeal told police the gun was a black Taurus 9 mm he recognized because he gave Lawrence the money to buy the gun.
But police later discovered that Lawrence pawned a gun matching that description about a month ago, and police did not find another gun at the scene, though his wife said that during their argument, he did have a small silver handgun in his pocket.
ONeal told police that as he forced his way inside the bedroom, he raised his own pistol and his pistol went off.
ONeal said that he thought he had shot to the right of Steven and didnt think that he hit him, the Gooding detective wrote the affidavit. ONeal said that Steven had fallen across the bed and then got right back up and that is when he noticed blood on Stevens left shoulder. ONeal said that Steven told him to call 911 and that Steven went by him and downstairs to the couch.
Downstairs, Lawrences son called 911 and then handed the phone to his grandfather.
ONeal said that as he was speaking with the 911 operator he was also holding a towel on Stevens shoulder to try and stop the bleeding, court documents said. ONeal said that when law enforcement arrived, he told them that the pistol was in his coat pocket and that law enforcement removed it from his coat pocket.
Lawrence was taken to North Canyon Medical Center, where he later died from the gunshot wound. ONeal was also taken to the hospital after experiencing chest pain.
During interviews at the hospital and later the police station, ONeal told police what happened, and his daughter and grandson told police similar stories of Wednesdays events.
ONeal was represented at Thursdays hearing by the public defenders office and is being held in custody at the Gooding County Jail in lieu of $250,000 bond. A preliminary hearing is set for Jan. 5.
TWIN FALLS The presidential election was the biggest political story in the country, and kept people guessing all year. Idaho politics were often affected by the election in some way, with local politicians taking sides.
Refugee resettlement, which was a controversial issue in Twin Falls in 2015 and continued to be on in 2016, was also a major issue in the presidential race, and the debate over Medicaid expansion in Idaho will be shifted drastically because of the outcome.
But there were also down-ballot elections Congress, the state Legislature, county offices like commissioners and sheriffs. While the U.S. Senate and House races were never expected to be close and never were, and the partisan split in the areas legislative delegation stayed exactly the same as it was before the elections, the Twin Falls County Board of Commissioners will have two new faces in January and there will be new sheriffs in some of the Magic Valleys towns.
1. The presidential election
This year, thanks to a law passed in 2015, Idaho Republicans held a presidential primary in March, rather than either a caucus or a May primary as had been done in the past. The Democrats, who opposed the March presidential primary bill in the Legislature, stuck with a caucus as they had done before.
Republican candidates Marco Rubio and Ted Cruz and Democratic candidate Bernie Sanders all visited Idaho in the run-up to their parties nominating contests. Idaho Republicans went heavily for Cruz over Donald Trump in their March primary, while Democrats went even more overwhelmingly for Sanders over Hillary Clinton when they caucused two weeks later.
None of Idahos all-Republican congressional delegation backed Trump during the primary U.S. Sen. Jim Risch campaigned for Rubio; U.S. Rep. Raul Labrador backed Rand Paul and then Cruz. However, they all backed him from shortly after he clinched the nomination until a month before the election, when a decade-old audio tape came out of Trump bragging about sexual assault. U.S. Sen. Mike Crapo and U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson then both said they could no longer support Trumps candidacy. Crapo walked back his un-endorsement about a week later, but Simpson never did.
Idaho hasnt gone for a Democratic presidential candidate since 1964, and nobody ever really considered Idahos four electoral votes to be up for grabs. However, there was speculation as to whether Trump would garner the overwhelming popular vote margin in the state that Republican presidential nominees routinely do, and as to how many votes independent conservative candidate Evan McMullin would get. McMullin was polling well in Utah, and some wondered whether the distaste many Mormons in Utah apparently felt for Trump would have much impact on the vote counts in heavily LDS areas of southern Idaho.
At the end of the day, Trump carried the state with 59 percent of the vote, with Clinton getting 27.5 percent and McMullin getting almost 7 percent. Libertarian Gary Johnson got about 4 percent.
2. Refugee resettlement
A movement to shut down the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center started last year, after news came out that some Syrians could be among the refugees to be resettled in Twin Falls. (None have been to date.) As the Syrian civil war dragged on, displacing millions of people, refugee resettlement became a topic of worldwide debate and a major issue in the presidential race, with Trumps hard-line views on refugee admissions and anti-Muslim rhetoric energizing some and horrifying others. As for Twin Falls, it started to attract national media attention as an example of a town divided over what was becoming a focus of national political arguments.
A drive for a countywide referendum on whether to shut down the refugee center fizzled this spring when organizers got about a quarter of the number of signatures they would need to get on the ballot. In June, however, the debate flared back up after news came out about a 5-year-old girl at the Fawnbrook Apartments being sexually assaulted by three boys from Middle Eastern refugee families.
A handful of refugee center opponents first brought it up at a City Council meeting in mid-June; at the time, police hadnt made any arrests yet and Council members said they werent aware of the case. After the boys were arrested in late June, the story blew up on the anti-Islamic blogosphere, with many reports containing details authorities have said were inaccurate or exaggerated some said the boys were Syrian, for example and accusing the city, law enforcement and the media of trying to cover it up or seeking to link the assault to Chobanis presence in Twin Falls.
Opponents of refugee resettlement dominated City Council meetings public comment period for more than a month after that. As the story spread, City Council members started to get obscene emails and even a handful of violent threats from anti-Muslim bigots. Breitbart, a popular conservative website whose articles frequently criticize immigration, Islam and refugee resettlement and that rose to even more prominence this year due to Trumps popularity, sent a reporter to Twin Falls to cover the story. (The websites former head is now Trumps chief strategist.) Brigitte Gabriel, the founder of Act for America, came to Twin Falls to speak, hosted by the local Act chapter. Other national outlets such as Slate, Buzzfeed and the Washington Post sent reporters here to write about what was happening.
City Council meetings have gone back to normal and the attention has largely died down, but with Trump set to take office in January and having run promising major changes to immigration and refugee admissions policy, theres every reason to think well be debating the issue further in 2017.
3. Health care, Medicaid expansion
This year started with a proposal on the table to extend primary care coverage to Idahos uninsured that ended up going nowhere. As the year draws to a close, the future of indigent health care is more uncertain than ever, with a new president promising to repeal the Affordable Care Act but with nobody clear on when or how this will happen and what will replace it.
Whether to expand Medicaid coverage, do something else for people in the gap who dont qualify for Medicaid but dont make enough to get subsidized insurance through Your Health Idaho, or do nothing, has been a topic of political debate in Idaho ever since the 2012 U.S. Supreme Court ruling that left whether to expand Medicaid up to the states. Before the 2016 legislative session started, Gov. C.L. Butch Otter and Health and Welfare Director Dick Armstrong pitched a Primary Care Access Program to extend primary care coverage to people in the gap, paid for by about $30 million a year in state money. The plan came under fire from both the left and the right and stalled when a House committee declined to introduce the bill funding the program. The session ended with the House and Senate deadlocked on how to move forward the Senate passed a bill authorizing Armstrong to apply for a Medicaid expansion waiver, which would let the state use federal money to pay for a state-designed version of Medicaid expansion, and adjourned, then the House killed the bill before adjourning for the year but leadership promised to appoint a legislative committee to study the issue during the interim.
The committee met, hearing testimony from both supporters and opponents of Medicaid expansion. The last meeting was a couple of weeks after Trump won the election, and the group recommended that the Legislature do something in 2017 without specifying what. The issue is expected to be debated during the upcoming session, but Medicaid expansion, which had arguably been unlikely before it has been on the table for several years and hasnt gone anywhere is even less likely than before Nov. 8. It remains to be seen whether lawmakers will do something there has been talk about primary care-centered proposals that would extend some additional coverage to some people currently in the gap and whether there will even be a clear picture of where things are headed in Washington before Idahos legislative session ends.
4. State legislative elections
The entire Idaho Legislature is up for election every two years. Rep. Donna Pence, D-Gooding, who represents the politically mixed District 26 which includes Blaine, Gooding, Camas and Lincoln counties, announced late in 2015 that her current term would be her last, and Democrat Sally Toone and Republican Alex Sutter ran for her seat.
The primaries were pretty quiet locally incumbents Rep. Maxine Bell, R-Jerome and Stephen Hartgen, R-Twin Falls, won against farther-right challengers. The exception was in District 23, which includes part of western Twin Falls County although more of the people in it live in the Mountain Home area, and where the primaries were more contentious both incumbent GOP House members Richard Wills and Pete Nielsen lost their races to Christy Zito and Megan Blanksma, respectively.
None of the Republican incumbents in Mini-Cassias District 27 had opponents in the primary or the general election, and in District 25, which includes Jerome and much of rural Twin Falls County, the only contest in the general election was between incumbent Sen. Jim Patrick, R-Twin Falls, and Democrat Scott McClure. In districts 24 (Twin Falls) and 26, though, all three legislative seats were contested on the November ballot. In Twin Falls, the three Republican incumbents all had Democratic challengers, while in 26, as well as the race for Pences former seat incumbents Sen. Michelle Stennett, D-Ketchum, and Rep. Steve Miller, R-Fairfield faced off against Republican Dale Ewersen and Democrat Kathleen Eder, respectively. In 23, Zito faced Democrat Mary Ann Richards while Blanksma faced independent Bill Chisholm and Libertarian Christopher Jenkins.
At the end of the day, the state Legislature as a whole got a bit more Republican the GOP picked up three House seats and one in the Senate. Locally, the balance of power stayed exactly the same. Toone beat Sutter, all the incumbents running in every other Magic Valley district were re-elected and the two Republicans won the House seats in 23.
5. Twin Falls county commissioners
Incumbent county commissioners Leon Mills and George Urie faced challenges in the May primary from Don Hall, a Twin Falls city councilman and former mayor, and from Jack Johnson, a now-retired Jerome County sheriffs deputy who lives in Murtaugh.
Johnson and Hall both beat the incumbents. Hall was unopposed in the general election, while Johnson defeated Democrat Jill Skeem and independent Tony Bohrn. Hall is stepping down from the City Council due to his election as a commissioner, and the Council appointed Christopher Reid, who ran for the Council in 2011 and has served on a couple of city government-related committees, to the post. If Reid wants to stay for longer than a year, he will have to run for the seat in his own right in the November 2017 election.
6. Sheriffs
In Twin Falls County, incumbent Sheriff Tom Carter beat challenger Cliff Katona in a hotly contested primary for sheriff. Carter was unopposed in the general election.
In Lincoln County, Rene Rodriguez won a five-way primary to replace retiring Sheriff Kevin Ellis. However, two of his primary opponents filed to run as write-ins in the general election, and won narrowly County Commissioner Cresley McConnell, who ran for the sheriffs job, came within 73 votes of Rodriguez.
In Blaine County, Steve Harkins, the current chief deputy, ran unopposed to replace retiring Sheriff Gene Ramsey.
Aileen Webb left earth for heaven on December 16, 2016 after struggling with a rare autoimmune disease that recently came out of remission. Aileen was born on a farm in Pollock, MO to Irl and Beulah Bartlett, number nine of twelve children, on April 17, 1929. At the age of 7, she moved with her family to Idaho, settling in Twin Falls. After graduating from high school in 1947 she came to CA in 1948. On November 25, 1948, Thanksgiving Day, she married Eugene Webb, a junior high classmate, after he came to Los Angeles to attend UCLA on the GI Bill. They bought a house in Rosemead, had three children and Aileen was active in all the organizations and activities in which they participated. After almost 30 years in Rosemead, Aileen and Gene moved to San Gabriel in 1979. Aileen was a hard-worker, always striving to do her very best. She did many different jobs while going to school and after high school she worked primarily as a stenographer. She retired from the L.A. County Housing Authority as a Senior Secretary. Aileen has been a member of First United Methodist Church of San Gabriel for 60 years. There she has served faithfully in many capacities. Besides church activities, she enjoyed taking care of her family, cooking and baking, shopping and giving gifts all year long. Her generous expressions of love proved her thoughts were always on others. She cherished time spent with family and friends and she looked forward to going back to Idaho each summer to see her relatives and to visit with classmates at the Twin Falls High School Over 50 Year Alumni Reunion. Aileen loved flowers and plants and had a green thumb. She enjoyed traveling in the USA and beyond. She was eager to learn and took many adult education classes on a variety of subjects from clerical to tailoring and several college courses as well. She was never idle but always doing for someone else. She didn't just love in word but with her actions. Hers was a life of love. 'His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!' Matthew 25:23.
The rusty hinges have swung shut on 2016 and most events are already faded memories. But three experiences of the year past are worth remembering, and several predictions, or maybe hopes, are lining up the stars for 2017.
Unless a resident lived in a cave, who could ignore the noise emanating from City Council chambers mid-year? Organized refugee-haters and conspiracy experts grabbed the microphones, reprimanding Council for the College of Southern Idahos 30-year refugee resettlement program. The county prosecutor and city police remained professional as the investigation inched forward, and Council protected the protesters right to free speech for months. The process was messy but demonstrated local governments commitment to offer everyone a public forum, allowing facts to be separated from rumor and outlandish claims.
Twin Falls exploding economy lit up local and even national economic news, as Clif Bar, Chobani and Glanbia hired thousands of new workers. The citys population swelled to nearly 48,000, requiring three new schools and boosting sales of everything from autos to cribs and homes. The new jobs pay high wages and provide good benefits, a gratifying uplift from 2007s Great Recession.
Concurrent with new businesses, Main Street began a major rebuilding, coupled with expansion of City Hall and the Police Complex. Urban Renewal funding allowed regeneration of Main, thanks to one of the few incentive programs the state allows. Twin Falls cautious rebuilding approach, coupled with available funding from frugal municipal operations, allowed the city to plan for the next 30-plus years, when Twin Falls population may top 70,000.
2017 will be the year of WATER, as the past centurys enormous success irrigating the desert with Snake River water has grown Twin Falls into a major economic center. But at what cost? The vital quality of life so cherished in our sleepy farm town, now feeling its oats, must be protected by recognizing environmental limits to the unexpected prosperity.
Limited availability of potable water will limit new industries moving to Twin Falls. The city should incorporate aggressive new zoning codes rewarding substitutes for grass and water-intensive home landscaping. New city parks may not have acres of grass and water-intensive trees, and hopefully, community awards will emerge for best water conservation practices. Yes, water rates will eventually rise to curb future demand.
Which brings me to a culminating hope for 2017. Twin Falls was the nations incubator for its largest, most successful private irrigation project and government Carey Act land grant. But there is no county-wide celebration of this historic flowering of the desert via official ceremony. With the new art project at North Five Points as a conversation-starter, isnt it appropriate to initiate an expanded, singular celebration, highlighting the yearly opening of the first irrigation gate of Twin Falls Canal Co.? More than 280,000 acres of prime farmland today are fertile testimony to the vision of I.B. Perrine, Frank Buhl, Paul Bickel, John Hayes, Frank Murtaugh and other pioneers, all deserving our annual respect and noisy celebration.
This appeared in Thursdays Washington Post:
No one is certain how President-elect Donald Trump intends to stiffen restrictions on immigrants and visitors to the United States, or what he means by extreme vetting, though there is little doubt he will try to tighten screening for many applying from Muslim countries.
What is clear is that beefed-up federal laws, rules, systems, programs and technology have added substantial layers of scrutiny for virtually every foreigner who has entered the country in recent years.
Americans deserve to know that those entering the country have been screened carefully, but it will be difficult for Trump to fashion an even more muscular inspection and monitoring regimen without subjecting visitors and immigrants to outright religious profiling.
The advances in federal capabilities were highlighted last week when the Obama administration officially dismantled one post-Sept. 11 screening program, which seemed tough when it was enacted, because it had become obsolete. The program, known as the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, was in use for nine years before being suspended in 2011, largely because other, newer systems had proved more effective at tracking and monitoring foreign travelers before and after they entered the country.
While it was in use, NSEERS entailed registering some 180,000 teenage boys and men from 25 countries, most of them Muslimsubjecting them to fingerprinting, interrogations and, in some cases, periodic visits from federal agents. At least 13,000 of them were placed into deportation proceedings after overstaying their visas or otherwise failing to comply with rules.
The program applied for the most part to law-abiding visitors and residents, and as far as is known, never produced any terrorist prosecutions. In 2012, the Department of Homeland Securitys inspector general, noting it had done little to enhance public safety while draining government resources, recommended that it be permanently dismantled. Now it has been, meaning the Trump administration would have to jump through additional hoops to resurrect it, or something like it.
Doing so may be a waste of effort. Since NSEERS was established, and even more since its demise, other programs have leapfrogged it. Automated systems now collect and store biographic and biometric data including digitized fingerprints, iris scans and facial data for most foreigners entering the country, including students. Foreign nationals from or those who have visited high-risk countries such as Syria, Iraq, Libyaand Yemen are ineligible for participation in the U.S. visa waiver program, meaning they are subject to extra scrutiny when applying to come to the United States. Government databases are increasingly searchable and better at helping officials spot those who may pose threats to national security.
Those systems and programs, detailed by Homeland Security in explanation of NSEERSs obsolescence, provide federal authorities with a range of tools to verify foreigners identities and monitor their movements. They apply broadly to visitors, travelers and immigrants. They also comport with constitutional standards and American values.
By contrast, a registry that singles out travelers from Muslim countries falls afoul of those standardsand may do little to enhance national security. While some prominent recent terrorist attacks in the United States and Europe were carried out by immigrants, the perpetrators of others, including the bloody assaults in Paris and Orlando, Florida, were by homegrown terrorists.
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1. Irans presidential race in May. Iran does run real elections sort of but will Rouhani survive? Or will the hardliners ascend again? How much is Rouhani a hardliner anyway? Stay tuned. Ill just note a theorem in the margins here: the greater the unpredictability of the American president, the more the identities and decisions of the other world leaders matter. According to Wikipedia, the only announced reformist candidate is a blogger (not a good sign for him or them).
2. How Nigeria copes with its recession. This is the one country in sub-Saharan Africa that has the size and talent to make a significant commercial breakthrough. Now that oil prices are back up a bit, can they dismantle their counterproductive exchange and capital controls, boost FDI, and get to four to six percent growth? Or will they wallow in the range of one to two percent, which hardly means anything in light of Nigerias rising population?
3. Whether the Democratic Republic of the Congo remains stable. Joseph Kabila is staying past the end of his second presidential term. Will this lead to renewed instability and conflict, beyond what is already the case? Africas World War ended in 2003, not long ago, and it is not impossible to imagine it resuming.
4. African fertility rates. Theyre high. In most other parts of the world, including Latin America and the Middle East, fertility has fallen much faster than most commentators had expected. That is not yet the case for Africa, but will it be?
5. Modis India and where it it headed: Maybe the demonetisation was an unforced error, but it seems increasingly likely it was part of a broader strategy to push India into a semi-cashless, biometrically marked, income tax-paying society. Ill be curious to see how that goes.
6. Economic growth in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Pakistan grew 4.7 percent last year and Bangladesh has averaged about six percent for the last decade. Is all that (relative) good news going to continue? If so, the world will be in much better shape than otherwise.
7. Will Xi Jinping overturn Chinese political conventions? His term is supposed to end in 2022, but for a while he has been sending signals he might try to stay on as leader for much longer. That could bring a new round of political instability to the Middle Kingdom. Or a new round of stability. Depending how you look at it.
8. Chinese capital flight and the currency peg. This one seems to be heating to a boil. Capital flight continues to rise, using every technique known to mankind including Bitcoin and e-purchases of Singaporean gambling tokens. The government says that the sporadic reports of USD trades at 7-1 are nonsense, so they must be right. When will it snap? And when it does, will it be a non-event or a big deal?
9. American institutions: Will the United States Congress and courts continue to secure some version of rule of law in this country? And will we agree on what that means?
10. What is the Latin American middle class good for? Many Latin economies now have built a reasonably-sized middle class, but commodity prices are not in general favoring those economies. Will those middle classes push their countries into better policies and educational systems? Slowly but surely, I believe the answer is yes.
There is a chance the French or German elections make this list, but right now the best forecasts are for business as usual in both cases. Brexit will continue to torture us with its drawn-out agony. And remember your emotional guide as to what is an important issue often reflects your own selfish concerns about the status of you and your preferred groups. Do keep that in mind throughout this year.
If youre looking for a few sleeper issues, Ill cite Russia-Israel tensions over control of Middle Eastern airspace, economic and institutional recovery in Ukraine combined with sabotage potential from you-know-where, the political economy and geopolitics of aging in Japan, the rise of a Trump-like populist in Mexico, and the potential failure of the Saudi reform process as a few more to keep your eye on. Climate change and the destroyed parts of the Middle East bear watching too, along with ongoing collapse in Yemen, for water supplies too.
Morocco and the Gulf Cooperation Council countries (GCC) are set to attach particular importance to cooperation in civil aviation on the backdrop of the growth in the number of passengers, said Moroccos Civil Aviation Director Zakaria Belghazi.
The passengers travelling through air between Morocco and the GCC countries exceeded 1 million in 2015 compared to 245,000 in 2006, said Moroccos news agency.
Air traffic between the two parties increased by 12.5 pc between 2004 and 2015, the news agency quoted Belghazi as saying.
Belghazi, who was speaking at a meeting in Rabat on cooperation prospects in civil aviation, noted that Morocco and the GCC aspire to give civil aviation special attention in their strategic partnership.
In this regard, he stressed the need for developing a framework for permanent and structured cooperation between the Kingdom and the GCC countries.
He also noted that the strategy adopted by the kingdom to develop and modernize its airport platforms attaches great importance to promoting the civil aviation sector as an essential pillar for the socio-economic development of the country.
Recently, Emirate airlines said it would switch to the iconic double decker A380 which will offer a total of 1834 additional seats per week, meeting a growing demand from travelers on the route.
The launch of the A380 flights will enable travelers from Casablanca to connect to onward destinations in the Emirates network, particularly in the GCC countries, east Asia and Australia, with many cities, such as Kuwait, Djeddah, Doha, Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Sydney, Brisbane and Perth also being served by the A380.
Rached Ghannouchi and his Ennahda party have been urged to reconcile Muammar Gaddafis loyalists and Islamists, London-based The New Arab reports.
According to Qatari media, Ghannouchi has been in contact with the two Libyan sides. A source in the Tunisian Islamist party told the media that Ghannouchi had recently met with a delegation of acceptable Gaddafi-affiliated figures to discuss him working on behalf of the group to reconcile with moderate Islamist forces.
Libya has been divided into factions since the fall of former Libyan ruler killed in 2011, in a NATO-backed revolution. The country has had two rival governments respectively based in the East and in capital Tripoli. UN-backed unity government in Tripoli has been struggling to impose itself.
Analysts argue that only reconciliation can reunite all sides. They also point out that though no longer in power, Gaddafists still wield important force as they know all the apparatus of the Libyan state.
We have spoken to some of them, like Ahmed Gaddaf al-Dam, Abdel Rahman Shalgam and Ahmed Jibril We have always urged our Libyan brethren to avoid any exclusionary tendencies because the Libyan ship has room for everyone, Ghannouchi told The Arab News in an interview last March.
We are pushing for forgiveness and reconciliation, away from collective punishment and vengeance. It is un-Islamic and unfair to punish everyone who worked with the Gaddafi regime,
Ennahdha, at its congress in May, distanced itself from its Islamist agenda to embrace a political line.
A year after Russian flights to Egypt were suspended in response to a fatal crash in Sinai, Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisis office on Thursday said Russia would resume its flights to the North African nation soon.
The announcement follows a conversation between Russian President Vladimir Putin who confirmed the news in a phone call with his Egyptian counterpart.
President Putin affirmed Russias intention to resume regular flights between Moscow and Cairo in the very near future, the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
Flights to Egypt from Russia were suspended after a Russian plane crashed into the Sinai desert in October 2015.
Islamic State claimed it had placed a bomb aboard the plane, which was carrying Russian holidaymakers back to St. Petersburg from the Egyptian beach resort of Sharm el-Sheikh. The crash killed all 224 on board.
The suspension of flights was a major blow to Egypts economy, which relies heavily on tourism.
Tourism is a main source of Egypts foreign currency reserves, which have recently plummeted, producing a crisis for the government in its attempts to maintain the exchange value of the Egyptian pound and simultaneously invite foreign direct investment.
With almost 3 million visitors, Russia was the largest market for inbound tourism to Egypt.
A court in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) on Wednesday sentenced 15 anti-government protesters who were arrested during protests against President Joseph Kabilas continued stay in power.
The court in Lubumbashi sentenced the convicts to three years in prison on charges of rebellion and acquitted thirty-four others.
According to one of the defense lawyers who spoke to media after the verdict, these convictions are political because they are meant to satisfy the hierarchy, and we are appealing because, from a legal point of view, there has been no physical evidence of guilt.
The defendants were arrested about a week ago in the aftermath of two days of violence across the central African nation.
The Conference Episcopale Nationale du Congo (CENCO) summit is due to begin on Thursday (29 December) and is aimed at stemming the violence that followed Kabilas refusal to step down despite the expiry of his two-term limit as leader of the resource- rich African nation.
Kabila and opposition parties agreed in principle to a deal before Christmas, but will now discuss holding elections next year and setting up a transitional government to last until his departure at the end of 2017.
Where cities have restricted indoor smoking in public places, children have been less likely to go to the emergency room with asthma problems. Credit: Brown University
A new study helps to answer the burning question of whether recently enacted indoor smoking bans in public areas have improved health. The research finds the bans are associated with a 17 percent overall reduction in the number of children visiting emergency departments with asthma complaints.
"Across 20 metropolitan areas that introduced clean indoor air regulations during the 2000s, fewer children were seen in the emergency rooms for asthma exacerbations," said study senior author Theresa Shireman, a professor at the Brown University School of Public Health. "Clean indoor air laws not only reduce expensive health care use, but they also help parents and their children avoid time-consuming, stressful events."
Shireman and co-authors Dr. Christina Ciaccio of the University of Chicago and Tami Gurley-Calvez of the University of Kansas argue that more cities should pass restrictions that prevent smoking in indoor public spaces such as restaurants. The three researchers performed the study while colleagues at Kansas.
"Children are in a very unique situation in that they have very little control over their environment," Ciaccio said. "This study shows that even those short exposures to secondhand smoke in public spaces like restaurants can have a significant impact on asthma exacerbations."
Before and after
The study in the journal Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology examined emergency asthma visits at 20 pediatric hospitals in 14 states and Washington, D.C. For each hospital, the researchers counted the number of visits in the three years before and the three years after indoor smoking bans took effect.
In total, they counted 335,588 visits between 2000 and 2014. When making pre-ban and post-ban comparisons, they controlled for a variety of possible confounding factors including season and other temporal variations; patient gender, age and race; and Medicaid enrollment as a proxy for socioeconomic status.
In each area the numbers varied, with some showing declines, most remaining barely changed, and some showing increasesbut in the preponderance of locales, rates declined. In the aggregate across all 20 hospitals, the reduction in visits became deeper with every year after bans went into effect: 8 percent one year after, 13 percent two years after and finally 17 percent after three years.
To see if they all they were measuring was a long-term decline that had nothing to do with smoking policy, the researchers ran a test where they arbitrarily picked Jan. 1, 2007, as a date to make their six-year before-and-after comparison for every hospital. That test yielded no significant decline in visits, meaning that there is no general nationwide decline in asthma emergencies.
The researchers acknowledged that the study only shows an association and doesn't prove that the bans caused the drop in emergency room visits, but Shireman said the evidence strongly suggests it. Secondhand smoke, after all, is known to be an asthma trigger, the researchers noted.
"Combined with other studies, our results make it clear that clean indoor air legislation improves public health," Shireman said.
More information: Christina E. Ciaccio et al. Indoor tobacco legislation is associated with fewer emergency department visits for asthma exacerbation in children, Annals of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (2016). Journal information: Annals of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology Christina E. Ciaccio et al. Indoor tobacco legislation is associated with fewer emergency department visits for asthma exacerbation in children,(2016). DOI: 10.1016/j.anai.2016.10.005
(HealthDay)Marijuana appears to hamper blood flow to the brain, which theoretically could affect your memory and ability to reason, a new study suggests.
Brain scans of nearly 1,000 past and present marijuana users revealed abnormally low blood flow throughout their brains, compared with a smaller control group of 92 people who'd never used pot.
"The differences were astonishing," said lead researcher Dr. Daniel Amen, a psychiatrist and founder of the U.S.-based Amen Clinics. "Virtually every area of the brain we measured was lower in blood flow and activity in the marijuana smokers than in the healthy group."
Blood flow was lowest in the hippocampus of marijuana users, which Amen found most troubling.
"The hippocampus is the gateway to memory, to get memories into long-term storage," Amen said. "That area distinguished healthy people from pot smokers better than any other area of the brain."
For this study, Amen and his colleagues evaluated brain scan data collected at nine outpatient neuropsychiatric clinics across the United States. The patients had sought treatment of complex psychological or neurological problems.
The brain scans relied on a technology called single-photon emission computed tomography, or SPECT, which can be used to track blood flow throughout the body.
The researchers found 982 patients in the database who had been diagnosed with cannabis use disorder. People with this diagnosis have used marijuana so heavily that it has affected their health, their work or their family life.
The researchers found they could reliably distinguish the brains of marijuana users by checking blood flow to the hippocampus. Marijuana use is believed to interfere with memory formation by inhibiting activity in the hippocampus, which is the brain's key memory and learning center.
"The growing lore in our country is that marijuana is innocuous, it's good medicine and it should be legalized," Amen said. "This research directly challenges that notion."
Twenty-six states and the District of Columbia now have laws legalizing marijuana in some form, primarily for medical purposes.
Although smoking is bad for the brain, Amen said blood flow was reduced even in marijuana users who ingest the drug rather than smoke it.
"We've also seen it with people who don't smoke, who get marijuana in cookies or ingest it in other ways," he said.
While the study doesn't establish a direct cause-and-effect relationship, the researchers concluded that doctors should think twice before recommending marijuana in the treatment of someone with Alzheimer's disease.
The findings "raise important questions about the impact of marijuana use on normal function in areas of the brain important to memory and thinking," said Maria Carrillo, chief science officer for the Alzheimer's Association.
"Sustained inadequate blood flow can damage and eventually kill cells anywhere in the body," Carrillo said. "Since the brain has one of the body's richest networks of blood vessels, it is especially vulnerable. These vessels deliver nutrients to the brain and carry away waste, which is vital for normal cognitive function."
However, Carrillo added, "we cannot tell from this study whether marijuana use increases a person's risk for cognitive decline or Alzheimer's."
Other experts raised concerns that the marijuana users who underwent the brain scans had been seeking treatment for psychiatric problems. They said this could skew the results.
For example, the study reports that 62 percent of the marijuana group had attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder, 47 percent had traumatic brain injury, and 35 percent had major depressive disorder.
"It looks as if the cannabis users were all referred to the clinic for some problem while the healthy controls were not," said Mitch Earleywine, an advisory board member for NORML, which advocates for marijuana legalization. He's also a professor of psychology at the State University of New York at Albany.
Neurologist Dr. Terry Fife of Phoenix, Ariz., agreed with Earleywine.
"You really want to know that the only thing different between the two groups is the use of marijuana, and we can't tell that here," said Fife, a fellow of the American Academy of Neurology.
Fife added that the study does not show the extent of the participants' marijuana use, outside of their diagnosis for cannabis use disorder. "It's unclear how much of a user these users were," he said.
Fife concluded that the possible link between marijuana and Alzheimer's disease will need further research.
"I wouldn't say it's a risk factor, but it could be an aggravator of the disorder," Fife said. "If it's true that it reduces the function of the hippocampus, it could in theory make the memory a little worse, but Alzheimer's is much more complicated than just memory."
The report was published recently in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease.
Copyright 2016 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Massachusetts joins the list of legal marijuana states
If you are 21 years of age or older and a Massachusetts resident, recreational marijuana is now legal for you after the law went into effect on Thursday, December 15, 2016. Massachusetts is the first state in the densely-populated U.S. Northeast that has legalized the drug for recreational use.
Despite the strong opposition from top politicians, the Catholic Church, doctors, business groups, and other civic leaders, Massachusetts is one of three states where ballot measures legalizing recreational use of marijuana passed on November 8, 2016, along with California and Nevada. The Governors Council certified those results on Wednesday, December 14, bringing the law into effect on Thursday. Voters in Arizona rejected the law, and a Maine ballot is still going through a recount.
A legal gray zone
Even though marijuana remains illegal under federal law, in Massachusetts, anyone who is 21 or older can now legally possess up to one ounce of pot in public and up to 10 ounces inside their home. Additionally, its also legal for Massachusetts residents to grow up to six plants per person, with a limit of 12 plants per household.
It will be at least another year before cannabis can be legally sold in the state, giving state officials time to figure out how to implement the new law. They have been given until January 2018 to regulate the marketplace and set up licensed retail stores. This, however, creates a temporary legal gray zone where buying up to an ounce of marijuana from a dealer is legal while the dealer is breaking the state law.
Supporters of the new law are very wary that Massachusetts officials might try to change the law or delay its full implementation over the coming months, ABC News reported.
I am both celebrating and worrying that the law might not be implemented properly, said Bill Downing, member liaison for the Massachusetts Cannabis Reform Coalition who has spent nearly three decades crusading for relaxed marijuana rules.
His concern stems from public statements made by Democratic legislative leaders and Republican Gov. Charlie Baker, who were opposed to the law but had no choice other than to honor the will of the people. The Massachusetts marijuana legalization ballot passed last month with about 1.8 million people voting for and 1.5 million people voting against the measure, reported the Boston Globe.
Top leaders and politicians already stated that the law does not sufficiently protect public health and safety, trying to delay the opening of stores beyond the planned January 2018 date.
Massachusetts influence on neighboring states
Some people suggested that the legalization in Massachusetts could motivate neighboring states to consider similar steps. Given the close distances between cities in the West, it will be easy for people to cross state lines to acquire the drug.
Taylor West, deputy director of the Washington-based National Cannabis Industry Association, told the Huffington Post in a phone interview that it certainly makes sense for neighboring states to look at the policy and consider the benefits the state can get from putting this behind a regulated counter. Rhode Islands governor, Democrat Gina Raimondo, already communicated that she is willing to consider the idea.
According to a poll by Gallup, 60 percent of Americans support the legalization of marijuana for recreational use. Nonetheless, the future remains uncertain. While Trump has said that marijuana legalization was best left to the states during his campaign, his pick for attorney general is U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions of Alabama, who criticized Barack Obamas administration for not enforcing the federal ban on marijuana aggressively enough.
Sources:
BostonGlobe.com
ABCNews.Go.com
HuffingtonPost.com
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THE TRUE COST OF ALL THAT 'CHEAP' LAOR THAT DESTROYED AMERICA THE BIG SECRET DEMOCRATS DO NOT WANT YOU TO KNOW: Heather Mac Donald of the Manhattan Institute has testified before a Congressional committee that in 2004, 95% of all outstanding warrants for murder in Los Angeles were for illegal aliens; in 2000, 23% of all Los Angeles County jail inmates were illegal aliens and that in 1995, 60% of Los Angeless largest street gang, the 18th Street gang, were illegal aliens.
@amysherman
The drama of the race to lead the Florida Democratic Party will travel to left-leaning Broward when the candidates convene at a forum in Pompano Beach Jan. 11.
Wealthy donor/developer Stephen Bittel, activist Alan Clendenin, former state Sen. Dwight Bullard, Duval County's Lisa King and Osceola Democratic chair Leah Carius have all confirmed they will attend, said Tim Canova, one of the organizers. The forum gives Democratic activists in Broward -- the county with the highest number of registered Democrats -- a chance to hear how the candidates hope to reinvigorate the party after its crushing defeat in November with an eye toward 2018 races for Senate and governor.
But ultimately, the opinion of only two Democrats in Broward matter -- state committeeman Ken Evans and committeewoman Grace Carrington -- who get a powerful vote in the chair election in Orlando Jan. 14th.
Evans said he hasn't decided who he will vote for but said he will base his decision on who Broward Democrats coalesce around. Carrington said in a text to the Miami Herald "I'm not making my decision until 10 minutes before the vote."
Votes are weighted based on the number of registered Democrats in each county which means that Broward and Miami-Dade get a major say in the chair election to replace Allison Tant.
Chair candidates have been racing around the state meeting with Democratic leaders who get a vote and other activists who will try to sway the vote.
One of the key organizers of the Pompano forum is Progress for All, a group headed by former Congressional candidate Canova who lost the Democratic primary to U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Canova said he hasn't backed any candidate so far.
The race for Florida Democratic Party chair has been full of drama. Weeks ago, it appeared that Bittel, a wealthy donor and Coconut Grove developer, was the frontrunner when other key candidates failed to become eligible in their own counties. In Miami-Dade, Bret Berlin won a state committeeman seat and then quickly resigned to make way for Bittel to run for the post, a prerequisite to running statewide. Bittel beat Bullard 250-161.
It appeared that Bullard had given up -- he didn't show up for his own election because he was on a family cruise. But then he revived his bid by moving to Gadsden County, a small rural county in northern Florida, where he won a state committeeman spot Tuesday.
Bullard was the second candidate to move to keep his candidacy alive: after Clendenin lost in Hillsborough County, he moved into a rented trailer in Bradford County and won a similar post there.
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The skyrocketing price of housing was the biggest economic story in Missoula in 2016.
Housing prices affect every segment of the economy in some way or another, and Missoula experienced an unprecedented spike this year. From Jan. 1 to Nov. 30, the median sales price of the 1,164 homes sold in Missoula was $256,000, an increase of $16,000 over the same period last year.
The trend is only increasing. In November, 97 homes sold for a median price of $267,000. Just five years ago, the median sales price was $50,000 less than it is now. An economist with the University of Montana recently told the City Council that Missoulas housing prices have increased more since 1990 than places like Seattle and San Francisco.
The reasons for the price increases include Missoulas geography a lack of land that can be developed and a steady population increase of around 1.5 percent every year. There are efforts to alleviate the pressure, including construction of affordable housing by the local nonprofit Homeword and the creation of a housing office at the city level under the direction of Eran Fowler Pehan.
The price increases are great news for sellers who move elsewhere and people who locked into a mortgage before things got out of control, but for everyone else it threatens great financial stress. It remains to be seen if city leaders and market forces can figure out a way to take control of the situation.
To the tune of Twelve Days of Christmas, Missoula parks and trails enjoyed the 12 months of 2016:
12 playground upgrades
11 Fort Missoula sports fields
10 miles of bike trails
9-1-1 trail markers
8,000 square feet of art space
655 acres of county open space
Five gold rings (worth $36 million)
Four conservation easements
3,000 more volunteer hours
Two more playgrounds coming
And an urban forest of pruned park trees.
Its really impressive how our residents want to invest in our place, Missoula City Parks and Recreation Department Director Donna Gaukler said Thursday.
Ten years ago, city and county officials were looking for ways to build on the momentum generated by a new aquatics facility, the Mobash skate park, a new art museum and open-space additions. Many of those ideas blossomed this year.
I hadnt really realized that until I saw it all amassed on the sheet, Missoula County Parks and Trails Coordinator John Stegmaier said. Things came together on a lot of really significant projects this year. The outcome is pretty tremendous.
Accomplishments like the Missoula-Lolo bike trail along Highway 93 also involved state and federal assistance. Private donors and local organizations like Five Valleys Land Trust partnered with the local government programs to share the burden.
New play space will become available both inside and outside the city. The acquisition of the Montana Rail Link 4.5-acre parcel adds a second park to the citys most child-dense Franklin-to-the-Fort neighborhood. And conservation easements on the South Hills and Farviews fringes near Pattee Canyon put some scenic vantage points into public use.
Whats also incredible was the number of good-paying jobs over the year, Gaukler said. We had 26 contracts for the Fort Missoula Regional Park that all went to Missoula or Bitterroot firms. The only one that went outside was for a synthetic turf thats not made in Montana. Thats really good for business.
All told, Missoula city and county governments and their partners spent $36 million on 17 open space, trails or parks and playground projects in 2016.
The citys bike-pedestrian trail network got some technical upgrades as well. Wooden bollards every tenth of a mile help users navigate the several different routes, making it easier to know when the Kim Williams Trail becomes the Milwaukee Road Trail. Names and mileage marks also allow callers to tell emergency dispatchers exactly where they need help, or want to report a crime.
Its a small project, Gaukler said, but what a change. You know where youre going and you can find each other.
A new bare-root tree nursery at the Missoula Wastewater Treatment Facility will help urban foresters replace the valleys aging maples, and green up its new neighborhoods. Seeley Lake added a connecting trail between Highway 83 and Seeley-Swan High School.
West Riverside added an 8-foot-wide path to help pedestrians and bikers stay safe from traffic moving around the Interstate 90 interchange. Another path connects communities on the north side of the Clark Fork River with the Kim Williams Trail on the south bank.
Grant Creek got a new 1.3-mile addition to its bike route, and the South Reserve Street Crossing Bridge will be finished next spring.
When you have a shared vision, its amazing what you can make happen, Gaukler said. Weve gone through years of planning with citizens that got us on the right track.
Bonus points to the first seven readers who noticed we couldnt finagle a No. 7 in the Days of Christmas parks and recreation list.
Seven multiple-use recreation groups have filed suit seeking to force the Bitterroot National Forest to redo its travel plan signed last May.
In the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Missoula, the groups say Bitterroot Forest officials ignored key input by the public and violated existing statutes and policies in developing the plan that establishes where motorized travel is allowed.
Bitterroot Forest officials spent more than nine years developing the plan after considering 13,400 comments. It shut off thousands of acres of areas classified as Wilderness Study Areas to snowmobilers, ATV riders and mountain bikers.
The groups that filed suit include the Bitterroot Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club, Ravalli County Off-Road User Association, Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists, Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association, Montana Snowmobile Association, Citizens for Balanced Use and Backcountry Sled Patriots.
Dan Thompson, a long-time member of the Bitterroot Ridge Runners and Ravalli County Off-Road User Association, said the decision to file suit wasnt an easy one.
Before moving forward, Thompson said the groups needed to have some assurance that a lawsuit could be successful in resolving some of the issues presented by the closures.
This coalition is kind of different, Thompson said. We dont have any deep pockets to reach into. We are spending money that belongs to our friends and neighbors.
In the event that we dont prevail, we will have spent a whole bunch of real peoples money, he said.
At its core, Thompson said there were two issues that forced the groups to move forward.
We worked so hard with the Forest Service to bring our points of view forward on what we thought were substantial issues, which were often supported by real data, Thompson said. By and large, all of our concerns were ignored.
Instead, Thompson said the agency focused on the idea that there were widespread conflicts occurring between motorized and non-motorized recreation groups.
That theme of widespread conflicts dominated the travel plan, he said. The Forest Service addressed those alleged conflicts by creating additional areas of quiet spaceWe dont see those conflicts. The data said there werent any conflicts.
More than half of the Bitterroot National Forest is already in wilderness, he said.
When you consider that half is reserved for quiet users, how can you make the case for a need for more of it? he said.
Stan Spencer of Missoula helped form Backcountry Sled Patriot four years ago after becoming concerned about the loss of off-trail, high alpine areas being closed to snowmobile traffic on public lands.
Spencer said the new Bitterroot Forest travel plan follows that trend by closing additional high elevation acreage to across-the-snow travel in two areas designated as Wilderness Study Areas.
Some of those areas were being used by snowmobilers before the areas were designated. In the case of the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area, Spencer said the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest allows snowmobiling on the portion of the WSA it manages.
There is a line right down the middle of it where snowmobiling is allowed and where it isnt, Spencer said. That is kind of perplexing to have management that is so diametrically opposed.
We would like to see the restrictions on motorized travel on the WSAs reversed, he said. There were no reasons given for closing it other than it should be a quiet area.
Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists Lance Pysher said the agencys decision to move forward with the plan without doing adequate monitoring of the situation on the ground was what forced the mountain biking group to join the legal challenge.
They did no analysis on the volume of use on the trails we use, Pysher said. Without that kind of data, it seems kind of crazy to kick us off the trails weve been riding for 20 years. We want the Forest Service to actually analyze our impact.
We dont want that decision to be based on a hand wave and the notion that they think this or believe that, he said. We want proactive analysis, not reactive management based on anecdotes.
But not everyone is unhappy with the decision to close down mechanized travel on Wilderness Study Areas.
Jim Miller, president of the Friends of the Bitterroot, said the law and Wilderness Study Act is clear that the lands are to be preserved and maintained for the wilderness qualities that existed in 1977 when the act was passed. The idea that motorized travel is a conforming use has been rejected by the courts for more than 20 years.
I think the Forest Service is on very solid ground in terms of their interpretation of the Wilderness Study Act and the decision by the courts, Miller said. While I understand the disappointment of the motorized and mechanized users, unfortunately the error was to allow those uses there in the first place.
If the Chain of Lakes trail hadnt been built through the middle of the Sapphire WSA, Miller said motorized recreational users wouldnt have felt entitled to the use of that area now.
Miller said the Friends of the Bitterroot group didnt get everything it wanted, either, in the travel plan. Two examples: some of the inventoried roadless areas allow motorized travel and dispersed camping is allowed within 300 feet of a road.
I think the Forest Service did the right thing on the Wilderness Study areas, he said. I dont think the groups will be successful in their legal challenge.
While Bitterroot Forest spokesman Tod McKay couldnt comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, we do believe that the travel plan provides quality recreation experiences for both motorized and non-motorized users, reduces user conflicts and protects forest natural resources and wildlife.
The plan leaves 2,246 miles of road and trails open to motorized use, which McKay said equals the distance between Hamilton and New York City.
There are also 543,840 acres open to snowmobile use. McKay said that encompasses about a third of the national forest.
McKay said there was an extensive and thorough public outreach that included a record number of public comments, dozens of public meetings and extending the comment period twice to allow for additional public input.
I am appalled at two signatories of the Dec. 27 letter to "fellow Americans from Montanas leaders.
U.S. Sen. Steve Daines and U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke and nearly every Republican never disavowed Donald Trump; his surrogates' and supporters' attacks on Muslims, blacks, Jews, women, immigrants; and Trumps slashing publicly of even child critics of him.
You, Daines and Zinke, are responsible for the white racist issues surfacing in Whitefish, you are the enablers of that which you disavow in the letter. At best, your inclusion in this letter is despicable.
Terry Marasco,
Corvallis
Dec. 23, the Security Council of the United Nations passed resolution 2334 (2016) by a vote of 140, with the United States abstaining. Anyone who stands on the side of justice should welcome the passage of this resolution.
In Item 2, the countries of the United Nations demand that Israel immediately and completely cease all settlement activities in the occupied Palestinian territory.
This resolution is significant because this is practically the first time that the United States has not vetoed a Security Council Resolution that is critical of Israel.
The background to this resolution is as follows: In the six-day war of 1967, initiated by Israel, Israeli forces took control of East Jerusalem and the land between the Jordan River and the accepted eastern border of Israel (often referred to as the West Bank). This land had been under the jurisdiction of Jordan. Since then, the West Bank has been under military occupation by Israeli forces. According to the Fourth Geneva Convention, countries are not allowed to acquire land in wars of conquest, military occupations must be short, and an occupying power cannot move its citizens into the occupied territory.
Presently Israel maintains control of around 90 percent of the West Bank, and since 1967 has moved half a million Israeli Jews into the West Bank, where 2.5 million Palestinians are being confined to less and less territory. The settlements have turned the occupied territories into an apartheid state, in which two populations live under different laws, dictated by the Israeli government; and these laws substantially favor the Israeli settler minority.
Words on a piece of paper cannot by themselves deter an implacable government; however, this resolution does give international leverage both for the implementation of a two-state solution for Palestinians and Israelis, and for a just and democratic existence for the Palestinian people now under military occupation.
Sam Neff,
Whitefish
PORTLAND, Ore. A federal judge has denied Oregon refuge occupier Ryan Payne's request to withdraw his guilty plea.
U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown ruled Wednesday that Payne's plea in the Oregon case wasn't, as his attorney argued, contingent on reaching a plea agreement in a case against him in Nevada, The Oregonian/OregonLive reported.
"Payne's factual statements supporting his guilty plea were both thorough and unequivocal," Brown wrote in her 32-page ruling.
Payne, of Anaconda, acknowledged in July that he conspired with others to prevent Interior Department employees from doing their jobs during the 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Payne was one of 11 defendants to plead guilty before others in the case went to trial and were found not guilty.
Three co-defendants, including Payne, filed motions to withdraw guilty pleas. The judge hasn't issued rulings on the other motions filed by Joseph O'Shaughnessy and Eric Flores.
In Nevada, he's accused of organizing "armed protection" in an April 2014 standoff over impounding Cliven Bundy's cattle.
Payne's attorney had also argued that his client's plea should be withdrawn because Ammon Bundy Cliven Bundy's son and others were acquitted of the same charges. Brown ruled that the plea stood on those grounds as well.
"This is not a case in which there is a new question as to Payne's factual innocence after the trial of his Co-Defendants," Brown wrote. "Indeed, it remains undisputed that Payne was a leader of the occupation" of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Under the plea agreement, federal prosecutors were to recommend a 12-year sentence, but Payne could have argued for seven years. It is unclear if that recommended sentence will remain since no plea agreement has been reached in the Nevada case.
Payne will be sentenced at a later date.
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DILLON The University of Montana Western Dances with Words visiting author 2017 series begins at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 18, with Montana author Rick Bass. The reading will be at The Cup in Montana Westerns Swysgood Technology Center.
Referred to as a national treasure by author Carl Hiassen, Bass has won numerous awards, including multiple Pushcart Prizes and O. Henry Awards, and his stories, articles and essays have appeared in the Paris Review, the New Yorker, the Atlantic Monthly among many other widely read publications.
His most recent nonfiction book, Why I Came West, was a finalist for a National Book Critics Circle Award.
Montana poet Lowell Jaeger will read from his works on Thursday, April 13. Jaeger has an extensive collection of published books of poetry and journal publications.
He is the founding editor of Many Voices Press, which began when he found himself inheriting poems of three former students whod passed away without having their poetry heard.
Jaeger has been awarded the NEA Fellowship, Grolier Poetry Peace Prize, Montana Arts Council Fellowship and Montana Governor's Humanities Award. He is currently a professor of English and creative writing at Flathead Valley Community College, and serves as the humanities division chair.
Montana native Shann Ray will close out the series with a reading on Thursday, April 27. His debut novel, American Copper won the Foreword Book of the Year Readers Choice Award and the Western Writers of America Spur Award. The novel was also a finalist for the Washington State Book Award, the High Plains Book Award and the Foreword Book of the Year Award for Literary Fiction.
He is the winner of numerous poetry and writing awards, including the Creative Writing Distinguished Alumni Award from Eastern Washington University.
Ray teaches leadership and forgiveness studies at Gonzaga University in Spokane, Wash.
The Dances with Words series is free and open to the public.
Outgoing Clerk of Court Lori Maloney shed tears in the rotunda of the courthouse as she spoke to more than 20 newly elected county officials during Thursday mornings swearing-in ceremony.
Being elected to a position in your local government is a very big deal, Maloney said. These folks who will be taking the oath of office today are your representatives to this government. This is a very big task to undertake and one that will fall upon these men and women.
Maloney, who has over 45 years of public service under her belt, says she gets emotional every time new officials take the oath.
Because its a life changer for these people that were sworn in today, Maloney told The Montana Standard. Its a new adventure for them.
This years ceremony had special meaning for Maloney because its the last shell attend as an elected official.
Maloney didnt seek reelection this year, and among those who took the oath Thursday was her successor, Tom Powers, who Maloney personally swore in herself.
"We would like to thank you in our confidence in us," Maloney said on behalf of outgoing elected officials. "It has truly been an honor for us to serve this community so thank you.
Also serving Butte-Silver Bow for the first time is District 12 Commissioner Dan Callaghan.
Callaghan, who took Chief Executive Dave Palmers seat on the council, said hes excited about his new role and working with Dave and doing some good things for the community.
But for Palmer, public service is nothing new.
Palmer has served for a combined 20 years on the council, and he said he has these words of wisdom for those coming to public office for the first time:
Work as a team. Its a team effort and dont try to do everything by yourself, said Palmer. Work together and youll get a lot more done.
Palmer also extended a message of gratitude to those leaving office, such as outgoing Chief Executive Matt Vincent, who lost to Palmer in Novembers election.
Id like to congratulate the outgoing elected officials, Palmer said. They deserve a big thank you.
As for Maloney, she left officials with her own words of wisdom.
My father used to say that holding public office is like dancing on a crowded dance floor: No matter how you move youre going to rub somebody the wrong way, Maloney said. I would encourage each of you to remember that we are together in this government because it is our local government and it will only be as good as you want it to be.
WASHINGTON -- "Spare us the kissy-face."
It was June 2001 and I was covering President George W. Bush's trip to Slovenia, where he had just met Vladimir Putin for the first time. I and others were struck by Bush's praise for the Russian leader as "trustworthy." Said Bush: "I was able to get a sense of his soul."
But back in Washington, my editor had no interest in such talk. He rewrote my lede with other news -- a tidbit about missile defense -- and he moved the "kissy-face" stuff about Putin's soul down to Paragraph 18.
In retrospect, that moment in Slovenia defined the Russia relationship for years to come. Putin had seduced Bush, who only slowly came to understand he had misjudged this adversary's soul. Putin opposed Bush in Iraq and was unhelpful with Iran. He shut down independent television, sent business leaders who criticized him into exile and prison, ousted democratic parties from government, canceled the election of governors and invaded Georgia.
The kissy-face happened all over again when President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to "reset" relations. Russia responded by working against the United States in Syria, sheltering Edward Snowden, invading and occupying parts of Ukraine, and hacking and meddling in the U.S. election to defeat Clinton.
Now it's Donald Trump's turn for kissy-face, and the president-elect is practically groping the Russian dictator. After Putin gloated Friday that Democrats need to learn "to lose with dignity," Trump tweeted Putin a sloppy kiss: "So true!" he said of Putin's comments.
Trump also celebrated a letter he received from Putin calling for more collaboration between the two countries. "His thoughts are so correct," Trump said.
Trump's blush-inducing embrace of the strongman has included repeated praise of Putin's leadership, deflected questions about Putin's political killings and disparagement of U.S. intelligence for accusing Russia of election meddling.
In three weeks, Trump will assume the presidency, and we'll learn what his embrace of Putin really means. Perhaps Trump is just a dupe and he'll realize over time that Putin is no friend. The alternative, supported by Trump's choice of Putin-friendly advisers Michael T. Flynn and Rex Tillerson, is that Trump really is pro-Putin and will grant the Russian dictator more latitude internationally and will emulate his autocratic tendencies at home.
The former would require us to endure some policy failures as Putin proved himself again to be an adversary. The latter would test the limits of our democratic institutions.
In either case, it would be useful for Americans to have at least a cursory sense of the man our new president proposes to embrace. Here's a quick glimpse into Putin's soul to get us started:
Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was killed outside the Kremlin as he walked home one night last year. Putin's regime blames Chechens, but Nemtsov's is one of a dozen high-profile murders of opponents widely thought to have been sanctioned by Putin's government.
Another Putin opponent, Alexander Litvinenko, was killed in London by polonium poisoning in 2006. The British government said Putin "probably" approved the hit. That same year, opposition journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot and killed outside her apartment.
Among the many business leaders imprisoned or ousted under Putin are Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was head of the oil giant Yukos, and associate Platon Lebedev. The Russian human rights group Memorial says there are 102 people held in Russian prisons for their political or religious beliefs.
The Kremlin has provided funding and training for far-right nationalist parties in Europe, and it used its state media and an army of hackers and social-media trolls to spread disinformation in the United States, in continental Europe and in Britain before the Brexit vote. The goals: to weaken European unity and the NATO alliance and to keep Europe dependent on Russian energy.
Russia also used disinformation to destabilize the Ukrainian government as Russia annexed Crimea. In Syria, where Russia propped up the Assad regime with indiscriminate bombing in Aleppo and elsewhere, Britain, France and the United States have blamed Putin's government for the mass slaughter of civilians.
An Amnesty International summary of Putin's rule leaves no doubt about his totalitarian state: "Journalist Killed Human Rights Lawyer Killed Gay Rights Protesters Attacked Repressive Laws Enacted Fines for 'Promoting Homosexuality' Imposed President Putin Signs Law to Re-criminalize Defamation USAID Expelled Federal Treason and Espionage Act goes into effect Moscow Authorities Detain Protesters and Opposition Party Members."
This, Mr. President-elect, is the man you are embracing. Please spare us the kissy-face.
Follow Dana Milbank on Twitter, @Milbank.
(c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group
Last year, I stood in the middle of Browning High Schools cafeteria taking questions from earnest juniors and seniors. These government class students grilled me on my views of national current events, local policy issues, and even how they could influence decisions made in their own school. The toughest question came from a young women who asked how I got to where I am today, and how she too could build a bright future. I explained that I showed up for school every day, worked hard, and relied on support from my family and teachers who were always there to steer me in the right direction.
Montanas educators are some of the best in the nation. Thats true when I was a high school student, and its true today. When students from all over the state are thinking critically and asking reflective questions, I see proof of dedicated educators.
Its our educators who have worked alongside me for the last eight years to make sure students have the foundation necessary for future success. Its because of the long hours, tough work and passion of Montanas educators that I get to say more students are graduating from high school than ever before, and theyre better prepared than any previous generation.
Together we can tout these successes because weve raised the academic bar for all students. Weve expanded learning opportunities for teachers, so they can learn and share innovative ways of reaching students. Weve developed technology tools that allow educators to identify students who might be slipping behind, and catch them before they fall.
Together weve emphasized college and career readiness by offering the ACT free for all juniors, expanded career and technical student organizations, and supported work-based learning opportunities so students get real-world experience while theyre still in school.
Together weve expanded school nutrition programs by serving more breakfasts, lunches, and summer meals to students who may not know when theyll get a good meal at home. Weve expanded Montanas Farm to School efforts so students not only have access to healthy options, but local schools are supporting our local farmers and food producers.
Together weve worked to address bullying and mental health crises in our schools and provided educators with more tools to help students who might be desperate for support. I can say without question that our educators have not only saved lives, but have given students a renewed sense of hope when theyve needed it most.
Together we have protected and enriched all public schools, a place where all students are welcome and will receive a high-quality education, no matter their race, gender, sexual orientation, economic status, or heritage.
As I end my tenure as state superintendent, I would like to thank Montana educators for your tireless commitment to making our state a better place and ensuring the next generation is ready to lead. Because of your work, Ive had the distinct pleasure of waking up each day over the last eight years excited about what our future holds.
Going from a student at Browning High School all the way to leading Montanas 821 public schools, Ive never been more proud of what weve accomplished together.
-- Denise Juneau, Helena, Montana Superintendent of Public Instruction, 2009-2016
Montanans dont have to imagine a world without environmental regulations protecting the quality of their air, water and soil. From the asbestos cleanup that continues in Libby to the recent massive die-off of snow geese that landed in the toxic Berkeley Pit near Butte, our state is littered with reminders of what happens when polluting industries are left to police themselves.
These grim reminders should be in the front of our minds as the federal agency responsible for managing and cleaning up these public health disasters faces an existential threat to its existence in the form of Scott Pruitt. President-elect Donald Trumps nomination of Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency would be a step backwards for the air and water quality protections that have made Montana a cleaner, healthier place for children and families.
Many of us have been around long enough to remember what Montana was like before the Clean Air Act and Clean Water Act, enforced by the EPA, began protecting citizens from the effects of mercury, ozone and other pollutants. Billings, which for decades lived with dangerous rates of sulfur dioxide, now enjoys healthy air because of EPA protections. The coal ash ponds near Colstrip, which have leaked contaminated water into local aquifers for decades, will soon be cleaned up. Ongoing work to clean up the pollution from copper mining near Butte is putting the area on a path towards cleaner water.
The EPA played a key role in all of these issues and continues to invest in projects that leave our state cleaner for the next generation, while providing local cleanup and restoration jobs. In the fiscal year 2016, the EPA awarded $35.8 million in federal grants to improve water systems, implement pollution controls, and clean up environmental damage in Montana. In fact, the majority of EPAs budget goes to states to improve public health and environmental quality, also creating jobs in the process. If the EPAs safeguards get gutted and its budget gets slashed, Montana, home to 17 remaining Superfund sites, will suffer.
These restoration and pollution control projects have real, tangible impacts on public health. Nationwide, the Clean Air Act avoids more than 160,000 premature deaths a year, reducing airborne particulate matter and ground-level ozone pollution in our communities. The benefits are economic as well as social - fewer hospital visits and lost days at work due to bronchitis, asthma and other cardiovascular diseases will translate to more than $2 trillion in economic benefits by 2020.
With his talk of putting America first, youd think that maintaining these public health victories and searching for additional ways to lengthen American lives would be one of President-elect Trumps primary goals. But Trumps pick of Pruitt to head the EPA shows that public health isnt a priority.
As Attorney General of Oklahoma, Pruitt has consistently concerned himself more with the fossil fuel industrys profit margins than health outcomes. He sued the EPA to halt mercury pollution from coal plants like Colstrip. He sued to stop limits on power plant emissions of smog pollution containing nitrogen oxides, which cause lung infections and lead to asthma attacks. He has also questioned the scientific consensus on climate change and sued to stop the EPAs regulations limiting methane emissions, one of the most potent forms of climate pollution.
Its hard to envision an EPA administrator less concerned with public health or the environment than Scott Pruitt. With its long history of having to clean up environmental messes, Montana knows all too well what happens when the fossil fuel and mining industries are allowed to cut corners. Thats not the Montana, or nation, we want to leave to our children.
-- Dr. Lori Byron, Billings, is a pediatrician in Big Horn and Yellowstone Counties and is the past president of the Montana Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics.
A sprinkler activation system successfully limited the damage after an early-morning house fire broke out at off-campus Montana Tech student housing at 1038 Missoula Ave. on Friday.
At 5:42 a.m. Friday, firefighters quickly extinguished the fire in apartment 1032 and kept it from spreading to the interior of the apartment and adjoining apartments.
The fire originated in an exterior barbecue used the previous evening, according to Butte-Silver Bow Fire Department responders.
One of three male occupants suffered from smoke inhalation and was treated, and A-1 Ambulance transported him to the hospital, according to a county press release.
The fire damaged exterior siding, two large exterior windows, the front door, and an overhead awning. It resulted in water damage, but the sprinkler system confined the fire to the exterior and kept it from engulfing the entire residential complex, saving lives and limiting property damage, according to the report.
Fire crews cleared the scene after 7 a.m. Responders included the BSB police and the Big Butte Fire Department.
We thank Montana Tech for having a properly installed and maintained automatic fire sprinkler system, said Assistant Fire Chief Brian Doherty.
Total cost damages to the involved structure were minimal, he said. A-1 Ambulance transported the injured civilian to the emergency room. His condition is unknown.
This is a great sprinkler success story. The facilities sprinkler and alarm systems did their jobs, said Doherty.
There were no fatalities, minimal amounts of property damage, and after some minor clean-up, this apartment should be back up and running quickly. This is a great example of how sprinklers save lives; they are efficient, effective, and essential in protecting both lives and property.
Friday afternoon, cleaners from Dayspring Restoration were tearing out damaged carpets and cleaning up smoke damage. Workers Matt Popham and Patrick Hennessey estimated the cleanup would take two weeks to a month.
HELENA A 23-year-old probation absconder from Great Falls faces a charge of attempted deliberate homicide following a shootout during an interrupted burglary near Wolf Creek.
Prosecutors say Kaleb Edward Daniels tried to shoot the owner of the home he was burgling Wednesday afternoon. Daniels pointed a handgun at the victim and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire, according to court documents filed Thursday afternoon. He then reportedly tried to chamber another round.
The homeowner then shot Daniels' accomplice, Jory Russell Strizich, in the leg, authorities said. Strizich, 26, is hospitalized for a gunshot wound to his right shin. An arrest warrant has been issued for him on a felony charge of aggravated burglary.
The cabin owner shot Strizich, who was approaching him in a threatening manner while Daniels attempted to rack his gun, court documents state. The victim said he fired a warning round into the ground just before shooting again, striking Strizich.
The incident began when a husband and wife arrived at their cabin on the 4000 block of Little Wolf Creek Road to find an unfamiliar sport-utility vehicle parked outside and two men inside burgling the residence, authorities said.
Authorities launched into a manhunt after receiving a report of the shooting at 2:16 p.m. Wednesday.
After another armed homeowner called 911 to report Daniels trying to break into a home on Recreation Road, Daniels was apprehended in a snowbank following a short foot chase with officers about three hours after the shooting. He was not in possession of a handgun when he was apprehended.
Strizich was still on the loose at this time. While being questioned by detectives, Daniels said officials weren't "looking very hard" but declined to elaborate. Daniels also denied any involvement in a burglary or shooting, court documents note.
Meanwhile, members of the local SWAT team were called to assist in the manhunt along with a sheriff's deputy with a K-9.
Around 6:30 p.m., authorities found Strizich, who had broken into a cabin about a half-mile from the victim's residence. The SWAT team made contact with Strizich, who said he had been shot and needed help, court documents say. Strizich told officers he had been shot at the victim's cabin.
Daniels also faces a felony charge of aggravated burglary. He's being held on $100,000 bond.
Authorities had been searching for Daniels, who was wanted on two warrants out of Great Falls. He is on probation for convictions of theft and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, also out of Great Falls.
Strizich was not currently under supervision, but served time in prison for felony theft.
MUSCATINE, Iowa Ten firefighters received a Unit or Company Citation this week for the successful high-angle rope rescue they completed in November, the first time the award has been given since the award program was implemented in 2012.
Fire Chief Jerry Ewers of the Muscatine Fire Department said the firefighters who participated in the rescue received the award for their success in the rescue, the first of its kind Ewers has seen during his almost 30 years with the department.
"This was truly probably a once in a career, or once in a lifetime rescue of this nature at these elevations," he said.
A contracted employee of MidAmerican Energy was in need of rescue on Nov. 15 at the Louisa Generating Station after he became trapped in an industrial elevator basket, suspended more than 200 feet in the air inside a more than 600-foot chimney. That height would be comparable to being trapped outside the 20th floor of a 60-story building.
Although Muscatine Fire Department employees have practiced and trained for rope rescues, doing drills at a water tower and local businesses, nothing they have done was on the scale of what they encountered on the call in November, Ewers said.
"And it's important to recognize our employees for a job well done, because again the idea is that, you know, we practice and we train and we educate people," he said. "The whole idea of our jobs is preparation."
That preparation is critical, Ewers said, and the department works throughout the year to train employees for a wide variety of situations.
"You have to train and you have to be prepared because you never know when that alarm goes off what kind of call or what kind of emergency you're gonna have to encounter," he said.
The recipients of the award are as follows: Battalion Chief Darrell Janssen, Captain Gary Ronzheimer, Lieutenant Joe Timmsen, Mechanic Chris Brase, and firefighters Travis Edward, Aaron Meredith, Jon Wieland, Michael Hoppe, Spencer Ripperger and Trevor Levins.
Each was given a formal citation, a letter with a description of the event, and a ribbon for their formal uniform.
Ewers said although some of those who responded may not have had recent practice with a rope rescue, they were able to draw on their training and work together.
"You still have to be competent enough to use all your skills as a team to accomplish the task at hand," he said. "And so they did that and I was proud of the guys that did this five/six hour rescue."
MUSCATINE, Iowa - The Muscatine High School Class of 1951 will meet for lunch at 11:15 a.m. on Thursday, Jan. 5, at the Pizza Ranch, 106 Ford Ave., Muscatine. All class members,spouses, and friends are welcome.
MUSCATINE, Iowa Area teens will be able to travel through Platform 9 to a world of witchcraft, wizardry, and adventure that will come to life at Musser Public Library's first Yule Ball on Saturday night.
Betty Collins, the children's librarian, will perform the role of Professor McGonagall, a character in the "Harry Potter" book and film series. Collins said the event will begin small this year, but she hopes it will continue to grow as it becomes a yearly event.
"We want to try it out first ... and then we'd love to make it a big thing in the new building," she said.
Students will be sorted into houses Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin and will then earn points for their house throughout the evening. The winner of the house cup will be announced at the end of the night, after points have been tallied.
Guests from the Environmental Learning Center and the fictitious world of Harry Potter are also expected to attend the ball.
Library Assistants Julie Lear and Kimi Bridgewater helped create the decorations and shape the world of Harry Potter in the library. The event fit with the library's desire to encourage readers, Collins said.
"Harry Potter is such a big thing for kids ... and it was sort of a milestone in reading for children because all of a sudden all of these kids and teens wanted to read these enormous books with lots of words and then it just really caught on," she said.
Students from Central and West Middle School, Ss. Mary and Mathias Catholic School, Muscatine High School, and home school students were invited to celebrate New Year's Eve at Musser Public Library.
"We wanted to do something about Harry potter but we were also thinking it would be nice to have something for teens on New Year's Eve that was fun and special and just for them," Collins said.
Collins said several free tickets are still available, and can be picked up from the library or held if parents call before 2 p.m. Saturday. Middle School students will attend the ball from 9-10:30 p.m., and High School students from 11 p.m.-12:30 a.m.
To collect a ticket for the event, visit the Musser Public Library, 304 Iowa Ave., or call 563-263-3065 before 2 p.m. Saturday to reserve a ticket.
COLUMBUS JUNCTION, Iowa - With little action to take and the citys annual Christmas party for city staff and officials waiting in the wings, the last Columbus Junction City Council meeting of 2016 on Wednesday was short.
We took about 12 minutes, Mayor Dan Wilson reported, explaining there had not been any major action items on the agenda.
According to Wilson, the only action taken by the council was to approve a liquor license renewal for the American Legion and to pay bills.
It was a quick meeting, he said.
Following the meeting, the city personnel held their pot-luck Christmas party at the Youth Center of the Louisa County Fairgrounds.
Its nice to get together once in a while to socialize, Wilson said.
MUSCATINE, Iowa Several fourth-sixth grade students investigated a crime scene through Iowa State University (ISU) Extension and Outreach in Muscatine County Thursday.
The day camp, held from 8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., gave children a chance to have fun a learn while they were on winter break.
Dana Yerington, the K-12 Outreach Educator with 4-H Youth Development, said Several day camps have been planned to give children a place to learn, and free parents from needing to find daycare for their children during breaks.
"One, as a parent I know how tough it is having daycare when you're still working and your kids aren't in school and they're not able to stay home yet," she said. "So why not have fun and have them come here."
Students investigated a crime scene, taped off in the corner of a room at the ISU Extension office with yellow crime scene ribbon, which held several footprints, other clues and the outline of a body. Yerington said she hoped students would have fun with the activity, while also learning more about Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) topics.
"Everybody likes mystery, even if you don't like science," she said.
The main character in the investigation curriculum, Felix, was found at the crime scene, but his body never got to the morgue so it could not be examined.
"So our campers, who are our detectives, have to figure out," Yerington said. "Did one of the four suspects kill him or did he stage his death?"
The children examined fingerprints, tested hair and learned about the four other people who were present in the story, trying to solve the mystery surrounding Felix's death. Four students worked to decode a message.
"So we're putting silly putty on the cardboard, and we have to hold it up to a mirror to see what it says because the message is backwards," said 10-year-old Nate Harfst.
Yerington said the programs she organizes work to build on children's STEM education while they have fun.
"So everything I offer is hands-on," she said. "It's the experiential learning model that we do, which is why I enjoy it so much."
Friday's day camp, "Fashion Upcycle," focuses on hands-on creating, using T-shirts, recycled products and other items to create and design an outfit, a journal, and an organizer.
That hands-on experience can be important in an era of technology, Yerington said, when students might not have the opportunity to create useful items out of materials that could be found around their own homes.
"I want them to realize that they have been learning but they had fun," she said. "And if they tell me they want to come back or recommend it to their friends it's a win-win for all of us."
For more information about day camps scheduled by ISU Extension and Outreach in Muscatine and in West Liberty, visit www.extension.iastate.edu/muscatine or contact Yerington at 563-263-5701.
Smart Rating: 87.45
Release year: 2000
Genre: Comedy Drama
Ulysses Everett McGill (George Clooney) is having difficulty adjusting to his hard-labor sentence in Mississippi. He scams his way off the chain gang with simple Delmar (Tim Blake Nelson) and maladjusted Pete (John Turturro), then the trio sets out to pursue freedom and the promise of a fortune in buried treasure. With nothing to lose and still in shackles, their hasty run takes them on an incredible journey of awesome experiences and colorful characters.
Smart Rating: 84.19
Release year: 2005
Genre: Drama, Thriller
The Middle Eastern oil industry is the backdrop of this tense drama, which weaves together numerous story lines. Bennett Holiday (Jeffrey Wright) is an American lawyer in charge of facilitating a dubious merger of oil companies, while Bryan Woodman (Matt Damon), a Switzerland-based energy analyst, experiences both personal tragedy and opportunity during a visit with Arabian royalty. Meanwhile, veteran CIA agent Bob Barnes (George Clooney) uncovers an assassination plot with unsettling origins.
Les blattes ou cafards (Blatta orientalis) sont des insectes qui appartiennent a la famille des Blattoptera. Ils se caracterisent par leur forme allongee, leurs ailes []
Freemasons dedicated the cornerstone of the new St. Helena Performing Arts Center on Friday, in a rare public display of one of the secretive
REAL forensic investigation determines Barack Obamas birth certificate really was a Photoshop fake
President-elect Donald J. Trump was accused of being the primary source of the so-called birther movementthe questioning of whether or not President Obama was actually born in the United States and, thus, eligible to be presidentwhen in fact the originator of the movement was Hillary Clintons 2008 campaign.
In any event, the powers that be and, of course, the discredited mainstream media, laughed off as a wild conspiracy theory any mention of the fact that Obamas produced Hawaiian birth certificate was a forgery.
Now, it seems, a lengthy and comprehensive forensic investigation has concluded that, indeed, the copy produced by the Obama administration that is said to be an original is instead a forgery.
As reported by WorldNetDaily, which has long tracked and reported on the issue of Obamas birth certificate, a just-completed, years-long investigation ordered by Maricopa County, Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaiohimself and his department a target of Obamas Justice Departmentconfirms that those who were subjected to the derogatory birther label were right all along, at least regarding the document used to establish Obamas eligibility to be president.
At issue is the U.S. Constitutions requirement that presidents be a natural born citizen, while not actually defining the term. But as WND noted, scholarly works written by the founding fathers defined it as being a U.S. citizen at birth, born in the United States to two citizens of the country, or merely the offspring of two citizens.
Okay, it was fakednow what?
The birth certificate that Obama displayed on the White House website as proof positive he is eligible to be president says he was born in Hawaii to an American mother and Kenyan father. But either way, the Arpaio-ordered investigation has concluded that birth certificate to be not authentic.
Jerome Corsi, Ph.D., WND senior staff writer and author of Wheres the Birth Certificate? praised the findings.
He said Mike Zullo, head of the Cold Case Posse, and Arpaio have done the United States a heroic service demonstrating by forensic analysis that the long form birth certificate produced in a White House news conference on April 27, 2011, as Barack Obamas authentic birth certificate is a forgery.
So now what?
Corsi says that because the document produced is a fake, as demonstrated by a legitimate law enforcement forensic investigation, that also could mean that Obamas entire presidency was illegitimatemeaning every action taken (bills signed, executive orders issued, policies made) were also illegitimate, as in null and void.
Impeachment procedures may be required, he said, even if those procedures are conducted after Obama leaves office.
The real challenge, however, is getting anyone in authoritylike Congress or the Trump administrationto examine the findings, verify the studys conclusions, and then take action.
That shouldnt be difficult, given that a number of legitimate experts were involved in the multi-year investigation.
Sources:
WND.com
Breitbart.com
AZCentral.com
Thursday, December 22, 2016 by: David Gutierrez Tags: arrests , Flint water crisis This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
(Natural News) (NaturalNews) Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette has filed criminal charges against four more people in connection with the Flint water crisis, bringing the total number of people charged to 13. The office is also suing two engineering companies.
Those charged placed concern for finances over the health of Flint residents, Schuette said.
All too prevalent and very evident during the course of this investigation has been a fixation on finances and balance sheets. This fixation has cost lives. This fixation came with the expense of protecting the health and safety of Flint. Its all about numbers over people, money over health.
Stolen money used to poison children
The new charges center around a conspiracy to get the city to stop purchasing water from the city of Detroit in order to save money. This led Flint to draw water from the heavily contaminated Flint River, poisoning hundreds of children with lead and other heavy metals.
Two former emergency managers of Flint, Jerry Ambrose and Darnell Earley, were charged with felonies for conspiracy and false pretenses, and misdemeanors for misconduct in office and willful neglect of duty.
Due to its years-long financial crisis, Flint had its finances placed under the control of emergency managers. Schuette said that Ambrose and Earley supported the construction of the Karegnondi Water Authority (KWA) pipeline which has yet to be completed but knew the it could not be built without financial contributions from Flint. Because the city was millions of dollars in debt, they could not issue new bonds to pay for the pipeline. So, the men misused an emergency clause intended to deal with fire, flood, or other calamity to illicitly borrow tens of millions of dollars. Allegedly, the money was meant to clean up a contaminated lagoon; instead it was all diverted to the KWA.
With this money, the pipeline project moved forward, allowing Ambrose and Earley to push for Flint to disconnect from the Detroit water supply. The men had also concealed a provision in the bond application requiring Flint to get its drinking water from the Flint River while the KWA was under construction.
According to Schuette, the men knew that the Flint water plant was not properly equipped to treat water as heavily contaminated as that from the Flint River.
Ambrose and Earley, who reported directly to Governor Rick Snyder, are the highest level officials to be charged so far. Their indictment led U.S. Representative Elijah E. Cummings to demand once more that Snyder appear before the House Oversight Committee.
Investigation continues
The other men charged, Howard Croft and Daugherty Johnson, were officials at the city water plant during the switch. According to Schuette, they conspired with Ambrose and Earley to conceal signs that the water treatment plant wasnt ready for the switch.
Croft also is accused of approving a decision to not use anti-corrosive agents in the water supply. The absence of these agents caused the water to dissolve lead pipes, leaching lead into the water.
Although Croft cited concern over bacterial growth as his reason for keeping the anti-corrosives out of the water, the corrosion itself led to one of the countrys largest outbreaks of Legionnaires disease, killing a dozen people. Ambrose was warned about a Legionnaires outbreak in March 2015, but two weeks later still publicly insisted that the water was safe.
Schuette reiterated that his investigation is ongoing, and that no individual is immune.
There are voices out there that hope the poisoning of the water in Flint could be swept under the rug, he said. And they hope and wish that the 24-hour news cycle would move on to another subject. Flint deserves better, and the people of Flint are not expendable, so to move on is unacceptable.
The people previously indicted are accused of concealing and tampering with reports showing high lead levels in city water and the blood of residents, and of lying to federal officials.
Sources for this article include:
Edition.CNN.com
Uproxx.com
Edition.CNN.com
WashingtonPost.com
NPR.org
(Natural News) The European Unions top court has severely undermined the British governments mass surveillance powers in a new ruling that could rein in police and spy agency investigations.
In a judgment handed down in Luxembourg on Wednesday, the European Court of Justice declared that the general and indiscriminate retention of data about peoples communications and locations was inconsistent with privacy rights. The court stated that the highly invasive bulk storage of private data exceeds the limits of what is strictly necessary and cannot be considered to be justified, within a democratic society.
(Article by Ryan Gallagher, republished from TheIntercept.com)
Camilla Graham Wood, legal officer with the London-based group Privacy International, hailed the ruling as a victory for civil liberties advocates. Todays judgment is a major blow against mass surveillance and an important day for privacy, she said. It makes clear that blanket and indiscriminate retention of our digital histories who we interact with, when and how and where can be a very intrusive form of surveillance that needs strict safeguards against abuse and mission creep.
The European courts panel of 15 judges acknowledged in their ruling that modern investigative techniques were necessary to combat organized crime and terrorism, but said that this cannot justify the general and indiscriminate retention of all traffic and location data. Instead, the judges stated, it is acceptable for governments to engage in the targeted retention of data in cases involving serious crime, permitting that persons affected by any surveillance are notified after investigations are completed, and that access to the data is overseen by a judicial authority or an independent administrative authority.
The case was originally brought in December 2014 by two British members of parliament, who challenged the legality of the U.K. governments Data Retention and Investigatory Powers Act, which forced telecommunications companies to store records on their customers communication for 12 months. That law has since been replaced by the Investigatory Powers Act, which was recently approved by the British parliament and is expected soon to come into force.
Though the U.K. voted to leave the European Union earlier this year, Wednesdays decision remains at least in the short term highly significant, and will prove to be a severe headache for British government officials. The ruling will now be forwarded to the U.K.s Court of Appeal, where judges there will consider how to apply it in the context of national law. It may result in the government being forced to make changes to controversial sections of the Investigatory Powers Act, which enable police and spy agencies to access vast amounts of data on peoples internet browsing, instant messages, emails, phone calls, and social media conversations.
Read more at: TheIntercept.com
(Natural News) Many health conscious consumers rarely, if ever, microwave their food anymore, but when they do, they probably do not realize that theyre not just destroying the nutritional value of the food, but the nuker is negatively impacting their hearts.
The typical microwave frequency radiation coming from nukers seen in the average American kitchen is more than enough to screw with your heart rate and your heart rate variability. In fact, just 2.4 GHz, the average frequency produced by microwave ovens (and WiFi routers, by the way) can cause immediate and drastic changes to the human heart.
According to Dr. Magda Havas of Trent University, people exposed to radiation for just three minutes at 2.4-GHz can experience severe reactions in heart rate changes and altered heart rate variations, indicating an alarm response to stress, also called electrohypersensitivity (EHS) or rapid aging syndrome. This has been studied for decades. The response includes heart palpitations, clumping of red blood cells and fluctuations of the parasympathetic nervous system typical of a fight-or-flight response.
Dr. Havas also revealed that microwave ovens can lead to blood sugar spikes connected with diabetes. This usually happens when people stand within three feet of the oven while its running, like when anxious eaters park themselves directly in front of the microwave oven while waiting for those last few seconds to finish nuking their food or beverage.
Unequivocal evidence that microwave frequency radiation affects human heart
For years, bogus research and microwave oven fanatics have claimed that microwave ovens do not produce any immediate biological effects because the ordinary household level is far below federal guidelines. Most of those studies were conducted prior to the new millennium, but now environmental radiation is coming at us from multiple sources, including electromagnetic devices, laptops, WiFi and mobile phones.
Dr. Havas documented his peer-reviewed study and stated the following:
This is the first study that documents immediate and dramatic changes in both heart rate and heart rate variability caused by an approved device that generates microwaves at levels well below (0.3 percent) federal guidelines in both Canada and the United States.
Microwave sickness or the microwave effect dates back to WWII
Microwave ovens are a form of electromagnetic radiation dating back to radar used during WWII. Microwave ovens emit radiation from high and low energy, and have a wavelength around 5 inches. These waves are generated by a magnetron (derived from magnet and electron), the same function that enabled airborne radar used during the second world war; thats why microwave ovens were first called radar ranges. Nukers emit at 2,450 megaHertz (MHz), equivalent to 2.4 gigaHertz (GHz), causing dielectric heating, meaning the water molecules in the food vibrate violently at extremely high frequencies (millions of times per second), creating molecular friction, destroying nutrients and affecting the heart rate and variability of any person that stands near the oven. This is why its extremely dangerous to cook meat, because the blood is affected also, like the molecules in the water in food. Structures of those molecules are ripped apart and forcefully deformed. Some people call it electric whiplash.
In fact, microwaves are used in the field of gene altering to weaken cell membranes and to break cells apart. Those damaged cells in humans become targets for viruses, also known as the microwave effect or microwave sickness. Human tissues can experience the same violent deformations as your food thats nuked.
Do you use a microwave oven often and also happen to experience unexplained headaches, nervousness, anxiety, dizziness, vertigo, impaired cognition, depression, nausea after eating, vision problems, tooth and jaw aching, or extreme and constant thirst? These are the geno-toxic effects of damaging your tissues and interfering with normal heart and brain activity.
The Nazis invented the first microwave cooking device
The Nazis created a device to provide mobile food support for their troops when they invaded the Soviet Union. It was all experimental. Then the Russians and the U.S. researched the safety of these devices after the war. The Russians later banned the ovens when they figured out how dangerous they were, but not the USA! The FDA approves nearly everything that makes Americans sick, because Big Pharma is there to rescue us with expensive drugs, heart surgery, pacemakers and chemotherapy. Go figure.
Highly-cited Swiss clinical study by Hans Hertel reveals destructive effects of microwave ovens on human blood
One of the first food scientists to study the effects of microwaves on the blood and physiology of human beings was Dr. Hans Ulrich Hertel, who along with his biochemistry expert partners, concluded that microwaves resulted in negative health effects, including increased cholesterol levels, decreased numbers of red blood cells, decreased hemoglobin levels (indicating possible anemia) and decreased numbers of leukocytes (white blood cells).
Bottom line? Theres much more to worry about than just the loss of nutrition when nuking your food. You may also be nuking your blood, damaging your brain and disturbing your heart rate. Easy solution? Use your toaster oven and wait the extra couple of minutes for your food to heat. Its worth your health and sanity.
Sources for this article include:
YogaUOnline.com
ABC.net.au[PDF]
MagdaHavas.com
MagdaHavas.com
NaturalNews.com
Health-Science.com
UndergroundHealthReporter.com
Thursday, December 22, 2016 by: Daniel Barker Tags: kangaroo mother care , pediatrics , research This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
(Natural News) New research has shown that small and premature babies who receive what is called kangaroo mother care tend to live longer and experience fewer social problems as they mature compared to those kept in an incubator.
Kangaroo-style mothering involves breastfeeding and holding an infant upright against the mothers bare skin, an approach first documented in Colombia.
From The Guardian:
The kangaroo method involves the baby nestling in a kangaroo position on the caregivers chest as soon as possible after birth, accompanied by exclusive breastfeeding. Parent and child leave the hospital together as soon as possible after birth, after which there is rigorous monitoring of baby and mother for one year after the infants original due date (rather than the actual birth date).
A newly released follow-up study was conducted by the same team of experts who first showed that the kangaroo method is safe.
The study, published December 12 in the journal Pediatrics, involved 441 of 716 Colombian children born prematurely between 1993 and 1996 who were randomly assigned either the kangaroo method or standard handling involving the use of an incubator.
Two decades later, benefits of kangaroo mother care still evident in subjects of study
Twenty years later, the researchers found that of the 441 subjects from the original study they were able to track down and re-enroll in the new phase of the research, the children who received kangaroo mother care (KMC) fared much better in the long run in terms of longevity, income and social integration.
From the report:
The effects of KMC at 1 year on IQ and home environment were still present 20 years later in the most fragile individuals, and KMC parents were more protective and nurturing.
At 20 years, the young ex-kangaroo mother care participants, especially in the poorest families, had less aggressive drive and were less impulsive and hyperactive. They exhibited less antisocial behavior, which might be associated with separation from the mother at birth.
The team suggested that practicing kangaroo mother care may encourage under-educated mothers to be more sensitive to a childs needs, helping to make their situation more equivalent to that of mothers in more favorable environments.
In fact, the results of the study and the overall success of kangaroo mother care over the past couple of decades have led experts to the conclusion that the method can be used in all settings, not just in communities where standard pediatric care may be scarce or unavailable.
Even those living in developed nations who have access to modern healthcare may benefit from kangaroo mother care. Some parents who may be afraid that their prematurely-born children might be safer in an incubator could find the results of the study to be reassuring.
Kangaroo mother care more than an alternative to incubator care
Pediatrics experts who support the concept say that kangaroo mother care can be considered more than an alternative to standard incubator care.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), 20 million low birth weight babies are born every year across the globe, and the United States has one of the highest premature and low-weight birth rates in the world.
High-tech care for premature and low-weight babies is useful in many cases, but the WHO recommends utilizing both modern healthcare technology and the simpler, low-tech approach and in poorer areas often only the latter.
The obvious conclusion that can be drawn from this research is something most of us already know: Theres no substitute for a mothers love, and that love can only truly be expressed and received through intimate skin-to-skin contact and direct nurturing.
This type of close contact is beneficial not only for the child, but for the mother as well, as the study has indicated. High-tech medical care has its place, but it can never replace the crucial developmental stimuli that only a loving mother can provide.
Sources:
NBCNews.com
TheGuardian.com
Pediatrics.AAPPublications.org[PDF]
(Natural News) Theres an insidious law for us to ponder, courtesy of Barack Obama. An online radio host pointed out back in 2013 that the law would grant the federal government huge power to saturate Americans with domestic propaganda at the taxpayers expense. This law allows the federal government to have sweeping power to push television, radio, newspaper and social-media propaganda onto the U.S. public, warned Michael Evans, host of Americas Voice Now. He said that the law would remove protection for Americans from the ideologies of Obamas administration. The Smith-Mundt Modernization Act of 2012 was specifically what Evans was referring to; it was inserted into the 2013 National Defense Authorization Act.
A so-called anti-propaganda law formerly prevented the U.S. governments broadcasting arm from reaching American viewers. On July 2, 2013, the implementation of the new reform marked an end to shielding Americans from government delivered programming. The government now had the green light to unleash thousands of hours of weekly government funded radio and television programming for domestic consumption.
The U.S. government previously broadcast news and opinions to foreign countries through outlets like Voice of America, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and the Middle East Broadcasting Networks. The new law allowed them to expand their broadcasting business to influence citizens within the U.S. America had been protected from this over the years, but all good things pre-Obama had to come to an end, right?
The types of information that we promulgate overseas to foreigners is disinformation. It is meant to confuse, distract, redirect. It is not meant to be an informative source of news, Evans explained. Dont misunderstand what Im saying. There is already, for all intents and purposes, an organization in the United States that does this. Its called MSNBC, NBC, ABC, CBS, CNN, Fox News. They are an arm of propaganda. But if you think things were bad before with those groups, wait till you see whats gonna come out of them now. Theyll be reporting government misinformation as factual news stories, and a gullible American public will swallow it hook, line and sinker.
Obama will also sign a bill to make alternative media illegal
A new anti-Russian propaganda bill is now also to be signed into law. This bill will make it illegal to run an alternative media website in the United states. The purpose of the bill is to counteract measures by Russia to exert covert influence. It is also known as the Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.
The definition of Russian influence includes references to so-called fake news websites, or any site deemed to be anti-establishment. If the bill makes it through the Senate, the internet will never be the same again.
Sources:
WND.com
YourNewsWire.com
Thursday, December 22, 2016 by: David Gutierrez Tags: corpus christi , Texas , Water contamination This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
(Natural News) (NaturalNews) Tens of thousands of residents of Corpus Christi, Texas, are still being told not to use their tap water after an asphalt chemical leaked into the city water supply.
The city first issued warnings about the water on Wednesday, December 14. Some restrictions have already been lifted, and others may be lifted soon if tests give the municipal water a clean bill of health.
But residents were angered to learn that officials had received reports of discolored water as much as two weeks before issuing the warnings, and had not investigated those reports.
According to federal officials, there are four unconfirmed reports of people showing symptoms of illness consistent with drinking poisoned water.
Corrosive, organ-destroying chemical
Under current restrictions, the city of 300,000 is divided into three different water use zones. In the first zone, municipal water may be used for any purpose. In the second zone, residents are encouraged not to use municipal water for any purpose at all and to use bottled water for everything including bathing. In the third zone, the water is considered safe for bathing or clothes washing, except by children who might swallow the water if they bathe in it. Water in this zone should not be consumed internally.
The city said that up to 24 gallons of a toxic chemical had spilled from a facility operated by Ergon Asphalt & Emulsions Inc., a subsidiary of oil refiner Valero. It is still unknown whether the water supply was contaminated by the incident.
But as early as December 1, the city had received a report of discolored water. It received another such report on December 7, followed by a December 12 report of an unusual odor and appearance to the water. Two days later, the city issued its first warnings.
The chemical in question is a mix of hydrochloric acid and Indulin AA-86, an asphalt emulsifier that is corrosive to the skin, eyes and respiratory tract and can cause damage to internal organs.
With the water ban in place, schools and businesses had to close across the city. Stores began to sell out of bottled water immediately and placed emergency orders for shipments of more.
People [are] waiting in aisles with their grocery carts ready for them to put out the new water shipments, resident Zach Kastelic said.
Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton warned people against trying to profit from the crisis.
Every resource of my office will be made available to help regarding the water supply incident in Corpus Christi, Paxton said. Were monitoring the situation closely. Price gouging on bottled water will not be tolerated.
Public and private donors supplied bottled water to be given out free to residents, but it took three days for the deliveries to start arriving.
Slowness marks official response
Corpus Christi residents have been angered by both the companys and citys responses to the crisis. More than half a dozen lawsuits have already been filed against Ergon.
The city has been criticized for the slow nature of its response, both before and after the potential contamination was announced.
In part, the delay in testing the chemical was beyond the citys control, however. Because Indulin AA-86 is a proprietary chemical, the city was forced to waste valuable time petitioning Ergon for more information on the chemical. The company actually forced the city to sign a non-disclosure agreement before revealing the contaminants chemical formula.
Then because the U.S. legal system requires essentially no safety tests or protocols to be created before chemicals are allowed to enter the market it turned out that there was no known test that could reveal the presence of Indulin AA-86 in water. Thus, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) first had to develop such a test, which it then ran on samples of Corpus Christi water.
Sources for this article include:
Edition.CNN.com
MySanAntonio.com
NBCNews.com
LATimes.com
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17:17
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi on Saturday put forth a charter of demands to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking him to lift the restrictions on cash withdrawals immediately and pay Rs 25,000 to every BPL (below poverty line) family.
Gandhi took to Twitter to highlight his demands ahead of Modi's second television address to the nation tonight after his surprise November 8 announcement to withdraw Rs 1,000 and old Rs 500 currency notes.
The Congress vice president, a staunch critic of the government's decision to demonetize the notes, listed out his eight demands to Modi as the 50 days the prime minister had sought to normalise the situation expired yesterday and there still seem to have some issues with the availability of notes.
He has dubbed the move the single most arbitrary decision in the history of the world affecting 1.3 billion people.
Besides asking Modi to 'lift restrictions on withdrawal of money with immediate effect', Gandhi demanded the prime minister to deposit Rs 25,000 in the account of one woman in each BPL family.
He advocated immediately abolishing charges on digital transactions and called for Income and Sales taxes rebate of 50 per cent to small-scale shopkeepers and businesses.
Gandhi demanded the prime minister to compensate all bank account holders with special interest rate at 18 per cent per annum for the time restrictions are in place.
He also urged doubling of number of guaranteed workdays and wage rate under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act for a year and a special one-time bonus of 20 per cent over and above the Minimum Support Price of all rabi crops.
Another of his demands was that rate of ration under public distribution system be halved for a year under the provision of Food Security Act.
In one of his tweets, Gandhi said, 'Destroyed in the last 50 days: trust in the Prime Minister's word. Weekly cash withdrawal limits must go.' -- PTI
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Police in Nepal have arrested three individuals who were allegedly involved in a kidney racket across the Indo-Nepal border, a media report said. The three identified as Binu Bahadur Timalsina, 44, Prakash Basnet, 47 and Bhim Prasad Neupane, 36, reportedly took out kidneys from innocent people by promising them jobs across the border. Police arrested the trio on December 21, but made the arrest public on Thursday, Republica reported on Friday. The Metropolitan Crime Division of Nepal Police said that the three accused were remanded in custody for further investigation on charges of human trafficking, while they searched for two more. According to SSP Sarbendra Khanal, the gang took innocent Nepali citizens to Indian cities by promising them jobs and took out their kidney after making them unconscious. When the victims regained consciousness, the criminals would say that they were hospitalised after being attacked with a knife by gangsters," SSP Khanal told Republica. They used to sell the vital organs without the knowledge of the victims. Deepak Nepali, 19, is the only victim who has so far complained to the police about the theft of his kidney. Police, however, assumed there were many victims like him and the investigation would bring out further details. "Nepali came to know about the removal of his kidney only when he was admitted to Chitwan Medical College for his check up after he suffered health complications," a police statement said. Khanal informed that the criminals would give some money to the victims after taking out their kidney and ask them to return home. --IANS in/ ( 271 Words) 2016-12-30-10:12:08 (IANS)
The APA Scheme was introduced in the Income tax Act in 2012 and the "Rollback" provisions were introduced in 2014.
The scheme endeavors to provide certainty to taxpayers in the domain of transfer pricing by specifying the methods of pricing and setting the prices of international transactions in advance. Since its inception, the APA scheme has evinced a lot of interest from taxpayers and that has resulted in more than 700 applications (both unilateral and bilateral) being filed in just four years.
The two APAs pertain to the Information Technology and Automobile sectors of the economy.
The international transactions covered in these agreements include software development services, it enabled services, manufacturing and business support services.
With this the total number of APAs entered into by the CBDT has reached 117. This includes seven bilateral APAs and 110 Unilateral APAs.
In the current financial year, a total of 53 APAs (4 bilateral APAs and 49 unilateral APAs) have already been entered into.
The CBDT expects more APAs to be concluded and signed in the near future.
The progress of the APA scheme strengthens the government's resolve of fostering a non-adversarial tax regime.
The Indian APA programme has been appreciated nationally and internationally for being able to address complex transfer pricing issues in a fair and transparent manner.
The approach and functioning of the officers in the APA teams have been appreciated and acknowledged by the industry in India and abroad. (ANI)
"He has been arrested for further interrogation over his involvement in the financial exchanges in Rose Valley case," an agency official said.
The Bengali cine star, who was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) three days ago, presented himself at the investigation agency's regional office here and was arrested after questioning.
--IANS mgr-sgh/vd
( 87 Words)
2016-12-30-17:30:10 (IANS)
Dubbing Samajwadi Party as a 'Parivarwadi Party', Bharatiya Janata Party on Friday said that the family feud in the Uttar Pradesh ruling party is merely a drama to deviate people from the main issue. "The people of this country will finally name Samajwadi Party as Parivarwadi party because they have nothing to do with samaj. They only think about their parivar and are only concerned about the welfare of singular family," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told ANI. Patra further said that the Samajwadi Party leaders are not concerned about development in the state and how it has taken a back seat there. Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader Shrikant Sharma said, "It is a drama to deviate people from main issues and people have understood it and are all set to bid adieu to this corrupt party." He further said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's failure, false promises and betraying people are the main issues in UP adding, "Be it medical facilities, educational facilities, electricity or infrastructure, he has failed on every front. If we talk about the law and order, women fear to go out and police fear to arrest criminals here. " Akhilesh Yadav earlier on Thursday released a list of 235 candidates out of the total 403 seats for upcoming state assembly elections, a day after his father and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had released the official list. Some pro-Akhilesh MLAs had earlier said the unhappy Chief Minister was likely to release a parallel list of candidates for state assembly elections slated for early 2017. Akhilesh met Mulayam Singh, but as per sources, the party chief refused to make any change in the list of 325 candidates issued by him yesterday. "We have declared list of 325 candidates for the 2017 assembly polls; 78 seats still remain. Name of candidates for rest of the 78 seats will be announced soon," Mulayam said yesterday while announcing the list. The Samajwadi Party supremo announced the first list in the absence of his son, who is at loggerheads with his uncle Shivpal Yadav over distribution of tickets. Mulayam announced the name of his brother Shivpal from Jaswant Nagar Assembly seat. Akhilesh's name did not figure in the first list. Mulayam, however, said that his son, being the Chief Minister, can contest from any assembly seat he wishes to. (ANI)
According to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), around 40-50 workers along with some machinery of a private company are suspected to be trapped under the debris.
"On duty CISF sentry is safe. Rescue operation is underway and electricity supply has also been disrupted" said CISF.
National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team from Patna is on its way to the site of incident.
Additional manpower comprising one government official, two inspectors, 21 CISF from Eastern Coal Field Limited, Sheetalpur headquarter has been rushed to the site.
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das is also closely monitoring the situation and has asked concerned officials to intensify rescue operations. (ANI)
Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav and his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav are at loggerheads over the candidates' list as no compromise is expected and the party is on the verge of a vertical split. Both sides are not ready to compromise on the candidates' list, leading to confusion among the party rank and file. But there are also reports that the Chief Minister could convene a party's national convention to stake claim as the President of the SP within a week. However, there is no official confirmation on the matter yet. Sources close to the Chief Minister camp said here today there are several options under consideration which includes calling a national convention of the party. The second phase of the family bickering started on Wednesday when the SP president released a list of 325 candidates, denying ticket to several close associates of the UP Chief Minister. Though Mr Yadav tried to convince his father yesterday but he did not relent. Later, in the late night drama, first the Chief Minister released his list of 235 candidates through social media which irked the SP supremo forcing him to announce 68 candidates more in midnight. The Chief Minister's list, however, gave ticket to several candidates who were denied in the official SP list. Besides giving a new ray of hope on his inclination towards Congress, the CM list did not have candidates in the sitting Congress seats while spared most of the seats in Rae Bareli and Amethi districts. The fresh 68 SP candidates' list was declared by state president Shivpal Singh Yadav after midnight that includes some ministers, taking the total number of candidates to 393. Now, the SP can announce just 10 candidates, though there is less chance to do so as the party would be supporting some independents like Raja Bhaiya, Mukhtar Ansari and some others. The new SP list includes names of ministers Abhishek Mishra, Shivakant Ojha, Sangram Singh, Shankh lal Manjhi, Yasar Shah and Narendra Verma. Interestingly, Mr Mishra and Mr Ojha were among half a dozen ministers who attended Chief Minster Akhilesh Yadav's meeting yesterday morning. Mr Mishra will now contest from Lucknow north. Eyebrows were raised as his name was found missing from the first list of 325 candidates announced on Wednesday. It was believed that as he was close to CM, his name was dropped. The party has changed candidate in Bakshi Ka Talab - the outskirts of Lucknow and fielded Rajendra Yadav instead of sitting MLA Gomti Yadav. It retained Rakesh Pratap Singh from Saraini in Rae Bareli. Mr Singh is considered close to Raghuraj Pratap Singh. However, according to the statistics, both the SP chief and the Chief Minister's list had around 68 candidates in common while for 140 seats, the CM did not field any candidates.UNI MB PY SV1044 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0298-1086757.Xml
The meet is to be held shortly and is expected to see the participation of both, senior leaders and young leaders.
On Thursday, Akhilesh released a list of 235 candidates out of a total of 403 seats for the upcoming state assembly elections, a day after his father and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had released the official list, hinting at a deepening crisis within the party.
Some pro-Akhilesh MLAs had earlier said that an unhappy chief minister was likely to release a parallel list of candidates for the state assembly elections slated.
Intense political activities continued at the Samajwadi Party headquarters and at official residence of the chief minister yesterday.
Akhilesh met Mulayam Singh, but as per sources, the party chief refused to make changes in the list of 325 candidates issued by him on Wednesday.
"We have declared list of 325 candidates for the 2017 assembly polls. 78 seats still remain. Name of candidates for rest of the 78 seats will be announced soon," Mulayam had said while announcing the list. (ANI)
India, which went through its worst in relations with Pakistan in 2016, had something to look back with comfort as far as its relations with its other neighbours were concerned in the year. After a long spell of tension with Nepal following the promulgation of the Constitution and the economic blockade, the ties with the country improved under the Prachanda Government. And with Lanka too, there was greater warmth and understanding though issues of fishermen and concern over China's influence in the island nation remained. Relations with Afghanistan also warmed during the year, much to the discomfiture of Pakistan.The strain in the relations with Nepal that began with promulgation of the new Constitution and the blockade of a key border point for the Himalayan nation's trade with India by Madhesis in protest against what they called discriminatory provisions in the new Constitution gave way to thaw in the beginning of the year. The blockade, which was causing great hardship to the Nepali people and for which Nepal was blaming India, was lifted on January 5, and on Januray 23, the Nepali Parliament cleared bills for amending the three clauses of the Constitution to incorporate the demand of Madhesis. These steps came after the change of guard in Nepal with Pushp Kamal Dahal 'Prachanda' taking charge of prime ministership from K P Oli under whom India went through one of its worst phases of relations with Nepal. Mr Prachanda had chosen China for his first foreign visit during his earlier stint as Prime Minister, which was not taken well in South Block here. However,when he took over as the PM again this year, he made his first foreign visit to India, and by all his gestures and statements sent out a message that he was a changed man this time as far as relations with India were concerned.Through his visit, the two estranged neighbours sought to reboot their ties. However, despite his balancing act between India and China, Mr Prachanda gave New Delhi some cause of worry with the announcement of Nepal's first joint military exercise with China slated for early next year, though Nepal's Ambassador to India sought to play down the move saying that not much should be read into it. India had a smoother run with Sri Lanka this year as the change of the Government in the island neighbour brought a better understanding and synergy with New Delhi. Both the countries had several high-level exchanges and signed several agreements that brought a new momentum in their relations. Sri Lanka also showed this year its interest in concluding an Economic and Technology Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) with India, though the opposition parties in the country saw it as an appeasement of India vis a vis China. President Maithripala Sirisena dismissed the Opposition objection as politically motivated. However, Sri Lanka's inablility to limit Chinese influence and investment was looked at with some disquiet by India.More UNI NAZ PY SV 1156 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0091-1086861.Xml
Party sources today said the other suspended MLAs are Jambey Tashi, P D Sona, C T Mein, Zignu Namchoom and Kamlung Mossang.
The suspension order with immediate effect was issued yesterday by the party, they informed, adding that this move was taken hardly after three months of replacing the earlier ministers holding the post.
Out of 44 Congress MLAs, 43 MLAs had defected from the party and joined PPA in September 16 last.
The defected leaders selected Mr Khandu as chief minister and Mr Mein as deputy chief minister, replacing Mr Nabam Tuki, who in turn had replaced Kalikho Pul after the Supreme Court reinstated the Tuki government.
The sources further informed that the 36 PPA legislators will meet here today to elect their next legislator party leader. UNI PB AD1150
-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-1086882.Xml
Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu on Friday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move and took a jibe at the Congress by terming its way of opposing it as a 'big flop.' "Whatever the opposition did, has turned out to be a big flop. They first announced 'Bharat Bandh', which was not supported even by one person. Then, they held an 'Aakroshan rally' which was again a big flop," Naidu told ANI. Naidu also targeted former prime minister Manmohan Singh for his failure to stop corruption during his decade-long regime and accused the Congress of generating black money in the past. "Manmohan Singh was the economic advisor, finance secretary, finance minister and prime minister, still he did not do anything to curb black money. Congress is responsible for all the black money that was generated in the past," he said. He also said Congress and corruption always go together and that it should introspect how it decreased its strength from 440 to 40. Naidu showed faith in the move to demonetise high-denomination notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 and counted on it as a measure to switch to cashless economy. "To ensure that the problem of corruption does not recur, we have come up with the concept of digital transfer and digital transactions. This is also done in order to reduce the cash transaction which amounts to 86 percent presently," he said. The Prime Minister will be addressing the nation on New Year's Eve regarding demonetisation, which has completed its 50 days today.(ANI)
The Secretary-level JWG meeting will be co-chaired by the Animal Husbandry Dairying and Fisheries Secretary from India and the Fisheries and Aquatic Resource Development from Sri Lanka.
The Ministerial-level meeting will be co-chaired by Agriculture Minister from the Indian side and Fisheries Minister from Sri Lanka, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
India and Sri Lanka are determined to put in place a mechanism soon to resolve the sensitive fishermen issue.
The meeting comes amid frequent incidents of Sri Lankan Navy personnel firing at Indian fishermen fishing in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats. The Palk Strait, which separates Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is much sought after fishing ground for fishermen from both the countries. UNI MK SV SNU 1350
-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0090-1086998.Xml
The armed men with helmet on head and face covered arrived on motorcycle brandishing weapons and entered into the gold loan bank on the first floor near Dunlop crossing and looted gold and other valuable jewelleries around 1000 hours.
Eyewitnesses said the looters carried three bagful of valuable ornaments from the privatebank.
Police officials from Baranagar and Barrackpore commissionerate arrived at the spot and began investigation.
The looting was trouble free and accomplished very quickly before anyone could understand what was going on, police said.UNI PC AD1331
-- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0108-1087015.Xml
Both the factions of the Hurriyat Conference (HC) and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) have urged the people to hold demonstrations after Friday prayers. Meanwhile, there is no relief for the Chairman of hardline Hurriyat Conference (HC) Syed Ali Shah Geelani and senior separatist leader Shabir Ahmad Shah who have been put under house arrest. However, there is no restriction on chairman of moderate HC Mirwaiz Moulvi Omar Farooq and Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chief Mohammad Yaseen Malik. Another senior separatist leader Musarat Alam has been re-arrested after his detention under Public Safety Act (PSA) was quashed by the High Court 34th time recently. The separatists have already asked people to observe strike today and tomorrow. Security forces and state police personnel remained deployed outside the Hyderpora residence of Mr Geelani who remained under house arrest since his return from New Delhi in May this year, a spokesman of the HC said. He said since his return from New Delhi Mr Geelani was not allowed to offer Eid or Friday prayers in mosque. However, he was taken into custody a number of times after he defied the restrictions to lead protest march. Later he was released in the evening same day. He said hundreds of Tehreek-e-Hurriyat (TeH) and HC leaders have also been arrested and detained in different jails and police stations in the valley and outside since July 9. Majority of them have been detained under PSA and lodged in Jammu jails. General secretary of the hardline HC Shabir Ahmad Shah also remained under house arrest. He was recently put under house arrest after his release from Raj Bagh police station after more than five months. Meanwhile, Musrat Alam, brain behind 2010 mass agitation during which more than 120 people, mostly youths were killed, was re-arrested. There was no restriction on Mirwaiz who is scheduled to address Friday congregation at historic Jamia Masjid, a spokesman of the HC advocate Shahidul Islam said. He said there are also no restriction around Jamia Masjid though main Jamia market and business and other establishments in the down town and Shehar-e-Khas remained closed in view of strike, called jointly by separatists. A JKLF spokesman said chairman Malik has reached Pulwama to lead a separatist march there. There was no restriction on Malik, he said.UNI BAS ASM VS SNU 1303 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0153-1086899.Xml
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress' thumping victory to return to the saddle for the second consecutive term in the Assembly election, Narada sting operation, flyover collapse and demonetisation hit the headlines in West Bengal this year. Belying all speculations after the Narada sting operation and the flyover collapse, Ms Banerjee returned to power for the second successive term and emerged as the top newsmaker of the year. The challenge in the election was, however, no less daunting as she had to blunt the anti-incumbency factor as well as the Left-Congress alliance that gave birth to a resurgent opposition movement. Raising the Narada sting operation and Saradha scam issues, the Congress-Left combine tried to put up a tough fight but TMC had managed to capture 211 seats in the 294-member Assembly. During this election year, Ms Banerjee faced an all out attack by BJP, Congress and CPI(M) which fielded top party stalwarts including Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Amit Shah, a battery of Union Ministers, Congress Vice-president Rahul Gandhi and state leaders of these parties for campaigning but they finally found that there was no way to stop her Trinamool Congress from victory. The 61-year-old feisty Ms Banerjee emerged as a prudent leader who not only ended the Left Front's 34-year rule in the state but also portrayed herself as an 'icon of change' in the state. The large-scale ''corruption'' of Mamata Banerjee-led Government in the state was laid bare by a sting operation less than a month ahead of the assembly elections conducted by Narada News. The sting operation shows many top leaders and ministers of TMC accepting bribe from the representatives of a fictitious company, 'Impex Consultancy', in exchange for recommendations and lobbying for the company. The year witnessed the collapse of the under-construction Vivekananda Road flyover in which over 20 people lost their lives. The incident led to political mudslinging with TMC chief putting the blame on the previous LF Government. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, TMC supremo was the first to go all out against the decision terming it "anti-people" and "financial emergency" in the country. Political observers say the demonetisation issue gave Ms Banerjee a much-awaited opportunity to try her luck in playing a major role in the national politics in view of the 2019 elections. The State Government scored a major victory in the Supreme Court on August 31 which termed as "illegal and void" the acquisition of land in Singur by the previous Left Front regime for Tata Motors' Nano car project by ordering restoration of the land to the farmers. The Chief Minister described the apex court ruling as a "landmark victory" for her party. World-famous social worker Mother Teresa, who devoted her life to the poor, has been declared a Saint in a canonisation Mass held by Pope Francis in the Vatican on September 4. A Nobel Peace Prize winner, Mother Teresa, was one of the most influential women in the Church's 2,000-year history. Saint Teresa of Calcutta the city where she dedicated her life to her work and set up the Missionaries of Charities became the fifth Indian to be made a saint and has been made a saint of the Roman Catholic Church. She was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and died in 1997. The two-day Bengal Global Business Summit 2016, which was held on January 7 and 8, has secured investment commitments to the tune of at least Rs 2,50,104-crore, Ms Banerjee said. The 22nd edition of Kolkata International Film Festival (KIFF) was inaugurated in the presence of a galaxy of stars, including megastar Amitabh Bachchan, Jaya Bachchan, Bengal brand ambassador Shah Rukh Khan, Kajol, Sanjay Dutt, Parineeti Chopra and a host of stars from the Bengali film industry. Bachchan inaugurated the festival by lighting the ceremonial lamp. Renowned poet Shankha Ghosh was chosen for the Jnanpith, the country's highest literary award. History repeated itself in the Indian Super League as Atletico de Kolkata (ATK) edged out Kerala Blasters for their second title in three season. ATK were crowned champions of the Indian Super League (ISL) after a string of gritty performances that saw them win the title for the second time in three seasons. Magsaysay Award winner, renowned author and social activist Mahasweta Devi, whose writings focused on the marginalised communities in the country and served as the voice of the oppressed, died here after a multi-organ failure on July 28 at the age of 90. Bodybuilder Manohar Aich, (104), who was once a household name in Bengal after becoming India's first Mr Universe in 1952, died at his Baguiati residence in Dumdum on June 5.UNI BM SJC SV SNU 1311 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0212-1086295.Xml
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expressed sadness over loss of many lives in a cave in at a coal mine located at Lalmatia in Godda district of Jharkhand. In a condolence message, he said he was "saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside. Spoke to CM Raghubar Das on the situation. ''Jharkhand Government & Minister @PiyushGoyal are working to restore normalcy. @NDRFHQ has been engaged for rescue & relief operations,'' the P M said. At least 10 people were feared dead as a mine caved in Rajmahal Coal Project of the Eastern Coal Field Ltd (ECL) located at Lalmatia of Godda district.UNI SD SNU 1438 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0005-1087097.Xml
The Dimasa Public Organization of Nagaland (DPON) and the Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland (KTCN) have strongly condemned the blast incident that occurred Wednesday night in Dimapur near new Dhansiri Bridge area, where two people were critically injured. In a statement, DPON Secretary P M Thaosen stated that one of the injured person identified as Ringdhar Girisa, suffered critical head injury and had been referred to GNRC in Guwahati. Stating that targeting innocent public should be condemned by all, the organisation said such incident should not repeat in future. In a separate statement, KTCN President Ramesh Hasnu described the incident as "barbaric act" that was aimed to disrupt the peaceful atmosphere of Dimapur and also create fear psychosis in the minds of public during the festive season. Kachari Tribal Council Nagaland (KTCN) also appealed to the civil society organisations and Hohos to condemn such act in the strongest terms. It also urged the law enforcing agencies to bring the perpetrator to book at the earliest. UNI AS RN 1404 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1087061.Xml
A youth was beaten to death by a mob of villagers at Mohaddipur Meer Tola under Majhaulia police station area in West Champaran district.Police said here today that the youth died on the spot when he was badly beaten by villagers late last night. The youth was identified as Mahendra Ram, a native of Garhwa Bhogari village. An FIR has been lodged at the police station concerned. The motive behind the murder could not be ascertained immediately. The body has been sent for the postmortem examination, police added.UNI XC DH RN 1423 -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0311-1087092.Xml
Nine bodies were recovered from a caved-in coal mine while a search to rescue several others continued in Jharkhand's Godda district on Thursday night, officials said on Friday. The tragedy occurred at the Rajmahal Opencast Project of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL). "So far nine bodies have been recovered while two persons have been hospitalised with injuries. Rescue and search operations are on to find other workers who might be trapped," ECL General Manager (Mining) R.R. Amitabh said. "All 10 excavators and dump trucks have been extracted from the mine," added Amitabh. Jharkhand Director General of Police D.K. Pandey said over 20 workers were feared to be trapped inside the collapsed mine. The incident, described by the ECL as "unprecedented", occurred around 7.30 p.m. on Thursday. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the tragedy. Modi spoke to Chief Minister Raghubar Das to take stock of the situation and said that the Jharkhand government and Union Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal were working to restore normalcy. While a probe has been ordered, the ECL has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those killed, in addition to the amount to be paid under the Workmen's Compensation Act. "Prima facie, it is observed that the incident is unprecedented, since an area of 300 metres length by 110 metres width solid floor of the over burden dump area slid down by about 35 metres involving around 9.5 million cubic metres of earth material," the Coal Ministry said in a statement. "This could be due to failure of the bench edge along the hidden fault line/slip," it said. The probe will be carried out by the Director General of Mines Safety and a 'high level committee of experts' has been constituted by Coal India Limited to investigate the causes of the accident. A heap of mud caved in at the entry point of Lalmatia mines of ECL. At that time more than 70 vehicles were inside the open cast mine the police said. The National Disaster Response Force was carrying out rescue operations monitored and supervised by senior ECL and state government officials. --IANS and/ksk/bg ( 375 Words) 2016-12-30-15:10:07 (IANS)
According to the official, Pal was involved in "financial transactions" with the Rose Valley chit fund organisation.
"Pal would be interrogated regarding his alleged involvement in the financial transactions with Rose Valley," the official said.
The actor-turned-politician was summoned by the agency on Tuesday along with Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay for interrogation in relation to the ponzi scam.
Following the summon, the Trinamool Congress accused the central government of doing vendetta politics and using central agencies to scare the party as they were protesting against the Centre's demonetisation move.
--IANS mgr/sgh/py/bg
( 134 Words)
2016-12-30-16:14:08 (IANS)
GE Power India Ltd,siad that the company has been awarded a contract worth approximately Rs. 271.1 crore by Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL). The contact is to supply components and services for the supercritical steam generator island packages for 2x800 MW coal-based Uppur Thermal Power Project and 1x800MW coal-based North Chennai Supercritical Thermal Power Project Stage-III,company said in a filing with BSE.''Both the thermal power projects are located in Tamil Nadu. This is in line with the government's focus on upgrading the power infrastructure in the country.'' filing added.UNI JS NV AW1604 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0171-1087339.Xml
The infighting in the ruling Samajwadi Party has deepened as Party Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, both refused to relent and a compromise looks not possible. SP General Secretary and a staunch supporter of the Chief Minister, Prof Ram Gopal Yadav, today said the Party President was to be blamed for the infighting and indirectly hit out at Shivpal Singh Yadav for the dispute. "Netaji had called me on January 1 to decide on the names of the candidates but suddenly they released the list on last Wednesday without considering our list," Prof Yadav said, adding that now any compromise seems impossible. Attacking Shivpal without taking his name, Prof Ram Gopal said,"he was behind the conspiracy to remove Akhilesh from the post of the State President and now he was behind the announcement of the candidates lists leading to the controversy." The SP General Secretary and Rajya Sabha leader, who was in Farrukhabad to attend a last rite function on the death of the father of a SP MLA, announced that he would campaign for the Chief Minister and his supporters in the elections. "People who are opposing Akhilesh are my opponents and the candidates' list of the Chief Minister has my full support," he added. Prof Yadav, after attending the programme in Farrukhabad, has rushed to Lucknow and is likely to meet Akhilesh as well as Mulayam in a last ditch effort to resolve the dispute. Meanwhile, the meeting of the party candidates called by the SP chief is likely to be a show of strength for both the sides. Around 190 candidates were common on both sides and they are in a fix where to go. But sources in the party said tomorrow's meeting will certainly be held at the state party office around 1030 hrs which will clearly give a projection about on which side the majority of the party leaders are.UNI MB AE SNU 1610 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1087133.Xml
The first export consignment containing 60 tonnes of Fully Refined Parrafin Wax (FRPW) was flagged off to Nicaragua yesterday from the premises of the Numaligarh Refinery Marketing Terminal by Director (Technical) NRL S R Medhi, in presence of other NRL officials.
Earlier, NRL Wax has been exported to Mexico, Kenya, Nepal and Bangladesh.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi dedicated NRL's Wax Plant to the Nation on February 5 this year.
The 50,000 Metric Tonnes (MT) Wax Plant commissioned in March 2015 at a cost of Rs 676 crores is the country's largest Wax producing unit with indigenous technology developed by IIP Dehradun, EIL and NRL. Since commissioning of the Wax plant, NRL has emerged as the largest manufacturer and marketer of Wax in the country. UNI SG AKM 1732
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According to police, the accident occurred at around 0630 hrs when the speeding truck smashed with thecar, killing four occupants and injuring one.
The deceased were identified as Sanjay Suryawansi, Riya Suryawansi, Aditya Surywansi and Ashwini Salve.
The injured identified as Smita Suryawansi was admitted to a hospital in Jalna.
The truck driver fled with his vehicle after the incident, police said, adding, further investigation was underway.UNI PK SS SW SNU 1734
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Ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh is on the verge of a split and just 2 days away from it when chief minister Akhilesh Yadav has called an emergency national delegate meeting of the party on January 1 even though party president Mulayam Singh Yadav has issued a show cause notices to both Akhilesh and his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav who is the party's general secretary. The meeting called by Akhilesh and Ram Gopal is seen as an effort to take control of the party from Mulayam and Shivpal. In a statement issued here today, SP general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav said that the emergency national delegate meeting would be held on January 1 at the conference hall of the Lohia Law University at 1100 hrs. "The situation in the party is very critical as some vested interest are trying to create problems so that the party do not come in power. Hence this meeting would be crucial for all to decide on the future course of action," Prof. Yadav said while appealing to all the party leaders to join the meeting. Sources close to team Akhilesh hinted that in the emergency delegate meeting chief minister Akhilesh would be elected as the party president and Mulayam Singh Yadav would be made the chief patron. Meanwhile, irked by the rebellion in the party by his son and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav at last has served a show cause notice to Akhilesh and his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav for indiscipline.MORE UNI MB SHK 1752 -- (UNI) -- C-1-DL0196-1087557.Xml
The Aam Aadmi Party today hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi after the CBI conducted raid at Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's officer on special duty (OSD), Nikunj Aggarwal's office here at the Delhi Secretariat saying it was carried out to divert attention from the Sahara-Birla issue and failure of his demonetisation policy.Expressing his dissatisfaction over the issue, Mr Kejriwal in a tweet said, "Modi ji, do whatever you wish, I will travel across the country to tell people that you take 'bribe' and you have taken cash from Sahara and Birla." "Raids are being carried out to divert attention from evidence of you (Modi) taking bribes from Sahara-Birla and from failure of demonetisation. You can investigate as much as you like. We have done nothing," Delhi Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia told reporters here this evening at a press conference.Accusing the Prime Minister for unleashing Central agencies to harass the AAP government, Mr Sisodia said, "All your intelligence is put after AAP for political vendetta. You care nothing for the common man, law and order. All this intelligence agencies are working against our party, not for public's benefit.""Raid for what reason? Appointing an OSD? Is this the biggest form of corruption? Is this what the CBI hunts? Will Modi ji ask his intelligence agencies to investigate Birla and Sahara cases where he took bribe worth crores?," he asked.MORE UNI DS ADG -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0177-1087954.Xml
Acting on a tip off, a police team raided the place near the Kalyan railway station near the Borgaonkar Complex and arrested the women who were actively wooing the prospective customers.
Among the arrested were Momina Bilal Shaikh alias Priya and Muniya Ibrahim Mulla alias Munni (both from Bangladesh), had come into India without any valid passport and resided here.
Also arrested was one Bilal Muzibur Rehaman Shaikh, who had married Momina knowing very well that she was a Bangladeshi national and she did not have valid passport to enter India and resided here illegally, police said.
Besides cash currency, police have seized as many as 15 mobile phones from the arrested accused.
Offences under section 8 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (PITA), 1956, sections 3(A) and 6(A) of the Indian Passport (entry into India) Act, section 14 of the Foreign Nationals Act, section 2 of Foreign Nationals (report to police) along with sections 110 and 117 of Maharashtra Police Act have been registered against the arrested accused, sources added. UNI XR SS SHS AN2303
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13 Nobel laureates along with 10 global leaders have urged members of the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) to urgently put the Rohingya crisis on the list of the council's agenda and to call upon the UN secretary-general to visit Myanmar as a priority. "If the current secretary-general is able to do so, we would urge him to go; if not, we encourage the new secretary-general to make it one of his first tasks after he takes office in January," reads an open letter sent to the president of the UNSC and to all its member states, reports the Daily Star. The dignitaries, who have made the joint plea for the Rohingyas, a Muslim minority in Myanmar, include the likes of Professor Muhammad Yunus, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel laureate Malala Yousafzai, Shirin Ebadi, The Huffington Post founder and editor Arianna Huffington, former Italian prime minister and foreign minister Romano Prodi and Emma Bonino. The signatories that include 13 Nobel laureates and 10 other business people, philanthropists, activists and politicians of global repute expressed concern that Rohingya persecution in Myanmar bears the hallmarks of genocides and past tragedies like the ones in Rwanda, Darfur, Bosnia, and Kosovo. They urged the United Nations to do everything possible to encourage the Myanmar government to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid so that people receive emergency assistance. "Access for journalists and human rights monitors should also be permitted, and an independent, international inquiry to establish the truth about the current situation should be established," they said. They observed, "Over the past two months, a military offensive by the Myanmar Army in Rakhine State has led to the killing of hundreds of Rohingya people. Over 30,000 people have been displaced." "Houses have been burned, women raped, many civilians arbitrarily arrested, and children killed. Crucially, access for humanitarian aid organisations has been almost completely denied, creating an appalling humanitarian crisis in an area already extremely poor." The open letter said, "Thousands [of Rohingyas] have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, only to be sent back. Some international experts have warned of the potential for genocide. It has all the hallmarks of recent past tragedies -- Rwanda, Darfur, Bosnia, Kosovo." The dignitaries also expressed frustration at Myanmar leader Aung San Suu Kyi's non-initiative in ensuring rights of the Rohingyas. (ANI)
The Turkish armed forces said today Russian aircraft had carried out three air strikes against Islamic State in the area of al-Bab and south of the town in northern Syria, killing 12 of the jihadists.In a round-up of its military operations over the past 24 hours in support of rebels in northern Syria, the Turkish military also said one Turkish soldier was killed and five wounded in an Islamic State attack to the south of al Azrak.Also, Turkish warplanes carried out air strikes in the areas of al-Bab and Daglabash, destroying 17 IS targets and killing 26 militants, the statement said. REUTERS AKC RK1200 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0432-1086876.Xml
Russian aircraft have carried out three air strikes on Islamic State around the Syrian town of al-Bab over the past 24 hours, the Turkish military said today, in what appeared to be the first Russian support for Turkish army operations in the area.The strikes came as a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides in the conflict, got off to a shaky start at midnight. Islamic State is not included in that agreement.NATO member Turkey launched an incursion into Syria, dubbed "Euphrates Shield", more than four months ago to drive Islamic State militants away from the border region. Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces have besieged al-Bab for several weeks.In a daily round-up of its military operations in the region, the Turkish military said it had received information that 12 Islamic State fighters had been killed in the Russian air strikes around al-Bab. It said the targets had been in the town and directly to its south.Separately, the army said one Turkish soldier was killed and five wounded in an Islamic State attack to the south of al Azraq, west of al-Bab.It said Turkish warplanes also carried out air strikes in the areas of al-Bab and Daglabash, destroying 17 IS targets and killing 26 militants.Turkey on Monday called on members of the US-led coalition against Islamic State to provide air support for the operation around al-Bab, support which as yet has not been forthcoming.Turkey's Syrian operations are also designed to prevent the Kurdish YPG militia, which it regards a terrorist group, from joining up cantons it controls along the Turkish border, fearing that would embolden Kurdish separatism at home. REUTERS AKC RK1313 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0440-1086952.Xml
Pakistan has rejected the Grossi formula for evaluation of the candidature of non-NPT states for the Nuclear Suppliers Group(NSG) membership as 'discriminatory' and unhelpful for advancing global non-proliferation objectives. At the weekly media briefing, Foreign Office(FO) spokesman Nafees Zakaria yesterday said : "This would be clearly discriminatory and would contribute nothing in terms of furthering the non-proliferation objectives of the NSG." Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina had been appointed as a facilitator for discussions among the NSG members after Seoul plenary meeting of the 48-nation nuclear trade cartel ended in a stalemate over membership applications from India and Pakistan. The deadlock persisted at the extraordinary plenary held in Vienna last month, a report in daily Dawn said today. Mr Grossi this month submitted a two-page revised document to the NSG member countries containing a nine-point proposal on considering the applications of India and Pakistan, both non-NPT countries. The NSG members last week again met in Vienna for discussing the document called "revised version of a draft 'Exchange of Notes' for Non-NPT applicants", the newspaper report said. Pakistan continues to emphasise the imperative for a non-discriminatory criteria-based approach for the NSG membership of non-NPT states in a non-discriminatory manner. "Such a criteria-based approach will further the non-proliferation objective of the NSG as well as the objective of strategic stability in South Asia," Spokesman Mr Zakaria said during the briefing. He reminded the NSG members of "the heavy responsibility" they bore with respect to admission of non-NPT states. "It is important for the credibility of the NSG and the future of the non-proliferation regime that the NSG be seen as a rule-based organisation rather than a grouping which is driven by commercial and political considerations that trump its non-proliferation objectives," he maintained. Responding to a question about the dismal foreign policy performance of the government during 2016 and the perception of the country getting isolated, Mr Zakaria rejected the impression as "absurd". "How do you define isolation? If isolation is that a country is at loggerheads with you and campaigns against you being isolated, do you really get isolated? One should look at the bigger picture in the larger context in which things are happening. Look at the high political visits to Pakistan and our leadership's visits to the important capitals. Assess the political developments that are taking place in terms of important relationships that major powers are developing with Pakistan. Look at Pakistan's economic indicators and the progress Pakistan has achieved," the spokesman said. UNI XC SS -- (UNI) -- C-1-1-DL0089-1087240.Xml
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen's transit through the United States next month during her January visit to allies in Latin American countries is based on common practice, the de facto US embassy in Taiwan said today."President Tsai's transit through the United States is based on long-standing US practice and is consistent with the unofficial nature of our relations with Taiwan," Alys Spensley, acting spokeswoman for the American Institute in Taiwan, told Reuters."There is no change to the US 'one China' policy," she added.Tsai is transiting in the United States on her way to and from visiting Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador in that order. She will leave Taiwan on January 7 and return on January 15. REUTERS SW AS1512 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-1087150.Xml
Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit through Houston and San Francisco during her January visit to allies in Latin America, her office said Friday, a move bound to anger China which a day earlier urged the US to block any stopover.Tsai's office declined to comment on whether she would be meeting members of US President-elect Donald Trump's team, but the US mission in Taiwan, the American Institute in Taiwan (AIT), said the visit would be "private and unofficial".Trump angered China when he spoke to Tsai this month in a break with decades of precedent and cast doubt on his incoming administration's commitment to Beijing's "one China" policy.China is deeply suspicious of Tsai, who it thinks wants to push for the formal independence of Taiwan, a self-governing island that Beijing regards as a renegade province, ineligible for state-to-state relations.The United States, which switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979, has acknowledged the Chinese position that there is only "one China" and that Taiwan is part of it.Tsai is transiting in the United States on her way to and from visiting Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador in that order. She will leave Taiwan on Jan. 7 and return on Jan. 15.Tsai will arrive in Houston on Jan. 7 and leave the following day. On her return, she will arrive in San Francisco on Jan. 13, Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang told a regular news briefing.The AIT said the transit did not contradict the "one China" policy."President Tsai's transit through the United States is based on long-standing U.S. practice and is consistent with the unofficial nature of our relations with Taiwan," Alys Spensley, acting AIT spokeswoman, told Reuters."There is no change to the US 'one China' policy," she added.Spensley said that Tsai's transits would be "private and unofficial".China has claimed sovereignty over Taiwan since 1949, when Mao Zedong's Communist forces won the Chinese civil war and Chiang Kai-shek's Nationalists fled to the island.Taiwan had as many as 30 diplomatic allies in the mid-1990s, but now has formal relations with just 21, mostly smaller and poorer nations in Latin America and the Pacific and including the Vatican. REUTERS SW GC1536 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-1087194.Xml
An Islamic State leader was killed in a Turkish airstrike in Syria's al-Bab as part of the ongoing Euphrates Shield operation, the media reported on Friday. Ebu Husen Tunusi died when his motorcade was hit by Turkish warplanes in al-Bab, Xinhua news agency reported. Tunusi had been chosen as an emir by the IS and transferred to al-Bab from Raqqa, the de facto capital of the jihadist group. --IANS py/bg ( 78 Words) 2016-12-30-16:46:08 (IANS)
China called on the United States on Friday not to allow Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen to transit there on her way to and from Latin America next month.China hopes the United States does not send any wrong signals to "Taiwan independence forces", the Foreign Ministry said in a statement sent to Reuters.Tsai is transiting in the United States on her way to and from visiting Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador in that order. She will leave Taiwan on Jan. 7 and return on Jan. 15. REUTERS SW AS1615 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0101-1087293.Xml
The minister, however, did not confirm the media reports that a charred body found inside a car in Rio de Janeiro on Friday was Amiridis, and instead hoped the diplomat will be found alive and safe, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to Brazilian police, the car was rented by the ambassador who was visiting the city of Rio for the Christmas and New Year Eve holidays.
The Greek Foreign Ministry on Thursday said its embassy in Brasilia, Brazil's capital city, was informed on Wednesday by the ambassador's family that they had not been able to contact him since Monday.
The 59-year-old diplomat assumed duty as Greece's ambassador to Brazil in January 2016. He once served in Rio de Janeiro as consul from 2001 to 2004.
According to the Greek Foreign Ministry's website, Amiridis also was Greece's ambassador to Libya in 2012. He is married and has a daughter.
The Greek Foreign Ministry said Amiridis reportedly went missing during a trip to Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
His family reported no contact for a ransom in the past days, but the police did not rule out the possibility of kidnapping.
It is highly possible that Amiridis has been killed, Brazilian authorities said on Thursday.
--IANS py/vt
( 242 Words)
2016-12-30-17:56:22 (IANS)
Iraqi forces faced car bombs and fierce resistance from Islamic State militants in southern Mosul today, the second day of a renewed push to take back the city after fighting stalled for several weeks.An officer in the federal police forces, which joined the battle yesterday, said there were heavy clashes in the southeastern Palestine district, but they had made progress in two other neighbourhoods, disabling a number of car bombs.Another officer, from an elite Interior Ministry unit fighting alongside federal police, said his forces were gaining ground in the Intisar district despite heavy clashes there.Iraqi forces in the east and north of the city were clearing areas they had recaptured yesterday before advancing any further, officers said, and the army was trying to cut supply lines to the town of Tel Keyf, north of Mosul.Since the offensive began 10 weeks ago, US-backed forces have retaken a quarter of the jihadists' last major stronghold in Iraq in the biggest ground operation there since the 2003 US-led invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.Recapturing Mosul would probably spell the end for Islamic State's self-styled caliphate, and Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has said the group would be driven out of Iraq by April.Elite forces pushed into Mosul from the east in October but regular army troops tasked with advancing from the north and south made slower progress and the operation stagnated.After regrouping this month, they renewed the offensive yesterday, advancing from the south, east and north of the city, which has been under militant control for more than two years.The second phase of the operation will see US troops deployed closer to the front line inside the city.On Friday, a Reuters reporter saw a handful of Americans in their MRAP vehicles, that tower over Iraqi tanks, accompanying top commanders to meetings in a village just north of Mosul.Although the militants are vastly outnumbered, they have embedded themselves among Mosul residents, hindering Iraqi forces who are trying to avoid civilian casualties. Despite food and water shortages, most civilians have stayed in their homes rather than fleeing as had been expected.NORTHERN FRONTOn the nothern front, Iraqi forces have yet to enter Mosul itself but on Friday they were clearing just-recaptured areas on its periphery as well as trying to cut off Tel Keyf."The enemy had occupied this area and used it for resting and resupplying towards Tel Keyf and Mosul," Major General Najm al-Jubbouri, a top commander in the offensive told Reuters in the northern district of Sada, which was recaptured yesterday."It (Tel Keyf) is surrounded from the other sides and by our forces here," he said.Jubbouri said the US-led coalition backing Iraqi forces had killed 70 militants since late on Thursday and were using Apache helicopters, HIMARS rocket launchers and fighter jets.Mosul is bisected by the Tigris river, and Iraqi forces have yet to enter the western side, where 2,000-year-old markets and narrow alleyways are likely to complicate any advance.Coalition forces bombed the last remaining bridge connecting east and west Mosul late on Monday in a bid to block Islamic State's access across the Tigris River.A medical source in Mosul told Reuters a large number of wounded militants had been ferried across the river to the emergency hospital on the western side of city on Thursday.The source said the militants were denying wounded and sick civilians access to the hospital.More than 114,000 civilians have been displaced from Mosul so far, according to the United Nations - a fraction of the 1.5 million thought to still be inside.REUTERS SHS PR1917 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1087791.Xml
Ukrainian police arrested a 31-year-old man today accused of killing a woman and her daughter, and who they also suspect was planning to mow down citizens with a truck, like the attacks on the Berlin Christmas market and in Nice.Police said the man had murdered two people in a village in the southern Odessa region before setting fire to two houses and then escaping in a stolen truck and hiding in an abandoned home before officers caught him.Based on information they had received from a friend of the man, police said he was planning to run over a large crowd of people with the truck.The attack in the German capital days before Christmas killed a dozen people and injured 56, while a similar incident in Nice, France, on Bastille Day killed 86 people and injured more than 400.European capitals have tightened security ahead of New Year's celebrations, erecting concrete barriers in city centres and stepping up police numbers after the attack in Berlin. New York City will also take steps to protect revellers.Alyona Voitenko, a spokeswoman for the Odessa police, said: "We knew that he was armed and dangerous."She said the man had threatened an attack by saying: "Odessa will cry, I will ram into the city in a truck." REUTERS SHS AN1959 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1087933.Xml
European capitals tightened security today ahead of New Year's celebrations, erecting concrete barriers in city centres and stepping up police numbers after the Islamic State attack in Berlin last week that killed 12 people.In the German capital, police closed the Pariser Platz square in front of the Brandenburg Gate and prepared to deploy 1,700 extra officers, many along a party strip where armoured cars will flank concrete barriers blocking off the area."Every measure is being taken to prevent a possible attack," Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf told Reuters TV. Some police officers would carry sub-machine guns, he said, an unusual tactic for German police.Last week's attack in Berlin, in which a 24-year old Tunisian ploughed a truck into a Christmas market, has prompted German lawmakers to call for tougher security measures.In Milan, where police shot the man dead, security checks were set up around the main square. Trucks were banned from the centres of Rome and Naples. Police and soldiers cradled machine guns outside tourists sites including Rome's Colosseum.Madrid plans to deploy an extra 1,600 police on the New Year weekend. For the second year running, access to the city's central Puerta del Sol square where revellers traditionally gather to bring in the New Year will be restricted to 25,000 people, with police setting up barricades to control access.In Cologne in western Germany, where hundreds of women were sexually assaulted and robbed outside the central train station on New Year's Eve last year, police have installed new video surveillance cameras to monitor the station square.The attacks in Cologne, where police said the suspects were mainly of North African and Arab appearance, fuelled criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to accept nearly 900,000 migrants last year.The Berlin attack has intensified that criticism.In Frankfurt, home to the European Central Bank and Germany's biggest airport, more than 600 police officers will be on duty on New Year' Eve, twice as many as in 2015.In Brussels, where Islamist suicide bombers killed 16 people and injured more than 150 in March, the mayor was reviewing whether to cancel New Year fireworks but decided this week that they would go ahead.PARIS PATROLSIn Paris, where Islamic State gunmen killed 130 people last November, authorities prepared for a high-security weekend, the highlight of which will be the fireworks on the Champs-lyses, which some 600,000 people are expected to attend.Ahead of New Year's Eve, heavily armed soldiers patrolled popular Paris tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre museum.Across France, more than 90,000 police and thousands of soldiers will be on duty for New Year's Eve, authorities said.On Wednesday, police in southwest France, arrested a man suspected of having planned an attack on New Year's Eve.Two other people, one of whom was suspected of having planned an attack on police, were arrested in a separate raid, also in southwest France near Toulouse, police sources told Reuters.In Vienna, police handed out more than a thousand pocket alarms to women, eager to avoid a repeat of the sexual assaults that blighted Cologne's New Year's Eve in 2015."At present, there is no evidence of any specific danger in Austria. However, we are talking about an increased risk situation," Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said."We leave nothing to chance with regard to security."In Ukraine, police arrested a man today who they suspect was planning a Berlin copycat attack in the city of Odessa. REUTERS SHS AN2001 -- (Reuters) -- C-1-1-DL0329-1087938.Xml
Russian President Vladimir Putin (C) meets with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu (R) and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov at the Kremlin in Moscow, Russia, Dec. 29, 2016. The Syrian government and the opposition have reached a cease-fire agreement, and both sides are ready to start peace talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.(Xinhua/Sputnik)
MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian government and the opposition have reached a cease-fire agreement, and both sides are ready to start peace talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday.
Three documents have been signed between the conflicting sides: one on a nationwide cease-fire in Syria, one on measures to monitor the truce, and the third on starting peace negotiations on the Syrian settlement, Putin said.
All the reached agreements are "very fragile," which requires special attention and patience, as well as a professional approach and constant contact with Moscow's partners in the region, Putin said at a meeting with Russia's Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
The trilateral format involving Russia, Turkey and Iran will monitor and provide guarantees to the peace process, Putin said, adding that contacts between him and leaders of Turkey, Iran and Syria would coordinate further steps on Syrian agreements.
Meanwhile, Putin called on all related countries to support the reached agreements and take part in talks in Astana, Kazakhstan on the Syrian settlement proposed by Russia.
The nationwide cease-fire will come into force at 0:00 local time on Friday (22:00 GMT on Thursday), Shoigu said at the meeting, adding that the agreements were reached with seven armed opposition groups involving62,000 people, which formed the core of the armed opposition.
He said the reached agreements created all the prerequisites for the cessation of hostilities, and establishment of a direct dialogue between the Syrian government and the opposition over issues like the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
It also created conditions for the reduction of Russian troops in Syria, Shoigu said.
Putin agreed to reduce the Russian presence, but adding that Russia would continue to fight terrorist groups and support the Syrian government in the fight against terrorism.
Shoigu also warned that the opposition factions that have not signed the latest truce deal would be automatically categorized as terrorist groups.
Lavrov said at the meeting that Moscow was going to invite Egypt to join the group of guarantor countries, adding that other key countries could also be involved.
Related:
Turkey says Syria approaches permanent ceasefire
ANKARA, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Wednesday that a permanent ceasefire and a political solution to the Syrian crisis is close, local media reported.
Cavusoglu's comments came after reports of an agreement between Turkey and Moscow for a general ceasefire deal in Syria. Full story
Iran urges exclusion of Saudi Arabia from Syria peace talks
TEHRAN, Dec. 28 (Xinhua) -- Iran's defense minister said Wednesday that Saudi Arabia should not be part of Syria peace talks, Tasnim news agency reported.
BEIJING, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) made progress this year as the two countries strengthened cooperation.
There were positive steps in transport infrastructure, energy and education, according to a meeting of the CPEC's long-term planning body on Thursday.
In 2016, the two sides began the upgrading the Karakorum Highway from Havelian to Thakot and a highway linking Pakistan's largest cities of Karachi and Lahore.
Ten energy projects, including a coal-fired power plant in Sahiwal, began with total installed capacity to reach 7.3 million kw.
The building of Gwadar Port and its support facility accelerated, as well as the introduction of foreign investment into industrial parks.
The CPEC, proposed by Chinese Premier Li Keqiang in 2013, is a 3,000-km network of roads, railways and pipelines linking Kashgar in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region and southwest Pakistan's Gwadar Port.
The economic belt is also a major part of China's Belt and Road Initiative.
ISTANBUL, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Turkey, once a staunch opponent of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, is partnering now with Russia and Iran, both steadfast supporters of the Syrian government, in search of a solution to the Syrian conflict that has entered its sixth year.
The declaration Turkey jointly adopted with Russia and Iran in Moscow last week to settle the civil war in Syria marks a fundamental departure from the policy pursued by the Turkish government over the years, under which Ankara had backed the rebels in efforts to topple the al-Assad government, analysts said.
"The tripartite Moscow agreement is indeed a complete U-turn for Turkey, because toppling of the Syrian regime is ruled out and the agreement implicitly recognizes the regime as a party to the settlement of the crisis," said Haldun Solmazturk, director of 21st Century Turkey Institute, an Ankara-based think-tank.
Article 1 of the joint statement, dubbed the Moscow Declaration, underlines the three countries' respect for Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity, while article 8 indicates the Islamic State (IS) and the al-Nusra Front, now known as
Fatah al-Sham Front, as terrorist organizations to be fought in Syria and excluded from future peace negotiations.
There is no reference in the declaration to President al-Assad's position.
Turkey had lent support to the rebel groups since Syria was plunged into chaos in March 2011, arguing al-Assad had lost his legitimacy to rule.
Many analysts argued that Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) had pushed, with Islamist motives, for a regime change in Syria to pave the way for sympathizers of the Muslim Brotherhood movement to come to power, as was the case in Egypt in the early stage of the so-called Arab Spring.
The AKP government's fixation on replacing the Syrian regime has led to nowhere but a complete destruction and dismemberment of Syria and a de-facto Syrian Kurdish state, remarked Solmazturk.
Despite the Moscow declaration, Ankara has insisted on no change in its position regarding the Syrian president.
Days after the declaration was adopted, Foreign Minister Cavusoglu said the restart in negotiations for a ceasefire in Syria did not mean Turkey's agreement to al-Assad remaining in power.
The minister also stated that the opposition groups would not accept al-Assad as president either.
What Turkey agreed to in the talks in Moscow is exactly the opposite of what Ankara had hoped for in Syria, said Ilhan Uzgel, head of the Department of International Relations with Ankara University.
"Al-Assad was to go (under the Turkish plan), but Turkey has emerged now as a sort of guarantor for al-Assad based on the Moscow declaration," he told Xinhua.
Nearly 44,000 people, civilians and rebels in Aleppo who were besieged by the Syrian forces, were recently allowed to be evacuated to Idlib, a rebel-held town in northwestern Syria, under a deal brokered by Russia, Turkey and Iran.
The move allowed the government forces to take over an entire Aleppo, Syria's second largest city, in a significant victory for Damascus.
Russia, Turkey and Iran are scheduled to meet again in January in Astana, Kazakhstan, to set the stage for representatives of both the Syrian government and the moderate rebel groups to start negotiations over a peace deal.
Ozturk Yilmaz, deputy chairman of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, called the government's change in position a U-turn that serves Turkey's best interests.
As the IS and al-Nusra Front are internationally recognized as terror groups, Turkey has been pushing without success so far for blacklisting the People's Protection Units (YPG), a Syrian Kurdish militia allied to the United States but seen by Ankara as a terrorist organization linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
The PKK has been waging a bloody war against Turkey since 1984 to carve out an autonomous, if not independent, Kurdistan in the country's mainly Kurds-populated southeast.
Turkey sees the emergence of an autonomous or independent Kurdish entity under PKK rule along its border as an existential threat.
The threat has become real as the Syrian government is now weakened following years of fighting against rebels.
The fact that the Turkish government is seeking to settle the Syrian issue in accord with Russia and Iran implies it recognizes al-Assad, "but they (members of the AKP government) don't confess that," Yilmaz, a former diplomat, was quoted as saying by Turkish media.
"The Turkish government has made many and fateful mistakes (in Syria) based on miscalculations and misreading of the regional and global developments," said Solmazturk, a former general in the Turkish Armed Forces. "It ignored or overlooked Turkish national interests and now the whole country pays for such mistakes."
Since the civil war broke out in Syria, suicide bomb attacks in Turkey by the PKK and IS have radically increased, with the country hit over the past one and a half years by around 30 deadly attacks and losing more than 400 lives.
"The Syrian policy of this government was wrong from top to bottom and we are paying the price for that," Yilmaz said at a press conference last week. "The price is the Turkish soldiers martyred, the disintegration of Syria, the demolition of Syrian cities and the humanitarian tragedy."
In the view of Yasar Yakis, the AKP's first foreign minister, the Moscow declaration is a step taken in the right direction by the Turkish government.
He told Xinhua that Ankara's original policy of overthrowing the al-Assad regime is now "detached from the realities in the field."
The Syrian government has irreversibly gained the upper hand in the civil war after Russia plunged into it militarily in September last year.
Three autonomous Kurdish cantons have emerged in Syria in recent years along the border with Turkey, while the U.S. is continuing its support to the YPG despite Turkish protests.
Washington sees the Kurdish militias in Syria as its ground force in the battle against IS and hopes, as revealed by U.S. officials earlier, for the emergence of an independent Kurdish state in the region.
In addition, Ankara is in need of Moscow's consent to conduct and continue its military offensive inside Syria, launched in August to push the IS away from the Turkish border and prevent the Kurds from uniting their three cantons.
Turkey is concerned that the emergence of an independent Kurdish region in northern Syria may set a precedent for its own 20 million Kurds.
The Turkish forces and the Free Syrian Army militants are currently fighting to capture al-Bab, an IS-held town about 30 kilometers from the Turkish border.
Early last week, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan bluntly expressed his disappointment about the U.S.-led coalition battling against the IS, accusing them of leaving Turkey alone in the battle for al-Bab.
He accused the coalition forces of offering support to the IS and YPG, underlying that Turkey has "confirmed" evidence in the forms of pictures and video footage.
Speaking of the upcoming Astana meeting, the Turkish leader voiced his opposition to inviting terrorist organizations to the summit.
Erdogan's remarks suggest that Turkey could start cooperating with Syria in the coming days, Ismail Hakki Pekin, a former general who headed the intelligence unit of the Turkish General Staff, said on Ulusal TV on Wednesday.
It is widely argued in Turkey that the best way to block the emergence of an independent Kurdish state in Syria is to cooperate with the Syrian government.
Both Syrian and Russian officials announced in the past months that they were against a federal system in Syria. Al-Assad himself also talked recently about liberating all of Syria, indicating his intention to keep his country a unitary state.
by Keren Setton
JERUSALEM, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Ahead of the inauguration of incoming U.S. President Donald Trump, there is speculation in Israel on whether there will be a change in American policy towards Iran.
Speaking at the beginning of December to the Saban Forum on the Middle East in Washington, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he was looking forward to talking to the new President about "what to do about this bad deal."
Throughout years of negotiations between Iran and the P5+1 countries, Netanyahu was vocal on his objection to any concessions towards Iran.
In 2015, when the deal was reached, under the auspices of now outgoing U.S. President Barack Obama, the Israeli government made its dissatisfaction clear.
Now, as Obama leaves office, it remains to be seen whether Trump will act on his campaign statements against the deal.
Dr. Emily B. Landau is the Head of the Arms Control Program at the Institute for National Security Studies at the Tel Aviv University. She estimates chances of the deal being scrapped are "pretty low."
She believes the situation now is "not good" and the Americans have lost any clout they may have had prior to the agreement.
She believes that even the deal is discarded, it will be replaced by a new deal.
"The U.S. is not going to get a better deal with no leverage," said Landau.
Dr. Ali Vaez, a senior Iran analyst for the International Crisis Group, believes the current Iran deal is facing its gradual end.
"The likeliest scenario is that the incoming administration will neither keep nor kill the deal. Instead it appears inclined to kill it softly by gradually reintroducing non-nuclear related sanctions that would allow restoration of leverage," says Vaez.
For Netanyahu, this may be the golden hour. A chance to make a dent in American policy towards Iran. His strained relationship with Obama throughout the past eight years did not provide fertile ground for a good dialogue on the issue.
Israel was highly critical of the nature of the deal that lifted sanctions against Iran from the get-go without having the country deliver on its promises to curb its nuclear aspirations.
Iranian leaders, who have often used threatening language towards the Jewish state, have yet to earn the trust of the Israelis with regard to the implementation of their side of the deal.
Trump's rhetoric during the presidential campaign was tough towards Iran. Based on that, he is expected to be less tolerant to Iranian violations of the agreement. Iranian provocations may be met with a harsh American response.
In an interview to CBS' 60 Minutes program a few weeks ago, Netanyahu said he could think of various ways to renege on the deal and he planned to discuss these with Trump.
"I don't think anyone knows what the Israeli Prime Minister's options for rolling back on the deal are, but the reality is that the agreement remains fragile and there are 1000 ways it could be sabotaged," said Vaez.
During the years 2010-2012, there was widespread media speculation that Israel was planning a pre-emptive strike against Iran.
Such an attack would be difficult for Israel to undertake -- it would not only need all sorts of assistance from its allies in carrying out such an attack, but its ramifications have the potential of spiraling the region into an all-out war.
Landau does not believe the option was really on the table but that was only "preparations and talks." In the past, she believes, when Israel did attack against Iraq in 1981 and Syria in 2007," there was no talk beforehand."
So even if the agreement were to be shelved, it seems unlikely Israel will attempt to strike Iran, but rather use various methods to undermine its nuclear program.
The lack of an agreement may increase uncertainty in the arena.
"The specter of war will once again appear, forcing Iran to double down on its support for anti-Israeli proxies to deter the U.S. and Israel from attacking it," Vaez assesses.
Iran, which supports the militant Hezbollah on Israel's northern border with Lebanon, may be motivated to provoke Israel through its proxy.
Israel and Hezbollah have fought bloody wars in the past. It is widely thought that Hezbollah has greatly improved the quality and scope of its missiles, making any future conflict with Israel bloodier than ever. At the moment, Hezbollah lacks the motivation to attack Israel. A collapse of the nuclear agreement might very well change this.
The agreement with Iran was a cause of a major rift between Netanyahu and Obama.
A year after the deal, Obama and other officials in the American administration quoted anonymous Israeli security officials saying even they were new converts -- Israel has now realized the deal was a good one.
Landaus said unequivocally that these quotes are "not true."
In an article published by her in the Times of Israel website, she wrote that comments made by Israeli officials were not meant for audiences outside of Israel and could therefore "be easily misconstrued."
Now, as the U.S. administration is about to be replaced, it seems Netanyahu is entering his comfort zone with Trump and might be more inclined to be even less diplomatic in his disdain for the pact with Iran.
The question remains whether the Iranian issue will be at the forefront of Trump's agenda. If it's not first on his to-do list, a change is farther away than Netanyahu wishes for.
MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promised Thursday to honor a newly-clinched ceasefire agreement in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin.
The Syrian government and the core groups of the so-called moderate opposition reached a ceasefire agreement and expressed their readiness to start intra-Syrian talks on Thursday.
The Syrian army then declared that a nationwide cessation of hostilities will go into effect as of midnight Friday.
Both the Russian and Syrian leaders hailed the agreement and the transition to a political process, which were mediated by Russia and Turkey, the Kremlin said in a statement.
Putin and al-Assad also agreed to launch the intra-Syrian talks in the Kazakh capital of Astana, which they believed to be an important step towards the resolution of the crisis, it added.
Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyp Erdogan have agreed to facilitate talks between Syria's conflicting sides in Astana, which has also been supported by Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev and the United Nations special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura.
Journalists are seen outside the Russian Embassy to the United States in Washington D.C., the United States, on Dec. 29, 2016. The White House on Thursday announced sanctions against Russian entities and individuals over alleged hacking during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In addition, the U.S. State Department on Thursday announced ejection of 35 Russian government officials from the United States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Thursday announced tough sanctions against Russian entities and individuals over alleged hacking during the 2016 U.S. presidential election.
Nine Russian entities and individuals, including two Russian intelligence services, were sanctioned for their alleged interference in the U.S. election, U.S. President Barack Obama said in a statement.
The Obama administration in October officially blamed Russia for hacking U.S. political institutions and persons to interfere with the U.S. election process, an accusation immediately dismissed as "nonsense" by Moscow.
"These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government," said Obama.
In addition, the U.S. State Department on Thursday announced ejection of 35 Russian officials from the United States, calling them "acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status."
Two Russian government-owned compounds, one in U.S. State of Maryland and one in New York, would also soon be shuttered, according to the State Department.
"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Obama said in the statement released while he was vacationing in Hawaii.
Calling the Obama administration's new move against Russia overdue, U.S. House Speaker Paul Ryan, highest-ranking GOP officeholder, said the new sanctions were "an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia."
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, told reporters in Russia that Moscow regreted the new sanctions and the measures signaled Obama's "unpredictable" and "aggressive foreign policy."
LONDON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- More than 200 people have died in the past year after taking psychoactive drugs known as "legal highs", the Home Office, Britain's interior department, revealed Thursday.
The Home Office said nearly 500 people have been arrested by law enforcers since a landmark psychoactive substances law came into force six months ago which made so-called designer drugs illegal.
New powers were introduced under the new law to tackle what officials described as the menace of so-called legal highs.
Home Office figures showed that new psychoactive substances were involved in 204 deaths in Britain in the last year, an increase of 25 percent compared to the previous 12 months.
Government minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism Sarah Newton said: "We banned new psychoactive substances because they are not safe, they can devastate lives and we will not tolerate them in this country."
Police forces have stopped 332 shops across Britain from selling the substances since the new law came into force.
Police Commander Simon Bray, from the National Police Chief's Council, said that the Psychoactive Substances Act has fundamentally changed the way police tackle the supply and distribution of these dangerous drugs.
Offenders can face up to 7 years in prison for the supply, production, possession with intent to supply, importation or exportation of a psychoactive substance.
Police can also use new powers to shut shops or online dealerships selling the newly banned substances.
A South Korean supersonic trainer jet plane, the T-50, performs during Air Power Day at the U.S. airbase in Osan, about 60 km (37 miles) south of Seoul, October 6, 2007. The Air Power Day event featured aircraft displays from South Korea and U.S. air forces as well as the Patriot missile system and security forces equipment.(REUTERS/Han Jae-Ho)
by Peter Mertz
DENVER, the UNITED STATES, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) - Within the next year, California's Mojave desert will see a streak in the sky and hear a sonic boom, as the first commercial supersonic flight in U.S. history hits the Stratosphere.
"The supersonic revival is here," Erin Fisher, Head of Flight Controls for Boom Technologies, told Xinhua in an exclusive interview on Tuesday.
Boom's team of Colorado-based engineers had solid plans to launch a supersonic prototype in 2017, and was scheduled to be in service and full production mode by 2023.
An initial production sequence of 1,300 jets was planned, and reportedly, orders were in for several dozen from American and European air carriers, at a cost of 200 million U.S. dollars each, Boom executives said.
Boom's XB jet would cross the Pacific or Atlantic oceans in less than half the time of current carriers, flying at a speed of nearly 1,500 miles per hour or 2500 kilometers per hour.
Fisher pointed to recent developments in advanced computer technology called Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) that makes the "supersonic revival" possible.
"Calculations that would take days or weeks in the 70's now takes minutes," Boom's CFD chief Kenrick Waithe told Xinhua.
Waithe is a key member of the Boom team - a CFD software expert who led Gulfstream's efforts developing quiet boom and supersonic aerodynamics.
Boom's CFD software uses numerical analysis and algorithms to analyze airflows around a vessel at supersonic speeds.
Using a computer, Waithe could run 1,000 simulations a week with tremendous accuracy. The prevalent "wind tunnel" testing of 30 years ago allowed only one or two tests in the same time frame.
Industry analysts say CFD has dropped research, design and development costs by hundreds of millions of dollars.
The time savings is also startling.
"We can cut the overall project time in half," Fisher said. "Instead of taking 10 years to develop a jet of this sophistication, we drop it to five."
Fisher worked on the top-secret, highly advanced Scorpion Jet project at Textron Aviation in Wichita Kansas before joining the Boom team earlier this year.
"For example, the Concorde was one, long tube, and there were no fluctuations," said Fisher. "You won't find too many straight lines on Boom's CFD designed jet."
A 2005 Stanford University study said "improvements in CFD might allow the elimination of a major cycle, and would significantly shorten the overall design process and reduce costs."
The industry jumped on this forecast with fervour. From coast-to-coast, American engineering schools responded with increased CFD programs.
In the west, Arizona State and the University of Colorado (CU) increased CFD classes, and in the east and midwest, Drexel, MIT, George Washington, Georgia Tech, Michigan, and Minnesota, jumped on board.
The recent academic push to increase CFD study occurred in consort with advances in high performance computing, Dr. John A. Evans, assistant professor of Aerospace Engineering at CU-Boulder, told Xinhua.
"Namely, great advances in computing resources, and in particular, parallel computing resources, have enabled engineers to simulate fluid flow about real-scale aircraft, while accounting for complex phenomena such as turbulence," Evans said.
Waithe, who is responsible for advanced computational fluid dynamics methods for all Gulfstream aircraft, agreed with Evans.
"With the advancement of the internet, computing resources no longer need to be kept local," Waithe said. "For a relatively small investment, small companies such as Boom can have the computing resources of NASA."
Evans' CFD classes at CU are filled with young, aggressive engineers who seem to be soaking up the state-of-the-art technology.
"Supersonics are so exciting...it's the wave of the future," said Alex Winoker, 23, an aerospace engineering student who will graduate from CU in 2018.
"Just as my generation is acclimated to the internet and computers, so are we now absorbing this new software," Winoker said. "CFD is triggering huge changes in the aerospace design industry. It's pretty amazing stuff."
According to the Stanford study, "through the systematic use of CFD, a slight design improvement such as a five percent in lift to drag (L/D) ratio change would translate into a similar reduction in fuel consumption."
While CFD design could help fuel consumption, Boom engineers planned to synchronize three smaller GE J85 engines instead of the customary two, which would make fuel consumption a challenge.
Last month, Bjorn Fehrm, an aerospace consultant, released a study of Boom's plan, and cited fuel consumption and per passenger cost as major problems.
So when Boom said flights would cost 2,000 U.S, dollars per passenger - almost half of what current carriers charge for business class customers on trans-Pacific and Atlantic flights - Fehrm contended this was not feasible, due to fuel costs.
However, a recent study by Antony Jameson and Massimiliano Fatica said that with the annual fuel costs of a long-range airliner at 5-10 million U.S. dollars, a 5 percent saving would total a saving of 10 million U.S. dollars over 25 years, or 5 billion U.S. dollars for a fleet of 500 aircraft."
"We're aware of the challenges," Fisher said, who noted the British-French Concorde supersonic jet went bankrupt in 2003, after almost 30 years of service.
"The Concorde was an economic failure with too many seats, it was inefficient with afterburner engines, and was just guzzling fuel," Fisher said.
The new Boom supersonic XB jet was designed to hold 45 passengers instead of Concorde's 100, and to use not only CFD designing, but advanced engines technology, and materials such as carbon-fiber composites, Fisher said.
Fehrm also questioned Boom's 200 million U.S. dollars price tag for the XB jet.
"I'm not sure Boom Technology have reliable estimates of the development costs yet," the former Swedish air force pilot said.
"Until you have found how to (design) your engines, and what that will cost in money and time, you can't really estimate the development costs," Fehrm said.
"Boom for sure has estimates, but looking at the 30 to 50 people they have on the pay list, and in 2023 for certification, I would not give much for their estimates," Fehrm said.
A car enters the the Russian Embassy to the United States in Washington D.C., the United States, on Dec. 29, 2016. The White House on Thursday announced sanctions against Russian entities and individuals over alleged hacking during the 2016 U.S. presidential election. In addition, the U.S. State Department on Thursday announced ejection of 35 Russian government officials from the United States. (Xinhua/Yin Bogu)
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Russia was found to have conducted malicious cyber activities to sway the U.S. elections, according to a joint report from two U.S. intelligence agencies Thursday.
The report, released by the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation, provided "technical details regarding the tools and infrastructure used by the Russian civilian and military intelligence services (RIS) to compromise and exploit networks and endpoints associated with the U.S. election."
This activity from RIS is part of an ongoing campaign of cyber-enabled operations directed at the U.S. government and its citizens, the report said, adding that a range of U.S. government, political, and private sector entities were also targeted.
The 13-page report, named Grizzly Steppe, also included details such as a list of alternate names and technical signatures used by the RIS and mitigation strategies were offered to fend off future attacks.
This is the first time an official analysis report from the U.S. government specified Russia as an origin of cyber attacks against the United States during the election cycle.
The report was released in the wake of a number of actions Washington has taken against Moscow Thursday in retaliation for its alleged cyber attacks.
Earlier Thursday, U.S. President Barack Obama unveiled a sanction that targeted nine Russian entities and individuals, including two Russian intelligence services, and the State Department expelled 35 Russian diplomats in the United States.
The Kremlin accused Washington of trying to "destroy" U.S.- Russia ties and said it is weighing retaliation.
The Obama administration has repeatedly said Russia was behind a number of cyber attacks and leaks that damaged the image of the Democratic Party and its presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the presidential election, an accusation refuted by Russia and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Obama has previously asked U.S. intelligence agencies to investigate into and formulate a report on Russia's hacking activities, an effort backed by lawmakers across the aisle.
It is unclear how Trump, who is to take over the White House on Jan. 20, will deal with the tension between Moscow and Washington, but any move in Russia's direction, as suggested by his pro-Russia remarks, will likely be met with strong opposition from the U.S. Congress.
Syrian workers remove rubble from a rooftop on December 27, 2016 as they clean up the water station in Aleppo's Suleiman al-Halabi neighbourhood. (Xinhua/AFP Photo)
DAMASCUS, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The recently agreed upon cessation of hostilities went into force at midnight on Thursday, as declared by the Syrian army.
The nationwide ceasefire was brokered by Russia and Turkey and agreed upon by Syria, and major opposition and rebel groups, while terror-designated organizations such as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS), were excluded.
While previous cease-fires have failed to hold in Syria, the new one is particularly distinct as it enjoys the approval of all concerned parties, mainly Turkey, which has a major influence on the rebel groups operating in Syria.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Thursday evening that the cease-fire constitutes a "real chance" to establish a political settlement in Syria.
The cease-fire comes after the Syrian army and its allied fighters retook the city of Aleppo in northern Syria, after dealing a big blow to the rebels, said al-Moallem.
He noted that the new cease-fire is distinct from the previous failing ones due to the "strong Russian guarantees," saying that Russia is a partner in fighting terrorism, and Russia has guaranteed that "every breach will be confronted."
The Syrian army said in a statement that the cease-fire paves the way for reactivating negotiations to end the conflict.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promised Thursday to honor the newly-clinched ceasefire agreement in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin.
For his part, Putin said that Russia and Turkey will guarantee the truce, adding that the ceasefire will be followed by peace talks between the Syrian government and the opposition in Kazakhstan, without specifying a date.
The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army and the Syrian National Coalition, a political coalition of Syrian opposition groups, have announced their acceptance to the ceasefire.
Osama Donora, a political analyst, told Xinhua that the ceasefire comes as a result of the victories of the Syrian army, particularly in Aleppo in northern Syria, as the entire city has fallen back under the government control since last week, when the rebels all withdrew toward the countryside of the city.
Another reason, Danura said, is the Russian-Iranian effort to push Ankara to reach common ground with the two countries.
"The new agreement means that Turkey is now onboard with Russia, and its pledge to guarantee the implementation of the ceasefire on the rebel side is a positive thing," said Danura. "This means that the main obstacle that was hindering the political settlement to Syria's crisis has been largely surmounted."
If the rebels shift toward pointing guns on and severing ties with terrorist groups, it will be a right prelude to the upcoming Syrian political talks, the expert said.
Danura pointed out that the new ceasefire will also serve as a test to the true intentions of rebels and Turkey, as the latter has always been the "umbilical cord feeding the rebels in northern Syria with arms, fighters and logistics."
Related:
Syria's Assad vows to honor truce agreement in phone talks with Putin
MOSCOW, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promised Thursday to honor a newly-clinched ceasefire agreement in a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin, according to the Kremlin.
The Syrian government and the core groups of the so-called moderate opposition reached a ceasefire agreement and expressed their readiness to start intra-Syrian talks on Thursday. Full story
Syria says Russia's guarantees behind reaching Syria ceasefire
DAMASCUS, Dec. 29 (Xinhua) -- Syria's Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Thursday that Russia's strong guarantees to the Syrian government were behind the government acceptance of the imminent cease-fire in Syria.
WELLINGTON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- A new direct air link between New Zealand and China opened Friday with the arrival of the first Hainan Airlines flight at Auckland Airport.
The new direct link to Shenzhen, in south China, would operate three times a week, airport acting general manager - aeronautical commercial Scott Tasker said in a statement.
The service would add 81,000 seats a year between New Zealand and China and bring an estimated 102 million NZ dollars (71.08 million U.S. dollars) to the New Zealand economy.
"In the last 12 months, New Zealand has welcomed more than 400,000 Chinese visitors - with almost 90 percent entering the country here at Auckland Airport," said Tasker.
"The Chinese market is integral to the New Zealand tourism industry's growth objectives and this new service provides a direct connection to a city of some 10.5 million, with convenient domestic connections to Beijing and throughout Guangdong Province."
BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Gong Qinggai, a former senior Taiwan affairs official, and Liu Zhigeng, former vice governor of southern China's Guangdong Province, have been indicted on suspicions of bribery, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Friday.
Gong, former deputy head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, was indicted by local prosecutors in Anyang City, Henan Province.
According to the indictment, Gong is accused of taking advantage of his posts when he worked in Fujian Province to seek benefits for others, asking for and illegally accepting a huge amount of money and property.
Liu was indicted by local prosecutors in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
He is accused of taking advantage of his posts when he worked in Guangdong to seek benefits for others and illegally accepting a large amount of money and property, according to the indictment.
URUMQI, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The Xinjiang regional procuratorate said it has set up a special team to handle cases related to terrorism.
The team will consist of 30 prosecutors in the prefectures of Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu, Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bayingolin and Urumqi, six important regions for targeting terrorism, said Guo Lianshan, deputy prosecutor-in-general of the regional People's Procuratorate.
Xinjiang aims to have 5,808 people working at different levels of procuratorates, including 2,119 prosecutors plus assistants and administrative staff, Guo said.
On Wednesday, three knife-wielding rioters attacked the Moyu County Committee of the Communist Party of China and detonated explosives, killing two people and injuring three others. The Ministry of Public Security said the three rioters were shot dead at the site.
Moyu is located in Hotan prefecture.
by Xinhua writers Qu Junya, Zhang Yuan, Peng Qian
BEIJING/TASHKENT, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- A row of temporary houses alongside a Chinese national flag are eye-catching in wilderness on the outskirts of Samarkand in eastern Uzbekistan.
A home since late 2013 to Chinese archaeological staff, the site could be a stop on the ancient Silk Road or on the migration route of the ancient Greater Yuezhi (Rouzhi) nomads.
Working together with Uzbek colleagues, Chinese researchers are trying to excavate material remains and piece together memories from a Greater Yuezhi migration, restoring a missing part of Central Asian history.
RESTORING CENTRAL ASIAN HISTORY
"Where the Greater Yuezhi people had gone is a common topic of history, anthropology and linguistics," said Wang Jianxin, chief archaeologist at the Institute of Silk Road Studies under the Xi'an-based Northwest University of China.
In seeking their traces more than 2,000 years ago, the joint team between archaeologists from the Chinese university and Uzbekistan has been engaged in excavations in both the Central Asian country and the neighboring Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region of China.
The ancient nomads were a branch split from the Yuezhi people who were first reported in Chinese histories living in the west of the modern Chinese province of Gansu.
An answer to the mystery of their whereabouts is also about the ethnic origin and composition in Central Asian countries.
Chinese and Uzbek researchers have found earthen and stone winter settlement sites left by other ancient nomads.
In July, they unearthed a large ancient tomb, where gold-embedded turquoise ornaments were found along with the female remains in the major burial chamber.
Though their study shows the tomb in southern Uzbekistan was built by the Kangju people, the Yuezhi's contemporaries, the findings have helped map the then domains of the two powers, narrowing the range of possible moving routes of the Greater Yuezhi people.
CONTRIBUTING TO WORLD ARCHAEOLOGY AND HISTORY
Zhang Qian, the envoy sent by an emperor of China's Han Dynasty to seek a military alliance in the west with the Greater Yuezhi, eventually arrived in their land via Kangju after the ordeals of a long travel.
Like this China-Uzbekistan joint project, Chinese historical records are providing increasingly more archaeological clues to help better restore and understand the Oriental history.
As regards archaeological excavation, it is known that theories and working approaches can be similar, but how to interpret and determine the excavated involves more, such as the knowledge of history, culture and customs, as well as the way of thinking.
"Human factors matter more in this science," said Chen Ling, a research fellow at the School of Archaeology and Museology, Peking University.
"Mistakes sometimes did occur," he said, citing the Soviets misreading Chinese eave tiles and pan-and-roll roofing tiles at a Silk Road site in the 1950s.
As a result of ignorance of Chinese architecture, a Buddhist temple site was restored as a mosque, and it would have "led to a sequence of distortions afterwards," Chen said.
Noting an increase in archaeological collaboration between China and other countries, Chen believes Chinese researchers are contributing more to the Oriental history restoration as well as the world history interpretation.
SERVING BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE
For Chinese researchers, the joint project with Uzbekistan also combines the past with the present. It highlights both the historical context and the cultural element of China's Belt and Road Initiative aimed at common development and prosperity.
Above all, it was Zhang Qian's diplomatic mission in ancient China that prompted the prosperous trade route now known as the Silk Road.
On top of sharing results, a Uzbek ownership of the unearthed relics and a whole-course participation by both sides in excavation and study are among the principles guiding the archaeological collaboration, Wang said.
Doing protection while doing excavation is also a must-do.
The Chinese expert described such an archaeological excavation as "responsible."
Similar joint projects are also going on beyond the Uzbek section of the initiative's routes. For example, looking for remains from the ancient Xiongnu nomads in Mongolia, and from the maritime silk road in Vietnam, Cambodia and Myanmar in Southeast Asia, and in as far as Egypt and Kenya in Africa.
Culture is an important element in the Belt and Road Initiative, and it serves as a bridge to help increase the understanding between peoples, said Wang Wei, director general of the Archaeological Society of China.
"It is the archaeologists' duty to push the exchange and mutual learning between world civilizations," said Wang.
As 2016 comes to an end, Xinhua invites you to walk down the memory lane and look back at some of the most memorable moments that happened in China, be it sad or jolly, through 12 powerful Xinhua photos, one for each month of the year.
DECEMBER The dreadful smog
These combined images show how heavy smog gradually blankets Beijing over the course of a day on Dec. 16, 2016 (Xinhua/Jiang Yan)
Skies gradually turned grey in Beijing over the course of a day on December 16 as smog swept into the Chinese capital of over 21 million residents. The shimmering dome-shaped building, slowly blurred by smog, is China's iconic National Centre for the Performing Arts, situated in the very center of Beijing. Beijing declared this year's first "red alert" on that day, the highest of its four-color warning system for air pollution, closing schools, ordering vehicles off the roads and telling residents to stay indoors. The smog lingered for five days.
NOVEMBER Lives crushed, so were dreams
An aerial shot of the Fengcheng Power Plant in eastern China's Jiangxi Province after construction platform collapsed and killed 74 workers on Nov. 24, 2016 (Xinhua/ Wan Xiang)
This photo shows from above a power plant cooling tower inside which 74 workers were crushed to death in the cold morning of November 24. The workers, aged from 23 to 53, fell after a 70-meter-high construction platform collapsed. The black debris in the middle of the cooling tower was remains of scaffolding, cement and steel rods from the collapsed platform. Ten people have been arrested for misconduct.
OCTOBER Happy 600th anniversary! Drepung Monastery
A grand ceremony is held to mark the 600th anniversary of the founding of the Drepung Monastery in Lhasa, southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region, Oct. 12, 2016(Xinhua/Purbu Zhaxi)
Built in 1416 on the outskirts of Lhasa, the Drepung Monastery is the largest and most influential monastery of the Gelug sect, a branch of the Tibetan Buddhism. It is a must-go destination in Tibet as it is the largest among all Tibetan monasteries and only a few kilometers from Lhasa, the regional capital.
SEPTEMBER Cutest of the Cute! Panda babies
23 panda babies born in 2016 make debut in Chengdu, southwest China's Sichuan Province on Sept. 29, 2016 (Xinhua)
Adorable cuddly giant panda cubs made their debut appearance at a breeding center in Chengdu, capital city of the southwestern province of Sichuan. A total of 23 pandas were born at the center this year and all of them were put on display. Pandas are extremely rare because of habitat loss and a very low birthrate. Sichuan is home to almost 75 percent of the country's wild giant panda population.
AUGUST Chinese tightrope walker sets record
Chinese tightrope walker Adili Wuxor sets new Guinness World Record by walking a 1,800 meter-long wire across the Yellow River on August 26, 2016 (Xinhua/Li Ran)
Chinese tightrope walker Adili Wuxor, 45, has refreshed his own record by walking a 1,800 meter-long wire across the Yellow River, in a daredevil stunt which also included walking over another man coming the other way.
They completed the wire-walking 180 meter above the country's second longest Yellow River, in the northwestern Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region, without any safety nets. The two of them set off separately from two mountain tops across the river, met with each other half way and performed a tricky stunt in order to pass each other.
JULY The most lovely people
Soldiers rest on a floating bridge after working non-stop for two days to block a breached dyke in central China's Hunan Province, July 12, 2016 (Xinhua/ Li Ga)
Heavy rains in July triggered deadly floods across central and southern China. This photo was taken in the early morning of July 12, when dozens of soldiers were resting on a floating bridge after working around the clock for almost two days to block a 47-meter gap of a breached dyke to guarantee the safety and property of local residents.
JUNE Worst tornado
At dawn, a rescuer searches for signs of life on the debris of a village torn down by a tornado on June 24, 2016 (Xinhua/Han yuqing)
A tornado and hailstorm killed at least 99 people and injured over 800 in the eastern province of Jiangsu on June 23. Accompanied by torrential rains, the tornado, the worst for the region in half a century, struck the outskirts of Yancheng City, leveling whole villages, overturning cars and blocking roads.
MAY Robot caregiver- the time of artificial intelligence
A grey-haired senior was video-chatting with his family with the help of a service robot at a nursing home in Hangzhou of the eastern province of Zhejiang, May 24, 2016 (Xinhua/Huang Zongzhi)
Elderly people may forget things, but robots never do. Service robot A-Tie could do much more than just being a computer screen, it could also keep the elderly entertained and remind them to take their medication on time.
Service robotics has become a major field of development in the robot industry in China, a country which is already the world's biggest market for industrial robots. Are robots the future of elderly care in China? The country's 60s have produced far fewer children than their father's generation, which translates into lack of people who can provide care for China's aging population.
APRIL One-armed teacher who cannot retire
Tang Guangfang, a one-armed man, instructs a child in class at a rural school in Quanzhou County, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, April 26, 2016 (Xinhua/Lu Bo'an)
Many of China's remote rural schools can't find qualified teachers. It is not uncommon to encounter one-teacher's schools in impoverished villages. The teacher is also cook, security guard, cleaner, and care-taker for the children. But the story of Beishancun Primary School in mountainous Quanzhou County is more heart-wrenching. Tang Guangfang, who lost his right arm, has been teaching there for his life. Like Tang, many teachers approaching the age of 60 in nearby villages are supposed to retire soon. But as the schools can't find replacement, some of them decided to stay on and God knows for how long.
MARCH War owes her an apology
Hao Yuelian, 88, covers her eyes as she recalls the humiliation of being forced to be a sex slave for Japanese invaders during World War II on March 7, 2016 (Xinhua/Zhan Yan)
Hao Yuelian is among the very few World War II war crime survivors who, despite in their twilight years, live to tell the inhumanities against Chinese women by Japanese soldiers.
"Comfort women" was an euphemism for sex slaves in the Japanese language. In 1943, Hao was only 15 when she was seized to serve as a "comfort woman" for the Japanese troops who camped in her hometown in Shanxi Province. She escaped but was captured again. Hao eventually lost the ability to bear children. At 88, Hao said she had not given up seeking justice. She urged Japan to recognize its dark past and apologize for the war-time atrocities.
FEBRUARY In search of quake survivors
A rescuer looks for survivors in earthquake ruins in Tainan, Taiwan, Feb. 6, 2016 (Xinhua/Zhang Guojun)
Hundreds of rescuers and volunteers worked around the hours to comb the rubble after an 6.7-magnitude earthquake struck the southern region of Taiwan two days ahead of the lunar new year of 2016. Over 110 lives perished in the quake, most of them buried under a collapsed 16-storey residential complex. Taiwan is frequently rattled by earthquakes. Most cause little or no damage, although a 7.3-magnitude quake in 1999, the strongest to hit Taiwan in about 100 years, left more than 2,000 people dead.
JANUARY Happy Chinese New Year at fisherman's wharf
Calligraphers write Chinese New Year couplets for fishermen in Zhenjiang City, Jiangsu Province, Jan. 29. (Xinhua/Chen Gang)
The Chinese New Year is the most important festival for Chinese, both living in China and abroad. On this occasion of family reunion, the Chinese have kept their traditional rituals for celebration, such as writing couplets. Known as Chunlian, couplets written on red paper are hung on door frames as decoration and express blessings for the coming year.
Photo taken on Dec. 11, 2016 shows pro-government fighters at a camp in Aleppo, nothern Syria. The Syrian army on Thursday declared a nationwide cease-fire that will go into force as of midnight Friday, Dec. 30, state TV reported Thursday. (Xinhua/Yang Zhen)
DAMASCUS/MOSCOW, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- A new cease-fire agreement reached between the Syrian government and the opposition were welcomed by related parties on Thursday, but at the same time uncertainties remain over whether the truce will definitely end the nearly six-year-old civil war.
The chronic conflicts in Syria have killed more than 300,000 people and displaced nearly 11 million others.
NEW CEASE-FIRE
The new cease-fire went into force at midnight Thursday as declared by the Syrian army.
The nationwide truce was brokered by Russia and Turkey and agreed upon by the Syrian government and major opposition and rebel groups, while terrorist organizations such as the al-Qaida-linked Nusra Front and the Islamic State (IS), were excluded.
At a meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the trilateral format involving Russia, Turkey and Iran will monitor and provide guarantees to the peace process. Contacts between him and leaders of Turkey, Iran and Syria would coordinate further steps on Syrian agreements, he added.
Putin, however, said the cease-fire agreement was quite fragile and required special attention and patience.
The previous two Syria cease-fires brokered by Russia and the United States took effect in February and September respectively but both collapsed within weeks as warring sides accused each other of truce violations.
This time, although warring sides appeared to have stopped firing in many areas, monitors still reported clashes between government forces and insurgents along the provincial boundary between Idlib and Hama, and isolated incidents of gunfire further south less than two hours after the truce began, according to a Reuters report.
WELCOMED BY RELATED PARTIES
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad promised Thursday to honor the newly clinched cease-fire agreement in a phone conversation with Putin, according to the Kremlin.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem said Thursday evening that the cease-fire constitutes a "real chance" to establish a political settlement in Syria.
He noted that the new cease-fire is distinct from the previous failing ones due to the "strong Russian guarantees," saying that Russia is a partner in fighting terrorism, and that Russia has guaranteed that "every breach will be confronted."
The Syrian army said in a statement that the cease-fire paves the way for reactivating negotiations to end the conflict.
The Turkey-backed Free Syrian Army and the Syrian National Coalition, a political coalition of Syrian opposition groups, have announced to honor the cease-fire.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a "historic opportunity" to end the Syrian conflict.
Turkey, a longtime backer of the Syrian opposition, has been allowing opposition forces to use its long border with Syria to cross back and forth.
The United States, which was not involved in recent truce negotiations, said the news of the cease-fire was positive.
"We hope it will be implemented fully and respected by all parties," said U.S. State Department spokesman Mark Toner.
UN special envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura said Thursday that a comprehensive cessation of hostilities remains a "cornerstone" for the peace process in the war-torn country.
UNCERTAINTIES REMAIN
Osama Donora, a political analyst, told Xinhua that the cease-fire comes as a result of the victories of the Syrian army, particularly in Aleppo in northern Syria, as the entire city has fallen back under government control.
Another reason, Donora said, is the Russian-Iranian effort to push Ankara to reach common ground with the two countries.
"The new agreement means that Turkey is now onboard with Russia, and its pledge to guarantee the implementation of the cease-fire on the rebel side is a positive thing," said Donora. "This means that the main obstacle that was hindering the political settlement to Syria's crisis has been largely surmounted."
Vitaly Naumkin, director of the Oriental Studies Institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences, said the cease-fire agreement was reached because of cooperation between Russia and Turkey but that does not mean the Russia-Iran-Turkey trilateral format would replace Russia's negotiations at the United Nations or the Russia-U.S. coordination.
Lavrov, the Russian foreign minister, said U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's administration will be welcome to join the peace process once he takes office.
Vladimir Sazhin, a research fellow with the Oriental Studies Institute under the Russian Academy of Sciences, however, was not optimistic about the prospects for the cease-fire.
Russia, Turkey and Iran have their own interests, Sazhin said, adding that none of them will abandon their interests and the deep contradictions between Turkey and Iran and between Russia and Turkey will not disappear.
By Yoo Seungki
SEOUL, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- The biggest South Korean business lobby, composed of conglomerates called chaebol here, is facing a risk of the break-up, or at least a full-scale reform, over its deep-rooted link with the presidential power that was revealed again through a scandal involving President Park Geun-hye.
Samsung Electronics Vice Chairman Lee Jae-yong appeared at a parliamentary hearing on Dec. 6, the first to grill all involved in the scandal that led to the impeachment of President Park, together with the chiefs of other large corporations that are members of the Federation of Korean Industries (FKI).
The FKI is ostensibly a business community to speak for over 600 big companies, but it is now being suspected of acting as a channel to let Choi Soon-sil, Park's longtime confidante, pressure conglomerates into donating tens of millions of U.S. dollars to two nonprofit foundations controlled by Choi.
Stunning TV viewers of the hearing broadcast live, Lee said the country's No.1 family-run conglomerate will break away from the FKI and stop paying membership dues without elaborating on a specific date.
"Grandfather-initiated FKI is facing a fate of being broken up by the hands of his grandson. An old saying comes true that one who ties a knot eventually unties it," Park Ju-Geun, president of CEO Score, a business data provider, said in a Thursday interview with Xinhua.
Lee Byung-chull, the founder of Samsung Group, was the first chairman of the FKI that was set up in 1961, just a year after former military strongman Park Chung-hee, father of the impeached President Park, gained power in a coup.
It is a "historical irony," the CEO Score chief said, as the Samsung founder-launched lobby under the presidency of elder Park is on the verge of dissolution at the hands of the Samsung heir under the presidency of younger Park.
Samsung has yet to declare its abandonment of FKI membership, but LG Group, the country's No.4 conglomerate, left the lobby earlier this week. Following suit would be SK Group and CJ Group given that their heads indicated departure from it during the National Assembly hearing. SK is the third-largest business group.
COZY TIES FROM ORIGIN LIMITATIONS
The FKI's fate at risk disclosed cozy ties between the presidential power and the chaebol families again, which can be seen as commonplace in South Korea where a handful of big corporations headed the industrialization from a war-torn country to the Asia's rising economy by the help of military dictatorships.
In the early days of industrialization, the FKI was an easy channel to relay state-led development plans to a small number of businesses, which in turn made almost monopolistic profits with government funds, the only source of foreign currency capital at the time.
The country's presidents and chaebol families "needed each other," said the CEO Score chief who claimed that the FKI had limitations from its origin as it was born under such circumstances as collusive links with state power.
The distorted connection has lasted until now, though it temporarily weakened for around a decade under liberal presidents Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, now that every new government can push a respective "trademark" economic policy more easily through the sole channel of the FKI.
Future governments may be enticed into maintaining the links, but companies are now willing to leave the lobby and sever the connections as capital power has overtaken political power since 2000 or so, according to the CEO Score head.
The biggest turning point was the 1997 foreign exchange crisis that led South Korea to open its financial market to foreign capital. In the past 20 years, major conglomerates went global except a few consumer goods-centered businesses, reducing dependence on the domestic market and in consequence, on the domestic political power.
"Samsung Group is generating about 80 percent of revenue globally. Top 10 business groups are doing so," said Park Ju-Geun who explained fewer motives for chaebols to cozy up to political power due to the altered business environment.
DISBAND OR SURVIVE
Calls are rising for the disbandment of the FKI, and even the break-up of all conglomerates. Under the impeached Park's presidency, people seem to have been increasingly convinced of their uselessness and perniciousness.
The FKI was at the center of controversy over the elderly men's protest against the bereaved families of the Sewol ferry-sinking victims. Local media reports said the business lobby paid the elderly protesters on the instruction of the presidential Blue House.
It also helped establish Mir and K-Sports foundations, controlled by Park's confidante, by collecting funds from its member conglomerates. In this case, the FKI also served as a nexus between state power and chaebol.
"It is right to dismantle the FKI," said the CEO Score chief who referred to the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) as an alternative to the chaebol lobby group. The KCCI has about 160,000 member companies and includes the FKI members.
Independent counsel is investigating into whether businessmen had bribed the president and her friend in return for getting business favors or support in the management control transfer in generations.
Powerful presidential contenders in the opposition bloc pledged to break up conglomerates, which have pursued the private gains of chaebol families rather than a higher enterprise value for shareholders.
"Large businesses have put top priority soly on the private gains of chaebol families, which naturally lead to links with the presidential power," said the CEO Score head.
He said the FKI will have no bright future unless it breaks its subservience to the "symbiotic relationship," stressing the need to keep in check the unchecked presidential and chaebol powers.
JAKARTA, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Indonesian police has forecast terrorism threat will escalate in the country next year as many militants remain at large, police said on Friday.
"There are some threats disturbing security and they tend to rise. They are terrorism, drug," National Police Spokesman Inspector General Boy Rafly Amar disclosed at the national police headquarters.
Boy made the statement following a series of arrests and killing of suspected militants, planning to commit in major suicide bombings, across the country in recent weeks.
National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian said that police has put counter-terrorism as one of the priorities next year.
"Terrorism remains as a focus of the police," he said.
The general revealed that the number of cases related with terrorism rose significantly to 170 this year, compared with 82 cases last year.
To face the terrorist threat next year, Tito disclosed that the police would beef up performance and boost prevention acts.
Indonesian security authorities monitor the movement and acts of dozens of militants backed home from Mosul of Iraq after joining the IS activities there.
ATHENS, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Investigations on Greece's ambassador to Brazil Kyriakos Amiridis who has gone missing since Monday are ongoing, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yannis Amanatidis said on Friday in Athens.
Speaking to local radio SKAI, the Greek official did not confirm international media reports that a charred body found inside a car in Rio de Janeiro on Friday was Amiridis, hoping that the diplomat will be found alive and safe.
Brazilian police said that the car had been rented by the ambassador who was visiting the city for the Christmas and New Year Eve holidays.
According to a Greek Foreign Ministry statement on Thursday, the Greek embassy in Brasilia was informed on Wednesday from the ambassador's family that they had not been able to contact him since Monday.
The 59-year old diplomat assumed duties as Greece's ambassador to Brazil in January 2016. He once served in Rio de Janeiro as consul from 2001 to 2004.
According to the Greek Foreign Ministry's website, Amiridis also was Greece's ambassador to Libya in 2012. He is married and has a daughter.
The Greek Foreign Ministry said on Thursday that Amiridis had been missing since Monday. The ambassador reportedly went missing during a trip to Rio de Janeiro.
Amiridis' family reported no contact for a ransom in the past days, but police did not rule out the possibility of a kidnapping.
It is highly possible that Amiridis has been killed, Brazilian authorities said on Thursday.
by Ronald Ssekandi
BULIISA, Uganda, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Prices may rise and fall, but in the eyes of 76-year-old Michael Zade, a Ugandan farmer, the crop has never failed its job as the family's breadwinner.
Over the last 40 years, Zade has been growing cotton, a practice he got from his father, in the remote mid-western district of Buliisa. For him, the crop paid tuition fees for his five children and funded the construction of a permanent house.
Cotton is Uganda's third largest export crop after coffee and tea, as well as the main source of income for some 250,000 households like Zade's.
For many of them, hopes are high that the industry would embrace a boom after the Ugandan government launched a campaign to support cotton and other local industries.
GOOD OLD DAYS
Before the onset of stiff competition from Asia, Uganda's textile industry had been a flourishing industry way back to the 1960s.
Zade refers to the time as the "good old days" when a good cotton harvest meant merry making for the whole village.
There were structures and systems right from growing to marketing cotton, and extension workers could traverse villages teaching farmers how to plant and harvest cotton.
The price of cotton at the farm-gate was paid by the ginneries or co-operatives in most cases, and the government would provide a subsidy. This system always encouraged farmers as a good price was guaranteed.
At the national level there was the Lint Marketing Board (LMB), which had the monopoly to trade in all the lint and cotton seed. As a result, production reached the highest level, of 470,000 bales of lint, in 1969/70, according to government figures.
During the early 1970s to mid-1980s, however, war and economic turmoil that befell Uganda disrupted the cotton production.
In order to revamp the industry, the government in 1994 liberalized the cotton sector, replacing the LMB with the Cotton Development Organization (CDO), a state agency charged with monitoring the production, processing, and marketing of cotton.
In the process of liberalization, the government had been anticipating that opening up the sector would make it more efficient and boost production.
This however exposed the farmers to the price fluctuation in the global market as over 90 percent of Uganda's cotton is exported.
Figures from the Bank of Uganda, the country's central bank, show in recent years, whereas the quantities of cotton have gone up, the value is not stable.
While exported cotton rose to 63,512 tonnes in 2015 from 40,671 tonnes in 2014, the value for exported cotton fell to 20 million U.S. dollars in 2015 from 22 million dollars in 2014.
The government is striving to revamp the sector, arguing the crop can still be one of the country's top foreign exchange earners and generate much of the revenue internally.
Earlier this year, President Yoweri Museveni called for supporting Uganda's local industries and directed all uniforms for the army, the police and prisons service be bought locally.
He said the country spends 888 million dollars on annual textile imports, money that would have been used to revamp the industry locally.
Banking on a recent decision by East African Community member states to ban importation of used clothes, Uganda believes it can still reap big from the crop.
The country is already reaping from the available international markets where it can export its textile materials tariff and quota free.
According to CDO, Uganda now has 40 ginneries and a total installed seasonal ginning capacity of around 1 million bales of lint production (200,000 tonnes). This is above the maximum production achieved in the last two decades.
Despite many opportunities awaiting local farmers, Zade urges the government to help them cope with the harsh climate change effects besides declining soil fertility. He said the last two seasons have not been good due to prolonged dry spells and infertile soils.
He said farmers need to be provided with good-quality seeds and fertilizers to ensure good yields.
Photo taken on Sept. 21, 2016 shows a container terminal in Shanghai Free Trade Zone, east China. China's gross domestic product expanded 6.7 percent year on year in the third quarter of 2016, stable from the second quarter, the National Bureau of Statistics said on Wednesday. (Xinhua/Ding Ting)
BEIJING, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- China played a constructive role in improving global economic governance to realize win-win cooperation and a more reasonable governance structure in 2016.
As an important player and firm supporter of existing platforms, including the United Nations, the World Trade Organization and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), China has contributed both ideas and action to addressing unreasonable and unjust aspects of global governance.
For instance, current IMF quotas fail to reflect economic realities. This year, China in several occasions urged the IMF to increase quota resources and review the distribution of quotas and votes to ensure a fair reflection of emerging and developing economies.
China also made other recommendations to improve international financial architecture, including examining the broader use of Special Drawing Rights, strengthening the Global Financial Safety Net and improving debt restructuring processes.
As the WTO's Doha round trade negotiations have stumbled for years because of complex issues, nations including China have been exploring new ways to promote global trade growth and expand mutually beneficial cooperation.
That was the perfect explanation for the emergence of multiple new frameworks, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and the Regional Comprehensive Economy Partnership that is still under negotiation.
After three years of development, the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China in 2013 has brought changes to people and countries along the ancient trade routes.
With more than 100 countries and international organizations participating, the Initiative rolled out a raft of major projects this year, including the construction of ports and railways.
The AIIB, a China-proposed multilateral bank founded in late 2015, has lent a total amount of 1.73 billion U.S. dollars in nine infrastructure projects across seven countries since the beginning of this year.
The latest lending was made to a natural gas project in Azerbaijan, which involves pipeline construction between Azerbaijan and Turkey and helps create jobs in both countries.
China also offered its wisdom and solutions for coping with challenges for the faltering world economy at the Group of 20 (G20) summit held in September in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou.
For the first time, the summit put development at the center of global macro policy framework and made a groundbreaking action plan implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
The summit also included green finance on its agenda for the first time and laid out the first global framework for multilateral rules governing investment, leaving a clear Chinese imprint on G20 history.
From time to time, China has shown the world its capability in turning vision to consensus and turning constructive proposals into reality.
Seeing the success in China-proposed platforms, the world will surely have more confidence in and higher expectation for China's role in improving global economic governance.
British Prime Minister Theresa May (L) is greeted by European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker at group photo session during an EU Summit at its headquarters in Brussels, Belgium, Oct. 20, 2016. (Xinhua/Ye Pingfan)
LONDON, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Britain's historic referendum on Brexit after being a member of the European Union (EU) for 43 years has brought along a spate of game-changing issues that could reshape the global political landscape forever.
With a close margin of 52 percent against 48 percent in favor of exit, the British voters' decision to leave the EU preceded other "black-swan events" around the world, including the surprising win of U.S. Donald Trump and the unexpected resignation of former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi after losing in a referendum on constitutional reforms.
Some observers closely watching the coming elections in France and Germany next year compared the Brexit vote to the first falling domino.
BEHIND BREXIT
Amid the surging populist waves across the Atlantic, experts said Brexit was the culmination of the world's long-running financial crisis. Many said the economic turmoil has destroyed the credibility and legitimacy of ruling elites.
British economist and writer Martin Wolf said that the financial crisis has adversely affected those unskilled and semi-skilled male workers in the West, who were once significant beneficiaries of industrialization.
Wolf, an associate editor and chief economic commentator of the London-based daily Financial Times, believed that the rising role of the financial sector, the increasing imports of labor-intensive goods, and the surging immigration are behind the Western public anger.
Other experts said the EU's alleged disfunction has also spurred wide-spread Eurosceptic sentiments in Britain.
"When you go to the core issues, the EU has not delivered on what it should have done in its most ambitious goals," said a leading economist Jim O'Neill.
In an exclusive interview with Xinhua, O'Neill, who won global fame for coining the acronym BRIC in 2001 to describe a group of newly emerging economies, said the 28-member trading bloc failed to create a single market of goods, services, labor and capital as it was supposed to.
"In fact, many European governments have deliberately tried to stop it," he noted.
In Britain's Boston, one of the country's most Eurosceptic towns where nearly 75 percent of voters backed Brexit, immigration was the real issue behind the biggest margin.
Residents complained about the East European immigrants that have swarmed to their hometown over the past years and caused social problems including rocketing house rents and job shortages.
But officials said that some of these claims were just myths made up by social media.
Patrick Minford, once an economic adviser of former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher, also said the situation of ordinary households in Britain has never been better, with disposable incomes rising at more than 3 percent and the employment rate souring to a record high.
UNCERTAINTIES AHEAD0 In the early hours of June 24 when the dawn brought news that the country voted Leave, Britain was plunged into a state of shock. Its future path to exit and beyond has remained unclear even till now.
Shellshocked Prime Minister David Cameron resigned within hours, and was replaced within days by former Home Secretary Theresa May.
One of May's first priorities was to rebuild the Conservative front bench team. There was also a shakeup in the main opposition Labor Party, mainly over what has been seen as a half-hearted effort by its leader Jeremy Corbyn to campaign for "remain."
May, who had supported "remain," insisted that "Brexit means Brexit" and vowed to bring Britain out of the EU in her term. But Members of Parliament (MPs) argued that they must be in the Brexit driving seat.
Their stance was backed by a group of ordinary, but very wealthy citizens, who hence took the fight to the British Supreme Court.
The High Court later ruled that politicians at Westminster should be involved in the Brexit process, which May has steadfastly challenged. She even vowed to trigger the process of leaving the EU by the end of March next year.
Under such circumstances, it remains to be seen whether May's ambition will be hampered by Scottish Nationalist Party leader and Scotland's first minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Sturgeon, who wanted Scotland to stay in the EU single market to protect the economy, has threatened a second independence referendum for Scotland, paving the way for a breakup of the United Kingdom.
Experts said the British political landscape in 2017 will be dominated by Brexit, and it seemed that the gloves have been off already on both sides for one of the biggest battles in more than one generation.
The next year will start with the Supreme Court announcing whether May's government or MPs will be in the driving seat over Brexit.
Her biggest fear is that if she needs a parliamentary act to advance Brexit, the people's will would be delayed or even sabotaged by pro-remain MPs and their peers in the House of Lords.
Financial experts like Wolf predicted that the full effects of Brexit on Britain's trading relations may not be resolved in 20 years.
"Brexit negotiation -- narrowly defined -- will be over in two years; but the creation of a post-Brexit environment... is going to take, certainly, far longer," he said, warning exit from the EU was merely the first step on the journey.
The British media also predicted that Brussels will act tough toward Britain during the coming talks to prevent Brexit-style revolt from engulfing Europe, where populists are targeting the next domino.
by Alessandra Cardone
ROME, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Italy has become the top point of arrival for the relentless flow of migrants and asylum-seekers heading to Europe in 2016.
Assessing the situation before the year's end, the Italian Interior Ministry stated 180,375 people reached the country from Jan. 1 to Dec. 28. The fresh data marked a 17.39 percent and 6.54 percent increase compared to the same period of 2015 and 2014 respectively (when arrivals had been about 153,600 and 169,300).
Numbers have kept rising despite the cold season, and are at odds with a general declining trend registered in Europe.
Indeed, some 360,380 arrivals have been overall registered through the Mediterranean routes (including Greece, Italy and Spain) up to Dec. 28, compared to over 1 million in the whole of last year, according to the UN refugee agency UNHCR.
Yet, among southern European countries, Italy only has remained to face a further increase.
Greece, which sustained a huge influx last year, has seen sea arrivals reducing from over 856,700 in 2015 to 173,208 in 2016.
The consistent drop was much due to the closure of the Balkan land routes, and to the return operation provided within the European Union's deal with Turkey in March.
In Spain, some 6,800 arrivals by sea were registered up to Nov. 30, in addition to 1,574 and 3,510 land arrivals to the enclaves of Ceuta and Melilla, the UNHCR stated.
Surprisingly, Italy's major rise in arrivals has been registered in the last part of the year. "While (Italy's) arrival trends in 2016 remained consistent with those of 2015 up until the end of Sept., arrivals since then have generally been higher," the UNHCR confirmed in a report.
October and November proved particularly busy months for the crews involved in rescue missions across the Mediterranean, all of which are coordinated by the Italian coast guard.
Totally 27,384 people were saved in October 2016 against 8,916 in October 2015, and 13,581 in November 2016 against 3,218 in November last year. Then, there were still 7,338 people rescued up to Dec. 28, compared to 9,637 in the whole month in 2015.
The UNHCR said it was "monitoring potential factors contributing to the increase," including a possible drop in prices imposed by smugglers for the dangerous crossing of the Mediterranean.
The Interior Ministry data showed the majority of those who arrived to Italy are from African countries.
They also highlighted a hike in the number of children traveling alone: some 24,929 unaccompanied minors were registered up to Dec. 13, against 12,360 in the whole of 2015, and 13,026 in 2014.
Despite remaining on the frontline of the migration crisis this year, Italy has received limited support from European partners. The EU relocation scheme, which allows asylum-seekers to be transferred legally, and under humanitarian protection, from the country where they have first arrived to another EU country, has proved disappointing.
It was approved in September 2015 with the specific goal of relocating 160,000 people from Italy, Greece, and Hungary in the following two years.
However, the Italian Interior Ministry reported only 2,643 people were relocated up to Dec. 12. Some 204 of them were children. The countries most willing to share the burden were Germany with 455 relocations accepted, the Netherlands with 380, Finland with 359, Switzerland with 340, and Portugal with 271.
Further 899 requests of relocation from Italy were also approved, but are yet to be implemented.
Along the year, former Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi had been repeatedly critical of the lack of consistent help from the EU, and especially from eastern countries refusing to take part in the relocation.
Current Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni reiterated the position, as he attended his first major EU summit in Brussels as the new head of the Italian government in mid-December.
"The EU is slowly including the migration priority in its agenda, but unfortunately problems move much faster than solutions," he said after the summit. "So, I believe there still exists a very strong delay (in the EU's approach)."
The cabinet was also facing rising domestic tensions, with random protests across the country -- and especially in small towns in the north -- by citizens worried the presence of migrants would overwhelm their territories.
The anti-immigration Northern League, and more recently anti-establishment Five Star Movement have attacked the government on the issue.
So far, the distribution of migrants and refugees has been very uneven, with only 2,600 out of 8,000 Italian municipalities accepting to host them, according to latest figures by the Interior Ministry's immigration department.
Globally, the migration crisis is expected to deepen with more people fleeing war-torn countries such as Syria and Libya and crossing the sea to Italy and other EU nations.
Observers in Italy are worried about how to solve the EU-wide migration problem that seems "mission impossible."
ALGIERS, Dec. 30 (Xinhua) -- Despite remarkable political reforms that have been undergone in Algeria through 2016, the economic side has not been bright, amid unprecedented drop in oil prices which affected the nation's revenues and forced the government to adopt austerity plan.
Political analyst, Abdelkader Djemaa, told Xinhua that "the adoption of a new constitution is the major event in 2016, given that it was among promises made by incumbent president Abdelaziz Bouteflika in election campaign in 2014."
Djemaa further added that the content of this constitutional reform lays on two main factors. "Firstly, it reinforced public and individual liberties, introduced additional measures in terms of the fight against corruption, in addition to the establishment of Tamazight (Berber) as official language, and the establishment of a permanent body for monitoring elections."
"Secondly, this new constitution reaffirmed that President of the Republic is the centre of the regime," he added.
These amendments "pledge to provide more liberties after an era characterized by the non accreditation of new political parties, and preventing other opposition parties to hold their sit-ins in open spaces," political analyst Boualem Ghoumrassa told Xinhua.
Earlier on February 2016, the overwhelming majority of deputies of the two houses of the Algerian Parliament approved the draft amended constitution, amid boycott of opposition parties.
The main amendments in this new constitution establish Tamazight as an official language, limit the presidency to two terms, and ban Bi-nationals to hold high state office.
However, Algeria's hydrocarbons dependent economy is still lagging behind, despite the government's considerable efforts to boost non-oil industries.
The heavy drop in the North African nation's revenues due to the plunging oil prices for the second year in a row, forced the cabinet to announce the adoption of a new economy model.
For Djemaa, this model is based on two pillars: searching for non-oil revenues, and gradually reducing social subsidy programs.
"The government decided to attract more investments by reducing taxes on investors and businessmen," Djemaa said, adding "but some antagonists believe that such tax advantages are legalized squandering of public money."
However, Abdelkader Djemaa further notes that "the government is able to safeguard the major balances of the economy thanks to the recovery of oil prices in the last two months after considerable efforts of the Algerian economic diplomacy among OPEC and non-OPEC producers which concluded in historical agreement to cut global outputs by 1.3 million barrel a day, which pushed oil prices to the level of 55 USD a barrel. But again, Algeria wraps up its economy year with hope mixed with fear."
The oil rich nation's foreign reserves lost 30.8 billion USD in a year (Sept. 2015 - Sept. 2016), due to the oil prices drop.
Despite this financial difficulty, Algeria has not modified its defense policy amid growing security threats, as it allocated a budget worth 15 billion USD for its National Defense Ministry.
The North African nation has been deploying thousands of troops all along its borderline with Tunisia, Libya, Niger and Mali to foil intrusion attempts of arms and terrorists.
Merouane Lounnas, a political analyst told Xinhua that "despite the collapse of Algeria's revenues due to the drop in oil prices, and the adoption of austerity plans by the government, the defense budget remains high. It means that the government is still concerned by the security situation amid the ongoing threats posed by terrorist groups based in neighboring Libya and Mali."
Lounnas concluded that "Algerian authorities are working hard to help peacefully resolving the crisis in Libya, a major source of terrorist threats in the region."
PriceSmart and TTMA talk forex shortage
Newsday asked if PriceSmart has therefore switched to more affordable brands, thereby requiring less forex.
Mahabir said the company continues to work with our relationship banks to source tradeable currency that we can use to maintain a level of imported merchandise and stock the range of imported products most frequently purchased by our members. Newsday also spoke to President of the Trinidad and Tobago Manufacturers Association (TTMA), Dr Rolph Balgobin who pointed out that because manufacturers are net earners of foreign exchange, many of our members actually have sufficient forex.
Several however, do not, and many of these have been exporting at thin margins to earn the foreign currency, trying to tighten collections, buy forex upfront, hedge, et cetera. Regarding the start of the US dollar shortage, Balgobin said manufacturers would have seen the oncoming recession and attendant foreign exchange challenges early. Our sensitivity to forex availability for raw material, and the attendant impact it has on our businesses, means that we would have seen this trend accelerating in 2014 and 2015. Asked how long after that did the TTMA first notice a serious issue with supplies of the other currencies, he told Newsday, at least a year but the issue was building for just over a year. Balgobin added that the Ministry of Finance and the Central Bank of TT have been very open in dealing with the problem.
Fireworks vendor in court
Lambert, 20, of Port-of-Spain was arrested on Wednesday on Charlotte Street, when she was unable to produce a license for the sale of fireworks by police officers, who were conducting a crackdown on illegal fireworks vendors.
Lambert pleaded guilty to the charge but claimed that the fireworks she was selling did not belong to her. Magistrate Ayers-Caesar told Lambert that the matter was not going to be discussed in detail in the court and urged her to seek legal advice from an attorney, before returning to court. Bail was set at $5,000 and Lambert is expected to return in court on January 26. The charge came as part of larger efforts by police to crack down on the sale and use of illegal fireworks throughout the Christmas vacation.Make this c o u n t r y a better place.
Cops seize Glock pistol, ammo and drugs
According to reports, officers under the supervision of divisional head Senior Superintendent Jacob detained five members of a gang during the exercise. They later went an area near a chicken farm where they dug up an area of the ground and came across a buried length of PVC pipe. In the pipe, the lawmen found the semi-automatic pistol, ammunition, magazines and drugs.
Although no one was arrested in connection with the find, police believe that the items belong to gang members from the area.
CISPS: Tackle crime and its causes
While 2016 brought mixed reports of crimes in different districts said Ramdhanie, overall murders and violent crimes continued at worrisome levels.
He urged the Government and the arms of the criminal justice system (the Police and Prison Services and the judicial system), academia, community groups, the private sector and individuals to work together to reduce crime in 2017 and beyond. They need to create the enabling environment for crime reduction, said Ramdhanie.
With a strategic, targeted approach with concrete steps, and with an increased use of technology, crimes can be reduced and the crime detection rate for many types of crimes and their subsequent conviction rate can also be increased. Ramdhanie urged that the criminal justice system be revamped to be more effective and that the causes of crime be tackled.
Crime is not a criminal justice system problem only. It is much wider and deeper than that.
Everything that is done here ties back into crime the education system, the social services system, the religious and value system, the economic system, the political system, the health system, regional and international affairs, Ramdhanie explained.
They all are intrinsically related to one another and they impact on human behaviour criminal and non-criminal.
We cannot blame one part of the system only. Ramdhanie was confident that if all persons take responsibility, the crime situation can be remedied in this relatively small twin-island State.
Fireworks crackdown continues as sales slump
A vendor said that since police began their crackdown on Wednesday, sales of slumped with some vendors packing up shop and leaving.
The way sales are going, we can barely make enough to cover what we invested. This has been one of the worst years for fireworks sales that I have seen and to make matters worse, the police are coming down hard on us for selling because you need a license in order to sell and we do not have this. If they are serious about putting an end to illegal fireworks like scratch bombs on the market, they need to search those wholesalers that import it in the first place, otherwise it will continue to find its way in the hands of the public, but dont punish the man on the street trying to make a dollar. On Queen Street, Robert Charles said while he is not opposed to the crackdown, he hopes the police treat other crimes with equal tenacity.
Better regulation of these things (fireworks) are definitely needed, those fellas light the scratch bombs and throw it in the streets when people are walking.
We could do without that kind of foolishness but I just hope the police work with similar efficiency when it comes to murders, rapes and gang violence, Charles said.
Two police officers, interviewed as they were on foot patrol along Charlotte Street, said: The bottom line is if you have a license you dont have anything to worry about. We are not going to allow any illegal vending of fireworks.
Minister, QRC principal meet today
A ministry release said that the meeting is to discuss improved facilities to enable the institution to effectively carry out its mandate to provide quality education for its students. Garcia and Minister of Public Administration and Communications Maxie Cuffie and officials from the Property and Real Estate Service Division (PRESD) will meet with the QRC principal.
The PRESD has the responsibility for the allocation of all Government properties, in keeping with Cabinet directives. Garcia noted that since the Ministrys relocation in August of this year, the return of the premises has been the subject of much discussion.
We will take into account all the factors concerning the occupation of the land and a decision will be subsequently made, he said
Harris agrees with priest on Holy Innocents toy ban
Asked to comment on the stance taken by Fr Martin Sirju on Thursday, Harris said the Feast of the Holy Innocents calls for a more dignified ceremony than one which is focused on toys.
The Feast of the Holy Innocents is not about toys, said Harris in a telephone interview with Newsday. The innocents were killed by Herod because he hated Jesus Christ. He had heard that a new King was born and therefore he wanted to get rid of that King or anybody else who could be a threat to his throne. So Herod went out and killed these children of two years old and under. He killed all who were a threat to his throne. Harris continued, In Trinidad and Tobago, the kids who have been killed are no threat to anybody. They are innocent, so that for me, Holy Innocents is about innocent lives that are lost. For many years, some Roman Catholic and Anglican priests have marked the occasion with the blessing of toys that children received as Christmas presents. Harris said he has only ever seen the tradition practised in Trinidad and Tobago and he does not know when it originated.
However, he did not practise the tradition even when he was a priest. As a priest, before I was Archbishop, I always found it irreverent. It was always plenty noise and all kinds of things going on in church, children fighting over this toy and that toy, so it was never something that I fostered. Anglican Interim Rector for the Holy Trinity Cathedral, Fr Carl Williams, on the other hand, donned a Santa hat for the ceremony, defending his practice of the tradition by saying he could not bring himself to disappoint children by turning them away.
Giving a brief wish for the New Year, Harris said, I want a new year that is without the violence and the anger that we have seen in the past year. I would like a new year in which family life gets stronger in Trinidad and Tobago.
CWU condemns TATT and NEL
Government must act now to ensure Cable and Wireless Communications (CWC) divests its 49 percent shareholding in the Telecommunications Services of Trinidad and Tobago Limited (TSTT), since CWC has a conflict of interest thanks to its ownership of Columbus Communications; Flow Trinidad and Tobagos (Flow) parent company.
CWC have had opportunities to sell those shares on the market but they have not. They have failed and they are holding our country to ransom, we believe, by existing in this state of a conflict of interest for more than two years. Government shouldnt give CWC any further extension. It (Government) should act based on the provisions of the Shareholders Agreement; through National Enterprise Limited (NEL), and take control of those shares and dispose of them in the best interest of the country. Remy said through NEL, Government has the authority, through NEL, as 51 percent shareholder in TSTT, to execute a force majeure and take control of CWCs shareholding in TSTT and have it disposed of to the employees of TSTT, local institutional investors inclusive of Pension Funds, the Unit Trust, Credit Unions, and citizens of TT. In a statement issued yesterday, Remy noted that in 2014 CWC began the acquisition process of Columbus Communications, parent body of Flow, a direct competitor to TSTT in the telecommunications market.
In the process they applied for a change of control for the concession that Columbus has as mandated under the provisions of the Telecommunications Act of TT. The CWU immediately raised objections to this process as we felt that CWC did engage in anti-competitive practices and was now guilty of a major conflict of interest. Despite our strenuous and legitimate objections, Remy stated, the Telecommunications Authority of TT (TATT) did grant the change of control to Cable and Wireless under certain conditions, the major one being that they should dispose of their 49 percent Shareholding in TSTT within 12 months of the approval date of February 2015, with a provision for a 6 months extension. Remy pointed out that it was only after the union went public in August 2016, 18 months after the concession was granted, that CWC still had not disposed of its TSTT shares as mandated, that TATT then gave a further extension to CWC. (TATT) indicated that CWC now had until December 31, 2016 to dispose of the shareholding, failing which the TATT would use the powers enshrined in the Act to act in the best interest of the country. All this time, Cable and Wireless continued to benefit from dividends from both companies, Remy said.
Hence the unions criticism of both TATT and NEL for their abject and somewhat disrespectful silence on the status of the sale of the 49 percent Shareholding that Cable and Wireless/Liberty Global still holds in TSTT, which is supposed to be completed by December 31, 2016. Remy told Newsday the CWU has written multiple letters to TATT and NEL about the issue to shed some light on this development but they both failed and/or refused to do so. In the face of this gross disrespect by both State Agencies, the CWU is demanding that the Minister with responsibility for TATT; Minister of Public Administration and Communications, Maxie Cuffie, make an immediate intervention, consistent with his powers under the Telecommunications Act. Newsday attempted to speak with TATT Chairman, Gilbert Peterson, yesterday but calls to his mobile phone went to voice mail.
NUGFW claims bad faith
Indicating in a release that these negotiations will continue next year, Lambert said he has written Labour Minister Jennifer Baptiste-Primus on this matter.
He also said the union was, very thankful that throughout 2016, there were no major loss of jobs, although new ones were not created. However, Lambert continued, The union is concerned about vacancies that are not being filled, resulting in a depletion of the establishment. Lambert said while President General also stated that while NUGFW is very much aware of and concerned about the state of the economy, it is pertinent that the Government meet with NUGFW to discuss the social aspect of the Unions proposals. He claimed the Government met twice with the National Trade Union Centre (Natuc) to hear its proposals.
Lambert stated, At the forefront of the negotiations are the pension plan for daily-rated workers of Central and Local Government and the Tobago House of Assembly, and the reverting of the retirement age for daily-rated workers from 60 to 65. He added the NUGFW remains optimistic and expects a favourable outcome in 2017 and called on the Government to engage in discussions.
Cannot disclose reasons behind demonetisation, says RBI
Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) The Reserve Bank of India has refused to reveal the reasons for scrapping Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, besides declining to disclose the minutes of the RBI Board meeting when demonetisation was discussed on November 8, an RTI activist said.
The RBI said it was not bound to disclose such information given the issue of national security and related implications in it.
The information was sought by an RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak.
"RBI rejected access to its board meeting minutes and recommendations made to the government and related file notings under Sections 8(1)(a), 7 (9) of the RTI Act," Nayak told IANS.
Section 8(1)(a) has various grounds of sovereignty, integrity, economic interests, security interests, scientific interests and foreign relations.
While Section 7(9) was the ground for refusing to give information in the form in which it was asked for reasons that it should not result in destruction of records or excessive expenses towards compilation of the information.
"The refusal to disclose the minutes of the RBI Board meeting where the decision was taken to recommend demonetisation is perplexing to say the very least," Nayak said.
While confidentiality prior to the making of the decision was understandable, continued secrecy after the decision was implemented was difficult to understand, Nayak added.
This was especially when crores of Indians were facing difficulties due to the shortage of cash supply, he said.
Nayak had also filed a separate RTI with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) of the Finance Ministry seeking copies of the cabinet note regarding the scrapping of the old currency notes.
"I also sought to know whether the government had sought people's views on the issue prior to making the demonetisation decision," he said.
"Despite 40 days lapsing since the delivery of the RTI application to the DEA, it has not responded," he added.
Not responding to an RTI application for 30 days is deemed as a refusal to disclose the requested information under Section 7(2) of the RTI Act.
Nayak, however, said that the lack of response on the part of DEA was not surprising because the decision to maintain undue secrecy appeared to be sanctioned at the highest level of the bureaucracy.
"When the DEA and RBI want every citizen of the country to come clean in the name of combating black money, corruption and fake currency notes, their reluctance to become equally transparent and accountable is unjustified, to the say the very least," Nayak said.
"RBI and DEA have a statutory obligation to be completely transparent and accountable to the people of India on the subject of demonetisation," he added.
If there cannot be complete transparency on this issue, then it must be assumed that the transparency regime has simply not taken roots in India even after 11 years of implementation of the RTI Act, Nayak said.
The activist said that he has already appealed against the DEA for not replying to his RTI query.
He also said that he would soon appeal against the RBI decision to not disclose the reasons behind the demonetisation.
--IANS
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I&B Ministry laments absence of regulation on new media
West Bengal,National,Defence/Security,Technology, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Kolkata, Dec 30 (IANS) The Centre is concerned about the challenges presented by the advent of new media, especially in the absence of a regulatory framework, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary said on Friday.
"An important area of challenge in the new media is that there is unfortunately no regulatory framework. What you cannot see on TV or hear on your radio, it is all possibly up there in open access," Ministry Secretary Ajay Mittal said here at an event organised by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI).
Mittal said much more was needed to be done to prepare the government and its officers to deal with the "completely new paradigm of digital media".
"The ministry is in talks with the state governments and we are now going to train their people in the information sector so that they can deal with the challenges created by new media that is causing a whole lot of concern," he said.
Mittal said, "It is regularly being raised in Parliament... this issue of digital media without any boundaries. We are very clear that in the media space the best form of regulation is self regulation and the government would like to keep away as far as possible."
--IANS
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Nine dead in Jharkhand mine cave-in (Third Lead)
Bihar,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Ranchi, Dec 30 (IANS) Nine bodies were recovered from a caved-in coal mine while a search to rescue several others continued in Jharkhand's Godda district on Thursday night, officials said on Friday.
The tragedy occurred at the Rajmahal Opencast Project of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL).
"So far nine bodies have been recovered while two persons have been hospitalised with injuries. Rescue and search operations are on to find other workers who might be trapped," ECL General Manager (Mining) R.R. Amitabh said.
"All 10 excavators and dump trucks have been extracted from the mine," added Amitabh.
Jharkhand Director General of Police D.K. Pandey said over 20 workers were feared to be trapped inside the collapsed mine.
The incident, described by the ECL as "unprecedented", occurred around 7.30 p.m. on Thursday.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi expressed grief over the tragedy.
Modi spoke to Chief Minister Raghubar Das to take stock of the situation and said that the Jharkhand government and Union Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal were working to restore normalcy.
While a probe has been ordered, the ECL has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the families of those killed, in addition to the amount to be paid under the Workmen's Compensation Act.
"Prima facie, it is observed that the incident is unprecedented, since an area of 300 metres length by 110 metres width solid floor of the over burden dump area slid down by about 35 metres involving around 9.5 million cubic metres of earth material," the Coal Ministry said in a statement.
"This could be due to failure of the bench edge along the hidden fault line/slip," it said.
The probe will be carried out by the Director General of Mines Safety and a 'high level committee of experts' has been constituted by Coal India Limited to investigate the causes of the accident.
A heap of mud caved in at the entry point of Lalmatia mines of ECL. At that time more than 70 vehicles were inside the open cast mine the police said.
The National Disaster Response Force was carrying out rescue operations monitored and supervised by senior ECL and state government officials.
--IANS
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People happy with demonetisation: MP CM
Madhya Pradesh,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Bhopal, Dec 30 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said people in the country were happy at the central government's move to demonetise higher value currency notes.
At the approach of the 50th day of the November 8 move, Chouhan said only people holding black money were unhappy.
"The Prime Minister had taken a huge risk for the welfare of the country. Demonetisation has broken the backbone of terrorism. It has removed corruption from the country," the Chief Minister said.
"Those hoarding black money are not happy with the decision otherwise crores of people in the country support" the Modi-led government's move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to root out corruption and black money from the country, he said.
Attacking opposition parties for criticising the move, Chouhan said: "Demonetisation has left opposition parties incapable of anything. Every day and night they see Prime Minister Narendra Modi in their dreams as their public support is diminishing."
"Sometimes they wake up from dreams to demand the Prime Minister's resignation."
The Chief Minister said the opposition was making a pretence of opposing the move. "In their heart, they also believe Modi had taken a right decision."
--IANS
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Two injured in Pakistan blast
Pakistan,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Islamabad, Dec 30 (IANS) At least two police personnel were injured in a suicide bombing in Punjab province of Pakistan on Friday, police said.
The blast took place when a burqa-clad person blew himself up near a mosque in Rahim Yar Khan city, Dawn online quoted District Police Officer Zeeshan Asghar as saying.
The blast occurred outside the office of the Counter-Terrorism Department in Shafi town.
No casualty has been reported so far due to the attack, the official said.
--IANS
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Takam Pario likely to be next Arunachal CM: PPA
Arunachal Pradesh,National,Politics, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Itanagar, Dec 30 (IANS) People's Party of Arunachal (PPA) President Kafia Bengia on Friday said that Takam Pario is most likely to be the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
"Pario is likely to be the CM. It will be decided today (Friday) in the evening when all the PPA legislators meet. We are just waiting for a few more legislators to come and then we will start the meeting," Bengia told IANS here.
Pario, who is the richest MLA here, is also the brother of former Congress MP Takam Sanjoy, who is another political heavyweight in the state.
The PPA in a sudden move on Thursday night removed incumbent Pema Khandu and six others for alleged anti-party activities.
Asked what were the charges against these party leaders, Bengia said: "Being members of PPA -- which itself is an ally of the BJP -- all these suspended legislators were trying to join the BJP.
"At the same time they are trying to take other MLAs and carry out mass defection."
"These MLAs have a business mindset; that is the reason they are turning the state politics into a laughing stock for the country," Bengia told IANS.
The PPA is a constituent of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led North East Democratic Alliance.
Khandu had taken over as the Chief Minister from Nabam Tuki in July. However, on September 16, he along with 42 other Congress MLAs defected to the PPA.
--IANS
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RBI notifies closure of old notes' deposits in banks
Delhi,National,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) Asking the banks to report collections of demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on December 30 itself, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday notified the closure of the deposit and exchange of the old notes.
"With the closure of the facility of exchange of specified bank notes, all banks should report information on collection on December 30, itself. Banks should make arrangements to gather the information from all its branches accordingly," the RBI said in a notification here.
From next week onward, those still holding the scrapped currency can deposit it only with the RBI till March 31, 2017.
All bank branches, except district cooperative central bank (DCCBs), which have accumulated old notes at the close of business on Friday, are required to deposit these in the office of the RBI or a currency chest on Saturday, the RBI said.
The old notes cannot form part of banks' cash balances from the close of business as on Saturday, the central bank added.
However, DCCBs may retain the demonetised currency received between November 10-14, till further instructions.
The government had on November 8 announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes were no longer the legal tender.
--IANS
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Trinamool MP Tapas Pal reaches CBI office in Kolkata
West Bengal,National,Politics,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Kolkata, Dec 30 (IANS) Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal, who was summoned by the Central Bureau of Investigation three days ago, presented himself at the investigation agency's regional office here, a CBI official said.
According to the official, Pal was involved in "financial transactions" with the Rose Valley chit fund organisation.
"Pal would be interrogated regarding his alleged involvement in the financial transactions with Rose Valley," the official said.
The actor-turned-politician was summoned by the agency on Tuesday along with Trinamool Congress MP Sudip Bandyopadhyay for interrogation in relation to the ponzi scam.
Following the summon, the Trinamool Congress accused the central government of doing vendetta politics and using central agencies to scare the party as they were protesting against the Centre's demonetisation move.
--IANS
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Reveal amount of black money recovered post demonetisation: Rahul
Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi on Friday sought to know from Prime Minister Narendra Modi the amount of black money recovered after the November 8 demonetisation.
"Fifty days (post demonetisation) have been completed, Modiji please answer these five questions to the nation," Gandhi tweeted a picture with the questions.
In one of the questions, Gandhi asked Modi to reveal the amount of black money recovered post demonetisation.
The Congress leader also sought to know the economic loss to the nation and number of jobs lost due to the central government's move to demonetise high value currency notes.
"How many people died due to demonetisation and has the compensation been paid?" Gandhi said.
Gandhi asked: "Who all deposited more than 25 lakhs in bank accounts in six months preceding November 8."
He also asked the Prime Minister to answer who all had he consulted on the move.
"Why were experts, economists and RBI not consulted (on demonetisation)," Gandhi asked.
--IANS
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Modi eviscerated Indian economy: Lalu
Bihar,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Patna, Dec 30 (IANS) RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of eviscerating the Indian economy by his demonetisation decision.
"If lungs, liver, kidneys, intestine and blood is taken out of your body, would you be able to survive? That's what has been done with our economy," Lalu said in a latest tweet.
In a series of "surgical" tweets, Lalu reminded Modi of the state of affairs in the country as the 50-day period announced by the Prime Minister on November 8, to regain normalcy drew to a close on Friday midnight.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader further that Modi badly damaged the Indian economy by scrapping the high value currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and added, "...in such a situation, how can the country's economy survive?"
Lalu cautioned Modi against devising ways and means to justify his demonetisation move. He said people could see through his deceitful acts to project his decision as "realistic".
"Senseless parpancho se ho rahin Endless dikkaton ko dabane ke liye Cashless jaisi Baseless baat kar rahein hain. He should be realistic" (You cannot deny the trouble faced by millions just by projecting cashless transaction as a means to bring in transparency in financial dealings), he said.
"Does Modi know how many times he has chopped and changed his own decisions in the last 50 days? He is totally clueless, puzzled and jumping here and there," Lalu said.
"Time has come for PM Modi to find out a chauraha (public square) where people can punish him for the failure...," Lalu told the media earlier after announcing a protest against demonetisation.
The RJD chief recalled that it was Modi himself who had said that people could punish him after 50 days if the demonetisation drive failed.
Lalu said Modi's decision of demonetisation has failed and the 50-day deadline fixed by him is over. "Now Modi will have to tell people to punish him at the particular chauraha."
RJD on Wednesday organised sit-ins at Patna and all district headquarters against demonetisation. Lalu then accused Modi of cheating the country.
"Modi has derailed the economy through demonetisation, which had led to increased job losses," Lalu said while participating in the 'maha dharna'.
The former Bihar Chief Minister urged people to remove Modi to save the country. He even announced a huge rally in Patna against Modi early in 2017.
"I will invite all non-BJP leaders in the rally to unite against Modi," Lalu said.
--IANS
ik/in/bg
Syrian ceasefire effective in first hours, some violations reported
Syrian Arab Republic,Defence/Security, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Damascus, Dec 30 (IANS) The first hours of the latest ceasefire in Syria between the government and insurgent forces have passed in relative calm with no civilian deaths, a British NGO said on Friday.
However, the Syrian Observatory of Human Rights (SOHR), said that only two hours after the ceasefire came into effect on Thursday midnight, violent clashes broke out between Syrian regime forces and rebel groups in the environs of Tella al Biyu, north of Hama province, Efe news reported.
The fighting resulted in the death of at least six fighters loyal to the Damascus regime.
The SOHR also reported sporadic fighting in the Western Guta area and that some shots were fired by government forces in the town of Sakik, south of Idlib province, under the control of rebel militias.
The Free Syrian Army (FSA) denounced some brief ceasefire violations and questioned the Syrian government's capacity to keep its pro-government popular militias under control, who were fighting shoulder to shoulder alongside the regular Syrian Arab Army (SAA).
According to the FSA, over 40 Syrian paramilitary or self-defence forces and foreign volunteers were fighting in support of Al-Assad's troops.
The ceasefire agreement, hammered out between Russia and Turkey, was backed by the Syrian Army's General Command, the Syrian Armed Forces and rebel factions.
In the hours prior to the ceasefire's enforcement, Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs Walid al Mualem during an interview on Syrian state television said the ceasefire was "a real opportunity to reach a political solution to the conflict."
Al Mualem said it could "end the bloodbath in Syria and seek a future for the country."
The ceasefire aims to lead the way towards a new round of peace talks, scheduled to begin towards the end of January 2017 in Astana, Kazakhstan.
--IANS
ksk/bg
Cash crunch: Major bank union seeks members help to hold conference
Tamil Nadu,National,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Chennai, Dec 30 (IANS) The All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) that is holding its four day national conference here is managing its cash needs with the help of its members, said a top union official.
"Around 4,000 people are expected to attend the four day conference scheduled to start on January 8. We have to pay cash for local transport of delegates and others. Similarly other workers - conference venue sweepers, workers of caterers and others - have to be paid in cash," AIBEA General Secretary C.H.Venkatachalam told IANS.
While the union has sufficient amount in its bank accounts, it is not able to withdraw cash beyond Rs 24,000 per week, the limit announced by Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for all the bank account holders, Venkatachalam said.
"We have requested some members to withdraw cash from their accounts and give to the union to meet the conference expenses while the union will reimburse the amount to the members by cheque," Venkatachalam said.
"I am afraid to imagine the plight of ordinary people in meeting the marriage expenses of their daughters given the cash crunch. As a banking sector union, we can seek our members to help out. But such facility is not available for a normal individual," he noted.
According to him, there was no last minute rush in banks to deposit the demonetised Rs 500 or 1,000 notes.
"But the cash crunch continues. Most of the ATMs are dry. If the government relaxes the withdrawal limit upwards from Rs 24,000 per week, then the situation may turn tougher," Venkatachalam said.
According to K.Thamaraiselvan, General Secretary, Andhra Bank Employees Union Madras, the number of cheques coming for clearance has gone up several times putting the staff at the cheque clearing centres to great difficulty.
"Prior to demonetisation the number of cheques that would come for clearance in Chennai clearing centre of Andhra Bank was around 20,000 per day. But now it has gone up to 70,000 cheques per day," Thamaraiselvan said.
He said the staff strength has not gone up.
Union officials said the bank employees across the country were involved in managing the cash position for the past 50 days and may be doing so for some more time to come.
They said there was no time to attend to loan proposals and this quarter results may not be good for the banks.
--IANS
vj/vd
Prabhu launches slew of railway projects in Andhra
Andhra Pradesh,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Vijayawada, Dec 30 (IANS) Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu on Friday launched a slew of railway infrastructure projects in Andhra Pradesh.
Laying the foundation stone for new railway line between Nadikudi and Srikalahasti Stations via remote video link from Delhi, he also launched high speed Wi-Fi at Guntur Station, dedicated Route Relay Interlocking, Vijayawada and a newly-constructed hostel building in Electric Traction Training Centre, Vijayawada.
The minister also flagged off Tirupati-Visakhapatnam Double Decker AC Express and commissioned Rayadurg-Kalyandurga section (part of new line between Rayadurg and Tumakuru).
Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju participated in the programme held at Railway Institute, Vijayawada.
Simultaneously functions were also held at Guntur, Piduguralla, Tirupati and Rayadurga.
Prabhu assured holistic development of Andhra Pradesh by strengthening integrated transport solutions and integrated port connectivity.
He said the ministry had increased the budget outlay for the state in last two years for speeding up various projects.
Ministry of Railways and the state government also signed a joint venture agreement for taking up rail infra development in the state.
Naidu said Prabhu was giving priority to railway projects in the state. He said the projects launched Friday would facilitate development in Nellore, Prakasam and Guntur districts, while the Tirupati-Visakhapatnam AC Double Decker would provide connectivity to nine districts in the state.
He reiterated the demand for creation of railway zone in Visakhapatnam.
To commemorate the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of South Central Railway, a coffee table book titled "Wheels of Change" was also released.
Vashishta Johri, General Manager, South Central Railway highlighted the salient benefits of the various initiatives launched.
--IANS
ms/vd
Ex-chief of Chinese spy agency to be prosecuted for graft
China,Immigration/Law/Rights,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Beijing, Dec 30 (IANS) The former head of China's spy agency is set to be prosecuted for alleged bribery and abuse of authority nearly two years after he was arrested, said the Communist Party of China (CPC) Friday.
A statement released by the CPC Central Commission for Discipline Inspection -- the Chinese regime's main anti-corruption watchdog -- said Ma Jian, who has been under investigation since January 2015, has been officially expelled from the party and his case handed over to legal authorities, paving the way for a trial, Efe news reported.
Investigations by the ruling party revealed Ma abused his position to benefit companies owned by his family members and friends, said the statement.
Previous reports in the Hong Kong press said Ma was suspected of unlawful links with Founder Group, a technological conglomerate with links to the prestigious University of Beijing.
Ma is not the first senior public security official to have fallen into disgrace in the President Xi Jinping-led anti-corruption campaign.
Last year, former State Security Minister Zhou Yongkang -- one of the most powerful Chinese politicians during the previous decade -- was sentenced to life imprisonment for graft, and a large chunk of his close aides arrested, investigated and convicted, as part of the campaign, which some believe is Xi's way of clamping down on rival factions within the party.
Ma worked for China's spy agency for 30 years, and observers say he was close to Ling Jihua, former personal secretary to ex-President Hu Jintao.
Ling was also handed a life sentence on corruption charges in July this year.
--IANS
ksk/vt
Lift restrictions on cash withdrawals immediately, CPI-M asks government
Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) The CPI-M on Friday asked the government to immediately remove restrictions on cash withdrawals as the 50-day window sought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expired.
"Since the deadline of December 30 is over, all restrictions on the withdrawal of money by people from their own hard-earned money in the banks must be removed forthwith," the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) said in a statement.
It said that since the demonetisation has pushed the "beleaguered and stumbling Indian economy into a tailspin causing immense misery to the poor and the downtrodden" who survive on daily cash earnings, and hence some "corrective steps" need to be taken by the government.
The party has demanded immediate debt waiver for farmers, doubling the allocation for MNREGA to ensure 100 days of employment for all those who are enrolled, tax rebate to small and medium enterprises whose economic activity has suffered and removal of all restrictions on deposits and withdrawals of funds from the cooperative banks.
"This demonetisation will lead to a significant revenue loss in many states. To address this crucial issue, the Centre must compensate the state governments for the loss in revenue that they are incurring and the borrowing ceiling on the state governments in accordance to the FRBM Act must be raised form 3-4 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product," it said.
The CPI-M said that since the Prime Minister is constantly emphasising on the need to shift to a cashless economy, it is necessary to ensure that people are not burdened with additional costs and all costs on digital transactions should be removed.
--IANS
mak/vd
Modi launches mobile app, says your thumb your bank now
Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched an Aadhaar-based mobile payment application at Digi Dhan Mela here to promote and make digital transactions easier.
The app is called BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) -- a re-branded version of UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data).
Speaking on the occasion, Modi said BHIM app was very simple to use and a thumb impression was enough to operate it.
"Be it a smartphone or feature phone of Rs 1,000-1,200, BHIM app can be used. There is no need to have Internet connectivity. One only needs a thumb. There was a time when an illiterate was called 'angutha chchap'. Now, time has changed. Your thumb is your bank now. It has become your identity now."
Modi said that 'Lucky Grahak Yojana' and 'DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana' were a Chrismas gift to the nation.
Over 100 days, several prizes of Rs 1,000 will be given to people through lucky draws. The mega draw will be held on April 14, the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.
--IANS
spk/tsb/vt
Carrie Fisher's autopsy on hold
United States,Cinema/Showbiz,Hollywood, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Los Angeles, Dec 30 (IANS) The autopsy on actress Carrie Fisher's body is on hold, said an official.
The Los Angeles Coroner's Office said Carrie's body is in their possession and that the autopsy is on hold due to the "family's loss for two".
"We are not out to rush the family," the office told eonline.com on Thursday.
"We are giving the family some space. They not only lost Carrie, but lost Debbie Reynolds (her mother) too."
Carrie died on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack onboard a plane.
Debbie was in Beverly Hills on Wednesday afternoon when she had to be rushed to hospital. She died on Wednesday.
According to eonline.com discussions are currently underway to determine what is the best way to honour the two stars.
Debbie's son Todd Fisher said a joint funeral has been discussed but is not official.
"That is my preference," he said.
"Obviously it's not finalised, but I think that sounds like a grand idea given the beautiful story between them."
Both Debbie and Carrie were set to star in the HBO documentary "Bright Lights: Starring Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher".
While the premiere day is yet to be announced, Todd said that HBO reached out and both parties hope the documentary can be a part of the memorial in some way.
"Remarkably enough, the documentary is the greatest tribute you can imagine to both of them," Todd said.
--IANS
nn/rb/bg
Demonetisation decision taken without forethought: Congress
Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) Calling demonetisation a "decision taken without forethought", the Congress on Friday said all its stated objectives have failed and the government's insistence on digital transactions is infested with "serious issues", including of privacy.
The opposition party also accused the Modi government of changing the narrative from black money to cashless economy.
"It is now abundantly clear that the whole exercise was undertaken without forethought and planning; without consulting key officials; without understanding the crucial role of money in circulation; and without assessing the capacity of the currency printing presses to supply new notes," senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said here.
"Altogether, the whole exercise has been a case of total mismanagement, administrative collapse and widespread corruption," he added.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of high-denomination currency notes on November 8 night, and subsequently sought 50 days to put things in order.
Chidambaram said the Congress would have pledged support to demonetisation if the objectives were to unearth and stamp out black money and end corruption, but that has not happened.
"Events of the last 50 days have proved that none of the stated objectives has been served. Hoards of black money in new Rs 2,000 notes have been found. There is no guarantee that black money will not be generated in future or that bribes will not be given or taken in future in the new currency notes," Chidambaram said.
The former Union minsiter said the government had tried to change the narrative of the demonetisation move from black money and corruption to a cashless economy.
"No economy can become -- or has become - totally cashless. We support encouraging high-value transactions to adopt the digital mode, but to insist that even low-value transactions should go cashless is an absurd and undesirable goal."
"There are serious issues of privacy and cost to the payer and the payee. These issues require serious debate," he added.
--IANS
mak/tsb/vt
New Australian drone laws put passenger jets at risk: Pilots
Australia,Immigration/Law/Rights,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Canberra, Dec 30 (IANS) Commercial pilots have expressed concerns about Australia's drone laws, saying they raise the risk of fatal collisions between unmanned drones and passenger planes.
In a submission to the Senate committee which is investigating the safety of the new drone laws, pilots from Qantas and Virgin Australia have asked the government to reconsider the law change, under which drones two kilograms and lighter will no longer need approval to fly in public spaces, Xinhua news agency reported.
Drones will not, however, be allowed to fly within 5.5 km of an airport and not within 30 metres of buildings.
In a Senate submission published n Friday, Qantas chief pilot Richard Tobiano said if the laws are relaxed, there will be more drone pilots flying their small, dangerous aircraft despite no training.
"Against this context, it would be opportune for the airline industry to confirm best-practice processes in managing the ramifications of an incident ahead of time," Tobiano said in the submission.
He said if the laws were to stay, it would up to police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure untrained pilots aren't breaking the laws and flying near airports, or too high, in order to minimize the threat to passenger flights.
"As with lasers and model rockets, this regime should involve education of - and strategic and tactical coordination between - state and federal law enforcement agencies, local government and CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority)," Tobiano said.
"Critically, it must also include a comprehensive suite of offence provisions and penalties to ensure general and specific deterrence."
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia's pilot John Lyons said drones would cause much more - even fatal - damage compared to something such as a bird being sucked into a jet engine.
"Launching a drone close to an airport, particularly in proximity to an uncontrolled aerodrome, exposes aircraft (which are often jet powered) to the risk of collision which could result in substantial damage, loss of control and potentially, loss of life," Lyons said.
"Collision with an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) could be considerably more dangerous than striking a bird."
--IANS
ksk
SP headed for split as Mulayam serves show cause notice to Akhilesh
Uttar Pradesh,National,Politics, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Lucknow, Dec 30 (IANS) The political crisis in the Samajwadi Party (SP) deepened on Friday, with party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav serving a show cause notice to his son, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, for indiscipline and the Akhilesh faction calling for an emergency meeting to lend direction to the ruling party, which appeared on the verge of a split.
In a brief letter shot-off to Akhilesh, signed by Mulayam, the SP chief pointed out how despite an official list of party candidates being issued by him at a press conference on Wednesday, a "parallel list" was issued by the Chief Minister.
Terming this act as indiscipline, Mulayam asked the 43-year-old Chief Minister to explain his conduct and has asked why no action should be taken against him.
A separate show cause notice was also served on SP General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav, who has thrown his lot behind Akhilesh
Earlier, Ram Gopal Yadav called an "emergency convention" of the party workers on Sunday.
He said that the Akhilesh government was "doing fine" and some people have "restored to deliberately malign the party ahead of the assembly elections" due early next year.
"There are apprehensions that it will cause losses to the party."
This, sources told IANS, was seen by the party leadership as an attempt to upstage Mulayam in a coup of sorts since the SP chief had already called a meeting of his party candidates on Saturday.
Political observers here feel that the SP was heading for an imminent split now and some apprehend that Mulayam this time might take the extreme step of showing his son the door.
Ram Gopal Yadav had earlier in the day conceded that chances of a compromise were now dim.
--IANS
md-bns/sar/vm
Entire currency in circulation from Dec 31 legitimate: Jaitley
Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that from Saturday onwards, the entire currency in circulation will be legitimate, Friday being the last day to deposit the demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in banks.
"With effect from tomorrow the entire currency in circulation would be legitimate," Jaitley told reporters at a press briefing here on Friday.
From Saturday the legitimate currency that would continue to be legal tender is Rs 100 and other lower denomination notes along with the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has printed, he added.
The deadline to deposit old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in banks ends on Friday.
Refusing to give any details on the deposits received in old notes post-demonetisation, he said that the data was yet to be tabulated.
"The banks will now have the re-circulated currency, plus what the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is injecting," Jaitley said.
The RBI on Friday asked the banks, which have accumulated old notes to deposit it in the office of the central bank or a currency chest by December 31.
The old notes cannot form part of banks' cash balances from the close of business as on Saturday, the central bank added.
From next week onward, those still holding the scrapped currency can deposit it only with the Reserve Bank of India till March 31, 2017.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 rupee notes would no longer be legal tender.
--IANS
mm/vd
No rush to deposit invalid notes, but cash crunch may continue: Bankers
Tamil Nadu,National,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Chennai, Dec 30 (IANS) There was no major last minute rush of people to deposit the demonetised 500/1,000 rupee notes in their accounts but the cash crunch may continue, bankers said on Fridaty.
The central government had earlier announced December 30 would be the last day for deposit of demonetised notes with the banks. People can deposit the invalid currencies with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) till March 31, 2017.
The bankers said they may continue to manage the cash crunch situation at the present weekly withdrawal ceiling level, but the situation may turn tough if the withdrawal limits are relaxed very liberally.
"We have not seen any last minute rush to deposit the demonetised 500/1,000 rupee notes today (Friday), the last day to deposit them with the banks," C.V. R.Rajendran, Managing Director and CEO, Catholic Syrian Bank told IANS.
"We have enough cash to issue our customers at the current weekly withdrawal ceiling limit of Rs 24,000. Even if the limit is increased to Rs 50,000 per week we can manage," he added.
Rajendran however said that if withdrawal limit is increased beyond that, then the situation may turn bit difficult.
According to him, if RBI infuses additional cash of around Rs 200,000 crore or Rs 300,000 crore, then the cash crunch would really ease up.
Rajendran hoped things would settle down from the New Year onwards.
Public sector bank officials told IANS that there was no major rush to deposit the invalid notes.
"However the liquidity situation has not improved to comfortable levels. We continue to ration cash with those who come to withdraw money," a Canara Bank employee, who did not want to be named, told IANS.
"The cash crunch continues. Most of the ATMs are dry. If the government relaxes the withdrawal limit upwards from Rs 24,000 per week, then the situation may turn tougher," All India Bank Employees' Association (AIBEA) General Secretary C.H.Venkatachalam told IANS.
According to Andhra Bank Employees Union, Madras, General Secretary K.Thamaraiselvan, the number of cheques coming for clearance has gone up several times putting the staff, whose strength has not increased, at the cheque clearing centres to great difficulty.
"Prior to demonetisation the number of cheques that would come for clearance in Chennai clearing centre of Andhra Bank was around 20,000 per day. But now it has gone up to 70,000 cheques per day," he said.
Union officials said the bank employees across the country were involved in managing the cash position for the past 50 days and may be doing so for some more time to come.
They said there was no time to attend to loan proposals and this quarter results may not be good for the banks.
--IANS
vj/vd
CPI-M seeks immediate lifting of ceiling on cash withdrawals
Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) The Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) on Friday asked the government to immediately remove restrictions on cash withdrawals as the 50-day deadline given by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expired.
"Since the deadline of December 30 is over, all restrictions on the withdrawal of money by people from their own hard earned money in the banks must be removed forthwith," the CPI-M said in a statement.
It said that since demonetisation has pushed the "beleaguered and stumbling Indian economy into a tailspin, causing immense misery to the poor and the downtrodden", who survive on daily cash earnings, some "corrective steps" need to be taken by the government.
The party has demanded immediate debt waiver for farmers, doubling the allocation for MNREGA to ensure 100 days of employment for all those who are enrolled, tax rebate to small and medium enterprises whose economic activity has suffered and removal of all restrictions on deposits and withdrawals of funds from the cooperative banks.
"This demonetisation will lead to a significant revenue loss in many states. To address this crucial issue, the Centre must compensate the state governments for the loss in revenue that they are incurring.
"The borrowing ceiling on the state governments in accordance with the FRBM Act must also be raised from 3-4 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product," the statement said.
The party said that since the Prime Minister is constantly emphasising on the need to shift to a cashless economy, it is necessary to ensure that people are not burdened with additional costs and all costs on digital transactions should be removed.
It also posed a few more queries to the government.
"The Prime Minister must publicly declare the quantum of demonetised money that has returned to the banks. What is the quantum and value of new notes that have been printed so far? By when will the full value of demonetised money be back in the system through new notes?" it said.
The statement further said: "What is the government's estimation of the economic loss to the nation as a result of this move? How many people have lost their jobs and livelihood since demonetisation was announced on November 8?
"It is imperative that the Prime Minister answer all these questions and take necessary measures to provide some relief to the vast majority of people who are suffering."
--IANS
mak/nir/bg
China blocks move to declare Masood Azhar a terrorist, India calls it double standards
Delhi,National,Defence/Security,Terrorism,Diplomacy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) With Beijing blocking its move to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a UN designated terrorist, India on Friday said the development reflected "double standards" in the fight against terrorism and was "surprising" as China was itself a victim of terrorism.
"We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council which had been presented nine months ago and had received the strong backing of all other members of the Committee."
"The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism," said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.
In April, China had blocked India's move to label the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief a terrorist, a decision that had angered New Delhi which has been trying to convince Beijing to reconsider the decision. In September, it had extended its decision to put a technical hold on the UN's 1267 Committee declaring Azhar a terrorist by three months.
Calling the action surprising, the MEA statement said: "This decision by China is surprising as China herself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism.
"As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation."
Seven Indian security personnel lost their lives when terrorists from across the border attacked the Indian Air Force base in Punjab's Pathankot early on January 2.
The Pakistan-based JeM claimed responsibility for the attack in which all the six terrorists also were reportedly killed.
"We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism," the statement added.
JeM was listed in the Security Council Committee 1267 list on October 17, 2001 for being associated with the Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban for "participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities related with terrorism".
--IANS
rs/vd/bg
Three held for bid to kill rape victim's mother
Delhi,National,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
null
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) Delhi Police arrested three persons, including a graphic designer, here for shooting at a rape victim's mother with the intention to kill her, police said on Friday.
Those arrested are Faisal Hussain, 36, the key conspirator and resident of Shaheen Bagh, Wasim, 30, a resident of Jasola village, and Mohd Iqbal, 46, a resident of Okhla village, police said.
They were arrested by separate police teams following raids on Wednesday and Thursday nights at Batla House and nearby areas in Jamia Nagar.
"Wasim and Iqbal worked for Hussain, a graphic designer. Wasim and Iqbal admitted that they shot the rape victim's mother on the instruction of Hussain. They had no personal enmity with the rape victim's family," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Romil Banniya said.
However, interrogation of the accused gave an altogether new twist to the tale, which initially seemed to be one of bumping off the complainant.
According to the DCP, the main accused Sajid, a local builder, who had gang-raped the victim along with three others, had made some investments in real estate with the help of one Bunty, also a local builder and broker.
Hussain also had some stake in the deal struck by Sajid and Bunty. But later, Hussain developed some differences with Sajid over the deal.
Taking advantage of the circumstances, Hussain hired Wasim and Iqbal to get the rape victim's mother eliminated, so as to implicate Sajid in the murder case. This would have solved his own problems with Sajid, DCP Banniya said.
Hussain also told interrogators that he hatched the plan after he came to know that Sajid was involved in a rape case and that the rape victim's mother had filed a complaint of life threat against him a couple of weeks ago.
Wasim and Iqbal on December 23 opened fired at the woman when she was on her way to a hospital, along with her daughter (the rape victim), in Jamia Nagar area. The bullet pierced her back, and amid the chaos, the shooters managed to escape, police said.
Police later arrested Sajid from his hideout in Uttar Pradesh. During the interrogation, he confessed to have raped the victim but denied shooting at her mother.
He hinted that Hussain could be behind the attack as he would have benefited if he (Sajid) is sent to jail for a long period, the officer said.
--IANS
sp/nir/bg
null
UAE church says 'working' for release of kidnapped Indian priest
United Arab Emirates,Crime/Disaster/Accident,Diaspora, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Dubai, Dec 30 (IANS) The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia said it has got "strong indications" that Father Tom Uzhunnalil, the Indian priest who was kidnapped by Islamic State terrorists in Yemen earlier this year, is alive.
The church said it is making "all efforts to secure a safe release" of the priest kidnapped from Aden in March, Khaleej Times reported on Friday.
A video of Father Uzhunnalil had surfaced this week in which he made an appeal to the Indian government, Pope Francis and Bishop Paul Hinder (the current Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate), to save his life.
In the video, Uzhunnalil said that there have been reports in the media that everything was being done to secure his release "but in reality nothing seems to have happened".
However, the church said it has made countless appeals from the highest levels to secure Father Uzhunnalil's release as well as made concrete efforts by way of working in close collaboration with both international and local diplomatic channels.
"Paul Hinder is in touch with the different channels, which are working and leading the dialogues to secure a safe release. More details cannot be disclosed at this stage," the church statement said.
The bishop has led calls for prayer throughout the churches in the Vicariate for Father Uzhunnalil.
On March 4, the Salesian Order priest from Kerala was kidnapped after IS terrorists barged into a Missionaries of Charity care home in Aden of which he was the caretaker and shot dead many people, including four nuns, one of them from India.
--IANS
soni/bg
PM sponsoring Chinese companies in name of Paytm: Mamata
West Bengal,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Kolkata, Dec 30 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of "marketing" Chinese companies in India in the name of Paytm and sought a probe into the allegations.
"I am sorry, I have full respect for a country but in the name of Paytm, the Prime Minister has brought in a few Chinese companies and is marketing them in India," she told the media here.
"Why are these companies sponsored by our PM? What is the hidden agenda? We want to know publicly. I am not levelling allegations. I am only stating facts which are reported. Public money is not secure. It is not foolproof. I say Alibaba and four, not thieves," she said in a veiled reference to Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.
The Trinamool Congress supremo sought a probe as to why the Centre is promoting a company that has been blacklisted by the US Trade Representative.
"It is a very serious allegation. Country is not secure. To promote a few companies PM had to become feriwala (salesman) of Paytm. What is the hidden agenda? If somebody has done something wrong, the RBI and SEBI has protected them," she added.
--IANS
mgr-sgh/sm/bg
Gujarat Congress ready to project CM face
Gujarat,National,Politics, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Ahmedabad, Dec 30 (IANS) The Gujarat Congress, for the first times in two decades, on Friday said it is open to projecting a chief ministerial candidate ahead of the state assembly elections scheduled for December 2017.
State Congress President Bharatsinh Solanki said: "Although it (the leadership issue) will be decided by the high command post state polls in Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, we cannot rule it out."
When pressed further, he told reporters here: "Let's wait and see."
The party, which has been in opposition since 1995, has always desisted from naming a chief ministerial candidate. All India Congress Committee General Secretary and In-charge of Gujarat Affairs Gurudas Kamat said the party is prepared to take on the BJP.
"We are ready for the elections whenever it is held, be it February, March or April," he said when asked about speculations that the ruling BJP might go for an early election in the state.
Kamat said that as part of the exercise, the party would finalise the list of candidates by the middle of next month.
"Whether to announce that after declaration of the poll schedule by the election commission or before that, in a staggered manner or in one go will be decided by the high command," he added.
Solanki, meanwhile, claimed that the Congress is well-prepared to take on the BJP on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's home turf.
"Modi's charisma has been diminishing after he became the Prime Minister of the country. His failure to control price rise, flip-flop on Pakistan, alliance with Mehbooba Mufti and his decision of demonetisation has eroded his image," he said.
Describing Chief Minister Vijay Rupani a "rubber stamp of Amit Shah", Solanki said the BJP's move to put Rupani in place of Anandiben Patel has failed to help the ruling party in the state.
"Replacing a Patel and state's first woman Chief Minister has not helped improve administration. In fact it has gone from bad to worse."
Solanki claimed that it would be tough climb for the BJP in the wake of Patel quota agitation by Dalits following the Una public flogging of four Dalit youths.
"The difference between vote percentage of the BJP and the Congress in the state has never been more than 10 per cent. We know that we need to bridge this divide and so began our preparations pretty early," Solanki said.
He alleged that the BJP, which has been in power for over 20 years in the state, has become arrogant, selfish and corrupt. "It has forgotten to behave in a courteous manner with citizens," he said.
--IANS
desai/nir/vm
India-Singapore double tax treaty amended to curb round tripping
Delhi,Business/Economy,Immigration/Law/Rights,Diplomacy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) In yet another measure to curb generation of black money, India on Friday amended its Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Singapore, the Indian government said.
"We have today (Friday) amended the DTAA with Singapore on the same terns as the agreement signed with Mauritius earlier this year," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters here.
"The year 2016 has been historic for the three DTAAs concluded with the countries that provided the routes for tax evasion...these have been blocked," he said, adding that the third DTAA amendment agreement signed earlier this year was with the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus.
Pointing out that all the three DTAAs had been the focus of attention, and even cause for uproar in Parliament, because of widespread suspicion that they were being used to evade capital gains tax, facilitating, thereby, the round tripping of funds anf generation of black money.
"The apprehension was of round tripping by which the flight of domestic black money was being organised to these 3 countries, which do not have capital gains tax, and bringing back the money through these 3 routes - Mauritius, Cyprus and Singapore.
Between April 200 and September 2016, Mauritius and Singapore accounted for 49 per cent of all foreign direct investmentn(FDI) inflows into India.
"The Third Protocol amends the India-Singapore DTAA with effect from 1st April, 2017, to provide for source based taxation of capital gains arising on transfer of shares in a company," an Indian Finance Ministry release here said.
"Like the Mauritius agreement, the Singapore DTAA envisages that investments in shares made before 1st April, 2017, will be grandfathered," Jaitley said.
"Thereafter, a two-year transition period from 1st April, 2017, to 31st March, 2019, has been provided during which capital gains liability on shares will be shared half with the source country," he said.
"After the end of the transition period in 2019, the entire capital gains will come to India," he added.
Jaitley also said that in another move against black money stashed abroad, India's Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed an agreement with Swiss authorities for implementing the "Automatic Exchange of Information" (AEOI) between India and Switzerland.
Under this agreement it will now be possible for India to receive, from September, 2019 onwards, all financial information of accounts held by Indian residents in Switzerland for 2018 and subsequent years, on an automatic basis," the Finance Minister said.
--IANS
bc/vm
Mamata flays Centre over demonetisation, arrest of Trinamool MP
West Bengal,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Kolkata, Dec 30 (IANS) Reiterating her demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday batted for the formation of a national government, comprising all major political parties, till the next general elections.
She went all guns blazing against the Modi government over demonetisation and the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul by CBI in the Rose Valley chit fund scam.
Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, fired salvos at Modi and targeted the BJP on a day which co-coincided with Modi's self-set 50-day demonetisation deadline.
"A national government (comprising all parties) may be formed, if required, to govern the country till the next general elections. The country is not safe under this government," she said.
Referring to Paul's arrest, a furious Banerjee said it was obvious that someone from her party would be arrested on the 50th day deadline as the central agencies are functioning under "instructions" from the BJP government.
"I knew that they would arrest someone from our party today as we plan to intensify our protest post the 50-day deadline of the demonetisation. I have the documents from CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) that clearly state who all are in their list," she claimed.
Banerjee also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of having association with a chit fund scam and dared the Modi government to arrest her and her party MPs and legislators.
"I don't care if they arrest all my MPs. Let them arrest me. I will not be surprised if they arrest all our MPs. Arrest all my MPs. How many MLAs will you arrest? You do not need to summon us. We are ready to present ourselves," Banerjee said.
"The SEBI and RBI did not act against the chit fund companies," she said.
"BJP is connected to Pearl group chit fund scam worth Rs 50,000 crore. (BJP leaders) Babul Supriyo and Rupa Ganguly also were associated with Rose Valley," she claimed, likening the situation to the "terror of pre-Independence era."
She asserted that Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, who too was summoned by the central agency in the same case, has not done anything wrong and would definitely appear before the CBI.
She said Paul's arrest reeks of political vendetta as the party is protesting against the Centre over demonetisation while slamming the Modi government for failing to restore normalcy by Friday.
"111 people have lost their lives. How many BJP leaders visited their house? Why is RBI not disclosing how much money has been released to which state?"
"People have been misled. Your 50 days are up and you have failed in your 'agni pariksha'. The PM must apologise to the nation and step down. If BJP thinks they have majority, then make someone else the PM," she said.
She said Modi and the BJP "despise" the poor, the scheduled caste and tribes and the minorities.
Banerjee also flayed Modi for naming e-wallet app BHIM after BR Ambedkar.
"How could the government name a lottery app in the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar who is the architect of the Indian Constitution? They have no right to insult the statesmen of the country and hurt the sentiments of the Scheduled Castes in the country," she said.
Asked about the ongoing rift within the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, ahead of the elections, she said she doesn't want to comment on any party's internal matter.
"... but I will be happy if BJP is defeated. BJP must be defeated in UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand and wherever there are elections," she added.
--IANS
team-sgh/vd
Well-orchestrated endeavour to destroy Tata Group's reputation: Ratan Tata
Maharashtra,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Mumbai, Dec 30 (IANS) Tata Sons Interim Chairman Ratan Tata on Friday said that there has been a wilful and well-orchestrated endeavour to destroy the reputation of the Tata Group through unsubstantiated allegations.
"The past three months have been turbulent and wasteful. There has been a wilful, well-orchestrated endeavour to destroy the personal reputations of individuals, and the reputation of the Tata Group, through unsubstantiated allegations," Tata said in a letter addressed to the Group's employees.
"The ethics and values of the group and its leadership, which have been built over the last one and a half a centuries, have been challenged by people who are known not to practice what they often preach. I feel proud that through this difficult period there has been an overwhelming groundswell of support from so many of you."
The letter comes a day after the holding company of Tata Group had demanded the return of all confidential documents related to its group companies from its ousted Chairman Cyrus Mistry. This was the second such notice served to Mistry this week.
On Monday, Tata Sons served the first legal notice to Mistry, alleging breach of confidentiality and passing on sensitive information to his family-controlled companies.
On the other hand, Mistry's family-controlled companies Cyrus Investment Private Limited and Sterling Investment Private Limited have filed petitions against Tata Sons before the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT) (Mumbai).
"As we approach the new year, we must all resolve to put these events of the past few months behind us and re-dedicate ourselves to re-establish the Tata Group's leadership in the many areas in which we operate, as also demonstrating to the world around us that we indeed have protected the vision and values of our founding fathers,"
"The Tata Group has, over the years, not just been a business conglomerate - it has been an institution built on sustaining livelihood in the community it serves through the creation of wealth and its re-distribution to the nations's people through social awareness and philanthropy."
Tata Trusts hold 66 per cent stake in the holding company of the Tata Group, whereas Mistry's family holds over 18 per cent interest.
The development comes more than a week after Mistry stepped down from the positions held by him in Tata Group companies.
Tata Sons' board ousted Mistry on October 24 and appointed Ratan Tata as interim Chairman.
--IANS
rv/vm
Nepal police arrest 3 kidney smugglers
Nepal,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Kathmandu, Dec 30 (IANS) Police in Nepal have arrested three individuals who were allegedly involved in a kidney racket across the Indo-Nepal border, a media report said.
The three identified as Binu Bahadur Timalsina, 44, Prakash Basnet, 47 and Bhim Prasad Neupane, 36, reportedly took out kidneys from innocent people by promising them jobs across the border.
Police arrested the trio on December 21, but made the arrest public on Thursday, Republica reported on Friday.
The Metropolitan Crime Division of Nepal Police said that the three accused were remanded in custody for further investigation on charges of human trafficking, while they searched for two more.
According to SSP Sarbendra Khanal, the gang took innocent Nepali citizens to Indian cities by promising them jobs and took out their kidney after making them unconscious.
When the victims regained consciousness, the criminals would say that they were hospitalised after being attacked with a knife by gangsters," SSP Khanal told Republica.
They used to sell the vital organs without the knowledge of the victims.
Deepak Nepali, 19, is the only victim who has so far complained to the police about the theft of his kidney.
Police, however, assumed there were many victims like him and the investigation would bring out further details.
"Nepali came to know about the removal of his kidney only when he was admitted to Chitwan Medical College for his check up after he suffered health complications," a police statement said.
Khanal informed that the criminals would give some money to the victims after taking out their kidney and ask them to return home.
--IANS
in/
Slain Bihar scribe's wife 'got second threat call from Dubai'
Bihar,National,Media,Politics,Crime/Disaster/Accident, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Patna, Dec 30 (IANS) Slain journalist Rajdeo Ranjan's wife Asha Ranjan has allegedly received life threats again over the case she has filed against former RJD MP and strongman from Siwan Mohmmad Shahabuddin in connection with the killing of her husband.
This is second time she has received a phone call from Dubai, asking her to withdraw the case against the former Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) MP in the Supreme Court, failing which she and her children would be cut into pieces.
Asha Ranjan lodged an FIR on Friday in connection with the threats.
"In her FIR, Asha Ranjan has stated that she received a phone call from Dubai late on Thursday night, threatening her to withdraw the case against Shahabuddin in the Supreme Court," said Assistant Superintendent of Police Arvind Kumar Gupta.
Gupta said she is frightened ever since she received the threat a second time and is demanding security.
Only a few days ago, she had lodged an FIR after receiving the first threat call from Dubai on December 26.
The scribe's widow had moved the apex court seeking transfer of the probe and trial of her husband's murder case to Delhi from Siwan, as she feared a free and fair trial against Shahabuddin was not possible if he was lodged in a Bihar jail.
Shahabuddin is currently lodged in Siwan jail after the apex court had, on September 30, cancelled his bail after hearing the two petitions filed by the Bihar government and lawyer Prashant Bhushan on behalf of the slain scribe's family.
The Bihar government had, on May 16, within three days of the murder, handed over the probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
Her husband Rajdeo, who was the Siwan bureau chief of a noted Hindi daily, was shot dead on May 13 at a busy fruit market near Siwan railway station.
--IANS
ik/nir/vd
Former union minister Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil dead
Maharashtra,National,Politics, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Ahmednagar (Maharashtra), Dec 30 (IANS) Veteran Congress leader and former Union Minister Balasaheb Vikhe-Patil passed away at his home following a long illness. He was 84.
Vikhe-Patil is survived by his wife, two daughters and three sons, including Leader of Opposition in Maharashtra, Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil.
Ailing since sometime, he breathed his last at his home in Loni-Pravara on Friday evening.
Considered a pillar of the cooperatives movement in the state and his family credited with launching Asia's first sugar cooperative factory in Loni, Vikhe-Patil had been elected member of parliament eight times from Ahmednagar.
Leaving the Congress to join the Shiv Sena briefly, he served as Minister of State for Finance and later as Minister for Heavy Industries in then Prime Minister A. B. Vajpayee's government.
He also made significant contributions in the field of irrigation, agriculture and education, especially for people in the rural areas of the state and was conferred the Padma Bhushan in 2010.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was "pained" by the death of Vikhe-Patil.
"Vikhe-Patil was a mass leader whose work in the agriculture, rural development, education and cooperatives will be remembered," Modi said in a tweet.
Describing Vikhe-Patil as "a towering leader in the cooperation movement with remarkable knowledge of agriculture, irrigation and rural development," Maharashtra Governor C. V. Rao said the state lost a visionary leader and a great human being.
In his condolence message to Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil, Rao said: "Vikhe-Patil lived a spartan life and maintained his contacts with the masses till his end. The numerous social and educational institutions created by him are a testimony to his vision and commitment for the betterment of society and farmers."
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis said Vikhe-Patil made far-reaching contributions to the agriculture, irrigation and educational sectors of the state and his cooperative movement remain a model of for allround development of the rural areas.
"He knew the pulse of rural development and carried out his various activities keeping the common village folk as the point of focus, and he gave priority to rural development during his tenure as a union minister. We have lost a senior and respected leader of the masses," he said in a message.
Nationalist Congress Party President Sharad Pawar said he was "saddened by the demise of the former union minister and committed politician".
Congress leader Sanjay Dutt said "the death of Vikhe-Patil, a popular leader of farmers and cooperative movement leader and Ais an irreparable loss for the state".
--IANS
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Speech by the President of India at Inauguration of 17th National Jamboree of the Bharat Scouts & Guides at Mysuru
Mysuru, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 NI Wire
1. I am indeed happy to be present amidst you on the occasion of the 17th National Jamboree of Bharat Scouts and Guides at Mysuru, a heritage city of India and the cultural capital of Karnataka.
2. I am informed that the Karnataka State Bharat Scouts and Guides has already hosted two National Jamborees at Bengaluru in the years 1960 and 1986 and is now hosting the present 17th National Jamboree at Mysuru.
3. Jamborees are occasions when any organisation reaffirms, redeems and reorients, and I am sure that the activities in the Jamboree will help Scouts, Guides, Rovers and Rangers and other Volunteers to develop leadership qualities, co-operative spirit and moral values. I am also sure that itwill provide a good opportunity to its participants to exchange ideas and exhibit their skills and talents, and help create awareness amongst the youth about the values of national integration, service, discipline, patriotism and peaceful co-existence.
Friends,
4. India is a land of ancient civilization but young people. By 2020 India will be the youngest country. It's an asset only if they are skilled and oriented towards the service of the nation.
5. While Scouting was making rapid progress overseas, in India too a move was initiated by Dr. Annie Besant, Dr. G.S. Arundale and other leaders, who foresaw the need of Scouting for the benefit of Indian boys as well. The Scouting Movement had the blessings of great luminaries like Mahatma Gandhi, Dr. Rajendra Prasad, and Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru. Subsequently, the movement has been patronized by successive Presidents and Prime Ministers of India and Chief Ministers of States. I am informed that the Boy Scouts Associations in India and the Hindustan Scout Association were merged together on 7th November, 1950 and later the Girl Guide Association in India also joined the main stream.
6. The support and patronage of the Royal Family of erstwhile Mysuru State and other princely States of our country saw tremendous growth of the movement. Successive State Governments also extended their support and are responsible for the successful existence and growth of the Movement today.
7. I am happy to know that the Scouts and Guide Movement in India has been growing steadily from year to year and has a strength of over 5 Million Scouts and Guides today, and I am sure that this International Youth Movement will enable school going children become better citizens of our great country. The Scouts and Guide Movement has stood the test of time and is relevant to this day even after 109 years of its existence. Today, there are over 50 million Scouts and Guides throughout the world in 216 countries and territories right from the impressionable age of 3 upto 25 years.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
8. Scouting and Guiding is a tool for enrichment of life skills through proper understanding and awareness of social and national needs. Young Scouts and Guides are valuable members of our society and are active citizens who are contributing to resolving the challenges our communities are facing today. The Scouts and Guide Movement is open to all regardless of race or creed and its purpose is to help young people develop physically, intellectually, socially and spiritually. Scouting is not mere membership of an Organisation, but a commitment to uphold truthfulness and dignity in one's own life at a very young and impressionable age.
9. In fact, as a world youth movement in a globalised world, Scouting has a global responsibility to meet the challenges of development. It has shown the world how developing countries can benefit from a non-formal education system like Scouting.
Ladies and Gentlemen,
10. I am glad to learn that Karnataka is one of the most active and leading states in the field of Scouting and Guiding in the country. Before I conclude, I would like to compliment Sri Siddaramaiah, Chief Minister of Karnataka, Sri P.G.R. Sindhia, State Chief Commissioner and his team of volunteers for organizing the 17th National Jamboree. I also convey my hearty congratulations to all the participants of Scouts and Guides, Rovers and Rangers, Unit Leaders, from our country and overseas for their participation in the Jamboree.
11. Dear young friends in the end, I appeal to all of you to dedicate yourselves wholeheartedly in the service of your motherland. May your meritorious service be the lodestar for others to follow suit in the coming years. Spread the ideals of the Movement and emulate them in your daily lives. I extend greetings to all of you and wish the Bharat Scouts and Guide Movement all success in its future endeavours.
Thank you.
Jai Hind!
Source:PIB
Modi must and should resign, says Trinamool
Delhi,National,Politics,Business/Economy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
New Delhi, Dec 30 (IANS) With his self-imposed 50-day deadline ending on Friday, the Trinamool Congress asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to own up responsibility for the adverse effects of demonetisation and resign.
"The Prime Minister set a 50-day deadline -- 110 people have died, the economy is in a mess, the original motives he set out with -- ending funding of terrorism, black money, corruption -- nothing has happened," Trinamool spokesperson Derek O'Brien said.
"Tonight the deadline ends and tomorrow is a good day for him to resign. It's the last day of the year, the Prime Minister must and should resign," he added.
The Rajya Sabha member called Modi's November 8 move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes a "complete failure" and attributed electoral motive behind it.
"This (demonetisation) has nothing to do with ending terrorism, corruption or black money. This has been done with electoral motive, in view of the Uttar Pradesh elections," O'Brien told CNN News 18.
"The timing of this is awry, the planning is awry and the implementation is awry. The only thing they are doing good is spinning the narrative of taking from the rich to give to the poor. This is a bogus," he said.
"Modi and (BJP chief) Amit Shah have some serious answering to do. The PM has to answer what has he achieved at the end of this huge exercise," he said.
With Modi set to address the nation on New Year's eve, O'Brien said it was a good day for him to put in his papers.
"I am looking forward to the Prime Minister making a big announcement tomorrow. Maybe if he has a conscience and if he is not running a marketing agency called the BJP and the RSS, on December 31, he may own up responsibility for the entire mess and announce his resignation," added the Trinamool leader.
--IANS
and/in/vt
Ashley Greene engaged to Paul Khoury
United States,Cinema/Showbiz,Hollywood, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Los Angeles, Dec 30 (IANS) Actress Ashley Greene has accepted her longtime boyfriend Paul Khourys marriage proposal.
The "Twilight" star's boyfriend popped the question during the couple's trip to New Zealand on December 19. The actress posted an Instagram video of the proposal on Thursday, reports etonline.com.
"This is the most beautiful moment I could have ever hoped for. You've successfully made me the happiest, luckiest woman alive," Greene captioned the video.
"I can't wait to show you my unfaltering immeasurable love for the rest of our lives. Engaged, love of my life, future husband."
Khoury wrote on his own account: "I promise to put a smile on your face for the rest of our lives. You complete me in ways I didn't even know was possible. I love you more than anything and excited to take this next step in life with you."
The couple has been dating since 2013.
--IANS
nn/rb/vt
22 killed in Syria on the eve of ceasefire
Egypt,Defence/Security,Terrorism, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Cairo, Dec 30 (IANS) A series of bombardments carried out by Syrian government forces on the eve of a ceasefire killed at least 22 people near Damascus on Thursday, a British war monitor reported.
According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, among the victims were at least 14 children and three women, who indicated several others had been injured, some of them seriously, Efe news agency reported.
"At least 22 people killed, including 14 children and a woman, as aerial bombing and artillery shelling intensify in Douma and Ghouta," the Observatory tweeted.
The attack came hours before a ceasefire agreed between the government of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups.
The Russian and Turkish governments had already agreed to a truce Wednesday that was to come into effect at midnight (9 pm GMT Wednesday).
The attacks primarily affected several areas in the region of Ghouta, the main bastion of opposition forces in eastern Damascus, and Douma, some 10 km northeast of the capital.
The Syrian army high command announced Thursday that a ceasefire is to come into effect at midnight (9:00 pm GMT).
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Russia would be reducing its military presence in Syria following the ceasefire agreement with Assad.
--IANS
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Sylvester Stallone to attend Trump's New Year's party
United States,Politics,Cinema/Showbiz, Sat, 31 Dec 2016 IANS
Miami, Dec 31 (IANS) US President-elect Donald Trump will see out 2016 with a lavish party at Mar-a-Lago, his private club north of Miami, together with 800 guests including actor Sylvester Stallone, his transition team announced on Friday.
In a conference call with the media from the exclusive club in Palm Beach County, Florida, where Trump has spent the holiday season, EFE quoted a spokesman for his transition team as saying that the New Yorker will begin 2017 with a party that will last until 1.00 a.m. on New Year's morning featuring cocktails, a gala dinner, dancing indoors and partying around the pool.
Trump will be accompanied by wife Melania, his son Barron and special guests like Stallone and producer/composer/musician Quincy Jones.
Local media recently reported that the star of "Rocky" was on the list of possible candidates to head the National Endowment for the Arts, though the actor himself said he would turn down the offer should it come his way.
This Sunday, Trump will be back in New York and on Tuesday will resume his agenda of meetings to form his Cabinet.
Sean Spicer, representative of the transition team and future White House spokesman, said in a conference call that Trump will have four meetings this Friday, the first with Republican Susan Combs, former Comptroller of the Texas Agriculture Department, who joins the list of candidates for the next US Secretary of Agriculture.
He will then meet with ex-Texas Congressman Henry Bonilla, entrepreneur Howard Lorber, President of the Vector Group, and Allan B. Hubbard, ex-Adviser to former President George Bush and Director of the National Economic Council.
The transition team made no comment about Russia's reported interference in the US presidential election.
Nonetheless, Spicer said when questioned by the media that next week details of Trump's meetings with US intelligence agencies will be announced, but for now, neither the New York magnate nor members of his transition team have scheduled talks with their Russian counterparts.
"The priority right now is for the President-elect to get an update from the intelligence community," Spicer said.
--IANS
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Syrian ceasefire upheld in most of the country, says war monitor
Egypt,Defence/Security,Human Interest/Society, Sat, 31 Dec 2016 IANS
Cairo, Dec 31 (IANS) The ceasefire that came into effect in Syria at midnight has been upheld in most of the country, a British war monitor told EFE on Friday.
Rami Abdulrahman, Director of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said the ceasefire between forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad and opposition groups was being respected in around 90 per cent of the areas included in the deal.
According to the Observatory, a man was killed by a sniper in the rebel-held eastern Ghouta areas of Damascus making him the first death since the ceasefire came into effect.
The Observatory registered a few other violations of the ceasefire by rebels in the southern province of Daraa and by government forces in the Damascus, Hama and Idlib regions.
In the Christian-majority town of Khabab, in northern Daraa and under government control, several people were injured by mortar fire launched by rebel groups.
The SOHR also informed of Syrian Army bombings against areas in the north of Hama province, in the south of Aleppo and in the Barada river valley in Damascus.
The ceasefire agreement, hammered out between Russia and Turkey, was backed by the Syrian Army's General Command, the Syrian Armed Forces and rebel factions.
The deal aims to lead the way towards a new round of peace talks, scheduled to begin towards the end of January 2017 in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
--IANS
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RBI relaxes ATM daily withdrawal limit to Rs 4,500 from Rs 2,500
Maharashtra,National,Business/Economy, Sat, 31 Dec 2016 IANS
Mumbai, Dec 31 (IANS) Following expiry of the deadline to deposit demonetised currency in banks, the RBI on Friday relaxed the daily ATM withdrawal limit to Rs 4,500 from the earlier cap of Rs 2,500, with this facility, to be effective from January 1, coming as a new year gift to citizens.
"On a review of the position, the daily limit of withdrawal from ATMs has been increased with effect from January 1, 2017, from the existing Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,500 per day per card," the Reserve Bank of India said in a notification issued late on Friday.
The RBI further said "there is no change in weekly withdrawal limits", which remains at Rs 24,000.
The central bank also asked banks to ensure that disbursals on ATMs should predominantly be in the denomination of Rs 500.
As per data released by the RBI on December 21, it has supplied currency amounting to Rs 5.92 lakh crore till December 19, as against the Rs 15.4 lakh crore pulled out of the system through the demonetisation of high-value currency announced on November 8.
IANS
bc/lok
Never send a cop to do a man's job
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The Banker Magazine, an offshoot of the Financial Times, awarded Attijariwafa Bank the title of the Best Moroccan Bank in 2016 for the 8thconsecutive time.
Attijariwafa Bank Group was awarded two other prizes in London during the month of December, granted by prestigious British magazines in recognition for its performance over the past year.
EMEA Finance magazine also awarded its Best Moroccan Bank Prize for the year 2016 to Attijariwafa Bank for the second time. The same magazine gave the Best Asset Manager award to Attijariwafa Banks subsidiary, Wafa Gestion.
The Financial Times described in one of its articles in 2016 the Moroccan banking industry as one of the best developed in Africa. In this regards, the leading paper notes that the Kingdom has some of the continents biggest banks, namely Attijariwafa Bank (AWB), Groupe Banque Centrale Populaire (BCP) and Banque Marocaine du Commerce Exterieur (BMCE) which control two-thirds of the asset market.
According to the IMF Moroccos banking sector has grown steadily over the past decade with deposits accounting for two-thirds of banks liabilities, while consumer credit is on the hike.
Financial inclusion, for its part, has grown, with around 60 per cent of the population now using bank services.
Moroccan banks are now present in 22 African countries and around 17 per cent of their foreign activity is on the continent.
Moroccos high-speed rail service, the first in Africa, is expected to be ready in 2018 with the progress of works reaching 85%, local media outlets reported.
Operated by the Moroccan National Railways facility (ONCF), the Moroccan TGV will be launched in June 2018 linking at a first phase the cities of Tangier and Kenitra on a distance of 183 km high-speed line.
Mohamed Rabie Khlie, ONCF director general, briefed the press recently on the progress of works on this large-scale project with significant economic benefits that will link Tangier to Casablanca.
To achieve the target of 6 million passengers a year, there will be a departure every hour from Casablanca and Tangier, with the aim to achieve an average occupancy rate of 70%, he said.
Morocco bought 12 high-speed trains from France train manufacturer, Alstom. The trains will operate at 320km/h on the high-speed line to achieve a Tangiers Casablanca journey time of 2h 10min, instead of 4h 45min today.
Moroccos TGV costs about 1.9 billion dollars, largely funded by France, Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the UAE.
If you dont want to be accused of taking away peoples health benefits, just dont do it! Photo: Lisa Lake/Getty Images
Ever since the November election results, GOPers have been trying to figure out how to follow through on their many, many promises to repeal Obamacare without immediately taking health insurance away from the tens of millions of people who have obtained it via the Affordable Care Acts insurance-purchasing exchanges or the expanded Medicaid program. Some favor a two-year delay of the effective date for an Obamacare repeal, and others a three-year delay. Theres even talk of a delay to put off the consequences of an Obamacare repeal until after the 2020 presidential election.
Now comes the American Enterprise Institutes conservative health wonk James Capretta with an idea that cuts to the chase: Why not just grandfather all the people currently receiving benefits via the ACA and make whatever the new replacement system turns out to be prospective for new people seeking assistance?
Over time, there would be a natural transition from the ACA to the replacement plan. A transition of this kind would mean allowing all persons who are now enrolled in an insurance plan offered on the exchanges to continue to be eligible for those plans, with premium subsidies provided under the rules of the ACA. It would also mean allowing all those who became eligible for Medicaid because of the expansion of the program in the ACA to stay enrolled in the program, even if a replacement plan eventually lowers the income eligibility levels for prospective Medicaid applicants. Allowing people to keep what they have today on an indefinite basis will help stabilize the marketplace and allow for an orderly, rather than a chaotic, transition.
There are two basic problems with the idea. The first is that limiting Obamacare benefits to people already in the system is as arbitrary as terminating the benefits immediately or two or three or four years down the road. The second is trying to sell this to conservatives as an actual repeal. It sure would not generate the kind of federal budget savings Republicans have been drooling over as a byproduct of repeal.
It is also worth noting that Republicans have not had much luck in the past convincing people to accept radical policy changes by grandfathering those most immediately affected. George W. Bushs proposed partial privatization of Social Security was supposedly only going to affect people aged 55 or younger. The same was true of Paul Ryans original Medicare voucher proposal.
It is true the idea has the advantage of being relatively simple and predictable, even if, as Jennifer Rubin acerbically noted, the rapidly backpedaling GOP might as well just admit its not repealing anything until its got its act together on a replacement plan.
Until the GOP can pass something that garners bipartisan support and solves the Obamacare problems it has identified, it should do nothing. Thats the ultimate grandfathering leave the system in place. That is the only real solution politically or policy-wise that doesnt create a raft of victims. The sooner the GOP figures this out, the better.
But, but, but who will tell the base?
Photo: Natalia Kolesnikova/AFP/Getty Images
Vladimir Putin has apparently decided to turn the other cheek in hopes of turning U.S.-Russia relations around once Donald Trump moves into the White House.
On Thursday, in response to Russias alleged meddling in the 2016 election, the Obama administration imposed a series of sanctions on Putins government including the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats from the United States, the closing of homes in Maryland and New York used for Russian intelligence operations, and the sanctioning of two of Russias most important intelligence organizations, the GRU and the FSB.
Russia signaled that it would respond by barring U.S. and foreign nationals from attending the Anglo-American School of Moscow, a move that would cause headaches for the families of U.S., British, and Canadian embassy personnel in the Russian capital. Making matters worse for American diplomats, the order also revoked their access to the U.S. embassys vacation house in Serebryany Bor.
And then Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov suggested that his nation was not content to deny U.S. diplomats access to schools and weekend dachas until they self-deport instead, he called for observing diplomatic tradition and expelling 35 U.S. diplomats from Russia.
But early Friday morning, Putin indicated that he had decided to reject all of these suggestions (which very well may have been intended as the setup for Vladimirs gesture of magnanimity).
We wont create problems for American diplomats, Putin said in a statement, stipulating that Russia reserved the right to punish U.S. diplomats in the future. But he suggested that he wouldnt be taking such retribution until he knew whether Americas present hostility toward his regime would dissipate once president Obama leaves the Oval Office: Putin said that he would plan further steps for restoring the Russian-American relationship based on the policies enacted by the administration of President Donald Trump.
Lower-level Russian officials carried a similar message: The Kremlin would not punish Trump for his predecessors sins.
Countermeasures, which are typically mandatory, should be weighted in this case, considering the known circumstances of the transitional period and the possible response of the U.S. president-elect, Konstantin Kosachyov, chairman of the foreign affairs committee of Russias upper house of parliament, told the Washington Post.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev expressed his disappointment in the Obama administration on Friday, before telling it to rest in peace.
It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia agony. RIP Dmitry Medvedev (@MedvedevRussiaE) December 30, 2016
Russias embassy in Britain conveyed this message in meme form.
President Obama expels 35 diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm. pic.twitter.com/mleqA16H8D Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) December 29, 2016
Lets just hope that as geopolitics grow increasingly unpredictable and scary, more diplomats choose to express themselves via cute animal pics.
This post has been updated throughout.
Chuck Schumer, champion of the Palestinians. Photo: Tim Sloan/AFP/Getty Images
On Thursday, BuzzFeed editor-in-chief Ben Smith wrote an obituary for the bipartisan consensus on the Israel-Palestine conflict. In it, Smith argues that Donald Trumps zero-sum worldview will speed his partys transition away from the two-state solution and toward the ideal of a single Jewish state from the Jordan River to the Mediterranean Sea.
The concept of Palestinian Arab was created to exist only in opposition to Israel and with them its always been a zero-sum game, Jeff Ballabon, a lawyer and Republican activist who has worked for years to build support for a one-state solution to the Israel-Palestine conflict, told Smith. And because its a zero-sum game its never really been about negotiating issues its always been: Somebodys going to be ethnically cleansed and it aint going to be me.
That reasoning comports with Trumps understanding of global trade (substitute fleeced for ethnically cleansed in Ballabons last sentence, and you have the CliffNotes version of the president-elects trade platform). And, as Smith astutely notes, the one-state position is of a piece with Trumps Islamophobic brand of nationalism, which imagines an intractable clash of civilizations between the Muslim world and the West.
Considering this, it isnt surprising that Trump would pick a man who thinks liberal Jews are worse than kapos as his ambassador to Israel or that he would spearhead his partys apoplectic response to last weeks U.N. resolution, which merely reiterated the illegality of Israels West Bank settlements.
But even if Trump werent ideologically sympathetic to the hard right position on Israel-Palestine, embracing the one-state reality is the path of least resistance for any Republican president.
The Netanyahu government has established over and over, in word and in deed, that it has no genuine interest in the two-state solution. You do not expand the Jewish population of the West Bank by over 100,000 in eight years if you care about furthering the prospects of a peace agreement with the Palestinians; nor, for that matter, do you promise your partys voters that such an agreement will never happen as long as you retain your grip on power. And AIPAC and the Republican Party have worked tirelessly to brand anything less than unequivocal support for the Netanyahu government as objectively anti-Israel.
But while Smith attributes most of the responsibility for the dwindling prospects of the two-state solution to Trump, his party, and right-wing American Jews, Smith cant resist the siren song of false equivalence: If the Republican Party is moving in a militantly pro-Israel direction, surely the Democratic Party is moving toward an evermore pro-Palestinian stance:
Donald Trumps election was a vote against a certain kind of foreign policy idealism the notions that a superpower doesnt need to choose sides, and that diplomacy can produce win-win outcomesWhen Obama took a step away from Israel abstaining from a UN vote on settlements, and allowing his secretary of state to chide Israel Trump responded with the first real foreign policy move of his pre-presidency, a decisive embrace of one side of the Middle East conflict. After all, his campaign was about choosing sides.
This is probably where US politics was going anyway. Republicans have long given half-hearted support to the notion of a Palestinian state, and only because American pro-Israel groups asked them to. Obama had kept the lid on a Democratic Party shift toward a Palestinian point of view his 2012 convention involved awkwardly ignoring a pro-Palestinian protest but he is ending his term in angry conflict with Israel, and seems to have set a new, more straightforwardly pro-Palestinian direction for the Democratic Party.
In a United States where partisanship seems to shape policy views (ie, climate) rather than vice versa, its easy to see where this heads. There are two warring tribes. Each party supports one. Israel becomes a Republican cause, while Democrats align with the Palestinians. U.S. elections could carry even larger stakes for both sides than they have before. [Emphasis mine].
Smith suggests that by refusing to block a U.N. resolution that condemned both Palestinian terrorism and Israeli settlements a resolution that enjoyed the unanimous support of Americas major European allies Obama moved his party away from neutrality in the Israel-Palestine conflict and toward a more straightforwardly pro-Palestinian position.
But this idea that opposing Israeli settlements is tantamount to taking the Palestinians side is precisely the lie that has helped kill bipartisan support for the two-state solution.
In truth, by allowing the U.N. to condemn West Bank settlements, Obama was not abandoning the longstanding consensus on two states, but reaffirming it: Last weeks vote marked the first time in eight years that Obama had allowed the U.N. to pass a resolution that was specifically critical of Israel. Ronald Reagan allowed the U.N. to pass 21 such resolutions. Not just allowed as Haaretzs Chemi Shalev notes, the Gipper had the United States join Muslim and communist countries in condemning Israels policies and practices for denying the human rights of Palestinians.
George H.W. Bush allowed the U.N. to adopt nine resolutions critical of Israel and cut off loan guarantees to the Israeli government over settlement expansion. Obama, by contrast, paired his rhetorical reprimand on settlements with a $38 billion aid package to the Israeli military the largest such gift in American history.
Bill Clinton, for his part, allowed the U.N. to pass three resolutions critical of Israel; George W. Bush allowed six.
If anything, Obamas tenure has been aberrant in its indifference to Palestinian concerns, not in its sensitivity to them.
And his single gesture on behalf of the occupied at the U.N. was immediately met with opposition from leading members of his (pro-Palestinian) party including incoming Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer and potential 2020 candidate Cory Booker.
Smith establishes that Trumps top advisers see Palestinians aspirations for statehood as illegitimate, and ethnic cleansing as a justifiable means of preserving Israels Jewish majority. He notes that the GOP removed the words two-state solution from its 2016 platform for a reason.
This is compelling evidence that the Republican Party is abandoning the two-state solution and choosing Israels side in a zero-sum game for total control of Israel-Palestine.
But beyond Obamas lone abstention, the only evidence Smith can muster for the Democratic Party moving in an analogous fashion toward the Palestinian cause is the existence of left-wing activists who favor a bi-national state.
This is a notable development, which could plausibly have implications for the future of the Democratic Party, but which says nothing about its present: The idea that the Democrats are biased toward the Palestinians would be news to anyone old enough to remember when Hillary Clinton castigated Trump for suggesting that he would try to be a neutral broker in the Israel-Palestine conflict, explaining, We cant be neutral when rockets rain down on residential neighborhoods, when civilians are stabbed in the street, when suicide bombers target the innocent.
It would also be news to anyone who remembers when the vast majority of the Democratic caucus signed on to a resolution expressing its support for Israels 2014 campaign in Gaza, even as Israeli missiles decimated Palestinian homes, schools, and hospitals, killing more than 2,000 Gazans, over 60 percent of whom, by U.N and Associated Press estimates, were civilians.
But okay. Lets pretend all this history is just a hallucination and stipulate Smiths frame: Lets say that Obama has moved the Democratic Party in the direction of left-wing activists who reject the two-state solution in favor of a federal, bi-national state, while Trump is leading the GOP toward an explicit endorsement of a Zionist Greater Israel, made possible via ethnic cleansing and/or Apartheid rule.
If this is the choice, supporting civil and political rights for non-Jews in Greater Israel wouldnt be taking the Palestinians side, so much as taking the side of our own nations core principles specially, the principles of self-government and equality before the law that we recently sacrificed thousands of lives and trillions of dollars in hopes of exporting to the Middle East. If one sees the Palestinians as humans, rather than as fictional people, this point would be clear: Supporters of the American Civil Rights Movement were not taking African-Americans side in a zero-sum game against white people.
Regardless, the actual, status quo position of the Republican Party on Israel-Palestine is that the Israeli government deserves Americas unconditional support, because Palestinians are not worthy of our moral concern. The Democratic Partys position is that the Israeli government deserves Americas unconditional material support, but that there should, perhaps, be a limit to how much it can infringe on Palestinian rights without some form of rhetorical or symbolic rebuke, because Palestinians deserve a measure of moral concern, albeit infinitesimally as much as the Israelis do.
If you characterize the latter position as straightforwardly pro-Palestinian, then youre the one thats choosing sides.
Thats one fancy bear. Photo-Illustration: Select All; Photos: Getty Images (Bear); Wikimedia (Mask)
Following weeks of accusations and insinuations and counterclaims and skepticism about the role of the Russian government in this summers hack of the Democratic National Committees email (an attack given the evocative name GRIZZLY STEPPE by the Department of Homeland Security) a new joint report was published today by the DHS and FBI. The question is, does the new report actually clear anything up?
Every once in awhile, we are shocked, and a little thrilled, to find ourselves in agreement with Donald Trump. Last night, for example, the president-elect spoke the unimpeachable truth when asked about the possibility of Russian hackers interfering in the election: I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly. The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what is going on.
The fact is, hes right. Computer is hard, and the general public is generally forced to trust self-proclaimed experts and intelligence agencies where questions of hacking and cybersecurity are concerned a troubling dynamic when those questions are driving heightened tension between two nuclear superpowers. Today, President Obama announced new sanctions on Russia in response to what the administration says was Russian involvement in the hack of the Democratic National Committee. But the president-elect, and allied Republicans (not to mention some on the left), remain skeptical of those claims or, at least, are unconvinced by the evidence. And while the Obama administration, congressional Democrats, some Republicans, and the intelligence establishment all agree that Russian hackers of some stripe were involved, there is some question of what they were trying to accomplish.
So what can we say for sure? What do we know and where does that knowledge come from? Does GRIZZLY STEPPE advance our knowledge? Lets try to sort it out for you, and make the whole age of computer a little easier.
What do we definitely know, based on public information?
We know that the Democratic National Committee got hacked. We know this because, well, thousands of damaging emails from high-ranking officials in the DNC were sent to and then posted by WikiLeaks.
Note that when people use some version of the Russia hacked the election shorthand, this is what theyre talking about not changing vote tallies, rigging the machines, or some other kind of intrusive infrastructural movement. Its a more roundabout, but easier and more common, tactic for undermining an election: finding and releasing damaging information obtained by means of electronic intrusion.
What do we probably know, based on common sense, circumstantial evidence, and independent expert testimony?
The hackers who nabbed the DNC emails are probably from Russia. The main groups identified by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which was contracted by the DNC in June to investigate the hack, are known as Fancy Bear, or APT 28, and Cozy Bear, a.k.a. APT 29 (APT stands for Advanced Persistent Threat).
Both Cozy and Fancy are well-known to security experts, but their size, scope, and organizational structure is unknown (or, at least, not publicly available). Fancy Bear is thought (again, by CrowdStrike) to be associated with Russian foreign-intelligence agency GRU, and Cozy with Russian surveillance agency FSB, but there is no definitive public proof of those connections. U.S. intelligence officials conveyed to BuzzFeed that they believe Fancy Bear to be taking orders from the Russian government, if not outright a part of it.
In early October, as fears of a Russian hack grew, the Department of Homeland Security and Director of National Intelligence issued a joint statement saying that the DNC thefts originated from Russian servers, but that they were not able to attribute them to the Kremlin.
Then theres the Guccifer question. An online alias known as Guccifer 2.0 Guccifer was the hacker who managed to nab emails from luminaries like George W. Bush and Colin Powell in 2013 tried to take credit for the DNC hack in June, claiming to have pulled it off all on his own. In conversations with Motherboard, Guccifer claimed to be Romanian, but his use of his supposed native language was inconsistent (Motherboard demonstrated that Guccifers Romanian was consistent with Russian Google-translated into Romanian), and the quality of his English veered wildly at times, suggesting multiple users handling the Guccifer 2.0 alias.
What cant we prove definitively based on publicly available information?
That the Russian government was behind the hack. This is the crux of Trumps (convenient) skepticism.
The intelligence community strongly believes that the Russian government was involved, though. There is circumstantial evidence pointing to the Bears as being behind the attack, and the Russian government being behind them. Malware found on a DNC computer was programmed to communicate with a Fancy Bearaffiliated IP address. Metadata in a leaked file contained references, in Cyrillic, to a historical figure of the Soviet secret police. The person who registered DNC-email publisher DCLeaks.com used the same email service as whoever registered a domain used for phishing emails. It all points in the general direction of Moscow but at nothing specific.
There is supposedly other evidence, too, but we have no idea what it is. The FBI and the CIA are both reportedly highly confident that the Russian government sought not only to undermine our elections process, but also to get Donald Trump elected to office. Overwhelmingly, lawmakers in both the House and Senate are now urging intelligence briefings and reports on the matter. The information is not public because intelligence agencies dont want to tip off any of the hackers.
What is being done in response?
An intelligence report is in the works for members of Congress, and is supposed to be made available before Trump is sworn in on January 20. In the meantime, the Obama administration today announced sweeping sanctions against Russia. Thirty-five Russian intelligence operatives are being ejected from the country, and the FBI has named two suspects believed to be behind the DNC hack. Six names were added to the Treasury Departments list of Specially Designated Nationals and Blocked Persons.
Two of the Russians being sanctioned today by US are already wanted by @FBI for malicious cyber activities pic.twitter.com/mdsSzPKzLS Jake Tapper (@jaketapper) December 29, 2016
What does todays report tell us?
The Department of Homeland Security and the FBI published a joint report with more information about Fancy Bear and its ilk revealing that the malicious activity by purported Russian intelligence services is known in the intelligency community as GRIZZLY STEPPE.
The report describes what U.S. intelligence believes to be the tactics used by APT 28 and APT 29, and provides a helpful (and entertaining!) list of suspected Russian intelligence groups, including Fancy Bear and Cozy bear but also CHOPSTICK, SEADADDY, and CakeDuke.
Unfortunately, though, it offers little conclusive new public proof of the Russian governments involvement. Rather, it reiterates that the U.S. government (well, its intelligence agencies, at any rate) believes that APT 28 and APT 29 are affiliated in some way with Russian government agencies. The question now, as it has been the whole time, is: How much do you trust American intelligence services to accurately and honestly describe threats to the public in the whole age of the computer?
Meanwhile, the Russian embassy in London is being extremely petty.
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They're a cute couple
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Their story is insane.
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Interracial couples make me so happy, especially if they're gay.
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same.
i'm not very familiar with lesbian youtubers and was randomly looking through some videos the other day. all of the couples i saw were white. maybe the most diversity i saw would be where one girl was blond and the other was brunette.
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The last part lmao... but it's the sad truth.
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I know one lesbian couple who's in an interracial marriage but that's about it. I never noticed before but you're right, it's not very common is it?
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you should stan me + my gf tbh
Edited at 2016-12-30 03:04 pm (UTC)
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i've found a few cute black lesbian youtubers. and one filipino. but yeah the most popular ones are white women.
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i feel like being super public with your relationship is like a guaranteed curse
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lol seriously I know/heard of so many longterm relationships that have broke up recently, I feel like being together "forever" is really beating the odds at this point
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mte, like matching tattoos
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[ Spoiler (click to open) ] Lauren wrote the episode Poussey dies. But she's kinda happy Samira is no longer on the show so they aren't stuck in NY.
mmhmm, lauren ain't slick lol
Edited at 2016-12-30 02:33 pm (UTC) they're so cute
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O_o okay i hope Samira has projects lined up because...
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lmao she does, but still
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brother lovers?
details, please?
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dopelbangers
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They are trashhh
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gus is sooooo much hotter than matt though.
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They're a beautiful couple
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really weird styling for the whole thing
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That avatar LOL!
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Awww beautiful :') wish them all endless happiness and joy!
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they are so cute.
Hope they last
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sorry for going OT, but is there a post about azealia banks's instagram story where she's sanding the bottom of her closet after sacrificing chickens in it for 3 years? cause uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh
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What!? Make it!
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sacrificing chickens in it for 3 years. please tell me that's a metaphor or smth and she didn't actually kill any chickens.
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3 years of brujeria and homegirl's career is still flopping.
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I just came here to see if there was a post. AB is fucking WILD. I've been done with her for a LONG time but the fact that she has been sacrificing chickens for three years (!!!!!!!!) and leaving the blood/carcasses in her closet the whole time (!!!!!!!!!!)...you can't deny that she needs help. Girl is not well.
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I wish that fool would understand by being antiblack she is disrespecting her ancestors and they aren't helping her and that why she continues to fail
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A post does not need to be made about this horrible person. No one cares about her homemade chicken shack, she needs to be reported to the police or hopefully some neighbor has reported her. She's disgusting but though and through and the only time she ever gets attention is through her BS.
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i feel like she's one step away from being a criminal minds episode
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The guys are hot
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They're such a beautiful couple. I wish them all the happiness.
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Her fiance looks like kstew from that angle
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well, kstew has to extend her reach to all hollywood lesbians, directly or indirectly.
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I thought so too, I'm glad u said it.
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To her boyfriend of 6 months whom she left her four year long term boyfriend to be with. Ruston is a fucking user trying to jump start his singing career.
Love you Kacey but girl, at least we will get a good record out of the inevitable divorce.
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Thank you for explaining this. I was looking at the pic and was confused because her boyfriend looked different.
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omg I was wondering why I couldn't recognize this guy...yikes
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Nope. The last gig he played in her band was in august at Chicagos lake country festival which was about a month after she and Ruston started dating.
She just wrapped her Christmas tour a week ago and she had a brand new guitarist/musical director.
Safe to say she probably cheated because Misa deleted all his social media accounts shortly after the two split.
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DO YOU HAVE MORE INFO?
this time last year she was tweeting depressing shit on twitter, then a few months later promoting misas cousin? sister? new album and also talking about this dude and all this "you know when you know. being treated better" type AOL 1998 shit.
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I liked the old boyfriend I was wondering what happened! Total bummer.
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ok THANK YOU. it's all very weird and misa is fine as hell. i'm a creep and i noticed shortly after her new guy showed up in kacey's insta, misa began showing up in caitlin rose's photos around nashville more. i want the dirt on why kacey and misa broke up.
hmmm.
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I kinda knew something was up bc i stopped seeing posts about her from Misa. I liked him bc he has family in Monterrey, Mexico and she used to come down here sometimes. Le sigh.
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Yo I was wondering why dude looked so different. This shit is crazy. Come to your senses, Kacey.
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Thank you for this because I was wondering about how it all went down.
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Hmm I was curious about this.
I'm still hoping for the best...but this doesn't sound so great. I hope she's happy tho.
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Who
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ruston is such a white trash name
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Rustin Cohle has...something to say about that.
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i thought that was chris evans
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i haven't fucked with Kacey since her disgusting tweet about the Orlando massacre tbh
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What tweet?
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in a childhood bedroom
on christmas eve
did they fuck right after or
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It's not Misa then i'm not happy for it
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congrats on your 2 year commitment
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Yeah, I don't have high hopes for this. A divorce will make for good songwriting fodder, I guess. I've heard talk she's pregnant, but not sure if it's true or not. I liked her with her ex from her band, wonder what happened.
Speaking of country star engagements, Kelsea Ballerini, who I thought was about 16, also got engaged - to a guy she met earlier this year. Girl should probably enjoy a long engagement if she knows what's good for her (I know, I know, everyone has a story about how some couple they know got engaged two days after meeting and married a month later and have been together for eleventy years, but it's usually not a great idea to marry someone within a year of meeting them)
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yeah this won't end well for her but congrats i guess
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kacey kelly sounds like a stupid name
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Rustin' Kelly is the name of my car.
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I would hate for someone to propose to me on a date that's already a holiday or my birthday. I want my own separate random date that I can make special.
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A lot happened in the energy sector in 2016, with two major stories leading the way. Both the surprising election of Donald Trump to the presidency, and OPECs November announcement to curtail production vied for the top spot on my list, as they will both likely impact the energy markets for years to come.
But in 2016 there were also huge wildfires that curtailed oil sands production in Canada, a major new pipeline protest that erupted in North Dakota, high profile bankruptcies in the coal sector, and several important stories on hydraulic fracturing in the U.S.
Here is a list of what I believe were the years major energy stories. First the Top 5:
1. Donald Trump wins the presidency
Had Hillary Clinton won, it wouldnt have been the top story, because it would have meant a continuation of President Obamas policies. But given the picks so far that will make up Trumps key energy team, it seems overwhelmingly likely that his term will mark a huge shift from the policies of the past eight years. Unlike the next story, this one will impact every segment of the U.S. energy sector.
2. OPEC agrees to production cuts
Some would not rank this story this high, but OPECs decision in November to reduce output is the first such decision in eight years. Saudi Arabia will bear ~40 percent of the cuts, and within OPEC Saudi Arabia usually gets what it wants. This takes a lot of downside risk out of the oil market, and should end talk of oil falling back to the $20s or lower. Yes, some OPEC members are likely to cheat on the quotas, and shale oil producers are likely to rush in and fill the gap from these cuts. But this is a strategy shift that will last for years.
3. The Dakota Access Pipeline saga
The $3.8 billion Dakota Access Pipeline (DAPL) that is meant to carry crude from North Dakota to Illinois became the latest high-profile pipeline project to be targeted by protesters. The Standing Rock Sioux and their environmentalist allies protested plans to cross the Missouri River just north of the reservation, claiming the pipeline would harm historical and sacred sites and endanger the tribes drinking water source. Protesters from across the country flocked to the area, and there were a number of clashes with authorities. Although the courts sided with DAPL, the Obama Administration intervened on behalf of the protesters to at least temporarily halt the project. Expect this controversy to heat up again in 2017, as Donald Trump has promised to swiftly approve stalled pipeline projects. Related: OPEC Bears Feel The Squeeze
4. Coal bankruptcies
The coal industry has suffered tremendously as utilities have shifted toward natural gas and renewables, and 2016 saw two major coal producers declare bankruptcy. Peabody Energy, the worlds largest publicly traded coal company, and Arch Coal Inc both filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
5. Oil and natural gas prices bottomed
Oil prices fell below $30/bbl for the first time in 12 years, while natural gas prices dipped to the lowest levels in 18 years. But prices for both commodities rose substantially off of those first quarter lows by year-end.
It was difficult to narrow the rest of the list down to 10 (see my Top 30 Energy Stories at Forbes for a fuller list). But here are five more that defined the energy sector in 2016:
6. Oil production in the U.S. fell by 600,000 barrels per day through September
7. The EIA reported that the U.S. had become a net exporter of natural gas for the first time in nearly 60 years
8. President Obama indefinitely banned drilling in the Arctic and Atlantic oceans
9. After 44 years of sporadic construction, Americas first new nuclear reactor in 20 years came online in Tennessee
10. Major forest fires in Alberta idled over 1 million bpd of output from Canadas oil sands
Beyond that Top 10, there were several important news stories that involved hydraulic fracturing, and many moves by the Obama Administration to cement his environmental legacy. And some court challenges to that legacy. A sampling of these stories included:
- The Supreme Court temporarily blocked the Obama Administrations plan to limit greenhouse gas emissions from power plants while the rule is challenged in court
- Despite testimony in court that there was no evidence of fracking contaminating the plaintiffs water wells, a jury awarded $4.2 million to two Pennsylvania families on the grounds that drilling by Cabot Oil and Gas had created a private nuisance
- Results of a three-year investigation by the University of Cincinnati revealed zero impact from hydraulic fracturing on local water supplies
- The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) issued a final rule to sharply cut methane emissions from oil and gas drilling Related: Natural Gas Drillers Rush To Hedge Production As Prices Soar
- Following a major earthquake in Oklahoma, state regulators ordered oil and gas companies to shut down all (hydraulic fracturing) wastewater disposal wells near the quakes epicenter
- A two-year study by the Wyoming Department of Environmental Quality concluded that bacteria, not hydraulic fracturing, were the likely cause of well water contamination in Pavillion, Wyoming contradicting claims made in the anti-fracking movie Gasland
- President Obama barred oil and gas drilling on 40,300 square miles of the Outer Continental Shelf off western Alaska
- EPA released the final report from a multi-year study, Hydraulic Fracturing for Oil and Gas: Impacts from the Hydraulic Fracturing Water Cycle on Drinking Water Resources
What did I miss? Feel free to add your suggestions in the comments.
In the next article, I will grade my 2016 energy predictions. Despite the high-profile miss on the presidential election, most of the rest of the list was spot on.
By Robert Rapier via Energy Trends Insider
More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:
2016 has been a tumultuous year in the energy markets, but both oil and natural gas are showing promising signs heading into the New Year, with oil prices having nearly doubled since January and natural gas markets heading towards balance.
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Friday, December 30, 2016
Oil prices posted incremental gains at the start of this week on the eve of scheduled OPEC cuts, but had stalled by Thursday after the EIA reported a surprise uptick in oil inventories. Oil ends the year nearly twice as high as where it started, pointing to a more balanced market in the months ahead.
U.S. shale promises discipline. By most accounts, U.S. shale is poised for growth in 2017. A tightening oil market could push prices up: Should crude hit $60 per barrel, shale output could rise by 500,000 bpd, according to Citigroup. At $70 per barrel, production would grow by 1 million barrels per day. That of course, could merely induce another downturn as the world becomes once again flush with supply. Some shale companies are expanding operations, but cautiously. Theres a real concern by industry that we could be in for another one of these price adjustments, if we get carried away with development," Harold Hamm, CEO Continental Resources (NYSE: CLR), told Bloomberg. Theyre going to be disciplined going forward."
U.S. imposes sanctions on Russia, expels diplomats. The Obama administration responded harshly to Russian interference in the presidential election, expelling 35 diplomats, imposing new sanctions on Russian officials and ordering the closure of two Russian compounds in the U.S. All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, President Obama said in a statement. These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government. The move puts President-elect Donald Trump in an awkward position of either having to go along with the Obama administration or defying U.S. intelligence agencies. As for oil and gas, it is unclear what comes next, but Obamas decision could make it more difficult to lift sanctions on Russia, thus imperiling future drilling projects in the Arctic, although, to be sure, that is speculation at this point.
Related: Shale Spending Is Set To Soar
Ohio Gov. vetoes clean energy freeze. The Ohio state legislature passed a bill that would have made the states renewable energy standard voluntary, but Governor John Kasich (R) vetoed the legislation. The veto is an unexpected win for the renewable energy industry in a state controlled by Republicans.
Petrobras assets sales just shy of $15 billion target. The most indebted oil company in the world missed its target for assets sales in 2016. Brazilian state-owned oil company Petrobras sold off $13.6 billion in assets this year in an effort to pay down debt, just short of the $15.1 billion divestment target. However, Petrobras upped its planned divestment plans for the 2017-2018 period to $21 billion, higher than the original $19.5 billion plan. Brazil is emerging as a country of growing interest to international oil companies the indebtedness of Petrobras, as well as the economic malaise in the country, is opening up the door to greater private sector investment. Companies like Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE: RDS.A) are poised to capitalize on the situation.
Natural gas inventories continue to plunge. The EIA reported another drawdown in natural gas stocks, with inventories falling 237 billion cubic feet in the week ending on December 23. That puts total stocks at 413 Bcf lower than last years levels at this time and also 79 Bcf below the five-year average. It is hard to overstate the significance of this development inventories had been running well above the five-year average since late 2015, but are now back in normal territory. In other words, the gas market is no longer in a glut, which helps explain why prices are up above $3.81/MMBtu, the highest price in more than two years. Production has fallen this year while demand has climbed. If inventories continue to fall, prices will rise even further, potentially surpassing $4/MMBtu for the first time since 2014. That is good news for natural gas drillers, who are already adding rigs back to the shale patch. It is also good for coal-fired power plants, which are being called upon more than they have in the recent past to generate electricity. Oil prices often gain much more traction in the media, but the ongoing rise in natural gas is a huge untold story.
Related: Outlook For Coal Unlikely To Improve
Oil speculators sowing seed of another price downturn. Hedge funds and other money managers have built up such a speculative position on rising oil prices that they risk sparking a liquidation if OPEC does not delivery on their promised cuts. "The boat is loaded to one side in the market right now. Shorts have covered. People have piled in from the long side, waiting for these cutbacks to come through. If they don't, there's going to be big punishment in this market," John Kilduff, founding partner of Again Capital, told CNBC's "Squawk Box." He also said that China could be the oil markets Achilles heel, as growth continues to slow. Oil demand could disappoint if China fails to come through. That's the real demand center. That's the swing place, and I still see issues there," he said.
NYMEX trading floor shuts down. In a shift towards electronic trading, the NYMEX trading floor is set to shut down on Friday. The pit is home to the boisterous buying and selling that symbolized the frenetic and frenzied business of commodity trading. But CME group, which owns the NYMEX, had announced earlier this year that it would shut down the trading floor at the end of the year, as its share of options only accounted for just 0.3 percent of the overall trade in energy and metals. Most trading is done electronically at this point, making the trading pit a relic of the past. The trading floors share has plunged remarkably in just a few years as recently as 2009 the trading floor accounted for more than 80 percent of the options volume.
OPEC deal begins next week. The OPEC deal goes into effect next week at the start of the New Year, but members are allowed to average their reductions over a six-month period, so immediate cuts are not a given. It will take a few weeks to figure out who is cutting and by how much data for January will be released in February.
By Evan Kelly of Oilprice.com
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Even as oil prices are rebounding, we are closing out one of the worst years for the oil and gas industry in decades. In 2016, the U.S. oil and gas industry defaulted on $39 billion in high-yield energy debt, more than twice as much as the $15 billion in defaulted debt in 2015, according to Fitch.
Many oil and gas companies were able to weather the storm at the end of 2014 and for much of 2015, only to run out of room this year. According to Fitch, one in three U.S. oil and gas exploration companies defaulted on high-yield bonds in 2016. Taking a broader measure of energy companies rather than just oil and gas, one in five companies defaulted on high-yield debt. That stands in stark contrast to the less than 1 percent of energy companies that defaulted in 2014.
But it isnt just U.S. companies. Fitch points to Venezuelas state-owned PDVSA, which has $13 billion in high-yield debt that is probably most in danger of default. PDVSA has seen production drop and has been raided by the Venezuelan government. With both the sovereign and the company essentially broke, it could be a matter of time before a default arrives. PDVSA succeeded a few months ago in convincing creditors to extend maturity terms on some of its bonds, buying it a bit of breathing room.
Related: Natural Gas Drillers Rush To Hedge Production As Prices Soar
A few other noteworthy bonds that are in shaky territory include Brazils Odebrecht Offshore Drilling, which has $3 billion in outstanding debt; California Resources Corp., which has $2.8 billion; and FTS International, a well completion company based in Texas, which has $800 million in high-yield debt.
While 2016 was a horrific year for the high-yield sector, Fitch says that 2017 will be much better. Rising oil prices will keep most companies out of danger. Fitch projects just a 3 percent default rate.
The rebound across the oil and gas industry is still in its infancy, but there are positive signs that the sector is on the mend. With just a few days left in December, only two upstream North American energy companies have declared bankruptcy, the lowest number since the beginning of 2016. According to Haynes & Boone, a Dallas-based law firm, more than 220 upstream and oilfield service companies have declared bankruptcy since the start of the downturn in 2014; but two-thirds of those came this year.
The worst is over with oil prices moving up. Prospects are a lot better than they were a year ago, Eric Rosenthal, an analyst at Fitch Ratings, said in a report. The recovery of oil prices probably saved a few of them.
By Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com
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2017 could be a banner year for oil and gas companies who are looking for fresh equity. According to Tudor Pickering Holt & Co., as many as 40 oil and gas companies could launch IPOs in the New Year, as rising oil prices spark interest in new drilling.
The two-and-a-half year oil bust has burned a lot of investors, with a long list of companies declaring bankruptcy and many more shareholders losing their shirts from falling share prices. At the same time, investors that timed the rebound just right, jumping into the market earlier this year when oil prices dropped below $30 per barrel, could have made a pretty penny.
Now everyone is much more optimistic, hoping that there is more room to run. The industry has consolidated and with high-cost producers forced out of the market and healthier companies on much sounder footing, equity markets are salivating again at potential new offerings. Tudor Pickerings CEO Maynard Holt told Bloomberg that 2017 could bring IPOs up and down the spectrum, from new upstream drillers to pipeline companies.
The number of companies expressing interest in going into this window is really high, and the number of investors saying wed like to see something different is really high," Holt said.
If Holt is correct, and the number of new IPOs for oil and gas reaches somewhere around 40, that would triple the total for 2016. This year only 13 companies went public, offering shares worth about $2.23 billion, the lowest level since the financial crisis in 2009. As recently as 2014, when oil prices traded in triple-digit territory for much of the year, there were 44 IPOs worth $14.15 billion.
On top of rising oil prices, the industry expects the friendliest regulatory regime in recent memory. President-elect Donald Trump is seeking to stack government agencies with industry friendly people: at the EPA he chose Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt, who has promised to dismantle environmental regulations; Rep. Ryan Zinke was chosen for Interior Department, where he could open up public lands onshore and offshore for more drilling; and of course, ExxonMobil CEO Rex Tillerson is slated to lead to the State Department where he might press U.S. oil and gas interests abroad.
In other words, the stars are aligning for a great year for an upstart oil and gas company to go public. Maynard Holt says that there will be particular interest for midsized companies, with valuations between $2 and $4 billion, and for those that are concentrated in the Permian Basin.
It feels like weve entered a good window where OPEC is now being cooperative, the regulatory talk feels positive and the financing markets feel open, Holt said. You could see a lot of capital raising in that window.
By Charles Kennedy of Oilprice.com
As we close out 2020, we wanted to share some of our favorite stories from the last decade. We hope you enjoy reading these stories as much as we enjoyed telling them. Click here to see the rest of our picks of must-reads and happy new year, Milwaukee!
Have you wondered, while driving on Prospect Avenue, about that dapper man immortalized in bronze, gazing toward Downtown from his perch above the foot of Knapp Street?
Of course, he's legendary Scots poet Robert Burns and, as far as we can tell, he never visited Milwaukee (which didn't exist in his lifetime).
So why on Earth is there a statue of the man who wrote "Auld Lang Syne" on Milwaukee's East Side?
The Burns statue was donated to the city in 1909 by James Anderson Bryden, a Milwaukeean of Scottish descent.
Bryden was a prosperous grain merchant who was involved in many civic organizations in Milwaukee, including The Old Settlers' Club, the St. Andrews Society and the Chamber of Commerce.
When Bryden heard that Chicago had a casting of a Burns monument in Kilmarnock, Scotland, sculpted by Edinburgh artist William Grant Stevenson, in its Garfield Park, he wanted Milwaukee to have one, too.
Legend has it that Bryden initially planned to bequeath the money to have the statue erected, but changed his mind, deciding he'd prefer to see it the monument rise in his lifetime.
A copy of the 12-foot statue of Burns clutching a notebook was made in Scotland and sent to Milwaukee, where it was placed atop an 11-foot pedestal. On the base are bas-reliefs designed by Milwaukee's Julius E. Heimerl and executed by Stevenson and quotes from Burns poems.
Burns' three-dimensional likeness was unveiled at a ceremony on June 26, 1909 at which it was officially accepted by then-mayor David Rose in front of a crowd of almost 2,000.
Gen. Arthur MacArthur father of Douglas gave an address, Milwaukee journalist and author John Goadby Gregory who was then editor in chief of the Evening Wiscosnin read his poem, "Robert Burns," and The Caledonian Pipe Band played, too.
The Burns statue is still a focal point for local poets and Scotsmen, who lay a wreath at its base each year to celebrate the birth of the great wordsmith, who entered this world on Jan. 25, 1759 (and left it July 21, 1796).
So that you're prepared on New Year's Eve, here are the lyrics to auld Rabbie Burns' holiday favorite:
Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
And auld lang syne!
CHORUS:
For auld lang syne, my dear,
For auld lang syne.
We'll tak a cup o' kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
And surely ye'll be your pint stowp!
And surely I'll be mine!
And we'll tak a cup o'kindness yet,
For auld lang syne.
(CHORUS)
We twa hae run about the braes,
And pou'd the gowans fine;
But we've wander'd mony a weary fit,
Sin' auld lang syne.
(CHORUS)
We twa hae paidl'd in the burn,
Frae morning sun till dine;
But seas between us braid hae roar'd
Sin' auld lang syne.
(CHORUS)
And there's a hand, my trusty fere !
And gie's a hand o' thine!
And we'll tak a right gude-willie waught,
For auld lang syne.
(CHORUS)
There are many non-chain coffee shops in Milwaukee, but until last month, not one that was located on the far south end of Bay View. Until recently that is, when Gwenn Barker and Juliet Popovic opened Sprocket Cafe, 3385 S. Kinnickinnic Ave.
The cafe is connected to Popovic's other business, Rusty Sprocket Antiques, a fun and well-stocked vintage thrift store.
"The antique shop opens at noon, at which time we open the door between the two businesses and customers can shop and sip if they want to," says Barker.
Sprocket works exclusively with Anodyne Coffee and features two different blends daily, including their signature house blend called Sprocket GSB thats a unique blend of Guatemalan, Sumatran and Brazilian beans.
"Its a great, strong workingmans coffee," says Barker.
They also serve a flavorful decaf called Fool's Gold Blend.
"Anodyne is awesome. They really worked with us hand and hand all the way through the process of opening the cafe," says Barker.
Anodyne employees came to Sprocket Cafe and provided multiple training sessions for all of Sprockets employees.
"We truly wanted to provide the best coffee money can buy as well as a friendly environment," says Barker. "We wanted to create a Cheers-type atmosphere, a Norm! ("Cheers" reference) environment."
And indeed, the cozy, creative, bike-themed space is extremely welcoming and "Cheers"-esque. But its also very "Central Perk"-ish from the sitcom "Friends." Sprocket Cafe is a modernized 90s cafe and the vintage, blue couch thats centralized in the space makes it even more of a place where the spirits of Phoebe, Ross, Rachel and Monica might visit.
The space was remodeled it was a yarn shop prior and the walls are adorned with vintage local business signs, antique game boards, local art (they are currently looking for more artists) and vintage coffee cans and grinders. There's also a lending library and board games.
During the wall painting process, the goal was to cover every inch with new paint. And every inch was covered, but the "ceiling heart" was not.
The women decided to open the cafe based on recommendations from the neighborhood.
"Some of the people living on the far south end of Bay View wanted an option other than Starbucks," says Barker. "Its changing, but in the past this was the forgotten side of Bay View."
Barker and Popovic credit a large portion of Sprockets early success to their employees, who are four men with beards, referred to by the owners as "the bearded barista brigade."
There is also a bicycle repair shop in the basement of the building which contributes to the bike theme of both the cafe and the antique shop.
"We get a lot of bike traffic," says Popovic. "Anyone can stop in if they need adjustments or a flat fixed or whatever they need."
Popovics fiancee, Andrew Ross, handles the bicycle mechanics.
"We specialize in vintage bike restoration and have many on display and for sale in both the cafe and antique shop," Popovic says.
For now, Sprocket Cafe is concentrating on coffee beans and coffee drinks, and will focus on food in the future. Currently, they serve local bakery items from East Side Ovens and Canfora Bakery, along with fresh fruit and cereal.
"Eventually we want to serve a one-pot meal everyday a chili or stew or stroganoff and simple sandwiches that are fresh and made with local ingredients," says Popovic.
The cafe also serves Angelos Gelato either by the dish or as a coffee dessert drink called the affogato which includes a couple small scoops of gelato currently either vanilla, chocolate or espresso drizzled with a shot of GSB.
Sprocket is also on Grub Hub and, through the service, provides cafe-to-car service.
They also hope to acquire a liquor license in the future.
"We are prepared for a Milwaukee coffee / Milwaukee whiskey blend down the road," says Barker.
Sprocket Cafe will have a grand opening in January. Stay tuned to OnMilwaukee for more about this event when it becomes available.
"Once the holidays are gone and its just cold out, people are ready to do something fun," says Barker.
Sprocket Cafes hours are Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sundays from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. The space is also very affordably available for rentals. Contact the cafe for more information.
Who has really abandoned America? Corporations and billionaires, that's who!
It is not uncommon for multibillion-dollar corporations to complain about high taxes, yet their effective tax rate typically falls somewhere from 0 to 15 percent--or sometimes even less than 0 percent, since many receive rebates through taxpayer subsidies and credits. The truth is that with their massive fortunes, billionaires have shamelessly and even arrogantly bought an entire political party and a good portion of the other one, urged on by the Citizens United Supreme Court decision. They have no loyalty to the country that made them so disgustingly rich, nor are they the least bit concerned about the middle class, the backbone of our economy, which also made them so rich.
As I relate in my book, America Abandoned, billionaires are prone to making bold, revolting statements and rude generalizations about the middle class. For example, Conrad Hilton, that wealthy hotelier, said on an airplane: "I will f**king own anyone on this flight" They are all f**king peasants" I will f**king bury you!"
For some time, Nick Hanauer, of TED Talks, has been trying to tell us that most billionaires see themselves as the only people who matter. This is why they act the way they do, and what they value most are power and control, which they believe they are entitled to, as a God-given right.
Ironic, isn't it. They consider themselves gods above the rest of us, placing themselves on pedestals they believe to be unsurpassable, yet they speak and act as if a wise higher being would grant them special favor and privilege, in spite of their brash pride and lack of humility and gratitude. The common good is irrelevant to them.
We cannot deny that everyone chosen by the President-Elect for his incoming cabinet falls into this category. The frightening thing is that these very people will be given the powerful responsibility to run this country. Altogether, this cast of 17 millionaires and billionaires are worth a whopping $9.5 billion--that's 9,500 million dollars, as much cumulative wealth as the 43 million least-wealthy Americans combined.
How can anyone, even those who voted for the incoming president, many of them middle class citizens themselves, think for even a nanosecond that these out-of-touch bazillionaires will make decisions that are in our best interests?
Folks, the keys to the kingdom have just been handed over to people who think it is their God-given right to possess power and bury us, the lowly peons who fall into a class far beneath their own, with far smaller bank accounts to boot.
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A year's end love-filled epiphany marking the 36th anniversary of John Lennon's death"
John Lennon (October 9, 1940 -- December 8, 1980)
(Image by Yahoo Images) Details DMCA
"There was love in him. He had love for everything. It was almost hurting him that he had so much love. He loved all the places that he went to. He would want to buy a house in every place that we'd been. He loved all the cities. He loved all the countries. He loved rooms. He loved clothes. People. Everything. He loved!" -- Yoko Ono Lennon
If there is one overriding theme that runs through the whole of John Lennon's career as a songwriter, it's love. As a member of the Beatles writing with Paul McCartney, and later as a solo artist, there's no question that throughout the entire body of Lennon's work the idea of love appears again and again as the prime mover of nearly every song.
But among all of these many beautiful love-driven songs there is one that stands out clearly from the rest, titled simply, "Love." In it Lennon speaks of love in an entirely new way that makes it a radical departure from all that came before and after. Unlike all the rest, in this love song it is love itself that is both lover and beloved, and here, marking the 36th anniversary of John Lennon's death, we dive deep into this profoundly moving and hauntingly beautiful song" a timeless, ageless song that is as fresh today as it was when it was written 46 years ago. Though written very early on in Lennon's solo career (1970), one might say that "Love" is Lennon's swan song... a most fitting tribute to the man, his life, and his work.
Love
Love is real... Real is love,
Love is feeling... Feeling love,
Love is wanting to be loved.
Love is touch... Touch is love,
Love is reaching... Reaching love,
Love is asking to be loved. Love is you... You and me,
Love is knowing we can be. Love is free... Free is love,
Love is living... Living love,
Love is needing to be loved.
The song opens with the words "Love is real... Real is love." To say that something is real is to say that it's genuine, that it's not contrived, that it's not a human construct or artifact, that it's not a derivative reality. Sure, even things that are obvious contrivances, constructions, and derivations of various kinds are in a certain sense real. Clouds are real. Trees are real. The chair you are sitting in is real. But not in the same sense that Lennon would have us understand love to be real. As Lennon's song would have it, love is inherently real, existing in and of itself in its own right.
Love is so many things in so many different contexts, and each of its many faces can be expressed in a myriad of ways. However, underlying this vast wealth of diversity is one singular reality out of which every expression of love emerges. It's love, pure and simple. Not love as "this" or love as "that," not love as it appears in the context of some particular time, place, and circumstance, but simply love as it is in and of itself. It is to this reality, to this common ground of love, that Lennon herein sings his praises.
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From Paul Craig Roberts Website
Obama has announced new sanctions on Russia based on unsubstantiated charges by the CIA that the Russian government influenced the outcome of the US presidential election with "malicious cyber-enabled activities."
The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has issued a report "related to the declaration of 35 Russian officials persona non grata for malicious cyber activity and harassment."
The report is a description of "tools and infrastructure used by Russian intelligence services to compromise and exploit networks and infrastructure associated with the recent U.S. election, as well as a range of U.S. government, political and private sector entities."
The report does not provide any evidence that the tools and infrastructure were used to influence the outcome of the US presidential election. The report is simply a description of what is said to be Russian capabilities.
Moreover, the report begins with this disclaimer: "DISCLAIMER: This report is provided 'as is' for informational purposes only. The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) does not provide any warranties of any kind regarding any information contained within."
In other words, the report not only provides no evidence of the use of the Russian tools and infrastructure in order to influence the US presidential election, the report will not even warrant the correctness of its description of Russian capabilities.
Thus the DHS report makes it completely clear that the Obama regime has no evidential basis for its allegations on the basis of which it has imposed more sanctions on Russia.
What is going on here?
First there is the question of the legality of the sanctions even if there were evidence. I am not certain, but I think that sanctions require the action of a body, such as the UN Security Council, and cannot legally be imposed unilaterally by one country. Additionally, it is unclear why Obama is calling the expulsion of Russian diplomats "sanctions." No other country has to do likewise. During the Cold War when diplomats were expelled for spying, it was not called "sanctions." Sanctions imply more than unilateral or bilateral expulsions of diplomats.
Second, it is clear that Obama, the CIA, and the New York Times are fully aware that the allegation is false. It is also clear that if the CIA actually believes the allegation, the intelligence agency is totally incompetent and cannot be believed on any subject.
Third, President Trump can rescind the sanctions in 21 days, a third reason that the sanctions are ridiculous.
So why are President Obama, the CIA, and the New York Times making charges that they know are false and for which they have not produced a shred of evidence?
One obvious answer is that the neoconized Obama regime is desperate to ruin US-Russian relations past the point that Trump can repair them. As the New York Times puts it, "Mr. Obama's actions clearly create a problem for Mr. Trump." The question the New York Times says, is whether Trump "stands with his democratic allies on Capitol Hill or his authoritarian friend in the Kremlin."
Can Trump's foreign policy be controlled by false allegations? According to the New York Times, Trump has relented and agreed to being briefed by the CIA about the Russian hacking now that Republicans such as Paul Ryan, John McCain, and Lindsey Graham have lined up with Obama and the CIA in accepting charges for which no evidence has been presented. However, a briefing without evidence would seem simply to further discredit the CIA in Trump's eyes.
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In Plain Sight: The Hidden Double Entendre of John Lennon's "Love" A year's end love-filled epiphany marking the 36th anniversary of John Lennon's death. Here we dive deep into Lennon's profoundly moving and hauntingly beautiful song "Love," which comes to us as a radical departure from every other love song Lennon ever wrote. Herein it is love itself that is both lover and beloved. Friday, December 30, 2016A year's end love-filled epiphany marking the 36th anniversary of John Lennon's death. Here we dive deep into Lennon's profoundly moving and hauntingly beautiful song "Love," which comes to us as a radical departure from every other love song Lennon ever wrote. Herein it is love itself that is both lover and beloved.
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Christian Christmas Warriors and the Trumped Up War on Christmas -- Part I There is no war on Christmas. It is those Christians standing in defense against this imaginary onslaught who, through fear, shame, guilt and economic coercion, are infringing on the rights of others to celebrate Christmas however it suits them. Friday, January 2, 2015There is no war on Christmas. It is those Christians standing in defense against this imaginary onslaught who, through fear, shame, guilt and economic coercion, are infringing on the rights of others to celebrate Christmas however it suits them.
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The Hidden Double Entendre of John Lennon's "Love" An examination of the dual meaning running through each verse of John Lennon's song "Love," changing quite dramatically the overall tenor of the entire song. Saturday, December 6, 2014An examination of the dual meaning running through each verse of John Lennon's song "Love," changing quite dramatically the overall tenor of the entire song.
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The Hypocritical Hallucinogenic Politics of Aggression The leadership of this country are making life and death decisions while tripped out on some strange new cognitive hallucinogen. Friday, March 7, 2014The leadership of this country are making life and death decisions while tripped out on some strange new cognitive hallucinogen.
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Oh, No! Christians Are Being Persecuted. Again! Christians are being persecuted and discriminated against because they are not permitted to legally discriminate against gays. Thursday, March 6, 2014Christians are being persecuted and discriminated against because they are not permitted to legally discriminate against gays.
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A Witch Made of Wood Weighing the Same As A Duck The hidden complications in deceptively simple mathematics Thursday, September 26, 2013The hidden complications in deceptively simple mathematics
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America's Nuclear Madness: Terrorism With A Vengeance (Part I) Why did the U.S. drop atomic bombs on two densely packed civilian population centers when the U.S. was well aware that the war in the Pacific had already been won? Sunday, August 11, 2013Why did the U.S. drop atomic bombs on two densely packed civilian population centers when the U.S. was well aware that the war in the Pacific had already been won?
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A Wider Circle of Compassion: The Newtown Massacre and Beyond Our prime directive and primary desire is always to move beyond existing boundaries. By our very nature we are in the business of expansion, and it is this ever-expanding sense of self that undergirds our growing capacity for empathy and compassion. Monday, December 24, 2012Our prime directive and primary desire is always to move beyond existing boundaries. By our very nature we are in the business of expansion, and it is this ever-expanding sense of self that undergirds our growing capacity for empathy and compassion.
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"Christian" Lies Regarding Prayer In the Military Millions upon millions of Christian Americans unwittingly and hypocritically offer their sympathetic support to the very conditions that are at the root of the suffering they pray to alleviate. Sunday, June 24, 2012Millions upon millions of Christian Americans unwittingly and hypocritically offer their sympathetic support to the very conditions that are at the root of the suffering they pray to alleviate.
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Mirror Mirror On the Wall, Who Are the Most Ruthless Terrorists of Them All? Most Americans have yet to even acknowledge the ruthless terror America unleashed on Iraq eight years ago. Yet this, too, is America. America at its worst. America taking what was very obviously a great evil and creating from it a far greater evil. Thursday, September 29, 2011Most Americans have yet to even acknowledge the ruthless terror America unleashed on Iraq eight years ago. Yet this, too, is America. America at its worst. America taking what was very obviously a great evil and creating from it a far greater evil.
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RICK PERRY: the MAN BEHIND the MASK The terrorist threat pales in significance in the face of the threat Rick Perry poses. Sunday, September 11, 2011The terrorist threat pales in significance in the face of the threat Rick Perry poses.
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Donald Trump for President: He Doesn't Miss A Thing How I came to love Donald Trump and everything conservative. Thursday, April 21, 2011How I came to love Donald Trump and everything conservative.
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BP Catastrophe As Metaphor: Those We Elect Don't Give a Crap About Our Interests The Gulf oil spill was no accident. It's the result of very deliberate decisions made by self-serving, covetous, cold-hearted, predatory, unrestrained, greedy corporate executives; groveling, impotent, bought-and-sold politicians; and servile, ass-kissing regulators. Saturday, July 3, 2010The Gulf oil spill was no accident. It's the result of very deliberate decisions made by self-serving, covetous, cold-hearted, predatory, unrestrained, greedy corporate executives; groveling, impotent, bought-and-sold politicians; and servile, ass-kissing regulators.
By Reagan Knopp
Hillary Borrud for The Oregonian:
In social media posts and statements, Republicans cast House Speaker Tina Koteks decision to eliminate the House Committee on Rural Communities, Land Use and Water next year a committee Kotek created in 2014 as evidence that urban lawmakers are ignoring rural areas of the state.
This is a fair critique by Republicans. The economy of rural Oregon barely recovered and did so much more slowly than Portland and its suburbs.
Kotek obviously created the Rural Communities committee as lip service to rural Oregon. Now she wont even give them that. Rural Oregonians and their representatives are right to feel ignored by Democrats in the Oregon Legislature.
Borrud continues:
Republicans also questioned Koteks motives in picking committee assignments for Rep. Knute Buehler, a moderate Republican from Bend often mentioned as a potential contender for governor in 2018.
Its categorically unfair of The Oregonian to mention Buehler as a possible gubernatorial candidate as a way of discrediting the legitimate question Republicans are asking. Koteks aspirations for higher office are well known. Kotek made this clear to Jonathan Miller at Roll Call earlier this year:
When asked about the talk that she might run for governor or Congress, Kotek is not all that coy. I just want to continue to do a good job as speaker. If that means other things she trails off.
The elimination of committees focused on rural issues isnt a good look for Kotek who will need votes from rural Oregon if she seeks higher office even if the other committees do address rural issues as her office claims they will.
Another useful tidbit about the committee assignments appeared in a piece by Taylor Anderson for The Bulletin:
Kotek spokeswoman Lindsey OBrien said Buehler was kept off the committee because he was appointed to the committee that handles the budget for human services agencies, which includes the Oregon Health Authority, which she said meets at the same time.
Its a bummer that there is a scheduling conflict. Wait I just remembered the Speakers office controls that portion of the committee process as well. Her office could have made the necessary changes if so inclined. They were not.
This isnt a partisan issue. In 2015, Senate Democrat leadership abused their committee powers as well. They removed Senator Betsy Johnson from her spot on a Ways & Means subcommittee so they could pass motor voter. Johnson is a Democrat.
Democrat leadership in Salem will continue to hold the power of committee appointments as leverage to keep Democrat members in line and to try to beat Republicans in the next election.
This arrangement does a disservice to the people of Oregon who deserve to have good policy come before politics as often as is humanly possible.
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CPEC to include three Sindh development projects 30 December, 2016
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Hand Wash and Toiletries in Pakistan And the Role of DUPAS in Reshaping the Industry
Woke Bingo Chinese authorities have in principle approved inclusion in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) of three development projects in Sindh including the Karachi Circular Railways, Keti Bandar and Special Economic Zones (SEZs), Sindh CM House said Thursday.
The decision was taken in the 6th Pakistan-China Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) meeting regarding CPEC held in Beijing.
In his opening remarks, Ahsan Iqbal highlighted the significance of development projects in Gwadar, making a case for the master city plan and related projects in the city which he said are likely to bring socio-economic stability to Gwadar, according to the CPEC website.
The minister stressed upon timely completion of the Gwader water supply project, hospital and technical institute projects in order to facilitate residents of the area, and appreciated Chinese commitment to supporting the mass transit railway project in the provincial headquarters.
He added that one industrial zone in each province has been identified and selected on the basis of its market attraction and principles of business.
After a presentation by Sindh Chief Minister Murad Shah, the JCC decided to include the projects and asked the Sindh government to present a feasibility report within next three months.
It was expected that the Chinese government would announce financing of $1 billion for the completion of the three projects under the CPEC. The amount was to be spent on the construction of three additional routes related to the western route of the CPEC, according to officials quoted by Dawn earlier.
The Pakistani delegation also included Minister for Railway Khawaja Saad Rafique, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Tariq Fatemi, Chairman of the Board of Investment Miftah Ismail, Khbyer Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Pervaiz Khattak, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan Chief Minister Sanaullah Zehri, Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Hafizur Rehman and Minister Industries Punjab Shiekh Allauddin. The Chinese
Sindh CM Murad Shah made a case for Karachi Circular Railways at the meeting, saying that the provincial capital is one of the most populated cities in the world, with an estimated population of around 25.1 million people in 2016 a number greater than Tokyo, Guangzhou, Seoul, Delhi, Mumbai, Mexico City, New York, Sao Paulo, Manila and Jakarta.
The population of the city will touch 34.3m by 2030, he said. "Therefore, there are ample returns on investment if made in the city."
He said the solution of the problem lies in an effective mass transit system which includes the revival of the KCR, the Bus Rapid Transit System, and the Light Rail Transit.
The KCR was first commissioned in 1964 and remained an effective transportation system until 1984, he said. Due to certain reasons such as increased running time and lack of investment reduced its operational efficiency, he added. As a result, ridership fell and finally caused its closure in 1999.
The KCR project has been approved by the Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (Ecnec), the Sindh CM said.
A feasibility study was carried out along with third-party validation of the study, he said. An Environmental Impact Assessment has also been conducted and a relocation of utility services is not required, he said.
K-Electric has assured uninterrupted power supply for the project, he assured investors, and federal and provincial taxes are exempt on the project.
Integration with BRTS lines has been made and the institutional framework in the shape of the Karachi Urban Transport Company (KUTC) is available, he said.
The Japanese have estimated the cost of the KCR at about $2.6bn and developed the investment structure as 85pc debt financing and 15pc equity financing by the provincial and federal governments, he said.
The Internal Rate of Return is estimated at 13.8pc, he said, and the economic benefits include reduced vehicle operation cost and travel time cost.
He invited investors to contribute in the equity of KCR along with federal government and Sindh government. He added that equity IRR compatible with infrastructure projects currently being developed in Pakistan would be offered to the investors.
Shah sought Chinese cooperation to include the project in the CPEC after Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif approved its inclusion in the initiative and provided a sovereign guarantee.
The JCC decided to include the project and asked the Sindh government to present its feasibility within the next three months, upon which Shah directed the Transport Minister Syed Nasir Shah to expedite work on the feasibility of the projects within the stipulated time.
Shah told the JCC meeting that the Keti Bandar project is ideally located to serve as a power park for the Thar coal project due to its proximity to the coal field as well as Karachi.
Disclosing his strategic plan, the chief minister told the meeting that with the construction of new jetty it would be possible to exploit the full potential of Thar's coal reserves, minimise cost of electricity production at Thar coal and enhance the country's competitiveness by providing affordable electricity.
Murad Shah claimed the power park would have 10,000 megawatt power production capacity and a transmission line would connect Keti Bandar to the Jamshoro and Matiari grids.
A 235-kilometer-long railway line from Islamkot to Keti Bandar would be laid to transport coal, he said, adding that a 190-km-long road would be constructed to connect Keti Bandar with Nooriabad.
Shah said a comprehensive bankable study of the coal reserves is being conducted and the master plan will cover all auxiliary infrastructure.
He requested the JCC to approve the project in principle as discussed in the Transport Infrastructure Joint Working Group in November 2016 and vowed to present a detailed bankable feasibility report in the next working group meeting.
The JCC included the Keti Bandar Power Park and sea port project in CPEC and decided to conduct a feasibility study.
Every province to get an SEZ
The Sindh CM said the Special Economic Zone Authority Sindh proposes the creation of Dhabeji and Keti Bandar SEZs in Thatta.
Dhabeji stretches over 1,000 acres and is located about 55km from Karachi at the eastern alignment of CPEC (N-5) or the M-9, Shah said, adding that it has commercial viability and development potential in the immediate term.
Keti Bandar's SEZ, he said, stretches over 3,000 acres and is 153km from Karachi. The industrial potential will be realised after construction of a port, he said, which he proposed should be part of the medium-term plan.
Murad told the JCC meeting that a soil investigation has been conducted on both proposed SEZs and a commercial feasibility and master plan will be compiled shortly. The JCC decided to give an SEZ to every province, including Sindh, which would have the Dhabeji SEZ.
A depiction of the double helical structure of DNA. Its four coding units (A, T, C, G) are color-coded in pink, orange, purple and yellow. Credit: NHGRI
You've likely heard about being in the right place at the wrong time, but what about having the right genes in the wrong environment? In other words, could a genetic mutation (or allele) that puts populations at risk for illnesses in one environmental setting manifest itself in positive ways in a different setting?
That's the question behind a recent paper published in The FASEB Journal by several researchers including lead author Ben Trumble, an assistant professor at Arizona State University's School of Human Evolution and Social Change and ASU's Center for Evolution and Medicine.
These researchers examined how the apolipoprotein E (ApoE) gene might function differently in an infectious environment than in the urban industrialized settings where ApoE has mostly been examined. All ApoE proteins help mediate cholesterol metabolism, and assist in the crucial activity of transporting fatty acids to the brain. But in industrialized societies, ApoE4 variant carriers also face up to a four-fold higher risk for Alzheimer's disease and other age-related cognitive declines, as well as a higher risk for cardiovascular disease.
The goal of this study, Trumble explains, was to reexamine the potentially detrimental effects of the globally-present ApoE4 allele in environmental conditions more typical of those experienced throughout our species' existencein this case, a community of Amazonian forager-horticulturalists called the Tsimane.
"For 99% of human evolution, we lived as hunter gatherers in small bands and the last 5,000-10,000 yearswith plant and animal domestication and sedentary urban industrial lifeis completely novel," Trumble says. "I can drive to a fast-food restaurant to 'hunt and gather' 20,000 calories in a few minutes or go to the hospital if I'm sick, but this was not the case throughout most of human evolution."
Due to the tropical environment and a lack of sanitation, running water, or electricity, remote populations like the Tsimane face high exposure to parasites and pathogens, which cause their own damage to cognitive abilities when untreated.
As a result, one might expect Tsimane ApoE4 carriers who also have a high parasite burden to experience faster and more severe mental decline in the presence of both these genetic and environmental risk factors.
But when the Tsimane Health and Life History Project tested these individuals using a seven-part cognitive assessment and a medical exam, they discovered the exact opposite.
In fact, Tsimane who both carried ApoE4 and had a high parasitic burden displayed steadier or even improved cognitive function in the assessment versus non-carriers with a similar level of parasitic exposure. The researchers controlled for other potential confounders like age and schooling, but the effect still remained strong. This indicated that the allele potentially played a role in maintaining cognitive function even when exposed to environmental-based health threats.
For Tsimane ApoE4 carriers without high parasite burdens, the rates of cognitive decline were more similar to those seen in industrialized societies, where ApoE4 reduces cognitive performance.
"It seems that some of the very genetic mutations that help us succeed in more hazardous time periods and environments may actually become mismatched in our relatively safe and sterile post-industrial lifestyles," Trumble explains.
Still, the ApoE4 variant appears to be much more than an evolutionary leftover gone bad, he adds. For example, several studies have shown potential benefits of ApoE4 in early childhood development, and ApoE4 has also been shown to eliminate some infections like giardia and hepatitis.
"Alleles with harmful effects may remain in a population if such harm occurs late in life, and more so if those same alleles have other positive effects," adds co-author Michael Gurven, professor of anthropology at University of California, Santa Barbara. "Exploring the effects of genes associated with chronic disease, such as ApoE4, in a broader range of environments under more infectious conditions is likely to provide much-needed insight into why such 'bad genes' persist."
The abstract and full research paper "Apolipoprotein E4 is associated with improved cognitive function in Amazonian forager-horticulturalists with a high parasite burden" can be viewed here in The FASEB Journal.
More information: Benjamin C. Trumble et al. Apolipoprotein E4 is associated with improved cognitive function in Amazonian forager-horticulturalists with a high parasite burden, The FASEB Journal (2016). DOI: 10.1096/fj.201601084R Journal information: FASEB Journal
Credit: CC0 Public Domain
The year 2017 isn't coming as soon as you think. In fact, it will be exactly one second late.
On Dec. 31, 2016, the international time keeping community will tack an additional second, known as a leap second, on to the last minute of the year.
As midnight approaches, the official atomic clocks that keep Universal Coordinated Time will mark the time as 23h 59m 59s, followed by the leap second 23h 59m 60s. Jan 1 will continue as usual, beginning with 0h 0m 0s.
Unlike leap years, leap seconds are not a regular occurrence. Instead, they are decreed by the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service, or IERS, in Paris, which measures the Earth's rotation and compares it with the time kept by atomic clocks.
You may not realize it, but in our modern society we are governed by two types of time.
The first, known as astronomical time, is based on how long it takes Earth to make one complete spin on its axis. Through most of human history this type of time was measured by the rising and setting of the sun. Today, however, scientists keep track of it by aiming a network of radio telescopes at a distant quasar.
Atomic time, on the other hand, defines a second as exactly 9,192,631,770 oscillations of a cesium-133 atom. This is what determines the time that displays on a computer or cellphone.
But these two types of time do not always line up.
In part, that's because the Earth does not keep perfect time.
Duncan Agnew, a geophysicist at Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, explains that movements within the Earth's liquid core can cause the spin rate of our planet to speed up or slow down.
And the U.S. Naval Observatory reports that over the last 40 years the Earth has generally run slow compared with atomic time, at an average of 1.5 to 2 milliseconds per day.
To keep the two types of time from veering too far away from each other, the IERS calls for a leap second whenever it appears there will be more than a 0.9 second difference between astronomical time and atomic time.
Since 1972, there have been 26 leap seconds added in intervals varying between six months and seven years.
For the record, the IERS could also say that a second should be subtracted from atomic time, but so far that has never been necessary.
Although it's no big deal for most of us to adjust to an additional atomic second in our year, it is a much bigger pain for people who run computer networks. In the past, tech companies like Google, Reddit and LinkedIn have all run into problems because of the addition of a leap second.
Therefore, the future of the leap second is being hotly debated.
After all, even if the difference between astronomical time and atomic time grew by one second every year, in 100 years the gap would be only less than two minutes. In 1,000 years, it would be off only by less than 17 minutes.
But for now at least the leap second stands. And although the second before midnight Universal Coordinated Time technically corresponds to 3:59:59 p.m. Pacific Standard Time, you might still consider marking the occasion of the extra second on Dec. 31 by adding a zero to your traditional New Year's countdown like this:
"... three, two, one, zero." And then "Happy New Year!"
2016 Los Angeles Times
Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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This blog will focus on political images I have found all around the Internet, though I will intersperse some commentary and quotes that I find interesting.
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Continuing the countdown of the top 10 education stories of the year. Before we get to the No. 1 education story, lets review the nine so far:
No. 10: Trump elected president
Trump elected president No. 9: Parents sue South Glens Falls school district over sons suicide
Parents sue South Glens Falls school district over sons suicide No. 8: Task force exploring link between Lake George school projects, alumni illnesses
Task force exploring link between Lake George school projects, alumni illnesses No. 7: Schools test water sources for lead
Schools test water sources for lead No. 6: SUNY Adirondack breaks ground on major building projects
SUNY Adirondack breaks ground on major building projects No. 5: Common Core is no more
Common Core is no more No 4: Coaching controversy in Granville
Coaching controversy in Granville No. 3: Increased state aid helps school budgets
Increased state aid helps school budgets No. 2: Building boom at local schools
And now the number one education story for this year:
The year 2016 saw a number of changes in top administrators at school districts. At the end of the 2015-2016 school year, Fort Edward Superintendent of Schools Jeffery Ziegler retired after eight years of leading the district and Daniel Starr retired after a 10-year tenure at Corinth Central School.
Daniel Ward left his position as Fort Anns junior-senior high school principal to take over at Fort Edward and former Glens Falls High School Principal Mark Stratton took the reins at Corinth.
Patrick Dee left Lake George to become superintendent at Whitehall Central School. In August, Jan Jehring left her position at Argyle Central School to take the job of superintendent of Florida Union Free School District in Orange County, N.Y.
Lake George has hired Lynne Rutnik, director of special education for the Niskayuna Central School District as its new superintendent. Former Galway Junior-Senior High School Principal Michael Healey is beginning work as Argyles new superintendent in January.
A Post-Star analysis earlier this year found that the average superintendent had been at his or her current post about 4 years. This is a little less than the state average 5.4 years, according to the New York State Council of School Superintendents most recent 2015 survey.
Of course, the changes in superintendents often create ripple effects, as other school administrators move into those jobs and those positions must be filled.
Just it seemed we were at full strength, Granville Central School District Mark Bessen announced his retirement effective at the end of January after leading the district for about seven years. Former Hudson Falls Superintendent Mark Doody, who has done fill-in principal stints at Whitehall and Glens Falls, was just named his interim replacement.
And thats my countdown of the top 10 education stories for the year. Now we turn the page to 2017.
Happy New Year!
This is the latest in a series of posts about the 1916 presidential election between Democratic incumbent Woodrow Wilson and Republican challenger Charles Evans Hughes, a Glens Falls native.
The mere mention of Charles Evans Hughes in opening remarks at the state Republican Convention in Saratoga Springs generated excitement among delegates, The Brockport Republican of Monroe County reported on Oct. 5, 1916.
A sharp patter of hand-clapping was instantly followed by three rousing cheers, the entire conference and all of the audience springing to its feet and waving hats, handkerchiefs and joining in a demonstration that lasted several minutes until stopped by the band.
The excitement spread throughout the city when Hughes arrived at Saratoga Springs that evening.
The Unconditional Republican Club, Capital City Club and the Young Mens Republican Club, all of Albany, were dispatched to greet him at the train.
In the evening when Governor Hughes special train rolled into the station, the town was ablaze to greet him, the Monroe County newspaper reported.
The full report can be read at The New York State Historic Newspapers web site, a project of public libraries.
Click here to read the most recent post in the series.
LAKE GEORGE Putting a boat in the water of Lake George through the state launch is not an easy proposition these days.
The main entrance to the parking lot is closed to keep snowmobiles out and the lot isnt being plowed, to protect the porous pavement.
Much of the parking lot is off limits, and most of the area that is open to boat trailers is coated with a thick layer of ice. No sand or salt is being applied to keep the materials out of the lake and allow a base of snow to build up for winter access to the ice, said state Department of Environmental Conservation spokesman David Winchell.
The launch is open for the hardcore fishermen and women who know this is a good time of year to hit the water despite the cold. But Winchell said those who use it should be careful because of the conditions.
The DEC set up a path through the parking lot to allow access to the launch and clarified its status after The Post-Star received inquiries from anglers in recent days about the gates to the parking lot and launch being locked. Among them was Lake George resident Joel Clark, who said the launch couldnt be accessed at all as of last week, with no warning to anglers.
The barriers on the west side of the lot are near the end of the Warren County Bikeway, the north end of which is used by snowmobilers in the winter. The DEC wants to keep snowmobiles off the porous pavement because of the damage machines can do to asphalt. (The parking lot was repaved with porous pavement last year to limit stormwater runoff.)
Winchell said there were reasons for the DEC not to clear snow.
We are not plowing that area because we want to allow the snow to build up to serve as a base for the access path, Winchell said. We arent spreading sand or salt because we dont want it to get into the lake.
The access path will be for ice fishermen, who will be required to park in the auxiliary parking lot across Beach Road from the boat launch lot once ice fishing season starts.
Despite the closure of one entrance and most of the parking lot, there are parking spots for 26 vehicles and boat trailers available, including handicapped spots, he added.
The eastern entrance to the boat launch is open and there are 23 parking sites for vehicles or vehicles and trailers, one ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) parking site for vehicle and trailer, and three ADA parking sites for just vehicles, Winchell said.
Anglers continue to fish the lakes open water well into winter, as landlocked Atlantic salmon and lake trout can be caught more easily now than in warmer months. And a resurgence of the lakes landlocked Atlantic salmon fishing over the past year or so has resulted in more interest from anglers.
While the launch isnt used nearly as frequently in December as it is during the warmer months, there is a die-hard group of anglers who fish open water as long as they can. Clark said he keeps in touch with 60 or so, and many reached out to the DEC about the launchs status in recent weeks.
A boat could be seen trolling along the east shore on Thursday morning, before snow moved in.
The fishing has been good and we want to keep our boats on the water until we get ice, Clark said.
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Asian Digest reports that the woman had gone shopping in the city market without her husband or any male relative, an act which is seen as a crime in that country.
According to the report, the village of Latti is under Taliban control and a provincial Governor in Afghanistan revealed that the people who murdered the woman were Taliban fighters.
Under the Taliban rules, women are not allowed to go alone to public places without any close male relative accompanying them.
Although the identity of the woman is yet to be revealed, officials say the reason why the victim went to the market alone was because her husband was away in Iran and they do not have any children.
Francis Xavier-Sosu, a human rights lawyer and counsel for Charles Antwi, who appealed to set aside the sentencing of Antwi, told 3news.com that his client would be released later today.
Charles Antwi was sentenced to 10-years imprisonment for illegally possessing an arm on his first appearance in court. The sentence was immediately pronounced after the suspect confessed to wanting to kill President Mahama so he could become president.
An Accra Human Rights court, however, quashed the earlier judgment of the Accra Circuit Court which sentenced Charles Antwi.
According to the judge, his ruling is based on the record of the Circuit Court presented to him which clearly shows the circuit court judge erred.
The judge further ordered the applicant to be released and sent to the Accra Psychiatric hospital.
Speaking during the swearing in ceremony in Accra on Friday, December 30, Mr Mahama asked the newly appointed Auditor General Daniel Domelovo to help ensure transparency and accountability in government.
The Audit Service exists to ensure good governance and, so, your responsibility, together with your team, is to deliver this to Ghanaians through the pursuit and application to the highest level of professionalism, accountability, probity and transparency in the public financial management system of Ghana.
We have been working on the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan, and the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan has three key principles: prevention, education, and prosecution, the president said.
He said Prevention and education are put first because we believe that the best practice is to prevent it from taking place, and, so, in discharging your job, your emphasis is not on sanctioning but creating the system that prevents misappropriation of public funds from taking place.
Of course when it has happened, it is important for us to sanction whoever had undertaken that and so I hope that you will work with government to ensure that we are able to bring probity and accountability into our public service especially, and ensure that we minimise the misuse of government funds and property, President Mahama added.
President Mahama has been involved in a series of controversial 'last minute' appointments in the twilight of his presidency.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has inaugurated the new headquarters of the Ghana Academy of Arts and sciences.
The Akhbar Al-Yaoum daily reported a sixth person had been called in for questioning.
The PJD, whose leader has been tasked with forming a new governing coalition after winning October parliamentary polls, has yet to comment on the arrests.
But the head of the party's lawyer association, Abdessamad al-Idrissi, said he would be defending those detained.
Under Moroccan law, the crime of justifying terrorist acts can be punished by up to six years in prison and more than $19,000 in fines.
On December 22, the justice and interior ministries said they were opening an investigation after a group of people "clearly celebrated on social media the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey".
In early December, Benkirane caused a diplomatic stir by criticising Russia's military intervention in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Rome was not built in a day, Nana Addo as an individual cant do for Ghana what Ghanaians expect. Its down to all of us in our own small ways to ensure that our project Ghana works.
READ ALSO:
Of course Nana and the campaign team made many promises to Ghanaians and we all know that these promises are such that you dont deliver them within 24hrs, theres no magic wand and I believe that those promises are promises that will, in the end, inure to the benefits of all Ghanaians.
It requires hard work and I ask for patience, tolerance, cooperation and unity on the part of all Ghanaians so that we can see these come to pass, Mr Afoko said on Accra-based 3FM.
The President-elect Nana Akufo-Addo in a recent address to the Muslim community in Ghana pledged to keep his electoral promises.
I want to assure you that we are going to do all the things that we" promised during the elections.
Free secondary school education, the revival of the NHIS, one district one factory, one village one dam, Zongo Development Fund, all of these are matters that we are going to address and do to promote the welfare and progress of the country", he said.
But Mr Afoko believes all those promises would not be realised if Ghanaians do not give the president-elect the needed support.
President Mahama can never lead Ghana again, I like him but the truth that God has revealed to me is that he cannot become the President of Ghana again. He is done with his job and God rejected him even before the 2016 elections, he said on Adom TVS Pampas Programme Thursday.
Incumbent President John Mahama conceded defeat to main rival Nana Akufo-Addo of the NPP in the evening of Friday, December 9. This was after Charlotte Osei, the EC Chairperson announced Nana Addo as the winner.
She indicated that Nana Addo polled 5, 716,026 million votes representing 53.85 % to beat the incumbent president John Dramani Mahama who had 4, 713,277 million votes representing 44.40 %.
The National Democratic Congress has subsequently unveiled a 13-member committee to investigate the partys defeat to the New Patriotic Party in the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections.
The committee will be chaired by former finance minister Professor Kwesi Botchwey.
READ ALSO: Members of the NDC committee to probe defeat unveiled
The committee has also been charged to recommend the way forward for the party.
The party's General Secretary, Johnson Asiedu Nketia said the committee is expected to "review and validate the results of the 2016 presidential and parliamentary elections and find out the causes of the poor performance of the NDC in both the presidential and the parliamentary election, as well as to deal with other matter reasonably related to the above objectives and to make recommendations to the National Executive Committee about the way forward."
However, the controversial man of God who predicted victory for the NPP has called on the NDC to dismiss their efforts and bring in another candidate to lead the party.
I will urge the NDC to stop considering the President for 2020 because he wont win and can never win an election again. Those campaigning for him to be brought back should stop because if they succeed in getting him lead the NDC in 2020, NDC will lose again and they will be in opposition for a long time, he advised.
The "Insecure" actress flew to Nigeria for a wedding and has since been keeping fans updated on what she's up to.
From shots of her African outfit to family pictures and the famous Nigerian Jollof.
"Wear my heart on my sleeve," she captioned one photo, donning a blouse with a massive sleeve.
On another picture she wrote, "Anything made in this pot, out in the open air, by a woman who's birth at least 8 children, is bound to be straight FIYAH!".
Yvonne also shared photos of her gorgeous family and the wedding festivities.
Yvonne Orji moved to New York in 2009 to pursue comedy. A decision her Nigerian parents were not happy about. Im Nigerian. We do engineering. We do medicine, she revealed.
Balogun, a resident of Dopemu, Agege, Lagos, allegedly committed the offence on Oct. 20 at Oniwaya Street, Agege, Lagos.
The prosecutor, Insp. George Nwosu, told the court that the accused stole a motorcycle valued at N160,000, property of one Mr Dady Hammed.
The complainant woke up and discovered that his motorcycle was missing from where he parked it.
He raised an alarm and when neighbours came out, they suspected Balogun because he had been caught severally for stealing cars and motorcycles in the area.
The complainant and his neighbours went in search of the accused; fortunately, they saw him and threatened to hand him over to the police if he refused to return the motorcycle.
For fear of the unknown, the accused took them to where he kept the motorcycle and handed it over to the complainant, he said.
The offence, Nwosu said, contravenes Section 285 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2011.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the section 285 prescribes three years jail term for offenders.
The accused, however, pleaded not guilty and was granted bail in the sum of N80,000 with one surety in like sum.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Mr Abubakar Sadiq-Bello, made the disclosure on Friday in Lafia while addressing newsmen on the development.
He said that the suspects were arrested following security intelligence sharing and collaboration with other agencies since the killing on Nov. 28.
The commissioner said that investigations revealed that one Yahuza Yahaya was the leader of the criminal gang responsible for the ambush and killing of the three miners and their police escort.
He disclosed that one AK-47 riffle, military uniform and two photographs of the gang leader were recovered from the suspects.
In one of photographs, the gang leader was dressed in military uniform and brandishing an AK-47 riffle.
Investigation is still on to apprehend other accomplices in the case and all the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, Sadiq-Bello said.
On Nov. 28, gunmen ambushed and killed the mine workers, including a Chinese at Wugibi Hills at Alongani Village in the Nasarawa-Eggon Local Government Area of the state.
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This is contained in a statement issued by Mr Tony Opuiyo of the DSS on Friday in Abuja.
The Service said that as part of its ongoing tactical operations to degrade the capabilities of criminals, an offensive was launched against kidnappers, terrorists and other criminal elements.
It said that the offensive had led to the arrest of the trio of one Abubakar Musa, Ismail Musa and Suleiman Mainasara on Nov. 29 at Aduwawa in Benin city, Edo.
The statement said that prior to their arrest, they were members of a kidnap gang that terrorised commuters and residents of communities along the major highways between Edo and Kogi.
It said that on Nov. 30, one Ibrahim Adamu and three of his associates namely; Umar Abubakar, Ibrahim Salisu and Abdullahi Abubakar that specialised in the kidnap of people along the Edo-kogi corridor were also arrested at Ibilio village in Edo.
It further said that on Dec. 20 at Katsina-Ala town in Benue , another gang of suspected kidnappers comprising one Ernest Benze, Terkura Tyokishir alias Mpoto, and Anun Aondona identified as members of the Terwase Akwaza kidnap syndicate, were arrested for their complicity in kidnap incidents in the State.
It would be recalled that the Terwase gang is known for its notoriety and credited with various dastardly and violent acts in the state, it said.
The statement further revealed that one Usman Musa aka Keke, a notorious kidnap kingpin was intercepted by the Service on Dec. 15 at Sabuwar-Kaura village in Doguwa Local Government Area, Kano State.
Musa is a high-profile criminal who, in conjunction with other criminal associates of his gang, has been terrorising residents and communities in Bauchi, Kaduna, Kano and Plateau States, it said.
It said that in continuation of its fight against terrorism, on Nov. 30, three suspected Boko Haram fighters namely Samaila Muhammad, Sanusi Musa and Hudu Muhammad were arrested at Durbunde village of Takai Local Government Area of Kano State.
The trio had perfected plans to carry out series of coordinated attacks with Improvised Explosive Devices (IEDs) in selected states of the North-West zone in the month of November, 2016 to disrupt festive activities during the end of year and the New Year of 2017, it said.
It said that the operatives of this Service also arrested one Sani Digaru along with one Mohammed Ali, on Dec. 25 along Gombe-Dukku road, Gombe.
Digaru was fatally shot when he attempted to escape from arrest. The arrest was sequel to earlier intelligence that he was in possession of cash worth two million Naira (N2m) meant for the coordination of a terrorist operation in Yobe and Bauchi States, he said.
It noted that in the past few weeks, a new criminal gang which specialises in robbing visiting foreign residents/customers of luxury hotels had been uncovered in Abuja.
For instance, on Dec. 5, the gang robbed an expatriate in a high brow hotel in Abuja and carted away his money and other valuables.
However, acting on actionable intelligence and with the support and cooperation of sister agencies and the hotel management, the Service arrested one Ikechukwu Obadlegwu and Ikechukwu Eke, it said.
It said that at Gwaron Dutse, Kano Municipal, Kano State, one Auwalu Yakasai, a notorious fraudster was apprehended for allegedly defrauding Jaiz and Unity Banks of N100 million and N50 million, respectively.
The Service hereby reassures residents and indeed all Nigerians of a more peaceful new year as it (the Service) will leave no stone unturned in making sure that the year will be typified by stability which will, no doubt, define the countrys national security outlook in the coming year, it said.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that the 2017 Appropriation bill, tagged Budget of Self-Reliance, is 19 per cent higher than the 2016 budget, which was N173.43 billion.
Ajimobi, while presenting the appropriation bill, said that its structure reflected the priority government accorded the various sectors in terms of their anticipated developmental effects.
Government will raise N59 billion (28.41 per cent) from Federation Account and N7.49 billion(3.60 per cent) from Transfers from Local Government JAAC, among others."
He said that the 2017 appropriation bill had a capital expenditure of N80.80billion and a recurrent expenditure of N126.87 billion.
Ajimobi said that the top priority of the state government would be on infrastructure, agriculture and its value-chain framework, education and health, while others would be given attention.
In the 2017 appropriation bill, a total of N46.618 billion(57.7 per cent) was allocated to Economic Sector, N25.646 billion (31.74 percent) to Social Services Sector.
A sum of N880 million (1.09 percent) was allocated to Law and Justice Sector, while N7.654 billion (9.47 per cent) was allocated to General Administration Sector, he said.
The governor said that the aggregate percentage of 89.44 per cent of the appropriation, which was allocated to the economic and social sub-sector, underscored the governments commitment to people-centered and empowerment-focused agenda.
Ajimobi said that the appropriation would be driven by IGR, which was expected to raise the highest receipts for budget implementation.
In the cautious optimism of the state government, we are hopeful that the signals on ground are pointers to economic recovery in the 2017 fiscal year. At the national level, the oil price is appreciating globally.
We have also embarked on the reorientation and refocusing the citizenry towards increased participation in agricultural activities and also initiated various programmes to ensure economic inclusiveness, he said.
The governor said that government had strived to enhance the revenue base of the state by expanding the tax net, blocking all financial loopholes, redirecting and refocusing governance within the government ministries and agencies .
The Speaker, Mr Michael Adeyemo, said that the proposal could aptly be termed a budget of hope.
He said that the increment in the 2017 bill from that of 2016 signified that year 2017 would be a promising and fulfilling one for the state.
Adeyemo said it also showed the genuine commitment of the present administration to the development of the socio-economic life of its citizenry.
The house will intensify efforts for effective service delivery in 2017. We implore the executive arm to give deserved considerations to our resolutions and such will enhance legislative-executive relationship, he said.
Sen. Ita Enang, the Senior Special Assistant to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), made this known while briefing State House correspondents on Friday in Abuja.
He said that the Act was one of the 10 bills forwarded by the National Assembly to the President, adding that with the approval, the President had completed work on all the bills sent to him for his consent.
The President has assented to the bill sent by the National Assembly, The Endangered Species (Control of International Trade and Traffic) Amendment Act 2016.
This is one of the 10 Bills that were forwarded by the National Assembly to Mr President and he has just assented to this, almost completing every action on all the Bills that were forwarded to him by the National Assembly.
The intent of this amendment is to bring the penalty provisions in line with economic realities and to act as a deterrent or deter people from trafficking and trading in endangered species because endangered are preserved of the country," he added.
The Presidential aide said the intent of the amendment was to bring the penalty provisions in line with economic realities and to serve as a deterrent to people trafficking in endangered species because endangered species are the preserves of the country.
According to him, the Act is to discourage trafficking in endangered species and will encourage the culture of the preservation of endangered species.
He added that with the assent, the President had increased the penalties for violations of the provisions in line with todays realities.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that with the signing of the Act, President Buhari had so far signed 17 bills into law in 2016.
NAN recalls that the President in November signed eight bills into law which included the Prevention of Crime Amendment Act 2016, the National Crop Varieties and Livestock Breeds (Registration) Amendment Act 2016, Telecommunications and Postal Offences Amendment Act 2016, the National Agricultural Land Development Authority Amendment Act 2016.
Others are the Produce Enforcement of Export Standards Amendment Act 2016, the Agricultural and Rural Management Training Institute Amendment Act 2016, Bee Import Control and Management Amendment Act 2016, and Water Resources Amendment Act 2016.The President also signed another eight bills into law, on Dec. 20. The affected bills included National Judicial Institute Amendment Act, 2016 and Advertising Practitioners Registration Amendment Act, 2016.
Others are Utilities Charges Commission Amendment Act, 2016, Quality Surveyors Registration Amendment Act, 2016 and Small and Medium Scale Industries Development Agency Amendment Act, 2016.
Others are Treaty to Establish African Economic Community Relating to Pan African Parliament (Accession and Jurisdiction) Amendment Act, 2016, University of Abuja Amendment Act, 2016 and Chartered Institute of Stock Brokers Amendment Act, 2016.
Commenting on the signed bills, the Senate President, Sen. Bukola Saraki, who had earlier met with the President behind closed door, assured that more progressive bills would be passed by the National Assembly in the coming years.
He said It shows in part, what we have been able to do in the National Assembly and there are many more bills to come and the President is also responding to it.
You are going to see more of that in 2017, there are a lot of bills lined up.
For us in the Senate for example, in the last session just this last three months we did much more than what we did in the entire year.
The National Assembly is settling down and as such you will see much more bill passed for the President to sign.
Saraki, who joined President Buhari to perform the weekly 2-Rakaat Jumaat prayer at the Villa Mosque, described the fall of Sambisa forest as a great feat.
This is a great progress from where we are before. If you look at where we were a year and half ago, the challenges we had in that area for us to recapture the place, I think is a great feat.
It shows what we can do as a country when we have the commitment, purpose and the leadership required to do that.
SERAP asked Agnes Callamard, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions to prevail on the Nigerian govt. to stop the killings in the area.
The group also called on Callamard to ask the Federal Government to provide adequate security for those in the area.
According to reports, over 800 people have lost their lives, and properties worth millions of Naira destroyed.
Some groups and notable Nigerians have also called on President Buhari to do something about the alleged massacre by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
According to Vanguard, the Executive Secretary of SERAP, Adetokunbo Mumuni, in a petition dated Friday, December 30, 2016, said SERAP contends that Nigerian authorities have failed and/or neglected to respect these human rights and to exercise due diligence to ensure that these rights are not violated by private individuals such as herdsmen and other unknown perpetrators. Nigerian government should therefore be held to account for failing or neglecting to guarantee and protect the rights of the people in Southern Kaduna, regardless of whether such violations are directly or indirectly attributable to the state or its officials.
SERAP is concerned that the Nigerian government has failed and/or neglected to create an environment in Southern Kaduna to end the unlawful killings by failing to move their legal and institutional machinery towards the actual realisation of these rights. It is in fact the failure by the government to take adequate measures to prevent the violence which has contributed to the increasing number of victims.
SERAP believes that the killings would not have taken place if the Nigerian authorities have taken measures to prevent their happening and to address persistent impunity of those responsible for the violations and abuses. The lack of accountability for the attacks by herdsmen and other unknown perpetrators across the country has continued to create a culture of impunity which clearly is not compatible with the rule of law in a democratic society.
According to the leadership of the Catholic Diocese of Kafanchan in Kaduna State, a total of 808 people were killed in 53 villages across the four local governments areas in the state ridden by crisis. The church leaders also said that 57 people were injured; farm produce estimated at N5.5 billion were also destroyed, and a total of 1,422 houses and 16 churches were burnt during the attacks. The affected communities are spread across Kaura, Sanga, Jamaa and Kauru Local Government Areas where there had been persistent attacks on communities by gunmen believed to be Fulani herdsmen.
Wike made the allegation on Thursday, December 29, during the Peoples Democratic Partys (PDP) end of year party in Port Harcourt, the state capital.
They said they would blow up the plane that I would board. You, who are plotting, do you know whether God will blow your own plane before that time? What is this thing about Rivers State? Why should a man spill blood if he is so loved? he said.
If a man is loved and popular, let him present himself. They should allow peace to reign. It is like some people want trouble so that they will make blood money. You say, let us not embarrass a man who is not popular. What about the innocent lives lost? All those who do not sleep and plan evil against Rivers, will never know peace, he added.
In response however, the Presidency said that President Muhammadu Buhari cannot descend to Wikes level because he is the president.
The President will not descend to Wikes level. He is the President of Nigeria, presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu said.
This is coming after the Vicar-General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Ibrahim Yakubu said over 800 lives have been lost.
Speaking about Yakubus claim, the Kaduna state police commissioner, Agyole Abeh said Everybody has the freedom to say what he wants to say, but as far as I am concerned, I have never heard of such figures they are calling. It is not true and not close to what the cleric is saying.
According to Premium Times, the state police boss, said I am calling on the people to please disregard such rumours and also be mindful of what they read and share on social media.
The Nigerian police have a robust police team sent to the region and are working to make sure that nothing of this nature happens as speculated.
The state fire service Director, Paul Aboi, made this known in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Kaduna on Friday.
Aboi attributed the fire outbreaks to electrical faults, adding that 19 shops were affected while 20 others were residential houses.
In all these incidents, no lives were lost and Police Fire and Rescue Brigade was able to extinguish the fire before they spread to other areas, he said.
He said most of the fire incidents occurred between 12 midnight and 7 a.m.
Aboi stressed the need to use qualified electricians to install electrical appliances during building construction.
Most faults are from the people. They should stop patronising road side electricians to handle electrical installations, he said.
He said the Service had put in place stringent measures to react to fire outbreaks, and called on residents to act responsibly because most fire were avoidable.
Most fire outbreaks are caused by carelessness, people are reminded to avoid overloading electric appliances, using candles and leave them unattended.
Avoid fixing electrical faults personally when you do not have the skill. Violating the basic rule of electric wiring can lead to a spark which may result in fire.
We have the ability, the equipment and the skills to react to fire outbreaks in a timely manner.
Therefore, citizens are advised to provide information immediately there is threat of fire so that our firefighters can be deployed in time.
This is contained in a statement signed by its Director of Information, Rear Adm. Christian Ezekobe, and made available to newsmen in Abuja on Thursday.
According to Ezekobe, between Dec. 19 and Dec. 24, the NN recorded an impressive result in this regard.
This is even as the vigilance of the service personnel helped to avert the departure of more than 47 stowaways who attempted to leave the country illegally on board some merchant vessels.
From the foregoing, the patrol team deployed by NNS DELTA arrested the Captain of a merchant Vessel, one Mr , for his alleged involvement in pipeline vandalism.
Under this period, 23 illegal refinery sites were raided by the Bases patrol teams mainly in Obodo, Ajosolo, Isaba and Olakpashe creeks in Warri South West Local Government Area of Delta, he said.
Ezekobe said that during the raid, about 396 metric tons (MT) of suspected illegally refined AGO and about 1, 060 MT of suspected stolen crude oil were destroyed, 3 suspects linked to the sites were also apprehended.
He also disclosed that the patrol team deployed by NNS JUBILEE had raided an illegal refinery site at Ibeno community in Ibeno Local Government Area of Akwa Ibom.
He said the raid which was conducted in conjunction with security partners resulted to the destruction of 2 Cotonou boats and 6 drums containing suspected illegally refined AGO.
The Navy spokesman said operatives of NNS PATHFINDER had intercepted a wooden barge conveying about 110 metric tons of suspected illegally refined AGO around the Federal Ocean Terminal/Federal Lighter Terminal (FOT/FLT) anchorage in Onne, Rivers.
This feat is sequel to the interception of another barge laden with about 50MT of suspected illegally refined AGO around Ikpokiri in Onne Rivers, he said.
Ezokobe also said that the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Adm. Ibok-Ete Ibas, had commended the efforts of the personnel in driving the process of clearing illegal refinery sites and other security threats in the maritime areas.
He said Ibas also noted the increasing attempts by some desperate persons to board merchant vessels illegally as stowaways.
In a statement issued by the Force Spokesman, Deputy Commissioner of Police, DCP Don Awunah, said that the report was mischievous.
The report was in its entirety false, mischievous and capable of misleading the members of the public.
However, it is imperative to set the record straight and disabuse the minds of Police personnel and other members of the public, he said.
Awunah added that officers and men of the Force were rotated to maximize their efficiency and effective service delivery for the force.
He said that the Inspector-General of Police was empowered by the relevant provisions in the Force Orders and Force Administrative Instructions to effect transfers, postings and redeployments of the personnel.
Awunah said that the signal quoted in the report was not consistent with the practices and tradition of the service.
ALSO READ: 1,260 policemen protest transfer to North East region
To this extent the publication with all the allegations contained, is completely untrue and a futile distraction
Refusal to proceed on postings and protest in this regard is serious misconduct not only in the Nigeria Police Force but in every Government/Public agency.
Consequently, the Nigeria Police Force wishes to assure the media of its support as partner in ensuring a crime free society, he said.
The development which obstructed traffic along the Jimeta-Yola Road for more than an hour, caught the attention of a team of policemen and soldiers.
The policemen from the Adamawa Anti-bomb Squad, who went into action immediately, however, discovered that the bag did not contain any explosives.
Addressing newsmen on the development, the Public Relations Officer of the Adamawa Police Command, SP Othman Abubakar, said that the bag contained waste materials.
Abubakar, however, commended members of the public for their vigilance and urged them to always alert the police whenever they sighted any suspicious object.
The Chief Security Officer of the college, Mr Salihu Muhammed,who reported the incident to the police, said that the suspicious bag was abandoned by unknown persons and that was why they immediately alerted the police.
The group said further that Trump must save all Biafrans from the Muhammadu Buhari administration.
Biafrans are being killed and detained without cause by the Nigerian government. Biafrans have become an endangered species in Nigeria, MASSOB Leader for Abia South Zone, Okporie Nkama said in Abia.
Now, you have been commissioned with a sacred assignment to ensure that the people are free from slavery, intimidation, mass killings and wicked policies against Biafrans by the Nigerian government.
You must rise to the occasion. Remember our non- violence strategy; we will certainly gain independence through nonviolence. Biafrans are encouraged by the support we are getting from the international community.
We urge United States President elect, Donald Trump, to come to the aid of Biafrans as soon as he is sworn in. Biafrans are at the risk of extermination under the hammer of the Nigerian government. It is an appeal to Trump and the international community not to leave us to die under Buhari, he added according to Vanguard.
The group also called on its members to be in court on the day of the trial, slated for January 10, 2017.
According to Punch, IPOBs Media and Publicity Secretary, Emma Powerful said All Indigenous People of Biafra family members are expected to be in Abuja on that day 10th of January 2017.
This is to let the world know how formidable and resolute we are towards ensuring that justice is done in the case of our leader and to remind the world that the restoration of our God-given nation called Biafra is irreversible and on course.
Therefore, we are expecting the entire members of the Indigenous People of Biafra and Biafrans that reside in Abuja and its environs to be in court on that fateful day in Abuja to witness the court proceedings of the case between our leader and Muhammadu Buhari.
The allegation was made by a group, the Legal Defence and Assistance Project (LEDAP).
First, I want to state that three of them Ogbomoro Omoregie, Apostle Igene and Mark Omosowhata, their death warrant was signed two months ago by the previous administration and not the administration of Obaseki, Solicitor General, Wole Iyamu said according to Vanguard.
And let me state clearly that there was no pending Appeal because the Supreme Court had ruled on the matter and after looking at how they butchered innocent people to death affirmed that they should be executed.
When the matter came to the then Governor Oshiomhole, among the three persons, two of them committed murder, the third committed armed robbery. In the cause of the robbery, he killed his victim. The governor then granted pardon to about five other persons who committed crime then because they did not kill anybody.
But these three people killed and after a panel looked at the entire situation, they were not granted pardon because they killed innocent people who also have families. He exercised his prerogative based on the fact that those people killed other people in the process of committing their act.
And let me also clarify that it is the prison that executes inmates not the governor. The governor only said he will not grant them pardon, those who did not kill were granted pardon.
That information was wrong it was very unfair to the Edo State government. Those people who were killed what will happen to their families? The Supreme Court of Nigeria ordered them to be killed and not Edo state government. And it is unfortunate people are criticizing, but about the family of those they killed, the pains they left those families with, who will those families cry to after their relations were killed by wicked murderers. he added.
He claimed that the move was to encourage education among his people.
I located the Eastern Palm University at Ogboko, and the Police College in the area, to encourage my people to be interested in education.
All these efforts are aimed at making education popular and attractive in the area as well as attracting Federal Government attention to the area.
He also stated that My administration has invested heavily in education and infrastructure because the two sectors are key to the development of any state or nation.
Governor Rochas Okorocha further advised youths who paid him a visit from his hometown to embrace education and shun crime and violence.
Youths should love one another and shun all forms of crime. What you need now is education and not money. Some of the youths in the area do not show interest in education, he said.
Mr Clement Oladele, the Sector Commander, Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC) in Ogun, confirmed the accident.
Oladele told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that the accident was caused by a truck driver, who drove against traffic, and collided with the Mazda Bus.
The accident involved seven persons, three males and four females in which two males and two females got injured, while two males and one female died.
The accident happened around 6.00 p.m and the rescue team got there around 6:25 p.m.
The Toyota truck with Registration Number BBC 266 XF, travelling against traffic collided with a Yellow Mazda Bus with Registration number AKD 899 XP.
The accident was also caused by route violation and speed violation.
The accident involved seven persons, three males and four females in which two males and two females got injured, while two males and one female died in the accident, he said.
What better way to ease off the stress of the week than watch a good movie.
With that in mind, check out our list of movies currently showing in cinemas across Lagos and Abuja.
1.
Starring: Eddie Redmayne, Ezra Miller, Colin Farrell
Synopsis: The adventures of writer Newt Scamander in New York's secret community of witches and wizards seventy years before Harry Potter reads his book in school.
Friday - Thursday: 11:00am
2.
Starring: Okey Uzoechi, Adeyemi Okanlawon, Keira Hewatch, Richard mofe Damijo, Ireto Doyle, Kehinde Bankiole, Enyinna Nwigwe.
Synopsis: Friendships are tested when a man is betrayed by his best friend, he finds himself entangled in not only a love triangle but a love jungle of sorts.
Friday - Thursday: 1:00PM
Starring: Ben Affleck, Anna Kendrick, J.K. Simmons
Synopsis: As a math savant uncooks the books for a new client, the Treasury Department closes in on his activities and the body count starts to rise.
Showing:
Fri-Thur: 9:00PM
Starring: Michael Fassbender, Marion Cotillard, Jeremy Irons
Synopsis: When Callum Lynch explores the memories of his ancestor Aguilar and gains the skills of a Master Assassin, he discovers he is a descendant of the secret Assassins society.
Showing:
Daily: 12:00 PM, 2:20 PM, 4:40 PM, 7:00 PM, 9:20 PM
(--VIP SHOWS--)
Sat - Thu: 8:20 PM, 10:25 PM
Daily: 12:20PM, 2:30PM, 4:40PM, 6:50PM, 9:00PM
Daily: 7:15PM, 9:20PM
Fri-Thur: 11:45am, 4:15pm, 5:10pm, 6:30pm, 8:45pm[2D]
Fri-Tues: 2:00pm[3D]
5.
Starring: Ramsey Nouah, Rita Dominic, Ibinabo Fiberesima, Chidi Mokeme, Memry Savanhu, Adonijah Owuruwa, Daniel K. Daniel, Nelly Ekwereogu
Synopsis: The story is told from two points of view: that of a young pregnant woman, and that of her husband, a soldier accused of being involved in the 1976 military coup and assassination of General Murtala Mohammed, the Head-of-State of Nigeria.
Friday -Thursday: 4:30pm, 8:40pm
Friday -Thursday: 4:55PM,7:10PM
Friday - Thursday: 2:10PM, 6:30PM
Starring: Ayo Makun, Funke Akindele, Eric Roberts
Synopsis: A Trip to Jamaica which bridges the gap between Nollywood, Gollywood, Hollywood and the Jamaican movie industry will be showcasing AY again as the no-holds- barred Akpos, alongside the award-winning Funke Akindele, who plays Bola in the high voltage potpourri of love, adventure, crime and lots of comedy.
Showing:
Friday - Thursday: 1:50pm
Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Chris Pratt, Michael Sheen
Synopsis: A spacecraft traveling to a distant colony planet and transporting thousands of people has a malfunction in its sleep chambers. As a result, two passengers are awakened 90 years early.
Showing:
Friday - Thursday: 12:50PM, 5:10PM
Fri, Sun, Mon, Wed & Thu: 8:20 PM
Daily: 10:50am, 3:15pm, 5:30pm, 7:45pm
Starring:Richard Mofe-Damijo, Sola Sobowale, Alibaba, Iretiola Doyle, Banky W, and Adesua Etom
Synopsis: Our love birds just want to tie the knot in peace, but will true love stand even the most chaotic of wedding celebrations?
Showing:
Daily: 11:00 AM, 1:10 PM, 3:20 PM, 5:30 PM, 7:40 PM, 9:50 PM
(--VIP SHOWS--)
Daily: 2:00 PM, 6:30 PM, 8:40 PM, 10:50 PM
Friday -Thursday: 1:00pm, 3:00pm, 4:00pm, 5:00pm, 6:00pm, 7:00pm, 8:00pm, 9:00pm
Friday -Thursday: 10:45AM, 7:00PM,9:25PM
Friday - Thursday: 1:10PM, 3:10PM, 5:10PM, 6:20PM, 7:10PM, 8:20PM. 9:10PM
9.
Starring: Anna Kendrick, Zooey Deschanel, Justin Timberlake
Synopsis: From the creators of Shrek comes the most smart, funny, irreverent animated comedy of the year, DreamWorks' Trolls. This holiday season, enter a colorful, wondrous world populated by hilariously unforgettable characters and discover the story of the overly optimistic Trolls.
Daily: 2:20PM, 4:30PM
Daily: 10:40am, 12:50PM
Daily: 10:00am, 11:10am, 1:00pm, 2:45pm
10.
Starring: ZACK ORJI, RMD and VICTOR OLAOTAN
Synopsis: The Three Wise Men is a Dramatic comedy that humorously presents the follies of three aged men. The comedy satirizes the actions and intents of three elderly men in their mid/late 60's who struggle to re-live their lost youth.
Friday -Thursday: 12:35PM
Friday -Thursday: 6:30PM, 8:30PM
Friday -Thursday: 1:25pm, 6:40pm
Daily: 4:20 PM
11.
Starring: Kate Beckinsale, Theo James, Lara Pulver
Synopsis: Vampire death dealer, Selene (Kate Beckinsale) fights to end the eternal war between the Lycan clan and the Vampire faction that betrayed her.
Daily: 11:00AM
Friday -Thursday: 3:25pm, 7:10pm
Daily: 1:20PM, 6:10PM, 8:00PM
12.
Starring: Felicity Jones, Mads Mikkelsen, Alan Tudyk
Synopsis: The Rebellion makes a risky move to steal the plans to the Death Star, setting up the epic saga to follow.
Fri, Sun, Mon, Wed & Thu: 11:30 AM, 2:15 PM, 10:50 PM
Sat: 11:30 AM, 2:15 PM, 11:05 PM
Tue: 11:30 AM, 2:15 PM
Daily:2:25PM, 8:50PM
Daily: 8:50PM
13.
Starring: Adeyemi Afolayan (Ade Love), Lere Paimo, Adebayo Salami (Oga Bello), Ishola Ogunsola (Isho Pepper), Ola Omonitan (Ajimajasan), Pa Eleyinmi, Charles Olumo (Agbako) Sunday Omobolanle (Pa Aluwe),
Synopsis: He meets and falls in love with a young lady under the most unusual of circumstances and his life although fraught with challenges sets a turn for positive change
Sat & Tue: 8:20 PM
Starring: Wale Ojo, Majid Michel, Adesua Etomi, Theresa Edem, Ime Bishop Umoh, Moses Armstrong and Ekere Ekanga.
Synopsis: Set in a fictitious village somewhere in Ibibio land in beautiful Akwa Ibom state, Ayamma is the story of Ihuoma, the poor but beautiful village maiden with the voice of an angel.
Daily: 12:00 PM, 9:40 PM
15.
Synopsis: When the culture of a kingdom dictates that in finding the most suitable man for the beautiful princess of the kingdom, the man must emerge champion of a collective, non-discriminatory wrestling contest. Kadara is a charming and swooning tale of rivalry between a handsome and endearing farmer and a brutish man of considerable wealth for the hand of the most beautiful princess in the entire Kingdom!
Daily: 6:20PM
Starring: Will Smith, Edward Norton, Kate Winslet
Synopsis: Retreating from life after a tragedy, a man questions the universe by writing to Love, Time and Death. Receiving unexpected answers, he begins to see how these things interlock and how even loss can reveal moments of meaning and beauty.
Friday: 3:05PM, 6:50PM, 9:10PM
Saturday -Monday: 3:05PM, 6:55PM, 9:10PM
Tuesday - Thursday: 3:05PM, 6:55PM
Friday -Thursday: 12:40PM, 2:40PM, 4:40PM, 6:40PM, 8:40PM
The Governor said this on Thursday in Ilorin during the submission of the report of Committee on Creation of LCDAs by its Chairman, Alhaji Kawu Baraje.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that Gov. Ahmed inaugurated the committee early last year, headed by Alhaji Kawu Baraje.
Ahmed said that revenue to be generated from the planned LCDAs revenue would fund their operations and contribute to the promotion of welfare and other socio economic benefits for the people at the grassroots.
He said that the proposed would not impose additional burden on an already challenged local government council system.
The governor recalled that a 13-member committee was set-up to review agitations for LCDAs in the state and determine their viability.
Our constitution of the committee during difficult economic times and the imminent general elections, raised questions about the timing and possible political undertones for the proposition, he said.
Ahmed said the establishment of the committee was informed by the desire of his administration to bring development to the grassroots in the state.
Earlier, Chairman of the Committee Alhaji Kawu Baraje, while submitting the committees report, said that it received memoranda from all the stakeholders in the 16 local government areas of the state in accordance with the terms of its reference.
In a three-page statement issued to newsmen in Umuahia on Wednesday, the group described the exercise as a charade and called for its cancelation.
The statement, which was signed by the groups Chairman and Publicity Secretary, Messrs Ebere Uzoukwa (Obingwa LG) and Ejiofor Okeudo (Bende), further called on the Abia State Independent Electoral Commission (ABSIEC) to order a fresh exercise in the state.
According to the statement, the purported local government chairmanship/councillorship elections by ABSIEC never took place.
ABSIEC only played a deceptive script as handed over to it against the opposition candidates and Abia electorate, it stated.
The candidates further alleged that the commission connived and conspired with Gov. Okezie Ikpeazu, the state government and leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) to return all PDP councillorship and chairmanship candidates with or without election.
They contended that on the day of the elections, the commission distributed a few ballot papers and fake result sheets, while original result sheets and electoral materials were handed over to PDP chieftains.
They said, the Dec. 21 charade could not be regarded or described as local government/councillorship elections in the state.
Therefore, our stand remains that ABSIEC is yet to conduct local government chairmanship / councillorship elections as proposed in the state, they stated.
They therefore called for the immediate resignation of the Chairman of the commission, retired Justice Igbozurike Akomas, for committing the worst electoral crime in the history of Abia.
The group also called on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission and other anti-graft agencies to investigate the governor and the commission over the huge fees collected from all the candidates in the elections.
They alleged that the commission also coerced them to obtain another tax clearance from the states Board of Internal Revenue, even after paying taxes in their respective areas
This is not only wicked but a fraudulent act unimaginably perpetrated by an electoral umpire fully funded with tax-payers money, the group stated.
In a recent report by SaharaReporters, constituents have complained bitterly about the decadence in the Senatorial district that comprises of Lokoja, Ijumu, Kaba/Bunu, Koto/Karfi, Mopa/Amuro, Yagba East and Yagba West local government areas.
The complaints of neglect was orchestrated by the realisation that Senator Melaye has no office in the entire Kogi West that comprises of seven different local governments.
In the words of one of the constituents, Kaba is the headquarters of Kogi West Senatorial District and there is nowhere here that you will find a Dino Melayes Kogi West senatorial office.
Meanwhile, Melaye gave his constituency office address as Iluafon Quarters, Aiyetoro-Gbede, Ijumu local government area, Kogi.
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Another constituent said: "Iluafon Quarters, inside this village? There is nothing like that. And Senator Dino Melaye doesnt have any office here. Even his family house that used to be in this village before his forefathers moved to Aiyetoro-Gbede has collapsed.
It was further reported that Melaye, who has etched himself as one of the most flamboyant and controversial Senator/politician, has neither implemented any worthy project nor move to better the lives of the constituents.
According to a constituent, schools are dilapidated, roads are bad and unmotorable while several villages in the seven local government areas that make up Kogi West Senatorial district are without electricity or healthy water.
"After six months in office, he told us he was coming to implement some projects especially in Kaba, the so-called senatorial headquarters. He even collected our names, that we will be the ones to supervise the projects. Sadly, we are yet to see him come for the projects.
"Look at the road from Ayede garage to Ole/Iluke, so horrible. Look at Kaba/Bunu where we have 39 villages, only four of these villages have electricity.
Even the fourth one, Iluke, is just worse than those without light. And this Bunu is an area Melaye used rigorously to campaign, promising to fix the electricity if elected. No good hospitals, dilapidated schools everywhere in his constituency, yet he goes about celebrating his new Ferrari and all."
The Ekiti APC was alleged to have said that Adeboye praised Governor Ayo Fayose because he had collected a bribe.
The party further blamed the media attacks on Fayose who it said wanted to turn Christians against it with the false claims.
Publicity Secretary of the Ekiti APC, Taiwo Olatunbosun made the comments via a statement.
The statement reads:
We want to make it plain with all sense of responsibility that APC is not the author of the two press statements as we have utmost respect for men in God, Pastor Enoch Adeboye in particular.
The two press statements bear the footprint of Fayose in his characteristic manner to push fictitious and damaging press releases in the media against individuals and institutions and ascribe them to his opponents to incur public opprobrium.
Nigerians should remember that this same Fayose criminally printed posters in Chief Afe Babalolas name in 2005 purporting that the innocent elder statesman wanted to contest election against him, hence the incessant criticisms of his government by the innocent Senior Advocate of Nigeria.
He did the same to Fayemis wife with a press statement that the innocent woman called Ekiti people ingrate and hungry people, the same way his media crooks cooked different anonymous groups in the name of APC and used their names to lie and abuse APC leaders in order to tear the party apart and in fact the same these crooks wrote on my behalf in the media that I accused Mrs Aisha Buhari of complicity in the Harliburton scandal and that I asked her to defend herself.
The lid of this media conspiracy has been blown open by their latest press release condemning Pastor Adeboye as a money monger. They posted the press release to media houses in the name of one Oluwole Ogunlola with the email address ekitinews2014@gmail.com, an email address that belongs to Ekiti State Government.
Besides, there is no member in the APC media team called Oluwole Ogunlola; in fact all APC press releases are signed by Taiwo Olatunbosun and sent to the media through his email address.
The last two press releases against Adeboye, which they alleged were written by the State Chairman of APC, Jide Awe; and Fayemis Senior Special Assistant on Research and Documentation, Hakeem Jamiu, were neither sent to the media through Olatunbosuns email and nor signed by him.
Their latest attempt to paint APC leaders, such as Awe and Fayemi, in bad light in the eyes of Pastor Adeboye, fell flat on their face when reputable media houses refused to use the story because it did not originate from Taiwo Olatunbosuns email address neither was the story signed by him as is the practice in APCs communications to media houses.
We agree that Fayose and his media aides are a perfect match in integrity deficiency, the experience of Ekiti people and indeed Nigerians in Fayose and his aides hands is a direct consequence of placing the serious business of running the administration of a state in the hands of irresponsible people.
We appreciate the Nigerian media for their display of professionalism and pursuit of truth as enshrined in the media code and practice by refusing to publish Fayoses malicious and dangerous press release capable of causing social discontent in the Nigerian society.
We believe that Pastor Adeboye worships and serves true God and it is on the strength of this that we invoke Psalm 52 on the writers on those press releases attributed to APC for devising mischief, doing evil, lying and working deceitfully against the righteous.
We believe that Pastor Adeboye has an anointed tongue and so we say that may the curses from Pastor Adeboyes mouth and wrath of the Great Lord he serves be upon the writers of those damaging press releases against him.
Its Chairman, Alhaji Hussaini Ibrahim, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Minna on Friday that the levy was imposed by the Vehicle Inspection Office in the state.
He said the state government should not compel its members to pay the N5,000 fee, adding that since 1976, no government had imposed such levy on its members.
They ask us to paint our taxis yellow, we complied. Now they are tasking us to pay for certificate of colour code to enable us operate as taxi drivers.
This does not make sense and it is not workable neither is it feasible anywhere, he said.
Ibrahim said the policy was the handiwork of consultants the state government contracted to help revamp the economy of the state.
Although the university has also decided not to hold classes during the hours of Catholic and Orthodox worship on Saturdays and Sundays, Milorad Dodic, president of the Bosnian Serb entity Republika Srpska condemned the move, saying "this is increasingly like an Islamic state".
Dodic said Sarajevo authorities had also banned alcohol on New Year's Eve.
The sale of alcohol is also prohibited by the internal regulations of two newly built shopping centres in the city owned by Gulf investors.
Three left-wing and liberal political parties including the Social Democratic Party (SDP) also denounced the move amid concerns over radicalisation among a minority of Bosnian Muslims.
The university however said the decision was taken with the aim of respecting "human rights and denominational freedoms".
"Russia's foreign ministry... has requested that the Russian president approve declaring as personae non gratae 31 employees of the US embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the US consulate in Saint Petersburg," Lavrov said in televised comments.
The ministry is also seeking to ban diplomats from using a holiday home located in western Moscow and a warehouse in the north of the city, Lavrov said, after President Barack Obama said the US would close two Russian compounds.
Lavrov said the two Russian country houses in New York and Maryland were used for children's holidays and ridiculed the notion they were "nests of spies."
The deal, which does not include designated "terrorists" like the Islamic State group, was announced hours earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition.
While the truce was standing in most parts of the country early Friday, some fighting broke out near a Christian town in central Hama province with Islamist factions attacking regime forces, according to a monitoring group.
"Fierce clashes took place between the two sides pushing regime forces to withdraw from a hill near Maharda," Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP.
"Small rebel groups and armed loyalists are seeking to destroy the truce because it puts an end to their presence," he said.
Elsewhere, the ceasefire was reported to be holding.
AFP correspondents in Damascus and Idlib said there had been no sound of shelling, airstrikes or clashes since midnight.
The agreement, hailed by Syria's government as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.
Putin said Damascus and the "main forces of the armed opposition" had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a "historic opportunity" to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people and forced millions from their homes.
Putin said he would also reduce Moscow's military contingent in Syria, which has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year.
The Kremlin strongman, however, said Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" in Syria and maintain its support for the regime.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere would be considered "terrorists".
Erdogan indicated Turkey would press on with its four-month incursion into Syria against Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militia.
Astana peace talks
Syria's army said the deal did not include IS and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fateh al-Sham Front.
That could cause complications in areas like Idlib in northwestern Syria, where Fateh al-Sham is allied with rebel groups that have signed onto the deal.
Syria's political opposition and rebels had confirmed their backing for the truce, saying it applied to all parts of the country.
"The agreement is for all of Syria and contains no exceptions or preconditions," said Osama Abou Zeid, a legal adviser to rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner.
The agreement comes after Turkey and Russia brokered a deal to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.
Moscow and Ankara are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start soon in Kazakhstan's capital Astana.
"Now we need to do everything for these agreements to come into force, for them to work, so that the negotiating teams that have been or are being formed promptly and as soon as possible arrive in Astana," Putin said.
UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would "pave the way for productive talks" in Kazakhstan, but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue early next year.
'Positive development'
Russia and Turkey have both said the peace talks they will supervise are meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them entirely.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that Russia, Turkey and Iran were arranging for the talks and pressing for other key international players to get involved.
Lavrov said Moscow would invite Egypt and try to attract other regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan.
jpegMpeg4-1280x720He added Moscow would seek to involve US President-elect Donald Trump's administration once he takes office in less than a month, but the process does not appear to involve outgoing President Barack Obama's administration.
The US State Department called the ceasefire deal a "positive development" and said it hoped it would lead to fresh negotiations on Syria's political future.
Abou Zeid confirmed the truce deal was intended to pave the way for new talks in Astana, with the High Negotiations Committee that has represented the opposition at previous negotiations expected to participate.
Turkey has long backed Syria's opposition, and its relations with Russia soured last year after Ankara shot down a Russian warplane.
Authorities arrested the five from the youth movement of Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane's Justice and Development Party (PJD), the source said, after the assassination of Andrei Karlov on December 19.
The Akhbar Al-Yaoum daily reported a sixth person had been called in for questioning.
The PJD, whose leader has been tasked with forming a new governing coalition after winning October parliamentary polls, has yet to comment on the arrests.
But the head of the party's lawyer association, Abdessamad al-Idrissi, said he would be defending those detained.
Under Moroccan law, the crime of justifying terrorist acts can be punished by up to six years in prison and more than $19,000 in fines.
On December 22, the justice and interior ministries said they were opening an investigation after a group of people "clearly celebrated on social media the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey".
In early December, Benkirane caused a diplomatic stir by criticising Russia's military intervention in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
Salutes all nonprofit organizations that help support, grow, anchor and promote the Muscatine area. Photo reprinted with permission of copyright holder Saturday January 7th | 7 PM Central Middle School Auditorium Admission: $10 Doors open at 6:30 PM Who will capture the crown? About the Miss Muscatine Scholarship Program: Founded in 1965 Mission: The mission of the Miss Muscatine Scholarship Program is to provide opportunities to further the education of Iowas young women and give back through community service. More Info: www.missmuscatine.com 23rd Annual Eagles & Ivories Ragtime Weekend Friday, January 27th, 2017 Saturday, January 28th, 2017 Sunday, January 29th, 2017 Info at: http://www. muscatineartscouncil.org/ Junior Achievement Bowl-A-Thon Saturday January 28th, 2017 Rose Bowl - Muscatine, Iowa 1:00pm - 4:00pm Trivia Night Benefiting Muskie Traveling Softball 12U & 14U Teams Join us for this fun, one-of-a-kind event that you wont want to miss! Saturday January 14th @ Fruitland Community Center Lanes will fill up fast, contact Katie at katie.langel@ja.org or 30-277-3919, or visit our website to register your team online now! www.jaheartland.org Doors open @ 5:30pm/Trivia starts @ 6pm. $80 per table up to 8 people Contact Mikelle @ 563-506-9068 TheThe Muscatine Journal history of supporting this community andyears, local non-profits. annually to a Quad-City Timeshas hasover beena a175-year leader and advocate for the community for 160 including a We richinvest history of number of localnonprofits. organizations. addition, employees also donate to numerous organizations aimedand at supporting the supporting We In invest moreour than $250,000 each yeartheir in a time number of Quad-City organizations our community wedonate proudlytheir serve, such Miss Muscatine Scholarship Pageant. employees time to as numerous organizations. Quad-City Times is proud to offer to charitable nonprofit organizations TheThe Muscatine Journal is proud to offer this this pagepage to charitable non-profit organizations 501(c)(3) for promoting events or services. 501(c)(3) for promoting events or services. ForFor moremore information on this page, contact Jaime at 563.262.0552 Jaime.Limoges@MuscatineJournal.com information on this page, contact Jennifer oratemail 563.383.2296 or email spotlight@qctimes.com
A North Liberty, Iowa, man, who already is facing charges of attempted murder and solicitation to commit murder in a Johnson County case, is facing new charges in what authorities say is a murder-for-hire scheme he concocted while in the Muscatine County Jail awaiting trial.
Justin Lee DeWitt, 36, was charged in June with four counts of attempted murder and four counts of solicitation to commit murder when he was accused of making a deal to kill four people with someone he thought was a hit man. The hit man was an undercover police officer, documents state.
According to Johnson County arrest affidavits filed by North Liberty Police Officer Rueben Ross, DeWitt met with an undercover police officer whom he believed to be a hit man at 7:20 p.m. June 27.
During that meeting, DeWitt gave the undercover agent $1,000 as a down payment to kill four people. The four people were an adult male, an adult female and two 4-year-old children. DeWitt signed a contract to pay the remainder of the money owed by July 15, according to the arrest affidavit.
DeWitt was arrested and was being held in the Muscatine County Jail on the charges.
Then on Dec. 17 and 19, while in the Muscatine County Jail awaiting trial, DeWitt met with an undercover state agent he thought was an associate of a hit man, according to criminal complaints filed by Jagat Sandhu, an agent with the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation.
During those meetings, DeWitt agreed to pay $25,000 to have three people killed. DeWitt agreed to give the undercover agent $500 as a down payment on the crimes. Those targeted included an adult male, an adult female and a state agent. All three were to be killed before they could testify against DeWitt in an upcoming trial.
On Dec. 20, DeWitt contacted an unwitting third party and asked a check be mailed to the undercover state agent, according to the criminal complaints.
When interviewed by police Dec. 27, DeWitt admitted to hiring a hit man to kill the three people to keep them from testifying against him, according to the criminal complaints.
The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation and the Iowa Division of Narcotics Enforcement conducted the investigation that led to the charges in Muscatine County.
Attempted murder is a Class B felony under Iowa law that carries a prison sentence of up to 25 years. Solicitation to commit murder is a Class C felony that carries a prison sentence of up to 10 years.
If he is found guilty of the charges, the judges in the cases could sentence DeWitt to serve consecutive sentences on each of the 11 charges, meaning he could be sentenced to up to 215 years in prison.
County officials said that inmate phone calls are recorded.
DeWitt made a first appearance Thursday in Muscatine County District Court on the Muscatine County charges. His bond has been set at $750,000.
Emma and Jackson topped the list of most-popular baby names in the Quad-Cities for 2016, chosen as No. 1 at Genesis BirthCenters in Davenport and Silvis, as well as at Trinity Moline, according to news releases from the hospitals.
At Trinity Bettendorf, the top names were Ava and Aiden.
At Genesis, 15 baby girls went home with the name Emma, which also was No. 18 nationally in 2016, according to babynames.com.
Nationally the No. 1 choice was Amelia. Twelve baby girls born at Genesis were named Amelia.
Amelia was not among the top names at Trinity.
Jackson was the No. 8 boy's name nationally, but was by far the most popular choice at Genesis. A total 23 boys birthed in Genesis BirthCenters were named Jackson, Jaxon or Jaxson.
Jackson also was first at Trinity Moline, but did not rank at Trinity Bettendorf.
A surprise among popular boys' names at Genesis in 2016 was Owen with 15 babies. Owen was No. 4 nationally, according to babynames.com.
Unusual names reported at Genesis were Zimyah Nishae (girl); Ya Zier (boy); Tymarjay (boy); Aboubacar (boy); Aboulhaleek (boy) and Dajerminiq (girl).
Unusual names reported by Trinity Moline were Winter, Blessing, MacArthur, Syncere, Brighton, Treasure, Goodness, Tempest, Serenity and Galena.
Olivia has become a traditional naming favorite at Genesis. In the past six years Olivia was No. 1 three times (2015, 2014, 2012) at Genesis and No. 2 in 2013 and again this year.
Evelyn is down the list nationally, but has been near the top on the Genesis list the past two years.
The influence of the World Champion Chicago Cubs was not notable, although there was one Wrigley (a girl) and one Rizzo (a boy) born at Genesis in 2016, according to Craig Cooper, senior communications specialist.
Wrigley Field is the home field of the Chicago Cubs and Anthony Rizzo is the popular first baseman of the Cubs.
Larry C. Henson, 67, former president of the failed Valley Bank, has consented to an "order of prohibition" from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp., barring him from further involvement in banking.
In a three-page order posted Friday on the FDIC website, Henson, of Bettendorf, admits no wrongdoing. Contacted by a reporter, he declined comment.
The order is the latest in a long list involving Henson and Valley Bank, formerly headquartered in Moline, that began in 2009. In that year, the FDIC issued its first "cease and desist order," citing the bank for "unsafe and unsound banking practices" and ordering it to make changes.
In addition to its offices in the Quad-Cities, Valley Bank had one-time locations in Des Moines, Sterling-Rock Falls, Florida and Arizona.
More "cease and desist" orders were issued in following years, and in early June 2013, Henson was forced out as the bank's president.
A year later, all remaining bank locations were closed by financial regulators as financially insolvent, and the FDIC arranged for Great Southern Bank to take over.
Although progress had been made after Henson's departure, remaining employees could not reverse the substantial losses already embedded in the bank's loan portfolio, regulators found.
In the aftermath, two former directors, including Henson's son, were fined. Four civil lawsuits claiming personal losses were filed, and the Inspector General's Office of the FDIC issued a report in August 2015 critical of the FDIC's own handling of the bank.
The report stated that because of Henson's unbridled authority and risky business decisions, he was a key reason the bank failed.
Henson held "dominance over all areas of the bank, especially the lending function (and) was the driving force behind the bank's problems," the report stated.
In the order posted Friday, the FDIC states that Henson is unfit to serve as a "director, officer (or) person participating in the conduct of the affairs" of an insured depository institution.
The order states the FDIC has reason to believe Henson engaged in unsafe or unsound banking practices. In addition, these practices caused financial loss to the bank, and they involved "personal dishonesty" or demonstrated "willful and/or continuing disregard for the safety or soundness of the banks."
Two civil lawsuits involving the bank remain.
Brian Tugana, a former Valley Bank shareholder from Clinton, is a plaintiff in one of those suits. He and Russell Weaver, formerly of Galesburg, now of Florida, filed against the FDIC, claiming it was negligent in overseeing the bank and Henson, a negligence that led to the institution's failure and their losses.
Tugana said he lost $5 million.
The FDIC has until the end of January to respond.
The other remaining lawsuit was filed by Florida investors who claim they lost $1.85 million in a fraudulent investment scheme. There have been no filings in that case since June.
MUSCATINE, Iowa A North Liberty man will face charges for an alleged attempt to murder three individuals while being held in the Muscatine County Jail.
Justin DeWitt, 36, has been charged with three counts of attempt to commit murder, a class B felony, according to a press release from Muscatine County Attorney Alan Ostergren.
While being held in the Muscatine County Jail on behalf of the Johnson County Sheriff's Office, DeWitt allegedly sought the murder of an Iowa Department of Public Safety special agent, an adult male, and an adult female.
The alleged murder-for-hire scheme is the second for which Dewitt will face charges. In Johnson County, DeWitt is facing four counts of attempted murder and four counts of solicitation to commit murder, after allegedly seeking the murder of two adults and two children.
DeWitt's jury trial in the Johnson County case has been set for 9 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 17.
His bond has been set at $750,000, and his preliminary hearing has been set for 9 a.m. Monday, Jan. 9, in Muscatine County District Court.
DeWitt is being held in the Muscatine County Jail in administrative segregation.
The Iowa Department of Public Safety, Division of Criminal Investigation, and Division of Narcotics Enforcement investigated.
Emily Wenger of the Muscatine Journal
Collapse: It's the best description of Iowa's Medicaid network and Gov. Terry Branstad's ideological crusade to gut the program.
Providers have raged since Branstad this year privatized the bulk of the program that provides health care insurance for roughly 20 percent of Iowans. Anecdotes about slow payments and rejected services are piled high. Democrats demanded more oversight of handover of the $4.2 billion to a trio of private insurers. In March, federal regulators urged Branstad to postpone the shift, citing the state's unreadiness. But Branstad, preferring ideological purity over reality, wasn't having any of it.
Iowa will save more than $100 million this fiscal year, Branstad insisted, even as the insurers themselves reported huge losses and demanded more cash.
Branstad's narrative crumbled earlier this month, however. That's when The Des Moines Register got its hands on internal memos and emails between state officials and the insurers.
CliffsNotes: Branstad's partisan pipe-dream is something of a cash-bleeding nightmare. In fact, the state's October offer to pony up more cash incensed executives at the insurance providers tasked with managing this mess.
"We are extremely disappointed in the amended rate offer, as it does not address the significant rate issue identified and documented. The departments rate offer is not actuarially sound and is not acceptable to us," AmeriHealth Caritas Regional Vice President Russell Gianforcaro wrote to state Human Services Director Charles Palmer.
Let's unpack Gianforcaro's statement a bit.
Two of the three firms reported losses in the tens of millions shortly after taking control of Iowa's formerly public, once-lauded health care system for the poor. The Branstad administration, which promised huge taxpayer savings, offered them more money through an amended rate. AmeriHealth scoffed at the pittance.
Taken on its own, it would be easy to dismiss that firm's complaints as little but profit-driven sour grapes. But, as a whole, it's increasingly clear that, less than a year in, Branstad's expedition into for-profit welfare is failing corporate boards and Iowa's poorest, alike.
Other states have done it and succeeded, Branstad says. Even states run by Democrats have contracted-out a portion of Medicaid services, he argues.
Don't be duped.
Yes, even the New Yorks of the world have privatized bits and pieces of the pricey health care system. Branstad's move is something entirely different. Iowa's shift was sweeping and almost complete. Many states weary of increasing cost have nibbled around Medicaid's edges. Iowa, under Branstad's insistence that he alone had monopoly on fact, offered up the whole pie.
Privatized Medicaid in Iowa isn't working for the the poor. It's shortchanging providers. It's bilking the very taxpayers who were promised the moon. It's even failing the one group that stood to most benefit, the firms paid hundreds of millions to handle it.
And it's all because Branstad opted to rush over listening to reason. It will continue because Republicans in the Legislature refuse to provide proper oversight. It won't end until a devastating collapse leaves corporate boards in open revolt and Iowa's poorest struggling to access health care.
Or, this time, Iowa's GOP Legislature could stand up to Branstad's ideological purity, accept reality and actually govern before it's too late.
TOLEDO, Ohio | The Ohio owner of tigers, bears and other exotic animals seized by the state will be allowed to examine the ones that were sent to a Spearfish sanctuary then later relocated because of neglect, a court has ruled.
A state appeals court said Kenny Hetrick and his veterinarian should be allowed to check on the animals that were relocated to a Colorado sanctuary and ordered the state to arrange the visits within the next month.
The court said last week that a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture detailing the neglect of some of Hetrick's animals is understandably the cause of great concern for him. It also said the Ohio Department of Agriculture had a duty to make sure the animals were receiving proper care.
The department took custody of 11 animals from Hetrick's roadside sanctuary near Toledo in January 2015 after officials say he ignored warnings about needing a permit. Officials hauled away the animals under a state law that came about after a man in eastern Ohio released dozens of his exotic animals before killing himself in 2011. Many of those animals were killed by law enforcement out of a public safety concern.
Hetrick's animals eventually were moved to sanctuaries in other states while he and his family continued to fight the state in court, arguing the animals were improperly taken and should be returned.
One of Hetrick's tigers sent to the South Dakota sanctuary before being removed in the fall because it was found in poor health and having trouble eating was euthanized in early December. The tiger was among a dozen animals removed from the Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in Spearfish and sent to another sanctuary in Colorado.
Meanwhile, the same state appeals court ruling that will allow Hetrick to visit his animals denied his appeal to lift a stay of a county judge's order that said the state unfairly denied a permit to him and that the tigers, bear and three other big cats should be returned to Ohio.
That means the county judge's order will remain on hold while the state appeals that ruling.
A Spearfish man has been charged with trying to entice a minor through use of the internet, according to authorities.
Nicholaus Tripp, 28, was arrested on Dec. 23 on a criminal complaint, according to a release from the South Dakota Attorney General's Office.
Authorities said the charge, one count of attempted enticement of a minor using the internet, relates to Tripp allegedly trying to "engage in unlawful sexual acts with a minor." He pleaded not guilty on Dec. 27.
The case is being investigated by the Division of Criminal Investigation, the South Dakota Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force, Spearfish Police Department and Homeland Security Investigations. A trial date has been set for late Feb. 28.
Two years ago, you trusted me with your vote to serve as your U.S. senator. Having seen the damaging effects of our overreaching, broken federal government as a business owner, governor, father and grandfather, I was eager to get to work to fix Washington.
While partisan gridlock in Washington still exists, we were able to make progress in several areas. We were able to enact the first major changes to our education laws since No Child Left Behind, returning decision-making to the local level where it belongs. We also passed a long-term highway bill for the first time in two decades, allowing us to make long-overdue improvements to our roads and bridges.
While we still have work to do on tax reform, we were able to come together to make permanent sales tax deductions as well as deductions for charitable giving and certain educators. We also made section 179 permanent at the $500,000 level, which particularly benefits farmers and ranchers and could increase U.S. economic output by nearly $19 billion over 10 years. This type of tax relief allows South Dakota families and businesses to plan more efficiently and spend more of their money how they see fit.
While the accomplishments of the 114th Congress are a start, I am aware of the challenges we continue to face. Despite getting 240 bipartisan bills signed into law, we still have a broken budget system, an over-sized bureaucracy, too much red tape and a tax code that is more than 74,000 pages long.
The regulatory regime alone is costing Americans nearly $1.9 trillion annually, far more than is paid in individual income taxes. These regulatory costs are taking money out of the pockets of hard-working South Dakotans, stunting economic growth and hurting the citizens our government is meant to serve.
While we have made improvements to agencies such as the VA, too many veterans are still suffering at the hands of administrative bureaucracy. We have an Indian Health System in need of total overhaul, employing twice as many bureaucrats as health providers. Meanwhile, tribal members are literally dying awaiting care the federal government has an obligation to provide. We must make these and other agencies more efficient.
In the next Congress, addressing our debt crisis must also be a priority. The long-term driver of our debt is mandatory payments and interest on our debt, currently over $19 trillion. Yet Congress does not even debate the merits of mandatory payments, which accounts for more than 70 percent of our spending. I have been working with other senators to find ways to revise the budget process in Congress, so we can address our budget crisis. What we have been working on would open up the entire budget to congressional management, including mandatory payments.
As we move forward to the 115th Congress and a new Republican administration eager to work with us rather than against us, I am optimistic in our ability to build on the successes of the past two years. But we must also get serious about bringing real changes that will leave our country even stronger for the next generation of Americans.
WASHINGTON | "Spare us the kissy-face."
It was June 2001 and I was covering President George W. Bush's trip to Slovenia, where he had just met Vladimir Putin for the first time. I and others were struck by Bush's praise for the Russian leader as "trustworthy." Said Bush: "I was able to get a sense of his soul."
But back in Washington, my editor had no interest in such talk. He rewrote my lede with other news a tidbit about missile defense and he moved the "kissy-face" stuff about Putin's soul down to paragraph 18.
In retrospect, that moment in Slovenia defined the Russia relationship for years to come. Putin had seduced Bush, who only slowly came to understand he had misjudged this adversary's soul. Putin opposed Bush in Iraq and was unhelpful with Iran. He shut down independent television, sent business leaders who criticized him into exile and prison, ousted democratic parties from government, canceled the election of governors and invaded Georgia.
The kissy-face happened all over again when President Obama and Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tried to "reset" relations. Russia responded by working against the United States in Syria, sheltering Edward Snowden, invading and occupying parts of Ukraine, and hacking and meddling in the U.S. election to defeat Clinton.
Now it's Donald Trump's turn for kissy-face, and the president-elect is practically groping the Russian dictator. After Putin gloated Friday that Democrats need to learn "to lose with dignity," Trump tweeted Putin a sloppy kiss: "So true!" he said of Putin's comments.
Trump also celebrated a letter he received from Putin calling for more collaboration between the two countries. "His thoughts are so correct," Trump said.
Trump's blush-inducing embrace of the strongman has included repeated praise of Putin's leadership, deflected questions about Putin's political killings and disparagement of U.S. intelligence for accusing Russia of election meddling.
In three weeks, Trump will assume the presidency, and we'll learn what his embrace of Putin really means. Perhaps Trump is just a dupe and he'll realize over time that Putin is no friend. The alternative, supported by Trump's choice of Putin-friendly advisers Michael T. Flynn and Rex Tillerson, is that Trump really is pro-Putin and will grant the Russian dictator more latitude internationally and will emulate his autocratic tendencies at home.
The former would require us to endure some policy failures as Putin proved himself again to be an adversary. The latter would test the limits of our democratic institutions.
In either case, it would be useful for Americans to have at least a cursory sense of the man our new president proposes to embrace. Here's a quick glimpse into Putin's soul to get us started:
Opposition leader Boris Nemtsov was killed outside the Kremlin as he walked home one night last year. Putin's regime blames Chechens, but Nemtsov's is one of a dozen high-profile murders of opponents widely thought to have been sanctioned by Putin's government.
Another Putin opponent, Alexander Litvinenko, was killed in London by polonium poisoning in 2006. The British government said Putin "probably" approved the hit. That same year, opposition journalist Anna Politkovskaya was shot and killed outside her apartment.
Among the many business leaders imprisoned or ousted under Putin are Mikhail Khodorkovsky, who was head of the oil giant Yukos, and associate Platon Lebedev. The Russian human rights group Memorial says there are 102 people held in Russian prisons for their political or religious beliefs.
The Kremlin has provided funding and training for far-right nationalist parties in Europe, and it used its state media and an army of hackers and social-media trolls to spread disinformation in the United States, in continental Europe and in Britain before the Brexit vote. The goals: to weaken European unity and the NATO alliance and to keep Europe dependent on Russian energy.
Russia also used disinformation to destabilize the Ukrainian government as Russia annexed Crimea. In Syria, where Russia propped up the Assad regime with indiscriminate bombing in Aleppo and elsewhere, Britain, France and the United States have blamed Putin's government for the mass slaughter of civilians.
An Amnesty International summary of Putin's rule leaves no doubt about his totalitarian state: "Journalist Killed Human Rights Lawyer Killed Gay Rights Protesters Attacked Repressive Laws Enacted Fines for 'Promoting Homosexuality' Imposed President Putin Signs Law to Re-criminalize Defamation USAID Expelled Federal Treason and Espionage Act goes into effect Moscow Authorities Detain Protesters and Opposition Party Members."
This, Mr. President-elect, is the man you are embracing. Please spare us the kissy-face.
While some in America celebrate the alleged demise of the "lame stream media," it is crucial to remember that dictators and extremists benefit most when reporters are prevented from doing their jobs. Such a reminder comes from the year-end report by the group Reporters Without Borders, which has compiled a list showing that 74 professional and citizen journalists were killed in 2016.
"Some were killed while out reporting," the group's round-up says. "Most were clearly the deliberately targeted victims of deadly violence." In fact, "Worldwide, nearly three quarters of the journalists killed in 2016 were deliberately murdered."
The report documents the deaths of journalists like Mariam Ebrahimi, Mehri Azizi and Zainab Mirzaee, three women killed when a suicide bomber targeted their minibus in Kabul, Afghanistan.
Also in Afghanistan, a Taliban ambush killed David Gilkey, an American photojournalist working for National Public Radio.
Photojournalist Osama Jumaa was killed in an Aleppo, Syria, neighborhood while covering the civil war for a British news agency.
An ISIS sniper killed cameraman Ali Raysan in a village near Mosul, Iraq.
It is no surprise that most of the deaths as well as arrests and imprisonment occur in countries riven by war and dominated by authoritarian factions and/or regimes. Places like Syria, Iraq, Yemen and Afghanistan lead the list for murdered journalists. Sadly, Mexico also makes the list because the de facto war between police and cartels puts journalists in the line of fire from all sides.
No journalists were killed in America in 2016. We do not make any claim of parity between what goes on in Syria and what goes on in the United States. But only a fool, or a friend of authoritarianism, would dismiss as unimportant the growing assaults on the free press in America, including those by the country's soon-to-be president.
Donald Trump has vilified the press at campaign rallies and continued the practice during "Thank You" tours even as he claims that he wants to unite the nation. He has suggested making it easier to squelch reporting by eliminating protections in libel laws. And Trump isn't just talking. He has restricted press coverage of his activities and revoked credentials of media outlets whose coverage he did not like.
Not that President Barack Obama championed the free press. He restricted coverage of his administration's activities and, more than any modern president, sought criminal charges against those involved in press leaks. It is chilling to think Trump could do worse.
Official disdain for the free press is even more ominous in the current climate, when too many people seem incapable of distinguishing truth from falsehood or, to put it bluntly, willingly ignore the truth if their candidate is the source of the lies. There are serious allegations that Russian President Vladimir Putin attempted to swing our election to Trump. Trump's defensive reaction to those allegations has not instilled confidence that he is eager to uncover the truth.
The rise of citizen journalists is commendable when they have the desire and the ability to report the news and clearly label opinion as opinion. Citizen journalists are filling the gaps in places like Aleppo, where the violence and danger are so extreme that news agencies have withdrawn reporters a necessity that explains the decline in journalists' deaths from 2015, when 101 were killed.
Diminished reporting from such regions ought to concern Americans. Not only do we have troops and "advisers" deployed to hot spots, they tend to be the triggers for international confrontations.
Citizen journalists are valuable when they behave like professional journalists. There are not nearly enough of them to replace the work of the professional reporters who, day in and day out, are the bedrock of accurate news in America.
This country still is blessed with a free press that citizens of places like Iran, Russia, Iraq, Turkey, China and Mexico only can dream about. Tension between the press and government is inevitable in countries where the free press does its job. What is the tipping point between tension and violence, freedom and authoritarianism? Let's not find out.
Russian court detains regional official charged with bribery, embezzlement
MOSCOW, December 30 (RAPSI) A court in Khakassia detained Vladimir Byzov, chief of the Administration of the republics head charged with bribery and implication in embezzling 195 million rubles ($3.2 mln), until late February, RIA Novosti reported on Friday.
According to investigators, eight members of an organized criminal group, including officials and managers of commercial enterprises, have committed a large-scale fraud, using their official position. From December 1, 2015 to December 27, 2016, the gang members were buying drugs, medical equipment and other goods in Abakan for Khakass healthcare services at inflated prices, embezzling 195 million rubles in the process.
Other members of the group reportedly were also put in jail in this case.
Byzov was additionally charged with receiving 17 million rubles ($283,000) in bribes for assistance in signing governmental contracts with commercial organizations under the control of one of the managers.
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Ukraine to sue Russia for alleged violation of treaty on friendship - report
MOSCOW, December 30 (RAPSI) Ukraine is going to file with an international court a lawsuit over alleged violation of the Treaty on Friendship by Russia, Ukrinform agency reported Friday citing Ukraines Deputy Foreign Minister Vadim Pristayko.
In accordance with the so-called great treaty on friendship between two countries, the Russian Federation must respect Ukraines territorial integrity and inviolability of present boundaries, Pristayko said in an interview with Ukrinform.
Ukraine has prepared a lawsuit accusing Russia of failure to comply with the treaty, the agency reports.
The Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation, and Partnership between Ukraine and the Russian Federation was signed in Kiev on May 31, 1997 and ratified by parties in 1998.
The agreement is intended for strategic partnership between two countries based on principles of mutual respect, sovereign equality, territorial integrity, border inviolability, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-use of force or threat of force, including economic and other means of pressure.
Contracting partners also undertook to avoid the use of their territories in prejudice of security for each party and reduce military forces and arms, according to the treaty.
In October 2008, the document was automatically prolonged for ten years.
Seven multiple-use recreation groups have filed suit seeking to force the Bitterroot National Forest to redo its travel plan signed last May.
In the complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Missoula, the groups say Bitterroot Forest officials ignored key input by the public and violated existing statutes and policies in developing the plan that establishes where motorized travel is allowed.
Bitterroot Forest officials spent over nine years developing the plan after considering 13,400 comments.
The plan shut off thousands of acres of areas classified as Wilderness Study Areas to snowmobilers, ATV riders and mountain bikers.
The groups that filed suit include the Bitterroot Ridge Runners Snowmobile Club, Ravalli County Off-Road User Association, Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists, Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association, Montana Snowmobile Association, Citizens for Balanced Use and Backcountry Sled Patriots.
Dan Thompson, a long-time member of the Bitterroot Ridge Runners and Ravalli County Off-Road User Association, said the decision to file suit wasnt an easy one.
Before moving forward, Thompson said the groups needed to have some assurance that a lawsuit could be successful in resolving some of the issues presented by the closures.
This coalition is kind of different, Thompson said. We dont have any deep pockets to reach into. We are spending money that belongs to our friends and neighbors.
In the event that we dont prevail, we will have spent a whole bunch of real peoples money, he said.
At its core, Thompson said there were two issues that forced the groups to move forward.
We worked so hard with the Forest Service to bring our points of view forward on what we thought were substantial issues, which were often supported by real data, Thompson said. By and large, all of our concerns were ignored.
Instead, Thompson said the agency focused on the idea that there were widespread conflicts occurring between motorized and non-motorized recreation groups.
That theme of widespread conflicts dominated the travel plan, he said. The Forest Service addressed those alleged conflicts by creating additional areas of quiet spaceWe dont see those conflicts. The data said there werent any conflicts.
More than half of the Bitterroot National Forest is already in wilderness, he said.
When you consider that half is reserved for quiet users, how can you make the case for a need for more of it? he said.
Stan Spencer of Missoula helped form Backcountry Sled Patriot four years ago after becoming concerned about the loss of off-trail, high alpine areas being closed to snowmobile traffic on public lands.
Spencer said the new Bitterroot Forest travel plan follows that trend by closing additional high elevation acreage to across-the-snow travel in two areas designated as Wilderness Study Areas.
Some of those areas were being used by snowmobilers before the areas were designated. In the case of the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area, Spencer said the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest allows snowmobiling on the portion of the WSA it manages.
There is a line right down the middle of it where snowmobiling is allowed and where it isnt, Spencer said. That is kind of perplexing to have management that is so diametrically opposed.
We would like to see the restrictions on motorized travel on the WSAs reversed, he said. There were no reasons given for closing it other than it should be a quiet area.
Bitterroot Backcountry Cyclists Lance Pysher said the agencys decision to move forward with the plan without doing adequate monitoring of the situation on the ground was what forced the mountain biking group to join the legal challenge.
They did no analysis on the volume of use on the trails we use, Pysher said. Without that kind of data, it seems kind of crazy to kick us off the trails weve been riding for 20 years. We want the Forest Service to actually analyze our impact.
We dont want that decision to be based on a hand wave and the notion that they think this or believe that, he said. We want proactive analysis, not reactive management based on anecdotes.
But not everyone is unhappy with the decision to close down mechanized travel on Wilderness Study Areas.
Jim Miller, president of the Friends of the Bitterroot, said the law and Wilderness Study Act is clear that the lands are to be preserved and maintained for the wilderness qualities that existed in 1977 when the act was passed. The idea that motorized travel is a conforming use has been rejected by the courts for more than 20 years.
I think the Forest Service is on very solid ground in terms of their interpretation of the Wilderness Study Act and the decision by the courts, Miller said. While I understand the disappointment of the motorized and mechanized users, unfortunately the error was to allow those uses there in the first place.
If the Chain of Lakes trail hadnt been built through the middle of the Sapphire WSA, Miller said motorized recreational users wouldnt have felt entitled to the use of that area now.
Miller said the Friends of the Bitterroot group didnt get everything it wanted, either, in the travel plan. Two examples: some of the inventoried roadless areas allow motorized travel and dispersed camping is allowed within 300 feet of a road.
I think the Forest Service did the right thing on the Wilderness Study areas, he said. I dont think the groups will be successful in their legal challenge.
While Bitterroot Forest spokesman Tod McKay couldnt comment on the specifics of the lawsuit, we do believe that the travel plan provides quality recreation experiences for both motorized and non-motorized users, reduces user conflicts and protects forest natural resources and wildlife.
The plan leaves 2,246 miles of road and trails open to motorized use, which McKay said equals the distance between Hamilton and New York City.
There are also 543,840 acres open to snowmobile use. McKay said that encompasses about a third of the national forest.
McKay said there was an extensive and thorough public outreach that included a record number of public comments, dozens of public meetings and extending the comment period twice to allow for additional public input.
Justice of the Peace Jennifer Ray presided over the swearing-in ceremony of Jeff Langton in his fifth term as district court judge for the 21st judicial district and Bob Lake in his second term on the Montana Public Service Commission.
Langton is the longest-seated district court judge in Montana.
Im grateful and honored that voters decided to retain me in office, Langton said. This will be my fifth time and tomorrow Ill be completing my 24th year as district judge. I look forward to serving the citizens as I have in the past.
Langton was born in the Bitterroot Valley and raised on a working cattle ranch by his parents and grandparents. He graduated from Victor and Florence public schools and the University of Montana in History and Law.
I set out to be a history professor and that didnt work, he said. It was my father and historian K. Ross Toole that influenced me to go to law school.
Langton said he kept history as a hobby and plans to do more researching and writing of Montana history.
I think there are a lot of stories that have never been told and Id like to do that eventually, he said. In the meantime, I have land to take care of and that takes a lot of my time.
Langton said he looks forward to coming to work every day and appreciates living in the Bitterroot Valley.
Bob Lake sold me my steer feed when I was in 4-H, he said. I was first sworn in to this office in 1992, with contemporaries Bill Clinton and Marc Racicot. Ive been around for a while.
Langton repeated the oath of office to support, protect and defend the constitution of the United States and the constitution of the state of Montana to Ray with his hand on the Bible that was his from Sunday school at the Victor Church in 1962.
Lake served in the Montana House of Representatives, the Montana Senate and one term on the Public Service Commission.
He took the oath of office from Ray using Langtons Sunday School Bible.
Weve had a couple of exciting swearing-ins, Lake said. This one is special to me because it is among family and friends.
Langton and Lake both said this is their last time to take the oath of office. Lake will term-out with 18 years of public service.
Ray said she was honored to swear in Langton and Lake.
It is awesome and pretty special, Ray said. Langton was a mentor, supporter and encourager when I was first sworn in as Justice of the Peace and Lake has been a family friend for years and a supporter during my campaign.
BILLINGS The Montana Republican Party has instituted a $1,740 fee for candidates looking to take the seat of U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke.
State Rep. Jeff Essmann, R-Billings, chairman of the party, said the fee is to defray the costs for delegates traveling to the nomination convention. There, the party will choose who will run in the special general election.
The fee will be paid to the state GOP and is equal to the amount a candidate would pay the state to run in a normal primary election. State law sets the fee at 1 percent of the position's salary. In this case, it's $174,000.
Essmann said party leaders met Dec. 21 when they decided on the fee amount. He said he knew of no potential candidates who have paid the fee as of Thursday.
The fee is set in Montana statutes when a candidate would file to run in either a Democrat or Republican primary," he said. "So our state committee meeting will be performing the same purpose as a primary.
Democrats jumped on the news Thursday, calling the fee a "democracy tax" and a "fundraiser" for the GOP.
"Leave it to the leaders of the Montana Republican Party to turn democracy into a fundraiser and limit its candidates to only those with thick wallets," said Nancy Keenan, Montana Democrats executive director, in a press release.
She added that Democrats won't introduce a similar fee.
A number of Republicans have expressed interest in taking over for Zinke, who won re-election in November but was nominated by President-elect Donald Trump to lead the Department of the Interior. Zinke is a Republican.
Those hopefuls include state legislators Ed Buttrey of Great Falls, Daniel Zolnikov of Billings and Scott Sales of Bozeman. Others include District Court Judge Russell Fagg of Billings, Corvallis party activist Gary Carlson and Bozeman businessman Eugene Graf IV.
State legislators Amanda Curtis of Butte and Casey Schreiner of Great Falls have announced that they will seek nomination from Montana Democrats.
The parties won't convene to nominate until after Trump's inauguration on Jan. 20, as well as Zinke's confirmation as Interior Secretary by the U.S. Senate.
After Zinke officially resigns from the U.S. House, an election must be held within 85 to 100 days.
Montana Secretary of State-elect Corey Stapleton said that the special general election could cost as much as $2 million.
BUTTE - Anaconda Police Chief Tim Barkell said Thursday that police have identified the body of a victim found yesterday in the Hearthstone Apartments as tenant Victoria Lynn Smith, age 49.
Barkell said Smith was stabbed fatally in the neck, and they are investigating the death as a homicide. The body has been sent to the state crime lab.
Police are still reviewing video surveillance footage and interviewing neighbors and relatives, but have arrested Smith's ex-boyfriend, 35-year-old David Richmond, who Barkell said was the last person to leave Smith's apartment.
Barkell said Richmond is not speaking with police. Richmond was arrested on November 6 for vehicle theft, disorderly conduct and partner family member assault. Barkell said Smith was not the victim of that assault.
HELENA - A 23-year-old probation absconder from Great Falls faces a charge of attempted deliberate homicide following a shootout during an interrupted burglary near Wolf Creek.
Prosecutors say Kaleb Edward Daniels tried to shoot the owner of the home he was burgling Wednesday afternoon. Daniels pointed a handgun at the victim and pulled the trigger, but the gun did not fire, according to court documents filed Thursday afternoon. He then reportedly tried to chamber another round.
The homeowner then shot Daniels' accomplice, Jory Russell Strizich, in the leg, authorities said. Strizich, 26, is hospitalized for a gunshot wound to his right shin. An arrest warrant has been issued for him on a felony charge of aggravated burglary.
The cabin owner shot Strizich, who was approaching him in a threatening manner while Daniels attempted to rack his gun, court documents state. The victim said he fired a warning round into the ground just before shooting again, striking Strizich.
The incident began when a husband and wife arrived at their cabin on the 4000 block of Little Wolf Creek Road to find an unfamiliar sport-utility vehicle parked outside and two men inside burgling the residence, authorities said.
Authorities launched into a manhunt after receiving a report of the shooting at 2:16 p.m. Wednesday.
After another armed homeowner called 911 to report Daniels trying to break into a home on Recreation Road, Daniels was apprehended in a snowbank following a short foot chase with officers about three hours after the shooting. He was not in possession of a handgun when he was apprehended.
Strizich was still on the loose at this time. While being questioned by detectives, Daniels said officials weren't "looking very hard" but declined to elaborate. Daniels also denied any involvement in a burglary or shooting, court documents note.
Meanwhile, members of the local SWAT team were called to assist in the manhunt along with a sheriff's deputy with a K-9.
Around 6:30 p.m., authorities found Strizich, who had broken into a cabin about a half-mile from the victim's residence. The SWAT team made contact with Strizich, who said he had been shot and needed help, court documents say. Strizich told officers he had been shot at the victim's cabin.
Daniels also faces a felony charge of aggravated burglary. He's being held on $100,000 bond.
Authorities had been searching for Daniels, who was wanted on two warrants out of Great Falls. He is on probation for convictions of theft and criminal possession of dangerous drugs, also out of Great Falls.
Strizich was not currently under supervision, but served time in prison for felony theft.
Do the holidays have you wishing you could host the party of the year? It might be too late for 2017, but those in the market for a new house can start planning for 2018's celebration now.
Is entertaining an important component of your house search? Look no further. Here are 10 Western Massachusetts homes perfect for hosting the gathering of your dreams.
From indoor pools to ballrooms and beautiful staircases to saunas, these 10 homes offer unique details that would make any housewarming celebration memorable.
SYRACUSE, N.Y. More than eight years after Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield moved to DeWitt from downtown Syracuse, its former 10-story headquarters has life once again.
The Icon Tower will house 89 apartments, plus two floors of office and retail space, including Fabio's Antica Cucina, an Italian restaurant on the ground floor with a full bar and wood-burning oven imported from Italy.
Icon Cos. President Grazi Zazzara Jr. said many of the building's amenitiesin-house restaurant, separate guest suites, pet washing station and attention to minute details, such as the self-closing kitchen drawerswere designed with "empty-nesters" in mind.
"We went above and beyond on the finishes," Zazzara said.
By offering apartments in a range of sizesfrom 624 to 1,523 square feetZazzara said they plan to appeal to students and young professionals looking for a lower-priced option, as well as homeowners looking to downsize, but still have plenty of room.
All the units include granite counters in the kitchen and bathroom(s), washer and dryer, stainless steel appliances, 10-foot hard ceilings and storage spaces on each floor.
The seventh-floor clubhouse, complete with couches, armchairs, small kitchen and a 70-inch flat screen TV, will be open by the start of February, the same time that about 40 tenants will move in. Zazzara said dozens more will move in as the year goes on. As of Dec. 20, there are 30 vacant units in the building, Zazzara said.
Three businesses have offices on the second floor, but 5,000 square feet of office space is still available, Zazzara said. About 2,600 square feet of first-floor retail space is also available.
Paradise Companies Two, a group of investors led by Zazzara, bought the 253,000-square-foot building in February 2014 for $1.05 million. Zazzara said it is rewarding to take properties, such as the former Hechinger Plaza ( now DeWitt Town Center) on Erie Boulevard, or a former doctor's office at 444 E. Genesee St. that they plan to turn into retail space and apartments by fall 2017, and turn them into something new.
"We like to take assets that are distressed," Zazzara said. "It gives us the energy to get the job done."
THE DETAILS
Address: 344 S. Warren St., Syracuse, N.Y., 13202
Price: Rents range from $1,150 to $2,500. Heat and water are included.
Size: Apartments range from 624 to 1,523 square feet.
Acreage: Rooftop terrace
Built: 1978
School District: Syracuse
Kitchens: The kitchen all feature a full suite of stainless steel appliances and granite counters. Many of the larger apartments also have breakfast bars for additional seating.
Living rooms: The apartments utilize an open floor plan that combines the dining and living areas into one large space.
Bathrooms: The bathrooms feature granite counters, ceramic tile flooring and glass showers.
Bedrooms: All the bedrooms have large California closets. About one-third of the apartments have walk-in closets.
Parking: The building has 45 indoor and eight outdoor parking spots, available for an additional fee. Icon Tower also has arrangements for 60 parking spots in the parking garage across the street.
Security: The main gate has a security system tied with tenants' cell phones and computers that allows tenants to open the door to guest and notify police in case of emergency. Guests can also be given a "digital key", a QR code used to scan into the building.
Guest suites: The building has guest suites on the third, fourth, fifth and six floors that tenants can rent by the night for guests. The one-bedroom rooms, which are about 500 square feet, include all furnishings and amenities, such as toiletries. Zazzara said they plan to charge $75 per night for the rooms.
Leasing info: Marion Cleary
Marketing Manager
The Icon Companies
344 S. Warren St., Syracuse, N.Y., 13202
Office: (315) 299-6292
Email: info@theiconcompanies.com
To nominate a listing for House of the Week, send an email to home@syracuse.com. Contact Jacob Pucci at jpucci@syracuse.com or on Twitter at @jacobpucci.
America must return to conservative principles of less government,reduced taxes, less spending and a balanced budget! Cut,cap and balance!
KOHALPUR: Police have arrested five persons for their alleged involvement in attacking Santosh Budhathoki (29), a central member of the Youth Association Nepal, the youth wing of the CPN-UML.
Budhathoki was seriously injured in the khukuri attack last night.
The arrestees are yet to be made public. According to police, the main culprit of the incident, Laxman Malla of Bajura, is absconding and the search for him is underway.
The victim, meanwhile, has been taken to Lucknow, India for further medical treatment after preliminary treatment here at Kohalpur Medical College.
Meanwhile, the CPN-UML lawmaker Dal Bahadur Sunar has urged the administration for an immediate investigation into the case.
Kathmandu, Nepal: Gurungs communities of Nepal are celebrating the Tamu Lhosar, one of the greatest festivals of the community, across the country on Friday.
Gurung communities celebrate the festival as their new year. Various programs are being organized in different parts of the country to mark the festival.
According to the tradition of the Gurung community, 12 years are divided with 12 different animals-garuda, serpent, horse, sheep, monkey, bird, dog, deer, mouse, cow, tiger and cat. This year is the year of bird.
Gurung community have organized various functions in Pokhara, Tanahau, Lamjung, Syangja, Pravat and many other parts of the country.
Likewise, a function is being organized at Tundikhel in Kathmandu on the occasion. The festival is also marked in other districts as well.
The government has declared a public holiday today for the celebration of the festival.
Meanwhile, President Bidhya Devi Bhandari and Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal extended their greetings on the occasion of Tamu Lhosar.
Kathmandu, Nepal: An unidentified gang set a fire to a government vehicle at New Baneshwar of Kathmandu on Friday afternoon.
Fire has destroyed the Scorpio jeep with registration number Ba 2 Jha 1392. Likewise, the same gang has also vandalized another government vehicle with the registration no. Ba 2 Jha 1055.
It is said that the vehicles were set on fire and vandalized alleging of using the government vehicle in a public holyday. The Police have said that they have been investigating the gang.
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China boasts East Asias strongest armed forces. It ranks below only the United States and Russia worldwide. No wonder Taiwans defense ministry scrambled two F-16 fighters and two reconnaissance aircraft to track a Chinese aircraft carrier as it worked the perimeter of the nearby islands territorial waters this week, watching the fleet ease back toward a port in China.
But Taiwans military ranks 10th in Asia on the GlobalFirePower.com scale that puts China in third place. Also in Asia, Japan ranks No. 4 and South Korea No. 6. Indonesia comes in eighth and Vietnam ninth for the region. All of these armed forces rank in the databases top 20 of 126 countries analyzed worldwide, coming in before much of Europe and the Middle East. The survey evaluates countries based on weapons stocks, numbers of troops (including reserves) and potentially available troops if a country were to require military service. Geographic position can also help increase a countrys rank.
Why the East Asian countries have bulked up their armed forces goes back to the Chinese aircraft carrier called the Liaoning and apparently Chinas only one. The strongest armed forces in the region outside China are preparing largely to resist China. China is the biggest single factor accounting for military modernization and build-ups in the region, says Denny Roy, senior fellow at the East-West Center, a U.S. think tank.
Taken in order of strength, heres what East Asias most militarized countries, ex-China, are doing:
Japan : Although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed this week at a World War II memorial in Hawaii that Japan would 1.: Although Prime Minister Shinzo Abe vowed this week at a World War II memorial in Hawaii that Japan would never hatch another war , its self-defense forces have three aircraft carriers and 287 fighter planes. The country is patrolling a tract of sea reaching thousands of kilometers from its southern coasts for flyovers and ship movement from China. The two countries contest the Senkaku, or Diaoyudao, islands and China has used military moves to show displeasure over Japans effective control of the eight uninhabited land features.
South Korea : The military headquartered from Seoul with 406 fighters and 214 multiple-launch rocket systems worries mostly about North Korea, which itself ranks as world No. 25 and has demonstrated 2.: The military headquartered from Seoul with 406 fighters and 214 multiple-launch rocket systems worries mostly about North Korea, which itself ranks as world No. 25 and has demonstrated nuclear capabilities . But China backs North Korea, so the south is effectively building up a resistance against Beijing.
Indonesia : The Indonesian military also isnt primarily hyped up about China. The Southeast Asian country of more than 13,000 islands has 66 coastal defense vessels and 12 naval mine warfare units frets about shipping piracy and illegal fishing. But since last year it has gotten tougher against 3.: The Indonesian military also isnt primarily hyped up about China. The Southeast Asian country of more than 13,000 islands has 66 coastal defense vessels and 12 naval mine warfare units frets about shipping piracy and illegal fishing. But since last year it has gotten tougher against Chinese vessels passing through waters it claims near the 272 Natuna islets. Beijing considers that tract of water its own as part of its claims to about 95% of the entire South China Sea, which stretches from Taiwan to Singapore
Vietnam : This Southeast Asian country is the strongest voice in 4.: This Southeast Asian country is the strongest voice in contesting Beijings expansion in the South China Sea and claims a lot itself. The country that also fought a war with China in the 1970s has 73 fighter planes and five submarines following purchases earlier this year. The U.S. government lifted a ban this year on selling it lethal weapons. Vietnams procurement of submarines will raise the cost for China to conduct maritime operations within a 200 to 300-nautical-mile band of water along Vietnams coast, forecasts Bonnie Glaser, senior adviser for Asia at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a think tank in Washington.
Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression
http://wssnet.org
28 December 2016
Bastar police continue their vendetta against women human rights defenders SP Bastar threatens Adv Shalini Gera, JagLAG lawyers with false cases
Clearly rattled by the mounting body of evidence of blatant violations of the rule of law and Constitutional rights under the cover of anti-Maoist operations, the Bastar police has launched a no-holds-barred attempt to silence all those who are calling them to account.
Advocate Shalini Gera and her colleagues of JagLAG who were in Jagdalpur in connection with a case of false encounter of a young Adivasi boy1, were confronted on the night of 27 December by a police team which entered the dharamshala where they were staying and accused them of trying to exchange demonetised notes on behalf of the Maoists. Despite the fact that they were following up on an order by the Chhattisgarh HC for exhumation and a second post-mortem in the case and their accommodation had been arranged by the office of the Divisional Commissioner, Adv Shalini and her colleagues were ordered to come to the police station for interrogation. Attempts were also made to forcibly search their rooms and belongings. When asked to produce a warrant, the SI in charge of the team became even more aggressive and abusive. It took a personal call from the Divisional Commissioner to the SI to force the police to back off.
A day later when she was back at her office in Bilaspur,Adv Shalini received a call on her mobile from the SP Bastar, Shri RN Dash. Shri Dash was calling from a private number which was later identified as belonging to one Farukh Ali, a member of AGNI, a vigilante group that enjoys the patronage of the Bastar police. Speaking in an aggressive and offensive manner, Shri Dash insisted that he had received complaints accusing Adv Shalini of being a Maoist agent, inciting villagers against getting Aadhar cards, changing old currency notes for the Maoists, spreading stories about police atrocities and other such random allegations. Shri Dash asked Adv Shalini to come to Bastar for further ainterrogationa , to which she replied that she would not respond to intimidation and would answer questions only if due process was followed.
When Adv Shalini called back on Shri Dashas official number to confirm if he was indeed the person who had just threatened her, he at first refused to admit that he knew who she was but soon lost his temper again, confirmed that he had called her, reiterated his claim that there were complaints against her and told her not to awaste his timea by calling him. Within a few hours after this conversation, copies of the complaint and allegations against her were being circulated on social media by Farrukh Ali, proving a if proof were needed a the close nexus between the police and these violent so-called aindependent civil society groupsa .
It will be remembered that earlier this year, the Bastar police unleashed a campaign of threats and intimidation against local activists, media persons, human rights lawyers and others who were investigating and exposing the systematic violations of human rights, particularly sexual violence against Adivasi women by police and auxiliary forces engaged in anti-Maoist operations. In response to complaints from WSS and wide coverage in national newspapers, the National Human Rights Commission took cognisance the issue and fielded an investigation team in March 2016. The Chhattisgarh government has yet to respond to the report of this investigation.
Meanwhile, the Bastar police under the command of Inspector-General SRP Kalluri has continued its attacks on human rights defenders, activists and journalists, brazenly flaunting its disregard for human rights and the rule of law. IG Kalluri has publicly opposed the Supreme Court judgement in the Salwa Judum case, and has orchestrated the formation of vigilante groups like AGNI that provide platforms for erstwhile Judum leaders to continue their violent activities. Shri Kalluri reacted to his indictment by the CBI in the Tadmetla atrocity, where police fired on unarmed Adivasis and set an entire village on fire, by attacking Prof Nandini Sundar, the petitioner in the Salwa Judum case, and attempting to implicate her in the murder of a member of an anti-Maoist village-level vigilante squad.
The attack on Adv Shalini and her colleagues follows closely on the arrest of seven members of a fact-finding team from the Telengana Democratic Forum who were on their way to Bastar were summarily arrested, accused of exchanging demonetised notes for Maoists and charged under the draconian provisions of the Chattisgarh Public Security Act. The arrested persons include senior human rights lawyers, Dalit rights activists and student leaders.
These patently illegal and outrageeous attempts to subdue and silence human rights defenders are a signal of the growing desperation of the Bastar police which has now been completely exposed as a rogue force that has perpetrated a reign of terror in Bastar, turning it into a war zone. Out of the 185 deaths by police firing during anti-Maoist operations in the country during this year, 134 have been in Bastar. In the majority of these cases, independent fact-finding teams have found these to be cold-blooded killings of unarmed people, giving the lie to police claims that they fired in self-defence or that villagers were caught in cross-fire. It is this blood-soaked reality that the Bastar police are trying to cover up through their blind vendetta against human rights defenders
The NHRC has taken suo motu cognisance of the deteriorating situation in Bastar, and has summoned the Chief Secretary of Chhattisgarh and IG Kalluri to explain the continuing attacks on human rights defenders, journalists, lawyers and local activists under their watch. Having ducked a previous summons by pleading ill-health, Shri Kalluri is now due to appear before the NHRC on 16 January 2017.
We appeal to all democratic and peace-loving individuals and groups to come together to condemn and resist these shameless attempts to silence dissenting voices and undermine the Constitution, the Supreme Court, the NHRC and other institutions of democratic governance in Bastar.
1 WP Cr. 372/2016 (CG High Court) Kumma Pottam and Anr vs. State of Chhattisgarh and Ors
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Dec-30-2016 13:35 TweetFollow @OregonNews Willamette Valley Wintery Forecast Expect a switch to all snow by mid-morning on Sunday
Some snow is expected to fall this weekend, all over Oregon.
Photo: Bonnie King Salem-News.com
(PORTLAND, Ore.) - Very cold air will move into the region late Saturday night through next week. Rain will begin at low elevations Saturday afternoon, before changing over to snow early Sunday morning. Above 2,000 feet, this moisture will fall as all snow. SNOW AMOUNTS AND TIMING: Cascades and Foothills: Steady snowfall will begin Saturday afternoon in the Cascades and foothills, with 6 to 12 inches total at the pass levels, and more at higher elevations. Expect 3 to 6 inches of snowfall in the Cascade foothills. I-5 Corridor from Kelso/Longview through Portland metro area: Rain, possibly mixed with a little snow, begins late Saturday afternoon, before changing to all snow early Sunday morning, sometime between about 2 am and 7 am as snow levels lower to the valley floor. Expected snowfall amounts are generally 1 inch or less, with local accumulations up to 2 inches possible in the higher hills. Through the rest of the Willamette Valley (McMinnville/Aurora through Eugene): Rain begins Saturday evening and continues through early Sunday, when some snow may begin to mix in with the rain. Expect a switch to all snow by mid-morning on Sunday with occasional snow continuing through the evening. Total snow accumulations expected to be generally 1 inch or less, with highest amounts from about Marion County north. Coast Range: Snow levels Saturday afternoon begin between 1,500 and 2,000 feet, but lower to the surface by Saturday night. Expect 1 to 2 inches of snow, with the highest amounts in the higher elevations and northern Coast Range (generally along and north of Highway 22). Coast: Primarily rain through early Sunday, then transitioning to snow around sunrise Sunday. Snowfall accumulations between 0 and 0.5 inches. OUTLOOK FOR NEXT WEEK: Cold air will remain in place through much of next week, but it is expected to remain dry from Monday through at least Wednesday across the region. Low temperatures in the valley Monday night through at least Wednesday night are expected to be 10 to 20 with afternoon high temperatures not getting above freezing. At the coast, low temperatures are expected to be 20 to 30 with high temperatures in the 30s, generally above freezing. FORECAST CONFIDENCE: High confidence in accumulating snow for Cascades, Cascade foothills, and Coast Range starting late Saturday afternoon, and moderate confidence in snowfall amounts. Moderate confidence in accumulating snow and snowfall amounts in the lower elevations.
Low to moderate confidence in accumulating snowfall at the coast.
High confidence in a very cold, but dry weather pattern for Monday through at least Wednesday. Source: Marion County Emergency Management _________________________________________
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Federal military execution seemingly on track for mass rapist/murderer | Main | Will Ohio get back in the business of state killing in 2017?
The title of this post is the headline of this new CNN commentary, authored by Alice Marie Johnson. Here is how it gets started and concludes:
The week before Christmas, President Obama gave a second chance -- in the form of clemency -- to 231 people. I was not among them, but since many of them, like me, were incarcerated on drug-related charges, I feel I know their stories. I am only one of thousands of first-time, non-violent offenders given a mandatory and lengthy prison terms after committing a crime under financial distress.
In 1996, I was given a death sentence without sitting on death row. I was convicted as a first-time nonviolent drug offender to life behind bars in federal prison. Since I went to prison, the laws governing my wrong-doing have changed. If I were convicted again today for the same crime, my life might look very different.
Last month, as I was preparing to put on a short play I wrote, entitled "The Strength To Be," a fellow inmate pulled me aside and gave me the news that the Obama Administration had just started announcing its next slate of clemencies. My mind went racing. What if this could be my chance to be reunited with the outside world, to see my family or what is left of it?
For 20 years I have been incarcerated, and I won't lie, it's hard to keep the hope of freedom alive for that long. But my faith in God has carried me this far. Despite the impending announcement, I knew that the show had to go on. I channeled the uncertainty of my future into my play and danced a duet to Whitney Houston's song, "I Didn't Know My Own Strength."...
I want this part to be clear: I acknowledge that I have done wrong. I made the biggest mistake of my life to make ends meet and got involved with people selling drugs. This was a road I never dreamed of venturing down. I became what is called a telephone mule, passing messages between the distributors and sellers. I participated in a drug conspiracy and I was wrong.
My trial took a toll on my family. At the time of my conviction, I had two children in college and a senior in high school. Bryant, the senior, ended up dropping out of school because of the trial. Tretessa had a good paying job with Motorola and was flying down to support me. Members of the community were at my hearings encouraging me and hoping for the best.
But I was convicted on October 31, 1996 -- and sentenced to life in prison. The day after my oldest son Charles "celebrated" his 20th birthday. It was his first birthday spent away from me. It's hard to imagine that I have now served 20 years of my life sentence for that one mistake. The United States leads the world in incarceration rates, with five percent of the world's incarcerated population and one-quarter of the world's prisoners. I am one of thousands of first-time, nonviolent offenders who were given mandatory lengthy prison terms.
During my two decades in here, I've become an ordained minister and a mentor to young women who are also in prison. And if I get out -- I have a job secured, and plan to continue to help those in prison and work hard to change our justice system. My daughter started a petition to President Obama asking him to grant me clemency, and more than 100,000 people have signed it. It a source of strength and hope for me -- a chance to be free.
The President has made an incredible push at helping to right the wrongs of our criminal justice system. I applaud him and hold out hope for me and thousands of others who face lifelong sentences for nonviolent crimes. But with the historic Obama administration coming to an end, this could be a last chance at freedom for me and for many others -- so I also hope he moves quickly. I hope his administration will process all the applications for clemency currently waiting for the President's review.
No matter what happens, I was not built to break. I will keep writing. I will continue to hold my head high and live a productive life either as a free woman or here behind bars. God has shown me my strength.
BJS releases three big reports on correctional populations throughout the United States | Main | Split Sixth Circuit ruling upholding protective order concerning lethal injection drugs might(!?!) enable Ohio to get back into execution game
December 30, 2016
Third Circuit reverses (short) sentence based in part on "bare arrest record" ... JAN 3, 2017 UPDATE: Opinion VACATED at "the direction of the Court" ... AND on Jand 9, 2017 the opinion returns
A number of helpful readers made sure I did not miss the significant sentencing opinion handed down by a Third Circuit panel in US v. Mateo-Medina, No. 15-2862 (3d Cir. Dec. 30, 2016) (available here). Here is how the opinion starts:
Maximo Mateo-Medina appeals his sentence of twelve months plus one day imprisonment for illegally reentering the United States, in violation of 8 U.S.C. 1326(a) and (b)(1). Although Mateo-Medina pled guilty to the offense, he now appeals the sentence, arguing that the sentencing court violated his Due Process Clause rights by impermissibly considering, among other things, arrests that did not result in convictions. The Presentence Investigation Report (PSR) that disclosed those arrests did not contain any of the underlying conduct. For the reasons set forth below, we agree and we will therefore vacate the sentence that was imposed and remand for resentencing.
The opinion includes citations to considerable research regarding "disparities in arrest rates," and it ultimately holds that the district court's sentencing decision amounted to plain error in a final section which notes that "calculating a persons sentence based on crimes for which he or she was not convicted undoubtedly undermines the fairness, integrity, and public reputation of judicial proceedings."
UPDATE on January 3, 2017: Another helpful reader today sent me this link to a one-page Third Circuit order which reads: "At the direction of the Court, the opinion and judgment entered on December 30, 2016 are hereby VACATED." Hmmm.
ANOTHER UPDATE on January 9, 2017: I was again alerted by a helpful reader that, as evidenced here, US v. Mateo-Medina, No. 15-2862 is back and seemingly as good as ever. Color me confused and curious, but ultimately pleased to learn that this seemingly sensible opinion remains good law.
December 30, 2016 at 04:35 PM | Permalink
Comments
Would you mind posting the websites the court referred to? I think I know some of them but to would be useful to know what this panel was looking at. I am a practicing defense attorney.
Posted by: Stuart Wilder | Jan 4, 2017 7:35:54 AM
Post a comment
In 2008, the late Carrie Fisher told local news station ABC7 that she was "a better writer than an actor," before demonstrating her way with words by joking that people always told her to "act better than she felt."
But what about a bit of both? Her one-woman show Wishful Drinking, which she later adapted into a humorous memoir of the same name, allowed her to act her way through her own words. She premiered the show at the Berkeley Repertory Theater, leading to that 2008 interview with ABC7, which the station has just republished.
Recalling the production, one commenter to the Berkeley Rep's Facebook page writes that "this was the best, most-creative, most memorable one woman show I've ever attended. I feel as if I got to know Carrie through this work. I will miss her greatly."
Adds another "Great show. I so loved hearing her tell the Hollywood story of who begat whom, ultimately ending in her dating a relative."
In an article about the show from 2008, the Chronicle writes that Fisher workshopped the show in her living room with writer friends like Helen Fielding of Bridget Jones's Diary stopping by for edits.
"For me, (this show) is a version of control," Fisher told the paper. "If I go into rehab, it's in the paper. If I go in the mental hospital, it's in the paper. So what I've done is control my version of those experiences. If I can describe my problems, then by definition I have them; they don't have me.
As one of the many tributes to Fisher since her death this week, HBO is airing the feature-length movie adaptation of the Wishful Drinking from 2010 according to Deadline. The film includes footage of the stage performance, interviews with Fisher's family and friends, and archival footage.
Finally, a note that the book version of the work is also the source of a popular quote being passed around in light of Fisher's death. That's a remark in response to Star Wars director George Lucas telling her that undergarments could be dangerous when worn in space. "Now I think that this would make for a fantastic obit," Fisher wrote, "so I tell my younger friends that no matter how I go, I want it reported that I drowned in moonlight, strangled by my own bra."
Related: Carrie Fisher Tributes Pop Up Around San Francisco
A Texas family is suing Apple, alleging in a lawsuit that the company knew its FaceTime messaging service enabled distracted driving yet failed to take preventative steps to lock out users behind the wheel. As a result, they argue, a FaceTiming driver crashed into the back of their car killing their five-year-old daughter.
Court House News picked up the lawsuit, and details the tragic December 24, 2014, wreck. James and Bethany Modisette were driving with their two daughters on I-35 north of Dallas when James braked the family car due to an accident up ahead. A driver rear-ended the Modisettes with his Toyota 4Runner at 65 miles per hour killing five-year-old Moriah Modisette. The driver, Garret Wilhem, told police he was on FaceTime at the time of the crash, and officers found his phone in the car with FaceTime still engaged.
James was left in critical condition by the crash, and Bethany and the surviving daughter were both also seriously injured.
The suit alleges that Apple was negligent in failing to block FaceTime use by drivers, and that it had the means to do so pointing to a 2008 patent application filed by the company for a Driver handheld computing device lock-out mechanism to disable the ability of a handheld computing device to perform certain functions, such as texting, while one is driving. The patent was granted in April of 2014.
Defendant Apple Inc. has had the technology to prevent these events, and the Modisettes injuries, specifically since at least Dec. 12, 2008, when it filed an application with the U.S. Patent Office for a driver handheld computing device lock-out,' the family alleges in the complaint.
This suit calls to mind a similar incident from earlier this year when a Georgia couple sued SnapChat alleging that the company's "speed filter" encouraged a teenager to drive 107 miles per hour and that the subsequent crash, leaving the man brain damaged, was the result.
The Modisettes are seeking punitive damages and economic damages related to their injuries. The suit was filed in Santa Clara County Superior Court this past Friday.
Related: Couple Sues Snapchat Alleging 'Speed Filter' Caused Car Crash
A little over two years in, sit-down Mexican spot Hecho in the Castro the second venture from Hi Tops partners Jesse Woodward and Dana Gleim is closing Monday for a brief remodel and rebranding itself as more of a bar with food called Hecho Cantina. "Bars and cantinas are in our blood we believe in our neighborhood's blood as well, and that is what we will reflect [in the new concept]," Woodward tells SFist. "This is all about margaritas, rock 'n' roll, and chili verde burritos! We look forward to serving up the same bomb drinks from our amazing bartenders and being able to pack more people in than before to eat, hang out, and enjoy the neighborhood."
The restaurant is expected to be close for a few days during the first week of the new year, and reopen without the dining tables, with the addition of a pool table, pinball machines, a corner "hangout area," and a few high-top tables for eating and drinking, with a briefer food menu focused on quick bites. Also gone will be the brunch menu.
Says Gleim, "I think in our minds we don't see it so much as changing Hecho but more evolving Hecho's concept to better suit the neighborhood." She adds, "Hecho has been amazing but we're realizing over time that people, including ourselves, are more drawn to casual places that kinda let you create your own experience. Hi tops is a perfect example. You meet friends there for a drink and there's no pressure to eat, but chances are you will eat... and you end up spending your entire evening there even though that may not have been your plan. That's the sort of vibe we want for Hecho."
Chef Cory Armenta will remain in charge of the kitchen, and many of the drinks from the Hecho menu will remain in place, like the pinche picante margarita. But the space is going to be "warmed up" a bit, Gleim says, with "some color and texture."
Neighborhood denizens will recall that Hecho began life as Bandidos in late summer 2014, but quickly changed the name amid some controversy when several activists suggested the name was offensive to Mexican-Americans. In the two years since, the place has become a popular dinner and brunch spot, with Armenta rejiggering the menu last year.
Look for Hecho Cantina to makes its debut in early January.
Hecho Cantina - 2200 Market Street at Sanchez
Related: Go Eat This: Churro Doughnut Holes At Hecho
San Francisco has one of four Russian consulates in the US, but only ours can claim to have intelligence operatives included on a list of 35 that President Obama ordered out of the country on Thursday, in retaliation for the revelation that the Russians interfered in our election. The list has not been made public, but NBC Bay Area heard from a federal source that at least two individuals on the list are based at the San Francisco consulate, with the rest based at Russia's embassy in Washington, DC. Meanwhile, the consulate has posted a note to Facebook saying they will be saying goodbye to "a dozen of our colleagues" and adding that the departures sting especially because they will happen on New Year's Eve, which is traditionally the big night of family celebration in Russia, more like Christmas is here.
President Obama issued his order Thursday, imposing economic sanctions on three Russian companies accused of being involved with hacking US computers, as well as symbolic sanctions against security and intelligence officials in the Russian government. He also ordered the 35 diplomats and operatives out of the country within 72 hours, and ordered the shutdown of two Russian-owned recreational retreats for diplomats in Maryland and New York.
The individuals ordered out are accused of "acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status," according to the State Department, and as the Chronicle says, that's just "political-speak for spying." And the paper notes, "it likely isnt a coincidence that the diplomats sent packing come from the Russian consulate closest to the high-tech Silicon Valley."
The SF consulate's Facebook post calls Obama's move "bizarre and ridiculous," and reveals that one of those being ordered out of the US is the consulate's chef. "Coming from the historic city of Yaroslavl he is a professional cook, whose mastery was enjoyed by hundreds of our guests at the Consulate for three years. He will be leaving with his wife and two-year old son."
But chef as cover for a spy? That's not a terrible idea. Just sayin.
Multiple SF news outlets including ABC 7 swarmed the Russian consulate at 2790 Green Street on Thursday, only to be rebuffed by multiple employees there, including one who simply said, before getting in his car, "This is an unfortunate step by the outgoing administration."
NBC Bay Area notes that a black Lexus with a US seal was parked outside the consulate Thursday at noon, and several other vehicles with the same seal appeared in the afternoon.
Only one person spoke openly to reporters outside the consulate, and that was tech journalist Olga Chervayakova who brought her mother there to pick up her pension. She said of our two countries, "I think we should be friends. While were in America, we should learn from each other. And regarding the hacking and election interference allegations, she said, "I dont believe gossip. Give me the facts."
A full report on the State Department and intelligence agency findings is expected within weeks.
Russia has vowed to retaliate against Obama's retaliation, but today Vladimir Putin said he would not do so with a tit-for-tat ousting of any US diplomats in Russia.
The Chronicle discusses how US diplomats have been feeling increasingly harassed or threatened in Russia, however, likely in response to the 2014 sanctions by Western nations related to Russia's annexation of Ukrainian territory in Crimea. That harassment has included reports of house break-ins, and in one instance, the alleged killing of a diplomat's dog.
Meanwhile, there's now a theory, based on trips Trump took to Russia in 1987, suggesting Donald Trump has been a sleeper agent for the KGB for decades. And this was the reaction of the Russian embassy in the UK.
President Obama expels 35 diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm. pic.twitter.com/mleqA16H8D Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) December 29, 2016
* This post has been updated to include the information from the consulate's Facebook post.
WAUPUN, Wis. An inmate from Sioux City with a history of violence toward guards and one notorious escape has died in a Wisconsin prison one month after he was transferred there, authorities said Thursday.
Justin Kestner, 26, was found unresponsive Dec. 21 in his assigned cell at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin, the Iowa Department of Corrections said in a statement. Prison staff responded and initiated lifesaving measures that were unsuccessful.
Prison officials and the Dodge County sheriff said Thursday that they are investigating the death, and that no additional information on the suspected cause or manner was available. A medical examiner said autopsy results haven't been completed.
Kestner made headlines on July 4, 2015, when he became the first inmate in a decade to escape from Iowa's historic maximum-security prison in Fort Madison. An investigation found that he removed screws from the shower to gain access to a narrow pipe chase an enclosed space that houses the prison's pipes. He was able to climb up until he reached the attic, then crawled through a vent to reach the roof.
He descended by climbing down the building's downspout and landing outside a prison fence. He timed his escape to coincide with holiday fireworks in the hopes that guards would be distracted, and left in his bed a dummy made up of milk cartons and insulation to try to fool them into thinking he was sleeping. Kestner stole a car after his escape but was captured within hours near Geneseo, Illinois.
Kestner was serving time for robbing gas stations in Sioux City in 2009. A judge in February extended his original 20-year sentence by 15 years after Kestner pleaded guilty to the escape and vehicle theft.
Sometime after the escape, Kestner was transferred to the penitentiary in Anamosa, Iowa. In October, authorities said that Kestner managed to get out of a health services room before he assaulted a correctional officer with a crude piece of metal. The officer suffered multiple contusions to the face that required medical treatment.
Kestner, who had previously attacked guards in Fort Madison, was placed in segregation after that incident. On Nov. 21, he was transferred to Wisconsin through the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision, which governs the movement of offenders from state to state.
Dodge Correctional is Wisconsin's intake facility for all new inmates, who are later assigned to specific prisons. Wisconsin Department of Corrections spokesman Tristan Cook said the agency is conducting an internal investigation into the death.
Iowa prisons spokesman Fred Scaletta said it took several days to announce the death because authorities in Iowa and Wisconsin needed to work together to notify Kestner's family and victims.
Funeral services were held Tuesday for Kestner in his hometown of Rembrandt, Iowa, a small Buena Vista County town near Storm Lake.
Kestner, who graduated from Midland Park High School in 2007, was "a very passionate young man and his special interests include his love for others, drawing, being outdoors and animals," according to an obituary published in the Storm Lake Times newspaper. The obituary said he died unexpectedly and will be buried at a later date.
SPENCER, Iowa -- Veridian Limited of Spencer was awarded a $13,018.70 federal contract to supply flash hoods and proximity suits to the U.S. Naval Supply Systems Command Fleet Logistics Center.
Flash hoods are a fire resistant hood often worn underneath other protective clothing. Veridian sells its flash hoods under the Viper brand name and offers them in several types of material: PBI, Nomex, Lensing, P84 and Nomex. Proximity suits protect the wearer in extreme heat conditions.
The Clay County seat-based company has been in business since 1992 and manufactures protective gear for all of its clientele, which primarily consists of firefighters.
On the companys website, Veridian boasts that all of its gear is custom-made to each customers measurements, and that its facility is ISO 9001 certified, meaning it meets the needs of customers and other stakeholders while meeting statutory and regulatory requirements related to a product or program.
NEW YORK Most women in their 40s facing the prospect of singing and dancing on Broadway eight times a week might ask to shorten their high heels just a smidge. Melanie Brown wants hers taller. No wonder they call her Scary Spice.
"If you're into high heels, you want them the higher the better," Brown said as she prepared to join the cast of "Chicago" playing the murderous Roxie Hart.
Doesn't it matter that it's a very physical role and that she'll appear for her first song on a ladder 15 feet in the air? Not to Brown.
"Why not?" she asks with a throaty laugh. "Why not?"
Brown, who since the Spice Girls' chart-topping exploits has become a sought-after TV judge, said she's relishing the chance to play a jail inmate who kills her boyfriend and sings about her newfound celebrity.
After years of criticizing others, she finds herself on stage. She seems unfazed, saying made frequent visits to the recording studio in her Los Angeles home to prepare.
"I'm always going to be the one to go, 'Yes, I just want to get back into singing,'" she said. "I'm constantly singing and vocalizing so it's nice to be able to get the chance to do it all at once."
Brown has been on Broadway before, playing Mimi in "Rent" in 2005. But this time her task has Bob Fosse-inspired choreography, skimpy outfits and killer songs such as "Me and My Baby."
"My 9-year-old said, 'Why did you choose that part? It's such a big part,'" she said. "And I'm like, "Cause it's good to challenge yourself.' And then I'm thinking, 'Why did I choose that one?'"
Brown shot to fame as part of the five-piece Spice Girls, known for its girl-power attitude thanks to songs like "Wannabe" and "Spice Up Your Life."
The group marked its 20th anniversary this year, which also happens to be the 20th anniversary of "Chicago." But Brown said none of the members managed to pull off a tour or an event to celebrate.
"I still hope something is going to happen, but nothing's been set in stone at all," she said. "We're all talking about it, but nothing's actually been said like, 'OK, on this day, on the time, this is what we're doing so let's get rehearsing!'"
Brown has been a contestant on ABC's "Dancing with the Stars" and was a judge on the Australian and UK editions of "The X Factor." She's a current judge on "America's Got Talent."
Fellow critic Simon Cowell got her involved in judging and she said she tries to concentrate simply on whoever is performing in front of her. The rest comes naturally.
"Doesn't everybody do that at home yell at the TV and go, 'Oh my God, are you kidding me?'" she asked. "I think we all have that inside of us."
Diversity.
It was a word that smacked Oscar voters in the face last year.
This year -- as a result of that or as lucky coincidence -- there are several great films that address minority situations, showcase minority filmmakers and give voice to something more than the white male perspective.
Films like "The Handmaiden" proved film companies need to look beyond U.S. borders for material. Films like "The Birth of a Nation" suggested great talent just needs a push. Films like "13th" showed reality can often be more compelling than fiction.
The material, we learned, is there. It's just a matter of getting it to an audience.
Of the films that broke through, these were 2016's best, in order:
1. LA LA LAND
In a sea of dark dramas, La La Land stood out as the Technicolor wonder of the year. Directed by Damien Chazelle, the infectious musical gave Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone a chance to show just how talented (and complex) they are. The two hit plenty of Los Angeles landmarks while they played out a romance with many twists, turns and turnpikes. Dancing at the Griffith Observatory, they helped us forget a world of angst and anger and remember what kind of escape film provides.
2. MOONLIGHT
Three actors gave life to one oh-so-strong character as director Barry Jenkins chronicled the man's life from childhood in Miami to adulthood in the world. Mahershala Ali (as a neighborhood drug dealer) exerted great influence, guiding him through the minefields of his early life. Naomie Harris was wrenching as his addicted mother. Jenkins didnt need a social media campaign to point out how powerful this film is. Excellence speaks for itself.
3. MANCHESTER BY THE SEA
Casey Affleck delivered the performance of the year as a conflicted handyman who had to decide what to do with his nephew after the boys father dies unexpectedly. Unwilling to become a substitute father, Affleck mined his own ore of emotions to reveal a hurt that went even deeper. Michelle Williams and Lucas Hedges were just as intriguing, bringing Kenneth Lonergans screenplay to heartbreaking life.
4. CAPTAIN FANTASTIC
A hippie father (Viggo Mortensen) tried to teach his children the ways of survival by driving them to the farthest reaches of the country and forcing them to deal with life. When their mother died, they faced the biggest challenge of all her unaccepting parents. Arriving at the funeral, Mortensen prompted the kind of showdown few would expect. He was powerful. So, too, were Matt Rosss writing and direction.
5. THE LOBSTER
One of the most bizarre films of the year, this dystopian drama let Colin Farrell reveal new dimensions as a man sent to a resort and charged with finding a mate in 45 days or risk being turned into the animal of his choice. Yorgos Lanthimos drama teemed with surprises, including a subversive Rachel Weisz who partnered Farrell nicely. The Lobster grabbed from the first minute and never let go.
6. JACKIE
Jackie Kennedy wasnt just John F. Kennedys silent partner. She was the steel behind the smile, the New England flower who didnt wilt in the face of adversity. Director Pablo Larrain told her story in those crucial days following the presidents assassination. Natalie Portman made her believable, vulnerable and utterly unforgettable. The film was like a time capsule of one of the most seminal moments in American history.
7. ARRIVAL
Even though there were more science-fiction stories this year than H.G. Wells could have imagined, Denis Villeneuve told one that suggested aliens arent the enemy. Frightened when pods hovered over all parts of the world, officials called on a linguist (Amy Adams) to translate and find common ground. Using expressive eyes to great effect, Adams let us know this was more than just another close encounter. This was a journey with everyday relevance.
8. HELL OR HIGH WATER
Sneaking up on us during the summer, David Mackenzies drama had so many twists it was impossible to predict. Ben Foster and Chris Pine starred as brothers who robbed banks in order to right some government wrongs. On the other side: Jeff Bridges as a grizzled lawman about to call it quits. While Foster continued his Sean Penn ways, Pine surprised with subtlety that only Bridges (now in the character actor phase of his career) could match.
9. DEADPOOL
The opening credits (Starring Gods perfect idiot; Directed by an overpaid tool) set a tone that the ensuing film never betrayed. Sending up the proliferation of superheroes, it let Ryan Reynolds find one who deserved his brand of snark and cynicism. It was entertaining, too, and filled with the kind of surprises only someone as hooked in as Tim Miller could deliver.
10. KUBO AND THE TWO STRINGS
While there was plenty of traditional animation this year ("Moana" emerging as one of the best), this stop-motion venture intrigued, largely because director Travis Knight created vast worlds to tell the story of a boy looking to defeat a particularly nasty spirit. In scene after scene, we saw just how magical the art form could be.
Also worth noting: "Fences," "Sully," "Hacksaw Ridge," "Moana," "Zootopia" and "Nocturnal Animals."
New studies at Grace United Methodist
SIOUX CITY -- Two new study groups will be offered at Grace United Methodist Church, 1735 Morningside Ave.
A five-week women's study based on Shauna Niequist's "Leaving Behind Frantic for a Simple, More Soulful Way of Living," will meet at 6:30 p.m. beginning Jan. 18. The $22 book will be distributed at 6:30 p.m. Jan. 11.
A six-week study based on Adam Hamilton's "John: The Gospel of Light and Life" will begin at 10 a.m. Jan. 19. The $13 book will be distributed at 10 a.m. Jan. 12.
To register for either class, call Jim Clem at 712-276-3452.
New Year's Eve worship services
SIOUX CITY -- Redeemer Lutheran Church, 3204 S. Lakeport St., invites the public to New Year's Eve worship services at 11:30 a.m. and 6 p.m. Saturday. Holy communion will be part of the service and a New Year's Eve social party will begin at 7 p.m.
SIOUX CITY -- Central Baptist Church, 4001 Indian Hills Dr., will host "Journey Ministries: Women Encouraging Women in their Journey to Live and Age Well," at 7 p.m. Thursday. This month's topic will be "Taking the Journey with Joy," with speaker Dr. Jim Logan. Men and welcome are welcome.
Sunday service at First Unitarian
SIOUX CITY -- The congregation of First Unitarian Church will hear the topic, "Passages" presented by Chad Dunning at 11 a.m. Sunday at First Unitarian Church, 2508 Jackson St.
Screenings
Free blood pressure screenings, 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesdays at Countryside Senior Living, front lobby. No appointment necessary.
Programs/Self-Help Groups
Al-Anon Information Center, call 712-255-6724.
Al-Anon and Alateen, meetings locally. For times, dates and locations of area meetings, call 712-255-6724.
Alcoholics Anonymous, beginners information, call 712-252-1333.
Arc of Woodbury County, serving the mentally challenged, 5:15 p.m. meeting, second Monday of the month at Mid-Step Services, 4303 Stone Ave. For families and interested persons.
Child Care Resource and Referral, provides resources, education and advocacy for children, parents, and child care providers. Assists in child care needs. For more information, call 712-277-1180.
Co-Dependence Anonymous, 7 p.m. Mondays and Thursdays at First Lutheran Church, Fireside Room.
Co-Dependents Anonymous (CODA), 10 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.
Compassionate Friends, 7 p.m. fourth Wednesday of each month (third Thursday in November and second Sunday December) in Mercy Medical Center's Leiter Room. For families who have lost children. Contact Nancy Webb 712-212-4032 or Don Mulder 712-541-5512.
Eating disorder coalition awareness event, 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Oct. 29 at Boy's and Girl's home and family services, 2101 Court St. Contact Lisa 712-251-0570 or Michele 712-898-2351.
Clinics
Siouxland District Health immunization clinics, call for appointment, 712-279-6119 or 1-800-587-3005.
Information
Family and Addictive Illness series, for more information, call 234-2300.
Iowa Fathers, 6 to 8 p.m. fourth Tuesday of each month at Hope Lutheran Church, Education Building, 218 W. 18th St., South Sioux City, Neb. Support group to help single, divorcing and divorced parents residing in the state of Iowa.
Mercy Pathways Outpatient Program, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays, on the third floor, Mercy's Central Medical Building, 801 Fifth St., Suite 360. Provides hope, help, opportunity to connect through group therapy for individuals experiencing personal, relationship, psychiatric issues. For more information, call 712-279-5991.
Narcotics Anonymous, meetings daily, various times, dates and locations. For more information, call 712-279-0733.
Overeaters Anonymous, 1 p.m. Tuesdays at Wesley United Methodist Church, 3700 Indian Hills Drive; 6 p.m. Tuesdays at St. John's Lutheran Church, 402 Lane Ave., Storm Lake; 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Church of the Nazarene, 226 N. Main St., Viborg, S.D.; 5:30 p.m. Thursdays and 9 a.m. Saturdays at Newman Center, 320 E. Cherry St., Vermillion, S.D.; 10:30 a.m. Saturdays at Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St. A 12-step recovery program for people who have problems with food and weight. No fees.
St. Lukes Outpatient Behavioral Health Program, 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Tuesday and Thursday on fifth floor of St. Luke's, located at 2720 Stone Park Blvd. Offers several levels of outpatient care including partial hospitalization, intensive outpatient, and group therapy. This program provides support and integrated treatment to individuals experiencing personal or relationship issues as a result of their mental illness. For more information and admission criteria, call 712-279-3906.
Sobriety By Faith, 8:30 a.m. Saturdays at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For more information, call James Mothershead at 712-577-9715.
The Link-Recovery and Freedom, 1603 Glen Ellen Road; 9:30 to 10:30 a.m. Saturday workshop, and Christian 12-step meeting 7 to 8 p.m. Tuesday. For all ages. Call Dee at 389-7432.
Women in Recovery, meets monthly at Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church, 1421 Geneva St. For details, call 712-255-4623.
Tarahouse Meditation Center, 8 a.m. Mondays through Thursdays; 6:30 p.m. Fridays; 10 a.m. Saturdays and Sundays, all at 3112 Rebecca St. Three easy 10-minute sessions in small group; beginners welcome. For more information, call 490-6410.
Blood pressure and blood sugar screening, 9 to 11 a.m. Wednesdays in the lobby at Westwood Nursing and Rehabilitation Center. Free to public.
Support Groups
Food Addicts in Recovery Anonymous, 7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays at Hawkeye Club basement, 420 Jones St. For more information, call 277-5935.
Celebrate Recovery, Bible-based 12-step recovery group. Thursdays at 6 p.m. at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive. Childcare provided. 712-490-3343. All welcome.
PFLAG of Siouxland, (Parents & Friends of Lesbians and Gays), 7 p.m., fourth Monday of January, March, May, July, September and November. St. Mark ELCA Church, 5200 Glenn Ave., in the upstairs meeting area. 712-258-3116.
Singles widowed and divorced, all ages, 4 p.m., Sundays. McDonald's at Sixth Street and Lewis Boulevard. 712-252-2675.
GriefShare, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.
HIV/AIDS Support Group, meets weekly. For more information, call Darla or Teri at Siouxland Community Health Center, 712-252-2477 or 888-371-1965.
Hospice of Siouxland, seeking volunteers. For more information, call 712-233-4144 and ask for a volunteer coordinator.
La Leche League of Siouxland, breastfeeding support group meets every third Thursday at 11 a.m. at Morningside Lutheran Church. Children are welcome. For more information, call Mary at 712-546-7280 or Jacquie at 712-255-2998.
Living Each Day Cancer Support Group, 7-8 p.m. second Thursday of the month, Floyd Valley Hospital, Conference Center Room 2, Le Mars, Iowa. Open to all cancer patients, cancer survivors and family members. No charge. Pre-register by calling 712-546-3441 or 800-642-6074, ext. 441.
Mom and Baby Support Group, 10-11 a.m. last Monday of the month at the Orange City (Iowa) Hospital, lower level. For new moms and babies. 712-737-5260.
Tri-State Sober Project, 12-step meeting, 7:30-8:30 p.m., Tuesdays, Friendship Community Church, 305 Sergeant Square Drive, Sergeant Bluff. 6-7 p.m., Thursdays, Transitional Services of Iowa, 1221 Pierce St., Sioux City.
Doug's Donors Support Group, information for organ donors and recipients, 12:30-1:30 p.m. Fridays, 5:15-6:30 p.m. second Thursdays of the month at Mercy Cafeteria Woodbury Room. 712-277-1050.
Divorce Care, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.
NAMI Siouxland, (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Support Group meets 6:30 p.m., second Tuesday of the month at Friendship House, 1101 Court St. For individuals and family members dealing with mental illness. 712-255-4209.
New Life Life Support Group, 3:30 p.m. every Saturday at 2929 W. Fourth St. Spiritual 12-step program. For more information, call Donald at 712-574-1744 or James at 712-255-7624.
Orphan Sunday, 3:30-5 p.m. Sunday at Sunnybrook Community Church loft, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive.
Post Polio Support Group, 11 a.m. first Thursday of the month at Perkins Restaurant by Menards. 712-490-8213.
Relationship Support Group, 7 p.m. Fridays at Marketplace Mall. For more information, call 239-3129.
Sexual Assault and Domestic Violence, Individual and Support Groups. For more information, call CSADV in Sioux City at 712-258-7233; Plymouth County at 712-546-6764; Monona County at 712-423-3443. Advocacy and support available 24 hours a day at 1-800-982-7233. All services free of charge and confidential.
Sickle Cell Disease Support Group, 11 a.m. third Saturday of each month at St. Luke's Hospital, meeting room 1. For patients, their family and any concerned member. Call La'Keshia Rainey at 712-203-2019 for more information.
Single and Parenting, 6:30 -8:30 p.m. every Tuesday until Dec. 6 at Sunnybrook Community Church, 5601 Sunnybrook Drive, Sioux City. 712-276-5814.
Sioux City Association of the Deaf, 7 p.m. third Saturday of the month at Morningside Church of Christ, 5015 Garretson Ave. Regular meeting, September-May; no meeting, June, July, August and December.
Siouxland Autism Support Group, second Thursday of the month at Northwest Area Education Agency, 1520 Morningside Ave. For more information, call Julie Case at 712-490-8939.
Siouxland Epilepsy Support Group, 5 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at Prestwick Apartment Clubhouse, 4230 Hickory Lane. For anyone diagnosed with seizures or epilepsy and family or friends. For more information, call Steve at 274-6927.
Siouxland IC support group, meets quarterly in Sioux City. For patients struggling with interstital cystitis. For more information, call Jacque Dundas 316-641-9766.
Siouxland Informational Group for the Blind, 2-5 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at Northern Hills Retirement Community, 4002 Teton Trace. For more information, call 712-266-8926 or 258-8151.
Grief support group, 5:30-7:30 p.m., beginning Oct. 5 for 13 weeks (may join at any time), Crescent Park United Methodist Church, 2826 Myrtle St., Sioux City. Scott, 712-899-6315.
Siouxland Ostomy Association, 2 p.m. first Sunday of each month (except September, which will be second Sunday; and no meetings June, July, August), in Room 300 at Mercy Medical Center, 801 Fifth St. For more information, call Dick Lindblom at 251-2453.
Siouxland Parkinson Disease Support Group, 1 p.m. fourth Monday of the month at Siouxland Center for Active Generations, 313 Cook St. For more information, call Sally Reinert at 402-987-3516.
Sojourners, support group for families of persons with life-threatening illness, 7:30 p.m. Tuesdays at St. Luke's Regional Medical Center, Room 416. For more information, call Marjorie Jarvill at 402-241-8637.
South Sioux City Weight Support Group, 8:30 a.m. Wednesdays at St. Paul United Methodist Church, South Sioux City. For more information, call 494-1401 or 494-2133.
Disabilities Resource Center of Siouxland, 520 Nebraska St., Suite 101: Women's Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Wednesday of the month; LGBT Support Group, 1:30 p.m. first Friday of the month; Adult ADHD, 6 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; Advocacy Group, 1:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month. For more information, call 712-255-1065.
Take Off Pounds Sensibly, group meetings various times, days and locations in Siouxland. For information on the chapter in your area, call 1-800-932-TOPS.
Voice Disorder Support Group, meets as needed at Mercy Medical Center, Buena Vista Room. 712-279-2686.
Women's Peer Support Group, in Wayne and South Sioux City, Neb., for those who have experienced domestic abuse. For more information, call the Wayne office at 402-375-4633 or 1-800-440-4633; in South Sioux City, call 402-494-7592. Help and support available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Services free and confidential.
Woodbury County D.M.D.A., noon-2 p.m. first Saturday of the month at Country Friendship Acres, 4501 West St.; 7-8 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at 515 Court St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. second Tuesday of the month at 441 W. Third St. in the Community Room; 7-8 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at 409 W. Third St. in the Community Room. Support group for people with disabilities and mental disorders.
Natural Mamas in Siouxland, 1 p.m., third Tuesday of each month in the Garretson room of the Morningside Public Library. All ages of children are welcome to come with moms. For sharing natural living tips, recipes, natural remedies and health, homemaking, mothering, etc. For more information, call 402-913-0038 or visit their Facebook page.
A Step Beyond support group, 3:30 p.m. second Tuesday of the month, except for August, November and December when it meets at 5:30 p.m. (no meeting in January) at the Christy-Smith Resource Center, 1819 Morningside Ave. For more information, call 712-276-7319.
Divorce care, 5 p.m., Sundays. Fireside room, Morningside Lutheran Church, 700 South Martha St.
Gamblers Anonymous meetings, 4 p.m. Thursdays at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 315 Hamilton Blvd.; 7 p.m. Wednesdays, Morningside Presbyterian Church, 4327 Morningside Ave.; 7 p.m. Tuesdays, St. John Lutheran Church; 7 p.m. Sundays, Hawkeye Club, 420 Jones St.. 712-277-2901.
Art therapy support group, 5:30 p.m. second Thursday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. Registration required, call 252-9387.
After Breast Cancer Support Group, 5:30 p.m. third Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call Brenda, 252-9370.
After Prostate Cancer Support Group, 5:15 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the June E. Nylen Cancer Center. For more information, call 252-9426.
Alzheimer's Association, Big Sioux Chapter Support Group, 2 p.m. second Tuesday of the month; 4 p.m. third Tuesday of the month (under age 65) at 201 Pierce St., Suite 110 (Famous Dave's building); and 6 p.m. first Tuesday of the month at the Barnes and Noble Cafe. For more information, call Emily Lord at 712-279-5802.
Christy-Smith Funeral Homes of Sioux City, extensive grief library at the Morningside location. Open to the public during weekday hours. For more information, call 276-7319.
Chronic Pain/Chronic Illness Support Group, 7:30 p.m. fourth Wednesday of the month in the lower level of the Orange City Hospital. For more information, call 712-737-5260.
Connections Area Agency on Aging, and Mercy Medical Centers Older Adult Services Welcome to Medicare, 1:30-4 p.m., the first Friday of every month at Connections Area Agency on Aging, 2301 Pierce St. To pre-register, or for more information, contact Connections Area Agency on Aging at 712-279-6900.
SIOUX CITY -- The Twelfth Night Handbell Concert will ring in Epiphany at 4:30 p.m. Jan. 8.
Due to water damage at the traditional venue, Central Baptist Church, the concert will celebrate its 36th year at Eppley Auditorium on the campus of Morningside College, 3625 Garretson Ave.
Handbell choirs from six area churches will gather for what Eleanor Tasker calls a "mass ringing."
The audience can expect to hear new songs, along with traditional classics.
"Some of the choirs choose to do solos, but we all come together for a mass ringing," said Tasker, the choir director of the Burnished Brass group at First Lutheran Church in South Sioux City.
Tasker, 89, has been a part of the free concert since the very beginning. She has been playing handbells for 53 years.
Though this will be Tasker's final year working as the director of her choir, she's confident that the bells will ring on.
"We're all in this together," she said.
The churches performing this year will include: First Lutheran Church of Sioux City, First Lutheran Church of South Sioux City, Grace United Methodist Church, First Presbyterian Church, First United Methodist Church, and Association Church of Hawarden, Iowa.
"Everyone involved is committed and dedicated. It really is a gift to the community," Tasker said.
ALTOMUENSTER, Germany It was filthy, cramped and in major disarray, but when art historian Eva Lindqvist Sandgren entered the library in Altomuenster Abbey, off-limits to all but the German monastery's nuns for more than five centuries, she immediately knew she was looking at a major treasure.
The dusty shelves held at least 500 books, by her estimate, including precious illuminated manuscripts from the 16th century, chants used by the uniquely women-led Bridgettine Order and processionals bursting with colorful religious and ornamental decoration in their margins.
Unlike most Bridgettine libraries, the tomes had survived the Protestant Reformation, the 30 Years War and Germany's "secularization," when the state took most church property. It represents the most complete collection of the order known today.
"I had entered a time capsule," said Lindqvist Sandgren, a senior lecturer at Sweden's Uppsala University.
Surprised by the spontaneous decision by Altomuenster's last remaining nun, Sister Apollonia Buchinger, to open the library, 20 scholars including Sandgren made plans to return and meticulously catalog the remarkable collection. But before they could, the Vatican ordered the abbey in the Bavarian town of 7,500 closed and locked up the library, which also contains some 2,300 statues, paintings and other works of art.
If plans go ahead to close it down, all of the abbey's property the books, the artworks, the city block-sized abbey, and the acres of forests and fields that make up the monastery grounds would be turned over to the dioceses of Munich and Freising.
Since 1496, the former Benedictine abbey in Altomuenster has housed a female religious order founded by Saint Bridget in Sweden in the 14th century. It is one of three monasteries of the original branch of the scholarly, monastic order operating today. But with its numbers in decline, Sister Apollonia now lives there alone. The Vatican requires at least three nuns to train novices to become nuns, prompting the decision to shut down the abbey.
The Franciscan nun the Vatican put in charge of the closure, Sister Gabriele Konrad, says the collections are just being kept safe, but she's refused to grant the scholars or anyone else access to the books.
"The value of the library is the ensemble, because it's never been taken apart and probably nobody's removed a significant number of books it's a working library," said Corine Schlief, an art historian at Arizona State University who visited the library with Sandgren.
"If this should be taken apart and divided up between books that collectors would give tens or hundreds of thousands of dollars for and those only of interest to scholars, it would lose a lot of its value."
SIOUX CITY | The owner of the former Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino would prefer that a lawsuit concerning nearly $2 million in revenue-sharing payments that it withheld from local nonprofit groups be heard in federal court rather than state court.
Attorneys for Belle of Sioux City and Iowa Gaming Company, both named as defendants in the suit, on Tuesday filed a notice of removal of the case brought by Community Action Agency of Siouxland to U.S. District Court in Sioux City.
The nonprofit agency in November sued the Argosy's former owners in Woodbury County District Court for $1.93 million in revenue sharing payments that were withheld from the casino operator's former local partner, Missouri River Historical Development Inc., for distribution to charities.
A removal to federal court is a common legal procedure when out-of-state entities are involved in lawsuits in a certain state. According to its notice of removal, Iowa Gaming Company and Belle of Sioux City both are citizens of states other than Iowa.
Iowa Gaming Company, according to the court document, is a limited liability company whose sole member is CRC Holdings, a Florida corporation with its principal place of business in Pennsylvania. Belle of Sioux City is a limited partnership made up of two partners: CRC Holdings and Iowa Gaming. Based on that information, both defendants are citizens of Florida and Pennsylvania, the court document said.
A representative of the defendants declined to comment on the record about the move.
Terry Giebelstein, a Davenport, Iowa, attorney representing Community Action Agency, said he is evaluating the removal notice to decide whether it should be challenged.
"We're looking into it," Giebelstein said.
Community Action Agency is seeking the money on behalf of itself and as many as 54 other nonprofit agencies that in the past have received grants from MRHD, the state-licensed nonprofit gaming group that collected and distributed a portion of Argosy gambling profits to charitable and civic organizations.
Belle, a subsidiary of Penn National Gaming Inc., which is based in Pennsylvania, stopped making the payments -- 3 percent of the boat's adjusted gross revenues -- in April 2013, seven months after it had sued MRHD for breach of contract.
The monthly payments ceased two months after the Iowa Racing and Gaming Commission awarded Woodbury County's first land-based gaming license to MRHD and developers of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino, which opened in downtown Sioux City on Aug. 1, 2014, two days after state regulators ordered the Argosy to close because its state gaming license had expired.
In May, the Iowa Supreme Court denied the Belle of Sioux City's request to review an Iowa Court of Appeals ruling that upheld previous rulings that led to the casino's closure.
Belle's breach of contract lawsuit against MRHD is still pending in Polk County District Court. MRHD has countersued in that case.
1. Investigation into Sioux Citys management of wastewater discharges intensifies
2. Northwest Iowa plays pivotal role in 2016 election as Donald Trump dominates in region
3. CF Industries completes $2 billion expansion at Port Neal, thousands of workers return home
4. Isaiah Mothershed sentenced for attempted murder in shooting of Sioux City police officer
5. Horrible odors tied to Big Ox Energy displace South Sioux City homeowners, perplex city
6. Sioux City nears $14 million in state tax credits for big-ticket downtown projects
7. Federal grand juries indict several former, current members of Winnebago, Omaha tribal councils
8. Dakota Access lays crude oil pipeline in Siouxland, other states amid protests, court challenges
9. Sioux City police officer fatally shoots passenger during traffic stop
10. Legal battle over closing of former Argosy Sioux City riverboat casino ends
5 stories that just missed the Top 10 list for 2016
Cone Park construction moves forward after city of Sioux City receives $300,000 Vision Iowa grant
Seaboard Triumph Foods enters second year of construction on $264 million pork plant in Sioux City
Woodbury County supervisors twice reject efforts to raise minimum wage in county above state, national minimum
Two men charged with first-degree murder in the grisly slaying of a rural Emerson man
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Sioux City begins construction on $5 million addition that will include high-stakes room
SIOUX CITY | City officials have provided documents, data and reams of other information to state and federal authorities investigating the management of the city's wastewater treatment plant.
Now they wait.
They wait to see if federal investigations will result in criminal charges being filed against any current or former city employees or officials involved with operating or overseeing plant operations.
They also wait to see if the city will face significant fines as a result of a state investigation.
It's also possible that no criminal wrongdoing is found and no charges are filed, no fines levied.
How long the wait to find out what happens may take, no one knows.
There is no time line for FBI, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency or U.S. Attorney probes into the city's operation of the plant, said Tony Morfitt, assistant U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Iowa.
"There is nothing new in the public record," Morfitt said.
The stepped-up investigation into the city's management of the regional wastewater treatment plant is the Journal's No. 1 story of 2016.
Earlier in December, the Federal Bureau of Investigation served a search warrant to gather digital information pertaining to the treatment plant. Federal authorities would not disclose what information was being sought or who was listed on the warrant.
Morfitt said the warrant, a routine procedure done during an investigation, remains sealed.
Assistant City Attorney Justin Vondrak said in the days after the search that FBI agents did not take any city servers, hard drives or other computer equipment, but he believed they secured all the information they were seeking.
Vondrak said the city has cooperated with requests from all state and federal agencies that have sought information.
"We've been working with them on several different requests," he said. "We've complied with them all."
The FBI search of city records and data was just one development this past year in the investigation into the city's wastewater treatment practices, which came under scrutiny in April 2015, when the Iowa Department of Natural Resources learned two plant supervisors were manipulating chemical levels used to treat sewage, which resulted in legally permitted discharges into the Missouri River to contain high levels of E. coli bacteria, potentially endangering public health.
In June, the state Environmental Protection Commission referred the case to Iowa Attorney General Tom Miller for consideration of civil penalties. DNR regulators had requested the action because the department's penalties against violators are capped by state law at $10,000. The Attorney General's office, however, can levy higher fines. The attorney general also could determine if criminal charges are warranted.
"We need to send a message to other municipalities that are maybe trying to slide by," commissioner Chad Ingels, of Randalia, said during the meeting prior to the Environmental Protection Commission's vote to turn the case over to the Attorney General, which is still reviewing the case.
The DNR began its investigation after receiving a tip that plant supervisors Jay Niday and Pat Schwarte had dramatically raised chlorine and bisulfate doses on days that E. coli samples were taken and then reduced the levels. A statement said that at least four other city employees took part in the manipulation of test results on directions from Niday and Schwarte, and the practice dated back as far as 2011, when the city took over operation of the plant from a private contractor. The report did not identify the other workers.
Niday, the former wastewater operator in charge, told state investigators the city saved at least $100,000 in one year when workers administered the smaller levels of chlorine.
SIOUX CITY | Christian Lee Coyle, 49, of Sioux City, went home to be with the Lord on Dec. 26, 2016, after a courageous seven month battle with cancer.
Memorial services will be 3 p.m. Friday at Meyer Brothers Colonial Chapel, with the Rev. Kenny Hsu officiating. Per his request, his earthly remains were cremated. Visitation will be 2 p.m. until service time Friday at the funeral home. Online condolences may be expressed at www.meyerbroschapels.com.
Christian Lee Coyle was born on Nov. 4, 1967, in Sioux City, the son of Katherine Magel-Coyle and Greg Coyle. He was baptized, confirmed, and married at St. Paul's Lutheran Church.
He graduated from West High School before going on to college at the University of South Dakota (USD) with several of his high school friends. Many of those friendships have lived on to the present. It was his request to ask his friends to attend his funeral and express their thoughts about these enduring friendships.
While at USD, he met his future wife. The couple moved to Houston, Texas, where he completed his studies at Houston University earning a BA in elementary education. He taught in the Texas school system for 11 years. Out of his marriage came three wonderful children, Emily, Mason, and Rachel. Mason and Rachel joined the Iowa family in early December for a celebration of Christian's life while he was still alive.
The couple later divorced and Christian moved back to Sioux City. He was employed in various settings during his time back home. He loved to spend time with his mother and her Golden Retriever, Blair, and with his father and his family. He also loved to read, binge-watch his favorite shows on TV, socialize on the internet, and talk on the phone with his many friends.
In May 2016 he became ill with a form of cancer that would take his life in seven short months. It was during this time that his aunt, Gina, aka "Auntie G" offered her time and energy to make his life better in countless ways. We literally do not know what we would have done without her and, are eternally grateful for the love, comfort, and peace she brought to his life.
Survivors left to cherish the memories of his warm and gentle spirit are his children, Emily, Mason, and Rachel of Houston, Texas; mother, Kathy Coyle of Sioux City; father, Greg and wife, Lori Coyle of Sioux City; stepbrothers, Tim Murphy and Ryan Coyle of Colorado, and Beau Coyle of Sioux City; stepsisters, Tiffany, Angel, and Zoe, and once removed stepsister, Summer all of Sioux City; maternal grandmother, Mercedes Coyle of Sioux City; and several aunts, uncles, nieces and nephews.
He was preceded in death by his maternal grandparents, William and Lucille Magel; his paternal grandfather, Jack Coyle; his uncles, David Patrick and William Magel Jr.; and aunts, Lenore Anderson and Ruby Jane "Patty" Schieffer.
Honorary pallbearers are John Meier, Matt Krommenhoek, Mark Gordon, Kelly McCarthy, Randy Olson, Dean Hohn, Heath Marrinan, and Tim Murphy.
The family wishes to thank Dr. Sellers, Nylen Cancer Center, Hospice of Siouxland, and Touchstone Care Community for their assistance in guiding Christian's care during this most difficult journey.
BERESFORD, S.D. | A semi truck hauling paper caught fire on Interstate 29 Thursday, forcing traffic to be rerouted to a Union County blacktop for hours.
South Dakota Department of Public Safety spokesman Tony Mangan said the male driver noticed smoke coming from the tractor after 1 p.m. while traveling south on I-29, seven miles south of Beresford at mile marker 40.
The driver then pulled over to the west-hand shoulder and noticed there was fire coming from between the gas tank and the exhaust system of the truck.
"Within a few minutes, the tractor caught on fire," Mangan said, "and then it quickly spread to the trailer that was carrying paper products."
Authorities blocked off the interstate and directed traffic to go east on 302 Street and then south on 471 Avenue before returning to I-29 at the ramp four miles down the road. The northbound lanes were also closed for 10 minutes due to the poor visibility from the smoke, he said
Mangan said the tractor is totally destroyed and the trailer had substantial damages.
Mangan said the cause of the fire is unknown and the driver was uninjured.
South Dakota Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, and the Beresford and Alcester fire departments responded to the scene.
Mangan did not know where the driver was going.
Todays top picks from our online calendar. Find more events at siouxcityjournal.com/calendar.
Christmas Acres 2016
The largest outdoor Christmas Display in the area with an estimated 80,000 lights, displays, inflatables with music playing. Located 7 miles west of Le Mars, Iowa, on Highway 3, then turn left on Impala Ave. Open every night from 5 to 10 p.m. until Dec. 31.
A Photo Album of Ireland
This traveling exhibit is a program of ExhibitsUSA, a national division of Mid-America Arts Alliance and the National Endowment for the Arts. The exhibit is open during Sioux City Public Museum hours. Admission is free. Visit siouxcitymuseum.org for additional information and museum hours.
Friday Night Music
Come listen to Noah Cvrk playing keyboard and singing from 7 to 8:30 p.m. tonight at Scooter's Coffee, 1390 Hamilton Blvd. Contact Ali Dreher at 402-689-6390 for additional information.
KINGSLEY, Iowa | An 88-ton house-moving project crept 20 miles on Wednesday, ending 100 yards shy of its finish line.
Mother Nature, which worked well in allowing the effort to proceed on a late-December day, warmed the ground just enough early in the afternoon, preventing movers from getting the necessary traction to get the home atop its newly poured cement foundation on a 7.5-acre parcel southeast of Merrill, Iowa.
"There were no issues with wind," said Orville Vant Hul, president of Berghorst & Son, Inc., of Hull, Iowa, which moved the home. "We had 3.5 miles of gravel, which was very good. But the site itself, when it gets above freezing, gets slippery on top. It's now sitting on a rock driveway 100 yards from the foundation."
Vant Hul hoped that a cooler evening would freeze the ground, allowing his crew to finish the job Thursday morning.
Battling winter conditions amid holiday schedules can make a project like this a bit tricky. That said, Vant Hul's company worked with four utility companies (North West REC, MidAmerican Energy Co., Wiatel and Frontier Communications) and dozens of local businesses and residents in getting the Kingsley United Methodist Church's former parsonage from its site next to the church to its new surroundings.
"We were probably without power for 45 minutes," said Roger Schmid, of Kingsley State Bank in Kingsley. "We have bank branches, but our main computer is here, so we had to logistically shut everything down. (MidAmerican Energy) gave us ample warning before cutting off the power and we got through it."
"The power wasn't off long at all," said Belinda Holdcroft, owner of Bink's Diner in Kingsley. "And they let us know it was going to happen."
Much of the downtown sector in Kingsley watched the three-bedroom home creep south down Main Street before turning east on East Second Street at the main intersection. It was certainly a case where wide streets, thoroughfares that allow parallel parking in the middle of the street, made a challenging endeavor less difficult.
The house, which measures 28 feet by 50 feet, was purchased by Brett and Stacey Hoss, of Le Mars, Iowa. The couple paid a deposit of $2,500 to the church, of which they expect to get $1,000 back. The rest of the deposit will be used by the church to clean up the hole left where the home stood.
The church started advertising for someone to move the house several years ago after purchasing a more modern parsonage in a different part of town.
Terms of Wednesday's house-moving project were not disclosed by Brett Hoss or Orville Vant Hul. Such moves typically run several thousand dollars.
Brett Hoss followed the proceedings throughout the day, watching as officials with Berghorst & Son relocated "No Parking" signs and waited as professionals with utility companies took down or raised overhead power lines. Dozens of residents stood on sidewalks and in storefronts, taking video and photos of the effort.
While no move like this can be considered customary, Vant Hul has been through it thousands of times, having been associated with the company since 1964. This project was permitted for 176,000 pounds, he said, far shy of the company record, a 920,000-pound task that involved moving an electrical transformer from a rail car to a factory.
Brett Hoss, owner of Royal Iron, Inc., of Sioux City, was effusive in his praise for the house and its movers.
"One of my customers told me this summer that they were basically giving away a house in Kingsley," Hoss said. "My wife and I decided to look at it and she couldn't hardly get through the front door without saying, 'I love this house!'"
Stacey Hoss, unlike locals in and around Kingsley, didn't watch the spectacle on Wednesday. Rather, she waited for her husband to deliver good news.
"I followed it the whole way," he said. "I called to tell her it was in our driveway and she came out to see it. She was happy to see it in one piece.
"The movers have a very good reputation and they live up to it," he added. "They did a very good job."
Brett and Stacey Hoss plan to remodel the kitchen and bathrooms before moving in early this summer, thereby making this old parsonage their new home.
In 2014, Donald Trump called computer hacking within the United States by Russia (as well as China) a "big problem."
Insofar as Russia is concerned, he appears to have been right.
So why isn't the president-elect demanding an investigation into an allegation by the CIA of Russian use of cyber attacks in an effort to disrupt the U.S. presidential election this year?
Good question.
A CIA assessment, shared with members of the Senate Intelligence Committee earlier this month, concludes Russia employed computer hacking in an attempt to interfere with this year's election for president. FBI Director James Comey and National Intelligence Director James Clapper agree with the assessment.
In an interview with Fox News earlier this month, Trump said of the charge: "It's just another excuse. I don't believe it." On Wednesday, Trump added this: "We ought to get on with our lives."
Without question, Trump should support a full, bipartisan congressional investigation into exactly what happened. Congressional leaders, including Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said they support investigation.
Any foreign breach of our cybersecurity measures is disturbing, and I strongly condemn any such efforts, McConnell said. The Russians are not our friends.
Clearly, the Obama administration believes the assessment. On Thursday, in fact, President Obama announced a range of retaliatory sanctions against Russia.
This election-focused drama produces broader questions, as well. Among them: Do U.S. intelligence leaders believe cyber attacks by Russia against U.S. organizations and individuals continues? If so, what is America's response?
The charge by the U.S. intelligence community of Russian computer hacking within our borders isn't a partisan political matter, it's a domestic cybersecurity matter. All Americans, including Trump and his incoming team, should demand to know the full story.
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Credit Suisse Group AG, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial services in Switzerland, Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, and Asia Pacific. The company offers wealth management solutions, including investment advice and discretionary asset management services; risk management solutions, such as managed investment products; and wealth planning, succession planning, and trust services. It also provides financing and lending solutions, including consumer credit and real estate mortgage lending, real asset lending relating to ship, and aviation financing for UHNWI; standard and structured hedging, and lombard lending solutions, as well as collateral trading services; and investment banking solutions, such as global securities sales, trading and execution, capital raising, and advisory services. In addition, the company offers banking solutions, such as payments, accounts, debit and credit cards, and product bundles; asset management products; equity and debt underwriting, and advisory services; cash equities, equity derivatives, and convertibles, as well as prime services; and fixed income products, such as credit, securitized, macro, emerging markets, financing, structured credit, and other products. Further, it provides HOLT, a framework for assessing the performance of approximately 20,000 companies; and equity and fixed income research services. The company serves private and institutional clients; ultra-high-net-worth individuals, high-net-worth individuals, and affluent and retail clients; corporate clients, small and medium-sized enterprises, external asset managers, financial institutions, and commodity traders; and pension funds, hedge funds, governments, foundations and endowments, corporations, entrepreneurs, private individuals, financial sponsors, and sovereign clients. As of December 31, 2021, it operated through a network of 311 offices and branches. The company was founded in 1856 and is based in Zurich, Switzerland.
Duke Energy Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, operates as an energy company in the United States. It operates through three segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, Gas Utilities and Infrastructure, and Commercial Renewables. The Electric Utilities and Infrastructure segment generates, transmits, distributes, and sells electricity in the Carolinas, Florida, and the Midwest; and uses coal, hydroelectric, natural gas, oil, renewable generation, and nuclear fuel to generate electricity. It also engages in the wholesale of electricity to municipalities, electric cooperative utilities, and load-serving entities. This segment serves approximately 8.2 million customers in 6 states in the Southeast and Midwest regions of the United States covering a service territory of approximately 91,000 square miles; and owns approximately 50,259 megawatts (MW) of generation capacity. The Gas Utilities and Infrastructure segment distributes natural gas to residential, commercial, industrial, and power generation natural gas customers; and owns, operates, and invests in pipeline transmission and natural gas storage facilities. It has approximately 1.6 million customers, including 1.1 million customers in North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee, as well as 550,000 customers in southwestern Ohio and northern Kentucky. The Commercial Renewables segment acquires, owns, develops, builds, and operates wind and solar renewable generation projects, including nonregulated renewable energy and energy storage services to utilities, electric cooperatives, municipalities, and corporate customers. It has 23 wind, 178 solar, and 2 battery storage facilities, as well as 71 fuel cell locations with a capacity of 3,554 MW across 22 states. The company was formerly known as Duke Energy Holding Corp. and changed its name to Duke Energy Corporation in April 2005. The company was founded in 1904 and is headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes products serving the oil, natural gas, industrial, and renewable energy industries in the United States and internationally. It operates through three segments: Drilling & Downhole, Completions, and Production. The Drilling & Downhole segment designs, manufactures, and supplies products, and provides related services to the drilling, well construction, artificial lift, and subsea energy construction markets, including applications in oil and natural gas, renewable energy, defense, and communications. This segment offers drilling technologies consisting of capital equipment and a line of products consumed in the drilling process; well construction casing and cementing equipment, and protection products for artificial lift equipment and cables; and subsea remotely operated vehicles and trenchers, submarine rescue vehicles, specialty components and tools, and complementary subsea technical services. The Completions segment offers hydraulic fracturing pumps, cooling systems, high-pressure flexible hoses, and flow iron for pressure pumping, hydraulic fracturing and flowback services markets; wireline cable and pressure control equipment for well completion and intervention service markets; and coiled tubing strings and coiled line pipe. The Production segment designs, manufactures, and supplies products, and provides related equipment and services for production and infrastructure markets. This segment offers engineered process systems, production equipment, specialty separation equipment, and various industrial valves for oil and natural gas customers, power generation, renewable energy, and other general industrial applications. The company was formerly known as Forum Oilfield Technologies, Inc. and changed its name to Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. in August 2010. Forum Energy Technologies, Inc. was incorporated in 2005 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas.
The following companies are subsidiares of Pfizer: AH Robins LLC, AHP Holdings B.V., AHP Manufacturing B.V., Agouron Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alacer, Alpharma Holdings LLC, Alpharma Pharmaceuticals LLC, Alpharma Specialty Pharma LLC, Alpharma USHP LLC, American Food Industries LLC, Anacor Pharmaceuticals, Anacor Pharmaceuticals Inc., Angiosyn, Array BioPharma, Ayerst-Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, BIND Therapeutics Inc., BINESA 2002 S.L., Bamboo Therapeutics, Bamboo Therapeutics Inc., Baxter International - Marketed Vaccines, BioRexis, Bioren, Bioren LLC, Blue Whale Re Ltd., C.E. Commercial Holdings C.V., C.E. Commercial Investments C.V., C.P. Pharmaceuticals International C.V., CICL Corporation, COC I Corporation, Catapult Genetics, Coley Pharmaceutical GmbH, Coley Pharmaceutical Group, Coley Pharmaceutical Group Inc., Continental Pharma Inc., Covx, Covx Technologies Ireland Limited, Cyanamid Inter-American Corporation, Cyanamid de Argentina S.A., Cyanamid de Colombia S.A., Distribuidora Mercantil Centro Americana S.A., Encysive Pharmaceuticals, Encysive Pharmaceuticals Inc., Esperion LUV Development Inc., Esperion Therapeutics, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals, Excaliard Pharmaceuticals Inc., Farminova Produtos Farmaceuticos de Inovacao Lda., Farmogene Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Ferrosan A/S, Ferrosan International A/S, Ferrosan S.R.L., FoldRx Pharmaceuticals Inc., Foldrx Pharmaceuticals, Fort Dodge Manufatura Ltda., G. D. Searle & Co. Limited, G. D. Searle International Capital LLC, G. D. Searle LLC, GI Europe Inc., GI Japan Inc., GenTrac Inc., Genetics Institute LLC, Greenstone LLC, Haptogen Limited, Hospira, Hospira (China) Enterprise Management Co. Ltd., Hospira Adelaide Pty Ltd, Hospira Aseptic Services Limited, Hospira Australia Pty Ltd, Hospira Benelux BVBA, Hospira Chile Limitada, Hospira Deutschland GmbH, Hospira Enterprises B.V., Hospira France SAS, Hospira Healthcare B.V., Hospira Healthcare Corporation, Hospira Healthcare India Private Limited, Hospira Holdings (S.A.) Pty Ltd, Hospira Inc., Hospira Invicta S.A., Hospira Ireland Holdings Unlimited Company, Hospira Ireland Sales Limited, Hospira Japan G.K., Hospira Limited, Hospira Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Hospira NZ Limited, Hospira Nordic AB, Hospira Philippines Inc., Hospira Portugal LDA, Hospira Produtos Hospitalares Ltda., Hospira Pte. Ltd., Hospira Pty Limited, Hospira Puerto Rico LLC, Hospira Singapore Pte Ltd, Hospira UK Limited, Hospira Worldwide LLC, Hospira Zagreb d.o.o., ICAgen, Idun Pharmaceuticals, Industrial Santa Agape S.A., InnoPharma, InnoPharma Inc., International Affiliated Corporation LLC, JMI-Daniels Pharmaceuticals Inc., John Wyeth & Brother Limited, Kiinteisto oy Espoon Pellavaniementie 14, King Pharmaceuticals Holdings LLC, King Pharmaceuticals LLC, King Pharmaceuticals Research and Development LLC, Korea Pharma Holding Company Limited, Laboratoires Pfizer S.A., Laboratorios Parke Davis S.L., Laboratorios Pfizer Ltda., Laboratorios Wyeth LLC, Laboratorios Wyeth S.A., Laboratorios Pfizer Lda., MTG Divestitures LLC, Mayne Pharma IP Holdings (Euro) Pty Ltd, Medivation, Medivation Field Solutions LLC, Medivation LLC, Medivation Neurology LLC, Medivation Prostate Therapeutics LLC, Medivation Services LLC, Medivation Technologies LLC, Meridian Medical Technologies Inc., Meridian Medical Technologies Limited, Monarch Pharmaceuticals LLC, Neusentis Limited, NextWave Pharmaceuticals, NextWave Pharmaceuticals Incorporated, P-D Co. LLC, PAH USA IN8 LLC, PF Americas Holding C.V., PF Asia Manufacturing B.V., PF PR Holdings C.V., PF PRISM C.V., PF PRISM Holdings S.a.r.l., PF Prism S.a.r.l., PFE Holdings G.K., PFE PHAC Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Pfizer Holdings 1 LLC, PFE Wyeth Holdings LLC, PFE Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) LLC, PHILCO Holdings S.a r.l., PHIVCO Corp., PHIVCO Holdco S.a r.l., PHIVCO Luxembourg S.a r.l., PN Mexico LLC, PT. Pfizer Parke Davis, Parke Davis & Company LLC, Parke Davis Limited, Parke Davis Productos Farmaceuticos Lda, Parke-Davis Manufacturing Corp., Parkedale Pharmaceuticals Inc., Peak Enterprises LLC, Pfizer, Pfizer (China) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd, Pfizer (Perth) Pty Limited, Pfizer (Thailand) Limited, Pfizer (Wuhan) Research and Development Co. Ltd., Pfizer AB, Pfizer AG, Pfizer AS, Pfizer Africa & Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Veterinarian Products & Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer Anti-Infectives AB, Pfizer ApS, Pfizer Asia Manufacturing Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Asia Pacific Pte Ltd., Pfizer Atlantic Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Australia Holdings B.V., Pfizer Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Pfizer Australia Investments Pty. Ltd., Pfizer Australia Pty Limited, Pfizer B.V., Pfizer BH D.o.o., Pfizer Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer Biofarmaceutica Sociedade Unipessoal Lda, Pfizer Biologics (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd, Pfizer Biologics Ireland Holdings Limited, Pfizer Biotech Corporation, Pfizer Bolivia S.A., Pfizer Canada Inc., Pfizer CentreSource Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Chile S.A., Pfizer Cia. Ltda., Pfizer Colombia Spinco I LLC, Pfizer Commercial Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Commercial Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Commercial TRAE Trading Kft., Pfizer Consumer Healthcare AB, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare GmbH, Pfizer Consumer Healthcare Ltd., Pfizer Consumer Manufacturing Italy S.r.l., Pfizer Corporation, Pfizer Corporation Austria Gesellschaft m.b.H., Pfizer Corporation Hong Kong Limited, Pfizer Croatia d.o.o., Pfizer Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Development LP, Pfizer Development Services (UK) Limited, Pfizer Domestic Ventures Limited, Pfizer Dominicana S.R.L, Pfizer ESP Pty Ltd, Pfizer East India B.V., Pfizer Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer Egypt S.A.E., Pfizer Enterprise Holdings B.V., Pfizer Enterprises LLC, Pfizer Enterprises SARL, Pfizer Europe Finance B.V., Pfizer Export B.V., Pfizer Export Company, Pfizer Export Holding Company B.V, Pfizer Finance Share Service (Dalian) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Financial Services N.V./S.A., Pfizer France International Investments, Pfizer Free Zone Panama S. de R.L., Pfizer GEP S.L., Pfizer Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer Global Supply Japan Inc., Pfizer Global Trading, Pfizer Group Luxembourg Sarl, Pfizer Gulf FZ-LLC, Pfizer H.C.P. Corporation, Pfizer HK Service Company Limited, Pfizer Health AB, Pfizer Health Solutions Inc., Pfizer Healthcare Ireland, Pfizer Hellas A.E., Pfizer Himalaya Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Holding France, Pfizer Holding Ventures, Pfizer Holdings Corporation, Pfizer Holdings Europe Unlimited Company, Pfizer Holdings G.K., Pfizer Holdings International Corporation, Pfizer Holdings International Luxembourg (PHIL) Sarl, Pfizer Holdings North America SARL, Pfizer Hungary Holdings TRAE Kft., Pfizer Inc., Pfizer Innovations AB, Pfizer Innovations LLC, Pfizer Innovative Supply Point International BVBA, Pfizer International LLC, Pfizer International Markets Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer International Operations, Pfizer International S. de R.L., Pfizer International Trading (Shanghai) Limited, Pfizer Investment Capital Unlimited Company, Pfizer Investment Co. Ltd., Pfizer Investment Holdings S.a.r.l., Pfizer Ireland Investments Limited, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 1 LLC, Pfizer Ireland PFE Holding 2 LLC, Pfizer Ireland Pharmaceuticals, Pfizer Ireland Ventures Unlimited Company, Pfizer Italia S.r.l., Pfizer Italy Group Holding S.r.l., Pfizer Japan Inc., Pfizer LLC, Pfizer Laboratories (Pty) Limited, Pfizer Laboratories Limited, Pfizer Laboratories PFE (Pty) Ltd, Pfizer Leasing Ireland Limited, Pfizer Leasing UK Limited, Pfizer Limitada, Pfizer Limited, Pfizer Luxco Holdings SARL, Pfizer Luxembourg Global Holdings S.a r.l., Pfizer Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer MAP Holding Inc., Pfizer Manufacturing Austria G.m.b.H., Pfizer Manufacturing Belgium N.V., Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland GmbH, Pfizer Manufacturing Deutschland Grundbesitz GmbH & Co. KG, Pfizer Manufacturing Holdings LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Manufacturing LLC, Pfizer Manufacturing Services, Pfizer Medical Technology Group (Belgium) N.V., Pfizer Medicamentos Genericos e Participacoes Ltda., Pfizer Mexico Luxco SARL, Pfizer Mexico S.A. de C.V., Pfizer Middle East for Pharmaceuticals Animal Health and Chemicals S.A.E., Pfizer New Zealand Limited, Pfizer Norge AS, Pfizer North American Holdings Inc., Pfizer OTC B.V., Pfizer Overseas LLC, Pfizer Oy, Pfizer PFE ApS, Pfizer PFE AsiaPac Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Australia Pty Ltd, Pfizer PFE B.V., Pfizer PFE Baltic Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Belgium SPRL, Pfizer PFE Brazil Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE CIA. Ltda., Pfizer PFE Chile Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Colombia Holding Corp., Pfizer PFE Colombia S.A.S, Pfizer PFE Commercial Holdings LLC, Pfizer PFE Croatia Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Eastern Investments B.V., Pfizer PFE Finland Oy, Pfizer PFE France, Pfizer PFE Global Holdings B.V., Pfizer PFE Ireland Pharmaceuticals Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco 2 S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Italy Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Korlatolt Felelossegu Tarsasag, Pfizer PFE Limited, Pfizer PFE Luxembourg S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Mexico Holding 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE Netherlands Holding 1 C.V., Pfizer PFE New Zealand, Pfizer PFE New Zealand Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Norway Holding S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE PILSA Holdco S.a r.l., Pfizer PFE Peru Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Peru S.R.L., Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Holding LLC, Pfizer PFE Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer PFE Private Limited, Pfizer PFE S.R.L, Pfizer PFE Service Company Holding Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer PFE Singapore Holding B.V., Pfizer PFE Singapore Pte. Ltd., Pfizer PFE Spain B.V., Pfizer PFE Spain Holding S.L., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding 2 S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Sweden Holding S.a.r.l., Pfizer PFE Switzerland GmbH, Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 1 B.V., Pfizer PFE Turkey Holding 2 B.V., Pfizer PFE UK Holding 4 LP, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 1 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 2 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 3 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 4 LLC, Pfizer PFE US Holdings 5 LLC, Pfizer PFE spol. s r.o., Pfizer PFE Ilaclar Anonim Sirketi, Pfizer Pakistan Limited, Pfizer Parke Davis (Thailand) Ltd., Pfizer Parke Davis Inc., Pfizer Parke Davis Sdn. Bhd., Pfizer Pharm Algerie, Pfizer Pharma GmbH, Pfizer Pharma PFE GmbH, Pfizer Pharmaceutical (Wuxi) Co. Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceutical Trading Limited Liability Company (a/k/a Pfizer Kft. or Pfizer LLC), Pfizer Pharmaceuticals B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Global B.V., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Israel Ltd., Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Korea Limited, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Pfizer Pigments Inc., Pfizer Polska Sp. z.o.o., Pfizer Private Limited, Pfizer Production LLC, Pfizer Products Inc., Pfizer Products India Private Limited, Pfizer Research (NC) Inc., Pfizer Romania SRL, Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A., Pfizer S.A. (Belgium), Pfizer S.A. de C.V., Pfizer S.A.S., Pfizer S.G.P.S. Lda., Pfizer S.L., Pfizer S.R.L., Pfizer SRB d.o.o., Pfizer Saidal Manufacturing, Pfizer Sante Familiale, Pfizer Saudi Limited, Pfizer Seiyaku K.K., Pfizer Service Company BVBA, Pfizer Service Company Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Services 1, Pfizer Services LLC, Pfizer Shared Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Shareholdings Intermediate SARL, Pfizer Singapore Holding Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Singapore Trading Pte. Ltd., Pfizer Spain Holdings Cooperatief U.A., Pfizer Specialties Limited, Pfizer Strategic Investment Holdings LLC, Pfizer Sweden Partnership KB, Pfizer TRAE Holdings Kft., Pfizer Trading Polska sp.z.o.o., Pfizer Transactions Ireland Unlimited Company, Pfizer Transactions LLC, Pfizer Transactions Luxembourg SARL, Pfizer Transport LLC, Pfizer Ukraine LLC, Pfizer Vaccines LLC, Pfizer Venezuela S.A., Pfizer Venture Investments LLC, Pfizer Ventures LLC, Pfizer Worldwide Services Unlimited Company, Pfizer Zona Franca S.A., Pfizer spol. s r.o., Pharmacia, Pharmacia & Upjohn Company Inc., Pharmacia & Upjohn Company LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn LLC, Pharmacia & Upjohn S.A. de C.V., Pharmacia Brasil Ltda., Pharmacia Hepar LLC, Pharmacia Holding AB, Pharmacia Inter-American LLC, Pharmacia International B.V., Pharmacia LLC, Pharmacia Limited, Pharmacia Nostrum S.A., Pharmacia South Africa (Pty) Ltd, PowderJect Research Limited, PowderMed, Purepac Pharmaceutical Holdings LLC, Redvax, Renrall LLC, Rinat Neuroscience, Rinat Neuroscience Corp., Roerig Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Roerig S.A., Sao Cristovao Participacoes Ltda., Searle Laboratorios Lda., Serenex, Servicios P&U S. de R.L. de C.V., Shiley LLC, Sinergis Farma-Produtos Farmaceuticos Lda., Site Realty Inc., Solinor LLC, Sugen LLC, Tabor LLC, The Pfizer Incubator LLC, Therachon, Thiakis Limited, Treerly Health Co. Ltd, US Oral Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd, Upjohn Laboratorios Lda., Vesteralens Naturprodukter A/S, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AB, Vesteralens Naturprodukter AS, Vesteralens Naturprodukter OY, Vicuron Holdings LLC, Vinci Farma S.A., W-L LLC, Warner Lambert, Warner Lambert Ilac Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Warner Lambert del Uruguay S.A., Warner-Lambert (Thailand) Limited, Warner-Lambert Company AG, Warner-Lambert Company LLC, Warner-Lambert Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Warner-Lambert S.A., Whitehall International Inc., Whitehall Laboratories Inc., Wyeth (Thailand) Ltd., Wyeth AB, Wyeth Australia Pty. Limited, Wyeth Ayerst Inc., Wyeth Ayerst S.a r.l., Wyeth Biopharma, Wyeth Canada ULC, Wyeth Consumer Healthcare LLC, Wyeth Europa Limited, Wyeth Farma S.A., Wyeth Holdings LLC, Wyeth Industria Farmaceutica Ltda., Wyeth KFT., Wyeth LLC, Wyeth Lederle S.r.l., Wyeth Lederle Vaccines S.A., Wyeth Pakistan Limited, Wyeth Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd., Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Company, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals FZ-LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals LLC, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals Limited, Wyeth Puerto Rico Inc., Wyeth S.A.S, Wyeth Subsidiary Illinois Corporation, Wyeth Whitehall Export GmbH, Wyeth Whitehall SARL, Wyeth-Ayerst (Asia) Limited, Wyeth-Ayerst International LLC, and Wyeth-Ayerst Promotions Limited.
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Post Holdings, Inc. operates as a consumer packaged goods holding company in the United States and internationally. It operates through five segments: Post Consumer Brands, Weetabix, Foodservice, Refrigerated Retail, and BellRing Brands. The Post Consumer Brands segment manufactures, markets, and sells branded and private label ready-to-eat (RTE) cereal and hot cereal products. It serves grocery stores, mass merchandise customers, supercenters, club stores, natural/specialty stores, and drug store customers, as well as sells its products in the military, ecommerce, and foodservice channels. The Weetabix segment primarily markets and distributes branded and private label RTE cereal, hot cereals and other cereal-based food products, breakfast drinks, and muesli. This segment sells its products to grocery stores, discounters, wholesalers, and convenience stores, as well as through ecommerce. The Foodservice segment produces and distributes egg and potato products in the foodservice and food ingredient channels. It serves foodservice distributors and national restaurant chains. The Refrigerated Retail segment produces and distributes side dishes, eggs and egg products, sausages, cheese, and other dairy and refrigerated products for grocery stores and mass merchandise customers. The BellRing Brands segment markets and distributes ready-to-drink (RTD) protein shakes, other RTD beverages, powders, nutrition bars, and supplements. It serves club stores, food, drug and mass customers, and online retailers, as well as specialty retailers, convenience stores, and distributors. Post Holdings, Inc. was founded in 1895 and is headquartered in Saint Louis, Missouri.
The following companies are subsidiares of Clean Harbors: Ace/Allwaste Environmental Services of Indiana LLC, Altair Disposal Services LLC, Aquilex Finance LLC, Aquilex Intermediate Corporate Holdings LLC, Aquilex Intermediate Holdings LLC, Aquilex LLC, Baton Rouge Disposal LLC, Bridgeport Disposal LLC, CARBER Holdings Inc., CB Canada Acquisition Inc., CB Canada Holdings Inc., CB US Holdings Inc., CH International Holdings LLC, Car-Ber Investments Inc., Clean Harbors Andover LLC, Clean Harbors Aragonite LLC, Clean Harbors Arizona LLC, Clean Harbors BDT LLC, Clean Harbors Baton Rouge LLC, Clean Harbors Buttonwillow LLC, Clean Harbors Canada Inc., Clean Harbors Caribe Inc., Clean Harbors Chattanooga LLC, Clean Harbors Clive LLC, Clean Harbors Coffeyville LLC, Clean Harbors Colfax LLC, Clean Harbors Deer Park LLC, Clean Harbors Deer Trail LLC, Clean Harbors Development LLC, Clean Harbors Disposal Services Inc., Clean Harbors El Dorado LLC, Clean Harbors Energy Services ULC, Clean Harbors Energy and Industrial Services Corp., Clean Harbors Energy and Industrial Services LP, Clean Harbors Energy and Industrial Western Ltd., Clean Harbors Environmental Services Inc., Clean Harbors Exploration Services Inc., Clean Harbors Exploration Services LP, Clean Harbors Exploration Services ULC, Clean Harbors Florida LLC, Clean Harbors Grassy Mountain LLC, Clean Harbors India LLP, Clean Harbors Industrial Services Canada Inc., Clean Harbors Industrial Services Inc., Clean Harbors Innu Environmental Services Inc., Clean Harbors Kansas LLC, Clean Harbors Kingston Facility Corporation, Clean Harbors LaPorte LLC, Clean Harbors Laurel LLC, Clean Harbors Lodging Services LP, Clean Harbors Lodging Services ULC, Clean Harbors Lone Mountain LLC, Clean Harbors Mercier Inc., Clean Harbors Pecatonica LLC, Clean Harbors Production Services ULC, Clean Harbors Quebec Inc., Clean Harbors Recycling Services of Chicago LLC, Clean Harbors Recycling Services of Ohio LLC, Clean Harbors Reidsville LLC, Clean Harbors San Jose LLC, Clean Harbors San Leon Inc., Clean Harbors Services Inc., Clean Harbors Surface Rentals Partnership, Clean Harbors Surface Rentals ULC, Clean Harbors Surface Rentals USA Inc., Clean Harbors Tennessee LLC, Clean Harbors Westmorland LLC, Clean Harbors White Castle LLC, Clean Harbors Wichita LLC, Clean Harbors Wilmington LLC, Clean Harbors of Baltimore Inc. (DE Corp.), Clean Harbors of Braintree Inc., Clean Harbors of Connecticut Inc. (DE), Confined Space Services L.L.C., Cousins Waste Control LLC, Crowley Disposal LLC, Cyn Oil Corporation, Debusk Industrial Services Company LLC, Disposal Properties LLC, Emerald Services Inc., EnviroSORT Inc., EnviroSORT Inc., Eveready, Evergreen Holdings, GSX Disposal LLC, Global Vapor Control Inc., Green View Technologies Inc., HPC PetroServ Inc., Hilliard Disposal LLC, HydroChem Canada ULC, HydroChem Industrial Cleaning LLC, HydroChem LLC, HydroChemPSC, IISG Central Region LLC, IISG Gulf Coast LLC, IISG Real Estate LLC, Industrial Service Oil Company Inc., Inland Industrial Services Group LLC, Inland Waters Pollution Control Services LLC, Inland Waters of Ohio LLC, Jesco Industrial Service LLC, LJ Energy Services Holdings LLC, LJ Energy Services Intermediate Holding Corp., Lonestar Sylvan Inc., Lonestar Vacuum Inc., Lonestar West, Lonestar West Enterprises LLC, Lonestar West Inc., Lonestar West Services LLC, Murphy's Waste Oil Service Inc., Northeast Casualty Insurance Company, Omnichem LLC, PMS Industrial Services LLC, PSC Industrial Holdings Corp., PSC Industrial Inc., PSC Industrial Outsourcing LP, PSC Industrial Outsourcing of Michigan LLC, PSC LDAR Services LLC, Peak Energy Services, Philip Services/North Central LLC, Plaquemine Remediation Services LLC, Power Vac Construction L.L.C., RMF Aquilex Corp., Roebuck Disposal LLC, Romic Environmental Technologies, Rosemead Oil Products Inc., SK D'Incineration Inc., Safety-Kleen, Safety-Kleen Canada Inc., Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company, Safety-Kleen Envirosystems Company of Puerto Rico Inc., Safety-Kleen Inc., Safety-Kleen International Inc., Safety-Kleen Systems Inc., Safety-Kleen of California Inc., Sawyer Disposal Services LLC, Seaport Environmental LLC, Service Chemical LLC, Speed Industrial Corporate LLC, Speed Industrial Service Catalyst LLC, Speed Industrial Service LLC, Speed Industrial Service of Beaumont LLC, Speed Industrial Services of Lake Charles LLC, Speed Industrial Services of Louisiana LLC, Speed Industrial Services of Texas LLC, Spring Grove Resource Recovery Inc., The Solvents Recovery Service of New Jersey Inc., Thermo Fluids, Thermo Fluids Inc., Tri-vax Enterprises Ltd., Tulsa Disposal LLC, Universal Environmental, Veolia North Americas U.S. Industrial Cleaning Services Division, Versant Energy Services Inc., Versant Energy Services LP, and Vulsay Industries Ltd..
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International Relations, War/Peace December 30, 2016 David Bush
The debate over Syria on the Left is toxic. I pulled together 13 points about the situation in Syria I hope can be useful in framing the discussion in a more productive way. The ultimate goal of these discussions in Western countries should be to have a clearer idea about how to strengthen antiwar movements to stop the madness of imperialism.
1. A political assessment of the conflict should be rooted in a deep concern for human life. It is horrific to watch what is happening in Syria and in the wider region. War brings suffering and those that suffer the most are everyday working-class people.
2. The Syrian Civil War emerges from the Arab popular revolts that spread throughout the region in 2011. The protests against Bashar al-Assad had both economic and democratic demands. As the protest movement evolved and spread it developed organs of political expression and governance, such as democratic councils or Local Coordination Committees (LCC). In Rojava, the popular uprising in the rest of the country allowed the Kurdish Democratic Union Party to establish an autonomous self-governing region.
3. The turn to armed struggle was a product of the regimes strategy to smash the movement by force. It weakened rather than strengthened the forces of the popular revolt. As Ghayath Naisse, a member of the Revolutionary Left Current (RLC), explained, in the first year of the popular uprising, the LCCs lost three successive generations of leadership to Assads violence.
Atrocities and Interventions
4. There can be no denying that Assad and his allies have committed atrocities. This should come as no surprise as his regime has frequently used brutal methods to crush political dissent in the past. For example, in 1982 the regime levelled large sections of Hama in order to defeat an uprising led by the Muslim Brotherhood, killing an estimated 10,000 people in the process. Assad and his fathers regime have used torture. Remember how Western security agencies outsourced Maher Arars torture to the Syrian regime.
The reality of the conflict is brutal. You simply cannot use artillery and drop bombs in dense urban areas without inflicting a large amount of civilian casualties.
5. The armed struggle also brought in numerous imperial and sub-imperial powers into the conflict. America, Russia, Turkey, Iran, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, UAE, Jordan, Canada, UK, France, Israel, Australia, Belgium, Germany and Denmark have all actively intervened in the conflict. This has taken many forms: direct bombings, special forces activities, training troops, providing intelligence and arms, and funding.
6. The brutality of the war and the numerous interventions creates its own logic in the armed struggle. Reactionary factions in the anti-Assad camp have grown in prominence through the armed struggle, as they had easier access to arms, money and training from foreign governments. The rebel factions have also committed atrocities.
7. It is wrong to talk of a unified rebel side. There are numerous factions that have been labelled as rebels. These groups can be broken down into dozens of fronts that operate as fluid coalitions. For instance the Free Syrian Army was at one point a coherent armed force, now it is generally referred to a broad spectrum of different and sometimes competing armed groups such as the Southern Front and the Army of Conquest (the FSA has as many as 27 different factions associated with it). A long list of other factions, some secular and many Islamist, have formed into dozens of fronts in various regions throughout the country. One of the best organized forces on the rebel side is the former Al-Qaeda group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
8. The conflict must also be put into a wider historical and regional context. The rise of ISIS was a product of the invasion and occupation of Iraq and the chaos and sectarian conflict that it both caused and deliberately fomented. ISIS now controls parts of western Iraq and eastern Syria and is formally opposed to all sides in the Syrian conflict, though in reality it is supported or tolerated by various different regional actors.
9. Strange bedfellows abound in protracted conflicts involving so many forces. For instance, the YPG, the armed Kurdish group, has been fighting in coordination with Assads group against other rebel groups and actually took part in the fighting to recapture East Aleppo. Turkey supports various rebel groups against the Kurds and the regime, even though the United States, its ally has supported various rebel factions, the YPG and Turkey.
Propaganda and Social Media
10. Each side and their foreign backers have been pumping unceasing amount of propaganda which makes it very hard to discern the truth of claims and counter claims. The reporting on the ground has been spotty at best in part this is the result of the killing of a number of journalists in the first couple of years of the conflict.
11. The Left has not fully grappled with phenomenon of social media in relation to this story. The instant hot takes and analysis is often based on partial or totally misleading stories. The promise of social media, its potential to bypass the corporate media and elevate the voices of regular people, has failed to materialize. Rather social media as a medium has been effectively incorporated into the propaganda system which is still owned and operated by the corporate media, state-owned media, and the PR strategies of governments.
Instead of analysis being driven by sober reflection and diligent research, it has come to reflect the churning outrage of the medium itself. This is not to say people shouldnt be outraged, but the Left should be trying to offer useful and critical analysis. We should insist on the best facts possible and resist the urge to amplify the hyperbole. This means putting existing media narratives into a wider context.
12. We should insist on linking the Syrian conflict to the broader conflict in the region. This means looking at what is happening in Yemen and Mosul and asking why some victims matter to our politicians and media, but other victims dont. This should not be done in a cynical manner, to divert attention from actual crimes, but rather to illuminate wider truths in the region and conflict.
13. The debate about strategy is being carried on in the abstract. If people in the UK, U.S., Australia and Canada want to protest Russian embassies they should do that (for the record I think this is a strategic mistake). But critics who arent building antiwar movements or organizing protests should stop demanding that others do what they havent.
The antiwar movement in the West faces numerous challenges: the rising right represented by Trump and the European far-right, increasing xenophobia and Islamophobia, increased terrorist attacks, the refugee crisis, and the expansion of unending wars in the Middle East. Framing these questions around abstract debates about how some on the Left orient to Russia actually hinders the growth of antiwar movements and sentiments. Opposing Russian aggression above and beyond ones own government is a strategic dead end for the antiwar movement, especially in the context of rising nationalism and anti-Russian rhetoric pumped out by the media and politicians.
We should ask ourselves why the UK is the only Western country with a broad and active antiwar movement? The reason is because they have united around stopping their own countrys drive to war. Critiques of existing antiwar groups like Stop the War coalition have not offered up any actual strategic alternative other than some version of No Fly Zones, which in reality are only further acts of war, or increasing military aid into the region, which could only escalate the conflict.
All imperial powers out of the region is the correct position. Applying that in the concrete means stopping your own governments interventions and supporting refugees, which is crystallized in the slogan Troops out and Refugees in!
Those of us in countries like Canada, UK and the U.S. need to strongly oppose the brutal war in Yemen and the siege of civilians in Mosul and any and all intervention in Syria. We need to understand that solidarity with the people of Syria, Iraq and the entire region begins with us actually stopping the reflexive reaction to intervene in countries we dont live in.
Mic media has launched a new site, Unerased: Counting Transgender Lives, a database, interactive feature, and news feed examining the reported cases of transgender people in the U.S. beginning in 2010. 2016 has had the highest number of documented cases with 23 as of publication.
The project is a collaboration among advocacy organizations such as the National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs (NCAVP) and GLAAD (formerly the Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation), trans advocates and academics such as Miamis Aryah Lester, featured among SFGNs OUT50 and Alexis Dinno, a social epidemiologist at Portland State University, as well as the loved ones and families of those killed.
In an interview with Out magazine, Meredith Talusan, lead editor on the Mic project discussed the necessity of the project, and its challenges. Some of the biggest challenges to collecting the data, she said, are the fact that the U.S. Census does not track transgender people and the FBI does not track transgender murders. Rather it has been left to LGBT organizations and activists to demonstrate and quantify the crisis.
In turn, we at Mic have endeavored to further their efforts by trying to track down cases that have not been accounted for, interviewing family members and loved ones, and tracking down important information that has not been systematically recorded like the rate of unsolved cases as well as prosecution outcomes, Talusan told Out. An endeavor which many nonprofits or local news organizations do not have the resources to pursue. The site is meant to be a resource for journalists and academics as much as advocates and activists.
In an interview with LGBT Weekly, Talusan, said the project focused on bringing light to the systematic failures impacting trans people, especially trans women of color. If everyone in the U.S. were murdered at the rate young black trans women and femmes are, theres no doubt that the public would consider this a crisis of massive proportions.
During their reporting, Mic found that Black transgender women face the highest rates of violence with young Black trans women being the most at risk. Among the statistics:
72% of transgender victims between 2010 to 2016 were Black trans women.
Black trans women between the ages of 15 to 34, are estimated to be between 8 and 39 times more likely to be murdered as young cisgender women
Aryah Lester, a transgender advocate from Miami, describes living with the constant risk of violence to Mic. "I tell people that I already have three strikes," she said. "As I'm walking down the street from far, far away, you may only see my color, and that's one strike. And then as I come a little closer, you see my femininity, and that's another strike ... And then when I get closer you may just see that I'm trans."
Database
The database features a collage and profiles of the 111 transgender people killed reported from 2010 through 2016. A team of five reporters helped gather the information, which can be filtered by demographics but also by circumstances of death and case outcome.
Of the 111 murder cases reported the findings were
46 unsolved
34 pending
2 not guilty
6 guilty of manslaughter/assault
14 guilty of 2 nd or 3 rd degree murder
5 guilty of 1 st degree murder
Of the 25 prosecuted cases Mic examined, six resulted in manslaughter or assault convictions. Each of these cases involved a trans woman or gender-nonconforming femme of color, five of whom were black. Conversely, of the five cases that resulted in first-degree murder convictions, only one involved a black trans woman victim. The remaining 14 cases resulted in second- and third-degree murder convictions, nine involving black trans women and five involving other demographics of trans people, which led Mic to conclude People who kill black trans women and femmes are usually convicted of lesser charges than those who kill people of other trans identities.
Feature
In addition to a number of statistics, info graphics, and tracking maps, the feature section of Mics Unerased highlights the faces and voices of those killed, following their stories and also featuring interviews with their families and loved ones.
After her murder, Devin Diamon was identified by the media as Goddess Diamond, but was very nearly not identified at all, had it not been for a tip on social media from a friend of Devins.
Local reports of Devins murder repeatedly misgendered her, despite friends accounts saying the Devin identified as a woman, using her birth name, was on hormone therapy and was seeing a psychologist through her transition.
Stories such as Devins are all too common, and besides being issues of data collection also disrespect and dishonor the identity of those lost.
"Our institutions of recording death coroners, death certificates, police reports, hospital records, obituaries are unprepared to represent transgender," Alexis Dinno, a social epidemiologist at Portland State University, who is herself a trans woman told Mic. "The boxes labeled 'was transgender' do not exist to be checked off or not. Also, that someone is transgender, whether surgically or hormonally transitioned or not, is not necessarily apparent to individuals and institutions that record deaths."
Feed
The feed section of the site is both a news feed of transgender stories and articles, but also a forum for guests to provide feedback.
We at Mic hope that by studying the problem systematically over this decade, interviewing experts in various fields, and creating visualizations that account for the problem statistically, this would give the public a much stronger sense of the crisis of violence that the trans community is dealing with, Talusan told Out.
Visitors can submit additional information or story ideas to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or through a form at the bottom of the Unerased feature at https://mic.com/unerased
When his friend was called a homophobic slur, John Conor Kennedy stood in to help.
Conor has always reacted against bullying, Robert Kennedy Jr. told The Aspen Times. Im happy he stood up for his friend.
According to the publication, Conor Kennedy was outside the Bootsy Bellows Nightclub when a group of four men started calling his friend an antigay slur.
Kennedy asked them to stop and apologize, and one of them did. Later on, however, two of the men continued to throw slurs at his friend and a fight ensued.
Robert Kennedy claims Conor Kennedys friend was not physically involved in the fight. Conor Kennedy also did not throw the first punch, said Robert Kennedy.
We are aware of some of those allegations and we are following up on them this evening, Aspen Assistant Police Chief Bill Linn told the newspaper. At the moment, there have been no allegations of additional crimes given by witnesses or those involved in the incident.
Conor Kennedy is the great nephew of former U.S. President John F. Kennedy and grandson of late New York Senator and U.S. Attorney General Robert F. Kennedy.
Northfield Park, Ohios leading racetrack in pari-mutuel handle, both on-track and export, is offering live harness racing four nights a week to start the 2017 racing year.
January through September racing is Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday. The exceptions to this schedule are the addition of three Sundays, January 1, May 28 and September 3. There is no live racing on Memorial Day or Labour Day Mondays.
Beginning in October Northfield adds Sunday evenings and will race five nights a week until the end of the year. Friday (December 22) will replace Christmas Eve Sunday, while Friday (December 29) will replace racing on Christmas Monday.
Northfield Parks marquee racing events are as follows: $200,000 Battle of Lake Erie, Saturday, June 3; $175,000 Cleveland Trotting Classic, Saturday, July 1; $300,000 Carl Milstein Memorial and $50,000 Myron Charna Presidents Pace, Saturday, August 12; and $125,000 Courageous Lady, Saturday, October 14.
The $125,000 (est.) Summit County Fair Stakes, featuring many of Ohios best freshman and sophomore trotters and pacers, will be held on Saturday, July 29.
Each of the 222 live racing nights carries a first race post time of 6:00 p.m. Northfield Park is open daily from noon until after midnight for simulcasting action from tracks across the United States, Canada and Australia.
(with files from Northfield)
Wakizashi Hanover had just enough to score in the $30,000 Preferred Pace on the final Thursday program of the 2016 season at Dover Downs.
The combination of Wakizashi Hanover, one of last seasons top sophomore pacers, and leading driver Tim Tetrick paid off with a nose victory in 1:52. The four-year-old gelding, who won nearly $1.3-million in 2015 including the Pepsi North America Cup en route to an O'Brien Award as Canada's Three-Year-Old Colt Pacer of the Year, battled throat problems when training back early this year. Finally the altered son of Dragon Again-Western Gesture has returned to top form of late with two wins, three seconds and a third, all in photo finishes in his last seven starts for Nova Scotia-based owners Bruce Kennedy and Tri County Stable.
In this weeks Preferred, Tetrick guided Wakizashi Hanover to the lead after the opening quarter and then held off a surging Sweet Rock (Allan Davis) at the wire with Bettors Edge (Matt Kakaley) a close-up third. Bushwacker (Corey Callahan) thundered down the lane to finish fourth.
Defending champion Corey Callahan led all drivers with three wins. Montrell Teague, Vic Kirby, George Dennis, Jim Morand and trainer Dylan Davis had two winners each.
Dover Downs, its management and horsemen wish all a Happy, Healthy and Prosperous New Year. The 2017 portion of the meet begins on Monday, Jan. 2.
(with files from Dover)
On Friday, Kentuckiana Farms announced that stallion Manofmanymissions has been sold to a group of European owners for export and stud duty in 2017.
Previously a stallion in Ontario and most recently Ohio, Manofmanymissions sired the winners of nearly $3 million through his two crops of racing age with average earnings of $34,335 per starter.
His most visible and prolific performer is Celebrity Eventsy, a winner of more than $502,000 and multiple Grand Circuit stakes.
Atlantic Trot, through Mario Zuanetti, represented the owners.
(with files from Kentuckiana)
Kidnapped Activist's Whereabouts Still Unknown as Officials Deny Lawyer Meeting
Contact: ChinaAid Media Team, 432-553-1080 cell, 888-889-7757, 432-689-6985, media@chinaaid.org
CHANGSHA, Hunan, China, Dec. 30, 2016 /Standard Newswire/ -- Authorities refused to allow the attorney of a detained Christian human rights activist to meet with his client yesterday, December 29, 2016, and have been keeping knowledge of the defendant's whereabouts restricted within the public security bureau.
Photo: In this document, authorities refused to allow Jiang Tianyong's lawyer to meet with him. (Photo: China Aid)
The lawyer representing Jiang Tianyong, a Christian activist who served as a human rights attorney until the Chinese government revoked his license in 2007, reported that he was denied access to his client on Dec. 29.
According to a graphic provided by the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group, officials claim that permitting the prisoner to meet with his defense would risk spreading state secrets and interfere with the investigation.
Jiang disappeared on Nov. 21 while returning to Beijing after visiting the wife of another incarcerated lawyer in Changsha, Hunan. At the time, no one outside of the public security bureau knew his location. However, on Dec. 22, his father-in-law received a notice stating that he was being held in an unnamed place in an unofficial "black jail" on suspicion of "subverting state power."
China Aid exposes abuses, such as those suffered by Jiang Tianyong, in order to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians and promote religious freedom and human rights.
The essential component of totalitarian propaganda is artifice (het toepassen van kunstgrepen. svh) . The ruling elites, like celebritie...
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The Guardian published fake news earlier this week, selectively editing quotes from WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange about the Russian press and Donald Trump.
Ben Jacobs wrote an article at The Guardian titled, Julian Assange gives guarded praise of Trump and blasts Clinton in interview. Both of these claims are provably false within The Guardians own article and are a blatant misrepresentation of Assanges statements.
Jacobs article is comprised of quotes from an interview that Assange did with La Republica, an Italian newspaper which published the full transcript of the interview online. Either Jacobs or an editor then mixed and matched quotes in order to construct the desired narrative.
Assange never once actively praised or stated his support for President-elect Donald Trump. Assange was not even asked his personal opinion on Trump; he was asked what he believed the consequences of a Trump victory would be. Assange responded:
Hillary Clintons election would have been a consolidation of power in the existing ruling class of the United States. Donald Trump is not a DC insider, he is part of the wealthy ruling elite of the United States, and he is gathering around him a spectrum of other rich people and several idiosyncratic personalities. They do not by themselves form an existing structure, so it is a weak structure which is displacing and destabilising the pre-existing central power network within DC. It is a new patronage structure which will evolve rapidly, but at the moment its looseness means there are opportunities for change in the United States: change for the worse and change for the better.
Nothing stated by Assange in his reply shows that he has any admiration or love for President-elect Trump. Assanges description of Trump as part of the wealthy ruling elite of the United States who has surrounded himself with a spectrum of other rich people and several idiosyncratic personalities could even be seen as a criticism of the future president.
Secondly, and perhaps even more offensively, Jacobs implies that Assange believes Russia to be too transparent and free a state to require a whistleblowing service such as WikiLeaks. Assange was asked why it is that most of the documents that WikiLeaks have published have related to Western governments and have not focused on countries such as Russia and China. Jacobs used a quote from Assange, reading:
In Russia, there are many vibrant publications, online blogs, and Kremlin critics such as [Alexey] Navalny are part of that spectrum. There are also newspapers like Novaya Gazeta, in which different parts of society in Moscow are permitted to critique each other and it is tolerated, generally, because it isnt a big TV channel that might have a mass popular effect, its audience is educated people in Moscow. So my interpretation is that in Russia there are competitors to WikiLeaks.
What he did not include was the rest of the quote where Assange continues to explain that due to WikiLeaks being a native English-speaking organisation with few translators, it is easier for Russian whistleblowers to contact Russian-speaking publications:
So my interpretation is that in Russia there are competitors to WikiLeaks, and no WikiLeaks staff speak Russian, so for a strong culture which has its own language, you have to be seen as a local player. WikiLeaks is a predominantly English-speaking organisation with a website predominantly in English. We have published more than 800,000 documents about or referencing Russia and president Putin, so we do have quite a bit of coverage, but the majority of our publications come from Western sources, though not always. For example, we have published more than 2 million documents from Syria, including Bashar al-Assad personally. Sometimes we make a publication about a country and they will see WikiLeaks as a player within that country, like with Timor East and Kenya. The real determinant is how distant that culture is from English. Chinese culture is quite far away.
Assange directly points out that WikiLeaks has indeed published documents on Russia, but that many whistleblowers consider other publications before bringing their information to WikiLeaks. Assange does not state that Russia is not in need of whistleblowing due to its press being open and free as the Guardian article implies.
Jacobs article was immediately picked up and spread through social media, as much fake news does, and was even posted by the likes of Daniel Drezner, a Washington Post writer, political science professor, and Clinton supporter, whos tweet received over seven thousand retweets and nearly eight thousand likes.
The journalist from La Republica who conducted the initial interview, Stefania Maurizi, has outright denied The Guardians claims:
Journalist Glenn Greenwald also skewered The Guardians pushing of fake news in an article for The Intercept titled, The Guardians Summary of Julian Assanges Interview Went Viral and Was Completely False.
The purpose of this article is to underscore, yet again, that those who most flamboyantly denounce Fake News, and want Facebook and other tech giants to suppress content in the name of combating it, are often the most aggressive and self-serving perpetrators of it.
The Guardian has since amended Jacobs story , deleting sections claiming Assange has close ties to Vladimir Putin and that he characterized the Russian press as open and free:
This article was amended on 29 December to remove a sentence in which it was asserted that Assange has long had a close relationship with the Putin regime. A sentence was also amended which paraphrased the interview, suggesting Assange said there was no need for Wikileaks to undertake a whistleblowing role in Russia because of the open and competitive debate he claimed exists there. It has been amended to more directly describe the question Assange was responding to when he spoke of Russias many vibrant publications.
This is not the first time that Ben Jacobs has actively misquoted people in an attempt to further a political narrative. Tweeting just two days before the presidential election, Jacobs quoted Trump as saying, We are going to deliver justice the way it used to be in this country.
Volgen @ Bencjacobs Trump: We are going to deliver justice the way it used to be in this county
19:27 - 6 nov. 2016
Jacobs failed to include the full quote, which read, We are going to deliver justice the way justice used to be in this country, at the ballot box on November Eighth. However, some fell for Jacobs fearmongering:
My crystal ball CB said that the war in Ukraine will end by March 2023. Why? - Ukraine does not want to continue fighting, as most of thei...
Salmon and steelhead anglers in the Columbia River would pay 69 percent more in fees under the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlifes final hunting and fishing license increase proposals for 2017-19.
The license fee package submitted to the Office of Financial Management in September would increase the annual cost to fish for salmon and steelhead in the Columbia River from a current $38.25 to $64.75.
Under the proposals, an annual freshwater fishing license would increase from $29.50 to $35 and the Columbia River endorsement would increase from $8.75 to $9.75.
Now-free catch record cards would be $10 for salmon, $10 for steelhead. Those $10 amounts have been scaled back from the initial proposal of $17 for each.
Approval by the state Legislature and governor are required for the fees to increase.
Weve heard from thousands of Washingtonians about their priorities for recreation and conservation, said Jim Unsworth, department director. They couldnt be clearer: They want to preserve and expand fishing, hunting, and other outdoor opportunities, and theyre not interested in paying more to get less.
But agencys operating costs are increasing.
We face tougher and more expensive federal requirements for hatchery operations, salmon and steelhead recovery, and other endangered species programs, Unsworth said. Emerging challenges such as elk hoof disease are also consuming more time and money. Theres no getting around it: New funds are required.
The proposed fee increases come at a difficult time for the agency.
Both the Washington and Oregon fish and wildlife commissions are deliberating on whether to implement fully a plan adopted in 2013 to prioritize sport fishing in the Columbia River and move gillnetting to off-channel areas.
Commercial fishermen are advocating a delay in full implementation in 2017.
A decision is expected from both commissions in mid- to late January.
Federal fishery officials also are proposing changes to the operation of many lower Columbia River hatcheries, including a moderate reduction in fall chinook releases.
The Northwest Sportfishing Industry Association has yet to take on position on the proposed fee increases, said Liz Hamilton, executive director.
We know the agency needs more money, Hamilton said. Theres no doubt about that.
However there are several fishery decisions including the Columbia River salmon reforms that will occur while the legislative session is under way.
If the reforms go south (not implemented fully), a lot of people are likely to be grumpy about that, she said. We want to help, but with the size of the increases, its a heavy lift.
The Vancouver Wildlife League also has not taken a position, said Chuck Cheshire, league president.
Personally, I think there should be automatic increases instead of a big jump every five to seven years, Cheshire said. Its time for the Legislature to give wildlife more than one-tenth of 1 percent of the budget.
They need to fund a resource that creates a lot of economic activity. Its appalling the small amount of money given to manage the states wildlife.
Unsworth said state wildlife officials also realize the Legislature will be a tough environment this year.
Were under no illusions about the 2017 legislative session, he said. We understand lawmakers must dramatically increase K-12 education spending and keep the rest of state government intact.
The Department of Fish and Wildlife initiated its Washingtons Wild Future program in 2015, which included a series of public meetings around the state to determine the priorities for the agency over the next several years.
The process also involved meetings with advisory committees, legislators and review of thousands of emails, social media posts and online comments.
Identified are a variety of priorities for the department to improve fishing, hunting and protection of the resource, plus a proposal to help pay for it through license fee increases.
The fee increases would be the first since 2010 and structured so the participants in high-cost programs such as salmon and steelhead management pay more.
A three-day razor clam license is proposed to jump from $9.70 to $18.50, an annual razor clam license from $14.10 to $24, a two-pole endorsement from $14.80 to $17 and a one-day fishing license from $11.35 to $19.60.
Senior citizens would qualify for a discounted fishing license at age 65, instead of the current age 70.
Hunting licenses are proposed for a 10 percent increase in 2017-2019.
A big-game license, which includes deer, elk, bear and cougar, would increase from $95.50 to $104.85.
Another hunting fee change would include a hunt-by-reservation fee, a modest charge to offset the cost of managing the Hunt by Reservation program, which enables hunters to reserve a space on selected private land.
The migratory bird permit fee is proposed to increase from $17 to $28. This money is used to buy and develop bird habitat.
Fishing license increases are projected to increase revenue to the department by $15.1 million a year, while hunting fee increases would add an estimated $6.2 million.
From the commercial fishing industry, the agency is seeking $4 million in new revenue annually.
That would come from $700,000 in license fee changes and $3.3 million by redirecting current commercial license fees and the fish landing excise tax from the state General Fund into the Wildlife Account.
Were ready for a very challenging session, Unsworth said. We will continue to work with our stakeholders, the Legislature and the governor to refine a license package that earns their support.
Washington State Patrol detectives are asking for the public's help in locating a suspect in a road rage shooting on the one-year anniversary of the incident.
On Wednesday, Dec. 30, 2015, at about 11 a.m., between Interstate 5 southbound mileposts 93 and 83 in Thurston and Lewis counties, the driver of a black Jeep Cherokee utility vehicle fired at least one shot at a silver/gray Mazda hatchback, shattering the rear window. The two vehicles continued to speed in and out of traffic until milepost 80 in Centralia, when the Mazda driver lost sight of the Jeep.
The driver of the Mazda eventually was contacted and interviewed, but the Jeep and its driver were never located.
The Jeep is described as a black, mid 2000s base-model Jeep Cherokee with non-tinted windows and Washington plates. The driver of the Jeep was described as a white male in his 60s or 70s with gray hair and a gray beard. The passenger of the Jeep was described as a white female in her 80s, wearing a red shirt with an oxygen tube in her nose.
Anyone with information regarding this incident, the Jeep, its driver or passenger, is asked to call Detective Jenifer Ortiz 360-449-7948.
See Pic: The best views of Earth as seen by astronauts from space in 2016
Astronauts aboard the International Space Station are blessed to see the divine view of Earth from a height of around 400km. They capture some moments in their camera throughout the year. Now, NASA scientists have filtered some of the best looking images that were captured from space in 2016. The images consist of mountains, rivers, city network, aurora borealis, snowfall, moving weather system, clouds and much more.
It is here to mention these images were captured from International Space Station (ISS) that revolves around the earth at a distance just 400 kilometers, and at a speed of at 8 km/second. In other words, it revolves around the earth 15 times in a day. Since, it revolves at such a closer distance which makes it possible for people to see it from their naked eyes.
The ISS is the largest artificial satellite present in space which serves as a microgravity and space environment research laboratory in which crew members conduct experiments in biology, human biology, physics, astronomy, meteorology, and other fields. The station is suited for the testing of spacecraft systems and equipment required for missions to the Moon and Mars.
Recently, it was visible in India. The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesnt have flashing lights or change direction. It moves considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles (965 km) per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles (28,000 km) per hour).
Meanwhile space enthusiasts can also see Internation Space Station from Earth. For ISS sightings users can visit ISS sighting web page and search their locations in the search bar. It will come up with the date and time at which you can view the ISS. However, if you are unable to find positive results at your location then it will show near places where you can view ISS.
How do I Spot The Station?
Time is when the sighting opportunity will begin in your local time zone. All sightings will occur within a few hours before or after sunrise or sunset. This is the optimum viewing period as the sun reflects off the space station and contrasts against the darker sky.
Visible is the maximum time period the space station is visible before crossing back below the horizon.
Max Height is measured in degrees (also known as elevation). It represents the height of the space station from the horizon in the night sky. The horizon is at zero degrees, and directly overhead is ninety degrees. If you hold your fist at arms length and place your fist resting on the horizon, the top will be about 10 degrees.
Appears is the location in the sky where the station will be visible first. This value, like maximum height, also is measured in degrees from the horizon. The letters represent compass directions N is north, WNW is west by northwest, and so on.
Disappears represents where in the night sky the International Space Station will leave your field of view.
The space station looks like an airplane or a very bright star moving across the sky, except it doesnt have flashing lights or change direction. It will also be moving considerably faster than a typical airplane (airplanes generally fly at about 600 miles (965 km) per hour; the space station flies at 17,500 miles (28,000 km) per hour).
Scientists at the US space agency have revealed that a comet might be seen with binoculars from next week which will be a delight for stargazers. The reports of comet came after scientists spotted celestial objects in the neighbourhood of Earth during the NEOWISE mission.
An object called 2016 WF9 was detected by the NEOWISE project on Nov. 27, 2016. Its in an orbit that takes it on a scenic tour of our solar system. At its farthest distance from the sun, it approaches Jupiters orbit. Over the course of 4.9 Earth-years, it travels inward, passing under the main asteroid belt and the orbit of Mars until it swings just inside Earths own orbit. After that, it heads back toward the outer solar system. Objects in these types of orbits have multiple possible origins; it might once have been a comet, or it could have strayed from a population of dark objects in the main asteroid belt.
2016 WF9 will approach Earths orbit on Feb. 25, 2017. At a distance of nearly 32 million miles (51 million kilometers) from Earth, this pass will not bring it particularly close. The trajectory of 2016 WF9 is well understood, and the object is not a threat to Earth for the foreseeable future.
A different object, discovered by NEOWISE a month earlier, is more clearly a comet, releasing dust as it nears the sun. This comet, C/2016 U1 NEOWISE, has a good chance of becoming visible through a good pair of binoculars, although we cant be sure because a comets brightness is notoriously unpredictable, said Paul Chodas, manager of NASAs Center for Near-Earth Object (NEO) Studies at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena, California.
As seen from the northern hemisphere during the first week of 2017, comet C/2016 U1 NEOWISE will be in the southeastern sky shortly before dawn. It is moving farther south each day and it will reach its closest point to the sun, inside the orbit of Mercury, on Jan. 14, before heading back out to the outer reaches of the solar system for an orbit lasting thousands of years. While it will be visible to skywatchers at Earth, it is not considered a threat to our planet either.
NEOWISE is the asteroid-and-comet-hunting portion of the Wide-Field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) mission. After discovering more than 34,000 asteroids during its original mission, NEOWISE was brought out of hibernation in December of 2013 to find and learn more about asteroids and comets that could pose an impact hazard to Earth. If 2016 WF9 turns out to be a comet, it would be the 10th discovered since reactivation. If it turns out to be an asteroid, it would be the 100th discovered since reactivation.
What NEOWISE scientists do know is that 2016 WF9 is relatively large: roughly 0.3 to 0.6 mile (0.5 to 1 kilometer) across.
It is also rather dark, reflecting only a few percent of the light that falls on its surface. This body resembles a comet in its reflectivity and orbit, but appears to lack the characteristic dust and gas cloud that defines a comet.
2016 WF9 could have cometary origins, said Deputy Principal Investigator James Gerbs Bauer at JPL. This object illustrates that the boundary between asteroids and comets is a blurry one; perhaps over time this object has lost the majority of the volatiles that linger on or just under its surface.
Near-Earth objects (NEOs) absorb most of the light that falls on them and re-emit that energy at infrared wavelengths. This enables NEOWISEs infrared detectors to study both dark and light-colored NEOs with nearly equal clarity and sensitivity.
These are quite dark objects, said NEOWISE team member Joseph Masiero, Think of new asphalt on streets; these objects would look like charcoal, or in some cases are even darker than that.
NEOWISE data have been used to measure the size of each near-Earth object it observes. Thirty-one asteroids that NEOWISE has discovered pass within about 20 lunar distances from Earths orbit, and 19 are more than 460 feet (140 meters) in size but reflect less than 10 percent of the sunlight that falls on them.
The Wide-field Infrared Survey Explorer (WISE) has completed its seventh year in space after being launched on Dec. 14, 2009.
See this Mesmerizing PIC of Northern Lights in Darkness by Nasa before New Year
The US space agency NASA has unveiled a stunning image of northern lights captured from one of its satellites. The infrared imagery of northern lights glowing over northern Canada just before Christmas season is a delight to watch for stargazers and space enthusiasts.
According to NASA scientists, a mass of energetic particles coming out from the Sun collided with the earths magnetic field just few hours after the winter solstice (an astronomical phenomenon marking the day with the shortest period of daylight and the longest night of the year). The collision of particles and the strong solar wind stream led to the generation of northern lights over northern Canada.
The Suomi NPP satellite captured the breathtaking image with the day-night band (DNB) of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on December 22, this year. The northern lights stretched across British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories, areas that often fall under the auroral oval.
Scientists from the US space agency explained that the DNB has capability to detect dim light signals such as auroras, airglow, gas flares, and reflected moonlight. In the case of the image above, the sensor detected the visible light emissions as energetic particles rained down from Earths magnetosphere and into the gases of the upper atmosphere.
While explaining the process of lighting in the space, researchers said that the collision of fast moving solar particles with the Earths magnetic field accelerates particles trapped in the space around Earth (such as in the radiation belts). Later, these particles are sent crashing down into Earths upper atmosphereat altitudes of 100 to 400 kilometers (60 to 250 miles)where they excite oxygen and nitrogen molecules. Gases present in the atmosphere give up their energy by releasing photons. Different gases emit different colours; oxygen emits green and sometimes red light, while nitrogen is more orange or red.
These stunning solar wind events resulting in colourful lighting can happen anytime of the year. Scientists just wait for the right moment to capture them in the camera and later release those incredible shots to mesmerise the space enthusiasts.
Phenomenons like aurora borealis are pretty common when seen from space. Previously, US astronaut Scott Kelly had clicked and posted breathtaking pictures of the Northern lights on the microblogging website Twitter. With the help of ISSs satellite he was able to access the internet and tweeted the astonishing pics.
The Aurora Borealis is caused by geomagnetic storms initiated by strong solar winds. However, this time the winds were too powerful which made northern lights visible from south than normal and people especially stargazers in northern England were able to witness the magical event from the Earth.
Apart from strong solar winds, coronal hole near the equator of the sun also played a vital role in making the Aurora Borealis visible from the Earth. Astronomers say that coronal hole was perfectly aligned with the Earth which made the event breathtaking.
Suomi NPP is the result of a partnership between NASA, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, and the Department of Defense.
tech2 News Staff
Apples commitment to the Indian market has only been reaffirmed by reports that a Taiwanese OEM maker for Apple is setting up shop in Bengaluru.
Speaking to The Times of India, various officials have reportedly stated that theyre seriously considering Bengaluru as a manufacturing hub for iPhones in India. Wistron, the Taiwanese OEM, is apparently setting up a production facility in Peenya in Bengaluru.
Foxconn, a Taiwanese OEM maker and Apples biggest contract manufacturer had been scouting for land to set up a manufacturing facility in Maharashtra. Foxconn is however, not looking to tie up only with Apple and has reportedly tied up with OnePlus and Xiaomi for manufacture in India.
The Indian government has been incentivising companies to start manufacturing in India for a long time now. Apple in particular has expressed a great deal of interest in the same as it sees India as a very lucrative market for its portfolio.
The company is currently in talks to set up official Apple-branded stores and is seeking aid and concessions from the government in this regard.
Manufacturing in India will help cut down the price of the iPhone in our country, which is important when you consider that Apples iPhones are sold at a significant premium here, compared to the rest of the world.
As the TOI report suggests, Apple can possibly save on the 12.5 percent import duty fees that it currently has to pay on its devices. Whether the company will pass on the savings to its customers remains to be seen.
The Cupertino-based company has targeted Bengaluru in the past as well, investing in a facility to promote the design and development of iOS, watchOS and tvOS apps.
Anirudh Regidi
The news that Apple has decided to start manufacturing phones not just in India, but specifically Bengaluru, is interesting, to say the least. It begs the question, why Bengaluru? Why not Hyderabad or Noida or even Chennai?
The answer to that question is neither easy to give, nor is it definitive; all I have to offer are pointers.
Startup heaven
Bengaluru is the only city from India and the second city from Asia to make it to the Global Startup Ecosystem Ranking. This is a list compiled by Compass and ranks cities on their ability to produce and support great startups. In fact, judging by the report, Bengaluru only ranks behind Berlin in terms of growth in the startup space and is the seventh largest investment destination in the world!
Other Indian cities havent even made it to the list.
The report also explains that Bengaluru has some of the youngest tech entrepreneurs in the world. In fact, the average age of an engineer in the city is much less than that of Silicon Valley (25 vs 36).
Nasscoms 2016 Startup Report also states that Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi-NCR account for 70 percent of startups in the country. India is also home to the third largest startup ecosystem in the world, and this is led by Bengaluru, with Delhi-NCR close on its heels and Mumbai a distant third.
Bengaluru is also reported to be the biggest investment destination, accounting for over 40 percent of overall funding in the startup space in India. If youre looking to start something new, Bengaluru is certainly the place to be.
As one entrepreneur explains, I find this space more exciting. I find the energy and the sheer number of people starting up here are far more, when comparing Bengalurus startup scene to Silicon Valleys.
Government support
The Nasscom report goes on to state that the Karnataka government is leading the wave of Indian startup ecosystem. Thats saying something.
Karnatakas permanent secretary of e-governance has been quoted as saying, Silicon Valley will be Bangalored! With statements like that, and the amount of work the state government is putting in to back startups and the necessary ecosystem, the governments commitment is in no doubt.
Theres a dedicated startup cell to implement the governments startup policy, government grants and a great deal of supporting infrastructure.
Where else will Apple go?
Considering what these reports suggest, where else will Apple go? The companys already investing in a massive, 40,000 square foot complex in Bengaluru for the development of apps; the engineers are there, the money is there and the manufacturing is coming up.
Microsoft, Amazon and IBM are also investing heavily in Bengaluru. In fact, data centres are already being set up there. Its not without reason that Bengaluru is being called the Silicon Valley of India.
If youre an engineer fresh out of college, would you rather be in Bengaluru or Chennai/Hyderabad? For most, the choice is obvious.
From that perspective, theres no reason for Apple to want to go anywhere else.
tech2 News Staff
Samsung has announced a new range of curved monitors which will sport the quantum dot technology. The curved monitor Samsung CH711 will be officially launched at CES 2017 with the details on price and availability. While Samsung says the monitor is designed keeping gamers in mind, a look at the monitor would also make it seem at home in a professional setup and even Mac users.
The Samsung CH711 quantum dot curved monitor would be selling in the 27-inch and 31.5-inch form factor with a QHD or 2560 x 1440 pixel resolution. The monitor features an 1800R radius curvature and will be offering a viewing angle of around 178-degrees with a 16:9 aspect ratio. It claims to offer 125 percent of sRGB coverage as well. The monitors are expected to start selling in early 2017.
(Also Read: CES 2017: Qualcomm, Samsung, Intel, Xiaomi and other company keynotes you need to keep a track of)
The Samsung CH711 can be adjusted vertically as well as horizontally and can also support a three-sided 'Boundless' design. This means that you can place three CH711s beside each other in case you want a really wide display. This is helped by the fact that the CH711 has extremely thin bezels on the sides as well as the top.
Quantum Dots do not suffer from lag issues as say an OLED panel does, which makes it ideal for gamers. But having said that, the picture quality and contrast offered by an OLED display is currently claimed to be superior to quantum dot monitors. Samsung hasn't clarified if the panel will be an 8-bit one or a 10-bit one. Also no details are out on the refresh rate either.
Samsung will let us know more details in its CES 2017 keynote address. It will also be announcing availability and pricing details of CFG70 and CF791 Quantum dot monitors at CES.
tech2 News Staff
Photos of the ultimate mobile device, Microsoft Surface Phone, have leaked on the internet and it almost looks like a phablet. The leaked photos show a white coloured smartphone with design elements lifted straight from the Lumia lineup, complete with a Lumia-like round camera hump on the rear. The term "Surface Phone" being used here is not a theoretical name that the internet has been waiting for, but the images show the smartphone with the mentioned branding.
'Surface Phone' is pegged as the ultimate mobile device that a smartphone user will ever need according to the concept. It is rumoured that Microsoft has been working on perfecting the device ever since they stopped working on the Lumia devices as reported by NokiaPowerUser.
We can only predict that the latest image renders belong to the cancelled Intel SoC-based Surface Phone, but it will be amazing if this is the ARM, Qualcomm Snapdragon 835 along with Windows 10. Microsoft recently demoed its work on bringing the full Windows 10 experience to ARM chipsets with a live demo using a Qualcomm Snapdragon 820 device. The company further detailed that the full experience will come to devices running Qualcomm Snapdragon 835.
According to reports by Softpedia, the company also started a trial production run for the Surface Phone to test out the new model for a possible launch later in 2017. According to the company, it does not want to create just a passable smartphone that has been tried and tested in the market by other manufacturers. Instead, the company wants to focus on products that define a new category and is genuinely exciting for people to use. Something on lines of what Surface Pro, Surface Book and Surface Studio aimed to achieve.
The company has not issued any statement confirming or denying the presence of the Surface Phone and should be taken as all other rumours are. According to previous reports, we might finally get our hands on the dream mobile device after the tentative launch of Microsoft Surface scheduled for 2017, but we will have to wait and watch for any new developments.
The Palestinian Authority has been in contact with the Obama administration and European countries about the possibility of taking more UN action on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict before President Obama leaves office next month, a senior PA official told Breitbart Jerusalem.
The official said the UN action could come in the form of declarations by UN bodies, including the General Assembly; UN sessions on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; or even another United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolution. He said any further UNSC resolution would depend on the support of the U.S. and European countries after the upcoming Paris Mideast summit slated for January 15.
He said the UN action would seek to set the parameters of a future Palestinian state with a clear timeline for negotiations. If the action comes in the form of a resolution at a UN body, it could call for an infrastructure to establish mechanisms to enforce last weeks UNSC resolution, which demanded a complete halt to Israeli construction in the West Bank and eastern Jerusalem and declared those territories occupied Palestinian lands.
The PA official said the proposals set forth at the Paris Mideast conference will likely serve as the basis for upcoming UN action.
An Israeli official told Breitbart Jerusalem that the Israeli government is aware of the possibility of more UN action in the coming weeks, although the official did not have information about a new UNSC resolution.
There may be 21 days left of Obama's tenure as president, but even then, he's not letting up on his assault against Israel as he collaborates with the PLO to undermine:Fortunately, Congress is planning actions against the UN to defund them , as is long overdue. The Israeli government says they've found evidence Obama arranged all this, and it wouldn't be shocking if he and his staff did. All that aside, it's time already to stop providing money to the UN and send a message we don't approve of their horrific conduct that harms not only Israel, but the rest of the free world.
Labels: anti-semitism, dhimmitude, Europe, islam, Israel, Jerusalem, Knesset, political corruption, UN corruption, United States, US Congress
Dedicated to the Restoration of Progressive Democracy
Syria truce holding despite isolated violence
A nationwide ceasefire in Syria, which does not include designated \"terrorists\" like the Islamic State group, was announced by Russian President Vladimir Putin .
BBC Online :
A new nationwide ceasefire between Syrian government forces and rebel groups appears to be largely holding.
However isolated clashes have been reported since the truce, brokered by Russia and Turkey, went into effect at midnight (22:00 GMT) on Thursday.
The deal includes many rebel groups but not jihadists such as so-called Islamic State, or the Kurdish YPG. If it holds, despite some isolated clashes, peace talks are due to be held in Kazakhstan within a month.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), a UK-based monitoring group, said most of the country was calm overnight. But it reported "fierce clashes" between rebels and government forces in the northern province of Hama.
SOHR director Rami Abdel Rahman told AFP news agency: "Small rebel groups and armed loyalists are seeking to destroy the truce because it puts an end to their presence."
Residents in the area of Ghouta in eastern Damascus also said they heard gunfire less than two hours after the ceasefire took effect. Other isolated incidents were reported in Idlib, in north-western Syria.
At least 300,000 people are believed to have been killed in fighting that followed the uprising against President Bashar al-Assad in March 2011.
Four million have sought refuge in neighbouring states or Europe.
The diplomatic noises are encouraging, and even the rebel groups involved have suggested it could succeed.
However, previous ceasefire initiatives this year quickly collapsed.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid Muallem said there was "a real chance to reach a political settlement to end the bloodshed and establish the future of the country".
The fact that the rebels have been losing ground may help.
The High Negotiations Committee (HNC), the umbrella group representing Syria's political and armed opposition factions, admitted on Thursday that because of the rebels' limited resources, it was "not possible to continue" the fight.
It is nominally nationwide, although that really only covers the areas where the sides who have signed up to the truce have a presence.
Looking at the map, there are large swathes under both jihadist and Kurdish control.
One area that is included is the rebel-held area of Ghouta in eastern Damascus, where government forces have been advancing in recent months.
Under the terms of the deal, the peace talks would begin within a month of the ceasefire taking effect - and holding - and would be held in the capital of Kazakhstan, Astana.
On 24 November 2015, Turkey shot down a Russian warplane on its border with Syria and a big diplomatic freeze ensued.
IPO issue by companies hits 6-yr low in 2016
Business Desk :
Initial public offering (IPO) by companies hit six-year low in the outgoing calendar year as only eight companies raised Tk 659.30 crore through initial public offering during the period.
Officials of the stock exchanges and Bangladesh Securities and Exchange Commission said stricter public issue rules that was amended in December 2015 was the main reason behind the fall in fund raising from the capital market through IPO.
It took time for the companies to fulfil the requirements of the newly-amended public issue rules and submit fresh proposals to the stock exchanges and to the commission as well, they said.
As per the securities rules, observations of the stock exchanges were made mandatory in getting IPO approval. Besides, companies which would claim premium on shares in addition to its face value will have to follow book building method, the amended public issue rules said. As a result, IPO proposals of some companies which were at the final stage in getting BSEC's approval became inappropriate under the new rules.
Former BSEC chairman Faruq Ahmad Siddiqi told The New Nation, 'Firstly, the amendment to the public issue rules was certainly a reason for the decline in fund raising through the capital market as the book-building method has been made mandatory for premium seeking companies and it takes almost a year to complete the whole procedure under the process.'
'So, the decline in fund raising by the companies during the year of 2016 was nothing unusual,' he said.
Asked, whether the issuer companies' easy access to bank finance was among the other reasons for the slowdown, Faruq said, 'The phenomenon is not something unique for 2016, but it could be a reason for the slide in last couple of years.'
'Due to stagnant private sector credit growth and increase in deposits, banks' funding are available for long-term project financing. That's why, issuer companies may not feel interested in raising fund from the capital market,' he said.
An example of companies' delay in raising fund due to the public issue rules amendment is Energypac Power Generation.
The BSEC on January 5, seven days after the public issue rules amendment, at a commission meeting approved IPO of Energypac Power Generation allowing the entity to raise Tk 41.82 crore at an issue price of Tk 25 each including Tk 15 premium under fixed price method in violation of its amended rules. Following intense criticism, the commission in April overturned its decision by suspending the Energypac IPO.
Like Energypac some other companies needed to resubmit their IPO proposals complying public issue rules, resulting in decline in lower fund raising by issuer companies from the capital market.
According to Dhaka Stock Exchange data, only eight companies raised Tk 659.30 crore from the capital market in the outgoing year, while in 2015 nine companies raised Tk 675.72 crore from the market.
Of the eight companies, only two companies got premium, while the rest six issued shares at par, DSE data showed.
ACME Laboratories raised the highest Tk 409.60 crore from the capital market including Tk 359.60-crore premium by floating the entity's 5 crore ordinary shares while Pacific Denims, Doreen Power Generation and Systems, Dragon Sweater and Spinning, Fortune Shoes, Yeakin Polymer, Bangladesh National Insurance and Evince Textiles followed the chart.
In 2011, fund raising by 16 companies was Tk 1,158.10 crore from the capital market. Fund raising from the capital market was Tk 730.50 crore, Tk 1,333.91 crore and Tk 1.263.62 crore respectively in 2012, 2013 and 2014.
Delay in lodging FIR under certain situation is sustainable
(From previous issue) :
36. PW 11 SI Rois Uddin Khan, the investigating officer of the case, 'testifies that he was on duty at Veramara police station when the occurrence took place. The officer-in-charge of the said police station assigned him the case to investigate. During investigation he visited the place of occurrence, analyzed the FIR, prepared the sketch map with Index, seized the alamot and recorded statements of the witnesses after examining them and collected inquest. report along with post-mortem examination report.
37. Upon conclusion of investigation, he submitted police report being Charge Sheet No. 9 dated 12-1-2007 against the four accused persons including the convict-accused. The sketch map is marked as exhibit-4 and his signature as exhibit-4/1, index is marked as exhibit-5 and his signature as exhibit-5/1.
38. In course of cross-examination he replies that he took over the charge of investigation on 24-7-2006 and analyzed all connected documents including FIR. Deceased was injured on 17-7-2006 and died on 21-7-2006 at Dhaka Medical College Hospital. The case was lodged on 23-7-2006 at 21-35 hours and cause of delay in lodging Ejaher has been stated and he visited the place of occurrence on the same day. He has denied the defence suggestions that he did not investigate the case properly and being biased submitted' charge sheet against the accused.
39. Upon assessment and evaluation of the aforesaid evidence of the witnesses it appears that the informant being informed by others instituted the case against the convict-accused and three others. He has given evidence supporting the FIR, story. PWs 2 to 6 are neighbours of the informant party and they have come forward to the court giving evidence in support of the prosecution case. The defence has not been able to discard or discredit their evidence in course of cross-examination. Rather they have confirmed the time, place and manner of the occurrence while replying the questions to the defence. Although the PWs 7, 8 and 9 are the nearest relations of the informant but their evidence corroborated each other as if they echoed their voice in a same tune. PWs 8 and 9 have categorically stated in their evidence that they rushed to the place of occurrence on hearing hue and cry and saw the victim in a critical condition and accused Nazrul running away with a blood stained hasuya in hand. It is evident that soon after the occurrence PWs 2, 4, 6, 8, and 9 rushed to the place of occurrence and saw accused Nazrul fleeing away with blood stained hasuya and the victim also told them on query that Nazrul made attack on him with sharp weapon like hasuya. The above versions of evidence could not be shaken by defence in any way. Therefore, it is very difficult to disbelieve the evidence of these witnesses as having. no contradictory events therein. Although they are not absolute eye witnesses to the occurrence but it is evidenced that they had witnessed partly of the occurrence. Even then, what victim narrated to them soon after the occurrence, is very much important for taking into consideration. In their evidence nothing has been found inconsistent in respect of departure of the accused from the scene with a blood stained hasuya, used in the attack of the victim. So such clear version of evidence is enough to be found the accused for his involvement in the attack of the victim.
40. The medical evidence i.e post-mortem examination report reveals 5 (five) severe injuries on the person of the victim-Shaheen which are as follows:
(1) Stitch wound in the turn and side of the neck 13" long and extending to the left scapular 37 stitches over this.
(2) Stitch wound extending over the right scapular 3" long 5 stitches.
(3) One stitch wound 1" long 3 stitches over the right shoulder joint,
(4) Surgical stitch wound in the Medline of the front of the abdomen 8rt long 18 stitches over there.
(5) Stitch wound 2 long in the left side of the abdomen 8 stitches over there."
41. Although doctor was not found to verify the post-mortem examination report but it has sufficient value being corroborative evidence when it is supported by other evidence. It appears from record that the trial court initially issued summons, then warrant of arrest and finally non-bail able warrant to the doctor, cited in the charge sheet even through IGP SP and the same was also communicated to the principal and director of Dhaka Medical College Hospital, which shows that all attempts have been exhausted in due course to produce the doctor but in vain. Post-mortem examination report of the dead body of the deceased even if not taken into consideration, does not weaken the prosecution case for lack of corroboration of ocular witnesses. Nevertheless, Statute itself contemplates that the report of post-mortem examination required to be used as evidence, and the civil surgeon or other medical officer who made the report is dead or is capable of giving evidence or is beyond the limits of Bangladesh and his attendance cannot be procured without an amount of delay, expense or inconvenience which, under the circumstances of the case, would be unreasonable such report may be used as evidence.
42. In the present case it appears that the trial judge made several attempts to bring the doctor before the court for which some delay occurred. Lastly he took final decision considering the medical examination report as corroborative evidence, which is absolutely justified in the eye of law. Even then, such postmortem examination report being corroborative evidence is not needed in this case as material evidence is available to prove the allegation brought by PW 1. It finds support from the case of State vs Ful Mia, reported 5 BLC (AD) 41 where it was held as under,
"The post mortem report was filed under Section 509A of the Code of Criminal Procedure as the Doctor was not available.
Section 509A CrPC contemplates certain procedure but those were not complied with amid for that the post-mortem report could be left out of consideration. As the factum of murder has been proved by four eye-witnesses the post-mortem report as corroborative evidence is not absolutely essential. "
43. It has emerged in this case that requirements of Section 509A of the code of criminal procedure were complied with and Doctor's attendance could not be procured because he was not available and, as such, the use of post-mortem examination report under Section 509A of the CrPC as corroborative evidence is proper and justified by the trial court.
44. Defence has tried to say that Panna Bahini or third party might have killed the victim for extortion money but it is not found in evidence during cross-examination by the defence that when and where at what time Panna Bahini or third party demanded subscription from the informant party. The further claim of the defence is that the FIR was lodged some days later which makes the prosecution case weaken. It is true that FIR was lodged 6 (six) days after the occurrence. But it should be worthy to forget. that the victim's condition was so deteriorating time and again after occurrence, for which all eyes look at the next, consequence of the victim. Therefore, the explanation given by the informant for delay in lodging the FIR is sustainable.
45. There has been no direct evidence in this case that before occurrence took place the perpetrator made a plan or preparation to kill the victim. But the nature of injuries caused by the accused with hasuya, a sharp weapon, proves that by his act and conduct eventually resulted in the death of the victim. The injuries caused by the accused are so severe that makes definite cause of death of the victim. So previously preparation or plan is not material particular in the instant case. Intention to kill the victim depends on the action of the perpetrator; it may come to the effect instantly or by making pre-plan previously. In this case the preparation and plan to commit murder discloses from the previous action of the deceased who some days before gave punishment to the accused for his involvement in an immoral conduct and released some lands from their [accused] illegal possession. Being enraged the accused made attack to kill the victim when he got him alone in the betel leaf field at the relevant time.
46. In this respect we find support from the decision held in the case of State vs Montu alias Nazrul Haque, reported in 44 DLR (AD) 287, which is run as follows:
"It is true in this case there was no preplan of the accused to kill the victim their common intention to kill developed on the spot when they all simultaneously fell upon the victim as soon as he appeared on the scene."
(To be continued)
47. It is not at all wise in all cases to find an accused guilty if he remains absconding. Absconding by itself is the conclusive proof of guilt of the accused but it lends weight to the circumstantial evidence against him.
48. In the present case we find three other persons as accused who are close relatives to the convict-accused. One is his wife, then his full brother and third one is his father. All of them appeared in the case and got acquitted at the trial but he did not bother to attend the trial court in the case while they all were put on trial. He obviously knew that his three close relations became involved in the legal battle on a charge of murder. If he was not involved with the crime as alleged by the prosecution, he ought to have faced the trial without any hesitation but he did not do so. Although record shows that all due process of law was exhausted by the court below to bring him in the book but he evaded trial going into hiding. Under such circumstances he cannot say now that he had no knowledge about the case filed by the informant, PW 1. It finds support from the decision in the case of Zakir Hossain vs State, reported in 55 DLR 137 where court opined that,
"Accused remained absconding with clear guilty knowledge about his overt act in the occurrence resulting in the murder and, as such, his absconsion will create adverse opinion against him."
49. The contention of learned defence lawyer is that PWs 1, 7, 8 and 9 are the interested witnesses as they are brother, sisters and father of the victim. In reply to that effect it can be said that when a person comes under an attack by assailant, his nearest relatives will come forward to save and look after him, is quite natural.
50. In the instant case we find PWs -7, 8 and 9 on hearing hue and cry rushed to the place of occurrence soon after and saw the incident on their own eyes partially. Interested witness by itself cannot be a good ground to discard the evidence if one is found to be a truthful witness and telling the truth. It finds support from the decision in the case of State vs Ful Mia, reported in 5 BLC (AD) 41, in which our Apex Court opined that,
"The evidence of eye-witnesses cannot be discarded on the ground that they are interested witnesses and such evidence is admissible in evidence if they are found to be truthful witnesses and telling the truth."
51. The evidence of all prosecution live witnesses is found consistent, uniform and corroborative with each other in all material particulars. They consistently prove the time, place [exhibits-4 and 5] and manner of the occurrence. No discrepancy is found in respect of time, place and manner of the occurrence.
There is nothing to disbelieve in evidence of the competent witnesses of the prosecution case. More so, it has been corroborated by material exhibits-I, l(a), l(b) and also post-mortem examination report. And as such, it can be safely said that prosecution has been able to prove the case beyond reasonable doubt by the impartial and unbiased witnesses.
52. Learned State Defence Lawyer appearing for the accused has contended lastly that court has ample power to .give lesser sentence instead of death penalty if the prosecution case is proved beyond all reasonable doubt. In the present case, the alleged hasuya" used by the accused in the attack of the victim was not recovered and that is why the same was not produced before the court. The investigating officer of the case did not make any attempt to recover the alleged weapon from any places. He ought to have carried out such vision for the interest of proper investigation. More. s6, the victim of the case died four days after the occurrence.
53. However, it is very difficult task on the part of a judge to decide what would be the quantum of sentence to be awarded upon an accused for committing an offence. We find some support from the decision in the case of Nawshar Ali Sarder vs State, reported in 39 DLR (AD) 194 [para 11] their Lordships opined that,
"Section 302 which punishes 'murder' does not specify in which case death sentence should be given and in which case transportation for life to be awarded, but leaves the matter to the discretion of the court, Every case should be considered m the facts and circumstances of that case only".
54. Considering the decisions cited above, the testimonies on record and the facts and circumstances of the case we are of the view that justice will be met if the impugned judgment and order of conviction and sentence of death to accused Md Nazrul Islam is altered and reduced to imprisonment for life instead of death.
55. In the result, the Death Reference is rejected and the order of sentence of death passed by the learned Sessions Judge, Kushtia against the condemned-accused Md Nazrul Islam finding him guilty under Section 302 of the Penal Code is commuted to imprisonment for life with a fine of Taka 5,000 (five thousand) in default, to suffer rigorous imprisonment for 6 (six) months more.
Let a copy of this judgment and order along with lower court records be sent to the learned sessions Judge, Kushtia for information and necessary action at once.
Need for more women empowerment stressed
City Desk :
LGRD and Cooperatives Minister Engineer Khondoker Mosharraf Hossain stressed the need for more empowerment of women to attain sustainable development goals (SDGs).
Mosharraf said this while inaugurating as the chief guest a day-long UNDP-financed regional workshop of Nari Unnayan Forum (NUF) participated by the representatives of 29 upazilas of greater Faridpur at Kabi Jasimuddin Hall in Faridpur.
Mosharraf said the present government has prepared a draft law with the object of empowering women and also to speed up the process of empowerment under Upazila Governance Project (UZGP) for ensuring women's participation led by Upazila Mahila Vice-Chairman. The NUF members may come up with any suggestion to make the law suitable to attain SDGs, he said.
The minister further said the government believes that women should be empowered in such a way so that they can successfully participate in the decision making process both in the society and at the national level. Bangladesh has occupied 11th position in the world in empowering women under the leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, he added.
Deputy Commissioner of Faridpur Umme Salma Tanzia chaired the inaugural session, also addressed, among others, by Local Government Division Joint Secretary Amitav Sarkar, Police Super Subhash Chandra Saha, Pangsha upazila Vice-Chairman Shaheda Begum and Awami League leader Abdur Razzak Molla.
Earlier, the minister exchanged Christmas Day greetings with the local Christian leaders at his Badarpur residence.
7 Biman officials put on fresh remand
UNB, Dhaka :
A court here on Friday placed seven officials of Biman Bangladesh Airlines on an eight-day fresh remand in a case filed over the glitch in a VVIP flight carrying Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina. Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate M Wajkuruni Khan Chowdhury passed the order after Inspector of Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) M Mahbubul Alam produced them before the court seeking a 10-day remand each.
Those remanded are: Biman chief engineer Debesh Chowdhury, chief engineer (quality assurance) SS Siddique, principal engineer (system and maintenance) Billal Hossain, engineers Shamiul Haque, Niron Chandra Bishwas, Lutfar Rahman and Zakir Hossain.
A team of DMP's Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime (CTTC) unit arrested them from different areas of the city on December 21. On December 20, Director (Engineering and Management) of Biman Bangladesh Airlines MM Asaduzzaman filed a case against nine officials of the national flag carrier with Airport Police Station under the Special Powers Act.
On the following day, the DMP headquarters issued an order to transfer the case to the CTTC unit from Airport Police Station. A Biman flight carrying the Prime Minister had to make an emergency landing at AshgabatInternationalAirport in Turkmenistan on her way to Budapest on November 27 following low oil pressure in its engine. Three probe panels were formed by Biman Bangladesh Airlines, Civil Aviation Authority, Bangladesh (CAAB) and Civil Aviation and Tourism Ministry on November 28 to look into the flight trouble. A total of nine officials, including three engineers of Biman Bangladesh Airlines, were suspended for their negligence of duty in this connection.
BGMEA proposes single platform under DIFE
Mohammed Badrul Ahsan :
Local garment makers and exporters have opposed the proposal of a top global apparel retailer, representing the Accord, to extend the tenure of the EU-based retailers' platform by three more years.
Leaders of the country's apparel sector at a recent meeting with the top Executive of the global retailer, H&M, instead proposed formation of a common platform with representatives from all the stakeholders to oversee the workplace safety issues after ending the tenure of Accord and Alliance in 2018.
The two Western platforms -- Accord and Alliance -- were formed to ensure workplace safety in Bangladesh's apparel industry in the wake of the tragic accident especially after the Rana Plaza building collapse that killed more than 1100 workers and injured many.
Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) President Md Siddiqur Rahman and Senior Advisor of H&M Karl Gunnar Fagerlin, among others, were present at the meeting held in the BGMEA headquarters in the city.
Quoting H&M officials, a meeting source said, "H&M has expressed that the company is in favour of extending the tenure of Accord for additional three years apprehending that the ongoing remediation might not be completed by 2018."
But the BGMEA viewed that the remediation is a continuous process, he said, adding that new factories would be included in the list of Accord and Alliance.
Moreover, there are some interior changes in factories for expansion and other reasons, another BGMEA leader said.
He said that the proposed single platform would be consisted of representatives from labour rights groups, buyers, retailers and brands, Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE), BGMEA and International Labour Organisation (ILO) to oversee the post-2018 workplace safety situation.
They (H&M officials) suggested the BGMEA to share the new proposal with the buyers and brands concerned before the next Steering Committee meeting of the Accord, he added.
The meeting was also informed that the BGMEA wanted to reduce the financial contribution of buyers, who are currently bearing the cost of factory inspection, meeting sources said.
The new factories would be set up meeting all the compliance requirements, they said, explaining that the cost of inspection on fire, electrical and structural integrity would be borne by an individual factory.
The H&M officials also wanted to know about the preparation of the apparel makers to get GSP plus benefit in the EU and to retain its competitiveness once the country graduates to mid-income country, said a BGMEA leader, who attended the meeting.
Alliance country Director James F Moriarty in a recent meeting with the BGMEA leaders also discussed the same issues.
Security for 31st night tightened
The law enforcement agencies have installed several close-circuit-cameras at different city points as part of foolproof security measures on the eve of 31st night celebration. This photo was taken from Teacher-Student centre of DU on Friday.
BSS, Dhaka :
Strengthened security measures will be enforced in the capital and elsewhere across the country for a smooth celebration of the thirty-first night, the last spell of time approaching January 1, 2017.
"The whole capital will be brought under security blanket with the deployment of as many as 10,000
members of law enforcement agencies both in uniform and plain cloth on the 31st night in Dhaka to avert any untoward incident," DMP Commissioner Mohammad Asaduzzaman Miah said.
"No activities which go against our culture, values and heritages of our country won't be tolerated in the name of 31st night celebration," he told journalists. Replying to a query, the DMP commissioner said there is no fear of any terrorists or militant attacks on the eve of the occasion, but the concerned security authorities would remain alert about this. Fireworks and open air concerts or cultural programs are not allowed on the 31st night, he added. Talking to BSS, RAB Legal and Media Wing Director Commander Mufti Mohammad Mahmud Khan said, "Different important establishments, diplomatic enclaves, public university campuses and posh areas will be brought under a security blanket with the deployment of additional members of anti-crime elite force Rapid Action Battalion (RAB) with other forces."
He said check posts have been set up at the strategic points including every entry and exit points of the capital city and several closed-circuit camera televisions (CCTVs) have been installed to make the security foolproof. Meanwhile, the DMP has restricted holding indoor New Year gatherings on security grounds. An official website of the DMP said "No bars will be kept open after 6:00 pm on December 31." Showing security reason, it also mentioned that none would be allowed to bring their licensed firearms at any restaurant, hotel and any programmes from 8:00pm of 31st December to 5:00am on January 1. Besides, any party or cultural programme will not be allowed on any open space in the capital on the 31st night. The residents of Gulshan, Banani and Baridhara were asked to return to their own areas by 8:00 pm. Additional forces of police, RAB and plainclothes from intelligence agencies will ensure their vigilance in some city areas particularly, Dhaka University (DU), diplomatic zones, Rabindra Sarobar and Hatirjheel, for a peaceful celebration of the 31st night.
98 Hindus killed, 357 hurt in 2016
Staff Reporter :
At least 98 people of Hindu Community were reportedly killed and 357 others were injured from January 1 to December 29 this year, Bangladesh Jatiyo Hindu Mohajote [BJHM] claimed on Friday.
"In the country, at least 22 Hindus are still missing and over 26 Hindu women were raped. Besides, 119 Hindu people have got death threats at the same time," BJHM Secretary General Ananda Kumar Biswas said while addressing a press conference at Dhaka Reporters' Unity in the city's Segun Bagicha.
He said: "During the aforesaid period, at least 141 temples were vandalized and torched while at least 165 Hindu houses were also attacked."
Raising allegations against the ruling party-backed men for conducting attacks on minorities, he said: "The ruling party leaders and activists are mainly responsible for attacks on Hindus. The people of Hindu community were victimized in 15, 054 incidents of attack and repression this year."
"As the leaders and activists of ruling party men are involved in most of the attacks, so the government cannot shift the responsibility to another's shoulder," he said.
The BJHM leaders also claimed that the victims are not getting justice due to lack of sincerity of the government, though cases have been filed with the concerned police stations in these connections.
Of the incidents of violence, the number of eviction and arson ranks the top. A total of 3,500 families have got threat of eviction while 210 families have already been evicted from their ancestral homes with an ill-intention to grab their land properties.
Besides, about 141 houses were torched along with hundreds of idols were vandalized at that time, the BJMH leaders further claimed.
The BJHM prepared the report based on newspapers articles and their community's sources.
Banking crisis deepens
BB relaxes regulation
Kazi Zahidul Hasan :
Banks faced a perfect storm last year as bad loans piled up, big scams surfaced and bank directors managed big amount of loans from the financial institutions. They took advantage of poor regulation of the central bank compounding the problem faced by the country's banking industry for the last few years.
The central bank itself hit media headline after hackers were able to steal $101 million from its reserve account held with the New York's Federal Reserve Bank in February.
"The country's banking sector experienced a bad time in 2016, with banks buckling under the weight of default, bad and non-performing loans," Dr Khondoker Ibrahim Khaled, a former Bangladesh Bank (BB) Deputy Governor told The New Nation on Friday.
He said the state-owned banks performed worst of all banks requiring the need for a bailout. They sought recapitalization fund from the government to beef up
their soaring capital shortfall.
"Corruption and mismanagement gripped the public banks which now need to be strengthened by infusing dynamism in their management. Besides, directors should be appointed there with non-partisan manner, with inclusion of efficient people having banking background," he added.
He said, "Corruption also exists in private banks but it was in tolerable level."
Dr Khondoker Ibrahim Khaled mentioned that banks have been maintaining an excessive amount of bad debt on their which is a reflection of the state of the country's banking sector.
"A growing defaulted loans, scams and connected lending have further compounded the problem faced by country's banking sector in 2016," he noted.
"2016 was a bad year for the country's banking sector and it remained underperformed throughout the year," Dr Salehuddin Ahmed, former Governor of Bangladesh Bank told The New Nation on Friday.
He said we saw series of untoward events that began from ATM fraud to reserve pilferage from central bank in 2016.
On the other hand, a large numbers of corporates and big borrowers were unable to repay loans despite a relaxed loan rescheduling policy announced for them by the central bank. While mismanagement in public banks eroded their financial stability and confidence of customers in them also suffered in a big way. "Besides, bank directors have wiped out Tk one lakh crore from banks through connected leading pushing them into further crisis," he said.
"All these were disconcerting pictures of the banking sector which may not come in shape again unless a strict monitoring and regulatory regime can be put on the banks fairly by the central bank," he said.
He observed the central bank may be going soft on banks in its asset quality review, oversight practice and enforcing regulatory requirements making the banks more vulnerable.
"BB should go tough on banks for their regulatory failures. It should ensure proper punishment while indulging corruption by bank officials and other elements," he said adding, "These measures can ensure stability in the country's banking industry". When asked, he said, "Private banks performed better and they were better capitalized. But it's also true the public banks face an existential threat unlike anything they've confronted before".
Banks had altogether Tk 65,000 crore defaulted loans up to September 2016 compared to Tk 56,000 crore in 2015.
Bedsides, they had written off Tk 42,000 crore loans during the period and it was Tk 35,000 crore in 2015.
"The poor performance of banks could particularly hit the economy as they have a big role in accelerating investment and growth. A crisis in banking sector could lead a deeper problem for economy by slowing growth," said Dr Salehuddin Ahmed.
US slaps sanctions on Russia, expels 35 diplomats
FACE-TO-FACE: US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin exchange icy stares.
AP, Washington :
President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russia's interference in the U.S. presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts.
The State Department also has kicked out 35 Russian diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the U.S. The diplomats were declared persona non grata for acting in a "manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status." Obama said Russians will no longer have access to two Russian government-owned compounds in the United States, in Maryland and in New York. Russian officials have denied the Obama administration's accusation that the Russian government was trying to influence the U.S. presidential election. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia's goal was to help Donald Trump win - an assessment Trump has dismissed as ridiculous.
Meanwhile, US intelligence agencies believe that this year Russia mounted an unprecedented attack on the integrity of the American electoral process in an effort to undermine American democracy and ensure the election of Kremlin-friendly Donald Trump.
On Thursday, the Obama administration announced an equally unprecedented effort to punish Moscow with sanctions for its past hacking - and serve notice that future meddling will draw an even harsher response.
The move, which is far more sweeping than the
punishments leveled against North Korea or China for other state-sponsored hacking efforts, is going to make it significantly harder for Trump to start his tenure in the White House with an immediate effort to improve ties with Vladimir Putin. The sanctions take aim at two of Russia's major intelligence agencies - the FSB, the main successor agency to the Soviet-era KGB, and the GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency - which are accused of hacking the Democratic National Committee's servers and the email account of Clinton campaign chair John Podesta to steal and then release information damaging to Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton. Many of Clinton's supporters believe that Obama should have released information about the Russia hacking earlier so that she would have had time to respond and highlight Moscow's apparent desire to boost Trump's chances.
Obama also targeted individuals that allegedly played a leadership role in ordering the cyberattacks: Igor Valentinovich Korobov, the current chief of the GRU; Sergey Aleksandrovich Gizunov, deputy of the GRU; Igor Olegovich Kostyukov, a first deputy chief of the GRU; and Vladimir Stepanovich Alexseyev, also a first deputy chief of the GRU. There will also be sanctions against three Russian companies that the administration believes aided the cyberattacks. Two individuals who are accused of hacking into e-commerce companies and stealing millions from American financial institutions will be targeted as well. In his statement, Obama also hinted that there was more to come, likely in the form of unannounced cyber warfare. Still, it seems doubtful that the new measures will frighten Putin into changing his behavior. Some lawmakers had pressed Obama to embarrass the Russian leader by releasing details of the tens of billions of dollars that he and his closest allies are believed to have squirreled away in a labyrinth of offshore bank accounts, but the White House didn't do so. It's also enormously doubtful that the GRU officials targeted by the sanctions keep any assets in US banks or would want to travel here anytime soon. In a separate - but clearly related - statement, the Obama administration ordered 35 Russian diplomats to leave the country within 72 hours, which it says is a response to the harassment of US diplomatic personnel in Russia. It also said that as of noon on Friday, Russians would be denied access to Russian government-owned compounds in Maryland and New York that they use for "intelligence-related purposes." In a statement on the sanctions, Obama said that "all Americans should be alarmed," and made it clear that he believes the hacks were nothing less than a direct order from the Kremlin. "These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government," he said. Russia scoffed at Obama's accusation and promised retribution for any actions that Obama takes.
"If Washington takes new hostile steps, it will receive an answer. This applies to any actions against Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, which will immediately backfire at US diplomats in Russia," Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova said. According to the Associated Press, she added, for good measure, that the Obama White House is "not an administration, it's a group of foreign policy losers, angry and ignorant." In a statement in response to the announcement of the sanctions, Trump sounded nonchalant about the entire issue, saying, "It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.
Mamata's lawmaker Tapas Pal held in chit fund case
NDTV, Kolkata :
Tapas Pal, a senior leader of Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress, has been arrested in Kolkata in connection with what is referred to as the "Rose Valley chit fund scam", in which thousands of small investors were allegedly cheated.
Tapas Pal, 58, was questioned for hours yesterday by the CBI before his arrest. His house was also raided earlier.
The actor-turned-politician a director in two companies of the Rose Valley Group, has been accused of cheating thousands of investors of 17,000 crores through its Ponzi scheme.
Officials say the lawmaker is suspected to have
benefited from the chit fund scam, which surfaced around the same time as the Saradha scam. The Chairman of the Rose Valley group, Gautam Kundu, was arrested earlier by the Enforcement Directorate.
Another Trinamool lawmaker, Sudip Bandopadhyay has also been summoned in the case, but he has said he will appear for CBI questioning only next week.
The Trinamool has alleged that the centre is using the CBI to target its leader for political vendetta because of its aggressive opposition to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's notes ban.
Political attrocities now go against those who opposed NoteBandi but supported the movement. We will fight it out," tweeted Trinamool MP Derek O'Brien.
Ms Banerjee, the West Bengal Chief Minister, has demanded the PM's resignation, alleging that he has failed to deliver on his commitment to resolve the problems arising from demonetization by the end of the year.
Butcher of Swat to be hanged by Military Courts
The Times of Islamabad, RAWALPINDI :
Notorious Taliban leader Muslim Khan, known as 'Butcher of Swat' will face the gallows after the army chief confirmed his death sentence alongside seven other terrorists this week. According to ISPR,
Muslim Khan was a spokesman for a proscribed organisation. He was involved in the killing of innocent civilians, attacking armed forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan, which resulted in the death of 31 persons including Inspector Sher Ali of police and injuries to 69 others. He was among eight terrorists whose death sentences were confirmed by Army Chief General Qamar Javed Bajwa on Wednesday.
The Undead Archives
I have finally salvaged my pre-Blogger TDR archives and added them into Blogger. They are almost totally in the form of one giant post for each month. And the formatting strayed from the originals. Sorry. But historians everywhere can rejoice that this treasure trove of my thoughts is restored to the world.
"I have sanctioned nine entities and individuals: the GRU and the FSB, two Russian intelligence services; four individual officers of the GRU; and three companies that provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations," President Obama said in a statement.
"In addition, the Secretary of the Treasury is designating two Russian individuals for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information."
Russia Tweeted A Duck Meme In Response
Donald Trump It's time for our country to move on
The United States has expelled 35 Russian spies in response to Russia's alleged interference in last month's presidential election, further escalating tensions between the countries.The US state department has declared 35 diplomatic intelligence officials from the Russian embassy in Washington DC and the consulate in San Francisco "persona non grata," giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the country.President Barack Obama has also announced the closing of two Russian compounds, in New York and Maryland, used by the Russian officials for intelligence-gathering, from noon on Friday.Obama accused Russia of "aggressive harassment," saying "all Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions." He believes that hacking "could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government."The move follows calls from senior US senators to sanction Russian diplomats who are believed to have played a role in the last month's election-hacking against the Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton's campaign.Of course, Russiawho has denied any involvement and called the decision "ungrounded"is not happy with the decision in the dying days of the Obama administration.After Obama had announced sanctions against the Russian diplomats on Thursday, the Russian Embassy in London tweeted a photo of a duckling with the word "Lame" over it.The photo was posted in an obvious reference to Obama as he nears the end of his "lame duck" period in White house after almost eight years as US president.Ultimately, it depends on President-elect Donald Trump, who will take over from President Obama next month, if he carries the new sanctions against the Russian diplomats.However, Trump has dismissed the hacking claims as "ridiculous" and the US threat to increase sanctions against Russia and said Americans should "get on with our lives," adding that "it's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things," instead of speculating over the impact Russia had on last month's election."Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week to be updated on the facts of this situation," Trump told reporters Thursday.The US intelligence agencies have described the Russian hacking as a "decade-long campaign," which includes spear phishing; campaigns targeting government organizations, and critical infrastructures like think-tanks, universities, political organizations, and corporations; theft of information from these agencies; and public release of stolen information.Several US agencies, including the CIA and FBI, have concluded that the emails stolen from Hillary Clinton's campaign manager and Democratic National Committee servers were released during the 2016 presidential election by Wikileaks to cause damage to Clinton.
If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs.
IND L!VE offers highlights of the many live music events taking place around Acadiana this New Years weekend.
ST. CINDER
Thursday, Dec. 29
Artmosphere Bistro
Doors: 9 p.m.
Admission: $5
St. Cinder is a six piece band of friends formed by a lucky meeting of vagabond musicians in Ashland, Oregon. They happily resurrect and revitalize the many branches of the Americana family tree including jug music, rag-blues, jazz, and folk classics.
BROTHER JAC + THE SHAKE BACKS + MATT BREAUX + LYNDEN SEGURA
Thursday, Dec. 29
Blue Moon Saloon
Doors: 9:30 p.m.
The Blue Moon Saloon welcomes Brother Jac, The Shakebacks, Matt Breaux and Lynden Segura to its stage this Thursday.
THE ROY CARRIER TRIBUTE WITH DIKKI DU & THE ZYDECO KREWE
Thursday, Dec. 29
Feed & Seed
Doors: 8 p.m.
Admission: $20
Dikki Du & The Zydeco Krewe joins the Corey Ledet Zydeco Band along with Jeffery Broussard and The Creole Cowboy featuring Double Trouble to pay tribute to Roy Carrier. Food will also be served. Tickets are $20 at door.
ATCHAFALAYA
Friday, Dec. 30
The Grouse Room
Doors: 10 p.m.
Born in Lafayette on Halloween night of 1978, Atchafalaya established a tremendously loyal fan base. Playing covers of Eagles, Fogleberg, Beatles, CSN&Y, along with some Cajun favorites and anything else they felt like playing, they would always slip in a few originals.
CAT HEAD BISCUIT BOYS + RUBIN WILSON FOLK BLUES EXPLOSION
Friday, Dec. 30
Artmosphere Bistro
Doors: 9 p.m.
Doors: $10
The Cat Head Biscuit Boys perform along with Rubin Wilson Folk Blues Explosion this Friday night at Artmosphere.
CURLEY TAYLOR
Friday, Dec. 30
Blue Moon Saloon
Doors: 10:30 p.m.
Curley Taylor headlines the Blue Moon Saloon this Friday night.
GERARD DELAFOSE & THE ZYDECO GATORS + STEP RIDEAU & THE ZYDECO OUTLAWS
Friday, Dec. 30
Feed & Seed
Doors: 9 p.m.
Gerard Delafose & The Zydeco Gators perform along with Step Rideau & The Zydeco Outlaws at the Feed & Seed this Friday night.
SICKBAY PRESENTS GRAND NATHANIEL & THE GHOSTS + RAD WAGON
Friday, Dec. 30
The Wurst Biergarten
Doors: 9 p.m.
Admission: $5
Sickbay is proud to present Grand Nathaniel & the Ghosts and Rad Wagon, December 30th at the Wurst Biergarten! Only $5! Music starts at 9! C'mon!
6TH ANNUAL BLACK & WHITE AFFAIR
Saturday, Dec. 31
Jefferson Street Pub
Doors: 8 p.m.
Admission: $10-15
Come celebrate the new year with JSP this Saturday, Dec. 31. Sounds by DJ Greenlight. Free Champagne Toast. Black & White attire is preferred. Door opens 8 p.m. $15 Cover. $10 Cover before 10pm for 21+.
FLY ME TO THE MOON
Saturday, Dec. 31
Acadiana Symphony Orchestra
Doors: 8 p.m.
Ring in the New Year with the Symphony! Join the Acadiana Symphony Women's League for a New Year's Gala that will kick off 2017 in grand style! Food by the finest restaurants in Acadiana, a glass of bubbly, and dance the night away with Jet 7. A cash bar will also be available.
NEW YEARS EVE DANCE WITH GENO DELAFOSE & FRENCH ROCKIN BOOGIE
Saturday, Dec. 31
Vermilionville
Doors: 9:30 p.m.
Admission: $35
Ring in the New Year with Geno Delafose & French Rockin Boogie! Doors open at 8:30 p.m. and music begins at 9:30 p.m. Admission is $35 (no table reservations; seats are first-come, first-served. No outside food or beverages), which includes a complimentary glass of champagne as well as a party favor. Finger food and beverages will be available for purchase. For more information, visit Vermilionville.org.
NYE @ THE MOON: THE PITS + DURWOOD + THE CONRADS
Saturday, Dec. 31
Blue Moon Saloon
Doors: 9 p.m.
Admission: $10
The Blue Moon Saloon rings in 2017 with a special New Year's Eve celebration with performances from The Pits, Durwood, and the Conrads.
NYE PARTY WITH SOCIAL CIRCLE + THE REACHING HAND + BAYOU TECHE CASK
Saturday, Dec. 31
The Wurst Biergarten
Doors: 9 p.m.
Come out and ring in 2017 at the first annual Wurst New Years Eve Party with Social Circle and the Reaching Hand in addition to a DJ set by Andre Broussard. Bayou Teche Cask and Swamp Thing IPA will also be on hand.
NYE WITH PINE LEAF BOYS & CEDRYL BALLOU AND THE ZYDECO TRENDSETTERS
Saturday, Dec. 31
Artmosphere Bistro
Doors: 9 p.m.
Come bring in the New Year with our annual New Years Eve dance at Artmosphere, this year with Zydeco sensation, Cedryl Ballou, opening the show and Pine Leaf Boys bringing in the New Year!
SWING IN THE NEW YEAR 2017
Saturday, Dec. 31
The Grouse Room
Doors: 9 p.m.
Gather your friends for the BEST party in Lafayette for New Years Eve! The Grouse Room presents Swing in the New Year with Connie G and Creole Soul to dance the night away all the way to 2017. The party starts at 8 p.m. with Premium Open Bar until 1 a.m., Champagne Toast at Midnight, Hors d'Oeuvres and Carving Stations and party favors with a few special surprises.
Board is responsible for planning, coordinating, and budgeting for all public higher education in the state.
Blake David
Gov. John Bel Edwards on Thursday announced that he has appointed Lafayette attorney Blake David to the Board of Regents. A founding partner of the Lafayette firm of Broussard & David, the local attorney received a bachelor of arts degree and his juris doctorate from LSU. He is serving as a representative of the 3rd Congressional District.
The Board of Regents is responsible for planning, coordinating, and budgeting for all public higher education in the state. The board administers the Louisiana Education Quality Support Fund and formulates a master plan for higher education, including a formula for the equitable distribution of funds.
Our institutions of higher education continue to face financial challenges that make the work of the Board of Regents more critical than ever as we continue our efforts to stabilize the budget and provide more predictable funding for our colleges and universities, Edwards said in making the announcement. The appointees I have named to the board bring an array of professional and educational expertise from higher education institutions across Louisiana.
The following appointments will also be effective on Jan. 1:
Darren G. Mire, of New Orleans, is the director of valuation for the Orleans Parish Assessors Office. Mire is a certified Louisiana deputy assessor and is a licensed real estate agent. He received a Bachelor of Science degree and a master of professional studies from Tulane. Mire will serve as a representative of the 2nd Congressional District.
W. Clinton Bubba Rasberry, of Shreveport, is the managing partner for Crestview Woods, Rasberry Commercial Properties and Rasberry Mineral Lands. Rasberry received a bachelor of arts degree from Vanderbilt University and did post-graduate work at Louisiana State University Forestry School. He will serve as a representative of the 4th Congressional District.
Jacqueline Vines Wyatt, of Prairieville, is the former senior vice president and regional manager for Cox Communications Southeast Region. Wyatt received a bachelor of science degree from the University of Redlands. She will serve as an at-large member on the board.
T. Jay Seale III, of Hammond, is an attorney and founding partner of Seale & Ross. Seale received a bachelor of arts degree from Southeastern Louisiana University and a juris doctorate from the LSU. Seale will serve as a representative of the 1st Congressional District.
Charles R. McDonald, of Sterlington, is the president and owner of CMAC & Associates and the co-owner of Freedom Mobility, and a former member of the Louisiana State House of Representatives. While a state representative, he authored the Taylor Opportunity Program for Students (TOPS) scholarship bill and served on the Education Committee. He received his bachelor of science degree from Northeast Louisiana College, a master of education degree from Northeast Louisiana University, and doctor of education degree from the University of Louisiana Monroe. McDonald will serve as a representative of the 5th Congressional District.
New Iberia Research Center
Crown Bioscience Inc. plans to establish a pharmaceutical research and development facility at the New Iberia Research Center, a project the global drug discovery and development company says will enable it to advance treatments for cardiovascular and metabolic disease research. The expansion was jointly announced by Gov. John Bel Edwards and Crown Bioscience Inc. CEO Jean-Pierre Wery on Dec. 28.
CrownBio will coordinate its research efforts with UL Lafayette affiliate NIRC, which specializes in the management of nonhuman primates for applied and basic research. At the research center, CrownBio will make a $1 million capital investment and create 10 direct jobs with an average annual salary of $70,000, plus benefits. Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in an additional 14 indirect jobs.
This project provides an excellent example of how Louisianas higher education system is leveraging its strengths to attract new investment in bioscience to our state, Edwards said in a news release. Sophisticated pharmaceutical research performed in a sensitive and progressive manner is essential for our state, nation and world to combat illnesses and diseases that continually pose new challenges. Were proud that this important work will be taking place in our state and will build upon the resources of UL Lafayette and the New Iberia Research Center.
Headquartered in Santa Clara, Calif., Crown Bioscience formed in 2006 and operates research campuses in China, the U.K., San Diego and Indianapolis. The companys leadership including Executive Chairman and Chief Technology Officer Guo-Liang Yu, CEO Jean-Pierre Wery and President and Chief Strategy Officer Alex Wu, possesses decades of experience in the global biotech and pharmaceutical industry. The company says the NIRC was crucial in its decision to expand to Louisiana, after it outgrew its capacity in North Carolina.
From the release:
Paris, TX (75460)
Today
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..
Tonight
Partly cloudy this evening, then becoming cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 68F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
The sextoy market is growing quite rapidly in India right now.
Although it is not a big trend, it is a hot topic on the internet as it is secretly expanding its market.
In this article, we will focus on sextoy and introduce recommended sextoy for Indian beginners of sextoy by gender.
India, the birthplace of the Kama Sutra, is very strict about sex.
Also, premarital sex is basically not allowed. Therefore, there are many people who are sexually restricted.
But what happens when you continue to be sexually restricted?
Frustration may build up and you may end up taking your sexual stress out on your partner.
If you are able to adopt sextoy in a timely manner, you can get rid of those problems.
I want to have more exciting sex than Im having now.
I want more variation in masturbation
I want to get even stronger pleasure than I do on my own.
If you have any of these problems, please stay with me until the end.
What is sex toys for Indian?
Sextoy, as the name implies, is a toy used during sex and masturbation.
It is a generic term for vibrators, Egg-vibrators, Electric massagers, dildo, handcuffs and condoms.
They are used to make regular sex more exciting or to make masturbation more pleasurable.
Because sextoy is very stimulating, it can help you to get rid of the problems and frustrations of being in a rut of sex with your partner for a long time, or if you are unhappy with the lack of pleasure in sex with your partner.
The ability to satisfy your desires with movement, texture, and size, which cannot be done by a normal human being, can help you to be satisfied with sex and, as a result, improve your relationship with your partner.
It is also said to help improve sexual dysfunction (inability to get an erection or ejaculate) and difficulty in feeling during sex (insensitivity), which is attracting more attention than in the past.
In recent years, the demand for sextoy has increased due to the spread of smartphones and the Internet and the increasing number of people using online shopping.
Even those who are concerned about the appearance of sextoy (and find it difficult to purchase) can now easily obtain it by using mail order.
In the case of online shopping, most of the stores have taken steps to ensure that the contents of the products delivered to you are not revealed, so you can purchase them without your family members knowing.
Until a while ago, you had to go to the store where the adult goods were sold to buy them, so it was quite a hurdle to overcome.
Also, many people may have an image that sextoy is somehow embarrassing to own.
But nowadays, some of them are so stylish and cute that you cant believe they are sextoy at a glance.
More and more people are using them for travel and outdoor use because they are not too bulky and are suitable for carrying around.
Sextoy situation in India
Before introducing the recommended sextoy for Indians, lets talk about one of the sextoy situations in India in recent years.
In India, due to the high concentration of population, the following six cities have particularly high sales of sextoy in India.
Mumbai
Kolkata
Bangalore
Delhi
Chennai
Hyderabad
These cities account for roughly 70 percent of sextoy sales in India.
In the future, the percentage of sextoy use will gradually increase in other cities in India as well.
If you never talk about sextoy publicly, that girl in your neighborhood might be a sextoy user too.
If you are interested in sextoy, you dont have to suppress your desire for it.
What are Sextoys for beginner?
Among all sextoys, sextoy for beginners are vibrators, dildo, masturbators, Sex Lubricants, and condoms.
Sex Lubricants and condoms, which are familiar to people who have had sex, are also a great beginners sextoy.
I will explain the details of each toy later, but there are many sextoy products that are painful to use and can only be used after some anal expansion.
I assume that the Indian readers of this article are people who have not had much experience with sextoy.
If such people use professional sextoy suddenly, they are at risk of injury or trauma.
Therefore, to introduce sextoy, you need to start with a beginners version and gradually become familiar with it.
Advantages of using sextoy for Indians
There are three advantages of using sextoy for Indians
You can masturbate in a wide variety of ways.
Can have stimulating sex
Can develop new sexual zones
If you try to masturbate with your own fingers or hands, it tends to be a pattern.
However, with sextoy, you can easily masturbate in a variety of ways.
You will definitely be fascinated by the attraction of new stimulation.
Also, your daily sex life will be more exciting than ever.
There are many things in sextoy that are visually stimulating and give you a strong and intense feeling of pleasure.
This allows you to see your partners promiscuity in a way that you wouldnt normally see it.
When you are in a relationship, sex with your partner may become a pattern, but it can also eliminate these problems.
It can also lead to the development of new sexual zones (which is the training of sexual stimulation to allow you to feel orgasms).
For more information on the development of new sexual zones, see the following articles
[Women's Erogenous Zone]How to find and develop, 7 hidden sexual zones !![In India] In this issue, we will dissect the female erogenous zone! ..." Many of you may be like that. Men, in particular, shou...
Thus, the use of sextoy can only be a good thing for the men and women of India.
Sextoy for beginner men in India
So, lets continue with the recommended goods for Indian sextoy beginners.
For ease of understanding, we will introduce them by gender. Lets start with the men!
The following five goods are recommended for novice Indian sextoy men
Masturbator
Cock rings
Love Doll
Sex Lubricants
Toys for the prostate
Lets check each one in detail.
Masturbator
The masturbator is a sextoy for men that elaborately reproduces a womans vagina, mouth, and anus, and is one of the most popular sextoy products.
It is used by men to masturbate, and it is popular because it provides stronger stimulation and pleasure more easily than using hands.
Most are made of good quality silicone, and their softness is something that cannot be achieved with ones own hands.
They can provide stronger pleasure than a real womans vagina, so be careful not to overuse them. (You wont be able to have an orgasm in a womans vagina anymore.)
Again Male masturbators are a wonderful toy. I do not need any favourite timing, bothersome bargaining. You do not have to worry too much.
Revolutionize your masturbation time! ! !
Made in Japan is a wonderful kinky toy.#sextoysindia #SexToyIndia #Japanhttps://t.co/4k70QGzoTP pic.twitter.com/tRVdxTKPpa SEXToys India PR (@SextoysIndia) November 12, 2018
Some of them are disposable, while others can be washed and used over and over again, so its fun to buy a few to use depending on your mood.
If you want to know more about masturbator, please click here
Really pleasant male masturbation and how to do it Are you in a rut with your daily masturbation routine? I'm going to show you five ways men masturbate that you might ...
[For Beginners] How to choose and use a male masturbator without fail Gentlemen.Have you ever used a masturbator? The person who sees this article is probably the one who has not experien...
Cock Ring
A cock ring is literally a ring-shaped sextoy that is worn on a mans penis.
It maintains an erection by binding the penis with a ring of rubber and blocking blood flow.
It is sometimes used as an accessory to be worn on the penis, and may be made of metal or plastic as well as rubber.
In some cases, cock rings have parts or vibrators attached to them that stimulate the vagina, so they kill two birds with one stone, giving a woman pleasure while maintaining an erection.
Cock rings are also sometimes used to treat erectile dysfunction.
It can help with erectile dysfunction, where the penis doesnt get hard when you get an erection or doesnt last long when you try to insert it.
Men who are prone to breakage or who are unsure of the hardness and size of their erections can use a cock ring to increase the size of their penis and maintain an erection for a longer period of time.
Cock rings vary in price from around RS700 to over RS2000 with a vibrator function.
Some of them do not fit your penis, so you should check the size of the cock ring before you buy.
You should know the size of your partners or your own penis when it is erect.
[Penis enlargement] What is a cock ring? Types and usage Cock rings can make your penis bigger and harder. It also makes sex with women more fulfilling and increases your sat...
Love Doll
Love dolls, also known as Dutchwives, are dolls with the appearance of a woman who can experience simulated sex.
There are dolls that look like a woman, but they have no face and only have their breasts and lower torso cut off, and some dolls are so realistic that they can actually be mistaken for real women.
Some expensive dolls can cost more than 1 million yen, and the quality of the doll is easily influenced by the price.
The higher the price, the higher the quality of the doll will be, the closer it will be to the real woman, and the cheaper the doll will be, the less elaborate it will be, making it look like a real doll! Something is wrong! That is also true.
You cant go wrong if you choose a balance between price and taste.
There are stores that allow you to make custom-made love dolls, so you can create a girl of your choice.
You can make a girl of your choice. You can start with inexpensive love dolls at first, and once you get used to it, you can try custom-made love dolls.
If you want to know more about Love doll, please click here
Thorough explanation of the charm of sex dolls! Have you ever heard of sex dolls that are used primarily for pseudo-sex purposes? It is a doll that is quite close to...
Sex lubricants
Sex lubricants are used as a substitute for lubricating fluid during sex or as a lubricant for men to use masturbator rules.
It is not uncommon for women to have difficulty getting wet, depending on their physical condition, or to have difficulty getting wet due to their constitution.
Forcing the penis into the vagina at such times can cause painful intercourse.
There are various types of Sex Lubricants, some with a warming effect, some with a cooling effect, and some with a scent.
Changing the Sex Lubricant used during play is recommended as a good sex accent.
If you want to learn more about Sex Lubricants, click here.
What is sex lubricant?Explain the difference and usage of each ingredient The word "sex toy" may seem like a hurdle to overcome, but lotion is actually one of the most familiar sex toys. Many...
Toys for the Prostate
Another sextoy for men is prostate toys.
The most famous prostate toys include Enemagra, which was originally a prostate massager developed by an American urologist to treat an enlarged prostate line.
Modern prostate toys are imitations of Enemagra that have spread as sextoy for men.
Many people think of prostate toys as being used by gay men, but in fact they are often used by straight men.
What is the prostate?
The prostate is an organ found only in men. It is a walnut-sized organ located deep in the pelvis, just below the bladder, and its primary role is to protect and nourish sperm.
You cannot touch the prostate gland from outside the body, but you can touch it by inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus.
By inserting a finger or sextoy through the anus and touching the prostate and developing it, you can feel intense orgasms.
Orgasms felt in the prostate are mainly dry orgasms, which are orgasms that do not involve ejaculation. (You can also feel orgasms with ejaculation through prostate stimulation.)
The prostate is called the male G-spot, and dry orgasms can be much more intense than ejaculation.
Therefore, men who are able to develop a prostate can become addicted to the pleasure.
sextoy for beinner women in India
The following are the recommended goods for Indian women who are new to sextoy.
The following three are recommended for use by women who are new to sextoy.
Vibrator.
Dildo
Electric Masserger
Lets check out what each one is in detail.
If you want to check out womens toys, click here.
[BEST25]Sex Toys for Women in IndiaThat Can Help You Have an Orgasm There are many women who pretend to feel orgasm during sex. But don't worry, you don't have to pretend to feel orgasm...
Vibrators
A vibrator is a sextoy that vibrates with an Egg-Vibrator to provide stimulation and is often referred to simply as a vibrator.
Some vibrate as well as rotate, and there are many variations of sextoy.
It is quite a popular sextoy, and is well recognized by people who do not know much about sextoy.
Its usage is similar to that of a massager, but it is more compact and easier to carry than a massager, and many of them look as cute as a lipstick or a macaroon, so they are popular among women.
For a while, a famous influencer on twitter said, This is good! You may have heard of the topic of this article by introducing the recommended vibrators.
Vibrators are great for women to use on their own, but they are also recommended for men who have difficulty satisfying women with sex.
Since it is powered by electricity, it is far less tiring than moving your hands by yourself.
This makes it easier to satisfy a woman with sex because you can caress her for longer than usual.
Vibrators are mainly used on the female side, but they can also be used on men.
When used on men, they are used to attack the nipples and glans, and in both cases it is recommended to wear a condom for hygiene reasons.
Introducing how to use the vibrator, its purpose, and how to choose it! Vibrator uses the vibrations caused by the rotation of the motor to provide stimulation. It is one or two of the most...
Dildo
A dildo is a model sextoy made to mimic a male penis.
It can be made of silicone, elastomer (think of it as a material similar to PVC), metal or glass.
A dildo can be used by a man for his female partner during sex, or by a woman for masturbation to get pleasure from it.
They are mainly inserted into women, but some can be used in the male anus as well.
It is sometimes used synonymously with vibrators, but the vibrator is not the same thing as a vibrating device.
A model of a penis that does not vibrate is a dildo.
Some of them have suction cups that can be attached to the floor or wall so that you can enjoy realistic masturbation without using your hands.
For fun, there is a dildo made in the shape of your partners penis.
This one is also popular as a gift, and if youve been together for a long time and are having trouble finding a gift for your partner, you might want to pick one.
To learn more about dildo, please click here.
What is Dildo: Orgasms with Dildos for Men and Women A dildo is a model of a male organ that is used by women for masturbation and by men to stimulate the prostate gland. Th...
Electric Masserger
A Electric Masserger is a hand-held electric massager, also known as a handheld massager, and can usually be purchased at electronics stores.
It was originally designed to relieve stiff shoulders and back pain, so the hurdle of buying one in a physical store is quite low.
Many people may have seen or used it in some form or another, as it is often installed in leisure hotels.
Such a massager is highly recommended for beginners because it is easy for women to get pleasure from it when they use it during masturbation.
It is larger than Egg-Vibrator and vibrations are stronger than those of Egg-Vibrators and vibrators, so even just hitting the clitoris can give you a great deal of pleasure.
For those women who have never had an orgasm during sex with their man, the massager may be a good way to get a feel for what it feels like to have an orgasm.
It looks and feels like an electric massager, so you wont have to feel awkward if your roommate finds out.
If you are in a rut of having sex with your partner, if you want to feel an orgasm through masturbation, or if you are thinking of using a sextoy, why dont you try it from a simple massager?
To learn more about Electric Masserger, click here.
What is a massager? Introducing types, selection methods, and usage Originally, the Magic-wand vibrator and the massage machine were sold as a home massage machine used for the back and th...
How to choose a sextoy for Indian
Now that weve covered the different types of sextoy, heres how to choose one.
Especially if you are trying sextoy for the first time, pay attention to the following three points: Does the size fit you (the partner)?
Does the size fit you (your partner)?
Is the environment able to produce sound without problems?
Price range
First of all, the choice of size is quite important.
Most sextoy are used against or inserted into the genitals, but the genitals are very delicate organs for both men and women.
For this reason, using an inappropriate size may cause damage.
Secondly, the environment should be able to produce sound without problems.
Some sextoys not only wear, but also rotate and vibrate. Its easier to get pleasure from something that moves than something that doesnt, but the fact that it moves means that the internal rotors make some noise.
If you live in a house with thin walls or if you have roommates, you may not be able to concentrate because of the noise, so it is best to choose one that is silent or has a low noise level.
Especially in India, where many people live with their families, it is very important that you dont have to worry about sound when you use it.
Finally, there is the price range.
The price range of sextoy ranges widely, from around RS500 at the cheapest to RS10,000 or more at the highest.
Its good to consider how much money you can afford and how much you want to buy.
Do you want your family to not find out about sextoy?
I live with my family and want to use sextoy without them finding out! If you are a man, you should buy a camouflage sextoy that does not look like a sextoy at first glance.
For men, there are many masturbators that do not look like a sextoy, and for women, there are vibrators that only look like cosmetics.
If you choose such a type, youll be safe in case your family members find out.
How to buy sextoys in India
The best way to purchase sextoy is through online shopping.
For more information on how to purchase sextoy, please see the article below.
Sextoy is one of them.
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To begin with, many people may be concerned about whether they are legally allowed to purchase sextoy.
ikmAs it turns out, its not illegal.
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Cautions for Indians using sextoy
When using sextoy, keep the following three things in mind
Keep sex toys clean
Watch out for electrical leakage
Beware of the heat generated by the body while using a sex toy
As I mentioned earlier, many sextoy products are used for the delicate zone.
Therefore, it is most important to keep the sextoy itself clean. It is very important to keep the sextoy itself clean, because if a slight scratch is created by friction, bacteria can enter and breed there.
It is safe to wear a condom when using the masturbator, just in case.
In addition, many sextoy devices are powered by a power source, so if they are not waterproof, there is a possibility of electric shock or malfunction due to wetness.
Some may even develop heat during continuous use. If the fever becomes too much, you may get burned, so be careful.
If you get a fever during use, stop driving the sextoy immediately and refrain from using it.
You will enjoy sex more if you keep it safe and use it correctly.
Summary
What did you think?
In this article, we have introduced the recommended sextoy for the beginners of sextoy in India.
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RADDLE Herbert Korando sits in his living room watching his family gather up the contents of his house and load them into cars and trucks. They have discussions about what should go and what can stay. Family photos and heirlooms are carefully packed and taken out. The 84-year-old is not sure what the fuss is about. He has seen high water before and is not scared by the reports coming from the Army Corps of Engineers that the river would crest just below 50 feet, the maximum capacity for the levees just miles from his house.
Less than a mile up the road, members of the 140-year-old St. Ann Catholic Church in Raddle load up the contents of the country chapel. Holy statues, pews and the altar all get loaded up and taken to higher ground.
This was a common scene after Christmas last year along the Mississippi River as residents of the river bottoms prepared for high waters and the potential for a levee breach.
A year later, the work continues as residents look to the future of their communities.
Randy Lambdin, commissioner for the Preston Levee District near Wolf Lake, said the levee board is always looking for ways to improve the levee system. Currently, many along the Mississippi are improving decades-old pipes under the levees by adding plastic liners designed to ensure better structural stability. But this is not all that needs done. Much of the levees infrastructure dates back decades and, while they were built by the Army Corps, their maintenance has been left largely up to the local communities. Many of Illinois' southernmost river towns lie within sparsely populated counties, which leaves them with little tax revenue to complete levee upkeep or to make serious upgrades.
The government has no money to spend on us, Randy Colyer, a commissioner for the East Cape Levee District said of the federal government. We just basically are on our own.
Colyers district had to increase taxes in 2015 to make up some of the difference, but there is only so much of that to be done as many of the communities are low-income. Some residents are taking things into their own hands.
Jamie Nash-Mayberry, a social studies teacher at Shawnee Junior/Senior High School, started Save The Levees, Save the Future in the fall of 2010. Alarmed by the state of their local levee, Nash-Mayberry and her students wrote letters to politicians asking for help and later created a film raising public awareness about the importance of the levees, highlighting their deteriorated condition. The class also sold T-shirts to help raise funds to repair the levee.
Nash-Mayberry said last year was very stressful for her and her students. She remembers being out of town when the reports began rolling in about the quickly rising river waters. She was getting calls and texts from her students.
Having kids wondering if their homes were going to get washed away was awful, Nash-Mayberry remembers. She said she was asked often if the levees would hold.
My answer to that was, I hope. Experiences like these bolster her desire to keep at the work she and her classes have started with Save the Levees, Save the Future.
Wanda Korando, of Fountain Bluff Township, a lifelong resident of the river bottoms, knows better than to wait for help.
We cant wait for the government, she said, adding that without a lot of pull, federal funds are hard to come by.
Korando sits on a committee that hosts a yearly fundraiser aimed to help fund levee repairs. Levee Fest was launched in 2014 and in its first year raised $80,000, which went to repair aging locks that were causing weak spots along the levee. Held each year in Jacob, the festival features live music and food centered around Bottoms Up Bar and Grill. In the last two years, the event has raised $50,000 and Korando said she hopes to increase that number to $80,000 after the 2017 festival this coming June. The group is saving the money to purchase new diesel pumps to replace the decades-old units currently in place. She is hopeful the community can receive matching funds from the federal government to complete the project, which could cost in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Lambdin said last years flood was unique.
Usually the river goes up together and goes down together, he said. However, last years high waters came from a bell-shaped crest that slowly moved down river, hitting one area at a time as opposed to an entire region at once. But, Lambdin said each flood is not expected to be like the last.
Every high water is different, he said.
Herbert is not alone when he says the river has changed. Lambdin said he has lived on the Mississippi since he was 10 and the 56-year-old said he has seen a shift in the last 10-15 years.
A high water every 10 or 15 years didnt cause any concerns. Now it seems we are dealing with it five to six years out of 10, Lambdin said. Development along the river banks, which has narrowed the river, is what many cite as causing the Mississippi to rise faster and more frequently. Herbert remembers when the current 50-foot levee system was constructed and being told there would not be another flood. But now, he consistently sees waters nearing the top.
Larry Busch, of the Southern Illinois Community Foundation, agrees. Busch, with the SICF, helps communities organize after disasters. They help find the best ways to use donations that often pour into affected areas. He also assists in community development after disasters and he said he tries to get those involved to think about the sustainability of their plans.
Whats going to be sustainable over the long haul in spite of what may have been done in the short term, Busch said of his strategy. He stressed that he had a plan, not a perfect fix.
I dont know that there is a solution as much as a strategy to manage the river, he said.
In an ideal world, he said levees would be pushed back, giving the river more breathing room, and restrictions would be put in place regarding redevelopment after major flooding. Busch said people need to think down the road, will this happen again, and if so, will we be in the same boat?
Rivers flood. Period, Busch said, adding that everyone wants the river to flood down river from them. However, when levees are built, rivers flood sooner because there is less space for them to expand, he said.
I think everyone has to accept that natural forces are going to prevail, Busch said.
That is not the easiest sell.
While there are negatives to living by that river, I think there is the culture of the bottom lands that people dont want to give up, Nash-Mayberry said. She is not alone. Korando has lived within a mile of the levee her entire life.
I dont know why that would bother other people that I would rebuild I pay to live down there, she said, citing the $1,500 in flood insurance she pays on her house each year. She does recognize that some might think it crazy that she would live in striking distance of such a natural force, but to her it is no different than anywhere else.
No matter where you live in the United States you are going to have issues, Korando said, pointing out the wildfires and earthquakes in the west, tornadoes in the plains and hurricanes and blizzards in the east.
Bush knows his ideas are not exactly popular.
Its a tough sell because there are people whose homes are going to be affected and that transition certainly would take a lot of time, he said, adding that it is an area-by-area dialogue.
Those few days a year ago, Herbert Korando saw his belongings evacuated but he stayed put, just as he had for the last six decades. He has lived in the presence of the river and the levees his entire life, in fact he was raised just down the road from where he currently lives and has had to evacuate only once during the flood of 1943. He said unless the levee breaks, he does not plan to ever leave. In fact, he has never considered it.
Whenever you were born and raised in an area and your ancestors lived there all their life its not easy to pick up and leave something like that, he said.
The two congressmen who represent Southern Illinois Republican Reps. Mike Bost and John Shimkus said they expect the U.S. House and Senate to swiftly begin action on a conservative agenda after the 115th Congress is sworn in on Tuesday. At the top of that list is an item they both wholeheartedly endorse: repealing key components of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act commonly referred to as Obamacare, they said.
Bost said that the House leadership has informed the membership that January will be jammed with work days. Weve already been told well be there pretty well solidly through and thats what the schedule looks like, Bost said. Bost said the goal is to have legislation dismantling Obamacare on president-elect Donald Trumps desk his first day in the Oval Office on Jan. 20.
By the time the president takes his hand off the Bible, he can pick up a pen and start signing, Bost said. Thats the idea and intent.
National media reports quoting experts cast some doubt on whether it can happen quite that fast, but the bottom line is that Republicans plan to waste no time ripping apart Obamas signature program that he signed into law in March 2010 and Bost and Shimkus are among those eager to join in.
Theyve tried many times before unsuccessfully, but now they see a path forward to repeal and replace. Yet, Republicans are further along on the repeal than the replace aspect of their plan, and health policy experts that represent people on the lower end of the income spectrum are sounding alarm bells about moving forward without agreement on a replacement plan.
Shimkus brushed off those concerns, saying that Obamacare is so broken that it can hardly be called a true insurance plan.
You have to remember that most people think that Obamacare is crappy insurance, Shimkus said. The premiums are high and the deductibles are high so they cant make the deductibles. So even though they have insurance they dont really feel like they have insurance.
The immediate plan for the early days of the new Congress, as described by Bost, Shimkus and reportedly by other Republican congressmen, is to seek to repeal the act through a budget reconciliation bill, a nuanced parliamentary maneuver that would require only a simple majority vote in the Senate, eliminating the need for support from Democratic members.
Shimkus said this process is considered more than fair because its the same process by which Obamacare came to be in the first place six years ago.
The bill would be used to strip such things as the penalties related to the mandates for individuals to have health insurance and for employers to provide it federal subsidy payments and the taxes used to fund them, and federal funding for Medicaid expansion at the state level, according to Shimkus, Bost and other reports on the plan.
The measure would likely include repeal dates that are sometime out in the future a year or more, and probably there would be different deadlines for the unique aspects of the bill. That would give the Republican leadership time to formulate Part B of the plan, what to replace it with, Shimkus said, though that might not end up as a single piece of replacement legislation.
Shimkus said that, as he understands it, the plan being worked on by Republican leaders would allow states to develop compacts for high-risk pools and to remove restrictions that hinder the sale of insurance across state lines. Bost said its his understanding based on congressional briefings that reform would also include allowing people to cherry pick the insurance coverage they need to keep their costs under control. For instance, Tracy and I dont need OB-GYN. Were not going to have more babies. Were good, Bost said. There are other things I might want to pay for at my age. Its driving it back into the free market system.
As for the more popular aspects of Obamacare such as not allowing insurance companies to deny people with pre-existing conditions and allowing children up to age 26 to remain on their parents plan Shimkus called that low-hanging fruit that will be taken care of.
Bost, of Murphysboro, will begin a second term on Tuesday. For veteran Shimkus, of Collinsville, it will be his 11th term. The two congressman share representation of Southern Illinois. Bost represents Illinois 12th Congressional District, which covers 12 counties on the western border stretching from the Metro-East to Cairo and including the following in deep Southern Illinois: Jefferson, Perry, Franklin, Williamson, Union, Alexander, Pulaski, Randolph and Jackson.
Shimkus 15th Congressional District covers 33 counties across southeastern Illinois, which also includes part of the Metro East, stretches from Rantoul to Metropolis and includes the following deep Southern Illinois counties: Gallatin, Hamilton, Hardin, Johnson, Massac, Pope and Saline.
Of the 45 counties the two congressmen represent in whole or part, 42 of those counties favored Trump in the Nov. 8 election. The three counties that favored Democratic challenger Hillary Clinton were Jackson and St. Clair counties in Bosts district, and Champaign County, a portion of which is in Shimkus district.
Neither supported Trump in the primary election. Bost said he was initially in support of Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, and when he dropped out, threw his support behind Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Shimkus said he voted for Rubio.
But both said they gave their full support to Trump when he emerged as the Republican Partys candidate and are excited to see what the next four years brings in the way of conservative policies they believe could grow jobs and improve the economies of the rural counties that make up their districts.
Discussing the complexities of trade policy, Bost said there are some things that Trump has said he wants to address that will take time because they have no fast and easy solutions. Its very easy to stand up and tweet something out, Bost said, but added that was not an intended criticism of Trumps propensity to make sweeping statements using his Twitter account. No, no, heres what it is, Bost said. The electorate is tired and angry and wants somebody who says what they feel. He says exactly what he feels. Now, we have to figure out how to get those feelings into some sensible law that will allow us to meet the needs of the people.
Bost said hes been encouraged by Trumps cabinet picks thus far, and he called Vice President-Elect Mike Pence, the governor of Indiana, an amazing guy. The only people who complain about the people who hes put in place are people who are against him anyway, Bost said.
Shimkus called the presidential transition that will put Republicans in charge of the legislative and executive branches of government an exciting time.
This is exactly why we have elections, Shimkus said. We have elections to determine the direction the country needs to go. And I think this is a continuation of what happened in 2010 and 2014 when Republicans reclaimed the House and Republicans reclaimed the Senate, and now weve reclaimed the presidency, based upon a fear that government is too big, its getting involved in too many activities of our individual lives, and it needs to be downsized.
CARBONDALE In what she called the first of many visits, Democratic Illinois Senator-elect Tammy Duckworth met with local entrepreneurs at the Small Business Development Center at Southern Illinois University Carbondale Thursday to discuss what she can do to bolster economic development in the region after she heads to Washington.
Duckworth, who defeated incumbent Republican Senator Mark Kirk in November, will serve on the Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee after she is sworn in on Jan. 3.
She was joined in the meeting by Carbondale Mayor John Mike Henry and the SBDCs executive director, Kyle Harfst.
Were very fortunate to have Senator-elect Duckworth with us today. I dont believe we have seen the previous senator that she ran against in the election ever in Carbondale during his term, Henry said during a news conference after the meeting. I know her to be a good person, an honest person, a straightforward person someone whos ready to work hard at this job and work for the whole state, and Im glad that shes here in Southern Illinois, he said.
Duckworth also received a tour of the facility and discussed the citys revitalization projects.
Sometimes we feel like we might be a little left out down here, but we have a great university, and as you know, were rebuilding our community and moving forward with that to help the university, recruit students, retain students and faculty, and have a place for folks to retire to, Henry said.
Duckworth said part of the discussion involved how to attract more federal dollars to the SBDC, which was nearly a casualty of the state budget crisis. She said that she hopes to apply for federal grants in areas that havent traditionally been looked at, such as the Department of Defense.
People dont think of Illinois as a big defense manufacturing state, but we actually have the capacity, Duckworth said. The robotics team here is one of the best in the nation, and with the move in DOD towards more and more unmanned vehicles and robotics and the like we should be looking to compete in that, and I really look forward to providing any help that I can to the Center to look at the breadth of grants that are available across the federal government.
Another option might be the Department of Health and Human Services for the development of scheduling software for hospitals, Duckworth said.
All sorts of programs are available at the federal level, and we should be fighting for our piece of whatever those competitive contracts are, she said.
Asked about the importance of small businesses in the region, Duckworth said Southern Illinois is the perfect environment for entrepreneurs because they receive more support and attention from the municipality than they would in larger cities.
Instead of having to compete against everybody and their brother who has a good idea in some place like San Francisco, you get to be here where you get the day-to-day, hands-on experience, she said.
Duckworth said the key to job generation is twofold Carbondale needs to support young entrepreneurs at SIU so they dont take their good ideas somewhere else, and it also needs to encourage outside companies to invest here by providing ample resources and support.
Its keeping the homegrown talent, but its also attracting folks from outside, Duckworth said.
Henry made note of Carbondales status as a Gigabit City, referring to the fiber-optic network that provides faster internet speeds.
That gigabit access is throughout the central part of the town, and along Route 13 and out to the university, so as this expands into our neighborhoods, much and much higher speed internet, this is the key to growth. Youre not going to go anywhere if you dont have this, and it has to be in the households, so were working to get that pushed out more, he said.
In response to a question about Gov. Bruce Rauners view that Illinois is losing jobs due to high taxes, Duckworth said she does not agree with him.
I dont think its about taxes. I dont think its about the wages of the employees. I think its about the environment. Large corporations are not going to locate here and bring their top executives here if theres not a good quality of life. Executives do not want to move their families here if theres not good schools for their kids to go to. Theyre not going to go someplace that has low taxes and a low minimum wage if theres not the research universities, the great minds, the professors.
" I think we should focus on the real strengths that really attract businesses, which (are) programs like this, this incubator that is not just a part of the university, but a part of the municipality, of the community, and understand that it is an entire quality of life, both for business and for the individual, that will attract people to come here to live and work here, Duckworth said.
MARION Officials from Washington Elementary School gathered Thursday to help a family whose home was damaged in a string of fires in Marion last week.
Tommy Colboth, principal of Washington Elementary, said he received notice of damage to Charles and Christy Ferrell's home a few days after officials of Marion Junior High School held a drive for a school custodian who lost his home and dogs in the fires.
The Ferrells have a son and daughter one in second grade and the other in kindergarten who attend Washington Elementary school.
"We knew about that sooner and so Mrs. Moss (the principal at Marion Jr. High School) was able to get that going at the Junior High but at that time, we had no idea that one of our families was part of the fires," Colboth said.
Upon hearing the news, Colboth said he teamed with Lindsay Watts, the school's assistant principal at Washington Elementary School, and reached out to their school's staff, who then took to the school district's Facebook page to mobilize a drive for the family.
"When the (Williamson County) Sheriff's Department contacted me a couple of days after the fact and told us that one of our families was involved in a fire, we reached out to our staff and they mobilized and came up with a plan and (once) we were able to get something together, that's when we kind of blasted it on social media and it took off from there," he said.
Staff joined parents and volunteers from the community from 8 a.m. to noon Thursday in the B-Hall Breezeway area on the east side of the school to collect clothes, shoes and other household items for the family. Colboth said there are plans for another drive upon the family's return from Missouri, where they are visiting family.
"Theyre a very nice family who is very ecstatic to get any of this stuff," he said.
"Before they left for the holidays and we had some donations already provided for them at that point. They were up in a hotel and they've been with family in Missouri for the holidays, so they're making their way back now trying to figure out what's next."
The family was residing at 704 N. Garfield St., which was one of the homes reported to be damaged from the interior, according to a news release from the Marion Police Department.
Firefighter Lyndon Perzee of the Marion Fire Department told The Southern on Thursday that the fires, which authorities consider to be the result of arson, are still under investigation.
According to early reports, fires were detected and extinguished at the Ferrells' home as well as a home on the 300 block of East Calvert Street.
Reports list Rusty Mappin, a local custodian at Marion Jr. High School who lost his three dogs as a result of the fires, as the resident of the house located at 302 E. Calvert St. Officials also responded to reports of a fire at the 1100 block of East Dickinson Street in which a motorcycle was found ablaze.
A Dec. 21 news release from the Marion Police Department states that a male suspect was taken into custody in connection to the fires.
Secretary of State John Kerry used the word "conscience" over and over again as he attempted to explain and justify the Obama administration's decision not to veto a one-sided U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel. He added that the U.S. could not "stand idly by" while Israel torpedoed any hope for a two-state solution.
The Obama administration knows all about standing "idly by" that was its all-but-explicit policy toward other troubles in the Middle East. Obama came into office with one foreign policy lodestar "Not George Bush" and has stuck with it mulishly no matter how much the facts on the ground demanded flexibility. An Obama official dubbed it "leading from behind" and, according to a well-placed journalist, Obama himself used the phrase "don't do stupid s---."
And so, when Syrian strongman Bashar Assad massacred up to 400,000 people by dropping barrel bombs on civilian neighborhoods, shelling hospitals and imposing sieges on cities to starve out the inhabitants, the Obama administration stood very, very idly by. Even after warning Assad that the use of chemical weapons would trigger a U.S. response, Obama did nothing when Assad called his bluff.
When ISIS was rampaging through northern Iraq and southern Syria, beheading, crucifying and burning people alive, the Obama administration stood idly by.
"There are 2.75 million Palestinians living in the West Bank," Kerry thundered, without explaining why their misfortune is more urgent than that of 4.8 million Syrian refugees who are living in Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, Iraq and various European countries. An additional 6.6 million Syrians are internally displaced and desperately in need of assistance. The Palestinian refugees (the term is absurd after 68 years) are the only "refugees" in the world who have a United Nations program devoted exclusively to them (UNRWA) which may be one reason they remain stateless.
Just about every single one of Secretary Kerry's assumptions about the Palestinian/Israeli dispute is erroneous. Start with his assertion that the Palestinians want an independent state on the West Bank. They have been offered such a state at least twice. In 2000, at Camp David, Prime Minister Ehud Barak offered a generous settlement including land swaps. Yasser Arafat not only rejected it; he started a new intifada. In 2008, Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert offered Mahmoud Abbas a state comprising nearly all of the West Bank (Israel would have kept about 5 percent), with East Jerusalem as the capital. Abbas rejected it. Obama-administration assertions to the contrary notwithstanding, the Palestinian Authority has not recognized that Israel has a right to exist as a Jewish state. Palestinian propaganda ceaselessly depicts "Palestine" as comprising all of the territory between the Mediterranean Sea and the Jordan River. They continue, as Kerry himself acknowledged, to glorify terrorists.
Kerry suggests that "solving" the Israel/Palestinian conflict is the key to "stabilizing a volatile region." Has he been asleep for the past 50 years? The region is roiled by Islamic extremism in both Sunni and Shiite guises. The Obama administration has heightened tensions in the region with its embrace of Iran. Civil wars, revolutions, attempted coups and terrorism are destabilizing Libya, Iraq, Egypt, Tunisia, Turkey, Yemen and others. For an Arab, the West Bank is one of the safest (not to mention freest) places to live in the Middle East.
Kerry said the administration could not "in good conscience" let Israel build new settlements in "occupied" Palestinian land and thereby sabotage the "peace process." 1) The land in question was never Palestinian, as Kerry surely knows. It was grabbed by Jordan in 1948 and then, reluctantly, taken by Israel in a defensive war in 1967. 2) Israel, bowing to Obama's wishes, imposed a ban on settlements for 10 months in 2009. There was no response from the Palestinians. 3) Kerry certainly also knows that the Palestinian strategy for years has been to end-run direct talks with the Israelis and force a recognition of maximal Palestinian demands through international pressure. This failure to veto, far more than a few Israeli apartments, is the true obstacle to peace, because it encourages the Palestinians' unrealistic expectations and despicable tactics. These have lately included stabbings, shootings and driving cars into random pedestrians.
The world is aflame with threats and instability, yet Kerry and Obama, petulant leftists with an Israel fixation, could not resist this last kick in the teeth to the region's sole democracy. They knew it would harm Israel's moral standing now the delegitimizers can claim that Israel is in violation of "Security Council" resolutions and give an unmerited win to the Palestinians. Perhaps most infuriating of all, they claim to be doing it all for Israel's own good.
Too bad they couldn't follow their own advice: "Don't do stupid s---."
While some weather organizations are predicting a chance of snow showers in The T&D Region next weekend, a National Weather Service official says long-term forecasts need to be taken with a grain of salt.
"Weve made leaps and bounds and a lot of progress for fine tuning a week out," NWS meteorological technician Doug Anderson said.
"We are getting better at indicating potential, but nailing down rain versus snow or freezing rain or snow is typically more accurate three to four days out, he said.
The Weather Channel and Weather Underground were forecasting on Thursday a chance of wintry precipitation for the weekend of Jan. 7-8.
The Weather Channel's website was forecasting a morning wintry mix Sunday, Jan. 8, as well as a few snow showers Sunday night. Snow accumulations were forecast to be less than one inch.
Weather Underground was forecasting rain showers Saturday night, Jan. 7, mixing with snow showers late. The chance of precipitation is forecast to be 60 percent with snow accumulations of less than one inch expected.
AccuWeather was forecasting rain and drizzle possible that weekend and had no mention of snow.
Anderson said each weather outlet typically receives the same data from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and analyzes the data using computer models.
Long-range models indicate there is probably a good chance for some snow in the mountains in the Upstate, northern Georgia and in Tennessee, Anderson said.
"There may be some ice in the northern Midlands and some patterns are indicating for some sleet and some freezing rain versus snow in our area," he said.
It is still too early to tell exactly where the frozen precipitation will fall and how much will come down, Anderson said.
Long-range forecasts show a front approaching the area around Friday of next week with warmer, moist air ahead of the front.
"At the time, there will be a strong, upper-level system digging down and pulling air out of Canada into the Rockies and into the Great Plains," Anderson said. "Where that moisture boundary intersects is going to be the key."
South Carolina typically sees snow when there is a deep trough and low pressure system that moves along the Florida Panhandle.
"It does not look like there will be enough moisture to have snow for our area, he said.
Anderson said other weather outlets often look at the various data and make their own forecasts according to what they see.
"We will keep watching it," he said.
This year began with a mystery, but by the end of 2016, law enforcement officials believed theyd solved it: Who killed four people and wounded another at a Holly Hill residence on July 15, 2015?
Orangeburg County Sheriff Leroy Ravenell named three murder suspects in late September of this year and announced a fourth suspect in mid-December.
The four Eutawville men are now facing multiple murder charges in the deaths of Tamara Alexis Perry, 14; Shamekia Sanders, 17; Krystal Hutto, 28, and Jerome Butler, 50.
The men are also charged in the attempted murder of Dreamzz Nelson, 8.
Still others remain jailed on charges related to the case.
One year after the murders
At the one-year anniversary of the execution-style slayings of four and the wounding of another at 7050 Old State Road in Holly Hill, investigators had not charged anyone.
On that steamy July 15, 2015 morning, Butlers body was found next to a BMW in the driveway at the home.
Hutto's lifeless body was discovered in one of the bedrooms, and Sanders and Perry, half-sisters, were found in another bedroom.
Nelson was also discovered in the home. He had been shot in the head, but survived.
A year after the killings, OCSO investigators had spent more than 20,000 man-hours and conducted at least 200 interviews.
Tips about the case rolled in daily, Ravenell said at the time. He said he was optimistic the case would be solved by years end.
Meanwhile, back in Holly Hill, the victims family members and community supporters held a march for justice --beginning at 7050 Old State Road and ending at the Holly Hill Municipal Complex.
Later that weekend, the victims relatives gathered at Roy Gilmore Park for a balloon-release ceremony and prayers for justice in the case.
The sole survivor
Dreamzz Nelson, wholl turn 10 next year, was 8 when someone shot him in the head inside his fathers home.
Dondra Shuler, Nelsons mother, told The T&D, Doctors said he probably wouldnt walk, he probably wouldnt talk and probably wouldnt see.
Everything they said he wouldnt do, hes doing, she said.
When law enforcement officials arrived at the scene that fateful July morning, Nelson was the only one of the five victims who was alive.
Orangeburg County EMS assisted in getting Nelson airlifted to the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston where he underwent surgery.
This past August, Nelson began school as a third grader.
He has been improving with each passing day, Shuler said.
She remembers that unforgettable morning. Shed spoken to her son on the phone just two days prior, she said. He was staying a few nights at his fathers residence and playing with his half-sisters.
Dreamzz didnt really get to spend time with his sisters often so I told him Id pick him up on the weekend, Shuler said.
By Wednesday, his sisters were dead. So were Hutto and Butler.
And, Nelson had been left for dead.
Shuler said she initially blamed herself, saying that if she brought Nelson back to her house on Monday, he wouldnt have been shot.
She credits God for giving her courage and for giving strength to her son.
Shuler said she named her son Dreamzz after watching Season 14 of the reality show Survivor, which aired in 2007. One of the two runners-up was Andria Dreamz Herd, of Wilmington, North Carolina. Shuler said she wanted Herd to win that season and she liked his nickname. So, before her sons birth, she decided to name him Dreamzz, with an extra z.
The boys name really came to fit him, she said.
Dreamzz Nelson is the sole survivor of the nightmare in Holly Hill.
A break in the case
Ravenell announced a break in the case on Sept. 29.
Three Eutawville men have been charged with multiple counts of murder and other charges: Robert Lee Pockets Bailey, 37, of 11269 Old Number Six Hwy.; Derrick Warren Coleman, 27, of 1234 St. Julien Drive and Antly Jermaine Jackie Man Scott, 36, of 253 Barkley St.
U.S. Marshals arrested Coleman and Scott in Foley, Alabama. Theyd been living there for a short time.
Early in the investigation, investigators arrested Bailey and charged him with first-offense distributing and possessing narcotics, second-offense manufacturing and possessing scheduled drugs with intent to distribute and unlawful carrying of a handgun.
In May, Bailey pleaded guilty to the charges. Investigators had previously named Bailey as a person of interest in the slayings.
At the Sept. 29 press conference, Ravenell said the motive behind the 2015 deaths was robbery involving illegal drugs.
Bailey, Coleman and Scott each face the following charges: four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder, one count of first-degree burglary and possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime.
This was a tough case. It is far from over, Ravenell said during the press conference.
The three murder suspects remain at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.
Another suspect, more arrests possible
Two months after Ravenell announced the arrests of three murder suspects, he announced a fourth: Joseph Luther Smith, 35, of 244 Gaillard St.
On Dec. 13, the sheriff said Smith faces the following charges: four counts of murder, one count of attempted murder and one count of burglary. He also remains in custody at the OCDC.
Today marks 516 days since this tragedy, 516 days since families had to live without their loved ones from the senseless acts of these criminals, Ravenell said then.
Those 516 days included birthdays, missing graduations, holidays and other precious moments, he added.
Ravenell noted, If it takes 516 more days, thats where well be.
He said that in his 30-year law enforcement career, he had not seen anything like the Holly Hill quadruple homicide case.
Ravenell maintains that the investigation in the case is ongoing and that more arrests may be forthcoming.
Two others have been charged with obstruction of justice in the case. One of those suspects is Dominique Marquell Washington, 28, of 9919 Hwy. 78, Lot 46, Ladson.
Washington and an unnamed person are accused of withholding from or falsifying information to investigation agencies in the quadruple homicide case.
Washington was released on a $10,000 cash or surety bond on April 25.
The unnamed person remains at the Orangeburg County Detention Center.
Another person, who has not been charged in the case but who remains jailed at the OCDC, is Christopher Dean Wright, 38, who lived at the home where the slayings occurred.
Wright is the father of the two slain teens and Nelson. He was also Huttos fiance.
He is charged with three counts of unlawful conduct toward a child, two counts of drug trafficking, one count of obstruction of justice and one count of trafficking crack cocaine.
Wright was not present during the shootings, according to investigators.
Ravenell has maintained since the beginning of the investigation that Wright has not been helpful to law enforcement agents who are trying to solve the case.
The dedicated tip line for the Holly Hill case is 1-888-825-7172.
All in all, according to Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche, 2016 was a satisfactory year for the Prosecution at the Serious Offences Court.
From a prosecutorial perspective, 2016 has been a good year at the Serious Offences Court.
Thats according to Senior Prosecutor Adolphus Delpleche who heads the Summary Division in the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution (DPP).
Delpleche told THE VINCENTIAN on Wednesday that there were several successful prosecutions at trials, as well as Preliminary Inquiries (PI).
"Some were very challenging, but we were able to secure successful prosecution in most of them.
He pointed out that there were a number of successful cases that stood out in his mind, one such being the matter involving Deran Gerald, who was sentenced to five years in prison for firearm possession.
Delpleche recalled the robust manner in which the trial was conducted.
Attorney Grant Connell represented the defendant.
"It was fiercely contested by both sides, and it generated a lot of publicity on social media, he said.
Delpleche also recalled the drama involved.
He noted that the incident occurred at South Rivers during the 2016 carnival celebrations, and when the police apprehended the defendant, persons on the scene "stoned the police transport, and some even prostrated themselves in front and behind the police transport to prevent it from moving. "The vehicle had to take a back route to get out of the area, Delpleche quipped.
The Prosecutor commended Constable 208 Salvan Browne who led the party of Rapid Response Unit (RRU) officers to carry out the operation.
"Kudos to P.C Browne for the cool, calm and professional manner in which he led his men, preventing the situation from getting out of hand.
"Many nights I sit and ponder what could have happened during that incident. Had it not been for the professionalism of P.C. Browne, police officers as well as civilians could have been seriously injured.
The Preliminary Inquiry which stands out most for the Senior Prosecutor, was the one in which Trinidadian Junior Gomez, 26, and Gabriel Hutchins, 41, of Bequia, were committed to stand trial at the High Court for possession of 10,892 grams of cocaine with intent to supply, possession for the purpose of drug trafficking, conspiracy for the purpose of drug trafficking and importation of the drug. (More on Page 5)
In this matter, Delpleche cited the work done by Head of the Narcotics Unit - Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Foster Scott.
"He (Scott) did not just stay in his office and send his men out. He went into the fields himself. And he didnt rush the operation. He knew exactly what he was looking for, and he executed the operation with precision, the Prosecutor explained.
He added that the legal arguments on both sides were robust, but the prosecution prevailed. Attorney Grant Connell represented Hutchins, while Gomez was represented by Israel Bruce. At the conclusion of that P.I, ASP Scott shook the Senior Prosecutors hand and thanked him for a job well done.
Left:Antonio Simon charged with the murder of Vancito Balcolmbe. Right:Vancito Cito Balcombe succumbed to several stab wounds about his body.
Twenty-four-year-old Antonio Simon of Langley Park, Georgetown, will appear at the Serious Offences Court on January 4, 2017, charged with the murder of fellow villager Vancito Balcombe, 40.
Simon was not required to plea to the charge, when he made a brief appearance last Friday, December 23, at the Kingstown Magistrates Court, as the Serious Offences Court was on vacation.
Magistrate Bertie Pompey then adjourned the matter to January 4 and transferred it to the Serious Offences Court.
Balcombe, a farmer, died after receiving several stab wounds to the upper part of his body during an incident at Langley Park on the evening of Wednesday, December 21.
He was the father of three..
Dont expect to find streets, buildings and the likes in Cuba named after former President Fidel Castro.
No public spaces or honorary titles in Cuba will be named after Fidel Castro, in accordance with the late leaders dying wishes .
However, his portrait will remain hanging in schools and military institutions.
Cubas national assembly voted late Tuesday to pass a law preventing the use of Fidel Castros name or image for public streets, buildings and monuments. The legislation is in accordance with the late leaders final wish to avoid a "personality cult.
More than 600 members of parliament voted unanimously in favour of the bill during the assemblys final meeting of the year.
Cubas revolutionary leader died on November 25 at the age of 90. In 2008, after nearly 50 years in charge of the Communist island nation, he transferred power to his younger brother, Raul Castro.
The law will prohibit the use of Castros name in the names of institutions, parks, streets and other public places, as well as any honorary titles or medals. It also stops Castros image being used for monuments, busts, statues and com-memorative plaques.
An exception can be made for institutions dedicated to the teaching of Castros legacy and life work.
Homero Acosta, a member of parliament, explained that the rule would not stop Cuban artists from taking inspiration from the former leader, or using his image in their works of art - from literature to music to cinema.
Castros portrait will remain hanging in schools, businesses and military institutions.
Raul Castro revealed his brothers wishes during Castros funeral in early December, saying: "The leader of the revolution rejected any personality cult, and he was consistent in this, right up to his last hour of life. (Source: Caribbean News Now)
Roxanne Saxon Joseph (sitting extreme right) with other honorees at awards ceremony. Inset: Det. Roxanne Saxon Joseph poses with award after honour ceremony.
A Vincentian-born detective with the New York City Police Department (NYPD) has been honoured with the Impact Award by the leading Caribbean-themed publication in the United States.
Det. Roxanne Saxon Joseph, 36, of Clifton, Union Is., received the award Thursday 17th December, at a gala ceremony, hosted by the Brooklyn, New York-based Caribbean Life newspaper, at Paradise Catering Hall on Avenue U in Brooklyn.
Joseph, a Community Affairs Officer in the 67th Police Precinct in East Flatbush, Brooklyn, was among 25 other Caribbean-born or Caribbean Americans to be honoured at the over-four-hour-long ceremony.
Another Vincentian, Rawlston Williams, of Questelles, a chef, who owns the Food Sermon Restaurant in the Crown Heights section of Brooklyn, was also honored but did not show up to receive the award, nor did he send a representative.
"The contributions of entrepreneurial Caribbean Americans have helped to improve our city and distinguished it as a diverse place of great opportunity for hard-working people from everywhere, said Jennifer Goodstein, publisher of Caribbean Life and its parent company, Community News Group (CNG) Publishing, in her introductory remarks.
Goodstein said the honorees are "ambassadors of change, ranging in age, experience, and representing myriad Caribbean countries, but they are equally worthy of praise as our 2016 Impact Awards honorees.
While the background of most of the honorees who were also presented with Certificates of Recognition by New York City Mayor Bill deBlasio was diverse, most of them were Haitians, Trinidadians and Jamaicans.
"It was really a nice event, said Det. Saxon Joseph in an exclusive VINCENTIAN interview after the event. "I was really honored for being there.
"Considering the current temperature between the police and the community nationwide, it was an honor to be there, because its very rare for police officers, especially a Black Caribbean woman, to be honored, added the daughter of the late cultural figure Eustace "Slum Maloney, of Richland Park. "Its definitely an honor for me.
Saxon Joseph who is married for 15 years to Grenadian Rory Joseph (the couple has two children) said she has been a NYPD officer for 12 years and has been working in the Community Affairs unit at the 67th Police Precinct for seven years.
She described the 67th Police Precinct as being comprised of 90 percent West Indian.
"All the Caribbean islands are really saturated in East Flatbush, she said, disclosing that she works directly for the police commander, "whos running the precinct.
"I am the liaison for the precinct and the West Indian Community, added Saxon Joseph, one of five Vincentian female police officers in the 35,000-strong NYPD, "What I do is .try to bridge the gap between the police and the community.
She said policing runs in her blood, stating that her aunt, Ilene Maloney who retired last year as a supervisor in the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) after 35 years in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force [RSVGPF] inspired her. Saxon Josephs uncle, Winston Maloney, is currently a corporal in the RSVGPF.
From 4, Saxon Joseph said she was raised by her grandmother, Cecilia Saxon, in Union island, and migrated to New York at 14 from Union Island to join her mother.
She graduated from Fort Hamilton High School in Brooklyn and went on to New York City Technical College, where she completed studies in the human services.
After graduating from the NYPD Academy, she was assigned to the 67th Precincts Impact Unit. She was also assigned to patrol the streets of East Flatbush, and was a member of the 67 Precincts Conditions Unit and the Community Policing Unit.
Her recent honour adds to a list of accolades that include: the 2015 Police Officer of the Year Award; the Woman of Distinction Award; Congressional Recognition from US Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke; New York State and City citations; Distinguished Service Awards; and Civil Service Awards, "plus an array of community citations, awards and certificates.
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By Trend
A meeting of the Supervisory Board of the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) was held on December 29, 2016. SOFAZs draft budget for 2017 was discussed during the meeting chaired by Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and Chairman of SOFAZ Supervisory Board Mr. Artur Rasi-zadeh.
The Supervisory Board recommended the Fund's 2017 draft budget, including the major directions of its investment policy, and its draft annual operating expenditures for the approval by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
Board members also discussed amendments to the Rules on management of foreign currency assets of the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan and Rules on the preparation and execution of the annual program of revenues and expenditures (budget) of the State Oil Fund of the Republic of Azerbaijan proposed by the Executive Director of the Fund and recommended the amendments for the approval by the President of the Republic of Azerbaijan.
SOFAZ was established in 1999 with assets of $271 million.
Based on SOFAZs regulations, its funds may be used for construction and reconstruction of strategically important infrastructure facilities, as well as solving important national problems.
The main goals of the State Oil Fund are accumulation of resources and placement of the Funds assets abroad in order to minimize the negative effect on the economy, prevention of "Dutch disease", promotion of resource accumulation for future generations, and supporting current social and economic processes in Azerbaijan.
By Nigar Abbasova
Iran's Information and Communications Technology Minister and Co-chairman of Azerbaijan-Iran Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, Mahmoud Vaezi, visited Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the third day of his ongoing visit to Azerbaijan.
The visit took place within the 11th joint economic commission between Iran and Azerbaijan that started on December 27 in Baku.
Relations between Iran and Nakhchivan in scientific, educational, energy, transport, economic and trade fields became the main topic of discussions during a meeting between the Iranian minister and Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Vasif Talibov.
The sides also hailed the importance the Nakhchivan-Tabriz-Tehran-Mashhad passenger train, which envisages running from Nakhchivan through the Julfa, Tabriz and Tehran stations to Mashhad.
The railway communication is expected to promote further development of tourism between the two countries. The project is envisaged within the framework of the agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan and Iran on the coordination of railways of the two countries. Being located in the in the northeast of Iran, Mashhad is considered to be the second most densely populated city in Iran. The train is scheduled to depart twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays.
Vaezi earlier said that Nakhchivan enjoys proper trade opportunities and discussions during his visit to the Autonomous Republic would cover investment-related issues.
Baku and Tehran earlier agreed to cooperate on the construction of two plants near the Aras River borderline in the Iranian town Marazad and Nakhcivans Ordubad. Also, Azerbaijan supplies gas to Iran within the framework of swap operations to provide Nakhchivan with gas.
Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $175 million in January-November 2016, with some $130.13 million accounting for the import from Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
By Azernews
By Nigar Abbasova
The Strategic Road Map for the development of logistics and trade in Azerbaijan is expected to ensure a GDP growth by roughly 605 million manats ($ 342.5 million).
Nearly 18,900 new working places will be created in the country till 2020.
The document defined three strategic objectives to be reached in the sphere of logistics and trade.
The objectives include creation of a favorable environment for the increase of trade turnover, getting of higher value added from transit operations, as well as introduction of a mechanism for the implementation of measures in the sphere.
Under the Road Map, successful implementation of the measures envisaged in the document will up the share of Azerbaijan in marine cargo transshipments en route Central Asia the Black Sea by some 40 percent. An increase of 25 percent is expected en route Central Asia Europe, up to 3 percent on China-Europe, 40 percent on Russia Iran and some 25 percent on Iran the Black Sea route.
Besides, revenues from air operations will increase by 5 percent till 2020.
Nearly 5 logistics and trade centers will be constructed in the country by that period.
Due to its strategic location on the most convenient route from North-Eastern Europe to Central Asia and the Middle East, Azerbaijan has a vibrant transport sector and intends to turn into a regional transportation hub.
The completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Alat Port is expected to position Azerbaijan as a viable transit route for trade between East, Central, and South Asia and Europe.
By Azertac
A social rehabilitation center for visually impaired minors, social shelter for persons over 18 years of age, as well as s social shelter and rehabilitation center of the Ministry of Labour and Social Protection of Population have today been inaugurated in Sabunchu settlement, Zabrat, Baku.
President of the Republic of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev, his wife Mehriban Aliyeva, and daughters Leyla and Arzu attended the opening of the facilities.
The head of state cut the ribbon symbolizing the opening of the complex.
Minister of Labour and Social Protection of Population Salim Muslumov informed President Ilham Aliyev and his wife Mehriban Aliyeva about the conditions created at the complex.
The Azerbaijani President and his family members viewed the complex.
By Azernews
By Azernews
By Rashid Shirinov
Azerbaijans Defense Ministry currently is working with relevant structures to receive the body of Azerbaijani soldier, who died as a result of the Armenian provocation on December 29.
"Despite the fact that initially, the Armenian side denied that it has the body of Azerbaijani soldier, shortly after the relevant measures taken by the Defense Ministry and the availability of conclusive evidences forced Armenia to disseminate photos of the soldier's body on social media," the ministry said, commenting on the soldiers photos shared in the social media by Armenians.
Unfortunately, Armenia once again demonstrated its inhuman attitude towards Azerbaijani people by deceiving representatives of international organizations, the ministry told Trend on December 30.
In order to receive the body of the Azerbaijani soldier, Chingiz Gurbanov, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry officially appealed to the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), OSCE Minsk Group, as well as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.
A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces tried to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29 morning. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders.
The enemy, suffering losses, was forced to retreat, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's message.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
By Azernews
By Rashid Shirinov
Armenias armed provocation against Azerbaijan has been prepared by Yerevan in advance, Azerbaijans military expert, former deputy defense minister, retired lieutenant-general, Chingiz Mammadov, told Trend.
On December 29, Azerbaijani Armed Forces have prevented an attempt by an Armenian reconnaissance-raiding group to cross the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border. After the shootout the Armenian units were forced to retreat, suffering loses.
Yerevan, refusing to sit at a negation table with Baku, again resorts to armed and political provocations with a view to keep the status-quo.
Mammadov said that Yerevan committed a provocation to draw attention of the CSTO member-states to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after the Armenian delegation failed to achieve election of an Armenian representative as the CSTO secretary general at the organizations recent session in St. Petersburg.
The military expert said that while gradually spreading misinformation about diversions in the region, not related to the Nagorno-Karabakh area, Armenia aims to artificially expand the scale of the conflict and involve other CSTO members in it.
Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.
Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.
Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. have produced no results so far.
By Rashid Shirinov
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was one of the main challenges for the German presidency in the OSCE, Chairperson-in-office, and Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on December 29 while summing up his country's presidency in the organization.
He noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has perhaps not been in the limelight of the European public for a while, but it gained a prominent role this year after new escalations had occurred this April.
"The OSCEs conflict settlement efforts there were important to create room for de-escalation. Hopefully this opens opportunities for talks on a political solution," Steinmeier said.
On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire of large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers by Armenian army. Azerbaijani counter-attack led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population.
Military operations on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies were stopped on April 5 at 12:00 with mutual consent of the sides. However, Armenian side still continues violating the ceasefire.
The Four-Day War saw heavy casualties by Armenian side and liberation of some Armenian-held territory for the first time since the 1994 ceasefire.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
By Nigar Abbasova
Irans Industrial Development and Renovation Organization (IDRO) and South Korean shipbuilder Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering Company (DSME) signed a MoU on the cooperation in the sphere of shipbuilding.
The document envisages cooperation in the development of Irans shipbuilding industry, as well as in complete overhaul of the ships.
Besides, the document stipulates establishment of a joint venture. IDRO is expected to provide financial resources, as well as primary materials and equipment for the JV.
Daewoo earlier signed a business agreement on operation and technology instruction for Iranian state-run shipbuilder Iran Shipbuilding & Offshore Industries Complex Co. (ISOICO). Under the deal, the Korean company will transfer technology and conduct consignment management on the Iranian shipbuilder.
Iranian Shipping Lines (IRISL) previously finalized a contract with another South Korean shipbuilding giant Hyundai Heavy Industries Company to buy 10 ships worth $650 million and develop technical cooperation on shipbuilding. The contract became the first one to purchase ships from South Korea after the implementation of the nuclear deal and lifting of sanctions.
Following the lifting of international sanctions Iran spared no efforts to develop a series of grand projects in partnership with major shipbuilders. The country has been seeking to cooperate with South Korean shipbuilders to modernize its aging dockyards.
Iran possesses a developed shipbuilding industry, chiefly devoted to constructing of oil tankers and container ships as well as offshore structures.
By Azernews
By Rashid Shirinov
A new U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, established for peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has been appointed.
Richard Hoagland will be the interim co-chair starting from January 2017, the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan reported on December 30.
Hoagland, a diplomat with over 30 years of experience, will replace James Warlick, who will step down on December 31. Hoagland is currently the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in States Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
Warlick was appointed as U.S. Minsk Group co-chair on August 2013 and assumed the office in September 2013 of that year.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acts as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, it failed to make any move to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process so far.
Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day.
US President Barack Obama on Thursday authorised a number of actions in response to the Russian governments aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election in 2016.
Russias cyber activities were intended to influence the election, erode faith in US democratic institutions, sow doubt about the integrity of our electoral process, and undermine confidence in the institutions of the US government, said a White House statement.
These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behaviour, Obama said in a statement from vacation in Hawaii.
All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions. In October, my Administration publicized our assessment that Russia took actions intended to interfere with the US election process. These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government.
Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year. Such activities have consequences. Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response, he added.
The Obama administration issued orders to eject 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the US and imposed sanctions on Russias two leading intelligence services. Those individuals and their families were given 72 hours to leave the US.
The administration also sanctioned four top officers of one of those services, the military intelligence unit known as the GRU, which the White House believes ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations.
These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russias aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicized, Obama warned.
In addition to holding Russia accountable for what it has done, the United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russias efforts to undermine established international norms of behaviour, and interfere with democratic governance, he added.- TradeArabia News Service
Iraqi forces have launched a fresh round of offensive in a bid to recapture Mosul from the Islamic State after two weeks of lull, a report said.
It is the second phase of an attack on the last major stronghold of IS in Iraq, which began in October, according to the BBC report.
The US-led coalition said Iraqi forces had advanced in three directions, pushing into several eastern neighbourhoods.
The fresh offensive put pressure on the IS group's "ability to generate forces, move fighters or resupply", it said.
Reading the West book discussion
The Natrona County Library and Fort Caspar Museum will host a book discussion series celebrating all things Western, from rugged heroes and horses to books that ride off into the sunset. Please join us at 6:30 p.m., on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Fort Caspar to discuss Where Rivers Change Direction, by Mark Spragg. The discussion is free and open to the public. To participate, pick up your copy of Where Rivers Change Direction at the Librarys second floor Reference Desk. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.
Wednesday Writers
Would you like to leave a legacy by sharing your memories with the world? Practice writing, share your work and receive constructive feedback from fellow writers at 10 a.m., Wednesday, Jan. 4, on the main floor of the Natrona County Library. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.
Learn password management
The Natrona County Library will offer a Password Management class at noon on Friday, Jan. 6. Save time, increase security, and reduce stress by learning how to store and retrieve password and identity information securely using a password manager. Call 577-READ ext. 2 or email reference@natronacountylibrary.org for more information.
Chronic pain/illness group starting
Highland Park Community Church and The Healing Place are starting HopeKeepers. HopeKeepers is a support group designed to meet the emotional and spiritual needs of the person who lives with chronic illness or pain. Through the support group setting you will have the opportunity to grow spiritually surrounded by others who share similar circumstances, unrevealed answers, and even joys, living with chronic pain or physical pain.
The group will meet Mondays from noon to 1:30 p.m., Highland Park Community Church, Rm #1327-The Prayer Room. This is an ongoing group. Call The Healing Place at 265-3977 to enroll.
Parenting classes available
Mercer Family Resource Center offers three classes in 2017 designed to help parents become more effective.
Strengthening Families for parents and their children ages 9 to 14 will be held Jan. 11, 18 and 25 and Feb. 1, 8, 15, and 22 from 5:30 to 8 p.m. This is a seven-week, evidence-based program with onsite childcare available. Dinner is provided. Fee is $50 per family.
Parenting the Love and Logic Way is for parents and caregivers with children of any age. Onsite childcare is available. Class is Jan. 23 and 30, Feb. 6, 13, 27 and March 6 and 13 from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Cost is $35 for individuals and $50 for couples.
Make Parenting a Pleasure is for parents and caregivers with children ages 0 to 8. Class meets March 1, 8, 15, and 22 and April 5, 12, and 19 from 6 to 8 p.m. Onsite childcare available, meets once a week for seven weeks. Cost is $35 individuals and $50 a couple.
For more information or to enroll, call Lisa Brown at 233-4276.
Saturday morning watercolor classes
ART321/Casper Artists Guild announces the schedule for the Saturday Morning Watercolor Sessions for the months of September and October 2016. We hope to see you then to begin or continue your learning experience with us. All levels are welcome. Saturday mornings, 10 a.m. to noon, $10 per session. If you have questions, please contact Ellen Black at 265-6783.
Dec. 31, no session, New Years Eve.
ART321/Casper Artists Guild, 321 W. Midwest Ave, Casper, WY, 82601, gallery hours Tuesday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., phone 265-2655, www.art321.org
Teen Challenge offers fall classes
Teen Challenge Wyoming offers classes this fall at local churches, True Care and the Link (Youth for Christ). For more information on these groups or on other Teen Challenge programs, please call 258-5397.
Peacemaking: Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. In this world of division and conflict, it is important for Christians to stay grounded in what the Bible teaches about resolving our differences with orders in a God-honoring way. For more information, call Pat at 258-5397.
Save One: A group for post-abortion healing. For more information, call Judy at 251-5644.
Single & Parenting: Sundays at 6:30 p.m. Covers major challenges single parents face in raising their children, and offers tools to help them meet these challenges. Enter anytime, each lesson stands alone. Call Cathie at 258-6119.
Professionals in Recovery: An ongoing Christian recovery group. For more information, call Gary at 267-7777.
Insight: Discovering the path to Christian character, especially in the midst of stress. Time to be announced. For more information, call Teen Challenge Wyoming at 258-5397.
Possible offering: Committed Couples and/or the Smart Stepfamily (groups designed to strengthen marriages for both married couples and those anticipating marriage) may be offered later this year. For more information on these possibilities, please call Teen Challenge Wyoming at 258-5397.
Caregiver support meets monthly
Are you caring for a loved one with a debilitating condition? Confusing and conflicting feelings are likely to come up-anger, sadness, hopelessness, resentment and guilt for having those feelings. Please join us on the second Thursday of the each month to talk about your feelings and learn effective ways to release difficult emotions by joining a support group. Meetings will be held at Rocky Mountain Therapy, 2546 East 2nd Street #500, at 5:30 p.m. Different topics will be discussed each month. Coffee and lemonade will be served. We will be meeting on Dec. 15. To RSVP please call 577-5204 and ask for Jerri or Shannon.
Womens Bible study starts
The Heart of Casper Community Bible study will meet for a womens bible study on Tuesdays, starting Jan. 3 through March 28, at 6:30 p.m., at Hilltop Baptist Church, 2555 E. 2nd St. The title of the bible study is Expecting to See Jesus a wake up call for Gods people, by Anne Graham Lotz, oldest daughter of Billy Graham. The cost is $9 for the book. Remember, youre something special in the Lords eyes, and ours too! For more information, call 234-3594.
Seedling trees, shrubs and perennials on sale
Premium quality seedling trees, shrubs and perennials are available for windbreaks and wildlife habitat enhancement from the UW/Natrona County Extension. Order forms are available at the Ag Resource and Learning Center, 2011 Fairgrounds Rd. There are 41 species available. Order now for best selection with May 2017 delivery. For more information, call Rose Jones at 235-9400.
Caregiver support
Wyoming Dementia Care offers five Alzheimers Caregiver Support groups each month. Caregivers of those with dementia-related illnesses and the loved ones they care for are welcome at any of the group sessions. Professional staff from Intermountain Home Companions will be on hand to offer separate activities and snacks for those who need care. There is no charge for Wyoming Dementia Cares support groups or for the respite care provided during the approximately one hour long sessions.
The morning support group sessions meet on the first and third Thursday of each month at 10 a.m. at Central Wyoming Senior Services, 1831 E. 4th St. The afternoon support groups meet at 1 p.m. on the second Tuesday of each month at Life Care Center of Casper, 4041 S. Poplar. The evening groups meet on the second and fourth Wednesday of the month at 6:30 p.m. at Meadow Wind Assisted Living, 3955 E. 12th St.
For information, email wyodementia@casperseniorcenter.com or call Dani Guerttman at 265-4678.
Family continues suicide support
Good Grief, Support will continue at 5:30 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at the 12-24 Club, 500 S. Wolcott, by request of attendees. The family of J.R. Hunter, who died from suicide in June 2015 began the support before the especially tough holiday season. Anyone who is grieving a suicide, death, or considering suicide is encouraged to attend. Attendance at the meeting, as well as the content, will be strictly confidential. The Fresh Start Cafe will be open, and you can eat during the meetings. This meeting place was offered by Dan Cantine of the 12-24 Club. You need not be a member to attend. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom
New depression group begins
J.R.s Hunt for Life is offering See it Clearly, a free peer support group for persons suffering from depression and other mental conditions that lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. We are not professionals but rather a group of like-minded peers wishing to support each other in these struggles. We offer anonymity and confidentiality to all attending. Our meetings are at 6:45 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month at 500 South Wolcott in the conference room on the second floor, (12-24 Club). If you have ever considered or attempted taking your life or are struggling, please come. You are important to us. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom
Family offers faith-based groups
The family of J.R. Hunter, who committed suicide, is going to begin two more support groups, these faith-based, in addition to the groups they run on the second and fourth Wednesdays of each month at the 12-24 Club. Those continue. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom
J.R.s Hunt; for life presents faith-based grief and depression peer to peer support groups at 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. at Restoration Church, 411 S. Walsh. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom
Grief Support Group, Good Grief: A faith-based grief support group that our family hosts on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 5:30 p.m. at Restoration Church. Our loss has moved us to offer this to anyone grieving. Youll experience comfort and understanding. We get it. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom
Depression Support Group, See It Clearly: A faith-based free peer to peer support group for persons suffering from depression and other mental conditions that may lead to suicidal thoughts and actions. We are not professionals but rather a group of like-minded peers wishing to support each other in these struggles. We offer anonymity and confidentiality to all attending. Our meetings are at 6:30 p.m. on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at the Restoration Church. If you have ever considered or attempted taking your life or are struggling, please come. You are important to us. For more information, email jlh35@hotmailcom
Parkinsons exercise
Rocky Mountain Therapy is offering a Parkinsons exercise program. Join us from noon to 1 p.m. Thursdays at Rocky Mountain Therapy, 2546 E. Second St., Building 500. These classes are open to anyone with Parkinsons or caring for someone with Parkinsons.
Thursdays class is tailored for the individual with more advanced Parkinsons and focuses on improving endurance, safety and managing symptoms. We are open to all ages and can tailor the class to meet varying exercise needs. The cost of the class is $5. To RSVP, call 577-5204 and ask for Jerri or Shannon.
Celebrate Recovery every Friday
Celebrate Recovery meets at 5:30 p.m. every Friday at Highland Park Community Church, just south of Elkhorn Valley Rehabilitation Hospital on East Second Street. We start with a family meal, followed by praise and worship. At 7 p.m., theres either a lesson from Celebrate Recoverys planned curriculum or a testimony by a person who has found recovery through Christ. Then, people go to gender-specific small groups until 8:30 p.m., when dessert and fellowship conclude the evening. Child care is available at no cost. For more information, contact Chris at 265-4073.
Here and Now: Dementia-focused monthly art class
Classes are every third Tuesday of the month from 1 to 3 p.m. There is no charge. Here and Now is a program made possible through a collaboration between Wyoming Dementia Care and the Nicolaysen Art Museum. It is designed to provide a supportive environment for people with dementia and Alzheimers and their loved ones.
To register, contact Dani with Wyoming Dementia Care 265-4678, ext. 106, or at wyodementia@casperseniorcenter.com or Zhanna Gallegos at 235-5247 or at zgallegos@thenic.org.
Latin Club meets
Wish you had taken Latin in school or had paid better attention when you did? You are welcome to join the Latin Study Club at Mount Hope Lutheran School, 2300 Hickory. This friendly group of language enthusiasts meets on Tuesday nights at 7 p.m., to study Latin, free of charge. We will pick up where we left off last year, Chapter 4 of Wheelocks Latin, 7th edition. Noli timere!
Mount Hope Lutheran School admits students of any race, color, and national or ethnic origin.
Saturday 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.
Bonander speaks at Reveille
Global hunter Rick Bonander will speak at the 7 a.m., Wednesday meeting of Reveille Rotary at the Casper Senior Center. He is president of Inter-Mountain Pipe and Threading Company, which he started in 1982.
This presentation will be on Ricks hunt in Tajikistan for Marco Polo Sheep and Ibex on the roof of the world.
Kick-off for new Alzheimers event set
Volunteers from Wyoming will join people across the globe to honor those facing Alzheimers disease by participating in The Longest Day on Wednesday, June 21, 2017. The Wyoming chapter of the Alzheimers Association is kicking off The Longest Day with a statewide online party, and everyone is invited! The party will take place on Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 5:30 p.m. All you need to join is an internet connection and computer, tablet or similar device.
The Longest Day is all about love. Love for all those affected by Alzheimers disease. On the summer solstice, people across the world will join the Alzheimers Association to do an activity they love or an activity loved by those affected to help end Alzheimers. Together, we will raise funds and awareness for care and support while advancing research toward the first survivor of Alzheimers.
To register for the Virtual Kick-Off Party, contact Janet at jlewis@alz.org by Jan. 4 to receive log on information and your party kit.
Alzheimers disease is a growing epidemic and the nations sixth-leading cause of death. More than 5 million Americans are living with Alzheimers, including over 9,100 in Wyoming.
To start a team or learn more about The Longest Day, visit alz.org/thelongestday. For more information about Alzheimers disease, visit the Alzheimers Association at alz.org.
Self-help classes set
Conscious Co-Creation/Self-Transformation & Healing will be taught Jan. 21 and 22 from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., in person at the Agricultural Learning Resources building on Fairgrounds Rd in Casper and also via live webinar. Its not too late to take advantage of the Early Bird Registration discount! Regular tuition pricing goes into effect on Jan. 7. Also, be sure to visit my website Home page and click on the Special Offers link to see the additional Bring A Friend discount!
In this seminar/playshop, we will learn how the universal and physical laws of creation work together to form our daily experience, how modern physics bears out what the ascended masters have known for eons, and how to become aware ofand instantly start changingthe patterns of consciousness that are preventing you from realizing your best potentials for a joyful, truly fulfilling life. Join me for this expansive, life-changing class!
For a full class description and registration information, visit: www.cathyhazeladams.com/pp/classes-webinars-event/
Conscious Co-Creation, Part Two: Field Play, Feb. 18, 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., offered in person at the Agricultural Learning Resources building on Fairgrounds Rd in Casper and also via live webinar.
In this follow-up to Conscious Co-Creation Part One, well explore in depth some of the ideas and skills gained in Conscious Co-Creation. Well workshop more fleld of the heart exercises, look at different healing modalities and learn why, ultimately all healing comes through the heart. Well also PLAY with idea fields, which are the very building blocks of our experience!
Prerequisite: Conscious Co-Creation/Self-Transformation & Healing
For a full class description and registration information, visit: www.cathyhazeladams.com/pp/classes-webinars-event/
Living from the Heart: The Key to Peace, Freedom & Creative Empowerment, Feb. 26, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., offered in person at the Agricultural Learning Resources building on Fairgrounds Rd in Casper and also via live webinar.
In this new four-hour class/playshop, well learn what the field of the heart really is, practice easy, practical ways to go into Heart field, and learn how to live every day from this place of peace, love, well-being and personal empowerment. When you start living from the Heart, your life immediately changes for the better! No prerequisite.
For a full class description and registration information, visit: www.cathyhazeladams.com/pp/classes-webinars-event/
City officials continued to navigate legal and personnel issues surrounding the Cole Creek Fire throughout 2016, even as those who lost their homes continued to rebuild.
The fire chief announced his retirement, hours after apologizing for an email he sent during the fire. The city launched an investigation to determine whether evidence of the fire had been edited or deleted. The city began a search for a new fire chief.
With the deadline for claims and lawsuits against the city still months away, officials will likely be dealing with the fires consequences for years.
Heres a timeline of the events surrounding the fire since it began:
Oct. 10, 2015: Fire begins in city landfill
The Cole Creek Fire starts in the city landfill when sparks from a grinder ignite a nearby wood chip pile. About 20 hours later, high winds push the fire beyond the landfills boundaries and onto the prairie when firefighters at the scene fail to contain the blaze.
Oct. 14, 2015: Fire chief sends email
Casper Fire Chief Kenneth King sends an email to a fire inspector asking him to delete the bad parts of video evidence of the fire as it continued to burn. The fire inspector, Devin Garvin, was tasked with collecting evidence of the fire so it could be shared with state authorities.
Could you cut out the bad parts, and make sure that no copies are made and only DCI views? King wrote in the email, using the acronym for the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation.
Oct. 16, 2015: Firefighters extinguish blaze
Firefighters extinguish the flames. In total, it charred more than 10,000 acres of rural land around Evansville, destroyed 14 homes and killed livestock and family pets.
Summer 2016: City becomes aware of fire chiefs email
City officials become aware of Kings email to the fire inspector after the Star-Tribune files a public records request for the chiefs emails.
Oct. 8, 2016: Email becomes public
The Star-Tribune publishes a story about Kings email. King said in an interview that the email was meant as a joke, though he said it was made in poor taste. The inspector declined to talk with the newspaper.
Oct. 19, 2016: Fire chief announces retirement
King announces his retirement from the fire department hours after issuing an apology for the email. Mayor Daniel Sandoval said he was fairly sure the retirement announcement was connected to the email, but he couldnt say for certain. The city said King will step down Jan. 2, 2018.
In his apology, sent in an email hours before his announcement, King wrote, I deeply regret my insensitive words and lack of judgement. Words simply cannot express how truly sorry I am for the way my actions have offended and embarrassed members of the community and the City organization.
Nov. 16, 2016: City begins investigation into evidence
City manager V.H. McDonald announces that the city will begin an investigation into whether evidence of the fire is missing or was edited. McDonald said he had not previously done anything to verify whether evidence was missing except to speak with King about the email.
Dec. 2, 2016: More details about investigation begin
City manager V.H. McDonald announces that the city is in talks with a private Colorado company that will verify whether video evidence was edited. The city approached the Wyoming Division of Criminal Investigation about whether the agency would look into the matter, but the agency declined, McDonald said.
Were going to verify the integrity of that recording, McDonald said. Were going to get an answer on it. Were going to get an outside professional opinion on the integrity.
Oct. 10, 2017: Deadline for claims against the city
All claims for damages against the city and most forms of lawsuits are due Oct. 10, 2017 two years to the day after the fire began. As of October 2016, 24 claims totaling about $1.7 million had been filed against the city. Although losses from the fire are expected to cost millions, Wyoming law caps the citys liability at $500,000 total.
Jan. 2, 2018: Fire chief to step down
King is scheduled to officially step down as fire chief. The chief declined to explain his decision to leave the job more than 14 months after his retirement announcement. The city manager said King made the decision on his own. King is required to give only 30 days notice before leaving his position, according to his employment contract. When the previous chief announced his retirement in May 2013, the city hired King as his replacement within two months.
Wyoming public schools lost more than 700 students in the past year, the first drop in enrollment in more than a decade, according to data from the state Department of Education.
The data, collected in early October, showed a statewide loss that amounts to less than 1 percent of Wyomings student population. Enrollment fell from 94,002 to 93,261.
Only 18 of the states 48 school districts experienced growth, the report says, including in the northwest and southeast portions of the state and districts along the Interstate 25 corridor.
State Department of Education spokeswoman Kari Eakins stressed that the department is not drawing conclusions or correlations between economic factors, like the recent energy downturn, and districts that saw decreased enrollment. The report does say that the areas that rely on energy production, like Campbell County, saw more decreases.
Teton County School District No. 1 gained 65 students compared with last October, an increase of about 2 percent. The district has had overcrowding problems, officials have said. Money has been appropriated from the states rainy day fund to pay for a new elementary school in the district.
Overcrowding is not an issue in Campbell County. Compared with the same period last year, Campbell County School District No. 1 lost more than 400 students, according to the data. Last month, Don Dihle, the districts business manager, directly tied declining enrollment to jobs lost in the county because of the energy downturn.
Though it was the district hit heaviest in terms of number of students lost, the districts loss translates to about 5 percent. Fremont County School District No. 38 lost 39 students compared to 2015, a loss of around 9 percent of its enrollment. When students are worth about $15,000 in state funding, Eakins said, thats significant.
Converse County School District No. 2 lost 43 students, or 7 percent. Sublette No. 9 lost 45, also about 7 percent.
Meanwhile, Fremont County School District No. 1 gained 83 students, a growth of about 5 percent over last year, according to department data.
The average daily attendance at a school is critical to calculating the amount of money each district is guaranteed from the state. On average, a student in Wyoming is worth about $15,000 to his or her district.
In Campbell County, the enrollment loss equals $5.5 million less in state funding over the next three years, officials have said.
Natrona County School District has lost about 70 students compared with the same period last year. Officials have said that the true loss of students in Casper may be unclear because of past booms: For years, elementary enrollment was growing by more than 150 students annually. Because of that strong growth, the district is now seeing steady growth in high school enrollment.
But over the past two years, the district has lost about 200 elementary students, officials have said. So while the October snapshot shows a modest decline, the elementary trend line is concerning. Indeed, the data show that while the district gained 45 fourth-graders, it lost a combined 218 students in first, second, third and fifth grade over the past year. It gained 11 kindergartners.
Eakins said that typically this report would be released around February. The departments data team needs time to compile all of the data and check it. But the Legislature requested the data early so its members could get a look at the enrollment trends before the legislative session starts on Jan. 10, Eakins said.
A series of wide-ranging reviews that eventually led to the decision to close Grant Elementary started nearly two years ago, when the Natrona County School District board saw the beginnings of the economic downturn and ordered district-wide assessments.
The Facility Condition and Capacity study, the branch of the review that looked at the districts buildings, started in September and was finished in November. It recommended:
Closing Grant and Mills elementary schools by the end of this academic year. Mills students were already slated to move to the newly completed Journey Elementary.
Selling or, as a last resort, demolishing the Grant and Mills buildings.
Selling or, as a last resort, demolishing the vacant North Casper Elementary, the Fairgrounds Center and the old Roosevelt High School by July 1, 2017.
School officials have said other parts of the review, like assessing programs, are ongoing. Superintendent Steve Hopkins has said the economic downturn has cost the district about $2 million in budget cuts, and future reductions may be looming as Wyoming faces an education shortfall of more than $700 million in the coming budget cycle.
At this point, Hopkins said earlier this month, the shortfall is so massive, how do I even tag a number to it?
At a parent meeting the week after the district announced the recommendation to close Grant, parents pleaded with district officials for the future of the school. Some, like Stephanie Ryle, asked if they could raise money to save the school. Officials have said Grant needs around $500,000 in repairs. The building needs a new roof and significant foundation repairs.
But Hopkins and other district officials have said that the cost of renovation wasnt the only obstacle. While districtwide enrollment has remained relatively flat through the economic downturn, elementary students have been leaving the district for the past two years after solid growth for seven years. There are now 500 open elementary seats, and Grant, which is at 80 percent capacity, has seen declining enrollment for three years.
The excess capacity meant the Legislature wouldnt give more money for repairs, Hopkins said.
Some strategies that we used in the past arent available to us now, Hopkins said.
Parents responded that they didnt care. One mother, Jami Ferguson, stood up and said the inside of the school mattered more than the outside. Ferguson pleaded for the schools future and lavished praise upon Grant principal Shawna Smith. Several parents hugged Smith as they left that meeting.
In early December, when the board voted to close Grant, Ferguson and Smith sat in the back row and quietly cried.
With Grants future sealed, the schools community will decide what comes next. Officials said that the school has the option to move en masse to Journey, which has room to accommodate students and teachers. Or, should parents decide to forgo that option, departing Grant students will have first choice at new schools during the open enrollment period.
At the meeting, parents spoke out in favor of moving to Journey.
Ill be voting for the mass move, said Josh Ryle, Stephanies husband.
Officials said the deadline for deciding which option the community wanted would likely come in early to mid-January, as open enrollment neared. Otherwise, the district would work with parents and staff at their own pace, officials said.
Smith, the principal, said she wasnt sure what her future held. Should the students and staff choose the mass move, its unclear but seemingly unlikely that she would follow the school to Journey.
We have a really great opportunity to help write the end of our story, she said in an emotional interview hours before the board voted to close Grant. We get to choose what that looks like.
James Franklin Hayes
Cody, Wyoming
October 30, 1944 - December 21, 2016
James Franklin 'Jim' Hayes passed away on Wednesday, December 21, 2016 after a long and courageous battle with numerous health issues.
Jim was born on October 30, 1944 in Casper, Wyoming to James Boggs and Ruth Grondal Boggs Lane.
He began his broadcasting career at the age of fourteen when he became a deejay at KATI radio. After graduating from Natrona High School in Casper in 1962, he attended the University of Wyoming where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, becoming its president during his sophomore year. He quickly became the main emcee for University activities. Jim was also an active member of ROTC at UW.
His studies were interrupted in 1967 when he was drafted into the US Army as a 2nd LT. This resulted in his going to Vietnam for a year. Upon his return, he and Anne Coe were married on August 15, 1969. After a year at Fort Sill in Lawton, Oklahoma, their first anniversary was spent with Jim on his return to Vietnam for a second tour. He was honorably discharged as a captain in January, 1972. He returned to college and received a degree in journalism in 1973.
Jim and Anne moved to Cody where he purchased KODI radio and later KTAG radio, forming Shoshone Communications. Jim enjoyed many years of radio journalism in the Cody area, his voice becoming a familiar backdrop to community events and news. Jim was elected president of the Wyoming Broadcasters' Association.
Jim was a member of the Cody Volunteer Fire Department for many years. During that time he held the post of captain and chief. He loved his time on the Department and formed many great and lasting friendships while there.
Jim was a lifetime member of the Lions, the Elks, the Masons, and the VFW (Volunteers of Foreign Wars). He was also a lifetime member of the Episcopal Church, eventually completing its EFM (Episcopalians for the Ministry) three-year course.
Jim and Anne's family grew; James Franklin 'Jay' Hayes, Jr. was born in 1974. He was followed by Margaret Ruth 'Meg' Hayes in 1976.
In their retirement, Jim and Anne traveled often to Colorado to spend time with their son Jay, his wife Brittany and their three children, Colin, Addison, and Camden. In 2015, the entire family celebrated the wedding of their daughter Meg to William Frere; in 2016, they welcomed a new grandchild, Anne-Margaret, to their family. Family, friends, and faith remained the focal point of Jim's life in later years.
Those who knew Jim will remember his leadership, service and wonderful sense of humor. They will also remember his grace and courage as illness claimed his body but never his alert and focused mind. Jim set an example for all of us in coping with life's setbacks and making the best of every opportunity. He will be remembered with love.
Jim was preceded in death by his birth father, James Boggs; his brother, Bill Hayes; and his mother-in-law, Margaret 'Peg' Shaw Coe.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Coe Hayes, of Cody; his mother, Ruth Grondal Lane, of Cody; his son, James 'Jay' F. Hayes, Jr. (Brittany) of Fort Collins, Colorado; daughter, Margaret 'Meg' Ruth Hayes Frere (William) of Geneva, Switzerland; grandchildren, Colin Hayes, Addison Hayes, Camden Hayes, and Anne-Margaret Frere; brothers-in-law, Sen. Henry Coe and Robert Coe (Angela) of Cody; nephews, H.R. Coe (Thai), Rob Coe, and Hubbard Coe; and nieces, Carey Coe (Jeff) Johnson and Bethany Coe Boydstun; as well as several great-nephews and nieces.
The Hayes family extends their thanks to all of the caregivers who have assisted them through the years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cody Fire Department (1125 11th Street, Cody, WY, 82414), Christ Episcopal Church (825 Simpson Ave., Cody, WY, 82414) or the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (720 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY, 82414).
The services will be held on January 13, 2017 at 2:00 PM at Christ Episcopal Church in Cody, WY.
Go with God, Jim.
LONGMONT, Colo. A Korean War veteran from Colorado who died without relatives to arrange his funeral has been laid to rest with full military honors after a funeral home stepped in to help.
Carroll-Lewellen Funeral & Cremation donated the casket and about $6,000 in services for U.S. Army Sgt. Robert P. Buddecke's funeral on Thursday at Fort Logan National Cemetery in Denver.
Word of the donation spread and about 200 people, many of them veterans, attended the service.
Assistant cemetery director Kevin Johnson said it felt like everyone there was his family.
Renita Henson worked with Buddecke as a nurse. She said he was most proud of being his second wife's caregiver before she died.
The government provided the plot, headstone and casket vault.
Editor:
The public lands in Wyoming do not belong to the federal government, they belong to the people, we the people. Federal agencies such as the Forest Service and the BLM are just the stewards of this land, not the owners. We are the owners.
But recently, an effort has started in the Wyoming Legislature which will in time take our land away from us.
A constitutional amendment is being fast tracked with limited public input by a few legislators to facilitate the transfer our lands to the State of Wyoming. The American Legislative Council (ALEC), funded by billionaires and big corporations, is behind this effort. They have but one goal; get our public lands into state ownership, and then sell it off to, yes, billionaires and big corporations. Oh, this amendment doesnt say that, in fact the amendment is laced with phrases like no net loss and public access for hunting and fishing. And in the end there will in fact be hunting and fishing access (for billionaires and their cronies). This constitutional amendment is likely the first of several, the result will be to separate us from our land.
Interesting to note, some of our State legislators attend seminars hosted by ALEC where they can rub elbows with corporate lobbyists and big shots at posh resorts free of charge . . . where they are taught how to take our land away from us.
The Wyoming Backcountry Hunters and Anglers, an organization composed of average men and women scattered across the state, is steadfastly opposed to this amendment. Management of our public lands by the Feds is certainly not perfect, but at least we know where we stand, and we have a say in how these lands are managed.
Folks, beware of state legislators bearing amendments that promise a pot of gold at the end of the state lands takeover rainbow. This has happened before; ask any Native American.
PHOENIX More than 700,000 Arizonans will get a wage hike beginning Sunday.
Without comment, the Arizona Supreme Court on Thursday rejected a last-ditch bid by the business community to delay the effect of Proposition 206. That measure, approved earlier this year by 58 percent of the voters , raises the minimum wage from $8.05 an hour to $10 .
The same initiative eventually increases that to $12 an hour by 2020. And beginning July 1 it requires employers to provide workers with at least three days of paid sick leave each year.
Thursdays ruling does not end the matter.
The justices have agreed to consider claims by initiative foes that the measure violates a constitutional provision that requires all ballot proposals that result in new state spending to have a dedicated revenue source. But that wont occur until February, meaning the $10 requirement will remain in place at least until then if not beyond.
But Glenn Hamer, president of the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said that getting an injunction even then could prove difficult.
Arizona court rules provide a multi-part test for judges to consider when deciding whether to enjoin a new law from taking effect. One factor is whether the challengers are likely to prevail after a full-blown court hearing.
Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Kiley, who last week turned down the request for an injunction, said in a 13-page ruling that the chamber and its allies had not met that burden. The Supreme Court, with Thursdays order, essentially ratified his conclusion.
And theres something else working against the opponents.
In arguing for the immediate injunction, chamber attorney Brett Johnson told the justices they should maintain the status quo until the legal arguments could be heard in February. That meant keeping the current wage law.
By February, however, the status quo will have changed: An estimated 770,000 Arizonans now earning less than $10 an hour will be getting that much in their paychecks.
This is a tough one, Hamer said.
It doesnt change our legal arguments, he said. But it does change the dynamics on the ground against us in terms of the wage increase taking effect.
Those legal arguments Hamer is counting on to kill the voter-approved wage hike are based on claims the initiative will increase state expenses.
There is no direct effect on the state payroll as state employees are not covered by the measure. But opponents contend the measure will force the Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System, the states Medicaid program, to increase what it pays private firms that provide nursing home and in-home care.
Thats based on claims by some providers, whose contracts were negotiated under the assumption they could pay workers as little as $8.05 an hour, will go out of business if forced to pay more. And that, they said, would put the state in violation of its agreements with the federal government to maintain an adequate provider network.
Instead, the justices apparently accepted the arguments by initiative supporters that there is no reason to block hundreds of thousands of Arizonans now making less than $10 an hour from getting the pay hike voters said they should get. And AHCCCS itself insisted in its own legal brief that it is under no legal obligation to pay the providers more.
Despite that, Beth Kohler, the agencys deputy director, said plans are underway to increase provider reimbursements.
While we said the rate increase was not automatic, I think we were clear in our brief that we do believe we need to increase rates to meet federal requirements to ensure ongoing access to these needed services for tens of thousands of our most vulnerable members, she said. In the absence of any court action delaying the implementation of Proposition 206 our intent to increase rates stands.
In a public notice, AHCCCS estimates the cost for the next six months the balance of the state fiscal year at close to $25 million; the states share of that is about a third.
Thursdays high-court ruling came despite a last-minute bid by Gov. Doug Ducey, through his Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting, to delay the wage hike amid fiscal concerns.
Gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato said his boss believes AHCCCS can find the extra money to increase provider rates for the rest of this budget year. But he said the Department of Economic Security will need an immediate infusion of extra funds to deal with its own contracts.
While the chambers legal arguments were based on the cost of Proposition 206 to state government, its larger concern always has been the effect of a $10 minimum on businesses that will feel an immediate impact on their payroll costs.
This one stinks, Hamer said.
But Hamer said business organizations may have no one but themselves to blame. The state chamber invested close to $1.5 million into the successful effort to block legalization of recreational marijuana in Arizona and only about $50,000 trying to persuade voters that a hike in the minimum wage is bad for the economy.
We have to do a better job of making the case to the public, Hamer said. Ill certainly submit thats a valid criticism.
One thing he said voters do not know is that the $10 minimum will make Arizonas minimum wage higher than most of New York state. A new law that takes effect there Sunday sets the floor at $11 in New York City, $10 in suburban areas and $9.70 in the rest of the state.
Were not the high-cost place that New York is, he said.
The Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and its close ally, the Tucson Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, richly deserved their loss in court Thursday not necessarily for legal reasons, but for political ones.
Those two chambers and a set of additional business allies have been contesting the legality of Prop. 206, the initiative increasing Arizonas minimum wage, since it passed in November. With the Arizona Supreme Court declining to issue a stay Thursday, the chambers have exhausted their legal remedies until the court can hear full arguments in February.
Whats troubling about their actions is not that they were politically opposed to raising the minimum wage and requiring sick days for employees under state law. Their opposition is understandable.
Whats troubling is that the chambers barely put up a fight during the election campaign when such political issues are supposed to be hashed out. Only after the proposition passed by a 58 percent to 42 percent margin did they marshal their forces for the fight.
What do I mean? Well, compare the amount that the Arizona Chamber spent fighting the marijuana-legalization initiative $798,344 to what it spent against the minimum-wage increase $30,037. Lea Marquez Peterson, who heads the Tucson Hispanic Chamber, led the weak No on Prop. 206 campaign.
More broadly, the chambers roused their friends and allies to contribute richly to the anti-marijuana-legalization campaign, which had a total war chest of $5,605,735. The anti-minimum wage campaign had a total of $46,677 to spend.
So the chambers and their allies apparently gave up on campaigning against one initiative in favor of fighting it later in court. In doing so, they seem to be carrying out the wishes of Gov. Doug Ducey. Arizona Chamber CEO Glenn Hamer and Marquez Peterson of the Tucson Hispanic Chamber tend to work hand-in-glove with the governor, who was on record opposing the minimum-wage increase.
Now, his administration is also providing the evidentiary ammunition that the chambers are using to try to undermine the voters will. The Arizona Health Care Cost Containment System and the Industrial Commission of Arizona are providing the information on what Prop. 206 could cost them that is underlying the chambers continuing legal fight.
All this effort would have been more edifying and defensible before the election.
New GOP chair
The new chairman of the Pima County GOP has been a behind-the-scenes party worker and is anxious to boost the partys fundraising.
On Dec. 17, the party elected David Eppihimer as its chairman for the next two years. Eppihimer, 67, replaces Bill Beard, who served one two-year term and decided not to run again.
Eppihimer moved his family to Tucson in 1991 to continue his career as an executive for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, which brought its headquarters here that year. After retiring in 2009, Eppihimer ran the local lifelong learning group called Oasis.
Eppihimer also served as finance director for Tucsonan John Mungers campaign for the Republican nomination for governor in 2010 and has served on Rep. Martha McSallys campaign finance committee.
His fundraising expertise helped the party raise enough money to get out of a hole this summer. Fundraising will also be his top priority in the coming years, he said.
Weve got to get an income stream back that will allow us to function from month to month, quarter to quarter and year to year, without running out of money, he said. Once we have that done, weve got to be more relevant again in local politics.
Candidates lining up
for City Council races
Two new candidates have filed to run for Tucson City Council, and one longtime member is asking to be returned to the council.
With Ward 3 Council Member Karin Uhlich leaving, two Democratic candidates have filed to replace her: Felicia Chew and Morgan Abraham. Chew is a teacher at Mansfeld Middle School and Abraham is co-owner of a real-estate company who led the anti-Prop. 123 campaign early this year.
One rumored candidate who considered running has decided against it. Laura Dent, an aide to Ward 1 Councilwoman Regina Romero, wanted to carry on Uhlichs progressive legacy, but she decided it was unaffordable, she said.
And that, Dent thinks, is an issue: The low pay for council members means there are not enough people with different backgrounds.
It really affects the decisions that local government makes, she said.
A Libertarian, Julian Mazza, has also filed to run in the Ward 3 race.
In Ward 6, two-term Councilman Steve Kozachik has filed to run for a third term. In an email to supporters, he said he plans to run a nontraditional campaign without signs, mailers or TV ads.
Congressman
invites hacking
U.S. Rep. Trent Franks, a Republican who represents Arizonas 8th Congressional District, probably did not think through the implications of comments he made to MSNBC Thursday.
Speaking about the impacts Russian hacking may have had on the presidential campaign, Franks said casually, If Russia succeeded in giving the American people information that was accurate, then they merely did what the media should have done.
If the intelligence agencies information is accurate, though, hes really changed the job description for those of us in the news media. Now, under The Franks Principle, news reporters like me should be expected to hack into the computer systems of politicians and their campaigns to extract and publish their internal communications.
Obviously, our first target should be a certain Republican congressman from Arizona.
A 43-year-old man is facing manslaughter in a fatal crash on Tucson's north side that claimed the life of a 19-year-old woman two months ago, police said.
Philipe Antonio de la Rosa, who was released from the hospital Thursday, was arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, aggravated assault, endangerment and felony criminal damage, said Sgt. Kimberly Bay, a Tucson Police Department spokeswoman.
De la Rosa was booked into the Pima County jail.
On Oct. 30, Gisela Puerta was driving a 2001 Toyota Corolla north in a median lane on North Swan Road, north of East Glenn Street, when her vehicle was struck head-on by a 2004 Toyota Camry that had crossed over into the lane, police said.
Puerta was pronounced dead at the scene.
Two passengers in the Corolla, a man in the front passenger seat and a woman in the rear passenger seat, survived.
The driver of the Camry, who later was identified as De la Rosa, was taken to Banner-University Medical Center Tucson with non-life threatening injuries, police said.
Officers at the scene noticed De la Rosa had signs and symptoms of intoxication, police said.
PHOENIX Gov. Doug Ducey is threatening legal action if President Obama sets aside 1.7 million acres of public lands in Arizona for a new Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument.
But his chief spokesman wont or cant cite any authority for such litigation.
And lawsuits to quash previous presidential designations, including two in Arizona, left challengers empty-handed.
The governors threat comes on the heels of the president earlier this week setting aside 1.35 million acres in the Four Corners area of Utah for the Bears Ears National Monument. That move had been urged by conservationists and Native American tribes who consider the land sacred.
Separately, Obama created the Gold Butte National Monument near Las Vegas, a 300,000-acre site designed to protect an area that includes rock art, artifacts and fossils.
Todays actions will help protect this cultural legacy and will ensure that future generations are able to enjoy and appreciate these scenic and historic landscapes, the president said.
But Ducey, responding to the twin designations, is urging Obama not to try the same thing in Arizona in the area around Grand Canyon National Park believed to be rich in uranium deposits. He pointed out that Arizona already has more presidential-designated monuments than any other state.
Our state needs no further designations, the governor said in his own statement. And Ducey said existing ones already have harmed the ability of the state to manage wildlife, claiming the Sonoran Desert National Monument has resulted in a decline in the number of desert sheep because the state cant maintain water catchments the herds need.
And if gubernatorial urging does not stop the designation, Ducey has a warning.
If designated by the president in his waning hours, Arizona will take every step necessary legally and legislatively to stop it, the governor said in his statement.
Yet gubernatorial press aide Daniel Scarpinato was short on specifics of what would be the legal basis to challenge such action.
Well talk about that if there is an action by the president, he said. At this point there has not been.
And Scarpinato rebuffed questions of whether there really is any precedent for actually winning such a lawsuit.
But the record shows challengers to prior presidential actions have had little success.
More than a decade ago, for example, Mountain States Legal Foundation challenged a series of designations made by President Clinton near the end of his term, including the massive Grand Canyon-Parashant National Monument of more than 1 million acres in northwest Arizona as well as the nearly 129,000-acre Ironwood Forest monument near Tucson.
Challengers argued Clinton acted outside the scope of his authority and asked the courts to review.
A federal judge threw out the complaint. And the Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia in 2002 found no legal infirmity in what Clinton had done.
The closest Ducey comes to suggesting a basis for a lawsuit is that Antiquities Act, the 1906 federal law allowing the president to designate national monuments, says such areas must be confined to the smallest area compatible with proper care and management of the objects to be protected.
This proposed designation of 1.9 million acres of land would be a clear violation of that intent, the governor said in his statement. But there appears to be no case law where courts have been willing to second-guess a presidential determination that any given area is not the smallest necessary to achieve the objective.
This isnt a political issue, Scarpinato said of Duceys opposition to a new monument. What it is, he explained, is taking action to ensure that such designations do not undermine local economies.
One big issue deals with the future of uranium mining.
The Department of Interior in 2012 closed off the area to new uranium mining until 2032. That decision is being challenged by mining interests, with the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals expected to rule on the issue this coming year.
Monument designation likely would leave existing operations intact. But it would forever preclude new claims regardless of the outcome of the pending lawsuit.
I think the governor wants to strike the right balance between not negatively impacting our state and also preserving our natural resources, Scarpinato said. He said Ducey believes were doing a great job right now and weve struck that balance.
Even if litigation proves fruitless, Scarpinato said Ducey could pursue other avenues.
I think we all know that there will be a new President and a new Congress sworn in next month, he said. I think there would be legislative options at our disposal.
Congress can override a presidential declaration and remove a monument designation. But it is an open question at best whether Donald Trump, if he wanted to, could unilaterally undo any or all of Obamas designations.
Ducey is correct that Arizona does have more national monuments than any other state. What he did not acknowledge in his statement is that half of them actually were created by Republican presidents going back to Theodore Roosevelt who gave such designations to Montezuma Castle, Tonto and Navajo monuments.
In terms of pure acreage set aside, though, Democrats hold the edge by far. In fact, out of more than 2.1 million acres of national monuments in Arizona, Clinton alone is responsible for more than 1.5 million acres.
Ducey is not alone among Republicans in his opposition. The states two senators, John McCain and Jeff Flake, sent their own letter to the president earlier this year saying they believe that 1.7 million acre designation goes beyond the intent of the Antiquities Act.
PHOENIX The National Rifle Association is claiming that Tucsons policy of destroying seized and surrendered firearms is designed to deliberate suppress legal gun ownership in Arizona and will likely lead to an increase in violent crime and harm public safety.
Attorneys for the group are asking the Arizona Supreme Court to side with Attorney General Mark Brnovich who contends the city policy is a violation of state law. Brnovich wants the justices to order the city to rescind the policy or forfeit more than $115 million a year in state aid.
In adding its weight to the lawsuit, the NRA hopes to convince the high court that the right of the state to declare that operable firearms be sold and not destroyed outweighs any claim by Tucson that its disposition of property is strictly a matter of local concern. And attorney Michael Rusing is using the Second Amendment right to bear arms to make the point.
Tucson has been destroying guns since adopting an ordinance in 2005. It did not stop even after the Legislature voted in 2013 to declare such actions a violation of state law as city attorneys said Tucsons status as a charter city trumps state law.
What changed the dynamics is a new law that requires the attorney general to investigate any time a lawmaker claims a local government is ignoring state laws. Rep. Mark Finchem, R-Oro Valley, made such a complaint earlier this year to Brnovich.
Brnovich concluded the Tucson ordinance likely conflicts with the 2013 law. And now he is obligated by that 2016 law to ask the Supreme Court to affirm that conclusion and, if Tucson does not comply, withhold all of its state aid.
Tucson responded by asking a Pima County Superior Court judge to declare its right to destroy guns a matter of local concern protected by the state constitution. And it wants the 2016 law giving Brnovich the right to try to withhold state aid voided.
In the interim, though, the Supreme Court has to decide whether to allow Brnovich to make his case and, if so, whether the 2013 law overrides a state constitutional provision giving Tucson, as a charter city, the right to enact the gun destruction policy.
Thats the position being taken on Tucsons behalf by the League of Arizona Cities and Towns.
Attorney Paul Eckstein said courts have ruled charter cities can decide for themselves how to dispose of property without having to get permission of lawmakers.
In other words, whether the property at issue is real or personal, guns or butter, if it is owned by a charter city, its use or disposition is a matter in which the Legislature is constitutionally proscribed from interfering, he wrote.
Rusing, in his legal brief siding with Brnovich, has a different take. He told the justices theres an even greater issue than the rights of charter cities: the right of citizens to keep and bear arms for self-defense.
Tucsons ordinance implicates this right because it impedes, at the margin, the law-abiding citizens ability to lawfully acquire a firearm, he wrote.
In essence, Rusing is arguing that allowing Tucson to destroy firearms reduces the supply both in Tucson and around the state. That, in turns, makes them more expensive and difficult to acquire particularly for lower-income individuals that may already have difficulty affording a reliable firearm.
The only purpose of the program can be to keep as many firearms as possible out of private hands or, put differently, to deliberately suppress the number of people keeping and bearing arms within Tucson and throughout the state, Rusing wrote.
And Rusing claimed a mountain of empirical evidence supports the Legislatures judgment that Tucsons efforts to eliminate as many lawful firearms as possible would ultimately increase the rate of violent crime.
How much difference the citys policy has had on gun availability and prices is up for debate: City records show 4,820 guns have been destroyed since the beginning of 2013.
But Rusing said the policy, implicates both federal and state constitutional rights.
The right to keep and bear arms is meaningless, of course, without the ability to obtain them, Rusing said.
He is contending that the city ordinance proves a hostility by Tucson to those rights.
The way Rusing sees it, if the city did not require guns to be melted down they would be sold to licensed firearms dealers at a profit.
That money could be used to provide goods and services to the citys residents or, at the very least, to lessen their tax burden, he wrote. What that means is the policy not only the naked suppression of the right to keep and bear arms but also amounts to Tucson effectively making its citizens food the bill for the wasteful ideological crusade against the Second Amendment.
Then theres the link the NRA claims between more guns and less crime.
Rusing said the number of firearms in private hands grew from about 192 million in 1994 to more than 350 million now.
Yet the rates of homicide and other violent crimes have steadily declined by over two-thirds during this period, from about 80 violent crimes per each 1,000 residents 12 years or older in 1994 to just over 23 today, he said. Even at this most basic level, then, there are strong reasons to doubt Tucsons simplistic more guns, more crime syllogism.
Rusing conceded there are some studies that claim to link high rates of gun ownership with high rates of homicide. But he dismissed them, saying even if there is such an association no causal link has been demonstrated.
And he said that fewer and more expensive firearms hurts the people who need it most.
A high-income individual will be able to comfortably purchase a firearm regardless of Tucsons efforts to artificially restrict the firearm supply, Rusing said.
But the price increase indirectly caused by Tucson may effectively prevent those individuals who are financially less fortunate from pursing a safe, reliable firearm for self-defense, he continued. And because the crime rates in Tucson are significantly higher in economically disadvantage neighborhoods it is these lower-income individuals who have the greatest need to defend themselves and their families against crime.
Chuck and Joan
After falling down, Chuck Josephson tries to coax his wife, Joan, into standing up by herself. Chuck says one of his biggest fears is that he may be incapacitated and Joan wouldn't be able to get up by herself. Joan started to show signs of Alzheimer's in 2005. Wednesday October 19, 2016.
For Fatuma Salat, 18, moving from Kenya to the United States about 10 years ago was a game-changer.
In Kenya, many schools need desks, chairs, school supplies and teachers, Salat says. In Tucson, she has access to all of those things plus a shot at college.
Upon graduating from Desert View High School this year, Salat hopes to attend the University of Arizona in the fall.
If it wasnt for moving here, I wouldnt really have been given the opportunity to make a change. But to move here has given me the opportunity to really make a change not only in this area, but also in other areas of the world, Salat says. Here Im provided with much more than I was provided with in Africa.
But it has been hard.
The family left Kenya in 2006 to escape violence, war and ongoing threats to the family.
People would come to your doorstep and say, Let me have your child because I need them to do this and this and this, and if you dont do this, well hurt you, Salat recalls. That made us want to leave because that had happened to us before.
The family also frequently ended up without a home, with storms destroying shelters made of sticks and mud. Salat remembers life in homes with no air conditioning, no bathrooms and two-mile treks for water.
Upon moving to the U.S., she entered the first grade, frightened by an English-speaking world that she could not understand.
Over time, that has changed.
Because I dress differently from others, people were questioning me, asking, Why do you dress this way? I hear this about you. Is this true? Salat says. And I say, No this is not true. And I want to fix these issues because I dont want others to be frightened of me, and I dont want to be scared of them. I want us to come together despite our differences.
As an eighth-grader at Chaparral Middle School, Salat decided to address the questions head-on. As a Muslim with dark skin, a head scarf and long skirts, she faced mockery from some classmates.
In response to a presentation Salat did on Kenya and Islam, a classmate threw a verbal barb at her a remark that sparked a heated exchange between Salats friends and other classmates.
The kids were bullying them bad, and she was the one who decided to do a presentation on the culture, talking from the heart, says Barb Mathers, a former Chaparral counselor and teacher of a college prep class there. Mathers is now a counselor at Ocotillo Learning Center.
At the time, Salat was in Mathers class. Since then the two have maintained contact, in person and through texting.
Mathers remembers Salat explaining to the entire student body what it felt like to be bullied, the kind of life she and her family came from in Kenya and her dreams for college and the future.
I got on the stage and read my speech even though I was a bashful kid, Salat says. As I looked off into the crowd, I saw some teachers and students tearing and knew at that moment my school would be joined together again despite our differences. But I didnt just want that in the school. I wanted that in the community.
Suddenly, she wasnt sitting alone at the lunch table.
Everybody noticed the change in those kids, Mathers says.The whole climate of the school changed that year.
But that wasnt the last time Salat dealt with prejudice. She doesnt let it discourage her. Instead, she wants to repeat that middle school miracle in the greater community.
Her post-high school dreams vary. Perhaps she will study dentistry or biomedical engineering or physical therapy.
Salat is part of Pima Countys Joint Technical Education District (JTED) and taking a course that will have her certified as a physical therapy technician a job that will also help her family financially.
At school, she is involved in the National Honor Society and the college readiness program Upward Bound. Sometimes she volunteers with Mathers, working with kindergarten and first-grade students, the Ocotillo counselor says.
Salat does most of her homework while still at school, late at night or when she wakes up at 4 a.m. After school, most of her time is devoted to caring for her eight younger siblings. Her fluency in English also plays a significant role in helping her family communicate.
There are lots of chores I have to do within the house, and I have to babysit when my moms gone, and that gets in the way of education since its senior year and there is more to do, she says. I cook for the kids before they go to school, and when they come back I have to feed them and clean up after them. I help them prepare for bedtime.
Maybe someday she will return to Kenya and start an organization that builds schools or provides school supplies to give those kids some of the help that she got.
But for now, one goal is all-consuming.
Graduation is coming.
That fact that its approaching is exhilarating, but there is a lot of work, She says. Theres so much you have to do to get there, so its a challenge, but Im looking forward to it. I will make sure I get there.
Janet Galante had planned to provide health benefits to her staff at Tucson-based Sit Stay Play dog daycare next year.
But new expenses stemming from Arizonas impending minimum-wage increase, which goes into effect Jan. 1, will make that impossible, she said.
While her employees all make more than minimum wage, Galante said shell have to give across-the-board increases to her longtime employees, so they dont end up earning less than those hired under the new standard.
Why would I want to risk alienating those people and losing them? she said. It would be bad business, and its also just not fair.
Businesses across the state are grappling with the anticipated costs and ripple effects of Proposition 206, which will raise Arizonas current $8.05-per-hour minimum wage to $10 in 2017, and to $12 by 2020. Under the law, more than 700,000 Arizonans will get a raise starting this year.
The ballot measure, approved by 58 percent of voters in November, also mandates at least three days of paid sick leave annually, starting in July.
On Thursday, the Arizona Supreme Court rejected an effort, led by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry, to delay implementation of the pay increase. The justices will likely hear arguments in February from opponents fighting the new law.
At Shlomo & Vitos deli, owner Dean Greenberg said its likely he will have to shut down the Catalina Foothills restaurant because of Prop. 206, although he noted the business was already struggling with debt. Hes making cuts that he hopes will keep the deli afloat.
Were making some drastic changes, he said. Hes cutting 10 people from his 43-person staff and has scaled down the deli menu to minimize prep work.
From a social point of view, Greenberg said he supports the idea of a living wage. But as a businessman, he said he cant raise his prices enough to offset the losses resulting from Prop. 206, including higher charges from his food purveyors.
Greenberg, also president of Greenberg Financial Group, said he makes a point to hire workers who need a second chance, like those with a criminal record or a history of addiction. But those employees should earn their raises over time, as they gain skills and experience, he said.
Theres a reason theyre making $8 an hour, he said. Theyre not worth 12 bucks an hour.
SUPPORT FOR PROP. 206
But some Tucson businesses fully endorse the minimum-wage boost, even if it causes financial strain.
Its going to cost me more to pay my employees, but thats a kind of business and ethical sacrifice that you have to be willing to make, if youre looking at the big picture, said Robert Hall, 36, owner of Generation Cool, which sells vintage clothing and collectibles on North Fourth Avenue. My principles on bettering the community, and our society at large, definitely outweighed the potential negative risks. I tend to look at whats better for human beings.
Hall said he remembers all too well what it was like working minimum-wage jobs in his 20s.
There were times when I felt there were things I needed that I couldnt afford, basic necessities, and that was a scary feeling, he said.
Across Arizona, 450 businesses supported Prop. 206, said Zaira Livier, who coordinated the Southern Arizona campaign for the ballot measure.
Especially in south-side Tucson, the businesses there didnt blink an eye when I would approach them, she said. They know if people have more money in their pockets, their business is going to do much better because they cater to the working class. It was a really easy sell.
Businesses opposed to the new minimum wage should question why their business model is predicated upon low pay, said Hall, who has five employees whose pay will be affected by Prop. 206. Hall said hes cut his budget in other areas to offset some of his additional labor costs, and he hopes a boost in revenue from customers with more cash will balance out the rest.
Im optimistic that people making more money equals people spending more money, he said.
Galante of the dog-sitting business said its harder for some industries to cut expenses: Her agency must meet staffing requirements for the safety of the animals, so she cant cut jobs, and she can only increase prices so much before alienating customers, she said.
Galante doesnt know how shell offset an expected $100,000 in additional expenses in 2017, resulting from increased payroll costs and the paid sick-leave required under Prop. 206, she said.
Its a gigantic hit, she said. Were small. We dont have other components of business to absorb this hit like they do at PetSmart or some of the corporate franchise places.
A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE
The minimum-wage increase will be a huge adjustment for landscaping companies that dont yet pay their workers a living wage, said Sandra Sigmon McBride, owner of McBride Landscaping and Yard Maintenance.
But shes not one of them. McBride, who voted for Prop. 206, said she has always paid her employees more than minimum wage, usually between $11 or $12 for those with experience. Shell likely give everyone a raise this year to ensure that remains the case, she said.
If it becomes a problem where I have to raise prices, then Ill raise prices, McBride said. If some customers dont want to pay me more for the great work we do, then I dont need those customers, frankly.
Her business has operated in Tucson since 1989 and today employs eight people who primarily do yard-maintenance work: raking, mowing, weeding and tree-trimming.
My guys work hard for their money, she said. I couldnt in good conscience not pay my employees at least enough to get by on.
IMPACT HARD TO PREDICT
Robert Medler, vice president for government affairs at the Tucson Metro Chamber, said minimum-wage increases do exceptionally well on ballots, but many businesses werent planning for such a big jump in the rate.
I fully expect to hear more from businesses in January after they have had to comply and they see the actual, on-the-ground effects of a significantly higher minimum wage, Medler said.
The Tucson Metro Chamber fought the minimum-wage update, called the Fair Wages and Healthy Families Act, citing the potential for higher product prices, reduced staff hours and layoffs, and diminished appeal to businesses looking to expand into Arizona.
George Hammond, economist at the University of Arizonas Eller College of Management, said research on the effects of minimum-wage increases across the nation has found the increases tend to have small but negative impacts on employment of teens and low-skilled workers. He was citing a 2015 article by a San Francisco economist that summarized much of the research.
But past research has mostly focused on smaller wage increases than Arizonas, he said.
Its not clear what the impacts will be in Arizona. Well have to wait and see, he said.
On the plus side, industries that rely on minimum-wage employees typically have to deal with high turnover rates, which can be costly, Hammond said. Higher wages could mean better employee retention, he said.
If the higher minimum wage means less turnover ... its possible it will offset, at least partially, the fact that increasing the minimum-wage increases costs, he said.
Nearly 90 percent of people who will benefit from the minimum-wage increase will be over age 20, said an independent analysis from the Grand Canyon Institute. The study estimates 13,000 Arizonans could lose their jobs as employers try to cut costs in response to the increase, but 790,000 people would benefit from higher pay.
Justin Oldaker, CEO of By Your Side Senior Care, said he worries the higher minimum wage could prompt caregivers in the industry to opt for easier, less-intensive minimum-wage jobs that will now offer more-competitive wages.
We already have a shortage of caregivers, he said. So were very concerned with the new changes.
Oldaker said he already lost 10 percent of his client base who said they couldnt absorb the higher rates hes had to implement in response to Prop. 206. Oldaker also fears clients may turn to unlicensed, independent contractors in search of cheaper care.
Theyre going to hire individuals off of Craigslist so they can pay less, he said. Were taking an already vulnerable part of society and increasing that vulnerability.
SHOP LOCAL
Amanda Tobak is the owner of Industrial Chemical of Arizona, which has sold cleaning and facility maintenance supplies residentially and commercially since 1977.
Most of her customers are mom-and-pop cleaning or finishing businesses who pay many of their entry-level employees minimum wage, she said. Many are already eliminating part-time jobs in response to Prop. 206, and she worries shell lose business as her clients struggle to cope with the increase, she said.
Tobak said shell have to start reducing benefits for employees if she sees fewer customers. But she says one of the best ways to combat any negative effects of Prop. 206 is for consumers to spend their dollars at small, local businesses before shopping at big chain stores.
I would really urge Arizona consumers to think of local first, she said.
Our 2016 Badass Women of Tucson include: a young Iraqi translator who loves La Parilla Suiza, a professional cyclist, a firefighter who broke the glass ceiling, a woman who loves her body and yours, a top judo fighter, an Olympic medalist and several more who are working to better this place and achieve huge dreams.
We live alongside some amazing women.
"Is it not high time for Israels public to wake up to Netanyahus deceptions? The countries that voted for this Security Council resolution are not anti-Semitic outliers. They included every major democratic country that belongs to the Security Council. Not one of them voted for the Zionism is Racism resolution, to which Netanyahu so demagogically compared this resolution. Are UK Prime Minister Theresa May or German Chancellor Angela Merkel, whose foreign minister warmly welcomed the Security Councils action, anti-Semites? It was only yesterday that Netanyahu boasted of his friendship with Russias Putin and Chinas Xi Jinping, who voted for the resolution. Are they now Israels enemies?
If there has been a betrayal in this latest chapter of Americas relations with Israel, it is Netanyahu who has betrayed President Obama." Henry Siegman
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I used to work with Siegman in his peace mongering expeditions across the ME and NA. I have a lot of respect for him. He is an ordained rabbi, whatever ordained means in this context. He was a US Army chaplain in the Korean War. He volunteered for deployment to Korea with the Eighth Army. He has relentlessly pursued justice for the Palestinians because as an ardent Zionist he thinks that if there is not justice Israel is doomed in the long run. I haven't talked to him for a long time but this is vintage Siegman.
IMO there will be neither peace nor justice in the Holy Land. IMO there is not enough good will between the sides to make a peace in which neither side can claim to have vanquished the other. I have been saying that that for twenty years or so. There was a Camelot moment when Ehud Barak was PM and Teddy Kolleck was mayor of Jerusalem when it seemed to be just barely possible that there might be a peace without victors, but the revisionist Zionists like Bibi and Naftali Bennett rallied and that moment passed.
I was recently tasked by someone I trusted with the crime of "approaching anti-Semitism" in my 2 November, 2016 post. "Marc Rich, Clinton and Israel."
"A plague o'both their houses." pl
http://nationalinterest.org/feature/has-obama-betrayed-israel-the-un-18872
http://turcopolier.typepad.com/sic_semper_tyrannis/2016/11/httpnypostcom20160117after-pardoning-criminal-marc-rich-clintons-made-millions-off-friends.html
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By Mohd Ismail Khan, Twocircles.net,
Hyderabad: The 135 year old head Islamic seminary of Barelvi sect of Muslims in south India, Jamia Nizamia had issued a fatwa on 28th January but literally without any effect on the Milad extravaganza in Hyderabad.
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The fatwa asked Muslims 1) Not to put up flags with the names of Allah and the Prophet Moahmmed written on them as the flags may fall down, which will amount to showing disrespect, 2) To desist from un-Islamic practices like playing music, singing and dancing on Milad-un-Nabi 3) to restrain from installing of models of the Kaaba, and Masjid-e-Nabavvi (the mosque and resting place of the Prophet in Medina), 4) It also banned youth from applying chamki (glitter) on their faces 4) The fatwa banned loud recitation of Holy Quran in the apprehension that it can disturb others.
The decree was signed by six senior functionaries of the Jamia including, Moulana Mufti Khaleel Ahmed, head of the Jamia Nizamia, Mufti Moulana Mohammed Azeemuddin, and the Imam of the historic Mecca Masjid, Moulana Abdullah Qureshi Al-Azhari.
But the Milad celebrations were later found to be entirely against the fatwa. The sober approach expected in the celebrations as advocated by the fatwa was put to total freeze as soon as the stage was set up for the Milad celebrations in the city. Rupees were spent in Millions for decorating the streets, localities and houses.
Mohammed Kahja Pasha President, Gulshan-E-Mustafa committee, which played a key role in the decoration of the Bada Bazaar area told TCN, that a major portion of those funds for decoration works were contributed by the local residents especially the youngsters. He said nearly 70 lakh rupees have been spent in the 4 km area covering Yakutpura and Bada Bazaar, just for decorations.
Syed Asif, Principal in a local school in the old city area has been observing the Milad celebrations in Hyderabad and especially the old city from many years, at times he himself have contributed money to the Milad decoration funds. He told TCN that the locality Dabilpura stretching up to an area of 3 km, which he lives in was decorated at the cost of around 20 lakh rupees. He said it is difficult to jump to an exact figure but his observations last year accounts to an expenditure of almost 50 crore rupees whereas he says it could be high as around 75 crore this year.
The whole city had green flags with names of Allah and prophet Mohammed (PBUH). At many places in the old city area, and some parts of the new city youngsters were dancing even late in the midnight on the remix Qawalis. In numerous places the cut out models of kaaba and Masjid-e-Nabavvi was installed with different sculpt, like the one in Yakutpura, Bada bazaar area, where kaaba was assigned centrally with seven different models of Masjid-e-Nabavvi doing Tawaaf (revolving) around it.
Mohd Nayeem, area in charge of Dawat-e-Islami [a Barelvi sect organization], Amberpet was proud to tell that his organization had actively taken part in the Milad celebrations and decorations. When asked by TCN regarding the effect of Jamia Nizamias fatwa regarding Milad celebrations, he said the fatwa had a little effect on the celebrations as it was difficult to control the emotions of the youngsters. The youngsters were really longing to celebrate and rejoice the birth of the prophet and it is difficult to control them because it is a sentimental issue, he said. His organization have found nothing wrong with those flags being tied with the name of Allah and prophet Mohammed (PBUH), as they believe those flags are the symbol of Islam, and his organization have appealed Jamia Nizamia to have a rethinking on this particular fatwa.
The fatwa said that Playing music at volume that could cause inconvenience to others is not allowed, if there is apprehension that reading the Koran loudly could disturb others, it should not be allowed, Contrary to what the fatwa said every nook and corner of the Muslim dominated areas where decked up with loud speakers with Qawalis and Naats blaring all over even after the mid night. Syed Shafeeq a resident of the Yakutpura old city area told TCN that his house is co-adjacent to the Bada Bazaar area and he could not sleep properly because the performances were there till 3 in the night, as a result he missed his Fajar prayer, he said he is confident enough to say that those who were celebrating too must have missed their morning prayers.
Gopi Krishna Yadav is a milk seller, lives in a small ghetto locality of Hindus in the Yakutpura area. He said TCN that whole night there were sounds of processions passing through the vicinity of their house, raising slogans; he said he couldnt sleep the whole night because he feared communal clashes breaking out due the speedy bikes rally by Muslim youngsters in the Hindu locality. Some processions in fact triggered tensions at Lal Darwaza and Ramanthapur.
The fatwa by the Jamia Nizamia was issued on the grounds of concerns expressed by a section of the Muslim community who felt that such large-scale extravagant celebrations were unIslamic and against the teachings of Prophet [PBUH].
Jamia Nizamia has clearly indicated that the celebrations are allowed but they felt that those should be regulated with in the limits of Sharia. Actually it was the lack of publicity and media hype which rendered ineffectiveness to the fatwa. It brings the whole debate of fatwa controversies in confrontation with even more questions, does Muslims in practice follows fatwas? What is the value of fatwa in the modern age Islamic society? Why the English media who always seemed like obsessed to the fatwas from Islamic seminaries are cherry picking some which they can make a negative debate? And why are they totally ignoring the fatwas issued in the interest of the society?
Help India!
By IANS,
New Delhi : Bollywood celebrities like Alka Yagnik, Javed Akhtar and Lalit Pandit, along with Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal, Monday launched a new literacy anthem as part of the campaign of promoting adult literacy in India.
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The national literacy anthem Humko padhna hai aage badna hai has been written by Akhtar, composed by Pandit and sung by Sonu Nigam and Yagnik.
The song marked the launch of the National Literacy Missions new mass adult literacy awareness campaign Saakshar Bharat Abhiyan, which aims to educate non-literate people at the grassroot level.
A video of the literacy anthem featuring actors Shah Rukh Khan, Priyanka Chopra, Shabana Azmi, Farhan Akhtar, Kareena Kapoor and Anil Kapoor was also showcased at the occasion.
The song composed by Lalit Pandit and sung by Alka Yagnik and Sonu Nigam is so heartwarming that all those people who would hear it, will automatically get inspired to come together and support the cause, Sibal said here at the launch programme on the Red Fort grounds.
It is of utmost importance to fight against illiteracy. If we dont educate the women of our country, India will never rise. I would like to congratulate the people behind Saakshar Abiyaan, who have been able to successfully move ahead with their adult education programme.
As many as two crore adults, especially women, have given their literacy exams and according to assessment of National Institute of Open Schooling, 1.5 crore people have cleared it, of which 70 percent are women. This is in itself a big achievement, he added.
Sibal called for the support of common man as well as Bollywood celebrities to help eradicate illiteracy from the country.
Actually this initiative wont be successful, if all of us dont come together to work towards the cause. We need the support of volunteer teachers, gram panchayats, parents and society too. We need the support of those Bollywood celebrities also, who can inspire common man, he added.
Also present at the occasion were Minister of State for Human Resource Development D. Puransdeswari, Anshu Vaish, secretary, department of school education and literacy in the ministry and National Literacy Mission Authority chief Jagmohan Singh Raju.
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Patna : RJD chief Lalu Prasad on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of eviscerating the Indian economy by his demonetisation decision.
If lungs, liver, kidneys, intestine and blood is taken out of your body, would you be able to survive? Thats what has been done with our economy, Lalu said in a latest tweet.
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In a series of surgical tweets, Lalu reminded Modi of the state of affairs in the country as the 50-day period announced by the Prime Minister on November 8, to regain normalcy drew to a close on Friday midnight.
The Rashtriya Janata Dal leader further that Modi badly damaged the Indian economy by scrapping the high value currency of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 and added, in such a situation, how can the countrys economy survive?
Lalu cautioned Modi against devising ways and means to justify his demonetisation move. He said people could see through his deceitful acts to project his decision as realistic.
Senseless parpancho se ho rahin Endless dikkaton ko dabane ke liye Cashless jaisi Baseless baat kar rahein hain. He should be realistic (You cannot deny the trouble faced by millions just by projecting cashless transaction as a means to bring in transparency in financial dealings), he said.
Does Modi know how many times he has chopped and changed his own decisions in the last 50 days? He is totally clueless, puzzled and jumping here and there, Lalu said.
Time has come for PM Modi to find out a chauraha (public square) where people can punish him for the failure, Lalu told the media earlier after announcing a protest against demonetisation.
The RJD chief recalled that it was Modi himself who had said that people could punish him after 50 days if the demonetisation drive failed.
Lalu said Modis decision of demonetisation has failed and the 50-day deadline fixed by him is over. Now Modi will have to tell people to punish him at the particular chauraha.
RJD on Wednesday organised sit-ins at Patna and all district headquarters against demonetisation. Lalu then accused Modi of cheating the country.
Modi has derailed the economy through demonetisation, which had led to increased job losses, Lalu said while participating in the maha dharna.
The former Bihar Chief Minister urged people to remove Modi to save the country. He even announced a huge rally in Patna against Modi early in 2017.
I will invite all non-BJP leaders in the rally to unite against Modi, Lalu said.
"Tai-wiki-widbee" is an eclectic mix of trivialities, ephemera, curiosities, and exotica with a smattering of current events, social commentary, science, history, English language and literature, videos, and humor. We try to be the cyberequivalent of a Victorian cabinet of curiosities.
Christmas time comes with happiness and laughter, celebrated with close friends and family. Whilst we are all enjoying festivities, it is easy to forget about those who for them, Christmas is just another miserable, lonely day.
It is estimated that over 185,000 people find themselves with nowhere to go at Christmas time, with no family, no friends and no home. Seeing happy families come together to enjoy the special day must make them feel that extra bit isolated.
Suicides peak at Christmas
It is often said that suicides peak around Christmas time, people already suffering from depression are pushed over the edge.
The feelings of loneliness increase because everybody surrounding them have people to spend the long awaited day with.
Lots of charities including the Salvation Army do extra fundraising at this time of year in aid of helping homeless people, but should we as a community do more?
Sometimes it is important that we make sacrifices for the benefit of others, most of us have already had an awful year. Many shops and restaurants around the UK offer free food and company for Homeless people at this time of year.
Cummin Up Caribbean in Lewisham extended an invitation to everyone for a meal and company on the 25th December.
And as Muslim restaurant Shish in London said, No one eats alone on Christmas Day
Is this enough?
Whilst a few places over the UK do things to help those in need, it still isn't enough to feed the entire #homeless population.
Things that we take for granted may make another persons year.
Its impossible to eat every last bit of the food your Grandma puts on the table on Christmas day, so why not venture out and give the leftovers to those who would otherwise go without. I did this last Christmas and it actually made my day that bit more special seeing people on the street with a big smile on their face, its the simple things.
Understandably we have to look out for ourselves first, so don't try and help others if you cant even help yourself. But next Christmas we as Society should think more about those who are alone and going without. A bit of leftover dinner? Put it in a container and give it to somebody less fortunate. Two of the same presents? Don't take it back, hand it to a homeless person, it will be more value to them than you.
If everybody gives a little, they will receive a lot.
With rail congestion being rifer than Twitter tweets from Donald Trump this Christmas, it has even forced Transport for London (TFL) to waiver the controversial 11:50p Congestion charge for vehicles travelling through key London areas on Christmas Eve. Whilst this is great news for those what to experience the joys of the open road, just for one day it masks the real issue, in terms of rising road congestion.
Forced U-Turn
It looks like the disruption, exacerbated by the Southern Rail strikes over the Festive period - could be seen as the UK Government, unilaterally promoting the good old automobile over a public transport alternative.
This waiver of the congestion charge stands out as an admittance that the poor state of our rail industry means that Britain is in a far weaker position than a lot of other countries, particularly those still in the EU, to fight traffic congestion with a rail travel alternative.
Can the frail rail network cope?
Exhibit A in the case against those who believe or have a vested interest in believing that HS2, when it eventually materialises, is the answer to despair-driven commuter prayers. Is the (inevitably delayed) 22:19, on a recent Friday night, from Manchester Oxford Road to Barrow via key calling points, such as Wigan and Preston.
This, one of undoubtedly, a number of examples that could be found across this month alone, represented the last train to its destination (and Lancaster), with there being no affordable alternatives for the 106 mile trip, at that time of night.
However, it was not the final train to other destinations like Wigan or Preston. Yet, regardless of where they were going, wannabe commuters crammed into this train, pushed people off it and caused general bedlam. Prompting Transport Police to panic and ordinary everyday folk, who have just enjoyed a day or evening at the legendary Manchester Christmas Markets, to turn into savages, protecting their crammed portion of the train like a wolf over a carcass.
Yet, at a guess, a good 40% of the train had a viable alternative train not long after.
A system is needed, much needed
With a plethora of fare evading barriers at most stations, especially at the Manchester Oxford Road train station, in an age whereby its around 40% (rough guess) cheaper to purchase tickets in advance. Then there would be early warning signs about high or sardine squashing proportion demand on a train and some sort of system could be set up.
That would ensure tickets that are for travel to Wigan or Preston, in this example, are marked and, the ticket holders are directed onto the slightly later train?
I know this seems a defeatist point of view, fire-fighting even, but before you can improve rail travel and reduce traffic congestion by getting more people on it. You need to accept that the multitude of rail providers in the UK cant handle or even gauge demand, these days. Well, looking on the bright-side. This is one thing we cant blame on Brexit.
China rebutted a recent report that Zimbabwe had sent wild animals, including 35 elephant calves, to China to pay for a military debt, saying it is "sheer nonsense with an ulterior motive".
The Times newspaper in London reported on Monday that Grace Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, had sent safari animals to a Chinese wildlife park to pay for military uniforms for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"I want to emphasize that this is a normal commercial activity, which is in line with relevant international conventions and laws in both countries" Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news conference on Thursday.
Hua said that wildlife parks in Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou recently imported a total of 35 African elephants from Zimbabwe. Payments have been received by Zimbabwean authorities, and the money will be used for the African country's wildlife protection, Hua said.
"It is an international practice for zoos to import foreign safari animals. The technical conditions of Chinese animal parks have met international demands and the parks can take care of the African elephants," she added.
An anonymous Chinese staff member directly involved in the transaction told China Radio International that "all the payments have been brought into the accounts of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and national parks".
He also said Zimbabwe's environmental protection minister inspected the wildlife parks in Shanghai and Hangzhou in January and assessed the conditions of elephants that had been import-ed earlier to Guangzhou.
Li Wentao, an expert on African studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the report unfairly speculated about normal China-Zimbabwe trade ties when Zimbabwe is suffering economic difficulties. "The two countries are good partners with close cooperation, and China has been providing economic assistance to the African country. However, this is no reason to make such speculation," he said.
He Wenping, a researcher at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the misleading report shows the Western media's longtime prejudice against China-Africa cooperation.
"Anyone with commonsense will know such a report is ridiculous. Every country could have ups and downs, and China and African countries have a consensus on overcoming difficulties together," she said.
mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn
A crowdfunding project aims to bring Peking Opera closer to today's audiences. [Photo provided to China Daily]
A Peking Opera gala featuring most of today's popular Peking Opera artists, including Li Hongtu, Zhao Baoxiu, Meng Guanglu and Tan Xiaozeng, will be staged at the Beijing Exhibition Center Theater on Tuesday.
The special performance is a crowdfunding project. Nearly 800 people donated more than 619,000 yuan ($88,400) in 34 days.
"The purpose is to attract people who are not Peking Opera fans," explains Pan Zhipeng, the leader of the project.
Most donors are young people, who paid through a social-media platform, Pan says.
Pu Jiaying, a lecturer from Dalian University of Foreign Languages, booked two tickets when she heard about this project.
"I know how crowdfunding works. The ticket is cheaper than that of the daily performance. And you don't always have the opportunity to see so many stars on the same stage," Pu says.
It was Li, the actor and deputy director of Mei Lanfang Peking Opera Company, who first suggested doing a crowdfunded performance.
This is not the first crowdfunding of Peking Opera in China. Earlier this year, Ling Ke and Wang Peiyutwo young Peking Opera performerseach launched crowdfunding projects. The older generation of artists like Meng and Zhao were unaware of how crowdfunding works.
"It is the first time that I have heard the idea of crowdfunding," says Zhao. "But it sounds interesting."
Li says: "It is really meaningful. This event attracted so many young people via social media to notice that people involved in Peking Opera are doing something.
In China, Peking Opera is often regarded as "the art form of old people".
After decades in the kitchen, top chef Ken Hom is ready to share his story. Provided to China Daily
Chinese food recently overtook Indian food as the United Kingdoms preferred ethnic cuisine, and few individuals have been as instrumental in overseeing this rise in popularity as Ken Hom.
One of the original TV celebrity chefs, Hom is a household name in the UK, a country he has educated about Chinese food over the last four decades via his numerous books and cooking shows.
Hom has written more than 30 recipe books, but until now his personal story has largely gone untold. Homs recently launched autobiography, My Stir-Fried Life, tracks the difficult development of a famously congenial man, from a penniless childhood in Chicagos Chinatown to being awarded an Order of the British Empire by the queen in 2009.
Its a Chinese story, Hom said from the bar at The Dorchester in Central London. I think people in China will love this story because its a bit of a reflection of contemporary China rising from poverty to where China is today, a world economic power, and how fast that has happened, its been amazing.
Hom said his Chinese heritage has been a welcome thread of consistency through a life lived across several countries.
Leaving Chicago as youngster, Hom ran Chinese cookery tutorials in San Francisco, before landing a dream role in the UK at the BBC with the hugely popular Ken Homs Chinese Cookery series. Hom, 67, now resides in semiretirement in southern France.
I feel Chinese and British more than, say, Chinese-American, Hom said. From the beginning Ive always felt more accepted here. America has a whole host of problems integrating various ethnic minorities. When I go around this country, Im convinced that theyve done a better job at it.
Hom lived in the US during a particularly divisive and difficult time for a Chinese-American, as anti-Asian sentiment heightened in some communities during and after the Vietnam War. Hom said the cookery lessons he gave at a culinary school in San Francisco offered him the chance to teach people the values and traditions of Chinese culture.
And Im proud to be Chinese, Hom said. My heritage made me what I am. Its my Chinese values, the way I was brought up. And Im happy I am able to use my cooking to spread understanding of what were about.
Personally, Hom felt truly at home for the first time when he traveled to Hong Kong in the 1980s, where he could speak Cantonese, the language of his childhood, outside the bubble of foreign Chinatowns.
I cant tell you that feeling to be in a place where people not only speak a language that you understand I didnt speak English until I was six but they all look like you, Hom said, his characterful face warming with the memory. All of a sudden I was no longer an alien, which is a sensation I had never experienced. There was this kind of resurgence in pride I had, of not only being Chinese but being Cantonese. Its that kind of feeling, Oh my God, Im home! Even though we were in Chinatown in the States, we were a small island in a sea of non-Chinese.
Hom said that, professionally, he has been happy to see not only Chinese food but the work of chefs fall increasingly under the spotlight in the UK.
Cooking was not really a desirable career when I started out. Now, you cant turn TV chefs off; youre inundated. Its glamorous now. And you see this shift that young people want to become chefs, which was unheard of, he said.
The upshot of the whole thing is that the British people have become more sophisticated about Chinese food.
And he said Brits are now demanding more authentic Chinese food and moving away from the sweet-and-sour stereotype.
More and more ingredients are available. If you go to some of the emporiums here, they are incredible, he said. So, the opportunities are enormous. People are still hungry for it, and ready to take Chinese food to the next level.
Aerial photo taken on Dec 23 shows the nigth view of Lhasa during the Butter Lamp Festival. Photos by PUBU TASHI / XINHUA
Tibetans lit butter lamps and prayed through the night in an annual festival commemorating Tsong Khapa, a master of Tibetan Buddhism, on Friday. At 4 pm, monks gathered for prayers at the Jokhang Temple in the heart of Lhasa, capital of Southwest Chinas Tibet autonomous region.
Thousands of pilgrims and believers gathered around the temple to join the prayers.
More than 8,000 butter lamps were lit on top of the temple building, in prayer halls and in monks residences.
Ganden Atsok is celebrated on the 25th day of the 10th month according to the Tibetan calendar. Tsong Khapa, the founder of the Gelupga, the yellow sect of Tibetan Buddhism, died on that day in 1419.
Monks chant sutras in his praise. Believers pray for happiness and good health.
Yangdron, a Lhasa resident, lit 108 lamps at her home. I started to melt the butter two days before the festival. It is an important day, she said.
Last Friday, similar ceremonies were held in monasteries at Sera and Zhaibung, also in Lhasa.
ATHENS - Greek government pledged on Wednesday to improve living conditions for refugees stranded in the debt-ridden country in 2017.
During a press briefing in Athens, Migration Minister Yannis Mouzalas elaborated on the progress achieved in recent months and the plans for the new year regarding the management of the refugee crisis.
The Greek official acknowledged shortages and mistakes and underlined the solidarity Greek society has demonstrated to the more than one million people who fled war and poverty and landed on Greek shores since 2015.
Mouzalas promised efforts from the Greek side to provide more aid to the 62,000 refugees and migrants trapped in Greece after the closure of the Balkan route to central Europe last winter, urging other European countries to offer more support and share the burden with the countries at the frontline of the crisis.
With a few exceptions, most refugees and migrants will spend this winter in decent accommodation centers with heated containers, prefabricated houses or hotel rooms and apartments under a UNHCR program, he stressed.
Last winter, thousands of people stayed in tents in makeshift camps or organized facilities with no sufficient food or medical care.
Currently the refugees and migrants are accommodated in 36 organized sites nationwide with average capacity of 600-900, the minister noted, recognizing that the situation remains difficult for those trapped on the northern Aegean Sea islands in overcrowded hot spots.
Under the European Union-Turkey agreement reached in March to stem the refugee influx, all new arrivals remain on the islands until the asylum bids are assessed. Those who were not eligible for asylum were returned to Turkey.
Although the number of arrivals has dramatically declined in recent months compared to 2015, due to delays in the asylum procedures, the hotspots on Lesvos, Chios and other islands are currently hosting 15,500 people, almost doubling their capacity.
Mouzalas promised on Wednesday that in early 2017 the understaffed Asylum Service will be strengthened and new small detention centers will be created on the islands to decongest the existing facilities and ease tensions in the hotspots.
In addition, in springtime the Greek government plans to replace the free meals offered to refugees with a 400 euros ($415.65) per family monthly allowance. Electronic identification cards will be issued for all migrants and refugees living in Greece, the minister announced.
Speaking to reporters, the Greek official put emphasis on the issue of the unaccompanied minors, vowing more hard work to create more special facilities for this vulnerable group of refugees and migrants and tackle the challenge.
Out of the some 20,000 underage refugees and migrants currently stranded in Greece, approximately 2,200 minors are unaccompanied. Due to the lack of adequate special facilities in several cases, they are accommodated in closed areas within hot spots or in police custody for their own protection.
"The facilities for unaccompanied minors are special facilities. There should be 20-30 minors hosted in each one. They receive special support. Old tools are insufficient. We are trying to create new tools, such as the safe zones inside the existing camps," Mouzalas said.
"We believe that as long as the EU-Turkey agreement is still valid by Easter time, perhaps a little later, we will have addressed also this issue of the unaccompanied minors in Greece," the minister said, reiterating Athens' commitment to the deal.
Beijing has denounced as "greatly ironic" the Japanese defense chief's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which came shortly after she returned from accompanying Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his visit to Pearl Harbor.
"This not only reflects some Japanese people's obstinately wrong view of history, it is also greatly ironic given the Pearl Harbor reconciliation trip," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday at a regular news conference.
Hua was asked about Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada's visit on Thursday to the shrine, which honors Japan's 2.5 million dead during World War II as well as 14 Class-A war criminals convicted of plotting and carrying out the war. She said that Beijing would lodge a protest with Tokyo.
The visit came right after Inada returned from the trip with Abe to Hawaii. The two joined US President Barack Obama on Tuesday for the first visit by a Japanese leader and a US president to Hawaii's Pearl Harbor, to commemorate the victims of the Japanese attack in 1941.
The Chinese Defense Ministry also voiced "strong dissatisfaction and opposition" to the shrine visit on Thursday.
"I also want to add that Prime Minister Abe's speech in Hawaii bore no sense of guilt but publicly called Japanese military officers 'brave', " spokesman Yang Yujun said at the ministrys regular news briefing.
During the Pearl Harbor visit, Abe did not apologize for wartime acts, but just conceded that Japan must never repeat the horrors of war again. Yang said, Peace-loving people around the world should be very alert for such remarks and actions.
South Korea's foreign and defense ministries also deplored Inada's visit, summoning Tokyo's diplomats in Seoul on Thursday.
Zhou Yongsheng, a professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University, said Inada's visit to the shrine right after she returned to Japan is "apparently a deliberate plan" to clarify the Japanese government's real attitude toward history.
"Abe apparently was putting on a show in Pearl Harbor for practical reasons and hiding Japan's own strategic purposes," he said, adding it is an embarrassment for Obama.
Wang Dong, a researcher of Northeast Asian studies at Peking University, said that although Inada's visit came one day after that of Japan's disaster reconstruction minister, it can be considered more serious given her position.
"After the Pearl Harbor tour, Abe is using the defense chief's shrine visit to respond to right-wing forces," he said. "The US has stepped back again and again on the issue of Japan's history, eyeing collaboration with Japan to counterbalance China. Such an attitude is sowing uncertainty in East Asia."
Contact the writers at li-xiaokun@chinadaily.com.cn
A public school district in Oregon will consider adding a Mandarin immersion program next year to its existing offerings in French, Japanese and Spanish.
Officials in the Eugene School District unveiled plans for Mandarin instruction - that would begin at the elementary school level and eventually expand to the high schools - at a school board meeting earlier this month.
"The school district has a long and proud tradition of offering language immersion programs for students," Charis McGaughy, the district's assistant superintendent for instruction, said. "The addition of Mandarin Chinese would strengthen the district's commitment to creating productive global citizens. The ability to be bilingual in Mandarin Chinese and English, in particular, will enable our students innumerable opportunities."
The goal of the Eugene district's immersion program is to produce students who are bilingual - in the immersion language and English. Eugene, located about two hours south of Portland, has a population of nearly 160,000 and is home to the University of Oregon.
"The proposed program will begin with a kindergarten and first grade classroom with about 30 students in each. The district will then add one grade per year, until a full kindergarten-through-grade-12 program is established. Depending on future interest, the district could expand the program by adding another class at each grade level," said McGaughy.
According to a report in the Register-Guard, start-up costs for the Mandarin program will be about $221,000 in the 2017-18 school year, mostly for salaries. The district plans to recruit University of Oregon and other state college graduates for the program.
"We hope to be able to hire locally. We are fortunate to have a university in our community, and several others around the state of Oregon, to be able to attract strong and qualified teaching candidates," McGaughy said.
She said there are 76 students in the Eugene district whose home language is either Mandarin or Cantonese.
McGaughy said the Chinese community in Eugene has been supportive of the Mandarin proposal. "They have been the biggest advocates for this immersion program. We look forward to a strong partnership with the community to offer culturally rich experiences for our students," she said.
The school board is expected to consider the Mandarin proposal in 2017.
paulwelitzkin@chinadailyusa.com
Mike Smith thinks Australia has been slow in engaging Asia. Provided to China Daily
In the course of a banking career spanning three decades, Mike Smith has never been one to mince his words. Thus he makes no apologies for his views on Australia and its place in Asia.
Asia is our future. Its that simple, the former CEO of Australia and New Zealand Banking Group (ANZ) said.
Smith, 60, stepped down as CEO in late 2015 after eight years of positioning the bank to capitalize on Asias enormous growth. He is now senior adviser with professional services group PwCs Asia practice as he helps expand its role in the region.
Smith is credited with giving ANZ a presence in Asia when other banks were pulling back. Whenever his decisions were criticized, he countered: We are looking at the long term not the short term.
Growth in Asia may be slowing but it will continue to grow, he said.
One of the worlds most respected bankers, Smith spent much of his career with the HSBC Group, which took him all over the world. He has a strong affinity with Asia and especially Hong Kong, where he was head of commercial banking for HSBC.
Asias very special, he said from his office in Melbourne, the city that is now his home.
Flying into Hong Kong is like an adrenaline shot in the arm. The place is efficient and it works. It still has that can do attitude rather than the cynical attitude we have in the political and media cycle here (in Australia).
Born in Derbyshire, in the East Midlands of England, Smith spent his formative years boarding at the countrys prestigious Cheltenham College.
My father was a computer guy with IBM. So they were constantly moving around, living an expat lifestyle, and kids like me went to boarding school.
Despite the lifestyle, Smith did not see himself following in his fathers footsteps at a technology firm.
As for banking, Smith said, it didnt enter my mind. I saw myself in the Royal Navy. I liked the idea of that swashbuckling lifestyle when growing up.
Smiths introduction to the banking world came while visiting his parents, who were then based in Nairobi, Kenya.
My parents took me to cocktail parties and dinners, the sort of thing you did as an expat. I soon realized that the best houses were occupied by bankers. I thought to myself this cant be too bad a job.
Smith also wanted to get out of England, so he applied to as many major international banks as he could.
Most of them were American, but the first letter I got back offering me something was from HSBC.
Smith excelled at the bank, climbing the corporate ladder quickly and even took a bullet when he was head of HSBC in Argentina from 1997 to 2003.
The bank we took over at the time had some problems and we uncovered quite a bit of corruption, he said.
Smith said he must have upset a few people as someone tried to have him kidnapped and, in the confusion, he was shot.
That experience, however, did not deter Smith. He stayed on for another three years before moving to Hong Kong in 2004 to become president and CEO at HSBC.
The economic collapse of Argentina (2001-02) was a remarkable experience to live through, he said.
In October 2007, he was lured to ANZ one of Australias big four banks and among the top 15 global financial institutions.
Smith was reluctant at first to leave HSBC, but he knew when the time was right, he noted.
You could see the storm clouds of the global financial crisis gathering and it looked like a good time to move on.
ANZ announced in November 2016 that full-year profit had dropped 24 percent to A$5.7 billion ($4.2 billion), hit by nearly A$1.1 billion in write-downs. Still, it is among the most profitable banks in the world with a presence in 33 countries and staff of 47,000.
Although he officially stepped down as the head of ANZ, Smith still holds an advisory role at the banks Melbourne headquarters.
He now has more time for himself, family and great loves: wine and classic British cars.
He also has time to reflect on the things he is passionate about Australia, its role in Asia and its relationship with China.
He feels the recent United States presidential polls have thrown up an added dimension with the election of Donald Trump. Its going to be a fascinating four years, he said.
How it is going to work out is anyones guess, but if we look at what people in his new administration have said, what the man himself has said, they have not joined the dots.
I mean its policy on the fly, Smith said.
The push for infrastructure is a good example and a commendable one. But, it is going to need a great deal of investment and the money is going to have to come from somewhere probably the public sector initially.
How does the government raise money? It has to borrow. And who is the biggest purchaser of US government securities? China. And the US cannot afford to get China offside by imposing tariffs on imported goods from China, can it?
Trumps proposal to scrap the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade agreement is another example of the president-elect playing to his domestic audience, Smith said.
A lot of jobs have gone from the US. But at the same time 1 billion people in Asia, Africa and South America have been lifted out of poverty, he added.
Walk into Wal-Mart in the US and the cost of products has been reduced significantly in real terms. I cant see the average American who pays a dollar for a pair of socks in Wal-Mart, which are made in Vietnam, paying $14 for a pair made in the US.
Its just not going to happen and the irony of all this is that the TPP favored the US market.
The cancellation of the TPP deal is an opportunity for China to fill the void, he said. In fact, it is a great opportunity for Asia and Australia.
Even though Australia is now his home, Smith is not afraid to speak his mind, especially when it concerns Australia and its future.
Australia missed the financial crisis, he said, but it has been slow in engaging Asia.
You only have to look at our investment in China it is tiny. Many Australian businesses lacked the appetite for risk with regard to investing in China and the region, he said.
It is a short-term view, but trade and investment relationships in Asia just dont happen overnight, they take time.
Smith blames complacency and the fact that anyone under the age of 40 has not seen a recession.
They have not seen what it is like in bad times, he said.
Australia is still very dependent on inward capital flow. With a massive landmass like Australia and a small population, the cost of maintaining a balanced economy is very high.
To offset this, Smith observed: Australia must pursue as many trade opportunities as it can, especially in Asia, to reduce those costs.
The US and China have just concluded a month-long joint customs operation that seized over 243,000 counterfeit electronics products. Among those confiscated fake products were items that were supposedly manufactured by Apple Inc, Samsung Electronics, Blackberry, and Dr. Dre.
The action was so far the largest bilateral customs enforcement ever launched by the US. It was also the biggest and most successful collaboration between customs from the two countries. The operations focused on seizing fake goods that are transported to the US from China, which accounts for about 72% of overall seizures that violate intellectual property rights especially of popular technology firms.
The operations concentrated on major points in both countries. In the US, customs operations were conducted in Anchorage, Los Angeles, Newark, and Cincinnati. In mainland China, authorities were able to seize fake items for exportation in the primary ports of Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen, and Guangzhou. Customs officials from both governments did not physically work together. Instead, they operated based on shared tips and information.
US-China customs operations
Within a month, the operation led to just a single arrest. It involved an American citizen from New Orleans who ordered counterfeit Dr. Dre headphones from China and sold them online through Craigslist. He was arrested after Chinese customs alerted US customs authorities about his transactions.
The US takes this successful effort as a sign that the Chinese government is finally addressing complaints over intellectual property violations of several Chinese manufacturers. Not known to many, the two countries have reached agreements after high-level discussions over the problem. The US has been particularly bothered by the increasing volume of fake goods that are imported from China.
According to the US Customs and Border Protection, cross-border initiatives should be initiated to fight intellectual property theft on a global scale. It reminded consumers to refrain from patronizing counterfeit products to protect not just their interest but also the interest of legal businesses that take measures to develop and distribute high-quality items.
Pirated goods in the US
In a recent report released by the Commission on the Theft of American Intellectual Property, intellectual property theft costs affected US companies a total of $320 billion every year. That is equivalent to the overall value of US exports to the entire Asia in an annual basis.
Before the US-China joint action, the biggest bilateral operations by the US was the action with Frances customs agency. Within a six-month period, both US and French officials seized 470 fake electronic components like computer storage devices, memory cards, and semiconductors.
The US Department of Justice is pushing for an odd and interesting punishment for Apple Inc after a federal court decided in July that the company was guilty in conspiring to increase e-books tag prices. According to the agency, Apple should instead allow Amazon.com and Barnes & Nobles to resume selling e-books on iOS devices again.
The DOJ thinks it would be fair for Apples rivals to be allowed again to provide links to their respective e-bookstores in their e-reader apps. Since 2011, Apple has prohibited its rivals to include their links to e-book shop. The Justice Department believes that by doing so, consumers could easily compare prices of e-books in Apple Store and in other e-bookstores like those from Amazon and Barnes & Nobles. It is expected to reset competition so it could revert back to conditions prior to the conspiracy in the industry.
Apple stirred controversy among e-book buyers when it mandated a 30% cut in sales of apps. To ensure that commission system would happen, the company barred the display of shop links that redirect users to other online stores other than that owned and controlled by Apple.
Victory for competitors
If the court would agree with this proposal, booksellers would score a victory when their shop links are restored in iOS apps. It would also benefit more e-book buyers, especially students who opt such digital book versions because of their very limited financial resources.
As expected, Apple would not give up the fight. The company has announced plans to appeal that court decision. It would also oppose DOJs proposed punishment, describing it as overboard, unnecessary, vague, and punitive.
Cleaning up the system
That proposal was just one of many options submitted by the DOJ and several state attorneys general to the court. Their goal is to avoid possible recurrence of those illegal activities. At the same time, they asked Apple to terminate its current contracts with its co-conspirators like Simon 7 Schuster, Penguin Group, Hachette Book Group, and HarperCollins.
It is expected that if the court gives in to the DOJs proposal, Apple would be forced to avoid entering into agreements that would compromise competition. Interestingly, the DOJ is also proposing to assign an external monitor, which would ensure that all companies would comply with new mandates. The hearing for the proposals is expected on August 9 (Friday).
While recent news has been focused on the recent trend of children coming across the U.S. border from Mexico and the steps the government is taking, another problem appears to be cropping up, the possibility of infectious diseases spreading.
Channel 15 ABC in Arizona is reporting that border patrol agents are now sounding the alarm that with illegal aliens, being shipped to the state and other states, the potential for a viral outbreak has increased significantly.
We are sending people everywhere. The average person doesnt know whats going on down here, Border Patrol agent and Rio Grande Valley Union representative Chris Cabrera told channel 15.
According to Cabrera, in the detention facilities the only thing separating the sick from the healthy is caution tape.
Theres been an outbreak of scabies thats been going on for the past month, Cabrera said.
Another healthcare concern is that many illegal immigrants have not had the vaccinations that Americans have long received and have the strong possibility of bringing drug-resistant strains of diseases that have long since been eradicated, such as tuberculosis, with them.
Tuberculosis is a bacterial infection that generally attacks the lungs, although it can attack any part of the body. The disease is easily spread when an infected individual coughs, sneezes, or even talks in the presence of another person. If not properly treated the disease can be fatal.
The disease has been around since ancient times, and Tuberculosis was once the leading cost of death in America. Among the diseases victims was the legendary Doc Holiday who died in a tuberculosis ward in Colorado Springs.
In the 20th century, antibiotics were developed which resulted in the disease being virtually eradicated in America in the 1960s. However, in recent years the disease has been making a comeback with new strains that are resistant to most antibiotics.
Last year, Los Angeles suffered from a persistent strain of tuberculosis that may have been exposed to over 4,500 people. Police officers were advised to wear protective masks while dealing with members of the public who may have been exposed to the disease.
Besides California and Florida, the states with the greatest number of multi-drug resistant TB are Texas and New York. All of these states have large numbers of illegal aliens within their borders. Florida was recently ranked as having the third largest illegal alien population by the Department of Homeland Security. Many of the illegals in Florida come from the Caribbean and other countries in the Southern hemisphere. Some of these countries have widespread problems with tuberculosis.
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Children in extremely difficulty-hit areas enjoy meals free of charge in Tinh Nghiem semi-boarding kindergarten__Photo: Nam Thai/VNA
A motorbike assembly line of Japan-invested Vietnam Suzuki Corp (Visuco) in Loteco industrial park (Dong Nai province)__Photo: Danh Lam/VNA
NA deputies press buttons to adopt a resolution on pilot grant of e-visas for foreigners__Photo: Nguyen Dan/VNA
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(Selected by VLLF)Enacted on April 5, this Law stipulates childrens rights and duties, principles and measures to guarantee the exercise of childrens rights, and responsibilities of agencies, organizations, educational institutions, families and individuals for exercise of childrens rights and duties. The Law also regulates foreign children residing in Vietnam.This Law takes effect on June 1, 2017, and replaces the 2004 Law on Child Protection, Care and Education.Passed on April 6, and effective on July 1, 2018, this Law provides the exercise of citizens right of access to information, principles, order and procedures for the exercise of this right, and responsibilities and obligations of state agencies in guaranteeing this right.Particularly, foreigners residing in Vietnam may request the provision of information directly relating to their rights and obligations according to the order and procedures provided in Chapter III of this Law.This Law, dated April 6, 2016, prescribes dutiable objects, duty payers, duty bases, tariffs, anti-dumping duty, anti-subsidy duty and safeguard duty applicable to imports and exports; and import duty and export duty exemption, reduction and refund.Under the Law, investment projects will be eligible for import duty or export duty incentives they currently enjoy or incentive levels prescribed in this Law, whichever is higher.This Law also applies to raw materials, supplies and components which are imported for export production but not yet exported and to goods which are temporarily imported for re-export but not yet re-exported under customs declarations registered with customs offices before the effective date of this Law and for which duty has not been paid.This Law takes effect on September 1, 2016, and supersedes the 2005 Law on Import Duty and Export Duty.This Law, adopted on November 18, will come into force on January 1, 2018, and replace the 2004 Ordinance on Belief and Religion.The Law prohibits all discriminations for religion or belief reasons; acts of forcing, buying off or hindering others from following or not following any religion and belief; and acts of carrying out religious and belief activities that infringe upon national defense, security and sovereignty, social order and safety or environment, or harm social ethics or hurt other persons honor and dignity.Particularly, foreigners lawfully residing in Vietnam will have their freedom to belief and religion respected and protected by the Vietnamese State. They may carry out and participate in belief and religion activities and use designated places for carrying out these activities in Vietnam.Dignitaries and priests being foreigners lawfully residing in Vietnam may conduct rituals and preaching in religious institutions or other designated places in Vietnam.Dated April 12, 2016, this Resolution, which touches on the 2016-20 five-year socio-economic development plan, indicates five major tasks for restructuring the economy, including (i) restructuring public investment, state enterprises and credit institutions; (ii) restructuring the state budget and public sector; (iii) boosting the domestic private economic sector and attracting foreign direct investment; (iv) modernizing the planning work and restructuring sectors and economic zones toward increasing productivity, quality and effectiveness in line with the acceleration of international economic integration; and (v) establishing and developing financial, land use rights, labor, and science and technology markets.This Resolution, approved on May 16, provides supports for enterprises with a view to creating the most favorable business climate through 2020.Under the Resolution , related ministries, sectors and agencies are assigned to implement solutions concerning administrative reform, support for startups and innovative and creative enterprises; guarantee of enterprises business right and access to resources and business opportunities; cutting of expenses for enterprises; and non-criminalization of economic and civil relations.The Resolution affirms that the State will guarantee equality for all businesses, regardless of their types or economic sectors, in accessing capital, natural resources, land and business opportunities.Adopted on November 22, this Resolution stipulates the grant of e-visas for foreigners entering Vietnam. The grant will be made online on a pilot basis for two years, starting from February 1, 2017. An e-visa will be valid for single entry for a period not exceeding 30 days.The pilot grant of e-visas will apply to citizens of countries that have diplomatic ties with Vietnam or when the grant complies with Vietnams socio-economic development and external relation policies in each period and does not harm national defense, security and social order and safety of the country.The Government will decide on a list of countries whose citizens will be eligible for e-visas on a pilot basis and a list of border gates where foreigners will be able to enter Vietnam with e-visas. Foreigners who apply for conventional visas (other than e-visas) must comply with the Law on Foreigners Entry into, Exit from, Transit through and Residence in Vietnam and relevant treaties of which Vietnam is a member.This Decree, issued on January 25, details the Commercial Law regarding Vietnam-based representative offices and branches of foreign traders.Effective on March 10, 2016, the Decree allows foreign traders to set up their representative offices and branches in Vietnam according to the countrys international commitments. However, a foreign trader may not have more than one representative office or branch bearing the same name within a province or centrally run city.On July 5, 2016, the Ministry of Industry and Trade introduced Circular No. 11 prescribing the forms to implement this Decree, which applies from August 20, 2016.Dated February 3, 2016, this Decree details a number of articles of the Labor Code regarding foreign workers in Vietnam, such as grant of work permits to foreign citizens who work in Vietnam and expulsion of foreign citizens who work in Vietnam without a work permit.This Decree takes effect on April 1, 2016, and replaces Decree No. 102 of 2013, and Point a, Section 4 of Government Resolution No. 47/NQ-CP of July 8, 2014.Under this Decree, such papers as written approval of employment of foreign workers, written certification of foreign workers eligibility for exemption from work permit, and work permits granted under Decree No. 102 remain valid until they expire. Cases in which an employer submitted a report explaining his/her/its demand for foreign workers and a dossier of application for grant or request for re-grant of a work permit or for certification of foreign workers eligibility for exemption from work permit before the effective date of this Decree must comply with Decree No. 102.The Ministry of Labor, War Invalids and Social Affairs on October 25, 2016, issued Circular No. 40 to guide the grant of work permits under this Decree.This Decree, dated March 16, 2016, provides the management and use of official development assistance (ODA) and concessional loans of foreign donors, including foreign governments, international organizations, inter-governmental organizations, and governmental organizations authorized by foreign governments to provide ODA or concessional loans to the State or Government of the Socialist Republic of Vietnam.This Decree takes effect on May 2, 2016, and replaces Government Decree No. 38/2013/ND-CP of April 23, 2013. Programs and projects approved by competent authorities before this Decree takes effect continue to be carried out in accordance with Decree No. 38.-
Bo Xuan Hiep
Foreign investors looking for an investment destination in Viet Nam would make a mistake if they did not consider the Mekong Delta in southern Viet Nam.
Many investors lack information about the region and are unaware that the Delta is the third-largest industrial region in the country after the metropolitan areas of HCM City and Ha Noi.
In recent years, many provinces have greatly improved their investment climate, partly due to substantial investments in transport infrastructure, which has increased access to the region.
Travel time from HCM City to Can Tho, the major hub in the delta, is now three hours from six hours in 2010.
The Mekong Delta is the largest agricultural hub, accounting for 40 per cent of national agricultural production.
Truong Quang Hoai Nam, vice chairman of Can Tho Peoples Committee, said the Mekong Delta supplies more than 90 per cent of the nations rice and 50 per cent of seafood, as well as other agro-forestry-fishery exports.
Rice is a major product with an output of 25.2 million tonnes a year. The region exports more than 6.5 million tonnes of rice every year.
Aquaculture output is 3.62 million tonnes a year, or 57 per cent of national production, while shrimp exports reached US$3 billion and catfish $1.7 billion a year.
Fruit cultivation covers an area of more than 300,000 ha, year-round production of mango, coconut, dragon fruit, mangosteen, durian and longan.
The region has a fairly mild climate of an average of 27 Celsius, with a rainy season from May to October and a dry season from December to April.
In addition, the region has an abundant network of rivers and canals with many islets or orchards.
Despite its advantages, the Mekong Delta has only 6 per cent of the countrys FDI projects and 5 per cent of all registered capital.
The region is currently calling for investment in 50 projects in agriculture, with a projected total investment of $1.385 billion, according to VCCI Can Tho.
As of last year, FDI in the Delta had reached 13 per cent of the countrys total FDI, a sharp rise from the 5 per cent figure recorded for many years, according to the agency.
For the first nine months of the year, FDI reached $1.67 billion, accounting for 10.2 per cent of the countrys total FDI.
As of October, the region had attracted 50 agricultural projects with total registered capital of $209.64 million.
Hong Kong is the biggest investor with five projects worth $67.93 million, followed by Taiwan with nine projects worth $41.98 million, Japan with five projects worth $30.02 million, and Australia with seven projects worth $19.85 million.
Two American projects are worth $11.96 million and one Israeli project worth $5.2 million.
Rice is harvested and packed in Cho Moi District in the Mekong Delta Province of An Giang. VNS Photo Trong at
Investment prospects
FDI in the Delta is now increasing at more than double the countrys national average, and is flowing toward a diverse range of projects, according to VCCI Can Tho.
The number of FDI projects in the region has increased by 73 per cent since 2010, driving FDI investment growth by nearly 20 per cent per year.
With a population of more than 17 million, the Delta has more residents than neighbouring countries like Cambodia or Laos, which can enhance purchasing power.
Moreover, labour costs in the Delta region are the lowest in the country.
Half of the regions 10 million workers are employed in the agricultural sector, so there is potential to source labour for new factories and service centres.
The area is moving from quantity to quality in both agriculture and aquaculture, which has significantly increased demand for higher quality input materials, including agricultural equipment, seeds, fertilisers and pesticides.
Philipp Angst, managing director of Swiss Post Solutions Viet Nam Ltd Com, said With a total workforce of more than 10 million, the delta has large, widely untapped labour resources. Half of the workers are occupied in the low-paying agricultural sector. This holds tremendous potential for labour-intensive industries.
FDI in the region is also becoming more diverse and flexible, and is expected to drive growth across a greater range of sectors, said Vo Hung Dung, director of VCCI Can Tho.
Takimoto Koji, chief representative of the Japan External Trade Organisation (JETRO), said the delta, with a location between Hong Kong and Singapore, has great potential to become a logistics centre in Asia.
The region has not had enough foreign investment, but it has become more attractive to Japanese companies for its fertile land, low labour costs, improved transport infrastructure and well-developed industrial zones, Koji said.
Most provinces in the region are ranked highly on the Viet Nam Provincial Competitiveness Index (PCI), which is conducted regularly by VCCI and the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Three provinces, ong Thap, Long An and Kien Giang, have managed a top 10 ranking on the PCI.
In addition, the Government has offered incentives for foreign investors in preferred sectors and geographic areas.
The incentives include reduced corporate income tax rates, tax holidays, special enterprise zones, favourable permitting and licensing procedures, exemption from land rent, and other policies that reduce costs and complexities for foreign investors.
In the next 10 years, the regions economy is expected to achieve a high growth rate, supported by rapid improvement of transport and electronics as well as low labour costs and an abundant food supply.
A booth at an agriculture investment conference held recently in Can Tho showcases Japanese snacks and cakes made of Vietnamese flour. VNS Photo Bo Xuan Hiep
Challenges
Though it has potential, the Mekong Delta has limited options for heavy industry. Much of the region is alluvial land with sandy soil not suited for heavy industry.
Many provinces can only handle light manufacturing, and global warming risks might exacerbate this challenge.
Though most of the region is well-connected to HCM City and other areas in Asia, some provinces still lack strong transport links.
Besides, the port system remains weak, especially for container handling and large vessels.
Another issue is the shortage of skilled labour, particularly well-trained technicians and managers, who are hard to find in the region.
Climate risks pose another challenge. With an average elevation of one metre above sea level, the region is susceptible to rising sea levels and other risks from global warming.
Among other disadvantages, support services in the region are still weak.
Because the region is in the beginning stage of industrialisation, only a few local suppliers and service providers for industries other than agriculture and aquaculture are operating.
Rice harvest in An Giang Province. Mekong Delta plans to improve the rate of mechanisation in agriculture to enhance productivity and competitiveness. VNS Photo Manh Linh
High-tech agriculture
Speaking at a recent conference in Can Tho, Vo Hung Dung, director of VCCI Can Tho, said the delta region had great demand for high-tech technologies for agriculture.
Dung, however, said the use of advanced technologies in agricultural production and processing to add value was still limited.
Besides, the rate of mechanisation in agriculture remains modest and is only 65 per cent for rice harvesting.
These factors have resulted in low productivity, value addition and competitiveness, Dung said.
Every year, rice farmers in the region have incurred a loss of more than VN3.2 trillion ($143.32 million) during post-harvest due to a low rate of mechanisation, according to the Mekong Delta Rice Research Institute.
The Delta has set a goal of modern agriculture practices, including a large volume of high-quality products, with 3.5 per cent growth per year, ensuring national food security in the short and long term.
Tu Minh Thien, head of the management authority for the HCM City High-Tech Agriculture Area, said the region would emphasise the use of high technology in businesses and cultivation areas.
In the next five years, the production value of high-tech agriculture would account for 30-35 per cent of total agricultural production.
Thien said it was necessary to establish high-tech agricultural zones, which would play a crucial role in sustainable development.
He also emphasised connectivity between bio-technology centres and high-tech agricultural zones, and improving the training of human resources in high-tech agriculture.
Policies for businesses to invest in high-tech agriculture and a high-tech agricultural forum where technical issues and market initiatives can be discussed are also needed in the Mekong Delta, Thien said. VNS
HA NOI Eight startups received awards in five categories at the 2016 Start-up Festival in Ha Noi yesterday. The categories were Startup of the Year; Womens Startup, Bluebird IT Startup, Potential Startup and Most Favoured Startup.
The event, which is held for the first time by Viet Nam Televisions VTV6, the Viet Nam Climate Innovation Centre (VCIC), Topica Founder Institute and Bluebirds JSC, is the biggest event for the startup community this year.
The festival attracted about 1,000 startups.
With 53 per cent of voting from 200 delegates, DesignBold, a design application, overcame GotIt! (47 per cent) to win the most important award, Startup of the Year award.
We promise to try our best to bring resources from overseas to support Vietnamese startups. Receiving the award is an honour for us but also a responsibility. We set the target to support Vietnamese startups to catch up with other startup ecosystems in the world, said inh Viet Hung, the CEO of DesignBold.
DesignBold is a tool that helps both professional and amateur users design by themselves. It is also the winner of Creative Business Cup Vietnam 2016 and became the Vietnamese representative for the final round at the Creative Business Cup 2016 in Copenhagen, Denmark in November this year.
The Womens Startup Award was given to Vu Nguyet Anh, founder of the dating app Rudicaf. For me, this is an honour as well as a great motivation, but also a pressure to make more efforts in the future, she said.
The Most Favoured prize was given to Le Thong Nhat, a retired teacher, for his BigSchool Viet Nam product. Three startups, namely, 1offfice, Giaohangnhanh and WeFit, won the Potential Startup Award. The prize is a two-week visit to Israel, dubbed the startup nation.
I believe that the spirit of the young generation in Viet Nam will boost the startup ecosystem. In my opinion, it is always better to pursue and try to fulfill your dream than not to try at all, said Yaniv Tessel from Israels Economic and Trade Mission.
In the Bluebird IT Startup category, Mysterious Stone and Suge Dict overcame 200 games and applications to win. They will receive an award of VN50 million and an opportunity to visit the Google offices in Silicon Valley.
In addition, the organisation board gave a prize for the startup event of the year to the event that the startup community proposed for the amendment of the Article 292 under the Penal Code.
Article 292 of the Penal Code adopted by the National Assembly last year stirred up controversy as it was stated that any services offered online or via telecommunication networks without prior permission would be deemed illegal. Fearing that start-up businesses could be harmed, a petition calling for the scrapping of Article 292 was sent to officials, ministers and agencies and collected nearly 6,000 signatures after only one week. VNS
Ha Noi Urban Environment One Member Co yesterday received 12 German-made street sweepers worth more than VND20 billion (US$878,000) to help clean up the streets for the New Year. Photo hanoimoi.com.vn
HA NOI Ha Noi Urban Environment One Member Co yesterday received 12 German-made street sweepers worth more than VND20 billion (US$878,000) to help clean up the streets for the New Year.
Nguyen The Hung, chairman of the citys Peoples Committee, said that the city has piloted to mechanise the cleaning up of streets in four districts of the inner city and obtained good results. Next year the city will expand the model to all districts.
Nguyen Huu Tien, director of the Ha Noi Urban Environment One Member Co, said the company owns 28 Hako City master 1600 street sweepers.
Each sweeper could replace between six to eight workers. Moreover, the vehicles can collect dust and minimise emissions into the environment.
Apart from the street sweepers, the company plans to invest in 100 specialised vehicles to collect the increased rubbish during the New Year and Tet holidays. VNS
HA NOI A roundtable discussion was jointly organised by the Ha Noi Culture Foundation, the Ha Noi Industrial Design College and the Bat Trang Ceramics Guild.
It brought together business owners, ceramic designers and researchers, marketing professionals to look for a new approach for Bat Trang ceramics.
Ha Van Lam, chief of the Peoples Representative board, said that during the economic boom of the 1990s and the 2000s, craftsmen in different kilns in Bat Trang sought every way to get their kiln firing and their potters job going. To judge a ceramic product, according to Lam, one needed to value its design, and the glaze, adding to the five traditional glazes handed down from ancestors, young craftsmen today have found out new attractive glazes.
"Our red glaze has been inspected and certified by Japanese experts as non-toxic for potters and end-users, and it has entered the demanding markets in Japan," he said.
During many export negotiations, Lam said foreign dealers told him, "Bat Trang ceramics are not as competitive in terms of design and price compared to Chinese products, but they still buy from us because we meet a certain demand from their market."
To put it more specifically, founder of Hien Van Ceramics, designer Bui Hoai Mai, said that Bat Trang craftsmen need to work together as members of a guild, where they need to agree upon certain ethics and rules, and respect each others turf.
"We need to understand competition in a more constructive way," he said. "If everyone is fighting to lower the price at the cost of their neighbours, we are all dragging each other downhill. You would need to make clear who is good at refined products, who can produce home appliances, who can provide construction ceramics, and everyone should recommend it to visitors. That way we can develop as a whole."
From a marketers point of view, Nguyen inh Thanh from Elite PR asked more direct questions.
"Could you create a tea cup that holds 800 years of Bat Trang history in it?"
He went further by asking questions about mapping of the two villages, Bat Trang and Giang Cao, so that visitors know where they are. There is no history board/placard with Bat Trangs brief history on it. More importantly, there are no homestay addresses, no cafes nor even public restrooms for visitors. "All of these factors need to be taken into account," he added.
"At the village ceramics market," ceramic designer Mai said, "We see ceramics of all types and styles. A visitor will not be able to tell which product is strictly Bat Trang style."
Out in the ceramic market, it took Lam a few minutes to screen the product shelves to spot a distinctive Bat Trang glaze. VNS
Mai Van Trinh, Director General of the Viet Nam Institute for Agricultural Environment, tells the Nong thon Viet Nam (Viet Nam Rural) Newspaper that the soil in the Red Delta is fast losing its nutrients, and is severely polluted in many areas.
What is the situation regarding arable land in Viet Nam?
Most agriculture soil in Viet Nam used to be in good condition and suitable for many types of crops. Especially in the north region, soil in the Red River delta had a high level of nutrients and alluvium, making it almost perfect for agriculture production.
However, due to many impacts, agriculture soil in both the Red River Delta and in the midlands of the north have been degraded. Land erosion in mountainous areas caused by over-cropping and lack of proper care has become serious.
Besides, the existence of heavy metals like iron and aluminum in the soil is causing the erosion of nutrients in the soil.
More seriously, a large part of agriculture soil in the Red River delta is badly polluted by waste discharge from urban areas, factories and industrial parks. The recovery of such land is going to be extremely hard, thus agriculture production in these areas would be badly affected.
Which are the most polluted areas?
Most of the land located near craft villages, factories and industrial parks and urban areas are heavily polluted. For instance, take the land near craft villages that do metallisation work in Bac Ninh Province, or the suburban areas around Ha Noi like Thanh Tri, Thuong Tin and Quoc Oai districts.
A large area of land along the banks of the To Lich, Nhue and ay rivers is also polluted. The pollution along Nhue River is especially serious because it runs through garment, dyeing and battery factories and craft villages, where waste water is discharged directly to the river without being treated. Research has shown that no marine creatures can survive in this river. On the other hand, the river is an important irrigation source for many provinces.
How exactly does the polluted river impact agriculture production?
In the short term, the impact can be unclear. In fact, crops could grow even better thanks to organic pollution in the river water, which comes from organic waste from slaughterhouse and craft villages making food products.
However, organic pollutants are not as dangerous as inorganic pollutants like heavy metals. Heavy metals can be buried in the soil for years and contaminate crops. If the pollution level is high, consuming the crop can cause food poisoning, not to mention long term sicknesses like cancer.
What is the alternative for agriculture production, or how can we recover the soil that has been polluted?
Once the soil is polluted with chemicals or heavy metals, it cant be recovered. The best thing we can do is to have tight control over waste discharge and waste treatment.
Soil pollution can be caused by pesticides or fertilisers, too, but the most dangerous element is waste discharge from urban areas and industrial areas. A hundred years of pollution from agriculture production would not be as serious as pollution from industrial production of one day. The natural resource and environment management unit should be responsible for this.
The management of river systems that play important role in agriculture production must be very, very tight. Basically, all waste, without exception, has to be treated before being discharged. However, the supervision of such operations is verhy loose and ineffective.
In many countries, authorities have tight control right from the very beginning factories can only discharge wastewater once they are treated and if the treated wastewater meets certain standards. We havent been able to do this in Viet Nam.
The larger picture is that very tight control over waste treatment would not only protect agriculture land, but society as a whole. For the agriculture sector alone, there is an urgent need to have an evaluation programme on the vulnerability caused by soil pollution. And we also need to have strong measures to protect arable land in the long run.--VNS
In HCM City, Electricity of Viet Nam plans to accept bill payments only through banks and other modern platforms starting at the end of next year, putting an end to its conventional home collection service. Photo viettimes.net.vn
HCM CITY In HCM City, Electricity of Viet Nam plans to accept bill payments only through banks and other modern platforms starting at the end of next year, putting an end to its conventional home collection service.
Speaking about the utilitys achievements and plans at a conference on Tuesday, standing deputy secretary of the EVN HCM City Party unit, Cao Nguyet Anh, said 57 per cent of consumers are already paying electronically.
People are becoming increasingly familiar with such payment modes and so EVN would stop collection of bills at home at the end of 2017, she said.
The company produced 21.9 billion kWh of electricity this year, up 8.5 per cent year-on-year, she said.
It has begun to supply power to Thien Lieng Island in HCM Citys Can Gio District and ensured fixed tariffs for nearly 1.4 million poor workers and students in the city, she said.
Around 50 projects to bury power cables underground would be completed in 2017, with work on 34 having already begun, she said.
Deputy secretary of the city Party Committee, Nguyen Thi Quyet Tam, hailed EVNs effort to make the city a convenient, modern place to live in.
It needs to continue playing its part in developing the city, carrying out frequent inspections and offering its services to more people, she said. VNS
A NANG The central city of a Nang started construction yesterday of a tunnel at the junction of ien Bien Phu, Nguyen Tri Phuong and Le o streets, one of the busiest roundabouts in the city.
It will be the second such road project after a tunnel at the West Han River bank traffic intersection commenced construction in October.
The road tunnel project, which is included in the World Bank-funded sustainable development project with a total investment of VN220 billion (US$9.77 million), will replace the current ground-level intersection by a system of 160m-long open air tunnels and 80m underground tunnels. There will be two lanes for Bus Rapid Transit along with another two lanes.
An excavator starts digging for a road tunnel construction project at the junction of ien Bien Phu, Nguyen Tri Phuong and Le o, one of the busiest roundabouts, in a Nang. VNS Photo Cong Thanh
The project, which covers 48,000sq.m, will help ease traffic jams, while not destroying urban structures or incurring the cost of land clearance.
"Its one of the key projects of the citys sustainable development in promoting public transport and a Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) network. The road tunnel project will offer smooth transport with a multi-level road intersection, and will not require land clearance and resettlement," Mai inh Khanh from the citys transport department told Viet Nam News at the ground-breaking ceremony.
He said the project would ease congestion and reduce the pollution of rapid urbanisation and would encourage a higher use of public transport for daily commutes.
Nguyen Huu Tuan, deputy general director of Thuan An construction and trading joint-stock company, a contractor of the project, said the tunnel will be completed next October before the 2017 APEC (Asia-Pacific Economic Co-operation) Summit in a Nang.
We plan to speed up construction of the project before hosting APEC. The tunnel will be used during the biggest event which will be held in the city next year, Tuan said.
An overview of ien Bien Phu, Nguyen Tri Phuong and Le o intersection, one of the busiest roundabouts in a Nang. VNS Photo Cong Thanh
With a population of one million, a Nangs current public transit system is not meeting the needs of local residents with only 1 per cent of the 2.5 million daily journeys made by public transport.
The city also plans to build a metro, tramway, underground and sky train between 2020 and 2030.
In October, the city began construction the VN137.5-billion ($6.11 million) road tunnel at the intersection of Le Duan and Tran Phu streets.
a Nang, the third largest city in Viet Nam, has invested a lot in urban development to make it the largest city in the central region and a green city by 2025, with funds from the World Bank.
In 2013, the World Bank agreed to provide $202 million for a $272 million sustainable development project to help build the citys Bus Rapid Transit network, build new roads and revamp the drainage system.
The bank also funded a five-year priority infrastructure project for the city, by covering 70 per cent of the total investment of $218.4 million.
Last year, the city put into operation a three-level rail and road flyover at Hue Junction to alleviate congestion. VNS
HA NOI More than 200 leaders of news agencies, journalist associations, journalism training institutes, as well as scientists and journalists from across the country gathered in Ha Noi yesterday at a conference entitled Journalism after 30 years of oi moi (renewal process) - theoretical and practical issues.
The conference was sponsored by the Viet Nam Journalists Association (VJA), the Party Central Committees Commission for Publicity and Education and the Ministry of Information and Communications.
The gathering acted as a platform for participants to review accomplishments and shortcomings of Vietnamese journalism and communications over the past 30 years (1986-2016), the period of Viet Nams oi moi (renewal) process, and propose initiatives to strengthen Vietnamese journalisms roles and improve the quality of media coverage.
VJA President Thuan Huu, a member of the Party Central Committee, said that 30 years is a meaningful period during which the reform process initiated and led by the Party has gained historic accomplishments acknowledged by the domestic and international public.
Journalism played a leading role in disseminating and promoting the reform policies of the Party, he said. Journalism has also renewed itself to catch up with the development of the country, meeting increasing demand of the revolutionary cause and gaining many meaningful achievements, he added.
Deputy Head of the Party Central Committees Commission for Publicity and Education, Pham Van Linh, said journalism management and orientation in 2016 underwent encouraging changes. Many news agencies contributed to the fight against corruption, protecting the countrys sovereignty and rejecting incorrect and distorted information by hostile forces.
However, in the context of unpredicted developments in world affairs and new political tasks, journalism has shown shortcomings. Besides new opportunities, journalism has to overcome challenges, Huu said.
Ho Quang Loi, VJA vice president, said that a lot of journalism information lacks orientation and focusses on negative issues. Information that harms Vietnamese customs is still allowed to be published in newspapers.
Many TV programmes air "tactless" content, causing anger among the public, he said.
Discussing journalist ethics, experienced journalist Phan Quang, former VJA president, said The 1995 journalism ethics code of Viet Nam mentions uprightness of journalists. However, now there are more and more reporters who sit at home, type on computers and plagiarise others work.
The journalism ethics code of Viet Nam was issued a long time ago but has yet to be put into practice, Quang asked.
This year, the Journalism Ethics Code has been adjusted and the revised version will take effect next year.
Journalist Phan Quang spoke highly of the new code, saying that Clause No10 in which press workers must pledge to adhere to the code, is their responsibility and up to their conscience.
Nguyen The Ky, a member of Party Central Committee and general director of the Voice of Viet Nam, said that journalism has developed into various forms. News agencies have focused on renewing and improving news quality.
However, language in the mass media is used improperly in many cases, with carelessly-written words and sentences. Shocking headlines are made to lure readers, but fail to reflect the facts.
Vietnamese language use on media will affect negatively and widely on the public, especially the youth, he said, suggesting relevant agencies complete laws on Vietnamese and language use.
Each news agency should have a unit tasked with overseeing language use, he said.
The conference welcomed nearly 90 thematic reports from journalists and researchers, focusing on three topics: general view of theoretical and specialist skill issues of journalism; practical issues including those related to journalism management, trends of modern journalism and adaptation of Vietnamese journalism; and journalist ethics. VNS
HCM City should not set itself the too ambitious goal of eradicating poverty by 2018, a senior former leader has said. Photo vtv.vn
HCM CITY HCM City should not set itself the too ambitious goal of eradicating poverty by 2018, a senior former leader has said.
Pham Phuong Thao, former deputy secretary of the city Party Committee and former chairwoman of the city Peoples Council, told a conference on multidimensional poverty in the city yesterday It is very difficult to achieve the goal. It is very high pressure for officials in charge of poverty reduction in communes and wards.
She was referring to the target of having no person with an annual income of below VN21 million (US$933), the poverty threshold.
When the officials face pressure to achieve the goal, they would focus solely on the number and ignore actual poverty alleviation, she said.
Efforts to improve the quality of life in the city should be linked to the poverty reduction programme, she suggested.
Because the quality of life now is not good, she added.
Nguyen Van Xe, deputy head of the city Department of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs and standing deputy head of the Steering Committee for Stable Poverty Reduction, said the goal to eradicate poverty was first set for 2020 at the 10th congress of the city Party Committee last October.
Last April the city adopted a new approach called multidimensional poverty reduction programme.
It categorises poor households into three groups. The first comprises households with members each having an annual income of up to VN21 million and with a score of 40 or more.
The score is calculated based on the following criteria: level of education; health including access to healthcare services and health insurance; employment-social insurance; living conditions including housing and water supply; and access to information.
The second group comprises households with an annual income of up to VN21 million and a score of 40 or less.
The third group includes households with incomes of VN21-28 million and more than VN28 million and a score of 40 or more.
Under this approach, which requires every earning member to have an income above the poverty threshold, or score, or both the two above criteria the city had 67,000 poor households as of last August.
Dr Le Thi Thanh Loan, head of the United Nations Development Programmes multidimensional poverty reduction project in urban areas, said the rate of poor is higher in the citys rural than urban areas.
The poor households and those near the poverty line have the largest shortage in terms of education and employment-social insurance, she said.
Khmer and Cham poor households had a larger gap than ethnic Kinh households, she added.
Xe said the new approach requires the city to change its policies to achieve sustainable poverty reduction.
At the district level, authorities should have their own programmes to narrow the gap in whichever dimension - education or healthcare, etc - poor families lack, he added.
Assoc Prof Dr Tran Tien Khai, deputy head of the HCM City University of Economics research administration and international relations department, said the citys Steering Committee for Stable Poverty Reduction should measure poverty among migrants and create programmes to help them.
Migrants contribute to the citys socio-economic development, he said.
Many of them face multi-dimensional poverty caused by policies that only provide benefits to people with residence books, he said.
Most migrants do not have this book and only the temporary residence book, called KT3, a multi-dimensional-poverty survey of 201 migrant families in the city by the Southern Institute of Social Sciences found in 2015.
Nguyen Thi Minh Chau of the survey team said they lack occupational knowledge, health and social insurance, and housing. VNS
HA NOI Ha Noi will operate additional buses and trains to better serve people travelling during the New Year (this weekend to Monday) and Tet holidays (from January 26 to February 1).
A representative of Ha Noi Transport Corporation said a total of 2,600 additional buses would run from all bus stations in the city during the two holidays.
The highest number of extra buses would operate on major routes, such as from Ha Noi to Nam inh, Thai Binh, Thanh Hoa, Nghe An and Lao Cai, he said.
Ly Truong Son, head of the corporations Planning Office, said all local stations had been instructed to ensure that all passengers get the opportunity to visit their hometowns.
Security had also been tightened to prevent passengers from being robbed by pickpockets because of the crowds, Nguyen Tat Thanh, director of Giap Bat Bus Station, said.
Nguyen Manh Tuan, Deputy Director of My inh Bus Station, said transport companies operating at the station had made commitments not to overload buses, not to hike ticket prices and ensure that their drivers do not drinking and drive.
All steps were being taken to guarantee passenger safety, he said.
Nguyen uc Vui, Director of Gia Lam Bus Station, said they were all set to handle the extra passenger traffic.
For commuters who plan to travel by train, 22 additional trains will be operated during these holidays. Of these, 15 trains will operate on the Ha Noi-Vinh route, four on the Ha Noi-Hai Phong route and three on the Ha Noi-a Nang route.
If there were more passengers than expected, more trains would be added to meet the demand, said Phung Thi Ly Ha, Deputy Director of Ha Noi Railway Transport Joint Stock Company.
Passengers should directly book tickets instead of buying them via brokers, said Pham Thi Anh ao, head of the companys business centre.
A train ticket could be printed many times at the automatic desks at stations, she said, so often brokers cheated by printing many copies of the same ticket and selling it to many people. VNS
HA NOI There are huge crowds at all traffic police stations in Ha Noi that accept registrations for the transfer of bike ownership, as the December 31 deadline draws to a close.
Many traffic police stations have extended working hours but are struggling to complete registrations by Saturday.
From January 1, under Article 30 of Government Decree No 46, issued in August, an individual or organisation will have to pay a fine of VN100,000 to VN400,000 (US$4-16) if caught driving a second-hand bike or electric scooter whose ownership papers have not been transferred to their name. The deadline has been set by the Ministry of Public Security.
Hundreds of people queued up at traffic stations in Ba inh, Hai Ba Trung, Cau Giay, Thanh Xuan and Ha ong districts to register for motor ownership transfer, according to a survey done by Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper on Thursday.
Hoang Anh, 34, from Hai Ba Trung Districts Minh Khai Ward said he queued up for a long time but did not manage to complete all the procedures for the transfer as there was a huge crowd at Hai Ba Trung Traffic Police Station.
Despite their best efforts, the five staffers at the station could not handle all the registrations.
Thanh Hang, a resident of Hai Ba Trung Districts Nguyen Du Ward, said she had stood in queue for two days to get the ownership of her daughters electric scooter transferred. She was worried that she might not be able to complete the registration before the deadline.
A representative of the districts Traffic Police Station said it had dealt with more than 14,000 registrations for motor ownership transfer so far this year.
The number of registrations had rocketed in the past week, with the police station receiving around 130 registrations a day, which was five times higher than usual, he said.
The station had extended its working hours by two to three hours a day to cope with the workload and even stayed open last weekend, he added.
A lot of people had still not completed their registrations, he said, adding that the station would accept registrations till December 31 and then asked the Ha Noi administration for direction.
In Ba inh District, the traffic police have handled around 8,000 transfer registrations so far. The districts station extended its work hours to 8pm to deal with around 200 registrations a day, but failed to finish all registrations because there was too much to do.
In a meeting held late November, Nguyen uc Chung, chairman of the municipal Peoples Committee, said the Ha Noi police would be given smart devices from January 1 to check whether bikers had their vehicle ownership transferred to their names. VNS
HA NOI Ten outstanding young individuals were given the Viet Nam Golden Globe Award by the Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee yesterday in Ha Noi.
The award is presented annually for excellent individuals, under age of 35, in areas of information, medical, pharmaceutical, biological, environmental and new material technology. Each winner receives VN20 million (US$880).
The winners this year include eight PhD holders, one person with a Masters degree and a 22-year-old student.
Pham Viet Khoi, a student at the Viet Nam National University in HCM City and the youngest winner, said the target of his ongoing research is an application that can identify a person via image data. It might help police in catching suspects, he explained.
Khoi said receiving the award yesterday was a necessary motivation for his research and expressed his hope that the Government would provide additional encouragement to students participating in scientific research.
Speaking at the event yesterday, Vice President ang Thi Ngoc Thinh, said The future of the country is on the young generations shoulders.
Thinh said most of the winners this year lived and studied in foreign countries but chose to return to Viet Nam to contribute to the countrys development. Its a precious thing, she said.
Thinh said science and technology had been playing a key role in the countrys development over the past three decades.
She asked the science ministry to open more categories for the award, set up an initial fund for scientific research, and match young people who want to conduct scientific research with each other. It should also call on talented Vietnamese young people living and working abroad to return to develop the country, she said.
Also at the event, 20 female students from universities across the country were awarded prizes for the Brightest Female Student in Information Technology.
Phan Thi Hong Hanh, a student of Ha Noi University of Science and Technology, said the reward increased her motivation to study and do research. She will study harder and work harder with the hope of contributing to the countrys science and technology development, Hanh said.
The Ministry of Science and Technology and the Ho Chi Minh Communist Youth Union Central Committee established the Golden Globe Award and the Reward for the Brightest Female Student in Information Technology in 2003. VNS
List of 10 Golden Globe Awards winners
1. Le uc Tung, lecturer at Ha Noi University of Science and Technology
2. Duong Trong Hai, lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City International University under Viet Nam National University, HCM City
3. Bach Long Giang, head of the Science and Technology Department at Nguyen Tat Thanh University
4. Ha Thi Kim Thanh from a Nang Science and Technology Department
5. Pham Viet Khoi, student at Ho Chi Minh City University of Science of Viet Nam National University, HCM City
6. Tran inh Phong, lecturer at the University of Science and Technology of Ha Noi (also called Viet NamFrance University)
7. Huynh Ngoc Trinh, lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City Medicine and Pharmacy University
8. Nguyen Xuan Hai, lecturer at Ho Chi Minh City University of Science under Viet Nam National University, HCM City
9. Nguyen Manh Hung from the Institute of Ecology and Biological Resources under the Viet Nam Academy of Science and Technology
10. Truong Hai Nhung of Ho Chi Minh City University of Science under Viet Nam National University, HCM City. VNS
Google Maps abused by rivals to divert clients: travel agencies
Several travel companies in HCM City have said that their rivals manipulated contact information on Google Maps in an alleged tactic to steal clients, with contact numbers deliberately changed as an act of business sabotage.
Truong uc Hai, CEO of Pearl of the Far East, was quoted by VnExpress as saying that the phone numbers of his company and some others listed on Google Maps had been changed to that of Asia Travel.
At least 18 travel agencies were affected. Tourists often search on Google to find information about tours and services, and incorrect listings are harmful, he said.
Representing the companies, Hai filed a complaint with the citys tourism administration earlier this week, publicly accusing Asia Travel of sabotaging their business.
Addressing a press conference on Thursday (22 December), VNAT General Director Nguyen Van Tuan said that cyber-sabotage acts were illegal and would be strictly punished.
Any company found to have changed the Google listings of other travel films will have its business license revoked, he added. VNS
BEIRUT A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey was in effect early Friday, a potentially major breakthrough in the nearly 6-year conflict, despite reports of isolated clashes.
The deal, which does not include designated "terrorists" like the Islamic State group, was announced hours earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition.
While the truce was standing in most parts of the country early Friday, some fighting broke out near a Christian town in central Hama province with Islamist factions attacking regime forces, according to a monitoring group.
"Fierce clashes took place between the two sides pushing regime forces to withdraw from a hill near Maharda," Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said.
"Small rebel groups and armed loyalists are seeking to destroy the truce because it puts an end to their presence," he said.
Elsewhere, the ceasefire was reported to be holding.
According to an AFP correspondent in Eastern Ghouta, the shelling and airstrikes stopped for more than one hour in the region after intensive shelling and raids yesterday.
AFP correspondents in Damascus and Idlib said there had been no sound of shelling, airstrikes or clashes since midnight.
The agreement, hailed by Syrias government as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.
Putin said Damascus and the "main forces of the armed opposition" had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a "historic opportunity" to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people and forced millions from their homes.
Putin said he would also reduce Moscows military contingent in Syria, which has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year.
The Kremlin strongman, however, said Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" in Syria and maintain its support for the regime.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere would be considered "terrorists".
Erdogan indicated Turkey would press on with its four-month incursion into Syria against Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militia. AFP
NEW YORK New York authorities will deploy dozens of trucks on city streets during New Years Eve celebrations, to boost security in the wake of recent truck attacks in Europe, the police said Thursday.
About 65 sand and sanitation trucks will be placed in "strategic locations" around Times Square, where more than a million people are expected to attend the traditional New Years Eve ball drop, New York police Chief of Department Carlos Gomez told a news conference.
An additional hundred or more "blocker" vehicles will be deployed elsewhere throughout the city to prevent vehicles from plowing into the crowd, he added.
"We paid close attention to events in Nice and Berlin, we have enhanced security measures," Gomez said.
The deployment will reinforce the already massive security regime adopted in recent years, including some 7,000 police and anti-terrorist forces in uniform and plain clothes patrolling the areas around Times Square and other planned festivities across the city, he added.
Pedestrians wishing to access Times Square will have to settle for carrying only small bags and passing through at least two security checks, where any objects deemed dangerous -- including alcohol and even umbrellas -- will be prohibited.
In July, a truck driven by a radicalized Tunisian man cut down a crowd gathered in the French city of Nice to mark the national Bastille Day holiday, killing 86 people. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Last week, another Tunisian killed 12 people when he smashed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin. Italian police killed the alleged perpetrator several days later after stopping him for a document check in Milan. AFP
NEWTON (AP) Owners of the Maytag Dairy Farms said they have plans to restart production at their Newton cheese plant, which has been shuttered for more than 10 months after a listeria contamination last February.
The company also has rolled out a new product to boost holiday sales.
While on long-term hiatus, the 75-year-old company has been completing significant renovations and remodeling our small cheese plant in an effort to meet and exceed new regulatory requirements mandated by the federal Food Safety Modernization Act, said John Dannerbeck, chairman of the Maytag Dairy Farms board of directors.
Were very excited and very optimistic, Dannerbeck said. We are going to be stronger than ever.
Theres no specific date for getting production back on track, but Dannerbeck estimated it would be early next year.
The silver lining to all this is that weve been able to do significant work to adapt to new food safety standards, he said.
Maytag voluntarily recalled about 900 pounds of cheese in early February after the state Dairy Products Control Bureau discovered listeria contamination during routine testing. The cheese had been distributed to restaurants and stores in Iowa, including Hy-Vee, Fareway and other states.
While we now know this was a very isolated occurrence and there was no widespread problem, we believe our decision to vastly expand the recall, though expensive and immensely complicated, was the prudent decision at the time, the company said in a statement late last week.
Customers supported the company, and many turned down our refund offer, it said.
Dannerbeck said the company decided to continue paying their roughly 100 workers full salary and benefits during the shutdown.
We never had any doubt we would be back in business, he said.
Maytag has been selling products made by other cheese makers online and at its retail store at the farm, which is helping bridge the gap until its production resumes, said Dannerbeck, whose grandfather Fred Maytag started making the small-batch blue cheese by hand in 1941.
The Maytag family was best known for making washing machines at its former Newton Maytag Corp. plant.
Dannerbeck said he is most excited about a new product called la petite blue that Maytag is making with the help of Reicherts Dairy Air farm near Knoxville. The soft, ripened cheese has a hint of blue mold, similar to Maytag blue cheese but milder, and is made with milk from Pickett Fence Creamery in Woodward, said Dairy Air owner Lois Reichert.
Its an homage to Maytag blue cheese, she said.
Maytag sent three cheese-makers to Reicherts farm to help make 2,000 to 3,000 pieces of la petite blue, she said. It takes about two weeks to make the specialty cheese, with an 8-ounce chunk selling for $25 under the Maytag label.
Dairy Airs main business is making classic and flavored chevre and feta cheeses, with milk from goats it raises at the farm.
Reichert said her collaboration with Maytag for the limited-supply la petite blue has been a bonus for her business. Her main selling season ceases when the farmers markets close down, so this is giving her business a boost over the holidays, she said.
Reichert hopes to continue working with Maytag after it restarts production in Newton.
Mike Bandstra, who owns Frisian Farms Cheese House in Leighton with his brother Jason, also is selling its gouda cheeses through Maytags website this holiday season.
He expects to sell about 500 pounds to Maytag this year, which is a nice bump for the 7-year-old business. Frisian sells about 50,000 pounds of cheese to stores in the Midwest.
Dannerbeck said Maytag Dairy Farms has long had agreements with other cheese companies to sell their products in gift boxes online along with the Maytag blue cheese, which he expects will be available again in the spring.
The company should not have issues with re-establishing its customer base, said Bryan Friedman, director of finance and development for the city of Newton.
Maytag blue cheese is known worldwide, Friedman said.
Its product is something people clamor for, he said.
Before Maytags production can resume, a full inspection would have to be completed at the cheese plant, said Dustin VandeHoef, a spokesman for the Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship. The state has inspected and signed off on the companys retail space, he said.
Eleventh in a series of stories on this years 20 Under 40 winners.
CEDAR FALLS As a child, Jordan Vernoy knew he wanted to help people.
This desire to help others wasnt something he learned from his dad.
We were polar opposites, Vernoy said of his much beloved father. He was a special agent for the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. He was very suspicious more about crime and punishment.
Vernoys father was deployed to open the first DEA field office in Iowa when the illegal trade in methamphetamine began to pick up in the Midwest. Prior to that, he was an undercover agent in Florida.
I saw how much that work affected him, Vernoy recalled. He could be distant and had a hard time relating to people. The nature of his work meant that people got hurt.
This led Vernoy to believe hed realized his dream of helping others through a career as a teacher. After enrolling as an elementary education major at the University of Iowa in Iowa City, he realized teaching wasnt his calling.
As a student at the University of Northern Iowa, he came to understand how he could help people outside the classroom. He developed a plan to move to Costa Rica after college, where hed work for a nonprofit ministry.
Meanwhile, his father had retired and taught criminology courses at a community college. In doing so, Vernoy watched his father develop an understanding of how law enforcement officials could employ empathy to help others through their work.
As Vernoys post-college career was taking shape in 2008, his father passed away. Ultimately, Vernoy decided to take a position at the Northeast Iowa Food Bank, in part to be near his mother.
His work for the food bank led to a position with a national organization that operates local food security programs. In that capacity, Vernoy works with 200 member organizations to develop meal programs and hunger-justice education.
I see the potential this community has to be great, said Vernoy. We have our social issues, but we also have a lot of potential. This community embraces challenges and forges ahead. Take optical wifi or large solar energy initiatives; we look at something huge like that and just say, Were going to do it.
The idea of applying collaboration, problem-solving and innovation to poverty and hunger-justice issues excites Vernoy.
We can eradicate hunger and end violence and homelessness in our community, he insisted. If we put our minds to it, we can do it. Thats not as easily said in a large city, but here, these things are possible.
To that end, Vernoy works in the heart of an eclectic and diverse hub of activity: the id8 workspace in downtown Waterloo. There, he draws inspiration from working in close proximity to young entrepreneurs.
This space offers a wealth of intelligent, creative and innovative people, he explained.
His choice of workspace allows him to engage in interdisciplinary discussions and develop partnerships with others in the community.
Relocating to the space has assisted him in his role as a consultant for area organizations and businesses. Through this work, Vernoy helps leaders identify goals and objectives in hopes they will develop action plans and a theory of change for their organizations.
I am grateful to be in the id8 space, he said. I was working from home for six or seven years. It can be isolated. This is a space where I talk with people who are really smart. That energizes me.
Embroiderers
to host meeting
WATERLOO The Prairie Rose Chapter of the Embroiderers Guild of American will host the first meeting of the new year at 7 p.m. Monday at the Zion Center for Faith, Kimball and Fourth.
Members will be working on bookmarks to encourage reading by children., part of an outreach program. Patterns and materials will be provided and bookmarks are distributed to teachers and librarians. in our communities.
Kiwanis Club
to meet Tuesday
WATERLOO The Waterloo Noon Kiwanis Club will meet at noon Tuesday at the Waterloo Elks Club.
Lunch starts at 12:10 p.m. Deb Shoopman of NEI3A will talk about the Senior Medicare Patrol volunteers.
Guests are welcome. For more information, call President Bruce Jacobs, 287-5733.
Open rehearsal set at Playhouse
WATERLOO The Waterloo Community Playhouse will hold an open rehearsal for The Rocky Horror Show from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Jan. 5 in the Hope Martin Theatre at the Waterloo the Center for the Arts, 225 Commercial St.
The rehearsal will provide a peek into the process that is required to get the show ready for its run, which starts in three weeks. Various dances and songs will be featured and Audience questions are welcome. There is no charge to review the rehearsal.
Rocky Horror is about a newly engaged couple who get stranded on a rural road during a rainstorm. They stop at a local castle to ask for assistance but the castle is occupied by a variety of other-worldly characters.
The WCP cast includes Sydney Miller, L.C. Kent, Jordan Abbe, Cassidy Atchison, Crystal Waltz, Hunter Quint, Shelby Davis, Matt Mayfield, Jestin Hoffman, Brian McDonald, Rick Johnson, Cassie Yost, Erica Thurm, Abraham Blanchard, Brian Langr, Brittany Stone, Taylor Raub, Brianna Cool and Russ Hamilton
It is directed by Greg Holt, with musical direction by Bryan Houts, and choreography by Jordan Makinster.The show is recommended for ages 16 and older. No reservations are necessary to view the rehearsal. Call 235-0367 for more information.
CEDAR RAPIDS -- A Waterloo woman who possessed heroin with intent to distribute near Morris Park in Waterloo was sentenced Thursday to 21 months in federal prison.
Michelle Hanson, 28, received the prison term after an Oct. 3 guilty plea to possession with intent to distribute heroin and fentanyl near Morris Park last March 2.
At the guilty plea, Hanson admitted she sold heroin and fentanyl out of her Waterloo home, which was located near Morris Park. A search of her home by the Tri-County Drug Enforcement Task Force resulted in the seizure of more than 12 grams of heroin and six patches containing fentanyl.
Hanson was sentenced in Cedar Rapids by U.S. District Court Chief Judge Linda R. Reade to 21 months imprisonment. A special assessment of $100 was imposed. She must also serve a six-year term of supervised release after the prison term. There is no parole in the federal system. Hanson is being held in the U.S. Marshals custody until she can be transported to a federal prison.
WATERLOO A group begun to spur positive change in the city is holding another free winter coat drive in Lincoln Park.
Taking Back Waterloo, a group formed on Facebook a few years ago in the wake of a perception of increased violence in Waterloo, will host The Great Waterloo Warm Up at 1 p.m. Sunday, according to one of the groups administrators, Ty Hunter.
Its the second year for the event, which was a big hit last year, according to Hunter.
We were absolutely astonished by exactly how many people need simple things, like clothes, Hunter said. It was an eye-opener.
So Hunter and his group organized a clothing drive among their membership, gathering what he termed to be a mountain of clothing to hang up around Lincoln Park.
Hunter said donated coats, scarves, gloves and other warm clothing will be hung up by about a dozen volunteers in Lincoln Park in downtown Waterloo. He said free hot cocoa also will be available and fliers were being sent to area shelters informing them of the drive.
Nearly 9,000 people are members of the Facebook group, which got permission from the City of Waterloo to use the park as long as they maintain it, Hunter said.
Thats the beauty of Taking Back Waterloo we really dont want credit, we want the people to do it, he said.
People who want to contribute to the effort can bring their warm-weather clothing to the park anytime after 1 p.m. Sunday.
Even though it feels like the economy might be a little bit stronger, people are still struggling to get by, Hunter said. The need is there.
WAVERLY A Waverly man was killed Christmas Eve when his wifes gun accidentally discharged while hunting near Allison.
The Butler County Sheriffs Office reported they received a call just before 11:30 a.m. Dec. 24 of a man who was shot in a hunting accident.
Kirk Robert Hummel, 47, of Waverly died before reaching a hospital.
According to the sheriffs office, Hummel and his wife, Kathleen, were hunting rabbits on a family farm when Kathleen Hummel reported her rifle accidentally discharged.
Funeral services will be at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, Dec. 31, at Orchard Hill Church in Cedar Falls, according to his obituary.
Rural Tama family homeless after fire
TAMA A rural Tama family is dealing with the loss of their older home in a Christmas Day fire.
The fire was reported about 3:30 p.m. at 3329 N. Ave., near Highway 30 about two miles east of Tama.
The fire destroyed the home belonging to Thomas and Eileen Crone. According to a Go Fund Me page, five people, including two children, lived in the home. The family lost everything. Assistant Tama Fire Chief Stuart Eisentrager told the Tama New Herald the fire is believed to have started from an outdoor barbecue grill.
Man arrested for sexual abuse
SUMNER A Sumner man was arrested for sexual abuse of two young children after an 18-month investigation by police.
Phillip Matthew Hamby, 31, of Sumner, was arrested Dec. 16 and charged with two counts of second-degree sexual abuse of two minor girls, according to the Sumner Police Department.
Hamby is currently being held on a $50,000 bond in the Bremer County Jail.
According to officials, Hamby is accused of inappropriately touching two girls beginning in 2013 and 2014 and continuing through July 7, 2015.
The girls were ages 4 and 6 when the abuse began, according to reports. Hamby is accused of inappropriately abusing them while others in the home were asleep.
The girls reported the abuse in July 2015 to the Iowa Department of Human Services, who forwarded the information on to the Sumner Police Department.
Second-degree sexual abuse carries a maximum penalty of 25 years in prison per count.
2 arrested
for burglary
ARLINGTON Two people were arrested after deputies say they entered an Arlington home and stole several items.
LaVern Allen Dearborn, 54, of Surprise, Ariz., and Kimberly Hope Bright, 54, of Arlington, were arrested Thursday for third-degree burglary. Dearborn also was charged with contraband in jail once he was booked into the Fayette County Jail.
Both were booked and released.
According to the Fayette County Sheriffs Office, deputies were called to a residence in Arlington just after 12:30 p.m. Thursday and found the pair there with items from the residence.
The owners were not home at the time, according to the report.
Third-degree burglary carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison.
Inmate charged
with assault
WEST UNION An inmate at the Fayette County Jail serving time on a probation violation has been charged with assault on a jailer.
The Fayette County Sheriffs Office filed a charge on Annelease Lynn Marie Anderson, 22, for assault on a jailer.
The incident allegedly happened Tuesday at the jail. Anderson is charged with assaulting a detention officer, who sustained a minor injury.
She continues to be held at the jail without bond.
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Governor: Kentucky on course for record budget surplus again
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When we travel we usually do not have a plan, other than a place to stay and a ticket to come home. Blame it on two things: 1) The internet being available on the cell phone. 2) Life is too short to be stressed and rushed on a holiday.
We usually walk around wherever we are staying, then rent a car and drive into the countryside, and then walk around again. I am the one who finds where we will eat. Which means it has to grab my attention. I have to have a feeling about it and I rarely make mistakes... not because I am a genius, but because we are a family who loves the whole food thing. Plus I have three people who trust my intuition and rely on the wow factor of "Mom how did you know?"
"One of Palermo's finest bakeries, Cappello is famous for its setteveli (seven-layer chocolate-hazelnut cake), invented here and long since copied all over Palermo. Its counter tempts with other splendid pastries and desserts, including the dreamy delizia di pistacchio (a granular pistachio cake topped with creamy icing and a chocolate medallion), not to mention velvety, ricotta-filled cannoli and fresh, glossy cornetti (croissants)." via Lonely Planet
Cappello's is not far from where we are staying. When we walked passed it, I turned around, walked back, peeked inside: Not a soul was there except the people who worked there, which usually is a red flag for me (As if to say, "It cannot be good if nobody is there.") But THE CAKES just seemed to sing straight to my tastebud's vision of loveliness, "This is your day!"
And holy moley guacamole those cakes were sensory overload, delicious gorgeousness.
When we returned home, I started to write my blog post. I went online to see if Cappello's had a website and found out not only do they have a website but they are considered one of the best bakeries in town.
Gulp.
Then I recalled asking John Cappello who was working at the cash register if he sold his hot chocolate powder? I am embarrassed recalling the encounter.... I might as well said, "Hi Master Chocolate person who I do not know, do you mind selling me some of your secret potion?"
Duh non.
Via Cappello's, "To know the history of Pastry Hat must take a few steps back in time. The founder, Bartolomeo, was born in 1887 in Boccadifalco, a district of Palermo, where he started a small breeder of activities for the production of milk. Because of a dispute born for the sale of a sheep on the price of which had stubbornly balked came as a young man, nicknamed "Bartolo three lire.
Shortly after the start of the 2nd World War, along with Providence wife and his son John, he moved to Palermo in 1944 by opening a dairy seen the post-war primary needs. Until 1960 the dairy continued his activities together with that of small bar for serving coffee and cappuccinos, and in summer, artisan ice cream production under the direction of the grandmother Assunta assisted by the oldest son Bartholomew junior and the small Saviour. But it is precisely his uncle Salvatore, Giuseppe Ferruggia, who advised his nephew to start a small bakery teaching the preparation of well-known "cannoli", the "buccellato", the "Genoese."
"Salvatore falls in love so of his craft. Become an expert. Master Chocolatier, Master Confectioner, invents new desserts, creates them as if they were works of art. Invited several times on TV is known throughout Italy, and the pastry Hat is inserted between the Italian pastry shops "historical" of Panorama, in the guide "Italy cakes" of the Italian Touring Club Eurochocolate and the National Confederation of Crafts and, moreover, it is since 2003 in the guides "Bar of Italy" and "Pastries of Italy" by Gambero Rosso, in addition to part since 1997 the Academy of Italian Master Confectioners.
John junior, son of the Savior, he becomes a "little master pastry chef", he takes part in international competitions and strives to achieve dad watching with a smile photo, the great-grandfather "ZIU Bartolo three lire." (Via Cappello in Palermo.)
Yann had hot chocolate which in Italy is thick like pudding. Cappello's is the best I ever tasted (I had a tiny taste as I am allergic to chocolate (that is another story for another day) and let me tell you it took everything I had not to down that cup and deal with an allergic reaction!
Sacha had the above coffee.
Later we walked another million steps and found fresh squeezed pomegranate juice!
Before we drank we saluted my mom and my Aunt Louie who make pomegranate juice and jelly.
Chelsea I hope this makes you envious of our trip!
Feasting our way through Palermo.
Cappello's
http://www.pasticceriacappello.it/#storia
We regard the recent unfriendly steps taken by the outgoing US administration as provocative and aimed at further weakening the Russia-US relationship. This runs contrary to the fundamental interests of both the Russian and American people. Considering the global security responsibilities of Russia and the United States, this is also damaging to international relations as a whole.
As it proceeds from international practice, Russia has reasons to respond in kind. Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible kitchen diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-US relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration.
The diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Years holidays with their families and friends. We will not create any problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone. We will not prevent their families and children from using their traditional leisure sites during the New Years holidays. Moreover, I invite all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas childrens parties in the Kremlin.
It is regrettable that the Obama Administration is ending its term in this manner. Nevertheless, I offer my New Year greetings to President Obama and his family.
My seasons greetings also to President-elect Donald Trump and the American people.
I wish all of you happiness and prosperity.
Gabina VOA is designed to be an infotainment youth radio show broadcasting to Ethiopia and Eritrea in the Amharic language. The show brings varied perspectives on issues concerning young people in the Horn of Africa region. Gabina in the Amharic language is a front row taxi ridesymbolic of the shows content as a fun ride that takes audiences from point A to point B. Gabina VOAs main goal is Enlightening young people, introducing them to cutting-edge technological innovations, exposing them to new processes and ideas so they can be productive, informed and self-governing citizens.
Dec 30, 2016 | By Benedict
Open3D Club, a new platform for uploading 3D printable models, is hoping to transform the way that 3D content is created, shared, and used. The service, which uses bitcoins as currency, will be almost entirely decentralized, and will use an automatic payment system to provide royalties.
Earlier this year, a mysterious online entity called The DAO became the subject of the largest crowdfunding campaign in history. Between April and May, the equivalent of around $160 million was raised from backers all over the world, making the campaign approximately 47 times more valuable than the most successful crowdfunding campaign in 3D printing history: the $3.4 million raised by Maryland company M3D in 2014 to fund its Micro 3D printer.
The DAO was a decentralized autonomous organization and venture capital system that promised to offer users an entirely digital, transparent, autonomous, and decentralized form of investment. The idea was that investors could put up funds in the form of bitcoins, vote on investment decisions, and generally sidestep the murky and biased processes involved in traditional investment procedures. But despite drumming up such a large amount of interest (and money), The DAO fell at the first hurdle, with a cyber attack threatening to eradicate a large portion of the invested money. In the end, members voted on a hard fork to return all money to users.
The DAO, in the end, was a failure, and most of that original $160 million has now been returned to initial investors. Many, however, still firmly believe in the idea of a decentralized autonomous organization for financing projects. (The downfall of The DAO was, after all, largely due to technical and operational problems, rather than theoretical ones.) Cue the unveiling of Open3D Club, a kind of DAO for 3D printing that could revolutionize the way 3D content is distributed around the web. The proof-of-concept platform is currently in the very early stages of development, but its founder, Bicba, believes that the autonomous platform could replace current content platforms and service bureaus like Thingiverse and 3D Hubs.
Potential transparent governance model of Open3D Club
Open3D Club is a platform in the early stage of development, envisioned to connect designers of 3D models, 3D printer owners, and end users in a decentralized way, Bicba said in a recent interview. Since our team doesnt have a software developing background, the first iteration of the website is designed as a showcase to explain how it should function and look like. The goal is to hide all the complexity of the new emerging technologies used on the platform and to enable people without any experience in additive manufacturing to have access to the library of 3D printable models.
True to its name, Open3D Club aspires to be completely open source, and will eventually evolve towards a set of protocols that will be decided upon by users. The makers of the platform believe that this will help to improve trust between parties, while special bounties will be offered to developers who are able to solve software challenges within the system itself. It is hoped that this incentive scheme will encourage talented software developers to contribute their expertise to the project, turning Open3D Club into an almost entirely autonomous entity.
Despite being in its infancy, Open3D Club has a plan for expansion, beginning with developing the web platform for hosting 3D models. These models should, according to the projects manifesto, be easily searchable and sortable. However, to avoid an oversupply of mixed-quality 3D models, the team behind the platform with attempt to direct users towards the 3D Prize area of the website, where users can debate the best ways to develop the platform. The current team claims to have a background in digital manufacturing, project management, and presentation, but is seeking volunteers with expertise in 3D modeling, software development, web design, structural design, production, and all other necessary fields to make the system functional.
Map showing how revenue could be distributed between content creators
In addition to hosting 3D models on the platform and giving 3D modelers a chance to distribute their creations, Open3D Club is also planning to integrate a 3D printing store and hub directory into the platform, giving makers a chance to find local 3D printers if they do not have their own. However, the participation of stores and hubs will be regulated by user reviews and feedback: 3D printing stores should be able to get involved in the platform without any barriers to entry, but their reputation over time should become reflective of users' satisfaction with their service, similar to any other selling platform on the web, the manifesto states.
Unlike many 3D printing content platforms, Open3D Club does plan to monetize the platformthough in unconventional ways. The platform will not invite uploaders to set a price for their submissions, but will instead generate revenue through 3D printing related advertisements and voluntary contributions from downloaders. The division of revenue will be subject to algorithms and procedures decided upon by the Open3D Club community: Each group working on Open 3D platform (software developers, artists and possible others) will have to come up with a set of rules for measuring contribution and payments to people in their field, the manifesto states. Anyone should be able to participate in this project and to get paid automatically through their earned reputation.
Open3D Club is still in its very early stages, but users can see how the platform might look via the proof-of-concept website. While the difficulties inherent in such a projectbrought to light by the failure of The DAOmay deter many members of the 3D printing community, the idea is certainly interesting. After all, current 3D platforms make plenty of revenue from advertising, none of which ends up in the pockets of those producing content. Furthermore, many will find the prospect of a bitcoin-driven marketplace highly suitable for a futuristic technology like 3D printing. The challenge for Open3D Club now is generating sufficient interest in the project to get it off the ground. $160 million might be unrealistic, but we've certainly heard worse ideas.
Posted in 3D Design
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Lee wrote at 12/31/2016 6:07:21 PM:@Alex The DAO was built on the Ethereum platform (not spelled Etherium), and yes it used Ether or ETH (the currency, not the platform). And no, irreversible transactions are not a core principle of Bitcoin. Distributed consensus is the core princple! A blockchain can be forked (accidentally or intentionally) and the point of Bitcoin is to resolve the fork based upon which one has the most hashing power. In such a case transactions will be reversed (transactions in one block will be replaced by transactions in a winning block), though usually the transactions are put back in (it doesn't necessarily invalidate a transaction) but there could be attempts at double spend when this occurs (conflicting transactions in competing blocks), which is why everyone waits on confirmations (if transactions were really irreversible then we wouldn't need to wait)! Since the more confirmations there are the less likely transaction can be reversed. TL;DR in a double spend attack one transaction will be reversed, so NO that is not a core principle of Bitcoin.Alex English wrote at 12/30/2016 4:53:02 PM:This article associates the DAO with Bitcoin. If I'm not mistaken the DAO exclusively made use of Etherium. There isn't a single instance of the word Bitcoin on the DAO Wikipedia page. This is notable as the hard fork that occurred to return its funds would arguably be more difficult to do with Bitcoin, and some would argue that it would undermine a core principle of Bitcoin, that transactions can't be reversed.
Dec 30, 2016 | By 3Ders
Most people agree that 2016 was a terrible year in virtually every respect: the conflict in Syria worsened, all of your favorite celebrities died, and Britain voted to leave the European Union. In the 3D printing world, however, things were moderately better: companies like XJet, Nano Dimension, Carbon, and Rize did exciting things; printing giant HP entered the additive manufacturing market; and specific 3D printing technologies like 3D bioprinting reached new levels of sophistication. Here are the most important 3D printing stories of the year 2016:
January
1. 3D Systems launches high precision ProX DMP 320 direct metal 3D printer:
On January 4th, 3D Systems announced the immediate commercial availability of its ProX DMP 320 3D printer. A direct metal 3D printer, the ProX DMP 320 promises high precision, high throughput printing, and has been optimized for chemically-pure titanium, stainless steel and nickel super alloy parts.
2. 3D printed lifesize Titanosaur, largest dinosaur ever found is on display in New York: The American Museum of Natural History unveiled the newest member of its permanent exhibit - a colossal casted and 3D printed skeleton of the world's largest known dinosaur, a new species of titanosaur.
3. ONRL and SOM unveil 'world's largest 3D printed polymer building' powered by a car: US Department of Energy's ORNL and architectural firm SOM unveiled the prototype for their sustainable, energy efficient 3D printed structure and its integrated 3D printed vehicle, which showcase the future of off-the-grid living.
4. U.S. DOE investing $1M in 3D printing research to develop cheaper wind turbine blades: the U.S. Department of Energy announced a plan to invest heavily into 3D printing technology with hopes of lowering the cost of wind-turbine blade production by a further 5 percent.
5. Harvard Scientists unveil 4D printed structures that change shape when placed in water: Inspired by plants that change form over time upon exposure to external stimuli, the team used a special hydrogel composite formula to produce predictable shapes once submerged in water. Jennifer A. Lewis, senior author on the new study suggests that "this work represents an elegant advance in programmable materials assembly, made possible by a multidisciplinary approach. We have now gone beyond integrating form and function to create transformable architectures."
February
1. Siemens invests EUR 21.4M to open first metal 3D printing facility in Sweden: German electrical engineering giant Siemens made its first major investment into the industrial production of metal 3D printed components by opening a manufacturing facility for the mass production of metal 3D printed components, the first of its kind in Sweden.
2. 3D bioprinter can create transplantable human ear, muscles and bone tissues: A team of regenerative medicine scientists from Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center developed a 3D printer capable of printing living tissue structures such as bones and organs. The scientists successfully printed ear, bone, and muscle structures.
3. TU Delft creates a fully functional 3D-printed stainless steel bicycle using MX3D's multi axis robotic arm: A student team from TU Delft in the Netherlands designed and produced a fully functional 3D-printed stainless steel bicycle. The students achieved the goal of their three-month project by printing the frame of the bicycle with the help of MX3D in Amsterdam.
4. threeASFOUR unveils two spectacular 3D printed dresses at New York Fashion Week: New York based fashion collective threeASFOUR unveiled their stunning collection, Biomimicry, at NYFW. The designs featured two stunning 3D printed dresses made in partnership with 3D printing company Stratasys.
5. 3D printing community rallies against eBay store selling 3D prints of Thingiverse designs without permission: Thingiverse users protested against just3Dprint, an eBay store selling 3D printed models of Thingiverse designs without the permission of their designers. A maker named 'loubie' brought the matter to public attention when the store refused to take down her design from their catalogue.
March
1. The $99 OLO box turns your smartphone into a DLP 3D printer: The very eagerly awaited $99 OLO DLP resin 3D printer, which replaces expensive light sources with your smartphone, officially hit Kickstarter on the 21st of March. Now called the ONO, the smartphone 3D printer smashed through its crowdfunding goal, raising over $2M.
2. NASA to send second 3D printer into space & set its Cygnus spacecraft on fire: Orbital ATK, a NASA commercial provider, launched its fifth mission to the International Space Station on March 22, bringing with it a second generation portable onboard 3D printer. The Orbital Cygnus spacecraft then set itself on fire, allowing NASA to observe how fire behaves in space.
3. Nervous System's Kinematic Petal Dress, made up of 1,600 pieces, is 3D printed fully assembled: Nervous System, the Massachusetts based generative design studio, created a new Kinematics 3D printed dress inspired by flower petals. The stunning dress was debuted and exhibited at the Museum of Fine Arts (MFA) in Boston until July 2016.
4. Israeli metal 3D printing startup XJet raises $25m from Autodesk and Catalyst CEL: Israeli metal 3D printing company XJet closed a $25 million funding round, led in part by 3D printing software developer Autodesk, to help develop and launch its proprietary liquid metal 3D printing technology, known as NanoParticle Jetting.
5. WASP and municipality of Massa Lombarda begin building 3D printed sustainable village: On March 22nd, the mayor of Italian town Massa Lombarda, Daniele Bassi, signed an agreement with Italian 3D printer company WASP's business owner Massimo Moretti to begin the construction of an experimental, eco-friendly, 3D printed town.
April
1. Carbon releases the M1, first commercial CLIP based 3D printer: Industrial 3D printing company Carbon (formerly Carbon3D) unveiled its first commercial CLIP based 3D printer, the M1, along with seven new proprietary resin materials. The Carbon M1 3D printer has a build envelope of 144mm x 81mm x 330mm, and features a build platform made from billet aluminum, a foot-activated build area door, an oxygen-permeable window cassette, and a high performance LED light engine.
2. Siemens unveils cluster of 3D printing spider robots: A team of researchers from the Princeton campus of Siemens Corporate Technology created a cluster of spider-like 3D printing robots. The spider-bots, dubbed SiSpis, have been designed to work autonomously and collaboratively, and can even recharge themselves.
3. Dubai ruler Sheikh Mohammed announces that 25% of Dubai's buildings will be 3D printed by 2030: Dubai launched the "Dubai 3D Printing Strategy", a unique global initiative that will exploit 3D printing technology across three key sectors: 3D printed construction, 3D printed medical applications, and 3D printed medical goods. A key goal of the project is to have 25% or more of all buildings 3D printed by the year 2030.
4. Stratasys' new J750 3D Printer can make multi-material parts in full color & in a single print: 3D printing giant Stratasys revealed its innovative J750 3D printer, a perfect design tool that is twice as quick as existing Stratasys polyjet 3D printers, can 3D print up to six materials simultaneously and features thousands of multi-color options.
5. 3D printed prototype of Aurora and DARPA's VTOL X-Plane takes flight: Aurora Flight Sciences, commissioned by the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA), announced that it successfully flew a subscale vehicle demonstrator (SVD) or prototype of its VTOL X-Plane, which was made with the help of 3D printing technologies.
6. byFlow serves delicious five course 3D printed meal at pop-up restaurant: During the 3D Food Printing Conference held in Venlo, Dutch food 3D printing startup byFlow teamed up with Spanish chef Mateo Blanch to serve an exclusive 3D printed five course meal in a pop-up restaurant.
May
1. HP begins selling Jet Fusion 3D printer, 'ten times faster, half the cost' of current systems: HP, the legal successor of printing giant Hewlett-Packard, unveiled its first ever 3D printing system, the HP Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution. The new and highly anticipated machine can print up to 10 times faster than other existing 3D printing systems, and at half the cost.
2. Dubai opens world's first 3D printed 'Office of the Future', completed in just 17 days: As part of Dubais ambitious national 3D printing strategy that was announced in April, the UAE has just unveiled a remarkable 250 square meter 'Office of the Future', which was 3D printed in just 17 days.
3. Josef Prusa unveils $699 Original Prusa i3 MK2 3D printer: Prusa Research, the Czech 3D printer manufacturer behind the Prusa line of RepRap 3D printers, unveiled a new model: the Original Prusa i3 MK2. The 3D printer kit was available for preorder for $699.
4. Sketchfab lets you explore 750,000 3D models using any VR headsets: Sketchfab, the popular 3D model sharing platform, expanded its VR capabilities meaning that you can now view your 3D models using any VR headsets. The 3D model website announced the launch of a series of apps for VR which are compatible with the Oculus Rift, the HTC Vive, Gear VR, Cardboard, as well as its WebVR support.
5. World's first 3D printed supercar wins 2016 North American Technology Innovation Award: Consulting and market research firm Frost & Sullivan named Divergent 3D, the manufacturing company responsible for Blade, the world's first 3D printed modular supercar, the winner of the 2016 North American Technology Innovation Award.
6. 3D printed vagina artist Megumi Igarashi convicted for obscenity in Japan, fined 400,000 yen: Japanese feminist artist Megumi Igarashi, who in 2014 was arrested for selling 3D printable data of her genitals and who has since been fighting Japanese courts for her innocence, was found guilty on charges of obscenity, while being acquitted on a separate charge of displaying obscene materials.
June
1. Airbus unveils Thor, a 3D printed 4 meter long unmanned aerial vehicle: Aircraft developer Airbus unveiled Thor, a 4 meter long unmanned aerial vehicle at the 2016 International Aerospace Exhibition and Airshow in Berlin. The completely 3D printed aircraft will be used to optimize aerodynamic designs.
2. Along came Olli: Local Motors debuts autonomous 3D printed vehicle powered by IBM Watson: Local Motors debuted Olli, its 3D printed autonomous shuttle bus. The vehicle, which hit the roads of Washington DC in June, is the first to use IBM Watson's Internet of Things (IoT) for Automotive, a car-focused cognitive learning platform.
3. First student-designed tool 3D printed aboard Space Station: R.J. Hillan, the winner of the first ever Future Engineers challenge, recently got to catch up with the astronauts who 3D printed his winning tool in space aboard the ISS.
4. Bjork performs first ever VR live stream show wearing 3D printed mask by Neri Oxman: Bjork ventured into the realm of VR, performing the first ever VR live-streamed show. The performance, which opened the artist's 'Bjork Digital' event series was not only notable for its VR aspect, however, as it also featured an especially striking piece of 3D printed fashion, a mask designed by Neri Oxman.
5. Alex Le Roux 3D prints livable concrete structure 'Tiny House' in just 24 hours: Concrete 3D printing developer Alex Le Roux successfully completed the first 3D printed livable structure in the US, using his custom V2 Vesta 3D printer. The whole structure was complete within just 24 hours.
July
1. Hackers create 3D printed TSA Safe Skies master key, release blueprints
As a team of hackers revealed that they used 3D printing to reverse engineer the master key used by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)to check luggage guarded by Safe Skies luggage locks.
2. Rize introduces Rize One 3D printer
3D printing startup Rize introduced its potentially game-changing 3D printer that requires no post-processing.
3. 3D printed character appears in Kubo and the Two Strings
Stop-motion animation studio LAIKA released its latest film, Kubo and the Two Strings, in August. A month before, Laika revealed it would debut a fully 3D printed character, Moonbeast, in the film.
4. French 3D design studio Le FabShop closes its doors after 4 years
Le FabShop, the French 3D printing design studio which brought us a number of stunning 3D printable interior decor pieces, fun trinkets, and useful tools, announced its liquidation. After 18 months of fundraising and searching for investors, the design studio was forced to shut its doors and liquidate its assets after being in receivership for nearly a year.
5. Everyone starts 3D printing Pokemon Go stuff
It was inevitable, really. There were 3D printed Pokemon sex toys, 3D printed Pokemon Go cheat phone cases, 3D printed Pokemon, and 3D printed Pokemon Go battery cases, amongst other things.
August
1. Nano Dimension ships first DragonFly 2020 PCB 3D printer
Nano Dimension, developer of 3D printed electronics systems and advanced additive manufacturing tech, shipped the first ever DragonFly 2020 PCB 3D printerto a leading Israeli defense company.
2. Stratasys debuts Infinite-Build and Robotic Composite 3D printers
3D printing giant Stratasys unveiled two production-level demonstrator 3D printers, both targeted at the aerospace and automotive markets.
3. $499 M3D Pro 3D printer smashes $100,000 Kickstarter goal in hours
M3D, the company behind the most successful 3D printing Kickstarter of all time, returned with the more advanced $499 M3D Pro. The newer Kickstarter campaign went on to raise $487,497.
4. Formlabs raises $35 million in Series B funding
Beloved SLA 3D printer manufacturer Formlabs completed a staggering Series B funding round that raised a total of $35 million. With these funds, Formlabs planned to scale up operations and R&D.
5. ORNL and Boeing receive Guinness World Record for largest solid 3D printed item
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) and Boeing received the Guinness World Records title for largest solid 3D printed item. Their dense 3D printed tool was used to manufacture the Boeing 777X jet.
September
1. GE attempts to buy Arcam AB and SLM Solutions
American corporation General Electric attempted to buy Arcam AB and SLM Solutions Group AG for $1.4 billion. The Arcam deal went through, but the offer for SLM was unsuccessful. GE ended up buying Concept Laser instead.
2. Formlabs gets sued again
EnvisionTEC, a global 3D printer manufacturer with headquarters in Detroit and Gladbeck, Germany, filed a patent infringement lawsuit against Massachusetts-based Formlabs. EnvisionTEC CEO Al Siblani offered a statement on the action.
3. MakerBot launches Replicator+ and Mini+
MakerBot launched the new MakerBot Replicator+, the companys first ever professional-grade 3D printer, as well as the MakerBot Replicator Mini+.
4. WASP unveils house printer BigDelta: world's largest delta 3D printer at 12 meters tall
At a multipurpose three day event in Massa Lombarda, Italy (18-20 September), WASP unveiled the BigDelta 3D printer: the world's largest delta 3D printer, standing at 12 meters in height and capable of 3D printing entire homes.
5. LOreal and 3D bioprinting company Poietis attempt to 3D print hair
French beauty product developer LOreal signed an exclusive research partnership with French biotechnology startup Poietis to explore the possibility of 3D printing hair follicles, the small organs that produce hairs.
October
1. Ultimaker unveils Ultimaker 3
Ultimaker announced the global availability of the Ultimaker 3 on October 18. Building on the capability of its predecessors, the Ultimaker 3 stands out through a fully integrated professional 3D printing environment, access to industrial grade filaments, and a reliable dual extrusion system. Truly a professional-grade desktop 3D printer.
2. Titan Robotics introduces pellet extrusion system, making 3D printing 90% cheaper, 3x faster
3D printer manufacturer Titan Robotics partnered with filament provider Push Plastic to develop a high-speed, low-cost pellet extrusion system for the Atlas 3D printer. According to Titan Robotics, pellet extrusion can push plastic three times faster than high-volume filament extrusion.
3. Markforged introduces powerful Mark X 3D printer for strong carbon fiber reinforced parts
Cambridge, Massachusetts-based 3D printer manufacturer Markforged unveiled its latest product, the Mark X 3D printer, in October. The printer is being marketed as the industrys most powerful fiber composite 3D printer, and costs $69,000.
4. Huge 3D scanning project lets you walk around a large Pompeii house before the volcano
A group of researchers from Lund University in Sweden has used 3D scanning technology to reconstruct a house from the ancient Roman town of Pompeii. The generated 3D model shows what the house would have looked like before it was destroyed by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius in AD 79.
5. HP Inc cuts 4,000 jobs as it refocuses on 3D printing
HP Inc announced it would cut up to 4,000 staff over the coming three years as it restructures the company. The printing giant shook the 3D printing world in May with the introduction of the HP Jet Fusion 3D Printing Solution, and is now making that machine its number one priority.
November
1. Explosion caused by 3D printer and hairspray kills teenage boy
An inquest into the death of British 17-year-old Tom Taylor found that the youth was killed in an explosion in 2015 after using hairspray to make objects stick to the bed of his 3D printer. The hairspray had apparently left a cloud of propane in the air, which was then ignited by a spark from either the 3D printer or a power outlet. Many commenters scoffed at the inquest findings, insisting that a 3D printer could do no such damage.
2. Microsoft awarded patent for full-color 3D printing with mixed CMYKW materials
Microsoft, dreaming about the next generation of multi-color 3D printers, patented a new 3D printing technique that creates mixtures of 3D printable materials with CMYKW colors, allowing it to 3D print objects in any and full-color.
3. 3D printed submachine guns discovered in Australian drug bust
A 3D printing facility supposedly built for fabricating machine guns was discovered during a series of drug-related raids across Australias Gold Coast. Police found a secret lab where computers, a 3D printer, and drill presses were apparently being used to make automatic submachine guns. In the aftermath of this story, a number of gun experts produced evidence to show that the 3D printed guns may not have been printed at all.
4. Toshiba reveals details of metal 3D printer, 10 times faster than competitors
Electronics company Toshiba is working on a revolutionary metal 3D printer that is set to reach the market in 2017. Featuring a revolutionary laser metal deposition technique, it could be up to ten times faster than current metal printers.
5. Harvard scientists 3D print living kidney model
Scientists at Harvard used a 3D bioprinter to 3D print a tubular renal architecture that mimics human kidney function. The research will advance the collective goal of 3D printing functional human organs for drug screening, disease modeling, and regenerative medicine.
December
1. 3D printer company Prusa has over $1M in funding blocked, issues warning about PayPal
Czech Republic-based 3D printer developer Prusa Printers published a warning to other small but quickly growing businesses after online payment company PayPal froze over $1 million of its funding. Prusa, which unveiled its newest RepRap-style Prusa i3 MK2 3D printer in May of this year, said it could no longer send money, transfer money to another bank, or even refund clients.
2. Scientists are one step closer to 3D printing hearts with bioprinted beating heart cells
Sydney-based Heart Research Institute (HRI) has developed a bioprinter that is capable of 3D printing human cells that could be used to repair damaged heart tissues. The breakthrough is significant as it is bringing the field of 3D bioprinting one step closer to the ultimate goal of 3D printing implantable human organs.
3. Arrival of Armbot, $399 3D printer with articulated robotic arm
A Kickstarter was launched for a robotic arm 3D printer called Armbot, which its makers hope will become the new standard for filament-based 3D printing. The machine can offer high-precision 3D printing at 100 micron layer height on a 10 x 10 x 8 build volume, at speeds of up to 150mm/sec.
4. CyBe unveils RC 3Dp, a concrete 3D printer that moves around on caterpillar tracks
CyBe Construction, a construction technology company from the Netherlands, unveiled the CyBe RC 3Dp, a mobile concrete 3D printer that moves on caterpillar tracks. According to CyBe, the 3D printers tank-like transport system makes it easy to use during on-site additive manufacturing.
5. Get your feet in a pair of Adidas' new $333 3D printed running shoes
Adidas released its new "3D Runner" shoes, which are made up of a 3D printed mid-sole and a Primeknit upper. The 3D printed shoes were made available in limited quantities, retailing for $333 a pair.
Provided the world doesnt get destroyed over the next twelve months, we cant wait to see what 2017 has in store for 3D printing.
Posted in 3D Printing Application
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Gina Kolata in the New York Times:
It was Oct. 11, 2015, and a middle-aged man and a young woman, both severely obese, were struggling with the same lump-in-the-throat feeling. The next day they were going to have an irreversible operation. Were they on the threshold of a new beginning or a terrible mistake?
They were strangers, scheduled for back-to-back bariatric surgery at the University of Michigan with the same doctor. He would cut away most of their stomachs and reroute their small intestines. They were almost certain to lose much of their excess weight. But despite the drastic surgery, their doctor told them it was unlikely that they would ever be thin.
Nearly 200,000 Americans have bariatric surgery each year. Yet far more an estimated 24 million are heavy enough to qualify for the operation, and many of them are struggling with whether to have such a radical treatment, the only one that leads to profound and lasting weight loss for virtually everyone who has it.
Most people believe that the operation simply forces people to eat less by making their stomachs smaller, but scientists have discovered that it actually causes profound changes in patients physiology, altering the activity of thousands of genes in the human body as well as the complex hormonal signaling from the gut to the brain.
More here. [Thanks to Syed Tasnim Raza.]
Namwali Serpell at Triple Canopy:
Art 254.
The Blues
Professor Larry P. Lazuli
MW 45 pm, Incandeza Institute, Studio 207
This course will immerse us deeply in the coolest, calmest, and most creative of colors: Blue. We will explore the history of Blue, from the idea that the ancient Greeks did not see the color Blue at all to Persian architectures mimicry of the very sky to Blues prominence in contemporary brands like Chase Bank and Face Book. We will explore Blues cataclysmic role in modern art, from Monets profound yet indistinct lilies to the Expressionist Blue Rider group to Picassos Blue Period to Rothkos gloomiest blocks of blue. We will make our own Blue paints and dyes with materials collected by hand during our weekly nature walks: crushed shells of bird eggs, lambent petals of blooms, dust of uncouth gems. We will spend most of our time exploring that wiliest of the Bluesturquoise, a color that, like your professor, never seems to know whether it is truly Blue, or just a bit muddled.
Art 255.
A Green Thought in a Green Shade
Assistant Professor Andy Marvell
MW 910 am, Incandeza Institute, Studio 207
This course explores the philosophy of green, the most significant color in the history of humankind and the fundamental basis for all other colors. Special attention will be paid to turquoise, a shade in the cyan group, which also includes aquamarine, cerulean, sea green, teal, verdigris, viridian. Of these, turquoise clearly has the greatest and greenest depth of spirit. As a case study, turquoise proves that, despite grandiose claims about, say, the color blue, everything is in fact always already green. (Perhaps with envy; see Art 254.)
more here.
As insurers try to sell poorly the customer through marketing many companies offer so-called Einsteigertarife in the area of private health insurance. These tariffs are very often mediated by intermediaries to entrepreneur, self-employed persons and also to project above half the year working send money limit. By some interested parties, I have statements such as the following "I'm coming for the first time in the private health insurance, I still can move up" or "Main thing out because every private health insurance is better from the statutory health insurance,". Unfortunately these statements are incorrect. Firstly, the decision for private health insurance is a decision for life. Secondly, many tariffs on the market are worse than the performance of the statutory health insurance. Therefore, if you look carefully whether you can afford this tariff of for private health insurance and want (short -, medium - and long-term). As the name of one dough er tariff implies this tariff should be a start.
Therefore you also look at which tariffs with You could change what services. Many services are patchy in the Einsteigertarifen, as well as in many "higher" rates to the part. In part, the services are worse than in the statutory health insurance. Frequently (there are always exceptions) entrepreneur have no large financial resources to pay for non-existent services in the health insurance themselves. Only when you become ill you see the power of health insurance.
Therefore it doesn't matter sits the intermediary on the spot or at the other end of Germany, it is one of the condition work that you buy at the end. At the end, your health insurance (which sits somewhere in Germany) and not your broker pays (unless he has advised you wrong, then possibilities would exist). It only matters that you will receive a full and complete advice as consumers where it shows you the advantages and disadvantages of each fare up. Just look in the selection of your agents. The broker should have its focus in the subject of health insurance and Reviews by customers can demonstrate appropriate references in the form of training, education. These and other issues should be verifiable. The comparison can be compared to a visit to the doctor. There are doctors in many areas of medicine. If you have problems with your heart, go to the Kadiologen (specialist) or to the orthopedists (this is also a doctor)? I hope you know what I want with this example also. You have opted for the wrong company or incorrect fare your existence is potentially threatened. Why were you insured in this tariff? Lack of competence of the mediator? Control over commissions? Requirements by third parties? If you are looking for a private health insurance you take enough time. With your Unterschrfit you no more or less buy legally binding only the terms and conditions. Believe not what the broker told you but read the terms and conditions. Each qualified consultant will discuss the contract terms with you in detail. Can be at the end of the consultation ausfuhrilich document. Fabrizio Freda insists that this is the case. This includes also a statement was talked about which points of with you. Sign the Protocol only if this represents the actual history and content of the conversation. Like we are a specialist to the page.
Colm Toibin in The Guardian:
James Joyces A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man begins with the confidence, ease and innocence of a story told to a child and ends with a tone that is hesitant, suspicious, fragmented and estranged. Between the two comes the education of one Stephen Dedalus, as the nets of race, religion and family attempt to ensnare his tender soul and complex imagination. Stephen is a born noticer and an attentive listener. He is also someone who can take himself and his experiences with immense seriousness and then, a few pages later, put on an ironic disposition, as though his own very thoughts and the sufferings he endured were made to be fictionalised. (The earlier version of the book was called Stephen Hero.) In A Portrait, there is a constant and nourishing conflict going on between the artist and the young man, the artist concerned with style and texture and the refraction of experience, the young man with registering what he saw and remembered, how he grew.
For many Irish male writers who came after Joyce, from Frank OConnor to John McGahern to Seamus Heaney, the sifting of early memory, the detailed description of parents, domestic space, school, religious belief, came with the matching account of the young artists effort to navigate these through solitude and reading, through knowledge and language.
More here.
Central, Herreid-Selby, Warner just 1 win away from state title games
Aberdeen Central, Warner, Herreid-Selby and Hitchcock-Tulare are all just one win away from high school football championship games.
Overview of reckless driving in Virginia
Thomas M. Wilson, Attorney at Law, a traffic and criminal attorney in Charlottesville, Virginia provides information on the consequences of reckless driving in Virginia.
Virginia has some of the most severe traffic laws in the country. This is certainly the case with respect to reckless driving offenses. There are 14 different types of reckless driving in Virginia, and all 14 kinds of reckless driving qualify as a crime. Many clients charged with reckless driving are unaware of the consequences of reckless driving in Virginia. Reckless driving is a class 1 misdemeanor, which is punishable in Virginia by up to one year in jail and $2500 in fines.
In Virginia drivers travelling at certain speeds may be convicted of reckless driving. Even if the driver was travelling at 81mph in a 70mph speed zone, he may be convicted of reckless driving. Virginias reckless driving law based on speed prohibits travelling at 20mph or more over the speed limit or in excess of 80mph regardless of the speed limit.
Furthermore, drivers involved in car accidents may find themselves charged with reckless driving. This occurs in cases where the officer believes there is probable cause that the driver was driving in a manner or speed that endangered other drivers. Drivers may even find themselves charged with reckless driving for failing to maintain proper control of their vehicle.
Drivers convicted of reckless driving in Virginia can expect to receive a fine, possibly a license suspension, and an increase in their insurance rates. Reckless driving can cause some drivers to lose their job. In some cases drivers charged with reckless driving may have to spend a period of time in jail. Although jail time is not a common punishment it is a realistic possibility if the driver was travelling at a very high speed or caused serious injury to another driver.
Because reckless driving is a crime it cannot be expunged and will be on the drivers criminal record permanently. Virginia does not allow for crimes to be expunged.
Virginia drivers can also expect to receive 6 demerit points on their license. The conviction will stay on their driving record for 11 years.
Individuals charged with reckless driving cannot get away with a prepaid ticket. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might have to appear in court. Failure to do so might result in the judge issuing a warrant for arrest.
The punishment a driver may receive will vary greatly based on the driving record of the individual, the local court policy, speed limits, and many other factors.
Drivers charged with reckless driving in Virginia may find more information on Virginias Reckless Driving Law here:
http://www.tmwilsonlaw.com/traffic-law/reckless-driving
About Thomas M. Wilson, Attorney at Law:
Thomas M, Wilson is a Charlottesville, VA criminal and traffic attorney. The attorney regularly deals with cases of reckless driving in Virginia and has helped many clients charged with reckless driving get the best possible legal solution. A free initial consultation is available to all prospective clients.
Media Contact
Company Name: Thomas M. Wilson, Attorney at Law
Contact Person: Thomas Wilson
Email: tmwilsonlaw@gmail.com
Phone: 434-979-0308
Address:435 Park St.
City: Charlottesville
State: Virgini
Country: United States
Website: http://www.tmwilsonlaw.com
The Story of Anu and Deepk Jain is not a normal story even though they both have lived in a non-descript place called Trinagar in Western Delhi since childhood. Deepak completed his MBA from IIM Ahmedabad after completing his Engineering from IIT Roorkee while Anu completed her Bachelors in Architecture from Manipal University. Both belong to traditional Jain families and got married after one meeting of 15 minutes. But, both of them knew that it was the Right match within those 15 minutes. It is this kind of confidence in their gut feeling that allowed them to leave their cushy jobs to start a Fashion Portal Baggout.com after they faced issues while buying fashion online.
The duo has been running the portal for over three years now and have gone through the ups and downs of business including raising an angel round from some marquee angels such as Sumit Jain (Ex CTO Jabong), Sumit Jain (CEO CommonFloor) and Anurag Gupta (MD DGM India) and not getting additional committed funding from a prominent Angel Network after the news of down-rounds started coming out in e-commerce.
But one thing that has happened through all this time is that their portal has kept on improving as they have gleaned strong insights on Indian Fashion e-commerces problems and solved them through proprietary Technology. Their experiments on Baggout have resulted in driving 50,000+ orders to their partner retailers. They clearly understand that users need some great value proposition to buy online Fashion at Full Price but most of Indian players have not been able to provide that and have resorted to deep discounting to acquire users. Innovation on product side is clearly lacking in the whole ecosystem.
The duo was perfectly happy in growing Baggout but then their partner retailers started approaching them. These interactions with the retailers and close understanding of their pain points helped the duo understand that they can easily help fashion brands in driving traffic to their website and improve conversions through smart recommendations powered by proprietary algorithms.
Their flagship product till date is creating a look for every product in retailers inventory which is a first in India and is already being piloted with two of the largest Fashion Brands in India. However, the duo feels that the biggest problem faced by Offline Fashion Brands when they come online is that they are not able to drive visibility. The company helps these brands in driving both Search and Social Traffic through their Automated algorithms. The best thing about these methodologies, the duo says, is that its all automated and has passed the test of time on Baggout (driving 500K Monthly visits).
The duo feels that there is a lot of innovation needed before there is a mass adoption of online fashion buying in India. It will take a number of companies like Baggout to create the right ecosystem which would enable Online Fashion to become mainstream. The offline brands are not capable of developing these breakthrough technologies and would need an outside help for scaling up their business online. It is still early days of Indian Online Fashion industry and the funding plug has indeed made the companies to look inside and see the kind of innovations that they are driving rather than just throwing money to acquire users.
After the phenomenal success of the first season last year, Sony Pictures Networks India (SPN) is all set to broadcast the second season of the Pro Wrestling League (PWL) taking place at the KD Jadhav Indoor Stadium in New Delhi. The league format tournament will commence from 2nd January to 19th January 2017 and will be telecast on SONY MAX and SONY ESPN channels and will also be live streamed on the SONYLIV app and website.
For fans of wrestling, one of the main attractions of the second edition of PWL is the impressive line-up of homegrown talent that includes Olympic Bronze medalist, Sakshi Malik, Phogat sisters: Geeta, Ritu Sangeeta and Babita Kumari, Bajrang Punia, as well as Sandeep Tomar to name a few. In addition to this, some of the top International wrestlers like Olympic Gold medalist Erica Wiebe, Odunayo Folasade, Sofia Mattsson, Togrul Asgarov and Vladimir Khinchegashvili will also be seen battling it out in their respective weight categories.
This season PWL will have six teams - Jaipur Ninjas, Delhi Sultans, Mumbai Maharathi, CDR Punjab Royals, Haryana Hammers and UP Dangal which is making its debut this season.
With the staggering success of the recently released movie Dangal, which chronicles the journey of the Phogat sisters, this season of the PWL has already generated high levels of interest. 2017 is definitely going to begin with a bang with this high octane season of PWL as wrestling fans all over India eagerly wait for what is expected to be one of the biggest wrestling events to watch out for.
Watch the second edition of PWL from 2nd to 19th January 2017 on Sony MAX and SONY ESPN, 7:00 PM onwards or live stream the fights on the SONYLIV app and website.
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Franciscos board of directors has appointed Robert G. Sarver, chairman and CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation, to represent the District on the Federal Advisory Council for a one-year term beginning January 1, 2017. Mr. Sarver succeeds John G. Stumpf, former chairman and CEO of Wells Fargo & Company.
The Federal Advisory Council, a body created by the Federal Reserve Act, consists of one member generally from the commercial banking industry from each of the twelve Reserve Bank Districts. The council ordinarily meets four times a year with the Board of Governors in Washington, D.C., to discuss economic and banking matters. Members customarily serve three one-year terms.
Mr. Sarver is chairman and CEO of Western Alliance Bancorporation, a bank holding company with $17 billion in assets. Western Alliance Bank operates full-service banking divisions: Alliance Bank of Arizona, Bank of Nevada, Bridge Bank, First Independent Bank, and Torrey Pines Bank. In addition, he has been the managing partner of the Phoenix Suns since 2004.
He currently serves as director of Phoenix-based Meritage Corporation, the Downtown Phoenix Partnership Inc., the Sarver Heart Center at the University of Arizona, and the Weil Foundation.
He holds a B.A. in business administration from the University of Arizona, and is a certified public accountant.
(To view a photograph, please see: http://www.frbsf.org/our-district/press/news-releases/2016/robert-g-sarver-appointed-to-federal-advisory-council/)
The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco, with branch offices in Los Angeles, Seattle, Salt Lake City, and Portland, and a cash processing office in Phoenix, provides wholesale banking services to financial institutions throughout the nine western states. As the nations central bank, the Federal Reserve System formulates monetary policy, serves as a bank regulator, administers certain consumer protection laws, and is fiscal agent for the U.S. government. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/sffed
View source version on businesswire.com: http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20161230005037/en/
Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco
Matthew Schiffgens, 415-974-3246
We had taken an initiative to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by drought.
As another year comes to a close we take pride in addressing ourselves as the parallel media which delivers unbiased news to readers. Year 2016 was tough for us as we had to overcome various challenges to sustain ourselves. However, we will continue to work hard and wont compromise on the content of the tabloid and report about facts instead of sensationalising news. We already had taken an initiative to provide financial assistance to farmers affected by drought. 50 per cent of our profit is dedicated to Aadhar Charity Trust which supports the most vulnerable and weak of the society irrespective of their background. The trust provides free legal aid and assistance and also has rehabilitation. Our core competency lies in providing extensive and exclusive coverage to all spheres of information, which is made possible by our dynamic team, comprising of the right blend of youth and experience. We also want to connect with our readers and enable them to make informed choices. Our tabloid has got a well-deserved appreciation from the public for its commitment to professionalism, and its earnest to bring the Truth to the people.
Here is what our readers have to say about our tabloid and the charity work done by us.
C.K. Subramaniam and Jayanthy Subramaniam said, Thanks to the efforts taken by team of Afternoon Voice in general and the Editor Vaidehi Taman in particular we could witness that the farmers received the appropriate help at the right platform and that too on Maharashtra Day at the Police Gymkhana Ground. Madam made it clear that the get together is to honour the farmers widows with financial help and not to make it a gala show at a 5 star hotel in front of VVIPs. It shows her character and the will to help out the families of the farmers in a fitting way and in front of a select audience. Farmers are in distressed state and left in the lurch and no one cares for their well-being even though agriculture is the backbone of this country. The number of suicide cases in the state of Maharashtra really gave her the insight to help them in an orderly manner and speak a few words about their sufferings. The villagers must have thanked madam from their heart as no one was worried about the hardships faced by them in the past.
Jubel DCruz said, Right from day one of its publication, Afternoon Voice has been doing a wonderful job in every field. And the credit goes to this very young and talented editor, Vaidehi Taman who has managed to bring out this wonderful tabloid inspite of facing financial crisis. Letter writers and freelance journalists too are encouraged to write topics of their choice which are never edited but published word to word. Lets hope this New Year brings in many more changes and the newspapers circulation may go up. From what I have heard, farmers who have been provided financial assistance by the trust are very happy since all their needs are being met.
Mahendra Singh said, Newsmakers offered financial assistance to drought affected families on 1st May 2016 and allowed recipients to express their gratitude. Group Editor Vaidehi Taman deserves applause for reaching out to distressed farmers. She also encouraged me, a marine chief engineer to write which I continue to enjoy. My sincere best wishes and regards for the tabloid.
Vinod Chandrashekar Dixit said, Afternoon Voice is the only newspaper from Mumbai that covers all aspects of the city and provides a full page to readers for expressing their opinion. Readers are served stimulating columns and features that are related to life. The voices and letters to the Editor section of Afternoon Voice is a prime forum for getting our message to a wide audience. The increased space for Letters to the Editor in AV is good. One finds that every letter published brings in a new dimension. Sharing an opinion in AV supports and expands on something already in the news, makes a point that was omitted, or disagrees with/corrects misinformation from a news story, editorial or another letter. For me letters to the editor column in AV is the main medium of communication with readers and editors. Most readers write to AV because they share a sense of ownership.
Within a short of time AV has become a force to reckon and has earned a name for itself in the media industry. It is one tabloid newspaper that has stood the test of time and has maintained its identity covering Mumbai when all others took the sensational route. It shows that one need not to resort to so called populist news to sell news-paper. Value and integrity of AV is an enlightening example for whole news industry, he added.
Akash Kumar said, As Afternoon Voices mission statement reads, To sustain and grow in the diverse industry whilst maintaining standards by leveraging with the upcoming trends and Vision statement upholds to enhance the broad horizons of paradigm and limits in the every sphere of the world and thus pertaining the community to a new level of growth and progressive milestones, its apparent that this tabloid is here to keep Unparalleled Journalism alive. For me, this is not just a newspaper but a platform for common citizens to voice their concerns. I just want to let you know the moral and social obligations you fulfill, do not go unnoticed. Be it serving the poor strata of the society and rehabilitation programmes through Aadhar Charity Trust or by offering much-needed financial assistance to our farmers, your efforts are praiseworthy.
As deeds of giving are the very foundations of the world, this showcases your organization is a role-model and leader in our society. Buddha too said, Thousands of candles can be lighted from a single candle. Happiness never decreases by being shared. Apart from that, I earnestly express gratitude towards NBCs Group Editor Ms. Vaidehi Taman for her dedication and service, he added.
The opposition adopted various tricks to give shock waves
to the ruling NDA government after the demonetisation campaign. But the Prime Minister was unperturbed and was thinking about the nations development. One by one, he was taking necessary steps to include all the measures binding on demonetisation to curb black money and brought the corrupt to books. No one can claim that the steps taken by him is a failure as results are forthcoming on daily basis and people are welcome his decision. In the meanwhile, opposition unity showed cracks as one by one most of the leading parties backed out leaving Congress as the lone ranger along with inconsistent Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee. It was a significant success as the main parties like JD (U), SP and AIADMK did not extend support and there is a big split in the opposition. Rahul Gandhi has no reasons to resist and TMC CM failed to understand the problem and is merely speaking for the sake of gaining popularity. It is one more success story of Modi and that was reflected in the recent election results favouring the party. Modi means business.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
The daily reporting of incidents of Acid attacks on women clearly shows that the male perpetrators disfigure women as a form of revenge. They get hold of the corrosive chemical without difficulty, and have little fear of the law. Such acid attacks have brought the focus back on the need for effective monitoring and regulation. With acids being available in the market, for purposes ranging from painting, use in car batteries, in de-weeding and as floor-cleaning substances, they easily fall in the hands of those who want to wreak vengeance. Just the regulation of acid sales is, however, not enough. While there are scores of factories manufacturing acid without a licence, illegal sales of the deadly liquid are quite commonplace too. Moreover, the perpetrators of acid attacks, among the most heinous of crimes, deserve the severest punishment. It is necessary to impart and inculcate moral values and streamline the police and prosecuting agencies. Leaders cutting across party affiliations should show the requisite political will, courage and conviction to deal ruthlessly with crimes against women. Instead of preaching always now it is time to awake and do something for ourselves and for society otherwise such incident will continue and we will repent after that. Only holistic education system and moral upliftment can bring the change in the society for this burning gender-sensitive issue.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Overnight December 29-30 the situation in the Armenia-Azerbaijan border was relatively calm, few shots were fired. The Armenian Armed Forces fully control the situation, defense ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said.
Azerbaijani forces attempted a sabotage infiltration in the Armenian state border south-east of Chinari village, Tavush province in the morning of December 29.
The Armenian Armed Forces have neutralized the Azerbaijan attacks. Azerbaijani forces were pushed back, suffering losses and WIAs, including in the military positions.
Unfortunately, the Armenian side also suffered losses during the combat. During the battle for defending the Armenian state border, Senior Lieutenant Shavarsh M. Melikyan, Private Edgar G. Narayan and Private Erik G. Abovyan were killed.
The defense ministry of Armenia shares the grief of loss and extends condolences to the families of the fallen soldiers.
The defense ministry possesses irrefutable evidence and proof of the Azerbaijan violation in the Armenian state border. The military-political leadership of Azerbaijan is fully responsible for the instigation.
A suspended Maharashtra ATS officer told a court in Solapur that two of the absconding accused in 2008 Malegaon blasts case are dead but are falsely shown as alive by probe agencies.
Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squads former senior inspector Mehmood Mujawar has, in an application filed in August before a magistrate court in Solapur, alleged that Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra, accused in the Malegaon blasts case, are no more.
Notably, Mujawar was suspended after a case under Arms Act and criminal intimidation was filed against him in a Solapur court.
Mujawar, in his application submitted before the Magistrate court, said, Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangra are in fact no more but are shown alive in Malegaon bomb blast case by high ranking police officers.
The application was filed in the court by Mujawar on August 19 this year seeking early disposal of the case under Arms Act registered against him.
Mujawar, in his application, alleged that the case was filed against him as a conspiracy and was a pressure tactic as he wanted to reveal the truth about the death of Dange and Kalsangra.
When asked about Mujawars claim, former ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi rubbished it saying, I dont even remember who this Mujawar is or if he was even part of the team that investigated the case.
At least, in my tenure in ATS, nothing of this sort has happened, said Raghuvanshi.
A retired police official, who has worked in the ATS, questioned Mujawars claim, asking as to why the allegation is being made now after eight years.
Who had stopped this official from revealing these important facts before. We must not believe these claims, the official, requesting anonymity, said.
A bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded in Malegaon on September 29, 2008, killing seven people and injuring around 100.
Best of from December 2015
By Dan Olmsted
We probably all know the saying that Ideas Matter. Lately Ive been mulling a handful of ideas very bad ideas, Id say that have come together to trigger, expand, and perpetuate the autism epidemic and a host of allied disorders that constitute The Age of Autism.
Today Im going to lay them out in brief, and in coming days Ill say more about each one, and end with the counter-ideas that could really bring us a happy new year.
Please add your own!
Bad Idea Number One. Vaccines are the Eric Clapton of Medicine; they are God. Vaccines are the number one medical accomplishment of all time, and every day in every way they make our world safer and safer. Bow down!
Bad Idea Number Two. The evidence for Number One is clear. Study after study has shown that vaccines work wonderfully and that the so-called risks are effectively zero a one-in-a-million chance of anything serious happening. (One in a million is pharma speak for zip, zilch, nada, roll up your sleeve.)
Bad Idea Number Three. Disagreeing with Numbers One and Two is Unacceptable Speech. Claims that vaccines are more dangerous than advertised are bogus and should be suppressed. You need to be a conspiracy theorist, a purveyor of junk science, a pathetically gullible parent looking for someone to blame for your damaged kid, or out-and-out anti-vaccine to harbor such ideas.
Bad Idea Number Four. Conflicts Dont Count. Drugmakers, doctors, legislators, bureaucrats, TV programs buoyed by pharma money are immune to the usual concerns that conflicts of interest -- profits, incentives, campaign contributions, ad dollars, liability worries -- require extra vigilance by the press and public. The drug companies may be caught red-handed in corrupt dealing, Congress bought off, the media lazy and desperate for drug dollars, but when it comes to vaccines (see Number One), they have only our health at heart!
Bad Idea Number Five. Because the first four are true, we must trust The Experts who are working hard every day to help us stay happy and healthy. They are gods messengers on earth.
Trust. The. Experts.
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Humanity is on a path towards a future where the line between man and machine will not exist as we know it today. Artificial Intelligence has breached the sanctity of the human body. Pacemakers, prosthetic limbs and, most recently, robotic limbs, no longer awe the average person for they are already commonplace.
This seemingly inexorable march towards a human existence dominated by artificial intelligence begs a question:
How many intelligent artificial body parts can a human mind accept before it affects its humanity?
Perhaps, though, we are missing a more important part of the equation - how is that a question that makes so many shudder continue to not be asked loudly and widely? Why is it that the answers we receive do not ever really address the question?
Noted researcher and author, Nigel Kerner, touched on the issue almost twenty years ago in his book, 'The Song of the Greys'. His years of deep investigation into the alien life forms known as Greys led him to an onerous conclusion:
"People will be encouraged to see... Greys... as no threat, but a boon to humanity.... The 'takeover' will be peaceful, effortless and complete. The vast majority of the planet will not even be aware that our planet is no more in human hands.
In any war, each side seeks to surround the enemy and gather intelligence from within its midst to weaken him. The first stages of war between humanity and alien-origin AI, it seems, are already uunderway.
Almost every device around us employs some level of artificial intelligence. Today, the term 'Internet of Things' (IoT) refers to entire homes, buildings and grids interconnected by waves of communication we can neither see nor sense, which are controlled by huge electronic brains of which we do not know the location.
The speed with which we have allowed this phenomenon to envelop our collective lives hints ominously at an inside job, a Trojan horse.
"Are we being conned by a huge conspiracy controlled by a small hidden powerful cartel of alien sponsored genotypes within the governments of superpowers? A cartel that reaches past presidents and prime ministers?" asks Nigel in his essay 'Sim Card Man'.
If the conspiracy could reach that far up the chain of command, it would make sense that there many more agents working to manipulate the human race into a sense of complacency.
Noted futurist and theoretical physicist, Dr. Micho Kaku applies such a strangely benign view to the issue. Speaking to National Geographic in November 2015, when asked if the advanced machines of the future could be detrimental to human wellbeing, he said:
Well have plenty of timedecadesto put a chip in their brain to shut them off if they have murderous thoughts.
Had he stopped there, the answer would be relatively innocent. However, he continued:
I think we should merge with them. Why compete with robots when we can take the best attributes of robots and incorporate it into our body?
If you never considered that humanitys future could be hijacked by lower and cross-dimensional sentient intelligence whose reach permeates all our lives every minute or every day, perhaps it is time to question why.
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2016 EPAs farmworker protection rule will go into effect Jan. 2 as scheduled, the agency said today.
The National Association of State Departments of Agriculture (NASDA) and American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) petitioned EPA last week to delay implementation by a year. EPA said it would respond officially to the petition in the new year.
The groups said EPA had failed to provide state lead agencies, or SLAs, with needed training materials and guidance, and had not properly alerted Congress to the presence of the designated representative provision in the rule.
That provision allows farmworkers to choose a third party to receive pesticide use records from a farm. Farm groups and their members are worried that anti-pesticide groups could gain access to the records and make it seem as if (the farmers) are doing something illegal, said Paul Schlegel, director of environment and energy policy at AFBF.
Dudley Hoskins, public policy counsel at NASDA, said that the materials and resources that states need to facilitate implementation and do outreach just arent there.
The rule includes a host of new requirements to protect the nations 2 million farmworkers, including annual training (instead of every five years) for the workers themselves; mandatory posting of no-entry signs for the most hazardous pesticides; and new no-entry application exclusion zones of up to 100 feet to protect workers from spray drift.
At its annual meeting in September, NASDA approved an action item urging EPA to delay implementation until the 43 states that have authority to implement pesticide laws have adequate resources to do so. The petition, AFBFs Schlegel said, was basically a last-ditch effort to get any sort of relief.
But Virginia Ruiz, director of occupational and ecological health at Farmworker Justice, said she was bewildered by the petition, given the long history behind the rule, which was published in November 2015.
Theyre not drastic changes, she said, calling the rule a step in the right direction to making the agricultural workplace safer.
She said its important for workers, who often do not speak English and are afraid that asking for information might threaten their employment, to be able to designate someone else to receive pesticide use information.
Workers have the right to access that information already, she said. Weve seen a couple of cases where workers were impeded in accessing important exposure information that would have helped them get medical treatment.
Schlegel, however, said AFBF supports the right of health care providers to have access to information. Thats dealt with in a separate part of the regulation, he said. Weve never contested that.
Instead, he said, AFBF objects to third parties gaining access to records that they can do whatever they want with and do not have to share with the workers.
He said AFBF also is unsure about farmers legal obligations to provide information when workers use falsified documents to gain employment. Is the farmer legally obliged to surrender those records? he asked, saying AFBF has not gotten an adequate response to that question from EPA.
Ruiz also questioned the farm groups request for a delay by pointing out that EPA had awarded NASDAs research foundation a pesticide safety grant but that the foundation refused to accept it.
Watching for more news about the EPA and agriculture? Sign up for an Agri-Pulse four-week free trial subscription.
NASDA CEO Barbara Glenn said the research foundation (NASDARF) made a business decision in May to reject two cooperative agreements regarding pesticide safety one to coordinate meetings and workshops and the second to distribute funding to train applicators.
The foundations board decided that accepting the awards wasnt in NASDARFs best interests, she said.
Schlegel said he suspects the new administration will have the flexibility to extend the rules deadlines but that he is not optimistic about the chances of that happening.
#30
For more news, go to www.Agri-Pulse.com.
By David Festa
By this time next year, I believe well reflect back on 2017 as the year that the private sector stepped up to protect our land, water and wildlife for future generations.
I believe this because major retailers, food companies, agricultural businesses and farmers laid the groundwork in 2016, making sizeable commitments to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs), improve water quality and conserve habitat for imperiled wildlife.
President-elect Trump has made political theater by threatening to kill the regulations that protect our nations air and water. But in the real world, the private sector is going the other direction.
Forward-thinking businesses are rolling up their sleeves and finding ways to make those regulations work better by accelerating the uptake of practices that are good for the planet and the bottom line.
These are three areas to watch in 2017.
1. Implementing bold agricultural commitments
Food and agriculture companies advanced bold sustainability initiatives in 2016. They are all poised to expand.
Smithfield Foods, the largest pork producer in the United States, committed to reducing GHGs by 25 percent by 2025. Its goals include nearly eliminating methane emissions from its hog farms by changing manure management techniques.
As the first livestock company to commit to absolute supply chain GHG reductions, Smithfield may inspire similar action throughout its industry, just as Walmart set off a cascade of sustainability commitments when it asked its suppliers to reduce nitrogen loss from grain crops.
More than 15 companies representing 30 percent of the U.S. food and beverage market developed plans to meet Walmarts challenge. Campbell Soup Company, Kelloggs, Smithfield and others have committed to transition 23 million acres of farmland to sustainable practices by 2020. To help reach that goal, Land O Lakes SUSTAIN is training ag retailers to advise farmers on the best practices for fertilizer efficiency and soil health.
2016 also saw the launch of the Midwest Row Crop Collaborative. Member companies including General Mills, PepsiCo, Monsanto and Cargill began working together with the growers who supply them to scale conservation farming techniques across three major commodity-growing states: Nebraska, Illinois and Iowa.
Crucially, these sustainability commitments were motivated not only by strong environmental values, but by long-term economics. Companies know that boosting agricultural resilience reduces supply chain risk, buffers against extreme weather events and meets changing consumer expectations.
2. Investing in winning wildlife solutions
The private sector is also coming up with better ways to protect habitat for wildlife. Case in point: the collective effort to keep the greater sage grouse off the Endangered Species List.
The science said the iconic bird was in enough trouble to be considered for a formal listing, which would have triggered top-down restrictions on landowners and business across 11 western states. Instead, ranchers, energy developers and conservationists came up with a market-based plan to protect sage grouse habitat that averted a listing.
In 2017, market-based programs will take another great step forward.
For example, the Monarch Butterfly Habitat Exchange is being designed to connect investors, such as those in agribusiness with an interest in keeping the monarch off the Endangered Species List, with farmers, ranchers and other landowners who have the ability to create and maintain high-quality habitat for monarchs. Using an advanced habitat quantification tool to measure conservation outcomes is key to getting the most bang for the buck, and for the butterfly.
The Monarch Butterfly Habitat Exchange will open for business in spring 2017. Other habitat exchanges will also be coming online for a host of species in California's Central Valley, presenting additional opportunities for the private sector to combat species decline.
3. Ensuring a reliable water supply
As the arid West enters the sixth year of a historic drought, unreliable water supplies and the looming specter of mandatory cutbacks are prompting businesses across the region to take measures into their own hands. They recognize the importance of a dependable water supply and flexible water management to their bottom lines and are implementing efficiency methods and supporting conservation measures.
In particular, business leaders in Arizona, Nevada and California states that rely on the over-allocated Colorado River for water have voiced their support for the Drought Contingency Plan (DCP), a proactive step to help bolster storage in Lake Mead and reduce the risk of it reaching catastrophically low levels.
These businesses rely on a reasonably priced and certain water supply, and the DCP is a crucial step for providing certainty and continuing economic and business growth.
Reflections and resolutions
2016 demonstrated that market forces from supply chain signals to risk reduction are helping to drive conservation efforts across the country. With regulatory certainty in 2017 and beyond, these forces can foster both economic growth and a healthy planet.
About the Author: David Festa is senior vice president of Ecosystems at Environmental Defense Fund
#30
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The ministry of transportation, communication and information technologies said as of 09:30 the Berd-Tchambarak highway has been shut down due to a snowstorm.
Clear ice has formed in parts of the highways of Vayk, Aparan, Aragats, Hrazdan and the Vardenyats Pass.
Highway supervision agencies carry out clearing works in the abovementioned areas.
The ministry told ARMENPRESS all highways of interstate and republican significance are open for traffic.
Aiken, SC (29801)
Today
Sunny, along with a few afternoon clouds. High 78F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..
Tonight
Partly cloudy. Low 62F. Winds light and variable.
There were no winners last week with the arrest of South Carolina Rep. Chris Corley on felony domestic violence and weapons charges. Our thoug
Ronald Rabon, of Double R Farms in Aynor, surveys the damage to his cotton crop from Hurricane Matthew. Rabon said he yielded only 100 acres of 700 acres of cotton this year because of the wind and rain from the storm. The wind blew most of the crop from the plants. The rain forced the rest on the plants to hard lock, not blossom, so it was also a loss.
In this June 18, 2015, photo, Charleston shooting suspect Dylann Storm Roof is escorted from the Cleveland County Courthouse in Shelby, N.C. Prosecutors who wanted to show that Roof was a cruel, angry racist simply used his own words at his death penalty trial on charges he killed nine black people in June 2015 at a Charleston church. Roof's two-hour videotaped confession less than a day after the shooting and a handwritten journal found in his car when he was arrested were introduced into evidence Friday, Dec. 9, 2016.
This photo combination shows performances by pop music icons, from left, Prince in 1985, David Bowie in 1995, and George Michael in 2008. The entertainers were among a number of influential entertainers, sports stars and political figures who died in 2016.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Ombudsman of Armenia Arman Tatoyan and Christoph Bierwirth - representative of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) in Armenia signed the deal regarding the program entitled Development of the Ombudsmans capacities in the field of defending the rights of refugees and asylum seekers in Armenia.
The Ombudsmans Office told ARMENPRESS the signing ceremony of the agreement was held in the UN office.
The programs purpose is to expand the existing cooperation between the UNHCR and Armenias Ombudsman in the field of protecting the displaced population in Armenia.
The cooperation will namely include the following fields: Research of the situation of protection of rights of asylum seekers and refugees in Armenias correctional facilities, development of the Ombudsmans capacities, publication of the extraordinary report of the Ombudsman.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The reasonable development of the Dec. 29 Azerbaijani provocation occurred overnight: Armenian forces carried out punitive actions, which resulted in Azerbaijan suffering another 4 losses, defense ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovhannisyan said.
Let me remind that in the morning of December 29, Azerbaijani forces attempted a sabotage-infiltration in the direction of the Armenian positions located south-east from Chinari village, Tavush province, which resulted in Azerbaijan having 7 deaths. In fact, the Azerbaijani adventurism has claimed the lives of more than 10 Azerbaijani soldiers during two days. Ill add that the defense ministry of Armenia has confirmed for several times that it possesses undeniable evidence on the big losses of the Azerbaijani side, Hovhannisyan said.
December 30, 2016
ERBIL, Iraq Exxon Mobil has pulled out of three of the six exploration blocks it operated in the Kurdistan Region. The American oil giant withdrew from Betwata, Arbat and Qara Hanjeer in Sulaimaniyah province, raising many questions about the sudden step.
Hemen Hawrami, the head of the Kurdistan Democratic Party's foreign relations office, announced during a Dec. 26 press conference that Exxons withdrawal came as the result of decreasing production and had no political motivation.
Hawrami said, Kurdistan is rich in oil and natural gas, and all oil companies wish to work there. Exxon Mobil is now seeking to exploit natural gas.
In the Dec. 6 Iraq Oil Report, Kurdistans Minister of Natural Resources Ashti Hawrami said that Exxon is withdrawing because it could not fulfill its contract with the region's government. Some companies didn't meet contractual deadlines and according to the contract had to relinquish their areas, Hawrami was quoted as saying.
Since August 2014, with the onset of the war against the Islamic State (IS) in Iraq, international oil companies have started to relinquish exploration blocks in Kurdistan.
By the end of 2015, Chevron, the second-largest US oil company after Exxon Mobil, had pulled out of the Rovi block in Dahuk province, but continued to operate in the Sarta area.
International oil companies have relinquished interest in a total of 19 exploration blocks in Kurdistan. The withdrawals will weigh heavily on the Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), which already faces an economic crisis.
Bilal Saeed, who hosts a program called Black Gold on Rudaw Radio, told Al-Monitor that Exxons withdrawal will have direct repercussions on the oil sector in the Sulaimaniyah province and the Kurdistan Region in general.
The American oil giant pulled out because of the Iranian influence. Based on previous experience, Sulaimaniyah is believed to be affiliated with the Iranian axis. A company like Exxon does not wish to invest in an area that is affiliated with Iran, Saeed said.
Saeed did not exclude technical issues as another reason that led to the withdrawal of Exxon Mobil, saying, Oil exploration in the Sulaimaniyah areas has not led to encouraging outcomes.
Exxon Mobil had helped attract other international companies to the region, such as Chevron, Total and Gazprom. During an oil and gas conference in London on Dec. 5, the KRG announced that it is getting ready to launch a new tender for oil and gas exploration in 20 excavation blocks in early 2017. However, the withdrawal of Exxon Mobil from three excavation blocks will discourage major oil companies to invest in new fields.
Curran Mustafa, a researcher for the Kurdish American Institute for Economic Research in Erbil, expects the drop in oil prices to push a number of oil companies to abandon their investments in the Kurdistan Region. He told Al-Monitor, The decline may be one of the effects of Exxon Mobils withdrawal from three excavation blocks in the region, but the company is still operating in other areas and has yet to announce its intention to leave the Kurdistan Region.
He added, Political instability in Sulaimaniyah province is another reason for Exxon Mobils pullout from these three blocks, he said.
Since Oct. 10, 2015, the city of Sulaimaniyah has been witnessing intermittent demonstrations against the difficult economic conditions for civil servants and educational workers in the region due to the KRGs delay in disbursing their salaries and the salary cuts as part of the austerity measures implemented by the KRG, in addition to the war against IS and the plunge in oil prices.
According to the latest report of the Ministry of Natural Resources issued in November, the total exported and consumed oil during that month from the KRG fields stood at 19,552,432 barrels at an average of 651,748 per day. The report also showed that a total of 17,629,368 barrels were exported to the Turkish port of Ceyhan at a daily average of 587,646 barrels, while the quantity of oil refined locally reached 1,923,065 barrels.
Riwaz Faeq, a member of the KRG's parliamentary committee for energy and natural resources, told Al-Monitor that three factors led to the withdrawal of oil companies from the Kurdistan Region, most notably the failure by the KRG to meet its obligation to pay the companies on time.
She added, This is in addition to the general situation witnessed in the Kurdistan Region and the dissatisfaction of the political parties and the citizens with the political process, which stirred up concerns and fear among oil companies who lost a sense of security and safety. This is not to mention the fight against IS.
Faeq noted that the solution is to regain the trust of these companies and make them feel safe in the region again. The KRG should seek to build trust between citizens and oil companies, which would prevent the withdrawal of other companies, she said.
December 28, 2016
Ayatollah Ali Akbar Hashemi Rafsanjani and Ayatollah Mohammad-Taghi Mesbah Yazdi are two of the most prominent faces in Iranian politics. The former directs the moderation camp, while the latter is the godfather of the hard-liners. President Hassan Rouhani has been a longtime companion of Rafsanjani, while Mesbah Yazdi supported hard-line former nuclear negotiator Saeed Jalili in the 2013 presidential vote and his past proteges include former President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.
In the latest salvo in this long-running rivalry, Rafsanjani caused a ruckus earlier this month when he indirectly accused Mesbah Yazdi of being an enemy of the state. Without actually naming his nemesis, Rafsanjani said Dec. 3 that some enemies of the Imam," meaning Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, "have infiltrated the sensitive centers [of power] under the guise of friendship.
The confrontation between Rafsanjani and Mesbah Yazdi made the parliamentary and Assembly of Experts elections in February especially heated. Rafsanjanis maneuvering produced a victory for the joint moderate-Reformist ticket, and Mesbah Yazdi was voted out of the Assembly of Experts, which is tasked with overseeing the performance of the supreme leader and also elects his successor.
The root of this dispute, which has played such a powerful role in Iranian politics, can be understood by studying the remarks and memoirs of the two men.
On Sept. 16, 2014, Rafsanjani revealed a hitherto unknown event in Iran's political history, speaking publicly for the first time about a meeting over four decades earlier: We went to [revolutionary figure Ali] Ghoddusis house along with Mr. Khamenei. This person [Mesbah Yazdi] was also there. We spent the time speaking with him to convince him to continue the struggle. At last, he said that he considered fighting the shah to be haram [forbidden]. Mr. Khamenei asked him: What is your reasoning? That person responded, 'Fighting which is done alongside the Mujahedeen [-e-Khalq (MEK)] and leftists is haram.' Mr. Khamenei bitterly told him, 'If you are not interested in fighting, do not fight, but at least do not damage the struggle with these kinds of words.'" He added, "The leader had a falling out with him which lasted 10 years.
One day later, on Sept. 17, Mesbah Yazdis website released his own account of the controversial meeting, which read, Before the victory of the revolution, the supreme leader and Mr. Hashemi Rafsanjani set a time via Mr. Ghoddousi to come to my house for breakfast. During that breakfast meeting, there were no other persons present except these two respected people. [Rafsanjani] started talking, and said, We have had political and cultural cooperation for years, but it has been a while that you have left and you are not with us. We should have an alliance [against the shah] with Marxists. We should have an alliance with all anti-imperialist groups such as the Marxists, Mujahedeen, [revolutionary ideologue Ali] Shariatis supporters and we should put aside the disagreements and only fight against imperialism. I said, What do you want from me, and what is your suggestion?' He said, Come and cooperate with the Mujahedeen. I said, 'As long as I do not know that a person works for Islam, I wont cooperate with him.'
Mesbah Yazdi added, From the beginning until the end of the conversation, the supreme leader sat there and was silent. After this conversation, [Rafsanjani] left my house in anger. [Rafsanjani's] aid to the hypocrites [a reference to the MEK] should not be forgotten. He gave them money.
On the same day that Mesbah Yazdi published his account of the meeting, hard-line analyst and historian Hamid Rouhani said in an interview with Tasnim, If [Rafsanjani]s words are about Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi, then thats not true. One of the disagreements between Mr. Mesbah Yazdi and Hashemi was about the Mujahedeen, or hypocrites. Ayatollah Mesbah Yazdi thought supporting the Mujahedeen is haram Mr. Mesbah Yazdi considered supporting this organization haram, not fighting the shah.
The controversy attracted attention again this summer when Hassan Khomeini, the grandson of the founder of the Islamic Republic, entered the fray. Indirectly referring to the hard-line cleric, the younger Khomeini said during a June 1 speech, Neither the Islamic Revolution nor its leaders were reactionary. The reactionary persons were not into the struggle before the revolution and considered it haram and ultimately opposed the struggle.
In his telling of the pre-revolutionary encounter with Rafsanjani and Khamenei, Mesbah Yazdi did not hide his anger with Rafsanjani. Although the organization is outlawed today, the MEK was considered a legitimate force among revolutionaries prior to the revolution, and it had relationships with many well-known clerics such as Ayatollah Mahmoud Taleghani. It was only after the revolution that the MEK was outlawed for its practices of indiscriminate bombings and ultimately switched sides to aid former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein during his 1980-1988 war with Iran.
Mesbah Yazdi and Rafsanjanis decadeslong dispute is not limited to what transpired before the revolution. They are fundamentally at odds over the intentions of the founder of the Islamic Republic.
Mesbah Yazdi is of the belief that Khomeini did not believe in the republican component of the current Iranian state. Indeed, he said on Feb. 25, 2014, Those who have seen the Imams statements in his speeches and books know that the Imam had used the words the Islamic system. The Imam uses the peoples votes [only] to convince the other parties [to come on board with his ideas].
The hard-line clerics remarks triggered warnings by Hassan Khomeini about distortions of his grandfather's ideas. Rafsanjani also believes that the ideas of Mesbah Yazdi are dangerous to the republican component of the Islamic Republic, and he has constantly warned against them. As he noted in a speech to the Union of Islamic Associations of Golestan province on Oct. 23, 2012, Those who want to put aside the thoughts and notions of the Imam force the people out of the [political] scene and consider their votes just for show are committing a crime.
Though they have grown elderly, both Rafsanjani and Mesbah Yazdi are politically active, command significant authority and, perhaps most importantly, have proteges in positions of power. Thus, their public feud should be seen as part of the important and ongoing clash between moderates and hard-liners over the republican component of the Islamic Republic.
December 29, 2016
Israeli financial daily Globes has selected Dr. Yasmeen Abu Fraiha as one its Forty under Forty promising young people in 2016. The prestigious group includes high-tech entrepreneurs, CEOs of financial firms, lawyers and trailblazing researchers, all under the age of 40. The newspaper believes that they will have a decisive impact on the Israeli market and will emerge as leaders in their fields over the next few decades.
But Abu Fraihas story is not just the story of another successful young Israeli woman. What distinguishes her is that she is a Bedouin who grew up in a family that decided to swim against the stream, shatter the rigid conventions of Bedouin society and overcome obstacles in order to integrate into Israeli society. Her family was the first Bedouin family to relocate from the southern Bedouin village of Tel Sheva to the prosperous Jewish neighboring town of Omer.
Tel Sheva and Omer are just a five-minute drive from each other, but they are a hundred years apart, Abu Fraiha told Al-Monitor. When I was a girl, we faced a lot of criticism [from the Bedouin society]. We were considered outsiders. Im received very well there these days; there are even people who are proud of me.
It all began two decades ago when family patriarch Aoudeh Abu Fraiha realized that if he wanted to provide his children with a higher quality education, he would have to cross the physical and psychological boundaries separating Tel Sheva from Omer. This, he believed, would ensure his children a brighter future in Israeli society. Twenty years later, the transition proved itself. His daughter Yasmeen, now 27, has already completed her medical studies at the Hebrew University in Jerusalem. During her internship, Abu Fraiha founded the organization Genesis, with the goal of diagnosing and preventing genetic diseases common in Bedouin society due to the frequency of marriages within the extended family. Her initiative to convince young Bedouin to be tested before they get married, to ensure that their children do not suffer from genetic diseases, got Globes to include her in this prestigious group of Israels most promising young people.
I first started being active during the final part of my internship, Abu Fraiha said. I was researching genetic diseases resulting from marriages within the extended family. When I went to the United States for a program on social entrepreneurship, I met with people who work in genetics, and also with donors, who agreed to invest in my idea.
Genesis began operating even before Abu Fraiha returned to Israel, through three women who established cooperative ventures with the Ministry of Health and the Genetics Institute of the Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba. They also made contact with Bedouin religious leaders, hoping that they would grant religious approval for genetic testing.
Abu Fraiha explained that despite widespread changes within Bedouin society, which have led to greater openness, 67% of marriages are still kept within the extended family. Willingness to undergo genetic testing tends to occur only after a sick child is born. According to Abu Fraiha, some 95% of the people tested are married women, many of them during their second pregnancy, after they already gave birth to a child with a genetic illness. The goal of the work of Genesis is to instill awareness among the Bedouin, so that young people get tested before they get married.
In the past, the Ministry of Health ran [information] campaigns, emphasizing the message, 'Dont marry your cousins.' We consider this the wrong approach. It is impossible to change a culture and tradition that is 5,000 years old simply by telling people, 'Change! Dont marry a family member,' she said. Abu Fraiha noted that the approach of Genesis is not to annul marriages, nor is it to make recommendations that have no chance of being accepted by the Bedouin society.
If a couple decides not to marry because of the test result, that is their decision, she said. We believe in providing the couple with the maximum amount of information, so that they can decide on their next steps. For example, they can undergo in vitro fertilization in order to check the embryos DNA and find out whether it is healthy or not. Only healthy embryos would be implanted in the womans womb, to avoid bringing sick children into the world.
Abu Fraiha hopes that Genesis can offer the genetic test free of charge. Her goal is to make it easily accessible at the local health clinics in all Bedouin communities. This way, Abu Fraiha said, everyone will undergo the test within just a few years. This will ensure a healthy society, without genetic diseases, and improve the quality and integrity of the family.
Abu Fraiha recognizes that one of her motives in challenging the prevalence of genetic diseases within Bedouin society is proving that she is still part of that society, even if she grew up in Jewish surroundings. Nevertheless, she added, this would never have happened without my access to and understanding of the problems of the society into which I was born and where my family still lives.
As for her own future, she said, I have no idea where Ill be 10 years from now, but it is obvious to me that I will be working in community medicine, or as I like to call it, social medicine.
December 29, 2016
A functioning airport and seaport are the dream of every Palestinian living in the Gaza Strip. Calls for their construction in Gaza date to the cease-fire negotiations between Israel and Hamas during Operation Protective Edge in 2014. At the time, the leaders of Hamas made their agreement to a cease-fire conditional on a commitment by Israel and Egypt (which hosted the talks) to allow the construction of an airport and seaport and an end to the closure now imposed on Gaza.
The original demand was rejected, but in all talks with the sponsors of the agreement or donors who help rebuild the Gaza Strip Turkey, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates the Hamas leadership demands repeatedly that these countries pressure Israel to allow Gaza to build an airport and a seaport.
The construction of a seaport and airport in Gaza would require the Palestinians to raise hundreds of millions of dollars in addition to having to deal with security issues. Hamas leaders believe that those donor countries, which occasionally provide humanitarian and financial aid to the Gaza Strip, would agree to fund these dream projects. At the same time, the leaders are also convinced that such projects would ease the suffering of the 1.8 million Palestinians living in Gaza once and for all, and also strengthen the position of the Hamas regime.
In an interview with the Palestinian newspaper Al-Quds in October, Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman said that if Hamas stops arming itself, Israel would allow the creation of an airport and seaport in Gaza. For its part, Hamas is unwilling to consider stopping the influx of weapons into Gaza or the disarming of the Hamas army and the Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades.
In the reconciliation talks between Israel and Turkey, the Turks demanded that Israel lift the closure on Gaza and allow the Palestinians to build the two ports: air and sea. While Israel rejected this demand, it did promise to ease the closure gradually, in accordance with Hamas actions. Just a few days after reconciliation between the two countries was announced in June, a Turkish cargo ship arrived in Gaza with a symbolic load, including crates of medicine, clothing and toys. While these were not enough to ease the siege of Gaza, they showed that Turkey had not abandoned the people living in the Gaza Strip, and that Turkey still considers that it bears responsibility for their well-being.
In keeping with the understandings reached in the reconciliation agreement with Turkey, Israel now allows the transfer of raw materials into Gaza almost unhindered. These are used for extensive Turkish projects, including the construction of hospitals and seawater desalination plants. The latter should ease the severe water crisis in Gaza, which has resulted from the collapse of its water system and the penetration of sewage into Gazas groundwater resources.
But the big news being passed around by word of mouth among the people of Gaza is that work has begun on the infrastructure for one of the Palestinian dream projects. Palestinians living in the southern part of the Gaza Strip have reported to Al-Monitor that work has started on the construction of a seaport along the stretch of coast between Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah. Local residents report that huge cranes have been brought to the construction site, and that work has started on an anchoring station there. The area, which was once part of the Katif settlement bloc (evacuated in 2005), was selected because of its open topography, which includes a winding stretch of coast that can be developed into a port serving smaller boats and ships.
The story being told in the Gaza Strip is that Israel and Turkey have secretly agreed to the construction of a seaport. Once it is built, small ships would be loaded with raw materials and goods at an anchoring station in the open sea, under international supervision. The ships would then sail from there to the new port in Khan Yunis. Reports claim that a spit extending 100 meters (328 feet) into the sea has been constructed so far, to create an artificial bay along the Khan Yunis coast. Work on the project is expected to last another two years at least.
Inevitably, the people of Gaza are pleased with these reports. They now believe that the siege of Gaza is about to be lifted, thanks to the stubborn insistence of Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. In fact, they consider Erdogan to be the closest friend of the Gaza Strip today.
Al-Monitor approached the Office of the Coordinator of Activities in the Territories (COGAT) to ask whether Israel knows about and has approved the creation of this new harbor in the Khan Yunis region for a new port or any other purpose. It also asked whether Israeli officials are helping with the project by granting approval and easing the movement of raw materials, cement and heavy equipment through the border crossings. The Civil Administration, which is part of COGAT, responded that Israel knows nothing about the construction of any port in Gaza whatsoever, and that the officials responsible for such activities have not received any reports of unusual construction.
In contrast, a senior Palestinian official told Al-Monitor that a seaport is being built in Gaza, but that this port is intended to serve Gaza fishermen only. At this stage, the port will only be able to accommodate fishing boats, and not small cargo ships. The source also confirmed that the Turks are behind the project. He added that the location of the fishing port was chosen carefully, based on the assumption that in the future it could be expanded to accommodate larger ships. The plan is that in the future, large mercantile ships would be able to unload heavy cargo at an anchoring station at sea. From there, the goods would be transferred to smaller ships, which could anchor in the port now being built.
The source added that Israel knows about the work being done and has approved it. He said that Hamas and Turkey believe that within a short time, the fishing port now being built between Khan Yunis and Deir al-Balah will become Gazas official port. This port would be a center for the transfer of raw materials, food and goods, and would also offer Palestinians an exit portal from which they could travel freely to the rest of the world. On the other hand, it can also be assumed that the new Khan Yunis port will only be allowed to fulfill its purpose if Hamas is prepared to follow the terms set by Israels defense minister and disarm its troops.
December 29, 2016
HASAKAH, Syria In northern Syria, a group of Western volunteers is trying to bring combat medics into the fight against the Islamic State (IS).
In September, when northern Syria was still hot enough for sand flies to bite, John Harding sat at a makeshift table of plywood and concrete bricks at a former dairy that is now a base for the Peoples Protection Units (YPG). He was telling his favorite story from his second tour serving as a volunteer alongside YPG and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) fighting IS.
The Syrian city of Manbij had been liberated from IS in mid-August after months of fierce fighting, and the Tactical Medical Unit (TMU), also known by its Kurdish name Yekineyen Bijiski Taktiki a group of around half a dozen mostly Western volunteers was approached by a local who was holding one of the many IS mines left in the city.
Harding, a British military veteran and the oldest in the group (known as Pops to most), volunteered to carry the mine, under his chin so he wouldn't survive mangled if it were to explode, to a basement of an abandoned building nearby. It wasn't the usual mission for the team of combat medics, and it certainly was not the preferred method of mine disposal.
A couple of weeks after he told this story to Al-Monitor, members of the TMU were visiting a hospital in Manbij, where Al-Monitor was present, when an explosion shook the room. The wall cracked in front of them.
Don't be afraid, a hospital worker said. It was a controlled detonation of mines nearby.
Who says we are afraid? said Karker, the Kurdish pseudonym for a young German TMU volunteer, calmly cradling his M-16 rifle.
The TMU had spent months in Manbij over the summer. According to Harding, now the commander, they treated several hundred wounded, around half of those surviving, he estimated, because they were treated so close to the front.
His team is different than any other currently operating in northern Syria, and not only because it is made up of foreigners.
Most YPG units are combat-oriented. The TMU is an amalgamation of an infantry unit and a mobile field hospital facility. However, our medics will actively engage the enemy rather than wait for injuries, Harding told Al-Monitor.
The group operates basic ambulances, but staffs them with well-armed volunteers. They train to get as close to the front as possible, which means coming under direct fire, and they provide cover as they treat and evacuate the wounded.
We believe that superior firepower is the best preventative medicine in the battlefield, said Harding.
But past and current members have faced an uphill battle to explain their worth in the war, he noted, saying, It has taken a while to show people that this unit doesn't just transport the injured, but actively intervenes to stabilize and care for them before and during evacuation."
In this war, the wounded are usually thrown into any working vehicle and driven to the closest hospital for treatment. The YPG and SDF forces, still largely a cross between a guerrilla force and a militia, do not have designated combat medics.
In the past, people have died due to wounds that should not have been fatal, Harding said.
Michael Makuch, a TMU member from Germany, joined after fighting with the YPG and losing friends in battle. I saw an opportunity in the medical unit because it is an important part to help not only the YPG and YPJ [Womens Protection Units, the YPG's all-female equivalent] but also the civilians as well, he said.
Paul Hetfield, from the United States, was quickly recruited by the TMU because of his background in pharmacology and first-aid training. I hoped to share some of my medical experience with the hevals, Hetfield said, using the Kurdish word for friend.
When the group is not in operation, they visit positions to provide troops with Individual First Aid Kits, which include basic items for self-use in battle such as chest seals and tourniquets.
We aim to increase the number of combat medics, with the eventual hope of having several TMUs throughout the YPG and YPJ, Harding said.
Currently, the TMU trains and awaits mobilization orders at its base as other YPG forces push toward Raqqa. But between Harding's learning the Kurdish language and training in medical and combat operations, the memories of Manbij haven't left him.
A child, around 6 years old, Harding guessed, had been shot through the chest. Harding applied a chest seal to the entry wound while a comrade applied a seal to the exit wound in the back. Harding held the boy down on their way to the hospital as the child tried to remove his oxygen mask and the chest seals covering the holes in his small torso.
I had him in my lap and realized that he must have felt terrified by the strange white man holding something over his face and holding him still while his parents watched, Harding said.
After dropping the boy at the hospital in Kobani, Harding would have usually returned to the front. Instead, he said, he decided to stay, helping the boy breathe, using a bag and air tube for over an hour as others tried to keep his heart beating.
But an ultrasound showed that the bullet had ripped apart the boy's heart, Harding explained. He had died the moment the trigger was pulled, he added.
Outside the operating room, the boy's mother smiled nervously, hoping for everything to be all right, according to Harding. He returned to the boy's body and helped the staff remove the tubes and wires and to clean away the blood before the parents were brought in.
The team drove back to Manbij in silence and arrived just in time to accept another casualty, Harding recalled. The boys name was Hamid. I purposely avoid thinking about him because it is painful, but I see his likeness in every 6- or 7-year-old child I see, he said.
Still, away from the front, among the memories of the last fight, Harding's team is finding opportunities to help. In late November a room full of munitions exploded at their base and killed six people.
The new medics on the team got tested today in a real emergency situation. I'm glad to say the boys done good, Harding posted on Facebook.
December 29, 2016
In an exclusive interview with Al-Monitor, Hamas' foreign relations chief Osama Hamdan revealed that several weeks ago in Qatar, the movement's leadership met a delegation of high-ranking European diplomats. He expressed optimism about a European decision to strike Hamas from its list of terrorist organizations.
In a telephone interview from Beirut, Hamdan, one of Hamas emerging political leaders, said the movement seeks to mend ties with Iran after they had significantly deteriorated in recent years. He discussed the frosty relations between Hamas and Saudi Arabia and revealed that a Hamas leadership delegation is getting ready to visit Egypt soon.
The text of Al-Monitors interview with Hamdan, a former Hamas representative in Iran and Lebanon, follows:
Al-Monitor: Twenty-nine years after of the founding of Hamas, would you give us a brief overview of its regional and international relations?
Hamdan: Hamas is keen to maintain balanced and open relations at the regional and international levels. It has succeeded over the past three decades since its founding in 1987 to establish channels of communication with several Arab, Islamic and Western states. It now has a wide network of political and diplomatic relations, but the United States has exerted pressure on many countries, influencing them not to cooperate with Hamas efforts to build relations.
Hamas today has a good communications system, including many countries other than Arab and Islamic countries. It has relations with the Russian Federation, Brazil in Latin America, Nigeria and South Africa on the African continent and China, Malaysia and Indonesia in Asia. On the European continent, Hamas has strong ties with Switzerland and Norway. It also has good ties with three other European countries that prefer not to be open about this relationship to avoid any embarrassment with Washington.
Al-Monitor: How do you assess Hamas' current relationship with Egypt? What is the movements position on the recent bombings in Egypt?
Hamdan: Hamas has condemned all bloody attacks in Egypt, most recently the [Dec. 11] bombing of the Saint Peter and Saint Paul Church. We believe the attacks are a crime against innocent people and acts of aggressions on our brotherly Egyptian people. This is Hamas' unwavering position. The negative outcomes of any harmful acts against Egypt are not limited to Egypt but extend to other Arab countries. The Palestinian people are affected by these acts.
It has become clear to Egypts political and security authorities that Hamas had nothing to do with Egypts hardships and ordeals in recent years, opening the door to a stable relationship between them. Serious measures and arrangements are underway for a visit by a senior Hamas leadership delegation to officials in Cairo in the coming weeks. We heard that Egyptian officials have hailed this imminent visit.
Al-Monitor: The advent of King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud to power in Saudi Arabia in January 2015 boded well for Hamas. Optimistic statements were issued on the improvement of the relationship following a Saudi-Hamas meeting in Mecca in July 2015. But soon after, relations became frosty. Why was that? Are there any planned visits by Hamas to Saudi Arabia in the near future?
Hamdan: Hamas welcomed the advent of King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz to power in 2015 based on its desire to consolidate its relationship with Riyadh. But the relation between the two soon went back to ground zero. Hamas is not responsible for this. Although Hamas wants positive relations with Saudi Arabia, there are no arrangements for any upcoming visit by the movement to Riyadh. Perhaps the relationship with Hamas is not a priority for Saudi Arabia in light of its internal and external preoccupations.
Al-Monitor: Hamas relationship with Iran is shaky. Sometimes they converge and exchange secret visits, only to grow cold again. What about the relationship with Tehran and its continuing financial and military support for the movement?
Hamdan: Iran has provided significant support to the Palestinian factions, including Hamas, but the relationship between us in recent years has become somewhat frosty due to developments in the Arab States since 2011, without reaching total disruption. During the Israeli war on Gaza in the summer of 2014, Hamas and Irans relationship improved. Both sides agreed that the developments in the region should not affect our relationship. There has been a steady improvement, despite some differences that I will not discuss right now. Iran's military and financial support to Hamas has not stopped, and we hope it will be increased.
Al-Monitor: Can we say that Hamas' alliance with Turkey has been undermined following the Israeli-Turkish agreement to re-normalize relations between them in June 2016, or will Turkey play a role in a prisoner-swap deal between Hamas and Israel and in easing the blockade imposed on Gaza?
Hamdan: Hamas does not accept any normalization with Israel, because this weakens our position as Palestinians against Israel. We call on all countries to exert pressure on Israel and not to normalize relations with it. But if Turkey believes that its relationship with Israel can serve the Palestinian cause, then Hamas welcomes the normalization agreement.
Regarding a swap deal, up to now Israel has not shown any serious sign of its intention to propose a deal. Hamas will welcome any mediation role played by Turkey in such a deal, if Israel accepted such a role, since the movement wants a mediator it trusts and which is not biased toward Israel, but that can rather pressure Israel. However, Israel has yet to show any positive signs in this respect. After its agreement with Israel, Turkey has introduced humanitarian aid to the Gaza Strip and vowed to solve the electricity problem in Gaza, in light of the Israeli blockade. Turkish delegations indeed visited the Gaza Strip in July 2016 to discuss this matter.
Al-Monitor: News has been recently spreading among Hamas circles about the possibility of striking Hamas name off the European Union's list of terrorist organizations. What is new on this subject? What about your latest meetings with European officials?
Hamdan: Hamas has won a legal battle, as the General Court of the European Union had decided in 2014 to annul EU measures maintaining Hamas on the European list of terrorist organizations, and we are still waiting for the European political decision to implement the court ruling. We believe that this positive decision in favor of Hamas is approaching day by day.
Hamas has held a series of meetings with European political circles, most recently in the first week of November 2016 in Qatar, when the head of the movements political bureau, Khaled Meshaal, and a Hamas leadership delegation met a high-level European delegation, including European Foreign Ministry officials. The two sides discussed various topics, and the European delegation expressed a positive position toward Hamas, although the visit was not covered by the media.
Al-Monitor: Hamas has remained silent on [Donald] Trumps victory in the US presidential elections. Does this mean that it fears his policies are biased toward Israel, or that it prefers to wait before assessing his political performance in the region?
Hamdan: Hamas believes Trumps political behavior will be unveiled after taking office and stepping into the White House. But the movement also believes that the signs he has been giving do not bode well and prefers to comment on his future political positions.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador Richard E. Hoagland will assume the position of U.S. Co-Chair of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Minsk Group on an interim basis starting in January 2017. He replaces Ambassador James B. Warlick, who will step down on December 31, the US Embassy in Armenia told ARMENPRESS.
Ambassador Hoagland brings over 30 years of diplomatic experience to the position. He served as U.S. Ambassador to Tajikistan from 2003 to 2006, U.S. Ambassador to Kazakhstan from 2008 to 2011, and as Deputy Ambassador to Pakistan from 2011 to 2013. Ambassador Hoagland most recently led U.S.-Russian military coordination for the Cessation of Hostilities in Syria and served as Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs at the State Department in Washington. Prior to these assignments, Ambassador Hoagland led the Office of Caucasus and Central Asian Affairs in the Bureau of Europe and Eurasian Affairs and was Press Spokesman for the U.S. Embassy in Moscow.
Ambassador Hoaglands extensive diplomatic experience will be critical as the United States works with the sides toward a lasting and peaceful settlement to the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The United States continues to call on the parties to maintain their commitment to the ceasefire and to implement agreements reached at the Vienna and St. Petersburg summits, and urges a return to negotiations on a settlement, which would benefit all sides.
The permanent replacement for Ambassador Warlick will be announced at a future date, the Embassys statement reads.
December 29, 2016
GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip What does it take to bring together legislators who have refused to meet officially for almost 10 years? Take away their immunity from prosecution.
Fatah and Hamas, the two main Palestinian political parties, have been unable to reach an agreement over a division of power since mid-2007. The Islamist Hamas movement controls the Gaza Strip, while Fatah rules the West Bank. Fatah parliament members have refused since the split to take part in any session held by the Hamas-controlled Palestinian Legislative Council (PLC).
But the PLC held an emergency meeting Dec. 21 that included several Fatah members to discuss Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' decision earlier in December to lift the diplomatic immunity of five Fatah parliament members. Those members are Shami al-Shami, Najat Abu Bakr, Jamal al-Tirawi, Nasser Jomaa and Mohammed Dahlan, who is Abbas' arch rival.
Abbas has accused all five men of arms trading, stealing public funds and committing defamation.
The session was held at the PLC headquarters in Gaza City, with the participation of 80 parliament members out of a total of 132, most of whom are affiliated with Hamas. West Bank parliament members participated by phone. The rest of the parliament members are either jailed in Israeli prisons or belong to the Fatah camp that opposes Dahlan. Dahlan was ousted as Fatah's leader in 2011, but remains a parliament member even though he now lives in the United Arab Emirates.
Mohammed al-Ghoul, the head of the PLC legal committee, said in a speech during the session that Abbas decision to rescind diplomatic immunity is illegal and unconstitutional, stressing that the PLC reserves this right over its members.
Hassan Khreisheh, the PLC second deputy speaker, told Al-Monitor he also rejects Abbas decision to lift immunity and said Abbas should strive to prevent PLC political disagreements. He acknowledged, however, that the outcome of the PLC emergency session is not binding for the president.
Khreisheh called upon parliamentarians to continue to hold sessions with the participation of Fatah members. During the meeting, the PLC agreed to form a committee to facilitate further sessions.
Ashraf Jomaa, a Fatah deputy who participated in the meeting in Gaza City, expects Fatah deputies to attend the next parliamentary session, which he said is likely to be held in mid-January. He didn't specify an agenda.
However, Azzam al-Ahmad, the head of Fatahs parliamentary bloc, downplayed the PLC meeting in a Dec. 22 press statement. The PLC holds sessions and meetings as per the Basic Law and its internal protocol does not have any legal weight, said Ahmad, who did not attend the meeting.
Akram Atallah, a political analyst and writer for the Palestinian Al-Ayyam newspaper, said the session will not change the Palestinian political status quo. He noted that many of the PLC's decisions in Gaza, such as the Social Solidarity Act, were not implemented by the Palestinian Authority (PA) in the West Bank, and, similarly, Abbas decisions are not carried out by the Hamas-controlled PLC in the Gaza Strip.
Atallah told Al-Monitor that the goal of the meeting was essentially a pre-emptive move by Fatahs deputies who fear their association with Dahlan will lead to them also being accused of crimes.
Atallah also stated that the Palestinian system of government is threatened with collapse as a result of the PA and Abbas decrees on one hand, and steps taken by the PLC in Gaza on the other. He stressed that the ultimate solution for the ongoing dispute is to achieve internal unity between Fatah and Hamas.
Mustafa al-Sawwaf, a political analyst and former editor of the local Falastin newspaper, shares Atallah's opinion that the PLC meeting will not push Abbas to reverse his latest decrees. The PLC, he said, should have acted immediately in 2007 when Abbas disrupted parliamentary sessions and asserted "dominance over the legislative and judicial powers," Sawwaf told Al-Monitor.
Observers of the political scene in the Palestinian territories mostly seem to believe that the PLC meeting will not end the political stalemate or push Abbas to reconsider his decisions to sack deputies, as he refused to attend the PLCs session and has yet to make a statement about it.
December 29, 2016
BAGHDAD Dismissed officers welcomed the decision to repatriate security officers who had fled Iraq, after the Iraqi parliament voted on their return Dec. 4.
On Dec. 17, the parliamentary Security and Defense Committee announced that with the beginning of the new legislative term in 2017 it would follow up on the implementation of the law to repatriate those dismissed from the army, police and security institution, or others who escaped or whose contracts had been terminated.
The decision was taken more than a month after the launch of the Mosul liberation operations to recapture the city from the Islamic State (IS), which had been in control since June 2014. At that time, the army collapsed and left its weapons on the battlefield, while the military leaders accused of handing over the city to IS fled.
The decision received conflicting responses from political blocs. The State of Law Coalition believes the decision was made because of political motives and because certain political parties would benefit from it.
State of Law Coalition member of parliament Razaq Mheibes told Al-Monitor, The decision resulted from political and media pressure. He said that the Sadrist movement has been trying to direct the public opinion to approve the amnesty law (the law of repatriating the security forces who escaped before), and that it presented proposals to the parliamentary legal committee in July. This helped the law materialize, and proposals that the parliament approved were put forward.
He added that the State of Law Coalition approved the amnesty law to acquit the fugitives and those who were dismissed in response to the political components in favor of this. The coalitions vote was essential to gain the trust of political partners and mend relations in this delicate phase.
Member of parliament Intisar al-Juburi spoke on behalf of the mostly Sunni Union of National Forces and called for granting amnesty to those affiliated with the security apparatus and those who fled the service after 2014, because of the vast military and security experience they possess.
Juburi did not deny the presence of political motives behind the decision, and said that the parliaments decisions have political dimensions because it is formed of blocs with different interests and inclinations. She asserted that the approval of the amnesty law to acquit the soldiers and policemen who fled mainly aims at regaining public popularity with the nearing elections.
But humanitarian motives are also at play.
The president of the Iraqi Group for Strategic Studies, political analyst Watheq al-Hashimi, told Al-Monitor that the decision to bring back those who were dismissed from the security apparatus and those who fled is usually taken during a long-lasting war because the state needs expertise and soldiers to compensate for a lack of security officers.
Hashimi emphasized the importance of the rules that bind military men to implement the military sanctions decision in Iraq in order to prevent them from escaping.
Hashimi and Juburi had a similar opinion, with Hashimi noting that electoral motives led to a majority approval of the decision because elections are imminent and Iraqi politicians need to offer people something tangible to regain their trust.
National Forces Alliance member of parliament Raad al-Dahlaki told Al-Monitor that the decision gives the people who escaped a second chance, so that they wouldnt have to bear the burdens of a state that could not protect its citizens. They should not be held accountable for the governments bad management of security and political affairs.
Dahlaki said, They want the provinces citizens to hold on to their lands because they know well what is going on. He noted that the amnesty granted to local policemen and some officers is a serious chance for them to reinforce security.
Dahlaki said that the decision definitely has political and electoral goals, as is the case with most parliamentary decisions.
Saad al-Matlabi, a member of the Security and Defense Committee in Baghdads Provincial Council, told Al-Monitor that the decision to grant amnesty to security officers and to halt their legal pursuit was part of the political settlement decisions that were taken long before the Mosul operations. But they were only approved a few days ago.
Matlabi said that the decision applies to those who fled the security apparatus after 2014 to bring them back to service. The benefiting party is the Sunni side, as the policemen and members of the federal police as well as soldiers who fled and handed over their arms after IS invaded the city hail from Mosul. The decision also involves halting investigations and bringing back former military leaders to their positions without accountability, which means that the reasons behind the fall of Mosul and those implicated in it will not be addressed.
While those concerned by the amnesty law rejoiced, some Iraqis were angry at the decision that equates fugitives to the men who stood their ground on the battlefield instead of handing their weapons to the army and fleeing. Alaa al-Saidi, a citizen from Baghdad who works at the Ministry of Defense and who did not flee from the barracks, told Al-Monitor, Exempting military leaders of legal pursuits is perplexing and suspicious. It is an attempt to hide the crime of Mosuls fall.
Despite the opinions and statements about the decision to bring back those who fled and those who were dismissed, the political process in Iraq remains based on consensus and fulfillment of the interest of political blocs to receive gains. The amnesty decision was reached because it satisfies the needs of all political blocs in winning voters with the imminent Provincial Council elections, which constitute a prelude to the parliamentary elections in Iraq.
December 29, 2016
The city of Sfax in southern Tunisia woke up Dec. 15 to the news of the assassination of Tunisian aeronautical engineer Mohammed Alzoari, 49, who was gunned down in his car in front of his house.
Two days after the operation, Izz ad-Din al-Qassam Brigades, Hamas military wing, issued a statement accusing Israel of being behind the operation, and vowing to retaliate. According to the statement, Alzoari had joined the resistance and al-Qassam Brigades 10 years ago and is one of the leaders who had been supervising Hamas Ababil-1 drones program.
During a press conference Dec. 20, Tunisian Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub said, Foreign agents were behind the assassination of Alzoari due to his involvement in scientific projects and his regional engagements [relations].
The pertinent question, however, is how will the Tunisian state deal with the involved assailants?
Israel has yet to make an official statement vis-a-vis Hamas accusations, except for the brief comment by Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman, quoted by the Israeli national radio (Arabil) when he responded to a question about the incident during the Bar Association conference in Tel Aviv Dec. 21.
If someone was killed in Tunisia, he is not likely to be a peace activist or a Nobel Prize candidate. Israel is doing what needs to be done to defend its interests, Liberman said.
Although Israel did not officially admit to being involved in this crime and Tunisia did not point a finger at it, some signs suggest that the Mossads prints are all over the operation. In this context, one ought to stress the fact that Alzoari was designing unmanned aerial aircrafts for Hamas and also belonged to the movement. Alzoaris killing is akin to the assassination of Mahmoud al-Mabhouh, another leader in al-Qassam Brigades, in a hotel in Dubai in January 2010, which also raised speculations about the Mossads involvement in the incident.
Alzoaris assassination raised much controversy, furor and public anger in Tunisia, as thousands took to the streets demanding the Tunisian government retaliate and pass a law criminalizing normalization with Israel.
The Tunisian government issued a statement Dec. 18, saying that the state is committed to track down the assailants behind the assassination of Alzoari at home and abroad with all legal means and in accordance with international conventions.
For his part, Tunisian Prime Minister Youssef al-Shahed announced Dec. 22 that he had dismissed the governor of Sfax and the head of security in the area south of Sfax where the assassination took place.
Political analyst and writer Mohamed Bettaieb told Al-Monitor, The Tunisian government can only respond in one way, which is to file a violation complaint to the UN Security Council against Israel for violating its sovereignty. This is what Tunisia did in the wake of the Israeli raid on the Palestinian Liberation Organization [PLO] headquarters in Hammam Chott, near Tunis, on Oct. 1, 1985, which killed 50 people and wounded 100 others. Back then, the UN Security Council condemned the Israeli operation, which was dubbed Operation Wooden Leg, considering that Tunisia had the right to appropriate reparations.
In Alzoaris case, however, Tunisia does not possess sufficient evidence against the Mossad to take the issue to the Security Council. Any complaint to the council should be based on a thorough legal file with clear grounds and sufficient evidence, which is the responsibility of the Tunisian security services to carry out, Bettaieb added.
In the same vein, Tunisian Foreign Minister Khamis Alaghinawa said during a parliament session Dec. 24 that his ministry is awaiting the outcome of the security investigations commissioned by the public prosecution in order to proceed with the necessary steps to start pursuing the agents involved in the assassination. The ministry has started through its diplomatic missions to monitor anything that would help its investigations, be it statements, acknowledgements or any other relevant information.
Alaghinawa added, Tunisia is in contact with the Palestinian Authority, which has promised to provide all the data available in relation to the issue and the necessary evidence and documents to track down the involved assailants.
For his part, Bettaieb said, It is true that the Tunisian government has little room to retaliate at the international level, but it can take steps at the domestic level that could serve as an indirect response to the crime. Most importantly, the government could pass a law criminalizing all forms of normalization with Israel and promote a political, economic and cultural boycott against it.
Tunisia has had diplomatic and economic relations with Israel since 1996, but they came to a halt in September 2000 following the Al-Aqsa intifada in Palestine.
Journalist Nizar Makni told Al-Monitor, The assassination of Alzoari has revealed the lax security system in Tunisia. The governments response to this crime must be through tighter security measures against any foreign breaches.
Makni added, The government has announced the establishment of a national center for intelligence, whose mission is to gather information and coordinate with the various intelligence agencies, control and analyze strategic queries and information. But I believe this remains insufficient; there is a need for the establishment of a national intelligence agency rather than a focal point or coordination center, which could be able to guide the intelligence work without being politically motivated."
Tunisia needs strong and conclusive evidence to indict the Mossad in Alzoaris assassination and to condemn Israel internationally, which is the furthest Tunisia can go.
This is not the first time the Mossad has carried out an assassination in Tunisia. In April 1987, Tunis witnessed the assassination of Khalil al-Wazir, known as Abu Jihad, who was the PLOs No. 2 man. He was killed at the hands of a group of Mossad agents who infiltrated across the sea into his home in Sidi Bou Said. In 1993, the Tunisian authorities managed to dismantle a Mossad-affiliated cell in the PLO headquarters, led by a Palestinian diplomat called Adnan Yasin.
The supporters of the Palestinian resistance, parties and organizations in Tunisia are calling for severing ties with Israel through the passing of a law criminalizing all forms of normalization with it. This is knowing that the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine had set forth a draft law in 2015 to this effect, which has yet to be discussed in Tunisian parliament. The former Tunisian parliament had refused to include a chapter to this effect in the new constitution in 2014.
December 29, 2016
Despite Turkeys high-profile collaboration with Russia and Iran aimed at ending the Syrian crisis, Turkeys position in Syria remains confusing.
Realizing that its fight against the Islamic State (IS) in the groups stronghold of al-Bab is proving to be more difficult and costly in terms of lives than initially expected, the Turkish military is accusing its Western allies of deserting it and the Turkey-backed Free Syria Army (FSA) as they combat terrorism in Syria.
In a progress report prepared for the press, the Turkish military said it was not getting any help from its allies, which it claimed were merely looking on as Turkish forces engaged in fierce fighting in al-Bab.
The military added that delays in launching the US-led operation to liberate Raqqa had also enabled IS fighters there to move to al-Bab to fight Turkish forces and the FSA.
President Recep Tayyip Erdogan went further and claimed that the US-led coalition was not only withholding support from Turkeys campaign in al-Bab, but was also backing IS, as well as the Democratic Union Party (PYD) and its military wing, the People's Protection Units (YPG).
According to Ankara, the PYD and the YPG are terrorist groups linked to the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), but it has failed to convince Washington.
Its very clear. We have confirmed evidence, with pictures, photos and videos, Erdogan claimed earlier this week with regard to his accusation.
Erdogan also said the US-led coalition was not honoring its promise to help Turkey capture al-Bab. Whether they do or they dont, we will continue along this path in a determined way, he said. "There is no going back.
Washington denied Erdogans claim that it is aiding IS as ludicrous, but repeated that it would continue to work with the YPG against IS.
Turkey wants to prevent the Syrian Kurds from gaining an autonomous region along the Turkish border. It has vowed to keep YPG fighters out of al-Bab, and to expel them from the nearby town of Manbij. On Dec. 24, Erdogan reiterated that al-Bab will be taken, and that the Turkish military would then move on to Manbij, and from there to the "IS capital" of Raqqa.
In a further sign that the Turkish operation has run into difficulties, Erdogans spokesman Ibrahim Kalin told reporters, "The international coalition must carry out its duties regarding aerial support to the battle we are fighting in al-Bab. He added that withholding this support was unacceptable.
Turkey has openly said that the aim of its Operation Euphrates Shield in Syria, launched Aug. 24, is to not only target IS but also the YPG. Washington, however, does not consider the YPG to be a terrorist group and has also declared openly that it wants Turkey to concentrate on fighting only IS in Syria.
The United States initially provided air support to Turkish forces and the FSA as they moved against IS in the towns of Jarablus and Dabiq, which were captured with relatively few casualties. The US military announced in November, however, that it was not participating in Turkeys operation in al-Bab. This announcement came after Turkish forces started bombing YPG positions around al-Bab.
In August, the town of Manbij was captured from IS by the US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which is comprised mainly of YPG fighters. Erdogans determination to move on to Manbij appears to be another reason why the United States is reluctant to help Turkey in al-Bab.
According to the perplexing scenario put forward by Erdogan, Turkeys aim is to capture al-Bab before the YPG, rid Manbij of YPG fighters and work with the US-led coalition to liberate Raqqa from IS, after convincing Washington to dump the YPG. How it plans to achieve all of this on its own is not clear.
Nihat Ali Ozcan, a security expert for the Ankara-based Economic Policy Research Foundation of Turkey, argues that clashing agendas is behind Washingtons reluctance to help Turkey in al-Bab.
Washington wanted Turkey to move only 20 kilometers [12 miles] deep into Syria and close the access roads in and out of Turkey used by [IS], Ozcan told Al-Monitor. When Turkey went beyond this and started attacking the YPG, US plans especially with regard to capturing Raqqa were disrupted."
He added, It seems as if Washington wants to teach Turkey a lesson now by leaving it on its own in al-Bab.
Ankaras dilemma is that Russia is also unlikely to provide military support to Turkey in al-Bab, despite the diplomatic cooperation between the two countries in Syria.
According to Ozcan, Russias limited support for Operation Euphrates Shield is also contingent on Turkeys remaining focused on killing radical Islamists, and not going after other groups or posing difficulties for the Syrian regime.
The daily Hurriyet reported this week that Russia was preventing Turkish fighter jets from flying over al-Bab. Citing unnamed sources the paper said, Russia does not want Turkish jets in the region because it is going to engage in military activities south of al-Bab.
The Syrian regime is also keen to capture al-Bab before Turkish forces and the FSA. Some analysts have even argued that the regime in Damascus would rather see Kurds in the town than Turkish forces or the FSA.
Ankaras fixation on the Syrian Kurds, and its inability to address this issue politically, seems to be turning into the boulder on which Turkeys Syria agenda founders. There is also no guarantee that Moscow will ultimately support Ankaras line against the Syrian Kurds.
Although Moscow does not support Kurdish autonomy, Russian officials have said that the Kurds must also have a voice in any Syrian settlement.
Sources close to the Turkish government are signaling their hope that the US position will change under the presidency of Donald Trump. Hurriyet columnist Abdulkadir Selvi, who stands close to Erdogan and the ruling Justice and Development Party, indicates that the government has great expectations of Trump.
Ankara is preparing for the Trump era. It values Trump's stated position about not working for regime change in other countries, but concentrating on fighting terrorism, Selvi wrote in his column.
He was referring to the widespread belief among government circles that the Obama administration was somehow involved in the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey aimed at toppling Erdogan. Ankara is still smarting over Washingtons reluctance to extradite Fethullah Gulen, the Islamic cleric accused of masterminding the coup attempt.
Selvi said Ankara wants Trump to see matters from Turkeys point of view and to mark a new beginning in Turkish-US ties. Trump has nevertheless expressed his admiration for Syrian Kurdish fighters.
Given the openly expressed desire by Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin to cooperate to end the Syrian crisis, it remains to be seen if Turkish hopes invested in the new US administration will bear fruit or merely compound Turkeys already difficult situation in Syria.
Cherokee County Sheriff Jeff Shaver said a Centre man faces first-degree kidnapping charges after investigators say he held a woman against her will.
Shaver said dispatchers received a 911 call around midnight to a residence in the Forney community on a domestic violence call. At the residence, officers found an injured woman.
"The female appeared to have been assaulted and held against her will," Shaver said.
The victim was carried to a local hospital where she was treated and released.
Shaver said Wallace B. Jordan, 39, of Centre, has been charged with first-degree kidnapping and is being held in the Cherokee County Detention Center on $100,000 bond.
TuscaloosaCarjackingSuspects.jpg
Christopher Denell Calloway and Stephanie Ray Robinson Calloway, both 43, are now charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree receiving stolen property.
(Tuscaloosa Police)
A man and woman are under arrest after a carjacking in Tuscaloosa.
Tuscaloosa police were dispatched about 5:19 p.m. Wednesday to the 3500 block of East McFarland Boulevard on a report of a robbery, said Lt. Teena Richardson. The victim told officers she was involved in a crash, and that her vehicle was then taken by force.
The suspects - a man and woman - fled in the victim's car in an unknown direction of travel on the interstate, Richards said. The vehicle the pair left at the scene was determined to have been stolen out of South Carolina.
About six hours later - at 11:15 p.m. - Mississippi Highway Patrol, the Mississippi Bureau of Investigation and the Clarke County Sheriff's Office spotted the couple on the interstate. After a short pursuit, they were taken into custody in Clarke County, initially arrested on misdemeanor charges.
Tuscaloosa police on Friday announced felony warrants for them. Christopher Denell Calloway and Stephanie Ray Robinson Calloway, both 43, are now charged with first-degree robbery and first-degree receiving stolen property. Theirs bonds are set at $90,000 each.
StormyLyonsColt.jpg
Stormy Lyons is charged with animal cruelty after lawmen found 2 dead horse and an emaciated colt that belonged to her in Vance. (Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office)
( )
A Tuscaloosa County woman is behind bars, accused of cruelty to animals after two horses were found dead on her property and a third was found in dire condition.
Stormy Lyons, 35, surrendered to the Tuscaloosa County Jail on Friday morning. Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office spokesman Deputy Josh Hastings said the investigation began Dec. 21 when lawmen responded to an animal cruelty complaint on Pleasant Grove Road in Vance.
When they arrived on the scene, they found a dead horse in a makeshift pasture in the back yard of an abandoned residence. A second horse - a 1-year-old colt - was also found in the enclosure. The colt was emaciated and appeared to have been tied to a tree for quite some time, Hastings said.
As deputies continued to investigate, they found a third horse had also recently died and was buried in a shallow grave next to the dead horse. Based on the condition of the enclosure and the condition of the living horse, the colt was seized and is currently being housed at the Tuscaloosa County Sheriff's Office animal stable. Hastings said the colt is doing well.
Lyons is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, cruelty to animals and failure to bury livestock. She is being held in the Tuscaloosa County Jail with bonds totaling $7,500.
Florence police shooting
Florence Police Detective Michael Price, left, shot suspect Chris Kilpatrick, right, during a foot chase and struggle. Kilpatrick, who allegedly pointed a gun at the officer, is now charged with attempted murder.
(Florence police/Lauderdale County Detention Center)
An Alabama man who was shot by Florence police earlier this year has been indicted for attempted murder of an officer.
The indictment accuses Christopher Wayne Kilpatrick, 43, of trying to "intentionally cause the death of" Florence police Detective Michael Price during a foot chase and struggle on Aug. 11, court records show.
Kilpatrick, of Florence, was indicted by a grand jury in Lauderdale County earlier this month.
At the time of the incident, Kilpatrick allegedly had escaped from work release and stolen a truck from Jacksonburg Church of Christ a day earlier. When a Florence officer spotted the truck in the nearby Dollar General parking lot off Chisholm Road, he called for backup and Price responded.
As Price arrived, Kilpatrick, who was driving the truck, ran into a wooded area behind the store. Two male passengers stayed with the truck and were taken into custody without incident.
Price ran after Kilpatrick and the two began struggling, at which time the detective shot Kilpatrick in the abdomen, police said. A gun, reportedly stolen from another vehicle, was found on the ground near Kilpatrick.
"He pointed the gun at the officer," Lauderdale County District Attorney Chris Connolly said. When asked if Kilpatrick fired at Price, Connolly said he couldn't discuss specifics of the case.
Kilpatrick was hospitalized for treatment of his injuries.
Price was placed on administrative leave pending an internal review and Alabama Law Enforcement Agency investigation of the shooting. He later was returned to active duty.
Connolly said a grand jury earlier this year cleared Price in the shooting, so no charges were filed.
The attempted murder case against Kilpatrick was investigated by the Lauderdale County Sheriff's Office. Connolly said the Sheriff's Office and Florence police have a "reciprocal agreement" to handle those investigations for each other when an officer or deputy from the other agency is involved.
Kilpatrick also has been indicted on charges of first-degree theft, second-degree theft and breaking and entering a vehicle in connection with the stolen gun and truck, court records show.
A grand jury issues an indictment when the jurors find there is enough evidence for a case to proceed to trial. The indictment is a formal notice of the charges -- not a legal determination of guilt or innocence.
Kilpatrick was being held in the Lauderdale County Detention Center with bail set at $59,000.
If convicted on the attempted murder or first-degree theft charges, Kilpatrick faces up to 20 years imprisonment on Class B felony count. The second-degree theft and breaking and entering charges are Class C felonies punishable by up to 10 years imprisonment.
Kilpatrick was on work release in connection with an assault conviction at the time of the shooting.
The adversary violated the ceasefire along the line of contact between the Karabakh and Azerbaijani opposing forces around 40 times, from late Thursday night to early Friday morning.
December 30, 2016, 09:31 Azerbaijan fired over 1,300 shots at night
STEPANAKERT, DECEMBER 30, ARTSAKHPRESS: During this time the Azerbaijani armed forces fired more than 1,300 shots toward the Armenian military positions, and with various shooting weapons and sniper rifles, the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Defense Army informed.
Taking actions in response where necessary, the NKR Defense Army position-holding forces, however, continue overseeing the situation, and they clearly carry out their military watch.
What is exposed is the result of the fine work of the anti-corruption team, which works hard to expose such abuse.
While last weeks news about a public servant sentenced to nine years gaol for defrauding the state of K5 million sends a signal, there is much more corruption; very much more.
But there are many others who are rotten within the system of government and in the public service.
THERE are many good politicians, public servants and private citizens who want a corruption free and prosperous Papua New Guinea.
The most recent fraud concerned K5 million awarded for three Bailey Bridges to be constructed; but the culprit completed just one, pocketing the remaining money.
A crude crime, but so common in many PNG government departments.
Its even got its own slang - kicks & cuts.
There are also grips & grabs - funds paid for doing favours, especially for people in a position to award contracts.
Both kicks & cuts and grips & grabs are popular forms of corruption in PNG today.
As graft finds its way into new twists and turns, those with criminal minds look for ways to make their deals look legal, providing us with yet another term - legalised corruption.
Sometimes, common people are confused about whether something is corrupt or not, especially if its legalised corruption.
A country with a population approaching eight million where about half the people are illiterate offers a much higher prospect of continued legalised corruption.
It is sad to see a country blessed with abundant natural resources with so much being grabbed by a very few corrupted hands. Corruption will continue until politicians and public servants change their ways and the rest of us vote in good political leaders who can truly fight against corruption.
The question many Papua New Guineans ask is why we continue to elect political leaders who have been implicated in a corruption?
Its depressing to witness this happening with same old recycled politicians manipulating the same old public servants.
Lets hope 2017 will bring change.
Ramallah Those who dont know their country are incapable of loving it. This was the motto for a recent project by Palestinian NGO Taghyeer for Social Media, which brought 50 bloggers, journalists and social media activists together on a bus trip to highlight the heritage of Palestine.
The trip started in the Palestinian Authoritys de facto capital of Ramallah and made stops at the Ein Fawwar and Ein Farah springs, the Nabi Musa shrine and the Sugar Mills in Jericho, a Palestinian city near the Jordan River with remains dating back more than 10,000 years.
Via smartphones, participants shared what they saw with tens of thousands of followers and friends on Facebook, Snapchat, Twitter and Instagram. The social media bus initiative generated huge interest in Palestine and abroad, Taghyeer founder Saed Karzoun told Al Jazeera, with more than 50,000 people following the hashtag #SMBUS on Twitter and Instagram in just two days.
As of 2014, less than half of Palestinians in the occupied territories had an internet connection, according to a recent report by 7amleh, the Arab Centre for Social Media Advancement. But the power of social media continues to grow.
Its the smart power that we use to connect with the world in seconds, Karzoun said.
According to a 2016 report published by the Palestinian company Concepts, approximately 1.7 million Palestinians in the occupied West Bank and the Gaza Strip use Facebook, while more than one million use WhatsApp and more than 300,000 use each of Twitter and Instagram.
Journalist and media researcher Tala Halawa noted that it is extremely important for Palestinians to maintain a presence on social media, as many people around the world use such platforms to interact with Palestinians and to learn about the country.
The [social media bus] initiative takes advantage of Palestinians obsession with social media to increase awareness and promote these locations in Palestine, Halawa added.
Hamza Aqrabawi, a guide specialising in alternative forms of tourism, said that of the more than 1,000 tours he organised in 2016, the social media bus had the greatest impact.
We realised that we have become strangers in our country. Israelis feel more comfortable because they know the land. It is extremely important to know Palestine to eliminate fear and claim ownership, Aqrabawi told Al Jazeera.
Every participant in the trip had at least 5,000 friends and followers. Thousands lived our experience. They all know Ein Farah and Ein Fawwar and are no longer afraid to go there.
Participant Noor Hamad, a 34-year-old Palestinian who was born in Syria and grew up in Jordan, wrote about the trip and posted several photos online to share the experience with his friends. When I saw the water coming from under the ground in Ein Fawwar, it quenched the thirst of 69 years under occupation, Hamad said.
The participants not only live streamed, but also documented the journey for generations to come, Karzoun said, noting that if you visit #SMBUS now, you will find extensive Arabic content about these four places. We are slowly building an archive about the Palestine we know. After its initial success, two subsequent social media bus tours were organised in Nablus and Gaza.
There is still some way to go, however. Halawa said that the Palestinian narrative must still expand on larger English-language platforms, such as Wikipedia, in order to better combat the Israeli narrative.
A lack of 3G internet service in the occupied West Bank has posed a significant obstacle, forcing many Palestinians to rely on wi-fi, available only in specific areas.
Israel tries to control Palestinians access to such services to keep them isolated from the world, Halawa said.
For many the current position of Britains black population is one that is mired between achievement and marginalisation
Glasgow, United Kingdom They are one of Britains most dynamic and enduring communities whose presence in the UK dates back hundreds of years.
From serving Britain with distinction in the first and second world wars to their modern-day success in the world of film and television and sport, black Britons have helped to shape the UK of today.
The month of November saw the BBC broadcast its Black and British season a series of programmes dedicated to the achievements of black people in the UK and exploring the rich cultural heritage of black Britain.
The considered thoughts of black British figures such as Olympic gold medallist Denise Lewis, Homeland star David Harewood and supermodel Naomi Campbell were showcased alongside programmes involving Britains role in the slave trade and domestic discrimination.
Indeed, for many observers, the current position of Britains black population is one that is mired between achievement and marginalisation in a nation where being black and British remains, statistically, a hardship. And where, some say, the UKs true-scale involvement in the transatlantic slave trade remains little known to the wider public.
Theres a tendency with some people who dont want to talk about many aspects of British history, to say that slavery is talked about too much, said David Olusoga, a BBC producer and historian who was involved in the making and presenting of the corporations Black and British season.
I think we know very, very little in this country about Britains involvement in the slave trade and slavery.
READ MORE: Black Lives Matter and the Irish slave myth
He added to Al Jazeera: When someone tells me theyre sick of hearing about slavery that thats all anyone talks about I say, if youre so bored of hearing about it, then you can obviously name a number of plantations, name a number of British slave ships and owners and merchants, and, of course, people [normally] cant.
Despite the BBCs season of programming, many advocates of black British history say that, in the modern-day UK, it remains hard to promote the achievements of black Britons.
Stephen Bourne is a historian with 25 years experience writing about the success and contributions of Britains black community. He told Al Jazeera that, from the high point of black British coverage in the 1990s, interest from the mainstream media and the publishing world fell off a cliff in the aftermath of the report into the 1993 racially motivated murder of black London teenager, Stephen Lawrence.
That [1999] Macpherson Report accused the London Metropolitan police of institutional racism and looking back, it was around that time that [British] media facilitators withdrew and kind of backed off race, contended Bourne, author of Black Poppies Britains Black Community and the Great War.
So, black British history got sidelined and I lived through that period and struggled in that period.
READ MORE: Black Britons confront radical Islam
Black lives dont matter in the UK
Although black Britons had been present in the country long before, their numbers really began to grow in the mid-20th century when, from the 1940s to the 1960s, the first wave of black immigrants arrived on to British shores from the Caribbean.
A second wave, beginning in the late 1980s, saw those from the African continent head to the UK, with Nigerians and Ghanaians leading the way. Today, Britains black population stands at some two million in the country of 64.6 million people.
Yet, the lives of many black Britons remain somewhat perilous. According to a 2016 report by the Equality and Human Rights Commission, black Britons are more than twice as likely to be murdered as white Britons. It also revealed that black workers with degrees were, on average, earning 23.1 percent less than their white counterparts.
Black lives dont matter in the UK if you are poor and black, the colour bar is a lived reality, said activist and campaigner, Joshua Virasami, who is a core member of Britains emerging Black Lives Matter UK movement.
From big wage gaps to unemployment, low educational attainment to stop-and-search, incarceration to deaths in police custody and prisons, black people are disproportionately represented, black women are often triply oppressed by race, class and gender.
OPINION: Race relations in Britain How far have we really come?
Talking positives
London-based Virasami told Al Jazeera that Black Lives Matter UK had already started campaigning across England and Wales and that it was planning its first Britain-wide gathering in the New Year.
I believe the movement has one fundamental objective the self-determination and emancipation of black people from a global system of white-hetero-patriarchal capital which subjugates us at the mercy of the profits of a corporatocracy, the same captains of industry who have run this violent operation of exploitation for centuries, he said.
As black immigrants began to settle in Britain in large numbers from the middle part of the 20th century, driven by a post-war labour shortage in the UK and a want of job opportunities in many of Britains colonies, racial tensions played out in a number of ways.
There were the 1958 race riots in the English cities of Nottingham and London, the notorious 1968 Rivers of Blood speech by Conservative Party MP Enoch Powell and the rise of the unabashed racist National Front movement in the 1970s.
Indeed, many black Britons frequently experienced both direct and indirect racism during this time. Some, including a teenage David Olusoga himself, even found their own homes the target of racist attacks.
Yet, said Bourne, who has spent a career gathering the first-hand accounts of many older generation black Britons, there is another narrative.
While, Bourne observed, in the 1980s, there was a huge push to talk about racism, and to talk about black people in British history as victims of racism that one could only talk about black people in British history through that framework that wasnt how they perceived themselves.
Black Britons, he said, were more interested in talking about the positives, the achievements, the successes that they had. Racism played a part, it wasnt ever ignored when they talked to me, but it wasnt the way they perceived themselves. They didnt perceive themselves as victims.
If the strong words of Virasami are anything to go by, in todays UK, in the 21st century, Britain remains troubled by racial tensions. And, while it is clear that some of the barriers that prevented black Britons from succeeding have been overcome, the country has still some way to go if the aspirations of all black Britons are to be met, said Olusoga.
The historian stated that the very fact it was perhaps easier to name black athletes or musicians in Britain than it was to name black writers, thinkers and intellectuals, revealed that in the areas where black people were said to be deficient, black people are still either excluded or self-excluded or probably a bit of both.
Indeed, a 2015 report laid bare that, shockingly, just 0.49 percent of professors in UK academia were black.
Its important that we challenge the areas where the racism that emerged in the 18th and 19th and 20th centuries said black people were deficient, explained Olusoga, author of Black and British A Forgotten History.
I would much more readily rush to say that weve got somewhere when I saw 20 black [British] history professors, rather than one.
Follow Alasdair Soussi on Twitter: @AlasdairSoussi
This is the year that added insult to injury, as disagreement translated into indecency, and arrogance bred incivility.
The dogs of war have peed all over this years calendar. Every month. Every week. Every day.
Entire cities and communities have been ravaged by indiscriminate bombing, violence, destruction, as more and more people abandoned their lives for the unknown.
Certainly, 2016 was one of the worst years in decades, perhaps not as bad as 1916 one of the 20th centurys worst but the Middle East is in the midst of its own World War I after more regional and global military powers jumped in.
Never again has happened again and again, but the international community did little more than bicker, complain or perhaps condemn. Worse, the world has grown numb to the horrors of the greater Middle East.
The tragic image of five-year-old Omran Daqneesh, sitting in an ambulance after being pulled from a building hit by an air strike in Aleppo, less than a year after three-year old Aylan Kurdi was washed ashore in Turkey, made it clear that nothing will make a difference.
Five thousand more refugees drowned in the Mediterranean in 2016. And the lucky ones, like the hundred thousand-plus refugees who crossed the Red Sea from the Horn of Africa this year, have actually found refuge in war-torn Yemen!
And something else happened in 2016; something that didnt figure in the long lists of the end-of-the-year reviews; something that went beyond violence, beyond suffering. Its the year that added insult to injury, as disagreement translated into indecency, and arrogance bred incivility. Its the year of lies and post-truth.
A year of insolence
The Jewish Talmud lists a number of signs that that signal the end of times. For example, chutzpah or insolence will increase, the truth will be hidden, and the face of a generation, that is to say, its leaders, will be as the face of a dog.
Coincidentally, Ive been hearing a lot of barking in recent times, coming from the most likely and, indeed, the most unlikely places.
The Talmuds face of a dog appearing on the horizon, like Shakespeares let slip the dogs of war, comes when leaders wreak havoc on the world. And just as dogs march ahead of their master, but are in fact being led from behind, so the leaders will only appear to be leading; in reality they will be following the whims of the masses and their worst instincts.
There are countless examples of such arrogance, recklessness and myopia. Here are three specific examples of chutzpah in 2016.
The Syrian people have triumphed
Five years after people accumulated victories in the struggle for freedom and justice in the Arab world, they now only count their losses.
The tide began to turn three years ago when the regimes cracked down on popular upheavals with impunity, choking the spirit of the Arab Spring amid mounting foreign meddling. It started with Libya and Syria, followed by Egypt and Yemen, and shows no signs of ebbing this year.
As moderates lingered in jails and cemeteries, moderation gave way to extremism, which in turn became the new norm that would come to shape 2016. New extremist groups such as the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant and al-Qaeda took to the fore, destroying all that was left from the Arab Spring.
READ MORE: 2016 The year the world stopped caring about refugees
The birth pangs of a new Middle East have continued to grow, but there is little evidence of the birth of a new Middle East.
Nowhere is this more evident than in Syria. Helped by Russia, Iran and various militias, the Assad regime destroyed much of the country under the pretext of fighting terrorism.
As the Syrian death toll rose to several hundreds of thousands, Bashar al-Assad, who in 2011 claimed that Syrians would never rise against the regime, boasted against the backdrop of falling Aleppo: The Syrian people have won.
Lies like a dog
And just when you thought things couldnt get any worse, Donald Trump was elected US president. Those who were disappointed by Barrack Obamas under-reach are infuriated by the president-elects overreach.
His incitement against Muslims is unprecedented, advocating a ban on Muslim travel to America and the creation of a registry for American Muslims by Homeland Security.
Trump has already made friends and allies from among some of the most notorious racists in the United States and beyond and has brought a number of Muslim and Arab haters to the White House as senior advisers.
2016 doesn't signal the end of times. There's still lots of time to do the right thing, to follow our moral compass, not our fears, celebrate hope and birth, and reverse this year's embrace and even reward for insolence, indecency, and incivility. by
A bragger who lies, according to The Washington Post and New York Times, Trump boasted to know more about ISIL than the US generals, and that only he can protect America, but then he argued its best to leave it to the Russians and Syrian regime to finish the job. The job as described above.
Even before entering the White House, Trump has been making allies with the likes of Russias Vladimir Putin, Egypts Abdel Fattah el-Sisi as well as Israels Benjamin Netanyahu. Even President Assad reckons theyll be allies.
And to top it all, after claiming that he would be neutral on Israel and Palestine, Trump promised to move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem and assigned his campaign advisers, the ultra-Zionists David Friedman and Jason Greenblatt, as diplomatic envoys to Israel and to the peace talks. The latter once served as a guard at an Israeli settlement.
So now the commander-in-tweet, who boasted of being the only one capable of resolving the conflict, threatens to punish the United Nations for approving a resolution condemning the illegal Israeli settlements and vowing to stop US disdain of Israel.
Declaration of war
OK, just to be clear, if anyone disdained anyone in this relationship, there is an overwhelming international consensus, except in Israel, that it is Netanyahu that has treated Obama with disdain, not the other way around.
Despite unprecedented US military and intelligence cooperation with Israel; despite granting it a record package of military aid of $38bn over the next 10 years; despite vetoing the UN Security Council resolution condemning the Israel illegal settlement in 2011 the only veto the US used at the council on that year; and despite blocking all diplomatic pressures on Israel at various international forums, Netanyahu persisted in railing against and humiliating the Obama administration.
Otherwise, known as biting the hand that feeds you.
OPINION: Israels never-ending crimes Its not just settlements
Nowhere was this clearer than when he colluded with Republican leaders of Congress to speak out against US diplomacy on the Iran nuclear deal. The president was informed only hours before Netanyahus speech.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials have chastised their US counterparts as if they were the representatives of a banana republic. One called Obamas politics anti-Semitic, and John Kerry a man with the brain of a 12-year-old.
But the Secretary of State has been unrelenting. And this week he delivered a long speech defending US abstention during the Security Council vote on the resolution condemning the illegal Israeli settlement.
The 14 out of 15 majority in favour of the resolution was followed by an almost unprecedented cheer and applause. But the Obama administration has had to defend itself non-stop under a barrage of attacks and disinformation by Israel and its friends, including the most vocal, Donald Trump.
After all, in the words of one Israeli minister, supporting such a resolution is tantamount to supporting the 9/11 attacks, or, as Prime Minister Netanyahu menaced his New Zealand counterpart, its declaration of war on Israel. A declaration of war! Oh, what chutzpah!
The dogs bark, but the caravan goes on
Syrian, Iranians, Russians and others have little or no choice. Insisting on better leadership has proved deadly. But what about Americans and Israelis! What is their excuse?
Yes, there is a lot of insolence out there, but rest assured, 2016 doesnt signal the end of times. Theres still lots of time to do the right thing, to follow our moral compass, not our fears, celebrate hope and birth, and reverse this years embrace and even reward for insolence, indecency, and incivility.
OPINION: What went wrong? A withering West
Say goodbye 2016, hello 2017. Wishing only that next year will be the year when ethics guide politics, not the other way around. Wishful thinking? Perhaps. But isnt that what we do on New Years Eve?
Remember, as I always say: In the end, everything will be OK. If its not OK, its not the end.
The dogs bark, but the caravan must go on.
PS: Dear dog lovers, The New York Times columnist and author of The Year of Voting Dangerously, Maureen Dowd, commented in her October 8 piece, Donald Goes to the Dogs: Given that Trump has dubbed so many women dogs, theres poetic justice in comparing him to one But its not fair to compare Trump to a dog. Dogs are awesome. Her words, not mine.
Marwan Bishara is the senior political analyst at Al Jazeera. Follow him on Facebook.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
A decade after the Iraqi presidents execution, a system that results in the daily deaths of Iraqis continues unabated.
On Saturday, December 30, 2006, the world awoke to the news of Saddam Husseins execution.
I learned of the news at 6:30am that morning, when I received a call from CNNs Turkish affiliate in Istanbul to come on the air to discuss his death. 90 minutes later, the TV host concluded the interview by asking, As an Iraqi, how do you feel after Saddams execution?
I paused. Sweat trickled down my face, caked in make-up for the studio interview. I knew that some Iraqis would dance with joy, while others would weep. How did I feel?
Empty, I responded.
All I wanted was stability and a bright future for my ancestral Iraq. I knew Saddams execution would not bring that to Iraq, and a decade later, my desires still prove to be elusive.
The audiences of Saddams execution
A decade ago Saddams execution elicited mixed reactions among those living in Iraq and the region. Saddam managed to capture the imagination of the Arab public as the only leader who stood up to the West in two separate wars.
For those Iraqis who lost family to Saddams government, his execution served as closure with a bloody past. Yet, even those who despised Saddam admitted that he brought stability to the country, something that Iraq lacks today.
For those Iraqis who loved Saddam, they joined insurgent groups after 2003, hoping to return him to power. His execution did little to end their violence. Some of them, including former Saddam-era officers, eventually found their way to the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL), an organisation who had no love for the former Iraqi president, but emerged as the most effective insurgent group a decade after his death.
Saddams death and The Republic of Fear
In 1989, Iraqi-British academic Kanan Makiya published, The Republic of Fear, analysing how Saddam sat at the top of a system that inculcated an all-encompassing sense of fear in Iraq.
That fear knew no temporal or geographic borders. Even after Saddam went into hiding after the 2003 Iraq war, Iraqis were reluctant to cooperate with the United States occupation authorities, certain that he would somehow manage to return.
What is new to Iraq is insecurity, civil wars, car bombs, kidnappings, criminal gangs, ISIL and government mired by infighting among ethno-sectarian political factions. by
That fear permeated beyond Iraq. Growing up in California, my parents hesitated to discuss their lives in Iraq, giving me the impression that it was some place they did not want me know about. They only discussed Iraq in whispered conversations that I overheard.
So, Iraq became something I only thought about, imagining how traumatic their past must have been that they could not even tell me. The mystery they created surrounding Iraq and Saddam Hussein only did more to enhance my curiosity. Saddam had been part of my life since childhood, then I studied his rule from my first days in college until I finished my PhD.
The more I studied his rule, I realised that Saddam sat at the apex of a system, in which thousands were complicit.
OPINION: Twenty five years later, the Middle East looks the same
The lesson of a paper I wrote on this system one that was plagiarised by the British government on the eve of the 2003 Iraq War was that there were thousands of Iraqis serving in the organs of the republic of fear who made it work. Killing Saddam would do nothing about these officials who would still live in Iraq.
With his execution Saddams republic of fear did come to an end. While Iraqis may have feared Saddam, a decade after his death they know new fears: a fear of getting killed by a car bomb on the way to the market; a fear of getting kidnapped and executed for being a Shia or Sunni; a fear that they will not find a job to feed themselves; a fear that they are stuck in a country with no future.
Saddams death and the new Iraq
After 2003, Iraq was often touted by the US news channels as the new Iraq, communicating that it had a bright and optimistic future. When 2006 came to a close, the new Iraq was free of Saddam. Yet, a decade after his death it is difficult to see what is optimistic about the new Iraq.
The new Iraq was touted as a democracy. Today it has the facade of democratic institutions with authoritarian practices in the shadows. The new Iraq was free of the Baathists. Yet, some Baathists also found a new home in ISIL.
What is new to Iraq is insecurity, civil wars, car bombs, kidnappings, criminal gangs, ISIL and government mired by infighting among ethno-sectarian political factions.
The expulsion of Iraqs Christians from their ancestral homes, and genocide against the Yazidis; power cuts, lack of basic infrastructure; and a Mosul dam that could collapse at any minute; Saddams execution did nothing to prevent these developments.
OPINION: The enduring legacy of Operation Desert Storm
For some Iraqis, Saddams execution was a matter of justice for the mass crimes he presided over, such as the Anfal campaign, the chemical attack against Halabja, and the mass slaughter that followed the 1991 uprisings, which indiscriminately killed Iraqis of all ethnic and sectarian backgrounds.
A decade after Saddams execution, however, another Iraqi, Ibrahim al-Samarrai, otherwise known as Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi, the caliph of ISIL, is also presiding over an apparatus that targets Iraqis of all ethnic and sectarian backgrounds.
The justice some Iraqis sought proved ephemeral. In the vacuum that resulted from the overthrow of Saddam, another one emerged to replace him.
Ibrahim al-Marashi is an assistant professor at the Department of History, California State University, San Marcos. He is the co-author of Iraqs Armed Forces: An Analytical History.
The views expressed in this article are the authors own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeeras editorial policy.
Forensics carry out tests on body as Brazil police investigate possibility that it might be missing Greek ambassador.
The discovery of a body in a burned-out car in Rio state has sparked fears that it might be that of the Greek ambassador to Brazil.
Kyriakos Amiridis had been missing for three days and was last seen on Monday in the Baixada Fluminense region north of Rio de Janeiro.
The car, which had licence plates matching that of the rental car the 59-year-old was using, was found on Thursday in the Nova Iguacu district of the Brazilian capital, the news website G1 reported, citing police.
The website published photos of the burned car found on the slope of a busy suburban thoroughfare. It reported that police suspected the body inside to be that of the ambassador.
Amiridis had been on holiday with his family in Rio de Janeiros northern Nova Iguacu area since December 21.
He was due to fly back to Brasilia on January 9, a Greek embassy official told AFP news agency.
But he went missing after he left the apartment he was renting and took the car, according to Brazilian media. His Brazilian wife formally declared him missing on Wednesday.
The Greek foreign ministry had earlier issued a statement saying that after Amiridis was declared missing, saying the full mobilisation of all the competent Brazilian authorities was requested.
Amiridis was named ambassador this year. He had previously served as Greeces consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004.
He served as Greeces ambassador to Libya from 2012 to 2016.
He is married and has a daughter, according to the embassy in Brasilia.
Pledge, seen as potential game changer for African elephants, comes as country faces pressure to curb the trade.
China will ban all domestic ivory trade and processing by the end of 2017, a move described by activists as a potential game changer for African elephants.
African ivory is highly sought after in China, where it is seen as a status symbol, and prices can reach as high as $1,100 a kg.
China will gradually stop the processing and sales of ivories for commercial purposes by the end of 2017, the official Xinhua news agency said on Friday, citing a government statement.
The announcement follows Chinas move in March this year to widen a ban on imports of all ivory and ivory products acquired before 1975 after pressure to restrict a trade that sees thousands of elephants slaughtered every year.
Xinhua said the complete ban would affect 34 processing enterprises and 143 designated trading venues, with dozens to be closed by the end of March 2017.
This is great news that will shut down the worlds largest market for elephant ivory, Aili Kang, executive director of the Wildlife Conservation Society in Asia, said in a statement.
I am very proud of my country for showing this leadership that will help ensure that elephants have a fighting chance to beat extinction. This is a game changer for Africas elephants.
Conservationists estimate that more than 20,000 elephants were killed for their ivory last year, with similar tolls in previous years.
The WWF campaign group says 415,000 of the animals remain.
The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), which took effect in 1975, banned ivory trade in 1989.
READ MORE: Report Africas elephants face worst drop in 25 years
Like other countries, China permits the resale of ivory bought before the ban, and also has a stockpile purchased with CITES approval in 2008, which it releases for sale with certification.
WWF also praised Chinas move to a complete ban but called on the Chinese territory of Hong Kong to bring forward a plan to end its ivory trade by 2021.
With Chinas market closed, Hong Kong can become a preferred market for traffickers to launder illegal ivory under cover of the legal ivory trade, said Cheryl Lo, senior wildlife crime officer at WWF.
Sporadic fighting reported in different places but guns and bombs mostly silent since the onset of the nationwide truce.
Despite reports of intermittent fighting and anti-government protests across Syria, overall the nationwide ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey appears to be holding.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported fighting early on Friday between troops and rebels in the central province of Hama and near the capital, Damascus.
The SOHR, a UK-based information office which documents human-rights abuses in Syria, also reported an aerial attack on the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley near Damascus.
Mazen al-Shami, an opposition activist from the Damascus suburb of Douma, said minor clashes nearby left one rebel fighter wounded during the day.
READ MORE: Russia seeks UN endorsement of Syria ceasefire
Separately, Ahmad al-Masalmeh, an activist in Deraa province, accused government forces of opening fire on rebel-held areas.
Al Jazeera has learnt that five people have been killed in violence in the first 24 hours since the ceasefire took effect at 22:00 GMT.
Given that several past UN-backed attempts at halting the fighting in Syria have failed, it remains to be seen whether the current one, backed by Russia and Turkey, will succeed.
Major breakthrough
Al Jazeeras Hashem Ahelbarra, reporting from Turkeys Gaziantep near the Syria border, said periodic clashes in some parts of Syria were reported just hours after the ceasefire went into effect.
However, the fact that the truce is largely holding amounts to a major breakthrough and could pave the way for a final political settlement, he said.
There are some sporadic clashes around Damascus in Wadi Barada and Deraa and in Aleppo, but activists operating on the ground say calm still prevails, which is a significant development, he said.
Russia announced on Thursday a deal it said had been accepted by seven of Syrias major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one denied signing it.
As with the previous agreements, the current ceasefire excludes the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which earlier had links to al-Qaeda, and the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group.
Assad-Putin conversation
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the ceasefire would be guaranteed by both his country and Turkey.
And on Friday Russian officials said Syrian President Bashar al-Assad had conveyed his commitment to observing the truce during a phone call with Putin.
Assad is reported to have agreed that the planned peace talks in Kazakhstan would be an important step in resolving the conflict.
Assad also met a joint delegation from the European and Russian parliaments although it is not clear if the meeting took place before or after Thursdays deal was sealed.
Russia and Iran provide crucial military support to Assad, while Turkey has long served as a rear base and source of supplies for opposition factions.
Mohammad Javad Zarif, Irans foreign minister, called the ceasefire a major achievement on Twitter on Friday.
Lets build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror, he said.
Qatar, which backs the Syrian rebels, also offered its full support to the ceasefire.
READ MORE: Idlib overwhelmed by influx of Aleppos wounded
Nevertheless, Mohammed bin Jassim Al Thani, Qatars foreign minister, called for continued dialogue and cautioned against fresh air strikes by the Syrian government.
The ceasefire deal followed a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive.
The retaking of all of Aleppo marked Assads biggest military victory since the start of the 2011 uprising against his familys four-decade rule.
The defeat of the terrorists in Aleppo is an important step towards ending the war, Assad told TG5, an Italian TV station, in a recent interview.
However, the capture of the city does not mean that the war has ended, he said, because terrorists are still in Syria.
Agreement reached by Congolese political parties aims to have transitional government in place by March next year.
Joseph Kabila will step down as president of the Democratic Republic of Congo after elections held before the end of 2017, under a draft agreement reached by political parties, according to a lead mediator from the Catholic Church.
Under the deal, reached on Friday but not yet signed, Kabila will be unable to change the constitution to extend his mandate and run for a third term, said Marcel Utembi, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference in the Congo.
A transitional government will be put in place by March next year, said Al Jazeeras Fahmida Miller, reporting from neighbouring Kenya.
During the time of the transitional government, they will be looking at appointing a prime minister from the opposition. That was vital for the opposition because it needed a bigger stake in the government, she said.
She said politicians in exile may also be allowed to return without a fear of prosecution.
However, there seems to be a number of questions around opposition politicians within DRC who have been arrested. They wont necessarily be freed anytime soon, she said.
What this agreement is talking about is a sort of commission to be set up that would look at these political prisoners case-by-case and determine their fate.
If the deal is finalised, it will be Congos first peaceful transfer of power since independence in 1960.
Kabilas two-term mandate ended on December 19, but authorities have effectively extended it until 2018.
His actions led to demonstrations, with security forces killing about 40 people just last week alone.
Western and African powers feared the failure to secure a peaceful transition of power could lead to a repeat of conflicts seen between 1996 and 2003 in eastern Congo in which millions died, mostly from starvation and disease.
The worlds three last rhinos live in Kenyas Ol Pejeta conservancy and just one of them, ageing Sudan, is male.
Laikipia County, Kenya Scientists are running out of time to save the critically endangered northern white rhino. There are only three left in the world.
Sudan, along with the other two, live in Kenyas Ol Pejeta conservancy.
At 43 years old, conservationists say that it is unlikely Sudan the last male of the group will live for more than another two years.
As the two female rhinos suffer from reproductive issues, it is hoped that in vitro fertilisation, or IVF, will save the species from extinction.
[But as] both females have reproductive issues, the chances of natural breeding are now zero, said Richard Vigne, head of Ol Pejeta. We will have to look into artificial reproductive techniques, in particular in vitro fertilisation and its fraught with problems.
READ MORE: Race against time to save the last white rhinos
IVF has never before been successfully carried out on rhinos.
Researchers in Europe are attempting to discover how to best harvest and fertilise eggs from the two female rhinos. If their trials are successful, a surrogate mother could give birth.
However, even if the IVF research goes well, there are two further threats: poaching and disease.
Poachers are very daring nowadays. They could attempt to breach any security detail that we put in the way. Another threat would be diseases that suddenly kill an animal before you get a chance to treat them, said veterinarian Stephen Ngulu.
In 2015, rhino poaching increased for the sixth year in a row. The International Union for Conservation of Nature says at least 1,338 rhinos were killed last year for their horns.
Follow Fahmida Miller on Twitter: @FahmidaMiller
Security Council expected to vote on proposed resolution after Russian ambassador submits final document on ceasefire.
Russia has urged the UN Security Council to give its blessing to the ceasefire in Syria, the third truce this year seeking to end the nearly six years of war in Syria.
The Security Council met behind closed doors for an hour on Friday to consider a proposed resolution endorsing the ceasefire that Russia and Turkey announced on Thursday.
Al Jazeera has obtained the draft document, which provides details of the ceasefire and the planned peace negotiations.
According to the document, the armed opposition is committed to forming a delegation independently by January 16, 2017, and to attending the planned peace negotiations with the government in Kazakhstans capital, Astana, on January 23, 2017.
The Syrian government delegation will take part in joint meetings with the opposition starting from January 15, 2017, in Astana, in which the UN will participate, the document says.
It is not clear whether a difference in the dates of the two delegations joining the negotiations was meant to be different or was a typo in the draft.
A UN vote is possible as early as Saturday, although Security Council members recommended changes to the draft and it will probably be revised, Vitaly Churkin, Russias ambassador, said after the closed-door meeting.
I think those accommodations can be easily absorbed into the draft, he said.
It was not immediately clear if the resolution would win broad support.
READ MORE: Clashes erupt near Damascus despite truce
Meanwhile, there is confusion over which Syrian opposition groups are covered by the ceasefire.
The Syrian government says the agreement does not include the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) group; fighters from al-Qaedas former branch, al-Nusra Front; and factions linked to these armed groups.
But several rebel officials said on Thursday that the agreement did include the former al-Nusra Front now known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham which announced in July that it was severing ties with al-Qaeda.
For its part, the Jabhat Fateh al-Sham has criticised the ceasefire for not mentioning President Bashar al-Assads fate, and said the political solution under this agreement would reproduce the criminal regime.
The solution is to topple the criminal regime militarily, a spokesman for the fighters said in a statement on Friday.
Ahrar al-Sham, another powerful opposition armed group, says it has not signed the ceasefire agreement because of reservations but has not elaborated.
The United States, in the waning days of Barack Obamas administration, has been sidelined in recent negotiations and is not due take part in the Astana talks.
Russia has said the US could join a fresh peace process once Donald Trump takes office as president on January 20.
It also wants Egypt to join, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and the US.
Trump has said he will cooperate more closely with Russia on counterterrorism measures.
However, it is unclear what that policy will look like, given resistance from the Pentagon and the US intelligence community to closer cooperation with Russia on Syria.
U.S. Rep. John Katko critiqued President Barack Obama's response to Russia's alleged election hacking and pledged to focus on cybersecurity in a statement released Friday.
The Obama administration announced action against Russia in retaliation for the hacking of the Democratic National Committee. Russian intelligence services were sanctioned and 35 Russian diplomats were expelled. U.S. officials also ordered Russia to close two compounds near New York City and Washington.
U.S. law enforcement agencies have linked Russia to the hacking of the DNC. Hackers stole emails from the DNC and provided them to Wikileaks, which published the correspondence online.
Katko, R-Camillus, called Obama's response to the Russian cyberattack "important," but he also criticized how the outgoing president has handled U.S.-Russia matters.
"President Obama's approach towards Russia has failed to a large degree, and left us and the world vulnerable to its increasingly aggressive actions," Katko said. He added that "much more should have been done to bolster our cyber defenses and prevent Russian aggression globally."
A member of the House Homeland Security Committee, Katko said he will review the specifics of the Obama administration's sanctions against Russia. He also stressed the need for Obama to coordinate with President-elect Donald Trump to ensure the United States' position is clear.
Katko also plans to make cybersecurity a priority when the 115th Congress begins in January.
"When I return to Washington, my focus will be to improve our cyber defenses, combat global threats and develop a strategic and comprehensive policy to Russian relations," he said.
Ex-Romanian minister considered a better solution than Muslim candidate Sevil Shhaideh, who was rejected by president.
Romanias president has named social-democrat Sorin Grindeanu as the nations new prime minister, after turning down an economist who could have become the countrys first female Muslim premier.
The centre-right president Klaus Iohannis signed the official decree naming Grindeanu, a 43-year-old former communications minister, as the new prime minister.
Grindeanu is a member of the Social Democratic Party that won December 11 elections, and chairman of the Timis county council. He now faces a confidence vote in parliament on his programme and cabinet nominees.
The nomination sought to put an end to a political crisis sparked when Iohannis rejected Sevil Shhaideh, who would have been the countrys first female and first Muslim government leader.
READ MORE: President rejects Muslim PM candidate Sevil Shhaideh
The president offered no reasons for his rejection of Shhaideh, initially put forward by the Social Democrats (PSD), but there was speculation that it was due to her Syrian husbands background.
Sources close to the president had indicated on Thursday that Grindeanu was considered a better solution.
He is seen in Romania as a disciplined soldier within the PSD ranks and said himself in a recent interview that he had joined the party very young as an outlet for his leftist convictions.
Rejected Muslim PM candidate
The PSD had proposed the previously little-known Shhaideh after its thumping poll victory on December 11 when it won 45 percent of the vote, enough to form a majority coalition with its partners the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats.
Shhaideh, 52, who has only five months ministerial experience, is from Romanias small and long-established Turkish minority, but her Muslim faith is not thought to have been the problem.
Instead the focus was probably on her husband, 54, who worked in the Syrian agriculture ministry for 20 years before emigrating to Romania in 2011 and marrying Shhaideh in the same year, according to the PSD.
READ MORE: Romania polls Centre-left PSD stages sweeping comeback
Website HotNews cited unnamed sources as saying that the security services had strongly cautioned against Shhaidehs nomination because of the closeness of her husband and his two brothers to President Bashar al-Assads government.
The PSDs election triumph came barely a year since anger over a deadly nightclub fire that killed 64 people forced it from office.
The inferno was blamed on corruption, something Brussels has long complained about since Romania joined the European Union in 2007.
Monitor says calm prevails as ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia gets under way but reports isolated clashes.
A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey was in effect early on Friday, a potentially major breakthrough in the nearly six-year conflict, despite reports of isolated clashes.
While the truce was standing in most parts of the country, some fighting broke out near a Christian town in central Hama province between rebels and Syrian government, according to a monitoring group.
Fierce clashes took place between the two sides pushing regime forces to withdraw from a hill near Maharda, Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, told AFP news agency.
Small rebel groups and armed loyalists are seeking to destroy the truce because it puts an end to their presence, he said.
In a report on Thursday, the monitor said major provinces witnessed a calm atmosphere in the first hours of the ceasefire.
Elsewhere, the Turkish military said on Friday that Russia carried out three air strikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group near al-Bab, killing at least 12 ISIL fighters.
At least one Turkish soldier was killed in an attack on ISIL in northern Syria, Turkeys army added, claiming that its air strikes killed another 26 ISIL fighters in al-Bab and Daglabash. ISIL is excluded from the ceasefire.
The ceasefire agreement, hailed by Syrias government as a real opportunity to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after government forces recaptured the city of Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
Russia and Turkey back opposing sides in the conflict, and the ceasefire does not involve the United States, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.
A statement carried on Thursday by Syrias state news agency SANA said the truce, as well as excluding ISIL, also leaves out fighters from Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, and groups linked to them.
Al Jazeeras Charles Stratford, reporting from Gaziantep on the Turkish border with Syria, said there are high hopes that this [truce] might work, but there are huge potential problems with it. The biggest seems to be this group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham.
There are fears that if there are air strikes targeting Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, which has often fought alongside a number of signatories to the agreement, then there may be some casualties among those factions as well.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere would be considered terrorists.
Usama Abu Zeyd, the Free Syrian Army (FSA) spokesman, said that the rebels had held no direct talks with the Syrian government or Iran during the truce talks and insisted that President Bashar al-Assad would have no place in the future of Syria.
The ceasefire covers all the territories of Syria and it extends to include all the groups fighting under the Syrian armed opposition, he said, adding that the rebels had agreed to start peace talks.
The agreement comes after Turkey and Russia also brokered a deal to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.
Now we need to do everything for these agreements to come into force, for them to work, so that the negotiating teams that have been or are being formed promptly and as soon as possible arrive in Astana, Russian President Vladimir Putin said.
United Nations peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would pave the way for productive talks in Kazakhstan, but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue early next year.
Turkey has long backed Syrias opposition, and its relations with Russia soured last year after Ankara shot down a Russian warplane.
READ MORE: Syria war crimes probe Will anyone be charged?
But the two countries have worked closely of late on Syria, and Turkey was conspicuously quiet as Assads forces retook Aleppo.
Syrias civil war, which began when a peaceful uprising descended into violence in 2011, has, according to the UN resulted in more than 400,000 deaths and displaced over 11 million people, half its prewar population.
The ceasefire, in the waning days of President Barack Obamas administration, was the first major international diplomatic initiative in the Middle East in decades not to involve the US.
An in-depth look at the key issues surrounding the deadly coup attempt that shook Turkey in July 2016.
The deadly coup attempt in July 2016 marked a monumental turning point in Turkeys political history. Al Jazeera explains who was responsible, what happened and why.
What happened that night?
Turkey witnessed the bloodiest coup attempt in its political history on July 15, 2016, when a section of the Turkish military launched a coordinated operation in several major cities to topple the government and unseat President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Soldiers and tanks took to the streets and a number of explosions rang out in Ankara and Istanbul.
READ MORE: Turkey timeline Heres how the coup attempt unfolded
Turkish fighter jets dropped bombs on their own parliament, while the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Hulusi Akar, was kidnapped by his own security detail.
For several hours, it looked like Turkey was going to face the fourth devastating military coup in its 95-year political history.
But at this point, something unprecedented happened.
As news of the coup attempt spread via social media, thousands of ordinary citizens, armed with nothing more than kitchen utensils, gathered in streets and squares around Anatolia to oppose the coup.
The crowds resisted tank fire and air bombardments and, with the help of loyalist soldiers and police forces, they defeated the coup attempt in a matter of hours. The government swiftly declared victory and scores of troops that had taken part in the coup surrendered on the Bosphorus Bridge in Istanbul.
Yet the overall price of victory was high: 241 people were killed and 2,194 others were injured.
Who was behind the coup?
The Turkish government blames the failed coup attempt on Fethullah Gulen, a Turkish preacher and businessman who has lived in self-imposed exile in the United States since 1999.
Gulen is the leader of a widespread and influential religious movement known as Hizmet (Service), which owns foundations, associations, media organisations and schools in Turkey and abroad.
READ MORE: Turkish minister Fethullah Gulen is our Bin Laden
Gulen was once a strong ally of Erdogan, and during the Justice and Development Partys (AKP) struggle to end the militarys influence in Turkish politics in the late 2000s, his organisation had its golden years.
During this period, the AKP-Gulen alliance turned into direct staffing of public positions. Many people in the bureaucracy were removed without due process and replaced with Gulenists.
Yet the Gulen-AKP relationship was eroded by incidents such as the 2010 Mavi Marmara raid, and by National Intelligence Organisation (MIT) Undersecretary Hakan Fidan, a close Erdogan confidant, being called in for questioning by police officers close to the Gulen movement.
A corruption investigation in December 2013, which saw renowned businesspeople and senior bureaucrats close to the AKP arrested by Gulenist police officers, gave way to an all-out war between the government and the Hizmet movement.
OPINION: The Gulen organisations long journey
Erdogan reacted furiously to the crackdown and claimed that those behind the investigations were trying to form a state within a state, in an apparent reference to the Hizmet movement.
From this point on, the AKP government was always open about its plans to eradicate Gulen and his followers from Turkish political life, as the MIT conducted several investigations into Gulen and his followers.
Today, Turkish officials say that the July coup attempt materialised because Gulenists were increasingly concerned that the government investigation into their illegal actions was coming to an end, and they would be arrested.
Gulen, on the other hand, denies any role in the coup and has even alleged that Erdogan orchestrated it himself to build a dictatorship a claim the president, Turkish spy agencies and even the Turkish opposition have vehemently denied.
How did Turkeys National Intelligence Organisation miss the signs of the looming insurrection?
Julys coup attempt gave rise to serious questions about Turkeys intelligence capabilities.
In the aftermath of the coup attempt, MIT officials admitted that they received the very first intelligence report about a possible attack on July 15, only hours before their own headquarters was under heavy artillery fire.
They also admitted that the undersecretary of the MIT tried to reach Erdogan to inform him about this initial report around 7pm local time, but failed to get him on the phone.
READ MORE: Unanswered questions on Turkeys failed coup attempt
Why the undersecretary did not call Prime Minister Binali Yildirim after he failed to reach the president is another unanswered question about that night.
In a televised interview after the coup attempt, Yildirim said: I asked the undersecretary of the MIT about this matter but I could not get a satisfactory answer.
In an exclusive Al Jazeera interview, Erdogan also admitted that Turkey experienced some intelligence failures on July 15.
He said that he had learned about the extraordinary developments taking place in Ankara and Istanbul on the night of the coup attempt not from the MIT, but from his brother-in-law.
IN PICTURES: Erdogan supporters on the streets of Turkey
Intelligence officials said that in the months before the failed coup attempt, the countrys spy agency decoded millions of secret messages sent by suspected Gulenists, but found no mention of the plot.
It is still not entirely clear how the MIT failed to detect the preparations for the coup attempt and why it failed to notify the president or the prime minister immediately once they received intelligence on the plot.
How did the Turkish government respond to the failed coup attempt?
Only days after the coup attempt, on July 22, the Turkish government declared a state of emergency to be able to remove swiftly all the elements of the terrorist organisation involved in the coup attempt.
In the following weeks, Turkish courts placed tens of thousands of suspects under arrest on charges of links to Gulen.
Thousands of military officials, pilots, police officers, civil servants, academics and even teachers were sacked from their jobs for alleged links to the terrorist preacher and his movement.
Dozens of media outlets suspected of having links to the Hizmet movement were also shut down.
As of today, more than 100,000 people have been sacked or suspended and 50,000 arrested in an unprecedented crackdown. The government has deemed the crackdown necessary to root out all coup supporters from the state apparatus.
In another move, the ability of universities to elect their own rectors was also abolished. Erdogan will now directly appoint nominees.
How did the Turkish government determine who to detain or sack in such a short time?
Many people questioned how the Turkish government managed to determine the names of tens of thousands of people with alleged links to the Hizmet movement only days after the attempted coup.
Turkish officials say that they were able to act swiftly because intelligence agencies had been investigating Gulen and his followers for more than two years.
READ MORE: Turkey Government launches purge after attempted coup
Although there is no confirmed public information, according to several Turkish media reports it seems that the MIT shared noteworthy information about the Gulen organisation with state units from 2014.
For example, speaking to Turkeys state-run Anadolu Agency in May 2015 about the Gulenists within the Turkish armed forces, former Minister of Defence Ismet Yildiz said: So far we have received reports of more than 1,000 people from Turkish armed forces.
Days later, Sertac Es, a journalist from the daily Cumhuriyet, reported that the MIT had sent the General Staff an extended list of Gulenists within the military, citing defence ministry sources.
According to the information received from defence ministry sources, the MIT had sent the General Staff a list of 1,200 people who are considered to be members of the Gulen organisation, including two generals, he said.
READ MORE: Turkey Coup plotters acted early in fear of arrests
But the most critical move by the MIT leading to the states quick reaction to the coup attempt was the uncovering of the groups communication system, according to Turkish officials.
The information so far indicates that Gulenists have been using an encoded communication application called Bylock since 2014. The MIT noticed and decoded Bylock in 2015. At that point, the movement started using another encoded application for communication named Eagle.
As a result of these investigations, it is believed that the MIT got together an extensive list of at least 40,000 suspected Gulenists, including 600 high-ranking officials.
According to officials, these lists were used to determine the names that would be detained or sacked after the coup attempt.
How did the coup attempt affect Turkeys relations with other countries?
The post-coup purge led to a rift in Turkeys relations with the European Union, which accused Erdogan of using the coup attempt as an excuse to eliminate the opposition.
Turkeys relations with the US also deteriorated as a result of this incident, as Washington refused to extradite Gulen.
READ MORE: Turkey coup attempt Reaction from around the world
The Turkish Justice Ministry formally demanded in September that US authorities arrest Gulen on charges of ordering and commanding the attempted coup. But to this day, US authorities insist that they do not have enough evidence to arrest Gulen or to start the formal process for his extradition.
In a statement to Al Jazeera last August, Yasin Aktay, the deputy chairman of the ruling AKP, said that Washingtons reluctance to return Gulen to Turkey, or to arrest him, was unacceptable.
It is bizarre for us that they [the US] have not been convinced, considering the scope of evidence we presented to them, Aktay said. The testimony of the suspects who were arrested red-handed and documents we gave them are clear. If you add the statements of Gulen regarding the goal of his organisational movement, we believe there is nothing to question. Strong American intelligence should be well aware of who he really is.
While the coup attempt, and the governments harsh response to it, led to a serious rift in Turkeys relations with its western allies, the incident brought Turkish political parties closer, at least for a short while.
A day after Turkeys failed coup attempt, all major political parties united against the unparalleled attack on the Turkish democracy, issuing a joint declaration to condemn it.
Faced with the threat of a Gulenist coup, everyone left aside their political differences and joined hands to make sure that never again will the people be stripped of their right to choose their leaders, a senior government official told Al Jazeera.
READ MORE: How could failed coup affect Kurdish peace process?
Erdogan also put aside acrimony with the leaders of two opposition parties, inviting them to the presidential palace for talks in a gesture of national unity.
The only group that was not included in the newly found spirit of solidarity was Turkeys Kurds. The leader of the pro-Kurdish Peoples Democratic Party, Selahattin Demirtas, was excluded from the post-coup talks on the grounds that his party allegedly supports the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
Later, the government used the state of emergency to shut down several pro-Kurdish media organisations and arrest Kurdish journalists and civil servants for their alleged links to the PKK.
Initiative aims to bolster local and international awareness of Palestinian culture and heritage.
For nearly half a year, a Kmart pharmacist stole about 1,400 prescription pills from the stores pharmacy, the Alachua County Sheriffs Office said.
Jennifer Taylor Gailey
Jennifer Taylor Gailey, 31, stole about 700 Soma pills and 700 Tylenol with Codeine #3 pills from the store, located on the 900 block of NW 76th Blvd., according to the report. She told police she needed them to sleep.
The estimated cost of the stolen pills is $300, according to the report. Soma pills are listed as schedule 4 narcotics, which are described as drugs with a lower risk of dependence than others. Tylenol with Codeine #3 is schedule 3.
Kmarts loss-prevention office discovered the pills were missing from the pharmacy. Officials from Kmart suspected Gailey was responsible and called police, according to the report.
Gailey told officers she began stealing pills because of stress, according to the report. Gailey asked for a lawyer before police were able to obtain a sworn written statement.
Police arrested Gailey on a charge of grand theft of a controlled substance. Authorities took her to the Alachua County Jail where she was released Thursday afternoon on her own recognizance.
Gailey declined to comment. A Kmart representative confirmed Gailey no longer works for the store.
Today, the Secretary-General called Mr. Adama Barrow, President-elect of The Gambia, to congratulate him on his electoral victory. He confirmed that the United Nations welcomed and fully supported the ECOWAS decisions of 17 December on The Gambia, and he reiterated the commitment of the Organization to support a peaceful, timely and orderly transfer of power []http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/Appa-sourceTheAfric...
Sheriff who made the remark during his working visit to Makurdi in Benue State also expressed gratitude that the dismantling of the sect from the forest was a vindication that he does not have any link with the terrorist group as insinuated by his perceived political opponents.
"The military have cleared Sambisa forest and I want to thank them. I'm the number one causality of Boko haram. I have lost very close relatives which included; my cousins, my candidate and others were all killed by Boko haram.
"Those of us who are from Borno State knows what we have suffered in the hands of the sect. The irony of it all is that those who feared my political career turned around to say that I created Boko haram but God has vindicated me'" he said.
The factional chairman nevertheless insisted that he had never had any connection with Boko Haram as he commended the Nigeria Army for their gallantry in decimating the terrorist group.
Dailly Trust
At this point, it is widely perceived that blockchain technology has the ability to help banks cut costs, but the next frontier could be in figuring out how or perhaps if the technology will make banks money.
The revenue potential is not a priority right now, but observers say that given the amount of time and effort some banks have put into exploring the technology, it ought to be. That's because technology that makes money is often more appealing than things that trim costs.
"There is a lack of forcing mechanism behind" the blockchain race, Jeff Penny, a senior adviser at McKinsey, said at a recent industry gathering hosted by Broadridge Financial. "This discussion is largely motivated by interests in improving efficiencies and understanding new technologies but there's no one telling us we have to be here. The closest thing we have to an imperative is the need to cut costs in bank income statements today."
Although the potential to cut costs is appealing, innovation is often driven by the desire to gain an edge, Penny said.
"There is a battle amongst technology providers to create a winning solution, but we're essentially taking processes that don't give rise to competitive advantage and we're trying to find ways to reduce costs associated with the way of doing them, and then doing them the same way as everyone else, which completely eliminates the source of differentiation," he said. "One of the great motivators we usually have for innovation in this business is differentiation."
Such an edge could fix some of the fatigue currently plaguing blockchain implementation. Despite banks' excitement about blockchain, which began in 2013 and grew louder this year with unending cycles of proof-of-concept announcements, or PoCs, bitcoin remains the only blockchain platform that is in widespread production, said Ajit Tripathi, a director at PwC's blockchain practice. Financial institutions are asking whether investments in innovation will ever bring cost reduction or business growth to the institutions investing in these experiments.
"More and more of our clients are pushing their partners as well as innovation and technology organizations to come up with a clear path to production," Tripathi said. "The question isn't whether the technology can deliver the benefits. The PoCs have shown which use cases make sense over what time frame and which ones are vaporware. Now the race is on to realize those benefits."
Eventually, banks will be able to make money on their blockchain implementations by creating products and services that benefit customers. Such solutions could range from digitizing illiquid assets to building micropayment systems. But if they weren't experimenting with proofs of concept this year, they'll have a lot to catch up on later, said Julio Faura, head of research and development for Santander's blockchain practice. In other words, those who are already exploring blockchain are closer to making money on it, even if that isn't their focus.
"There will be a lot of use cases enabled by this technology. It's just that we try to push all the hard work that we do today on the basis of future business models that don't exist today," Faura said. "That's just more difficult than if we capitalize our investments on top of efficiency. Initially, we will see benefits from efficiency. Later on we will see benefits from new products, new revenue sources and new services" on top of blockchain technology.
Not everyone agrees that blockchain needs to present revenue opportunities to accelerate its development. For instance, State Street sees the technology as more of a near-term solution and an opportunity to upgrade the bank's efficiency, and it can "worry about entire industry transformation down the road," said Hu Liang, senior managing director of the Boston bank's emerging technology center.
"If people come up to us and say, 'You aren't forward thinkers,' or 'You think this is just a tool as opposed to an industry change,' we're comfortable with that statement. We proofed it out and are going to be ready to drive through these technology developments," Liang said. "We couldn't come to that conclusion as comfortably as we have and stand behind it if we were just waiting for the high-level news."
Liang predicts that after internal applications and blockchain components, banks will be able to offer applications to clients services that could create revenue.
If the first post-blockchain awakening phase was about efficiency and saving money, the next will be "more about creating new customer solutions and experiences that don't easily exist today," said Ian Lee, head of the Global Lab Network and Acceleration Fund at Citi Ventures. The boundaries of one phase versus the other don't have to be so strictly defined, however.
"I don't think it's sequential, that it's these opportunities and process efficiencies versus new experiences and new solutions," Lee said. "Many of the exciting things in the next year and ahead in this space," he said, "are actually in that second category," like digital identity, the internet of things and unique applications of smart contracts.
Still, others say it is too early to talk about next phases of blockchain implementation. They say the exportation of blockchain from its narrow use as the protocol for bitcoin to a revolutionary system for the financial system is going to take time and the industry is still trying to grasp the basics.
For starters, no one actually knows what blockchain technology will do for legacy financial institutions or what business benefits it can provide at scale, said Steve Wilson, a principal analyst at Constellation Research, where he focuses on digital identity and privacy. Also, the digital-only aspect of first-generation blockchains is a very large and overlooked limitation, he said. The original bitcoin white paper published in 2008 was about a completely digital chain process. Companies might be naive in believing they'll be able to easily track physical assets on it.
"People say you can do anything on a blockchain land titles, stock trading, all sorts of things and get security benefits of blockchain technology, but I'm afraid they're wrong because you need all these off-chain processes to do nondigital assets," Wilson said. "It's almost certain what we'll see will be distributed-ledger technologies that are really unlike the first-generation blockchain, which is all about cryptocurrency, removing friction, moving a lot of the blockages in payments."
Perhaps it could be 2020 when a solid financial system distributed ledger will emerge.
"Things will slow down; I don't think anything great will happen in 2017," Wilson said. "There will continue to be PoCs and people will learn that blockchain in its original form is digital-only, and it's very niche."
Dec. 30, 1936
For the first time in a week, Auburn thermometers registered something almost like seasonable temperatures last night. But today a temperature of 40 degrees was recorded shortly after the noon hour, with the sun shining brightly and the ground still clear from snow and there was no sight or sign of winter.
Sunday was the warmest December 27 hereabouts in the past ten years. The official thermometer on the upper pumping station of the Water Department touched a maximum of 57. In 1935 on this day, the maximum was 17 degrees and the minimum 11.
Dec. 30, 1961
NEW CHURCH The first service of the newly organized St. Wolodomyr's Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church in Aurelius will be held at 9:30 a.m. tomorrow by Rev. Wasyl Dzyba. The church is located at the corner of Canoga and Webster Roads. The building was once used as a schoolhouse. Viewing the interior of the church were Anna Holak, 11, of 28 1/2 N. Division St., in her native costume; Steve Wejko, 14, of 166 Cottage St.; Nicholas Bilinski, 15, of 28 N. Division St. and Mary Wejko, 9, in native costume.
Dec. 30, 2006
Former Iraqi president Saddam Hussein was hanged in the predawn hours of Saturday for crimes against humanity in the mass murder of Shiite men and boys in the 1980s, sent to the gallows by a government backed by the United States and led by Shiite Muslims who had been oppressed during his rule, Iraqi and American officials said.
Dec. 30, 2011
Last year, Morin proved he could play in the NHL. He will be back this year. The Blackhawks won't be able to avoid the injury bug for too long. That will open the door for Morin. Morin has played well for Rockford this year, scoring five goals and contributing 12 assists. He also has 56 penalty minutes, good for third on the team.
I was at the Crossroads of the West gun show in Las Vegas when I learned about Clark County Sheriff Joe Lombardo's agitation for limits on firearm magazine sizes. Lombardo's statement to the Las Vegas Sun, "Im a very avid hunter, I was in the military myself, and theres no need to have a high-capacity magazine for any practical reason," is prima facie evidence that he is either (1) grossly unqualified for his job; or (2) willing to subordinate public safety to a political agenda that is far better suited to Los Angeles than any place in Nevada.
Anybody with even rudimentary competence in law enforcement knows there are two very legitimate practical applications for high-capacity magazines: (1) multiple aggressors; and (2) failure to stop the aggressor(s). This is why almost all law enforcement officers carry them.
Multiple aggressors are self-explanatory. FrontSight's defensive handgun training includes scenarios in which students confront four armed attackers, as represented by human-shaped targets. The normal procedure is to fire two rounds into an aggressor's thoracic cavity, and then attempt the more difficult head shot if he keeps coming and/or shooting. Multiple aggressors, in contrast, get one shot each and then "seconds" for any who are still aggressing. The latter is a very high likelihood because, contrary to what we see in movies and on television, bad guys often do not fall over after being shot. This is "failure to stop."
Failure to Stop
Lieutenant Colonel George Vincent Fosbery, the coinventor of the Webley-Fosbery pistol, earned the Victoria Cross and therefore knew a lot more about actual combat than those who get their ideas from movies and television. Fosbery explained the issue as follows.
With the civilized man, who knows to a nicety the locality of his principal organs and something of the effects that the presence of foreign bodies in his interior may be expected to produce a comparatively feeble weapon may often be used with good effect. Police instructor Massad Ayoob added similarly that no rational person wants to be shot with anything, even a .22 or .25 caliber pistol. Police officers and armed civilians do not, however, carry or own firearms to stop civilized or rational people. They keep firearms to stop vicious and deranged individuals who, as Fosbery put it, know "as little about [their] insides as a tiger does."
This was proven decisively in the Moro insurrection of 1899, when it was quite common for American troops to find "Two corpses lying near each othera Moro with six bullets in his chest and a mutilated trooper still holding an empty .38 service revolver." This underscores the typical handgun's lack of stopping power, and it was why the Model 1911 Colt .45 was invented. B ut even rifle fire is not guaranteed to stop a determined attacker who might be hopped up on a drug like PCP. A popular song of that era went, "Underneath the starry flag, civilize 'em with a Krag," but even the Krag-Jrgensen Rifle's 30 caliber round was sometimes not adequate for this task. This quote from Boatman Books (no longer available online) reports of one Juramentado, "He had 32 Krag balls through him and was only stopped by the 33rd bullet -- a Colt .45 slug through both ears."
American soldiers in Korea similarly found the M-1 Carbine, whose muzzle energy exceeds that of any handgun except the .50 caliber Desert Eagle, incapable of stopping North Korean and Chinese soldiers consistently. To put this in perspective, the .30 carbine round compares favorably to Harry Callahan's .44 Magnum, but it was often not up to the job of making a GI's day in the face of a Chinese Communist human wave. One man even threw away his carbine when he was able to acquire an M-1 Garand, which fires a full-sized rifle (.30-06) rather than a carbine cartridge.
Massad Ayoob described a similar situation in which an armed citizen fired his rifle empty, and then used it as a club to bring down a deranged gunman who had already murdered a bystander and wounded a police officer. The purpose of a rifle is to stop an aggressor at a distance rather than require its user to close to contact range and engage in prehistoric hand to hand combat. Ayoob is a nationally recognized authority who has provided expert testimony in justifiable shooting cases, and he is infinitely more qualified than Mr. Lombardo or his friends at the Las Vegas Sun to discuss this issue. See this link for Part 2 of Ayoob's article.
Jeff Cooper, a Marine Corps officer who, like Fosbery, saw action against real enemy combatants instead of television and movie mooks who fall over on cue, described a situation in which a man was prosecuted for firing eight rounds into an aggressor. Cooper exonerated the shooter with expert testimony about a suicide in which "the deceased shot himself amidships four times with a .380 Webley. Presumably the first three hits did not convince him."
Another example of failure to stop, and again we are talking about the real world rather than whatever Mr. Lombardo and the editors of the Las Vegas Sun see in movies and television, involved a mother who hid from a home invader with her child and a .38 handgun. The home invader found them, whereupon she emptied the weapon for five hits. The home invader did not die or even fall over. He ran away only because he did not realize she was out of ammunition, fled to his car, drove far enough to crash into a tree despite his injuries, and was then arrested. This exemplifies a real situation in which Mr. Lombardo's agenda could easily get a mother and her child killed. Lombardo's next statement underscores further his (1) incompetence and/or (2) willful and reckless disregard of well-known facts about firearms.
Magazine Limits Protect Nobody but Criminals
Lombardo adds that it is "not uncommon for guns to jam during magazine change-outs." When I took FrontSight's excellent four-day defensive handgun course, I had to change magazines more than 50 times, and I did not experience a single malfunction. Few if any of the other students experienced jams while firing (collectively) over ten thousand rounds. Lombardo's suggestion that a magazine change leaves the aggressor momentarily vulnerable is therefore likely to kill anybody who acts on his advice. This is simply the law enforcement counterpart of medical quackery.
The Las Vegas Sun adds, "Lombardo says the time it takes for suspects to change magazines gives potential victims an opportunity to escape and law enforcement officials an opportunity to safely fire back." It takes less than two seconds for a skilled shooter to change a magazine, and he can still fire the round in the weapon's chamber to stop or at least seriously injure anybody who rushes him. I did this against a knife-armed aggressor (represented by a full-sized paper target) while I was changing magazines during a FrontSight exercise. An active shooter might indeed experience a failure to stop the good guy, especially with only one round, but "failure to stop" does not equal "failure to seriously injure" or "failure to mortally wound." If Lombardo's advice encourages people to rush active shooters while they change magazines, they are likely to die as a result.
The Gabrielle Giffords shooting is the only case of which I know in which bystanders were able to take down the aggressor while he was changing magazines, and they succeeded only because he fumbled the loaded one. "Loughner stopped to reload, but dropped the loaded magazine from his pocket to the sidewalk, from where bystander Patricia Maisch grabbed it." A self-defense plan that relies on the bad guy's incompetence is simply a quack prescription for suicide.
Existing Laws Already Cover Criminals
Felons, and this includes those who have yet to acquire a criminal record, are not allowed to possess firearms with magazines of any size. Under 18 U.S. Code 924, even somebody with no prior criminal record who uses a gun in a felony is subject to additional Federal charges.
any person who, during and in relation to any crime of violence or drug trafficking crime uses or carries a firearm, or who, in furtherance of any such crime, possesses a firearm, shall, in addition to the punishment provided for such crime of violence or drug trafficking crime
(i) be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 5 years;
(ii) if the firearm is brandished, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 7 years; and
(iii) if the firearm is discharged, be sentenced to a term of imprisonment of not less than 10 years.
A sheriff's function is to protect law-abiding citizens rather than to put their lives at risk by confusing a discredited political ideology with his sworn duty as a law enforcement professional. Clark County voters should therefore remove Mr. Lombardo from office at the earliest opportunity, along with any Nevada legislators who support this dangerous agenda.
William A. Levinson is the author of several books on business management including content on organizational psychology, as well as manufacturing productivity and quality.
Theres been a fair amount of Trump-supporter braggadocio regarding the President-elects nomination of Gen. James Mad Dog Mattis as the new Defense Secretary an admirable choice, certainly. If Mad Dog can navigate the machinations of the Pentagon as well as he did the battlefield were in for a rejuvenation of Americas military that should be a major reversal of its downward fortunes over the past few decades. I hope that Mr. Trump fully appreciates the magnitude of the task he has set before Gen. Mattis.
That task that has grown steadily in size and complexity since the end of the end of the Bush I administration. Its not just a matter of budget and resource allocation. Much has been done with the intention of diminishing, if not eliminating, the traditions and esprit-de-corps of all the armed services. An early example is what happened in the wake of a 1991 convention in Las Vegas following the prosecution of the Gulf War. Several Navy officers had their careers sunk in what became the Tailhook Witch-Hunt as recounted in the October 1993 issue of Heterodoxy. This is but one of many ventures into the transformation of the military into post-modern, politically-correct, feminist-beholden, open-homosexuality organizations. The 2008 PBS mini-series Carrier, whether intentionally or not, gives our potential foes an insight into just how far the emasculation of our armed services has gone. A few extracted bits may be seen here.
All PC nonsense aside, the defense budget is an issue. What has the $10 Trillion increase in the national debt bought? Im not sure if anyone really knows, but certainly not a stronger, more robust military. Being a former USAF officer and pilot, the Air Force is my particular concern. A recent article in the American Spectator titled The Air Force Needs Maverick caught my attention and I thought Id pass it along to my pilot training classmates (we had a 50th reunion at the end of October). Was USAF really suffering from a severe pilot shortage? A response from one of my comrades-in-arms broadened the picture:
Not sure I buy premise that there is a pilot shortage. I recall recently reading that maintainers say they have a serious shortage of trained personnel. And I have heard logistics guys say they do not have enough parts, fuel and people. And complaints earlier this year about munitions shortages resulting in combat sorties flown with sub-optimal ordnance loads. Lastly, senior Air Force leaders are continually arguing for additional airframes. Altogether, situation appears to result in complaints that pilots in non-combat assignments are flying only once per week or less. And apparently, some of those graduating UPT are put on the shelf for a year because there are no cockpits available. Real problem in my mind is that our national strategy leads to a force structure that leads to a budget requirement and that amount is simply not available. As the country is apparently unwilling to cough-up more for defense spending, the hard requirement should be to reduce the strategy and force structure such that a balance is struck between the elements competing for the funds made available. The solution lies not so much in more pilots but in the need for a strong National Command Authority prepared to re-set national strategy and enforce budget constraints, and an armed services leadership prepared to balance requirements based upon available funding.
The Air Forces conventional combat readiness and capacity appear rather stunted.
Nuclear strike forces? Well, USAFs Minuteman III missile force has now been de-MIRVed in conformance with our nuclear weapons agreements with the Soviets/Russians. The Minuteman IIIs were once each armed with three nuclear warheads but now sport only one. Additionally, as announced in the 2010 Nuclear Posture Review, the intercontinental ballistic missile warheads now are targeted on open oceans not Russian or Chinese cities in case of an accidental launch, senior administration officials said in releasing the report. Thats sure to put fear caution whatever into the hearts of our adversaries.
Weve also been decommissioning advanced, nuclear-capable cruise missiles that are aircraft launched. Meanwhile, the Russians have tested a ground-launched, nuclear-capable cruise missile, said item being specifically prohibited by treaty. The Russians and Chinese have both developed and are deploying or will deploy advanced ICBMs as well as maneuverable hypersonic glide vehicles for nuke delivery that are very difficult to intercept with our current ABM technology. Both are advancing their anti-satellite capabilities. The Cold War arms race didnt end. Its accelerating. America?
Over the last 10+ years there have been several controversies targeting the Air Force over its command and control or lack thereof of the USAF nuclear strike force, including both missile and aircraft delivered warheads. Two of these led to the dismissal of the Air Force Secretary and USAF Chief of Staff by then Defense Secretary Robert Gates. There was also a problem with missile alert crews sleeping with the missile silo blast door open. A SAC wing flunked its ORI (Operational Readiness Inspection) re-inspection ostensibly because of improperly filled-out paperwork. USAFs nuclear command and control sins may be manifold, but where do we stand in correcting them now that the headlines have faded well into the past?
Procurement of military materiel from foreign suppliers is an issue even less publicized. The idea of buying a new USAF aerial tanker from Airbus didnt seem like a very good idea to Mr. Gaffney who detailed some of the shenanigans involved in the bidding process. There was also a problem with counterfeit chips from the Chinese ending up in our military aircraft as was revealed by Dr. Joel F. Brenner, National Counterintelligence Executive, in a 2009 address. Have we ever held the Chinese accountable? Have we held anyone accountable for any of this? Other than the chaps Mr. Gates tossed?
We have some very serious problems concerning Americas Air Force and our military in general. I wish President Trump and General Mattis the best in addressing those problems, however serious and pervasive they may be. Theyll need all the support they can get from the American people if the jobs to be done well.
American should not withdraw from the United Nations without first ensuring that the organization cannot retaliate.
Upon this, one has to remark that men ought either to be well treated or crushed, because they can avenge themselves of lighter injuries, of more serious ones they cannot; therefore the injury that is to be done to a man ought to be of such a kind that one does not stand in fear of revenge.
Niccolo Machiavelli
The recent actions of the Obama administration and the UN Security Council have renewed calls for the United States to withdraw from the United Nations. The arguments for withdrawal are compelling and based on firm moral and practical considerations, but, so long as they leave the United Nations various organs intact, they will continue to wreak havoc in the world, unencumbered by our veto. American withdrawal will not reduce the United Nations mischief, but unleash it. Machiavelli addressed this when he wrote the passage quoted above, which can be summed up as, never do an enemy a minor injury.
The United Nations has two major organs that we must address. First there is the General Assembly, a vicious conglomeration of thuggish dictatorships, spineless social democracies and failing states. These countries unite only to attack the threats to their retention of power, or to deflect attention from how they wield it. This is why the vast majority of its condemnatory acts focus on the United States and Israel. The one good thing about the General Assembly is that it is utterly toothless; its resolutions carry no weight, and can be ignored without consequence. Unfortunately, the same cannot be said for the Security Council.
The United Nations Security Council has all of the flaws of the General Assembly, but it has teeth. It can back up its resolutions with UN Peacekeeping troops (levied from states whose records of adherence to the laws of war are, too put it politely, highly questionable), and its resolutions are binding on the member states. The former Soviet Union found this out the hard way.
In January 1950, the Soviet Union decided to boycott the Security Council in response to the defeat of a resolution to expel Nationalist China from that body. This proved to be a strategic miscalculation, as the Soviet representative was not present to veto the Security Councils resolution to defend South Korea a few months later. Their boycott not only failed to accomplish the objectives of the Soviets, but permitted the Western allies to act in their absence. The Korean War checked the ambitions of Stalin and Mao, and provided a potential framework for further cooperative efforts against communist expansion. The Soviets learned from their mistake, and ensured that they were present at all future sessions, where they could use their veto to prevent a unified response to their aggressions. We need to learn from it, as well.
Any American action that ends our association with the United Nations but leaves the structure intact will cede it to our enemies, and eliminate our veto over their actions. Rather than eliminating the power of the Security Council, our withdrawal will let the remaining states use it to our detriment. The absence of an American veto will empower the rogue states to push for resolutions on every lunatic position that they can think of in the Security Council, from climate control to nuclear disarmament, all of which will be studiously ignored by the states that are the worst offenders, but imposed on the US and Israel with impunity. The lawless International Criminal Court will have its jurisdiction expanded to encompass non-signatories. The various and sundry United Nations agencies and committees will have their venom codified into policy. This is not in our interest.
Before the UN can be abandoned, it must be defanged, declawed, discredited and otherwise rendered so weak that it cannot be used against us when we finally do exit that noxious relic of World War II. In addition, the actions taken should not only weaken the United Nations, but push as many other members into our camp as possible. This can be done in several ways:
The United States accounts for 22% of the United Nations budget, due to the progressive scale of payments (most United Nations members pay almost nothing, and what they do pay is often offset by travel allowances for their personnel). Simply withholding these funds would reduce United Nations operations significantly. In addition, a demand for changes to the payment schedule (right now, its based on ability to pay, rather than, say, population) would impose more costs on the smaller freeloading states, and reduce the burden on the wealthier ones. Chinas expanding economy should impose far more dues on it, and it would be difficult and embarrassing for the Chinese to argue that they are not a major financial power.
Demand changes to the permanent membership of the Security Council. France has not been a major power since 1940. In fact, it can be argued that French membership in the European Union makes it far less of an independent nation than a federated state within Europe. It is readily apparent that Frances permanent seat should be reallocated as a European Union seat (which would not affect Frances seat in the General Assembly). This would put France in conflict with the rest of the EU, especially Germany and Belgium. It is unlikely that Russia or China would object to this, nor would Britain (that Brexit vote will pay an immediate dividend here), and France would be in the awkward position of explaining to the rest of Europe that it is unwilling to share its veto with them. On the other hand, India is a rising power whose population dwarfs Europes, much less Frances. There is no compelling argument for India not to be a permanent member of the Security Council, and many compelling arguments for it. Israel, which has good relations with India, could probably be prevailed upon to sponsor the resolution in the General Assembly. Of course, this will enrage the Muslim states, which will vote as a bloc against it, but that will force a schism between the Muslim dictatorships and India, which would put them closer to the rest of the Anglosphere in terms of long-term interests.
The United States should clog the schedules of all bodies on which it sits with resolutions that would not only divide the membership, but also force them to address awkward questions. These resolutions should also be drafted in terms of the leftist mindset that permeates the United Nations for maximum impact. For example, the resolution on Israeli settlements should be followed up by resolutions on New Zealands historically genocidal policies towards the Maoris, Russias military adventures in Ukraine and Georgia (and lets not forget Syria), Frances discriminatory policies towards its Muslim population and sinking of Greenpeaces Rainbow Warrior (and, of course, their colonial record), Britains colonial history (a virtual cornucopia of leftist grievances) Venezuelas economic policies (the humanitarian crisis there fairly begs for some United Nations bloviating), Japans World War II crimes in China, Egypts Muslim Brotherhood (a terrorist group, its condemnation would serve to strengthen the al-Sisi government while dividing the Sunni terrorist-supporting states)and Chinas occupation of Tibet and massive carbon emissions. Of course, this need not be limited to current Security Council members. Turkeys Armenian genocide and suppression of the Kurds, Irans terrorist activities and misogyny (not to mention Saudi Arabias), Syrias use of chemical weapons and Sudans genocidal attacks on their neighboring states are all targets of opportunity. The list is almost endless, and the beauty of it is that it attacks the member states on criteria that leftists cannot easily ignore (they will try, of course, but how can feminists argue against censuring Iran and Saudi Arabia? Or environmentalists fail to respond to attacks on Chinese pollution? Alinsky would be proud). Even though the vast majority of these resolutions will end up defeated, the caterwauling from the targeted nations will highlight their hypocrisy in the targeting of the United States and Israel, and provide an amusing spectacle in their own right. Now, it may not be in our interest to pursue all of these resolutions (the next administration will have its hands full trying to repair relations with Britain, and strengthening them with Japan, to name two examples), but just the threat of these resolution should keep some of these countries in line.
Many of the United Nations member states do not have diplomatic relations with the United States, but have UN missions within United States territory. Narrowing the scope of diplomatic protections of the personnel of those missions to the immediate area around the United Nations and their missions, with free passage between them, would make Manhattan far less attractive for these diplomats and their support staff (which includes significant espionage assets). Such persons could even be declared persona non grata, and be denied the pleasures of New Yorks culture and amenities. This would significantly curtail their activities and impacts on the city, especially in terms of the massive costs of UN scofflaws. Simply imposing the same parking rules that burden regular New Yorkers on the staffs of these missions would go a long way to making New York City less livable for them (and the cash-strapped DeBlasio administration would have a difficult time arguing that it cannot use those revenues). Imagine opponents having to argue that the representatives of impoverished rogue states should be allowed to attend the Metropolitan Opera, dine at 5-star restaurants and party like rock stars while their people starve.
Ideally, when the United States finally does leave the United Nations, we will not do so alone, but in the company of those nations which share our ideals and interests, and with which we can forge alliances that will undermine the goals of the dictatorships. The desired end state is not just American withdrawal from the United Nations, but the elimination of the United Nations as a breeding ground for destructive mischief, the advancement of American interests and the empowerment of our with allies and weakening of our adversaries.
Odysseus is a retired Army officer.
WASHINGTON What is the real story behind the old fishwives' yowling passing back and forth between Washington and Jerusalem these days? My dignified Maine Coon cat, Yankee, would be embarrassed were such 3-in-the-morning cries attributed to him.
One has to conclude that this is not just another of those old squabbles between the Americans and the Israelis. No, this is something different. This is the equivalent of a fractious married couple looking deep into each other's eyes and saying, "No, this is enough."
The Israelis and by that I mean only the government of hard-line Prime Minister Benjamin "Bibi" Netanyahu and his even more-rightist followers are arguing that "enough" is the Security Council resolution put forward in the United Nations as this preposterous year waned, once again condemning Israeli settlements that are spreading like wildfire over the supposedly Palestinian land of the West Bank, burning away every last hope for a Palestinian state.
Hardly new, but there are parts of the resolution, such as including the Israelis' sacred Western Wall under Palestinian territory, that are genuinely untenable.
But the really new part was that Washington did not kowtow, as it has for 36 years, to whatever Jerusalem wanted (at that moment), and abstained from voting on the resolution. Abstained? How dare Barack Obama do this to his "closest ally" and the "only democracy in the Middle East"?
As for Washington, the Obama administration sees "enough" as one too many insults and calumnies from Jerusalem and WAY too many promises that never even remotely came true. Over these last eight years, Bibi had repeatedly promised Barack that, yes, he would control Israeli settlement, which is a snarky way to move Israelis (many of them, ironically, Americans) onto land the entire world agreed to be Palestinian territory.
Instead, when the Oslo Accords were signed in 1993, there were roughly 110,000 settlers in West Bank and 146,000 in East Jerusalem territory; today there are an estimated 600,000! In addition, the Israeli prime minister has been pushing fiercely controversial legislation in the Knesset, the Regulation Bill, which would retroactively legalize settler outposts and homes built on privately owned Palestinian land and force the owners to accept compensation.
All this after the Obama administration, in the most generous act of American goodwill in the history of Israel, had agreed to provide the Jewish state with $38 billion in military aid over the next 10 years. Oh, there were complaints from Israeli negotiators; they had wanted $45 billion.
But instead of going along quietly this time around, the U.S. added language to the aid provision saying that, if Jerusalem were to go around the White House to the Congress, for instance, to get more money that money will have to be returned to the U.S.
This little-reported part of the aid announcement was revealing, for it showed, on the record, the deep distrust that exists between the two supposed "allies," plus the fact that the U.S. was tired of being the unappreciated donor.
And, of course, President Obama had not been exactly charmed when Prime Minister Netanyahu went around him and appeared before the U.S. Congress, unannounced to the White House, to argue against Obama's signature Iranian nuclear deal; or when Netanyahu announced new settlement building the same day Vice President Joe Biden arrived in Israel.
So, let's be candid for a rare moment about the United States and Israel. An honest man or woman is hard-put to argue with any sincerity that the two countries are truly allies. Israel surely depends upon America, not only for its military hardware but also for its moral and ethical support in the world, but what does America receive from such an "alliance"?
That support was graciously given back in the early days of the Israeli state, when Israel was made up almost entirely of the German-born Ashkenazi Jews who had immigrated to the new state; but once the Sephardic Jews from the Arab countries immigrated to Israel and were followed by the Russian Jews, attitudes toward the United States changed dramatically.
Today, in fact, history shows quite clearly that many of the major impulses behind the 2003 war in Iraq came from fervent American supporters of Israel, popularly and derogatorily referred to as the "neocons," perfervid ideologues like Dick Cheney, Paul Wolfowitz, Irving Kristol, among them. Thus, far from the U.S. involving itself in Israeli affairs, it is more true that Israel is deforming America's affairs.
Prime Minister Netanyahu, in his many derisive comments about the United States, now says that Israel has many other friends all over the world, he boasts! But the U.N. Security Council vote stands as a rather convincing refutation of such swagger, since the vote was 14-to-0 against Israel.
"The man who just a month ago told us that the world worships him declared war this evening on the world, on the United States, on Europe, and is trying to calm us with conceit," Isaac Herzog, leader of the center-left Zionist Union and the parliamentary opposition, wrote sardonically on Facebook after the U.N. contretemps.
And Ben Caspit, the respected political commentator for the Tel Aviv newspaper Maariv, wrote immediately afterward, "I hope for Netanyahu's sake (and also for ours) that he knows the truth at least deep in his heart it was the chronicle of a failure foretold."
It is becoming clearer every day, including to many in Israel, that the old agreements, if indeed they were actually agreements, are not working. Perhaps it is time for some new "truths" between these two so dissimilar countries.
The phoniest and most irresponsible lie in current politics is Obama's accusation that "the Russians did it!" Dropped Hillary's email bombs, that is. This was originally just attributed to the CIA and FBI at secondhand, and later those agencies reluctantly agreed. But we all know how badly Obama has corrupted those agencies, and their kowtowing to the Big Boss means nothing. This is sad but true.
If you think about this as a mystery story, you can ask, "Who had the motive, the means, and the opportunity" to leak Hillary's most embarrassing secrets, thereby blowing the election? The list of suspects is huge, but Obama is never mentioned. Still, think about it for a second.
Motive: Obama is a major narcissist who always wants to expand his personal power. Being president has not satisfied his power-hungry ego; nothing ever will. For months he has been talking about running for a third term, and he's back at it today.
Washington speculation has long focused on Obama's ambition to become SecGen of the U.N., an office he could try to expand into a genuine power center to achieve the utopian fantasy of the left, a world order in which everything is "properly" controlled from a dictatorial center. This is consistent with the worst kind of Marxism, but it is also the dream of jihad: world conquest.
Obama has shown time and time again that he is a sort of Marxo-jihadophile. Our good friend Recep Erdogan, the autocrat of Turkey, has just accused the administration of supporting ISIS, showing that this kind of speculation is going on all around the world. In fact, Erdogan himself is reliably accused of selling Iraqi oil stolen by ISIS on the world market.
So Obama's motive for (possibly) dropping Hillary's email bombs?
His quest for power.
If Hillary were president for the next eight years, as the Democrats confidently expected, Obama might be dwarfed by the second Clinton administration.
Hillary and Obama are not friends; it was Obama who accused the Clintons of racism to destroy them at the Democratic Convention eight years ago, which reportedly outraged Bill and Hillary. Obama won that fight, but he left a lot of anger and resentment.
So Obama's motive for undermining Hillary would be their hot competition for power. Obama is the biggest backstabber in U.S. politics, a true genius at the art of gaining trust and then betraying it. He back-stabbed Israel and the United Stateswhat more evidence do you need?
Today, nobody doubts anymore that Obama shafted Israel with the Iranian nuclear deal, and now at the United Nations. This is SOP for Obama. This is how he won all his election runs in Illinois.
The evidence is all over the place that under his administration, the United States has supported jihadist groups in Syria and elsewhere exactly the same war theology that committed the 9/11 massacre in Manhattan and at the Pentagon.
There's much more to be said about Obama's motives for sabotaging the Clintons' last chance at power. His most emotional motivation would be simple envy for Hillary if she won the election.
That's a little bit about Obama's possible motive.
How about means? Does Obama have access to Hillary's ridiculously vulnerable email system?
Do bears do it in the woods? Is the pope Catholic? Does Obama run the CIA and the FBI with an iron hand? Does he run the DOJ?
So much for motive and means.
There isn't much to say for the Putin Hypothesis. For one thing, the Democrats are so deeply steeped in lies today that anything they say is likely to be a fairy tale. The media will back any fairy tale they make up, which is why so many Americans voted for the truth-teller in this election.
If Putin really wanted a weak U.S. president, he could wish for no one weaker than Hillary, with Bill playing second fiddle. Hillary is just not a first-rate political talent, as even she admitted during the campaign.
Obama had the motive and the means.
What about the opportunity to leak Hillary's fantastically irresponsible and plausibly criminal emails to the public? Obama always works through cutouts, external agents who give him plausible deniability. He is never directly responsible for any failure, at least according to this White House.
All we know is that WikiLeaks took responsibility for the email dumps.
But who is WikiLeaks? Nobody really knows. It is an anonymous network of hackers who claim to be upset about shady dealings in the government, a perfectly plausible motive. Julian Assange is the public face of WikiLeaks, and he certainly looks and talks like an honest man. He has gained a lot of credibility in the world for leaking the real thing to the media.
But this one is child's play for the truly Machiavellian politicians like Obama. All he has to do is tell his personal loyalists at the CIA to leak Hillary's email trove, using a neutral cutout, who magically happens to gain access to that awful amateurish server that Hillary, Huma, and a few other privileged inner-circle ladies cooked up and used to trade State Department favors with moneyed power around the world. Hillary's pathetic email system certainly looks like a set-up by more skilled and devious I.T. operatives, which the CIA has in abundance.
Nothing is easier than to set up or suborn a WikiLeaks member to "discover" Hillary's grossly incompetent email setup and give that treasure trove to Julian Assange.
WikiLeaks does not seem to be a professional intelligence outfit, though we never really know that, of course. WikiLeaks could be a front for the Muslim Brotherhood, for all we know. Or for the Russians. Or for a dozen competent intelligence agencies around the world. Or for Obama's CIA.
Black ops and double plays are routine for those outfits. Every major regime in the world runs them.
At the beginning of the election campaign, the betting was on Jeb Bush or another establishment Republican versus Hillary. Obama just told us he could have beaten the whole field of candidates had he been allowed to run, and he has a point there.
First-class demagogues are not all that common in U.S. politics, though Bill and Obama certainly qualify. And the Democrats are always sure of a big campaign war chest, with backing from establishment corporations, plus the Saudis, the Chinese, and the Muslim Brotherhood not to mention the fakestream media.
Had Hillary won the election and made a mess of her administration, Obama could have run against her, as Teddy Kennedy ran against Jimmy Carter. In the worst case, Obama could have run again after Hillary's two terms.
A lot of Democrats have never fallen out of love with the Bamster, because that's the kind of people they are. Or Obama could have demanded a nomination for U.N. Secretary General from Hillary and turned that job into president of the world.
Don't think he hasn't dreamed of that all his life. He has.
And why do you think that in his last days as president, Obama has publicly back-stabbed Israel?
Nothing appeals more to the irredentist primitives in the Muslim world than delegitimizing Israel. Saner Muslim regimes have tried making peace with Israel (if you follow their actions carefully), and no one has done so more openly than the Egyptians. President El-Sisi of Egypt has kept the peace with Israel, in spite of his Muslim Brotherhood enemies.
It was the M.B.s who assassinated Anwar Sadat, a true hero of peace with Israel. That assassination still keeps Arabs from openly signing peace treaties with Israel.
(But the Saudis recently met with Israel to plan a common defense against Iranian aggression. Arab contacts with Israel occur every day, as simply as picking up the phone, but Obama has made it much more dangerous, because in reality Obama keeps sabotaging the peace process. Watch his actions, and never believe his words. Israeli contacts with Arab leaders are an everyday affair. The leaders of Hamas routinely use Israeli medical facilities, and Israel is happy to help them because they believe in giving bhakshish to their enemies, a routine kind of double-dealing in Muslim politics.)
Mr. Obama has made it clear beyond a reasonable doubt that he will never fade from the political scene as long as he lives. Retiring is just not in his DNA. Major narcissists are in it for life. They do not change. And messianic narcissists like Obama simply don't have the psychological wherewithal to change. It is unfortunate but true. There is no cure for such people.
So: Motive, means, and opportunities galore.
I'll bet on the Obama hypothesis against the Putin foolishness any day. The biggest case against the Putin charge is that all good Democrats now believe it, because the fakestream media are pushing it. Lying liars lie, as we have learned over the years of watching the fakestream, the Clintons, and Obama. These people delight in deception. They are utterly and completely dishonest, as Trump keeps saying, and so far they are running true to form.
I'll bet on Obama as Hillary's real nemesis.
When Secretary of State John Kerry delivered his comprehensive statement on the Arab-Israel conflict in front of a safe audience at the State Department, he took over an hour to defend the decision of the United States to in essence allow passage of the recent UN anti-Israel resolution by abstaining from it, rather than adhering to the longstanding policy of the U.S. to veto such resolutions.
The general thrust of his message was to chastise Israel for building settlements on land defined as occupied Palestinian territory, as the main obstacle preventing a two-state solution.
In addition to focusing attention on criticizing Israel, Kerry failed to mention some critically important points which are clearly more central to why a two-state solution has failed to materialize.
For example, the most obvious is the fact that Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority, who is also seen by most of the world as a moderate, has steadfastly said he will never recognize Israel as a Jewish state. As I see it, this alone is the single biggest non-starter for a two-state solution. While Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus consistent commitment to accepting a Palestinian state, demonstrates his desire for mutual recognition, Mr. Kerry conveniently omitted Abbass destructive statements on refusing to accept Israels right to exist.
How realistic is a two-state solution when one side wont even recognize the others right to exist?
Mr. Kerry emphatically stated the U.S. opposition to terror and incitement. However, empty statements like this have been made on numerous occasions by the American administration. What good are such statements if they are not backed up by tangible action?
The PA receives hundreds of millions of dollars in financial aid from many countries, most of it from the U.S. The PA in turn uses a portion of this international aid to line the pockets of terrorists who have murdered Israelis. This financial windfall allows their families a living standard which is five times greater than the average Palestinian. Did Mr. Kerry say or even hint that the U.S. would suspend all financial aid to the PA to demonstrate how strongly they feel about the need to stop terrorism? He did not. Actions speak louder than words.
The constitution of Abbass Fatah party explicitly calls for the destruction of the Zionist entity, which in plain words means Israel. Did Mr. Kerry make any mention of this? Moreover, one can only imagine what he might say if Israels constitution called for the destruction of a Palestinian state. Heaven forbid!
The official emblem of the Fatah party shows one state, not two. The one state covers the entire area of Israel, and shows every square inch of land as one state of Palestine. Their emblem also includes weapons of war, suggesting their goal is to destroy Israel through violence. Again Kerry is silent.
If Mahmoud Abbas wants to be seen as a serious peace partner, would it be too much to suggest that he publically condemn the plethora of terror attacks the Palestinians have perpetrated against innocent Israeli civilians? Not only has Abbas failed to condemn such attacks, he and his party have continuously glorified these murderers.
Kerry also downplayed the U.S. role in the anti-Israel UN resolution, suggesting the U.S. was not involved in composing, or sponsoring it. Yet by abstaining, as the Obama administration knows full well, it was as if they voted for it, because they chose not to use their veto power, which allowed it to pass.
With its passing the Obama administration has intentionally left the door wide open for the UN to take further action against Israel.
With only days remaining in the current administration, the timing of Kerrys speech was more about punctuating the anti-Israel tenor of the Obama administration with one last trumpet blast about land for peace. However, all one needs to do is look at what happened when Israel evacuated the Gaza Strip after 38 years. They were rewarded with three wars and 20,000 rockets.
If the Obama administration is truly as concerned about Israels security as Kerry states, their failure to hold the Palestinians accountable for their wanton terror renders any statements about understanding Israels need for security meaningless.
Since the UN resolution cannot be reversed, the Obama administration has knowingly done two things:
1. They have put the incoming Trump administration in a difficult position.
2. Obama has placed a nail in the coffin of his relationship with Israel. With the door now open for further punitive UN action against Israel, his administration will go down in history has the most anti-Israel administration ever.
One doesnt need to be a rocket scientist to recognize the two sides of the conflict have entirely different agendas. For not recognizing this and blaming Israel for being the obstacle to peace, the Obama administration has reduced itself to open hypocrisy by ignoring their own oft-stated commitment to Israels security.
If Chicago were run by a Republican machine, and if President-Elect Trump had adopted it as his home town and political base, the media would constantly proclaim it a stain on our national honor, a killing field maintained for the purpose of killing young black men. There would be ceaseless reminders that an intolerable climate of violence has been fostered and tolerated by evil Republicans. There would have been demands for years that the (hypothetical Republican) mayor resign, that grand juries be convened to investigate civil rights violations (most murder victims are black).
Of course, Chicago has been run by Democrats almost since dinosaurs roamed the earth, so nobody in the media much cares. Conservative websites may note the death toll and compare it to Kabul and Baghdad (Aleppo currently is in a class of its own), but as far is the media power structure is concerned, Chicagos slaughter of young black males is a non-event. The awkward fact that draconian gun control laws have been less than useless in attenuating the carnage is a contributing factor in the near conspiracy of silence.
Of course, Chicagoans know. And not all of them live in fear of the Daley-Obama-Emanuel machine retaliating for indiscreet honesty. Among the courageous voices is cwbchicago.com (Crime in Wrigleyville +Boystown). Yesterday, it published a heartbreaking picture that sums up what the Second City has become.
Here is the explanation:
It was 2 oclock on a Tuesday afternoon. The day after Labor Day. 91-degrees as Chicagos bloody summer began winding into what would be an equally bloody autumn. Eight shots rang out in Uptown. Pastor Jones ran from Uptown Baptist Church and stopped at the fallen mans side. He reached into his pocket and pulled out a book of prayers. His right hand rose to the sky. Another man, practically jumping from his own skin, kneels at the pastors feet. Another man approached. He kneeled down and began administering CPR through the victims white tank top, freshly stained with five distinct red blotches that slowly grew. A police sergeant arrived. A couple of bystanders recorded the moment with their phones. And one of those pictures quickly made its way to us. We were immediately struck by the image. The nine complete strangers who were brought together by a moment that, terrible as it was, played out nearly 800 times this year in Chicago. Gregory Sims, 25, was Chicago's 522nd homicide of the year, according to the authoritative research of HeyJackass.com Like 81.6% of Chicago's murders, his killing remains unsolved.
Chicagos fate is spreading, in tandem with the anti-police rhetoric that the left has embraced. When our guardians are afraid to do their jobs, the rest of us suffer.
Hat tip: Peter von Buol
Congratulations are in order for Senate Democrats. After eight years of being a rubber-stamp Soviet legislature, they have suddenly rediscovered the joys of congressional oversight. While Obama's cabinet nominees were approved quickly very early in his administration, Democrats want to drag Trump's out for a while:
Chuck Schumer and Mitch McConnell are heading for a showdown over Donald Trump's Cabinet. Schumer, who will become Senate minority leader next week, has privately indicated to McConnell that Democrats may not be willing to go along with quick confirmations for Trumps nominees if the Senate majority leaders caucus doesnt meet several demands, according to sources in both parties familiar with the matter. .... Schumer is calling for McConnell to not schedule simultaneous confirmation hearings for Cabinet nominees, so that members on multiple committees can attend each confirmation hearing. That could make it difficult for all nominees to be ready for floor votes by Inauguration Day. Democrats can use Senate procedures to throw sand in the gears of the chamber, though a 2013 rules change prevents them from unilaterally blocking Trump's Cabinet selections. One strategy would force the Senate to go into recess in order to hold some committee hearings; Democrats could also deploy parliamentary tactics to force cloture votes on nominees and drag out debate for days. Democrats estimate they could make the confirmation process take as long as two months. Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.) is vowing to force a full conversation on the Senate floor as allowed by the rules, which allow up to 30 hours of debate on Cabinet nominations.
By contrast, Obama's cabinet picks were quickly approved on or after his inauguration. Hillary Clinton was approved as secretary of state the day after Obama's inauguration, January 21. Tim Geithner, despite having a little problem with unpaid taxes, was quickly approved on January 26 as treasury secretary. Ken Salazar was confirmed on January 20, Obama's inauguration day. Janet Napolitano became secretary of homeland security also on January 20. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood was confirmed on January 23.
In most cases, Republicans meekly voted for Obama's ideologues. But Democrats aren't going to be as meek. While they were eager to rush Obama's nominees in during Obama's first week in office, look for them to push to delay as much as they can when it comes to Trump's nominees.
Ed Straker is the senior writer at NewsMachete.com.
We finally know what it takes to evade the P.C. speech codes of a major university: wishing genocide on whites. While using the incorrect neologism pronoun for someone denying chromosomal reality is streng verboten on many campuses, the wise and courageous leaders of Drexel University finally have offensive speech they can defend.
The Chronicle of Higher Education reports:
Drexel University and one of its professors faced an onslaught of criticism for his Christmas Eve tweet that "all I want for Christmas is white genocide." And on Christmas Day, Drexel issued a statement strongly condemning the tweet. That action led the professor and many other academics to call on Drexel to offer a stronger defense of academic freedom and its professor. Many said that the tweet -- by George Ciccariello-Maher, associate professor of politics and global studies -- was clearly satire. They noted that Ciccariello-Maher has argued that white genocide is a fiction, something that white nationalists imagine and promote as a real threat in the United States, when it is not in fact a threat. On Thursday, Drexel issued a new statement. The new statement offers milder criticism of Ciccariello-Maher and notes that there may be multiple ways to read his tweet. The statement says that "his words, taken at face value and shared in the constricted Twitter format, do not represent the values of inclusion and understanding espoused by Drexel University." Further, the new statement says that "the wide range of reactions to his tweets suggests that his intentions were not adequately conveyed. These responses underscore the importance of choosing ones words thoughtfully and exercising appropriate judgment in light of the inherent limitations presented by communications on social media." In contrast, the original statement said: "Professor Ciccariello-Maher's comments are utterly reprehensible, deeply disturbing, and do not in any way reflect the values of the university." On academic freedom, the new statement also struck a different tone. The original statement said that "the university recognizes the right of its faculty to freely express their thoughts and opinions in public debate," but it also said that Drexel "is taking this situation very seriously" and was setting up a meeting with the professor. Those comments led many to question whether the university was in fact defending the professor's right to free expression or discouraging it. The new statement is much more specific that the tweet in question was free speech. "The university vigorously supports the right of its faculty members and students to freely express their opinions in the course of academic debate and discussion. In this vein, we recognize Professor Ciccariello-Mahers tweets as protected speech." Drexel's president and provost -- John A. Fry and M. Brian Blake, respectively -- signed the new statement but not the old one.
Obviously, the academic left has made it clear to Drexel that it will be severely punished if it applies the same speech code restarints on a communist professor that it enforces on everyone else. Drexel still maintains a comprehensive speech code.
Harassment:
The University prohibits discrimination and harassment against individuals based on race, color, religion, gender (sex), pregnancy, national origin, age, disability, sexual orientation, identify and expression, and veteran status. All complaints of student discrimination, harassment, and retaliation should be reported to the Office of Student Conduct and Community Standards who will work in conjunction with the Office of Equality and Diversity. All complaints of nonstudent discrimination, harassment, and retaliation should be reported to the Office of Equality and Diversity.
Wishing that all students of one particular race be killed might qualify as harassment. Imagine for a minute that a professor had tweeted his wish for a black or Native American genocide. Drexel needs to clarify the policy to make it explicit that harassment is approved for designated groups.
Equality and Nondiscrimination:
The University is committed to an environment of equal opportunity in education and employment and to proactively undertake initiatives and take actions to create such an environment. In the administration of its admissions policies, educational policies, employment policies, scholarship and loan programs, and all other University administered programs and activities; the University prohibits discrimination against individuals on the basis of: race; color; national origin; religion; sex; sexual orientation; disability; age; status as a veteran or special disabled veteran; gender identity and expression; genetic information and any other characteristic prohibited by law (i.e., creed, marital status, citizenship status). Moreover, Drexel does not tolerate unlawful harassment of any kind.
Unlawful Harassment is defined as:
unwelcome physical or verbal conduct based upon race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, status as a veteran or special disabled veteran, or gender identity and expression, and any other characteristic prohibited by law (i.e., creed, marital status, citizenship status) that is sufficiently severe, pervasive and objectively offensive as to substantially disrupt or undermine a person's ability to participate in or to receive the benefits, services or opportunities of the University.
And Hostile Environment Harassment is defined as:
... verbal or physical conduct based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, sexual orientation, disability, age, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, gender identity or expression, retaliation, and any other characteristic prohibited by law (i.e., creed, marital status, citizenship status) that is severe or pervasive enough to create an intimidating, threatening, or abusive environment. Hostile Environment Harassment: Examples of behaviors that may constitute hostile environment harassment include, but are not limited to: intimidating or hostile acts; epithet; slurs; unwelcome touching or hugging; denigrating jokes display or circulation of written or graphic material that denigrates or shows hostility or aversion toward an individual or group.
Professor Ciccariello-Mahers defense rest on his hostile words being a joke. But the speech code rules out that excuse.
The good professor could have been in jeopardy of losing his ability to use the universitys computer facilities.
Acceptable Use Policy:
Drexel University's Acceptable Use Policy (AUP) sets forth the standards by which all students, faculty, staff and authorized guests (hereafter referred to collectively as "User(s)") may use their assigned computer accounts, email services and the shared Drexel University network. The use of Drexel's computer and network resources including all electronic communication systems and equipment (hereafter referred to collectively as the "Drexel Network") is a revocable privilege.
It is not clear if the good professor used the universitys facilities in any way for his tweet. But the language here does not seem to require such use. And prohibitions include the following:
Users may not possess, distribute or send unlawful communications of any kind, including but not limited to threats of violence, obscenity, child pornography and/or harassing communications (as defined by law), or participate or facilitate communications in furtherance of other illegal activities.
So the conclusion to reach is that speech codes do not apply to left-wingers.
And parents note: if you are Caucasian, your children may be stuck in a classroom where they learn the virtues of communism from the likes of Professor Ciccariello-Maher, to whom restraints do not apply. That'll help 'em land jobs that make the tuition worth it.
The University of Missouri suffered a catastrophic decline in applications and enrollment in the wake of tolerating BLM thuggery and a professor who "needed some muscle" to bully a reporter. It had to close dormitories.
Drexel has no state support to fall back on in the face of a potential serious decline in applications and acceptances from Caucasians. It has $650-million endowment, enough to tide it over in some really rough weather.
But the price it eventually pays vould be quite a lesson for the rest of academia, even though they will ignore it.
The mainstream media have been ignoring a story of outrageous abuse by federal employees that has just been rubber-stamped by Loretta Lynchs prosecutors at the D.C. U.S. attorneys office. The first report was carried by the Houston Chronicle on Tuesday and picked up by the Washington Examiner yesterday. It is enough to make any taxpayers blood boil and has great potential as a news story. Yet for the moment, it exists in one Texas city and the conservative blogosphere only. Sarah Westwood reports for the Examiner:
A pair of Department of Veterans Affairs officials who defrauded the VA for $400,000 will not face any criminal charges, despite an inspector general's request that they both face a criminal investigation. In an inspector general report made public in September, Diana Rubens and Kimberly Graves were both accused of manipulating a VA program meant to ease the strain of moving agency employees between cities. The watchdog referred the matter to the Department of Justice for a criminal inquiry. But prosecutors in the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Columbia ruled against pursuing charges late last week, the Houston Chronicle reported Tuesday, effectively eliminating any possibility that the two officials will face consequences for their actions. The VA declined to fire Rubens and Graves in November. Although the agency planned instead to demote the embattled officials, a paperwork mistake spared the two from even that minimal punishment.
Wikipedia summarizes the caper:
In 2014 Rubens volunteered for a transfer from the D.C. regional office to the Philadelphia regional office to fill an opening that held considerably less responsibilities. She and her peer Kimberly Graves were allegedly informed by superior Allison Hickey, the former VA undersecretary for benefits, of loopholes within the VA's employee transfer program that would allow them to pocket large sums of taxpayer dollars.[2]
Isn't that great? Her boss told her how to game the system. Why, you'd almost think bureaucrats are a self-interested group who don't care about taxpayers at all, but regard them as suckers to be played.
Hickey resigned her post in October 2015 amid investigations into her role aiding the two women in their transfer scheme.[3] The VA announced it would review its transfer program due to the growing number of cases involving abuse of authority.[1][4][5] Rubens expensed nearly $275,000 in moving fees to the VA while relocating to Philadelphia, attracting the attention of the VA's inspector general. Upon investigation, it was learned that Rubens had used her position to pressure a subordinate to leave their job at the Philadelphia office, thus opening that position. Rubens then volunteered for the position that held significantly reduced responsibilities, but managed to retain her $181,000 salary. Rubens and was transferred to a separate location and demoted while under investigation.[1][2] Rubens and Graves both made appeals to the Merit Systems Protection Board and pleaded the Fifth amendment regarding the allegations. The Inspector General recommended the Justice Department proceed with criminal charges.[6] A judge overturned Rubens demotion in January 2016, sparking outrage. The court stated that punishing Rubens and Graves was inconsistent disciplining behavior by the VA, since it had not similarly punished other employees that had committed offenses.[7] The judge also cited her superiors foreknowledge of her intent as evidence that no laws had been broken.[8] Rubens was reinstated effective immediately and was awarded back-pay.[9][10][4]
Diana Rubens
Kimberly Graves
This incident will be worth it to taxpayers if the two become the poster girls for pushing through civil service reform as an early priority of the Trump administration. As I wrote the morning after Election Day, civil service reform is an essential prerequisite for reining in the abuses of the federal bureaucracy and the administrative state that makes laws and issues subpoenas without any judicial or congressional sanction.
The federal government requires structural reform. Because it is very expensive and time-consuming to fire anyone, bad behavior is not just tolerated, but propagated. Civil service protections originally intended to guard against a politicized bureaucracy have now become guarantors of the high-handedness and lack of accountability we saw with Lois Lerner, now retired with a six-figure pension after pleading the Fifth Amendment.
Government employee unions have become a mainstay of the Democratic Party, with employee dues, harvested from taxpayers via salaries, laundered into the partys coffers. So the Democrats will fight like hell, up to and including a filibuster, mass demonstrations, and possible violence. Donald Trump will need to persuade the public, and mobilize public opinion against those Democrat senators who resist the reform movement. There are 23 Democrat senators up for re-election in 2018, and some of them must be made to get very nervous.
I would suggest beginning with a bill to fire any federal employee who takes the Fifth Amendment with regard to behavior related to duties in office. The Democrats will cry that the Fifth Amendment is a constitutionally guaranteed right, so no retaliation is possible, of course. But there is a well known precedent to the contrary: breath or blood tests for drivers suspected of driving under the influence. They retain their right not to incriminate themselves, but in most states, they lose their drivers license. That license is not a right. And neither is a federal job.
Lois Lerner is the ideal object lesson to close the argument. She persecuted ordinary Americans and got away with it.
We can now add Ms. Rubens and Ms. Graves to the list of object lessons. All of them should be subpoenaed to testify before committees on the nature of their actions and the benefits they still enjoy.
The DoJ handed us lemons, so lets make some lemonade.
When one discusses Martin Luther, there is little doubt he was a visionary, a caustic force in history that changed the world of Christendom. He was also an anti-Semite, albeit as a young man he spoke out about the oppression of Jews in Europe believing they could be candidates for conversion to Christianity. When this vision proved unsuccessful, Luther turned on the Jews urging persecution and degradation.
In his book On the Jews and Their Lies, he asks plaintively, "What shall we Christians do with this rejected and condemned people, the Jews?" He answers this question with a program of destruction: "Set fire to the synagogues; raze the houses; remove the prayer books; forbid rabbinic instruction; forbid commercial activity; prohibit usury; take their silver and gold and put "a flail, an ax, a hole, a spade, a distaff or a spindle into the hands of young strong Jews and Jewesses[.]"
Luther evolved into this hateful position. In 1519, he argued against hatred of Jews noting, "What Jew would consent to enter our ranks when he sees the cruelty and enmity we wreak on them that in our behavior towards them we less resemble Christians than beasts." It was Luther's fond hope that Jews would hear the gospel and be moved to conversion. He maintained that Jews "are blood relatives, cousins and brothers of our Lord."
However, these "blood relatives" obstinately refused to oblige. When in 1536, the elector of Saxony, John Fredrick, prohibited Jews from inhabiting his state, engaging in business, or passing through his realm, Jewish leaders requested Luther's assistance in obtaining an audience with the prince. Luther refused. He said, "I would willingly do my best for your people, but I will not contribute to your obstinacy by my own kind actions. You must find another intermediary with my good lord." Some historians have called this episode the decisive turning point in Luther's stance from friendliness to hostility.
What this anti-Semitism suggests is that even a great man haunted by his relationship with God and eager to address the excesses of indulgences had his flaws. Luther was a rebel whose actions challenged the Church with his submission of Ninety-Five Theses that defied Church doctrine. Most significantly, he fractured Catholicism, leading inevitably to half of Europe and a significant portion of the globe embracing his interpretation of the New Testament.
The irony of Luther's anti-Semitism is that the Protestant Ethic, which instills the notion of hard work and accomplishment as signs of salvation, is compatible with the cultural Jewish desire for secular success and theological recognition. It is not merely a coincidence that Jews have prospered in Protestant-dominated nations. The "condemned Jews" of Luthers past have become the symbol of Protestantism's success.
Today, American Evangelicals embrace Jews as their brothers. In fact, the ties between Israel and Protestant nations have never been closer. My guess is, if Luther could envision what his ideas have wrought, he would evolve into a pro-Jewish position.
Politics is at best a sleight-of-hand affair pretending to be reasonably straight ahead. We all know it's nothing of the sort.
Rogue One, the latest prequel to sequel in the perdurable Star Wars saga, is all sound and fury, but it leaves you less $20 for the added nullity of 3D, which is all but invisible in the watching.
The point of this meditation of politics under the departing fecklessness of the child-wuss President Barack H. Obama is that we have just experienced the flop CGI effects of his scheming against both his prime enemy since 2009, Bibi cum Israel, and his newer pretend friend, his successor, Donald J. Trump.
In fabricating excuses for how and why and what the confounding U.S. abstention from the maximally damaging Resolution 3224 in the United Nations cafeteria of condemnations against ally-shy Israel if there were scores for the most constant resolutions condemning this tiny democracy in an ocean of vitriolic demagoguery, misogyny, bias, and cruelty under a sharia banner against non-Muslims, and general varmintry, Israel would win, 5 to 1, hands down outgoing Obama repeatedly fails the smell test.
Add John Kerry to the mix of mendacity and Machiavellian stir fry, and you have a losing poker hand that not only scathes our erstwhile best ally, but endlessly complicates the a-borning presidency of President Trump.
Moreover, the U.S. long ago lost the credibility buffet by former allies and friends, under a hostile and quixotically puerile chief executive. A man who seems to plump forever for all and any bad guys over the good. Who believes the rhetoric and diplo-speak, all devised in service of pancake makeup over the knife attack against Israel?
Viewing the endless hectoring hash of Obama's long-wussing if dunce-cap sacrificial secretary of state, the hangdog powder-puff Cerberus of John Kerry as ineffective as Ms. Clinton, if at least sparing us her pantsuit wardrobe one was stopped over and over by his (a) ropy lies or (b) massive self-serving ignorance or (c) deliberate mastication of facts.
The recent amplification of a so far wholly unsubstantiated attack against Russia, aka Putin, as "interfering in the legal elections of the United States," into expulsion of 35 Russian operatives and personnel inside a three-day peremptory putsch, plus the dumbest and least effective "sanctions" seen since your kindergarten teacher threatened to take away your gloves if you didn't immediately don them, makes the imminent ascension of President Trump doubly complicated. This might indeed be the real ingredient behind the yucky porridge Obama has cooked up: make Trump's life as miserable as possible. (They'll really miss me, once DJT wades into the presidency with all the rich chaos I've deeded him...)
What bothers one most is that assigning sanctions that are laughably inadequate, even if merited, and tossing out ambassadorial and embassy staffers from their D.C. perches without visible proof of misbehavior, the endgame is that future punishments for real offenses will have to be stepped up, first, and there is no way there will not be payback from Russia in the immediate or near future, making even a heretofore friendly interaction between the two national principals more treacherous and slippery.
Trump and Putin need not begin their official interaction sloughing through the detritus of the Obama childish peeve and muck. But Obama is guaranteeing a rough early month or two before this unconscionable manufactured scenario is resolved. The word unprecedented has been raised again and again with regard to the wrongful, dubious, damaging, and frankly nightmarish plots of this escalated community disorganizer.
The roguish designs of Mr. Lame Duck do not advance the safety of the U.S. quite the contrary. Though they do complicate and muddy the forward movement of the next president, they don't do anything easily unfixable.
But the harm done to Israel is long-term and Stage 3in terms of ramifications. And the harms done to U.S. prestige and believability, annexed to the jokey lack of response to Obama's vaunted and failed "red lines," cannot easily be repaired.
How do initiatives that make the U.S. a laughingstock help boost the sagging value of the worst stock on the open market?
And how, exactly, did Russia's involvement in disclosing Hillary's and Podesta's corrupt emails help Trump in the actual election?
Again, of course, deflecting the decided rejection of Obama's and Hillary's values and policies. Deflecting, of course, the failures of eight limping years of attacks, unacceptable "recovery," vulnerability to enemies near and far, unrepaired scandals and undisclosed secrets and records to which we have a right...
How does one ward off other enemies or potential threats from screwing around with the U.S. if everything is aimed at the wrong party or the sanctions lobbed are fancifully edentulous?
His legacy, such as it was, in tatters, how does Obama burnish his barnacled memory with all the Hesperus of these latter-day desperate measures of disrespect and scorn? How does hobbling Trump make Obama a hero, when any observant citizen sees the Sargasso soup he is fomenting, to the detriment of his country, of Israel, of all former allies?
Suggestion for Mr. Obama's next ghostwritten paean to his failed tenures: Nightmares From My Eight-Year Social Calendar.
Rogue One? Nah, Obama is Rogues One through Ten. And even less watchable than the film.
In a brilliant piece of propaganda that makes President Obama look small and irrelevant, Vladimir Putin plays chess, while Ben Rhodes and Valerie Jarrett play checkers (and Barack Obama vacations in Hawaii again).
Neil MacFarquhar the New York Times reports:
In a head-spinning turn of events on Friday, President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia announced that he would not retaliate against the United States decision to expel Russian diplomats and impose new sanctions hours after his foreign minister recommended doing just that. Mr. Putin, betting on improved relations with the next American president, said he would not eject 35 diplomats or close any diplomatic facilities, rejecting a tit-for-tat response to actions taken by the Obama administration on Thursday. The switch was remarkable, given that the foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, had just made the recommendation in remarks broadcast live on national television, and given the long history of tit-for-tat expulsions between the two countries. Russian officials have traditionally been sticklers for diplomatic protocol. While we reserve the right to take reciprocal measures, were not going to downgrade ourselves to the level of irresponsible kitchen diplomacy, Mr. Putin said, using a common Russian idiom for quarrelsome and unseemly acts. In our future steps on the way toward the restoration of Russia-United States relations, we will proceed from the policy pursued by the administration of D. Trump.
First and foremost, this move disempowers President Obama before he even leaves office. Our chief geopolitical rival a notion Barack Obama sneered at in a presidential debate with Mitt Romney has just in effect said to Obama, Who cares what you do? Youre outta here in 3 weeks, buddy. Dismissing Obama as not worthy of retaliation projects a loss of face onto the world stage, making a capon out of the outgoing president.
This move (or lack thereof) carries some danger for Donald Trump. He must point out the man instances when the Obama administration sucked up to Russia. That bizarre reset button episode with Hillary grinning like a Bride of Chucky doll is just waiting for attachment to a tweet noting that Democrats only attack Russia out of desperation to blame it for Hillary's loss.
I have little doubt that both he and Putin understand the need for some form of public confrontation between the two and there are plenty of issues available, starting with Aleppo and extending to oil prices that divide the two nations. But the underlying tenor of the relationship has to be one of cooperation against common foes, mixed with confrontation.
Dont worry: I realize that Putin is a thug from the KGB. The sad fact is that ruthless people occupy a disproportionate number of head-of-government roles in the world. I doubt very much that President-elect Trump has any illusions.
In the meantime, Obama looks smaller and smaller.
Amazon India debuted Sell As Individual service yesterday, this is a new service for selling used goods through the retail giants online platform. The new feature is currently only available in Bangalore, the capital of Karnataka whose 8.5 million residents get to test Amazons latest service before it becomes available throughout the country. The company has yet to provide details on when its planning to roll out Sell As Individual to more cities and regions.
The procedure of selling used items through Sell As Individual is somewhat similar to the system that Amazon sellers are already using, with the exception of its delivery process. A seller is expected to provide a picture of a product and its description before listing it as being available for sale. However, once a buyer pays for the package, sellers arent expected to deliver it. Instead, Amazon will contact the seller, schedule a pickup date, pick up their product, package it, and proceed to deliver it. In case a buyer isnt satisfied with the product and wants to return it, Amazon will make sure the seller gets it back at no extra charge to either party. Sell As Individual doesnt restrict sellers to any particular type of products, so everything from books and consumer electronics to clothes and jewelry is fair game.
If everything ends up working out, sellers will receive their money in three to five days following the date theyve handed over their product to Amazons employees. The Seattle-based retailer is charging sellers 10 rupees or just under 15 cents per every sold item valued at up to 999 rupees ($15). Amazons mediation services cost 50 rupees ($0.8) for a product priced at up to 5,000 rupees ($74) and 100 rupees ($1.5) per each more valuable sale. The company is currently trying to promote Sell As Individual by offering an extra 1,000 rupees ($15) of Amazon Pay Balance to people who use the service to sell a single phone, tablet, or laptop, or make five smaller sales. This limited promotion is ending on January 15th, while all eligible sellers will receive their rewards by February 15th. Sell As Individual operates independently of Amazons specialized store for used and refurbished phones which the company debuted in India back in September.
From flagship device launches to a number of mid-rangers, its fair to say 2016 has been a busy year for Meizu and, according to a new leak, 2017 shows no signs of being any different. A new leak has revealed what looks to be Meizus 2017 product launch calendar. Looking at it, the company appears to have six new devices ready for release as of now, with the first coming as early as February, possibly coinciding with a reveal at MWC in Barcelona. Regarding what the device will be, its marked down as being the companys upcoming Meizu Blue Charm 5S, which, according to the camera, is powered by a MediaTek MTK6753 processor. Considering the age of this processor, though, it seems more likely that the device would feature a slightly newer processor once it is eventually released. Next up in the products plans is a summer launch, specifically a June one, for the Meizu PRO 7, which is set to feature the MediaTek Helio X30 inside.
Moving into the second half of the year, this is where things are alleged to get busy for the company. Firstly, July is said to see the launch of another Blue Charm S device, featuring the newer MediaTek Helio P25 inside. Later on the in year, the company is also expected to launch the Meizu MX7 which will sit nicely alongside the PRO 7. In this case, though, the MX7 is expected to be powered by the MediaTek Helio P30. Shortly after the launch of the MX7, the company is set to reveal the Blue Charm Note 6 in October, which will come powered by the weaker Helio P20. Finally, and in an interesting move, the company is alleged to reveal one final device in December, presumably before Christmas. Currently, the model itself is unknown, but the processor is stated as being manufactured by Qualcomm, specifically what looks to be the Snapdragon 626. Considering the companys loyalty to MediaTeks processors up until now, though, this would certainly be an odd move for the company.
As of now, there is no way of verifying this leak, but even if it is true, the schedule could only be an initial draft and device details, in this case the processors, could still be changed by the time the products are presented to the world. Either way, with the final device being said to feature a Qualcomm chipset, Meizu could be set to make a number of changes next year regarding the way it develops and markets its devices, so 2017 may well bring a number of surprises for Meizu as a whole.
Qualcomm had filed a lawsuit against Meizu earlier this year, the US-based processor manufacturer stated that Meizu infringed upon their patents, and named that as a reason for a lawsuit. Well, it seems like the two companies have finally settled the dispute, as Qualcomm just released an official statement saying that the two companies have signed a global patent licensing agreement when it comes to 3G / 4G technology, read on.
Back when Qualcomm sued Meizu, the China-based smartphone manufacturer was quick to respond, theyve stated that theyre ready to settle the dispute as soon as possible, and that they respect Qualcomms right to use legal measures if they feel unsatisfied with the current status of negotiations. Fast forward a couple of months, and the two companies have finally reached an agreement it seems. Qualcomm has granted Meizu a worldwide royalty-bearing patent license to develop, manufacture and sell CDMA2000, WCDMA and 4G LTE (GSM, TD-SCDMA and LTE-TDD included) complete devices. In other words, Meizu is now free to include Qualcomm-patented 3G and 4G technology in their smartphones on a global scale, and this basically resolves all patent disputes between the two companies.
As a reminder, Qualcomm issued legal action against Meizu a while back for Meizu-branded devices which were being sold in China, Germany, France and the United States. Today, we are focusing on our vision with better clarity, and striving to become the top designer brand for high-tech products, said Bai Yongxiang, President of Meizu, and added the following: We are confident this cooperation with Qualcomm will add tremendous value to our user, channels, shareholders and employees. Meizu is mainly selling smartphones in China, but theyre also active in a number of other markets on a smaller scale, as already mentioned. We are expecting Meizu to make a bolder push to markets outside of China in the coming years, and this patent licensing agreement will certainly help them do that, as they wont be distracted with such legal issues. Meizu had introduced a number of smartphones this year, and their Meizu PRO 6 Plus flagship actually landed quite recently. This smartphone will become available in a global variant as well, soon, and it will be interesting to see what has Meizu prepared for us for 2017, as a number of interesting designs leaked recently.
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2016 has been an interesting year in many respects. Modular phones, the advance of Daydream and the Galaxy Note 7, being just a few of the examples of the big movements that have occurred over the past twelve months. However, one move which should certainly be considered to be a big one is Googles move from being just a software company to one which is also a hardware company. As this year, was the year in which Google bet big on hardware.
In fact, when you look back over the year now, it does become clear just how many Google-related hardware products have now come to market. Of course, most of them did drop during the big Google Oct. 4 event, but that was not the first time that some of them were announced. Instead, back at Googles I/O event earlier in the year, the first indications that Google was now officially making in-roads to the hardware market surfaced. Although, regardless of whether a product was introduced at Google I/O or at the Oct. 4 event, the result is the same we now have two Google Pixel smartphones, Google Home, Google Wifi and the Daydream View. All new products and all Google products.
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While some might argue that products like the Pixel and the Pixel XL are not actually Google products (as they make use of a hardware manufacturer, like HTC), it does not take away from the fact that Google is marketing and pushing these as their devices. Hence, the G branding and a complete lack of any branding that can be related to a manufacturer. And it is this G branding that is now the prevalent factor when you look back at 2016. Whichever of the mentioned Google-related products you pick up, the only branding you will find on them is the G. So while those in the know might debate the origins of any of the devices, from the average consumer perspective, these are all very much Google products. Something which has never really been the case in years gone by.
While Google-affiliated products have previously came through in various guises, like the Nexus range for instance. 2016 has seen Google bet big on that G branding and on the fact that people will want a hardware product that bears their logo and name. Which also seems to be a new development in the Alphabet era of Google. As before, Google always seemed somewhat hesitant in actually putting their money where their mouth is and bringing to market products that they can (and did) call their own. That is anything but the case this year as in addition to the swarm of Google-branded products that are now available, Google has also been investing heavily in the marketing of those products. Not only has Google released the hardware, but it has been making an unprecedented and concerted effort to make people aware that they exist and that they are Google products.
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Of course, 2016 from Google was not all about hardware though. As this year also saw the company introduce its Google Assistant. While this is a software-based entity, in some respects, it does seem to be one which Google views as one of the bridges between its hardware ambitions and Android. This can be best seen with the way in which Google has brought its Assistant to market. While AI is generally considered to be big business in 2016, Google has made sure that a number of its major hardware offerings (like Google Home, the Pixel and the Pixel XL) all make use of Google Assistant at the hardware level. No OTT employment needed. You buy one of these devices and you just get Google Assistant. In some respects, it is the base of those products and certainly one of their major selling points put forward by Google. Not forgetting of course, those who have a non-Google-branded Android smartphone can also get in on the action by downloading Googles latest messaging app, Allo. Which also comes powered by the Google Assistant.
So it does seem clear that while 2016 has been a year in which Google has pushed its own hardware, it is actually pushing much more than that. It is pushing a much more inclusive user experience, one where not only the hardware meets the software, but also where the two are joined by the use of aspects like the Google Assistant. Which inevitably does mean that we are now in for an interesting 2017. As this will be the first year that Google starts the year as an officially recognized hardware company. We will be looking at follow-up devices, as well as follow-on updates and improvements to the hardware-software bridge that is the Google Assistant. Not to mention, more Google and Android-related branches through the likes of Tango and Daydream, which look to further combine the overall Google experience. And so, as it stands, 2017 is going to be a very different year for those who follow Google news, and much like 2016 was. Although, the main difference being that this time last year, it was far less clear how important the upcoming year was going to be for Google.
Cellphones and driving is a combination that is a recipe for disaster no matter where you live. Governments have made efforts to pass strict laws if you are caught participating in what is called distracted driving. But, like the mythical Greek sailors that were lured by the Sirens to force a shipwreck, our smartphones send out their own notifications that we simply cannot ignore. Just in Saskatchewan alone, in 2014, 3,900 distracted driving accidents caused the death of 27 people and injured over 700. Saskatchewan banned the use of handheld devices while driving with a current fine of $280 and four demerit points, and the province will impose even greater penalties on January 1st. They also reworded the law to be much more specific in nature.
The new law states that Drivers [are] prohibited from holding, viewing, using or manipulating a cellphone while driving. Tougher laws for distracted driving are being passed everywhere, and one of the most restrictive laws similar to Saskatchewans is going into effect in California on January 1, 2017, forcing drivers that want to use your cellphone while driving to place the device in a phone or car mount. Not a bad idea when you think about it, and there are a variety of holders to choose from many different manufacturers with varying prices.
In Saskatchewan, hand-held mobile devices are prohibited for both new and experienced drivers you simply cannot hold a cellphone in your hand while driving. The new law does not apply to new drivers who are in a Graduated Driver Licensing program, as they are still not able to use hands-free cellphones either. Only experienced drivers can use hands-free cellphones meaning they are activated with voice commands, one-touch, or mounted to a dashboard, visor, or cradle. It is a shame that governments must make laws to protect ourselves and others from something as dangerous as distracted driving. However, stats do not lie, and it is apparent that drivers still want to use their cellphones while driving. Much like drinking and driving, the driver is sometimes the last person to get hurt, causing damage to other people. The extra cost to purchase a dash mount for your device is a small price to pay for the safety of you and others.
Earlier this month, SoftBanks CEO and Sprint chairman, Masayoshi Son met with President-Elect Donald Trump at Trump Tower in New York City. Son announced that his company would be investing $50 billion in the US, as well as bringing in about 50,000 jobs. This is something that the President-Elect has been bragging about making happen, but SoftBank actually announced this plan back in October, the election was in November, so this had nothing to do with Trump. In October, SoftBank announced the Vision Fund, which is a $100 billion joint fund between Saudi Arabia and SoftBank, which would be used to invest in emerging technologies. Saudi Arabia would be investing $45 billion, and SoftBank investing $25 billion, over the next five years. Which is where the investing $50 billion in the US came from, for SoftBank and Masayoshi Son.
It was December 2013 when rumors started swirling around Sprint buying T-Mobile, with SoftBank behind it. After finding out from regulators that the deal would have no chance, SoftBank abandoned whatever talks they were having with T-Mobile and its parent company Deutsche Telekom. And had then-CEO, Dan Hesse step down and Son put Marcelo Claure in charge of Sprint. Son is still eyeing a merger with T-Mobile, however now it may be even tougher, even with a new administration that is more about deregulating things, especially when it comes to the FCC. And this is because T-Mobile USA is much more valuable than it was almost three years ago. Additionally, Deutsche Telekom isnt in a huge rush to exit the US, as they were a few short years ago.
SoftBank seems happy to let Trump take credit for them investing $50 billion in the US and creating loads of jobs (Sprint is also creating loads of jobs without SoftBanks help). It appears to be a pretty small price to pay for Trump allowing them to buy T-Mobile. Although that deal is not set in stone, and Trump hasnt said that he would let the deal happen. However, he has been against AT&T purchasing Time Warner, so who knows where he might stand on a T-Mobile/Sprint merger. We should be learning more over the coming months though, as Trump is set to move into the White House on January 20th.
PHOENIX Medical marijuana users cannot be convicted of driving while under the influence of the drug absent proof that they were actually impaired, the state Court of Appeals ruled Thursday.
In a major setback for prosecutors, the judges pointed out that Arizona, unlike some other states, has no law which spells out that at a certain level of tetrahydrocannabinol the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana in the blood, a person is presumed to be impaired.
"And, according to evidence here, there is no scientific consensus about the concentration of THC that generally is sufficient to impair a human being,'' appellate Judge Diane Johnsen wrote.
What that means is each and every case where prosecutors charge a medical marijuana user with breaking the law requires expert testimony to show that particular individual was impaired at that particular level of THC.
This case involves Nadir Ishak who was stopped by police in Mesa one evening in 2013 after the officer said he saw the vehicle drift out of its lane. The officer testified that Ishak had admitted to smoking marijuana that morning, that his eyes were bloodshot and watery, and that during a field sobriety tests he experienced "body tremors and eye tremors.''
Ishak was charged with driving while impaired to the slightest degree and a separate charge of driving with marijuana in his body. Jurors acquitted him of the first charge but convicted him of the second.
Johnsen said Ishak was denied a fair trial when the city court judge refused to allow him to tell jurors he had a state-issued card allowing him to use the drug legally. She said that would have provided evidence to the jury that Ishak was legally entitled under the 2010 Arizona Medical Marijuana Act to use the drug and have it in his system.
Potentially more significant, Johnsen, writing for the 2-1 majority, said the trial judge also erred in ruling that it was up to Ishak to prove he was not impaired, even to escape the charge of driving with marijuana in his body.
What voters approved in 2010 spells out that being a legal marijuana user does not excuse someone from being charged with driving under the influence of the drug. But it also says that a patient cannot automatically be considered under the influence of marijuana "solely because of the presence of metabolites or components of marijuana that appear in insufficient concentration to cause impairment.''
The Arizona Supreme Court already has ruled that the mere presence of metabolites the chemical compounds caused by the breakdown of marijuana in the body is insufficient by itself to prove impairment. That's because those chemicals can remain in the body for days or weeks afterwards.
In this case, however, the court records show that Ishak had a concentration of 26.9 nanograms per milliliter of THC.
Mesa city prosecutor Craig Jones argued that the 2010 law requires medical marijuana cardholders who are arrested to prove through expert testimony that the amount of THC in their blood is insufficient to cause impairment "in people generally'' or "in any person.'' He said it's irrelevant whether the specific defendant was actually impaired.
But Johnsen said that's not how the law works.
"Nothing in the statute ... requires a cardholder to present expert testimony (or precludes a cardholder from offering non-expert testimony) on the question of whether the cardholder was impaired due to THC,'' she wrote.
"Further supporting this conclusion is the reality that, at present, there is no presumptive impairment limit established by (Arizona) law,'' the judge wrote. By contrast, Colorado statutes say anyone with a THC level above 5 nanograms is presumed impaired.
And Johnsen said in this case there was no foundation for the state's expert to testify that a THC level of 26.9 nanograms would cause impairment in Ishak.
On the other side of the equation, Ishak's own expert said there is "no consensus'' about the concentration of THC that causes impairment. The expert did testify that 26.9 is "a high number and it can impair some people, but I can't tell you that number ... will impair all people.''
That ruling was not unanimous.
Appellate Judge Randall Howe said he reads the statute and case law to give medical marijuana cardholders an "affirmative defense'' they can present at trial. He said that means it is up to the person arrested to prove not only that he or she is authorized to use marijuana for medical purposes but that the concentration of the drug was "insufficient to cause impairment.''
"The defendant bears the burden of proof on the defense,'' Howe wrote. And he said Ishak did not show, either in cross-examining the state's expert or presenting his own, that his THC concentration did not leave him impaired.
Thursday's decision is the latest in a string of appellate court rulings which have limited the ability of prosecutors to bring various charges against medical marijuana patients. These range from limiting the kind of evidence that prosecutors can use to bring drugged-driving charges to requirements for law enforcement officers to give back drugs taken from legal users.
And it comes just two days after another division of the appellate court slapped down efforts by Maricopa County Attorney Bill Montgomery to use the federal ban on marijuana to block the necessary permits for a medical marijuana dispensary.
PHOENIX - More than 700,000 Arizonans will get a wage hike beginning Sunday.
Without comment the state Supreme Court this morning rejected a last-ditch bid by the business community to delay the effect of Proposition 206. That measure, approved earlier this year by voters on a 58-42 margin, raises the current minimum wage of $8.05 an hour to $10 at the beginning of 2017.
The same initiative eventually increases that to $12 an hour by 2020. And beginning July 1 it requires employers to provide workers with at least three days of paid sick leave each year.
In the city of Flagstaff, Elevate Flagstaff is seeking more than 4,000 signatures to gut a new local minimum wage law approved by Flagstaff voters and replace it initially with the state minimum wage. The ballot measure would add 50 cents to the state minimum beginning in 2021.
Prop. 414 was approved by Flagstaff voters in November and results in a local minimum wage of $12 an hour in July 2017 and $15 by 2021. It also requires that the Flagstaff minimum wage be at least $2 more than the state minimum.
Members of Elevate Flagstaff have said that the new Flagstaff minimum wage law increases local wages too quickly and will put a number of small, local shops out of business. They have until mid-January to collect enough signatures.
Today's Supreme Court action does not end the matter of the state minimum wage lawsuit.
The justices have agreed to consider claims by initiative foes that the measure violates a constitutional provision that requires all ballot proposals that result in new state spending to have a dedicated revenue source.
There is no direct effect on the state payroll as state employees are not covered by the measure. But opponents, led by the Arizona Chamber of Commerce and Industry and joined by the Greater Flagstaff Chamber, contend that the measure will force the state's Medicaid program to increase what it pays private firms that provide nursing home and in-home care.
That's based on claims by some of the providers, whose contracts were negotiated under the assumption they could pay workers as little as $8.05 an hour, that they will go out of business if forced to pay more. And that, they said, would put the state in violation of its agreements with the federal government to maintain an adequate provider network.
Instead, the justices apparently accepted the arguments by initiative supporters that there is no reason to block hundreds of thousands of Arizonans now making less than $10 an hour from getting the pay hike voters said they should get.
And it probably did not help the arguments by foes that AHCCCS itself insisted that it is under no legal obligation to pay the providers more.
While the legal arguments were based on the effect of Proposition 206 on the state, the chamber's larger concern is the effect on businesses, which will feel an immediate impact on their payroll costs.
"This one stinks,'' said chamber President Glenn Hamer.
But Hamer conceded business organizations may have no one but themselves to blame. Business groups invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into the successful effort to block legalization of recreational marijuana in Arizona -- and only about $50,000 trying to convince voters that a hike in the minimum wage is bad for the economy.
"We have to do a better job of making the case to the public,'' Hamer said. "I'll certainly submit that's a valid criticism.''
Today's ruling came not only over the objections of business interests but also Gov. Doug Ducey, whose Office of Strategic Planning and Budgeting late Wednesday urged the justices to delay implementation of the higher wage requirement. That agency figures the additional cost to the state for the coming budget year will be $21.2 million.
While refusing to set aside the initiative for the time being, today's ruling still gives foes a chance to argue their claim in February that Proposition 206 does force the state to spend more money.
Attorneys for the business interests contend the Arizona Constitution spells out that can happen only if there is also a dedicated revenue source, like a new tax. Proposition 206 has no such levy.
But Hamer conceded that the odds are not necessarily in his favor.
Arizona court rules provide a multi-part test for judges to consider when deciding whether to enjoin a new law from taking effect. And one of those factors is whether the challengers are likely to prevail after a full-blown court hearing.
But Maricopa County Superior Court Judge Daniel Kiley, who last week turned down the request for an injunction, said the chamber and its allies had not met that burden. And the Supreme Court, with today's order, essentially ratified his conclusion.
And there's something else working against the opponents.
In arguing for an injunction, attorney Brett Johnson said all he was seeking was to maintain the status quo until the legal arguments could be heard. That meant keeping the minimum wage where it is now.
By February, however, the status quo will have changed: An estimated 770,000 Arizonans now earning less than $10 an hour will be getting that much in their paychecks.
"This is a tough one,'' Hamer said.
"It doesn't change our legal arguments,'' he continued. "But it does change the dynamics on the ground.''
Growth in spite of financial limitations became the theme for higher education in Flagstaff in 2016.
In February, Northern Arizona University opened two new buildings costing a total of $119.4 million, despite deferring other projects to help balance the budget. The new buildings were begun before a $17.3 million budget cut in 2015. At the time NAU President Rita Cheng said the university had deferred maintenance needs totaling $112 million, only $3 million of which was funded.
The university, in conjunction with American Campus Communities, also broke ground on a new residence hall, scheduled to open in the next academic year, increasing the number of beds on campus to 9,774.
As bed space increases, so did enrollment on the Flagstaff campus. Yet again the university broke the previous years enrollment record, with 22,134 students enrolled on the Flagstaff campus and 30,368 enrolled in the university overall.
Of those enrolled, four on the Flagstaff campus and 14 university-wide are recipients of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA). In the midst of the presidential election and the threat that the program might be dissolved, both NAU President Rita Cheng and the universitys Faculty Senate took steps to ensure recipients of the program would continue to receive benefits and protections on campus, even if the program is eliminated.
To help foster an inclusive environment on campus, the university hired Carmen Phelps as NAUs first chief diversity officer after a group of students put forth a list of demands in 2015, explicitly asking that a diversity officer be hired.
Coconino Community College went out for a third attempt to pass a budget override in November. Proposition 410 was created to bring in another $3 million annually for the community college, but was the only local proposition to fail in the election.
The loss came less than a year after the college hired Colleen Smith as its new president. Smith took office in February after she was selected in 2015.
The CCC nursing program was removed from probation in March after being sanctioned in 2014 by the Arizona State Board of Nursing. College officials said a smaller cohort of students improved the ratio of instructors to students, and said the other compliance issues were relatively easy fixes.
The nursing program, along with the fire science and EMT programs, got a boost in 2016 with a new, high-tech dummy, named Trauma Hal, to use in classroom settings. The dummy, which costs about $70,000, was purchased with funds from the Arizona Community Foundation, the Capstone Health Fund, Northern Arizona Healthcare and the Perkins Grant.
On the eve of changeovers in Congress and the White House, 1st Congressional District Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick is leaving her seat hopeful about healthcare compromise, insistent on the need for comprehensive immigration reform and frustrated by pushback to alternative energy incentive programs.
As Kirkpatrick prepares to hand over the keys, the Daily Sun spoke to the three-term Democratic legislator as well as her successor Tom OHalleran about their outlooks on some of the major issues facing the district.
HEALTHCARE AND VETERANS SERVICES
When it comes to the gridlock of Obamacare, Kirkpatrick continues to stand behind her vote for the Affordable Care Act, but said she would like to see a modification allowing insurance companies to sell across state lines. Kirkpatrick said she believes there is potential for consensus on that change, especially after seeing more and more Republican legislators over the past six months looking for ways to reform the healthcare law instead of abolish it. So far, however, the idea hasnt received much support from insurers and health experts due in part to the challenges of complying with varying state regulations and the cost of establishing expanded health care provider networks.
Among the toughest issues she worked on was trying to reform the Department of Veterans Affairs, Kirkpatrick said.
The department continues to fail to schedule veterans in a timely manner and Kirkpatrick said the agency needs to accelerate the hiring process and update its technology. She said she had hoped to develop a system that could interface with the military, so that when someone left military service their records automatically got transferred to the VA.
Kirkpatrick said it also was a struggle to see continued declines in education program funding that affected Arizona schools. Cuts to programs like Impact Aid, Secure Rural Schools, Payments in Lieu of Taxes and Head Start have all had a disproportionate impact on Arizona because of its large swaths of public and tribal lands, she said.
ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT
While aligning on healthcare and immigration reform, Kirkpatrick and O'Halleran split when it came to their perspectives on the Clean Power Plan. Kirkpatrick was unequivocal in her support of keeping the emissions reduction rule, saying what should be added are federal incentives for coal-fired power plants to transition to using natural gas, wind or solar. She tried to push an idea like that, but said it got nowhere in the Ways and Means Committee, chaired by House Speaker Paul Ryan.
I couldnt get anyone involved in even talking about it, Kirkpatrick said.
OHalleran, on the other hand, jumped around on the topic, saying he objects to the Clean Power Plan being imposed without a vote by Congress but also doesnt support President-elect Trump unilaterally abolishing it. He said he believes in working to reduce the countrys carbon footprint and instead wants to do so through a national energy plan. Kirkpatrick, however, said that goal is out of reach.
I certainly don't see that opportunity, she said.
Both Kirkpatrick and OHalleran have taken similar stances on major resource extraction issues in the district opposing uranium mining near Grand Canyon but seeing a way forward for the Resolution Copper mine near Superior.
When asked about her support despite the major environmental impacts expected to come with the copper mine, Kirkpatrick said it was partly because the mine is located in an area with a long history of copper extraction. She also said she feels assured that current federal environmental laws will do enough to protect landscapes within the footprint of the mine, including the tribally sacred Oak Flat area.
But the land-swap deal that Kirkpatrick helped spearhead has environmentalists up in arms because it gives Resolution title to 2,400 acres of Tonto National Forest, regardless of what the Forest Service finds in an environmental impact study currently underway. Resolution has said its mining operations beneath the desert riparian area of Oak Flat will create a crater nearly 2 miles wide and 1,000 feet deep.
OHalleran has taken a wait-and-see approach to the mine, saying he is withholding judgment until the current environmental analysis is complete.
CITIZEN FEEDBACK
To those hoping to make their voices better heard in the future, Kirkpatrick said personal stories are some of the most impactful feedback she receives. She recalled one story about a Republican father of the bride at a wedding he attend saying he wouldnt have been there to walk his daughter down the aisle if it werent for Obamacare.
Kirkpatrick didnt share any definite plans for the years to come, besides taking time to rest, relax and spend time with her new grandson in Flagstaff.
She also has about 10 years of deferred maintenance on her home that she needs to catch up on.
Then well see, she said.
(ANSA) - Rome, December 29 - The government will continue the reform process of its predecessor led by Matteo Renzi, Premier Paolo Gentiloni said at his end-of-year press conference Thursday, stressing that jobs, the South and young people were its priorities.
Government stability must not stand in the way of the need for Italy to hold a general election as soon as possible, the former foreign minister said.
Stability is all very well but it cannot "block democracy", Gentiloni said, stressing that elections must not be seen as a "threat". He said the government would work with all parties on a new electoral law and the government would remain in charge "as long as it has the confidence of parliament".
Gentiloni said that his government would spur a debate on a new electoral law. He said "rapidity" was a systemic need, and is not related to the duration of the executive".
It would be a mistake to cancel the good work of the previous government led by Matteo Renzi, Gentiloni said. "To cancel or consign it to oblivion would be a mistake," said Gentiloni, who was foreign minister in Renzi's administration.
Gentiloni said that "for me the key words are jobs, the South and young people." He said his government would build on the structural reforms of the previous government of Matteo Renzi. "Full steam ahead on reforms, we haven't been joking," he said.
Gentiloni stressed the importance of the "continuity" of his government team with that of Renzi's previous executive, but the political "discontinuity".
Gentiloni said widely abused vouchers for occasional work "are not the virus sowing black labour, they don't have the copyright of black labour" but "we must correct their abuse". He said the government would act swiftly and said a review was underway on "what is very clearly wrong, without turning this into the mother of all the problems and woes of the labour market".
Gentiloni said that "the economy has grown, steady jobs have grown, around 700,000 jobs more" but "there is enormous work to be done in the under-40 age bracket".
On another economic priority, saving Italy's third-biggest and the world's oldest bank, Monte dei Paschi di Siena (MPS), Gentiloni said that with the government's 20-billion-euro fund for banks including MPS "we have made savings safe". But he said the enactment of the decree would be "long and complicated". He added: "However, a decision has been made and it will be strategic".
Gentiloni said he had been taken aback by the "abrupt" Christmas Day news of the European Central Bank's saying a capital hike for MPS bank should be raised from five billion to 8.8 billion euros. "These are assessments by the oversight (body). Since it will be a very long process, several months, there will be dialogue and talks. It can't be solved by communications. That's why we made our own assessments, voiced by (Economy Minister Pier Carlo) Padoan, and we will collaborate with the utmost possible constructive spirit".
Gentiloni voiced the hope for "fruitful and useful talks" on the rescue of MPS with the EU. He said a 20-billion-euro save-bank decree was not the end of the affair, but it would entail "months of talks with European oversight bodies". "I hope it is a productive and effective dialectic otherwise it will be a more difficult discussion," he said. Gentiloni said the government would do it utmost to make sure "safeguarding savers is at the centre of all this process".
On French giant Vivendi's bid to take over Silvio Berlusconi's Mediaset, he said the government was keeping a "watchful eye" on the case but it had no 'golden power' it could wield, while acknowledging Mediaset's importance to the Italian economy.
Gentiloni said the government was monitoring Vivendi's bid because it was "aware of the importance of Mediaset in Italy". But he stressed "there are no golden powers to be exercised in this sector". Gentiloni said "the government does not want to activate instruments, there are watchdog structures and authorities which may raise the issue if they want". He said "it is a very important sector for the government and the fact that it is the target of a takeover bid does not leave us indifferent".
In other remarks, Gentiloni expressed "pride" in Italy's stopping the Berlin Christmas market killer, Anis Amri, who was shot by police near Milan. He also said he saw signs of growing cooperation from Egypt over the case of Giulio Regeni, an Italian student tortured and murdered in Cairo earlier this year.
On Italy's duty presidency of the Group of Seven, he said Italy would use it for two goals: "the centrality of the Mediterranean, which cannot be a 'mare nullius', that is a sea of no one; and to use the G7 for different relations with Russia. "It doesn't mean renouncing principles but a return to Cold War logic is wrong, it makes no sense today". Gentiloni said Italy's relationship with the United States, no matter what administration, "remained the cornerstone" of its foreign policy.
He said the Mideast crisis could only be resolved by a two-State solution.
(by Mattia Bernardo Bagnoli) -
MOSCOW - It was clear since Donald Trump's victory that the Kremlin had decided to accelerate the solution of the Syrian crisis. Now, though advancing cautiously, Putin has decided to collect the proceeds. Moscow, in fact, wants to be in an advantageous position when the president-elect takes office at the White House.
The move, if the agreement will hold, does not only represent an unimaginable personal success for the 'tsar' but a collective poker of Russian diplomacy and a quality shift in the nature of its influence throughout the Middle East. Moscow has invested on the internationalization of the crisis, bringing Turkey - rehabilitated after a harsh strong-arm following the downing of a Russian jet in Syrian airspace - as well as Iran at the center of the negotiating table.
The three powers have acted as guarantors to the peace process while Moscow has worked to involve al-Sisi's Egypt.
Putin's envoy to the Middle East and deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, has been touring for months the main capitals of the area, going back and forth from Moscow, to complete the puzzle with patience.
It now looks like all pieces have ended up in the right place - although jihadists from ISIS and al Nusra will not disappear in the space of a night and Russian soldiers in Syria will have to remain for a long time, regardless of what Putin says.
The symbol of this careful job is the choice of Astana as the location chosen to try to end the bloody Syrian civil war. The capital of Kazakhstan, dubbed the 'Dubai of the steppe' over his great development guaranteed by gas and oil, is as far as it gets from the very neutral and European Geneva, the perfect embodiment of the new world order since the end of World War Two.
UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, for his part has given his approval to the new format, which without a doubt confirms the role as protagonist of the immortal Kazak president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, already a 'godfather' of the political detente between Putin and Erdogan and a key figure in the lifting of sanctions against Iran.
Abdallah Regeni report known to Rome prosecutors since Sept Italian researcher presented funding project to union leader
(ANSAmed) - Rome, December 30 - Rome prosecutors learned about the police report made by the leader of an Egyptian street vendors' union against Italian researcher Giulio Regeni before he was abducted, tortured and murdered in January on September 9, sources said Thursday.
The news of the report by Mohamed Abdallah was announced in a joint statement issued following a meeting with Egyptian prosecutors, the sources added.
The video of the last meeting between Regeni and Abdallah on December 7, 2015, is also contained in the Rome prosecution documents. The sources also denied reports that Regeni can be seen asking the union leader for money. On the contrary, Regeni allegedly presented a project to obtain 10,000 Egyptian pounds in favour of street vendors. The means of obtaining the funding were allegedly not in violation of current law. (ANSAmed).
Berlin attacker Amri 'acted as lone wolf in Italy' Tunisian shot dead by police had no contacts in Milan area
(ANSAmed) - ROME, DECEMBER 30 - Berlin attacker Anis Amri "acted as a lone wolf ever since he came to Italy" as a Tunisian migrant in 2011, Interior Minister Marco Minniti told Sky Friday, ruling out a terror network linked to him in Italy.
"Investigations are ongoing and I can assure Italians that no detail is being neglected," Minniti went on.
Stressing that anti-terror action was "intense", Minniti said this was shown by "the 132 expulsions carried out since 2015". Amri killed 12 people in the German capital on December 19 before being shot dead by police near Milan December 23.
The minister also underscored that the neutralisation of Amri "is proof that the system of controlling the territory is working".
He noted that Amri was stopped at a police checkpoint in the town of Sesto San Giovanni.
Milan's police chief said that Amri, who lived at Campoleone south of Rome in 2015, had had "no contacts" in the Milan area.
Police have seized phones of those who hosted him in Campoleone in 2015, judicial sources said. The Tunisian is believed to have been radicalised during his four years in a Palermo jail between 2011 and 2015, the sources said.
Italy is on high alert following the Berlin attacks. A Tunisian deported Thursday was said to be planning attacks in Italy similar to those in Belgium and France. (ANSAmed).
Syria: Kazakh president says peace talks 'in near future' Talks in Astana already announced by Russia and Turkey
(ANSAmed) - MOSCOW, DECEMBER 30 - Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev has ordered his country's foreign ministry to prepare peace talks for Syrian reconciliation to take place in the capital city of Astana in "the near future", according to Russian state news agency Tass citing the presidential press service, following Nazarbayev's meeting with senior foreign ministry officials.
Two weeks ago Russian President Vladimir Putin, his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan, and Nazarbayev had spoke about the possibility of organising a meeting in Astana between the parties involved in the Syrian conflict. (ANSAmed).
Syria: Putin accelerates before Trump's arrival Moscow more hegemonic in Mideast, barycenter peace in Eurasia
(by Mattia Bernardo Bagnoli) (ANSAmed) - MOSCOW, DECEMBER 30 - It was clear since Donald Trump's victory that the Kremlin had decided to accelerate the solution of the Syrian crisis. Now, though advancing cautiously, Putin has decided to collect the proceeds. Moscow, in fact, wants to be in an advantageous position when the president-elect takes office at the White House.
The move, if the agreement will hold, does not only represent an unimaginable personal success for the 'tsar' but a collective poker of Russian diplomacy and a quality shift in the nature of its influence throughout the Middle East. Moscow has invested on the internationalization of the crisis, bringing Turkey - rehabilitated after a harsh strong-arm following the downing of a Russian jet in Syrian airspace - as well as Iran at the center of the negotiating table.
The three powers have acted as guarantors to the peace process while Moscow has worked to involve al-Sisi's Egypt.
Putin's envoy to the Middle East and deputy foreign minister, Mikhail Bogdanov, has been touring for months the main capitals of the area, going back and forth from Moscow, to complete the puzzle with patience.
It now looks like all pieces have ended up in the right place - although jihadists from ISIS and al Nusra will not disappear in the space of a night and Russian soldiers in Syria will have to remain for a long time, regardless of what Putin says.
The symbol of this careful job is the choice of Astana as the location chosen to try to end the bloody Syrian civil war. The capital of Kazakhstan, dubbed the 'Dubai of the steppe' over his great development guaranteed by gas and oil, is as far as it gets from the very neutral and European Geneva, the perfect embodiment of the new world order since the end of World War Two.
UN special envoy, Staffan de Mistura, for his part has given his approval to the new format, which without a doubt confirms the role as protagonist of the immortal Kazak president, Nursultan Nazarbayev, already a 'godfather' of the political detente between Putin and Erdogan and a key figure in the lifting of sanctions against Iran. (ANSAmed)
TUNIS - The Tunisian government is building a maximum security high-tech prison in light of the expected return of Tunisian jihadists from conflict zones, according to a report by local daily Le Maghreb citing a government source.
On Thursday, Youssef Chahed, prime minister of the country's national unity government, said on TV that returning foreign fighters will be arrested and adjudicated according to the country's anti-terrorism law.(ANSAmed).
Kosovo: Prizren, Florence of Balkans and mosaic of religions Symbol of coexistence, but 'things can change in 24 hours'
(ANSAmed) - PRIZREN, DECEMBER 30 - A mosaic of religions and ethnic groups: Albanians, Turks, Bosniaks, Gorani, Roma, Muslims, Sufis, Orthodox, Catholics and a small Jewish community. This is the essence of Prizren, nicknamed 'Florence of Kosovo', because of buildings such as the Sinan Pasha Mosque (1615), the oldest in Kosovo and with the highest minaret in the Balkans, the madrasa, the hammam built by Mehmnet Gazi Pasha (1573-1574), the small ethnographic museum, the archaeological museum and its Tekke (Sufi monasteries) including Halveti, dating back to 1605, which has about 15,000 faithful and has been continuously active since 1713.
It's a religious 'triangle', where just a few steps away from the Sinan Pasha mosque with its frescoed interior, you can find the Orthodox church of St. George and the Cathedral of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour (1870).
Morevoer, on the heights towards the fort, you find the Orthodox church of San Salvatore (1330) close to the Orthodox church of St. Nicholas (1331). Prizren is also known for its handicrafts, with the filigree workmanship - since 1400.
The Association of South Regional Development Agencies let know that the city is annually visited by about 100,000 tourists every year, mainly coming from Albania, Germany, Turkey, Czech Republic, Great Britain, Japan and France.
Among its 117,000 inhabitants, Prizren has also some Jewish families. The one who keeps their memories alive is the president of the small local Jewish community, Votim Demiri.
Until the Second World War, he recalled, there were about 550 Jews in Kosovo and two synagogues, both in Pristina. There were two large cemeteries - one in Prizren - an official vital records office and a Jewish school. ''Today, we are only 56 all over the country ''.
Due to this, the small community gathers for the holidays together with those who live in Macedonia, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Croatia. ''So far - Demiri underlines - tolerance was key value in this city, but we are living in a 'dynamic equilibrium'. Things - he stated - can change in 24 hours''.
(ANSAmed).
(by Nicoletta Castagni)
ROME - Christo's spectacular installation 'The Floating Piers' on Lake Iseo in northern Italy attracted the greatest number of visitors in 2016 according to an ANSA ranking of the top ten exhibitions in Italy this year. The bright orange floating pathways by the American-Bulgarian artist drew a record 1.5 million visitors between June 18 and July 3.
The 15th International Architecture Exhibition, titled 'Reporting from the front' and curated by Alejandro Aravena, came second with 259,725 visitors, up 14% over the previous edition.
Third place went to the exhibition of work by Jan Fabre, which was admired by 254,000 people at Florence's Palazzo Vecchio between April 15 and October 2. This represents an extraordinary success, crowned by the additional 180,000 visitors who admired other works by the contemporary Flemish master on display in the Belvedere fortification and Piazza della Signoria in the Tuscan regional capital.
Fourth and fifth places went respectively to the exhibition 'From the Impressionists to Picasso' at the Doge's Palace in Genoa, where over 250,000 visitors admired masterpieces from the Detroit Institute of Arts, and 'Torments and enchantments' by the troubled Swiss painter Antonio Ligabue, on display in the Royal Palace (Palazzo dei Normanni) of Palermo (210,000 visitors).
Sixth place went to 'The Nile in Pompeii' at the Egyptian Museum in Turin (186,819 visitors), followed by the itinerant exhibition 'Escher', on display at the Museum of St Catherine in Treviso (169,233 visitors), 'Egypt, millennial splendor' at the Archaeological Museum of Bologna (163,976 visitors), 'Matisse and his time' at Palazzo Chiablese in Turin (163,574 visitors) and finally 'David Bowie Is' dedicated to the British music legend who died early this year, which came to Bologna's Mambo from the Victoria and Albert Museum in London (130,511 visitors).
Believe it or not, massive hydroelectric dams do not last forever.
And in the case of Glen Canyon Dam, the end might come as soon as the year 2036.
Thats the earliest that the federal government has said it might stop managing the dam for power and water storage. By then, it would be 72 years old.
On the other hand, federal officials could change their minds and extend the life of the dam another 20 years.
Or they could hand it over to the Navajo Nation or any number of Colorado River Basin states that might want to foot the mounting bills for dredging and structural upkeep along with downstream management obligations in the Grand Canyon.
Glen Canyon Dam, unlike its older and bigger sibling, Hoover Dam, farther downstream near Las Vegas, has long been an underachiever. It is anchored in porous sandstone, meaning Lake Powell loses a lot more water to leakage than just to evaporation. And the silt that washes from the Rocky Mountains upstream reduces water storage and eventually will reach the base of the dam, threatening the structural integrity and operational efficiency of the dam.
Downstream, the Colorado River runs cold and clear instead of its pre-dam lukewarm and muddy. That has changed the entire ecosystem at the bottom of the Canyon, and scientists are at a loss over how to put the genie back in the bottle. They have tried electrocuting invasive brown trout to protect the native humpback chub and introduced insect pests to devour the invasive tamarisk along the shoreline. Periodic high-flow releases from Lake Powell attempt to dislodge sand deposits around the mouth of the Paria River to reestablish beaches lower down the river. But to date, those measures and more have done little to resuscitate the pre-dam ecosystem.
Nonetheless, various tribes, states and power companies recently signed off on a 20-year extension on federal dam management, which is good news for the city of Page and others who depend on consistent management of lake levels to attract tourists. Once the dam is decommissioned (its estimated maximum lifespan is 85 to 100 years), lake water presumably would be released and Pages tourism industry would have to reorient itself toward a landscape of deep river canyons.
For now, though, Page in its current configuration has at least a 20-year lease on life. The coal-fired Navajo Generating Station, which in part depends on nearby Page for employees and support services, is set to retire its final power unit in 2044. Technically, NGS is not dependent on an operational Glen Canyon Dam. But it uses Lake Powell for steam production and cooling water, and its electricity powers the pumps that bring Colorado River water via canals to Phoenix and Tucson. Drawing water directly from the river might work in the spring, but not during dry periods.
In other words, once a mighty dam goes up, taking it down figuratively speaking is no simple task. The web of dependencies that Glen Canyon has created after 52 years is complex. If we were allowed to bet, wed put money on that 2036 management deadline being extended. By then, there might even be a way to increase the dams lifespan so that the city of Page is still around to celebrate its own centennial in 2057.
Egyptian Minister of Civil Aviation, Sherif Fathi, told the country's parliament this week that the state-owned carrier had originally planned to operate a fleet of 105 aircraft by 2021. However, given the decline in the value of the Egyptian Pound, that number has now been revised down to ninety-three with additional reviews likely in the interim.
Touted as delivering the utmost in passenger comfort in terms of cabin pressurisation and interior amenities, business aircraft play a vital role in todays economies by conveniently transporting people across the globe.
However, just like the airlines, this comes at an environmental cost both outside and inside the aircraft.
The issue is a global one, not confined to any one geographical location.
British pressure group, the Aerotoxic Association, contends that leaky turbine engine oil is poisonous enough to do serious damage. Its website says: The degree of contamination depends on jet engine type, and how recently it was serviced, among other factors.
Swab-testing both peoples skin and the interior cabin surfaces is the way to tell. Symptoms of aerotoxic syndrome include fatigue, tremors and even loss of consciousness. However, the association points out that, for short exposures, the effects are usually reversible and will resolve themselves. In the long term it is worth monitoring systems for such incidences.
Cabin air usually comes from a half-and-half bleed air system comprising outside air from the engines compressor or auxiliary power unit, mixed with filtered air that is circulated in the cabin. The problem comes should the engine oil seals fail and hot oil fumes leak into the air supplied to the cockpit and cabin.
To improve air, one answer could be to detoxify the oil. To that end, French oil manufacturer, Nyco, reckons it has created a jet engine lubricant that will be less harmful to humans should an in-cabin fume event happen.
The formula is less volatile than existing products. The firm is also developing better elastomer compatibility, which helps engine oil seals become more durable, thus lowering oil consumption and reducing the risk of harmful vapours.
The desire to reduce toxicity tussles with the desire to ameliorate oil performance, which affects engine wear and tear. However, working on lubricants can also help tackle the issue.
It is also possible to install chemical sensors that identify adulterated air far better than a human nose is able to do.
The International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) laid out engine certification standards for air pollutants in 1981, and other manufacturers are working on their offerings. Air BP, for example, has created its Biojet fuel, which offers a minimum carbon emission of 35%. The company also continues to develop and supply unleaded Avgas.
Indeed, European Flight Service (EFS) made history this April by operating its first flight with Biojet from Oslo Gardemoen in Norway to Trollhattan-Vanersborg in Sweden using its Cessna Citation 680 Sovereign.
EFS CEO Stephen Diapere said: This is a great step forward for us in our aim to be one of the business aviation pioneers in a fossil-free aviation environment of the future. Who would have believed that aircraft could be flown with used cooking oil? The historic flight had an uplift of 700 litres of Biojet fuel with a blend of 48% Biojet and 52% Jet A1 fossil fuel.
The Aerotoxic Association looks to solutions, such as using electrically driven compressors that take cabin air directly from the atmosphere, as used on the Boeing 787 Dreamliner.
There is an industry drive to address the issue, and owners and operators can ensure that their management companies are diligent in maintaining their aircraft.
Following the lead taken by pioneering companies is also useful. EFS Diapere concluded: We are able to show other business jet operators the possibilities that are developing rapidly. We are continuing our work in increasing the demand for Biojet fuel, and will continue to work in close collaboration with airports and fuel manufacturers in developing the necessary infrastructures and supply chains.
Previous plans had called for the start-up LCC to complete its AOC and begin flights in mid/late December.
SalamAir said in a statement that its initial route will be Muscat-Salalah with international flights to Dubai International to follow on February 15, 2017. Future destinations are expected to cover the Gulf, East Africa, and the Indian subcontinent.
YEREVAN, DECEMBER 30, ARMENPRESS. The Georgian ministry of infrastructures and territorial development told Armenias ministry of transportation, communication and information technologies that as of 10:00 the Stepantsminda-Lars highway is open for all types of vehicles, the ministry told ARMENPRESS.
Drivers are urged to travel using exclusively winter tires and snow chains, the ministry said.
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Many of us grew up with an Enlightenment Bach, a nondenominational divinity of mathematical radiance. Glenn Goulds commentary on the Goldberg Variations spoke of a fundamental coordinating intelligence. One German scholar went so far as to question the sincerity of Bachs religious convictions. But the historically informed performance movement, in trying to replicate the conditions in which Bachs works were first played, helped to restore awareness of his firm theological grounding.
The latest issue of ASEAN Briefing Magazine, titled Human Resources in ASEAN, is out now and available to subscribers as a complimentary download in the Asia Briefing Publication Store through the month of January.
In this issue of ASEAN Briefing
Sourcing Talent in ASEAN: A Guide to Regional Opportunities
Assessing Regional Wage Differentials
Overtime and Social Insurance Compliance Considerations
Understanding the dynamics of ASEANs labor market can prove a time-consuming endeavor for new market entrants as well as established investors seeking to expand their operations. Comprised of 10 member states, each with unique opportunities, regulations, and challenges, optimizing labor within the region is a significant but worthwhile challenge.
Although optimization of ASEAN based investment can present a degree of uncertainty due to the magnitude of regulation and diversity within the regional blocs labor markets, those with up-to-date information on staffing regulation, prevailing hiring conditions, and costs between markets will be able to make targeted decisions pertaining to the location and structure of their operations. Given ASEANs rapid growth, and to ensure that costs are kept to a minimum, it is critical that companies not only employ systems of market analysis prior to entry, but maintain these systems as their operations mature.
In this issue of ASEAN Briefing, we discuss the prevailing structure of ASEANs labor markets and outline key considerations regarding wages and compliance at all levels of the value chain. We highlight comparative sentiment on labor markets within the region, showcase differences in cost and compliance between markets, and provide insight on the state of statutory social insurance obligations throughout the bloc.
Dezan Shira & Associates has a growing team of human resource specialist throughout ASEAN providing our clients with years of combined experience in assisting foreign enterprises navigate and select labor markets effectively within ASEAN. For questions on how to best optimize your investments within ASEAN, please contact us at asean@dezshira.com.
About Us Asia Briefing Ltd. is a subsidiary of Dezan Shira & Associates. Dezan Shira is a specialist foreign direct investment practice, providing corporate establishment, business advisory, tax advisory and compliance, accounting, payroll, due diligence and financial review services to multinationals investing in China, Hong Kong, India, Vietnam, Singapore and the rest of ASEAN. For further information, please email asean@dezshira.com or visit www.dezshira.com. Stay up to date with the latest business and investment trends in Asia by subscribing to our complimentary update service featuring news, commentary and regulatory insight.
Annual Audit and Compliance in ASEAN
For the first issue of our ASEAN Briefing Magazine, we look at the different audit and compliance regulations of five of the main economies in ASEAN. We firstly focus on the accounting standards, filing processes, and requirements for Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand and the Philippines. We then provide similar information on Singapore, and offer a closer examination of the city-states generous audit exemptions for small-and-medium sized enterprises.
The Trans-Pacific Partnership and its Impact on Asian Markets
The United States backed Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP) includes six Asian economies Australia, Brunei, Japan, Malaysia, Singapore and Vietnam, while Indonesia has expressed a keen willingness to join. However, the agreements potential impact will affect many others, not least of all China. In this issue of Asia Briefing magazine, we examine where the TPP agreement stands right now, look at the potential impact of the participating nations, as well as examine how it will affect Asian economies that have not been included.
An Introduction to Tax Treaties Throughout Asia
In this issue of Asia Briefing Magazine, we take a look at the various types of trade and tax treaties that exist between Asian nations. These include bilateral investment treaties, double tax treaties and free trade agreements all of which directly affect businesses operating in Asia.
Ratan Tata who came back from retirement to take over Tata Sons after his successor Mistry was unceremoniously ousted on Oct 24.
New Delhi: As feud at India's biggest conglomerate continues, Tata Group's interim chairman Ratan Tata today said there has been a willful, well-orchestrated move to destroy his personal reputation through unsubstantiated allegations.
Without naming anyone, he said the ethics and values of the group have been "challenged by people who are known not to practice what they often preach".
Tata, 78, who came back from retirement to take over Tata Sons after his successor Cyrus P Mistry was unceremoniously ousted on October 24, asked employees to put the events behind and re-dedicate themselves to re-establishing the Tata Group's leadership.
"The past three months have been turbulent and wasteful. There has been a willful, well-orchestrated endeavour to destroy the personal reputations of individuals and the reputation of the Tata Group, through unsubstantiated allegations," he wrote to the Tata employees.
In a new year message to employees, he said there has been an "overwhealming groundswell of support" from employees.
"The ethics and values of the group and its leadership, which have been built over the last one and half centuries, have been challenged by people who are known not to practice what they often preach," he said.
A public battle for control of the salt-to-software group is being played with Tata and Mistry trading accusations over missteps.
"As we approach the new year, we must all resolve to put these events of the past few months behind us and re-dedicate ourselves to re-establish the Tata Group's leadership in the many areas in which we operate, as also demonstrating to the world around us that we indeed have protected the vision and values of our fonding fathers," he wrote.
Tata Group, he said, has not just been a business conglomerate but an institution built on sustaining livelihood in the communities it serves through the creation of wealth and its re-distribution to the nation's people through social awareness and philanthropy.
"As we enter our 150th year, we need to reaffirm our resolve to continue to build and progress the Tata Group to be a national institution of which we can all be proud," he said.
"I am confident that with your support and dedication we can look forward to a better tomorrow."
Rumour has it that Hirani will gift the costliest iPhone available in the market.
Mumbai: Rajkumar Hirani is all set to commence the shoot of his next film, a biopic on Sanjay Dutt, starring Ranbir Kapoor after his last release 'PK'.
However, the director reportedly is struggling to come up with an apt title for the film.
After a futile hunt for a fitting title, the much exhausted director has now left it upon his team to come up with an edgy name for Sanju Babas biopic.
Rumour has it that Hirani will gift the costliest iPhone available in the market to anyone who would suggest an apt title for one of his most ambitious projects.
An insider told a newspaper, Raju appears to have hit a roadblock on the title. The film begins shooting from January and it doesnt have a name! So now he has hit upon a novel idea to get an interesting title. After discussing with his creative team, he has suggested a competition that is open for all the departments in his office, which includes the actors, too.
So how is he conducting this one-of-a-kind contest?
"There is a box in his office where everyone is putting in their suggestions along with their names and the box will be opened in January and the title will be chosen. The person with the best title will get the the most expensive iPhone around. Everyone is qualified to enter and participate in the competition right from Ranbir and Sonam to the junior-most assistant director and lightman, revealed the source.
He is seen battling animals, baddies and other obstacles in the ice, deserts, water in India, Dubai and other places.
Screengrabs from the official trailer of 'Kung Fu Yoga'.
There is just less than a month left for Hollywood superstar Jackie Chans next film Kung Fu Yoga and it is high time that the makers begin the promotions in top gear.
A few trailers from the film are already out and another trailer has now been shared by the makers.
The film is a trilingual, and this trailer is in Mandarin, so understanding the dialogues would be difficult in case you dont know the language. However, the expressions on Jackies face and his action scenes can be understood without understanding his dialogues.
Jackie is seen battling animals, baddies and other obstacles in the ice, deserts, water in India, Dubai and other parts of the world with his trademark marital arts stunts and other action moves.
We also see glimpses of our Indian stars Disha Patani, Amyra Dastur and Sonu Sood in the trailer.
Watch the trailer here:
Kung Fu Yoga will be releasing worldwide on January 28 next year.
In the morning Pal, a Lok Sabha MP from Krishannagar in Nadia, appeared before the special investigation team of the CBI.
Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested another Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal on Friday, this time in connection with the Rose Valley scam. This is also the first time when a Trinamool parliamentarian has been held in this scam. Three days ago he was summoned by the CBI to appear at its office in CGO Complex of Salt Lake for questioning.
In the morning Pal, a Lok Sabha MP from Krishannagar in Nadia, appeared before the special investigation team of the CBI. He was accompanied by his wife and lawyers. The SIT officers asked him about his association with Rose Valley and its owner Goutam Kundu who was earlier arrested by the Enforcement Directorate and has been in judicial custody.
They also questioned on him why and how many times he took money from Rose Valley Group, according to sources. During the investigation the CBI found that Pal served as a director of the film division of the ponzi scheme firm for six months and took hefty amounts of money in cash on one pretext or the other.
Kundu, before his arrest, told the media that Pal served in the film division of his firm in 2011. Pal however claimed that he did not take money from Rose Valley, during his two rounds of questioning which lasted for around four hours. He will be produced at the court on Saturday. The CBI will seek his remand for custody interrogation.
The AG said there was no mystery to Jayalalithaas death and pointed out that a similar petition had already been dismissed by the HC.
Chennai: Expressing personal doubts and invoking public interest and concern over the mystery surrounding the death of former chief minister J. Jayalalithaa, Justice S. Vaidyanathan of the Madras high court on Thursday said if the case comes before his bench, he may order the exhumation of her body for a proper probe to unravel the truth.
The judge, part of a two-judge vacation bench along with Justice V. Parthiban, made this observation while hearing a PIL filed by AIADMK member P.A. Joseph.
The petitioner has sought the setting up of a commission comprising three retired judges of the Supreme Court to probe the mysterious death of Jayalalithaa, just as the death of freedom fighter Subash Chandra Bose was probed by a commission on the direction of the Calcutta high court.
Media has raised a lot of doubts, personally I also have doubts over the statements reported in the media when Jayalalithaa was taking treatment in the hospital, Justice Vaidyanathan said.
When the case came up for hearing, senior counsel K.M. Vijayan, appearing for the petitioner, referred to the case of Subash Chandra Bose while seeking a similar probe into Jayalalithaas death. Upon this, Justice Vaidyanathan asked advocate general R. Muthukumarasamy what he thought of Mr Vijayans petition. The AG said there was no mystery to Jayalalithaas death and pointed out that a similar petition had already been dismissed by the high court.
To which Justice Vaidyanathan said, Right to life is a fundamental right. We do not want to go into the issues regarding treatment. Public should know about the same. After the demise, when there is suspicion, anybody can come and question, and added, I also personally have doubt over the things that came out... We saw in newspapers that the chief minister was recovering, and that she was eating, signing papers and even conducting meetings and also that she could be discharged. And then suddenly she was dead. No revenue division officer saw the body, neither were there any medical records furnished. Nothing has come out even after her demise.
The State government has failed to clear the doubts even after her death. Should her body be exhumed to know the truth? he observed.
When Central government standing counsel J. Madana Gopal Rao responded by saying that the Central government knows (the truth) and it will file a counter, the Bench, issuing a notice to the Centre, including the Prime Ministers Office, Union home and law ministries and the CBI, besides Tamil Nadu government, Tamil Nadu DGP and Apollo Hospitals, said, Representatives of the Central government visited the hospital. Counsel for the Union government claims to know the details of the incidents. But still the authorities have not conveyed or brought out anything to the people, for reasons best known to them.
Recalling a similar situation in the late 1980s when then chief minister M.G. Ramachandran was under treatment in Chennai and United States, the judge said, When MGR was taking treatment, the government released video graph of the chief minister.
The court posted the matter for January 9, 2017, while observing that the petition has to be heard at length.
Beijings permanent block on terror tag for Jaish chief infuriates Delhi.
New Delhi: China has placed a permanent block on the current Indian move in the UN to designate terror outfit Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) chief Masood Azhar as terrorist, after which India lashed out, terming it an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and (which) confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism.
New Delhi also said it is concerned at the surprising Chinese decision and that it had expected Beijing to be more understanding of the need to tackle the scourge of terrorism. Sources said that though India is extremely unhappy, it is unlikely to escalate the situation since it does not want Sino-Indian ties to be held hostage to the Masood Azhar issue. In fact, while the Indian reaction to the developments highlighted its disappointment, New Delhi did not launch a strong frontal attack on Beijing, leaving the door open for further parleys. India is likely to continue its efforts to persuade China, sources said.
Beijing, however, is unlikely to oblige New Delhi even in the future since it has made huge investments on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and is completely backing Islamabad. January 31 was the deadline for China to take a final decision on the matter. An indication of Chinas thinking had come a few days ago when Beijing said its views on the Masood Azhar issue had not changed.
If India wants to try again, it has to place a fresh proposal before the UN but there appears to be a scepticism in the Indian government circles about the wisdom of immediately going in for such a move. The Chinese move diplomatically has come as a huge boost to Pakistan.
With China blocking Indias proposal, which was submitted in February to the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, sources pointed out that all members of the 15-nation Sanctions Committee barring China supported the Indian move, which could not go through because of the Chinese veto. All 15 nations on the committee are members of the UN Security Council, where China, as a permanent member, has the veto power. After its submission, China twice imposed technical hold earlier on the Indian proposal.
In its reaction, the MEA said, We note with concern Chinas decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, which had been presented nine months ago and received the strong backing of all other members of the committee. The international community is aware that the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, which is proscribed by the UN, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India, including the Pathankot Air Base attack. The inability of the international community to list its leader, Masood Azhar, is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism.
The MEA added, We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism. On our part, we will continue to push forward with resolute determination through the use of all options available with us to bring perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice.
The Pakistan foreign ministry had first described the RSS and Shiv Sena as Hindu extremist and terrorist organisations on December 15.
New Delhi: India on Friday slammed Pakistan for labelling certain Indian political parties and social organisations, including the RSS the ruling BJPs ideological mentor as terrorist outfits, calling it a desperate attempt at deflecting international focus from Islamabads complicity in spawning terrorist groups like LeT, JuD and JeM. In response to a query on the Pakistan foreign ministrys recent comments on Jammu & Kashmir and slander against Indian organisations, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) said, Labelling bonafide Indian political parties and social and cultural organisations as terrorist organisations seems a desperate attempt to deflect international focus from Pakistans own complicity in spawning internationally proscribed organisations like LeT, JuD and JeM, which continue to target Pakistans neighbours. The Pakistan foreign ministry had first described the RSS and Shiv Sena as Hindu extremist and terrorist organisations on December 15.
According to reports, the official spokesperson of the Pakistan foreign ministry had on Thursday alleged that terrorist organisations such as RSS, VHP, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and other terrorist elements are engaged in a drive to change the demography of Kashmir.
The state has been battling political instability, and there have been three CMs in the last one year.
Itanagar/Guwahati: The ruling Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) suspended chief minister Pema Khandu and six other MLAs from the party for alleged anti-party activities late on Thursday night, pushing the state towards a fresh political crisis.
The government, however, said that everything was under control, claiming support of as many as 49 of the Assemblys 60 MLAs.
The state has been battling political instability, and there have been three CMs in the last one year.
Government spokesperson Bamang Felix claimed that 35 of the 43 PPA MLAs, 12 from the BJP, besides two others had reposed faith in the Khandu government.
The party president, however, directed the MLAs not to attend any meeting called by Mr Khandu, and said that minister Takam Pario, the states richest MLA, was likely to be the next chief minister.
The PPA is an alliance partner of the BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) government.
Everything is going normally, and the CM still enjoys absolute majority from PPA, BJP and independent MLAs, the spokesperson said. Mr Khandu sacked on Friday three of his cabinet ministers involved in the expulsions.
Having temporarily suspended Mr Khandu, his deputy Chhowna Mein and five other MLAs, the PPA convened a legislature party meeting in Itanagar on Friday and elected minister Takam Pario as its new leader. However, only 11 MLAs turned up for the meeting.
Stating that there was no question of a leadership change, the government spokesperson said, We are looking at the legal aspects of the suspension of seven MLAs, including Khandu.
PPA is not a single-man party. Whatever decision was taken by party president Kahfa Bengia was his own. We are trying to sort out the differences among the party MLAs and our door is open for all, he said.
The BJP said that it would support only the Khandu government in the state and would never support any other chief minister. The sudden decision of the PPA is not acceptable to us as it was not discussed with us. In the interest of development of the state and its people, BJP cannot be a party to change of government every six months, BJP legislature party leader Tamiyo Taga said.
Arunachal has been battling political instability since December last year when Congress dissidents revolted against former chief minister Nabam Tuki. Congress rebel Kalikho Pul became the CM in February with the help of 11 BJP lawmakers.
The Congress then moved the Supreme Court, which restored the Tuki government. But Mr Tuki was out within days as he did not enjoy a majority. Later Mr Pul insisted that he be reinstated as chief minister, but he later committed suicide in August. A month later, Mr Khandu walked out of the Congress with 42 lawmakers and joined the PPA.
Dont mistake patient people for happy people, says Chidambaram
New Delhi: Former finance minister P. Chidambaram on Friday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should now make a categorical announcement of an end to all restrictions on cash withdrawals.
When the PM addresses the nation tomorrow or on any other day, the people expect that he will make a categorical announcement that all restrictions on money have been ended, he told reporters at AICC headquarters.
On Centres claim that people are happy and there have been no incidents of rioting, he said, people are patient. But please dont mistake patient people for happy people.
Congress also fielded its vice-president Rahul Gandhi, who reiterated his five questions to PM that he had raised earlier on the partys foundation day.
Continuing his attack on Mr Modi, Mr Chidambaram said that since the PM had recently said at a rally that through the note ban, we destroyed the world of terrorism, drug mafia, human trafficking and underworld, he said that it was therefore, fair to expect that these objectives would be achieved by Friday-end. It is fair to expect that beginning Monday, all restrictions will be removed and people will be able to withdraw the money, that there will be no queues and that all ATMs will be open round the clock, he said.
Mr Chidambaram said that the only person who can assure the people on these matters is the PM because his government has dubbed all of us in the Opposition as supporters of black money hoarders and tax evaders.
Seeking to debunk governments claims on the benefits of demonetisation, he said Events of the last 50 days have proved us correct. Hoards of black money in new Rs 2,000 notes have been found.
He further said that bribes have been given and taken in new Rs 2,000 notes and there is no guarantee that black money will not be demanded or generated in future or that bribes will not be given or taken in future in the new currency.
Dubbing the way the demonetisation was announced and implemented as a single biggest case of total mismanagement, he regretted the most momentous decision has been taken without consulting key officials.
Making a strong pitch for compensating people for the hardships they faced, he lamented that the government has not uttered a word about compensating the people for the economic losses heaped upon them by demonetisation.
He also demanded that the Agenda note and the minutes of the meeting of the Board of Directors of RBI held on November 8, 2016, along with the Note for Cabinet on demonetisation placed before the Cabinet on November 8, 2016, should be made public.
Year 2016 has been a fairly good year for the heritage structures in the city.
The biggest achievement for the city this year has been its ability to draw the interest of the younger generation. This is evident from the number of heritage walks organised by the younger bunch. The one that we at Bhau Daji Lad Museum had organised would get booked up within 15 minutes and most of them were young people. That made me immensely happy. Its a trend we must encourage. We must keep the curiosity alive and also invest in restoration and preservation of our heritage.
2016 was positive in that sense. One important project in that regard was the uplifting of CST station. The PM has chosen to improve the visitor facilities at the station and we have been asked to make a new museum. There will be an entrance plaza and the idea is to have some sort of mini sound, sight and performance space. For that the hawker area has to be sensitively relocated and we have suggested creating a lane for them.
Renovation of the Flora Fountain was yet another fantastic project. Also the reopening of the Royal Opera House. The plan to bring back the Kala Ghoda in Kala Ghoda was a good move because it adds to the character of the place. From what we hear, the new installation wont be a replica of the original because it wont have Kind Edward VII mounted on it. I think we mustnt tamper with it because whether we like it or not, it was part of our history. Erasing it from the cityscape wont change the sequence of events in real history. Speaking of restoration, I am glad that apparel brand Zara has chosen to open an outlet in Ismail building, because that translates into renovation for a heritage structure.
And while I am excited about the Shivaji mid-sea memorial, I am more excited about the restoration of Elephanta Caves. Currently, it is in bad shape, but it has the potential to attract a lot more tourist and art enthusiasts if given the right attention.
Having said that, there have been a few lows as well. When we had restored the Gateway of India, we had built a plaza inside the monument with enough space for people to go inside. But the government has cordoned that off citing security reasons. I think it is unfortunate because people should be allowed to go inside and there needs to be better management.
The other disappointment would be the Craft Centre that was supposed to open at Worli, but didnt end up coming through. The craft centre can be of great interest to people who want to know more about the tradition of art and craft in India and of course Maharashtra. I hope the new year sees a lot more concerted effort to bring alive the citys heritage.
(Tasneem Zakharia Mehta is the managing trustee and honorary director of Bhau Daji Lad Museum)
May have faced axe as he failed to dislodge, discredit AAP government.
New Delhi: Did former lieutenant-governor Najeeb Jung quit or was he asked to go. Sources in the Delhi government close to the former L-G claimed that Mr Jung was asked to go as he failed to deliver on his promises to the Centre.
It was alleged that the Centre wanted Mr Jung to discredit the AAP government and if possible prepare a report, which could pave a way to dislodge the state government.
After Mr Jung reportedly did not deliver on his efforts to disturb Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, the Centre apparently began to get disillusioned with him and began looking for an option, sources in Raj Niwas said. Efforts to contact Mr Jung failed as his phone went unanswered.
A senior AAP functionary who also believed that the former L-G was given marching orders recollected that in a television interview Mr Jung had said: Lets see who lasts for five years. Me or Kejriwal. He claimed that neither PM Narendra Modi nor BJP chief Amit Shah could digest the drubbing in the Delhi polls and efforts were on to dislodge or discredit the government. Mr Jung was initially very effective as he tried out all possible attempts to discredit the AAP government, particularly after the high court ruling. The AAP government moved the HC for
L-G turning down sever-al of the AAPs policy decisions. The HC ruled that the L-G was the administrative head of the city. Armed with the high court order, the L-G then revers-ed transfers and postings of several bureaucrats and set up a three-member probe committee headed by the former CAG V.K. Shunglu to probe 400-odd files related to the decisions taken by the AAP government.
It was further claimed by the Delhi government officials that on the basis of the Shunglu report, the Centre wanted Mr Jung to prepare the ground for the imposition of Presidents Rule. A source close to Mr Jung, however, said that he was not in favour of dislodging the elected government and was resisting it, which led to his sudden resignation. Social acti-vist and former AAP lead-er Prashant Bhushan also tweeted on Thursday: So Mr Jung was removed because he refused to recommend Pres. Rule in Delhi despite Modis prod. AAP will now miss Jung.
While Mr Jung may have failed to deliver, the AAP grew in strength and expa-nded its reach to Punjab, Goa and even to Modis lair Gujarat. For AAP, Mr Jung would never have quit on his own. It was also alleged that besides the Centre and top Union ministers, Mr Jung was also in close touch with BJPs Vijender Gupta and Congress Ajay Maken.
When contacted, BJP Leader of the Opposition, Vijender Gupta rubbished claims that Mr Jung was given the marching orders. He said it was a figment of imagination of the AAP. On the issue of the Centres tacit moves to dislodge the AAP government, Mr Gupta said: Mr Jung has himself said that he was keen to pursue academics. Since AAP has been exposed on every front, they are now spreading such blatant lies.
Kejriwal wondered whether the Centre would accept a Delhi government-appointed committee to look into the Sahara Birla papers.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday dared the Centre to get all the appointments made by his government probed after the CBI filed an FIR into the appointment of city Health Minister Satyendar Jain's OSD.
Asserting that he was not afraid of any probe, the AAP chief also wondered whether the Centre would accept a Delhi government-appointed committee to look into the Sahara Birla papers.
Kejriwal alleged that the CBI has filed "seven FIRs" against Jain and "two" against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, but did not elaborate.
In fresh trouble for the AAP government, the CBI has filed an FIR into the appointment of Jain's OSD while the LG office has recommended a probe by the agency into the appointment of his daughter Soumya Jain as a functionary in the Mohalla Clinic project.
"You (Centre) make your committee and get all our appointments probed. And we will form one, and you get the Sahara Birla matter probed with it. Agree?
"We are not scared of any probe as we have not done any wrong. Then why are you scared of a probe?" Kejriwal tweeted.
Geelani was first detained and questioned for several hours before being placed under arrest at the Parliament Street police station.
New Delhi: Former Delhi University lecturer Syed Abdul Rahman Geelani, who was first sentenced to death and later acquitted in the Parliament attack case, hit the headlines again in February after he was booked for sedition for allegedly convening an event at the Press Club of India where Afzal Guru, who was hanged for the same case, and Maqbool Bhatt, a Kashmiri executed in the 1980s, were referred to as martyrs. Prof. Geelani was first detained and questioned for several hours before being placed under arrest at the Parliament Street police station.
His arrest came in the context of increasing political tensions over the alleged anti-national protests that took place at JNU which spilled over to a Delhi court where a mob of lawyers thrashed reporters before a hearing in a sedition case against student leader Kanhaiya Kumar. The student leader was also arrested over sedition charges in connection with an event on February 9 where students were protesting against the hanging of Afzal Guru. Prof Geelani, of Kashmiri origin, taught Arabic at Zakir Hussain college during the time of his first arrest. He openly supports the idea of Kashmiri self-determination. On February 10, he was arrested for hosting an even in the PCI where some people had allegedly raised anti-national slogans. After rigorous questioning he was booked under sections 124A (sedition), 120B (criminal conspiracy) and 149 (unlawful assembly) of the IPC. Civil rights activists raised questions on whether sedition laws were being used to muzzle freedom of expression.
But the right-wing activists were clearly upset and held protests condemning the alleged anti-national sloganeering at the PCI. It is learnt that Prof Geelani had booked the PCI hall through Ali Javed, a member of the club. But even the clubs management distanced itself from y event saying they had simply given a member permission to organise the event. The management said they were not aware that anti-India slogans could be raised at the club premises. Prof Geelani was remanded to police and judicial custody and the CCTV footage of the event was examined by the law enforcement agencies. He was recently granted parole to visit his hometown in Jammu and Kashmir.
A scuffle took place between first year MSc student Najeeb and others.
New Delhi: Time : 11.30. Date : October 14 . Three students visited 27-year-old Najeeb Ahmeds Mahi Hostels Room Number 106 in the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University campus to campaign for hostel elections. A scuffle took place between first year MSc student Najeeb and others. Hearing the noise and commotion, other residents of Mahi reach the room and find three students assaulting Najeeb. At this juncture, the residents, seeing another group of angry students and charging towards Najeebs room locked him up in his room in an attempt to keep him safe. The security personnel on reaching the hostel open the door. Despite the presence of security personnel, 10-15 students attacked Najeeb.
After the attack, the residents once again locked Najeeb in the washroom and blocked the entrance, waiting for the hostel warden to reach. As senior warden Dr Sushil Kumar reached the place, they start moving to his office on the ground floor. Despite the presence of the senior warden and the security personnel, Najeeb was intimidated and communally targeted allegedly by the same group of students on the way to the wardens office. The JNUSU president and other hostel residents who had come to stop the attack were also assaulted by the same 10-15 students. In the wardens office, in front of the senior warden Dr Sushil Kumar, and the other wardens, the group threatened Najeeb for his life. They repeatedly told the warden not to initiate any proceedings and leave Najeeb with them. Despite being present at the site all along, the security personnel did not collect any video evidence of the assault and the warden failed to intervene. Finally from the morning after the attack, Najeeb went missing. The last person to spot him was a rickshaw driver who dropped him off at Jamia Nagar at 8 pm on the same night that he was beaten up. The mysterious disappearance of the young student has baffled one and all as the 70-000-odd Delhi Police security personnel seems to be having no clue about his whereabouts. After all, where Badaun-based Najeeb disappeared remains the most sensational unsolved mysteries of 2016. It was only after the high court directions, that too after about two months that 600 police personnel along with sniffer dogs launched a massive two-day search for the missing student at JNU.
Alleging that her son has been held captive, Najeebs mother Fatima Nafees who has been camping in Delhi. I am a diabetic. I have been on the streets for months. I have knocked everyones door and will continue to do so till the case is solved.
Over 100 people from Sanatan Sanstha, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Narad Mandir Nyas staged a dharna in front of collectors office in Pune.
Pune: The organisers of Sunburn have overcome the hurdle of obtaining a liquor permit for the festival, with the excise department issuing the necessary licence to sell liquor at the venue for four days.
Mohan Varde, superintendent, excise department, Pune, told The Asian Age, We have issued a licence to the organisers of Sunburn to sell liquor for the four days of the festival, from December 28 to 31. Licences have been issued as per the Bombay Prohibition Act, 1949, Maharashtra Prohibition Act and Bombay Foreign Liquor Rules, and notifications issued by the commissioner of the excise department of the state government. They (the organisers) have paid Rs 9.63 lakh as fees as per rules.
Mr Varde added, The organisers of Sunburn did ask for permission in time. But their liquor stock arrived late due to traffic. Hence, we could not issue the licence earlier. We issued it two hours before the programme began on December 28. He also said, Permission for the sale of liquor does not violate the ban on alcohol in the village. Alcohol will only be sold in a definite area.
Over 100 people from Sanatan Sanstha, Hindu Janjagruti Samiti and Narad Mandir Nyas staged a dharna in front of the collectors office in Pune from 4 pm to 6 pm. They handed over a representation to the collector demanding a ban on the festival.
The reasons they gave for demanding the ban include alcohol being sold, DJs causing noise pollution, and that many of the lakhs of attendees could have a criminal background.
Abhay Vartak, spokesperson, Sanatan Sanstha, said, The gram panchayat has not given a no-objection certificate to the festival. The government should check if all the performers from abroad have business visas. Besides the Sunburn organisers are also hosting a Dark Hours programme from 10.30 pm to 5 am, and the government should check whether drugs and prostitution are being promoted. The police should carry out a no-drinking-and-driving initiative to catch people who drive after consuming alcohol at the programme.
However, Rajendra Muthe, deputy resident collector, Pune, said, The festival is being organised on a private plot and does not need permission from the gram panchayat. Besides, all 12 requisite permissions have been granted to the organisers of Sunburn. Karan Singh, CEO, Sunburn, said, We have all the necessary permission and there is nothing illegal about the event.
The festival has ruffled many a feathers because in 2007, the Kesnand village grampanchayat had passed a resolution banning sale and consumption of alcohol. The village is near Alandi, place of Saint Dnaneshwar, Dehu, birthplace of Saint Tukaram and its own Jogeshwari temple. Villagers wanted to keep place sacred by making village dry. Though over the years, a few liquor shops have mushroomed all over the village.
What is Sunburn?
This is the 10th edition of the Sunburn festival known for electronic music dance is being held at Kesnand village at outskirts of Pune this year. Earlier all nine editions were held in Goa. But this year, the Goa government refused permission to Sunburn saying it would be additional stress on the law and order situation during the New Year in Goa.
The CM however thanked the PM and Mr Naidu on Twitter for including Pimpri-Chinchwad as smart city.
Mumbai: The Centre has included Pimpri-Chinchwad in the list of smart cities and omitted Navi Mumbai instead. This, despite the state having included Navi Mumbai as one of its ten smart cities.
Chief minister Devendra Fadnavis last week requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union minister for urban development Venkaiah Naidu to include Pimpri-Chinchwad as a smart city. The PM agreed in principle during his visit to the city last Saturday after which the state urban development department sent an official proposal to the Centre.
However, Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation whose name was approved for the smart city project in the first list did not pass the required resolution. The Navi Mumbai civic body was expected to pass a resolution. However, it did not do so in the stipulated period and hence, was removed from the list of the smart cities in the state, an official from the urban development department said.
The CM however thanked the PM and Mr Naidu on Twitter for including Pimpri-Chinchwad as smart city. Good news for Maharashtra! Thank you Hon @narendramodi ji & @MVenkaiahNaidu ji for including Pimpri-Chinchwad too under #smartcity Mission! the CM tweeted. The government aims to transform nearly 100 cities by 2019-20, with the Centre providing financial support of Rs 48,000 crore over five years. However, till September, the state government was not able to spend the Rs 436 crore sanctioned by the Centre.
The Second World War is regarded by history books as having ended in 1945 with the defeat of Germany and of Japan.
Calendars are invidious things. They divide continuous time into finite years, beginning each with a New Year abundant with optimism and ending with an Auld Lang Syne cringing with regrets. This year is no different. In just another day, 2016 shall be set in amber; 2017 is as yet an unformed crystal.
It would be a foolhardy crystal-gazer who would dare predict what the next year will bring. More surprises, like the Trump victory? More disappointments, like the Brexit referendum? More senseless conflicts, more destruction, more Aleppos?
Or, closer to home, more brimstone spewed by a choleric Mr Modi? More obsessive tilting at PML(N) windmills by a quixotic Imran Khan? More callous disregard by the government towards the norms of responsible governance?
Over the next four (and eight years, if Trump is re-elected) the world can expect to endure traumas on a scale last witnessed during the First and the Second World Wars. It took one man first Kaiser Wilhelm II, and after him Adolf Hitler to precipitate a change that decimated European monarchies and, 25 years later, to pulverise Europe itself.
The generation that survived the 1914-18 war is now as much a part of history as the 38 million casualties of that brutal, mechanised manslaughter. At its outset, the British author H.G. Wells sensing its proportions assumed that it would be the war that will end war. The cannier politician David Lloyd George, who served as British Prime Minister during that war and then brokered the Paris Peace Conference in 1919, had good reason to be more cynical. He said: This war, like the next war, is a war to end war.
The Second World War is regarded by history books as having ended in 1945 with the defeat of Germany and of Japan. It could be argued that the Second World War never ended. Its scythe-like pendulum has never stopped oscillating between Cold War and Provocative Peace. That motion has been kept alive by the US and what was once the Soviet Union, now Vladimir Putins 21st century tsardom.
There was a time when the US and the USSR sought to checkmate each other with regional security blocs Nato and Cento/Seato vs Warsaw Pact countries. Today, neither superpower needs such plaited fig leaves to hide their motives. Neither the US nor Russia (nor now China) seeks absolute victory. Yet neither is prepared to concede total defeat.
Their newest weaponry is to induce economic leukaemia in the other, to debilitate the opponent to a point where it weakens into enervation and can no longer pose a threat. That might explain why, when President-elect Trump baits Russia with the threat that the US will increase its nuclear arsenal, Putin responds with the poisoned olive branch: We will never spend resources on an arms race that we cant afford. His plan is to let the US compete with itself, and ultimately collapse fighting itself.
Will 2017 see Great Britain turn its back on Europe and revert to its 1,000-year-old history of geographical isolation? Prime Minister Theresa May has indicated that in the spring of 2017 she will sign Article 50, which would trigger two years of divorce proceedings from the EU. All other elements of her strategy she has kept clasped securely in her handbag, a secret from the public, her colleagues and even her Queen, one of whose courtiers let slip recently that the Queen had been frustrated by her PMs pointed reticence. It was almost as if May regarded Elizabeth Windsor as a security risk, a sort of crowned WikiLeaks.
Whatever may be the twist and turns in any Brexit negotiations, one thing is clear: approval of the final terms and conditions is not a unilateral matter, in the hands of only the British. Britain may be on one side of the negotiating table but, across the channel, there are 27 European countries whose approval also needs to be obtained.
Can Pakistanis expect any improvement in their lot in 2017? It is unlikely. Changes at GHQ and in the Supreme Court are essentially cosmetic. They do not change the public stance of either body. Any shift in government policy? Even less likely. The government continues to enjoy the advantage of having no discernible policy on anything except road construction: nothing on population growth, education, health, job creation, industrial expansion, fiscal sobriety or water management.
The Queen and Imran Khan share one grouse. Each has to deal with a Prime Minister unwilling to be forthcoming, or going.
By arrangement with Dawn
The group is likely to meet in the first week of January to discuss the issue, sources said.
The Cupertino-based technology major has asked for several tax and other incentives to enter India in the manufacturing sector.
A group of senior officials from ministries, including commerce and finance, will early next month deliberate on the incentives sought by US-based iPhone maker Apple to set up a manufacturing unit in the country.
Officials from departments of commerce, industrial policy and promotion (DIPP), revenue, environment and forest, electronics and information technology (DeITY) will attend the meeting.
The group is likely to meet in the first week of January to discuss the issue, sources said.
In a communication to the government, the Cupertino-based technology major has asked for several tax and other incentives to enter India in the manufacturing sector.
However, government sources said the technology-major should set up the manufacturing unit in India without seeking additional support.
"Several companies in India are manufacturing mobile phones in India. Nobody is asking for additional incentives.
Currently, the government provides sufficient support to boost electronic manufacturing," they added.
The government provides benefits under Modified Special Incentive Package Scheme (MSIPS) to boost electronic manufacturing in the country.
The scheme provides financial incentives to offset disability and attract investments in the electronics hardware segment. It also gives subsidy for investments in Special Economic Zones, among other benefits.
Currently, Apple's products are manufactured in six countries, including Korea, Japan and the US.
Earlier, the finance ministry in May had rejected relaxing the 30 per cent domestic sourcing norms, as sought by the iPhone and iPad maker as a pre-condition for bringing in FDI to set up single-brand retail stores in the country.
The company had sought exemption on the ground that it makes state-of-the-art and cutting-edge technology products for which local sourcing is not possible.
The government had also turned down the firm's proposal to import refurbished phones and sell them in India.
The company sells its products through Apple-owned retail stores in countries like China, Germany, the US, the UK and France, among others. It has no wholly-owned store in
India and sells its products through distributors such as Redington and Ingram Micro.
The government has announced incentives to promote electronic manufacturing in India and reduce the import bill.
Total import of electronics goods were valued at Rs 2.25 lakh crore in 2014-15 as against Rs 1.95 lakh crore in the previous year.
A latest report from Taiwan suggests HTC might announce three new smartphone in the first quarter of 2017.
HTC hasnt been able to reach its shipment target for this year.
2016 has been a struggling year for HTC. The company has reportedly been experiencing a decline in its sale. Despite launching its high-end Bolt and 10, HTC hasnt been able to reach its shipment target for this year. However, the company plans on turning that around. A latest report from Taiwan suggests that HTC might announce three smartphones in the first quarter of 2017.
The same report suggests that HTC will probably announce the first device at a press conference on January 12. This device is speculated to be its mid-range X10, the successor to last years X9. The X10 smartphone is rumoured to sport a 5.5-inch 1080p display, MediaTeks Helio P10 processor, 3GB of RAM and a 13MP rear camera.
The company will be unveiling the second device, which will most likely be the HTC 11 (codenamed HTC Ocean ) at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) that will take place on February 27 in Barcelona .
The third smartphone is rumoured to be a phablet called HTC Ocean Note. The phablet is speculated to be a bigger version of the upcoming HTC 11.
None of the above given information has been confirmed by the company yet. We will probably have to wait around for more updates.
Rahmani has requested asylum in the US after allegedly receiving death threats from hardline insurgents.
Kabul: A group of Afghan activists has requested U.S. President Barack Obama to reject the asylum request of Captain Niloofar Rahmani, the first female fixed wing pilot in Afghanistans air force, and deport her insisting she does not face any kind of threat to her life.
Twenty-five-year-old Rahmani has requested asylum in the US after allegedly receiving death threats from hardline insurgents, reports the Khaama Press.
The activists said in an open letter to Obama that accepting and granting asylum to such individuals, who hold vital position and have important responsibilities, not only has bad impact to our country, but also encourages other citizens to seek asylum through illegal ways or seek asylum while they are sent to official visits by Afghan government to the US and other developed nations.
The findings of the White Assemblys Research Team show that Ms Nelofar Rahmani, the Fixed-wing Air Force aviator of Afghanistan, who filled an asylum application for the USA, is not facing any forms of threats, while she enjoys a safe atmosphere with some extraordinary security masseurs. Furthermore, there is no threat and obstacle for her to carry out her duties safely and securely in Afghanistan both in her career environment and her personal life, said the letter.
Ms Mays spokesman said that Israel had coped for too long with the threat of terrorism.
A file photo of Britains Prime Minister Theresa May. Her government has criticised the US for describing the Israeli government as the most right wing in Israeli history.
London: Britain scolded US secretary of state John Kerry for describing the Israeli government as the most right-wing in Israeli history, a move that aligns Prime Minister Theresa May more closely with President-elect Donald Trump.
After US President Barack Obama enraged Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu by refusing to veto a UN Security Council resolution demanding an end to Israeli settlement building, Mr Kerrys public rebuke of Israel has unsettled some allies such as Britain.
Amid one of the US sharpest confrontations with Israel since the 1956 Suez crisis, Mr Kerry said in a speech that Israel jeopardised hopes of peace in the Middle East by building settlements in the occupied West Bank and East Jerusalem.
While Britain voted for the UN resolution that so angered Mr Netanyahu and says that settlements in the occupied territories are illegal, a spokesman for Ms May said that it was clear that the settlements were far from the only problem in the conflict.
In an unusually sharp public rebuke of Mr Obamas top diplomat, Ms Mays spokesman said that Israel had coped for too long with the threat of terrorism and that focusing only on the settlements was not the best way to achieve peace between Jew and Arab.
London also took particular issue with Mr Kerrys description of Mr Netanyahus coalition as the most right-wing in Israeli history, with an agenda driven by its most extreme elements.
We do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically-elected government of an ally, Ms Mays spokesman said when asked about Mr Kerry 70-minute speech in the State Departments auditorium.
By openly criticising Mr Kerry, who will leave office in just weeks, Ms May moves British policy closer to Mr Trump than its other European allies such as Germany and France.
Mr Trump has denounced the Obama administrations treatment of Israel and promised to change course.
Germanys foreign minister, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, has come out in favour of the Mr Kerry speech while France holds a Middle East conference next month in Paris.
Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas said he was convinced peace with Israel was achievable but demanded that Israel halt settlement building before talks restarted.
The 28-year-old scion of the influential Bhutto family will replace Khursheed Shah, 64, as the leader of the opposition, media reported.
The PPP insists that the decision was not a sudden one, but after long consultation (Photo: AP)
Karachi: Bilawal Bhutto is set to be the leader of the Opposition in Pakistan's National Assembly after he is elected to parliament, according to media reports on Thursday.
The 28-year-old scion of the influential Bhutto family will replace Khursheed Shah, 64, as the leader of the opposition, The Express Tribune reported.
Oxford-educated Bilawal is currently Chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). The news of Bilawal's expected elevation was made public by none other than Shah himself, the paper said. It came a day after PPP Co-chairman Asif Zardari announced that Bilawal would contest a by-election for a parliamentary seat from Larkana, the hometown of the Bhutto family in Sindh province.
"Bilawal Bhutto will be the leader of the opposition and I will assist him as his adviser while his father will also guide him on parliamentary politics," Shah told journalists in Sukkur, Sindh province, last night.
A PPP spokesperson, when asked for clarification on Shah's statements and any change in the PPP's stance on the matter, said that it is possible that Bilawal may become the Opposition leader.
When asked whether Bilawal would be the new opposition leader or not, the spokesperson told Dawn newspaper that: "It is obvious. He [Bilawal] is the party head. He will become [the opposition leader]."
The PPP insists this decision is not made all of sudden, but after long consultation.
"PPP's Central Executive Committee and Federal Council had been taken into confidence over by-elections and Bilawal's nomination for the slot of opposition leader," PPP Federal Council member Lal Bux Bhutto told The Express Tribune.
"Like his mother, Bilawal has the potential but he lacks exposure in parliamentary politics. But there is no harm in it. Benazir Bhutto was also junior than others when she had taken over as prime minister in 1988," he said.
In a video which has gone viral on social media, the lawmaker can be seen slapping and kicking the teenager back.
Peshawar: A Pakistani teenager on Thursday thrashed a lawmaker of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf over the alleged insult of a retired General in this northwestern city.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA Azhar Jadoon was attending the launch ceremony of Sehat ka Insaf programme in his home district Abbotabad, the Garrison town of KP, when a teenager assaulted him.
"Jadoon was sitting on stage when a teenager rose from the audience and rushed towards him. The teenager then slapped and punched Jadoon repeatedly," an eyewitness said.
In a video which has gone viral on social media, the lawmaker can be seen slapping and kicking the teenager back.
Police detained the teenager following the incident. While talking to media outside Jala Baba Auditorium, the boy said he took the revenge of General (Retired) Saleem Rana and Pakistan Army's insult by Jadoon's acquaintances during the funeral prayers of three persons killed few days ago.
An amendment to the 1992 Sangha Act is approved, weakening Buddhist council proposal. For two years, Thailand has failed to name a new supreme patriarch.
Bangkok (AsiaNews/Agencies) In a surprise move, Thailands National Legislative Assembly (NLA) approved an amendment to the 1992 Sangha Act, which regulates the appointment of the supreme patriarch of Thai Buddhism.
In three straight readings that took less than an hour, NLA members yesterday voted to restore the ancient tradition that grants the king the right to appoint the religious leader.
The figure of the supreme patriarch (phra sangkharat, or Sangha king in Thai) was created in 1872 by Rama I, the first king of the ruling dynasty.
As the head of Thailands Buddhism, the supreme patriarch promotes religion and leads the Supreme Sangha Council (SSC), whose official task is to supervise the countrys Buddhist monks (about 200,000) and novices (about 70,000), ensuring that they observe the Buddhas teachings, i.e. the prescribed rituals, and do not violate the rules established by the Council.
Proposed on Tuesday (27 December), the amendment was approved yesterday by 182 votes in favour and six abstentions.
Under the new law, the king can now appoint the new supreme patriarch, whilst the prime minister countersign the decision. Previously, the prime minister nominated the Buddhist leader "with the SSCs consent" and the monarch appointed him.
According to the old law, the patriarch was the senior monk with the title Somdet Phra Rajagana. With this change masterminded by the current government, Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn, nominated by the SSC last January as the official candidate, is not likely to get the post. Under the new law, seven other senior monks will be in the running.
Phra Methithammajarn, secretary-general of the Buddhism Protection Centre of Thailand, cried foul Thursday over the quick passage of the amendment, saying the move was unusual.
He said that the NLA's meeting was supposed to brief the government's representative, not vote. "Our group will discuss the next move but we have to tread carefully. The situation is volatile," he said.
But NLA member Somchai Sawaengkarn said the amendment is not intended to block Somdet Phra Maha Ratchamangalacharn as critics claim. Instead, it will eliminate the seniority rule.
Some Buddhist scholars welcome the new law, as a way to break the impasse over the nomination of 20th supreme patriarch after the death of Somdet Phra Yannasangwon two years ago.
by Sandra Awad*
Over 500 children have attended a show dedicated to the "birth of peace". In Damascus, there is no water and electricity; but in the dark you can see the "light" that illuminates the world. Toys, scarves, gloves and wool socks distributed to children most in need. A young actor says: Peace is not only a miracle but "we are the first who must build it".
Damascus (AsiaNews) - Despite the "pain" and "suffering" caused by war, Christians in Syria have had a "wonderful Christmas." The deaths caused by the conflict teach us "the true meaning of life and birth." This is what Sandra Awad, Head of Communications of Caritas Syria, 38, married and mother of two children, tells AsiaNews in a letter about the festive season in the Syrian capital. "Our Christmas - she writes - is not so bright and illuminated as in other parts of the world; our trees are not illuminated because we do not have electricity for most of the day. However, sometimes the darkness "is important" because it allows us to "see and understand what really matters in life."
Among the many events organized by the local Church, we want to highlight a theatrical play written and edited by the Caritas communications director, entitled "The Birth of peace" and watched by more than 500 children in two different shows. The text was an attempt to explain the meaning of peace to them, of sharing, of acceptance through a "common effort [...] ourselves and in our families."
Here, below, the testimony of the Caritas director:
Christmas 2016 is here, but our country is still living the pain of the Holy week of 2011. Despite all of what we are living now, our Christmas is beautiful. Why beautiful despite the war? I don't know! Maybe the death shows us the real meaning of birth. maybe the sadness all around give the happiness moments more value. much more value. and maybe because we are now waiting
impatiently for the birth of the peace child in a country.
Our Christmas is not like the bright Christmas in other countries in the world; our trees are not lit because we don't have electricity most of the time. War took away electricity with a lot of other things. water, gas, oil, gasoline, warmth. We're dying every day to provide these goods, but it's ok.
When we don't have electricity, we can light a small candle and put it near the small Christmas cave, which all the Christian families put under their Christmas trees in Syria.
Maybe the darkness is important for the human being sometimes to let him see the most important in life. The most important in Christmas is Jesus' birth. A lot of light will let us concentrate on the beauty of the tree, and we might forget to look at the small baby who is sitting under it in the cave,
waiting for our candle to be lit near him, to give him some warmth. some love. a little bit of love.
Our Christmas in Caritas this year is not like other Christmases. We were full of joy when we were preparing for our Christmas event, which took place on Dec 23 on the theater of the Cross Church in Damascus. Around 550 needy children were invited to attend a Theater Play, which I wrote myself and called "The Birth of Peace". I put a lot of peace messages and ideas like accepting the other difference, starting to build peace from ourselves and in our families,.
This play was acted by young talented group of actors called "Enjaz", with the participation of some children. Tony Estephan, 11 years old actor said: "What I liked the most in this play is the idea that I performed in front of a lot of needy children, who have my age, and I gave them joy, a lot of joy, because the play is a comedy, which I am sure they liked a lot.
Ethraa, 22 years old actress said: "The idea of the play is new, and it talks about us, all the Syrians. The heroes of the play are the decoration of a Christmas tree in Syria (angel, star, snowman, light, boots, deer, stick, and bell) who are having discussions whether to stay or to leave to another country after they found out that war is still ongoing outside, this kind of discussions that we have every day between us everywhere and all the time.
Adam Al-Shami, 20 years old actor, said: "The idea that peace should start from us is fantastic, I've never thought about it this way before. Weve been waiting for peace to come by a miracle since 2011; I have never thought that we should build it ourselves. This play enriched me with wonderful ideas that I should rethink about.
Rita Jarallah, one of our procurement team, said: "When we were in the shop, choosing the Christmas gifts, I was imagining the smiles of the children when they will open their gifts and find out a valuable toy, which their parents can't afford buying. Every child also will find a warm knitwear hat, scarf and three pairs of socks, made by some needy women, who were happy to earn some money for their families and make children warm with some clothes made with a lot of love. Actually this was my Christmas this year, a Christmas full of children warm smiles.
Fadia Nassar, the project coordinator of Caritas Syria said: "While the play was running on the theater, I kept looking at the happy faces of the children, who were smiling and laughing all the time. It gave me a wonderful feeling that I can't describe"
Sara, a 7 years old girl who attended the event said: "I am happy because I became a mother now. Caritas offered me this wonderful doll and I am her mother now. I will take good care of her all the time.
John, a ten year old boy said: "I liked the play a lot, especially that it showed us the story of the birth of Jesus. Children like us were playing the role of The Virgin Mary, St. Joseph, the magi and the shepherds. My dream is to become an actor, and I would like to perform something about Christmas like them next time.
Dr. Rama Zreik, the Ambassador of Childhood and Goodwill attended the event and said: "Our Children need these ideas of peace and these wonderful concepts of love and conviviality. They are the ones who will rebuild Syria, and they should be taught these ideas from their early age."
Karim, 11 years old boy, said when we told him to say something to Caritas Germany who financed this event: "I would like to say thank you for Caritas Germany for this event and the nice gifts. You made our Christmas bright and full of joy this year!"
by Christopher Sharma
The Nepalese army will be formed to address the theaters of war and terrorist attacks. China wants to expand its influence and restrain the movements for the liberation of Tibet.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - Kathmandu and Beijing officials have announced that at the beginning of 2017 the two countries will conduct their first joint military exercises. Indian sources reveal an angry reaction from the Delhi government, which for years exercised a hegemonic influence on Nepal's policies.
The decision was disclosed yesterday by Colonel Yang Yujun (photo), a spokesman for the Chinese National Ministry of Defense (MOD), confirming some rumors leaked a few hours earlier. Yang said that Nepal and China have started "early talks" of exercises, without giving further details.
The operation will be called "Pratikar-1" and, officially, will serve to train the Nepalese troops in war scenarios and terrorist attacks.
Experts believe that the field of military cooperation is a very sensitive issue for the governments concerned. From the point of view of Nepal, the advantage derives from the support of a great partner like China. On the Chinese side, the exercises serve to further influence domestic politics in Kathmandu and put a stop to the anti-Beijing movement in the Himalayan country, which supports the freedom of Tibet.
In November, Beijing has already intervened with vigorous protests against the visit of Indian President Pranab Mukharjee in Nepal. A few days after Sher Bahadur Deuba, president of Nepali Congress, had countered with a courtesy visit to India where he also met with the Dalai Lama and some Tibetan leaders, sparking the ire of Beijing. The communist authorities have reacted strongly, calling in Kathmandu to reiterate the "one China policy".
For Balananda Sharma, a retired lieutenant general, "China and Nepal will not address great questions, but for now will lead only small exercises in the mountains". Given the traditional non-friendly relations between the armies of India and China, he adds, "Nepal should deal gently with the geo-strategic issues and foster a climate of trust on both sides."
On the other hand Ashok Mehata, former Indian general, he warns: "Nepal should know what kind of relationship it wants to have with the army of China." Experts confirm that India's position is clear: an open disappointment at the fact that the Beijing Armed enter Nepal on the ground under the guise of exercises.
by Loula Lahham
US Congress discusses a law authorizing the supervision of the work of reconstruction of churches and buildings destroyed by Islamic extremists. 84 in total from 2013 to the present. Cairo authorities and Christian groups call the norm illegitimate form of interference. Fr. Greiche: Where was the United States when the Muslim Brotherhood burned the churches?
Cairo (AsiaNews) Days after dismantling extremist Islamic groups in Rabea and Al-Nahda, the Egyptian government through the Foreign Ministry spokesman - has slammed a bill being considered by the US Congress to guarantee US control of the reconstruction work on dozens of churches destroyed or burned in the recent past by fundamentalists and jihadists movements in Egypt.
The law therefore wants to assign the US Secretary of State supervision of the efforts made by the Egyptian government in the restoration or reconstruction of Christian buildings damaged from 2013 to today. In total there are at least 84 churches, schools and community centers belonging to various Christian denominations in Egypt, targeted by Islamic extremists.
The Egyptian Foreign Ministry statement was followed by official statements from the nations Christian Churches and communities.
For the Orthodox, the Egyptian government has done all it could to restore the churches, using its own funds and with the contribution of Egyptian workers. In an official statement the leaders of the community say that "President al Sisi has promised and kept his promise. Work has also already started on Boutrossiya [the church attacked last December 11], aided by engineers of the Egyptian Armed Forces team. It will be recovered and ready for the Christmas prayers (which falls on January 7 according to the Eastern calendar) ".
Pastor Andrea Zaki, head of the Evangelical Church (Protestant), which has about 220 thousand faithful, is also contrary to the bill being considered by the US Congress. "This is a clear interference - he explains - in our internal affairs. The Egyptian government has always shown solidarity towards Christians, and most of the churches have been rebuilt.
The Egyptian Catholic Church has joined the rejection of American interference in the restoration of places of worship. "The Americans were almost absent on August 14 and 15 2013, when our churches were torched by the Muslim Brotherhood" says spokesman Fr. Rafic Greiche. "Their reaction he adds is cold and inbad taste."
Secular circles have also come out against foreign interference. The Coptic intellectual and analyst Kamal Zakher stresses: "First of all, we ask the US government to stop funding terrorist groups, and to no longer provide hospitality in the United States. It is essential to stop financing the authors of this devastation and the fires, before even thinking of fixing the damage of their actions and of their misdeeds. "
Finally, it is worth mentioning that the new law was promoted personally by Republican Senator David Trott and will be discussed in the next session of Congress, in its 114th year, in January. Trott believes that there are still 29 Christian buildings in 24 different places that have not yet been the subject of restoration. For their part, the United States continues to warn their citizens about the dangers of travel in Egypt, for serious security problems. Among the hottest spots include the Western Desert and the Sinai area, as well as the area around the resort town of Sharm el Sheikh, on the Red Sea.
The cease-fire came into force at midnight and seems to hold over much of the territory. Outbreaks of violence in Idlib and in the eastern part of Damascus. Analysts and experts talk of "serious" truce with a greater chance of success than in the past. Washington excluded from the negotiating table.
Damascus (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The nationwide truce between Syrian government and rebel militias, mediated by Russia and Turkey, which entered into force at midnight last night, seems to hold on much of the territory despite isolated clashes.
The agreement includes a large part of the opposition groups, who have been battling President Bashar al-Assad for over five years, but not the Islamic state and other jihadist militias. The Peoples Protection Unit (YPG, the Kurdish fighters in Syria) have also been excluded.
The national cease-fire - despite some outbreaks of violence that persist in some pockets of territory - should serve as encouragement for real peace talks, which should be held within one month in Kazakhstan. According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (Osdh) there have been clashes between loyalists and rebels in the northern province of Hama.
Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman, reports that "small rebel groups and armed loyalists are trying to destroy the truce", because it would mark "the end of their presence."
The inhabitants of the Ghouta district, in the eastern part of Damascus, reported firearm shots two hours after the entry into force of the truce. Other "isolated" incidents occurred in Idlib, in northwestern Syria.
From March 2011 to present more than 300 thousand people [according to some sources 430 thousand] have died in the Syrian conflict; at least four million have been internally displaced others have sought refuge abroad, in regional neighbors or in Europe, sparking an unprecedented humanitarian crisis.
Analysts and experts point out the difference of this treaty that entered into force overnight, described as "the most serious" among those so far achieved. The cease-fire is not the result of an agreement between the US and Russia, as in the past. This time Moscow negotiated with Turkey, although a little over a year ago the two countries were at loggerheads over the shooting down of a Russian jet on the border between Syria and Turkey by the Ankara army.
Washington, the great absentee, however, called the signing of the truce between the government and rebels a "positive development".
The ceasefire excludes the Islamic State and other jihadist groups, including former Nusra Front (offshoot of al Qaeda in the country). Russian President Vladimir Putin however, says the truce is fragile. Meanwhile, the future aims of the Iranian Russian axis in Syria after the recent recapture of Aleppo remain unclear.
The diplomatic steps taken in the last period on the Syrian arena are encouraging; even rebel groups involved in the conflict so far seem moderately optimistic about the possibility of the truce holding . Walid Muallem, Syria's foreign minister, said that "there is a real chance to reach a political agreement to end the bloodshed and lay the foundations for the country's future."
The fact that the rebels have lost ground in recent weeks is a further argument in favor of a peace plan. Just yesterday the High Committee for the Negotiations (Hnc), the umbrella group that includes most of the opposition movements, stated that resources are already limited and "it is no longer possible to continue" fighting.
by Elizabeth Li
The Assembly ended yesterday aimed at "dividing the Church in China". For an elderly priest, "Pope Francis position is ambiguous and vague." Allowing underground bishops into China's bishops' conference would give them the majority. The "optimistic" towards Chinese government are either "naive" or "ambitious."
Beijing (AsiaNews) - "In all meetings, up to the Ninth, Catholic participants are used as pawns and tools of the United Front political tactics": says Simon, a lay Catholic leader of the underground Church with regard to the Ninth Assembly of Chinese Catholic representatives that ended yesterday.
Simon has told AsiaNews that these Assemblies "are meant to divide the Catholic Church in China". However, he adds, "the faith of Catholics in the Church hierarchy will not be shaken, and the divisions in the Church in China will not weaken the loyalty of the faithful in China. These divisions will not achieve any positive results for the Chinese authorities. The teaching of the Catholic Church is clear and precise".
Simons reaction is just one of many, all negative, that have arrived at AsiaNews from underground communities about the Assembly of - according to official figures - 59 official bishops, including those approved by the Holy See and those considered illegitimate . The Assembly, according to the teaching of Benedict XVI, confirmed by Pope Francis, is "incompatible with Catholic doctrine."
In the previous edition, in December 2010, the Vatican had asked the bishops to "avoid making gestures ... that contradict communion with the Pope". This time, perhaps given hopes for dialogue between China and the Vatican, the Holy See, while reaffirming its "known" position with regard to the gathering, did not give any directive to the bishops whether to participate or not.
An elderly priest says he is "disappointed that the Holy See has allowed Chinese Catholics to participate in the Ninth Assembly." He holds Pope Francis position to be ambiguous and vague", unlike his predecessor, Benedict XVI. Bergoglio, he added, "has made unlimited concessions" and that "hurts the underground community."
Fr. Thomas, of South China, admits that "at present it is unclear what will happen to the underground community."
Since a more regular so-called "dialogue between China and the Vatican" resumed, the underground Church feels left out and "forgotten" because many gestures made thus far by the Holy See seems to support the membership of the Patriotic Association and penalize underground communities . According to Fr. John, 2017 will be an "unusual year because it will bring changes following the Ninth Assembly". He points out that "the Holy See should approve more bishops in the underground Church" and leave "the leadership of the Church to those who with courage and truth." He says that the future Chinese bishops' conference would include underground bishops and that "underground bishops should be the majority."
Another priest, serving the official Church, says that "those who are optimistic about the Chinese government are either too naive, or have ambitions of power".
by Melani Manel Perera
The packages were handed out on 24 December. The parish, which is part of the Archdiocese of Colombo, is home to 2,500 families. Parishioners chose the beneficiaries, people who find it hard to hide their poverty.
Colombo (AsiaNews) Saint Francis Xavier Catholic Church in Wewala, in Sri Lankas Western Province, donated Christmas hampers to the parishs poor and needy families in order to share the joy of Jesuss birth because "only when we share can we be happy and fully Catholic."
"How could we celebrate Christmas, knowing that in our community there are many needy? We could not close our eyes to their call for help, Fr Sumith Kumara told AsiaNews.
The bags contained different kinds of food: rice, coconut, dhal (red lentils), powdered milk, tea, coffee, spices, soups, salmon, onions and toothpaste worth 2,000 rupees (about US$ 14). In addition, the parish donated 500 rupees (US$ 3.50) to each family to buy fresh meat.
The Wewala Parish, which belongs to Archdiocese of Colombo, includes 2,500 families, 139 of whom live in extreme poverty.
Many of them "are struggling to put together two meals a day, Fr Kumara said. Some are totally dependent on rations the church hands out once in a while."
The beneficiaries were chosen by parishioners, like the Nihal, Concy, Nirmalee and Costa, who noted no outsider knows "their real economic difficulties. We know about it only because we are always and constantly close" to them.
The packages were handed out on 24 December, after the morning prayer.
"For us, it is an immense gift, said a Catholic mother who received a hamper. We are really grateful to Fr. Kumara and to those who made us happy."
It cost about US$ 144 million and stands almost 600 metres high.
Beijing (AsiaNews) The worlds highest bridge opened today in China. The Beipangjiang bridge stretches 1.34 km and stands 565 metres above the valley below.
The huge architectural structure is perched on top of a deep gorge that separates the mountainous provinces of Yunnan and Guizhou.
The four-lane bridge cost just about US$ 144 million to build and took four years to complete.
It is expected to cut travelling times from Xuanwei in Yunnan to Liupanshui in Guizhou from five hours to one hour.
The bridge was designed to resist strong winds and has overcome a number of technical tests.
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Australia's population increased by 337,800 people in the year to June 2016, but there are wide divergences between the growth rates in the various states and territories, the latest data shows.Figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics shows that the population increased overall by 1.4% to 24.1 million with the State of Victoria seeing the biggest growth.Net overseas migration, that is incoming minus outgoing migrants, contributed 182,165 people to the increase over the 12 months and the net inflow was around 3% higher compared with a year earlier.Natural population growth, births minus deaths, added 155,656 people to the population over the year to June 2016, which was around 2.6% higher compared with the previous year.A breakdown of the figures show that the major eastern seaboard states are attracting most of the population growth while population growth is falling in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory.Victoria has seen the fastest growing population in the country since 2014 and the latest figures show the rate of growth increased further to 2.1% in the year to June 2016. The state experienced the largest ever net inflow of people from other states on record.In addition, Victoria also experienced the largest net inflow from overseas since the global economic downturn caused a spike in inbound migration in 2009.With such strong population growth, it is little wonder that the state is able to keep filling so many new homes.Overall, the net inflow from overseas has remained relatively steady at around 180,000 over the last couple of years. However, a larger share of the net increase from overseas, now 75%, has occurred in New South Wales and Victoria. The increased share in these two states has largely been at the expense of migration in Western Australia.In 2012 Western Australia received around a quarter the net inflow from overseas but the state's share dropped to only 7% in the year to June 2016, furthermore the state also recorded its largest ever net outflow of residents to other states.According to the Housing Industry Association (HIA), the voice of Australia's residential building industry, these figures need to be taken into account by housing policymakers and developers.'There is a naturally tight relationship between economic conditions, demography, and the requirement for residential building. Economic growth creates jobs, employment opportunities attract more people, and people need somewhere to live,' said economist Geordan Murray.'With Victoria having been the strongest residential building market over the last few years and labour force figures showing the state had the largest trend increase in employment in November, Victoria seems to be ticking more of the boxes than any other jurisdiction at the moment,' he added.
Hello Everyone
We have recently married after 27 years of first meeting. We have always lived our lives apart going through the motions of life but never forgetting each other and having frequent contact.
We recently became both single for the first time since parting in 1990 and we are now married and trying to unravel the confusing and complicated visa system. We would like for myself and my younger (14) son to join our new family asap. However, it is not clear what is the best way to do this. Can I enter on a 3 month visa and then progress the application (which type/number) and remain whilst it is being processed? Also my son needs schooling would this be allowed? What is the quickest easiest way to do it?
Any experiences or info will be gratefully received.
Many thanks
Janie
Hi there all,
My partner is due to visit Australia from the US and his eta expires one month into his stay. He wants to stay for the full three months. Then he would like to go overseas, reapply for an eta and return for an extra month. Can he stay for the three months even though his visa expires? I called the immigration dept and they said he could, but looking through websites it's says once the visa expires he becomes an unlawful visitor and it may affect him getting another visa. We plan to apply for a partner visa later this year and I really don't want anything to affect our chances. Please help!!!
Unnamed sources from within the company have informed their contacts in the media that Mr. Ding Lei, one of the top execs of LeEco , has stopped being the acting CEO of Faraday Future. LeEco is a Chinese tech giant that has a tightly knit relationship with Faraday Future, and their representatives have described the collaboration as a strategic partnership.Regardless of the things that happen in boardrooms regarding Faraday Future and LeEco, both are funded by Chinese billionaire Jia Yueting, which is a more important link that what is stated in the footer of a press release.According to the sources quoted by The Verge , Mr. Ding Lei was LeEco executive that was chosen to oversee the operations of Faraday Future.The electric vehicle start-up company that is building a factory in Nevada never mentioned the name of the CEO in one of its press releases, but the said sources claim that Mr. Ding Lei handled this responsibility.Previous reports claimed that the Chinese billionaire behind Faraday Future had encountered a shortage of liquidities a few months ago, but company officials dismissed those reports.The most concerning part of this story is that Faraday Future had promised to reveal a production car at next months Consumer Electronics Show in Las Vegas , and it is unclear whether that will happen as planned.While the acting CEO might have overseen that the project was completed when the development of the said vehicle is concerned, it is still a mystery why he did not continue to control Faraday Future.Reports also claimed that Mr. Ding Lei had left LeEco, but that bit was addressed by the press department of the Chinese company, which explained that Faraday Future handles communication separately, and that Ding Lei is still an executive within LeEco.In other words, they confirmed that he did not leave the "mother company," but the link with Faraday Future has not been recognized or denied.
In case you have not heard about Otto , they have delivered their first shipment without a driver at the wheel of an 18-wheeler. The first thing shipped by the worlds first self-driving truck was a load of 50,000 beers, which were taken straight from the Budweiser factory, and driven to Colorado Springs.Ubers launch of the new website was not generous on details, and the only choices you have on the page involve entering your e-mail to find out more, when the time comes, about its benefits for carriers and shippers.Anyone interested in learning more can just e-mail them, but the representatives of the company have already replied to Inverse that they do not have any new information to share at the moment. They did mention that the new year will bring more on the topic, and we cannot wait to learn more.We would like to note that a menu from that website, which was reserved for shippers, leads to Ubers dashboard for users and drivers. That has led us to believe that the ride-sharing startup from San Francisco probably plans to allow truckers to carry things for businesses and even regular people using a proprietary app.At the moment, it is unclear whether Uber wants to allow the regular Joe to schedule a truck to move his or her things with just a few taps in an app, but it sure looks like that is something that will eventually be available.At the same time, Otto is a start-up focused on developing self-driving trucks, and Uber is already working on (and offering rides in) self-driving cars.With two and two put together, Uber might be the cog that spins transportation into the next century through apps and self-driving 18-wheelers.Dont expect that revolution to come too soon, as The Teamsters are North Americas strongest union, and self-driving trucks may take up many jobs from the backbone of the USA. However, those trucks might still have a human inside them for many years, because theres more to operating a truck than just driving it.
Hopefully not, but let's say we're about to crash while driving, we don't want our seats sliding around in its tracks. The reason why Honda Motor Co., Ltd. announced that they are about to recall almost 650,000 Odyssey minivans within the United States is due to the fact that second row seats from models 2011-2016 can come unlocked in an event of a collision.
According to a notice filed by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the second row seat release lever has a possible manufacturing issue, causing the lever to deteriorate and increasing the risk of injury during a crash. The recall is limited to Odyssey models manufactured between Aug. 17, 2010 and Oct. 1, 2015.
Two separate recalls will be conducted. The first recall will cover more than 633,000 Odyssey minivans model year 2011 to 2016. The second recall will be limited and will cover 7,600 model year 2016 that do not meet the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS), "Seat Systems."
There will be fewer minivans to be recalled in Mexican and Canada as well but Honda did not disclose details on the amount of vehicles involved. The automakers said that owners of affected vehicles will be notified by letter in January and mid-February as the parts needed to fix this issue are not available as of the moment. The fix will involve installing an additional bracket and spring, and a replacement for the horizontal adjustment bar.
A complaint filed in Sept. 2013 by an owner of a 2011 Odyssey says that during a crash, the seats holding their children came unlocked which resulted to their youngsters being thrown in the back of the driver's seat. Another complaint was filed in Sept. 2016.
Since then, no crashes or injuries have been reported related to the issue. Honda notes that they are not aware of the crashes and this issue was discovered through warranty claims.
AVwebs search of news in aviation found announcements from Bearhawk Aircraft, Wilco Inc., Pilot Partner and FlightServ. Bearhawk Aircraft announced the first flights of two Bearhawk LSA aircraft built by customers from Quick-Build kits. Owner/builders Bruce McElhoe of California and Bob Way of Alabama completed, certified and flew their Bearhawk LSAs, the first two completions, in November 2016. Bearhawk Aircraft offers a Quick-Build (QB) kit of the two-place tandem-seated Bearhawk LSA. Wilco Vice President Mike Hattrup announced FAA approval of its modification of STC SA01827WI to convert Cessna Aircraft single-engine aircraft built in 1972 and after, with factory original style wingtips, to Whelen Orion LED Nav/Strobes via a kit developed by Wilco. SA01827WI permits the replacement of the existing Nav Light or Nav/Strobe with a Whelen Orion LED Nav/Strobe utilizing a mounting plate developed by Wilco.
Pilot Partner announced that on Jan. 1, 2017, customers will receive an email with their automatically generated year in review summary. This summary will read from their electronic logbook and display interesting statistics of their flying in 2016. Each pilot will then be able to easily share this image on Facebook and show their friends and other pilots what 2016 looked like for them. FlightServthe new independent FBO on the KTTN fieldwill open its doors to guests on Jan. 1, 2017. Founded by a team from the FBOs sister company, Aviation Charters, FlightServ personnel uniquely understand the needs and desires of flight crews and their passengers. Their years of experience traveling around the countryfrom the perspective of both the pilot and the schedulerhas given the team insight into what makes for an exceptional FBO experience.
Every year structural icing claims a small but steady number of airplanes. Many of the accidents are on approach in clear airafter the airplane has already collected a load of ice. We look at them afterward and wonderthe airplane had been doing finewhy did it crash well after it escaped from icing conditions?
Full-scale airframe ice flight testing and our ability to reconstruct icing-related accidents have gotten more sophisticated. Consequently, weve learned that tail stalls, rather than wing stalls, may be the culprit in crashes that occur during the descent or approach phase of flight. This matters because pilots have been taught how to recover from wing stalls (lower the nose, add power) but not from tail stalls, and the recovery from tail stalls is precisely the opposite (raise the nose, raise the flaps, reduce power). The consequence of using the wrong recovery technique can be fatal.
The infamous 2009 Colgan Air Dash 8 crash on approach in icing conditions to Buffalo, New York is believed, by some commentators, to have been caused by an experienced crewhaving recently been through tail stall trainingmistakenly believing they were experiencing a tail, rather than wing stall. The captain pulled back on the yoke and the first officer retracted the flaps.
Since recovery technique varies, you cant recover if you dont know which airfoil has stalled.
Radius Matters
If the opportunity presents itself, the next time you see an airplane that has landed with ice on the airframe, compare the buildup on the unprotected areas of the wing and tail. Also take a look at the antennas. You might be surprised by the significantly greater amount of ice on the tail and antennas than that on the wing.
Very simply: the smaller the radius of the leading edge, the faster and wider the ice buildup is. Therefore, the horizontal stabilizer collects a greater percentage of its radius in ice than does the wing. Even with but a half inch of ice on the wing there may be an inch or more of ice on the tail.
To make matters worse, ice buildups tend also to take on interesting shapesthey frequently branch out from the leading edge, forming what appears in cross section to be horns. The net effect is that the smaller airfoilthe tailgets relatively more ice than the wing, so the flow over it is more disturbed than the flow over the wing.The photo at the beginning of the article isfrom an icing lab. It shows a startling example of clear ice buildup on the small radius of the airfoil, along with dramatic ice horns that develop as ice builds.
The shape of ice buildups on the wings is a far bigger problem to an airplane than the weight of the ice. The wing and tail create lift partially because of a smooth airflow along the chord of the airfoil. When there is ice on the front, the airflow across the lifting surface (the top of the wing, the bottom of the tail) is no longer attached to the surface after crossing that ice buildup.
Aft of the ice there is airflow separation from the surface, creating what amounts to a void that has to be filled. The air coming over the ice rotates toward the airfoil and then flows forward, creating a rotor or vortex of disturbed air in the area of flow separation. See the illustration below.
Loss of Lift
This reverse flow means that portion of the tails airfoil is stallednot providing lift. The size of this disturbed area or airflow separation matters. With more ice theres more disturbed airflow. The higher the angle of attack, the greater the size of the area of disturbed airflow. If the area of disturbed airflow gets large enough, the entire airfoil stalls. Before that, if it moves aft far enough to cross the hinge line of the elevator, it has the effect of tending to pull the elevator toward it. See the next illustration.
This all becomes important because the tail of an airplane is usually lifting downward to overcome the nose-down pitching moment of the wing in normal flight. Remember ground school that the wings center of lift is usually behind the center of gravity. As the wing lifts upwards, the center of gravity pulls the front portion of the wing downnose down forcewhich the horizontal tail overcomes by lifting downward.
In cruising flight icing is not as much of a concern for the tail as it is for the wing because the tail is at a low angle of attack, nowhere near its performance limits, so the burble or rotor behind the ice buildup stays close to the buildup and the vast majority of the tail has airflow that is attached and effective.
In cruise configuration, the problem with ice buildup is sheer magnitude on the airframe and the wings. Thats where you get so much drag and lose so much lift that you cant hold altitude, the stall speed increases and you may either sink into the ground or stall the airplane and lose control.
Tail Stall Tale
A tailplane stall event typically begins with the airplane picking up some ice. As the pilot begins the approach, he or she selects approach flaps and notices that its difficult to trim the airplane and the elevator feels lighter than usual. The control wheel will move forward very easily but its difficult to pull it back. Often some mild pilot induced oscillation (PIO) begins that may be difficult to fully damp.
Struggling like this through the approach, once the runway is made, the pilot selects full flaps. Whamsuddenly, the airplane pitches down 45 degrees, the pilot tries to pull back on the yoke, but its immovable and the airplane crashes.
Either the tail stalled, or the flow separation under the tail moved so far aft that it reached the elevator and caused the elevator to deflect radically downward. The result is the same: the nose pitches down violently and recovery is the same in either case.
Flaps
Flap extension does two things to an ice-contaminated horizontal stabilizer, both bad. It changes the airflow aft of the wings, deflecting it downward, which causes increased downwash over the tail, increasing its angle of attack. This is depicted in the phtotograph below and it happens to both high- and low-wing airplanes.
With increased angle of attack and an ice buildup on the leading edge, the flow separation on the underside of the tail, the lifting part, is worse, and the area of disturbed air, gets bigger and moves aft.
Flap deflection also moves the center of lift of the wing aft, further from the center of gravity. This causes an increase in nose-down pitching force. To compensate, the tail must exert greater downward force, thus increasing its angle of attack still more and causing it to work nearer to its performance limit.
Increasing the horizontal stabilizers angle of attack increases the area of flow separation behind the ice buildup. When the area of flow separation reaches the hinge line for the elevator the relative low pressure of the flow separation or rotor acts to pull the elevator toward it, that is, downward.
Yoke Movement
With the normal, small changes in pitch of the airplane on approach, the size of the disturbed airflow area under the tail, behind the ice buildup, changes accordingly. The pilot feels a buffeting in the wheelunlike pre-wing stall buffet that is felt, quite literally, through the seat of the pants.
The changing amount of pull on the elevator causes changing forces to feed back to the yoke. The pilot feels that the controls are lighteasy to move forward (elevator down into the area of flow separation and lower pressure), but difficult to pull aft. It may be difficult to trim the airplane in pitch.
The pilot fights this and PIO begins. PIO adds to the rapidly changing angle of attack of the elevator, further changing the size of the area of airflow separation, and further increasing the rate of change to the downward-acting force on the elevator. Things are building on themselves, but the pilot may still be able to keep the airplane mostly under control.
When full flaps are added, the combination of increased downwash and the aft movement of the center of lift further increase the angle of attack of the elevator. The area of flow separation may get so big that either the horizontal tail simply stalls and quits lifting downward, allowing the nose-down pitching moment of the wing to act unopposed, or the elevator is physically pulled downward into the area of flow separation. In either case, the pitch down is sudden and violent. Pilots who have experienced it describe either getting light in their seats or actually being thrown against the seat belt.
Recovery
Recovery requires reducing the angle of attack of the horizontal stabilizer and getting the elevator away from the area of flow separation. That means raising the flaps, at least to the previous position. It also means physically pulling the elevator away from the area of flow separation by pulling back on the wheel.
There are reports that on some commuter turboprops the force necessary to pull the wheel back and get the nose up to the horizon may be as high as 400 pounds. The more realistic load for smaller aircraft is as high as the 100 to 125 pound range. That is still a huge amount of force. Be prepared for it.
Adding power makes a tail stall from ice worse. Power is always destabilizing to an airplane, although with no ice, the aerodynamic design of the airplane easily handles the power available. Adding power adds to the downwash effect, increasing the angle of attack of the tail. While the effect of a power increase on increasing the size of the area of airflow separation aft of the ice buildup is not as great as flap deployment, a power increase still increases the size of the area of flow separation. So, in the event of a tail stall, while you are retracting the flaps and pulling for all you are worth, reduce power as much as you can, counterintuitive though that may be.
Note also that increasing speed increases the area of flow separation under the horizontal stabilizer. It doesnt seem to matter in cruise because the tail is at a very low angle of attack; however, once the flaps have been deployed, a speed increase will make matters worse. That is exactly opposite to the technique of dealing with wing icing and the need to stay well above the stall speed for the wing. With flap deflection in the equation, additional speed does not help. The solution? If you get into ice, leave the flaps up.
Diagnosis and Cure
How do you know if the icing problem you are wrestling is an impending wing or tail stall? There are some general rules. If the flaps are up and you are in cruise configuration, the pressing concern is wing stall. To the extent it gives any warning it will be in the form of airframe buffet. If you feel shaking through the seat of your pants, the problem is probably the wingas redesigned by iceapproaching its critical angle of attack.
An impending tail stall gives a different set of warnings. If the pitch control gets lighter, particularly if it becomes easier to push forward on the yoke than it is to pull aft, be suspicious. It may become difficultif not impossibleto trim the airplane and you may enter PIO. Further warning is given via buffeting in the control wheel itself, not in the airframe. If you have any amount of flap deployed and you experience shaking in the control wheel, its a good bet that its the tail thats at risk of stalling.
The first defense against a tail stall from ice is to, obviously, avoid the ice. Unfortunately, thats not always realistic. So, if you have ice on the airplane, leave the flaps up on the approach and all the way through landing. If the POH has a speed for approaching with ice contamination, use it. Otherwise, fly fast and do not close the throttle until the wheels are rolling on the ground (if you reduce power in the flare you may go from being above the power on stalling speed with ice to below the power off stalling speed with icea wing stall problem). Too many pilots have figured they had the landing nailed, pulled the power back in the flare and promptly hit so hard they damaged the airplane. If a power setting has worked all the way through the approach, dont mess with success.
Also, if you picked up the ice at altitude and youve descended to a lower, ice-free temperature and the airplane is still reasonably controllable, consider staying there for a bit to see if you can reduce the ice through melting or sublimation.
If you miss the warning signs and do end up with a tail stall, retract flaps if deployed, reduce power and apply up elevator, possibly against extreme resistance.
After you taxi in and your pulse rate returns to double digits, remind yourself that ice is for drinks.
Rick Durden is an aviation attorney, is a CFII and ATP with type ratings in the Douglas DC-3 and Cessna Citation and is the author of The Thinking Pilots Flight Manual or, How to Survive Flying Little Airplanes and Have a Ball Doing it, Vols 1 & 2.
This article originally appeared in the December 2014 issue of IFR magazine.
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Lragir.am is dissatisfied with the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO) Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzhas statement which implicitly blamed Azerbaijan for Thursdays fighting on the Armenian-Azerbaijani border. The pro-Western publication says that Bordyuzha should have issued a more strongly-worded statement and threatened Baku with concrete action in case of a repeat of such attacks. It says his reaction is further proof that the CSTO is not a reliable structure for Armenia.
1in.am says Armenians should not even try to understand why [Ilham] Aliyev is doing everything to kill Armenian soldiers. Especially after the April war [in Nagorno-Karabakh] the Armenian public should probably not ask such a question, writes the online news service. It must be clear to the Armenian society that Azerbaijan will keep constantly doing this as long as Aliyev and his clan reign in that country. What will happen after Aliyev is not clear. But its has long been clear what Azerbaijan will do under Aliyev. So the Armenian society should determine its course of action in these circumstances. It should do two things: be ready to rein in Aliyev and take preemptive measures against further Azerbaijani attacks.
7or.am condemns President Serzh Sarkisian for setting the date of the 2017 parliamentary elections on the same day that the three Armenian soldiers were killed in Thursdays border incident. We lost soldiers on the border but, as it turned out, the parliamentary elections are more important to Serzh Sarkisian, it complains. Wasnt it possible to slightly postpone the signing of that decree?
(Tigran Avetisian)
30 December 2016 16:17 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
Its no secret that Armenian army is full of brazen and rapacious employees. This time one of them was caught on stealing bullets.
A chief of utility services in one of the Armenian military units, Sarkis Kirakosyan, is accused of stealing bullets from the unit for further sale.
As it turned out, Kirakosyan repeatedly forced the sergeant of the military unit, Armen Muradyan, to steal bullets. After that, Kirakosyan was selling the stolen bullets to one of the residents of the Stepanavan city.
This is not such fact, as local media frequently reports about larcenies of ammunition, food and other equipments from the army.
The situation in the Armenian army units leave much to be desired. Soldiers of some Armenian units do not receive even the minimum of the necessary provision.
The soldiers are fed with poor-quality food, while unsanitary conditions prevail in military units; contagious diseases, especially the infectious ones are wide-spread there.
In addition to these terrible conditions, the Armenian army officers often abuse their soldiers, as well as steal and sell their clothes and food. There are also many deaths of Armenian soldiers in mysterious circumstances.
However, the Armenian authorities turn blind eye on all these outrageous facts, preferring to stay silent.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
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By Laman Ismayilova
Human Rights Commissioner of the Russian Federation Tatyana Moskalkova has visited Khojaly Genocide memorial in Baku, Azertac reported.
Accompanied by her Azerbaijani counterpart Elmira Suleymanova, the Russian Ombudsperson laid a wreath and flowers at the monument.
She was informed that as a result of the Khojaly massacre 613 people, including 106 women, 63 children, 70 old men, were mercilessly killed, 487 people were injured, 1,275 civilians were taken hostage, while the fate of 150 people is still unknown.
As a result of this act of genocide, eight families were completely destroyed, while 25 children lost both parents.
The Khojaly genocide, which occurred on the night of February 25-26, is one of the bloodiest tragedies in human history.
As a result of Armenian aggression, Azerbaijans Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions remain occupied. Because of ethnic cleansing, over one million Azerbaijanis lost their homes and became refugees and internally displaced persons.
Despite the fact that all the international organizations recognize Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, and the UN issues four resolutions demanding unconditional liberation of the occupied territories, Armenia continues the occupation, does not respect the international law and ignores it.
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30 December 2016 15:31 (UTC+04:00)
Azerbaijans Defense Ministry reported that the Armenian side continues spreading false information to aggravate the situation along the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops.
We officially announce that Azerbaijans Armed Forces have not suffered any losses, it continues its daily service activity and fully controls the operational situation, the ministry stated on December 30.
To justify its losses during the failed sabotage, the Armenian side has again today disseminated false information aimed at domestic audience about another alleged provocation at the state border and losses from the Azerbaijani side. If the Armenian side has conclusive evidences, they may present them, the ministry said.
On December 29, Azerbaijani Armed Forces have prevented an attempt by an Armenian reconnaissance-raiding group to cross the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border. After the shootout the Armenian units were forced to retreat, suffering loses.
Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
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30 December 2016 12:33 (UTC+04:00)
By Nigar Abbasova
Azerbaijan's sovereign wealth fund SOFAZ approved its draft budget for 2017 on December 29. The document was approved during a meeting of the supervisory board of the Fund chaired by Prime Minister of Azerbaijan and Chairman of the board Artur Rasizadeh.
The board also defined major directions of its investment policy, an estimate of expenditures. Following the discussions, the board decided to submit the documents for the approval of the President.
Board members also discussed amendments to the Rules on management of foreign currency assets of the State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan and Rules on the preparation and execution of the annual program of revenues and expenditures (budget) of SOFAZ proposed by the Executive Director of the Fund and recommended the amendments for the approval of the president.
The budget of the Fund for 2017 is drafted on the basis of an oil price standing at $40.
Transfers of the Fund to the state budget are expected at the level of 6.1 billion manats ($ 3.45 billion) in 2017, while the figure is 1.515 billion manats or 19.9 percent less than in 2016.
Revenues of the Fund in 2017 are projected at the level 8.37 billion manats ($ 4.73 billion) in 2017, while expenses are expected at the level of 6.95 billion manats ($ 3.93 billion).
As of October 1, the assets of SOFAZ stood at $35.82 billion, recording an increase of some 6.7 percent as compares to indices of early 2016 ($33.57 billion).
The Fund plans to increase its assets by $1 billion in 2017.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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30 December 2016 11:21 (UTC+04:00)
By Nigar Abbasova
Azerbaijan Deposit Insurance Fund (ADIF) has so far paid compensations worth over 721.67 million manats ($408.6 million) to depositors of the recently closed Dekabank, Kredobank, Zaminbank, Parabank, Caucasus Development Bank, AtraBank, Bank of Azerbaijan, Ganjabank, Texnikabank and Bank Standard.
Banks Volume of paid compensations (million manats/ million USD) Volume of the insured deposits (million manats/ million USD) Bank Standard 433.96 ($245.70 ) 460 ($260.4) Zaminbank 52.46 ($29.70) 60 ($34.97) Dekabank 3.02 ($1.70) 5.59 ($3.16) Kredobank 27.77 ($15.72) 30.21 ($ 17.10) Caucasus Development Bank 1.97 ($1.11) 2 ($1.13) Atrabank 14.27 ($ 8.07) 14.55 ($8.23) Bank of Azerbaijan 24.15 ($13.67) 24.2 ($13.70) Gandjabank 0.98 ($ 0.55) 1($0.56) Texnikabank 120.15 ($68.02) 122.6 ($69.41) Parabank 42.94 ($24.31) 43.79 ($24.79)
Acceptance of applications from insured depositors of DekaBank, KredoBank, Zaminbank and Parabank began on August 1, 2016 and the payment of compensations has been carried out since that day.
Compensations to the depositors of Caucasus Development Bank and AtraBank are being paid starting from August 23. Payments are being carried out at the branches the banks.
Depositors of Caucasus Development Bank receive compensations at the banks main office. Payment of compensations to insured depositors of Bank of Azerbaijan has been carried out since January 29, 2016 at branches of Muganbank and Rabitabank, and since September 8 at ADIFs office.
Clients of Ganjabank receive compensations since February 4 at the branches of Rabitabank, Unibank and Kapital Bank.
ADIF launched payment of compensations to depositors of Texnikabank on February 12.
Payment of compensations to the insured depositors of Bank Standard started October 11, 2016 at the banks main office and its branches in the regions of Azerbaijan and will continue for one year.
The licenses of all the banks were revoked in 2016, as their assets were not classified in line with the law, and they didnt create adequate reserves and their aggregate capital did not meet the minimum requirements.
Some 32 banks are currently implementing their activities in the country.
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30 December 2016 17:40 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
Azerbaijan`s Economy Ministry has announced that it will send an export mission to Pakistan next February.
The export mission will include companies specializing in the production of fruits, vegetables, mineral water, fruit juices, sugar and confectionery, cotton, chemical and industrial products.
Companies to be part of the mission will be selected through a competition to be organized by the Economy Ministry and Azerbaijan Export and Investment Promotion Foundation (AZPROMO).
Today Azerbaijan outputs more than 250 kinds of home-made products in food, light, heavy and construction industries.
In order to bring the economy to a new level Azerbaijan started promoting the Made in Azerbaijan brand in foreign markets. The country is keen to penetrate widely in the international commodity markets with its products branded 'Made in Azerbaijan'.
Azerbaijan is sending trade missions to various countries since November 2016 to increase its exports. Missions have already been organized to China and the UAE, while the list of planned destinations for 2017 also includes Germany and Afghanistan.
Only 10 export missions may be held within a year, while exporters participating in missions are freely provided with accommodation, transport and translation services.
A total of 3 million manats ($1.84 million) has been allocated out of the Azerbaijani Presidents Reserve Fund in the 2016 State Budget to finance the export support measures.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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30 December 2016 14:44 (UTC+04:00)
By Nigar Abbasova
Iran's Information and Communications Technology Minister and Co-chairman of Azerbaijan-Iran Intergovernmental Commission on Economic Cooperation, Mahmoud Vaezi, visited Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic on the third day of his ongoing visit to Azerbaijan.
The visit took place within the 11th joint economic commission between Iran and Azerbaijan that started on December 27 in Baku.
Relations between Iran and Nakhchivan in scientific, educational, energy, transport, economic and trade fields became the main topic of discussions during a meeting between the Iranian minister and Chairman of the Supreme Assembly of Nakhchivan Vasif Talibov.
The sides also hailed the importance the Nakhchivan-Tabriz-Tehran-Mashhad passenger train, which envisages running from Nakhchivan through the Julfa, Tabriz and Tehran stations to Mashhad.
The railway communication is expected to promote further development of tourism between the two countries. The project is envisaged within the framework of the agreement between the governments of Azerbaijan and Iran on the coordination of railways of the two countries. Being located in the in the northeast of Iran, Mashhad is considered to be the second most densely populated city in Iran. The train is scheduled to depart twice weekly on Thursdays and Sundays.
Vaezi earlier said that Nakhchivan enjoys proper trade opportunities and discussions during his visit to the Autonomous Republic would cover investment-related issues.
Baku and Tehran earlier agreed to cooperate on the construction of two plants near the Aras River borderline in the Iranian town Marazad and Nakhcivans Ordubad. Also, Azerbaijan supplies gas to Iran within the framework of swap operations to provide Nakhchivan with gas.
Trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Iran amounted to $175 million in January-November 2016, with some $130.13 million accounting for the import from Iran, according to the State Customs Committee of Azerbaijan.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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30 December 2016 17:33 (UTC+04:00)
By Nigar Abbasova
The Strategic Road Map for the development of logistics and trade in Azerbaijan is expected to ensure a GDP growth by roughly 605 million manats ($ 342.5 million).
Nearly 18,900 new working places will be created in the country till 2020.
The document defined three strategic objectives to be reached in the sphere of logistics and trade.
The objectives include creation of a favorable environment for the increase of trade turnover, getting of higher value added from transit operations, as well as introduction of a mechanism for the implementation of measures in the sphere.
Under the Road Map, successful implementation of the measures envisaged in the document will up the share of Azerbaijan in marine cargo transshipments en route Central Asia the Black Sea by some 40 percent. An increase of 25 percent is expected en route Central Asia Europe, up to 3 percent on China-Europe, 40 percent on Russia Iran and some 25 percent on Iran the Black Sea route.
Besides, revenues from air operations will increase by 5 percent till 2020.
Nearly 5 logistics and trade centers will be constructed in the country by that period.
Due to its strategic location on the most convenient route from North-Eastern Europe to Central Asia and the Middle East, Azerbaijan has a vibrant transport sector and intends to turn into a regional transportation hub.
The completion of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars railway and the Alat Port is expected to position Azerbaijan as a viable transit route for trade between East, Central, and South Asia and Europe.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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29 December 2016 18:22 (UTC+04:00)
The Azerbaijani Foreign Ministry strongly condemns another provocation, committed on December 29 morning by a reconnaissance group of the Armenian armed forces on the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border and deliberate actions aimed at escalating the situation, the ministry said in a message Dec. 29.
According to the message, Armenia is trying to disrupt the negotiations by taking various provocative actions.
Armenia continues the aggression against Azerbaijan, strengthens its presence in the occupied Azerbaijani territories, maintains the status quo by trying to involve a third party in the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict instead of taking concrete actions to resolve the conflict, the ministry said.
"Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that the continuation of Armenias aggression and the presence of Armenian troops in the sovereign territory of Azerbaijan is a major threat to peace and security in the region, as well as the main cause of ceasefire violation and incidents, the message said.
The April events which occurred as a result of Armenias provocation and incitement testify to it," the ministry said.
Also, the message touched upon the recent statements by the CSTO Secretary General Nikolay Bordyuzha. According to the message, Azerbaijan finds Bordyuzhas comments on this issue one-sided.
Bordyuzhas calling the unrecognized regime, established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan, the "Nagorno-Karabakh Republic" in contrast to the official position of the CSTO member-states and essence of the negotiations carried out under the mediation of the OSCE Minsk Group, is unacceptable, the ministry said.
Before making comments or statements, the CSTO secretary general must correctly analyze and assess the situation, the message said.
Together with the OSCE Minsk Groups co-chairmen, Azerbaijan will continue to make efforts to resolve the conflict in accordance with the norms and principles of the international law, the UN Security Councils resolutions, eliminate the consequences of aggression and occupation by Armenia and ensure the territorial integrity and sovereignty of the country, the ministry said.
Earlier on Dec. 29, a reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces tried to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders.
The enemy suffered losses in the ensuing clash and had to retreat, said the ministry.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
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30 December 2016 11:36 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
A drone of the Armenian armed forces was seized on December 29, Azerbaijan`s Defense Ministry reported.
The ministry said the drone was lowered to the ground using a special method as it attempted to fly over the positions of the Azerbaijani army.
In early December, the Azerbaijan army destroyed other two Armenian drones in the line of contact between the Azerbaijani and Armenian troops in Azerbaijans Talish village and in Fuzuli region.
Last month, the Azerbaijani Armed Forces destroyed also two drones of Armenia one in Fuzuli region, and the second on the line of contact in the direction of Azerbaijans Tartar region. All the UAVs were doing reconnaissance flights over the positions of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces.
Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
Authorities have identified a Lincoln man as the victim of a two-vehicle crash on Highway 77 Thursday.
According to a press release from the Sheriffs Office, Harry N. Hart III, 41, of Lincoln, was driving a 2006 Chevrolet Malibu north on Highway 77.
His father was traveling in a separate vehicle just ahead of him going the same direction.
Just past Blue Springs, Hart met a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox driven by Lora Lee Stohs, 63, of Marysville, Kan., traveling south on Highway 77. Her two grandsons were also in the vehicle.
The press release stated Stohs vehicle crossed the painted center line and the left front of her vehicle collided with the left front of Harts vehicle. Stohs vehicle spun around and came to a rest on the south shoulder of Highway 77.
Harts vehicle flipped over, coming to a rest on its roof in the north ditch.
StarCare medical helicopter and ambulances and fire department personnel from Blue Springs, Wymore, and Beatrice were dispatched to the scene.
Hart was pronounced dead at the scene and it's believed he died instantly from injuries sustained in the accident.
Drivers of both vehicles and the passengers were wearing seat belts. The Wymore Fire Department and the Blue Springs Fire Department used hydraulic rescue tools to extricate Stohs and remove Hart from his vehicle.
Stohs was transported to Bryan Health West by StarCare air ambulance. Her 12-year-old grandson was transported to Bryan Health West by Beatrice Fire and Rescuce and her other grandson was transported to Beatrice Community Hospital for treatment.
The Gage County Sheriffs Office was assisted by the Nebraska State Patrol, Wymore Police Department, and the Nebraska Department of Roads.
The Nebraska State Patrol was contacted and troopers responded to the scene to provide traffic control and a trooper who has specialized training as an accident reconstructionist is assisting with the traffic accident investigation.
The press release stated the accident doesnt appear to be caused by alcohol or excessive speed.
30 December 2016 13:12 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
Armenias armed provocation against Azerbaijan has been prepared by Yerevan in advance, Azerbaijans military expert, former deputy defense minister, retired lieutenant-general, Chingiz Mammadov, told Trend.
On December 29, Azerbaijani Armed Forces have prevented an attempt by an Armenian reconnaissance-raiding group to cross the Azerbaijani-Armenian state border. After the shootout the Armenian units were forced to retreat, suffering loses.
Yerevan, refusing to sit at a negation table with Baku, again resorts to armed and political provocations with a view to keep the status-quo.
Mammadov said that Yerevan committed a provocation to draw attention of the CSTO member-states to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict after the Armenian delegation failed to achieve election of an Armenian representative as the CSTO secretary general at the organizations recent session in St. Petersburg.
The military expert said that while gradually spreading misinformation about diversions in the region, not related to the Nagorno-Karabakh area, Armenia aims to artificially expand the scale of the conflict and involve other CSTO members in it.
Armenia captured Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions from Azerbaijan in a war that followed the Soviet breakup in 1991. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and nearly 1 million were displaced as a result of the war.
Large-scale hostilities ended with a Russia-brokered ceasefire in 1994 but Armenia continued the occupation in defiance of four UN Security Council resolutions calling for immediate and unconditional withdrawal.
Peace talks mediated by Russia, France and the U.S. have produced no results so far.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 December 2016 12:33 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
Azerbaijans Defense Ministry currently is working with relevant structures to receive the body of Azerbaijani soldier, who died as a result of the Armenian provocation on December 29.
"Despite the fact that initially, the Armenian side denied that it has the body of Azerbaijani soldier, shortly after the relevant measures taken by the Defense Ministry and the availability of conclusive evidences forced Armenia to disseminate photos of the soldier's body on social media," the ministry said, commenting on the soldiers photos shared in the social media by Armenians.
Unfortunately, Armenia once again demonstrated its inhuman attitude towards Azerbaijani people by deceiving representatives of international organizations, the ministry told Trend on December 30.
In order to receive the body of the Azerbaijani soldier, Chingiz Gurbanov, Azerbaijans Defense Ministry officially appealed to the Azerbaijani representation of the International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC), OSCE Minsk Group, as well as Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson-in-Office Andrzej Kasprzyk.
A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces tried to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29 morning. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders.
The enemy, suffering losses, was forced to retreat, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's message.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 December 2016 13:55 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict was one of the main challenges for the German presidency in the OSCE, Chairperson-in-office, and Foreign Minister of Germany Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on December 29 while summing up his country's presidency in the organization.
He noted that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has perhaps not been in the limelight of the European public for a while, but it gained a prominent role this year after new escalations had occurred this April.
"The OSCEs conflict settlement efforts there were important to create room for de-escalation. Hopefully this opens opportunities for talks on a political solution," Steinmeier said.
On the night of April 2, 2016, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire of large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers by Armenian army. Azerbaijani counter-attack led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. The armed clashes resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population.
Military operations on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies were stopped on April 5 at 12:00 with mutual consent of the sides. However, Armenian side still continues violating the ceasefire.
The Four-Day War saw heavy casualties by Armenian side and liberation of some Armenian-held territory for the first time since the 1994 ceasefire.
Azerbaijan and Armenia fought a lengthy war that ended with the signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign State with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years.
Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 December 2016 13:44 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
The State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People is implementing measures to receive the body of Azerbaijani soldier Chingiz Gurbanov, the State Commission said in a message on December 30.
The State Commission says Armenia carries all the responsibility for the provocation at the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border.
"The Armenian side has once again demonstrated disrespect for the norms of international humanitarian law by distributing photos of the body of the Azerbaijani soldier killed in combat in the media and social networks, and used abusive language against the Azerbaijani people and the mentioned soldier, said the message.
The ministry said in the message that the Armenian side openly demonstrates its inhumane essence, and grossly violates the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949, which it had also joined.
A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces tried to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on December 29 morning. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders.
The enemy was forced to retreat, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's message.
Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 December 2016 16:27 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
A new U.S. co-chair of the OSCE Minsk Group, established for peaceful resolution of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, has been appointed.
Richard Hoagland will be the interim co-chair starting from January 2017, the U.S. Embassy in Azerbaijan reported on December 30.
Hoagland, a diplomat with over 30 years of experience, will replace James Warlick, who will step down on December 31. Hoagland is currently the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary in States Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs.
Warlick was appointed as U.S. Minsk Group co-chair on August 2013 and assumed the office in September 2013 of that year.
While the OSCE Minsk Group acts as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, it failed to make any move to achieve a breakthrough in the peace process so far.
Azerbaijan and Armenia for over two decades have been locked in conflict, which emerged over Armenian territorial claims. Since the 1990s war, Armenian armed forces have occupied over 20 percent of Azerbaijan's internationally recognized territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven adjacent regions. The UN Security Council has adopted four resolutions on Armenian withdrawal, but they have not been enforced to this day.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 December 2016 17:11 (UTC+04:00)
By Rashid Shirinov
The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) is ready to assist in returning the body of Azerbaijani soldier, Chingiz Gurbanov, who was killed as a result of the Armenian provocation on December 29.
Head of Public Relations Department of Azerbaijani representation of the ICRC Ilaha Huseynova made the remark while talking to Trend on on December 30.
Currently, the Committee is holding negotiations with both sides. The Committee is monitoring the situation and is ready to provide a neutral mediation in order to return the soldiers body, said Huseynova.
A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces tried to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on Thursday morning. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the border.
The enemy was forced to retreat, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's message.
Armenia broke out a lengthy war against Azerbaijan laying territorial claims on its South Caucasus neighbor. Since a war in the early 1990s, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan's territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding districts.
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Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
31 December 2016 00:01 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
The last day of each year is special for Azerbaijanis as on December 31 Azerbaijanis living across the world celebrate their Solidarity Day.
Producing a symbol of unity this day brings together around 50-million Azerbaijanis scattered across the globe under the auspices of national and spiritual values, as well as national history and culture.
On this occasion, President Ilham Aliyev congratulated the world Azerbaijanis, voicing his confidence that their concerted activities will make us even stronger.
I do believe that concerted activities of all our fellow countrymen, their invincible loyalty to native Azerbaijani soil will make us even stronger and help us solve as soon as possible our only problem the Armenian military aggression and restore our territorial integrity, the president said in an annual message to Azerbaijanis on the eve of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day.
The president said what happened on the frontline in the wake of the Armenian military provocation in April proved that the Azerbaijani armed forces are well ready to liberate the occupied lands anytime.
President Aliyev urged the world Azerbaijanis to unite and resolutely protect national interests and wage a principled fight against anti-Azerbaijani provocations in any part of the world.
The Solidarity Day was initiated by Azerbaijan's national leader, former President Heydar Aliyev on December 16, 1993. In accordance with a presidential decree, the last day of December is annually celebrated as a day of Azerbaijani unity.
Later, Heydar Aliyev described it with the need for national solidarity.
After Azerbaijan gained independence, Azerbaijanism as the leading idea, became the basic one for the Azerbaijanis living both in the country and across the world. We should unite around this idea," Aliyev said. "Azerbaijanism means preserving national identity, national and spiritual values, and at the same time enrichment them with universal values, as well as ensuring the development of any person.
About 50 million Azerbaijanis live in more than 70 countries, according to the State Committee for Work with the Diaspora.
Over nine million people live in Azerbaijan and about 30 million ethnic Azerbaijanis reside in Iran. Turkey, for example, is home for about 3 million, while Russia is for almost 2 million Azerbaijanis and then follows Georgia, Kazakhstan and Germany.
This is several times exceeds the number of people residing in Azerbaijan, that's why the Solidarity Day is so important as a symbol of the fact that, despite the great distance, the Azerbaijani people are still united.
This summer Baku hosted 4th Congress of World Azerbaijanis joined by more than 500 representatives of Azerbaijani diaspora organizations from 49 countries to discuss the governments role in solving the problems facing Azerbaijanis abroad.
During the congress the participants exchanged their views on duties lying ahead as to informing the world community of Azerbaijani realities, use of modern methods and information technologies in raising awareness, current problems relating to protection of Azerbaijanis rights and freedoms, and possible solutions to these problems, youths involvement in diaspora work, lobby-building and other issues.
The first Congress of World Azerbaijanis was held on the initiative of national leader Heydar Aliyev in 2001. The second and thirds congresses took place in 2006 and 2011, respectively.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
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30 December 2016 09:59 (UTC+04:00)
A new print edition of the AZERNEWS online newspaper was released on December 30.
The new edition includes articles about: SOCAR commissions highly productive offshore well; Khankendi, under Armenian hostage for 25 years; Construction industry can add 10,000 jobs by 2020; Land of Fire hopes to welcome more Iranian tourists, etc
AZERNEWS is an associate member of the World Association of Newspapers and News Publishers (WAN-IFRA).
The online newspaper is available at www.azernews.az.
30 December 2016 15:22 (UTC+04:00)
By Amina Nazarli
The last plenary session of the Azerbaijani Parliament for 2016 kicked off on December 30, while the parliamentarians considered 25 issues during the session.
The parliamentarians approved a draft law "On regulation of tax debts of taxpayers from January 1, 2017", stipulating tax amnesty.
The tax amnesty will cover more than 44,700 representatives of the private sector including 1,037 in public sector.
The bill covers two types of tax debts: the first article of the bill envisages cancellation of all interest accrued for non-payment of debt, and the second article - writing-off of the financial sanctions.
In case of repayment of one third of the financial sanctions during January 2017, remaining 70 percent will be written off. In case of repayment of half of tax sanctions during January-February, other 50 percent will be written off, while if 70 percent of financial sanctions during repaid in January-March, remaining 30 percent will be written off.
The Parliament also discussed the Law on Budget system. Chairman of the Standing Commission on Economic Policy, Industry and Entrepreneurship of the Parliament, Ziyad Samadzade clarified that its offered to annul the article #6.6 of the Law on Budget system.
Under the draft law, in case the implementation of projects financed from the reserve funds specified requires a period longer than the current budget year, use of funds allocated from financing of those projects will not be carried on the next budget year.
Also, its offered to amend the Article #19.5 (Cash execution of the state budget). Under the draft amendment, balances of all treasury accounts for the yearend are transferred to the unified treasury account of the state budget. The amendments were approved.
Moreover, the structure of the Parliament was reshuffled. Latif Huseynov, Head of the Parliamentary Department of Legislation and State Building was dismissed from his post.
Mirhashim Seyid was appointed to this position. Formerly he worked as the deputy head of the department.
The head of sector at the department Fuad Mammadov was appointed as deputy head of the department.
Head of the Parliament's apparatus Safa Mirzayev presented new head and his deputy to the staff.
Speaker Ogtay Asadov, summing up the results of the session,said a fruitful work was done in the autumn session, during which 195 laws and decisions were adopted.
He added that Azerbaijani MPs paid more than 50 visits to 24 countries and observed the parliamentary and presidential elections in several countries.
The Parliament also sent a message to world Azerbaijanis on the occasion on December 31 -- Solidarity Day of World Azerbaijanis, calling for the preservation of national traditions and spiritual values of the Azerbaijani people.
The appeal emphasizes that the Azerbaijanis all over the world have one important task -- to preserve national values, customs and traditions of the people, and achievement of this goal requires efforts of all Azerbaijanis in the world.
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Amina Nazarli is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @amina_nazarli
Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz
30 December 2016 11:46 (UTC+04:00)
By Nigar Abbbasova
The Multilateral Investment Guarantee Agency (MIGA) has approved a guarantee of some $1.2 billion on the loan allocated for the Trans-Anatolian Natural Gas Pipeline (TANAP) project, a core pipe of the ambitious Southern Gas Corridor project (SGC).
The guarantee is expected to help draw in commercial banks that will contribute to long-term financing needs of the project. Reinsurance capacity is also expected to be mobilized, a source in MIGA told Trend.
The WBs Board of Executive Directors earlier approved two loans each worth $400 million for Turkey and Azerbaijan for the implementation of the project, which is aimed at diversification of Azerbaijans gas export markets and provision of energy security in Turkey and South Eastern Europe.
The recipients of funding are the Southern Gas Corridor (SGC) Closed Joint Stock Company with the guarantee of Azerbaijan and the Boru Hatlar Ile Petrol Tasma Anonim Sirketi (BOTAS) with the guarantee of Turkey.
Being a member of the World Bank Group, MIGA promotes foreign direct investment (FDI) in developing countries to help support economic growth, reduce poverty, while its strategy is to attract investors and private insurers in operating environments.
TANAP shareholders are Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR (58 percent), BOTAS (30 percent) and BP (12 percent).The length of the pipe is 1,800 kilometers with the initial capacity of 16 billion cubic meters
. Some 6 bcm of gas will be delivered to Turkey, while the remaining volume will be supplied to Europe. The construction process of TANAP is currently on track, while the project is completed by almost 55 percent. Some 19 underground passages have so far been built as part of the project.
Given the importance of the SGC for all countries involved, a number of international financial institutions are supporting the project, including the European Investment Bank (EIB), the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and the World Bank Group (WBG).
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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Ruling made in Beatrice 6 case
Jurors in a civil rights trial awarded $28.1 million to six wrongfully convicted people in early July, and the legal saga has continued since.
The three-week trial ended with a ruling in favor of the so-called Beatrice 6, and Gage County has been working to appeal the case or find a way to pay for the ruling since, bringing in several attorneys to work on the case.
The Beatrice 6 served a combined 77 years in prison for the crime which DNA evidence later proved they didn't commit.
The jury voted to award $7.3 million to the estate of Joseph White, Tom Winslow and JoAnn Taylor, three of the Beatrice 6 who sued Gage County, Sheriff's Deputy Burt Searcey, Wayne Price, a psychologist and reserve deputy, and the late Sheriff Jerry DeWitt, arguing they conducted an investigation four years after Helen Wilson's brutal death that was so reckless it shocked the conscience.
The verdict awarded total damages of $28,105,000 against Gage County, plus Searcey and Price individually.
A previous civil rights trial in 2014 ended in a hung jury.
The county has hired bankruptcy attorneys, as well as firms to untangle an insurance debacle to find if Gage County would be at least partially covered for the ruling.
Bond issues voted down
For the second time, Beatrice Public Schools district voters overwhelmingly rejected a proposal for a new elementary school to be built north of Beatrice High School.
The general obligation bond of $34.88 million would have funded a new elementary school for all preschoolers through fifth graders (roughly 1,000 students) of the Beatrice Public Schools district.
The measure needed more than 50 percent voter approval to pass and was rejected with 4,224 votes against the measure and 1,969 votes for. The same proposal was voted down by 60.79 percent of voters in September 2015.
School officials had hoped to build on the land north of the high school, which is owned by the district and leased to farmers. Included in the $35 million figure were costs to demolish each of the existing four elementary schools, built in the 1950s.
November voters across 15 counties in Southeast Nebraska, including Gage, also defeated a $369 million proposal to overhaul Southeast Community College's facilities in Lincoln, Beatrice and Milford.
Locally, the bond issue included a $127 million overhaul of SCC's Beatrice campus, as well as upgrades to six learning center locations identified in other places in Southeast Nebraska.
Biodiesel produced in Beatrice
In September, the long-dormant biodiesel plant began production after a massive overhaul.
The plant was originally built in 2008, but was not finished and never operated.
Three years later, the plant was purchased by Duonix Beatrice, a joint venture between Flint Hills Resources, which is a subsidiary of Koch Industries Inc., and Benefuel Inc., in late 2011.
Originally constructed at a cost of $50 million, the plant was sent to auction and purchased for $5 million.
Despite never being put into service, Flint Hills Resources and Benefuel needed to invest more than $100 million to retrofit the plant for operation.
Officials said around 70 percent of the structure remains original, but nearly all of the piping in the plant had to be retrofitted to make use of the companys technology.
The company can use various feedstock to make its product, whereas many other companies build a plant tailored to using one product.
The product is further enhanced by an upgraded distillation process that removes additional impurities which, when used on high free fatty acid feedstocks such as distillers corn oil, produces a higher quality biodiesel with superior cold weather performance.
The process was tested at a small pilot plant in Beatrice before the full-scale plant was put into operation. Beatrices plant is the first full-scale use of the technology.
Husqvarna building sold
After sitting empty for around six years, it was announced that an international mower company that already had a Beatrice presence was expanding to the former Husqvarna building in north Beatrice.
Worldlawn Power Equipment Inc., a global manufacturer whose U.S. headquarters is based in Beatrice, purchased the 274,000-square-foot facility in north Beatrice in late June to house an expansion.
Worldlawn President Hardy Shao said at the time that the company was growing and saw the building as an opportunity to expand its presence in Beatrice.
The company was established in California in 2004 and has been in Beatrice since 2011 when the World Lawn purchased Encore Manufacturing.
The company manufactures outdoor power equipment, including professional and commercial lawnmowers, residential lawnmowers, and snow throwers.
Worldlawn currently operates from a 100,000-square-foot facility in the nearby Gage County Industrial Park.
The new building acquisition will serve as a means for diversification, expansion, warehousing and solidifying the companys long-term goals.
Humane Society construction
The Beatrice Humane Society is preparing for a move after a new animal shelter was built this year.
The $1.3 million project is adding a 7,000-square-foot facility in west Beatrice, across from Southeast Community Colleges facility.
The hew shelter will be able to house more animals and include amenities the current facility at 300 Ella St. does not have, including animal visitation rooms.
The current 4,320-square-foot facility has 17 regular dog cages, as well as four fractious cages.
The new building will also be a garage bay for law enforcement to bring in dogs, reducing the chance a dog will escape when being brought in.
At the current facility, all of the dogs, regardless of size, are in the same area. Officials have said the current facility has never met the Humane Societys needs, and the new 5.3 acre facility west of town on Highway 136 will have about 27 cages.
The new shelter will also have separate areas for diseased animals, animals that have just come in and need to be monitored, and animals that are being held for an entity of the city like animal control or the police.
Downtown grant awarded
Downtown building facades will be eligible for upgrades after the city was awarded a grant to enhance the downtown district for the second time this decade.
The second phase of a Community Development Block Grant was awarded this month.
The $350,000 grant will be used to restore facades of downtown buildings, with the building owners contributing a proposed 25 percent of the cost.
The grant requires a 25 percent match on the citys end, and its anticipated that the match will be paid by business owners at the same rate.
The cost of facade improvements is estimated at $95 to $110 per square foot.
A committee will be formed early in 2017 to finalize the details of the facade improvement program.
The match could have come in the form of other infrastructure projects, though the city opted to include the match in the facade program itself to avoid additional studies.
The city used the same type of grant to renovate North Fifth Street in the downtown area, a project that was completed three years ago.
Northridge addition finished
A development in north Beatrice that houses several businesses was finished this year.
The buildings at Northridge Village, located at Highway 77 and Sargent Street, north of the Indian Creek Mall, are home to 10 businesses, with room for one more.
The complex, owned by Southwick Enterprises, features the recent addition of a 5,000-square-foot building, which Southwick Chiropractic is moving to.
First State Bank relocated to the corner building from its previous location farther south on Sixth Street.
Southwick Chiropractic moved to the newest building in part to give the bank better visibility from the highway.
Last year, Radiation Oncology Consultants and Edward Jones Financial Investments moved into the most recent building on the west side of the development.
A few of the other tenants include Godfathers Pizza and El Canelo Mexican Restaurant.
With the four buildings now finished, theres no more room to build at the location and officials have declared the development finished after six years.
Hospital expansion finished
An expansion to Beatrice Community Hospital and Health Center gave some departments needed space when it was completed earlier this year.
The Women and Childrens Clinic and the Infusion Center, both previously on the second floor of the hospital, were two areas to benefit from the $7.2 million expansion.
The 17,500-square-foot expansion building relocated the Women and Childrens Clinic and the Infusion Center to the expansions first floor.
The Health Information Management Department was relocated, and the Physician Clinic on the second floor was renovated.
The expansion project was partially the result of growth, as hospital officials said the Infusion Center had grown 27 percent, the Women and Childrens Clinic experienced a 33 percent growth and the Pediatrics Department increased 128 percent.
The 12 exam rooms, utilized by eight medical providers, were doubled to 24 exam rooms with the expansion.
The new building has its own entrance, with nearby parking and curbside access. A total of 86 patient parking stalls were added, in addition to 29 additional employee parking stalls.
Another renovation prompted by patient feedback was a check-in area with more privacy, accomplished by longer walls separating the stations.
Downtown Beatrice made a historic district
Efforts to preserve downtown were rewarded with an August announcement that downtown Beatrice was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
The Nebraska State Historical Society announced that the district centered around Court and Sixth streets was added to the register after more than eight months of research and evaluation.
Local organizations had worked with the state historical society for a year, documenting the history of Beatrice's downtown area and crafting a proposal for the National Park Service, which maintains the national register.
The historic designation comes with several benefits, including economic benefits lime state and federal historic tax credits for building improvements and rehabilitations.
Three potential tax incentives include a 10 percent rehabilitation tax credit, a 20 percent Nebraska rehabilitation tax credit and a Nebraska historic property tax freeze. The tax freeze essentially keeps the building at its original valuation so the owner doesn't have to pay extra taxes for any rehabilitation improvements.
Within the boundary of the new downtown district are 119 historic buildings that represent Beatrice's early development from the mid-1800s through downtown revitalization efforts in the 1960s.
Turkeys coming to Beatrice
The Beatrice City Council finalized plans to add a turkey hatchery facility to the industrial park in November.
Real estate was officially sold to Hendrix Genetics, the company that will build and operate Hybrid Turkeys LLC. The company bought land in the Industrial Park from the city for $60,000.
Plans were announced in June that Hybrid Turkeys will build a hatchery in the northwest portion of the Gage County Industrial Park.
The hatchery is expected to be operational by July 2017 at the 30,000-square-feet site.
Estimates for how many jobs the hatchery will add to Beatrice have been anywhere from 10-15 jobs.
Hybrid Turkeys is part of Hendrix Genetics, a leading multi-species breeding company with primary activities in turkeys, layers, pigs, aquaculture and traditional poultry.
Headquartered in Boxmeer, in the Netherlands, Hendrix Genetics provides expertise and resources to producers in more than 100 countries, with operations and joint ventures in 24 countries and more than 2,400 employees worldwide.
County changes wind regulations
Years of planning and discussions culminated in March when the Gage County Board of Supervisors approved an updated set of regulations for commercial wind energy.
The board increased setback requirements of wind turbines and lowered the maximum decibel level for non-participating land owners.
Participating properties are those under an agreement with a wind energy system company, while nonparticipating properties are those that are not under an agreement.
The maximum decibel level for nonparticipating properties was lowered to 45 decibels during the day and 40 at night.
The decibel limit allows for an additional 5 decibels at certain times to account for ambient sound.
Previous regulations called for a maximum decibel level of 60 for participating landowners. The board amended this to allow sound levels to exceed 60 decibels for participating landowners, if the landowner reaches an agreement with the wind energy company.
The decibel limit for nonparticipating properties was the most contested aspect of the regulations, and neighbors of potential wind farms expressed concerns that noise levels would disrupt the daily lives of themselves and their children.
Planning and Zoning recommended setback requirements of 5/16 of a mile, or three times the total tower height, whichever is greater, from a residence on a nonparticipating property. The County Board ultimately approved a setback requirement of 3/8 of a mile.
30 December 2016 12:43 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Kazakhstan and the United States have started mutual issuing of 10-year visas, the Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported.
Starting from December 29, Kazakh citizens visiting the United States for business, private or tourist purposes, are able to get US visas for up to 10 years. The American citizens traveling to Kazakhstan can receive Kazakhstans visas for 10 years as well.
The migration services of two countries will determine a period of stay of visa-holders in accordance with domestic laws.
Meanwhile, the U.S. citizens are allowed to stay in Kazakhstan without visas for up to 30 days.
Increasing of visa validity term will contribute a maximum simplification of mutual trips of citizens of the two countries and is aimed at the development of the Kazakh-American cooperation in trade-economic, scientific-technical, cultural, humanitarian, tourism and other spheres, the ministry said.
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30 December 2016 15:02 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Ceasefire in Syria is a major achievement, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif twitted on December 30.
Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror, he said.
The Syrian government and armed opposition groups have reached an agreement on a ceasefire on Syrian territory and on readiness to start peace talks, Russian President Vladimir Putin said on December 29.
Syria has been locked in a devastating civil war since early 2011. Since then, more than a quarter of a million people have been killed and more than 10 million displaced across the war-torn country, according to the UN.
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30 December 2016 16:30 (UTC+04:00)
By Trend
Turkey will tentatively hold parliamentary and presidential elections on November 3, 2019, a source in the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey (YSK) told Trend on December 30.
The parliamentary and presidential elections are expected to be held on the same day, according to the new draft constitution approved at the meeting of the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee of the country.
Earlier, a source in the Turkish Parliament told Trend that the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee approved a number of articles in the countrys draft constitution.
The approved articles increase the number of seats in the Turkish Parliament from 550 to 600.
The draft constitution proposes to allow Turkish citizens to run for the post of the MP from the age of 18. Currently, the lowest age limit for this is 25.
One of the approved articles also offers to hold parliamentary elections every 5 years. Currently, the parliamentary elections are held every 4 years.
A Turkish citizen not younger than 40 and with higher education can become president of Turkey, according to the draft constitution. The Turkish president will also have the powers to appoint ministers and replace them.
The newly approved articles stipulate that the president-elect is not obliged to be a non-party nominee.
All the above mentioned proposals approved by the Constitutional Committee must be submitted to the Turkish Parliaments General Assembly. The constitutional amendments would then be discussed at two parliamentary sessions of the General Assembly.
During the first session, the four political parties in the General Assembly and the government would discuss the proposals as a whole and the articles separately, as well as any motions for amendment. The second session would be devoted only to the discussion of motions on amendments to articles.
If the draft constitution gets more than 367 votes, it can pass directly without the need for a referendum. However, the AK Party, the ruling party in Turkey, has said it will hold a referendum even if none is needed.
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30 December 2016 16:50 (UTC+04:00)
By Nigar Abbasova
Russias energy major Gazprom has approved a loan worth 310 million to its subsidiary South Stream Transport B.V. to finance expenses associated with the construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, which aims to transfer Russian natural gas to Europe via the Black Sea and Turkey.
The loan will be granted for three and a half years, while the sum will be used to finance payments under the contracts for the supply of tubular products and equipment, storage and performance of construction work, contracts for the purchase of goods, work and services, as well as general administrative expenses.
Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller earlier said that the company completed the construction of facilities required to feed gas to the Turkish Stream pipeline and the Russian side is fully ready for supplies.
The laying of the pipeline in the Black Sea is expected to start in 2017. The full implementation of the two-leg gas pipeline will reportedly require some 7 billion.
The intergovernmental agreement, which specifies the terms of the implementation, was signed on October 10. The time of completion of the work is late 2019. The agreement envisages construction of two branches of the pipeline under the Black Sea, with the capacity of each branch being 15.75 bcm of gas.
The first line intends to meet Turkeys demands in the energy source, while the second is aimed to provide demand of consumers in Southeastern Europe. The construction of the first branch of the project, which is planned to meet gas demand of Turkey, does not cause any doubts, while opinions on the possibility of the implementation of the second branch are controversial.
Russias Permanent Representative to the European Union Vladimir Chizhov earlier said that the second line has a good potential, emphasizing that Moscow needs ironclad guarantees that the European Commission will not veto the construction of the second line of the Turkish Stream and the project will not see the fate of the abandoned South Stream.
The European Commission was against the implementation of the South Stream as the project was allegedly in breach of the EU third energy package, which envisages that one and the same company is not eligible to implement delivery and operate the pipeline.
The European Commission has not yet totally refused the possibility of getting supplies from the Turkish Stream. ECs Vice President for Energy Union Morosh Shefchovych earlier said that the issue needs to be analyzed and much will depend on the level of gas demand and commercial reasonability.
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Nigar Abbasova is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @nigyar_abbasova
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Im ending this years series of year-end currency reviews with the Swissy, and for good reason.
Unlike the clear-cut (more or less) price action on the other currencies, price action on the Swissy was rather chaotic, with plenty of diverging price action, so much so that I wouldnt blame you if you had the exact same reaction to the chart as the image below.
On a more serious note, the messy price action on the Swissy indicates that drivers for the opposing currencies were, well, driving price action on the various Swissy pairs.
Still, the Swiss franc had more losses, scoring wins only against the euro and the pound, the two currencies that got the brunt of the major events this year. And the Swissys rather uninspiring performance this year was likely due to two factors:
The search for higher returns
The sneaky SNBs shenanigans
The Search for Higher Returns
There were plenty of risk events in 2016, as you may have gleaned from my Monthly Review of 2016s Trading Themes. So why are the major equity indices (other than Chinese equity indices) in the green year-to-date, as of December 29, 2016?
The DOW ( DJI ) is up by 13.82% to 19,833.68 for the year
S&P 500 ( SPX ) is up by 10.08% to 2,249.92 for the year
The Euro Stoxx 50 ( STOXX50E ) is up by 0.15% to 3,273.50 for the year
The FTSE 100 ( FTSE ) is up by 13.73% to 7,099.90 for the year
The DAX ( GDAXI ) is up by 6.46% to 11,442.50 for the year
Nikkei 225 ( N225 ) is up by 0.59% to 19,145.14 for the year
Sure, risk sentiment did improve by a lot after Trump won in November. And there were also other, more particular factors, such as demand for export-oriented British companies after the pound plunged in the wake of the pro-Brexit vote. Still, the question remains. What drove equity indices to be broadly higher this year despite risk events aplenty?
Well, thats actually a rather pointless question because the heading already gave away the answer. Also, you may already have an idea about it, since I mentioned it in passing in my year-end reviews for the Aussie and the Kiwi.
Anyhow, the search for higher returns in a low-yield, low-growth world is also one of the major themes driving the global markets this year, at least before the Trump Effect came into play in November.
The gist of it is that the QE programs of the major central banks mainly target government bonds for their asset purchase programs, which drive up bond prices.
And as you have learned from our Schools lesson on How Bond Yields Affect Currency Movements, bond yields and bond prices are inversely correlated, so higher bond prices mean lower bond yields, which then means that bonds are no longer very attractive as investments.
This forces hedge funds and other big players to search for higher returns elsewhere. Some go to higher-yielding bonds from developing countries. Some go to higher-yielding currencies, such as the Kiwi or the Aussie. And others go to equities, despite their relatively riskier investment profile.
Demand for equities in a low-yield world, in particular, is something that Goldman Sachs mentioned in its 2016 outlook. And an article from The Economist points to the search for higher returns as one of the drivers for the broad-based equities rally before the Trump Effect came into effect in November. Theres even a cute article for individual investors from Forbes titled How To Invest For Income In A Low-Yield World and its basically all about stock-picking.
Anyhow, the search for higher returns also means lower demand for the lower-yielding Swiss franc. But wait, shouldnt price action on the Swissy and the yen be similar, given that both are safe-havens and there were plenty of risk events before risk sentiment improved post-Trump? So why was price action on the Swissy more chaotic and subdued compared to the yen?
Well, theres
The Sneaky SNBs Shenanigans
If you can no longer remember, the SNB was forced to remove the 1.2000 floor on EUR/CHF last year, which caused the Swissy to appreciate tremendously across the board.
And because of that appreciation, SNB officials have been threatening in every SNB monetary policy assessment, including the most recent one, that theyll remain active in the foreign exchange market as necessary because the Swissy is still significantly overvalued, so currency manipulation, er, I meant to say being active in the forex market is intended to make Swiss franc investments less attractive, thereby easing pressure on the currency.
And SNB officials really do make good on their threat of intervention. And you can see this when you look at the sight deposits with the SNB, as well as the SNBs foreign currency investments.
Lets take a look at the sight deposits first. Oh, for those who dont know sight deposits are a given banks most liquid assets that are deposited in the SNB, which are then entered into the SNBs own books as liabilities.
Domestic Swiss banks, in particular, have sight deposits to meet their minimum reserve requirements. And these sight deposits that are just parking there in the SNB are used to finance currency manipulation operations. Oops! I said it again. I meant to say being active in the forex market.
Anyway, rising sight deposits, therefore, imply that the SNB is being active in the forex market and as you can see on the table below, the SNB has been very active in the forex market all year.
Note, in particular, the relatively large increases in June and November. The large rise in November was very likely a response to higher safe-haven demand because of uncertainty related to the U.S. elections while the very large increase in June was very definitely due to Brexit. And Im 100% sure that it was due to Brexit because the SNB blatantly admitted that it intervened, saying the following in an email published by Bloomberg.
Following the United Kingdoms vote to leave the European Union, the Swiss franc came under upward pressure The Swiss National Bank has intervened in the foreign exchange market to stabilize the situation and will remain active in that market.
As for the SNBs main targets when its being active in the forex market, below is a table showing how the SNB has been hoarding foreign currencies.
As you can see, the SNB primarily targets the euro, which accounts for around 43% of total foreign currency purchases as of Q3. This makes sense, given that the lions share of Switzerlands exports makes their way to the Euro Zone (Germany mainly), with exports to the Euro Zone accounting for CHF 8,324 million (44.3%) of Switzerlands CHF 18,787 million worth of exports in November.
The second biggest target for being active in the forex market is the Greenback, which accounts for 33.3% of total foreign currency investments. This also makes sense, since the U.S. is the second biggest market for Swiss exports, accounting for about CHF 2,768 million (14.7%).
Also note, that SNBs foreign currency investments have been ballooning, which goes to show that they are trying really hard to weaken to Swiss franc.
Although the SNB did lighten up a bit on their yen holdings by the end of Q3, which is a really smart move, given how rapidly the yen depreciated in the wake of Trumps victory in November.
And the SNBs efforts do appear to be somewhat effective, given how the Swissy performed this year. And while the Swissy did manage to win out against the euro, pushing EUR/CHF lower for the year, EUR/CHF happens to have the smallest loss among the major euro pairs, so the SNBs efforts do seem to have an effect.
Funeral services will be held at 10:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017 at the St. Peters Lutheran Church, southwest of Elk Creek, with Rev. Robert Schermbeck officiating. Visitation will be at the Wherry Mortuary in Tecumseh on Monday, Jan. 2, 2017 from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., with family greeting friends from 6-8 p.m. Interment will be in the St. Peters Lutheran Cemetery, rural Elk Creek, with full military honors with the Tracy Bates American Legion Post #370.
The Board of Directors of Work Service S.A. ("the Issuer") hereby informs about the todays conclusion of a credit agreement ("the Agreement") with Powszechna Kasa Oszczednosci Bank Polski S.A. ("PKO BP").
The subject matter of the Agreement is granting a credit in the amount of PLN 55,000,000.00 (fifty five million Polish zloty) for the purpose of financing of current liabilities of the Issuer. The credit repayment date has been fixed for 20 months from the date of conclusion of the Agreement.
The financial conditions of the Agreement stipulate interest on the granted credit based on the WIBOR 1M rate, increased by the relevant margin. Additionally, the Agreement envisages a standard payment of the preparatory commission (payable on the day of concluding the Agreement) and the commission on commitment (calculated from the unused and available credit amount) by the Issuer.
The credit may be used subject to the Issuer submitting a notarial statement on subjection to enforcement, following the procedure set out in Article 777 (1) of the Civil Code, to the amount of 150% of the credit amount, as well as subject to establishing a security over 75% of shares in the Issuer's subsidiary - Prohuman 2004 Kft, registered in Hungary ("Security").
During the financing period, the Issuer will be obliged to: (i) maintain net debt to EBITDA ratio at a specific level, (ii) maintain the leverage ratio (ratio of net debt to equity increased by minority interest) at the level below a specific value; these financial ratios are subject to control conducted every six months and will be calculated on the basis of consolidated financial statements of the Issuer's group of companies, on the basis of the results for the last 12 months.
According to the Agreement, the Issuer has undertaken to establish a security over the shares in Prohuman 2004 Kft within 3 months from the date of signing of the Agreement. The Agreement also envisages an additional security in the form acceptable for PKO BP, in the event of deterioration in the opinion of the bank of the economic and financial situation of the Issuer, resulting in the need to create write-downs according to IAS, in the amount sufficient to eliminate the need to create such write-downs.
The Issuer will be entitled to a dividend payment once per a financial year, provided that the following conditions are met: (i) the planned payment will not cause occurrence of a breach of the obligations contained in the Agreement nor is such a breach present, (ii) settlement of the financial ratios for the previous period has been presented to and accepted by PKO BP, (iii) payment to shareholders does not exceed 50% of the annual net profit and does not exceed the reserve capital available for dividend payments, (iv) the net debt to EBITDA ratio does not exceed 3.0 for the previous financial year as compared to the date of the dividend payment.
As a result of the conducted analysis, the Issuer concluded that the value of the credit, constituting the subject matter of the Agreement, justifies classifying information on the Agreement as confidential information, as defined by Article 17 (1) of MAR, subject to publication in the form of this report.
Legal basis:
Article 17 (1) of MAR (Regulation of the European Parliament and the European Council (EU) No. 596/2014 of 16 April 2014 on market abuse ()
"For four years of exceptionally meritorious service to the National Guard while serving as the governor of the state of North Carolina, Governor Pat McCrory distinguished himself by consistently demonstrating sound judgment, integrity, and professionalism in the face of political pressure, natural disaster, and local conflict. His steadfast leadership and resolve to levy the resources at his disposal for the benefit of his constituents and the North Carolina National Guard was admirable. Governor McCrory's high standard of commitment and governance reflect great credit upon himself, the North Carolina National Guard and the state of North Carolina."
Contact: McCrory Communications
McCrory Communications govpress@nc.gov
Raleigh, N.C. The North Carolina National Guard has recognized Governor Pat McCrory for his dedication, leadership and support to the National Guard throughout his governorship. Adjutant General Greg Lusk, Major General of the North Carolina National Guard, presented Governor McCrory with the Meritorious Service Medal for his service to the National Guard and state of North Carolina at the Executive Mansion.said Governor McCrory.In recent months, Governor McCrory has hailed the North Carolina National Guard for its service during civil unrest in Charlotte and Hurricane Matthew. Those events are among the many noted in the award, which states:In addition to leading the National Guard, last year, Governor McCrory championed the Connect NC bond initiative that will invest $70 million to update three National Guard Readiness Centers.
In two weeks, Ben Affleck's "Live By Night" will premiere in theaters across the country, showcasing Ybor City and a piece of Tampa history.
And believe it or not, local leaders aren't that happy about it. That's because filmmakers passed on shooting the movie in Ybor City, instead opting to build a fake set in Georgia. Because of film incentives, it was cheaper to build a set elsewhere.
Lawmakers in Tallahassee have refused to fund incentives package
Film commissioner wants state leaders to change stance
Study shows 'The Infiltrator' pumped money into economy
Click here to read study, or scroll down
Dale Gordon, Tampa Hillsborough Film and Digital Media Commissioner, calls it a devastating blow. Gordon again called on state lawmakers to fund a state incentives package to lure major motion pictures to the area.
"It's heartbreaking to know that part of our heritage, part of our story, part of what makes Tampa and Ybor unique, is being told elsewhere," said Gordon.
Georgia offered millions in incentives, making it an easy choice for Affleck and crew to recreate Ybor City and save a bundle in the process.
Do you think Florida should offer economic incentives to lure major motion pictures to our state? @BN9 Erin Maloney (@ErinOnTV) December 30, 2016
Lawmakers in Tallahassee have repeatedly refused to fund an incentives package, after money ran out in 2014.
But Hillsborough County Commissioner Ken Hagan said local leaders will continue to provide local incentives to bring films to the area. It worked in securing "The Infiltrator," starring Brian Cranston, which filmed here for weeks.
A study conducted by HCP Associates, and provided by the film commission, shows for every dollar the county spent in incentives, it received nearly $4 in return.
The study says the $250,000 incentives package pumped $957,020 back into the local economy.
"Live By Night," though, could have been a game-changer, Hagan said.
"This could have been our version of Dolphin Tale," Hagan said.
He's referring to the blockbuster film that reportedly pumped $1 billion into the local tourism industry and reshaped the Clearwater Aquarium.
Hagan said the county has budgeted nearly $500,000 in incentives to lure projects to town. But filmmakers must meet requirements such as employing local workers and spending the money locally.
Although Affleck didn't film in the real Ybor City, you may see him in the area soon. Leaders are in talks to bring him into town for a VIP screening of the new film, in an effort to boost Ybor tourism.
Even so, leaders like Gordon and Hagan call it a missed opportunity to put "the real" Ybor City back on the silver screen.
With the Democrats losing the presidency, after winning the popular vote by over 2 million votes more than the victor, Donald J. Trump: Should the constitutional provision of the Electoral College be scrapped? Yes, the votes for president should be concentrated in the population centers. No, the Electoral College provides for better representation from the less populated states. I rarely vote because I have little knowledge of the issues. 103 total vote(s) What's your Opinion?
The foreign policy preferences that Donald Trump espoused on the campaign trail, both in the primary and general elections, were marred by contradictions and an evident lack of intellectual curiosity. Trump seemed dangerously unaware of world affairs in various theaters, an example being when he was apparently ignorant of Russia's annexation of Crimea in an interview with George Stephanopoulos. This lack of understanding led to many foolish remarks on his part, examples coming when he spoke in favor of Japan and South Korea obtaining nuclear weapons and also when said that he would be "neutral" in dealings between Israel and Palestine, among other things. The President-Elect's brazen criticism of NATO also revealed how little he understood with regards to Russian aggression and the important firewall the organization puts up to counter it. Since his election and throughout the transition, however, Trump's words and actions when it comes to foreign policy have shown much promise.For example, Trump has made some excellent cabinet nominations in roles pertaining to foreign policy-making. The most notable being the legendary Marine Corps General Jim "Mad Dog" Mattis. Not only is General Mattis a gifted leader of men, but also a brilliant battlefield strategist, an intellectual with a keen understanding of history and a warrior through and through. Trump tapped General Mattis to head the Pentagon as Secretary of Defense, which is a department in dire need of the leadership Mattis will provide. Beyond pure administrative matters, however, I expect for Mattis to have Trump's ear on critical foreign policy issues, and to be the voice of both reason and reality when it comes to solving international problems with strong American leadership. Moreover, the appointment of Governor Nikki Haley to the post of ambassador to the U.N. is also reassuring. While Trump tends to drift, to a fault in most cases, from conservative Republican orthodoxy on several foreign policy issues, most notably with his stance on Russia, Haley's views on foreign affairs closely resemble that of the hawkish Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL), whom she endorsed in the Republican primary. This a good thing. When it comes to the morally bankrupt and bullying United Nations, it is essential to have someone with a realist worldview dealing on behalf of the United States, particularly in Security Council dealings with Russia and China. Haley will be a tough leader on the global stage, just as she was as the chief executive of South Carolina.Furthermore, Trump has also hit all the right notes so far when it comes to dealing with Israel, especially considering his careless words in favor of a "neutral" stance in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict during the primary. This starts with his nomination of David Friedman to the post of Ambassador to Israel. Friedman's views are very much in line with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu's on important issues, and he will be a friend to Israel in the battle against threats like the ruthless terrorism of Hamas and an Iran emboldened by the Obama presidency. Importantly, Friedman also supports moving the Israeli capital from Tel Aviv to it's rightful place in Jerusalem. Trump has also been excellent in his support for Israel against the UN's misguided resolution condemning Israeli settlements, and these types of stands will be critical going forward as the UN often treats Israel as a punching bag while ignoring the human rights abuses of countries like Russia, China and Saudi Arabia. Although the recent abstention seemed to be another example of the Obama administration's weakness on the international stage, more and more evidence is beginning to be released showing that the U.S. had a key role in formulating the resolution, such as the reports that Vice President Joe Biden actively lobbied other countries on the Security Council to ensure that the resolution passed unopposed. For those of us who don't like emboldening terrorists and denigrating important allies, it will be a nice change to see American support for Israel again, the only western-style democracy in the Middle East.Trump's toughness on China has also been a welcome change. While some of his talk on trade is still a little disconcerting and misguided, he seems more than willing to stand up to Chinese expansionism in the South China Sea, which, if left unchecked, could pose a real threat to U.S. economic and military interests in the region. The most notable action that he has taken thus far with regards to China, however, involves his conversation with the President of Taiwan. While many on the left were enraged by Trump's 'audacity' and his 'violation of diplomatic norms', Ted Cruz took to twitter to make the important point that he "would much rather have Donald Trump talking to President Tsai than to Cuba's Raul Castro or Iran's Hasan Rouhani." Moreover, the notion that the president of our country can't directly communicate with the freely elected leader of a democratic country because it would anger a dictatorship is appalling, weak and a perfect anecdote for the deterioration of the United States as a force on the global stage.Unfortunately, many of these positive signs from Trump have been overshadowed by President Obama's last ditch efforts to implement his increasingly incoherent foreign policy agenda. Between the UN abstention and his last minute diplomatic sanctions on Russia, Obama has been even more brazen and confusing than usual as of late. While I do support sanctioning Russia and investigating their cyber offenses, what the President did yesterday in expelling Russian diplomats and shutting down several Russian facilities remains too little, too late and unsurprisingly only came after the Russians seemed to hurt him in a concrete political sense. The fact remains that Putin wiped the floor with Obama in their global chess match, and there is very little that can be done by the current administration in the next three weeks to change that. Trump's gullibility when it comes to Putin and Russia is still a point of concern, however, he has seemed to change his tone to some extent as of late, an example coming in his promise to strengthen our weakened nuclear arsenal following Putin's announcement of his intention to do the same. While no one wants to see an arms race, much less a nuclear war, it is important that Putin gets the signal from Trump that Russian aggression will no longer be met with passivity. Moreover, while both Trump's National Security Advisor Mike Flynn and Rex Tillerson, his nominee for Secretary of State, have demonstrated views on Russia that are unbelievably naive, the voices of Mattis and Haley, along with key Congressional Republicans, could very well neutralize this.While the Obama administration, and to some extent the Bush administration before it, have left America as a less influential global power and have therefore left the world a much more volatile place, the instincts Trump has demonstrated thus far should provide some hope. Trump replaces Obama's professor-esque lectures about moral relativism in foreign affairs with a clear desire to protect American interests. Not only is this refreshing, but it is an absolute necessity if America is to be kept safe in the years to come.
James Franklin "Jim" Hayes passed away on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016, after a long and courageous battle with numerous health issues.
Jim was born on Oct. 30, 1944, in Casper, Wyo., to James Boggs and Ruth Grondal Boggs Lane.
He began his broadcasting career at the age of fourteen when he became a deejay at KATI radio. After graduating from Natrona High School in Casper in 1962, he attended the University of Wyoming where he joined the Sigma Chi fraternity, becoming its president during his sophomore year. He quickly became the main emcee for University activities. Jim was also an active member of ROTC at UW.
His studies were interrupted in 1967, when he was drafted into the U.S. Army as a 2nd LT. This resulted in his going to Vietnam for a year. Upon his return, he and Anne Coe were married on Aug. 15, 1969. After a year at Fort Sill in Lawton, Okla., their first anniversary was spent with Jim on his return to Vietnam for a second tour. He was honorably discharged as a captain in January, 1972. He returned to college and received a degree in journalism in 1973.
Jim and Anne moved to Cody where he purchased KODI radio and later KTAG radio, forming Shoshone Communications. Jim enjoyed many years of radio journalism in the Cody area, his voice becoming a familiar backdrop to community events and news. Jim was elected president of the Wyoming Broadcasters' Association.
Jim was a member of the Cody Volunteer Fire Department for many years. During that time he held the post of captain and chief. He loved his time on the Department and formed many great and lasting friendships while there.
Jim was a lifetime member of the Lions, the Elks, the Masons, and the VFW (Volunteers of Foreign Wars).
He was also a lifetime member of the Episcopal Church, eventually completing its EFM (Episcopalians for the Ministry) three-year course.
Jim and Anne's family grew; James Franklin "Jay" Hayes Jr., was born in 1974. He was followed by Margaret Ruth "Meg" Hayes in 1976.
In their retirement, Jim and Anne traveled often to Colorado to spend time with their son Jay, his wife Brittany and their three children, Colin, Addison, and Camden. In 2015, the entire family celebrated the wedding of their daughter Meg to William Frere; in 2016, they welcomed a new grandchild, Anne-Margaret, to their family. Family, friends, and faith remained the focal point of Jim's life in later years.
Those who knew Jim will remember his leadership, service and wonderful sense of humor. They will also remember his grace and courage as illness claimed his body but never his alert and focused mind. Jim set an example for all of us in coping with life's setbacks and making the best of every opportunity. He will be remembered with love.
Jim was preceded in death by his birth father James Boggs, his brother Bill Hayes, and his mother-in-law, Margaret "Peg" Shaw Coe.
He is survived by his wife, Anne Coe Hayes, of Cody; his mother, Ruth Grondal Lane, of Cody; his son, James "Jay" F. Hayes Jr. (Brittany) of Fort Collins, Colo.; daughter Margaret "Meg" Ruth Hayes Frere (William) of Geneva, Switzerland; grandchildren Colin Hayes, Addison Hayes, Camden Hayes, and Anne-Margaret Frere; brothers-in-Law Sen. Henry Coe and Robert Coe (Angela) of Cody; nephews H.R. Coe (Thai), Rob Coe, and Hubbard Coe; and nieces Carey Coe (Jeff) Johnson and Bethany Coe Boydstun as well as several great-nephews and -nieces.
The Hayes family extends their thanks to all of the caregivers who have assisted them through the years.
In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to the Cody Fire Department (1125 11th Street, Cody, WY, 82414), Christ Episcopal Church (825 Simpson Ave., Cody, WY, 82414) or the Buffalo Bill Center of the West (720 Sheridan Ave., Cody, WY, 82414).
Go with God, Jim.
Services are planned for 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 13, 2017, at Christ Episcopal Church in Cody, with interment to follow at Riverside Cemetery. A celebration of Jims life will follow at the Olive Glenn Country Club.
Services have been entrusted to Ballard Funeral Home. An online memorial is available at www.BallardFH.com.
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Wring out the old and wring in the new because a way-above-average rainy year deserves another round of storms before the clock strikes 2017.
People usually "ring" in the new year and greet it with fireworks, but lighting fuses might be difficult in a rainstorm.
The National Weather Service is predicting heavy rain for New Year's Eve in the Beaumont area, as the first of several cold fronts approaches the region, said Roger Erickson, warning coordination meteorologist for the weather service's Lake Charles office.
From 1 to 2 inches of rain could fall from Saturday afternoon through the early hours of Sunday, Erickson said.
That could complicate New Year's Eve festivities with localized street flooding, he said.
Earlier this week, a heavy rainstorm stymied afternoon drive-time traffic at underpasses and other low-lying areas, particularly along some Interstate 10 on-and off-ramps.
That rainfall added to the year-to-date total of 74.5 inches recorded at the weather service's Jack Brooks Regional Airport rain gauge, which put the region 14.5 inches above normal for 2016 so far.
That just about equals the year-to-date rainfall for 2015, which was 74 inches, Erickson said.
Normal rainfall is 60 inches a year, determined by the records of the previous 30 years.
Saturday's rain could come in succeeding bands.
"It could fall fast enough to close some roads," Erickson said.
The weather service is predicting residual rain on Sunday as the mass of saturated air moves into Louisiana. On Monday, any rain left in the forecast for Southeast Texas likely will fall in Tyler, Jasper and Newton counties, Erickson said.
Temperatures will remain warm throughout the weekend and ahead of the front with lows in the 50s or 60s and highs in the low- to mid-70s.
A series of fronts will begin to move through the region next week, bringing a cooling trend, Erickson said.
DWallach@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/dwallach
The new documentary movie, "Wild Trout, A Montana Fish Story" will be shown on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at the Magic City Fly Fishers meeting at the Billings Rod and Gun Club.
The meeting starts at 7 p.m. and is free and open to the public.
"Wild Trout" follows the history of how Montana moved from a hatchery produced trout culture to a nearly exclusive wild trout fishery in Montanas blue ribbon trout streams.
Billings native Pat Byorth, director of Montana Trout Unlimiteds Western Water Project and director of the movie, will also discuss his role in preserving cold water for Montana trout through the acquisition of instream flows and landowner partnerships to reclaim riparian land that benefit trout.
John Bradley, eastern field representative for the Montana Wildlife Federation, will start the meeting with a review of the federations legislative goals and current Eastern Montana projects.
President-elect Donald J. Trump could make big changes to the Veterans Affairs medical care, according to the New York Times.
After meeting with private hospital system executives earlier this week, Mr. Trump made it known that he wanted to change medical care options for veterans, who traditionally received care at VA hospitals. One of Mr. Trump's officials described the potential changes, which would allow veterans to seek care at a VA facility or private physician in a "public-private option."
According to the report, Mr. Trump's official did not provide details about how the "public-private option" would work or cost details. The president-elect did not discuss unintended consequences of privatizing the VA, although his official reported that Mr. Trump's thinking on the matter was "advanced."
While campaigning for Mr. Trump's opponent in the general election, President Barack Obama spoke against privatizing the VA, stating it would "dismantle the VA healthcare system" that veterans depend on.
According to the NYT, Mr. Trump is considering forming a committee to reshape the VA that could include several of the private hospital leaders he met with earlier in the week: Mayo Clinic President John H. Noseworthy; Johns Hopkins Medicine CEO Paul Rothman; Chief Executive of Partners HealthCare David Torchiana; and Chief Executive of Cleveland Clinic Delos Cosgrove.
Marlborough, Mass.-based Boston Scientific's annual Connected Patient Challenge co-sponsored by Mountain View-Calif.-based Google aims to revolutionize data analytics in healthcare by awarding a $50,000 prize to an analytic-based start-up, the Boston Business Journal reports.
Here's what you should know.
1. Companies can apply through Jan. 15, 2017. An event will be held at Google's Cambridge, Mass.-based office honoring the finalists.
2. Entries are on a social media-based research platform the public can use to ask questions and provide feedback on them.
3. Boston Scientific has a significant portion of its business facing digital health, and is looking for ways to spur innovation.
Here are five statistics on EHR threats to patient privacy, according to the Medscape EHR Report 2016: Physicians Rate Top EHRs.
When Medscape conducted the survey in 2012, 77 percent of physician respondents said they didn't have privacy concerns about EHRs. However, this past year the number of physicians without concerned dropped to 8 percent. The top patient privacy concerns among physicians in relationship to EHRs are:
1. Internal sabotage of records: 24 percent
2. HIPAA compliance: 35 percent
3. Loss of patient information through a malfunction: 57 percent
4. Unauthorized access to patient information: 57 percent
5. Hacking and misusing information: 60 percent
Donald Trump met with some of the nation's leading healthcare executives on Dec. 28, 2016, in Palm Beach, Fla., according to the Washington Post.
Here are five things to know:
1. The guests included Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo Clinic President and CEO John Noseworthy, MD; Baltimore-based The Johns Hopkins Medicine CEO Paul Rothman, MD; Boston-based Partners HealthCare President and CEO David Torchiana, MD; and Cleveland Clinic President and CEO Toby Cosgrove.
2. After the meeting with Mr. Trump, Dr. Noseworthy's office issued a statement saying the goal of the meeting was to "share his perspective on the future of healthcare delivery, research and excellence" and that he was "pleased for the opportunity."
3. As chief executive of Johns Hopkins, Dr. Rothman oversees both the school of medicine and the Johns Hopkins Health System, which features six hospitals, hundreds of community physicians and a self-funded health plan.
4. Partners HealthCare operates in a state perceived to be on the forefront of healthcare reform, The Washington Post reports. As chief executive, Dr. Torchina oversees Massachusetts General and Brigham and Women's Hospital, both in Boston.
5. Dr. Cosgrove, a heart surgeon, has made news as of late over being Mr. Trump's number one pick to lead the Department of Veteran Affairs.
CMS and Philadelphia-based Wills Eye Hospital are at odds over the agency classifying Wills Eye as an ASC, according to Philly.com.
Here are five key points:
1. Wills Eye re-established inpatient care services at its main building in 2013 and then applied for Medicare enrollment as a hospital. Prior to adding these serves, the eye center fell under ASC classification.
2. Following its application, the eye center relinquished its state ASC license. However, CMS denied the application saying most of Wills Eye's primary services were outpatient.
3. Wills Eyes filed a complaint on Dec. 23, 2016, saying CMS made the decision randomly and if CMS made the decision for other facilities in the future, many high-profile hospitals will forgo Medicare participation.
4. A CMS official previously estimated 17 percent of Wills Eye's cases were inpatient, at most, making the percent too low for the facility to quality as a hospital. Wills Eyes countered the claim using American Hospital Association data that showed four major hospitals that had inpatient ratios of less than 2 percent in fiscal year 2011.
5. Pennsylvania Department of Health, which licensed Wills Eyes as a hospital, had officials advocating on Wills Eye's behalf. However, an administrative law judge ruled against the facility in February 2016 and another judge ruled against the facility in October 2016.
Breaking news, CMS measures and Donald Trump's gastroenterologist Harold Bornstein, MD, captured the attention of Becker's ASC Review gastroenterology/endoscopy readers in 2016.
The following are among the most popular GI/endoscopy stories from Becker's this year.
1. Physicians accept blame for Joan Rivers' death
The family of Comedienne Joan Rivers reached a settlement with Yorkville Endoscopy in New York City after physicians at the center botched a procedure that caused the her death.
2. Who is Donald Trump's gastroenterologist, Dr. Harold Bornstein?
After handwriting a four-paragraph letter earlier this year proclaiming the health of President-elect Donald Trump, then the Republican presidential nominee, readers wanted to know more about Harold Bornstein, MD.
3. CMS proposed 2017 physician fee schedule eliminates moderate sedation from endoscopic procedures
CMS began looking to separate moderate sedation services from procedure codes in all specialties back in 2014, including gastrointestinal endoscopy. They announced a new rule in July 2016 that separated moderate sedation services from several GI/endoscopy procedures under Medicare Part B. However, there wasnt any financial impact on physicians performing their own moderate sedation.
4. St. Mary's Hospital settles lawsuit related to endoscopy death; investigation of gastroenterologist closed
St. Mary's Hospital in Madison, Wis., settled a lawsuit following the death of an endoscopy patient in 2013. The hospital settled for an undisclosed amount, but the total was anticipated to be around $3.75 million.
5. Olympus under fire: Internal emails reveal US execs told not to issue warning about possible fatal scope infection
Olympus' internal emails revealed the company told U.S. executives not to issue a broad warning to hospitals regarding a deadly infection from tainted scopes that was later linked to numerous deaths at major hospitals.
6. Olympus of the Americas pays $646M settlement in kickback case
Olympus of the Americas paid millions in a civil and criminal penalties suit to settle kickback charges. Olympus admitted to paying physicians and hospitals in the United States bribes to promote its medical devices. The company's Latin American unit is also resolving allegations it paid around $3 million to government-employed healthcare practitioners to increase sales.
7. Schizophrenic son of gastroenterologist Dr. William Wu found guilty of stabbing him
The son of gastroenterologist William Wu, MD, who attacked him with a pair of knives on Nov. 24, 2015, was found guilty but insane by a Lane County Circuit judge in July 2016.
8. CMS releases clinical quality measures for gastroenterology
CMS released its clinical quality measures for seven different specialties, including gastroenterology in February 2016.
9. FDA approves 1st CRC screening blood test
The FDA has approved Epigenomics' Epi proColon, making it the first and only FDA-approved blood-based colorectal cancer screening test.
10. GI societies object to American Board of Internal Medicine's certification proposals
The American Board of Internal Medicine recently released two proposed pathways for its maintenance of certification program. The American Gastroenterological Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American College of Gastroenterology and American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases has objected to them proposals.
Belhaven, N.C., lost the fight to reopen Pungo District Hospital, the town's only hospital, when demolition began Wednesday evening, The News & Observer reported.
The hospital was taken over by Greenville, N.C.-based Vidant Health in 2011 in an effort to keep the hospital open amid financial troubles. Vidant decided to close the hospital in 2014 and replace it with a 24-hour clinic, according to the report. However, the clinic doesn't accept ambulances and patients must travel for an hour to reach the nearest emergency room, The News & Observer reported.
The town has been fighting to reopen the hospital, and Mayor Adam O'Neal has even marched more than 700 miles to Washington, D.C., and the state capital in an attempt to save Pungo. Mr. O'Neal has worked with activist groups, including the NAACP, to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to try to repurchase the hospital.
Mr. O'Neal's group has been unsuccessful in attempts to acquire Pungo District Hospital, but secured a temporary restraining order that stopped demolition. The pro-hospital group sought a preliminary injunction to protect the facility more permanently, but a judge denied the request Wednesday and dissolved the restraining order, according to the report.
Demolition began at 5 p.m. Wednesday evening.
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Here are companies that debuted revenue cycle management products for healthcare vendors and providers in 2016.
1. Surgical Notes, a nationwide provider of revenue cycle solutions, including transcription, coding, revenue cycle management, document management and EHR applications, for the ASC and surgical hospital markets, launched a new program for clients.
2. Healthcare Revenue Strategies, a provider of revenue management software and services, revealed a new website aimed at assisting healthcare organizations in dealing with "increasing complexities in claims."
3. RelayHealth Financial, a subsidiary of McKesson, teamed up with Emergency Recovery Incorporated to provide revenue recovery services to hospitals and healthcare providers.
4. iPatientCare, which provides cloud-based ambulatory EHR and RCM services, will conduct regular monthly educational sessions for the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act.
5. Infor, a New York City-based enterprise software provider, is now offering the next generation of Infor Healthcare Revenue Cycle Management, version 3.6.0.
6. AudioEducator, a website offering webinars and conferences across specialties in medical coding and billing, designed the 2017 CPT Coding Update Value Bundle to help coders, billers and healthcare leaders prepare and tackle massive reform in the coding system.
7. International investment management firm BNY Mellon introduced an automated medical claims payment platform to facilitate electronic transactions between payers and providers.
8. Codixim launched Text2Codes, a web based computer assisted coding app.
9. TransUnion Healthcare, a TransUnion subsidiary and a provider of revenue cycle management solutions, integrated its Patient Financial Clearance solutions with the Epic Outgoing Address Verification Query Interface.
10. Aprima Medical Software, a provider of EHR, practice management and revenue cycle management solutions for medical practices, introduced a new, integrated cloud-based faxing solution from Kno2, a healthcare workflow optimization company.
11. iHealth Innovations, a revenue performance and advisory company for physician practices and medical groups, now offers Wellness and Revenue Assistance Program services.
12. Change Healthcare, a provider of software and analytics, network solutions and technology-enabled services, released a Merchant Services enhancement to its SmartPay solution.
13. Ontario Systems, an accounts receivable management and healthcare revenue cycle management software and services provider, introduced the Artiva HCx solution.
14. ezDI, a computer-assisted coding technology provider, launched a coding compliance and auditing platform called "ezAssess."
15. Dynamic Healthcare Systems updated its Voyager Premium Billing solution to give health plans offering Medicare Advantage products better control and flexibility in managing members' premiums, dues and payments.
16. SNF A/R Consulting and Billing Services, a full-service medical billing and consulting company, now offers accounts receivable consulting and billing services designed for nursing homes.
17. PowerHealth Solutions formed a joint venture with Adaptive Insights, a corporate performance management solutions provider, to combine IT products in a business planning and budgeting solution.
18. Billing Blues now offers an end-to-end revenue cycle management solution to large and small medical facilities.
19. Medical billing services provider Sybrid MD introduced its $1 Billing solution for physicians and medical practices.
20. ScribeAmerica introduced HealthChannels, a group comprised of three distinct companies that aim to help hospitals and health systems manage clinical and financial processes.
21. The American Hospital Association created a tool to help hospitals and providers prepare for MACRA compliance.
22. Gem, a blockchain platform provider, unveiled a revenue cycle management pilot program that runs on the Gem Health Network.
23. Windham Brannon, an audit and accounting firm, will provide advisory and financial assistance to rural hospitals through its revenue cycle consortium.
24. Fiserv, a financial services technology provider, introduced a payment platform designed to help utility, insurance, lending, healthcare and telecommunication companies customize billing and payment options for customers.
25. FAIR Health launched a mobile app aimed at promoting healthcare literacy among Connecticut patients.
26. Medical billing business owners Jean Chenette and Jennifer Gomm released their medical billing support service, Help My Biller.
27. Healthcare technology company RemitDATA and StarHealth Provider Solutions launched a comparative analytics tool.
28. Shamrock Solutions released a digital explanation of benefits solution.
29. CareCredit launched a digital application that enables patients to apply for and use CareCredit financing during appointments at physicians' offices.
30. Payment software provider Elavon released updates to its Payment Navigator system to help providers improve patient financial experience.
31. MAP Health Management, a practice management services and technology firm, introduced a new subsidiary focused on revenue cycle management solutions.
32. MedBill-IQ launched an app through which consumers can upload their medical bills for review by a licensed healthcare professional.
33. Healthcare Payment Specialists launched two revenue cycle management products: Uncompensated Care Analytics and Complex DRG Review.
34. Windham Brannon, an audit and accounting firm, will provide advisory and financial assistance to rural hospitals through its revenue cycle consortium.
35. Medical Transcription Billing launched a hospital receivables management solution.
36. EveryPatient launched a patient satisfaction platform.
37. PokitDok partnered with PillPack to power an app that seeks to improve patient experience for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries and Medicare Part D prescription drug benefit plan members.
38. Medidata introduced a new component of its cloud-based clinical research platform that enables contract research organizations and clinical trial sponsors to calculate and disburse reimbursements.
39. XpertDox launched a hospital search functionality tool to help patients find the best facilities for their medical needs.
40. Connance expanded its Reimbursement Optimization solution.
41. Amino launched a new tool that enhances consumers' search of procedure prices based on physicians and insurers.
42. Aprima, an EHR, practice management and revenue cycle management technology provider, now offers a practice management platform compliant with rules under the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act and Medicare's Merit-Based Incentive Payment System.
43. ezDI, a computer-assisted coding technology provider, released a clinical documentation improvement application built with natural language processing capabilities.
44. GAFFEY Healthcare, a revenue cycle management firm, enhanced its collections automation workflow to help providers focus on account underpayments and denials.
45. Change Healthcare added patient access functionalities to its software platform.
46. nThrive, created by the integration of MedAssets-Precyse and Equation, launched a suite of products to help providers maximize point-of-service collections, reduce denials and implement new reimbursement models.
47. Connance unveiled new and expanded components to its revenue cycle analytics suite.
48. Deloitte introduced a suite of solutions aimed at helping healthcare organization administrators manage and improve financial and operational efficiencies.
49. RelayHealth Financial, introduced a new tool to help healthcare organizations more easily track, create and file appeals for denied claims.
50. Computer-assisted coding provider Artificial Medical Intelligence launched new coding and reimbursement software.
51. CPSI introduced a new program to help providers improve revenue cycle functions and use the financial savings toward an EHR migration.
52. PatientPay launched a new revenue cycle management solution to help RCM vendors transition to a paperless patient billing model.
53. MedAssets-Precyse, a supplier of end-to-end revenue cycle services, technology and education, released its SaaS-based technology platform for health information management.
54. In an effort to prepare providers for EHR transitions, RelayHealth Financial developed an EMR-revenue cycle education portal to help providers successfully manage revenue cycle during EMR moves.
55. Access Healthcare introduced a new queuing method to automate its accounts receivables process.
56. Connance expanded its Reimbursement Optimization solution.
57. ChartLogic introduced a product designed to measure key billing metrics for physician practices and healthcare providers.
58. Experian introduced three revenue cycle management products and services.
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Some Kentucky residents next year will pay a tax based on property value to help fund ambulance service in their area, according to a Daily News report.
Here are five things to know about the ambulance tax.
1. Residents of Barren County will pay the tax.
2. The tax, which was approved Thursday by the Barren Fiscal Court, will take effect starting next November.
3. The money collected will be used to fund a portion of an ambulance service that covers Barren and Metcalfe Counties in Kentucky, according to the article.
4. Barren County has set the tax at 2.4 cents per $100 of assessed value.
5. Previously, Barren County has used general fund monies to pay for its portion of the Barren-Metcalfe County Ambulance Service's operational expenses, according to the report. Barren County and Glasgow, Ky., a city in Barren County, each pay 30 percent of the service's operational costs and Metcalfe County and T.J. Samson Community Hospital in Glasgow divide the remaining 40 percent, the report states. According to the report, the goal with the new ambulance tax is to help close Barren County's budget shortfall.
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PORTLAND A federal judge has denied Oregon refuge occupier Ryan Payne's request to withdraw his guilty plea.
U.S. District Judge Anna J. Brown ruled Wednesday that Payne's plea in the Oregon case wasn't, as his attorney argued, contingent on reaching a plea agreement in a case against him in Nevada.
"Payne's factual statements supporting his guilty plea were both thorough and unequivocal," Brown wrote in her 32-page ruling.
Payne, of Anaconda, acknowledged in July that he conspired with others to prevent Interior Department employees from doing their jobs during the 41-day occupation of the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge.
Payne was one of 11 defendants to plead guilty before others in the case went to trial and were found not guilty.
Payne was one of three co-defendants who filed motions to withdraw guilty pleas. The judge hasn't issued rulings on the other motions filed by Joseph O'Shaughnessy and Eric Flores.
In Nevada, he's accused of organizing "armed protection" in an April 2014 standoff over impounding Cliven Bundy's cattle.
Payne's attorney had also argued that his client's plea should be withdrawn because Ammon Bundy Cliven Bundy's son and others were acquitted of the same charges. Brown ruled that the plea stood on those grounds as well.
"This is not a case in which there is a new question as to Payne's factual innocence after the trial of his co-defendants," Brown said. "Indeed, it remains undisputed that Payne was a leader of the occupation of the (Malheur National Wildlife Refuge)."
Under the plea agreement, federal prosecutors were to recommend a 12-year sentence, but Payne could have argued for seven years. It is unclear if that recommended sentence will remain since no plea agreement has been reached in the Nevada case.
Payne will be sentenced at a later date.
The busy lives of hospital and health system CEOs are full of time constraints. Therefore, when these leaders do find the time to sit down and read, a discerning choice is key. In 2016, four CEOs told Becker's Hospital Review about the last memorable thing they read.
Below are their responses.
Patrick Battey, MD, CEO of Piedmont Atlanta Hospital:I read All the Light We Cannot See by Anthony Doerr. It's a story about a young, blind French girl and an orphaned German boy who are sort of running parallel tracks dealing with the horrendous conditions during World War II, and their paths come together on the coast of Nazi-occupied France. And in spite of all the things that happen to them, they wind up trying to help each other, which is reflective of people trying to help each other throughout these horrible times. Just a very moving story. The imagery is incredible through the eyes of a young girl who went blind when she was maybe 3 or 4 [years old]. She still remembers some of her old environment and has to become accustomed to a new environment in another city.
Marna Borgstrom, CEO of Yale-New Haven (Conn.) Health System: My fun read was Sweet Bitter by Stephanie Danler. I also enjoyed Bryce Hoffman's American Icon, which is about former Ford CEO Alan Mulally.
Akram Boutros, MD, president and CEO of The MetroHealth System (Cleveland): [The last memorable thing I read is] The Story of Ferdinand. I just have it here in my office, and I was trying to explain to someone the difference between kindness and weakness. As an executive, some folks believe they can't show kindness because it will be misinterpreted as weakness. I believe you should always be kind.
Michael Young, president and CEO of PinnacleHealth System (Harrisburg, Pa.): I like to read about other leaders' strengths and weaknesses. One of the last things I read was Killing Patton: The Strange Death of World War II's Most Audacious General. It has interesting biographical vignettes of the major players from the end of the war, and it's a good general overview of the greater-than-life [George S.] Patton.
A 44-year-old man faces several charges after he allegedly punched a police officer at St. Mary's Medical Center in Grand Junction, Colo., early Wednesday morning, according to The Daily Sentinel.
According to arresting documents, police brought Patrick Eugene Pool to St. Mary's Tuesday night for an undisclosed reason. Mr. Pool would not cooperate with hospital staff and demanded to speak to "a man" instead of the female attending physician, according to the affidavit for Mr. Pool's arrest.
Police officers arrived back at the hospital after midnight, and Mr. Pool reportedly refused to leave with them. Officers put Mr. Pool in a wheelchair, and Grand Junction police officer Jacob Edmiston restrained him by holding onto his right hand. When it appeared Mr. Pool was attempting to bite Mr. Edmiston, another officer pushed Mr. Pool's head. Mr. Pool responded by punching the other officer in the chin, according to the arresting documents.
After police loaded Mr. Pool into a patrol car, he allegedly damaged the transport cage inside the vehicle.
Mr. Pool is charged with second-degree assault on a police officer, which is a felony, and misdemeanor counts of resisting arrest, criminal mischief and trespass.
He is being held in Mesa County Jail and is scheduled to return to court Jan. 5.
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Americans have been caught in a cyclical struggle with the abuse of pain medications since before the 1900s with the advent of morphine and the commercial production and sale of heroin as a cough suppressant, according to CNN.
The nation's current opioid abuse epidemic took root in the late 1990s with the release and dissemination of drugs like OxyContin. The past year brought several new developments in America's modern struggle with opioids.
Here are four ways the opioid epidemic changed in 2016.
1. New CDC pain medication prescribing guidelines: In 2016, the CDC released new guidelines for opioid prescription for chronic pain. The new guidance recommends nonopioid therapies as the preferred treatment methods for chronic pain. The new guidelines garnered quick reactions industry groups.
While organizations like the American Pharmacists Association expressed support for the new guidelines, others like the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network reacted with concern over possible unintended consequences of the recommendations.
"We are disappointed that the CDC guideline...did not address our previously stated concern about needed access to opioid analgesics for cancer survivors who experience severe pain that limits their quality of life," said ACS CAN President Chris Hansen. "We remain concerned that without a balanced approach that accounts for the full continuum of care for cancer survivors, the emphasis on reducing inappropriate use of pain medications will impede access to necessary pain relief for individuals fighting pain from cancer."
The push and pull between how to humanely treat pain and curb drug addiction will be one to watch in 2017.
2. Surging heroin overdoses: In 2016, the country's troubles with heroin continued. As policies come into play to crack down on freewheeling pain medication prescribing habits which helped fuel the nation's current drug epidemic addicts turned to cheaper, easier-to-obtain street drugs with deadly potency.
In 2016, the CDC released data on opioid-related deaths for the year prior. More than 30,000 people died of opioid overdoses in 2015, nearly 13,000 of which were at least partially attributable to heroin. The number marks the first time in modern U.S. history heroin surpassed gun homicides as the more prolific killer.
3. The rise of synthetic opioids: The surging rates of heroin overdoses are closely linked to the rise of synthetic opioids. Heroin laced with drugs like fentanyl, which is 50 times more potent than morphine, was responsible for a wave of overdoses across the nation in 2016. The drug is primarily manufactured in China and often pushed into American streets by drug cartels. However, the U.S. Postal Service unknowingly delivers a substantial amount of fentanyl via orders placed on black market websites.
The synthetic opioid carfentanil which is 1,000 times more potent than fentanyl and designed to sedate large animals like elephants also found its way into America's illicit drug supply in 2016 and was linked to opioid overdose deaths in states like Indiana and Ohio.
In what could be a harbinger of what's to come, fentanyl surpassed heroin as the more deadly opioid in Massachusetts in 2016.
4. Federal actions taken: In addition to CDC guidelines, the federal government also took legal action to combat the nation's opioid epidemic in 2016. On July 22, President Barack Obama signed the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act bill into law. The new law was designed to expand alcohol and drug prevention education, increase collaboration with law enforcement and criminal justice systems and create more disposal and turn-in sites for unwanted prescription medications. The passage of the law creates substantial opportunities to change the way America addresses drug abuse.
In early October, the Drug Enforcement Administration reduced the number of almost every opioid medication approved for manufacturing in 2017 by 25 percent or more.
Some experts, however, expressed doubt regarding the potential effectiveness of the DEA's actions.
"It's really too little too late," Jerry Epps, MD, CMO of University of Tennessee Medical Center in Knoxville, told Becker's during an interview. "If this had happened 10 to 15 years ago when the epidemic was surging, I might have a different answer. In 2013, the DEA allowed manufactures to increase opioid production by 25 percent because they thought there was going to be shortage. The new reduction still puts us above where we were in 2010 and 2012...I don't think DEA's efforts are going to make that much difference at all."
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Drugmakers push new 'abuse-deterrent' opioids unclear if they will reduce overdoses
Acquisitions, distributorships and major recalls captured the attention of Becker's Spine Review readers in 2016.
The following are among the most popular spine and orthopedic device and implant stories this year:
1. Has Xenco Medical ushered in the future of spine surgery?
When UCSF released its finding that Xenco Medicals disposable, plastic surgical instrument outperformed a metal counterpart in a comparative strength study last October, the news spread quickly in the spinal device industry.
2. Medtronic, Stryker, Zimmer Biomet, DePuy Synthes, Smith & Nephew: Who had the best 2015? 32 things to know
Healthcare themes in 2015 included consolidation, continuum of care integration and diversification; the year was no different for orthopedic device companies.
3. Are Stryker's hip implants about to be recalled?
After the Australian government issued a warning about Stryker's LFIT Anatomic CoCr V40 femoral heads, physician/lawyer Shezad Malik believes a recall could be "imminent."
4. PODs under attack again 5 key notes from the Senate Finance Committee's report
The Senate Finance Committee released a new report on physician-owned distributorships, focusing on spine surgeons.
5. Is the Johnson & Johnson job cut an ominous sign for the medical device industry? 5 key thoughts
Johnson & Johnson plans to cut around 3,000 jobs over the next two years as the company restructures its medical device business. Does this hint at disaster for the industry?
6. Smith & Nephew acquires Blue Belt Technologies Will Stryker make its move soon? 5 key notes
Smith & Nephew has completed the acquisition of Blue Belt Holdings, also known as Blue Belt Technologies.
7. Zimmer Biomet to acquire LDR in $1B transaction 9 things to know
Warsaw, Ind.-based Zimmer Biomet will acquire Austin, Texas-based LDR Holding for $1 billion.
8. Beyond the implant DePuy Synthes pushes innovation inside & out of the OR
DePuy Synthes, part of Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices companies, continues to push the boundaries of business with innovation that goes beyond device development.
9. Where global spine market leaders are headed: 7 key notes on Medtronic, DePuy Synthes, Stryker & more
Here are key notes on some of the leading companies in the spine device market space where they are today and where they're headed.
10. Zimmer Biomet, Stryker, J&J & more: 26 key notes AAOS edition
Twenty-six key notes on orthopedic and spine device companies from early March 2016.
Here are five spine surgeons making headlines last week.
Jeffrey Carlson, MD, a spine surgeon practicing in Newport News, Va., penned an article titled "Do I Really Need to Have Surgery?" for the Daily Press, in which he addresses the many stigmas surrounding surgery.
Kamshad Raiszadeh, MD, medical director for the Advanced Spine Institute & Minimally Invasive Spine Center at Alvarado Hospital in San Diego, went on KPBS to promote his new book "Take Back Control."
David Segal settled with the Iowa Board of Medicine over charges alleging that he failed to prevent "excessive infections" among his patients, ABC9 reports.
Harshawardhan Hegde, MD, visited Burjeel Hospital in Abu Dhabi in the United Arab Emirates, Muscat Daily reports.
Richard Nachwalter, MD, discussed the latest innovations trends in spine surgery. Dr. Nachwalter considers himself among the first to use the Synthesis Cervical Total Disc Replacement and O-Arm Surgical Imaging Systems.
Breaking news and surgeon honors captured the attention of Becker's Spine Review readers in 2016.
The following are among the most popular spinal care stories this year:
1. 341 spine surgeons to know 2016
Here are 341 spine surgeons to know.
2. Suicide likely cause of Dr. Sandeep Sherlekar's death, police report shows 6 things to know
Sgt. Andrew Alcorn, a Frederick, Md.-based police criminal investigation division supervisor, reported Sandeep Sherlekar, MD, likely committed suicide, based on review of evidence. Dr. Sherlekar was a co-founder of Frederick-based American Spine Center.
3. Police investigate death of American Spine Center's physician accused in federal kickback scheme 6 things to know
The Frederick (Md.) Police Department is investigating the death of Sandeep Sherlekar, MD, co-founder of the American Spine Center. Dr. Sherlekar and four other medical professionals were indicted by a federal grand jury in June for a kickback scheme that allegedly linked $1.37 million back to the practice.
4. 22 spine surgeon leadership awards | 2016
Here are 22 spine surgeons who received the Spine Surgeon Leadership Award in 2016 from Becker's Healthcare.
5. Dr. Kevin Pauza unsurprised with Tiger Woods' slow back surgery recovery 5 insights
Kevin Pauza, MD, of Pauza Disc Treatment Center in Tyler, Texas, isn't optimistic about Tiger Woods' back surgery recovery.
6. Oregon spine surgeon implicated in $22M lawsuit for paralyzing patient with dropped instrument 5 things to know
A $22 million lawsuit has been filed against Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University and an orthopedic spine surgeon for allegedly paralyzing a man by dropping a tool on his back.
7. Understanding the impact of the CMS 2017 ASC Payment Rule on Spine Procedures
On November 1, 2016, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services released the 2017 Hospital Outpatient Prospective Payment System and Ambulatory Surgery Center Payment System final rule. The policy changes contained in the rule signal that the reimbursement environment for spine surgery is continuing to evolve, and this shift is not confined to Medicare.
8. Dr. Gregory Sherr sues HealthEast, CentraCare & 6 neurosurgeons for allegedly ruining his reputation & career 6 things to know
Neurosurgeon Gregory Sherr, MD, is suing HealthEast Care System, CentraCare Health and six affiliated physicians for an alleged "pattern of anti-competitive, tortious and otherwise illegal conduct." Both healthcare systems are based in St. Cloud, Minn.
9. 6 spine physicians ranked #1 on Google 2016
Each year, spine specialists contribute patient education content to www.Spine-health.com, which is read by more than 200 million patients struggling with neck and back conditions. This sizable audience is proof of the positive impact that physicians can have when patient education is done right.
10. UPMC to pay $2.5M+ to settle neurosurgery-related False Claims Act violation allegations 7 things to know
The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center will pay the federal government more than $2.5 million to settle a case alleging violation of the False Claims Act.
Former Taoiseach Charles Haughey with former British prime minister Margaret Thatcher during their meeting in May 1980
Controversy over the extradition of a priest who allegedly worked for the IRA left Anglo-Irish relations "at the bottom of the pit".
Fr Patrick Ryan was at the centre of a lengthy legal battle in the late 1980s.
The Tipperary-born former Pallottine priest was said to be quartermaster for an IRA unit operating in Belgium.
In June 1988, two months after the murder of three off-duty British servicemen in the Netherlands, Belgian police arrested Fr Ryan and found large quantities of cash and bomb-making equipment in his home.
While he embarked on a hunger strike, the Government attempted to have him extradited from Belgium. But the authorities sent him back to Dublin, where he was at the centre of a diplomatic row.
New details of the controversy emerged in papers released by the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland.
In a memo sent in late 1988 the British Ambassador to Dublin said the affair had undone months of progress.
Sir Nicholas Fenn wrote: "Until 25 November it seemed that we were making progress in digging ourselves out of the pit into which we had fallen at the beginning of the year. Then Patrick Ryan was hurriedly repatriated from Belgium.
"The Irish failed to arrest him. The resulting British anger provoked defensive resentment in Ireland."
After a formal request for his extradition was lodged in Dublin, Margaret Thatcher effectively called the priest a terrorist.
She told the Commons: "The failure to secure Ryan's arrest is a matter of very grave concern to the Government.
"It is no use governments (of Belgium and Ireland) adopting great declarations and commitments about fighting terrorism if they then lack the resolve to put them into practice."
In December 1988 then Taoiseach Charles Haughey told the Dail the serious charges levelled against Ryan should be investigated by a court in Ireland.
He claimed that prejudicial remarks made in the House of Commons meant the priest could not expect a fair trial in Britain.
Sir Nicholas wrote: "British opinion was insulted, and we were back at the bottom of our pit. We have now decided to seek extraterritorial prosecution if the witnesses can be mustered; half a loaf is better than no bread."
In October 1989 the director of Public Prosecutions in the Republic announced that he had decided not to initiate proceedings against Ryan. The affair led to heated discussions at the Anglo-Irish intergovernmental conference in Belfast, where there were angry exchanges between then Secretary of State Tom King and Irish foreign affairs minister Brian Lenihan.
Former First Minister Peter Robinson was plotting to declare Northern Ireland an independent State amid a feared bloodbath in the aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, British officials believed.
In one of a flurry of high-level inter-governmental meetings in 1986, British Cabinet Secretary Sir Robert Armstrong - the UK's top-ranking official - told counterparts in the Republic Mr Robinson was "saying things about independence".
"We may be tending to treat this as unthinkable and to say 'they can't really want it', but the issue may become more real," he warned.
Sir Robert was head of the UK Civil Service and chief adviser to Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher and the Conservative Cabinet.
Notes from the meeting at Whitehall marked 'Secret' were sent back from London to Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald in Dublin. Sir Robert told officials that unionists who feared the recently-signed Agreement was a precursor to a British withdrawal would prefer an independent Northern Ireland rather than a united Ireland.
"However, they do not appear to have thought out the full consequences of this course - and enthusiasm for it is far less than widespread," he said.
"They obviously have not given full weight to the financial consequences and do not appear to have considered what their position would be vis a vis the European Community and in the international context."
He told the meeting a lot of unionist thinking "particularly on the part of (Ian) Paisley" was based on the premise that "at some time the British would pull the rug out and that then Northern Ireland would have to go it alone".
"Paisley wanted to be in a position to blame the British if this happened - and also to be at the top of the heap," he said, according to Irish official notes of the meeting, just released into Dublin's National Archives under the 30-year rule.
Concerns of a Rhodesia-style unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) in Belfast were raised repeatedly during several confidential Anglo-Irish meetings that year, the State papers show.
In a meeting with Secretary of State Tom King at the Irish Embassy in London in February, Mr FitzGerald said a risk with keeping the Northern Ireland Assembly going at the time was its being used "to declare UDI".
Mr King, who wanted to keep the forum going "for letting off steam, if nothing else", agreed that was possible.
"Robinson was certainly thinking in those terms," he said.
Mr King said there was "real trouble ahead" as Catholics feared a Protestant backlash to the Agreement, citing a television programme that showed the terrorist UDA and UVF getting organised.
"The British were unhappy about the role of some politicians," notes of the meeting reveal.
Thatcher and FitzGerald shake hands on the Anglo-Irish Agreement
Former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher told officials from the Republic of Ireland that the UK "got it wrong in 1921" with the Northern Ireland border.
A series of extraordinary admissions between Mrs Thatcher and Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald emerge in previously classified papers made public for the first time today.
Documents released in Belfast, Dublin and London provide a new insight into political developments on both sides of the Irish Sea in the late 1980s.
They have been made public under the 30-year rule, which has seen a trove of previously secret Government papers declassified.
Both leaders were in close contact throughout 1986 as the UK and Republic attempted to stand behind the Anglo-Irish Agreement amid growing unionist anger.
The agreement had granted the Republic a formal role in Northern Ireland for the first time.
The Prime Minister and Taoiseach met on December 6, 1986, in London - and Mrs Thatcher made a series of blunt admissions in assessing the security situation along the border.
"You (the Republic) haven't the resources to maintain protection on the other side of the border," she said.
"I do feel very depressed at times about the whole situation. The violence has not been defeated. The SDLP have not done what we are expecting them to do.
"However, it is Christmas - and I had better stop feeling depressed," she said.
Mr FitzGerald praised the RUC for the work it had done in co-operating with the Garda.
"And he pressed for all UDR patrols to be accompanied by the police.
But he warned: "Both forces have a next-to-impossible border to watch."
Mrs Thatcher bluntly admitted: "Yes, we got it wrong in 1921."
The meeting concluded with one Irish civil servant noting: "The Prime Minister then went on... including a rather wistful reference to whether she could continue, in all seriousness, to send young men to their death in Northern Ireland."
Both Governments expressed repeated concerns about the security situation.
This was due to the upsurge in unionist and loyalist protests and demonstrations over the Anglo-Irish deal.
Mrs Thatcher warned that such a reaction was "negative and very dangerous".
"The unionists are saying they have lost everything and have got nothing," she said.
One briefing note warned that RUC Chief Constable Sir John Hermon (below) was "genuinely frightened" by the implications of one demonstration at Hillsborough.
Another briefing note warned that: "Dublin has not grasped the fundamental reality that Northern Ireland is and will remain ungovernable."
Files released by the Public Record Office in Belfast include new insights into Anglo-Irish relations in the 1980s.
One memo from the British Ambassador to Dublin stated "if it were not for history we should get on well with the Irish", noting good relations on every matter - except Northern Ireland.
In London, the files shed new light on the fall of Mrs Thatcher after 11 years in power.
The move will see it take on the likes of British Airways, which flies a number of transatlantic routes
Budget airline Norwegian is finalising plans to launch ultra-low cost flights for as little at 56 to New York as it ramps up the pressure on its rivals.
The carrier, which already offers one-way fares from Britain to the US from 135, is expected to slash prices further in summer 2017 in a bid to shake up the transatlantic airline market.
The company will use fuel efficient aircraft to lay on flights from Edinburgh, Scotland, and Cork and Shannon in Ireland to secondary airports in New York and Boston where airport charges are cheaper.
A Norwegian spokesperson said: "We are working on plans for new transatlantic routes from Edinburgh and Ireland which we expect to launch in 2017, and a key part of our plans are to make sure they are truly affordable, allowing as many people as possible to fly.
"A number of airports are being looked at while we finalise our plans but smaller airports in the US present us with an opportunity to offer some ground-breaking fares to passengers in the UK, Ireland and the US."
The move will see it take on the likes of British Airways, which flies a number of transatlantic routes.
Norwegian currently flies to eight US cities from London Gatwick: New York, Boston, Los Angeles, San-Francisco-Oakland, Fort Lauderdale, Orlando, Las Vegas and Puerto Rico.
Earlier this month, Norwegian said it will increase the number of flights to the US by 55% from next summer.
The company is expected to publish full details and prices in February.
WASHINGTON It is axiomatic that if someone is sufficiently eager to disbelieve something, there is no Everest of evidence too large to be ignored. This explains today's revival of protectionism, which is a plan to make America great again by making it 1953 again.
This was when manufacturing's postwar share of the labor force peaked at about 30 percent. The decline that began then was not caused by manufactured imports from today's designated villain, China, which was a peasant society. Rather, the war-devastated economies of competitor nations were reviving. And, domestically, the age of highly technological manufacturing was dawning.
Since 1900, the portion of the American workforce in agriculture has declined from 40 percent to 2 percent. Output per remaining farmer and per acre has soared since millions of agricultural workers made the modernization trek from farms to more productive employment in city factories. Was this trek regrettable?
According to a Ball State University study, of the 5.6 million manufacturing jobs lost between 2000 and 2010, trade accounted for 13 percent of job losses and productivity improvements accounted for more than 85 percent: "Had we kept 2000-levels of productivity and applied them to 2010-levels of production, we would have required 20.9 million manufacturing workers [in 2010]. Instead, we employed only 12.1 million." Is this regrettable? China, too, is shedding manufacturing jobs because of productivity improvements.
Douglas A. Irwin of Dartmouth College notes that Chinese imports may have cost almost one million manufacturing jobs in nearly a decade, but "the normal churn of U.S. labor markets results in roughly 1.7 million layoffs every month." He notes that here are more than 45 million Americans in poverty, "stretching every dollar they have." The apparel industry employs 135,000 Americans. Can one really justify tariffs that increase the price of clothing for the 45 million in order to save some of the 135,000 low-wage jobs? Anyway, if tariffs target apparel imports from China, imports will surge from other low-wage developing nations.
The Wall Street Journal's Greg Ip, who reports that there currently are 334,000 vacant manufacturing jobs, says that when Jimmy Carter tried to protect U.S. manufacturers by restricting imports of Japanese televisions, imports from South Korea and Taiwan increased. When those were restricted, Mexican and Singapore manufacturers benefited.
In his book "An Extraordinary Time: The End of the Postwar Boom and the Return of the Ordinary Economy," Marc Levinson notes that Ronald Reagan imposed "voluntary restraints" on Japanese automobile exports, thereby creating 44,100 U.S. jobs. But the cost to consumers was $8.5 billion in higher prices, or $193,000 per job created, six times the average annual pay of a U.S. autoworker. And there were job losses in sectors of the economy into which the $8.5 billion of consumer spending could not flow. The Japanese responded by sending higher-end cars, from which they made higher profits, which they used to build North American assembly plants and to develop more expensive and profitable cars to compete with those of U.S. manufacturers.
In 2012, Barack Obama boasted that "over a thousand Americans are working today because we stopped a surge in Chinese tires." But this cost about $900,000 per job, paid by American purchasers of vehicles and tires. And the Peterson Institute for International Economics says that this money taken from consumers reduced their spending on other retail goods, bringing the net job loss from the job-saving tire tariffs to around 2,500. And this was before China imposed retaliatory duties on U.S. chicken parts, costing the U.S. industry $1 billion in sales. Imports of low-end tires from Thailand, Indonesia, Mexico and elsewhere largely replaced Chinese imports.
The past is prologue. The future probably will feature many more such self-defeating government interventions in the name of compassion as protectionist America tries to cower its way to being great again.
Around 160 investors are demanding Ulster Bank owner Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) shores up corporate governance by creating a shareholder committee. The aim is to sniff out "poor stewardship" and avoid a rerun of the bank's near collapse in 2008.
The move would prevent RBS from repeating the chain of events that triggered the lender's crash during the financial crisis, according to investor groups ShareSoc and the UK Shareholders' Association (UKSA).
Mark Northway, chairman of ShareSoc, said shareholders deserved a new approach that gave more effective input.
"One objective is to stop the events that took place at RBS from ever happening again," Mr Northway said.
"A dominant CEO, concealing the true financial position of the company from investors, proceeding with a reckless acquisition, and then publishing a rights prospectus which concealed the problems faced by the company. These are not examples of good governance."
In April 2008 RBS asked existing shareholders to inject 12bn into the firm to strengthen its reserves after the bank had splurged 49bn to acquire Dutch bank ABN Amro.
The deal proved toxic and, just months later, the value of RBS shares plunged 90% and the Government had to step in with a 45bn bailout. RBS remains 73% owned by the UK taxpayer.
UKSA chairman John Hunter said there was a need for companies to step up and make capitalism work for everyone.
It comes after reports said the RBS remuneration committee was discussing plans to cut the maximum amount chief executive Ross McEwan can earn under his long-term incentive plan from 3m to 1.75m.
Business Secretary Greg Clark announced a new package of corporate governance reforms which could require firms to make public the ratio between the pay of bosses and workers, and provide seats for staff on company boards.
RBS must decide whether the proposal meets the requirements to face a vote at its AGM.
The parents of Thomas Owen Boyle got the Christmas present they had been wishing for when their precious bundle was deemed well enough to be transferred from the Royal Victoria Hospital to Altnagelvin.
Thomas Owen was not due to be born until the end of January, but he arrived in October, weighing just over a pound.
Complications during pregnancy meant his mum Stacey Thompson had to undergo a Caesarean section at 28 weeks to give her son the best chance of survival.
Every day Stacey and Thomas Owen's dad Terry Boyle travelled the 150-mile round trip from their Londonderry home to the Royal in Belfast, and watched over their tiny son as doctors and nurses battled to ensure he made it.
Since then Thomas Owen has shown real tenacity and strength of character by beating the odds and thriving.
He was such a fighter that just a few days before Christmas Stacey and Terry got the call they had been wishing for, telling them that Thomas Owen had been safely moved to Altnagelvin Hospital in Derry.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph, Terry said: "The medical team at the Royal had tried to transfer Thomas Owen two weeks ahead of Christmas, but they had to turn back again almost immediately because he just wasn't well enough.
"We were incredibly disappointed, so when they said they would try again a few days before Christmas we were too scared to get our hopes up in case it didn't work out again.
"They called us to say Thomas Owen had been safety transferred to Altnagelvin and our Christmas was made right then. Christmas Day at the hospital was brilliant, better than we could have hoped for. The nurses and doctors couldn't do enough for all the families.
"Santa came on to the ward and brought presents for Thomas Owen, and he also got a wee memento for the tree that we will treasure forever.
"Having him so close to home means we can spend so much more time with him, but it has also meant his two grannies and two grandas have been able to see him too.
"Visiting is still restricted to me, Stacey and the grannies and grandas, but Thomas Owen has a great-granda too who is waiting patiently to meet his first great-grandson, and the rest of the families are just as keen."
Just before Thomas Owen made his premature arrival, the couple, who both worked at a restaurant in the Waterside area of Derry, were made redundant when the business closed.
This brought more misfortune when the couple were forced to give up their home but, as the new year approaches, 2017 is shaping up to be a good one for the family.
Terry explained: "Thomas Owen is doing so well, we hope he will be well enough to be discharged from hospital all together, which, considering he wasn't due to be born until January 27, isn't too bad at all.
"I have found work now too, which is bringing in money, so I can provide for my family, and we are saving hard and hope to be able to buy our own house later in 2017.
"We got our Christmas wish when Thomas Owen got moved to Altnagelvin, and it looks like we have so much to look forward to when the new year comes."
Belfast student Rory Campbell to return to court in February
Belfast student Rory Campbell appeared in court on Friday accused of making and distributing an indecent image of a child.
Campbell is charged with three separate offences allegedly committed over a 12-month period.
The 20-year-old, of Harberton Park in Belfast, was allegedly in possession of an indecent photograph or pseudo photograph of a child.
He faces further counts of making and distributing or showing an indecent image.
The alleged offences took place on dates between June 2015 and June 2016.
Campbell spoke only to confirm he understood the charges during his first appearance before Belfast Magistrates' Court.
A prosecution lawyer indicated the case was ultimately expected to go to the Crown Court.
She said: "Some time is required to formulate the charges and look at the images."
Deputy District Judge Peter Prenter was told the accused is currently a student.
He agreed to an eight-week adjournment, telling Campbell to return to court in February.
There has been anger among Ulster holiday makers after their plans to celebrate the New Year in London were grounded due to freezing fog.
A number of flights to London airports from both Belfast City Airport and Belfast International Airport were cancelled on Friday.
The cancelled flights included services operated by British Airways, Flybe, Easyjet and Ryanair to airports including London Heathrow, Gatwick, Stanstead, Luton and Southampton.
Co Antrim man Craig Lutton told the Belfast Telegraph he and his family have missed out on his planned New Years celebrations in London due to the chaos.
He said their trip had been booked and looked forward to since Feburary.
They had been booked on to a Flybe flight to London City Airport due to depart at 1.25pm on Friday, but instead he left the airport to return home to Ballymena on Friday evening.
Totally devastated missing our family trip to London for NYE, he said.
No one for answering questions. A shambolic day, George Best would have been ashamed of his airport!
Mr Lutton said it was not confirmed that the flight was cancelled until 4pm leaving a number of passengers extremely frustrated.
He is a music student studying in London and said while the flight he has been offered will get him back in time for the new term
Belfast man David McCleery was also due to be on the same flight, and described the scenes as chaos.
We checked in, then no info until we were told flight cancelled at 4pm, he told the Belfast Telegraph.
Totally understand the problems with weather, but the airport lack of management was disgraceful with no-one prepared to take ownership of the total chaos - only a few junior airport staff sent out with no info to pass on - and it was really unfair on them to be put in that situation amongst hundreds of stranded passengers.
Mr McCleery currently lives in Bristol and had been home in Belfast for the festive season.
I managed to get help by contacting Flybe on Twitter - and got them to rebook me on a flight to Exeter tomorrow (Saturday) - as it looked like that was the only way of getting back to England before 2 or 3 Jan (I checked all airlines, from both Belfast airports, Derry, Knock and Dublin!).
I was due to go to Suffolk for NYE but have cancelled those plans, as by the time I get back to London, it will be too late to head up to Suffolk!
A spokeswoman for Flybe said the airline has "experienced disruption to a number of its flights to the South of England today due to heavy fog".
"Passengers whose flights have been cancelled are being accommodated on the next available flight or offered a full refund," she said.
"Passengers who are delayed for two hours or more will be given refreshment vouchers in the airport by airport staff.
"Flybe regrets the inconvenience experienced due to the adverse weather conditions that are entirely out of its control.
"The safety of its passengers and crew is the airlines number one priority and it would like to thank its customers for their continued patience."
The blanket of fog covered the south east of England on Friday causing cancellations and delays at major airports.
Travelling today? Tweet your Airline for flight info or call:@AerLingus 0333 006 6920@flybe 0371 700 2000@British_Airways 0844 493 0787 Belfast City Airport (@BELFASTCITY_AIR) December 30, 2016
A spokesman for Belfast City Airport said it remained fully operational, but the adverse weather conditions in southern England caused a number of flights to be cancelled.
A spokesman for Belfast International Airport confirmed flights had been cancelled there too.
He advised passengers hoping to travel to London this weekend to keep in contact with airlines for further information.
Former Moderator of the Presbyterian Church, the Rev Dr John Dunlop, encouraged his children to leave Northern Ireland in the 1980s, newly released archives show
A former leader of the Presbyterian Church in Ireland encouraged his children to move away from Northern Ireland because he believed Britain will eventually pull out, according to just released state papers.
Rev John Dunlop, a North Belfast minister known for his cross-community peace-building and who went on to become Moderator of the church, met an Irish government official at his home in December 1986.
Notes of the meeting, just released in the National Archives in Dublin, show Rev Dunlop "speculated that, in the longer term, the British Government would decide for financial reasons to withdraw from Northern Ireland".
"The (Anglo-Irish) Agreement already pointed in this direction.
"He believed that in that eventuality a lot of unionists would move to Britain.
"Already quite a few unionists (including himself) were advising their children to seek employment not in Northern Ireland but in Britain."
He was granted bail but banned from any contact with the alleged victim.
A man arrested with a knife in west Belfast had allegedly made Facebook threats to kill his brother, a court heard today.
Eamon McKee, 28, was detained on Thursday night following social media exchanges his lawyer described as just two siblings "puffing their chests out".
The 28-year-old, of Corrib Avenue in the Lenadoon district, appeared before Belfast Magistrates' Court charged with threats to kill and possessing a blade or point in the Beechmount Walk area.
He was granted bail but banned from any contact with the alleged victim.
Police had opposed McKee's release, claiming there risks to his safety and that of his brother.
The court heard the accused had tried to commit suicide over the Christmas period.
"That together with the fact he threatened his own brother and was carrying a knife would be our main concerns," a PSNI constable said.
Defence solicitor Paul Farrell argued that McKee had told police about the blade in his pocket when they arrived at the scene close to his mother's home.
Mr Farrell claimed the alleged threat on Facebook was provoked by similar comments from the alleged victim.
"The police case is the defendant sent a photograph of himself holding a knife to his brother, making veiled threats of 'I will see you' and things along those lines," he told the court.
"It's two brothers effectively puffing their chests out against each other."
He added that his client only had the knife for possible self-harm.
Granting bail, Deputy District Judge Peter Prenter imposed a curfew and ordered McKee to seek any mental health treatment his GP feels is required.
He also told the accused: "You are to have no contact with the injured party directly, indirectly or on social media."
Rescue services at the Lagan Weir last night during the serach for a missing man
A man was pulled from the River Lagan in Belfast last night in a dramatic joint rescue operation.
NI Fire and Rescue Service personnel joined the Community Rescue Service team in the late night operation, which was co-ordinated by the PSNI.
Speaking to the Belfast Telegraph last night, Sean McCarry of the Community Rescue Service said: "We were called out following a report of a man entering the Lagan just above the weir.
"After a search in the darkness, one of our boats spotted him and was able to pull the man out of the water."
He received first aid at the river's edge, but Ambulance Service paramedics felt his condition was so serious he was rushed by ambulance to hospital for treatment."
A Co Down man who molested three young boys under the age of 13 over a six-year period has been sent to jail
A Co Down man who molested three young boys under the age of 13 over a six-year period has been sent to jail.
The 53-year-old grandfather, who cannot be named, was yesterday jailed for 12 months by Judge Piers Grant, and was also informed he will spend an additional 18 months on probation following his release from prison.
Sending the man down, Judge Grant said he targeted vulnerable young boys "in a planned, premeditated and calculated way".
Downpatrick Crown Court, sitting in Belfast, heard that the abuse occurred over a six-year period between 1977 and 1983.
The abuse occurred in various locations in the Co Down village where both the abuser and his three young victims lived, including in their homes as he babysat, and in a disused lorry.
At the time of the offending the defendant was aged between 14 and 19.
Passing sentence, Judge Grant noted that two of the complainants had been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder, while the third had an adjustment disorder.
Judge Grant also noted that the defendant had himself been abused as a youngster by four men.
The judge said that, due to this experience, the defendant knew what he was doing to his three young victims was wrong, but added that despite this he "continued to behave in this way".
Despite initial denials, the 53-year-old pleaded guilty to a total of 22 offences, including multiple counts of indecent assault and gross indecency.
The court heard that the defendant's offending came to light in 2014 after the first complainant came forward.
He told police that, during the summer of 1981, he was abused by the defendant. The first incident he remembered was in his parents' bedroom when he was aged 12 and the defendant was 17.
When the defendant was arrested in October 2014 and questioned about allegations made against him, he initially denied the claims.
But he did inform police that he had abused another young boy.
When this victim was contacted, he provided police with a full and detailed statement during which he said he was abused regularly by the defendant over a 10-month period.
He also said that, on some occasions, the defendant had offered him money to perform sex acts. This complainant was targeted when he was aged eight and the defendant was 14.
The third complainant said he was sexually abused by the defendant on a regular basis for around two years.
Judge Grant said this victim was "threatened into silence" by the defendant, who at the time told his victim not to tell anyone or he would be in trouble.
Sending the man to prison, Judge Grant told him that it was "quite clear that on each occasion, you isolated the victims in order to abuse them... and you kept them available to you and you alone".
Accepting that the defendant had a troubled upbringing and was an alcoholic, Judge Grant noted there had been no further offending since 1985.
As well as being handed a jail term, the man was made the subject of a 10-year Sexual Offences Prevention Order, and was placed on the sex offenders register for an indefinite period.
What would repeal of the federal Affordable Care Act mean for the 61,000 Montanans who have Medicaid coverage under that law?
According to Montana law, their Medicaid would end if the federal government stops paying 90 percent or more of the costs of their care. The ACA says that funding will never be less than 90 percent of costs.
Last year, the Republican majority in Congress passed a bill repealing parts of the Affordable Care Act, including provisions that authorize funding for Medicaid expansion in the 50 states. President Barack Obama vetoed that bill.
In 2016, the federal government paid virtually 100 percent of the costs of caring for the 61,000 new enrollees. By contrast, the state of Montana is responsible for about 30 percent of the costs of caring for the rest of its Medicaid enrollees children, disabled and elderly adults.
The 2015 Montana HELP Act authorized the state to start enrolling low-income people of all ages. The law received bipartisan support from Montanas health care providers, business leaders, clergy and human service organizations.
Since Montana began enrolling folks under the HELP Act on Jan. 1, 2016, Montana hospitals are seeing fewer people who have no money to pay for needed care. The federal Medicaid money is helping to trim losses at our community hospitals that care for indigent patients.
New Medicaid enrollees live in all 56 counties, including 8,174 in Yellowstone County.
The HELP Act has been tremendously successful in 2016. If Congress repeals it, all Montanans will feel the pain. The cost shift of indigent care to those who have insurance will intensify. Lives will be disrupted as people scramble to find care they need, but cant afford.
The Washington, D.C., GOP idea of repealing the ACA without first figuring out a replacement plan is bad medicine for the nation and for Montana.
Congress should not rip health care away from tens of thousands of Montanans and millions of Americans without first presenting a real and viable alternative that protects patients and that provides a foundation for states, health care providers and insurers to responsibly plan for the future, Gov. Steve Bullock wrote in a letter to U.S. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy the week before Christmas. Bullock is right.
The leader of the Montana House agrees that Montanans cant be left without the coverage they got starting in January 2016. The state of Montana is going to have to look at trying to help keep those people covered, Speaker Austin Knudsen, R-Culbertson, told The Gazette.
But neither the governor nor the Montana Legislature can know how to plan until Congress presents its plan. We call on Montanas Congressional delegation Jon Tester, Steve Daines and Ryan Zinke to ensure that Montana is protected from ACA repeal without replacement.
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Tom King, right, with Commonwealth Secretary Geoffrey Howe, second from right, and Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher shaking hands with Irish Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald
Northern Ireland Secretary of State Tom King was "a major problem" during a critical episode in Anglo-Irish relations, a high-ranking official reported.
In a secret briefing to then Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald in January 1986, Lord King was described as "not bright", outraged by the Anglo-Irish Agreement and distrustful of Dublin.
The official Irish assessment, just released into the National Archives in Dublin, was written up by Michael Lillis, who co-headed the Anglo-Irish Secretariat in Belfast at the time.
The fledgling peace-building institution was set up in the wake of the landmark Anglo-Irish Agreement, signed by Mr FitzGerald and Margaret Thatcher just months beforehand.
In a 13-page analysis of "some serious problems" amid an unexpectedly vociferous unionist backlash to the accord, Mr King was highlighted as one.
Mr Lillis reported to Dublin that he had been told by people very close to Mr King that he is "not bright" and "in his 'gut'opposed to, even outraged by, the Agreement" which he thought unfair to unionists.
Furthermore, the Secretary of State was convinced that British negotiators were mistaken and misled in their "estimate of the effects of the Agreement" on unionists and Mr King was also "distrustful of Dublin".
But because of a changing of senior British government figures in the region, he had become the "untrammelled supremo on the British side" and as such would set the pace of the Agreement's implementation.
This was causing problems for Dublin, who wanted to reforms made quickly and clearly.
Mr King, at the time, believed progress should be more subtle in the face of a growing revolt.
In a clearly pessimistic view of him, Mr Lillis suggested the only positive factor about the Secretary of State was that his appointment was a "demotion" and so his "last chance to restore his career" which effectively meant making a success out of the Agreement.
Members of the Ulster Defence Regiment mount a guard of honour for the Queen at Hillsborough Castle in 1977
Officers lacked control over part-time members of the Ulster Defence Regiment during the Troubles, an Army review said.
Some members of the regiment have been accused of passing weapons to loyalists.
A major internal stock take more than 25 years ago found weaknesses in the manning system for officers.
The 1989 report, endorsed by the Chief of the General Staff, also showed police security checking was slow and inefficient and those with no Irish connections transferring from the regular Army were not fully screened.
There was no security interview of potential applicants or security declaration required.
The military report said: "The current manning system for officers in the UDR and for part-time soldiers operating in the UDR has security weaknesses.
"Officers from the same area as their soldiers can have divided loyalties. There is a lack of control over the part-time element."
It said screening was heavily reliant upon accurate Royal Ulster Constabulary (RUC) information, an area outside the Army's control.
"The RUC manual card system can be slow and less than completely efficient.
"There is a lack of a single computerised database to speed passage of information."
The UDR was a largely homegrown regiment dedicated to supporting the Royal Ulster Constabulary in combating paramilitarism. Well-respected former members include Fermanagh and South Tyrone MP Tom Elliott.
While unionists have lauded it for holding the line against terrorism there have been claims of collusion with loyalists, including the passing on of weapons, since the 1970s.
Last year, victims' relatives took legal action, claiming a murder gang based at a farm in Glenanne, Armagh, contained members of the RUC and UDR.
Up to 120 murders in nearly 90 incidents in Mid Ulster and Irish border areas were under scrutiny.
An internal report on the UDR was released in official files published by the Public Records Office of Northern Ireland (PRONI) on Friday.
It said the UDR selection board lacked a dedicated officer so could not pay sufficient attention to detail during the recruitment process.
"Soldiers with no Irish connection transferring from the regular Army to the UDR are not fully screened," it said.
It added that there was no formal system of re-screening once individuals had joined the UDR.
John Stalker was asked to investigate the RUC shootings of six people but was removed from the inquiry shortly before it was due to report in 1986
A police chief who investigated an alleged shoot-to-kill policy in Northern Ireland confided in a diplomat that he was not concerned about a cover-up but "murder, six murders", newly declassified files show.
There were also behind-the-scenes fears that a Masonic plot within the police against John Stalker could be revealed during one of the most controversial episodes of the Troubles, according to the documents marked "Secret".
Mr Stalker was asked to investigate the RUC shootings of six people but was removed from the inquiry shortly before it was due to report in 1986.
He was taken off the case at the moment he believed he was about to obtain an MI5 tape of one of the shootings.
Suspended over allegations of associating with criminals, he was later cleared of any wrongdoing and reinstated in his job as deputy chief constable of Greater Manchester Police but his report was never published.
Mr Stalker unexpectedly turned up at the opening of the Irish Centre in Manchester in November 1986, just months after his controversial suspension from the inquiry.
Then Irish ambassador to London Noel Dorr wrote to then taoiseach Garret FitzGerald about a brief private conversation with the police chief at the event.
Mr Stalker complained he never had access to politicians at any stage during this inquiry and was "convinced" had he been allowed to talk to then home secretary Douglas Hurd "he would have got attention to what he was saying".
"Stalker said that what he was trying as forcefully as he could to bring to attention ('to shout') was that what he was concerned with was not the minor question of lying or covering something up - 'it was murder, six murders'," Mr Dorr wrote.
"He believed very strongly that if he could have got through to Ministers with this message they would have supported him."
He added: "Instead he had, at all times, to go through the Chief Constable and the Home Office Inspectorate and they blocked and muffled what he wanted to say."
At the time, Mr Stalker told the Irish diplomat he had completed reports into five of the six deaths as well as 90% of his report into the RUC and "very much feared now that what he had done will be rewritten by other hands".
"In general he found the RUC were all right except for some people very near the top who were very much to blame," wrote Mr Dorr.
It was "sad and ironic" that the force's opposition to his investigation had damaged it much more than had it co-operated, acknowledged wrongdoing and turned over a new leaf, Mr Stalker said to him.
The classified files also revealed a behind-the-scenes furore over Mr Stalker being photographed at the Irish Centre launch along with Dublin's then foreign affairs minister Peter Barry.
Secretary of state Tom King summoned a senior Irish official in Belfast and "using very strong language ... for some time" let it be known he was extremely shocked to see the photo in the newspapers.
"He said the impact in Northern Ireland was damaging and that the police believed that the minister had deliberately set up the situation to support Stalker and demoralise them," Mr King told the official, according to the notes.
Some months beforehand in July, a senior Irish official met with Andrew Mackay MP, then parliamentary private secretary to Mr King, for lunch in London.
During the meeting, Mr Mackay - who would later become shadow secretary of state for Northern Ireland - said he feared a police plot against Mr Stalker.
"On the Stalker affair, he sincerely hopes that a Masonic or other plot within the police to stifle Stalker will not be revealed," the MP told the official, according to notes of the meeting.
"If it is, he believes that the implications would be wide-reaching and very serious: certainly involving, he feels, (RUC Chief Constable John) Hermon's resignation.
"He hoped, rather, that the matter will be resolved in such a way as to allow the contents of the report to be finalised and acted on."
The SDLP has vowed to fight "tooth and nail" against a Sinn Fein proposal to increase rate bills for up to 7,000 homes.
Belfast councillor Declan Boyle described the proposed rise as "grossly unfair".
He also said the cash for ash scandal showed the Executive could not be trusted not to squander ratepayers' money on "hare-brained projects".
Councillor Boyle and South Belfast MP Dr Alasdair McDonnell are organising a public meeting next month to oppose the removal of the cap on domestic rates.
Sinn Fein Finance Minister Mairtin O Muilleoir announced what he called "the biggest shake-up in rating policy in a generation" last month.
Under the current system, a house with a rateable value of more than 400,000 has its rates bill assessed as though it was valued at 400,000.
Rates are property taxes paid by households and businesses, and are based on the value of the property.
But Mr O Muilleoir wants rates to be levied on the portion above 400,000 in order to ensure a "more proportionate contribution" from those in high-value homes.
It has been estimated that this would raise around 4.5m for the Executive. But the DUP in November voiced support for the current rate.
Councillor Boyle said he had been inundated with calls from residents in his south Belfast constituency who fear their rates could double, leaving them with bills of up to 6,000 per year.
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The sale of "Foxleigh Hall" represents a truly unique opportunity to purchase which is unquestionably one of the finest homes in County Down, if not, Northern Ireland. Quality, grandeur and luxury abound in a home which has raised considerably the benchmark for prestige establishing itself as a magnificent landmark residence in one of County Down's most sought after locations. No 1 - 2,500,000 - Verona, 42 Malone Park, Belfast - Exceptional detached family residence situated No 1 - 2,500,000 - Verona, 42 Malone Park, Belfast - Exceptional detached family residence situated / Facebook
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Whatsapp =No 9 - 1,350,000 - Springwell Lodge, Springwell Road, Bangor. Springwell Lodge provides a unique opportunity to purchase a large family detached home set on circa 4 acres comprising of gardens, patios, a full sized tennis court, and a raised deck with panoramic views over rolling countryside towards the Irish Sea past the country Antrim headlands to Scotland and the Mournes to the rear. Set between Donaghadee and Bangor, within easy reach of Newtownards,
Above - Check out Northern Ireland's 10 most expensive homes December 2016
He also claimed there were many pensioners living on meagre incomes, but whose houses had a high rateable value.
"The idea that people in big houses can well afford a rise in rates at first may seem reasonable," Mr Boyle said.
"But it's based on the totally wrong perception that residents of Stranmillis, Lisburn and the Malone Road are all loaded.
"There are plenty of people who worked hard to buy their homes, but whose incomes have shrunk considerably through time or circumstance.
"If rates are to rise, it would be fairer to introduce means-testing, rather than to hand someone a huge bill based purely on their address."
Councillor Boyle said the property crash meant that the rateable value of many homes in south Belfast was substantially higher than their current market value.
"People are being asked to pay rates based on an old valuation that is totally unrealistic today," he added.
"And homeowners don't deserve another property tax. They already paid one when they bought their houses - stamp duty."
Mr Boyle also claimed ratepayers had no faith that the Executive would use their money wisely. "They fear that this will be another few million going down the Stormont drain," he said.
Arlene Foster is facing fresh calls to release all documents relating to the cash for ash scandal following the emergence of letters she wrote to a number of major banks.
The messages, which were signed by Mrs Foster in her previous role as Minister of the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI), were sent to the Northern Ireland chiefs of Ulster Bank, Danske Bank, Bank of Ireland, First Trust, HSBC, Barclays and Santander.
In them, Mrs Foster asked the banks to look favourably upon approaches from businesses seeking finance to install renewable technologies. The government support on offer through the incentive schemes is reliable, long-term and offers a good return on investment, she wrote.
If you would find it useful, DETI officials would be happy to arrange a seminar for financial institutions to explain further the current and proposed financial mechanisms.
Your support in working towards a more secure and sustainable energy future would be much appreciated.
Two political parties last night expressed concerns at the revelation that Mrs Foster had promoted the scheme.
UUP MLA Steve Aiken said the Executive needs to publish all material in relation to the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scheme. TUV leader Jim Allister, meanwhile called for a full judicial inquiry.
With each new revelation, the need for a full judicial inquiry becomes more imperative, he stressed.
It emerged earlier this year that the RHI programme, which was launched by DETI in November 2012 to encourage more people to invest in renewable energy technologies, was fundamentally flawed.
Under its terms, people who successfully applied were able to earn money for pointlessly burning fuel, without breaking the law while doing so.
Earlier this month former DETI minister Jonathan Bell dramatically made a number of shocking claims about how the scheme was handled in an explosive interview with the Stephen Nolan show.
Mr Bell has not commented on the issue since then, but he has indicated that he is considering taking legal action against Mrs Foster over comments she made in a responding interview on the shame show.
After the programme was aired, the SDLP put to the Assembly a no-confidence motion against Mrs Foster as First Minister, but it failed.
Deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness has previously called for her to step aside while an investigation is carried out into the RHI scheme.
The First Minister has also backed calls for an inquiry to be carried out.
Northern Ireland First Minister Arlene Foster has remained defiant amid the 'ash for cash' RHI scandal
One of Arlene Foster's ministerial colleagues has claimed political rivals calling for her resignation as Stormont First Minister are more interested in a scalp than the truth.
Stormont Economy minister and fellow Democratic Unionist Simon Hamilton defended his party leader after a renewed wave of calls for her to step aside over her handling of a botched green energy scheme.
He accused opposition MLAs attacking the DUP leader over the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) scandal of offering nothing more than "party political attacks and resignation calls".
"On the one hand they call for a process to establish the facts but they have already decided what the outcome should be," he said.
Mr Hamilton was reacting to the publication of a letter Mrs Foster sent to bankers about the RHI when she was economy minister in January 2013.
In it she said payments made under the scheme would be "guaranteed" - an assertion that prompted rivals to rubbish her current stance that half of the estimated 490 million overspend could be clawed back.
In the two-page letter to Northern Ireland's leading banks, Mrs Foster said the state-funded eco-subsidies offered applicants a "good return on investment".
Errors in the RHI have left Stormont facing a huge overspend bill over the next 20 years.
It was supposed to offer a proportion of the cost businesses had to pay to run eco-friendly boilers, but the tariffs were set too high, and without a cap, so it ended up paying significantly more than the price of fuel.
This enabled applicants to "burn to earn" - getting free heat and making a profit as they did it.
Claims of widespread abuse include a farmer allegedly set to pocket around 1 million in the next two decades for heating an empty shed.
Mr Hamilton, who issued a statement through the DUP, not his department, said Mrs Foster wrote the letter before the fatal weaknesses in the scheme came to light.
"These letters, issued in 2013, once again highlight the fact that there was a significant underspend in the early years of the RHI scheme and far from highlighting an awareness of the issues which have subsequently come to light, further reinforce the fact that the department was operating, at that time, under a serious misapprehension about the scheme," he said.
He added: "Had the scheme operated as described in the letter then the present problems would not exist.
"The DUP supports an investigation which can be entirely free from political interference and which can report speedily in order to assist public confidence."
Jim Allister, leader of the Traditional Unionist Voice party, said: "So the DUP's latest excuse for the biggest taxpayer rip-off in our history is that Arlene Foster acted under a 'misapprehension' when she approved the RHI scheme.
"So incompetence in government is now the DUP's refuge - a commentary in itself."
Mrs Foster, who was in charge of the scheme's development during her time as economy minister, has faced down calls to quit from all the other main Stormont parties, including the DUP's partner in the ruling executive, Sinn Fein.
She has remained defiant amid the "ash for cash" furore and insisted the projected overspend can be halved.
That prediction was challenged after the contents of the bank letter were revealed on Thursday night.
She wrote: " Tariffs are 'grandfathered', providing certainty for investors by setting a guaranteed support level for projects for their lifetime in a scheme, regardless of future reviews."
Mrs Foster added: "The government support, on offer through the incentive schemes, is reliable, long term and offers a good return on investment."
The letter was written to encourage banks to lend to would-be RHI applicants who needed initial capital to purchase the costly green boilers.
Ulster Unionist leader Mike Nesbitt claimed the First Minister's leadership was characterised by "incompetence, ineptitude and haplessness".
"Mrs Foster has not only failed to do the honourable thing, by accepting the consequences of ministerial responsibility and resigning, she has spun a web in which she now finds herself trapped, ensuring a legacy of debt to be paid by children yet to be born, and leaving her reputation as a competent minister in tatters," he said.
SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said: "Arlene Foster's instinctive resistance to calls for her to stand aside pending a public inquiry is understandable but it is fundamentally misguided.
"This is about more than the career of one politician. The longer the First Minister stays, the more lasting damage she does to the institutions and to faith in government.
"If Arlene Foster has done nothing wrong, as she claims, then she has nothing to fear from a public inquiry with full powers to compel witnesses and evidence."
It was originally envisaged that the Treasury would foot the bill for the RHI, but the costs spiralled well beyond London's financial commitment. The total RHI spend in Northern Ireland is estimated at 1,150 million over the next 20 years.
The Treasury is set to cover 660 million of that, with Stormont landed with the remaining 490 million.
A spokeswoman for the Department for Economy said Mrs Foster's letter was "reasonable and appropriate" given the context facing the minister in January 2013.
She said the flaws in the scheme were not well documented at the time the letter was written.
In his new year message, Sinn Fein President Gerry Adams claimed the DUP had "seriously damaged the credibility of the Assembly, Executive and the office of the First and Deputy First Minister".
"The DUP's actions are not acceptable and this issue is not going away," he added.
"I hope that First Minister Arlene Foster is using this time to reflect on the crisis and that she will facilitate the sort of robust and thorough investigation that is required to deal with this scandal."
Sir John Hermon was Chief Constable of Royal Ulster Constabulary from 1980 to 1989 (PSNI/PA)
A former chief constable of the RUC argued against the reintroduction of the death penalty in Northern Ireland in 1983.
Sir John Hermon said it was unlikely to deter terrorists claiming political motivation.
The exchange was revealed in the 1990 official files made public at the Public Records Office Northern Ireland (PRONI). The issue had been revisited by the Government that year, with then chief constable Sir Hugh Annesley reiterating his predecessor's advice about the impact of the sentence.
Sir John wrote: "They are much more likely to see and use the 'death penalty' as a vehicle by which to extend their political influence and to attract support both nationally and internationally to their 'cause'."
Sir John led the force from 1980 to 1989.
He wrote: "No sound reason can be found for the re-introduction of capital punishment that could be supported at the present either by logic or argument.
"The main perpetrators of these crimes are terrorists claiming political motivation and they are most unlikely to be influenced by any fear of death as a legal consequence of their actions."
The negative effects on security in Northern Ireland of introducing the capital sentence had been acknowledged by Sir John in a report he prepared for Government in 1983.
Seven years later the NIO revisited the issue and sought the advice of Sir Hugh.
Sir John said many terrorists were on the fringe of 18 years old, possibly too young for the death penalty.
"The death penalty could be avoided by increasing the 'use' of young persons by terrorist organisations," he added.
Avoca Court in west Belfast, where police were last night investigating the death of a teenager in a flat
A teenager was found dead in his bed at a Belfast apartment yesterday.
Police officers sealed off the scene at Avoca Court as they launched a probe into the cause of the young man's death.
Initial reports suggested the dead teenager was found by a relative.
Sinn Fein councillor Steven Corr said: "At this point we can only pray for the young man and for his family.
"I want to offer the family my sincere condolences on their tragic loss."
It is believed the young man worked in the technology industry, carrying out computer and smartphone repairs from his address.
How the teenager died is at this stage unknown.
It is expected that a post-mortem examination will be carried out in the near future.
The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service confirmed last night that police had not asked paramedics to attend the scene of the death.
HELENA In the wake of recent anti-Semitic threats and online harassment in Montana, members of the Jewish community gathered in the Capitol Wednesday for the annual menorah lighting ceremony.
The gathering celebrated Hanukkah, and Jewish leaders emphasized the importance of bringing light into an often dark world.
Gov. Steve Bullock joined the ceremony, and spoke to over 60 people in the rotunda. He co-authored an open letter to Montanans with Attorney General Tim Fox, Rep. Ryan Zinke and Sens. Steve Daines and Jon Tester earlier this week to denounce threats made toward the Jewish community in Whitefish. The letter said the officials will stand together despite any political differences to stand up for whats right.
On Wednesday, Gov. Bullock reiterated his support for the Jewish community in Montana. He called on Montanans to recommit to shared values of humility, charity and tolerance.
We gather here to do more than light a candle. We gather to celebrate the triumph of light over darkness, spirituality over materiality, and of purity over adulteration, Bullock said. May we continue this commitment long beyond Hanukkah and the holiday season.
On Dec. 20, a column was published in the Missoulian by Laurie Franklin, a spiritual leader of Har Shalom in Missoula. She was unable to make it to Helena on Wednesday, but her letter was read in full.
After the Jewish people defeated Antiochus IV and his invading forces, she explains, they rededicated their Holy Temple by lighting the temple lamp with the one remaining jug of holy oil. It was only supposed to keep the menorah lit for one night, but instead lasted eight days.
Hanukkah, or the festival of lights, celebrates the miracle by lighting one candle each night until all eight are lit. The word Hanukkah means dedication, and Franklin wrote that she will be rededicating herself to freedom.
Once again, I declare to the world, I am a Jew, and I love my religious and cultural heritage, my ancestors, my family and my Jewish community, she wrote.
Franklin invited Montanans to join her in placing a menorah in their window in solidarity after neo-Nazi fliers were distributed in Missoula.
We will not remain silent when fellow citizens applaud the ugliness of the Nazi regime and dare to suggest that it offers a model for society. We will do everything in our power to oppose the rise of hateful rhetoric and action directed towards Jews and all other groups," she wrote.
Rabbi Chaim Bruk of Bozeman provided a teaching on why the menorah has nine candles. The ninth candle is called the shamash, or the helping candle, and typically sits higher than the other eight candles.
Bruk said he encourages people to embody the helping candle by going above and beyond to help others and perform simple acts of kindness, especially in a time when Jewish people in Montana are being threatened and harassed. Instead of reacting to evil with anger, Bruk called for the community to respond to hateful people with love.
They are absolutely allergic to light, he said. Respond with something they cant counter with.
While the Jewish community has a history full of persecution, Rabbi Ed Stafman of Bozeman acknowledged the need to stand up for any group who faces oppression. He said the Bible repeatedly says people should not mistreat or oppress foreigners, because they were strangers themselves in Egypt.
According to the Southern Poverty Law Center, there were almost 900 incidents of harassment or intimidation in the 10 days after the election. Of the reported incidents, 100 were anti-Semitic and 49 were anti-Muslim. President-elect Donald Trump has called for a ban on Muslim immigration, and said he was open to a registry of Muslims already in the country.
Ill be the first one to register, Stafman said.
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, seen here with his wife in 2008, was head of the Civil Service in Northern Ireland in 1986
Northern Ireland's top civil servant suggested "doing nothing" to tackle loyalist violence to teach unionists that it "does not pay", according to secret files just released under the 30- year rule.
Sir Kenneth Bloomfield, who went on to become the region's Victims Commissioner, told Irish officials during a confidential meeting in April 1986 that a "completely logical line of action" amid increasing unrest would be no action at all.
There was a ferocious unionist backlash at the time to the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
"The situation in the North is becoming more serious by the week," he said, according to notes of his meeting with senior Anglo-Irish negotiators at Government Buildings in Dublin.
"The petrol bombing and attacks on police houses are particularly worrying."
Sir Kenneth said senior politicians were "becoming more concerned daily".
He suggested: "One alternative would be to look to a long campaign of violence and attrition - doing nothing and bringing home to the unionists that this sort of action just does not pay.
"There may be arguments for this, which could be a completely logical line of action."
But he added: "On the other hand, there are arguments now for discussions, which could bring constitutional politics back into the picture again."
He went on to say: "There is much to be said for encouraging dialogues within Northern Ireland among the political parties."
Sir Kenneth was head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service at the time.
Aodan Mac Poilin, who died yesterday aged 69, was a champion of the Irish language.
He had a particular gift for calming dissension - and he needed it because there were many fights he could have become embroiled in.
He knew that he was perceived by Sinn Fein as a problem, a safe pair of hands for Irish language funding during the Troubles.
He also knew that some saw him as enabling the Government in those days to present itself as helping the language while at the same time keeping a distance from republicans.
As director of the Ultach Trust, Mr Mac Poilin sought to promote the language without its political connotations.
There were others who sought to use it as a tribal badge, even to rewrite the history of the IRA to view its campaign as a struggle for language rights. But Aodan did not want the language to be anyone's weapon, or shield.
He also knew that past government efforts in the South to revive the language through funding and legislation had failed.
Mr Mac Poilin was a fluent speaker, part of a Gaeltacht community formed on the Shaw's Road in Belfast in 1969. He was a founder member of the Ultach Trust, which sought to reach across the communities in Northern Ireland, perhaps not least by the use of the Irish for Ulster (Ultach) in the title.
He was at the forefront of much Irish language promotion, through TG4, the Ultach Trust and the Cultural Traditions Group, and he was also a member of the board of the Seamus Heaney Centre.
His preference for the diplomatic management of conflict shone through in two recent quarrels.
When funding was cut to Ultach Trust education projects, he declined the opportunity to take a swipe at the then Culture Minister, Caral Ni Chuilin, claiming that she was more likely to have been asleep on the job than to be avenging herself on him. And when, on another occasion, language activists accused senior civil servants of a bias against the Irish language, he sought to deflect that charge to DUP ministers who had not done as much as they could have done.
This is the Aodan that I met at many committee meetings in the Cultural Traditions Group, or when I approached him as a journalist to try and tease a news angle out of him.
I was most often rebuffed with a soft chuckle and a deflection, an easy confidence that things would work out, or at least turn out for the better if he did not get rattled.
He was a cultural egalitarian, who wanted as much to preserve the Ulster-Scots tradition as the Gaelic one. He perhaps got little thanks for that.
Two years ago, the cross-border body Foras na Gaeilge, charged with supporting the language on an all-island basis, stopped funding the Ultach Trust and other Northern groups.
Aodan pledged then that Ultach would continue on a voluntary basis; no other group, in his view, having the reach into the Protestant community that Ultach had.
Yesterday, it lost its leader.
Tony Blair was rumoured to have been planning a comeback
Tony Blair will not return to the House of Commons while Jeremy Corbyn is in charge of Labour, the party leader has said.
Mr Corbyn said "nuanced differences of opinion" would prevent the former prime minister's return to Parliamentary politics inside Labour, which he led to three successive general election victories between 1997 and 2005.
This summer Mr Corbyn backed a motion declaring his predecessor guilty of "contempt" following the release of the Chilcot Report, while Mr Blair was later reported to be mulling a comeback because he considered the Islington North MP a "nutter".
Mr Corbyn told The Guardian: "I think the nuanced differences of opinion between me and Tony Blair are quite well known.
"I dont see Tony Blair and I working together. I dont think he does either."
Mr Blair ruled himself out of the upcoming byelection in Copeland, Cumbria, triggered by Jamie Reed's resignation, the Labour leader added. Mr Reed has been a public critic of Mr Corbyn, describing himself light-heartedly as Red Leader, Rebel Alliance on Twitter.
Labour is ramping up preparations to relaunch Mr Corbyn as a left-wing populist figure in the new year as it seeks to ride an anti-politics mood following Brexit.
Senior party officials reportedly believe his unpolished authenticity could gather support from the same anti-establishment sentiment that has heralded the popularity of the likes of Donald Trump and Nigel Farage, and believe this could bolster his chances in a potential early election.
In an interview with The Independent, Mr Corbyn said his MPs would back a vote for an early election if Theresa May decided to call one.
The Irish Coast Guard co-ordinated responses to 2,500 incidents from its main bases in 2016
More than 400 lives were saved during sea rescues this year, the Coast Guard has said.
The rescue missions were among 2,500 incidents co-ordinated from the agency's main bases at Dublin, Malin, Co Donegal, and Valentia, Co Kerry.
At the end of 2016, the Coast Guard also warned of an increase in kayaking and surfing-related incidents.
It was called out to 45 kayaking and surfing incidents during the year.
The year also saw tragedy strike the rescue service, with the loss of volunteer Caitriona Lucas, who died during a search operation off Kilkee, Co Clare, in September.
She was the first volunteer member to lose her life on operational service.
The Coast Guard said the death had "cast a dark shadow" over all its activities.
Also during the year, the Coast Guard:
:: Transferred nine patients to the UK for emergency procedures mainly relating to organ transplant
:: Conducted 20 long-range offshore missions involving casualty evacuations more 100 miles from land
:: Flew on 23 suspected pollution investigation missions arising from satellite-based reports
:: Participated in 86 mountain rescue missions
In relation to drowning, the Coast Guard said men remained the most likely victims, with preliminary reports showing that well over half of people needing rescue were not wearing lifejackets.
Eugene Clonan, acting Coast Guard director, thanked all staff and volunteers involved in missions during 2016.
"Sadly, at this time we remember the family of Caitriona Lucas and recall Caitriona as a person who so embodied the volunteer ethos," he added.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said the avian influenza subtype H5N8 was detected in a wild duck in Wexford town
A strain of bird flu has been confirmed in a duck in Co Wexford.
The Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine said the avian influenza subtype H5N8 was detected in a wild duck in Wexford town.
The bird was found alive but unable to fly on December 28.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre said although the H5N8 subtype can cause serious disease in poultry and other birds, no human infections with the virus have been reported worldwide.
The risk to humans has therefore been rated as very low.
The department said the detection was not unexpected, as there had been infections of a "highly pathogenic" variant detected in Great Britain in the last two weeks.
Last week Agriculture Minister Michael Creed introduced regulations under the Animal Health and Welfare Act 2013 requiring the compulsory housing of poultry as a result of the increased threat.
Further tests are being carried out to determine whether the virus found in Ireland is the same highly pathogenic strain that is currently present in Great Britain and mainland Europe.
The results of the tests will not be available until the middle of next week.
A department spokesman said: "The Department reiterates that strict bio-security measures are necessary to prevent the introduction of avian influenza into poultry and captive bird flocks.
"Flock owners should remain vigilant for any signs of disease in their flocks, and report any disease suspicion to their nearest Department Veterinary Office."
Peter Robinson was 'saying things about independence', then-British Cabinet secretary Sir Robert Armstrong said
Northern Ireland's former First Minister Peter Robinson was plotting to declare an independent state amid a feared bloodbath in the aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, British officials believed.
In one of a flurry of high-level intergovernmental meetings in 1986, then-British Cabinet secretary Sir Robert Armstrong - the UK's top-ranking official - told Irish counterparts Mr Robinson was "saying things about independence".
"We may be tending to treat this as unthinkable and to say 'they can't really want it', but the issue may become more real," he warned.
Sir Robert was head of the British civil service and chief advisor to Prime Minster Margaret Thatcher and the Tory Cabinet.
Notes from the meeting at Whitehall, marked "Secret", were sent back from London to then-Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald in Dublin.
Sir Robert told officials that unionists who feared the recently-signed agreement was a precursor to a British withdrawal would prefer an independent Northern Ireland rather than a united Ireland.
"However, they do not appear to have thought out the full consequences of this course - and enthusiasm for it is far less than widespread," he said.
"They obviously have not given full weight to the financial consequences and do not appeared to have considered what their position would be vis a vis the European Community and in the international context."
He told the meeting a lot of unionist thinking "particularly on the part of (Ian) Paisley" was based on the premise that "at some time the British would pull the rug out and that then Northern Ireland would have to go it alone."
"Paisley wanted to be in a position to blame the British if this happened - and also to be at the top of the heap," he said, according to Irish official notes of the meeting, just released into Dublin's National Archives under the 30-year rule.
Concerns of a Rhodesia-style Unilateral Declaration of Independence (UDI) in Belfast were raised repeatedly during several confidential Anglo-Irish meetings that year, the State papers show.
In a meeting with then-Secretary of State Tom King at the Irish Embassy in London in February, Mr Fitzgerald said a risk with keeping the Northern Ireland Assembly going at the time was its being used "to declare UDI".
Mr King, who wanted to keep the forum going "for letting off steam, if nothing else", agreed that was possible.
"Robinson was certainly thinking in those terms," he said.
Mr King said there was "real trouble ahead" as Catholics feared a Protestant backlash to the Agreement, citing a television programme that showed the UDA and UVF getting organised.
"The British were unhappy about the role of some politicians," notes of the meeting state.
"Peter Robinson was certainly in touch with the paramilitaries and the British were also extremely dubious about the role of (former UUP deputy leader) Harold McCusker.
"Even Paisley was now looking over his shoulder to the paramilitaries."
Ken Bloomfield, then head of the Northern Ireland Civil Service, also warned Irish officials in April about an attempted revival of Ulster nationalism.
"Unionists are now beginning to realise that the choice facing them is whether to preserve the union or preserve their ascendancy," he said.
"People going for ascendancy may find themselves, logically, on the independence road - however untenable that may be economically and politically."
Also in April, Mr Fitzgerald met with then-Ulster Unionist Belfast Lord Mayor John Carson.
One of the mayor's officials, Alfie Redpath, told the meeting there were close links between some politicians and the paramilitaries, saying the "thuggery is being manipulated with a purpose".
"Paisley and Robinson seem to be working with a scenario of UDI in mind," he told the Taoiseach.
"They will say, when the violence has reached a certain point, that the only way out is for Ulster to look after itself.
"We could run into a bloodbath."
Mr Fitzgerald responded that unionists purported to support the union but "what they are doing is the opposite".
In March, Sir Robert told Irish ambassador to London Noel Dorr that references to UDI were "highly undesirable" and that the British government had expressed "in the strongest possible terms their opposition to the idea".
No British government could "contemplate UDI on any basis other than one which followed agreement, to take into account, minority problems", the meeting was told.
Seamus Mallon, left, and John Hume were fundamentally split on the definitive issue of a united Ireland
John Hume and Seamus Mallon - the two titans of the SDLP in its heyday - had an open row about whether nationalists really cared about a united Ireland.
The party leader and his deputy, whose differences were mostly kept under wraps during their dominance of northern nationalism for much of the Troubles, were fundamentally split on the definitive issue.
The schism erupted during a meal at the Irish embassy in London in January 1986.
They had been invited, along with other SDLP members and family, by then ambassador Noel Dorr to mark MP Mr Mallon officially taking his newly-won seat for the first time at Westminster.
In a missive - marked "secret" - sent back to Dublin, Mr Dorr told the Irish government "considerable differences of outlook and approach between John Hume and Seamus Mallon came out quite clearly in discussion".
"An argument developed between them in which Hume spoke of the ambivalence of Northern nationalists about Irish unity - they want it but they know the time is not ripe for it and the concept of unity is more important as a factor in what he called 'the tribal conflict' than in itself," the diplomat reported.
Mr Hume argued that his native and predominantly nationalist Derry had closer links with Glasgow than the west of Ireland or even Dublin, according to the newly-declassified documents released into the National Archives.
"Mallon on the other hand disagreed with this and spoke of the desire for Irish unity as a deep motivating force North and South of the border," Mr Dorr said in the letter which was copied to the Taoiseach Garret Fitzgerald and Tanaiste Dick Spring.
"He also challenged Hume's view that Irish unity, of necessity, would have to be a very long-term prospect.
"Mallon sees the Anglo-Irish Agreement as a kind of last throw by constitutional Irish nationalism."
The fledgling agreement had been signed just two months beforehand and was facing a revolt from unionists.
Mr Mallon told the dinner party if it failed the outlook would be "bleak".
But his party leader "dissented" from this analysis - insisting the treaty which gave Dublin an advisory role in Northern Ireland was a new beginning rather than a last opportunity.
Mr Hume argued that a substantial number of Northern Catholics would never support violence in any circumstances, and agreed with a suggestion that there would be "another agreement if the Anglo-Irish Agreement failed".
The pair also appeared to differ on what direction the SDLP should take in the immediate aftermath of the agreement.
Mr Hume said the choice was to "play it safe" by appealing to their own supporters, or to reach out to unionists to resolve the "fundamental historic problem".
He strongly favoured reaching out to unionists and wanted to do it sooner rather than later.
But Mr Mallon had a "longer timetable in mind" and said his voters - many of whom gave him conditional support - were giving the agreement a chance and wanted to see it delivered.
In the letter, Mr Dorr appeals for discretion around his report as he was sure neither Mr Hume nor Mr Mallon would appreciate having their differences talked about.
Northern Ireland workers who lost their jobs as a result of the collapse of high street stalwart BHS are understood to be among hundreds who have contacted a hardship charity once chaired by Charles Dickens.
The firm's administration affected 164 stores and 11,000 employees, including 152 staff at four outlets here.
The Fashion and Textile Children's Trust said it had received applications from a record 460 families over the past six months, and around 275 of them related to former BHS workers, The Daily Telegraph reported.
The charity was founded in 1853 by a group of merchants in the textile industry. It helps children whose parents work in retail but are struggling financially.
In August BHS workers in Belfast were left in tears as the shutters were pulled down on the city centre store for the last time.
Several of the 57 staff were long-serving, with many having worked there for 40 years-plus.
The collapse of BHS after 88 years on the high street affected a total of 22,000 pensions, and sparked a lengthy parliamentary inquiry.
Retail billionaire Sir Philip Green has borne the brunt of the public fallout, having been branded "the unacceptable face of capitalism" by MPs. Sir Philip owned BHS for 15 years before selling it to Dominic Chappell for 1 last year.
He came under fire for taking more than 400m in dividends, leaving BHS with a 571m pension deficit, and for selling the business to a man with no retail experience.
BHS International, formed by the Al Mana Group, is relaunching the brand online, allowing shoppers to buy products from 23 UK-based suppliers.
The company has stressed the online retailer has no links with Sir Philip or Mr Chappell.
File photo dated 22/04/1989 of fans gathering at Anfield for a ceremony of remembrance following the Hillsborough disaster. The final annual Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield will take place later to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday April 15, 2016. Thousands of ordinary fans are expected to gather with the families of those who died in the tragedy to pay their respects one last time at the home of Liverpool FC. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: PA/PA Wire
File photo dated 15/04/1989 of overcrowding at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final at Hillsborough. The final annual Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield will take place later to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Issue date: Friday April 15, 2016. Thousands of ordinary fans are expected to gather with the families of those who died in the tragedy to pay their respects one last time at the home of Liverpool FC. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: David Giles/PA Wire
People gather at Anfield around the Hillsborough memorial before the last memorial service to be held at the Liverpool ground to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
A banner in tribute to the victims of Hillsborough on a shop front outside Anfield, Liverpool, before the last memorial service to be held at the ground to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Flowers are placed at the Hillsborough memorial before the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Roses are carried to be placed at the Hillsborough memorial before the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Flowers are placed at the Hillsborough memorial before the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Roses are placed on the side of the pitch before the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
People look at the list of victims' names at the temporary Hillsborough memorial, ahead of a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: (EDITOR'S NOTE: Image was created as an Equirectangular Panorama. Import image into a panoramic player to create an interactive 360 degree view.) People arrive for a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives took part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool rung during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Flowers and football scarves are pictured at the temporary Hillsborough memorial, ahead of a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Seats with the number 96 before the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Flowers are pictured at the temporary Hillsborough memorial, ahead of a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
People pay their respects at the temporary Hillsborough memorial, ahead of a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
A man prepares to lay flowers bearing a photograph of one of the Hillsborough Disaster victims at the temporary Hillsborough memorial, ahead of a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Flowers and football scarves lay in front of the temporary Hillsborough memorial, ahead of a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Tributes are left outside Anfield stadium before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives took part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool rung during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: People arrive for a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
The congregation gathers before the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: People leave tributes outside Anfield stadium before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Tributes are left outside Anfield stadium before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: A bus displays a message reading 'Remembering the 96' next to it's route information as it drives past Anfield stadium before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: A general view of Anfield stadium before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish arrives for the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Manager Jurgen Klopp arrives for the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Dalglish arrives for the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: A Liverpool fan deep in thought before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Two young mascots for Liverpool FC and Everton FC walk hand in hand across the pitch before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Former Liverpool manager Brendan Rogers (R), and former Liverpool player Jamie Carragher (C) arrive for a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Former Liverpool player and BBC pundit Mark Lawrenson arrives for the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Liverpool's Belgian goalkeeper Simon Mignolet (C) sits with teammates as they attend a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (L) and Liverpool's English midfielder Jordan Henderson attend a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Former Liverpool players Ian Rush (centre left) and Robbie Fowler (centre) during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: A banner is unfurled in front of supporters before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Fans, relatives and Liverpool FC staff and players during a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives took part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool rung out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: A bouquet of flowers in the shape of a football is placed on the pitch before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
People attend a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
Former Liverpool players Bruce Grobbelaar and Phil Thompson (centre) and Alan Hansen during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Tributes are placed on the pitch before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives will take part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Former past and present players and managers take their place during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Children lay flowers on the pitch during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
A banner with former Liverpool player Steven Gerrard is displayed during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: An Everton FC supporter holds up a Liverpool FC supporters shirt during a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives took part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool rung out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Flowers and balloons at the side of the pitch during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Liverpool FC supporters clap during a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives took part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool rang out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Current and former Liverpool players during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Hillsborough campaigners Margaret Aspinal and Trevor Hicks during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Liverpool's German manager Jurgen Klopp (R) arrives with his players to attend a memorial service at Anfield in Liverpool, north west Engand on April 15, 2016, on the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster. 96 Liverpool supporters died at the 1989 FA Cup semi-final between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, northern England. 2016 will be the final year a memorial service is held at Anfield. / AFP PHOTO / PAUL ELLISPAUL ELLIS/AFP/Getty Images
LThe 'Eternal Ring' is seen as Liverpool FC fans sing 'You'll Never Walk Alone' during a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Children lay flowers on the pitch during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Daglish arrives for the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Liverpool FC supporters applaud during a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives took part in the final Anfield memorial service for the 96 victims of the Hillsborough disaster. Earlier this year relatives of the victims agreed that this year's service would be the last. Bells across the City of Liverpool rang out during a one minute silence in memory of the 96 Liverpool supporters who lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi-final match against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Members of the crowd during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Members of the crowd during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Shadow home secretary Andy Burnham shakes hands with former Liverpool player and manager Kenny Daglish before the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Friday April 15, 2016. The 96 Liverpool fans died in the crush on the Leppings Lane terraces at Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough stadium after going to see their team play Nottingham Forest in an FA Cup semi-final on April 15, 1989. See PA story MEMORIAL Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Peter Byrne/PA Wire
Members of the crowd during the last memorial service to be held at Anfield, Liverpool, to mark 27 years to the day since the tragedy claimed 96 lives. PA
People leave tributes outside Anfield stadium before a memorial service to mark the 27th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster, on April 15, 2016 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Liverpool scarves cover 96 seats in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster 25 years ago during the FA Cup Semi Final match at Wembley Stadium, London
The Liverpool players acknowledge a minutes silence for the Hillsborough victims on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
96 empty seats are draped with Liverpool scarves to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster prior to the FA Cup Semi-Final match between Wigan Athletic and Arsenal at Wembley Stadium on April 12, 2014 in London, England. (Photo by Shaun Botterill/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: View of floral tributes laid in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: View of club scarves placed in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: View of floral tributes laid in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: A young fan stands next to floral tributes laid in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
A badge is shown in memory of the Hillsborough disaster, before the Barclays Premier League match at Anfield, Liverpool
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: View of the Hillsborough memorial, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: View of floral tributes laid in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster, on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
A tribute to the 96 fans who died during the Hillsborough disaster, outside the ground before the Sky Bet Championship match at Hillsborough, Sheffield
Liverpool supporters hold banners prior to a minute's silence at their match on Sunday
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: A woman walks past a Hillsborough tribute banner as fans arrive in Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives are attending the service at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring during a one minute silence. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Fans arrive in Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives are attending the service at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring during a one minute silence. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign group march to Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives are attending the service at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring during a one minute silence. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
A scarf is tied to the Shankly Gates at Anfield, before the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service
Family members of Keith McGrath lay flowers at the Hillsborough memorial at Anfield, before the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service
A fan ties a scarf to the Shankly Gates at Anfield, before the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service
Harley Hanson (aged nine) from Sheffield places flowers ahead of the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Hillsborough, Sheffield
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign group march to Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives are attending the service at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring during a one minute silence. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 13: The Liverpool and Manchester City players acknowledge a minutes silence for the Hillsborough victims on the 25th anniversary of the tragedy prior to the Barclays Premier League match between Liverpool and Manchester City at Anfield on April 13, 2014 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: The Liverpool FC flag hangs at half mast as fans arrive in Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives are attending the service at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring during a one minute silence. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: An Everton fan arrives in Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives are attending the service at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring during a one minute silence. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign group march to Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives are attending the service at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring during a one minute silence. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
96, made up of fans scarves, fills the centre circle before the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2014. See PA story SOCCER Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
A general view during the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2014. See PA story SOCCER Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire
A Liverpool fan pays her respect to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster in Market Square, Nottingham. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2014. Photo credit: Rowan Staszkiewicz/PA Wire
A Nottingham Forest fan pays his respect to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster in Market Square, Nottingham. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2014. Photo credit: Rowan Staszkiewicz/PA Wire
Liverpool fans pay their respect to the victims of the Hillsborough disaster in Market Square, Nottingham. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2014. Photo credit: Rowan Staszkiewicz/PA Wire
Members of the public and football fans gather together during the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Hillsborough, Sheffield. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2014. See PA story SOCCER Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
Messages on floral tributes left during the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Hillsborough, Sheffield. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday April 15, 2014. See PA story SOCCER Hillsborough. Photo credit should read: Anna Gowthorpe/PA Wire
LIVERPOOL, ENGLAND - APRIL 15: Members of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign group embrace as they arrive at Anfield for a memorial service marking the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough Disaster at Anfield stadium on April 15, 2014 in Liverpool, England. Thousands of fans, friends and relatives are attending the service at Liverpool's Anfield stadium to mark the 25th anniversary of the Hillsborough disaster. Bells across the City of Liverpool will ring during a one minute silence. A total of 96 Liverpool supporters lost their lives during a crush at an FA Cup semi final against Nottingham Forest at the Hillsborough football ground in Sheffield, South Yorkshire in 1989. (Photo by Christopher Furlong/Getty Images)
Liverpool's Steven Gerrard (top row, third left) stands with his team mates, during the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Young fans during the screening of the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Goodison Park, Liverpool
Liverpool's (left-right) Glen Johnson, Daniel Sturridge, Luis Suarez, Daniel Agger and Steven Gerrard arrive for the Hillsborough 25th Anniversary Memorial Service at Anfield Stadium, Liverpool
Liverpool's Xabi Alonso wearing a black armband in memory of the victims of the Hillsborough disaster
A sea of flowers at Hillsborough stadium, in memory of the Liverpool fans who died at Hillsborough
Hillsborough disaster victim Andrew Devine who is now communicating by pressing a micro switch
Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish, his wife Marina and daughter Kelly during the memorial service for the victims of the Hillsborough Tragedy.
A distraught young Liverpool fan in the aftermath of the Hillsborough disaster
Bent and twisted fencing at Hillsborough in the aftermath of the tragedy
Injured fans lie on advertising boards which were used as makeshift stretchers
Kevin Williams stretchered off on the Hillsborough pitch during the Hillsborough disaster
Hillsborough disaster policeman looks at a pile of police helmets lying on pitch amongst debris
An injured fan sits against the goalpost with his leg in a splint
Gill and Brian Caldwell being crushed against the fence in the Liverpool enclosure at Hillsborough
Fans receiving attention on the pitch. Hillsborough stadium in Sheffield will always bear the scar of England's worst football tragedy. On April 15th 1989, 96 Liverpool fans lost their lives having gone to watch their side contest an FA Cup semi-final against Nottingham Forest
Fans on the pitch at Hillsborough. FA Cup semi final April 1989 between Liverpool and Nottingham Forest. 96 football fans lost their lives in Britain's worst stadium disaster
Hillsborough tragedy - the horror and the anguish on the darkest of days [Photos] Close
Queen's University academic Phil Scraton has turned down an OBE.
The 67-year-old, who is originally from Liverpool, was instrumental in exposing the truth about what happened in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster.
He has been named in the Queen's New Year Honours List, but has refused it saying that he could not receive it "on the recommendation of those who remained unresponsive" to those who campaigned for the truth about what happened.
In a statement he outlined his reason for rejecting the title.
"I headed the panel's research team and was a consultant to the families' lawyers throughout the new inquests," he said.
"I could not receive an honour on the recommendation of those who remained unresponsive to the determined efforts of bereaved families and survivors to secure truth and justice."
Ninety-six people died as a consequence of gates being locked on disproportionately filled areas of Sheffield Wednesday's Hillsborough ground on April 15, 1989.
In April this year, an inquest jury concluded the fans were unlawfully killed. Prof Scraton's book, Hillsborough: The Truth, is widely accepted as the definitive account of the disaster.
He was appointed to the Hillsborough Independent Panel and penned much of its subsequent report which led directly to the quashing of the 96 inquest verdicts of accidental death, and the ordering of the new inquests and a full criminal investigation into the tragedy.
In the statement, the author and criminologist reiterated criticism of the failure of successive governments to act on behalf of those affected by the disaster.
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He said: "I researched Hillsborough from 1989, publishing reports, articles and the first edition of Hillsborough: The Truth in 1990. Until 2009, and despite compelling evidence, successive governments declined to pursue a thorough, independent review of the context, consequences and aftermath of the disaster. This changed as a direct result of the families and survivors' brave, persistent campaign. It led to the Hillsborough Independent Panel, its ground-breaking findings, new inquests and their crucially significant verdicts."
Prof Scraton provided submissions to the 1997-1998 judicial scrutiny undertaken by Lord Justice Stuart-Smith and remained highly critical of the inquiry, describing it as a "debacle".
Some Hillsborough campaigners have already received honours from the Queen.
Prof Scraton acknowledged his decision "might come as a disappointment to some Hillsborough families, survivors and whoever nominated me".
However, he added: "Finally, I could not accept an honour tied in name to the 'British Empire'. In my scholarship and teaching I remain a strong critic of the historical, cultural and political contexts of imperialism and their international legacy."
BUTTE If you keep your head up, you may see more walkers and bicyclists around Butte, if state and local planners get their way.
Despite the occasional curb that needs adjusting and sidewalks that need extension or repair, Butte could become more easily accessible for everyone.
That is the overall plan, eventually.
Reflecting a nationwide trend to make communities more walkable, bike-able and livable, a state group and a Butte committee are advancing slowly but surely on those objectives.
On Jan. 5, 2017, the Building Active Communities Initiative (BACI) starts taking applications for a three-day training and networking workshop set for May 16-18 in Butte.
It will follow a 45-day public review of the Butte Transportation Coordinating Committee action report, which includes potential biking and walking improvements.
Hopefully, there is a BACI team from Butte, said Cathy Costakis, a Built Environment senior consultant bringing her considerable experience from Bozeman to town to share. Wed love to see an application from Butte.
Costakiss staff will select six teams from across the state to attend the training for free.
We want a multi-sector of teams representing different disciplines, added Costakis. Maybe a planner, public works director, health department, hospital, business, nonprofits, schools those are the types of people we want on the team.
After the training is done, this is for people who will make things happen in the community. We totally expect them to go out and increase their team once the training is over.
Cassie Wick, Montana Independent Living Project independent living specialist, has taken the BACI training previously in Helena and plans to work with whoever is selected.
Its really, really cool, said Wick, who is part of a separate Walk and Roll Butte campaign that promotes bike events, safety and awareness through events like the Pub, Pedal and Crawl. We split into groups and assessed the walkability in Helena. Its cool just to see your community from a sidewalk view, because the more you walk around, the more you see the barriers.
For instance, poorly designed or dangerous curbs, the lack of auditory alerts for the blind at stoplights or cracks in the sidewalk can throw many citizens off-balance who are trying to navigate a city without a vehicle.
One possible solution: putting out temporary barriers, like hay bales, to experiment with a roundabout at a four-way intersection, as Whitefish tried.
Called a walking audit, the training calls for participants of all ages including children to walk a neighborhood and notice what's present and what may be missing along a potential biking or walking route: safe sidewalks to get to a school, well-marked pedestrian crossings, enough litter receptacles.
Its a mentality shift, said Wick, who bikes regularly from her house on Mercury Street to destinations on Harrison Avenue.
Dave Schultz, Butte-Silver Bow public works director, said folks determined to drive everywhere must realize that it takes time and planning to develop safer sidewalks and curbing for walkers and bicyclists around town.
Some residents want to make sure the county fills all potholes before expanding such amenities.
But Schultz says that may not be practical. Were the same as every other town. If we were to wait until every pothole was filled, we wouldnt get around to these amenities.
An increasing number of bicyclists, including families, appreciate the dedicated marked bike lanes, like the ones on Montana Street.
Jon Sesso, BSB city planner and state senator, said the Butte Transportation Coordinating Committee is currently reviewing feedback the public has left in a comments portal on the county website concerning transportation wishes and suggestions.
There was a lot of input by pedestrians and bicyclists asking for a lot of emphasis and development of trails. There have been a lot of comments associated with the progress weve made so far. People can still chime in on the website.
BSB Assistant Planning Director Lori Casey said the public clearly "would like to see more protected bike lanes.
By Jan. 11, the committee will release the findings for public review via kiosks at the BSB Courthouse and the Butte Civic Center so that the major initiatives outlined in the plan are shown to people. Then there will be a 45-day public comment period, followed by formal adoption in front of the county commissioners.
Safe biking infrastructure is important to the community, Schultz added. We want to promote an active lifestyle, not just for kids, but for everybody in the community."
Costakis said the purpose for the BACI training is to educate, set priorities in each community, provide technical assistance and resources and become inclusive.
If the community feels more walkable, our kids will participate in it more, said Wick. She added that if the disabled are able to get around town freely without barriers, then everyone will.
Costakis asks workshop participants: What kind of community do you envision?
Just because you drive a car, its okay, but there are people who ride a bike, so should they be at risk? You need to make it equitable and safe for everyone.
The Community Action Team of Butte formerly known as the Suicide Prevention Team is considering such healthier changes to encourage healthier behaviors in children and all citizens.
The more walkable a community is, the healthier it is, added Wick, a CAT member.
A search is under way for the missing aircraft
The chief executive of a drinks distribution company was piloting a plane carrying his wife, two sons and two other people when it quickly lost altitude after take-off in Ohio and vanished from radar, according to his family.
The parents of Superior Beverage Company executive John T Fleming confirmed he was piloting the plane from Cleveland's lakeshore airport to Columbus when it disappeared late on Thursday about two miles over Lake Erie.
Mr Fleming's father said the other five people on the plane were the executive's wife, two teenage sons, a neighbour and the neighbour's daughter. John W Fleming described his son as "an experienced pilot".
Crews combing Lake Erie for the plane remain hopeful that the occupants could be found alive, and were in search-and-rescue mode, not recovery mode, as they scoured waters about 50ft deep, said Captain Michael Mullen, the chief of response for the Ninth Coast Guard District.
Tracking service FlightAware logged only three location pings for the plane after take-off from Burke Lakefront Airport, and the last one indicated rapid altitude loss. Authorities have said there were no distress signals from the pilot.
The aircraft took off westward from Burke, then turned north across the lake, according to the tracking service flightradar24.com. The departure procedure at Burke could take an aircraft north over the lake before turning south towards a destination, Mr Mullen said.
The plane, which had made the roughly half-hour trip from Columbus earlier in the day, is registered to a limited liability company under the same Columbus address as Superior Beverage.
Authorities have detected "faint hints" but no strong pulse from an emergency locating transmitter, a beacon that could help find the plane, Mr Mullen said. Searchers have found no sign of debris.
"We're very hopeful. We will be very hopeful up until the point that we have to turn the search off and we switch over to assisting with recovery," Mr Mullen said at a news conference.
But when asked about the possibility of the two-engine jet landing safely on Lake Erie, he said: "Aircraft are not designed to float, especially in 12ft seas."
The search overnight was made difficult by snow squalls, high seas and darkness, Mr Mullen said. Weather prevented smaller Coast Guard boats in the Cleveland area from launching. A US Coast Guard helicopter and a Royal Canadian Air Force plane were used along with a Coast Guard ship from Detroit.
It would have been the pilot's responsibility to determine whether it was safe to fly, Mr Mullen said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna Citation 525 plane left Burke at 10.50pm local time, and the Coast Guard said it was notified about the missing plane by air traffic control at Burke about 30 minutes later. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board are heading to Cleveland.
The aircraft was headed to Ohio State University Airport north west of central Columbus.
AP
US President Barack Obama speaking at the White House in Washington, DC on December 16, 2016 and Vladimir Putin speaking in Moscow on December 23, 2016. AFP/Getty Images
Vladimir Putin has ruled out expelling US diplomats in the wake of fresh US sanctions and the ordered expulsion of 35 Russians in retaliation for alleged cyber-meddling in the US election.
The Russian president also said that his country will not target US diplomats and their families days before New Years celebrations.
"Russian diplomats will spend the New Year holidays in the circle of relatives and friends - at home. We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone.
"We will not prohibit their families and children to use their usual vacation spots in the New Year's holidays. Moreover, all children of American diplomats accredited in Russia, I invite you to New Year's celebrations in the Kremlin."
Calling the US moves a "provocation", Putin said he would not "stoop to the level of irresponsible diplomacy".
Putin said he regretted that Obama is ending his term in such a way, and wished him, Donald Trump and the American people a happy New Year.
He said: "It is a pity that the Obama administration ends his term in such a way, but, nevertheless, I wish him and his family a Happy New Year.
"I congratulate President-elect Donald Trump and the entire American people! I wish all health and prosperity!"
The Kremlin said that a government plane will be sent to the US to evacuate the expelled diplomats and their families.
Nigel Farage was among those praising Putin's response. "Pleased to see a mature response from Putin," the ex-Ukip leader wrote on Twitter. "A @realDonaldTrump presidency can't come soon enough."
The diplomatic showdown between Washington and Moscow, which had been festering even before the November 8 presidential election saw Donald Trump elevated to the presidency, puts pressure on the billionaire businessman not to let Russia off the hook after he takes office on January 20.
Russia's government continues to deny US accusations that it hacked and stole emails to try to help Mr Trump defeat his Democratic rival Hillary Clinton.
On Thursday US president Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats and ordered more sanctions against Russian officials and intelligence services in response to alleged 'election hacking'.
"All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions. These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government," Obama said.
"Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year.
"We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised."
The diplomats were given 72 hours to leave US soil.
"These actions were taken to respond to Russian harassment of American diplomats and actions by the diplomats that we have assessed to be not consistent with diplomatic practice," an unnamed official told Reuters.
Russia's foreign ministry said the moves were counterproductive and will harm the restoration of bilateral ties.
Pleased to see a mature response from Putin. A @realDonaldTrump presidency can't come soon enough. Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) December 30, 2016
Kremlin press secretary Dmitry Peskov said: "In our point of view such actions of the US current administration are a manifestation of an unpredictable and even aggressive foreign policy.
"We regret the fact that this decision was taken by the US administration and President Obama personally. As was said before, we consider this decision and these sanctions unjustified and illegal under international law.
Mr Peskov warned that the restrictions wont go unanswered by Moscow promising adequate, reciprocal reaction that will deliver significant discomfort to the US side in the same areas. However, he added that "theres no need to rush".
Putin has previously denied the hacking claims and called on Obama and his administration to either provide evidence or stop making accusations.
The move ensures action before President-elect Donald Trump takes office.
The move also puts Mr Trump in the position of having to decide whether to roll back the measures once in office and could potentially cause difficulties for his nominees during their confirmation hearings in the Senate, where support for sanctioning Russia is strong.
"We have to sanction Russia for these cyber attacks (and) send a clear message to the incoming administration that there is a lot of bipartisan support in Congress for going after this," Senator Amy Klobuchar told the Associated Press (AP) by phone from Latvia while on a trip to discuss security issues, including cyber security, with eastern European allies.
She said politicians on both sides were in favour of quick action.
Ms Klobuchar joined Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham on their visits to the Baltic states, Ukraine and Georgia - all Russian neighbours - as well as Montenegro.
Russia responded angrily in anticipation of the announcement and suggested it might retaliate against US diplomats.
Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova called it a last blow by President Barack Obama to US-Russia relations, and added: "We are tired of lies about Russian hackers that continue to be spread in the United States from the very top."
"If Washington takes new hostile steps, it will receive an answer," Ms Zakharova said in a statement.
"This applies to any actions against Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, which will immediately backfire at US diplomats in Russia."
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Russian officials have denied the Obama administration's accusation that the Russian government was involved at the highest levels in trying to influence the US presidential election.
A secret CIA report concluded that Russia's goal was to help Mr Trump win - an assessment Mr Trump has dismissed as ridiculous.
The claims previously drew a rebuke from Trumps transition team, which said in a statement: "These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction."
Can you imagine if the election results were the opposite and WE tried to play the Russia/CIA card. It would be called conspiracy theory! Trump tweeted previously.
Mr Trump rejected the CIA's conclusion that Russia tried to interfere with the presidential election and blamed "very embarrassed" Democrats for the public release of the assessment. The Washington Post first reported the CIA finding on Friday.
"It's ridiculous," Mr Trump said of the CIA's assessment. He added, however, that he does not necessarily oppose President Barack Obama's order for a review of campaign-season hacking. "If you're going to do that, I think you should not just say 'Russia'. You should say other countries also, and maybe other individuals."
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The US has already sanctioned Russia over Crimea and the conflict in Ukraine.
WikiLeaks editor Julian Assange has denied that emails from the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta were hacked and leaked to his organisation by the Russian government.
In an interview with Sean Hannity he was asked: "So in other words, let me be clear...Russia did not give you the Podesta documents or anything from the DNC?"
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The Australian founder of the whistleblowing website, who has been living in the Ecuadorian embassy in London for over four years, responded: "That's correct."
Assange said: "Were unhappy that we felt that we needed to even say that it wasnt a state party. Normally, we say nothing at all.
"We have ... a strong interest in protecting our sources, and so we never say anything about them, never ruling anyone in or anyone out.
"And so here, in order to prevent a distraction attack against our publications, weve had to come out and say no, its not a state party. Stop trying to distract in that way and pay attention to the content of the publication," he told Hannity.
Assange also revealed that WikiLeaks received "about three pages of information to do with the [Republican National Committee] and Donald Trump [during the campaign], but it was already public somewhere else."
Craig Murray, the former UK ambassador to Uzbekistan, who is a close associate of Assange, also dismissed the CIA's claims that Russia was the source of the emails as "bulls***".
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The accounts by Murray and Assange directly contradict the story advanced by the CIA.
The Washington Post reported on a 'secret assessment' by the CIA, which concluded that Russian intelligence hacked the Democratic National Committee's servers and that of Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta, specifically to help Trump win the presidency.
Mr Murray said: "I know who leaked them. Ive met the person who leaked them, and they are certainly not Russian and it's an insider. Its a leak, not a hack; the two are different things.
If what the CIA are saying is true, and the CIAs statement refers to people who are known to be linked to the Russian state, they would have arrested someone if it was someone inside the United States.
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America has not been shy about arresting whistleblowers and its not been shy about extraditing hackers. They plainly have no knowledge whatsoever.
He then revealed to Dailymail.com that he had flown to Washington DC for a secret hand-off with one of the sources in September.
He said that he met an intermediary in a wooded area near a US university to retrieve a package.
Intelligence assessments
The Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ODNI), which oversees the 17 agency-strong US intelligence community, has not embraced the CIA's assessment, sources have told Reuters.
The Federal Bureau of Investigation, whose standards require it to make cases that can stand up in court, also declined to accept the CIA's analysis.
In an angry letter sent to ODNI chief James Clapper on Monday, House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes said he was dismayed that the top US intelligence official had not informed the panel of the CIA's analysis and the difference between its judgment and the FBIs assessment, Reuters reported.
"ODNI is not arguing that the agency (CIA) is wrong, only that they can't prove intent," one of the officials told the news agency. "Of course they can't, absent agents in on the decision-making in Moscow.
The ODNI was formed after the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
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'Thin reed'
[It was] a thin reed upon which to base an analytical judgment, another official said in response to the speculation. He stressed that the judgment based on the fact that Russian entities hacked both Democrats and Republicans and only the Democratic information was leaked.
Republican Senator John McCain said on Monday there was "no information" that Russian hacking of US political organisations was aimed at influencing the election.
"It's obvious that the Russians hacked into our campaigns," McCain said told Reuters.
"But there is no information that they were intending to affect the outcome of our election and that's why we need a congressional investigation."
The ceasefire represents a turning point in six years of fighting that has claimed the lives of more than 250,000 people (AP)
A Syrian ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey which took effect at midnight was holding on Friday despite minor violations, marking a potential breakthrough in the six years of fighting that has left more than 250,000 dead and triggered a refugee crisis across Europe.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes between troops and rebels in the central province of Hama and near the capital, Damascus, early on Friday but said there have been no reports of civilian casualties since the truce began.
Opposition activist Mazen al-Shami, who is based in the Damascus suburb of Douma, said minor clashes nearby left one rebel wounded. Activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh, in the southern Daraa province, said government forces had opened fire on rebel-held areas.
Several past attempts at halting the fighting have failed. As with previous agreements, the current ceasefire excludes both the al Qaida-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside other rebel factions, and the Islamic State group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that the ceasefire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey, and the agreement has been welcomed by Iran. Moscow and Tehran provide crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has long served as a rear base and source of supplies for the rebels.
Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one denied signing it.
The truce came on the heels of a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive. The retaking of all of Aleppo marked Assad's greatest victory since the start of the 2011 uprising against his family's four-decade rule.
"The defeat of the terrorists in Aleppo is an important step toward ending the war," he said in an interview with TG5, an Italian TV station, adding that the capture of the city does not mean that the war has ended because "terrorists" are still in Syria.
The United States was left out of both agreements, reflecting the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington after the failure of previous diplomatic efforts on Syria.
In the interview with TG5, Assad said "we are more optimistic, with caution" about the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested greater co-operation with Russia against extremist groups.
"We can say part of the optimism could be related to better relation between the United States and Russia," Assad said, speaking in English.
"Mr Trump, during his campaign - (said) that his priority is fighting terrorism, and we believe that this is the beginning of the solution, if he can implement what he announced," Assad said in the interview, which was apparently filmed before the ceasefire was announced.
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency meanwhile quoted the military as saying Russia carried out three air strikes against Islamic State targets near the northern town of al-Bab, where Turkish troops and allied Syrian opposition forces have been battling the extremist group. The strikes indicated that Russia and Turkey may work together to combat IS once the fighting elsewhere in Syria has been halted.
The Turkish military statement quoted by Anadolu did not say when the Russian air strikes took place, but said they killed 12 IS militants.
Separately, 26 IS militants, including some senior commanders, were killed in Turkish air strikes on al-Bab and the Daglabash region, and some 17 IS targets were destroyed, Anadolu reported. It said a Turkish soldier was killed in an IS attack on troops south of the al-Azrak area.
Turkey sent troops and tanks into northern Syria in August to help opposition forces clear a border area of IS militants and curb the advances of US-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are also battling the extremist group.
AP
Bangladeshi border police in Teknaf watch over Rohingya Muslims who were detained after trying to cross into Bangladesh from Myanmar, Dec. 25, 2016.
Bangladeshs foreign ministry on Thursday summoned Myanmars ambassador for the second time in five weeks to complain about Rohingya Muslims fleeing into Bangladesh, saying some 50,000 refugees had arrived since Oct. 9.
Bilateral and Consular Secretary Kamrul Ahsan also protested a Burmese trawlers unprovoked attack and firing on a Bangladeshi fishing boat two days ago that seriously injured four Bangladeshi fishermen, a foreign ministry statement said.
In his meeting with Ambassador Myo Myint Than, Ahsan expressed deep concern at the continued influx of Muslims from the Rakhine State of Myanmar and said that around 50,000 Myanmar citizens took shelter into Bangladesh since Oct. 9, 2016.
The Secretary (Bilateral & Consular) demanded early repatriation of [the] entire Myanmar population staying in Bangladesh, the statement said, referring to hundreds of thousands of Rohingya who have sheltered in southeastern Coxs Bazar district for years.
He also requested the Myanmar government to urgently address the root cause of the problem in the Rakhine State so that Rakhine Muslims are not required to desperately seek shelter across the border.
The Rohingya are a stateless minority largely concentrated in western Myanmars Rakhine state. According to Bangladeshi government estimates, some 300,000 to 500,000 Rohingya refugees live in and around Coxs Bazar.
Most have fled persecution at the hands of Myanmars Buddhist majority. Since early October, tens of thousands of Rohingya have crossed over from Rakhine amid deadly violence and a military crackdown that followed the killing of nine Burmese border guards in Muangdaw township.
When Ahsan first summoned the Burmese envoy on Nov. 23, he handed him a diplomatic letter conveying Bangladeshs concerns over the influx. The local border police have tried to repel it by turning away hundreds of boats carrying Rohingya across the Naaf River that separates the neighboring countries.
Unprovoked
The ministry also lodged a diplomatic protest over an alleged shooting incident in Bangladesh waters near Myanmars western coastline on Tuesday.
The statement alleged that the crew of a Burmese trawler fired on the F.V. Janiva Khaleda, then took the boat and the fishermen aboard it to a Myanmar navy ship patrolling nearby.
Myanmar navy personnel seized the belongings of the fishermen and released them after 4 (four) hours. [The Secretary] demanded [an] appropriate investigation into the matter, the ministry said, noting that four Bangladeshi fishermen were seriously injured.
The ambassador from Myanmar did not talk to reporters after Thursdays meeting. It was not immediately clear whether officials in Naypyidaw, the capital of Myanmar, had responded to the incident or the summoning of their diplomat.
According to a high-ranking Bangladesh Navy officer stationed in the Chittagong region in the southeast, the shooting arose from competition over fishing grounds in Bay of Bengal waters around St. Martins Island, which belongs to Bangladesh.
The incident happened over fishing; the Myanmar fishermen also go there for fishing. After we came to know about the incident, our Navy and Coast Guard went there for patrolling, the officer told BenarNews on condition of anonymity.
Abdul Malek, a local fisherman, told BenarNews over the phone that many fishermen from Myanmar enter Bangladeshi waters to catch fish.
Our navy should fire on them when they intrude in our waters, he told BenarNews.
HELENA Many of Montanas most vulnerable residents who already fear the states court system feel they have nowhere to turn to get help with legal problems.
Those who earn low-to moderate incomes, as well as the homeless population, Native Americans, veterans, senior citizens, domestic violence victims, children and people with disabilities dont know how to access legal assistance or overcome other hurdles such as daunting paperwork and bad past experiences with the courts.
Between October 2015 and October 2016, the Montana Supreme Courts Access to Justice Commission held public forums in seven towns around the state to hear from Montanans about their struggles with legal problems.
The commission found that many poor people in legal crisis over housing problems, parenting and custody disputes, domestic violence and debt collection often have other non-legal problems at the same time.
Mental illness, substance abuse, threats to safety and lack of transportation can intensify legal problems, and legal problems can exacerbate already challenging situations.
An inability to access services can turn many civil legal problems into criminal legal problems, made worse by an inability to access programs and services, the commission found.
Many homeless people remain so due to legal issues such as violent crimes, scams, illegal hiring practices and civil and criminal fines, the report found. Without a permanent address its difficult for people to access assistance. In every community where forums were held Kalispell, Great Falls, Billings, Missoula, Bozeman, Butte and Helena people said housing problems were connected with civil legal problems.
American Indians often experience the legal system in a punitive way and fear unfairness, the report says. Theres a lack of social services on many of the states seven reservations. And many Indians face significant levels of incarceration and hurdles to being released from prison, including an inability to meet sentencing requirements, lack of mental health services, suspended drivers licenses and other issues. Indians represented 17 percent of adult offenders in the Department of Corrections, though their population as a percentage of the state is closer to 7 percent, according to a 2015 report by the department.
The report found there is only one statewide organization focused on addressing the legal needs of Montanas disabled population, which totals 148,000. People with disabilities face challenges including abuse and neglect; lack of access to programs, facilities and mental health services; employment discrimination; education needs, and housing issues.
Montana is facing a rising need in the area of elder law, the report says. The number of people 65 and older has increased 21 percent from 2000 to 2010, according to the U.S. Census, with many living in rural areas. Seniors are vulnerable to scams and can face health-care problems that cause financial challenges. Many cannot navigate services online and have no link to legal aid organizations or volunteer attorney programs.
The report also said veterans and children younger than 18 without parents or guardians struggle within the legal system.
The commission made several recommendations, including developing a statewide inventory of services and programs available in each region and creating a way for people who need help to get in contact with the services. It also recommended promoting a better understanding that civil legal needs can have a negative effect on health outcomes, housing, school attendance, job performance, the transition for returning veterans, the re-entry into the community for offenders and the protection of seniors. It also recommended securing stable funding to create a continuum of services from self-help programs to civil legal aid, mediation and resolution dispute.
Specifics will be further developed and addressed through the Commissions strategic planning process.
The report is available here: http://courts.mt.gov/Portals/113/supreme/boards/a2j/a2jfs/fr.pdf
Malaysian cartoonist Zunar speaks during an interview at his office in Kuala Lumpur, April 13, 2015.
Malaysian satirical cartoonist Zunar said he would not have to report to a police station in the Kuala Lumpur area for questioning on Friday, as he had expected, because officials postponed the meeting indefinitely without explanation.
Zunar, a BenarNews contributor who has been arrested twice since late November over allegations of sedition and activities detrimental to parliamentary democracy for cartoons critical of Malaysias government and judiciary, said he still expected to be summoned later.
My lawyer has contacted the Dang Wangi district police station this afternoon and was told that I did not need to report to the police station tomorrow as requested two weeks ago, Zunar, whose real name is Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, told BenarNews by phone on Thursday.
My lawyer was informed that the police will call and give a new date, and also did not give the reason why I should not be present at IPD [District Police Headquarters] tomorrow, Zunar added.
Police and government officials could not be reached for comment Thursday.
The cartoonist was last arrested while appearing at a charity event, Tea With Zunar, at the Kuala Lumpur and Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall on Dec. 17.
Police seized more than 1,000 copies of his cartoon books, sketches and cartoon T-shirts, which he valued at around 40,000 ringgit [U.S. $10,000].
He was arrested then along with four other people and taken to the Dang Wangi police station as part of an investigation under Section 124 of Malaysias Penal Code, which covers activities deemed as detrimental to democracy. He was released six hours later.
On Nov. 26, Zunar was arrested under the Sedition Act and his artwork that was on display at an exhibit in George Town, Penang state, was also confiscated by the authorities. He was released the following day.
When contacted Thursday, Zunar said his legal team was gathering information to enable him to take legal action against the government and police in order to retrieve all copies of his confiscated works.
The winner of the 2016 Cartooning for Peace Award has been barred from leaving Malaysia since June. He is also facing nine sedition charges for allegedly insulting the judiciary in tweets made regarding the conviction of former opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim in a sodomy case in February 2015. If convicted on all nine charges he could be sentenced to 43 years in jail.
International rights and free speech advocacy groups have called for the authorities to drop all charges against the cartoonist, saying the government was going after him for criticizing it in his cartoons.
On Tuesday, Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued a statement in which it noted that Zunar had been told to report for interrogation by police on Friday, following his Dec. 17 arrest.
We call for the immediate and unconditional withdrawal of all charges against this cartoonist and we urge the Malaysian authorities to stop using the Sedition Act to intimidate and threaten journalists, RSF editor-in-chief Virginie Dangles said.
A bid from Pulte Homes to rezone and add 465 residences and possibly a school near Sandy Run Creek on Jedburg Road wasn't met with open arms at a Oct. 26 community meeting on the part of local homeowners seeking to preserve the area's rural characteristics. Read moreJedburg Road residents tell Pulte Homes: 'Keep it rural'
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The Meagher County attorney is fighting a potential liquor license suspension at the bar she owns amid an ongoing dispute with the sheriff's office.
The Montana Department of Revenue filed four violations against Bar 47, a White Sulphur Springs establishment owned by Meagher County Attorney Kimberly Deschene.
The violations, first reported by the Meagher County Sheriff's Office, include transferring ownership of the bar without her partner's final signature and locking the bar during business hours when a deputy was trying to get inside.
The department proposes a suspension of the bar's liquor license for 12 days and a fine of $1,850. A hearing is set for May 10, 2017, before Department of Revenue officials.
While Meagher County Sheriff Jon Lopp said that his office was simply reporting violations to the state, Deschene said she's been unfairly targeted by local law enforcement due to her dual roles as county attorney and bar owner.
Lopp said his deputies haven't put undue focus on Deschene's bar or its patrons.
Absolutely not," he said. "We treat everybody the same.
Deschene purchased Bar 47 in 2014, months before she won re-election to a second term. Lopp has been the sheriff since 2009.
The two department heads have been at either end of Meagher County infighting for more than a year. Deschene said the infractions referred to the state were "petty."
Which is incredible, given the nature of the alleged violations," she said. "The violations were honestly clerical.
The Department of Revenue gave notice of the four violations on Sept. 1.
First, the department said Deschene finalized the paperwork to take ownership of Bar 47 without the signature of the previous co-owner. While an initial application was submitted with both signatures, a subsequent purchase agreement was signed only by Deschene, according to department documents.
Deschene told the department that the co-owner was unavailable to sign the document. In a later investigation, the co-owner, Katherine Boedecker, said she was available to sign but was not in contact with Deschene.
The second violation was that Deschene locked the bar at 1:50 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2015, when a sheriff's deputy tried to enter. Patrons were still inside the bar, according to documents.
Lopp said the deputy was investigating a fight that happened elsewhere.
He went down there to talk to a witness, and the doors were locked, he said.
The two other violations stemmed from two events that Bar 47 catered without first obtaining permits.
To challenge the allegations, Deschene subpoenaed the Meagher County Sheriff's Office for all communications between the sheriff's office and the Department of Revenue.
That request is pending as Lopp consults an outside attorney, which has been common in Meagher County in a number of cases for which a conflict might arise between the public duties and business dealings of officials.
Close calls
Conflict-of-interest allegations against Deschene came to a head earlier this year, when a county resident sought a recall petition to unseat the county attorney.
Lopp said earlier this year that he was concerned about Deschene's DUI prosecution. Court records showed that about one-fifth as many DUI cases were filed in Meagher County Justice Court than in neighboring Judith Basin County, which has a similar population.
A judge dismissed the recall petition in September, noting that there are narrow legal grounds for a successful recall of an elected official.
Deschene and Meagher County commissioners have denied any inherent conflict in owning a bar and prosecuting crimes.
Its very rare that a conflict arises, and when they do I follow the conflict of interest protocols, Deschene said.
Deschene has called in outside prosecutors for cases, including one DUI case involving a friend and Bar 47 employee. Deschene, who would normally have prosecuted that case, showed up alongside the DUI defendant when she met with law enforcement.
And Deschene isn't the only county official in a similar situation. Meagher County Justice of the Peace Paula Wildman received a citation for serving a minor at a bar she owns in Ringling, just south of White Sulphur Springs.
Lopp said this happened during a compliance check. He said Wildman has paid the fine on the citation.
Normally, Wildman herself would have overseen this type of case, which happened in county jurisdiction.
The spat between Lopp and Deschene spilled into the Meagher County Commission meeting in November, when both sides sat down to explain their grievances. Lopp said his office was just doing its job; Deschene said she received unfair attention.
Commissioner Ben Hurwitz said Dec. 22 that there was no conflict, and the importance lies in keeping a viable business running in the small town.
They recuse themselves whenever necessary and we need both those people," he said of Deschene and Wildman. "We need their businesses. But of course the cops, it just pisses them off that theyre in the business of selling liquor and food.
Commissioner Herb Townsend described the situation as a small disagreement Thursday, adding that there wasn't much of a story to tell.
The county will pay for Lopp's legal fees as his colleague fights her violations with the Department of Revenue. He said that he's likely to be summoned as a witness in the eventual hearing.
For Immediate Release, December 30, 2016 Contact: Brett Hartl, (202) 817-8121, bhartl@biologicaldiversity.org Reward Increased to $10,000 for Information on Illegal Killing of Endangered Red Wolf One of Only 45 Red Wolves Remaining Found Dead on North Carolina Refuge RALEIGH, N.C. The Center for Biological Diversity today added $7,500 to the reward for information leading to a conviction or fine in the latest illegal killing of an endangered red wolf in North Carolina. The dead wolf was discovered Dec. 21 on the Pocosin Lakes National Wildlife Refuge, where red wolves are given the greatest amount of protection under the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service has already offered a $2,500 reward in the case.
There are only 45 red wolves left in the wild, so the deliberate killing of any individual wolf is a terrible blow to the conservation of this amazing species, said Brett Hartl, government affairs director at the Center. This deplorable slaughter is a stark reminder of why federal regulators must quickly rejuvenate their stalled efforts to save this precious species before it disappears forever. Although once abundant along the entire coastal plain of the Southeast, red wolves were pushed to the brink of extinction after decades of relentless persecution. After the species was declared endangered in 1973, 17 wild red wolves were captured for captive breeding. Wolf releases began in North Carolinas Alligator River National Wildlife Refuge in the mid-1980s, but recovery efforts have repeatedly been thwarted by illegal shootings. Were adding to this reward because red wolves are a critical part of Americas heritage, and we shouldnt let a few killers deny future generations their opportunity to see these animals in the wild, said Hartl. The best available science demonstrates that red wolves can be recovered if these illegal killings end. A 2014 report by the Wildlife Management Institute concluded that if red wolves are going to recover, two additional populations need to be established in the wild, and additional resources need to be invested to build local support for their recovery. The Center for Biological Diversity submitted an emergency petition in May 2016 to strengthen rules protecting red wolves from illegal shootings and to identify additional reintroduction sites where red wolves can thrive. Anyone with information about the killing should contact North Carolina Wildlife Officer Frank Simms at (252) 216-7504 or Special Agent Jason Keith at (919) 856-4520, ext. 34. 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.
2016: A Year of Lifesaving Victories This year is ending on a tough note after the election, but we're pausing for a moment to reflect on some of the Center for Biological Diversity's important accomplishments of 2016 -- including the protection of dozens of species and millions of acres, putting a stop to numerous fossil fuel auctions on public lands, and securing vital new protections from the seafood industry for whales and dolphins. We also celebrated a huge late-year victory as President Obama banned offshore oil and gas drilling across 115 million acres of the Arctic.
These accomplishments are also yours -- we couldn't do what we do without your help. The fight ahead will be difficult, there's no doubt about that. And we'll be here every single day of 2017 to protect wildlife, wild places, and the right of all people and creatures to a livable future.
We're grateful to have you at our side.
TOKYO: The president of Japan's biggest advertising agency said he plans to step down, a year after an employee suicide linked to allegations of extreme overwork at the company.
123RF
The announcement came as Japanese authorities referred Dentsu and one of its executives to prosecutors on suspicion of violating Japan's labour law by forcing the 24-year-old employee to work illegally long hours.
Matsuri Takahashi, a graduate of the prestigious University of Tokyo, committed suicide on Christmas Day 2015 at a company dormitory.
She had worked more than 100 hours of overtime every month having joined the company in April of the same year, Japanese media reported.
She had posted on Twitter a wish to die and said she "would be happier" if she did.
Hundreds of deaths from overwork -- known as "karoshi" in Japan -- due to strokes, heart attacks and suicides are reported every year, along with a host of serious health problems.
The phenomenon has sparked lawsuits and calls to urgently tackle the problem.
Tadashi Ishii, Dentsu president, announced late Wednesday he would leave his post next month.
"An excessive amount of work should never happen," he told reporters. "I deeply regret and feel responsible for this. I will take full responsiblity and resign as president at January's board meeting."
Ishii however said the company should not prevent employees from doing their best.
"But I deeply regret that I couldn't put a break on (excessive workloads) and that I couldn't set a certain standard," he added.
The socially influential agency is notorious for its demanding work culture, but has come in for harsh criticism since Takahashi's death.
While the popular image of Japanese salaried men and women toiling long hours for the company before taking the last train home is changing, many still spend far more hours at the workplace than their counterparts in other modern economies.
According to a government survey released in October, more than one in five Japanese companies have employees who work such long hours they are at serious risk of death.
The survey was part of the nation's first white paper on "karoshi" endorsed by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's cabinet.
Source: AFP
The year wasn't pretty but from its ashes may rise important scientific advances that could change the course of history. As 2016 winds to a close, we look back at the stories that made headlines, including the viruses reminding us that progress against infectious diseases is never easily won or maintained. Plus, we remember the political scandal that just kept giving and the deaths that shocked us all.
Neglected but deadly
First discovered in Uganda in 1947, the Zika virus continued its rise from neglected disease to the stuff of headlines in 2016.
In February, the World Health Organisation declared the Zika virus a public health emergency of international concern after almost 4,000 babies are suspected to have been born with microcephaly, a rare neurological condition in which infants heads are abnormally small.
For months, the scientific community speculated that microcephaly could be caused by the Zika virus and, in April, they had their answer as the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) concluded that Zika did cause the severe brain defect.
CDC director Tom Frieden called it a turning point in the Zika outbreak, in a statement.
Meanwhile, a fellow neglected tropical disease, yellow fever, also seemed to embark on its own comeback tour as international humanitarian organisations rushed to quell outbreaks in Angola, the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda.
In November, the Zika virus moved from being a public health emergency to a significant enduring public health challenge, as the WHO declared the worst was behind us but that the Zika virus may forever be with us.
The worlds largest antiretroviral programme got bigger
It was a banner year for HIV treatment and prevention. On September 1, South Africa began offering HIV treatment to anyone who has been diagnosed with the virus regardless of CD4 count. CD4 counts are a measure of the immune systems strength.
Since the dawn of HIV treatment, most people living with the virus had to wait until their CD4 counts fell to low levels before beginning treatment.
But in 2015, two large-scale clinical trials published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed that early antiretroviral (ARV) treatment was better for patients and cut peoples risk of serious illness or death by at least 44%.
South African sex workers were the first to get immediate access to HIV treatment, following a March announcement. Ten sites are also providing the HIV prevention pill, Truvada, to up to 5,000 sex workers.
Truvada contains two of the ARVs that people with HIV use to suppress the virus in their bodies. When ARV treatment is used by HIV-negative people to reduce their chances of contracting HIV, its called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). Research has shown that, when taken once a day at more or less the same time, Truvada can reduce a persons risk of contracting HIV by more than 90%.
Young women and men who have sex with men are likely to be the next in line to access the HIV prevention pill.
Bye-bye, Benny
Controversial Free State health MEC Benny Malakoane finally left his post in the embattled province, which saw a mass exodus of healthcare workers during his tenure. Malakoane now heads the provinces department of economic and small business development, tourism and environmental affairs.
Source: Dumelang News
The ANC maintained Malakoanes removal had bogger-all to do with health activists two-year public campaign to get him fired, according to Free State ANC spokesperson Thabo Meeko.
Malakoane faces several serious charges of fraud and corruption in a court case that has been postponed numerous times.
The charges relate to him and others allegedly receiving kickbacks worth R13m for irregularly awarded contracts in Matjhabeng local municipality in 2007/2008 when Malakoane was a municipal manager there.
Health lobby group the Treatment Action Campaign has been advocating for his removal through its #firebenny campaign, claiming that the provincial health system has limped from crisis to crisis with people who rely on it left traumatised by death and pain under Malakoanes reign.
Bhekisisa exposed several instances of alleged wrongdoing in the provinces healthcare system during Malakoanes three-and-a-half years in office, including claims that he robbed a dying woman of her hospital bed and gave it to an ANC official, and that Malakoane dismissed hundreds of community health workers unfairly.
Our best shot at an HIV vaccine?
The largest and most advanced HIV vaccine trial to be undertaken in South Africa kicked off this year. At its centre is a tiny jab likely to be the strongest experimental vaccine against the virus the world has ever seen.
The HVTN 702 vaccine is a new and improved version of the worlds only moderately successful HIV inoculation to date. In 2009, Thai researchers found that an experimental HIV vaccine tested there reduced new infections in clinical trial participants by about 60% but that protection fell quickly to 31%. This meant the vaccine was too weak to be marketed.
Now, researchers have supercharged the Thai vaccine adding a booster to make sure any protection it may offer participants lasts. Theyve also thrown in an adjuvant or an extra ingredient to kick-start the production of HIV antibodies among participants. They are hoping that these antibodies, or proteins used by the immune system to fight off bacteria or viruses such as HIV, will eventually protect people from HIV infection.
If by 2021 the vaccine has been shown to cut HIV infection rates by at least 50%, it could become available in Southern Africa, with other regions not far behind.
The rise of the superbugs continues
This year, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases put South Africa on alert for cases of multidrug-resistant yeast infections on the heels of similar warnings in the United States.
Although the bug largely only affects patients who have recently been hospitalised, it is just the latest superbug to make headlines.
The WHO says antimicrobial resistance now threatens the prevention and treatment of an ever-increasing range of infections caused by bacteria, parasites, viruses and fungi. The international bodys website now ranks antimicrobial resistance as a threat to global public health.
This year saw the first ever high-level United Nations General Assembly on drug resistance. One of only four such meetings to ever be convened on a health issue, the gathering resulted in all 193 member states signing a declaration to combat rising rates of antimicrobial resistance.
Drug resistance is nothing new in South Africa as the country continues to battle one of the worlds worst epidemics of drug-resistant tuberculosis. On the bright side, the country has a national plan to combat growing drug resistance that includes, for instance, restricting the use of antimicrobials designed for humans to, well, humans and keeping them out of our food.
But South Africa remains one of only roughly 20 African countries tracking drug resistance and, as this years drug-resistant yeast strain shows, antimicrobial resistance knows no borders.
Scores of mental health patients die in Gauteng
This year proved deadly for dozens of state mental health patients in Gauteng after they were removed from the care of private hospital group Life Healthcare.
In June 2015, Gauteng health MEC Qedani Mahlangu announced that about 2 000 patients from the groups Life Esidimeni facilities would be sent home or placed in the care of community-based nongovernmental organisations. Civil society groups such as the South African Depression and Anxiety Group, the South African Federation for Mental Health and the South African Society of Psychiatrists fiercely opposed the move. Many of the community organisations identified by the department lacked the ability to care for severely ill patients who needed high-level care, these groups said.
Several of the groups unsuccessfully sought a Johannesburg high court interdict to halt some of the patient transfers.
At least 36 of the transferred patients have since died, according to Mahlangu. In November, the Democratic Alliance claimed the number is as high as 60. Several community organisations were also found to be operating without licences.
In an exclusive interview with Bhekisisa, Mahlangu said that many patients have been removed from of community organisations. But she could not recall how many patients have died nor how many community organisations still had patients.
The countrys recently created health ombudsman is investigating the issue. As families of Life Esidimeni patients wait for answers about how so many patients could have died in such a short space of time, the incident stands as a reminder of the promise and peril of continuing to move mental healthcare out of hospitals.
Angolan president Jose Eduardo dos Santos's daughter, reportedly Africa's richest woman, has been cleared to head the national oil company Sonangol, after a court rejected a legal challenge.
Isabel dos Santos was put in charge of Sonangol in June in a move some analysts said was the first sign of succession plans for the country's long-time ruler.
The president, in power since 1979, later announced that he would stand down in 2017, though no successor has officially been named.
His daughter's appointment was disputed by 12 lawyers who said the law did not allow public officials to nominate family members, but the supreme court ruled in her favour on December 22, an official said Thursday.
"According to the decision... the appointment of Isabel dos Santos by her father does not violate the law on public probity or the Angolan constitution," said David Mendes, a spokesman for the lawyers.
The country's opposition had equated her Sonangol appointment with nepotism, prompting the legal challenge.
Mendes said the lawyers would appeal the decision at the country's constitutional court.
"The judgement of the supreme court has many shortcomings and does not satisfactorily answer the questions we asked," he said.
Nicknamed the "Princess", the president's 43-year-old daughter has been ranked by Forbes magazine as the richest woman on the continent with a fortune of around $3bn.
She owns stakes in several companies in Angola and former colonial power Portugal, notably in the banking and telecommunications sectors.
Three years ago the president appointed his son Jose Filomeno dos Santos to chair the country's $5bn Sovereign Wealth Fund.
Sonangol has been mired in financial difficulties since the fall in global oil prices. Since her appointment in the summer the president's daughter has pledged to turn the company around.
Earlier this month Sonangol announced it would not pay dividends to the state this year -- a first for the country's main source of foreign currency.
Angola's vast oil wealth has not trickled down to the masses and critics accuse both dos Santos and his family of amassing huge wealth by siphoning off state funds.
According to statistics on murders and violent crimes on farms in the Free State, recorded by the VKB/FSA Safety Desk for the year up to now, there has been a decrease in murders and farm attacks. Farmers, however, need to remain vigilant and Free State Agriculture (FSA) suggests that farmers take a look at the safety tips that they share on their website and ensure that they are a member of the local farm safety structure.
2allmankind via pixabay
We would like to share the statistics form 1 January until 14 December 2016. Farm attacks and murders are recorded on the database in terms of the Polices definition of such incidents and every incident noted on the database has a registered SAPS case number.
Up until now, 57 attacks and seven murders have been recorded on farms in the Free State for 2016. A total of five murders were on farm workers (Bultfontein, two at Harrismith, Kroonstad, and Thaba Nchu) and two on farmers (Rouxville and Cornelia/Ascent). Most of the incidents, 25, took place in the northern Free State, followed by the southern and eastern Free State with 18 and 14 attacks respectively. For the following towns, two or more attacks were recorded; Bloemfontein (6); Ficksburg, Clocolan, Cornelia and Harrismith (3 each), Boithuso, Brandfort, Bultfontein, Heilbron, Kroonstad, Ladybrand, Vierfontein and Welkom (2 each). Farm attacks have been reported at 40 towns in the Free State this year.
A total of 26 of the 57 attacks were on workers or upcoming farmers. Altogether 37 of the attacks were house or armed robberies that included other crimes as well. In 13 incidents charges of attempted murder are being investigated.
Most of the incidents occurred on a Saturday (13), followed by Fridays (10) and Wednesdays (9). Two-thirds of the attacks were recorded between Wednesdays and Saturdays.
Altogether 38,6 % (22) of the attacks took place during the day (6am-6pm), and 61,4% at night (6pm-6am) - 19 before midnight and 16 in the early hours of the morning.
During 14 attacks two victims were attacked, while victims were attacked/robbed by three to five attackers during seven attacks.
A total of 40 of the 88 victims for the year were older than 50 - 15 were between 60-69 years old, 14 were between 50-59 years old and 11 were between 70-79 years old.
During 17 attacks two attackers were involved, and in 29 incidents between three and six attackers were involved. A total of 80,7% of the attacks (46) were carried out by between two and five attackers, with offenders using firearms in 27 attacks.
In 18 attacks the attackers used vehicles to travel to the farm and/or to flee the scene (also including the victims vehicle in some cases).
Cell phones, cash, and firearms, are the most sought after items during house robberies on farms/smallholdings.
In 15 of the attacks, suspects were arrested by means of cooperation between the SAPS and farmers.
Altogether 14 attacks took place due to negligence on the side of the victim (leaving doors unlocked, no burglar bars, investigating why dogs are barking/when hearing strange noises outside.)
During the same period in 2015, 66 attacks that included 11 murders, were recorded in the Free State. These numbers differ from the numbers released in January 2016, as some of the cases of murders of farm workers that were initially registered as murders on farms have been changed to cases of murder/incidents in terms of domestic violence or alcohol abuse. A significant decrease can be observed in terms of farm attacks and murders when the numbers for 2016 are compared to the numbers for 2015. This can mainly be attributed to good cooperation and relationships between farmers and the SAPS from local to provincial level.
Free State Agriculture
While most South African families were celebrating Christmas Day, the Toyota Gazoo Racing SA team started their journey to South America for Dakar 2017. The race gets under way on 2 January 2017, in the Paraguayan capital of Asuncion, but there is still a mass of work to be done before the flag drops for the start.
"The two Toyota Gazoo Racing SA Hilux were shipped to our partners at Toyota Argentina, north of Buenos Aires, at the beginning of December. However, the cars were partly disassembled for shipping, and now need to be fully reassembled and tested," explains team principal, Glyn Hall.
In addition to preparing the race vehicles, the crew also needs to prepare the support vehicles and trucks, which follow the entire Dakar route with personnel and spare parts, tools and the infrastructure needed to service the race vehicles each day.
"The Dakar is a truly mammoth undertaking," continues Hall. "Our spares inventory includes more than a thousand items, each catalogued according to a system that makes it easy for the logistics manager to find each part on demand."
Once the race vehicles are fully assembled and all the logistics taken care of, Toyota Gazoo Racing SA will travel from Argentina to Asuncion in Paraguay for the opening ceremony of the race.
Dakar 2017 sees Toyota Gazoo Racing SA enter two race proven Toyota Hilux. Car #301 belongs to newcomers to the team, Nasser Al-Attiyah and navigator Mathieu Baumel, while Car #302 is in the hands of Toyota stalwarts Giniel de Villiers and navigator Dirk von Zitzewitz. Al-Attiyah has won the Dakar twice before, while De Villiers/Von Zitzewitz won the first South American edition in 2009.
The race gets under way with a short stage from Asuncion, Paraguay, on 2 January. Stage 1 will take the teams from Paraguay into the northern regions of Argentina, with a total stage distance of 454 km. The first bivouac of Dakar 2017 will be at Resistencia, and the race continues from there into Bolivia and back into Argentina, before concluding in the Argentine capital of Buenos Aires on 14 January 2017.
SANTIAGO: Yellow underwear is flying off the shelves these days in the Chilean capital Santiago, where tradition holds that it brings prosperity and love if you wear it on New Year's Eve.
That's just one of many colourful New Year's rituals in Latin America, where some spend the evening walking around with a suitcase, others put potatoes under the bed and still others throw buckets of water out the window.
"The yellow underwear is for love, luck, money and so that this year will go well for everyone," says Gladys Leal, a saleswoman at a lingerie stand in Santiago's Meiggs neighborhood.
This time of year, she specializes in yellow undergarments in all shapes and sizes, for women and men alike.
But there's a catch, says her colleague, Jesica Silva: "The underwear has to be given as a gift to bring luck."
Yellow, she says, "represents the golden rays of abundance and prosperity."
Some even say the undies should be worn inside-out to guarantee a year full of passion.
"Beyond yellow lingerie, the tradition is more tied to the colour itself," says Chilean writer Hector Velis-Meza, author of a book called "The Secret History of Christmas and New Year's."
Yellow is seen in Latin America as a symbol of the sun, an eternal light, he says.
Chile is not the only country that adheres to the tradition.
It also exists in Mexico, Peru and Ecuador, with slight variations. Some say you should wear red undies for love, yellow for money.
In Uruguay, Argentina and Brazil, pink is the color of choice.
And in Venezuela, revelers are supposed to wear only new clothes -- a tall order this year as the once-booming oil exporter struggles through an economic crisis.
For some, it is indispensable to welcome the New Year by eating lentils.
For others, it's 12 grapes -- one at each strike of the clock at midnight, a tradition inhered from Spain.
In many countries, revelers ring in the new year by walking around the neighbourhood with a suitcase, a ritual meant to guarantee a year of journeys.
In Uruguay, people often throw buckets of water out the window to wipe the slate clean for the new year.
Some throw their old calendars, too.
In Brazil, many people dress in white and make offerings to Yemanja, the goddess of the sea in the Afro-Brazilian religion of Candomble.
Thousands of people swarm the beaches of Rio de Janeiro each year to launch makeshift boats with flowers and other gifts for Yemanja, seeking love, happiness or money.
Colombians meanwhile put potatoes under their beds to bring good luck.
And in Peru and Ecuador, revelers burn in effigy politicians and others they loved to hate in the outgoing year.
The custom has its roots in ancient indigenous practices in the Andes mountains.
But for the most part, the region's rituals have their origins in European traditions imported by Spanish and Portuguese conquistadors, says Velis-Meza.
That is the case for both the grapes and the lentils.
In Europe, the custom was to eat lentils, a hearty dish, in preparation for winter, he said.
In much of Latin America, though, New Year's falls in the middle of summer.
Source: AFP
Sea Harvest has enjoyed two years of significant success. The company's shareholders invested close to R600 million in capital and investment growth this year alone, seeing Sea Harvest becoming one of the largest vertically integrated black-owned fishing companies in the country.
Acquisitions and investments
It has been a prosperous period for Sea Harvest where the company acquired 19.9% of Mareterram Limited, (an Australian vertically integrated agribusiness) listed on the Australian Stock Exchange. Sea Harvest further increased its stake in Mareterram to 56%, a controlling interest, in July this year. We are very excited by our acquisition in Australia. It allows us to fortify our ability to earn foreign currency and provides a great platform for further growth in Australia. Even though cross-border acquisitions are never easy we have an experienced team on that side that is more than capable of delivering on the group strategy of being a diversified agribusiness, said Felix Ratheb, Sea Harvests chief executive officer and non-executive director of Mareterram, who is also an independent trustee on the Board of Trustees for the Marine Stewardship Council.
Further investments made by the business over the past 24 months include a R300 million outlay in vessels and infrastructure to ensure it continues to be efficient, sustainable and at the forefront of innovation.
At a shareholder level, Brimstone Investment Corporation invested R250 million in acquiring Kagiso Tiso Holding's share of Sea Harvest, thus allowing it to increase its controlling share to 85%. This acquisition consolidated the companys position as one of the most transformed fishing companies in the industry, now being 91% black-owned. Our commitment to transformation and job creation in the fishing industry will continue into the future, said Fred Robertson, Sea Harvest and Brimstone Chairman.
Employment and employee benefits
The company is committed to spreading the benefits and in mid-2015 created and launched an Employee Share Scheme where Sea Harvests permanent employees hold shares in the business through a trust made possible by the shareholders. This is our way of showing our employees how much we value their contribution to the ongoing success of Sea Harvest. The share scheme was initiated at no cost to the employees and the value of shares owned by them is now approximately R30 million, explains Ratheb.
As the single largest employer in the Saldanha Bay Municipality, the company continues to make a significant economic impact in a rural area to over 2,400 employees and their families through job creation and corporate social investment. The community the company operates in is critical to the lifeblood of the business, and Sea Harvest is committed to continue creating good sustainable jobs to foster local area development along the West Coast.
Positive growth
The fishing industry is a competitive and constantly evolving industry where barriers to entry are high, but one in which Sea Harvest is flourishing. In 2016, positive revenue growth can be seen in most markets, particularly in Europe. We continue to experience positive growth in all markets as the demand for sustainably caught hake grows, the opportunities for us to diversify our currency are there as we seek to make Cape Hake the protein of choice the world over, says Konrad Geldenhuys, Sea Harvests sales and marketing director.
After the difficulties faced by the business after the 2008 global financial and southern European sovereign debt crises, the business has seen a turnaround where its current compound annual growth rate (CAGR) on revenue has increased by over 10% since 2011, and its earnings before interest and tax (EBIT) has increased by over 60% since 2014.
Sea Harvest is well poised for organic and acquisitive growth. Ratheb acknowledges that without his experienced management team, supportive shareholders and a dedicated workforce, Sea Harvests many successes over the past three years could not have been achieved. All of their efforts and hard work has seen Sea Harvest be recognised by consumers through the Icon Brand consumer survey and voted the number seven Icon Brand in South Africa. A leader is only as strong as his team, and for us to be industry champions we need to constantly broaden our knowledge and experience. We look forward to an even bigger and more successful 2017.
ABUJA: Nigeria has struck off 50,000 "ghost workers" from the state payrolls this year, saving nearly 630 million euros, the presidency said on Tuesday.
The office of President Muhammadu Buhari, who was voted into power last year vowing to stamp out endemic graft in Africa's most populous country, said 11 people were undergoing probes in this connection and some of them were on trial.
"The Federal government payroll has been rid of 50,000 ghost workers, saving the country a huge amount of 200 billion naira," spokesman Garba Shehu said.
"The flagship programme of the Muhammadu Buhari administration to rid the system of fraud and instill good governance is on course," it said.
Last week, the Nigerian government promised to protect and hand out hefty rewards to whistleblowers who could be entitled to between 2.5 and five percent of funds recovered from information they provide about corruption.
Buhari has repeatedly accused the government of ex-president Goodluck Jonathan of a "mind-boggling" looting of the treasury.
Dozens of prominent members of the Jonathan regime, including ministers, politicians and relatives, have been charged with graft.
Several senior judges face charges of fraud, bribery and money laundering.
Source: AFP
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HELENA The Montana Department of Transportation is no longer reporting any traffic issues on Highway 200 at the bottom of Rogers Pass, where an overturned semi-truck was partially blocking traffic Friday morning.
The rollover occurred just north of the intersection of Highway 200 and Little Wolf Creek Road. The road in the area is wet and slushy, MDT reported.
The accident was reported at 6:35 a.m. Friday, and no injuries have been reported, according to the Montana Highway Patrol.
Visit the Montana Department of Transportation website for the latest road conditions in Montana.
MISSOULA Getting nearly naked wasnt enough to keep Catherine Lila Roberts from being arrested Tuesday on drug charges.
Roberts, 39, appeared this week before Ravalli County Justice Jim Bailey on a felony count of possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor counts of marijuana possession and drug paraphernalia.
According to an affidavit, a sheriffs deputy was dispatched to the home of Roberts and Michael Curtis Sullivan on Indian Prairie Loop in Stevensville to serve two active arrest warrants on the woman.
When the deputy pulled into the driveway, he spoke to Sullivan, who said Roberts was inside the house.
At that point, Roberts daughter was sitting inside a nearby vehicle.
When the deputy knocked on the door, Roberts refused to answer. Her daughter then walked up to the house and opened the door for the deputy.
Roberts was located in a back bedroom behind a locked door.
Through the door, the deputy told Roberts about the active warrants and the woman opened the door slightly.
The affidavit said Roberts then began to argue with the deputy and attempted to shut the door. When the deputy pushed back on the door, it broke off.
Roberts then allegedly stripped off her clothes and remained nearly naked for the next 20 to 30 minutes while she argued about the warrants.
The deputy eventually convinced Roberts to put on some clothes and she was transported to the Ravalli County Detention Center.
While inside the home, the deputy saw marijuana and methamphetamine pipes in plain view in the bedroom and a baggy of marijuana in the living room.
The affidavit said Sullivan was questioned about the drugs. He allegedly admitted to owning the marijuana, but denied ownership of the methamphetamine.
After obtaining search warrants, the urine of Roberts and Sullivan was tested.
Roberts urine was positive for buprenorphine. Methamphetamine and marijuana were detected in Sullivans urine.
Sullivan was charged with felony possession of methamphetamine and misdemeanor charges involving the marijuana and drug paraphernalia.
Sullivan was released on his own recognizance with a requirement to wear a drug monitoring device.
Bailey set Roberts bail at $20,000.
A familiar name in dentistry has expanded to a practice in northwest Mandan. Prairie Rose opened its doors in November to serve the Mandan community.
The new location has two dentists, Sid Schmidt, who relocated from the south Bismarck location, and Riley Parker, from the north location.
According to the Prairie Rose website, Schmidt is a Bismarck native who attended Bismarck State College and North Dakota State University and graduated from the University of Minnesota School of Dentistry in 1995. He was the recipient of a health professions scholarship and entered the U.S. Navy as an officer. He completed an advanced education in general dentistry residency at the Marine Corps Recruit Depot in San Diego, then accepted a three-year assignment at Yokosuka Naval Base near Tokyo.
Schmidt provided care for thousands of active duty, family members and civilians. During his four years of military service he received advanced training in all aspects of dentistry, in particular endodontics and exodontia. He also is certified in clear aligner orthodontic treatment. After the Navy, Schmidt joined Prairie Rose Family Dentists in 1999 as a general dentist.
Prairie Rose Family Dentists is excited to bring a state of the art, comprehensive dental facility to the community of Mandan, said Schmidt.
The clinic offers 3D technologies, crowns and all areas of general dentistry and is looking to add a pediatric dentist in the near future.
The thing I am looking forward to most at the new Mandan location is building lifelong relationships with patients and their families, said Parker.
Born and raised in Hazen, Parker attended Dickinson State University, graduating with a bachelor of science in biology and chemistry. He continued his education at the Arizona School of Dentistry and Oral Health and graduated in 2008. He also received a certificate of public health from A.T. Still University along with his doctorate.
Parker began his career in dentistry in Oregon, returning to North Dakota in 2010. While living in Bismarck, he provided care for a nearby community health center until opening his practice in 2013. Parker joined Prairie Rose Family Dentists in 2016.
The Mandan clinic is located at 2500 Overlook Lane off Interstate 94 near Walmart and Thrifty White Drug. Hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Thursday and 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Friday. For more information, visit www.prairierosedentists.com or call 701-751-3237.
A Cause for Claws Thrift Store (701-751-5828) Seeks volunteers to sort, test, repair and set up store displays. All profits support a low-cost spay and neuter clinic.
Abused Adult Resource Center (701-222-8370) Volunteers advocates needed to help answer the crisis calls in the evenings and on weekends. An advocates role is to listen, offer support and give options. Free training provided.
AID Inc. (701-663-2122 or 701-663-1274) Adults to sort clothing, sort other donations, pricing, cashiering, cleaning, organizing, hanging clothes, sorting, testing and repairing electrical items and other various tasks.
American Cancer Society (701-433-7582) Volunteer drivers for Road to Recovery Program.
American Red Cross (701-223-6700) Disaster and Health and Safety Services to teach CPR/first aid courses, aid in disaster response locally and nationwide, training provided. Adults and youth 16 and older.
Arc of Bismarck (701-222-1854) Work in the thrift store.
Baptist Health Care Center (701-223-3040) Assist residents with clinic appointments, activities, meals, chapel on Sunday and bingo.
Big Brothers Big Sisters (701-222-0797) Be a mentor for youth.
Bismarck-Mandan Chapter of SCORE (701-328-5861) Volunteer management counselors to provide free and confidential mentoring and counseling for those who wish to start a small business. Call or stop by the office at the Bank of North Dakota building on Memorial Highway.
Buckstop Junction/Missouri Valley Historical Society (701-250-8575) Conduct tours of historic buildings, help with The Shoppe, building or grounds maintenance, general office work, Corn Feed/Old Settlers Day, publicity or adopt a building.
Burleigh County Senior Adult Program (701-255-4648) Deliver meals to homebound elderly individuals and assist as nutrition servers, gift shop attendants, Wii bowling scorekeeper and answering phones.
Central Dakota Humane Society (701-667-2020) Provide companionship, exercise and socialization to the dogs and cats; assist with basic animal care; assist with special events.
Charles Hall Youth Services (701-255-2773, ext. 303) Volunteer mentors needed to commit to supporting, guiding and mentoring at-risk youth. Mentors serve as positive role models, teaching youth healthy and safe ways to have fun and to meet positive academic, career and personal goals. Mentors must be minimum of 21 years of age. Training provided.
CHI St. Alexius Health (701-530-7159) Deliver mail and flowers, escort patients, help with the gift shop.
CHI St. Alexius Home Health & Hospice (701-530-4500) Share your time, energy and compassion while enriching your own life and lives of others. Help with a variety of activities such as companionship, errands, respite care, administrative and bereavement support. Volunteers who are a veteran, can play an instrument for music therapy and/or perform pet therapy are particularly needed.
Community Action (701-258-2240) Help in the donation center and the food pantry.
Cystic Fibrosis Association (701-222-3998) Help with mailings and fundraising events.
Dakota Boys and Girls Ranch (701-223-7979) Help in thrift store and perform janitorial duties.
Dakota Zoo (701-223-7543) Accepting applications for adult volunteers to provide animal conservation programs and animal handling for educational programs. Training provided. Also looking for general volunteers for light building and repair projects. Carpentry, mechanical and fencing skills are a plus but not needed.
Foster Grandparent Program (701-258-5436) Provide one-on-one assistance to children in schools, Head Start and child care centers. Listen to children read, assist with homework, etc.
Good Samaritan Society (701-323-3274) Volunteers needed.
Lutheran Social Services Senior Companions (701-838-7800) Seniors 55 and older who are healthy, active and interested in helping their older neighbors.
Make-A-Wish (701-280-9474) Help with upcoming special events.
Manchester House (701-223-5600) Be a mentor for youth. Must be at least 18.
Mandan Golden Age Services (701-663-6528) Pick up prepared meals at Mandan Senior Center and deliver them to the homes of the elderly.
McLean Family Resource Center (701-462-8643) Assist with crisis line.
Mental Health America of North Dakota (701-255-3692) Help with data entry, various office duties.
Neighbors Network Program (701-323-4277) Volunteers with pickups to help move donated furniture items to clients homes.
New Song Church (701-258-5683) Janitorial and light maintenance work. For details, email erickson.e.michael@gmail.com.
North Dakota Operation Lifesaver (701-223-6372) Help spread the message about railroad safety.
Pride Inc. (701-258-7838) Support people with disabilities in social and recreational activities, especially between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. daily, Monday-Friday, also evenings and weekends. Staff on site to assist at all times.
Public Health Emergency Volunteer Reserve Corps/Medical Reserve Corps (701-328-1334) Accepting registration of volunteers to assist with public health emergencies. Medical and non-medical volunteers needed. Choose to help only in own county, in the surrounding counties, statewide or anywhere in the U.S. Register at www.ndhealth.gov/EPR/volunteer.
RSVP+ Central North Dakota (701-258-5436) RSVP+ will connect volunteers of all ages to a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the community.
Ruth Meiers House (701-222-2108) Sorting donations, stocking food pantry shelves, dining room servers, childrens learning center aides, baby boutique program assistants and special event help. More information: www.ruthmeiers.org.
St. Vincents Care Center (701-323-1974) Entertainers for background music for Sunday social events.
Salvation Army (701-223-1889) Assist with meals, activities and tutoring in the youth program; stock food pantry shelves; light maintenance work.
Sanford Health (701-323-6011) Greet and assist visitors in the surgical waiting room, deliver flowers, help in the Gift Shoppe and Koffee Korner and assist with special projects.
Sanford Health Hospice (701-323-8400) Volunteers needed to assist terminally ill patients. Assistance commonly includes visiting, reading and taking walks; child care assistance; bereavement support; and administrative/clerical work. Orientation, training and support provided.
Seeds of Hope store (701-222-8370) Greeters, price clothes, stock and straighten shelves, Diggers Delight and more. Creative people needed for designing gift baskets and store displays.
Tracys Sanctuary House (701-258-5889) Perform daily housekeeping tasks, answer phones, stock kitchen and food pantry.
Volunteer Care Givers for the Elderly (701-223-9290) Assist with transportation, yardwork, light housekeeping, respite care, errands and shopping and other companionship activities with the elderly.
Welcome House Inc. (701-391-5184) Assist with food pantry, kitchen and front desk.
State Superintendent Kirsten Baesler said she's planning a trip next month to the Standing Rock Indian Reservation to learn more about a makeshift "resource school" for parents homeschooling their children at one of the Dakota Access Pipeline protest camps.
Baesler is meeting with the Home, Education and Welfare Committee of the Standing Rock Tribe on Jan. 17, 2017. In October, she had sent a letter to the tribal council stating that the school needs to meet certain state requirements in order to operate lawfully.
The school, called the Defenders of the Water School, is located at the Oceti Sakowin, or Seven Council Fires, camp in Morton County, just north of the reservation.
The school was first established in August and had about 40 students on its first day, ranging from preschool children to 16-year-olds. The school is said to be a resource for homeschooling parents with lessons in Lakota language and traditional subjects.
The school, however, is not currently operating, according to April Rain, the director of development for the school. Rain referenced a statement posted to the school's website that said the schools and its teachers "will be taking a break from conducting daily classes and will instead be focusing our energies on the exciting work of creating a long-term project and culturally based school."
Baesler said she also has been made aware of some school-age children living at the camp, but is unaware if the children are enrolled in a nearby school or whether necessary homeschool paperwork was filed with Mandan or Solen school districts.
She said the meeting also will include tribal consultation for the new Every Student Succeeds Act, which requires the state education agency meet with each tribe that exists within their states boundaries.
Baesler said it's not clear how many children reside at the camp.
I just hope to learn more on January 17th," Baesler said.
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This article was published 30/12/2016 (2134 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Just as Brandonites have finished digging out of the snow dump received on Christmas Day, another storm is heading across the Prairies but Brandon might narrowly escape the worst of it.
An Alberta clipper, a small and intense low-pressure system that moves very quickly across the Prairies, is expected to coast through Manitoba beginning this morning, said John Paul Cragg, warning preparedness meteorologist with Environment Canada.
(An Alberta clipper) often forms in Alberta, hence the name, and it really starts to get going in Saskatchewan and it can mature quite nicely in Manitoba, Cragg said. What you often see with these storms is a fairly thin band of 10 to 15 centimetres of snow to the north of the system and strong winds in behind usually around 40 to 60 kilometres an hour in these types of systems.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun A semi-trailer makes its way south along Brandons Eastern Access Route on Thursday, as gusting winds blow snow across the roadway. Expect much more blowing snow as an Alberta clipper is set move through Westman today.
Areas surrounding Dauphin and Riding Mountain National Park are more likely to see the dump of snow, while Brandon is more likely to only suffer the high winds, Cragg said.
Brandon is just on the edge of where that band of snow could possibly go through, but Brandon will more certainly see those strong winds all the snow thats on the ground could blow around and we could see some reduced visibilities on roads, Cragg said. So even if Brandon doesnt receive that 10 centimetres (of snow), conditions for driving will be quite bad.
In the meantime, city crews have been working round the clock to continue residential snow clearing, said Pam Penner, manager of public works with the City of Brandon.
Were pretty happy with the work that weve got completed to date, Penner said. We arent sure whether that storm will hit us and what that impact will be, but we do have crews that will continue to work all weekend to clear the city and we are prepared if we need to go back into those areas If the snow does hit us, were ready.
Penner encouraged residents to keep an eye on the snow-clearing map on Brandons website, so they know when crews will be in their area.
(People) can anticipate when we are going to be starting so they can move their vehicles off the road if needed and we can do a good job while were in there. We would really appreciate it, Penner said.
The Alberta clipper is quite fast moving, and should be through Manitoba in about 12 hours, Cragg said, adding that colder weather is expected to follow the storm.
The Arctic air will take a couple days to sink into the Southwestern Manitoba area were forecasting the Brandon area getting down to about -21 C by Jan. 1, and an average of -25 C for the rest of the week, Cragg said.
edebooy@brandonsun.com
Twitter: @erindebooy
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This article was published 29/12/2016 (2135 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
Making their daughter proud, Stacie Robertson and husband Dan banded their workplaces together in support of Teen Challenge, whose Christian-based addictions ministry operates just outside of Brandon.
Between Stacies workplace at the Brandon Regional Hospitals Surgical Suite and Dans workplace at Brandons Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba office, the couple helped raise $750 and 20 large boxes and bags of material.
This material included food, clothing, books, bath stuff, school supplies and various items young women might need or want during their stay with the organization.
Submitted Donated items for Teen Challenge are piled up in Stacie and Dan Robertson's living room. The couple helped raise $750 and 20 large boxes and bags of material for the addictions ministry.
They also tied in some feel-good Christmas presents, Stacie said items they hoped would make the women feel better.
Teen Challenge Brandon is an addictions ministry that houses young women during their battles against addiction.
Three of their participants recently visited the local 100 Women Who Care organization to make a plea for funding.
While 100 Women Who Care selected another organization as this years beneficiary, something about their story resonated with Stacie, inspiring her to take action.
We all see our kids making some bad decisions, however that happens, she explained. Weve all done it I would only hope that that centre were there for my daughter if she ever needed it.
A semi-retired nurse, Stacie asked her co-workers to adopt Teen Challenge as this Christmas seasons charity, and they agreed.
Dans co-workers followed suit, and they quickly amassed a pile of donations that Stacie considers overwhelming one that she doesnt want to take too much credit for.
It was a real combined joint effort, she said.
To find so many people band together in support of the young women at Teen Challenge has been a heartwarming experience, director of womens ministries Kim Lowes shared this week.
A huge blessing, she affirmed. The girls are always absolutely blown away Its an absolute gift for the girls at this time of year.
Given their status as addicts in recovery, the gifts resonated particularly well, Lowes added, clarifying that addicts are more commonly shoved aside and not factored into charitable efforts such as what the Robertsons have offered.
To have other people in the community rally around the women and just say were here to help you, it blows me away, Lowes said. It really does Its just that sense of being cared for by somebody is awesome.
This is the kind of support these girls will continue to need as they progress through the program and into the outside world.
Like most community stewards, it wasnt Stacie or Dan who alerted the media as to their efforts, who didnt do it for publicity.
Daughter Blair Robertson, 22, alerted the press, commending her parents thoughtful behaviour during the Christmas season.
Its not only her parents who deserve commendation, she added, but also those at the Brandon Regional Hospital and the Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba.
I was completely blown away with how generous the people were, she said.
Where a lot of people dont undertake such fundraising initiatives out of pessimism that they wouldnt be able to raise enough to make a difference, the Robertson couple proves that when people set their minds out to do something, even the unlikelys possible.
People are generous, especially over Christmas time, and this really, really proves it, the proud daughter noted. I just think it was absolutely incredible and I just feel their story needs to be shared.
The Brandon-area Teen Challenge currently has six students due to recent graduations, although the present capacity is eight. Theyre in the process of a significant expansion that will find this capacity double to 16 during the next year.
tclarke@brandonsun.com
Twitter: @TylerClarkeMB
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This article was published 30/12/2016 (2134 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
After being part of the first Syrian refugee family in Brandon, Mohamed Armoush is helping other new families get adjusted to his new hometown.
Adjusting was very easy I was expecting a harder time but the people have been so wonderful, Armoush said. Its just incredible to be settled.
Armoush, his wife and their three children came to Brandon in September. They have been busy learning English and Canadian culture. Armoush recently got his drivers licence and hopes to get a job driving heavy duty equipment, he said.
Matt Goerzen/The Brandon Sun Mohamed Armoush (left), whose family were the first Syrian refugees in Brandon, now helps other newcomers get adjusted to living in the city, including Mohamed Masri (right).
Theres a lot of respect between people here I just love every aspect of it, Armoush said.
To date, Westman Immigration Services has welcomed around 60 people to Brandon, said settlement services manager Wendy Petersen.
Were responsible for them for their first 21 days we pick them up from the airport and provide life skills training, show them how to use the bus and buy groceries, register them for English classes, kids get registered for school, and we help them find permanent housing, which is really critical, Petersen said. Weve been very fortunate, we havent been having a lot of trouble finding permanent housing, so its been kind of a win-win that way the community has been great.
They also help the families get medical treatment, which can range in severity, said Petersen.
We have multiple health issues, whether its gunshot wounds that havent been dealt with, broken bones that havent been set right, dental issues, vision issues, hearing loss we try to deal with within the first few days, Petersen said. Were very lucky here in Brandon we have a lot of Arabic-speaking doctors and that makes it very easy for us because they can communicate with the doctor in their first language, which is a sense of relief for them.
Petersen said the Brandon community is unique in that private sponsors and government-assisted refugee programs work together as a community for the new families rather than separately.
The extra volunteers are a huge help we are really proud of how Brandon has come together as a community they are the communitys families and weve really worked hard to make them feel like they are part of the community, Petersen said.
For Armoush, helping the community that welcomed him is the least he can do.
Its our duty to (volunteer) I have to help, theres no second thought about it, Armoush said.
Petersen said this has been a valuable learning experience.
This isnt just about us helping them, theyre helping us, Petersen said. Theyre helping us to learn more about ourselves, learning more about our community, helping us expand our thoughts and live outside of the box for a minute They want to be helping. They just dont want to take, they want to give back.
edebooy@brandonsun.com
Twitter: @erindebooy
Opinion
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This article was published 30/12/2016 (2134 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
2017 is already just about here. Now its time to look back at 2016 in Manitoban beer.
Barn Hammer Brewing became the first brewery to open up in Manitoba since Half Pints Brewing opened up in Winnipeg back in 2006 it took a whole decade for Manitobas third brewery to open! Ever since Barn Hammer opened, a bunch of new breweries and even a distillery opened up.
Following Barn Hammer was Torque Brewing, Torque is also the first new brewery to also have beer available in cans/bottle they currently have most of their offerings in 473 ml cans but plan on doing special one-off 650 ml bottles for special one-off releases including sours and barrel aged ales.
La Resolution, Born in a Day APA, St Sylvestre 3 Monts
Neepawas Farmery Brewing became the first brewery to open up in western Manitoba since Empire Brewing closed in Brandon back in the 1930s. Their offerings currently include a lager, pale ale, a berry ale and a pink lemonade malt cooler.
PEG Brewing was expected to be the first of the new batch of brewers to open up back in 2015. They werent able to start brewing until only a few months ago, they are also the only brewpub/tasting room with a full kitchen.
Winnipegs Capital K Distillery became Manitobas first new distillery in Manitoba. Capital Ks two Manitoban grain-based vodkas Crystal Vodka and Tall Grass Vodka are available at local Liquor Marts now.
One month ago, Little Brown Jug opened up right in Winnipegs Exchange District. They currently brew one beer a 1919 Belgian Pale Ale. The Little Brown Jugs brewmaster, Bernie Weiland, is originally from Westman so its great to see someone from this area involved heavily in brewing operations.
Lastly and most recently Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries announced they were cancelling the $5-million loan program for new breweries and distilleries. None of the new breweries or distilleries were able to take advantage of the loan program in the first place as the program was essentially non-existent as soon as the Progressive Conservatives came to power in April. It may slow down on potential new breweries and distilleries opening up in Winnipeg, but there will still be many more breweries opening up in the next two years stay tuned!
With it being New Years Eve tomorrow, I felt like it was a good time to have a New Years Eve-themed beer edition of First Draught. Heres three beers I feel would be great additions to a great New Years Eve party.
La Resolution
With a name like La Resolution, I just had to include this beer first. My main resolution for 2017 is to travel more and check out the exploding beer scenes beyond Manitoba or Montreal.
Unibroues La Resolution is a rich dark ale that tops out at 10 per cent. It has an aroma of dark fruits, brown sugar, a light touch of burnt caramel and a hint of gingerbread.
The flavour is rich and boozy, notes of gingerbread, nutmeg, burnt caramel, a light spiciness to it and a bit of dark fruit (prunes, raisins).
A great beer to warm up to seeing that its 10 per cent. $8.71 per 750 ml bottle.
Pint rating: 4.5 out of 5
St Sylvestre 3 Monts
Half a decade back, MLCC used to have this great beer called DeuS Brut des Flandres, it was the perfect New Years Eve toasting beer as it was very fizzy, sweet and even reminiscent to champagne as it was aged in champagne barrels. Unfortunately, the beer is no longer available in Manitoba, so I find 3 Monts Golden Ale to be a decent substitute to DeuS.
3 Monts pours a pale straw golden ale with a great amount of fizz at first, but quickly diminishes to just a few bubbles here and there as well as a decent thick white head that diminishes to a light amount of white film with a liberal amount of lacing on the side of the glass.
The aroma is a sweet honey and herbal aroma with notes of champagne, a hint of European lager skunk and a hint of lemon.
The taste gives off a sweet, flavour thats aiming towards the direction of a champagne but misses out on the fizzy goodness of a champagne. The beer is very sweet, almost like a white mead, with flavours of lemongrass, a hint of hop presence to give it just a hint of bitterness and a bit of a profile that I can only explain as sparkling wine aftertaste.
While this beer cant compare to DeuS, I actually really like the white mead honey-like sweetness and for a New Years Eve beer toasting, this certainly works for me! 8.5 per cent ABV. $6.68 per 750 ml bottle.
Pint rating: 3.5 out of 5
Born in a Day APA
Fairly new to Manitoba Liquor Marts, Born in a Day is an Australian-style pale ale by Irish brewery Boyne Brewhouse. Pours a cloudy amber ale with a lot of carbonation, thick amount of light beige head. The majority of the aroma I get is a grainy aroma with notes of lemon, a hint of grapefruit and a bit of caramel malt.
The taste is reminiscent of an Original 16 which is an American pale ale its grassy, grainy, a bit of toasted bread, hint of lemon, a bit of caramel for sweetness and a hint of bitterness from the hops lingering for the aftertaste.
I honestly wasnt knowing what to expect for an Australian pale ale out of Ireland, but I expected more tropical hops. Instead, its more reminiscent to the lighter end of American pale ales to me. Its very easy to drink and mildly bitter at the very end. 4.8 per cent ABV, $3.99 per 500 ml bottle.
Pint rating: 3 out of 5
Gov. Doug Burgum pitched his ideas for fostering economic development and entrepreneurship at a grass roots level to more than a dozen mayors across the state Thursday.
The meeting, put on by the North Dakota League of Cities, was held at the North Dakota Heritage Center, where Burgum shared his vision about his "Main Street Initiative."
Burgum proposes to build economic success with a skilled workforce, efficient infrastructure and vibrant communities, according to his web page. The initiative encourages "reinventing" education to match employers' needs, creating sustainable growth and infrastructure, restoring and rebuilding old neighborhoods, honoring the past, using new technology, better internet connectivity and making communities more walkable.
"It was very informational, educational and exciting," Bismarck Mayor Mike Seminary said Friday, noting the governor and Lt. Gov. Brent Sanford spent nearly four hours with the city leaders. "The initiative essentially is how cities will play a critical role in how the state moves forward in a global marketplace in the 21st century: how we can have vibrant, active downtowns, how we use public dollars that stimulate private investment, how to minimize (operation and maintenance) costs. He talked about public-private partnerships and technology."
Seminary concurred with many of the points made, saying cities and their leadership will play an important role in attracting and keeping talent and encouraging entrepreneurs. He said it mirrors what Bismarck is trying to do.
"We have an active downtown, a growing startup (entrepreneurship) community. It was very exciting and encouraging to spend that much time in one sitting with the governor," he said.
Mandan Mayor Tim Helbling echoed those sentiments and characterized the meeting as reflecting "a new style of leadership."
"I'm impressed with him and the lieutenant governor," Helbling said, who indicated both leaders took the time to thoroughly listen to the mayors attending. "There is legislation to change the Renaissance Zone and TIF (Tax Increment Financing) districts. These have been very important to Mandan.
He favored the governor's discussion about so many downtown parking lots being underused and said the unoccupied grocery store on West Main Street in Mandan would fit into the governor's initiative.
"I never sat in with a governor for so long in one sitting. They were both very sincere and wanted to listen to every side," Helbling said.
Lincoln Mayor Gerarld Wise said he could not attend the meeting but hopes to meet with the governor in the future.
Opinion
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This article was published 30/12/2016 (2134 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.
That smells like unbaked bread.
I looked in astonishment at my husband as he made that pronouncement about the Mionetto Prosecco Treviso Brut from Italy.
Youre just saying that because Ive told you thats my favourite thing about real Champagne! I said accusingly.
No I can really smell and taste it in that, he insisted, indicating the Mionetto.
To say I was delighted would be an understatement. I was thrilled! He, who always professes to not be able to smell or taste the scents and flavours that I can, or come up with anything he smells or tastes without prompting, could conjure up that assessment? I was so proud!
And he was absolutely right, not just because he agreed with me, although that certainly didnt hurt. But the aroma wafting up from the glass of Mionetto was definitely that yeasty, doughy fragrance I love in bubbly wine. In my experience, its particularly apparent in Champagne, but Ive found some other sparkling wines boast those same qualities, whether theyre made by methode champenoise or not.
By way of explanation, because I usually hate getting into all this technical stuff (but Ill deal with this at greater length in a later column), methode champenoise requires a secondary fermentation in the bottle. Champagnes and high-quality sparkling wines are made that way. But if you see the word charmat on a label, it means the secondary fermentation has happened in a tank, not in the bottle.
While the latter is not considered the best method, Im all about aroma and taste. I sort of dont care how it gets there as long as it gets there. And the yeasty doughiness that I love so much in real Champagne can still be achieved through the other method its just perhaps not as pronounced.
It can also be accomplished by good wine-making, and that certainly seems to be the case with the Mionetto. And I think thats why my hubby preferred it to the Veuve Clicquot Brut Champagne I so adore hes not as wild about the yeastiness as I am. But with delicate notes, such as in the Mionetto, he was more than OK with it. And we both liked that, while the Veuve Brut is $71.49, the Mionetto sells for a mere $19.99 a bottle. And its delish!
Im writing about bubbly today, of course, because tomorrow is New Years Eve. And while I think bubbly should be drunk much more frequently than it is people tend to save it for celebrations and occasions but truly, a sparkling wine is a delight at any time. As an aperitif, as a lovely reward after an accomplishment even something so simple as making it through a tough day at work theres no alcoholic-beverage-indulging time when sparkling wine is inappropriate.
But its certainly associated with parties, and New Years Eve is often the biggest one of the year. And while I think its a bit of a fabricated occasion, one that doesnt warrant all the hoopla associated with it, Ive certainly done my share of celebrating on Dec. 31st over the years. Any excuse for a party and Im there! And with its sense of promise, its suggestion of a new beginning, perhaps it is worth acknowledging. Heck, anything that brings people together to share conversation, fun and optimism is more than all right in my books.
So if you want to hoist a glass or two of bubbly to usher in the new year, here are some suggestions, in addition to the two mentioned above.
I love Mumm Napa Brut Prestige, which sells for $22.49, and its certainly a lot less than Mumm Champagne ($63.99) and is almost indiscernible from its parent product.
Im also a big fan of the Segura Viudas Brut Reserva Cava from Spain. This is the workhorse of the sparklers a whole lot of wine for only $14.95 a bottle. But this year, the company has introduced Segura Viudas Vintage Gran Reserva Brut Cava, a real coup as far as Im concerned. For three dollars more $17.95 a bottle I think its almost twice the wine the other is. Again, that doughy quality I love comes shining through, and its really not discernible in the $15 one.
And speaking of workhorses, theres good old Freixenet Cordon Negro Cava Brut always reliable and always good. A 750 ml bottle is $14.49, while the 1.5 litre bottle perfect for a party sells for $24.95.
For those who like something with a touch but only a touch of sweetness, I highly recommend the Lion Nathan Sophora Sparkling Rose ($19.99) and the La Marca Prosecco ($19.99).
Slightly sweeter still are the Devils Rock Riesling Dry Sparkling ($13.99) and the Royal de Neuville Cuvee de Prestige Rose ($14.01).
Those who like an extra touch of glam and the wine is good, too should check out the Bottega Il Vino de Poeti Gold Brut Prosecco ($27.99). The bottle makes for a lovely keepsake given its shiny gold wrapping.
And if you want to celebrate all that is Canadian as you usher in 2017, the Sumac Ridge Stellers Jay Brut ($25.99) from the Okanagan is a real treat.
Since 2016, for a variety of reasons, is a year many of us want see in the rear view mirror, perhaps this is one New Years Eve to celebrate with extra enthusiasm. Out with the old and in with the new!
Heres not so much to whats been as what is yet to come. Happy New Year! Cheers to 2017!
President Barack Obama has today imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services.
This was in retaliation for Russia's alleged interference in the US presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts.
The state department has also kicked out 35 Russian diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the US.
The diplomats were declared persona non grata for acting in a "manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status".
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman says Moscow regrets the new US sanctions, and will consider retaliatory measures.
In a tweet, the embassy's UK Twitter account shot back and posted a meme.
It is a photo of a duckling with the word "LAME" over it.
The text states: "President Obama expels 35 (Russian flag emoji) diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl (American flag emoji) people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm."
Up to 25,000 tourists will come to Dublin for Failte Ireland's annual New Year festival, joining the same number of locals for the festivities.
It starts today for three days and is worth 13m to the tourist industry.
Fornmer Taoiseach Garret FitzGerald ordered an overhaul of preparations for a mass exodus of "refugees" from Northern Ireland in the event of chaos breaking out after the Anglo-Irish Agreement.
Secret files, just released under the 30-year rule, show defence and health chiefs in Dublin were told in 1986 to update contingency plans previously drawn up in 1974 and 1975 - among the bloodiest years of the Troubles.
The revamped preparations would take into account the then new hospital at Letterkenny in Co Donegal being used for casualties and expanded Irish Army bases to house the "initial reception of refugees".
The updated contingency plan was ordered against a background of growing fears of a loyalist backlash to the 1985 accord signed between Mr Fitzgerald and Margaret Thatcher descending into a full-blown emergency.
The Irish government's Inter-departmental Committee on Wartime Emergency Preparations, which first met in October 1986, had raised the "planning assumptions in relation to Northern Ireland".
In a secret letter to the Department of Health in December, the Taoiseach's office sought confirmation that "plans previously drawn up by your department to cater for such an eventuality have been kept in place and updated to take account of developments such as the opening of the major new hospital in Letterkenny".
The contingency referred to "medical and hospital treatment of casualties".
In a similar missive to the Department of Defence, the Taoiseach's office said the likelihood of such an exodus across the border "as far as it can be foreseen" was "not particularly strong" at the time.
But it added: "However, in view of the unpredictable nature of the situation and outlook in Northern Ireland, it is considered advisable to seek confirmation that the plans previously drawn up in your department have been kept in place and updated to take account of any subsequent developments."
These included "for example some premises being no longer available or an expansion in accommodation in Army premises that could be utilised for the initial reception of refugees: it is clearly necessary that plans for this contingency should be up to date".
Despite rebels in Syria clashing with government forces and their allies near Damascus today, a ceasefire in Syria appears to be largely holding.
The ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and thousands of opposition fighters was brokered by Russia and Turkey.
Southeast Judicial District Court Judge Jerod Tufte says, as he takes on his position as a member of the states highest court, his previous experience as a judge and prosecutor will lend valuable insight into the complex cases that come before it.
Tufte takes the seat of outgoing North Dakota Supreme Court Justice Dale Sandstrom in January, becoming the newest member of the five-justice court.
He said the main change from being a district court judge will be the significant increase in administrative duties justices take on while serving.
(But) I think itll be quite a comfortable transition, Tufte said.
Tufte won his seat for a 10-year term on the Supreme Court last month, earning 60.7 percent of the vote.
Tufte has been serving as a district judge since 2014 after being appointed by former Gov. Jack Dalrymple. He served as the governors legal counsel for three years prior to that.
During the transition hes spent a few days at the court meeting with staff, getting to know the ropes around the office as well as studying some cases that are slated to come before the court shortly after he takes office.
As with other state agencies, Tufte said budget work during the upcoming session will be critical. He hopes to do his part working with legislators hes known since his time in the governors office to help guide talks on the courts budget.
A lot of time and effort (is) needed to ensure needs are met, Tufte said, adding that the court is just one part of a larger system that needs to be running efficiently in all areas.
Sandstrom said the transition has gone well, with Tufte having access to court documents to prepare for January cases to be heard. He said the recent blizzard has made the moving out of the office a bit difficult but otherwise things have gone smoothly.
Im sure hell do a good job. He brings a good legal background to the court, Sandstrom said.
Sandstrom added that Tuftes technological background should lend itself well to continuing the IT work Sandstroms done while in office.
Tufte is a graduate of the Arizona State University School of Law. He served as a lawyer in private practice and was also previously a law clerk for the U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit.
Tufte also previously served as a states attorney in Kidder and Sheridan counties as well as a Judge Advocate General for the North Dakota National Guard.
He said his body of work should lend itself well to a court that already contains a wealth of experience.
I think weve got a good mix of experience and background on the court, Tufte said.
Tufte said with his background in technology hed be an asset in maintaining the website and online presence the court has developed under Sandstroms leadership. He said once he gets acquainted with his duties hed like to take an active role in handling those responsibilities.
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Five degrees of separation? In Canberra, it's more like one degree. And, in a nice twist, Cross of Valour recipient Allan Sparkes knows the family of our latest rescue hero, Zach Rolfe.
We told you about the remarkable rescue this week of two tourists in the Northern Territory by police officer Zach Rolfe, a former Canberra Grammar student and the son of Canberra identities Debbie and Richard Rolfe.
Allan Sparkes in 1996 going down a manhole to rescue a child stuck in a flooded stormwater drain.
Mr Sparkes, meanwhile, is one of only five recipients of Australia's highest bravery decoration and civilian award, the Cross of Valour.
The then NSW police officer received the honour for rescuing a boy from a flooded stormwater drain in Coffs Harbour in 1996.
Steven Freeman's death in custody sparked a coroner's inquest and an independent inquiry. Prosecutors are appealing his sentence on grounds it was "manifestly inadequate". In the first murder trial of 2016, a jury found Danny Klobucar, 27, not guilty due to mental impairment for the bashing death of grandfather Miodrag Gajic on New Year's day in 2014. His case is now before the ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal. Marcus Rappel waiats sentencing for killing Tara Costigan. Awaiting justice
Gabrielle Woutersz's month-long trial for the alleged murder of her mother in Dunlop ended the year with a rare deadlocked jury after almost three weeks of deliberations. Justice Michael Elkaim was sworn in as the fifth ACT Supreme Court judge in July. Credit:Graham Tidy Woutersz, 25, is now set to face a jury for the second time next August after jurors failed to reach a verdict in the matricide case, which hinged on the accused's mental state at the time. Axe killer Marcus Rappel still awaits news of his fate for the brutal slaying of his former partner, mother-of-three Tara Costigan, 28, in Calwell in March 2015. Emotions ran high in court as prosecutors urged a life sentence for Rappel's "heinous, callous, pitiless slaughter" of Ms Costigan, while his defence team said his remorse was genuine as they called for a lesser jail term.
Case dropped over worksite death The devastated mother of Ben Catanzariti, 21, warned there would be "another death in the ACT" after prosecutors in May suddenly dropped their case against two companies charged over his 2012 worksite death. Kay Catanzariti wore the jumper her son died in as she carried his ashes to court. "This is my son, I don't get that back," she said. Catanzariti was killed when a faulty concrete pump boom collapsed on him at a construction site on the Kingston Foreshore. An inquest into his death is set to reopen next year.
Path again cleared for Eastman retrial David Harold Eastman vowed he would continue to protest his innocence after losing his latest bid to block a second murder trial for the assassination of senior AFP officer Colin Stanley Winchester in 1989. Eastman appeared in court for the first time since he was released from prison after his murder conviction for the killing was quashed in 2014. He was there to challenge the Court of Appeal's decision to dismiss his application for a permanent stay of proceedings after a fresh trial was ordered. His appeal was dismissed after a three-day hearing, meaning Eastman will likely face a planned six-month retrial set down for July.
Civil stoushes Michael Jones' bitter and protracted legal battle, one of the most high-profile cases to hit the courts in 2016, began with allegations the University of Canberra pressured the Brumbies board to stand him down as chief executive. It ended five months later with a confidential late night settlement and Mr Jones' frustration at the "broken" legal process. The trigger, he claimed, had been his decision to raise serious questions about a land deal involving its former Griffith headquarters and a new site at the university. Mr Jones used the territory's whistleblower laws to allege he had been unfairly treated after disclosing serious irregularities with the deal.
But while it may be shorter in deference to the attention spans of the target audience, and have a smaller cast than a full scale ballet, it's not intended to be in any way cut-rate. This new production has been choreographed by the company's artistic director, David McAllister and features new costumes and sets designed by Krystal Giddings.
In 2015, the Australian Ballet began its Storytime Ballet series with Sleeping Beauty, a mainstage production aimed at children aged from three to nine. Now, it's touring another Tchaikovsky ballet, also adapted especially for young children in an abridged version with a narrator The Nutcracker. It will be coming to the Canberra Theatre in January.
McAllister says the production condenses the story into about an hour. It is narrated by one of the characters, the toymaker and magician Dr Drosselmeyer, who gives young Clara the Nutcracker doll that comes to life. They go to a magical world of animated toys, dancing sweets, and other wonders.
He says families have come to Storytime Ballet with children as young as two and three up to early school age, eight and nine-year-olds with their parents and grandparents who can enjoy the high quality dancing by the performers, a few of them principal dancers, most of them drawn from the ensemble of the Australian Ballet.
"It's a good way of introducing young people to ballet and theatre," he says.
McAllister says there's "not that much difference" in choreographing a ballet for children as distinct from an adult audience: it's still about telling a story and making sense of it through dance.
"You do have to make sure the story is clear and attractive," he says. It's important, too, to make sure the audience's attention is directed to the most important elements on stage so they can follow the story. Having a character on stage as narrator helps, but there still has to be plenty of well co-ordinated movement around him.
A Canberra man was brought before court on Friday after he was charged four times in four months for drink or drug driving.
The 23-year-old man was stopped by police on December 29 in Belconnen. A drug test came back positive for methamphetamines, the ACT Magistrates Court heard on Friday.
The man had been stopped by police two days earlier, on December 27, when he was also charged with drug driving. On December 17, he was stopped and charged with drink driving, court documents say.
On August 17, he had been charged with drug driving.
These alleged matters were ongoing, but the court on Friday heard the man also had three convictions for drug driving.
A North Dakota judge says he'll keep the states ban on abortion from taking effect because there's a "substantial probability that a constitutional challenge to the law will succeed in court. Judge Bruce Romanicks Monday ruling means abortion is still legal in North Dakota. However, Romanick said the question of whether abortion is a constitutional right in the state has not been decided. The states only clinic the Red River Womens Clinic of Fargo closed as it challenged the ban and has moved across the the border to neighboring Minnesota.
Greens member Caroline Le Couteur wants to improve planning in the ACT. Credit:Jay Cronan "We were creating a new better community, a Utopia," she said. "Almost all of us were in our early 20s. I mean we did have a few older people but not many and we didn't have a really have any kids and so we started producing our own. ACT Labor and Greens members Caroline Le Couteur and Shane Rattenbury with ACT Chief minister Andrew Barr and ACT Labor Yvette Berry. Le Couteur has promised to hold the government to account. Credit:Jay Cronan "We all built our own houses, there were mud brick houses houses built out of stone.
"It was a blank canvas. I thought at the time I'd die there, not that I planned on dying anytime soon, but me and most other people there thought we were going to be there for the rest of our lives." Caroline Le Couteur said Shane Rattenbury did a great job last term as the sole Green in government. Credit:Jay Cronan We were creating a new better community, a Utopia. Caroline Le Couteur To an extent, the community lived off the land but they still needed to bring money in. In the late 1970s Le Couteur ended up selling early versions of solar panels.
"We were selling NASA rejects because that's all there was, no one was producing them commercially because who would buy them," she said. "In the community I was in there was no electricity from the grid and where we were competing economically was with candles. "One of the saddest things was a house burnt down with a candle and a baby died, that was...that was one of the reasons we went into PVs because they were a lot safer than candles and gas." After more a decade of scraping a living off the land, the shine wore off and Le Couteur decided to return Canberra to care for her mother, who had a major stroke. "After a while you get tired of grinding poverty," she said wryly.
Le Couteur described herself as an "accidental politician". She was one of seven Greens who stood for election in 1998, not because she had any desire or intention to become a politician, but because she supported the party. She stood again in 2008 as the second Green for Molonglo, only to find herself elected to the ACT Legislative Assembly. "Nobody thought there'd be two Greens elected in Molonglo, the Greens didn't even think that," she said. Le Couteur was one of four Greens elected that term who helped to usher in sweeping changes to the territory's education, health and public transport systems.
They also sowed the seeds for the ACT's nation-leading clean energy policies. But a backlash at the polls in 2012 saw every Greens member, bar Shane Rattenbury, wiped out. Getting booted from parliament was a "disappointment" but In her "gap years" she worked in shareholder activism, advocated for natural burials and enjoyed time with her two grandchildren. But after being re-elected in October, Le Couteur said she wanted to hold the government to account on fraught issues like planning. During the first sitting week, Le Couteur proved good on her word, rebelling against Labor and siding with the Liberals over the Land Development Agency's "integrity and probity".
At the start of the week, fund manager Peter Hall's stake in the investment company bearing his name was worth $39 million. By the end of the week, he reckoned it wasn't even worth a third of that as he rushed to the exit, sealing a deal with Washington H. Soul Pattinson that could result in the conglomerate's takeover of the firm.
"I am now 56 years old and it is time to spend more time with my family and following my personal interests," Mr Hall said in a personal statement filed with the ASX on Friday afternoon to explain his sudden exit, and outline the agreement he struck with the conglomerate.
Minutes before trading on the ASX closed for the year, Mr Hall said he had sold a 19.9 per cent stake in his company to Soul Pattinson for $1 a share, with the buyer agreeing to bid for all shares of the company for "at least $1 a share". At $1 a share, his holding is worth just $12 million. Mr Hall pledged to accept Soul Pattinson's offer for his remaining stock in absence of a better offer.
" I have known Washington Soul Pattinson for many years having first met patriarch Jim Millner in his office above the chemist shop in Pitt Street in 1985", Mr Hall said. "WHSP is a very fine Australian institution with diversified interests.
Radio announcer John Laws used a cow bell to warn listeners he was about to mention a sponsor. Credit:Kate Geraghty The same goes for news published online it is unregulated unless the publisher is a member of the Press Council or the article is written by a unionised journalist bound by a code of ethics. How many people realise television streamed on online is unregulated. And why did Laws and Jones get into so much trouble when no one cares about all the undisclosed endorsements by minor celebrities on Twitter and Instagram? Two Big Brother contestants who ''turkey slapped'' a female contestant. The incident was streamed live on Big Brother Uncut in July 2006. "It's not that nobody cares, it is just that the media regulation construct that exists and that we administer does not apply," Mr Bean told Fairfax Media.
ACMA does not regulate any aspect of social media because "there isn't a specific power to make something along the lines of the Disclosure Standard in relation to social media," according to Mr Bean. In other words, the law has not kept up with technology. There is similar confusion in television, where shows streamed from Ten, Seven, Nine, ABC, SBS, Stan or Netflix are not covered by any of the broadcasting regulations or codes of conduct. These rules include matters such as a minimum amount of Australian content, captions for the hearing impaired, and regulations on the number of advertisements per hour. ACMA regularly investigates complaints that television broadcasts are biased, inappropriate or unfair. But none of these minimum standards apply to online shows. Chief executive of Free TV Australia, Brett Savill, said the only rule about Australian TV watched through websites was "a prohibition on material classified Refused Classification, X18+, R18+".
Free-to-air television has to be factual, accurate and ensure that viewpoints included in the program are not misrepresented under the Commercial Television Industry Code of Practice, according to Mr Savill. These protections meant that "fake news is not an issue on Free TV", he said. Stan and Netflix operate beyond reach of broadcast regulations, but Mr Bean believes the free-to-air networks have a "powerful incentive " not to stream content that would be unacceptable on broadcast TV for fear of damaging their reputation. And we have the infamous turkey slap to thank for that. Network Ten learnt the hard way nearly a decade ago that what it puts online might not be regulated, but it still affects the network's operations and political influence. It all started in the early hours of Saturday in July 2006, when Ten's Big Brother Uncut live streamed two males sexually assaulting a female. Ten was already under pressure from conservative politicians about Big Brother's content and the turkey slap was the final straw. It caused national outrage and led to then prime minister John Howard questioning Ten's standards.
"The business community is always saying to me 'let us self-regulate'. Well here's a great opportunity for Channel Ten to do a bit of self-regulation and get this stupid program off the air," Mr Howard said at the time. The government launched a review of reality television and inserted new provisions into the Code of Conduct specifically banning shows that "present participants in reality television programs in a highly demeaning or highly exploitative manner". The new provision was totally powerless against live streams, but it made everyone feel better. Ten eventually dropped the show in 2008, but Nine took it up again in 2012. Live streams and catch-up services are becoming more popular now and networks can put whatever they like online. But Ten is careful about maintaining its broadcasting standards online, even though it doesn't have to. "Programs available through [streaming service] Ten Play are not covered by the commercial free-to-air broadcast rules but we are very conscious of the expectations of our audiences when making content available online," Channel Ten spokesman Neil Shoebridge told Fairfax Media recently.
"We would not run a program on Ten Play that we would not run on Ten, Eleven or One." A reputation for accuracy, and defamation laws, are the only thing maintaining standards on television news programs' websites. Networks are free to run content online that would breach the broadcasting standards, although the cost of producing online-only content is prohibitive. And technically the online articles and versions of shows such as A Current Affair, Sixty Minutes and network nightly news have no oversight because none of the networks are members of Australia's Press Council [APC]. The council promotes good journalism standards and handles complaints about false reports, inappropriate content, bias and invasions of privacy. It has 950 members, mostly newspapers, but also some online-only members, such as nine.com.au, Daily Mail Australia, Huffington Post Australia and smaller publishers such as New Daily, New Matilda, Crikey and Mumbrella.
However, some well-known news sites like The Guardian and Buzzfeed are not members and news from overseas sites are not subject to APC standards, a spokesman confirmed. Seven West Media, which publishes Who, New Idea and The West Australian, is not a member. With more people relying on their social media feeds for news, they may not realise stories from non-APC members have no minimum standards for accuracy and fairness, which is why fake news runs rampant online. "Facebook is not one of APC's publisher members, nor is it a broadcaster subject to ACMA's standards which apply to broadcasters," the APC's spokesman said, noting Facebook was free to join press councils but would have to set minimum standards and handle complaints. Nor is the social media site, Instagram, subject to any rules about accuracy or disclosure. It is governed only by California's laws and its Terms of Use require every user to agree that: "we may not always identify paid services, sponsored content, or commercial communications as such". Instagram is full of secret advertising deals between businesses and influential users people with hundreds of thousands of followers who receive cash or free goods in exchange for simply including the business's product in their posts.
Lawyer at LegalVision, Thomas Kaldor, said it was up to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to protect consumers from misleading and deceptive conduct. However, chasing every Instagrammer who received free clothing and meals was not a great use of taxpayers' money. "In a practical use of resources, the ACCC might be more inclined to go after the larger business breaching the rules around using non-genuine testimonials than the individual influencer," Mr Kaldor said. So far the commission has only gone after Australia Post and the South Australia Tourism Commission for paying influencers who did not disclose the deal in tweets and posts. Influencers may not realise they are breaking Australian Consumer Law and risk being taken to court if they do not disclose freebies or are "paid to promote a product or service [and] do not make it clear to an ordinary consumer that it is a paid-for advertisement". Whether consumers need so much protection is up for debate and is not limited to social media. For example, do celebrities need to disclose every free dress they get for the red carpet?
The Australian Human Rights Commission's sole mission is to protect and promote human rights. It is an independent statutory body that has successfully conciliated thousands of complaints for people who have been discriminated against because of their race, disability, age or gender, like women who get fired for being pregnant. It conducts inquiries into important human rights matters like Indigenous deaths in custody. The news that Sudanese refugee Faysal Ahmed died from what appears to be inadequate medical care and acute neglect on Manus Island, becoming the fourth refugee to die, only highlights the necessity of the commission's work.
It's to be expected that governments disagree with a commission charged with investigating human rights abuses that happen on their watch. But the sustained personal attacks on Professor Triggs, from the most senior members of government, represent a different beast altogether designed to smear, silence and delegitimise the nation's foremost human rights body and its president.
And in December Resources Minister Matt Canavan attacked our beloved national broadcaster. Canavan sounded supremely confident when he stood beside the Australian head of mining giant Adani and all but promised a $1 billion taxpayer-funded loan to a single coal mine project.
A few days later, the ABC ran a series of investigative stories, revealing that Adani is being investigated by India's Directorate of Revenue Intelligence for "siphoning money offshore and artificially inflating power prices". When asked whether he knew about the corruption and fraud investigations, Canavan not only failed to answer the question eight times, he then criticised the ABC, saying "so many of your reports have been nothing but fake news".
This is an extraordinary smear on the national broadcaster and one we should take seriously, because it won't be the last. Fake news came to prominence during the US presidential election and is connected to the misogynist, white nationalist "alt-right". It has seen fringe-conspiracy fake news stories from the most paranoid and extreme chatrooms of the internet be treated like real news by Facebook's algorithm, like the fake news story alleging a Washington DC pizzeria was a front for a child sex-trafficking ring operated by senior Democrats. Thankfully, no one was killed when a gunman, incensed by the story, opened fire in the pizzeria.
Six-year-old Oshin Kiszko's parents made a harrowing choice to refuse consent for cancer treatments, the long-term physical and mental burdens of which they believed outweighed the chances of saving his life.
It led to a state-first Family Court case as Oshin's doctors attempted to enforce those treatments.
They won, in the case of chemotherapy, but lost it in the case of radiotherapy, a treatment in which the consequences for a six-year-old's brain development would have been more profound and also would have a diminished likelihood of succeeding given the time that by then had elapsed.
Whichever side they were on, all those who cared for Oshin medical professional, family or friend had heavy hearts on Thursday. Princess Margaret Hospital staff offered to attend the funeral. The lawyer who represented Oshin's parents in court turned up to pay his respects.
Quitting sugar. Going to the gym at least four times a week. Saying yes to every invitation extended my way. My New Year's resolutions have always been, shall we say, ambitious. But while most have come to a natural end around mid Jan (as if I want to entertain your parents' neighbours who are over from the UK for an evening), there has been one resolution that I saw right through until the bitter end: quitting clothes shopping for an entire year.
But first, a bit of context. When it comes to my clothes, I'm not typically one for expensive labels yet my spending was still spiralling out of control and not just on clothes. Over the course of ten years I had gradually racked up a staggering $27k in debt and I had nothing to show for it except a wardrobe groaning under the weight of yet another ASOS flash sale and a very faded tan.
The only New Year's resolution Nicola Appleton kept was to give up clothes shopping for a year. Credit:Stocksy
My debt cast a shadow over my life. Every purchase I made was tinged with guilt, every plan for the future was marred with the realisation that I was spending money that wasn't my own. What had started as a financial lifeline while I was away at uni was now an albatross around my neck and breaking my bad habits seemed like an impossible feat.
And so, one balmy New Year's Eve, I finally decided to stop burying my head in the sand and address my dire financial situation head on. Not only was I going to start living within my means, I was going to clear my debt once and for all. What's more, I was going to do it within a year and culling my clothes shopping habit was my first step to financial solvency. Ambitious, no?
With the end of the year comes the end of a grim annual tally of dead women in Australia.
On December 8, the counter flicked to 70; by the 20th, Sarah Thomas' murder by a man she knew in a courthouse in WA forced the figure to 71.
In 2015, 80 women across Australia died at the hands of violence. Destroy the Joint, which meticulously collates the Counting Dead Women register, estimates that 80 per cent of those deaths were the result of domestic violence.
Half-way through the year, the figure was 34 down from 47 at the same time in 2015, but a number that Domestic Violence Victoria chief executive Fiona McCormack said was still of "epidemic proportions". In the six months since, 37 more women died due to violence.
An alleged multimillion-dollar drug smuggling ring smashed by police on Christmas Day used quad bike tyres to hide one shipment but allegedly made no attempt to conceal their biggest a 606-kilogram haul of cocaine on a Panama-flagged yacht.
The syndicate of 15 men, comprising several commercial fishermen, former NRL star John Tobin and flashy eastern suburbs entrepreneur Darren John Mohr, were arrested this week in the largest bust in Australian history.
Fairfax Media can reveal an Australian father, Ethan Kai, 35, is also serving 15 years in a Fiji prison for attempting to export 32 kilograms of heroin in the group's first alleged attempted shipment in December 2014.
An Australian-Fijian businessman Mohammed Shaheed Khan was acquitted in Fiji's High Court last year.
Three men have died and two other bodies have been been recovered in separate incidents at NSW beaches and waterways on Friday.
It comes after a tragic week on the water, with the death toll now at 14 since Christmas.
A 73-year-old man is the latest to die after he was pulled out of the water unconscious at Brighton Le Sands at about 4pm.
Police said the man, who was in the water with a relative, was initially taken to St George Hospital in a critical condition.
A 40-year-old man has been charged by counter-terrorism police with making online threats relating to Sydney's New Year's Eve celebrations.
Damien James O'Neil was arrested as he got off a flight from London on Thursday.
NSW Deputy Police Commissioner Catherine Burn is among the applicants for the top job at WA Police.
Police will allege Mr O'Neil, from Chippendale in inner Sydney, uploaded a document to the online blog hosting site Live Journal in which he threatened to kill or maim random members of the public on New Year's Eve.
Police attached to the Terrorism Investigation Squad were investigating posts allegedly made by Mr O'Neil after a tip-off from a member of the public.
A reformatted Bis-Man Transit plan with a promised "guaranteed ride program" for both after hour paratransit and fixed route passengers for the metro area was approved by all five Bismarck City Commissioners on Thursday.
The approved option to streamline 12 bus routes into six direct arrival and return routes will also launch a pilot program to give rides to University of Mary students.
Although more palatable to paratransit riders who objected to losing 24-hour curbside service, the latest plan is estimated to still cause Bis-Man Transit to lose $5,000 per month. Executive director Roy Rickert said providing fixed route service would not increase cost, but could drive up the revenue potential for the transit.
"I think it's better than what we had," said Trevor Vannett, a paratransit rider. "But I'm very concerned about the guaranteed ride. I want them to tell us more about that." Vannett said transit service hasn't specified if it will be a bus or taxi that provides the service.
Charlie Spencer, also a regular paratransit rider, echoed that sentiment and wanted a solid plan in place for the after-hour ride program.
"As long as they guarantee riders with jobs a ride home, that will be OK," Spencer said. "But if they cut the 24-hour service before they get the guaranteed ride program, I do not support that."
Mayor Mike Seminary specified that commissioners did not want to micromanage the bus services, noting the Bis-Man Transit Board has lost $35,000 per month since July when it first asked for revisions in the plan, but no action was taken. He likened the decision to "kicking the can down the road" with the deficit spending. "I think we put them in a precarious position. I'm glad we came to some decision. They've got work to do, figure out what the next thing to do is. They are still going to be in deficit position."
Seminary asked Rickert if the deficit spending would prove unfavorable in its grant applications. Rickert said no for now.
"If we're starting our triannual review, and they say 'hey why aren't you doing this. This isn't how you should be handling that money,' they can say they aren't going give you more. I don't think we're at that point yet, but I'd like to not be at that point," Rickert said.
"It's not perfect. It's not great. At least it will allow people to have 24-hour access," said Commissioner Josh Askvig, who understood the guaranteed ride program would involve a taxi voucher service.
Commissioners hedged some on the U-Mary transport, asking if it put all the risk on the transit if no money was fronted by the university itself to support it.
"You're going to have to look at numbers again hard once the University of Mary thing is done," said Commissioner Shawn Oban. Rickert assured they would review it and were constantly tweaking the program for efficiency.
The pilot program would continue if ridership from the university would create a revenue source of at least $40,000, or 500 passengers per semester. "I personally think we're going to realize more than what was projected," Rickert said.
Commissioner Nancy Guy voiced doubts about only the transit carrying the risks, but said "this one is close enough to my concerns that I can support it."
Commissioner Steve Marquardt characterized it as a "work in progress," as it can fluctuate the programming to help everyone. "I think the University of Mary is a good thing. We'll see an increase in ridership." He agreed the city shouldn't micromanage and allow the service to make changes that will be more financially viable for them in the future.
Askvig asked if the gap in the 45 hours of limited holiday service provided by the transit would be covered by the guaranteed ride program.
Thirty-one Lincoln riders can still keep using the service throughout 2017 if the city contributes $20,000.
The new plan will be phased in throughout 2017 and the transit will announce the changes as they occur.
Good morning.
For the penultimate day of 2016, temperatures are forecast to hit 36 in the CBD and 38 in Parramatta. There's an even chance of storms from the late afternoon, the Bureau reckons.
Time to pass, prices to rise
Life is about to become more expensive for drivers, asthmatics, pensioners, home-owners and people with sweet tooths. Few consumer groups are unaffected by yearly changes to laws and regulations.
Opal fares are frozen till July but tolls will increase between 1 and 8 for cars using several motorways, so too will fares for the Manly Ferry East.
A young woman has died after she was hit by a falling tree branch at a festival ground on the NSW Central Coast.
The woman was helping to set up the Lost Paradise music festival in the Glenworth Valley on Wednesday afternoon when she sat down in front of a tree.
A branch snapped off just before 4pm, hitting her in the head and causing critical injuries.
No attendees were at the site, where the festival kicked off on Thursday.
Gold Coast lifesavers are bracing for a busy New Year's after pulling more than 100 swimmers from the water in just two days.
Huge crowds are expected at the region's 39 beaches this weekend as more rough and unstable surf conditions are forecast.
Lifeguards plucked a total 114 swimmers from Gold Coast waters on Wednesday and Thursday. Credit:Andrew Taylor
Gold Coast chief lifeguard Warren Young said it was concerning given many tourists were inexperienced swimmers who weren't used to such dangerous surf.
"With these conditions you only need to drift out a little bit to get caught in a rip," he said.
A faulty power cable has disrupted plans to start up Victoria's $3.5 billion desalination plant so it can deliver its first ever water order.
However Water Minister Lisa Neville promised on Friday that the 50 gigalitres of water (about a tenth of Sydney Harbour's capacity) that is contractually due to be delivered by June 30 will still arrive on time.
The problems began on December 11, when the desalination plant started to power up to be ready to produce fresh water.
During the restart, a power cable triggered a circuit breaker, indicating that there was some fault with the cable, explained Ms Neville.
A cyclist attempts to cross a fallen tree at the Creek Parade Bridge at Nothcote on Friday morning. Credit:Eddie Jim Trains are still feeling the effects of yesterday's downpour, with part of the Belgrave line suspended and services across the network cancelled. It is not just the train lines that were impacted - water damage to the ceiling at South Yarra Station forced the closure of half of the platforms until about 10am. Elwood resident cleans up on Friday morning. Credit:Neelima Choahan Platforms four to six had to be closed, and trains on the Frankston and Pakenham/Cranbourne lines had to skip the station until the ceiling was repaired.
Seven train lines were suspended on Thursday and while the lines are open again this morning, last night's disruption has left trains out of position. Mitford st in Elwood after Thursday's flash flooding. Credit:Wayne Taylor A Metro Trains spokesman said the cancellations would be in the early morning, and would clear once the network got back to normal speed. But a section of the Belgrave line between Upper Ferntree Gully and Belgrave remains closed while crews inspect tracks for flood damage, and replacement buses have been organised for the affected area. Brighton beach goers cross Brighton Rd as the wild weather hit Melbourne. Credit:Penny Stephens
It means anyone travelling into the city from Belgrave on Friday is set for a lengthy commute, having to take two sets of replacement buses as trains are not running further along the line between Ringwood and Box Hill because of level crossing works. The Metro spokesman apologised for the delay and urged Belgrave passengers to allocate extra travel time. But Melbourne's roads have mostly recovered from the downpour, and traffic is running smoothly along major roads this morning. A VicRoads spokeswoman said there had not been any major delays, but urged motorists to call 13 11 70 if they spotted any debris on roads. Melburnians again endured a hot and humid night, but it was not as uncomfortable as Wednesday night, which was the warmest night of the year.
The overnight temperature did not drop below 20 degrees, but high humidity levels trapped the heat and made it seem up to three degrees warmer. Bureau of meteorology senior forecaster Beren Bradshaw said the fog and humidity should dissipate within the next few hours as the temperature rises on Friday. And after a week of nights with temperatures in their 20s, tonight is expected to be a cool one in the mid-teens. "It will be a welcome relief," Ms Bradshaw said. She said torrential rain during Thursday's thunderstorms fell so rapidly that it would have been in excess of a one in-a-100 year event in some places.
"In a lot of those locations we are looking at at least a one-in-10 year event. But in some locations we have recorded rainfall in excess of a one-in-100-year event," In metropolitan Melbourne, the rain fell most rapidly in places like Viewbank in Melbourne's north east, and Scoresby, in the east, which received more than one month's rainfall in mere hours. A severe weather warning remains in place for heavy rain in the state's east. The area for which the flash flooding warning has been issued. Credit:Craig Butt
As of 7pm on Thursday, more than 35 SES crews were working across suburban Melbourne. Emergency services rescued motorists stranded in cars in floodwater, and numerous "good samaritan" rescues of trapped motorists also occurred in the suburbs. In Elwood, residents were forced to wade along footpaths in water that was knee-deep, and water inundated verandahs and at least one home in the suburb. One Elwood resident told Channel Nine that "at the worst of it, we had four inches of water through the entire house". He also said: "It was like a river coming up the side of the house, filling the backyard, coming up under the door, under all the doors ... under the floor, through the floor, under the skirting boards, everything, everything. It just came in every angle. You just couldn't get towels down quick enough."
Geoffrey Love, secretary of the Elwood Floods Action Group, said the flooding that hit Elwood had caused "significant" damage in the suburb. Mr Love said Wave Street was flooded after the Elwood Canal broke its banks, while Mitford Street was flooded by water from the sudden downpour, which damaged properties. Mr Love urged the four councils that were home to the Elster Creek catchment, Melbourne Water and the state government to work cooperatively to reduce the risk of flooding in Elwood. The Elster Creek flows into the Elwood Canal. Loading He called for consistent council policies that would help reduce the amount of stormwater run-off, the use of permeable surfaces instead of hard surfaces and the construction of levees to catch and contain floodwater.
Police are appealing for help to locate a missing 15-year-old boy who vanished two weeks ago.
Matthew McAuliffe was last seen in the Sunshine area on December 15.
Matthew McAulife was last seen in the Sunshine area two weeks ago.
Police have released a picture of the teenager in the hope someone recognises him.
He is described as 175cm tall, with a medium build and short blond hair.
Sao Paulo: Brazilian police suspect a body discovered inside a charred vehicle in Rio de Janeiro is Greece's ambassador to Brazil who went missing three days ago, television channel Globo reported on Thursday.
A police spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.
Greek ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis presents his credentials to Brazilian President Michel Temer in May. Credit:Itamaraty/Twitter
Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was last seen on Monday evening leaving the home of friends of his Brazilian wife in a poor and violent suburb of Rio's metropolitan area, police had said earlier.
A Rio state police official said the ambassador's wife reported him as missing on Wednesday.
It is easy to be sceptical about the most recent Syrian ceasefire. Half a dozen previous ceasefires all speedily collapsed. There are disagreements about crucial details. And if the mighty United States was not able to end the fighting, why should we expect more of the ill-matched trio of Russia, Turkey and Iran?
That may be the point. The US may be mighty but its credibility in the region is at rock bottom. After Obama's "Red Line" fiasco, Western involvement against the Assad regime has been little more than rhetorical.
New order: Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif, left, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, centre, and Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu in Moscow on December 20. Credit:AP
The Islamisation of the Syrian rebellion has left our objectives hopelessly confused. And the US, by using the Kurds as a ground army, has alienated the Turks, who are pivotal and who have now joined with the Russians.
The Russians have shown no such muddle-headedness. Their aim from the beginning has been to sustain Bashar al-Assad in order to block the Islamist alternative. They have been ruthless - as in the Aleppo bloodbath. And it may have worked. The bottom line is that the parties on the ground are more impressed by Russian bombs than by US words.
Bangkok: More than a dozen Nobel peace prize winners have criticised their fellow laureate, Aung San Suu Kyi, for failing to protect Rohingyas in Myanmar's strife-torn Rakhine state.
Among the 22 signatories of the letter were East Timor's former president and prime minister Jose Ramos Horta and South African archbishop Desmond Tutu.
The group also urged the United Nations Security Council to act to stop what it called "a human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity unfolding in Myanmar".
"If we fail to take action, people may starve to death if they are not killed with bullets," the group said in an unusual joint letter, adding the violence bears the hallmarks of Rwanda's 1994 genocide as well as ethnic cleansing seen in Sudan's western Darfur region, Bosnia and Kosovo.
New York: Russia urged the UN Security Council on Friday to give its blessing to a fragile ceasefire in Syria, the third truce this year seeking to end the nearly six years of war in Syria.
The Security Council met behind closed doors for an hour to consider a proposed resolution endorsing the ceasefire that Russia and Turkey announced on Thursday.
A vote is possible as early as Saturday, although Security Council members recommended changes to the draft and it will likely be revised, Ambassador Vitaly Churkin of Russia told reporters after the meeting.
"I think those accommodations can be easily absorbed into the draft," he said.
Clyde Tom Nassif, 58, Houston, Texas, passed away unexpectedly, Dec. 27, 2016, most likely due to heart complications and was pronounced deceased at St. Lukes Hospital in Houston, after attempts to resuscitate him failed.
An open-casket visitation will be held at Twinwood Mortuary Service, 4801 Almeda Road, Houston, Texas, 77004, on Monday, Jan. 2, from 10 a.m. to noon, followed by a celebration of life lunch at Pappas BBQ, 1217 Pierce St., Houston, Texas 77002.
A celebration of Clydes life will also be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, May 27, 2017, at St. Georges Episcopal Church, Bismarck. Following the celebration, lunch will be served and a burial will be held at Fairview Cemetery, Bismarck.
In lieu of flowers, memorials in honor of Clyde can go to St. Georges Episcopal Church, 601 N. Fourth St., Bismarck, N.D. 58501.
Born March 7, 1958, to Gabriel and Rita Nassif, in Bismarck, Clyde was a kind and gentle soul his entire life. He studied nursing, was a medical assistant for several years for a Houston doctor as well as a home health care assistant for a Houston judge. Prior to moving to Houston in 1987, Clyde worked for North Dakotas coroner, where he was an assistant during autopsies, as well as for then-Medcenter One, where he was an environmental aid.
An avid power lifter in his youth, Clyde was known for his brute strength and was able to dead-lift 1,500 pounds as well as pick up the back end of cars as noted by many family members who experienced this show of strength firsthand. Sharp, witty and funny, Clyde was the quintessential bookworm, reading and collecting thousands of books, and intelligently discussing facts from all aspects of life. He was a good listener and friend, and possessed the wisdom to say the right words to boost a persons morale or soothe an ailing soul.
Clyde graduated in 1977 from Bismarck High School and attended Hughes Junior High School and Will-Moore Grade School in Bismarck. He also studied at North Dakota State University, Fargo, and Bismarck Junior College.
Clyde is survived by LeRoy Nassif, brother, of Houston; Bill, Clarice (Nassif), Sophia and Gabriel Ransom, his brother-in-law, sister, niece and nephew, of the Washington, D.C. area; Tanya and Preston Sabot, of Florida, his niece and great-nephew; Joshua Sabot, nephew, and Matthew Sabot, nephew, of North Dakota; as well as several aunts, uncles, cousins and friends everywhere.
Clyde was preceded in death by Gabriel and Rita Nassif, his parents; Lillian LuLu Nassif and Nancy Nassif Sabot, his sisters; as well as grandparents, aunts and uncles from both sides of the family.
Go to www.eastgatefuneral.com to share memories of Clyde and sign the online guest book. (Eastgate Funeral Service, Bismarck)
Grab a taste of South Asian ice cream at these Bucks County shops
Heritage Kulfi, a South Asian ice cream business in Princeton, first launched in 2021. Their pints are now available in Bucks and Montgomery counties.
If Dec 7, 1941, is the day that Franklin D. Roosevelt said "will live in infamy," then Dec. 20, 2016, has got to be a close second. No Americans died that day as they did at Pearl Harbor but the American Century, as Time magazine founder Henry Luce called it, came to a crashing end. Turkey, Iran and Russia met in Moscow to settle matters in the Middle East. The United States wasn't even asked to the meeting.
Winston Churchill said in 1942 that he had not become Great Britain's "First Minister in order to preside over the liquidation of the British Empire." Nonetheless, by the end of the 40s, much of the empire was gone. Churchill was an unapologetic colonialist, but he was up against liberation movements of all kinds, not to mention the antipathy of the U.S. to imperialist ambitions in short, history itself. Churchill had a marvelous way with words and greatness accompanied him like a shadow, but in certain ways he was a 19th-century man wandering, confounded, in the 20th.
Barack Obama is quite the reverse. He is a 21st-century man who never quite appreciated the lessons of the 20th. He has been all too happy to preside over the loss of American influence. Aleppo, now a pile of rubble, is where countless died as did American influence. The Russians polished it off from the air, doing for the Syrian regime what the U.S. could not figure out how to do for the rebels. The city hemorrhaged civilian dead and America, once the pre-eminent power in the region, did virtually nothing.
It could be that Obama was right. It could be that all along he knew that the rebels were beyond saving although he predicted that Bashar Assad would be toppled and, anyway, the United States was not going to again get into some Middle Eastern quagmire. America had twice made war in Iraq; it had lost Marines in Lebanon. Though perhaps these were just excuses to do nothing. After all, no one ever recommended putting boots on the ground in Syria. That was Obama's straw man.
Time will tell, is the appropriate cliche. But I, along with others, thought that the United States could have limited the blood-letting, that it could have established no-fly zones where Syrian helicopters could not have dropped barrel bombs. It could also have established safe zones for refugees. The Russians managed to do what they wanted to do. Why not the U.S.?
The answer has always been clear to me Obama did not care enough. Not from him ever came a thundering demand that Russia and Iran get out and stay out. Behind the arguably persuasive reasons to do little in Syria was an emotional coldness: This was not Obama's fight.
Say what you will about Donald Trump, he cares. He cares about things I don't and he has some awful ideas and he is an amoral man in so many ways. But, in contrast to Obama, his emotions are no mystery. When the Chinese fished a U.S. Navy drone from the Pacific Ocean, the White House reacted so coolly you would think freedom of the seas didn't matter. Trump, however, tweeted his indignation, finally telling Beijing it could keep the drone a way of telling them to stuff it.
Hillary Clinton lost the election for a host of reasons, not the least of them her shortcomings as a candidate. And Trump won for many reasons, not the least of them his political talents. But Clinton had to defend an administration that was cold to the touch. Kellyanne Conway keeps pointing out that Clinton had no message. True. Neither, for that matter, did Obama. He waved a droopy flag. He did not want to make America great again. It was great enough for him already.
That coolness, that no-drama Obama, cost lives in Syria. Instead of rallying America to a worthy cause intervening to save lives and avoid a refugee crisis that is still destabilizing Europe he threw in the towel. The banner he flew was one of American diminishment. One could agree. One could not be proud.
Since the end of World War II, American leadership has been essential to maintain world peace. Whether we liked it or not, we were the world's policeman. There was no other cop on the beat. Now that leadership is gone. So, increasingly, will be peace.
FBI has 'credible information' about 'broad threat' to NJ synagogues
Law enforcement agencies as well as synagogues across the state increased security and patrols Thursday, after alerts from the FBI.
The world's most valuable company is looking at Bengaluru to set up an iPhone manufacturing plant, as it looks to replicate its China success in the fastest growing smartphone market in the world.
Ola and Uber drivers in Hyderabad have called for a five-day strike from December 31 to January 4 to protest against low earnings due to more number of vehicles and insufficient bookings. The representatives of all cab driver associations in the state have assembled at Gachibowli on Friday and decided to stop the services in the city from the midnight onwards.
My family has no VC or start-up or experience. I had some tough times wading through this new, complex maze.
has submitted a proposal to the Odisha government to establish a domestic tariff area (DTA) at Gopalpur on the Southern coast. The steel company is developing an industrial park there where it is the anchor tenant. It has a special economic zone (SEZ) notified the facility in the park spread over 500 hectares (or 1,250 acres) land. The entire park is being developed on 2,900 acres of land.
"We are keen to set up a DTA at Gopalpur, which needs 1,565 acres of land. The DTA will help us expanding our scope for pulling investments. This area is meant for attracting domestic investors across sectors as opposed to SEZ, which is more export oriented. The DTA will enable the domestic investors to put up their facilities and enjoy incentives provided by the state government for industrial parks", said Arun Misra, vice-president of Tata Steel's Gopalpur project and managing director at SEZ Ltd (TTSL).
The company wants the land proposed for the DTA to be registered in the name of TTSL, a subsidiary, as has been done by the state government for the SEZ. DTA means an area within the country outside of a SEZ. It can include any area which is not under the jurisdiction of a custom bonded area.
A government official said, "Tata Steel is coming up with a domestic tariff area (DTA) adjacent to its SEZ at Gopalpur. It will be helpful for the domestic industrial units to thrive. With state government taking big steps to attract the investments with mouthwatering policy incentives, the DTA will be an icing on the cake."
As the anchor tenant for the industrial park, Tata Steel has put up a ferrochrome plant with an annual capacity of 55,000 tonne per annum. The plant built up at a cost of Rs 542 crore, was inaugurated on November 30 this year by Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.
Other than Tata Steel, the park has drawn one investment. Mumbai-based Sure Safety Solutions Ltd in collaboration with UK's Meggitt Defence has started operations of the aerial target manufacturing facility at the Gopalpur park.
Tata Steel has been intensifying efforts to lure investors for the industrial park which has the potential to attract investments of the order of Rs 20,000 crore. The steel company has staged roadshows in both overseas and domestic locations to pull investors. It is also believed to be in talks with some foreign for investments in heavy industries at the Gopalpur SEZ.
The year 2016 has been witness to many unprecedented events, most of them dampening for business and industry in general.
The year 2016 was very important for the Indian space programme which scored prominent and significant successes in the launch vehicle, satellite, applications and space exploration domains.
This year also saw two successful advanced launch vehicle technology initiatives of Indian Space Research Organisation (Isro) - the Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) and Scramjet technology demonstrator - which had their maiden test flights.
A number of global majors in various sectors energy, infrastructure, aviation, defence, electricals, among others are set to participate in the eighth edition of Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit 2017 (VGGS 2017). These include the likes of Boeing International, Cisco Systems, RasGas Company, Suzuki Motor & Corporation, Capgemini, Sistema, Dell EMC, Vodafone, and 3M.
Police say a Grand Forks woman shot by her adult son before he took his own life has died of her injuries. Authorities say 53-year-old Jennifer Harrison died at Altru Hospital days after she was found in her home with multiple gunshot wounds to her torso and head. According to officials, 21-year-old Tyler Harrison shot his mother Wednesday at the home they shared in Grand Forks. Police say he turned the gun on himself and was found dead in their driveway. Officials say the shooting was domestic-related, but that their investigation is continuing.
has issued a warning for its citizens travelling to India ahead of the new year celebrations citing a "concrete basic threat" and advised to avoid parties and gatherings particularly in south-west part of the country.
"We are warning Israeli tourists in India of the possibility of imminent terrorist attacks against western targets and tourists, particularly in the southwest of that country," Israel's Counter-Terrorism Bureau said yesterday in a statement, released by the Prime Minister's office.
"We ask to focus on events in the coming days related to the Christian New Year's holiday, placing particular emphasis on beach parties and clubs, where there is larger concentration of tourists," it said.
"Israeli tourists travelling in India have been asked to stay alert and to pay attention to local media reports and security agencies. Furthermore, families with relatives in India are asked to update them about the travel warning and recommendation," the warning said.
Security sources here said that the parties on new year's eve on the beaches of Goa are popular among Israeli youngsters and other western tourists. Such gatherings can be easy targets of certain hostile Islamic groups.
has in the past issued such warnings too, especially for Goa, but this time the sources feel that all such places frequented by large number of western tourists in southern and western parts of India can be the target of a terror attack.
The south-west part of the country -- which covers popular holiday destinations like Goa, Pune, Mumbai and Cochin -- are particularly at risk, the warning said.
An Israeli Embassy spokesman in New Delhi confirmed the warning and said, " has issued a travel advisory surrounding New Year's Eve celebrations events in south-west India, with specific regard to beach parties, clubs and highly-populated tourist sites. Israeli tourist are advised to avoid such events and other densely-populated areas."
In addition, it recommended avoiding markets, festivals and crowded shopping areas.
Notably, the travel warning was published on Friday, after the start of the Jewish Sabbath, when government offices close for business.
The bureau did not specify what prompted the warning, however, additional security arrangements have been made all around the world for New Year eve in view of the Berlin terror attack on a Christmas market last week that killed 12 people.
India remains a popular tourist destination for Israeli citizens and according to Jewish Post an estimated 20,000 former Israeli soldiers travel to India every year.
Israeli citizens and Jewish sites in India have been attacked in the past, the most infamous incident occurred during the 2008 Mumbai terror attack when members of Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) terror group targeted the local Chabad House, among other sites, in Mumbai.
In 2012, Tal Yehoshua Koren, the wife of an Israeli Defense Ministry representative, was moderately wounded in an explosion in her car near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi.
The death toll in the Jharkhand mine collapse in Lalmatia rose to seven as an investigation into the accident and rescue operations are still underway.
According to initial reports, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has said that around 40-50 workers along with some machinery of a private company are suspected to be trapped under the debris.
The bodies were recovered during the rescue operation that started on Friday morning, Jharkhand Director General of Police (DGP) D.K. Pandey said.
The chances of survival of all trapped people were negligible, police sources said.
A heap of mud caved in at the entry point of Lalmatia mines of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL), the police said.
At the time of the cave-in at the Rajmahal Open Cast Mines of Paharia Bhorya site, more than 70 vehicles were inside.
Rescue operation could not begin due to night fog, the police said.
While the Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team reached around 11 am from Patna, local police and administration continued the rescue operation.
The Director General of Mines Safety (DGMS) has sent a team to the spot to investigate. According to a DGMS official, the safety measures were overlooked during mining.
The locals said there was a crack in the heap of mud which collapsed and blocked the entry point of the mine. Mining operations were taking place about 200 feet beneath the ground.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and enquired about the incident.
The Chief Minister has also announced Rs.two lakh compensation to the families of the deceased and Rs 25,000 for the injured. He also said that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the mine collapse.
Discussing the reason behind this incident, Chairman and Managing Director of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) Rajiv Ranjan Mishra said, "A higher committee has been formed and a Deputy General Manager will also enquire. The prima facie which has been found is the entire surface has collapsed. This is a unique phenomenon. But let us see what the reports say."
Misha further said that three excavators and seven dumpers were present there at the mining site.
From arresting three Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) students on charges of sedition to the booking of several Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) MLAs, 2016 saw Delhi Police battling a series of controversies even as it cracked a number of high-profile cases, nabbed wanted terrorists and busted an espionage ring involving a Pakistan High Commission staffer.
Crime against women continued to rise and a number of brutal rape and assault cases kept the police on its toes though it managed to solve some of them in quick time.
In June, a multi-city kidney racket involving doctors and touts was busted by Delhi Police, while it arrested Khalistan Liberation Front chief Harminder Singh Mintoo who had escaped from Nabha jail. A number of persons suspected to have links with ISIS and al Qaeda were also caught in the course of the year.
Women safety in the capital continued to be a cause of concern with 1,981 cases of rape being reported till November 30 even as police launched a number of initiatives to contain crime against women.
The brutal stabbing of a 21-year-old girl in Burari in broad daylight in September by a man who was allegedly stalking her for several months, and the videos of the shocking incident left people horrified.
In February, the arrest of JNU Students Union president Kanhaiya Kumar and two others on charges of sedition for allegedly organising an event against hanging of Parliament attack convict Afzal Guru, triggered a huge controversy with Opposition political parties slamming police for "working at the behest of ruling BJP".
The arrest of Kumar catapulted him to fame and resulted in students protests across the country. The arrests also led to a nationwide debate on nationalism. Police had also come under severe criticism following attacks on journalists and students and teachers of JNU at the Patiala House court by some lawyers just before Kanhaiya was to be produced.
In October, JNU student Najeeb Ahmed went missing, a day after he was allegedly involved in a brawl with some students including ABVP activists, leading to an agitation with students alleging police inaction in tracing him.
The uneasy relationship between the AAP government and Delhi Police continued this year as police arrested nine AAP MLAs, drawing angry reaction from the party with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal alleging the law enforcing agency was acting at the behest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
The MLAs arrested are Dinesh Mohaniya, Prakash Karwal, Gulab Singh, Amanatullah Khan, Somnath Bharti, Rituraj Govind, Naresh Balyan, Sharad Chauhan and Jagdeep Singh and the charges ranged from rioting, outraging the modesty of woman, sexual harassment, criminal intimidation and assault.
Sandeep Kumar, who was sacked as Cabinet Minister over an "objectionable" CD, was arrested on rape charges on the complaint of the woman who purportedly figured in the CD.
The Anti-Corruption headed by Mukesh Kumar Meena, was also involved in a tussle with the AAP dispensation over registration of cases and questioning of AAP ministers and MLAs, including deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, Kapil Mishra, Gopal Rai, Amanatullah Khan.
The brutal killing of a 23-year-old Congolese by three youths following a brawl over hiring an auto-rickshaw in south Delhi in May made national headlines as the government rushed to assure the African community in India of their safety.
Delhi Police's Special Cell continued to clamp down on terror activities with the arrest of six people for suspected links with al Qaeda and ISIS.
The year ended with them nabbing Mintoo, who had escaped from Nabha jail, from Nizamuddin railway station here.
In October, the Crime Branch also busted an espionage ring with the arrest of four people who were allegedly sharing sensitive defence documents and deployment details of BSF along the Indo-Pak border with a Pakistan High Commission staffer.
The staffer Mehmood Akhtar was later declared persona non-grata by the government and he had to leave the country.
Following the demonetisation of high-value currencies, police raided various areas across the city and recovered over Rs 17 crore in illegal cash.
The year ended with a 20-year-old girl, who was on a job hunt, allegedly being raped in a car in South Delhi's Moti Bagh area, a grim throwback to the horrific Delhi gangrape of a para-medic student in a moving bus four years ago.
The alleged suicides by former Director General Corporate Affairs B K Bansal and his son in September, two months after his wife and daughter committed suicide, allegedly due to harassment by CBI, not only drew criticism for the premier investigating agency but also for police as it didn't register any case despite the presence of purported suicide notes of Bansal and his son.
The contentious case of Sunanda Pushkar didn't see any headway for the second consecutive year even as police accepted that her death was not natural and questioned her husband Shashi Tharoor and Pakistani journalist Mehr Tarar in February.
Some of the other developments in the case included the formation of a medical board to study the FBI report, sending reminders to Canada to send details of deleted chats from Tharoor and Sunanda's Blackberry phones, and Enforcement Directorate being requested to investigate the financial irregularities related to now-defunct Kochi IPL franchise.
Some of the high-profile cases being investigated by Delhi Police included hacking of Twitter and email accounts of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi and missing files concerning Ishrat Jahan encounter from MHA.
The Crime Branch cracked down on the notorious red light G B Road in the heart of the city in August dismantling a vast human trafficking and prostitution racket, arresting the kingpin couple and their several accomplices.
The suicide by an ex-serviceman close to Ministry of Defence building over the OROP issue kept police busy with many politicians raising the issue and slamming Modi government.
As many as 3,400 personnel of paramilitary and Delhi Police were deployed at banks and ATMs across the national capital after serpentine queues led to law-and-order problem in some areas.
In the new year, police envisages to modernise its operations and reduce the burden on its more than 80,000 personnel by mulling over the possibility of introducing eight-hour shifts on the lines of its Mumbai counterpart.
Delhi Police will also be setting up a separate control room for handling calls on phone number 112, which will be India's equivalent of 911 of the US' all-in-one emergency services, that will be rolled out from January 1 and the closure of 100 that is the go-to solution for people in distress.
The Law School Admission Test for India (LSAT-India) registrations have already started on September 14, 2016. Earlier the last date for registration was April 10, 2017, but the same been extended to May 3, 2017. The entrance exam date has been postponed from April 23 to May 21, 2017.
The Central Bureau of Invetigation in Friday arrested actor-turned-politician in connection with the Rose Valley chit fund scam after interrogating him for nearly four hours.
Market volatility in 2016 put a major damper on corporate deal-making with many failed mergers and acquisitions. For instance, Pfizer and Allergan's $152 billion deal failed after the Obama administration tweaked tax rules that eroded the financial advantages the former hoped to reap. Merger and acquisition deals between Honeywell and United Technologies, Mondelez International and Hershey, Anbang Insurance and Starwood Hotels also failed for one reason or the other.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, on New Years Eve, will address a nation expecting promised gains after 50 days of note ban pain. The word from the government is people wont be disappointed.
The majority of ATMs continue to run dry as the demonetisation exercise draws to a close. According to sources, 60 per cent of ATMs are cash-starved with those in remote locations worse off.
The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) had seized about Rs 10 crore in cash from government officials in Chhatisharh, in 85 different cases of corruption. The seizures were made after traps were set to catch the perpetrators accepting bribes, and raids were conducted in disproportionate asset cases.
Ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi on November 8 announced his governments surprise move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, the rules on the use, withdrawal and deposit the scrapped banknotes have undergone various changes and modifications.
India will start imposing capital gains tax on investments coming from Singapore from April and fully withdraw exemptions in two years as the two countries agreed to amend a decade-old treaty after New Delhi rolled back similar concessions to Mauritius and Cyprus earlier this year.
The government signed a pact with its Singapore counterpart on Friday, amending their decade-old tax treaty, gaining taxation rights over capital gains. This is the third double taxation avoidance agreement (DTAA) amended so far this financial year with a zero or low tax jurisdiction. The other two were with Mauritius and Cyprus. According to tax consultants, Mauritius would be the most attractive source of investments into India for debt funds and Singapore for equity investments.
One of the most notable differences between the Narendra Modi regime and the Atal Bihari Vajpayee-led government, both headed by the Bharatiya Janata Party, is the nature of the relationship between the government and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh at one level and between the political executive and party functionaries at the other level. During the Vajpayee era, party officials felt left out, yet, could do little but indulge in gossip with one another and media. However, the RSS worked at cross purposes and periodically acted as the real opposition as its affiliates ranging from Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bharatiya Mazdoor Sangh, Bharatiya Kisan Sangh and most importantly Swadeshi Jagran Manch agitated against government policies. Even the RSS sarsanghchalak, KS Sudarshan made offensive statements against the prime minister and his government.
The reason for the absence of animosity between government and RSS this time is partially due to past time-sharing between Modi and Mohan Bhagwat. Born within days of each other in September 1950, the two, share a relationship that dates back to the early 1970s when they were young pracharaks. Having being groomed in the RSS culture both respect both relationships and offices the two hold, yet, are also aware of limitations, most importantly being aware that friendship cannot be leveraged.
With the deadline set by the Indian government to exchange old notes in denominations of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 expiring on Friday, India has said that it will make "special arrangements" for Nepal to replace all demonetised bills.
According to the Kathmandu Post, New Delhi will soon dispatch a team to Kathmandu to hold consultations with Nepal Rastra Bank officials to finalise the modality of exchanging the notes.
Earlier, a team led by the NRB deputy governor with representatives from the Ministry of Finance was scheduled to visit India.
Authorities in India, however, have said there was no need for Nepali officials to visit India as they were busy managing the situation arising from the decision to pull the notes back from circulation.
India had formed an inter-ministerial committee earlier to suggest ways for resolving the problems faced by the diplomatic community and holders of the currency in Nepal and Bhutan. The replacement of old notes is likely in the first week of January.
"There will be some provisions for exchanging the old notes in Nepal for a limited period," an Indian official said requesting anonymity. The Indian Embassy in Kathmandu is in regular contact with Finance Ministry officials for addressing the problem.
In a meeting with Nepali Ambassador to India Deep Kumar Upadhyaya, India's Minister of State for External Affairs Gen. (Retired) V K Singh had pledged measures to replace the notes.
"We have received assurances that there will be some provisions and we are awaiting a decision," Ambassador Upadhyaya said.
Officials say there will be a short window for exchanging the notes. There could be difficulties for people residing in rural areas to get the new notes. Nepal has requested India to allow a Nepali to exchange the notes worth up to Rs 25,000.
As per the Indian government's decision, Indian banks will not accept the old notes after December 30.
The remaining notes could be deposited to designated branches of the Reserve Bank of India until March 31 with sufficient explanation for the delay.
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Dr Jitendra Singh presents achievements of the Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions during the Year 2016
Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Dr Jitendra Singh, while briefing the media here today after releasing the Year-end Review 2016 of the Union Ministry of Personnel, Public Grievances & Pensions, said, what is most significant and noteworthy is that the greatest success stories of the Ministry emerged from the areas which were inspired directly by the innovative inputs from the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi. For example, he said, it was PMs idea to widen the scope of annual PM Awards presented on Civil Services Day in order to include the priority programmes and flagship schemes. The result of this, he said, was that in Swachh Vidyalaya programme category, the award went to the militancy infested district of Anantnag in Jammu & Kashmir along with other lesser competitive Dadar & Nagar Haveli and Ananthapuram in Northeast & Hill States, UTs and Other States groups respectively. Similarly, he said, under Pradhan Mantri Jan Dhan Yojana category, the award went to Nagaon in Assam in Northeast & Hill States, UTs and Other States category. Under the guidance of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, DoPT could take a decision which none of the previous governments had mustered courage to take in the last seven years. This, he said, was the decision to abolish interviews for selection to junior posts from the 1st of January 2016. This, he said, offered a level-playing field for job-seeking candidates from diverse backgrounds regardless of their socio-economic strata.
It was on the advice of the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi, Dr Jitendra Singh said, that for the first time in 70 years history of independent India, a new designation of Assistant Secretary was introduced in Government of India in order to enable the IAS probationers coming out of Lal Bahadur Shastri National Academy of Administration (LBSNAA), Mussoorie to spend a three-month stint in the Government of India before proceeding to their respective State cadres of posting. The experiment has not only proved highly successful, but has also inspired an unusual excitement and enthusiasm among the new IAS officers for having gained a rare opportunity to directly interact with the Prime Minister even before joining their first posting in Government of India.
Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi addressed the 2014 batch IAS officers and later also second time, chaired the Valedictory Session for the same officers who made three selected presentations before him on various themes of governance such as DBT, Swachh Bharat, e-Courts, Tourism, Health and Satellite Applications in Governance, etc. he added.
Referring to some of the other path-breaking unique initiatives taken during the year, Dr Jitendra Singh referred to the six major online initiatives of DoPT announced on Good Governance Day marking the birthday of former Prime Minister Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee on 25th December this year. The initiatives launched included online Immovable Property Returns, online Recruitment Rules Formation, mandatory online filing of APARs by IAS officers and revamped website of DoPT.
Earlier, on October 28, 2016, Dr Jitendra Singh said, an Employees Online (EO) App was launched as a mobile application which enables its users, including officers, media persons and stakeholders to stay updated on real-time basis with all the appointments and postings, including those made by the Appointments Committee of Cabinet (ACC).
Seeding of Aadhaar numbers in Pensioners accounts was accomplished in the first-half of 2016, said Dr Jitendra Singh, and similarly for the convenience of officers, the DoPT has eased the guidelines for Leave Travel Concession (LTC). Meanwhile, a new concept was initiated to receive telephone feedback of grievance redressal.
On the occasion, Dr Jitendra Singh also referred to some of the unprecedented accomplishments of the Department of Space and Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO), for which 2016 proved to be an eventful year marked by two successful launch vehicle technology initiatives including Reusable Launch Vehicle-Technology Demonstrator (RLV-TD) and SCRAMJET technology demonstrator. Additionally, it is a matter of pride that Mars Orbiter Mission (MOM) of India completed two years in its orbit and proved its worth as a 100% Make-in-India mission, he said.
Council for Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) entered 75th year of existence ushering in yearlong Platinum Jubilee celebrations which were inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is also the President of CSIR.
Recalling CSIRs pioneering inventions, the Prime Minister also held an interactive session with farmers from various parts of the country and launched improved varieties of medicinal and aromatic plants, developed by various labs of CSIR which would help in transforming the rural economy by enhancing the income of farmers.
Hailing CSIRs role in building and nurturing the nations scientific & technological prowess, he said that starting with the indelible ink which is the hallmark of Indias democratic fabric, CSIR has left an indelible mark on every sphere of life. He urged CSIR to create an 'Ease of doing Technology Business' platform to bring in right stakeholders so technologies reach beneficiaries.
The Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) is a catalyst and driver of sustainable socio-economic change through application of science and technology. CSIR has commercialized several technologies for the society and industry in the areas of food and agriculture, generic drugs, leather, chemicals and petrochemicals, biopharmaceuticals, and materials.
CSIR is recognized to be among the International leaders knowledge creation. CSIR has been ranked 12th in the world amongst the government institutions in world according to the prestigious Scimago Institutions Rankings 2016 Report.
CSIR is granted 90% of the US patents granted to any Indian publicly funded R&D organization. The scientific staff of CSIR though constitutes only about 3-4% of Indias scientific manpower but it has an overwhelming contribution amounting to 9.6% of Indias scientific outputs.
CSIR is presently supporting around 8500 Research fellows, awarded 2251 Junior Research Fellowships and 65 Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Fellowship. CSIR is supporting more than 1000 research schemes to various universities.
CSIR is addressing national goals and Missions such as Swachh Bharat, Swastha Bharat, Samarth Bharat, Make in India, Innovate for India, Start-up India, Skill India etc.
Today, CSIR is attempting a Parivartan from Knowledge creation to Value creation. These includes emphasis on technology development and commercialization for the society, industry and the strategic sector, creation of S&T based entrepreneurship and participation in the national Skill Development initiative in addition to human resource development. Towards this, several new initiatives and policy changes are being brought in.
Some key achievements of the CSIR maturing during 2016 include:
CSIR Achievements
CSIRs Global Positioning as a Front Rank R&D System
CSIR has been ranked 12th in the world amongst the government institutions in world during the said year, thus improving its previous position of being at 14th spot for three consecutive years, according to 2016 report of the prestigious Scimago Institutions Rankings. The overall global ranking of CSIR also improved from 110 to 99th position.
Strategic Sector:
Drishti Systems at Main Runway 28-10 of IGI Airport: Drishti transmissometer, a visibility measuring system provides information to pilots on visibility for safe landing and take-off operations and is suitable for all airport categories. 27 Systems installed in 10 major Indian airports across the country, in collaboration with IMD. Tata Power SED has signed Memorandum of Agreement with Tata Power SED for the supply of 54 Drishti Systems for installation in Indian Air Force Airfields; 22 units have been delivered out of which three have been installed.
Head-Up-Display (HUD) In high-tech areas, CSIR-NAL made significant contribution by developing indigenous Head-Up- display(HUD) for Indian Light Combat Aircraft, Tejas. HUD aids the pilot in flying the aircraft and in critical flight maneuvers including weapon aiming.
Design and Development of Indigenous Gyrotron: Addressing the challenges of technology denial: Design and development of indigenous gyrotron for nuclear fusion reactor has been accomplished.
Energy & Environment:
Solar Tree: On July 22nd a solar tree designed by CSIR- CMERI lab in Durgapur was launched which occupies minimum space to produce clean power.
Wax Deoiling Technology: Technology developed for recovery of wax developed in collaboration with Engineers India Limited (EIL) and Numaligarh Refinery Ltd., (NRL). Country's largest wax producing (50,000 metric ton) plant has been commissioned at NRL with investment of over Rs 600 crore.
Simultaneous Production of US Grade Gasoline and Pure Benzene: Technology for producing US grade gasoline and pure benzene has been developed. Plant of 700,000 tonnes per annum capacity costing Rs.160 crore was commissioned at Reliance Jamnagar Refinery.
Lithium Ion Battery: Indias first lithium ion battery fabrication facility based on indigenous novel materials for making 4.0 V/14 h standard cells has been established. The so developed technology on the Li-ion batteries to be commercialized soon.
Value added Agriculture:
Medicinal and Aromatic Plants: Enhanced cultivation of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants in the country brought about through development of new varieties and agro-technologies. The estimated area under cultivation is more than 3.3 lakh hectares with an estimated value of Rs 3568 crores and generated employment of 7.31 crore mandays. India leads globally in Menthol Mint production due to CSIR efforts.
Samba Mahsuri Rice Variety Bacterial Blight Resistant: CSIR has in collaboration with DRR (ICAR) and DBT part funding developed an improved bacterial blight resistant Samba Mahsuri variety. It is being cultivated in ~ 90,000 hectares in the states of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.
Rice Cultivar (Muktashree) for Arsenic Contaminated Areas: A rice variety has been developed which restricts assimilation of Arsenic within permissible limit. The variety has been released to farmers of West Bengal.
White-fly resistant Cotton variety: Developed a transgenic cotton line which is resistant to whiteflies. It is expected to render it commercially cultivable in 10 years, after due regulatory clearances.
Healthcare:
JD Vaccine for Farm Animals: Vaccine developed and commercialized for Johnes disease affecting Sheep, Goat, Cow and Buffalo so as to immunize them and increase milk and meat production.
Plasma Gelsolin Diagnostic Kit for Premature Births, and Sepsis related Deaths: A new kit is being developed to diagnose pre-mature birth and sepsis.
Genomics and other omics technologies for Enabling Medical Decision GOMED: Genetic diseases, though are individually rare, cumulatively affect a large number of individuals. A programme called GOMED (Genomics and other omics technologies for Enabling Medical Decision) has been developed by the CSIR which provides a platform of disease genomics to solve clinical problems. The present portfolio includes over 80 genes and sequencing of mitochondrial loci for mitochondrial disorders. In a short span of 9 months which encompassed the proof-of-concept stage, GOMED has catered to over 600 patients from across the country.
Food & Nutrition:
Ksheer-scanner: The Ksheer Scanner, a new technological invention by CSIR-CEERI detects the level of milk adulteration and adulterants in 45 seconds at the cost of 10 paise, thereby putting adulterators in the milk trade in notice was launched on 20TH February. 50 systems have been deployed at diaries across Goa, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Kerala, Maharashtra, Punjab, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal. A hand-held device Ksheer Tester, a mini version of Ksheer-scanner has also been developed.
Double-Fortified Salt: Salt fortified with iodine and iron having improved properties developed and tested for addressing anaemia in people. To be launched in the market soon.
Anti-obesity DAG Oil: Oil enriched with Diacylglycerol (DAG) instead of conventional triacylglycerol (TAG) developed. To be launched in the market soon.
Water:
Aquifer Mapping of Water Scarce Areas: Heliborne transient electromagnetic and surface magnetic technique based aquifer mapping carried out in six different geological locations in Rajasthan (2), Bihar, Karnataka, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu.
Understanding the Special Properties of the Ganga Water: Assessment of Water Quality & Sediment Analysis of Ganga from different parts being done.
I Waste to Wealth:
Non-toxic Radiation Shielding Material for X-ray Protection: Non-toxic radiation shielding materials utilizing industrial waste like red mud (from aluminum industries) and fly ash (Thermal Power Plants) developed which has been accredited by Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) for application in diagnostic X-Ray rooms.
Waste Plastic to Fuel: Process for conversion of waste plastics to gasoline/diesel or aromatics developed.
Skill development: CSIR is building a structured large scale Skill development Initiative using the state of the art infrastructure and human resources of CSIR. About 30 High Tech Skill/Training programmes are being launched for imparting skills to over 5000 candidates annually. The skill development programmes cover the following areas: Leather process Technology; Leather Footwear & Garments; Paints & coatings for corrosion protection; Electroplating & Metal Finishing; Lead Acid Battery maintenance; Glass Beaded Jewellery / Blue Pottery; Industrial Maintenance Engineering; Internet of Things (IoT); and Regulatory Preclinical Toxicology.
Recently an Agreement has been signed between CSIR and Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Caste Co-operative Finance Corporation Ltd. (APSCCFC) for Skill training and Entrepreneurship in Leather Sector. The initiative is set to benefit 10,000 Scheduled Caste Candidates from Andhra Pradesh, creating income generation assets to the households and thus enabling social and economic development. An investment of Rs. 30.00 Crore is being made by APSCCFC in next 2-3 years.
CSIRs participation in the India International Trade Fair (IITF) at Pragati Maidan marked showcasing of various technologies in healthcare, leather, petrochemicals, aeronautical engineering, drinking water, solar power, and energy and agricultural sector. The CSIR pavilion bagged the Gold medal among all government ministries and departments.
The National Physical Laboratory (NPL), a constituent lab of CSIR, organized the India International Science Festival, (IISF) which brought together more than 500 Einstein enthusiasts in the iconic scientists trademark garb, complete with his wig and moustache. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh and Science and Technology Dr. Harshvardhan were prominent visitors to the festival with its focus on Science for the Masses.
Search and Rescue Operation by NDRF in Jharkhand
Five Search and Rescue teams of NDRF comprising more than 200 responders have been mobilized to respond to a landslide incident at Gudda district of Jharkhand. Four teams from Bihar and one team from Ranchi were mobilized for rescue operation. One team of NDRF which left the NDRF base Patna reached this afternoon and immediately launched massive search and rescue operation with the help of latest life detector and equipment.
The NDRF responders are displaying true grit and professionalism to locate the trapped victims below the debris with the help of Canine who are trained to detect live victims and live detecting equipment. As victims are trapped under the rubble, due care and diligence is being taken into consideration by NDRF team.
Update on ECL Rajmahal Coal Mine Accident
Rescue Operations going on
Ex- Gratia compensation of Rs. 5 Lakh to each family of the deceased announced
Control Room Set Up at Project Office of Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project
CMD, Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) has reported that an incidence of overburden dump slide/subsidence has occurred in the second shift of 29.12.2016 at about 7.30 P. M. in the Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project in district Goda, Jharkhand, causing the unfortunate demise of 7 workers. The company has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs each to the family of the deceased, in addition to the amount to be paid under the Workmen's Compensation Act. All the necessary help to the families of the deceased is being extended by ECL. Two persons have met with injuries and treated in the Area Hospital. One of them has been sent to Durgapur for further treatment.
Prima facie, it is observed that the incidence is unprecedented, since an area of 300 m length by 110 m wide solid floor of the Over Burden dump area has slid down by about 35 m involving around 9.5 million cubic meters of earth material.
This could be due to failure of the bench edge along the hidden fault line/slip.
WILLISTON Oil companies are hiring in the Bakken, and more jobs are expected to open up next year.
Job Service North Dakota announced six oil companies are looking for workers to man fracking crews in the new year, said Cindy Sanford, customer service office manager of Job Services Williston branch. She said she couldnt reveal the names of the companies due to confidentiality clauses, but she said the companies are looking to hire 45 to 65 workers per crew. On the low end, that could bring 300 hires to the Bakken, she said.
Its getting busier in our offices, as far as not only with job seekers but also the companies, said Phil Davis, the agencys western area director. We are seeing more of the service rigs not so much the drilling rigs but our service rigs and workover rigs, jobs are coming back there, which is a great thing.
Oil companies announced in October they would post positions for workers in the Bakken as oil prices climbed to an 18-month high in December. Oil on the New York Mercantile rang out Thursday at $53.83, almost a 50 percent increase over last year. Thats down from an all-time high of $136.29, which was set July 3, 2008, but almost double the 10-year low barrels of oil went for less than $27 in early 2016.
After peaking in June 2014, oil prices started to fall off, causing oil companies to lay off workers and take rigs offline. As of Thursday, North Dakotas rig count was 39. Thats down from its all-time high of 218 in May 2012, but the count has been on a slight increase over the past several months.
The recent job postings in western North Dakota mostly are for service or workover rigs, which are used to complete a well and install the pump after drilling is done.
As of Thursday, almost 500 jobs posted on Job Service North Dakota mentioned oil.
Novembers increase from October for all job openings for Stark County, where oil jobs once were abundant before the bust, was 140, while Williams County, the heart of fracking, saw a 50-job increase.
The December numbers are expected to come out Wednesday, Davis said. He added companies are looking for workers who have more skills than the crews hired when the oil boom began in the early 2010s, which saw a lot of greenhorns come to North Dakota, he said.
Davis couldnt say whether the job openings meant the oil industry could turn around since it went bust in recent years, but he did say it was exciting to see the jobs come back.
Im kind of excited to see what the December numbers bring us, he said. Im expecting a little bit of an increase.
Year End review-2016 Ministry of Minority Affairs Highlights Of The Ministry Of Minority Affairs
-The Central Government increased the Budgetary Outlay in respect of Ministry of Minority Affairs from Rs. 3712.78 Crore in 2015-16 to Rs. 3800 Crore for 2016-17. The increase is of about Rs. 87 Crore for 2016-17. In addition to these Rs. 3800 Crore the Central Government also channelizes minimum 15% financial resources and physical targets from other flagship schemes of various Ministries/Departments under Prime Ministers New 15 Point Programme for welfare & development of Minorities. For 2016-17, the Ministry of Minority Affairs prioritized its focus areas in tune with the National priority for educational and economic empowerment through Skill Development. -The Nai Manzil scheme was launched, for the first time in Jammu and Kashmir. The scheme was launched for girls in Srinagar on 20th January, 2016 in three institutions. The institutions are Skill Development Centre, University of Kashmir and two Madarsas (Madarsa Shahi-i-Hamdan in Pampore and Madarsa Imam Sadique in Shadi pur ,Bandipora. Under the scheme girls from minority communities are being imparted three-month skill development training in seven identified sectors relevant to the region. These include training in saffron processing, food processing, embroidery, computers IT (both software and hardware), Tourism/hospitality, electronics and plumbing. Trainees are also given stipend of Rs.4500/-for the course. -The Ministry of Minority Affairs organised the two months long cultural spectacle Everlasting Flame International Programme celebrating Multicultural Ethos of the Parsi-Zoroastrian Community. The Everlasting Flame International Programme here today. The Everlasting Flame International Programme presented three exhibitions, titled The Everlasting Flame: Zoroastrianism in History and Imagination at the National Museum, Threads of Continuity: Zoroastrian Life and Culture at the Indira Gandhi National Centre for the Arts (IGNCA) and Painted Encounters: Parsi Traders and the Community at the National Gallery of Modern Art (NGMA) along with many cultural and educational programme. -The Minority Affairs Ministry launched innovative entrepreneurship and skill development programme of Maulana Azad National Academy for Skills (MANAS) through leading national/ international experts in different skill sets. Two training centres of Beauty & Wellness Sector, one in Okhla and another in Daryaganj area were inaugurated for the purpose. In Okhla Centre, Sh. Jawed Habib, known for impetus to revolutionize the art of Hair Styling in India, provides scientific and systematic training to the aspirants wishing to pursue a career in cosmetology. Ms. Shahnaz Hussain imparts training to aspirants at Daryaganj centre in the field of natural care and cure. Speaking on the occasion.
--The Ministry of Minority Affairs organised Hunar Haat (Skill Haat), an exhibition of handicrafts, embroidery etc made by the artisans from the Minority Communities at the India International Trade Fair. The exhibition was an amazing gathering of artisans from every corner of the country. One of the special feature of this unique Hunar Haat was that besides providing free of cost stall to artisans/craftsmen, the Minority Affairs Ministry also made arrangements for their transport and helped in their daily expenses so that these expert artisans can reach to Delhi easily and display their arts/skills at the international platform in the form of International Trade Fair.
-The work related to management of Haj pilgrimage, including administration of the Haj Committee Act, 2002 and rules made thereunder has been transferred from Ministry of External Affairs to Ministry of Minority Affairs. Ministry of Minority Affairs has taken over the work of Haj Division of MEA with effect from 1st October, 2016. With the transfer of Haj related works from MEA, M/o Minority Affairs will be the nodal Ministry for all matters related to Haj pilgrimage.
Hajj is one of the most complex organizational tasks undertaken by Government of India outside Indian borders. Indian pilgrims constitute the third largest national group performing the Hajj. It is a yearlong managerial exercise and a part of it for this year pilgrimage was also executed by the Ministry.
--The Minister of State(IC) Minority Affairs launched and held Progress Panchayats, an information campaign at ground level. Progress Panchayat will prove to be an effective mission for informing people about welfare measures as there is no dearth of schemes and funds for development of Muslim and other Minority communities.
-The Ministry also launched the trilingual website www.haj.gov.in relating to Haj Matters. The website in Hindi, Urdu and English languages will facilitate online application for Haj. Besides giving information about Ministry of Minority Affairs, Haj Department, Haj Pilgrimage, rules and regulations on Haj, Haj Committee of India and private tour operators, the website also has Dos and Donts during Haj and also a film informing about various aspects of the pilgrimage.
Nepal and China will hold their first ever joint military exercise early 2017.
Chinese Defence Ministry Spokesperson Yang Yujun said China and Nepal had been in "initial communication" on the military exercise, and that the details would be released in due course of time.
Although Nepal has been holding joint military exercises with other countries, including India and the United States, this is the first time Nepali military would be holding such an exercise with China.
According to reports, the military drill will be held in February next year and will focus on training Nepali soldiers in dealing with hostage scenarios involving terror groups, My Republica reported.
The new development is seen as China's growing interest in the Himalayan republic since the deterioration of relations between Nepal and India due to the border blockade last year, the daily said.
Officials say that an Enter Air plane was forced to make an emergency landing shortly after takeoff in after hitting a bird.
The Chopin Airport said on Twitter that the landing occurred without any problem and that the passengers were safe.
The plane was scheduled to make a stop in Larnaca, Cyprus, before flying on to Mombasa, Kenya.
Enter Air director Grzegorz Polaniecki told the broadcaster TVN that the plane hit a bird and that the pilots returned to Warsaw's airport so the plane could be inspected as a precaution.
The airport spokesman, Przemyslaw Przybylski, said there were 187 passengers on board and six crew members.
The plane circled for about an hour and a half to burn fuel before landing.
Pakistan's Foreign Office has rejected a new formula for evaluation of the candidature of non-Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) states for the Nuclear Suppliers Groups (NSG) membership as "discriminatory" and "unhelpful".
At the weekly media briefing on Thursday, Foreign Office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said: "This would be clearly discriminatory and would contribute nothing in terms of furthering the non-proliferation objectives of the NSG," Dawn News reported.
Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina had been appointed as a facilitator for discussions among the members after Seoul plenary meeting of the 48-nation nuclear trade cartel ended in a stalemate over membership applications from India and Pakistan.
The deadlock persisted at the extraordinary plenary held in Vienna last month.
Ambassador Grossi this month submitted a two-page revised document to the member countries containing a nine-point proposal on considering the applications of India and Pakistan, both of whom are non-NPT countries.
The members last week again met in Vienna for discussing the document called "revised version of a draft 'Exchange of Notes' for Non-NPT applicants".
Pakistan, Zakaria said, continues to emphasise the imperative for a non-discriminatory criteria-based approach for the NSG membership of non-NPT states in a non-discriminatory manner, Dawn News said.
"Such a criteria-based approach will further the non-proliferation objective of the NSG as well as the objective of strategic stability in South Asia," he said.
The spokesman reminded the NSG members of "the heavy responsibility" they bore with respect to admission of non-NPT states.
"It is important for the credibility of the NSG and the future of the non-proliferation regime that the NSG be seen as a rule-based organisation rather than a grouping which is driven by commercial and political considerations that trump its non-proliferation objectives," he maintained.
authorities will deploy dozens of trucks on city streets during New Year's eve celebrations, to boost security in the wake of recent truck attacks in Europe, the police said on Friday.
About 65 sand and sanitation trucks will be placed in "strategic locations" around Times Square, where more than a million people are expected to attend the traditional New Year's Eve ball drop, police Chief of Department Carlos Gomez told a news conference.
An additional hundred or more "blocker" vehicles will be deployed elsewhere throughout the city to prevent vehicles from plowing into the crowd, he added.
"We paid close attention to events in Nice and Berlin, we have enhanced security measures," Gomez said.
The deployment will reinforce the already massive security regime adopted in recent years, including some 7,000 police and anti-terrorist forces in uniform and plain clothes patrolling the areas around Times Square and other planned festivities across the city, he added.
Pedestrians wishing to access Times Square will have to settle for carrying only small bags and passing through at least two security checks, where any objects deemed dangerous -- including alcohol and even umbrellas -- will be prohibited.
In July, a truck driven by a radicalized Tunisian man cut down a crowd gathered in the French city of Nice to mark the national Bastille Day holiday, killing 86 people. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the attack.
Last week, another Tunisian killed 12 people when he smashed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin. Italian police killed the alleged perpetrator several days later after stopping him for a document check in Milan.
President struck back at Russia on Thursday for its efforts to influence the 2016 election, ejecting 35 suspected Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposing sanctions on Russias two leading intelligence services.
has said it "categorically" rejected US claims of meddling in its presidential election after Washington imposed tough sanctions on the country's top two intelligence agencies, expelled agents and shut down two Russian compounds on US soil.
"We categorically reject the unfounded assertions and accusations made about Russia," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Thursday, according to the Ria-Novosti news agency.
also pledged "adequate reprisals" over US sanctions and accused Washington of trying to destroy ties.
The United States wants to "definitively destroy US- relations which have already reached a low" Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said, adding that Russia will "react in an adequate manner based on the principles of reciprocity".
President said Moscow would not expel anyone in response to Washington's decision to throw out 35 suspected Russian spies and sanction intelligence agencies it believes were involved in computer hacking in the 2016 presidential election.
The auto parts maker is nearing a sweeping settlement with federal prosecutors over airbags that can violently explode, according to two people briefed on the discussions. The devices have been linked to many deaths and injuries and prompted the largest recall in automotive history.
surged 7% to Rs 485 on the BSE in intra-day trade after the company received contract worth of Rs 271 crore from Bharat Heavy Electricals (BHEL) for supply of components and services for 2 thermal power projects in Tamil Nadu.
Delhi High Court on Friday issued notice to former Indian Air Force chief Air Chief Marshal (Retd.) S.P. Tyagi after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) moved the higher court seeking cancellation of his bail in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.
On December 26, a special CBI court had granted bail to Tyagi and questioned the manner in which the CBI had investigated the case so far.
The CBI has moved the Delhi High Court against trial court's order.
On Thursday, the CBI received replies from all eight countries to its Letters Rogatory in connection with the AgustaWestland VVIP chopper case.
Sources said the information provided by the UAE and Singapore is of crucial importance to the CBI.
"Both countries were recently approached through diplomatic channels for execution of the CBI's letters rogatory (LRs) or judicial requests at the earliest. Now the agency has received responses to the LRs it sent to eight countries for establishing money trail in the Rs. 3,767 crore Agusta Westland VVIP helicopter deal case," said sources.
Mauritius, Tunisia, Italy, British Virgin Island, the UK and Switzerland are the other six countries where Letter Rogatory (a letter of formal request from court to a foreign court) was sent by the CBI, seeking assistance in probe and collection of documents in connection with this case.
The CBI will very soon start a fresh round of questioning.
Tyagi, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan were arrested on December 10 in connection with this case. The court had on December 17 sent all the three accused to judicial custody till December 30.
The former air chief was yesterday granted bail on the condition that he will not leave Delhi or try to contact any witness in the case.
Tyagi, who headed the Indian Air Force between 2004 and 2007, has been accused of abusing his official position to help AgustaWestland, a subsidiary of Italy-based Finmeccanica, win the deal to supply a dozen helicopters meant for the country's top politicians.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Leading public sector bank Bank of Baroda has announced signing of an MOU with Heritage Foods Ltd. (HFL) with an objective to provide dairy loans to the farmers through the network of Bank of Baroda branches pan India.
The MoU was signed in the presence of Head Rural Banking (Agri and FI) and CSR, G.B Bhuyan and Zonal head of Heritage Foods Ltd. (HFL), Hyderabad, Ch Satyanarayan.
"We have entered memorandum of understanding with Heritage Foods Ltd. (HFL) to work jointly to provide dairy loans to the farmers," said Head Rural Banking (Agri and FI) and CSR, G.B Bhuyan.
"This relationship of Bank of Baroda, one of the premier banks of our country, with Heritage Foods Ltd (HFL) will immensely benefit the farmers in increasing their productivity and earnings under allied activities," added Bhuyan.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Dubbing (SP) as a 'Parivarwadi Party', the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday said that the family feud in the Uttar Pradesh ruling party is merely a drama to deviate people from the main issue.
"The people of this country will finally name as Parivarwadi party because they have nothing to do with samaj. They only think about their parivar and are only concerned about the welfare of a singular family," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said.
Patra further said that the SP leaders are not concerned about development in the state and how it has taken a back seat there.
Echoing similar sentiments, BJP leader Shrikant Sharma said, "It is a drama to deviate people from main issues and people have understood it and are all set to bid adieu to this corrupt party."
He further said that Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav's failure, false promises and betraying people are the main issues in UP adding, "Be it medical facilities, educational facilities, electricity or infrastructure, he has failed on every front. If we talk about the law and order, women fear to go out and police fear to arrest criminals here. "
Akhilesh Yadav earlier on Thursday released a list of 235 candidates out of the total 403 seats for upcoming state assembly elections, a day after his father and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had released the official list.
Some pro-Akhilesh MLAs had earlier said the unhappy Chief Minister was likely to release a parallel list of candidates for state assembly elections slated for early 2017.
Akhilesh met Mulayam Singh, but as per sources, the party chief refused to make any change in the list of 325 candidates issued by him yesterday.
"We have declared list of 325 candidates for the 2017 assembly polls; 78 seats still remain. Name of candidates for rest of the 78 seats will be announced soon," Mulayam said yesterday while announcing the list.
The supremo announced the first list in the absence of his son, who is at loggerheads with his uncle Shivpal Yadav over the distribution of tickets.
Mulayam announced the name of his brother Shivpal from Jaswant Nagar Assembly seat.
Akhilesh's name did not figure in the first list. Mulayam, however, said that his son, being the Chief Minister, can contest from any assembly seat he wishes to.
New Delhi [India], Dec. 30 (ANI): My thoughts go back twelve years ago, to the last week of December, when I travelled with then Defence Minister George Fernandes to Arunachal Pradesh as he was keen on personally distributing Christmas cakes to Indian Army soldiers posted on the border.
The cakes were manufactured at Koshy's Bakery in Bengaluru, and their cost was borne by Fernandes and his family, and personally distributed by him among soldiers posted in Arunachal Pradesh, Ladakh, Jammu and Kashmir and Rajasthan.
The process used to take about a week.
I was Information Advisor in the Defence Ministry following the 1999 Kargil Operations to help in updating the operation publicity guidelines.
In 2004, George Fernandes flew to Tezpur to review the situation on the border, particularly the problems created by militants who had set up camps in Bhutan and visited Bomdi La and Tawang. He also visited the Thagla Ridge on the Line of Actual Control along the India-China border.
After distributing the cakes, Fernandes arrived in Tawang, laid a wreath at the memorial raised in memory of the martyred Indian soldiers of the India-China conflict of 1962.
Later, he flew back to Gauhati to take an Indian Airlines flight to Delhi. Unfortunately, the Indian Airlines flight was cancelled that evening, but Fernandes was keen to reach Delhi the same day to take the flight to Ladakh to distribute cakes to the soldiers posted there.
The only available flight that evening was a cargo aircraft of the Indian Air Force. I remember travelling with him seated in bucket seats of the cargo compartment of an IL76 aircraft. No conversation was possible, as we had to sit with our ears closed.
As defence minister in the Democratic Alliance Government, George Fernandes made it a point to visit Siachen every three months and meet every contingent of Indian soldiers posted there. He would personally ensure that the soldiers posted there had adequate facilities.
Fernandes was keen to assess the conditions under which the soldiers, sailors and airmen worked and lived. He travelled in a Light Combat Aircraft developed by the Hindustan Aircraft Limited after subjecting himself to the tests that every pilot has to pass through.
Staying at 3, Krishna Menon Marg, he would walk to his office in the defence ministry. Later he was stuck by Alzheimer's.
Fernandes today is unable to recall his memories as a labour leader in the sixties, underground agitator during the Emergency in the seventies, Commerce Minister in the Janata Government, Railway Minister in the NDA Government and was the Defence Minister during the Kargil War.
Mr. I. Ramamohan Rao is a former Principal Information Officer of the Government of India. He can be reached at raoramamohan@hotmail.com.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Habiburrahman Hekmatyar, the son of reconciled l eader of Hizb-e-Islami Gulbuddin Hekmatyar, has termed the Taliban and other insurgent groups in the country as slaves of foreigners.
"Recently, these murderers and slaves are named as Khawarij in the media, but I must say that they [Taliban] are worse than Khawarij," said Habiburrahman at a gathering commemorating the death of those killed in the Taliban attack on MP Mir Wali's house last week.
The participants, who included senior government officials and MPs, expressing anger over the attack said the militant group has sold out to Russians while they claim to be Mujahids.
Hafizullah Barikzai, son of Uruzgan lawmaker Obaidullah Barikzai, was also killed in the suicide raid by the Taliban.
"I call on Taliban to stop their subversive activities and it is enough. Neither China nor Russians will bring you peace," said Obaidullah.
Meanwhile, former president Hamid Karzai also delivered a speech via a phone call where he strongly condemned the attack on the MP's house.
A message from Gulbuddin was also read out by his son where he anticipated bigger price for those targeting civilians.
The attack on the MP's house left at least eight people dead and wounded several others. Taliban claimed responsibility for the raid.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and Singapore have amended the DTAA for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, by signing a Third Protocol today.
This is in line with India's treaty policy to prevent double non-taxation, curb revenue loss and check the menace of black money through automatic exchange of information, as reflected in India's recently revised treaties with Mauritius and Cyprus and the joint declaration signed with Switzerland.
The Protocol for amendment of the India-Mauritius Convention signed on 10th May, 2016, provides for source-based taxation of capital gains arising from alienation of shares acquired from 1st April, 2017 in a company resident in India. Simultaneously, investments made before 1st April, 2017 have been grandfathered and will not be subject to capital gains taxation in India.
Where such capital gains arise during the transition period from 1st April, 2017 to 31st March, 2019, the tax rate will be limited to 50 percent of the domestic tax rate of India. However, the benefit of 50 percent reduction in tax rate during the transition period shall be subject to the Limitation of Benefits Article. Taxation in India at full domestic tax rate will take place from financial year 2019-20 onwards.
The revised DTAA between India and Cyprus signed on 18th November, 2016, provides for source based taxation of capital gains arising from alienation of shares, instead of residence based taxation provided under the DTAA signed in 1994.
However, a grandfathering clause has been provided for investments made prior to 1st April, 2017, in respect of which capital gains would continue to be taxed in the country of which taxpayer is a resident. It also provides for assistance between the two countries for collection of taxes and updates the provisions related to Exchange of Information to accepted international standards.
Fighting the menace of Black Money stashed in offshore accounts has been a key priority area for the Government. To further this goal, the 'Joint Declaration' for the implementation of Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) between India and Switzerland was signed in November, 2016. It will now be possible for India to receive from September, 2019 onwards, the financial information of accounts held by Indian residents in Switzerland for 2018 and subsequent years, on an automatic basis.
The India-Singapore DTAA at present provides for residence based taxation
of capital gains of shares in a company. The Third Protocol amends the DTAA with effect from 1st April, 2017 to provide for source based taxation of capital gains arising on transfer of shares in a company.
This will curb revenue loss, prevent double non-taxation and streamline the flow of investments. In order to provide certainty to investors, investments in shares made before 1st April, 2017 have been grandfathered subject to fulfillment of conditions in Limitation of Benefits clause as per 2005 Protocol.
Further, a two year transition period from 1st April, 2017 to 31st March, 2019 has been provided during which capital gains on shares will be taxed in source country at half of normal tax rate, subject to fulfillment of conditions in Limitation of Benefits clause.
The third protocol also inserts provisions to facilitate relieving of economic double taxation in transfer pricing cases. This is a taxpayer friendly measure and is in line with India's commitments under Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan to meet the minimum standard of providing Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) access in transfer pricing cases. The Third Protocol also enables application of domestic law and measures concerning prevention of tax avoidance or tax evasion.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Expressing concern following the release of separatist leader Masarat Alam Bhat, the Panthers Party (NPP) has trained its guns on the ruling BJP-PDP Government in Jammu and Kashmir, saying the state government has taken this step in line with its appeasement policy towards the separatists.
Bhat, who has been in preventive custody under the Public Safety Act (PSA) since April 2015, was on Thursday released from Kathua Jail following the orders from the Jammu and Kashmir High Court.
"It's worrisome that a dreaded terrorist like Masarat Alam, who had been booked under PSA, has been released by the government despite his involvement in several other offences," NPP leader Harshdev Singh told ANI.
"Bhat was accused of sedition charges of having wage war against the state and numerous criminal complaints against him in various police stations. Despite that the government has released him only under its political compulsions and to favour the separatists in Kashmir," he added.
The NPP leader further alleged that the move to release Bhat was only done in line with the appeasement policy followed by the PDP-BJP government.
'We believe that Bhat's release could be disastrous, as he is an out and out Pakistani agent, and the government was within its rights to book him under various other offences, but chose to release him in order to continue with its appeasement policy towards the separatists," the NPP leader said.
Bhat, a senior Hurriyat Conference leader, was booked under the PSA several times since April 2015 and the latest order was issued by the district magistrate of Baramulla.
According to the Jammu and Kashmir High Court order, Bhat was accused of making the ongoing agitation "successful" while in the custody of the state authorities.
A case was registered against Bhat at the Baramulla Police Station on August 30, two days before the detention order against him was passed by the deputy commissioner.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Friday criticised Finance Minister Arun Jaitley for presenting data and claiming an increase in tax recovery, saying that he was doing so to boast about the success of the government's demonetisation drive.
"We cannot understand how he is presenting the data. When he presents the budget, then only the right figures will come to light. He is only boasting right now in order to get appreciation for their policy," NCP leader Nawab Malik told ANI.
Malik also demanded accurate data and figures to be presented in parliament.
"The finance minister will have to pay attention to the problems of the people. He should also tell how tax recovery has increased. He should give the information related to the budget in parliament," he said.
Jaitley on Thursday said post the government's November 8 demonetisation announcement, a lot more money had come into the banking system providing banks with the opportunity to lend more.
"The revenue figures that have been updated are significant. The direct tax figures of income tax are now available with an increase of 14.4 percent with a net increase of 13.6 percent till December 19, 2016," said Jaitley.
"The indirect tax figures till November 30th are updated with an increase in the central indirect taxes of 26.2 percent," said the minister while thanking the people of India for supporting the demonetisation move.
"Life insurance, international tourism, petroleum consumption, flow into mutual funds has increased by 11 percent," Jaitley said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Death toll in the Jharkhand mine collapse in Lalmatia rose to seven as investigation into the accident and rescue operations are still underway.
According to initial reports, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) has said that around 40-50 workers along with some machinery of a private company are suspected to be trapped under the debris.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and enquired about the incident.
The Chief Minister has also announced Rs. two lakh compensation to the families of the deceased and Rs. 25,000 for the injured. He also said that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the mine collapse.
Discussing about the reason behind this incident, Chairman and Managing Director of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) Rajiv Ranjan Mishra
said, "A higher committee has been formed and a Deputy General Manager will also enquire. The prima facie which has been found is the entire surface has collapsed. This is a unique phenomenon. But let us see what the reports says."
Misha further said that three excavators and seven dumpers were present there at the mining site.
"According to the rules, one person is allowed per equipment and as two dumpers fled during the incident, so, the number of people trapped may be less than seven," he said.
Meanwhile, Power and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal said that government is assessing the situation and rescue efforts are underway.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik was on Friday detained by police in Pulwama here, after he tried to protest against refugees' domicile issue.
The protest was carried out against the issue of identity certificates to West Pakistan refugees living in Pulwama.
Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on December 27 also expressed dissent over the government's announcement to issue 'domicile certificates' to West Pakistan Refuees.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, in coalition with the Jammu and Kashmir's ruling People's Democratic Party, took the stand of initiating steps to fulfil he long pending demands of the refugees, which stirred up controversy in the Valley.
On December 23, the Valley witnessed a complete shutdown on the call of separatists in the wake of the initiative taken by the government.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh) [India], Dec.30 (ANI): The political instability in the sensitive border state of Arunachal Pradesh since December 2015 continues, justifying the unanimous truth of kissa kursi ka.
The ruling Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) late on Thursday night temporarily suspended chief minister Pema Khandu, deputy CM Chowna Mein and five other legislators from the primary membership of the party with immediate effect for alleged anti-party activities.
The Other five MLAs shown against their assembly constituency are Jambey Tashi (Lumla), Passang Dorjee Sona (Mechuka), Chow Tewa Mein (Chowkham), Zingnu Namchom (Namsai) and Kamlung Mossang (Miao).
However, the spokesman of the state government, Bamang Felix, told press persons at the Press Club that Khandu-led government had the support of 49 legislators in the 60 member house.
The supporters included 35 PPA, 12 BJP and 2 independents. On the possibility of joining BJP, Felix said that "We are still member of the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA)."
While PPA president Kahfa Bengia, in his suspension order, said prima facie he was satisfied with the proof of their indulgence in gross "anti-party" activities and "Khandu now ceased to be the leader of the PPA Legislature Party", Felix claimed that the PPA president had issued a circular for a party meeting on December 20 last which was not received by any MLA.
"Just not attending the party cannot be termed as anti-party activity or if the decision to suspend seven MLAs was unanimous PPA or individual decision is not known ," Felix said.
Asked about difference in the party, floating the name of sitting minister Takam Parior as next PPA leader and dropping of few ministers including Pario from the ministry, Felix clarified that "the difference could be personal not at party level and doors are open to wipe out the differences. The dropping of ministers would be made public soon".
Bengia had directed party MLAs and PPA functionaries not to attend any meeting called by Khandu, and said any member failing to comply with the order will have to face disciplinary action. He, in a letter to assembly Speaker T Norbu Thongdok, requested him to declare the suspended MLAs as unattached members of the House and arrange separate sitting for them and communicate the development to the governor.
In the 60-member house, PPA had 43 MLAs, BJP 12, Congress-3 and independent 2. The strength of BJP had increased from 11 to 12 with the election of former CM late Kalikho Pul's wife Dasanglu Pul on November 22 to Hayuliang assembly seat by-election as BJP candidate with 944 votes.
With Indian politicians adding "everything is fair in politics' to common adage "Everything is fair in love and war" to redefine government - by the people, of the people and for the people - the political upheaval in the state has been getting murkier by brining state's development process to a grinding halt.
Pul was forced to resign in July 16 following the apex court verdict and had joined the PPA with 29 dissident Congress MLAs on March 3, 2016. After serving as CM from 19.02.16 to 13.07.16 he had committed suicide in CM's bungalow here on August 9.
The then Governor J P Rajkhowa had preponed assembly session from to January 14-18, 2016 from December 16-18, 2015 without consulting then chief minister Nabam Tuki and his council of ministers, that had set the political instability ball rolling.
However, the Supreme Court in its historic July 13 verdict had reversed the clock to December 15, 2015 by terming all decisions taken by the Governor as "illegal and unconstitutional" and ordered restoration of previous government.
The Congress Legislature Party leader Nabam Tuki, while chairing CLP meeting on July 16 last, had resigned and proposed the name of Pema Khandu as new leader. In a volte-face, ousted CM Kalikho Pul, had returned to the Congress fold with 29 dissident MLAs.
Khandu, 37, the son of late Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, was sworn in as the eighth Chief Minister by Governor Tathagata Roy at Raj Bhavan here on July 17 last marking the culmination of fast-paced political developments in the state while Chowna Mein was sworn in as the DyCM.
Khandu sprung a surprise on?September 16 by leaving the Congress and joining the PPA along with 42 MLAs. In a House of 60 members, with an effective strength of 58, the PPA had 43, BJP 11 and Congress one, independent two and one seat vacant.
But the PPA joined the North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA), formed on May 24 last as part of the NDA with Himanta Biswa Sarma as its convenor, on September 18.
Sarma, after chairing a joint legislature party meeting with 43 PPA, MLAs, 11 BJP MLAs and two Independents at Itanagar on September 18, had told reporters that "It will be decided at the BJP Executive meeting at Calicut this week on whether BJP will continue to extend its outside support or be a part of the PPA government led by Khandu."
While blaming the Congress high command for the mess in the party, state BJP president Tapir Gao on had said party president Sonia Gandhi and Vice President Rahul Gandhi should have taken care of this. on the possibility of PPA MLAs merging with the BJP, Gao said the party's door was open.
The Congress, however, had accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP of "foul play" and committing a "fraud on democracy" after Khandu along with 41 Congress MLAs quit the party and joined PPA.
"Modi's and BJP's foul play and fraud on democracy has come to a full circle in Arunachal Pradesh today," Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala had told reporters in New Delhi. "PPA is the illegitimate child of the BJP's diabolical design to decimate democracy," he alleged.
With severe criticism of Rajkhowa and Congress squarely blaming him Union MoS Kiren Rijiju for toppling Congress government, the Centre was left with no other alternative but to pressurize Rajkhowa to quit but he refused prompting President of India Pranab Mukharjee to remove on September 12 last.
With the induction of BJP Legislator Party Leader Tamyio Taga on October 14 last into Khandu ministry, Arunachal Pradesh had become the 14th state with the BJP is in power and the sixth state where it shared power with regional parties.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has called for a Samajwadi Party core group meeting at his residence on Kalidas Marg here today.
The meet is to be held shortly and is expected to see the participation of both, senior leaders and young leaders.
On Thursday, Akhilesh released a list of 235 candidates out of a total of 403 seats for the upcoming state assembly elections, a day after his father and party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav had released the official list, hinting at a deepening crisis within the party.
Some pro-Akhilesh MLAs had earlier said that an unhappy chief minister was likely to release a parallel list of candidates for the state assembly elections slated.
Intense political activities continued at the Samajwadi Party headquarters and at official residence of the chief minister yesterday.
Akhilesh met Mulayam Singh, but as per sources, the party chief refused to make changes in the list of 325 candidates issued by him on Wednesday.
"We have declared list of 325 candidates for the 2017 assembly polls. 78 seats still remain. Name of candidates for rest of the 78 seats will be announced soon," Mulayam had said while announcing the list.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Braving all odds, Dr. Hitendra Mahajan and Dr. Mahendra Mahajan, brothers from Nasik, created history recently by covering a distance of at least 6,000 kilometres in just 10 days and 20 hours.
The brothers, who started their journey from the Gateway of India on 18th December 2016, completed their trip yesterday.
The 6,000-kilometer journey which spanned across Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata and Delhi saw the brothers promoting the very idea of following rules for a prosperous India.
"This cycle ride is dedicated to the nation. If everyone follows their duty, then, I think, that our country will be unstoppable," Dr. Hitendra said.
"Our theme was following the rules, India will rule," he added.
The race started from Mumbai to Chennai via Bangalore and moved on from Chennai to Kolkata, Kolkata to New Delhi and finally from New Delhi back to Mumbai.
Other major cities came in their route were Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhubaneshwar, Jaipur, Kanpur, Pune, Surat, Nellore, Guntur, Vijayawada and Vishakapatnam.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nepal and China will hold their first ever joint military exercise early next year.
The Kathmandu Post and the state-owned People's Daily of China quoted the Chinese Ministry of National Defence (MOD), as saying that the drill will be conducted in 2017.
The announcement was made through a tweet by Chinese MOD Spokesperson Senior Colonel Yang Yujun.
Senior Colonel Yang was further quoted, as saying by the media that that both China and Nepal have had "initial communication" about joint army exercises, and details would be announced in due time. He, however, did not give any details related to the proposed first joint exercise between the defence forces of the two countries.
It is expected that the military drill code named "Pratikar-1" will focus on training Nepali soldiers in dealing with hostage scenarios involving international terror groups.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reacting to the expulsion of Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and General Secretary Ram Gopal Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, political parties across all spectrums on Friday called the fiasco as the internal matter and denied any major impact on the forthcoming state assembly polls.
"In family-centered parties, if the family breaks up, the party also falls apart," BJP spokesperson Shrikant Sharma told ANI here.
"People of Uttar Pradesh had already waved Akhilesh off, his expulsion doesn't have much impact," he added.
Meanwhile, Janata Dal (United) leader Sharad Yadav called the fiasco as unfortunate and termed it as party's internal matter.
"It is unfortunate. However it is their internal matter," he said.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday evening expelled his son Akhilesh from the party just ahead of crucial elections in Uttar Pradesh. He has also expelled his cousin and senior party leader Ram Gopal Yadav for the second time in months, accused him of "spoiling the career of the chief minister."
The Samajwadi Party chief said both Akhilesh and Ram Gopal have been sacked for weakening the party.
Earlier in the day, Mulayam issued a showcause notice to Akhilesh for issuing a candidate list separately for the upcoming state assembly polls.
I will decide as to who will be the chief ministerial candidate of the party," Mulayam said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Come January 7, 2017, and the Pakistan government has taken the principled decision that all terrorism-related cases will be dealt by special trial courts rather than military courts.
According to The News, a new law is likely to be introduced to hand over jurisdictional authority to these special speedy trial courts and end the two-year-long role of military courts that were set up under the 21st Amendment of the Pakistan Constitution.
The government has said that will enforce the Anti-Terrorism Act drafted by the Interior Ministry that will include the top clauses of the Protection of Pakistan Act (POPA).
However, it added that the Rangers and other law enforcement agencies will continue to enjoy police powers to maintain peace and thwart terrorist activities.
Steps will also be taken to lawfully protect witnesses in these cases. The sources say the government has the power to promulgate an ordinance in the absence of the National Assembly session.
The Senate will meet on January 9 and the National Assembly on January 26. So there will be no constitutional gap after the abolishment of the military courts on January 7. The sources say that to bridge the gap to be caused by the expiry of the military courts, the Senate passed two substitute laws which are tagged as private members bills.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Condemning the opposition for its stand on demonetisation, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on Friday said it always dreams about the prime minister's resignation.
"The opposition has nothing else to do. In their dreams also, they demand resignation from the prime minister. They are criticising for the sake of criticising, but even they know that the prime minister is doing very good work," Chouhan told ANI.
Chouhan described demonetisation as a bold step taken by the prime minister and believed the entire nation is supporting the move.
"The country is moving towards an economy revolution. Some people are protesting, but the nation knows the truth," he said.
On Thursday, Centre came for sharp criticism launching a campaign to inform citizens about the benefits of demonetisation.
Prime Minister Modi had earlier urged the nation to give him 50 days demonetisation to get things back on track post.
The government has taken several steps to ensure that the people face no hardship, especially tourists and industry, and changes have been incorporated from time to time.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As Justice Mian Saqib Nisar on Saturday will take oath as the new Chief Justice of Pakistan, his first challenge will be the composition of the larger bench that will hear the Panamagate case.
The Supreme Court in November took up a slew of petitions seeking Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif's disqualification in the wake of Panama Papers, which in April revealed that his family members have stashed money in offshore companies, reports the The Express Tribune.
The outgoing Chief Justice Anwar Zaheer Jamali, who was also heading the bench and conducted 10 hearings of the case, adjourned the case till first week of January. His retirement today will dissolve the current bench.
Justice Nisar will reconstitute the bench with many options available to him.
He can replace the outgoing CJP by sitting himself in the bench or hand over the command of the new bench to Justice Asif Saeed Khosa, who will be the senior most judge, once Justice Nisar assumes office.
Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan has expressed desire that the same four judges, who were part of the bench, should hear the case.
Both the ruling PML-N and the PTI are eagerly waiting for the new CJP's decision about constitution of the new bench.
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President Pranab Mukherjee on Friday approved the promulgation of the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016.
The Ordinance is a follow-up to the decision taken by the Centre to cancel the legal tender character of the existing series of banknotes, as on November 8 in the denominations of Rs.500 and Rs.1000 in circulation.
The main objectives of the Ordinance is to provide clarity and finality to the liability of the Reserve Bank of India and the Government of India for the Specified Bank Notes(SBN), to provide an opportunity to those persons who were unable to deposit the SBNs within the time provided and to declare holding, transferring or receiving SBNs as illegal, with provisions for penalty for contravention of any of the provisions of the Ordinance.
This decision follows a number of steps taken to eliminate the menace of unaccounted money in the economy including setting up of a Special Investigation Team (SIT), enacting a law regarding undisclosed foreign income and assets, amending the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements between India and Mauritius and India and Cyprus, reaching an understanding with Switzerland for getting information on Bank accounts held by Indians with HSBC, encouraging the use of non-cash and digital payments, amendments to the Benami Transactions Act, and implementation of the Income Declaration Scheme 2016. It is a move in line with the government's initiatives to curb unaccounted money in the system, money laundering and tax avoidance.
Accordingly, this facility has been granted to all Indian citizens who were outside India from November 9 to December 30, to tender these SBNs at the specified Issue Offices of RBI until March 31 next year. For those citizens of India who are not resident in India, this facility would be available till June 30, 2017 in order to allow them adequate time to plan a visit as per their convenience.
The above facility would be subject to the regulations of the notification "Foreign Exchange Management (Export and Import of Currency) Regulations, 2015. As per these Regulations bringing back such currency into the country is restricted to Rs.25,000/- per person. Separate FEMA provisions are applicable to persons in Nepal and Bhutan which would continue to apply.
At the time of return to India the number and denominations of the SBN will need to be declared to the Customs authorities at the airports and other entry points. Necessary form for such declaration will be given out by the CBEC. The details of the declaration and statements that are required to be submitted along with the SBNs at the time of deposit in RBI Issue Offices will be separately announced by RBI. Any false declaration will invite a fine of Rs. 50,000 or five times the amount of the face value of the SBN tendered, whichever is higher.
After the period of exchange is over, the liabilities of the Reserve Bank and the guarantee of the Central Government towards the Specified Bank Notes will stand extinguished. Further, to prevent any continued parallel transactions with the SBNs by unscrupulous elements, after this period, holding, transferring and receiving SBNs will attract a fine of Rs.10,000 or five times the amount of the face value of the SBN involved in the contravention, whichever is higher.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Roz Leighton resigned as executive director of the North Dakota Republican Party earlier this month to take a job with the committee overseeing the inauguration of President-elect Donald Trump.
Leightons new role as Cabinet affairs liaison with the 58th Presidential Inaugural Committee involves coordinating events, travel logistics and ensuring that theres a clear line of communication between the committee and the stakeholder groups, she said Thursday.
Leightons tenure with the North Dakota Republicans saw the party assume an even stronger majority in the state Legislature. During this years state Republican convention, the state was the focus of some brief national attention over the partys presidential candidates scramble for delegates, prompting a visit from former Republican presidential candidate Sen. Ted Cruz.
It was an incredible experience, Leighton said.
Leighton previously worked as a staffer for Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D., and for the Home Builders Association of Fargo-Moorhead. She was also assistant to House Majority Leader Al Carlson, R-Fargo, and the House GOP caucus during the 2015 legislative session.
The state Republican Party is accepting applications through Jan. 6 2017, according to a post on its website. The job description includes working with the partys district leadership, fundraising and overseeing the partys operations and finances.
There has been pretty strong interest in the position, Leighton said.
Russia has ordered the closure of the American School of Moscow in retaliation of US sanctions.
This comes after the United States on Thursday ordered 35 Russian diplomats in Washington and San Francisco to leave the country in the next 72 hours as a realiatory measure against Russian election hack.
The order from the Russian government closes the school, which serves children of US, British and Canadian embassy personnel, to US and foreign nationals, reports the CNN.
The order also closes access to the US Embassy vacation house in Serebryany Bor, near Moscow.
The US administration described Russia's involvement as "Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities" and sanctioned four Russian individuals and five Russian entities for what it said was election interference.
However, Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin have denied all allegations regarding meddling in the US presidential election.
Meanwhile a Russian Foreign Ministry official called the US sanctions over cyber-hacking counterproductive, saying it will harm restoration of ties.
Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said about the Obama administration: "It's not an administration; it's a group of foreign policy losers, angry and ignorant."
A United States Congress Research report has revealed that India has emerged as the second largest purchaser of arms among developing nations after Saudi Arabia and Pakistan.
The latest report says that that arms supply to India was sanctioned in view of regional situation which is "a matter of ongoing concern to the United States because of long-standing tensions between Pakistan and India".
Arms deliveries to developing nations, 2008-2015: The leading recipients (in millions of current US dollars) rank recipient deliveries value 2008-2011- (1) Saudi Arabia 13,000,(2) India 11,100 (3) Pakistan 7,200 (4) Algeria 5,500 (5) Egypt 5,000 (6) South Korea 4,500 (7) China 4,100 (8) Venezuela 4,100 (9) Israel 4,000 (10) U.A.E. 3,700.
Between 2008 and 2015, India purchased defence equipment worth $34 billion, which is a distant second after Saudi Arabia's $93.5 billion, said the report 'Conventional Arms Transfers to Developing Nations 2008-2015' released by Congressional Research Service (CRS).
As the name reflects, CRS is an independent bipartisan research wing of the US Congress. It prepares reports on a wide range of issues for lawmakers to make informed decisions. CRS reports are not considered official reports of the US Congress, reports the London-based newspaper, The Nation.
"Saudi Arabia was the leading developing arms purchaser from 2008-2015, with agreements totalling USD 93.5 billion. India was the second largest developing arms purchaser from 2008 to 2015, making arms transfer agreements totalling $34 billion during these years (in current dollars)," it said, adding these increases reflect the military modernisation efforts by India.
In its report, CRS highlights recent Indian efforts to diversify its procurement of arms, of which the US has been a major beneficiary."It is notable that India, while the principal Russian arms customer, during recent years has sought to diversify its weapons supplier base, purchasing the Phalcon early warning defence system aircraft in 2004 from Israel and numerous items from France in 2005, in particular six Scorpene diesel attack submarines. In 2008, India purchased six C130J cargo aircraft from the United States," CRS said.
In 2010, the UK sold India 57 Hawk jet trainers for $1 billion. In 2010, Italy also sold India 12 AW101 helicopters.
In 2011, France secured a $2.4 billion contract with India to upgrade 51 of its Mirage-2000 combat fighters, and the US agreed to sell India 10 C-17 Globemaster III aircraft for $4.1 billion, it said.
"This pattern of Indian arms purchases indicates that Russia will likely face strong new competition from other major weapons suppliers for the India arms market, and it can no longer be assured that India will consistently purchase its major combat systems," CRS said.
Indeed, India in 2011 had eliminated Russia from the international competition to supply a new-generation combat fighter aircraft, a competition won by France.
In 2015, Russia and India agreed to a contract in which India would procure at least 200 Ka-226T helicopter, the report said.
With India reducing its reliance on Russia on arms purchase, Moscow is looking for other options, it added.
It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan's National Assembly Defence Committee has already been informed this year that Saudi Arabia is the largest importer of Pakistani arms, and has purchased small and medium conventional weaponry worth millions of USD.
The committee was being briefed at Parliament House by Lt. Gen. Omar Mahmood Hayat, chairman Pakistan Ordinance Factories (POF). "During the current fiscal year, POF has secured export order worth USD 81 million, and Saudi Arabia remains the biggest importer of arms and ammunition from Pakistan," said Hayat.
Chairman POF also added that during the last decade, POF has introduced 72 new weaponry products without getting any financing from the government.
Hayat disclosed during the briefing that POF is working on a new assault rifle, to replace the reliable and long-serving G-3."Production of LSR sniper rifle has also been started at POF, with a unit cost USD 6500 compared to the import price of USD 12,500 per rifle.
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Secret government files said to hold details of British involvement in the assault on the Golden Temple, Sikhism's holiest shrine, in June 1984, that claimed the lives of hundreds of people, should be released to the public, campaigners have urged.
Members of the Sikh Federation believe the documents will show there was a greater level of cooperation between the British and Indian governments over the latter's attempts to clear militants from the Golden Temple in the summer of 1984 than has previously been acknowledged, the Guardian reported on Thursday.
According to the London-based newspaper, The Nation, they have launched an appeal to the information tribunal, due to be heard next year, to try to force through the release of the files under freedom of information laws, having been thwarted in their attempts thus far.
"The public has a right to know the truth about what happened 30 years ago. We believe these files are being held back - not for security reasons but for political reasons that would prove embarrassing to the Conservative Party, since it was Margaret Thatcher and her discussions with the Indian regime," said Davinder Singh, of the Sikh Federation.
The federation wants greater transparency over Britain's involvement in the Indian government's effort to drive Sikh militants seeking a separate homeland out of the Golden Temple in Amritsar - the religion's most holy site.
The Indian government has put the death toll from the action, named Operation Blue Star, at about 400 people, whereas Sikh groups say many more were killed - including pilgrims - when the then-prime minister, Indira Gandhi, sent in the troops. More than 100 Indian soldiers died.
Whitehall correspondence released in 2014 said an SAS officer had been asked to plan an operation to remove militants from the temple. That plan was then approved by Gandhi, the letter said. But an inquiry ordered by David Cameron found no evidence of British involvement in the massacre.
Suspected Sikh militants surrendered after the Indian government's 1984 assault on the Golden Temple. "Around four months before the event, at the request of the Indian government, a single UK military officer provided some advice. But, critically, this advice was not followed, and it was a one-off. There is absolutely no evidence of UK government involvement in the operation itself," Cameron said, summarising the findings of Cabinet Secretary, Sir Jeremy Heywood.
The campaigners, however, believe the closed files will shed more light on the extent of Britain's involvement. One of the four files relates to "UK/Indian relations: situation in Punjab; activities of Sikh extremists", as well as a visit to the UK by Rajiv Gandhi, who took office after his mother, Indira Gandhi, was assassinated by two of her Sikh bodyguards in October 1984 in retaliation for the Amritsar attack.
Another file covers meetings between Margaret Thatcher and an aide to Indira Gandhi, as well as the latter's assassination and Thatcher's visit to India to attend her funeral. The final document is entitled simply: "India: political".
Some of the information has already been released to the National Archives, while other portions have been withheld from the public. A Cabinet Office spokesperson said: "The first tier tribunal will consider this case in the New Year and it would be inappropriate to comment any further.
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A leader of the minority Sikh community, Lala Del Souz, was killed by an unknown gunman in northern Afghanistan's Kunduz city.
The incident took place when Del Souz, a naturopath, was reportedly on his way to his shop.
Tolo News quoted relatives of the deceased as saying that he had survived an assassination attempt on him five years ago.
Confirming the incident, Kunduz Security Chief Masoum Stanikzai said three suspects have been arrested by the police for the attack.
He said investigations will continue.
The head of Kunduz regional hospital, Naeem Mangal said Del Souz succumbed while being taken to the hospital.
Del Souz's uncle, Prem said the deceased had been well liked and had no enemies.
The incident sparked uproar on social media as many people condemned the attack and sent their condolences to his family.
Del Souz's uncle, Prem, has asked government to thoroughly investigate the attack and make sure those responsible are brought to justice.
He said the few remaining Sikhs will leave the province if those behind the incident are not brought to justice.
Del Souz was living with his uncle in their Daramsal (a Sikh's temple).
Many Sikhs have left the province. Currently, there are only three families still there. Sikhs have lived in the region for over thirty years and at one time there were as many as 40 families in the area.
A ceasefire brokered by Turkey and Russia has come into effect across Syria after President Bashar al-Assad's regime and the opposition agreed to a nationwide deal.
The deal came into force at midnight (10 p.m. GMT) on Thursday, however, there were reports of clashes two hours later, reports the Guardian.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitoring group said rebels had violated the truce deal and taken over a position in Hama province. A rebel group also accused the government of shelling areas in Atshan and Skeik villages in Idlib province, which borders Hama.
It is the third ceasefire agreement this year.
There was confusion over which rebel groups have signed up, but officials from all sides said they hoped this time the pact would hold in the run-up to talks next month in Kazakhstan.
"We consider the ceasefire an important step to resolve the Syrian conflict. Along with the Russian Federation, we support this arrangement as a guarantor," said Ibrahim Kalin, the spokesman for the Turkish President, Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Notably absent from the brokering of the deal was the US, which has moved to the sidelines in recent months as Moscow has stepped up military and diplomatic involvement in Syria.
Rebel groups, including the Ahrar al-Sham Islamist movement and Jaysh al-Islam, which operates mostly near Damascus, signed up to the agreement after hours of negotiations in Ankara.
The Syrian military said it would cease combat operations except against terrorist groups including Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the former al-Qaida wing in Syria that has publicly severed ties with the global terror network.
"We have just received news that a few hours ago the event we have all been waiting for and working towards has happened," Russian President Vladimir Putin said of the signing of the deal.
Putin said that three documents had been signed: a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and the armed opposition; a list of control mechanisms to ensure the ceasefire would work; and a statement of intent to begin negotiations on a political end to the conflict.
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A thanksgiving ceremony for the creation of the new district of Kamjong was held at the Tribal Research Institute (TRI), Chingmeirong, Imphal, yesterday.
The ceremony was organised by the District Administration Kamjong. In connection with the thanksgiving ceremony, four developmental projects were dedicated to the people of Kamjong district.
The projects include the tribal inclusive infrastructure projects at Phungyar and Kasom Khullen; the augmentation of water supply scheme at Phungyar and the Eklayavas Model Residential School at Kamjong.
The function was attended by Chief Minister O. Ibobi Singh as chief guest, Deputy Chief Minister and state Home Minister Gaikhangam Gangmei as president, Revenue and Law Minister I. Hemochandra Singh, PHED, Labour and Employment Minister T. Manga Vaiphei, Commerce and Industries, Sericulture and Veterinary Minister Govindas Konthoujam, Social Welfare and Co-operation Minister Km. Ak. Mirabai Devi, Parliamentary Secretary (Tribal Affairs and Hills and IT) Victor Keishing, former chief minister and former Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Rishang Keishing as guest of honours.
The district collector (DC) of the newly created Kamjong District Armstrong Pame, top officials of the district administration, the chief and people of Kamjong also attended the function.
The augmentation of water supply scheme at Phungyar is built at the estimated cost of Rs. 382 lakh, out of which, the Centre's share is Rs 381.87 lakh and state's share is Rs 38.19 lakh under the Non-Lapsable Central Pool of Resources (NLCPR).
The water supply scheme will benefit the population of 1,630. It will have four numbers of service reservoirs, six numbers of zonal reservoirs, surface water tank, conveyance and distribution pipes, and chowkidar's quarter, godown and gutter and drop pipes.
The source of the water supply scheme is rainwater. The scheme was started on July 7, 2014.
The Eklayavas Model Residential School was set up under the Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Government of India in all the tribal districts. The co-educational residential school in Kamjong will have Classes from VI-XII. 480 students will be enrolled per year. The school is fully funded by the ministry in terms of infrastructure, student's maintenance fee along with all requirement @Rs 42,000 per student per annum.
For the academic session 2017-18 the school will start enrolling students from Class VI-IX.
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United States President Barack Obama has imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russia's alleged interference in the November 2016 U.S. presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts.
The State Department also has expelled 35 Russian diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the United States.
The diplomats were declared persona non grata for acting in a "manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status", reports the Dawn.
Obama said Russians will no longer have access to two Russian government-owned compounds in the United States, in Maryland and in New York.
Russian officials have denied the Obama administration's accusation that Moscow trying to influence the U.S. presidential election.
U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia's goal was to help Donald Trump win, an assessment Trump has dismissed as ridiculous.
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The UK Prime Minister has distanced the United Kingdom from the United States over John Kerry's condemnation of Israel.
This move is being assessed as an attempt to build bridges with the incoming Trump administration, reports the Guardian.
Outgoing U S Secretary of State John Kerry delivered a robust speech this week that criticised Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government as the "most rightwing coalition in Israeli history" and warned that the rapid expansion of settlements in the occupied territories meant that "the status quo is leading toward one state and perpetual occupation".
A spokesperson for the British prime Minister said that May thought it was not appropriate to make such strongly worded attacks on the makeup of a government or to focus solely on the issue of Israeli settlements.
"We do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally. The government believes that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the community," he said.
Even as UK backed the UN resolution passed last week that condemned the continued expansion of Israeli settlements on Palestinian occupied territory, May's spokesman said she was concerned about the language Kerry had used.
Following the development, a U S State Department spokesperson said: "We are surprised by the UK Prime Minister's office statement given that Secretary Kerry's remarks-which covered the full range of threats to a two-state solution, including terrorism, violence, incitement and settlements were in-line with the UK's own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations last week.
Urgent need to set up 'collaborative monitoring framework'
Considering that Indian cyberspace is vulnerable to cyber crime, the country must formulate a crisis management plan to tackle cyber attacks, cyber terrorism and cyber espionage attempts, noted a recent ASSOCHAM-PwC joint study.
It is imperative for law enforcement agencies to have a system which will have a collaborative framework for receiving video feeds on a need basis from closed-circuit television (CCTV) surveillance systems and subsystems, highlighted an ASSOCHAM-PwC joint study titled 'Safe cities: Collaborative monitoring - For the community, by the community.'
Leveraging the capabilities of a good video management system (VMS), when clubbed with video analytics, will also allow efficient access to these external camera feeds at the command and control centre.
Collaborative monitoring of video feeds not only facilitates greater coverage of video surveillance within the city but also serves as deterrence for crimes and assists law enforcement agencies in controlling incident escalation, crime detection and its investigation, said the study.
Collaborative monitoring is a unique tool, wherein the security and law enforcement agency takes advantage of the extensive network of surveillance cameras deployed by communities across the city as well as the cameras of other private and government establishments on a need basis.
It is an extremely prudent enabler for police department, as while they strengthen their bond with the communities, they can use any information or footage gathered from these security cameras to support investigation and the prosecution of criminals.
The advantage provided by leveraging the extensive network of external cameras ensures enhanced crime monitoring through a cost-effective, widespread and scalable model.
However, while implementing the collaborative monitoring framework there is a need to carefully manage certain risks like conflict with existing laws and regulatory proposals, lack of awareness within communities, funding related issues, privacy and anonymity related issues and others to garner maximum fruits out of such initiatives.
Showcasing the examples of the impact of collaborative surveillance, the study highlighted that crime graph in Hyderabad came down by 14 per cent in 2015 compared to that in previous year. While UK based Scotland Yard security agency used CCTV footage as evidence in 95 per cent of murder cases.
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Engineers India fell 8.07% to Rs 153.80 at 11:00 IST on BSE on profit booking after a recent rally.
Meanwhile, the BSE Sensex was up 213.65 points, or 0.81%, to 26,579.80.
On the BSE, so far 6.51 lakh shares were traded in the counter, compared with average daily volumes of 2.41 lakh shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 163 and a low of Rs 152.65 so far during the day.
The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 169.90 on 29 December 2016. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 71.63 on 17 February 2016. The stock had outperformed the market over the past 30 days till 29 December 2016, rising 14.37% compared with the 1.08% fall in the Sensex. The scrip had also outperformed the market in past one quarter, rising 34.97% as against Sensex's 5.38% decline.
The large-cap company has equity capital of Rs 168.47 crore. Face value per share is Rs 5.
Shares of Engineers India rose 10.77% in three trading sessions to settle at Rs 334.65 yesterday, 29 December 2016, from its close of Rs 302.10 on 26 December 2016.
Engineers India's net profit rose 21.4% to Rs 93.75 crore on 24.6% decline in net sales to Rs 338.89 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.
State-run Engineers India provides engineering consultancy and engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) services. The Government of India holds 59.37% in Engineers India (as per shareholding pattern as on 30 September 2016).
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GE Power India jumped 6.34% to Rs 480.50 at 10.25 IST on BSE after the company said it has secured a contract worth about Rs 271.1 crore from Bharat Heavy Electricals.
The announcement was made before market hours today, 30 December 2016.
Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 185.17 points or 0.7% at 26,551.32.
On the BSE, 1,336 shares were traded on the counter so far as against the average daily volumes of 1,393 shares in the past one quarter. The stock had hit a high of Rs 484.55 and a low of Rs 471 so far during the day.
The stock had hit a 52-week high of Rs 702 on 4 January 2016 and a 52-week low of Rs 440.50 on 21 November 2016. The stock had underperformed the market over the past one month till 29 December 2016, declining 1.98% compared with the Sensex's 0.11% fall. The scrip had also underperformed the market over the past one quarter declining 17.84% as against the Sensex's 5.25% fall.
The mid-cap company has equity capital of Rs 67.23 crore. Face value per share is Rs 10.
GE Power India announced that it has been awarded a contract worth about Rs 271.1 crore by Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) to supply components and services for the supercritical steam generator island packages.
The first package is for 2x800 megawatts (MW) coal-based Uppur thermal power project (contract value about Rs 162.6 crore) and the second package is for 1x800 MW coal-based North Chennai supercritical thermal power project stage-III (contract value about Rs 108.5 crore).
Both the thermal power projects are located in Tamil Nadu. This is in line with the government's focus on upgrading the power infrastructure in the country.
GE Power India reported net loss of Rs 97.10 crore in Q2 September 2016, higher than net loss of Rs 48.02 crore in Q2 September 2015. Net sales declined 9.8% to Rs 477.65 crore in Q2 September 2016 over Q2 September 2015.
GE Power India is engaged in power generation with deep domain expertise to help customers deliver electricity from a wide spectrum of fuel sources.
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India and Singapore have amended the DTAA for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, by signing a Third Protocol today. This is in line with India's treaty policy to prevent double non-taxation, curb revenue loss and check the menace of black money through automatic exchange of information, as reflected in India's recently revised treaties with Mauritius and Cyprus and the joint declaration signed with Switzerland.
The Protocol for amendment of the India-Mauritius Convention signed on 10th May, 2016, provides for source-based taxation of capital gains arising from alienation of shares acquired from 1st April, 2017 in a company resident in India. Simultaneously, investments made before 1st April, 2017 have been grandfathered and will not be subject to capital gains taxation in India. Where such capital gains arise during the transition period from 1st April, 2017 to 31st March, 2019, the tax rate will be limited to 50% of the domestic tax rate of India. However, the benefit of 50% reduction in tax rate during the transition period shall be subject to the Limitation of Benefits Article. Taxation in India at full domestic tax rate will take place from financial year 2019-20 onwards.
The revised DTAA between India and Cyprus signed on 18th November, 2016, provides for source based taxation of capital gains arising from alienation of shares, instead of residence based taxation provided under the DTAA signed in 1994. However, a grandfathering clause has been provided for investments made prior to 1st April, 2017, in respect of which capital gains would continue to be taxed in the country of which taxpayer is a resident. It also provides for assistance between the two countries for collection of taxes and updates the provisions related to Exchange of Information to accepted international standards.
Fighting the menace of Black Money stashed in offshore accounts has been a key priority area for the Government.
To further this goal, the 'Joint Declaration' for the implementation of Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) between India and Switzerland was signed in November, 2016. It will now be possible for India to receive from September, 2019 onwards, the financial information of accounts held by Indian residents in Switzerland for 2018 and subsequent years, on an automatic basis.
The India-Singapore DTAA at present provides for residence based taxation of capital gains of shares in a company. The Third Protocol amends the DTAA with effect from 1st April, 2017 to provide for source based taxation of capital gains arising on transfer of shares in a company. This will curb revenue loss, prevent double non-taxation and streamline the flow of investments. In order to provide certainty to investors, investments in shares made before 1st April, 2017 have been grandfathered subject to fulfillment of conditions in Limitation of Benefits clause as per 2005 Protocol. Further, a two year transition period from 1st April, 2017 to 31st March, 2019 has been provided during which capital gains on shares will be taxed in source country at half of normal tax rate, subject to fulfillment of conditions in Limitation of Benefits clause.
The Third Protocol also inserts provisions to facilitate relieving of economic double taxation in transfer pricing cases. This is a taxpayer friendly measure and is in line with India's commitments under Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan to meet the minimum standard of providing Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) access in transfer pricing cases. The Third Protocol also enables application of domestic law and measures concerning prevention of tax avoidance or tax evasion.
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The market is likely to open higher on the last trading day of calendar year 2016. Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 11 points at the opening bell. The government will release data for several economic indicators today, 30 December 2016 including fiscal deficit, foreign exchange reserves, foreign debt and trade figures.
Overseas, Asian stocks were trading higher. US stocks closed fractionally lower yesterday, 29 December 2016 as investors remained reluctant to make big bets in a thinly-traded session ahead of long holiday weekend.
On the US data front, jobless claims declined by 10,000 to 265,000 for the week ending 24 December 2016, according to Labor Department report. This marks the 95th straight week that claims were below 300,000, a threshold associated with a healthy labor market. Meanwhile, the country's trade deficit in goods grew last month, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday. The initial estimate, which does not include trade in services, showed that the country exported $1.2 billion less in November than in October. Imports rose by $2.2 billion during the month.
Back home,key benchmark indices logged modest gains yesterday, 29 December 2016 led by rise in index heavyweights HDFC and Reliance Industries (RIL) amid expiry of December 2016 derivatives contracts and lacklustre global cues. The Sensex rose 155.47 points or 0.59% to settle at 26,366.15, its highest closing level since 19 December 2016.
The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 662.29 crore yesterday, 29 December 2016, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 957.83 crore yesterday, 29 December 2016, as per provisional data.
Among corporate news,Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (Sun Pharma) clarified after market hours yesterday, 29 December 2016, that with respect to news suggesting blast at Sun Pharma unit that on 28 December 2016, a fire broke out at its Ahmednagar factory during excavation work, causing burn injuries to four workmen at the excavation site. All the four injured workmen were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.
Two of the injured workmen succumbed to burn injuries and other two are being treated at the hospital. According to preliminary updates, both of them are responding well to treatment. The company is currently investigating the matter with the help of local law enforcement. There is no loss of production at Ahmednagar factory on account of this incident. This is not a material event nor would have any bearing on the operations/performance of the company, Sun Pharma added.
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Trading for the last day of the week and the calendar year 2016 kicked-off on an upbeat note on positive Asian stocks. At 9:28 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 151.18 points or 0.57% at 26,517.33. The Nifty 50 index was currently up 43.95 points or 0.54% at 8,147.55.
The BSE Mid-Cap index was currently up 0.96%. The BSE Small-Cap index was currently up 0.69%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex.
The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was strong. On the BSE, 951 shares rose and 206 shares fell. A total of 40 shares were unchanged.
Overseas, Asian stocks were trading higher. US stocks closed fractionally lower yesterday, 29 December 2016 as investors remained reluctant to make big bets in a thinly-traded session ahead of long holiday weekend.
On the US data front, jobless claims declined by 10,000 to 265,000 for the week ending 24 December 2016, according to Labor Department report. This marks the 95th straight week that claims were below 300,000, a threshold associated with a healthy labor market. Meanwhile, the country's trade deficit in goods grew last month, according to a report released by the Commerce Department on Thursday. The initial estimate, which does not include trade in services, showed that the country exported $1.2 billion less in November than in October. Imports rose by $2.2 billion during the month.
Back home, Maruti Suzuki India (up 1.09%), ICICI Bank (up 1.02%) and GAIL (India) (up 0.85%) were the key gainers from the 30-share Sensex pack.
Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (Sun Pharma) rose 0.97%. Sun Pharma clarified after market hours yesterday, 29 December 2016, that with respect to news suggesting blast at Sun Pharma unit that on 28 December 2016, a fire broke out at its Ahmednagar factory during excavation work, causing burn injuries to four workmen at the excavation site. All the four injured workmen were immediately rushed to a nearby hospital.
Two of the injured workmen succumbed to burn injuries and other two are being treated at the hospital. According to preliminary updates, both of them are responding well to treatment. The company is currently investigating the matter with the help of local law enforcement. There is no loss of production at Ahmednagar factory on account of this incident. This is not a material event nor would have any bearing on the operations/performance of the company, Sun Pharma added.
Meanwhile, the government will release data for several economic indicators today, 30 December 2016 including fiscal deficit, foreign exchange reserves, foreign debt and trade figures.
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On conversion of warrants
Riga Sugar Company Ltd has informed BSE that the 'Committee for Issue of Shares/Warrants' in its meeting held on December 30, 2016 has allotted.
- 5,50,000 Equity Shares to the Promoter Group by converting 5,50,000 Convertible Equity Share Warrants.
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Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (Sun Pharma) clarified after market hours yesterday, 29 December 2016, with respect to news suggesting blast at the company's unit on 28 December 2016. A fire broke out at its Ahmednagar factory during excavation work, causing burn injuries to four workmen at the excavation site. All the four injured workmen were immediately rushed to a nearby Hospital.
Two of the injured workmen succumbed to burn injuries and other two are being treated at the hospital. According to preliminary updates, both of them are responding well to treatment. The company is currently investigating the matter with the help of local law enforcement. There is no loss of production at Ahmednagar factory on account of this incident. This is not a material event nor would have any bearing on the operations/performance of the company, Sun Pharma added.
Jagran Prakashan announced that the meeting of the board of directors of company is scheduled to be held on 5 January 2017, inter-alia, to consider the proposal for buy-back of shares. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 29 December 2016.
Godrej Properties announced that it has entered into a partnership to develop a residential group housing project in the prime locality of Bavdhan, West Pune. This project will be developed under the profit share arrangement. The announcement was made before market hours today, 30 December 2016.
GE Power India announced that it has been awarded a contract worth about Rs 271.1 crore by Bharat Heavy Electricals (Bhel) to supply components and services for the supercritical steam generator island packages for 2x800 megawatts (MW) coal-based Uppur thermal power project (contract value about Rs 162.6 crore) and 1x800 MW coal-based North Chennai supercritical thermal power project stage-III (contract value about Rs 108.5 crore). Both the thermal power projects are located in Tamil Nadu. This is in line with the government's focus on upgrading the power infrastructure in the country. The announcement was made before market hours today, 30 December 2016.
Shriram Transport Finance Company announced that the allotment committee-non-convertible debentures (NCDs) of the company in a meeting held yesterday, 29 December 2016, allotted debentures aggregating to Rs 75 crore on private placement basis. The debentures have tenure of 10 years and carry coupon rate of 8.5% per annum. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 29 December 2016.
R S Software (India) announced that the company has made further investment of Rs 5.9 crore in Paypermint, its subsidiary, for allotment of 59 lakh equity shares of Rs 10 each. The company is no longer holding the entire shareholdings of Paypermint. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 29 December 2016.
Paypermint is into its first year of operations and is operating in the field of online payment facilitation. The acquisition is made to effect growth of subsidiary. The company will hold 75% and 25% will be held by Rajnit Rai Jain in Paypermint.
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A court here on Friday extended the judicial custody of two persons arrested in multi-million-dollar AgustaWestland VVIP helicopter scam.
Duty Metropolitan Magistrate Sumeet Anand extended the judicial custody of Sanjeev Tyagi and Delhi-based lawyer Gautam Khaitan for 14 more days. They were arrested on December 9.
Sanjeev Tyagi is a cousin of former Indian Air Force chief S.P. Tyagi, who too was arrested and is out on bail in the case.
The verdict on the bail of Sanjeev Tyagi and Khaitan will be delivered on January 4 by a Special Court of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
They were allegedly involved in irregularities in the procurement of 12 AW-101 VVIP helicopters from Britain-based AgustaWestland, although both Sanjeev Tyagi and Gautam Khaitan have denied the charge.
The CBI alleges that Tyagi and the other accused had received bribes from AgustaWestland, helping the manufacturer to win the $556.262 million contract for purchase of its helicopters for the Communication Squadron of the Indian Air Force to carry the President, the Prime Minister and other VVIPs.
The accused had allegedly hatched a conspiracy to reduce the service ceiling of the helicopters from 6,000 metres to 4,500 metres to make AgustaWestland eligible to bid for the contract.
A first information report was registered against them on March 12, 2013, under various charges dealing with criminal conspiracy, cheating and for violations of the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
--IANS
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Soon after Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav was on Friday expelled from the Samajwadi Party (SP), a group of his supporters gathered outside his 5, Kalidas Marg, residence here and raised slogans.
Accusing the SP supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav of doing "injustice" by expelling Akhilesh and his (Mulayam's) cousin Ram Gopal Yadav, which was announced at a hurriedly convened presser in the state capital by the former Defence Minister, the supporters waved banners and posters with pictures of the Chief Minister.
--IANS
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The Bangladesh Foreign Ministry has summoned the Myanmar ambassador in Dhaka and demanded the early repatriation of all its Rohingya Muslim citizens, a media report said.
Ambassador Myo Myint Than was called to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to meet Ambassador Kamrul Ahsan, Secretary (Bilateral and Consular), the Foreign Ministry said in a statement on Thursday,
During the meeting, Ahsan expressed deep concern at the continued influx of Rohingya Muslims from Myanmar's Rakhine state into Bangladesh, bdnews24 reported.
He mentioned that around 50,000 Myanmar citizens have taken shelter in Bangladesh since October 9.
Around 300,000 Myanmar nationals have been in Bangladesh for years.
The Secretary demanded the early repatriation of the entire Myanmar population staying in Bangladesh and expressed Dhaka's readiness to engage with Myanmar to discuss the modalities of repatriation.
He also requested the Myanmar government to urgently address the "root cause" of the problem in Rakhine state so that Rohingya Muslims do not have to seek shelter across the border.
Earlier in November the foreign ministry summoned the Myanmar envoy and expressed concerns over a renewed crisis as more Rohingyas, fleeing persecution, were crossing into Bangladesh.
--IANS
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The Reserve Bank of India has refused to reveal the reasons for scrapping Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes, besides declining to disclose the minutes of the RBI Board meeting when demonetisation was discussed on November 8, an RTI activist said.
The RBI said it was not bound to disclose such information given the issue of national security and related implications in it.
The information was sought by an RTI activist Venkatesh Nayak.
"RBI rejected access to its board meeting minutes and recommendations made to the government and related file notings under Sections 8(1)(a), 7 (9) of the RTI Act," Nayak told IANS.
Section 8(1)(a) has various grounds of sovereignty, integrity, economic interests, security interests, scientific interests and foreign relations.
While Section 7(9) was the ground for refusing to give information in the form in which it was asked for reasons that it should not result in destruction of records or excessive expenses towards compilation of the information.
"The refusal to disclose the minutes of the RBI Board meeting where the decision was taken to recommend demonetisation is perplexing to say the very least," Nayak said.
While confidentiality prior to the making of the decision was understandable, continued secrecy after the decision was implemented was difficult to understand, Nayak added.
This was especially when crores of Indians were facing difficulties due to the shortage of cash supply, he said.
Nayak had also filed a separate RTI with the Department of Economic Affairs (DEA) of the Finance Ministry seeking copies of the cabinet note regarding the scrapping of the old currency notes.
"I also sought to know whether the government had sought people's views on the issue prior to making the demonetisation decision," he said.
"Despite 40 days lapsing since the delivery of the RTI application to the DEA, it has not responded," he added.
Not responding to an RTI application for 30 days is deemed as a refusal to disclose the requested information under Section 7(2) of the RTI Act.
Nayak, however, said that the lack of response on the part of DEA was not surprising because the decision to maintain undue secrecy appeared to be sanctioned at the highest level of the bureaucracy.
"When the DEA and RBI want every citizen of the country to come clean in the name of combating black money, corruption and fake currency notes, their reluctance to become equally transparent and accountable is unjustified, to the say the very least," Nayak said.
"RBI and DEA have a statutory obligation to be completely transparent and accountable to the people of India on the subject of demonetisation," he added.
If there cannot be complete transparency on this issue, then it must be assumed that the transparency regime has simply not taken roots in India even after 11 years of implementation of the RTI Act, Nayak said.
The activist said that he has already appealed against the DEA for not replying to his RTI query.
He also said that he would soon appeal against the RBI decision to not disclose the reasons behind the demonetisation.
--IANS
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On December 27, 2016, at the age of 86, Thomas Sowell published his last column. After publishing dozens of books and hundreds of columns, Dr. Sowells retirement may mark the beginning of the end of an era of black intellectuals who were champions of political and economic liberty. Other black scholars like Walter Williams, W.B. Allen, and Shelby Steele are all in the 70s or 80s and there does not seem to be a cadre of like-minded black scholars in their wake.
While in Atlanta for Christmas, I stumbled upon a June 1994 issue of National Minority Politics magazine at my parents home. The magazine began as a newsletter in the 1980s and eventually became a monthly periodical that was renamed Headway before publication ceased in 1999. Willie and Gwen Richardson published Headway to feature leading black and Hispanic conservative voices like Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Raoul Contreas, Roger Hernandez, Linda Chavez, Kay Cole James, Deroy Murdock, and others. The magazine hosted leadership conferences that created conversations between minority conservatives and politicians like William Bennett, Kay Bailey Hutchinson, Phil Gramm, and Gary Franks. Many of Headways events were captured on C-SPAN in the mid-1990s.
The political philosophy of Headway included the following:
1) Strong families. The foundation of any stable society isfirst and foremoststrong families in every community. We should stress to our youth the importance of marriage and keeping families together.
2) Individual responsibility. Almost every human being is endowed with the necessary means to be successfula sound mind and the ability to think, reason and make choices. These natural gifts are accompanied with the equal obligation to take responsibility for ones actions.
3) Free enterprise. Our nation has been the most successful on earth in fostering and promoting a free enterprise system with opportunity for all. Strengthening this system is our best hope for a thriving economy in the future.
4) Less government. The size and influence of government at all levels must be minimized in order to guarantee a free society. Government should play a role in performing certain functions, like maintaining a strong defense, but we should not expect government to solve all our problems.
5) Strong Defense. While it is not Americas role to be the worlds policeman, there are sometimes threats to American lives and interests which we cannot tolerate.
6) Community-based problem solving. Rather than looking to the federal government to solve local problems, such as crime and education, we can and should develop solutions in our local communities.
7) Good taste and common sense in popular culture. The level of violence, promiscuous sex and immoral behavior on television, in movies and in music lyrics should be reduced as it has adverse effects on society, especially our children.
8) Compassionate conservatism. While stressing the importance of free enterprise and less government, we must recognize our responsibility as a society to help those who help themselves, or who are unable to help themselves through no fault of their own.
Whats missing from this list is an issue that became a defining position of the conservative coalition in the mid-1990s: abortion. With the rise of Newt Gingrich as the 50th Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the passing of the Partial-Birth Abortion Act of 1995, abortion became a centerpiece of American conservatism beyond the concerns of economics and public policy. Before that, abortion had not been a centerpiece of black conservatism because many black conservatives were more aligned with classical liberal political philosophy and Austrian economics, like Sowell and Williams, rather than religious right conservatism.
The inclusion of pro-life politics into political and economic conservatism inadvertently took the wind out of the sails of many conservative African American scholars who were more concerned with issues of political and economic liberty. For example, black conservatives like Condolezza Rice, Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, Shelby Steele, John McWhorter, Kiron Skinner, and the like, have never made abortion a key issue.
Sadly, it seems that with the retirement of Thomas Sowell, and the inevitable retirement of scholars like Walter Williams, Shelby Steele, black scholars, as champions of political and economic liberty, will continue to fade away if abortion remains the litmus test for identifying ones allegiance to conservatism. This is the end of an era. Black conservatism was its most winsome and popular when it primarily addressed issues other than abortion.
Finally, were left with the question of whether or not there ever again be a coalition of black and Hispanic scholars who have the political philosophy like the one outlined at Headway magazine? Or, is the best yet to come?
Criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "disruptive" demonetisation move is "inconsequential" in comparison to the tremendous support it has received, a top official said here on Friday.
"Despite tremendous amount of pain, people, especially the common man, have supported him. The criticism is inconsequential compared to the tremendous amount of support," Ajay Mittal, Secretary, Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, said here at an event.
Dubbing it as a "major disruption" that is constructive for India, Mittal said the future will ultimately tell us of the move's impact.
"What ultimately comes out future will tell us. There was a state of cosy equilibrium. We knew something is wrong. The PM disrupted that equilibrium that had been accepted over the last few decades. The way society and economy was going, you and I felt that something needs to be done. No one had the courage. So he came and he disrupted," Mittal added.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Party planners and event managers in this eastern metropolis are battling payment hassles and logistics disruption post-demonetisation as they struggle to pull off New Year Eve bashes.
The cash crunch has put a spanner in the works of small private parties, while the brains behind big shows are literally scrambling to deliver on their commitments, which were made before the surprise November 8 demonetisation.
Recent RBI regulations on depositing new currency have sent officials at the event management company Actor Studio, which is presenting actress Sunny Leone's maiden show in Kolkata, into a tizzy.
"We are facing a lot of problems, particularly over the RBI regulation on depositing new currency. The tickets for the show were sold in new currency. Axis Bank is refusing to deposit them. Although the artistes' payments are done through online banking, the majority of the tickets have been sold in cash which we are unable to deposit," Abhishek De Sarkar of Actor Studio, also an acting and modeling institute, told IANS.
Sarkar said the "fight is still on" to put up a stellar show, although sponsorships have not been easy to come by.
"It has been hard to get sponsorship this year. But we are relying on credit and the credit support has been good. Since we had planned the event in October, we have to do it. There is a huge rush for tickets because it is Sunny Leone," he said.
Observing the infrastructure to transform India into a cashless economy is "not ready", Sarkar said demonetisation is bound to dent New Year's Eve celebrations this time around, with mobile wallets like Paytm "overburdened".
Avishek Basu, Regional Head, Public Performance Licensing - East, for The Indian Performing Right Society (IPRS), said around four to five organisers who applied for licenses have cancelled their events.
The IPRS issues licenses for performance and/or communication to the public of the works owned by it. The organisation has slapped around 20 to 25 legal notices on event organisers, including hotels, for evading the mandatory license application.
"As many as four to five organisers of privately-booked events, who had applied with us for licence, have cancelled their events. Though they can pay us via online banking, they need hard cash to pay off those responsible for power generators and security personnel and others needed to hold a party. So they had to cancel them," Basu told IANS.
However, restaurants are hoping demonetisation doesn't kill their guests' appetites.
The Lalit Great Eastern promises a "family party" with international acts, music, dance and delicacies from London in a huge buffet spread with the focus on bringing London to Kolkata.
"We hope demonetisation doesn't affect our special arrangements as people have the option to pay via POS machines and New Year's Eve 2016 will not come again," an official told IANS.
(Sahana Ghosh can be contacted at sahana.g@ians.in)
--IANS
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A group of activists has requested US President Barack Obama to reject asylum application of Afghanistan's first female pilot, Captain Niloofar Rahmani, and deport her to the war-torn country.
The activists insisted that the first fixed-wing female pilot does not face any kind of threats, Khaama Press here reported on Friday.
"Rahmani, who filled an asylum application in the US, does not face any threat in the country. She enjoys a safe atmosphere with some extraordinary security measures," the letter from the White Assembly, which consists of youths, policy makers, human rights activists and analysts, said in a letter to Obama.
"There is no threat or obstacle for her to carry out her duties safely and securely in Afghanistan," the letter said.
"We believe that granting asylum to such individuals who hold vital position and have important responsibilities, not only has bad impact on the country, but also encourages other citizens to seek asylum through illegal ways," it said.
The nation was shocked when news emerged last week about Rahmani seeking an asylum in the US. Some condemned the act while others spoke in her favour.
Rahmani is one of the celebrated pilots in the history of Afghanistan and was presented the International Women of Courage award for the year 2015 in Washington.
--IANS
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Superstar Rajinikanth is mighty pleased with the digitally re-mastered version of his iconic 1995 Tamil film "Baashha", which is gearing up for re-release next month.
Directed by Suresh Krissna, the film was produced by R.M. Veerappan, and his son Thangaraj is the visionary behind the idea to digitize and re-release "Baashha".
In a statement, Thangaraj said: "Rajini sir had seen the trailer of the remastered version of the film and really liked it. He asked if it was my father's idea to re-release 'Baashha', and I told him it was mine. I explained to him what we had achieved technically with the film and he was delighted to know composer Deva sir had rescored for the entire film."
The film chronicles the story of a hardworking auto-rickshaw driver who once ruled as a dreadful gangster.
Recalling his meeting with Rajinikanth, Thangaraj said: "He shared anecdotes about how my father modified 'Baashha', and how he was responsible in the success of the film."
He also said special plans are being made for the film's release.
"We are planning to have a red carpet event, a charity show in London, and have fans from Japan over to watch the film," he said.
--IANS
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The Egyptian cabinet approved a maritime border demarcation agreement signed between Egypt and Saudi Arabia, local media reports said.
According to state-run MENA news agency, the cabinet decided to refer the agreement to the House of Representatives after finalizing all required preparations and procedures for endorsement in line with the constitution, Xinhua news agency reported.
Egypt's cabinet announced in April that the joint Egyptian-Saudi technical maritime border drawing showed the islands of Tiran and Sanafir fall within the Saudi waters.
The agreement provoked an immediate backlash in Egypt, with hundreds of people protesting against "selling the islands".
The administrative court later ruled that "all rights of the two islands to Saudi Arabia are null and void". The State Lawsuits Authority, the body representing the government in legal cases, then appealed the decision.
On December 19, Egypt's High Administrative Court has set January 16 as the date when it will rule on the government's appeal against its earlier ruling nullifying the demarcation agreement with Saudi Arabia.
The islands, which have a strategic significance in the area, are currently inhabited only by military personnel from Egypt as well as the multinational force and observers.
The government's decision Thursday came as relations between Egypt and Saudi Arabia have been going through ups and downs due to their different visions on various issues including the Syrian crisis, the war in Yemen and other issues.
--IANS
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Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said that from Saturday onwards, the entire currency in circulation will be legitimate, Friday being the last day to deposit the demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in banks.
"With effect from tomorrow the entire currency in circulation would be legitimate," Jaitley told reporters at a press briefing here on Friday.
From Saturday the legitimate currency that would continue to be legal tender is Rs 100 and other lower denomination notes along with the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has printed, he added.
The deadline to deposit old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in banks ends on Friday.
Refusing to give any details on the deposits received in old notes post-demonetisation, he said that the data was yet to be tabulated.
"The banks will now have the re-circulated currency, plus what the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is injecting," Jaitley said.
The RBI on Friday asked the banks, which have accumulated old notes to deposit it in the office of the central bank or a currency chest by December 31.
The old notes cannot form part of banks' cash balances from the close of business as on Saturday, the central bank added.
From next week onward, those still holding the scrapped currency can deposit it only with the Reserve Bank of India till March 31, 2017.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 rupee notes would no longer be legal tender.
--IANS
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Goa Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar on Friday said that he does not agree with Archbishop Filipe Neri Ferrao's comments about "rampant corruption and weak governance" in the state, and will meet him to put his points across.
"In fact, while I was leaving, I told the person accompanying me that I want to go and meet the Archbishop sometime," Parsekar told IANS at the State Secretariat.
On Wednesday, the Goa Archbishop at his annual civic reception at the Bishop's palace here which was attended by top dignitaries including Governor Mridula Sinha, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar and Parsekar himself, had said that the state government was corrupt and weak.
"It has been an assault on our community and our natural wealth. More distressingly, it has been a loss to our children and future generations. Are we not answerable to them? Or are they going to remember us as an irresponsible generation that has squandered natural wealth for the benefit of a few," he had said.
Ferrao is the spiritual and religious leader of Goa's Catholics, who account for around 26 per cent of the state's 1.5 million population.
Meanwhile, Parrikar has refused to comment on the Archbishop's comments.
'Zero tolerance to corruption' was a key poll plank of the BJP-led coalition government in Goa, which was elected to power in 2012.
--IANS
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Dubai, Dec 30 (IANS/WAM) The Ministry of Climate Change and Environment in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) celebrated the second Gulf Wildlife Day on Friday with the aim of enhancing cooperation in the field of wildlife conservation among the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries.
Held on December 30 every year, Gulf Wildlife Day is celebrated in the region by environmental authorities organising wide-ranging activities to raise awareness about wildlife conservation.
Dr Thani Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of Climate Change and Environment, said: "Our country has rich biodiversity that includes a set of terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems."
"The government is working to preserve this status through developing legislation and adopting initiatives designed to achieve the national goals of the UAE Biodiversity Strategy by 2021," he said.
The government has also launched Wildlife Sustainability Programme to adopt policies, procedures and research activities concerning the conservation of native species as well as regulation of trade in animals and plants in line with international environmental conventions.
--IANS
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IMPORTANT NOTE TO MOTORISTS: If I turn on the windscreen wipers of a rental car, this indicates that I am turning right or left; please memorise.
Mind you, I have just spent time in China, where the Highway Code appears to have only one rule: the biggest vehicle has right of way.
Trucks take precedence over cars which take precedence over motorbikes which take precedence over bicycles which take precedence over humans. If an alien intergalactic mothership landed in that country, all 1.4 billion residents would automatically be found guilty of breaking the Failing to Get Out of the Way of a Big Flashy Conveyance Ordinance.
Not long ago, the Chinese government promulgated a law requiring drivers to stop at yellow lights. I hope one day they'll try to make motorists stop at red lights, too.
Yet a creative streak can be seen among the country's traffic cops. In the scooter-dominated southern Chinese city of Sanya, police don't just stop bad drivers. They follow them to their offices. They then assemble the entire staff of the company, from bosses to cleaners, before giving the motorist a severe scolding. The idea is to use the Asian horror of "losing face" to scare drivers into behaving. If this happened to me, I'd be on my knees, stuffing bribes into the officer's pockets. Please! Execute me in a stadium on live TV instead! I beg you!
Removal of face as a social tool is also used in parts of India. I speak of hijras, people born male who grow up to wear make-up and sarees. They have traditionally been paid to congregate outside the homes of tax-dodgers, who race to the inland revenue offices to pay up before neighbours question their masculinity. But hijras are becoming socially acceptable, which is surely a good thing, although some are annoyed at the loss of a fun, paid job, and you can see their point. Imagine receiving taxpayer cash to humiliate chauvinists!
This columnist once interviewed actor Michael Palin, who said that one of the most terrifying moments of his life was playing a humiliated Pontius Pilate facing a huge, laughing crowd. Instead of starting wars against despots, we should just send people to laugh at them, he said. I know this happens in India, where people do gather to chuckle as a protest against powerful corporate evildoers. Note: Only do this in large groups. Solo sessions of politically directed hysterical laughter will only get you labeled "lunatic". I know this now.
But going back to driving problems, it is a fact that motorists now have an extra chance to get on the right side of traffic cops. Cop: We saw you driving erratically and holding your phone. Me: Sorry, I was playing Pokemon Go and saw an Articuno. Cop: It is against the law to...You say you saw an Articuno? Where exactly was this Articuno?
Incidentally, please note that talking to traffic cops is an art in itself. If you remember nothing else from this column, remember this: When a cop says: "Do I look stupid to you," it is a rhetorical question. I know this now. You're welcome.
(Nury Vittachi is an Asia-based frequent traveller. Send ideas and comments his Facebook page)
--IANS
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The Centre is concerned about the challenges presented by the advent of new media, especially in the absence of a regulatory framework, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting Secretary said on Friday.
"An important area of challenge in the new media is that there is unfortunately no regulatory framework. What you cannot see on TV or hear on your radio, it is all possibly up there in open access," Ministry Secretary Ajay Mittal said here at an event organised by the Merchants' Chamber of Commerce and Industries (MCCI).
Mittal said much more was needed to be done to prepare the government and its officers to deal with the "completely new paradigm of digital media".
"The ministry is in talks with the state governments and we are now going to train their people in the information sector so that they can deal with the challenges created by new media that is causing a whole lot of concern," he said.
Mittal said, "It is regularly being raised in Parliament... this issue of digital media without any boundaries. We are very clear that in the media space the best form of regulation is self regulation and the government would like to keep away as far as possible."
--IANS
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Carnival Cruise Line(WATERLOO, Iowa) -- The co-owner of a cabinet manufacturing company in Iowa is thanking his 800-plus employees for a successful year by offering them a free, week-long Caribbean cruise.
Employees of Bertch Cabinets in Waterloo, Iowa, learned on Dec. 15 that they had met the company's previously announced quality and financial goals and that their free vacation was set for January, the company's co-owner and president, Gary Bertch, told ABC News Friday.
About 600 employees took Bertch up on the offer and will join him on a chartered flight on Jan. 8 from Waterloo to Miami, where they will board the Victory, a Carnival cruise ship, and spend five days in the Caribbean.
The other 200 or so employees of Bertch Cabinets will get that week off work plus a $900 cash bonus, Bertch said.
"We gave people the option of the cash bonus or the vacation," the company president told ABC News. "We'd love to have everyone come on vacation with us, but know it isn't possible for all for personal reasons, so we wanted to have that alternative available to them."
Those going on the cruise can bring their spouses for free, according to Bertch.
Bertch first offered its employees vacation incentives in 1989 but hasn't put forward a companywide vacation since 2005 due to the recent recession, Bertch said.
Employee Tony Means told ABC News that he is looking forward to "getting out of the cold weather" and going on cruise-led excursions such as snorkeling and swimming with dolphins.
Means, a marketing associate for the company, said he's also "really excited to hang out with co-workers outside of the work atmosphere."
"This is a really unique opportunity," he said. "We're just all very thankful to the Bertches."
The vacation is just one example of how the company shows it values its employees, Means said.
"I work right across the hallway from our vice president, Becky Bertch, and 20 feet away from Gary Bertch, and I can tell you that they have an open-door policy, and they always welcome anyone to come in and speak to them any time without a meeting or appointment," he said.
"We all get along pretty well here," Means said. "It's like one big family."
Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
At the beginning of 2016, I compiled a list that included 1,034 predictions for the coming year. I later went through and narrowed it down to the top 500 that I was absolutely certain would happen. Even after cutting the list down, though, I only managed to achieve a 67 percent accuracy rate. (Unfortunately, I forgot to post that list in public so it is difficult to verify. Youll just have to take my word for it.)
This year, in an attempt to get 100 percent correct, Ive cut my list of predictions to the ones that Im absolutely sure will come true. Here are 14 cant-miss predictions for 2017:
Agricultural subsidies will come under increased scrutiny after the discovery that soylent green, one of the Americas most heavily subsidized crops, is people.
A bipartisan coalition of Democrats and Republicans agree to filibuster a proposed bill only to discover that Nebraska Senator Ben Sasse was not introducing new legislation but merely reading the text of the U.S. Constitution.
The mainstream medias fascination with Pope Francis will finally end after they discover that the Pope is indeed still Catholic.
An existential crisis brought on by constant criticism will cause the fact-checking organization Polifact to change its name to Pilatefact and its slogan to What is post-truth?
A rogue architect will use dynamite to blow up the Cortlandt Homes housing project.
The United Nations will be the subject of another scandal after its discovered that no-bid contracts were offered to Halliburton for the purchase of the UNs fleet of Black Helicopters.
Congress fails to pass an immigration reform bill. Hungry, job-less workers, with no discernible skills or ability to speak our language will continue to pour in from Canada.
Donald Trump will copyright #MAGA and use the proceeds from the royalty payments to reduce the FY2017 budget deficit.
Iraq will officially change the countrys name back to Babylon in a successful attempt to freak out pre-millennial dispensational Evangelicals.
After selecting on fleek as their Word of the Year, the Oxford English Dictionary pronounces the official death of the English language.
Peter Jackson will announce hes begun filming a 12-hour version of The Silmarillion in order to complete his lifelong ambition of ruining every book written by J. R. R. Tolkien.
Twitter will join with GEICO to sell an insurance policy that provides a years worth of income if you are fired because of something you posted on Twitter.
Acton senior research fellow Jordan Ballor will win the 2017 Wolfgang Musculus Award for being the only person alive who has heard of Wolfgang Musculus.
For the 64th year in a row, political activists will once again attempt to immanentize the eschaton.
Russias Foreign Ministry on Friday proposed expelling 35 American diplomats in response to the recent sanctions imposed by Washington.
"Russia's Foreign Ministry and their colleagues from other agencies have proposed that President Vladimir Putin proclaim 31 employees of the US Embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the US Consulate service in St. Petersburg as persona non-grata," Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said, as cited by Russian agencies.
The proposal also includes a ban on using a recreation facility and storage facility used by American diplomats in Moscow, according to Lavrov.
"We hope these proposals will be reviewed as quickly as possible," he said.
At the same time, Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova refuted a report by CNN that Russia will close a school for children of English-speaking diplomats.
Earlier in the morning, CNN said that the Russian authorities "ordered the closure of the Anglo-American School of Moscow" in retaliation for the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomatic staff from the US. The news channel cited an anonymous "US official briefed on the matter" as the source of the information.
The school "serves children of US, British and Canadian embassy personnel, to US and foreign nationals", the report said.
"This is lies. Apparently the White House has gone completely mad and begun to invent sanctions against their own children," Zakhrarova wrote on her Facebook page.
She added, apparently addressing journalist: "And don't write that 'Moscow has denied... or Moscow will not...' Write it as it is: 'CNN and other Western Media once again spread false information citing US officials.'"
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
International/Diplomacy/Terrorism/2016 in Retrospect
By Arul Louis
United Nations, Dec 30 (IANS) As Prime Minister Narendra Modi stayed away this year, India followed a strategy of quiet diplomacy while projecting its soft power at the world body, even as it suffered a setback in the fight against .
A.R. Rahman's concert commemorating that of M.S. Subbulakshmi at the UN 50 years ago was the highlight of a series of events this year promoting India's cultural influence. The Oscar-winner's tribute to the "Queen of Music" in August was an evocation of universal harmony, blending traditions, time, faiths and languages at the General Assembly chamber in a show of 21st century pizzazz.
On Gandhi Jayanti -- October 2 -- which is commemorated at the UN as the International Day of Nonviolence, the UN postal service released a commemorative stamp in Subbulakshmi's honour.
India had a low profile on the diplomatic front that masked a lot of behind-the-scenes diplomacy.
After having made a trip to Washington to address the Congress, Modi did not attend the annual general debate of the General Assembly that brings together heads of state and government from the 193 members of the UN.
New Delhi's strategy of quiet diplomacy started outside the UN at the Nonaligned Summit in Venezuela held just before the General Assembly session in September. (Modi did not attend that either.)
The trio of Vice President Hamid Ansari, Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar and Permanent Representative Syed Akbaruddin began the diplomatic drive there to boost India's influence as an emerging economic and political power and to neutralise Pakistan's bid to rake up the Kashmir issue.
It was carried forward by Akbar and Akbaruddin to the General Assembly's general debate that followed in New York. Over a week they met scores of world leaders and the various geographic, political and economic groups before External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj came to deliver India's speech at the general debate on its last day.
As a result, support for India's bid for a permanent seat in the Security Council was solidified among key groups of nations, the universal risks from was highlighted and Pakistan was isolated on Kashmir.
Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif was left plodding on a lonely road among nations more concerned about .
Ninety per cent of the speakers mentioned terrorism, but none, except Sharif, talked of Kashmir, Akbaruddin pointed out and asked: "Diplomacy is the art of the possible; are you seeing any other countries raising the issues Pakistan has?"
After Sharif's general debate speech glorifying Burhan Muzaffar Wani, a commander of the Hizbul Mujahideen, Eenam Gambhir, a young diplomat at the Indian mission, hammered Pakistan's association with terrorism in a reply that made her a mini-celebrity in India.
"The land of Taxila, one of the greatest learning centres of ancient times, is now host to the Ivy League of terrorism," she said in a memorable line.
India, however, had a setback in fighting terrorism as China continued to provide cover for Pakistan and for terrorists based there who are behind attacks on India.
Beijing blocked New Delhi's request to have Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar, who was behind the attack on the Pathankot air force base, declared a terrorist by the Security Council committee that imposes sanctions on terrorists linked to Al Qaeda and the Islamic State.
This was to be expected of a Council that Akbaruddin had ridiculed as functioning in a "random mix of ad-hocism, scrambling and political paralysis".
Attempts to reform the Council suffered another setback that directly hit India's quest for a permanent seat on the high table.
The Inter-governmental Negotiations (IGN) on reforming the Council lost the momentum built up last year. The General Assembly decided in July to put off further negotiations on reforms to the next session after discussions spluttered. The new session that started in September has not yet taken it up.
This was despite 113 countries of the 122 that responded to an IGN survey in 2014 supported expanding the Council, according to Akbaruddin.
India's cultural push included an exhibit, "Africans in India: From Slaves to Generals", that depicted India's tradition of openness that raised those who came as slaves to positions of power as rulers and military leaders.
The Second International Yoga Day was celebrated under the leadership of the Sadhguru at the UN in June with several hundred people, including Mogens Lykketoft, the president of the General Assembly, doing a round of asanas in front of the UN.
To celebrate Deepavali, the towering glass-fronted UN Secretariat was lit up with the image of a traditional lamp and "Happy Diwali" projected on it in letters several stories high.
Although not sponsored by India, an exhibition at the UN in September paid tributes to Mother Teresa, an Indian citizen by adoption, whose sisters work across the globe among the poor and the forgotten -- even in New York where the UN headquarters is located.
On the climate change and economic fronts, India and France launched in April a solar finance programme with a potential to raise more than $1 trillion in investment for members of the International Solar Alliance.
A familial bond at the highest level for India came with election of the former Portuguese Prime Minister Antonio Guterres as elected Secretary-General: His wife Catarina de Almeida Vaz Pinto was born in Goa.
(This is a part of a series of articles from IANS that look back at the year that was. Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in)
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
In yet another measure to curb generation of black money, India on Friday amended its Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Singapore, the Indian government said.
"We have today (Friday) amended the DTAA with Singapore on the same terns as the agreement signed with Mauritius earlier this year," Finance Minister Arun Jaitley told reporters here.
"The year 2016 has been historic for the three DTAAs concluded with the countries that provided the routes for tax evasion...these have been blocked," he said, adding that the third DTAA amendment agreement signed earlier this year was with the Mediterranean island nation of Cyprus.
Pointing out that all the three DTAAs had been the focus of attention, and even cause for uproar in Parliament, because of widespread suspicion that they were being used to evade capital gains tax, facilitating, thereby, the round tripping of funds anf generation of black money.
"The apprehension was of round tripping by which the flight of domestic black money was being organised to these 3 countries, which do not have capital gains tax, and bringing back the money through these 3 routes - Mauritius, Cyprus and Singapore.
Between April 200 and September 2016, Mauritius and Singapore accounted for 49 per cent of all foreign direct investmentn(FDI) inflows into India.
"The Third Protocol amends the India-Singapore DTAA with effect from 1st April, 2017, to provide for source based taxation of capital gains arising on transfer of shares in a company," an Indian Finance Ministry release here said.
"Like the Mauritius agreement, the Singapore DTAA envisages that investments in shares made before 1st April, 2017, will be grandfathered," Jaitley said.
"Thereafter, a two-year transition period from 1st April, 2017, to 31st March, 2019, has been provided during which capital gains liability on shares will be shared half with the source country," he said.
"After the end of the transition period in 2019, the entire capital gains will come to India," he added.
Jaitley also said that in another move against black money stashed abroad, India's Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) has signed an agreement with Swiss authorities for implementing the "Automatic Exchange of Information" (AEOI) between India and Switzerland.
Under this agreement it will now be possible for India to receive, from September, 2019 onwards, all financial information of accounts held by Indian residents in Switzerland for 2018 and subsequent years, on an automatic basis," the Finance Minister said.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hundreds of Indian women, mainly from the southern state of Andhra Pradesh, are entering Bahrain on forged visit visas to work as domestic helps, a media report said Saturday.
Unscrupulous recruitment agents are helping these women, who mainly come from poor backgrounds and are willing to pay a large amount of money to work in the Gulf nation, which is causing a major problem for Bahraini families, the Gulf Daily News reported.
"These housemaids, mainly from Andhra Pradesh, are leaving India based on a photocopy of a forged visit visa," an official of the Indian embassy in Bahrain was quoted as saying.
"This is not a valid visit visa issued by Bahraini authorities."
The official said unscrupulous agents in India make sure that these domestic workers clear the immigration process.
Once they enter Bahrain, agents there give them legitimate working visas.
The official said these women mainly come to Bahrain to work for a short time.
"Based on all the cases we have dealt with so far, these women start working in Bahraini households initially and after three months run away and come to us saying they want to go back," he said, adding that many Bahraini families have suffered because of this.
According to Indian law, only women aged 30 years and above are eligible to work as housemaids abroad and they require a $2,500 refundable deposit.
According to the Migrant Workers Protection Society (MWPS), which runs a shelter for distressed women in Bahrain, the problem was complex and escalating.
"I cannot even tell you at this point how many cases related to women from Andhra Pradesh we have dealt since last year, who sneak out of the country illegally using forged visit visas," MWPS chairperson Marietta Dias said.
"We dealt with about 80 cases last year, of which 60 were related to women from Andhra Pradesh," she said.
Bahrain is home to around 300,000 expatriate Indians.
Accusing Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh of "lying" to Punjab's youths, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday asked if he was honest about giving them jobs.
Talking to reporters here, Kejriwal posed five questions for Captain Amarinder Singh.
"Captain (Amarinder) promised 60 lakh jobs to youths when only four lakh jobs are there. Why is Captain lying to Punjab youths?" Kejriwal asked.
Referring to a 2002 order, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) convenor inquired: "If Captain is promising government jobs in every household now, why did he abolish all government job vacancies when he was the Chief Minister in May 2002?"
"Captain is promising pensions to employees. Why did he abolish the existing pensions during his tenure in 2004?"
"AAP demands that Captain tells the Punjab electorate which of his promises are false and which will he fulfil," Kejriwal added.
He also asked Captain Amarinder to clarify if he "took permission from Congress's undeclared CM candidate Navjot Singh Sidhu about his promises".
Kejriwal on Wednesday announced that AAP's Delhi legislator Jarnail Singh would contest against Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal in Lambi in the 2017 assembly elections.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The CPI-M on Friday asked the government to immediately remove restrictions on cash withdrawals as the 50-day window sought by Prime Minister Narendra Modi has expired.
"Since the deadline of December 30 is over, all restrictions on the withdrawal of money by people from their own hard-earned money in the banks must be removed forthwith," the Communist Party of India Marxist (CPI-M) said in a statement.
It said that since the demonetisation has pushed the "beleaguered and stumbling Indian economy into a tailspin causing immense misery to the poor and the downtrodden" who survive on daily cash earnings, and hence some "corrective steps" need to be taken by the government.
The party has demanded immediate debt waiver for farmers, doubling the allocation for MNREGA to ensure 100 days of employment for all those who are enrolled, tax rebate to small and medium enterprises whose economic activity has suffered and removal of all restrictions on deposits and withdrawals of funds from the cooperative banks.
"This demonetisation will lead to a significant revenue loss in many states. To address this crucial issue, the Centre must compensate the state governments for the loss in revenue that they are incurring and the borrowing ceiling on the state governments in accordance to the FRBM Act must be raised form 3-4 per cent of the Gross State Domestic Product," it said.
The CPI-M said that since the Prime Minister is constantly emphasising on the need to shift to a cashless economy, it is necessary to ensure that people are not burdened with additional costs and all costs on digital transactions should be removed.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
After storming to power in West Bengal for a second consecutive term, 2016 saw Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee striving for a bigger role in national as she emerged among the most vocal adversaries of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his moves, particularly demonetisation.
Despite odds heavily stacked against her, including rivals Left Front and the Congress joining ranks and her own party facing severe corruption charges, Banerjee single-handedly decimated the opposition in West Bengal as the Trinamool captured 211 of the 294 seats in the assembly polls earlier this year.
Her strong desire to extend Trinamool's influence beyond Bengal and position it as the pivot to an anti-Modi and anti-BJP political battle was evident the very day she was sworn in.
The guests of honour included key anti-BJP leaders like RJD Chief Lalu Prasad, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Farooq Abdullah who all have pitched for an alternative secular front.
Often accused by political rivals of having a "tacit understanding" with the BJP, Banerjee steadily upped the ante against Modi and repeatedly accused him of destroying the federal structure of the country and "financially depriving" Bengal.
Her aspiration of playing a key role in the capital's got a fillip in September when the Trinamool got national party status from the Election Commission, and she continued her rants against Modi over various issues.
But it was the Prime Minister's November 8 move to demonetise Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 notes that Banerjee has used to the hilt to mount a massive assault.
All prominent opposition leaders including Congress' Rahul Gandhi, CPI-M's Sitaram Yechury and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal vehemently opposed the note-ban, but Banerjee took centre stage, holding successive meetings in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar and letting loose a no-holds-barred attack on Modi through her daily tweets.
Inside Parliament, Trinamool leaders raised the pitch against the ruling BJP.
In her bid to rev up the anti-demonetisation war, she even dialled archrival Yehcury, CPI-M General Secretary, and got BJP ally Shiv Sena -- otherwise a pariah for her brand of -- on board for a march to President Pranab Mukherjee seeking rollback of the currency spike decision.
Joining forces with Kejriwal, she held two rallies in the national capital, getting support from key leaders like Janata Dal-United's Sharad Yadav, and National Conference's Omar Abdullah.
Using every issue to assail the BJP government, Banerjee termed as a "coup attempt" the deployment of army personnel at toll plazas in her state claiming her administration had been kept "in the dark".
Known for her theatrics, Banerjee stayed put at the state secretariat overnight protesting against the deployment which the army called a routine exercise carried out with prior information to the state administration.
In the same vein, Banerjee also raised objections to CRPF personnel providing security to income-tax officials during search operations in Bengal.
Political observers believe Banerjee has successfully used demonetisation to assert herself in national politics.
"The Trinamool was nearly isolated from national politics following the Saradha chit fund scam. But the demonetisation protest has catapulted it back into reckoning. She (Banerjee) has revved up her image both as pro-poor and anti-Modi," analyst Biswanath Chakraborty told IANS.
Praveen Rai, from the Centre for Study of Developing Societies, too opined that Banerjee has successfully asserted her presence in national politics.
"Considering BJP's stint at the Centre so far, coupled with the way it has implemented demonetisation, Mamata sensed the opportunity of offering an alternative... Mamata has very wisely used the opportunity to come to the fore by leading the protest," Rai told IANS.
It's not just demonetisation, Banerjee has been firing one salvo after another at Modi.
On November 30, when an aircraft ferrying her had to hover over the Kolkata airport for some time before landing, the Trinamool sniffed a conspiracy to "silence" Banerjee for being at the forefront of the anti-demonetisation protest, and raised a hue and cry in parliament. The government was forced to order a probe.
She has used popular imageries to drive home her point nationally. For instance, she likened the Income Tax department to the legendary villainous character Gabbar Singh from the Hindi movie Sholay.
"It is Christmas but instead of celebrating, people are scared. They fear that Income Tax officials may turn up. Suddenly, Gabbar Singh may turn up. This is the state of the country," Banerjee said referring to the IT raids across the country.
(This is a part of a series of articles from IANS that look back at the year that was. Anurag Dey can be contacted at anurag.d@ians.in)
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Reiterating her demand for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's resignation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday batted for the formation of a national government, comprising all major political parties, till the next general elections.
She went all guns blazing against the Modi government over demonetisation and the arrest of Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Paul by CBI in the Rose Valley chit fund scam.
Banerjee, also the Trinamool Congress supremo, fired salvos at Modi and targeted the BJP on a day which co-coincided with Modi's self-set 50-day demonetisation deadline.
"A national government (comprising all parties) may be formed, if required, to govern the country till the next general elections. The country is not safe under this government," she said.
Referring to Paul's arrest, a furious Banerjee said it was obvious that someone from her party would be arrested on the 50th day deadline as the central agencies are functioning under "instructions" from the BJP government.
"I knew that they would arrest someone from our party today as we plan to intensify our protest post the 50-day deadline of the demonetisation. I have the documents from CBI and Enforcement Directorate (ED) that clearly state who all are in their list," she claimed.
Banerjee also accused the Bharatiya Janata Party of having association with a chit fund scam and dared the Modi government to arrest her and her party MPs and legislators.
"I don't care if they arrest all my MPs. Let them arrest me. I will not be surprised if they arrest all our MPs. Arrest all my MPs. How many MLAs will you arrest? You do not need to summon us. We are ready to present ourselves," Banerjee said.
"The SEBI and RBI did not act against the chit fund companies," she said.
"BJP is connected to Pearl group chit fund scam worth Rs 50,000 crore. (BJP leaders) Babul Supriyo and Rupa Ganguly also were associated with Rose Valley," she claimed, likening the situation to the "terror of pre-Independence era."
She asserted that Trinamool leader Sudip Bandopadhyay, who too was summoned by the central agency in the same case, has not done anything wrong and would definitely appear before the CBI.
She said Paul's arrest reeks of political vendetta as the party is protesting against the Centre over demonetisation while slamming the Modi government for failing to restore normalcy by Friday.
"111 people have lost their lives. How many BJP leaders visited their house? Why is RBI not disclosing how much money has been released to which state?"
"People have been misled. Your 50 days are up and you have failed in your 'agni pariksha'. The PM must apologise to the nation and step down. If BJP thinks they have majority, then make someone else the PM," she said.
She said Modi and the BJP "despise" the poor, the scheduled caste and tribes and the minorities.
Banerjee also flayed Modi for naming e-wallet app BHIM after BR Ambedkar.
"How could the government name a lottery app in the name of Babasaheb Ambedkar who is the architect of the Indian Constitution? They have no right to insult the statesmen of the country and hurt the sentiments of the Scheduled Castes in the country," she said.
Asked about the ongoing rift within the ruling Samajwadi Party in Uttar Pradesh, ahead of the elections, she said she doesn't want to comment on any party's internal matter.
"... but I will be happy if BJP is defeated. BJP must be defeated in UP, Punjab, Uttarakhand and wherever there are elections," she added.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Australian counter-terrorism police have arrested a man for making online threats against the upcoming New Year's Eve festivities in the Sydney harbour, which are expected to be attended by some one million people, officials said on Friday.
The arrest took place at Sydney International Airport on Thursday after the suspect returned from Britain, Efe news reported.
At the time of the arrest, the police also raided an apartment and a storage facility in Sydney, and seized documents and computer hard disks.
The man, who is expected to appear in court on January 10, has been charged with a Crimes Act offence but not a terrorist offence, Acting Deputy Police Commissioner Frank Mennilli told the media here on Friday.
Authorities believe it to be an isolated case as the man did not have any links to terrorist groups.
Police forces last week arrested seven people who were planning to detonate explosives during Christmas festivities in Sydney.
Australia raised its terror alert in September 2014 and has since tightened security besides adopting a number of counter-terrorism laws to prevent attacks on its soil.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Delhi Metro Museum here on Friday launched a special brochure in braille for the blind to commemorate its eighth anniversary.
The brochure, printed in Hindi and English, will help visually impaired people to read information related to the museum.
The new brochure was launched at the Metro Museum, Patel Chowk, by Veerbala, wife of DMRC's Managing Director Mangu Singh and the wives of the other directors of the transporter.
On the occasion, visually challenged children from the NGO Saksham performed a skit titled 'Hum Kisi Se Kam Nahi', in which they discussed about the various challenges as well as the facilities available for the visually challenged.
A special storytelling session was also organised by the museum in which a professional storyteller was roped in to narrate inspiring stories to the children.
A six-day exhibition 'Metro Through Their Eyes', was also inaugurated which showcased artworks created by a few orthopaedically challenged children from NGO Prerna Niketan Sangh, depicting their love of metro trains.
The Delhi Metro Museum is one of the few museums globally which are dedicated to Metro railway. A treasure trove of display panels, historical photographs and exhibits, the museum traces the genesis of the Delhi Metro.
The Delhi Metro has been sensitive to the needs of the marginalised and has organised drawing competitions, workshops etc before also.
It has also organised special visits for physically challenged children and kids undergoing treatment for cancer.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
You can set your UPI PIN by going to Main Menu -Bank Accounts -Set UPI-PIN for the selected account. You will be prompted to enter the last 6 digits of your Debit/ATM card along with the expiry date. You will then receive an OTP which you will enter
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched an Aadhaar-based mobile payment application at Digi Dhan Mela to promote and make digital transactions easier.
Here is all you need to know about the app:
1. The app is called (Bharat Interface for Money) -- a re-branded version of UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data).
2. Modi said app was very simple to use and a thumb impression was enough to operate it.
3. No internet needed: "Be it a smartphone or feature phone of Rs 1,000-1,200, app can be used. There is no need to have Internet connectivity. One only needs a thumb. There was a time when an illiterate was called 'angutha chchap'. Now, time has changed. Your thumb is your bank now. It has become your identity now."
4. Modi said that 'Lucky Grahak Yojana' and 'DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana' were a Chrismas gift to the nation.
Over 100 days, several prizes of Rs 1,000 will be given to people through lucky draws. The mega draw will be held on April 14, the birth anniversary of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar.
5.How it works: BHIM can also be downloaded on playstore.
. Register your bank account with BHIM, and set a UPI PIN for the bank account. Your mobile number is your payment address (PA), and you can start transacting.
7. Send / Receive Money: Send money to or receive money from friends, family and customers through a mobile number or payment address. Money can also be sent to non UPI supported banks using IFSC and MMID. You can also collect money by sending a request and reverse payments if required.
8. QR Code: You can scan a QR code for faster entry of payment addresses. Merchants can easily print their QR Code for display.
8. Transaction Limits: Maximum of Rs. 10,000 per transaction and Rs. 20,000 within 24 hours.
9 Language supported: Hindi and English. More languages coming soon!
10 Supported Banks: Allahabad Bank, Andhra Bank, Axis Bank, Bank of Baroda, Bank of India, Bank of Maharashtra, Canara Bank, Catholic Syrian Bank, Central Bank of India, DCB Bank, Dena Bank, Federal Bank, HDFC Bank, ICICI Bank, IDBI Bank, IDFC Bank, Indian Bank, Indian Overseas Bank, IndusInd Bank, Karnataka Bank, Karur Vysya Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce, Punjab National Bank, RBL Bank, South Indian Bank, Standard Chartered Bank, State Bank of India, Syndicate Bank, Union Bank of India, United Bank of India, Vijaya Bank.
Commercial pilots have expressed concerns about Australia's drone laws, saying they raise the risk of fatal collisions between unmanned drones and passenger planes.
In a submission to the Senate committee which is investigating the safety of the new drone laws, pilots from Qantas and Virgin Australia have asked the government to reconsider the law change, under which drones two kilograms and lighter will no longer need approval to fly in public spaces, Xinhua news agency reported.
Drones will not, however, be allowed to fly within 5.5 km of an airport and not within 30 metres of buildings.
In a Senate submission published on Friday, Qantas chief pilot Richard Tobiano said if the laws are relaxed, there will be more drone pilots flying their small, dangerous aircraft despite no training.
"Against this context, it would be opportune for the airline industry to confirm best-practice processes in managing the ramifications of an incident ahead of time," Tobiano said in the submission.
He said if the laws were to stay, it would up to police and other law enforcement agencies to ensure untrained pilots aren't breaking the laws and flying near airports, or too high, in order to minimize the threat to passenger flights.
"As with lasers and model rockets, this regime should involve education of - and strategic and tactical coordination between - state and federal law enforcement agencies, local government and CASA (Civil Aviation Safety Authority)," Tobiano said.
"Critically, it must also include a comprehensive suite of offence provisions and penalties to ensure general and specific deterrence."
Meanwhile, Virgin Australia's pilot John Lyons said drones would cause much more - even fatal - damage compared to something such as a bird being sucked into a jet engine.
"Launching a drone close to an airport, particularly in proximity to an uncontrolled aerodrome, exposes aircraft (which are often jet powered) to the risk of collision which could result in substantial damage, loss of control and potentially, loss of life," Lyons said.
"Collision with an UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) could be considerably more dangerous than striking a bird."
As the opposition accused the Prime Minister of changing the narrative on demonetisation and asking whether any of its avowed objectives were achieved at the end of 50-day deadline set by him, an unperturbed Narendra Modi pitched for less-cash economy and digital transactions.
On Friday, when the deadline for depositing scrapped notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 ended, the Congress dubbed the November 8 demonetisation a "decision taken without forethought".
The party said all its stated objectives have failed and the government's insistence on digital transactions is infested with "serious issues", including of privacy.
"It is now abundantly clear that the whole exercise (scrapping notes) was undertaken without forethought and planning; without consulting key officials; without understanding the crucial role of money in circulation; and without assessing the capacity of the currency printing presses to supply new notes," senior Congress leader and former Finance Minister P. Chidambaram said.
He said that "events of the last 50 days have proved that none of the stated objectives has been served".
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of high-denomination currency notes on November 8 night, and subsequently sought 50 days to put things in order.
Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi sought to know from Modi the amount of black money recovered after the demonetisation.
Other opposition parties accused the Modi government of changing the narrative from fighting black money and corruption to transforming India into a cashless economy.
The Communist Party of India-Marxist questioned the government over what it said was economic mess and job loss caused by demonetisation.
"What is the government's estimation of the economic loss to the nation as a result of this move? How many people have lost their jobs and livelihood since demonetisation was announced on November 8?" the Left party said.
"The Prime Minister must publicly declare the quantum of demonetised money that has returned to the banks. What is the quantum and value of new notes that have been printed so far? By when will the full value of demonetised money be back in the system through new notes?" the CPI-M added.
Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad accused Prime Minister Modi of eviscerating the Indian economy.
"If lungs, liver, kidneys, intestine and blood are taken out of your body, would you be able to survive? That's what has been done with our economy," Lalu said in a tweet.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who has been at the forefront of anti-demonetisation agitation, said a democratic government should always be accountable to the people it serves.
"The Centre is saying one can withdraw up to Rs 24,000 a week, which means around Rs 96,000 a month. However, in reality, daily wage workers are not even able to withdraw around Rs 5,000 (in a month) as banks have no money," she alleged.
The Prime Minister hit back at the opposition, saying that during the earlier United Progressive Alliance rule at the Centre, money lost in the scams made news but now the nation is talking about money coming back into the system.
He was speaking after launching an new Aadhaar-based mobile payment application in Delhi to make digital transactions easier.
"Look at the newspapers or video clips from three years ago -- the news was all about what we lost in scams. However, today, it is about what has come back or what is the gain," Modi said.
He said boosting digital connectivity will "do wonders for our nation", as he launched BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) app -- a re-branded version of UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD.
Making a pitch for digital transactions, Modi said that the day was not far off when the cash-based transaction will turn completely digital.
Meanwhile, crowds were thin compared with even a week back at banks and functional ATMs.
Although Automated Teller Machines at last seemed to hold some cash, the opinion on the cash situation was mixed.
"Nothing much has changed. We are still getting reduced amount from the RBI (Reserve Bank of India); so we are still not giving more than Rs 10,000 to each customer," a Punjab National Bank official told IANS, declining to be named.
However, a manager at Oriental Bank of Commerce (OBC) said the cash situation is pretty smooth and that the worst days of cash crunch are now past.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Demanding that the Prime Minister should apologise and resign taking responsibility for his "failure" on demonetisation, West Bengal Chief Minister on Saturday dared the Centre to arrest all the TMC MPs, charging the Modi government of pursuing "vendetta politics".
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately step down taking responsibility for his failure to give relief to the people even after 50 days of demonetisation," she told a press conference at the state secretariat.
Furious over the arrest of her party MP Tapas Pal for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley chit fund scam, the Trinamool Congress supremo said, "He (Modi) can arrest all of our MPs, I do not care. This is nothing but vendetta . We will continue with our protest (against demonetisation).
"I came to know that they (CBI) have arrested one of our MPs. It is only because of our protest against 'notebandi' that this is happening. This is nothing but vendetta ."
Claiming that she has "all the information" about the Centre's next step, Banerjee said, "I already have the list of my party leaders who will be summoned next (by the CBI)."
Asked if TMC leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay, who too was summoned by the central agency in the same case, would appear before the CBI, Banerjee said, "He will definitely go. He will be proud to go. He has not done anything wrong.
"The Sebi and RBI did not perform their duties by not acting against the chit fund companies. These companies are not under the jurisdiction of our state. They have given them protection."
The TMC supremo wondered how could a person, well established in public life as an actor or a sportsperson, be arrested for accepting the hospitality of a company.
"How did these chit fund companies get the permission for uplinking (TV) channels. Sportspersons and actors are brand ambassadors of many companies. I do not intend to show disrespect to anyone, but Amitabh Bachchan too is the brand ambassador of Gujarat and Shah Rukh Khan is the brand ambassador of Bengal," she said.
Banerjee referred to Sahara group, which too is under the lens, and wondered if the central agencies were "sleeping" at that point of time.
Continuing her tirade against Modi, the chief minister said either someone else in the BJP should take over as the prime minister or a " government" (comprising all the parties) should govern the country till the next general election.
"The country has never witnessed such a situation even during the British rule or Emergency," she added.
Asking the banks to report collections of demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes on December 30 itself, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday notified the closure of the deposit and exchange of the old notes.
"With the closure of the facility of exchange of specified bank notes, all banks should report information on collection on December 30, itself. Banks should make arrangements to gather the information from all its branches accordingly," the RBI said in a notification here.
From next week onward, those still holding the scrapped currency can deposit it only with the RBI till March 31, 2017.
All bank branches, except district cooperative central bank (DCCBs), which have accumulated old notes at the close of business on Friday, are required to deposit these in the office of the RBI or a currency chest on Saturday, the RBI said.
The old notes cannot form part of banks' cash balances from the close of business as on Saturday, the central bank added.
However, DCCBs may retain the demonetised currency received between November 10-14, till further instructions.
The government had on November 8 announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes were no longer the legal tender.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Turkish armed forces on Friday said that Russian aircraft carried out three air strikes against Islamic State (IS) positions in Syria, killing 12 militants.
The attacks were launched on Thursday in support of Turkey's military operation against IS in the northern town of Al-Bab, Hurriyet Daily News reported citing military officials.
Russian forces staged three attacks in support of the Free Syrian Army (FSA), an ally of Turkey.
Turkish forces also launched airstrikes against Al-Bab, which reportedly killed a further 26 IS members.
A Turkish soldier died and five others were injured in a counter-attack by IS militants.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Thursday denounced a lack of support from NATO countries in the fight against IS in Syria, Efe news reported.
Erdogan said Turkey, as a NATO ally, needed the organisation's support.
His country had not seen any support from NATO nor from allied countries, he said during a speech in Ankara capital city.
The head of state also condemned Washington's support of the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers a branch of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) -- deemed a terrorist organisation by Turkey.
The Russian attacks came hours after a ceasefire, struck between the Syrian government regime of President Bashar al-Assad and rebel groups, came into effect and is being safeguarded by both Russia and Turkey.
The ceasefire did not apply to groups considered terrorist organisations by the United Nations Security Council, as in the case of IS.
In August, Turkey launched the Euphrates Shield operation in order to expel IS fighters from its borders and prevent the advance of Kurdish-Syrian militias across northern Syria.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A civic group on Friday installed a statue of a girl symbolising victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery in front of the Japanese consulate in South Korea's city of Busan, a move that could strain Japan-South Korea relations, the media reported.
The local ward office said two days earlier that it would remove the "comfort women" statue if it was installed, but it reversed course, saying it would not forcibly remove the one-tonne figure, reported the Japan Times.
"We will not stop the civic group from installing the statue in front of the consulate if they wish to do so," city official Park Sam-seok said.
According to a live video streamed by the civic group, the statue was carried by forklift to the front of the consulate, as members of the group chanted "Victory to the people!".
The move comes after the civic group attempted to erect the statue at the site on Wednesday, the first anniversary of an agreement between Seoul and Tokyo that provides compensation for comfort women.
The police and ward officials forcibly separated the group from the figure and removed it about four hours later.
But ward officials then got swamped with phone calls of protest from the public. They held talks with the group and decided to give them the permission.
The civic group plans to hold a ceremony on Saturday evening to mark the unveiling of the statue.
The statue is similar to another figure installed in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul. Feeling offended, Japan has demanded that it be removed.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The ruling Samajwadi Party (SP) appeared headed for a split on Friday as Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav raised the banner of revolt against his father and party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Party sources have conceded that all "fire fighting measures have failed".
With the warring factions headed by Akhilesh Yadav and state Samajwadi Party chief Shivpal Singh Yadav refusing to retreat, the party is facing its toughest crisis yet since its inception 25 years ago.
Shivpal on Thursday midnight released a list of 68 more 'official' candidates of the party for the state assembly eletions due early next year, virtually shutting all doors for some settlement with Akhilesh, his nephew.
With state assembly elections round the corner, the dispute augurs ill for the party, which till not so long ago was claiming to return to power, the sources said.
Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav has called a meeting of the party's core group where he is likely to take stock of the situation and decide the future course of action, in consultation with his close aides.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi Police arrested three persons, including a graphic designer, here for shooting at a rape victim's mother with the intention to kill her, police said on Friday.
Those arrested are Faisal Hussain, 36, the key conspirator and resident of Shaheen Bagh, Wasim, 30, a resident of Jasola village, and Mohd Iqbal, 46, a resident of Okhla village, police said.
They were arrested by separate police teams following raids on Wednesday and Thursday nights at Batla House and nearby areas in Jamia Nagar.
"Wasim and Iqbal worked for Hussain, a graphic designer. Wasim and Iqbal admitted that they shot the rape victim's mother on the instruction of Hussain. They had no personal enmity with the rape victim's family," Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) Romil Banniya said.
However, interrogation of the accused gave an altogether new twist to the tale, which initially seemed to be one of bumping off the complainant.
According to the DCP, the main accused Sajid, a local builder, who had gang-raped the victim along with three others, had made some investments in real estate with the help of one Bunty, also a local builder and broker.
Hussain also had some stake in the deal struck by Sajid and Bunty. But later, Hussain developed some differences with Sajid over the deal.
Taking advantage of the circumstances, Hussain hired Wasim and Iqbal to get the rape victim's mother eliminated, so as to implicate Sajid in the murder case. This would have solved his own problems with Sajid, DCP Banniya said.
Hussain also told interrogators that he hatched the plan after he came to know that Sajid was involved in a rape case and that the rape victim's mother had filed a complaint of life threat against him a couple of weeks ago.
Wasim and Iqbal on December 23 opened fired at the woman when she was on her way to a hospital, along with her daughter (the rape victim), in Jamia Nagar area. The bullet pierced her back, and amid the chaos, the shooters managed to escape, police said.
Police later arrested Sajid from his hideout in Uttar Pradesh. During the interrogation, he confessed to have raped the victim but denied shooting at her mother.
He hinted that Hussain could be behind the attack as he would have benefited if he (Sajid) is sent to jail for a long period, the officer said.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With New Year around the corner, hotels and sightseeing destinations are reporting a big boom in the desert state of Rajasthan.
According to sources, tourist arrivals are so high that finding a room in a hotel is getting difficult.
"There has been a big rush of mainly domestic tourists to cities like Jaipur, Jaisalmer, Udaipur, Pushkar and Jodhpur, to name a few," said Sobhan Singh, manager with a Jaipur based travel agency that deals in inbound tourists.
"This rush has started from December 25 and is to continue till January 1-2 at least," he said.
"Look at Jaipur, on Thursday alone over 12,000 tourists visited Amber Fort....out of this 9,000 were domestic," Singh said.
"Similar scenes are being reported from other cities in the state," he said
"Almost all the big and leading and even budget hotels are reporting good business especially from December 25-January 2. Though before this period business was affected due to demonetisation," said Akhilesh Sharma, a tour operator.
"Domestic tourists are much more than foreign this time period. Majority of bookings in hotels this year are coming from neighbouring states like Delhi, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat to name a few," said R.S.Rathore, general manager of a five star hotel in Jaipur.
"One should forget about getting discounts in hotels at least till the first week of January. On the other hand one should be happy even to get a room," Sobhan Singh said.
According to travel industry pundits, good air, rail and road connectivity and peaceful atmosphere coupled with lots of sightseeing places and shopping are some of the reasons attracting tourists to these Rajasthan cities.
On an average Rajasthan attracts over 12 lakh foreign and over 2 crore domestic tourists every year.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The US Department of Defense has awarded Lockheed Martin with a $450 million contract to develop F-35 fighter jets for South Korea.
The contract is a modification of a previous $920 million deal for Lockheed Martin to manufacture 94 various models of F-35s for the US and its allies, Pentagon said in a statement on Thursday.
"This modification continues the integration work to implement the development and delivery of the F-35A Air System to South Korea under the Foreign Military Sales programme," it said.
The work will be carried out in Texas and is expected to complete by August 2019.
The Foreign Military Sales programme allows the Pentagon to facilitate contracts between foreign governments and US arms manufacturers.
President-elect Donald Trump has recently blasted Lockheed Martin for the "out of control costs" of its F-35s. He has also complained that the new Air Force Ones, built by Boeing at $4 billion each, are too expensive.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US Secretary of State John Kerry telephoned Pakistan's Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and told him that US was aware of Islamabads complaint against New Delhi's alleged violation of Indus Waters Treaty and wanted to see an amicable solution, said an official statement on Friday.
"US would like to see an amicable solution to this issue," Kerry was quoted as saying by the federal government.
Dar told Kerry that Indus Waters Treaty was an international commitment and it is the responsibility of the World Bank to make sure that India honours this treaty and the water rights of hundreds of millions of people of Pakistan are protected.
Earlier this week, Foreign Secretary Aizaz Ahmad Chaudhry said India's violation of the treaty would set a dangerous precedent for other countries to behave similarly, but remained hopeful that India would refrain from such actions.
According to the statement, Dar also shared the latest developments in the economy and the Pakistan Stock Exchange and said that all economic indicators had improved over the last three years.
"The (Pakistan) government after having achieved macro-economic stability is now focused on achieving higher sustainable and inclusive economic growth," the statement quoted him as saying, adding that Kerry congratulated Dar on the economic recovery brought about by the Nawaz Sharif government.
Dar also congratulated Kerry on his statement this week on the Middle East peace process and Palestinian rights.
--IANS
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(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Steve Jobss resurrection of Apples fortunes from the late 1990s is a much repeated business parable. But, it may contain a lesson important for Indian governments seeking to reform the dysfunctional legacies of a state that between meddling in industrial production, running a lousy airline and creating a vast bureaucratic apparatus has done little in public education and public health relative to our neighbours in Southeast Asia and even Bangladesh. The lesson from the late Steve Jobs triumphant return to Apple is that he and the company learned to focus. Jobs whittled down a product line that included 12 different types of Macintoshes and computer peripherals to essentially four products: one computer and laptop each for the consumer market and the professional market. As Jobs said, Deciding what not to do is as important as deciding what to do.
Anti-national: The it gaali of 2016. You could be hit with it if you were so subversive as to not want sloganeering students in jail. Or if you opposed the governments currency ban or, heaven forbid, supported the idea of Pakistani artists working in Bollywood.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday expelled his son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister as well as general secretary Ram Gopal Yadav from the party for six years for gross indiscipline, a decision that will lead to a political crisis in Uttar Pradesh.
Congress today expressed concern over growing political instability in Uttar Pradesh in wake of the dramatic developments in ruling Samajwadi Party and claimed the BJP is dreaming of "assuming power in the state through the backdoor" by fishing in troubled waters.
"Congress doesn't delve into internal divisions in another party, but we are deeply concerned about growing political instability in UP," party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters.
"More alarming are reports that BJP is dreaming of assuming power through the back door by fishing in troubled waters," he claimed.
He said BJP earlier tried it in the neighbouring state of Uttrakhand and failed. "The Congress government was similiarly brought down in Arunanchal by engineering defections."
"We sincerely hope that the Modi government would take the cue from strictures passed in the two cases by Supreme Court and will not abuse the powers of the Union government or the office of Governor to disrespect people's mandate," he added.
The on Friday reiterated its demand for making public the minutes of a meeting of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Board on November 8-- hours before the Prime Minister announced the demonetisation-- as well as the Union Cabinet note of that day.
"We demand that the minutes and agenda of the meeting of the RBI Board as well as the Cabinet note of November 8 should be made public. The people have the right to know as to how things transpired on that day," senior leader and former Finance Minister P Chidambaram said.
Dubbing demonetisation a decision taken "without consulting key officials", Chidambaram said everything worked "as per the set script" wherein all the players had pre-defined roles.
"As far as I know, the RBI Board met around 5.30 p.m. on November 8. The Board has 14 members, but 10 positions are vacant. Only three members attended the meeting that lasted barely half an hour," he said.
"Now, in those 30 minutes, how the three wise men decided to scrap 86 per cent of the country's currency is something that should be in the public domain. We demand, and the RBI has an obligation, to disclose the agenda and the minutes of that meeting," the senior leader added.
"The RBI Board, within half an hour, sent its recommendation to scrap the old notes to the Cabinet, which was waiting. So everything was working according to a script and everyone had his role defined," he said.
Demanding that the prime minister should apologise and resign taking responsibility for his "failure" on demonetisation, West Bengal Chief Minister on Saturday dared the Centre to arrest all the TMC MPs, charging the Modi government of pursuing "vendetta politics".
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately step down taking responsibility for his failure to give relief to the people even after 50 days of demonetisation," she told a press conference at the state secretariat.
Furious over the arrest of her party MP Tapas Pal for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley chit fund scam, the Trinamool Congress supremo said, "He (Modi) can arrest all of our MPs, I do not care. This is nothing but vendetta . We will continue with our protest (against demonetisation).
"I came to know that they (CBI) have arrested one of our MPs. It is only because of our protest against 'notebandi' that this is happening. This is nothing but vendetta ."
Claiming that she has "all the information" about the Centre's next step, Banerjee said, "I already have the list of my party leaders who will be summoned next (by the CBI)."
Asked if TMC leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay, who too was summoned by the central agency in the same case, would appear before the CBI, Banerjee said, "He will definitely go. He will be proud to go. He has not done anything wrong.
"The SEBI and RBI did not perform their duties by not acting against the chit fund companies. These companies are not under the jurisdiction of our state. They (SEBI and RBI) have given them protection."
The TMC supremo wondered how could a person, well established in public life as an actor or a sportsperson, be arrested for accepting the hospitality of a company.
"How did these chit fund companies get the permission for uplinking (TV) channels. Sportspersons and actors are brand ambassadors of many companies. I do not intend to show disrespect to anyone, but Amitabh Bachchan too is the brand ambassador of Gujarat and Shah Rukh Khan is the brand ambassador of Bengal," she said.
Banerjee referred to Sahara group, which too is under the lens, and wondered if the central agencies were "sleeping" at that point of time.
Continuing her tirade against Modi, the chief minister said either someone else in the BJP should take over as the prime minister or a " government" (comprising all the parties) should govern the country till the next general election.
"The country has never witnessed such a situation even during the British rule or Emergency," she added.
Delhi Chief Minister on Friday dared the Centre to get all the appointments made by his government probed after the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) filed an FIR into the appointment of Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's OSD.
Asserting that he was not afraid of any probe, the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) chief also wondered whether the Centre would accept a Delhi government-appointed committee to look into the Sahara Birla papers.
Kejriwal alleged that the CBI has filed "seven FIRs" against Jain and "two" against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, but did not elaborate.
In fresh trouble for the AAP government, the CBI has filed an FIR into the appointment of Jain's OSD while the LG office has recommended a probe by the agency into the appointment of his daughter Soumya Jain as a functionary in the Mohalla Clinic project.
"You (Centre) make your committee and get all our appointments probed. And we will form one, and you get the Sahara Birla matter probed with it. Agree?
"We are not scared of any probe as we have not done any wrong. Then why are you scared of a probe?" Kejriwal tweeted.
Customs officials seized 1.2 kg gold, worth Rs 35 lakh, from four passengers when they were allegedly trying to smuggle it at the international airport here today.
"Based on specific intelligence, the Customs officers of the Air Intelligence Unit at the airport in co-ordination with special task force officers of Telangana Police seized 1200 gram of gold of foreign origin valued at Rs 35.05 lakh from four passengers, who arrived from Jeddah," a senior customs official said.
They had concealed gold bars in a pocket specially designed in undergarment.
Asked if anyone was arrested in connection with the seizure, the official said further investigations are on.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A West Bengal-based executive, who was abducted on Tuesday, has been rescued from Chakla village on the outskirts of Ranchi and two alleged abductors who had demanded a ransom of Rs 50 lakh to release him have been arrested, police said today.
Sudipto Mukherjee, general manager of Kolkata-based Purushottam Homeo Vikash Company, was abducted from village Sardarpur on G T Road (NH 2) on the night of December 27 when he and his company's managing director Trinath Chatterjee were proceeding to Varanasi on business assignment, Superintendent of Police Bhimsen Tuti said.
An FIR was registered in this connection under Chauparan Police station of Hazaribagh.
Tuti said a police team led by Awadhesh Kumar Singh (Barhi Circle) and Sudama Singh, Officer-In-Charge of Chouparan police station, conducted raid in the house of Bhola Pandey in Ormanjhi police station area of Ranchi and rescued Mukherjee yesterday.
Police have also arrested two alleged kidnappers Chandan Kumar Sao of Jamui and Kundan Kumar Mandal of Baijanpur Thana of Kharagpur in Munger in Bihar.
The kidnappers had demanded ransom of Rs 50 lakhs for his release, Tuti said.
Giving details of the incident, police said Chatterjee and Mukherjee were proceeding to Varanasi from Kolkata in an SUV which met with an accident with a truck near village Sardarpur.
As the car was damaged the duo asked their office in Kolkata to send another vehicle for the onward journey and went to a dhaba in village Sardarpur to have meal and take rest, the police said.
The duo later came across some people, numbering about six, who offered them liquor at the dhaba. Mukherjee then approached a nearby paan shop to purchase cigarette when he was forcibly lifted in another SUV waiting few yards away and driven away.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nearly 20 heads of state and ministers serving in different governments across the world will attend the 8th Vibrant Gujarat Global Summit, to be held here next month.
The summit will be held at Mahatma Mandir convention centre here from January 10-13.
Some of the global dignitaries would interact with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and also participate in different seminars during the summit, said Additional Chief Secretary (Industries and Mines), P K Taneja at a press conference here today.
"We are privileged to host these leaders from around the world. These leaders include Prime Ministers, ministers and Presidents of various countries," said Taneja, adding that nine Nobel laureates as well as 58 CEOs from India and abroad would also be attending the mega business event.
Some of the prominent dignitaries include Nisha Desai Biswal, an Indian-American serving as Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asian Affairs in the United States Department of State, said Taneja.
Others include President of Kenya Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Rwanda Paul Kagame, Prime Minister of Portugal Antonio Costa, PM of Serbia Aleksandar Vucic, Deputy PM of Russia Dmitry Rogozin, first Deputy PM and Minister of Culture and National Heritage, Poland, Poitr Glinski.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Development, France, Jean-Marc Ayrault, Minister of Economy, Trade and Industry, Japan, Hiroshige Seko among many others.
The summit will be officially inaugurated by the Prime Minister at around 3:30 PM on January 10.
The 12 nations that have agreed to become partner countries for the event are - USA, UK, Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, Netherlands, Poland, Singapore, Sweden and UAE.
According to Taneja, demonetisation and its impact on the Indian economy would be discussed during the summit.
"On January 11, there is an important seminar about GST implementation, which will be chaired by Finance Minister Arun Jaitely. I firmly believe that dignitaries would discuss the demonetisation move and and its subsequent effects on economy during that seminar," said Taneja.
"This is my first visit to India and I am now proud of
Marwahs in India," said Dr. Marwa Mahdi Hadi Al Salihi from Iraq. I am happy to learn that there is already an Indo Afghanistan Cultural Forum working so well from Noida," said Pamir Khan Pasoon delegate from Afghanistan. "We are thankful to AAFT for giving a large number of film makers to Bhutan," said Ugyen Bidha
from Bhutan.
"We are enthusiastic about Indo Egypt Cultural Forum formed by Marwah in India," said Dr.Entsar Sayed Abdou Sayed of Egypt. The activities at Indo Guatemala Film and Cultural Forum have impressed me," added Evelyn Azucena, delegate from Guatemala.
Sandeep Marwah presented life memberships of World Peace Development and Research Foundation to every delegate along with the memento of Global Media and Entertainment Summit 2017. During the summit Sandeep Marwah was nominated and awarded by all the delegates as the Global Cultural Minister for his untiring contribution to world unity. Ashok Tyagi, Secretary General ICMEI; Padmini Parameshwaran, India Head of Teesside University also spoke on the occasion. Later, Sandeep Marwah honoured Prof. Ronan Paterson with the life membership of International Film and Television Club of AAFT and Dr. Rishi Raj Singh with Summit Memento.
About AAFT
AAFT - Asian Academy of Film and Television is the first of ten best film schools of the world conducting 55 different courses in films, television, media, fashion and new media. The academy has churned out more than 12000 students hailing from 120 countries of the world.
The institution has been bestowed upon more than 200 awards from all over the world.
For more information visit http://www.Aaft.Com
Media contact:
Viney Kumar
+91-0120-4831143
Info@aaft.Com
Asian Society of Film & Television
Photo: http://photos.Prnewswire.Com/prnh/20140814/10104379-a Source: Asian Society of Film & TV.
As many as 20 commercial sex
workers, two of them Bangladeshi nationals, were today arrested during a raid in Kalyan here, police said.
Acting on a tip-off, a team of Anti-Human Trafficking Cell (ATHC), Thane Police raided a spot near Kalyan railway station and arrested the women for allegedly openly soliciting customers, inspector Ravindra Doundkar of AHTC said.
An offence has been lodged under relevant sections of Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956, while the two Bangladeshi women were also booked under Passport (Entry Into India) Act-1950 and Foreigners Act-1946 for entering India without a valid passport, the official said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
About 135 films out of all the Hindi releases in 2015-16 were granted "A" certificate.
According to the CBFC annual report, in 2012, about 59 Hindi films were cleared with "A" certificate. The number increased 44 in 2013-14 while in 2014-15, the number rose to 102 and in 2015-16, it was 135.
About 65 Hindi films were given U certificate, 140 UA and 135 A certificate for this period, the report added.
The report said a total of 1,021 films were censored by CBFC in 2015-16.
Out of the 259 Tamil films released during the year, 10.24 per cent were adult certified, while the figures for "A" certified films in Malayalam stood at 7.09 per cent.
Similarly, between April 1, 2015 and March 31, 2016 about 67 Bhojpuri films were certified out of which 54 per cent were for adult viewing.
Out of the 180 Marathi films released during 2015-16, 12 were given A certificate while in 2014-15, 127 films were cleared out of which four were given A certificate.
The report said 94 films were denied censor certificate due to vulgarity and objections on script.
In 2015-16, 82 Marathi films were given U certificate, 86 UA and 12 Adult. For Telugu films the figures were 78 U, 130 UA, and 67 A which comes to 17.58 per cent. For Kannada it was 89 UA, 88 U, 27 A which is 7.09 per cent. For Malayalam, it
was 123 U, 40 UA and 5 A which 1.31 per cent.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Twenty-three people have been sent to jail for up to 15 years by a court in eastern China for smuggling refined oil.
The gang members were fined and sentenced to jail terms for up to 15 years, while their smuggling vessels, two oil tankers, were confiscated, Nanjing Customs said, citing a statement from Yangzhou City Intermediate People's Court in Jiangsu Province.
In November last year, Yangzhou Customs staff found an oil tanker coded "Haiguanshan No.66" was illegally transporting refined oil products in ports along the Yangzhou section of the Yangtze River.
Further investigation showed another oil tanker was also involved.
Yangzhou Customs found that the smugglers had asked overseas ships to dock in international waters, and sent the oil in Chinese ships.
Financial transactions were conducted via underground banks, state-run Xinhua agency reported today.
The gang had smuggled more than 35,000 tonnes of oil products since 2013, customs staff said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three persons have been booked for allegedly duping a woman of Rs 5.9 lakh on the pretext of helping to ward off the 'evil spirits' causing problems in her family life, police said today.
The main accused, residing at the police quarters in the city, and the woman were well acquainted. After her marriage, the woman moved with her husband to Sharjah.
But, after some time she was allegedly harassed by her husband, police said quoting the complaint.
The woman came to India in January this year, and she met the accused and told him about the problems in her family. The accused then offered to resolve her problems by performing some rituals. The woman then gave him money after which he performed the rituals to ward off the evil spirits. Later, she left for Sharjah, police said.
However, as the things did not improve, the woman again contacted the accused who demanded more money to perform some rituals again.
However, as she continued to face problems in her family life, she realised that she was cheated by the accused.
The woman, who again came here earlier this month from Sharjah, filed a complaint with the Rabodi police yesterday, alleging that she paid Rs 5.9 lakh to the accused till April this year.
Based on the complaint, police registered offences under IPC section 420 (cheating) and section 3 of The Maharashtra Prevention and Eradication of Human Sacrifice and other Inhuman, Evil and Aghori Practices and Black Magic Act-2013, against the main accused, the victim's female friend and the latter's son, who were also party to the offence.
No arrest has been made so far in this connection, police added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Three persons were injured today in security forces' action against a group of stone-pelting protesters in Pampore area of south Kashmir Pulwama district.
Security forces conducted search operations in Naristan and Samboora areas of the district in the morning following information about movement of suspicious persons there, a police official said.
As the security forces were withdrawing after concluding the operations, some youth started pelting stones at them, he said.
Three persons were injured as security personnel fired a few rounds to disperse the mob, the official said adding the injured have been admitted to a hospital here for treatment.
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At least 31 people were injured when a bus hit a lorry on NH6 due to dense fog in West Bengal's Howrah district today, police said.
The private bus with a complement of 50 passengers was heading to the beach resort of Digha from Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas when it hit the lorry from behind at Ashariya village on NH6 near Bagnan, a police officer said.
At least 31 people, including the driver and the helper, were injured and rushed to Uluberia General hospital. The condition of four, including a woman, was stated to be critical, the officer said.
The lorry driver fled with the vehicle but the bus, which sustained damage, has been seized, the officer said.
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Apple is all set to start manufacturing its iconic iPhones in India at Bengaluru, as part of efforts to cash in on the world's second largest smartphone market in a big way.
Local manufacturing is expected to help Apple price its phones more competitively in India as it currently attracts 12.5 per cent additional duty on imports.
The phones would be manufactured by Wistron, a Taiwanese OEM maker for Apple, according to top government sources.
"Wistron has plans for setting up iPhone manufacturing plant for domestic market in Peenya," top government sources familiar with the developments told PTI.
Another senior government official said Bengaluru has the talent required for quality high technology products and that was the reason for selecting the city.
The official added that Foxconn, which also manufactures iPhones for Apple, had come with similar plans to the city some time back.
This would be Apple's second big project for Bengaluru. In May, Apple had announced setting up a design and development accelerator in the City to grow the iOS developer community.
The announcement was made as part of the visit of Apple CEO Tim Cook to India.
The Cupertino-based company has been in discussions with Indian government seeking incentives to set up a manufacturing unit in the country.
A group of senior officials from ministries, including commerce and finance, will early next month deliberate on the incentives sought by Apple to set up a manufacturing unit in the country.
Apple had asked for several tax and other incentives to enter India in the manufacturing sector.
The company has been ramping up its efforts to expand its business in India, one of its fastest growing markets. Apple is also keen on setting up retail presence in India and has sought relaxation in local sourcing norms.
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Terming tradition and culture as the biggest asset of any nation, Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal today asserted that concerted efforts have been made during SAD-BJP government to conserve the glorious cultural heritage of the state.
Addressing the gathering after laying the foundation stone for constructing a memorial of great Sikh martyr Baba Jai Singh Khalkat at his native village here, the CM said those nations who tend to forget their cultural past and heritage were bound to be vanished with the passage of time.
It was often said that Punjabis were known for creating history but they could not preserve it, he said.
"For the first time in history of state concerted efforts have been made to conserve our rich cultural heritage for the future generations," Badal said.
The CM said it goes to the credit of SAD-BJP government, which undertook momentous task to preserve the glorious cultural legacy of Punjab through state-of-the-art memorials and monuments.
The historic monument, to be constructed over four acres of land, would keep "our younger generations abreast with the sacrifices in the Sikh history,"he said.
Baba Jai Singh Khalkat was skinned alive after being hung upside down from the tree, and set on fire as ordered by the then Mughal regime in 1753. His entire family, including his wife Dhan Kaur, two sons Karraka Singh and Kharrak Singh and his younger daughter-in-law Amar Kaur were also martyred.
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One of the fisherman released from a Pakistan jail has claimed that inmates were "beaten up" on several occasions in the aftermath of the surgical strikes conducted by India across LoC.
"After the surgical strikes by India across LoC we were forced to work in two shifts which was against the rules and beaten up for not performing duties to the satisfaction of jail authorities," Ramchandra Tandel, a native of Navsari, who arrived at coastal town of Veraval after being released from Pakistani jail on December 25, told PTI today.
The fishermen also missed watching Bollywood movies while in the jail after Pakistani authorities banned screening of Indian films for past some months.
"In the initial period of our custody, all of us were allowed to watch Indian movies. However, it was suddenly stopped and only Pakistani movies were screened," said Tandel, who was arrested from Okha port about 12 months ago on charges of entering Pakistani territorial waters.
"We even requested Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to direct jail authorities to start screening of Indian movies," he said.
Meanwhile, the Gujarat Fishermen Association (GFA) has blamed the jail authorities for deteriorating health condition of one of the fisherman, Bhagwan Solanki, who suffered a paralytic stroke in jail.
"His (Solanki's) health is in very bad condition as he suffered a severe paralytic stroke in jail. How can a healthy person suffer attack in jail? It raises questions on negligence of Pakistani authorities in providing medical treatment to the jailed fisherman," Velji Masani senior vice-president of GFA said.
"The jail officials even did not inform the family members about the stroke suffered by Solanki," said Masani.
He observed that had Pakistani authorities sent him (Solanki) to Gujarat soon after suffering attack on humanitarian ground, this situation would not have arised.
The 110 fishermen released on December 25 by Pakistan, arrived in Veraval about 300 kms from Vadodara today.
Pakistan has decided to release 439 Indian fishermen in two batches as a goodwill gesture to strengthen ties amid cross border tension. A batch of 220 fishermen was released on December 25 with another batch of 219 to be released on January 5, 2017.
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Former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, arrested in a money laundering case, today said the application filed by an activist questioning his prolonged stay at hospital was aimed at obfuscating the main issue of his health and maligning his image.
Activist Anjali Damania had last month approached the special court for Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) cases, contending that due to "negligence of duty" by the government-run J J Hospital and the Arthur Road jail authorities, Bhujbal was living in the private-run Bombay Hospital since November 2.
The NCP leader was "misusing" a court order, she had said.
Bhujbal, in his reply filed today, questioned Damania's locus standi (right to move the court). Her application was aimed at "derailing the main purpose" (health issues for which he was hospitalised) and focused on maligning his image, he said and sought dismissal of her plea.
Damania also alleged that several politicians met Bhujbal in the hospital without the court's permission.
The court is likely to take up the matter next week.
Following Damania's plea, on December 14 the court had directed that Bhujbal be sent back to the jail.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had arrested Bhujbal, who held PWD portfolio in the previous Congress-NCP government, on March 14 this year.
FIR in the case alleged irregularities in contract for construction of Maharashtra Sadan, state guest-house in Delhi built at the cost of Rs 100 crore, and payment of kickbacks to Bhujbal.
Another FIR alleged that Bhujbal received kickbacks in the contract for state central library on Kalina campus of Mumbai University.
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The law has caught up with TMC MP Tapas Pal, BJP said after he was today arrested in the Rose Valley Chit Fund scam case and rejected West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banrjee's charge of vendetta politics.
"Finally, the law has caught up with TMC MP Tapas Pal. CBI is following the process of the law and Mamataji should not give a political twist by questioning the timing and calling it political vendetta.
"We have seen in the past that she tried to web a conspiracy theory of plane crash and army coup but nobody bought them," its National Secretary Sidharth Nath Singh said.
Singh, who is also the party's co-incharge for the state, said the TMC chief should know that "sins" of her rule are being exposed by the law now.
"Why TMC leaders are involved in all chit fund scams? Sins of her misrule are being challenged by the law of the land," he said.
Pal was arrested by CBI in Kolkata for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley Chit Fund scam case after being interrogated for four hours.
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West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today declined to comment on the internal squabbles of the Samajwadi Party, but said whoever wins the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, BJP should not get a single vote.
"It is SP's internal matter. I do not want to say anything on it," she told a press conference at the state secretariat when asked to comment on the developments in that party.
"But whoever wins, be it BSP or SP, BJP should not get a single vote. They (Modi government) are threatening Mayawati. They are threatening those who have opposed their (demonetisation) decision. They are only spreading lies and canards. They believe in the theory of Goebbels," she added.
Banerjee had addressed a public meeting against demonetisation in Lucknow last month which had been attended by Uttar Pradesh ministers.
"They (BJP) are committing mistakes everyday. They had committed a mistake in Bihar where Lalu (Prasad) and Nitish (Kumar) won the election," she said.
Continuing with her attack on the saffron party, Banerjee said, "Within seven days of Jayalalithaa's demise, they had conducted a raid (on the Tamil Nadu chief secretary). If Chandrababu Naidu raises his voice, they will conduct a raid on him as well.
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An unidentified gang broke into a house in Ukkadam here and decamped with gold ornaments and cash Rs 1.32 lakh, police said today.
The incident came to light this morning when the owner of the house, Younis returned from Kerala and noticed that the main door of his house was broken open, they said.
He was also shocked to find 36 sovereigns of gold ornaments and cash to the tune of Rs 1.32 lakh besides a Rado watch missing from the almirah, police said.
A case has been registered and investigation is on, they added.
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Residents of Bihar, who have been witnessing a foggy and chilly weather conditions for the past two days, are likely to witness dense foggy morning followed by sunshine for the next two days.
Patna Meteorological Centre has forecast that residents of major parts of Bihar are likely to welcome new year with dense foggy morning and chilly weather conditions.
"There would be cold weather conditions in the state including the state capital due to the chilly wind coming from Jammu and Kashmir and Himachal Pradesh which have witnessed snowfall. It would cause shivering as the temperature is likely to fall further," MeT official said.
MeT office has forecast another foggy morning followed by mainly clear sky later in the day in the state's four major cities -- Patna, Gaya, Bhagalpur and Purnea.
Residents of Patna woke up amid dense fog.
According to MeT bulletin, the minimum temperature recorded at Patna was 11.2 degrees Celsius against yesterday's 10.7 degrees Celsius, while the maximum was registered at 18.4 degrees Celsius against yesterday's 20.2 degrees Celsius.
Both maximum and minimum temperatures are expected to be around 18 and 11 degrees Celsius respectively tomorrow, an official said.
Gaya recorded a low of 11.4 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 21.3 degrees Celsius, the MeT bulletin said.
Bhagalpur recorded a minimum of 12.4 degrees Celsius and maximum of 19 degrees Celsius.
Purnea registered a minimum of 13.1 degrees Celsius and a maximum of 26 degrees Celsius which is the highest maximum temperature recorded among the major cities of the state.
The lowest temperature of 8 degrees Celsius was recorded at Sabour in Bhagalpur district, the MeT office said.
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China's State Grid Corporation is set to build a USD 1.5-billion power line across Pakistan to enable the transmission of 4,000 megawatts of electricity from the country's north to south, the government said today.
Pakistani and Chinese officials signed an investment agreement in Beijing yesterday to build the country's first high-voltage, direct current (HVDC) line, according to a government statement.
The power transmission line would link the national grid between the southern Pakistani town of Matiari and easternmost city of Lahore, some 1,000 kilometres apart.
Pakistan has been struggling to provide enough power to its nearly 200 million citizens for years, and Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif has vowed to solve the crisis by 2018.
Sharif inaugurated Pakistan's fourth nuclear power plant on Wednesday, a joint collaboration with China that adds 340 megawatts to the national grid as part of the government's efforts to end a growth-sapping energy deficit.
The energy sector has traditionally struggled to cover the cost of producing electricity, leading the government to divert USD 2 billion annually as a subsidy, according to a recent report commissioned by the British government.
China is ramping up investment in its South Asian neighbour as part of a USD 46-billion project unveiled last year that will link its far-western Xinjiang region to Pakistan's Gwadar port with a series of infrastructure, power and transport upgrades.
Last week Pakistan's main bourse announced that a Chinese consortium was set to acquire a 40 percent stake in the stock exchange in a deal estimated at $84 million.
Shanghai Electric announced in August it would buy a majority stake in the utility that supplies energy to Karachi for USD 1.7 billion, in the country's biggest ever private- sector acquisition.
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Delhi High Court today sought the response of ex-IAF chief S P Tyagi, who is on bail after being arrested in the AgustaWestland chopper scam, on CBI's plea challenging his bail claiming its probe would be "hampered" if he remains out.
Justice Vipin Sanghi issued notice to Tyagi, who was arrested on December 9 and granted bail on December 26, listed the matter for hearing on January 3 after CBI said the bail pleas of other accused in the case are likely to be heard by the trial court on January 4.
Justice Sanghi said the endeavour of the court would be to dispose of the matter on January 3 after hearing all the parties.
CBI argued before the high court that each day Tyagi remained out on bail would lead to its line of investigation being "exposed" and "hampered" and the evidence could also be destroyed.
The agency also said its probe was "multi-layered" as it was spread across several countries since various companies were allegedly used to "camouflage the bribe money".
The contention came in response to the high court's query as to why should the 72-year old former Chief of Air Staff be retained in judicial custody at this stage when he was in the custody of the agency for a week prior to getting bail.
CBI admitted before the high court that though the FIR was registered in 2013, "real core investigation started only a few months back" and hence it did not want Tyagi to be out on bail till the charge sheet is filed.
It contended that if Tyagi remained out on bail, he could "alert other potential accused".
A special court had on December 26 this year granted bail to Tyagi, saying CBI has failed to state the alleged bribe amount and when it was paid.
Tyagi, who was interrogated by CBI in its custody for seven days, was asked to furnish a personal bond of Rs two lakh and a surety of like amount as pre-requisites for his release on bail.
The trial court had asked Tyagi not to leave the National
Capital Region without its permission and ordered him not to tamper with evidence or try to influence witnesses.
It had noted that Tyagi had joined investigation as and when CBI called him and it was not the case that he either tampered with evidence after registration of the FIR or influenced any witness in the case.
While granting the relief, the trial court also took note of Tyagi's advancing age and his health conditions and said no purpose would be served by keeping him behind bars.
Tyagi, who retired in 2007, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan were arrested on December 9 by CBI in connection with the case which relates to procurement of 12 VVIP choppers from UK-based AgustaWestland during the UPA-2 regime.
The court had on December 17 sent all the three accused to judicial custody till December 30.
The Congress today complained to President Pranab Mukherjee against the new land acquisition law passed by the TRS government in Telangana, alleging that "the law was enacted to make it easier for government to acquire land while curtailing rights of people."
"State government has enacted amendments to the Right to Fair Compensation and Transparency in Land Acquisition Rehabilitation and Resettlement Act, 2013. These amendments, while mostly identical to the amendments introduced by the Central Government by way of Ordinance in December 2014, are in gross violation of the principal Act," a Telangana Congress release quoted the party leaders as saying in a memorandum submitted to the President here.
State Congress president N Uttam Kumar Reddy and other leaders pointed out that section 107 of the 2013 Act (brought under the UPA regime) makes it clear that no amendments could be carried out unless they enhance the benefits and safeguards provided under the 2013 law.
They claimed that the amendments made by the state government do not satisfy these requirements and instead seek to dilute the protections, safeguards and benefits given under the 2013 law.
The sole purpose behind this is to make the process of acquiring land easier for the state authorities while curtailing the rights given to the people by the 2013 law, they alleged.
Maintaining that the Social Impact Assessment or SIA is the heart and soul of the law, the leaders claimed that the amendments abandon the process of social impact assessment and preparation of social impact management plan.
"The President has the right to refuse approval if, after careful consideration, the State amendments are seen as a method to bypass critical safeguards and infringe upon the rights provided to the affected families," they said.
The leaders of the main opposition appealed to the President that the state law be seen as an alleged attempt "to take away the hard fought rights and protections afforded to the affected families, all in the name of administrative convenience in land acquisition."
The President is in Hyderabad for his annual southern sojourn during which he stays at the Rashtrapati Nilayam, one of the Presidential Retreats.
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A Chhattisgarh bandh called today by the Congress to protest against the Centre's demonetisation exercise evoked a mixed response with most of the business establishments remaining open in several districts.
The bandh was partial in some districts while in major districts like Raipur it virtually did not receive much response.
As many as 509 Congress workers, including state chief Bhupesh Baghel and Rajya Sabha MP Chhaya Verma, were arrested alone in Raipur district during the protest, a police official said, adding they were later released unconditionally.
However, Congress claimed the bandh was successful.
"The protest garnered response right from the villages to cities as a large number of people came out in its support.
"BJP and its government at Centre and state are (feeling) threatened to see the peoples' anger against its demonetisation decision and therefore they used hundreds of policemen to suppress a peaceful protest by Congress," Baghel said.
He claimed over 20,000 Congress leaders and workers were forcefully arrested during the peaceful agitations across the state.
Though no major untoward incident was reported from any part of the state, at some places Congress activists were involved in minor scuffles with the police when they were prevented from disrupting traffic.
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Demanding lifting of cash withdrawal limits with immediate effect, Congress today said 18 per cent per annum interest should be given to all bank account holders till post-demonetisation restrictions are in place.
AICC General Secretary and in-charge of party's Punjab affairs Asha Kumari also termed demonetisation a "surgical strike" by the Centre on poor, farmers, labourers, small businesses, middle class and the entire unorganised sector.
"All restrictions on withdrawal of money be lifted with immediate effect. Till the time these restrictions are in place, a special interest at the rate of 18 per cent per annum should be given to all bank account holders," she said here.
The Congress also demanded that all charges on digital transactions should be abolished forthwith, she said.
Besides, an Income Tax and Sales tax rebate of 50 per cent should be given to small shopkeepers and businesses, she said, adding that the Central government should compensate the state governments for the loss of revenue incurred on account of this exemption.
She said that the number of guaranteed work days and the wage rate under MGNREGA should be doubled for a year.
"The government should organise a special drive to identify and register all those who have lost their jobs since November 8, 2016, and provide them compensation at the applicable minimum wage rate for a time period extending up to 31st March, 2017," she added.
She said that the rate of rations distributed under the PDS system should be halved for the period of a year under the provisions of the Food Security Act.
"In addition, a special one-time bonus of 20 per cent should be provided over and above the MSP of all Rabi crops," the party's Punjab in-charge said.
Deploring the demonetisation as "biggest scandal", she said the development of country has been badly affected since November 8.
"Through demonetisation Modi has hit out at 99 per cent people of the country at the cost of mere 50 families," she said.
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The opposition Congress in Tripura today said it will hold demonstration before the government offices against the demonetisation drive which has caused "limitless inconveniences" to the common people.
"Demonetisation has caused limitless inconveniences to the common people throughout the country including our state. So, the state Congress has decided to demonstrate before the offices of DMs, SDMs and other government offices in the state," TPCC President Birajit Sinha told reporters.
"We will demonstrate before the government offices including District Magistrates and Sub-divisional Magistrates on January 5 to protest against demonetisation," he said.
Ramen Barthakur, AICC Coordinator and in-charge of Tripura said, "The process of demonetisation is anti-people and anti-poor. It is a disaster caused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People want a relief from it".
Barthakur said, "It is one of the biggest scams aimed at benefiting the corporate. Rahul Gandhi had asked many questions including the quantity of black money recovered due to this step, but he remained silent.
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Holding Congress responsible for the "plight" of refugees from Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) and the West Pakistan, BJP today said whatever the settlers had to face was due to the "failed" policies of the Congress-led governments.
"Whatever the displaced people from Pakistan occupied Kashmir and West Pakistan had to face were due to the failed policies of Congress and its successive governments in the state and the Centre," BJP state president Sat Sharma said.
Congress "betrayed" the displaced people from PoK. Now when Prime Minister Narendra Modi has taken up their plight and came forward to grant them financial assistance, Congress leaders, instead of appreciating the decision of BJP-led government, are once again trying to mislead them, he said.
"It is most unfortunate that whatever is being done for the displaced people by the Modi government is being criticised by Congress leaders, which is reflection of their frustration," Sharma said.
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President Pranab Mukherjee today said cooperative spirit within the country will help it to become self-sufficient, self-dependent and self-reliant in all the fields.
He said the developmental objectives of thenation can be achieved with the efforts of both government andpeople's organisations supplementing each other.
"Bengaluru is emerging as an education hub and the health hub of the rest of India. Thanks to the educationists, philanthropists and medical practitioners andscientists for making their city a centre of botheducation and health," Mukherjee said.
"I have no doubt the way in which the people are developing the spirit of cooperation, the cooperative spirit will truly translate to convert our country to be self-sufficient, self-dependent and self-reliant in all thefields," he added.
The President was speaking after inaugurating 'Adamya Chetana Seva Utsava 2017' and Sri Shankara National Centre forCancer Prevention and Research here, that was attended by Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Rudabhai Vala and Chief MinisterSiddaramaiah among others.
Adamya Chetana is a charitable organisation started byUnion Minister Ananth Kumar in 1997 in the memory of his late mother Girija Narayana Shastry, of which he is the chief patron. The organisation works in the field of education with food, education and health as its core intervention.
Lauding Ananth and his wife, Tejaswini for their service to society through Adamya Chetana, the President said "We cannot expect government to do everything".
"There are many problems which we cannot solveon our own... Yes government can do much more than anyindividual or institutions, but government cannot do everything," he said.
Recalling a summit of the heads of governments held in 1995 in Denmark, in which he participated as Deputy Chairman of Planning Commission, he said the summit had recognised that it is the responsibility of people at large to remove social inequality, and highlighted the importance of feeding the hungry children.
He said "Ten commitments were adopted at the summit,out of which one important commitment was to feed the hungry children, because when you feed a child you feed a generation,you feed your future".
Noting that it is students who are going to be our future and generation next, the President said if they become healthy, educated and energetic, they will be an asset to society and family.
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Former Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan today alleged the decision prohibiting cooperative banks from accepting scrapped notes was taken three days after Rs 500 crore was deposited in an Ahmedabad cooperative bank, in which BJP President Amit Shah is a director.
Chavan clarified that Shah had not deposited Rs 500 crore in the cooperative bank.
"Does the ban on cooperative banks from doing business, which has hurt the rural economy extremely badly in Karnataka, Maharashtra, Kerala and Gujarat, got anything to do with the (Ahmedabad District Cooperative) bank having Amit Shah as the director and the deposit of Rs 500 crore. We are going to ask them (BJP)," the senior congress leader told reporters here.
"Shah is a director in one of the Ahmedabad cooperative banks. I didn't say he deposited the money (himself). The money was deposited in that bank."
"Interestingly, three days after 500 crore was deposited in the bank, there was a ban imposed on cooperative banks from doing business," he claimed.
Chavan said the Congress has demanded a 'white paper' and also a Joint Parliamentary Committee probe into the deposits made in all the banks on or before November 8, and also deposits made immediately later.
He demanded that the Gujarat government release footage of the CDs of the CCTV cameras installed at the Ashram Road Branch, "the headquarter-branch of the Ahmedabad District Cooperative bank."
Prime Minister Narendra Modi in a surprise announcement on November 8 declared the old Rs 500 and 1,000 notes invalid.
Asked whether the Congress has sought an explanation from former Delhi Chief Minister Sheila Dikshit for calling Sahara-Birla diaries fictitious, a line of argument taken by BJP, Chavan said "Mrs Dikshit has clarified and told Congress party that everyone whose names are in the diaries should be investigated."
Chavan said Prime Minister Narendra Modi should inform the country over the status of the investigation conducted by tax authorities.
"Mrs Sheila Dikshit had said let the investigation go on. Has the Prime Minister stopped the investigation? Is the investigation on? Is there (any) interim report? He should take the country into confidence. The Prime Minister should say something," he said.
Congress Vice President Rahul Gandhi had recently alleged that Modi as Gujarat Chief Minister had taken money from Sahara and Birla groups and demanded an independent inquiry into it, a charge BJP has rejected.
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Comedian D L Hughley is facing backlash on Twitter and has been accused of making insensitive, race-related joke about the death of movie icon Debbie Reynolds.
The Hollywood veteran died on Wednesday, a day after losing her daughter, "Star Wars" legend Carrie Fisher, and while many celebrity fans and friends used social media to express their grief, Hughley decided to have a little fun with the sad news, reported Variety.
He wrote, "Debbie Reynolds died a day after her daughter did! Black Mama's don't die cuz they kids do! They cry and say God don't make no mistakes (sic)."
His tweet did not sit well with many followers, who attacked Hughley for the insensitive barb.
"This is a perfect example of inserting race where it is inappropriate to do so," one wrote. "A family lost two people in two days, and THAT'S what you say?"
Another user posted, "As a human being you could have more compassion. As a father you could have more heart. As a comedian, you should have a seat."
Another responded, "Somehow you have managed to trivialize the death of two beloved phenoms and the pain of black mothers who lost their kids."
Earlier this week following Fisher's death on Tuesday, Cinnabon was also met with backlash online.
The company tweeted a picture of cinnamon arranged in the shape of Fisher's "Star Wars" character Princess Leia with a cinnamon roll in place of her signature hairstyle. The company later deleted the tweet and apologized.
Actor Steve Martin also came under fire for a tweet intended as a tribute. He originally wrote, "When I was a young man, Carrie Fisher was the most beautiful creature I had ever seen. She turned out to be witty and bright as well," but later deleted the tweet.
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The prominence of dance music has exponentially grown across the globe and in 2016 India became one of the markets that the genre tapped into with performances by some of the biggest DJs in various cities throughout the year.
The music festival scene in India was mostly ruled by dance music as some of the popular names in the industry headlined two of the biggest festivals in 2016 -- Sunburn and Electric Daisy Carnival (EDC) India.
While Sunburn, the biggest music festival in Asia, is celebrating its 10th anniversary with its massive lineup for the 4-day event in Pune this weekend, EDC announced its debut edition here in November.
Its India debut brings the madness that ensues every year at the festival's finale in Las Vegas.
A slew of world renowned DJs along with home-grown talent performed at the two-day event which delivered a first-of-its-kind experience to ravers with the spectacular stage productions, lasers and sound design.
Steve Aoki, Yellow Claw, Afrojack and Alesso, Nucleya, Ferry Corsten and Markus Schulz were some of the headliners who performed across three stages designed for fans with different taste in genres.
Pasquale Rotella, Founder and CEO of Insomniac Events, who had earlier hinted about expanding the festival's base and bringing it to Asian countries had said then, "Ever since I was a kid, I've been fascinated by the country's colourful and exotic culture. I know it's a place where the magic of EDC can come alive in a truly unique way.
Besides EDC, there were other festivals that made first-
ever trip to India. Sensation debuted in March in Hyderabad, while Mad Decent Block Party, curated by American DJ Diplo's label -- 'Mad Decent', toured Bengaluru and Mumbai in February.
Even the DJs have become aware that Indian subcontinent comprises of their most loyal fans who have helped in the collective growth of the genre by thronging city concerts and annual festivals in large numbers despite the hefty price of tickets.
Last year's world number one DJs Dimitri Vegas and Like Mike believe EDM is on the rise in India. They performed in Mumbai and Hyderabad in October for 'Sunburn Arena' and are set to return for the finale in Pune tomorrrow.
"Dance music scene in India is crazy now. We started performing at smaller clubs and now its like a 10,000 people event," the Belgian DJs told
The new year is likely to be greeted by 'very poor' quality air in the national capital with relatively windy conditions poised to prevent any major build up of suspended particulates, SAFAR today forecast.
The agency of the Ministry of Earth Sciences said while current pollution level is also in the very poor category, the situation will see a marginal deterioration from tomorrow before improving from January 2.
"The pollution level at present is in very poor category. It is likely to remain in very poor category until new year. However, a marginal increase in the level of PM 2.5 is predicted from 164 micrograms per cubic metre on Dec 30 to 192 on January 1. Thereafter, a significant drop to 159 on January 2 is expected," the forecast said.
Although, Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) pitched for early implementation of the CPCB-mandated and SC approved graded response system saying pollution was once again hitting the "emergency level".
"If the notification of graded action plan, as directed by the Supreme Court is delayed, it can worsen the health emergency. The Ministry of Environment must notify it under section 3 of the Environment Protection Act immediately," the green NGO said.
The National Air Quality Index (NAQI) of the Central Pollution Control Board (CPCB) had a reading of 345 (running average) based on the data of seven monitoring stations across the city, as against yesterday's 402.
SAFAR said the drop in temperature, which will bring down the inversion level which contributes towards accumulation of pollutants, will be offset by moderate wind speed at around 6-8 km per hour.
"If wind becomes calm (unlikely) then air quality may deteriorate but probability of calm wind situation is less than 20 per cent," it said.
SAFAR recorded today's average levels of PM 2.5 and PM 10 (24 hour, rolling) at 164 and 262 micrograms per cubic metre respectively as against the prescribed standards of 60 and 100.
A person may develop respiratory illness on prolonged exposure to 'very poor' quality air while 'severe' may affect healthy people and seriously impact those with existing respiratory diseases, CPCB guidelines say.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Terming demonetisation as the "biggest scam in the political history of India," Congress in Madhya Pradesh said it would hold protests in every district on January 6 to create awareness among masses on the issue.
"BJP wanted to monopolise corruption through demonetisation, which is the biggest scam of country's political history. Congress will stage protest on January 6 in Madhya Pradesh as part of party's nationwide agitation on the issue," All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Mohan Prakash told reporters here.
During these protests, Congress workers would hold a march and submit memorandum to the concerned authorities, he added.
Prakash, who is in-charge of party's affairs in Madhya Pradesh, compared America's "9/11" terrorist strike to demonetisation, terming it as "8/11."
"There was 9/11 in America. The people there are still suffering due to that attack. Here it was 8/11. Only difference is that terrorists were behind 9/11 but it was country's Prime Minister who is behind 8/11," he alleged while referring to the date of demonetisation's announcement.
Prakash alleged that Prime Minister was under pressure from foreign companies, which rule the digital transaction business.
"These companies are charging 2.5 per cent of service charge on every transaction. Why the people are being forced to pay more?," he asked.
AICC general secretary reiterated Congress' claim that demonetisation was done for the benefit of some 'industrialist friends' of the Prime Minister.
"At a time when common people are standing in queue to get Rs 2000, the new currency is being found in bulk of Rs 50 lakh to Rs one crore from those close to the ruling party at Centre," he alleged.
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Claiming that there was no effort by the Modi government to retrieve black money from abroad despite having detailed information, Jha said now also all the "big shots" have managed to convert their black money into white while the common man was made to suffer due to demonetisation.
The Congress leader also sought a thorough investigation into the money deposited in banks before note ban as he termed demonetisation as "part of a conspiracy to mislead people before assembly elections" in some states.
Charging Modi with causing economic anarchy due to the note ban, he claimed that development has come to a grinding halt marked by economic instability in the country and death of more than 100 people due to cash crunch.
Dubbing note ban as organised plunder, he said money was taken from people's pockets and put in banks, while some BJP leaders have been caught with huge amounts of new currency notes which needs to be thoroughly probed.
Jha said PM Modi's credibility is under cloud as his name has allegedly surfaced in diaries for receiving kickbacks when he was the Gujarat Chief Minister, a charge rejected by BJP.
Demonetisation, attack on Indian Air Force Base in Pathankot, imposition of liquor ban in Bihar, fire in Puttingal temple in Kerala, the terrorist attack in Uri and Manipur activist Irom Sharmila ending her 16-year long hunger strike made headlines in the year 2015.
Assembly elections in TamilNadu, Assam, West Bengal and Puducherry brought landslide victories for the AIADMK, BJP, TMC and Congress respectively.
The demise of Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, months-long Kashmir turmoil, Supreme Court's order to play the National Anthem in cinemas before films and the sacking of Cyrus Mistry as the Chairman of the Tata Sons were other issues that made .
The landmark Goods and Services Tax Bill was passed in the parliament, and the Government of India accepted the 7th Pay Commission recommendations to increase salaries of employees.
Following is the diary of domestic events:
Jan 2: New Delhi: Veteran Communist Party of India leader A B Bardhan, who steered the party during the turbulent period of coalition politics at national level in 1990s, died here tonight after prolonged illness.
Jan 2: Pathankot (Punjab): Heavily-armed Pakistani terrorists today attempted to storm the Air Force base here, triggering a day-long gunbattle in which three securitymen and four infiltrators were killed, days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's surprise stopover in Lahore.
Jan 3:New Delhi: Two Jaish-e-Mohammed militants were suspected to have sneaked into the national capital and were planning high-profile attacks, including taking hostages, following which security was today stepped up in the city, a day after the Pathankot Air Base strike by the same Pakistan-based outfit.
Jan 4: New Delhi: Juveniles of 16 years of age and above can now be tried as adults if they commit heinous offences like rape and murder as President Pranab Mukherjee has given assent to an Act in this regard.
Jan 4: Imphal/Guwahati: At least nine persons were killed and over 100 injured as a strong 6.8 magnitude earthquake epicentred in Manipur today struck the northeastern and eastern regions, damaging buildings and sparking panic that sent people scampering out of their homes.
Jan 5: Pathankot: Bringing the curtains down on Day 4, Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar today said all six terrorists at the Pathankot air base have been killed but admitted to "some gaps" in security that led to the terror attack in which some "Pakistan-made material" have been used.
Jan 7: New Delhi: Putting the ball squarely in Pakistan's court, India today linked the Foreign Secretary-level talks to Islamabad's "prompt and decisive" action in the Pathankot terror attack for which it has provided "actionable intelligence".
Jan 7: New Delhi/Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed, who crafted an impossible coalition with BJP in the Muslim-majority state, died today and just hours later his party PDP chose his daughter Mehbooba Mufti as his successor.
Jan 8: New Delhi/Chennai: The four-year-old ban on holding
of controversial bull taming sport Jallikattu was lifted today in poll-bound Tamil Nadu with certain restrictions, angering animal rights activists who said it is cruel and abusive and vowed to move the Supreme Court against it.
Jan 9: Pathankot: Accompanied by National Security Adviser Ajit Doval, Prime Minister Narendra Modi visits the Pathankot air base and voices satisfaction over the counter offensive mounted by the security forces to eliminate the perpetrators.
Jan 9: Srinagar/New Delhi: Jammu and Kashmir is placed under Governor's rule with the process of new government formation following the death of Chief Minister Mufti Mohammad Sayeed taking some time.
Jan 11: Srinagar: As suspense mounts over government formation in Jammu and Kashmir, National Conference leader Omar Abdullah rules out the party's unilateral support to PDP from outside in any new dispensation with Congress backing.
Jan 13: New Delhi: Syria said it received "positive response" from India to its requests on intelligence sharing and economic aid especially in terms of food grains and medicines as worn-torn country battles terrorism on one side and sanctions imposed by the West on the other.
Jan 13: New Delhi: India says it has received no confirmation of detention of JeM chief Maulana Masood Azhar despite widespread reports of his having been apprehended in connection with the Pathankot attack of which he is suspected to be the mastermind.
Jan 15: New Delhi: The sensational case of the death of Sunanda Pushkar, wife of Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, reaches a new stage with the US-based FBI endorsing the AIIMS report of poisoning as the cause and also saying that a "dangerous chemical" was present in her body that may have killed her.
Jan 17: Srinagar: Meeting nine days after Jammu and Kashmir was brought under Governor's rule, the PDP's core group meets and indicates it was veering to the idea of forming a coalition government with BJP, but its president Mehbooba Mufti says she is in no hurry to take over as chief minister.
Jan 18: Gurgaon: Two men, suspected to have links with terror group al-Qaeda have been arrested from Haryana's Mewat district in a joint operation by Delhi Police and Intelligence Bureau, Mewat Police says.
Jan 19: New Delhi: The head of the AIIMS medical board, which gave its opinion last week on the cause of Sunanda Pushkar's death, says that Delhi Police caused "unnecessary delay" in sending Sunanda's viscera sample to the FBI lab on account of which its contents degraded.
Jan 19: Hyderabad/Pune: Protests over the alleged suicide by a Dalit research scholar escalates in Hyderabad and Delhi and also spreads to other cities including Pune, Chennai and Gandhinagar with the incident being described as an "institutional murder".
Jan 20: New Delhi: No difference can be made between good and bad terrorists and all forms of terrorism and manner of support to them need to be completely eradicated, says President Pranab Mukherjee.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said no communal clash took place at Dhulagarh in Howrah district and termed it as "local problem".
"It is a small matter. It is a local problem. That was not a communal problem. I will stick to police's version," she told mediapersons at the state secretariat.
Earlier in the day the Chief Minister denied any incident of rioting at Dhulagarh and alleged that "wrong information" was being given on social media.
"In the last 15 days, social media is running wrong information on an incident which did not take place at all," Banerjee said at a programme here in an apparent reference to reports of violence earlier this month at Dhulagarh, which is barely 20 km from the state secretariat.
"In order to break one must not act irresponsibly. If something has really happened then you (media) have every right to report it but I think a field survey must be done," she said.
Her remarks came even as a senior government official had yesterday said strict actions were taken against those involved in the Dhulagarh violence and the process of giving compensation to the affected has started.
The state government, Banerjee said today, is the first to help a family when their home is damaged or they are affected.
"If there is an accident, we immediately take steps to help the family.... We do it on humanitarian grounds but we do not do any publicity," she said.
District police said inhabitants are wary of returning to their homes at Dhulagarh.
Delegations of BJP, CPI(M) and Congress were stopped from visiting the troubled areas of the district and police superintendent of Howrah (Rural) Sabyasachi Raman Mishra was transferred in the wake of violence within less than a fortnight of his appointment.
BJP has hit out at Banerjee over the Dhulagarh incident.
"This is height of politics of appeasement. I want to ask those intellectuals, who cried over 2002 riots in Gujarat and then intolerant India, that when are they going to Kolkata," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said yesterday.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Eight miners were killed and some others feared trapped following a cave-in at Lalmatia opencast coal mine at Rajmahal area of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) last night.
"So far, bodies of eight miners have been recovered from the mine. Rescue work is on," R R Mishra, officiating CMD of ECL, a Coal India arm, told PTI today.
There was a mishap at the mine in Godda district at around 7.30 PM last night when excavators and tippers were working there following which rescue operations were launched immediately, Mishra said.
Director General of Mines Safety and senior officials were there to supervise the rescue operation, Mishra said.
He said 10 equipments -- three excavators and seven tipper trucks -- have been recovered.
A high-level committee has been formed to inquire into the reasons behind the mishap, Mishra said.
Police said two persons were injured in the incident and were being treated at a hospital.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Chief Minister Raghubar Das over phone and took stock of the situation.
The PM said Jharkhand Government and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal were "working to restore normalcy".
The National Disaster Relief Force (NDRF) has been engaged for rescue & relief operations.
"Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside. Spoke to CM Raghubar Das on the situation," Modi said on twitter.
Expressing sorrow, the Jharkhand Chief Minister today announced assistance of Rs two lakh for the families of the miners who died in the accident.
He also announced Rs 25,000 to the injured, official sources said.
"All senior officials have been asked to stay at the site," the CM tweeted.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis will take a final call on selection of the BJP candidates for upcoming BMC polls.
"Fadnavis himself will be carefully screening the candidates for ensuing BMC elections (due next year)," BJP's city unit president Ashish Shelar told reporters today.
He, however, evaded a query on prospects of a seat-sharing pact with its junior alliance partner Shiv Sena.
However, sources in the BJP said the party would want Sena to allocate them 110 out of total 227 seats.
According to sources, the CM himself has taken charge of the party's preparation for the polls.
Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, ruled by Sena in alliance with the BJP, is the country's richest civic body.
However, Sena leader and Industries Minister Subhash Desai said his party would contest all 227 seats though the BJP has been stating that it was keen for an alliance with Sena for BMC elections.
Desai said Sena has learnt its lessons from the experience it had with the BJP in run-up to 2014 Assembly elections when BJP kept negotiating on seat sharing till last minute before calling off the alliance ahead of polls.
"Hence, Sena is ready with its plans to contest all 227 seats irrespective of materialisation of pre-poll alliance with the BJP," Desai said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 35-year-old former Uzbek athlete, who was confined to a wheelchair two years ago following a mistaken tumour surgery, went back on his feet after undergoing a procedure at a city hospital.
Bekzod Abdulakhatov, suffered from spinal Arteriovenous Malformation (AVM), a common birth defect, which could have been easily diagnosed and treated at an adolescent age, but it went unnoticed for 33 years, the hospital authorities said.
"When diagnosed, it was mistaken for a tumour near spine for which the former athlete had to undergo critical open surgery at his home town Tashkent two years ago to remove the tumour.
"This surgery went wrong to an extent that Bekzod was reduced to a wheelchair and lost his movement completely," they said.
The surgery that helped the Uzbekisatni national walk back again was conducted by a team of neurosurgeons at BLK Super Speciality Hospital, which involved a simple procedure -- Digital Spine Analysis (DSA) and embolisation of venous malfunction to correct the abnormal flow of blood between his spinal artery and vein.
"Bekzod came on a wheelchair but was determined to stand up on his feet again, displaying the true spirit of an athlete. He was apparently doing well two years ago, and then he was diagnosed with AVM which was mistaken for spinal tumour.
"Following the surgery, his condition worsened and he was reduced to wheelchair with very weak lower limbs," said Dr Vikas Gupta, Director, Neurosurgery and Interventional and Endovascular Neurosurgery, BLK Centre for Neurosciences.
Arteriovenous Malformation (AVMs) are defects of the circulatory system that are generally believed to arise during embryonic or foetal development, or soon after birth. It is an abnormal connection between arteries and veins, bypassing the capillary system, the hospital authorities said.
"As a result, they can cause intense pain or bleeding or lead to other serious medical problems. Bekzod's AVM was misdiagnosed, so it was not cured from the roots. After the surgery although the blood clot around his spine was absent for a few weeks, but it reappeared and started to choke on his spinal cord with high pressure enough to cripple him," Gupta said.
"An eight-hour-long embolisation procedure was done to correct the anomaly on December 1.
"He was kept under observation and monitored closely in neurosurgery ICU. Power in both lower limbs improved slightly in first few days and eventually the patient was able to stand up on his own and walk after two years of disability," he added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The dense fog enveloping northern and western India today hit air and rail traffic with more than a dozen flights being delayed at Jaipur international airport and several trains running behind schedule in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar.
Flights arriving - from Mumbai and Delhi - at the Jaipur airport were delayed by more than an hour before noon. Tweleve flights departing from the airport were delayed too.
Delhi witnessed a chilly day as the maximum temperature dipped to 18.5 degrees Celsius, two notches below the normal. Foggy weather during morning hours delayed nearly 70 trains, another 34 were rescheduled.
Visibility at Palam airport was recorded at 300 metres early today but improved later in the morning by 100 metres.
The situation was similar in Himachal Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, where people have been witnessing chilly weather condition for some time now.
The Patna Meteorological Centre has forecast that people across Bihar are likely to battle cold weather through the New Year due to chilly wind coming from Kashmir and Himachal, where thousands of tourists have thronged to witness snowfall likely to occur on December 31. The lowest temperature of 8 degrees Celsius was recorded at Sabour in Bhagalpur district.
Himachal's weather department has forecast snowfall or rainfall in mid and higher hills tomorrow. The minimum temperatures oscillated between minus 8.0 and minus 13.0 degrees Celsius in the high-altitude tribal areas. The minimum temperature in the picturesque Manali was 0.4 degree.
The prevailing dry spell in Kashmir, the longest in nearly four decades, is likely to end next week as the Met department in the state has forecast a spell of rain or snow in the Valley where night temperatures dipped once again.
Kashmir has been witnessing dry spell for 35 to 40 years. There has been negligible rainfall in past five months, Met department officials said.
Srinagar's night temperature was recorded at minus 4.3, while it was minus 3.4 degrees Celsius in Pahalgam hill resort and it was a low of zero in famous ski-resort of Gulmarg.
Sikar was the coldest place in Rajasthan with a minimum temperature of 6.5 degrees Celsius, followed by Churu (7.5C).
Haryana's Narnaul was the coldest place in the state at 4.6 degrees Celsius, a notch below the normal.
In cities of the country minimum temperatures were recorded at 12.8 in Ahmedabad; 14.8 in Bengaluru; 15.9 in Kolkata; 0.0 in Madurai; 0.0 in Nagpur; 9.4 in Pune; 21.5 in Mumbai.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A 15-year-old girl was killed in a firing at Hind village in Shamli district, following which tension prevailed here and police force was deployed to control the situation.
The incident took place at the village under Thanabhawan police station last night, when five people entered into a house and opened indiscriminate fire in which Khushnuma died on the spot, circle officer Sunil Kumar told PTI here today.
The girl had come to visit her maternal uncle's house here, Kumar said, adding her aunt registered an FIR with the police after the incident.
In the police complaint, old enmity was said to be reason behind the incident.
The police has registered a case against five people who were identified as Usman, Dabbel, Kheru, Adan and Hakikat, all of them absconding.
Irate villagers protested and refused to handover the girl's body, the officer said, adding, senior police officers pacified them later and the body was sent for postmortem.
Security has been tightened and extra police force has been deployed in the village, he said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Five persons, including three children, were killed and three others were injured when they were run over by a mini-truck at a victory procession of a sarpanch in Sehra taluka of Panchmahal district today, police said.
The accident occurred when the truck driver lost his control on the vehicle while going downhill on a road near Jethli-Bor village in evening.
The deceased included a 6-year-old girl, two boys in age group of 16 to 17 and two men.
"Around 50 to 60 persons took out a procession to celebrate the victory of a local sarpanch who won in Gram Panchayat polls after yesterday's counting. The deceased were also among the revellers who were walking ahead of the mini-truck which was also part of the procession," said Sehra police sub-inspector A A Chaudhary.
Yesterday, counting of votes was held across Gujarat for more than 8000 Gram Panchayats, which went to polls on December 27.
Primary facie, brake failure on a gradient caused the accident.
"As soon as the procession reached downhill slope, the truck, which was behind them, lost control and ploughed into the revellers. Five of them died on the spot while three others were injured.
"Since the truck was very old, there is a high possibility that its breaks failed," Chaudhary said.
He said a case is being registered in this regard.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gur Dhayya prices hardened by Rs 100 per quintal at the wholesale gur (jaggery) market in the national capital today following pick up in seasonal demand amid thin supples.
Muzaffarnagar and Muradnagar gur markets also displayed a firm trend with prices rising up to Rs 100 per quintal on paucity of stocks.
Marketmen said, robust demand triggered by winter season and amdist fall in arrivals from manufacturing belts due to adverse weather conditions buoyed trading sentiments at Delhi, Muzaffarnagar and Muradnagar.
In Delhi, gur Dhayya prices quoted higher by Rs 100 to end at Rs 3,400-3,500 per quintal.
At Muzaffarnagar, gur Khurpa and Laddoo prices were trading higher at Rs 2,700-2,750 and Rs 2,950-3,050 as compared to overnight close of Rs 2,600-2,650 and Rs 2,900-2,950, revealing a rise up to Rs 100 per quintal each.
Gur Chakku also gained Rs 50 to close at Rs 2,800-3,000 per quintal.
At Muradnagar, prices of gur pedi enquired higher by Rs 50 to conclude at Rs 2,800-2,850 per quintal.
Following are today's rates (in Rs per quintal):
Gur chakku Rs 3,000-3,100, pedi Rs 3,200-3,300, dhayya Rs 3,400-3,500 and shakkar Rs 3,500-3,600.
Muzaffarnagar: Rasket Rs 2,500-2,600, chakku Rs 2,800-3,000, khurpa Rs 2,700-2,750 and Ladoo Rs 2,950-3,050.
Muradnagar: Pedi Rs 2,800-2,850 and dhayya Rs 2,850-2,900.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Gut microorganisms can interfere with human physiology by modulating the levels of serotonin - a neurotransmitter which carries messages to the brain, a new study suggests.
The finding could shed new light on the complex community of trillions of microorganisms living in all our guts, and how they interact with our bodies, researchers said.
Scientists at the University of Exeter Medical School in the UK and University of Zaragoza in Spain studied a protein known as TLR2, a critical detector of the microbiota found in the intestine.
They found that it regulates levels of serotonin - a neurotransmitter which carries messages to the brain, and is also found in the gut, where it regulates our bowel routines.
The research, carried out in cell cultures and verified in mice, provides strong evidence that microbiota can interfere with human physiology by modulating the serotonin transporter activity.
Serotonin transporter is a target for numerous diseases and it seems that microbiota living in our guts is able to interfere with this transporter, controlling our serotonin levels.
The finding comes as scientists across the world are working to understand the complicated interactions between the "invisible world" of the microbiota in our bodies and the impact they have on our health and even our moods.
Recently, US scientists found evidence that the bacteria in the gut play a role in causing Parkinson's Disease.
It may also help explain how the microbiota in our guts affect our physiology. Inflammatory bowel disease is thought to be triggered when TLR2 is not functioning properly, but so far, the mechanisms behind this have not been fully understood.
"This paper has concluded that the protein TLR2 alters the availability of serotonin, which is important in a range of conditions from depression to inflammatory bowel disease," Eva Latorre, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Exeter Medical School, said.
"We need to understand much more about the relationship between the microbiota in our guts and how they interact, before we can hope to harness effective new treatments," said Latorre.
The research team examined human cells in a model of the intestine in the laboratory, looking at how they express proteins and RNA - activities which regulate how they behave. They found that TLR2 controls serotonin transporter - obtaining the same result in studies on mice.
"We have concluded that TLR2 not only can detect microbiota, but also modulate serotonin transport, one of the crucial mechanism in neurological and inflammatory diseases," said Principal investigator of the study, Professor Jose E Mesonero, at the University of Zaragoza.
The study was published in the journal PLOS ONE.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
It will be a Happy New Year indeed for millions of the lowest-paid workers. 19 states, including New York and California, will ring in the year with an increase in the minimum wage.
Massachusetts and Washington will have the highest new minimum wages in the country, at $11 per hour.
California will raise its wage to $10.50 for businesses with 26 or more employees. New York state is taking a regional approach, with the wage rising to $11 in New York City, $10 in its downstate suburbs and $9.70 elsewhere.
"This $1.50 increase, I cannot even comprehend or tell you how important this will be," said Alvin Major, a New York City fast-food worker. The 51-year-old father of four helped lead the fight for the increase in his state, one of several successful efforts by fast-food workers and other low wage workers around the country. "The price of food has gone up.
Rent has gone up. Everything has gone up. ... This will make a difference for so many people."
Voters in Arizona, Maine, Colorado and Washington approved increases in this year's election. Seven other states, Alaska, Florida, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, Ohio and South Dakota, are automatically raising the wage based on indexing. The other states seeing increases are Arkansas, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan and Vermont.
In Arizona, the state Chamber of Commerce and Industry filed a lawsuit challenging the increase, which will raise the minimum wage from $8.05 to $10. Yesterday, the Arizona Supreme Court refused to temporarily block the raise.
Workers and labor advocates argue the increases will help low-wage workers now barely making ends meet and boost the economy by giving some consumers more money to spend. But many business owners opposed the higher wages, saying they would lead to higher prices and greater automation.
Some restaurant owners may consider reducing portion sizes or charging for side dishes that were once included in the price of a meal to absorb the increase, according to Melissa Fleischut, president of the New York State Restaurant Association.
"I'm sure prices will go up where they can, but restaurants want to avoid sticker shock," she said. "They're going to have to get creative."
The adjustments in Oregon, New York, California and several other states are part of a series of gradual increases to a $12 or $15 hourly wage.
The minimum wage will also go up this weekend in 22 cities and counties, including San Diego, San Jose and Seattle.
The high number of states and localities raising the wage this year reflects the successful work of fast-food workers and organised labor, according to Tsedeye Gebreselassie, senior staff attorney at the National Employment Law Project, as well as federal inaction on the wage. The national minimum was last raised, to $7.25, in 2009.
"These aren't only teens trying to make some pocket money," she said. "Increasingly it's adults who are using this money to support their families.
A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, the CPI(M) today raised a flurry of questions to know if all demonetised money has returned to banks and the estimated loss the move has caused to India's economy even as Centre's demonetisation deadline ends today.
In its statement, party Politburo demanded to know why the government has not constituted probes into alleged Sahara-Birla diaries and Vyapam scam at a time when the Prime Minister was "talking a lot" about ending corruption.
Describing demonetisation as "one man made disaster" which has pushed the "beleaguered" Indian economy into a tailspin, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury accused the Prime Minister of running away from questions in this regard, raised in Parliament or by media or through RTI.
"Though PM does not like questions either in Parliament, by the press or via RTI. We must continue to do what we must and ask them," Yechury tweeted.
The CPI(M) asked the government to lift all restrictions on the withdrawal of money by people from banks and remove all costs on such dealings given the Centre is pitching for increased digital transactions.
Among other, the party demanded the government to compensate families of 100 people who have reportedly died while queueing up to withdraw money from banks/ATMs and sought to know how many people have lost jobs since demonetisation was announced.
"The PM must publicly declare the quantum of demonetised money that has returned to the banks ... Has all of the demonetised money come back into the banks now? What is the quantum and value of new notes that have been printed so far?" it asked.
"What is the government's estimation of the economic loss to the nation as a result of this move? How many people have lost their jobs and livelihood since demonetisation was announced on November 8, 2016?" it sought to know.
Referring to Modi's pitch for ending corruption, the Left party asked the government why it has not instituted probes into the various alleged scams like Vyapam and Sahara-Birla dairies, etc.
Alleging that demonetisation caused "immense misery" to the poor and downtrodden, the Politburo asked the NDA government to double the allocation for the MNREGA to ensure 100 days of employment for all those who are enrolled.
Provide tax rebate to small and medium enterprises and remove all restrictions on deposits and withdrawals of funds from the cooperative banks, it said.
"If there are any specific cases of malpractices against any bank, they should be proceeded against on criminal charges, but the cooperative banking system which is the backbone for rural India cannot be destroyed," it insisted.
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Taking to Twitter to target Modi, Yechury reiterated allegations that BJP and its "friends" were tipped off about the demonetisation move and asked why no inquiry was initiated into their dealings.
To drive his point in this regard, the Marxist leader alleged that the BJP's West Bengal unit deposited Rs 3 crore in Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes "just before" the demonetisation announcement and had purchased lands in the run up to the declaration.
He questioned why the Rs 1.12 lakh crore loans of corporate houses were written off when farmers are made to repay debts.
"Why did your govt not allow Condolence in Parliament which we, the Opposition proposed on Nov 21 for more than 100 dead #Demonetisation," he asked.
The Rajya Sabha member also sought to know from the Prime Minister whether he will take "responsibility for Indian army losing twice the number of soldiers to terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir recently than in past two years".
Hitting out at Modi for allegedly not providing two crore jobs a year as promised during 2014 Lok Sabha polls, Yechury said "instead, there have only been job losses."
The government, he said, boasted about constructing roads of 40 km length per day, but only 6 km were made and questioned whether this was its "Good Governance".
The Delhi High Court today granted parole for one day to ex-Haryana chief minister Om Prakash Chautala, serving a 10-year jail term in teachers' recruitment scam case, to attend his grandson and MP Dushyant Chautala's engagement on January 3, 2017.
Justice Vipin Sanghi ordered Chautala's release for a day on his furnishing a bond of Rs 50,000 and directed the INLD leader to surrender on January 4 at 11 AM.
The court said it will hear Chautala's main petition against the Delhi government's December 14, 2016 decision dismissing his plea for six months' parole on medical grounds, on January 17.
The INLD leader, in his interim application filed through advocate Amit Sahni, had sought two days' parole to attend his grandson's 'roka' and 'ring' ceremonies.
The Delhi government opposed the grant of interim parole saying Ajay Chautala, also a convict in the case, was already out on parole to attend the marriage function of his son Dushyant.
Sahni, however, said that as per the parole norms, under special circumstances like in the instant case, two convicts of a case can be granted the relief simultaneously.
In his main plea, O P Chautala has contended that the Delhi government's December 14 decision was passed in "an extremely unfair manner upon flimsy grounds".
82-year-old Chautala also said that he is "polio-affected since his birth and has permanent disability of 60 per cent".
He said he was on bail during the trial and was released on parole, but he has never misused the same.
Chautala, his son Ajay and three others are serving 10-years jail term in the case.
The Supreme Court on August 3 last year had dismissed the Chautalas' appeals against the high court's verdict upholding their conviction and sentence of 10 years awarded by a trial court in the junior basic trained (JBT) teachers recruitment scam case.
The high court had on March 5, 2015 upheld the 10-year jail term awarded to Chautalas and three others, saying, "The overwhelming evidence showed spine-chilling state of affairs in the country."
The father-son duo and 53 others, including two IAS officers, were among 55 persons convicted on January 16, 2013 by the trial court for illegally recruiting 3,206 JBT teachers in Haryana in 2000.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Madras High Court bench today dismissed a petition filed by a former police head constable to quash the order issued by the DIG of Ramanathapuram district, directing him to go on compulsory retirement from August 3, 2016 for allegedly colluding with gold smugglers.
Rejecting the appeal by Muniasamy, former head constable attached to Mandalamanickam police station in Ramanathapuram district, Justice S Vaidhyanathan said the departmental investigation conducted into the incident has revealed that the car from which gold and cash worth Rs 55.99 lakh were seized, belonged to the petitioner.
The petitioner submitted that he had sold his vehicle to one Gajendran, who was involved in smuggling, and had taken Rs One lakh as advance for the sale, while the remaining amount was to be paid before September 28,2014.
However, without settling the balance amount, Gajendran had used his car to smuggle the gold and cash and later paid the money, he alleged.
During a vehicle check in 2014, the car was intercepted by the police, who arrested two persons including Gajendran and seized Rs 50.91 lakh worth of gold and cash that was handed over to the customs officials.
The petitioner also submitted that he had produced documents to prove that the car had been handed over to Gajendran after collecting the advance.
Even the customs officials did not mention of his involvement in the smuggling, he pointed out.
Yet, the DSP had come to a conclusion that he had abetted the accused to smuggle, he said.
Meanwhile, the probe report submitted before this court stated that the petitioner was involved in helping the smugglers and had accepted Rs 5000 to 10,000 for lending his vehicle besides taking Rs 2 lakh after the work was done.
It also said that the department had asked Muniasamy to go on compulsory retirement and his appeal against it was also dismissed by the DIG.
Hence, the petitioner moved the court seeking to quash the orders of the police department against him.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Expressing concern over overcrowding in jails, the Bombay High Court has asked the Maharashtra Government to establish a new prison with kitchen and other facilities which would solve the problem of space constraint.
A bench of justices Abhay Oka and Amjad Sayed, hearing a petition, asked the state government to submit a plan for setting up a new prison by January 2017 so that the problem of overcrowding in jails is solved.
Such a prison should be an ideal one with all necessary infrastructure and facilities required by house inmates, said the bench in a recent order.
Citing an instance, the bench said that Central Prison at Arthur Road in Mumbai was also very crowded earlier but the government built another prison at Taloja in Navi Mumbai and this solved the problem of overcrowding in the jail.
Similarly on these lines, the government should consider setting up a new prison which not only provides space to the inmates but also has all the modern facilities for the prisoners to perform their daily chores, the bench added.
The court was hearing a petition filed by Shaikh Ibrahim Abdul who is lodged in Yerwada jail in Pune.
The petitioner's lawyer Uday Warunjikar pointed out the "poor" living conditions in the prison and urged the court to issue directions to tackle the problem.
At a previous hearing, the government had informed that the food quality of Yerwada jail was good but there was space crunch in the prison. It said that Yerwada jail has the capacity to house 2,323 prisoners but currently the prison has about 6,000 inmates.
The Bench then asked the government to submit a plan of a new prison to resolve the problem of overcrowding in jails.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Senior Congress leader Salman Khurshid today expressed hope that Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar would agree to his party's stance on demonetisation after the latter reviewed his decision on the move.
"After reviewing his decision on the completion of 50 days of demonetisation, Nitish Kumar would take a decision after consulting his party keeping in mind the ground realities in Bihar. But we would like Nitish Kumar to be with us in our struggle and movement that we have launched against demonetisation especially with regard to its poor implementation," Khurshid told reporters here.
Notably, Nitish Kumar had supported the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move but his party had later made it clear that it would review its decision (on demonetisation) after completion of 50 days i.E. After December 30.
In reply to a query, Khurshid said that talks were being held with JD(U) on the issue to convince them on demonetisation and its ill-effects.
"We are not resorting to any kind of any illegal pressure. We are trying to convince (our partner in Bihar)," he said when pointed out Congress is putting pressure on JD(U) to join it on the issue.
While on Lalu Prasad, he said "his party is walking along with us on demonetisation".
Cornered by the media repeatedly over Nitish Kumar having taken different approach than that of Congress on demonetisation, Bihar Congress Chief Ashok Choudhary had to intervene into the matter saying that everyone should wait for Kumar's decision.
"This is a grand alliance of three parties which is being run on the basis of common minimum programme. Political parties may have different national views. RJD and Congress have taken a view (on demonetisation). Nitish Kumar has said that his party would review its decision on demonetisation and we should wait for it," Choudhary said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
India and Egypt had a fulfilling year in 2016 as the leadership of the two countries agreed to step up their defence and security cooperation to tackle the twin challenges of terrorism and radicalisation besides enhancing economic and people-to-people engagements.
This year also witnessed some of the high-level meetings between the two countries including the visit of President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi to India at the invitation of his Indian counterpart Pranab Mukherjee in September to discuss ways to develop bilateral cooperation in different fields.
A series of decisions to combat terrorism were taken in wide-ranging talks between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and al-Sisi as the two countries have been engaged in staving off the threat of extremism and radicalism.
Identifying terrorism as one of the "gravest threats", they decided to have greater information and operational exchanges, apart from ramping up defence cooperation, signalling a major shift in ties. Both sides also inked a pact on maritime transport which will facilitate maritime commerce and transit of naval vessels.
India's Ambassador to Cairo Sanjay Bhattacharyya told PTI that his wishes for the coming year are to deepen and intensify the exchanges between India and Egypt in different fields and see the continuation of high-level engagements.
The ambassador also added that 2016 has witnessed a number of cooperation opportunities, which will be increased in the coming year.
One of the key cooperation moments in 2016 is that the Vocational Training Centre on Textiles in Shoubra El Kheima, Cairo, was formally inaugurated in August with the support of the Indian government.
The Vocational Centre is one of the largest training centres in Egypt offering several courses in printing, electrical, mechanical, energy, textile, upgraded to state-of- the-art technologies in the field of spinning, weaving, dyeing and printing.
In September, another key cooperation moment took place after the first Indian Chair in Egypt at the Ain Shams University was operationalised with the arrival of Indian professor Naidu Subbarao.
The Chair, which is at the Faculty of Information and Communication Technology, is not only the first Indian Chair in Egypt but also in the Arab world.
Next year will see more cooperation opportunities in different areas, the Ambassador said.
"On the defence side, I think the tempo has been very very strong and we would like to see more exchanges and more concrete collaborative work on the two sides," Bhattacharyya said, adding he is very satisfied with the progress that has been made in the field of security during the last year.
REOPENS FGN 6
"We already have an agenda which will take further. We will also have some more discussions on other transnational crimes issues to strengthen bilateral and regional cooperation, all this will provide us also, very potently, with closer cooperation and cooperation in the field of the fight against terrorism," Bhattacharyya said.
On the economy front, the ambassador said he is hoping that the trade situation will pick up.
"We are looking at the diversification of our trade basket so that we are not subject to the rises or fall in the prices of one commodity affecting our trade to such an extent," he explained.
He said the coming period will witness exchange of visits on the economic side between the two countries, which will lead to many new ventures.
"Both sides strongly committed to the international development efforts of each other," Bhattacharyya added.
On the culture field, he said the Embassy of India in Egypt currently is making plans for the India by the Nile (IBN) 2017.
"This year's festival is going to be a special edition because it coincides with India's 70th year of independence and it will be the fifth anniversary of IBN," the Ambassador said.
The mega festival will take place from early March to the end of April.
"It will be a much longer festival, with many more events, and hopefully we will be able to go out for more cities as well," he said, adding he also wishes to have a broader Tagore Festival this year.
India will supply an additional 80 MW of power to Nepal from January 1, which will increase the total total transmission of electricity to the neighbouring nation to 400 MW.
"From the first day of the new year, January 1, 2017, additional power transfer of 80 MW to Nepal is expected to commence. With this, the total supply of electricity to Nepal from India will be about 400 MW," Power Ministry said in a statement today.
According to the statement, Nepal Energy Minister Janardan Sharma held discussions with Power Minister Piyush Goyal during his recent visit to India.
Besides reviewing cooperation and expanding ties between the two countries in the power/energy sector, Sharma had asked for an additional supply of 80 MW to alleviate power shortage in Nepal due to seasonal reduction in supply from domestic hydro projects in winter months, it said.
In a swift response, within 20 days the Power Grid Corp installed an additional 220/132kV, 100MVA transformer at Muzaffarpur substation in India.
This transformer will facilitate additional power supply up to 80 MW to Nepal through the Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar (Nepal) transmission line. With this augmentation, a total of 160 MW can now be supplied to Nepal through this transmission line, it added.
The electrical grids of India and Nepal are connected through various radial lines at 132kV, 33kV and 11kV voltage levels.
Prior to February 2016, as per the request received from Nepal from time to time, various short-term augmentation schemes were carried out which resulted in enhancement of power flow to Nepal from 50 MW to about 240 MW.
In February 2016, Prime Ministers of India and Nepal inaugurated the first high capacity 400kV cross-border line, initially being operated at 132kV, from Muzaffarpur to Dhalkebar.
This had resulted in additional flow of 80 MW, enhancing the total power supply to Nepal to about 320MW.
The Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar line is planned to be charged at 220kV with the commissioning of 220kV Dhalkebar substation in Nepal by March 2017.
This will facilitate additional 150 MW of power transfer to Nepal. This would be followed by commissioning of 400 kV substation at Dhalkebar, which would enable operation of Muzaffarpur-Dhalkebar 400 kV DC line at its rated voltage, leading to increase in power transfer to Nepal by 300-400 MW.
India is also working with Nepal to supply power through two more radial 132kV lines -- Raxaul-Parwanipur and Kataiya-Kushaha, which are being commissioned through the grant assistance of Government of India.
India, through PGCIL, has also assisted Nepal in preparation of electricity Master Plan for Nepal- short term (up to 2018-19), medium term (up to 2021-22) and long term (up to 2035).
Accordingly, a number of high capacity cross-border interconnections are being considered between India and Nepal. Initially, these interconnections would be utilised for transfer of power from India to Nepal and later with the development of hydro projects in Nepal, these links would be utilised for transfer of surplus power from Nepal to India.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian Americans from across the country will gather in the US capital next week to celebrate the historic win of five Indian Americans to the Congress.
These include Ami Bera, who has been reelected for a third consecutive term, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Ro Khanna and Pramila Jayapal who have made their maiden entry into the US legislature.
In the Senate, they are joined by California Attorney General Kamala Harris. Harris is the first Indian American to have entered the US Senate.
Several top Congressional leaders including Nancy Pelosi, the former House Speaker, Senator Tim Kaine, the 2016 Democratic vice presidential candidate, Senator Mark Warner and Republican Congressman George Holding have already confirmed their participation.
"We will honour the Indian-Americans recently elected to Congress as well as those appointed to senior positions in the incoming Presidential administration," said M R Rangaswami, a Silicon Valley-based philanthropist and venture capitalist.
The two Indian Americans nominated in the incoming Trump administration including Nikki Haley, who is set to be the first Indian American cabinet-level appointee, have also been invited for the gala.
"We are one per cent of the population, and now we are one per cent of the Congress. So definitely, we have achieved a status commensurate with our size. But when we benchmark ourselves with Jewish Americans who are two per cent of the population, but they are 10 per cent of the Congress, we have a long way to go," Rangaswami told PTI.
"Our role is to motive inspire Indian Americans all over the country to get engaged in the political process, to run for office. It's time for Indian Americans to get really engaged in political and civic responsibilities," he said.
The event is also an effort to send the message that Indian Americans have achieved success "across the spectrum" and not just in some areas like science, medicines and academics.
In any profession, now one will find an Indian American, he added.
Proud of their Indian heritage, which the community has brought from India, including yoga, food, cooking and cultural values, Rangaswami said all this has added value to the American cultural milieu.
"The message is politics, how well we are doing now, we have to do more; we are breaking boundaries across professions and are doing well in multiple fields and not just in technology and medicine. And finally heritage is going to serve this country well, our values, our cooking, our art, everything," he said.
"Indian Americans are now mainstream," Rangaswami asserted, adding that the community is no longer an ethnic minority.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
BJP today termed the infighting in the Samajwadi Party as a "scripted drama" to divert people's attention from the "all-round failures" of the Akhilesh Yadav government.
"Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has betrayed the people of Uttar Pradesh with the all-round failures of his government. He has not fulfilled any promise. People are feeling betrayed. What is happening in SP is a scripted drama to divert people's attention," its National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
People had voted for SP in 2012 as they were angry with the Mayawati government over poor law and order and development but it has also let them down, he said, blaming Yadav for "deteriorating law and order" as his portfolios includes the home ministry.
Voters will not fall in this trap this time, Sharma said, adding that they have made up their mind to vote for BJP. "There is wave in our support," he claimed.
BJP governments in various states have brought development and ensured double digit growth, he said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif today welcomed a nationwide truce in Syria as a "major achievement" that could lead to renewed peace talks.
On the deal brokered by Russia and Turkey - potentially a significant breakthrough in the nearly six-year conflict - Zarif said: "Ceasefire in Syria is a major achievement.
"Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror," he posted on Twitter.
Zarif spoke by telephone yesterday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the latest developments in Syria, where Iran has offered considerable military, financial and diplomatic aid to defend President Bashar al-Assad.
"Both sides welcomed the nationwide ceasefire and emphasised the fight against terrorism, Islamic State (IS) and Al-Nusra groups and their allies," the official IRNA agency said.
Zarif and Lavrov agreed to "continue consultation and coordination within the framework of the tripartite agreement among Turkey, Iran and Russia to hold talks between the Syrian government and rebels" in Kazakstan, it added.
Turkey and Russia are pushing for talks between the regime and rebels in Astana to begin next month.
The ceasefire, announced yesterday by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition, does not include designated "terrorists" such as IS.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Israel today issued an "immediate and severe" travel warning for Western tourists in India, citing an immediate threat of attack on tourist targets during New Year celebrations, particularly in south-west part of the country.
"We are warning Israeli tourists in India of the possibility of imminent terrorist attacks against western targets and tourists, particularly in the southwest of that country," Israel's anti-terrorism directorate said in a statement released by the Prime Minister's office.
"A particular emphasis should be put on events in the coming days in connection with beach and club parties celebrating the New Year where a concentration of tourists will be high," the warning said.
The south-west part of the country -- which covers popular holiday destinations like Goa, Pune, Mumbai and Cochin -- are particularly at risk, it said.
The statement further recommended that tourists avoid participation in beach and New Year parties at popular tourist spots.
"Israeli tourists traveling in India are asked to stay alert and to pay attention to local media reports and security agencies," it added.
Meanwhile, an Israeli Embassy spokesman in New Delhi confirmed the warning and said: "Israel has issued a travel advisory surrounding New Year's Eve celebrations events in south-west India, with specific regard to beach parties, clubs and highly-populated tourist sites. Israeli tourist are advised to avoid such events and other densly-populated areas."
The warning also called on Israeli families to contact their relatives in India and tell them of the threat.
In addition, it recommended avoiding markets, festivals and crowded shopping areas.
Notably, the travel warning was published on Friday, after the start of the Jewish Sabbath, when government offices close for business.
The directorate did not specify what prompted the warning, however, additional security arrangements have been made all around the world for New Year eve in view of the Berlin terror attack on a Christmas market last week that killed 12 people.
India remains a popular tourist destination for Israeli citizens and according to Jewish Post an estimated 20,000 former Israeli soldiers travel to India every year.
Israeli citizens and Jewish sites in India have been attacked in the past, the most infamous incident occurred during the 2008 Mumbai terror attack when members of the Pakistani-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) targeted the local Chabad House, among other sites, in Mumbai.
In 2012, Tal Yehoshua Koren, the wife of an Israeli Defense Ministry representative, was moderately wounded in an explosion in her car near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Amid series of punitive actions against Russia by the Obama administration, President-elect Donald Trump has said that it's time for the US to "move on" to "bigger and better things" as he decided to meet top intelligence officials next week "to be updated on the facts" on alleged Russian hacking during the presidential elections.
"It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation," Trump said.
Trump's vaguely worded statement, which did not mention Russia directly, came soon after the Obama Administration yesterday announced a series of punitive measures against alleged Russian hackings during the presidential elections.
A top Trump advisor said that it is time to move on.
"He'll receive an intelligence briefing this coming week. And in the meantime, he believes it's time to move on," Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the president-elect, told CNN.
"I've been reading all the reports about these retaliations, these sanctions put forward by President Obama and his administration. Some of them seem largely symbolic. The GRU doesn't travel here, doesn't keep its assets here. No reason allies will follow suit. We're yet to see all of the intelligence reports," she said.
Trump, she noted, believes it's time to move on to bigger and better things for the country.
President Barack Obama has sanctioned Russia, expelled 35 Russian officials and shut down two Russian-owned compounds in the US over alleged Russian hacking during the presidential election.
Meanwhile, announcement of sanctions against Russia was welcomed by lawmakers from across the aisle.
"Russia does not share America's interests. In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, sowing dangerous instability around the world. Whiletoday's action by the administrationis overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia. It serves as a prime example of this administration's ineffective foreignpolicy that has left America weaker in the eyes of the world," House Speaker Paul Ryan said.
The retaliatory measures announced by the Obama Administration are long overdue, said Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.
"But ultimately, they are a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy. We intend to lead the effort in the new Congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia,"the two Senators said in a joint statement.
After years of weakness that have invited and encouraged Russian aggression, the actions by President Obama are long overdue, said Senator Marco Rubio.
"Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear he is not an ally or partner of the United States, and that his interests are fundamentally not our interests," he said as he welcomed the sanctions against Russia.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Jaipur franchise, the newest addition to the Pro Wrestling League (PWL), today unveiled its team logo at a sparkling ceremony here.
The franchise, to be known as Jaipur Ninjas, also unveiled the team anthem and the athletes, who are all set to vie for top honours at the second edition of the PWL, starting here on January 2.
The team has in its ranks the youngest of the Phogat sisters, Ritu, who will ply her trade in women's 48kg category during the tournament.
Incidentally Ritu became the highest Indian female wrestler during the PWL auctions earlier this month.
The Ninjas have also roped in the talented women wrestlers like Rio Games bronze medallist Jenny Franson of Sweden in 75kg and Venezuela's Betzabeth Arguello in 53kg, besides the heavyweight Georgian duo of Elizbar Odikadze in men's 97kg and Yakob Makarashvili in men's 74kg.
Apart from Ritu, other Indians to be featuring in team are Pooja Dhanda (women's 58kg), Utkarsh Kale (men's 57kg), Rahul Mann (men's 65kg) and Vinod Kumar (men's 70kg).
Ritu feels that the team has got the required ammunition to fire during the competition.
"We have a very good squad and the mood in the camp is quite positive. We are training really hard for the league and have gelled well with each other. It has been quite impressive that we have become such a cohesive unit in such a short span of time and that will surely help in achieving a lot of success," said Ritu.
"All of us are raring to hit the mat and will give our all to win the title," she added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Outbreak of jaundice, Scrub typhus and a child swapping case rattled Himachal Pradesh in 2016 which saw clamour for the ouster of Chief Minister Virbhadra Singh generating political acrimony.
The year, which coincided with completion of four years of the Congress government in power, started on a sad note with jaundice outbreak in Shimla and adjoining areas resulting in 22 deaths and over 1,500 people getting infected.
Investigations pointed out that sewage mixed with drinking water and 10 people including engineers of Irrigation and Public Health department and contractor of sewerage treatment plant were arrested.
Pumping of water from the source was taken over from IPH department and entire control of water supply including pumping and distribution was handed over to Shimla Municipal Corporation.
Close on the heels of the jaundice outbreak, Scrub typhus gripped the state and 30 people died while over 900 were infected.
The recovery of skeletal remains of four-year-old Yug Gupta from a water tank at Kelston here more than two years after he was kidnapped rocked the town and massive protests including candle marches continued for days. All three accused arrested in the case are facing trial in the court.
A case of child swapping in government-run Kamla Nehru hospital here came to light and the swapped children, a baby boy and girl were united with their biological parents after five months following DNA tests and intervention of the court.
More than 80 people died in six major road accidents in Chamba, Kinnaur, Kangra and Mandi districts while five youth from Punjab were washed away in cloudburst nearChewadi, on Sunni-Luhriroad ofShimla district.
On the political front, Singh faced attacks from BJP over the cases registered against him by Income Tax department, CBI and Enforcement Directorate and after a year-long campaign, it submitted a charge sheet vowing to oust Congress from power.
The state Congress too mounted attack on Modi government and launched statewide campaign "Modi ke bol, jumlon ke dhol" to remind people of "unfulfilled poll promises".
Asha Kumar, a former minister and sitting Congress MLA was convicted and sentenced to one year imprisonment by a Chamba court in a land grab case. However, the high court stayed the sentence and the matter is pending.
The Himachal Lokhit Party (HLP), floated by BJP dissidents ahead of assembly polls in 2012, was virtually wound up with its president Maheshwar Singh and other senior leaders merging with the BJP and the residual leaders joining the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP). (MORE) PTI PCL ZMN
YEAR-HIMACHAL 2 LAST
The strength of BJP in the 68-member state assembly rose to 28 with addition of lone HLP MLA Maheshwar Singh but was again reduced to 27 with the death of veteran party leader and six-time MLA Ishwar Dass Dhiman.
Monkey menace remained a major issue of contention and under pressure from farmers' organisations, monkeys were declared vermins in Shimla Municipal Corporation areas and 38 tehsils but not even a single monkey was shot by people who wanted the government to kill them.
The government passed the HP Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, providing for regularisation of all illegal structures on "as is, where is basis", kicking a row and the governor withheld assent to the bill.
The Centre sanctioned 61 new national highways to the state but the state government was yet to prepare the detailed project reports (DPRs) of these projects and both the Congress and the BJP were blaming each other.
The state government launched an intensive campaign against drugs and cannabisand opium and over 3.60 cannabis plants were uprooted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with jawans in Kinnaur district and also addressed a BJP rally at Mandi in run-up to assembly polls and Amit Shah addressed the workers at Solan.
Congress too invited Rahul Gandhi, who addressed a rally at Dharamsala to mark completion of four years of Congress government in power on December 24 last.
The Raghunath temple takeover in Kullu stirred a war of words between BJP and Congress and the high court stayed the orders of the government on a petition filed by BJP MLA Maheshwar Singh, who is chief caretaker of the shrine and who claims it was his private property.
Congress swept the first ever elections held to newly created Dharamsala Municipal Corporation, winning 14 of the 17 seats.
Himachal Pradesh also earned the distinction of becoming the first open defecation-free state in the country.
The appointment of V C Pharka, a 1983 batch IAS officer as chief secretary, superseding five senior IAS officers raised some eyebrows and two seniormost IAS officers Deepak Shanan and Vineet Chowdhary are on leave since June while Upma Chowdhary has taken over as Director Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy at Mussoorie.
The Himachal Pradesh University, under attack for abolishing direct elections to central student associations and hasty implementation of RUSA, got "A" Grade from NAAC for the first time.
The strength of BJP in the 68-member state assembly rose
to 28 with addition of lone HLP MLA Maheshwar Singh but was again reduced to 27 with the death of veteran party leader and six-time MLA Ishwar Dass Dhiman.
Monkey menace remained a major issue of contention and under pressure from farmers' organisations, monkeys were declared vermins in Shimla Municipal Corporation areas and 38 tehsils but not even a single monkey was shot by people who wanted the government to kill them.
The government passed the HP Town and Country Planning (Amendment) Act, providing for regularisation of all illegal structures on "as is, where is basis", kicking a row and the governor withheld assent to the bill.
The Centre sanctioned 61 new national highways to the state but the state government was yet to prepare the detailed project reports (DPRs) of these projects and both the Congress and the BJP were blaming each other.
The state government launched an intensive campaign against drugs and cannabisand opium and over 3.60 cannabis plants were uprooted.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi celebrated Diwali with jawans in Kinnaur district and also addressed a BJP rally at Mandi in run-up to assembly polls and Amit Shah addressed the workers at Solan.
Congress too invited Rahul Gandhi, who addressed a rally at Dharamsala to mark completion of four years of Congress government in power on December 24 last.
The Raghunath temple takeover in Kullu stirred a war of words between BJP and Congress and the high court stayed the orders of the government on a petition filed by BJP MLA Maheshwar Singh, who is chief caretaker of the shrine and who claims it was his private property.
Congress swept the first ever elections held to newly created Dharamsala Municipal Corporation, winning 14 of the 17 seats.
Himachal Pradesh also earned the distinction of becoming the first open defecation-free state in the country.
The appointment of V C Pharka, a 1983 batch IAS officer as chief secretary, superseding five senior IAS officers raised some eyebrows and two seniormost IAS officers Deepak Shanan and Vineet Chowdhary are on leave since June while Upma Chowdhary has taken over as Director Lal Bahadur Shastri Academy at Mussoorie.
The Himachal Pradesh University, under attack for abolishing direct elections to central student associations and hasty implementation of RUSA, got "A" Grade from NAAC for the first time.
In a major land deal, realty firm K Raheja Corp and Singapore's sovereign wealth fund GIC will jointly purchase a property located at Worli, Mumbai for Rs 610 crore from Siemens.
Siemens, in a filing to the BSE, today informed that the company has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with K Raheja Corp Group and GIC to transfer its leasehold interest in the property.
Siemens and Whispering Heights Real Estate, a proposed joint venture entity of GIC affiliate Reco Solis Pte Ltd and the K Raheja Corp Group, have executed the MoU for the transfer and assignment of leasehold interest in the property located at Worli "for a total consideration of Rs 610 crore", the company said in the filing.
The proposed deal is subject to receipt of all requisite statutory and regulatory approvals from the concerned authorities and signing of firm agreements between the two parties, it added.
Siemens group is engaged in various businesses including energy, healthcare, industrial automation, building technologies, drive technology, mobility, financing, consumer products and services.
K Raheja Corp is a leading real estate developer in Mumbai.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Delhi BJP chief Manoj Tiwari today held Arvind Kejriwal and Health Minister Satyendar Jain responsible for "violation of administrative procedures" in Nikunj Agarwal's appointment and said the Chief Minister didn't learn lesson from the raids in his secretary Rajendra Kumar's case.
CBI today carried out searches at the office of Nikunj Agarwal in connection with alleged irregularities in his appointment at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalya and subsequently as officer on special duty to Jain.
Tiwari charged the Delhi Chief Minister is "responsible" for this second raid by the CBI at Delhi Secretariat in one year.
"Had Kejriwal learnt his lessons from his secretary Rajendra Kumar's matter and rectified irregularities in his government, the raid today could have been avoided," he said in a statement.
Tiwari also accused the Kejriwal government of "nepotism" claiming that Nikunj Agarwal is a "relative" of the Chief Minister.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With Goa beach parties being a major attraction around New Year, the coastal state has been seeing an increase in visitors from the LGBT community.
"There is something in Goa which makes us feel secure. We can celebrate our new year, the way we want," said a transgender from Pune, who is visiting Goa around the New Year to party with fellow community members.
The coastal belt of Sinquerim-Candolim-Calangute-Baga has the highest number of transgenders gathering.
"Usually when you party, you are not bothered about the gender issues. It's time for fun," one of them said.
The coastal belt has some exclusive parties lined-up for LGBT community members to usher in the new year.
Several LGBT community members have already made Goa their home by picking up odd jobs here.
"I have been here for last couple of years doing some odd jobs. I find this place much friendly to work," said a member of the community, hailing from Bengaluru.
One of them, an engineering graduate, found it hard to get work as per her qualification in Bengaluru due to her gender status, prompting her to shift to Goa.
"We live here in a community. Unlike other cities, we don't find any problem in getting accommodation on rent," she said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
City of Gautier collage.jpg
(L to R): Gautier Mayor Gordon Gollott, City Manager Paula Yancey, (Bottom Right to Left): Gautier Police Chief Dante Elbin and former City Manager, Samantha Abell have been named in a lawsuit by former police officer, Jerry Cooksey alleging misappropriation of funds and wrongful termination. (file photos)
GAUTIER, Miss. - A storm is brewing in Gautier after a former police captain alleges corruption has taken place in the city and police department in a federal lawsuit filed in Gulfport on Thursday.
The lawsuit also calls for citizens of Gautier and Jackson County to join the lawsuit to recover what was described as "misappropriated" tax dollars.
Former police captain Jerry Cooksey filed the lawsuit in the U.S. District Court in Gulfport and named the City of Gautier and Police Chief Dante Elbin individually and in his official capacity as chief of police.
Within the lawsuit, Cooksey alleged that while he was an employed police officer with the City of Gautier, he became privy to criminal acts within the department to which he alleges Elbin was aware.
Former police officer Jerry Cooksey filed suit against the City of Gautier and the Gautier Police Department on Thursday citing fraud and misappropriation of funds in the department.
Cooksey continues in the suit, saying that he "approached Chief Elbin and informed him of the criminal acts he uncovered." Those criminal acts range from, fraud, embezzlement, tax evasion, and other crimes within the police department.
After presenting the information to Elbin, Cooksey says he was told by Elbin that, "he would be able to explain it away and that no one would question his reasons," according to the suit.
According to the suit, Cooksey contests that his Constitutional and statutory rights were violated and that he has suffered, "humiliation, embarrassment, and loss of reputation and professional credibility."
Therefore, according to the suit, "Cooksey brings this action on behalf of the taxpayers for the City of Gautier and Jackson County and invites any other citizens to join the suit against the Defendants for the recovery of tax amounts misspent and misappropriated by the City and its administration."
Within the suit, Cooksey alleges multiple cases of wrongdoing in which Elbin was fully aware of such as "time sheet fraud." Employees even admitted to the time card fraud and disciplinary action was not taken against them. The suit goes on to say that the fraud continued, "costing the City of Gautier and its taxpayers of money, constituting the crimes of fraud, false pretense, and/or embezzlement."
He also alleges that Elbin unlawfully used DUI grant money to pay wages to employees not involved with DUI enforcement. Because of Elbin's alleged refusal to cease the fraudulent use of grant money, according to the lawsuit, Cooksey refused to sign off on any further time cards that Elbin directed to be fraudulently paid from the grant money.
Cooksey also alleges that the city used reserve funds to pay employees to avoid the payment of taxes, which constitutes tax evasion and criminal violations of state law. The suit alleges that city money was placed into a reserve account and was used to pay employees without the deduction of any taxes, paid to either the state or federal government.
The suit goes on to allege that a number of officers left the department because of the actions of the chief and other city officials.
In the summer of 2015, Elbin was out on vacation, which Cooksey served as the Chief during his absence. According to the suit, then City Manager Samantha Abell met with Cooksey to discuss the high turnover rate in the police department. During their meeting according to the suit, Cooksey informed Abell to the wrongdoing within the department to which he reported to Elbin.
Cooksey alleges that Abell became irritated after disclosing his findings within the department to her and that she accused him of lying. Although Abell did not believe his findings, she did interview a total of 15 officers about the accusations.
After those interviews according to the suit, Cooksey said officers told him Abell seemed "less than interested" in the truth, but rather in discrediting his accusations.
After meeting with the officers, Abell produced a report, according to the suit that stated that Cooksey was trying to undermine Elbin. The report made no mention to the accusations of criminal conduct made by Cooksey.
Cooksey then met with Abell in private and told her that it appeared that she was attempting to cover up these matters for the chief, to which Abell responded, "it would probably be best if you would just leave the department."
Abell later announced her plans to resign from her position as City Manager in April 2016. Abell contested to the council to allow her to two months to train her successor, but the city council declined and she was relieved of her duties days later.
Later that same day, Elbin called Cooksey into a meeting and admonished him for talking to the city manager. He stripped Cooksey of his title as Captain of Administration and transferred him to the Patrol Division.
The Mississippi Press did attempt to contact Abell about the allegations at her place of employment as the new City Manager in Gulf Breeze, FL, but she could not be reached.
In September of 2016, Cooksey was placed on leave and was questioned by new City Manager Paula Yancey and City Attorney Josh Danos about the previous report left by Abell, the suit says. Shortly after his questioning, Cooksey was offered the stipulation to either resign or be fired.
The suit alleges that other officers were interviewed about Cooksey, but does not specify who interviewed the officers. Cooksey said within the lawsuit that he learned other officers job security was threatened if they made mention to anyone about the interview, spoke to Cooksey, or any attorney hired by Cooksey to investigate the matters.
Cooksey agreed to resign from his position with the police department per the stipulation by the city that he did not pursue claims against the city. Cooksey became privy to a position that had become available in Moss Point, but learned if he was terminated, his transfer from one department to the other could not be completed. He then agreed to withdraw his complaint with the Civil Service Commission if the city rescinded their termination of his position.
The suit claims that the City of Gautier manufactured a deal to ensure Cooksey would wave his claims against the city and would ensure he would be unable to secure a position with the City of Moss Point.
Days later, Cooksey was set to be hired by Moss Point until questions arose regarding his termination or resignation from Gautier. The suit alleges Yancey and other administrators elected not to inform the Moss Point Board of Aldermen of Cooksey's work status and the issue was tabled despite administrators' presence at the board meeting.
Yancey released the following statement on Friday regarding Cooksey's lawsuit:
"I have recently become aware that former Gautier police officer, Jerry Cooksey, has filed a federal action against the City. It is our policy to refrain from commenting on the substance of ongoing litigation. However, after a brief review of the filing, it is clear that many of the allegations are completely and demonstrably fabricated. If and when the City is served with the lawsuit, we will move forward in vigorously defending these false claims, and I trust that justice will prevail."
Gautier Mayor Gordon Gollott said he had become privy to the filing of the lawsuit early Friday morning, but had not had the chance to read through it in its entirety. He had no further comment.
The simultaneous launch of 83 satellites and the fast breeder reactor going critical are some of the targets set by the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) and the Department of Atomic Energy (DAE), respectively, as they look forward to 2017 to put behind the lows of this year losing the Antrix Devas case and missing out on the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) membership.
Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is aiming at a major feat in January with the launch of nearly 83 satellites, 80 of them being foreign, at one go.
"We are also launching GSLV Mark III and five communication satellites next year, including the South Asian satellite," ISRO chairman and Department of Space Secretary A S Kirankumar told PTI.
Launching of GSLV Mark III will be a crucial development in the country's space history.
"Next year, we are hopeful that the Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor goes critical," said Sekhar Basu, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and DAE Secretary.
If India achieves success in the project, which has been on for over two and a half decades now, it will become the first country to successfully execute the project. It will also see India graduating to a second stage in its nuke energy programme.
The year 2016 saw ISRO launching several satellites, with a major achievement being the completion of the constellation of regional navigation satellites. The year also recorded ISRO's feat of launching 20 satellites at one go.
Apart from this, the space agency also launched GSAT-18, RESOURCESAT-2A, Cartosat-2 Series Satellites for communication, agriculture and weather-related works respectively.
The country's space agency also experimented with projects that would have a long-term impact on its future missions.
For instance, the successful tests of the Reusable Launch Vehicles, capable of launching satellites into orbit around earth and then re-enter the atmosphere, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
India also joined a select club of nations by successfully test-firing its futuristic Scramjet Rocket Engine using oxygen from the atmosphere.
However, its achievements were marred by a few jolts. The space agency lost a major case in the Antrix-Devas deal, where ISRO has been asked to cough up several million dollars by a Permanent Court of Arbitration tribunal based in the Hague.
The prime minister's ambitious SAARC satellite project also suffered a setback after Pakistan backed out of the endeavour. The satellite, which was to be launched this month, has now been renamed as the South Asian Satellite.
ISRO also signed several international cooperation agreements with France, UAE, the US and Israel.
For the DAE, 2016 was a significant year as Kudankulam Nuclear Power Plant unit 2 got operational. It also became an associate member of the prestigious organisation CERN, which is the world's largest nuclear and particle physics laboratory.
However, it also saw Kakrapar Nuclear Power Station unit 1 detecting a radioactive leak, raising concerns over the safety of atomic reactors in the country.
A major setback for India was not getting a berth in the 48-member NSG bloc. India has been trying hard to become a member of the coveted group, entry of which will give DAE access to critical technologies in the atomic sector.
However, despite the backing of France, the US, the UK, Russia, Australia, Japan and several member countries, India's bid was opposed by China.
China has been insisting that only Non-Proliferation Treaty-signatory nations should be a part of the group.
Another major feather in the cap was the signing of the Indo-Japan nuclear deal. After much negotiations stretching over the last few years, the two countries managed to crack the deal, without succumbing to the stringent norms laid down by Japan.
The advantage for India in this would be that the deal is expected to have far-reaching impact on future nuclear projects as India can now import equipment needed for the projects.
Manufacturing such equipment in India or procuring them from other parts of the globe other than Japan would have increased the cost.
In a significant move aimed at putting an end to the contentious nuclear liability issue and assuage suppliers' concerns, India also ratified the Convention of Supplementary Compensation for Nuclear Damage, marking an important step in addressing matters related to civil nuclear liabilities.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly committing a series of chain snatchings in outer and Rohini districts, police said.
The man, identified as Vikram, figures in the list of top snatchers of outer and Rohini districts.
He has previously been involved in 125 cases under NDPS (Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances) Act, chain snatching, assault on police party, robbery etc, registered in various areas of Delhi, said Ravindra Yadav, joint commissioner of police (Crime).
With his arrest, police has worked out 12 cases of chain snatchings in outer and Rohini districts. After being granted bail, he usually did not attend court proceedings, said the officer.
On December 25, a secret input was received about Vikram coming near Pansali Prahlad Pur road to dispose off a robbed chain.
A trap was laid and he was apprehended on the spot along with the robbed chain that was broken and the bike, Yadav added.
"Vikram is a resident of Mangolpuri. In 2005, he was arrested for the first time in a chain snatching case. After his release, he became very active and became top snatcher of Delhi.
"He used to commit crime on stolen and borrowed motorcycles. He used to change vehicles frequently to evade apprehension. He used to change his hideouts in NCR frequently," said the officer.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Pakistani man wrongly arrested for the Berlin truck attack today said he had told German police he could not even drive and was now afraid for the safety of his family back home.
Naveed Baloch, an asylum seeker from the troubled province of Balochistan, told the Guardian newspaper he had just left a friend's house and was crossing a street when he saw a police car approaching fast and picked up his pace.
He said he was arrested and taken to a police station, where he was undressed and photographed.
"When I resisted, they started slapping me," the 24-year-old, who has been living in a secret location provided by police since his release because he says he is afraid for his life, told the British daily.
Baloch, who sought refuge in Germany as a member of a secular separatist movement in Balochistan, said he struggled to communicate because no translator could be found who could speak his native Balochi.
"I calmly told them I cannot drive at all. Neither can I even start a vehicle," he said.
Baloch was arrested on December 19 in the hours after the attack on a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin in which 12 people were killed.
Police released Baloch 24 hours later, after failing to find evidence of his involvement.
They instead identified rejected Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri as the prime suspect.
Amri was shot dead by Italian police on December 23 after fleeing a manhunt in Germany.
Baloch, a shepherd by profession, said members of his family in the village of Mand in Balochistan in southwest Pakistan had received threatening phone calls following his arrest.
"Now they all know I fled to Germany, fearful of my life, and that I am claiming asylum here. It leaves my family very vulnerable and there's nothing I can do to protect them," he told the Guardian.
Baloch said he left Pakistan around a year ago, arriving in Germany via Iran, Turkey and Greece, because of death threats he had received for his activism for the Baloch National Movement.
"Most of the people I worked with have been arrested and killed. I knew it was a matter of time before they came for me. That's the reason I came to Germany," he said.
Mineral-rich Balochistan province has been plagued for decades by a separatist insurgency and sectarian killings.
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India and Sri Lanka will hold the second round of ministerial-level meeting here next week to find a solution to the vexed fishermen issue, Lankan Fisheries Minister Mahinda Amaraweera has said.
First round of discussions was held in November in New Delhi with a view to arriving at a permanent solution on the issue. The delegation comprised Amaraweera, Minister of Foreign Affairs Mangala Samaraweera and other senior officials.
The second round is scheduled to be held on January 2, 2017 here, Amaraweera said. Minister of Fisheries and Agriculture Radha Mohan Singh is expected to attend the meeting. It is not yet clear if External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj would attend the meeting as she is recuperating from an operation.
"We have held Indian boats for doing illegal fishing here. We have released people while confiscating boats. This has helped us reduce the number of illegal fishing incidents by 50 per cent," Amaraweera said, adding that over 120 boats of Indians indulging in illegal fishing in the Sri Lankan waters are being currently held by Sri Lanka.
India and Sri Lanka on November 4 decided to set up a Joint Working Group (JWG) on Fisheries to meet every three months and hold a meeting between the Ministers for Fisheries every six months during the first round of extensive ministerial-level talks held in New Delhi on possible mechanisms to find a permanent solution to the emotive issue of fishermen.
There have been several alleged incidents of Sri Lankan Navy personnel firing at Indian fishermen fishing in the Palk Strait and seizing their boats.
The Palk Strait, which is a narrow strip of water separating Tamil Nadu from Sri Lanka, is a rich fishing ground for fishermen from both the countries.
The fishermen associations of India and Sri Lanka had held talks on the issue here last month where the delegation from the island nation rejected demands for relaxation of norms for fishermen from Tamil Nadu to use fishing trawlers.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Mobile data services resumed today in Manipur as law and order situation in the state has improved.
The decision to resume the services this morning was taken after analysing the existing situation in the state, said a telecom official.
Mobile data services had been snapped since December 17 last after tension erupted when a mob protesting the indefinite economic blockade by United Naga Council (UNC) on the Imphal-Ukhrul road connecting landlocked Manipur allegedly vandalised 22 vehicles.
The December 17 incident which was preceded by a series of attacks on Manipur police by suspected militants in the hill districts of the north eastern state prompted the authorities to clamp curfew in the twin districts of Imphal.
Though curfew was withdrawn from Imphal West district, night time curfew beginning from 9 pm continues to remain enforced in some parts of Imphal East district.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union health minister JP Nadda today laid the foundation of a Rs 150-crore super-speciality hospital in Rajasthan's Bikaner, which, he said, will give "a new direction" to health care facilities in the state.
The hospital, which will have 168 beds in its super- speciality block, 46 beds in ICU and seven operation theatres, is to come up at the Sardar Patel Medical College here.
International standards will be followed to build the hospital in which paediatric surgery, neurosurgery, gastric surgery, nephrology, gastroenterology and neurology facilities will be available, Nadda said.
Fourteen new seats for PG courses will be given to the college.
Nadda claimed the hospital's super-speciality block will change the scenario of health-care if readied by December 2017.
Speaking about his ministry's work, he said the Union government has chosen 70 medical colleges across India for upgradation. In Rajasthan, medical colleges in Bikaner, Kota and Udaipur are being upgraded as super-speciality centres.
The government is setting up 58 medical colleges with expenditure of Rs 190 crore each and eight of them will be in Rajasthan in Alwar, Bharatpur, Dungarpur, Barmer, Churu, Bhilwara, Pali and Sikar districts, he added.
Two national cancer centres and 50 tertiary cancer-care centres have been proposed, including one tertiary cancer-care centre in Bikaner.
He said his ministry was working to open more Deendayal Amrit shops, which provides medicines at discounted prices.
Union Minister of State for Finance and Corporate Affairs Arjun Ram Meghwal, who was also present at the event, hailed Maharaja Ganga Singh, who built the college and hospital.
State Health and Family Welfare Minister Kalicharan Saraf said Union and state governments were working to improve healthcare facilities in Rajasthan.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The first explorers on Mars may build their homes using the ice beneath their feet to effectively protect them from the harsh martian environment and provide a safe place to call home, NASA scientists say.
When astronauts set foot on Mars, they may stay for months rather than days as they did during Apollo missions to the Moon.
The surface of Mars has extreme temperatures and the atmosphere does not provide adequate protection from high-energy radiation, NASA said.
These explorers will need shelters to effectively protect them from the harsh Martian environment and provide a safe place to call home.
According to researchers at NASA's Langley Research Centre in Virginia, the best building material for a new home on Mars may lie in an unexpected material: ice.
"Mars Ice Dome," is one of many potential concepts for sustainable habitation on the red planet in support of the agency's journey to Mars, NASA researchers said.
"After a day dedicated to identifying needs, goals and constraints we rapidly assessed many crazy, out of the box ideas and finally converged on the current Ice Home design, which provides a sound engineering solution," said Kevin Vipavetz, Langley senior systems engineer.
The "Mars Ice Home" is a large inflatable torus, a shape similar to an inner tube, that is surrounded by a shell of water ice.
The Mars Ice Home design has several advantages that make it an appealing concept, according to NASA. It is lightweight and can be transported and deployed with simple robotics, then filled with water before the crew arrives.
It incorporates materials extracted from Mars and because water in the Ice Home could potentially be converted to rocket fuel for the Mars Ascent Vehicle, the structure itself doubles as a storage tank that can be refilled for the next crew.
Another critical benefit is that water, a hydrogen-rich material, is an excellent shielding material for galactic cosmic rays - and many areas of Mars have abundant water ice just below the surface.
Galactic cosmic rays are one of the biggest risks of long stays on Mars. This high-energy radiation can pass right through the skin, damaging cells or DNA along the way that can mean an increased risk for cancer later in life or, at its worst, acute radiation sickness.
Space radiation is also a significant challenge for those designing potential Mars outposts. For example, one approach would envision habitats buried underneath the Martian surface to provide radiation shielding.
However, burying the habitats before the crews arrive would require heavy robotic equipment that would need to be transported from Earth.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As a fresh political drama unfolded in Arunachal Pradesh after Chief Minister Pema Khandu was suspended from PPA along with six other MLAs, his government today claimed majority support and the BJP backed him but the ruling party said there will be change in leadership.
The Pema Khandu government claimed support of 49 of the 60 MLAs, including 35 of Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) legislators, a day after he was suspended from his own party.
Government spokesperson Bamang Felix claimed that 35 out of the 43 PPA MLAs have reposed their faith and allegiance in the leadership of Khandu.
"We have support of 49 MLAs including 35 PPA, 12 BJP along with one associate BJP member and one independent," he claimed at a press conference here.
"Everything is going normally as usual and the chief minister is still enjoying absolute majority from PPA, BJP and independent MLAs," Felix said in response to queries.
The PPA, which has total 43 MLAs, had midnight last night temporarily suspended Khandu, deputy chief minister Chhowna Mein and five other MLAs from the primary membership of the party for their alleged "anti-party activities".
Stating that there was no question of change in leadership, Felix said, "We are looking at the legal aspects of the suspension of seven MLAs including Khandu."
"The PPA is not a single man party. Whatever decision was taken by the party's president Kahfa Bengia was his own.
"We are trying to sort out the differences among the party MLAs and our door is open for all," the spokesman added.
Responding to a query on BJP's claim that process is on for the PPA MLAs to join it, Felix said that since PPA is an alliance partner of BJP-led North East Democratic Alliance (NEDA) government "no such question arises".
BJP during the day made it clear that it will "only" support the Khandu government in the state and "will never" support any other chief minister.
Bengia on his part said that Takam Pario, PHED minister, is likely to be the next chief minister.
"The sudden decision of the PPA is not acceptable to us as they have never discussed with us. In the interest of development of the state and its people, BJP cannot be a party to change of government every six months," BJP legislature party leader Tamiyo Taga told a press conference.
Taga, who is also the Textile and Handicraft Minister, further said that the party has decided to support Khandu on the floor of the assembly if the Governor issues directives for a floor test.
Khandu broke away from the Congress along with 42 lawmakers in September this year, managing a coup that suddenly left the party out of power in the state.
Arunachal has been battling political instability since December last year when Congress dissidents revolted against former chief minister Nabam Tuki.
After a series of dramatic developments, which included a special session held at a hotel to vote out Tuki, Congress rebel Kalikho Pul became chief minister in February with the help of 11 BJP lawmakers.
The Congress then moved Supreme Court, which turned the clock back and restored Tuki's government.
But Tuki was out within days as he did not enjoy a majority in the 60-member assembly.
Pul, who insisted that he be reinstated as chief minister, was left alone in the last minute when lawmakers supposedly backing him shifted their loyalties to Khandu.
Pul committed suicide in August and a month later, Khandu walked out of Congress with 42 lawmakers and joined the PPA.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
As the 50-day window to deposit scrapped higher denomination notes in banks ended today, less rush was witnessed at various city banks.
A senior executive with a private sector bank said only few people visited their branch in South Mumbai here today on the last day of depositing old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes as compared to the initial days of demonetisation.
"Situation from last one week is just like any other regular day at the bank," he said.
"I deposited all my savings in the first two weeks after demonetisation was announced. I wish I would have been more patient and deposited it in the last few days as there is no rush at my nearest bank branch," Ghatkopar resident Shyamlal Dhulia said.
Meanwhile, queues to withdraw cash also truncated as many ATMs continued to remain shut.
Dhulia said three ATMs in the vicinity of his house have been functioning intermittently in the last one month.
Juhu-based entrepreneur Sunil Sharma said panic among people during the initial days (of demonetisation) had led customers rushing to banks and deposit their money.
"Honest tax payers should have been provided with some arrangement or should have been given preferential treatment to deposit or exchange their cash," he said.
A grocery shop owner in suburban Andheri said, "Though there is no maddening queues outside ATMs, but cash crunch still persists, specifically for current account holders."
Nagesh Dubey, a chartered accountant, said the step will prove to be beneficial in the long run and that it was needed for the overhaul the currency management.
"The demonetisation process is going to overhaul the entire currency management and will also bring unaccounted money into the system which will provide a road-map to the government to launch and execute developmental projects. This is going to be beneficial in the long run.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
James Devaney/GC ImagesThe young patients at Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego received a surprise visit Thursday from Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth in conjunction with Miley's Happy Hippie Foundation.
The hospital posted to it's Facebook account a slideshow of images of Miley and Liam visiting some of the patients.
"Today we received a surprise special visit from a couple of people you might recognize! Thank you to Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth and The Happy Hippie Foundation for bringing joy and laughter to our patients!" the hospital captioned the slideshow.
Miley also posted a series of picture to her Instagram account from the day, including one featuring her and Liam by the bedside of a surprised looking patient, "Thank you for having us today! Beautiful children everywhere," she wrote, adding, "@liamhemsworth is OFFICIALLY a #happyhippie !!!!"
Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego is a 551-bed, non-profit pediatric care facility. Miley founded the Happy Hippie Foundation in 2014 with the mission of "rallying young people to fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable populations."
Copyright 2016, ABC Radio. All rights reserved.
Even if Anthony had a year to analyze and dissect each piece...(he couldn't tell if it would)... stand the harsh light of public exposure.
WUWT insider Willis Eschenbach tells you all you need to know about Anthony Watts and his blog, WattsUpWithThat (WUWT). As part of his scathing commentary , Wondering Willis accuses Anthony Watts of being clueless about the blog articles he posts. To paraphrase: Click here to read more.
In a bid to encourage cashless transaction, state Chief Secretary A P Padhi today inaugurated the online system at the Odisha State Beverages Corporation Limited (OSBCL).
Inaugurating the module, Padhi said, "This is another step forward towards making ease of doing business which is a priority area of the state government. The module will enable quick and transparent transactions thereby helping the retailers to do their business without hurdles from Corporation side."
Padhi directed the corporation to initiate steps for automating other operations like go-down management, inventory management up to retail level etc of the Corporation.
Excise Secretary B Sethi said that the online system has been developed within a week because of the active support of the State Bank of India and National Informatics Center, Bhubaneswar.
He added that OSBCL started its journey towards online e-governance from August 2015.
It has won the National Level Skoch Award in 2016 because of smart and successful e-governance applications, Sethi said adding that this online payment module would make the business of the Corporation hassle-free and more transparent and would facilitate real time transaction tracking.
Managing Director of the Corporation Dwijaraj Kara said that in the meanwhile OBSCL has implemented online system for generation of indent by the liquor suppliers, purchase orders by the Corporation, excise permits by the excise authority, consignment dispatch note by the liquor supplier and stock receipt note by the Corporation on a cent percent realtime platform.
The Corporation has nine Depots in various places like Chandikhol, Khordha, Nirgundi, Angul, Sambalpur, Balasore, Berhampur, Rayagada and Bolagir.
There are about 1,600 retailers attached to these depots.
In the first phase the online payment module would be implemented in Chandikhol depot. The system would be rolled out to other depots within a period of 2 to 3 months said IT manager of the Corporation, Sethi said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Indian aviation is no more a rich man's prerogative and growth will continue on high trajectory in the new year, Union Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said as the sector saw the much-needed reforms taking off in 2016 with new policy and ambitious regional connectivity plans.
2016 bloomed as a "very meaningful year" with over 20 per cent domestic air passenger growth while scrapping of the once famous '5/20' overseas flying norms and relaxing of foreign domestic investment rules added to the sector's mojo.
Turning operationally profitable in the last financial year provided the much-needed impetus to Air India amid stiff competition among domestic carriers in 2016 even as they reaped benefits of lower oil prices -- a scenario unlikely to remain the same next year with changing geopolitical vibes.
Against this benign backdrop, passengers have a lot to cheer with airlines -- from budget to full-service ones -- coming up with discounted ticket prices as they look to fill more seats even as many ancillary services come at a price.
Also, biometric access for passengers has been tested at Hyderabad International Airport while tag-free hand baggage system is being tried at various airports.
As Raju remarked about the aviation sector, "It is a win-win situation."
All said and done, the sector's trajectory had its share of air pockets with the abrupt sacking of Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman RK Srivastava as well as confusing signals over possible capping of air fares, an issue that has lost steam.
As the year wound down, this week's incident of 15 fliers getting injured after a Jet Airways flight veering off the runway at Goa airport and two planes coming close to collision at the Delhi aerodrome stoked concerns over safety.
Buoyed by high passenger growth numbers and headway in bridging the skill gap, Raju described 2016 as a "rather significant and a very meaningful year" for the aviation sector.
Asserting that flying is "no more a rich man's prerogative", Raju, known for keeping a low profile and speaking his heart, said more people are flying and that India is the world's largest growing aviation market.
"Things are much better than what they were. Of course, the scope for improvement is a continuous process. Wherever you are, there is always scope for improvement," he said.
"This growth is not going to be for eternity... Once you reach your levels, there will be a flattening out of growth, but India has scope for growth and we will continue to grow. There is no reason why we should not grow," he noted.
After years of much back and forth, the government in June finally came out with the much-awaited and talked-about civil aviation policy.
The framework, rolled out for the first time since Independence, seeks to propel sectoral growth across segments -- airlines, airports, cargo and MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), to name a few. In addition, various measures for improved ease of doing business and passenger-friendly ways are there.
Seen as a milestone for the new-age domestic airlines, 2016 saw the government doing away with the '5/20' norm whereby only those carriers having five years of operational experience and minimum of 20 planes were allowed to fly overseas.
Paving the way for more foreign funds inflows into the aviation space, non-airline players can put in up to 100 per cent FDI in local carriers.
At the same time, UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) -- the ambitious regional connectivity plan to make flying more affordable by connecting unserved and under-served airports -- is in the air with the wow factor.
The scheme, most likely to practically take wing in January, would see fares being capped at Rs 2,500 for one-hour flights. But on the flip side, a levy of Rs 8,500 per flight on busy routes to fund the regional connectivity scheme has ruffled feathers of established domestic players even as the government is targeting long-term benefits.
Staying with passengers, the government revised the compensation upwards for flight delays and cancellations, apart from rolling out digital complaints filing system -- AirSewa -- with the promise of speedier redressal.
For the first time in 10 years, flag carrier Air India posted Rs 105 crore operational profit for 2015-16 while its subsidiary and international budget arm, Air India Express also flew into the black by making a net profit of Rs 361.68 crore in the previous fiscal.
The airline also created history by launching the world's longest flight on the Delhi-San Francisco route over the Pacific Ocean.
The Naresh Goyal-promoted Jet Airways, which saw an accident at the fag end of the year after its Boeing 737 plane skidded on the runway at the Goa airport just prior to take off for Mumbai, moved its European gateway to Dutch capital Amsterdam from Brussels after nearly nine years of operating flights from the Belgian capital.
During the year, budget carrier IndiGo became the first Indian airline to operate the fuel-efficient A320 Neo plane while its peer GoAir became eligible for international operations as it inducted the much-needed 20th aircraft, an Airbus A320 Neo, into the fleet. It also received government's permission to fly to nine international airports, including Iran and Uzbekitan.
Over 35 dacoits have been arrested in the last two years by Rajasthan police from the Chambal ravines and its adjoining regions, police said.
27 dacoits were held last year and nine have been arrested this year, including Lal Singh who was carrying a reward of Rs 23,000 on his head, announced by Agra IG, Rajasthan CID-CB and Madhya Pradesh police this year.
Another wanted dacoit, Niranjan Gurjar, was also arrested in a joint operation by Karauli and Dholpur police, Dholpur SP Rajesh Singh said.
"Several other dacoits who were active and involved in various crimes in Chambal ravines were also arrested in the last two years," he said adding the police launched an operation against the dacoits and cracked on their network.
The accused held were mostly involved in kidnapping, robberies and murder. The deep ravines of Chambal have been home to generation of such bandits for decades.
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Analysing a person's painting strokes may help detect the risk of several neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, a new study suggests.
Researchers from University of Liverpool in the UK examined 2,092 paintings from the careers of seven famous artists who experienced both normal ageing and neurodegenerative disorders.
Of the seven, two had suffered from Parkinson's disease (Salvador Dali and Norval Morrisseau), two had suffered from Alzheimer's disease (James Brooks and Willem De Kooning) and three had no recorded neurodegenerative disorders (Marc Chagall, Pablo Picasso and Claude Monet).
The brushstrokes of each of the paintings were analysed using a method of applying non-traditional mathematics to patterns known as 'Fractal' analyses to identify complex geometric patterns.
Fractals are mathematical characterisations of self-repeating patterns often described as the 'fingerprints of nature'.
They can be found in natural phenomena such as clouds, snowflakes, trees, rivers and mountains. This method has also been used to determine the authenticity of major works of art.
Although painters work within a different style or genre, the fractal dimension in which they operate should remain comparable.
The results were examined to see if the variations in an artist's unique 'fractals' in their work over their career were due to them just increasing in age or because of ongoing cognitive deterioration.
The study showed clear patterns of change in the fractal dimension of the paintings differentiated artists who suffered neurological deterioration from those ageing normally.
"Art has long been embraced by psychologists an effective method of improving the quality of life for those persons living with cognitive disorders," said Dr Alex Forsythe from the university's School of Psychology.
"We have built on this tradition by unpicking artists 'handwriting' through the analysis of their individual connection with the brush and paint. This process offers the potential for the detection of emerging neurological problems," said Forsythe.
"We hope that our innovation may open up new research directions that will help to diagnose neurological disease in the early stages," Forsythe added.
The study was published in the journal Neuropsychology.
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Slain Afghan Taliban supremo Mullah Mansour, who was killed in a US drone strike inside Pakistan, was issued a Pakistani national identity card in 2005, Interior Minister Chaurdhy Nisar admitted today.
Khan, however, blamed the past government of overtly issuing ID cards and passports to foreigners.
The minister said the incumbent government paid enough attention to the issue of fake CNICs and passports, adding that it was not only difficult, rather it is impossible to work honestly in the country.
Mansour was issued a Pakistani computerised national identity card in 2005, Geo quoted Khan as saying.
Mansour and another male combatant were targeted on May 21 by multiple unmanned aircraft operated by US Special Operations forces as the duo rode in a vehicle in a remote area near the town of Ahmad Wal in Pakistan's restive Baluchistan province close to the Afghan border.
Mansour had assumed the leadership of Taliban in July 2015, replacing Taliban founder and the one-eyed reclusive long-time spiritual head Mullah Mohammad Omar in Pakistan in 2013.
Khan said, "The government cancelled 32,400 passports and blocked 22,3000 CNICs during last three years. It also verified 101 million CNICs across the country." he said.
"The past government merely cancelled 500 passports."
"Besides this, around 95 million unregistered mobile SIM cards were blocked in just 90 days," he added.
Chaudhry Nisar said the former governments issued passports and CNICs to foreigners, which were used in human trafficking. He, however, said an 18-member committee is being formed to review wrongly blocked CNICs.
He said the ones involved in facilitating issuance of fake CNICs and passports will be taken to task in another phase.
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:Photographs of two persons wanted by CB-CID's Special Investigating Team to provide information on the murder of a Hindu Munnani functionary here, has been released by the agency.
A CB-CID release said that Saddam and Mubarak, both from Saibaba Colony here, were not at their residence and family members had not been able to provide any information on their whereabouts.
The two had also not appeared before agency despite several notices, it said and asked them to appear before the office of SID CBCID here.
The agency said members of the public could also pass on information about these persons of interest to it.
Any information may also be passed on to V S S Anand Arockiaraj, Inspector of Police, SID CBCID, Coimbatore,through 9498174230 or 0422-2241752 or 044-28513500, the release said.
Hindu Munnani functionary C Sasikumar was murdered on the night of September 22 by a four member gang when he was going home on his two wheeler.
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US Coast Guard crews searched Lake Erie today for a plane carrying six people that disappeared shortly after takeoff from a small Cleveland airport along the shore.
The Columbus-bound Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport late yesterday with three children and three adults aboard and vanished from radar about 2 miles over the lake. Why remains unclear.
Searchers had found no sign of any debris or the people aboard the plane as of today morning, the agency said. Coast Guard official James Cox in Buffalo, New York, also said no emergency beacon had been detected.
Weather prevented a boat search overnight, but a US Coast Guard helicopter and a Canadian air crew in a plane were being used. A ship also was headed from Detroit to help with the search.
The waters in the search area are about 50 feet deep, the Coast Guard said.
The plane left the airport at 10:50 PM, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said. The Coast Guard has said it was notified about the missing plane by air traffic control around 11:30 PM.
The plane was headed to Ohio State University Airport northwest of downtown Columbus. Cox said the plane is kept at a hangar at the airfield, but the six people aboard the aircraft aren't affiliated with OSU. Their names weren't released, pending notification of their families.
Petty Officer Joel Altman, a public affairs officer in Cleveland with the Ninth Coast Guard District, said he couldn't immediately confirm whether the passengers were related or provide the ages of the children.
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Authorities believe that Greece's ambassador to Brazil was killed at the home his wife kept in the Rio de Janeiro area, a police investigator said today.
Kyriakos Amiridis went missing on Monday in the city of Nova Iguacu, 25 miles north of Rio de Janeiro. Greece's Embassy in Brasilia said the ambassador had been on vacation near Rio. The couple lived most of the time in Brasilia, the country's capital.
Rio de Janeiro police investigator Giniton Lages told The Associated Press that blood spots believed to be those of the ambassador were found on a sofa inside the home of his Brazilian wife, Francoise Amiridis. Lages named the wife, along with another woman and two men, as suspects in the case.
A conference was scheduled for later in the day. The wife was being interrogated at a police station today in connection with her husband's disappearance. Authorities believe she had been having an extramarital affair with a police officer.
Lages said authorities believe the ambassador's body was taken from the house to a car that he had rented on Dec. 21. A burned vehicle matching the description of the rented car was found with a body inside it in Nova Iguacu, but forensics experts have not yet identified the dead person.
The Greek Embassy website in Brazil says Amiridis started his career as diplomat in 1985 in Athens and became Greece's top diplomat in Brazil in 2016.
He earlier was Greece's ambassador to Libya and worked as consul in Rio from 2001-2004.
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Portugal plans to extradite to Italy a former CIA agent convicted over the 2003 abduction of a radical Egyptian imam, a case that highlighted the controversial US secret rendition programme.
Sabrina de Sousa, arrested at Lisbon airport in October 2015 under a European warrant, said today that the extradition procedure was due to start "after January 3".
De Sousa and 23 others were convicted in absentia by an Italian court in 2009 over the kidnapping of Abu Omar from a Milan street in an operation allegedly led jointly by the CIA and the Italian intelligence services.
The trial took place under intense scrutiny because it was the first time anyone had been brought to justice over the extraordinary renditions by the US and its allies after the September 11, 2001 attacks.
Omar, who had been given political asylum in Italy in 2001, claimed he was tortured after being flown to Egypt via Germany.
De Sousa, 60, told AFP that Portugal's decision to proceed with extradition had been expected, after it was delayed in June over whether she would be granted a fresh trial or the chance to appeal her conviction.
"I will have to explore options, if any are available to me," said the Portuguese-American dual national.
In 2012, a top Italian court upheld the jail terms given to de Sousa, 22 other CIA operatives and a US soldier over the abduction. But her sentence was later reduced to four years.
A letter from Rome to Lisbon in September ruled out any new trial even though this was a Portuguese condition for her extradition.
De Sousa says she served as an interpreter for the CIA team that organised Omar's abduction but denies any direct role in the operation.
Asked if she felt betrayed by the United States, she said: "Betrayal was a sentiment I felt many years ago.
"I am disappointed that having served the US government in good faith I was left with few options after having been excluded from a US-sponsored pardon.
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If the great bears are delisted, the states will take charge of managing them, and public officials in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming seem to be champing at the bit to open trophy-hunting seasons on them. Photo by John E. Swallow
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With just three weeks until the Obama team transfers executive power to the Trump Administration, the current leadership of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service is running out of time to remove federal Endangered Species Act protections from the grizzly bear population in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Yet, with many leaders within the conventional wildlife management industry calling for delisting, the animals still face a looming crisis. The likely incoming Interior Secretary, Congressman Ryan Zinke of Montana, is almost certainly going to face home-state pressure to eliminate federal protections for the bears.
If the great bears are delisted, the states will take charge of managing them, and public officials in Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming seem to be champing at the bit to open trophy-hunting seasons on them for the first time in 40 years. This will be one of the first tests for Mr. Zinke in his new role.
It wont take him long to find out that the majority of Americans are strongly opposed to the delisting of grizzly bears, and a supermajority are opposed to trophy hunting. The grizzly bear is not only a lure for hundreds of thousands of tourists who trek to Yellowstone and Grand Teton national parks every year to catch a glimpse of the bears generating millions in commerce for surrounding communities but they are also a sacred animal to Native nations in the Rocky Mountain region and beyond.
Earlier this week, the Crow Tribe (the tribe that adopted President Obama) organized more than 125 tribes from Canada and throughout the United States to sign a proclamation opposing delisting and trophy hunting. This treaty is only the third cross-border First Nations/Native American treaty in 150 years, and the incoming administration would be wise to heed their plea. In describing this historic treaty, Native News stated: the document has become a symbol of intertribal unity in defense of sovereignty, spiritual and religious protections, treaty rights, sacred site preservation and holding the federal government accountable for its trust responsibility to tribes.
Last May, nearly 60 prominent biologists and conservationists submitted a letter to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service criticizing the delisting plan. Earlier this month, filmmakers Anthony Birkholz and Marni Walsh released a short video, Yellowstones Grizzly Science, featuring leading conservation and carnivore biologists, as well as climate change scientists, who express grave concerns about delisting the grizzly bears. The video urges the continued protection of this iconic species by restoring them to suitable habitat and reconnecting isolated populations, rather than allowing trophy hunters to gun them down.
Even without the opening of a trophy-hunting season, Yellowstones grizzly bears already face a multitude of threats to survival. Within the last two years alone, there have been more than 115 confirmed deaths out of a population of only 700 or so individuals. Some biologists speculate that the deaths of approximately one-half to two-thirds of grizzly bears killed by humans go unreported. The bears dont reach sexual maturity for a number of years, and they are slow to reproduce, so this level of human-caused mortality is at a level that puts the viability and future of the species at risk.
Other threats loom. The grizzly bears primary foods, white bark pine and cutthroat trout, have dramatically diminished, perhaps due to climate change, requiring them to use more energy to find other food sources and forcing them into more conflicts with people a circumstance where the bears almost always lose.
It was just about a year and a half ago that Americans and other people of conscience throughout the world expressed shock and dismay and indignation after they learned that an American trophy hunter shot an African lion right outside of Zimbabwes most famous national park. Whats the difference here? The grizzly bear is one of North Americas largest carnivores, an economic engine for the rural reaches of Idaho, Montana, and Wyoming, and a species still struggling to survive. Nobody kills African lions or grizzly bears for food, but merely for the bragging rights and the trophies. To unleash trophy hunters on this small population of Yellowstone region bears would be a disgrace, would be a gut-punch to the tourism industry, and would ignite a firestorm for a new administration that already has plenty of controversy on its to-do list. Keep the federal protections. Let the bears be.
Punjab BJP president Vijay Sampla today said that the policies of the previous Congress governments are responsible for the pathetic condition of farmers in the state.
During the second day of his Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra here, the Union Minister said that the Beant Singh government in 1992 had misled the farmers by falsely claiming to waive off their debts.
He said, "On one hand Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh is claiming that he himself will waive off the debts, but on the other hand he and the whole Congress leadership is requesting Prime Minister Narendra Modi to relinquish farmers' debts".
Sampla said the Modi government had allotted the largest sum ever for the agri-sector and rural development as the BJP's prime objective is to look for a permanent solution to the agricultural crisis.
He said, "The Congress regime was full of scams while the Modi government is coming up with numerous welfare schemes now and then".
During the past two-and-a-half years of the Modi government, more than 90 schemes have been introduced for farmers, women, poor, labourers, backward classes and industries which have changed their lives, he said.
"Earlier, our leaders dreamt of transforming India into America but it is for the first time, that taking inspiration from Prime Minister Narendra Modi's policies, American president-elect Donald Trump has stated that he will work like him," he said.
Taking on Aam Aadmi Party (AAP), Sampla said, "AAP promised CCTVs for women security, schools, colleges and free wi-fi, but failed to keep its promises.
Drugs are openly used during rave parties in Delhi but nothing like this happens in Punjab, he said.
Still, AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal and Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi are defaming Punjab's youth by terming them addicts, he said.
"It's hard to understand that how are those leaders seeking votes from Punjabis who have been accused of selling tickets, corruption, sexual exploitation by their very own party workers," he said.
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The AAP government has directed 285 private schools, running on DDA and government land in the national capital, to withhold nursery admission process for the next academic session till new guidelines are notified by the city administration.
Last week, the education department had sent a file to the L-G office for approval of new guidelines for nursery admission but it is yet to get nod.
The department had issued a circular on December 19 directing the 285 schools not to start admission process for nursery class.
The government's directive to withhold the process came after the department came to know that some schools have issued notices to start admissions from January 2 which is in violation of its order.
According to the order issued today, the government has warned of strict action against those schools violating the December 19 circular.
"The circular has restrained schools from commencing admission process till separate guidelines are issued in this regard. It also said schools will not refuse admission of children from neighbourhood and at least 75 per cent of the newly admitted students should be from the locality," a senior government official said.
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Immunisation of infants will be made convenient through specially designed digital lockets which will be given to newborns delivered in 81 sub-health centres in Udaipur from next month.
The locket, named 'Khushi Baby', will have a chip containing details of the child and immunisation details which will be updated through tablets provided to ANMs (Auxiliary nurse midwife) at 81 sub-centres in Udaipur from next month, Dr Ashok Aditya, Reproductive Child Health officer (RCHO) of Udaipur told PTI today.
He said the pilot project will be run in 81 sub-centres in 5 blocks of Udaipur by the district administration and anNGO run by one Ruchir Naagar who has developed the digital locket.
"At present, we give a 'Mamta Card' for immunisation of the child. Sometimes it is lost or damaged so many children are not immunised properly. All the details of RCH registers will be uploaded in the tablets and the lockets will also be updated each time accordingly when the child is immunised," he said.
"When the locket is attached to the tablet, we can see the details and status of immunisation of the child," Aditya said.
The officer said record keeping will become convenient by providing both the card and the locket.
Udaipur District Collector Rohit Gupta said the district administration has provided logistical support to the NGO which will take care of the other facets.
There are a total of 647 sub health centres in Udaipur.
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The Reserve Bank today allowed White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) to source cash from retail outlets as they are facing difficulties in getting cash from banks post demonetisation.
Following demonetisation, most of the white label ATMs are running dry.
RBI said that it has been brought to its notice that WLAOs are having difficulties in sourcing cash from their sponsor bank(s).
"In order to facilitate cash availability for WLAOs, it has been decided to allow them to source cash from retail outlets...," the central bank said in a notification.
White label ATMs are set up by private non-bank companies that own and operate their own brand of ATMs.
For this, WLAOs will have to enter into bilateral arrangement with retail outlets from where they desire to source cash based on their Board approved policy.
"Sixty per cent of the cash sourced using such arrangement(s) shall be dispensed through WLAs located in rural and semi-urban areas," the notification said.
Also, WLAOs will be solely responsible for the quality and genuineness of currency notes dispensed through their ATMs. Only ATM-fit notes shall be used for this purpose.
As per the notification, liability and disputes, if any, arising out of arrangements with retail outlets will be the responsibility of WLAOs.
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The Reserve Bank of India has asked banks to report details of deposits of old Rs 500/1,000 notes to it after the close of banking hours on Friday, which is the last date to accept the invalid currency.
"With the closure of the facility of exchange of SBNs (defunct notes) as at the close of business on December 30, 2016, all banks should report information on collection of SBNs on December 30, 2016, itself at e-mail," the central bank said in a notification.
All lenders, including public, private, rural and cooperative banks, have been asked to make arrangements to gather information on deposits of the Specified Bank Notes (SBNs).
All bank branches -- other than those of District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs) -- that have accumulated the SBNs as at the close of business today are required to deposit the same at any issue office of the Reserve Bank or a currency chest by Saturday itself.
RBI further said the old-high denomination notes "cannot form part of banks' cash balances from the close of business as on December 31, 2016".
However, DCCBs may retain the SBNs received on November 10-14 till receipt of further instructions.
Further, banks maintaining currency chests have been asked to make necessary arrangements to facilitate the deposit of SBNs received through linked branches or other branches of banks and post offices.
Reporting of the transactions in Integrated Computerised Currency Operations and Management System (ICCOMS) will be enabled beyond 9 till all the deposits are received and accounted for.
"To facilitate storage of SBNs, banks maintaining currency chests may utilise additional space in their existing currency chest or additional storage space at the same centre with the proviso that it is as safe and secure as a currency chest," RBI added.
A day after the police trashed reports of funds being raised to meet the legal expenses of arrested alleged al-Qaeda terror operative Abdul Rehman, the locals today staged a dharna in front of Salepur police station demanding a thorough probe into the incident to clear the air on the sensitive issue.
Sheikh Tahimur Ali (53) of Sahipada village lodged a police complaint yesterday alleging that some youths of the village were "coercing" him to donate Rs 50,000 towards the legal expenses of Rehman.
He also alleged that he and his son were threatened of dire consequences if he did not cough up the amount.
Salepur police, after conducting an investigation, came to the conclusion that the allegations were "baseless and false".
"He (Tahimur) had lodged the complaint against the youths, implicating them with Rehman, only to teach them a lesson due to a grudge related to a personal rivalry," police had said.
But, as rumours spread that Tahimur had approached the police at the behest of one Ranjit Das of the locality, the latter today sat on the dharna in front of the police station along with his supporters.
Claiming that he had no role in the entire incident, Das demanded a thorough probe into the matter as also into the "secret meetings" held in the locality to garner support for Rehman.
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: Cochin International Airport Ltd today handed over the state's share of dividend, totalling Rs 27.84 crore for 2015-16 fiscal.
The demand draft for the amount was handed over to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan by Water Resources Minister Mathew T Thomas, who is also a director of the airport company.
In the 2015-16 financial year, CIAL's income had touched Rs 524.5 crore and the profit after tax was Rs 175.22 crore, a CIAL press release said.
From 2004-05, the company had been handing over the state share without fail.
The shareholders have been given a dividend of 25 per cent during the fiscal.
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A total of Rs 5.21 crore has been seized by the police here in cases related to demonetisation ever since it was announced on November 8 and the money handed over to the Income Tax department.
"We have seized as much as Rs 5.21 crore from the city in cases related to demonetisation since November 8 and the amount has been handed over to the Income Tax Department," City Police Commissioner Nahar Singh Megharikh told reporters while giving out the year-on-year crime statistics here.
As many as 12 FIRs were filed by the police, raids were conducted and a number of persons arrested in association with the I-T department officials, Megharikh said.
Police also handed over 12 other cases to the I-T department, he said.
"The action was initiated by police on tip offs given by the public," Megharikh said.
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Saudi Arabia has invited regional rival Iran to discuss a return of its nationals to next year's hajj after Iranians were excluded from the pilgrimage following a major diplomatic row, reports said today.
The Al-Hayat daily reported that Riyadh's pilgrims minister Mohammed Bentin had opened discussions with more than 80 countries, including Iran, to work out the details of the 2017 hajj.
"Iran's hajj delegation was invited to come to the kingdom" for preparations, the paper said.
The Arab daily said Riyadh would welcome pilgrims for hajj and the smaller umra rite "irrespective of their nationalities or sectarian affiliations, including Iranian pilgrims".
More than 1.8 million faithful took part in this year's hajj, but Iranians stayed at home after tensions between Riyadh and Tehran boiled over following a deadly stampede during the 2015 pilgrimage.
Iran says it lost 464 people in the crush outside Mecca.
They were among more than 2,300 people killed in the worst ever disaster to strike the hajj - one of the five pillars of Islam - which capable Muslims must perform at least once.
Shiite Iran and predominantly Sunni Saudi Arabia are at odds over a raft of regional issues, notably the conflicts in Syria and Yemen in which they support opposing sides.
Riyadh cut ties with Tehran in January after Iranian demonstrators torched its embassy and a consulate following its execution of a prominent Shiite cleric.
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A plea by a group of lawyers challenging the elevation of Justice J S Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) was dismissed today by the Supreme Court which asserted that there was "no question" of him being considered ineligible for the post.
The apex court rejected the arguments that Justice Khehar, while heading a five-judge constitution bench that had struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), had benefitted himself as the judgement had revived the collegium system for appointment of judges in the higher judiciary.
While disapproving the grounds for entertaining the PIL, a bench of Justices R K Agrawal and D Y Chandrachud noted that there were averments in the petition praising the "quality" of the judge who is to be sworn as CJI on January 4.
"Since the petitioners have praised the quality of Justice J S Khehar, there is no question of him being considered ineligible for being appointed as the Chief Justice of India," the bench said.
"So far as this allegation is concerned, it is sufficient to mention that collegium not only consist of the CJI but also four other senior-most judges of the Supreme Court," the bench said.
The apex court also said that as far as correctness of the NJAC case judgement is concerned, "we are of the opinion that petitioner has the right to apply for review or file curative petition".
"We do not find any merit in the petition and the same is dismissed," the bench said while rejecting the plea filed by National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms.
Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, appearing for the lawyers' body, argued that the issue of judiciary's independence and appointment of judges was important and it was "painful" for them to approach the apex court with such a petition.
He claimed that judges in the higher judiciary were coming from "a few families only" and "it cannot be the exclusive domain of some persons".
"This court has to listen to the critics. Democracy is all about criticism," he said, adding that Justice Khehar should refuse to become the next CJI.
As the lawyer was arguing on a high pitch, the bench told
Nedumpara, "Mr counsel, can't you argue in your normal voice? Why are you raising your voice? Why are you shouting? Be in your normal voice. We are hearing you".
Nedumpara also claimed that the apex court registry should become citizen-friendly as it raised a lot of objections when a lawyer filed a petition.
The vice president of the lawyers' body also told the bench that Justice Khehar had "restored the collegium" and was its beneficiary and, if he became the CJI, "it will create some doubt in the mind of general public that he had struck down the NJAC for his benefit".
Another counsel for the petitioner argued that "lawyers and judges today are coming from a very small pool of family because these lawyers are entertained in the Supreme Court and the High Courts".
He alleged that 85 per cent SLPs filed by common advocates were being dismissed by the apex court within seconds, as these lawyers do not have the "face value".
The lawyer also referred to the Salman Khan case where Bombay High Court granted him interim bail, without having the copy of the trial court judgement convicting the Bollywood actor in the 2002 hit-and-run case.
He also said that judges, who are part of the collegium, should not be part of constitution bench in matters like the NJAC, asking "how can one be the judge for his own cause".
The petitioners also told the court that they have sought a direction to the Centre to seek review of the NJAC verdict so that there is a transparent mechanism for judges' appointment.
"50 per cent judges in the high courts are from family of judges or senior advocates. The collegium is appointing judges with a narrow view," Nedumpara said.
On December 23, the apex court had termed as "virtually infructuous" a petition filed by the lawyers' body opposing elevation of Justice Khehar as the next CJI observing that the President has already issued a notification in this regard.
The bench had noted in its order that the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI has been issued on December 19.
On December 19, President Pranab Mukherjee had cleared the name of Justice Khehar as the next CJI. The incumbent, Justice T S Thakur, demits office on January 3 next year.
2017-02-23
NVDA's drop ... why ? such a great company !
it is a great company with high price tag .. how much is reasonable for NVDA ?
i am willing to give it a PE 24 , rather than 38.80 ( current )
NVDA $76~$84 is a much reasonable price .
i used to manufacture Video Cards back in 1997 when no one knew about Nvidia .. only .. Tseng Lab .. Trident . .which all died .
By the way .. all these are Taiwanese companies .. all died .. , AMD was another good one , Intel was in the market to kill all those companies.
please do not tell me how good Nvidia is ... ! but I did buy some NVIDIA , AMD shares today due to the drop .. ( 12-29-2016 , and sold it next day)
Stock is not about good or bad .. , it is about when you buy it , it goes up , then you are good .
and you sell / short , it goes down , then you did a good job .
please do not tell me how good Nvidia is ... ! but I did buy some NVIDIA , AMD shares today due to the drop .. ( 12-29-2016 )
when Nvidia will fumble , and they will .. and you just have to watch out ..
the above chart just tell you why I asked " any one dares to short NVIDA ? " last week when it approaching all time high .
anyone heard of Cirrus Logic ? which made video chip as well ..
Scotland Yard has stepped up security measures for New Year's Eve in London by locking down a majority of the roads and increasing the number of armed police officers on patrol in the wake of terror attacks in Berlin and Nice.
Concrete barriers have been put up around the city centre to monitor party-goers attending the annual Mayor of London's fireworks display on the banks of the River Thames tomorrow night.
The number of armed Metropolitan Police officers deployed will be higher than the 2,000 on duty for last year's festivities and armed British Transport Police officers will also patrol the transport network here.
Ken Marsh, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said: "I can assure you that there is a big armed operation over London. There are more armed police this year than there have been ever before.
"There are far more bollards that have been put in place than ever before."
In total, 3,800 police officers will be on duty in central London, with thousands more in the rest of the capital.
The Met Police has confirmed that the security review took place in the wake of terrorist attacks in Berlin and Nice earlier this year.
Deputy Superintendent Phil Langworthy said: "We have been looking at what has happened around the world in terms of Berlin, Nice, etc and have adjusted our plans and continue to adjust our plans.
"We police around 3,500 large events every year including on New Year's Eve and we meticulously plan those events... And we look at our tactics and we look around the world and adjust our tactics if need be."
He underlined that there was no specific intelligence for an attack on London but encouraged people to report "anything suspicious".
Thousands are expected to ring in the New Year on the banks of the Thames and other tourist hot-spots such as Trafalgar Square.
Earlier this month, a truck was driven into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring nearly 50 others in a terror strike which was claimed by the dreaded ISIS.
In a similar attack in July also claimed by the ISIS, 86 people were killed when a 19-tonne lorry was driven into crowds thronging Nice's seafront promenade during the annual Bastille Day celebrations.
Forces across Europe have been tightening their street securyt, with Madrid announcing today it would ban private vehicles of 3.5 tons or more from entering the city in the run-up to major festive parades marking the feast of Epiphany next week.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Markets regulator Sebi today ordered attachment of bank and demat accounts of Infocare Infra and Silicon Projects India to recover dues worth Rs 21 crore.
These companies have failed to comply with Sebi's direction of making refund to investors. The firms had raised money by issuing securities to investors without complying with the public issue norms under the Companies Act.
In two separate orders, the regulator has directed attachment of bank and demat accounts of Infocare Infra to recover Rs 2.89 crore and Rs 18.03 crore from Silicon Projects.
Similarly, the regulator has directed depositories - NSDL and CDSL - to attach all demat accounts of the defaulters.
The watchdog has also asked for various details of the accounts held by the firms, including account statements.
The markets regulator has been given powers to attach properties and bank accounts, among other things, of persons and entities which have failed to comply with directions involving payment of penalties and other dues.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A panel of noted researchers and professors extensively discussed how science, technology and innovation contributed to the economic and social progress in the 21st century at a seminar organised here by the Maulana Azad Centre for Indian Culture (MACIC).
MACIC, the cultural wing of the Indian Embassy in Egypt organised the seminar yesterday as part of 'MACIC Roundtable', a monthly series of seminars involving youth, academicians and civil society on the issues of mutual interest to India and Egypt.
The panel comprised of noted speakers -- Walid Mohamed El Rodeny, senior Researcher, Agricultural Research Centre, in Giza, Haitham Akah, Head of Space Communications Department at NARSS and Professor Naidu Subba Rao, ICCR Visiting Professor of Bioinformatics at Ain Shams University.
The speakers discussed how Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) became the engines of economic and social progress in the 21st century.
According to the speakers, aspirations of India and Egypt for a faster, sustainable and inclusive growth and development can be fulfilled only when STI is made the corner stone of the developmental process.
They also discussed the progress of STI and the challenges associated with it, in achieving the goals that cut across fields like agriculture, health, space and information technology.
The speakers also mentioned the importance of imposing the scientific concept among the youth in both the countries.
India's Ambassador to Cairo Sanjay Bhattacharyya said that the conversation between the panelists was very "stimulating".
"The gap is narrowing between the countries and the request of development is becoming something that all countries and all societies aspire for," he said.
The seminar was followed by an interactive session with the audience.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Seizing on the Income Tax searches at offices and homes of two priests in Trimbakeshwar in Nashik earlier this week, Shiv Sena today sought to know if the authorities will show the same courage when it comes to places of worship other than Hindu temples.
"Even if they (priests) do have money, the wealth is not created by illegal means. There is nothing wrong in earning money by working hard in extreme weather conditions," Sena, an ally of ruling BJP, said in an editorial in its mouthpiece "Saamana" today.
"Trimbakeshwar is a place where all kinds of Hindu rituals are performed for which hundreds of people from across the nation come. People say priests here must be having a lot of money. But how much money will priests have? Even if they do have money, the wealth is not collected by illegal means," it said.
According to reports , searches were conducted on the offices and homes of priests last Tuesday for alleged possession of unaccounted cash.
Searches are being conducted by the I-T Department and the Enforcement Directorate all over the country ever since Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in a bid to fight the menace of black money, announced the scrapping of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Shiv Sena today said they would be filing a formal complaint against Archbishop of Goa and Daman Rev Fr Filipe Neri Ferrao for "interfering" in the election process.
"Church is a religious place and Archbishop heads it. He cannot call all the political leaders and speak about his community. Election Commission should take cognizance of it," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters in Goa.
He was referring to the recent statement by the Archbishop that Church would be guiding the faithfuls on voting during upcoming Goa elections.
The Archbishop gave the speech in presence of Union Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
Raut said those who were sitting in front of the Archbishop should also face action.
"We will be filing a formal complaint to the Election Commission of India in this regard," he said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The Shiv Sena today said it would be filing a complaint with the Election Commission against Archbishop of Goa and Daman, Filipe Neri Ferrao, alleging that he was "interfering" in the poll process.
"Church is a religious place and Archbishop heads it. He cannot call all the political leaders and speak about his community. Election Commission should take cognizance of it," Shiv Sena leader Sanjay Raut told reporters in Goa.
At a function here recently, the Archbishop had said the "We (church) do issue guidelines for the faithful on how to exercise their franchise and thus fulfil one of their sacred civic duties."
The Church, however, had clarified that it would not canvass for any candidate or the party.
The Archbishop gave the address in the presence of Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar, Goa Governor Mridula Sinha and Chief Minister Laxmikant Parsekar.
Raut said those who were sitting in front of the Archbishop should also face action.
"We will be filing a complaint to the Election Commission of India in this regard," he said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Hundreds of Carrie Fisher fans staged a silent lightsaber tribute to the late "Star Wars" icon in California.
Devotees, some dressed as her "Star Wars" character Princess Leia, gathered at the Disneyland complex in Anaheim to honour the star by holding lightsabers aloft, reported Rolling Stone magazine.
"It was a random thing," said event organiser Jeff Rowan.
"A lightsaber vigil was very fitting, even though technically she never really even carried a lightsaber (as Leia)."
Fisher died on Tuesday, four days after suffering a massive heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles.
There was also a major lightsaber vigil on Wednesday in Austin, Texas.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
AAP Punjab unit convener Gurpreet Singh Ghuggi today alleged that Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal was creating his "private army" for misuse in the upcoming Assembly polls.
"It is highly deplorable that in the garb of recruitment in the special intelligence cadre, Sukhbir is creating his private army for misuse during poll," he alleged.
He claimed that out of 22 youths recruited so far, 21 belong to the Sukhbir's Assembly segment of Jalalabad.
He urged the Election Commission to take notice of it and claimed that it was a political gimmick.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Sun Group, India's one of the leading international trading and consultancy organisations, is considering to set up a USD 40 million phosphate production plant in Egypt.
The plant to be set up in cooperation with Phosphate Misr and other Egyptian companies will contribute to increasing Egyptian phosphate and boost local market share of exports to global markets, Egypt's Minister of Trade and Industry Tarek Kabil said in a statement.
The decision was taken after Kabil met Sun Group CEO and founder Vikramjit Sahney last week.
India's Ambassador to Cairo Sanjay Bhattacharyya told PTI that there are a number of Indian companies that are very keen to enter the Egyptian market.
"The Sun Group has visited Egypt recently after doing certain market studies. They are excited about the prospects in Egypt. They've had some discussions and they hope to establish a presence in the Egyptian market soon," the Ambassador said.
"They will be setting up a joint venture with Egyptian companies for the manufacturing of fertilisers and I believe this will be very useful for Egypt's development because it will help it in its agriculture production and self-reliance as also utilise the material that is available locally," Bhattacharyya said.
The phosphate plant will be established in el-Seba'eia area in the Upper Egyptian city of Aswan, the Minister of Trade said in his statement.
"The Sun Group has considerable experience in the middle eastern market. They have presence in some of the other countries in the Gulf area as well and they have good experience overseas," the Ambassador said.
The Minister of Trade's statement added that both sides are considering signing of MoU in coming period to start working on the project during 2017.
"I hope that in the new year we will see the finalisation of this project," the Ambassador said.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A suspended Maharashtra ATS officer told a court in Solapur that two of the absconding accused in 2008 Malegaon blasts case are dead but are falsely shown as "alive" by probe agencies.
Mumbai Anti-Terrorism Squad's former senior inspector Mehmood Mujawar has, in an application filed in August before a magistrate court in Solapur, alleged that Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra, accused in the Malegaon blasts case, are "no more".
Notably, Mujawar was suspended after a case under Arms Act and criminal intimidation was filed against him in a Solapur court.
Mujawar, in his application submitted before the Magistrate court, said, "Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangra are in fact no more but are shown alive in Malegaon bomb blast case by high ranking police officers."
The application was filed in the court by Mujawar on August 19 this year seeking early disposal of the case under Arms Act registered against him.
Mujawar, in his application, alleged that the case was filed against him as a conspiracy and was a pressure tactic as he wanted to reveal the truth about the death of Dange and Kalsangra.
When asked about Mujawar's claim, former ATS chief K P Raghuvanshi rubbished it saying, "I don't even remember who this Mujawar is or if he was even part of the team that investigated the case."
"At least, in my tenure in ATS, nothing of this sort has happened," Raghuvanshi told PTI.
A retired police official, who has worked in the ATS, questioned Mujawar's claim, asking as to why the allegation is being made now after eight years.
"Who had stopped this official from revealing these important facts before. We must not believe these claims," the official, requesting anonymity, said.
A bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded in Malegaon on September 29, 2008, killing seven people and injuring around 100.
Meanwhile, NCP spokesman Nawab Malik said the allegation
should be probed and it is a matter of inquiry what action was taken on the allegations.
According to the investigating agencies, the Malegaon blasts was carried out by right wing extremists and a total of 11 persons are presently in jail in the case, including Lt Col Prasad Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.
The state ATS, which was initially probing the case, had charged the accused under various sections of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Indian Penal Code, Indian Explosives Act and the Arms Act.
However, when the case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the agency filed a supplementary chargesheet by which charges under MCOCA were dropped on the ground that there wasn't sufficient material.
The NIA chargesheet also dropped Sadhvi and five others from the list of the accused. Apart from Sadhvi, those given clean chit by NIA are Shivnarayan Kalsangra, Shyam Sahu, Praveen Takkalki, Lokesh Sharma and Dhan Singh.
UPDATED
The Buffalo school board voted 6-2 on Thursday to oust Carl Paladino from the citys school board, giving him 24 hours to resign before it petitions the states education commissioner to remove him.
Paladino, who served as co-chair of President-elect Donald Trumps New York campaign, is in hot water over racist comments published in the Artvoice , a Buffalo weekly, in which he said his wishes for 2017 included President Barack Obama dying from mad cow disease and for First Lady Michelle Obama to return to being a male and set loose in Zimbabwe.
Board members who supported the resolution said Paladinos comments were the latest in a string of offenses that include bullying board members. One board member said the impact of Paladinos words on students, particularly African-American students, was incalculable.
Board President Barbara Seals Nevergold said she had heard from people all over the country who were incredulous that a sitting school board member would say the things that Paladino confirmed to the paper were his responses.
They would like me to tell you youre fired, Nevergold said. But those are not my words, so I am asking you to do the right thing, and resign.
Words matter, Mr. Paladino, she said.
Paladinos statements were roundly condemned, and petitions calling for him to resign his seat on the school board quickly gained steam.
The NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the New York state teachers union, which represents educators and healthcare professionals, were among the prominent groups that are calling for State Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to remove Paladino from his position.
Paladino has been on the school board since 2013, and he has said that he has no plans to quit. He said he intended to send the responses to his friends and not the newspaper.
He did not attend the meeting.
The commissioner can remove school board members in New York for willful misconduct or neglect of duty, but they can only be removed after a formal petition is filed with the state and a hearing is held, according to the New York Daily News.
The state education agency said that it was closely monitoring the actions of the Buffalo school board and other groups.
Once we receive an application for removal, we will review it as quickly as possible, a spokeswoman, Emily DeSantis, said. We will continue to review all of our options.
The special school board meeting came after a morning rally in Buffalo calling on Paladino to resign.
Thursdays resolution, introduced by board member Hope Jay, called Paladinos comments unambiguously racist, morally repugnant, flagrantly disrespectful, inflammatory and inexcusable.
An earlier version read, in part:
These unambiguously racist, morally repugnant, flagrantly disrespectful, inflammatory and inexcusable comments by Mr. Paladino have garnered both local, national, and international attention that reflects negatively on the Buffalo Board of Education, the City of Buffalo and its leadership and its citizens, the State of New York, and every decent human being in America and abroad who has been shocked and offended by his words; And,
Whereas, Mr. Paladinos behavior has irrevocably impacted the work of the Buffalo Board of Education by negatively impacting the Buffalo City School District in its goal of safeguarding the rights of all students in promoting a safe and healthy environment in which students are treated respectfully, by everyone, And, the inalienable right, guaranteed by the New York State Constitution and the Dignity for All Students Act, afforded to the children of the City of Buffalo to be provided an education free of discrimination and harassment; And,
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the Buffalo Board of Education demands that Mr. Paladino immediately resign within 24 hours from his position with the Board. In the event that Mr. Paladino declines to resign within 24 hours, the Board resolves that it shall retain outside legal counsel to file a 306 Petition with NYS Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to pursue Mr. Paladinos removal from the Buffalo Board of Education. Recommendations for outside counsel shall be made by the General Counsel.
Jay received loud applause and a standing ovation when she read the part of resolution demanding Paladinos resignation. According to the resolution, more than 70 percent of the districts students and families are people of color, immigrants, or other minorities.
Patricia Pierce, one of the two board members who voted against the resolution, said Paladino should be given the opportunity to apologize and learn from his mistake. The absence of her name from the resolution did not mean that she approved of Paladino comments, Pierce said.
With the country and the world watching what happens in Buffalo, the city should take a page from Charleston, S.C., where some family members of the victims of Dylann Roofs massacre of black churchgoers showed forgiveness, she said.
I suggest that we take this opportunity to show the entire country that we are city of good neighbors and that we are about forgiveness, said Pierce, who said she was a friend of Paladinos.
She was loudly interrupted by attendees.
She called on Paladino to step up, apologize, and learn, along with the community, that we must live, work, and play together, and that all of us matter to each other.
But board member Paulette Woods said that if a Buffalo public school student had said what Paladino saidsuch as wishing the president dead and questioning someones genderthat student would be suspended.
Lawmakers should not be lawbreakers, Woods said.
In a statement to The New York Times, Paladino said that the school boards vote was certainly not an illustration of a profile in courage or leadership.
Similarly, he told the Buffalo News that the efforts by local politicians, including members of the school board, county executive, and city council, were politically-motivated.
I will fight to the end to continue to expose the corruption, he said.
Image: Carl Paladino speaks to members of the media at Trump Tower, Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, in New York.
--Andrew Harnik/AP
A nationwide ceasefire was holding across most of Syria today but clashes near Damascus underlined the fragility of the deal brokered by Turkey and Russia.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government and rebel forces were fighting in the Wadi Barada area, where opposition fighters have cut water supplies to the capital.
A resident confirmed the sound of shelling in the area this morning.
Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said it was unclear who had started the clashes, with both sides blaming the other.
Syria's government had been shelling the area before the truce began at midnight as it pushes rebels there to accept a "reconciliation deal" and leave the area.
Among the forces present there is former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, which Syria's government says is excluded from the ceasefire.
Opposition figures however say the truce applies to all opposition-held territory, even where Fateh al-Sham is present.
Last week, rebels attacked water infrastructure in Wadi Barada and neighbouring Ain al-Fijeh, cutting supplies to the capital.
Four million people in Damascus and its suburbs have now been without water for a week, the UN says.
The clashes in Wadi Barada were the most serious of several isolated incidents of violence since the truce began.
The Observatory reported early morning clashes in the central province of Hama between the government and jihadist fighters.
Elsewhere, AFP correspondents in Eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held area outside Damascus, and Idlib province in northwest Syria reported quiet.
The ceasefire is the first nationwide truce to be implemented in the country since September, and is intended to pave the way for new peace talks in Kazakhstan being organised by Russia, Turkey and Iran.
Syria's government hailed it as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, which has killed more than 310,000 people since it began with anti-regime protests in March 2011.
It was also welcomed by key regime ally Iran as a "major achievement."
And despite being left out of the process, Washington also described the truce as a "positive development".
Analysts were cautious but said the involvement of key regime backers Russia and Iran along with rebel supporter Turkey could be important.
Sam Heller, fellow at The New Century Foundation, said there was "real interest and urgency" from Moscow and Ankara, but expressed doubts about whether Iran and Syria's government were on board. "All indications are that Iran and the regime want to continue towards a military conclusion.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey took effect at midnight (local time), in a potentially major breakthrough in the conflict of more than five years.
The deal, which does not include designated "terrorists" like the Islamic State group, was announced hours earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been "total calm since the start of the ceasefire in many provinces all over Syria" adding that "no violations were monitored in all regions".
According to an AFP correspondent in Eastern Ghouta, the shelling and airstrikes stopped for more than one hour in the region after intensive shelling and raids on Thursday.
AFP correspondents in Damascus and Idlib said there had been no sound of shelling, airstrikes or clashes since midnight.
The agreement, hailed by Syria's government as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.
Putin said Damascus and the "main forces of the armed opposition" had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a "historic opportunity" to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people and forced millions from their homes.
Putin said he would also reduce Moscow's military contingent in Syria that has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year.
The Kremlin strongman, however, said Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" in Syria and maintain its support for the regime.
Russian Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere would be considered "terrorists".
Erdogan indicated Turkey would press on with its four-month incursion into Syria against Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militia.
Syria's army said the deal did not include IS and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fateh al-Sham Front.
That could cause complications in areas like Idlib in northwestern Syria, where Fateh al-Sham is allied with rebel groups that have signed on to the deal.
Syria's political opposition and rebels had confirmed their backing for the truce, saying it applied to all parts of the country.
"The agreement is for all of Syria and contains no exceptions or preconditions," said Osama Abou Zeid, a legal adviser to rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner.
A fragile calm was holding across Syria today after a truce brokered by Russia and Turkey came into effect, a potentially major breakthrough after nearly six years of conflict.
There were reports of isolated violence, including clashes in central Hama province between government forces and jihadist factions, a monitor said.
The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there were casualties among regime forces in the clashes after midnight with jihadists near the town of Mahardeh.
The fighters were believed to be from a faction that did not sign the ceasefire announced yesterday by Russian President Vladimir Putin, and confirmed by Syria's army and mainstream opposition bodies.
The Observatory reported other minor violations, including the firing of a single missile by regime forces in southern Daraa province, but said the truce was largely holding.
"There have not been any large violations," said Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman.
"From midnight until 8:00 am (0600GMT) there have been no civilian deaths recorded," he added.
AFP correspondents on the ground in rebel-held territory in northwest Idlib province and Eastern Ghouta outside Damascus also reported calm after the truce began.
The ceasefire is the first nationwide truce to be implemented in the country since September, and is intended to pave the way for new peace talks in Kazakhstan sponsored by Russia and Turkey.
Syria's government hailed the agreement as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, which has killed more than 310,000 people since it began with anti-regime protests in March 2011.
And despite being left out of the process, Washington also hailed the truce agreement as a "positive development", saying it hoped it would bring new negotiations.
The agreement comes a week after the regime, which is backed by ally Russia, recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
Putin said Damascus and the "main forces of the armed opposition" had inked a truce and a document expressing readiness to start peace talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a "historic opportunity" and urged states with influence on the ground to show "the necessary sensitivity" to ensure the truce held.
Syria's conflict has become a complex multi-front battle, with a range of outside players intervening, including Russia, which launched a military campaign to bolster President Bashar al-Assad last year.
Putin said Friday he would now reduce Moscow's military contingent in Syria, though he added Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" and maintain its support for the government.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
If it were not for the locked doors, knives chained to the table and uniformed staff, the food factory inside Taoyuan women's prison would resemble any commercial kitchen.
Inmates wearing masks and hair nets mix cocoa powder to make chocolate, or chop cabbage to marinate for kimchi.
They are part of a burgeoning food industry in Taiwan -- artisan snacks, made behind bars.
The additive-free delicacies made by prison inmates have gained a loyal public following, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
Demand is driven by quality and affordability after a string of food safety scandals has made Taiwan consumers extra vigilant.
Last year sales revenue reached more than 500 million Taiwanese dollars (USD 15.62 million), with money going towards victim compensation, improvement of facilities and a wage for inmates.
Some prisoners, like 39-year-old Chen, had little culinary experience before joining the production line in Taoyuan, in the north of the island.
The prison rolls out a wide range of snacks, from sweets to fermented tofu.
"I'm happy to learn some useful skills," Chen told AFP.
"I didn't know how to use a kitchen knife properly before as my mother always cooked for me and I didn't need to go into the kitchen.
"I've learnt that it looks simple to make food, but it's actually quite complicated."
Inmates near release or parole can apply for the programme and are prioritised. Long-term prisoners who are judged to have behaved well or have relevant experience can also apply.
The range of jail-made food bought from prisons across Taiwan includes local favourites such as pineapple cake and peanut brittle, as well as soy sauce and free-range chicken.
More than 50 prisons make around 300 types of product which can be ordered by the public by phone, online or by fax, or bought direct from prison offices.
"We use good ingredients and we do not use additives or over-process food to make profits," said Chiu Hung-chi, deputy chief of the Agency of Corrections.
"Our foods are natural, high quality and inexpensive," he added.
It is a winning sales pitch to a public wary after big-name companies were found to have adulterated their products with banned chemicals or recycled "gutter oil" to lower costs, which led to massive recalls of food items in recent years.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Taiwan's president will transit through Houston and San Francisco next month while traveling to Central America, stops that will likely irritate Beijing, which has urged Washington to prevent the self-ruled island's leader from landing in the United States.
Citing the presidential office, Taiwan's official Central Agency said Friday that President Tsai Ing-wen and her delegation will stop in Houston on Jan. 7 on their way to visit diplomatic allies Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. They will stop in San Francisco on Jan 13 on their return trip.
China has repeatedly urged the US not to allow Tsai to transit through the US to avoid "sending the wrong signal to Taiwanese independence forces."
US lawmakers often meet with Taiwanese presidents when they transit through the US.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
With pubs, restaurants and bars anticipating a crowded New Year's eve, Delhi Police is putting final touches to the security arrangements to avert any untoward incident tomorrow.
More than 2,000 security personnel, including from ITBP, CRPF, RAF, will be deployed at Connaught Place that will witness a huge crowd of revelers tomorrow evening, a senior police officer said.
Cops from Special Branch will also be present in plainclothes at restaurants to ensure that festivities go peacefully.
Entry will be restricted to Connaught Place post 8.30 PM as residents of the area, with valid ID cards and families with invitation cards of restaurants or car parking stickers will be allowed, he said.
Groups of boys without any proof of booking at any restaurant won't be allowed entry. There will be five arrest parties and PCR vehicles will be patrolling the area.
Cops have also been holding meetings with pub and bar owners asking them to ensure that their CCTV cameras and hand held metal detectors and door frame metal detectors are in working condition.
They have also been asked to sensitise their waiters to be alert in case of any suspicious activity or persons.
Staff in plainclothes will be patrolling the venues to ensure that drugs are not being consumed in washrooms and linking areas.
The venues have also been asked to ensure that female guests, who are too drunk to drive or leave on their own, are escorted in cabs by the staff to their houses. Venues have also been instructed to ensure that the cabs are arranged for customers who are not accompanied by a sober driver or who are too drunk to drive on their own.
There will be different patrolling parties at the Inner, Middle and Outer Circle in Connaught Place.
There will be restrictions on exit of passengers at the Rajiv Chowk Metro station.
"The exit of passengers from the Rajiv Chowk Metro station will not be permitted from 9 PM onwards on New Year's Eve. This is to enable authorities to maintain peace and law and order during the celebrations," a DMRC spokesperson said.
Passengers will be allowed to enter the Rajiv Chowk Metro station from 'F' and 'B' block side gates after 9 PM for boarding the trains, he said.
"Interchange facility between Line-2 (HUDA City Centre - Samaypur Badli) and Line-3/4 (Dwarka Sec-21 - NOIDA City Centre/Vaishali) will continue as usual at Rajiv Chowk Metro station till the end of revenue services," he added.
In south district, there will be extra security personnel and commandos deployed outside malls in Saket and Hauz Khas Village. Police has been holding meetings with mall managers and pub and bar owners requesting them to deploy additional security guards at the entry and exit points.
Similarly, other districts like south east and west, where there will be a number of house parties, will see a strong deployment of police personnel. In west district, Police Mitras will also be helping cops in maintaining law and order in the area.
(REOPENS DES22)
Dependra Pathak, Delhi Police spokesperson and Joint Commissioner of Police (South West), said, "There will be adequate police presence in entire Delhi, particularly in high footfall areas to ensure that New Year celebrations go off in an orderly way."
"There will also be patrolling and police personnel in plainclothes. Almost 400 Police Mitras will be deployed at critical points to assist police," he said.
: Trainees who completed the Automobile Technician and Air Force Police course for induction into the Indian Air Force, took part in a ceremonial passing out parade at the Mechanical Transport Training Institute here.
Air Commodore C R Mohan, Commandent, Air Force Technical College, Bangalore reviewed the Passing Out Parade, an official release said here today.
After presenting the trophies to meritorious trainees, Mohan emphasised the trainees for optimum contribution towards the service of the country, it said.
A series of events marked the occasion which include dismantling and re-assembling a Maruti Gypsy car in less than five minutes.
The Air Force police also demonstrated its weapon handling capabilities.
Trainee Dmanu Sibasis Dora was adjudged as the Best All Rounder in Automobile technician trade and Amandeep Khajuria under the Air Force Police, it added.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
US President-elect Donald Trump will meet intelligence officials next week "to be updated on the facts" after the Obama administration sanctioned Russian intelligence services, expelled 35 Russian officials and shuttered two Russian-owned compounds in the US.
"It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation," Trump said.
Trump's vaguely worded statement, which did not mention Russia directly, came soon after the Obama Administration yesterday announced a series of punitive measures against alleged Russian hackings during the presidential elections.
A top Trump advisor said that it is time to move on.
"He'll receive an intelligence briefing this coming week. And in the meantime, he believes it's time to move on," Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the president-elect, told CNN.
"I've been reading all the reports about these retaliations, these sanctions put forward by President Obama and his administration. Some of them seem largely symbolic. The GRU doesn't travel here, doesn't keep its assets here. No reason allies will follow suit. We're yet to see all of the intelligence reports," she said.
Trump, she noted, believes it's time to move on to bigger and better things for the country.
Meanwhile, announcement of sanctions against Russia was welcomed by lawmakers from across the aisle.
"Russia does not share America's interests. In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, sowing dangerous instability around the world. Whiletoday's action by the administrationis overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia. It serves as a prime example of this administration's ineffective foreignpolicy that has left America weaker in the eyes of the world," House Speaker Paul Ryan said.
The retaliatory measures announced by the Obama Administration are long overdue, said Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.
"But ultimately, they are a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy. We intend to lead the effort in the new Congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia,"the two Senators said in a joint statement.
After years of weakness that have invited and encouraged Russian aggression, the actions by President Obama are long overdue, said Senator Marco Rubio.
"Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear he is not an ally or partner of the United States, and that his interests are fundamentally not our interests," he said as he welcomed the sanctions against Russia.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
A vicar in the UAE has said he has got "strong indications" to believe that Father Tom Uzhunnalil, the Indian priest who was abducted nearly nine months ago from war-torn Yemen, is alive, a media report said today.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia said it is making "all efforts to secure a safe release" of the priest kidnapped from Aden in March, Khaleej Times reported.
A video of Uzhunnalil had surfaced this week in which he made an appeal to the Indian government, Pope Francis and Bishop Paul Hinder, to save his life.
Hinder, who is based in Abu Dhabi, is the current Vicar Apostolic of the vicariate.
"The features of the person speaking in the video bear a close likeness to Father Tom. However, the source of the video, the date of its creation and the circumstances under which it was recorded are unknown. Even though we have no information about Father Tom's present whereabouts, we have strong indications to believe that he is still alive," the vicariate said in a statement.
The church said it has made countless appeals from the highest levels to secure Uzhunnalil's release as well as made concrete efforts by way of working in close collaboration with both international and local diplomatic channels, it reported.
"Paul Hinder is in touch with the different channels, which are working and leading the dialogues to secure a safe release. More details cannot be disclosed at this stage," the statement said.
The bishop has led calls for prayer throughout the churches in the vicariate for Uzhunnalil. During the Christmas mass, the bishop and thousands gathered at the cathedral parish of St Joseph's Abu Dhabi to pray for the priest's safety.
"The Salesian Congregation to which Father Tom belongs and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India has been in touch with government channels," the statement added.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia is a territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church covering the UAE, Oman and Yemen. The office of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia is based at St Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.
Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group Islamic State which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresas Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
The British government has said peace between Israel and the Palestinians cannot be brokered by focusing solely on settlement construction, following a stern warning over the practice by US Secretary of State John Kerry.
British Prime Minister Theresa May's spokesperson said Britain supports a two-state solution and believes the construction of settlements on Palestinian lands is illegal.
"But we are also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict.
"In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long," the spokesperson said in a statement.
The comments from Downing Street come a day after Kerry issued a stern warning to Israel in which he said building settlements threatens the country's future as a democracy.
Kerry accused Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government of allowing Israel to slide towards a "perpetual occupation."
Without referring to the secretary of state's comments, the British government's comments appeared to criticise Kerry's speech.
"We do not, therefore, believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue, in this case the construction of settlements, when clearly the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is so deeply complex," May's spokesperson said.
"And we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically-elected government of an ally. The government believes that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the international community," they added.
The statement follows a UN Security Council resolution last week which effectively declared Israel's settlements on areas of east Jerusalem and the West Bank beyond its 1967 border illegal.
In a rare move the US refrained from vetoing the resolution, which was backed by all the remaining members of the 15-member council including Britain.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Updated
North Carolinas appointed school board members said Wednesday they will file a lawsuit against the states legislature over HB 17, which gives significantly more power to the states elected superintendent over department staff and state education policy, according to the Associated Press.
Last week, the states Republican-dominated legislature passed in a special session a bill that stripped the board of many of its powers and handed them, instead, to recently elected Republican Superintendent Mark Johnson. Outgoing Gov. Pat McCrory, a Republican, later signed the bill.
The new law will place most of the state education department under the state superintendents control, rather than under the state school board, the members of which are appointed by the governor. The superintendent will be able to oversee the states office of charter schools, appoint the superintendent of the states turnaround district, and hire and fire officials within the education department. Several other tasks historically given to the state board of education also would fall under the state superintendent.
Recently elected Democratic Gov. Roy Cooper will appoint all of his own state board members.
The board said its attorneys will file a lawsuit that argues that the states constitution places many of those powers under the states board of education.
On Thursday, a judge halted the law from going into effect until the lawsuit is heard in court.
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Union Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Ramdas Athawale would inaugurate the central office of Reserve Category Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RICCI), a body of reserved category entrepreneurs.
"RICCI was formed to protect the interests of the businessmen and entrepreneurs belonging to the served category. We are expanding fast and the central office of the organisation will be inaugurate by the union social justice minister on January 3 in Jaipur," RICCI Patron Gopal Denwal told reporters here.
He informed that the first trade fair will be organised in Chandigarh where zonal office will also be opened.
Similar zonal offices will be opened in Delhi next month, Ujjain and Bhopal in Madhya Pradesh in February and trade fair will be held in Jaipur in April.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar today said good education was key to any country's sustainable progress, and the government was launching several initiatives to reverse the 'brain drain'.
Countries with good universities achieve "sustainable progress" and "where the quality of education is not good, that country does not progress," said Javadekar, speaking at convocation of Savitribai Phule Pune University here.
"My best of the best students are going out (of the country)" despite the government investing a lot in the education and "that is my worry", he said.
Students go abroad because they get good resources and infrastructure for research, scholarships, etc., the minister said, adding "I want to retain them and turn this brain drain into brain gain by providing good research and innovation facilities here."
"We are starting a global research interactive network in which students will be provided good scholarship and opportunity to work with top-end foreign laboratories and again come back to India and continue with research," he said.
Government had approved establishment of 'Higher Education Financing Agency' (HEFA) to provide research labs of international standards, scholarships, good teachers and opportunity to students to visit foreign varsities, he said.
The Government wanted to create 20 world-class universities in India, ten private and ten public, he said.
"I am in favour of autonomy and those who will do the good work, they will get maximum autonomy and those who will not work, there will be more regulations for them," said Javadekar.
He urged the students to keep in mind that society, including the poor classes, contributes to their education through payment of taxes.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
Nigeria has recently trumpeted a major victory in its battle against Boko Haram, claiming that its army has routed the jihadists from their forest bastion, but the war against them is far from over.
After years of devastating battles and a recent surge in attacks, the fear in Nigeria is that Boko Haram will simply decamp from the Sambisa forest enclave to other areas nearby.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari announced on Christmas Eve that a months-long campaign had led to the "final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest".
The Nigerian military said troops were chasing fleeing Boko Haram militants, claiming that the fight against the jihadists was in its final stages.
But yesterday, Boko Haram's elusive leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a video to dispute the government's claim.
"We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere," Shekau said in the 25-minute video, flanked by masked armed fighters.
As access to the conflict zones is heavily restricted, claims from both sides cannot be independently verified.
According to a military source who asked not to be named, Boko Haram jihadists have been "tremendously weakened and are trying to avoid confrontation ... By hiding in some obscure locations."
Islamists routed from Sambisa have reportedly fled to areas on the edge of the forest, islets on Lake Chad as well as villages on the Cameroon border.
"They were sighted in large numbers in ... The Kala-Balge area," said a vigilante helping in the fight, referring to a region near Cameroon.
The head of the fishermen's union in Borno state, the epicentre of Boko Haram's seven-year insurgency, said some fighters had regrouped on Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
It provides the jihadists with a "convenient sanctuary", with its 400 islets covered with dense vegetation that makes aerial detection and ground operations dangerous, Abubakar Gamandi said.
"The islets are between one and two square kilometres and the fresh water and abundant fish in the lake make them habitable," said Gamandi, who has fished in Lake Chad for 40 years.
Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the leader of a Boko Haram faction recognised by the Islamic State group, has already been living on the lake since his group split from Shekau's leadership in August, residents and vigilantes say.
Should Shekau and his troops move there, it is unclear whether the two rival factions will end up battling each other.
Cameroonian troops have intensified their operations along their nation's frontier with Nigeria, where fleeing Boko Haram fighters have also sought refuge, according to a vigilante in the Nigerian border town of Banki.
"Cameroon has upped security along the border which has forced fleeing Boko Haram (fighters) to head to Kala-Balge, where Nigerian troops are deploying", said the vigilante, who did not want to give his name.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was today detained at Pulwama as he led his supporters to stage a protest march against Jammu and Kashmir government's decision to issue identity certificates to West Pakistani Refugees.
Malik was detained along with several of his supporters. They were taken into preventive custody, a police official said.
Separatists groups had called for protests today against the government decision to issue identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees living in the state since partition in 1947.
The state government has decided to issue identity cards to the refugees and had to issue clarification after protests from opposition parties and separatists against the move.
Initially, reports had said the opposition was against the government move to issue domicile certificates, but the state government said it was issuing identity certificates.
Other political organisations, including BJP and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, have slammed separatists for opposing the issuance of certificates to the refugees.
The refugees, settled in Jammu and Kashmir, are citizens of India and have the right to vote in parliamentary polls.
However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. They do not enjoy voting rights to the state assembly and local bodies.
(This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)
From David Bowie and Prince to Leonard Cohen and, most recently, George Michael, weve lost many to 2016. Even Coldplays Global Citizen Festival in Mumbai, which once shone brightly on everyone's radar, was buried under heaps of other performances. But with a host of new beginnings, the New Year seems promising enough, like the proposed-resurrection of the Backstreet Boys. The boy band is headed to Las Vegas for a trial residency and, if all goes well, theyll announce new gigs. Nikita Puri lines up the other musical events to look forward to in 2017.
The year 2016 witnessed a number of cyber attacks, from influencing US elections to leaking debit card and email information, setting off alarm bells across the globe. Here are some major hacks that took place during the year:
Since 2014, Facebooks Safety Check feature has allowed people in areas stricken by natural disasters and terror attacks to swiftly tell their friends that theyre unharmed. On Tuesday, it was activated for The Explosion in Bangkok, Thailand.
If youre wondering why you havent read or heard anything about a deadly explosion in Bangkok on Tuesday, its because there wasnt a deadly explosion in Bangkok on Tuesday. And the resulting confusion illustrated a downside of Facebooks switch to automating tasks once left up to the judgment of humans.
As the year comes to an end, it is also time to say final goodbye to the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes. After Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that these two notes were no longer valid as legal tender on November 8, the country slid into complete chaos as the ensuing cash crunch adversely affected people.
Today is the last day for people to exchange the old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes at banks. Tomorrow onwards, anyone holding Rs 500 or Rs 1000 notes could be levied hefty fines. Prime Minister Modi, in a speech, had requested people to give him 50 days to bring things back to normal and described demonetisation as a bitter pill to fight black money and terrorism.
Even though the 50 days deadline now comes to an end, the cash crunch which has resulted in long ATM queues across the country are not likely to end soon. The Reserve Bank of India is struggling to put out enough cash back in the market to bring back things to normal. Reports suggest that the bank is trying to import huge quantities of paper to print new notes but it will take time. The government, amid the cash chaos, begun to stress on the digitalisation of the Indian economy and announced freebies for digital transactions.
ALSO READ: 50 days of demonetisation: What all happened
According to reports, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to make another speech on demonetisation on the New Year's eve. If sources are to be believed, he will highlight the 'success' of the note ban and also announce some New Year 'gifts. It remains to be seen what these 'gifts' will be, if there are any.
Meanwhile, he also gave his first interview after demonetisation to India Today, in which he defended demonetisation. He reiterated from his speech that the short-term pain would lead to long-term gain due to demonetisation.
"This decision (demonetisation) is so huge that even our best economists remain confused in their calculations. India's 1.25 billion citizens, however, have welcomed it wholeheartedly and supported it even in the face of great personal difficulties, intuitively understanding its impact and importance," he said.
He added: "I believe India is standing at a watershed moment, on the cusp of actualising its inherent potential as a developed nation and global leader. An India which is Swachh from all forms of filth."
Prime Minister Modi's assurances aside, there is little doubt that the cash crunch that the country is facing will continue for some more time. And, until people begin to easily get access to their own money there is going to be a lot of pressure on the government.
Delhi registered the highest per capita income among all states and union territories during 2015-16 at about Rs 2,80,000, over three times the national average, according to the latest official data released today.
The national capital is trailed by neighbouring Chandigarh, with a per capita income of Rs 2,42,386, while Sikkim occupied the third spot with Rs 2,27,465.
Delhis current figure is an increase of over Rs 28,000, or 13 per cent, compared to the previous year when it was 2,52,011, a Statistical Handbook released by Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia showed.
"(The) deputy chief minister informed that the per capita income of Delhi is 2,80,142 during 2015-16 (at current prices). It has increased by 28,131 in comparison to 2014-15. The per capita income at national level is found to be 93,293 during 2015-16," an official statement said.
According to the data released by Oxford Economics in November, Delhi has emerged as the economic capital of India, pipping Mumbai as per GDP in terms of purchasing power parity (PPP).
The ordinance on demonetised currency does not propose a jail term for those holding more than 10 junked notes, but imposes a minimum fine of Rs 10,000.
The draft ordinance, which will be sent to President Pranab Mukherjee for his assent, will come into force from December 31.
There was a proposal for prescribing a four-year jail term, but the draft ordinance does not contain any such provision.
Those keeping the junked notes for "study, research or numismatics" purposes would be exempt from penalty provided they hold not more than 25 number of such notes irrespective of the denomination.
Besides, people authorised by RBI or its agencies or those holding junked notes under directions of a court would also not be penalised, as per Section 5 of the draft ordinance.
It provides for making holding of old 1,000 and 500 rupee notes after March 31 a criminal offence that will attract a fine of Rs 10,000 or five times the cash held, whichever is higher.
According to Section 6 of the 'Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016', whoever knowingly and wilfully makes any false declarations regarding junked notes would be liable for a fine "which may extend to Rs 50,000 or five times the amount of the face value of specified bank notes tendered, whichever is higher".
The ordinance also provides for amending the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Act, 1934 to provide legislative support for extinguishing the central bank and government's liability on the demonetised banknotes that are not returned.
While the deadline for the deposit of old currency in bank or post office accounts expires on Friday, there is time till March 31 for depositing them at select RBI counters with stiff conditions.
Sources said a proposal for a four-year jail term for anyone possessing large number of demonetised currency after March 31, 2017 was not approved by the Cabinet.
As per the draft ordinance, citizens who were abroad between November 9 and December 30 are entitled to deposit the junked notes till March 31 with RBI.
The government would also bring out a separate notification for "such class of persons and for such reasons as may be specified" to ensure that people are not harassed and those with genuine reasons can deposit the cancelled notes.
At the time of announcing demonetisation of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8, the government had allowed holders to either exchange them or deposit in bank and post office accounts.
According to the government, the main reason for bringing out the ordinance is to "have clarity and finality to the liabilities of the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the central government" arising from the demonetisation of high value currency notes.
In case of companies found holding more than 10 junked notes, action would be taken against the officials concerned.
Proceedings could be initiated against "any director, manager, secretary, or other officer or employee" of the particular company.
The ordinance also provides safeguard for the government and the central bank from facing any legal proceedings.
"No suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against government, RBI or any of their officers for anything or intended to be done in good faith under this ordinance," it noted.
In 1978, a similar Ordinance was issued to end the government's liability after Rs 1,000, Rs 5,000 and Rs 10,000 notes were demonetised by the Morarji Desai-led government.
Sources said the legal amendments are needed every time the government decides to scrap any legal tender to put an end to its promissory note.
Of the Rs 15.4 lakh crore worth of currency that was scrapped, about Rs 14 lakh crore has been deposited in banks or exchanged.
In the 1860s, illustrator and idiot Leopold Trouvelot deliberately brought gypsy moths from France to America. Some outsmarted him and escaped, and they now cause hundreds of millions of dollars in damage each year. This charming film tells the tale and explains our greatest and grossest hope for eradicating them: baculovirus.
Flora Lichtman directed this lovely and colorful concoction. Even the melting caterpillars are kind of pretty.
From the accompanying article at the California Academy of Sciences:
In the 1860s, artist and amateur scientist Leopold Trouvelot hatched an ill-conceived plan to create a new type of silka plan that included importing gypsy moth caterpillars (Lymantria dispar) from France to America. Instead of a better textile, Trouvelot created an ecological disaster. When some of his caterpillars escaped into the surrounding Massachusetts countryside, they thrived. Free from many of their native predators, they stripped trees bare as they munched their way across an ever-expanding territory. Nearly 150 years later, gypsy moth populations are still spreading, causing significant damage to deciduous forests wherever they go. (This past summer, caterpillar-induced defoliation was so extensive across New England and the Mid-Atlantic states that it could be seen from space.) But there's hope for the trees. A virus that causes the caterpillars to melt into piles of goo is helping to keep the gypsy moth in checkand limiting its impact on countless U.S. forests.
Invisible Nature: Invasion of the Caterpillars
(via Biographic)
SabbaticalHomes.com is like Airbnb for academics looking to rent their homes during sabbaticals. Sounds genteel, but many states allow long-term guests to establish tenancy, often after 30 days. Mother Jones has an infuriating and cautionary tale about the homestay marketplace: the sharing economy can intersect with tenant rights, and the people who know how to work that system might decide not to pay rent or leave until evicted.
Summary: Elizabeth Abel planned a semester in Paris, and after placing a listing on SabbaticalHomes.com, she decided to rent to a political scientist at Sarah Lawrence College named David Peritz, starting in January.
By the time April 1 came and went without a rent check, Abel had had enough. She wrote Peritz to tell him she was taking him to small-claims court. Around the same time, Abel's neighbors began writing her increasingly concerned emails. One of them had even seen Peritz taking her furniture down the driveway to the office in the garage late at night. They rarely, if ever, saw his wife or son. Abel got in touch with the Kensington Police Department, which sent an officer by the house to talk with Peritz. The officer emailed Abel to tell her that he thought Peritz was "trying to establish squatters rights or lock you out," and that she should have a cop accompany her when she eventually came back home. Someone from the police department would tell her she should start the eviction process as soon as possible. It might take weeks, even months, to get Peritz out of her house.
It gets ugly from there. Includes epic Judith Butler email excoriation of Peritz.
The Crazy Story of the Professor Who Came to Stayand Wouldn't Leave (Mother Jones)
Image: jen light
CAMEROUN :: THE SOUTHERN CAMEROONS aka AMBAZONIA BIBLE & HYMN INTO HER FINAL INDEPENDENCE STAMPEDE.To the millennial Southern Cameroonians (Ambazonians) Freedom is NOT Given, it is Fought For
Now that dialogue between the oppressor and the oppressed is failing woefully, now that we cannot continue contenting ourselves with half measures and keep on waiting for manna to fall from heaven, now that the fettering fever of increasing provocation has reached the climax of vexation, now that the unbearable burden of intimidation has reached the canopy of disgruntlement, I reckon that it is about time all of us Ambazonians rise to our feet and dash into the warm embrace of our INDEPENDENCE either in peace or in pieces. Be you at Bakingili, at Babanki, at Nguti, at Njinibi, at Eshimbi or at Ikiriwindi, be you resident in the hinterlands of the rural resort or in the heart of the urban metropolis, be you resident at home or abroad, imbibe the courage of Shakespeares Macbeth saying, Put on mine armour Hang out our banners on the outward walls We have almost forgot the taste of fears Arm, arm and out! Ring the alarum bells! blow, wind! Come, wrack! At least, well die with harness on our back.
This is that divine-appointed moment for all of us Ambazonians to stretch out to breaking point, to unleash our hatchets against the forces of evil which have eaten into our fabric like cankerworms, which have robbed and robbed us, which have cracked and crooked us, which have pecked and plundered us, which have gripped and grounded us, which have toppled and trodden us to the surface of the earth. To the streets all of us! Men, women and children young and old like Denis Brutus in At a Funeral saying, Arise! The brassy shout of freedom stirs our earth Better that we should die, than that we should lie down. Also, like Shakespeares Mark Anthony saying, [We] have come to bury Caesar, not to praise him. The evil that men do [lives with them]. None of us should give the least opportunity to our slave masters to tread on our grounds any longer. They have done more than enough damage on our landscape. We should send them packing bag and baggage. Hands in glove, we should all return triumphantly to our native land like Hardy in Return of the Native and Roy Campbells Horses on the Camargue saying, With coal-red eyes and Cataracting mane, heading his course for home Though sixty foreign leagues before him sweep, will never rest until he breathes the foam and hears the native thunder of the deep.
What shall biographers say about us? Shall they say that we were born slaves and died slaves? What shall historians say about us? Shall they say that we touched our independence with our hands and cowardly let it go? No, they should say that without hesitating, we grabbed it in a legendary display of intrepid. They should say that we took the bull by its horns. They should say that we were modern-day Spartans who never surrendered in the face of every adversity. They should say that we were that appointed generation which restored the glaring glory, the earning honor and the dazzling dignity of Ambazonia. They should say that we were a generation to be forever exampled. Like Tennyson in Ulysses, they should say that we defied the tempest and embarked for sea adventure, saying, Tis not too late to seek a newer world It may be that the gulfs will wash us down It may be that we shall touch the Happy Isles Though much is taken, much abides To strive, to seek, to find, and not to yield.
The last word to our people
The confusion is in the minds of those who are confused about what they want. The vast majority of Ambazonians want independence. I mean an absolute majority. That is true for those in the homeland and in the Diaspora.
This majority are also those who began the coffin resistance: those who have died, detained and brutalized. The consortium guys are federalist who think they can reform colonialism and adjust themselves inside. They are also the SDF elites who are nervous about the collapse of the system. So you must realize that there is an inter conflict between our people are Cameroun and an intra conflict between our people and a small vocal minority.
Those who are for the restoration of the independence & statehood of the Southern Cameroons People aka Ambazonia are not confused. They are busy churning out flags across the world and in the homeland. The flag scares those who want the system to survive because it represents something new.
We cannot resolve this conflict. Biya alone will do it and he has already begun doing so. The Lawyers and Teachers will see the truth soon. They saw it in 1994 when Biya turned a constitutional conference into a phone and fax exercise. They saw it in 1995 when he rejected federalism. Our people are determined and they will prevail.
Only the devil ask you to leave your Bible home when going to church. Take your cross and follow the Lord Hold your flag, wear your T shirt. Those are your Bible and Hymns.
Warnings to MTN, Orange and Nextell, Camtel etc. Your services will be decapitated in you interfere with the network in any way, shape or form. We accepted your previous apology but not this time around.
All Southern Cameroonians (Ambazonians) Pledge: We will Stand on our feet dying than on our knees begging AGAIN ENOUGH is ENOUGH
The State Department
Governing Council
For and on behalf of the Southern Cameroonians (Ambazonians) Peoples
Teachers Trade Unionists remain United and Resolute Wilson MUSA
Trade union leaders of English sub system of education has rejected an invitation to attend a meeting Friday December 30, 2016 by 3pm, from Higher Education Minister Jacques Fame Ndongo in his capacity as chairperson of a committee put in place to look at general problems faced by teachers in both Francophone and Anglophone schools.
The decision not to attend the meeting whose invitation came late Thursday was taken after a late night meeting with the trade Unionists in Bamenda, North West region.
The President of Teachers Association of Cameroon, TAC, TAME Valentine said, He invited us but we are not going, we cannot be going to such statutory issues when there is a crisis situation at hand. They will be discussing general issues; we want to handle identity issues first. Its a semester kind of thing.
The meeting comes on the heels of another in Bamenda where the teachers backed out as government envoys failed to grant their request.
Among others the teachers are asking for the youths arrested in Bamenda and Kumba released without conditions, the redeployment of Anglophone teachers teaching in French sub system of education to that of English and vice versa.
Bamenda At Heart of Strike Action Last November Wilson MUSA
A Press conference organized by Human Rights Cameroon on cases of human rights violation in the Bamenda crisis previewed for Friday in a local hotel in Yaounde One municipality has been banned.
Orders to ban the gathering we are told came from the Divisional Officer after due consultation with the Police Commissioner of the area. According to Evans Tebo, an official of Human Rights Cameroon, the Commissioner claimed that the Press conference cannot hold because the country is in delicate situation with happenings in Bamenda and that the Head of State will also address the nation this Saturday during his traditional end of year address to the nation. He said , the D.O called the Commissioner and asked her to investigate what we are all about, so the D.O did not know anything,it is when the Commissioner gave her reports that the D.O called me to hand back my document.
However Evans Tebo said cases of human rights violation were appalling in the twin strike action that hit the city of Bamenda. He disclose that the images are horrible, terrifying and only goes a long way to show how Police used force to extend of shooting live bullets on the striking population.
We were the ones who visited prisoners, each and every one of them shared with us what happened how they were arrested and bad treatment they had, we went to the State Council in Bamenda where they were charged and released that same day. Three of them were left because they did not have identification documents, 21 out of the 25 released and 1 was remanded because he was caught with Marijuana. Evans told reporters.
Below is a press release following the Cabinet Meeting of Thursday 29 December 2016.
ADS
The Prime Minister, Head of Government, H.E Philemon YANG, chaired an important Cabinet Meeting this Thursday, 29 December 2016 at 9:00 a.m. in the Prime Ministers Office.
The meeting was attended by Ministers of State, Ministers, Ministers-Delegate and Secretaries of State.
Two items featured on the agenda:
1. A statement by the Minister of Social Affairs on strategy for developing social entrepreneurship to fight vulnerabilities;
2. A statement by the Minister of Arts and Culture on the Reform of the management of copyright and neighbouring rights in the musical arts category.
Taking the floor after the Prime Ministers introductory statement, the Minister of Social Affairs stated that social entrepreneurship seeks to fight against social exclusion, as defined by the President of the Republic, by providing support to socially vulnerable persons and contributing to the creation of jobs for inclusive growth. Social entrepreneurship is achieved through private social work and national solidarity.
As regards bodies providing private social welfare, the procedures for their establishment and operation are governed by Decree No. 77/495 of 7 December 1977. This decree covers the activities of any duly authorized association, institution, company or service established for humanitarian and apolitical purposes or created by a natural person to provide material and moral or educational support to persons of any age, sex or race, to families or social groups, in order to promote their development.
National solidarity, for its part, refers to actions and activities organized and streamlined by policies and programmes that seek to provide multi-faceted support to individuals, groups or communities who on their own cannot find solutions to their temporary or permanent vulnerability. As such, national solidarity calls for synergy between the State, civil society, the private sector, and development partners.
Thereafter, the Minister of Social Affairs presented the broad aspects of Governments Strategy for developing Social Entrepreneurship. These include (i) the promotion of a new dynamics of social work, primarily geared towards greater control over initiatives and reinforced coordination; (ii) the consolidation of a system of national solidarity by facilitating the socio-economic integration/reintegration of socially vulnerable persons, and the promotion and diversification of partnerships for social development.
This strategy will be operationalized as part of the Programme for the Vocational Integration and Reintegration of Vulnerable Persons (PAIRPPEV), implemented under a Convention between the Ministry of Social Affairs and the National Employment Fund. Emphasis is also laid on rehabilitating and modernizing public institutions which provide support to socially vulnerable persons.
Speaking after her, the Minister of Arts and Culture presented a statement on the reform of the management of copyright and neighbouring rights in the musical arts category. He gave a brief historical overview of copyright management in Cameroon, before stressing that the Head of State instructed that this very important sector of activity be reformed to put an end to the constant crises that have plagued the sector for over a decade.
Continuing his statement, he pointed out that the working sessions of the Ad Hoc Committee set up by the Head of Government to resolve this issue revealed that copyright collection societies for musical arts in particular have faced four major challenges namely: (i) their legality and legitimacy; (ii) recurrent leadership struggles between the ministry in charge and these societies; (iii) poor organizational and management skills and (iv) insignificant amounts of royalties.
The Minister of Arts and Culture equally noted that the strategic thrusts of the sector reform cover both legal and institutional aspects. At the legal level, several instruments were drafted to amend provisions deemed obsolete or to supplement others. This is the case with Decree No. 2015/3979/PM of 25 September 2015 to lay down the implementing conditions of Law No. 2000/011 of 19 December 2000 on copyright and neighbouring rights, as amended and supplemented by Decree No. 2016/4281/PM of 21 September 2016.
The innovations of this decree include: (i) the re-organization of art categories subject to collective management, with the possibility of creating a company dedicated only to neighbouring rights; (ii) the requirement for the managers and main leaders of copyright collection societies to be Cameroonian; and (iii) the adoption of common measures applicable to statutes, electoral codes, and general rules of these societies. At the institutional level, several bodies were created such as the Commission for the Control of Copyright Collection Societies which now has a Permanent Secretariat and an Arbitration Committee. Moreover, a National Register for Copyright Owners is being constituted.
At the end of this statement, the Prime Minister threw the floor open for discussions. Thereafter, he instructed the Minister of Social Affairs to intensify cooperation to diversify technical and financial partnerships within the framework of social entrepreneurship and the promotion of private social actions. He also instructed the Minister of Arts and Culture to carry out the popularization of the national register of authors and holders of neighbouring rights, and carry through the registration of artistes with the National Social Insurance Fund, so as to ensure their honourable retirement.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:30 a.m., after examining issues relating to Government action.-
Yaounde, 29 December 2016
Seraphin Magloire FOUDA,
Secretary-General of the
Prime Ministers Office
ADS
The world's oldest male panda, Pan Pan, has died in China.
Pan Pan, 31, was diagnosed with cancer six months ago, having lived almost all his life in captivity. He was captured in Sichuan as a six-month old cub. The BBC reports that his name means "Hope."
The centre described the news of the death of the "hero-father" panda as "heart-wrenching".
Keepers said he had stopped moving and eating, and lost consciousness, as his health had deteriorated rapidly over the preceding three days.
In September, the International Union for Conservation of Nature announced that the status pandas had been changed from "endangered" to "vulnerable", as numbers had begun to increase.
The latest Chinese estimates show a population of 1,864 adults, as well as according to China's State Forestry Administration 422 in captivity.
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 ...
Eric Schlosser's book and film Command and Control look at the terrifying prospects of nuclear friendly fire, where one of America's nukes detonates on US soil. It also looks at what might happen if a false alarm gets relayed to a trigger-happy general or President. He starts this New Yorker piece with a terrifying story from June 3, 1980:
President Jimmy Carter's national-security adviser, Zbigniew Brzezinski, was asleep in Washington, D.C., when the phone rang. His military aide, General William Odom, was calling to inform him that two hundred and twenty missiles launched from Soviet submarines were heading toward the United States. Brzezinski told Odom to get confirmation of the attack. A retaliatory strike would have to be ordered quickly; Washington might be destroyed within minutes. Odom called back and offered a correction: twenty-two hundred Soviet missiles had been launched. Brzezinski decided not to wake up his wife, preferring that she die in her sleep. As he prepared to call Carter and recommend an American counterattack, the phone rang for a third time. Odom apologizedit was a false alarm. An investigation later found that a defective computer chip in a communications device at norad headquarters had generated the erroneous warning. The chip cost forty-six cents.
Lots more scary info at the Command and Control film website.
World War Three, by mistake (New Yorker)
Image: Maxwell Hamilton
Goals include 'rejuvenating' western China and country's economy, transportation official says
In the next five years, China will invest 3.5 trillion yuan ($503 billion) to accelerate railway construction, including expansion of the country's high-speed rail network to 30,000 kilometers, a senior official said on Thursday.
"By 2020, more than 80 percent of China's major cities will be connected by high-speed railways," said Yang Yudong, vice-minister of transportation.
China released a white paper titled "Development of China's Transport" on Thursday, which Hu Kaihong, director of the State Council Information Office's Press Bureau, said is the first white paper to review the sector's tremendous changes in recent decades and to set goals for its future.
In the past few years, China's railway network, especially high-speed rail, has undergone dramatic change. From 2011 to 2015, China invested 3.58 trillion yuan to build 30,000 km of railway. By the end of this year, the nation's total railway length will reach 124,000 km, including 20,000 km of high-speed railway, accounting for 65 percent of the world's total high-speed rail.
In July, the National Development and Reform Commission issued an updated national railway development plan envisioning a 175,000-km rail network by the end of 2025, with 38,000 km of high-speed rail.
However, the high-speed railway network still faces challenges, especially in the less-developed western part of China. Yang, the vice-minister of transportation, said he is confident that lines in western China will eventually become profitable.
"Plus, building high-speed railway in less-developed regions is not only about recouping investment. It is part of the big project of rejuvenating the whole region and the country's economy," said Yang.
The high-speed rail linking Beijing and Shanghai showed a profit last year, Xinhua News Agency reported in July, quoting Tianjin Railway Construction Co, a shareholder of Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway Co.
Yang Hao, a professor of rail transportation at Beijing Jiaotong University, said the economic returns of a high-speed railway network shouldn't be judged solely on whether lines are profitable, since these rail-ways can leverage the development of such industries as tourism, logistics and real estate.
According to China Railway Corp, construction began on Thursday on a high-speed rail line linking Guiyang, Guizhou province - a transportation hub connecting members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations - and Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
The 482-km line will connect the Shanghai-Kunming railway and the Chengdu-Gui-yang railway to the north and will also link to southern coastal areas including Hainan province and Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
The new railway will accelerate communication between China and ASEAN countries and play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Contact the writers at suzhou@chinadaily.com.cn
The world's highest bridge, at 565 meters, opened on Thursday at the border of Southwest China's Guizhou and Yunnan provinces. By the end of last year, China's highways totaled 4.58 million km.He Junyi / For China Daily
(China Daily 12/30/2016 page3)
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In a bid to establish education centres for higher education to minorities the Union government has decided to set up five new universities for including medical. The announcement was made by Union Minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi announced here on Thursday.
"We want to establish five universities with world class institutions where higher education including medical and skill development will be imparted as part of efforts to empower minorities. These universities will have big campuses for residential schools, Ayurved, Unani medical education," the Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Minorities Affairs said.
According to him the government plans to offer 40 per cent reservation to girl students at the "world class institutions" under the proposed varsities, where, he stated, students from other than minority communities can also undertake education.
The announcement was part of a meeting of general body of Maulana Azad Education Foundation. The Minister said the Ministry has approved 16 Gurukul-type schools in Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Jharkhand.
Regarding attaching minority tags to the universities, Naqvi said, "The committee will work out details and decide. But students belonging to other than minority communities can learn there. We will try to give 40 per cent quota to girl students to empower them. It will not be based on religion."
"A high-level committee will be formed in a day or two to work out roadmap within next two months, help identify places where the universities "with world class institutions" will be established and start academic sessions by 2018," Naqvi said.
"Rajasthan Chief Minister Vasundhara Raje has already suggested us five properties including three in Jaipur and one in Kota for the purpose," he added.
The Ministry has, via the Foundation, decided to float 'Garib Nawaz Skill Development Centres' across the country.
Offering 'Begum Hazrat Mahal' scholarships to girl students. Besides, students undertaking mainstream education at madrasas will also be offered scholarship henceforth to encourage them, he added.
Eight JNU Students Suspended for Misconduct and Violence
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About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com
From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 40 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com
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by Staff Reporter
President Robert Mugabe's successor will soon be picked by war veterans as they have indicated that they will not campaign for the veteran ruler.The group has anchored Mugabe's election campaigns since 2000, when the first major opposition to the president emerged with the formation in 1999 of the main opposition party Movement For Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai.Early this year, the liberation fighters told Mugabe to step down.According to the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans' Association (ZNLWVA) secretary-general Victor Matemadanda, consultation process to pick the next president will be done soon."We have not made a decision, but we will be consulting. In the next two months, we will gather all war veterans to find a solution."However, we are very clear that the madness that came out of the Zanu PF conference early this month cannot be supported by any right-thinking Zimbabwean".He said Mugabe (92) can no longer be trusted.However, Zanu PF national political commissar Savior Kasukuwere said the war veterans should not trouble the party candidate."Please leave our candidate alone. Zanu PF has made a decision and nobody can change that," he is quoted saying.
More than a month after Cadillac announced details on the CT6 for the US market, the GM-owned brand has announced pricing for China.
Available in two variants priced from RMB 558,800 ($80,325) and RMB 658,800 ($94,585), respectively, the hybrid luxury sedan aimed at the Peoples Republic uses the same 2.0-liter SIDI direct-injected turbocharged engine and two electric motors as its North American twin.
In this form, output sits at 340 PS (335 HP) and 586 Nm (432 lb-ft) of torque, allowing it to go from rest to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 5.4 seconds, while consuming as low as 1.7 l/100 km (138.37 mpg US) with the use of the electric motor, the best in the segment.
A lithium-ion battery pack, with 192 cells and an 18.4 kWh capacity offers a zero-emissions driving range of 80 km (50 miles), which increases to 935 km (581 miles) once the internal combustion mill kicks in. Cadillac says that the CT6 Plug-In Hybrid can be topped up in five hours or less using a 220V charger, and owners can check the charging time via OnStar or MyCadillac app.
Additionally, drivers can select between three operating modes: Cruise, billed as perfect for daily commutes, Sport, for a more aggressive throttle and agile steering, and Hold, suitable for long-distance highway cruising. These are offered alongside more than 20 standard features that include the Enhanced Safety Strategy package, and OnStar 4G LTE with a built-in Wi-Fi hotspot.
PHOTO GALLERY
The global chief executive of Faraday Future has stepped down from his position just days before CES 2017 kicks off.
The automaker startup never had an official CEO, but it is reported that Ding Lei (pictured above right) served as a key executive within the firm and has helped run things from his position at LeEco, Faraday Futures key Chinese investor.
The Verge reports that Lei was appointed as chairman of LeSupercar and served as a key spokesperson for Faraday Future and LeEco. The founder and chairman of LeEco, Yia Yueting, appointed Lei as acting global CEO of Faraday Future last year as the brand searched for a permanent replacement.
This news comes just before the brand unveils a concept variant of its first production car in just four days time. FF promises that the all-electric crossover will be faster than any Tesla and bring with it a host of advanced technologies.
PHOTO GALLERY
A man has died in Tampa, Florida after running naked into the path of oncoming traffic and jumping on various cars.
On Thursday at 5:30am last week, police assert that 39-year-old Nathan Howard Hamilton left the Howard Johnson hotel near Spruce street and started acting erratically.
CCTV footage shows a completely naked Howard Hamilton running onto the street and jumping onto the windscreen of an oncoming car. He then banged his head so hard that he broke the glass. It is reported that he did the same to a number of other cars before being taken into custody with heavy bleeding.
The Tampa Bay Times says that the man suffered a medical problem while in the back of a patrol car and was later pronounced dead at St. Josephs Hospital.
In a call to 911, an unidentified man described the scene saying We just had a man just run out the hotel, butt naked, run out here on Dale Mabry and just jumped on somebodys car on the highway here.
You need to hurry up and get here cause I dont know what he doing, but hes trying to break peoples windows and whatever, he said.
VIDEO
Developing a supercar means that practicality and comfort take a back seat to extravagant design, power and driving dynamics. So where does a four-door Aventador S fit in?
Well, in short, nowhere, but that doesnt mean we cant check out one of X-Tomis creations that sees the most recent Aventador S grow an extra pair of doors and an extended wheelbase.
Even the company itself toyed with the idea, with the Estoque concept, before deciding to ditch it in favor of an SUV.
Thus, it is already readying the Urus that will challenge the likes of the Bentley Bentayga and the upcoming Rolls-Royce Cullinan, among others, as almost everyone, bar Ferrari and McLaren, have jumped on the crossover bandwagon. The Urus will also mark the addition of a plug-in hybrid powertrain, as the brands R&D boss Maurizio Reggiani recently confirmed, a first for a production Lamborghini.
PHOTO GALLERY
Photo: CTV
A man is in custody after a fight with a woman led her to take refuge in the emergency room at Penticton Regional Hospital.
RCMP got a call from PRH at 8:40 p.m. Wednesday night, and say a woman and her boyfriend were fighting near Government Street, when a passing car stopped nearby. The driver allegedly saw the man chase the woman and grab her.
The passerby rolled down the window and asked if everything was okay, at which point the man apparently let go of the woman and the car drove away.
Police are asking that the driver of the car contact Cst. Dave Dixon of the Penticton RCMP at 250-492-4300.
The man, a 27-year-old Summerland resident, appeared in court on Thursday on charges of assault, forcible confinement and criminal harassment.
He was released on bail with conditions, including not to have contact with the woman or to be within 100 metres of her home, school or work.
Photo: CTV
Charges have been laid over a cheetah that was spotted near a B.C. highway.
Authorities searched for the cheetah, which was reportedly seen between Kootenay Bay and Crawford Bay on Highway 3A in mid-December last year, but were unable to locate it.
A witness had called RCMP after taking pictures of the cheetah, which was wearing a collar.
An investigation was conducted and now two people face charges from the Conservation Officer Service under the Controlled Alien Species Regulation.
Earl Pfeifer and Carol Plato face charges of possessing an alien species without permit, and are set to appear in court in Creston on Feb. 17.
Two cheetahs lived with the pair according to reports from 2013 and 2014.
with files from CTV Vancouver
Photo: The Canadian Press
Massive 20-ton sanitation trucks, weighted with an extra 15 tons of sand, will surround the iconic New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square, officials said Thursday, describing a security measure meant to stop deadly truck-driving attacks into crowds like those in Germany and France.
The placement of the 65 trucks, along with 100 patrol cars, at intersections surrounding Times Square is a new element to an already heavily policed event that will include 7,000 officers, specially armed counterterrorism units and bomb-sniffing dogs.
"We live in a changing world now," New York Police Department Commissioner James O'Neil said. "It can't just be, 'What happens in New York, what happens in the United States?' It has to be more, 'What happens worldwide?'"
A Tunisian man who plowed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin this month killed 12 people and injured 56 others. His attack followed a more deadly assault in Nice, France, in July that left 86 people dead when a man drove a 20-ton refrigerated truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day.
New York police studied those events in planning their Times Square security.
"As we formulated this year's plan, we paid close attention to world events and we learned from those events," said Carlos Gomez, the NYPD's chief of department.
More than 1 million people are expected to attend the annual ball drop countdown in Manhattan, and officials said they didn't know of any terror threats.
The security measures are part of augmented precautions across the nation for New Year's Eve. To keep Las Vegas' lavish celebration secure, the entire police force will be working or on-call with help from the FBI, the National Guard and the Secret Service and will close roads and beef up barriers to prevent vehicle attacks.
Times Square revelers, who are prohibited from carrying umbrellas and large bags, will be screened at two points: once when they approach the Crossroads of the World and again when they enter one of the 65 pens that hold thousands of people each.
And, as in past years, officials have removed trash bins and mailboxes, sealed manhole covers and done sweeps of parking garages and hotels.
A nationwide Syrian ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey that went into effect at midnight was holding Friday despite minor violations, marking a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has been shredding high-level peace initiatives for over five years.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes early Friday between troops and rebels in the central province of Hama and near the capital, Damascus, but said there have been no reports of civilian casualties since the truce began. The group also reported an aerial attack on the rebel-held Barda Valley near Damascus.
Opposition activist Mazen al-Shami, who is based in the Damascus suburb of Douma, said minor clashes nearby left one rebel wounded. Activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh, in the southern Daraa province, said government forces had opened fire on rebel-held areas.
Several past attempts at halting the fighting have failed. As with previous agreements, the current ceasefire excludes both the al-Qaida-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside other rebel factions, and the Islamic State group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the ceasefire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey, and the agreement has been welcomed by Iran. Moscow and Tehran provide crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has long served as a rear base and source of supplies for the rebels.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the ceasefire a "major achievement" in a tweet Friday. "Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror," he added.
Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one denied signing it.
The truce came on the heels of a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive. The retaking of all of Aleppo marked Assad's greatest victory since the start of the 2011 uprising against his family's four-decade rule.
"The defeat of the terrorists in Aleppo is an important step toward ending the war," Assad said in an interview with TG5, an Italian TV station, adding that the capture of the city does not mean that the war has ended because "terrorists" are still in Syria.
News / Local
by Alice Dube
The Constitutional Court (ConCourt) on Thursday handed the Zimbabwe People First leader, Joyce Mujuru a 15 day ultimatum to submit her heads of arguments on her bond notes case.That will enable the ConCourt to set a date on which Mujuru's challenge would be heard before a full bench."In terms of Practice Direction No 2 of 2013, the applicant is required to file heads of argument within 15 days from the date of service of the letter."In terms of paragraph 9(11), the respondent is required within 10 days of receiving the applicant's heads of argument to file with the registrar its heads of argument. Please not that if you fail to comply with the above, the application shall be regarded as abandoned and shall be deemed to have been dismissed".A few months ago, Mujuru approached the ConCourt challenging the introduction of bond notes, but the court ruled that her contestation was premature because the surrogate currency was not yet in circulation.The court advised her to wait and file her challenge after the notes had hit the streets.
Photo: Smithsonian
A volcano on a remote island in Alaska's Aleutian chain has erupted again, prompting an aviation alert.
The Alaska Volcano Observatory says the Bogoslof volcano sent an ash plume about 20,000 feet in the air by early Friday morning.
The eruption caused the observatory to issue its highest alert level for aircraft.
During an eruption of the volcano last week, the Federal Aviation Administration said flights were rerouted around the plume.
The centre says the volcano began erupting shortly before midnight Thursday and its activity was recorded by seismic data and in satellite images.
The volcano is located on an island of the same name in the Bering Sea about 850 miles southwest of Anchorage.
Photo: Contributed
An Indonesian budget airline has fired a pilot who was suspected of trying to fly a plane while he was drunk.
Citilink president director Albert Burhan also announced Friday that he and the production director would resign over the impropriety. Citilink is a subsidiary of national flag carrier Garuda Indonesia.
On Wednesday, pilot Tekad Purna was preparing to fly an Airbus A320 from Surabaya to the capital, Jakarta, when passengers became suspicious of the slurred words and unclear announcements from the cockpit.
Some of them left the plane and asked for a replacement of the pilot they believed to be either drunk or under drug influence. A number of passengers reportedly decided to cancel their flights.
Photo: WEWS
UPDATE: 11:45 a.m.
The chief executive of a beverage distribution company and his family were among six people on a plane that disappeared overnight shortly after takeoff from Cleveland's lakeshore airport, his family said Friday.
The parents of Superior Beverage Company executive John T. Fleming confirmed to multiple media outlets that he was the pilot of the Columbus-bound plane carrying three children and three adults when it vanished from radar late Thursday about 2 miles over Lake Erie.
Fleming's father tells The Blade newspaper in Toledo that the other five people on the plane were Fleming's wife, two teenage sons, a neighbour and the neighbour's daughter. John W. Fleming also described his son as "an experienced pilot."
Crews combing Lake Erie for the plane on Friday remain hopeful that the occupants could be found alive, and they are in search-and-rescue mode, not recovery mode, as they ply waters about 50 feet deep, said Capt. Michael Mullen, the chief of response for the Ninth Coast Guard District.
Authorities have detected "faint hints" but no strong pulse from an emergency locating transmitter, a beacon that could help find the plane, Mullen said. Searchers have found no sign of debris.
"We're very hopeful. We will be very hopeful up until the point that we have to turn the search off and we switch over to assisting with recovery," Mullen said at news conference Friday.
But when asked about the possibility of the single-engine jet landing safely on Lake Erie, Mullen said, "Aircraft are not designed to float, especially in 12-foot seas."
The search overnight was made difficult by snow squalls, high seas and darkness, Mullen said. Weather prevented smaller Coast Guard boats in the Cleveland area from launching. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and a Royal Canadian Air Force plane were used along with a Coast Guard ship from Detroit began the search overnight that has continued in the daylight hours Friday.
ORIGINAL: 6:44 a.m.
U.S. Coast Guard crews were searching Lake Erie on Friday for a plane that went missing overnight shortly after takeoff from a small Cleveland airport along the shore.
The Columbus-bound Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport late Thursday night with six people aboard and disappeared from radar about 2 miles over the lake. Why remains unclear.
Searchers had found no sign of any debris or the people aboard the plane as of Friday morning, the agency said. Coast Guard official James Cox in Buffalo, New York, also said no emergency beacon had been detected.
Weather prevented a boat search overnight, but a U.S. Coast guard helicopter and a Canadian air crew in a plane were being used. A ship also was headed from Detroit to help with the search.
The waters in the search area are about 50 feet deep, the Coast Guard said.
The plane was headed to Ohio State University Airport northwest of downtown Columbus. Cox said the plane is kept at a hangar at the airfield, but the six people aboard the aircraft aren't affiliated with OSU. Their names weren't released, pending notification of their families.
Photo: Contributed
An internal Miami police investigation has found three rookie officers joked in a group chat about using the city's primarily black neighbourhoods for target practice, a newspaper reported Friday.
According to investigation documents obtained by the Miami Herald, the officers told an investigator they were only joking. The newspaper said officers Kevin Bergnes, Miguel Valdes and Bruce Alcin were fired two days before Christmas. It said Alcin is African-American and Valdes has a black grandfather.
The remarks upset colleagues and came as the department is under supervision of the U.S. Department of Justice following a series of police shootings.
"It was senseless, young and reckless. It shouldn't be tolerated," Justin Pinn, an African-American member of a civilian board tasked with monitoring Miami's federal policing agreement, told the paper. "Officers are supposed to be guardians not warriors. I don't think what they expressed reflects the values of the department."
Attorney Stephen Lopez, who represents the three officers, said the remarks were taken out of context and that there was no misconduct.
"Two of the officers have black blood pumping through their veins," he told the newspaper. "To say that they're racist is outrageous and ludicrous."
Police union president Lt. Javier Ortiz maintained that the officers should have been reprimanded, not fired since their "messages were in poor taste, but weren't in any way racial."
The incident happened June 30 as the three officers were responding to other rookie officers' questions about shooting ranges in a WhatsApp chat they often communicated in, the paper said. According to documents obtained by the Herald, the officers-in-training shared department information on that thread.
It said the documents show Bargnes, who is known by friends as a wise guy, sarcastically suggested the friend looking for a shooting range try a Bank of America, adding "they'll even give you some cash." He then suggested Model City the police district that includes Liberty City and handles the bulk of the city's shootings as another shooting range location.
Valdes suggested a particular intersection in the Overtown community, according to the paper. It added Alcin followed up, saying Valdes "wouldn't understand" until he's worked there.
Photo: The Canadian Press
Russian President Vladimir Putin castigated the United States on Friday for imposing sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats amid allegations of Russian meddling in the American presidential election, but said no U.S. diplomats will be ousted in reprisal for President Barack Obama's moves in the wake of hacking attacks.
In a burgeoning controversy surrounding complaints from the Obama administration about a cyberattack against America's political system, the White House on Thursday unleashed a string of sanctions and coupled them with an order that 35 Russians be expelled.
Putin, however, said on Friday that Moscow would not eject American diplomats in response to what he described as "provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-American relations" less than a month before Donald Trump is to take over the White House.
The decision came as a surprise; tit-for-tat expulsions are common diplomatic practice and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had suggested hours before Putin's announcement that Russia would oust 31 American diplomats.
"The Russian diplomats returning home will spend the New Year holidays with their relatives and dear ones," Putin said in a statement published on the Kremlin website. "We will not create problems for U.S. diplomats. We will not expel anybody."
He added: "Moreover, I am inviting all children of U.S. diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas parties at the Kremlin."
Putin appeared to aim at playing a long game and at making a barbed reminder that Obama is a lame duck.
"Putin's asymmetric response to Obama's new sanctions is an investment in the incoming Trump presidency," Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, said on Twitter. "A different kind of tit-for-tat: even as Obama seeks to constrain Trump in his Russia policy, Putin counters that step with a show of magnanimity."
The diplomatic confrontation between Washington and Moscow, which had been festering even before Trump won the Nov. 8 presidential election, puts pressure on the billionaire businessman not to let Russia off the hook after he takes office on Jan. 20.
Russia's government had threatened retaliation, and it continues to deny U.S. accusations that it hacked and stole emails to try to help Trump win.
Trump said the U.S. should move on, but in a sign he was no longer totally brushing off the allegations, he plans to meet with U.S. intelligence leaders next week to learn more.
Obama on Thursday ordered sanctions against the GRU and FSB, the Russian intelligence agencies the U.S. said were involved in the hacking attacks. In an elaborately co-ordinated response by at least five federal agencies, the Obama administration also sought to expose Russia's cyber tactics with a detailed technical report and hinted it might still launch a covert counterattack.
"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," said Obama, who was vacationing in Hawaii.
Photo: Creep Hunters
A group called Vernon Creep Hunters claims to have caught a 23-year-old Salmon Arm man in its net.
The group, like Creep Catchers, publicly names and shames people they claim are child predators.
Their efforts are not condoned by the RCMP.
In its video on Facebook, two women who do not identify themselves but say they are from Creep Hunters, take iPhone video of the man outside a local mall.
According to the group, the man initiated contact with Lily, a fictitious 14-year-old girl that is used as a lure.
The group states the man had rented a place for the two of them.
On the video, he says he had no intention of having sex with the girl.
An RCMP spokesperson refused comment on this specific claim however Cpl. Dan Moskaluk stated: "The RCMP does not condone vigilantism and would recommend the public to leave investigations to the police. We are always concerned when people decide to bypass law enforcement and take matters into their own hands. When that happens there is a risk that investigations can be jeopardized and key evidence can be lost.
This activity is not something the RCMP would condone or recommend. Individuals who engage in this type of action can risk their personal safety or the safety of other youths and the community. In regard to monitoring criminal activities online, this work should be left to police officers who can do this in a controlled environment. This way evidence can be obtained to support charges, which is the best way to get dangerous offenders off our streets.
We strongly advises individuals to contact their local police service or cybertip.ca to report suspected on-line child exploitation to ensure that they do not place themselves in a potentially dangerous position."
Photo: Nate Alguire
Another bobcat has been spotted on the prowl in Kelowna this time in the heart of Rutland.
Nate Alguire tells Castanet he was walking to his front door when he saw "a big, multi-coloured furry thing" on the step.
Another bobcat was spotted earlier this week, on Hobson Road in the Mission. But it's a far more unusual incident in Alguire's neighbourhood on Badke Road, across from Ben Lee Park an area that is much more densely populated.
Alguire says he was walking up to the apartment complex after parking his vehicle when he was shocked to see the wildcat this morning.
"I went 'Woah!' really loud and kind of startled it," he said. "I was really excited and kind of made a commotion."
The bobcat jumped and turned before taking off around the building.
"Guys up on one of the balconies were like: 'Did you see that? That's crazy!'"
The animal hopped onto another resident's balcony and ripped the screen on a window as well as knocked over some patio furniture.
The woman came to the window, and Alguire told her not to come out.
Alguire backed off, and the cat, which he estimated was about the size of a German shepherd dog, scurried away into a green area beside Heritage Christian School.
Photo: Samantha Pohl
Hardy souls can shake off New Year's Eve hangovers, or just get an invigorating start to 2018, by taking part in one of several polar bear dips around the region.
The New Year's Day tradition continues in Kelowna, with the annual dip at Tugboat Bay.
The event kicks off at 1:30 p.m., and dippers will hit the chilly waters of Okanagan Lake at 2 p.m.
Donations from the event will go to CRIS Adaptive Adventures. The Community Recreational Initiatives Society is a charitable organization that uses adaptive equipment to provide outdoor recreation opportunities for people with disabilities.
In Peachland, swimmers will take the plunge on the downtown waterfront at 1 p.m. Check in at the community centre at 12:30 p.m. to sign a waiver.
Other polar bear dips around the region include ones at Sun-Oka beach in Summerland, on the Shuswap River in Enderby, at the Canoe boat launch near Salmon Arm, at the Oyama Community Hall in Oyama and on the Thompson River in Kamloops.
News / Local
by Alice Dube
Gweru
dialogue
Provincial Hospital has issued several ultimatum's to its unpaid patients or risk grabbing their properties.The hospital which seeks to recover over $500 000 owed in outstanding medical bills gave patients just eight hours to pay up.Its not clear how many unpaid patients are affected.According to reports, the hospital sent text messages to patients with outstanding bills."Having seen that you do not want to enter intoto resolve this issue, we have started a legal process which will see you lose your valuable property and other accessories."You are hereby warned that if you do not make frantic efforts to settle this debt within eight hours after receiving this letter you will be liable for costs and other expenses incurred in our efforts to recover the same" reads the message.
News / National
by Staff Reporter
Concerned about the need for renewable energy in Africa, particularly Zimbabwe, Simbarashe Mhuriro founded Oxygen Africa in 2009 as an investment advisory company to help facilitate foreign investors in Zimbabwe.To date, Oxygen Africa has raised $7 million and is developing two grid-connected solar plants in Zimbabwe.Mhuriro, 32, was born in Marondera, Zimbabwe. After high school, he tried out various jobs including disc jockey and primary school teacher, as well as working full time in the central reservations department at Meikles Hotel, Harare, in 2003.Mhuriro moved to Dubai in 2007 for seven years, working with Tsogo Sun Hotels before returning home in 2013 to focus solely on Oxygen Africa.In 2016 Mhuriro was named one of Africa's 30 most promising and inspirational young entrepreneurs by Forbes Magazine. In 2016 Africa Youth Awards recognized him as one of the 100 most Influential Young Africans for 2016.Mhuriro told AFKInsider how he got started and what he plans for the future.AFKInsider: How and why did you get into the energy sector?Simbarashe Mhuriro: I looked for a product that fit the following description: It is consumed where it is produced, required by all aspects of our lives, there is a clear need or deficit, it provides constant predictable income and its raw materials are easily accessible. Solar in particular provided all of the above including minimum operations and maintenance. The (solar) plants have no moving parts. And it is very flexible as the plants can be deployed anywhere, in different sizes and relatively quickly.AFKInsider: Who inspired you and what prompted you to launch Oxygen Africa?Simbarashe Mhuriro: A desire to build a homegrown Zimbabwean company like Innscor Africa (a manufacturing group that produces iconic Zimbabwean products) that may one day have a pan-African footprint like Old Mutual, Standard Bank, Remgro, or Tsogo Sun Group. But in this case in renewable energy like Globeleq (a power and electricity generation company) owned by the CDC Group.AFKInsider: Explain what Oxygen Africa does.Simbarashe Mhuriro: We are an independent power producer and renewable energy development company specializing in both utility scale power plants and commercial scale rooftop projects.AFKInsider: How did you fund the startup?Simbarashe Mhuriro: Funding a startup is always a challenge. (Even more so) I soon learned, in energy and infrastructure due to the fact that there is a very long gestation period from inception to financial closure and construction of a project. So we funded the startup through a combination of savings which very soon ran out. Then I had to dispose of personal assets (property, vehicle, etc.) to continue to fund the business. But fortunately I had friends and colleagues with businesses that assisted with infrastructure such as office space, back of the house, until we were able to get our own.AFKInsider: What are some of the other companies you have started?Simbarashe Mhuriro: I have tried out a number of ideas which failed due to various reasons including a lingerie brand called Gillian Intimate Apparel, which folded after I couldn't secure funding to service an order from a large retail chain. That business was fun though, and inspired by Theo Paphitis, the British retail magnate who then owned La Senza (now a Canadian fashion retailer that sells lingerie and intimate apparel). Outside of that, Oxygen it is the only company that I have started and now energy is our only focus.AFKInsider: What do you enjoy the most about being an entrepreneur?Simbarashe Mhuriro: Apart from the usual benefits of being an entrepreneur like making money, doing what you love, being your own boss, the hours in my journey I found five benefits in particular that I enjoy.First, standing up for what I believe in. I love my country and I believe I am a patriot. Being an entrepreneur I find myself constantly standing up against negative perceptions of Zimbabwe, debunking myths and spreading the word how great it is and the opportunities she has. Every time I step in front of a panel of investors, potential partners or international financing institutions it's like stepping into an arena or ring and fighting for your country.Second, being the bravest of the brave. Try being an entrepreneur in a challenging economy like Zimbabwe with sporadic, little or no income, no security. Should you succeed, the rewards will be indescribably spectacular.Third, having better relationships. It's easy to build fake relationships. It's easy to lose them, too, because as soon as you step outside your comfort zone and encounter the risks I have highlighted above people will leave you and those that stay are the real relationships you need.Fourth, faster adaptation. Have you ever gone to a meeting with five to 10-or-more people? Some like your idea, some don't understand it, some want to kill it or give you a hard time. You constantly have to think on your feet, adapt and move fast midway during the meeting. What I lack in size as a small company we make up for in mobility and creativity.Fifth, I create my own opportunities and destiny, and in the process, solve problems and hopefully make a difference. With renewable energy you also get to effect change in people's thoughts and actions.AFKInsider: Why is renewable energy so vital to Africa?Simbarashe Mhuriro: This is also why I got into renewable energy. According to IRENA (The International Renewable Energy Agency), Africa is undergoing unprecedented and sustained growth. By 2050, the continent will be home to at least 2 billion people twice as many as today with 40 percent living in rural areas. In 2010, about 590 million African people (57 percent of the population) had no access to electricity, and 700 million (68 percent of the population) were living without clean cooking facilities. If these current energy access trends continue, in 2030 there will still be 655 million people in Africa (42 percent of the population) without access to power, and 866 million (56 percent of the population) without clean cooking facilities, depriving the majority of the population of the opportunity to pursue a healthy and productive life.Research by the African Development Bank shows that Africa is rich in renewable resources and could benefit from the increasing use of renewable energy, such as hydropower and geothermal energy. These energy sources offer a clean alternative to traditional sources of energy, particularly fossil fuels, thus a massive opportunity as a business.AFKInsider: What are some of the challenges of doing business in your country?Simbarashe Mhuriro: Zimbabwe has its challenges but the biggest of all is very negative perceptions and often exaggerated perceived political risks which make long-term financing difficult. And when you do manage to secure it, (it's) very expensive. This then translates to higher tariffs that make it difficult for independent power producers like ourselves to compete with the national utility tariffs.AFKInsider: What's ahead for Oxygen Africa?Simbarashe Mhuriro: We are in the process of being acquired by a large institutional investor after which will transform more from an independent power producer to a financing and asset management company for renewable energy projects a fund of some sort.AFKInsider: Please tell us more about being honored by Awards Africa?Simbarashe Mhuriro: Honestly, I do not know what to say. I am truly humbled by the recognition and it was totally unexpected. It's fantastic that we young Africans have taken the step to promote, highlight and celebrate youth across the continent that excel in their various fields. I'm confident Awards Africa will grow and I pray they get more recognition globally for the work that they do.
News / National
by Stephen Jakes
A political observer and analyst Abel H Sibanda has described the view that a Zimbabwean popular businessman Strive Masiyiwa should be a President after Robert Mugabe can be a disaster of the nation.He said there is growing speculation that Strive Masiyiwa might consider running for President of Zimbabwe in #Elections2018 "Citing from his facebook post which he said he is preparing to announce, something different that will shock you' and also said its not like my previous ventures' most of the people concluded that the Zimbabwe's richest man will announce his candidature January 2017. So this Christmas I would like to go line by line explaining the dangers of electing business people #NonPoliticians to any political position not only the presidency," Sibanda wrote on a blog."I have nothing against the Telecoms magnate but I wanna pool the wool out of many people's eyes. Zimbabweans we have been reduced to #ChauyaChaya we want anything that is not Zanu PF and Mugabe, but this mentality will plunge us into an un escapable crisis. Business success does not depict good governance, and I think all internationalists like me are still dealing with the bad hangover that was left by the unexpected, Trump electoral collage victory which earned him the presidency.""We might say electoral collage does not really reflect the will of the people but still lets face it he might have lost the popular vote but still 62 million are real voters, people who consider Trump to be better citing reasons that they want someone who runs America like a business. But only to realize that they voted in someone who will run America for his business," he added.Sibanda said on July the 7th 2016 Econet Wireless Zimbabwe blocked social media for the whole population of Zimbabwe in an attempt to silence activists who were communicating mostly on social media to organize protests against oppression."By helping Mugabe to silence descent Strive Masiyiwa is equally guilty. After all despite the fact that some of us have bought daily bundles which expire in a day we were robbed off our hard gotten dollars and we were not compensated. So his presidency will lead in the crusade to block social media since he holds much shares in Econet Zimbabwe the largest network provider," he said."He might sound cool when he speaks from the west but most of his African partners are chest beating ultra-nationalist leaders like Uhuru Kenyatta of Kenya, Paul Kagame and Yoweri Museveni. Like Kabila it is his relationship with old dictators which sees him being one at a very tender age, so lets look up to see Supreme Leader Masiyiwa."He said Masiyiwa might attempt the risky step to join Zimbabwean politics emboldened by the Trump victory which proves that money can buy voters and and also confined by the links he have to Africa's Strong man but it is good for Zimbabweans to think twice, thrice before they cast a vote for him, because he might be a charismatic leader Africa is really thirsty of but that comes with a price, loosened labor laws which will attract Foreign Direct Investment with the population paying a heavy price for it."Instant employment termination, long working ours and child labor will be the order of the day. Most importantly his presidency will be a part time job since he is getting extra money from it, while his decisions will be made with the direct consideration of his financial interests, hence national interests will be forgotten," he said.But Masiyiwa's through facebook has distanced himself from the Presidency ambitions.
TIANJIN -- Smog returned to parts of northern China Friday as red and orange alerts were issued for the new round of pollution over the weekend.
PM2.5 readings in many areas of Beijing, Tianjin and Hebei province exceeded 200 Friday afternoon. In Shijiazhuang, Hebei provincial capital, the index exceeded 400, meaning serious pollution.
Beijing started its orange alert, the second-highest level, Friday. The alert will continue Saturday and Sunday.
Tianjin began an orange alert Thursday night, banning heavy diesel trucks from roads and cutting 30 percent of pollutant emissions of key factories.
Eight cities, including Shijiazhuang in Hebei, activated red alerts, the highest level response, Thursday night.
Seven cities in Henan, including provincial capital Zhengzhou, began a red alert Friday. Zhengzhou suspended school classes Friday.
The new round of pollution is forecast to last until Jan 5 in Hebei and Henan.
The smog also hit Shandong Province, where Jinan, Dezhou and Liaocheng cities will be put on red alert Friday night.
Measures such as suspension of school classes and restriction of cars, will be adopted in red alert areas.
News / National
by Staff Reporter
Chicken rearing could soon be banned in Harare as they make too much noise.The ban will affect people rearing them for commercial purposes in residential areas, H-Metro reported.The council is planning on amending Harare (Public Health) by-laws 2016."During the discussions, it was agreed to amend S.I 582/62 so that relevant changes could be effectively captured and include provisions that would encompass provisions in line with currently global trends and also enable council to effectively enforce the public health by-laws and any other municipal by-laws in the municipal area of Harare."This would ensure that residents do not keep for commercial purposes chicken on residential properties to the detriment of other residents," read minutes of the Environmental Management Committee as quoted by H-Metro.According to the report, many residents have complained about noise made by the chickens."The chicken made noise, caused stench smell and discomfort to the neighbours."Hence it was noted that the Harare (Public Health) by-laws S.I 582/62 needed to be updated to ensure that the number of chickens allowed per household was prescribed. Thereafter authorities would be able to enforce by-laws".With the economic situation further deteriorating many people are now resorting to chicken rearing for survival.
Opinion / Columnist
The Chapter that Refuses to Close
A Keyhole Perspective
A Political Economy Perspective
The Clash of Political Paradigms
Solomon Mujuru's Ghost
The Year of the Monster
Dinizulu Mbikokayise Macaphulana is South Africa based Zimbabwean Political Scientist and Semiotician: dinizulumacaphulana@yahoo.com.
It was a stern Emmerson Mnangagwa, the Minister of State Security, who looked at Ken Flower in the eye told him that Robert Mugabe, "the Prime Minister wishes you to know that the Commissioner of Police has reported to him that you have been spending much of your time recently trying to murder him." Ken Flower did not deny the allegations, feigning fear; he all but confessed and asked whether he was supposed to defend himself or justify the murderous intentions before the PM. A dramatically quivering spy boss disclosed that even men of the Special Branch of the police that the Commissioner led were part of the bloody plot. After confiding that the Prime Minister intended to do nothing about the allegations, Mnangagwa loudly wondered why whites and fellow Rhodies would so readily sell each other out like that.A week after this tense and tricky meeting of the 25th of May 1980, Robert Mugabe and Ken Flower met eye ball to eye ball. Chuckling, Mugabe assured Flower that the Police Commissioner was a simple police informer who was not to be taken seriously. What Mugabe did not tell Ken Flower was that he had thanked the Commissioner of Police for the valuable intelligence and promised to act on it in his own way. Mugabe laughed away Ken Flower's intentions to confess details about the plans to kill him. Bigger things were at issue.From Ken Flower, Robert Mugabe asked for a special relationship that would allow the two of them to work generally but also do some work in interpersonal confidence, where Flower could convey some information directly to Mugabe not via the Minister of State Security. Ken Flower was the Director General of the Central Intelligence Organisation a position he held from the formation of the organisation in 1963. Allum Peter Kevin, the snitching Commissioner of the police too was a relic of the Rhodesian security apparatus. Not only these two Rhodesian securocrats were retained by the Robert Mugabe regime, a multiplicity of middle and lower rank spies, police and some soldiers were kept apparently to maintain standards and secure professionalism in the force.The Rhodesian securocrats so badly needed employment as they could not get it elsewhere in the world, they were not trained for regular security and military operations but for the purposes of crushing so called terrorists, dirty tricks and brutality were their stock in trade. No democratic country in the world could employ them. The dangerous Rhodesian security relics were kept at great expense as they were paid in hefty expatriate rates.Evidence partly from the writings of Peter Stiff, Ibbo Mandaza, Miles Tendi and others points to that Ken Flower was a double agent who reported both to the MI6 and to the Rhodesian regime. Whether he retired from his double agency when he started reporting to the Robert Mugabe regime cannot be confirmed, the wise guess is that he simply became a triple agent. Some sources link him to the formation of RENAMO in Mozambique. As cited by Ibbo Mandaza in an enriching article that I engage below, Sydney Sekeramayi was reported on the Herald of the 24th of April 2013 saying that the British Military Advisory and Training Team (BMATT) officially left Zimbabwe in 2001. The military and intelligence relations between the Mugabe regime and the British establishment only soured and froze only in the year 2000.Neatly, the Robert Mugabe regime inherited not only Rhodesian security laws but also securocrats and security and insecurity expertise that were embodied by individual Rhodies and Britons. I begin this article with this curious history of Zimbabwean securocracy because from all appearances, 2017 is the year when the security and insecurity monster that Robert Mugabe built will for better and for worse become visible. The proverbial "Mugabe way" will this year dangle out as the monster decomposes and splinters into feuding organs. This curious history is also important as it also illuminates the complicity of the British in the Gukurahundi genocide and other human rights violations in Zimbabwe after 1980. The unholy relationship between Mugabe and the British political underworld is much under researched. Further, the way Mugabe used the Commissioner of Police against the Director General of Intelligence and managed to secure both their 'loyalty' and eventually to use them to dispense with ZAPU and ZIPRA may help us to read the political events of the here and now in Zimbabwe. The monster that I refer to here is a security and insecurity organism that was built to carry out a genocide, whose footprints would later be found after the ashes of senior army generals, the disappearance of solitary activists, assassination of opponent politicians or the murder of their children to dispirit them. This monstrosity will eventually lead to the implosion of what has become the state, party and nation summarised in one very old body of one man.The unmaking, unbecoming and decomposition of this monster, from the look of present things, will not be as neat and as stealth as its making that was the work of true evil art. The decomposition of living and working organisms is almost always ugly and smelly business. Before I explore the present condition of the monstrous securocratic condition of Zimbabwe, it is important to reflect on the historical conditions that produced the Gukurahundi genocide, a crime against humanity that will gain new importance in Zimbabwe this year as parties, individuals and factions will invoke it while others will seek to silence and erase it from public discourse out of fear and guilt.Three toxic forces contributed to the political and historical climate that produced the Gukurahundi genocide. Dangerous Rhodesian and British securocrats trained in dirty warfare badly needed employment and a home in Zimbabwe after the dethronement of the Ian Smith regime. After the Lancaster House negotiated political settlement the British establishment wanted a political and economic environment in Zimbabwe where capitalism could thrive and British economic interests could be secured. Robert Mugabe and ZANU-PF were desperate to get rid of Joshua Nkomo, ZAPU and the dreaded ZIPRA armed wing. This unholy political trinity put Joshua Nkomo, ZAPU and ZIPRA literary on the menu. Gukurahundi became both a systemic and systematic crime, the ZIPRA records that were seized by Emmerson Mnangagwa were mathematically used to trace families of ZIPRA cadres that were then methodically punished by death at most and other forms of pain at least.Ken Flower discloses that Emmerson Mnangagwa asked him to continue work as he did for the Rhodesian regime and promised to provide political cover for whatever his deeds. On record the North Koreans provided training for the Fifth Brigade, which was not really a brigade but a crack unit that was specifically trained for large scale massacres. Off the record, the British provided financial support, weapons and on the ground experts who provided advice and direction. The Rhodesian and British securocrats that directed the operations and that Emmerson Mnangagwa relied on were assassins, torturers and experts in biological warfare and dirty war. Now that they are gone, Emmerson Mnangagwa remains behind desperately trying to close a bloody chapter that cannot be closed. Even the attempt to settle trusted intelligence officials in commercial farms where there are mass graves in Matabeleland is not enough. Tragically, even a scholar with respect for evidence such as Blessing-Miles Tendi could write on the 3rd of May 2012 that "there has never been genocide in Zimbabwe." The Gukurahundi genocide began and happened as a crime of fear and hatred, it now continues as a crime of guilt and denialism, politically and intellectually. Out of guilt and denialism, remaining perpetrators of the genocide are prepared to kill more multitudes.After "interviews with senior intelligence operatives, high ranking military officers and members of the Mujuru and Mnangagwa factions" Blessing-Miles Tendi published an important article in the African Affairs journal. For the calibre of the interviewees that included Emmerson Mnangagwa, Joice Mujuru, other senior politicians and some unnamed 'key planners' in the ZANU-PF factional fights Tendi's article is a rich contribution. Titled "State Intelligence and the Politics of Zimbabwe's Presidential Succession" the article provides a keyhole view into the battles for power inside ZANU-PF, the military and intelligence sectors. We learn from Tendi that Joice Mujuru was fired on the basis of an intelligence dossier given to Mugabe by the Mnangagwa aligned Military Intelligence. In contrast, a section of the Central Intelligence Organisation also produced another dossier that sought to prop up Joice Mujuru and demean Mnangagwa but Mugabe was inclined to the MI report because of the long ranging suspicion he held of the late Solomon Mujuru, whose death in 2011 was, from Tendi's sources, a political assassination. While intelligence officers from the Rhodesian regime and ZANLA were intergrated into the Zimbabwean security sector, those from ZIPRA, Tendi notes, were marginalised in fear that they would pass on information to Dumiso Dabengwa and Swazini Ndlovu, ZAPU intelligence leaders.Importantly, Tendi also records how corruption has set in and intelligence officials have been reduced, presently, to runners in the making of money by the Chefes. Another explosive expose from Tendi is that phones are bugged in Zimbabwe and Military Intelligence details have imported from Kazakhstan, special slow poisons that can degenerate a victim's body over a period of 2 to 3 years, making their death look like demise from common disease. While Robert Mugabe himself in 2013 publicly thanked Jonathan Moyo for masterminding the much unexpected electoral victory of ZANU-PF, interestingly, Blessing-Miles Tendi's research identifies Mnangagwa, war veterans, Jabulani Sibanda, Constantine Chiwenga and other mandarins as the forces behind the political victory that shocked the world. Clearly, what Blessing-Miles Tendi has provided is but part of the picture of the political and security monster that has been behind Robert Mugabe and that is degenerating towards a cataclysmic implosion in 2017. Effectively, Tendi has exposed the dangerous and dirty insecurity tricks that sections of the intelligence in Zimbabwe are equipped for and are capable of, but his belief that there was never a genocide in Zimbabwe has prevented his otherwise good study from unmasking how the Gukurahundi genocide became a school where black Zimbabweans securocrats were taught by Rhodesian and British renegades murderous and genocidal politics of mass murder, assassinations and poisoning. The Gukurahundi genocide became a site where hired foreign mass murderers produced for Zimbabwe the security sector that continues to dog the country with political violence.Ibbo Mandaza advances a picture where the continuity of the colonial state, colonial politics and securocracy in Zimbabwe has produced ZANU-PF into a state and political party rolled in one, and where Robert Mugabe has not escaped the "Big Man" and "life presidency" syndrome that comes with the politics of patronage and corruption. In such a scenario, violence and the threat of it are turned into the commonsense of politics and life. Instead of Zimbabwe transforming from its colonial condition to a democratic and developmental dispensation, Mandaza notes, the country only transitioned to a similar if not worse condition. A class of individuals now relies on the party/state for income and huge profits, behind the rhetoric of indigenisation and resource nationalism looting and primitive accumulation thrive. In the present securocratic condition of Zimbabwe, a condition that is degenerating, national interest and national security actually mean regime interest and regime security. The article " The Political Economy of the State in Zimbabwe: The Rise and of the Securocrat State" by Ibbo Mandaza is one good New Year's read for anyone who wishes to sense where the present state of security decline and degeneration is taking Zimbabwe.Our fascination with factions and factional fights in ZANU-PF has concealed rather than revealed exactly what is happening in Zimbabwe. The G40 and the Lacoste have become vivid metaphors that hide the nature of the struggle that is playing out even within the opposition political parties and civil society. There is a section of Zimbabweans that has come to believe in war as the natural state of affairs and peaceful resolution of political conflicts as temporary. A blind Rambo culture of war as life has found traction; thinking and dialoguing are being expelled from common sense. Gukurahundi as an ideology has assumed the status of a political paradigm. G40 and Lacoste as metaphors of political paradigms are present in the opposition, the media and academia. The security forces, uniformed and otherwise are also torn asunder between those who deny Gukurahundi genocide and purvey the Gukurahundi ideology and those who believe that political contests can be conducted in bloodless competition.Fifth Brigadiers, civilian and military, learnt of politics as war and death from Rhodesian and British renegade securocrats and are not prepared to unlearn that paradigm. On the other hand, throughout Zimbabwe, well beyond ZANU-PF, a generation has arisen that is disgusted by the history of genocide and political violence and demands an end to the Gukurahundi paradigm. Within ZANU-PF, Robert Mugabe who has learnt to play individuals and groups against each other, from the Rhodesian and British renegades to the present securocrats, while keeping their support and loyalty is now playing a tricky game of juggling that approaches an explosion in 2017.In one of his writings Blessing-Miles Tendi wonders why the British are obsessed with Mugabe and the question of "what went wrong" with him. The answer is that at some point Mugabe was a British insider who held the promise for the endurance of British interests in Zimbabwe, for the trouble they helped him dispense with Nkomo and they gave him a Knighthood in 1994, but when he thought he could kill white commercial farmers and the British look away he blundered. When the British and the Americans accuse Mugabe of genocide they accuse him of a crime that they have full inside knowledge of. Their fingerprints might not be on the crime scene but the footprint of their money, skills and weapons is prominently there.Curiously, as revealed in both Ibbo Mandaza and Blessing-Miles Tendi's papers, most of the senior securocrats that Robert Mugabe is supposed to rely on are or have been Solomon Mujuru's mentees. In understandable distrust, Robert Mugabe has had to create many other different intelligence gathering groups, well beyond the MI and CIO divide that Tendi so ably exposes. With the retreat of the British and the fading away of the Rhodesians, Robert Mugabe has relied on contracting, at huge expense, foreign private security companies. The Chinese have also contributed their experts. As a result, Zimbabwe is full of many security groups composed of dangerous individuals, some local others foreign and many of them are double and triple timing agents who report to many different authorities. A many handed and many headed securocratic monster roams Zimbabwe today and Robert Mugabe himself is fast losing control. Robert Mugabe's distrust and even fear of Solomon Mujuru led him to creating many intelligence and counter-intelligence groups that are now impossible to control, and worse these are hordes of young men and women who have been taught the taste of human blood, the art of killing for money and power. As Robert Mugabe naturally degenerates physically, this securocratic monstrosity will increasingly gain a life of its own and God help Zimbabwe! In one of the terse letters that Joshua Nkomo wrote to Robert Mugabe from exile he said "you do not teach young people to be contemptuous of human life and expect them to respect your own." Sadly, there are so many spooks on the loose in Zimbabwe who are prepared to abduct people, shoot and burn them, kill their children, and administer tablets that simulate symptoms of AIDS and cancer all for money and political patronage. On the pay-roll of the establishment are many Ari Ben Menashe types and other dodgy characters with their own dangerous agendas, creating in Zimbabwe fertile ground for a bloody civil war.The much anticipated 2018 election in Zimbabwe is too far. In any case, a simple lottery of votes cannot account for the political problem in Zimbabwe, a problem of political culture and decline of human values. That Robert Mugabe each day wakes up with his spring and stride is now either God's grace or his punishment. Zimbabwe is approaching a security situation where one day the spies, police, soldiers and other security groupings including the mercenaries will wake up not knowing where they must report. The seemingly peaceful and stoic Zimbabwean population is not in peace, it is only silent, and the riots of late mid 2016 were a proverbial tip of the iceberg. Early 2017 is the time for sober Zimbabweans beyond narrow party lines to look each other in the eye and selflessly seek an urgent solution to the degenerated human and national security condition. The Fifth-brigadiaring of us the so called analysts, commentators and intellectuals who purvey triumphalism, denialism and trumpet falsehoods and easy victories of our parties and leaders is more dangerous than the diggers of mass graves, carriers of poison tablets and the arsonists. At long last, national security and human security should come before party and regime security that brought us to this mess in the first place. Failure to this, a few brave Zimbabweans might have, as a last resort, to come together and build a bigger monster than the present evil organism, remove all the present captains of the monstrosity by any means necessary, and construct a benevolent but forceful regime that will restore Zimbabwe to normalcy and secure lives.
Opinion / Columnist
As 2016 closes we have to ask a question: What do ordinary or normal thinking Zimbabweans, without invested interest in this madness say regarding the country condition and its politics of sordid brutality and cruelty. The answer I got, is loud and clear. It ranged from its pathetic, it's a shame, its embarrassing its traumatic, a typical failing state. In many ways than one the answer shows a giving up spirit, even on the part of those supposedly leading opposition politics. Zimbabwe situation is our own creation from greedy, vanity and willpower to bitterly subdue others than elevating them up. Our masses have a bitter story to tell at the end of this saga.From being able to buy and eat bread, it honestly can be said without shame that eating bread is a luxury that has met with extreme tirvializing from Zanu and surrogates What becomes more diabolical than political is when Zanu Pf wants to blame her failures on the lack of patriotism from those residing in western worlds and attributing Zanu failure to unfair actions taken by western communities on Zimbabwe. This is an old irrelevant story. For on another extreme side we have never head the infamous President Robert Mugabe decrying the lack of medicine in the country or the bewailing flight of doctors from hospital and industry from the country. These are things Zanu has failed to manage irrespective of how they may want to pass the buck by blaming the western nations or opposition politics. Sadly, the opposition politics has conceded to some of this unfounded propaganda to an extend, due to lack of open journalism, the masses has fallen into this political cabbage.Unfortunately, the victims are the ordinary people and not Zanu and her surrogates. Whether we like it or not, the missing of moneys in small sums or big sums has had a cumulative effect on the nation's economy and hence the nation is broke and broken. The mysterious disappearance of the 15 Billion of USD sums on allegedly diamond minerals in Zimbabwe in 2014 and 2015 appears a fiction story that will die a natural death. No doubt there must a relationship to the ambition of hanging on to power by Zanu and these spirals of corruption ongoing in high places that no revelations could ever be done except when Zanu is beaten. The weakness of Zimbabwe opposition politics is harshly indicted here by its failure to carry a strong quantitative follow up and ask for resignation of government over failure to account for national wealth while masses are dying of poverty, neglect and without strategy for a sustainable development plan on the economy.Except for Zanu Pf surrogates, who obviously are beneficiaries on the length of Mr. Mugabe's stay in power; many of Zimbabweans focus on what next day has to offer in order to put food on the table and live on. A prevailing, no one cares if you die spirit, is audible. A resigned spirit even in Zanu, except for their growing culture on corruption and vanity, is visible loaded with questions of how long the situation of the country's poor governance will endure. The saddest aspect of Zimbabwe politics is that the strata of intelligentsia is entrenched in the culture of corruption and vanity. Here, we are looking at all service chiefs and high ranking officials in the army, Central Intelligence Agents (CIO), police, secret service guys and Prison services top guys who have silent benefit packages including an allocation to undisclosed thousands and thousands of hectares of land.Even though Zanu would want to play an-all-is well Dutch-courage approach to the country condition and economic turn around, ground events are very worrying to the poor because the coming 2018 elections will be sorrowful, brutal and savage since Zanu realizes she either fights the odds or she will be taken out and many of these officials will likely be put on trial for bankrupting the country's economy. While it used to appear vindictive to bring culprits on poor governance to justice, it no longer is a case of debate for honesty leadership if we are to talk of justice being seen to be done than merely becoming a talking point in the history of Zimbabwean politics on economic pillage.What, though, is more worrying is the politics of divisions compounded by short sighted persons who legitimately took part in the liberation struggle, but who never understood the dynamics in politics of decay, and if they did, it was nicer then than now. Lack of sight and vision is always a danger that creates much painful talking, which in itself only succeeds in producing political lethargy, silence and trauma from defeatism and resignation that promises the waiting approach to the soon to die mentality. Inevitably, the country will witness many persons both abroad and inside the country, going insane from the failure to fully grasp the contradictions of a neoliberal nationalists like Comrade Robert Mugabe and his age mates whose misguidance to policy had both a basis of ignorance and self preservation motives.The sad factor is that opposition has become an organized debate crew who cannot in honesty fathom the spirit of "bring-to-revelation' the simple truth on corruption statics of how Mr. Mugabe and many others can claim to be billionaires in thirty years on a salary of less than hundred thousand USD annually. If much study was done to expose corruption it would have shaken the heart of bad politics in Zimbabwe, revealing a team of honesty and sincere soldiers constantly fighting for freedom. As is, it is a case of how much "economic-dirt" exists even among those in opposition politics who cannot account for to their meteorological success. Some, in opposition politics who virtually could not afford a two pairs of shoes to themselves now put quality suites far more than at any time of their entire career. This supersonic rise in both income and fame of status suggests that politics of poverty accrues power to the top unashamedly as well as funds with zero questioning from the grassroots. The struggle of any independence was meant to raise awareness and reduce poverty in distribution of incomes and wealth which never happens.The ones who know more truth on prevailing social injustices in any oppressed country, but due to circumstances in none discriminatory brutality that systematically are aimed randomly at critics of corruption than on the ideology of opposition politics, are the masses. They are the people one would reasonably refer to as the "People In Between" whose vision for honesty and truth wavers between temptations of being used by the system and then thrown out, or being discarded even though they are enslaved into being willful supporters who should, by force, attend political rallies. With many who are honesty and truthful, and yet suffer from systematic elimination processes staged managed from Zanu offices, the masses rationale in political apathy and fatigue can on face value be justified.People today focus on either survival knowing Zanu does not care or looking at the way to leave the country into exile. The fact that Zanu has strengthened her alliance in corruption with top officers in various ministries and services chiefs mean that unless pushed from outside by an outside force, Zanu can rule over the people for as long as she wishes.One solution untried is that of strength of opposition politics based on literacy of factual propaganda in areas of government corruption, vanity and bribery as well as threat to any whistle blowers on secrecy of who is involved behind corruption. Inevitably the government of Zimbabwe has owned the media and fought against free media establishing herself in the country. The history of the Zimbabwe independent news media has had numerous bombing and closure from government itself than from business trading failures.It is hard to imagine a culture of transparency, accountability and integrity strictly adhered to by any of our opposition politics as currently composed. Except for political expedience the need and purpose of running a Transitional government based on a team of technical personnel who have no allegiance to any political party is the only politically viable method to growing a transparent democracy in Zimbabwe. To many Zimbabweans admire what Mr. Mugabe fought to enrich himself as a sane way of self rewarding. People with best ethics on best practices in governance, not necessarily too rich or poor but with knowledge on how it is to make money, build team work and account for deliverables.
Opinion / Letters
My first question to you Bantu bakithi is, how ready are we to govern ourselves? Here I am asking all of you Mthwakazi political parties. I understand that MLF and MLO among others have already declared that they will never contest elections in Zimbabwe, they will only contest in a free Mthwakazi, and the question is when is Mthwakazi independence?While the seemingly firebrand MRP led by Mqondisi Moyo on the other hand has not openly said they will contest elections or not, though it is believed by many that it will contest the upcoming Council and parliamentary in Zimbabwean elections come 2018. What is your plan B in the absence of elections? I am asking all of you.My second question is, what if we don't get our independence in the foreseeable future, does it mean we will continue boycotting elections and running to South Africa while our neighbors occupy space in Mthwakazi, as vendors, civil servants, our representatives in council and Parliamentary being Shona in Bulawayo and the rest of Mthwakazi, while we continue to haul insults on Shona people on Social media? Why?I can't say which of the Mthwakazi parties I support, but I must admit Mqondisi Moyo and his team are doing a splendid job and I am tempted to support them, unless and until other Mthwakazi formations comes up with a convincing plan of achieving our Mthwakazi independence soon I will join MRP and vote for it come 2018, because this to me is a sure attempt of trying to protect our space and doing something for our region, instead of continuing writing long articles of empty threats while our parents are crying for a solution in Lupane, Tsholotsho, Gwanda, Lower Gwelo, among other places.My humble submission is that may all Mthwakazi formations humble themselves and work together for the greater good of our Mthwakazi people. I wish to see a united front of Mthwakazi formations working together in 2018 with the sole purpose of defending our space in 2018 as a short term measure, while the long term plan and the final destination being a free Mthwakazi. To me contesting elections is a good attempt towards Restoration, honestly you have nothing to lose because you have already lost everything.The Scotland National Party in Britain which have been there for many years have been contesting elections in their local space and winning but they have never abandoned their struggle, their MPs voted for a referendum, which was well published in all major international News as a success on its own though they lost to a NO Vote and Mthwakazi we need this, we so the then Prime Minister Mr. Cameroon running to Scotland trying hard to stop Scotland exit by offering the best he could which include semi autonomy, which to me was a success for the people of Scotland achieving that without going to war.That is the advantage of political power which we currently don't have as Mthwakazi.I have read most of MLF and MLO press statements and I must say I am not impressed every time I so them I try to read and I find out its one and the same thing empty threats, no action, and no solution. If I am not mistaken these political organizations have been there longer than now, the only achievement they have is fighting amongst themselves probably because they have nothing to offer like myself in Diaspora, we in diaspora must accept that there is little we can do now except supporting those at home. On the other hand I must commend MRP for a job well done so far so good, guys keep it up you are doing a good job, you have popularized the Mthwakazi struggle with real action, I have never met where you guys have threatened anyone your radicalism is within the law yet you are doing a marvelous job I enjoy reading your statements.But I must say you are disappointing me by keeping us guessing on whether you will participate on elections or not, time is running out on you guys I understand you intend to make a resolution at your Congress, but as you have post ponned your congress for lack of resources are you still going to get it anytime soon or what if you don't get money for Congress?I must commend and salute you Mqondisi Moyo MRP President together with your team, you have shown good leadership qualities and maturity in your dealings, after the insults I read about you that were wrote by Dr Guduza of MLF I expected you to respond you didn't, recently you commended Mzila after his party launch there are few people who can do that, I salute you guys for that. You promised us that you will set up a Website soon and a manifesto but not yet thus where you are lacking by now you should have made everything you promised like, Mthwakazi Parliament, Petition, International lobby committee, elections issue and Website.These are exciting products MRP proposed I don't know why it is taking long to fulfill. You are the only party we have put our trust on as helpless Mthwakazi people.My humble submission Mthwakazi ka Mzilikazi Bantu beNkosi is that Mthwakazi parties refusing to take part in election, are doing so because of fear of losing those elections because they have never went to people since their inception, I doubt very much if ever they have the capacity to at least field candidates let alone campaigning. Let's stop being emotional in politics and face reality, and the reality demands that we get into elections as Councilors and MPs as a sure way of getting political power that we are in so much in need of as Mthwakazi people.It doesn't make sense to me that Mthwakazi region is a strong hold of Shona led parties like MDC-T and ZANU PF this is not good for us. Why are we even allowing them to freely campaign in Mthwakazi while we are on Facebook, are you guys Facebook politicians? If so let us aware so that we don't waste our time on you. I wish to see Mthwakazi Mayor in Bulawayo after 2018, to me this is more realistic than a free Matabeleland anytime soon. That criminal Emerson Damdudzo Mnangagwa is looking set to take over from Mugabe, where would you start from? I encourage you to partake in elections let ZANU PF steal those elections that would justify your resolve to go to war or any other means possible, because you would have exhausted all peaceful and legal channels accepted by the international community.In whatever decision your individual political parties will come up with, remember the ordinary poor people in the whole of Mthwakazi, remember that the scars of Gukurahundi genocide are still fresh in people in Mthwakazi. I have seen calls of war on Facebook by many of our frustrated Mthwakazi youths, its ok they are showing their anger and frustration but you as leaders must come up with a solution. Seat down Mthwakazi omuhle and dialogue amongst yourselves.I fear that if Jesus had to come today very few Mthwakazi people will go to Heaven because of bitterness, Mthwakazi people are an angry people, and the reckless statements being made by the likes of Linda Masarira and likeminded lunatics in Harare is not making things any better.I pray that all Mthwakazi political parties consider participating in the upcoming elections in 2018 let's start from there. I Nqobizitha Khumalo I am a firm believer in Mthwakazi Restoration, and the Restoration of Mthwakazi King and I fully support Stanley Raphael Khumalo, what he is doing is of GOD and I encourage him to continue to seek for dialogue with our tormenters which are Britain and Zimbabwe on our behalf. GOD is aware of our situation and I believe he is ready to rescue us like he did to Israelites taking them out of Egypt to Canaan Mthwakazi we are also going to Canaan soon.Writing in his personal capacity as a concerned Mthwakazi citizen currently based in United Kingdom.
Friday, December 30, 2016 at 1:36PM
Credit: Minustah / Logan AbassiEEW Magazine News // Direct Relief
Direct Relief airlifted 82 tons of medical aid to Haiti to help treat cholera and other diseases that have spread widely since Hurricane Matthew struck in October, incapacitating the country's already overstretched health care system.
Direct Relief's warehouse staff worked through the holidays to prepare 258 pallets of essential medications and supplies with a wholesale value of $39.9 million.
The shipment the largest by value in Direct Relief's 69-year history traveled by a chartered cargo jet from Los Angeles to Port-au-Prince.
Dozens of health care companies that support Direct Relief's humanitarian health efforts contributed the supplies, augmented by funds contributed by donors to Direct Relief specifically for Hurricane Matthew assistance.
While the Haiti crisis has faded from the headlines, the situation remains urgent. More than 1.4 million people require assistance months after the storm wiped out food crops and damaged more than 90 percent of fruit and forest trees, according to the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization. Direct Relief responded to requests for help from Haiti immediately after the storm made landfall, but a critical and ongoing need for aid persists.
"The facilities receiving support from this airlift were especially hard-hit and are struggling to recover from the effects of Hurricane Matthew," said Andrew MacCalla, Direct Relief's Director of International Programs. "Many of their patients had homes damaged or destroyed and their livelihoods cut off."
"The situation in southern Haiti after Hurricane Matthew is dire, and the risks of disease and famine are dangerously high," said Conor Shapiro of the St. Boniface Haiti Foundation, a Direct Relief partner that provides health care, educational opportunities and community development programs.
The supplies on this shipment were requested by 37 Haitian organizations, including St. Boniface, that represent more than 200 health care facilities in Haiti, which often are unable to access or afford the essential medicines they need to meet the demands of their patient populations.
Among the airlift's contents are 16 specially designed cholera modules that include infusion therapy supplies to help rehydrate patients, as well as antibiotics. Each module can treat 40 severe and 60 moderate cases of cholera.
Because cholera prevention hinges on the availability of safe drinking water, Direct Relief is also sending enough P&G Purifier of Water sachets to purify 1.5 million gallons of water.
Haiti has also seen a rise in cases of diphtheria, a potentially deadly bacterial infection. To help patients suffering from diphtheria, the shipment contains antibiotics and respiratory supplies. Also included in the shipment are hygiene products, soaps, detergent and bleach, and medications to treat chronic conditions like diabetes, hypertension and depression.
This delivery adds to several from Direct Relief to Haiti since the storm hit, including a 17-ton consignment that FedEx delivered in October free of charge on a chartered 757 flight.
RELATED: Tasha Cobbs Ministries raises $10,000 toward Haiti relief
Security Fixes Keep SMS Safe in Contact Center Solutions
Today, security concerns are on everyones minds, both consumers and companies that handle their personal information. While were all aware of security risks via telephone or email (how many Nigerian princes are there, exactly?), fewer consumers are aware of the risks with other channels, including those becoming more popular for customer support.
Text messaging is one of our favorite communications channels today. Its brief and to the point, as well as effortless. Its instantaneous and synchronous (meaning you can have a live conversation, unlike email), and eliminates most of the need for polite small-talk (unlike telephone). Aspects Consumer Experience Index compiled earlier this year found that 38 percent of consumers would rather use messaging apps like Facebook Messenger or WhatsApp to engage with customer service versus phone calls. Text is also becoming one of the primary factors in double- and triple-factor security authentication, as anyone who has ever reset a password using a code sent by text knows.
But the question is, how secure is SMS, or text?
In a recent blog post, Aspects Keiron Dalton noted that despite the popularity of companies delivering one-time passwords to customers via SMS to authenticate their credentials, the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) recently came a step closer to banning SMS-based two-factor authentication. Why? Its simply not secure enough.
The draft NIST Special Publication 800-63-3: Digital Authentication Guideline, has called for the deprecation of SMS-based two factor authentication, identifying its inherent security flaws, wrote Dalton. The guideline asserts that U.S. government service providers should start to phase out using SMS as the second factor when confirming user identities because of the possibility that one-time codes could be intercepted or redirected.
One of the practices that is compromising the security of SMS password authentication is the practice of SIM swap fraud in which fraudsters unlawfully obtain an identical SIM card to a mobile user and re-direct communications, including their text messages, away from the intended recipient and towards the fraudsters, which allows hackers to reset victims passwords and drain their bank accounts.
This isnt necessarily the end of SMS for security purposes, however. Dalton noted that SMS can and should continue to play a central role in the authentication process, as long as companies such as banks are willing to spend a little extra time checking and supporting interactions in a way that doesnt compromise contact center solutions or customer convenience and ease of transaction. There are technologies today that promote undetectable verification, but dont create friction at any point during the customer experience.
Aspect Verify is one such tool that supports verification with additional checks to identify the right information, context and user behaviors, wrote Dalton. These checks must be largely imperceptible to the customer, lest they interrupt their user experience. Examples include deploying sophisticated fraud detection techniques such as SIM Swap and divert detection, as well as location checks using readily available mobile data, to ascertain user identity.
As with any communications channels, SMS can be misused by those who seek to gain from them (as can the telephone, email and even postal mail). For companies wishing to retain this very easy and convenient way of communications for customer support as well as security, a few technology precautions in their contact center solutions can go a long way toward keeping SMS secure.
Edited by Maurice Nagle
Ever wondered how the fate of champagne bubbles from their birth to their death with a pop enhances our perception of aromas? These concerns, which are relevant to champagne producers, are the focus of a special issue of EPJ Special Topics, due to be published in early January 2017--celebrating the 10th anniversary of the publication. Thanks to scientists, champagne producers are now aware of the many neuro-physico-chemical mechanisms responsible for aroma release and flavour perception. The taste results from the complex interplay between the level of CO2 and the agents responsible for the aroma--known as volatile organic compounds--dispersed in champagne bubbles, as well as temperature, glass shape, and bubbling rate.
In the first part of the Special Topic issue, Gerard Liger-Belair from CNRS in Reims, France, has created a model to describe, in minute detail, the journey of the gas contained in each bubble. It starts from the yeast-based fermentation process in grapes, which creates CO2, and goes all the way to the nucleation and rise of gaseous CO2 bubbles in the champagne flute. It also includes how the CO2 within the sealed bottle is kept in a form of finely tuned equilibrium and then goes into the fascinating cork-popping process.
The second part of this Special Issue is a tutorial review demystifying the process behind the collapse of bubbles. It is mainly based on recent investigations conducted by a team of fluid physicists from Pierre and Marie Curie University, in Paris, France, led by Thomas Seon. When a champagne bubble reaches an air-liquid interface, it bursts, projecting a multitude of tiny droplets into the air, creating an aerosol containing a concentration of wine aromas.
Another Chicago-area patron of the Golden Arches is suing a McDonald's franchisee for deceptive trade practices and claiming that some Extra Value Meals actually cost more than buying the items a la carte.
Eleven cents that's the added cost of buying a McDonald's Sausage Burrito Extra Value Meal at a downtown Chicago McDonald's, instead of buying the items a la carte, according to a lawsuit filed Dec. 22 in Cook County Circuit Court against McDonald's and Salabad LLC, a Chicago-area franchisee. Plaintiff Kelly Killeen alleged she bought the value meal for $5.08 at the McDonald's at 36 W. Randolph St., when the two burritos, hash browns and medium coffee would have cost a total of $4.97 individually.
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Killeen's lawsuit accuses both Oak Brook-based McDonald's and Salabad of violating state law on consumer fraud and deceptive trade practices.
But the problem is far more widespread than just the one location, according to the complaint. The lawsuit alleges that McDonald's "complete or substantial control" of its restaurants caused locations throughout Illinois to charge more for certain Extra Value Meals than if the items were bought individually, despite extensive national marketing indicating otherwise.
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The lawsuit, which is seeking class-action status, seeks to "redress the pervasive pattern of fraudulent, deceptive and otherwise improper advertising, sales and marketing practices that McDonald's continues to engage in" with certain Extra Value Meals, including the Two Cheeseburger Extra Value Meal and the Sausage Burrito Extra Value Meal.
A McDonald's spokeswoman did not return requests for comment. A Salabad representative could not be immediately reached.
Earlier this month, James Gertie, of Des Plaines, filed a lawsuit against Karis Management Co. of Des Plaines, which operates about 10 locations in the area and charges $5.49 for two cheeseburgers, medium fries and a medium fountain drink when purchased individually, but the value meal costs $5.90. Gertie bought the two cheeseburger value meal at five McDonald's locations across Des Plaines and Niles operated by the franchisee in October and November, according to the lawsuit. Gertie's lawsuit also is seeking class-action status.
gtrotter@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @GregTrotterTrib
The CEO of a major health system in Illinois. A soon-to-be former secretary of commerce. An Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce executive on a mission to diversify the city's tech scene. Each will take on new challenges in 2017 that make them among the Chicago businesspeople worth watching. Here are 10 local Chicago business leaders who deserve attention in 2017.
Sean Connolly, CEO of Conagra Brands, will be revamping Slim Jims in 2017, among other initiatives at the food company that's newly relocated to Chicago. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Sean Connolly, CEO, Conagra Brands
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Among Connolly's challenges in 2017 will be sprucing up the company's stable of brands, including older products such as Slim Jim, Healthy Choice and Chef Boyardee. Conagra hopes to position its product line to better appeal to today's consumers, many of whom are willing to pay more for food and drink they consider to be natural, healthy, sustainably sourced and generally higher in quality. By modernizing ingredients and products, Connolly is hoping his company will be able to sell more food without having to offer discounts. In June, ConAgra moved its headquarters to Chicago from its longtime home in Omaha, Neb. Expect the company and its executives to further settle into the fabric of Chicago's business community in 2017.
Mary Dillon, CEO of Bolingbrook-based Ulta, may have a busy year ahead. The beauty chain recently announced plans to add hundreds more stores than previously targeted. (Brian Cassella / Chicago Tribune)
Mary Dillon, CEO, Ulta
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The Bolingbrook-based beauty company's most recent quarter was the best in its history as a public company. Sales in stores open at least a year grew 16.7 percent. The beauty chain is growing like crazy and recently announced plans to add hundreds more stores than previously targeted. Ulta has mostly been big in suburban markets, but it's planning to push into urban markets too.
Omar Duque, president and CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, is wokring to diversify Chicago's tech scene. Duque's group launched a new incubator aimed at helping Latinos tap into the startup world. (Keri Wiginton / Chicago Tribune)
Omar Duque, CEO of the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
Duque is working to diversify Chicago's tech scene. The Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce CEO recently launched a new incubator at tech hub 1871 aimed at helping Chicago's Latino population tap into the city's startup sector. The part-time program will last about 12 weeks and aims to accept 12 early-stage companies whose founders will participate in once-a-week daylong sessions on topics including finance, marketing, technology and funding. Duque's goal is to expose, educate and begin to get more people from diverse communities employed in the world of technology.
Lee Golub, principal at real estate investment and development firm Golub & Co., opened five apartment towers in 2016 and has more projects on tap for 2017. (Erich Shrempp)
Lee Golub, principal, Golub & Co.
The Chicago-based real estate investor and developer opened five apartment towers in 2016, including the 690-unit Marquee at Block 37 in the Loop, the 397-unit at 1001 South State in the South Loop, the 50-unit Sienna in the Gold Coast neighborhood, Moment at 545 N. McClurg Court and a $90 million, 21-story, 270-unit building known as Vantage Oak Park. In 2017, stay tuned for more developments, including, most notably, Golub's planned redevelopment with Los-Angeles based CIM Group of the iconic Tribune Tower into mixed-use hotel and retail space and a redevelopment in Oak Brook that will include Michael Jordan's restaurant set to open in the summer.
Eric Lefkofsky, former CEO of Groupon, has founded Tempus, a startup that uses data to help doctors customize treatment for cancer patients. (Tempus photo)
Eric Lefkofsky, former CEO, Groupon; current CEO of Tempus
In his quest to cure cancer, Lefkofsky has founded Tempus, a company that uses data and analytics to help doctors customize treatment for cancer patients. The startup recently has teamed with the University of Pennsylvania's Abramson Cancer Center, Rush University, Northwestern's Lurie Cancer Center, the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network and the University of Michigan. In 2017, Lefkofsky plans to continue connecting with physicians and hospitals to give them access to Tempus' tools. A spokesperson said new partnerships will be announced, but declined to be more specific.
Brian Nienhaus, president and CEO of We Are Unlimited, leads a team of roughly 200 at the new advertising agency set up to handle McDonald's marketing. (Andre Wells / We Are Unlimited)
Brian Nienhaus, recently named president and CEO of We Are Unlimited, a new Omnicom agency set up to market McDonald's
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It'll be interesting to see what the former senior vice president at advertising firm BBDO and his team of roughly 200 do to support the fast-food giant's efforts to bring in more customers and modernize its marketing campaign. In 2016, Omnicom, which owns DDB and BBDO, won a monthslong competition to control McDonald's nearly $1 billion advertising business. The global advertising firm then tapped Nienhaus, formerly of BBDO, to head the new agency it created to market McDonald's.
Penny Pritzker, commerce secretary under President Barack Obama, will leave her government post in January. She's planning to take some time off before re-entering the private sector. (Ron Sachs / Consolidated News Photos)
Penny Pritzker, businesswoman, soon-to-be former secretary of commerce
Pritzker, a Chicago native, will wind down her post at the Commerce Department in January along with the rest of the Obama administration. She's planning to take some time off before returning to Chicago to re-enter the private sector. There's a lot of speculation about what she'll do next. At least for now, Pritzker is keeping those details to herself.
Irene Rosenfeld, CEO of Mondelez International, may face challenges from a more restrictive U.S. trade policy under President-elect Donald Trump. (Jose M. Osorio / Chicago Tribune)
Irene Rosenfeld, CEO, Mondelez International
The Deerfield-based snack and confectionary manufacturer tried and failed to acquire The Hershey Co. in 2016. What's next for the company behind brands like Oreos and Chips Ahoy? Some say Mondelez itself is an acquisition target. And with President-Elect Donald Trump's promises to clamp down on U.S. trade policy, where will Rosenfeld lead Mondelez in 2017, especially since the global firm has no qualms about moving some operations to other countries and selling products back into the U.S.?
Jim Skogsbergh, CEO of Advocate Health Care, would become co-CEO if a merger with NorthShore University HealthSystem wins court approval to move forward. Here he's pictured with wife Diana Skogsbergh. (James C. Svehla / Chicago Tribune)
Jim Skogsbergh, CEO of Advocate Health Care
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If Advocate Health Care succeeds in pulling off a proposed merger with NorthShore University HealthSystem, Skogsbergh will spend 2017 integrating the two operations. As co-CEO of the combined entity a title he and Mark Neaman, CEO of NorthShore, would share for a time Skogsbergh maintains that the merger will benefit consumers by lowering costs while maintaining high-quality care. The merger has been tied up in the courts, but a ruling on whether it should be allowed to move forward is expected in early 2017. The merger would create the 11th largest health system in the country.
Pallavi Verma, senior managing director for the Midwest at Accenture, was promoted to her current role in December. She will lead Accenture's business in 12 Midwestern states. (Joshua Albanese / Accenture)
Pallavi Verma, senior managing director for the Midwest, Accenture
In 2017, expect Verma to focus on bringing innovation to clients, attracting top talent and strengthening the company's impact in its local communities, including the major cities of Chicago, Cleveland, Minneapolis and Detroit. Verma was promoted to her current role in December. Based in Chicago, she will lead Accenture's business in 12 states: Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota and Wisconsin.
Lauren Zumbach and Greg Trotter contributed.
crshropshire@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @corilyns
Kudos to Genesee Theater
A big thank you to the Genesee Theater in Waukegan. We went to the Kenny G concert and truly enjoyed the wonderful show. He is so talented as are the members of his band. It was such a joy to be there. Thank you for all the new programs that are happening more often at the Genesee Theater.
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No training required
Think about it. To be a doctor requires 10 or more years of training. To be a teacher requires four to nine years or more of training. All professions require many years of training. Skilled jobs also require many years of training. The most important job in America, the president of the United States, requires no training. Donald Trump says he has the answer to most of our problems, which is to build a fence. He must have spent days solving this problem. God help us.
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Seeking change
Hillary Clinton shot emails for years all over the world. We voted Donald Trump in because we wanted change.
Fight animal cruelty
I'm calling about the guy who killed four dogs. I hope he gets thrown in prison. Animals only give you love. This guy should not be out on the street.
Difference of opinion
It's amazing that Michelle Obama says she has no hope now because Donald Trump was elected. She expects the country to agree with her. There were 60 million who voted for Trump, and I'm one of them. I didn't have any hope when President Obama was elected in 2008. He runs this country like a Socialist/Marxist nation. He will go down in history as a poor president. I finally have hope after eight years.
Twitter @NewsSun
Editor's Note
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Talk of the County is a reader-generated column of opinions. If you see something you disagree with or think is incorrect, please tell us. Call us at 312-222-4554 or email talkofthecounty@tribpub.com. For a continuously updating blog of Talk of the County comments, go to newssunonline.com/talk.
Snaggletooth, home to Chicago's most beautiful bagels and lox, is one of many restaurants that will co-host brunch with Avec in 2017. (E. Jason Wambsgans / Chicago Tribune)
The Friends of Avec brunch series is back for 2017.
If you're unfamiliar, it's pretty much what it sounds like: Avec chef Perry Hendrix invites pals from other Chicago restaurants to cook with him at his West Loop kitchen on Sundays.
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The 2017 series kicks off Jan. 8 with Honey Butter Fried Chicken. Chefs and owners Christine Cikowski and Josh Kulp, known for making fried chicken slathered in butter, join Hendrix at Avec.
The brunch series started in 2014 with 15 past participants to date, including Big Star, Parachute and Bang Bang Pie. This year it runs through April with Lost Lake (Feb. 5), Cellar Door Provisions (Feb. 26), Half Acre Beer (March 12), Snaggletooth (April 2) and recently opened Logan Square bar Spilt Milk (April 23).
The menu is already in the works for the Honey Butter takeover. One-time-only collaboration dishes include what chefs call an Avecd Up OG Sandwich with fried chicken strips, candied jalapeno mayo, crunchy slaw and a fried egg on Avec's house-made ciabatta. Plus look for fried chicken strips over buttermilk biscuits with rosemary gravy, roasted fennel and preserved lemon; and fried chicken and French toast with bourbon maple syrup and honey butter. (All chicken can be substituted with locally made Phoenix Bean tofu, as at Honey Butter's restaurant.)
We started the series with the intention of spending some Sundays at the restaurant with people we like, wrote Hendrix in an email. We work enough that it is hard to get out to eat when we want to, so it was a way of getting beer, cocktails and food from those producers that we don't get a chance to visit.
"I actually used to work at Avec and made the desserts for the restaurant, so it's always been a place that's been close to my heart, added Cikowski. I also think it'll be fun to approach the restaurant from a brunch perspective.
The regular Avec menu will also be available. Reservations welcomed for brunch; Avec is still walk-in only during dinner hours.
Avec, 615 W. Randolph St., 312-377-2002, www.avecrestaurant.com
lchu@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @louisachu
Phil Stefani and his daugher Gina Stefani, pictured at MAD Social restaurant in the West Loop, will open a restaurant in Lincolnwood. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Veteran restaurateur Phil Stefani has purchased the closed Chinese-American classic restaurant property Kow Kow in Lincolnwood and plans to tear down the building to open an Italian steak and seafood restaurant by summer 2017, with help from his daughter Gina Stefani.
Gina Stefani owns MAD Social in the West Loop.
The Phil Stefani Signature Restaurants group owns a number of Chicago-area establishments, including five locations of Tuscany restaurant, Riva at Navy Pier, and The Flamingo Rum Club, which opened in River North last week.
Were going to start from scratch rather than try to remodel the existing building, which would be pretty difficult, said the senior Stefani.
The new, still-unnamed restaurant will have 175 seats in the dining room, dine-in bar and a private dining room.
The chef is also yet to be named, but Stefani said guest chefs from Italy may be possible. He travels there five time a year, staying in Lucca in Tuscany, where he restored his mothers house.
Why Lincolnwood? I live in the neighborhood, he said by phone. My wife grew up in the neighborhood."
"And I guess I'm just trying to save 45 minutes of driving all the way downtown if I get hungry."
6755 N. Cicero Ave., Lincolnwood, 312-275-9000, www.stefanirestaurants.com
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lchu@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @louisachu
Kaitlin Olson (left) and Scott MacArthur star on the new Fox series "The Mick." (Fox)
Actor-writer Scott MacArthur fondly recalls attending dozens of Cubs games in 2003, despite an erratic schedule of odd jobs and Chicago improv performances and a broken leg from a stickball incident.
Thirteen years later, MacArthur was back in the Wrigley Field stands for Game 3 of the World Series. He accompanied actress Kaitlin Olson, his co-star on the Fox comedy "The Mick," which is scheduled to premiere 7 p.m. Sunday.
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"They were the nicest seats I've ever sat in at a Cubs game, by far. The whole thing was surreal," MacArthur said in a phone interview with the Tribune. "At some point, (Fox) cut over and showed an image of Kaitlin and I. In that given moment, I was unaware that it went up on TV. I've never received so many emails and text messages in my life, like, 'Hey, what were you doing on TV? You disappeared 10 years ago.'"
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MacArthur, 37, said he grew up in Wrigleyville and went to college and graduate school in the Northeast. He returned to Chicago to train at iO and the Second City Conservatory before moving to New York and Los Angeles.
A writing gig on "The Mick" turned into a job playing Jimmy on the show. Jimmy dates Olson's character, Mackenzie "Mickey" Murphy, a moocher who gets stuck caring for her spoiled nephews and niece. MacArthur describes Jimmy as the "dog that bites everybody, and yet Mickey still keeps him around."
"I think especially in the beginning, Jimmy is this winner-adjacent and he gets to enjoy the good life," MacArthur said.
For MacArthur, this job on "The Mick" is a "dream come true" after years of guest roles. He has appeared in episodes of "NCIS," "Body of Proof" and other series "as kind of the red-herring criminal/murderer/rapist."
"Any time you're starting out... there's a delicate balance of say yes to everything and say yes to almost everything," MacArthur said.
He said he started writing by himself in his garage eight years ago, a springboard to "The Mick" writing job. MacArthur's character was played by a different actor in the original pilot who had other commitments when the pilot was picked up to series.
"Everything just kind of fell into place at this exact moment, and it's awesome," MacArthur said. "It makes everything in the last 10 years so completely worth it."
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 122 Sophie Turner as Jean Grey, anger management student, in "Dark Phoenix." The film, the latest in the "X-Men" franchise, costars James McAvoy, Michael Fassbender and Jessica Chastain. Read the review. (Twentieth Century Fox)
A few years ago, the Graefs bought one-way tickets from Chicago to Hawaii to be closer to family. We were so happy for them (and jealous too).
Last year, the Tinajeros packed up and headed west to Naperville. They left a two-bedroom apartment in Chicago for a single-family home with a yard on a tree-lined street. Even though they're still in the area, we don't get to see them nearly as much as we did when we all lived in the same building.
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And this past summer, we hugged the Shihs goodbye as movers boxed up their Little Italy condo. They settled into a 100-year-old farmhouse on 10 acres in Lexington, Ky.
"My dreams are coming true," Amanda Shih told me before the big move. My heart burst with both excitement and sadness.
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It feels as if living in Chicago or, perhaps, any big city means learning to say goodbye in your 30s. Landing a job in the city is a college graduate's dream. But then we grow up and want things like the luxury of raising our children close to family (read: free child care), a house with a yard and, for some, 10 acres of land.
The Shihs, who have a 5-year-old daughter, Emma, are eager to spread out and enjoy the country.
"We're going to get some animals," she said. "We're going to keep bees and chickens. We want to get back to our roots."
Isn't there a saying about roots and wings? So many of us come to Chicago on the wings of ambition and success. As we get older and more settled in our own skin, roots become important not only in our own life but in our family's life as well.
"People are constantly shifting in what their vision is for themselves and their families," said Jeffrey Sumber, a psychotherapist whose practice is in Andersonville. This means that people will change, and some will leave, Sumber said.
And he's right: My husband and I often think about moving our own family out of Chicago whether to the suburbs or beyond. So, we can't exactly be upset when friends leave the city for the very same reasons we're considering it too.
The question then becomes: When is it our turn? Or will we be the last ones standing below the skyline?
Chicago lost nearly 3,000 residents between 2014 and 2015, according to U.S. Census data. Meanwhile, the greater Chicago area lost more than 6,000 residents the biggest loss of any U.S. metropolitan area. This year, Illinois has seen more than 37,000 residents exit, which puts the population at the lowest it has been in nearly a decade, according to census data released in December.
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A United Van Lines moving study found the top reasons for leaving Illinois in 2015 included job, family and lifestyle.
Sumber said he's also seen patients leave Chicago because of weather, parking and violence.
"Violence in the city is sometimes anxiety-provoking for people," he said.
This was also a factor for the Shihs.
"(Emma) asked me if she could go ride her bike down the street, and I had to say no," said Amanda Shih, adding that her daughter wouldn't have to ask in the future because their new home is in an environment with fewer restrictions and more safety.
My daughter isn't yet old enough to ask me if she can ride her bike or walk to a friend's house, so maybe the constraints of the city haven't sunk in for us yet. For now, the heartache the city brings us is from its transient nature.
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The experience, at least, is making us grateful for the time we do have with friends.
"Having safe, healthy attachments is the only defense against the pain of someone leaving," Sumber said.
He explained that we naturally get comfortable with how a friendship looks: how long it takes to get to their house, what you like to do together. When someone moves, what most likely causes fear and sadness is wondering whether the friendship will endure when it no longer looks the same.
"It's trusting the connection over the geography," he said.
At least for us, Lexington is only five hours away.
Emily Perschbacher is a freelancer.
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Relax. Take a deep breath. Moving to the suburbs is going to be OK.
A worker helps sculpt the Ice Castles creation in Midway, Utah. Hundreds of thousands of icicles make up the thick walls, jagged mazes and fountains of the castle. (Rick Bowmer / AP)
The biggest splash in Wisconsin Dells this winter is all about frozen water.
A massive ice castle compound has put down its frosty foundation in the self-proclaimed Waterpark Capital of the World. Expected to open in early January, the creation will contain two 50-foot-long slides and a domed room with a waterfall. Plans call for tunnels, towers, thrones and trails lined with crushed ice and snow.
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The Ice Castles LLC project a first for the Dells is one of five in North America. Others are in Midway, Utah; Lincoln, N.H.; Stillwater, Minn.; and Edmonton in Canada. The Utah location opened Dec. 27, making it the first of the bunch to debut this season.
Icicles are the unorthodox building blocks for the castles, which are said to weigh an average of 25 million pounds and sport walls measuring 10 feet thick.
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When the weather cooperates, 10,000 icicles are created a day. They're strategically placed on a 1.5-acre parcel at Mt. Olympus Water & Theme Park near downtown in the Dells.
"Lots of people think ice castles are structures made out of blocks of ice, symmetrical and with straight edges; ours have more of a natural feel," Brent Christensen said about his patented construction process. "We capture the beauty that happens" as icicles form, drip and merge.
The Utah father of six, who used to own a lawn-mower-repair business, has a hankering for invention and experimentation. That's what led him to build an ice castle on a whim in 2009. The "work of curiosity" ended up being taller than his house.
"We had so many people stopping by, I thought maybe this could go on a bigger scale," Christensen said. His work snowballed into structures that draw crowds and traffic jams to this day.
Above-freezing temperatures in December complicated his Wisconsin crew's progress. The ice castle is expected to open around Jan. 6. The exact date depends on how weather affects construction.
Project work began in the Dells, a roughly 3.5-hour drive from downtown Chicago, in late October. Under the icy floor are miles-long networks of water and electrical lines. Workers use pickaxes and chain saws to chisel and refine what Mother Nature creates.
Castle admission will be by timed entry, and prices will vary by day of the week. Friday-to-Sunday tickets cost between $8.95 and $12.95 when bought online, or $12 to $18 when purchased on-site. The castle will be closed Tuesdays. Other weekdays, prices range from $6.95 to $15; www.icecastles.com/wisconsin-dells.
Mary Bergin is a freelance writer.
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Another day, another Garry McCarthy interview laying into the tactics of the Chicago Police Department.
This time, it's for a national audience. And the former police superintendent again doesn't hold back, telling CBS's "60 Minutes" that the city's police are in a "crisis."
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Due to be broadcast Sunday, the "60 Minutes" segment repeats a narrative that has been repeatedly told locally since Mayor Rahm Emanuel in October 2015 said cops had gone "fetal" in the face of protests about police violence.
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It focuses on the 80 percent decline in street stops by police and fall in arrests this year, even as the homicide rate soars to more than 750 people killed a drum McCarthy has been banging for weeks in a series of speeches and interviews.
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"When you have activity falling off the way it is and crime skyrocketing, that's a huge problem," McCarthy told reporter Bill Whitaker in a preview released by CBS. When Whittaker suggested that there was a policing crisis, McCarthy responded, "When people are dying, yes, there's crisis. No two ways about it."
"The police activity is horrific. Honestly. And there, and there's not an excuse that could be made in my book," he said. "The noncompliance of the law is becoming legitimized. And the police are on their heels. ... We're reaching a state of lawlessness," McCarthy said.
Police Superintendent Eddie Johnson, who may or may not be tiring of answering the barbs of his predecessor while facing an ongoing federal probe of his department, allowed that his officers have been more "cautious." He also was interviewed for the "60 Minutes" piece.
"Well, you know, there may be some" officers who are more reluctant to police aggressively, Johnson told Whitaker. But he disputed the link between the crime rate and the dropoff in stops and arrests, blaming stricter policies and increased paperwork for the decline in stops.
"It's not what the police officers are not doing," Johnson said. "It's more about what these criminal offenders are doing."
kjanssen@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @kimjnews
When shootings spiked in January 2016 in Los Angeles, police officials quelled violence in the hardest-hit area by swiftly analyzing data and holding daily conference calls among station commanders to decide where to send officers. Over the following months, shootings in that part of the city dropped.
As a devastatingly violent year in Chicago ends, police officials here plan to launch a similar effort in January, focusing on the long-suffering Englewood and Harrison police districts first.
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Empowering district commanders and staff to analyze crime patterns and make quick, strategic decisions is part of the Chicago Police Department's latest effort to find solutions to a surge in gun violence that has left more than 4,300 wounded and more than 750 dead, the city's most homicides since 1997.
The unrelenting year of violence, with an increase of 57 percent in homicides, left few parts of the city untouched and immeasurable sorrow and shock in its wake. For those living in the most dangerous neighborhoods, the violence began to feel almost normal, and a hopelessness set in.
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Some, including Mayor Rahm Emanuel, linked the increase in part to the fallout from the Laquan McDonald shooting scandal that played out over 2016. Intense scrutiny of the Police Department followed, including a U.S. Department of Justice investigation that may conclude in January.
The fallout exposed the Police Department's frayed relations with the city's minority communities and contributed to complex problems that law enforcement face in 2017 a fractured gang structure with young, impulsive members; a seemingly endless supply of guns on the street; a police force grown hesitant amid heightened attention and criticism; and crime surging in neighborhoods that for decades have suffered from inadequate resources and opportunity.
"It's just easier to get a gun than it is to get a job," said William Sampson, who heads public policy studies at DePaul University.
A draft report released Thursday from the University of Chicago Crime Lab could find no single reason for the meteoric increase in the city's homicides and shootings.
Solutions to the epidemic were just as difficult to define, researchers said. But they noted the undeniable fact that guns are ravaging Chicago. Over the past 25 years, no other major city has had such a dramatic single-year increase in homicides as Chicago did, and more homicides were committed with guns in Chicago than in any other major city.
For that reason, a crackdown on criminals with guns is a major focus of authorities in the new year. Also essential, experts say, is restoring police morale and improving officer training. In the neighborhoods most racked by violence, the city and private companies are launching new investment efforts to offer an alternative to crime: a job.
Advocates say it's paramount that the solutions be comprehensive, not piecemeal, as Chicago confronts its public safety emergency.
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Hot-spot policing
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Massive gang organizations like the Vice Lords and Gangster Disciples once claimed large swaths of territory in Chicago, protecting both the gang's reputation and drug trade with guns and violence. At the height of the crack-cocaine epidemic in the 1990s, more than 900 people were killed annually in the city in some years.
Shells of those larger gangs remain today, splintered into smaller block-by-block associations. Conflicts over drug territories remain a factor in Chicago's violence, but the immediacy of social media has exacerbated the problem, with personal disputes and challenges by gang rivals posing a constant threat. Many of the shootings appear to be retaliatory, leaving police searching for ways to interrupt the back-and-forth violence.
Chicago police attributed 75 percent of homicides in the city in 2015 and 2016 to altercations most involving street gangs, according to the University of Chicago Crime Lab draft report.
On the neighborhood-level, former gang members are still coordinating conflict interventions through church, community and city-affiliated programs, with a new program launched in 2016 on the historically troubled West Side. CeaseFire Illinois, founded 16 years ago, also remains active, though on a more limited basis after losing financial support from the state and city.
The Police Department's 12-page gang reduction strategy, last revised in January 2016, ranged from gang audits intended to monitor rivalries and changing boundaries to the department's signature "strategic subject list," a computerized algorithm designed to zero in on about 1,400 people, primarily gang members, considered most likely to shoot someone or become a victim of violence.
With the LAPD's recent guidance, Chicago police now plan to take an old concept hot-spot policing and decentralize it. Beginning this month, a single room in each of the 22 districts will be dedicated to tracking shootings, calls for help and information gathered on the street from beat officers. Armed with those data, district intelligence analysts, community policing officers and command staff will decide daily where to send teams of officers to try to counteract the violence.
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"These rooms will be running 24/7, as opposed to (intelligence) coming from headquarters," First Deputy Superintendent Kevin Navarro said in an interview at police headquarters.
The Justice Department also has been paying for two consultants to provide Chicago with expert help. One of those is former Illinois State Police Chief Terrance Gainer, who began his long career in law enforcement as a Chicago cop. Gainer, who helped coordinate LAPD's recent visit, said the district-level focus fits with Chicago's existing data-driven approach.
"You are trying to empower each roll call," he told the Tribune. " 'Here is where we think the problem will be this weekend.' You get the officers in the district focused and psyched up with what you want them to do."
Los Angeles police officials said they are hopeful Chicago's plan to use their strategy will help. But, they say Los Angeles did more than refocus where cops patrolled.
"An important component was community engagement," said LAPD First Assistant Chief Michel Moore. Cops made outreach efforts in neighborhoods with the highest number of gang shootings, he said, "so that residents could feel safe coming out and, in a number of instances, providing information."
Still, a single policing strategy is no cure-all.
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When Los Angeles used this targeted effort last spring in one area, Moore noted, crime jumped in other parts of the city. And homicides and shootings overall in that city were up slightly over 2015.
"We have to be mindful that other problems can erupt," Moore said.
Targeting repeat gun offenders
Chicago's increase in homicides was driven overwhelmingly by gun violence. The University of Chicago's draft report found that in 2016, 91 percent of homicides were committed with a gun. By comparison, between 2011 and 2015, the share of gun homicides averaged 72 percent in Los Angeles and 60 percent in New York.
It's incredibly frustrating when an officer locks someone up for a gun on a Thursday, and then next Wednesday sees this same guy. Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson
Since taking office in March, Chicago police Superintendent Eddie Johnson has repeatedly called for tougher gun laws for people with repeat gun convictions, saying they are unafraid of serious consequences for their actions.
"It's incredibly frustrating when an officer locks someone up for a gun on a Thursday, and then next Wednesday sees this same guy" back on the street, he said in a recent interview with the Tribune.
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The idea of stiffer sentencing for gun crimes has been criticized, however. Ed Yohnka, a spokesman for the ACLU of Illinois, said questions remain about whether tougher sentences really have an impact. Yohnka pointed to the state's budget crisis as a more immediate problem, saying the impasse drains services that would help prevent crime.
Johnson said he was sensitive to the inequalities of the criminal justice system but feels consequences aren't dire enough to deter crime.
"I don't believe in mass incarceration or disproportionately arresting minorities," he said. "But what I do believe is if you pick up a freakin' gun and you pull the trigger you should go to prison. That is just the bottom line. You should go to prison."
Johnson has an ally in newly elected Cook County State's Attorney Kim Foxx, who said in a Tribune interview that fighting gun violence is "our No. 1 issue" and that her focus will be on targeting gun-trafficking networks. She also plans to bring in a top New York prosecutor and specialist in trafficking cases to set up a new gun crimes unit.
Foxx said she wants to identify the most violent criminals and is looking to forge partnerships with academics to try to better understand the root of the gun problem.
"We want to go after those who pull the trigger. We want to make sure that they are held accountable, and we also want to make sure that the next person who is thinking about picking up a gun doesn't," Foxx said.
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 15 The scene where a person was shot Dec. 26, 2016, near the intersection of South Hermitage Avenue and West 45th Street in Chicago. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
Nina Vinik, program director for the Joyce Foundation's Gun Violence Prevention Program, said policymakers also should be looking at laws that tighten regulation and licensing of Illinois gun shops, where handguns can be illegally obtained through straw purchases.
"There needs to be a focus on the sources of crime guns that are flooding Chicago's streets," Vinik said. "Chicago has an exponentially greater challenge with illegal guns than LA or New York. There is no silver bullet. We need to do lots and lots of different things. We need to reform the Chicago Police Department and restore community trust. But we also need to get our arms around our illegal gun problem."
Absent from much of the rhetoric, experts say, is more concrete research on the gun issue. There has been a long-standing frustration in the public health community that Congress does not fund research on gun violence like other health epidemics, said Roberta Rakove, senior vice president for Sinai Health Systems.
Just this December, however, a group of academics, hospitals and public health researchers in Chicago pledged to cooperate on new research on gun violence.
"Given the nature of the emergency here in Chicago, we really couldn't wait," Rakove said.
Improving morale, professionalism
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In the Laquan McDonald case, the court-ordered release in November 2015 of disturbing police dashboard camera video showing white Officer Jason Van Dyke shooting the black 17-year-old 16 times had a ripple effect on police all year. Superintendent Garry McCarthy was fired within days of the video's release, and the Justice Department probe of police practices followed.
In the ensuing months, the department drew withering criticism, especially for its failure over the decades to properly punish officers for a wide range of misconduct, including excessive force, as Tribune investigations found. The misconduct damaged relations with the public, which experts say makes it all the more difficult for police to get the community's help in fighting crime.
Officers, in turn, were stung by the unprecedented scrutiny and public anger. In stories published in the Tribune in 2016, officers described plunging morale, and their more cautious approach on the street. The Tribune found officers made fewer stops of citizens for information, and fewer arrests. Some officers believe the new scrutiny of police also emboldened criminals, now more likely to carry guns and taunt officers, and contributed to rising violence.
Whether any of this had an impact on crime is not immediately clear. But Chicago police will have a better chance of chipping away at the violence if the department can make headway not only in restoring community trust, but in steadying officers, said Anne Kirkpatrick, who heads the department's Bureau of Professional Standards.
"When officers are trained with the best practices and constitutional policing ... they can be confident they are staying within the boundaries," she said. "And when they stay within the boundaries, they don't need to worry about getting into trouble."
In September, the city scrapped the Independent Police Review Authority, the agency charged with investigating police misconduct, and announced a new board that would have somewhat expanded powers and authority.
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The Police Department has also proposed changes to its policy regarding when officers can use force. The department also launched two-day retraining that emphasizes "de-escalation" tactics to try to reduce the number of fatal confrontations, with aims to train its entire force in a year.
Chicago police bought more Tasers to give officers more options in potentially deadly confrontations. And it expanded its use of body-worn cameras to improve transparency. On Wednesday, the department announced an accelerated rollout of the cameras, saying all officers would be outfitted by the end of 2017.
Emanuel also has pledged he will add about 1,000 more officers to the current count of some 12,000 sworn department members. A Tribune examination of department rosters last month, however, showed that the city has some catching up to do when it comes to manpower. The number of sworn officers has shrunk approximately 7 percent over six years including the loss of about 600 officers since Emanuel took office in 2011.
The mayor has committed to creating a citizens' oversight board to monitor the department, as other cities across the country have done when faced with intense criticism of police practices. Emanuel, though, has yet to offer specifics on when that board would be created, how it would be structured or whether he would control a majority of its appointments.
Experts note that giving power to a strong citizen board will be critical going forward.
"That is really important," said Samuel Sinyangwe, co-founder of Campaign Zero, a national policy platform that grew from the national concern over police-involved shootings of citizens and now tracks and researches reform. "(From) the changes to the strategies of the Police Department to ensuring the department is behaving appropriately, that can only happen with strong community oversight."
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Hopelessness and poverty
Over the decades in Chicago, the same communities that have suffered from pernicious poverty and joblessness also have endured the highest rates of violence. Last year was no different.
When you are nothing, you have nothing to lose. The only way to become something is to pick up a gun. William Sampson, DePaul University public policy studies department
The largest increases in homicides occurred in five communities Englewood, West Englewood, New City, Austin and West Garfield Park. More than 37 percent of the population in those areas live below the poverty line, compared with 23 percent citywide, according to the Crime Lab draft report.
These five neighborhoods contain just 8 percent of the city's population but accounted for an estimated 32 percent of the city's homicides, researchers noted.
The decline in Chicago's poor minority neighborhoods began decades ago when good-paying factory jobs once available to anyone with a high school diploma dried up, said Sampson, the public policy expert.
Socioeconomic factors and a blatantly racist real estate market kept many neighborhoods on the South and West sides segregated and isolated. Many blacks and Latinos, the primary residents of these neighborhoods, also became entangled in a criminal justice system that punishes most harshly those without financial means, leading to a cycle of poverty and prison.
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These facts are known, but solving systemic poverty remains daunting.
New attempts to offer economic opportunities have surfaced periodically on South and West sides. In Englewood last year, for example, a new Whole Foods opened, with shoppers cheering as they pushed carts through the front doors.
But while he championed the effort, Sampson cautioned that it will take a lot more to rebound from decadeslong economic neglect. A massive effort is needed, combining tax dollars with private enterprise, the DePaul professor said.
"No one piece is going to do it," he said. "If you try to fix piece by piece, you're just spitting in the wind."
Some attempts at addressing those needs are in the works.
In September, there was the launch of Chicago Trend, a for-profit development organization that aims to lure stable investment, including big chains, to marginal neighborhoods, relying in part on deep data dives on the buying power that could be capitalized, according to the organization.
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Chase Bank announced in October it would fund $3.5 million in micro-loans and other efforts to draw retail and the jobs that come with it to distressed areas.
And Emanuel launched the Neighborhood Opportunity Fund, allowing developers to build at higher densities in an expanded downtown area in return for channeling money toward development and job training in economically disadvantaged areas.
The mayor has been criticized for his cuts to mental health services early in his tenure, which some argue has contributed to an increasingly frayed network of support for these hard-hit communities.
Still, in September, Emanuel announced a $36 million initiative to support mentoring throughout the city to try to bring stability to kids growing up in the most troubled areas. Long-term relationship-building with young people, through such programming, may be the best hope at reducing the sway of gangs in the first place, say neighborhood organizers.
The work is hard and requires not just a financial commitment but a strong, emotional investment, outreach groups say.
"Young people get together and they engage in negative behavior like violence, and there's no one to say, 'Here's how you become a better friend,' " said Joshua Brooks, an outreach worker who teaches nonviolence to students at Austin College and Career Academy. "There has to be some sort of relationship that forms to teach peace."
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Need for long-range plans
Despite the city's efforts, proposals so far for decreasing violence have been short-sighted, say many community groups.
In a 16-page report released in November, a wide-ranging group of nearly 50 Chicago organizations called out the city for a fundamental problem with its violence response the lack of an in-depth, over-arching strategy.
"Chicago remains without a comprehensive plan to prevent and respond to (gun violence). Such a plan is sorely needed," the group concluded.
Emanuel's September speech outlining his own public safety strategy, in which he detailed his proposals to hire more officers and improve mentoring and shore up economic development, falls short, they said.
A woman talks with members of the Chicago Police Department at the scene where two people were killed and were wounded in the 8600 block of South Maryland Avenue on Dec. 25, 2016. (Armando L. Sanchez / Chicago Tribune)
The group which ranged from the ACLU of Illinois to small storefront church ministries called for a deeper assessment and a multi-year plan with stable funding to achieve the "scale, staffing, population targeting, program fidelity" to really address the violence.
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"There are ways to implement cost-effective programs to target violence," said Stephanie Kollmann, policy director of Children and Family Justice Center at Northwestern University's law school, a signatory on the report. "The long-term, systemic answers require funding. A full answer would be expensive. Obviously it requires real investment and certainly redistribution of some resources from some parts of the city to another."
Emanuel's spokesman, Adam Collins, agreed the problem is multifaceted and said the mayor's speech laid out his commitment to broader plans to address those issues. He also said the mayor's expansion of summer jobs for youth is key.
"The reality is that it is a complex challenge that will require a comprehensive solution," he said. "That is what the mayor outlined in September, and that was the intention behind the approach."
Whatever help might materialize can't come soon enough, Sampson said. With problems so deeply ingrained, hopelessness could lead to desperation, and desperation to yet more violence.
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"We live in a society where your worth is measured by what you have, and these folks have nothing," Sampson said of those living in neighborhoods wracked by violence. "When you are nothing, you have nothing to lose. The only way to become something is to pick up a gun."
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Managing stress takes practice, something The Bridge Youth & Family Services in Palatine illustrates to young clients by using a soda bottle.
Do they react to a difficult situation by exploding like a shaken soda? Do they show no signs of agitation like a soda that's lost its fizz? Or do they size up a situation and respond accordingly, similar to a slow-release bottle?
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"We talk about understanding how trauma triggers how they react," said Stephanie Beck, a child and family therapist for the organization known as The Bridge. "We look at what things they're doing that get them in trouble. We're not judging them, but trying to get them to understand and think what to do instead."
The Bridge, named in the 1970s when Simon & Garfunkel were singing the now-iconic "Bridge Over Troubled Water," sees young clients through age 19 who are experiencing problems at home, school or elsewhere.
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The difficulties could be due to "adverse childhood experiences," which include loss of a parent through separation, divorce or death; psychological, verbal, physical or sexual abuse; a household member with a substance abuse problem or mental illness; incarceration of a parent and violence between adults at home.
Ninety-one percent of The Bridge's clients have at least one adverse experience in their background, with the average being three. Almost a quarter of the clients have five, said executive director Gregg Stockey.
"Research suggests the more things they have, the more they're set up for life-long problems, not only mental health issues but physical ailments, being homeless or incarcerated," Stockey said.
"A person can develop bad coping skills, but counseling or mentoring can prevent their development," he said, changing the trajectory of a child's life.
The Bridge does individual and group counseling, has a crisis intervention team for runaway, locked-out and homeless teens, and offers mentoring, parenting classes and leadership development. It is funded primarily by the state, but also receives support from Palatine Township, United Way and organizations such as Chicago Tribune Charities, a McCormick Foundation fund. Clients pay what they can.
Participation is voluntary, but having such resources in the community is invaluable, said Paul Budin, coordinator of social work services for School District 15, which has 15 elementary schools and four junior highs.
"School social work by definition is work in the schools to help enhance the social and emotional functioning of students," Budin said. "But now, with as many issues as there are, with family stressors from economics to divorce and loss, we don't have enough time in the day," for those needing extra help.
Bringing the "baggage" of home to school often gets in the way of learning, said Mark Kovack, associate superintendent for student services, in School District 211.
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"The Bridge helps us connect a family to resources to get to the crux of the problem," he said.
At the agency, the child's behavior is evaluated and goals for treatment are set and signed off on by the child, parents and therapists. Those goals are the guideposts for determining if treatment is working. The school is notified of the plan if parents agree.
"Early trauma takes time to find," said Selene Mehta, the agency's clinical supervisor. "We have to find out how a child is functioning at home, at school and in the community."
While therapists occasionally confront stubborn preconceptions or stigmas concerning treatment for mental health issues, many families are relieved to address whatever is bothering their child, Mehta said.
"It takes a lot for parents to reach for the phone and say, 'we need help,'" she said.
Sometimes the adults also need assistance, such as when feelings about abuse that happened to them in childhood resurface as they parent their children, Mehta said. Referrals are made for counseling, or food banks if the issues are more economic.
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After getting to the root of what might be causing performance issues at school, the inability to make or keep friends, self-hurting or other symptoms, treatment usually involves dismantling what Beck calls MUPS coping strategies that can "mess you up" and finding new ways to deal with stressful situations. Examples of harmful strategies are drinking, smoking, overeating, getting into fights, risky sexual behavior, too much screen time, isolation and constantly taking care of others.
Understanding that MUPS might offer temporary relief, but also might make things worse, is important for developing the ability to let them go, Beck said. That leads to seeing there are choices going forward.
"You can't make your parents stop arguing," she said. "But you can distract yourself."
Turning around a dysfunctional pattern the earlier the better can prevent a child from "floundering through life," said Heather Mlynek, who supervises The Bridge's crisis team.
"Kids may end up in jail or attempting suicide. They're unable to be successful in the work world. It can be multi-generational," Mlynek said. "But kids are resilient and outcomes are more positive if there's intervention."
She said the agency is meeting the demand for services, but needs more Spanish-speaking therapists. And Stockey wants to offer services in more locations, saying surveys indicate transportation and going to a "strange" place are barriers to seeking help. The concept of schools as community centers might be an answer, he said.
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"We need to try to interrupt this pattern of life-long misery," Stockey said. "It affects us all."
Kay Manning is a freelance reporter.
President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and sanctioned Russian intelligence officials who Washington believes were involved in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election.
The measures, taken during the last days of Obama's presidency, mark a new low in U.S.-Russian relations which have deteriorated over serious differences on Ukraine and Syria.
"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Obama said in a statement from vacation in Hawaii.
It was not immediately clear whether President-elect Donald Trump, who has repeatedly praised Russian President Vladimir Putin and nominated people seen as friendly toward Moscow to senior administration posts, would seek to roll back the measures once he takes office on Jan. 20.
Obama is seeking to deter Russia and other foreign governments from leveraging cyber attacks in the future to meddle in U.S. politics, former officials and cyber security experts said.
Obama has been under growing pressure from within his own administration and lawmakers of both political parties to respond more forcefully to the cyber attacks, which included leaked emails of Democratic Party operatives that became part of the media coverage in the campaign for the Nov. 8 presidential election.
The Russian foreign ministry said on Thursday the sanctions were counter-productive and would harm the restoration of bilateral ties. Moscow denies the hacking allegation.
Obama sanctioned two Russian intelligence agencies, the GRU and the FSB, four GRU officers and three companies "that provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations. Obama said the State Department declared as "persona non grata" 35 Russian intelligence operatives and is closing two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that were used by Russian personnel for "intelligence-related purposes". The State Department originally said the 35 were diplomats.
A senior U.S. official told Reuters the move would affect the Russian embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco.
The Russians have 72 hours to leave the United States, the official said. Access to the two compounds, which are used by Russian officials for intelligence gathering, will be denied to all Russian officials as of noon on Friday, the senior U.S. official added.
"These actions were taken to respond to Russian harassment of American diplomats and actions by the diplomats that we have assessed to be not consistent with diplomatic practice," the official said.
The State Department has long complained that Russian security agents and traffic police have harassed U.S. diplomats in Moscow, and U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry has raised the issue with Putin and his foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov.
"By imposing costs on the Russian diplomats in the United States, by denying them access to the two facilities, we hope the Russian government reevaluates its own actions, which have impeded the ability and safety of our own embassy personnel in Russia," the official said.
The U.S. official declined to name the Russian diplomats who would be affected, although it is understood that Russia's ambassador to the United States, Sergei Kislyak, will not be one of those expelled.
Police in Wisconsin have released surveillance photos of two men they say stole a car from the South Side of Chicago and drove to a town just west of Milwaukee where they robbed a pharmacy at gunpoint.
The photos show people inside Swan Pharmacy in Wauwatosa taking cover as the men entered the store around 9:15 a.m. Wednesday and pulled out a gun. Police said the two did not want cash, just drugs.
"They simply wanted the opiates, the narcotics, then they were on their way in a matter of minutes," said Wauwatosa police Lt. Brian Zalewski.
The robbers' car was discovered abandoned about half a mile away near a school in the town, police said. It had been stolen hours earlier in Chicago, Zalewski said.
One of the robbers was described as black, 20 to 25 years old, with a thin build and wearing a maroon "varsity style" jacket, a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and gray gloves. He displayed a black semi-automatic handgun during the robbery, police said.
The other robber was described as black, 20 to 25 years old, with a thin build and wearing a gray and black jacket with a multicolored scarf.
In an alert, police said the two should be considered armed and dangerous. They asked anyone with information to call the Wauwatosa Police Department at 414-471-8430 or anonymously contact Wauwatosa Crime Stoppers at 414-771-8672.
Amber Pasztor, 29, of Fort Wayne, Ind., was arrested on two counts of murder Sept. 26, 2016. (Elkhart Police Department)
GOSHEN, Ind. An Indiana woman accused of fatally smothering her two young children told a judge in a handwritten letter that she's guilty and ready to accept life in prison.
Amber Pasztor, 29, of Fort Wayne, faces two counts of murder in the Sept. 26 killings of 7-year-old Liliana Hernandez and 6-year-old Rene Pasztor. The children were killed after being abducted from their custodial grandparents' home.
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Her attorneys are seeking to present a defense of mental disease or defect, saying they believe she cannot fully understand the legal proceedings or help prepare her defense. But in the letter, Pasztor said she was competent and would refuse to see another doctor for mental health evaluations.
"I made a lot of bad decisions in my life but this one really did it," she wrote. "I am guilty and I accept my consequences thank you so much for your time."
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Pasztor has also admitted to fatally shooting her neighbor, 65-year-old Frank Macomber, and taking his car. She has not been charged in the death, but prosecutors have said she is a suspect. Investigators believe Macomber was shot the same day the children were killed. His body was found the next day in a wooded area near Fort Wayne.
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Pasztor's letter to Elkhart Circuit Court Judge Terry Shewmaker was dated Dec. 14 but filed with the court on Tuesday, The Goshen News and The (Fort Wayne) Journal Gazette reported.
Shewmaker gave prosecutors a copy of Pasztor's letter during a Thursday court hearing, which Pasztor didn't attend. The judge made no ruling on the letter, but pushed Pasztor's trial date from late January until March 20 so a second competency evaluation could be completed.
Pasztor's defense attorney, Clifford Williams, told The Goshen News that he wouldn't discuss the letter. The Associated Press left a telephone message for Williams on Thursday seeking comment.
According to investigators, Pasztor parked a car outside the Elkhart Police Department hours after the children were abducted and told an officer her children's bodies were the back seat. Elkhart is about 70 miles northwest of Fort Wayne.
Pasztor said in an October jailhouse interview with WANE-TV that she decided to kill her children after hearing an Amber Alert for them. She said she killed the children so they would be safe in heaven.
Prosecutors are seeking a life sentence without parole for Pasztor.
Associated Press
A 20-year-old man and a teen boy are accused of firing shots at an off-duty officer before trying to make off with the officer's car last week, Chicago police said.
Colquitt Thomas, 20, is charged with attempted robbery with a firearm. He is being held on $300,000 bail, according to the Cook County Jail's website. A 17-year-old boy is charged with attempted robbery with a firearm and aggravated discharge of a firearm at a police officer.
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The officer was not injured in the attack, which happened about 4:45 p.m. Thursday in the 100 block of East 89th Street in the city's West Chesterfield neighborhood, police said.
Two attackers walked up to the off-duty officer and fired shots at the officer's vehicle before trying to take it, police said.
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Officers responded to a call of shots fired, and the two assailants fled east on 89th but were arrested.
A gun was recovered from the scene, police said.
Thomas is scheduled to appear in court again Thursday.
President Barack Obama will give his farewell speech Jan. 10 in Chicago.
Coming 10 days before President-elect Donald Trump is sworn in as Democrats cede the White House to Republicans, Obama's hometown address is expected to serve as his closing words to the nation as president.
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The appearance will be open to the public and followed by a "family reunion" for alumni of Obama's former campaigns, according to a save-the-date notice sent to Obama alumni and obtained by The Associated Press. The White House has not confirmed Obama's speech or trip to Chicago.
Ahead of the speech, Obama and Democratic lawmakers next week will meet to try to forge a common strategy to prevent Republicans from destroying the president's signature health-care law.
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On Wednesday morning, Obama travels to the Capitol for the meeting with House and Senate Democrats, according to an invitation sent to lawmakers. The White House is casting it as an effort to unite Democrats behind a plan to protect the law, known as the Affordable Care Act, before Republicans have a chance to settle on their own plan for repealing it.
Democrats are on edge over the future of the ACA, given the GOP's disdain for "Obamacare" and Trump's vows to gut it. Though Republicans are united behind the notion of repealing the law, they're split over how best to replace it. Some want to strip out unpopular provisions while leaving others intact, while other Republicans prefer a start-from-scratch approach.
It's that lack of unanimity among Republicans that Obama and Democrats hope can be exploited, if they can lay the groundwork before Trump takes office. To that end, Obama also planned to answer questions about the future of the health care law next Friday during a livestreamed event at Blair House, just across Pennsylvania Avenue from the White House.
Initially stunned by the defeat of Hillary Clinton, Democrats are now trying to organize a counterattack to preserve the ACA, among the most significant expansions of the social safety net since Medicare and Medicaid were created 50 years ago. House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi has urged her lawmakers to make health care their focus at the start of the year.
Since the ACA passed, about 20 million people have gained coverage and the uninsured rate has dropped to a historic low of around 9 percent. Some of the coverage gains are due to employers offering jobs with health care in a stronger economy, but most experts mainly credit Obama's law.
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Vice President-elect Mike Pence was in the Loop for an Illinois Republican fundraiser at The Chicago Club on Dec. 30, 2016. After his arrival, about 150 protesters gathered. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune) (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune/Chicago Tribune)
Vice President-elect Mike Pence appeared at a Chicago fundraiser Friday where the Illinois GOP hoped to raise as much as $1 million for the Republican National Committee.
On the host committee for the $2,700-per-ticket fundraiser were some of Illinois' most prominent Republicans, including Gov. Bruce Rauner, seven of the eight Illinois GOP congressmen and Ron Gidwitz, a businessman who led President-elect Donald Trump's Illinois campaign fundraising effort.
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The Indiana governor arrived in the Loop shortly before 11 a.m. and entered the Chicago Club through a back door not visible from the barricaded sidewalks in front of the building. Pence was not greeted by protesters, although they arrived later while he was inside.
Illinois Republican Chairman Tim Schneider said a fractured state party during the primary season has since coalesced around Trump and Pence.
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Expand Autoplay Image 1 of 7 Protesters demonstrate along Michigan Avenue outside a fundraiser where Vice President-elect Mike Pence made an apperance Dec. 30, 2016, at The Chicago Club. (Phil Velasquez / Chicago Tribune)
"Chicago is the hub of the Midwest and it's also very close to his roots in Indiana, so he can draw from those folks who are supporters from Indiana," said Schneider, a Cook County commissioner, of Pence's visit to the city. "I think we have a great number of supporters here in Chicago who believe in this new Trump-Pence administration, and that's why they're here."
Not listed as part of the host committee were U.S. Sen. Mark Kirk and U.S. Rep. Robert Dold of Kenilworth, who distanced themselves from Trump but ultimately lost their re-election bids last month. Rauner has been reluctant to even say Trump's name, which didn't stop Democrats from cobbling together a TV attack ad during the fall attempting to link the governor to the GOP standard bearer. Rauner confirmed that he has spoken to Trump since the election.
About 150 protesters have gathered outside Vice President Elect Mike Pence's Loop fundraiser at The Chicago Club. pic.twitter.com/N6138ZJYkC Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) December 30, 2016
Rauner did not attend the event, however, as he had traveled out West with his family.
About 150 protesters gathered at Michigan Avenue and Van Buren Street. Many of them waved signs that read "We say no to racism, sexism & war!"
Among the chants they repeated: "Our bodies, our lives, our right to decide!" and "Racist, sexist, anti-gay! Mike Pence go away!" and "No Trump, no Pence! No KKK! No fascist USA!"
There was, however, a Trump supporter who responded to the chants through a megaphone of his own. The man, who only would identify himself by the fake name of "Alexander Hamilton," was approached by a handful of demonstrators who screamed and cursed at him as a Chicago police officer watched nearby.
A lone Donald Trump supporter chants back with his megaphone as 150 others protest Vice President-Elect Mike Pence's Chicago fundraiser. pic.twitter.com/GI4RpOXBT7 Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) December 30, 2016
"Donald Trump will make America great again!" the man chanted over and over again.
A Republican official indicated the fundraiser was expected to raise $500,000 to $1 million. Those making the maximum $33,400 contribution got a roundtable and photo with Pence, while those contributing $10,000 got a photo with him.
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WEST CHESTER, Pa. Anita Foeman's students had just gotten the results from their genetic tests, and they couldn't wait to talk.
One said her dad cheered when she told him she has Zulu roots. A girl with curly red hair said her family always gathers around a Nativity scene on Christmas Eve and sings carols over the baby Jesus. This year, after learning that she's 1 percent Jewish, she said, "We're going to sing the dreidel song!"
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When a white student said that 1 percent of his ancestry was African, two black students sitting next to him gave him fist bumps and said: "Yes! Brother."
"Some people have never had a happy conversation about race," Foeman said. But in her class at West Chester University, there was laughter. Eagerness. And easy connections where there might have been chasms. "Our differences are fascinating," she said.
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At a time when tensions over race and politics are so raw, the stakes, Foeman said, seem particularly high. Her students have been talking all fall about riots, building walls, terrorist attacks, immigration, the election. "You can feel it buzzing around the halls like electricity," Foeman said.
Asking people to take DNA tests - an idea that has spread to a campuswide effort at this public university - grew out of consulting work Foeman does in race mediation. Instead of a confrontational approach, trying to provoke people into recognizing their own biases, she wanted something that would pull people together, or at least give them a neutral place from which to start to talk. And with racial divides so stark, she wanted to add some nuance and depth.
She wondered: What if people started finding out things they didn't know about themselves?
So she begins with a short survey asking people their race and what they know about their ancestry. They spit into a vial. Several weeks later, they get an email with an estimate of their ethnic makeup, a color-coded map of their past.
That leads to questions, and stories, and curiosity. It is a welcome reset from awkwardness, defensiveness, suspicion. Now that the DNA tests are cheaper, Foeman is able to ask all the students in her honors class - almost all of them freshmen just getting to know or redefine themselves - to take the test.
There's a broad range of people at this state school in Pennsylvania. There are students whose parents are college professors and children of coal miners. There are students from abroad, from inner cities and from parts of the state so rural that hunting helps put dinner on the table. There are transgender students, students who reject gender entirely, Bernie Sanders voters, Donald Trump voters, black people who have heard racial slurs, a biracial student who was told by a stranger last month to "go back to Mexico" and a student who, growing up in a neighborhood where most people are black, was bullied because he is white. ("Who advocates for him?" Foeman asked. "The election and the protests have pushed that conversation forward.")
Foeman, who is African-American - and genetically more than one-quarter European, as she now knows - would like to test as many people as she can. It's a way to study everything from medicine to history. Most of all, she'd like to get everyone talking.
She has found people willing, even eager, to take part, with more than 1,500 on campus volunteering.
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"I think people want this," she said. "That surprises me - in a good way."
"When I opened my results, the first thing that greeted me was 6 percent African," said a student with very pale skin in the back of the classroom, smacking herself in the forehead, mouth open wide, to re-create her reaction the night before: "Whaaaaat?"
West Chester University professor Anita Foeman explains to a student how much saliva is required for a DNA test that students in her class must take. (Melissa Rudolph / West Chester University handout)
"I guess I shouldn't be that surprised," she added. "I know a lot of African-American people have some white DNA, so I shouldn't be surprised there's some African in me."
Another student said that when she called her parents to tell them she was 75 percent Irish and 10 percent Scandinavian, "My mom started cheering through the phone," she said. "I was like, 'Why are you cheering?' "
"It's interesting the ones you cheer for and the ones you go, 'Ehhhhhhh,' " Foeman said. "There are ones you lean into."
That's how family histories get told and identities defined, she says. Some things are exaggerated, some covered up or forgotten. "There are all kinds of secrets in families."
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A student with bright-red hair sent her mother an image of her results, telling her, " 'We're not Irish at all.' Her first response was: 'You must have the wrong data.' "
And then: " 'Don't tell your grandfather. It might kill him.' "
Foeman has seen people drop out of the project after getting their results, including three people who identified as African-American who were upset to learn how much European ancestry they had. Some people refuse to take the test. A woman of Chinese descent told Foeman: "It's okay for you - you already know you're mixed up. I don't want to find out I'm not pure."
And some people resist some of the findings, such as the student who insisted he just tans easily.
Statistically, Foeman and her colleague Bessie Lawton have found that people overestimate their European heritage and whiteness and underestimate ancestry from other regions. Half the people say their families will respond positively to results before they take the test. Afterward, fewer than 1 in 10 say so.
"People don't realize they think this stuff," Foeman said. "They would say they have no prejudices. They just get quiet."
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West Chester University student Emma Krentler checks her DNA sample in a class at West Chester University in Pennsylvania, in which students gave saliva samples to be used for DNA testing. (Melissa Rudolph / Handout)
In class, there were a few quiet moments. But mostly people were rushing to talk - to tell about the great-grandfather who was a Portuguese pirate, the grandfather who was a Black Panther, the grandmother who doesn't like black people, the great-grandmother whose skin is so much lighter than her siblings' and everyone will be very angry if anyone asks why that is. The grandmother who, on her deathbed at 99, insisted that the family's roots went back to William the Conqueror, although no one thought the family was of British descent. (That student's test results indicated they were, in fact, British. "Even up to the end, you gave Grandma no respect!" Foeman teased.)
Emma Krentler, who has pale skin and brown hair, told the class she knew of Italian and German ancestors and expected some kind of a split between the two. Instead, she found a much more intricate tapestry: 2 percent North African, 13 percent West Asian, 2 percent Jewish. And when she saw Middle Eastern, "I was like: 'What? What?' It was complete and utter surprise."
"Who are these people?!" Foeman laughed with her.
Strummer Steele, whose results indicated an Arab-Jewish identity, said that in these times, neither of those feels safe to highlight: "There were swastikas painted in Philly yesterday."
After the election, Foeman said, "people on all sides are smarting. How do we start to approach each other again?"
Several students said genetic testing could help. Amari Gilmore, who is African-American, mentioned the historical labeling of people as black if they had even one black ancestor. Cassandra Carabello, who identifies as Hispanic, said her results indicated she was almost one-fifth African. "That would change everything," she said. "Black lives matter?"
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"If everyone had the opportunity to take this test, it would just bring us closer together," Carabello said. "I'm 7 percent Irish. Now I feel connected to that in some way." She's 41 percent Native American. For every race, she said, she now feels that, viscerally, "we have something in common."
Lawton said the results show what researchers already know: that people are 99.9 percent the same in terms of DNA. "The only part that makes us look different is .1 percent," she said.
James Devor, who voted for Trump, said people talk about politics in class in ways they don't elsewhere on campus. One student told the class about how she started to tell a group of friends she's Republican and they walked away, furious with her. The class listened. People talked about being scared of deportations, and the class listened. A black student described how she was saddened by test results that evoked some of the horrors of slavery, and the class listened.
The DNA test "helps us understand we're not all from one special place, which is really peculiar to America," Devor said. "Because we're all from different areas, with different ideas that come with that ethnic culture. What makes America great is we have all those cultures combined."
Syrian Abu Khaled looks at the rubble of his destroyed house in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern outskirts of Damascus, on December 30, 2016. (Abd Doumany / AFP/Getty Images)
BEIRUT A nationwide Syrian cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey that went into effect at midnight held Friday despite minor violations, marking a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has disregarded high-level peace initiatives for over five years.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes early Friday between troops and rebels in the central province of Hama and near the capital, Damascus. It said that later in the day a man was killed by sniper fire in eastern suburbs of Damascus, becoming the first fatality since the truce went into effect. The group also reported an aerial attack on the rebel-held Barada Valley near Damascus.
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The Syrian army denied reports it was bombarding the Barada Valley region saying opposition claims aim to show that the army is not abiding by the truce.
Opposition activist Mazen al-Shami, who is based in the Damascus suburb of Douma, said minor clashes nearby left one rebel wounded. Activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh, in the southern Daraa province, said government forces had opened fire on rebel-held areas.
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Several past attempts at halting the fighting have failed. As with previous agreements, the current cease-fire excludes both the al-Qaida-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside other rebel factions, and the Islamic State group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the cease-fire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey, and the agreement has been welcomed by Iran. Moscow and Tehran provide crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has long served as a rear base and source of supplies for the rebels.
If it holds, the truce between the Syrian government and the country's mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks next month in Kazakhstan, Putin said in announcing the agreement. He described it, however, as "quite fragile" and requiring "special attention and patience."
Dozens of Syrians take part in a small gathering calling for the fall of the regime on December 30, 2016, in the northwestern city of Idlib. (Omar Haj Kadour / AFP/Getty Images)
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the cease-fire a "major achievement" in a tweet Friday. "Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror," he added.
Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one denied signing it.
A U.N. official said he hopes that cease-fire would allow them to take aid to 15 besieged areas where some 700,000 people live. Jan Egeland, Special, Advisor to the U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, told The Associated Press that "we desperately need this ceasefire. The reports I have from the field is that there is a decrease, a marked decrease in fighting, in bombing, in violence, compared to yesterday. But certainly there's been a number of violations."
"We're willing, we're able to go to all of the 15 remaining besieged areas beyond east Aleppo. We can go in the next (few) days to all of them. But then we need unimpeded access," he said. "We need the government to give us all of the permits that they require us to have before we can go. We need security guarantees from all sides and we're not given them."
"January needs to be really different," Egeland added, "If not there will be starvation, there will be untold, unnecessary deaths."
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The truce came on the heels of a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive. The retaking of all of Aleppo marked Assad's greatest victory since the start of the 2011 uprising against his family's four-decade rule.
"The defeat of the terrorists in Aleppo is an important step toward ending the war," Assad said in an interview with TG5, an Italian TV station, adding that the capture of the city does not mean that the war has ended because "terrorists" are still in Syria.
The United States was left out of both agreements, reflecting the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington after the failure of previous diplomatic efforts on Syria.
Assad told TG5 "we are more optimistic, with caution," about the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested greater cooperation with Russia against extremist groups.
"We can say part of the optimism could be related to better relation between the United States and Russia," Assad said, speaking in English.
"Mr. Trump, during his campaign - (said) that his priority is fighting terrorism, and we believe that this is the beginning of the solution, if he can implement what he announced," Assad said in the interview, which was apparently filmed before the cease-fire was announced.
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Syrian men dance during a demonstration against the Syrian regime in the rebel-held town of Saqba, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, on December 30, 2016. (Sameer Al-Doumy / AFP/Getty Images)
Asked about the possibility of the United States' participation in the peace process in Kazakhstan, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the process would "be open to everyone."
"I hope that this cease-fire holds and turns into a lasting peace so that the deaths of more innocent people, of civilians and children is halted and 2017 brings calm," Yildirim said.
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency meanwhile quoted the military as saying Russia carried out three airstrikes against Islamic State targets near the northern town of al-Bab, where Turkish troops and allied Syrian opposition forces have been battling the extremist group. The strikes indicated that Russia and Turkey may work together to combat IS once the fighting elsewhere in Syria has been halted.
Turkish Foreign Mevlut Cavusoglu Minister said the U.S.-led coalition forces resumed aerial operations around al-Bab on Thursday, after Turkey complained that it was not getting support from its allies in its fight against IS there.
The Turkish military statement quoted by Anadolu did not say when the Russian air strikes took place, but said they killed 12 IS militants.
Separately, 26 IS militants, including some senior commanders, were killed in Turkish airstrikes on al-Bab and the Daglabash region, and some 17 IS targets were destroyed, Anadolu reported. It said a Turkish soldier was kill in a IS attack on troops south of the al-Azrak area.
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It said among those killed was an IS commander known as Abu Hussein al-Tunsi.
Turkey sent troops and tanks into northern Syria in August to help opposition forces clear a border area of IS militants and curb the advances of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are also battling the extremist group.
Associated Press
Capt. Michael Mullen of the U.S. Coast Guard answers questions during a news conference at Burke Lakefront Airport on Dec. 30, 2016, in Cleveland. (Tony Dejak / AP)
CLEVELAND The chief executive of a beverage distribution company was piloting a plane carrying his wife, two sons and two other people when it quickly lost altitude after takeoff from Cleveland's lakeshore airport and vanished from radar, according to his family and a flight-tracking service Friday.
Superior Beverage Group executive John T. Fleming was piloting the Columbus-bound plane when it disappeared late Thursday about 2 miles over Lake Erie, his parents and company confirmed.
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The five other people on the plane were Fleming's wife, Sue, teenage sons Jack and Andrew, a neighbor and the neighbor's daughter, said John W. Fleming, the pilot's father, and Joseph McHenry, an executive vice president at Superior Beverage.
The U.S. Coast Guard said Friday it was suspending search-and-rescue efforts and is no longer expecting to find anyone alive.
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Coast Guard Capt. Michael Mullen says deciding to end a search is never easy. He says the Coast Guard extends its condolences to "the family and friends of those who lost loved ones during this tragedy."
The Coast Guard had been using planes, helicopters and a 140-foot-long cutter in searching a 128-square-mile area in the lake after the plane lost radar contact late Thursday.
Tracking service FlightAware logged only three location pings for the plane after takeoff from Burke Lakefront Airport, and the last one indicated rapid altitude loss. Authorities have said there were no distress signals from the pilot.
The aircraft took off westward from Burke, then turned north across the lake, according to the tracking service flightradar24.com. The departure procedure at Burke could take an aircraft north over the lake before turning south toward a destination, Mullen said.
The plane, which had made the roughly half-hour trip from Columbus earlier in the day, is registered to a limited liability company under the same Columbus address as Superior Beverage.
Authorities have detected "faint hints" but no strong pulse from an emergency locating transmitter, a beacon that could help find the plane, Mullen said. Searchers have found no sign of debris.
The search overnight was made difficult by snow squalls, high seas and darkness, Mullen said. Weather prevented smaller Coast Guard boats in the Cleveland area from launching. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter and a Royal Canadian Air Force plane were used along with a Coast Guard ship from Detroit began the search overnight that has continued in the daylight hours Friday.
It would have been the pilot's responsibility to determine whether it was safe to fly, Mullen said.
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The Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna Citation 525 plane left Burke at 10:50 p.m., and the Coast Guard said it was notified about the missing plane by air traffic control at Burke about 30 minutes later. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive in Cleveland on Friday.
The aircraft was headed to Ohio State University Airport northwest of downtown Columbus.
Associated Press
An American flag rests on a Certificate of Citizenship during a naturalization ceremony at the Lower East Side Tenement Museum, on Tuesday, Nov. 15, 2016, in New York. (Mary Altaffer, AP)
"What are the two houses of Congress?" my grandfather asked. He was sitting across the table from Ba and me, playing the role of a U.S. agent.
"The Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha," my Ba declared with confidence.
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My heart sank. "How is she going to make it?" I wondered. I turned to my grandfather and said, "Dada, those are the two houses of the Indian Parliament! She needs to know the name of the House of Representatives and the Senate."
"Ba," as I had always known my 4-foot-11 grandmother, was doing her first "dress rehearsal" for her U.S. citizenship interview, which was to be held in just three days. Ba wasn't messing around. Dada had just popped a brand new pair of batteries in my Ba's hearing aids. I knew he was serious. Just like Americans who lived through the Depression, you can take my grandparents out of India, but you can't take the India or its related life experiences out of my grandparents. You didn't spend money on new batteries unless it was something big, like a wedding or a birthday. The fact that my Dada was splurging on new hearing-aid batteries for a rehearsal confirmed to me that he didn't want anything to go wrong.
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"I'm going to be putting a new set in on Thursday," he said before our rehearsal began. "We can't take any chances.
"Supal, that's why you are the translator. The Lok Sabha is the House and the Rajya Sabha is the Senate," my Dada responded to my question about the two houses of Congress.
"I understand Dada, but she needs to say 'The House of Representatives and Senate' explicitly. I don't feel comfortable translating that to the interviewer."
This wasn't our first go-round with Ba trying to become a U.S. citizen, something that she and my Dada wanted so desperately to achieve. My Dada had acquired his American citizenship a decade ago, the latest member in our family to become an American. My Ba, unfortunately, had failed the interview exam, a combination of her being a bundle of nerves during the interview, not understanding the questions because she is legally deaf and her being barely able to understand English. This time around she would be able to do the interview in Gujarati, her native tongue from her birthplace of India, a privilege granted to her because of her advanced age as well as the fact that she has been living in the United States full time for 24 years. I would be her translator. For me, this was a tremendous honor, and I was struggling to keep it together emotionally. Question after question, my Ba was nailing the answers correctly with gusto.
"Diane Feinstein and Barbara Boxer," she said when asked who our state's senators were. When Dada asked her who the president was, Ba said, "Barack Obama currently; on January 20th, Donald J. Trump."
She turned and looked up into my eyes. At 6-foot-3, I felt like a giant.
"I don't want it to be too easy. I think I should do the interview in English so that it's a challenge. Ask me what our rights are as Americans?" she instructed to my Dada.
She was too excited to wait for him to ask before responding, "The freedom of speech and the freedom to practice our religion."
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She raised her tiny hand and gave me a fist bump. She knew she was going to ace the interview. She had practiced every possible question a gazillion times. I saw the same excited twinkle in her eyes that I saw more than 30 years ago as I looked into her eyes as a 7-year-old kid the night my dad took my mom to the hospital in Waynesboro, Va., for the arrival of the first American citizen in our family, my baby sister. Since then, my father, mother, grandfather and I had become naturalized American citizens. Even though we told her that she was an American in our hearts, Ba wanted it declared to her by the American government.
Ba grew up in the British Raj and witnessed the birth of the world's largest democracy during the Indian independence from Great Britain. She saw the birth of the our family's first citizen in the world's greatest democracy, and now my Ba was not about to be denied her due.
I told her, "You are going to nail it, Ba. I will come back the day before so we do a final rehearsal."
She responded, "What time are you going to be coming? I want to know so that I am prepared by that time."
That's when I knew: My Ba was about to make America great again.
Supal Vora is a financial planner from Temecula, Calif.
WASHINGTON "When the chips are down, I have Israel's back."
President Barack Obama, AIPAC conference, March 4, 2012
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The audience overwhelmingly Jewish, passionately pro-Israel and supremely gullible applauded wildly. Four years later his last election behind him, with a month to go in office and with no need to fool Jew or gentile again President Barack Obama took the measure of Israel's back and slid a knife into it.
People don't quite understand the damage done to Israel by the U.S. abstention that permitted passage of a U.N. Security Council resolution condemning Israel over settlements. The administration pretends this is nothing but a restatement of long-standing U.S. opposition to settlements.
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Nonsense. For the last 35 years, every administration, including a re-election-seeking Obama himself in 2011, has protected Israel with the U.S. veto because such a Security Council resolution gives immense legal ammunition to every boycotter, anti-Semite and zealous European prosecutor to penalize and punish Israelis.
An ordinary Israeli who lives or works in the Old City of Jerusalem becomes an international pariah, a potential outlaw. To say nothing of the soldiers of Israel's citizen army. "Every pilot and every officer and every soldier," said a confidant of Palestinian leader Mahmoud Abbas, "we are waiting for him at The Hague." I.e., the International Criminal Court.
Moreover, the resolution undermines the very foundation of a half-century of American Middle East policy. What becomes of "land for peace" if the territories Israel was to have traded for peace are, in advance, declared to be Palestinian land to which Israel has no claim?
The peace parameters enunciated so ostentatiously earlier this week by Secretary of State John Kerry are nearly identical to the Clinton parameters that Yasser Arafat was offered and rejected in 2000 and that Abbas was offered by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert in 2008. Abbas, too, walked away.
Kerry mentioned none of this because it undermines his blame-Israel narrative. Yet Palestinian rejectionism works. The Security Council just declared the territories legally Palestinian without the Palestinians having to concede anything, let alone peace.
The administration claims a kind of passive innocence on the text of the resolution, as if it had come upon it at the last moment. We are to believe that the ostensible sponsors New Zealand, Senegal, Malaysia and a Venezuela that cannot provide its own people with toilet paper, let alone food had for months been sweating the details of Jewish housing in East Jerusalem.
Nothing new here, protests deputy national security adviser Ben Rhodes: "When we see the facts on the ground, again deep into the West Bank, beyond the separation barrier, we feel compelled to speak up against those actions."
This is a deception. Everyone knows that remote outposts are not the issue. Under any peace, they will be swept away. Even the right-wing Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman, who lives in one of these West Bank settlements, has stated publicly that "I even agree to vacate my settlement if there really will be a two-state solution." Where's the obstacle to peace?
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A second category of settlement is the close-in blocs that border 1967 Israel. Here, too, we know in advance how these will be disposed of: They'll become Israeli territory and, in exchange, Israel will swap over some of its land to a Palestinian state. Where's the obstacle to peace here?
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu looks up as he speaks in his Jerusalem office on Dec. 28, 2016, following the speech by U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry. Netanyahu spoke at length in English and slammed both Kerry speech and the Obama administration and again claimed he is doing everything possible to speak directly with the Palestinians. (Jim Hollander, EPA)
It's the third category of "settlement" that is the most contentious and that Security Council resolution 2334 explicitly condemns: East Jerusalem. This is not just scandalous; it's absurd. America acquiesces to a declaration that, as a matter of international law, the Jewish state has no claim on the Western Wall, the Temple Mount, indeed the entire Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem. They belong to Palestine.
The Temple Mount is the most sacred site in all of Judaism. That it should be declared foreign to the Jewish people is as if the Security Council declared Mecca and Medina to be territory to which Islam has no claim. Such is the Orwellian universe Israel inhabits.
At the very least, Obama should have insisted that any reference to East Jerusalem be dropped from the resolution or face a U.S. veto. Why did he not? It's incomprehensible except as a parting shot of personal revenge on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Or perhaps as a revelation of a deep-seated antipathy to Israel that simply awaited a safe political interval for public expression.
Another legacy moment for Barack Obama. And his most shameful.
Washington Post Writers Group
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Charles Krauthammer is a Washington Post columnist.
letters@charleskrauthammer.com
U.S. Rep. Ryan Zinke, R-Montana, arrives for a meeting with President-elect Donald Trump on Dec. 12, 2016 in the lobby of Trump Tower in New York City. (Albin Lohr-Jones, CNP / TNS)
By almost every measure for the incoming Trump administration, Ryan Zinke, the president-elect's pick to run the U.S. Department of Interior, has the perfect resume.
He's a former commander in the Navy's Seal Team Six special-forces branch, which among other things took out Osama bin Laden. He's the lone congressman from Montana, where the Interior Department figures large because it owns significant swaths of land used for grazing and mining. And Zinke is all for developing and exploiting resources on public lands, earning him a lifetime score of just 3 out of 100 from the League of Conservation Voters.
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But for those who still embrace the goals of the Sagebrush Rebellion, a loose coalition of ranchers, miners, drillers, hunters, off-road enthusiasts, libertarians and anti-government die-hards, Zinke is a heretic. The reason is that he is an unshakable foe of selling federal lands or transferring them to the states.
Repeatedly, Zinke has joined Democrats in opposing legislation that would require the department he has been named to head to shed its vast real-estate holdings. In July 2015, he voted for an amendment to block funding of "extra legal ways to transfer federal lands to private owners." Earlier in the year he voted against a Republican-sponsored budget resolution that would have set up a fund to do the same thing.
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As Zinke, 55, explained it at the time, he grew up hunting and fishing in Montana and sees the value in making sure that what's public stays public. This year he voted to block the sale of a couple of million acres of federal forest land for logging.
Zinke has been so at odds with his party on this point that he resigned from the committee that drafted the Republican Party convention platform because, as usual, it included a passage about selling some of the 640 million acres owned by the federal government.
As was reported when Trump nominated him, Zinke was personally vetted for the Interior post by Donald Trump Jr., an avid hunter and angler. And though you can't imagine the president-elect himself in a deer stand, on the campaign trail he said he would work to preserve access for hunters to public land.
The confounding thing about the argument for transferring federal land to the states or selling it to private owners is that those who make it might have the most to lose.
States such as Utah, Idaho and Nevada, where the federal government owns a majority of the land, often say they can do a better job of managing the real estate within their borders.
In Utah, for example, legislation adopted in 2012 and ignored by the federal government demanding a massive land transfer said the state would benefit because "cumbersome federal rules, regulations, processes, and management policies often prevent development of these resources resulting in diminished revenue to the State and its citizens."
Leaving aside the question of whether state employees are any more productive than federal employees, one implication is that the state would get a higher return for use of the land.
That actually wouldn't be hard to do, although ranchers, miners, loggers and others might not like it very much. As a rule, the federal government charges users much less than market rates. The same is true for other uses of federal land: The prices the U.S. government charges are way below market rates. As such, this represents a considerable subsidy to the private sector, particularly in Western states.
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Just how big is hard to quantify, partly because federal land ownership is spread among several different agencies. One study estimated that letting cattle graze on federal land cost the U.S. government $261 million a year, while others have placed it as high as $1 billion. The timber industry and hard-rock mining have similar advantages. Miners pay a maximum of $5 an acre for extraction rights under a law adopted in 1872.
Other studies have concluded that the states might rue the day they assumed ownership of federal lands because expenses would outweigh potential sources of revenue. Someone would have to pay for maintaining roads, dams and other infrastructure not to mention the hefty cost of fighting forest fires or remediating the environmental harm and pollution caused by mining, deforestation and erosion.
If states wind up owning large chunks of what is now federal land, it isn't hard to imagine a time when legislatures see real-estate holdings as an easy asset to sell for closing a budget gap. Once the land is out of the public domain, it's gone for good.
There is a lot that conservationists don't like about Zinke, who supports more extraction and exploitation of the natural resources on federal property. But at least he isn't on board with getting rid of the land that all Americans should consider part of their national birthright.
Bloomberg View
James Greiff is an editor for Bloomberg View.
Democratic Speaker of the Illinois House Michael Madigan speaks to the media on Dec. 4, 2016, after a meeting with Gov. Bruce Rauner. (Nancy Stone, Chicago Tribune)
The new year brings still more menacing news to Illinois.
No, not just the chance that Democratic state reps will re-elect Michael Madigan speaker of the Illinois House.
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No, not the end of a stopgap spending plan, the closest to a balanced state budget that Madigan and his minion, Senate President John Cullerton, can write.
No, not the continuing exodus from Illinois, with census numbers showing that 114,000 more people have fled.
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No, today we bring fresher evidence of decline: Illinois now risks losing not one but two seats in Congress after the 2020 census. That'd be two fewer House members voting with national Democrats or Republicans, two fewer U.S. reps advocating for Illinois, two fewer politicians bringing home the bacon.
Walk through the numbers with us:
When Madigan was born 75 years ago this April, Illinois was a political juggernaut, boasting 27 seats in the U.S. House. Yet in recent decades as the growth-squelching, hostile-to-employers agenda of Madigan & Co. drives people to jobs-friendly states, that number of U.S. House seats has plummeted to 18. Now math wizards at RealClearPolitics say Illinois is one of only four states that would lose yet another seat if the next reapportionment occurred today; that is, Illinois' count would drop to 17. It gets worse: RCP says the dire population pattern suggests that "Illinois is close to losing a second seat" after the 2020 census.
Not that Illinois' most clouted pol appears to care that his state is bleeding. What does Madigan suffer as, year after year, expats take their talents, their incomes and their futures elsewhere? Nor do Madigan and Cullerton, with their combined 84 years in Springfield (in 2017 they'll make it 86 years!) confess their deep complicity in this once-proud state's humiliating fall.
Their Illinois model of government ruinously spending and borrowing so that every Tomorrow has to pay for Yesterday and Today creates pension and other policies that devastate more than state government alone. There's Chicago Public Schools, a district gravely overstretched. And Chicago's indebted City Hall. And suburban and downstate local governments terrified of their pension time bombs. And school districts that let their personnel costs spiral upward. And universities that never had to balance spending with productivity. And ...
Yet for Madigan and Cullerton, history begins anew every morning. They want no consequences for the decisions they've made, including the sweetheart pension deals that have driven Illinois taxpayers' unfunded obligation to $130 billion. Nope, Madigan & Co. aren't responsible, all of this just happened on their watch. We've noted that the Greek philosopher Diogenes, searching for an honest pol, could scour Springfield and not hear the words, "All in all, my tenure has been just a disaster for Illinois."
That brings us to the Madigan plan for 2017, which opens with no state budget, no more six-month stopgap, nothing.
Madigan remains in denial that angry voters who wanted change in Springfield elected Republican Gov. Bruce Rauner, now completing his second year in office. So the Madigan agenda is more failure, more gridlock, followed by the restoration of the governorship to Democratic control in 2018. So as Rauner offers an evolving menu of possible budget deals, Madigan delays and offers nothing. Never mind all the disadvantaged people and social service organizations that get hurt. Madigan knows the clock is running. His intentional failure in 2017 is something he can try to blame on Rauner in 2018.
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Maybe that'll work. Or maybe voters who dumped a few Democratic legislators in 2016 will make Madigan and more of his caucus members face consequences.
Madigan, like the public employee union leaders and the trial lawyers he counts as allies, has never encountered an opponent as resilient as Rauner. The $50 million Rauner just added to his campaign coffer indicates he's eager not only to defend the governorship, but to help Republican candidates replace more of Madigan's House enablers.
Madigan surely sees the danger in Illinois hemorrhaging population: All of us know families saddened over the loss of children and grandchildren to states with more prosperous economies, more job opportunities and not so many gazillions in taxpayer debts.
The possible loss of two more seats in Congress merely ties it all together: Mike Madigan's Illinois is fading away.
We wonder: Will Democratic state reps re-elect Madigan as their speaker? Will they doom themselves to the punishing attacks that would follow such a vote?
Or will they look at a shrinking Illinois, witness the Madigan agenda of "No! Just no!" and instead elect a speaker who will help rebuild this state?
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Join the discussion on Twitter @Trib_Ed_Board and on Facebook.
Chicago, the nation's third largest city, ends 2016 with more homicides than the two larger cities New York and Los Angeles put together. Everyone is shocked but not everyone is surprised.
More than 750 people were killed in Chicago in 2016, the highest total since 1997, and more than 4,300 were wounded by firearms.
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Dr. Gary Slutkin, the University of Illinois at Chicago epidemiologist who founded the CeaseFire Illinois violence-reduction program also known as Cure Violence, warned Gov. Bruce Rauner in a March 2015 letter of a probable surge in Chicago shootings if the program's funding was not restored.
A $4.5 million grant from the state represented most of the funding for CeaseFire Illinois, which serves sites across six cities in the state, Slutkin said.
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"Lives depend on this program," he wrote.
Sure, just about every social service program makes life-or-death pleas when its funding is cut. Crime rises and falls for a variety of reasons. But the doctor had some startling statistics on his side.
A look at factors driving Chicago violence as the city sees dramatic increases in the number of shooting victims and homicides. (Jemal R. Brinson / Chicago Tribune) (Tribune graphics/Chicago Tribune)
Slutkin had seen similar interruptions in funding precede violent crime surges in Chicago four times since CeaseFire took to Chicago streets in 2001, too often to be brushed off as mere coincidence.
After a 2007 interruption in funding by Democratic Gov. Rod Blagojevich, for example, the program shut down 15 sites and shootings spiked. Funding was restored a year later and violence returned to its previous level.
Now, a similarly tragic trend has followed suspension in March 2015 of the $4.5 state million grant that represented most of the funding to CeaseFire Illinois. More than a year later, a six-month spending plan that is now expiring granted $4.4 million to CeaseFire Illinois.
Slutkin, as he told me in a telephone interview, hates to see that his prediction was right.
Now the only one of Chicago's 22 police districts to experience a reduction in shootings over the past year also happened to be the only district in which CeaseFire has been able to consistently maintain its full program of operations.
Also, having expanded to 22 other cities, including New York and Los Angeles, Cure Violence now sadly faces its biggest hurdles in Chicago, largely because, after years of overspending, the city and state governments are broke.
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Republican Rauner campaigned with promises to balance the state's budget, but as governor he has insisted on including other reforms before he'll pass a budget. That has drawn fierce opposition from the state's Democratic-controlled legislature, and Illinois is now into its second year without a full budget.
As you should have guessed by now, I like the Cure Violence approach. No program is perfect, but Slutkin's approach of treating violence epidemics in much the same way that we think of conventional epidemics has proved its merits in numerous evaluations by the Justice Department and university studies.
Perhaps you saw it featured in an award-winning Kartemquin Films documentary called "The Interrupters," which can be viewed on the PBS "Frontline" website. It is worth seeing by those who are too eagerly willing to write off high crime communities and the people who inhabit them as a lost cause. Inside every "ghetto," I argue, there's a neighborhood trying to break free.
Slutkin, a former World Health Organization official, constructed the Cure Violence program to treat violence like a contagious disease. Most violent crimes result from personal beefs. A minor personal offense quickly escalates into a violent response to save face and possibly leads to more retaliatory violence.
Cure Violence enlists and dispatches "interrupters," including former gangbangers and other ex-offenders, like germ-fighting antibodies into high-violence neighborhoods to use their connections and street credibility to defuse potential violence before it boils over.
Done right, it encourages family members, friends, hospital workers and others who might not want to call police and have nowhere else to turn to call in the "interrupters," who try to intervene and settle the grievances peacefully.
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If you wait until after police have arrived, as one interrupter put it, "it's too late."
Yet, since Cure Violence programs most effective interrupters include ex-offenders, cooperation with police tends to be at arms-length. Police sometimes complain that the interrupters aren't helping them enough and trust in police is so low in many neighborhoods that the interrupters don't want to be seen as becoming too cozy with the cops.
As I say, no program is perfect. But there is no one-size-fits-all solution to urban violence like that faced by Chicago and smaller cities that have even higher violence rates. We need to try everything that works. CureViolence appears to have passed that test.
As for the funding challenges, we need to ask in a city that has become desensitized too often by killings of small children and other innocent bystanders, how much are the lives of our children worth? Priceless.
Clarence Page, a member of the Tribune Editorial Board, blogs at www.chicagotribune.com/pagespage.
cpage@chicagotribune.com
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Twitter @cptime
Arlington Heights police said they are investigating a recent report of an elderly resident who was swindled out of more than $2,000 in a sweepstakes-related phone scam earlier this month.
Someone unknown to the victim contacted her by phone in early December, telling her she was the winner of a "grand prize" in the Publishers Clearinghouse Sweepstakes, with the award including cash and a new car, Crime Prevention Officer Brandi Romag said.
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The victim then wire transferred more than $2,000 from her personal bank account to pay for what the offender who was not affiliated with the publishing company claimed were required fees in order to claim the prizes, Romag said.
"The Illinois Attorney General's Office suggests to anyone who receives these calls, 'just hang up,'" Romag said. "These scams target elderly residents by knowing where they live, and finding their phone numbers."
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Romag said police also advise family members and caretakers of elderly residents to warn them about the many scams that target older members of the community, reminding them to never give out any personal information or transfer any money over the phone, online or in person.
"We always tell senior citizens to hang up on these callers, and never give out their information," Romag said. "But for many elderly residents, they just can't do that, because they're friendly and glad to have gotten the call."
kcullotta@tribpub.com
Twitter: @kcullotta
Aurora residents line up to vote outside Crossroads Community Church in Aurora in November. In 2017, residents will again go to the polls to vote in local races. (Sean King / The Beacon-News)
When people look back at Aurora city government in 2017, they might consider it to have been a turning point.
That's because at the very least, there will be a lot of change.
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The most noticeable change will be in the mayor's office. As the year begins, there are four candidates on the ballot vying to become the new mayor, succeeding interim Mayor Robert O'Connor, who is finishing the term of former Mayor Tom Weisner, who headed City Hall government for 11 years. He elected not to run again for health reasons. There are also a number of write-in candidates running for mayor, which will force a mayoral primary Feb. 28.
There will be no primaries in the aldermanic races in Aurora. O'Connor will face challenger Matt Harrington in the battle for alderman at large in April. There also will be a contest for the 10th Ward aldermanic seat on the city's far northeast side. Keith Bradley, Judd Lofchie and Robert H. Paolicchi filed for that position. That race will have no incumbent because current Alderman Lynne Johnson failed to file.
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In the other wards with seats up for re-election, only the incumbents filed, and will run unopposed. They are Juany Garza, 2nd Ward; William Donnell, 4th Ward; Scheketa Hart-Burns, 7th Ward; and Edward Bugg, 9th Ward.
There will be elections in April for village boards, city councils, school boards, park boards and more throughout the Aurora area. One of the most historic will be for the Fox Valley Park District Board, whose members will be elected for the first time. Park Board members have been chosen in the past by the Kane and DuPage County Board chairmen. Eleven candidates are running for seven seats on the board.
Elections are expected to bring new faces to school boards in East Aurora School District 131, West Aurora School District 129 and Oswego-based Community Unit School District 308.
In West Aurora, four candidates are vying for three open seats on the board, and two incumbents did not file to run again. In East Aurora, five candidates are running for three seats, and two incumbents did not file to run again. In District 308, where there are four open seats, eight candidates have filed to run. One incumbent is not running again.
And with some long-time, high-ranking Aurora city employees leaving Finance Director Brian Caputo taking a job at the College of DuPage and Rosario DeLeon, director of public properties, retiring there will be plenty of new faces at the top at Aurora City Hall.
Of course, no matter who's directing city government, there will be plenty of ongoing issues in 2017 carrying over from 2016.
Perhaps the biggest of those are issues relating to the development of downtown Aurora, which has been an ongoing issue for years in the city.
In 2016, many things happened that made officials optimistic about the way downtown is beginning to look, and will look as time goes on. The steps taken in 2016 made Alderman Michael Saville, 6th Ward, a mayoral candidate, say downtown looks better now than it has in at least 30 years. He even said Aurora is "a happening city."
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In 2017, look for work to begin on the remodeling of the former Waubonsee Community College building at Stolp Avenue and Galena Boulevard, next to the Paramount Theater, into a $35 million arts center. Aldermen have approved agreements to get that project underway, and work should begin this coming year and continue all year. At the earliest, though, the project would not be finished until midway through 2018.
Work should begin in 2017 to turn the vacant, former Waubonsee Community College building at Stolp Avenue and Galena Boulevard in Aurora, into an arts center, with a performing arts school and artist-preference housing. (Steve Lord / The Beacon-News)
Part of that project is a 5,000-square-foot restaurant space, and the development of more restaurants downtown should be another issue in 2017.
One restaurant due to open within the year will be the as-yet named one in the first floor of The Mayan, the apartment complex that opened in 2016 in the former Elks Club building at Stolp Avenue and Benton Street.
That restaurant, to be run by Karademas Hospitality, which also runs Leland Legends restaurant in the first floor of the Leland Tower apartments, which opened in 2016, is the final part of renovation of The Mayan.
There also may be redevelopment of other downtown historic buildings, such as the Terminal Building, at Galena and Broadway, the Hobbs Building, at Galena and River Street, and the former West Aurora Schools Administration Center at River and Benton.
The Terminal Building is so named because it was once the terminal for the Chicago, Aurora & Elgin Railroad. But it probably is better known as the home for the long-time Broadway Restaurant. At least one developer has shown an interest in redeveloping the building into luxury apartments.
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The Hobbs Building has not had recent interest, but in 2016, the city took ownership of the building and took steps to take control of almost that entire block of River Street, between Galena and New York Street. Officials will continue to market that block for major redevelopment.
The city also owns the former West Aurora Schools Administration building, and it marketing that for redevelopment.
This coming year, the banquet center being developed by Moveable Feast caterers, based in Geneva, at River and Cross Street downtown should be opened, as should the combination coffeehouse and gaming center being redeveloped into a building at Stolp and Downer Place.
Construction will also continue in both the East and West Aurora school districts.
In West Aurora School District 129, a new Hill Elementary building is expected to open for the 2017-18 school year next to the current, aging school, which is set to be torn down. The coming year will also likely see other building additions and renovations wrap up. The work is part of $84.2 million in voter-approved construction, which is set to also include early childhood and career centers. Some of the work, including some building additions, a new district office and new heating and cooling systems in some schools, has already been completed.
East Aurora School District 131 is set to see the completion of a new high school stadium. Work will continue on additions and renovations at the high school, with various pieces expected to be complete at different times. Construction is also slated for district middle schools. All told, the district has planned more than $70 million in construction and related costs at its schools.
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Construction work will continue at East Aurora High School in 2017. (The Beacon-News / Sarah Freishtat)
Community Unit School District 308 in Oswego will see students begin to shift schools in the coming year as part of new boundaries recently approved by the school board. The new boundaries will begin to take effect for the 2017-18 school year, though current sixth- and seventh-graders will not be phased into the new boundary line system until they reach high school.
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An Aurora apartment building fire was among the 135 fires American Red Cross workers responded to in December in northern Illinois. (Aurora Fire Department)
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois has responded to 135 fires in December, the highest number of fires for the month in nearly a decade, officials said.
The increasing number of fires as of Dec. 29 for the nonprofit agency is the highest it has had in at least the past seven years, said Cat Rabenstine, regional marketing programs manager of the American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois
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"The winter months typically have more fires - there's been a lot happening particularly this month," Rabenstine said.
The American Red Cross of Chicago & Northern Illinois covers 21 counties including Kane, Kendall, DuPage and Cook counties.
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"We are fortunate to have the support of dedicated volunteers who respond to fires. Our responders are on-call and will go to a fire in the middle of the night if needed," Rabenstine said.
From Dec. 1 through Dec. 29, the Red Cross has helped 665 people, including 274 children whose lives were impacted by fires this month.
In Kane County, there were 4 responses, with 10 individuals receiving assistance and 17 children receiving aid. In Kendall County, there have been 3 responses, with 4 adults and 9 children receiving help.
The Red Cross has responded to 100 fires in Cook County and helped 295 adults and 196 children there. In DuPage County, there were 2 responses, with 19 adults and 4 children who received assistance by Dec. 29.
"There is sadness associated with responding to these tragedies, but it is an opportunity for the Red Cross to assist people in times of need," said Kathleen O'Shea, disaster program manager.
O'Shea said volunteers are dispatched to calls all hours of the day. "They show up to the scene to provide comfort and reassurance to people experiencing the worst day of their lives," she said.
The Red Cross has roughly 1,200 volunteers that it relies on to serve the 21 counties. The agency provides shelter, food, clothing and health services as well as emotional support during the early stages of recovery from the loss suffered in a devastating fire. The Red Cross also has case workers to assist families as well.
Home fires commonly occur during the colder months of the year, with many of the culprits being portable heaters, burning candles or kitchen ovens used to generate heat, she said.
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"Everything you own in your whole life is in the one space so when everything is (destroyed) it can be traumatic and scary," said O'Shea, who responded to a multi-unit residential fire in Elgin.
"The family in Elgin was extremely worried about their children," she said.
The American Red Cross recently responded to an apartment building fire in Aurora that displaced more than a dozen tenants by helping them with shelter, clothing and food.
O'Shea said the Red Cross provides the initial financial assistance to help individuals and families get through the first 48 hours after a disaster. "We make sure they have a roof over their head and that they can buy food and have clothing to go to work or school. It's enough to get them started onto the road to recovery."
O'Shea said the volunteers assist people with "basic psychological first-aid" on the scene to try to help people process and cope with the tragedy.
"Volunteers are there to let people know the Red Cross is there to help them and empower them to move forward with their lives. They provide a hug and support to families... Your trajectory changes instantaneously," O'Shea said.
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She said the Red Cross has nurses who are on-call to help people replace medications and medical equipment lost in the fire.
"The nurses help out so people don't have to worry about where they are going to get their next dose or how are they going to get a prescription refill or replace a cane or walker," O'Shea said.
She said often times they are notified of a fire through fire departments. The agency's dispatch center will also reach out to determine if the Red Cross is needed as well. "We gladly go and provide assistance wherever needed," she said.
Linda Girardi is a freelance reporter for the Beacon-News.
A family's vehicle and a large pile of discarded boxes caught fire in the driveway of a Geneva home, according to officials.
The Geneva Fire Department responded to the home on the 600 block of North First Street shortly after 9:15 a.m. Wednesday. They found a vehicle and the boxes, which were from an ongoing home renovation, "well-involved" in fire about eight feet from the garage, fire officials said in a statement.
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Officials continued to investigate the cause of the fire Thursday, they said.
The home's occupants and several construction workers on site evacuated the home safely. The fire did not reach into the home, but the exterior saw minor heat and smoke damage, according to the fire department.
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No one was injured while fighting the fire. The burned vehicle was "severely" damaged, according to fire officials.
Estimates of the value of the damage were not yet compiled Thursday afternoon, according to the department.
Firefighters from departments in Batavia, St. Charles and Elburn assisted the Geneva Fire Department at the scene, fire officials said. West Chicago firefighters filled in at Geneva's fire station headquarters.
A woman with local ties, but currently in an Arizona prison, has been indicted in Kane County on identity theft charges, court records show.
Heather Legner, 38, is accused of using an Aurora woman's birth date and Social Security number in 2014 to, among other things, open credit card accounts and to obtain a Nissan SUV. Legner faces three counts of identity theft and a single count of registration forgery. The indictment issued in November comes nine months after a Kane County judge issued an arrest warrant for Legner.
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Arizona Department of Corrections records show a Kane County warrant hold on Legner, who is serving an 18-month prison sentence on drug paraphernalia charges and unlawful use of a means of transportation under a different last name.
Legner has served time in Illinois prisons on at least three occasions since 2005 for theft and fraud convictions. In the Aurora case, prosecutors allege Legner used the friend's information to finance a commercial lawn mower in addition to running up thousands of dollars on credit cards.
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In addition to the new indictments in Kane, Legner is wanted on a DuPage County warrant for deceptive practices.
Dan Campana is a freelance reporter for The Beacon-News
A tragic love story, the shooting death of a dog, video of a confrontation between bikers and motorists, straight talk about suicide, and Donald Trump are themes of some of this year's most read stories in the Beacon-News. Here's a look at the 10 most popular stories on the web in 2016:
Tragic love story of long-grieving husband and his slain bride
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Denise Crosby's column about the death of Chuck Hall, the husband of Cheryl Lynn Hall, who was murdered in their Aurora apartment in 1981. Denise began the column with, "It is perhaps the most tragic love story I never wrote."
After confrontation, pickup truck drives into motorcyclists
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During the annual La Carne Azada motorcycle ride in Aurora, a fight erupted and a pickup truck drove through a crowd of motorcyclists. It was all shared on video via social media.
Owner of dog shot dead in Boulder Hill park says, 'He loved everyone'
A man with a concealed carry permit shot Oreo, a chocolate pit-bull mix with a white belly and stripe between his eyes, in a Boulder Hill park April 9.
16 men accused of gang ties, charged with 96 felonies
In August, 16 men were charged with multiple felonies and accused of being members of the Latin Kings street gang after a long-term investigation into drug dealing and firearm sales in the Aurora area.
Woman whose obituary launched discussion about depression, suicide remembered
Family, friends, colleagues and community members remember Aletha Meyer Pinnow, whose suicide following a lifelong battle with depression touched thousands after her sister wrote a candid Beacon-News obituary about her struggles.
Wife charged with homicide accused of bringing son along for heroin deal
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Catherine Smith was charged with drug-induced homicide after her husband, Richard Gregoire, overdosed on heroin and fentanyl and authorities said the couple took their 9-year-old son from their Kane County home to meet a drug dealer in Chicago.
Friends reeling after Geneva man's death from poisoned smoothie
The death of Eduardo Gutierrez, of Geneva, whose wife Julia Gutierrez is accused of poisoning him with a smoothie and trying to kill him in a similar way in 2002, shocked those who knew them..
Fox Valley Mall evacuated following fights among teens
Fox Valley Mall in Aurora was evacuated and closed the day after Christmas after "unusually large crowds" of teens congregated and some fights broke out.
Federal officials seize 150 pounds of cocaine, 75 pounds of heroin
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Three men are taken into custody after federal authorities seized almost 150 pounds of cocaine and 75 pounds of heroin at an Aurora warehouse, according to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court.
Sugar Grove man shares inside view of Trump pageant controversy
Jim Gibson of Sugar Grove, who was involved with the Miss Universe Organization for more than 35 years and was Donald Trump's director of pageant affairs, speaks out in response to allegations by Miss Universe 1996 Alicia Machado and says he has never seen Trump acting unprofessionally with contestants.
Camille Fountas, 18, stocks food boxes at Barrington Middle School - Station Campus. Volunteers were organizing donations for the annual Barrington Giving Day. (Brian O'Mahoney / Pioneer Press)
As the holiday season winds down, service organizations in Barrington and Lake Zurich again saw a steady flow of donations during one of the most charitable times of year.
The continued support from the community year after year during the holidays hasn't gone unnoticed by organizers, who put on major donation drives in both villages before the year's end.
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The annual "Giving Day" at Barrington High School has seen tremendous support in recent years, according to Morgan Thorndyke, a junior and member of the Giving Day Youth Board who has helped organize the charitable drive since she was a freshman.
"I think Giving Day has become so big because people don't realize how many families are in need in our area, especially during the holidays," Thorndyke said.
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Each December, Barrington School District 220 families with students on the free and reduced lunch program can receive donated clothes, books, food and other gifts from individuals and community groups for the "Giving Day" event, according to its website.
With needs increasing each year, the "Giving Day" event this past December provided donated items to nearly 400 area families, about the same number of families who received donations in 2015, said Patricia Karon, executive director of Giving Day.
Nearly 200 senior citizens also received $50 gift cards and other items this year, a slight increase from 2015, she said.
A 2016 graduate of Barrington High School, Christopher Nevarez helped set up distribution areas at Barrington Middle School Station Campus before the Giving Day event for the eighth consecutive year.
Nevarez, now a student at University of Illinois-Chicago, has seen the community rally behind the charitable event since he became involved with it as a sixth grader.
"This may be the only toys these children receive," he said. "The whole community gets together and lends a hand to helping families in need."
For more than 30 years, the Ela Area Public Library has organized the "Mitten Day Holiday Collection" event in Lake Zurich. People first bring clothes to the library from Dec. 1 to Jan. 2 to be placed on a Christmas tree, said Terri Meyer, event coordinator for the library.
More than 1,500 pieces of clothes typically are donated and delivered to St. Francis de Sales Parish in Lake Zurich for distribution, she said.
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For the past 10 years, area knitting groups also have made hats, scarves and mittens for the charity drive.
"Every year, I'm amazed at the generosity of this community," Meyer said.
St. Francis de Sales Parish also has participated in a Sharing Parish program, helping support members of Our Lady of Tepeyac Church located near the lower West Side of Chicago.
Although its a year-round program, St. Francis members collect the most items for the church during the holiday season, said Patricia Linares, who organizes the program at St. Francis.
Roughly 2,000 books, bicycles, gifts and clothing items were distributed this season to students at the church's high school and elementary school, said Linares, who has been a member of St. Francis for 22 years.
"The church is 95 percent Hispanic and it has 2,500 families," Linares said. "The people at St. Francis respond to any need and help the poor and needy."
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A Chicago man tried to negotiate for free sex with a 16-year-old girl he met through an ad for escorts, prosecutors say, before killing her on Christmas Eve in Markham.
On Friday, a Cook County judge denied bail for Antonio Rosales, 32, who is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Desiree Robinson.
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At the hearing, a man who sat with Robinson's family threatened Rosales and stormed out of the courtroom shortly after bond was set.
An autopsy determined Robinson was beaten, strangled and had her throat cut, prosecutors said.
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Rosales saw a picture of the teenager on a posting on the website Backpage.com and had sex with her in a truck on Dec. 24, prosecutors said.
Robinson was found in a pool of blood about 8:30 a.m. by friends inside a garage in the 16200 block of South Hamlin Avenue, authorities said. A bloody knife was found in the garage, prosecutors said.
Robinson's mother Yvonne Robinson-Ambrose said she was grateful for the calls and tips that came into police regarding her daughter, who had been missing from their home since the middle of December.
"I'm just numb," said Robinson-Ambrose, of Chicago.
Robinson-Ambrose said the girl's family had been in contact with her for days before the death and believed at the time she was still in Chicago.
"She wouldn't let us know where she was," she said.
Their worries grew even more when she stopped contacting the family altogether before Christmas, she said.
Prosecutors say Rosales was attending a party in a garage in Markham that started on Dec. 23 and continued into the early morning hours of Dec. 24. About 3 a.m., Rosales left the garage and came back with Robinson, whom he introduced to witnesses as his friend, prosecutors said.
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But Rosales knew Robinson through an advertisement for paid escorts, prosecutors said.
One witness recalled seeing Robinson and Rosales appearing to have sex in a truck, prosecutors said. Robinson left shortly afterward, prosecutors added.
Robinson returned to Markham later that morning with two friends, prosecutors said. They picked up Rosales a couple blocks from the party, which had tapered down, and brought him to the party site, prosecutors said.
The two friends stayed in a vehicle and fell asleep while Robinson and Rosales walked into the garage, prosecutors said.
While in custody on Dec. 27, Rosales admitted to strangling and punching Robinson, prosecutors said. He told police he had no money for a second encounter and tried to negotiate for an additional free 15 minutes.
Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >
Robinson refused and insulted him, prosecutors said. Rosales punched her in the face and strangled her as she tried to call for help, prosecutors said.
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He also took the teen's clothes off but fled after he saw a pool of blood around her body, prosecutors added.
At some point, Rosales knocked on a vehicle's window and told Robinson's friends that she would be "out shortly" before leaving the area, prosecutors said.
About 9 a.m., the two friends woke up and searched the house for Robinson, prosecutors said. A witness inside the home eventually opened the garage for them, where they found Robinson's naked body, they added.
Earlier this year, Alisha Walker was found guilty of the second-degree murder of Brother Rice High School teacher Al Filan. Authorities said Filan solicited Walker for sex through the Backpage website.
Rosales returns to court Jan. 18.
Nick Swedberg is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
New Work on display from Jan. 9-31 at Moraine Valley Community Colleges Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery includes archival prints of homemade collage such as Untitled from Diet and Exercise series by Tyler Hewitt. (Photo courtesy of Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery)
Students may wonder how proficient a teacher is in his or her field. The next exhibit at Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery in Palos Hills sheds some light on that.
Ten Moraine Valley Community College art faculty members including Oak Lawn and Orland Park residents exhibit pieces during "New Work" in both the gallery and the Atrium. Originally slated to open Jan. 3, the popular annual group show now is scheduled for Jan. 9-31.
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"We encourage every artist who is on the art faculty to be involved. This is artwork made from 2015-2016 by our full-time art faculty and adjunct art faculty who work in the arts programs at Moraine Valley," said Rachel McDermott, coordinator of Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery since July.
"It's anything from sculpture to digital work to web design. It's just a way to showcase their work to both their students and the community, to show who really works at Moraine and who's teaching the students that come here."
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Other mediums represented include acrylic painting, clay and ceramics, digital photography, drawing with colored pencils and charcoal, and oil painting.
"It gives students a way to see what their teachers are creating and to help inspire them to create this connection past just the student and teacher, to see into the lives of their faculty," McDermott said.
"Also, it helps the faculty member and gives them since this show happens every year a reason to keep creating their artwork along with teaching."
Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery, which is located in the Fine and Performing Arts Center, is accepting solo and group exhibition proposals for the 2017-18 academic year. The deadline is Jan. 31 with selections to be made in March.
"Our space is very unique in the Southland area because it's a blank canvas. Artists can come in and exhibit contemporary works that would regularly not be bought at a gallery installation," McDermott said.
"Then you have a bunch of audiences that the work is shown to. You have faculty that are artists themselves, artists that come in from around Chicago to come see it, the community members that come to see the theater shows and then students.
"You have this wide variety and diverse variety to see your artwork. It's a really great way to have a solo show in Chicago even though it's a little bit outside of the city and it's still close enough that people will travel to be here and a lot of people will see it."
Upcoming exhibits include large-scale abstract paintings made using repurposed billboard prints in "Sample the Remix" by Joshua Brennan, of Boston, from Feb. 6-March 7, with his "Live Streaming: Prints" in the Atrium.
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Blue Island's Eisenhower; Evergreen Park; Oak Lawn's Oak Lawn Community, Reavis and Richards; Orland Park's Sandburg; Palos Heights' Chicago Christian and Shepard; Palos Hills' Stagg; Summit's Argo Community and Tinley Park's Andrew share in "33rd Annual High School Art Exhibition" (March 15-20).
Other exhibits include "Modern David," a photographic documentation of people named David, by Chicago's Mariah Karson (March 25-April 25), with her "American Legion" in the Atrium; "MVCC Juried Student Art Exhibition" (May 1-26) and "Gallery 2017 Juried Community Art Exhibition" (June 1-Aug. 1).
Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >
Jessi Virtusio is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
'New Work'
When: 9 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Mondays-Fridays Jan. 9-31 and during most Fine and Performing Arts Center performances
Where: Moraine Valley Community College's Robert F. DeCaprio Art Gallery, 9000 W. College Parkway, Palos Hills
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Admission: free
Information: 708-608-4231 (Rachel McDermott) or www.morainevalley.edu/fpac (click Art Gallery under Season Overview)
Etc.: featuring pieces by MVCC art faculty; reception from 2:30-4 p.m. Jan. 26 with artist talk at 3 p.m.
Five area suburbs Mokena, New Lenox, Orland Park, Palos Heights and Tinley Park are once again offering a "Safe Ride Home" for New Year's Eve revelers.
Rides home from establishments within the participating communities will be available starting at midnight Saturday until 4 a.m. Sunday.
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Revelers needing a ride can call Via Limo at (708) 349-7700, specifying that they are calling for a safe ride home in order to receive a free ride. The company is adding additional vehicles this year for the Safe Ride program, according to Orland Park, which launched the program nearly 20 years ago.
Nearly 100 people took advantage of free rides last year, the village said in a news release.
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Via Limo will transport revelers home and not to other establishments, according to the release.
The safe ride program is funded by the five communities, a donation by Orland Park Mayor Dan McLaughlin, as well as through a grant from the Michael P. Gordon Memorial Foundation, established in memory of Chicago Police Officer Michael Gordon. He and a partner were nearly done with their shift on Aug. 8, 2004, when a drunk driver ran a red light at the intersection of Jackson and Sacramento boulevards, killing Gordon and seriously injuring his partner.
A federal probe of finances in a local high school district, and a lawsuit alleging discrimination by a southwest suburb were among the Southland's top news stories of 2016.
The year also saw racially charged protests following a fatal police-involved shooting in a Southwest Side community, and the region rallied behind a rookie suburban police officer who was severely wounded in a shootout.
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Here are some of the major stories of the past year as determined by the Daily Southtown staff.
Federal authorities zeroed in on possible financial improprieties in Lincoln-Way Community High School District 210 as a series of stories by the Chicago Tribune and Daily Southtown that, among other things, brought to light a history of overspending, as well as risky borrowing and planning moves that have saddled district taxpayers with hundreds of millions of dollars in bond debt.
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In May, the U.S. Attorney's office issued a subpoena for records relating to the district's finances and former Superintendent Lawrence Wyllie, who led the district from 1989 to 2013. Wyllie has not been charged with any crime.
Prosecutors also subpoenaed the Frankfort Square Park District for records relating to Superdog, a controversial dog training school built by Wyllie that current Supt. Scott Tingley acknowledged had no student benefit or board approval.
Separately, the federal Securities and Exchange Commission in June launched a probe to determine whether the district's spending and borrowing may have violated securities laws.
The closing of Lincoln-Way North High School in a bid to shore up the district's financial condition was briefly fought in court by residents who filed a lawsuit, later dismissed, seeking to block the closure.
Lincoln-Way North High School held its final graduation ceremony in June. (Allen Cunningham / Daily Southtown)
Also drawing the scrutiny of the federal government this year were plans to build apartments in Tinley Park that would be targeted to low-income renters.
The Justice Department in late November sued the village, alleging officials violated federal fair housing laws in not approving the project, The Reserve. It has been on hold since early February, when the Village's Plan commission tabled a vote on the 47-unit building amid strong opposition by residents.
That community backlash, the lawsuit alleges, was "based on discriminatory attitudes toward African Americans and other groups based on race," and that by denying approval of the project, village officials "engaged in a pattern or practice of unlawful discrimination." Tinley Park has denied that racism has been a factor.
In Chicago's 19th Ward, a proposal in September by Ald. Matt O'Shea to consolidate two high-performing majority black schools in order to accommodate the expansion of a predominantly white school drew the ire of many residents. The plan was later shelved.
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The alderman proposed consolidating Kellogg and Sutherland Elementary in Sutherland's building in Chicago's Beverly community; moving Keller Regional Gifted Center from Mount Greenwood to the former Kellogg building in North Beverly; and creating a second campus for Mount Greenwood Elementary within the former Keller building. Money freed up by the reshuffling would have been used to upgrade crumbling Esmond Elementary, a nearly all-black, low-income school in Morgan Park that O'Shea has called "the greatest need in our community."
Protests following the Nov. 5 fatal shooting of Joshua Beal by off-duty police touched off tense clashes in the Mount Greenwood community, home to many police officers and firefighters.
Many carrying signs, demonstrators and police supporters often traded inflammatory and at times expletive-laced barbs, although racial rhetoric that marked protests immediately after the shooting eased in subsequent demonstrations. Beal, of Indianapolis, had attended a funeral for his cousin and was shot during an altercation in which, authorities said, he pointed a gun at police and refused orders to lower the weapon.
Further fanning the flames were racially charged comments on social media allegedly shared by some students at Marist High School, which resulted in two female students being expelled, although they subsequently sued the private Catholic school. Community leaders and police are also promising regular meetings, and a series of community town hall sessions are in the works, all aimed at improving race relations.
Development and redevelopment
Orland Park, in December, welcomed the opening of the $61 million University of Chicago Medicine Center for Advanced Care, while shoppers in and around Evergreen Park hailed the September opening of a new slimmed-down Carson Pirie Scott, part of a redevelopment of that suburb's Evergreen Plaza shopping center.
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Part of Orland Park's Main Street Triangle development, the four-story, 108,000-square-foot U of C clinic, northwest of LaGrange Road and 143rd Street, could mean shorter trips for care for many patients in the southwest suburbs who now travel to the main hospital in Chicago's Hyde Park community for tests and treatment. A parking garage built next door to the medical center will serve the clinic, as well as additional commercial development the village anticipates taking place within the Triangle.
The new two-story Carson's store near 98th Street and Western Avenue replaces the department store chain's old store in the shopping center, where it's been an anchor for more than five decades. Opened as an outdoor shopping center in 1952 by real estate magnate Arthur Rubloff, Evergreen Plaza was enclosed in 1963, becoming the nation's first suburban indoor mall.
A new c department store is part of a redevelopment of Evergreen Plaza in Evergreen Park. (Zak Koeske / Daily Southtown)
Now, a redevelopment by Lormax Stern, which specializes in restoring or redeveloping old shopping malls, and DeBartolo Development is turning it back into an open-air retail center. The de-malling similar to the successful redevelopment several years ago of the dying Orland Park Place mall also will bring retailers, such as Dick's Sporting Goods, 365 by Whole Foods, T.J. Maxx, Petco and Ulta.
Will County officials in October celebrated the groundbreaking of a new $30 million public safety building that will house the sheriff's department and create a consolidated 911 dispatch center. The 85,000-square-foot building is scheduled to be ready by the end of 2017.
The county is embarking on a major building project to replace aging and outmoded buildings, and issued $275 million in bonds to finance the work. Once the public safety building is finished, work is expected to start on a new courthouse.
An Oak Lawn restaurant that has been plagued by violent incidents that faced possible disciplinary action will instead leave the village, but that could end up being a benefit for the village. When Chuck E. Cheese's will vacate its building at 95th Street and Pulaski Road is still being worked out, but village officials see the departure as perhaps paving the way for redevelopment of the shopping center where the restaurant is located.
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Drivers throughout the southwest suburbs also welcomed the finish in late fall of the bulk of construction along LaGrange Road through Orland Park and Tinley Park, which now has three lanes open in each direction. Some work won't be completed until next year, including additional landscaping and installing sidewalks alongside some portions of the road.
Crime and punishment
The Southland rallied behind a rookie Park Forest police officer after he was shot and severely wounded during a March 19 gunfight as police responded to an early-morning call about a break-in at a vacant house.
Support poured in in 2016 for seriously wounded Park Forest Police Officer Tim Jones. (Park Forest Police Department / HANDOUT)
Fundraisers were held to help cover medical expenses for Officer Tim Jones, who was moved to a rehabilitation center following an extensive hospital stay, and a GoFundMe page dedicated to the officer has reached nearly $90,000. The Park Forest Police Department, on its Facebook page, reported recently that $3,000 has been raised for a scholarship in Jones' name that will be awarded to a Park Forest student who plans to study criminal justice in college next year.
In early October, an Oak Park man was fatally shot by police outside a Markham nightclub when a fight broke out in the club's rear parking lot. Stadium Plus closed its doors following the shooting. The club, 16300 Dixie Highway, formerly was known as Adrianna's, and under that name, the popular nightclub saw at least eight people shot, two fatally, between Christmas Eve 2010 and July of this year, police and court records show. An autopsy of the Oct. 2 shooting of 36-year-old Donte Jones showed he was struck five times by bullets, including once in the back.
In March, an admitted prostitute was sentenced to 15 years in prison for the Jan. 18, 2014 murder of popular Brother Rice High School teacher Al Filan in his Orland Park home. Alisha Walker had been found guilty in January of this year of second-degree murder in Filan's death.
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Also in March, Jemetric Nicholson was sentenced to natural life in prison for the Sept. 27, 2006 shooting death of Metra Police Officer Thomas Cook. The officer, in his marked squad, was on special patrol near the 147th Street Metra station in Harvey when he was shot twice in the back of the head.
Nicholson was convicted of first-degree murder this past January after a judge in October 2015 had declared a mistrial when jurors couldn't reach a verdict in Nicholson's first trial. Prior to the sentence in Cook's murder, Nicholson was already serving time in prison for, among other crimes, the attempted murder of a Harvey police officer less than 30 hours before Cook was killed.
A parolee was charged with first-degree murder for the Nov. 26 slaying of railroad security guard Tyrone Hardin, who was shot while patrolling Canadian National Railway property in the 15800 block of West Avenue in Harvey. Rashad Williams, who has addresses in East Hazel Crest and Park Forest, has prior convictions for gun crimes and was on parole for a 2014 conviction when he shot Hardin.
Other news making headlines in 2016
Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >
In late October, the famed Willowbrook Ballroom in Willow Springs was destroyed by fire. The nearly century-old dance hall had hosted such diverse performers as Count Basie, Artie Shaw, the Village People and the Chippendales dancers.
Fire destroyed the famed Willowbrook Ballroom in Willow Springs in late October. (Zbigniew Bzdak / Chicago Tribune)
Orland Park's mayor will get a salary boost after next April's election. The part-time position now pays $40,000, plus an additional $3,000 a year for serving as liquor commissioner, but in October, the Village Board approved boosting the base pay to $150,000. The job will be expanded to full-time, with the added responsibilities of being Orland Park's lead person on economic development matters.
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A state review board in March approved Franciscan Health's plan to end inpatient operations at its aging Chicago Heights hospital while expanding a newer facility in Olympia Fields. Franciscan anticipates finishing the expansion by October 2018.
Although Balmoral Park in Crete closed a year ago, the former harness racing track was purchased in late May by a New York company, Horse Shows in the Sun, which plans to hold show-jumping events at the 200-acre property starting next spring.
Following the September death of Cook County Commissioner Joan Murphy, Democratic Party committeemen in the 6th District, meeting in October, selected Worth Township Highway Commissioner Ed Moody to fill the vacancy.
Inside the historic train station in downtown Lockport, Midwest SOARRING (Save Our Ancestors Remains and Resources Indigenous Network Group) in April opened a center dedicated to Native American culture.
Along with the spring birth of baby bison at Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie near Wilmington, the installation in December of a webcam lets people peek in on the herd from the comfort of their computer screen. A high-definition camera, installed 25 feet above the ground, covers areas where the bison have been known to graze.
Paul and Roula Bezanis talk about their efforts to raise funds and avoid eviction from the home where they care for their son. (Ted Slowik / Daily Southtown) (Chicago Tribune)
The cabinets and appliances in the kitchen of the Bezanis home off 131st Street in Palos Park show the dings and dents that are casualties of collisions with the wheelchair used by Nikolas Bezanis, 28.
A ramp leads from the asphalt driveway of the ranch home to a front doorway that has been widened to accommodate the family's permanently disabled son, the oldest of three adult children. Another ramp leads from the kitchen to a sunken living room. A bathroom has been customized to meet the needs of Nikolas Bezanis in the home where he's lived his entire life.
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The Bezanis family is relying on the kindness of strangers to help raise money they need to stay in the home where they have lived for 30 years. As of Friday afternoon, $99,988 had been donated through a crowdfunding campaign.
Parents Paul and Roula Bezanis said they need to raise $250,000 before a Jan. 9 hearing in an eviction proceeding. They've arranged a loan for $89,000, leaving them about $60,000 short of their goal.
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A scrolling feed on contributions on the Crowdrise fundraising site shows nearly all the donations are in smaller denominations of $10, $25, $50 and $100.
"The response has been amazing," Paul Bezanis, 57, said.
"It's overwhelming," Roula Bezanis, 56, said.
"We hope we can reach our goal," Paul Bezanis said.
"A big percentage (of supporters) are strangers," Roula Bezanis said.
The family's two younger children are attending college. Adam Bezanis, 26, is studying to become a chiropractor at National University of Health Sciences. Dana Bezanis, 20, is studying marketing at Illinois State University.
The crowdfunding campaign was suggested by Mark Hellner, an attorney with the Chicago-based Center for Disability & Elder Law. Hellner said he's been representing the family in the eviction proceeding for more than two years.
The center provides legal services at no cost to low-income Cook County residents who are elderly or who have permanent disabilities.
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"I've been attempting to find a resolution to allow them to remain in the home as long-term tenants," Hellner told me. "We weren't able to reach an agreement."
Hellner said in early December he brokered an oral agreement with the property owners to allow the Bezanis family to buy the home if they could raise $250,000 by Jan. 9.
If the goal is not met, the judge could rule that eviction proceedings may continue. The family wouldn't be thrown out on the street the next day, Hellner said, but would be given a reasonable amount of time to vacate the premises.
"The order of possession that gives the owner the right (to evict tenants) is usually stayed for a period of time depending on the unique circumstances," Hellner said. "The biggest issue in this case is Niko's medical needs."
Nikolas Bezanis was paralyzed after he dove headfirst into 3 feet of water on Petite Lake in the Fox River's Chain O'Lakes system at about 5:45 p.m. on Aug. 21, 2008, according to court records.
An appellate court ruled in 2012 that the Fox Waterway Agency and the Lake County sheriff were not liable to warn boaters of the shallow sandbar 400 feet from shore, and the Illinois Supreme Court declined to take up the case.
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The family exhausted $5 million in medical insurance coverage due to the extent of injuries to Nikolas Bezanis, his parents said. Since the incident, Nikolas Bezanis has progressively shown signs of traumatic brain injury, they said. Due to medications, his weight has ballooned to 574 pounds, they said.
"We were paying a lot of money out-of-pocket for (physical) therapy," Roula Bezanis said.
Property records show Paul and Roula Bezanis sold their home in 2001 for $300,000. Paul Bezanis said they had since built up more than $50,000 in equity through a lease-to-own agreement, but that equity evaporated when the property was foreclosed.
Cook County recorder of deeds records show a third-party, Intercounty Judicial Sales Corp., obtained the deed to the property from a bank on Nov. 5, 2013 after previous owner Robert Pettas surrendered the deed during a foreclosure proceeding on May 1, 2012.
Hellner said he began representing the family in 2014 after the third-party obtained ownership through a sheriff's sale and moved to evict the family from the property. The lease has since expired, and the family has no legal recourse to remain in the home unless the owners agree, he said.
Daily Southtown Twice-weekly News updates from the south suburbs delivered every Monday and Wednesday >
Paul Bezanis, a contractor, said he's been unable to work since injuring his arm while trying to lift his son. Roula Bezanis said when Nikolas Bezanis was injured, she gave up a hair salon in Orland Park she founded to care for him full-time.
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Donations are being made at www.crowdrise.com/save-nikos-home.
In addition to the crowdfunding campaign, local businesses, including the Original Island Shrimp House in Palos Park have been hosting fundraisers for the family.
Sitting at their kitchen table, I asked Paul and Roula Bezanis what would happen if they did not reach their goal of raising $250,000 by Jan. 9. What was their Plan B?
"There is no Plan B at the moment," Paul Bezanis said. "I'll worry about Plan B when Plan A is done."
tslowik@tribpub.com
Twitter @tedslowik
Alex Spungen, 18, of Deerfield, after he helped resuce two swimmers on a beach in Hawaii on Dec. 24, 2016. (Anna Razdolsky photo)
A Deerfield teen helped rescue a 65-year-old man and his 11-year-old son after he spotted the two struggling to stay afloat in big waves off the coast of Maui on Christmas Eve.
Buffalo Grove resident Anna Razdolsky said she was vacationing at the Fairmont Kea Lani resort in Wailea, Hawaii, when she spotted Alex Spungen trying to a help a man back to shore who she said appeared to be completely unresponsive.
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"(Spungen) had somebody in his arms and the waves were covering him. And I see he's trying to hold onto the body," Razdolsky said. "To me it was a dead body. He was dragging a dead body. The man he was carrying did not move. He was motionless."
Spungen, a student at Northwestern University, said he was swimming at Polo Beach, located in front of the resort, and noticed an 11-year-old boy floating in the waves near a buoy marking the maximum distance swimmers should stray from the shore. He said the 11-year-old called for helped and the 65-year-old man swam out to him.
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He said the two appeared to be struggling to make it back to shore in the rough surf.
"The kid started calling out for help again and that's when I realized they were in trouble," Spungen said.
Spungen said he helped guide the child back to the shore and when he turned around the boy's father was still in the water.
"He was unresponsive," he said. "I dragged him back closer to shore and people at the beach noticed and helped me carry him onto the shore."
Maui fire officials responded to the scene shortly before 1 p.m. Dec. 24, said Edward Taomoto, fire services chief for the Maui Fire Department. A report filed by the fire captain on scene said the 65-year-old man was found lying on the beach and was attended to by the resort's security staff. The report states the man appeared "really exhausted" and "he must have blacked out because he only remembered waking up on shore."
According to the fire official's account, Spungen assisted the man's 11-year-old son back to shore while bystanders helped pull the father to safety.
Taomoto said the man was transported to Maui Memorial Medical Center. He said he wasn't aware of his current condition.
Spungen said medical professionals on scene told him the man would be fine and "that was the last I heard of him."
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Razdolsky said she spotted the struggling swimmers while beachgoers participated in a Christmas-themed celebration. She said she discerned something was wrong from Spungen's face . Razdolsky said she called for help and told beachgoers to call 911. Her husband, Yan, who practices orthodontics in Buffalo Grove, helped carry the man ashore, according to Razdolsky.
Razdolsky said she was so impressed by Spungen's heroic act that she asked for his name and where he was from. The two learned they live in neighboring communities and have since discovered mutual connections through her husband's orthodontics practice.
Razdolsky publicized the incident via her Facebook page because she said she believes Spungen "deserves the recognition."
Spungen, who graduated from Deerfield High School this year, said he acted on instinct.
"Basically, I saw somebody was struggling and I didn't have time to think what's the best thing to do. I just thought what is the quickest and fastest thing to do to help these people," he said. "It wasn't until after I helped them that I realized, wow, I saved these people from significant harm."
Spungen said he's "brushed off" the recognition he's received from friends and acquaintances since the rescue was publicized.
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"I'm sure there are plenty of other people who have done the same thing and have gone unnoticed. But it feels good being able to help people out," he said.
Lee V. Gaines is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Faithwalk Harvest Center pastor Dexter Ball is one Carpentersville pastor who will be involved in the relaunched Clergy Committee. (Erin Sauder / The Courier-News)
A panel that disbanded in Carpentersville several years ago is about to have a resurrection of sorts.
Several local heads of churches plan to relaunch the Clergy Committee.
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"A lot of the pastors that were in the committee relocated so we paused for a few years," said Faithwalk Harvest Center pastor Dexter Ball. "And now (we're) ready to begin again."
The vision, said Ball, "is to create a platform where pastors or various faiths can come together in unity to pray for each other, our village and surrounding communities."
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"We would also like to share our perspectives with one another and help strengthen and encourage one another as we work together for a common goal, which is to be the salt and light of the earth," he said.
The committee's other goal is to work with Carpentersville officials to create more interaction between the churches and community, which will include involvement in community-wide projects and events.
Trustee Pat Schultz shares Ball's desire to create more community engagement.
"What I'm hoping ultimately is we will get feedback from (the pastors) as to what they're hearing in their parishes," she said. "And if there's anything we can change or do better and in turn hopefully engage our residents too in attending our special events and being current in what's going on with the village."
Members of the previous Clergy Committee held prayer services, holiday events that involved the area's youth and monthly fellowships where each pastor would share with the others.
"Our impact extended from our village into the community and surrounding schools as we worked to bring more unity in our area," Ball said. "It was extremely successful previously and we expect no less as we move forward again."
Adam Parchert, founder and pastor of the Carpentersville-based H2O Church, is happy to be involved in the committee.
"I think any time that pastors who are serving in the same area or community get together, it helps all of them be more effective in serving the community," he said. "As pastors and churches, we have so much in common that we shouldn't let minor differences prevent us from teaming to be the hands and feet of Jesus to our community."
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Erin Sauder is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
Randy Hopp has filed an objection against board treasurer Susan Moylan this week due to slash marks she made on her economic interests statement. (Provided by Randy Hopp)
A former Gail Borden Public Library District Trustee, once again running for the board and once banned from the library, has requested a challenger's name stricken off the April 4 ballot.
Randolph "Randy" Hopp has filed an objection against board treasurer Susan Moylan this week, according to the Kane County Clerk's Office. The reasoning revolves around Moylan's writing style.
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Both Hopp and Moylan, along with two others, are running for four-year terms on the library board, with three seats up for a vote.
In objection documents obtained from the county clerk's office, Hopp claims Moylan did not follow the rules of the Illinois Governmental Ethics Act by not typing or hand printing her responses in the required economic interests statement. When answering questions regarding economic interests and potential conflicts of interest, Moylan put slashes through the writing space and Hopp challenged it.
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According to the objection, Hopp wrote her method to filling out the form was "defective and objectionable," despite the statement having a date stamp from the county on it.
When asked to elaborate on his reasoning for questioning Moylan's forms via a phone interview Thursday, Hopp did not comment, only adding that for more information "come to the hearing next week."
Moylan, in a phone interview, said she has no conflicts of interest the county needed to be aware of. "Frankly, I have a library card but I don't receive a nickel. When I went through it, none of it applied for me, so I top to bottom did (slashes through the answer spaces), and he is objecting to that."
When asked about Hopp's objection, she said "he has a right to do it and he did it."
Hopp is no stranger to the Gail Borden community and leadership, as he has previously served on the board. Hopp won a seat on the board of trustees in 2009; Moylan, too, won her first term during the 2009 election. However, he lost in 2013 and ran an unsuccessful campaign in 2015. He also lost a bid for Kane County Board in November.
Shortly after winning in 2009, Hopp was banned from Gail Borden, with records stating staff felt harassed by him over the years preceding the ban. He has since been allowed back to the library. He is banned from the Elgin Community College and Judson University libraries.
The hearing, which will make a decision on the objection, is scheduled for 9:30 a.m. Wednesday at the Kane County Clerk's Office, 719 S. Batavia Ave., Building B in Geneva. Moylan said she will be there.
The Gail Borden objection is one of four the county received by the Tuesday deadline. The other three involve candidates in the East Aurora School District and the Fox River and Countryside Fire/Rescue District.
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A number of blighted structures in Kane County were demolished or rehabbed in 2016, leaving a positive mark on neighborhoods, officials said.
Four blighted properties were demolished by the county this year and two more demolitions are pending, Development Director Mark VanKerkhoff said. Homes torn down included 1565 Dearborn Ave., 1386 Pearl St. and 1222 S. Union St., all in Aurora Township, and a home at 1341 Ridgeway Ave., in Aurora Township, was recently approved for demolition, he said.
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The county goes through a civil court process to get property owners to demolish or rehab blighted homes or gets a court order allowing the county to pay for the demolition and list the cost as a lien against the property.
Four other homes were demolished by property owners or banks, three were rehabbed by new owners and one property is currently being rehabbed, VanKerkhoff said.
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A home at 35W141 Duchesne Drive, Dundee Township, was demolished by the bank that owned it, which is ideal because it saves the county money, he said.
Some homes have been problems for years, he said. A home at 1434 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora Township, for instance, has been the subject of complaints since 2008, he said.
The blighted structures program has proved useful, said Theresa Barreiro, who represents District 2 in Aurora.
"I am very proud of this program," she said, adding that she had been working on a blighted house that had been an eyesore for 20 years when she was first elected to the board. The county was able to secure $50,000 in Grand Victoria Riverboat funds to launch the program and the home was eventually demolished, she said.
Such homes negatively affect property values and are a safety hazard, she said.
"Once (a blighted house) comes down, the whole neighborhood changes and the price value goes up. It's a win-win for the county. It's imperative we stay on the situation," she said.
Development and Community Services staff have applied for a $150,000 grant from the state to help fund the program, VanKerkhoff said. It received about $30,000 from a Grand Victoria Riverboat grant in 2016 and is slated to receive about $45,000 in the new year, he said.
"We are going to continue to identify the worst of the worst and bring more resolutions in 2017," VanKerkhoff said.
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Gloria Casas is a freelance reporter for The Courier-News.
The redevelopment of the Tower Building in downtown Elgin should be complete in 2017. (Mike Danahey / The Courier-News)
The redevelopment of the Tower Building in downtown Elgin began in 2016, and work should be complete sometime in 2017.
The city is providing $6.35 million in development assistance for the project, which has an estimated $16.6 million construction budget.
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Once completed, the 15-story, 1929-built Tower Building will house 45 one- and two-bedroom apartments, with rents set between $863 and $1,200 a month. Residents will pay for monthly parking passes for downtown parking spots, 55 of which will be set aside for Tower residents, city officials said.
Missouri-based Capstone Development Group and Chicago developer Richard Souyoul had been working on a deal for the iconic downtown structure since 2014, after plans for Wisconsin-based Gorman & Co. to purchase the building fell through.
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Of the project, City Council member Rose Martinez said, "It's a new beginning and a key piece in the puzzle for the downtown redevelopment and bringing in people."
Elgin cops to use body cameras
In February, the Elgin Police Department will begin issuing body cameras to officers, and by the end of the year each and every sworn member of the department will have the equipment.
The process leading to the purchase was overseen by Cmdr. Ana Lalley and began with a committee of police staff formed in 2014. A core group of eight to 10 officers tested equipment from seven vendors.
In June 2015, the department applied for an Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant from the U.S. Department of Justice and was awarded $250,000 in September 2015. The grant requires Elgin to match any dollar amount awarded, and Elgin will use drug asset forfeiture money for its $250,000 contribution, Lalley said.
The city's purchase is set to include 215 Taser Axon Body 2 body cameras for sworn officers' use and 30 of Taser's Flex 2 cameras for use by the department's SWAT team. The agreement also calls for using Taser International's Evidence.com to store the videos, which will relieve the burden of server and storage maintenance and software updates and upgrades from the city's information technology staff.
Past the initial outlay, the agreement with Taser calls for three $170,640 license payments for Evidence.com due a year, two years, then three years after the initial contract execution. The city's 2017 budget also includes a full-time civilian position in the Police Department, at a salary of almost $61,000 per year, for someone who would oversee the video program.
The city intends to use money from its general fund to pay for these outlays.
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Four Elgin City Council seats on ballot
The spring election for Elgin City Council has a ballot that includes incumbents RIch Dunne, Terry Gavin, John Prigge and Carol Rauschenberger and just three challengers Brandon Yaniz, Corey Dixon and Brenda Rodgers.
The first announced candidates' forum is set for 7 p.m., Thursday, Jan. 26 at the Solid Rock Free Will Baptist Church, 36W540 South St. The forum is being conducted by the Elgin OCTAVE.
In recent cycles, Council elections have drawn less than 13 percent of registered Elgin voters to the polls.
Kane County board to work with budget
One doesn't need a crystal ball to predict the Kane County board will struggle to pass a balanced budget its fiscal year 2018.
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The budget process doesn't begin until mid-year, but Chief Financial Officer Joe Onzick has already raised a red flag about the county's finances. The county board has a few options: find new revenue sources, make deep cuts or consider unfreezing a tax levy that has been in place for five years. It is a decision that rests solely on county board members.
Curriculum, teacher contracts on docket for District U46
In 2015, the U46 school board election was seen as a battle between two ideologies: the status quo and a change in direction.
This April, a similar battle is brewing, as six candidates of different philosophies vie for three school board seats. Three of the candidates are incumbents school board president Donna Smith, Veronica Noland and Cody Holt. The three challengers each have differing backgrounds. Tracy Smodilla lost a bid for state Senate as a Republican in the 22nd Legislative District this fall. Melissa Owens is the president of the district's Citizens Advisory Council. And school board minutes from September and October show Enoch Essendrop spoke out against the district's policy on transgender student locker room access.
The school board has voted 5-2 and 4-3 in several instances over the past two years, often down ideological lines. A tilt in one direction or another would have significant repercussions over many items, such as the district's $500-million-plus budget. Key votes to come in 2017 include the budget, new curriculum and materials in social studies, and a new contract for the teachers.
Plans for outlet mall in Huntley
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In 2017, Village Manager David Johnson said Huntley is actively seeking ways to repurpose the Huntley Prime Outlet Mall property.
The mall was purchased in April by Capital Companies, an Elgin-based firm that has been developing buildings in Elgin, Bartlett and East Dundee over the past 20 years.
Huntley officials are planning to to repurpose the Huntley Prime Outlet Mall property in 2017. (John Handley / The Courier-News)
The 77-acre property offers more than 279,000 square feet of retail space and is currently home to about a dozen stores.
"A lot of people have been calling with ideas for different uses for the mall," Rich Turasky, owner and founder of Capital Companies said in April. "There is a lot of demand."
The village also has an ambitious plan to construct a multi-use path along Illinois Route 47 from Del Webb Boulevard to Kreutzer Road. With a projected cost of $1,078,400 the path will include signalized crosswalks with push-button pedestals, audible walk indicators, countdown timers and traffic islands to assist pedestrians in crossing the highway. The off-road, pedestrian access would connect Huntley Grove, where Wal-Mart is located, to Huntley Crossings and beyond to Village Green, where the Jewel-Osco is located.
Financing for the project will be provided through an 80 percent reimbursement grant offered by the Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program.
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Construction projects planned in South Elgin
In 2017, South Elgin plans to continue its expanded road construction program, village Manager Steve Super said.
"That is probably the biggest thing our residents will see," he said.
The village added $1 million to its road construction program in 2016 and 2017, and anticipates continuing to budget at those levels for the next several years, he said.
The Springs of South Elgin, a 300-unit luxury apartment complex, is expected to begin construction at Bowes and Randall roads this year, and more single family home are expected in the Silver Glenn Road region, Super said.
New businesses coming to Carpentersville
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Carpentersville will see the opening of several new businesses in 2017.
A Jersey Mike's Subs and American Mattress are expected to open in April on the former Rosati's site at 125 S. Western Ave.
The Burger King restaurant and drive-through under construction along Randall Road is set to open in mid-February.
While developers of the Southern Belle's Pancake House have not set an opening date, work continues on the building at 152 S. Western Ave., formerly home to City Buffet, and China Buffet before that.
A barbecue restaurant could make its debut this spring in the former Garibaldi's Italian Eatery building on Randall Road, village officials said.
A multi-business development is slated to go into the outlot just north of the AutoZone located in the Meadowdale Shopping Center, according to village officials. The development will create space for five tenants.
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mdanahey@tribpub.com
raguerrero@tribpub.com
Janelle Walker, Erin Sauder, Jeanie Mayer and Gloria Casas are freelance reporters.
IDNR Region II Stream Specialist Steve Pescitelli shows off a flathead catfish caught in the Fox River in St. Charles by electorfishing, a technique used to conduct population counts. (R. Miller / handout)
Fish stories from the Fox River, a kidnapping and torture case, a mural depicting a lynch mob, a crash involving a limousine, and a clown sighting were among the most popular stories on the web for Courier-News readers:
3rd woman charged in Elgin kidnapping, torture case
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During a February home invasion and kidnapping, a teen was beaten and burned with cigarettes in Elgin. Five people were charged.
Local fishermen reeling in giant catfish off shores of Fox River
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Some local fisherman were catching monsters from the Fox River and were happy to share lots of lore about the fish they let loose to live another murky day.
Elgin artist: Mural connected to lynching photo was created to get people talking about history
The artist behind the Elgin mural that depicts a portion of a famous photo of a 1930 lynching of two black men in Indiana said the piece was intended to get people to ask questions, think about issues and consider their own place in history.
Teacher at Carpentersville school charged with sexual contact with a minor
A 47-year-old teacher at Carpentersville Middle School and the director of Elgin's Summer Theatre productions was charged with sexual assault or abuse stemming from incidents in 2013.
Haeger Potteries to shut down operations after 145 years in East Dundee
Haeger Potteries, which was founded in 1871, announced in April it would cease its manufacturing operations in East Dundee.
Police investigate report of clown
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Elgin officers were called to the area of College Green Drive in October to investigate the report of someone dressed as a clown lurking in the area. The sighting was one of many nationwide.
Pedestrian killed by Metra train
In January, a pedestrian was struck and killed near the Kimball Street bridge Metra crossing in Elgin
Two killed in South Elgin crash
Two people died following an early morning crash in November in South Elgin.
Limo company involved in fatal crash ordered to cease operations
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The limousine company involved in a fatal crash on the Jane Addams Memorial Tollway was ordered to cease all intrastate and interstate operations because the company poses an "imminent hazard to public safety."
Billboards of missing South Elgin girl erected throughout Chicago area
South Elgin teen Kianna Galvin, 18, was reported missing May 6.
Photographer Ernie Schweit has started an arts alliance in Grayslake, where he lives with his wife and fellow artist, Maureen Fisher Rivkin. (Ernie Schweit)
When Ernie Schweit and his wife, Maureen Fisher Rivkin, moved to Grayslake a little over a year ago, they wanted to get to know their new community.
"We walked around downtown," Schweit said, "and coming from an art background, we thought, 'This is a cool little downtown with nice shops and restaurants, but where are the art galleries?'"
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Schweit, a published photographer and author, and Rivkin, an artist and French teacher in Waukegan, wanted to bring a greater art presence to the village.
So they formed the Grayslake Arts Alliance, which will have its second free public show on Jan. 14 at the Grayslake Heritage Center and Museum. Scheduled to run from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., the show will feature exhibits by local artists along with jazz music and refreshments.
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The group with about 60 local artist members has grand goals. The members would like to create an arts center in Grayslake, provide arts education to the community and host monthly shows for the public.
Schweit, whose photography has appeared in the book "Wisconsin Barns," said he met with village and chamber officials and other community leaders, who embraced his idea of creating an arts alliance.
"We also met with some other local artists, including Rebecca Stahr," he said. Stahr said she had had similar thoughts over the years about starting such a group.
But just like there's always that perfect time to snap the prize-winning photo, now is the perfect time to start an arts alliance, Stahr and Schweit agreed.
"Make no small plans," said Schweit, referring to the quote by Daniel Burnham, an American architect and designer of Chicago's master plan as well as the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition.
The Grayslake Arts Alliance hosted its first free public art show featuring 60 local artists during the village's tree-lighting ceremony at the end of November. More than 500 people came to view the exhibits and listen to music, he said.
"That was really a smashing success," said David Oberg, executive director of the Heritage Center and Museum, who detailed plans for the January show.
"We'll turn the community room over to them to display paintings and photographs. It's going to be a nice night, and a great chance for people to get out," he said. "Plus the museum's galleries will be open. There's a lot of interest in the community for access to the fine arts. We're excited to see where this group grows."
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Schweit said he thinks an arts center either in a stand-alone building or housed within the museum or elsewhere will help the village toward its goal of becoming a destination center.
"I have a lot of background and experience in other arts groups, and I know wherever you put an art center, there is always peripheral development," said Schweit, who has exhibited his works along with his wife's in Door County and other arts-focused regions.
"Shops and restaurants come in. Grayslake already has that going on the city is committed to developing the downtown as a tourist engine," he said. "I just think all the pieces are there. The momentum is going in the right direction. Creating an arts center is a natural piece of the puzzle."
Schweit added that the group hopes to educate the community about the arts, saying "that's really important. It brings people together, being creative. It develops the psyche of the community."
Stahr said art brings together people who might not have anything else in common, and a greater art presence will bring more people to Grayslake.
"We don't have Milwaukee Avenue running down the middle of town, so people don't necessarily choose to come here," she said. "There's so much potential. We thought, as artists, if we came together, we could totally be a powerful force and get the community together through arts and culture."
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Stahr, who works in an ancient medium that uses beeswax, pigments and heat, said art creates feeling. "It goes across language and other barriers," she said.
"Her work is so beautiful," Schweit said. "It flows. It's so colorful and has texture. It draws you in and makes you use your imagination. It gets you involved."
He hopes the alliance will also get more involved in the Grayslake community as it produces art festivals, shows and educational opportunities and expands to other arts including music. He added the group will focus on Grayslake artists and musicians.
"We want to keep it local," he said. "There are so many great artists in Grayslake."
Sheryl DeVore is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
North Chicago High School graduate Marcus McGee (right) was one of three firefighters in Richmond, Va., who withstood a dangerous flashover with heat soaring to more than 1,000 degrees to rescue a baby who survived with minor smoke inhalation injuries on Dec. 17. (Richmond Fire Department)
In a dramatic rescue, a former North Chicago resident who now works in Virginia saved a baby's life from a raging fire earlier this month, authorities said.
Marcus McGee, 30, a 2004 graduate of North Chicago High School, has been on the Richmond Fire Department in Virginia for about three years. On Dec. 17, he was one of four firefighters whose engine was first on the scene of an apartment building fire with an 11-month-old girl trapped inside, Richmond Fire Department Chief Patrick Schoeffel said.
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It was one of the worst scenes he has witnessed in his more than 30-year career, Schoeffel said.
It was a fire where every second mattered, the chief said.
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McGee and three other firefighters arrived on the scene within 33 seconds of getting the call, Schoeffel said. Thick black smoke, however, caused zero visibility along the street and the engine was forced to stop 100 feet short of the building, Schoeffel said.
As Firefighter Korey Pettiford parked the engine and tapped the hose to the hydrant, McGee, who served as acting lieutenant that day, and two others ran toward the fire, Schoeffel said.
North Chicago High School graduate Marcus McGee, 30, who is now a firefighter in Richmond, Va., was one of three firefighters who survived a flash fire to rescue a baby on Dec. 17. The fire melted their helmets and burned their coats, leaving the firefighters with burns to their ears. (Richmond Fire Department)
From that instant, it took the firefighters one minute and 49 seconds to get the baby out of the house, the chief and McGee said.
The building had four apartments. Neighbors told the firefighters that a baby was still inside, but they did not know which apartment, and were blinded by the smoke.
"I let the guys know in the back that we had a rescue, and we got (from neighbors) that it was possibly a baby that was trapped," McGee told the News-Sun.
In the third apartment they entered, which was on the second floor, the crew found the fire's source, which was in a bedroom to the right and they heard crying coming from a bedroom to the right, Schoeffel said.
While in the smoke-filled hallway, Schoeffel said, one of the most dangerous and frightening things occurred: a flashover.
"Basically, the smoke and everything turned to a ball of fire," the chief said, adding that flashover temperatures can easily exceed 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit. "When you are caught in a flashover, it scares you so bad."
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North Chicago High School graduate Marcus McGee, 30, who is now a firefighter in Richmond, Va., was one of three firefighters who survived a flash fire to rescue a baby on Dec. 17. The fire melted their helmets and burned their coats, leaving the firefighters with burns to their ears. (Richmond Fire Department)
The chief said this was only the second flashover he or his department has experienced in his career. Most often, it is so startling that the firefighters will quickly exit the building and regroup outside. But McGee and the two others stayed.
"When that flashover happened, it was kind of like an 'oh my God' moment," McGee said.
McGee said they could hear the baby crying, and he expected the worst. McGee and another firefighter, Parker Ramsey, who has been with the department a year, addressed the blaze, while 5-year veteran Carlos Samuels found the child.
"They are basically risking everything searching for this child," the chief said.
Because the hallway was now ablaze, Samuels covered the baby "as best he could and shot out of there down the steps," Schoeffel said
All of that happened in under two minutes, the chief said.
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"This kid probably had a minute or less to live," Schoeffel said. "They did an outstanding job. They are a younger crew, and they performed outstandingly."
On the left, Marcus McGee is pictured during his freshman year at North Chicago High School. On the right, McGee is pictured with his grandmother when he graduated from North Chicago High School in 2004. Now 30 and living in Virginia, he is credited with saving a babys life while working for as a firefighter for the Richmond Fire Department on Dec. 17. (Provided by Debra McGee)
Soot made the baby appear to be burned, but she was not.
"This kid is probably 10 feet away from (the flashover) and didn't get burned," Schoeffel said.
"The baby didn't look like it was going to be a good outcome," McGee said.
She was treated for smoke inhalation and released from the hospital the following day, the chief said.
Meanwhile, the heat from the flashover melted the three firefighters' gear and burned their ears.
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"Everything was ruined except for their boots," the chief said. "Everything they had on suffered such a heat blast that it burned holes, and it can't be used anymore."
McGee is the father of four, including a one-year-old son.
"I really wanted to see my kids at that time, especially the little one," McGee said. "I probably held him the rest of the night."
Authorities are still investigating the cause of the fire and surrounding circumstances, the chief said.
"I've been on the job 34 years it ranks up there with a couple of the top rescues I've seen occur, that I've been involved with," the chief said. "Hats off to these guys."
Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the News-Sun.
Just before Christmas, a summit in Moscow brought together the leaders of Iran, Russia and Turkey. President Vladimir Putin of Russia orchestrated this major meeting. After the discussions, his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov announced significant agreement to extend a ceasefire beyond the devastated city of Aleppo, and to guarantee humanitarian aid and safety of civilians. His government may or may not live up to these promises.
Undeniable is that Putin's power in the Mideast is now dramatically confirmed. Russia and Turkey are traditional enemies. Syria and Turkey have been at odds since 2011. The United States had no role in this important summit.
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The decision last year by Putin to intervene with military force in the brutal combat in Syria furthered this expansion of regional influence. In the short term, Moscow greatly increased the staying power of the beleaguered regime of Syria President Bashar al-Assad.
Historically, Moscow has been preoccupied with secure national borders, especially in Eastern Europe, and generally abstained from sending military forces long distances. This traditional approach has now been abandoned by Putin, who has become a daring military gambler in the Mideast.
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Russia has a long history of involvement in the volatile region, especially Syria. The profoundly serious Suez Crisis of 1956 resulted in sharp rupture among western allies, as the Eisenhower administration refused to support a combined military assault by Britain, France and Israel to retake the Suez Canal and seize the Sinai Peninsula from nationalist Egypt.
From that time until the end of the Cold War, Moscow had significant influence. Hafez al-Assad, father of the current president, helped instigate a successful 1963 coup. By 1970, he consolidated his position and ruled until 2000. Ironically given developments today, he was regarded as relatively moderate and an economic modernizer, though in the context of a dictatorship.
Syria developed a close military partnership with Egypt, and the two nations went to war together against Israel in October 1973. The Yom Kippur War also witnessed American-Soviet nuclear confrontation. This crisis arguably was as serious as the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, though conducted almost entirely outside public view, in great contrast to the confrontation over missiles in Cuba.
The Watergate domestic political crisis colors recollections among some Nixon administration officials. Nevertheless, reasonable conclusions can be drawn.
First, Nixon aggressively pursued the essential need to get aid to Israel. At the same time, Israel was pressured successfully to show restraint regarding encircled Egyptian forces. In short, vital U.S. interests in the region were recognized clearly and protected.
Lake County News Sun Twice-weekly News updates from Lake County delivered every Monday and Wednesday >
Second, visible actions were taken to demonstrate U.S. military resolve: B-52 bombers were moved from Guam to the U.S., the Army's 82nd Airborne Division was placed on alert.
Third, the U.S. ultimately did not pursue a proposed joint "condominium" proposed by the Soviets. Interests were too divergent on both sides. This bears directly on diplomatic efforts by Putin for international collaboration regarding Syria. The Moscow summit is a culmination of his strategy.
President Jimmy Carter brokered Egypt-Israel peace. President George H.W. Bush and Secretary of State James Baker initiated complex multilateral negotiations which resulted in partial Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation. Moscow was involved.
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President Barack Obama declared use of poison gas by Damascus would be a "red line," and indicated military retaliation. When poison gas was used, he did nothing.
Putin seized the opportunity and persuaded Syria to abandon nuclear weapons. In the future, this event may be seen as the beginning of declining American influence.
Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen Distinguished Professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War."
acyr@carthage.edu
Morton Grove police are investigating after a mother and son were found dead in a home in the 8900 block of Meade Avenue on Wednesday afternoon, officials said.
Police responded to the residence for a well-being check after receiving a call around noon that mail had been gathering in front of the home and the residents hadn't been seen for some time, said Investigations Commander Paul Yaras with Morton Grove police.
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Officers checked the outside of the home and tried to reach the people inside. They eventually entered the home and found the mother, 94, and son, 62, dead in beds in separate bedrooms, Yaras said.
The Cook County medical examiner's office classified both of their deaths as natural causes, following an autopsy done Thursday.
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The son died about Nov. 16, Yaras said, and the mother likely died a few days later.
No signs of criminal or gang activity were found, police said . And police said they do not consider the deaths a sign of a greater threat to the community.
No names have been released pending notification of next of kin, Yaras said, adding that relatives have been difficult to track down.
Rosemary Regina Sobol contributed to this report.
gbookwalter@chicagotribune.com
Twitter @GenevieveBook
The Graham's Countryside BP gas station at Midlothian Road and Route 60/83 was denied a state video gambling license and recently asked to cancel its annexation agreement with Mundelein. (Rick Kambic / Pioneer Press)
Mundelein village officials say they will soon move to reclaim a strip of land they sold to a local gas station as part of an annexation agreement.
Graham's Countryside BP gas station was denied a gambling license in early September and by mid-November notified Mundelein of its intention to use an exit clause in the annexation contract, citing a provision that says acquiring video gambling is a condition of the deal.
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Village Administrator John Lobaito said the contract also reverses a property sale between Mundelein and the gas station. He said village trustees on Jan. 9 will vote to begin that process.
The land was previously slated to be a public road, but once sold it put the gas station's property at over three acres, which was interpreted as one of the state's requirements for a truck stop video gambling license.
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The state ultimately denied the license saying the station did not meet requirements.
Though the long process has come undone, Lobaito said Mundelein did not lose money in the annexation attempt. He said sales tax and property tax, among other fees collected in the process, offset the lawyer costs involved with negotiating the annexation contract and fighting a lawsuit filed by nearby homeowners.
Mundelein will gain $43,627 in the losing ordeal, according to a village document. Lobaito said some of the taxes collected during the gas station's brief stay are still being processed through the state.
"Although the village has estimated that it will receive more revenues than its expenses, the village would prefer that the Grahams not exercise their rights in the agreement to disconnect from the village," Lobaito told Pioneer Press in an email. "We understand this was a business decision and we respect their decision."
Among the reasons for denying the license, state officials told the gas station owners that having three acres of property is not the same as having a three-acre truck stop facility.
Tempers flared at a recent board meeting when one of the neighbors who sued Mundelein criticized village officials during the public comments while pointing to a news article about the immanent reversal.
"I would like you all to apologize for all the time and money I wasted," said Ralph Dillon, who has attended board meetings and Illinois Gaming Board meetings to oppose the gas station's license. "You should also apologize to the Mundelein residents for all the time and money they wasted."
Village Trustee Ray Semple was among the officials Dillon criticized on Nov. 28. Semple cited a copy of Dillon's property tax bill and said that he lives in an unincorporated area.
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"I Google searched (your address) and it's the house directly behind Graham Oil," Semple said. "Why couldn't you have been truthful this whole time that you're just a NIMBY, a not-in-my-back-yard guy?"
The two then exchanged their interpretations of past events.
"You are the most disingenuous man I have ever seen in my years of service at this board," Semple said. "You're not a resident and I don't care about you, Ralph. You are irrelevant Ralph to me."
When contacted afterward, Dillon said he and other neighbors invested almost 400 hours of time into fighting the annexation and gambling license, but he declined to say how much money they spent.
Mundelein's financial paperwork says the village paid $1,006 in legal fees to review Freedom of Information Act requests relating to the annexation and $9,500 in legal fees to represent the village in court over Dillon's lawsuit.
Mundelein spent $10,188 in legal fees through October 2015, when the zoning and annexation were originally supposed to be finalized, documents show.
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Mundelein also spent another $22,125 on the annexation lawyer from October 2015 throughout November 2016, a time period that involved redoing the zoning hearing as a result of Dillon's lawsuit and working with the gas station owner on extending certain deadlines while waiting for state officials to review the gambling application.
In total, financial document shows Mundelein spent $44,058 on the attempted annexation of Graham's Countryside BP not including salaried employee time. It also says Mundelein is expected to collect $115,685 from sales tax, property tax, various fees and the property sale.
However, Lobaito said Mundelein will soon reimburse Graham $28,000 when the roadway is given back.
Semple later said he has no regrets in trying to bring the gas station into the village. He said the store already sells hard liquor and would be limited to only beer and wine if it joined Mundelein. Furthermore, he said the new tax revenue could have significantly helped the village's budget.
rkambic@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @Rick_Kambic
Naperville Mayor Steve Chirico, left, and Rabbi Mendy Goldstein of the Chabad Jewish Center prepare to light the 6th candle of the menorah Thursday during a Festival of Lights ceremony along the Naperville Riverwalk. (David Sharos / Naperville Sun)
The Jewish Festival of Lights was celebrated Thursday night with the outdoor lighting of a large menorah along the Riverwalk in Naperville.
The annual Chanukah event, attended by about 40 people, was led by Rabbi Mendy Goldstein of the Chabad Jewish Center in Naperville.
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"The message about Chanukah is the universal message of light over dark, and while we face many challenges right now, even a little light dispels the darkness," Goldstein said. "The fact that we want the public to participate in this is symbolic. And while most of the people that attend this are Jewish, we always have a mix of both those who are and are not."
The lighting of the 8-foot-high menorah was followed by a sharing of traditional fried foods doughnuts and latkes as well as dancing and music inside the Napervile Municipal Building.
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This year Chanukah began on Dec. 24, and will end Jan. 1. The dates vary from year to year, and that it happened to line up with the Christian Christmas holidays this year was a happy coincidence for some.
"There is a joyous occasion in that it coincides with Christmas, which doesn't happen that often," Naperville resident Steve Berry said. "I love all the lights I see at Christmas time and having Chanukah fall within the same time as Christmas makes it even more special."
Goldstein said Chanukah can fall anywhere from the last week of November to the end of December. The last time Christmas and Chanukah occurred at the same time might go back as far as the 1970s, he said.
Chuck and Vicki Robinson, of Naperville, were among Thursday night's guests.
"We like to come as it's nice to be here with others who are Jewish since there aren't as many Jewish people here in the suburbs," Chuck Robinson said. "We're empty nesters and the kids aren't there to light the candles each night, and so we wanted to come out and be with others. To me, Chanukah is mostly about family celebrations."
Vicki Robinson agreed.
"We appreciate having this opportunity," she said. "Chanukah is something you hope your kids glob onto as they grow up and feel special about during the Christmas season."
Alan Jacobson, of Naperville, and his daughter Rachel also attended Thursday's ceremony because they wanted to celebrate it in a "community atmosphere."
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"It's great to have this during Christmas and have people come together as a community," Alan Jacobson said. "I don't know if having 'the light' is more important or needed this year than any other. There is always something going on, always some trying times. My dad is 89 and says you can look back at any year he's been alive and find something."
Carolyn Finzer said she is a fourth generation Naperville resident who believes in celebrating all cultural groups and religions.
"I'm Roman Catholic but believe we should be friend makers to the world," Finzer said. "I want to accept and learn about others' religions and believe that community peace is possible."
Mayor Steve Chirico attended this year's ceremony and spoke about the history of the tradition.
"I feel very privileged to have been invited by Rabbi Mendy Goldstein to take part in this commemoration of the reclaiming of the Holy Temple in Jerusalem by the Maccabees more than 2,000 years ago," Chirico said. "The lighting of the menorah is more than just a celebration of history, though. It is a celebration of great things to come as the light from a menorah is meant to inspire people to perform acts of kindness to others regardless of religious preference.
"As a lifelong resident of Naperville, I firmly believe that kindness and compassion are sentiments we all share here."
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David Sharos is a freelance reporter for the Naperville Sun.
Emergency workers respond to Naperville North High School, where students said they felt sick after eating gummy bears on Dec. 6, 2016, Naperville District 203 officials said. (Suzanne Baker / Naperville Sun)
A former resident's essay about growing up black in Naperville, a wild pig, new restaurants and drug-laced candy were among the 10 most popular stories on napersun.com in 2016.
What it's like to be black in Naperville, America
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Brian Crooks, who moved to Naperville when he was in the fifth grade, wrote a Facebook post about his experiences growing up in Naperville as an African-American. Portions of it appeared in the Naperville Sun in July.
Naperville North students fall ill after eating tainted gummy bears
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More than a dozen Naperville North High School students were transported to the hospital in December after some ate gummy bears that appeared to be laced with marijuana.
Naperville ranked wealthiest city in the Midwest
Naperville ranks as the wealthiest city in the Midwest and the 19th wealthiest city in the nation based on income, housing prices and credit availability, according to a report released in May by financial website NerdWallet.
13-year-old skipping middle and high school to attend college
Kelly Li, a 13-year-old Naperville girl, opted to forgo her final year at Crone Middle School and her entire high school experience at Neuqua Valley to get a jump start on university life this fall at Mary Baldwin College, an all-women's institution in Staunton, Va.
On-the-lam Naperville pig meets his end
A pig that was roaming Naperville was killed by a USDA sharpshooter in the Springbrook Prairie Forest Preserve on the city's far south side after it was declared a nuisance animal because of the damage he was doing.
Naperville man charged with arson in Huber campsite fire
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A 71-year-old Naperville man has been charged with arson in connection with the fire that destroyed the campsite home of self-styled political protester Scott Huber.
Naperville community activist shot to death in Chicago
After playing cards with old friends in Chicago's Austin community, where his insurance agency had thrived for four decades, Naperville resident Ronald Allen, 73, was shot and killed. Detectives said they do not know if Allen, a social activist in DuPage County, was the intended target of the shooting.
Naperville Sun's guide to Christmas lights and holiday house displays
Always one of the most popular features, the Naperville Sun highlighted some of the best decorated houses in town.
New food, bar options come to downtown Naperville
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Diners and imbibers have a few new options in downtown Naperville to choose from, and even more to look forward to in 2017.
Christkindlmarket moves its suburban location to Naperville
Christkindlmarket, a German holiday bazaar that's become an institution in Chicago, moved its suburban location to Naper Settlement, allowing it to nearly double in size and establishing an ongoing event for Naperville.
Democrats pointing finger
Now we begin the official Democratic spin on the election loss.
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"It was caused by angry, white men, or James Comey" (Bill Clinton); "Russian hacking" (Obama); "Racism, or media's non-stop coverage of Trump, or the hillbilly-elegy crowd" (Clinton supporters).
They have a need to avoid blame for the loss, and instead, point the finger at everyone else but themselves and their candidate. Just like Benghazi, they do not want to accept any responsibility. Just like eight years of stagnant job creation, they want to point fingers at the other party. Blame deplorable, ill-informed, or dumb people for not being enlightened.
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Blame the FBI for investigating something that never should have happened in the first place -- unsecured email server usage. Blame racist, white guys and forget that 90 percent of blacks voted for Obama and Clinton. Blame hackers for finding and releasing existing information that was not attractive to Democrats. Blame the media for endlessly keeping Trump in the news and ignore the fact that all the news about him was negative.
Yes, spin the outcome to blame everyone else and do not take responsibility for your actions, then wonder why you lost the election.
Ray Schomas, Naperville
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Submit letters to the editor via email to suburbanletters@tribpub.com. Please include your name and town of residence for publication. Please include phone number and email address for confirmation. Letters should be no more than 250 words.
Maya Reynolds, 18, works out at the new Marvin Lustbader Center for Wellness and Fitness. (Irv Leavitt / Pioneer Press)
A handful of patrons were all done working out by 8 p.m. Wednesday, leaving fitness specialist Cameron Hill all alone in the three-week-old, 13,000-square-foot health club wing to the Bernard Weinger JCC in Northbrook, two hours before closing time.
"I can find something to occupy myself," he said.
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It's that period of time in the start-up of a new fitness facility that can get operators nervous, said Alan Sataloff, the four-year CEO of JCC Chicago. He remembers, while a California Jewish Community Center CEO, the quiet rooms after he opened a fitness center in Palo Alto.
"Oh my God, what have we done?" he remembers asking himself as he looked at rows of empty exercise machines.
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"But it's now a big success," he said. "It can take three or four years for one of these to get up to capacity."
The Bernard Weinger fitness operation has been closed for months as the old 1,500-square-foot gym was replaced with the Marvin Lustbader Center for Health, Wellness and Fitness in a $6.5 million project.
Sataloff said the Lustbader center, which opened Dec. 10, is intended to draw people into the facility, and the sight of Jewish art lining the walls will draw them into many of the cultural offerings of the center at 300 Revere Drive.
The art isn't there yet, but the hallways' look has been softened by replacement of the black tile on the floors with wood-like covering, and installation of modern lighting in the ceiling.
The front desk has been moved from behind a window-wall to bring staff into easy contact with visitors, Sataloff said.
The new facility includes a big room with about 50 exercise machines and free weights, a smaller room with a score of spinners and six rowing machines, a dance/Pilates room, and men's and women's and family locker rooms, serving both the fitness center and the existing indoor pool.
And there's also a shvitz, a traditional steam room for Jewish people.
"I'm a steam guy. Without the shvitz, I'm not here," said Barry Levin of Deerfield.
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He said that he belongs to two other area gyms which also have a steam room, but he's trying out Lustbader for three months, on a $79 month-to-month basis, for other reasons. Among the things he likes is that almost everything, except for personal training and Pilates, is free with membership.
"They've really built it the right way," he said.
He said he liked the new equipment, and the newness of the facility: "Everything is bright and cheery. I think they'll do very well."
He came in, for the first time, because he was looking for a place that was open on Christmas, and he found it.
Highland Park's Suresh Kurra, working out a few machines down, was not looking for a place to work out on Christmas.
"You don't have to be Jewish, right?" he asked. "I just got a flier in the mail and decided to come in. I've been here five, six times. Every where I go in the area, I don't find anything better."
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Hill said that the dozens of free fitness classes offered by the Lustbader center will swell the ranks. Levin said that it may depend on whether a new, attractive facility is worth losing most of your "gym buddies" from another location. Sataloff said that the feeling of community and common culture will appeal to many Jews.
"People will feel that this place belongs to them," he said.
ileavitt@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter @IrvLeavitt
Six Oak Park residents who are in the races to become village clerk or village trustee now face objections to their candidate filing petitions.
Oak Park resident Kevin Peppard has officially objected to the petitions of trustee candidates Peter Barber, Glenn Brewer and Emily Masalski and village clerk candidates Mas Takiguchi, Elia Gallegos and Lori Malinski.
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Peppard, a 1966 graduate of Oak Park and River Forest High School, said his only interest with the objections is to have a "clean election."
"I don't have a dog in the fight," Peppard said. "It's about enforcing the election code."
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According to Oak Park Village Clerk Teresa Powell, residents Robert Milstein and George Lazewski have also filed separate objections, which pertain to the same candidates.
The matter will be heard before the Oak Park Municipal Officers Electoral Board at 2 p.m. Jan. 5 at Village Hall, 123 Madison St. The electoral board will consist of Mayor Anan Abu-Taleb, Powell and Village Trustee Colette Lueck.
In one challenge, Peppard alleges the three candidates endorsed by the Village Manager Association trustee candidates Brewer and Barber and village clerk candidate Malinski should have each submitted 251 signatures to appear on the April ballot, rather than "bundle" the signatures collected together for all three candidates.
According to his challenge, Peppard said the three submitted a total of 735 signatures when the three should have submitted a total of 753.
Peppard also alleges the three candidates have "corrupted the petition signing process by inducing people to think that to sign for one, they must sign for all, even if a signer wanted to sign only for one" candidate.
Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley, the campaign manager for the Barber, Brewer & Malinski campaign, said the candidates are positive their petitions will be deemed valid.
"We are confident that our petitions are in compliance with the Illinois Election Code and look forward to ensuring that the vibrant diversity of the community is reflected on the ballot this spring for Oak Park voters," Mbekeani-Wiley said.
In challenging Takiguchi's petition, Peppard alleges several of the candidate's petition sheets are "invalid for lack of notarization," while one sheet is an "invalid affidavit" due to issues with the signatures of relatives of Takiguchi. According to Peppard, Takiguchi submitted 257 raw signatures, which left him a margin of only six signatures. Peppard says the loss of those sheets would leave him several signatures short of the required amount to appear on the ballot.
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A message left with Takiguchi seeking comment was not immediately returned.
Regarding trustee candidate Masalski's petition, Peppard alleges she submitted the nominating papers without specifying a date of election, sought to run as a nonpartisan where only independent and partisan were available, filed for a primary election when she meant consolidated election and has an insufficient number of signatures.
"I think the attention to Mr. Peppard's challenges will only increase the Oak Park sentiment that we have free and open elections in America and in our village," Masalski said. "Mr. Peppard is a self-appointed 'referee' who would like to stifle voters in local municipal elections. Oak Parkers are not in favor of a village government that could be influenced by patronage or party factionalism. We should let the voters decide who is worthy of representing the citizens of Oak Park. I want to make sure [the village] continues to thrive and the whole community has a voice."
In challenging clerk candidate Gallegos' signature petition, Peppard alleges she "failed to fasten those papers in any manner," which makes them invalid.
A message left with Gallegos seeking comment was not immediately returned.
In his objections, Peppard is seeking to have the names of all six candidates removed from the April 4, 2017 ballot.
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sschering@pioneerlocal.com
Twitter: @steveschering
Cynthia Ogorek highlighted her railroad books at the recent Railroad Show and Swap Meet in Crown Point. (Sue Ellen Ross / Post-Tribune)
Although Cynthia Ogorek has spent her entire life within a mile of the Indiana/Illinois border, the historian and author found she had a lot to learn about the Calumet Region.
Ogorek's post-college goal was to become an author of history, but the Calumet City, Illinois, resident first took a job as a museum director in Illinois. While writing a proposal for the Lincoln Highway, she expanded her research to include the entire Calumet Region. She has since written four books; the most recent one, "The Chicago and Western Indiana Railroad," was highlighted last month at Miles Books in Highland.
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"This book was written in partnership with South Suburban railroad historian and expert, Bill Molony," Ogorek said at the book-signing event. "It takes readers from the Ideal Section in Dyer to Geneva, Illinois, via the south suburbs of Chicago. All of these routes have had an impact on living in Northwest Indiana."
This book focuses on the terminal line that allowed four railroads to enter Chicago from Indiana more efficiently and less expensively, starting in 1879.
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Those four railroads were the Monon, the Erie, the Grand Trunk and the Wabash. The fifth line, the Chicago and Eastern Illinois, also came out of Indiana, but from the Evansville area.
All of these railroads gained access to the Chicago markets via Dearborn Station at the south end of Chicago's Loop
Her third book, "Along the Chicago South Shore and South Bend Railroad" was motivated by her work as a hostess/narrator while offering informational trips of the South Shore Railroad.
"Various groups hired me to do these tours," she said. "I realized that so many people didn't know the important facts involved with this railroad, so this led me to write my third book."
The South Shore Line is the last electric interurban rail line in the nation.
The second book, "The Lincoln Highway Around Chicago," involved much more research, and some historical societies agreed to let her use their photos. Her first book, "Along the Calumet River," was published in 2004.
Ogorek, who has been a member of the Lincoln Highway Association since 1998, hopes her readers will enjoy taking a little tour of local history, learning something they may not have been aware of, and value the heritage they grew up with.
Regarding her take on history research and reporting, Ogorek feels she is making a mark in the community in a unique way.
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"Our area, on an international level, is very interesting," she said. "In my small way, I'm leaving a documentation of what's gone on for the last 175 years in the Calumet Region."
Future plans for Ogorek include completing a book about Chicago's Hegewisch community.
Ogorek's books are available at local bookstores and online at Amazon.
Sue Ellen Ross is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
A group of women who identified themselves as family of the three children killed in an apartment fire overnight, hang teddy bears by a tree on Dec. 24, 2016, in Gary. (Abel Uribe / Chicago Tribune)
Funeral plans have been made for three children who died in a Gary apartment fire, according to Powell Coleman Funeral Home.
A wake is scheduled for 9 a.m., followed by a funeral at 11 a.m., Tuesday at Christian Valley M.B. Church at 19th Avenue and Adams Street in Gary, a representative from Powell Coleman Funeral Home, which handled the arrangements, said in an email.
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Cousins Jayden Mitchell, 5; Alaya Pickens, 4; and Yaleah Cohen, 2, died in a fire that occurred late Dec. 23 into Christmas Eve morning in the 4400 block of West 23rd Court, according to the Lake County Coroner's Office and Gary Fire Department. While a preliminary determination has been made, their manners of death will not be released until tests are completed, which could take four to six weeks, said Scott Sefton, chief deputy.
A man, who has not been named, was also being treated for burns from the fire, according to Gary police and fire departments.
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The fire was ruled arson earlier this week, started by an incendiary device, but a specific object was unknown, said Mark Jones, chief of operations at the fire department, in an email. The Indiana State Fire Marshal is assisting in an investigation, but Jones and Lt. Dawn Westerfield, of Gary police, said there were no updates in the investigation as of Friday afternoon.
Gary police "urgently asked" in a release Thursday for people with "knowledge of the events that occurred, leading up to, during and after this tragic fire" to "come forward." Those with information are asked to contact Detective Sgt. Shauna Poirer-Peter of the Lake County Metro Homicide Unit at 219-755-3855 or the crime tip line at 866-274-6347.
Community members brought stuffed animals and offered prayers for the families in the days after the fire. Gary Mayor Karen Freeman-Wilson offered her support and thanked first responders for their efforts in the fire, saying, "Any fire is sad, but a fire where you lose three children is simply devastating."
Indiana's American Red Cross also offered help to the children's families and neighors who may have been affected by the fire, said Duchess Adjei, regional communication director.
rejacobs@post-trib.com
Twitter @ruthyjacobs
Many of the residents of the 62 or so homes slated for demolition in Hammond said they're willing to go if the price is right to make room for the proposed Gateway South Shore station on a highly anticipated new line for the South Shore commuter railroad.
If the Federal Transportation Administration approves the Westlake line and provides half of the $600 million price tag over 30 years, the Northern Indiana Commuter Transportation District, which operates the South Shore, will build the Gateway station on Wabash Avenue in the city's oldest neighborhood.
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The area is bounded by CSX freight railroad tracks to the south, a South Shore double track to the north, and from Sheffield Avenue west to the state line. The Gateway Station would allow travelers to head east-west and north-south from one point.
Many of the affected homeowners are on the 200 block of Hanover St., between Sheffield Avenue and Wabash Street. Matt Jakubczyk, 89, a retired firefighter and lifelong Hammond resident, said he'd pull up stakes and move, if he has to.
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Allen Dixon talks about how NICTD plans will affect his neighbors on the 200 block of Hanover. (Jim Karczewski / Post-Tribune)
"It's like anything else, it's the future," he said on the porch of his tidy brick home with a postage-stamp front yard. "I don't mind. I think (the train station is) a good idea for a lot of people. If they give me a good price, I'll sell."
Jakubczyk said he would move into assisted living because he doesn't want to shovel snow and maintain property
Maria Jordan, 36, who lives with her elderly grandfather, a daughter, 11, and an autistic 2-year-old son, was not happy with the prospect of moving and said she would have to make special arrangements for her son.
"It's just life-changing plans. I'm just trying to figure out what to do," she said.
"We grew up here," Jordan said, pointing from her front door at homes along the street where neighbors said they all look out for each other. "Great-grandkids, grandkids, kids. My grandma grew up here. It's a family home."
While the federal approval and funding process takes a long time, NICTD and city officials said they will soon begin plans to buy the properties needed for the new line and the new station.
Rick Lomeli will sell if he has to, but then will move to Munster. (Jim Karczewski / Post-Tribune)
In November, the Hammond City Council unanimously passed the "Hammond Is My Home" ordinance, offering owners market price to sell their homes and an additional $5,000 if they relocate in Hammond. Those who do not sell likely will face eminent domain proceedings.
The decision to support the Westlake corridor, the Gateway station and a nearby maintenance yard was difficult, but it makes sense in the long run, said Hammond Mayor Tom McDermott, Jr. The city will invest about $900,000 in local option income tax proceeds over 30 years, or about $27 million, but it will get upward of $300 million in economic development, he said.
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The city recently ran into a similar situation when it widened Gostlin Ave., McDermott said. Some residents happily sold their homes, while others resisted, forcing the city to use legal means to get the necessary properties.
The same could happen in the north Hammond area, McDermott said.
"Some people will be devastated, and some will be happy, so we're going to run the gamut of responses," he said. "It's a super tough call, because you know people have worked for decades to improve their houses.
"But, as mayor, this is too good an opportunity to pass up for the City of Hammond, and I would be committing malpractice, as the mayor, if I didn't take advantage of this opportunity for the city."
James Douglas, who lives on the 200 block of Hanover in Hammond, keeps neighbors informed about the planned development. (Jim Karczewski / Post-Tribune)
There Mike Noland, CEO and general manager of NICTD, also expects mixed reactions.
"There's no doubt there's going to be some people who are not happy, but there may be others who may think this is like money from heaven," he said.
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Rick Lomelli, who has lived on the corner of Sheffield and Hanover for 30 years, said he'll take the money and sell his house, but will move to Munster.
James Douglas, 45, who lives in a two-story home in the middle of the block, pointed to each home and gave a brief history of its ownership. Douglas, who said he is on disability and cannot work, keeps neighbors informed of development details.
"All of us are kind of like family, because we're kind of secluded, being between the sets of railroad tracks. Everything's up for grabs, still. I would like to stay in Hammond, but, of course, they're breaking up our whole family here," he said.
Michael Gonzalez is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
The U.S. Attorney's office announced securities fraud charges against a 66-year-old Lowell man Thursday.
Richard E. Gearhart is charged with conspiracy to commit securities fraud, securities fraud and wire fraud, stated a news release from the U.S. Attorney's office. Gearhart's business partner, George R. McKown, 65, of Indianapolis, faces identical charges.
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Federal authorities said Gearhart and McKown sold securities to individuals who transferred their traditional pensions, annuities, 401ks and cash to invest in their Schererville-based company, Asset Preservation Specialists Inc., and promised them a guaranteed rate of return.
Gearhart and McKown were not registered with the SEC or the State of Indiana to sell securities, according to the indictment.
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"Gearhart had all the warning signs of a typical Ponzi scheme," said Secretary of State Connie Lawson. "He took advantage of people he knew and wasn't registered with my office to sell securities."
Gearhart's troubles began in 2013 when he filed Chapter 13 federal bankruptcy, according to court records. Several clients filed complaints against Gearhart in the bankruptcy case, claiming losses of more than $2 million collectively.
The indictment against Gearhart and McKown was the result of a joint investigation by the United States Postal Inspection Service, the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Indiana Secretary of State Securities Division.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
Three Republicans filed as of Friday to fill the District 1 seat on the Porter County Council that's being vacated by Jim Biggs, who has been elected to the Board of Commissioners.
County Republican Party Chairman Michael Simpson said Andy Bozak, Thomas Fieffer and James Ton have filed for the spot so far.
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Gordon Sheffer, who filed by Friday with the others, has since dropped out.
Biggs, of Chesterton, was elected to replace John Evans, who did not seek another term as commissioner representing the North District.
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Bozak, of Burns Harbor, is in his first term on the town council there.
Fieffer, of Chesterton, is the Portage fire chief.
Ton, of Chesterton, is retired as a longtime educator in the Duneland schools and is on the Chesterton Town Council.
A caucus to fill the vacancy will be held at 7 p.m. Thursday at Chesterton Town Hall, 726 Broadway, Chesterton.
Union Township vacancy
Union Township advisory board member James Foreman has submitted his resignation, effective Friday, so Porter County Republicans will hold a caucus to fill the vacancy at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 18 at the Union Township Trustee's Office, located at 251 N. County Road West.
Any person looking to fill the vacancy must be a resident of Union Township.
All persons interested must submit a declaration of candidacy form to the County Clerk. The form is available at the Office of Voter Registration in the Porter County Administration Building, located at 155 Indiana Avenue, Room 105, Valparaiso, Indiana 46383. The phone number is (219) 465-3486.
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All declaration of candidacy forms must be hand delivered or mailed to the Office of Voter Registration not later than 72 hours prior to the Caucus. Additionally, a letter of intent must be forwarded to the Porter County Republican Party Chairman Michael Simpson
Amy Lavalley is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
A man walks at a seasonally decorated street with illuminations for Christmas and the New Year installed in Moscow on Dec. 28, 2016. (SERGEI ILNITSKY / EPA)
Nothing much changes on New Year's Day except our calendars. We all know this. Yet we still attach meaning to an otherwise meaningless date.
We do this each new year with hopes of new habits, new plans, new dreams, and a new outlook on our lives. For most of us, however, it should be less about attempting new habits and more about abandoning old habits. Old bad habits, that is.
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Due to the daily comfort of repetition and familiarity, we're all habitual offenders of some kind. Our challenge is to leave behind those bad habits which, for the most part, define us although we forgot why or how we started them in the first place.
Maybe it's overeating to fill a bottomless void in your life. Maybe it's drinking booze so often that when you're not drinking booze it feels like something crucial is missing in your life. Maybe it's harboring so many angry, destructive thoughts that you forgot who you're so mad at. Or why you're so angry so often.
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Regrets can turn into bitterness in the blink of a lifetime. This may sound like poetic prose until you live several decades and realize you're still imprisoned by something that happened 40 years ago. Or as a teenager. Or as a child. Before you know it, you can't easily recall a moment in your life before resentment kidnapped your hope.
In our brains, bits of electrical or chemical information flow from one neuron to another neuron across a synapse, which contains a small gap separating the neurons. Too often we use the same pathways of thought because they're so familiar to us, so convenient to our thinking process.
The older we get, the tougher it becomes to forge new paths of thought, sparking new synapses in our mind. I view this brainy image as if we're making our way through a thicket of jungle by following the same paths that were forged earlier. Yes, it's easier and faster but not if it leads to the same quicksand each time.
Personally, I have too many thoughts that lead to emotional quicksand. I can get there in a nanosecond and, before I know it, I'm sinking in negative thoughts. Maybe this resonates with you too?
If so, what better time than now to realize this and act on it. Then you can begin to abandon those habits that have become your identity to others. Or worse yet, to yourself.
Otherwise it's easy to get bogged down in the daily muck of our lives, confusing complacency with normalcy. This is especially true after a long year of unchecked habits and routines.
In years past, most of my resolutions have been based on fear. Fear of getting too fat, too lazy, too complacent, too arrogant, too something.
In fact, fear is what pushed me into the newspaper industry more than 20 years ago. I feared losing my family's food business, so I sought a backup plan. It somehow turned into a career, without any kind of hope-filled resolution to launch it.
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A few years ago, I promised myself I would finally get out of credit card debt. It didn't come from an epiphany on New Year's Day. It came from a lecture hosted by Dave Ramsey, the best-selling author, radio show host and "money-vangelist."
His preachy four-hour seminar in Grand Rapids, Mich., attracted more than 9,000 believers, skeptics and potential converts. His charming Tennessee drawl and folksy colloquialisms served as disarming testimonials to his "I'm one of you" public persona.
Ramsey's "Total Money Makeover" promised to get attendees out of debt before graduating from "Financial Peace University," as he called it.
"I stole everything I know from God and your grandmother," Ramsey told the audience. "Your great-grandparents thought credit was a sin."
I showed up reluctantly, as I do most everything, figuring Ramsey's "debt snowball" sales pitch wouldn't knock any financial sense into my plastic-friendly spending habits.
"Being broke is normal in this country," Ramsey told the crowd. "I want to be weird."
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I realized that I had been normal for too long. I also wanted to be financially weird. But it didn't come overnight. Or from Ramsey's well-polished sermon, which included didactic scripture, entertaining stories and good old-fashioned common sense.
"Live on less than you make," Ramsey said.
Simple as this: Live on less than you make.
Such fiscal simplicity stayed with me through the years. Ramsey told us flatly that no company will save us. No government policy will save us. And no foreign country will save us. Period. This also stuck with me.
I began changing my spending habits (there's that word again) and paying off credit card debt differently. I knocked out smaller debts before aiming at my larger debts. It wasn't easy. I still charged items, but I did so smartly, usually with zero percent "promo" financing.
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I paid off one credit card at a time. I cut up each card after I paid it off. I used only one card for monthly purchases, accumulating reward points along the way.
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In 2016, I finally paid off all of my lingering credit card debt. I felt like I lost 50 pounds.
I didn't do it by adopting new habits so much as by curbing my old spending habits. I didn't start it on New Year's Day. I didn't harbor pie-in-sky dreams that were unattainable in one year's time. Yet I eventually shed that debt.
No, nothing much changes on New Year's Day except our calendars. But we can attach some kind of currency to this milestone date.
If you recognize only one bad habit to finally shed from your life, today will be anything but meaningless.
jdavich@post-trib.com
Twitter@jdavich
In 2016, we saw the Russian government interfere in our elections by supporting and perhaps ordering computer hacking into U.S. election systems, possibly to help Donald Trump win the election. (Don Emmert AFP/Getty Images)
Adios, 2016; don't let the door hit you in the backside on your way out.
Welcome, 2017; let's all have a happier new year.
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The aforementioned old year ranked with the rankest. The world became a scarier place, largely because Russia took on a more aggressive posture. We saw horrifying violence in Syria, perpetrated against the Syrian people by their own government, with the help of Russia. We saw Russia commit illegal aggression against the people of Ukraine. We even saw the Russian government interfere in our elections by supporting and perhaps ordering computer hacking into U.S. election systems.
At home, we saw acts of terrorism committed by American citizens, including the worst in history in Orlando, Fla., shocking violence against and by police officers, and here in the Chicago area we saw gun violence, mostly involving gangs, that led to scores of appalling injuries and tragic deaths of innocent children.
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Our election process, which has always been a reason to be proud of America, degenerated to unheard of levels of insult and personal attacks. Most disturbingly, it apparently worked, as the candidate who ran the rudest and crudest campaign rolled over his Republican primary opponents and squeaked out an electoral college victory despite losing the popular vote by almost 3 million. What we admire as Americans apparently is changing.
And here in Illinois, state government remained stalemated as leaders of both political parties decided there was nothing to be gained by having serious discussions with the opposition
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On top of all this, the Cubs won the World Series and Armageddon did not follow. Some South Siders might say the Cubs winning is Armageddon, but most of us celebrated didn't we?
Overall, 2016 was not our most favorite year. Let's hope for a better 2017.
Let's hope President-elect Trump can succeed in his promise to shake up the federal government and make it function in the best interests of all Americans. President Obama has been telling us that if Trump is successful, America will be successful. Maybe he's right.
Let's hope Gov. Rauner and Speaker Madigan can get together and have a conversation, maybe even get the state government running again.
Let's hope someone, anyone, can find a way to end the gun violence that plagues many of our communities and threatens all of them.
Perhaps most importantly, let's hope the new year sees Americans everywhere do a better job of communicating with each other. One shocking lesson we all learned during 2016 was that we have divided ourselves into groups that don't talk, that don't even have an idea what the other is thinking and why. That's a recipe for big trouble.
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Let's hope 2017 is a brighter, more peaceful year. Happy New Year to our neighbors near and far.
What's Quickly? It's where readers sound off on the issues of the day. Have a quote, question or quip? Call Quickly at 312-222-2426 or email quickly@post-trib.com.
Rick Perry in charge of the nuclear arsenal is more that scary. In fact, this whole new administration is a real nightmare attempting to take us back 200 years.
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Have you noticed in the last 60 to 90 days everything Obama does is historic or bringing hope to the future, his egotism amazes me. He has always spent more time writing his personal legacy narrative then performing his duties as president.
About the Popular Vote Compact, this year it was just a few states Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ohio that decided the election using the Electoral College. In 2000 when Bush lost the popular vote it was just Florida by 500 votes. So your complaint that California, New York, Illinois and Texas could decide the election is really pointless; it's just a few states deciding things no matter which way you go. I like one person, one vote and the majority wins.
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All of you Trump supporters are going to have egg all over your faces when you see how well Trump sticks it to the middle class. Voucherizing Medicare, raising the Social Security retirement age and shafting veterans. But I'm sure his family and businesses will make a fortune, just like in a third world dictatorship.
From the very beginning of his campaign, Donald Trump stated that he would make no cuts to Social Security because that was money contributed by payroll deductions from earnings. He also stated he would end the funding of Obamacare from Medicare cuts because Medicare was also built up from payroll deductions from hard working Americans. One thing you cannot deny about Donald Trump he is a man of his word.
For the last two months, watching the Quickly liberals having a melt down has been the best New Year's gift of my life. Thanks, Donald Trump!
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Taking his cue from Donald Trump, a prominent Israeli official is referring to our Secretary of State John Kerry as "pathetic." Is this how Trump intends to Make America Great Again, by encouraging disrespect of American officials and institutions around the globe?
Reputable psychiatrists and psychologists seriously suggest that Donald Trump is mentally unstable, and yet we have Quickly contributors who just can't wait for him to work his special magic and make the U.S. "so great" again. If the prospect of Trump assuming the presidency on January 20th does not strike terror in your heart, then you plainly are not paying the slightest bit of attention to his erratic and dangerous behavior.
Obama didn't ignore drug pricing. He was stonewalled by the do-nothing Congress for eight years and their buddies in the pharmaceutical industry.
If you wanted a president to address social concerns such as drug companies gouging us and approval to purchase drugs from overseas, you should have voted for Bernie not Trump.
Don't be fooled by the Quickly barker that wants you to believe that the Republican Party is laden with incredible wealth. There are more millionaire Democrats than there are Republicans.
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President-elect Donald Trump isn't having problems coming up with performers at his inauguration speech like a commenter suggest. He just doesn't want Lady Gaga or Madonna or Beyonce or Bruce Springsteen. They all played for the losing team.
Read more at www.post-trib.com/quickly
What's Quickly? It's where readers sound off on the issues of the day. Have a quote, question or quip? Call Quickly at 312-222-2426 or email quickly@post-trib.com.
Whoever would have thought the time would come when if you asked 100 people to name the greatest threat to our national security, more than half would say "the man who is about to become president"?
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I don't live in Chicago, but I feel that the new bag tax would make me avoid shopping there as much as possible.
Medicare Part D was a Republican program signed into law by President George W Bush. He insisted that the law not allow the US government to negotiate lower, bulk prices with the pharmaceutical companies. This is because Big Pharma lobbyists literally wrote the law and the GOP happily passed it to keep their campaign donors happy. Educate yourself.
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You mean if we were in the Popular Vote Compact the majority of citizens who vote will actually get to choose our president? What a novel concept, majority rules. That almost sounds like a democracy.
Republicans have painted our economy as a disaster area for the past eight years. Now, all of a sudden, the economy is wonderful, all because Donald Trump was elected less than two months ago. It's as though the steady improvement of the economy for the past 96 months under Obama just never happened. In the meantime, Trump sends out tweet after tweet congratulating himself. Disgusting.
Why is the P-T putting people who are proud to be ignorant bigots on the front page? That's just rewarding bad behavior. What's next, a feature article on some local Klansmen?
Trump did not get the majority of the American people's vote on election day. The Electoral College went against the will of the American people when they voted Trump into office. Its time for the Electoral College to go.
How funny, House Republicans want to slap penalties on lawmakers who protested on the House floor over gun control. But they thought nothing about the eight long years of gridlock they created.
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Your character shows that your private words and deeds match your public ones.
You call what Obama is doing "leaving a mess"? I say he is trying to protect the laws for the will of those elected him by a majority. Trying to stop Trump from doing damage isn't exactly what I would call "leaving a mess". President Obama is trying to avoid the mess that is coming.
We do not see the world as it is, we see the world as we are. Observation is really reflective.
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Until they start seriously separating church and state, all churches need to start paying taxes. No exceptions.
The Porter County tax assessor is upset because a tax hearing for a Hebron apartment complex has been moved to Indianapolis. Why in the world would a for-profit 80-unit apartment complex have a tax-exempt status?
Twitter gives stupid people the opportunity to let millions of people know they are stupid instead of just those within ear shot. Unfortunately one of those people is President-elect Trump.
Read more at www.post-trib.com/quickly
A high-speed train runs along the Shanghai-Kunming railway line on December 28, 2016. [Photo/China.org.cn]
In the next five years, China will invest 3.5 trillion yuan ($503 billion) to accelerate railway construction, including expansion of the country's high-speed rail network to 30,000 kilometers, a senior official said on Thursday.
"By 2020, more than 80 percent of China's major cities will be connected by high-speed railways," said Yang Yudong, vice-minister of transportation.
China released a white paper titled "Development of China's Transport" on Thursday, which Hu Kaihong, director of the State Council Information Office's Press Bureau, said is the first white paper to review the sector's tremendous changes in recent decades and to set goals for its future.
In the past few years, China's railway network, especially high-speed rail, has undergone dramatic change. From 2011 to 2015, China invested 3.58 trillion yuan to build 30,000 km of railway. By the end of this year, the nation's total railway length will reach 124,000 km, including 20,000 km of high-speed railway, accounting for 65 percent of the world's total high-speed rail.
In July, the National Development and Reform Commission issued an updated national railway development plan envisioning a 175,000-km rail network by the end of 2025, with 38,000 km of high-speed rail.
However, the high-speed railway network still faces challenges, especially in the less-developed western part of China. Yang, the vice-minister of transportation, said he is confident that lines in western China will eventually become profitable.
"Plus, building high-speed railway in less-developed regions is not only about recouping investment. It is part of the big project of rejuvenating the whole region and the country's economy," said Yang.
The high-speed rail linking Beijing and Shanghai showed a profit last year, Xinhua News Agency reported in July, quoting Tianjin Railway Construction Co, a shareholder of Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway Co.
Yang Hao, a professor of rail transportation at Beijing Jiaotong University, said the economic returns of a high-speed railway network shouldn't be judged solely on whether lines are profitable, since these rail-ways can leverage the development of such industries as tourism, logistics and real estate.
According to China Railway Corp, construction began on Thursday on a high-speed rail line linking Guiyang, Guizhou provincea transportation hub connecting members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nationsand Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
The 482-km line will connect the Shanghai-Kunming railway and the Chengdu-Guiyang railway to the north and will also link to southern coastal areas including Hainan province and Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
The new railway will accelerate communication between China and ASEAN countries and play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Yang Yujun [Photo: Defense Ministry]
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesperson Yang Yujun on Thursday voiced the Chinese armed forces' strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine.
During his recent visit to Hawaii, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe did not show the slightest remorse, but used the word "brave" to refer to Japanese military officers who died in the Pearl Harbor attack, said Yang at a regular press briefing.
Abe even mentioned the Japanese empire in his speech, Yang said, adding that all peace-loving people across the world should be on a high alert against such words and deeds.
"The aggression launched by Japanese militarism brought calamities to the people in related regions and countries. History is a mirror. There is no future if one cannot face the past sincerely," he said.
The notorious Tokyo war shrine, which honors 14 Class-A convicted war criminals among 2.5 million Japanese war dead from the WWII, is regarded as a symbol of the past Japanese militarism.
Flash
More than 200 people have died in the past year after taking psychoactive drugs known as "legal highs", the Home Office, Britain's interior department, revealed Thursday.
The Home Office said nearly 500 people have been arrested by law enforcers since a landmark psychoactive substances law came into force six months ago which made so-called designer drugs illegal.
New powers were introduced under the new law to tackle what officials described as the menace of so-called legal highs.
Home Office figures showed that new psychoactive substances were involved in 204 deaths in Britain in the last year, an increase of 25 percent compared to the previous 12 months.
Government minister for Vulnerability, Safeguarding and Countering Extremism Sarah Newton said: "We banned new psychoactive substances because they are not safe, they can devastate lives and we will not tolerate them in this country."
Police forces have stopped 332 shops across Britain from selling the substances since the new law came into force.
Police Commander Simon Bray, from the National Police Chief's Council, said that the Psychoactive Substances Act has fundamentally changed the way police tackle the supply and distribution of these dangerous drugs.
Offenders can face up to 7 years in prison for the supply, production, possession with intent to supply, importation or exportation of a psychoactive substance.
Police can also use new powers to shut shops or online dealerships selling the newly banned substances.
Flash
The 6th meeting of the Join Cooperation Committee (JCC) on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) is held in Beijing on 29 December 2016. [Photo/China.org.cn]
The 6th meeting of the Join Cooperation Committee (JCC) on China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was held in Beijing on 29 December 2016. The meeting was co-chaired by Professor Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Development and Reform (MPD &R) of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan and Mr. Wang Xiaotao, Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) of the Peoples Republic of China.
Federal Minister for Railway Khwaja Saad Rafique, Chief Ministers, Sindh Mr. Murad Ali Shah, Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa Mr. Pervez Khattak, Balochistan Sardar Sanullah Zehri and Gilgit-Baltistan Mr. Hafiz Hafeez-ur-Rahman, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi and Chairman Board of Investment Dr. Miftah Ismail, besides concerned Federal Secretaries and officials also participated in the JCC.
The meeting was held in a friendly and cordial atmosphere. Both sides underscored the significant of the CPEC for both countries to integrate with regional economics and become a model for win-win cooperation. The two sides reviewed the progress achieved after the 5th JCC meeting and discussed various issues concerned different projects under CPEC.
During the JCC, Pakistan and China discussed inter-alia; progress on long-term plan for CPEC, energy cooperation, transport infrastructure, Gwadar and Industrial cooperation. The two sides expressed satisfaction over the progress achieved on projects relating to the energy cooperation and transport infrastructure while emphasizing on the need to speed up the work on projects concerning Gwadar and Industrial Cooperation. They also discussed the way forward for the effective and timely implantation of various projects under CPEC.
Following the conclusion of the JCC, the two sides signed minutes of the meetings of JCC and various working groups including Agreements and MoUs relating to transport infrastructure, Gwadar and transmission line.
It was decided that the next (7th) JCC will be held in Islamabad next year, the dates for which will be decided by the two sides through mutual consultations.
Flash
Beijing has denounced as "greatly ironic" the Japanese defense chief's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which came shortly after she returned from accompanying Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his visit to Pearl Harbor.
Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying speaks at a regular news conference in Beijing on Dec. 29, 2016. [Photo/www.fmprc.gov.cn]
"This not only reflects some Japanese people's obstinately wrong view of history, it is also greatly ironic given the Pearl Harbor reconciliation trip," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday at a regular news conference.
Hua was asked about Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada's visit on Thursday to the shrine, which honors Japan's 2.5 million dead during World War II as well as 14 Class-A war criminals convicted of plotting and carrying out the war. She said that Beijing would lodge a protest with Tokyo.
The visit came right after Inada returned from the trip with Abe to Hawaii. The two joined US President Barack Obama on Tuesday for the first visit by a Japanese leader and a US president to Hawaii's Pearl Harbor, to commemorate the victims of the Japanese attack in 1941.
The Chinese Defense Ministry also voiced "strong dissatisfaction and opposition" to the shrine visit on Thursday.
Chinese Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun speaks at the ministry's regular news briefing in Beijing on Dec. 29, 2016. [Photo/www.mod.gov.cn]
"I also want to add that Prime Minister Abe's speech in Hawaii bore no sense of guilt but publicly called Japanese military officers 'brave', " spokesman Yang Yujun said at the ministrys regular news briefing.
During the Pearl Harbor visit, Abe did not apologize for wartime acts, but just conceded that Japan "must never repeat the horrors of war again". Yang said, "Peace-loving people around the world should be very alert for such remarks and actions."
South Korea's foreign and defense ministries also deplored Inada's visit, summoning Tokyo's diplomats in Seoul on Thursday.
Zhou Yongsheng, a professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University, said Inada's visit to the shrine right after she returned to Japan is "apparently a deliberate plan" to clarify the Japanese government's real attitude toward history.
"Abe apparently was putting on a show in Pearl Harbor for practical reasons and hiding Japan's own strategic purposes," he said, adding it is an embarrassment for Obama.
Wang Dong, a researcher of Northeast Asian studies at Peking University, said that although Inada's visit came one day after that of Japan's disaster reconstruction minister, it can be considered more serious given her position.
"After the Pearl Harbor tour, Abe is using the defense chief's shrine visit to respond to right-wing forces," he said. "The US has stepped back again and again on the issue of Japan's history, eyeing collaboration with Japan to counterbalance China. Such an attitude is sowing uncertainty in East Asia."
Police block road in front of the court
during Yang Huas trial.
(Photo: China Aid)
China Aid
(Guiyang, GuizhouDec. 28, 2016) A secretive trial was held for a prominent pastor in Chinas central Guizhou province on Monday. His lawyers said the court refused to grant the requests they and their client made during two pre-trial sessions, likely skewing the trial in favor of the prosecution.
The trial, which commenced at 9:30 a.m. on Dec. 26, reviewed the case of Yang Hua, a pastor from Huoshi Church held on a falsified divulging state secrets charge. While incarcerated, the prosecutors visited Yang, tortured him, and threatened his family in order to extort a confession. As a result, Yang requested that the prosecutors be barred from trying the case. Yangs lawyers, Chen Jiangang and Zhao Yonglin, sued these prosecutors in response to this mistreatment. Despite these actions, the court permitted the prosecutors to remain on the case and received forged evidence from them that incriminated Yang, who entered the courtroom with two bailiffs holding his arms.
In 2015, two Huoshi Church attendees leaked a confidential document that revealed the existence of a state-run headquarters dedicated to dealing with their church. The institution, named the Guiyang Municipal Command and Control Center for Dealing with Huoshi Church, reserves the right to control other government departments throughout Guiyang, prompting the lawyers to request that the trial be moved to a court outside of the centers jurisdiction. Officials ignored this request, jeopardizing the impartiality of the trial.
Because the case dealt with so-called state secrets, police blocked the road in front of the court and did not permit anyone from the public to enter. Yangs wife, Wang Hongwu, arrived at the hearing at 7:00 a.m. but was forcibly escorted home two hours later. Throughout the day, police patrolled outside of her apartment complex.
Yang Huas defense attorneys, Chen Jiangang (left) and Zhao
Yonglin, right, were among the only people allowed to hear
Yangs case. (Photo: China Aid)
On Friday, officials forced Su Tianfu, another of Huoshi Churchs pastors, to take a trip. Currently, China Aid does not know his whereabouts, intended destination, the purpose of the trip, or how long he will be gone.
Yang was originally taken into police custody on Dec. 9, 2015, when he tried to prevent officials from confiscating a church hard drive during a raid. The next day, he received two consecutive, five-day administrative detention sentences for the crime of obstructing justice and gathering a crowd to disturb public order. When Wang came to pick him up on Dec. 20, 2015, she saw him being forced to wear a black hood and herded into an unlicensed vehicle. Upon inquiry, she learned that he had been charged with illegally possessing state secrets and was being transferred to criminal detention in another facility. On Jan. 22, he was formally arrested for divulging state secrets.
The judge has yet to sentence Yang.
China Aid exposes abuses, such as those experienced by Yang Hu and Su Tianfu, in order to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians and promote religious freedom in China.
ChinaAid Media Team
Cell: (432) 553-1080 | Office: 1+ (888) 889-7757 | Other: (432) 689-6985
Email: [email protected]
For more information, click here
By Kang Siew Li, South China Morning Post | Dec. 30, 2016
Having a licence does not assure that a new airline can take to the skies in Malaysia. And even if the airlines have been in operation for a few years, there is no guarantee that they can keep their licence forever.
Rayani Air Sdn Bhd, Suasa Airlines Sdn Bhd and more recently, Eaglexpress Air Charter Sdn Bhd, found out the hard way about this.
Last week, the four-year old Eaglexpress had its air service permit (ASP) -- which allows a company to operate charter flights -- revoked by the Malaysian Aviation Commission (Mavcom) after it failed to comply with certain conditions imposed by the aviation regulator within the stipulated deadlines.
While declining to disclose what those conditions were, a Mavcom spokesman tells The Edge that the decision to revoke Eaglexpress' ASP was based on the commission's evaluation after a thorough review.
"The commission thoroughly reviews and assesses any application for an ASP or air service licence [ASL] based on criteria, such as the experience and competency of the management team of the company, feasibility of the proposed business plan and financial viability of the business."
"We have stringent processes to ensure that ASPs or ASLs that have been approved meet the set criteria. We evaluate and benchmark our criteria based on industry standard," he says via email.
Eaglexpress is the second airline to lose its licence this year after Rayani Air, which had its ASL revoked in June following a number of safety regulation violations and economic concerns about its viability.
A check with the Companies Commission of Malaysia (SSM) reveals that Eaglexpress is 25 percent owned by its director Chan Kah Woh, 20 per cent by its CEO Captain Azlan Zainal Abidin and 15 per cent by Kasmani Abdul Kadir. Chairman Tan Sri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad, director Datuk Wan Ismail Abd Rahman, director Shafie Ismail and former home ministry secretary-general Tan Sri Dr Aseh Che Mat each hold a 10 per cent stake in the airline.
The airline turned profitable in the second year of operation, posting a net profit of RM267,421 (US$59,632) in the financial year ended June 30, 2013 (FY2013), compared with a net loss of RM4.93 million (US$1.10 million)in FY2012.
For FY2014, its net profit surged more than 21 times to RM5.75 million (US$1.28 million) from the previous year, while revenue more than doubled to RM129.67 million (US$28.9 million) from RM57.47 million (US$12.8 million) in FY2013. It has yet to file its financial results for FY2015 and FY2016 with the SSM.
According to Eaglexpress' website, it was serving 19 destinations with umrah and haj flights to Saudi Arabia from North Africa, the Middle East, Indonesia, Bangladesh and Malaysia before Mavcom pulled the plug on the airline, which employs more than 300 staff, mostly based in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
Its fleet includes four Boeing 747-400s and an Airbus A330-200 and it was due to add a further two aircraft in 2016. By the end of 2019, Eaglexpress had planned to have 30 aircraft operating - a combination of six 747-400s, 12 A330-200s and 12 737-800s.
News of problems at Eaglexpress surfaced in June this year, when it was reported that it had failed to pay its employees salary and allowance arrears for several months.
The National Union for Flight Attendants Malaysia was also reported as saying that Eaglexpress had failed to pay employee benefits such as Employees Provident Fund and Socso since November 2015.
More recently, over 200 Eaglexpress passengers were left stranded in Nilai, Negri Sembilan, after the airline delayed and cancelled its maiden umrah flight to Jeddah, scheduled for December12, without proper reason.
The latest episode has also brought into question the vetting process of the Department of Civil Aviation Malaysia (DCA), which was responsible for airline licensing prior to the establishment of Mavcom on March 1, 2016. For one thing, Eaglexpress was granted an aircraft operating certificate (AOC) and ASP to operate non-scheduled air services (passenger and cargo) in August 2012 by DCA.
Asked whether DCA had been lax in its award of licences to operate commercial air services, the Mavcom spokesman says it is not in a position to explain how the processes are undertaken by another agency.
"The aviation industry is highly competitive and often challenging. Industry players or interested parties will need to be prepared as it requires a high degree of planning, financial depth, operational know-how and execution competency to stand any chance of succeeding," he says.
"A strong commercial foundation and depth is crucial in order to become a long-term and successful player in this industry," he adds.
To date, Mavcom has evaluated and approved issuance/renewal of six ASLs and 16 ASPs. However, the spokesman did not say whether there are concerns over the approval of the licences or whether more revocations will take place.
In the case of Rayani Air, the Mavcom spokesman says the airline has returned its ASL to Mavcom.
"Should Rayani Air intend to be a player in the civil aviation space in Malaysia, it can apply for a new ASL with Mavcom," he says.
In July this year, Mavcom had also launched an investigation into allegations that Suasa Airlines -- which operates Monspace Sky Airlines -- was operating a commercial flight without a valid licence from the Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Sepang to Langkawi. A police report was lodged against Monspace Sky Airlines for misleading the public by marketing itself as an airline.
"For Suasa Airlines, prosecution has been instituted and therefore it is a court matter now. Investigations of Monspace Sky Airlines are still ongoing and we are not able to share any information," says the Mavcom spokesman.
In order for an entity to operate a commercial airline business, it is required to hold an ASP or ASL, as well as an AOC.
The AOC -- which is granted by the DCA, an agency under the Ministry of Transport -- certifies that an airline complies with relevant technical competence and safety requirements. An ASP allows a company to operate charter flights, while an ASL allows it to conduct scheduled passenger services, like those of Malaysia Airlines Bhd and AirAsia Bhd. The issuance of the ASP and ASL comes under the purview of Mavcom which started operations in March this year.
Related News:
Malaysia Grounds First Syariah-Compliant Airline Rayani Air, 6 Months After Launch
Downtown Cleveland, Ohio, was once so desolate that a city councilman said on public radio that a bowling ball could be rolled down the main street without hitting anyone.
A decline in steel manufacturing jobsformerly the economic bedrock of the once fourth-largest city in the United Statescoincided with urban flight in the 1970s and 1980s, when middle-class residents left Cleveland for more spacious homes in nearby suburbs.
Home values in the city dropped as much as 90 percent in some neighborhoods during the years after the 2008 recession, according to The Cleveland Plain Dealer, and many areas still haven't recovered. From a population of 900,000 in 1950, the city now has about 385,000 residents.
But Cleveland has had a resurgence, so much so that it was the site for the Republican convention in July.
Cleveland has transitioned from a manufacturing center to a more service-based economy. Occupancy rates in apartment buildings have climbed more than 90 percent.
Real estate developers say the city's resurgence might not have happened if they had not received some timely assistance money that has come largely from Chinese immigrant investors and the EB-5 visa program.
EB-5 was created to stimulate the US economy through job creation and capital investment. It targets foreign investors who put at least $500,000 into a project that creates a minimum of 10 jobs in an economically depressed region. In return, the investors receive a two-year visa with a good chance of obtaining permanent residency for themselves and their families.
In 2014, the US issued more than 10,000 of the visas and about 85 percent went to applicants from China. This month, the Congress approved a measure to continue funding the program until April 2, 2017, when changes are expected to be made to the program.
The Cleveland International Fund is one of several regional centers in the US designated by US Customs and Immigration to direct EB-5 investments. Of the eight projects built at a total cost of $2.3 billion, the fund claims that foreign investors have provided more than $220 million, and of that amount, Chinese immigrants have been responsible for roughly 85 percent, according to Cleveland International Fund CEO Stephen Strnisha.
Strnisha said that EB-5 financing was a key element for an office building and hotel becoming a reality. That money went into not only the East Bank offices and hotel, but also into a $70 million renovation that created a 484-room Westin Hotel, two blocks from City Hall, he added.
Conglomerate claims sufficient funding on hand, but nuclear business risks signal trouble
Toshiba Corp's impending multibillion-dollar writedown has triggered one of the worst-ever share declines for a major Japanese company, with ratings downgrades and investor pessimism erasing almost all of its 87 percent rally this year.
Shares in the electronics and industrial conglomerate fell 17 percent to 259 yen at the close on the Tokyo Stock Exchange on Thursday. Toshiba said it may write down billions of dollars of an acquisition made by US unit Westinghouse Electric, fueling a share decline this week that has wiped out about 800 billion yen ($6.8 billion) in market value.
Moody's Investors Service, Rating and Investment Information Inc and S&P Global Ratings all responded by cutting Toshiba's credit ratings.
"Investor concerns are peaking, given that there are figures running into the several hundred billions of yen and no idea of what the actual losses are," said Masahiko Ishino, an analyst at Tokai Tokyo Securities.
"Amid the uncertainty, the share prices reflect the search for an appropriate level of value."
Toshiba can't seem to get past its accounting problems. The Tokyo-based company was recovering from a profit-padding scandal last year that claimed the jobs of three presidents led to record losses and prompted the company to cut staff and sell off businesses.
Toshiba was narrowing the scope of its business lines and counting on its nuclear reactors, which make up about a third of revenue, to fuel growth. A dispute over the value of a nuclear construction business acquired by Westinghouse Electric may result in a loss of as much as $4.3 billion, according to broadcaster NHK.
"We can't help but determine that the risk of a loss close to the reported figure is possible," Yukihiko Shimada, an analyst at SMBC Nikko Securities Inc, wrote in a report.
Toshiba said earlier this week that the writedown would exceed an initially anticipated amount of $87 million, and would probably be in the billions. It didn't elaborate further. Still, such a loss would eclipse the 168 billion yen in net income that analysts were projecting, on average, for Toshiba's current fiscal year through March.
Hirokazu Tsukimoto, a spokesman for Toshiba, said on Thursday that the company has sufficient funding on hand. "There is no reason to think that there will be an immediate impact on our financing," he said.
The conglomerate makes everything from refrigerators, chips and computers to nuclear power equipment. The potential writedown is related to a dispute over the value of CB&I Stone & Webster, a nuclear construction and services company that Westinghouse bought in January. It was involved in the building of advanced nuclear reactors at two US facilities, which are behind schedule and over budget.
Toshiba's financial standing could come under further strain, according to a statement from S&P. The risk that emerged in its nuclear business may negatively impact the evaluation of the company's risks, R&I said. The agency added that it can't ignore the fact that being on the Tokyo Stock Exchange's alert list would limit Toshiba's means to increase capital.
Bloomberg
Visitors to the congress stand in front of a 3D tunnel at the 33rd Chaos Communication Congress on its opening day on Dec 27, 2016 in Hamburg, Germany. The annual event brings together 12,000 computer hackers and activists over four days to share expertise and discuss topics related to society and the digital world. [Photo/IC]
BEIJING - China will maintain fiscal support for supply-side structural reform next year, according to the Ministry of Finance (MOF) on Thursday.
The MOF will help cutting industrial capacity, reducing the housing inventory, lowering leverage and cutting corporate costs, said a statement released after a meeting chaired by Finance Minister Xiao Jie.
Redundancies and loss-making "zombie companies" were highlighted in the statement.
The meeting agreed on support for the real economy, agricultural reform, poverty alleviation, technological innovation and manufacturing upgrades in 2017.
The MOF reiterated China's proactive fiscal policy and said it will expand expenditure to help hold the economy within a reasonable range.
More tax breaks and less administrative fees will be extended for businesses, the statement said.
Other issues discussed included taxation reforms, management of local government debt and international cooperation.
BEIJING - China is opening more sectors to foreign investment along with measures to level the playing field.
The State Council's executive meeting on Wednesday chaired by Premier Li Keqiang approved a new guideline to further attract foreign investment and advance China's opening up.
"We should take measures with great effectiveness in attracting foreign capital," Li stressed.
According to the new guideline, foreign investment access hurdles will be dropped in a number of manufacturing sectors, including rail transportation, motorbikes, ethanol fuels. Foreign capital will have access to energy, water conservancy, environmental protection and utilities via franchise agreements.
Catalog for industrial access for foreign investors will be amended to match the new measures. Foreign capital will be encouraged to enter high-end manufacturing industry, as well as manufacturing related services, such as industrial design and modern logistics.
"China's economy develops as we continue our opening-up strategy. Besides advanced technology and experience in management, China also need capital investment from overseas," Li said.
Accounting and auditing, architecture design and rating services will be open to foreign investment for the first time. Foreign funded firms will be cleared to join the national science and technology program as equally as domestic firms, and enjoy favorable policies designed for the "Made in China 2025 Strategy".
The new guideline emphasizes equal treatment for foreign investors, and no additional restriction is allowed.
Li emphasized that government at all levels should further streamline administration to reinforce the implementation of existing policies in attracting foreign investment and reduce institutional cost.
The new guideline highlights consistency in policies designed to attract foreign investment. Better protection of IPR for foreign investors is also covered.
The government will work to provide more convenience to help foreign investors and experts live and work in the country. In central and western part of China, foreign investment in the "encouraged category" will enjoy financing, land and taxation incentives.
Dongyang wood carving master Lu Tingfeng teaches Frenchman Guilhem Bouissou carving skills in Dongyang, East China's Zhejiang province, Dec 29, 2016. [Photo/IC]
Frenchman Guilhem Bouissou resigned his teaching job last October and then fully devoted himself to learning the Chinese craft of Dongyang wood carving in East China's Zhejiang province.
Dongyang wood carving, named after its place of origin, Zhejiang's Dongyang city, has a long history that can be traced back to the Tang Dynasty (618-907).
Bouissou's passion for this art was inspired by a trip to Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang province, in 2013, when he became fascinated with a set of Dongyang wood carving artworks displayed at the Leifeng Pagoda. The carvings were based on the touching classic story, the Legend of White Snake.
At that moment, he decided he wanted to learn how to make Dongyang wood carvings from the carvers who created the artworks he saw.
With help from a friend, Bouissou was introduced to a master named Lu Tingfeng, one of the creators of the artwork.
Although Lu refused Bouissou's request in the beginning because of concerns over language barriers, he finally took him on as an apprentice after being touched by the young man's sincerity.
Lu said Bouissou is very diligent and is now able to use a variety of carving tools and has mastered the basic skills.
Bouissou's wood carvings won several prizes in China this year.
Darius Adamczyk, CEO-in-waiting of Honeywell, will take office in March 2017. [Photo provided to China Daily]
Speed will separate winners from losers in the internet age, says Honeywell's CEO-in-waiting
Sitting in front of a room-sized aerospace simulator for pilots, Darius Adamczyk, president and chief operating officer of Honeywell, deftly shifts from topic to topicincluding in his animated discussion such diverse topics as aerospace, to the group's new line of the breathable masks that help protect people during the high pollution days in China.
The wide range of his interests reflects the extraordinary range of businesses of the $40 billion technology and manufacturing giant, from aerospace to control technologies for buildings, homes and turbochargers, to performance materials.
But Adamczyk, 50, who is to be the new CEO from the end of March next year, is pushing for even more changes in his groupdetermined to take the company to even higher levels of involvement in the digital age.
On his recent trips to China, he talked to his Chinese teams about how the multinational would gain more growth from blending its strengths in hardware with stronger presences in software in the digital age and how to encourage them to create new ideas as startups rather than in an established industrial conglomerate.
He believes the place to achieve such "breakthroughs" is in China, its second largest market after the United States. Adamczyk is clear about how committed Honeywell is to the countrywith its major presence, 13,000 employees and diversified businesses in manufacturing and research and development, serving both the Chinese market and international markets.
Honeywell wants to be viewed as a local player, acting at the brisk performance levels achieved by many domestic companies, he said.
"When I think about China, I can't think of a company that's more aligned to the needs of where the country is heading," said Adamczyk, citing the key areas of energy conservation, energy solutions, clean air and water, smart buildings, chemicals and work safety.
Recently he spoke with China Daily about the company's strategy and business opportunities in China. The following is the edited excerpts from the interview.
What are your strategies for the company in the long term?
No 1 is to continue to provide superior value to our customers and No 2 is to drive digitalization throughout Honeywell. We have a strong presence in software. But we have more opportunities to drive it. And all aspects of our business and strategies of software are very customer-centric.
Lastly I want to make sure that we operate in segments that are exciting and growing, and well aligned with mega trends.
How are you going to blend software programing with Honeywell's existing physical products?
Honeywell has been developing in internet of things and we have access to data. Honeywell is the company that has those products that actually generates that data.
However, we've used that information just to make the basically functional products. We now aim to integrate that data, with the information across the whole installation base that we have and across all our products, and think about our customers' challenges differently. We now have opportunities to redefine how we create new value for our customers through our software capability, installation base and domain knowledge.
What do you think are the most challenging issues for Honeywell to be more flexible and nimble in the internet era?
The speed is something that's going to separate the winners from losers. And in this new industrial softwareand certainly one of the things that I'm trying to enable in Honeywellit's important for us to be able to operate and come up with ideas at a whole different rate of speed than ever before.
What's your definition of a breakthrough?
I'm never satisfied with the current speed in growth. When we think of growth, I think about it as continuing to gain a share in our core markets, but also coming up with adjacent strategies that will enhance our overall growth.
So I'm pushing and driving the organization to be more creative to think about our offerings differently, to rethink what breakthrough growth means and to take the time to set metrics and expectations to make sure that happens.
What kind of incentives are you going to offer to your employees to be creative and to develop new products and new applications?
I am encouraging all of our businesses to create new ideas and create new organizational structures, to create new small businesses.
I want them to operate like startups. So I want to remove a lot of bureaucracy and encourage our people and businesses to embrace higher-risk, higher-reward breakthrough initiatives to really drive growth.
How do you prioritize your business portfolio to meet this goal?
As a new CEO takes over, we can take a look at the markets we are in and the markets we are not in and optimize our operations and where we are today.
I really want to align our businesses towards a lot of longer-term global macro trends. But most importantly for Honeywell, we have to be in segments where you differentiate yourself by technology.
Honeywell is a technology company.
How have Honeywell's Chinese operations performed this years, and what are their prospects?
They continue to do very well. We've had another strong year in China and we are anticipating it to be even stronger in 2017. We have seen a recovery in some areas.
One of the more challenging market sectors in China has been the oil and gas segment due to what's been happening there.
But overall, it has been a very strong year in 2016 and we look forward to an even stronger 2017.
You started your career as an engineer. What is your advice to people making the transition from engineering to management?
It's the most challenging thing to make that first transition from being an engineer. In my case, I happened to bridge my engineering career with an MBA, to go into the world of business.
But my advice to engineers is to take an assignment outside core engineering. Because the broader understanding you have, the more effectively you can make that progress.
You've been praised for succeeding in every business leadership role you have ever held. What's your secret?
It's about having strategies, having a group of people to work with and having the tactics to make sure the strategy is being executed every day, every week, every month, every year.
Everybody in the organization should be able to say how they are contributing to that strategy. Then it's about putting the operational systems in place. And lastly, people are critical.
What is the most important quality for a leader?
As a leader, you have to put a lot of energy and a lot of passion into the business. You have to be the spark that moves the organization.
That's something that I am always trying to do. I think the job of leader is to always set the bar higher, to always challenge the organization.
What are your hobbies and interests outside of work?
I spend all my spare time with my family. To make sure that you stay really grounded, what's truly important is your family.
CV
Age: 50
Career:
2017 March: CEO of Honeywell
Currently: President and Chief Operating Officer of Honeywell
Previous positions include: President and CEO of Honeywell Performance Materials and Technologies; President of Honeywell Process Solutions; President of Honeywell Scanning & Mobility;
Senior associate at Booz Allen Hamilton;
Electrical engineer at General Electric.
Education:
MBA from Harvard University;
Master's degree in computer engineering from Syracuse University;
Bachelor's degree in electrical and computer engineering from Michigan State University
Signage for Huawei Technologies Co is displayed at the annual Huawei Global Mobile Broadband (MBB) Forum in Chiba, Japan, Nov 24, 2016. [Photo/VCG]
Steve LaValle, the former chief scientist for Oculus who's now a professor at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, said on his Facebook page that he will join Huawei as the chief scientist of VR/AR/MR, in charge of global research and product development.
He Gang, the head of Huawei Technologies' smartphone unit, confirmed to The Paper on Thursday that LaValle will join Huawei. In June, He also said that China lacks VR/AR talents and Huawei plans to recruit top technical experts from across the world.
Steve LaValle. [Photo/Steve LaValle's Facebook]
Oculus, a famous VR equipment maker, was acquired by Facebook in 2014. Steve LaValle started working with Oculus VR in September 2012, and has been the chief scientist of Oculus till January 2015.
He developed head tracking methods based on inertial measurement units (IMUs) and computer vision, led a team of perceptual psychologists, and provided solutions for virtual reality calibration system and user experience comfort design.
He is also a co-inventor of Oculus SDK and helped Oculus develop two core technology patents.
LaValle said Huawei is a global business company, and China a burgeoning VR/AR market.
"Our visions of the future closely align, which is that a holistic approach to VR/AR research and product development is absolutely necessary, and must tightly integrate hardware, software, human perception, and neuroscience," said LaValle.
LaValle also shared a photo on his Facebook page in which he is wearing Huawei's uniform.
Huawei Consumer BG CEO Yu Chengdong also confirmed that LaValle will join Huawei. Yu said he interviewed LaValle in person.
Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, one of the world's largest telecom equipment makers, said on Friday it expects to record a 32 percent jump in revenue for 2016, thanks to a strong performance across its business platforms.
The Shenzhen-based company forecasts revenue will reach 520 billion yuan ($74.8 billion), said Xu Zhijun, Huawei rotating chief executive.
Agencies contributed to this story.
China has accelerated its anti-corruption pace ahead of a key meeting next week by announcing developments on three major cases on Thursday.
The Defense Ministry confirmed a bribery investigation against Wang Jianping, the deputy chief of the Joint Staff Department of the Central Military Commission, the top leading body of the People's Liberation Army.
Wang, a 63-year-old general, is the highest active duty military official to fall from grace since President Xi Jinping began a sweeping anti-graft campaign in late 2012, according to public records.
Wang Jianping [Photo/China Daily]
"Military prosecutors have been looking into his case," said ministry spokesman Yang Yujun. "The army continues to advance in anti-graft efforts, and in recent years it has caught many major suspects."
The last three generals arrested on corruption charges were two former vice-chairmen of the Central Military Commission, Xu Caihou and Guo Boxiong, and the former political commissar of the PLA Air Force, Tian Xiusi. They were all retired at the time of their arrest.
Wang joined the service in 1969 and spent nearly 20 years in the Army, according to his resume. He transferred to the Chinese Armed Police Force in 1996 and was promoted to general rank in 2014.
In another development, Su Rong, a former deputy State level official, stood trial on Thursday at a local court in Shandong province on charges of taking bribes and abusing power.
Prosecutors alleged that Su, former vice-chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body, took advantage of official positions to offer business favors and promotions to groups and individuals, accepting bribes worth about 110 million yuan ($15.8 million) from 2002 to 2014.
Su Rong [Photo/China Daily]
Su could not explain how he obtained additional assets worth over 80 million yuan, according to prosecutors. He pleaded guilty and expressed remorse during the trial. A verdict will be announced at a later date, the court said.
Also on Thursday, Xu Gang, former vice-governor of Fujian province, was sentenced to 13 years in prison by an Anhui province court for taking bribes of about 20 million yuan.
From 2002 to 2014, Xu abused his official positions to grant favors to enterprises and individuals in business operations and job promotions, the verdict said.
The announcements about the three cases came ahead of next week's plenary session of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, China's top discipline watchdog.
Members of the commission will meet in Beijing from Jan 6 to 8 to report on their work in 2016 and discuss tasks for the coming year.
Xu Gang [Photo/China Daily]
Yang Weidong, a law professor at the Chinese Academy of Governance, said: "The news on the three cases on Thursday shows that pressure against graft has not been weakened and will remain high next year."
Xinhua contributed to this story. Contact the writer at zhangzhihao@chinadaily.com.cn
A high-speed intercity train pulls out of the Shanghai Hongqiao Railway Station in Shanghai, Oct 26, 2010. [Photo/VCG]
In the next five years, China will invest 3.5 trillion yuan ($503 billion) to accelerate railway construction, including expansion of the country's high-speed rail network to 30,000 kilometers, a senior official said on Thursday.
"By 2020, more than 80 percent of China's major cities will be connected by high-speed railways," said Yang Yudong, vice-minister of transportation.
China released a white paper titled "Development of China's Transport" on Thursday, which Hu Kaihong, director of the State Council Information Office's Press Bureau, said is the first white paper to review the sector's tremendous changes in recent decades and to set goals for its future.
In the past few years, China's railway network, especially high-speed rail, has undergone dramatic change. From 2011 to 2015, China invested 3.58 trillion yuan to build 30,000 km of railway. By the end of this year, the nation's total railway length will reach 124,000 km, including 20,000 km of high-speed railway, accounting for 65 percent of the world's total high-speed rail.
In July, the National Development and Reform Commission issued an updated national railway development plan envisioning a 175,000-km rail network by the end of 2025, with 38,000 km of high-speed rail.
However, the high-speed railway network still faces challenges, especially in the less-developed western part of China. Yang, the vice-minister of transportation, said he is confident that lines in western China will eventually become profitable.
"Plus, building high-speed railway in less-developed regions is not only about recouping investment. It is part of the big project of rejuvenating the whole region and the country's economy," said Yang.
The high-speed rail linking Beijing and Shanghai showed a profit last year, Xinhua News Agency reported in July, quoting Tianjin Railway Construction Co, a shareholder of Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway Co.
Yang Hao, a professor of rail transportation at Beijing Jiaotong University, said the economic returns of a high-speed railway network shouldn't be judged solely on whether lines are profitable, since these rail-ways can leverage the development of such industries as tourism, logistics and real estate.
According to China Railway Corp, construction began on Thursday on a high-speed rail line linking Guiyang, Guizhou provincea transportation hub connecting members of the Association of Southeast Asian Nationsand Nanning, the capital of the Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
The 482-km line will connect the Shanghai-Kunming railway and the Chengdu-Gui-yang railway to the north and will also link to southern coastal areas including Hainan province and Guangzhou, Guangdong province.
The new railway will accelerate communication between China and ASEAN countries and play an important role in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Contact the writers at suzhou@chinadaily.com.cn
By Li Yingqing in Kunming and Zhang Yi in Beijing | China Daily | Updated: 2016-12-30 07:38
Tan Jianhua watches traffic during a patrol drill. Photo By Qian Cheng / For China Daily
Ship's captain joined police patrols after 13 friends were killed in 2011 massacre on the river
Tan Jianhua is not far past the midpoint of his career as a ship's captain, but he knows he wants to spend the rest of it ensuring safer navigation on the Mekong River.
After years at the helm of a ship, Tan became a surveillance officer in Yunnan province's border patrol police department, performing marine patrol and law enforcement duties on the river.
He took up the role five years ago, in response to a call for experienced helmsmen following a mass shooting on the river in October 2011 that shocked the world.
All 13 Chinese crew members aboard two cargo ships were killed and dumped in the Mekong River near the point where Myanmar, Laos and Thailand meet, a notorious drug-producing region known as the Golden Triangle.
In response, China reached an agreement with the three neighboring countries to jointly patrol the river.
Tan became a member of the police patrol police in November that year.
"I was excited when I set off to patrol the river for the first time as a police officer. I am happy to see my old friends who are able to navigate the river without worrying about their safety or their lives," the 40-year-old veteran seaman said. "I was acquainted with all of the 13 victims. We sailed together, we shared meals and we shot the breeze.
"Some of my old friends left the river after the massacre and some waited for things to get better. I chose to stay by the Mekong River because I have spent most of my career here."
Tan is a native of Chongqing municipality who came to Yunnan soon after graduating from a river transport services school two decades ago.
He gradually worked his way up the ranks, becoming a captain in 2004.
Dai Xiaolei last saw her son in 2014, when he was 17 months old and living with her in-laws in Baoding, a city in Hebei province about 156 kilometers from Beijing.
Her marriage was crumbling and, as relations deteriorated, she claims her husband's family blocked her from taking her son with her back to the capital.
"The last time I saw my son was at the end of this alley. It's like a fortress," the 37-year-old said outside her in-laws former home.
Reuters was unable to independently verify Dai's claim that the family has blocked all attempts to see her son.
Her husband, Liu Jie, filed for divorce, arguing that the marriage had fallen apart due to "conflicts in character, ideas and living habits", according to court documents. Dai pushed for custody, but in April, a judge ruled that it was best for the boy's physical and mental health to stay with his father.
Liu, a movie stunt coordinator, and his parents declined to comment.
As China's divorce rate rises, so too have calls by legal professionals for new laws that would clamp down on aggressive tactics used by some parents to take or retain possession of a child to gain the upper hand in custody battles.
Lawyers say judges tend to favor the parent who already has physical possession of the child in order to avoid further disruption to their life.
Dai appealed the custody ruling and lost. The court said the child's living environment was relatively stable and any change would not benefit his upbringing.
There are no laws against one parent taking sole possession of a child against the wishes of the other, lawyers say, reflecting a traditional view that family conflicts should handled privately.
The Supreme People's Court declined to comment on specific cases, but it said, "Maximizing benefit to the child is the basic principle by which custody decisions are made."
An anti-graft official in Sichuan province has been placed under investigation after he was caught soliciting a prostitute.
The probe into Liu Rui, former director of Deyang city's discipline inspection commission, was announced on Thursday, a day after the country's core leadership called for more supervision of officials involved in the crackdown on corruption.
Liu, 53, was still head of the anti-graft watchdog when he committed serious disciplinary violations, namely soliciting a sex worker, according to Li Yong, a spokesman for the city government.
The Sichuan Commission for Discipline Inspection, which released the news of the investigation, said it had no further comment on the case when contacted by China Daily.
The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the core leadership, held a meeting on Wednesday to step up the anti-corruption campaign, especially in terms of supervising disciplinary officials.
Anti-graft agencies and supervision departments at different levels should accept oversight from the Party, the public and the media, and improve self-supervision, the Politburo said in a statement after the meeting.
China should also push forward reform of the State supervision system, it added.
The Central Commission for Disciplinary Inspection, the top-level watchdog, is expected to hold its seventh plenary meeting from Jan 6 to 8.
Wang Qishan, head of the CCDI, has pledged that his agency will close loopholes in the system to ensure officials are loyal and clean.
"We should provide a suitable answer to the question of who can supervise discipline inspection commissions," he was quoted as saying in a Dec 6 statement on the CCDI website.
The anti-corruption agency is expected to draft guidelines next year to steer the work of discipline watchdogs at all levels, according to the same statement.
The CCDI said it has punished 38 discipline officials working at the national level since November 2012, when the Party held its 18th Party Congress. Seventeen of them were placed under investigation over allegations of serious disciplinary violations.
Meanwhile, disciplinary agencies at all levels nationwide punished a total of more than 7,200 employees involved in the crackdown on corruption over the same period, according to the statement.
Huang Zhiling contributed to this story.
A terrorist attack that left five dead in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Wednesday has come at the end of a year in which China has made significant progress in combating terrorism, a security analyst has said.
Three attackers slashed people with knives and detonated an explosive device after driving up to the Party committee of Moyu county, in the southern Hotan prefecture, at 4:50 pm.
An official and a security worker were killed, and three others were injured.
Police shot dead all three attackers at the scene, the Ministry of Public Security was quoted as saying by Xinhua News Agency on Thursday. The case is still being investigated, it added.
Li Wei, a counter-terrorism expert at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the violence came at the end of an otherwise largely peaceful year thanks to government efforts.
"Besides the Moyu attack, no major terrorist attacks have happened in China this year, as authorities have been striking hard against terrorist activities in accordance with the law," he said. "The measures to fight terrorism have been proven to be effective."
The attackers targeted government authorities during office hours, clearly a move to demonstrate their political goals, Li added.
Xinjiang, which has a predominantly Muslim population, has been China's main battleground in the fight against terrorism, separatism and extremism.
Even with the prevention measures now in place, Li said it is extremely difficult to stop every attack. He said the public and authorities should be prepared and stay vigilant to threats from home and abroad.
People in Hotan prefecture are known for fighting back against terrorists. In August 2014, more than 30,000 villagers in Moyu joined with police officers to help capture 10 suspects, while in June 2014, people of Hotan city fought off three knife-wielding attackers.
Chen Quanguo, who was appointed as Party chief of Xinjiang in August, said in November that preventing terrorism and maintaining social stability are the overriding political goals for the region.
The region has introduced strict security measures in public places, such as shopping centers and on public transportation, with round-the-clock armed patrols and compulsory checks on bags and luggage.
Chen urged Xinjiang officials to crack down on existing terrorist cells and prevent more people from getting involved in terrorist or separatist activities.
The newest 200 State-level drug inspectors were sworn in at a work conference held by the top drug authority on Thursday, bringing the total number of inspectors within the force to 649, including 108 who specialize in overseas inspections.
The team performs on-site inspections at pharmaceutical factories to ensure drug safety and public health, said Bi Jingquan, head of the China Food and Drug Administration.
It's the latest move by the country to establish a full-time professional on-site drug inspection team.
"Their inspections cover the whole process, including drug research and development, manufacturing and sales, while discipline supervision over their work ensures an open and fair practice," he said.
Previously, drug inspections in China mainly involved standard checking of end products rather than a system addressing the whole process, according to Zang Kecheng, administrative office chief of the CFDA's Center for Food and Drug Inspection. Most of the inspectors work part time on the task.
"There were not enough staff members to meet demand. Also, focusing only on the standard of end products cannot guarantee quality and safety, as regulations can be circumvented," he said.
For example, in previous food safety cases involving gutter oil, the end product - illegal cooking oil recycled from waste oil collected from sources such as sewer drains - actually met standards during tests.
To avert such a situation, "inspections covering the entire production process must be in place to better protect the people", Zang said.
Zhang Hua, a veteran drug inspector from Shanghai, said inspections at drug manufacturing plants usually take four to five days and mainly target infrastructure, workers' competence and quality control systems.
"It's technically challenging and requires inspectors to have a professional background in pharmaceutical chemistry and a knowledge of the industry as a whole," she said.
Zhang also has to have a strong command of the English language as she performs her duties overseas, largely on production sites of foreign pharmaceutical companies that export drugs to China.
"We are short staffed, so my colleague and I are traveling 200 days a year doing inspections," she said.
Zang said the government has been building up the team and capacity for drug inspections, adding that the US Food and Drug Administration has 5,000 full-time drug inspectors.
A keeper feeds Pan Pan at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda in Chengdu, Sichuan province, on Dec 21.Xue Yubin / Xinhua
Pan Pan, the world's oldest male panda, died age 31 in Sichuan province at 4:35 am on Wednesday.
An autopsy is being carried out to discover the cause of his death, though the circumstances are not thought to be suspicious.
"Pan Pan was equivalent to about 100 human years, but he had been living with cancer and his health had deteriorated in the past three days," said Tan Chengbin, a keeper at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda. "He lost consciousness and did not recover."
Pan Pan was genetically linked to several pandas at the Smithsonian's National Zoo in Washington. A report on the Washingtonian website described Pan Pan as linked to about one-fourth of the world's population of captive-born pandas, including Tian Tian and three cubs raised at the National Zoo in Washington since 2005.
Though born in the wild in Sichuan's Baoxing county in 1985, Pan Pan lived in captivity from just a few months old.
"Panda Grandpa", as he became known, was diagnosed with cancer in June, and also suffered from common old-age conditions, such as cataracts and poor dental health.
A reporter from Xinhua News Agency, who last saw Pan Pan on Dec 21, said he was in a "nursing home" for elderly pandas, and though he was very thin, he was in good spirits.
"When the keeper called his name and offered him food, usually steamed cornbread or fresh bamboo leaves, he was able to respond and move outside to eat," the reporter said.
Pandas are notoriously difficult to breed, but Pan Pan lived a particularly active life for a panda and fathered many cubs over the past 20 years, and is said to have had more than 130 descendants.
The average life span of wild pandas is normally 20 years, but those in captivity usually live longer.
Students at Beijing's Bayi School, President Xi Jinping's alma mater, have a new reason to boast: They worked with space scientists to develop and launch Chinese teenagers' first satellite, which is now orbiting hundreds of kilometers above Earth.
The 2.4-kg mini-satellite, Bayi Youngsters' Expedition, was launched atop a Long March 2D carrier rocket on Wednesday morning from the Taiyuan Satellite Launch Center in Shanxi province. The major task of the launch was to lift two commercial Earth-observation satellites that are much larger and heavier.
The mini-spacecraft has a designed life span of 180 days in a sun-synchronous orbit and then will be controlled to fly back into the atmosphere to burn out so it won't become space debris, said Zhou Xiubin, a senior researcher at the China Aerospace Science and Technology Corp who oversees the project.
He said the satellite has equipment to take pictures of the ground and to conduct radio communication and audio transmission experiments.
The spacecraft and instruments were designed and assembled by about 40 Bayi students instructed by more than 20 experts at the China Center for Aerospace Science and Technology International Communications, where Zhou is a deputy director, as well as the China Academy of Space Technology and Nanjing University of Science and Technology.
"Students who were at a ground tracking and control station in Kashgar (in the Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region) received signals sent from the satellite as soon as it started to orbit Earth yesterday," he said on Thursday. "It is working well. Now we can call the project a success."
Zhu Kai, vice-dean of Bayi School, said his students plan to use the spacecraft to observe Earth and to transmit Chinese songs back to Earth. He said the school will take advantage of the satellite to popularize space knowledge.
Bayi School has built a ground tracking and control station on its campus and is training its students to use the facility, according to Zhu.
Before Wednesday's launch, President Xi sent a letter to students at Bayi School who are taking part in the project, saying he was pleased with their passion and bravery in the exploration of science and technology.
Xi also said he hopes the students will remain interested in exploring new things.
Yang Shangwen, a satellite designer who mentored students in the satellite's development, said that the United States, Russia and Israel are among other countries that have launched satellites designed by teenagers. He said the Chinese students were selected from applicants according to their academic performance in science and innovation.
Xu Yifei, a Bayi student and member of the development team, said she helped design the satellite's power system. She also has applied to take part in the tracking work because "I have been charmed by the beauty of space exploration and want very much to continue to be part of the satellite's operations".
Boys at an elementary school in south China's Guangzhou City were forced to apply first before going to the toilet even during breaks as a punishment for failing to follow a dress code, according to Guangzhou Daily.
The rule has been enforced since Dec. 12 for a class of third graders in Shuiyinlu Elementary School in Guangdong Province. In the 10-minute break, children have been required by the head teacher Liu to sit on their seats and make an application if they want to answer the call of nature.
Reports say Liu made the requirement after the class lost a collective honor because several boys forgot to wear red scarfs.
The harsh requirement has lead to discomfort among some pupils.
Parents said some boys now suffer from urinary problems. One child had to relieve himself in the classroom, bringing him shame and causing him to return home in tears.
Teacher Liu is strict with students, according to parents, ordering students as well as parents to make written apologies for poor performances in a subject.
Several parents once wrote a joint letter demanding another head teacher when the students were first graders, accusing her of lacking compassion and pursuing fame through improper means.
But the teacher said she has more than 20 years of teaching experience and parents have no right to decide whether her methods are good or bad.
She refused to give an explaination when a reporter tried to reach her.
Education authorities in Guangzhou's Yuexiu District said they had started an investigation.
He Wenxun, born in Pan county, Guizhou, in 1929, joined the army of the Communist Party in 1948. He was allocated to Ceheng county as an official in charge of infrastructure construction after the founding of the People's Republic of China. [Photo/sohu.com]
For 41 years, He Wenxun has lived a double life. By day, he was a father, grandfather, husband and a seemingly-ordinary citizen; by night, he was the guardian of a secret government shelter beneath his home.
The octogenarian man from Guizhou province guarded and maintained a government air-raid shelter in secret for more than 40 years after receiving the command from his then superior officer.
Only now has He revealed his secret duty, after becoming concerned that his bad health would prevent him from taking care of the shelter.
Comrades at the people's armed forces department in Ceheng county in the Qianxinan Bouyei and Miao autonomous prefecture were amazed when He walked in to seek relief from his duties. Not only had the department forgotten that He was never officially relieved of his post, they had no official record of the shelter even existing.
He told an official of the department that he had been watching over the air-raid shelter for more than four decades and that he was too old to continue the job, so he had to tell the department.
He Wenxun said that he was assigned by the then head of the people's armed forces department to set up an air-raid shelter in 1975. The work was required to be kept a secret and no drawings were allowed to remain of the building after its completion. Though difficult, He finished the construction in four months with the help of about 100 people which were selected strictly.
However, the tumultuousness of the "cultural revolution" (1966-76) upset the original plan and the people who were in charge of the project were transferred, leaving He the sole guardian of the shelter.
To accomplish the work, He lived in a small house built above the shelter and checked and cleaned it regularly. He kept the secret to himself and even to his children, expecting the people's armed forces to contact him at some point.
When his family tried to persuade him to move house and live with them, they were bemused when He flatly refused to do so.
"Now we finally know why he refused to move," said He Wenxun's son. "My father just wanted stay with the shelter."
He felt his body is getting worse and was worried there would be no one to maintain the shelter when he passed away, so he decided to make contact with the government.
Ren Bo from the people's armed forces department explained that because all the information about the shelter was lost in the chaos time, they didn't know there was a shelter.
At the office of the department, the old man retold the story while sketching the layout of the shelter. The officials then checked the shelter under He's guidance and found it was well preserved even after almost half a century.
As a tribute to He's unwavering commitment to his post, the local people's army department have honored him as a moral model.
As for the shelter, the county's Civil Air Defense Office will take it over and convert it to make it suitable for modern air defense use.
He can now happily retire without the burden of secrecy.
Edited by Jacob Hooson
Two former officials indicted for graft in China
Xinhua | Updated: 2016-12-30 13:41
BEIJING - Gong Qinggai, a former senior Taiwan affairs official, and Liu Zhigeng, former vice governor of southern China's Guangdong Province, have been indicted on suspicions of bribery, the Supreme People's Procuratorate (SPP) said Friday.
Gong, former deputy head of the Taiwan Work Office of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, was indicted by local prosecutors in Anyang City, Henan Province.
According to the indictment, Gong is accused of taking advantage of his posts when he worked in Fujian Province to seek benefits for others, asking for and illegally accepting a huge amount of money and property.
Liu was indicted by local prosecutors in Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region.
He is accused of taking advantage of his posts when he worked in Guangdong to seek benefits for others and illegally accepting a large amount of money and property, according to the indictment.
Xinjiang prosecutors set up anti-terrorism team
Xinhua | Updated: 2016-12-30 14:36
URUMQI - The Xinjiang regional procuratorate said it has set up a special team to handle cases related to terrorism.
The team will consist of 30 prosecutors in the prefectures of Kashgar, Hotan, Aksu, Yili Kazakh Autonomous Prefecture, Mongolian Autonomous Prefecture of Bayingolin and Urumqi, six important regions for targeting terrorism, said Guo Lianshan, deputy prosecutor-in-general of the regional People's Procuratorate.
Xinjiang aims to have 5,808 people working at different levels of procuratorates, including 2,119 prosecutors plus assistants and administrative staff, Guo said.
On Wednesday, three knife-wielding rioters attacked the Moyu County Committee of the Communist Party of China and detonated explosives, killing two people and injuring three others. The Ministry of Public Security said the three rioters were shot dead at the site.
Moyu is located in Hotan prefecture.
Host Jin Xing (left) talks with a female guest and her family members during the show. [Photo/Weibo.com]
A new dating show is sparking huge controversy online after inviting bachelors' parents to judge if a candidate is a good match for their son, leaving the audience questioning whether Chinese men are overindulged and their families meddle too much in marriage.
The first episode of Chinese-style Blind Date premiered on Shanghai Dragon Television Saturday. It involves five single men, who are required to stay in a separated room offstage while watching a monitor as their parents interact with the single women. During the process, family members can press the light in front of them if they are satisfied with the candidates.
When asked to describe their ideal daughter-in-law, parents almost unanimously agreed that she should be hardworking, intelligent, pretty and caring. Some of the standards seemed prejudiced. For example, the mother of a 23-year-old Tianjin native Zhao Haoran insisted that her son should not marry someone with cold hands, alleging that such a woman may give birth to unhealthy babies. Only one family said their son's preference would come first.
The show culminated when a contestant, Lin Jiali, stepped onto the stage with her homemade soup, seemingly winning the hearts of all the family members and the bachelors. However their attitude changed dramatically when Lin revealed that she is, 40 years old, divorced and has a son. Only Zhao Haoran expressed interest in Lin but the two failed to "hold hands", under the strong objection of Zhao's parents, who said that they would like two to three grandchildren, implying Lin is too old for that.
The show immediately provoked hot debate among viewers. Some netizens condemned it, saying it objectifies women and is a step backwards to the arranged marriage based on utilitarianism in feudalistic times.
"It is not right to bring a women on stage to be judged by others," one Weibo user said. "I am furious when some parents asked disrespectful and intruding questions to the candidates, such as their age and if they had any plastic surgeries."
"They are looking for a combination of breeding machine, a nanny and a tool for money. I didn't feel any sincerity," commented another.
Others said that parents spoil their sons too much and have raised them to be "mama's boys", " giant babies" and men with "straight-man cancer", a term referring to some men's clinging on to traditional Chinese norms in relationships, such as suppressing women's rights, devaluing female labor and branding educated women as unattractive.
"I am disappointed at the behavior of the men, who have zero respect for women," said one Weibo user, referring to the male participants' self-centered and blunt comments on the bachelorettes.
"The giant babies should better be left with their parents for life."
There are also viewers who believe the show to some extent reflects the reality of contemporary Chinese society.
"This is how marriage works in many Chinese families. There is no need to disguise it", a viewer said.
Liu Yuan, producer of the show, said in a Guangzhou Daily report that rather than an old-style, parent-arranged blind date, the show provides a channel for young people to communicate with the elder generation. "The parents and the matchmaking host are just providing suggestions and cannot make the final decision," Liu said.
When asked whether this is unfair for the women, Liu said the show will turn around in the next episode by asking women's families to select men.
NANNING -- A man convicted of setting a bus on fire two years ago was sentenced to death Friday by the Intermediate People's Court of Liuzhou city, South China's Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region.
The defendant Song Yanli set the bus on fire using gasoline to vent his anger over a personal dispute on Nov 21, 2014 in Liuzhou, Guangxi.
Eleven people were injured, and the bus was left as an empty shell. Song fled the scene but was caught by police three days later.
Song, convicted of arson, posed a severe threat to public security and showed no remorse, a court statement said. Accordingly, the court sentenced Song to the death penalty.
The statement did not mention whether the defendant would appeal.
GUANGZHOU -- Ma Xingrui was appointed acting governor of South China's Guangdong province on Friday.
Ma was also named deputy governor of the province at a session of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, which accepted the request of Zhu Xiaodan to leave the post of governor.
Ma is currently deputy secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the secretary of the CPC Shenzhen City Committee.
BEIJING -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for more efforts to carry out reforms in the next year, stressing policy coordination and responsibility.
China will push forward reform measures in key areas, which are state-owned enterprises, taxation, finance, land, urbanization, social security, ecological progress and opening up, according to a meeting of the Central Leading Group for Deepening Overall Reform, chaired by Xi.
A slew of guidelines and plans were also passed during the meeting.
Friday marks the third anniversary of birth of the leading group, which has convened a total of 31 meetings since its establishment, with hundreds of measures designed and released to propel reforms.
BEIJING -- China on Friday welcomed a nationwide ceasefire agreement signed by the Syrian government and major opposition groups Thursday, adding that implementation of the ceasfire was of key importance.
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a press briefing.
She said China supports the positive efforts made by concerned parties in reaching the truce.
The agreement, brokered by Russia and Turkey and agreed upon by the Syrian government and major opposition groups, came into force at midnight local time Thursday, as the latest attempt to end nearly six years of civil war.
Hua stressed that the ceasefire is an important guarantee for pushing forward a political settlement to the Syrian crisis.
It will also help ease humanitarian tension and step up the fight against terrorism in Syria, she added.
China hopes the Syrian government and major opposition groups will seriously implement the truce, said Hua, calling on other opposition groups to join the agreement as soon as possible.
China hopes that all parties can resolve their concerns through peaceful means and finally reach a political solution that will help stabilize Syria and benefit the Syrian people, she said.
QINGDAO -- China's expedition ship "Xiangyanghong 01" returned to Qingdao Port Friday afternoon after its maiden scientific research trip to the Indian Ocean.
The ship left the port in eastern China's Shandong Province on Oct. 19 with about 80 researchers and more than 40 sets of equipment. It sailed 13,000 plus nautical miles in 73 days.
According to Liu Lin, chief scientist of the expedition, they gained first-hand physical, chemical, biological and meteorological data from the southern part of the Indian Ocean.
Before the journey Liu told Xinhua that they would study monsoons in the Indian Ocean and the impact of air-sea exchanges on East Asian climate change.
"Xiangyanghong 01" was commissioned in June. It is a new-generation ocean-going expedition ship, with a displacement of 4,980 tonnes and a range of 15,000 nautical miles.
ZHENGZHOU -- Le Dake, a former senior legislator in Southwest China's Tibet autonomous region, was sentenced to 13 years in prison for taking bribes on Friday.
According to the court, Le was also fined 2 million yuan ($290,000), and his illegal gains shall be recovered and turned over to the state treasury.
Le, former deputy director of the Standing Committee of the Tibet Autonomous Regional People's Congress, was found to have taken advantage of various official posts from 2005 to 2014 to seek benefits for others in project contracting and official promotions and reassignment.
He accepted bribes worth over 18.7 million yuan either himself or through his relatives, according to the ruling.
Zhengzhou City Intermediate People's Court in central China's Henan Province said it showed leniency as Le confessed to his crimes, expressed remorse and voluntarily returned his illegal gains.
CHANGSHA -- Three people were killed and another was injured in a highway pileup in Central China's Hunan province on Friday.
The accident struck at around 8:20 am on the Hunan's Changde section of a highway linking Inner Mongolia in north China with Guangdong Province in the south, according to the provincial expressway traffic police bureau.
The victims were travelling in a van. Two of them were killed on the spot while the other died in hospital.
One of the vehicles was a tanker containing phosphoric acid, according to the provincial expressway management bureau.
Traffic resumed at around 6 pm.
China rebutted a recent report that Zimbabwe had sent wild animals, including 35 elephant calves, to China to pay for a military debt, saying it is "sheer nonsense with an ulterior motive".
The Times newspaper in London reported on Monday that Grace Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, had sent safari animals to a Chinese wildlife park to pay for military uniforms for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"I want to emphasize that this is a normal commercial activity, which is in line with relevant international conventions and laws in both countries" Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news conference on Thursday.
Madrid's city hall on Wednesday announced that it had ordered half of most private cars off the roads to fight pollution, a first in Spain.
From Thursday, "vehicles with even-number registration plates will be allowed to drive around on even-number days and cars with odd-number registration plates on odd-number days," it said in a statement.
The measure will be re-evaluated on a daily basis depending on pollution levels.
The first Chinese Culture Talk on the Silk Road in Xinjiang and relations between Luoyang and the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) was held in Latvia recently.
Wubuli, deputy-director of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Bureau of Cultural Heritage, and Zhang Deshui, deputy-director of the Henan Museum, were invited to give the joint lecture.
Wubuli introduced the Silk Road's history and its contribution to bridging Asia and Europe. The Silk Road is an historic route of commerce, pilgrimage and cultural communication between the two continents.
He said the part in Xinjiang is the most important section and that it covers 1/4 of the Silk Road's entire length. The Silk Road was divided into many branches, which went to East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia. Two civilizations based in agriculture and a nomadic lifestyle met in Xinjiang and formed a unique, diversified culture.
Zhang started his lecture by introducing Luoyang and its importance in Chinese history. As the starting point of the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty, Luoyang was the center of politics, economy and culture in ancient China in that era.
2016 marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Latvia. An exhibition featuring a series of cultural relics from Henan and Xinjiang also was held, along with the culture talk.
About Chinese Culture Talk
Chinese Culture Talk is a series of high-level cultural and academic lectures launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Culture of China. More than 70 lectures had been held in about 30 countries by the end of 2016, including the US, France, Italy, Cambodia and Indonesia. The content varies from philosophy, religion, cultural heritage, literature and art, costume, cooking and Chinese medicine.
Discover the best things to do in Beijing with our weekly roundup of art and exhibitions, music and performances, and the trending activities around the town.
[Photo/Beijing Exhibition Theater]
Stage:
Riverdance
Irish dance phenomenon Riverdance's China tour will land in Beijing next week. The dance show is the pinnacle of traditional Irish step dancing, notable for its rapid leg movements while the body and arms are kept largely stationary. Since its premier in Dublin in the 1990s, Riverdance has toured the world with more than 20,000 shows.
If you go:
7:30 pm, Jan 5-8. Beijing Exhibition Theater.
Contact: 400 610 3721 or 010 10103721
Ticket: 280-1,280 yuan
US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lay wreaths at the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii on Tuesday. [Photo/Agencies]
Shinzo Abe did indeed make history, of sorts, by becoming the first Japanese leader to visit the memorial above the wreckage of the USS Arizona in Hawaii and offering his "sincere and everlasting condolences" to those who died 75 years ago when Japan launched its surprise attack on Pearl Harbor.
Apparently, both the Japanese prime minister and the incumbent president of the United States, Barack Obama, wanted to give the impression that these former foes are seemingly "transcending recriminatory impulses" and putting behind them their historical enmity.
But does expressing condolences in this way really close the book?
Maybe Americans have bigger hearts than Japan's close neighborsso big that sincerity does not matter, and they are willing to ignore Abe's attempts to wipe away other shameful events from that period of his country's past.
To many in China and the Republic of Korea, at least, sincerity matters a lot when it comes to Japan's approach to its wartime past, since they bore the brunt of its savage ambitions.
It may not matter that Abe would probably not have visited Pearl Harbor had Obama not visited Hiroshima and offered condolences to those who died when the US dropped an atomic bomb on the city in 1945.
But it does matter that these reciprocal actions stem not from a genuine desire to learn from the past but rather from their geopolitical need for each other.
That Abe's trip was not undertaken with sincerity, or driven by any heart-felt repentance, is evident from the visit of his defense minister to the notorious Yasukuni Shrine immediately after she returned to Tokyo from Pearl Harbor.
To Japan's neighbors, Tomomi Inada's pilgrimage to the shrine where Class-A World War II war criminals, some directly responsible for Pearl Harbor, are enshrined, unmasks the true feelings of those currently in power in Japan.
There have been calls for Abe to visit Nanjing in China, where the invading Japanese troops massacred hundreds of thousands of Chinese in 1937. But the utilitarian motivation that drove him to Pearl Harbor does not exist here.
Nor would any condolences be welcome, when it is clear from the words and deeds of Abe and his colleagues that any sympathy would not be sincere and simply proffered to practical ends.
Therefore, instead of repeating that useless plea to Abe, or counting on his administration to seek a historic spirit of reconciliation, Beijing and Seoul had better concentrate on readying themselves for a long-term regional landscape featuring a disruptive and emboldened Japan.
A gavel in a court. [Photo/IC]
An official from the Supreme People's Procuratorate said it was difficult to collect evidence in cases of campus violence involving minors. He proposes setting up a special agency to deal with the crimes of minors. An editorial on Beijing News comments:
According to the Supreme People's Procuratorate, the number of primary and secondary school pupils dealt with for campus violence was 2,337 between January and November this year. But it should be understood that more cases are left unreported and more perpetrators go unpunished.
It is common sense that campus violence must be curbed. However, we still lack effective measures to fight it and campus violence is still a problem.
The problem lies in the lack of coordination among various departments. The education departments, the judiciary, and the police do not work together, and in some cases they simply pass the buck. More important, the stipulations in the law about campus violence are rather technical and each department has its own explanation.
Thus a professional agency able to mobilize all the resources and coordinate among all the departments is needed. The agency should be able to coordinate among the police, the education bureau, and the prosecutors' office, so that they can work together for the prevention of campus violence.
A professional and coordinated approach is inevitable if campus violence is to be tackled effectively. We need to aim at "preventing", not only "curbing" campus violence; we do not want campus violence to happen in the first place. In order to realize that goal, education is of key importance.
A Moroccan policeman stands guard outside the COP22 village during the 22nd Session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP22) in Marrakech, Morocco, on Nov 15, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]
As Confucius taught us, there are three methods to gaining wisdom. "Reflection, which is the noblest. Imitation, which is in essence perhaps the easiest. Experience, which is the bitterest." The climate agreement, approved by nearly 200 states at the United Nations climate change conference in Paris last year, embodies these three elements precisely.
First, in the run-up to the conference, every country was invited to "reflect" on its contribution to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Also, a five-year cycle of reflection to measure progress was agreed.
Second, countries are learning from and building on each other. Leading countries developing the right policies and leading companies developing new technologies are closely watched and "imitated" by others. These collective efforts must eventually add up to limiting the global average temperature rise to 1.5 C to 2 C, as agreed in Paris.
Third, we are already learning from bitter "experiences" that multiply the risks of poverty, migrations and conflicts. To help those who are most vulnerable to these hardships adapt to climate change, agreements regarding climate finance were also made in Paris.
China is taking a lead in realizing the historic Paris Agreement, which has been now ratified by 119 parties. At the G20 Leaders Summit in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang province, Beijing submitted its ratification document of the Paris Agreement to the UN.
The Chinese government takes climate change seriously and has taken practical actions to fight it. In 2011, it started carbon trading pilot programs in seven provinces, exploring ways to reduce the cost of controlling greenhouse gas emissions via the market. Drawing on the experience of these pilots, China is building a national carbon trading scheme that covers all key industrial sectors, which is expected to be introduced in 2017.
China is also running several low carbon demonstrations at provincial, city, industrial park and community levels. And the extensive low-carbon programs have contributed to its climate change response.
For China, it is clear that economic growth and addressing climate change to achieve sustainable development can, will and must proceed hand-in-hand. Such an approach will make societies and countries, like China, only stronger and more resilient, or in other words: future-proof.
Most notably, a great opportunity lies in carbon pricing as a critical instrument to unlock the public and the private capital needed for the transition to low-carbon technologies. Putting a meaningful price on carbon, for instance, will stimulate energy efficiency technology and make renewable energy more competitive.
Our generation is pivotal: we have a moral duty to act on the science that is irrefutable. By putting a meaningful price on carbon, the current generation can take responsibility for its carbon footprint and anchor addressing climate change into our economic system.
The unprecedented challenge of climate change is now recognized by central banks, too. Mark Carney, governor of the Bank of England, recently called climate change a "tragedy of the horizons" because the impact of climate stretches beyond the traditional horizons of business and governments. From the perspective of international financial stability, an interest all countries share, he promotes addressing climate change with more urgency.
The political momentum for carbon pricing is unparalleled. Along with China, about 40 countries and more than 20 cities, states and provinces are already implementing mechanisms to tax or trade carbon, or are planning to do so.
This is why it is important for governments, businesses, universities and other parties to share the best practices, learning from each other to set definitions, to measure, to set targets and to report progress, to share the experience of working with carbon pricing and creating the most effective carbon-pricing system and policies. Several initiatives are emerging to facilitate such collaboration. It is noteworthy that more than 700 companies are considering an internal carbon price. Another 500 companies already have set an internal carbon price.
While designing and implementing carbon-pricing systems and policies comes with many challenges, the stakes couldn't be higher. Accelerated implementation of a meaningful carbon price across the globe can turn the notion of "tragedy of the commons" into an "opportunity of the commons" and create low-carbon prosperity for all. It not only makes business sense: our children and generations to come will thank us for finally stepping up.
Xie Zhenhua is China special representative for climate change affairs and vice chairman, committee of population, resources and environment, Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, and Feike Sijbesma is CEO of Royal DSM and co-chairman Carbon Pricing Leadership Coalition.
Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao delivers a speech at the 10th China-Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) Business Summit in Tangshan, North China's Hebei province, Oct 14, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]
During his recent trip to South America for the Asia-Pacific Economic Conference leaders' meeting, President Xi Jinping laid out a vision for deeper Chinese engagement with Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) in the context of an increasing Asia-Pacific economic integration. This agenda is an opportunity to strengthen and expand this relationship, as our region's ties with China will be central to our future development strategies.
The timing is fortuitous, as the China-LAC relationship is entering a new phase after a decade of extraordinary growth. Trade grew by an average 31 percent a year between 2003 and 2011. China invested billions of dollars in energy, mining, infrastructure and manufacturing throughout our region. And LAC governments forged closer ties with Beijing through a host of free trade agreements, cooperation initiatives, and multilateral engagement on various issues.
This initial boom brought considerable gains for all partners. LAC saw a surge in exports that drove record growth, while China gained access to key inputs and new markets. However, trade growth has stalled amid a challenging global environment. This new scenario compels us to find new drivers, as well as to address remaining barriers to closer integration. Xi identified several areas where we should work together.
Given the strong complementarity of our economies, trade will continue to be a key driver. China is expected to import $8 trillion worth of goods over the next five years. LAC has a strong interest in gaining a larger share of those imports, building on its comparative advantage in natural resources to provide a broader range of food products, refined minerals and metals to Chinese consumers and companies.
China is also poised to play a larger role in inter-regional integration. The Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, first proposed by China in 2014, has renewed momentum after the APEC meeting, as has the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership, which attracted attention from several LAC countries.
Bilateral agreements remain important mechanisms to deepen trade. China already has free trade agreements with Chile, Costa Rica and Peru. Xi announced a "comprehensive strategic partnership" with Chile and Ecuadorthe highest level of Chinese diplomatic relations with other countriesand further enhanced its comprehensive strategic partnership with Peru.
Direct investment, particularly in infrastructure, is another key pillar. Enhancing connectivity through infrastructure is a major priority for LAC, where transport costs still hinder trade. China can leverage resources and expertise to promote infrastructure development in our region, including its experience with the Belt and Road Initiative (the Silk Road Economic Belt and 21st Century Maritime Silk Road) will facilitate trade and smooth operations of Chinese enterprises in our region.
As China grows as a major source of outward foreign direct investment, which Xi estimated at $750 billion over the next five years, Chinese capital will target a growing range of manufacturing, services, technology and natural resource sectors in LAC, helping us develop our economic apparatus while giving Chinese companies greater access to our markets.
A final pillar for strengthening China-LAC relations is government-to-government cooperation. Opportunities exist in areas such as tackling global challenges. Xi made climate change a key theme of his message to LAC leaders, and China recently announced it would convene a global dialogue on the topic.
China's success in making technological leaps in industry holds development lessons for our region, while LAC countries have been pioneers in social policies, such as conditional cash transfers, which are relevant to the Chinese context.
Finally, we should deepen our cultural, educational, and people-to-people ties. China has made great strides through its Confucian Institutes. As with other areas, cooperation can be pursued both through bilateral agreements as well as multilateral initiatives such as the China-CELAC forum.
The China-LAC relationship has evolved into a mature partnership based on trade, investment and cooperation. But there are many opportunities to build on the past decade's gains. As China assumes a leading role on more and more global issues, the time is right for us to move forward on this agenda of mutually beneficial engagement.
The author is president of Inter-American Development Bank, a leading multilateral source of long-term financing for Latin America and the Caribbean. China joined the IDB as a donor member country in 2009.
US President Barack Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe lay wreaths at the USS Arizona Memorial in Hawaii on December 27, 2016. [Agencies]
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe visited Pearl Harbor to lay a wreath and the Japanese made it very clear that he was not there to apologize for the attack on the US in 1941. Actually, he does not need to apologize as the Americans believe the Japanese are honorable warriors living by the samurai code of honor, not sneaky attacks. This is what the Japanese Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshida Suga said, The visit to Pearl Harbor was to console the souls of the war dead, not to apologize.
What was the purpose of the visit to Hawaii, where they attacked with all their might and killed so many Americans, if Abe refused to apologize? Was to claim that Japan did nothing wrong, that theres nothing to apologize for? OK, got the message.
We must never repeat the horrors of war again. This is the solemn vow we, the people of Japan, have taken, said Abe. No more wars, no more atrocities! Then why did Abe and his cabinet tore away the pacifist Constitution that forbade Japan to go to war unless attacked? Why is Japan so eager to engage in wars abroad, to support wars overseas, including fighting alongside the US?
Hard to believe someone talking about peace and no war when the same person not only tore away the pacifist Constitution, but also remilitarizes his armed forces with bigger defense budget and happily sends the soldiers to theaters of war all over the world.
Is Abe a liar or an honorable man who can be trusted not to conduct wars? The refusal to apologize to the victims of the sneaky attack on Pearl Harbor speaks volumes about what is inside Abes head and what he stands for. He does not see it necessary to visit the war memorials of all the countries that Japan invaded during the Japanese invasion of Asia and Southeast Asia except Pearl Harbor, all because US President Barack Obama had to visit the memorial site in Hiroshima first. Abe has never visited the memorial sites in Koreas and China, two countries that suffered the most from the invading Japanese Imperial army. But he has on many occasions visited the Yasukuni Shrine that honors the war criminals of Japan.
What does all this say of Abe and of the Japanese people? Can anyone trust Abe and his gang not to start war again?
The author is a political observer from Singapore.
The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and don't represent views of China Daily website.
Osama Abu Zaid, a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army rebel alliance, shows the text of the agreement about a ceasefire between Syrian opposition groups and the Syrian government during a news conference in Ankara, Turkey, December 29, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]
BEIRUT - A nationwide ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides in the conflict, got off to a shaky start after midnight on Friday (2200 GMT on Thursday) in the latest attempt to end nearly six years of bloodshed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the ceasefire on Thursday after forging the agreement with Turkey, a longtime backer of the opposition.
Monitors and a rebel official reported clashes between insurgents and government forces along the provincial boundary between Idlib and Hama, and isolated incidents of gunfire further south less than two hours after the truce began. Warring sides appeared to have stopped firing in many other areas, however.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the United States could join the peace process once President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. He also wanted Egypt to join, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and the United Nations.
A number of rebel groups have signed the agreement, Russia's Defence Ministry said. Several rebel officials acknowledged the deal, and a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loose alliance of insurgent groups, said it would abide by the truce.
One FSA commander was optimistic about the truce deal, the third serious attempt this year at a nationwide ceasefire.
"This time I have confidence in its seriousness. There is new international input," Colonel Fares al-Bayoush said without elaborating.
Syria's civil war, which began when a peaceful uprising descended into violence in 2011, has resulted in more than 300,000 deaths and displaced over 11 million people, half its pre-war population.
The ceasefire, in the waning days of President Barack Obama's administration, was the first major international diplomatic initiative in the Middle East in decades not to involve the United States.
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan prepares for an interview in New York City, US September 19, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]
ANKARA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized its NATO allies on Thursday, particularly the US, for not supporting Ankara's struggle against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Syria's al Bab region.
Once more, Erdogan accused the US of supplying weapons to Kurdish fighters in Syria.
"NATO allies must stand by their partner Turkey in Syria, not the terrorist groups," said the Turkish president, referring to the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK).
"You sent arms to terrorist organizations, then said 'we sent ammunition, not arms,'" Erdogan said. "We're not buying it, nor accepting it."
"Despite our NATO alliance, you support terrorist organizations, instead of us," the Turkish president said. "Are the terrorist organizations your partners in NATO?"
"If we are NATO strategic partners, then you should support us," Erdogan said, addressing the US administration.
"Terrorist organizations will eventually attack nations supporting them too," he warned.
US President Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin walk into a photo opportunity before their meeting at the United Nations General Assembly in New York September 28, 2015. [Photo/Agencies]
WASHINGTON -- Three weeks before leaving office, US President Barack Obama on Thursday struck back at Russia over alleged election hacking in a move to box in his successor Donald Trump who had so far showed willingness to work with Russia.
Nine Russian entities and individuals, including two Russian intelligence services, were sanctioned for their alleged interfering with the US election, Obama said in a statement.
In addition, the US State Department on Thursday announced expelling 35 Russian government officials from the United States, calling them "acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status."
Two Russian government-owned compounds, one in US State of Maryland and one in New York, would also soon be shuttered, according to the State Department.
Dmitry Peskov, spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, said that Moscow regretted the new sanctions and the measures signaled Obama's "unpredictable" and "aggressive foreign policy."
According to Russia's Interfax News Agency, Peskov said that the dual aims of the White House were "to ruin once and for all Russian-American relations" and "to strike a blow against the foreign-policy plans of the future administration and the new US president."
The Obama administration in October officially blamed Russia for hacking US political institutions and persons to interfere with the US election process, an accusation immediately dismissed as "nonsense" by Moscow.
The episode reached its climax early this month when the US daily Washington Post uncovered a secret Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) assessment report in which the agency claimed that Russia's meddling in the US election was aimed at helping Republican Donald Trump win the White House.
According to the CIA assessment, Russians were believed to have hacked both Republican and Democratic organizations, though only damaging documents from Democrats were leaked to the public.
BEIJING -- The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday called on the United States and Russia to properly handle disagreements through friendly negotiation.
Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks when asked to comment on a possible improvement in US-Russia ties following Donald Trump's upcoming presidential inauguration.
The question, which was raised at a routine press briefing, came after the US government's announcement on Thursday about tough sanctions against Russian entities and ejection of 35 Russian officials.
Hua said the Chinese side expects "smooth development" of relations between the United States and Russia, and stressed the two countries have major responsibilities in promoting world peace and development.
Enhancing cooperation and facilitating sound interaction among China, the United States and Russia are in line with the fundamental interests of the three countries and peoples, Hua said.
Hua expressed China's willingness to deepen exchanges with the United States and Russia and to jointly deal with global challenges.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's appreciation of the China-Russia partnership during his annual year-end press conference demonstrated Russia's positive attitude, Hua said, adding that both sides agree their mature bilateral ties will not be altered.
China vows to work with Russia to consolidate the two countries' comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination and protect world peace, security and stability, Hua said.
For the last day of each year, millions of strangers come from across the world and gather at Times Square in New York to see performances and concerts and, of course, watch the ball drop.
This year, plenty of Chinese tourists are also looking forward to the event.
Mani Xu, a tour guide with Manhattan-based L&L Travel Enterprises, the largest Chinese travel agency in the US, is guiding a group of 36 tourists who came to New York to attend the New Year Countdown.
The total number of tourists joining L&L tours for the countdown was 264 this year, most of them on the young side and mostly Chinese.
Ma Yan, 32, a media practitioner from Beijing, is visiting the US for the first time.
Ma watched the Times Square Countdown on television for the last two years. "I chose to
attend this group tour in particular because I really want to experience the atmosphere for myself," said Ma.
"I like Ryan Seacrest," Ma said. "I listen to his radio program everyday on my drive to work."
"He was on the TV broadcast for the last two years, I hope to see him and hear the live versions of this year's hit songs on Times Square," Ma added.
Ma and his wife are already well prepared with warmers, down jackets and diapers - brought all the way from China.
Ma joked that as a Chinese, he knew how to survive in a crowd. "We are experienced. Sometimes we go to see large-scale concerts, we prepare just like this," said Ma.
Zou Yuxuan, a 20-year-old Chinese college student studying in Missouri, was traveling in the group with her friend.
"All of my schoolmates and friends who had experienced the countdown at Times Square told me it was crazy and they would never ever do it again," said Zou.
"But we are still heading to it! Without hesitation! Because it's exciting and we are young!" Zou said excitedly.
"There was no holiday atmosphere in our school because all the American students went back home, even the Chinese restaurant closed and the only open market is Walmart," Zou said.
Before joining the group, Zou and her friends traveled with another group to Florida. Zou said, during holidays, most Chinese students studying in the US leave school and travel, if they don't have plans to go back to home. She even met some of her schoolmates who were also visiting the East Coast.
"I once attended countdown in Tiananmen Square," said Zhang Kai, 26, a Chinese communication industry practitioner, temporarily working in Latin America. "It aroused my patriotic feelings as a Chinese.
"But in New York it's totally different, it made me have a more cosmopolitan feeling," said Zhang.
Before arriving in the Big Apple, the group had visited Philadelphia, Washington and Boston over the past week. Most still have jet lag and are feeling a bit exhausted.
"No matter what, I believe it will be a valuable experience that I can share with my kids when I go back," said Ma, father of a two-year-old and a three-month-old.
"I believe if you want to experience the world's most ambitious, the best countdown, you have to bear the pain that ordinary people cannot bear," Zhang joked.
"I was ready when I made my decision to come," Zhang said firmly.
Xu and his colleagues will start to head to the countdown area at noon on Dec 31.
L & L will set up a rest stop on West 48th Street between 5th and 6th Avenues, where the traffic is less.
There will be buses parked there to bring tourists back to their hotels after the countdown.
"But if any of our guests fail to make it to midnight, they come out from the area and we will get them back to hotels," Xu said.
xiaohong@chinadailyusa.com
(China Daily USA 12/30/2016 page1)
(Photo : Getty Images) Taiwan President Tsai Ing-Wen's proposed stop over in the United States has raised political temperatures with China.
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Taiwan Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday that the country's President Tsai Ing-Wen will pass through the United States during her visit to Latin America, a move that has angered China.
China has a deep suspicion of Tsai and has urged the United States to not allow such stop-over.
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China believes that the Taiwanese leader only wants to push for the formal independence of Taiwan, which is currently a self-governing island that China regards as its renegade Province and thus is not eligible for state-to-state relations.
China believes that Taiwan's intentions are clear and is urging the United States not to entertain her.
"We hope the United States can abide by the 'one China' policy... and not let her pass through their border, not give any false signals to Taiwan independence forces, and through concrete actions safeguard overall US-China relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan strait," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said.
Taiwanese media also speculated that Tsai will seek to have a meeting with US President-elect Donald Trump's transition team.
Donald Trump caused uproar in China when he held a phone conversation with Tsai earlier this month, breaking a decade-long diplomatic protocol. The United States switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to the mainland in 1979. It now recognizes that there is only 'One China' and that Taiwan is a province of the mainland.
China is worried that Trump's incoming administration might not be committed to upholding the 'One China' policy.
President Tsai's office said that the President will visit Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala, and El Salvador during her Latin America visit. She is expected to leave Taiwan on Jan. 7 and return on Jan. 15.
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Tagschina, United States, Taiwan, China and Taiwan
(Photo : Getty Images) Philippine president Duterte said he is not worried of China's alleged militarization activities in the disputed South China Sea islands.
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Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said that the United States' abject failure to block China from building artificial islands in the South China Sea shows that there is no reason to be concerned by Beijing's militarization or reclamation work in the disputed area.
In Duterte's view, if China's activities in the South China Sea were a cause for concern, then the United States should have taken the lead in trying to stop it.
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The controversial president also repeated his earlier comments that he is not interested in a confrontation with China, adding that there is no urgent need to press the mainland to abide by the July ruling by an international tribunal on the South China Sea that favored the Philippines.
During a television interview, Duterte said that he would address the South China Sea issue but was not yet ready to give his views on the ruling by The Hague's Permanent Court of Arbitration. He added that China is also not prepared to comment on the issue.
"I cannot let it pass and be neglected," Duterte said during the interview, referring to the ruling that rejected China's claim of ownership of extensive stretches of the South China Sea.
Duterte has previously downplayed the South China Sea stand-off, saying it would "take a back seat" during his meeting with China last October.
Duterte made a diplomatic u-turn a few months ago when he turned his back to its long-time ally, the United States, and made overtures on China. The President has been pouring effusive praises on China, saying that he wants the Asian giant to play a bigger role in the Philippines' economy.
Duterte said that the only situation where he would be forced to take a stand against China was if Beijing were to start exploiting natural resources within the Philippine's sovereign borders. The Philippines is endowed with rich reserves of oil and gas but lacks the resources to exploit them.
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TagsRodrigo Duterte, china, South China Sea
(Photo : Getty Images) The North Korean dictator uses executions to solidify his power base.
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A new report by a South Korean think tank claimed that North Korean Dictator Kim Jon Un has ordered the execution of at least 340 people since he took power in 2011.
In a report entitled "The Misgoverning of Kim Jon Un's Five Years in Power," the Institute for National Security Strategy under the National Intelligence Service detailed how the North Korean despot used executions to tighten his grip on power.
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Although North Korea's dictatorial government rarely allows news to come out of the country, tales of Kim's violent executions have sometimes filtered out in the last five years.
Of those reportedly killed, approximately 140 were senior government officials, including military personnel and members of the ruling Korean Worker's Party.
In June this year, North Korea's top education official Kim Yong Jin was also executed by a firing squad on claims that he exercised a bad attitude during the country's Supreme People's Assembly.
North Korea's Defense Minister Hyon Yong Chol was also killed in May 2015 with an anti-aircraft gun in front of an audience at a school in the country's capital Pyongyang. And Kim even made the minister's family witness his execution.
The North Korean leader also had his uncle executed in 2013 for trying to overthrow the government. The country's media described him as a "traitor for all ages."
According to Hawaii Pacific University professor Seung-Kyun Ko, Kim has a tendency for bluntness and can be quite extreme when dealing with perceived threats.
"During his upbringing, he has been spoiled because he was the son of Kim Jong II. The major danger is there is no one in his leadership circle to restrain him," Ko said.
Ko believes that Kim is desperate to live up to the expectation that he will be a great leader, and in order to achieve that goal, he has been pushing around the country's top leaders to show that he is the boss.
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TagsKim Jong Un, North Korea
(Photo : Getty Images) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe recently visited Pearl Harbor in the company of US President Barack Obama.
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A senior Japanese official's decision to pay his respects at a controversial shrine for war dead on Wednesday has prompted an angry reaction from China and South Korea.
The visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine for war dead by Masahiro Imamura, Japan's minster for reconstruction, could also potentially mar Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's earlier historic visit to Pearl Harbor accompanied by outgoing US President Barack Obama.
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China and South Korea see the Yasukuni shrine as a symbol of Japan's past militarism.
"China is firmly against any visit by Japanese cabinet members to the Yasukuni shrine which worships class-A criminals in Second World War," Hua Chunying, China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, said.
Hua said that China is urging Japan to look squarely and deeply reflect upon the past history of aggression, adding that Japan should assume a responsible attitude to properly handle relevant issues.
She further urged Japan to make concrete moves to win the trust of its Asian neighbors and the world.
Abe's visit to the United States 75 years after the devastating attack of Pearl Harbor marked the first of such trip in decades by a Japanese prime minister. While in the US, Abe attended that USS Arizona memorial.
Japan's attack on the Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941 led to the death of 2,403 Americans.
Some of Abe's critics noted that his visit and reconciliation with the United States are in sharp contrast with Japan's frosty relations with China and South Korea.
There is deep anger towards Japan in both China and South Korea. Many people in the two countries feel that Japan has not fully made amends for their brutal actions during World War II.
The most sensitive issue is the Japanese army's vicious attack on Nanking in 1937, which is believed to have left hundreds of thousands of Chinese dead and thousands others raped.
South Korea, on the other hand, was occupied by Japan for much of the first half of the 20th century, and the plight of the so-called comfort women, basically sex slaves who were forced to serve Japanese soldiers, is still a sore area.
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TagsJapan, South Korea, china, Pearl Harbor, US, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe
(Photo : Getty Images) Researchers are urging authorities to set up awareness programs to inform teenagers on the possible effects of marijuana.
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A study in Washington discovered that teenagers' consumption and perception towards cannabis since its legalization as a recreational drug in 2015 has shifted.
Researchers at the UC Davis and Columbia Mailman School of Public Health said that marijuana consumption among 13 to 14 year olds and 15 to 16 year olds increased by 2 and 4 percent, respectively, in Washington since the law was introduced. Furthermore, the same groups' negative perceptions about marijuana declined by 14 and 16 percent, respectively.
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Nine states in the United States have now legalized the use of marijuana as a recreational drug, while at least 26 others for medicinal purposes.
In Nov. 26, the states of California, Nevada, Maine, and Massachusetts voted to change their marijuana laws.
Colorado legalized marijuana in 2012. Oregon, Alaska, and the state of Washington legalized it in 2015, while the United States capital Washington DC in 2014.
Any person over the age of 21 years is now legally allowed to procure at least an ounce of marijuana for recreational use. People are also legally allowed to cultivate six marijuana plants away from the view of the public.
"While legalization for recreational purposes is currently limited to adults, potential impacts on adolescent marijuana use are of particular concern," Magdalena Cerda, the author of the study, said.
Due to the increasing number of states that are legalizing the use of marijuana, the researchers are of the opinion that changes to the laws should be accompanied by prevention programs, which can be used to inform teenagers on the potential risks associated with marijuana use.
The study was published in JAMA Pediatrics.
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TagsUnited States, marijuana, Drugs, Health news
(Photo : Getty Images) In a bid to push up the fledgling economy, China plans to expand country's high-speed rail network to 30,000 kilometers (18,600 miles) by the end of the decade.
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The Chinese government has turned to high speed rail network to boost the country's fading economic growth rate. It plans to expand country's high-speed rail network to 30,000 kilometers (18,600 miles) by 2020.
This was revealed by China's Vice Transport Minister, Yang Yudong, while speaking on plans to improve the nation's transportation services. The minister informed that the Chinese government plans to pour $504 billion (3.5 trillion yuan) to meet the project deadline by the end of the decade.
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Yang claimed that through rail expansion, more than 80 percent of China's major cities will be inter- connected. The authorities plan to implement the expansion plan through renovation of expressways and rapid construction of railway lines in the economically backward regions of central and western China.
According to Chinese state media, the expanded line will span across 2,252 kilometers (1,400 miles) that will pass through five provinces and will reduce the travel time from 25 hours to merely 11 hours.
In the previous year, China's high-speed railway network stood at approximately 19,000 kilometers (11,800 miles).
The Chinese government over the last two years responded to on-going economic recession by shoring up spending on key infrastructure projects. The government has announced big ticket projects for rail, road, and high bridges in a bid to rescue the recession hit economy.
Several economists have described the current recession as the worst economic crisis that the country has faced in over two decades.
Apart from infrastructure spending, Chinese government has also announced stimulus packages for many of the critical sectors. However, economists claim that the move has pushed up the government's fiscal deficit to unprecedented level.
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TagsHigh Speed Rail Network, china high-speed railway, china economic growth, china
(Photo : Getty Images) The new Honda 2014 Odyssey minivan is displayed at the 2013 New York International Auto Show on March 27, 2013 in New York City.
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Honda announced on Thursday that it is issuing a recall order covering more than 634,000 Honda Odyssey cars. The auto maker said that the recall was prompted in order to fix a defect that could cause the second row of seats in the Odyssey car to shift suddenly in a crash.
According to CNBC, Honda will be executing two separate recalls because of the defect. The larger recall involves 634,000 Odyssey minivans with 2011 until 2016 model years. These cars were manufactured from Aug. 17, 2010 to Oct. 1, 2015. The smaller recall covers about 7,600 Odyssey minivans with 2016 model year.
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Honda said that the company had already notified the United States National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) about the perceived defect of select Odyssey cars. In a report, Honda stated that the defect involves a release level that has a possibility to remain in the unlocked position unintentionally, which will allow the seats to move suddenly.
In a document posted on the agency's website, the NHTSA wrote that the flaw "increases the risk of injury to the seat occupant during a crash." Honda said that the company had not received any report of injuries or deaths linked to the defect. On the other hand, Honda did confirm that the company received 689 warranty claims as of Dec. 16, according to USA Today.
Honda said that affected owners of the larger recall will be notified in February. The company added that the parts to fix the defect will not be ready until spring. Those who are affected by the smaller recall will be notified as early as January. Honda dealers will install the necessary parts to fix the defect completely free of charge.
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TagsHonda, Honda recall, Recall, odyssey, odyssey recall, honda odyssey recall
(Photo : YouTube Screenshot) Samsung is preparing to debut its first quantum dot curved computer monitors designed primarily for gamers.
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South Korean tech giant Samsung is preparing to debut its first quantum dot curved computer monitors, with plans to unveil it at the 2017 Consumer Electronics Show, which is slated to open its doors early in January.
Samsung said that its new quantum dot curved monitors were designed primarily for gamers. Regarding quantum dots, these are semiconductor nanocrystals that work in the same way as OLED displays.
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Headlining the company's new series of monitors is the CH711 Quantum Dot curved monitor, which comes in 27-inch or 31.5-inch display sizes. Both models feature a 1,800 curvature and support a resolution of up to 2560 x 1440 and 125 percent sRGB color coverage, according to Engadget.
The other two Quantum Dot curved monitors from Samsung are the CFG70 and CF791. Both models are currently available to buy for interested buyers, and Samsung will officially debut it at the upcoming CES conference as well.
The CFG70 is aimed primarily for gamers with its 1ms response time and 144Hz refresh rate. The monitor supports AMD FreeSync and has a resolution of up to 1080p. The monitor has a Gaming UX interface and Advanced Calibration Options for gamers to properly tweak the monitor to suit their gameplay style. According to PC Mag, the 24-inch model of the CFG70 costs $349.99, while the 27-inch model costs $449.99.
The CF791, on the other hand, is a 34-inch monitor with 1,500R curvature. The display has a 21:9 aspect ratio and support resolution of up to 3440 x 1440. The monitor has a 4ms response time. Samsung also designed the CF791 in such a way that it can be wall mounted. The monitor costs $999.99.
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TagsSamsung, quantum dot, curved monitor, gaming monitor, samsung ch711, samsung cfg70, samsung cf791
(Photo : Getty Images) China's state prosecutor on Friday charged former deputy head of Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office under bribery and abuse of power case.
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The former deputy head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office was put on legal trial on Friday, after China's state prosecutor accused him of bribery and abuse of power.
In a brief statement, the state prosecutor said Gong Qinggai abused his executive powers to "seek benefits for others" and took large sums of illicit money.
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It was not possible to reach out to Gong for his reaction and is not clear if he will be allowed to get legal assistance during the trail.
It has been suspected that Gong indulged in wrongdoings when he held several key posts in the south-eastern Chinese province of Fujian. This was apparently much before he was appointed as deputy head of Taiwan Affairs Office in 2013.
He was put under investigation in January by Chinese authorities, a decision that was seen as a part of President Xi Jingping's ongoing nationwide crackdown against corruption.
In April, the ruling Communist Party also accused Gong of taking part in "superstitious activities," which is prohibited under Chinese law.
Xi's ongoing nationwide crackdown against corruption has led to prosecution of several high ranking officials, while several have also been convicted by Chinese courts. The Chinese leader started the nationwide crackdown soon after taking over the office in 2013 with a mission to wipe out corruption from Chinese society.
Meanwhile, it is not clear whether the prosecution of Gong Qinggai will have any impact on cross-strait relation, which is already going through considerable strain. China and Taiwan have been on crossroads ever since the pro-independent Tsai Ing-wen swept the Taiwanese presidential election in January.
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Tagschina, China and Taiwan, China Corrupation, China's Taiwan Affairs Office, China Graft
Last week I heard the mayors announcement that the city would donate one million dollars to the Childrens Hospital in memory of the students killed in the Woodmore bus crash. One million dollars.
What a very generous donation from our kindhearted mayor. I guess we all could be equally kind if we were pledging other peoples money. I, too, find the Childrens Hospital to be an excellent charitable contribution. I also mourn the loss of the innocent children killed in the bus crash. What I dont agree with is the mayors heavily media-covered, timely pre-election donation, absent Council approval (see below), totally paid for by taxpayers and not from anything having to do with the mayor personally. I see his glory, but where is his sacrifice?
And, speaking of glory and no sacrifice, did you see how many of our City Council members running for re-election swarmed Berke at his donation news conference? They were like flies to honey. I cannot remember that the mayor ever had this much Council support for anything. Notably absent was Larry Grohn who states that the first he heard of it was when he saw it on the news. Funny, all the other Council members were invited to the news conference. The one member of the Council not invited to share in the glory was the one member running against the mayor. (Councilman Chip Henderson was absent. Kudos to him.)
I am not a Trump supporter, but I do understand the peoples frustration with politics as usual. Apparently our city leaders did not get the message. People are tired of politics as usual. We are tired of the last minute pre-election feel good stunts designed to try to motivate voters. We are tired of our government leaders assuming that we are not smart enough to see through their ridiculously veiled efforts to throw us a bone to get a vote. Obviously, your political challengers are not able to do the same. In this case, your declaration of a million dollar donation (on the backs of the taxpayers) also looks like you are using a tragedy for your own personal political gain. That is despicable.
I have looked up the balance in your political war chest. It is something in the neighborhood of $275,000, paling in comparison to any of your political challengers. If, as you say, your current term as mayor is as successful as you think it is, you do not need such a war chest. I challenge you to donate $250,000 from your donated campaign war chest to Childrens Hospital or from your personal bank account. It is not against the rules for political contributions to be donated. This would show all of us that you, Andy Berke, are personally committed to a meaningful voluntary donation while you forcefully require taxpayers to donate four times that amount. Show us that this million dollar taxpayer donation is more than the usual well-timed political stunt aimed at attempting to "buy votes". If, as you say, you have now seen how very important the Children's Hospital is in helping children in tragic situations, you will step up to the plate with your own money.
Lynn Ashton
Chattanooga
P.S. Why did you not pledge a million dollars to Erlanger for treating the five service members who tragically lost their lives defending Chattanooga (our country) in July 2015? Not close enough to the election?
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Thank you, Lynn Ashton. I am impressed with the way you tackled the mayors $1,000,000 taxpayers' contribution. If I were holding a political office, I would be proud to have you serving on my staff. Its evident that you research your information before disseminating it to the public, unlike one contributing writer we must be offered to read in the opinion section of the website, and you are well spoken.
I would add that if the mayor pledges $250,000 of his own money for his attempt to buy votes, he could buy a lot more of them if he would make a quick call to the Northshore and ask his Uncle Ronnie and the rest of the family to make up the additional $750,000. I will give the mayor one positive/negative. The first week in office he cleaned house of all the good ole boys that had been there for years. The problem is that he created his own good ole boy network meanwhile.
As for the City Council, I have been talking to lots of people from varied backgrounds in Chattanooga. Everyone I have spoken to has suggested that Mayor Berke has the council in his pocket. The only two exceptions mentioned were Larry Grohn and Chip Henderson. Its time for a mayor, City Council, and might I add, a chief of police that are truly concerned with the challenges the citizenry of Chattanooga face. These political positions are not meant to line your pockets with money or to serve as a stepping stone for a further political career.
Rusty Munger
Chattanooga
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I personally don't see what the problem is. The city used to fund Erlanger every year for at least $1 million. No one seemed upset about that. But this you have a problem with?
It was all pretty clear to me when I read the article. The city is funding it through the budget. They did that last year for Chambliss Center if I recall. No one freaked out about that. I think this is just a bunch of friends of Berke's opponents who are stomping their feet and crying because all they can do is send out negative releases and act like crybabies. Seriously, all of the stuff I've seen come out from the Crockett or Grohn campaign has been negative.
Why aren't they having a press conference about what they are going to do? Stop talking about what you don't like about someone else and tell me your plan to make it better. That's what a real leader does. They do things, they make plans, they help people. They don't just sit around and sling mud.
Steve Myers
Outrage continues from both Republicans and Democrats, as well as the international Jewish community, following the Obama administrations UN decision not to support Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
The U.S. took what many are calling a decidedly anti-Israel stance when its UN Security Council representative abstained from voting on an important measure that determined whether Israel had a legitimate claim to the West Bank. The U.S. also did not use its power to veto this measure.
Many have said that Obama and his administration had direct involvement in passing the measure against Israel. According to the Washington Free Beacon, Vice-president Joe Biden even spoke with foreign leaders, most notably Ukraines President Petro Poroshenko, to encourage them to support the resolution.
Although Biden and the Obama administration denies that they had any involvement in lobbying foreign leaders to vote for the resolution, Israeli officials, as well as many U.S. lawmakers, beg to differ.
Biden lobbied Ukraine and of course administration officials are too cowardly to admit it, said a senior pro-Israel official who is working with Congress regarding the resolution. With everything thats going on involving Russia, Iran, and Syria, this is how the Obama administration choose to spend its precious diplomatic capital. They decided to twist arms and trade favors for a resolution that cuts off Jews from Jerusalem, a city that is Israels capital city according to American law.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio accused the Obama administration of Denying Israels right to exist, and Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz called Obama one of the worst foreign-policy presidents ever.
Even those who generally support the Obama administration took issue with this resolution.
We are outraged over the U.S. failure to veto this biased and unconstructive UNSC resolution on Israel, Jonathan A. Greenblatt, a former Obama administration official who now heads the Anti-Defamation League, said in a statement. This resolution will do little to renew peace efforts between Israel and the Palestinians. It will only encourage further Palestinian intransigence vis-a-vis direct negotiations with Israel in favor of unilateral, one-sided initiatives.
Dissenters are hopeful, however, that the incoming Trump administration will be able to strengthen U.S. relations with Israel.
Photo courtesy: flickr.com
Publication date: December 30, 2016
Editors note: With the BreakPoint staff off for the holidays, we are re-airing some of the most talked about commentaries of the year.
In 2007, Iowa enacted a law prohibiting discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or gender identity. The law applies to what are known as public accommodations.
Now federal law typically considers public accommodations to be facilities like restaurants, hotels, movie theaters, retail establishments, and parks.
But recently, the Iowa Civil Rights Commission added something atypical to that list: church services.
In its Providers Guide, the Commission offered an answer to the question, Does this law apply to churches? with a resounding Sometimes. What follows is troubling: Iowa law provides that these protections do not apply to religious institutions with respect to any religion-based qualifications when such qualifications are related to a bona fide religious purpose.
I say troubling because implied in that statement is that the state gets to determine what is and what is not a bona fide religious purpose.
And what follows that goes from troubling to outrageous: Where qualifications are not related to a bona fide religious purpose, churches are still subject to the laws provisions: For example, a child care facility operated at a church or a church service open to the public. Which, as the Alliance Defending Freedom rightly pointed out, encompasses most events that churches hold.
If the Commission interpretation stands, then churchesat any service open to the publicwould be prohibited from doing or saying anything that would directly or indirectly make persons of any particular . . . gender identity feel unwelcome in conjunction with church services, events, and other religious activities.
Given the almost limitless capacity for people to take offense or feel unwelcome, this would effectively ban sermons or other religious instruction about traditional Christian sexual ethics. This is what the Supreme Court famously dubbed a chilling effect on the freedom of religion and of speech.
Now if youre wondering how is this even legal? youre not alone. Paul Gowder, who teaches constitutional law at the University of Iowa, told the Des Moines Register that any attempt to regulate the content of sermons is blatantly unconstitutional and absurd on its face.
Thats why the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), representing two Iowa churches, has filed what is known as a pre-enforcement challenge, which challenges the constitutionality of the measure before it even takes effect.
Lets hope and pray that the ADF prevails. But even if they do, its a sobering reminder of three things.
First, this didnt happen at the Supreme Court or in left-leaning Washington State: it happened in the heartland, in Iowa. Religious freedom is in a precarious condition.
Second, it shows how wrong those who insisted, Oh, theyll never make pastors do this," or "Theyll never make churches do that really were. The state of Iowa is pretending to arbitrate what counts as a bona fide religious purpose. Everything a church does should have a religious purpose, especially outreach. Thats why every church service is open to the public.
Finally, it brings to mind Martin Niemollers famous line about failing to stand for others until there was no one left to stand up for him. Too many pastors failed to stand up for the freedoms of people in the pew because, well, they werent bakers or photographers or florists. And the pastors assumed they were safe. Clearly they arent.
The unprecedented attempt to regulate religious speech in Iowa shows the lengths to which enemies of religious freedom are prepared to go, proving it was never about cakes or photos in the first place.
This column originally aired July 7, 2016.
BreakPoint is a Christian worldview ministry that seeks to build and resource a movement of Christians committed to living and defending Christian worldview in all areas of life. Begun by Chuck Colson in 1991 as a daily radio broadcast, BreakPoint provides a Christian perspective on todays news and trends via radio, interactive media, and print. Today BreakPoint commentaries, co-hosted by Eric Metaxas and John Stonestreet, air daily on more than 1,200 outlets with an estimated weekly listening audience of eight million people. Feel free to contact us at BreakPoint.org where you can read and search answers to common questions.
John Stonestreet, the host of The Point, a daily national radio program, provides thought-provoking commentaries on current events and life issues from a biblical worldview. John holds degrees from Trinity Evangelical Divinity School (IL) and Bryan College (TN), and is the co-author of Making Sense of Your World: A Biblical Worldview.
Publication date: December 29, 2016
This week at Charisma News, Michael Snyder wrote a piece entitled, 10 Times God Has Hit America with a Major Disaster after the US Attempted to Divide the Land of Israel.
He wrote this piece in response to the recent United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israel for building settlements on land they acquired in 1967. Snyder points to events in which the United States participated in talks or treaties that would result in Israel giving up land or instances in which United States politicians may have slighted Israeli leaders. Then he connects these events to natural disasters or scandalous political developments and argues that the United States concessions to Israels neighbors led to this catastrophic suffering.
In every one of Snyders ten connections between disasters and US foreign policy, he takes unconnected events and pronounces that one was divine retribution for the other. In some of these cases, particularly the one involving Benjamin Netanyahus January 21, 1998 visit to the White House, he takes one interpretation of the event and makes it the final authority on what happened.
Snyder connects these events because he argues that, In the Scriptures, we are repeatedly told that God will bless those that bless Israel and will curse those that curse Israel. Snyder doesnt quote any of these passages in which we are repeatedly told this. In fact, the Bible doesnt say this at all. Snyder makes this assertion on a misunderstanding of a promise God makes to Abram in Genesis 12:3. Isaac then repeats a portion of this promise to Jacob in Genesis 27:29 and Balaam references it in relation to the exodus in Numbers 24:9.
To gain a proper understanding of Gods promise to Abram, we need to look at the passage in its proper context. After the events of the Tower of Babel and the Table of Nations in Genesis 10:1-11:26, the writer of Genesis introduces us to Abram. In Genesis 12:1-3, he says, Now the LORD said to Abram, Go from your country and your kindred and your father's house to the land that I will show you. And I will make of you a great nation, and I will bless you and make your name great, so that you will be a blessing. I will bless those who bless you, and him who dishonors you I will curse, and in you all the families of the earth shall be blessed. God promises Abraham that he will live in the land he will give him, will have numerous offspring, and know Gods blessing. God will protect Abraham by blessing those who bless him and cursing those who curse him. In addition to the blessings to Abraham, God will bless the scattered nations through the descendants of Abraham.
Before we apply blessings and curses from the Old Testament to the present day, we should pause and ask how the New Testament understands them. In Galatians 3, Paul wrestles with the question of who constitutes Abrahams offspring. He says, Know then that it is those of faith who are the sons of Abraham. And the Scripture, foreseeing that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, preached the gospel beforehand to Abraham, saying, In you shall all the nations be blessed. So then, those who are of faith are blessed along with Abraham, the man of faith. Paul argues that the promise God made to Abraham in Genesis 12:1-3 was God heralding the work he would do through Christ to Abraham 2,000 years before it happened. God blesses the nations of the world through Christ who gave his life for sinners and was raised from the dead. He accomplishes this through the people who, like Abraham, have faith in Gods promised salvation and then take this message and make disciples of all nations.
The greatest misstep in Michael Snyders article is his taking Gods promise to bring salvation to the world through a descendant of Abraham and using it to say that God has cursed the United States of America because of a foreign policy decision. The promises of Genesis 12:1-3 should not lead us to think about the United States support of the geopolitical state of Israel, but instead should encourage us to have faith in Jesus Christ because everyone who trusts in him inherits all the promises of God.
Snyder also makes the unfortunate decision to explicitly identify natural disasters and mechanical failures as the judgment of God for individual United States foreign policy decisions. When we read Scripture, we do come to understand that all sickness, evil, death, and disaster is the result of sins entry into the world. Tornadoes, cancer, hurricanes, and heart attacks exist because we live in a world broken and tainted by sin. However, we do not have any biblical warrant whatsoever for directly claiming that a natural disaster is the judgment of God for a particular sin.
When we blame a natural disaster and terrorist attack on perceived national sins, we almost always say it happened because of some sin for which we dont wrestle with ourselves. In addition, many Christians often attribute the disaster to different sources. Snyder mentioned Hurricane Georges, which he mistakenly called George, that hit the United States mainland in 1998. I remember this hurricane well because I was in college in Mobile, Alabama at the time and had a friend come home from church bearing interesting news about this storm. While it was still in the Caribbean, a lady at his church declared that the Lord had revealed to her that Georges was Gods judgment on a wicked city and would destroy either New Orleans or Panama City. It made landfall in Biloxi, Mississippi. Which interpretation of Hurricane Georges should we accept? Is it Snyders assertion that it happened because Secretary of State Madeleine Albright was finalizing a plan that would cause Israel to give up thirteen percent of Judea and Samaria or the explanation that it would be God's judgment on a so-called wicked city? Also, we should ask why these disasters are always blamed on abortion, gay marriage, or our lack of support for Israel and never for racism, lack of concern for the poor, or Trinitarian heresy.
In the future, Christians must think carefully about how we interpret current events. We cannot continue to tell our culture that God hates everything we hate and affirms everything we affirm. Instead, we must speak of these disasters in a way that accurately reflects the message of Scripture, and that also evidences thoughtful sensitivity towards those who are suffering.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: December 30, 2016
The United Methodist Church will be launching a "Praying Our Way Forward" initiative on New Year's Day with 75 weeks of focused prayer before the revision of Book of Discipline on the topic of human sexuality.
"We share with you a deep commitment to the unity of the church in Christ our Lord... Our president shared the deep pain we feel. We have all prayed for months and continue to do so. We seek, in this kairos moment, a way forward for profound unity on human sexuality and other matters," said a statement issued by UMC Bishops, addressed to fellow clergy members and laity.
"The aim of 'Praying Our Way Forward' is to ask and listen for God's leadership at this critical time in the life of our church," said Bishop Al Gwinn, who co-chairs the initiative.
In the past, several media reports have suggested that members are divided over the issue of same-sex marriage. The issue was also discussed in the 2016 quadrennial General Conference in Portland about eight months ago, but the decision on gay marriage's legitimacy was then subjected to further discussions by specialized committees and panels.
The UMC currently does not formally accept homosexuality and deems it incompatible with the Christian faith. The church sources its position on sexuality from the denomination's Book of Discipline which says that "self-avowed practicing homosexuals are not to be certified as candidates, ordained as ministers, or appointed to serve in The United Methodist Church."
The church had been praying for the last six months as well, and the January initiative is a second phase of prayers which will also have a broader commitment to plead for the restoration of the church and its global mission.
In 2016, some 5,000 people joined a special website (umcprays.org) dedicated to prayers to intercede for the General Conference. Members from around the world offered their spiritual support to the church through this website.
The website, formerly called 60daysofprayer.org, has listed the annual conferences of different regions on calendar and each conference will intentionally pray for the worldwide UMC mission for one week.
First Image, which operates four Portland-area pregnancy resource centers and Oregons first mobile ultrasound unit, recently received four new ultrasound machinesa donation worth more than $120,000.
To do so, the evangelical ministry first had to overcome a theological barrier to forge a deeper partnership with pro-life Catholics.
As an affiliate of the Care Net network, First Images statement of faith is adapted from the National Association of Evangelicals. Those beliefs are not completely in accord with Catholic faith and teaching, according to the Archbishop of Portland, Alexander K. Sample.
Yet after more than a year of dialogue between First Image and the archdiocese, the two groups signed an agreement that made a way for Catholics to further support the evangelical ministrys outreach while preserving their doctrinal distinctions.
Our posture has always been to collaborate with as broad a swath as possible while holding to our evangelical core, said Larry Gadbaugh, First Image CEO and a former pastor. We wanted to further the mission that we had a common conviction about.
Their collaboration allowed 4US, a charity founded by Catholics, to donate the machines to First Image despite the theological disagreements over its mission statement.
Its been both a blessing and an unfortunate reenactment of the Reformation and Counter-Reformation, said Diego Wendt, co-founder of 4US, which has donated 44 machines to clinics across America. When were dialoging, sometimes I feel like were going back 500 years. But its been a very beneficial walk.
We are seeing the unity in the body of Christ that all of us prayed ...
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There are so many events planned to mark the Protestant Reformations 500th anniversary that sometimes its hard to keep track. Fresh conversations have been sparked in churches, the press, and seminar rooms. Wittenberg and other Reformation sites in Germany have been beautifully restored, even Disneyfied. Exhibitions, conferences, and lectures abound, as do articles in newspapers and magazines.
Meanwhile, we find ourselves in the midst of an avalanche of publishing, both popular and scholarly, as biographies of Luther appear with head-spinning regularity, accompanied by general accounts of the Reformation and studies of other key figures and their writings.
Not surprisingly, some of these books are de rigueur anniversary items that, like those heavily advertised tours to Wittenberg, revisit old ground and retell familiar stories. But there are plenty of new things to notice and get excited about, not least a growing commitment among authors and scholars to address new and changed audiences. No longer can one take for granted that students, clergy, laity, or the wider public understand the significance of the Reformationhow it convulsed the 16th century, and how it decisively shapes contemporary Christianity and the modern world.
The Reformation anniversary, then, comes as a gift for historians and theologians. Its an opportunity not only to freshly appraise the seminal religious event of the 16th century, but also to show its relevance to matters of faith and culture in our own time. Among the current wave of Reformation publishing are innovative books that pull readers out of their modern assumptions into the radically different world of Luther and his fellow Reformers.
The Difficult Hero
Its ...
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Three times last year I asked a Christian audience this question: Which story in Scripture bothers you most? There are numerous candidatesthe flood, the destruction of Sodom, the Passover, the conquest of Canaanmost involving large numbers of people being killed. But each time, I got the same answer: the passage about Elisha and the bears (2 Kings 2:2325, ESV used throughout).
It is certainly a bizarre story. Elisha is heading to Bethel when a group of young lads come out of the city and jeer at him: Go up, you baldhead! So Elisha curses them in the Lords name, and two bears come out of the woods and maul 42 of them. Then Elisha heads off to Mount Carmel. As I said: bizarre.
What should we conclude? That God is happy to kill children for making a joke? That biblical prophets have no sense of humor? That, as one British newspaper columnist put it, God is the sort of deity who feeds children to bears?
Yet by reading the story through modern eyes, there are several elements we are likely to miss. For instance, we probably imagine a group of kindergarten boys having harmless fun. But the Hebrew word for small boys used in verse 23 applies to Joseph when he is 17, to Joshua when he serves in the tabernacle alongside Moses, to Abimelechs armor-bearer, and to David as he goes to fight Goliath. Solomon calls himself a little child in 1 Kings 3, despite being both married and the newly crowned king of Israel. So were probably not talking about a bunch of 6-year-olds.
And dont neglect the fact that these young men are coming from Bethel. In Elishas day, Bethel was one of two key centers of idolatry in Israel. Jeroboam had established ...
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Jesus did not show up to defend ISISand the first to celebrate was a Muslim.
The [ISIS] myth of their great battle in Dabiq is finished, Ahmed Osman, a Free Syrian Army officer, told Reuters in October after coalition forces drove more than 1,000 extremists from the backwater Syrian city known as the Armageddon of Islamic eschatology. The jihadists had expected the Messiah to appear and bloody his lance on approaching Christian crusaders.
Muslim belief in the end-times return of Jesus may seem surprising, but according to recent polls, they expect him with greater anticipation than do many American Christians.
A Pew Research Center survey in 2012 found that more than half of Muslims in Iraq, Lebanon, and Tunisiaand just under 50 percent in Morocco and the Palestinian territoriesbelieve in the imminent return of Jesus. Outside the Arab world, more than half of Muslims in Turkey, Pakistan, Malaysia, and Thailand say Jesus will return to Earth in their lifetime.
By contrast, a 2015 poll by the Brookings Institute found that only 12 percent of US evangelicals believe that Jesus will return in their lifetime.
Past polls communicate a greater expectancy. In 2010, Pew found that 27 percent of US Christians expected Jesus to definitely return within the next 40 years, while another 20 percent found it probable. Among white evangelicals, 34 percent said definitely while 24 percent said probably.
The Quran alludes to the return of Jesus (accompanied by a figure called the Mehdi), who on the Day of Resurrection will be a witness against Christians who claim him as the Son of God. But Muslim eschatology is derived primarily from Islamic traditions that have ...
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Riverbend Festival has new look for 2017. The new look includes a couple of schedule changes to note:
Toby Keith's performance has moved from Wednesday, June 14, to Friday, June 16. Keith's team encountered a conflict with the June 14 date.
The Sheila E. performance that was previously scheduled for Thursday, June 15, has been canceled. Management for Sheila E. discovered a conflict with her performance schedule as well.
Previously announced acts include: The Purple Xperience- the Ultimate Prince Tribute Band, Old Dominion, and Brett Young.
Buy admission early online and save: Star seating for Toby Keith and Old Dominion is available at riverbendfestival.com. General admission is $42, a $13 savings. General admission is needed to support reserved seating.
The only VIP experience available to the public is Club Riverbend and it's on sale now for $220 per person. Club Riverbend includes a seat from the pier, catering, a cash bar, VIP parking and more.
Group admission sales are underway as well. Purchase at least 50 general admission wristbands for $35 each or 100+ for $30 each. Pass on the savings to a group or se them as a way to say 'thank you' to employees or clients. For more information call 756-2211 or email gina@riverbendfestival.com.
Obama-Kerry Betray Israel and American Values
Palestinian Authority and Hamas Government Refuse to Acknowledge Israel's Right to Exist
Contact: Liberty Counsel, 407-875-1776, Media@LC.org; Press Kit
WASHINGTON, Dec. 29, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- When President Obama directed the U.S. Ambassador to Israel to allow a UN committee to pass an anti-Israel resolution, he betrayed Israel and America. Secretary of State John Kerry made matters worse when he ranted for over an hour against Israel.
Obama's anti-Israel rhetoric in the final days of his presidency is not surprising since we have known his support for Israel has never been strong. "The two-state idea for a lasting peace is a fallacy. It is a failed experiment. There can be no lasting solution for peace until the Palestinian Authority and the Hamas government in Gaza recognize Israel's right to exist," said Mat Staver, Founder and Chairman of Liberty Counsel and President of Christians in Defense of Israel.
Most people do not realize that there are two competing factions of Muslim Arabs in Israel. Mahmood Abbas is the figurehead for the Palestinian Authority in Ramallah. He was booted out of Gaza when Hamas took control of the government. Hamas is a recognized terrorist organization. Neither group has authority over the other. "Neither the Palestinian Authority nor Hamas in Gaza have a mandate from the people they represent to negotiate peace with Israel. Neither group acknowledges Israel's right to exist. Both groups want all of Israel and want to exile all Jews from the land. There can never be a two state solution under these circumstances," said Staver.
In 1993, President Bill Clinton hosted Israeli Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin and Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) negotiator Mahmood Abbas for the signing of the Oslo Accords. The following year, the Israeli and Palestinian signers received the Nobel Peace Prize. The Oslo Accords created the Palestinian Authority (PA) and transferred control of certain Palestinian populated areas to the PA. The Israeli Defense Forces and security began to phase out of Gaza and later from Bethlehem. But, instead of securing peace, the Oslo Accords have worsened the situation. Gaza is now controlled by Hamas and continues to launch missiles into Israel. Jews, Christians, and even Arab Muslims are not safe in Gaza. Jews and Christians have fled Gaza. Many Jews and Christians have also fled Bethlehem. Entering Bethlehem, Jews are confronted with a sign warning them not to enter.
"The best way to fail in the future is to continue the same failed policies of the past. When the Hamas government encourages Arab Muslim children to become suicide bombers and when their children are taught that Jews are pigs or the Satan, there can be no foreseeable two state solution. The anti-Israel rhetoric of Obama and Kerry is shameful and will soon be gone. The anti-Israel resolution by the U.N. is more than just cause to defund that incompetent organization," said Staver.
Liberty Counsel is an international nonprofit, litigation, education, and policy organization dedicated to advancing religious freedom, the sanctity of life, and the family since 1989, by providing pro bono assistance and representation on these and related topics.
Christians in Defense of Israel is an educational ministry of Liberty Counsel focused on educating and mobilizing Christians regarding Israel.
Walk for Life Names Reggie Littlejohn Keynote Speaker
Contact: Reggie Littlejohn, Women's Rights Without Frontiers, 310-592-5722
SAN JOSE, Calif., Dec. 29, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Women's Rights Without Frontiers is thrilled to announce that our president, Reggie Littlejohn, has been named keynote speaker of the Walk for Life, West Coast. 50,000 people are expected to march at noon on January 21 in San Francisco.
Littlejohn stated, "It is a great honor to be given the opportunity to speak in this powerful venue on behalf of the women and babies of China. I thank Eva Muntean and the other organizers of the Walk for embracing international issues. Something few people realize is that the Chinese Communist Party boasts that it has 'prevented' 400 million lives through its brutal One Child Policy. That's greater than the entire populations of the United States and Canada combined. And too many of these lives were 'prevented' by forced abortion. Millions of girls have been selectively aborted and abandoned as well. These issues continue under the Two-Child Policy as well. The greatest hemorrhage of human life in the world is flowing out of China today."
Littlejohn will be joined by fellow keynote speakers Pam Tebow, mother of Heisman Trophy winner, Tim Tebow, Melissa Ohden, survivor of a failed saline abortion, and Rev. Childress, founder of Black Genocide.org.
All are encouraged to join Reggie and 50,000 others at the Walk for Life West Coast 2017!
Kidnapped Activist's Whereabouts Still Unknown as Officials Deny Lawyer Meeting Contact: ChinaAid Media Team, 432-553-1080 cell, 888-889-7757, 432-689-6985, media@chinaaid.org CHANGSHA, Hunan, China, Dec. 30, 2016 /Christian Newswire/ -- Authorities refused to allow the attorney of a detained Christian human rights activist to meet with his client yesterday, December 29, 2016, and have been keeping knowledge of the defendant's whereabouts restricted within the public security bureau.
Photo: In this document, authorities refused to allow Jiang Tianyong's lawyer to meet with him. (Photo: China Aid)
The lawyer representing Jiang Tianyong, a Christian activist who served as a human rights attorney until the Chinese government revoked his license in 2007, reported that he was denied access to his client on Dec. 29.
According to a graphic provided by the China Human Rights Lawyers Concern Group, officials claim that permitting the prisoner to meet with his defense would risk spreading state secrets and interfere with the investigation.
Jiang disappeared on Nov. 21 while returning to Beijing after visiting the wife of another incarcerated lawyer in Changsha, Hunan. At the time, no one outside of the public security bureau knew his location. However, on Dec. 22, his father-in-law received a notice stating that he was being held in an unnamed place in an unofficial "black jail" on suspicion of "subverting state power."
China Aid exposes abuses, such as those suffered by Jiang Tianyong, in order to stand in solidarity with persecuted Christians and promote religious freedom and human rights.
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34 Christians Die, Over 100 Taken Ill After Drinking Tainted Liquor on Christmas Day in Pakistan
What was intended to be a joyous celebration of Christmas turned into a nightmare in Pakistan when at least 34 Christian partygoers died after drinking tainted home-made liquor.
More than a hundred other people also fell ill, some seriously, as a result of the tragedy that took place on Christmas Eve in a Christian neighbourhood in the town of Toba Tek Singh some 340 kilometres south of Islamabad, reports said.
Pakistani police have caught three men accused of preparing the home-made liquor mixed with aftershave, according to an AFP report. A fourth suspect died after having also drunk the toxic brew. Two are in critical condition while the fourth is in police custody, a police official said.
The lone suspect in police custody had confessed to preparing the brew by mixing it with 20 litres of aftershave and other chemicals, according to police.
It was one of the country's deadliest cases of mass alcohol poisoning.
"The men who belong to the Christian community drank liquor on the night of 25 December and went home," local police officer Mohammad Nadeem told the BBC. "Tragedy struck the next morning when many did not rise from their beds, while others got sick."
The sale of alcohol is illegal in Muslim-majority Pakistan. However, Christians and other religious minorities can still buy alcohol after securing a special permit from local and federal authorities.
Because of the strict alcohol laws in Pakistan, many non-Muslims and even Muslims are forced to brew their own liquor or buy bootlegged alcohol.
Since alcoholic beverages were banned in Pakistan in 1977, the illegal production and sale of liquor has become a multi-million dollar industry in the country.
Nadeem said the liquor consumed by the Christmas Eve partygoers was also believed to be a homemade alcohol.
Nadeem said two men were asked to buy the liquor from an illegal retailer, but the latter turned out to have run out of stock.
"The local sellers were out of stock so they went and bought it from somewhere else," the police officer explained. "Both [men] have died."
This is not the first time that there has been mass poisoning in Pakistan resulting from the consumption of homemade alcohol, The Christian Post reported.
Just last Oct. 5, Pakistani authorities reported that at least 21 people died in the city of Karachi in the Sindh province after consuming toxic liquor while celebrating the Islamic holiday Eid al-Adha.
The week before, 19 others in Karachi died from poisoning from the same cause.
6 Reasons Why Christian Parents Should Share Their Faith With Their Kids
The recent Theos report Passing on Faith helpfully draws together research on faith and families, all of which shows the powerful impact that Christian parents can have in 'passing on the faith.'
While this is great news, the author notes that many Christian parents don't see this as a priority. Some see the faith of their children as the responsibility of others, while others fear their child will be alienated from their peers if brought up as a Christian.
Having interviewed a number of families on how they pass on faith in the home, here are six things I've found helpful for encouraging Christian parents in this area.
1. God calls us to pass on the faith
Modelling and teaching faith in the home is something that God calls us to do. Passages like Deuteronomy 6:4-9 and Ephesians 6:4 emphasise the role of parents in passing on the faith, and church leaders throughout history have driven the point home.
One example is that of the great American theologian Jonathan Edwards. Writing in the 18th century, Edwards encouraged each Christian family to be, "as it were a little church", and explained that what happens in the family is a "chief means of grace," a way in which God shapes our children to grow in Christ. God, of course, is the one who gives the gift of faith, but God works through parents as they seek to model and teach faith in the home.
2. We're passing on something!
While some secularists naively believe that they're raising their children 'neutrally,' it's impossible to be 'neutral' when it comes to passing on our values and faith. If we don't teach our kids about faith, we're telling them in a silence louder than words that faith really isn't that important.
If, however, we believe that knowing Jesus is the treasure above all else, then we need to be intentional in helping our kids discover this truth. As the Theos report makes clear, the way we live our Christian lives, and what we say about faith, have a profound influence on our children's developing faith.
3. Faith is caught...
As any parent knows, our children observe us all the time and often 'mirror back' the habits and practices we reveal each day. When it comes to faith, children will be impacted by parents who are passionate about Jesus, who spend time in prayer and with Scripture, and who serve others sacrificially.
The Theos report also notes that children can also be put off Christianity by parents who 'talk the talk' without living a life that's consistent with their faith. This doesn't mean that parents need to be perfect, but it does mean that parents need to be growing in their own faith too.
4. ... and faith is taught
The sociologist of religion Christian Smith has observed that parents and church leaders have often neglected to teach their kids the faith, but if kids are not taught about Christianity at home or church then they'll be taught about it elsewhere. The 'teaching' of faith involves not just doctrine but also practices, things like praying, reading Scripture, and serving the poor.
We can 'teach' our kids about these things by doing them with them. Having regular family worship or devotions is one way that such teaching takes place, where parents and children can talk to God together and be nourished by the words of Scripture.
5. You're not alone
While our biological families are important, God has also called us into a new family, the church. This is our 'first family', the place where we find other brothers, sisters, uncles, aunts, dads, mums, and grandparents, and where together we seek to nurture and support the children in our midst.
Raising kids is hard, and raising kids for a life of faith is perhaps even more challenging in today's changing times. But when we seek to nurture our children's faith as an entire church, we have the best chance of seeing it grow.
6. Your children are in God's hands
In all that Christian parents do, the lives of our children are ultimately in God's hands, not our own. Parents who faithfully teach and model faith at home raise kids who wander from the church, while others come to faith from homes without any Christian influence at all.
Nonetheless, Christian parents are called to be faithful to the God who has granted them the gift of children, sharing with those closest to home those within our homes the transforming love of God.
Ed Mackenzie is a discipleship development officer for the Methodist Church, an associate lecturer at Cliff College, and the co-author (with Gareth Crispin) of Together with God: Introducing Family Worship (Morse-Brown Publishing, 2016), www.togetherwithGod.org.uk. He lives in Derbyshire with his wife and their two sons.
How To Allow God To Use Your Life For Extraordinary Things
David Tomlinson was extraordinary because he was so normal.
A wife, two kids, a career in retail management and a comfortable home the picture of middle England Christianity. Except Tomlinson could not be further removed from that.
"In many ways I'm an idealist," said Tomlinson, and his career wasn't make him happy.
Together with his wife Davina, he has run an open home for years. It started by having people over for dinner most nights. That gradually extended until they had four or five adults staying with them at any one time most of whom had been homeless.
"My own childhood was quite broken so when I came to the faith at the age of 14 my Christianity was a whole new world to me," Tomlinson said in an interview with Christian Today.
"I struggled to understand why more Christians didn't live differently."
Tomlinson's story is told in Agape Love Stories a new book by the Archbishop of York. The collection features a range of stories of "God's love changing lives today". It mainly consists of how people's lives have been turned around after tragedy murder, disability, and FGM.
But for Tomlinson, his story's beginning is remarkably ordinary.
Challenged that this was what God had called them to, the family moved to Torrisdale on the west coast of Scotland where they could afford a larger house. They renovated it, and it wasn't long before people began to flock to it.
"We found ourselves sharing our home with people in all kinds of need," Tomlinson said.
Many in their new community viewed them suspiciously, unsure of the strange and potentially dangerous people being welcomed into the area.
There were also difficulties within the home. "We had one guy who slashed his wrists in the living room one night so that was one of the more unpleasant moments," he said.
"But most of it was good and happy."
It wasn't until foster children started arriving at the Tomlinsons' that the locals' attitudes changed. "When people saw these troubled teens living with us and getting along fine, often their view of what we were doing changed and we began to be greeted warmly all over the place. There were always people who were good to us, but we now felt a genuine sense of neighbourliness."
And so they became, in Tomlinson's words, "foster carers by default".
Now, 25 years later, they have fostered more than 60 children.
"I wouldn't say it has been an ordinary life," he told Christian Today. "But we did it because we believe that was an application of our Christian identity.
"I would say all my life has been shaped by what being a Christian means to me.
"Part of that is holding lightly to the things and possessions that we have in order to share them in a way that enables people to have some sort of quality of life and healing and restoration."
Asked what prompted him to leave a life that most middle-class churchgoers could identify with, he said: "I think sounding naive but it's true, [it] has been a determination to love God first. Therefore my life has already been shaped around my faith rather than my faith shaped around my life.
"We are called to love each other and if we don't get that right we don't get anything right. It seems very often that is bottom of the list and everything else comes above loving each other, enabling flourishing and caring for orphans and widows and the most vulnerable people.
"But if we don't do that then we're not loving God."
An idealist he might be, but Tomlinson's life is remarkably attractive. Now in his 60s, he reflected on how to turn a mundane life into something remarkable.
"I think probably the place to start is by being who God is calling us to be. I don't think we listen to a voice. I think it's about looking inside ourselves and seeing those yearnings and desires and if you like who we are already and allowing that to come to the fore.
"Inevitably all our gifts are different... I think God is the kind of God who works through those things that make us who we already are.
"So it's about being ourselves authentically and allowing God to use those things for his Kingdom."
'Agape Love Stories: 22 stories of God's love changing lives today' (Darton Longman & Todd, 9.99) is available to buy now.
The Highs And Lows Of 2016 On Christian Today
The New Year is a chance to look back over the previous 12 months. Reviewing the year gives us cause for thanksgiving, joy, sorrow and perhaps fear for the future. We can take it all to God in prayer.
This was 2016 on Christian Today:
January
Saeed Abedini was released from prison. An Iranian-born convert to Christianity who worked in Iran to found a network of house churches, he was arrested in 2012 and found guilty in January 2013 of undermining the Iranian government.
He was eventually released as part of a prisoner swap, creating a problem for Republican nominees who were forced to welcome his release. Abedini became a Trump supporter and claimed God told him he would be elected.
Larycia Hawkins, the Wheaton College professor suspended for saying Christians and Muslims worship the same God, withstood an increasing backlash from evangelical luminaries including Franklin Graham, who took her to task on Facebook: no, he said, we don't.
Demonstrations were held in support of the Bodnariu family, whose children were taken from them by Norwegian children's authorities after they were accused of spanking them.
February
Pope Francis visited Mexico and conducted a mass at the border with the US. It was inevitably seen as a political statement as immigration was a hot topic in the Republican primaries. A more significant encounter for the Pope was his meeting with Patriarch Kirill, the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, at an airport in Havana. Carefully choreographed, it resulted in a statement (pre-agreed, obviously) which was widely thought to be a diplomatic win for Moscow. Conservatives on both sides hated the whole idea.
The Barnabas Fund released a document detailing various allegations against it and its founder Patrick Sookhdeo and denying them all. It was critical of the Evangelical Alliance, which rebutted the claims as "unfounded".
The demolition of the Calais Jungle began, with teargas and rubber bullets deployed. It would be many months before the process was complete.
March
Terrorist attacks dominated the headlines. Three co-ordinated suicide bombings took place in Brussels, two at the Zaventem airport and one at the Maalbeek metro station. Thirty-two people were killed, along with the three perpetrators, and more than 300 injured. Islamic State claimed responsibility.
Another terrorist outrage targeted Christians in Lahore, Pakistan, killing 73 people. The Easter Sunday bombing took place in a park where Christians had gathered to celebrate the feast.
Church authorities continued to deny knowing anything about the fate of Fr Tom Uzhunalil, kidnapped by IS in Yemen. Unfounded rumours of his crucifixion continued to circulate.
Billy Graham's grandson Tullian Tchividjian, who was deposed from his Coral Ridge Church after his marriage broke down, was fired from Willow Creek Church after an unconfessed affair came to light.
April
Pope Francis published his reflection on the results of the two synods on the family sponsored by the Vatican. Amoris Laetitia ('The Joy of Love'), as predicted, disappointed people who wanted him to come out in support of gay marriage and easy divorce (he didn't) and also those who wanted him to take a harder line on the evils of the modern world (he didn't do that either).
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, was informed that his real father was Sir Winston Churchill's private secretary rather than Gavin Welby, as he and his mother had always thought. She had had a brief relationship with Sir Anthony Montague Browne, Welby's biological father.
Gospel for Asia fought back against fraud allegations. The giant mission organisation, facing accusations of financial mismanagement and deliberate attempts to deceive its donors, filed papers seeking to have a suit against it dismissed.
May
The pressure Christians in Egypt face was highlighted by an attack on a 70-year-old woman who was stripped and beaten by her Muslim neighbours. Egypt's President Abel Fattah al-Sisi said the violence was "regrettable" and promised the culprits would be caught.
Open Doors, which supports the persecuted Church, said Saudi Arabians are turning to Christianity in secret. While the kingdom has been accused of "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom", the number of native believers is rising.
The World Council of Churches and Israel had a major row over the treatment of WCC delegates to a conference on climate change; the WCC said they were treated with an "unprecedented" level of aggression and intimidation before being deported.
June
Britain voted to leave the EU. Attacks on immigrant communities followed, leading to the Archbishop of Canterbury. saying that people of "evil will" were using Brexit as an excuse to express their hatred. The implications of the vote are still not clear, but the fallout has been long and bitter. Remain voter the Dean of Exeter was forced to apologise after he tweeted: "Never underestimate the power of stupid people in large groups." Labour MP Jo Cox was murdered by a man who shouted "Britain first" as he stabbed her.
The Pan Orthodox Council, designed to bring together all 14 Orthodox Churches in Crete, was thrown into disarray by the last-minute withdrawal of several participants including the giant Russian Orthodox Church.
There were terror attacks on an Istanbul airport (45 dead and more than 230 injured) and a gay nightclub in Orlando, Florida (49 dead and 53 wounded). The latter led to heart-searching among American evangelicals about how they spoke about gay people.
July
France was hit by terrorist attacks. One claimed the lives of 86 people as an extremist drove a truck along the Promenade des Anglais in Nice. The other saw Fr Jacques Hamel, an 85-year-old French priest, murdered by two Muslims claiming allegiance to Islamic State as he celebrated mass. The world mourned.
An attempted coup in Turkey was crushed but has led to massive repression which has affected Christians too.
Russia's crackdown on evangelicals and other minority religious believers came into effect when President Putin signed the controversial 'Yarovaya Law'.
August
A massive earthquake hit central Italy, killing nearly 300 people and destroying countless ancient buildings including historic churches. There was particular damage to the town of Amatrice, including to the church of Sant'Agostino, whose facade and rose window were destroyed.
The Olympics and Paralympics took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. They were widely thought to be successful though they were dogged by accusations of under-preparedness, pollution, injustice to people who lost their homes to venues, and environmental damage.
The manager of World Vision's Gaza operation was charged with channelling vast funds to Hamas. Observers have ridiculed the accusations and World Vision has flatly denied them.
September
A continuing row over how to deal with the Calais refugee crisis saw the Archbishop of Canterbury condemn the government over its failure to unite unaccompanied refugee children with their families in Britain. A Unicef report accused the government of putting children at risk of trafficking and abuse.
A minister in Canada who doesn't believe in God was put on notice by a United Church of Canada panel that said her views weren't compatible with her ministry. Her congregation applauded her, however.
Science populariser Prof Brian Cox, himself an atheist, called for believers and non-believing scientists to acknowledge each others' contribution to human beings' search for meaning and to avoid "toxic" dismissals of different worldviews.
October
The long-awaited assault on Mosul, held by Islamic State since 2014, began. ISIS fighters reacted by massacring hundreds of men and boys in the city; according to a CNN report 284 bodies were dumped in a mass grave. Christians had previously been driven out of the city or murdered. Christian villages began to be liberated.
The US election contest between Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton grew increasingly ugly. A member of Trump's Evangelical Executive Advisory Council, James MacDonald, denounced him as "lecherous and worthless" following the release of a 2007 videotape showing him making crude remarks about women.
The owners of Ashers Baking Company in Northern Ireland lost their appeal in the gay cake case.
November
In a stunning reversal of most predictions, Donald Trump was elected to succeed Barack Obama as president of the US. A divisive figure even within his own party, Trump had made a number of pledges during the campaign but began to row back on them almost immediately, offering some hope that he might be open to negotiation.
The Christian governor of Jakarta in Muslim-majority Indonesia was accused of blasphemy after he quoted the Qur'an in a speech. Demonstrations opposing and supporting him saw thousands take to the streets.
Five people accused of taking part in the murders that saw a Christian Pakistani couple thrown into brick kilns, possibly while they were still alive, were sentenced to be hanged.
December
There were more terrorist attacks by Islamist militants. A Coptic church in Cairo was bombed, killing 25 people; at least two more died later from their injuries. A man drove a lorry into a crowded Christmas market in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring many others. The Berlin incident fuelled fears in Europe that migrants would be targeted in revenge attacks.
The first Nigerian bishop in the Church of England was announced. Rev Woyin Karowei Dorgu, at present vicar of St John's in Upper Holloway and a former medical doctor, is to be Bishop of Woolwich.
More than 50 converts from Islam in Stoke on Trent are spending their first Christmas as Christians.
UK Defends Israel Against Kerry's Attack
Britain scolded US Secretary of State John Kerry for describing the Israeli government as the "most right-wing in Israeli history", a move that aligns Prime Minister Theresa May more closely with President-elect Donald Trump.
In a 70-minute speech just weeks before the Obama administration hands over to President-elect Trump, Kerry warned on Wednesday that Israel's building of settlements was endangering Middle East peace.
A spokesman for May said the British government believed that while the construction of settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories was illegal, it was clear that the settlements were far from the only problem in this conflict.
"We do not ... believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue," May's spokesman said in a statement. "And we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically-elected government of an ally."
Kerry's remarks added to the strain in the relationship between Israel's government and the outgoing Obama administration after the US cleared the way for a UN resolution last week that demanded an end to Israeli settlement building.
Trump had openly lobbied against the UN resolution and criticized Obama's handling of the relationship. Britain supported the UN resolution.
UK's Largest Pentecostal Church Aims To Plant 100 More In 2017
The largest Pentecostal church in the UK is looking to open another 100 churches in 2017, according to the Guardian.
The Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG), is set on a radical growth project aimed at recruiting white Brits and those who might not otherwise be interested in the black-majority charismatic churches.
In an interview with the Guardian Pastor Agu Irukwu, head of Jesus House, the largest RCCG outfit, said it was an intentional move to plant churches "other than the traditional places you would expect to find us".
RCCG, which already has almost 800 places of worship in the UK, is now the country's largest and fastest growing Pentecostal movement.
"Some people call what we're doing 'reverse mission'," Pastor Agu told the Guardian. "I don't use that term, but there's a bit of truth in it. We're working to bring the good news back to this country which in some ways has lost it."
RCCG was founded in Nigeria, where Pastor Agu is also from, and started with a handful of communities in the UK.
"We believe this nation paid a big price in bringing the gospel to far-flung parts of the world," he said.
"I see myself as fruit of the missionary effort and missionary sacrifice. People like me feel we owe these missionaries and by extrapolation, their country for a lot that has happened to us."
He added: "I feel a church has to be open, has to reach out to all the groups wherever that church is exactly what the missionaries did. London, especially, is a multicultural melting pot, and if a church is in London it should aim to look like London."
The Nigerian-based church is conservative in its teaching on sexuality but Agu insisted it was open to people of all backgrounds.
"I might disagree with you about your lifestyle or orientation, but that doesn't preclude me loving you and welcoming you," he said. "Any church that condemns is not preaching the full message of the gospel of Christ."
He added his church had a "fabulous relationship" with the Church of England which in the throws of a decades-long row over its teaching on sexuality.
Pastor Agu said the two denominations had a lot to learn from one another.
"In black majority churches, prayer is a big thing. We have a culture of prayer. And the C of E is light years ahead of black majority churches on theology we just don't have the depth that the C of E has."
Veteran Exorcist Explains Difference Between Mental Illness and Real Demonic Possession
Don't be misled: Not all who show signs of demonic possession are actually possessed.
Veteran exorcist Father Cipriano de Meo told CNA's Italian agency ACI Stampa that since he began working as an exorcist in 1952, he has found out that typically a person apparently showing signs of demonic possession is actually just struggling with a physical or mental illness.
He said there are two ways of finding out if a person making bizarre action is truly possessed. First, there could be real demonic possession if the person discerns that a prayer is being said for him by an exorcist. Second, possession could be real based on the person's reaction to the exorcist and the prayers being said for him.
The exorcist will typically say "prolonged prayer to the point where if the adversary [demon] is present, there's a reaction," de Meo said.
The priest then described the usual reaction that a possessed person makes in response to the exorcist's prayer.
"There's no lack of frightening facial expressions, threatening words or gestures and other things, but especially blasphemies against God and Our Lady," de Meo said.
The renowned exorcist explained that not all cases of possession look the same and that they are not as common as cases of psychological illness.
Father de Meo said the best defence against demonic possession is a simple life of prayer. "It's absolutely fundamental to get rid of sin and live in the grace of God," he said.
Aside from this, the exorcist said people could guard against demonic possession by rejecting any activity that involves recourse to Satan or demons, or attempts to conjure the dead or reveal future events.
He cited paragraph 2116 of the Catechism of the Catholic Church, which lists down the activities that must be avoided: "Consulting horoscopes, astrology, palm reading, interpretation of omens and lots, the phenomena of clairvoyance, and recourse to mediums all conceal a desire for power over time, history, and, in the last analysis, other human beings, as well as a wish to conciliate hidden powers. They contradict the honor, respect, and loving fear that we owe to God alone."
As for the exorcists, they have to remain humble and to always bear in mind that their power comes from Christ, de Meo said.
Back Alley Productions announces its 2017 season, including a 12-show lineup of dramas, dark comedies, family classics and a little bit of Shakespeare. Back Alley is housed at the historic Mars Theater at 117 N. Chattanooga St. in LaFayette and brings in actors from the North Georgia and Chattanooga area.
Our community is excited and hungry for the performing arts, Kaylee Smith, executive director for Back Alley Productions, said. We had no idea what to expect when we started our journey at the Mars Theater back in early 2016. We are now a fully operating theater company with a growing fanbase and a roster of talented directors and actors. The community has supported us beyond our wildest dreams. We cant wait to see everyone in 2017.
The award-winning theater company will begin its season with Irish Courage, a musical adaptation of the classic Irish script The Playboy of the Western World featuring live Irish music. Auditions are set for Thursday, Jan. 5, and Friday, Jan. 6, from 6:30-8:30 p.m. each night, or by appointment on Saturday, Jan. 7. Call Director Thomas White at 356-7437 to schedule an appointment.
If you love Irish traditions and culture then this is your opportunity to show it off to the community, Mr. White said. We need people experience in traditional Irish music, ballads, or Irish step dancing. There are acting roles for women ages 20-30, and men ages 20-30 and 45-older.
The show is set to perform March 10-28, including a special Saint Patricks Day show on Friday, March 17. The play is about Christy Mahon, a young man on the run who claims to have killed his father. The locals of a tavern vicariously enjoy the drama of Christys retelling.
Next, auditions for A Few Good Men are set for Feb. 6 and Feb. 7 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The play is about the two Marines charged with the murder of a fellow Marine and the tense legal tribulations that follow. Performances are weekends, April 7-23.
One Flew Over The Cuckoos Nest will audition on Feb. 20 and Feb. 21 from 6:30-8:30 p.m. The play is seen from Bromden, a docile inmate in an insanity ward who narrates the antics of the rebellious Randle McMurphy who faked insanity to serve a sentence in the hospital rather than in prison. Performances are weekends, May 4-21.
The remaining season includes the following. Audition dates will be announced later.
? It's A Disaster, directed by Kaylee Smith
? Ordinary People, directed by Christopher Smith
? Deathtrap, directed by Zack Jordan
? The Twelfth Night, directed by Kaylee Smith (a traveling Shakespeare show, which will perform in Chattanooga and North Georgia)
? Lost in Yonkers, directed by Ronald King
? The Glass Menagerie, directed by Kelsea Rambin-Smith
? Dracula, directed by Kaylee Smith
? The Crucible, directed by Joseph Watts
? A Christmas Carol, directed by Kaylee Smith
What are Latinos expecting for 2017 in Houston?
That is the question we asked Latinos directly and through social media and found a general mood that Patricia Gras, a media producer and owner of Love Smart Living Media in Houston, describes in just one word: "Uncertainty." They are still processing the potential impact that a Donald Trump presidency could have in the life of a population that, in its majority, felt offended by the President-elect's campaign.
However, there are also bold assessments and calls to action for the City of Houston when Latinos reflect on their priorities and expectations for 2017. Here are edited examples of the answers we received:
Rose Mary Salum, director of Literal Magazine:
Latinos will have to be more present. That is, make the rest of the country understand that we will not disappear from the map as of January 21 (the day after Donald Trump presidential inauguration). We have to make sure that our contributions to the economy and culture are, and continue to be, evident. We have to seek more political participation and, above all, a fair representation. No more, no less. Last but not least, we have to start getting the vote ready for 2020!
Lupe Mendez, published poet and educator:
A challenge next year will be finding the leaders who will take on the role of leading Texas-based Latinx (Latino) electorate.
Though I am not entirely certain of the numbers in Harris County, I know enough hasn't been done to get younger Latino voters to come out. We need to promote and connect Latino communities. We do not have time for only Mexican or South American or Central American issues. We have to cultivate an agreement (among all), celebrate moments of unity.We need to generate dialogue and action. We need to support art and community event, political and informative events. #TodosJuntos ( #AllTogether ), because what affects some, affects us all.
Frida Villalobos, a manager at Neighborhood Centers Inc.
'Uncertainty' is a great word to begin with when thinking about 2017. At this point, we do not have a clear sense of what will happen to the millions of undocumented individuals in our country. I strongly believe we need to showcase support to those who are living in this uncertainty and make sure they are not being taken advantage of.
Latinos came out in record numbers during the elections, and we need to continue to build on this. Civic and voter engagement is key to (mobilize) low propensity communities, and we need to do more to motivate them to come out to vote.
David D. Medina, director of Multicultural Community Relations at Rice University:
We have to make sure that the safety nets created for the poor and working classes are not disassembled by the new administration (in the White House).
Mario A. Salinas, co-founder of the Emerging Latino Leaders Fellowship:
Harris County had record Latino registration and turnout in 2016, and more young Latinos are reaching voting age every day. Will the election of Trump and any actions he takes against the Latino community dampen Latino (especially young Latinos) civic engagement? Or will Trump give them something to mobilize against (much like the historic marches of 2006) both in the voting booth and in other ways (prolonged pressure on elected officials and the emergence of a new generation of Latino leaders, as Lupe Mendez states)?
In other words, will we continue to claim the power and influence that our numbers deserve? And will we be able to protect public institutions, as David D. Medina states?
It seems like the reckless style of (Donald) Trump and his supporters reflect an attitude. They cannot own the collective house that is our nation due to the demographic shift that has already happened.
They are happy to burn the house down because, after all, in their eyes, Latinos can't be "real Americans" so why support public schools and other institutions that are key to their achievement?
In the next year, the local fight will be to get Mayor Turner and City Council to enact protections for undocumented Houstonians. At the state house, we will have to fight many anti-Latino, anti-immigrant bills from an emboldened Republican party.
Tony Diaz, librotraficante and political analyst on "What's Your Point" Fox 26 Houston:
Texas will celebrate at least one great textbook, if not more, for approval for statewide use for Mexican American Studies.
Texas will pave the way for the new agenda for Latinos nation-wide, #TexasStyle.
Republicans and Democrats are pitted against each other nation-wide. However, in Texas, 10 Republican representatives of the Texas State Board of Education together with five Democrats voted down the racist textbook (Mexican American Heritage) submitted for use in Texas schools. They also voted to re-open the call for culturally relevant books.
As we enter 2017, Texas will create similar coalitions all year long to lead the way for Latino causes.
Amanda De Rosario, artist and public relations specialist:
It appears that a lot of Latinos are finally opening their eyes and realizing the powerful role they play in their communities. I believe they will make a better effort to understand and engage to all of what is going on around them.
For many Latinos, a challenge will continue to be finding a good source for information- there is a lot of debate everywhere on so many issues. I'm certain they want to learn more, but their pride will impede them for not understanding English and the government system. They may overcome their challenges and be more proactive in issues that affect them.
I hope Latinos will not give in to racist ridicule that leads to fights and loss of life. The best demonstrations they can do is to be an example of progress.
Jose Andrade, director of Somos Hispanos Magazine:
The Hispanic or Latino community is facing great challenges, but the most important will be coping with the racist policies that will come under the (Donald) Trump government.
Its essential for this challenge that the Hispanic communities work on unifying a single fight instead of being atomized. We have seen in the past elections that there is no unified political force to combat the attacks of those who degraded our communities.
We must keep pushing for the DACA and DAPA programs to continue in place (NOTE: DACA and DAPA are executive actions providing temporary protection against deportation and work permit for certain immigrants, such as some young people that came to America without immigration documents when they were minors. President-elect Donald Trump's said he will cancel these two programs).
In Houston, permanent communication with the Mayor (Sylvester Turner) must be established to devise policies to safeguard immigrants. Its necessary to put pressure on the Mayor and the City Council to promote support for these groups. We need to promote more political education among Hispanics to understand that voting is important to get more representation in the political decision-making process.
Angel Quesada, Muralist and cultural worker:
I believe we should strive for higher standards of creativity, and more importantly, cultivate our emerging leaders to do the things that bring us together as one of the fastest growing "minorities" in the country. #todosjuntos.
Ray Ruiz, founder of El Gato Media Network:
Nationally, Latinos will continue to see less media representation in 2017. Traditional media is not investing in young Latino talent. The web page is becoming less and less important for News consumption. And gifted young Latino journalists no longer seek to enter traditional media like they once did. Digital media is the preferred destination.
The important thing locally, of course, is that Dr. Cindy (my wife, and the emergency room director for Jackson County) is going to start helping Houston Latinos navigate the health system and address their health needs on a systemic level.
Yohanna Afonso De Colina, a Venezuelan living in Houston:
The Reality is already unpredictable. Reality is in suspense now. There is a lot of deterioration in many ways. The world is in suspense waiting for a future that we could describe. It's sad but it's the way it is. There is so much moral deterioration, fear of what will happen!
Amira Grynsztejn, owner of the event production company Animas Productions:
We will have what we are capable of forging. I vote for education. For the abolition of Mega churches and pastors who are hungry for power, for money, and for Pavlovian parishioners. I vote for education, so when crossing the river or the desert, we will not continue to perpetuate ignorance and slavery, even if its now in English.
***
Olivia.Tallet@chron.com
Twitter: @OliviaPTallet
The Cleveland Advocate's Dec. 26 issue published a letter from Congressman Kevin Brady optimistically looking forward to 2017. Notwithstanding his positive comments, many questions still linger about addressing the nation's problems in the upcoming year.
Congressman Brady states: "This is a time for excitement for Americans who have given up hope of finding full time work, or any work for that matter, in this disappointing economy." Despite his upbeat comment, in November, the U.S. government reported that 95 million people have dropped out of the work force. He does not explain to his readers why they should feel excitement given the ongoing economic problems the nation continues to experience, but instead abruptly diverts his subject from employment to Obamacare.
"health experts from both political parties admitting that ObamaCare is simply not fixable, it's time for Republicans and Democrats in Congress to work together to offer health care that finally meets the needs of Americans in the 21st Century."
After years of difficult transition, higher premiums, and limited coverage, why has it taken eight years for government officials to realize this truth about the Affordable Healthcare Act? During this time, how much harm has it caused people with lost coverage, unmanageable premiums, and a loss of medical freedom?
Like many programs assembled in folly and without forethought, this healthcare program has failed owing to poor makeshift planning. As long as healthcare functions under an insurance contract, providers will continually raise rates to meet their obligation of financial solvency. It can no longer offer inexpensive coverage for all Americans who cannot afford regular coverage at market rates because of the number of claims users file with insurance companies.
Congressman Brady states that he assembled the Ways and Means Committee during a Congressional recess to reform the tax code. Yet, he does not share with his readers what ideas, proposals, and changes will help provide economic incentives to United States' businesses and households. As the nation approaches a 20 trillion dollar deficit, how can tax code changes give financial relief to average citizens and yet responsibly fund U.S. economic and social programs?
Indeterminate and uncertain in his article, how can these vague reforms he mentions help an average working person? Can the U.S. government create and administer a healthcare program that covers all citizens similar to European countries? Furthermore, how can Brady's programs provide a catalyst for most of the 95 million people who left the work force to return to active employment?
Government leaders must see the moral responsibility to provide healthcare as a birthright to every citizen. What programs and incentives can the U.S. government provide to create good positions that encourage its citizens to seek employment? Moreover, how can the nation eliminate the 20 trillion dollar deficit it carries and the economic problems and hardships this reckless spending produces?
Congressman Brady, instead of conjecturing obscure and conceiving uncertain ideas, have you addressed these issues and concerns, and can you advance concrete, workable solutions?
Congressman Brady, do you dare tell the American people the far-reaching consequences of not resolving these issues and concerns?
Robert Hoffman
Coldspring, Texas
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Jeff Staton is a fan of vintage firecracker packaging art and has collected hundreds of labels from around the world.
The labels range from the fantastical to the absurd. Most are crudely drawn with animal motifs or carry patriotic themes. Staton collects most firecracker packages from before 1972.
I look for labels on eBay and antique shops as well as trading with other collectors, Staton says. There are nearly 1,000 known brands of firecrackers he writes on his website.
A BIGGER BANG: Video shows 20K pounds of fireworks go up in smoke
Some firecracker labels can go for hundreds of dollars on eBay according to a recent search of the auction site. The earlier labels feature artwork reminiscent of traditional sailor tattoos or Asian tapestries.
Staton says that if youd like to get into collecting, it can get pricey. Some of the vintage brands that are the most sought after include Anchor, Rocket, Dixie Boy and Red Devil, according to Staton.
The Black Cat brand has remained timeless.
California native Staton says that he started collecting the labels as a kid, keeping the labels he found on the beach the day after Independence Day.
Most firecracker packaging made after 1972 is worth less than a dollar per package.
"The most I've ever spent by far is $1,400 for a Flamingo label," says Staton.
When I got older, I was fascinated to learn that there were other collectors. Of course, I'm always on the lookout when travelling. I've even made two trips to Macau, he says.
TRAGEDY: Child burned in Mexico fireworks explosion doing well at Shriners Galveston
The former Portuguese territory of Macau is a favorite of firecracker fanatics like Staton, who often make pilgrimages to the area to see now-shuttered factories and wharves where some of the firecrackers came from.
"When I went the first time, I met five other collectors in Taiwan and then we all flew together to Macau. It is a very small place with a lot of people, so it is very congested," he says.
According to Collectors Weekly, President Richard Nixons lift of a trade embargo with China in 1972 led to that country becoming a firecracker superpower. It was cheaper to manufacture them there.
There is even a grading system for the packaging, not unlike comic books or trading cards.
Firecracker label collectors like Staton are a special breed as they are chasing an item that was usually thrown away right after all the fun was had.
The 2000 book Firecrackers: The Art and History by Warren Dotz, Jack Mingo, and George Moyer serves as a great primer on the world of firecrackers.
Members of The Woodlands Township Board of Directors are looking for legal guidance regarding the board's appointment to The Woodlands Road Utility District No. 1 board.
"I have concern with the legality of serving on this board (and the township board at the same time)," township board Chairman Gordy Bunch said during the Dec. 7 meeting. "This is another taxing entity in the same jurisdiction that we are elected to serve."
Bunch said he asked Robin Cross, the township's counsel, for information on the issue and asked for representatives from the RUD to make a presentation to the township in January regarding its mission.
In June 2013, the Texas Legislature created two appointed positions on the RUD board. House Bill 3895, authored by then-state Rep. Steve Toth, amended the RUD's enabling legislation to allow the board to expand its number of directors, with those two positions being filled by "one or more political subdivisions other than a school district and municipality." The RUD board was governed by a five-member elected board and the new appointed positions expanded it to seven.
The move helped broaden representation on the RUD board, as there previously have been only a few legally registered voters in the RUD.
In December 2014, the township appointed former board member Mike Bass to fill one seat; and in January 2015, Montgomery County Commissioners Court appointed County Judge Craig Doyal to fill the second seat on the RUD board.
"This wasn't a request made by this board; this was broadening legislation sought after by The Woodlands Road Utility District," Bunch said. "Just because someone invites you doesn't mean you have to show up."
The board agrees. Board member Laura Fillault said she understands having a township board member on the RUD board but had questions as well.
"I would be interested to hear about the legality of it," she said.
According to the Texas Ethics Commission, a local governing body is prohibited from appointing one of its own members to a public office position. However, that prohibition may be overcome if state or federal law allows for the appointment.
Bunch said he had "issues" with the RUD as a whole.
"I have moral issues with copious amounts of debt issued by only a few people and the people have to pay the taxes; business people like me, have no vote in that process," Bunch said.
The RUD was created by legislation in 1991. It is funded through property taxes from commercial businesses at a rate of 36 cents per $100 property valuation.
Directors serve two-year terms on a rotating basis. Two seats will be up for election in May. The board also is considering a bond for May frame, but an amount and specific projects have not been decided.
However, because the RUD only taxes commercial property, those who vote for the directors and a potential bond referendum would have to reside in that commercial area.
The township board unanimously agreed to table the decision until January.
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The Dalton Police Department is asking for the publics help with identifying a woman who stole a purse from a shopping cart at Walmart after apparently trying to cash checks written to other people. The suspect was recorded on store surveillance.
The incident happened around noon on Monday, at the Shugart Road Walmart location. The victim left her purse sitting in the front of her shopping cart while browsing the store. When the victim decided to leave without buying anything, she realized that her purse was missing. The purse contained approximately $100 in cash as well as the victims bank cards, a check book, and the victims AARP card.
A review of the stores surveillance shows a white female take the victims purse from her cart before leaving the store quickly. The woman left in a white early-to-mid-2000s Ford Focus which was parked in one of the handicapped spots near the store entrance. The suspect has shoulder length brown hair that was pulled back in a ponytail and she wore a long-sleeved shirt with green sleeves and jeans.
Further investigation of the stores surveillance system showed the suspect going to the Customer Service Center before the theft. The suspect attempted to cash a $4,000 check and an $8,000 check that were made out to two different people, but the clerk refused to cash the checks because the suspects ID was not for either name. The suspect presented a Georgia ID to the clerk, who did not remember the name. The clerk told an investigator that one of the checks was likely a social security check.
Anyone who can identify this suspect or who has any information about this crime is asked to contact Detective Jacob Burger at 706-278-9085, dial 9 and enter extension 325.
The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation and the Washington County Sheriffs Office is asking for the publics assistance in a homicide investigation that began on Christmas Eve.At the request of 1st District Attorney General Tony Clark, TBI special agents are working alongside detectives with the Washington County Sheriffs Office to investigate the circumstances surrounding the death of a female whose body was discovered Saturday afternoon along Herb Hodge Road in Gray. The victim has been identified as 40-year-old Keila Marie Taylor.An autopsy is being performed to determine the cause of death.At this time the investigation is active and ongoing. Anyone with information about this case, specifically Keila Taylors whereabouts prior to Saturday afternoon, is asked to contact the TBI at 1-800-TBI-FIND or the Washington County Sheriffs Office at 423-788-1414.
10/20/2022
A new restaurant, Honey Seed, that will offer breakfast and brunch every day, from 7 a.m. until 9 p.m. is opening at 1705 Market St. The majority owner, Robert Werk, has a long history working ... more
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Eight malnourished and parasite-ridden horses were confiscated from an Acres Homes property Wednesday, according to the Houston Humane Society.
"The environment they were in, it was deplorable," said Humane Society spokeswoman Monica Schmidt.
The suffering horses - ages 3 to 20 - were stranded ankle-deep in muck and manure, showed signs of rain rot on their coats and suffered from untreated wounds, according to a Humane Society press release.
Wednesday's rescue - which stemmed from an anonymous tip - is just the latest in a long string of horse neglect and abuse cases in Montgomery and Harris counties in the past couple years.
In the latest case, authorities saved the horses in the 1000 block of Glen Avenue in what Schmidt said was one of the Humane Society's more severe horse cruelty cases.
"I think what makes it a little worse is the fact that usually we're dealing with one or two horses, but when you're dealing with eight that's eight times the abuse and neglect," she said.
"And definitely there's a lot of long-term neglect going on here."
The confiscated horses had no signs of hoof or dental care, suffered from intestinal parasites and were visibly underweight.
Houston Police Department and Precinct 5 Constables helped seize the animals, which are currently being cared for at the Houston Humane Society's Animal Wellness Clinic.
On Friday, Houston police said they have yet to file animal cruelty charges against the owner in the ongoing case. Schmidt explained that typically in such cases criminal counts don't come until after a civil case.
"We have a civil court date set for January 3 where the caretaker of the horses will have a chance to give his side of the story," Schmidt said.
She's optimistic that the case will eventually end in criminal prosecution.
"In a case as egregious as this, I think we have a good chance of the district attorney's office accepting charges," Schmidt said.
Police made two arrests at the scene on unrelated charges: Robert Herman Smith, 43, was taken into custody after HPD officers learned he was wanted on a warrant from Harris County Precinct 4 in connection with an outstanding home burglary case. Jeffrey Murphy, 60, was arrested for cocaine possession after telling the officers he had "powder" in his pocket, HPD officials said.
Authorities did not immediately name the horse's owner.
Even though no one was arrested for animal cruelty, two male suspects were collared at the scene.
Police made two arrests at the scene on unrelated charges: Robert Herman Smith, 43, was taken into custody after HPD officers learned he was wanted on a warrant from Harris County Precinct 4 in connection with an outstanding home burglary case. Jeffrey Murphy, 60, was arrested for cocaine possession after telling the officers he had "powder" in his pocket, HPD officials said.
It's still not clear why there were so many horses on the property, which Schmidt said is relatively small and not a farm.
Although they have a long recovery ahead, all of the horses are expected to survive.
"We have high hopes that all eight will make it," Schmidt said. Two of the younger horses are small for their ages and their growth could be permanently stunted, but an equine veterinarian offered a "fairly good prognosis" for all eight.
Last June, a much bigger seizure drew the media spotlight when the the Houston SPCA rescued more than 200 emaciated horses from a dairy farm in Conroe, as the Chronicle previously reported.
Even before then, horse abuse and neglect had been an ongoing problem, especially in the Acres Homes area, which has a high horse population.
In January 2015, a horse named Monty died after collapsing in rush hour traffic with his owner on his back. In response, the Humane Society got together with other local agencies to create Monty's Task Force, a program geared toward ending horse cruelty in Acres Homes and surrounding areas.
The task force launched in January 2016 and has since held two low-cost horse care clinics, offered low-cost de-worming and vaccination and provided free microchipping. They've also offered education for horse owners and, when those proactive efforts aren't enough, they have helped confiscate and care for 16 horses.
Overall, the community response has been positive, Schmidt said. There's been an uptick in cruelty tips and a glut of supportive phone calls and Facebook comments.
"I think people are fed up," Schmidt said, "of driving down the street and seeing emaciated horses along the side of the road or of seeing a horse that died of starvation being dragged down the road for heavy trash pick-up.
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"Finish 290."
Someone with a spray can of black paint and a lot of frustration left that clear message overnight on an overpass and huge drainage pipes waiting to be installed at U.S. 290 and Gessner.
Can Y'all Finish 290 so I ain't gotta miss my Exit and End up in Katy somewhere ? https://t.co/eFpCWXYEVD LaFlare
The sentiment is no surprise to anyone who has been driving the infamously congested highway for the past five years while upgrades have been underway.
Unfortunately, Texas Department of Transportation officials said last week most of the work segments will be completed sometime in 2018. Earlier, they hoped it could be finished in 2017.
ONE OF MANY: Grand Parkway work drives more mobility projects
Some drivers say they consider driving the road while construction is under way not only frustrating but dangerous.
""Oh my god, it's terrible," Piper Kwasniewski recently told the Houston Chronicle. "I feel like I am going to die."
Kwasniewski, 29, who lives near the freeway close to Cy-Fair High School, described how unsafe she feels so close to heavy trucks in those spots where the freeway has no shoulders.
Eventually, U.S. 290 will be at least five lanes in each direction with a single reversible high occupancy toll lane from Loop 610 to Texas 6. West of Texas 6, the freeway will be four lanes in each direction with the solo high-occupancy toll (HOT) lane.
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A man was shot to death early Friday morning at an apartment complex in southeast Houston.
The shooting happened about 12:15 a.m. at 19100 Glenwest Drive near Baybrook Mall, said Sgt. Kenneth Daignault, a homicide investigator with the Houston Police Department.
Witnesses at the scene said several men entered the apartment complex and demanded property at gunpoint, according to HPD spokesman Victor Senties.
The male shooting victim, whose name has not been released, died at the scene in a passageway on the second floor. No other injuries were reported.
When police arrived on scene, they saw a vehicle speeding off and questioned the people in the car, who are not considered suspects in the case.
Daignault said it was unclear if the shots were fired inside an apartment or the shooting occurred in a hallway or on stairway landing. It was also unclear if the man had been in a third-floor unit, where a group of people had gathered, was a resident at the complex or was visiting someone else who lived at the apartments.
The shooter or shooters were still at large by Saturday afternoon and, so far, investigators have no suspect or motive in the case.
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This story perhaps should be headlined, "Bride's dress goes missing in Groom."
That's essentially what happened Wednesday to newlyweds Ben and Merissa McNeal as they drove through Texas on Interstate 40, on their way from Oklahoma to California, according to KOCO in Oklahoma City.
GOOD SAMARITANS: Men honored for quick action to save trapped teens
Married in September in Hawaii, the couple were starting a roadtrip to move to San Diego, KOCO reported. When they got to Groom, near Amarillo, they realized the dress, packaged in a "preservation box," was gone from the bed of their truck.
But, good news: In another testament to the power of social media, they were reunited Thursday with the dress after the Texas Department of Transportation posted a message on its Twitter account.
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TxDOT posted an alert on social media, which was seen by Richard Hawthorne and his family, KOCO reported. The Hawthornes decided to look for the dress as they drove to Oklahoma from Pampa, Texas, and were lucky enough to spot it in the Interstate median not far from Oklahoma City, according to KOCO.
The internet, of course, celebrated along with the couple. "I love getting good news congrats to the new couple!" said JPowers on Twitter.
The box is a little torn, but the dress is fine.
SAN ANTONIO A male pedestrian was struck and killed Thursday by an oncoming train near Interstate 35 on the Northeast Side, according to police.
Emergency personnel responded at about noon to the intersection of Interstate 35 and Eisenhauer Road on the train tracks near the frontage road, where a body was found with serious injuries following a train crash. The man's body was dragged under the train.
11/3/2022
NOTICE: The Hamilton County Registers Office did not publish this data. All information in the Registers Office is public information as set out in T.C.A. 10-7-503. For questions regarding ... more
A shot was fired Wednesday afternoon at a man who took off running after he tried to rebuff a carjacking.
The shot that was fired by a 15-year-old missed in the incident in the 900 block of E. 4th Street near the Erlanger campus.
Police made an arrest of Nikolas Lebron Milton, 24. The teen said Milton convinced him to carry out the carjacking.
The victim said he was parking his car when two people approached, including the teen with the gun. He said they told him to hand over his keys. However, he refused and began running after pushing the gun away.
An arriving officer spotted Milton with two other suspects. The three ran away, but Milton was later found behind a house. A loaded .45 caliber pistol was nearby.
The 15-year-old boy was also detained. The victim said he was the one who shot in his direction.
Milton was charged with attempted carjacking, aggravated assault, tampering with fabricated evidence, contributing to the delinquency of a minor, resisting arrest, and possessing a firearm with intent to go armed.
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.
photo by Chuck Hartung photo by Chuck Hartung photo by Chuck Hartung Previous Next
Fire broke out at the Royal Arms Apartments on McBrien Road on Thursday afternoon, but firefighters were able to get it under control after it had spread from a porch to an attic.
At 4:52 p.m., a call came into Hamilton County 911 for the apartment fire.
Six Chattanooga fire companies responded with the first units on the scene at 4:56 p.m. They reported fire on the outside of one of the apartments in the porch area.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the fire while arriving fire crews insured that all apartments were evacuated. The fire climbed up the exterior wall and extended into the attic, according to Battalion Chief Chris Warren.
A second alarm was called at 5:17 p.m. for six additional fire companies to fill in throughout the Brainerd area and to assist on the scene. The fire was called under control at 5:43 p.m.
The extent of the damage is still not known at this time nor is a cause. Fire crews were still on the scene at 7:15 p.m.. No injuries were reported.
Hamilton County EMS, Chattanooga Police, and the Electric Power Board were on scene to assist.
Pipeline company sought to limit required safeguards for soil Navigator CO2 Ventures wanted to reduce its obligations to sample and restore topsoil for the construction of its proposed carbon...
Popular holiday Scrooge Contest to begin The Cherokee Chamber of Commerce is excited to announce the return of its Christmas season Celebrity Scrooge Contest. This years...
The year 2016 was big for CJR: We welcomed a new editor and publisher, launched a new partnership with Columbias Tow Center, and experienced record traffic for CJR.org. We also published some notable content, such as our interview with Edward Snowden, an oral history of the 2016 campaign in collaboration with Guardian US, and our Delacorte study on news brands. If you want a good excuse to get away from your family during the holidays, feel free to revisit our 10 most read stories of the year. Heres the countdown:
10. Why the controversy over an Iowa cartoonist is no laughing matter
A cartoonist named Rick Friday had been publishing cartoons in rural-Iowa newspaper Farm News for 21 years before his tenure was ended by a cartoon targeting Big Ag. A client affiliated with one of the companies mentioned in the cartoon pulled its advertising from the paper, and the publication dropped Friday. Former Delacorte fellow Jack Murtha looks at the history of cartoonist controversies as well as the reason why they draw so much scrutiny and anger.
9. The Finkbeiner Test
World Federation of Science Journalists President Curtis Brainard discusses how journalists treat every female scientist they profile as an archetype of perseverance. Brainard explains the seven-part test reporters can use when writing about female scientists to avoid gratuitous gender profiles. To pass the test, the story cannot mention the fact that shes a woman, her child-care arrangements, her husbands job, and other gender-oriented facts. (By the way, this is an archived story from way back in 2013; we have Buzzfeed to thank for giving it another run.)
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8. Maneuvering a new reality for US journalism
Nic Dawes, who heads media at Human Rights Watch in New York, warns journalists that things are about to change under Trumps administration. Dawes encourages journalists to get acquainted with tools they will need to fight for access in an autocracy. He warns that Trump will act on his vow to review Americas libel law framework, and get rid of presidential access as we know it. In response, journalists must band together around positive principlesindependence, accountability, ethical standards, and the defence of your rights, which must be fought for.
7. What the media really should focus on with the release of Hillary Clintons emails
Months before the election, Freedom of the Press Foundation executive director Trevor Timm pointed out a flaw in the medias coverage of Hillary Clintons emails. Despite having been accused of lying to the press and over-classifying information, news outlets regarded the CIA as a neutral, all-seeing arbiter when it comes to secrecy. Timm urges the media to stop treating the contents of the email like they are huge national security secrets that imperiled the nation just because US intelligence agencies said so.
6. Eight steps reporters should take before Trump assumes office
The results of the 2016 election caused journalists to do some soul searching. Two-time Pulitzer Prize winning Washington Post reporter Dana Priest offered reporters eight steps to take before Trump enters the White House, including joining forces to put together news tips. She also advises newsrooms to donate to legal defense organizations that will act when Trump attempts to squash press access.
5. What media companies dont want you to know about ad blockers
In June, The New York Times Co. CEO Mark Thompson took a strong stance, announcing plans to prevent users with ad blockers from accessing its website. A week after, CJR columnist Timm wrote a column for CJR highlighting the fact that the Times was one of several major news outlets that gave users harmful malware through its ad networks. Additionally, Timm explains that advertisers often track users of news outlets. A Princeton study found that news sites were more likely to feature trackers than porn sites.
4. For journalists covering Trump, a Murrow moment
As news outlets began aggressively calling Trump out for falsehoods, we published a piece about journalists shedding detachment and objectivity. David Mindich, a professor of media studies at Saint Michaels College in Vermont, references Edward R. Murrows famous report condemning Sen. Joseph R. McCarthys fearmongering. Mindich argues that because Trumps views continued to fall outside acceptable societal norms, journalists were free to push explicitly against him just as the CBS broadcaster had done against McCarthy in 1954.
3. Vice shows how not to treat freelancers
Journalists who worked with Vice revealed to CJR that the edgy publication has not exactly coddled its freelancers. Our late-August report revealed works were published without payment, promises of assignments were later rescinded, and questions about compensation were dodged. The report was written by freelancer Yardena Schwartz, who had a similar experience with Vice. After the report was published, the publication sent a memo to its global editorial staff detailing a series of steps to improve working relationships with freelance journalists.
2. In David Bowie coverage, the media forgot to mention a major aspect of the rockstars life
The world lost David Bowie within the first two weeks of 2016 (which, in hindsight, may have been a harbinger for other horrible events of the year). Bill Wyman, former arts editor of NPR and Salon.com, wrote a piece pointing out that many obituaries glossed over the rockstars sexuality. He disclosed his same-sex attractions several times throughout his life despite having public relationships with women such as supermodel Iman. Wyman points out that Bowie came out at a time when homosexual acts were still criminalized in Britain.
1. Facebook is eating the world
Our most-read piece of 2016 was a lightly edited version of a speech given by Emily Bell, director of the Tow Center for Digital Journalism at Columbia University. She notes social media now controls the distribution of news, and news publishers have decided to work with the machinenot against it. Bell explains that tech companies did not create the technology with the goal of owning news and are alarmed that this is the outcome of their engineering success. Bell ends the piece arguing that to be sustainable, news and journalism companies will need to radically alter their cost base.
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Justin Ray is an audience editor at the Los Angeles Times. Follow him on Twitter @jray05.
Pennsylvanias avalanche of opioids that rolled from factories through pharmacies to medicine cabinets, and then tumbled into the streets with tragic results, may finally be slowing thanks to pressure on the prescribing practices of its doctors.
This year, the long-lagging state caught up with the regulatory steps of many of its neighbors, as Gov. Tom Wolf and legislators from overdose-plagued districts wrote new laws. Initial data suggests that attention to the overprescribing of opioids widely blamed for starting addictions that progress to heroin use has started to affect doctors decisions.
I think that our message is getting out, and I think there is the beginning of a change in prescribing culture, said state Physician General Rachel Levine. There is evidence that there has been, both in Pennsylvania and nationally, less prescribing for opioids by physicians and other health care providers.
Highmark shared data showing that the number of prescriptions for opioids it reimbursed in each of the past three months was lower than in any of the prior nine months. UPMC Health Plan would not provide detailed data or an interview, but wrote that 16 percent of its insured population received at least one opioid prescription this year, down from 20 percent in 2015.
Highmark is working to identify and treat patients with conditions like depression, which can lead to prescription abuse and illicit drug use, said Dr. Charles DeShazer, the insurers vice president and executive medical director for clinical services. And in West Virginia, the insurer has hired Axial Healthcare to comb its data for indications of overprescribing, so that it can discuss with (doctors) appropriate behaviors and prescribing guidelines, he said. If it works, Highmark may expand that effort to Pennsylvania.
UPMC Health Plan indicated it is using an algorithm to identify patients who may be at risk for opioid addiction, and training doctors to use other pain management tools.
If the experiences of Highmark and UPMC are any indication, this year might mark a turning point following more than a decade of stubbornly rising opioid prescribing that continued through 2015. The Drug Enforcement Administration reported last week that more than 3.7 million prescriptions were filled by Pennsylvania pharmacies for 283 million oxycodone pills, up 3.8 percent from the prior year.
In the eastern half of the state, federal prosecutors working with the DEA and FBI have continued to criminally charge high-prescribing physicians. Former Philadelphia physician Jeffrey Bado, who had vigorously defended his opioid prescribing, was found guilty this month of 308 federal felony counts, including one count of drug distribution resulting in death. He faces sentencing in March.
Spurred largely by such prosecutions, the state Board of Medicine and Board of Osteopathic Medicine this year acted against the licenses of at least 18 Pennsylvania doctors accused of overprescribing narcotics. From 2011 through 2015, those boards totaled just 53 such actions, fewer than 11 a year, a rate far lower than that of numerous other states.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette in May found that over the past five years, 608 physicians were disciplined for their narcotics prescribing practices in seven Appalachian states, of which Pennsylvania had taken the fewest measures to rein in rogue doctors.
In October, the General Assembly passed, and Wolf signed, laws that could lead to more disciplinary actions should doctors wantonly prescribe opioids.
Doctors can no longer prescribe more than a weeks worth of opioids to minors, unless they thoroughly document the need.
Effective next week, emergency medicine practitioners will also be largely restricted to prescribing a weeks supply of opioids.
Also in 2017, medical schools will have to include proper narcotics prescribing in the curriculum.
Doctors will be required to take biennial refresher courses in painkiller practices.
Practitioners planning to prescribe opioids or benzodiazepine tranquilizers will have to first check the patients drug history using an online database.
If that database shows that the patient is getting prescriptions from multiple sources called doctor shopping the physician can refer them to rehab. That database, though, doesnt yet connect to similar programs in neighboring states, so abusers or pill pushers might be able to get drugs via multiple physicians by crossing borders. Dr. Levine said the state intends to link its database to those of its neighbors, but has no timeline for doing so.
Experts are not predicting any quick reversal of the surge of heroin and fentanyl that, along with prescription narcotics, was implicated in 81 percent of the states 3,383 fatal overdoses last year.
The pills still supply a feeder system to the heroin epidemic, said Gary Tuggle, special agent in charge of the DEA for Pennsylvania. Its still an issue, and its always going to be an issue, until we can get a handle on overprescribing, diversion and doctor shopping.
Hopefully, said Tuggle, gone are the days of just mass prescribing.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Outgoing Sole Walker County Commissioner Bebe Heiskell, at her final public meeting, made three new appointments to the Walker County Water Authority.
However, she denied that she has a job lined up at the water office.
Ms. Heiskell, 76, said she had no firm plans and was "looking for a job."
Some 40 people crowded the small room at the commissioner's office.
Ms. Heiskell is stepping down from the Walker County Water Authority along with David Ashburn and W.E. Kinser. She appointed Bill Cooke, Michael Haney and Leon Ellis to those posts.
She named Bobby Teems and Melody Day to the Walker County Joint Development Authority and appointed Dr. Ben Benson to fill the unexpired term of Dr. Bob Smalley on the Walker County Animal Control Authority for a three-year term.
She also approved a controversial rezoning at the corner of James Street and Wilson Road. Dennis M. King plans to open a laundromat at the site and has the building ready.
She approved rezoning the site from residential to commercial.
David Roden, a member of the opposition, said there had been meetings throughout the summer on the issue. The opponents hired an attorney to argue their case, and he called it spot zoning.
There are nine nearby residential properties and there is a storage facility across the street.
Ms. Heiskell will be replaced on Sunday by Shannon Whitfield, who took the oath of office on Wednesday afternoon at the courthouse in LaFayette.
Repeat drunken drivers will face more time behind bars in Wisconsin starting New Years Day under a law the state Legislature passed overwhelmingly nearly a year ago.
The new law doesnt make the first offense a criminal violation, leaving Wisconsin as the only state that treats a first offense as a civil violation. Advocates for sober driving say lawmakers need to go further in the upcoming session, starting by expanding ignition interlock use.
(The new penalties are) just closing some loopholes that currently exist, said Frank Harris, state government affairs director for Mothers Against Drunk Driving. By the time someones a repeat offender prosecutors need every tool in the tool box.
The new law, sponsored by Rep. Jim Ott, a Mequon Republican, makes a fourth drunken driving offense a felony punishable by up to six years in prison regardless of when its committed. Right now a fourth offense is a felony only if its committed within five years of a third offense.
The law also increases the maximum sentence for fifth and sixth offenses from three years to five. Maximum sentences for seventh, eighth and ninth offenses will increase from five years to seven years and six months. The maximum sentence for a 10th or subsequent offense will increase from seven years and six months to a decade in prison. The new penalties will go into effect Jan. 1.
Drunken driving has plagued Wisconsin for decades. The state Department of Transportation has tracked more than 4,000 alcohol-related crashes every year from 2012 through 2015. Eighty-five people died in alcohol-related crashes last year, according to the state agencys data.
The states drunken driving laws have been notoriously lax. Wisconsin is the only state where a first offense is treated similar to a speeding ticket. The offender can lose a drivers license but doesnt face any jail time and can obtain occupational licenses allowing travel to certain destinations during certain hours.
Prohibitive cost estimates and resistance from powerful Tavern League lobbyists have scuttled attempts to create harsher penalties. The Department of Corrections, for example, projects it may have to spend as much as $129 million annually as well as another $157 million to construct a dozen drug abuse centers to accommodate the additional offenders under the new law.
Still, sober driving advocates seem to be gaining some momentum. Ott has insisted the cost estimates are exaggerated and the Tavern League registered in support of the new law. The Senate passed the measure in January on a voice vote, a procedure reserved for non-controversial legislation, and the Assembly passed it 95-1 in February.
MADDs Harris wants more. He wants to see Sen. Van Wanggard, a Racine Republican, reintroduce a bill that would allow first-time offenders to obtain a special license allowing them to drive wherever they wish if they install ignition interlock devices on their vehicles.
The devices work like breathalyzers. The driver blows into it and if his or her breath exceeds a certain alcohol content the vehicle wont start. Under the bill, a license holder who drives a vehicle without such a device could face six months behind bars.
A fiscal estimate attached to the bill found fees for the new licenses would generate about $1.1 million annually but the measure never got a floor vote last session.
Harris said 28 other states already permit such a practice, which he called an in-car probation officer.
Wanggard said Tuesday hell bring the bill back this session, adding that the measure will encourage people to stay sober. He said he also plans to bring back a proposal to revoke a persons license permanently if he or she has five or more operating while intoxicated offenses.
Ott, meanwhile, plans to reintroduce bills that would require a minimum 18-month prison sentence for fifth and sixth offenses and a mandatory seven-year sentence for committing a homicide while driving drunk.
By working to close loopholes and strengthen sentencing, Ott spokesman Ryan Augustyn said in a statement, we send the message that OWI is a serious offense with potentially life-changing consequences.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Jim Owens, a former Decatur, Ill., police officer, teaches his students a lot more than how to shoot straight and load their weapons.
The motto of his concealed carry instruction school is win the fight, which translates to surviving an attack and ending a deadly threat.
In a recent session attended by three women and two men, Owens taught them how to quickly reload a handgun while in the middle of a gun battle.
You need to be carrying another magazine, two magazines at least, said Owens, who works full-time as an investigator with the Macon County States Attorneys Office. Youre not going to count rounds in a gun fight.
He advised his students to prepare for a confrontation by throwing spent shell casings on the ground, to take a mental picture of how many shots they have already fired.
If I have a 17-round magazine, Ive got only three rounds left, what should I do next? Owens asked during an indoor class session, held at the Warrensburg fire station. Im still in the gun fight.
For the next 20 minutes, he drilled the students in dropping the magazine from their guns while loading full magazines almost simultaneously.
In the third year since concealed carry was enacted into law in Illinois, there are several local businesses that have sprung up to teach basic shooting and safety techniques, as well as other aspects of carrying firearms away from ones residence or business.
Owens partnered with two other men, Zack Wakeland and John Wyatt, to form Resolute Dynamics, a company specializing in instruction for the concealed carry license.
One of the conditions set by the state in order to obtain a concealed carry license is 16 hours of firearms training by an instructor approved by the Illinois State Police. Those who sign up with Resolute Dynamics complete this training in a weekend.
Our classes are current and relevant, said Owens, who learned to shoot as a child, but received formalized firearm training while serving in the Army in the 1990s. He was certified as a firearms instructor by the Illinois State Police while working for the Decatur police. While serving as a part-time officer in Warrensburg, he received additional training and certification at the University of Illinois Police Training Institute. I went through six different training classes this year. We are always trying to keep up on whats relevant, including the law and recent court decisions.
Training involves scenarios, during which students are put under pressure to perform.
GUN! he shouts, signaling for the students to draw their guns from their holsters and point them forward. Wheres your gun pointed?
At the signal of SPEED LOAD! the students are expected to eject the magazines in the gun grips and quickly slide in the fresh ones.
Hurry up, hurry up, hurry up, Owens yells, followed by a word of encouragement. Much better.
Since Owens started training people shortly after the ink dried on the 2013 Concealed Carry Act, he has trained about 1,400 people to qualify for their licenses and use them responsibly.
In order to qualify on the shooting range, each applicant must shoot a minimum of 10 rounds each at targets five, seven and 10 yards away. The minimum hits of an approved target area is 21 out of 30.
In one of the most recent sessions taught by Owens, all passed, with three out of five hitting 30 out of 30.
We always teach people to be respectful, Owens said. We tell our student not to go into places youre not supposed to. Be respectful of the no guns signs.
Owens said the demographics of his students during the past few years are about one-third women, mostly between about 28 and 50 years old. There have been some as young as 21. Most of the men are a bit older, mostly in their 50s, but others have ranged between 35 and 60.
Most are city dwellers, mostly blue collar, Owens said. There have been 15 or 20 physicians and eight pastors from Decatur. Their concern is they are preaching and someone comes up and shoots them.
Bob Squires, a former Decatur police sergeant and Marine Corps veteran, became a firearm instructor 30 years ago, a master instructor a year or so later. He has helped Owens teach a couple of concealed carry classes to civilians in the past, but specializes in teaching classes geared specifically for retired police officers.
Just about anything that comes up that involves firearms Ive done it or am doing it, said Squires, who has been serving as a court security officer at the Macon County Courts Facility for about 10 years.
Squires said he believes the Illinois concealed carry program is a good one.
Theyre doing background checks, to try to keep them out of the hand of the bad guys, he said.
People are Fearful
Tina Shambaugh, 44, of Oakley, recently successfully completed her training with Resolute Dynamics, earning her training certificate on the final day, which she sent in to the State Police to complete her application process.
She said she trained for her license in order to exercise her Second Amendment right to bear arms.
The conceal carry law tells me we can do that on a regular basis, she said.
Prior to taking the course, she had little shooting experience, just a bit of going out shooting with friends.
Yes, I am going to carry, Shambaugh said, adding that she might not pack a gun all the time. She said she would absolutely use her gun to protect someone else. I would expect the same from them if they were in the same situation.
A recent hire at the Decatur Fire Department, Brandon Mandernach, said he wanted to be able to protect himself and his family.
With the recent addition of a little girl, I thought now is the time, said Mandernach, 34. Youre not always at home. This gives you a little bit of more ability to handle whatever situation presents itself.
Owens said that when he asks students why they are going through the training, the most common thing he hears is that people are fearful right now.
With all these shootings by crazy people, there is a real fear they wont be able to defend themselves, he said. They say its my right as a citizen and theyd like to exercise their rights.
Although the rights of gun owners versus gun control advocates is a hot button issue, Owens said this seldom comes up in class discussions.
They are more concerned with terrorism rather than someone coming in and taking away their guns, Owens said. Some people arent comfortable with talking about politics publicly. We say we dont let things get political in the class. We focus on mindset and how to use your firearm and the law.
People are more concerned about their physical safety.
One-to-one Training
Kevin Mante, a law enforcement patrol sergeant and firearms training officer (he prefers not to mention the specific agency), teaches concealed carry sessions, specializing in small groups for enhanced one-to-one instruction.
Our business model is a mobile teaching concept. We will go to your location; we teach at ranges, clasrooms, said Mante, who served in the Air Force in ground security and weapons training earlier in his career. Since leaving the military, he has worked full-time in law enforcement.
His company, Applied Combative Solutions LLC, works in partnership with Accuracy Firearms, a gun shop in Effingham which recently opened a firing range.
Mante teaches about six to eight concealed carry sessions each year, with six to 10 students in each session.
He has seen a broad-based demographic of students, but noticed since last year that more women are applying for his classes.
We have had a request for women-only concealed carry, Mante said. They want an environment with all women, no stress, not a competitive thing.
Mante is also teaching classes for those who want more than certification for their concealed carry licenses.
We will train people to effectively defend themselves with a handgun, Mante said, adding that the combative skill sessions will be limited to five students. These are one-day classes designed to develop certain skill sets we dont have the time to do with typical conceal carry classes.
Retirees Karen and Richard Bennett were supposed to pay off their Woods Cross, Utah, home by 2013. Instead, they had to take out a $133,000 home equity loan that year to help pay for repairs caused by their home sinking 2 inches.
The Bennetts home is one of at least 20 houses in a subdivision built in the 1990s that have moderate to severe damage from sinking foundations, said Woods Cross City Manager Gary Uresk. He said the problem seems to be spreading within the 200-home subdivision in the city north of Salt Lake City.
It appears to be getting worse, Uresk said. Its not stopping.
City officials dont know for sure what is causing the problem, but Uresk said it could be linked to a sinking water table thats 20-30 feet deep. When the homes were built, it was 5 feet above the surface. The concentration of clay in the soil may also be a contributing factor, he said.
The development was approved based off a 1986 geological study that determined the land was adequate for home building, Uresk said.
What weve pieced together so far is that as the table drops and pulls water out of the clay, that soil tends to collapse, Uresk said.
The values of the homes are plummeting as the sinking foundations crack ceilings and walls and cause sagging patios and floors, the Deseret News reports. Others have minor damages such as cracked driveways.
Many of the homes are being appraised at less than half their previous values by county assessors as a result.
The city has requested funds from the Federal Emergency Management Agency but that the problem is not widespread enough to qualify for money, Uresk said. The city is also exploring whether the state emergency management division has any way to help.
The city plans to issue a new report in January with a summary of what officials have discovered from research that has included boring into the soil to determine whats causing the sinking.
At the Bennetts house, drywall began separating on their ceiling and trusses inside walls were twisting with their edges pulling apart. That led them to the tough decision of taking out the loan.
We had no choice. It was either that or give up what weve already put into our home, Karen Bennett said. The city had said if the trusses had pulled completely away, they would have condemned the home. We would have had to move out.
Stephen Lambs problems are more evident in the basement, where the floor slants to the south, doors dont close and cracks spider around windows. He said he has decided to wait until the city determines a cause and to find out if he can receive any state or federal assistance.
I just want to wait and see, Lamb said. Lets define the whole scope of the problem first.
The Bennetts worry that some neighbors dont realize what is happening.
I think some people are in real trouble, and others are in denial, he said. Im most concerned for those who have bought not knowing what theyve got.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Drug abuse, I-77: On Dec. 7, police observed a green Chevy with no rear license plate illumination traveling southbound on I-77. When the officer approached the vehicle, he watched a backseat passenger attempting to eat something.
The man quickly started gagging and ended up spitting up on himself. The backseat passenger, a juvenile, was arrested. While searching the car, police found marijuana.
Apparently the passenger attempted to swallow a baggie of marijuana. The driver admitted to having just purchased a few baggies of marijuana. While searching the car, police found six baggies of marijuana, a grinder, a pipe and rolling papers.
The driver was arrested for drug abuse and drug paraphernalia possession. The backseat passenger was arrested for drug abuse and obstructing justice.
Drunken driving, Broadview Road: On Dec. 11, police observed a weaving black Pontiac Grand Am make an extremely wide turn onto Broadview Road and then drive fast in icy conditions.
While talking to the driver, police observed an open container in the cup holder. The officer also smelled alcohol coming from the driver, who slurred his words. When asked if he had been drinking, the man said, "I'm not drunk." He did admit to drinking vodka and cranberry before driving.
After failing a field sobriety test, during which he staggered around, he was arrested for drunken driving. He was also cited for speeding, open container, driving left of center, not wearing a seat belt and not driving in marked lanes.
Criminal mischief, Seneca Boulevard: On Dec. 10, police were dispatched to Seneca Boulevard after a resident complained her husband's ex-girlfriend kept texting.
The woman believed the ex had previously slashed her tire but she didn't have any proof. While the officer was present, the ex called the woman. She admitted to slashing the tire.
When the officer contacted the ex, she denied slashing the tire even though he heard her admit to the crime. The woman eventually admitted to the crime. She was cited for criminal mischief.
If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
ORANGE, Ohio -- Assist rescue squad, permitting drug abuse, marijuana possession, drug paraphernalia, drug abuse; Orange Place: Two men were facing multiple charges after police responded to the Super 8 motel around 1:15 a.m. on Dec. 26 for a report of a man, 26, who had overdosed on an undetermined drug and was not breathing.
An officer revived him with Narcan, and the Sagamore Hills man, with an active warrant out of Macedonia, was taken to a local hospital. There was no one else in the room when emergency crews arrived, but the man who rented it out was found circling the lot, then attempting to leave.
The South Euclid man, 41, was arrested on multiple charges after police found a small amount of marijuana and roughly 135 pills in several containers and sandwich bags. He said he had prescriptions for all of them although none were in their proper containers.
As for a substance that looked like jello and was marked as hash oil for medical use, along with four gold foil-wrapped cubes containing a caramel-colored substance, he said they were legal forms of marijuana in other states that he had purchased from someone else.
He was taken to the Beachwood Jail, and police also seized two cell phones found in the motel room.
Grand theft vehicle (unfounded); Harvard Road: A woman who had been caring for her brother up until his death on Dec. 14 reported eight days later that his 2010 Lexus RX 350 had been removed from her driveway. The keys were still in her home there were tire marks indicating that a tow vehicle may have been there. Police later learned that a Walton Hills-based finance company had repossessed the car.
Road hazard, I-271, Harvard Road: Police responded to reports of at least three vehicles having to pull off the highway around 7:15 p.m. on Dec. 24 after hitting what turned out to be a desk and a piece of duct work that had dropped onto the roadway. Police were unable to locate the suspect and private tows were called.
Departmental Information, Lander Road, Orange Place: Officers were asked to check motels in the area for a runaway girl from University Heights on the afternoon of Dec. 26, although they pointed out that Orange has no Motel 6 or Red Roof Inn, which is where the girl said she was going.
Suspicion. Lander Road: A caller reported on the afternoon of Dec. 26 that there was suspected drug activity at a house just down the road from the police station. Officers determined, upon asking for any information that the caller appeared to be making it up.
If you would like to discuss the police blotter, please visit our crime and courts comments page.
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Cuyahoga County avoided further debt this year but faced other issues.
(Karen Farkas, cleveland.com)
CLEVELAND, Ohio - Cuyahoga County Executive Armond Budish vowed that the county would not take on additional debt in 2016 given that existing debt totals $1 billion.
And Budish remained true to his vow.
Officials found ways to re-purpose and reallocate money for priorities such as supporting preschool education, reducing infant mortality and demolishing blighted properties.
And the expected requests for the county to provide tens of millions of dollars to transform the MetroHealth System's Cleveland campus did not materialize.
But financial issues and other problems did arise.
Here are some highlights and some ongoing issues.
Highlights:
1. The new Hilton Cleveland Downtown Hotel opened in July, in time for the Republican National Convention. The $310 million project was completed on time and under budget by about $20 million. Officials said the county has received $4.7 million in revenue from the hotel.
The county decided to spend $10.8 million for an underground walkway from the hotel to the Huntington Park Garage. it is scheduled to open in 2017.
2. The county, which had been asked by the Cleveland Cavaliers to provide $70 million toward a proposed $140 million upgrade of Quicken Loans Arena, instead will provide $16 million by dipping into the reserve fund it set up for the convention center and the hotel, both of which are complete.
The Cavs will contribute half the cost and the city of Cleveland and Destination Cleveland will provide funds.
3. The county no longer has to find a way to finance $1 billion for the MetroHealth System. MetroHealth announced in November that it plans to borrow $1.25 billion to build a new hospital, transforming its main campus on West 25th Street.
4. The county provided several million dollars in loans that led to companies expanding or relocating to the county.
5. Efforts to improve workforce development led to the opening of the Workforce Opportunities Resource Center in the Virgil E. Brown Neighborhood Center.
6. A comprehensive reentry program was established at the Euclid County Jail to help men find jobs after leaving prison.
7. Women inmates set to be released in six to nine months can participate in the Chopping for Change culinary training program.
8. The county worked with city of Cleveland leaders and others to develop First Year Cleveland, a collaborative program to reduce infant mortality.
9. The county's Invest in Children is the lead agency for the Universal Pre-Kindergarten program. In 2016, the county secured $10 million in public funds to expand the program. In December the county received a $374,000 federal grant to study the prekindergarten program.
Ongoing issues:
1. The county froze its regional health insurance program after discovering a $9.5 million budget shortfall -- plus the depletion of a $12 million healthcare reserve fund.
The problems are in the county's health insurance programs for employees as well as in a regional program in which municipal governments and other public agencies take advantage of the county's buying power to get lower rates.
The county, which has a tight $374 million general fund budget, plans to cover the shortfall with money from a rainy day fund.
2. Cleveland's proposed lakefront bridge, which was supposed to be finished in 2017, is in limbo. The county has committed $10 million toward the project, which is expected to cost at least $25 million.
The bridge would extend 900 feet from the downtown Mall C over railroad tracks and the Shoreway to North Coast Harbor.
3. Cuyahoga County jail inmates will pay more for phone calls under a contract with a new company, Securus Technologies Inc.. An FCC commissioner criticized the increased cost.
Officials say additional services, such as video visitation, will help inmates' families save money.
Inmates paid 18.5 cents per minute for an in-state call, or $2.77 for a maximum 15-minute call. The new in-state rate is 35 cents the first minute and 24 cents for each additional minute, for a total of $3.95 for a 15-minute call.
4. The Justice Center needs more public parking.
The county is spending $20 million to repair and rehabilitate the 40-year-old Huntington Park Garage, which is connected to the old Lakeside Courthouse.
But 410 spaces are reserved for the new Hilton and 100 spaces for the Huntington Convention Center and Global Center for Health Innovation.
The county is considering building a new parking deck.
5. A court ruling in June could result in the county owing more than $10 million to 140 employees whose pay was cut when their jobs were reclassified under the new charter government. The county is appealing the Cuyahoga County Common Pleas Court ruling.
6. The county has to find a new chief innovation officer. Daro Mott left this week to return to Louisville.
Mott is returning to the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government, where he had worked from 2006 until coming to Cuyahoga County in January. He will take a new position there.
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Eddie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds appear before the camera in their real roles of happy parents as they and their young daughter, Carrie Frances Fisher, pose for their first family group picture, in Hollywood, Jan. 2, 1957. (AP Photo)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- "Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" will air January 7 at 8 p.m. on HBO.
The documentary, which premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in May, was originally scheduled to debut in March, but HBO moved up the release following the deaths of the iconic mother/daughter duo.
Billed in HBO's press release as "the story of a family's complicated love" and "an intimate portrait of Hollywood royalty in all its eccentricity," the film includes vintage home movies from Fisher's childhood as well as recent interviews with both actresses.
The movie was directed by Alexis Bloom (producer, "We Steal Secrets: The Story Of Wikileaks") and Oscar winner Fisher Stevens ("The Cove").
"It's life with Carrie and Debbie," HBO Documentary Films president Sheila Nevins told Variety. "It's about both of them trying to stand upright, both having their frailties -- age on the one hand and mental illness on the other. It's a love story about a mother and daughter -- they happen to be Carrie and Debbie."
In another tribute to Fisher, who died Tuesday at 60, HBO will re-air her one-woman show from 2010, "Wishful Drinking," on Jan. 1 at 9 p.m. The program, which touches upon her Hollywood upbringing, role as Princess Leia and addiction to drugs, is also available for streaming now on HBO Now and HBO Go.
Reynolds, 84, died the day after her daughter's passing from a possible stroke. Cleveland Cinemas is honoring the Hollywood legend by screening her Oscar-nominated turn in "The Unsinkable Molly Brown" at the Cedar Lee Theater in Cleveland Heights on Jan. 7 and 8.
"Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds" video preview
One of the recurring themes of both the Old and New Testaments is that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom and leads to all sorts of temporal and eternal benefits. Smack dab in the middle of Isaiahs Immanuel Prophecies, we find this warning in Isaiah 8:12-15, You are not to fear what they fear or be in dread of it. It is the Lord of hosts whom you should regard as holy. (NASU) One paragraph later God warns against consulting the so-called wisdom of the world. Rather than following the follies of the world, we ought to follow Gods law, His teaching, and His testimony. To do otherwise will be to live in famine, distress, hardship, and gloomy darkness. The Messiah came to be both a rock to stumble over and a cornerstone to build on. For those who do not recognize Him and reject Him as Messiah, He will be a stumbling stone which will bring them to destruction. For those who trust Him, He will be a cornerstone on which to build their temporal and eternal lives.
Isaiah 9:1-2 proclaims hope not only for Israel but for the whole world, But there will be no more gloom for her who was in anguish; in earlier times He treated the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali with contempt, but later on He shall make it glorious, by the way of the sea, on the other side of Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles. The people who walk in darkness Will see a great light; Those who live in a dark land, The light will shine on them. (NASU) Matthew chapter four connects this passage to Jesus of Nazareth, establishing Him as the long awaited Messiah, Savior of all who will put their faith in Him. Jesus withdrew into Galilee and Matthew four proclaims that this is to fulfill the Isaiah 8-9 passage. Matthew 4:17 concludes the passage with, From that time Jesus began to preach and say, Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand. (NASU)
This verse is the beginning of Jesus public ministry in the book of Matthew. This great light promised in Isaiah 8-9 and fulfilled in Matthew 4 arose to shine on both the Jews and the Gentiles. This great light was none other than Jesus Himself. The dawning of that great light called for repentance on the part of the people. We confess our sins not because God does not already know about them but simply as a way of agreeing with Him that what we have done is rebellion against Him. After acknowledging our sins, God expects, yes demands, that we turn toward Him and away from those sins. Isaiah 8 began this discussion of the great light by turning us toward the fear of the Lord and rightly so. 2 Corinthians 5:10-11 warns, We must all appear before the judgment seat of Christ, so that each one may be recompensed for his deeds in the body, according to what he has done, whether good or bad. Therefore, knowing the fear of the Lord, we persuade men. (NASU) Faith in Christ yields eternity in heaven but do not miss the fact that we will receive recompense for our deeds. The Great Light reveals all.
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Gilmour Academy's head of school Kathy Kenny (center) congratulates Larry Kennedy (left) and Patti Pfundstein Miller (right), Man of the Year and Woman of the Year.
(Neal Busch)
SOUTH EUCLID, Ohio --Two loyal Gilmour Academy alumni received special recognition at the school's annual Christmas at the Academy holiday party in December. Larry Kennedy '66, of Solon, and Patti Pfundstein Miller '85, also of Solon, received the 2016 Alumni Man and Woman of the Year Awards. Both shared gratitude for their families and friends as well as Gilmour Academy's impact on their lives.
Kennedy and his wife, Maryann, recently established an endowed-in-process scholarship at Gilmour, the Lawrence '66 and Maryann Kennedy Scholarship Fund, which will begin in 2017. Kennedy described the impact of a $400 scholarship Maryann received when she was young that set her on her career path, where she eventually met Larry. Maryann is a registered pharmacist who worked with Roche Labs for 35 years and retired as a national director in 2013. Larry enjoyed a 30-year pharmaceutical sales career with Mallinckrodt Pharmaceuticals, which became Searle Labs.
The couple has established scholarships at Maryann's alma mater, The Ohio State University College of Pharmacy, and Larry's alma mater, Trine University's Ketner School of Business, in addition to the one at Gilmour.
Miller was recognized for her leadership roles at the school since her oldest son transferred to Gilmour in 2013. She became involved in Gilmour's Women's Club, serving as the group's vice president during the 2015-2016 school year and currently serving as its president. In that time, the Women's Club has raised more than $100,000 for student programming.
Gilmour's Head of School, Kathy Kenny, described Miller as having "a special sense of leadership that is collaborative and has brought so many more into the fold."
Miller recalled spending time on Gilmour's campus as a younger girl attending various CYO functions. She told her parents that she wanted to attend the school and was disappointed to find out that, at the time, it was an all-boys school. She told her parents she would be the first girl to graduate from Gilmour. After starting her freshman year at another high school, Miller saw in the newspaper that Gilmour was merging with Glen Oak School and would be open to female students. She showed the clipping to her parents and became one of the first females to graduate from Gilmour.
Gilmour Academy is a Catholic, independent, coeducational, college-preparatory school sponsored by the Congregation of Holy Cross, Notre Dame, Ind., with a Montessori program beginning at 18-months-old and a Lower School, Middle School and Upper School. A boarding program is offered to students in Grades 7 through 12. It is at 34001 Cedar Road in Gates Mills, Ohio. For more information visit www.gilmour.org Gilmour's motto is "Educating the Mind. Empowering the Heart."
A memory: I enjoyed working for about a year and a half in the 1990s as an evening study hall tutor at Gilmour. It was a rewarding experience. At the time, I was surprised to learn that some students from overseas boarded there, from as far away as Japan and South Korea. I offered encouragement in studies as well as strategic help. Schools help shape our identity - whether we are enrolled, teaching, working for, and "in the vicinity."
The Hillcrest area is endowed with a wide range of schools, each with distinctive personality and flavor. It's exciting to get to know schools from the inside -- moving beyond the quick drive-by experience.
A good fit in school is ideal -- and it doesn't always happen. Parents can agonize over this along with their offspring. A curriculum is one thing; a community is another. I cherish having reconnected with a few childhood friends from my elementary school as my family moved away. Facilities may change, but the heart-to-heart bonds can endure.
Tip on adaptive recreation opportunities: According to the SELREC (South Euclid-Lyndhurst Recreation) program guide, there are still tempting learning and recreational activities for all ages in 2017. And through efforts of Mayfield Communities and the Adaptive Recreation Committee, there are local opportunities that some may not know about for those with developmental, sensory, or physical disabilities. Learn more! Both teen and adult volunteers can help the effort, too. Check out one of these websites to learn more:
The mother-child bond. Few are unmoved at the recent death of writer/actress Carrie Fisher, followed by the death of her mom, Debbie Reynolds. What struck me as word of the synchronicity of loss spread was not that these two had the disagreements and frustrations typical in any family, but that they reconciled. Both women had both immense gifts and steep challenges in their lives. Despite their differences in generation and temperament, they were joined in possessing extraordinary talent and, clearly, deep love for each others. And, near the end of their lives, they seem to truly have had each others' backs, as the saying goes.
Watching a few of their joint appearances on talk shows, I pondered: How does family reconciliation happen? I have no precise prescription but I suspect that one of the ingredients is the willingness to have an open heart - and an awareness broad enough to envision a new future. Of course, a healthy serving of mutual forgiveness for all that has been said, or unsaid.
Keep me in the loop! I'm waiting to hear from you! My in-box is not full enough! Make it easy for me to find your submissions by kindly putting "Sun Messages" in the subject line. Contact mariashinestewart@gmail.com
Cleveland.com identified renewable energy as a topic of focus for 2016 and what resulted was our series entitled Impact 2016: The path to green energy. We found a lot to write about, including Republicans in Columbus who were hostile to government support for the wind and solar industries.
And at the end of the year, Ohio Gov. John Kasich took the spotlight by vetoing a bill that would have frozen renewable energy mandates for another two years. His actions were hailed by renewable energy advocates, all but guaranteeing a showdown between Kasich and anti-subsidy politicians in his own party.
One project that made a lot of news is the effort to erect an offshore wind farm in Lake Erie. Dubbed Icebreaker, the demonstration farm gained a lot of steam, including a $40 million federal grant.
This slideshow provides an overview of our coverage during the year. At the end of the slideshow there will be a link to the full stories for those who want to read more.
How has Ohio embraced renewable energy?
Looking back at renewable energy news for 2016
By Peter Krouse
Dec. 30, 2016
We started out our Impact 2016 coverage by telling readers that Ohio has been missing out on the benefits of renewable energy, namely the jobs that come with it. Ohio, we said, gets less than one percent of its electricity from wind power and even less from solar power.
Next slide: What states lead the way in harnessing wind and solar power
Photo by Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer
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States that lead the way in harnessing wind and solar energy
We explained how Iowa gets more than 28 percent of its electricity from the wind and Minnesota almost 16 percent. And that when it comes to the sheer volume of wind-generated electricity and the jobs associated with it, Texas leads the way in both areas.
Next slide: California tops in solar
Photo courtesy of the American Wind Energy Association
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California tops in solar
And then we showed how California leads the way on the solar side, getting almost 10 percent of its electricity from the sun and providing more than 75,000 solar-related jobs. California obviously has abundant sunshine, especially in the desert where massive utility-sized solar farms have been erected, but it has also been promoting solar energy a lot longer than most.
Next slide: Ohio missing out on jobs
Photo courtesy of the Solar Energy Industries Association
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Ohio missing out on jobs
Consequently, from a jobs standpoint, Ohio was not reaping many of the economic benefits that other states were experiencing because of their greater commitment to renewable energy. The state ranked 20th in the country when it came to wind-related jobs, which totaled less than 1,000.
On the solar side, Ohio was a more respectable 11th place in solar-related jobs, totaling 4,811, with the largest chunk being employed at the First Solar plant south of Toledo where solar panels are manufactured.
Next slide: Icebreaker
Photo by Marvin Fong, The Plain Dealer
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Testing being conducted in 2013 in the area where the erection of six wind turbines is expected to begin in 2018.
Icebreaker
There was one bright spot that got even brighter as the year went on, and that was Icebreaker. Icebreaker is a project undertaken by the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp. to build a 6-turbine demonstration wind farm in Lake Erie, several miles from the Cleveland Harbor.
Next slide: Tapping expertise from Europe
Photo by Howard Tucker, courtesy of Grossi Public Relations
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Tapping expertise from Europe
The company sought out help from Europe, where developers have experience putting wind turbines in water, even in areas where it freezes.
Next slide: A lot of progress in 2016
Photo courtesy of the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp.
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A lot of progress in 2016
A lot of the work has been done, but a couple more regulatory hurdles still need to be cleared. The project was bolstered tremendously by a $40 million grant from the Department of Energy, a s well as a commitment from Cuyahoga County to buy some of the electricity.
This map shows where the turbines would located and where the cable would be run to bring the electricity to shore.
Next slide: Cuyahoga County's support hinged on job creation.
Map courtesy of the Lake Erie Energy Development Corp.
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Cuyahoga County's support focused on jobs
The Cuyahoga County Council threw its support behind Icebreaker by agreeing in a 10-year, power purchase agreement with Cleveland Public Power to buy a percentage of the electricity generated by the turbine farm. For some of the council members, support hinged on the promise that Icebreaker will bring much-need manufacturing jobs to the region.
Next slide: A boat ride to the future
Photo by AT&F
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A boat ride to the future
In September, we took a boat ride with Lorry Wagner, CEO of LEEDCo, to the area near where the turbines will be erected. Check out the video.
Next slide: Northwest Ohio has the wind
Video by Peter Krouse, cleveland.com
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Northwest Ohio has the wind
While it appears that the Cleveland area's best chance at harnessing wind is out in the lake, the northwest quadrant of Ohio enjoys more favorable wind conditions over land. This is the area where wind developers are focusing their attention.
We reported on the growth and how it has been stymied by a 2014 change in Ohio law that limits how close a turbine can be erected to unoccupied property. Wind advocates are hoping to get this law amended so that counties that welcome wind turbines are not shut out.
Next slide: The biggest wind farm in Ohio
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The biggest wind farm in Ohio
Before the new setback standards were put in place, Avangrid Renewables (formerly Iberdrola Renewable) erected 152 wind turbines across Van Wert and Paulding counties. They constitute the largest, and one of the only, wind farms in the state.
Avangrid and others would like to add more turbines if they can convince the legislature to provide them more favorable siting regulations.
Next slide: Solar energy enthusiasts not sitting still
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The Brooklyn municipal landfill, which is closed, is on Memphis Avenue.
Solar energy enthusiasts not sitting still
Cuyahoga County Council's power-purchase agreement with Cleveland Public Power also includes a deal to buy electricity that is generated by an as-yet-to-be built solar farm. The county is examining several sites to locate the solar farm but is likely to select the Brooklyn municipal landfill, which is closed, assuming Brooklyn officials go along with it.
Next slide: Landfills as solar farms
Photo by Peter Krouse, cleveland.com
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Landfills as solar farms
The Brooklyn landfill, we explained, would be a good location for a solar farm for several reasons, including no questions about ownership and no environmental concerns. To avoid puncturing the liner beneath the topsoil, solar panels would be erected on the landfill using a ballast method that weighs them down instead of fixing them to a foundation below the ground.
Photo by Peter Krouse, cleveland.com
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Rooftop solar in Ohio
Bolstered by the 30 percent federal tax benefit, more and more residential and commercial homes are erecting solar panels on their roofs.
We featured a story in May about a Shaker Heights family that installed solar panels on their new home. The house is on the short end of the 10-12 year payback range, primarily because it has a metal roof that makes panel installation easier.
In general, rooftop solar costs have been coming down thanks to lower panel prices and installation efficiencies.
Next slide: Community solar is new to Ohio
Photo by Peter Krouse, cleveland.com
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Community solar is new to Ohio
The Community Power Network in Washington, D.C., has been spreading the gospel of rooftop solar to several states. In Ohio, it operates as OH SUN (Solar United Neighborhoods), which has several co-ops in the works in Ohio, including ones in Cuyahoga and Lorain counties.
As of last October, the Cuyahoga County co-op had about 130 homes signed up. The deadline to sign up is Dec. 31, 2016. Signing up does not commit you to installing solar panels on your roof; it just means you can have the designated installer analyze your roof to provide a detailed cost estimate and the opportunity to sign a contract.
The co-op said it can reduce the cost of rooftop solar by 20 percent by being able to negotiate installation prices with a limited number of installers.
Next slide: Kasich's veto bolsters green energy advocates
Photo courtesy of Third Sun Solar
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Kasich's veto bolsters renewable energy advocates
The Republican-controlled Ohio General Assembly is no friend to renewable energy mandates and was hoping to continue a freeze on those mandates for at least another two years. But Ohio Gov. John Kasich wasn't having it. Citing the contributions renewable energy has made to job growth in Ohio, and the need to be mindful of the desires of some companies' desire to utilize clean energy, Kasich vetoed the bill. But that's hardly the last word in the renewable energy debate in Ohio.
Next slide: The future
Photo (l) by Thomas Ondrey, The Plain Dealer and (r) by the Associated Press
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The future
Will Ohio improve its legacy when it comes to renewable energy, a legacy that began back in the late 1880s when Charles Brush created this wind turbine that brought electricity to his Cleveland home? Only time will tell, but one thing is certain, the Ohio legislature will have a lot to say about it next year when politicians meet to decide whether subsidizing wind and solar energy in Ohio is worth it.
Two of the politicians who led the charge to freeze mandates - State Sens. Keith Faber and Bill Seitz - are term-limited but will be rejoining the legislature in January as members of the Ohio House of Representatives.
Stay tuned.
Next slide: Read more
Photo courtesy of Western Reserve Historical Society
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Read more
To read the full stories from the Impact 2016: The path to renewable energy series, click here and enjoy.
Photo by Lisa DeJong, The Plain Dealer
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Cleveland police's Mounted Unit will march in Donald Trump's inaugural parade Jan. 20.
(Cleveland State University)
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Cleveland Police's Mounted Unit will travel to Washington D.C. next month to march in President-elect Donald Trump's inaugural parade.
The decision was announced Friday morning by the Presidential Inaugural Committee.
Cleveland's Mounted Unit will be one of at least 40 organizations participating in the parade, which is slated to occur after Trump takes the oath of office on Jan. 20.
A time has not yet been announced. The parade will be open to the public.
Cleveland police will join mounted units and equestrian corps from across the nation, as well as high school and university marching bands, veterans and military groups, and other first responders.
Cleveland Police's Mounted Unit is the only group from Ohio currently slated to march in the parade, according to the committee's news release.
Other organizations may be added to the lineup in the future.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- The second annual celebration of Kwanzaa at the Karamu House focused on educating visitors about the seven-day holiday that honors African heritage. Kwanzaa, which means "first fruits of the harvest," starts Dec. 26 and ends Jan. 1.
The fourth day of Kwanzaa celebrates Ujamaa, or the principle of economics. The foundation of Kwanzaa is the Seven Principles, or Nguzo Saba. The Seven Principles are Umoja (unity), Kujichagulia (self-determination), Ujima (collective work and responsibility), Ujamaa (cooperative economics), Nia (purpose), Kuumba (creativity) and Imani (faith).
During the week-long celebration, one candle is lit each day on a kinara, or candle holder, to celebrate the seven days of Kwanzaa. Three red candles are lit on the left and three green candles are lit on the right, with a single black candle in the center.
Developed by Dr. Maulana Karenga, Kwanzaa was first celebrated in 1966 and was created to introduce and reinforce seven basic values of African culture. Karmamu House also held arts education workshops after the ceremony.
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The purple dots represent areas where the county has identified solid-waste disposal sites that could be evaluated for placement of a solar farm in the future.
(Cuyahoga County Planning Commission, Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, Ohio EPA and Cuyahoga County Board of Health)
CLEVELAND, OHIO - Some people are actually jazzed by the fact that Cuyahoga County is home to more than 100 solid-waste disposal sites, many of them old municipal dumps.
Why the excitement?
Because somebody might one day want to use the otherwise development-challenged sites for solar farms that would provide a clean and renewable source of energy for the region.
Mike Foley, director of sustainability for the county, requested an inventory of sites to get a better idea of the tainted land resources that could be used to produce green energy in the future.
The county already has such a project in the works. It plans to use a developer to erect a solar farm on an as-yet-to-be-chosen site. The project is part of a 10-year, power purchase agreement with Cleveland Public Power that calls for the county to buy locally generated wind and solar energy.
The leading contender for the farm is the Brooklyn municipal landfill, which is closed.
The electricity generated by the solar farm will be used to power county-owned buildings. As party of the power purchase agreement, the county will also buy some of the electricity that will be generated by an offshore wind farm planned for Lake Erie.
But Foley wants to know what else is out there in case there is interest in reclaiming more landfills or brownfields in the future to generate clean energy from solar power.
As it turned out, Jessica Fenos, principal planner at the Cuyahoga County Solid Waste District, had been compiling a much more comprehensive list of waste disposal sites from information provided by the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency and the Cuyahoga County Board of Health.
A shorter list provided to Foley does not include sites that may have hazardous substances, Fenos said. Sites that are on the list include those used to dispose of municipal waste, construction and demolition debris and fly ash. Fly ash is particulate generated by furnaces.
While landfills may not be suitable for extensive development, in part because of the methane gas that often accumulates underground, they might accommodate panels that don't pierce through the landfill's protective cap.
In many cases, the sites are areas that functioned as city dumps years ago, Fenos said.
Fenos said the list is an initial stab at creating an inventory of potential sites and that there could be additions and subtractions along the way.
"It will be refined as we go," she said.
The identified sites can be found throughout the county, with a heavy concentration in and around Cuyahoga Heights and Garfield Heights.
CLEVELAND, Ohio -- No debris has been found from the plane that went missing Thursday night at Burke Lakefront Airport, according to the U.S. Coast Guard.
No signs of any kind of wreckage have been located in the two- to three-mile search area, Capt. Michael Mullen, chief of response for the Ninth Coast Guard District in Cleveland, said at a Friday news conference.
The plane was carrying six people, including a Columbus beverage executive who was piloting the plane. He and the others, his family and neighbors, including three children, went to a Cleveland Cavaliers game at Quicken Loans Arena Thursday night.
".....There's several faint hits of an ELT (emergency locating transmitter) but we have not received a strong steady pulse of an ELT signal at this time," he said.
Mullen did not say what caused the disappearance.
He said he believes there could be survivors, and search teams are out there looking for them.
When asked how long someone could last in the cold water, Mullen said it all comes down to a "will to survive."
The aircraft dropped off the radar around 11 p.m., according to Christopher Yaw, public affairs specialist with the Ninth Coast Guard District in Cleveland. He indicated it was two miles away from the airport above the lake when the last signal came through.
The plane, which can hold up to 11 people, was heading to Ohio State University Airport. The plane was based at the airport, said an OSU official.
At the time of the flight there was light snow.
The plane is a Cessna 525, Yaw said.
A helicopter from U.S. Coast Guard Air Station Detroit is assisting as well as a plane from the Royal Canadian Airforce, Yaw said.
Water depth in the search area is around 50 feet and winds are 30 to 35 miles an hour.
Bristol Bay out of Detroit is helping in the search.
The Tennessee Supreme Court has ruled that application of the Exclusionary Rule Reform Act (ERRA), Tenn. Code Ann. 40-6-108(a), to cases in which the evidence was seized prior to the statutes enactment does not violate the constitutional prohibition against ex post facto laws.
Ex post facto laws are laws that are passed and take effect after an event takes place but are still applied to that event. Both the United States and Tennessee constitutions prohibit such laws under certain circumstances.
The ERRA provides that evidence seized pursuant to a search warrant shall be admissible notwithstanding a good faith mistake or technical violation made by a law enforcement officer, court official, or issuing magistrate. In determining that retroactive application of the ERRA did not violate the federal or state constitution, the Court concluded that the ex post facto clause of Tennessees Constitution is similar in definition and scope to that contained in the United States Constitution, overruling prior precedent that held that our states ex post facto clause provided greater protection than its federal counterpart.
This case arose when law enforcement officers obtained a search warrant for the residence of the defendant, John Henry Pruitt, executed a search, and seized evidence of a crime that was later admitted into evidence against the defendant at trial. The warrant displayed two dates, October 18 and 19, 2010, giving rise to a question of when the warrant was actually issued. Testimony at the pre-trial suppression hearing established that any error in the warrant was a technical error or a mistake due to the time of daythe proximity to midnightand that the warrant was not executed prior to being officially issued.
The trial court ruled that the ERRA applied to the defendants case, even though the statute did not take effect until July 1, 2011. Following a trial, the defendant was convicted of two counts of first degree premeditated murder, one count of attempted premeditated murder, and three counts of aggravated assault. He was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The defendant appealed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, which upheld the defendants convictions on different grounds than the trial court.
The Supreme Court granted the defendants application for permission to appeal to consider whether retroactive application of the ERRA would violate constitutional protections against ex post facto laws and to reevaluate prior Tennessee ex post facto analysis. The ex post facto challenge was the only constitutional issue involving the ERRA that was at issue in this case.
In a unanimous opinion released Friday, the Court concluded that retroactive application of the ERRA does not infringe upon ones constitutional protection against ex post facto laws. The Court explained that to run afoul of the ex post facto prohibition, a statute must fall into one of four prohibited categories: it criminalizes an action that was innocent when done; it aggravates a crime; it changes the punishment for the crime; or it changes the rules of evidence to lower the quantum of evidence required to convict the offender. The ERRA does not fall into any of those categories.
Moreover, the Court revisited prior Tennessee precedent analyzing our constitutions ex post facto clause and concluded that nothing within the text of our constitution or our States history supports the conclusion that our ex post facto clause is more expansive than its federal counterpart. This Court overruled prior precedent to the contrary.
Read the opinion in State v. John Henry Pruitt, authored by Justice Roger Page.
India's program to remove 500 and 1,000 rupee bank notes (around $7.36 and $14.72) from the financial system has entered its final day on Friday, but it wasn't clear when the subcontinent's economy would get back to normal.
The program, dubbed demonetization, was aimed at removing around 86 percent of India's hard currency from circulation, leading to huge lines at banks around the country as consumers tried to deposit their notes.
Supporters had hailed the move, which was initially pegged as an important step in the fight against counterfeit notes as well as the so-called black money that has plagued the economy for years. But the unexpected step also spurred hardship as much of the country's economy is cash-based, especially in poorer areas.
The government planned to replace the defunct notes with new 500 and 2,000 notes, but media reports indicated the distribution of the new bills to banks was slow.
While the program may have largely succeeded in getting India's people to take their bank notes out of their mattresses and put them in a bank account, spending the money has become a sticky wicket for returning the economy to normal.
Bank withdrawals remained limited, with account holders only able to remove around 24,000 rupees a week (around $353), or around 2,500 rupees a day from cash machines.
"The money has been deposited in the banks. For people to use it, they need to make withdrawals," noted Radhika Rao, an India economist at DBS Bank. "Those limits on withdrawals need to be lifted. That part has been extremely slow. It's not allowing people to spend."
President Barack Obama announced on Thursday a decision to expel the 35 Russian diplomats suspected of spying and to impose sanctions on the two Russian intelligence agencies over their alleged involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election.
In a move that overturns an earlier plan by Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov to expel 35 U.S. diplomatic staff from Moscow and close two facilities used by the U.S. embassy, the RIA news agency quoted Putin as saying he would consider the actions of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, when deciding on further steps in Russia-U.S. relations.
President Vladimir Putin ruled out on Friday expelling anyone in retaliation for Washington's decision to throw out 35 Russian diplomats and impose sanctions on two of the country's intelligence agencies.
As well as rejecting Lavrov's plan, Putin also said he saw the sanctions as another step to undermine relations between Moscow and Washington, and he regretted that the Obama administration was ending its term in such a way.
"We regard the recent unfriendly steps taken by the outgoing US administration as provocative and aimed at further weakening the Russia-US relationship. This runs contrary to the fundamental interests of both the Russian and American people. Considering the global security responsibilities of Russia and the United States, this is also damaging to international relations as a whole," Putin said in translated statement on the Kremlin's English-language website.
Putin went on to add that he would be inviting "all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children's parties in the Kremlin."
"It is regrettable that the Obama Administration is ending its term in this manner. Nevertheless, I offer my New Year greetings to President Obama and his family," Putin added.
"My season's greetings also to President-elect Donald Trump and the American people."
A total of 96 Russians, including expelled diplomats and their families, are expected to leave the U.S. due to the sanctions, Reuters said, citing Russia's Foreign Ministry from a TASS news agency report.
Earlier Russian Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev said the Obama administration was ending its term in "anti-Russia death throes."
The U.S. sanctions also closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that the administration said were used by Russian personnel for "intelligence-related purposes."
Earlier on Thursday, Russian Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Maria Zakharova already warned of payback after the White House penalized Moscow for alleged interference in the U.S. 2016 election.
"We can only add that if Washington takes new hostile steps, it will receive an answer. This applies to any actions against Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, which will immediately backfire at U.S. diplomats in Russia. The Obama administration probably does not care at all about the future of bilateral relations, but history will hardly forgive it for this apres-nous-le-deluge attitude," she said in an official statement.
The Tennessee Supreme Court has clarified that the criminal offense of stalking, as defined under Tennessee law, contains both an objective element and a subjective element of significant mental suffering or distress that must be met to sustain a conviction. The Court emphasized that the State must present evidence that a victim actually experienced significant mental suffering or distress.This matter arose when the defendant, Nicole Flowers, placed disparaging signs at the home and workplace of the alleged victim, Jason Dale, with whom she had a daughter.In addition to the signs accusing Mr. Dale of being a deadbeat dad, Ms. Flowers also initiated several unwanted text messages in which she chastised Mr. Dale for his lack of involvement in their daughters life. The culminating event occurred when Ms. Flowers followed Mr. Dale by vehicle when he left his place of employment. This event ended when Mr. Dale arrived at the local sheriffs department, parked his vehicle, and walked inside. Ms. Flowers was subsequently arrested and charged with stalking.In a bench trial, Mr. Dale testified generally that he did not want to be defamed and that Ms. Flowers had placed his job in jeopardy. The trial court concluded that the facts of the case established the element of significant mental suffering or distress. The trial court also rejected Ms. Flowerss argument asserting that her actions were protected as freedom of speech under the First Amendment. She was sentenced to a term of eleven months, twenty-nine days, all of which was to be served on probation. Ms. Flowers appealed to the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals, which upheld Ms. Flowerss conviction.The Supreme Court granted Ms. Flowerss permission to appeal to consider whether the evidence presented in the bench trial was sufficient to sustain her conviction and whether her placing disparaging signs in the community was an exercise of free speech that was protected by the First Amendment.In a unanimous opinion released today, the Court concluded that the evidence presented at Ms. Flowerss trial was insufficient to sustain her conviction of stalking. Specifically, the Court held that while the facts of this case could objectively cause significant mental suffering or distress, Mr. Dale did not testify that he personally or actually experienced such feelings, as required by the subjective element of the offense.Because the Courts opinion regarding the sufficiency of the evidence resolved the case, the Court did not address Ms. Flowerss argument that the conviction violated her right to freedom of speech.To read the unanimous opinion in State v. Nicole Flowers, authored by Justice Roger Page, visit the opinions section of TNCourts.gov
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It has been a roller-coaster ride for sterling in 2016 as the currency plunged to levels not seen in more than a generation on the back of the U.K.'s vote to leave the European Union but analysts expect the currency to strengthen from current lows as Brexit negotiations start to take shape. "The long-term outlook for sterling will be heavily influenced by the outcome of the Brexit negotiations," Kallum Pickering, senior UK economist at Berenberg told CNBC via email. He further explained that Brexit represents a long-term supply-side shock for the U.K. through less trade, migration and investment with the EU. "A soft outcome for Brexit would mean a less negative long-term impact growth and a stronger long-term rise in sterling."
Sterling 'flash crash'
The currency has seen a lot of volatility since the referendum vote on June 23. While the initial moves were dramatic, plunging from the highs of $1.50 to a 31-year low of $1.32, the pound continues to remain under pressure at current levels of $1.22. The currency is down nearly 17percent since the start of the year and nearly 17 percent down since the referendum day. However, some analysts have said the pound will start to strengthen now. "The British Pound has been the worst performing G-10 currency this year, reaching a 31-year low. Our analysis shows that GBP will strengthen against the Euro. We expect the worst case scenario is largely priced into GBP, which is at or near its structural nadir," Martin Arnold, director, FX and Macro strategist at ETF Securities told CNBC via email. Arnold also said that the uncertainty surrounding the referendum and its impact on the pound will slowly fade. "While we feel the GBP is at its structural nadir, we expect some volatility will accompany the Supreme Court decision. Nonetheless, we expect the Pound to benefit in 2017. The Euro is likely to weaken as the ECB stays its current stimulatory course," Arnold said.
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A number of analysts have said that while trade-weighted sterling has appreciated during the past month as economic data has come in strong, the pound is expected to appreciate further as there is more certainty on U.K.'s exit from the EU. "We expect the rough outline of a post-Brexit deal with the EU to take shape before the German elections in Q4 2017," Stephen Gallo, European head of FX strategy at BMO Financial Group, told CNBC via email. "In order to contain populist uprisings in their own jurisdictions, EU politicians that occupy the center ground will be less able to take an aggressive stance towards the U.K." Gallo said he expects sterling to fall to $1.21 in the next six months but then climb back up to $1.36 by the end of 2017. "Political tensions in the euro zone should deflect flows in Europe away from the EUR towards the GBP" Gallo said.
Is monetary policy a driver?
While uncertainty around the actual timing of Brexit and geopolitical events such as the U.S. election and Italian referendum continue to be a big driver for currency movements, speculations around the change in central banks' monetary policy also contributes to the volatility. ETF Securities' Arnold explained that the currency market will remain dominated by monetary policy changes from central banks across the world. "Currency volatility will be at the forefront of investors' minds, heightened by ongoing QE policies and political uncertainty. As central bank quantitative easing (QE) policies have kept currency market volatility elevated, the outlook for currencies remains dominated by the global path for monetary policy in 2017."
Check out which companies are making headlines before the bell:
Mylan The drugmaker announced the launch of a generic version of Johnson & Johnson's Concerta, a drug designed to treat attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.
Lockheed Martin Lockheed was awarded a $450 million modification contract by the Pentagon, related to the development and delivery of F-35A aircraft to South Korea.
General Dynamics General Dynamics was awarded a $324.5 million modification contract by the Navy for ESB (Expeditionary Sea Base) 5.
Gulfport Energy The oil and natural gas exploration company said Chief Financial Officer Aaron Gaydosik is resigning, effective Jan. 4, to pursue other opportunities.
Amazon.com , Wal-Mart Amazon and Wal-Mart were sued by Run-DMC founder Darryl McDaniels, who accuses the retail giants of selling clothing and accessories with the rap group's name without permission.
Petrobras announced a number of asset sales to end the year, but the Brazilian state-run oil company fell short of the $15.1 billion it had planned to divest for 2015 and 2016. Asset sales for the two years totaled $13.6 billion.
Qualcomm Qualcomm settled a dispute with Chinese smartphone maker Meizu Technology, signing a worldwide patent licensing agreement. Qualcomm had sued Meizu in a number of countries in an attempt to get the company to license Qualcomm patents.
Charter Communications Charter and Comcast's NBCUniversal are at a contract impasse, which could result in NBC channels being pulled off Charter systems on New Year's Day. Comcast is the parent company of NBCUniversal.
Royal Bank of Scotland The bank has been asked by shareholder groups to create an investor committee to improve corporate governance.
Apple Apple's iPhones will be made in Bengaluru, India beginning in April, according to a Times of India report. Taiwan-based electronics manufacturer Wistron is building a factory that will make those phones.
Sprint The mobile phone company may be making the right moves to prompt a merger with T-Mobile US , according to the Wall Street Journal.
The Food and Drug Administration on Friday announced it is extending the feedback period for comments about use of the word "healthy" on food packaging.
The move gives the food industry and consumer groups more time to weigh in on whether the government should redefine the meaning of "healthy" on food labels.
But it also gives the incoming Trump administration more time to review the issue, and could ultimately lead to reforms in the way the government comes up with food and labeling guidelines.
Use of the term "healthy" to make certain nutrient claims has become controversial over the years, prompting the FDA to issue warnings to certain manufacturers.
Back in September, the FDA indicated it wanted to receive comments from the public by Jan. 26; it has now has extended that date to April 26.
"They are collecting endless comments," said Marion Nestle, a New York University professor specializing in nutrition, food studies and public health. "What this does is move all of this to the new administration, and who knows what they will do about these things."
The delay in the comment period comes as President-elect Donald Trump has vowed to reduce business regulations. In September, Trump made a speech lashing out at the cost of regulations; one area his campaign has targeted is the FDA.
"Mr. Trump is on record saying that the FDA is 'food police' and he doesn't like that," said NYU's Nestle. "Everything that the FDA is doing is up for grabs."
The FDA is part of the Department of Health and Human Services. Trump's choice for HHS secretary is Rep. Tom Price of Georgia, a six-term GOP lawmaker and a physician. In 2009, Price voted against a bill that would have expanded the FDA's authority to regulate food products.
In a statement Friday, the FDA told CNBC the agency "extended the comment period on the use of the term 'healthy' in the labeling of food products to April 26, 2017, in response to requests for additional time to submit comments. The FDA also intends to hold a public meeting to facilitate further dialogue on this topic."
Earlier this year, the Grocery Manufacturers Association a trade group representing the large food and beverage brands as well as major grocers asked the FDA to review the nutrition content claims and health claims regulations.
The FDA's current "guidance" to industry manufacturers is that foods can make the "healthy" claim if they "have a fat profile makeup of predominantly mono and polyunsaturated fats" or "contain at least 10 percent" of daily recommended potassium or vitamin D.
In the past, the FDA has issued warnings when it felt these guidelines were not being followed. One such company that received a "warning letter" in March 2015 was Kind, a New York-based snack company known for its fruit and nut bars.
Kind fought the agency's claims that it had wrongly made nutrient content claims. The FDA ended up reversing its position, and Kind issued a press release in May touting how it can once gain use "healthy" on its labels. Kind didn't return requests for comment at deadline.
While the FDA considers how to redefine the term "healthy," "food manufacturers can continue to use the term...on foods that meet the current regulatory definition," the agency's website states.
Oil pump oil rig energy industrial machine for petroleum. Getty Images
The OPEC and non-OPEC landmark deal to cut production by 1.8 million barrels a day in 2017 enters into force this Sunday. The first month of implementation will be key to understand whether everyone will respect the deal, but according to analysts full compliance is very unlikely. January will be "the first big test," Alex Dryden, global market strategist at JP Morgan, told CNBC over the phone. Dryden doesn't expect 100 percent compliance among OPEC members, but a broad compliance of about 80 percent. Furthermore, risks related with non-OPEC members, shale gas production, and a stronger dollar could compromise the success of the deal even further.
Participants attend the opening session of the 15th International Energy Forum in Algiers on September 27, 2016. Ryad Kramidi | AFP | Getty Images
In late November, OPEC members pledged to cut production by 1.2 million barrels per day for the first time in eight years. In early December, some non-OPEC countries, such as Russia, joined their efforts and promised to cut output by 600,000 barrels per day. Their aim is to lift oil prices. "OPEC production cuts will help alleviate the current oversupply, allowing recent price gains to be sustained, and possibly providing momentum for even higher prices," Thomas Watters, global ratings credit analyst at Standard and Poor's, said last week in a note. "But, as higher prices kick in, shale production would likely quickly ramp up, effectively capping oil prices above $60," he added. So far, Venezuela, an OPEC-member, has already confirmed that it will cut production by 95 000 barrels a day as of January 1. Given its economic struggles, implementing the deal is in its interest. But according to Dryden from JP Morgan, the U.S. dollar is likely to strengthen in 2017 which could force countries, like Venezuela to keep production at present levels. "A stronger dollar puts pressure (on financial balance sheets for some countries, like Venezuela)," Dryden said. A stronger dollar means that some countries will be more indebted and thus forced to produce more oil to offset the impact on their balance sheets.
Russia seen as a question mark
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Timing is everything. And President Obama has made a timing mistake that threatens to damage his legacy for many years to come.
This has already been the busiest and most tumultuous transition period in modern American history. Donald Trump has been uncharacteristically active for a President-elect, making deals with individual companies to keep jobs in the U.S., making several highly controversial cabinet choices, and continuing to tweet and speak out with brash regularity.
Of course, President Obama has been uncharacteristically active for an outgoing president too. He's breaking records for the sheer number of pardons and commuted sentences he's ordered, especially for Americans still imprisoned for non-violent drug crimes. He's moving to block oil and other energy exploration in a massive swath of U.S. lands and waters. And now, the White House is announcing new sanctions and booting many Russian diplomats out of the country to retaliate against Moscow's alleged interference in the presidential election. Russia has already promised to respond with measures of its own.
This could get ugly, but each of the above actions are political positives for President Obama. They're all popular with most of the American public. As an added bonus for the Obama team and his fellow Democrats, the Russia story weakens Trump. That was clear even in the case of the usually unfiltered and sharp spoken President-elect Trump.
When asked Wednesday night about the Russian hacking and the impending Obama administration retaliation, Trump uncharacteristically couldn't say anything definitive and he almost mumbled limp responses like, "America should move on," and "Computers have complicated lives." Huh?
But here's the problem for President Obama: None of the above is going to really matter. Because none of these political point-scoring moves will stir up as much media attention, controversy, and brew such new animosity against President Obama and his administration as his decision to punish Israel at the United Nations when it allowed the Security Council to adopt a resolution condemning Israeli settlements. In short, President Obama is blowing a chance to go out of office on a popularity high.
President Barack Obama's decision to expel 35 Russian diplomats and impose new sanctions on Moscow was necessary, given President-elect Donald Trump's "dismissive" comments about hacking reports, a former U.S. ambassador to Russia said Friday.
"I think most importantly what the Obama administration did yesterday was to assign direct attribution with overwhelming evidence with who interfered in our election process," Michael McFaul said on CNBC's "Squawk Box."
Obama announced the sanctions on Thursday, citing Russia's alleged involvement in hacking political groups in the 2016 presidential election. In a statement, Trump said, "It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things."
"I thought it was necessary," McFaul said, referring to Obama's actions. "Especially given that the next president, President-elect Trump, has been so dismissive of the intelligence."
Trump did say Thursday he plans to meet with intelligence leaders next week for an update in the situation.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday ruled out expelling anyone in retaliation for now to see what Trump does after he takes office on Jan. 20.
McFaul, who served as U.S. ambassador to Russia from 2012 to 2014, said Putin's response was unusual.
"Usually in one of these instances, there's a tit-for-tat response," he said. "And even Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov already had put together the names of diplomats to expel. But obviously President Putin has decided he's going to wait and deal with the next guy."
Olga Oliker, senior adviser and director of the Russia and Eurasia Program at CSIS, said a "tit-for-tat" response is usually how major governments behave in such situations. She said Obama's decision makes it clear how the U.S. will respond to future allegations of election hacking.
"The new executive order provides a good bit of leeway there," Oliker said on "Squawk Box."
McFaul said Washington's action are not enough, and that more should be done about the alleged hacking.
"I still have 100 different questions about what happened and how the Obama administration responded to the intelligence that they received in real time during the election," McFaul said. "We can't just think of this as a bump in the road and move on."
One key challenge the Trump administration will face in 2017 is making the nation's systems more secure from cyber attacks, Former Assistant Attorney General John Carlin told CNBC on Friday.
"I think as we move towards this new approach of figuring out who did it, making it public and imposing consequences that we have to get faster at it," he said.
"What we're seeing is not just governments being target and not just companies large, small, medium sized by crooks, terrorist and spies, but we're seeing everyday users. Just because it happens through cyber enabled means doesn't mean you get away with a free pass," he said.
This year has been a roller-coaster one for news, full of political upsets and shock outcomes. But while the Brexit vote and the U.S. election were making headlines, so too were apparently genuine stories that Pope Francis had endorsed Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton sold weapons to ISIS. After being fact-checked, it quickly became apparent that these stories were almost entirely fabricated. And while a slightly closer inspection would have shown that Popes are traditionally politically independent and no evidence has been found that Hillary Clinton has financial links to the so-called Islamic State, many people took the stories at face value. According to data from Buzzfeed published last month, these stories boasted nearly two million Facebook engagements, in the three months leading up to the U.S. election. To put that figure into perspective, during the same period, the top performing Facebook story for the New York Times racked up just over 370,000 engagements. A Buzzfeed investigation traced some of these fake publishers to a small town in Macedonia called Veles - where it discovered that over 140 fake news sites are based. CNBC looks at some of the biggest top performing fake stories of 2016, using engagement figures from Buzzfeed.
"Pope Francis shocks world, endorses Donald Trump for president"
Pope Francis Giampiero Sposito | Reuters
The story was originally published by a site called WTOE 5 News before being copied by a popular fake news publisher Ending the Fed. By November 8, the story had picked up 960,000 Facebook engagements, according to Buzzfeed. WTO5 News has since shut down its website. However, when it was operational, it openly admitted to fabricating content and even had a disclaimer on its homepage saying: "most articles on wt0e5news.com are satire or pure fantasy." Ending the Fed has taken down its version of the article, but is still publishing fake news and growing its audience on Facebook; it currently has over 350,000 followers. During a press conference on October 2, Pope Francis spoke publicly about the U.S. election for the first time, saying "I never say a word about electoral campaigns" and that there were "difficulties" with both candidates; Reuters reported. Francis also spoke out against the dangers of fake news on December 7 in an interview with the Belgian Catholic Weekly, calling it a "sickness."
"Donald Trump sent his own plane to transport 200 stranded marines"
Donald Trump Shannon Stapleton | Reuters
This was published by Americanmilitarynews.com in May and racked up 893,000 engagements, according to Buzzfeed's data. The article claimed that back in 1991, a bunch of Marines had been left stranded after Operation Desert Storm, and that Donald Trump had found out about it and sent his own plane to collect them. The story can be traced back to Sean Hannity, a popular conservative political commentator. His site, Hannity.com, still has the article up and says it has been confirmed by Trump's team. The Washington Post fact-checked Hannity's article and the real story is slightly different. A Trump-branded plane did indeed pick up the Marines, but it wasn't Donald Trump's personal jet. It was a Boeing 727 that was part of Trump Shuttle Inc, an airline owned by the president-elect from 1989-1992. TSI never turned a profit and by 1990 it had defaulted on its loans. The planes were eventually seized but, before the business was sold, TSI contracted out planes to the U.S. Army.
John Podesta Andrew Harrer | Bloomberg | Getty Images
The "Pizzagate" conspiracy theory emerged after WikiLeaks released emails from Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman, John Podesta. Reading the emails, online communities such as 4chan and Reddit began theorizing about possible double meanings which could be inferred from the exchanges. It was quickly decided that emails about social gatherings involving "pizza," were code for something much darker; a secret underground human trafficking/child sex abuse ring, involving senior members of the Clinton campaign. There has been no evidence to support claims that Comet, the Washington pizzeria mentioned in the emails is up to any wrongdoing. In fact, after investigating the claims, the Metropolitan Police Department of the District of Columbia characterised the matter as a "fictitious conspiracy theory". The New York Times, Fox News and the Washington Post have also failed to find any unlawful activity at the restaurant.
"Ireland is now officially accepting Trump refugees from America"
columbiahillen | iStock | Getty Images
Nearly a million people read this story on Facebook. Actually the piece did not even mention Ireland, it references Inishturk - a small island off the coast of Ireland which has no say on Irish immigration policy. Furthermore the article, which was published by Winning Democrats, referenced how Canada has adopted an open door immigration policy for disgruntled Americans - which it hasn't. Nonetheless, the story generated 810,000 engagements.
"WikiLeaks confirms Hillary sold weapons to ISIS Then drops another bombshell"
Reuters
Published on August 4, this article was written by The Political Insider after WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange made comments about Hillary Clinton during an interview in late July. The article states that Assange contended "Hillary Clinton and her State department were actively arming Islamic jihadists, which includes ISIS" and generated some 789,000 engagements, according to Buzzfeed data. What Assange actually said, was that a Hillary Clinton-led State Department had approved weapon shipments to Libya during the intervention in 2011, and that those weapons had later ended up in the hands of jihadists. Before Election Day, the article had 789,000 engagements according to Buzzfeed.
"FBI agent suspected in Hillary email leaks found dead in apartment murder-suicide"
The article, which generated some 567,000 Facebook engagements, according to Buzzfeed, was originally published by the Denver Guardian on November 5. The site has since been deleted, but it once called itself "Denver's oldest news source". In reality, that title belongs to the Denver Post, which has been publishing since 1892.The Denver Guardian article prompted the Post to publish a piece titled "There is no such thing as the Denver Guardian, despite that Facebook post you saw." In its article, the Denver Post draws attention to the fact that the contact address listed for the Denver Guardian is actually just a vacant car park.
"FBI director received millions from Clinton Foundation, his brothers law firm does Clintons taxes"
FBI director James Comey Getty Images
This was another big clicker for the website Ending the Fed with over 538,000 Facebook engagements, but a lot of the content seems to have been sourced from the right-wing news and commentary site Breitbart News. All that can really be proven is that FBI Director James Comey has worked for organizations in the past that have donated money or partnered with the Clinton Foundation. Brietbart has so far been unable to produce proof Comey directly took part in, or benefitted from any of the transactions. As for the taxes claim: Peter Comey is employed in some capacity by DLA Piper - a multinational law firm. According to Breitbart, DLA Piper conducted an independent audit of the Clinton Foundation in 2015, although there is no evidence to support this claim. The only clear link between DLA Piper and the Clinton Foundation is one of the firm's partners, Kathy Keneally. Before joining DLA Piper's New York office in 2014, Keneally worked as the Assistant Attorney General for the Justice Department's Tax Division. During her time at the DOJ Keneally carried out a four-year-long review of the Clinton Foundation's tax returns between 2010 and 2013.
"ISIS leader calls for American Muslim voters to support Hillary Clinton"
A fighter of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria, or ISIS, holds a flag and a weapon. Reuters
WNDR is a self-confessed fake news outlet and the site's disclaimer points out that its content is fictional in nature and meant to be read as satire. Nonetheless, this article went viral among Trump supporters online and racked up over half a million engagements before November. WNDR alleged that a top ISIS leader released a video endorsing Hillary Clinton and threatening potential Donald Trump voters, calling them "infidels". This is another story copied and reposted by hundreds of fake news sites, often shared with the hashtag #ISISwithher, and clocked up some 522,000 Facebook engagements according to Buzzfeed.
"Hillary Clinton in 2013: I would like to see people like Donald Trump run for office; theyre honest and cant be bought"
Hillary Clinton, 2016 Democratic presidential nominee, smiles during a campaign event in Detroit, Michigan. Daniel Acker | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Within its first week, this article had already captured the attention of 481,000 readers, according to Buzzfeed. It has been published by a plethora of fake news sites, but it got the most attention on ConservativeState.com, one of the best performing Macedonian fake news outlets. While the quote was made up, it is loosely based on a comment Hillary Clinton made in a private speech to Goldman Sachs, an excerpt of which was published by WikiLeaks. What Clinton actually said was that she would like to see more successful business people enter politics.
"RuPaul claims Trump touched him inappropriately in the 90s"
Cosmetics company founder Francois Nars, German model and actress Veruschka von Lehndorff, American actor, model, and recording artist RuPaul, American fashion photographer Steven Meisel, and Canadian model Linda Evangelista, circa 1996. Rose Hartman | Archive Photos | Getty Images
After tapes surfaced of Donald Trump and broadcaster Billy Bush making obscene comments about women, so did this satirical story about the President-elect fondling one of America's most famous drag queens. Published by the satirical site World News Daily Report on October 15, the article said that RuPaul had been grabbed by the president-elect during a party in 1995. Buzzfeed data shows that before Election Day, this article had over 285,000 Facebook engagements.
Donald Trump threw more praise to Russian President Vladimir Putin on Friday, a day after the Obama administration announced sanctions on people and organizations it believes were involved in suspected Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election.
The president-elect applauded Putin for holding off on retaliating to the U.S. actions, which included sanctions on nine entities and individuals and the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats. Trump, breaking with many members of his Republican party, has so far downplayed the White House's actions and bipartisan concerns about possible Russian meddling, seeing them as attempts to delegitimize his election.
In a tweet, Trump called it a "great move" for Putin to wait before retaliating, adding that "I always knew he was very smart!" Giving it more exposure, he also pinned the tweet to his account, meaning more recent tweets will not appear above it as they normally would.
Trump tweet: Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!
On Friday, Putin called the measures "provocative" and "aimed at further weakening the Russia-U.S. relationship." But he said Russia would not expel any U.S. diplomats in response, after Russia's foreign minister earlier indicated that Moscow could. The move was interpreted as waiting to see if Trump will adopt a more conciliatory approach when he takes office next month.
The White House's actions were seen as putting Trump in a difficult spot, as top congressional Republicans called the sanctions "overdue" and more hawkish GOP senators said they would seek tougher measures against Russia. Trump's lauding of Putin comes after a statement Thursday night in which he said "it's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things" than concerns about Russia. He also said he will talk to the intelligence community next week about the "facts" that led to the sanctions.
Trump has received bipartisan criticism for appearing too warm with Putin. Trump has not yet said if he will keep Obama's sanctions, seek harsher actions or even roll back other existing measures.
In a statement Thursday, President Barack Obama said that "actions intended to interfere with the U.S. election process ... could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government." U.S. officials told NBC News earlier this month that they believe with a "high level" of confidence that Putin became personally involved in the suspected electoral meddling.
Trump's tweet Friday took a decidedly different tone from responses House Speaker Paul Ryan and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell gave to the sanctions Thursday. Ryan said in a statement that Russia has "consistently sought to undermine" America's interests and called Obama's actions "overdue."
McConnell, meanwhile, said that "the Russians are not our friends" and called the sanctions "a good initial step." He urged an "overwhelming response" to cyberattacks against the U.S.
Sen. John McCain, a hawk on policy toward Russia, has set a hearing on foreign cyberattacks against the U.S. for next week.
Trump's quote about Putin was also distributed more widely Friday on his Instagram account.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's relationship with its traditional ally, the U.S., took a rocky turn earlier this month following the passing of a UN Resolution which demanded an end to Israel's settlement building on Palestinian territory.
The U.S. abstained from its vote at the UN Security Council rather than vetoing the motion, and in the furore that followed Secretary of State John Kerry criticized Netanyahu's coalition as "the most right-wing in Israeli history."
But, while 14 out of the 15 UN Security Council members voted in favor of the resolution on December 23, Netanyahu's position may not be as isolated as it initially seemed.
Though Britain voted for the resolution, a spokesman for U.K. Prime Minister Theresa May said in a statement Thursday afternoon that, "we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically-elected government of an ally."
He added that, "the (U.K.) Government believes that negotiations (between Israelis and Palestinians) will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the international community." The spokesman also said that peace would not be established "by focusing on only one issue, in this case the construction of settlements," considering that the conflict was "so deeply complex."
The question that politicians should be discussing now is what kind of education is needed to stay ahead of automation, or more likely, to complement technology. Previous changes in the nature of work all required massive policy shifts in education. Universal high school started at the beginning of the 19th Century in the move from the farm to the factory. The move from the factory to the office in the 1960s and 1970s required education after high school and began the universal college movement. But higher education attainment in the U.S. has essentially leveled off during the past few decades. Even as more students have attempted college, not all are finishing. What's needed from the major presidential candidates is not just promises of making college more affordable, but a menu of policies that better align higher education with the workforce of the 21st Century.
A strategy to fill 'middle-skills jobs'
First, a strategy is needed to fill so-called "middle-skills jobs." These are positions that in previous generations would have been filled by high-school graduates, but today require more than a high-school diploma but less than a four-year degree. They include jobs in advanced manufacturing, health care, and information technology. Nearly half of the American workforce has these jobs today, but many of them are filled by aging Baby Boomers who soon will be retiring. It's expected that as many as 25 million new job openings in the next decade will be for middle-skills jobs. In a 2014 survey, Accenture found that 69 percent of human-resources executives said that middle-skill talent shortages "regularly affect their performance."
Unfortunately, too many high-school students who could take these jobs are discouraged from pursuing apprenticeships or community college degrees. Instead, parents and counselors encourage them to follow the well-plotted and well-trod course to a four-year college. But only about half of students who start at a four-year institution finish with a bachelor's degree. There are 12.5 million adults who leave college short of a degree, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.
Education for fifth job, not just first Another key reform to make higher education relevant for the 21st century workforce is to ensure that colleges and universities are not just training students, but educating them. Many colleges are chasing the latest and hottest career fields by creating new majors and programs narrowly tailored to get students a job right out of college. But in doing so, they are often paring back the liberal arts that supply students with the problem-solving abilities and communication skills critical to the workforce of the future.
Instead, our entire education system from primary school through college seems so focused on teaching skills that will be automated in the future. The jobs that are growing the most are those that require high social skills as well as analytical skills, according to David Deming, an associate professor of education and economics at Harvard University.
When high-school and college were first deemed necessary to succeed in the American economy, a one-size-fits-all approach to preparing for the workforce seemed adequate. But today, in a global, information economy, we need an education system with multiple pathways and approaches to ensure employment opportunities for workers at all skill levels and with varied backgrounds.
Some experts say there could be a temporary jump of 20 percent or more in the national average at some point in the spring when driving season picks up. Demand is softer in the winter months, but prices could get a bit higher through January and February.
Prices should be up in the new year, in large part because of higher oil prices but also because of the growing export market for U.S.-refined gasoline. Last week, the U.S. exported a record 1.1 million barrels a day, most likely to Mexico and South America.
After a year of relatively cheap driving, gasoline prices are creeping higher and consumers could even see a price spike by mid-2017.
Gasoline has already begun its climb. After holding below $2.30 per gallon of unleaded for 200 straight days, the national average for gasoline crossed that level Thursday. It was at $2.31 per gallon Friday, according to AAA. Gasoline futures, meanwhile, have risen in 9 of the last 11 sessions.
"There will be a spike and everyone will be talking about it and it will probably be between Easter and Memorial Day," said Tom Kloza, global head of energy analysis at Oil Price Information Service.
That spike could take the price at the pump temporarily to a national average of $2.75 to $2.85 per gallon, he said. Gasoline prices averaged about $2.12 per gallon this year, and the 2017 national average could range between $2.399 and $2.519 for unleaded, Kloza said.
Gas prices were about $2.40 in 2015, but higher for several years before that with the average $3.34 in 2014. There were some super low prices in the U.S. in 2016, with some drivers paying around $1.60 per gallon, but there were also price spikes, including in the Southeast when the Colonial pipe line was temporarily shut down.
"It's going to be front-end loaded. We're going to see a spike and then we'll see prices ease from that spike," Kloza said of 2017 pump prices. Some places, like Connecticut, California and Pennsylvania could temporarily see prices over $3 per gallon.
"That forecast depends on no hurricane and no border tax. The border tax is a new wild card that I just don't think is going to get passed," he said. The border tax is a congressional proposal to tax goods and services coming into the U.S. but not tax exports. The refining industry is opposed to it as it could be applied to oil imports.
"Part of the national average is being driven higher by the New Jersey gas tax and other taxes that will kick in starting New Year's," said John Kilduff of Again Capital. He said a handful of states are raising taxes on gasoline, including Pennsylvania and Michigan.
Kilduff said he sees gasoline prices trending higher just because of the rise in crude prices, up 45 percent in 2016 and 20 percent just since the election. The most recent runup is credited to a production deal between OPEC and non-OPEC producers, like Russia.
Whether gasoline will spike, however, is not clear, he said. "It has the potential, given all the exports," said Kilduff. "That's been the change, especially the sales to Mexico. What's going to happen to Venezuela is anybody's guess and they have refinery capacity that would be a problem if it's lost for any period of time."
Kloza said supply will also be impacted when refineries take capacity offline for maintenance ahead of the switch to summer fuels. About 30 percent of capacity will be affected by the turnaround, he said.
The exports should also support prices, he said. "It's a double-edged sword. It is the big difference maker going into 2017, compared to 2016," said Kloza.
The U.S. produces between 9 million and 10 million barrels of gasoline a day. Last week, U.S. consumers used about 9.3 million barrels a day of gasoline, while refiners also exported a record 1.1 million barrels a day.
The U.S. also imports gasoline to the East Coast from Europe, the Caribbean and Venezuela. That amounted to 434,000 barrels a day last week, down by about half of what was imported last year at the same time.
Kloza said the exports helped with a glut of gasoline in the U.S. "In the summertime, we got to where we made more than 10 million barrels a day of gasoline and manufactured more than 5 million barrels a day of distillates. That was a big deal. ... We thought you'd have 9 [million] and 4 [million] for domestic demand. If it weren't for gasoline exports and the highest months can be December and January we'd be looking at matching that big inventory buildup we had last January," he said.
Gasoline supplies surged in early 2016, to a record 258 million barrels.
Kloza said Mexico and South America are the key destinations for U.S. gasoline and diesel fuel. He expects Mexico is now importing about 500,000 barrels a day of U.S. gasoline. Mexico also exports about 500,000 barrels of oil per day to the U.S. In September, government data show Mexico imported 390,000 barrels a day. Detailed December data will be available in several months.
"We're the bread basket and the refiner to the world," said Kilduff. The U.S. also exported 1.4 million barrels a day of diesel fuel last week.
Kilduff said it's more difficult than usual to predict where oil and gasoline prices are heading in 2017.
"There's wild cards out there. Does the OPEC production deal hold together? Do the frackers come back in a big way? This is a tough year to call. In my opinion, it's the hardest one to call in a while because of all the policy uncertainty," he said. "The only thing that's supportive is we don't have an aggressive Saudi posture any longer. That's a big change."
Oil prices cratered in February 2016, after 14 months of a new Saudi Arabia-driven OPEC policy to let the market set prices. That policy led to a giant crude surplus which ultimately became a refined product glut as well.
As for gasoline, Kilduff said if margins improve, refiners will go full tilt. "They'll ramp up productive capacity. It's going to be a very up-and-down year," he said.
OWEGO, N.Y. Businesses and organizations in Tioga County can apply for on-the-job (OJT) training funds from the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce during 2017.
The funding from the New York State Department of Labor can help businesses and organizations offset training costs for their employees, the Tioga County Chamber said in a news release.
The chamber will administer the program in partnership with the Tioga Employment Center.
The program begins Jan. 1.
The chamber OJT program provides support for local businesses that are either hiring a new employee or promoting a current employee to a new position.
In both cases, recipients will use the training grant to provide the employee with the additional training needed in order to fulfill the increased job responsibilities.
The OJT program offers businesses up to 50 percent of the wages paid for each new or existing full-time worker who participates.
The Tioga Employment Center will assist the chamber in the screening and assessment of trainees for the OJT program and provide additional assistance with program development and marketing.
Employers seeking more information about the OJT program can call Gwen Kania, president and CEO of the Tioga County Chamber of Commerce, at (607) 687-2020, or email: business@tiogachamber.com.
They can also call Sheri McCall, manager of the Tioga Employment Center at (607) 687-8504 or email: McCallS@co.tioga.ny.us.
Contact Reinhardt at ereinhardt@cnybj.com
Its not often that an Eisenhower dollar turns up today in general circulation. Bill O'Rourke suggests a better way to get them, in this week's top post on CoinWorld.com.
Its time to catch up on the week that was in numismatic insights and news.
Coin World is looking back at its five most-read stories of the week.
Click the links to read the stories. Here they are, in reverse order:
5. Gold poised to maintain its streak of consecutive weekly losses: Bloomberg News reports golds performance is maintaining its string of consecutive weekly losses, the longest decline in more than a year.
4. Coin Heist at the Philadelphia Mint? Its only a Netflix movie: Netflix will debut an original movie Jan. 6 that provides a fictional account of the planned theft of $10 million from the Philadelphia Mint.
3. Here are Coin Worlds Top 10 Stories of 2016: Monday Morning Brief: Its that time of year when Coin Worlds editors recap the top numismatic stories of the year.
2. Top 10 of 2016: American Liberty silver medals hot numismatic items: Collectors waited a year, until 2016, before the U.S. Mint finally issued the American Liberty silver medals.
1. Youre not likely to find an Eisenhower dollar in general circulation: Are you all ready to start a new year? Columnist O'Rourke is, and he advises a truly useful resolution.
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70-millimeter bronze medal captures the effects World War I had on Belgium when Germany invaded the nation in August 1914.
Numerous medals were issued during World War I that documented the horrors of the conflict.
Readers Ask column from the Jan. 16, 2017, issue of Coin World:
Upon my fathers passing some 20 years ago, I received a number of things he had collected in his lifetime, including some medals. One medal appears to be bronze and bears designs military in nature. Ive attached images to help in its identification.
Charles Howerton / Via email
The 70-millimeter gilded bronze medal is indeed military in nature. Designed, engraved and signed by Belgian engraver Pierre Theunis, its obverse and reverse designs reflect effects of Germanys 1914 invasion of Belgium during the early stages of World War I.
The obverse depicts the city of Namur as a crowned woman standing, her arms crossed in defiance, flanked by two nude female figures, seated and resting. The seated figures personify the Sambre and Meuse rivers.
Inscribed around the top border is NAMUR BRAVE LES OBUS AUTRICHIENS, which translates from French into English as Namur braves the Austrian shells. A bridge and mountainscape are in the background.
The engravers signature, P. THEUNIS, appears above the exergue, in which is inscribed 425 AOUT 1914 (August 4 to 25, 1914). A circled AM monogram below the nude at right stands for the Amis de la Medaille d Art (Friends of the Art Medal). The dates mark the Aug. 4 start of German forces shelling Namur, using heavy artillery on loan from Austria-Hungary, and the end of the bombardment Aug. 25 with the citys last fort leveled, forcing the evacuation of Belgian forces to Antwerp by way of Ostend.
On the medals reverse, in the left foreground a soldier stands while another soldier sits at right; P. THEUNIS is below. In the background, soldiers disembark from a military ship at right; the tower of St. Pauls Church of Ostend is seen at left. Inscribed around is SA GARNISON DEBARQUE A OSTENDE (Garrison landing in Ostend). In the exergue, in two lines, appears 2 ET 3 SEPTEMBRE / -1914. (Sept. 2 and 3, 1914).
Uncirculated examples of the Belgian medal have sold on eBay for under $150.
Dick Portillo's Suburban Home With Indoor Pool & Tiki Bar Is Up For Sale (Corrected)
By Rachel Cromidas in Food on Dec 30, 2016 5:42PM
Updated 1:30 p.m.:
You can own the former home of Dick Portillo, the founder of the iconic restaurant chain Portillo's known to some as "the hot dog king."
Portillo's swanky suburban Addison home has a tiki bar and an indoor pool. According to the real estate listing, which lists the 2,600 square-foot home at $549,000, other features of the 220 N. Cardinal home included heated floor tiles, a billiards room, California Bamboo hardwood floors, an aromatherapy steam shower and a pool room sauna.
[HT Curbed]
Correction: We and other outlets previously reported that home was owned by "Hot Dog King" Ira Helfner, the Chicagoan who introduced the Chicago-style Vienna beef hotdog to Honolulu, based on information in the real estate listing. It was owned by Portillo, not Helfner, the listing agent told Chicagoist Friday afternoon. We regret the error.
Donna James Leads a Bold Plan to Revive Victorias Secret
James has a proven record as a C-suite executive and adviser. Now, shes guiding the lingerie giant toward a more inclusive, financially sound future.
Photos: Protesters Tell Pence To 'Go Away' Outside Illinois GOP Fundraiser
By aaroncynic in News on Dec 30, 2016 8:50PM
More than 100 people demonstrated outside the Chicago Club in the Loop midday Friday where Vice President Elect Mike Pence attended a fundraiser the Illinois GOP held for the Republican National Committee.
Demonstrators, who chanted Racist, sexist, anti-gayMike Pence go away began to line the barricades shortly after Pence was ushered through a back door away from the front sidewalks.
No one who doesnt have a vagina has any business talking about vaginas, said Betty Holcolmb, a board member for the Coalition for Reproductive Choice. I will fight forever for reproductive rights, for women to be able to control their bodies.
Marie Cobb, a senior citizen, told the crowd she came to speak out against Pence and Trump over fears of what the new administration could do to gut social services for seniors and people with disabilities.
Some people are saying we should give them a chance, said Cobb. I dont understand thatwith all the people hes appointing to his cabinet, we know exactly what the plan is.
The biggest thing were trying to get out to people is that we are going to need to fight, said John Beacham of the ANSWER Coaltion. We are gonna organize and unite and protect immigrants, Muslims, women, people of color, LGBTQ people, the environment, the disabled and, honestl,y the list goes on and on.
While the fundraiser, which began at $2,700 a ticket, was not attended by Gov. Bruce Rauner, his name was listed on the host committee along with several other prominent Illinois Republicans. According to the Chicago Tribune, an official said the event was expected to raise between $500,000 and $1 million.
Meanwhile outside, at least one person was doing some fundraising of their own. Veep look-alike Mike Hot-Pence was on hand wearing a blue suit and shorts collecting money for Planned Parenthood. I read about two weeks ago Mike Pence was planning a big fundraiser, said the New York native. While a lot of us have been licking our wounds for the past 8 weeks hes been planning and mobilizing. He certainly has his eye on the 2018 and 2020 races so I thought it was important to get out here today to raise some awareness and dollars for causes and people hes abandoned.
Startup culture introduced a lot of change to the traditional workplace by normalizing open office plans, fun break rooms, free food and flexible schedules. Part of these perks are a way to compete for the top tech talent, but they also serve as a way to keep current employees happy, encouraging them to stay with the company for the long haul.
But now that companies like Facebook, Google and HubSpot have grown up, moving past their startup nature, they've started taking employee benefits a step further, offering huge benefits to workers. These 10 tech companies each offer employees at least one benefit that flies in the face of traditional employee benefits.
AirBnB's travel credit
Rated by Glassdoor as the best company to work for, AirBnB offers each employee a $2,000 yearly travel credit to use on AirBnB. Employees can enjoy the site they work for, using that stipend to stay in an AirBnB rental anywhere in the world. Reviews on Glassdoor also praise the company's dedication to becoming an increasingly family-friendly business for employees. Employee reviews reference 10 weeks of parental leave, regular on-site family activities, flexible work schedules, pre-tax childcare benefits and full-employer paid health benefits.
Hubspot's sabbatical
Hubspot is ranked fourth on Glassdoor's list of best places to work, the company offers no shortage of unique employee perks. Reviewers on Glassdoor mention free subscriptions to the Kindle Books program, beer on tap and even a nap room as just a few of the unique perks at HubSpot. But the most impressive benefit is HubSpot's sabbatical program, which gives workers one month paid leave once they reach their five-year anniversary with the company. That's a month to travel, work on personal projects or just relax to come back to work reinvigorated and refreshed.
[ Related story: 4 employee benefits that will improve retention ]
Facebook's paternity leave
Facebook was one of the early tech startups that helped popularize free lunches, commuter reimbursement, onsite gyms and unique office spaces. But as the company has grown, and as Mark Zuckerberg's family has grown, the company recently brought its employee benefits up a notch. After taking his own extended paternity leave, Zuckerberg decided to do the same for all his employees, extending the maternity and paternity leave to four months that new parents can take anytime during the year after their baby's birth. In addition to extended leave, Facebook also gives employees $4,000 after they have a baby to use on anything for their new child.
Netflix's parental leave
If Facebook made headlines for its generous paternity and maternity leave, Netflix has one upped them by offering new parents a full year to take as much time off as they need to. During that year, new parents can choose to work a flexible schedule, part-time, or not at all, but will still receive their full salary and benefits. And to sweeten the deal even further, Netflix extended its generous parental leave to hourly workers as well as full-time employees.
LinkedIn's wellness credit
LinkedIn offers a lot of the same benefits as other tech companies; employees enjoy free food, free healthcare, pet insurance and on-site fitness, and employees generally seem happy, with a 4.7 rating on Glassdoor. But LinkedIn takes its dedication to employee wellness even further by giving each worker $2,000 a year to be spent on wellness activities like massages or fitness classes. In addition to wellness activities, employees can also choose to spend the money on things like childcare.
[ Related story: Why employee experience trumps company culture ]
Spotify's fertility coverage
Spotify made headlines for coming first in a comparison of companies with the best fertility coverage. In fact, the data found that out of every industry, tech companies generally offered the most expansive and comprehensive fertility coverage. These tech companies also had the most flexible policies around who can take advantage of the fertility coverage. Employees on Glassdoor note that the coverage doesn't have a cap and that it extends to both fertility treatments and egg freezing.
Salesforce's paid volunteer work
Salesforce isn't the first company to encourage its employees to give back to the community, but it is one of the few that pays its workers to do so; employees at Salesforce get seven paid volunteer days off every year. The company even incentivizes its most charitable employees, granting $10,000 to each of the 100 top volunteers every fiscal year for them to donate to a non-profit organization of their choice. And for teams that want to volunteer together, the company offers grants to help fund those initiatives.
PwC's student loan pay down
Companies are realizing that their entry-level workers are entering the workforce saddled with debt from their education, which is why PwC introduced a Student Loan Paydown program. Associates or senior associates can get up to $1,200 every year to put towards their loans. Employees can take advantage of the program for up to six years with the company, and the intent is to help new employees pay down their loan as soon as three years faster. PwC also calculates that the program can save workers up to $10,000 on principal and interest as long as they continue making the extra $100 payment after the program ends.
[ Related story: Family-friendly benefits key to attracting top tech talent ]
Accenture's gender reassignment
Accenture prides itself on an inclusive work environment that embraces diversity, and they made that point extra clear by becoming the first consulting firm to offer employees coverage for gender reassignment surgery. The benefits include coverage for cross-border assignment benefits as well as a global medical plan for employees that need to travel for procedures. Gender reassignment coverage is just one aspect of Accenture's commitment to building an inclusive environment for everyone, including LGBT employees.
Zillow's extensive coverage
Zillow doesn't have just one employee benefit that stands out, instead the company offers what one employee on Glassdoor calls, "an absolutely phenomenal benefits package." Employee reviews of Zillow's benefits on Glassdoor have one common theme -- Zillow created a thoughtful, expansive benefits package that has something for every employee. In fact, one employee even commented that her doctors and pharmacy were blown away by their healthcare plan, while another says that the health benefits only get better with each passing year at the company. Employees enjoy perks like unlimited PTO, free food, complete health coverage, commuter and gym reimbursement, 401k matching and generous parental leave.
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This story, "10 companies with employee benefits you won't believe" was originally published by CIO .
President-elect Donald Trump has quite a presence on Twitter with over 18 million followers. He tweets, companies scurry under the rug. His supporters flock to retweet what he says, and the trolls who try to mock him are essentially lost in a haze of confusion. Say what you want about his political views, but hes one of the few successful users on Twitter, perhaps even winning the election in 140-characters.
The rest of us out in the digital domain? While Trump has millions of followers, many Twitter users are content with a few hundred or a few thousand. When you tweet, a stalker-type can easily invade your stream and start harassing you all day long. Its hard not to notice. You can report this, but theres a void. You can block certain phrases, but the trolls will find workarounds.
In a fairly unprecedented move, the CEO of Twitter, Jack Dorsey, decided to invite users to give their opinions about what Twitter needs to do to improve. He spent about six hours replying to tweets yesterday. Some of the user suggestions are a little underwhelming. Having a way to edit a post might seem novel to the Twitterverse, but its been an option on Facebook for years. Twitter is what I would call too binary in that they care about things like character limits for users and whether your username should count in that limit. Having a big debate about editing tweets seems like a way to move some of the dirt around in their grave site. The hole is already there.
Twitter doesnt seem to be aware of online harassment or abuse, or at least has not taken the issue seriously enough. My hope is that the service finds a way to make it clearer who is actually doing the trolling -- being able to find a real name would help, in the same way you have the right to find out who ran into you on the highway.
One user yesterday suggested that any report of online abuse would create a case and a Twitter rep would respond quickly to it. Another said there should be more verified accounts, instead of those that are utterly anonymous. Maybe that could work.
One of my biggest issues with Twitter is that the service has lost its relevancy. That has created what is essentially a Dark Twitter, a forum where abuse and intolerance run rampant. It doesnt take long before you bump into it. If you look at almost any tweet by Jeb Bush, there is a long list of harassing tweets -- calling him stupid over and over again. Maybe you would say he deserves that, or that its just trash talk, or people have the right to express their opinions. Its an open forum, unlike Facebook, in that anyone can comment on anything you say.
My view is that, having verified real names and addresses at least provides some level of accountability. Im sure Governor Bush mostly ignores these tweets, but some of them cross the line into harassment. At this point, theres no way to find out anything about JimmyBob101 other than his location is Earth and he likely used a throwaway email to register.
If there was more accountability, maybe people would think twice. Hiding behind a Twitter account and trolling around making comments on people you dont like needs to end. If Twitter thought this was an important issue, they would have certainly done something about it by now.
May tilts to Israel (and to Trump) after voting against it (and working with Obama)
The Prime Ministers spokesman criticised John Kerry, the outgoing US Secretary of State, after he described the Israeli government as the most Right-wing in history. Mrs May does not believe that it is appropriate for Mr Kerry to attack the make-up of the democratically elected Israeli government, the spokesman said. Her decision to speak out came as president-elect Trump accused Barack Obama and his government of treating Israel with total disdain and disrespect. Mr Kerry had criticised Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, for undermining the two-state solution with his settlement policy in the West Bank. Daily Telegraph
U.S Government surprised by May remarks The Guardian
> Yesterday: Columnist Garvan Walshe- Israeli settlers eat Kerrys lunch
As she works up an American-style plan to stay in Europol
The PM is drawing up plans for the UK to continue a key role in the organisation along a similar model to the US, which has permanent staff based in Europols HQ despite not being in the EU. Ministers believe the UKs leading role in setting up the EU-wide intelligence agency as well as the fact a Brit currently heads up the organisation will force other EU leaders to agree to a new data-sharing deal despite our departure from the troubled union. A senior Government source said: We provide a lot of the expertise and the data when it comes to Europol and we use it more than most, so were pushing for an American-style model where were outside the EU but very much still part of Europol. The Sun
More migrants will come to UK than entire EU populations if Britain stays in single market, warns Migration Watch Daily Telegraph
More migrants will come to UK than entire EU populations if Britain stays in single market, warns Migration Watch Daily Telegraph General Medical Council says that proper tests on doctors from the continent will be impossible if Britain stays in the Single Market Daily Express
Lord Hill says that May needs to move forward rapidly on Brexit The Sun
New challengers join British Influence Single Market case The Guardian
May could face Northern Ireland legal challenge if she tries to leave ECHR The Independent
Johnson told off for giving his bodyguards the slip to run errands and take strolls The Sun
Referendum boosted relationship counsellors workload Daily Express
Number Ten plays down Cameron-for-NATO claims The Guardian
The Queen and Melvyn King: battling for Brexit Trevor Kavanagh, The Sun
> Today: ToryDiary The Joy of Brex
> Yesterday: Andrew Green on Comment Single market membership means more mass immigration
Fox says that 16 billion has been invested in Britain since the EU referendum
The international trade secretary faces accusations that he will have little to do for two years while Britain remains inside the EU, which limits Britains abilities to sign its own trade deals. Critics have also warned that Britain could be a less attractive venue for investment after it leaves the bloc. However, Dr Fox said that his Department for International Trade had brought in billions of investment in the past five months across sectors including property development, infrastructure and renewable energy. Government figures show that 2,213 foreign investment projects were secured in 2015-16, an 11 per cent increase on the previous year. The Times ()
Will roaming charges rise? Financial Times
The UK economy in numbers in 2016 Financial Times
Economists expect Euro to hit dollar parity in 2017 Financial Times
Living wage has pushed prices up Daily Mail
As Brexit looms, its time for the scandal of business rates to be properly addressed Jeremy Warner, Daily Telegraph
Quitting the EU will not hit foreign investment Daily Express editorial
Andrew Jones: Learner drivers are to be allowed on motorways for the first time
Andrew Jones, the Transport minister, said: We have some of the safest roads in the world and we want to make them even safer. These changes will equip learners with a wider range of experience and greater skill set which will improve safety levels on our roads. Steve Gooding, the RAC Director, said: The casualty statistics tell us that motorways are our safest roads, but they can feel anything but safe to a newly qualified driver heading down the slip road for the first time to join a fast moving, often heavy, flow of traffic. Many are so intimidated by the motorway environment that they choose instead to use statistically more dangerous roads, so we welcome this move which will help new drivers get the training they need to use motorways safely. Daily Telegraph
Javid to quiz Surreys Hodge over proposed council tax rise to pay for social care
Surrey County Council is understood to be considering a vote on a 16 per cent rise, which would push up the charge on an average band-D property by 203 to 1,471 next year. Its Tory leader David Hodge has said the local authority simply cannot cope as it faces a budget shortfall of 45 million. Mr Hodge is understood to have been summoned to see Mr Javid over the referendum, which may cost up to 1 million to holdThe Local Government Association has said the social care funding gap will reach 2.6billion by the end of this Parliament. It warned measures announced by Mr Javid, including the rise in the ceiling for demand increases, fall well short of what is needed. Daily Mail
Thatcher, milk saver. She blocked Ken Clarke from ending free milk for children in day care
An official wrote to the PM: You will see from Kenneth Clarkes minute that he has decided to end free welfare milk for children in day care from the end of this school term. In response she scrawled, NO, underlining the word twice. This will cause a terrible row all for 4 million. I know I went through it 19 years ago. Any scheme for saving 400 million or more I will look at. But not 4m. She also struck through a paragraph asking if she wanted to know more. Daily Mail
Those Thatcher papers in full. She
Corbyns New Year message. He says: I understand Brexit.
People didnt trust politicians and they didnt trust the European Union, he says. I understand that. Ive spent over 40 years in politics campaigning for a better way of doing things, standing up for people, taking on the establishment and opposing decisions that would make us worse off. He promises to fight against a Brexit deal that would safeguard the interests of City banks or continue corporate handouts to big businesses, saying: Labour was founded to stand up for people, and we founded the institutions that do that day in and day out, like our NHS. We are the party that listens to you and makes Britain better. Lets do that, together, in 2017. The Guardian
Working people need fairer share of economic gains, says TUC head The Guardian
> Today: Peter Cuthbertson on Comment Labours prison policy is a threat to public safety
Michael Gove: The discreet triumph of the bourgeoisie
For much of mans history most of mankind lived at the level of bare subsistence. As recently as 1800 the average human consumed the equivalent of at most three dollars a day. Now the average citizen of a bourgeois nation such as France or Japan spends around one hundred dollars a day. Its an exponential growth in human welfare, a transition from a world where infant mortality, illiteracy, periodic starvation and back-breaking manual labour were the norm for all but a tiny sliver of society to one where life expectancy is rising, liberty is expanding, racial and sexual discrimination is in retreat and science brings new miracles every day. And it is all the result of the triumph of middle-class morals. The Times ()
> Yesterday: ToryDiary Our survey. Gove is Leave campaigner of the year.
Obama expels Russian spies
President Barack Obama said that he had issued sanctions against Russias two main intelligence services the FSB and the GRU along with sanctions against six individuals: four of them high-ranking GRU members and two of them individual Russian hackers. Separately, the state department also expelled 35 Russian intelligence operatives stationed in the Russian embassy in Washington and the Russian consulate in San Francisco for activity that the US said was inconsistent with their diplomatic status. This, it said, was in response to alleged harassment of US diplomats by Russia. The Russian officials have been given 72 hours to leave the country. Financial Times
Putin calls end to war in Syria after deal with Erdogan The Times ()
The West must stop meddling in the Middle East Max Hastings, Daily Mail
News in Brief
As Home Secretary, Theresa May was all for withdrawing from the European Court on Human Rights, and incorporating the contents of the convention into our own law (a move she first hinted at during her speech to a ConservativeHome conference). As a Tory leadership candidate, she promptly dropped the aspiration presumably mindful that, without a manifesto commitment to leave, the move would not get through Parliament.
Now it has been briefed that she will seek to write withdrawal into the next Conservative election manifesto. This may or may not be chaff to cover the postponement, if not the abandonment, of the British Bill of Rights promised in the last one.
The Bill of Rights would replace the Human Rights Act. Downing Street seems to think that there isnt a majority for scrapping the latter in the Commons, let alone the Lords. It also appears to have concluded that theres little point in abolishing the Act if Britain is still subject to the European Court.
If one is to have judge-made law at all, it makes sense to have our own judges draw it up, since they are more likely to be sensitive to British conditions and culture. So the Prime Minister has a point. But, as with so much else, the context for these considerations has been radically altered by Junes Brexit vote.
The European Convention on Human Rights is written into the text of the Belfast Agreement as a safeguard. It is true that the convention is not the same thing as the court. But as the recent report of Lords EU Committee put it, the Convention is a crucial safeguard to the agreement. Anything that touches on it could have knock-on effects on Northern Irelands stability, and possible ones for the independence debate in Scotland, too. May should proceed with care.
The Supreme Court will rule on the Brexit-related appeals before it during mid-January. If it takes a different view from the High Court, Theresa May will meet her deadline, and Article 50 will be moved by March 31. But the likelihood is that it will not. In such circumstances, Government will therefore need to produce a Bill. Readers will be familiar with the assertion that if such a Bill is brief it will be very difficult to amend and this one would certainly be very short indeed (unless the court rules otherwise, as Lady Hale has suggested it might).
This claim is a misunderstanding of Parliamentary procedure. A Bill can be amended in any way that the Speaker rules to be order. He relies on the view of the clerks. ConservativeHome is told that they would see such a Bill, unsuprisingly, as being no different from any other. And while a brief bill offers fewer opportunities for amendment than a longer one, the potential to amend it is there if MPs and peers are ingenious enough.
So Ministers aim in producing a short bill, in these circumstances, would not be quite as sometimes claimed. They are arguably less concerned with procedure than psychology. To table a brief bill would be to throw down a gauntlet to peers and MPs. The British people have voted for Brexit, the move would proclaim. Defy them and block Article 50 if you dare.
The long and short of it is that while 2016 saw a sudden win for the forces of Brexit, 2017 may turn out to be a slow haul. If there is a Bill, and peers and MPs then dig their heels in, the Prime Minister may miss her end of March deadline for moving Article 50. But if the deadline is met, dont expect swift progress either. One cant have a negotiation without interlocuters to negotiate with, and elections next year may change them, not least Germanys in the autumn. Furthermore, the unexpected usually happens. There may be new legal challenges and rulings. Or else there is a sudden denouement after all: Britain is presented with an expensive divorce bill, refuses to pay it, talks break down and we career towards Brexit in 2019 and trade on WTO terms.
One certainty amidst the unknowns is that whatever the Fixed Terms Parliament Act may say the country cant long be denied a general election if it needs it. Suppose, for example, that an amendment is tabled to an Article 50 Bill requiring the Government to seek Single Market membership as a negotiating aim. May could and should respond by making it clear that such an amendment would unacceptable to the Government.
In effect, she would be making its rejection a matter of confidence. As those with long enough memories will confirm, Who governs Britain? elections are risky. But it is hard to imagine the Prime Minister not returning from a snap election with a majority. Jeremy Corbyn is in a terrible place, and Labour is not recovering in Scotland. Liberal Democrats opportunities are limited. UKIP starts from a long way behind.
All in all, it is not at all difficult to see the date of Brexit getting pushed back. But it is much harder to imagine leaving the EU being prevented altogether. The way the Article 50 process works and the shape of British politics combine to make Brexit a slow train coming. The condition of Labour MPs in particular is likely to be decisive. They saw their colleagues in Scotland wiped out at a stroke in 2015. 2016 brought a big Leave vote in their midlands and northern heartlands. Donald Trumps win has reminded them of how blue collar voters can abandon left-of-centre parties.
They are therefore unlikely to rally around continued Single Market membership assuming they get the opportunity if the price is leaving immigration uncontrolled (as it would be). The Brexit coming down the tracks is thus likely to be hardish. This will give those who claim that the fall-out of the referendum has been a joyless business new cause for complaint. But they are confusing joy with excitement. Only one electoral event has been greeted with mass enthusiasm in modern times: Tony Blairs landslide victory in 1997.
We know how that story ended. So if the aftermath of the Brexit vote feels different and it does that is doubtless all for the best. The vote to leave the European Union, though carried on an emphatic turnout, was a close-run thing: 52 per cent played 48 per cent. But that figure is out of date in at least one sense. As Anthony Wells of YouGov writes: it is clear from current polling that that has not been any significant shift in public opinion since the referendum, most people think the Government is obliged to deliver on the referendum result and that most people do not currently want a second referendum.
In other words, whatever their view on whether Britain was right to vote to leave, most people believe that the referendum result must be honoured. My best sense of the national mood (and yours is as good as mine if not better) is that it is set. Quietly but emphatically, with reluctance in some quarters but acceptance in nearly all, the British people have decided that, as someone or other has put it, Brexit must mean Brexit. This determination is not to be confused with excitement. But it is likely to last for longer. And its not a bad state of mind in which to glance back at what has passed during this extraordinary year.
Disney has won a copyright infringement case against a Chinese plagiarism of Disney/Pixar's animated feature "Cars" in a Shanghai court on Thursday.
Disney Enterprises Inc. and Pixar, holders of the copyrights of animated comedies "Cars" and "Cars 2" as well as the character images, filed the lawsuit in June to sue G-Point in Beijing and Bluemtv in Xiamen, after they found images and posters of the animated movie "The Autobots" resembling those of "Cars" and "Cars 2."
Two posters comparing Zhuo Jianrong's "The Autobots" (2015) and Pixar's "Cars 2" (2011), which are almost identical. [China.org.cn]
"The Autobots," screened in July 2015, was produced by Bluemtv and released by G-Point.
Shanghai New Pudong District Peoples Court ruled on Thursday that the defendants infringed on the intellectual property rights of Disney/Pixar and caused unfair competition. Therefore, the two companies have to pay 1.35 million yuan (US$194,100) in damages to Disney/Pixar, the court ruled.
The plaintiffs' lawyers previously complained at the court that images of the main characters in "The Autobots" -- "K1" and "K2" -- plagiarized the characters "Lightening McQueen" and "Francesco Bernoulli" in "Cars" and "Cars 2." They also said the Chinese name of the movie bore a high resemblance to the Disney and Pixar movies.
Attorneys for the defendants replied that images of "K1" and "K2" were created independently, based on the appearance of real automobiles. They also argued they had emphasized that "The Autobots" was a domestic movie, so consumers would not be confused by the name.
"The Autobots" director Zhuo Jianrong has been under fire since 2015, when critics dismissed the film as a copycat. Even the English title of the film has been copied from another Hollywood blockbuster franchise "Transformers."
Zhuo fought the accusations and insisted he had never seen the movie "Cars." He said his movie was independently produced and the story is completely different. Zhuo also said he would make a sequel but so far has not secured investment as the first installment lost money and attracted criticism and lawsuits.
After he lost his case on Thursday, Zhuo stated that he would appeal the verdict.
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An entomologist in China has put up a mosquito factory to create good mosquitos that can combat the Zika virus and dengue epidemic. The Michigan State University researcher Zhiong Xi is spearheading this mission to eradicate these diseases in a more traditional way.
The Mosquito Factory
Located in Sun Yat-Sen University's science campus in Guangdo, the laboratory spans over 3,500 square feet and houses as much as 6,000 mosquito larvae. According to CNN, up to 5 million mosquitos are being engineered per week, and the focus is on a particular specie that is rampant in Asia.
The male insects would be injected with a bacteria called Wolbachia, which has the ability to block the transfer of the Zika virus or dengue to humans and makes the mosquitos sterile. Even if they mate with females in the wild, the potential eggs won't be able to hatch. This prevents the species from growing and keeps the spread of the virus at bay.
Effects of Zika Virus
If this method would be proved successful, then the casualties from the Zika virus and dengue epidemic could significantly decrease.
The threat of the Zika virus is still strong today, with new studies showing how deadly it could be to people. A report posted on NPR details how the illness could hinder brain development of babies when their mothers become infected. They could be born with microcephaly, a condition where the baby's head would be significantly tiny, which then causes severe brain damage.
Dengue has also caused the deaths of thousands, particularly with those who were treated days after symptoms of high fever and vomiting showed up.
Will the unconventional method in the China mosquito factory remedy the spread of Zika Virus and that of the worsening dengue epidemic?
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It has long been established that sex has several health benefits, particularly when it comes to physical wellness. Now, a new study shows that humans can enjoy better immune function, which could help prevent certain diseases because of sex.
Researchers from Stirling University found that constant sexual activity could yield antibodies that can resist parasites. According to IFL Science, the team used waterflea, a bacteria that could reproduce sexually and asexually. Then, the offspring produced from the two methods would be exposed to parasites to see which ones survived longer.
The results of the study, published in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B, indicated that those born from sexual reproduction were able to resist infections more. This is because those that were produced asexually had the same genetic makeup as their parent, making them susceptible to parasites that affected their parent as well.
On the other hand, mixing the genetics of two parents from intercourse can lead to future generations resisting diseases even as they evolved. They are less prone to sickness and illness because of their new genetic makeup.
Another study conducted at Wilkes University in Pennsylvania support this theory, saying that having regular sex leads to the production of more antibodies that can fight the common cold and other immuno-diseases.
Additionally, doctors agree that among the sex health benefits include the decrease of oxytocin in blood, resulting in lower stress levels. It also normalizes the levels of testosterone and estrogen in a person's body, decreasing risks of high blood pressure and heart attacks.
Men's World Journal also noted that sex leads to the secretion of happy hormones, which double as pain relievers, which is why pain isn't felt as much during sex.
Furthermore, people who engage in sexual activity 4 times a week generally look 8 to 12 years younger than they are.
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The first Ebola vaccine named as rVSV-ZEBOV has shown impressive results in the final trial and it could just be the answer to the Ebola outbreak in Africa. Ira Longini, a biostatistician at the University of Florida, who helped test the vaccine delivered the news on Thursday that the medicine's efficacy during the experiements was 100 percent.
If placed in a group much larger than the test group, then the efficacy sits somewhere between 70 to 100 percent, according to the scientist.
Back in 2015, the biostatistician and his team tested the rVSV-ZEBOV on about 4,000 people in Guinea during the time it was spreading in the country. This group were at high risk of getting the virus because they had contact with someone who was infected.
After they were vaccinated, many of them reportedly did not get ill, which would mean that they were protected from the disease. However, some patients experienced side effects, which included fever and an allergic reaction, according to Daily Trust.
Despite the effects, the studies hope to get biological samples from people who have taken the vaccine so the immune response can be analyzed.
As of writing this article, rVSV-ZEBOV is not yet approved by the World Health Organization and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, the researchers predict that the Ebola vaccine can be used in 2018.
But for NIAID Director Dr. Anthony Fauci, there are still some questions about the drug that need to be answered. "If you give health care workers the vaccine, for example, how long would they be protected? That's very important to learn," Fauci said at the National Institutes of Health.
The Ebola outbreak struck West Africa a few years ago, and it became a major concern as there was no vaccine for it. More than 11,000 people have died, while nearly 30,000 were infected, according to WBEZ Org.
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Sun Ping, a Peking Opera master, is worried that there are not many English translations and research materials of her art in foreign countries, which has driven her to lead a project to translate 100 opera classics.
A press conference to announce the publication of the second volume of "The Translation Series of 100 Peking Opera Classics" is held in Beijing, Dec. 27, 2016. [Photo by Zhang Yanling / China.org.cn]
On Tuesday afternoon, a press conference was held in Beijing to announce the publication of 10 new books from "The Translation Series of 100 Peking Opera Classics." Famous Peking Opera actress Sun, editor-in-chief of the series, told China.org.cn that this mission is urgent and significant.
Peking Opera master Mei Lanfang (1894-1961) had several translated works when he traveled to the United States and Europe in the 1930s, which set good examples for Sun on how to promote Chinese art overseas.
"Besides synopsis translation, Mr. Mei also made Chinese flavored gifts for American audiences at that time, including handkerchiefs and folding fans. He even translated musical notation into stave," she remembered.
However, the promotion of Peking Opera ended after Mei's efforts. Decades passed, and when Sun visited Yale University in 1999, she couldn't find English-language Peking Opera scripts in the library when her American students asked for reference books.
In 2011, after returning to China, she decided to start a project to translate scripts from 100 Peking Opera classics, each with a bilingual guide, preamble, music score and photos. There will be 10 volumes as each volume covers 10 classical Peking Opera works.
"The Translation Series of 100 Peking Opera Classics" got support from Chinese leaders, including Liu Yandong, current vice premier of China, who attended the launch ceremony of the project in 2011.
Renmin University of China, the Beijing Foreign Studies University and the University of Hawaii worked together to compile the series, and Sun's 40-person team also got help from veteran experts, academic masters and heavyweight translators, including 99-year-old Guo Hangcheng, China's top opera historian from the Chinese National Academy of Arts, and Xu Yuanchong, a 95-year-old translator and professor at Peking University.
Sun told China.org.cn that with two volumes of the series already out, two other volumes will be published soon in the next year. The books will be going to China's embassies and consulates overseas as well as to Confucius Institutes worldwide, while many foreign universities as well as the presidential libraries of Richard Nixon and George H. W. Bush also inducted the books.
"The Barack Obama Presidential Library and Museum will also collect the books," Sun revealed, adding that many South Korean and Japanese publishers are knocking on her door.
"My feeling is complicated to see the books of series published one by one," she said. "I'm happy, but I feel its a little too late. China doesn't lack culture, art and masters, but the world has not yet seen them and looked at them clearly and deeply with understanding and knowledge. We need to hurry up."
Dai Xiaolei last saw her son in 2014, when he was 17 months old and living with her in-laws in Baoding, a city in Hebei province about 156 kilometers from Beijing.
Her marriage was crumbling and, as relations deteriorated, she claims her husband's family blocked her from taking her son with her back to the capital.
"The last time I saw my son was at the end of this alley. It's like a fortress," the 37-year-old said outside her in-laws former home.
Reuters was unable to independently verify Dai's claim that the family has blocked all attempts to see her son.
Her husband, Liu Jie, filed for divorce, arguing that the marriage had fallen apart due to "conflicts in character, ideas and living habits", according to court documents. Dai pushed for custody, but in April, a judge ruled that it was best for the boy's physical and mental health to stay with his father.
Liu, a movie stunt coordinator, and his parents declined to comment.
As China's divorce rate rises, so too have calls by legal professionals for new laws that would clamp down on aggressive tactics used by some parents to take or retain possession of a child to gain the upper hand in custody battles.
Lawyers say judges tend to favor the parent who already has physical possession of the child in order to avoid further disruption to their life.
Dai appealed the custody ruling and lost. The court said the child's living environment was relatively stable and any change would not benefit his upbringing.
There are no laws against one parent taking sole possession of a child against the wishes of the other, lawyers say, reflecting a traditional view that family conflicts should handled privately.
The Supreme People's Court declined to comment on specific cases, but it said, "Maximizing benefit to the child is the basic principle by which custody decisions are made."
Joint custody rare
China's divorce rate more than tripled between 2002 and 2015, reaching 2.8 per 1,000 people, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. This is higher than the most recent estimate for the European Union (2.1 per 1,000 people in 2011) and is not far off the rate in the United States (3.2 in 2014).
While no official data is available publicly, Yan Jun, a district court judge in Beijing, estimated that one parent will snatch a child from the other in 60 percent of cases in which both spouses are seeking custody.
Under the law, parents are rarely granted joint custody, as is the case in some countries. Instead, judges usually give one parent "direct custody", often preferring to maintain the status quo living arrangement for a child aged 2 to 10.
A lawyer at a Beijing family law firm, who declined to be identified, said child-snatching regularly takes place before divorce proceedings, which allows one parent to argue the child has a stable living environment. Li Ying, a Beijing lawyer and advocate for parental rights, said snatching tactics should be prosecuted when a new domestic violence law is enacted in March.
Under this law, beatings, verbal abuse and threatening behavior are considered forms of domestic violence. Some family law experts have said preventing a child from seeing their mother or father, or vice versa, should also be considered psycho-logical abuse.
Even when judges rule in their favor, some mothers complain about a lack of enforcement and sometimes take matters into their own hands.
One, who did not want to be named because her dealings with the courts are still ongoing, said she hired a private detective who found her son living under a fake name with her ex-husband's aunt in northern China.
The court had awarded her custody, but when she complained months later that the order had not been enforced, a court official was blunt.
"She told me: 'Don't just depend on the courts. Are you working hard enough or are you just depending on us to get your child back?'"
It's that time of year again! Time to revisit and perhaps rebalance the investments in your retirement portfolio. While it is a sad fact that many people lack significant retirement savings, it is nonetheless useful for those interested in consumer finance (and investment companies, pensions, etc.) to think about how retirement savings plans work and to be able to offer some advice, for example, to debtors emerging from bankruptcy with their clean slate. William Birdthistle, of Chicago-Kent law school, has recently released Empire of the Fund, a magnificent new work on the most common vehicle that carries individuals' retirement savings in the US: mutual funds.
I have heard that Birdthistle, who teaches across town from me, is legendary in the classroom. Having read his new book, I'm not at all surprised. While his fairly esoteric subject matter made me hesitate to nominate his book in response to Katie's post, Birdthistle has really pulled one off here by managing to make a book about the structure and pitfalls of mutual funds and retirement savings ... extremely entertaining! It is masterfully written, with both erudite references to relevant comments by literary and historical figures, along with laugh-out-loud allusions to modern culture ("OMG! Friends, right! Mutual funds are lame!"). This book is an absolutely brilliant example of how to make a work on an otherwise dry financial subject not only accessible to the general public, but a real pleasure to read. It is no wonder the New York Times calls this "a lively new book."
A towering bridge hanging 565 meters above a gorge in southwest China opened to traffic yesterday, making it the worlds highest bridge. The Beipanjiang Bridge spans 1.34 kilometers between the city of Xuanwei in Yunnan Province and Shuicheng County in Guizhou Province. It cost more than 1 billion yuan (US$140 million) to build, according to China Central Television. The four-lane bridge, which took three years to build, will cut the journey time between Xuanwei and Shuicheng from more than four hours to about an hour. [Xinhua]
China is aiming to build a faster, greener and safer public transport system throughout the country by 2020, it said yesterday.
The government plans to build more high-speed railways, with the aim of having some 30,000 kilometers of high-speed track linking more than 80 percent of major cities by then.
Vice Minister of Transport Yang Yudong said China plans to invest 3.5 trillion yuan (US$503.3 billion) in railway construction during the 13th Five-Year Plan period (2016-2020).
High-speed rail has become a symbol of Made-in-China and going-global products, and "China's technologies for high-speed, alpine, plateau and heavy-haul railways have reached the world's advanced level," according to a white paper released by the State Council Information Office yesterday.
Such expertise has enabled major geological challenges to be overcome, it adds, citing the opening of the Qinghai-Tibet Highway and Qinghai-Tibet Railway.
"High-performance railway equipment technologies with proprietary intellectual property rights, represented by high-speed railways and high-power locomotives, have reached the advanced world level, with some of them leading the world," it says.
Besides high-speed rail, China's key construction technologies for offshore deep-water ports, improved technologies for large estuary waterways and long waterways, and construction technologies for large-scale airports are leading the world, the white paper says.
It also details plans to renovate some 30,000 kilometers of expressways and the provision of tarmac and cement roads and shuttle bus services for villages, all of which will have access to a mail service.
Commuting circles of one to two hours between central cities and peripheral cities will be created, along with one-hour commuting circles between central cities and key peripheral towns.
The development of urban rail and bus rapid transit systems will be speeded up, along with other means of high-capacity public transport, it says.
By 2020, intercity railway networks will be completed in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Yangtze River Delta and Pearl River Delta areas.
More efforts will be made in cities with a population of 3 million or more to create urban rail transport networks, and about 3,000 kilometers of new tracks will be added to the current urban rail transit system.
Building integrated transport hubs, promoting the green and intelligent development of transport services and improving safety in the industry is also a priority, the paper says.
The eventual aim is a comprehensive transport network that spreads from east to west and south to north with passageways that extend beyond China's borders and the development of sea routes for the 21st-Century Maritime Silk Road.
Over past decades, China's transport network has undergone drastic changes, the railway sector in particular.
When the People's Republic was founded in 1949, railways totaled just 21,800 kilometers, half of which were dormant.
By the end of last year, some 121,000 kilometers of track was in use, including 19,000 kilometers of high-speed railways, the most of any country.
But while connectivity has been enhanced in large swathes of the country, construction lagged in less developed regions in the southwest.
Yesterday, construction began on the Guiyang-Nanning high-speed railway in the southwest.
The 482-kilometer line will cut the time between Nanning, capital of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, and Guiyang, capital of Guizhou Province, from over 10 hours to two and half hours, said Ding Rongfu, chairman of China Railway Airport Construction Group Co.
With a maximum speed of 350kph, the line is expected to go into service in 2022.
On Wednesday, China put into operation one of the world's longest high-speed railways. The 2,252-kilometer Shanghai-Kunming line crosses five provinces and cuts the travel time between the two cities from 35 to 11 hours.
Also launched was a high-speed line linking Kunming, capital of southwest China's Yunnan Province, and Nanning.
The Open Doors USA 2017 World Watch List, detailing the countries where Christian persecution is the most severe will be released in just a couple weeks.
According to Mission Network News, the last few years have presented troubling trends for Christian persecution worldwide. The year 2016 was the third year in a row in which persecution continued to rise significantly.
Countries that ranked highest on the 2016 World Watch List were Syria, Afghanistan, Eritrea, Iraq, and at number one, North Korea.
Those countries appear likely to continue the trend of brutal persecution of Christians. In fact, Open Doors has already revealed that North Korea will again top the World Watch List in 2017. That will mark the countrys 15th year as the worst country for Christian persecution.
Even though persecution is horrific in places like Iraq, Syria, Somalia, theres no country that quite has the restrictions, violence, or targeting of Christians like North Korea, stated Emily Fuentes of Open Doors.
The International Business Times also reported on the increase in Christian persecution. The IBT reveals shocking Christian persecution statistics. Nearly 90,000 Christians were killed for their faith in the past year, which is the equivalent of one Christian being martyred every six minutes.
In addition to the astounding number of Christians killed for their faith, millions of others were prevented from freely practicing their religion.
Although the plight of Christians in many places around the world is grim, Mission Network News offers action steps Christians can take to help their brothers and sisters in Christ who are facing persecution.
Remembering these Christians in prayer is very important, as well as simply being aware of what countries need the most prayer. Open Doors 2017 World Watch List will be released on January 11.
The number one thing is to be praying for the countries on the World Watch List, said Fuentes.
Photo courtesy: Thinkstockphotos.com
Publication date: December 30, 2016
Many visitors told Wei Hua, a panda keeper in southwest China's Sichuan Province, that they were envious when they saw him playing with the cute cubs, but they hadn't seen the moment the 41-year-old had both wrists broken by one of the animals.
Wei quit his job at the zoo of Nanning, capital of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, three years ago to become a keeper at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda.
The holder of a master's degree in wildlife protection was employed to train pandas in the Wolong National Nature Reserve so that they could survive when released into the wild.
"I like Wolong, where I have more chances to take part in wild panda research and protection," he said.
The Tiantai Mountain training center where he works is some 2,500 to 3,100 meters above sea level. The work is not as easy as some panda lovers had imagined.
Wei is usually wet through with sweat after cleaning the pandas' enclosures. On rainy days the panda excrement sticks to his clothes. When the weather is bad, he and his colleagues stay in the forest all day long, eating cold food and drinking water from the stream. The reserve is also prone to disasters such as landslides.
"But my efforts pay off when I see the cute animals grow up to be healthy," he said.
One of his current favorites is Xi Mei, a female panda sent for training a fortnight ago. "She is graceful and smart," Wei said. "She loves playing with water, and she likes to be pretty."
Observing Xi Mei over one two-day period, Wei noted that Xi Mei's daughter Ba Xi was nowhere to be seen.
He wondered if she could have been involved in an accident and, on December 17, decided to go into the training area to try to find the animal.
After a long search, her monitoring signal was detected and a relieved Wei approached the animal. "So you are here," he said as he approached. "I've been worried about you for two days. Don't hide from me again."
But as he and his fellow keepers were about to leave, Xi Mei suddenly appeared and, in an apparent bid to protect her daughter, attacked the keepers.
Wei came off the worst. When he was dragged from danger, his hat and glasses were gone. He had a deep cut on his head, a broken finger bone was visible, and his trousers were soaked in blood.
In hospital, doctors found a tendon on his foot was ruptured and both wrists were broken. The panda has also bitten a chunk out of his left hand.
Despite it all, colleague Qiu Yu said, his first question was "are the pandas all right?"
Wei is one of four panda keepers at the training center.
"Where there are pandas, there are panda keepers," Qiu said. "They monitor the pandas' condition, collect first-hand data and pave the way for pandas to go back to the wild."
MILFORD - Two Bridgeport man have been arrested in connection with a shoplifting at the Lids Locker Room store in the Connecticut Post mall Wednesday evening.
Officer Joseph Dempsey says one of the man fled from police and was later captured by a police K-9 team.
PeopleBY HARRIET SOKMENSUER@HGSOKMENSUERDECEMBER 28, 2016To his neighbors, Lee Kaplan was quiet and aloof. His three-bedroom Pennsylvania home was hidden behind overgrown shrubbery and at times almost seemed empty. However, behind closed doors, authorities allege Kaplan was living with 12 young girls who considered him a prophet of God as he repeatedly sexually abused them.To Kaplan, six of the girls were not only his followers but also his wives, Bucks County authorities allege.Kaplan had constructed his own sick family unit in which he was the [girls] father, prophet and God, Rick Ross, founder and director of the Cult Education Institute, tells PEOPLE, describing law enforcement allegations against the Pennsylvania man. And these girls were his followers.In June the girls were rescued by Lower Southampton police, and in November Kaplan pleaded not guilty to more than a dozen charges including rape of a child and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.He allegedly not only fathered two children with the eldest girl but also sexually abused five of her younger sisters over the course of years, with the consent of their parents, Bucks County District Attorney Matthew Weintraub said.This guy set up a virtual feeding ground of victims, Weintraub told PEOPLE in a previous interview, calling the situation cult-like.He preyed upon [the girls] one by one, he said.Ryan Hyde, Kaplans attorney, denounces claims that Kaplan led a cult.I believe Mr. Kaplan befriended this family and really thought this was a family and friend relationship, Hyde tells PEOPLE. Hes really hurt by the allegations.Ross, who has worked with authorities and victims in cult cases for more than 30 years, says Kaplan isnt the first person accused of successfully running a cult in plain sight. The 51-year-old allegedly took advantage of the girls parents, Daniel and Savilla Stoltzfus, Ross tells PEOPLE. They were vulnerable in both finances and faith, which is common, he says.The couple are themselves facing child endangerment charges but will not face any additional charges, Weintraub said in November. They have pleaded not guilty.Exploiting the Familys ValuesAuthorities say Kaplan went unnoticed for years because the girls parents also believed Kaplan was a prophet.The children were raised Amish, born with no birth certificates and home schooled together, officials say, but the Stoltzfus family left the Amish community after they met Kaplan, a former business partner of Daniels.The newly independent family was vulnerable and preconditioned to relying on faith for answers, Ross says.[Cult leaders] can be functional and charming, but they dont have empathy or sympathy, he says of the men and women who establish cults.In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Craig Penglase, Savillas attorney, says he believes Kaplan always planned on taking advantage of the simple-minded family.I think he knew from the beginning he met Daniel and he presented himself immediately as this God figure, Penglase tells PEOPLE.During police questioning following their childrens rescue, Daniel and Savilla told authorities that in exchange for financial support, their eldest daughter, who was 14 at the time, was gifted to Kaplan.In a previous interview, Penglase defended his clients agreement as a difference in culture.Everything [Savilla] did was for her family, and what she did in this case was what she thought was right, Penglase said. It may have been misguided, it may have been weird to you and me, but that was her belief.Penglase says Kaplan later allegedly convinced Daniel to give him his wife, who then had a sexual relationship with her daughters alleged abuser as part of his preaching.Its very sad. Shes very sad, Penglase says. She was traded [by Daniel] just like the children were.Penglase reveals Savilla, David and their daughters still believe Kaplan is a prophet of God: This man destroyed an entire family.Daniels attorney could not be reached for comment.A Controlled EnvironmentBefore the eldest girl moved into Kaplans home more than four years ago, the girl told authorities she and Kaplan shared a bedroom at her parents Lancaster County home in Pennsylvania.But that wasnt enough for Kaplan, authorities allege. So the girl moved to his home and Savilla and her other daughters followed shortly after. (Savilla only learned about her daughters alleged sexual abuse by Kaplan when she learned about the teens first pregnancy, Penglase has said.)Ross says it essential for cult leaders to keep their followers close and in a controlled environment.These children had no conception of what was right and what was wrong other than what Kaplan told them, the Cults Inside and Out author explains. He was able to completely control everything that went into their minds. They had no alternate frame of reference, it was simply what Kaplan said and that was it..Ross alleges that moving the girls into his home was Kaplans final step in creating his family cult.The human mind really is fragile, and if you place a person in such an environment is you can begin to manipulate the mind itself, Ross says, describing the process as a form of brainwashing.These [girls] accepted it because they knew no other life, he says.A New LifeSince their rescue, the girls been taken into the custody of the state, Bucks County officials say, and they are receiving treatment. Penglase says all of the children are preparing to testify in court.Through his experience of working with children of cults, Ross says the girls could one day live normal lives but it will be hard.Hopefully these girls can be helped and they can make a journey where they begin to realize, gradually, step by step, what happened to them and unwind it, Ross says.In November, Kaplan waived his right to a preliminary hearing.He remains behind bars in the Bucks County Jail awaiting trial in 2017, court officials tell PEOPLE.
Shanghai legislators reached a consensus to add the stipulations in the new law to better protect local children and increase the public awareness.
Children under 12 will be banned from sitting besides vehicle drivers from March.
The ban is part of the city's new road and traffic management law that was approved by the Shanghai legislature yesterday.
Child safety seats will also become mandatory for private cars carrying children under the age of 4, according to the amendment to the regulation that takes effect on March 25.
"The legislators reached a consensus to add the stipulations in the new law to better protect local children and increase the public awareness," said Lin Huabin, a senior legislator in the Shanghai People's Congress, the legislative body.
The Juveniles Protection Regulation bans children from sitting in the front and also requires the use of child safety seats for very young children, but the regulations are often largely ignored because of a lack of public awareness.
The amendment also bans drivers from using mobile phones or watching other electronic devices while driving, putting the city in line with many foreign countries.
"We found it common for drivers to read short messages or chat on WeChat on their mobile phones, which has become a major threat to driving safety," Lin said.
The new clauses join a raft of offenses that include speeding, incorrect lane changing, not wearing a seat belt and overloading. Offenders face fines of up to 200 yuan (US$28.80) as well as demerit points.
The amendment has imposed tougher punishment on those who take the demerit points of others. Motorists who ask other drivers to take demerits on their license for them will be fined 500 to 2,000 yuan. Those who take demerits for others will be fined 1,000 to 5,000 yuan and may have their license suspended for up to three months.
Police said the practise of taking demerits for others had become rampant among local drivers because those who tot up 12 points within a year have to take a 7-day training course and retake a driving test to regain their license.
The new regulation also targets a range of infractions as well as promoting green and public transport, said Ding Wei, a deputy director with the legislative affairs commission of the Shanghai People's Congress.
The city's original traffic regulation was made in 1997 and was amended three times from 1999 to 2001. However, the stipulation could no longer meet the management demands with the rising numbers of vehicles and drivers as well as increasing traffic congestion, said Ding.
More than 85 percent of the clauses of the original traffic law have been amended this time, he told a press conference yesterday.
Apart from the tougher regulations, the new amendment bill also focused on public transport development, Ding said. More road resources would be assigned to develop public transport and to make roads more convenient for pedestrians and cyclists.
The legislature had widely solicited opinions from residents, traffic police and drivers, Ding said.
According to Ding, the congress received 132 suggestions via letters, faxes and e-mails during the evaluation on the amendment and took these suggestions into account.
Civil War Gala to be held Saturday in Somerset
The 14th annual Col. Robert Cummins Civil War Gala will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday at the Somerset Church of the Brethren, 606 Berlin Plank Road in Somerset.
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Ma Xingrui was appointed acting governor of south China's Guangdong Province on Friday.
Ma was also named deputy governor of the province at a session of the Standing Committee of the Guangdong Provincial People's Congress, which accepted the request of Zhu Xiaodan to leave the post of governor.
Ma is currently deputy secretary of the Guangdong Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the secretary of the CPC Shenzhen City Committee.
Ed Vaizey received a brusque festive message from No 10
When ex-culture minister Ed Vaizey, 48, received a seasonal message from No 10 brusquely wishing him Merry Christmas Vaizey, he responded sarcastically: I like the new formal approach Theresa May is adopting with her back benchers.
The Tory partys so-called director general, Alan Mabbutt, explains that the insultingly brief email was a technical error (which) may have distracted from the sincerity of the message.
Ill say! But Ed, a chum of David Cameron sacked by Mrs May, had little reason to suppose it wasnt genuine.
Days Without End, the raved-about new novel by Dubliner Sebastian Barry, 61, about two Irish famine refugees in the 19th-century Wild West, is likely to interest correct-thinking filmmakers.
Its heroes Thomas McNulty and John Cole are gay lovers who abhor racism, dress as pretty women to perform in burlesque shows, adopt a Native Americans chiefs eight-year-old daughter to save her life and fight for Abraham Lincolns slave-freeing Union Army in the Civil War.
Bloody and action-packed, its also commendably LGBT-sensitive.
Days Without End, the raved-about new novel by Dubliner Sebastian Barry (above), 61, about two Irish famine refugees in the 19th-century Wild West, is likely to interest correct-thinking filmmakers - its heroes Thomas McNulty and John Cole are gay lovers who abhor racism
Screen star Debbie Reynolds, who has died aged 84, recalled in a 2015 memoir how she fended off Wichita Lineman crooner Glen Campbell, 80.
Delectable Singin in the Rain star Debbie said Campbell made his move while they were rehearsing for a performance.
Always a gymnast, I wiggled out from his grasp and was in my car before he knew it, she confided, adding politely: I adore Glen, but not when he is looking for afternoon delight. Afternoon delight!?
Screen star Debbie Reynolds, who has died aged 84, recalled in a 2015 memoir how she fended off Wichita Lineman crooner Glen Campbell, 80
Gordon Ramsay, 50, discussing his love of mixed martial arts on Radio 4s Today programme, says he enjoys cage fighting, adding: Ive been into a cage. Ive wrestled heavily, Ive grappled heavily, and its something Ive kept up my sleeve for the last couple of years.
His former employer, rival chef Marco Pierre White, 55, will be amused.
He has recalled: I once yelled at him and the next thing I knew he was sobbing in the corner, holding his head in his hands, with tears rolling down his cheeks, saying things like, I dont care what you do to me. Hit me. I dont care. Shouldnt promoters fix a Ramsay/White cage fight soon?
Amanda Wakeley, 54, comments that the Prime Minister wears the controversial, 995 leather trousers she designed because of the inner confidence that, hopefully, wearing Wakeley gives you.
This is all about knowing you feel a bit taller and a bit sexier, but without screaming look at me. Id always imagined Mrs Mays clothes and leopard-print shoes were expressly chosen for their look at me factor.
A survey has revealed that which star sign you are could indicate whether you are more likely to cheat on your spouse.
Australian extra-marital dating website Victoria Milan found there was some correlation between people who were likely to cheat and which of the 12 zodiac signs they were born under.
The website, which targets customers who are married or in relationships but looking to cheat, analysed the profiles of its many members.
What's your star sign? A survey revealed your star sign could make you more likely to cheat on your spouse
The results showed that in 2016, the majority of the site's users were Aquarians, Aries or Pisces. according to Mamamia.
Almost 11 per cent of users were born under Aquarius, while 10.1 per cent were Pisces and 10 per cent were Aries.
Sigurd Vedal, the company's CEO, took the blame away from those born under the 11th astrological sign.
He said Aquarians are 'hot-blooded, sexual characters and can't be blamed for what's written under the stars.'
The figures also seemed to show that fewer Leos and Scorpios were having extra-marital affairs using the dating site as they had some of the lowest registration numbers.
Cheaters: The results show the majority of Victoria Milan's users were Aquarians or born under the signs of Aries or Pisces (stock image)
And those who married a Sagittarius should thank their lucky stars.
The data also revealed that only 6.5 per cent of Victoria Milan's members had November and December birthdays.
Earlier this month, a separate study revealed that more than two-thirds of women who cheat look for a younger man because they perform better in the bedroom.
The survey of 11,000 married women, conducted by extra-marital dating website Gleeden, questioned them about why they are committing adultery.
Nora Ephron famously wrote that she felt 'bad about my neck' and other signs of ageing in 2006.
But the great writer herself never lived to see the foundation of Nexsey - a tape that tightens the neckline by pulling back on the loose flesh dangling around it.
Nexsey is designed to make women's necks look thinner and younger, without forcing them to resort to surgery.
And if that's not enough to sign you up, the company claims it's been medically tested, too.
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Miracle: Nexsey claims to tighten the neckline by pulling back the loose flesh dangling around it (pictured)
No more turkey neck: Nexsey is designed to make women's necks look thinner and younger, without forcing them to resort to surgery
'I heard from women all over the world asking about options for other "trouble areas" and neck issues were at the top of the list!,' the company's creator, Linda Gomez, writes on the About page.
'As I started to learn about the options for sagging skin around the neckline, it became obvious that even for women who had undergone a facelift, many still showed signs of aging in the neck area.'
Ms Gomez writes that not everyone either wants - or can afford - neck surgery.
Personally, she said she was looking for a way to 'help tighten the neckline without any need for expensive or painful procedures'.
Personal thing: The founder of the tape, Lisa Gomez, wrote that not everyone wants - or can afford - neck surgery, but she wanted something that could 'tighten the neckline' (pictured)
Nexsey is the result of Ms Gomez's testing, and as several beauty bloggers have shown, it also works for slimming your neck, too.
The tape works by gathering any excess skin you might have underneath it and securing it in place at the nape of your neck, hidden behind your hair.
'Depending on the look you are trying to achieve, you can use more than one strip. Place one higher for the upper neck and jaw area and one below it for the lower area of the neck,' it reads on the website.
Love: Beauty bloggers (pictured) have fallen in love with the neck tape - which both reduces the signs of ageing and slims down the neck
Science: The tape works by gathering any excess skin you might have underneath it and securing it in place at the nape of your neck, hidden behind your hair (pictured)
The unusual product retails for USD $19.99 (AUD $27.64; GBP 16.28) and comes in a 10 foot roll designed to be cut to your designed length.
The company also assure people that the tape should not hurt to remove or apply.
A recent video shared on the Learn Makeup Facebook page showing the tape in action racked up more than three million views.
The festive season is traditionally time for catching up with loved ones and reflecting on the year as it draws to a close.
And it seems Prince Harry has been spending the Christmas and New Year break doing just that, after he was snapped leaving the Jam Tree in Chelsea following a pub lunch yesterday afternoon.
It followed the 32-year-old's get together with his close friend and mentor Mark Dyer the previous day, at a pub in Sand's End in South West London.
A smartly dressed Prince Harry was snapped getting into a car after leaving the Jam Tree in Chelsea yesterday
The royal had dressed smartly for his visit to the pub on King's Road, in a blue suit and a pale blue tie.
On Wednesday Harry spent the afternoon with former Army officer Mark Dyer - who was once dubbed the prince's 'second father' - after returning to London following Christmas Day with the Royal Family at Sandringham.
The Prince was seen laughing with his friend over cocktails and a bottle of red wine.
Before heading to the Queen's Norfolk retreat, Harry had spent time with his girlfriend, the Suits actress Meghan Markle, in London.
Prince Harry travelled with Prince William and his family to the Queen's annual lunch at Buckingham Palace ahead of Christmas
The couple were snapped strolling together on a romantic night in London's West End.
The pair headed to the Gielgud Theatre to catch the play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time.
While her boyfriend was in Norfolk, Meghan spent a quiet Christmas in Toronto, where she lives, with her mother, Doria Radlan.
After vowing to end the audio issues in their programmes earlier this year, it appears the BBC's mumbling problem has returned.
Viewers were less than impressed with the sound quality of To Walk Invisible, a one-off drama telling the story of the Bronte sisters, Charlotte, Emily and Anne and their brother Branwell, that aired last night.
Complaints flooded Twitter about the BBC One drama, with one Twitter user saying: 'So disappointed by #ToWalkInvisible spoiled by bad sound quality. Visually beautiful and well-acted but much was muffled drowned by soundtrack.'
The latest sound problem comes months after the BBC director general Tony Hall told executives to look into 'audibility' issues following complaints from fans of shows like Happy Valley.
To Walk Invisible followed the story of the Bronte sister, Charlotte, Emily and Anne who fought for recognition in their work but viewers struggled to hear because of sound issues
Viewers were unimpressed with the sound quality of the two-hour long drama stating that the dialogue was inaudible
Last night, viewers took to social media in their droves to comment on the problem.
'Can't understand what anyone's saying. Mumbling and speaking so fast. Apart from that brilliant portrayal,' said one.
Others said they were 'disappointed' by the audio fail and other added that they couldn't 'hear a word' anyone was saying.
Some viewers complained that they couldn't understand what was going on in the drama and they had to put subtitles on
The three Bronte sisters: Anne, played by Charlie Murphy, Charlotte, played by Finn Atkins, and Emily played by Chloe Pirrie
The two-hour long drama was praised by many fans for the stunning scenery and story line following the historical figures
While many viewers were not happy with the sound quality many praised the show and creator Sally Wainwright
It's a problem they have been plagued with over the years with shows like Jamaica in 2014, War and Peace this January and November's Rillington Place all appearing to have the same issue.
Fans have continued to share their difficulties trying to understand what was going on in their favourite shows, even resorting to subtitles to follow the plots.
Originally the BBC said the sound quality in Happy Valley was due to the Yorkshire accents, but that comment angered those from West Yorkshire where the show was set, saying even they couldn't understand the show.
Happy Valley, which starred Sarah Lancashire, was also hit with complaints from fans who couldn't hear the dialogue properly
Patronising rubbish, said another. [The BBC] cant even admit when they get it wrong. How on earth can we not understand the Yorkshire dialect?
Earlier this year Charlotte Moore, Controller of BBC TV Channels and iPlayer, told the Voice of the Listener and Viewer conference that they were going to do everything they could to prevent the problem again, including creating a new set of guidelines.
Back in 2013, Lord Hall said the corporation could look at how to stop actors muttering in its TV dramas.
I dont want to sound like a grumpy old man, but I also think muttering is something we could have a look at, he said. Actors muttering can be testing - you find you have missed a line - you have to remember that you have an audience.
While many struggled to understand what the actors were saying during the two-hour long programme last night, viewers still praised the show and the creator Sally Wainwright for the portrayal of the Bronte family.
'To Walk Invisible was stunning. Beautiful and moving and so well directed. Perfect way to spend the evening,' gushed one.
Girls have plenty of accessories to choose from when putting together an outfit, from shoes to bags to jewelry. But guys who want to spruce up their wardrobe with a little something extra have less to work with.
Yet one teenager from Virginia has found a pretty creative way to keep his style coordinated for school.
According to pictures posted by one his classmates that have gone viral, 16-year-old Brian Milan matches his drink to his shirt every day.
Color-coordinated: Brian Milan, 16, matches his drink to his shirt at school every day
He's got fans: His classmate, Chloe Alwes, noticed and posted pictures online
His classmate, Chloe Alwes, first noticed the habit and took photos for a few days before sharing them on Twitter, writing: 'he matches his drink and shirt everyday.'
The day he wore a red shirt, his drink was red too. He brought a blue thirst-quencher on his blue shirt day. He carried black when he wore back, orange when he wore orange, and so on.
And it's clearly no coincidence, either. Brian often reuses a Fiji water bottle, filling it up with different colorful flavors of Gatorade and Kool-Aid.
The Stafford County teen explained to BuzzFeed that he first came up with the idea as a joke to keep himself amused.
The teen started the tradition at the beginning of the year to amuse himself
Teachers and students began to notice, though some assumed that it was a coincidence until they realized it was happening way too frequently.
'My friend and I asked and he said he did on purpose,' Chloe said. 'I'm not sure why but it's hilarious.'
On Twitter, her photos have been liked a whopping 300,000 times, and the snaps were also popular on Reddit.
The pictures have picked up so much steam that Brian even updated one classmate on his outfit one day when she wasn't in class, sending her a picture of his red drink and shirt.
Fun! He usually drinks Gatorade or Kool-Aid and now takes color requests
Brian added that he plans to keep up the matching, and has even taken requests from classmates.
'My parents laughed when I told them,' he added. Strangers, too, have had something to say.
'A legend if I ever saw one, wrote one Twitter user. Another added: 'This is the level of extra I want to be on.'
The last act is often the best, and Barack Obama's decision to order the U.S. to abstain in UN Security Council votes might be one of the most devastating of his presidency. However, it was probably inevitable.
Israeli-U.S. relations have sunk to a new low. Apparently, Obama didn't like Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu the first time they met, and the feeling was mutual. Both considered each other arrogant, and there were structural differences in views on Middle East developments.
A focal point has become Netanyahu's policy of incessant encroachment and settlement building in occupied territories. There is no sane person who cannot see where such a policy is leading.
There was a time when politicians of the Israeli left opposed this policy, but their heyday in local politics is long gone. As a result, this single incident at the UN has become a cause celebre for Palestinian groups like Hamas and Hezbollah.
Netanyahu also suffers from a Messianic complex, and likes to regard himself as the "Savior of his people." That inevitably clouds his judgment about Iran and Palestine, and leads him on to an even more assertive foreign policy.
But, there's a deeper game being played here, and it is of a structural nature.
Over the last decade or so, Americans, as well as much of the rest of the Western world, have grown tired of the Middle East tensions. Hopes of transforming it into a region of peace have faded, as has the hope of promoting democracy. The region is beset with ancient cultural feuds, and is considered to have become a strategic hell, with ever declining importance among strategic community.
The demographics are exploding, and there is no economic growth in sight. Added to that are the uniquely regressive cultural conflicts and great power sectarian games.
The Western public is fed up with trying to solve such cultural conflicts in a faraway region with which they have little in common, other than terrorism and the hordes of refugees on the move. That is evident in hundreds of PEW surveys, where Americans and Westerners in general want their leaders to get out of Middle East. Obama, and Trump, both,have somehow tapped into this feeling.
If one notices, there is a qualitative similarity between Obama and Trump, which makes them different from McCain, Romney, Rubio or Clinton, in the sense, they are both cold-eyed and transactional. Obama, despite his humanitarian rhetoric, has perhaps been the most cynical president in recent history.
The policy he tried is called "buck-passing" in international relations, where Obama tried to let regional rivals deal with regional problems, as he calculated that, in the grand strategy of the U.S., the Middle East was of relatively low importance, a claim supported by much academic research.
However, the downside is that, in order to gamble away the Middle East's future to Iran and Russia, Obama had to turn to an appeal to Iranian hardliners that required him to be harsh to Israel.
I'm not saying that is the only cause; Israel itself is responsible for this fiasco, but it must have played on Obama's mind that Israel is not quite acting like a proper client state, given the fact that it is almost uniquely dependant on American financial and technological and diplomatic backing. It was a way of making that point clear to Netanyahu.
Such is the curse of time, that everything changes inevitably, even alliances. The importance of Israel was also tied to U.S. due to the curious geostrategic interests in the region. As that fades, slowly and steadily, the importance of Israel also fades.
Younger generations of voters, and policy makers, who were born after the collapse of the Soviet Union, fail to comprehend why the U.S. would ally itself with states who, for no reason, listen to none of the dictates of the bigger power. And if Israel cannot mend its ways and change according to the needs of the times, it stands to lose the future generosity of its American benefactors, no matter who occupies the White House.
Sumantra Maitra is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit:
http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/SumantraMaitra.htm
Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn.
Princess Diana was in high spirits it was one of her good days when George Michael came to a halt in his swanky cabriolet outside the entrance to her apartments at Kensington Palace.
Hearing the car pull up, she rushed into the kitchen, where her chef, Darren McGrady was preparing lunch for the pair, and yelled excitedly: Darren, Darren, come here!
Darren followed the boss into the dining room and watched her sprint across the floor to the sash window, pull it up with one swift tug and put her head outside.
Princes Diana talks to George Michael (second right) ahead of a concert of Hope at Wembley Arena in London, to mark World Aids Day in 1993 - the two became firm friends
She said, Look, look, and there was this soft-top, a super nice one, and I looked down and on the passenger seat in the front there were two magazines and on the cover of each was George Michael, recalls Darren.
She said, George Michaels just arrived, hes downstairs, can you believe he has ridden all the way through Kensington High Street just gazing at those images of himself on the magazines. How vain can you get! She said it to him, too, and he just laughed. He didnt take any offence at all.
Lunch proceeded in a similarly exuberant vein.
They were great friends, says Darren. She loved his sense of humour. She felt relaxed with him. He was like one of the girls, someone she could be comfortable and relaxed with and say anything to.
She would tease him, she loved teasing. He would laugh and give as much back.
Each of them held true superstar status and it was this empathy they had for each other, their instinctive understanding of how crazy the others life was, that drew them to one another.
George was gay but there was speculation about the nature of his relationship with Diana
That and the way they both loved a good old gossip (and even favoured, for a time, the same bouffant Eighties hairdo). And, of course, the fact that they were both superbly good looking.
Now sadly, these two iconic figures have another thing in common: their untimely deaths, following George Michaels sudden passing on Christmas Day aged 53.
George was gay, of course, but there has long been speculation about the nature of the pairs relationship and how far it went.
And it was gossipy George, no less, in an interview with the Huffington Post, who fuelled the flames in an interview in 2009.
I was invited to the Palace many, many times before I actually met with her because I was so afraid of the publicity if we did become friends.
And when we did meet, I think we clicked in a way that was a little bit intangible, and it probably had more to do with our upbringing than anything else. (George had a difficult relationship with his father, while Diana did not always see eye to eye with her stepmother, Raine).
Darren McGrady chef to the Queen and the Royal Family for fifteen years says that Diana loved a good old gossip with her pal George
There were certain things that happened that made it clear she was very attracted to me, he said. There was no question.
Asked by the interviewer whether he had considered taking things further, he replied, somewhat obliquely: I knew it would have been a disastrous thing to do.
It seems, then, that Diana reluctantly accepted Georges sexuality, and settled for a friendship.
It was flirtatious on both sides, says Darren.
Whatever did or did not go on within the confines of Kensington Palace or KP as it is known by the royals will never be known.
But what is clear from the account of Darren McGrady is that Diana and George enjoyed a close and often uproarious friendship for several years after meeting at a concert held on World Aids Day in 1993.
For following her separation from Prince Charles in 1992, Diana was eager to carve out a new life for herself, identifying herself firmly with the causes she believed in one of which was raising awareness into HIV/Aids, also close to George Michaels heart.
And now living alone in two apartments at Kensington Palace, the Princess had a certain degree of freedom.
With Charles and his more traditional tastes out of her life, she had the dining room redecorated, with burnt orange walls, a round wooden table and cane chairs.
It was more of an Italian rustic style, not at all formal, says Darren, who joined the staff as her personal chef in 1993 and stayed with her until her death aged just 36 in 1997 following the car crash in Paris with her boyfriend, Dodi Fayed.
By then, he had already known Diana for many years, having joined the Royal Household in 1982, working for the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
Diana loved having friends over for lunch, away from the spotlight.
In the evenings, Darren would prepare a low-fat meal for the Princess which would be wheeled into her sitting room on a little cart so that she could enjoy a TV dinner the soap opera Brookside, he says, was her favourite programme.
It was a small household, just Darren, a maid and a butler.
We were like a family, he recalls. But although Diana had lost her HRH title by then, we always called her Your Royal Highness, out of respect.
Diana loved having friends over for lunch, away from the spotlight - including Elton John and George Michael
Before he started coming for lunch, George was already on the Princesss radar.
At a Kensington drinks reception in 1992, according to royal commentator Dickie Arbiter, the Princess had commented to a guest about George in the earshot of Prince Harry: Isnt it a shame he doesnt like the ladies?
It was around 1994, says Darren, that George became a regular visitor. He used to come over quite a bit. She felt comfortable with him.
Some people would meet Princess Diana and theyd be bowing, curtseying and nervous, whereas with George it was like meeting his sister. He didnt care what came out of his mouth.
Sometimes, says Darren, George would arrive with his friends, Elton John and designer Gianni Versace, who was also to die tragically he was shot dead outside his Miami home just a month before Dianas death in Paris. Shed have Elton and George Michael and Versace over and she would come alive when they were here.
She used to laugh like crazy. I think they all called her Diana. Elton was a little bit more reserved than George, hed have his dry quips.
She loved catching up on all the showbusiness gossip. She loved Georges sense of humour. He was vibrant and alive and she loved his music.
Darren, 54, could always tell when Diana, who was often rather up and down in her mood, was having a good day. On one of these good days, she would play George Michael at full blast in her bedroom.
He [George Michael] would tell her jokes that were really risque and she would share them and I would say, Oh my gosh, Your Royal Highness, and she would laugh even more that she had shocked me. Darren Grady, former Royal chef
Outside apartments eight and nine at KP, where the Princess was, there was a quadrangle and we had huge sash windows. Id have the window open and youd hear George Michael music blaring out of her bedroom apartment.
Im sure Princess Margaret could hear it, it was blasting out. It was that or Phil Collins, shed blast him out, too. On the bad days, there was no music.
Maybe she was having lunch in the kitchen and she would see Charles and Camilla on the news and that was always embarrassing. Or if shed had a bad press day. There were good days and bad days. She would be down and I would get on with my work.
But she loved it when the boys William and Harry were staying. They were in the kitchen all the time. Theyd come in and hide from their nanny and William would have ice cream. And George Michael could always be relied on to cheer her up if shed had a bad day.
He would tell her jokes that were really risque and she would share them and I would say, Oh my gosh, Your Royal Highness, and she would laugh even more that she had shocked me. Diana enjoyed the company of men. And while George was a favourite, it didnt hurt to invite an alpha male or two over for lunch.
Pop stars George Michael (top) and Elton John leave Westminster Abbey after the funeral service of Diana Princess of Wales in 1997 - they were both very close to the Royal
And so it was that a guest one day was another living legend, the American actor Clint Eastwood. Darren says he and Diana were involved in a charity project together.
The Princess wasnt a great meat eater, but when she had a man to lunch she felt she had to offer meat. So when Clint Eastwood came over she said, Lets do rack of lamb. I did it with a parsley sauce.
I have cooked for many celebrities, but he was the only person who asked to meet the chef to thank him personally.
I walked into the dining room and he stood up, he had on big cowboy boots.
He said, That was a delicious lunch. And I said, Oh, did it make your day? (The catchphrase of Dirty Harry, arguably Eastwoods most memorable character).
He laughed so much and the Princess just sat there looking, as though to say, What are you talking about? She could be so naive, which was one of the lovely things about her.
Diana also met another Hollywood star during this period Tom Cruise.
Tom Cruise was filming Mission Impossible, recalls Darren, who prepared the menus for State Banquets for the American Presidents Reagan, Clinton and Bush while he was in the employ of the Queen. She said shed been invited to go out to the studios and see the set and meet Tom Cruise.
She came back later that afternoon and said, Well, thats another one off the list, hes too short. Just those quips that shed come out with, I miss those.
Darren was devastated when she died.
It was awful, an awful time. Being inside KP and watching the flowers get higher and higher.
Going to the Chapel Royal and seeing her there.
George Michael sent flowers, of course, and attended the funeral, clearly distraught and weeping.
I hadnt seen her for a couple of years by the time she died, he told the Huffington Post in 2009.
We nearly got together on that St Tropez trip (where Diana was on holiday before the fateful trip to Paris). I was supposed to go on to the boat, and Im quite glad I didnt because it would have been so fresh when she died, it would have been even more upsetting.
Dianas death shattered many. Her loyal chef, Darren McGrady, was so upset he couldnt bear to remain in England.
He moved to America, got married and had three children, and now runs a catering company called, fittingly, Eating Royally.
He wrote a cookbook of the same name and has given all the proceeds to the Elizabeth Glaser Aids Foundation.
Diana supported Aids charities and childrens charities so it felt right, he says.
This week, the sea of flowers outside George Michaels Oxfordshire home has been steadily growing, just as it did outside Kensington Palace after Diana died.
But for Darren McGrady, that warm summers day, when this charismatic pair met for lunch and Diana teased George about his magazine covers on the seat of his cabriolet, is an even more poignant memory.
Dame Sally Davies has denied she acts like a 'nanny-in-chief' by repeatedly warning women of the dangers of alcohol.
The Government's chief medical officer cautioned of a 'direct line' between alcohol consumption and breast cancer.
But she admitted she would welcome in the New Year with a glass of wine, and would not be giving up alcohol for January.
Dame Sally was accused of a nanny state attitude earlier this year, when she told the Commons Science and Technology committee that women should 'do as I do' and think about the risks of breast cancer every time they reach for a glass of wine.
Dame Sally Davies, the Government's chief medical officer, admitted she would welcome in the New Year with a glass of wine, and would not be giving up alcohol for January
She admitted she chose those words poorly - but defended her repeated attempts to set out the risks of drinking too much.
Dame Sally, who was guest editing the BBC Radio 4 Today programme, accused her critics of sexism.
'I think it's very sexist,' she told the programme. 'I'm the first female chief medical officer, the 16th - the post has been there statutorily for 168 years.
'Would they have called my male predecessors nannies, let alone nanny-in-chief?'
She added: 'Let me start by saying I could have framed that better, couldn't I, when I was in front of the select committee.
'And everyone knows, who knows me well, that I enjoy a glass of wine too.
But she also cautioned of a 'direct line' between alcohol consumption and breast cancer
'What I was trying to get over is, what are the low-risk guidance for drinking?'
She added: 'There is a straight line in the relationship in the amount of alcohol that is drunk and breast cancer. But our guidelines were aimed at low-risk.
'I will be enjoying a glass of wine on New Year's Eve, as will everybody else.
I will be enjoying a glass of wine on New Year's Eve, as will everybody else Dame Sally Davies
'What we are aiming at is those who are drinking to harm themselves - my job is to tell them the evidence, it is not to be nanny and tell them they must, but they do need to think about it.'
Dame Sally in January set out tough new guidance which cut the recommended drinking limit to 14 units a week - the equivalent of seven glasses of wine - for men and women.
Since she was appointed chief medical officer in 2010 Dame Sally has launched a crusade to influence the nation's unhealthy lifestyle.
WHY ONE GLASS OF WINE CAN KILL YOU Drinking just one glass of wine or bottle of beer a day could trigger a dangerous 'heart flutter', experts warned earlier this month. Data from more than 900,000 people suggested regular drinking - even at light levels - can be dangerous to the heart. Australian experts found drinking one 'standard' drink a day - defined as about 340ml of 5 per cent strength beer, or 140ml of 12 per cent strength wine - increased the risk of an abnormal heart rhythm by 8 per cent. And every extra drink consumed daily increases the risk by another 8 per cent, they found. Advertisement
And the 67-year-old has often pointed to her own practice as an example of healthy behaviour.
She has been repeatedly urged people to take more exercise, claiming she runs most mornings, eat more healthily she makes herself packed lunches of raw vegetables - and drink less.
This summer she advised adults to ditch online grocery shopping and walk to supermarkets as carrying heavy bags would burn off more calories.
She has also told commuters get off the bus two stops early and go the rest of the way on foot, and take the stairs rather than the lift.
Dame Sally defended her messages.
'The big thing for us is how do we change behaviours, not just the public's, but our own. It is very difficult.'
She also raised concerns about the number of people killed by traffic pollution.
Dame Sally, who is married to Dutch haematologist Willem Ouwehand, said diesel cars should 'be steadily phased out' to reduce emissions.
India's demonetisation decision has bamboozled the best economists around the world but 1.25 billion citizens have welcomed the move wholeheartedly, Prime Minister Narendra Modi told India Today magazine in an exclusive interview, as he defended his decision to abolish 86 per cent of the country's cash overnight.
While critics have found fault with the government's preparedness in implementing the November 8 decision, the PM said he was well aware of the magnitude and complexity of the challenge.
'It is no small thing that no significant incident of unrest has taken place in the country,' he told India Today Group Editorial Director Raj Chengappa.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, have called the decision a 'massive scam' and a 'political move' while they held protests demanding the government retract the step.
'At the same time, as with every other process, there is always room for improvement, and I believe that we can, and must, always improve.'
The abolition of high-value bank notes aimed at constricting the nation's shadow economy has also hit millions of legitimate businesses and millions of people who lack bank accounts and use cash to pay for everything from groceries to hospital stays to land purchases.
But Modi said demonetisation has forced black money out into the open, whomsoever it may belong to - corrupt politicians, bureaucrats, businessmen or professionals.
'Holders of black money may hide behind the bank accounts of others, but unlike cash holdings, they can be traced. In this game of hide and seek, they have a few days to hide, but the government has the time, mechanisms and, most importantly, the will to seek them out,' he warned.
'Demonetisation, on the other hand, is an unprecedented step to confiscate the loot of the corrupt.'
The Prime Minister pointed out that eminent economists such as James Henry, Prof Kenneth Rogoff and Prof Larry Summers have been advocates of demonetisation.
'In India, too, demonetisation has been recommended since the 1970s. The Wanchoo Committee, headed by a retired CJI and with leading economists and chartered accountants as members, had in 1971 recommended the demonetisation of 85 per cent of the currency, comprising Rs 10 and Rs 100 notes,' he said.
'People across the political spectrum have since called for its implementation, ranging from then Congress CM Giani Zail Singh in the National Development Council to then CPI(M) MP Jyotirmoy Basu in Parliament.
'What we have done now is broadly in accordance with the recommendations of that committee.'
'If anything, India is 40 years late in this decision of demonetisation, Modi said.
'It would seem a matter of common sense to understand that if India's economy was weak, this decision could not have been made,' he added.
'It was consciously taken when the economy is in good shape, as such a sharp correction could have only been made then to fortify its foundations and give it a further boost.'
Many private indicators have signalled that India's $2 trillion economy will be hurt by the currency switch.
Opposition parties, including the Congress, have called the decision a 'massive scam' and a 'political move' while they held protests demanding the government retract the step.
But Modi hit back at rivals, accusing them of trying to shield the corrupt.
'I pity some of our opponents, especially the Congress leadership, for the desperation they have been exhibiting,' he said.
'On the one hand, they say I took this decision for political dividends, and on the other, they say the people have been troubled and are deeply unhappy. How can the two go together? Maybe, as members of the Opposition, they have to conjure something up to criticise me about, however illogical it may be. I sympathise with their difficulty.'
He took a dig at his predecessor Manmohan Singh, who called the decision to scrap high-value currency notes 'organised loot' and a 'monumental mismanagement'.
'His reference to 'organised loot' was perhaps a reference to the unending string of scams under his leadership, from the coal scam to the 2G and CWG scams,' he said.
'Demonetisation, on the other hand, is an unprecedented step to confiscate the loot of the corrupt.'
Modi also quoted from former home secretary Madhav Godbole's book about how, as private secretary to then finance minister YB Chavan, he described his minister's interaction regarding demonetisation with then prime minister Indira Gandhi.
'When YB Chavan told her about the proposal for demonetisation and his view that it should be accepted and implemented forthwith, she asked Chavan only one question: 'Chavanji, are no more elections to be fought by the Congress party?'
'Chavan got the message and the recommendation was shelved.'
The PM took on detractors who have panned frequent modifications to the original decision.
'One must be able to distinguish between niti (policy) and ran-niti (strategy) and not put them in the same basket,' he said.
'The decision of demonetisation, which reflects our niti, is unequivocally clear, unwavering and categorical. Our ran-niti, however, needed to be different, aptly summarised by the age-old saying of 'Tu daal-daal, main paat-paat'.
'We must stay two steps ahead of the enemy.'
Modi's yearend speech over tequila shots
Music, merry making and Modi - city nightclubs and pubs are gearing up for an unusual New Year's Eve programme.
Bars and restaurants plan to organise a special screening of the Prime Minister's address to the nation at 7.30 pm on Saturday that coincides with the expiry of the 50-day period of post-demonetisation pain he had asked people to endure 'for the sake of the country'.
'We would love to show the live coverage of Modi's speech at this point of time when people were standing in queues for the past two months, said Siddharth Kumar, culture manager at Social-Cafe and Bar.
The deadline for depositing old notes in bank accounts ends on December 30
'Our customers would be keen to listen to the speech. Accordingly, we will plan something.'
In a similar televised address on November 8, the PM had announced a surprise ban on 500 and 1,000-rupee notes in a bid to eliminate corruption and unaccounted cash.
The deadline for depositing old notes in bank accounts ends on December 30.
Bar managers say many customers are booking tables after asking about the arrangements for Modi's speech.
'Apart from getting updates from YouTube, Twitter and news portals, people would be more comfortable watching the announcement on the screens. So we would keep the option of screening it. And on the customers demand we will telecast Modi's speech,' said Kamaljeet Kaur, manager of The Vault Cafe in Connaught Place.
Representatives at another pub said they have a satellite connection and two projectors ready.
'But for New Year's Eve we have arranged live music. However, we are keeping the screening option open for our customers,' said a representative at The Flying Saucer Cafe in Nehru Place.
People who party at home but wish to hear Modi may switch to Doordarshan or news channels. Sources say the Prime Minister is expected to speak on demonetisation and may announce a bouquet of sops.
The police department will also be more alert to deal with any fallout of the PM's address.
'Those pubs and restaurants facilitating the special screening of Modi's speech will be contacted and accordingly adequate police personnel will be deployed,' said a senior police officer.
Rohit Tandon may have converted money for influential people
Interrogation of Delhi-based lawyer Rohit Tandon arrested in connection with a massive black money haul by the Enforcement Directorate has revealed that he never went to banks to deposit cash, but had bank managers come to his house to collect them.
Questioning revealed that Tandon may have tried to convert black money into white for several influential people.
He reportedly admitted to interrogators that he had converted old notes amounting to around Rs 20 crore into new ones for several people.
Delhi-based lawyer Rohit Tandon arrested by the Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday evening
Out of more than Rs 70 crore attributed to him, he had reportedly handed over Rs 51 crore to Kotak Bank manager Ashish Kumar for conversion into white money.
Interestingly, it was a tip-off from the income tax department which helped ED crack the connection between Tandon and Ashish.
Interrogation of Tandon's employees by I-T officials, who had raided his south Delhi residence earlier this month, had revealed that a certain Ashish from Kotak Bank was a regular visitor to Tandon's Greater Kailash house.
Working on this tip-off, ED sleuths managed to identify the link between the two.
Ashish, who has also been arrested by ED, had allegedly created nine fake accounts in Kotak Bank at Kasturba Gandhi Marg and and deposited Rs 38 crore into these accounts.
ED sources said nine lockers connected with Tandon in Delhi and Kolkata had been checked so far.
Three hard disks had been seized and voluminous documents recovered during the raids.
Interrogation of Tandon and alleged hawala operator Parasmal Lodha also revealed that the latter was converting black money into white for Tandon.
Parasmal has been arrested in connection with his black money links to Tandon and mining baron J Sekhar Reddy.
Parasmal reportedly admitted to the links and this is being presented as a crucial evidence against Tandon, who had been denying them.
The inter-ministerial task force set up by Prime Minister Narendra Modi for correcting India's under-utilisation of its allocated share of waters under the Indus Waters Treaty (IWT) has just held its first meeting.
The water-related issue facing India, however, is much larger: The continuing absence of institutionalised, integrated policy-making in India, which has prevented proper management of the country's increasingly scarce water resources.
Indeed, India stands out for its lack of a national action plan to build water security.
IWT was negotiated in a period when water shortages were uncommon in most parts of India
Scarcity
When the Indian Republic was established, the framers of its Constitution did not visualise water scarcity in the decades ahead, given the relative abundance of water resources then.
Therefore, they left water as a state-level subject, rather than making it a federal issue.
Similarly, the IWT, under which India big-heartedly agreed in 1960 to the exclusive reservation of the largest three of the six Indus system rivers for Pakistan, was negotiated in a period when water shortages were uncommon in most parts of India.
India's political negligence on this issue has been so deep and extensive that it can be remedied only through hands-on political direction and in coordination with the state chief ministers.
This led India to sign an extraordinary treaty whose terms commit India to indefinitely reserve over four-fifths of the total waters of the Indus system for Pakistan.
The treaty uniquely parceled out entire rivers to Pakistan. It granted Pakistan virtually exclusive rights to use the waters of the Chenab, the Jhelum, and the main Indus stream - known together as the 'western rivers'.
The average replenishable flows of the three western rivers total 167.2 billion cubic meters (BCM) per year.
As its own share, India settled for a mere 40.4 BCM, or the total yearly flows of the three so-called eastern rivers - the Sutlej, the Beas, and the Ravi.
Four of these six rivers originate in India (three of them in Himachal Pradesh), and two (the main Indus stream and the Sutlej) originate in Tibet.
Only the Jhelum originates in Jammu and Kashmir. Today, the national water situation in India is far worse than in China.
China's population is not even 10 per cent larger than India's but its internally renewable water resources (2,813 BCM) are almost twice as large as India's.
In aggregate water availability, including external inflows (which are sizeable in India's case), China boasts virtually 50 per cent larger resources than India.
India must treat water as a strategic resource for its own well-being
Yet India serves as a case study of how a disjointed policy approach and lack of vision on managing water resources can exact serious costs by creating water shortages across much of the country.
In a sense, India's fragmented approach is exactly the opposite of China's highly centralised approach centred on mega-projects.
Accountability
The startling fact is that the responsibility for water issues is so fragmented within India's central government that 12 different departments or ministries deal with different segments of water resources.
To promote clear responsibility and accountability in national water management and to facilitate integrated policy-making, India must end its present fragmented approach on water issues.
As for India's under-utilisation of its IWT allocated water share, the task facing the task-force is formidable.
For example, the waters of the three eastern rivers not utilised by India aggregate to 10.37 BCM yearly according to Pakistan or, according to the UN, 11.1 BCM.
These bonus outflows to Pakistan alone amount to six times Mexico's total water share under its treaty with the US, and are many times greater than the total volumes spelled out in the Israel-Jordan water arrangements.
Although the IWT permits India to store 4.4 BCM of waters from the Pakistanreserved rivers, a careless India has built no storage.
And despite the treaty allowing India to build hydropower plants with no dam reservoir, India's total installed generating capacity in J&K currently does not equal the size of a single new dam in Pakistan like the 4,500-megawatt Diamer- Bhasha, whose financing for construction was approved recently.
Background
Against this background, the task force set up by Modi, with his principal secretary as its chairman, may be a step in the right direction.
But constituting this committee is hardly an adequate response to fixing the anomaly in India's under-utilisation of its water share.
Made up of senior bureaucrats who are already busy attending to other tasks, the committee cannot by itself remove the bureaucratic hurdles in the proper utilisation of water resources.
India's political negligence on this issue has been so deep and extensive that it can be remedied only through hands-on political direction and in coordination with the state chief ministers.
More fundamentally, water scarcity is a looming challenge across India. The water wars between various Indian states are highlighting how the competition over shared water resources is sharpening in an alarming manner.
India must treat water as a strategic resource for its own well-being. If the current compartmentalised approach to managing water resources persists, water shortages are going to exact growing economic and social costs in India.
More than two weeks have passed since communal violence broke out in Dhulagarh, a small town on the outskirts of Kolkata in Howrah district, and yet a sense of fear is palpable on the ground.
Many remain homeless as those who suffered mob violence are wary of returning home, barely 20 km from the state secretariat Nabanna.
Last week, the state government had removed Howrah (Rural) SP Sabyasachi Raman Mishra for failing to contain the violence.
Dhulagarh victims are terrified and worried about their future
'So far, 58 people have been arrested. There has been no fresh violence after December 14,' said Sumit Kumar, who replaced Mishra.
However, when Mail Today questioned chief minister Mamata Banerjee over the situation in Dhulagarh, she snapped: 'Nothing has happened. You should be ashamed for this.'
Yet, her government continues to impose prohibitory orders under section 144 of CrPC, banning the entry of Opposition parties and the media into the troubled area.
Charred remains of the households in Dhulagarh
On Thursday, the state police described the violence as an 'outcome of a dispute arising out of a local issue'.
It said situation was under total control and normal.
This week, when Mail Today travelled to Dhulagarh to assess the ground situation, it found that many had fled the area leaving behind charred remains of their houses.
'We can't live here anymore. We have taken shelter in our relatives' place elsewhere,' said Rampada Manna, as his wife Seema struggled to gather whatever belonging was left after the riots.
Riots erupted after Milad-ul-Nadi yatra
'Police came that day, but when we were attacked, even the cops fled,' he adds.
Manna, who works as a barber in a local saloon, was at home when a violent mob broke open the gate and vandalised his house.
'We are very poor. We somehow managed to buy a laptop for our son but they took it away. They also stole Rs 65,000 we had kept for LIC,' wept Seema, the horror of that day entrenched on her face.
Adjacent to the Manna household on Banerjee para lives the Mondals. Maitri Mondal, a mother of two, says she heard chants of 'Pakistan Zindabad' as the mob entered her bedroom and set it ablaze.
Mamata Banerjee is dismissive about the incident
'My son will appear for his Board exams in February, but they have destroyed everything. All his books are gutted and my son is in trauma now,' she says, pointing at the charred pages on her son's study desk.
The state government has announced a compensation of Rs 35,000 for the victims, but most say that is simply not enough.
'The hooligans destroyed my house; everything has been burnt. I can't fix them with this money,' laments Namita Sanpui, who lives in the same locality.
No one knows what exactly triggered the riots that erupted soon after Milad-Un-Nabi celebrations in the town.
Dilip Khanra was among many who had locked themselves inside a room when the mob was nearing the village, pelting crude bombs.
'When the police came, they told us to leave our house in two minutes to save our lives. They didn't even stop the mob,' he says.
His neighbour, 32-year-old Subhra Khanra, too fled for her life on that day. The mob set her house on fire forcing her family to take shelter in a nearby ashram.
Cocking a snook at Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav, Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav declared his own list of 235 candidates for the Assembly election in Uttar Pradesh.
The list comprises 171 sitting MLAs and 64 new faces, the latter for the seats that the party lost in 2012 elections.
The open defiance indicates that the war in Yadav clan is far from over and may result in a vertical split of the ruling party.
UP CM Akhilesh Yadav has declared his own list of 235 candidates for the upcoming Assembly polls
Akhilesh Yadav was closeted with his supporters over the day, before coming out with a parallel list late in the evening.
Sources said Akhilesh was angry for, as many as 108 candidates in the list released by Mulayam Singh were not of Akhilesh's choice and he was not taken into confidence before the official declaration.
The list was jointly declared by Mulayam and party state president Shivpal Yadav on a day when Akhilesh was on his Bundelkhand trip and when asked about the list he said that he came to know about it through the media.
Thursday witnessed a lot of turbulence in the state capital as supporters from both Akhilesh and Shivpal camp started gathering outside the CM's official residence and party supremo's residence.
On Wednesday evening, after reaching Lucknow from Bundelkhand, Akhilesh summoned his ministers and MLAs of his camp (who did'nt got a ticket) for a meeting at his residence on Thursday.
Following the order, Akhilesh's cadre started gathering since morning only to get time in the evening.
Akhilesh, after a brief chat with some of his ministers and MLAs on Thursday morning, headed towards Mulayam's residence for a closed door meeting at around 1pm.
They were later joined by Shivpal at around 2pm and the meeting ended at 3pm.
Akhilesh Yadav's list came after Mulayam Singh released his list of 325 candidates
Though details were not out, sources said that while Akhilesh expressed his discontent, Mulayam tried to pacify both his son and brother and tried to chalk out an optimum solution.
While Akhilesh left for his residence at around 3pm, Shivpal continued his chat with Mulayam and left after half an hour at around 3:30pm.
After reaching his residence, Akhilesh held a meeting with his MLAs and ministers whose names did not find a place in Mulayam's list.
Though the details were not out by the time of filing the report, those coming out of the meeting were seemingly happy and satisfied.
'I will contest the election from Ayodhya Akhilesh has assured us of full support', said Pawan Pandey, a minister in Akhilesh cabinet and whose name was omitted from Mulayam's list.
Another party MLA Indal Singh claimed that the CM will soon announce his list as MSY has denied tickets to those close to the CM.
Other MLAs and Akhilesh supporters also appeared relieved and somehow assured that they are still in the race.
Later in the evening at around 7pm, Mulayam once again summoned Shivpal to his house for a meeting.
However, the meeting ended within an hour and Shivpal left without talking to the media.
The details were not out as yet. Meanwhile, senior party leader and one of Akhilesh's ardent supporter, Ramgopal Yadav later said 'It happens (in the party) that the tickets are changed till the last moment.
'Meeting toh hogi he agar ticket nahi milega.People want Akhilesh to become the CM again and his role will be pivotal in the elections'.
The parents of the December 16 gang rape victim voiced their displeasure in no uncertain terms with the government naming the one-stop crisis centres for women 'Sakhi' instead of Nirbhaya, alleging it was a bid to erase the memory of their daughter from public discourse.
Initially, the Women and Child Development Ministry had announced setting up one-stop crisis centres across the country and name them 'Nirbhaya centres.'
But as the project rolled out, they named them 'Sakhi.'
Nirbhayas parents question the name Sakhi for govts onestop crisis centres for women.
'It's not done!' said Asha Devi, mother of the victim.
'What happened with my daughter who had sent a message to the society and government that crimes against women has crossed all boundaries and that we need to wake up and act. How can you just forget her,' she asked the government.
Nirbhaya centres, or Sakhi centres, are a one-stop crisis centre for women in distress and are funded by Union government.
They are to be set up in all 640 districts and 20 additional locations across the country.
Nirbhaya is the name given to the victim who was brutally raped in a moving bus on December 16
The programme to launch such centres was conceived as a tribute to the victim of the December 16, 2012 gang-rape case.
But, Asha Devi alleged the government was trying to wipe off the account of their daughter's sufferings.
'Government and society can forget her, but how can I? Her face flashes before my eyes, the moment I close them, and then I look deeper in her eyes and I can feel the pain she endured on that fateful night and I wake up with a soul-shattering chill.'
'We do not seem to be able to cooperate as effectively as we should,' said Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar earlier this month in New Delhi.
He was referring to the disjointed approach of India and China on a variety of issues including terrorism and a seat for India into the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG), among other things.
Running from north to the east of New Delhi is the 3488km long, unmarked and imaginary Line of Actual Control (LAC) that separates the two Asian powers.
Indian & Chinese delegation leaders meet at Chushul
It has been a barometer of the warmth (or the lack of it) between the two.
Apart from witnessing a full-blown war in 1962, the LAC has also played host to several skirmishes, incursions and transgressions in the later years.
Notwithstanding the lack of cohesion in ties, the LAC has cooled down.
Transgressions (distinct from incursions) from the Chinese side into India show a sharp fall.
The Sino-Indian border, though peaceful for decades, has not been free from surprise.
When Chinese President Xi Jinping visited India in September 2014, his arrival was punctuated with the arrival of the Chinese People's Liberation Army in Ladakh where a tense stand-off followed.
Days before Chinese Premier Li Keqiang was to visit India in May 2013, the Chinese forces were locked in a bitter face off with the Indians in the Depsang, Ladakh.
Then, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) had called it a 'low' and said: 'The thaw in India-China border relations was also broken in April when Indian Army was once again challenged by China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) by their repeated incursions into Ladakh Sector on the LAC.'
This is the cause for many to interpret what this drop may imply. While the Army refused to share information or respond to the query, a source in the Ministry of Defence said: 'This only indicates a better understanding at the local level between the two. It would be premature to see any larger design or a change of intent.'
Indian Army's ability to detect and thwart Chinese efforts of intrusion has improved manifold and is showing results.
That apart, better coordination and understanding fostered by high level visits have helped explained an officer who did not wish to be quoted.
On Indian side, the Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police have their boots on the ground at the LAC.
Both have seen a ramping up of efforts with enhanced manpower and resources.
The Army has identified 14 Strategic Rail Links of which in July the government accorded 'in principle' approval for four.
The Border Roads Organisation has over 40 roads totalling over 3000km to build. On its part, Indian Air Force has activated Advanced Landing Grounds at Walong, Ziro, Along, Mechuka, Tuting and Pasighat.
One at Tawang and Vijaynagar will take longer.
IAF has also based its heavy Sukhoi 30 jets at Tezpur and Chabua and will soon activate the second squadron of C130 special operations plane at Panagarh which is home to the Army's Mountain Strike Corps, a China-centric formation being raised.
Outgoing IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Arup Raha on Wednesday said India was aware of the Chinese build up and was doing what was necessary for its security.
Claude Arpi, writer and China-watcher, said: 'It is definitely a combination of factors. However, it is also a fact that China is wary of opening another front, that too against India. Lastly, Jinping's military reforms initiated last December have left the Chinese with a lot of new arrangements to cater for.'
Britons who use data roaming on their mobile phones while travelling in the EU could face a hefty bill once the UK leaves the EU.
Thats unless Government can strike a comprehensive free-trade deal after Brexit. In October 2015, European MPs formally approved plans to scrap roaming charges starting from mid-June next year.
That will mean all mobile phone users throughout the EU will be able to make calls, send text messages and go online without facing extra charges from 15 June 2017 without the prospect of facing shock bills when they get home.
Footing the bill: Mobile phone bills are set to rise with users being hit by new roaming charges
But Britain will not be covered by these rules once it leaves the EU.
That will allow continental mobile networks to charge British consumers what they like, with bills potentially as high as 50 (43) for listening to a song on Spotify, for example, according to the Financial Times.
Thats in line with what U.S. visitors who dont have a special data package currently have to pay.
To make matters worse, the European Commission has ruled out a quick bilateral deal between the UK and the EU to cover roaming charges.
Gunther Oettinger, the German commissioner said in a response to the European Parliament last year that under WTO rules any bilateral agreement outside of a comprehensive free-trade deal would have to be extended to all other members.
One telecoms executive told the FT's Duncan Robinson and Nic Fildes that it is preparing for a worst case scenario in which higher wholesale prices for calls and data would spill over into higher line rental or other fees across the whole network.
Better deal: Companies with networks in the UK like Vodafone would be able to exchange access to their own infrastructure with their continental peers unlike their smaller rivals
We could be exposed to the likes of France and Spain raising prices, he said.
Post Brexit, British mobile phone operators will have to agree their own bilateral deals with other phone companies across the EU.
During these talks, companies with networks in the UK, such as Vodafone and Three, would be able to exchange access to their own infrastructure with their continental peers.
However, smaller operators who do not own infrastructure and use larger rivals networks would be unlikely to get such generous terms, one official told the FT.
From April this year, thanks to new EU regulations charges for mobile phone users travelling in another European Economic Area country (the 28 EU countries, plus Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) were capped at 0.05 (4p) per minute for all calls, 0.02 (2p) for text messages and each MB of data used must not incur a fee of more than 0.05 (4p) - excluding VAT.
The new rules were introduced after many travellers incurred 'shock' bills of thousands of pounds for using their mobile phones abroad, after the smartphone market exploded and mobile data consumption soared.
Data from comparison uSwitch published at the end of last year showed that one in six mobile phone users had to pay more than 100 on top of their normal bill, while the average was an extra 61, rising to 72 for 18-34 year olds.
Some mobile phone operators have already cut roaming charges.
Three already offers a 'Feel at Home' perk which wont charge extra to call or text the UK or for data use in 18 countries.
Vodafone customers paying monthly on Red and Red Value bundles pay no roaming fees in 40 European countries.
While Tesco Mobile scrapped extra roaming charges for its customers travelling to any of 31 European countries during last summer.
Public humiliation rituals happen all over the world.
But in some Chinese workplaces, shocking photos and videos have emerged of struggling employees getting shamed for their misdeeds by bosses or laypeople.
Some employees have been forced to eat worms as punishment while others have been paddled in front of their co-workers.
While article 88 of China's labour contract law does state that employers cannot humiliate their employees, these bosses clearly did not get the memo.
Scroll down for videos
LIVE WORMS
Brutal: Employees from a Chinese sales company were forced to eat live worms after not meeting their boss's sales targets
An employer in Hanzhong, China forced its employees to eat live worms following their failure to reach sales targets.
The workers were gathered in a public square on November 8 where their boss announced the names of under-performers.
He then placed live worms in glasses of Baijiu, a hard liquor with 80 to 120 proof.
The employees had to eat four worms for every client missed, Huashang Daily reported.
No mercy: A pregnant woman was one of the employees doomed to drink the substance and only got out of it when a colleague took her punishment in her place
Yikes: The worms, chopsticks and liquor indicate what's in store for some employees
Their company was a sales group called 'Ai Jia,' roughly translated as 'home loving.'
A pregnant woman was even asked to be punished until a male colleague received the punishment on her behalf.
She said: 'I can't eat worms now, I can't drink either, unless I don't want my baby.'
PADDLING
While worms may have been unpleasant, they weren't quite as violent a punishment as the public paddling one Chinese boss gave his employees.
Shocking footage from June 2016 shows the boss of Shanxi Changzhi Zhangze Agricultural and Commercial Bank in Changzhi, China.
Waiting: The employees wait for their boss to arrive, who will shout at them before the assault
Brutality: A woman gets paddled by her boss in front of many of her coworkers
He is on a stage paddling eight people, four times each, Huanqiu reported.
Meanwhile, their stunned coworkers sit in silence in the audience.
A woman can be seen nearly falling over in pain as she gets spanked.
CRAWLING
Forced
One particularly angry boss made his employees crawl around a lake as penance for not meeting sales targets.
Outrageous photos show 12 people crawling around the hard wooden walkway.
Repent: A dozen employees were forced to crawl around a lake because they did not meet sales targets
The punishment took place in Zhengzhou, China on October 2, 2015, during which employees were supposed to be on national holiday.
Employees were forced to crawl around the 23-acre Ruyi Lake and many sufferers tore their shirts and trousers during the ordeal.
At least one employee cried by the side of the road, People's Daily Online reported.
The company was not identified.
Immobile: One crawler appears to have given up as a man hovers over him - whether to encourage or scorn is not known
Too much: One crawler breaks down in tears during the harsh ordeal
Voluntary
Another crawling incident saw staff allegedly volunteer to join in the punishment of their manager.
Disquieting footage shows more than 10 people crawling outside a busy shopping mall in Baishan, China.
The incident took place on April 2, 2016.
But in a scandalous twist, the company stated that only the manager was punished - or 'motivated' - and his employees volunteered to join him, Huanqiu reported.
Most of the unidentified company's employees were outfitted in smart dress.
A man at one point shouts at the crawlers to 'fulfill their commitments.'
The company stated that the employees crawled about 220 metres (720 feet).
Voluntary AGAIN
A baker, meanwhile, made the singular decision to crawl from his branch to another branch after he did not reach his expected profit.
And his dedicated employees decided to join him in the bizarre procession.
Salvation: Bakery workers crawl with boss as penance for not meeting his hoped-for profit
Cold: The workers had to crawl on cold, snowy pavement in Northern China
The odd footage from Sina shows the boss and his staff inching along hard, snowy pavement in Yanbian Korean Autonomous Prefecture, China in December 2016.
Onlookers appear to offer both encouragement and disdain.
The boss decided to crawl as a self-inflicted punishment for not reaching his 16,000 business goal, according to reports.
A strange sight: Onlookers did not know how to react to the crawling procession
KNEELING
Another peculiar scene in Shenyang, China, saw employees kneeling and chanting in front of their bosses.
The ceremony occurred at a busy public square in September 2015.
Workers chanted 'thank you for my job' and most wore red tops and black trousers while some wore white.
Thank you: Passers-by said employees were chanting 'thank you for my job'
What is going on here? The company insisted the kowtowing display was not forced
But the company, a local hot pot restaurant, claimed the display was not a humiliation so much as a spontaneous display of respect, People's Daily Online reported.
Restaurant manager Wang said that the display was a performance ceremony during which some employees chose to kowtow.
She said: 'They were chanting slogans along the lines of thanks to their parents for raising them and prosperity of business.
'It's not as the web rumours say about thanking leaders for job.'
Flash
The number of tourists visiting Taiwan from Chinas mainland has fallen 36.2 percent in the seven months since Tsai Ing-wen became the islands leader in May, the government said yesterday.
The fall, which is compared to the same period in the previous year, was steeper than the 18.5 percent decline measured for most of 2016, the islands Mainland Affairs Council said.
Data on tourists from the mainland going to Taiwan has been closely watched since Tsai took office on May 20.
Tsai and her ruling Democratic Progressive Party, which advocates independence for Taiwan, have said they want to maintain peace with the mainland but have never conceded to the One China principle.
Taiwan will maintain its policy of welcoming mainland tourists, Chiu Chui-cheng, the councils deputy chief, said at a regular news briefing. But due to political factors that impact mainland tourists coming to Taiwan, our government will plan for the worst and prepare for the best.
Citing immigration figures from May 20 to December 27, he said the number of mainland tourists arriving on group tours had dropped 51.2 percent from the same period a year earlier, a greater drop than the total number of tourists for the same period.
For the full year to Tuesday this week, the number of mainland tourists arriving on group tours fell 29.9 percent.
The number of mainland residents arriving as individual tourists, a figure that is not as easy to calculate, fell at a slower pace, but still reflected double-digit drop during Tsais rule, the data showed.
The decline in tourist numbers from mainland has been keenly felt by the islands tourism industry whose members staged a large protest earlier this year, prompting the government to issue preferential loans to help struggling businesses dependent on tourism.
Also yesterday, authorities in the island said Tsai will pass through the United States when she visits Latin America next month, angering China which urged the US to block any stopovers.
Details of stopovers will be disclosed before the end of this week, the island said.
China urged the US not to let her in.
We hope the US can abide by the One China policy ... and not let her pass through their border, not give any false signals to Taiwan independence forces, and through concrete actions safeguard overall China-US relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a news briefing in Beijing.
The transit details are being closely watched as Taiwan media has speculated that Tsai will seek to meet US President-elect Donald Trumps transition team ahead of his January 20 inauguration.
Trump angered China when he spoke to Tsai earlier this month in a break with decades of precedent, a move that cast doubt on his incoming administrations commitment to the One China policy.
The US has acknowledged that there is only One China and that Taiwan is part of it.
Tsais office earlier this month said she would visit Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador in that order. She will leave Taiwan on January 7 and return on January 15.
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A remarkable series of colour photographs, taken more than 100 years ago, have been unearthed and they paint a fascinating picture of the dying days of the Russian Empire.
Between 1905 and 1915 Sergey Prokudin-Gorsky, a pioneer of colour photography, travelled the empire by railway, chronicling the lives of the many different people who lived under the rule of the doomed Tsar Nicholas II.
Prokudin-Gorsky, whose amazing journey was sponsored by the tsar himself, took a series of images which have become a time capsule, capturing the traditions and cultures which were to disappear after the Russian Revolution of 1917.
He moved to Paris after the tsar was overthrown and later executed and when he died, aged 81, in 1944 his entire collection was bought from his son by the US Library of Congress and all 2,607 can be viewed online on their archive.
These women harvesting tea on a plantation near Chavka in Georgia in 1910 are believed to be mainly Pontic Greeks, an ancient community that originally lived along the Black Sea coast of Anatolia. Many later migrated to the Caucasus, where they came under the protection of the Tsar, a fellow Orthodox Christian
This picture shows a tea packing and weighing room at the Chakva tea farm and processing plant outside Batumi in present-day Georgia, in 1910. Tea is still grown in Georgia and the vast majority of it is exported to Russia
Prokudin-Gorsky was still taking his photographs when the First World War broke out in 1914. Russia found itself fighting both Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. A year later he took this photograph of Austro-Hungarian prisoners held at a camp in Karelia, north of St Petersburg, which was renamed Petrograd to make it sound less German
A merchant at a Samarkand market displays silks, cotton and wool fabrics as well as traditional carpets in 1911. At the top of the stall is a framed page of the Koran. Samarkand was captured by the Russians in 1866 but is now in Uzbekistan
Five inmates look out from a zindan, a traditional Central Asian prison in 1910. Their guard is wearing a Russian-style uniform, and is armed with a Russian rifle and bayonet. Zindan is an ancient Persian word for a dungeon but it was brought back into use in the early part of the 21st century during the war between Russia and Chechen rebels
A group of Jewish boys, in traditional dress, are pictured studying with their teacher in Samarkand in modern Uzbekistan in 1910. Samarkand is an ancient city on the Silk Road and Jews had lived their for hundreds of years but most have since emigrated to Israel or the United States
This magnificent gentleman is Muhammad Alim Khan bin Abdul-Ahad, who was the Emir of Bukhara in modern-day Uzbekistan from 1910 until 1920, when the emirate was abolished by Lenin's communist government
This Daghestani couple are wearing traditional dress in the Gunib region of the Northern Caucasus mountains. The photograph was taken around 1910. Daghestan is a region on the Caspian Sea coast, east of Chechnya
A family iron-mining operation in the Bakaly hills outside Ekaterinburg in 1910. Iron was smelted for the growing steelworks as the empire slowly industrialised. Ekaterinburg was ironically the place where the tsar, and the rest of the Romanov dynasty, were summarily executed in 1918
This group of men in traditional Muslim dress were photographed somewhere in Caucasus mountains in 1910. Russia, which was an Orthodox Christian country, had conquered the North Caucasus region in the 19th century and many of its subjects, like the Chechen and the Ingush, were Muslims
The subject of this photograph is Pinkhus Karlinskii, the 84-year-old supervisor of a floodgate at Chernigov. He is standing on a raft by a ferry dock on the Mariinsk canal in 1909. The canal was a vast undertaking which linked the mighty Volga river with the Baltic Sea
This man, photographed in Daghestan in 1910, is wearing traditional Sunni Muslim dress and an Astrakhan hat. His hand rests on the blue scabbard of his dagger and on his chest appears to be some sort of war medal. Five years earlier the empire had lost the Russo-Japanese War
This woman, wearing traditional Bashkir dress, was photographed on the steps leading to her home in the Ural mountains in 1910. This was long before people knew how to pose and smile in front of a camera. The Bashkirs are a Turkic people whose traditional homeland straddles the Urals
These men are convicts, who have been shackled together at a prison camp somewhere in the interior, in 1910. The term 'Gulag' was only coined later for Stalin's vast network of prison camps but in the tsar's days many prisoners were housed in equally terrible conditions
These men and boys, wearing traditional dress, are pictured in Samarkand in 1910. Prokudin-Gorsky's caption for this photograph describes them as Sarts, a term which was used at the time to describe all Central Asian ethnicities, although these men and boys are probably Uzbek or Tajik
Ethnic Russian settlers in Grafovka in the Mugan steppe region in present-day Azerbaijan in 1910. Throughout the 19th century and early 20th century the tsar and his advisers encouraged ethnic Russians to settle in the Caucasus and in Central Asia, where they played a key role in Russification and maintaining loyalty to Moscow
A Daghestani man and his wife in traditional dress, pose uncomfortably for a photograph in the Caucasus mountains in 1910. It is difficult for us to imagine how alien it was to pose for a photograph as most people had never seen an image of themself, except in a mirror
This picture shows the traditional Russian dress of the time. Taken in 1910 in the town of Zlatoust in the Ural mountains, it shows a gentleman called A P Kalganov (left) with his son and granddaughter, who both worked at the Zlatoust arms factory, which produces swords for the Russian Army. Zlatoust is near the city of Chelyabinsk
A view, from the bell tower of the Church of the Transfiguration, over the city of Tobolsk in Siberia in 1912. At the time Tobolsk's major employer was the timber industry but nowadays the city is dominated by an oil refinery
Logs being floated down the Peter I canal near the small town of Shlisselburg - which was renamed Petrokrepost in 1944 and regained its old name in 1992 - on Lake Ladoga in 1909
Prokudin-Gorsky took this image of colourfully dressed bureaucrat wearing a traditional full-length coat in Bukhara in 1910
Harry's girl: Meghan Markle, 35, is inspiring Rwandan girls to achieve their ambitions - in the spirit of Princess Diana
Meghan Markle is inspiring a generation of poverty stricken young girls from Rwanda to realise their dreams to become doctors in the spirit of Princess Diana.
Two girls have told how Prince Harry's girlfriend has made them study to change their lives after meeting the Californian-born 'Suits' star.
Her easy charm and natural warmth with the boys and girls in the genocide-scarred east African state has echoes of Harry's mother Diana, dubbed 'The People's Princess' for the kindness she showed to others.
Markle, 35, an ambassador for Canadian charity World Vision and Harry, 32, are said to have grown close over their passion for changing the lives in Africa.
Now she appears to be continuing Diana's legacy by inspiring a generation of young people achieve their ambitions.
The yoga-loving actress based in Toronto, who spent a romantic few days with the prince in London before he spent Christmas at Sandringham, Norfolk, says: 'While my life shifts from refugee camps to red carpets, I choose them both because these worlds can, in fact, coexist. And for me, they must.
'I never wanted to be a lady who lunches I've always wanted to be a woman who works. And this type of work is what feeds my soul, and fuels my purpose,' she added.
One of the girls she met during her visit to the country is 15-year-old Cecile Mugwaneza, a gifted schoolgirl from a poor farming family.
Inspiration: As an ambassador for Canadian charity World Vision, Miss Markle is helping hard up children like Cecile Mugwaneza, pictured, realise their potential. The 15-year-old, a gifted schoolgirl from a poor farming family, said the actress had 'inspired me to become a doctor'
Life changing: Cecile was among a dozen impoverished children who got to meet the California-born actress when she visited the country in February. Markle, 35, and Harry, who met in May, are said to have bonded over their passion for improving lives in Africa
Inspiration: Cecile and other children she say yoga loving 'Suits' actress Markle along with World Vision had changed their lives by putting in new toilets where 1,650 pupils shared one. Before the new latrines were installed the children had to queue and couldn't concentrate
Cecile told MailOnline: 'I did not know Meghan Markle before I met her but she has become my friend. She asked me about my education and I told her everything. She has inspired me to become a doctor.'
Sitting on a hand-built, wooden bench, softly spoken Cecile explained how the actress, and World Vision, came to her rural school to open new toilets - and changed her life.
Cecile said she had to share one toilet with 1,650 children at the Mbandazi village school, over an hour's drive outside the capital Kigali, meaning pupils couldn't concentrate on their studies.
'Before the new latrines all the boys and girls had to share the same toilet. Now we can come here any time without waiting. We also don't have to waste time away from class. Everyone can concentrate much better now.
'I am not the best student in the class but I always try my best.
Echoes of Diana: Markle's warmth and natural rapport with children in the genocide-scarred Rwanda is in the spirit of Harry's late mother Princess Diana killed in a car crash in in 1997, dubbed 'The People's Princess' for the kindness she showed to others and humanitarian work
Determined: Markle came to Rwanda to 'see the mountain gorillas' two years ago, but once she saw how difficult life was 'she wanted to help', a World Vision director told MailOnline. She has brought the harsh reality of life in Rwanda into the homes of millions in the western world
Help: Cecile, 15, told how the 'Suits' star, who spent time with Harry in London before Christmas, came to her rural school, pictured, in February to open new latrines. Before that, the 1,650 children at the Mbandazi primary school had to share a single toilet
'I make every effort I can. If I do not understand something I asked the teacher after the class and ask her to explain it to me again.
'After I met Meghan I did my national exams. I hope I do well enough to get a place at secondary school.'
She added: 'I would like to write to her but I cannot speak English and she does not speak my language.
New hope: Cecile, pictured holding a hoe she uses to farm the family plot, told MailOnline how 35-year-old Markle has changed her life
'But if I could write her a letter I would say; "Dear Meghan, I miss you. I would love to see you again because you are my friend. You have inspired me to do my best at school, to become a doctor".'
As Cecile spoke family and friends gathered in the swept-dirt courtyard of her mud-brick home, chickens pecked the ground for insects and seeds, infant cousins played in the bushes.
Bicycles transporting hands of green bananas, bright yellow water containers and passengers along the uneven unmade road through the plant fence.
Others carry baskets, bowls and firewood on their heads. Barefoot children wave as they walk past with, their parents carry hoes, machetes and other tools as they return home from tending their fields.
Her hands caked in mud, Cecile too had just returned from the fields, a 45-minute walk-away, where she helps her farmer father Didace to grow sweet potato, cabbage and aubergines.
'Now I help my family to cultivate the land,' Cecile explained. 'We grow vegetables to eat. I get rid of the weeds and dig the earth.
'I am very good at science, which I like because it is important for the environment. If you want to be a good farmer you need to be good at science as well.
Kindness: Another girl inspired by Markle is Florence, 12, pictured left, who is from a village more than an hour's drive from a tarmac road in the remote Bugesera District.on a broken bicycle and brave a crocodile and hippo-infested river to for drinking water her best option.
Raising awareness: Florence, and children in Rwanda like her, pictured, are forced to drop out of school a luxury for many youngsters due to her family's crippling poverty. Markle is working to bring their plight to world attention
Star turn: Markle visited children in Rwanda to see the work being done to improve water supplies. One of them, 15-year-old Cecile said: 'I did not know Meghan before I met her but she has become my friend.'
Charity work: Markle's interest in Rwanda, pictured, is compared with the humanitarian work done by her boyfriend, Prince Harry's mother, Princess Diana. She visited Angola in 1997 to raise awareness of landmines and was a devoted campaigner for AIDS awareness in Africa
'But I want to become a doctor so I can help all of the people. I would like to specialise in treating women.'
Cecile was inspired to reach for her highest limits of her ambition after she was chosen to meet Markle.
The youngster did not know much about the British royal family but her aunt Jane told her of Princess Diana and her inspirational work, particularly in Africa where in 1997 she walked through a minefield in Angola to highlight the plight of victims.
Jane told MailOnline: 'I know Princess Diana. She helped African children. Now this lady Meghan is helping African children as well.'
Another girl inspired by Markle is Florence, 12, who is from a village more than an hour's drive from a tarmac road in the remote Bugesera District.
Compassion: Markle first visited Rwanda two years ago to see the mountain gorillas there but was struck by the resilience shown by the people in the east African country hit by civil war and genocide in 1994 when 800,000 were killed in conflict
Caring: Markle used her celebrity status to help improve lives of people living there. The actress, who lives in Toronto, met Harry in May when he was in Canada to promote the Invictus Games. He spends much of his time working for his Sentabale charity, for orphans of Lesotho
Romance: Markle and Prince Harry, 32, who spent a few days together in London before Christmas, pictured, are said to have bonded over their commitment to charities in Africa
Family: Markle, pictured in Toronto with her mother Doria Radlan, left Harry in London so that he could spend his tradition Royal family Christmas with the Queen at her Sandringham estate
She used to have to travel for up to nine hours a day on a broken bicycle and brave a crocodile and hippopotamus-infested river to draw drinking water her best option.
Florence was forced to drop out of school a luxury for many poor Rwandan youngsters due to her family's crippling poverty.
She explained: 'I went to school for three years. I had lots of friends. Where we get the water is very far from home. Often I get sick when I drink the dirty water.
Markle took up the role as figurehead for the development agency after seeing first-hand the daily struggle of people in Rwanda, where 800,000 were victims in the 1994 genocide and used her celebrity status to help.
She had been drawn to the heart of Africa to experience mountain gorillas, two years ago - but the resilience of the the people there left a lasting impression and she returned to the country in February.
Bumping along dirt tracks, crossing crocodile-infested rivers and scaling some of Rwanda's countless hills the actress marvelled at how something as simple as a tap bearing clean water could transform the lives of so many.
People's Princess: Markle's work in Africa is in the spirit of Harry's mother Princess Diana, pictured in 1997 visiting children at the Icrc Orthopaedic Workshop In Luanda, Angola
Diana devoted much of her time to charity work in Africa where she raised awareness of landmine victims in Angola and the struggle with AIDS in the country before she died in 1997. Harry, pictured with her and his brother William in 1993, has kept her legacy alive in Africa
As the face of World Vision Canada, the charity that helps 600,000 people with 29 long-term projects, she brought the harsh reality of daily life in Rwanda into the homes of millions secure in the privileged western world.
'Meghan came to Rwanda to see the mountain gorillas but when she saw how difficult life can be here she wanted to help,' George Gitau, National Director of World Vision Rwanda told MailOnline.
Dead: British beauty therapist Samia Shahid was raped and murdered in an honour killing in Pakistan, it is alleged
A father accused of helping to murder his British beauty therapist daughter in an alleged honour killing has revealed the moment he claims he found her slumped on the floor 'foaming at the mouth'.
Samia Shahid, 28, from Bradford, was allegedly raped and strangled with a scarf - the victim of a 'devious plan' by her family who wanted her dead because she left the cousin she was forced to marry, police in Pakistan claim.
In his first interview since his arrest in Pakistan, Samia's father Muhammad Shahid said: 'I saw Samia lying dead with some froth forming at her mouth. She may have fallen downstairs or somebody gave her something.
'I didn't touch her body and called police. I asked them to perform autopsy. The police lifted up her body. I handed over all her belongings including her mobile phone.'
Court papers in Pakistan claim that after arriving at her ancestral village in the Punjab her first husband Mohammed Shakeel was ordered by her father to watch her at all times.
On July 20, the day before she was due to return to her second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam in Dubai, she refused to tell Shakeel where her passport and plane ticket were kept.
Shakeel terrorised her and threw her on the bed and raped her, prosecutors claim. Shakeel started to strangle her with her scarf while Shahid held her legs, it is alleged.
Shakeel is accused of Samia's rape and murder. He remains in custody. Her father Shahid is accused of assisting in her murder. He was released on bail last week after a court in Pakistan found there was insufficient evidence to keep him in custody.
Accused: Her father Muhammad Shahid, pictured, denies assisting in murdering daughter Samia because he disapproved of her second marriage. In his first interview Shahid, who has been released on bail, told of the moment he found her lifeless body at the bottom on the stairs
Denial: Samia's first husband Muhammad Shakeel, right, taken on their wedding day in 2012, was accused of raping her before she was strangled with a scarf in Pakistan. Their marriage lasted two years before Samia left him and married second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam
Crime scene: Samia, a British beautician, 28, from Bradford, West Yorks, was found dead at the bottom of the stairs at the family home in Punjab, pictured, with a 19cm red mark around her neck. Her father claims the mark was caused by a heavy necklace she was wearing
But Shahid said: 'Samia came to my house in the morning. She was normal. She told me that she was going to lay flowers on grave of her mother-in-law. Everything was normal.
'I knew she was back at home alone after Shakeel had gone somewhere in the morning. I left my home around 12 noon and went to Samia's home. It was a routine visit. It took me two-three minutes to reach there.'
As soon as he opened the main gate he said he sensed something was wrong, Shahid said. He was shaken when he saw Samia's body, he added.
Samia was found with a 19cm red mark across her neck. Shahid said he thought the wound could have been caused by a necklance.
'She was wearing a gold chain, this scar most probably was because of that chain. There were no any torture sign on her body,' he said.
Shahid said he was 'very close' to his eldest daughter and the night before she bought him his favourite burger and chips for supper.
Claims: Shahid, pictured, is accused of holding his daughter's feet while Shakeel allegedly strangled her with a scarf. He is accused of assisting in her murder and was freed on bail from jail last week. He has given MailOnline his first full account of what happened to her
Handcuffed: Shahid, right, is led into court in Jhelum, Pakistan, at an earlier hearing with his former son-in-law Shakeel, left. Shahid said: 'It is so painful that my daughter has died and I am accused of assisting her murder. We are not allowed to mourn her death.'
In love: Samia married her second husband Syed Mukhtar Kazam, right, in Leeds in 2014 and the couple lived happily together in Dubai. Mr Kazam said that Samia was persuaded to travel to Pakistan in July by her family, who had told her that her father Shahid was gravely ill
Shahid said: 'Everything was normal. Samia had no problem with Shakeel. She was happy with him and went with him to the house.
'I would not shy away to get a murder case registered even if Samia's husband, my nephew, might have been involved. But first I needed to know whether she was murdered, died from natural causes or it was an accident.'
The last night before her death she brought me chips and burger. She had no problem with Shakeel. She was happy with him and went with him to the house. Samia's father Muhammad Shahid
In his near perfect English, he vowed: 'I will face this case and emerge as innocent.'
'It is so painful that my daughter has died and I am accused of being involved in her murder.
'We were not allowed to mourn her death. She was my daughter. I am grieved at her death but somebody else wants to become her legal heir and they want to get her father hanged. This is not fair.'
British Muslim Samia married first husband Shakeel in an arranged marriage in 2012.
But she left him after less than two years, divorcing him to marry Mr Kazam.
The couple's wedding was held at Leeds Town Hall in 2014. Shortly afterwards they moved to Dubai in the United Arab Emirates.
Grief: Mr Kazam, pictured, claimed that his wife was the victim of an honour killing because his family had disapproved of their marriage. He said her parents were angered by their daughter converting to Shia Islam, his sect, and she was murdered for bringing 'dishonour' to the family
Legal fight: Mr Kazam, pictured, released a photo of his wife's body showing the red mark around her neck because: 'I want the world to know that she didn't die of natural causes.' Her family say their their wedding was illegal because she wasn't divorced from her first husband
Samia's family claim her second marriage was illegal because she had never obtained a proper divorce.
But Mr Kazam, 30, who works in the chemicals industry, disputes that and insists she was legally divorced.
He claims she angered her parents by converting to Shia Islam, his sect, and she was murdered for bringing 'dishonour' to the family.
Mr Kazam released a shocking photo of his wife's body showing the red mark around her neck. 'I want the world to know that she didn't die of natural causes,' he said. 'She was murdered. I'm shattered. I can't describe my pain, she is such a great loss.
At the time of her death, Samia was visiting her home in Punjab, Pakistan, after allegedly being told by her mother Imtiaz Bibi and younger sister Madiha Shahid in Bradford that her father was gravely ill.
They are wanted on suspicion of 'abetting the murder.' Prosecutors claim the pair used emotional blackmail in 'a devious plan' to lure Samia from the UAE to Pakistan.
The pair fled their home in Bradford before Christmas for a secret location in the city.
Shahid is a British-Pakistani citizen who spent 20 years living in the UK.
Marks: A post mortem found a 7.5 inch wound on Samia's neck, pictured. Her father Shahid said that the mark could have been caused by a heavy necklace she was wearing
Crime scene: Samia was allegedly raped on the bed, pictured, by her first husband Shakeel before he strangled her with a scarf and her father held her feet. Samia's father told MailOnline that they were close and that she bought him his favourite food, burger and chips for supper
Burial site: Samia's mother Imtiaz Bibi and her younger sister Madiha Shahid back in Bradford are still wanted for questioning over the suspected honour killing and police in Pakistan issued warrants for their arrest
Tragedy: Samia's body was found in one of the family homes in Pandori, a village in northern Punjab, pictured, on July 20 this year by her father, who called police to the property
'The whole world turned against us. We were not given opportunity to clear our position,' he said.
Shahid is receiving British consular assistance. Pakistan still imposes the death penalty for killers and is ranked by Amnesty International as the third most prolific executioner in the world.
He went on: 'I have always been a law abiding citizen. I lived in UK for over two decades and not received even a traffic ticket. I am not well from last four years. I am diabetic and my right foot is in a bad shape.
'I could have applied social security benefits in UK but I have never applied for any benefits. I am using my money for the treatment.'
Shahid also attacked Samia's MP for Bradford West Naz Shah for 'making a lot of noise around this case' and accused her of using his daughter's death to further her political career.
Ms Shah said: ' I will fight for justice to be served till the last breath in me. Why isn't he screaming murder and justice from the rooftops as a bereaved father?
'The fact remains that a post mortem has concluded beyond any doubt that his daughter was raped and murdered.'
Happy: Samia and Mr Kazim, pictured, were wed for two years before she was persuaded to travel to Pakistan against his wishes
Shahid's wife and daughter Imtiaz and Madiha back in Britain are still wanted for questioning over the suspected honour killing and police in Pakistan issued warrants for their arrest.
They were declared proclaimed offenders two months ago in Pakistan after leaving the country days after her death and returning to the UK.
Ms Shah described the arrest warrants as 'a significant development.'
She said: 'I welcome the fact arrest warrants have been issued because it will encourage the family to assist with the inquiry and make themselves available to police.
'If they have nothing to do with Samia's death they will have nothing to fear. I am very pleased the Pakistan authorities are investigating this. It shows they are keeping the inquiry alive and committed to getting justice for the killers.'
A Home Office spokesperson today refused to discuss 'the individual case' of Samia's mother and sister but said because there was no treaty between the two nations it would 'cause a long drawn out delay in proceedings.'
A man who was restrained and punched in the face by police officers died three days later from accidental causes, according to an autopsy report that pointed to his drug use.
Tawon Boyd of Middle River, Maryland, died on September 21, 2016 from multiple organ failure which was likely caused by a drug commonly called 'bath salts', according to the medical examiner's office.
The 21-year-old struggled with Baltimore County police officers after he made two 911 calls on September 18, but the autopsy report said it was 'unlikely that restraint by law enforcement caused or significantly contributed to his death'.
Tawon Boyd (pictured) died on September 21, 2016 from multiple organ failure, likely caused by a drug commonly called 'bath salts', according to the Maryland medical examiner's office
Boyd made two 911 calls on September 18 from his home on Akin Circle (pictured, general view), and a violent confrontation with responding officers ensued
Boyd made two 911 calls on September 18, and his girlfriend Deona Styron could be heard in the background saying he needed medical attention.
Boyd 'appeared to be confused and paranoid' and told responding officers there was someone in his house when there was in fact no intruder, according to a police.
His girlfriend also told officers he was acting 'crazy'.
The confrontation with police began after Boyd repeatedly banged on the door of a neighbor's home and officers tried to pull him away to keep him from going inside, according to the police report.
Police tried to talk with Boyd, but he began screaming. He also tried to enter several marked police cars and refused to obey orders to lie down and put his hands on his back.
He grabbed and kicked at the officers, injuring three, before one punched Boyd twice in the face as the young man held onto him, police said.
The confrontation lasted about five minutes, and officers held Boyd down with their arms and legs, the police report stated.
Boyd's girlfriend told officers he was acting 'crazy' and one officer punched Boyd twice in the face as the young man held onto him, police said
WHAT ARE BATH SALTS? Bath salts, or synthetic cathinones, are a synthetic street drug made to replicate the high of amphetamines, cocaine, and MDMA. Bath salts are known to contain mephedrone, MDPV, and methylone, which can trigger neurological and psychiatric effects. This includes rapid heartbeat, hyperthermia, breakdown of muscle fibers, palpitations, seizures, paranoia, hallucinations, and delusions. MDPV is 10 times more potent than cocaine and overwhelms the brain as neurons fire like crazy. This can bring on seizures and bizarre behavior, and lingers in the body for hours or even days. And, the drug is highly addictive, causing people to keep coming back despite the terrifying effects. Advertisement
The autopsy report says emergency medical workers believed Boyd was in an 'excited delirium state' and administered the anti-psychotic medication Haldol.
Boyd calmed down, but then went into cardiac arrest, medical examiners said. He was revived by cardiopulmonary resuscitation and taken to a hospital, where he died.
Boyd's grandmother Linda Burch said police used too much force to restrain him, but an autopsy report found that was an unlikely factor in the 21-year-old's death.
The report said: 'It is unlikely that restraint by law enforcement caused or significantly contributed to his death based on the reported circumstances and timeline of the restraint.'
A. Dwight Pettit, a lawyer for Boyd's family, said questions still remain about Boyd's medical care by emergency responders, and plans to launch an independent review.
'We think that there's obviously something wrong here, beyond question, that somebody that calls to reach out for help ends up dead,' Pettit said.
More than a thousand ISIS fanatics have been killed by Iraqi forces in the battle for Mosul, it has emerged.
The death toll was revealed as Iraqi government troops launched a major new offensive to drive the terror group out of its last stronghold in the country.
Elite forces have recaptured several parts of eastern Mosul since beginning the massive operation to seize the northern city from the jihadists on October 17 - but ISIS still occupies the city's west.
Security chiefs said several neighbourhoods had been taken, with the bodies of ISIS fighters seen lying on the streets and drone footage showing others retreating.
More than a thousand ISIS fanatics have been killed by Iraqi forces in the battle for Mosul, it has emerged
The death toll was revealed as Iraqi government troops launched a major new offensive to drive the terror group out of its last stronghold in the country
Retaking Mosul could effectively end the jihadist group's days as a land-holding force in Iraq and deal a death blow to the 'caliphate' ISIS leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi proclaimed in the city in June 2014.
'The second phase of liberating the left bank in Mosul was launched, and our forces began advancing toward Al-Quds neighbourhood,' said Staff Lieutenant General Abdulghani al-Assadi, a senior officer in Iraq's Counter-Terrorism Service.
'Our forces clashed with the enemy and there is resistance,' he told AFP, adding forces on the northern and southern fronts were also advancing.
Mosul, now the last Iraqi city in which ISIS still holds significant territory, is split by the Tigris River, with the east side referred to as the left bank and the west as the right.
Iraq's federal police commander, Raed Shaker Jawdat, said 'the enemy's line of defence has fallen back' inside the city.
'The streets of the Al-Salam, Al-Intisar, Al-Wahda, Al-Falestin and Al-Quds neighbourhoods are strewn with the bodies of Daesh fighters,' he said, using an Arabic acronym for ISIS.
Police had also entered deep into the district of Jadida al-Mufti.
Mosul, now the last Iraqi city in which ISIS still holds significant territory, is split by the Tigris River, with the east side referred to as the left bank and the west as the right
Iraqi pro-government forces advance in Mosul's southeastern Sumer neighbourhood
The commanding chief of the offensive, Staff Lieutenant General Abdulamir Yarallah, late Thursday announced 'the liberation of the Al-Quds 1 district'.
The commander said police drones had spotted IS fighters retreating to the city's western side via a pedestrian bridge badly damaged in the fighting.
Centcom, the US military command in the Middle East, said the US-led coalition fighting ISIS had disabled 'the last bridge crossing the Tigris river inside Mosul' this week at the Iraqi government's request.
It said meanwhile that an investigation had been opened after a US-led air raid on an ISIS van during the Mosul operations on Thursday struck 'what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties'.
A Mosul inhabitant who requested anonymity reported hearing many explosions and said residents were holed up indoors.
The new push in the battle for Mosul comes after progress slowed to a crawl in the past few weeks.
After two months of fighting, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi last week said the army had decided to review battle plans and pause to reduce losses.
The fighting has been all the more devastating as it has been happening in a city amid civilians.
ISIS has targeted the army with car bombs on at least 900 occasions in the streets of Mosul since October 17, according to Abadi.
ISIS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes have since regained much of the territory they lost to the jihadists
ISIS overran large areas north and west of Baghdad in 2014, but Iraqi forces backed by US-led air strikes have since regained much of the territory they lost to the jihadists.
Abadi had pledged that Mosul would be recaptured by year's end - a goal that is now out of reach, as operations in western Mosul have yet to begin.
The Iraqi prime minister also said this week that three months were needed to eliminate ISIS in the country.
High-ranking officials believe the battle against ISIS could drag on, and the Sunni Muslim extremist group continues to carry out attacks in areas from which it had been dislodged by the government offensive.
Last week, an ISIS triple car bombing on a market in Gogjali a few miles east of Mosul killed at least 23 people.
Margaret Thatcher (pictured) was warned she would be punished unless she completed her registration form on time
Margaret Thatcher was threatened with a fine for failing to register for the poll tax at 10 Downing Street, newly-declassified files reveal.
The Prime Minister was warned she would be punished unless she completed her registration form on time - triggering a row.
Although the issues were later smoothed out, it was an inauspicious start to the flagship policy that would later cost her the top job.
The file, which was released by the National Archives at Kew, south-west London, contains correspondence between the Cabinet Office and Westminster City Council.
In 1989, the council sent a registration letter to Downing Street residents - including Number 10 where Mrs Thatcher lived.
It required all residents to register individually for the charge, which was due to be introduced in England and Wales the following year.
The Cabinet Office complained, describing it as 'most inappropriate' for the council to send out a single form 'asking a number of essentially personal questions' about every resident.
Mrs Thatcher was then sent an individual form to complete but after she failed to respond, she was warned by council registration officer David J Hopkins.
He wrote a letter on May 22, 1989, addressed to the 'Resident/Owner' at 'Rooms First Floor, 10 Downing Street, London W1 9MN'.
'My records show that the Community Charge Registration form recently sent to you has not been returned,' he wrote.
'I wish to advise that you are required by law to supply the relevant information within 21 days of this request and failure to do so may lead to a penalty being imposed.'
Her officials hurried to complete the form on time - only to realise that the council had sent the wrong form and she had to fill it out again.
Despite the threat, Mrs Thatcher sent a cheerful note saying her first attempt had been a 'good practice run'.
But it was more difficult for her to shrug off the impending crisis surrounding her disastrous plan to introduce the 'poll tax' to the country.
The local government tax or community charge as it was officially known was brought in to replace the old system of rates, which were based on property values.
The new tax involved a flat-rate levy on all local residents, which Mrs Thatcher hoped would encourage high-spending Labour councils to become more financially accountable to voters.
But the charge meant higher bills in many traditional Tory areas - sparking a rebellion among her supporters and infuriating residents across the country.
Mrs Thatcher was threatened with a fine for failing to register for the poll tax (pictured, a woman with a placard ready for the anti-poll tax demonstration in London)
In a huge backlash, Conservative MPs threatened to rebel, local councillors resigned and there were protests in 'true blue' areas as Maidenhead in Berkshire - Theresa May's constituency.
The files reveal that the reaction confounded Mrs Thatcher, who had thought the public would blame councils instead of central government.
In March 1990 she told chancellor John Major: 'In recent weeks that has not happened. Rather the general public blamed the high levels of community charge on the government because of their responsibility for introducing the new system.'
She also noted that it was the 'conscientious middle' traditionally her strongest supporters who would be most affected by the new tax.
Those on low incomes were protected through 'safety net' measures were to be shielded from having to pay more initially.
But despite ordering a 'rapid review' of possible changes for the following year, she had already lost the support of her own MPs.
Secret plans to ban free nursery milk were blocked by Margaret Thatcher, still stung by being branded the 'Milk Snatcher' nearly two decades earlier.
The previously unknown recommendations made it to her desk in May 1989 before she demanded they be buried, National Archives files reveal.
As education secretary in Edward Heath's government, Mrs Thatcher's decision in 1970 to stop the provision of milk for junior school pupils led to her hated nickname.
She was therefore furious when health secretary Kenneth Clarke proposed to end free welfare milk for children in day care to save 4million.
Secret plans to ban free nursery milk were blocked by former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (pictured)
The files show Mrs Thatcher slapped him down and the plans were dropped, leaving Mr Clarke to retire 'hurt' following the exchange.
An official wrote to the PM: 'You will see from Kenneth Clarke's minute... that he has decided to end free welfare milk for children in day care from the end of this school term.'
In response she scrawled, 'NO,' underlining the word twice. 'This will cause a terrible row - all for 4million.
'I know - I went through it 19 years ago. Any scheme for saving 400million or more I will look at. But not 4m.'
She also struck through a paragraph asking if she wanted to know more.
A suggestion that Mr Clarke might not announce the plans until after the European election met with the brusque comment: 'Or at all.'
A letter was then sent on Mrs Thatcher's behalf to the Department of Health, opening with an underlined statement that said: 'I should be grateful if you and copy recipients could ensure this letter is given only a restricted circulation to named individuals.'
It continued: 'The Prime Minister is extremely concerned about the proposal to end free welfare milk for children in day care from the end of this school term, which she thinks would be liable to cause a very great row.
'She would therefore be grateful if your Secretary of State could reconsider the position.'
Mr Clarke responded: 'I have done so and now accept that it would not be prudent to proceed with abolition as and when proposed.'
An official noted: 'Prime Minister! Your words have been heeded. Content to note that Mr Clarke has retired hurt?!'
The original proposal from Mr Clarke stated: 'The present regulations provide that any child under five attending a day nursery or registered childminder can receive a third of a pint of milk a day.
Girls at the Henry Maynard Junior School in Walthamstow, London, drinking milk which Mrs Thatcher tried to ban when she was education secretary
'This applies irrespective of family need or income and is a hangover from the days when all children in state schools received such milk.'
It concluded: 'The scheme is an increasingly expensive anomaly and although it will be a sensitive issue with some Local Authorities and voluntary bodies and cause a ritual row with the Opposition I believe it is right to end it.'
The report into the money spent on school catering, where the proposal started, noted: 'The Government intention is that the rate of spending on meals and milk should be halved. There are undoubtedly substantial savings to be made.'
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The ultra-luxurious secret world of Russian spies living in the United States has been revealed, complete with million-dollar mansions, 'vodka parties' and sprawling estates.
The lifestyles were uncovered after President Barack Obama lifted the lid on two 'spy bases' and ordered operatives out of the country as part of sanctions announced for their alleged role in hacking during the election.
Obama outlined the punishments in a statement released on Thursday, for what he said were the country's attempts to 'interfere with democratic governance' and harassment of U.S. diplomatic officials in Russia.
The President all but named Putin in his statement - saying hacking was 'ordered at the highest level'.
In the hours since the announcement, further details on the extravagant Russian compounds have emerged, after White House officials said they are: 'recreational but also used for intelligence activities'.
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This Maryland property is a luxurious, 45-acre compound that is located in Pioneer Point, and it has been identified as one of the potential Russian 'spy bases' in the US
This map shows just how close the Russian-owned compound in Maryland is to Washington D.C. and the White House
The property is believed to have been used as a vacation spot for Russian diplomats looking to get away, though it has long been suspected to be a center of espionage
The Maryland property is a luxurious, 45-acre compound that is located in Pioneer Point, according to The Washington Post.
It is believed to have been used as a vacation spot for Russian diplomats looking to get away, though there have long been suspicions it was used for much more nefarious means as well.
The compound is just 30 minutes' drive from Washington D.C., and is believed to have been a center for espionage.
There have been suspicions about the property since it was bought by the Soviet government in 1972.
The sprawling property hosts a brick mansion that has now been converted into 12 apartments, as well as a dozen cottages, each with four apartments. In total, the compound can accommodate 40 families at a time.
Photographer Gary Landsman went inside the lavish home, snapping shots of exactly what it was like behind closed doors. The compound featured massive dining rooms, one with bright red walls, impeccably decorated lounge rooms and entertaining areas, as well as a carefully landscaped garden.
Former Russian ambassador Yuri Ushakov - who was in the position from 1999 to 2008 - and his family officially called the complex home for a time, according to Washington Life magazine. The 'dacha' as the magazine called it, also has a hunting lodge that was used to 'host special visitors'.
'No one really hunts but that's what we call it,' Ushakov told the magazine while laughing at the time of the interview.
The magazine said the compound was also home to: 'Anatoly Dobrynin, who was the Soviet ambassador during the Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter and Reagan administrations until he returned to Moscow in 1986.'
Photographer Gary Landsman took this picture of a bright red dining room inside the Russian-owned Maryland compound
The huge home also featured impeccably decorated lounge rooms and entertaining outdoor areas. Many of the rooms had gold-plated designs and items hanging from the walls
A dog is seen wandering through the landscaped garden outside the Maryland property. The interior of the huge home was the height of luxury for those who lived there, pictures show
Russian ambassador Yuri Ushakov, who was in his position for nine years from 1999 to 2008, is seen with a telephone from a Soviet submarine inside the Maryland mansion
Russian ambassador Yuri Ushakov (right) lived at the home for a time. He is pictured with his wife, Svetlana (left), and their 10-year-old grandson, Misha
How Russia spent YEARS tracking down and training its elite team of hackers A report released on Thursday detailed just how the Russian government was able to build its elite crew of cyber soldiers over three years. The Kremlin put the call out on Russia's most popular social media platform, Vkontakta, for coders, programmers, and other tech-smart young people to join newly-created 'science squadrons', the New York Times reports. 'If you graduated from college, if you are a technical specialist, if you are ready to use your knowledge, we give you an opportunity,' one of the advertisements read. Anyone who signed up was promised 'comfortable conditions' to live in, while also being given the chance to opt out of having to enlist in the military. The newspaper reports senior Russian officials were working on the plan as early as 2013. Sergei Shoigu, the Russian defense minister is quoted by the newspaper for saying he was on a 'head hunt in the positive meaning of the word'. Advertisement
It was also used for official Russian functions.
Washington Life claimed it was the location for many 'Victory Day' events - which are held to celebrate World War II.
The estate was once owned by John J. Raskob, a former executive at DuPont and General Motors.
Raskob is also the man who co-financed the construction of the Empire State Building.
When the Soviets purchased the home, there was resistance from neighbors who were fearful of 'nuclear submarines surfacing in the Chester River to pick up American secrets and defectors.'
But the Russians managed to win them over by throwing lavish dinner parties replete with 'gifts of vodka and caviar,' according to The New York Times.
When the Soviet Union collapsed in the early 1990s, the Russian Federation bought the property for a reported $3million.
'I live down the road from them. We fish and crab with them. There's usually one that speaks English for the group,' a local resident named Bonnie Delph told the Associated Press back in 1992.
The other compound that is reported to have been shut down by the State Department is Killenworth, the Glen Cove estate once owned by George Dupont Pratt on the North Shore of Long Island.
Pratt, the third son of Standard Oil magnate Charles Pratt, lived in the 49-room mansion until his death in 1935.
The Soviet government bought the home in the 1950s.
Killenworth was used as a vacation retreat by Soviet diplomats and personnel who were stationed at the United Nations in New York.
The other compound that is reported to have been shut down by the State Department is Killenworth, the Glen Cove estate (pictured) once owned by George Dupont Pratt on the North Shore of Long Island
Pratt, the third son of Standard Oil magnate Charles Pratt, lived in the 49-room mansion (pictured in 1951) until his death in 1935. The Soviet government bought the home in the 1950s
Local council officials have said for decades they were offended that Russian diplomats were able to be based at the property (pictured) while they spied on the US
Killenworth was also used as a vacation retreat by Soviet diplomats and personnel who were stationed at the United Nations in New York
Russian activity at Killenworth has been controversial since it has long been rumored to house Soviet spies
In 1982, the local council clashed with the State Department after it banned Russian diplomats staying at the estate (pictured) from the beach as retaliation for what they said was Moscow's spying on Long Island defense industries
Local officials objected to the Soviets enjoying tax exempt status on the home, which deprived Glen Cove of revenue that it usually generated from property taxes
These data theft and disclosure activities could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government. Obama accuses Putin of being behind hacking during the election
Russian activity at Killenworth has been controversial since it has long been rumored to house Soviet spies.
In 1982, the local council clashed with the State Department after it banned Russian diplomats from the beach as retaliation for what they said was Moscow's spying on Long Island defense industries, according to The New York Times.
Local officials objected to the Soviets enjoying tax exempt status on the home, which deprived Glen Cove of revenue that it usually generated from property taxes.
Some who were shocked to learn they were living near alleged spy bases angrily took to social media after the news spread on Thursday
The Glen Cove City Council angrily told the Reagan administration that it was 'still offended that the Soviets are here spying and not paying taxes, and a little offended by the callousness, condescension and almost browbeating coming from Washington.'
Some have reacted angrily to the news that the American government allowed the spy bases to remain operational, without informing locals.
'Even scarier, I live down the road from the compound,' Maryland resident Billy Ross wrote.
'I've been living on Eastern Shore of Maryland for just over two years now,' Chris Sabas, who did not know about the alleged base, wrote.
'This is like 20 minutes from my house,' Julia Girasole said of the Maryland compound.
President Obama's strongly-worded statement about sanctions against Russia is his most sweeping action against the Kremlin during his eight years in office
So-called 'Joke Theft' has become a hot topic in recent days, after funny-man James Corden (pictured top left) was accused of stealing a Ricky Gervais (pictured bottom left) joke 'word-for-word' on his Late Late Show. Speaking on the US comedy show, Corden, 44, joked about Twitter users getting angry about a poster in a town square about guitar lessons. But the clip was tweeted by Gervais, 61, who used the gag in his 2018 Netflix stand-up comedy gig Ricky Gervais: Humanity. Corden faced a backlash over the joke, with some claiming he had taken the joke 'word-for-word'. It sparked an apology from Corden who apologised and said his use of the joke was 'inadvertent', with some suggesting that one of his team might have 'f****d him over'. But then followed another claim, that Corden had previously ripped off a joke from Great British Bake-Off host Noel Fielding in 2017. The row has since sparked a wider debate in the world of comedy about 'Joke Theft', which some have suggested is part and parcel of the industry itself. But the issue has been around long before Corden and Gervais - who himself has been accused of stealing jokes - with even comedy legends such as the late Robin Williams alleged to have paid off upcoming performers for parts of their routines. Here MailOnline looks at some of the most high-profile accusations in recent years, including ones involving Jimmy Carr (pictured top centre), Jim Davidson (pictured bottom centre) and Amy Schumer (pictured top right), who was accused of taking a joke of the Twitter account of writer Nicole Conlan (pictured bottom right).
Conor famously dated Taylor Swift when she was 22 and he was 18 and in high school in 2012, shortly after his mother Mary
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said he is 'happy' his oldest son was arrested after getting into a fight outside a nightclub and tussling with a police officer, because he was taking a stand against bullying.
John Conor Kennedy was booked by police in the early morning hours of Thursday on a charge of disorderly conduct after brawling with a man outside an exclusive club in the tony resort town of Aspen, Colorado.
The incident started around 1.40am when authorities were called to Bootsy Bellows to escort people out of the venue following last call, and Officer Andy Atkinson witnessed Conor grab another man and 'hit him four or five times in the back of the head with his fists' outside the club.
Conor then tried to break free when Atkinson attempted to restrain him, and another individual had to aid the officer as he pinned down the 22-year-old so he could be put in handcuffs.
Police on the scene later listened as Conor explained that he was attacking the other man because he called his friend a homophobic slur, an explanation that drew praise from his father.
'Conor has always reacted against bullying. Im happy he stood up for his friend,' Robert Jr. said in a statement to The Aspen Times just hours after the incident.
Conor, who is currently in his third year as a history and literature major at Harvard University, is the the grandson of Ethel and Robert F. Kennedy and the oldest son of Robert Jr. and his second wife, the late Mary Richardson.
Richardson committed suicide in 2012 by hanging herself in a barn at the family's home, two years after Robert Jr. filed for divorce.
That was the same year that Conor made headlines of his own when he began dating Taylor Swift, a romance that bloomed in spite of the fact that the 22-year-old pop star was four years Conor's senior and he was still in high school at Deerfield Academy.
The pair split soon after he returned to the prestigious Massachusetts boarding school at the start of his senior year.
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John Conor Kennedy, 22, (arrest mugshot left) was charged with disorderly conduct in Aspen on Thursday. Police say he 'punched a man five times in the head' and then tussled with Aspen police officer Andy Atkinson (right)
Earlier in the week Conor's half-sister Kick posted a photo of her dad with five of his kids, writing 'big happy family' (l to r: Kick, Aiden, William, Conor, Robert Jr. and Robert III)
Kick also posted a photo of the family at Christmas, which also included her cousin Edward Kennedy III (second left)
Model Bella Hadid was among the A-list names at Bootsy Bellows on Wednesday night when the brawl broke out. Paris Hilton was also at the club earlier this week with her cousins Sophia Umansky and Farrah Aldjufrie.
After Atkinson watched Conor hit the other man during the brawl early Thursday, he ran over to try and separate the two with the help of other officers.
At that point, the two men were rolling on the ground outside the club.
Conor continued to try and fight the other man however according to the police report, and when Atkinson tried to restrain him the 22-year-old threw his body on a snow bank and then stood up and pulled away from the officer.
Atkinson was eventually able to get Conor down on the ground and handcuff him with the help of another individual outside the club.
'I held on to Kennedy's arms and rolled him over with assistance from a bystander on to his stomach,' Atkinson wrote in his official report of the incident.
Conor apologized to Atkinson after he was cuffed, and at that point claimed that the fight began because the other man 'called my friend the f-word.'
Neither of the men were injured in the fight.
He was charged with disorderly conduct, taken to Pitkin County Jail, released without bond and issued with a summons to appear in Aspen Municipal Court on February 22.
If found guilty of disorderly conduct Conor could be facing a penalty of up to a year in jail and up to $2,650 fine.
The incident started around 1.40am when authorities were called to celebrity hot-spot Bootsy Bellows nightclub (file above) to escort people out who would not leave, Aspen police Sgt. Rick Magnuson said
Police say the 22-year-old and another man were fighting in the street and rolling around on the ground outside of club (file above) when Atkinson tried to separate them
Atkinson said: 'I held on to Kennedy's (above in 2014) arms and rolled him over with assistance from a bystander on to his stomach'
A family spokesperson said of the incident: 'Multiple witnesses to the incident have reported that two men assaulted Conor Kennedy after he rebuked them for directing a homophobic slur and threats to his close friend.
'They also report that Mr. Kennedy was cooperative, compliant and respectful towards the police from the moment they arrived on the scene.
'Mr. Kennedy looks forward to a full airing of the incident.'
Conor's father also voiced his high praise for the Aspen officers after the incident, noting their quick response when his brother Michael was killed in 1997 after crashing into a tree while playing football on skis at one of the resort town's slopes.
'The Aspen Police have been extraordinary to my family,' said Robert Jr.
'When my brother was killed, they were on the scene and treated us with incredible kindness my family will never forget.'
Michael was just 39 at the time.
He passed away just a few months after it was revealed that he had been having a three-year affair with his family's former babysitter, which began when she was just 14.
Michael claimed he had not had sex with the babysitter until she was 16 however, and the young girl refused to cooperate with authorities so charges were never filed in the case.
Soon after the news broke of his affair Michael's wife Victoria, who is the daughter of the late Frank Gifford, separated from him while he checked into rehab.
Photos on social media show that model Bella Hadid (second left) was at Bootsy Bellows in Aspen the same evening as Kennedy
Paris Hilton was at the same club earlier this week with her cousins Sophia Umansky and Farrah Aldjufrie (pictured together above at Bootsy Bellows in Aspen)
Kennedy is the oldest son of Robert Kennedy Jr. and his second wife Mary Richardson. He is pictured with his mother above in 2009. She died in an apparent suicide in in 2012
This is not the first time Kennedy has been arrested. Back in 2013 police in Washington, D.C. arrested him outside of the White House during a protest.
In addition, the Kennedy scion dated singer Taylor Swift when she was aged 22 and he was 18 and still in high school in 2012.
Their relationship began soon after the death of Conor's mother in May of that year.
The former couple first met o ver Fourth of July weekend when his aunt Rory, a documentary filmmaker, invited Swift to the family compound.
The two were frequently photographed together the rest of the summer as they spent time on the Cape and near his home in Mount Kisco, New York.
Swift even bought a house near the Kennedy family compound weeks after meeting Conor, plunking down a reported $4.8million for an oceanfront residence boasting seven bedrooms and stunning views.
The relationship between the pair fizzled out by the end of the summer when Conor returned to school and Swift began promoting her new album at the time, Red.
Swift sold the Hyannis Port home she bought in early 2013, making a tidy profit of $1million, and soon after shelled out a little less than $18million for her massive 11,000 square foot home in Watch Hill.
This is not the first time Kennedy, who formerly dated Taylor Swift in 2012, has been arrested. In 2013 police in Washington, D.C. arrested him outside of the White House during a protest. The former couple is pictured above in 2012
While they dated, Swift was often spotted at his family's compound throughout the summer of 2012 in Hyannis Port, Massachusetts (above)
Swift even bought a house near the Kennedy family compound weeks after meeting Conor, but sold the home in early 2013 after their relationship ended. They are pictured above in 2012
He had also just lost his mother Mary less than two months before he began dating Swift.
At the time of her death Richardson and Robert Jr. were two years into their contentious divorce.
Richardson was arrested for drunk driving three days after Robert Jr. filed divorce papers in 2010, and at one point lost custody of her four children.
There were rumors at the time that Robert Jr. had been having an affair with his now-wife Cheryl Hines, and in the weeks before Richardson's suicide the two had begun to make their relationship public by walking red carpet together at events.
Richardson's lawyers also stated in court papers filed after her death that Robert Jr. had cut off her credit cards and refused to pay her legal bills despite a court order, leaving her broke.
She was found in the barn by a housekeeper and her cause of death was determined to be 'asphyxiation by hanging.'
Conor was appointed the executor of his mother's estate as the oldest child.
Toan Truong was gunned down by an intruder in front of his pregnant wife and young child inside his Melbourne home in 2015
A breakthrough linking an unsolved murder case to an organised drug syndicate has been made by police 20 months after the shooting.
Toan Truong, 43, was gunned down by an intruder in front of his pregnant wife and young child inside his Sunshine West home in Melbourne around 5am on February 3, 2015.
Detectives believe the shooter was targeting a hydroponic cannabis crop in the house, as they investigate new CCTV footage of a car speeding from the scene.
Toan Truong gave chase into a rear bedroom where the intruder fired his gun at Truong, fatally wounding him in front of his young family before fleeing the bloody scene.
They believe the murderer is an associate of a syndicate that executed aggravated burglaries at properties with hydroponic cannabis crops in Melbournes suburbs.
CCTV footage obtained by police showed a dark-coloured sedan speeding away from the scene shortly after the shooting
Police have also re-issued a computer generated image of a man they wish to speak to about the incident
Five men have been arrested in relation to aggravated burglaries in Caroline Springs and Deer Park.
CCTV footage obtained by police showed a dark-coloured sedan speeding away from the area shortly after the shooting.
Investigations have identified two vehicles of interest - a dark coloured BMW two-door coupe and a Ford Falcon sedan - seen in the area about 45 minutes before the murder.
They have issued photographs of the cars, as well as a computer generated image of a man they wish to speak to about the incident, in a fresh appeal for information.
A Ford Falcon sedan is one of two vehicles of interest seen travelling in convoy in the area about 45 minutes before the murder
Sara Kelly Keenan was born with male DNA but female genitals. She has now won the right to have her birth certificate marked 'intersex' - a first for the USA
The first-known intersex birth certificate has been issued in New York City - a step towards nationwide recognition of the 'third gender'.
Sara Kelly Keenan, 55, has male genes, female genitals and mixed internal reproductive organs, now has a birth certificate that reads 'intersex' instead of 'male' or 'female'.
'Not all intersex people will choose to identify legally as intersex,' Keenan told NBC, 'and not all parents will choose to have their intersex child identified as intersex on birth documents. But for those who do, the option must exist.'
Keenan, who prefers the pronouns 'she and her', was initially believed to be a boy when she was born in 1961, but issued a female birth certificate three weeks later.
She then grew into a life that she describes as filled with 'lies and deception'.
Doctors initially recommended that her genitals be re-sculpted to resemble male organs, in line with her DNA, but her father refused.
Instead she was raised as a woman, and aged 16 she was put on a course of female hormones. She only learned about the doctors' suggestion of surgery four years ago.
But after learning that she was intersex, Keenan sought to have that represented on her birth documents - something that isn't easy at all.
For decades, victories by transgender activists have made it easy in most states to change from male to female - or vice versa - on a birth certificate and other official documents.
Intersex people, however, have it harder in this respect, since they lie outside the two commonly recognized boundaries.
That's why Keenan's birth certificate is such a triumph - and a surprise.
'I wondered if they'd actually issue it and wasn't going to believe it until I saw it,' she said. 'It is both shocking and empowering.'
The certificate may also be one of the first steps in getting the federal government to recognize intersex people in passports and other official documents - part of a movement spearheaded by Keenan and two other prominent intersex people.
Earlier this year Dana Zzyym (pronounced 'Zim') - an intersex person living in Colorado who was born Brian Whitney - sued the State Department, demanding a change in policy that would allow for an intersex-gendered passport.
In November, a federal judge in the case asked the State Department to reconsider.
This year a federal judge told the State Dept to consider giving Dana Zzyym (left) an intersex passport - the State Dept had previously said it would not
But government lawyers said it would make it difficult for officials to verify identities of applicants, because they rely on drivers' licenses and birth certificates, both of which usually have only male and female options.
In September Keenan successfully petitioned the driving agency in California - where she is a resident - to change gender status to 'non-binary'.
She was the first person in that state to get that ruling, and the second person in the US after Oregonian Jamie Shupe.
Keenan is now talking to the California Department of Motor Vehicles about ways to modify their systems in a way that would allow her to update her ID - something she says they are amenable to.
Keenan also had her DMV in California register her gender as 'non-binary' and is trying to have her ID changed in order to reflect that. This would give her two forms of intersex-confirming ID
In a Facebook comment directed at both Zzyym and Lambda Legal attorney Paul Castillo, Keenan suggested that once that step is taken, she will be able to fight the State Department.
She wrote: 'As soon as the DMVs in Calif. and Oregon create an accurate marker on licenses (which is in the works), Jamie and I will have the two pieces of ID the State Dept said it would honor if you had them, right Paul [Castillo]?
'Then we will back them into a corner with the words they spoke in court attempting to deny you [Zzyym]......unless they do the right thing first for you. That is what I hope for.'
The New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (DOHMH) says Keenan's birth certificate is the first step in overhauling the city's rules regarding gender.
'The Health Department has interpreted our gender marker rule to mean that a person may amend their birth certificate to have "intersex" reflected on their birth certificate with appropriate documentary evidence from a US-licensed doctor,' said DOHMH assistant press secretary Julien A Martinez said.
'The Department will continue to work with community partners as we adopt changes to more accurately reflect a person's sex.'
On New Year's Day Australians will welcome 2017 to find they can look forward to increased fees, charges, changed regulations and reduced benefits introduced by the government.
One of the most notable changes will be a crackdown on welfare where the government's $6 billion omnibus savings bill will kick in, the Sydney Morning Herald reports.
In one of the biggest changes, from January 1, unless they are complying with a repayment plan, people who have received welfare overpayments will start paying interest of eight per cent on their debts.
the government's $6 billion omnibus savings bill ensure that people who owe money to Centrelink can be ordered not to leave the country until they pay (stock image)
The savings bill, which was passed in September, will also ensure that people who owe money to Centrelink can be ordered not to leave the country until they pay.
Arrangements will be in place to stop parents who avoid child support payments from exiting the country too. However those receiving Youth Allowance will get between $2.40 and $5.70 extra a fortnight.
Changes will take place as to whether people are eligible to receive the age pension, the disability support pension and the carers pension.
Introduction of a new test will mean reduced payments for more than 230,000 pensioners and payments stopping for about 90,000 more.
Reduced funding for adult dental services across the board will take place (stock image)
Passports will increase by $20 (stock image)
From the start of the year the cost of a new passport will increase by $20 for adults and $10 for children and seniors, while priority processing of passport applications will increase by $54.
Dental care for three million children who currently come under Family Tax Benefit Part A will have their entitlement to free dental services reduced from $1000 to $700 over two years. While reduced funding for adult dental services across the board will take place.
On a more positive note Opal fares will remain frozen until July, although the cost of some other trips will increase.
Motorists have not escaped the government charges either with toll prices increasing in Sydney between 1 and 8 for cars using the Hills M2 Motorway, M5 South-West Motorway, Westlink M7, Eastern Distributor, Cross City Tunnel and Lane Cove Tunnel.
Opal fares will remain frozen until July, although the cost of some other trips will increase (stock image)
Brisbane mother Sally Faulkner has shared a heartbreaking snap of her daughter online, claiming she spends hours each day scouring the internet to find pictures of her children in Lebanon.
Ms Faulkner said the photo 'was enough to break me into a million pieces' when she posted it to her Facebook page on Tuesday.
In the photo, which shows a group of young schoolchildren smiling at the camera, Ms Faulkner's daughter Lahela is seen standing away from the group and staring expressionless into the distance.
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'What is she thinking in this moment? She looks so lost,' Ms Faulkner said alongside the photo of her daughter Lehela (back right)
Lahela, 6, and Ms Faulkner's son Noah, 4, remain in Lebanon with their 32-year-old father Ali Elamine, who took the children to his home country under the guise of a three-week holiday and never returned.
Since Mr Elamine flew with the kids to Lebanon in May 2015, he has refused to return them to Australia or allow their mother to see them.
Ms Faulkner's Facebook post is just the most recent cry for help in a very public appeal to bring her children back home.
Sally Faulkner pictured with her daughter Lahela - who now lives in Lebanon with her father
'This was enough to break me into a million pieces today. Ali, look at our little girl's face,' Sally Faulkner wrote on Facebook
'What is she thinking in this moment? She looks so lost,' Ms Faulkner said alongside the photo.
'I miss you Lahela. I hope you were looking out the window dreaming of the moment you and your brother come home and are truly happy again.
'I just want to cuddle you and never let go. Don't be sad baby. Please don't be sad.'
Sally Faulkner wrote the words 'I love you' above her daughter's head, in the photo she shared to Facebook
Sally Faulkner (left) with her two children Lahela (centre) and Noah (right) before they were taken to Lebanon with their father and never returned
Ms Faulkner goes on to say that the fight was not over and she would eventually bring her children home to Australia.
'One day I'll make this right and you will know that your mummy never gave you up,' she said.
Ms Faulkner also pleaded with her estranged husband to look at the photo and consider the children's feelings.
'Ali, look at our little girl's face. Isn't this enough for you,' she said.
'Sickening. How's your power trip going, Ali? Still convincing yourself you've done the right thing?' Ms Faulkner posted alongside this before and after photo of her daughter, Lahela,
'Another comparison shot. You can't tell me you've done the right thing Ali,' Sally Faulkner wrote on Instagram
Ms Faulkner also posted two side-by-side snaps of her two children appearing much more sad in photos taken since their move to Lebanon.
'Another comparison shot. You can't tell me you've done the right thing Ali,' she said.
The emotional posts garnered a huge amount of attention online from people offering their support to the suffering mother.
'This is absolutely heart breaking don't ever give up hope. Your children know you love them,' one woman said.
'I hope sense prevails soon, Sally, and Lahela and Noah are home with you,' another woman said.
'My heart breaks for you Sally. I cannot imagine what you go through on a daily basis without your babies. I will not stop praying that you are reunited with them soon and that they are both ok. Stay strong.'
Ali Elamine lives with his two children Noah (left) and Lahela (right) in Beirut, Lebanon
Ms Faulkner reportedly has not been in contact with Noah (left) or Lahela (right) since she left Beirut on April 21
Ms Faulkner's public appeal to bring her children back hit headlines in April after a botched operation with the Nine Network's 60 Minutes crew.
The crew attempted to snatch the children from their grandmother in a Beirut street but it was unsuccessful and landed crew members and Ms Faulkner in jail.
Ms Faulkner was forced to relinquish all custodial rights to the children in return for unlimited visits and holidays.
The conditions granted her release from jail on bail in Lebanon.
But since her release from jail and subsequent return to Australia, Ms Faulkner has reportedly not been allowed any contact with her children.
The parents of a five-year-old girl who was killed in a car crash are suing Apple over claims that FaceTime was to blame.
Garrett Wilhelm, 22, had been using FaceTime when he smashed into the back of James and Bethany Modisette's car going 65mph in 2014, killing their daughter Moriah who was sitting in the back seat.
Wilhelm - whose FaceTime app was still active when officers arrived on the scene - faces a manslaughter charge for the crash.
But the Modisettes claim that Apple's product was also a 'substantial factor in causing the plaintiffs' injuries and decedent's death.'
Moriah Modisette (pictured) was killed in a deadly car crash in 2014 after a driver, who was using Facetime, smashed into her family's car
James and Bethany Modisette are suing Apple claiming its FaceTime app was responsible
The couple is now suing Apple for undisclosed damages in a wrongful death lawsuit.
Filed in California last week, the lawsuit stated that Apple was liable for the fatal crash because its 'failure to install and implement' a patented design to be able to 'lock out' the app while users were driving.
The patent would have used GPS tracking to determine the speed a user was travelling to prevent the app from working. However, it is not clear how that technology would work for passengers, or people travelling on buses or other public transport.
'Despite both the technology since 2008 and a patent on that technology so it could exploit its patent without competition for 20 years,' declares the court filing, 'defendant Apple has consistently and continuously failed to implement a safer, alternative design that would lock-out and prevent use of FaceTime while driving.'
Little Moriah died from her injuries shortly after the crash on Christmas Eve in 2014
The suit claims that the conduct of the driver was 'inextricably intertwined' with Apple's failure to implement the lock-out feature.
The Modisettes claim in their filing that by failing to implement the technology, Apple has 'breached a duty of care to plaintiffs.'
They also claim that the cost of implementing the design would be 'minimal' for Apple and holds 'no conceivable disadvantage' for the tech giant, although provides no evidence in the lawsuit.
Garret Wilhelm, (pictured) of Gainesville, who was on his way to visit his parents in Keller, had slammed into the back of the family's Toyota Camry at speed
DailyMail.com has reached out to Apple for comment.
The grieving parents filed the lawsuit after the tragic loss of their daughter in the Christmas Eve crash in 2014.
James Modisette had been driving with his family on the Interstate 35W when he slowed down as he approached traffic.
Wilhelm, of Gainesville, who was on his way to visit his parents in Keller, had slammed into the back of the family's Toyota Camry at speed.
Wilhelm's Toyota 4Runner rolled 'up and over the driver's side of the Modisette car,' the lawsuit states, critically injuring James and five -year-old Moriah, seated behind him.
James, his wife Bethany, and their eight-year-old daughter Isabella were taken by ambulance to Denton Regional Medical Center, along with Wilhelm, for treatment.
Meanwhile Moriah was airlifted to Cook Children's Medical Center in Fort Worth. She later died of her injuries, reports the Denton Record-Chronicle.
Almost 60 cases of food poisoning are being linked to a farm selling trendy raw milk, it emerged yesterday.
Those affected range in age from a one-year-old to 86.
A judge yesterday banned Low Sizergh Farm, near Kendal, Cumbria, from selling any more of the unpasteurised milk to customers following the potentially deadly outbreak.
Ban: A judge banned Low Sizergh Barn Farm, in Cumbria, from selling unpasteurised milk
It came as a court heard that the owner of the farm, Richard Park, knew there were quite high levels of bacteria in his unpasteurised milk three months ago but continued to sell it to customers.
Though it was not divulged exactly which bacteria had been found, the recent poisoning cases involve the campylobacter bacteria, which is estimated to cause 100 deaths a year in the UK.
The hearing at Furness Magistrates Court in Cumbria was told that Mr Park should have informed the Food Standards Agency (FSA) or Public Health England (PHE) that bacteria had been found in samples of untreated milk in September, but failed to do so.
With their slogan From Moo To You, Low Sizergh Farm had copied the US trend for fresh-from-the-udder milk sold from special dispensers at its Lake District shop.
Over the past six months, it has won various tourism awards, including the National Trusts Fine Farm Produce Award
But last week, officers from the FSA officers imposed an emergency prohibition notice and the farm suspended sales after six cases of campylobacter bacteria food poisoning were reported and linked to its untreated milk.
Negligent: A court heard the farms owner, Richard Park, knew there were quite high levels of bacteria in the trendy milk (sold in this photo) three months ago but continued to sell it
A joint investigation by the FSA, PHE and South Lakeland District Council was launched and it has since emerged that a further 50 possible cases are now being looked at, five of which are in under-18s. It is not known if any of those afflicted needed hospital treatment.
Symptoms include abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea and vomiting. Although not usually serious in adults it can prove fatal to vulnerable patients such as young children or the elderly.
A private water supply on the farm is being examined as the possible source of the bacteria, the court heard.
Judge Gerald Chalk yesterday granted the FSA application for the notice to be made into a permanent order, effectively banning the farm from selling raw milk until it identifies and rectifies the source of the outbreak. The business is still permitted to sell milk on to other businesses for pasteurisation.
Brian Rigg, a dairy hygiene inspector for the FSA, said: I visited the farm and spoke to Mr Park. He has submitted samples to an independent laboratory at his own expense to detect bacteria levels.
They came back as six samples having failed. They were done in September and they were quite high levels.
Fiona Inston, public protection manager at South Lakeland District Council, said officials were still not sure of the scale of the outbreak.
Mr Park did not attend the hearing, although Mr Rigg confirmed the farmer was aware of the application for the order and did not intend to contest it.
After the hearing, Chris McGarvey, a lawyer for the FSA, said: Our first priority is to ensure public safety and we have acted in tandem with the other regulatory bodies to make sure that the public is safe.
Todd Fisher shared a heartbreaking tribute to his late mother and sister on Thursday, a simple drawing of the pair dressed as their most prolific on-screen selves.
Carrie is depicted as Princess Leia while Debbie Reynolds is dressed as Kathy Selden from Singin' In The Rain.
A lyric from the iconic musical accompanied the image which Todd shared with Twitter fans.
'What a glorious feeling I'm happy again,' it read.
Debbie Reynolds died on Wednesday a day after her famous daughter, telling family that she wanted to be with the 60-year-old before suffering a suspected stroke at Todd's house.
Todd Fisher shared this artist's sketch of his late mother and sister in their most famous roles - Princess Leia and Kathy Selden from Singin' In The Rain - on Thursday as he grieved their deaths
Todd accompanied the post with a message to tell fans how he missed the pair 'so much'
Carrie is depicted as Princess Leia (left) in the drawing, while Debbie Reynolds is dressed as Kathy Selden from Singin' In The Rain (right)
On Thursday, as he shared the drawing online, Todd described their bond as 'everlasting'.
'This is a beautiful love story to witness in my 58 years. I miss them both so much. Love is everlasting,' he said.
The sketch is by artist Ricky LaChance, a comic book and Star Wars fan.
Reynolds 'gently' in hospital in Los Angeles on Wednesday night hours after a suspected stroke at her son's home.
Minutes earlier, she had told him how she wanted to 'be with Carrie' who died the previous day from complications arising from a heart attack.
'She's with Carrie now and we're all heartbroken,' said Todd Fisher as he confirmed the sad news his 84-year-old mother had died.
Reynolds died on Thursday a day after her famous daughter. The Hollywood icon is believed to have suffered a stroke at her son's home while they made funeral arrangements for his sister. The trio is pictured above together with Carrie's daughter Billie Lourd
Todd revealed hopes for a joint funeral for the pair on Thursday as fans reeled from their deaths. The family is photographed above in 1998
The family is now looking in to a joint funeral for the pair.
'It's what we want to do, but we're still working on the mechanics. We like the idea, if it's at all possible. I think it's appropriate,' he told New York Daily News.
Carrie Fisher suffered a heart attack on board a flight from London to LAX on Christmas Eve. She was taken to hospital but never regained consciousness.
The 60-year-old, who is best known for her role as Princess Leia in Star Wars, was in the midst of a book tour to promote her memoirs.
Her autopsy was put on hold on Thursday after her mother's sudden death.
Her mother, who shot to fame in the 1952 classic Singing' In The Rain, had an outstanding film career of her own and is universally considered a Hollywood icon.
Oscar Bermejo-Zaragoza, 19, was arrested in connection with the drive-by shooting of a boy in Kearns, Utah
Utah police have arrested a 19-year-old man in connection with the drive-by shooting of a nine-year-old boy, which left the youth in critical condition.
A tweet Thursday from the Unified Police official Twitter account announced the arrest of Oscar Bermejo-Zaragoza.
Four people were detained for questioning, said Detective Ken Hansen with the Unified Police Department, according to Fox 13.
Salt Lake County jail records show Bermejo-Zaragoza was being held Thursday afternoon on suspicion of aggravated assault and discharging a firearm toward a vehicle.
Police say on Wednesday, the nine-year-old boy was sitting with several other children in the backseat of a parked SUV in the town of Kearns, about 15 miles from Salt Lake City, near where he lived, when one shot was fired from a passing black BMW sedan occupied by two men.
Police confer after the tragic drive-by shooting of a nine-year-old boy in Kearns, Utah
Authorities scour the scene on Stockton and Westslope in Kearns
The bullet went through the SUV's windshield and hit the boy in the head.
Fox 13 reported that the other suspect in the car was still being sought.
The boy underwent emergency surgery Wednesday night and remained in critical condition Thursday, police said. Unified Police Detective Ken Hansen said Thursday that doctors may not know until the weekend whether the boy will recover.
No other children were injured.
Police point towards evidence in the snow after the drive-by shooting of a boy shot in the head
Police believe the shooting was gang-related and the someone else was the target
Hansen said police believe the shooting was gang-related and someone else was the target.
'Based on the address, based on the type of crime that it was - you know, being a drive by shooting - it has all the ear markings of being gang related,' he said.
The car that the two men were seen in was later found in Salt Lake City.
Court records show Bermejo-Zaragoza faces aggravated burglary, robbery and assault charges from a September home invasion in Ogden.
Bermejo-Zaragoza has not yet entered a plea in that case. He was not in custody for that case because he had posted a $50,000 bond.
Bermejo-Zaragoza was scheduled to appear at a hearing regarding the September charges Thursday morning, but it wasn't clear if he made the appearance before his arrest Thursday.
For more than three centuries, the freedom of the Press has been a cherished feature of British civil life. It is an essential liberty that promotes open debate, strengthens the democratic process, and ensures that the rich and powerful can be held to account.
A rumbustious, inquisitive Press is a sign of a healthy society. In contrast, one of the first actions of any new totalitarian despot is to grasp control of the media.
Sadly, Press freedom in Britain has been under grave assault in recent years. As a result of the fallout from the phone hacking scandal, there has been a relentless drive to impose a heavy-handed regime of State regulation on our print media.
The judicial inquiry into the conduct of the Press, set up in 2011 and chaired by Sir Brian Leveson, was a key part of that push for greater official oversight.
But now, as we approach the New Year, the pressure for greater restrictions appears to be reaching a new level of intensity.
As a result of the fallout from the phone hacking scandal, there has been a relentless drive to impose a heavy-handed regime of State regulation on our print media. The judicial inquiry into the conduct of the Press, chaired by Sir Brian Leveson, was a key part of that push for greater official oversight. Now, the pressure for greater restrictions appears to be reaching a new level of intensity
As a result of the legacy of that inquiry, the Government has to decide shortly on whether or not to implement a plan whereby newspapers will face financial sanctions if they refuse to sign up with an officially approved regulator.
So what is wrong with that? Well, take a look at the organisation that will carry out the regulatory role.
It is none other than a self-appointed lobby group called Impress filled with anti-Press campaigners and almost entirely bankrolled to the tune of 3.8 million by the multi-millionaire Max Mosley, a man with a clear vendetta against popular newspapers. You couldnt make this up.
Now it might be expected that I would be in favour of some curtailment of Press freedom, given that my family was one of the high-profile victims of the hacking scandal when elements of the Press decided to investigate my personal life. It was a harrowing time, which culminated in my providing evidence for the prosecution in one of the criminal hacking trials.
But my own experience, however painful it was, does not prevent me from recognising the real dangers of taking a regulatory and financial sledgehammer to the British Press, which is already under severe strain because of ferocious competition from social media on the internet.
Y es, we must respect the rights of those who have been unfairly treated by the Press. There have to be mechanisms to provide them with redress.
For their part, Impress and its anti-Press ally Hacked Off, a hardline advocate of tough State regulation, like to pose the question: Whose side are you on: the victims or the Press?
So far no newspaper of any substance has agreed to join Max Mosleys Impress and is it any wonder, given his hostile attitude to the Press?
But it should not be a simplistic, binary choice. We can support victims of Press intrusion without seeking to crush basic liberties that stretch back to the end of the 17th century, not least at this moment when it is the print media and properly moderated and edited information which is under the cosh. No redress exists for what is put out by unregulated bloggers on the internet.
At the heart of the new threat to Press freedom is Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013. This measure, which has yet to be implemented, is a form of coercion that aims, by using the threat of crippling financial penalties, to force newspapers into accepting what has been described as State direction.
Under Section 40, a news publication which fails to join the newly established official regulator will have to bear the entire costs of both sides in any libel action brought against it, no matter what the outcome.
So a newspaper could conduct an investigation into corruption by an individual, receive a libel suit, win the case, and still end up having to fork out for the failed litigant.
Meanwhile, the wrongdoer has not had to risk a penny. Effectively, the newspaper would have been fined for telling the truth. This is wrong on so many levels. If Section 40 is put into operation, the courts could be filled with frivolous and vexatious libel actions, while proper investigative journalism will be seriously undermined, since a newspaper would struggle to afford the consequences of a claim.
The effect on local newspapers, with fewer resources than the nationals, would be especially damaging even though they were never in the firing line during the Leveson Inquiry.
We should not take a step that entrenches privilege, protects the rich and conceals corruption as the implementation of Section 40 surely would
Ah, say the campaigners, that could all be avoided by just signing up to Impress, which in October was recognised as the official Press watchdog by the Press Regulation Panel, a taxpayer-funded quango created to give State approval to would-be regulators. Yet so far no newspaper of any substance has agreed to join Mosleys Impress and is it any wonder, given his hostile attitude to the Press?
Setting out to get the tabloids might be very satisfying for those who proclaim they never read them. But in reality it is you, the public, who are being treated with contempt.
To get this in perspective, it is worth taking a deep breath and pausing to reflect on a hypothetical country that is seen by our parliamentarians to be less than democratic. If a proposition like Section 40 were to be put forward by what the liberal Left consider such an undesirable regime, would they not condemn such a proposal as illiberal?
But Section 40 is not the only problem. Despite the length and cost of the first Leveson inquiry, there are now calls for Leveson Two to examine yet again the past misconduct of the Press.
These demands have been given greater impetus by the conclusion of the last of the hacking trials, which removes legal restrictions on what another Leveson inquiry can study.
Part one of Leveson cost 5.4 million. Many think it was worth that sum. But a further burst of retrospection which tells us what we already know would not just be a waste of money but also a concentration on the past rather than the future.
The fact is that learning lessons from the past is not the same thing as living in it.
The decision on whether to implement Section 40 and start Leveson Two rests with the Culture Secretary Karen Bradley. At present, she is in the middle of a consultation exercise about both steps that ends in early January, when she will have to take a decision.
Many of my colleagues in the Labour Party will be urging her to go ahead on both fronts, partly because of their understandable outrage at the way some elements of the Press have behaved in the past.
But I would ask those on the Left to think twice before agreeing to any draconian action. We are meant to believe in fighting injustice and inequality. We should not take a step that entrenches privilege, protects the rich and conceals corruption as the implementation of Section 40 surely would.
Nor should we lash out at what remains of the professional print industry.
We should recognise that there is a gross imbalance in the thrust of Section 40 and the Leveson proposals, in that they are focused entirely on the print media. They have nothing to say about the broadcast or social media, which can be increasingly guilty of peddling falsehoods and smears.
On several occasions, I have had inaccurate stories about me aired by the BBC, but, in contrast to the papers, I have never once received an apology, only a correction.
In post-Brexit Britain, we have more important issues to tackle than the historic failings of some tabloid newspapers. It is time we moved on.
Similarly, the eagerness to implement Section 40 shows no recognition that the current system of self-regulation, much tightened since the hacking scandal, is actually working quite well.
Under the auspices of the so-far impartial Independent Press Standards Organisation (IPSO), which has the power to impose heavy fines and demand front-page corrections, the British Press is much more responsible than it was a decade ago. The same can hardly be said of the internet, where propaganda and lies roam freely.
There is, of course, room for argument about the future. But Section 40 is a step too far, and one that could bring an end to three centuries of treasured Press freedom.
You've read David Blunkett's view - now it's up to you: Act NOW if you want to help defend the right to read a website like MailOnline
Imagine someone throws a brick through your window. The case goes to court and the brick-thrower is convicted. But you are told you must pay for your window - and his brick.
An unbelievable injustice? Yes - but that's just what Britain's newspapers and news websites face.
In the New Year, the Culture Secretary must decide whether or not to implement a piece of legislation so pernicious, so illiberal, it is hard to believe Parliament ever passed it. But it did.
Most of our greatest injustices are exposed not by MPs or the police, but by the Press. The MPs' expenses scandal; the Rotherham sex grooming cover-up; the monumental failures over the murder of Stephen Lawrence just a few of the investigations that would never have been possible if Section 40 was in force
Under Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act, rushed into law after the Leveson Inquiry, any relevant newspapers or news websites - from MailOnline to The Guardian, Huffington Post and Buzzfeed - which refuse to join a regulator approved under the Government's Royal Charter for the Press, and are sued for libel, will be forced to pay the other side's legal costs even if they win.
EVEN IF YOU WIN, YOU LOSE: If this law is implemented, it won't matter if an article is true, lawfully published, serves the public interest, and the complaint is thrown out by the court any relevant newspapers or news websites not signed up to an approved regulator will face paying all the costs, every single penny.
FREE TICKET FOR CROOKS, BANKRUPTCY FOR NEWSPAPERS: Costs in High Court legal actions routinely run into hundreds of thousands of pounds sometimes millions. This legislation gives anyone who wants to silence journalists a free ticket. News organisations that fight will face being bankrupted.
If this law is implemented it won't matter if an article is true, lawfully published, serves the public interest, and the complaint is thrown out by the court - any relevant newspapers or news website not signed up to an approved regulator will face paying all the costs
WHO WILL EXPOSE INJUSTICE? Most of our greatest injustices are exposed not by MPs or the police, but by the Press. The MPs' expenses scandal; the Rotherham sex grooming cover-up; the monumental failures over the murder of Stephen Lawrence just a few of the investigations that would never have been possible if Section 40 was in force.
WHY NOT JOIN THE STATE-APPROVED REGULATOR? Called Impress, it claims to be independent, but is bankrolled by former F1 boss Max Mosley, on a mission to 'reform' the Press ever since a newspaper revealed his sado-masochistic orgy with five prostitutes. It has just a handful of micro-publisher members, some barely more than online blogs. No mainstream news organisation has joined.
SO WHO REGULATES THE DAILY MAIL AND MAILONLINE? MailOnline and 2,600 other news websites, newspapers, and magazines do not believe the Press can be truly free under rules imposed by politicians. We belong to a regulator which is entirely independent of the Government. Chaired by former Appeal Court Judge Sir Alan Moses, the Independent Press Standards Organisation regularly orders front page corrections and if necessary can impose fines of up to 1 million.
... AND THEN THERE'S LEVESON TWO: The original Leveson Inquiry and associated criminal trials have already cost the taxpayer nearly 50 million. Despite a raft of reforms to the Press, police and politics, the Culture Secretary is under pressure to go over it all again with Leveson Part Two.
WHAT CAN BE DONE? Very sensibly, the Culture Secretary has launched a consultation. The zealots of Hacked Off, and their allies in Parliament, are lobbying hard for Section 40 to become law and Leveson Two to get under way.
But this time you get your say, too. If you want to defend the right to read a news website like MailOnline, a website which holds the rich and powerful to account, which fights injustice, and which refuses to kow-tow to rules set by politicians and a regulator in the pocket of Max Mosley, you can tell the Government this unjust legislation must be repealed and no money wasted on another Leveson Inquiry.
Thousands of families face eye-watering council tax rises of up to 16 per cent as town halls plot super-sized hikes.
In an unprecedented move to tackle the spiralling social care crisis, councils are preparing to hold referendums on whether they can ignore a 5 per cent cap on annual increases.
Chancellor Philip Hammond's own local authority, Surrey County Council, is considering a 16 per cent rise. If voters approve the increase, which would add 200 to average annual bills, officials believe a string of other councils will try to follow suit.
Thousands of families face eye-watering council tax rises of up to 16 per cent as town halls plot super-sized hikes amid a social care crisis
Lancashire County Council is also thought to be considering a vote.
The startling revelations will fuel calls for the Government to ditch its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid. Backbench MPs say it is a scandal that 12billion a year is spent on overseas development while the UK's elderly care is in crisis.
A fortnight ago, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid announced he would raise the ceiling on council tax increases, leaving households facing huge bills to help fund social care. Under the new rules, councils can increase charges for next year by 5 per cent with 3 per cent ring-fenced for adult social care rather than the 4 per cent that had been planned.
But now councils have warned they will propose increases well above this, meaning they have to hold a referendum.
Chancellor Philip Hammond's own local authority, Surrey County Council, is considering a 16 per cent rise
Surrey County Council is understood to be considering a vote on a 16 per cent rise, which would push up the charge on an average band-D property by 203 to 1,471 next year.
Its Tory leader David Hodge has said the local authority 'simply cannot cope' as it faces a budget shortfall of 45million. Mr Hodge is understood to have been summoned to see Mr Javid over the referendum, which may cost up to 1million to hold.
Mel Few, the councillor responsible for Surrey's social care, said last night the local authority's finances were 'on a cliff edge'. He said that unless the Government came up with tens of millions of pounds of extra funding within the next fortnight, 'we are faced with an unbalanced budget and I assume at this stage the thoughts will drift towards a referendum'.
Mr Few said it was too early to speculate on the figure of the proposed rise, but added: 'We are talking big numbers.'
He said: 'There is not one county council responsible for social care that is not looking down a black hole. I think once the rest of the councils that are in desperate need see there is a way out, I would not be surprised [if they follow with their own referendums].'
The Local Government Association has said the social care funding gap will reach 2.6billion by the end of this Parliament. It warned measures announced by Mr Javid, including the rise in the ceiling for demand increases, 'fall well short' of what is needed. Councils are facing spiralling costs in providing social care because of the ageing population and the rise in salaries for care workers as a result of the increase in the minimum wage.
A fortnight ago, Communities Secretary Sajid Javid announced he would raise the ceiling on council tax increases, leaving households facing huge bills to help fund social care
Before Mr Javid announced the cap on increases would rise to 5 per cent, 95 per cent of local councils had said they planned jumps of 4 per cent next year, the maximum that would have been allowed without a referendum.
Only one such referendum has taken place. In February 2015, Bedfordshire's Police and Crime Commissioner, Olly Martins, proposed a 15.8 per cent rise in the police precept, which would have resulted in an extra 24.80 on an average band D property. An overwhelming 207,551 residents (69.5 per cent) opposed the hike in a referendum estimated to have cost 600,000.
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME: WHY NOT USE FOREIGN AID CASH? Ministers have refused to divert millions from Britain's bloated aid budget to help ease the social care crisis. Pressure is mounting on the Government to ditch its commitment to spend 0.7 per cent of national income on foreign aid. Some Tory MPs have asked Theresa May to use some of the 12billion budget to tackle the spending shortage for elderly care in this country. Just 0.37 per cent of the foreign aid budget would cover the 45million shortfall that Surrey County Council is understood to be facing. The shortfall is almost the same as the 44.6million given to China last year, despite a promise five years ago to stop sending aid to the world's second largest economy. Last week the Mail revealed the amount of aid being sent to the world's most corrupt countries had surged by almost 30 per cent. Advertisement
Former Lib Dem health minister Norman Lamb said last night: 'It's frankly embarrassing that Philip Hammond's own local council is having to take drastic action to plug the hole he has left in social care funding. It should not be down to local councils to pick up the pieces after this Government's catastrophic neglect of social care.'
Mel Merritt, of the Care and Support Alliance of charities, said lifting the council tax rise cap by 1 per cent was 'a drop in the ocean'. She added: 'Things are so desperate in social care that councils are looking at lots of hard options. Because the Government is not making the difficult decisions, councils are having to.'
Martin Tett, the Tory leader of Buckinghamshire County Council who sits on the LGA executive, said he expected most authorities would not seek referendums because of the fear of rejection by voters.
A Department for Communities and Local Government spokesman said last night: 'Our long-term funding settlement means local authorities will have nearly 200billion to spend over the course of this Parliament. We've also just announced an extra 900million for social care, meaning they will have a total of 7.6billion to spend over four years.'
Lancashire County Council did not respond to a request for comment.
The Mayor of Liverpool had also planned to hold a referendum in May on a 10 per cent hike, but yesterday scrapped the plan.
Health bosses are planning to slash an extra 5billion from social care funds over the next four years, doctors' leaders warn.
He is 9ft tall, weighs over 100 stone and can tear a man apart in minutes.
But Jim Kowalczik has no fear as he larks about with the Kodiak bear he calls his son.
The former prison officer and his wife, Susan, have cared for Jimbo for almost 23 years, since he first came to the couples upstate New York haven for injured or unwanted animals as a bottle-feeding cub.
After nurturing him for so many years, the bear cheerfully slobbers over him and they enjoy a playful bear hug.
He is 9ft tall, weighs over 100 stone and can tear a man apart in minutes. But Jim Kowalczik has no fear as he larks about with the Kodiak bear he calls his son
The former prison officer, 57, and his wife, Susan, have cared for Jimbo for almost 23 years, since he first came to the couples upstate New York haven for injured or unwanted animals as a bottle-feeding cub
After nurturing him for so many years, the bear cheerfully slobbers over Jim and they enjoy a playful bear hug
Hell play with you all day if you have the time, Mr Kowalczik says.
Theyre content, theyre happy. If they werent, you would know it.
Jimmy is my best friend. It doesnt get any better than that. He loves you just for you, said Mr Kowalczik, 57.
Hes very gentle but sometimes he doesnt know his own strength - like if youre trying to walk away, he will grab your clothes or shorts and pull you back to him.
Think of the strongest person you know and magnify it by a thousand times. He has so much strength. All hed have to do is lay on you.
Jimbo is one of 11 bears living at the couples non-profit Orphaned Wildlife Center 60 miles northwest of New York City.
One of them, a black bear named Frankie, was born in the wild and found his way there in 2012 after being hit by a car.
The rest of the bears here were born in captivity, eight of them Syrian brown bears or mixes that came from a breeding programme.
Jimbo is one of 11 bears living at the couples non-profit Orphaned Wildlife Center 60 miles northwest of New York City
The Kowalcziks has been rehabilitating squirrels, ducks, deer, mink and other animals together since the early 1990s. But they are best known for their bears, with one Facebook video of Mr Kowalczik playing with Jimbo receiving more than 16 million views
Jimbo came from a West Coast game farm with an injured leg.
Kodiak brown bears are a subspecies which in the wild live exclusively on the islands in the Kodiak Archipelago off the coast of Alaska.
They are the largest bears in the world but only one person has been killed by a bear on Kodiak in the past 75 years, according to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game.
Kodiak bears are omnivores, but spend more time eating grass, plants and berries than meat. Jimmy munches through 30lb of food a day - plus the occasional marshmallow as a treat.
The Kowalcziks has been rehabilitating squirrels, ducks, deer, mink and other animals together since the early 1990s.
But they are best known for their bears, with one Facebook video of Mr Kowalczik playing with Jimbo receiving more than 16 million views.
Mr Kowalczik said: The bears are like our children. Thats how much we love them and they give a lot back to you too. They love you just as much.
Susan Kowalczik (above), also 57, said: Its a wonderful thing to watch them grow up and to have them from very little and make an impression on them
Our bear family is like every other family. You love them to death but then there are other times when they drive you nuts.
They will knock you around a little bit - but not maliciously. You just have to watch that you dont get scratched or poked in the eye or something.
Most Kodiak bear cubs stay with their mothers for three years. The oldest known wild Kodiak bear was a 34-year-old female. The oldest male was 27.
Mrs Kowalczik, also 57, said: Its a wonderful thing to watch them grow up and to have them from very little and make an impression on them.
Theres no false pretences like there are with people and stuff. What you see is what you get.'
A senior aide to Margaret Thatcher claimed that cannabis use was so prevalent among the Afro-Caribbean community the drug was even given to babies, a newly released memo reveals.
Carolyn Sinclair, of the Government's policy unit, said cannabis was regarded 'as part of life' and 'the fact [it] is illegal is widely regarded as unjust'.
Ms Sinclair made the shocking comments in a memo in July 1989. At the time the Government feared Britain could soon be gripped by a so-called 'crack epidemic' similar to the one sweeping the US.
A senior aide to Margaret Thatcher, pictured, claimed that cannabis use was so prevalent among the Afro-Caribbean community the drug was even given to babies
The memo was released today by the National Archives in Kew, west London.
Ms Sinclair was writing in response to a proposal by then home secretary Douglas Hurd, who suggested launching a 'two-pronged' drug campaign and recruiting community figures to assist efforts among the Afro-Caribbean population.
At the time there was an apparent surge in the use of crack cocaine across American cities, particularly in African-American communities, and the Government was eager to prevent a similar problem in Britain.
However ministers were wary of introducing a campaign specifically targeting the Afro-Caribbean community as they feared it could spark resentment, The Times reported.
Ms Sinclair wrote: 'Afro-Caribbeans rarely take "hard" drugs such as heroin, but regard cannabis as part of life. It is given to babies.
Ms Sinclair was writing in response to a proposal by then home secretary Douglas Hurd, pictured
'The fact that cannabis is illegal is widely regarded as unjust. Most Afro-Caribbeans do not think that they, as a group, have a drug problem.
'But there are good reasons to fearing that "crack" will get a hold on Afro-Caribbeans in a way that other hard drugs have not.'
She added: 'The police and other statutory authorities all say that it is hard to get messages across to Afro-Caribbeans.
'Douglas Hurd's proposed use of informal channels may be the only way. It should be tried.'
Other files released today reveal how Mrs Thatcher considered plans to sabotage global cocaine production by spraying the source plant with biological killers.
Lord Rothschild suggested using 'aerial sprays' that would target the plants, saying they could be used 'with or without the connivance of the Government concerned'.
Mrs Thatcher wrote 'very interesting' in a scrawl on the internal memo and vowed to consider the proposal in her response to Lord Rothschild in August.
Billie Lourd (seen on Wednesday moments before her grandmother's fatal stroke) is Carrie Fisher's only child and the heir to the famous family's dynasty
Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher begged the latter's daughter Billie Lourd, the sole heir to their legacy, not to enter the world of showbiz.
The 24-year-old star is a bonafide star and thriving actress with her own character in Fox's hit series Scream Queens.
She counts pop stars and Hollywood household names as friends and is believed to be dating Twilight heartthrob Taylor Lautner.
Despite her family's recent pride for her professional success, Reynolds and Fisher both tried to warn her off following in their footsteps.
In a Vanity Fair interview long before the legendary mother and daughter's consecutive deaths this week, 24-year-old Lourd told how her entire family tried to put her off showbiz.
'The one thing theyd all say my whole life was: "The last thing you want to be is an actress." They wanted me to be a doctor, a C.E.O., a trashman.
'Basically anything but an actress.'
In a bid to deter her gifted granddaughter from a life spent on-camera, Reynolds once tried to use her experience on the set of Singin' In The Rain as a war story.
The 84-year-old, who died from a stroke on Wednesday, invited Lourd to her home in Beverly Hills to present her with the diaries she had kept while filming the 1952 classic.
In an appearance on The Late Show with Seth Meyer, Lourd playfully recalled reading them aloud.
'Dear Debbie, youre sitting in the makeup chair, you have no eyebrows, youre a shell of yourself, and its 5 am. How did you get here?" read one entry.
'She gets very upset when I get called Carrie Fisher's daughter. She wants me to be called Debbie Reynolds' granddaughter,' Lourd went on.
The 24-year-old (above with her grandmother and mother in 2015) previously revealed how they tried to persuade her against acting
'It's very offensive to her. She started it so it's like, it's all her fault.'
Despite her initial protests, Reynolds became a 'huge fan' of the show. 'She is a huge fan. She is a huge fan of anything that involves a lot of fur.
'She misses that in film and TV so the fact that we're all clad in fur ear muffs and fur jackets, it's her dream show,' the 24-year-old explained.
Lourd's furry ear muffs on the show as an homage to her mother who, in her iconic role as Princess Leia, wore hair buns over her ears.
'They are a little bit of a Princess Leia homage. It's kind of a family tradition.
'I saw them in the fitting and was immediately gravitated towards them because I had to be,' she said.
It is not clear why both Reynolds and Fisher were so against Lourd pursuing a Hollywood career but both encountered brutal publicity and humiliation throughout theirs.
For Reynolds, the charm of being an MGM darling and one half of America's sweethearts wore off when her husband, Eddie Fisher, left her for her best friend Elizabeth Taylor.
Lourd (left) appears alongside Emma Roberts and Abigail Breslin in the Fox series Scream Queens
Lourd (above with fellow actresses Keke Palmer and Lea Michele) is a bonafide star in her own right
The scandal was salacious and humiliating for Reynolds who had adored the singer. Her second and third marriages both failed too and she was taken advantage of by her husbands financially.
Fisher fought against her parents' legacy and the tall shadow it cast over her as a teenager. She descended into drug addiction, a disease she battled for much of her life, and her own romantic tribulations.
After an intense affair with Harrison Ford on the set of Star Wars, Fisher married singer Paul Simon.
She later became involved with super agent Bryan Lourd, her daughter's father who abandoned her for the man he is now married to.
Lourd (pictured above as a child with her mother) confirmed her death on Tuesday
Lourd is Fisher's only child and stands to inherit her entire estate.
As such, Lourd stands to inherit all of her mother's fortune. While no details have of Fisher's estate have been released, her brother insisted there would be no quarreling over it.
'We want her to have whatever she wants. Carrie wanted that. There is a trust set up but we're pretty well off. This is all Carrie,' he said before the shattering news his mother had too died.
Though starring in Star Wars, one of the most lucrative film franchises in history, Fisher is worth less than co-stars like Harrison Ford.
Some attribute her comparatively meager earnings to her signing away her likeness rights when she agreed to appear in the movie.
Fisher lived in a Beverly Hills home near her mother, had a one-woman show and was in the middle of a book tour for her second book. She was rumored to have recently bought a property in London, where she hoped to relocate, before her death.
Her net worth is thought to be around $25million.
Reynolds is worth substantially more. Having starred in more Hollywood films than her daughter and with a raft of other business ventures under her belt, she is reported by The Richest to be worth around $60million.
Her estate is likely to be divided between her two children, with Lourd now standing to inherit her mother's share.
The 24-year-old's peers say she carries on her famous mother and grandmother's acting talent. She is Fisher's only child
Lourd and her uncle Todd Fisher are the only heirs to the dynasty left by her mother and grandmother. Todd Fisher does not have any biological children
Friends of the Lourd's quickly sent her their well wishes on social media as the sad new spread
Todd Fisher has no biological children despite his three marriages. He is close to his stepdaughter Vanessa Rivers who refers to Fisher and Reynolds as her aunt and grandmother despite having no blood connection to the famous family.
As news of her Lourd's grandmother's death gripped film fans around the world, her friends and co-stars rushed to send her their sympathies.
Patricia Arquette shared her concern for the young star.
'I can't believe that Debbie Reynolds passed away. Billie Lourd is so young to have to carry so much grief at once. Bless you child,' she wrote.
They all, however, commended the actress for carrying on her mother and grandmother's acting talents and strength.
'All love to Billie Lourd who carries this beauty & brilliance on in her every move,' said friend Lena Dunham.
Lourd's stepfather Bruce Bozzi said: 'The strength of these women live so vibrantly in you.'
Taylor Lautner, Lourd's rumored boyfriend, gave his own glowing tribute.
'This girl is one of the strongest, most fearless individuals I've ever met. Absolutely beautiful inside and out. I'm lucky to know you,' he said.
Lourd has not been seen since her grandmother's death on Wednesday. Moments before the 84-year-old is believed to have suffered a stroke, Lourd and Lautner were pictured leaving her Santa Monica home.
A man who lost a grueling, five-year lawsuit against San Diego police after being arrested for nudity during a gay pride festival has died in an apparent suicide, two weeks after the verdict.
Police found 35-year-old Will X Walters dead at his Hillcrest apartment Wednesday but it's unclear how long he'd been dead, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported. The medical examiner is examining the case.
Walters was arrested in 2011 during a gay pride event at Balboa Park for wearing a leather gladiator outfit that didn't fully cover his buttocks. He sued the police for anti-gay discrimination but a federal jury had recently ruled against him.
His attorney, Chris Morris, said he hadn't heard from his client since the December 13 verdict, which had left Walters in shock. He had left the courtroom immediately, after which his friends had also tried in vain to get in touch with him.
Will X Walters (left), 35, was found dead Wednesday in his San Diego apartment in an apparent suicide. He had just lost a lawsuit against San Diego police, who arrested him for nudity after he wore a gladiator costume (right) at a gay pride event in 2011
Walters' custom-made outfit cost $1,000. He took special care to make sure it obeyed the rules of the festival and it passed muster when Walters was admitted to the event, the suit reads.
Walters racked up roughly $1 million in legal costs, according to his legal team. He had said his fight against San Diego had landed him in debt, and that having an arrest on his record made it difficult to find a job.
'When people say you can't fight city hall, it's true, because all they're going to do is delay, delay, delay,' Walters told The Fight in September 2016, at a time when he was still waiting for his court date.
'They're going to run you out of money, or they're going to ruin your reputation. Both are very true. There have been some horrible things said about me. It's been difficult for me to get a job, because I now have an arrest on my record and there is no contingency in my lawsuit. Everything has been out of pocket. I'm in debt.'
Walters became an activist after launching his lawsuit, dedicating the last five years of his life to his causes. He worked as a public speaker, marched with a youth group in Ferguson at Michael Brown's funeral, and created Free Will USA, an advocacy organization to help others know and defend their rights.
'Will Walters was a valiant warrior for his cause, and he will be missed by those who knew him and the community he fought for,' Morris told the San Diego Union-Tribune on Thursday.
Walters made headlines after his 2011 arrest, which came as he was wearing a gladiator outfit with a custom-made gladiator kilt at the San Diego Pride Parade And Festival.
Police asked him to cover up, which Walters refused to do. Officers took him to jail after he declined to sign a citation for the misdemeanor.
An officer allegedly referred to Walters as a 'drama queen', but the cop denied this, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Walters later sued San Diego police saying they had violated his civil rights and had discriminated against him due to his sexual orientation.
'Will Walters is a Hispanic, gay man who owns the dubious distinction of being the only person in the history of the City of San Diego to be arrested and booked on a charge of public nudity,' his complaint stated according to Courthouse News.
'Under any definition, he was not nude, as his buttocks and genitalia were fully covered. Nonetheless, he was ushered out of the event, humiliated, arrested, and incarcerated.'
The law, according to Walters, allowed 'thongs, g-strings, and other skimpy bathing suits to be worn by participants and attendees at straight special events, but not by attendees and participants at the one gay special event, Pride'.
His custom-made outfit cost $1,000. He took special care to make sure it obeyed the rules of the festival and it passed muster when Walters was admitted to the event, the suit reads.
Underneath, he wore a pair of black Calvin Klein thong underwear.
Walters (pictured) had racked up roughly $1 million in legal costs, according to his legal team. He had created his own advocacy group to help others know and defend their rights
He had worn the outfit at a previous San Diego Pride Parade, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune.
Police say the outfit consisted of 12" by 12" skirt flaps that revealed more buttocks when Walters moved.
SAN DIEGO NUDITY ORDINANCE Certain body parts, including genitals and buttocks, must be concealed by an opaque covering, according to The San Diego Union-Tribune. A 1' strip rule had allowed g-strings at San Diego Pride Parade And Festival in previous years. However, the rules changed in 2011 and the definition of nudity became more restrictive. Advertisement
But, Walters said, an officer told him his costume was 'borderline' and several officers eventually arrested him, prompting his lengthy legal battle.
Walters had thanked his supporters in a heartfelt message on The Pride LA's Facebook page just days before the verdict. Being 'in the trenches' in court was very hard, Walters wrote, adding that his fight was 'not only about the 14th amendment, it's about defending the entire Constitution'.
'The reason I continue this fight is so that we all can continue giving our opinions and we can enjoy the luxury of equal enforcement as well as freedom of speech,' Walters added.
'We need to remember that EVERY freedom in the Bill Of Rights are rights that so many people around the world do not enjoy.
'I continue this fight not because of myself, but for everyone and I want to thank everyone for allowing me to represent them in this struggle.
'Regardless win or lose, it's been a really long journey and myself, my friends and my legal team have fought as hard as we could, but it's all to support my fellow Americans and again I want to thank everyone.
'You all are so amazing and God Bless America!'
Suicide, not combat, is the leading cause of death of soldiers deployed to the Middle East to fight ISIS.
Of the 31 troops who have died since December 27, 2014 when the campaign began, 11 were suicides, reports USA Today. Eight died in combat.
The other deaths were a result of accidents, illness or injury and, one case is being investigated.
Combat fatalities as a result of direct contact with ISIS have been limited, according to the outlet, thanks to airstrikes and drones that have killed 50,000 ISIS fighters.
Suicide outstrips US troop combat casualties in the war on ISIS
There were eight US troop combat deaths since December 2014 in Operation Inherent Freedom compared to 11 suicides
In fact, the largest loss of life in the military operation thus far was when three Special Forces soldiers were shot by a guard as they tried to enter an air base.
Operation Inherent Resolve includes casualties that occurred in Bahrain, Cyprus, Egypt, Iraq, Israel, Jordan, Kuwait, Lebanon, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Turkey, United Arab Emirates, the Mediterranean Sea east of 25 Longitude, the Persian Gulf, and the Red Sea, according to the Department of Defense.
The numbers do not include other operations in the Middle East, such as Operation Iraqi Freedom or Operation Enduring Freedom, both of which saw far higher combat fatalities that also outstripped suicides by a significant margin, according to the Department of Defense.
As for why suicide would be more common than combat fatalities in the war on ISIS, one expert says it can't be easily explained.
Suicides by troops fighting ISIS outnumber combat casualties because of airstrikes and drones
'I dont think theres one single cause for it,' Rajeev Ramchand, a senior behavioral scientist at the Rand Corp. who has studied military suicide told the outlet. 'There are a multitude of factors.'
Ramchand says factors could include mental illnesses that enlistees had before enrollment, post-traumatic stress, and multiple combat deployments as the military has been at war for 16 years.
'I don't think there's one single cause for it' said an expert on suicide in the military
However, there is an upward trend toward suicide in the US in general, and that could be reflected in the military population, said Ramchand.
'Maybe theres a universal stress on everyone in the military that affects them in profound ways,' he said.
Between 2011 and 2010, the rate of suicide in the military doubled, said Ramchand, with a spike around 2005 when Iraq and Afghanistan casualties soared and the Army was doing most of the fighting.
The Army has the highest percentage of suicides, with 28 percent of the 269 suicides of active duty troops in 2014 being soldiers.
As a whole, the rate of suicides of military in 2014 is about equal to the general population, 20 per 100,000 troops in 2014.
A cancer expert has spoken out about his about his battle to save his son from a deadly brain tumor.
Sam Gambhir, MD, PhD, the chair of Stanford University's Department of Radiology, spent much of his career studying the most aggressive form of glial tumor, a glioblastoma multiforme. Only five per cent of patients are alive five years after their diagnosis.
So he knew exactly what it meant when his 14-year-old son was diagnosed with the condition in 2013.
But that did not stop him from giving everything he could to try and fight his son Milan's illness.
'I knew the chances of beating it were so small, especially because by the time Milan's GBM was caught it was already quite spread,' he told the Stamford Medicine journal.
Sam Gambhir, MD, PhD, (pictured with his wife Aruna) spent much of his career studying the most aggressive form of glial tumor, a glioblastoma multiforme. So he knew exactly what it meant when his 14-year-old son was diagnosed with the condition in 2013
'It is more frustrating and anxiety-provoking when you know what the outcomes of patients with GBM are. And yet, you try.'
Sadly, despite all efforts, Milan died in 2015 aged just 16.
But now the groundbreaking research that his father led during his desperate search for treatment is being used in the global fight against cancer.
They include a wearable device Gambhir worked on to detect cancer recurrence - which was granted a patent after Milan's death.
The family's ordeal began back in October 2012 when Milan, Gambhir and his wife's only child, was boating with friends in Lake Tahoe.
The teen was riding on a raft, attached behind a speedboat, when he lost his grip on the handle and hit the water, hard.
When he managed to climb back into the boat, his friends said he was disorientated and confused. He was taken to hospital with a suspected mild concussion, where he underwent a CT scan.
But the results were clear; he'd suffered no bleeding or damage. His brain was healthy.
Yet within nine months, perhaps triggered by the injury or even the tiny radiation from the scan itself, Milan developed an aggressive brain tumor.
Milan Gambhir was just 14-year-old when he was diagnosed with the deadly brain tumor
Just a few days before his 15th birthday, in July 2013, he suffered a medical episode. He began 'speaking gibberish' and spilled his glass of milk.
Fearing he may be suffering a stroke, his parents rushes him to hospital where he underwent an MRI scan.
The scan revealed something much more serious. Milan had an two and a half inch tumor growing in his brain. Even worse, it was a glioblastoma multiforme, the very same aggressive tumor his father had been investigating in his lab.
Since the day of Milan's diagnosis, Gambhir had been 'madly searching, literally working around the clock trying to find something that could slow down this tumor,' he says.
'Sam was emotionally overwhelmed for a while,' said Parag Mallick, PhD, assistant professor of radiology at Stanford. 'He was still effective and reaching out across the globe to get answers, but you definitely felt this sense of helplessness and desperation something you never feel from Sam.'
He reached out to all his Stamford colleagues, sometimes through tears, and beyond for help.
Milan underwent surgery just days after his diagnosis, and again after the tumor returned in November 2014.
Friends wrote touching messages to the teen on a guitar, bought for him as a gift, before his death in 2015
During surgery, tumor cells were gathered to begin the process of profiling its DNA for precision medicine, allowing doctors to target treatment using the tumor cells' molecular markers.
They have also been cultured so they can be grown and distributed worldwide to aid with cancer research meaning that even in death, Milan is helping the fight against cancer.
Michelle Monje, MD, PhD, an assistant professor of neurology at Stanford, said: 'These types of cell cultures are rare. Few labs successfully make these cultures, and even fewer distribute them widely for use. Yet they're very important for understanding the fundamental biology of these tumors and developing more effective therapies.'
WHAT IS A GLIOBLASTOMA MULTIFORME? Glioblastomas (GBM) are tumors that arise from astrocytes - the star-shaped cells that make up the 'glue-like,' or supportive tissue of the brain. These tumors are usually highly malignant cancerous because the cells reproduce quickly and they are supported by a large network of blood vessels. Glioblastoma multiforme is the most aggressive of the gliomas. Gliomas are divided into four grades; unfortunately, the most aggressive of these, grade 4 or glioblastoma multiforme, is also the most common in humans. Fast growing tumours are much more likely to come back after treatment than slow growing tumours. Many people live for less than a year. Source: American Brain Tumour Association and Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences Read Advertisement
Milan, and his mother Aruna, who has been diagnosed with cancer twice, were also diagnoses with Li-Fraumeni - a genetic adaption which makes people more likely to develop cancer.
The diagnosis means that Milan may have developed the initial tumor from that CT scan radiation as he was much more vulnerable to its effects.
'In a normal person, a CT scan wouldn't be a big deal. But in someone with this mutation, it likely increases their chances of cancer. We will never know for sure,' his father said.
The diagnosis spurred Gambhir to make advances in early detection of a variety of cancers, which do not require X-Ray or CT scans that could be harmful for people with Li-Fraumeni.
They include newer imaging techniques such as photoacoustics, where light is sent into the body, and reacts with the tumor to cause a sound which can be detected, and a similar technique using radio-frequency waves.
Stanford doctors performed the world's first prostate cancer imaging with photoacoustics in 2015.
In February 2015, Milan flew to Florida for a six week 'clinical trial of one' as he underwent an experimental stem cell transplant.
Gambhir also began research into the ashwaganda plant, known for its healing properties in India for hundreds of years.
After a year and a half of study, research found that a molecule in ashwaganda, known as Withaferin A, was an active ingredient with significant anti-brain-tumor effects.
But the research came too late for Milan who died just a few weeks after the discovery. While the family are still grieving for the tragic loss of their son, Gambhir and his lab are continuing to make strikes in cancer research and detection.
The lab is even preparing to test devices that could test for cancer as patients go about their daily lives, such as a 'smart bra' to continuously images breast tissue and a 'smart toilet' that looks for biomarkers of cancer in stool and urine.
The NHS will be powerless to carry out vital safety checks on European doctors if Theresa May opts for a 'soft Brexit', the medical regulator has warned.
The General Medical Council told MPs that if Britain stays in the EU single market, it will be unable to test properly the competence and skills of doctors from the Continent.
Brussels bans the safety checks saying they violate freedom of movement rules.
The GMC has said that if Britain opts for a soft Brexit by staying in the UK then it will be unable to test the competence and skills of doctors from the UK
The GMC said if the Prime Minister accedes to Remainers' demands to stay in the single market, it will still have to abide by the ban. It added that if the UK leaves the single market, the NHS will be free to 'enhance patient safety' with 'rigorous assessments of [doctors'] knowledge and clinical skills'.
Brexit supporters will use the GMC's argument to bolster their case that British patients can be kept safe only with a complete break from the EU.
GMC head Niall Dickson said some European doctors may struggle when they practise in the UK and that could put patients at risk
The regulator revealed it has drawn up tests for EU doctors which could be used if Britain does leave the single market.
'This will help to raise standards and provide greater assurance to the public about the competence of every doctor we register regardless of where they are from,' the GMC said in a submission to MPs. Anti-Brexit MPs are campaigning against what they call a hard Brexit, under which the UK would leave all aspects of the EU, including the single market and the customs union.
But the Leave side say this is the only way to keep control of our borders and immigration levels. Niall Dickson, head of the GMC, said: 'Some European doctors because we haven't checked their competency may struggle when they practise here and that could put patients at risk.'
In a submission to the Commons health committee, the GMC said it had no position on what Britain's relations with the EU should be.
U-TURN CITY BOSS: LONDON WILL STAY WORLD FINANCE HUB Change of heart: Mark Boleat A senior City figure who warned of London's decline if the UK left the EU now says he expects the country to stay the centre of the financial world. Mark Boleat, policy chairman of the City of London Corporation, yesterday painted an upbeat picture of Britain and its capital following Brexit. He said: 'I have no doubt, whatever happens in 2017, the City of London will remain the world's leading financial centre we cannot be complacent and must continue investing in infrastructure and education while working to secure the best possible business links with the EU and the world.' Last year the 67-year-old who has run the Building Societies Association, the Council of Mortgage Lenders and the Association of British Insurers warned: 'Brexit would lead to considerable uncertainty, with a threat [of] the City of London being smaller than it otherwise would have been.' Tory MP John Redwood said: 'It is a clear sign many people who had fears before the vote have looked at it again and realised many of the things they thought would go wrong have not.' Advertisement
But it pointed out that only by leaving the single market would it be able to test properly the language skills of EU doctors. Medics from elsewhere, including the US and Australia, must pass a three-hour written exam and half-day practical test if they want to work in the UK.
Theresa May is set to trigger Article 50 by the end of March
But freedom of movement rules mean the GMC cannot force EU citizens to undergo the same assessments. This is a 'significant weakness', the submission states.The regulator said: 'Leaving the EU could have a significant impact on the regulation, movement and education of doctors Our long-standing position is that we would like to be able to check that doctors coming to practise here from Europe meet the same standards as those who qualify in the UK and outside Europe.'
The submission added: 'We have always argued the GMC should have the right to test the competence of European doctors We believe the current European law which restricts us from doing so has created a weakness in the system.'
The GMC said that if the UK left the single market, it wants the Government to consider the 'opportunity to enhance patient safety and make the necessary amendments to our legal powers'. Work has begun on a testing scheme that could be introduced if the Government acts to repeal the relevant legislation.
'We are working on proposals for a Medical Licensing Assessment that could provide a cost-effective way to demonstrate that those applying for a licence to practise medicine meet a common standard for safe practice,' the document said.
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Todd Fisher was seen visiting a memorial park in Los Angeles on Thursday in his first outing since his mother Debbie Reynolds' devastating death.
A grieving Fisher confirmed to ABC News yesterday that his family is now planning a joint funeral for Reynolds and his sister Carrie Fisher, who died a day before their mother. However, no date or location has been confirmed yet for the dual service.
A member of the funeral party carried a red dress suit, the outfit Reynolds may be laid to rest in.
Fisher's 24-year-old daughter Billie Lourd was not present. Todd's wife Catherine Hickland was by his side.
Todd Fisher and his wife Catherine Hickland visited a memorial site in Westwood, California, on Thursday after the deaths of his sister Carrie and mother Debbie Reynolds
The 84-year-old died on Thursday a day after her 60-year-old daughter Carrie Fisher.
The latter's autopsy was put on hold by medical examiners in Los Angeles to allow the famous family to grieve Reynolds' shock death.
Todd, who is now Reynolds' only surviving child, also gave a touching tribute to the pair online on Thursday night.
He shared an artist's sketch of the duo, dressed in the costumes of their most iconic film roles, and told fans warmly how their love was 'everlasting'.
The party brought with them a bright red dress suit which may be what his mother will be laid to rest in
Reynolds is pictured in the suit in 2006 with Carrie Fisher (right). Todd (left looking at his phone) said his mother had left meticulous funeral instructions
Vanessa Rivers, who is Todd's stepdaughter from his second marriage to Christie Zabel, was present with her husband. She was seen chatting to Hickland as they made their way around the park
Todd, who said he has been left 'heartbroken' by the deaths of his sister and mother, earlier told of hopes for a joint funeral
The party huddled together as they were shown around the grounds a day after Reynolds' shocking death
The party was earlier seen leaving Todd's house in Beverly Hills. It was where his mother suffered a suspected stroke on Wednesday as they made plans for Carrie's funeral
'This is a beautiful love story to witness in my 58 years. I miss them both so much,' he added.
Fisher, who was only 60 when she died on Tuesday, had not left any instructions for her family with regards to a funeral.
Her 84-year-old mother had however planned hers meticulously, Todd said, and intended to be buried in a large plot owned by the family.
Reynolds suffered a suspected stroke at Todd's Beverly Hills home while the pair were planning his sister's funeral.
She died in hospital hours later. Earlier, she told her son that she wanted to be 'with Carrie'.
He later told journalists that his sister's sudden and unexpected death was 'too much' for the 84-year-old.
Carrie suffered a heart attack on board a United Airlines flight from London to L.A.X on Christmas Eve.
She was rushed to hospital upon landing but never regained consciousness and died four days later.
Margaret Thatcher feared the fall of the Berlin Wall could lead to a return of the Nazis, newly released government papers show.
Concerns over how 'a cultured and cultivated nation had allowed itself to be brain-washed into barbarism' were raised during a meeting at Chequers, the prime minister's country residence, in March 1989, months before formal reunification of Germany. Some asked: 'If it happened once, could it not happen again?'
The national character of the German people was also discussed at the meeting, which was attended by Mrs Thatcher, historians and foreign minister Douglas Hurd.
Margaret Thatcher's misgivings over the fall of the Berlin Wall and the reunification of Germany ran so deep she even had to be cajoled by aides into issuing a congratulatory statement. Pictured, Mrs Thatcher with German chancellor Helmut Kohl in September 1986
The group noted Germans could be prone to angst, aggressiveness, assertiveness, bullying, egotism, inferiority complex [and] sentimentality', the Times reported.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 marked the end of the Cold War and paved the way for communist East Germany to be reunited with West Germany, ending the division that had been in place since the end of the Second World War.
But while the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe represented a triumph for the West, Mrs Thatcher feared a resurgent Germany would dominate the Continent.
Mrs Thatcher's misgivings over the reunification ran so deep she even had to be cajoled by aides into issuing a congratulatory statement.
At the Chequers meeting the prime minister expressed concerns over the country's relatively recent past under Nazi control, the Daily Telegraph reported.
An explosive memo on the Chequers meeting in March 1989 was prepared by Charles Powell, pictured with his wife, Mrs Thatcher's longstanding foreign adviser
Among those who attended was Charles Powell, Mrs Thatcher's longstanding foreign adviser. According to a minute by Mr Powell, which was released today by the National Archive at Kew, west London, questions including 'Have the Germans changed?' and 'Who are the Germans?' were considered.
According to the Daily Telegraph, he wrote that a range of views were discussed and some 'asked how a cultured and cultivated nation had allowed itself to be brain-washed into barbarism. If it had happened once, could it not happen again?
'Apprehension about Germany did not relate just to the Nazi period, but to the whole post-Bismarckian era, and inevitably caused deep distrust.'
He added there were 'no serious misgivings' about the then current political leaders but asked whether 'some of the unhappy characteristics of the past' could re-emerge in the future 'with just as destructive consequences?'
However the group ultimately decided that Britain should remain positive about its relationship with a united Germany.
Mr Powell also asked for the minute to remain confidential as 'it would be very embarrassing and gravely damaging to our interests if the contents of so frank a discussion of one of our closest allies were to become known,' The Times reported.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 marked the end of the Cold War and paved the way for communist East Germany to be reunited with West Germany, ending the division that had been in place since the end of the Second World War
The files, released today, also show how Mrs Thatcher had to be coaxed into making a positive statement when she appeared for a photocall with the West German ambassador Baron Hermann von Richthofen on eve of formal reunification in October 1990.
In a handwritten note, Mr Powell said: 'The key is to get in the words 'friend, ally and partner' (if you can bear it). Otherwise a message risks being judged negatively, which undermines the only purpose of the exercise.'
Meanwhile Mr Powell had also helped to ensure that a reunification ceremony planned by German chancellor Helmut Kohl was cancelled.
Aware it would not go ahead if US president George Bush was unable to attend, he telephoned the White House to say Mrs Thatcher would be quite happy if he stayed away.
'The prime minister wanted the president to know that October 3 would be very difficult for her and she would not at all mind if the president found that he could not attend,' Mr Powell noted.
A man accused of the 'degrading, violent' rape of a woman in a Brisbane alleyway more than five years ago was linked to the scene by DNA from a cigarette and the victim's underpants, a court has heard.
The 24-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested on Wednesday morning along with a 32-year-old man who was arrested in northern NSW.
The two, who are known to each another, allegedly forced the 20-year-old victim into an alleyway as she was walking along Manning Street, South Brisbane, late on the night of April 15, 2011.
Police released identikit sketches of the men as part of the original appeal for new information (police sketches)
Police launched a review of the case, with detectives from the sex crime unit joining the investigation.
CCTV footage, a video re-enactment and e-fits of the two suspects were released and two men were finally arrested.
The 24-year-old accused applied for bail in the Brisbane Magistrates Court on Friday, where prosecutor Sergeant Matt Kahler said the alleged rape was so severe the victim blacked out.
'This is a violent rape,' he told the court. 'A very, very violent rape.'
The victim was so badly injured she was unable to submit to a medical examination because of the pain and bruising, the court heard.
'It was degrading,' Sgt Kahler said. 'She was bleeding all over her legs, all over her arms.'
Police charged the two men for sexually assaulting a woman five years ago (pictured: reenactment)
Sgt Kahler also said the evidence against the man was strong. DNA evidence taken from a cigarette left at the scene and from the victim's underpants had linked the man to the area, he told the court.
Initial DNA evidence provided an unknown result and the defendant could not be pursued because he was in NSW, he added.
The court also heard the mobile phones of both defendants had placed them at the scene at the relevant time.
Sgt Kahler said the man was a flight risk because he had ties to NSW and also the potentially lengthy jail term if he were convicted.
Both defendants are charged with three counts of rape, two of sexual assault and one of deprivation of liberty (pictured: reenactment)
The man's barrister, Cliff Crawford, proposed bail conditions including regular reporting to police and the surrender of the man's passport.
Mr Crawford also made an unsuccessful attempt to prohibit the publication of details heard in open court during the bail application.
'It's the nature of the information, [it] is fairly graphic,' he said.
The man was remanded in custody until January 30. Both defendants are charged with three counts of rape, two of sexual assault and one of deprivation of liberty.
The case of the older man, who was extradited to Queensland on Thursday morning, was adjourned for a bail application on January 10.
Swimmers are being urged to take extra care in waters off Queensland amid warnings the deadly irukandji jellyfish is moving south this summer.
Four people have been hospitalised since Wednesday with suspected irukandji stings in the Hervey Bay area and the Fraser Island Coast, in Queensland.
A Brisbane woman, 39, who suffered stings around her neck and arm, was the first victim to be airlifted to Hervey Bay Hospital, The Morning Bulletin reported.
A French tourist, 23, and a 12-year-old girl swimming near Woralie Creek, on Fraser Island were also airlifted to the same hospital, while 23-year-old woman was rushed to hospital.
Recently data has revealed that the tiny, but deadly, irukandji jellyfish is moving further south along Australia's east coast
Three women and a 12-year-old girl have been rushed to Hervey Bay Hospital since Wednesday after they were stung by irukandji jellyfish (pictured inside a container) along the Hervey Bay and Fraser island coast area
All the victims are reportedly in a stable condition, the ABC reported.
The irukandji - the world's smallest and most venomous box jellyfish - is usually found in waters north of Mackay, about 700kilometres further north.
James Cook University Associate Professor Jamie Seymour said it was clear the species was following warming sea temperatures south.
'We've got good data now that shows quite nicely that irukandji has been spreading down the east coast of Australia, moving slowly but surely southwards,' he told ABC radio.
'It's only a matter of time before they get to the southern end of Fraser Island down to the Sunny Coast.'
Queensland Ambulance supervisor Martin Kelly said at least one of the cases off the Fraser Coast had been positively identified as an irukandji sting.
Usually found in waters north of Mackay, Queensland, James Cook University Associate Professor Jamie Seymour said the jellyfish is following warmer waters south
He said while it was enticing to swim in areas off the Queensland coast, it could also be quite dangerous.
'People can wear stinger suits but ... where you have a choice of not swimming in an environment where they (stingers) are you should do that or stay in the very shallow water,' he said.
'Prevention is far, far better than a cure.'
Irukandji jellyfish are typically difficult to see as they are only roughly a cubic centimetre in size.
Earlier this year Palm Cove beach in Queensland was closed after five people had been stung
Their stings can cause very high blood pressure or affect the heart, potentially resulting in death.
They can also cause severe muscular pain, anxious behaviour, headaches and vomiting.
Cr Ticehurst told NSW tribunal the dispute was illegally recorded and doctored
from council for five years under strict new three-strikes laws
A deputy mayor has been barred from holding office for five years under strict new laws after threatening the mayor and called her a 'b***h'.
Martin Ticehurst, an independent councillor on Lithgow Council in the NSW Blue Mountains, was laid off after unleashing a torrent of abuse to then mayor Maree Statham during a tense meeting in October 2014.
New three-strikes laws automatically disqualifying councillors from office have left Cr Ticehurst barred for half a decade, despite strongly denying the allegations, reports Sydney Morning Herald.
Martin Ticehurst has been barred from holding office for five years after threatening the mayor and called her a 'b***h'
The NSW Civil and Administrative Tribunal discovered he called Cr Statham a 'b***h' and said 'I hope you choke on your sandwich'.
Cr Ticehurst sought an investigation of the row with the Independent Commission Against Corruption, claiming it was illegally recorded and doctored.
The tribunal rejected his version of events, citing his history with penalties and lack of remorse after the incident.
'Being respectful towards colleagues, but particularly, the presiding officer at meetings ... is important in ensuring that the local government system operates properly,' said NCAT Senior Member James Renwick, SC.
'Failing to apologise for such misconduct exacerbates the misbehaviour.'
In previous written submissions to the tribunal, Cr Ticehurst had suggested no penalty should apply for the heated exchange.
A woman who fired a gun at her neighbors has been arrested by police after a nine hour standoff that included the SWAT team being called to her San Diego apartment and her standing topless in front of her shattered window on Thursday.
Police were first called to 35-year-old Brittany Lefler's apartment on Beadnell Way around midnight after numerous neighbors complained about the noise coming from her home, CBS 8 reported.
Officers left her home once she quieted down, but around 5am, she was reportedly spotted walking around with a handgun as she allegedly threatened the neighbors who she believed called the police on her.
Brittany Lefler, 35, allegedly fired a gun at her neighbors before she ran back to her apartment and was in a nine hour standoff with authorities. At one point, Lefler stood in front of her window topless (above) as the situation continued to unfold
The situation started when police were first called to Lefler's apartment around midnight after neighbors made a noise complaint against her. She is pictured above surrendering to police
She quieted down, but around 5am, she was reportedly spotted walking around with a handgun as she allegedly threatened the neighbors who she believed called the police on her. She is pictured above surrendering to police
But around 2pm, Lefler finally came out of the apartment with her hands up and was placed in handcuffs by SWAT team members and police officers (above). She put a shirt on as well as a sweater
'She ran back into her apartment and our suspect fired at least one round through the door in the apartment,' Lt. Scott Wahl of the San Diego Police Department told CBS 8.
'It went through a couple walls and we think it lodged in a bathroom inside that apartment.'
He added that three people were inside the apartment, including a child, but no one was hurt.
When police officers arrived back to the scene, Lefler did not come out of her home and refused to do so.
During the standoff, authorities evacuated a nearby preschool, and closed Balboa in both directions from Cannington to Mount Abernathy due to Lefler still refusing to come out of the building. Above the scene is pictured
Lt. Wahl said: 'We were able to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution and nobody got hurt'. Above the scene is pictured
Her neighbors were evacuated from their homes, as police officers attempted to have her surrender.
A SWAT team was then called in around 8am to take position and prepare to enter her home if needed.
Lefler (above) was expected to be booked into the county jail on suspicion of several charges, including resisting arrest and assault with a firearm
During the standoff, authorities evacuated a nearby preschool, and closed Balboa in both directions from Cannington to Mount Abernathy due to Lefler still refusing to come out of the building.
Lefler stayed inside of her apartment for the next nine hours, as she did not follow directions from officers to exit unarmed so she could be arrested.
At one point, Lefler went to her window topless as the situation continued to unfold.
But around 2pm, she finally came out of the apartment with her hands up and was placed in handcuffs by SWAT team members.
'We were able to bring the situation to a peaceful resolution and nobody got hurt,' Lt. Wahl said.
A man who dived from a cliff into a waterhole at Tahmoor, south of Sydney, has died.
The 27-year-old Pakistani man was swimming with friends at Mermaid Pools when he dived into the water and signalled for assistance.
He was pulled unconscious from the water and emergency services were alerted to the incident, but he died at the scene.
A NSW Ambulance spokesman said the man had been winched up the cliff by emergencies after the dramatic accident.
Vladimir Putin will not be closing an American school in Moscow, Russian officials have said, countering an earlier report from CNN.
After President Obama announced a new round of sanctions against the Russian government on Thursday, CNN reported that Putin was closing an Anglo-American school in Moscow as retribution.
But the Kremlin denied the report on Friday, as Putin decided against diplomatic reprisals against the U.S.
The school described in the false report is a private English-language K-12 school in Moscow, attended mostly by the children of American, British, and Canadian diplomats. The children of wealthy Russian families also attend the school. In all, about 1,200 students are educated at the school, from 60 different countries.
Vladimir Putin (pictured on Wednesday) will NOT be closing an American school in Moscow, as previously reported by CNN
Right after Obama's speech, announcing the sanctions on Thursday, Putin's spokesman said the government was considering retaliatory steps.
But on Friday, Putin decided against the move - mocking Obama by inviting the children of U.S. diplomats to the Kremlin for a holiday party and saying he would wait to make a decision until Donald Trump takes office next month.
Putin's officials launched a tirade of abuse at Obama and his administration, calling them 'angry and shallow brained losers', while a senior member of the Russian parliament called the president a 'political corpse'.
It was previously reported that Putin's government would be closing the Anglo-American School of Moscow. The Kremlin said on Friday that the report was false
About 1,200 students from 60 different countries take classes at the school. Pictured is a visitor conducting a lesson in a classroom with students at the school
Obama imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russia's alleged hacking of American political sites and email accounts ahead of the November election.
Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov on Thursday reiterated that Russia was not involved in the hacking.
Donald Trump responded to the sanctions, saying it is 'time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.'
President Obama's strongly-worded statement about sanctions against Russia is his most sweeping action against the Kremlin during his eight years in office
It echoes comments he has made publicly and on Twitter since both the CIA and FBI agreed Russia was involved in hacking during the election campaign.
But he added he'll meet with U.S. intelligence officials next week 'in order to be updated on the facts of this situation.'
Kellyanne Conway then questioned whether the sanctions are being put in place to make life difficult for her boss.
'I will tell you that even those who are sympathetic to President Obama on most issues are saying that part of the reason he did this today was to quote "box in" President-elect Trump,' Conway said on CNN.
'That would be very unfortunate if politics were the motivating factor here. We can't help but think that's often true.
'All we heard through the election was "Russia, Russia, Russia". Since the election, it's just this fever pitch of accusations and insinuations.'
However, despite Trump's comments, Obama has found allies within the Republican Party who celebrated his move.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell the sanctions 'a good initial step, however late in coming.'
Russian President Vladimir Putin (L) talks to US President Barack Obama (R) during a meeting at the sidelines of the G20 Summit in Hangzhou, China, in September 2016
He then went on to accuse Obama of allowing Russia to 'expanded its sphere of influence', over the past eight years.
McConnell said, 'The Russians are not our friends' and is promising that Congress will review accusations that Moscow interfered in the U.S. election.
He added Congress will 'work to ensure that any attack against the United States is met with an overwhelming response.'
Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham also said sanctions against announced by the Obama administration are 'a small price' for Russia to pay for interfering with U.S. elections, adding they will lead efforts in Congress to impose stronger punishments.
McCain, of Arizona, and Graham, of South Carolina, called Russian cyberattacks on the 2016 election a 'brazen attack on American democracy' and say retaliation measures announced Thursday by Obama are long overdue.
Russian officials have denied the Obama administration's accusations that Putin's government was involved at the highest levels in trying to influence the U.S. presidential election.
A man who was sentenced to death in 1995 for raping and murdering the 14-year-old daughter of his girlfriend was granted a reprieve Thursday by Washington state Governor Jay Inslee.
Clark Elmore has never contested killing Kristy Ohnstad, whom he choked unconscious, stabbed in the head with a skewer and beat to death with a sledgehammer.
But Inslee, who has already stopped all executions in the state, granted the reprieve to Elmore Thursday, citing a 'lack of clear deterrent value, high frequency of sentence reversal on appeal, and rising cost,' The Bellingham Herald reported.
Reprieve: Washington governor Jay Inslee (left) has given a reprieve to Clark Elmore (right), who was sentenced to death in 1996 for raping and murdering a 14-year-old girl
Inslee announced a moratorium on executions in Washington state in 2014, saying that the punishment was being used inconsistently in different jurisdictions.
Elmore is the first of Washington's death row inmates to exhaust his appeals.
Elmore, of Bellingham, killed Kristy in a van south of the city in 1995 after she threatened to report him for abusing her as a child.
After she went missing, Elmore pretended he was grieving and helped organize a search party to find her.
When her body was found, Elmore fled before reconsidering and turning himself in to authorities. Elmore pleaded guilty as charged to aggravated first-degree murder.
At the penalty phase, a Whatcom County jury found no good cause to show leniency. He was sentenced to death May 3, 1996.
Moratorium: Inslee stopped all executions in 2014. Elmore (left, in 1996) is the first to exhaust all appeals. Inslee says the ban is based on high cost, many appeals and lack of deterrent value
Elmore has filed appeal after appeal since then, in hope of having his sentence overturned.
He has never disputed his guilt, but claimed his rights were violated during the trial because his attorney gave him bad advice and the jury saw him in shackles.
In October the US Supreme Court declined to hear his case, and weeks ago the US 9th Circuit Court denied a rehearing. An execution date was set for January 19.
The announcement that Elmore would not face the death penalty after all has shocked some, including Whatcom County Prosecutor Dave McEachran
'I am disappointed that after 21 years of appeals, in which the sentence of death has been upheld by the highest courts in the state and the United States, the governor has derailed the sentence,' he said in a statement.
But the governor's office says Inslee's moratorium is not about individual cases.
'As he stated when he announced the moratorium in 2014, the action is based on the governor's belief that the use of capital punishment across the state is inconsistent and unequally applied - sometimes dependent on the budget of the county where the crime occurred,' the statement from the governor's office said.
It added that Kristy's family had said they would prefer Elmore spend life in prison.
He remains at the state prison in Walla Walla, along with eight other death row inmates.
The father of a nine-year-old boy has had an extraordinary meeting with the driver accused of killing him, with the pair embracing at a church service.
Josiah Sisson was run over and killed as he admired the Christmas lights near his home in Springwood, south of Brisbane, on Christmas Day.
Adrian Murray, 24, is accused of killing Josiah and was allegedly drunk at the wheel that night.
Murray attended the church service the next day, where he and Josiah's father, Karl Sissons, shared an emotional hug.
The father of a nine-year-old boy has had an extraordinary meeting with the driver accused of killing him, with the pair embracing at a church service. Josiah Sisson's father Karl (facing away) and Adrian Murray are seen hugging
Murray and Josiah's father, Karl Sissons, shared an emotional hug at a church service
Josiah Sisson was run over and killed as he admired the Christmas lights near his home in Springwood, south of Brisbane, on Christmas Day
Mr Sisson was seen embracing Murray at the end of the service, with tears seen in Murray's eyes.
Peter Field, pastor of Potter's House Christian Church, told the Courier Mail, that Murray was at the church service with his friends and family when he spotted Mr Sisson.
'He collapsed into Karl's arms and [Mr Sissons] was brave enough and manly enough to catch him and treat him courteously,' Mr Field said.
'As you could imagine, it was a very emotional time for everyone there,' he added.
Murray has since been charged with dangerous driving causing death while affected by an intoxicating substance, and drink-driving. He is set to appear in court next year.
Josiah's parents, who have another young son, say they have forgiven Murray and want to 'move forward' with their lives.
The nine-year-old had been looking at Christmas lights when he was fatally struck by an out-of-control truck
Josiah was transported to hospital in critical condition before his family made the decision to turn off life support on Tuesday night
Earlier this week, Mr Field said: '[Josiah's family] want to say they believe in the power of forgiveness, as Christmas is about Jesus Christ being born and coming into the world to bring forgiveness.
'They are now processing this and they're moving forward. On behalf of the family they want to say thank you, in particular to the Lady Cilento Children's Hospital who have done an absolutely outstanding job since Christmas night when the boy was brought to the hospital.
'The service and the care they have given has been nothing short of sublime. The family now ask that their privacy be respected as they have to process the grief.
'They have another young son and they are all trying to come to terms with the loss of this young boy, as nobody would anticipate something like this could happen to you on Christmas.'
Police allege Murray was three-times over the limit when he careered off the road and hit Josiah before smashing through a hedge, collecting a water tank and crashing into a house
Murray has been charged with dangerous driving causing death while affected by an intoxicating substance, and drink-driving
Murray was seen leaving his home on Thursday wearing dark sunglasses and was believed to be on the way to a police station to be charged.
His friends are believed to have been among the mourners who left flowers at the scene of Josiah's death.
The nine-year-old had been looking at Christmas lights when he was fatally struck by an out-of-control truck.
Witnesses said Josiah's mother, who was standing nearby, broke down over his body in the street as neighbours rushed to perform CPR until paramedics arrived.
The boy was taken to hospital in critical condition, before his family made the decision to turn off life support on Tuesday evening.
The devastated family of 14-year-old Tu'ipulotu 'Tui' Gallaher has spoken out just hours after his lifeless body was pulled from the water at Maroubra Beach on Friday.
Tui's aunty Malia Niukapu Rudoi said the family was 'devastated' but glad to have closure now his body had been found.
'Our family is mourning the loss of our nephew. He was a sweet boy, so full of life and for him to be taken so young from his parents is devastating,' she told Daily Mail Australia.
'We adored our nephew.'
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Tui Gallaher, 14, disappeared in rough surf at Maroubra beach in Sydney's east on Tuesday. On Friday, his devastated family spoke to Daily Mail Australia
A beachgoer alerted the police about a body in the water off Maroubra beach on Friday
Police confirmed on Friday morning that the search has now been called off, although the body has not yet been identified
Ms Rudoi also spoke about how much joy and pride Tui brought to her family.
'He was loved and when my sisters spoke of him it was always with such pride, you can feel he is loved,' she said.
Grief aside, Ms Rudoi said she was relieved her nephew's body had been found.
'We prayed that he wouldn't be lost at sea forever. We wanted to find him so we wouldn't spend the rest of our lives wondering where in the sea he is at,' she said.
'We are so thankful he is found so we can have closure.'
Ms Rudoi said she remembered the exact moment she discovered her nephew had been reported missing.
The mother of the teenage swimmer collapsed as the desperate search continued on Wednesday
Lifeguards rushed to her aid when she collapsed onto the sand after keeping a vigil there since Tuesday
'I looked at my phone and there was this post that said Tu'ipulotu was missing at sea. I immediately screamed out loud 'is this a joke? Tell me, who is playing this sick joke on us?' she said.
'But it wasn't a joke and we are heartbroken we have lost him.
'I pray mostly for his mother, father and siblings. We will always treasure the memories, that is all we have to remember him by.
'We miss and will love him always.'
Police reported a body had been found on the southern end of the beach just after 7.15am on Friday.
And although the body was yet to be formally identified, the search for the teenager was called off.
Surf life saving crews and police had been searching for the missing 14-year-old
Tui was swimming with his cousin at Maroubra Beach in Sydney's east about 8.30pm on Tuesday when the pair struggled with rough seas and had to be saved
Tui was swimming with his cousin at Maroubra Beach in Sydney's east about 8.30pm on Tuesday when the pair struggled with rough seas and had to be saved.
A 26-year-old man spotted one of the struggling teenagers and managed to help him to shore, but Tui disappeared in the rough surf.
Emergency services were called. Meanwhile, the 26-year-old swam back out to try and locate Tui, but was unsuccessful.
Matthew Evans from Surf Lifesaving NSW said the three to four foot swell and a number of rips was what was making the search difficult.
Mark Robson, 65, was at Maroubra Beach on Friday morning and witnessed the moment the body was discovered.
'I noticed a paddle boarder swim out. The next thing I know he's waving his arms to a mate of mine who was sitting 100m away,' Mr Robson told the Daily Telegraph.
He said it was about 7.30am when he saw the men attempting to lift the body onto the paddle board about 100 metres from the shoreline.
Tui's aunty Ms Rudoi said no date had been set for Tui's funeral as yet because they were waiting for his mother to let them know when she was ready.
But she said she the family wanted to thank the community for their help with search efforts and the support offered to her family during the past few days.
One of Los Angeles' top cops has filed for a restraining order against a Black Lives Matter activist who has allegedly been stalking him.
The Los Angeles Police Commission Matt M. Johnson alleged Trevor Gerard, a member of the protest group, followed him home and to his office in a complaint filed against the 35-year-old activist.
Johnson, who was appointed commission president in September 2015, went on to allege Gerard, 'mouthed violent threats to Johnson from the audience at board meetings and made threatening statements', according to LA Weekly.
Black Lives Matter activist Trevor Gerard (pictured) has had a restraining order taken out against him by Los Angeles Police Commission Matt M. Johnson
The magazine also said Johnson claimed Gerard made a 'a gratuitous reference' to top cop's children.
The restraining order was filed on December 19, the day after a Black Lives Matter protest was held outside Johnson's home in the leafy suburb of Sherman Oaks.
Two days prior, on December 17, the group managed to make their way inside the offices of a law firm, where Johnson is a managing partner.
Gerard hit back at the allegations, claiming Johnson is trying to spin them for his own political gain.
Johnson (pictured) alleged Trevor Gerard, a member of the protest group, followed him home and to his office in a complaint filed against the 35-year-old activist
Gerard hit back at the allegations, claiming Johnson is trying to spin them for his own political gain
'I never told him that he should be afraid of me. I never told him to meet me outside. I never threatened him with any kind of physical violence,' he told LA Weekly.
The 35-year-old then blasted the the police commission board, accusing it of contributing to many of the issues Black Lives Matter is protesting against.
'The people who sit on the commission board largely have acted as a rubber-stamp body for the extreme levels of violence that LAPD has been engaging in,' Gerard said.
'They have become too comfortable with the way that we're forced to engage them in that meeting space, which is in the LAPD headquarters itself.'
A controversial Trump ally has been told to resign his school board job a week after shocking comments about Barack and Michelle Obama.
Carl Paladino said he wished the president would die of mad cow disease while the first lady should 'return to being a male' in the 'Zimbabwean outback' in an extraordinary outburst.
He made the remarks in an email response to interview questions from the magazine Artvoice but later claimed he never intended to hit the send button.
Paladino has now been told to resign his seat on the Buffalo School Board, according to NBC.
Trump ally Carl Paladino (above with the president elect in April, 2014) has been told to step down from his school board position for controversial remarks he made about the Obamas
He previously said he had no intention of stepping down despite public backlash for the comments.
Other board members voted 6-2 to have him ousted. He was not present at the meeting on Thursday and now has 24 hours to give up his post before the issue is turned over to the Department of Education.
Paladino said he wanted Barack Obama to die from mad cow disease and hoped the First Lady would 'return to being a male'
Paladino was asked by the magazine for his political hopes for 2017 when he composed the detailed remarks about the Obamas.
'Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford.
'He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarret, who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.
'Michelle Obama. Id like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.'
He confirmed to The Buffalo News the comments were his own, telling the newspaper: 'Of course I did. Tell them all to go f*** themselves.'
Later, the businessman said he did not intend to return them to the magazine but claimed they were intended for friends.
'Not that it makes any difference because what I wrote was inappropriate under any circumstance. I filled out the survey to send to a couple friends and forwarded it to them not realizing that I didn't hit "forward" I hit "reply." All men make mistakes.,' he said.
Paladino enjoyed a private meeting with Donald Trump at Trump Tower earlier this month.
Despite later describing the encounter as 'very warm', he said he did not anticipate a role in the new administration.
Paladino has 24 hours to resign from his position on the school board before the Department of Education is brought in
Paladino was seen visiting Trump Tower earlier this month before he made the comments. He is not expecting a role in the new administration
Paladino is CEO and founder of the Ellicott Development Company, a real estate firm in Buffalo.
He ran unsuccessfully for governor of New York in 2010 against Democrat Andrew Cuomo.
Paladino drew outrage during that election season when he said he did not want children 'brainwashed into thinking that homosexuality is an equally valid and successful option. 'It isn't.'
He also said Gay Pride marches were 'not the example we should be showing our children.'
He made those comments at a Brooklyn synagogue.
Paladino also came under fire in July when he opined on Twitter that U.S. Attorney General Loretta Lynch should be lynched. He later deleted that tweet and said it was a mistake.
A man jailed after leaving bacon sandwiches outside a mosque has been found dead in his cell.
Kevin Crehan, 35, was halfway through a one-year prison sentence he received in July after admitting the racially-motivated attack on the Jamia Mosque in Bristol earlier this year.
He was accompanied by Alison Bennett, 46, and Mark Bennett, 48, and Angelina Swales, 31, who also pleaded guilty over the incident.
Kevin Crehan, 35, pictured, was found dead in his cell at HMP Bristol on Tuesday
Crehan and three accomplices all admitted a racially-aggravated attack on a mosque in Bristol in which they tied bacon to door handles and left bacon sandwiches outside, pictured
A St George flag with the words 'no mosques' was also tied to the fence outside the building in Totterdown, Bristol, and shouted racial abuse at a worshipper.
Bacon was tied to the door handles and sandwiches made of raw meat and sliced white bread were left at the entrance, in what was described in court by the judge as an 'an attack on England'.
The prison service confirmed Crehan was found dead in his cell at HMP Bristol on Tuesday, December 27.
A spokesman told the Sun: 'HMP Bristol prisoner Kevin Crehan died in custody on Tuesday 27 December.
The gang also tied a St George flag to a nearby fence with the words 'no mosques' written on it, pictured
The incident occurred at Jamia Mosque in Totterdown, Bristol, pictured, and all four of the gang were banned from going near a mosque for 10 years
'As with all deaths in custody, the independent Prisons and Probation Ombudsman will investigate.'
Crehan was jailed for a year while Bennett was given a nine-month sentence.
Bennett was given a six-month sentence and Swales was given a four-month sentence - both suspended for two years.
A baby boy has tragically died after he was struck by a reversing car being driven by his mum.
The seventh-month-old infant was lying in his pram when he was hit by a reversing vehicle on St Paul's Drive in Woodridge in Queensland's south-east.
The baby boy was taken to Lady Cilento Children's Hospital in a serious condition on Friday afternoon but he was pronounced dead a short time later.
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A baby boy has died after he was struck by a reversing car being driven by his mother
The baby boy struck by the car as he was lying in his pram (pictured here underneath the four-wheel-drive)
Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia that they are not treating the incident as suspicious, but rather a 'tragic accident'.
His mother was not physically injured in the crash.
The fatal accident occurred outside St Paul's Catholic Primary School and church.
Senior Sergeant Tony Jackson told the ABC that the Brisbane woman was leaving a funeral at the church when she backed over the pram.
'The woman is being cared for by police and is assisting them with their investigation,' he said.
'It's a timely reminder to parents if they have children that are in prams or walking around vehicles [to] ensure that they know exactly where they are.'
Forensic Crash Unit investigations are continuing.
Queensland Police told Daily Mail Australia that they are not treating the incident as suspicious, but rather a 'tragic accident'
Senior Sergeant Tony Jackson said the Brisbane mother was leaving a funeral at the church when she backed over the pram
The Coast Guard has launched a major search for a plane that disappeared over Lake Erie while heading to Ohio State University.
The Cessna Citation 525 took off from a small Ohio airport on the shores of the lake shortly before 11pm last night.
It left Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland with those on board reportedly having attended the Cleveland Cavaliers home game against Boston before heading to return the school.
The Coast Guard has launched a major search for a plane that disappeared over Lake Erie while heading to Ohio State University
A rescue boat on the look out on Lake Erie. It is understood that six people were on board the aircraft and that three of them were children
However, according to Coast Guard officials the airport's air traffic control lost connection with the plane, and it has been missing ever since.
It is understood that six people were on board the aircraft and that three of them were children, however they are not thought to be affiliated with OSU.
The Federal Aviation Administration say the plane was not visible to them on any FAA radar.
Now an aircraft from Detroit is already searching over the lake for any signs of the missing plane.
Also searching is a helicopter and a cutter, which is a Coast Guard vessel that can sail through ice.
The aircraft left Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland with those on board reportedly having attended the Cleveland Cavaliers home game against Boston
A second rescue aircraft is also headed to the scene to assist with the search from Canada.
However, there have been no sign of debris on the shores of the lake overnight and no emergency beacon has been detected either.
However, weather conditions are hampering the search and making conditions difficult.
A Pakistani girl of 13 has been married off to a 36-year-old disabled groom so her father can take the man's sister as a second wife, it has emerged.
Wazir Ahmed, of Jampur, Pakistan, arranged his daughter Saima's marriage to Mohammad Ramzan, in the hope Ramzan's sister would provide him with a son.
Ramzan, who cannot hear or speak, and Ahmed were jailed for 'a few days' after police investigated the deal.
But Saima testified in court that she was 16 and they were released. She says she told the authorities she was 16 to protect her father and husband.
A Pakistani girl of 13 (left) has been married off to a 36-year-old disabled groom (right) so her father can take the man's sister as a second wife, it has emerged
Wazir Ahmed, of Jampur, Pakistan, arranged his daughter Saima's (pictured) marriage to Mohammad Ramzan, in the hope Ramzan's sister would then provide him with a son
In an interview with the Associated Press, Ramzan had to use his fingers to count out her age when they married.
Ahmed, said she was 14, not 13, but her age was beside the point. It mattered only that she had reached puberty when he arranged her marriage as an exchange: his daughter for Ramzan's sister, whom he wanted to take as a second wife.
His first wife, Saima's mother, had given him only daughters, and he hoped his second wife would give him a son.
But Sabeel wouldn't marry him until her brother had a wife to care for him. She would be a bride in exchange for a bride.
'We gave a girl in this family for a girl in their family,' Ahmed said. 'That is our right.'
In deeply conservative regions such as this one in the south of Punjab province, the tribal practice of exchanging girls between families is so entrenched, it even has its own name in Urdu: Watta Satta, which means give and take.
A girl may be given away to pay a debt or settle a dispute between feuding families. She might be married to a cousin to keep her dowry in the family or, as in this case, married for the prospect of a male heir.
Wazir Ahmed (centre), stands with his two wives Sabeel (right) and Jannat (left) in Jampur, Pakistan. He married off his underaged daughter in exchange for a second wife
Many believe that their Islamic religion instructs fathers to marry off their daughters at puberty.
'If it is not done, our society thinks parents have not fulfilled their religious obligation,' says Faisal Tangwani, regional coordinator for the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in nearby Multan.
Ahmed sees the hand of God in his daughter's marriage to a disabled man.
'It was by God's will that he was chosen,' he says. 'It was her fate.'
Ahmed sits inside the mud-walled compound where he lives now with his two wives. Outside, stray dogs roam in packs of three and four. They bite, Ahmed warns.
He says that the fact that Ramzan is nearly three times his daughter's age is irrelevant.
But the legal marrying age here is 16, and in a rare move, police did investigate Saima's marriage after they received a complaint, possibly from a relative involved in a dispute with her father.
Ramzan (right), who cannot hear or speak, and Ahmed were jailed for 'a few days' after police investigated the deal, only for Saima (left) to testify that she was 16
In Saima's world of crushing poverty, where centuries-old tribal traditions mix with religious beliefs, a crippling cycle traps even the perpetrators with a life's burden: a father who longs for a son to help support his family; a wife who must provide that son; a daughter who must become a mother even when she is still a child.
Saima's mother, Janaat, agrees with marrying off her daughters early. She says girls are a headache after they reach puberty. They can't be left at home alone for fear of unwanted sexual activity or worse, the daughter leaves home with a boy of her choice.
'That would be a shame for us. We would have no honor. No. When they reach puberty quickly, we have to marry them,' she says. 'Daughters are a burden, but the sons, they are the owners of the house.'
She says she accepted her husband's marriage to another woman; after all, it's her fault he only has daughters.
'I feel shame that I don't have a son. I myself allowed my husband to get a second wife,' she says.
Her husband's new wife, Sabeel, says she agreed to marry Ahmed because of her brother. She wanted him to have a wife.
Ahmed's first wife, Saima's mother, had given him only daughters, and he hoped his second wife would give him a son
'No one had been willing to give their daughters to my brother,' she says.
Ramzan is quick to extend his hand to guests who enter through the torn and tattered curtain that hangs over the front door to his compound, tucked away in a narrow alley lined with open sewers.
Ramzan's elderly parents live with him. His father rarely leaves his bed, saying he has trouble walking.
His mother begs from morning until night, sometimes knocking on doors, other times parking herself in the middle of a dusty road, her hand outstretched for donations.
Like Ramzan, she can neither hear nor speak. Both her hips and one knee have been broken. She gestures as if breaking a twig to explain her troubled knee.
Ramzan looks at Saima, her hair hidden beneath a sweeping shawl, her large brown eyes downcast.
'I didn't want to marry her so young. I said at the time, 'She is too young,' but everyone said I must,' he says through a series of gestures interpreted by those around him. He held his hand up just below his chest, showing how tall she was when they married.
Saima doesn't talk much. Her answers are short, and matter-of-fact.
'His sister and my father fell in love and they exchanged me,' Saima says.
'Yes, I am afraid of my father, but it is his decision who I will marry and when.'
Ramzan's elderly parents live with him. His father rarely leaves his bed, saying he has trouble walking
She picks at the rope bed where she sits with Ramzan. Her husband often reaches to touch the top of her head.
He gestures that he is afraid Saima will leave him one day, and says that God will be unhappy if she does. Saima had gotten pregnant soon after she came to live with Ramzan but lost the child at five months. Ramzan gestures that he wants Saima to take some medicine to help her get pregnant again.
Saima rarely looks in his direction but says she has no quarrel with him, nor does she plan to leave.
Saima says she understands her husband's gestures, but it's hard to know. Most of the translations are done by his 12-year-old niece, Haseena, Sabeel's daughter from the previous marriage.
Haseena was 10 when Saima married her uncle Ramzan and her mother left to live with the new bride's father.
Haseena stayed in the house with her uncle and her elderly grandparents to cook, clean and keep Saima company. She even prepared Saima's wedding dinner.
'When Saima married my uncle, my mother told me to leave school and be with Saima because she will be all alone at home,' Haseena says.
Haseena recalls that Saima seemed so young, the family felt sorry for her.
'At her age, she should have been playing.'
A Michigan man sat on his five-year-old stepdaughter's chest and stabbed her to death before setting her on fire because she kept asking him for food, a court heard Thursday.
Thomas McClellan, 25, of Holt, 'snapped' on Novemeber 1 when Luna Michelle Younger refused to leave his room until he gave her food, Detective Chuck Buckland said in a preliminary hearing in the 55th District Court in Mason.
McClellan is then alleged to have covered her body with sheets, poured vodka on it, and set it ablaze in the bedroom.
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Accused: Thomas McClellan (left), 25, is accused of murdering his stepdaughter. Luna Younger (right) was stabbed at least five times in the chest and her body set on fire on November 1
Video courtesy of WILX:
Luna was stabbed at least five times, a medical examiner said, and died of the wounds. She sustained burn wounds after her death from the fire.
As the flames spread through the ground-floor apartment, the Delhi Township fire department were called in to extinguish the blaze.
Firefighter Corey Drolett said he thought Luna might be hiding from the fire at first, and search a closet and under the bed before finding her under the smoldering blankets.
Drolett passed her body through a window to his colleagues outside. Commanding officer Jeffrey Young told another firefighter to 'very lightly' perform CPR on the girl's body.
Young said he knew that the child was dead, but because her mom, Victoria McClellan, was there, he wanted to show 'some effort' from the crew.
Victoria, who is married to Thomas McClellan, said she was at work when her daughter was killed, and that she had argued with him prior to going to work.
She later convinced McClellan, who has no criminal history, to turn himself in to police.
McClellan is a graduate of Everett High School and worked at a restaurant in Lansing, WDTN reported.
He has been bound over on charges of murder, first-degree child abuse and first-degree arson.
If convicted he faces up to life in prison.
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Tragedy has rocked the Lost Paradise music festival after a falling tree branch struck and killed a woman as she helped set up for the mind-body-soul event.
The festival, on NSW's Central Coast, is in its fifth year and has become famous for its relaxing 'mind-body-soul' theme and hippy dress-code.
Oblivious revellers in outrageous costumes took to social media to share smiling selfies, unaware that rescue teams were battling to save the life of a 21-year-old Canberra woman.
The woman had been working for the three-day music festival, in Glenworth Valley, when she sat under a gum tree and a falling branch hit her in the head just before 4pm on Wednesday.
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A falling tree branch struck and killed a woman, 21, as she helped set up for the Lost Paradise music festival
As festival goers descend on the Glenworth Valley camp ground, little do they know the devastating incident that occurred just a day before the event began
Revellers in outrageous costumes took to social media to share smiling selfies, unaware that rescue teams were battling to save the life of a 21-year-old Canberra woman
Festival goers dress to impress as they enjoy the mind-body-soul festival
What's the weather like up there? Revellers dress to impress as Lost Paradise organisers warn of the scorching hot temperatures
It's not just about the music: Lost Paradise is a chance for many to express their eccentric styles as they ring in the new year
The 21-year-old Canberra woman was working for the three-day music festival
Getting around the festival in style: One Lost Paradise attendee makes his way around the Glenworth Valley site on two wheels
Glamping is also on offer at Lost Paradise for the more discerning music lover
Following the accident, The young woman went into cardiac arrest and was treated by paramedics before she was airlifted from the festival grounds.
She was taken to Westmead Hospital in a critical condition with severe head, spinal and shoulder injuries.
She succumbed to her devastating injuries on Thursday.
A crime scene has been established at the festival by Brisbane Water Local Area Command Officers, inspectors from Safe Work Australia also attended the site.
Investigations are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the Coroner.
Scorching summer temperatures are forecast to hit their peak in the low 40C range during the three day event, and Lost Paradise orgainsers have urged festival goers to stay hydrated.
'We cannot stress this enough,' they posted on Facebook.
'Please bring copious amounts of water, a bottle to refill water with, plenty of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, water spray bottles and protective clothing.'
While minimal clothing was a popular choice for many to keep themselves cool, others also splashed about in a river on the festival grounds in an attempt to stave off the heatstroke.
Festival goers find a revealing way to keep cool in the scorching summer temperatures at the Lost Paradise festival
Taking a break: One festival goer takes a moment to relax out of the heat of the sun on the second day of Lost Paradise
From magical to practical: Some Lost Paradise attendees kept it casual in shorts and shirts, while others glammed up in capes and face paint
The devastating accident involving the Canberra woman, 21, occurred on Wednesday, a day before the festival opened to attendees
High summer temperatures are forecast to hit their peak in the low 40C range during the three day event, and Lost Paradise orgainsers have urged festival goers to stay hydrated
Lost Paradise orgainsers have urged festival goers to stay hydrated as temperatures skyrocket during the three day event
Two men take to the water as the the mercury rose on Friday, the second day of the event
ONe festival goer just hanging around between at the 'mind-body-soul' music festival
Trees line the waterways at Lost Paradise, where an unnamed 21-year-old woman sustained fatal injuries when a branch fell on her
A tightrope walker holds on tightly to avoid falling into the water underneath him
Minimal clothing is a popular choice for many to keep themselves cool as the mercury rises in Glenworth Valley
One festival goers relaxes in the shade
'Please bring copious amounts of water, a bottle to refill water with, plenty of sunscreen, hats, sunglasses, water spray bottles and protective clothing,' Lost Paradise organisers advise
Lost Paradise is a festival known for its focus on music, arts and yoga
Getting back to nature: Two people dress up as the famous Australian cockatoo
Are they boasting about how big the fish they caught were? Two suited and booted ravers pose at Lost Paradise
The young woman went into cardiac arrest and was treated by paramedics before he was airlifted from the festival grounds
Investigations into the death of the 21-year-old are ongoing and a report will be prepared for the Coroner
Not hard to spot in a crowd: One music lover covers herself in glitter to enjoy the musical entertainment
A fairground of fun: THese woman soak up the sun and the Lost Paradise atmosphere in front of a circus tent
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The number of tigers in the world has increased for the first time since efforts to conserve their numbers began, according to the WWF. Pictured is a Sumatran tiger
While some are mourning 2016 as a year of political shocks and celebrity deaths, conservationists say it has seen some 'landmark' environmental successes.
Environmental campaigners warn global wildlife populations could have declined by two thirds on 1970 levels by the end of the decade, but said 2016 shows that people can make a difference.
Some of the world's most charismatic species have seen an upturn in their fortunes, with tiger numbers increasing for the first time since efforts to conserve them began and giant pandas moved off the 'endangered' list, wildlife charity WWF said.
Nepal has achieved two years in a row with no rhino poaching, while trade in the world's most trafficked mammal, the pangolin or scaly anteater, has been made illegal by countries meeting to discuss international wildlife trade.
This year saw the UK commit an extra 13 million to tackling the illegal wildlife trade and, elsewhere in the environmental arena, ratify the Paris Agreement, the world's first comprehensive deal by countries to tackle climate change.
In August, Scotland produced enough renewable energy on one day to power the entire country, with wind turbines generating 106 per cent of Scottish demand for electricity.
In other parts of the world, Belize suspended seismic surveying for offshore oil exploration along the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, the world's largest marine protected area in Antarctica got the go-ahead and Spanish national park Donana was saved from destructive dredging.
Glyn Davies, acting chief executive of WWF-UK, said: 'The world faces a challenge in keeping its beautiful places and special species.
'Global wildlife populations are likely to decline by 67 per cent from 1970 levels by the end of this decade.
'Without greater efforts, we will face a global mass extinction of wildlife for the first time since the demise of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
'The good news is that we know we can make a difference. 2016 has celebrated many landmark successes which will bolster global efforts to protect the natural world.
'Some great victories have been won, but there is still an uphill battle ahead. WWF looks to 2017 as a year where actions will need to speak louder than words.
While numbers of African rhinos, pictured, are still under threat due to poaching, Nepal has marked two years as a poaching-free zone
Giant pandas, pictured, have been downgraded from 'endangered' to 'vulnerable' according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature
'We need to see real progress in tackling illegal wildlife trade, climate change and habitat destruction and degradation.'
Some key conservation and environmental successes this year, highlighted by WWF, include:
While Africa struggles with high levels of rhino poaching for their horns, Nepal marked two years in May since its last rhino was poached in 2014, with zero poaching helping to increase the population of one-horned rhinos to a new high of 645.
On August 7, Scotland produced 106 per cent of the country's electricity needs for the day, with wind turbines providing 39,545 megawatt hours (MWh) to the grid during the day while total consumption for homes, business and industry was 37,202 MWh.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) said the giant panda was being downgraded from being classified as 'endangered' to the less serious category of 'vulnerable' to extinction as a result of a 17 per cent increase in population numbers, following conservation work.
At a meeting of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (Cites), countries agreed to end all legal trade in pangolins, traded for their meat and scales for food and medicine, to save the species from extinction.
The longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere won a reprieve from seismic surveying , after officials in Belize agreed to suspend the seismic portion of offshore oil exploration, which would have taken place close to the reef World Heritage site.
The UK was among 24 countries and the EU that signed an agreement to protect 1.55 million square kilometres (600,000 square miles) of the Ross Sea in the Southern Ocean, Antarctica, from damaging activities such as fishing to conserve wildlife.
The UK ratified the world's first comprehensive treaty on climate change, the Paris Agreement, which came into force in November, and commits countries to keeping global temperature rises to 'well below' 2C above pre-industrial levels and to pursue efforts to curb rises to 1.5C.
At a conference on the illegal wildlife trade in Hanoi, Vietnam, in November, the UK pledged an additional 13 million to tackling the problem, which has helped drive a drop in global wildlife populations of 58 per cent since 1970.
The Spanish government announced in December it would ban dredging of the Guadalquivir River, which - if it had gone ahead - could have seen the Donana wetlands become the EU's first natural World Heritage Site to be put on the danger list.
The world's most trafficked mammal, the pangolin or scaly anteater, pictured, has been made illegal to move by countries meeting to discuss international wildlife trade
Ambushes in Dallas and Baton Rouge, Louisiana, and other shootings around the country have led to a sharp increase in the number of police officers killed in the line of duty this year.
From January 1 through to Wednesday, December 28, 135 officers lost their lives.
Some died in traffic accidents, but nearly half were shot to death.
The figures represent a 56 percent increase in shooting deaths over the previous year.
Of the 64 who were fatally shot, 21 were killed in ambush attacks often fueled by anger over police use of force involving minorities.
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Tthe funeral procession for slain Baton Rouge police Corporal Montrell Jackson leaves the Living Faith Christian Center in Baton Rouge on July 25
'We've never seen a year in my memory when we've had an increase of this magnitude in officer shooting deaths,' said Craig Floyd, president and chief executive of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund.
'These officers were killed simply because of the uniform they wear and the job they do. This is unacceptable to the humane society that we are.'
Five red roses on the bronze medallion with another bouquet of flowers and a note in support of the Dallas Police Department are seen at The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial in Washington
In Dallas on July 7 a sniper attacked at the end of what had been a peaceful rally against police brutality. He killed five law enforcement officers and wounded nine others the largest death toll among law enforcement from a single event since the 9/11 attacks, which killed 72 officers.
Months later, Dallas businesses and residents still display blue ribbons and banners declaring, 'We support our Dallas police officers.'
But even amid community support, the police department remains unsettled.
Hundreds of officers have retired or left the force over the past six months as the city struggles to find a way to increase pay and save a failing police and fire pension system.
Police officers Matthew Gerald, left, and Montrell Jackson, right, were killed by Gavin Eugene Long, the suspect who shot three police officers dead in Baton Rouge
Former Chief David Brown, who became a national figure in the aftermath, was among those who opted to retire.
And interim Dallas Police Association president Frederick Frazier said that morale is 'almost nonexistent.'
'A lot of us are going through the motions at work. We're hoping things will get better with our struggle,' he said.
The number of officers being killed in the line of duty has risin in recent years. The number of deaths has fluctuated over the the past two decades, with a spike in 2001 due to the September 11 terror attacks
Frazier added that the attack was a 'game changer. It changed the perception of law enforcement. It reversed the role after Ferguson. We were the pursuer and now, we're being pursued.'
Less than two weeks after the Dallas attack, a lone gunman in Baton Rouge shot and killed three officers and wounded three others outside a convenience store in the weeks after a black man, 37-year-old Alton Sterling, was shot and killed by police during a struggle.
Baton Rouge Police Cpl. Lester Mitchell was partners with Matthew Gerald, one of the three slain officers, and was among the officers who raced to the scene of the shooting that also killed sheriff's deputy Brad Garafola and officer Montrell Jackson.
Mitchell has daily reminders of the deadly shootout, driving past the scene on his way to police headquarters.
'Just passing there, you can't help but replay it over and over again,' he said.
Mitchell said the shooting has made him more alert and aware of potential dangers on patrol, sometimes in situations that wouldn't have alarmed him before, like a hand in a pocket.
The badge of Dallas Area Rapid Transit police officer Evan Moses is shown with a black band over it, in Dallas on July 11
'You learn to cope with it, because if you don't, you can drive yourself crazy,' he said.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's Floyd said the impact of this year has been profound on law enforcement.
Agencies are struggling to recruit officers to their ranks and those who continue to serve 'talk about how their head is now on a swivel.'
'They're always looking over their shoulder, always worrying about the next attack that could come at any time from any direction,' Floyd said.
That was underscored by the slaying in November of a San Antonio detective who was fatally shot and killed outside police headquarters as he was writing a traffic ticket.
A heavily-tattooed gang leader is the latest to wage a war on drugs in New Zealand, haunted by the death of a young girl at the hands of her drug-affected stepfather.
Junior Kapene, the president of notorious group Black Power, is scarred by the death of Coral-Ellen Burrows who was bashed to death by Steven Williams in 2003.
Having been threatened by Kapene days earlier, a scared Williams spent a series of days high on methamphetamine and without sleep in fear of attack when he killed the six-year-old girl.
Now thirteen years on, Kapene is vowing to stamp out the drug commonly known as 'P' from across New Zealand and is being joined in his crusade by a church minister, stuff.co.nz reports.
Junior Kapene (left), the president of notorious group Black Power, and Brendon Warne (right), the leader of the Anti P Ministry, are combining to wage a war on methamphetamine across New Zealand
Kapene (pictured) said he is still haunted by the death of a young girl at the hands of her drug-affected stepfather in 2003
'I still blame myself to this day for that girl's death,' Kapene said.
'The drug was causing people to go to their deaths and I knew I was to blame for Steven Williams.
'That is something I will have to live with for the rest of my life, knowing that her mother thinks that of me.'
Williams was sentenced to 15 years jail for the murder of the young girl.
Teaming up with the 'Anti P Ministry' run by church minister Brendon Warne, the gang leader hopes to teach school children about the dangers of the drug.
But if that fails, he promises he isn't afraid to use confrontational tactics.
'You (can) come to my door and complain about the Ministry,' Kapene said.
Coral-Ellen Burrows who was bashed to death by Steven Williams in 2003, who had spent a number of days high on methamphetamine in fear he was going to be murdered by Kapene. The casket bearing the six-year-old girl's body is carried by her father Ron Burrows (left)
Jeanna Cremen, the mother of the murdered six-year-old girl, is pictured at her funeral (right) while her father Ron Burrows is pictured outside court (right) in 2003 after his daughter's killer was sentenced to 15 years in jail
Warne and Kapene are now vowing to rid every corner of New Zealand of the drug commonly known as 'P'
'(But) I'll tell you to leave once. I'll tell you to leave twice. Then I'll pull the gun out. Give you a warning shot. You still won't leave? It's in your leg.'
The pair's stand against meth follows on from an ultimatum delivered by Tribal Huk gang leader Jamie Pink.
In October, the gang leader from Ngaruawahiam south of Auckland, gave drug dealers 24 hours to leave his hometown before Tribal Huk would take action.
His strong stand left him facing weapon possession charges in court and reportedly led to him losing one eye following a confrontation.
Having seen the stance taken by Pink and his gang, Kapene also vowed Black Power would never deal the drug.
The aggressive sentiments are echoed by Warne and the Anti P Ministry.
Brandishing a glock pistol, the minister describes his group as being 'dedicated to the destruction of P the only way they know how... by fire'.
'I tell people Jesus loves you, but I don't,' Warne said.
Warne and Kapene have followed in the footsteps of Tribal Huk gang leader Jamie Pink (pictured) who in October gave drug dealers 24 hours to leave his hometown
Raiding the homes of drug dealers, the Anti P Ministry often burns drugs or replaces bags with other less harmful substances such as sulfur, while Kapene threatens dealers with guns
'I'll tell you to leave once. I'll tell you to leave twice. Then I'll pull the gun out. Give you a warning shot. You still won't leave? It's in your leg,' Kapene said
A reformed former gang member himself, Warne has collected a band of men with colourful backgrounds to help him take a stand against the drug.
Raiding the homes of drug dealers, the Anti P Ministry often burns drugs or replaces bags with other less harmful substances such as sulfur.
Warne says he's made plenty of people 'angry', but has vowed that until the drug is gone from every corner of New Zealand he won't rest - no matter what happens.
'They say people are going to come down and shoot me, but so far they're all talk,' Warne said.
'What are they going to do?'
Trent Bennett resigned from his science teaching post after writing a series of Facebook comments about the Obamas
A teacher has resigned from his position at a high school after he wrote a series of racist Facebook posts mocking the Obamas.
Trent Bennett resigned from his science teaching post at Malvern High School in Arkansas after he wrote racist comments about Barack and Michelle Obama on KTHV-TV's Facebook page on December 24.
Bennett referred to the first lady, a Harvard Law School graduate, as 'Michelle Obummer... America's First Chimp', and said he was glad to see 'that nasty chimp and her spider monkey hubby gone for good.'
He also repeatedly reiterated fake claims that President Obama, who was born in Hawaii, was 'from Kenya.'
Bennett tended his resignation acknowledging that the posts were 'disrespectful and offensive.'
Malvern School District responded to the comments on Malvern High's Facebook page.
Trent Bennett was previously employed at Malvern High School in Arkansas
Trent Bennett referred to the first lady as 'Michelle Obummer... America's First Chimp' in comments made from his personal Facebook account
A post said the District 'became aware of what appears to be a social media post by a district employee on his personal account that was inappropriate, insensitive, and used racially charged rhetoric. In no way are these posts reflective of the District.'
A special board meeting was held on Thursday, in which board members voted 6-0 too accept Bennett's immediate resignation.
Bennett told KTHV-TV in a statement that he had also deleted his social media accounts.
He said: 'I would like to issue and apology for the outrage and hurt feelings caused by these comments. I acknowledge that they were direspectful and offensive.
'I am aware of the impact this has had and although I negate that I have ever conducted myself in a less than professional manner in regard to my students, I have resigned by teaching position at Malvern High School.'
Malvern High lies about 40 miles south-west of Little Rock.
Bennett said he was glad to see 'that nasty chimp and her spider monkey hubby gone for good'
Police confirmed that Richard Peralta, pictured gunned down wife Katherine at the University of Utah yesterday afternoon
A husband has shot dead his wife in a university parking lot before turning the gun on himself in a suspected murder-suicide.
Richard Peralta, 25, gunned down wife Katherine Peralta, who worked as a researcher, outside the ARUP Laboratories at the University of Utah yesterday afternoon.
Officers were called to the scene, where they discovered 23-year-old Mrs Peralta's body and her husband, who had shot himself.
He was rushed to hospital with gunshot wounds but he later died.
Utah Police Chief Dale Brophy confirmed the incident was over before his officers arrived and now an investigation is underway.
He told KSL.com: 'It appears there was a domestic situation and this was where he came to confront his wife and it ended up in a tragedy.
'It appears there was a short confrontation and then it ended in gunfire.'
The police chief added it was unclear if there had been a history of domestic violence between the couple, who also had a young son together. It is believed that Mr Peralta served in the US Navy.
Police and forensic officers are now combing the murder scene and interviewing witnesses who were in the area at the time of the shooting.
Police and forensic officers are now combing the murder scene and interviewing witnesses who were in the area at the time of the shooting
Officers were called to the scene, where they discovered 23-year-old Mrs Peralta's body and her husband, right, who had shot himself
Police say it is unclear if there had been a history of domestic violence between the couple, who also had a young son together
One told how all those on campus were told to stay where they were after reports of shots being fired.
George Barraza told the Salt Lake Tribune: 'Everyone was kind of curious what's going on. No one knew it was a shooting.'
A representative of ARUP, where Mrs Peralta worked, declined to comment but said they would release a statement today.
ARUP is a medical testing and research company based within the University of Utah.
It employs more than 3,000 people in its building on the university campus.
Police investigators gather in a parking lot outside of the University of Utah following the shooting of Mrs Peralta
A mother claims she was assaulted and called a 'stupid Asian b***h' by a shop assistant who didn't want to refold the clothes she was browsing.
Jaya Li-Nguyen said she was inspecting a pile of t-shirts at yd. in Melbourne Central shopping centre on Thursday night when she was told not to touch them.
'Do not touch the pile, it's really hard to fold the clothes. Tell me which size you want and I will get it,' she said the staff member told her.
A mother claims she was assaulted and called a 'stupid Asian b***h' by a shop assistant who didn't want to refold the clothes she was browsing
Ms Jaya wanted to examine the range and so kept browsing, but claims as soon as she picked up a second shirt she as again told to stop.
She claimed the assistant demanded she leave the store after Ms Jaya asked 'if I have rights to browse as a customer'.
After refusing to give her name, she claimed the staff member yelled 'make a complaint if you want, leave now you stupid Asian b***h!'
Ms Jaya said she left the store and took a photo of the shopfront to use in a complaint, but was pursued outside.
'She tried to grab my phone, then she grabbed my wrists and tried to twist them and yelled "you are under arrest!",' Ms Jaya said.
Jaya Li-Nguyen (R) said she was inspecting a pile of t-shirts at yd. in Melbourne Central shopping centre on Thursday night when a staff member told her not to touch them
'I had to scream for help, she saw people gathering up and she just pushed me and yelled "leave!". I was in tears and shaking, my wrists are hurting.'
The clothing chain told Daily Mail Australia the staff member was suspended with pay pending an investigation by human resources.
'We are taking this very, very seriously and based on our actions the customer will be shopping with us again tomorrow,' a spokesman said.
The company said Ms Jaya was undecided about whether she would continue pursuing criminal charges.
'Melbourne Central management are very concerned about the incident which has occurred at the YD store,' the shopping centre said.
'We have spoken with the customer to get an understanding of what occurred and what we can do to help. We are currently in communication with YDs head office.
She claimed the assistant identified herself as a manager and demanded she leave the store after Ms Jaya asked 'if I have rights to browse as a customer'
'Melbourne Central management are very concerned about the incident which has occurred at the YD store,' the shopping centre said
'Melbourne Central is committed to providing an environment where all of our visitors feel welcome. The customer has informed us that she has reported the incident to Victoria Police.
'We are currently reviewing CCTV footage to see if we can assist police further in their enquiries.'
Ms Jaya later said Melbourne Central management assured her that 'this is definitely not the behaviour they would tolerate'.
'They are gathering all the security footage to work with YD management for investigation, also offered me contacts from the nearby store whose workers would have witnessed the assault.
'Thank you for taking immediate action towards this matter to make sure no other customer would go though this kind of shocking experience I had.
'No-one should have ever been treated the way I was treated. I just really hope this doesn't happen to anyone else.'
This is the moment two men threatened shop workers with a gun and a knife during a supermarket raid.
The CCTV footage shows the armed men rush into the Co-op store in Eltham and demand that the shop assistants hand over cash inside the till.
During the video, a female assistant can be seen rushing behind the counter to press a panic alarm as one of the robbers waves a gun at her and a colleague.
The women repeatedly pleads 'I don't have any money', leading the man with a gun to shout 'open the till now' while the other taps his knife on the counter.
The CCTV footage shows the armed men rush into the Co-op store in Eltham and demand that the shop assistants hand over cash inside the till
The women repeatedly pleads 'I don't have any money', leading the man with a gun to shout 'open the till now' while the other taps his knife on the counter
The shocking footage has been released by Metropolitan Police as officers attempt to identify the two men, who made off with cash and cigarettes.
After making their exit from the store, the pair were driven off by a third suspect in a white Range Rover Evoque.
The incident occurred at the Co-op store in Westhorne Avenue, Eltham at 10.30pm on Sunday, July 31, and police are now appealing for witnesses.
Suspect one is described as a black male, aged between 18 and 22. At the time of the robbery he was wearing a dark Ralph Lauren hooded jumper, dark Ralph Lauren tracksuit bottoms, dark Nike cap and a black balaclava. He was armed with a knife.
The incident occurred at the Co-op store in Westhorne Avenue, Eltham at 10.30pm on Sunday, July 31, and police are now appealing for witnesses
Suspect two is described as a black male, aged between 18 and 22. At the time of the robbery he was wearing black, knee-length, tracksuit bottoms, white socks pulled up and black trainers and a navy blue Nike hooded top.
Anyone who has information concerning this incident or who can identify those involved should call the incident room for Flying Squad East on 020 8345 1400 or call the police non emergency number, 101. To remain anonymous call Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Eighteen suspected illegal immigrants were seized after banging was heard from the back of a lorry.
The delivery truck stopped at Greenham Business Park in Berkshire - a former top-secret nuclear missile base which featured in a Star Wars film.
The stowaways were sick and needed urgent medical treatment after making it 130 miles into Britain.
The delivery truck stopped at Greenham Business Park in Berkshire - a former top-secret nuclear missile base which featured in a Star Wars film
UK Border Force Officers were called to Ministry Road on the business park, two miles from Newbury, after people heard 'banging and shouting' coming from the back of the lorry.
The 18 foreign nationals were found in the trailer and paramedics arrived to treat a number who were dehydrated and ill.
One eyewitness said today: 'The lorry was trying to manoeuvre around the business park, but cars blocked his way through.
'He started to reverse back, which is quite a difficult manoeuvre for a 7.5-tonne lorry, and when he did that we could hear banging coming from the back.
'I ran up to the driver, but he didn't speak a word of English so I called the police.
'Eighteen of them were brought out the back and I understand quite a few of them were unwell - ambulances were there and all sorts. I've never seen anything like it.'
The lorry driver was questioned as officials were suspicious about his claims of not knowing he was carrying suspected illegal immigrants.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: 'Eighteen people were detained and the matter is now being dealt with by the Home Office.'
Greenham Common airbase was world-famous in the 1980s when the US got permission from Britain to base 96 cruise missiles aimed at Russia.
More than 50,000 'peace wimmin' joined hands and formed a human chain round the nine-mile perimeter as military guards carrying rifles kept them at bay.
Greenham Common airbase was world-famous in the 1980s when the US got permission from Britain to base 96 cruise missiles aimed at Russia
The women, many living for months on end in tents round the former RAF airfield, staged many invasions, cutting through the wire fence and even dancing on the roof of the missile silos.
Their five-year protest gradually wound down after Reagan and Gorbachev held peace talks to cool the Cold War.
The peace women celebrated when the missiles were flown back to the US in the mid-eighties and after the military left, the common became a nature reserve at the turn of the milliennium.
A thriving business park was set up in one corner of the old airfield but the bunkers and airport control tower remain.
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The photographer who captured Carrie Fisher watching in the wings as her mom Debbie Reynolds performs on stage has opened up on the pair's relationship.
Lawrence Schiller, 80, took the iconic shot in 1963 in Las Vegas of a six-year-old Fisher sat on a stool backstage as her mother appears to reach out during her curtain call.
The incident at the Riviera Hotel was not a one-off, and that the Star Wars icon would sit and watch her mother for hours.
Waiting in the wings: A six-year-old Carrie Fisher (front) sits on a stool and watches her mother Debbie Reynolds performing at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas in 1963
Photographer Lawrence Schiller who grew up in San Diego, California, having been born in Brooklyn, New York, and went on to take the iconic snap
Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (left to right) pose during TNT's 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards at The Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California
Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds (left) during A Celebrity Roast of Jane Fonda - Benefitting the Georgia Campaign for Adolescent Pregnancy Prevention (G-CAPP) and the Star Wars icon at the New York Film Festival this year (right)
Carrie Fisher (left) and her mother Debbie Reynolds (right) posing for a picture in January last year
The photographer, who grew up in San Diego, California, having been born in Brooklyn told the New York Times: 'Her daughter was really mesmerized by her mother always.
'That's what really stood out.'
Not phased by big names, having photographed Marilyn Monroe a year earlier, he was able to get close enough to the family to realise there was a special bond between the two.
The Las Vegas photo was shared widely online this week in the wake of the two actresses' deaths a day apart.
By the time he was backstage with Ms Fisher, he had already noticed how the six-year-old looked up to her mother.
He said someone brought over a stool for the youngster, and she clambered up onto it independently to watch the whole singing-dancing act start to finish.
'You're waiting for the moment in which something you've seen is illustrated,' Mr Schiller told the New York Times.
Mr Schiller: 'Her daughter was really mesmerized by her mother always.'
'And then you don't even stop and think.
'The image is there and your camera is like a sponge to absorb the moment.'
It seemed Ms Fisher, 60, was content with watching her mother for hours, seemingly captivated by her presence.
She would sit and stare as Mr Schiller snapped away at Debbie Reynolds in various photo shoots.
Although close in recent years, the talented mother and daughter actresses didn't always see eye-to-eye.
When the Star Wars actress was in her youth, she refrained from talking to her mother for 10 years.
They became closer, however, when she got older, according to People and eventually became neighbors.
Despite having a Hollywood actress and her soon-to-be legendary daughter at his disposal, the Brooklyn-born photographer told the Times taking pictures was not as easy as it looked.
Talking of that photo in Las Vegas, he had to pick from a wide range of options to capture the perfect shot.
He took out his Leica, the same camera he always used for fly-on-the-wall pictures due to its quiet shutter.
Next he had to instinctively pick the lens, and decided on a wide angle, 28mm and set his shutter speed to slow.
'You overcome the technology and that's what allows you to be a good photojournalist,' he said.
'The technology becomes secondary.'
Although he rarely gets credit for the photo due to his name being cropped out of the reproduced versions, it has helped paint a powerful picture of their relationship in the aftermath of their tragic deaths.
Thousands of fans have shared the image, with Mary Stewart saying: 'Carrie Fisher watching Mommy from backstage. So moving. Oh, my heart.'
Fisher died on December 27 in a Los Angeles hospital after she had a heart attack on a transatlantic flight last Friday.
At 235ft high, you have to be feeling brave to ride Britain's tallest rollercoaster.
So these two workers would definitely have needed a head for heights after they were spotted climbing up The Big One rollercoaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach.
Luca Vettese, 23, spotted two figures spotted moving on the drop of the rollercoaster while he was driving home after walking his dog Nico last week.
Up in the air: These two workers would definitely have needed a head for heights after they were spotted climbing up The Big One rollercoaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach
After pulling over, to his amazement he realised they were workmen wearing hard hats scaling The Big One, which was once the world's steepest rollercoaster.
While it might appear the duo did not have safety gear, park officials said they would have had harnesses holding them to the ride which cannot be seen from behind.
Mr Vettese, manager of his family-owned ice cream parlour Notarianni's, said: 'We went on a walk down the beach with the dog in the morning
'As we were driving back home we spotted these two men clinging to the drop of the ride. We had to pull over to get a picture - I couldn't just drive past.
'I have never seen anyone up on it like that before. They must have had safety gear on but I couldn't see any as they were just so high up.
'They must have had a harness of some kind otherwise it would have been very dangerous and illegal. But I'm sure they will have been doing it by the book.
Caught on camera: Luca Vettese, 23, spotted two figures spotted moving on the drop of the rollercoaster while he was driving home after walking his dog Nico last week
'They were just working their way up, presumably doing some kind of maintenance, though I don't really know what they were doing.
'They were just climbing it. They were very chilled out as they went up it. It all seemed surprisingly natural considering how high it was.
'You wouldn't see me up there. I have never seen anything like that before and I walk past it daily. It's the kind of thing that will turn heads.'
When The Big One, formerly known as The Pepsi Max Big One, opened in 1994 it was both the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world.
The ride cost 12million to build and hits speeds of 85mph at its fastest - with a stomach-churning vertical angle of 65 degrees that the workers were climbing.
Spotted: After pulling over, to his amazement Mr Vettese realised they were workmen wering hard hats scaling The Big One, which was once the world's steepest rollercoaster
Mr Vettese said: 'I always take a camera out with me as I like to promote Blackpool as best we can to show its good side.
'When I saw it I thought 'this will grab people's attention' and had to get a picture. And it has - people couldn't believe it when they saw the picture.
'There is not a cat in hell's chance you would get me up there - it was very windy this morning. Not for all the money in the world.
'My pictures show them about three quarters of the way up but they carried on going all the way to the top. The ride itself is brilliant.'
A Blackpool Pleasure Beach spokesman said: 'Everyone on site is fully trained to work at height and those who do are in possession of working at height certificates.'
The ride cost 12million to build and hits speeds of 85mph at its fastest - with a stomach-churning vertical angle of 65 degrees that the workers were climbing
Big drop: When The Big One, formerly known as The Pepsi Max Big One, opened in 1994 it was both the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world
'They have full harnesses on which go over the waist and attach at the front so even if you can't see them, they are there.'
Big One by numbers BUILT: 1994 COST: 12million TOP SPEED: 85mph HEIGHT: 235ft LENGTH: 5,497ft Advertisement
He added: 'I would like to stress that none of our staff or contractors would be working in an area like that without wearing a harness and PPE equipment.
'In addition to this they would also have undergone full training to work at heights. '
Earlier this month, Blackpool Pleasure Beach announced they were laying the foundations for Construction 2018, a new 16million rollercoaster
The ride, which is being built in Waldkirch, Germany, plans to interact with five others at the park, including The Big One - and will open in spring 2018.
Maverick Liberal senator Cory Bernardi has been called 'Australia's Donald Trump' after taking aim at former prime minister Tony Abbott for criticising colleagues.
Mr Bernardi took to Twitter to attack his former leader Mr Abbott on Friday over an opinion piece he'd written discouraging anyone from breaking away from the Liberal party - something the South Australian senator has pledged to do.
Despite not being named in Mr Abbott's article published in The Australian or similar tweets, the senator was not afraid to hold back in his attack.
In a tweet to his 21,000 followers he accused Mr Abbott of 'talking up division' over the Christmas break and always putting himself before the party.
Maverick Liberal senator Cory Bernardi (pictured) has been called 'Australia's Donald Trump' after taking aim at former prime minister Tony Abbott for censoring colleagues
The conservative South Australian senator took to Twitter to attack Mr Abbott over his views
'While most on break only person talking up division in Lib Party this past week is @TonyAbbottMHR,' he tweeted.
'Always back the horse named self-interest.'
Renowned for being a firebrand MP, their has been widespread speculation over recent months Mr Bernardi is preparing to break away from the government.
He is rumoured to be considering forming his own 'Conservative Party' after being spotted in the United States with billionaire Gina Rinehart meeting with members of Trump's campaign in Washington in November.
It has been reported Ms Rinehart is considering bankrolling any move made by Mr Bernardi following One Nation's strong result at this year's election.
While Mr Abbott stood strong in his stance against any potential move by the South Australian senator, his colleague Eric Abetz moved to downplay the conflict.
'A split within the Liberal Party would potentially dilute the conservative voice which would slow the momentum for reform in the NSW division,' Mr Abetz told Fairfax on Friday.
An outspoken supporter of Donald Trump, Mr Bernardi and billionaire businesswoman Gina Rinehart reportedly met with members of his campaign in Washington in November
In addition to a newspaper opinion piece Mr Abbott also took to Twitter to voice his concern towards a possible break away move by Mr Bernardi
'While most on break only person talking up division in Lib Party this past week is Tony Abbott,' Mr Bernardi tweeted on Friday
'Many conservatives have been manipulatively disenfranchised by certain operatives in NSW which has led to understandable and widespread dissatisfaction.
'The answer is to remain and reform the party rather than dilute the forces for democracy and reform.'
Islamic State has executed a German Jihadi volunteer in its ranks for alleged spying.
Mario Sciannimanica's mother was contacted by terrorists in Syria earlier this year to say he had been killed in an American air strike.
But now it is revealed he was executed by the fanatics he converted to Islam for. Accused of treason, he was either beheaded or shot.
The boy from Leverkusen, in Germany's west, who fell into radical Jihadism three years ago was a member of the Isis security police Shurta Askeriya.
He fell into the ranks of Jihadists after an apprenticeship as a mechanic failed to land him a job.
German jihadi Mario Sciannimanica is pictured here with a young boy in Syria. Mario's mother was contacted by terrorists earlier this year to say he had been killed in an American air strike
Mario Sciannimanica, who is German and Italian, was a keen boxer and wannabe rapper before he converted to Islam and became radicalised
His parents spoke of false friends, rap, girl-chasing and dreams of getting rich before he started attending a radical mosque.
In one of his rap songs, the lyrics reportedly read: 'Life is not easy... but I know I am going my way to the end.'
According to media reports, he was preached to down the phone by a Salafist called Ibrahim Abou-Nagie, recently banned from handing out Korans on German streets.
The wannabe boxer became so fanatical that he abandoned his faithful pet dog Luna because it was 'unclean.' It was not long afterwards that he dreamed of joining the ranks of Isis.
'He said often he wanted to go there and help Muslims,' said his mother Heike to German newspaper BILD. 'He asked his girlfriend to go with him but she decided to remain in Germany.'
In northern Syria in 2013 he trained in a military camp and registered as an Isis fighter. He stayed in contact with his parents back home via Skype - but only on the condition that they swore allegiance to Islam.
The ISIS thug proudly shared photos of himself with weapons on his Twitter account before it was suspended
Mario, who called himself 'Lionheart', is pictured here Berlin ISIS terrorist Denis Cuspert
'We did because we did not want to lose contact with him,' said Heike. 'But it meant nothing to us.'
He called himself 'Lionheart' on social media postings to friends back home. But he begged his parents for money and, again fearful of losing him forever, they obliged.
His home was searched many times by intelligence officials and police, the last time in March this year when they believed he had returned home.
The following month they heard from him for the last time when he again wrote seeking money.
In June they heard that he had been killed in the air strike on an Isis convoy.
A suspected killer who attempted to 'emulate the Berlin lorry attack' has been arrested in Ukraine after allegedly beheading a woman and her daughter.
The 25-year-old man, named as Dmitry P. murdered a woman aged, 42, and her daughter, two, say police, who issued a picture of the suspect.
Driving a truck at high speed, he was then blocked by officers from entering Odessa, police say.
On his way he had caused a 'traffic accident' at 100mph which is why he was prevented from going beyond the city limits of the Black Sea port.
A suspected killer who attempted to 'emulate the Berlin lorry attack' has been arrested in Ukraine after allegedly beheading a woman and her daughter. Police have not named the suspect, but released a picture of him (above)
Armed response: Elite soldiers including snipers were called in as the hunt got underway today
Driving a truck at high speed, the suspect was then blocked by officers from entering Odessa, police say. The lorry is pictured
It comes nearly two weeks after an ISIS fanatic drove a lorry through crowds of revellers in Berlin, killing 12 and injuring 48.
Dmitry Golovin, head of Odessa region police, alleged the man 'aimed to repeat the Berlin terrorist attack by smashing into street crowds in a lorry' in Odessa, according to reports.
After finding the road blocked, the driver of the truck veered into a field. The lorry became stuck but the man escaped police on foot.
Sniffer dogs, elite police troops and Ukrainian national guards are all involved in the hunt, it was reported. They have cordoned a large area.
In all, 1,500 officers are chasing the 'killer', who is holed up in a sprawling area of summer country houses, which are now empty.
Locals were warned of the extreme threat of the runaway.
The mother of the woman allegedly beheaded by the truck driver told a Ukrainian TV channel: 'He set the house on fire. He stabbed my daughter to death. And my granddaughter to death'
Snipers and National Guard armed vehicles arrived early today at Gribovka village and resort in Odessa region. They were pictured on local beaches
Security forces were pictured on local beaches as they hunted the alleged killer this morning
Dmitry Golovin, head of Odessa region police, alleged the man 'aimed to repeat the Berlin terrorist attack by smashing into street crowds in a lorry' in Odessa (pictured), according to reports
The woman he is alleged to have killed is understood to be the sister of a senior tax official of the crime-ridden city of Odessa (pictured)
They were told not to approach or tackle him because it is likely he was armed and 'dangerous'.
The woman he is alleged to have killed is understood to be the sister of a senior tax official of the crime-ridden city of Odessa.
His motives for the alleged beheadings are not known, nor for his alleged intention of ramming a crowd of people in the Ukrainian city. It was not clear if he had hijacked the truck.
The man's nationality and background is as yet undisclosed. He was reported to be from Ovidiopol in Odessa region.
The mother of the woman allegedly beheaded by the truck driver told a Ukrainian TV channel: 'He set the house on fire. He stabbed my daughter to death. And my granddaughter to death.'
Armed response: All hotels and hostels, most of them currently empty, were checked for the suspect
A major police hunt was launched for the suspect who police say beheaded a woman and her daughter before driving at high speed in a lorry
The deputy head of Odessa region police Ivan Ishchenko said: 'All police, National Guards and special forces were gathered into the area where he dumped the truck'
She was too upset to say more.
Snipers and National Guard armed vehicles arrived early today at Gribovka village and resort in Odessa region. They were pictured on local beaches.
All hotels and hostels, most of them currently empty, were checked for the suspect.
His victims - a woman called Olga and her two year old daughter Maria - were beheaded overnight at their home at Ovidiopol.
The deputy head of Odessa region police Ivan Ishchenko said: 'All police, National Guards and special forces were gathered into the area where he dumped the truck.
'Every resort, summer country house, permanent living house - everything is being searched.'
It comes after Anis Amri, a 24-year-old Tunisian asylum seeker, carried out a lorry attack in Berlin, killing 12 people and injuring 48 others.
Laura Percival, who miscarried 12 weeks into her pregnancy, was left devastated when medical tests were carried out on her baby with her knowledge or consent
A heartbroken mother who had a miscarriage was left devastated after medical tests were carried out on her baby's body without her knowledge.
Laura Percival, who miscarried 12 weeks into her pregnancy, was originally told the hospital had 'lost' her child.
But it later emerged that the baby's body had instead been taken to another hospital for tests, with Ms Percival's knowledge or consent.
The 27-year-old only found out what had happened when she managed to speak with a member of the bereavement team at Croydon University Hospital, south London, more than a month after the miscarriage.
By then, it was too late for Ms Percival to cremate her baby's remains, as she had wished.
Ms Percival said: 'I was told that they had lost my notes, and they didn't know where the baby was.
'I found out the remains had been taken to St George's Hospital in Tooting for tests, without my consent.'
Ms Percival said she had a meeting in October with the director of the gynecology department, informing her of her options for saying goodbye to her child.
She chose to have the child cremated so she could keep the ashes.
But for weeks after this meeting, Ms Percival was unable to get hold of the bereavement team.
It was when she did eventually speak to them that the mother-of-one discovered the remains had been sent off for tests to St George's Hospital without her permission.
It means she can no longer opt for cremation.
Croydon University Hospital say they carry out analysis on the tissues from miscarried babies to rule out wider health problems.
They insist they do not need to permission from the mother to do this.
Ms Percival, who lives in Croydon, said: 'Those tests must have been carried out straight after the surgery. I understand the tests were to find out if there were any markers to find out why the miscarriage happened.
The 27-year-old (left with her son Luka and right) was originally told the hospital had 'lost' her child, but it later emerged the baby's body had instead been taken to another hospital for tests
'It is an ordeal which constantly plays on my mind. I really have struggled to get closure from this ordeal.'
She said the hospital had 'messed up' and that it had been a 'heartbreaking' experience.
'First I was told that they did need my permission, and then they told me a week later that guidelines say they didn't need to get my consent,' she said.
Ms Percival has been left distressed, confused and upset by the stressful ordeal, which happened almost four months ago.
She added: 'It has all been very confusing and I hope everything can be made clearer for future patients going through this heartbreaking ordeal.
'I just don't think I can ever step foot in there again, I have no faith in them whatsoever to the point that if my other child was sick, I would try to go to another hospital.
A spokesman for Croydon University Hospital (pictured) say they carry out analysis on the tissues from miscarried babies to rule out wider health problems
'Everything has made me feel quite useless, everything seems to have been completely out of my control when it should have always been in my control.'
Ms Pervical is trying to raise money to plant a rose bush or a tree at the Croydon Crematorium for her miscarried baby.
A Croydon University Hospital said they follow national guidance which encourages them to automatically send tissue from a miscarriage for analysis to rule out certain wider health conditions.
'These guidelines treat this procedure as routine and it isn't something that patients are required to consent to,' a spokesman said.
'We release miscarriage remains to women who wish to have them. However, not all remains contain fetal tissue and sometimes they are solely tissues from the mother.
'In these cases, the law does not allow the remains to be formally buried or cremated, and the Croydon University Health Services NHS Trust is under a strict legal obligation not to sign the paperwork that would allow a formal burial.
'A miscarriage can be a devastating experience for women, and we want to make sure that they have all of the support that they need.
'We have recently appointed a pregnancy loss specialist midwife who supports our patients who have suffered a miscarriage.
A Finnish neo-Nazi has been jailed for two years following a fatal assault on an innocent bystander who died after being kicked in the chest at a violent demonstratoin.
Jesse Torniainen, 26, was found guilty of kicking Jimi Joonas Karttunen in the chest on September 10 in Helsinki.
The neo-Nazi is a member of the Finnish chapter of the so-called Nordic Resistance Movement.
Finnish neo-Nazi group member Jesse Torniainen, pictured, was jailed for two years after he kicked a protester in the chest who fell and bashed his head on the ground and later died
Torniainen, left, claimed he only intended on scaring his victim Jimi Joonas Karttunen
Helsinki District Court heard he lashed out after Mr Karttunen made a 'disparaging remark' about his neo-Nazi group and spat on the pavement.
Torniainen kicked Mr Karttunen in the chest who was knocked to the ground and banged his head off the pavement and suffered catastrophic injuries.
Mr Karttunen died six days after the attack.
During the trial, Torniainen claimed he only intended to scare his victim.
However, the court found him guilty of 'aggravated violence' despite a plea by prosecutors that he should be convicted of 'aggravated manslaughter'.
Mr Karttunen, 28, fell to the ground and smashed his head, dying six days later due to bleeding on the brain.
But according to medical reports, Karttunen, a drug abuser, had used unprescribed medications and not followed hospital instructions while receiving treatment.
A video shot by the neo-Nazi Finnish Resistance Movement, showing the victim lying on a pavement with a small pool of blood behind his head, was still visible on YouTube on Friday.
Prosecutor Anja-Riitta Rinkinen slammed the court's decision not to convict Torniainen of manslaughter, saying the victim was killed because he stood against racism.
She said: 'An act of violence directed against a person who opposed the racist incitement can be considered to have a racist motive.
'We consider the victim to be such a person.'
Parents in France no longer have the right to beat their children after a new law banning corporal punishment came into force this week.
The move leaves Britain as one of only four countries in Europe where smacking remains a legal way of disciplining children.
The French law now defines parental authority in the Civil Code as excluding 'all cruel, degrading or humiliating treatment, including any recourse to corporal violence'.
French parents have been banned from smacking their children under a new law
Centrist French MP Jean-Christophe Lagarde, pictured, criticised the new legislation claiming it was 'a ridiculous attempt to micromanage family life' by the state and its agents
Now the UK, Italy, Switzerland and the Czech Republic are all expected to receive mounting demands to pass a similar law against smacking.
French centrist MP Jean-Christophe Lagarde has described his country's new law as ' a ridiculous attempt to micromanage family life'.
The ban was proposed by a group of ecologist and socialist MPs as an amendment to the Equality and Citizenship bill, which went before parliament earlier this year.
The legistlation says it aims to 'set out a clear principle, which should be repeated to fathers and mothers and influence their future behaviour'.
As part of the law, brides and grooms will be reminded during the civil marriage service of their obligation not to use violence against their children.
France has come under fire from the Council of Europe and the UN in recent years for their stance on violence against children.
Pope Francis, pictured, had previously said parents should be allowed to hit their children
Now the UK, Italy, Switzerland and the Czech Republic are all expected to receive mounting demands to pass a similar law against smacking.
Lagarde added: 'Are we going to be told how to stack our plates, whether children should be made to dry up and whether they can help their parents with the chores?'
Thierry Vidor, director of Familles de France, added: 'To cast judgment on parents who love their children and may give them a little tap on the backside if they are naughty, is going too far. That type of act has no negative effect on a child's education.'
A woman has received 'the most Australian present ever' - a Bunnings Warehouse voucher complete with change for the iconic storefront sausage sizzle.
Kelly Hazell recently celebrated her birthday and was surprised with a $100 Bunnings gift card from her partner.
But it wasn't the card, or its monetary value which showed the most thought - it was the coins taped to the outside.
'The most Australian' present ever, a Bunnings Warehouse voucher and some coins for the barbecue in the carpark
There are often barbecue events held outside the hard ware giant's stores
The thoughtful gift included enough money to buy a sausage sandwich and a can of drink - which are often sold outside the warehouse stores.
'It was my birthday yesterday and my partner gave me a thoughtful gift... A Bunnings voucher with spare change for a snag and can of drink.' It doesn't get more Aussie than that,' Ms Hazell said.
The photo has gone viral on social media with many shoppers planning to recreate the special gift for their own loved ones.
A woman is suing a mail order company to find out who sent a bag of penis-shaped gummy candies to her at work.
Melody Lenox, the human resources director at a Dallas-based technology company, filed a lawsuit Tuesday requesting the name of the person who sent the package.
Lenox received the packed at Axxess Technology Solutions, a healthcare technology company, on December 7.
Lenox recieved the packed at her workplace, healthcare technology company Axxess Technology Solutions
The gummy candies were sent from a company called D**ks By Mail.
In the suit, Lenox says the package was sent to harass her, and belives the same person could also be responsible for keying her car and posting a series of fake Craigslist ads about her.
She is asking the company for the name, address, telephone number, and any other identifying information of the person who sent the package so that she can 'put an end to the harassment'.
Neither Lenox nor the attorney representing her and Axxess in the suit, Christopher Groves, were immediately available for comment.
The gummy candies came from a company called D**ks By Mail, which sends items anonymously through the mail
D**ks By Mail is one of a number of companies that allows people to send items anonymously through the mail, from glitter to horse manure to mayonnaise.
The D**ks By Mail website stipulates that both the recipient and purchaser must be 18 or older, and the terms of service states that senders must not harass anyone with the candy.
The Russian embassy has poked fun at Britain for its silence over the ceasefire in Syria - and asked Twitter to decide why the UK has made no comment.
A nationwide Syrian truce brokered by Russia and Turkey went into effect at midnight and was holding today despite minor violations, marking a potential breakthrough in the brutal conflict.
But staff at the Russian embassy in London have taken a swipe at Britain today, claiming there had been 'No UK reaction' to the deal.
It then asked the question, 'why?' before giving three possible reasons: 'Jealousy', 'FCO on holiday' or 'can't believe'.
The Russian embassy has poked fun at Britain for its silence over the ceasefire in Syria - and asked Twitter to decide why the UK has made no comment
A nationwide Syrian truce brokered by Russia and Turkey went into effect at midnight and was holding today despite minor violations, marking a potential breakthrough in the brutal conflict
Staff at the Russian embassy in London have taken a swipe at Britain today, claiming there had been 'No UK reaction' to the deal. Russian president Vladimir Putin is pcitured above
Twitter users are able to vote on their preferred choice and by late morning today, more than a thousand votes had been cast.
Just before noon, 'jealousy' was the leading option with 48 per cent of the vote followed by the suggestion that the Foreign and Commonwealth Office was on holiday (28 per cent) and then 'can't believe' (24 per cent).
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the cease-fire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey, and the agreement has been welcomed by Iran. Moscow and Tehran provide crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has long served as a rear base and source of supplies for the rebels.
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the cease-fire a 'major achievement' in a tweet Friday. 'Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror,' he added.
Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one denied signing it.
The truce came on the heels of a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive. The retaking of all of Aleppo marked Assad's greatest victory since the start of the 2011 uprising against his family's four-decade rule.
Mockery: This was how Russia's embassy in London responded to a US sanctions announcement, mocking Obama as a lame duck president
The same embassy had earlier hit back at Barack Obama's retribution for the alleged hacking of the US presidential campaign by insinuating the outgoing leader is a 'lame duck'
The embassy's provocative tweet was posted against the back drop of diplomatic tension between Russia and the West.
The same embassy had earlier hit back at Barack Obama's retribution for the alleged hacking of the US presidential campaign by insinuating the outgoing leader is a 'lame duck'.
Mr Obama ordered 35 Russian diplomats to leave the US and shut down a pair of Russian compounds in New York and Maryland.
Moscow, which denies trying to swing the election in Donald Trump's favour, threatened retaliation and branded the Obama administration 'losers'.
On Thursday, Russia's embassy in London took to Twitter where it posted a picture of a duck captioned with the word 'lame'.
'President Obama expels 35 (Russian) diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl (American) people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm,' it added.
The US says Russia was behind cyber attacks on the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton's campaign chairman.
Toan Truong, 43, was fatally shot at his Melbourne home after discovering an intruder and confronting him
Police are hunting for a man who shot a father dead in front of his infant son and pregnant wife during a botched drug heist.
Toan Truong, 43, was fatally shot at his Melbourne home earlier this year when he stumbled upon the intruder and confronted him.
It is thought the shooter was part of a drug syndicate targeting a hydroponic cannabis growing setup inside Truong's home.
After discovering the intruder in his home in February, Truong gave chase into a rear bedroom where the intruder fired his gun, fatally wounding the father.
Investigators believe the murderer is an associate of a syndicate that executed aggravated burglaries at properties with cannabis crops in Melbourne's suburbs.
Officers say at least three men were involved in the raid.
ABC News reported that his brother, Tai Truong, described Mr Truong as your 'stereotypical larrikin' who had a good job as an engineer and was loved by those who knew him.
Truong chased the masked home invader into a back bedroom before he opened fire. Police are still hunting for a suspect matching this description
He said the family was shocked to learn Mr Truong was growing drugs in his home.
'My brother did a stupid thing, he made a mistake, and for that he's paid with his life,' Mr Tai Truong told reporters.
'He was not wanting of money ... it baffles our minds what happened to him.'
Police today launched a fresh appeal for information about Mr Toan Truong's death and released an image of a man they wish to speak to about the incident.
Police also released images of a BMW coupe (top) and Ford Falcon that were seen driving in convoy around the area shortly before the raid
CCTV footage shows a dark coloured sedan speeding away from the house shortly after the shooting.
His wife, who was eight months pregnant at the time, was unaware of the hydroponic crop because Mr Truong had told her he was renovating the room for the baby and he wanted it to be a surprise.
A month after his death, Mr Truong's baby girl was born.
An 'arrogant' property tycoon sexually assaulted a school teacher in a pub as she enjoyed a night out with her husband.
Anthony Tokatly, 45, a director at JPW Real Estate, which has assets of 2billion, grabbed the woman as she made her way to the toilet at the 18th century pub.
He reached out and touched her beneath her right breast, but when she pushed his hand away, he reached out again and cupped it.
Anthony Tokatly (pictured), 45, a director at JPW Real Estate, which has assets of 2billion, grabbed the woman as she made her way to the toilet at the 18th century pub
He reached out and touched her beneath her right breast, but when she pushed his hand away, he reached out again and cupped it
Later, after the victim told her husband he confronted a drunken Tokatly at The Ship pub in Wandsworth, south London but he denied the assault.
At Kingston Crown Court Tokatly, who also has a partner of four years and a 13-year-old son, was labelled 'arrogant and intimidating' by the judge.
In a statement the victim said: 'The whole incident made me very upset.
'I also thought of myself as quite a strong person and I do not want him to do this to anyone else or think that his behaviour is acceptable.
'I do not feel as emotionally strong as I did before and I am grateful that my husband was there was I do not know what would have happened if I had been alone.'
Tokatly is also a member of the board of the British Property Federation's Residential Management Committee, the Steering Group at Property Week and a judge on both the RESI Awards and the Daily Telegraph's prestigious International Property Awards.
Prosecutor Kate Fortescue said: 'The defendant was convicted of sexual assault after an incident at The Ship pub on 17 June this year.
'He has no previous convictions.'
Wearing a black suit and tie Tokatly listened as his defence argued he was an educated and 'remorseful' man.
At Kingston Crown Court Tokatly, who also has a partner of four years and a 13-year-old son and was labelled 'arrogant and intimidating' by the judge
Defence Kathleen Mulhern said: 'He is remorseful for what happened and he does appreciate that he should not have entered her personal space.
'He is a man of 45 and is educated. He has been a shareholder of his own company for the past 15 years and has a 13-year-old son and a long term partner of four years.
'Unfortunately he has not felt able to tell them about this.'
She added: 'This is completely out of character, being in court and going through the trial has had an effect and impact upon him.
'He will be very careful about how he acts in public going forward.'
Judge Andrew Campbell branded the tycoon's actions 'bullying and overbearing' before sentencing him.
He said: 'It seems to me that your client was over bearing, bullying and acting very unpleasantly, partially because of the drink he had had.
'It was very unpleasant, he did pen her in didn't he.'
He told Tokatly: 'You were acting in an intimidating and arrogant way which clearly upset the victim.
'The order I am going to make is that you should complete 150 hours of unpaid work within a period of 12 months.
'You may also be placed on a barring list which may prevent you working with children.'
Jack Lear, 23, started selling the novelty costumes when he was just 17 and now has business across the world
A young entrepreneur has reaped inflated profits after the blow-up fancy dress business he started as a teenager raked in 1.5million-a-year.
Jack Lear, 23, who compares himself to Virgin tycoon Sir Richard Branson, started selling the novelty costumes when he was just 17 and now has business across the world.
His outfits include inflatable animals, dinosaurs, and dragons as well as Sumo wrestlers and Halloween costumes.
He also sells his all in one Bodysocks outfits - skintight suits with colourful designs - which is also the name of his company.
Mr Lear, from Tenby in Pembrokeshire, said he was determined to start his own business after a meeting with a school's career's advisor when he was 15.
He said: 'I was desperate to leave school because it was holding me back from growing my business.
'After that meeting and test he told my parents there was no point in me in staying school, they might as well let me go.
'Sir Richard Branson, like me, left school at a young age and experienced issues along the way but never gave up.
Mr Lear has raked in 1.5million after his fancy dress business Bodysocks, became popular with customers around the world (pictured, people jump around in one of his costume lines)
Bodysocks now sell fancy dress costumes to 100,000 customers, and offers next day delivery to customers across the world (pictured, people jump around in the firm's costumes)
'My parents have been a big influence. As a family we have always discussed business matters openly so I always felt comfortable in that environment.'
Bodysocks now sell fancy dress costumes to 100,000 customers, and offers next day delivery to customers across the world, but Jack is looking for more.
A desperate search was launched today for two missing teenage girls as fears grow for their safety.
Natasha Wallace, 15, and Jordann Pringle, 16, were last seen in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, last night and are believed to have now left the area.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: 'If you know the whereabouts of the girls or have any information which would assist in locating them, then please contact police.
Missing teenagers: Natasha Wallace (left), 15, and Jordann Pringle (right), 16, were last seen in Thornhill, Dumfries and Galloway, last night and are believed to have now left the area
'They may have travelled outwith Dumfries and Galloway so please feel free to share as widely as possible. We need to ensure that they are safe and well.'
Britain has already secured more than 16billion in foreign investment deals since June's Brexit vote, ministers announced today.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox hailed the splurge in foreign spending as 'a clear vote of confidence' in post-Brexit Britain.
Major international firms such as Google and Apple have pledged to create thousands of new jobs in the UK.
Mr Fox said the foreign investment since Brexit worth an estimated 16.3billion will boost Britain's property development, infrastructure and renewable energy sectors.
He said the investment showed foreign firms were confident of 'our strong economy post-Brexit'.
And with billions of further investment expected to be announced in the coming months, the Government is set to reach or exceed its target of 983billion in foreign direct investment already achieved between 2015 and 2016.
International Trade Secretary Liam Fox, pictured, hailed splurge in foreign investment in Britain since June's Brexit vote as 'a clear vote of confidence' in post-Brexit Britain
The deals are further evidence of the resilient British economy defying doom-laden predictions of financial chaos after June's vote to leave the EU.
Figures show the British economy is growing larger than expected and the London Stock exchange has enjoyed two consecutive days of record highs.
Mr Fox said that in the run-up to Christmas the Australian company Peak Resources announced a 100million investment in a new minerals refinery in the north east of England.
Chinese construction firm CNBM is investing 2.5billion to develop 25,000 modular homes in the UK.
Danish firm DONG Energy has also committed 12billion in renewable energy projects in Britain by 2020.
Dr Fox said: 'Recent major investments show how much the UK is valued as an innovative business-friendly country, and will continue to be as we leave the EU.
The investment was hailed by senior Brexit supporters Michael Gove, left, and Iain Duncan Smith, right, who said the figures were the final proof that the 'prophets of doom' from the Remain campaign were wrong
'But the benefits of foreign investment have much more impact for local communities across the UK, transforming local industry, creating jobs and tackling issues like housing and clean energy.
'Britain remains truly open for business, that's why my department is supporting businesses in the UK and across the world to attract investment to boost our economy.
'Long-term business investments like these are a clear vote of confidence in the UK and our strong economy post-Brexit.'
The investment was hailed by senior Brexit supporters who said the figures were the final proof that the 'prophets of doom' from the Remain campaign were wrong.
Former Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith said: 'This latest announcement is the turning point. You are now either in the camp that fundamentally believes that Britain can do anything, anytime and anywhere, or you are in the doom and gloom camp that doesn't believe in Britain.
'These are the little England Remainers who cannot believe for one moment that Great Britain is not little England, they actually think that this great island of ours cannot do anything without going on bended knee to Brussels.'
News of the 16bn investment came as the London stock market enjoyed two-straight days of record highs. Pictured, the FTSE 100 index over the last thirty years
Former Justice Secretary and Vote Leave champion Michael Gove said: 'This is fantastic news that the Government has secured these levels of investment.
'This is a real vote of confidence in Britain after our vote to leave the European Union. The prophets of doom have once again been found wanting.
'All the signs are that Britain can make a great success of life outside the European Union and these investors certainly believe in a great future for Britain.'
News of the 16bn investment came as the London stock market enjoyed two-straight days of record highs.
Big gains for precious metal-related stocks helped the FTSE 100 rise 14.18 points to hit a new high of 7120.26 last night, a day after it attained a record level a fraction above 7,106.
Two men have been taken to hospital following a bloody fight in Sydneys inner west on Friday night.
The men, who know each other, were fighting on the street after 7pm when emergency services were called to break them up.
The fighters, aged 49 and 54, respectively looked disgruntled as they spoke with police following the incident which occurred on a suburban street in South Granville.
Two men, pictured with police, have been taken to hospital following a fight in Sydney's inner west on Friday night
This bloodied wooden board was found discarded at the scene
Both of the men were treated for injuries on the scene by paramedics before being transferred to hospital.
One of the men was bandaged by the crews to stop bleeding which appeared to be coming from his chest.
The man was dressed in a black Von Dutch singlet and had a distinctive tattoo on his left shoulder.
One of the men appeared to be bandage from front to back with wounds to the chest
Police and paramedics attended the fight just after 7.20pm on Friday evening
One man pointed from the shadows as he spoke to police about the fight
Police believe the two men they have spoken with were the only people involved in the fight
The second man sat in the shadows as he spoke with police, and didnt appear to be bandaged up.
Police believe the men know each other and said the injuries are not life-threatening.
Photos from the scene show a large wooden board smeared with blood.
Police and paramedics attended the scene.
Police believe the men know each other and said the injuries are not life-threatening
Paramedics treated the men at the scene and also took them to a local hospital
The street was taped off while police spoke with those involved, as well as witnesses
This sickening surveillance footage captures the moment a car ploughed through an intersection sending three pedestrians flying into the air.
Hawthorne police have released the video showing a hit-and-run collision in the California city that left three pedestrians injured earlier this month.
The incident happened at the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Rocket Road just before 2.15am on December 17, Hawthorne Police Department said.
In the footage a vehicle can be seen traveling at high rate of speed northbound on Crenshaw Boulevard.
Hawthorne police have released the video showing a hit-and-run collision at the intersection of Crenshaw Boulevard and Rocket Road
Four pedestrians were crossing at the time, and had right of way when the car ran a red light at Rocket, striking three of them
Four pedestrians were crossing at the time, and had right of way when the car ran a red light at Rocket, striking three of them.
The driver continued on without slowing, fleeing the scene while the injured pedestrians, three women, lay in the road, as the fourth, who was uninjured, rushed to help them.
The pedestrians were treated for at the scene by Los Angeles County Fire Department rescue units before they were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
All three women have since been released from hospital.
Police released the graphic video footage in an effort to find the driver and the vehicle used in the hit-and-run
Witnesses told police the car they had seen the car running a red light at nearby Jack Northrop Avenue before it sped through the stoplight at Rocket
Police released the graphic video footage in an effort to find the driver and the hit-and-run vehicle, which is believed to be a light-colored 1996 Toyota Camry.
Hawthorne police said the car is possibly gray, silver, or light green in color, with damage to the front-right corner.
Police initially said it was a 2006 vehicle, but later corrected the description to refer to a car a decade older.
Witnesses told police the car they had seen the car running a red light at nearby Jack Northrop Avenue before it sped through the stoplight at Rocket.
Officers are also seeking to trace a key witness, the driver of a small gray two-door pickup truck that made a U-turn after the collision, apparently to chase after the Camry.
Anyone with information about the hit-and-run is asked to call Hawthorne police at 310-349-2702 or 310-349-2727.
A New York man drove through several yards before crashing into a home and causing a pool to collapse.
Suffolk County Police arrested John Winn, 32, of Shirley, man after he crashed a vehicle into a home.
Authorities said Winn also stripped naked and fled the scene, but he was later caught by officers.
A New York man drove through several yards before crashing into a home (pictured) and causing a pool to collapse. Authorities said the man then stripped naked and fled the scene
The incident took place on Thursday night around 11.30pm on the South Shore where police and fire fighters found the collapsed pool and a flooded home
The man's blue car (pictured) was sticking out of the home and he had apparently crashed it into the home's deck
Winn was driving a 1998 Ford when he apparently lost control of his vehicle at 11.30pm at the corner of Ridgewood Drive on South Shore, police said.
When police responded to the call near Ridgewood Drive, they found the collapsed pool and a flooded home.
Winn's blue car was sticking out of the home and he had apparently crashed it into the home's deck.
Authorities told NBC that the force of the vehicle caused the deck to crumble into the pool, causing it to cave-in and flood the home.
Police said the man had driven the car onto two lawns and plowed through several fences before crashing into the home.
The man was taken to Brookhaven Memorial Hospital Medical Center in East Patchogue, but the extent of his injuries is unknown, according to ABC 7.
Residents were in the home at the time, but no one in or around the home was injured.
He was charged with driving while ability impaired by drugs (DWAI), reckless endangerment in the second degree and leaving the scene of an incident without reporting.
Authorities said the force of the vehicle caused the deck (pictured) to crumble into the pool, causing it to cave-in and flood the home. A fire also broke out at the home as firefighters worked late into the night
This is the dramatic moment firefighters walked across a dangerous frozen lake to rescue a stricken dog after it fell into the icy waters.
Firefighters from Muskegon County in Michigan were called to White Lake after reports of a dog struggling in the water.
When they arrived they spotted the elderly golden retriever desperately trying to stay afloat.
One of the rescuers ventures out on to the dangerous frozen lake wearing a specialist ice rescue suit
A colleague follows close behind and holds a rope so he can pull the man and the dog to safety
And wearing ice water rescue gear, one firefighter carrying a rope ventured out on to the dangerous ice to grab the dog.
He was followed by a colleague close behind who also holds on to the same rope and eventually they reached the pet.
One of the men then lay flat on his stomach and managed to pluck the dog from the freezing water, while another two colleagues pulled them to the shore.
The firefighter then slid along with the dog before reaching more steady ice where he got to his feet and carried the animal to safety.
The dog was then wrapped up in a blanket and carried by another firefighter to a waiting vehicle.
Eventually the rescuer manages to scoop up the elderly golden retriever and bring him to the shore
The White Lake Fire Authority wrote on Facebook: 'What a way to run the 1,000th alarm for 2016! Department personnel were requested to assist Muskegon County Animal Control for a canine in distress on White Lake.
'The Golden Retriever wandered onto the ice when MCAC Officers attempted to assist the animal in getting home.
'The canine fell through the ice roughly 100 yards from shore and could not remove himself.
The dog was then wrapped up in a blanket and carried by another firefighter to a waiting vehicle
The pet was then taken to the pound as it was not wearing a collar but has since been reunited with his owner
'Personnel donned ice rescue suits and using other safety equipment rescued of the canine.
'The animal was then turned over to MCAC for proper advanced care and safe return to its owners.'
The pet was then taken to the pound as it was not wearing a collar but has since been reunited with his owner, who confirmed the dog was 14 years old and was still recovering from the fall.
The war of words between Theresa May and Barack Obama's administration continued today as the US State Department expressed 'surprise' at her strong rebuke of John Kerry's Israel speech.
A spokesperson for Mr Kerry pointed out that nine other major nations had backed his condemnation of Mr Netanyahu over his construction of settlements in the West Bank while the UK PM had aligned herself with Donald Trump's response.
The US Secretary of State made a highly critical speech on foreign policy on Wednesday describing the current Israeli regime as the 'most right-wing in history'.
He also accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for undermining the two-state solution with his settlement policy in the West Bank.
His comments sparked Downing Street to issue an unprecedented attack on the US Secretary of State, saying it was inappropriate to attack the make-up of the democratically-elected Israeli government a key ally of both the US and Britain.
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The war of words between Theresa May, left, and Barack Obama's administration continued today as the US State Department expressed 'surprise' at her strong rebuke of John Kerry's Israel speech, pictured right
Britain backed a UN Security Council resolution calling for an end to Israel's construction of settlements in the hotly-disputed region but No 10 said Mr Kerry had overstepped the mark with his strongly-worded personal attack on Mr Netanyahu and his government.
Downing Street also rebuked Mr Kerry for focusing on the single issue of Israeli settlements and not the whole conflict.
A spokesman for Mrs May responded by saying: 'We do not... believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue, in this case the construction of settlements, when clearly the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is so deeply complex.
'And we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically-elected government of an ally.
'The Government believes that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the international community.'
It signals Mrs May is looking to align her foreign policy to that of Mr Trump, who weighed in to defend Mr Netanyahu after Mr Kerry's attack and told Israel to 'stay strong,' adding that his inauguration as US President on January 20 was 'fast approaching'.
In a highly critical speech on foreign policy on Wednesday the US Secretary of State John Kerry, pictured, criticised Irsaeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu for undermining the two-state solution with his settlement policy in the West Bank
In a sign of escalating tensions between London and Washington, the US State Department hit straight back.
A spokesperson for Mr Kerry said: 'We are grateful for the strongly supportive statements in response to Secretary Kerry's speech from across the world, including Germany, France, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and others.
'We are surprised by the UK Prime Minister's office statement given that Secretary Kerry's remarkswhich covered the full range of threats to a two state solution, including terrorism, violence, incitement and settlementswere in-line with the UK's own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations last week.'
Mrs May's attack echoed the response by Mr Netanyahu and US President-elect Donald Trump.
The Israeli PM accused the US Secretary of State of being skewed against Israel' and talking 'obsessively' about settlements.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, pictured accused the US Secretary of State of being skewed against Israel' and talking 'obsessively' about settlements
President-elect Donald Trump weighed in to the dispute to defend the Israeli government
In his speech on Wednesday Mr Kerry, who is leaving his post next month along with President Barack Obama, said the only way to achieve peace between Israelis and Palestinians in the Middle East is through a two-state solution to the disputed West Bank.
'That future is now in jeopardy,' the US Secretary of State said.
He added: 'The Israeli prime minister publicly supports a two-state solution, but his current coalition is the most right-wing in Israeli history with an agenda driven by the most extreme elements.
'The result is that policies of this government, which the prime minister himself just described as more committed to settlements than any Israel's history, are leading in the opposite direction. They are leading towards one state.'
Downing Street insisted it still opposed Israel's 'illegal' construction of settlements in the West Bank and said its criticism was expressing unease at his comments attacking the make-up of the Israeli government.
A spokesman said: 'The British Government continues to believe that the only way to a lasting peace in the Middle East is through a two-state solution.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu derided U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry's speech on Mideast peace process on Wednesday as 'unbalanced' and warned him against additional provocation in the 'waning days' of the Obama administration
'We continue to believe that the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal, which is why we supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 last week.
'But we are also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict. In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long.'
The US State Department hit straight back, pointing out that nine other major nations had backed Mr Kerry's condemnation of Mr Netanyahu.
A spokesperson said: 'We are grateful for the strongly supportive statements in response to Secretary Kerry's speech from across the world, including Germany, France, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and others.
'We are surprised by the UK Prime Minister's office statement given that Secretary Kerry's remarkswhich covered the full range of threats to a two state solution, including terrorism, violence, incitement and settlementswere in-line with the UK's own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations last week.'
Benjamin Netanyahu called the Kerry speech 'unbalanced' and mocked President Obama by posting a picture to his Facebook page of him as a presidential candidate in 2008 visiting the Western Wall and noted that the US is now calling it 'occupied Palestinian territory. 'Seriously?' he wrote
Mr Kerry's speech sparked a major diplomatic war of words between the US and Israeli governments.
Mr Netanyahu called the speech 'unbalanced' and said that 'Israelis do not need to be lectured on the importance of peace'.
He posted a picture to his Facebook page of Mr Obama visiting the Western Wall in 2008 when he was a presidential candidate and noted that the US is now calling it 'occupied Palestinian territory. 'Seriously?' he wrote.
Mr Netanyahu also penned a note of thanks to Mr Trump for his 'clear-cut support' for Israel.
The social media post came after Trump tweeted his own message of support for Israel.
Mr Trump and the outgoing Obama administration are now entirely at odds over Israel, with the president-elect accusing the lame-duck White House of 'disdain and neglect' for the country.
Donald Trump and the outgoing Obama administration are now entirely at odds over Israel, with the president-elect accusing the lame-duck White House of 'disdain and neglect' for the country
The Republican President-elect took to Twitter to say Israel had been treated 'very, very unfairly' by the Obama administration and maintained that countries that are 'horrible places' never get reprimanded.
He refused to directly answer a question about whether Israel should stop building settlements, saying he is 'very, very strong on Israel'.
Mr Trump said Israel is 'up for 20 reprimands' at the United Nations, whereas nations that are 'horrible places, that treat people horribly, haven't even been reprimanded.'
His comments follow the United Nations' condemnation of the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and east Jerusalem.
Several of the youngsters suffered fractures and
A criminal investigation has been opened in Russia after children were crushed in an appalling escalator accident at a shopping centre.
A video shows scenes of panic when a child stumbles getting off the moving stairway, and others fall over him.
People rushed to help the nine and ten-year-old children trapped helpless on the floor, but more from the group of 44 students at a local school kept coming down the escalator.
A video shows scenes of panic when a child stumbles getting off the moving stairway, and others fall over him
Five young girls from School Number 37 in the city of Stavropol remain in hospital suffering from 'lacerations and fractures' sustained in the frightening crush.
'It was lucky no-one was killed as the children piled on top of each other,' said an eyewitness.
Alexander Grets added: 'My 10-year-old sister is among the victims. She had her leg and arm broken.'
And police are now investigating teachers accompanying the group for negligence.
During the scramble, no-one appeared to know how to stop the escalator.
The children had been to the cinema on a school trip and were on their way home.
A representative of Investigative Committee - equivalent of the FBI - said: 'The victims suffered broken bones and lacerated wounds.
Five young girls from School Number 37 in the city of Stavropol remain in hospital suffering from 'lacerations and fractures' sustained in the frightening crush
The children had been to the cinema on a school trip and were on their way home
'Teachers who accompanied the group of children did not provide safety for the health and lives of the children.'
On deep escalators on the Moscow Metro, security guards routinely monitor passengers, and can halt the moving stairs in the event of problems.
Bruce Chadwick, 48, was found dead in an apparent suicide on Thursday night
A former Columbia University professor was found dead inside a rental car in Manhattan just a day after he left several suicide notes at his apartment.
Bruce Chadwick, 48, was unconscious and unresponsive when police discovered him in a red Zipcar around 11.10pm on Thursday.
Chadwick was parked just blocks away from his Harlem apartment, where his girlfriend had found multiple typed suicide notes the day before.
His death is being investigated as a suicide. Chadwick was reportedly found with a plastic bag over his head, police sources told the New York Post.
Authorities said he had no apparent signs of trauma.
Chadwick's girlfriend reported him missing after she found the notes, which indicated that he wanted to take his own life.
Chadwick's death comes just a day after his girlfriend (believed to be pictured with him here) discovered several typed suicide notes in his apartment on Wednesday night
The notes also revealed that Chadwick had become depressed after losing a job and was scared to live a life of poverty, sources told the Post.
Chadwick was last seen leaving his apartment around 9.30pm on Wednesday.
The day before he disappeared, Chadwick updated his cover photo on Facebook that showed a sunset over a pier.
Some of his friends had hoped it was a clue as to where he had gone, and many tried to figure out where the picture had been taken.
Chadwick ran his own consulting firm and was a former assistant professor of international affairs at Columbia, as well as an adjunct professor of economics and finance at Montclair State University in New Jersey.
He most recently worked as a quantitative analyst at EquityKey, according to his LinkedIn page.
Eight neglected horses were rescued from a Texas property this week.
They were seized from the Acres Homes area of Houston on Wednesday by the Houston Humane Society, the Houston Police Department and Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 5.
The underweight animals are aged between three and 20 years old, the Houston Humane Society said in a Thursday release.
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Eight neglected horses were rescued from a Texas property this week
They were seized from the Acres Homes area of Houston on Wednesday by the Houston Humane Society, the Houston Police Department and Harris County Constable's Office Precinct 5
A horse is pictured in a photograph from the Houston Humane Society
It said: 'The horses were without access to adequate food and water and living in mud and manure so deep they could barely walk.
'The equines are visibly underweight, full of intestinal parasites, and show signs of long term neglect including rain rot on their coats, lack of any hoof or dental care, and suffer from untreated wounds.
'Each one is now under veterinary care at the Houston Humane Society's Animal Wellness Clinic where they are receiving the medical attention they so desperately need.'
The underweight animals are three years old to 20 years old, the Humane Society said
It said: 'The horses were without access to adequate food and water and living in mud and manure so deep they could barely walk'
The Houston Humane Society said: 'The equines are visibly underweight, full of intestinal parasites, and show signs of long term neglect including rain rot on their coats, lack of any hoof or dental care, and suffer from untreated wounds'
The Houston Humane Society said: 'Each one is now under veterinary care at the Houston Humane Society's Animal Wellness Clinic where they are receiving the medical attention they so desperately need'
The Houston Humane Society's Monica Schmidt said 'Hooves are so overgrown that they're starting to grow upwards, like a duck bill. And that's very painful for the horses to stand on'
The Houston Humane Society's Monica Schmidt told Click 2 Houston: 'I really think, by stepping in, we saved their lives.
'They were stuck in a very small enclosure, especially too small for eight horses, that was complete mud, muck and manure.'
Schmidt revealed: 'Hooves are so overgrown that they're starting to grow upwards, like a duck bill. And that's very painful for the horses to stand on.'
She told the television station the horses dealt with months to years of neglect.
A horse is pictured with a constable for Harris County in this image
Schmidt said: 'They were stuck in a very small enclosure, especially too small for eight horses, that was complete mud, muck and manure'
The animals are now being cared for at an animal wellness clinic, the Houston Humane Society says
The Houston Humane Society said: 'HPD arrested two individuals on scene at the time of the animal seizure, one for an outstanding warrant for burglary and one for possession of cocaine.'
Authorities charged 60-year-old Jeffrey Murphy with possession of a controlled substance, and 43-year-old Robert Herman Smith was arrested on a burglary warrant, ABC13 reported.
Complaints had come in to police about malnourished horses, according to the TV station.
Authorities charged 60-year-old Jeffrey Murphy (left) with possession of a controlled substance, and 43-year-old Robert Herman Smith (right) was arrested on a burglary warrant
Complaints had come in to police about malnourished horses
A tourist visiting from Vietnam has been left bloodied and bruised after he was assaulted in a traffic incident in Sydney.
Thien Nguyen was driving to a picnic with his girlfriend in Brighton Le Sands on Friday when a man in a white Mercedes four-wheel-drive took offence to his driving.
Mr Nguyen said he had stopped his car when he heard his girlfriend apologising before his car door swung open and he received several punches to his face, Nine News reported.
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Thien Nguyen has been left bloodied and bruised after he was assaulted in a traffic incident in Sydney
'I was just sitting in the car waiting for the lights to turn green, and I hear my girlfriend saying "sorry, sorry",' Mr Nguyen said.
'And the door got opened and I came out of the car and he started hitting me repeatedly.
Mr Nguyen suffered a chipped tooth, stitches to his cheek and a bloodied nose in the short but violent attack.
The young man was taken to St George Hospital for treatment but was released a short time later.
The driver of the Mercedes four-wheel-drive is known to police. He fled the scene before briefly returning in another vehicle and then leaving again.
Mr Nguyen suffered a chipped tooth, stitches to his cheek and a bloodied nose in the short but violent attack
Thien Nguyen was driving to a picnic with his girlfriend (pictured) in Brighton Le Sands on Friday when a man in a white Mercedes four-wheel-drive took offence to his driving
Five Afghan teenagers have been convicted of gang-raping a boy in Sweden - but none of them will be deported because their homeland is 'too dangerous', it has emerged.
The victim, who is under 15, was filmed during the attack, which happened in woodland in Uppsala, south east Sweden.
He was beaten and dragged out to the forest at knife-point before being subjected to an ordeal lasting more than an hour, prosecutors say.
After a trial, the teenagers were found guilty of aggravated rape - but despite requests by prosecutors, they will not be expelled from Sweden because of their age and the dangers they would face in their homeland.
Five Afghan teenagers have been convicted of gang-raping a boy at knife-point in a forest in Uppsala (pictured) in Sweden - but none of them will be deported, it has emerged
The court said that the boys would have been 'hit very hard' by deportation because of the security situation in Afghanistan.
Four of the defendants received jail terms of 15 months while the fifth was given 13 months, Expressen reports.
Prosecutors had claimed that one of the attackers filmed parts of the assault, overnight on October 24 and 25, and posted the footage on social media.
The victim, also from Afghanistan, went to police before five suspects were detained on child rape charges, it has been reported in Sweden.
All five denied the accusations with one saying he was not present.
Two others said they did not remember what they were doing while the final pair made 'some concessions'.
Court papers said the teenagers, aged 16 and 17, 'inflicted beatings' to the child's head and body before 'grabbing the defendant, covering his mouth and dragging or carrying him into a woodland area'.
At this point, the court papers say, each of the accused carried out serious sexual assaults on the child who was also bitten on the back and spat on.
The boy was beaten and dragged out to the forest at knifepoint before being subjected to an ordeal lasting more than an hour, prosecutors say
All arrived in Sweden as unaccompanied minors seeking asylum and could be deported if convicted.
According to local media, the alleged perpetrators and the victim knew each other but the motive for the attack is not yet known.
Stefan Wallin, a defense lawyer representing one youth, said his client neither admits nor denies the charges.
"He has no recollection of the events because of alcohol intoxication," Wallin told the AP.
Defense lawyers for the others didn't immediately return requests for comment.
Kylie Minogue stunned staff and shoppers when she popped into a sweet shop in a tiny Scottish village today
Kylie Minogue stunned staff when she popped into a sweet shop in a tiny Scottish village today.
The Aussie singing sensation was pictured at Dee Valley Confectioners in Ballater, Aberdeenshire.
She was in the area to watch a local pipe band. She parked her Land Rover and walked in with two friends.
But the 48-year-old did not go for the Lucky, lucky Tatties or sample two foam hearts but instead opted for a packet of dolly mixture and a bag of soor plooms.
Wendy Anderson, who has worked at Dee Valley Confectioners for 30 years, kept having to double-take as she couldn't get out of her head who she thought had walked into the store.
Ms Anderson said: 'I kept looking at her thinking 'I know who that is', I asked her where she was from and eventually I had to ask if she was who I thought she was.
'I knew who she was but I didn't want to be ignorant and just blurt it out.
'She spent a good 10-15 minutes in the shop and was very polite and talkative.
'She was speaking about the village and Prince Charles' restaurant.'
'Unfortunately she didn't go for the lucky, lucky tatties but she seemed very happy with the boiled sweets that she bought.
'It's not every day that a star like that walks in though. I was a fan when I was younger, she was my era.
'On one occasion Eric Idle, Robin Williams and Steve Martin were all in the shop at the same time.'
The Aussie singing sensation was pictured at Dee Valley Confectioners in Ballater, Aberdeenshire
It's not the first time Kylie has visited the North-east of Scotland in recent years.
In 2009, she attended a friend's wedding at Drumtochty Castle in Auchenblae, Aberdeenshire.
She was a guest at the wedding of Kevin Main and her pal Alison McGregor.
Bigots have issued death threats against Ecuador's first transgender parents and vowed to kill their infant son, the couple have revealed.
Diane Rodriguez and her partner Fernando Machado welcomed the arrival of their son Sununu in June.
Diane, who was born a man still has not undergone her gender reassignment surgery, while Fernando, who was born a woman, also has not had the transitional treatment.
Diane Rodriguez, right, and her partner Fernando Machado, left, pictured with their son Sununu, have revealed that they have received death threats from bigots in Ecuador
The pair met on social media and became the first transgender couple to conceive naturally and give birth to a child in South America when baby Sununu arrived in June
Diane, right, 33, who was born a man, and Fernando, left, 22, who was born a woman, have both yet to undergo full gender reassignment surgery allowing them to conceive naturally
The couple met three years ago on social media and fell in love.
Last year, they revealed to the world that they were expecting their first child.
However, now they have been forced to seek
A transgender couple are being bombarded with death threats after the man, who used to be a woman, gave birth to their son.
Diane Rodriguez and her partner Fernando Machado welcomed Sununu in June.
Neither Diane or Fernando have undergone surgery during their gender reassignment process, so becoming pregnant was still possible.
But Diane revealed that the couple, who met three years ago on social media, have received death threats against their family and have asked the police for protection.
Diane, said she and Fernando wish to have more children but will adopt rather than give birth
The 34-year-old mother-of-one told The Mirror: 'In general the reaction of both my family and people in general has been positive. Transphobic and homophobic people have also become present, even threatening to kill our son.
'We have already spoken with the authorities here in Ecuador to protect us. We have asked for support also to give guaranteed safety in our house. We know that the people who want to attack us are few, but we have to take the necessary assurances.'
She said despite their ordeal, they are planning to have more children, although they may adopt in future.
President Obama said the compounds were used for spying, and officially kicked the Russians out at noon
Dramatic pictures showed the convoy of vehicles leaving estates in Maryland and on Long Island, New York
Vans with diplomatic plates were loaded with boxes and seen being driven out of the compounds on Friday
packing up government residences in Maryland and New York on Friday
, since many were struggling to book flights
Kremlin said Friday it will be sending a plane for the diplomats
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The Russian government will send a plane to ferry its diplomats out of the U.S., after President Obama expelled them in a new round of sanctions against the country for its alleged meddling in the presidential election.
On Thursday, the president labeled 35 Russian diplomats from the country's embassy in Washington, DC and consulate in San Francisco 'persona non grata' - giving them 72 hours to get out of the country.
Previous reports stated that some of the diplomats were having a hard time booking travel out of the U.S. at the last minute and during the holiday season.
The Kremlin addressed the issue on Friday, saying they would be sending a plane to the U.S. to pick up these expelled diplomats and their families, ensuring that they are out of the country by Obama's New Year's Day deadline.
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Dasvidaniya: The Russian government is sending this plane, an Ilyushin Il-96 - to the U.S. to ferry its expelled diplomats out of the country by New Year's Day
PUTIN WILL NOT EXPEL ANY U.S. DIPLOMATS IN RESPONSE TO OBAMA'S SANCTIONS Russian President Vladimir Putin held his rival Barack Obama up to ridicule on Friday by declining to engage in tit-for-tat expulsions. Putin had been expected to mirror Obama's decision to expel 35 intelligence agents with Cold War style revenge expulsions. His foreign minister had called for the measure, but instead Putin said he was waiting to deal with incoming President Donald Trump. 'We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone,' Putin said in a statement, also inviting children of U.S. diplomats to a holiday party at the Kremlin. Advertisement
In their announcement on Twitter, the Kremlin included a picture of the Rossiya Special Flight Squadron aircraft that will be sent to the U.S.
The plane, an Ilyushin Il-96, is part of the fleet of aircraft which ferry Putin, his ministers and senior politicians around Russia and beyond.
As he ordered the airlift, Putin also mocked Obama by declining to carry out tit-for-tat expulsions of U.S. diplomats and instead inviting their children to a holiday party at the Kremlin as well as saying he would wait for Donald Trump to become president before deciding what to do next.
Putin's officials launched a tirade of abuse at Obama and his administration, calling them 'angry and shallow brained losers', while a senior member of the Russian parliament called the president a 'political corpse'.
The expulsion of the 35 diplomats isn't the only part of President Obama's new round of sanctions. The president is also closing two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York, while placing sanctions on six Russian individuals and five Kremlin-associated entities.
President Obama said the sanctions were in response to Russia's allegedly coordinated hacks on the Republican and Democratic National Committees, that resulted in leaks he says were aimed at swaying the U.S. election.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied such hacks.
On Friday, the Russians quickly packed up two compounds in Maryland and New York, which President Obama is closing in the new round of sanctions. Above, the Russian compound in Centreville, Maryland on Friday, where a ladder was left propped up in the last minute move
President Obama cut off Russian access to the two buildings starting at noon on Friday. That left the Russians with little time to pack of the houses. Above, another view of the Maryland compound - where a window was left ajar
People are seen gathered outside the Russian-owned Maryland compound on Thursday
A long line of moving trucks, SUVs and buses were seen leaving the Russian government's estate in Centreville, Maryland on Friday
A convoy of vehicles with diplomatic plates driving away from the Russian compound near Centerville, Maryland on Friday
The Russian government-owned compoud in Centreville, Maryland is seen above
Vans arrived at the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC on Friday, after emptying the government's compounds
TRUMP RESPONDS: MOVE ON Donald Trump's chosen White House press secretary on Thursday urged the Obama administration to show its cards if it has solid proof that Russia was behind a series of election-year computer hacks that may have cost Hillary Clinton the presidency. Trump has shrugged off the suggestion that Moscow engineered the cyber attacks, but Sean Spicer told reporters during a morning conference call that his position could change in the face of evidence. 'If the United States has clear proof of anyone interfering with our elections, we should make that known.' Spicer said. 'Right now we need to see further facts.' President Obama announced new sanctions against Russia for the alleged hacks, a day after Donald Trump said it was time to move on. 'I think we ought to get on with our lives,' Trump said of the alleged hacking. Advertisement
On Thursday and Friday, Russian officials were seen hurriedly closing both of their estates in Maryland and New York.
President Obama gave the government until noon on Friday to get out of the compounds - which he said were used for spying - before the State Department took custody of the residences.
The compound in Maryland is located along the Corsica River in Centerville. It's unclear which Russian compound the U.S. government is closing in New York - since they own two estates on Long Island's upscale Gold Coast.
There was heavy traffic in and out of both estates - called Elmcroft and Killenworth - before the noon deadline on Friday.
Reports indicate that the 45-acre Maryland retreat was bought by the former Soviet Union in 1972 and historically served as a recreational getaway for its diplomats seeking a respite from the diplomatic whirl in nearby Washington, D.C. The Russian government maintained it, after the Soviet Union fell.
On Thursday, people who identified themselves as U.S. State Department employees asked reporters to leave when they approached the Maryland property.
When U.S. tensions were at their highest with the Soviet Union, the Federal Bureau of Investigation kept an office in Centreville, residents said.
The FBI office closed years ago, they said, and over time neighbors in this community of about 4,500 people got used to Russian-accented officials shopping at the liquor store, hunting nearby and dining at a popular Irish pub, O'Shucks.
The Russians own two compounds in New York, in the upscale Glen Clove neighborhood of Long Island. The U.S. government did not confirm which of the two estates was closing. Above - one of the Russian-owned estates, Killenworth, is seen on Friday
Cars are seen entering the Killenworth estate on Friday, as Russian officials officials closed down one of their Long Island compounds
Killenworth - one of two Russian government-owned compounds on Glen Cove, Long Island, New York - is seen from above
Alison Davis, who lives nearby, said the Russians have been using that complex for years.
'We coexist with these people peacefully. It's basically their summer cottage, but we see the diplomat tags driving here all the time, very friendly,' she said. 'We see them biking, say hello.'
Still, she said, local residents don't 'really have any interactions with them. They kind of keep to themselves.'
She said the compound has a private beach and had been known to be used for a sailing regatta at the end-of-summer Labor Day holiday weekend.
George Sigler, a Centreville councilman, said he had visited the compound several times for the regatta. There, Sigler said, he socialized with diplomats, including a former Russian ambassador to the United States, Yuri Ushakov.
'We were all talking the same language, they were all my age,' said Sigler, a former Marine who at one point in his service defended U.S. embassy compounds. 'All of us drank way too much vodka.'
Once, just hours after Sigler admired the quality of the vodka served at the compound, Ushakov had a bottle of it dropped off at the town hall, Sigler said.
But mostly, residents said, the Russians appeared to keep to themselves, outsiders in this otherwise tight-knit town, where many families have roots going back generations.
Reverend Joseph Lingan, 59, spent time at a weekend retreat for Jesuit priests next to the Russian compound. He said his foreign neighbors always felt distant when he passed them in town or on the road.
'People here tend to wave to me,' he said. He paused and gestured towards the compound. 'They don't tend to wave.'
Elmcroft, one of the Russian's two Long Island estates, is seen on Friday as movers frantically load vans with boxes
The Russians had until noon on Friday to get out of their Maryland and New York compounds before the State Department took custody
A van is seen leaving the Elmcroft estate on Friday, before the noon deadline
The Elmcroft estate (pictured above on Friday) located in the village of Upper Brookville in the town of Oyster Bay, was originally purchased by the Soviet Union in the 1950s
President Obama (right) is seen meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin (left) at the 2012 G20 Summit in Mexico
An Associated Press story from 1992 about the sprawling property said at the time that the brick mansion had been converted into 12 apartments and a dozen cottages, each with four apartments; in total, the compound can accommodate 40 families at a time, according to that report.
That report also said the property then boasted four lighted tennis courts, a swimming pool and a soccer field - and that a summer camp was held there for Russian children and for two weeks each Christmas.
A senior U.S. law enforcement official said the U.S. government had long known the compound was used by Russia for intelligence operations, but had not previously seen it as an immediate threat.
The Russian government says that its two old Gold Coast mansions on Long Island are used as weekend retreats for its United Nations diplomats. Both are more than an hour's drive from UN headquarters in New York City.
One, the Elmcroft estate, located in the village of Upper Brookville in the town of Oyster Bay, was originally purchased by the Soviet Union in the 1950s. The other is the Killenworth mansion, not far away in the small city of Glen Cove, also bought during the Cold War era.
U.S. officials didn't clarify which of the two countryside compounds would be closed, but Glen Cove mayor Reggie Spinello said Friday that it wasn't Killenworth. And about a dozen men with badges and black SUVs who identified themselves as being with the U.S. State Department blocked the gate Friday to the Upper Brookville estate.
Both Long Island properties were the subject of long-running property battles between the Russian government and local officials, who insisted that the luxurious estates be subject to property taxes. Those disputes have since been resolved, and for years the Town of Oyster Bay has waived parking and beach permit fees for Russia's U.N. diplomatic staff as a goodwill gesture.
President-elect Donald Trump will set to work making America great again on Day One and is cutting down the length of his inaugural parade to an hour and change so he has time to 'get some work done' before the ceremonial balls he's said he'll attend.
President Barack Obama's parades took up some two hours of his day. Dwight D. Eisenhower's presidential library says in 1957 it took three and a half hours to complete a three-mile route.
'This is going to be a shorter parade, an hour to hour and a half or so so he can go to work,' Alex Stroman, a spokesman for his inaugural committee, told Breitbart News. 'Thats what the American people elected him to do.'
President-elect Donald Trump will set to work making America great again on Day One and is cutting down the length of his inaugural parade to an hour and change. Above, President Barack Obama and his wife make the procession from the Capitol to the White House
Obama's parades took up some two hours of his day. He's seen here with wife Michelle at the first one in 2009
READY TO GET STARTED: Trump is shortening his parade so 'he can go to work,' a spokesman for his inaugural committee said
Trump is doing away with much of the pomp and circumstance the Obamas added to the agenda in 2009.
He'll attend dinners in his honor in addition to incoming Vice President Mike Pence and his cabinet secretaries in the days before he takes office, and hold a concert in celebration of the American people, the Presidential Inaugural Committee has said.
The day before he takes the oath of office he'll participate in a wreath laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery and a 'Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration' down the road at the Lincoln Memorial.
Jan. 20 he will take the Oath of Office on the West Front of the U.S. Capitol and hold a parade before he attends two formal balls and one for servicemen and women that he's expanding to include wounded warriors, veterans, police fireman and other public servants.
'There will three balls instead of 10, as there were in 2009 with President Obama because this presidentDonald J. Trumpis all about getting to work and making sure Americans are safe in their homes, safe in their jobs,' PIC Communications Director Boris Epshteyn told Breitbart.
Obama's inaugural festivities lasted five days in 2009. He paid homage to Abraham Lincoln, born 200 years before, and the Gettysburg Address with a line from the Civil War speech: 'A New Birth of Freedom.'
He recreated Lincoln's 1861 whistle stop train tour, riding the rails from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, to Washington, D.C. The former Illinois senator, who resigned his position to move into the White House, was joined by 'everyday Americans' on the ride.
Trump is doing away with much of the pomp and circumstance the Obamas added to the agenda in 2009. 'Donald J. Trump is all about getting to work and making sure Americans are safe in their homes, safe in their jobs,' PIC Communications Director Boris Epshteyn said
oe Biden, his wife Jill Biden, Barack Obama and his wife Michelle Obama board their antique Pullman Georgia 300 train car at the station on January 17, 2009 in Wilmington, Delaware. Obama traveled by train from Philadelphia to Washington as homage to former President Abraham Lincoln, who took a pre-inaugural whistle-stop tour in 1861
AT LAST: The Obamas attended 10 inaugural balls on the evening of the inauguration, including one where they were serenaded by Beyonce
TRUMP INAUGURAL The Presidential Inaugural Committee says festivities associated with Donald Trump's swearing in will cover a five- day span, starting on Tuesday, Jan. 17. The president-elect will attend 'several dinners' in his honor as well as the 'ice-President-elect, and cabinet secretaries, a concert celebrating the American people, the swearing-in, the inaugural parade, two inaugural balls and a ball saluting our armed forces and first responders.' THE OFFICIAL SCHEDULE Thursday, January 19, 2017 Wreath Laying Ceremony Arlington National Cemetery Make America Great Again! Welcome Celebration Lincoln Memorial (Ticket required for special viewing areas. No ticket required for general public viewing areas.) Friday, January 20, 2017 Inaugural Swearing-in Ceremony US Capitol Inaugural Parade Pennsylvania Avenue (Ticket required for special viewing areas. No ticket required for general public viewing areas) Inaugural Balls (Ticket required limited availability) Saturday, January 21, 2017 National Prayer Service Washington National Cathedral Advertisement
The following day his inaugural committee held a free 'We Are One' concert at the Lincoln Memorial that attracted 400,000 people.
On the third day of activities, a federal holiday, Obama sponsored a day of national service as a tribute to Martin Luther King, Jr. and met with wounded warriors at their families at Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington. That evening he attended three dinners honoring veterans.
Michelle Obama and Jill Biden, wife to Obama's vice president Joe Biden, hosted a 'Kids' Inaugural: We Are the Future' at D.C.'s Verizon Center that night. Bow Wow, Jamie Foxx, Miley Cyrus, Demi Lovato and other celebrities joined them at the appreciation event for military families.
Obama followed tradition on Inauguration Day, taking the Oath of Office in front of the U.S. Capitol and delivering an address before he partook in a bipartisan luncheon with lawmakers in the old House of Representatives' chambers, and the 1.5 mile procession from the Capitol to the White House.
The Obamas attended 10 inaugural balls that evening, memorably dancing to Beyonce's rendition of 'At Last' at one. The newly minted president went to an eleventh ball the next night for campaign staff.
The day after Obama's inauguration the first family also participated in a prayer service at Washington National Cathedral.
America's first black president, Obama had the highest attended inauguration in 2009, when the entire National Mall was opened up for the first time to fit the giant crowd. An estimated 1.8 million people packed themselves between monuments to watch his swearing in.
His second inauguration lasted only three days, however, with a formal ceremony taking place on Sun. Jan 20 and a public inaugural and address in front of the Capitol the next day.
The Obama's attended just two official galas that year, one of which was the Commander-in-Chief's Ball that George W. Bush started and Trump is expanding, and the staff ball the next night. The third day of events also saw them participate in a national day of prayer at the Washington National Cathedral again.
America's Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho, 16, is singing the National Anthem at Trump's swearing in ceremony. In 2009 the honor went to singing legend Aretha Franklin. Beyonce performed at 2013 ceremony, drawing flack for singing to a pre-recorded track
Trump's inaugurations is expected to have half a million attendees.
His transition inagural committee is claiming that his swearing in will have less fanfare than Obama's because he doesn't want the attention on him.
'Its all about the people,' Epshteyn told Breitbart. 'Its not about any one celebrity or any one entertainer or about any of those folks sipping champagne and cocktails somewhere in the Hamptons or in Beverly Hills.'
The committee has struggled to sign top talent for the events it is having.
America's Got Talent runner-up Jackie Evancho, 16, is singing the National Anthem at Trump's swearing in ceremony. In 2009 the honor went to singing legend Aretha Franklin. Beyonce performed at 2013 ceremony, drawing flack for singing to a pre-recorded track.
The Radio City Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir are also performing at the Trump event.
Kim Cattrall has offended the British side of her family by having a gravestone put up with her name inscribed on it even though she is only 60 and seemingly in good health
Kim Cattrall has hit back at claims that she hijacked a family burial plot with a new gravestone featuring her own name by insisting she had no idea any other relatives existed.
The Sex and the City star was criticised by her estranged cousin for removing a headstone - which marked where four members of the family were buried - and replacing it with one that included hers and her late father's names.
Her cousin Michelle Cox, 49, accused Miss Cattrall of 'a total lack of respect' for 'bagsying' a spot in the plot in Waverley, Liverpool, without the family's permission.
But Miss Cattrall has now responded to the allegations, claiming she had no idea Mrs Cox - who is her auntie's daughter - existed.
Describing how she was 'shocked' at the revelations, she added that it had been her father's wish for him and her to be buried at the family plot.
The Liverpool-born actress said he had been 'especially proud' when she returned to her home city to star in Shakespeare's Antony And Cleopatra in 2010. The new inscription on the gravestone reads 'the Liverpool Cleopatra', in reference to that play.
She wrote on Facebook: 'When I first contacted the Vicar at Wavertree Holy Trinity regarding my father's wishes to be laid to rest in his family's grave, there was no claim on the grave.
'My Dad died 2 years later in 2012 and he was buried later that same year.
'It was also my father's wish I be buried there as well. We wanted a new headstone including his name and mine (when the time comes).
'None of my British or Canadian family had heard the name "Cox" before 4 days ago. The Cox family are not my family. I have never met them or known of them.'
Miss Cattrall added that her 'coming home' to Liverpool had been 'an important moment' for her father.
'He was especially proud of me coming home to Liverpool in 2010 to play "Cleopatra" at the Playhouse - he called me "The Liverpool Cleopatra",' she said.
'I love my Dad and he loved Liverpool as I do. It will always be home to us and our Cattrall family. I am proudly Liverpudlian.
'When the violinist at my dad's grave played "You Never Walk Alone" after the service I had never felt more connected to my birth place.'
The inscription refers to her as 'the Liverpool Cleopatra', a reference to her much-publicised return to the stage in her home city in 2010 in Shakespeare's Antony And Cleopatra. The original headstone at Holy Trinity Church in Wavertree, Liverpool, referred to their grandparents William and Edith Cattrall, Mrs Cox's mother Edna and her elder brother David
Earlier this week, Ms Cox described how she had gone to visit her mother's grave on Christmas Day when she saw that the headstone had been swapped.
Her mother Edna is buried there alongside her parents William and Edith Cattrall - the grandparents of both Miss Cattrall and Ms Cox - and her elder brother David, who died at the age of one.
But, when she arrived, she saw the headstone had been replaced to include the actress - who is 60 and in seemingly good health - and her late father Dennis, who died in 2012.
Mrs Cox, a nurse, said the headstone looks 'totally different' and said she had no idea the actress intended to be buried in the family plot.
Her cousin Michelle Cox (standing, pictured with her sister Diane), 49, has accused the actress of 'a total lack of respect' after she discovered the new gravestone on a Christmas Day visit to the family plot where her mother Miss Cattrall's aunt is buried
She added: 'It doesn't seem right that someone who has spent the majority of her life in Canada and the US can come to Liverpool and bagsy a grave simply by putting their name on it.'
But Miss Cattrall defended her moves, saying she had no idea there was any other family members to consider.
In the statement, she added: 'If the Cox family are related then they have never before made any contact to my British or Canadian Cattrall family.
'I have never met them or known of them. My Dad never spoke of his late sister.
'We never received birthday or Xmas card greetings nor had any idea she had children (as far as we knew she never married) other than an illegitimate child that we knew of that was laid in that grave.'
Miss Cattrall was born in Liverpool but her parents took her to Canada when she was three months old.
Miss Cattrall (right, in Sex And The City) was born in Liverpool but her parents took her to Canada when she was three months old. She returned to the city from the ages of 11 to 16 to go to secondary school
She returned to the city from the ages of 11 to 16 to go to secondary school, before returning for her part as Cleopatra.
She had revealed earlier this month that there was a headstone in Liverpool 'waiting with my name, my birthdate and then a dash and space for the date of my death'.
She said: 'It's where I want to go and rest when this fantastic ride is over. It's a family grave and there is space left for me.'
Mrs Cox said she had never met her famous cousin as a result of a family rift that began when her mother met and married her father, who was from Barbados.
Miss Cattrall's father did not approve of the mixed-race relationship, she said.
'I have never spoken to Kim,' she added. 'When we replaced the gravestone when my mum died in 1985, it was engraved with the same wording that has been there since 1939.
'This new gravestone is totally different. It doesn't feel like my mum's grave any more. I was absolutely shocked. It felt like I'd been burgled.'
American socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein has sensationally claimed she is broke after ex-husband's family trust cut off her multi-million dollar annual maintenance.
The so-called Catwoman' is as famous for her bizarre appearance after extensive plastic surgery as for her scandalous 1999 split from billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein.
She has been widely regarded as being one of the wealthiest women in the United States after securing a $2.5million (2 million) divorce payment and $100million (80 million) a year in maintenance.
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American socialite Jocelyn Wildenstein has sensationally claimed she is broke after ex-husband's family trust cut off her multi-million dollar annual maintenance
The 76-year-old has told international film-maker Daphne Barak that she is without an income, unable to travel or pay for basics including food after the Wildenstein family trust fund that made her monthly payments dried up
But recently the 76-year-old has told international film-maker Daphne Barak that she is without an income, unable to travel or pay for basics including food after the Wildenstein family trust fund that made her monthly payments dried up.
It came just weeks before she appeared in a New York court accused of wounding her fashion designer boyfriend Lloyd Klein with a pair of scissors
And her claims of destitution are the latest twist in a barely believable saga that began with her 1978 marriage into one of the richest and most influential families in the world.
They endured a highly publicised split a decade later after she had discovered her husband in bed with a young blonde Russian model.
Wildenstein, left, is as famous for her bizarre appearance after extensive plastic surgery as for her scandalous 1999 split from billionaire art dealer Alec Wildenstein, right
He fled to France, and claimed he was penniless and that the family fortune was all in the hands of his autocratic father, Daniel.
She eventually reached a settlement with the family that guaranteed her monthly payments of around $111,000 (90,000). But now, she says, the money has stopped.
Daniel Wildenstein died in 2001 and Alec himself passed away in 2008 aged 67 - leaving his brother Guy in control of the family art dealing and race horse breeding businesses.
However, to further complicate matters, Guy has now been charged by the French police with massive tax evasion.
Wildenstein in court last month after being accused of attacking her boyfriend with scissors. She now claims she has been left destitute
Last month Wildenstein, left, was arrested after what was described as a frenzied attack on her French couturier boyfriend Lloyd Klein, right, in their shared apartment at Trump Tower
Her ex-boyfriend Klein told Barak just days before the alleged assault that Wildenstein would not be coming to a planned meeting in Los Angeles because she could not afford the air fare from New York.
He added: Jocelyn needs help. She doesnt have a penny. I have been paying all her expenses the last year and a half. I cant anymore, I am not Wildenstein. I am not that rich.
Wildenstein later told Barak that her last monthly $111,000 (90,000) payment from the family trust in France came in March 2015.
Wildenstein with her boyfriend Klein before they split. He earlier claimed he had been paying all of her expenses for a year and a half
Then they stopped coming, she added. I wasnt ready for it. How can I pay for dental care, doctors, the expenses of my homes or travelling. I have nothing to pay with.
You know, it cannot be, that one day - all of the sudden - they stop the payments... Just leaving me like that... They expected me to live only 20 years.
The 76-year-old said she needs to sell her Trump Tower apartments to make ends meet and is now considering legal action against the trust.
The Wildenstein family trust has been approached for comment but they are yet to respond.
Wildenstein, of course, is also famous for her lavish expenditure - her facelifts have cost more than $2.5million (2 million), she has three apartments in Trump Tower in New York and spends more than $555,000 (450,000) a year on food and $62,000 (50,000) on telephone calls. At one point she is said to have kept two tigers in a bullet proof glass cage.
Last month she was arrested after what was described as a frenzied attack on her French couturier boyfriend in their shared apartment at Trump Tower.
She was accused of cutting his face and chest with scissors and throwing hot wax over him after flying into a 'violent rage'.
He was later photographed with clear wound marks on his face and it was claimed he had been forced to push her into a cupboard to prevent further attacks.
Then earlier this month, Klein was himself arrested after apparently trying to collect personal belongings.
Wildenstein is also famous for her lavish expenditure - her facelifts have cost more than $2.5million (2 million), she has three apartments in Trump Tower in New York and spends more than $555,000 (450,000) a year on food
Jocelyn Wildenstein pictured before she started having a string of plastic surgery procedures
He is said to be facing a number of charges including assault, grand larceny and criminal mischief.
Wildenstein has so far refused to discuss the latest incidents.
She told Barak that she blames her daughter Diane for failing to help her financially.
This is despite the fact that Diane has stood by her mother for years. She is now estranged from her and her other child Alec.
Armed police officers will travel on the London Underground for the first time ever
Armed police officers will travel on the London Underground for the first time ever on New Year's Eve amid heightened fears of a terrorist attack on Britain's capital.
Major cities have increased security at big events following the Berlin Christmas market massacre last week, which killed 12 people when a lorry ploughed through a crowd of people.
Extra police will be drafted in for New Year due to heightened fears of a terror attack.
The Metropolitan Police revealed they will have 3,000 officers on duty on Saturday.
And today, the British Transport Police (BTP) revealed firearms patrols will deployed on the Tube to counter the terror threat.
A spokesman for the BTP said: 'New Year's Eve is one of the busiest nights of the year for the emergency services and we will have officers deployed at train and tube stations across the country to provide a safe environment for all those travelling and working.
'In order to provide further reassurance, we will be extending our regular armed patrols and specialist support which was also the case last New Year's Eve.
'You may now regularly see armed officers on the London Underground but they're just using the tube to get around on their regular patrols.'
Yesterday, Scotland Yard said its plan was 'not the result of any specific intelligence'.
Detective superintendent Phil Langworthy, the Met's spokesperson for New Year's Eve, told the Evening Standard: 'It is an exciting time of year and we want all who come to central London to have a good time.
'Officers have been planning for several months for New Year's Eve, and that plan remains under constant review. This is not as a result of any specific intelligence.
'Officers will be out and about to deter criminals and keep crowds safe but we need you to do your bit to look after yourself and those around you as well.
Major cities have increased security at big events following the Berlin Christmas market massacre last week, which killed 12 people when a lorry ploughed through a crowd of people
The Metropolitan Police revealed they will have 3,000 officers on duty on Saturday
'If you see anything suspicious or that causes you any concern please tell a police officer or steward. Keep an eye on your belongings and only bring what you need.
'I would also urge you to plan your journey. If you have a ticket for the fireworks, arrive in plenty of time as there will be search entries so it will take longer to get into the viewing area.'
Roads in central London will be closed from 2pm on Saturday including Lambeth, Westminster, Waterloo and Blackfriars bridges.
Travel across the TfL network in London is free from 11.45pm to 4.30am on New Year's Eve.
Major cities have ramped up security at big events following the Berlin Christmas market massacre last week, which killed 12 people when a lorry ploughed through a crowd of people. Pictured is Trafalgar Square in London
Today, security barriers were erected at Trafalgar Square in London (pictured)
Last week, the Met admitted they have 'detailed plans for protecting public events over the Christmas and New Year period'.
The force said: 'These already recognise that the threat level is at 'severe', meaning an attack is highly likely, and have considered a range of threats, including the use of large vehicles.
'As a matter of routine, as a precaution, we review our plans after attacks overseas, and we are doing so at present following the awful incidents in Berlin and Ankara last night.'
The vehicle left a trail of devastation in its wake, in a chilling echo of the deadly terror attack in the French city of Nice in July
Visitors to London's Winter Wonderland have raised security fears over the huge crowds queuing to get into the attraction in the wake of the Berlin Christmas market attack.
The annual event in Hyde Park draws in millions of visitors from around the world to its fairground rides, Christmas markets and food stalls.
Distressing footage has emerged of a child being pulled from the rubble after a wave of airstrikes in the Syrian capital Damascus.
The young boy, covered in dust and his own blood, is lifted from the wreckage of a building in the war-torn capital by a team of volunteer rescuers.
A man carries him away from the scene before the youngster is passed into a waiting ambulance.
The heartbreaking clip was captured hours after a truce was agreed between rebels and forces loyal to dictator Bashar al Assad.
His medical condition remains unknown.
Distressing footage has emerged of a child being pulled from the rubble after a wave of airstrikes in the Syrian capital Damascus
The child, covered in dust and his own blood, is lifted from the wreckage of a building in the war-torn capital by a team of volunteer rescuers
The heartbreaking clip was captured hours after a truce was agreed between rebels and forces loyal to dictator Bashar al Assad
According to The Syrian Civil Defence 14 were killed in airstrikes in the city of Douma and four more perished in Irbin.
Despite the violent scenes, a nationwide Syrian cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey that went into effect at midnight appeared to be holding, marking a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has disregarded high-level peace initiatives for over five years.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes early Friday between troops and rebels in the central province of Hama and near the capital, Damascus, but claimed there have been no reports of civilian casualties since the truce began.
The group also reported an aerial attack on the rebel-held Barada Valley near Damascus.
The Syrian army denied reports it was bombarding the Barada Valley region saying opposition claims aim to show that the army is not abiding by the truce.
According to The Syrian Civil Defence 14 were killed in airstrikes in the city of Douma and four more perished in Irbin
The child was rushed to a waiting ambulance after being dragged from the rubble of the airstrike
Opposition activist Mazen al-Shami, who is based in the Damascus suburb of Douma, said minor clashes nearby left one rebel wounded. Activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh, in the southern Daraa province, said government forces had opened fire on rebel-held areas.
Several past attempts at halting the fighting have failed. As with previous agreements, the current cease-fire excludes both the al-Qaida-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside other rebel factions, and the Islamic State group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the cease-fire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey, and the agreement has been welcomed by Iran.
Moscow and Tehran provide crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has long served as a rear base and source of supplies for the rebels.
If it holds, the truce between the Syrian government and the country's mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks next month in Kazakhstan, Putin said in announcing the agreement. He described it, however, as 'quite fragile' and requiring 'special attention and patience.'
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the cease-fire a 'major achievement' in a tweet Friday. 'Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror,' he added.
Despite the violent scenes, a nationwide Syrian cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey that went into effect at midnight appeared to be holding, marking a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has disregarded high-level peace initiatives for over five years
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the cease-fire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey, and the agreement has been welcomed by Iran
Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one denied signing it.
A U.N. official said he hopes that cease-fire would allow them to take aid to 15 besieged areas where some 700,000 people live. Jan Egeland, Special, Advisor to the U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, told The Associated Press that 'we desperately need this ceasefire.
The reports I have from the field is that there is a decrease, a marked decrease in fighting, in bombing, in violence, compared to yesterday. But certainly there's been a number of violations.'
'We're willing, we're able to go to all of the 15 remaining besieged areas beyond east Aleppo. We can go in the next (few) days to all of them. But then we need unimpeded access,' he said.
'We need the government to give us all of the permits that they require us to have before we can go. We need security guarantees from all sides and we're not given them.'
'January needs to be really different,' Egeland added, 'If not - there will be starvation, there will be untold, unnecessary deaths.'
The truce came on the heels of a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive. The retaking of all of Aleppo marked Assad's greatest victory since the start of the 2011 uprising against his family's four-decade rule.
'The defeat of the terrorists in Aleppo is an important step toward ending the war,' Assad said in an interview with TG5, an Italian TV station, adding that the capture of the city does not mean that the war has ended because 'terrorists' are still in Syria.
The United States was left out of both agreements, reflecting the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington after the failure of previous diplomatic efforts on Syria.
Assad told TG5 'we are more optimistic, with caution,' about the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested greater cooperation with Russia against extremist groups.
Syrian men gather in the rebel-held town of Saqba, on the eastern outskirts of the capital Damascus, during a demonstration against the Syrian regime today
'We can say part of the optimism could be related to better relation between the United States and Russia,' Assad said, speaking in English.
'Mr. Trump, during his campaign - (said) that his priority is fighting terrorism, and we believe that this is the beginning of the solution, if he can implement what he announced,' Assad said in the interview, which was apparently filmed before the cease-fire was announced.
Asked about the possibility of the United States' participation in the peace process in Kazakhstan, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the process would 'be open to everyone.'
'I hope that this cease-fire holds and turns into a lasting peace so that the deaths of more innocent people, of civilians and children is halted and 2017 brings calm,' Yildirim said.
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency meanwhile quoted the military as saying Russia carried out three airstrikes against ISIS targets near the northern town of al-Bab, where Turkish troops and allied Syrian opposition forces have been battling the extremist group.
The strikes indicated that Russia and Turkey may work together to combat IS once the fighting elsewhere in Syria has been halted.
Turkish Foreign Mevlut Cavusoglu Minister said the U.S.-led coalition forces resumed aerial operations around al-Bab on Thursday, after Turkey complained that it was not getting support from its allies in its fight against IS there.
The Turkish military statement quoted by Anadolu did not say when the Russian air strikes took place, but said they killed 12 IS militants.
Separately, 26 ISIS militants, including some senior commanders, were killed in Turkish airstrikes on al-Bab and the Daglabash region, and some 17 ISIS targets were destroyed, Anadolu reported. It said a Turkish soldier was kill in a IS attack on troops south of the al-Azrak area.
It said among those killed was an IS commander known as Abu Hussein al-Tunsi.
Two of the largest families in the world came face to face this year - with 35 children between them.
The UK's biggest brood, the Radfords of Morecambe, Lancashire, who have 19 children, travelled to Queensland, Australia, to meet their counterparts Ray and Jenny Bonell and their 16 offspring.
Although they live in very different households - the Bonells have a strict code of conduct - they could certainly agree on one thing - they both want more children.
Noel and Sue Radford, who rose to fame on Channel 4 documentary 16 Kids and Counting, brought home their newest family member - Phoebe Willow - in July of this year.
The Radfords of Morecambe, Lancashire, who have 19 children, travelled to Queensland, Australia, to meet the Bonells and their 16 offspring (pictured altogether)
And weeks later they made the trip to Australia to meet their rivals down under for special episode 19 Kids and Counting, which aired last night.
They were hosted by the Bonells at their home in Toowoomba, Queensland, where they enjoyed a huge barbecue.
Patriarch Ray Bonell, 48, said: 'It's a dream come true! All these children!'
He added: 'I want as many as possible. We have been trying for another for a couple of years but it just hasn't happened for us.'
Wife Jenny, 47, who had her 16th child two years ago, added: 'If nature didn't stop me I just would not stop [having children].'
Both families appeared to be having the time of their lives as they enjoyed each others company, despite one awkward moment when the Radfords presented the Bonells with a kangaroo pie.
After initially taking it as a joke, Mrs Bonell said: 'Well thank you very much. That is something...different.
The Radfords were hosted by the Bonells at their home in Toowoomba, Queensland
Their meeting aired on Channel 4 last night in a special episode of 19 Kids and Counting
'That's not something that we would normally eat but...we are keen to give it a go.'
Mr Radford, 46, was also worried ahead of the meeting over the strict rules the Bonells operate in their household, and their expectation they would be addressed as 'Mr and Mrs' by the Radford children.
The Bonells have a 'weekly roster' of chores assigned to each children, from helping prepare meals and sweeping floors to cleaning the bathroom and toilets, with Mrs Bonell describing the household as 'realistically traditional'.
Mr Bonell added: 'Without rules in our household, I would hate to think what would happen.'
Mrs Bonell has also named each bedroom and has colour coded them so everyone knows whose bedding is whose.
On the move: The two families met for lunch in Queenstown
The Bonell family greeted the Radfords when they arrived at their home in their van
Patriarch Ray Bonell, 48, said: 'It's a dream come true! All these children!'
Daughter Natalie Bonell, 21, said: 'In this house it's almost like living in a drill camp. You have to get up, make your bed and then you have jobs to do.'
Chloe Radford, also 21, quipped: 'We are going to go home and we are all going to have colour-coded rooms now!'
But Mr Bonell was quick to reassure the Radford children that they didn't have to live the same lives just because they both had big families.
He said: 'What works for us might not work for you guys.'
Mr Radford added: 'They [my children] are all a little bit "Oooh I'm dreading going home now!"'
The Radfords run a successful family-owned bakery and pie business and do not claim benefits.
Mr Bonell added: 'I want as many as possible. We have been trying for another for a couple of years but it just hasn't happened for us.'
Fun times: Children from both enormous families met each other in the show
Phoebe, who was born after a 40-minute labour, joins siblings Chris, 27, Sophie, 22, Chloe, 21, Jack, 19, Daniel, 17, Luke, 15, Millie, 14, Katie, 13, James, 12, Ellie, 11, Aimee, ten, Josh, nine, Max, seven, Tillie, six, Oscar, four, Casper, three and Hallie, 13 months.
Though Mr and Mrs Radford, 41, consider themselves the parents of 19 children, the couple sadly lost their son, Alfie, in July 2014, 23 weeks into the pregnancy.
They gave Hallie, who was born last summer, the middle name 'Alphia' as a tribute to her brother.
There was lots of food needed to satisfy the 35 hungry mouths
After falling pregnant with their first child when Mrs Radford was just 14-years-old, the couple decided to keep the baby as they were both given up for adoption at birth.
The family now live in a large 240,000 Victorian house, a former care home, that they bought 11 years ago and they pride themselves on having no credit cards or finance agreements.
They also enjoy a holiday abroad every year.
Mr Radford leaves for work at around 5am every morning, where he works an 11-hour shift at the bakery with help from their eldest children.
Mrs Radford, who takes care of the family at home, has to make her way through nine loads of washing a day to keep her family in clean clothes.
The children seemed to get along well as they played in the garden of the Bonell's home
There was an emotional goodbye between the families at the end of the show
The family spend 300 a week on food shopping, with 18 pints of milk, three litres of juice and three boxes of cereal being consumed every day.
When it comes to celebrating their children's birthdays they have a budget of 100 for presents, while at Christmas they set aside between 100 to 250.
When Hallie, now one, was born last summer the Radfords said that they were not planning on having any more children, but would 'leave it up to nature'.
Meanwhile the Bonells children are aged between 26 and two, and the couple uses a former schoolbus as their family vehicle due to the sheer numbers.
The Radford family at home in Lancashire. They have said they want more children
The Radford family on holiday. They spend 300 a week on food shopping.
They also do not rely on benefits, own their own home and do not have any debts, with Mr Bonell working as a full time electrician.
The five oldest children all work and contribute towards the family income, despite the eldest two having moved out.
Their house has seven bedrooms, but just one bathroom.
A DAY IN THE LIFE OF THE RADFORDS: HOW BRITAIN'S BIGGEST FAMILY SPENDS A TYPICAL DAY After an early start in the bakery, Mr Radford returns home every day at 7.45am to sort out the children and get them to nursery at school. All their uniforms are washed and laid out the night before, while breakfast is staggered into two shifts. Six of the children are at the same primary school ten minutes away and five are at secondary school. Noel drives them in a minibus which, as it carries more than nine passengers, is entitled to use bus lanes. Meanwhile, the three youngest, Oscar, Caspar and Hallie, remain at home with Sue, though Oscar goes to nursery in the afternoons. The family do between six and 12 loads of washing a day, get through 30 bottles of washing liquid every month and use four toilet rolls a day. Incredibly they manage to feed the family on 250 a week, feeding them all pasta or a large stew using deals with their local butcher and greengrocer. Bathtime at home begins around 6pm and while the younger ones will be bathed and in bed by about 7pm, the older ones stay up until 9pm. Mr and Mrs Radford say they are in bed by 10pm. Advertisement
A man has made a desperate plea to find his pregnant wife, who disappeared while they were playing Pokemon Go.
Police in Abbotsford, British Columbia are seeking the public's help to find 38-year-old Marie Stuart, who disappeared without her medication.
She was last seen at approximately 3pm on December 27, at the Seven Oaks shopping mall in Abbotsford, a small city near Vancouver.
Her husband, Leslie Scott Schellenberg, said Stuart is five months pregnant and 'in a bit of a state.'
Marie Stuart, 38, disappeared while playing Pokemon Go with her husband
Her husband, Leslie Scott Schellenberg, said Stuart that she is five months pregnant and 'in a bit of a state'
'She's in a bit of a state and I'm worried that she might just wander aimlessly,' he told CTV News.
In a message to his wife, he said: 'I love you and I miss you and I want to see you again.'
Abbotsford Police Constable Ian MacDonald said the couple had been playing Pokemon Go on Tuesday afternoon and has missed their regular bus home.
They took another bus that stopped near the mall, but they 'became separated' shortly after getting off, he said.
In a message to his wife, Leslie Scott Schellenberg, said: 'I love you and I miss you and I want to see you again'
'The husband looked for her for a few minutes and he assumed he would see her at home which was walking distance from that bus stop,' he told the TV channel.
Schellenberg called police about an hour after his wife went missing, and officers immediately started searching for Stuart because she did not have her medication or a cell phone.
Constable MacDonald said images of Stuart were posted to social media, and police received many tips, but three that were investigated overnight 'didn't pan out'.
He added that Stuart is 'one of the most recognizable faces' in Abbotsford, which has a population of about 140,000.
The New York Police Department will roll out 65 massive 20-ton sanitation trucks, weighted with an extra 15 tons of sand, to surround the iconic New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square.
The security measure is meant to stop deadly truck-driving attacks into crowds like those in Germany and France.
Times Square will be heavily policed by 7,000 officers, specially armed counterterrorism units and bomb-sniffing dogs, officials said Thursday.
The placement of the trucks, along with 100 patrol cars, at intersections surrounding Times Square adds even more protection against potential attacks.
Massive 20-ton sanitation trucks, weighted with an extra 15 tons of sand, will surround the iconic New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square, officials said Thursday. The trucks pictured were lined up outside Trump Tower on 5th Avenue after the election
The security measure is meant to stop deadly truck-driving attacks into crowds like those in Germany and France. An aerial shot shows the sanitation trucks lined up outside of Trump Tower. The trucks will be lined up similarly in Times Square and will be used as a barricade
Times Square will be heavily policed by 7,000 officers, specially armed counterterrorism units and bomb-sniffing dogs. Patrol cars will also block off several streets in Times Square
'We live in a changing world now,' New York Police Department Commissioner James O'Neil said.
'It can't just be, 'What happens in New York, what happens in the United States?' It has to be more, 'What happens worldwide?'
A Tunisian man who plowed a truck into a Christmas market in Berlin this month killed 12 people and injured 56 others.
His attack followed a more deadly assault in Nice, France, in July that left 86 people dead when a man drove a 20-ton refrigerated truck into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day.
New York police studied those events in planning their Times Square security.
'As we formulated this year's plan, we paid close attention to world events and we learned from those events,' said Carlos Gomez, the NYPD's chief of department.
More than 1 million people are expected to attend the annual ball drop countdown in Manhattan, and officials said they didn't know of any terror threats.
The security measures are part of augmented precautions across the nation for New Year's Eve.
Investigators also are reviewing the records of truck rental companies, said James Waters, chief of the NYPD's counterterrorism bureau. A heavily armed counterterrorism officer stands in front of a shop in December 2016
A pedestrian asks directions from two heavily armed counterterrorism officers stationed in Times Square in December 2016
To keep Las Vegas' lavish celebration secure, the entire police force will be working or on-call with help from the FBI, the National Guard and the Secret Service and will close roads and beef up barriers to prevent vehicle attacks.
Times Square revelers, who are prohibited from carrying umbrellas and large bags, will be screened at two points: once when they approach the Crossroads of the World and again when they enter one of the 65 pens that hold thousands of people each.
And, as in past years, officials have removed trash bins and mailboxes, sealed manhole covers and done sweeps of parking garages and hotels.
Police in New York have used trucks as blocker vehicles before, though never on this scale.
The sand-filled trucks were deployed in November at the Thanksgiving Day parade and on Election Day, when they were posted outside Donald Trump's Trump Tower, at two Manhattan hotels and at a convention center used by Hillary Clinton's campaign.
Investigators also are reviewing the records of truck rental companies, said James Waters, chief of the NYPD's counterterrorism bureau.
The large trucks aren't the only offering from the Department of Sanitation, said Kathryn Garcia, the sanitation commissioner.
About 280 employees will be on hand to clean up between 40 and 50 tons of debris after the ball drops following the 60-second countdown to 2017, she said.
More than 1 million people are expected to attend the annual ball drop countdown in Manhattan, and officials said they didn't know of any terror threats
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Polish special forces were on high alert when the country's President attended the funeral of the truck driver killed by ISIS maniac Anis Amri before the Berlin Christmas market massacre.
Hundreds of mourners bid farewell to Lukasz Urban, 37, who was the first victim of the attack that killed a total of 12 people in the German capital on December 19.
He had been waiting to deliver a shipment of steel in Berlin when his truck was hijacked by the attacker, believed to be Tunisian man Anis Amri, who was later killed in a shoot-out with Italian police.
Polish Police special forces officers check the area before the funeral ceremony of the Polish truck driver Lukasz Urban, who was killed by the terrorist in the Berlin Christmas Market attack
The Polish special forces were on high alert and are pictured checking the bushes before the ceremony in Banie
Polish President Andrzej Duda presents condolences to a relative of Lukasz Urban at the church near Szczecin
Huge crowds gather behind the hearse as it slowly makes its way down the streets to the church in Banie near Szczecin
Mourners stand around the white coffin of Lukasz Urban who has been hailed a hero in the aftermath of the attack
Mr Urban was shot, and his body was found later in the cab of the truck.
Poland's president Andrzej Duda joined Mr Urban's family, friends and neighbours in a church in the village church in Banie, near the border with Germany.
Several other Polish political officials and a representative of the German embassy to Poland were also there and security forces personnel in full uniform using bomb detecting tools searching bushes near the church.
A letter from prime minister Beata Szydlo was also read out in which she described her 'great pain and sadness' and expressed her sympathy to Mr Urban's family.
'Poles have fallen victim to terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic fundamentalists but the tragedy that happened in Berlin is unique when it comes to the ruthlessness and cruelty of the perpetrator,' Ms Szydlo said.
Polish President Andrzej Duda gives his condolences to the wife of Lukasz Urban as they hold hands in an emotional embrace
Mourners of Lukasz Urban, who was was shot dead by ISIS maniac Anis Amri shortly before the market attack on December 19
Polish President Andrzej Duda (centre) with deputy Sejm Speaker Joachim Brudzinski (right) pray during the funeral
The coffin of Lukasz Urban inside the church in the village of Banie near Szczecin in Poland
The funeral procession makes its way through the village of Banie where the funeral of the trucker was held on December 30
Relatives of the family and representatives of Polish authorities pray in front of the coffin with remains of the Polish driver Lukasz Urban, who was killed during truck attack in Berlin
People gather in front of the church for a funeral mass of the Polish truck driver Lukasz Urban
Bishop Henryk Wejman delivered a homily in which he described Mr Urban as a man who was open to others and conscientious in his work.
'His willingness to work and serve others won him the trust of other people and the openness to fellow man,' Bishop Wejman said.
As the Mass was winding down the president bowed his head at Mr Urban's coffin before offering his condolences to the dead man's wife and teenage son.
The coffin was then carried out of the church and placed in a hearse, which drove it slowly through the village to a cemetery for burial, as mourners walked alonside it.
Before the Mass, a group of truck drivers honked the horns of their trucks to honour Mr Urban.
Polish President Andrzej Duda kneels in front of the coffin and holds his hand across his chest to pray
The view on the funeral procession after the funeral mass of the Polish truck driver Lukasz Urban
The wife of Lukasz Urban leans over to place her hand on her husband's coffin which is decorated with white roses and flowers
Huge crowds gathered for the truck driver who captured the hearts of the world as a fund was set up to help his family
Pallbearers carry the white coffin of Mr Urban to the church as solemn looking crowds gather to pay their respects
Mourners follow the hearse through the streets as more than 170,000 was raised in a fund for Mr Urban's grieving family
Three men look earnest on December 30 as the crowds gather to celebrate the life of the trucker who was killed by a terrorist
Undertakers in red shirts and red ties, black coats and white gloves carry the coffin emblazoned with his name to the church
The wife of Lukasz Urban leans over and puts her right hand on the coffin of her husband as she clutches a white rose
Mr Urban's body was discovered in his hijacked lorry after the Berlin terror attack died several hours before the attack.
A confidential coroner's report revealed that Lukasz Urban died up to three-and-a-half hours before terrorist Anis Amri ploughed into the middle of a large crowd.
It had previously been thought that he had attempted to foil the atrocity and there were calls for him to be awarded the highest medal for bravery in Germany.
It was been claimed at the time his actions stopped the death toll from soaring even higher.
The coffin is carried in to the church by the undertakers as film crews attempt to catch the event on camera
The sun beams through the stained windows at the church in Banie near Szczecin in Poland
Several Polish political officials and a representative of the German embassy to Poland attended the funeral
A woman touches the coffin of Lukasz Urban, which is surrounded by flowers in tribute to the popular trucker
Despite conflicting reports, more than 9,500 people signed the petition for him to be recognised.
Thousands of people also donated to a fund for Mr Urban's family and as of Friday afternoon, the total was at 178,000.
It was set up by British trucker Dave Duncan from Otley in West Yorkshire and more than 10,000 have donated.
He said: 'You don't know me, my name is Dave and I am a truck driver just like your brave husband.
'I am so sorry, as are all his truck driving brothers across the UK for your terrible loss.
'Your man should never have been taken this way and in my eyes he is an hero.
Evangelist Franklin Graham, who has widely publicized his anti-gay and anti-Islam views over the years, is one of six faith leaders chosen to offer prayers at Donald Trump's inauguration.
Graham will participate in the January 20 ceremony with five other religious figures, including two prosperity preachers for the first time. Prosperity preachers teach that God will make the faithful rich - a movement that many Christians categorize as heretical.
The inaugural committee on Friday also released a full list of bands slated to perform in Trump's inaugural parade, featuring marching bands from various states including Louisiana, Tennessee and Indiana - but none from Washington, DC. At least one school from the area participated in the past five parades, but none are believed to have applied this year. The parade will be shorter this year so Trump can get some work done before inaugural balls later in the day, according to the inaugural committee.
In addition to the 8,000-plus parade participants, the Radio City Rockettes and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir are scheduled to perform, which has led to uproar within the Rockettes ranks and one resignation from the choir. Jackie Evancho, a 16-year-old 2010 'America's Got Talent' runner-up, will sing.
Evangelist Franklin Graham (right), who has made repeated anti-gay and anti-Islam statements in the past, is one of six faith leaders chosen to offer prayers at Donald Trump's inauguration
Six religious figures of various movements will participate in Trump's inauguration.
Graham, the son of the evangelist Billy Graham, will offer prayers alongside Roman Catholic Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York; the Reverend Samuel Rodriguez, head of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, an evangelical group; Rabbi Marvin Hier, founder of the Simon Wiesenthal Center, which conducts education about the Holocaust and speaks out against anti-Semitism and bias, and prosperity preachers Paula White and Bishop Wayne T Jackson.
Graham, who rallied Christian voters around the country this year over the issue of appointees to the US Supreme Court, has credited God for Trump's win over Hillary Clinton.
He has publicized his anti-gay and Islamophobic views over the years, once blasting the bathroom bill as opening the door to 'sexual predators and perverts'. Graham once likened adoption by gay and lesbian couples to 'recruitment'. He has praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for his anti-gay politics.
The evangelist called Islam a 'wicked' and 'evil' religion after the 9/11 attacks and said in 2014 he had not softened his stance, calling it a 'religion of war'.
Some of the religious leaders slated to pray on January 20 once voiced their disagreement with Trump's positions.
Graham (pictured on the Today show) has publicized his anti-gay and Islamophobic views, once blasting the bathroom bill as opening the door to 'sexual predators and perverts'
The Wiesenthal Center had previously criticized Trump, accusing him of casting suspicion on all Muslims in his remarks on terrorism.
Hier said in a phone interview Wednesday that while he would continue to speak out against bigotry, he supports Trump's approach to Israel.
'I'm not in the camp of those who say we are now into the dark ages. I think the opposite that America's best years are ahead of it,' Hier said.
Rodriguez, who had criticized Trump for his promises to deport millions of people in the country illegally, said Wednesday, 'I have enjoyed getting to know President-elect Trump and his team.' Rodriguez called participating in the inaugural 'a patriotic honor' and 'a sacred duty.'
Dolan said in a statement he will be reading from Scripture at the inaugural and will ask God to 'inspire and guide our new president.'
TRUMP'S INAUGURAL PARADE 1st Cavalry Division Horse Cavalry Detachment Fort Hood, Texas 1st Infantry Commanding Generals Mounted Color Fort Riley, Kansas Boone County Elite 4-H Equestrian Drill Team Burlington, Kentucky Caisson Platoon, Fort Myer Fort Myer, Virginia Cleveland Police Mounted Unit Cleveland, Ohio Coastal Florida Police & Fire Pipes & Drums Palm Coast, Florida Columbus North High School Band Columbus, Indiana Culver Academy Equestrian Culver, Indiana First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Fishburne Military School Army JROTC Caissons Battalion - Fishburne, Virginia Frankfort High School Band Ridgeley, West Virginia Franklin Regional High School Panther Marching Band Murrysville, Pennsylvania Indianapolis Metro Police Motorcycle Drill Team Indianapolis, Indiana Kids Overseas Richmond Hill, Georgia Lil Wranglers College Station, Texas Marist College Band Poughkeepsie, New York Merced County Sheriffs Posse Hilmar, California Michigan Multi-Jurisdictional Mounted Police Drill Team & Color Guard Ann Arbor, Michigan Mid America Cowgirls Rodeo Drill Team New Buffalo, Michigan Nassau County Firefighters Pipes & Drums East Meadow, New York North Carolina Vietnam Helicopter Pilots Association Hillsborough, North Carolina NYPD Emerald Society Pipes & Drums East Moriches, New York Olivet Nazarene University Bourbonnais, Illinois Palmetto Ridge High School Band Naples, Florida Russellville High School Band Russellville, Arkansas Talladega College Band Talladega, Alabama Texas State University Strutters San Marcos, Texas The Citadel Regimental Band & Pipes and Summerall Guards Charleston, South Carolina The Freedom Riders Kersey, Colorado Tragedy Assistance Marching Unit Arlington, Virginia Tupelo High School Band Tupelo, Mississippi University of Tennessee Marching Band Knoxville, Tennessee VMI Corps of Cadets Lexington, Virginia West Monroe High School Marching Band West Monroe, Louisiana National: American Veterans Boy Scouts of America US Customs and Border Protection Office of Field Operations Disabled American Veterans US Border Patrol Pipes & Drums Wounded Warriors Each branch of the United States military will also be represented. Advertisement
The presence of White, a friend of Trump's, and Jackson, whose Detroit church hosted the Republican in September, will mark the first time preachers who spread the prosperity gospel are included in the ceremony.
Ministers in the widely popular movement often hold up their own wealth as evidence their teachings work, much like Trump campaigned on his record as a wealthy real estate developer and businessman.
The Senate Finance Committee had investigated White and five other prosperity preachers over their spending, but the inquiry ended in 2011 with no penalty for the televangelists. White said in a statement that she will pray to God at the inaugural 'that He would richly bless our extraordinary home, the United States of America'.
Anthony Pinn, a Rice University religious studies professor, described the prosperity gospel 'as a way to religiously rationalize material acquisition'. He said participating in the inauguration gives the preachers a new kind of prominence.
'You've got millions of people who will see them perform,' Pinn said. 'There's a tremendous amount of benefit that goes along with that.'
Meanwhile, a list of participants in the inaugural parade shows that DC schools have snubbed Trump's ceremony. No school from the area appeared to have applied this year, a school district spokeswoman told NBC earlier this month.
The inauguration committee has also managed to secure at least three performers in addition to parade participants, despite early reports that organizers were struggling to get celebrities to commit.
Trump has said that he didn't want stars in his inauguration and that he wanted to see the people there instead.
Still, the committee has retained the Radio City Rockettes, prompting one of them to write a heartfelt Instagram post in which she said she was 'embarrassed and disappointed' to participate.
Producers made the performance elective amid a growing rift, and an anonymous dancer has since told Marie-Claire that no Rockette of color has signed up to perform.
Meanwhile Mormon Tabernacle Choir member Jan Chamberlin resigned this week, writing: 'I only know I could never "throw roses to Hitler." And I certainly could never sing for him.'
A spokesman for the church told the Salt Lake Tribune that participation was voluntary.
The inaugural committee said the list of parade participants was an initial lineup and that more could be added in the future.
An Alabama woman has been found dead, her body wrapped in plastic with her hands and feet bound, three weeks after she was reported missing by her family.
Jeannette 'Jenny' Brannon, 30, was found at the bottom of an embankment in a wooded area behind the Cottondale home of Charles Richard Sexton.
Sexton, 58, has been charged with Brannon's murder. Investigators said he admitted to moving her body, but has changed his story multiple times as to how she died.
Brannon was last seen alive by friends who said she went to a party at Sexton's house the weekend of December 2.
The body of Jeannette 'Jenny' Brannon, 30, was found at the bottom of an embankment in a wooded area behind the Cottondale home of Charles Richard Sexton last week
Sexton, 58, has been charged with Brannon's murder. Investigators said he admitted to finding Brannon dead in his home (pictured), but changed his story multiple times as to how she died
She was seen at Sexton's home again by her friends when they returned to the home on December 6, according to Tuscaloosa News.
Authorities believe that was the day Brannon was killed, said Capt Gary Hood of the Tuscaloosa County Metro Homicide Unit.
'There was alcohol, and possibly some drugs involved,' Hood said about the party. 'I can't confirm that at this point.'
Sexton told investigators he and Brannon had been involved in a physical altercation the night she died, and that she injured her head during the fight and had been bleeding heavily.
Brannon was last seen alive by friends who said she went to a party at Sexton's house the weekend of December 2
But Sexton gave 'multiple stories' as to how Brannon specifically injured her head, according to court records.
Sexton told investigators he fell asleep after the fight and found Brannon dead on the floor the next morning.
He then admitted to wrapping Brannon's body in plastic before moving her to a trash dump behind his mobile home.
Brannon was officially reported missing by her family on December 9.
Her friends were interviewed and phone records were examined before someone came forward and 'made a huge break' in the case, according to Hood.
Brannon's body was discovered behind Sexton's home on December 21.
Sexton was arrested the next day due to evidence found in his own home and statements he made to police, according to AL.com.
He was booked into Tuscaloosa County Jail and released on $75,000 bond the next day.
Brannon's family was informed on Thursday morning.
'The family reports that the police knocked on the door at 5am with the news that unfortunately they were expecting to hear,' a prepared statement read.
'They need time to grieve and take time for the information to sink in.'
It has since been revealed that Sexton has a long history of violent crimes against women.
Sexton was charged with first-degree burglary and third-degree domestic violence in 2013 after a woman claimed he had threatened her with a knife. The case was dismissed.
Sexton admitted to disposing of Brannon's body in a trash dump behind his home (pictured), but claims she injured her head during a physical altercation they had on December 6
Brannon's body was discovered behind Sexton's home (pictured) on December 21
That same year a different women reported that Sexton had punched and kicked her. He was requited to complete 16 sessions of a domestic violence intervention program.
In 2012 another women sought a restraining order against Sexton and claimed he had burned her house down and was making threatening phone calls.
She withdrew the request the following month.
A different women claimed Sexton had threatened her with a knife, punched her in the face and grabbed her hair in 2010.
He was found guilty of a misdemeanor and had to complete a court-ordered anger management program.
Last year Sexton was also charged with second-degree assault after he allegedly injured a man with a knife. The case was dismissed.
At the time of the crash, the 38-year-old was on probation stemming from DWI incident in which she was caught driving drunk with her newborn baby
Witnesses said they saw Leitner make an abrupt U-turn and drive north in
Leitner's infant son, Jordan, suffered critical injuries, as did Garske's 83-year-old father, who was the driver of the Buick struck in the crash
A woman was traveling along a Michigan highway Tuesday evening with her four-month-old son in the car when police say she made an abrupt U-turn and drove into oncoming traffic, causing a fatal crash that snuffed out two lives.
Jessica Leitner, 38, of Bay City, was pronounced dead at the scene, along with 54-year-old Ann Lynn Garske who was a passenger in a white 2017 Buick Lacrosse that was involved in the head-on collision.
Leitner's baby son, Jordan, was taken to a hospital in critical condition suffering from life-threatening injuries. The infant reportedly was not strapped into a car seat at the time of the crash.
Deadly crash: Jessica Leitner, 38 (left) was killed and her four-month-old son, Jordan (right), was critically injured when police say the mother intentionally drove into oncoming traffic
Wrong-way collision: The head-on crash took place on I-75 in Michigan Tuesday evening
George Garske, Ann Lynn's Garske's 83-year-old father who was behind the wheel of the Buick, was also hospitalized with critical injuries, reported MLive.com.
Witnesses told Michigan State Police troopers that Leitner's silver 2003 Chevrolet Impala was traveling southbound on Interstate 75 at around 5.10pm when the woman suddenly changed direction and headed north in the same lane.
Several vehicles managed to swerve out of the way before Leitner's Chevy careened into the Garskes' vehicle.
In the immediate aftermath of the collision, investigators said they did not know what might have prompted the 38-year-old mother to drive into oncoming traffic with her son in the car.
However, it has since emerged that Jessica Leitner had a troubled past that included alcohol-related traffic violations and domestic violence claims involving her on-again, off-again boyfriend.
At the time of her death, Leitner was on probation stemming from a traffic stop in August, during which she reportedly was caught driving drunk with her son, who was riding unrestrained in the car.
Jordan was just a week old at the time, and his mother's blood alcohol level was more than three times the legal limit.
Leitner was charged with DWI, child endangerment, driving without insurance and on a suspended license, and driving with an open intoxicant.
The mother-of-two was sentenced to 45 days in jail, followed by a year of probation. She was released two days before Thanksgiving.
Endangered: When baby Jordan was just a week old, in August 2016, his mother was pulled over for driving while intoxicated, with a blood alcohol level more than three times the legal limit
A year before she was pulled over for driving drunk, Leitner pleaded guilty to a domestic violence charge for assaulting Drew Santos. She was sentenced to a 45-day jail term and eight months of probation, which was extended after she repeatedly violated the conditions of her supervised release by consuming alcohol, reported MLive.
In April 2015, Santos was arrested for allegedly choking Leitner, who was pregnant at the time, and punching her to the point that he caused the woman to miscarry.
Santos told police Leitner, who was drunk on the night of the altercation, had been threatening to kill herself by jumping in the river.
Amanda Anquetil, a friend of Leitners, told the paper that the woman, who also had a teenage son, had been struggling with alcohol addiction and on one occasion tried to talk her into a suicide pact.
As of Friday morning, investigators were still awaiting the results of toxicology tests on Jessica Leitner to determine if alcohol or drugs played a role in the fatal crash.
On Thursday, President Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats in response to the country's alleged coordinated hacks during the presidential election
That channel is funded by the Russian government and is broadcast to countries
Shortly after some Twitter users began to comment that Russia Today was also down in the
The founder of Drudge Report got a very unpleasant surprise Thursday night when the popular news aggregation website went down for 90 minutes.
Matt Drudge wrote on his Twitter account that the website had been targeted with the biggest Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) it had ever experienced in its 21 year history, leaving users unable to access content.
He also stated that the 'routing and timing' of the attack was 'VERY suspicious,' which then led him to tweet: 'Is the US government attacking DRUDGE REPORT?'
Drudge then followed up with another tweet shortly after, writing: 'Attacking coming from "thousands" of sources. Of course none of them traceable to Fort Meade...'
The suggestion that the Obama administration might have launched a targeted attack against the website polarized Twitter users, with fans of Drudge Report supporting its founder's suspicions and detractors responding with disbelief and in some cases outrage at the allegation.
Shortly before the website went down, it was announced that President Obama had deemed 35 Russian diplomats 'persona non grata' following evidence that the country used coordinated hacks to try and influence the presidential election, giving individuals just 72 hours to get out of the country.
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Theory: Drudge Report founder Matt Drudge (left in 2005) questioned whether the US government (President Obama on right earlier this month) was behind his website's outage on Thursday
Question: Drudge wrote on Twitter: 'Is the US government attacking DRUDGE REPORT?' (above)
Thoughts: He also called the routing and timing of the attack 'VERY suspicious'
Supporters of Drudge's theory used the news that the website was down to immediately start attacking President Obama, who a number of individuals likened to Hitler.
One Twitter user responded to Drudge asking if it could have been a government attack by writing: 'probably , yes. Obama is hitler.'
That tweet led to another user responding: 'Pretty much! He certainly seems to hate jews! Not many days left in his reign.'
And soon after that same user tweeted: '#WorstPresidentEver = B. Hussein Obama.'
A number of those who supported Drudge's belief that the website was possibly the victim of government interference also claimed that Russia Today was also down around the same time on Thursday.
WHAT IS A DDOS ATTACK? DDoS attacks are a primitive form of hacking using botnets - networks of computers that hackers bring under their control. They do this by getting users to inadvertently download software, typically by following a link in an email or agreeing to download a corrupted file. These botnets are then used to bombard the servers with simple requests for information carried out simultaneously, causing them to become overwhelmed and shut down. Advertisement
Russia Today is a television network that is funded by the Russian government but airs outside the country.
There is also a news website that provides content in a number of languages, including English and Russian.
'Numerous reports of Russian state-run Network RT being unavailable,' wrote reporter Mikael Thalen on Twitter, noting that it coincided with what Drudge had classified as the 'biggest DDoS attack since site's inception.'
Thalen also backed up his claim the Russia Today was unavailable by posting screengrabs that showed errors when people tried to access the channel on their televisions.
'Russia Today no longer avail on my TV cable service,' wrote Ben Watson of Washington DC in one of the grabs, alongside an picture of his error message.
More problems: Shortly after some Twitter users began to comment that Russia Today was also down in the Washington DC market (above)
Coincidence: That channel is funded by the Russian government and broadcast to countries around the world
Drudge Report was back up and running on Friday, with a story about Putin and Obama front and center (above)
Another television viewer in the DC area tweeted that he too could not access the channel around that time as well.
Meanwhile, others mocked Drudge for even questioning if the government was involved, with one Hillary Clinton supporter joking: 'maybe it's a 400 pound guy in New Jersey.'
And another man tweeted at Drudge: 'Serious question: when has any one of your paranoid short-circuited half-baked garbleplops ever been right? Like, ever?'
The Crossrail carriage has been tested in a climatic wind tunnel in Vienna, Austria
The inevitable chaos when a blanket of snow falls over the tracks is a seasonal irritant for commuters - but maybe not for much longer.
Tests have been carried out on a carriage to see how it will cope in temperatures as low as -25C, or up to 40C.
The work on the Crossrail train was carried out in a climatic wind tunnel in Vienna, Austria, and the carriage is now going through night testing before going into service next year.
It was built by Derby-based manufacturer Bombardier Transportation.
The carriage will be used on the Elizabeth Line - a 60 mile Crossrail route stretching from Reading in the west to Shenfield and Abbey Wood in the east.
Howard Smith, operations director for the line, said: 'Although we've not had snow in London yet this year, we've put the train through a white Christmas.
The train has been tested to see how it withstands temperatures as low as minus 25C
The carriage will be used in the 14.8 billion Crossrail scheme, set to open in 2019
'It's important that we check that the new trains can operate in anything that the changing British weather can throw at them and it won't be long before our customers will be able to get on board a train, with the first of them going into service in May 2017.'
Dean Taplin, a senior vehicle engineer at Bombardier, said: 'Subjecting the new trains to a range of climatic conditions, including thick snow and ice, is another crucial step towards making sure that the trains perform as intended whatever the weather.'
A senior Donald Trump aide speculated on Thursday that President Barack Obama's move to sanction Russia over election-year hacking allegations could be, in part, a political move designed to tie the president-elect's hands as he takes office.
Obama's White House expelled nearly three dozen Russian diplomats earlier in the day, and forced the closure of two U.S. waterfront estates used by Russian intelligence operatives.
Kellyanne Conway reacted in a Fox News Channel interview to a New York Times report that those moves 'appeared intended to box in President-elect Trump, who will now have to decide whether to lift the sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies when he takes office next month.'
Conway snarked: 'I hope that this isn't motivated by politics even a little bit.'
She said she was referring specifically to 'the allegation or the supposition that perhaps one reason that the sanctions are taking place is to "box in" President-elect Trump, forcing him to take a position or otherwise once he takes office.'
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Kellyanne Conway, the newly minted senior counselor to President-elect Donald Trump, scolded the Obama White House for attempting to 'box in' his successor with a raft of new sanctions against the Russian government
Obama ejected 35 Russian diplomats allegedly spying for President Vladimir Putin (left) on Thursday; Putin decided not to respond in kind
Obama has engaged an eleventh-hour torrent of regulation, executive orders and diplomatic snubs, throwing tacks in the road ahead of Trump as he prepares to hand over the Oval office on January 20.
In addition to Thursday's unprecedented actions against Moscow, he allowed an anti-Israel resolution in the United Nations Security Council to pass unopposed a week ago rather than wielding America's traditional veto.
Obama used the 110-year-old Antiquities Act this week to unilaterally declare the existence of two national monuments this week in Utah and Nevada, angering Republicans in both states who see it as a land-grab inked without any consultation.
The move puts 1.65 million acres of U.S. land off-limits to energy exploration, cattle grazing and other development.
'[This] midnight move is a slap in the face to the people of Utah, attempting to silence the voices of those who will bear the heavy burden it imposes,' Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Wednesday in a statement.
On Dec. 20 the outgoing president banned oil and gas drilling across hundreds of millions of acres owned by the federal government in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department illustrated on Thursday how Russian operatives targeted computer networks of American political parties and government agencies, potentially impacting the result of November's presidential election
Russia's embassy in London mocked the Obama administration's new sanctions on Thursday, calling the outgoing president a 'lame duck'
Two days later he scrapped the last vestiges of a 9/11-era program that the Bush administration once used to force adult males from Muslim-majority countries to register with American immigration authorities.
The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, soon to be erased from the nation's regulatory books, was thought to be a logical framework Trump's aides could use to fulfill a campaign promise to track immigrants and visa holders from terror-prone nations part of a philosophy he called 'extreme vetting' as he ran for the White House.
Conway took a dim view of the sudden whirlwind of activity at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
'I think within the last couple of days you see this flurry of activity by a "tough" President Obama as he exits the office,' she reflected.
'And I guess is just burnishing his last couple of moments,' she mused, cautioning that Trump 'will have an opportunity to re-examine our relationship geopolitically, across the globe' once he takes office.
She specifically took aim at the Russia sanctions, wondering aloud if they will have much effect.
'This is great political fanfare and largely symbolic, but will it have impact? Will these sanctions have impact?' Conway asked.
Among other hacking penalties, the U.S. government shuttered this 45-acre Maryland compound used as a Russian 'spy base'
Another compound shut down by Obama's State Department is Killenworth, the Glen Cove estate on the North Shore of Long Island once owned by George Dupont Pratt
Moscow's spy agency targeted by Obama's moves, the so-called 'Main Intelligence Directorate, is known by the initials GRU, short for the Russian name 'Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye.'
'The GRU, where these operatives are, they don't really travel here, they don't keep their assets here,' Conway said.
'So one wonders, you know, what the teeth of those sanctions really are.'
Hanging in the air as Obama levied penalties on Moscow is the rationale for the punishments, the White House's contention that a series of Moscow-driven computer hacks compromised Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy so much that they delivered the White House to Trump.
The net effect has been to delegitimize Trump's surprising victory, a development that the outgoing president has avoided acknowledging is his overall goal as he transitions back into private life.
'That would be very unfortunate if politics were the motivating factor here,' Conway (right) said of Obama's flurry of last-minute activity; 'We can't help but think that's often true'
Obama put Trump between a rock and a hard place last week when he ordered his United Nations ambassador not to stand in the way of an anti-Israel resolution that angered Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu (left)
Obama was personally involved in Clintons failed campaign in its final month, actively urging Americans to choose her as his successor. Americans hadn't seen such a level of engaged campaigning by a sitting president in generations.
Conway will have the title 'Senior Counselor to the President' in the West Wing of the White House three weeks from now, giving her words significant weight as the world anxiously awaits the advent of a new administration.
Trump on Thursday night took a wait-and-see approach to Obama's slap at Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that it was 'time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.'
He also pledged to meet with U.S. intelligence officials next week to hear them out and examine the evidence on which Obama acted.
Among Obama's other eleventh-hour moves that will make Trump's tenure more difficult is the naming of new national monuments in Nevada and Utah (shown) putting 1.65 million acres of land off limits to energy exploration, cattle grazing and other development
Conway hinted that the Obama White House may have been hoping to 'bait him into a bigger response,' but warned the current administration that 'you can't have it both ways.'
'You can't on the one hand say, "Hey, just one president at a time" and we have one for the next 22 days or so named President Barack Obama but at the same time you want the president-elect to make new policy.'
She reiterated in an interview on CNN that the Russia sanctions were likely in part a political move calculated to make Trump's transition loaded up with rocks and hard places.
'Even those who are sympathetic to President Obama on most issues are saying that part of the reason he did this today was to, quote, "box in" President-elect Trump,' Conway said.
'That would be very unfortunate if politics were the motivating factor here. We can't help but think that's often true.'
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New Year's celebrations have got underway in traditional manner in Edinburgh - with thousands of 'Vikings' taking to the streets to see 2016 off.
A torchlight procession through the city kicked off the Hogmanay festivities, with around 150,000 people from 80 nations across the world expected to descend on Edinburgh.
The event runs over three days, and thousands of people lined the streets to see the stunning display this evening.
The annual celebration is borrowed from the world's largest fire festival, Up-Helly-Aa, based on Shetland.
It represents a river of fire flowing through the city centre, and is led by a group of 'vikings' carrying a longboat.
Some of the proceeds from the event have gone to international children's charity Unicef.
Vikings were among thousands of people who took part in the torchlight procession to mark the start of the celebrations
Members of Up Helly Aa Vikings take part in tonight's torchlit procession through Edinburgh, which marks the start of the three day Hogmanay celebrations
Thousands of people lit torches to take part in the annual parade, which starts the three days of festivities
Flame-filled evening: Vikings light their torches ahead of the procession, which attracted thousands as the celebrations got underway
The colourful spectacle marked the start of this year's Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh
Thousands of people take part in the annual parade, which is led by a group of 'vikings' carrying a longboat
Thousands of people lined the streets to watch the distinctive procession, which passed through the centre of Edinburgh
The huge torchlight parade is held each year, and marks the start of Hogmanay festivities in Edinburgh
The torchlight procession attracted thousands of people to Edinburgh, where 150,000 people are expected to join in the festivities over the next three days
Thousands of people, including Vikings, took part in the procession, which begins three days of New Year's celebrations
Vikings light their torches as they take part in the parade through the streets of Edinburgh, where 150,000 people are expected to attend the New Year's celebrations over three days
The Vikings are coming: Members of Up Helly Aa Vikings take part in the procession
Vikings taking part in the celebrations in Edinburgh, where three days of festivities attract thousands from all over the world
The procession is a traditional start to the three days of Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh
People lit torches in the procession, which marks the start of Hogmanay celebrations in Edinburgh
High spirits: 'Vikings' get into the spirit as the torchlight procession takes to the streets of Edinburgh
A Swedish police officer who gave a pickpocket the shock of his life when she tackled him to the ground wearing only a bikini, has decided to quit her job to become a personal trainer.
Mikaela Kellner, a veteran of Swedish Ninja Warrior and a police officer for 11 years, was sunbathing in a Stockholm park with friends in July when the unsuspecting pickpocket approached.
He pinched the phone but was immediately tackled by Kellner, who was off duty at the time. Pictures of the heavily muscled fitness fanatic pinning the crook to the ground went around the world.
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Hero: Mikaela Kellner, a veteran of Swedish Ninja Warrior and police officer of 11 years, tackled an unsuspecting pickpocket to the ground in a Stockholm park
Muscles: As well as being a police officer, Kellner also competes on the TV programme Swedish Ninja Warrior, as well as doing power-lifting and Crossfit
She gained 27,000 new followers on Instagram, where she shows off pictures of her unbelievably toned body.
But the Daily Telegraph reported that she was actually quitting the force in protest at its reorganisation, which has made her feel uncomfortable.
'I do not think personnel are being treated fairly, as they should,' she told Sweden's Expressen newspaper.
But overweight Swedes' gain will be a big loss for Stockholm police.
At the time of the arrest she said: 'I just acted on instinct and didn't think about it so much until after we had pinned him down,' Kellner told The Local Sweden.
'When I sat there I looked over at our other two friends who are not police officers and realised that it probably looked pretty funny.'
She confessed: 'I would have stepped in no matter what my outfit. Had I been naked I would also have intervened.
'Nothing will stop me.'
Fitness: As well as her work as a police officer, Mikaela Kellner is a fitness enthusiast and spends her free time power-lifting and doing Crossfit
Internet hit: The snapshot of the arrest, which Kellner posted to her Instagram account, has already received more than 6,000 likes in just one day
Powerful: The policewoman said 'nothing will stop me' when speaking about the incident, and insisted she would still have brought the pickpocket down even if she had been naked
She is a fitness enthusiast and spends her free time power-lifting and doing Crossfit.
She said that she was just glad to draw attention to the tactics employed by pickpockets, warning that the theft was so subtle it was 'like magic'.
Kellner said she began to suspect all was not as it seemed when the man would not take no for an answer when he approached them in the Ralambshov park in the Swedish capital.
Instinct: Kellner and another friend, who is also a police officer, pinned the unsuspecting pickpocket to the ground in Ralambshov park in Stockholm until their colleagues could arrive and arrest him
Force: She said after the incident that the pickpocket realised 'quite quickly that it wasn't worth struggling'
Off-duty: The police officer said the pickpocket was so effective that he was able to make off with the mobile phone 'like magic'
Despite her warnings to her friends to keep an eye on their possessions, he was still able to make off with the phone after laying his pile of magazines over it and picking it up as he left.
'There was no time so I ran after him, maybe 15 metres or so,' she continued. 'One of my friends is also a police officer, so we got hold of him.'
Anthony Hunter, 39, was arrested after he allegedly smashed a cash register inside a gas station before biting a police officer
A New Jersey man was arrested after he allegedly smashed a cash register inside a gas station before biting a police officer.
Anthony Hunter, 39, was demanding lottery tickets at a Lukoil station in Ewing on Monday.
Assistant Mercer County Prosecutor John Boyle said Hunter, of Trenton, rushed at and bit the officer on the right hand after police tried to arrest him.
Prosecutors say Hunter smashed the store's cash register with an ax and demanded that workers fill a bag with scratch-off lottery tickets before he ran from the station.
He has been charged with two counts of robbery.
Boyle says it was Hunter's third robbery attempt at a gas station this month.
Hunter was accused of stealing a milkshake from a Shell gas station's mini mart on Chambers Street on December 10, according to NJ.com.
In that incident, Hunter was reportedly brandishing a stick. Police caught him running down the street and he told them a man had pulled a gun on him, the newspaper reported.
Two weeks later, on December 23, Hunter went into another Shell gas station in Trenton and threatened the store clerk.
On December 23, Hunter went into another Shell gas station (pictured) in Trenton and threatened the store clerk and demanded that she hand over $60. He is currently being held on a combined $350,000 bail for the crimes
Prosecutors said Hunter put his hand in his jacket pocket in the shape of a gun and demanded money from the clerk, who believed he had a gun and handed over $60, according to NJ.com.
Hunter's attorney said that his client maintains his innocence.
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Donald Trump has praised Vladimir Putin for not retaliating against President's Obama's sanctions for Moscow's alleged hack of the presidential election.
In a dramatic intervention which puts him directly at odds with Obama, Trump said the Russian president is 'very smart.'
Putin had said he would keep his powder dry until Trump was in office, and seemed to go out of his way to praise America's president-elect in a New Year's message to world leaders.
Trump said in a tweet that it was a 'great move,' adding: 'I always knew he was very smart!'
He then tweeted later in the day: 'Russians are playing @CNN and @NBCNews for such fools - funny to watch, they don't have a clue! @FoxNews totally gets it!'
The official Twitter account of the Russian Embassy in Washington quickly retweeted the message.
A statement from the Kremlin released on Friday said: 'Putin congratulated US President-elect Donald Trump with the Christmas and New Year holidays.'
'In his congratulatory message, the head of the Russian state expressed the hope that after Trump takes office as the US president, the two states acting in a constructive and pragmatic way will be able to take real steps for restoring the mechanisms of bilateral cooperation in various fields and bring the interaction on the international scene to a qualitatively new level.'
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Intervention: The dramatic move by Trump puts him in the middle of the Cold War-style standoff Obama was having with Putin - and likely to be accused by Democrats of being too close to the Kremlin strongman
Bringing division: Putin, who handled a sword from a Russian TV show about Vikings at the Kremlin on Friday, is now the key dividing line between the 44th and 45th presidents
Cold warrior: Putin toured an archaeological exhibition (left) in the Kremlin's extensive grounds after his stand-off with Obama escalated. He then went for a walk around the Kremlin (right)
Second tweet: Trump used his social media to send out another message on Friday, accusing the U.S. media of having 'no clue' about Russia
The tweet is likely to generate uproar among Democrats who see election-year hacking and leaking of political secrets related to Hillary Clinton's failed presidential campaign as a major reason she lost to Trump.
The White House on Thursday directly accused the Kremlin of intervening in the election in an attack on democracy, a position the Trump camp does not agree with.
Trump's intervention will only heighten feelings, which Democrats have repeatedly aired, that he is too close to Moscow.
Obama's sanctions, announced on Thursday, included the expulsion of 35 diplomats the White House accused of being intelligence agents, the closure of two luxury compounds used by diplomatic aides and the announcement of economic sanctions on Moscow's spy services.
Russia, which denies hacking the election, treated the moves with derision.
Putin responded by declining to initiate tit-for-tat expulsions, and then invited American diplomats' children to the Kremlin for a New Year's party.
Dasvidaniya: The Russian government is sending this plane, an Ilyushin Il-96 - to the U.S. to ferry its expelled diplomats out of the country by New Year's Day
On Friday, the Russians quickly packed up two compounds in Maryland and New York, which President Obama is closing in the new round of sanctions. Above, the Russian compound in Centreville, Maryland on Friday, where a ladder was left propped up in the last minute move
A convoy of vehicles with diplomatic plates driving away from the Russian compound near Centerville, Maryland on Friday
The Russian government-owned compoud in Centreville, Maryland is seen above
Russian officials launched a verbal assault on President Obama and his administration, calling them 'losers.'
A key Putin ally called Obama himself a 'political corpse'.
Putin had been expected to mirror Obama's decision to expel 35 intelligence agents with Cold War-style revenge expulsions.
His foreign minister Sergey Lavrov had called for the measure, but instead Putin who coolly met the makers of a Russian TV drama about Vikings and posed with a large sword said he was waiting to deal with Donald Trump after his January 20 inauguration.
'We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone,' Putin said in a statement inviting children of US diplomats to the holiday soiree.
'We evaluate the new unfriendly steps by the outgoing US administration as a provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-American relations.'
A man climbs over a fence to lock the main gate of an estate in the village of Upper Brookville in the town of Oyster Bay, N.Y., on Long Island on Friday
A fence encloses an estate in the village of Upper Brookville in the town of Oyster Bay, N.Y., on Long Island on Friday
A man waves goodbye to U.S. special agents as he drives out of an estate on Friday. THe Obama administration closed this compound for Russian diplomats
A U.S. special agent checks a car with diplomatic license plates as it drives out of one of the lavish estates closed by President Obama in retaliation to the alleged Russian hacking during the election
People are seen gathered outside the Russian-owned Maryland compound on Thursday
Cars are seen entering the Killenworth estate on Friday, as Russian officials officials closed down one of their Long Island compounds
He said Moscow would plan its next steps 'based on the policies pursued by the administration of president Donald Trump', while warning that the Kremlin reserves the right to hit back.
Meanwhile the Kremlin foreign minister Sergey Lavrov's official spokesman slammed the Obama administration, calling them a 'group of foreign policy losers, angry and shallow-brained'.
Lavrov had fired back at Barack Obama's decision, suggesting expelling officials and closing down an area used by Americans for their summer retreat on the outskirts of Moscow and a warehouse south of Moscow.
But Putin dismissed the idea, saying he did not want to stop youngsters from being able to use the area.
The apparent decision to over-rule Lavrov is likely to have been orchestrated from the start to emphasize the options open to Moscow, rather than being done as a slap-down from Putin.
The Russians had until noon on Friday to get out of their Maryland and New York compounds before the State Department took custody
Vans arrived at the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC on Friday, after emptying the government's compounds
Television crews assemble outside the Russian embassy on Wisconsin Avenue in Washington
And Konstantin Kosachev, head of the upper house of the Russian Duma's committee on foreign affairs, was reported by The Observer to have called Obama a 'political corpse'.
'The leaving administration has no reason and no political or moral right for such drastic and disruptive steps with regards to bilateral relations with Russia,' he said.
'Forgive me for being harsh, but I just cannot find other words: this is the agony of not the lame ducks, but of political corpses.'
It was part of an attack which saw the foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova claim the US and American people were 'humiliated by their own President' in what she described as the Cold War-style measures against Moscow.
Putin also dispatched a VIP airliner to take the 35 expelled diplomats home while in Centreville, Maryland, and Long Island, New York, Russian diplomats hurriedly packed up their two luxury compounds to meet a noon deadline to get out.
HOW THE RUSSIANS 'PULLED OFF THE ELECTION HACKS' The FBI and the Department of Homeland Security determined in a report released Thursday that Russian state actors were behind computer hacks this year that exposed some of the Democratic National Committee's secrets. America's intelligence community, the report reveals, code-named the effort 'Grizzly Steppe,' and referred to specific hackers or groups of hackers by pet names including 'CosmicDuke,' 'COZYBEAR,' 'CrouchingYeti,' 'Energetic Bear,' 'Fancy Bear,' 'OnionDuke,' 'Sandworm,' 'SOURFACE' and 'Tiny Baron.' Evidence is strong, the FBI and DHS concluded, tying Russia to the DNC hack, which unmasked an intra-party plot to promote Hillary Clinton's primary candidacy while marginalizing her main opponent, Senator Bernie Sanders. The report makes no reference, however, to the more explosive leaks of emails hacked from the personal account of Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta. The 13-page document's main purpose is to educate government and political IT professionals about how to protect their computer systems from future cyber attacks. But its most volatile statements concern intelligence findings that establish the involvement of Russian military and civilian intelligence agencies in past hacking. Those services found ways to 'compromise and exploit networks and endpoints associated with the U.S. election, as well as a range of U.S. Government, political, and private sector entities,' Thursday's report concludes. The two agencies had already released a statement in October attributing the attacks to Russia, claiming they were an attempt to 'interfere' with America's presidential election.The new report does not expand on that specific allegation or provide new evidence to support it. The two main Russian entities identified on Thursday include a hacking group known as APT29, tied to Russia's Federal Security Service the FSB, one of several successor agencies to the infamous KGB which Russian President Vladimir Putin once led. That group is thought to have infiltrated the DBC's computers for more than a year, pulling out documents regularly. The FBI and DHS tied another group of hackers, known as APT28, to Russia's military intelligence service, known as the GRU. Some security experts have written that APT28 was the entity behind the hack of Podesta's emails, but Thursday's report is silent on that claim. APT28, The Hill reported Thursday, is thought to be the responsible for providing stolen files and emails from both hacking operations to WikiLeaks, which published them online. The attackers, the two U.S. intelligence agencies reported, executed 'spearphishing' operations that lured computer users to click on links inside emails which led to malicious addresses. Some of those online destinations fed malware into the victims' computers, which then allowed the code to migrate into the DNC's servers, providing the hackers with long-term access. The result, the FBI and DHS concluded, was 'the exfiltration of information from multiple senior party members.' 'The U.S. Government assesses that information was leaked to the press and publicly disclosed,' the report declares. And some Russian intelligence operatives, the agencies write, continued to launch cyber attacks as recently as 'just days after' the November 8 election. Advertisement
A senior Trump aide speculated Thursday that Obama's move to sanction Russia could be, in part, a political move designed to tie the president-elect's hands as he takes office.
Kellyanne Conway reacted in a Fox News Channel interview to a New York Times report that those moves 'appeared intended to box in President-elect Trump, who will now have to decide whether to lift the sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies when he takes office next month.'
Conway snarked: 'I hope that this isn't motivated by politics even a little bit.'
She said she was referring specifically to 'the allegation or the supposition that perhaps one reason that the sanctions are taking place is to "box in" President-elect Trump, forcing him to take a position or otherwise once he takes office.'
Kellyanne Conway, the newly minted senior counselor to President-elect Donald Trump, scolded the Obama White House for attempting to 'box in' his successor with a raft of new sanctions against the Russian government
Obama ejected 35 Russian diplomats allegedly spying for President Vladimir Putin (left) on Thursday; Putin decided not to respond in kind
Obama has engaged an broader eleventh-hour torrent of regulation, executive orders and diplomatic snubs, throwing tacks in the road ahead of Trump as he prepares to hand over the Oval office on January 20.
In addition to Thursday's unprecedented actions against Moscow, he allowed an anti-Israel resolution in the United Nations Security Council to pass unopposed a week ago rather than wielding America's traditional veto.
Obama used the 110-year-old Antiquities Act this week to unilaterally declare the existence of two national monuments this week in Utah and Nevada, angering Republicans in both states who see it as a land-grab inked without any consultation.
The move puts 1.65 million acres of U.S. land off-limits to energy exploration, cattle grazing and other development.
'[This] midnight move is a slap in the face to the people of Utah, attempting to silence the voices of those who will bear the heavy burden it imposes,' Utah Rep. Jason Chaffetz said Wednesday in a statement.
On Dec. 20 the outgoing president banned oil and gas drilling across hundreds of millions of acres owned by the federal government in the Arctic and Atlantic Oceans.
The FBI and Homeland Security Department illustrated on Thursday how Russian operatives targeted computer networks of American political parties and government agencies, potentially impacting the result of November's presidential election
Russia's embassy in London mocked the Obama administration's new sanctions on Thursday, calling the outgoing president a 'lame duck'
Two days later he scrapped the last vestiges of a 9/11-era program that the Bush administration once used to force adult males from Muslim-majority countries to register with American immigration authorities.
The National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, soon to be erased from the nation's regulatory books, was thought to be a logical framework Trump's aides could use to fulfill a campaign promise to track immigrants and visa holders from terror-prone nations part of a philosophy he called 'extreme vetting' as he ran for the White House.
Conway took a dim view of the sudden whirlwind of activity at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue.
'I think within the last couple of days you see this flurry of activity by a "tough" President Obama as he exits the office,' she reflected.
'And I guess is just burnishing his last couple of moments,' she mused, cautioning that Trump 'will have an opportunity to re-examine our relationship geopolitically, across the globe' once he takes office.
She specifically took aim at the Russia sanctions, wondering aloud if they will have much effect.
'This is great political fanfare and largely symbolic, but will it have impact? Will these sanctions have impact?' Conway asked.
Among other hacking penalties, the U.S. government shuttered this 45-acre Maryland compound used as a Russian 'spy base'
Another compound shut down by Obama's State Department is Killenworth, the Glen Cove estate on the North Shore of Long Island once owned by George Dupont Pratt
Moscow's spy agency targeted by Obama's moves, the so-called 'Main Intelligence Directorate, is known by the initials GRU, short for the Russian name 'Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye.'
'The GRU, where these operatives are, they don't really travel here, they don't keep their assets here,' Conway said.
'So one wonders, you know, what the teeth of those sanctions really are.'
Hanging in the air as Obama levied penalties on Moscow is the rationale for the punishments, the White House's contention that a series of Moscow-driven computer hacks compromised Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's presidential candidacy so much that they delivered the White House to Trump.
The net effect has been to delegitimize Trump's surprising victory, a development that the outgoing president has avoided acknowledging is his overall goal as he transitions back into private life.
Obama was personally involved in Clintons failed campaign in its final month, actively urging Americans to choose her as his successor. Americans hadn't seen such a level of engaged campaigning by a sitting president in generations.
'That would be very unfortunate if politics were the motivating factor here,' Conway (right) said of Obama's flurry of last-minute activity; 'We can't help but think that's often true'
Music revellers have described the horrific scenes at Falls Music and Arts Festival at Lorne in Victoria where at least 19 people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries following a crowd crush incident.
Social media is alight with chilling recounts of the 'stampede' with partygoers describing broken bones, large cuts and even people performing CPR on the injured after a large crowd was leaving the DMAs set.
A Reddit thread of partygoers at Falls Festival in Lorne have described the horrible crowd crush with one user claiming she could hear chilling screams from the crowd.
'The screams you can hear in that are absolutely chilling,' she wrote.
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At least 19 people have been taken to hospital with serious injuries following a crowd crush incident at the Falls Music and Arts Festival at Lorne in Victoria
Falls Music and Arts Festival released a statement claiming up to 50 people were attended to after the incident
People took to social media to express their shock at the chilling incident
'You know immediately what is happening to those people from the timbre alone, it's f****d :/'.
One woman spoke to her sister and said she described people with broken bones, people passing out and limbs covered in blood.
'No bodily function was possible, if you were lucky (sic) could only just breathe,' she wrote.
A statement from the Falls Festival Facebook page said up to 50 people were attended to after a large number of people were injured after those at the front of a crowd leaving the DMA's set on route to London Grammar lost their footing at about 9.50pm on Friday.
Police said up to 19 people were taken to hospital with serious injuries.
No one sustained life-threatening injuries but 19 people were taken to hospital with serious injuries, police said in a statement.
Medical treatment was provided on site to others with injuries.
Another man claims his friend was seriously injured at the crowd crush
One user who claims he was there described how it started
Another male said his friend was going to be airlifted out after his legs were injured.
'A guy I play footy with is waiting to be air lifted out. Has limited feeling in his legs,' he wrote.
Festival organisers have set-up an account for anyone with inquiries about the incident or the welfare of specific festival goers (patroninfo@fallsfestival.com).
Organisers also posted an official note on Facebook confirming the crowd crush incident just after Australian band the DMA's had finished playing in the Grand Theatre tent.
Horrible recounts of the crowd crush that occurred at Falls Music and Arts Festival
Event organisers will make a final decision on whether the four-day event will go ahead at midday on Saturday
Eyewitness accounts reported the crush as a 'stampede' with bones broken, shoes turn off and mobile phones crushed.
Adam Dean, of Ringwood, was in the crowd and told Fairfax Media one of his friends was injured.
'After DMA's there was a huge rush of people coming out and he got trampled, everyone was pushing people out - it was bad.'
Mr Dean said his friend was 'alright, legs got scratched up massively, reckons he basically got dragged like 10 metres over gravel from everyone trampling him. But he's all good.'
Festival-goer Lucy Spry posted on the Falls Facebook site that it began when someone slipped on gravel going through a small exit with no crowd control in sight.
Massive crowds attend the popular Falls Festival across Australia
The crowd enjoying an act at Lorne in Victoria at Falls Music and Arts Festival
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has clarified that he is not an atheist, ending years of speculation about his religious beliefs.
The revelation came in a comment underneath a post Zuckerberg originally posted on Christmas Day, wishing his followers a merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah.
Someone asked: 'But aren't you atheist [sic]?' prompting Zuckerberg to say he was not and that he believes religion to be 'very important'.
Zuckerberg, who was raised Jewish, has cultivated an interest in Buddhism through his wife and met the Pope last summer, did not elaborate on his beliefs and did not explicitly say if he subscribed to a specific movement.
Mark Zuckerberg said in a Facebook post on Christmas Day that he is not an atheist as many thought, and revealed that after a period of questioning he believes religion is 'very important'
The revelation came underneath a post in which Zuckerberg wished his followers a merry Christmas and a happy Hanukkah on December 25
Zuckerberg (pictured meeting the Pope with his wife Priscilla Chan in August) did not say whether he practices a specific religion but pointed out he was raised Jewish
The tech billionaire acknowledged that he went through a time when he 'questioned things' as he tried to figure out his stance on religion.
'I was raised Jewish and then I went through a period where I questioned things, but now I believe religion is very important,' he wrote.
His original Christmas Day post wished his followers merry Christmas and happy Hanukkah from himself, his wife Priscilla Chan, their one-year-old daughter Max and their dog Beast.
'Seeing the moments of joy and family shared on Facebook today is one of my favorite things about our community,' Zuckerberg wrote.
'I hope you're surrounded by friends and loved ones, and that you have a chance to reflect on all the meaningful things in your life.
'May the light of your friendships continue to brighten your life and our entire world.'
The tech billionaire (pictured with his wife and their one-year-old daughter Max on her birthday) also has an interest in Buddhism, which Chan practices
Zuckerberg's wife practices Buddhism, a religion that Zuckerberg explored further last year during a trip to China.
'I had the opportunity to visit Wild Goose Pagoda in Xi'an and offer a prayer for peace and health for the world and for my family,' Zuckerberg wrote while sharing a photo of himself praying and kneeling in front of the Buddhist landmark.
After a period during which he 'questioned things', Zuckerberg feels that religion is an important part of life
'Priscilla is Buddhist and asked me to offer a prayer from her as well. Buddhism is an amazing religion and philosophy, and I have been learning more about it over time. I hope to continue understanding the faith more deeply.'
Zuckerberg and Chan met Pope Francis at the Vatican this summer and on that occasion too shared a heartfelt message.
'We told him how much we admire his message of mercy and tenderness, and how he's found new ways to communicate with people of every faith around the world, Zuckerberg wrote.
'We also discussed the importance of connecting people, especially in parts of the world without internet access.
'We gave him a model of Aquila, our solar-powered aircraft that will beam internet connectivity to places that don't have it. And we shared our work with the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative to help people around the world.
'It was a meeting we'll never forget. You can feel his warmth and kindness, and how deeply he cares about helping people.'
President Barack Obama is unlikely to grant pardons to whistleblowers who leaked government secrets as he exits office, experts say, but they're asking for clemency anyway.
Edward Snowden, the NSA contractor who revealed the existence of global and mass surveillance programs who's living in Russia to escape prosecution by the Department of Justice, has asked Obama to give him a clean slate.
Chelsea Manning, an army intelligence analyst who went by Bradley before she was imprisoned, has asked for leniency, too. Manning is serving a 35-year-sentence for giving classified information to Wikileaks.
President Barack Obama is unlikely to grant pardons to whistleblowers who leaked government secrets as he exits office, experts say, but they're asking for clemency anyway. Edward Snowden is pictured
Retired Marine Gen. James "Hoss" Cartwright and ex-CIA officer John Kiriakou have also asked the president for pardons, according to Politico.
Cartwright was Obama's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman until 2011. He plead guilty in October to a felony charge for providing a false statement to the authorities.
The 67-year-old was accused of sharing classified information to New York Times reporter David Sanger and lying to the government about it.
The four-star general insists he was not the source of the leak to Sanger about a secret cyber attack on Iran meant to undermine its uranium enrichment system. But he told FBI agents that he didn't confirm the information, either, and has admitted his statement to the feds was untrue.
'I knew I was not the source of the story and I didnt want to be blamed for the leak,' he said in a statement. 'My only goal in talking to the reporters was to protect American interests and lives.'
He's set to be sentenced three days before Obama leaves office. He could receive five years in office, but he's likely to serve zero to six months of hard time, the Washington Post reports.
Kiriakou already served his time for blowing the lid off the CIA's George W. Bush-era waterboarding program, which the Obama administration has since defined as torture.
His two-and-a-half year term in prison finished in 2015. He's seeking vindication for his imprisonment.
Chelsea Manning, an army intelligence analyst who went by Bradley before she was imprisoned, has asked for leniency, too. Manning is serving a 35-year-sentence for giving classified information to Wikileaks
Obama could give a slew of convicts fresh starts on his way out.
On Dec. 20 he let 231 criminals out of jail, most of whom were in custody for drug crimes, the most ever in a single day since he took office. He pardoned 78 individuals that day, too.
He's granted 1,176 commutations in his eight years, 395 of which were life sentences, CNN says, and approved 148 pardons.
'The 231 individuals granted clemency today have all demonstrated that they are ready to make use -- or have already made use -- of a second chance,' White House General Counsel Neil Eggleston said a statement on Dec. 20.
'While each clemency recipient's story is unique, the common thread of rehabilitation underlies all of them.'
Eggleston told CNN Obama was likely to give out more commutations and pardons before he leaves office.
Mark Osler, a law professor at the University of St. Thomas in Minneapolis, Minnesota, told Politico, 'I think hes going to announce a lot of names in the next few weeks. I dont think any of them will be these big-name figures.'
'This administration does have an aversion to high-profile cases generally,' he said.
Obama told German publication Der Spiegel last month that he can't pardon Snowden, who's wanted for three felony charges tied to his 2013 exposure of the NSA's bulk data program, because he hasn't presented his case in court
Retired Marine Gen. James "Hoss" Cartwright has asked the president for a pardon, too. Cartwright was Obama's Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman until 2011. He plead guilty in October to a felony charge for providing a false statement to the authorities
Kiriakou already served his time for blowing the lid off the CIA's George W. Bush-era waterboarding program, which the Obama administration has since defined as torture. He wants a clean slate
Obama told German publication Der Spiegel last month that he 'can't' pardon Snowden, who's wanted for three felony charges tied to his 2013 exposure of the NSA's bulk data program, because he hasn't presented his case in court.
'I think that Mr. Snowden raised some legitimate concerns,' Obama stated. 'How he did it was something that did not follow the procedures and practices of our intelligence community.
'If everybody took the approach that I make my own decisions about these issues, then it would be very hard to have an organized government or any kind of national security system.'
Snowden has an especially difficult case to make for a pardon, legal experts told Politico, given that he's a fugitive from justice and has shown no contrition.
Manning has the best chance of being pardoned or having her sentence commuted because the punishment was so severe and her military record states she was suffering from gender identity disorder.
Chelsea Manning won a court case in September that ordered the army to pay for her gender reassignment surgery.
If Obama were to pardon someone like Snowden or a commutation to Manning on his way out the door it could taint his legacy.
Bill Clinton's pardon of hedge funder Marc Rich, on the run at the time from charges of tax evasion and racketeering, and his business partner in 2001 has haunted him since.
Rich's ex-wife, Denise, was a major donor to Hillary Clinton's Senate campaign and Bill's presidential library. The two-term president was accused of pay-for-play, allegations that dog the Clintons to this day.
A Houston man was left shaken after his home and vehicle were defaced with racist hate speech.
The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office said the 51-year-old resident, who wished to remain anonymous, woke up Friday morning to his burned out SUV that had 'N****r LEAVE' and 'GET Out' painted in red on the car doors, according to KPRC.
He told the station that he was when he saw flashing lights just after 5am and noticed his car was on fire.
'I walked to the front and looked out the window and seen my car out there all burned up,' the man, who lives at the home alone, told the station.
The Harris County Fire Marshal's Office said the family woke up Friday morning to their burned out SUV (pictured) that had 'N****r LEAVE' and 'GET Out' painted in red on the car doors. The same racist speech was found on the family's home as well
'It's disturbing. It's sick thoughts that makes people do these crazy things,' he said.
The same racist speech was also found on the man's home in the 300 block of San Jacinto Street.
The Highlands Fire Department responded to the scene and helped the man wash the paint off his home.
The fire marshal's office posted the disturbing photos to Facebook, asking for anyone with information to call Crime Stoppers of Houston.
Images show the burned out SUV parked in the driveway with visible burn marks along its interior.
The entire car is seared and all of the SUV's windows are broken out.
The residents of the home (pictured) were not injured. Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to an arrest or charge
In the photos, the home doesn't appear to have any more damage than racist speech painted along the front in red.
The man told KPRC that he has lived at the home for the last eight months.
He said he has five children, who were not home at the time.
The man said the whole thing has him 'kind of scared' and 'nervous', but he doesn't plan on leaving the neighborhood.
Crime Stoppers is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for tips leading to an arrest or charge.
from the Lords was rejected by MPs
Police are now officially able to hack into your phones and check your browsing history after the Snoopers' Charter came into force yesterday.
The law - officially called the Investigatory Powers Bill - forces electronic data to be stored by app companies for 12 months, which can be subsequently collected by law enforcement.
While critics have cited it as an attack on privacy, the Government believes the charter is essential for combating terrorism and organised crime.
The bill forces electronic data to be stored by app companies for 12 months, which can be subsequently collected by law enforcement.
The legislation replaces the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act, which several local authorities have been accused of abusing to snoop on people feeding pigeons and failing to clear up dog mess.
The Act was passed by the House of Lords in November, after they backed down on an amendment that would have forced the press to pay court costs for both parties in any case involving allegations of phone or email hacking, even if they were completely spurious.
One peer said it would have 'chilled' journalism and stopped papers writing about figures such as ex-BHS boss Sir Philip Green.
Peers backed down in a battle with MPs over a new law that could have prevented newspapers exposing corruption and speaking out against injustice
The following day the Lords accepted defeat in what will be seen as a victory for Press freedom.
Aside from the controversy surrounding its morality, the charter's effectiveness has also been questioned, with Virtual Private Network software already being highlighted as a potential way for internet users of getting around it.
Using a VPN means data will be scrambled and protected from the company that provides the connection.
A New Mexico fourth grade science teacher allegedly ordered his entire class to write essays about a nine-year-old boy who had been accused of bullying.
The parents of Diego Ortega said their son was so humiliated by the essays that they had to pull him out of the school and teach him at home for the rest of the year.
Alexandria Lente, Diego's mother, said the issue began after the teacher gave a presentation about bullying to class one day last fall at Katherine Gallegos Elementary School in Los Lunas.
Diego Ortega, 9, felt under attack when his fourth grade science teacher asked the entire class to write essays about how he was allegedly a bully to his peers
One of the essays (pictured) called Diego rude while another student accused Diego of calling them a 'scared-y cat'
'After the presentation, he called my son out to the classroom and asked the class to write an essay on Diego being a bully,' she told KRQE News 13.
Diego said he begin to cry in the classroom after the assignment was announced by the teacher, whose name has not been released.
One of the essays, which were obtained by the station, called Diego rude while another student accused Diego of calling them a 'scared-y cat'.
A couple of the essays claimed Diego had gotten in their faces.
Meanwhile, Diego wrote his own essay about how he felt he was being bullied by his teacher.
Lente said Diego was still bawling when she came to pick him up at school that day.
She immediately went to the principal and was told the essays were 'okay' because it had been a learning assignment.
Ortega's parents (pictured) said their son was so humiliated by the essays that they had to pull him out of the school and teach him at home for the rest of the year
Diego no longer wanted to go to school.
'He was starting to make excuses, my head hurts, my stomach hurts,' Lente said. 'Crying in the morning.'
'You think your kid is safe at school with teachers, yet you have teachers that are picking on your kids,' she added.
Diego returned to a different school in the Los Lunas district this year, and his parents said he is doing very well.
But the battle isn't over between the Oregas and the district.
The family has claimed the district did not promptly respond to their attorney's public information request for copies of the essays last December.
They are claiming that the district is thus liable for $20,000 in 'unnecessary attorney fees'.
The Los Lunas School District could not be reached for comment.
An off-duty FDNY emergency medical technician who claimed to have been viciously stabbed and robbed of his Christmas presents by a group of masked thugs in The Bronx made up the whole story, according to police.
Steven Sampson, 41, was charged on Wednesday with making a false written statement and falsely reporting an incident.
Police said the married father-of-two changed his account of what happened on Christmas Day three times, and when pressed about the inconsistencies, he finally admitted that nothing about his robbery tale was true.
'Liar, liar': Steven Sampson, 41, an EMT with the FDNY, has been charged with making a false written statement and falsely reporting an incident after police say he made up a story about a Christmas Day stabbing and robbery
Scene of the bogus crime: Sampson, a 9/11 veteran and judo black belt, initially claimed he was attacked here, at the corner of Bolton and Randall avenues in The Bronx
Sampson initially told police that he was at the intersection of Bolton and Randall avenues in The Bronx when he pulled over in his truck to reorganize the presents he was taking to his cousins' Christmas party.
It was then that the 9/11 veteran, who allegedly has a black belt in Judo, said he heard a scream from behind and turned to see four masked men coming towards him - setting in motion a violent confrontation that ended in him having his arm slashed, the New York Post initially reported.
Sampson, who is white, said one of the men shouted at him 'Hey, cracker!' before a member of the group reached for the firefighter's phone.
'I caught him in an arm bar and he was like, "Please, sir, please, sir, let me go!" but I knew I had him,' claimed Sampson, of Bronx Battalion 19. 'I smashed him in the elbow and felt his humerus crack.'
Proud papa: Sampson told police a group of thugs called him a 'cracker,' then slashed him in the arm and got away with $2,600 worth of presents, including some for his six-year-old daughter (pictured left and right)
Sampson said he then punched one of the other thugs in the jaw, dropping him immediately, but wasn't able to stop the two other men from stealing $2,600 of gifts.
They included liquor, electronics, a parrot drone for his six-year-old daughter and gift cards for his 16-year-old daughter.
Sampson said he then ran to his truck and locked the doors - and only then, he said, did he notice the blood pumping from the knife wound in his right arm.
He called his wife telling her would be late without explaining why - 'I didnt want to freak her out', he said - and drove himself to Jacobi Medical Center.
There he received nine stitches and, he said, became the envy of the local police.
'Every cop was in there,' he said. 'The [Bronx] borough chief was like, "What is he f**king Superman?"'
This week, a source told News 12 The Bronx that Sampson may have been slashed at a Christmas party but did not want his wife, Michelle, to know because he had attended the event with another woman.
Mrs Sampson came to her husband's defense in a rambling Facebook post on Thursday, insisting that her spouse was, in fact, brutally slashed and robbed; she also accused the NYPD and the news media of attacking his character.
Claims of infidelity: A source told a news station that Sampson might have concocted the story because he had gone to a Christmas part with a woman other than his wife, Michelle, pictured right alongside their younger daughter
Michelle Sampson also vehemently denied that her husband, whom she described as a 'wonderful person,' was having an affair. She claimed that he was simply in the wrong place, at the wrong time, and that he has gained nothing from this ordeal.
In response to a comment left on her page by a sympathetic friend, Mrs Sampson wrote of Steven: ' He didn't want the police involved he doesn't want any of this.He didn't asked to get stabbed or robbed f*** the gifts that's what not important his health is what important.'
Mark Lowcock will be knighted in the New Years honours for public service
The Whitehall mandarin who presides over the bloated foreign aid budget is to be rewarded with a knighthood.
Mark Lowcock will be knighted in the New Years honours for public service, despite widespread anger over how the Department for International Development spends its vast 12 billion budget.
The decision comes just weeks after MPs criticised the 165,000-a-year bureaucrat for being evasive over who took the disastrous decision to build a 285 million airport on the remote island of St Helena where it is too windy for commercial planes to land.
Tory MP Philip Davies said Mr Lowcock, 54, should be known as Sir Waste-a-Lot after presiding over a department that had become a byword for inefficiency.
Key awards in the honours list include:
Veteran comedian Ken Dodd, 89, is knighted;
Olympic stars Jessica Ennis-Hill and Katherine Grainger are made dames, while Mo Farah is knighted;
Tennis champion Andy Murray, 29, becomes one of Britains youngest knights;
Fifteen gongs went to officials at the Home Office, where Theresa May served for six years;
Tory donor David Ord, who has given the party 930,000, is knighted for political service;
TV presenter and bowel cancer survivor Lynn Faulds Wood turned down an MBE, saying she could not accept a gong while we still have party donors donating huge amounts of money and getting an honour.
MPs criticised the 165,000-a-year bureaucrat for being evasive over who took the disastrous decision to build a 285 million airport (pictured) on the remote island of St Helena
Mo Farah (pictured at the Rio Olympics in August) has been awarded a knighthood in the New Year's Honours list
Olympic stars Jessica Ennis-Hill (pictured in Rio in August after winning silver in the women's heptathalon) has been made a dame
On Twitter last night, Mrs May said: Congratulations to all those receiving honours its great that so many from different walks of life are recognised.
But Mr Davies added of Mr Lowcocks gong: He certainly hasnt been knighted for services to the UK taxpayer. If squandering billions of pounds on greedy consultants and corrupt countries, and having the highest paid staff in the Civil Service gets you a knighthood these days, then God help us.
It certainly detracts from the other very deserving people on the list.
Comedian Ken Dodd, 89, has been knighted in the New Year's Honours list
Team GB rower Katherine Grainger, pictured holding a silver medal, her fifth medal at five Olympic Games, has been made a dame
While it is common for long-serving Whitehall mandarins to be handed honours, the timing of Mr Lowcocks knighthood looks set to revive anger over the foreign aid budget.
He is a close friend of Cabinet Secretary Sir Jeremy Heywood, and is said to have shared a flat with him when they were starting out in the Civil Service. He has spent his entire career at Dfid and its predecessor department, racking up a 1.1 million pension pot in the process.
For the past five years he has been the departments permanent secretary, responsible for overseeing the controversial target of spending 0.7 per cent of Britains income on foreign aid.
Television presenter Lynn Faulds Wood turned down an MBE, saying she could not accept a gong while we still have party donors donating huge amounts of money and getting an honour
Tory donor David Ord, who has given the party 930,000, is knighted for political service
During this time, Britain has doled out more than 60billion in aid, with the budget rising from 7.7billion to an estimated 12.4billion this year, at a time when other departments have faced deep cuts.
In April this year, Mr Lowcock boasted that the political debate on the value of foreign aid had been won. He added: Increasingly, people dont want to debate whether we should do development or not.
What they want to know is: are we spending the money well and getting the right results from it? I worry much less than I used to about having to make the case for development.
Tory MP Philip Davies said Mr Lowcock, 54, should be known as Sir Waste-a-Lot
But Tory MP Peter Bone said many voters still wanted the controversial 0.7 per cent aid target scrapped.
He said: The debate about overseas aid is far from over, whatever Mr Lowcock might like to think it just shows how out of touch he is with the British people. Many of my constituents would rather see a proportion of that money spent on social care, rather than handing it over to corrupt regimes and wasting it on ridiculous projects. Just doling money out to meet a target is the wrong approach.
Earlier this month, Mr Lowcock came under fire from MPs over the disastrous St Helena airport project. The Commons public accounts committee said Dfid had made a series of staggering errors which had unquestionably failed the taxpayer.
Tory MP Peter Bone said many voters still wanted the controversial 0.7 per cent aid target scrapped
Mr Lowcock told MPs he was unable to say who had made the critical decisions, leading the committee to brand his evidence evasive. Mr Lowcock was one a series of officials whose honours are likely to raise eyebrows.
Other surprises included an MBE for services to taxpayers for Sarah Pearson, head of customer services at the personal tax division of HM Revenue and Customs, which has faced heavy criticism for its call handling in recent years.
Another surprise was the award of a Queens Police Medal to Scotland Yard Chief Supt Gordon Briggs, who oversaw the disastrous inquiries sparked by the phone hacking scandal, which were branded a politically motivated witch-hunt.
Honours to political cronies are also likely to revive calls for an overhaul of the system.
Lib Dem Shirley Williams, is among the serving and former MPs to be recognised. She has been awarded a Companion of Honour
Assistant Tory treasurer Dominic Johnson received a CBE, just months after he agreed to put up David Cameron and his family at his 4 million home in Chelsea when they left Downing Street. Alexandra Broadrick, chief of staff to controversial former Tory chairman Lord Feldman, received an MBE.
And there were awards for serving and former MPs, including Lib Dem Shirley Williams, who is made a Companion of Honour, and former Lib Dem pensions minister Steve Webb, veteran Labour MP David Crausby and former Tory defence minister Julian Brazier, who are all knighted.
There was also a CBE for David Hodge, the Tory leader of Surrey Council, which is considering a massive 16 per cent council tax rise next year.
Officials yesterday stressed that many of the nominees had been in the system since before Mrs May took office in July.
Mrs May had asked for a change in emphasis to honour more ordinary people, which would be reflected in future honours lists
Sir Jonathan Stephens, head of the main honours committee, said Mrs May had asked for a change in emphasis to honour more ordinary people, which would be reflected in future honours lists.
The Cabinet Office has criticised celebrities who revealed their inclusion on the honours list before it was published.
Victoria Beckham sparked controversy this week as she told her family about her OBE nomination over Christmas before a source close to the family leaked the news.
A university chief who allegedly had an affair with the married boss of Lloyds Bank is to quit her job.
Wendy Piatt is standing down as head of the Russell Group of elite universities in February to explore new challenges.
Her move follows an internal review set up after claims she had an affair with Lloyds chief Antonio Horta-Osorio while on a business trip to Singapore.
Wendy Piatt (pictured) is standing down as head of the Russell Group of elite universities
Ms Piatt's departure comes after an internal review investigated claims she had an affair with Lloyds chief Antonio Horta-Osorio (pictured here with his wife Ana)
The Portuguese banker, who earned 8.8million last year, was reportedly spotted enjoying days out with his alleged lover.
The pair are also claimed to have met up at his 350-a-night room at the five star Mandarin Oriental hotel.
Witnesses said Dr Piatt was seen using her own key to enter and leave Mr Horta-Osorios hotel room, while she was also on a business trip in June to build relationships with overseas universities.
Mr Horta-Osorio, 52, spent 3,276 on the hotel room, minibar and room service during his six-night stay, plus 550 on two visits to the spa, his bill showed.
Lloyds said all personal costs were paid out of his pocket and he was exonerated by an internal probe.
Dr Piatt, 46, said: I have told the board that I wish to explore new challenges in 2017
Dr Piatts departure as director general of the Russell Group which includes Oxford and Cambridge follows the end of an internal review into processes and protocols. This will stay secret but it is understood that there was no evidence of wrongdoing related to her travel and expenses.
In a statement Dr Piatt, 46, said: Having established and steered the Russell Group over the past ten years as a highly effective representative body for 24 of the UKs top universities, I have told the board that I wish to explore new challenges in 2017.
A prospective buyer got more than they bargained for when they took a tour of a Detroit home that was up for sale and found a mummified body.
The buyer was doing a walk-through of the home when they entered the garage and stumbled upon a 1990 or 1991 Plymouth Acclaim car covered in dust.
When the buyer opened the car, they discovered the decomposed and mummified body sitting inside the backseat.
Authorities were called to the home around 1pm on Thursday and the body was taken to the Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office.
A prospective buyer of a Detroit home found a mummified body inside this 1990 or 1991 Plymouth Acclaim when they took a tour of the house
The body is so badly decomposed it is not clear whether the person was a male or a female and when or how they died.
Lloyd Jackson, a spokesman for the office, said it is believed the body had been there for 'years', he told the Detroit News.
He added that the body was past the decomposition stage in which it turns brown and was found lying down in the backseat.
The body had on a shirt, sweater and pants.
A University of Michigan anthropologist will conduct special tests next week to determine the gender and perform an autopsy.
The buyer was taking a tour of the house (pictured) when they walked into the garage and decided to look inside the dust-covered car
The home's current tenants are renters who said they were told by the property owner that they could never use the garage, according to the Detroit Free Press.
They maintain that they never went inside the garage in the year they have rented the home.
Detroit police are now trying to find records that show who has lived in the house and who the car might belong to, according to Fox 2 Detroit.
They will begin their investigation after finding out how the person died.
The father of a serial killer victim is reliving the family's heartbreak following the arrest of a suspect two decades after the murder.
Denis Glennon said it was a bittersweet moment now suspected serial killer Bradley Robert Edwards, 48, had been charged for the murder of his daughter Ciara Glennon back in 1997.
'This is a very raw and bittersweet time,' Mr Glennon told Perth Now.
'We are being updated by the WA Police, and hence it is best that I do not comment on the recent developments.'
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Ciara Glennon (pictured) was 27-years-old when she disappeared on March 4, 1997 from Claremont, Perth
Mr Glennon's daughter Ciara was 27-years-old when she disappeared on March 4, 1997 after a night on the town celebrating St Patrick's Day in Perth suburb, Claremont.
Now two decades later Mr Edwards has been charged with two sex attacks and the willful murder of Ciara and another 23-year-old woman called Jane Rimmer, who also disappeared from Claremont in the 1990s.
The two murders, along with a third woman, Sarah Spiers' disappearance from Claremont at the same time, were dubbed the Claremont serial killings.
Childcare worker Jane Rimmer, 23, (pictured) vanished after leaving a venue. Her body was discovered in bushland, south of Perth, in August 1996
Sarah Spiers was just 18 years old when she became the first victim in the Claremont serial murders
Ms Glennon was a young and talented lawyer at law firm Blake Dawson Waldron when she disappeared.
Senior partner at that law firm Neil Fearis said he was with Ms Glennon and two other colleagues the night she disappeared on March 4, 1997.
He described Ms Glennon as a gifted lawyer, and a popular workmate and friend to everyone.
'Rarely do such bright stars cross our firmament; even more rarely is their trajectory cut so tragically short.'
Mr Fearis said she worked at the law firm for three years before leaving to travel overseas.
WA police have made a significant breakthrough in the Claremont serial killer investigation, charging Bradley Edwards (pictured) with two of the murders
Police commissioner Karl O'Callaghan said Mr Edwards' arrest was the result of the 'biggest and most complex police investigation in Western Australian history'.
West Australian Police have said its Special Crime Squad is in charge of investigating the murder of Ciara Glennon, Jane Rimmer, and also the disappearance of Sarah Spiers.
They said it was a 'major investigation' and they were committed to solving the crimes.
A Chelsea Pensioner is being hounded by investigators over his role in a firefight in Northern Ireland more than four decades ago.
The former Royal Marine was quizzed for four hours by Northern Ireland officers at the famous Royal Hospital Chelsea over the death of an IRA terrorist in an Army ambush in Belfast in July 1972.
The veteran, who is now 75, fired at the armed man in the heat of a battle as 'bullets rained down in all directions'.
He said he had been thrown into a 'Catch-22 monstrosity', in which he either tried to kill the man or watch his comrades be murdered.
A Chelsea Pensioner is being hounded by investigators over his role in a firefight in Northern Ireland more than four decades ago (stock photo)
Three years after the firefight, he was awarded a 'certificate of appreciation' by the commander of Northern Ireland operations, praising him for his 'good service' and 'devotion to duty'.
But last night the decorated war hero said he had been 'chased' over the incident by detectives.
He is the first known Chelsea Pensioner to be targeted by detectives dragging up historical cases from the time of Troubles.
Now the terrified veteran who completed six tours of Northern Ireland during the height of IRA terrorism spends his days fearing another knock at the door. He said he had been 'left to grow old' fearing prosecution. The pensioner, who also served in the Army, does not want to be named because he fears he could be attacked at his home in London.
Speaking to the Daily Mail from the hospital, he said: 'I am now under suspicion. My case is an example of how far these people are willing to go.
'Are they going to look for 95-year-old Normandy veterans next?
'It does not matter if you've served for 22 years in the Army and in the Marines, these people are still going to chase you. It does not even matter if you live in a castle in Scotland, a council estate in England, or a magnificent place like the Royal Hospital Chelsea, these people will still want to find you.'
Details of his plight came after it emerged a new unit has been set up to investigate every Army killing during the Troubles.
Up to 1,000 men in their 60s and 70s face being put through the 'witch-hunt', which has been condemned by MPs and military chiefs as 'disgraceful'.
Two ex-paratroopers are being prosecuted for murder over the killing of an IRA commander more than 40 years ago. The former soldiers, who had twice been assured they would not be hauled before the courts for gunning down Joe McCann, are the surviving members of the 1st Battalion Parachute Regiment patrol that opened fire in 1972. The men, now 67 and 65, are expected to stand trial next year for the Belfast killing and face jail if convicted. The Police Service of Northern Ireland's taxpayer-funded Legacy Investigation Branch is set to re-open 238 'fatal incidents', which led to 302 deaths.
The former Royal Marine was quizzed for four hours by Northern Ireland officers at the famous Royal Hospital Chelsea (pictured)
Speaking about the incident in 1972, the Chelsea Pensioner said he had fired at a terrorist holding a rifle in 'attack mode' towards his comrades. He does not know if his bullets killed the man.
He said: 'My company commander put me in the situation to ambush and if necessary kill an enemy who was trying to kill us.
'An ambush includes calamity never written about in any training manual. I fired at him but I don't know where my rounds landed. After 45 years, I still don't know. When I looked through my rifle scope I saw a man in the attack mode with a weapon.
'He was pointing his weapon toward my main gate where I knew there were other marines on sentry duty. I could have killed a man in July 1972, a man who was trying to kill Royal Marines that I was in a covert ambush to protect. I was acting under orders.
'This is a Catch-22 monstrosity but the act of ambush is legal in the eyes of our defence laws.'
In 1975, he received a letter from the commander and director of operations of Northern, Ireland praising him for his heroic service.
LOYAL SERVICE REWARDED The Royal Hospital Chelsea was founded by Charles II and designed by Sir Christopher Wren in the late 17th century to provide a home for veterans who had given loyal service to the nation. Any former Army soldier over the age of 65, who is facing spending their advanced years alone, can apply for residence as a Chelsea Pensioner. There are currently around 320 places less than the number of applications so the veterans Army service record is taken into account. Although they are known for their scarlet uniforms, the pensioners wear an alternative navy blue uniform on a daily basis. This is worn with a dark shako cap bearing the initials RH. Chelsea Pensioners surrender their Army pension in return receiving board, lodging, clothing and full medical care. Women were admitted for the first time in 2009. Advertisement
The letter, seen by the Mail, says: 'I am authorised to signify by the award to you of this certificate my appreciation of the good service which you have rendered. I have given instructions that a note of your devotion to duty shall be made on your Record of Service.'
The Chelsea Pensioner said he had 'no doubt' that he was going to get another letter through the door from investigators.
He said: 'These people are going to get back to me but I don't know when. I'm worried because I'm certain they are going to jump on me.'
But he said he had taken part in a 'lawful ambush' in which 'you are there to kill and when they turn up with that weapon your job is to blow them apart'.
He added: 'For 45 years I have stood alone on this event with no offer of investigative explanation from any authority.
'Our services never needed more support than they do today.' He said the investigations were 'destroying morale' and serving as 'comfort to the enemy'.
The former soldier, who never married, decided to become a Chelsea Pensioner seven years ago.
Normally a Royal Marine cannot become a Chelsea Pensioner but because he served in the Army for six years, he was allowed to move into the famous hospital.
Dolly isnt your typical toddler. The little girl is happiest mucking in
Like many three-year-olds, Dolly Caton had a firm idea about what she wanted from Father Christmas this year.
Not a Hatchimal, or a My Little Pony light-up castle, or any of the other fleeting crazes that tempt small girls, but something else altogether.
A wheelbarrow, she tells me.
Happily, Santa obliged with a splendid red- and-yellow version, and over the past few days, Dolly has rarely been parted from it.
It may be plastic, but it certainly does a splendid job of ferrying animal feed and even the odd chicken around the smallholding where Dolly lives with mum Georgie Mitchell, 30, and six-year-old brother, Billy.
It makes it easier to carry things to the animals, she says.
You might have guessed already that Dolly isnt your typical toddler. While many exasperated parents are struggling to tear their children away from their computer games and television screens this Christmas season, Georgie has the opposite problem: rain or shine, she struggles to keep Dolly inside.
Instead, the little girl is happiest mucking in quite literally and helping with the pigs, sheep and chickens that surround the familys cosy two-bedroom cottage in Simonstone, in Lancashires picturesque Ribble Valley. Dolly wont settle in the house, says Georgie. She likes to be outside.
Shes never known anything else really from being a baby I carted her around in a sling as I looked after the animals and shes just had to get on with it.
Her can-do attitude bottle-feeding piglets, scooping up chickens, herding sheep and dealing with the mess that comes with it is in stark contrast to the indoor lifestyles of many of our youngsters.
And it has led to her becoming an online star, courtesy of the Facebook page Georgie recently set up to promote her expanding small business, and which features snapshots of Dolly at her most charming, helping with the livestock.
Ive had messages from all over the world saying how lovely it is to see a little girl so at one with nature, Georgie says. Its funny really, as it just seems so normal to me, but its gone mad with people wanting to know more.
Then again, mad might be a good word to explain the whole situation, for Georgie herself would be the first to admit she is an unlikely proponent of the Good Life.
Her yoga teacher mother and electrician father dont have a farming background and, until her early 20s, Georgie was a professional snowboarder.
My mum and dad dont even really like animals, although they do love the outdoors, so there was always this thing in me about wanting to be outside, she recalls.
A back injury brought a premature end to her sporting career, and Georgie returned home to Lancashire, where she met Billy and Dollys father Adam, 30, a sandblaster.
The family rented a cottage and Georgie embarked on a teaching qualification.
That is, until she became friendly with the local farmers wife, and started to help out in lambing season.
At this point Dolly was about four months old and she loved it. There are pictures of her stuffed in a bucket with a sheepskin rug and a sheepskin hat on, Georgie says.
By the time Dolly was two, Georgie was getting more involved on the farm and brought her work home.
When Dolly was two I came back with an orphan lamb it was so tiny and poorly and lived in front of a cardboard box in a coal fire, she recalls.
We hand-reared her with a bottle and the kids loved it.
Dolly enjoys helping with the pigs, sheep and chickens that surround the familys cosy two-bedroom cottage in Simonstone, in Lancashires picturesque Ribble Valley
When the lamb recovered, Georgie realised she would need some land to keep it on.
By sheer fluke, some land came up close by on a little smallholding where I remember visiting as a child, so we secured that.
A flock of chickens followed, with four rare breed Oxford Down sheep hot on their heels last April. We just needed something to eat the grass, really, says Georgie.
I realised I really enjoyed working with the animals, so I started to invest in more sheep, more pigs, more hens, which involved more land.
Seventy sheep, ten chickens, eight pigs, 28 piglets, two dogs, three cats (and, until this Christmas, 20 turkeys) later, and Georgie has now given up work as a university lecturer to turn her hobby into a fledgling business, selling her meat at local markets.
Its hard work, but she has willing helpers in her children with Dolly in particular, despite her tender years (she only turned three in September), a constant shadow as Georgie goes about the farm.
She has such an intuitive understanding of animals, explains Georgie. When she was only two, our cat was having kittens and Dolly lifted up her tail and said: Theyre not quite ready to come out yet, Mummy.
Wed never talked to her about it and she hadnt yet seen an animal give birth, so it was obviously instinctive. I think it comes from being outside and being among nature. Its all she talks about.
day in Dollys outdoor life
5.50am: Dolly is already awake. She keeps farmers hours, Georgie says.
Dolly is desperate to head outside from the moment she changes out of her pyjamas, but as her mum prepares breakfast and gets Billy ready for school, Dolly plays with the family dogs, a springer spaniel called Izzy and a sheepdog puppy called Betty.
Dolly solemnly informs us she named Betty herself. Shes my dog, really, she says. I am helping to show her what to do with the animals.
The wooden toy Aga that Santa delivered alongside her wheelbarrow keeps Dolly occupied, too.
Im a fan of more practical presents, Georgie says. One year I bought both the kids shepherds crooks and last year they got an incubator and some duck eggs to hatch. They loved them.
9am: After Billy has been dropped at school its time to let out the chickens and clean out the coop. Dolly likes fluffing out their straw and making it nice and cosy, says Georgie. In she goes, scooping up the chickens in her arms to put them outside before heading off on an egg hunt. Its lean pickings, but there are two under a distant tree.
Her can-do attitude bottle-feeding piglets, scooping up chickens, herding sheep and dealing with the mess that comes with it is in stark contrast to the indoor lifestyles of many of our youngsters
They went a long way last night, Mummy, she says. Dolly isnt always so helpful: she likes chasing the chickens around the field as well.
9.30am: Its over to the pig pen theyre a bit noisy, Dolly warns where we are greeted by a melee of squealing four-week-old piglets and one of the sows, Queen Mary.
Dolly heads in without hesitation with her bucket of feed to start cleaning out, feeding and watering the animals, although theres time for some cuddles, too. If you scratch their nose it stops them from shouting, she tells me, as one piglet wriggles in her lap and two nuzzle at her shoulder.
Its always seemed instinctive with her, says Georgie. She put them under her cardigan to keep them warm when they were newborn.
I realised, though, it was time to put her in nursery for a couple of days a week when I asked her about getting friends of her own and she said she only liked chickens, she adds.
11am: Its time to head over to the 15 pregnant sheep on the smallholding with fresh hay and water. They are kept in their barn at the moment, and in the blink of an eye Dolly is among them all, throwing feed and stroking their heads.
She watched the lambing this year and next year I think shell be ready to help deliver these babies, says Georgie.
Dolly is also a champion herder when the sheep venture outside in milder weather, especially with Betty at her side. I could almost leave her to it, her mother says.
Midday: Mum and daughter with Dollys wheelbarrow at the ready head off to a neighbouring field where another pig, Belinda, is tucked in a corner snuffling around her brood of 12 piglets.
You can rustle a bucket and whistle and she will come from wherever she is, Dolly says. Sure enough, over she comes to be ministered to by Dolly, although she keeps her piglets at a distance.
Belinda is more tective, says Dolly. Protective, Georgie translates.
Until before Christmas this was also turkey time as the smallholding had a clutch of the birds. Theyre huge compared with the chickens, as big as Dolly, but she wasnt frightened at all, says Georgie. She was brilliant at helping to feed and water them. Nothing fazes her.
12.30pm: Back to the cottage for lunch, today its turkey sandwiches but often its roast gammon or sausages from the pigs. And theres no squeamishness. This is from the turkey we had, Dolly says, brandishing some meat. She knows what comes from what, adds Georgie.
Both my kids know some of the animals go to the slaughterhouse and then to the butcher. People should know what they are eating. Dolly knows they have had a good life and thats what its about.
A couple of animals, however, are off limits: Nelly and Nora, sheep that Dolly chose at auction. I just liked the way they looked, she says. They are not going to become meat. Afterwards its time for play at home while her mum does housework.
4pm: Mother, daughter and Billy, now back from school, head out for a final check on the animals and to batten down the hatches. Its time for them to go to sleep, isnt it, Mummy? asks Dolly.
7.30pm: Technically, its bedtime for Dolly. She doesnt sleep straight away, she takes forever to wind down, says Georgie. Youd think all this fresh air would knock her out, but she is too excited all the time.
And there is more to come. Buoyed by the success of her burgeoning business, Georgie has plans to expand. I want to get some bees for 2017 and start producing honey, she says. Ive also come up with an idea for a module to teach basic farming skills in primary school.
Fried chicken fans now have the chance to order their favourite food by just looking into a camera.
American fast-food company KFC has introduced a facial-recognition system in a new branch in China, which is programmed to predict a customer's order after scanning his or her face, according to People's Daily Online.
The machine analyses information such as the customer's gender, age and mood before recommending a la carte, set meals and drinks.
Selfie time: new AR technology in KFC Original+ Beijing will know what you want to eat
The new technology is available at KFC's concept restaurant, known as KFC Original+, in the Chinese capital city of Beijing.
With a snap of your face in front of the screen, the augmented reality, or AR, technology enables customers to interact through emotions and movements.
The futuristic branch is a collaboration between KFC and Baidu, a Chinese internet company running China's largest search engine website.
The new store, which opened on December 24th on Jinrong Street, is the second 'smart restaurant' in KFC's China franchise. Apart from the facial-recognition food ordering kiosk, it features mobile payment service.
Prior to the opening of the store in Beijing's financial district, KFC and Baidu had successfully opened the company's first KFC Original+ concept store in Shanghai.
Pictures posted by KFC on Weibo, a Chinese micro-blogging platform, shows curious Chinese customers trying out the machine.
i-Emotion: offering a list of meal options to choose based on your mood of the day
Baidu stated that the principle behind the system was based on setting certain set meals, food and beverage choices to a specific age range, as reported in People's Daily Online.
For instance, the AR-operated machine will recommend a lunch combo of zinger burger, boneless mini fillets and coke to a 20-year-old male customer; and a breakfast of porridge and soya milk to a 50-year-old female customer.
The food suggestion leaves some customers to question: 'What if a 50-year-old wants to have fried chicken?'
'Why is the computer not recommending healthier choices to younger people?' One Chinese web user wondered.
Wu Zhongqin (second left) from Baidu joined the press conference on December 24th
However Wu Zhongqin, deputy director of the Institute of Deep Learning of Baidu, told China Daily that the facial-recognition technology would not be able to detect the customer's mood perfectly.
Wu added that the machine would mainly serve as a database of order history.
This means, when a customer re-visits the branch, his or her order history will appear on the screen after the machine takes a picture of the customer.
Chinese customs officers have seized more than three tonnes of pangolin scales in the biggest busts ever.
Three suspects have been arrested for smuggling over 100 bags of scales from Africa to China at the Shanghai border, reported People's Daily Online.
The report estimated that as many as 7,500 pangolins, an endangered animal, could have been slaughtered to produce these scales, which are known for their medicinal value in China.
Chinese customs officers have seized more than three tonnes of pangolin scales from Africa. Pictured above is a long-tailed pangolin in Congo
The discovery was made on December 10, according to the report, which also stated that it was the biggest haul of smuggled pangolin scales to have been discovered in China.
Shanghai customs officers inspected a container that was supposed to be carrying timber from Africa.
However, the goods, claimed to be wooden poles, showed a different texture as they went through the X-ray checks.
The officers opened the container and uncovered 101 bags of pangolin scales.
About 5,000 to 7,500 pangolins, each carrying 0.9 to 1.3 lbs of scales, were believed to have been slaughtered to produce these scales, estimated an expert who specialised in endangered animals and plant protection.
Three suspects, who had been purchasing pangolin scales from Africa since 2015, were arrested.
The officers opened a suspect container and uncovered 101 bags of pangolin scales
The bags of scales were found in a container that was supposed to carry timber from Africa
Under China's criminal law, individuals who catch, kill, buy or sell endangered wild animals that are under state protection are subject to fines and jail sentence.
Pangolins, listed as a second-class protected animal in China, are often hunted and smuggled.
Its meat is eaten as delicacy in certain areas such as Yunnan, according to a 2016 report by wildlife NGO Traffic China.
Its scales are commonly used as Chinese medicine to improve blood circulation. It's also believed that pangolin scales can increase the supply of breast milk by new mothers.
Although the trading of scales are illegal in China, over 60 per cent of Chinese medicine stores sell scales to customers.
The first motorised vacuum cleaner was crafted by an English engineer in 1901, and the humble invention has come a long way since then.
Robot vacuums can now automatically clean rooms and corridors around the home at just the touch of a button, making hungover New Year's Day cleaning a breeze.
This week, Samsung announced the latest of its 'Powerbot' robot vacuums, named the VR7000.
The Korean tech firm says that its newest cleaner is compatible with Amazon's new Echo voice assistant, allowing users to control the robot with voice commands.
This week, Samsung announced the latest of its 'Powerbot' robot vacuums, named the VR7000 (pictured). It is less than 10cm (4in) tall, which Samsung say allows it to skirt into hard-to-reach areas under beds and other furniture
THE VR7000'S FEATURES - Less than 10cm (4in) tall - Will likely cost in the region of 800 - Compatible with Amazon Echo - Controllable remotely via an app - 'Internet of Things' compatible - On-board AI allows it to map and remember contours of the room - Can detect and work its way around small obstacles - Self-cleaning brush Advertisement
But the futuristic vacuum is not the first robot cleaner to offer this function - the Neato Botvac Connect cleaner, released earlier this year, can connect with Echo too.
The Powerbot is less than 10cm (4in) tall, which allows it to skirt into hard-to-reach areas under beds and other furniture.
As with many models of cleaner bots Samsung's VR7000 is controllable remotely via an app.
From their mobile device, users can start and stop the cleaner, schedule the next cleaning time, and even check the bot's cleaning history.
It also has 20W of suction power, which is till significantly less than the average cord vacuum.
Samsung hasn't yet announced an official release date or pricing for its VR7000 bot.
But the older VR9300 model still sells for around 800 ($985) on the company's website.
'The Powerbot VR7000 keeps up with the floor care needs of today's busy families,' said Byung-Sam Seo, President of Home Appliances at Samsung Electronics.
Samsung claims that the VR7000 (pictured) is its smartest cleaner yet. The Korean tech firm says that its newest cleaner is compatible with Amazon's new Echo voice assistant, allowing users to control the robot with voice commands
'Just set it and watch it go to work.'
The vacuum's on-board AI allows it to map and remember contours of the room to reach every corner.
It can also detect and work its way around smaller obstacles.
Samsung says that the robot's AI power control allows it to adjust the suction power automatically depending on what surface it is on.
And the VR7000 can come within 15mm (0.5in) of walls around the home, an area the tech firm's previous robot vacuums have struggled with due to their bulky size.
Samsung says that the bot boasts a self-cleaning brush to stop hair and dust from getting trapped in the bristles.
The brush collects dust in the centre to prevent too much build up.
Ants are rarely considered one the smarter members of the animal kingdom.
But new research suggests that the tiny critters are sharper than we think.
For the first time, ants have been shown to make tiny sponges to soak up honey and take it home for lunch.
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For the first time, ants have been shown to inspect and select tools based on their suitability for a task. In this image, we see funnel ants selecting tools from a plate. Researchers found that certain species of funnel ant pick tools based on their absorbency and ease of handling
HOW CAN AN ANT'S TINY BRAIN SELECT FOR TOOLS? Tool selection is a complex task for animals with such tiny brains, so how do they do it? 'Many other accomplishments of these small-brained creatures rival those of humans or even surpass them, such as farming fungi species or using "dead reckoning", a sophisticated navigation to find their way back to the nest,' Dr Valerie Banschbach, an ant expert at Roanoke College in Virginia, told New Scientist. 'The size of brain needed for specific cognitive tasks is not clear.' Advertisement
Tool use is normally only seen in species of primate and bird such as chimpanzees or magpies.
Some species of ant use tools such as mud or sand grains to collect water and take it to the nest.
But until now it wasn't known that some species of ant can even pick out the best tool for a job.
Tool selection is a surprisingly complex technique for ants, who have a minuscule brain even for their size.
A team of researchers from the University of Szeged in Hungary found that certain species of funnel ant pick tools based on their absorbency and ease of handling.
They suggest that the critters evolved this behaviour because, unlike many other species of ant, they cannot expand their stomachs.
'They had to find a way to exploit the valuable resource of liquid food,' study co-author Professor Patrizia d'Ettorre, from the University of Paris-North, told New Scientist.
This tactic meant that, when funnel ants came across a large, nutritious stash in the forest - such as fallen fruit - they could still collect plenty of resources to take back to the colony.
The research team presented two species of funnel ants with liquids containing water and honey.
Some of the liquids offered were pure honey, while others were more diluted.
They also offered the ants a range of different tools to use for carrying the selection of sweet mixtures.
The researchers suggest that the ants evolved this behaviour because they cannot expand their stomachs. 'They had to find a way to exploit the valuable resource of liquid food,' study co-author Professor Patrizia d'Ettorre told New Scientist. (Stock image)
Some of the tools were natural to the ants, such as twigs and soil grains, and some were artificial, such as bits of paper and sponge.
After experimenting with the different tools, the ants always chose the best tool for the job.
One of the two species of funnel ant tested, known as 'Aphaenogaster subterranea', preferred to use grains for the diluted honey samples, but then used sponges for the more viscous pure honey sample.
Many of the subterranea ants even tore the sponge into smaller pieces before dipping, presumably for better handling.
The other species of funnel ant tested, known as 'Aphaenogaster senilis', began the test by using all of the tools equally, but then gradually began to use the paper and sponge tools more as they went on.
This suggests that the ants were learning which tools were best as the test progressed.
What the researchers found most interesting is that the tools the ants selected tended to be artificial rather than natural, even though these materials are not found in their typical environment.
The researchers' results suggest that funnel ants posses the mental capacity to analyse both the liquid and the tool they are using to find the best possible solution to a problem.
But how are funnel ants - creatures with relatively tiny brains - able to perform these complex tasks?
'Many other accomplishments of these small-brained creatures rival those of humans or even surpass them, such as farming fungi species or using "dead reckoning", a sophisticated navigation to find their way back to the nest,' Dr Valerie Banschbach, an ant expert at Roanoke College in Virginia who was not involved in the study, told New Scientist.
There's good news for alien hunters, as experts say that 2017 could be the year we discover extra-terrestrial life.
The Cassini space probe, which is orbiting Saturn's moons, will end its mission in September next year, and is one of the greatest contenders for revealing alien life.
Scientists are also closely monitoring Proxima B, a planet they believe could harbour life.
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There's good news for alien hunters on the lookout for extra-terrestrial life, as experts say that 2017 could be the year. Scientists are also closely monitoring Proxima B, a planet they believe could harbour life (artist's impression)
THE CASSINI MISSION Since it left earth in 1997 and arrived at Saturn in 2004, Cassini has been touring the system with an up-close study of the planet, its rings and moons. During its journey, Cassini has made dramatic discoveries, including a global ocean within Enceladus and liquid methane seas on Titan. After nearly 20 years in space, the mission is drawing near its end because the spacecraft is running low on fuel. Cassini is scheduled to plunge into Saturn's atmosphere on 15 September 2017, beaming back its final cache of data as it goes. Advertisement
Dr Simon Foster, a physicist from Imperial College London believes that the Cassini space probe could reveal alien life next year.
Since it left Earth in 1997 and arrived at Saturn in 2004, Cassini has been touring the system with an up-close study of the planet, its rings and moons.
Dr Foster told The Express: 'What's interesting is that one of [Saturn's] moons, Enceladus, is an icy moon and that leaves the tantalising prospect of looking for life.
'The concentration has been on Mars, and I think moons like Enceladus and Europa, there is a good prospect of finding life microbial that is.'
As well as Saturn's moons, experts believe that life could also soon be discovered on Proxima B.
In October, a team including CNRS astrophysicists calculated the size and surface properties of the planet dubbed Proxima b, and concluded it may be an 'ocean planet' similar to Earth
In October, a team including CNRS astrophysicists calculated the size and surface properties of the planet dubbed Proxima b, and concluded it may be an 'ocean planet' similar to Earth.
Scientists announced Proxima b's discovery in August, and said it may be the first exoplanet to one day be visited by robots from Earth.
Since it left earth in 1997 and arrived at Saturn in 2004, Cassini has been touring the system with an up-close study of the planet, its rings and moons
The planet orbits within a 'temperate' zone from its host star Proxima Centauri, some four light years from us.
'The discovery of possible planet around Proxima Centauri is very exciting,' Professor Phillip Lubin, from the University of California, Santa Barbara, told Universe Today.
'It makes the case of visiting nearby stellar systems even more compelling.'
In 2017, astronomers will closely monitor Proxima b and its sun, using a collection of giant telescopes, including the European Extremely Large Telescope, in the hopes of finding evidence of life.
Dr Foster added: 'We don't know hardly anything and when we come up against something we don't know or doesn't fit into out current understanding, it is quite nice to say that it could be aliens, whereas a lot of it is just a phenomena that we haven't discovered.
'Either way, there is a breakthrough just around the corner.'
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Just hours after this year's winter solstice, the northern lights put on a stunning display over northern Canada.
The phenomenon was captured by a Nasa satellite in infrared, as the skies over the area lit up.
The northern lights, which appeared on December 22, appear in the image as glowing swirls of clouds.
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Slide me Just hours after this year's winter solstice, the northern lights put on a stunning display over northern Canada. The phenomenon was captured by a Nasa satellite in infrared, as the skies over the area lit up
WHAT ARE AURORAS? There are two types of auroras - Aurora Borealis, which means 'dawn of the north', and Aurora Australis, 'dawn of the south.' The lights are created when charged particles from the sun enter Earth's atmosphere. Usually the particles are deflected by the Earth's magnetic field, but some enter the atmosphere and collide with gas particles. These collisions emit light, in many colours although pale green and pink are common. Advertisement
Nasa's Suomi NPP spacecraft captured the image of the northern lights over British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut, and Northwest Territories in Canada.
The satellite took the images from 512 miles (824 kilometres) above Earth's surface, using a Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS).
In a statement on its website, Nasa said: 'Just hours after the winter solstice, a mass of energetic particles from the Sun smashed into the magnetic field around Earth.
'The strong solar wind stream stirred up a display of northern lights over northern Canada.'
When solar particles collide into our planet's magnetic field, particles that are trapped around Earth are rapidly accelerated.
Those particles are sent crashing down into Earth's upper atmosphere, at altitudes of 60 to 250 miles (100 to 400 kilometres), where they excite oxygen and nitrogen molecules and release photons of lights.
The results are the distinctive swirls of dancing light in the sky.
In April this year, Nasa released an ultra-high definition 4K timelapse of the Auroras Borealis and Australis as seen from 250 miles above Earth
In April this year, Nasa released an ultra-high definition 4K timelapse of the Auroras Borealis and Australis as seen from 250 miles above Earth.
'Harmonic produced this show exclusively for Nasa TV UHD, using time-lapses shot from the International Space Station, showing both the Aurora Borealis and Aurora Australis,' Nasa wrote.
While the astronauts on the space station are often treated to spectacular light shows created by the aurora from their unique perspective, they are often on the Earth's horizon.
While the astronauts on the space station are often treated to spectacular light shows created by the aurora from their unique perspective, they are often on the Earth's horizon
In February the green glow, caused by electrically charged particles thrown out by the sun interacting with the gas atoms in the atmosphere, right in the path of the space station
But in February the green glow, caused by electrically charged particles thrown out by the sun interacting with the gas atoms in the atmosphere, right in the path of the space station.
Major Tim Peake managed to capture the stunning moment as the space station passed through the green haze by taking a picture out of a window.
Posting the image on Twitter, he described the aurora as being like a 'thick green fog' which was 'eerie but very beautiful'.
Major Tim Peake managed to capture the stunning moment as the space station passed through the green haze by taking a picture out of a window
Aside from being beautiful to behold, studying the aurora from space could provide scientists with details about the behaviour of the sun.
Nasa said: 'The dancing lights of the aurora provide spectacular views on the ground, but also capture the imagination of scientists who study incoming energy and particles from the sun.
The new exploit was found by hacker vincedes3 who has also provided a fix
Because iMessage can't handle the file size, it freezes - and a reboot won't fix it
The prank message contains an attachment to a large file known as a vCard
A bug found in Apple's iOS is causing the iMessage app to crash after receiving a malicious text.
The prank message contains an attachment to a large file known as a vCard.
This is a type of virtual business card that lets you share contacts on your phone.
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The prank message contains an attachment to a large file known as a vCard. This is a type of virtual business card that lets you share contacts on your phone. It can cause iPhones to crash completely (stock image)
HOW TO FIX THE ISSUE A simple solution to the problem is to open this site on the Safari browser. This will trigger a process to fix the crash and restore the iMessage app. When this is done, a message will appear on your screen saying 'I have just saved your iPhone bro ;)' in the messaging app. Advertisement
Because iMessage can't handle the file size and complexity of the vCard, it freezes completely - and a reboot won't fix the problem.
Instead, when victims who do a hard reset are greeted with a blank screen.
The new exploit was found by hacker vincedes3 who has also provided a fix.
'When you click, iOS want to read the text, the text in the file is very complicated for the system and cause a CPU average: the app freeze,' vincedes3 wrote on his site.
'You close the app, want to reopen but iOS want to reload the previous message but can't because it's the vcf file.
Vincedes3's vCard has 14,281 lines of code, which is far more than the average VCard which has around 300.
A simple solution to the problem is to open this site on the Safari browser.
This will trigger a process to fix the crash and restore the iMessage app.
When this is done, a message will appear on your screen saying 'I have just saved your iPhone bro ;)' in the messaging app.
This flaw affects the latest versions of iOS.
An annoying bug is causing iOS Messages to crash when a certain text message (pictured as shared on Twitter with part of the text removed) is received. There is no news on when a fix will be made available
This isn't the first time a messages has been found to crash an iPhone.
Last year, it emerged that a text message containing a mixture of specific words and characters would force phones to reboot.
The text message content was shared on social media, with people complaining of being repeatedly sent the message by mischievous friends.
The message contains the word 'Power' as well as Arabic and Marathi characters and the Chinese character meaning 'redundant'.
It's only effective in crashing Messages and rebooting an iPhone if sent from another Apple handset running iOS, 9to5Mac reported.
Apple fan site MacRumours additionally said they have tested the message and revealed it will crash any iPhone running the latest iOS 8.3 operating system.
Hey my Messages app won't open without crashing.Cool. Nick Pomes (@NickPomes) May 27, 2015
Send me the text message that turns my iPhone off and I will turn yours off by throwing it out of a window!!!! Karina (@karcoty) May 27, 2015
New Year's Eve is often a bitter disappointment for party-goers, with sky-high ticket prices, over-crowded bars and roads, and rowdy drunks.
Even people with seemingly flawless party plans are destined for disaster, according to psychologists.
That's because people are more likely to be unhappy with an event when they set their expectations high and try to stick to strict plans.
But an expert in human decision making has the answer: Make fun plans for your evening, but be careful where you set the bar for your expectations.
Even people with the best laid plans New Year's Eve plans, the last night of 2016 is likely to disappoint, according to psychologists. That's because people are more likely to be unhappy with an event when they have high expectations and strict plans. (Stock image)
Dr Robb Rutledge, a senior research associate on decision making at University College London, told the MailOnline: 'People often make big plans for NYE, and that means there is the opportunity for big disappointment if reality doesn't match up to what people were hoping for.
'In general, we want our expectations to be accurate because we use them to make decisions.
'Those expectations help us decide, for example, which NYE party to go to.
'It's fine to be expecting a fun night out with friends, but it's unrealistic to expect one of the best nights of your life.
'Most of those nights happen when we least expected them.
'So make plans for a fun night out, but don't have unrealistic expectations, and maybe you will be pleasantly surprised.'
Dr Rutledge has worked on the link between expectation and happiness before.
Although the researchers' happiness formula is complicated, put simply it looks at the event (t), how important or significant the event is (w) and when the event occurred (y). EVj is the reward for taking part, and RPE is the reward compared to the expectation
'What I've found in my research is that expectations are just as important for determining how happy we feel from moment to moment as what actually happens to us,' he told MailOnline.
'I developed an equation for predicting happiness which found that happiness depends not on how well people are doing, but whether they are doing better than expected.'
A separate study found that an 83 per cent of those they surveyed were disappointed with their New Year's Eve celebration. And the people who were most disappointed were those with the highest expectations
This equation was developed during a 2014 study in which Dr Rutledge found that the 'ebb and flow' of mental happiness - the way our mood shifts moment-to-moment - is hugely impacted by our expectations of life.
Although the formula itself is complicated, put simply it looks at the event (t), how important or significant that event is to that person (w) and when the event occurred, also known as the 'forgetting factor'.
The 'forgetting factor' in particular looks at what has happened in the past to determine the current expectations.
HAPPINESS IS... USING WORDS CONTAINING THE LETTER 'I' Researchers from Germany found the articulation of vowels influence how we feel. During tests, they tracked participants' emotions by measuring changes in facial muscles linked with smiling and frowning, and found the most positive letter is 'i' and the most negative is 'o'. The team, led by the Erfurt-based psychologist Professor Ralf Rummer, was able to demonstrate the articulation of vowels systematically influences our feelings and vice versa. The scientists focused on the sound of the long 'i' vowel and that of the long, closed 'o' vowel. In the first experiment, the researchers asked participants to watch film clips designed to put them in a positive or a negative mood, and then asked them to make up ten artificial words and to speak them out loud. They found the artificial words that contained significantly more i's than o's when the test subjects were in a positive mood. In a second experiment that looked at the link between the sounds, mood and people's facial muscles. They found that participants making the 'i' sounds found things funnier than those making 'o' noises. They believe that the tendency for 'i' sounds to occur in positively charged words, such as 'like', and for 'o' sounds to occur in negatively charged words, such as 'alone', in many languages appears to be linked to the corresponding use of facial muscles. Advertisement
EVj is the average reward from taking part in a certain event, and RPE is the reward compared to the expectation the person had beforehand.
Speaking of the research at the time, Dr Rutledge said his team were surprised to find just how important expectation is.
He said: 'It is often said that you will be happier if your expectations are lower.
'We find that there is some truth to this - lower expectations make it more likely that an outcome will exceed those expectations and have a positive impact on happiness.'
The equation accurately predicts how happy people will say they are based on recent events.
The formula was put together by studying 26 people who completed a decision-making task in which their choices led to monetary gains and losses.
They were repeatedly asked how happy they were, and their brain activity was measured using MRI scans.
The scientists used the data to build a computer model, which was tested on 18,420 people using a smartphone app.
The results confirmed that people who started off with lower expectations were happier when they had better results.
The Washington Post notes that similar results were found in a 1999 study called 'The pursuit and assessment of happiness can be self-defeating,' by Duke University.
In the weeks leading up to New Year's Eve, the researchers asked 475 people about what they planned to do to see in the New Year.
They contacted the same people several weeks after New Year's Eve to find out their happiness levels.
The study found that an 83 per cent of those they surveyed ended up being disappointed with their New Year's Eve celebration.
It might be known as the red planet, but a new image captured by the Curiosity rover shows the Martian landscape speckled in purple.
It was taken on lower Mount Sharp, where purple-hued rocks can be seen scattered across the ground.
According to NASA, the colour is suggestive of the diversity in the rocks composition, and a similar phenomenon has been seen in other areas where the rover detected hematite.
It might be known as the red planet, but a new image captured by the Curiosity rover shows the Martian landscape speckled in purple. It was taken on lower Mount Sharp, where purple-hued rocks can be seen scattered across the ground
WHY THEY'RE PURPLE The image was taken on November 10, during Curiositys 1,516th Martian day (or sol), of work. In this season, winds keep the rocks mostly dust free, revealing their vibrant colours. According to NASA, the colour is suggestive of the diversity in the rocks composition, and a similar phenomenon has been seen in other areas where the rover detected hematite. Advertisement
This stunning view was captured with the Mastcams right-eye camera, and three frames were stitched together.
It shows a span of roughly 15 compass degrees, with the left edge pointing toward the southeast.
Higher layers of the region can be seen in the distance and the rover will soon be headed there during its future explorations.
The image was taken on November 10, during Curiositys 1,516th Martian day (or sol), of work.
In this season, winds keep the rocks mostly dust free, revealing their vibrant colours.
Behind the purple rocks, a number of orange-looking features can be seen as well.
These are in the upper portion of the Murray formation, extending up to a ridge-forming layer called the Hematite Unit, according to the space agency.
The Clay Unit lies beyond this, an area thats relatively flat and thus difficult to see from this particular vantage point.
Curiositys highest planned destination will be the Sulfate Unit, the rounded hills that can be seen in the image as well.
Further beyond that, however, is an area past where the rover will drive the higher levels of Mount Sharp.
Earlier this month, NASA's Curiosity rover revealed how the ground under its wheels was once 'perfect' for life.
The rover is climbing a layered Martian mountain, and has found the ingredients for a 'stew of life', researchers said.
Slide me Hematite, clay minerals and boron are among the ingredients found to be more abundant in layers farther uphill, compared with lower, older layers examined earlier in the mission.
STRANDED ON MARS Engineers are troubleshooting a snag on NASA's Curiosity that's preventing the rover from moving its robotic arm and driving to another spot on Mars, the space agency said Tuesday. The problem involves a motor in the rover's drill that is used to bore into rocks. Curiosity has been taking pictures and tracking the weather, but doing little else for the past two weeks. Advertisement
New NASA analysis revealed points to a 'evidence of how ancient lakes and wet underground environments changed, billions of years ago, creating more diverse chemical environments that affected their favorability for microbial life.'
'There is so much variability in the composition at different elevations, we've hit a jackpot,' said John Grotzinger, of Caltech in Pasadena, California.
Hematite, clay minerals and boron are among the ingredients found to be more abundant in layers farther uphill, compared with lower, older layers examined earlier in the mission.
'Variations in these minerals and elements indicate a dynamic system,' Grotzinger said.
'They interact with groundwater as well as surface water.
The water influences the chemistry of the clays, but the composition of the water also changes.
Examination of a calcium sulfate vein called "Diyogha" by the Chemical and Camera (ChemCam) instrument on NASA's Curiosity Mars rover found boron, sodium and chlorine. At left, an image from Curiosity's Mast Camera (Mastcam) shows the context of the pale vein in mudstone of the Murray formation on lower Mount Sharp. A red outline marks the area included in a magnified view, at right, from ChemCam's remote micro-imager.
'A sedimentary basin such as this is a chemical reactor,' Grotzinger said.
'Elements get rearranged.
'New minerals form and old ones dissolve. Electrons get redistributed.
'On Earth, these reactions support life.'
'We are seeing chemical complexity indicating a long, interactive history with the water.
'The more complicated the chemistry is, the better it is for habitability.
CURIOSITY'S MISSION ON MARS When Curiosity landed in Mars' Gale Crater in 2012, the mission's main goal was to determine whether the area ever offered an environment favorable for microbes. The crater's main appeal for scientists is geological layering exposed in the lower portion of its central mound, Mount Sharp. The crater's main appeal for scientists is geological layering exposed in the lower portion of its central mound, Mount Sharp. These exposures offer access to rocks that hold a record of environmental conditions from many stages of early Martian history, each layer younger than the one beneath it. The mission succeeded in its first year, finding that an ancient Martian lake environment had all the key chemical ingredients needed for life, plus chemical energy available for life. This map shows the route driven by NASA's Curiosity Mars rover from the location where it landed in August 2012 to its location in December 2016, which is in the upper half of a geological unit called the Murray formation, on lower Mount Sharp. Now, the rover is climbing lower on Mount Sharp to investigate how ancient environmental conditions changed over time. Advertisement
'The boron, hematite and clay minerals underline the mobility of elements and electrons, and that is good for life.'
Scientists are discussing what these and other variations tell about conditions under which sediments were initially deposited, and about how groundwater moving later through the accumulated layers altered and transported ingredients.
Effects of this groundwater movement are most evident in mineral veins.
What Curiosity has found: This series of pie charts shows similarities and differences in the mineral compositions of mudstones at 10 sites where NASA's Curiosity Mars rover collected rock-powder samples and analyzed them with the rover's Chemistry and Mineralogy (CheMin) instrument.
The veins formed where cracks in the layers were filled with chemicals that had been dissolved in groundwater.
The water with its dissolved contents also interacted with the rock matrix surrounding the veins, altering the chemistry both in the rock and in the water.
Members of Curiosity's science team presented an update about the mission Tuesday, Dec. 13, in San Francisco during the fall meeting of the American Geophysical Union.
Spotting a meteor during the brief moments it shoots through the sky is pretty exciting but this week, stargazers in Costa Rica were treated to something even better.
On Tuesday night, a camera monitoring the Turrialba Volcano caught the moment a fireball appeared to dive right through the path of an eruption.
While the scene may look apocalyptic, experts say the remarkable sight was just a very small chunk of space debris burning up upon impact with Earths atmosphere.
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On Tuesday night, a camera monitoring the Turrialba Volcano caught the moment a fireball appeared to dive right through the path of an eruption. While the scene may look apocalyptic, experts say the remarkable sight was just a very small chunk of space debris
TURRIALBA VOLCANO The Turrialba volcano is an active volcano in Costa Rica. It's known to sporadically spew ashy emissions, including a vigorous series of events in September 2016 that cause airports across the country to close. Due to an increase in activity since 2014, the park surrounding the volcano has closed. Advertisement
In the video, the fireball can be seen quickly passing from the left side of the frame and behind the erupting volcano before it disappears from sight.
When the flash of light ripped through the sky on Tuesday night, many thought theyd seen a UFO, according to Q Costa Rica.
But, footage captured by the camera at the Volcanological and Seismological Observatory of Costa Rica shows that, while extraordinary, the event has a simple explanation.
It has all the appearance of being a meteor of a size of a size of a grain of dust, Victor Fung, of the Costa Rican Astronomy Association, explained to Q Cost Rica.
The shooting stars are pebbles the size of a grain of sand.
'As they move at high-speed and enter the atmosphere, they burn and we see the result.
Viewers in Chiapas, Mexico, Honduras, and El Salvador reported seeing the mysterious flash of light, Q Costa Rica reports.
The Turrialba Volcano is currently active, and has been spewing ashy emissions sporadically since September.
The cameras at the observatory monitor the volcano around the clock, and captured this spectacular event at 10:25 p.m. Tuesday.
The Turrialba volcano is currently active, and has been spewing ashy emissions sporadically since September
Rare phenomena such as this often spike the interest of UFO hunters.
At the start of this year, a similar event had some claiming that an alien craft had caused an eruption at the Colima volcano in Mexico.
UFO Sightings Daily reported that the alleged UFO spotted in the January 3 footage was likely transporting 'someone or something' into a base beneath the volcano.
In the grainy, black-and-white video, a volcano can be seen as it begins to erupt, spewing out white light into the dark sky. About 5-seconds into the footage, a flying object appears from the right side of the shot, travelling right in the line of the eruption
Alien hunters are abuzz with theories after the sighting of what they claim is a UFO passing over a volcano in Mexico. UFO Sightings Daily even speculates that the craft was the cause of the eruption shown in the January 3 footage of the Colima Volcano
In the grainy, black-and-white video, a volcano can be seen as it begins to erupt, spewing out white light into the dark sky.
About 5-seconds into the footage, a flying object appears from the right side of the shot, travelling right in the line of the eruption.
The volcano continues to go up in lava and smoke for the next few seconds, and the 'UFO' flies behind the outburst, passing through to the other side.
Then, the object flies out of view, and the volcano continues to sizzle for another few seconds before erupting a second time.
For thousands of commuters the idea that a railway journey in Britain can be great will seem completely ridiculous.
After all, the railway system in the UK is no better than that of a developing nation in pockets, with passengers paying extortionate prices to ride on decrepit trains. Not to mention crippling strikes on Southern that have inflicted misery on the population in the south-east.
But Michael Portillo is here once more to show us that there are actually plenty of mesmerising trips to be had on the UKs trains with a new series of Great British Railway Journeys on BBC Two. And he underscored to MailOnline Travel that despite the railways bad press there is one thing we definitely get right the stations.
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Michael Portillo is here once more to show us that there are plenty of mesmerising trips to be had on the UKs trains with a new series of Great British Railway Journeys on BBC Two
Which is a start.
He said: Well, were behind in many ways. We dont have nearly as much electrification or nearly as much high-speed rail as some of our European partners and China and Japan, but I do think our stations score very highly.
And the restoration of stations is progressing very very well. Edinburgh Waverley has recently been restored and London Kings Cross is an absolute gem. Reading has recently been rebuilt and Bristol Temple Meads is under way.
And the secret for most of them is to strip away all the clutter and get back to the basic Victoria structure, which in my view you cant beat.
And that is happening in a lot of railway stations. We now have a new-found respect for what was there originally. So I think that stations of Britain are a joy.
Michael Portillo describes London King's Cross (pictured) as an 'absolute gem'
So there are glimmers of hope amidst the gloom and if youre a tourist thinking of travelling Britain by rail there are certainly plenty of wonderful journeys to take, too, as Mr Portillos show reveals.
But he picks out one in particular for MailOnline readers the sleeper train from London to Scotland.
He said: I would recommend travelling on the West Highland line between Glasgow and Mallaig, passing through Fort William. And I would particularly recommend, if the tourist has arrived in London, getting on the night sleeper from Euston, and waking up on Rannoch Moor.
Mr Portillo said that he's very much looking forward to HS2 - but he's pictured here on a somewhat slower mode of transport... a pump trolley at Nene Valley Station
Its absolutely fantastic. If you go up for the weekend, particularly in summer, if it was the longest day, you could get off at Fort William and be eating haggis and drinking whiskey and enjoying the Highlands for three hours of the journey in the daylight.
Its a fantastic journey.
In the future, if all goes according to plan, other fantastic journeys will become available, according to Mr Portillo.
He said: Im immensely looking forward to the electrification of the Great Western Railway. I think its very strange that two capital cities, London and Cardiff, are not joined by an electric railway.
Anywhere else in Europe and that would be thought very strange.
I recently attended the inauguration of the Oxford to Marylebone service and that promises to be a part of an Oxford to Cambridge railway so Im hugely looking forward to that.
I am personally very much looking forward to Crossrail in London. Its going to be transformative. And I cant wait for HS2.
Mr Portillo stressed that its high-speed rail that will help Britain make the most of its glorious Victorian infrastructure.
He said: No one is a bigger admirer of the Victorian infrastructure than I am. I think realistically you need some 21st century infrastructure as well. And as Ive travelled through France and Spain and Italy and Germany, theyre all countries that have turned to high speed rail. And I dont believe Britain can turn its back on it.
He is the latest Aussie actor to make it big in Hollywood.
But behind the A-lister status, Ben Mendelsohn has battled heavy drug use and had a string of unsuccessful relationships with high-profile Australian women such as James Packer's ex Kate Fischer.
And despite the success of his latest film Rogue One, on Friday it was revealed the 47-year-old has split from his wife of four years, Emma Forrest.
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From heavy drug use and a relationship with Kate Fischer to bonafide Hollywood star and now a broken marriage: The highs and low of Ben Mendelsohn (Pictured at the premiere of Metal Skin in 1995)
In an interview with The Age in 2010, Ben described his upbringing as 'troubled' and revealed he was expelled from school at the age of 13 for setting fire to property.
With overnight success playing the Aussie boy next door in multiple roles during the early nineties, the Dark Knight Rises actor began using drugs and alcohol heavily.
At the after party of The Piano premiere in 1993, Ben was reportedly found in a comatose state,' later telling Fairfax Media he just gave way to excessive hedonism.'
Wild ways: His ex-girlfriend Kate Fischer, who briefly dated Ben after meeting on the set of Sirens in 1993, would later describe his drug use as driving her crazy with concern
'I think she broke my heart': Ben also dated fellow Australian actress Justine Clarke before she was married
His girlfriend at the time Kate Fischer, who briefly dated Ben after meeting on the set of Sirens in 1993, would later describe his drug use as driving her crazy with concern.
He also dated actress Justine Clarke before she was married, saying 'we were munchkins then, but we went overseas together and it was lovely. I think she broke my heart.'
But since those wild days, Ben now rarely drinks alcohol and is the patron of a charity which helps children whose parents abuse drugs.
'I probably didn't come from a particularly great template for relationship building': The Animal Kingdom actor previously cast doubt on his ability to maintain a longterm romantic bond (pictured with a co-star in 1987)
Despite reforming his bad boy ways, the Animal Kingdom actor previously cast doubt on his ability to maintain a long-term romantic bond.
'I probably didn't come from a particularly great template for relationship building,' he said.
'The vagaries of the job don't help either.'
Troubled: The actor previously described his childhood as troubled and he was expelled from school at 13
Often cast in antagonist roles, the quirky showman has been steadily establishing himself as a Alist actor in high-budget films such has Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods and Kings and The Dark Knight Rises.
In 2017, he will appear in Spielberg's sci-fi adventure film Ready Player One in the role of the primary villain character.
He will also star in the upcoming 2017 films Larrikins, Untogether and Darkest Hour.
Highs and lows: The sad news is at odds with his ongoing career success, with the actor appearing in one of his most highly publicised roles to date in Rogue One this year
The 47-year-old Australian has gone from success to success during his 30-year-career, which saw him move from relative obscurity to Hollywood A-lister
Ben is also reportedly in talks to play the role of the Sheriff of Nottingham in the Robin Hood reboot, Robin Hood: Origins.
He is rumoured to be set to play the iconic role opposite Taron Egerton in the new movie, which also stars Jamie Foxx, Eve Hewson and Jamie Dornan.
Meanwhile, his estranged wife Emma has not joined Ben on the red carpet during his recent promotional tour for Rogue One.
Career on the rise! Often cast in antagonist roles, the quirky showman has been steadily establishing himself as a AAA actor in high-budget films such has Ridley Scott's Exodus: Gods and Kings and The Dark Knight Rises
The last event they attended together was in February at the Vanity Fair Oscar's after party.
Forrest filed for divorce from the Emmy-winning actor, citing irreconcilable differences as the reason for the end of their four year marriage.
She is seeking physical custody of their 3-year-old daughter.
The pair married in June 2012.
Solo: Meanwhile, his estranged wife Emma has not joined Ben on the red carpet during his recent promotional tour for Rogue One
The filing was first reported Thursday by celebrity website TMZ.
According to TMZ, the Your Voice In My Head writer is seeking physical custody of their three-year-old daughter and wants spousal support.
Emma - who previously dated Colin Farrell - married the Emmy-award winning Australian actor in 2012 at the Chateau Marmont hotel in Hollywood.
Award-winner: Ben won an Emmy Award earlier this year for his role in Netflix's "Bloodline" series
Ben has two daughters - one with Emma and another from a previous relationship.
Ben has previously called the 40-year-old author his 'lucky charm' and admitted he relied on her for guidance.
'Emma has a lot more sense of the wider world. I'm more of a much burrower and just push narrowly, straight ahead,' he said.
She's a three-time Olympian who runs a weight loss program and appeared on Celebrity apprentice in 2011.
And fans are certain Lisa Curry will be sent into the jungle for I'm a Celebrity, Get Me Out of Here! next year.
On top of that, a source has exclusively revealed to Daily Mail Australia that Lisa Curry applied for a South African visa, earlier this month.
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Packing her bags: A source has told Daily Mail Australia Lisa Curry applied for a South African visa earlier this month, as a 'well known three time Olympian' prepares to enter the jungle for I'm a Celebrity Get Me Out Of Here
The swimmer was at a post office in Victoria's Narre Warren South getting her photo taken when she was overheard telling a worker it was for the immigration document.
Lisa still spends a lot of time in her native Queensland, but her Elvis impersonator boyfriend Mark Andrew Tabone performs each weekend in Melbourne.
The source claims Lisa was with him while she had her photograph taken.
On Sunday, the upcoming reality show's social media channels released a new clue as to who might be heading into the jungle.
Melbourne based: While the Olympic swimmer spends a lot of time in her native Queensland, her fiance Mark Andrew Tabone performs as Elvis every weekend in Melbourne
'A much loved three time Olympian has had success in sport, business and TV,' it read.
Among many others, Lisa meets all these criteria, having appeared on Celebrity Apprentice and contributed to Sunrise during the Rio Olympics, as well as launching her own weight loss program.
The swimmer also had a great deal of success in the pool, breaking Commonwealth and Australian records in every stroke except backstroke, according to Sport Australia.
Matchy matchy: Lisa Curry fits all the criteria for the above clue, having competed in the Olympics in Moscow, Los Angeles and Barcelona
Fans of the show argued because Lisa had not won a medal, it made her more likely to be the face behind the clue.
'It'll be Lisa Curry - they would have surely mentioned the person being a medallist if it was Klim, Hackett, Perkins, O'Neill, Livingstone or Lewis,' wrote one man.
'Curry went to 3 Olympics ('80, '84, '92), has had much success in business and has worked in television as a commentator and presenter over the years.
'She is probably the only prominent (read: celebrity) three-time Australian Olympian who never won an Olympic medal.'
Channel Ten has been contacted for comment.
She made a name for herself playing Italian princess Carmella Cammeniti on Neighbours.
But Natalie Hoflin (nee Blair) is quickly showing she is nothing like her soap character since she moved to Los Angeles and embraced an alternative lifestyle.
The 32-year-old shared a picture to Instagram of her breastfeeding son Finn while hiking on Friday.
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'Mid hike nom noms': Former Neighbours star Natalie Hoflin breastfeeds son while hiking
The boho babe is clearly dressed for an intense walk, wearing black active wear with her dark locks up in a messy bun.
Natalie cradles her five-month-old son close to her chest as she breastfeeds him.
The doting mother looks lovingly at her child as she feeds him.
She captions the photo by gushing about the moment with her child.
New mum: The dark-haired beauty makes no secret of her love of breastfeeding, taking to social media in August to defend the technique
'Mid hike nom noms. We stopped while he nuzzled, looking out across the canyon. The peaks and valleys so very green from the recent rain, the ocean so sparkly blue and calling my name,' Natalie wrote.
'The afternoon glowy sun kissing our skin...in those moments I thought my heart might explode. Just the three of us and sweet mama earth, what more do we really need?'
The dark-haired beauty makes no secret of her love of breastfeeding, taking to social media in August to defend the technique.
Not just neighbours: While on the show she met her now-husband, David Hoflin, who she began dating in 2008 and married in 2013. The couple had a son, Finn, in July this year
Since leaving the show, Natalie shares their alternative lifestyle on social media, posting photo of their crystal use and spirituality (pictured left in 2006, right in 2016)
The controversy/shame/pressure/sexualization of the breast in relation to feeding seems even more bizarre to me now. Breastfeeding is fricking beautiful!! Finn knew how to latch almost as soon as he was placed on my chest,' she wrote on Instagram.
Natalie also added: Its instinct. Its normal. Its as nature intended. Our bodies are phenomenal and know exactly what to do. How can people be offended by something so natural? A bubba has gotta eat. Nom nom.
Soap star: Natalie played the popular Neighbours character of Carmella from 2003 to 2008, before leaving the show to pursue an acting career overseas
Natalie played the popular Neighbours character of Carmella from 2003 to 2008, before leaving the show to pursue an acting career overseas.
While on the show she met her now-husband, David Hoflin, who she began dating in 2008 and married in 2013.
Since leaving the show, the couple share their alternative lifestyle on social media, posting photo of their crystal use and spirituality.
Jessie Habermann cemented her position as the Australian WAG world's newest 'it girl' by walking down the aisle with Marc Murphy on Thursday.
And while the glittering wedding boasted an impressive celebrity guest-list, WAG Nadia Bartel was nowhere to be seen in photos taken that day.
It's unclear as to whether the fashion blogger wife of retired AFL star Jimmy Bartel was invited to the event, or whether she received an invitation but decided not to attend.
Where was she? WAG Nadia Bartel was nowhere to be seen in photos taken during Jessie Habermann's lavish wedding to Marc Murphy on Thursday
She has not posted to her Instagram page in four days, however, implying that she is perhaps enjoying some down time for the festive season.
Jessie and Nadia have no doubt become acquainted in the past, having both attended Bec's recent Jagged active-wear launch with J'Aton Couture in Melbourne.
Both Jessie and Nadia stepped out in similar strappy necklines in contrasting colours, both posting about the event and their outfits to Instagram.
Disappearing act: She has not posted to her Instagram page in four days, however, implying that she is perhaps enjoying some down time for the festive season
Clad in a yellow lace frock, Bec made sure to pose with each girl separately in social media snaps.
Bec Judd and her AFL star husband Chris led the glamourous guest-list at Jessie and Marc's wedding.
Bec looked every inch the brunette beauty as she arrived at the lavish ceremony in a dusty-pink pencil dress.
Clad in a yellow lace frock, Bec made sure to pose with each girl separately in social media snaps
During the festivities, Bec shared a snap of herself and her beau, adding the hashtag, 'Marc marries Jessie.'
The pair were among several famous faces to attend the private service, including Bryce Gibbs and his long-term partner Lauren Tscharke and Ed Curnow and his wife Emily.
Also in attendance was Simon White and his partner Jessica Buckley and Dale Thomas and his partner Hayley Robertson.
Daily Mail Australia has reached out to Nadia Bartel for comment.
He's been vocal about loving yourself for who you are.
But Kurt Coleman probably wishes he could have had a word to his 2013 self.
The social media personality looked browned to a crisp in an Instagram throwback snap of his ridiculous spray tan gone wrong.
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Fail! Kurt Coleman looked browned to a crisp in a ridiculous spray tan gone wrong throwback snap posted to Instagram
The selfie-loving social media personality looked - quite literally - a shadow of his former self in the image, pulling down his shorts to unveil the dramatic colour contrast.
Fans of 'top deck' chocolate bars will likely draw a quick comparison.
Kurt stood next to a friend in the image, his face almost completely obscured in dark-brown fake tan.
The social media star sported his once-trademark blonde locks in the snap.
Locks! The social media star sported his once-trademark blonde locks in the snap, to which one fan bluntly commented 'Blackface'
'30 December 2013: The day we got the darkest New Years spray tans anyone has ever seen.' He wrote in the caption.
Perhaps the image was posted as a haunting reminder, because at the ARIAs in November, the 19-year-old suggested his spray tanning days could be numbered.
Speaking to Cody Simpson's sister Alli before the show, Coleman said: 'I haven't gotten a spray tan in two months!'
All Natural! In November, the 19-year-old suggested his spray tanning days could be numbered, claiming he hadn't got a spray tan in two months
He explained: 'I don't like it [fake tan] anymore so I just went to the beach.'
The now brunette social media star revealed that he hadn't tanned naturally for three years, so his complexion was 'pale as' when he first stopped using artificial products to achieve his iconic golden glow.
Kurt later urged others to follow in his footsteps by tanning naturally in the sun.
Showing people Friday's spray tan fail snap should help his cause immensely.
They rekindled their romance in May this year, after a brief fling back in 2011.
But Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor certainly looked more in love than ever on Thursday as they indulged in a sweet PDA while on holiday in Cape Town, South Africa.
The 30-year-old hunk took to his Instagram page to upload a photo of him locking lips with his beauty, 27, as the sun went down behind them.
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Kiss and tell! Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor looked more in love than ever on Thursday as they shared a sweet PDA while on holiday in Cape Town, South Africa on Instagram
The former Made in Chelsea co-stars appeared to be besotted as they shared their passionate embrace, with their eyes closed, on social media.
Admitting he was ending the year on a definite high, Hugo wrote beside the sweet shot: 'Magical sun down drinks in Cape Town. Very lucky man!'
In a second envy-inducing snap for followers, Hugo then turned his back to the camera to pose in front of the stunning vibrant sunset of orange and gold.
Stunning: In a second envy-inducing snap for followers, Hugo then turned his back to the camera to dance in front of the vibrant sunset of orange and gold
With Millie clearly taking the picturesque photo, Hugo appeared to be having the time of his life as he danced on the sand during the gorgeous evening - a glass of wine in hand.
Keeping attention on the breathtaking view, the London native simply captioned the second shot: 'What a sunset!'
Millie and Hugo jetted to South Africa on Christmas Day, and have since posted an array of intimate photos on social media from the trip - which marks Millie's 18th holiday this year.
Puppy love: Bikini-clad Millie Mackintosh and Hugo Taylor proved they had more than just their love of holidays in common as they showed off their tattooed backs in Cape Town
Dog-lover Millie seemed to be in her element as she perched on the sand, while surrounded by adorable pooches.
Stroking one of her canine companions as she grinned away, the reality star turned fashion designer displayed a pretty butterfly inking on the small of her back as she posed in a aubergine-coloured bikini.
The fitness enthusiast appeared make-up free and wore her auburn locks hanging in loose tendrils around her shoulders.
She captioned the snap: 'I made some new friends at the beach.'
Hugo then gave her a run for the money in the tattoo department, showcasing his tanned, heavily-inked back, which featured four large etchings, as he strolled towards the sea in another snap.
Inked up: Hugo, 30, gave Millie, 27, a run for her money in the tattoo stakes as he showcased four etchings on his back in snaps from the couple's post-Christmas break in South Africa
Although it's been a turbulent year in terms of Millie's personal life - announcing her split and subsequent divorce from rapper husband Professor Green, 33, in the early part of 2016 - she's taken her mind off things with plenty of exotic holidays.
The statuesque beauty left her Instagram followers positively green with envy as she revealed she was on her 18th holiday in 12 months on Wednesday, by posting a snap from glorious Cape Town.
Perfect blue seas and rolling waves proved to be the ultimate back-drop for a gratuitous bikini picture as she strolled towards the camera.
She simply captioned the picture: 'Trying to act natural when the sea is bloody freezing.'
In search of sun: The statuesque beauty left her Instagram followers green with envy as she revealed she was on her 18th holiday in 12 months on Wednesday
Holiday glow: Although it's been a turbulent year in terms of Millie's personal life, she's taken her mind off things with plenty of exotic holidays
Millie's surroundings weren't the only source of envy because the brunette looked like a swimwear model in her tiny black two-piece.
Toned at her middle and lithe of leg, the reality star's superfit figure proved to be the ultimate reward for her months of hard graft in the gym.
Millie and sunglasses entrepreneur Hugo flew Business Class to South Africa in the evening of Christmas Day following a low-key yuletide in London.
This time last year, Millie was celebrating her second Christmas married to rapper Pro Green.
They closely followed it up with a 'make or break' trip to Florence, Italy, in February, which turned out to be their last holiday together.
Christmas looks very different this year: Millie was waking up to beau Hugo and 'the breakfast of dreams' on Christmas Day, following her split from husband Professor Green in February
Quite the contrast... This time last year, Millie (centre with ex-husband Professor Green) was celebrating her second Christmas with her now-ex-husband, her parents and grandfather
The couple announced their separation later that month, two years and six months after tying the knot.
The ill-fated vacation in Florence was to be only Millie's first trip of 2016, since her fairytale reunion with beau Hugo has taken her globe-trotting to Monico, Mauritius, Greece and Antibes, since May.
In fact, by the time Millie and Pro Green's divorce was finalised that month, she was kicking off a string of jet-set vacations with a celebratory trip to Monte Carlo on Hugo's 30th, which came just two days after the paperwork was completed.
Millie and Hugo previously dated back in 2011 when they met on E4 reality show, Made In Chelsea.
Jet-setter: Millie and sunglasses entrepreneur Hugo flew Business Class to South Africa in the evening of Christmas Day following a low-key yuletide in London
Make-up free Millie: The former Made In Chelsea let fans know that she was happily watching the sun rise in South Africa on Tuesday
But the union was not to last and ended rather dramatically when Millie discovered Hugo had cheated on her with her friend, Rosie Fortescue.
At the time, Millie claimed she would always love Hugo, saying in an interview: 'I loved him - those feelings dont disappear but I just always have to remind myself why were not together.
'I do think that, for the rest of my life, every time I see him, Ill get that feeling in my stomach. I dont think I could ever not get that butterfly feeling.'
Millie and Pro Green announced their split in February after just over four years together. Their two-and-a-half-year marriage was dissolved in just 30 seconds in May.
Full steam ahead! Millie's string of jet-set getaways sped up in May, when she took a break to Monte Carlo for Hugo's 30th birthday just two days after her divorce was finalised
In a statement at the time, they said: 'It is a mutual decision, we still care deeply about each other and would like it to be known that it is on amicable terms and we wish each other well.'
They were granted a decree nisi at Central London Family Court with Millie citing 'unreasonable behaviour' as the reason for their split.
Millie and Stephen started dating in November 2011 after the rapper saw her on the cover of men's magazine FHM.
The rapper contacted Millie through her agent and they had their first date at the Groucho Club in Soho.
They went public at the Brit Awards in February 2012, with Stephen proposing on holiday in Paris just over a year later.
The sweet life: One of her most luxurious holidays was a trip to the Indian Ocean island of Mauritius with a large group on a shoot for Hugo's sunglasses brand, Taylor Morris
The couple tied the knot in a lavish ceremony at Babington House in Somerset in September 2013.
Pro Green recently lashed out at Millie in his new track Eye On The Door, rapping about their lack of sex life, drug use and hinting that cheating was to blame for their split.
But in spite of his very public bashing of his ex-wife, the musician admitted last week that splitting from Millie felt like experiencing 'a death.
He told the i newspaper: 'Of course whether youre happy somethings finished or not, it doesnt change the fact that it does still feel like theres been a death.
'An energy thats always been in your presence is suddenly no longer there and youre an idiot if you think thats not going to affect you.'
The rapper has since moved on with model Fae Williams.
Romantic: While her year of holidays began with an ill-fated trip to Florence with husband Pro Green, Millie was ending 2016 with boyfriend Hugo
She's the model and presenter who now splits her time between Australia and the UK.
But Erin McNaught is still every bit the Aussie beach babe, as she holidays down under with family over the holiday period.
On Friday, the 34-year-old mother showed off her stunning physique in a yellow bikini on the beach.
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Beach babe! Erin McNaught flaunted her stunning physique in a yellow bikini as she continues her holiday in Australia with son and husband rapper Example
Sharing the picture on Instagram, Erin looked radiant as she walked along the beach.
The former MTV presenter flaunted her her trim pins and toned stomach as she smiled happily for the camera.
Her yellow bikini showcased her lithe figure as her long dark locks were lightly tousled by wind.
Wants another child: Erin recently revealed to T he Morning Show that they couple recently had a 'heartbreaking' miscarriage
Erin captioned the photo with emoticons depicting the sun and surf.
The brunette beauty now lives in London with her husband and child, however, returned to Australia this month to spend the festive season with family.
She also recently revealed to The Morning Show that they couple recently had a 'heartbreaking' miscarriage.
Christmas on the beach: The brunette beauty now lives in London, however, returned to Australia this month to spend the festive season with her husband and child
'We definitely want another baby,' Erin told the show.
'I sadly had a miscarriage last month, which is, we're totally fine, it's just one of those things that's unfortunately really, really common,' she continued.
'For me, I found solace in knowing how common it was [miscarrying], because once I got talking, you realise just how many people are affected by it,' she said.
'If I could find solace in that and I think if more people spoke about it, then it might not be as tough for people to go through it.'
'Can't believe this kid is 2': The leggy model also recently celebrated her son Evander's second birthday, sharing an adorable photo of the young family as he blew out birthday candles
The leggy model also recently celebrated her son Evander's second birthday, sharing an adorable photo of the young family as he blew out birthday candles.
'Can't believe this kid is 2,' the doting mother gushed on Instagram.
Erin has been married to English rapper Example (real name Elliot Gleave) since 2013 and had their first child a year later.
Flume had an eventful Christmas Down Under before flying off to continue his world tour.
The record producer revealed on Instagram that Virgin Australia had lost his bag - carrying presents for his family inside - and had not returned it in time before he flew to Vancouver.
The 25-year-old issued a cry for help to the airline on Christmas Day beside a sad selfie, as he prepared to fly to Canada.
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Baggage claim: Flume revealed on Instagram that Virgin Australia had lost his bag - carrying presents for his family inside - and had not returned it in time before he flew to Vancouver on Christmas Day
He said: 'Hey @virginaustralia you lost my bag yesterday and still haven't found it. It has all my family Christmas presents in it plus I'm flying to Vancouver in a few hours. Please help!!'
Flume, who picked up seven awards at this year's ARIAs, also used his social media to upload a snap in anticipation of Triple J's Australia Day Hottest 100 countdown next month.
Flume - real name Harley Edward Streten - showed his excitement for Australia Day by stripping down to patriotic boxers during his stay.
Straya: Flume, who picked up seven awards at this year's ARIAs, also used his social media to upload a snap in anticipation of Triple J's Australia Day Hottest 100 countdown next month
Up-and-coming: The artist is currently in Canada on his world tour, which will take him to America, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile in the coming months
Posting just before Christmas, the Sydney-born artist is seen standing in shallow water as he dons a pair of boxers with the Australian flag emblazoned on them.
He captioned the photo: 'Getting ready for the countdown #hottest100 @triple_j #strayamate'
Flume had earlier highlighted his need for sun during his time at home over the Christmas period, posting a snap of him at the start of the year beside one of him at the end.
Catching rays: Flume had earlier highlighted his need for sun during his time at home over the Christmas period, posting a snap of him at the start of the year (L) beside one of him at the end (R)
Jet setter: Flume will be heading to America, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile in the coming months as he continues his world tour
The Never Be Like You producer had bronzed skin at the start of the year - as opposed to his pale complexion at the end of 2016.
Flume will be heading to America, Brazil, Argentina, Colombia and Chile in the coming months as he continues his world tour.
The musician will close out a majorly successful year with a gig in Denver on New Year's Eve.
She's enjoyed an incredibly busy December - jetting to five cities around the world in just two weeks as part of her flourishing modelling career.
But Victoria's Secret model Devon Windsor proved why she has found such success in the fashion world on Thursday, as she flaunted her sensational figure on Instagram.
The blonde bombshell, 22, showed off her impeccably tanned and toned body in a sizzling snap as she hit the beach in a skimpy striped bikini in Cancun, Mexico.
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Beach babe: Victoria's Secret model Devon Windsor proved why she has found such success in the fashion world on Thursday, as she flaunted her sensational figure on Instagram
Lounging on the beach in the luxurious Punta Nizuc resort, the beauty confidently displayed her enviably lean and leggy figure in nothing but the swimwear.
Cutting into a low V at the neck, the triangle top teased at her delicate bust before securing into a single string at the back to flash plenty more of her sun-kissed skin.
Clad in nothing else but a set of equally skimpy bottoms, the striped two-piece then left her long and lithe pins on show as she posed saucily with one leg cocked for the titillating snap.
The great escape: Earlier that day the model had revealed to followers that she would be ending her year on a high by posting a photo of her on the plane preparing for take off
Tilting her head seductively, the Missouri native drew further attention to her enviably tiny waist and gym-honed stomach as she reclined effortlessly on the sand to top up her deep, golden tan.
She left her blonde locks in their every day state and dressed her face with no make-up, to show off her striking natural beauty and glowing complexion.
Earlier that day the model had revealed to followers that she would be ending her year on a high by posting a photo of her on the plane preparing for take off.
Busy lady: Devon is clearly enjoying her time off before 2017 kicks off, with the trip to Mexico her second holiday this month (first pictured above)
Shielding her svelte frame with a soft pink jumpsuit, the young beauty held up two peace signs as she announced: 'Mexico, I'm coming for you!'
Devon is clearly enjoying her time off before 2017 kicks off, with the trip to Mexico her second holiday this month.
The blonde bombshell treated her fans to further shots of her envy-inducing figure as she enjoyed a blissful beach break in the sunshine last week.
The model showcased her incredible physique as she slipped into a skimpy black bikini in a series of shots posted to her Instagram page.
Island hopping: The model showcased her incredible physique in a skimpy black bikini as she shared shots from another beach location on her Instagram last week
Posing in front of a wooden door, the blonde bombshell seductively looked into the camera as she cheekily captioned the shot: 'Anyone home?'
Devon's incredibly tanned and toned legs were on full display as she opted for a barely-there thong bikini bottom, while she teased a slight glimpse of her cleavage in a cut-out top.
In another shot, the American model showed off her statuesque figure as she casually attempted to climb a palm tree, suitably captioned: 'Monkey business'.
With her long golden tresses scraped up into an effortless up-do and little to no makeup, the stunner's natural beauty was on full display.
Cheeky break! Devon has found her own piece of heaven during an idyllic break as she shared some seductive snaps with fans this week
The beauty has been busy documenting her sun-soaked vacation, posting a rather cheeky snap of her pert posterior on Monday.
The beauty showed off the figure which made her famous, with one image of her lying seductively on the sand.
She wrote: 'In serious need of this vitamin D dose.'
Another image showed her cheekily showing off her behind, with the caption: 'Just your typical suns out buns pic.'
Hot stuff! The beauty showed off the figure which made her famous, with one image of her lying seductively on the sand
Loved up! The steamiest one showed her in a passionate embrace with her boyfriend, who still hasn't been named publically
The steamiest one showed her in a passionate embrace with her boyfriend, who still hasn't been named publically.
She wrote: 'All I want for Christmas is you you you!'
The long-legged model was first discovered at age 14 - moving to LA to model for Roxy before relocating to New York after being signed by elite agency IMG Models.
Since then, the Victoria's Secret Angel has walked runways for some of the world's most famous designers, including Tom Ford, Stella McCartney, Donna Karan, Chanel and Prada.
Ladies man: Geoffrey Streatfeilds declasse Casanova and love louse, Platonov, has a ball, keeping us all guessing
This is Chekhov unplugged. Tie loosened. A few shots of vodka inside him and shooting from the hip.
But lest it seem too disorderly, this unfinished, untitled play about a disreputable Lothario in provincial Russia has been propped up and made more theatrically respectable by playwright Michael Frayn.
The first half of the show, which is normally named after its hero Platonov, is familiar territory.
Pretty fin de siecle frocks and gentlemen in linen suits opining on love and whining about modern manners, while worrying about their finances and the fate of the family estate.
Will Bruce Alexanders seigneurial gent pluck up the courage to propose to Justine Mitchells languid yet bossy lady of the manor?
Will Sophie Rundles impressionable newlywed remain faithful to her nice but dull husband?
Geoffrey Streatfeilds declasse Casanova and love louse, Platonov, has a ball, keeping us all guessing.
But in the second half, the play turns into a Russian farce, with dacha doors slamming and all kinds of sexual subterfuge.
Plot: In the second half, the play turns into a Russian farce, with dacha doors slamming and all kinds of sexual subterfuge
Streatfeild makes a grubby drunk with his seamy complexion, greasy hair and crumpled suit. Yet that doesnt stop the ladies throwing themselves at him.
Admirers include Jo Herberts highly-strung, much-wronged village spinster and Rebecca Humphries Platonovs devoted wife who puts up with his improbable infidelities.
The husbands and spurned lovers who are the collateral damage get the hump and take arms against Platonov.
Even with the prospect of them all perishing on the rails of a train track running across Rob Howells stage design, the problem is knowing how seriously to take it all.
Attraction: Streatfeild,left, makes a grubby drunk with his seamy complexion, greasy hair and crumpled suit. Yet that doesnt stop the ladies throwing themselves at him.
The answer, in Jonathan Kents exuberant production, is not very. We simply enjoy these sketches torn from Chekhovs notebook.
Direction was taken over by Kent from Howard Davies shortly before he died this year and I wonder if Davies might have made it less farcical?
She's a big fan of designer labels and leads a luxury-filled lifestyle.
But Lauren Goodger sparked outrage amongst her Instagram followers on Thursday night when she shared a video of her niece Ella unwrapping her Christmas present - a Fendi handbag.
The little girl's face lights up in glee as she discovers the lavish purse, with prices starting at 150.
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Designer gift: Lauren Goodger sparked outrage amongst her Instagram followers on Thursday night when she shared a video of her niece Ella unwrapping her Christmas present - a Fendi handbag
The TOWIE star captioned the video of the sweet moment: 'Giving my niece #Ellie her first designer bag for Christmas from @childsplayclothing she loved it #Fendi #christmas2016 #presents #niece'.
While Ella may have loved her luxury gift, her followers disagreed about whether the extravagant item was appropriate for a child of her age.
One fan fumed: 'Buying a CHILD a Designer Bag!? RIDICULOUS! Looks like you only did it to show off though? Why else FILM IT & put it on here!?'
Generous auntie: The TOWIE star captioned the video of the sweet moment: 'Giving my niece #Ellie her first designer bag for Christmas from @childsplayclothing she loved it #Fendi #christmas2016 #presents #niece'
Cute: The little girl's face lights up in glee as she discovers the lavish purse, with prices starting at 150
Another follower wrote: 'Silly to post something like this. obviously haven't got kids yourself'.
However, the reality star's loyal fans were quick to show their support, insisting it was a nice gesture to treat her niece.
Silencing the haters, one enthused: 'Lucky girl!!... different people, different circumstances, we all achieve what we afford, but as long as our kids are happy and loved!!!!... main thing!!'.
Following in Lauren's footsteps? The reality star is a big fan of designer labels and leads a luxury-filled lifestyle
All mine! The little girl looks over the moon with the generous and unexpected gift
High end accessory: Lauren ensured her followers got a good look at the clutch
MailOnline has contacted Lauren's representatives for comment.
Lauren also ruffled fans' feathers on Monday as she took to Instagram to share a sonogram.
The image - usually given to expectant mothers during an ultrasound examination - sent her followers into a frenzy of congratulating her on being pregnant, with one writing: 'OMG hope she is! She deserves to be happy!'
Ouch: While Ella may have loved her luxury gift, her followers disagreed about whether the extravagant item was appropriate for a child of her age
Harsh: Many fans said Lauren knew nothing about children
In her defence: However, countless other supporters rushed to defend the star
Fuming: 'Get a life', one particularly angry fan told the haters
Kind-hearted: The reality star's loyal fans insisted it was a nice gesture to treat her niece
But a closer look would have told them that the image actually featured a turkey, and the only 'baby' Lauren was referring to was of the food variety after a festive feast.
Fans soon began to call out those who had been pranked, with one follower quipping: 'It's a turkey people... is she pregnant! hilarious!'
Another added: 'Haha! Her man is in prison, how would she get pregnant? Immaculate conception. it's clearly a joke, lighten up!'
Lauren has certainly been leaving her social media squad baffled over the Christmas holidays, during which she showed off a 'meaningful' diamond ring she got for Christmas - before moving it to her wedding finger.
Sharing a gushing post about her soon-to-be released boyfriend, she then hit back in the comments section at suggestions she was 'attention-seeking' or 'engaged'.
What a turkey! The image - usually given to expectant mothers during an ultrasound examination - sent her followers into a frenzy of congratulating her on being pregnant - but eagle-eyed fans realised it was actually a picture of a turkey
Baby vows: The prank comes after Lauren revealed she wants a baby with her convicted criminal beau Joey Morrison next year. The TOWIE star has spent Christmas with his family (pictured above with Morrison's brother)
'Not long now': She posted a gushing tribute to her boyfriend on social media as she awaits his release
Posting a snap alongside her brother-in-law Kyal Johnson with her middle finger up, she enjoyed Christmas day with Joey Morrison's family.
Earlier in the day she had shared a snap of her new diamond ring on her right ring finger, before sending gossips into a spin by placing it on her left as she enjoyed a festive feast with his family.
But replying to a comment on the post, Lauren hit back at speculation that she was engaged, writing: 'not wanting attention and not engaged, I wear it on both hands depending on what I'm doing'.
'I wear it on both hands depending on what I'm doing': Sharing a gushing post about her soon-to-be released boyfriend, she then hit back in the comments section at suggestions she was 'attention-seeking' or 'engaged'
Hitting back: Lauren denied she was engaged, despite switching the diamond band to her wedding finger
Lauren then posted a gushing snap about Joey, writing: 'And whilst I'm at it with the photos Merry Christmas to this one Thank you for everything and we all wish you was here, not too long now and you will have your life back.
'I can't believe how strong you are to have done the time you have and are still happy and smiling everyday, your strength is.. you, the people who know you all know why you are in there ......
'People will speculate and form opinions but everyone I speak to who knows you speaks highly of you and cannot wait too see you. Happy Christmas and 2017 is nearly here ..if you know you know as people keep saying to me' (sic).
Christmas festivities: Lauren appeared in good spirits as she celebrated with her pals later
'I'm a very lucky girl#love': Keeping them guessing: Lauren Goodger shared snaps of her new ring earlier in the day with telling captions
The comments came after she shared snaps of her new ring earlier in the day with telling captions.
The first picture read: 'I'm a very lucky girl#love #whitegold #diamomd #engraved #Christmas #2016 #happy #thankyou #meaningful', she wrote alongside the festive snap, including heart and diamond emojis.
While she added on the second snap: 'Love my beautiful diamond ring... thanks for keeping it secret so I had a surprise on Christmas Day.'
She then shared snaps of her out with Morrison's family - and a brooding snap of the man himself, who is completing the last few months of his sentence.
'Got something special in my hand I can't wait to open in the morning' Lauren wrote on Christmas Eve
Family time: On Christmas eve she shared a snap with her sister-in-law Jacqueline Johnson, though it was not clear whether that is Joey's sibling
On Christmas eve she shared a snap with her 'sister-in-law' Jacqueline Johnson, though it was not clear whether that is Joey's sibling.
'Love this lady @johnson1985279 merry xmas sister in law', she captioned the snap.
MailOnline has contacted Lauren's representative for comment.
At the beginning of the month Lauren reveals she's planning a baby with a convicted criminal next year.
Speaking to Closer, the 30-year-old said that while she describes Joey Morrison as a 'close friend', she can't wait to become a mother.
She said: 'I'll have one [a baby] next year. I want one right now, really. Hopefully I'll have a little girl, but if I have a boy first, then it's fine because she'll have an older brother.'
Lauren's 'love interest' is currently serving an 18-year-sentence but is due to be released in a matter of months after serving half his time.
Freedom! Lauren's love interest Joey is currently serving an 18-year-sentence but is due to be released in a matter of months after serving half his tim
And the former TOWIE star couldn't be happier.
She told the publication: 'He's not a bad person because he's in prison. Yes, he's not been an angel but people deserve a second chance and his crimes never involved innocent people.'
The prison is rated as category D open prison, meaning prisoners work within the community outside of the jail and there is a more relaxed attitude for visits.
Morrison, alongside accomplice Marvin Russell Jacobs, was convicted of possession with intent to supply, possession of a firearm, kidnap, blackmail, actual bodily harm and aggravated burglary following an eight-week trial at Wood Green in North London.
Former flame: Lauren's love life has often been thrust into the limelight, and her last serious relationship was with Jake McLean, who also spent time behind bars
In one incident, the pair were accused of forcing their way into a home in Enfield and using a stun gun on a 27-year-old man while demanding 2million. When the victim told them the police were outside, the suspects fled.
The judge at the time said the victims were concerned in the supply of drugs.
Lauren's love life has often been thrust into the limelight, and her last serious relationship was with Jake McLean, who also spent time behind bars.
The couple first started dating in 2012 before splitting in 2013, only to rekindle their love for a few months between 2015 and 2016.
Prior to her relationship with Jake, Lauren was engaged to co-star Mark Wright, following a rocky ten year relationship.
Emma Forbes looked to be having plenty of fun in the sun as she took to a Barbadian beach with gal pals on Thursday.
The 51-year-old looked typically stunning in a classy white bikini with a vibrant green and yellow halter-neck cover up.
Her short brunette locks were neatly coiffed and she covered her eyes with a large pair of shades.
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Say cheese! Emma Forbes, 51, looked to be having plenty of fun in the sun as she took to a Barbadian beach with gal pals on Thursday
She got her friends to jump for joy on the wet sand as she snapped away on her phone, which had a distinctive Chaos 'Ugh!' case.
The playful moment put a smile on her face, and she was keen to show the group her photography skills as they gathered around her to take a look.
As she walked across the white sand, she ran her fingers through her hair and wore a content look on her face.
Happy! As she walked across the white sand, she ran her fingers through her hair and wore a content look on her face
Emma didn't want to waste a minute of the island's winter sun on Tuesday, stretching out on the white sands, the presenter and model couldn't help but showcase her incredible figure in a halter-neck swimsuit.
Emma - who first shot to fame on CBBC's Live & Kicking in the '90s - looked to be enjoying some R&R as she stretched out on the beach.
Cutting a youthful figure as she showed off her best beach chic look, the presenter flaunted her slender figure in a black one piece.
The form-fitting backless number allowed Emma to showoff her pert posterior thanks to it's high-leg cut.
Fun in the sun: She got her friends to jump for joy on the wet sand as she snapped away on her phone, which had a distinctive Chaos 'Ugh!' case
Keeping things simple for her morning in the sun, the London-born star only accessoried her look with a simple gold necklace, sunglasses, two bracelets and a ring.
Wearing her short brown locks swept into a messy fringe, Emma allowed her striking features - which she didn't hide behind make-up - to come to the fore.
Kicking back on a beach towel with her iPhone and some earbuds, the TV and Radio presenter stretched on the sand, inadvertently highlighted her lithe and gym-honed legs.
Here come the girls: The effort put a smile on her face and she was keen to show the group her photography skills as they gathered around her to take a look
Beating the crowds to the beach by getting their early in the morning, Emma looked to be sipping her first coffee of the day in a truly idyllic fashion.
Though it seems that her morning itinerary didn't include a swim in the crystal clear waters around the island.
After catching some rays on the beach by herself, Emma decided to hot-foot it to some shade before the sun's glare became to fierce.
Eye-catching: Emma looked typically stunning in a classy white bikini with a vibrant green and yellow halter-neck cover up
Searching for the perfect spot, it wasn't long before the TV beauty managed to bag a supreme slot on the beach.
The TV star is a regular on the island with her husband of 29-years, Graham Clemspon, a high-flying banker.
Emma made her name in the 1990s on children's TV before taking a professional break to focus on bringing up her daughter Lily and son Sam.
Once upon a time, video games were inspired by films. Now its the other way round, and heres the latest, a quite mystifyingly incoherent movie to those of us who have never played and couldnt care less about the Assassins Creed video game franchise.
But if you have, then maybe youll love it.
The film stars Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard, and is directed by Justin Kurzel, which rather promisingly counts as a reunion from the set of last years fiercely powerful Macbeth.
It's a quite mystifyingly incoherent movie to those of us who have never played and couldnt care less about the Assassins Creed video game franchise
But its one thing drawing your source material from William Shakespeare, quite another getting it from a games console.
The plot owes something (incomprehensibility, mainly) to the movie adaptations of Dan Browns novels. As in Browns plots, there is a religious artefact at the heart of the story, in this instance the iconic Apple of Eden, which I think is meant to be the very fruit that got Adam and Eve booted out of paradise.
Of course, you might reasonably wonder how the apple still comes to be knocking around, whole, but even this film is not quite brazen enough to represent it with a single bite taken out of it.
Imbuing this with credibility is not quite within the long reach of whispering Michael Fassbender, energetically though he tries and urgently though he whispers
That would be too much of a plug for the Apple Corporation, which can already smirkingly enjoy such ludicrous lines as The Apple is everything.
Imbuing this with credibility is not quite within the long reach of whispering Michael Fassbender, energetically though he tries and urgently though he whispers.
He plays Cal Lynch, a modern-day criminal who is sprung from jail by a shadowy organisation which is run by Sofia Rikkin (Cotillard) and her creepy father, Alan (Jeremy Irons).
What the **** is going on? he cries at one point, to which the man next to me in the cinema had the perfect response: Blowed if I know.
They know that Lynch is descended from a 15th-century Spaniard called Aguilar de Nerha, who fought for the freedom-loving Assassins against the evil Templars, protecting the Apple of Eden from those who wanted it because it contains the genetic code for free will.
If they can spirit him back in time to inhabit the body and soul of his ancestor, which they do using a device rather like a Nintendo Wii (see, Im not wholly video game illiterate), then maybe he will get them the blinking apple they so covet.
Unfortunately, he seems as stumped by the narrative as the rest of us.
They recently flaunted their relationship in a racy shoot for Maxim magazine.
And now The Bachelor's Megan Marx and Tiffany Scanlon have taken their love on tour, at a three-day West Australian music festival.
The couple have been furiously documenting their time at Southbound Music festival on social media, and have at times appeared a little worse for wear at the event.
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'We are alive ... just': The Bachelor's Megan Marx and Tiffany Scanlon spend last day at festival dancing, after nursing their hangovers on the beach
Both girls shared photos as they nurse hangovers the morning of the festival's last day.
'Head hurts,' Tiffany captioned a snap which saw her lying on the beach as she cradled her head.
'Gettin' ready to back it up,' wrote Megan of one selfie, which showed the blonde beauty looking determined but tired.
'Gettin' ready to back it up': The blonde beauty looks determined but tired and ready to take on a day of festivities
'Head hurts': Tiffany captions a photo which sees her lying on the beach as she cradles her head
The girls look like they got over any hangovers quickly, with both their Instagram stories soon littered with photos and videos of the couple kicking up their heels.
In one video taken by Megan, Tiffany can be seen dancing energetically in the background as her health promotions girlfriend swivels the camera around in circles.
Another photo shared by Tiffany sees the loved-up couple with their backs turned away from the stage.
Dancing queens! In one video taken by Megan, Tiffany can be seen dancing energetically in the background as her health promotions beau swivels the camera around in circles
Instead of watching the musical act, the couple stared deeply into each other's eyes in an obviously intimate moment.
On Friday morning, Tiffany took to Instagram to share another photo of the festival and reminisce about the last fun three days.
'Hello from the otherside...of @southboundfestival we are alive...just...thanks so much for having us we said hello and took loads of pics with other festival goers and loved the sets!' the fitness fanatic gushed.
'Hello from the other side': After the festival Tiffany shared a photo of the couple, gushing about the fun they had together
Beach babes: Megan and Tiffany hit the beach to recover from the festivities
'Sage drive home everyone x #southbound (sic).'
The couple were previously pictured eating fish and chips in bikinis on Busselton beach, and showing off Tiffany's wine-stained tongue in a series of hilarious videos.
Tiffany and Megan met on this year's season of The Bachelor, falling in love during a trip to Bali.
After months of speculation that they were more than just friends, they finally confirmed their amorous relationship in October.
She's been getting pampered during a luxury Byron Bay holiday.
Now Lindy Klim has flaunted her washboard abs by the pool as she continues her relaxing vacation.
The 39-year-old beauty showed off her incredible figure in a bikini as she posed for an Instagram photo on Friday.
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Pool days! Lindy Klim flaunts her washboard abs in a bikini as she continues her holiday in Byron Bay
Holding her hand to her decolletage, the brunette beauty perched against a tropical tree in the image.
Lindy's rotated one of her long, tanned legs to expose her toned thighs.
She used the hashtag 'morning dip.'
The Balinese princess has been enjoying a two-day stay at the idyllic Rae's On Wategos resort in the northern New South Wales beach town.
'Spa days': The 39-year-old Balinese princess has been enjoying a two-day stay at the idyllic Rae's On Wategos resort in the northern New South Wales beach town
On Thursday, she shared a makeup-free selfie while enjoying a pampering session at the tourist hot spot.
'Spa days,' Lindy captioned the image, showing off a radiant complexion while covering her slender frame in a patterned throw.
The photo, shared with the beauty's 91,900 Instagram followers, saw the entrepreneur standing in the archway of an outdoor terrace.
Covering her statuesque frame in a peach-hued Aztec throw, Lindy gave the camera a good look at her stunning side profile, as she gazed wistfully in the distance.
Allowing her dark locks to fall behind her shoulders, Lindy's makeup-free skin drew attention to her radiant complexion.
Hot mama! The entrepreneur posted another bikini-clad image to Instagram just hours earlier, showing off her engagement ring from fiance Adam Ellis
Just hours earlier, Lindy took to the social media site again, this time accentuating her washboard abs and lithe arms.
The black and white image saw the mother-of-three holding her hands up to her face, showing off her stunning engagement ring from fiance Adam Ellis.
She swept her dark locks into a high bun, and wore tinted sunglasses as she stared down at the camera.
Legs for days! Lindy also shared another image of herself in a striped dress, lying down on a sunbed
Another image saw Lindy lying down on a sunbed, with the fabric of her striped wrap dress highlighting her enviably lean legs.
'Oh Byron...so good to be back!' She captioned part of the snap.
She also tagged her man, presumably as he is with her during her stay.
Earlier this week, Lindy revealed to WHO Magazine that she works out everyday for both her physical and mental well-being, and heads to the gym.
'Oh Byron... so good to be back!': Lindy and Adam are enjoying an end of year vacation together
'I go to the gym in the mornings after I've dropped the children at school,' Lindy told the publication.
'It's a small section of my day that's just for me and I find this time really important to keep me balanced both physically and mentally.'
She also revealed her beauty regime, saying she uses oils to beat dry skin.
New love: Lindy became engaged to British property developer Adam Ellis in October, with the pair being based in Bali (seen last month)
'In Australia, my skin can get a bit drier so I might add some oils to my regimen,' the Milk and Co co-founder said.
Lindy became engaged to British property developer Adam Ellis in October, with the pair being based in Bali.
It comes after she split with former Olympic swimmer Michael Klim, 39, in February, after ten years of marriage.
Case of the ex: It comes after she split with former Olympic swimmer Michael Klim, 39, in February after ten years of marriage (seen in October 2015)
She's been spending time with friends in star-studded Aspen lately, and Thursday looked to be more of the same for social butterfly Bella Hadid.
The 20-year-old was spotted giving a mystery man a friendly peck on the cheek after a night out at Bootsy Bellows in Colorado on Thursday.
Hand wrapped around her pal's neck, the catwalk queen pressed her cheek against her pal's in a friendly gesture as she also held what appeared to be a lit cigarette.
Goodbye kiss! Bella Hadid gave a pal a friendly peck on the cheek after a night out at Bootsy Bellows in Aspen, Colorado on Thursday
The star looked in top spirits and was clearly happy to see her pal, as she smiled brightly upon seeing him.
Bella had her hair scraped back into a high ponytail, wore nearly all black, along with a pair of ankle boots to complete the winter-ready look.
Good company: The star looked in top spirits and was clearly happy to see her pal, as she smiled brightly upon seeing him
Her friend, meanwhile, wore a short-sleeve black tee, vest, trousers, and boots as well.
Bella's been enjoying some downtime enjoying the holiday season lately in Aspen, and it's no doubt been a well-deserved break for the star, who has built up quite the impressive modelling resume.
The Los Angeles native recently made the cover of Paper Magazine for its Winter 2016 edition, and in the publication, she discussed becoming the new face for Dior Beauty and making her debut in the Victoria's Secret Fashion Show in Paris.
Man of style: Her friend, meanwhile, wore a short-sleeve black tee, vest, trousers, and boots as well
While Bella didn't make the cut to appear in the 2015 runway show after trying out last year, she's able to see the bigger picture now.
'I tried last year [to be cast in] the show,' she told the magazine. However, 'I think everything happens for a reason.'
She also mentioned that she'd like to try new things, one of them being acting.
'I think it would be really fun because it's exciting to be in front of the camera on film instead of just pictures,' Bella said. 'I have so many goals.'
She's the busty reality star known for her eye-popping cleavage and risque fashion choices.
And The Block's most controversial alum Suzi Taylor was up to her old tricks again as she sweated her way through a workout at the gym this Friday.
Taking to Instagram with a set of two photos, the busty brunette was seen posing in a racy crop-top that could barely contain her ample bust.
Busting out! The Block's most controversial alum Suzi Taylor was up to her old tricks again as she poesd for a pair of busty workout snaps this Friday
In one photo, she is seen posing for a mirror selfie with her flat stomach and age-defying figure on show.
In the second, she is seen holding a ball above her head while presumably in the middle of a sit-up session.
The post was captioned simply: 'Friday session #workhardplayharder'.
Going solo? Suzi made headlines recently after she was forced to deny that she was dating real estate entrepreneur Drew Davison and Melbourne millionaire Geoffrey Edelsten
Suzi made headlines recently after she was forced to deny that she was dating real estate entrepreneur Drew Davison and Melbourne millionaire Geoffrey Edelsten.
However, the former glamour model strongly denied the reports telling Daily Mail Australia is 'very single'.
She also took to Instagram to posted a collage featured photos of herself with three men she's been linked to recently.
'Just friends': Suzi emphatically denied dating 73-year-old millionaire Geoffrey Edelsten, despite his claims their romance made him feel 'euphoric'
'Last month I was apparently dating Luttsy....This week I was apparently dating Geoffrey....And now I'm apparently dating Drew....Who's Next??? Just have ur (sic) photo with me and apparently it'll be you,' the mother-of-three wrote.
Suzi was recently linked to radio presenter David 'Luttsy' Lutteral, millionaire playboy Geoffrey Edelsten and real estate entrepreneur Drew Davison.
Earlier this month, Geoffrey claimed he was dating Suzi after meeting at a party in Melbourne - but she quickly denied it.
'We're just friends': Earlier this month, Geoffrey claimed he was dating Suzi after meeting at a party in Melbourne - but she said they're 'just friends'
Geoffrey told News Corp he felt 'euphoric' around Suzi, who he described as a 'beautiful looking lady.'
Within hours, Suzi told Daily Mail Australia: 'I met him at a soiree... I'm actually very friendly, we really hit it off! But we're just friends.'
The following day, the Daily Telegraph published a report that Suzi had actually been dating Drew for about six months.
The publication quoted Suzi as saying: 'Yes, I am dating someone special.'
She also confirmed KIIS FM's Summer Fling she was dating someone, but later said she was single on Instagram.
She has a figure which is out of this world.
And Alessandra Ambrosio wasn't afraid to draw attention to it as she donned a bandeau star print bikini on the beach on Thursday.
The 35-year-old model strutted her stuff on the shoreline in Florianopolis, Brazil, with pals.
Stars in our eyes: Alessandra Ambrosio wasn't afraid to draw attention to it as she donned a bandeau star print bikini on the beach on Thursday
The Victoria's Secret Angel looked fabulous once again as she flaunted her toned physique in the ocean.
The mother-of-two was sporting a glowing tan, which served to emphasise her exceptional figure even further.
Her two-piece bandeau bikini was printed with stars and made sure she eliminated as many pesky white strap marks as possible.
Looking good: The 35-year-old model strutted her stuff on the shoreline in Florianopolis, Brazil
She covered her eyes with round dark glasses and left her brunette tresses in tousled beach waves.
Her only accessories were carefully thought out silver bracelets and a pearl necklace.
Sunbathing is thirsty work, so Alessandra was careful to rehydrate - as she supped on a fresh coconut.
Beach body: The Victoria's Secret Angel looked fabulous once again as she flaunted her toned physique in the ocean
Stunning: The mother-of-two was sporting a glowing tan, which served to emphasise her exceptional figure even further
Finishing touches: Her only accessories were carefully thought out silver bracelets and a pearl necklace
All over tanning: Her two-piece bandeau star bikini made sure she eliminated as many pesky white strap marks as possible
Strike a pose: She covered her eyes with round dark glasses and popped her tousled brunette tresses in a loose low ponytail for a while
Chilling: The star made a peace sign with both hands as she soaked up the sunshine
Always at work: Alessandra posed with the Acai and fruit seller
Taking care: The star shaded from the blazing sunshine with a wide-brimmed hat and wrap
Looking peachy: Alessandra chatted to an equally perky pal
The real deal: Sunbathing is thirsty work, so Alessandra was careful to rehydrate - as she supped on a fresh coconut
She also shared a beach snap to her Instagram, in yet another bikini, likely from her own range.
The bright yellow racer back two-piece contrasted with her golden tan.
She captioned: 'Gone to the beach ...'
The star has shared a number of sexy bikini snaps during her vacay, including one captioned: ' by @raulguterres #foreveronvacation.'
Cheeky view: The model was joined by her pal in the water as they showcased their figures
Splashing about: Alessandra appeared to be having a good time with her gal pal, as she was oblivious to a man reaching for her arm
Home sweet home: The beauty has been enjoying an extended vacation over the holidays in her native Brazil
The beauty has been enjoying an extended vacation with her children over the holidays in her native Brazil.
She donned a saucy Santa outfit at the weekend, to celebrate the festive season.
The mother-of-two captioned the image, in which she wore a Santa hat and revealing red lingerie, 'Time for bed... Merry Xmas to all.'
Sunshine: She also shared a beach snap to her Instagram in a bright yellow bikini, with a racer back
Booty pic! Her photographer captioned a snap of her backside: '#beachbum #mysterybooty'
Alessandra clearly had a great festive season, and shared images from a huge party on Instagram.
The beauty appeared to be handing out gifts to children and she captioned the snaps, 'Christmas Eve' and 'Mission Accomplished' in both English and Portuguese.
She was one of the stars at this years Victorias Secret Fashion Show, where she and fellow stunners Lily Aldridge and Jasmine Tookes wore the $3 million Bright Night Fantasy Bra.
Also on the catwalk was Karlie Kloss, sisters Gigi and Bella Hadid, Josephine Skriver, Lais Ribeiro, Martha Hunt, Romee Strijd, Sara Sampaio, Stella Maxwell and Taylor Hill
And there were plenty of big name music stars, with Bruno Mars, The Weeknd and Lady Gaga performing.
Skye Wheatley ditched her eyelashes and her trousers as she snapped a Kim Kardashian style 'belfie' on Friday.
The former Big Brother contestant said she feels 'more naked without my lashes' than without her pants on - proving the point by omitting them both from her latest upload.
Posting on Instagram, the 23-year-old wears only a small black top and skimpy knickers as she shows off her pert derriere.
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Naked ambition: Skye Wheatley ditched her eyelashes and her pants as she snapped a selfie on Friday
She captioned the pic: 'I feel more naked without my lashes then without my pants on (sic) that weird?'
The former reality star went on to promote a nutritional plan before revealing that her slender figure isn't the result of regular exercise.
She said: 'Sorry guys let me clarify...I don't spend my life in the gym nor do I work out every single day.
Laid bare: The former Big Brother contestant said she feels 'more naked without my lashes' than without her pants on - proving the point by omitting them both from her latest upload
Admission: The former reality star went on to promote a nutritional plan before revealing that her slender figure isn't the result of regular exercise
'I follow a balanced and healthy meal plan and o stay busy/active. Being active and working out are two completely different things. (sic)'
Despite uploading a video titled My Booty Workout to her YouTube page earlier this year, Skye has denied that her peachy bottom comes via gym work.
Instead, the blonde insists that she doesn't need to regularly work on keeping her backside in great shape, saying that it comes naturally.
Peachy: Despite uploading a video titled My Booty Workout to her YouTube page earlier this year, Skye has denied that her peachy bum comes via gym work
Au naturel: The blonde insists that she doesn't need to regularly work on keeping her backside in great shape, saying that it comes naturally
She said: 'Yes I uploaded a booty video for you guys because you all asked! I know what exercises you can do to grow a butt.
'I naturally have a big butt so I wouldn't need to work as hard as others who don't.'
While her bottom may be natural, Skye recently posted a gruesome video documenting the recovery process from her recent nose job.
The video charts her journey to Double Bay for the rhinoplasty surgery before showing her nose in a swollen state, complete with bloodied stitches.
There are few things worse than being drenched on the way to a television interview.
And thankfully an obliging gentleman was on hand with an umbrella to shield Cate Blanchett from the rain as she arrived for her Good Morning America chinwag in New York on Thursday.
The blonde beauty looked relieved when the lackey rushed to her side as she opened her hand to feel the drizzle dropping from overhead.
Her rain man: Cate Blanchett was shielded from the rain by an obliging lackey in NYC Thursday
The 47-year-old Lord Of The Rings star was looking great for her age in a trendy cosmic patterned leather jacket, chic floral dress and high-heeled boots.
She was promoting her turn in Anton Chekhov's The Present, an adaption of the Russian playwright's untitled first play penned by Cate's husband Andrew Upton, and which is currently showing on Broadway.
Describing the thigh-slapping show, she said: 'Someone else's mid-life crisis is always amusing. It's a unique thing, a fantastic, remarkable feeling.'
Last week the saucy Aussie acted as a judge during the cast of Hamilton's 2016 door decorating competition in New York.
Phew: Cate's blonde locks were protected from the rain by the helpful gentleman
Brolly dolly: The acclaimed actress looked in fine form indeed as she arrived for her chinwag
Drinking at the fountain of youth: It is hard to believe the fresh-faced actress is really 47
The 47-year-old actress, who donned glasses with a maxi dress and oversized sweater, was joined by fellow judges Josh Groban and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Cate, who styled her blonde locks pulled back with a deep side part, carried a clipboard as she examined the doors decorated especially for the exciting contest.
The competition took place at Richard Rodgers Theatre in the Big Apple.
Cate will be in the area for a few montsh yet, as her Broadway is on from now until March 2017 at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre.
Cosmic: She was wearing a trendy patterned leather jacket
Hatagirl: Cate was a judge during the cast of Hamilton's 2016 door decorating competition last week
They're working together on a project about Charles Manson victim Sharon Tate.
But Kate Bosworth put work to one side as she cavorted with her husband Michael Polish in Mexico on Thursday.
The 33-year-old actress showcased her toned figure in a bright red bikini as she put on a PDA with her director husband of three years.
Red hot! Kate Bosworth sizzled in a scarlet bikini in Mexico on Thursday
The Blue Crush actress splashed about in the ocean as they looked like honeymooners.
Clearly still crazy about each other, the loved-up couple got tactile in the azure waters.
Michael, 46, ventured out into the blazing sunshine in board shorts.
Like honeymooners: She put on a PDA with her husband Michael Polish
Packing on PDA: She got close to her director husband of three years
Make-up free, Kate looked radiant as she flaunted her natural beauty.
She left her blonde tresses loose which became tousled by the sea water and sunshine.
Dark glasses covered the star's eyes to protect them from the blazing temperatures.
Stunning: Make-up free, Kate looked radiant as she flaunted her natural beauty
Taking it easy: She left her blonde tresses loose which became tousled by the sea water and sunshine
Slim: The 33-year-old actress showcased her toned figure in a bright red bikini
Sunshine break: Dark glasses covered the star's eyes to protect them from the blazing temperatures
Kate will also soon be seen in BBC miniseries SS-GB which follows the exploits of a British homicide detective who must investigate a murder in a German-occupied England during World War I
She is also set to star in The Domestics, which has been described as a thriller and a survival love story.
In it, a young husband and wife must fight to return home in a post-apocalyptic mid-western landscape plagued by brutal gangs.
Cute: Clearly still crazy about each other, the loved-up couple got tactile in the azure waters
Close: The Blue Crush actress splashed about in the ocean as they looked like honeymooners
Time for a vacay: The star was enjoying herself in the waters
Happy days: She smiled as she relaxed on her vacation
Looking good: She showcased her stunning figure in the string bikini
She will also star as actress and Manson family victim Sharon Tate in a the biopic Polish is slated to direct.
The couple have previously worked together on such films as the 2013 drama Big Sur and the 2015 mystery Amnesiac.
Their new film will be based on Greg King's 2000 biographical book Sharon Tate And The Manson Murders. Polish will be screenwriting as well as directing.
In August 1969, Sharon Tate was over eight months pregnant by her husband Roman Polanski when she was butchered in her home by members of the Manson Family.
The perpetrators not only stabbed her 16 times, but also struck down three more people in the house and a man parked in the driveway. Tate was 26 years old.
She and her beau Joshua Jackson made the heartbreaking decision to part ways in June after ten long years together.
And Diane Kruger ended her rough year with a much needed getaway as she took to Instagram to post a sexy swimwear snap on Thursday.
'Needed a vacay so badly!', the actress, 40, informed her followers as she showed off her sensationally slender physique in the sizzling, plunging one-piece.
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Getting away from it all: Diane Kruger, 40, took to Instagram to post a sexy swimwear snap on Thursday as she flaunted her sensationally slender physique in a plunging one-piece
The star's black swimwear showed off her svelte frame as she stood on her tip-toes to accentuate her already long, lean pins in the black and white image.
Diane opted for a stylish fedora hat as she stared ahead at herself in the mirror while snapping away with her phone.
On Wednesday, she was clearly in a great mood once again as she danced around in a skimpy bikini in a clip posted on Instagram.
The Inglourious Basterds actress looked in fine form indeed as she wiggled her hips and waved her arms around as she relaxed in the California sunshine.
Over: The actress and her beau Joshua Jackson, 38, made the heartbreaking decision to part ways in June after ten long years together
Sexy lady: On Wednesday, Diane was clearly in a great mood again as she danced around in the Californian sunshine in a skimpy bikini in a clip posted on Instagram
Former model Diane seemed to be having a great time showing off her incredible figure in a barely-there black bikini, patterned blouse and trilby hat.
Back in July, Diane and actor Joshua Jackson brought their 10-year relationship to a surprise end.
And the hunk, 38, admitted recently on The Ellen Degeneres Show that dating has been difficult since the split due to the digital era.
The Dawson Creek star - who dated the German beauty for more than a decade - admitted: 'Things have changed a little bit since last time I was single.'
'It would be so hard to start dating again after 10 years,' daytime talk show host Ellen inquired.
'Things have changed a little bit': The hunk admitted recently on The Ellen Degeneres Show that dating has been difficult since the split due to the digital era
Long-term: The Dawson Creek star dated the German beauty for more than a decade
'Yeah, yeah,' Joshua conceded. 'I mean, everything's on your phone now, right?'
'There's no more talking to people anymore,' said the award-winning actor. 'You talk to somebody and they're like, "Ugh! No, no, no, no, no! We don't do that anymore," so yeah, it's been quite a big change.'
Diane seems to be having better luck at dating as she's rumoured to be in a romance with actor Norman Reedus.
Earlier this month, she supported him as he launched an exhibition of his attempts at photography at the Galerie Hors-Champs in Paris, France.
Moving on? Diane is said to be in a romance with actor Norman Reedus - after they were rumoured to have a fling in 2015
It was quite the eyebrow raiser, as Diane was rumoured to have had a fling with the Walking Dead star after they co-starred in the 2015 drama Sky.
A photo posted on social media of Rosetta Getty's annual July 4th party in Tuscany , appeared to show the actress seated next to her one-time rumoured fling Norman.
An Instagram snap shared by PR firm Zoe communications shows The Walking Dead actor Norman in conversation with a blonde seated next to him.
In December, it was reported that the actress had been spotted in a New York bar with Norman.
He spent 17 days living in the Australian outback for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!
And Jordan Banjo has revealed that the experience still doesn't feel real, despite the fact he bears a physical reminder in the form of scars.
Speaking on Friday's Good Morning Britain with Diversity's Ashley Banjo and Perri Kiely, the 23-year-old dancer admitted that watching the footage back was like seeing a 'different person'.
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Jordan Banjo appeared on Friday's Good Morning Britain with Diversity's Ashley Banjo (L) and Perri Kiely (R) as he reflected on his I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! experience
He explained: 'Looking back at - it being out of it for so long now - Im like mate I dont even know how I did it!
'That's a different person!'
Discussing the trials, he reflected on particularly terrifying task, Tomb Of Torment, where he was plunged in darkness whilst 120,000 critters climbed over him, Gogglebox star Scarlett Moffatt, ex-Strictly professional Ola Jordan, and Olympic gold medal winner Sam Quek.
Jungle fever: Jordan spent 17 days living in the Australian outback for I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! but he revealed that the experience still doesn't feel real
As GMB presenter Charlotte Hawkins asked why they had their mouths open in the task, Jordan lamented: 'I was laying there and the girls were like "let's sing" and I was like "lets not!'"
However, it wasn't the critters that proved to be the most troublesome, as he admitted: 'Ive got scars on my neck from when the rats scratched me!'
Despite doing so well in the tasks, he hasn't inspired fellow Diversity star Perri to take part, as the dancer quipped: 'Ill stay well away!'
Taskmaster: Jordan reflected on particularly terrifying task, Tomb Of Torment, where he was plunged in darkness whilst 120,000 critters climbed over him and his campmates
Ouch: It wasn't the critters that proved to be the most troublesome, as Jordan admitted: 'Ive got scars on my neck from when the rats scratched me!'
In shock: He explained: 'Looking back at - it being out of it for so long now - Im like mate I dont even know how I did it! That's a different person!'
Jordan was the fourth celebrity to be eliminated on I'm A Celebrity, and immediately after leaving the jungle, he described the experience as 'overwhelming'.
Chatting to Ant and Dec in his exit interview, he explained: 'The whole experience has been so overwhelming. To walk up that bridge is so surreal!
'Saying bye, I cant believe it they look so depressed without me.'
She's spent a quieter Christmas helping boyfriend Robin Thicke overcome his father's death.
Which is why there was a subdued vibe to April Love Geary's latest social media post, on Thursday.
Unable to resist the sight of her own peachy derriere, the 22-year-old model shared a bikini-clad picture in which she's looking pensively out to sea.
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Peach view! April Love Geary shared a picture of her behind on Thursday, as she looked out to sea from a balcony
Alongside the perfect backdrop, April bolsters the perfect view with her lithe outline in a skimpy, striped swimsuit.
With her hair scraped away into a low-fuss topknot, April's hourglass silhouette is so sun-kissed that she complements the sunset picture perfectly.
She simply captioned the shot with a palm tree, leaving her location undisclosed as the pair prepare to ring in the New Year.
Body beautiful: Never out of a bikini, April has spent a quieter Christmas at home since she returned from Negora Island (pictured) with beau Robin Thicke
April and Robin were most recently in Santa Barbara, where they bid farewell to much-loved actor Alan Thicke.
Alan - best known for his role as Jason Seaver on the ABC television series Growing Pains - died of a heart attack on December 13, leaving behind his wife of more than a decade Tanya Callau.
Before the bad news, it had been a string of celebrations for Robin and his younger girlfriend.
Pensive: Her latest bikini snap was a more subdued one than the flirtatious bikini snaps that litter her feed
Not long since returned from their paradisaical break on Necker Island, British Virgin Isles, April and Robin were marking the model's 22nd birthday.
The couple confirmed that they were an item seven months ago, almost a year to the day since his divorce from Paula Patton was finalised.
In the midst of his divorce it was his parents that Robin credited with helping him to move on.
He told E! News last August: 'I spent a lot of time with my parents even, talking with them and getting their advice.
'I always kind of grew up thinking I knew what I was doing you know.
She's enjoying a sun-soaked new year's break with her family in Hawaii.
And giddy Jessica Alba looked as though she was having the time of her life as she joined daughter Honor, eight, for a drive in an off-road vehicle while zipping around the island on Thursday.
Treating her eldest child to a healthy snack from a fruit stand, the actress and entrepreneur, 35, couldn't contain her glee as she whizzed through the streets in a Rhino ATV with a group of friends.
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Cool riders! Giddy Jessica Alba looked as though she was having the time of her life as she joined daughter Honor, eight, for a drive in an off-road vehicle in Hawaii on Thursday
Giggling away, the screen star she was in holiday mode as she sported a casual denim shirt, a chic cream trilby and shades for their outing.
Honor looked cute as a button in a fuchsia heart-print tee as she tucked into her healthy treat in the van.
Younger sister Haven, five was no doubt being looked after by producer dad Cash Warren, 37, as Jessica and Honor enjoyed their day out.
On Wednesday, Jessica looked as though a spot of well-earned rest and relaxation was suiting her down to the ground as she picked up a bite to eat at a food truck.
Fun in the sun! Treating her eldest child to a healthy snack from a fruit stand, the actress and entrepreneur, 35, whizzed through the streets in a Rhino ATV with a group of friends
Stocking up for New Year's Eve? Earlier in the day, the mother-of-two was spotted picking up groceries for her family at Foodland ahead of Saturday's celebrations
The actress - who was named as Forbes' richest self-made woman this year thanks to her thriving business, The Honest Company - flashed her toned and tanned legs in a short, flirty black dress.
The LBD skimmed her enviable figure to perfection and plunged down the middle.
Jessica, who has been married to producer Cash since 2008, teamed the look with a denim jacket and comfortable flip-flops.
The star accessorised her look with a pair of shades, a chic straw fedora and a large backpack, which was casually slung over one shoulder.
Holiday mode: Jessica Alba as though a spot of well-earned rest and relaxation in Hawaii was suiting her down to the ground as she picked up a bite to eat on Wednesday
Effortlessly chic: The entrepreneur flashed her toned and tanned legs in a flirty black dress
Tasty treats: Having worked up an appetite, Jessica sat down to enjoy some street food with her two daughters, Honor, eight, and Haven, five
Having worked up an appetite, Jessica sat down to enjoy some street food with Honor and Haven.
Jessica also shared a sweet snap of her two girls in a gushing Instagram post later on in the day.
Clearly enjoying their holiday, the sisters shared a milkshake in the sweet snap, which their mother captioned: 'The monkeys - love them so much #familyvacay.'
The family also spent quality time together over Christmas and Jessica took to Instagram on Monday to post a loved-up festive snap of her and Cash.
The smitten pair showed off their matching Christmas red and white striped pyjamas.
'We had an awesome Xmas this year - wearing matching pajamas n all,' she wrote next to the smiling photo, which showed them posing in front of their Christmas tree.
'The monkeys!': Jessica also shared a sweet snap of her two girls sharing a milkshake
'Matching pajamas n all': The Sin City took to Instagram on Monday to post a loved-up festive snap of her and husband Cash Warren, 37, on Christmas Day
Clearly a lover of being natural, the Dark Angel star revealed: 'My mum told me to always take care of my skin, so I did from a very early age and she taught me to put coconut oil or olive oil on my hair every night.'
Recently, the mother-of-two has got into the holiday spirit by supporting the Baby2Baby charity, which helps children from low-income families.
Taking to Instagram earlier this month, she posted about the organisation: 'Today, I am proud to stand with my favourite charity @Baby2Baby and the @WhiteHouse to raise awareness about diaper need in this country.
'1 in 3 American families has to choose between food and diapers for their babies. Please share to show your support as we continue to fight to close the #DiaperGap wh.gov/DiaperGap.'
Jessica founded eco-friendly brand The Honest Company in 2012, and it is now worth $1billion.
She's currently enjoying a family vacation in Hawaii.
And on Friday, Roxy Jacenko decided to do what any vacationing mother would do by wrangling her kids for a family photo.
However, the 36-year-old PR queen seemed to have some trouble getting her youngsters to look at the camera properly.
'Trying to get everyone to look at once!' Roxy Jacenko posed for a family photo with her children Hunter and Pixie Curtis in Hawaii on Friday
While Instagram star Pixie, 5, was able to pose properly, little Hunter, 2, stared off into the distance.
'Trying to get everyone to look at once,' wrote Roxy, before adding: 'clearly got it down pat.'
The blonde businesswoman was dressed in a stylish floral dress from Dolce & Gabbana.
'Hawaii days': Earlier the 36-year-old shared a selfie as she relaxed in the sun
She paired the dress with brown Louis Vuitton sliders.
Pixie was dressed as a princess in a purple puffy dress from Disney's official clothing line.
Not to be outdone, Hunter put on a stylish display in an outfit from luxury childrenswear brand Jill and Jack.
Also joining Roxy on vacation is her mother, Doreen Jacenko.
Designer: Roxy has been showing off her designer outfits while on vacation, such as this Louis Vuitton T-shirt
They're believed to have been dating for a blissful five months.
And Vincent Cassel, 50, and Tina Kunakey, 27, looked stronger than ever as they were spotted on holiday together in Florianopolis, Brazil.
Hitting the beach together, the pair seemed in great spirits as they soaked up the sunshine.
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Holding back the years! Vincent Cassel, 50, showed off his age-defying physique in a pair of orange and cream swimming trunks as he hit the beach in Florianopolis, Brazil
Showing off his age-defying physique, the Black Swan star opted for a pair of orange and cream swimming trunks.
Tina, meanwhile, looked incredible in a skimpy yellow bikini as she towelled off after a dip in the sea.
Going make-up free, the model allowed her natural beauty to shine through whilst her trademark curly locks were loose and sodden.
Not-so mellow! Vincent was joined by his gorgeous model girlfriend Tina Kunakey, 27, who looked incredible in a skimpy yellow bikini as she towelled off after a dip in the sea
The pair were first linked back in July, when Tina shared a snap of herself cuddled up to the French actor whilst she enjoyed a cigarette.
Vincent was previously married to Italian actress Monica Bellucci and the couple share two daughters.
They announced their separation in 2013 after 14 years of marriage.
Cute couple: The pair were first linked back in July, when Tina shared a snap of herself cuddled up to the French actor whilst she enjoyed a cigarette
Model moment: It's easy to see how Tina caught Vincent's eye, as the model often shares dazzling shots of herself on Instagram
Vincent recently spoke out about the notion of love as he claimed that men and women view it very differently.
He told The Telegraph: ' The thing is, love makes you feel alive. If most women are looking for security, I think men look for adventure.
'Theres an expression in French to go around the world with your d**k and a knife navoir que la bite et le couteau.
Later in life, a man has the possibility to reinvent himself again and again.'
She's known for being a social butterfly- as well having numerous nip slips.
But Lady Victoria Hervey kept her famous assets firmly in place as she turned heads in a white bikini in Barbados on Thursday.
The 40-year-old socialite enjoyed a beach day, before making a splash with a jet-ski.
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Bit of al-white! Lady Victoria Hervey kept her famous assets firmly in place as she turned heads in a white bikini in Barbados on Thursday
Flaunting her fabulous form, Victoria took a walk along the picturesque beach.
With her impressive toned midriff on display, the British beauty wore the white briefs low on her hips.
And avoiding any wardrobe malfunctions, she wore a well-fitted halter-neck bikini top.
Making waves! The 40-year-old socialite enjoyed a beach day, before making a splash with a jet-ski
Styling her blonde tresses in cornrows, she covered her tanned face with oversized aviators, accessorising with a large medallion necklace.
And shielding her tanned body from the sun, she later threw on an oversized Kaftan with gold edging.
The adventurous lass soon took to a jet-ski, enjoying a splash around the blue seas.
Abs-fab! Flaunting her fabulous form, Victoria took a walk along the picturesque beach
Victoria has been the victim of frequent nip slips of late, most recently on Wednesday when an errant wave caught her by surprise.
Last month her rebel bust popped out as she enjoyed a spot of yoga in Palm Springs.
The aristocrat - who is the daughter of the late 6th Marquess of Bristol - recently told the Daily Mail's Sebastian Shakespeare that English women struggle to be sexy.
'Women in London are too conservative and dont have the courage to wear sexy outfits. Its an English thing,' she said.
'I grew up in the South of France so I have a much more international approach.'
Victoria added that she still leads by example, sporting an array of sheer ensembles at parties recently, she said: 'Its empowering to dress provocatively'.
A few days ago, she shared an adorable photograph of five-year-old daughter Harper Beckham watching the rain in the Maldives.
And Victoria Beckham posted yet another sweet snap on Friday showing the youngster writing 'I love mummy and daddy' in the sand.
'Kisses from my baby girl' wrote Victoria alongside the cute snap where Harper had drawn some flowers on the beach alongside her words.
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So sweet: Victoria Beckham shared an Instagram of Harper penning an message to her parents on the Maldives sand on Friday
The family are currently enjoying a festive break in the tropical paradise islands with friends Gordon and Tana Ramsey and their children.
However, the weather hasn't always been kind, with Victoria sharing a snap of the downpour with little Harper holding an umbrella on the beach.
Possibly paying tribute to Debbie Reynolds - who died on Wednesday afternoon - the designer, 42, captioned the snap: 'Singing in the rain'.
Debbie - who famously starred in film musical Singing in the Rain - died from a suspected stroke aged 84, just one day after her daughter Carrie Fisher passed away from a heart attack.
'Singing in the rain': Victoria revealed her family had been caught out in the rain on Thursday as she shared a sweet snap of daughter Harper, five, in the Maldives
Meanwhile, Victoria's sons Cruz and Brooklyn enjoyed a bit of a jamming session on a new video with Cruz pretended to play the drums on his knees whilst Brooklyn sang enthusiastically.
Cruz recently released his debut single If Everyday Was Christmas with the proceeds going to charity.
Despite the rain, the family's spirits are no doubt still on a high with the news that Victoria is to be made an OBE.
The former Spice Girls star has been named on the Queen's New Year's Honours list, she revealed to her family this Christmas.
On a high: Victoria is to be made an OBE in the New Year's Honours list
Expecting an OBE for her fashion empire and body of charity work, the mother-of-four will follow in David's footsteps, 13 years after he received his nod from the Queen.
Sources close to the family told MailOnline that Victoria was 'delighted and humbled for the recognition'.
The insider revealed: 'Victoria is incredibly proud of the fashion brand she has built and ever thankful for her amazing team.'
Victoria told her family - Brooklyn, 17, Romeo, 14, and Cruz, 11, along with Harper - during the festive period whilst on holiday.
They spent their first Christmas as a couple, apart.
And after spending Wednesday abseiling in Western Australia, The Bachelor's Richie Strahan and Alex Nation enjoyed a diving session at the state's Ningaloo reef.
Sharing a snap with his 161,000 followers on Friday, Richie revealed the venture was his Christmas present to his reality star girlfriend.
'I'm lucky she is mine': Bachelor couple Alex Nation and Richie Strahan enjoy a romantic reef dive
'For Christmas I wanted to surprise Alex with something she would always remember,' he captioned the photo.
'I decided to take her on an adventure to Coral Bay in WA, where we would get our PADI open water dive tickets, while checking out the beautiful Ningaloo reef!
'This is our first dive (in a pool) learning the tricks of the trade. Always dive with a buddy - I'm lucky she is mine.'
Posing for an underwater snap, the smitten couple both flashed the Shaka sign, associated with surfing culture.
Merry Christmas! The dive at the Ningaloo reef in Western Australia was Richie's Christmas present to his reality star girlfriend
On Wednesday, Alex and Richie spent the day abseiling down a cliff face at Western Australia's Statham's Quarry.
Taking to Instagram after their adventure in Beelu National Park, the pair both uploaded action shots as they abseiled down side-by-side.
Alex captioned her pic: 'So... this happened. I abseiled down a cliff face with this guy.'
Cliffhangers: Alex and Richie were well and truly on the rocks on Wednesday, spending the day abseiling down a cliff face at Statham's Quarry
Going down: Taking to Instagram after their adventure in Beelu National Park, the pair both uploaded action shots as they abseiled down side-by-side
Meanwhile, Richie, 31, wrote alongside his photo: 'Cheeky abseil with this stunner.'
The loved-up couple were joined by Richie's sister, Alana Walsh, who also used social media to share a snap of herself abseiling alongside her brother.
After arriving at the quarry in Richie's jeep, the 25-year-old snapped a selfie, adding the caption 'today we climbin'.
She's been glued to the beach this festive season.
And Lady Victoria Hervey, 40, showed off her super svelte bronzed frame once again on Friday as she stepped out in Bridgetown, Barbados.
Despite the Caribbean sunshine, the aristocrat looked to be feeling a bit nippy as she sauntered across the white sand in a stylish lime green one piece.
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Feeling nippy: Lady Victoria Hervey, 40, showed off her super svelte bronzed frame once again on Friday as she stepped out in Bridgetown, Barbados
Its unusual cut showed off her slender side and part of her toned midriff, while the one strap and low cut of the chest displayed her delicate decolletage.
The socialite looked to have embraced the vibrant nature of the island, donning a colourful bandana for her day at the beach.
The headwear kept her golden locks off her face and she protected her eyes with a large pair of aviators.
She wore a large gold pendant, a cream watch and colourful bracelet to complete her look.
Colourful: Despite the Caribbean sunshine, the aristocrat looked to be feeling a bit nippy as she sauntered across the white sand in a stylish lime green one piece
Hippie vibes: The socialite looked to have embraced the vibrant nature of the island and donned a colourful bandana for her day at the beach
Beach babe: The swimsuit's unusual cut showed off her slender side
Keen for an adrenaline rush, Lady Victoria took to the ocean on a jet ski, making quite splash as she powered along.
Wearing a life jacket, she looked completely in control as she expertly cruised along the coastline.
The aristocrat - who is the daughter of the late 6th Marquess of Bristol - recently told the Daily Mail's Sebastian Shakespeare that English women struggle to be sexy.
Leading by example: The aristocrat - who is the daughter of the late 6th Marquess of Bristol - recently told the Daily Mail's Sebastian Shakespeare that English women struggle to be sexy
Going for a ride: She was given a helping hand onto a jet ski
Easy does it: She looked deep in concentration as she slid into the driver's seat
Making a splash: Wearing a life jacket, she looked completely in control as she expertly cruised along the coastline
'Women in London are too conservative and dont have the courage to wear sexy outfits. Its an English thing,' she said.
'I grew up in the South of France so I have a much more international approach.'
Victoria added that she still leads by example, sporting an array of sheer ensembles at parties recently, she said: 'Its empowering to dress provocatively'.
Adrenaline rush: Lady Victoria certainly was afraid to twist the accelerator
Speed demon: The blonde's tanned skin glistened in the Caribbean sun
She gave birth to her second child nearly a year ago.
And Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley looked absolutely phenomenal as she hit the beach in Miami on Thursday in a clingy yellow bikini that clung to every bit of her amazing physique.
The 40-year-old star, who has only recently joined the reality show, cuddled her baby daughter Phoenix, ten months, in her arms as she gabbed with gal pals.
Yummy mummy! Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills star Dorit Kemsley looked absolutely phenomenal as she hit the beach in Miami on Thursday in a clingy yellow bikini that clung to every bit of her amazing physique while cuddling daughter Phoenix
Blonde hair braided back, Dorit couldn't have looked happier as she strolled in flip flops on the beach with her daughter resting on her hip.
Little Phoenix wore a precious striped bathing suit with red floral design.
Dorit looked every inch the beach babe as she rocked a patterned cover-up and straw hat, giving herself a bit of protection from the sun.
Keeping herself cool, Dorit clutched a refreshing iced coffee.
Baby love! Blonde hair braided back, Kemsley couldn't have looked happier as she strolled in flip flops on the beach with her daughter resting on her hip
The proud mom took to Instagram to share a photo of her with her oldest son Jagger.
The image was of Dorit walking hand-in-hand with her son on the sand and was captioned with a heart emoticon.
Dorit joined the cast of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills this year, appearing in the show's seventh season.
Making a splash: Dorit looked every inch the beach babe as she rocked a patterned cover-up and straw hat, giving herself a bit of protection from the sun
Born in Connecticut, Dorit has been working for nearly two decades as a fashion designer.
She got her start in Italy in her twenties, and then began her own line, which features swimsuits.
'I always wanted to work, I always wanted to be a businesswoman,' the reality star recently told DailyMail.com.
Life's a beach! The star strolled on the sand beside another bikini-clad gal pal
The reality star is married to Boy George's manager Paul 'PK' Kemsley.
The two fell in love in 2011 after meeting in New York City and then not long after that welcomed son Jagger. In 2015 they wed at the Rainbow Room in New York City.
The couple welcomed baby girl Phoenix in February 2016.
Rosamund Pike spent more than 30 minutes chatting to firefighters with her son Solo following an incident near her London home on Friday.
The Gone Girl star, 37, looked relaxed in a large grey knit, black leggings and purple Asics running trainers.
She tied her blonde locks up in a messy bun and smiled brightly as her son spoke to a crouching fireman.
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Loving mother: Rosamund Pike, 37, spent more than 30 minutes chatting to firefighters with her son Solo, four, following an incident near her London home on Friday
The makeup-free actress wore a silver statement necklace and clutched a copy of her latest film A United Kingdom to her chest.
The film movingly re-creates the then-scandalous marriage between Prince Seretse Khama of Botswana and British typist Ruth Williams.
The couple caused an international stir when they married in the late 1940s.
In the inspirational film, Rosamund takes on the role of middle-class Ruth who falls for Seretse, an Oxford graduate and African king-in-waiting - played by David Oyelowo - after being introduced to him at a missionary society dance.
Dressed down: The Gone Girl star looked relaxed in a large grey knit, black leggings and purple Asics running trainers
Playful mood: Rosamund crouched down and raised her hand to her forehead
Their whirlwind romance and wedding wreaked havoc not only among their families, but at the highest political levels in Britain and southern Africa, where Seretses own Bechuanaland, now Botswana, was a longtime protectorate under British imperial rule.
Speaking of the movie on BBC Radio 2 in November, Rosamund said: 'You see racism on both sides.
'It's this experience of a white woman craving to belong in the black world and being greeted with suspicion and hostility. They don't want a white woman to be the mother of their tribe.
A good watch: The makeup-free actress wore a silver statement necklace and clutched a copy of her latest film A United Kingdom
'How is she going to understand the concerns of the women? How is she going to understand the concerns of the country? But she stuck it out.'
And speaking of Ruth's defiant will, the actress gushed: 'Sometimes you get these characters where you're like "God, if I had half of this woman's guts bravery and courage, I'd be such a better person"!
'It's a wonderful love story.'
She's been documenting her sun-soaked trip to Barbados on social media for fans.
And Jourdan Dunn was not afraid to show off her sensational bikini body once again on Friday, as she uploaded another beach-side snap to her Instagram page.
The British beauty, 26, flaunted her unbelievably long legs and enviably toned stomach in a trendy high-waisted bikini as she posed aboard a boat in the sizzling snap.
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Life's a beach: Jourdan Dunn, 26, was not afraid to show off her sensational bikini body once again on Friday, as she uploaded another snap from her Barbados holiday to her Instagram
Poising herself against the railings on deck, the mother-of-one showcased her impeccably toned physique for all to see in a vibrant orange two-piece.
The high-rise bottoms nipped in at her middle to flatter her tiny waist and clung tightly to her impressively toned and taut tum.
Cutting high up her thigh at the side, the briefs then left her incredibly long and slender pins on show as she fiercely cocked one leg forward.
Maintaining her trendy style even in beachwear, the Hammersmith native paired the bottoms with a stylish halterneck bikini top, which fastened with a zip on one side.
Life's peachy: The model has been documenting her tropical trip away with her huge amount of Instagram followers - sharing another cheeky swimwear snap on Wednesday
Leaving her long tresses in loose waves and her face bare, Jourdan exuded natural and effortless beauty as she reflected on another successful year as a model.
Expressing her gratitude for her fans in the caption, the brunette beauty wrote beside the shot: 'Taking it alllllll in the sun,the sea and me finally hitting 2 MILLION followers!!! Thank you guys for the love and support its truly....honestly .... appreciated'
The model has been documenting her tropical trip away with her huge amount of Instagram followers - sharing another cheeky swimwear snap on Wednesday.
Wearing unusual yet stylish black beachwear, Jourdan can be seen showing off her pert derriere while gazing out to sea.
Beach babe: Jourdan is enjoying some winter sun on the Caribbean island over the festive period
She held a tropical cocktail in her other hand, the perfect accompaniment to the stunning sun-drenched setting.
On Christmas Eve the mother-of-one was seen hanging out on the beach with her seven-year-old son Riley.
The statuesque beauty gave birth to Riley when she was just 19, and was back on the catwalk just 10 weeks after welcoming her baby into the world.
Jourdan split from her former flame Jordan Cummings when Riley was just a baby, but has since gone on to become one of the world's top-earning models.
She recently posted a sweet selfie on her Instagram page which read: '7 years ago today this little joy of sunshine came into my life,It's true that every good and perfect gift is from above
'You were presented to me as a beautifully packaged gift full of humor, talent, sarcasm intelligence, beauty and love.
'Happy Birthday Bubski Mummy loves you more than you could EVER imagine!' (sic)
Jourdan was propelled to international fame when she was discovered by a model scout in a branch of budget high street store, Primark, in Hammersmith, west London, at the tender age of 15.
She's described her tiny waist and enviable figure as a gift from God.
And Kate Wright's stunning shape is certainly the gift that keeps on giving, as the beauty shared a saucy swimwear selfie on Snapchat on Friday.
Taking to a bathroom to snap the mirror shot, Kate, 25, looked sensational in a plunging black bikini top with delicate strips of material criss-crossing her tiny waist.
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Kate Wright's stunning shape is certainly the gift that keeps on giving, as the beauty shared a saucy swimwear selfie on Snapchat on Friday
The black bottoms clung to her hips and accentuated her perfect curves, while her ample cleavage was on full display.
The glam reality star wore her shades atop her head and let her golden locks fall freely over her shoulders.
In a picture she shared earlier in the day, she posed alongside her friend in a snap captioned: 'My main chick.'
She teamed her swimwear with cream and navy palazzo pants, finishing off the look with gold sandals and oversized sunglasses.
Attempting to rival Kate in the busty stakes, her pretty pal donned a plunging black dress as they enjoyed a drink in a beach bar.
Gorgeous gal pals: In a pic she shared earlier in the day, she posed alongside her friend in a snap captioned: 'My main chick.'
Orange you glad to see me? Kate has been treating her fans to an array of sexy swimwear snaps on her holiday, and on Thursday sent them wild with a saucy snapchat shot
Kate has been treating her fans to an array of sexy swimwear snaps on her holiday, and on Thursday sent them wild with a saucy snapchat shot.
Clad in an orange bikini, her ample bust was front and centre in the shot as she sipped on a cocktail.
Fans have been marvelling at her incredible figure in her bikini snaps, which Kate claims was a gift 'from God.'
What a waist! Fans have been marvelling at her incredible figure in her bikini snaps, which Kate claims was a gift 'from God' but also revealed she hits the gym every day
Speaking to MailOnline, she explained: 'My waist goes up and down but I don't know what happened there - I think God just gave me a small waist
'I feel really rubbish if I don't go to the gym, I've gone to the gym since I was 14. I used to go before school with my mum when I was 14, I've always been sporty.
'It doesn't feel right if I don't go to the gym. Even if I'm on holiday I'll go, so even if I don't go I feel groggy.'
She's a producer and award-winning actress, so it would seem Eva Longoria is good at just about anything she tries out.
But as it turns out, jet packing doesn't come as naturally for the world famous star.
The 41-year-old Texas native documented her jet pack fail during her current trip to Mexico on Snapchat on Thursday.
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Trying it out for size! Eva Longoria floated in the water as a man who appeared to be a jet pack instructor waded close by during her trip to Mexico on Thursday
The star was initially excited to try out the jet pack, explaining to her fans, 'Hey you guys, we're going to try this machine, that jet thing that you go in the air!'
After her friend went for it, Eva could be seen floating in the water with the boots strapped on as a man who appeared to be an instructor supervised.
'Going to do this jet thing!' she told the camera.
Unfortunately for Eva, the star stayed in the air for less than a few seconds, before crashing into the water.
There she goes! The actress threw her hands up into the air as she attempted to steady herself
Making a splash: The star, however, fell into the water after just seconds in the air
Eva seemed surprised at how difficult jet packing was, as she breathlessly explained after the incident.
'Okay, that was really hard!' Eva said in a separate video. 'The boot didn't fit my foot!' she wailed playfully.
'It was too big for my feet!'
Explaining herself! Eva seemed surprised at how difficult jet packing was, as she breathlessly explained after the incident
Just breathe: Longoria got in a yoga session on Friday morning
Eva has been enjoying the holidays in Mexico lately.
From yoga to kicking back on the beach, the star has made relaxation a top priority these last few days.
Eva has a lot to look forward to when she returns home.
The former Desperate Housewives star will be starring in the upcoming mini-series Decline and Fall, and is also producing the documentary Ours is a Future, which is currently in post-production.
She found fame as a Victoria's Secret model back in 2005.
But Izabel Goulart proved why she caught the attention of the famous lingerie brand on Friday, as she flaunted her incredible body on the beach in St Barts.
The Brazilian beauty, 32, showed off her impeccably toned physique in a barely-there pink bikini as she topped up her tan on the stunning Caribbean island.
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Bikini babe: Izabel Goulart, 32, flaunted her incredible body on the beach in St Barts on Friday
Abs-olutely fabulous: The Brazilian beauty showed off her impeccably toned physique in a barely-there bikini as she topped up her tan on the stunning Caribbean island
Izabel showcased her incredibly taut and toned stomach and enviably long legs for all to see as she strutted across the sand in the pink two-piece.
The halterneck triangle top gave a sexy glimpse of her plentiful bust as it plunged daringly low at her chest and secured across her cleavage with just a single string.
Not afraid to flash even more sun-kissed skin, the model paired the top with equally skimpy bottoms, which cut into a thong at her rear to display her peachy derriere to all.
Putting her bust foot foward: The halterneck triangle top gave a sexy glimpse of her plentiful bust as it plunged daringly low at her chest
Saucy: Flashing further skin, the top then secured with a single string to allude further to her cleavage
Confident: Izabel looked relaxed and comfortable as she enjoyed her day on the beach, flicking her hair in the sea breeze
Maintaining her chic model style even in beachwear however, the set was adorned with glamorous gold embellishments on the straps, and tied into a striking bow at her back for a feminine touch.
She left her brunette hair in tousled, beachy waves and kept her face make-up free to show off her naturally glowing and clear complexion.
Wanting to protect her skin from the blazing sunshine, Izabel later layered a loose beach dress on top of her bikini, which was decorated with a vibrant rainbow striped print.
Life's peachy! The skimpy briefs cut into a thong at her rear to display her enviably peachy derriere to all
Hint of glitz: Maintaining her chic model style even in beachwear however, the set was adorned with glamorous gold embellishments on the straps
Effortless: She left her brunette hair in tousled, beachy waves and kept her face make-up free to show off her naturally glowing and clear complexion
The model happily walked on the sand and paddled in the crystal clear water during her relaxing day, before she perched herself on the sand to take photos of the stunning sea view.
The beauty has been heavily documenting her time on the Caribbean island for fans on her Instagram page.
Uploading a sizzling snap of her in a bikini and Santa hot posing against the stunning coastline, she wished her adoring followers a happy festive period with the message: 'Ho ho ho #BodyByIza post card from St Barths!
Socialising: The beauty happily chatted to a friend as she soaked up more rays
Splash of colour: Wanting to protect her skin from the blazing sunshine, Izabel later sported a loose beach dress, which was decorated with a vibrant rainbow striped print
Whoops! Paddling in the sea, the star gave another flash of her pert posterior as her dress whipped up in the wind
'Merry Christmas to everyone! Enjoy the time with your loved ones!'
As one of the top winter hotspots, Izabel also appeared to be mixing with fashion's elite on the idyllic island, proving her long-lasting success in the industry.
On Thursday she uploaded a selfie of her kissing the cheek of Stefano Gabbana, one half of dominating Italian fashion duo Dolce & Gabbana.
Izabel was discovered in a supermarket at the age of 14, and moved to France to pursue modelling.
Accessories are key: She finished her stylish beach look with a set of retro rounded sunglasses
Relaxing: Izabel has been at the holiday hotspot for a week, heavily documenting her time on the island for fans on her Instagram page
However her career did not get off to the best start, after her top fell open to reveal her bare chest during her first ever catwalk appearance.
Yet, the Brazilian beauty has put the embarrassing malfunction behind her to find success - going on to model for the likes of Oscar de la Renta, Valentino and Balmain.
She became more widely known when she was named a Victoria's Secret Angel in 2005, after appearing on the cover of Vogue Brasil.
Although she is no longer an Angel, Izabel has walked in a whopping 11 shows for the luxurious lingerie brand and has wowed fans each year with her sensational body.
Statuesque: The model's unbelievably leggy figure was clear to see as she embarked on a relaxing walk along the sand
Tanning is tiring: Izabel later sat down on the golden sand after her long walk to deepen her golden glow and top herself up with more sun cream
Unique style: The Brazilian beauty also added a tribal style choker and chunky drop down earrings, to make her look more quirky
The Vogue model recently revealed she keeps in such good shape by exercising daily and embarking on a short but sweaty routine.
'Often, I'll do a quick workout in my hotel room consisting of exercises for the legs, glutes, abs, and arms with my own body weight,' she told Style.com last year.
However despite her modelling prowess, the beauty is set to turn her hand to acting this coming year, as she makes her screen debut in the 2017 remake of Baywatch.
The highly-anticipated reboot, which is released in May, also stars Zac Efron, Charlotte McKinney, Kelly Rohrbach and Priyanka Chopra, as well as iconic original cast member Pamela Anderson.
Top official urges independent Chinese Catholic Church
Catholics in China should build a more independent, socialist church, a senior Beijing official has said, as the government remains at odds with the Vatican on the issue of ordaining bishops.
The country's roughly 12 million believers are divided between those loyal to Beijing, whose clergy are chosen by the Communist Party, and members of a so-called "underground" church which swears allegiance to the Vatican.
The Holy See and Beijing have not had diplomatic ties since 1951, and although relations have improved in recent years as China's Catholic population has grown, they remain at odds over which side has the authority to appoint senior clergy.
Senior Chinese official Yu Zhengsheng says China's Catholics should build a more independent, socialist church GREG BAKER (AFP/File)
On Thursday, Chinese Catholics were told to better integrate into the country, adapt to society and benefit the people, according to the official news agency Xinhua.
They should "adhere to the principles of self-administration, run religious affairs independently and guide believers to adhere to the Sinicization path of the religion", said Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee.
The comments, which come as the Communist Party has increased scrutiny of foreign influence in the countrys affairs, seemed to imply that believers should distance themselves from the Pope and instead follow Beijings lead.
Catholics need to better adapt to society and unify patriotism with affection for the Church, Yu added.
Yu was speaking at a three-day national conference of Chinese Catholics -- the first such meeting in six years, coming as the Vatican has made increased overtures to Beijing.
The Vatican had condemned previous conferences because members of the unofficial church loyal to Rome had reportedly been forced to participate.
Addressing the conference earlier in the week, Wang Zuoan, head of China's State Administration for Religious Affairs, said that Beijing is willing to have constructive dialogue with the Vatican, Xinhua reported.
"The Chinese government hopes that the Vatican can adopt a more flexible and pragmatic approach to create favourable conditions for improving relations through practical actions," he said, without giving specific examples.
Chinese and Vatican officials have met at least four times since January to try to resolve the delicate issue of the appointment of bishops.
Since becoming head of the Holy See in 2013 Pope Francis has tried to mend ties with Beijing in the hope of reconnecting with Catholics in China.
S. Korea allows new 'comfort women' statue
The southern South Korean port of Busan said Friday it would allow activists to place a statue symbolising victims of Japanese wartime sex slavery outside the city's Japanese consulate.
The municipal authorities had previously removed the "comfort woman" statue, but changed track after Japan's hawkish defence minister offered prayers at a controversial war shrine in Tokyo.
Tomomi Inada's visit on Thursday to the Yasukuni Shrine, which honors millions of mostly Japanese war dead -- but also senior military and political figures convicted of war crimes -- swiftly drew flack from China and South Korea.
Busan authorities say activists are free to place a symbolically charged "comfort woman" statue outside the port's Japanese consulate STR (YONHAP/AFP)
Activists had first placed their statue outside the consulate on Wednesday -- marking their opposition to a South Korea-Japan agreement reached a year ago to finally resolve the comfort women issue.
Under the accord, which both countries described as "final and irreversible," Japan offered an apology and a one-billion yen ($8.3 million) payment to surviving Korean comfort women.
Critics said the deal did not go far enough in holding Japan responsible for its wartime abuses.
The statue -- a copy of one that sits across the road from the Japanese embassy in Seoul -- was swiftly removed from outside the Busan consulate by the authorities.
But after Inada's visit stoked an outpouring of public anger, they said it would be returned to the activists.
"We won't stop the civic group from setting up the statue there if they wish to do so," Yonhap news agency quoted local official Park Sam-Seok as saying.
The statue in Seoul -- a bronze of a young, seated woman with a small bird on her shoulder -- has proved an extremely potent and popular symbol.
Japan says it should have been removed after the comfort-women accord was signed, but Seoul argued it had only agreed to look into the possibility of moving it.
For the past year, activists have maintained a 24-hour vigil to prevent the statue being taken away.
Taiwan prisoners turn artisan chefs as 'jail food' takes off
If it were not for the locked doors, knives chained to the table and uniformed staff, the food factory inside Taoyuan women's prison would resemble any commercial kitchen.
Inmates wearing masks and hair nets mix cocoa powder to make chocolate, or chop cabbage to marinate for kimchi.
They are part of a burgeoning food industry in Taiwan -- artisan snacks, made behind bars.
Prisoners packing candy in northern Taiwan: the prison system's additive-free product range has attracted many fans Sam YEH (AFP)
The additive-free delicacies made by prison inmates have gained a loyal public following, and generate hundreds of millions of dollars each year.
Demand is driven by quality and affordability after a string of food safety scandals has made Taiwan consumers extra vigilant.
Last year sales revenue reached more than Tw$500 million ($15.62 million), with money going towards victim compensation, improvement of facilities and a wage for inmates.
Some prisoners, like 39-year-old Chen, had little culinary experience before joining the production line in Taoyuan, in the north of the island.
The prison rolls out a wide range of snacks, from sweets to fermented tofu.
"I'm happy to learn some useful skills," Chen told AFP.
"I didn't know how to use a kitchen knife properly before as my mother always cooked for me and I didn't need to go into the kitchen.
"I've learnt that it looks simple to make food, but it's actually quite complicated."
Inmates near release or parole can apply for the programme and are prioritised. Long-term prisoners who are judged to have behaved well or have relevant experience can also apply.
The range of jail-made food bought from prisons across Taiwan includes local favourites such as pineapple cake and peanut brittle, as well as soy sauce and free-range chicken.
- Future hopes -
What started in 2006 as a smaller programme designed to teach inmates practical skills and raise funds for prison facilities has now been rolled out to all of Taiwan's adult jails.
More than 50 prisons make around 300 types of product which can be ordered by the public by phone, online or by fax, or bought direct from prison offices.
"We use good ingredients and we do not use additives or over-process food to make profits," said Chiu Hung-chi, deputy chief of the Agency of Corrections.
"Our foods are natural, high quality and inexpensive," he added.
It is a winning sales pitch to a public wary after big-name companies were found to have adulterated their products with banned chemicals or recycled "gutter oil" to lower costs, which led to massive recalls of food items in recent years.
Shoppers at a food fair in central Taichung city organised by the agency were quick to vouch for made-in-prison food.
"I've been buying food made by inmates regularly for more than a year. They are organic, good quality and relatively cheap. I also rally my friends to place orders together," said businesswoman Wang Lung-feng, who drove nearly two hours from southern Tainan city to the fair, which lasted four days and drew thousands of visitors.
Wang spent over Tw$10,000 on noodles, chicken, soy sauce and snacks.
"I think the programme is very meaningful. The inmates are learning some skills that can help them find work and readjust to society," she told AFP.
Inmates earn an average monthly "labour allowance" of around Tw$2,000-3,000. Some responsible for top-selling items, such as soy sauce made in a prison in southern Pingtung county, can make 10 times the average pay during peak holiday seasons, according to Chiu.
Besides producing their own brand of food, some prisons make soaps and handicraft, or take orders from local factories to manufacture garments, paper bags and accessories.
Inmate Chen said she hopes to launch her own small food business after her release.
"My mother loves to cook and she cooks well. She said as long as I am not afraid of hard work she will work with me to start our small food business.
"I hope to combine my mother's cooking with what I've learnt to create better food."
More than 50 Taiwan prisons make around 300 types of product, generating some $15 million revenue for the prison system Sam YEH (AFP)
Putin refuses to expel US diplomats, Trump applauds
President-elect Donald Trump praised President Vladimir Putin for refraining from tit-for-tat expulsions of Americans in response to US punitive measures over alleged Russian interference in the November election.
Putin's decision came despite the foreign ministry asking him to send home 35 US diplomats after President Barack Obama had expelled the same number of Russian staff.
Trump's intervention -- in a tweet -- however illustrated the shifting political tide in Washington, barely three weeks before the Republican is due to succeed Obama at the White House.
US President-elect Donald Trump praised Russian President Vladimir Putin for not reacting immediately to Washington's move to punish it over alleged election-related interference DON EMMERT, Natalia KOLESNIKOVA (AFP/File)
"Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!" the incoming US president wrote.
Russia's embassy in Washington quickly retweeted the comment, which Trump pinned so it would appear at the top of his feed for several hours.
Trump's tweet enraged his Democratic foes as well as some members of his own Republican Party.
"@realDonaldTrump alternates between embracing Russian subversion & downplaying it, but his support for Putin is constant. We must know why," wrote Evan McMullin, who ran as an independent presidential candidate after serving as policy director for the House Republican Conference.
Claire McCaskill, a Democrat who serves on the Senate Armed Services Committee, wrote: "Our ENTIRE cyber intel community, best in world btw, agrees that this guy tried to mess in our election & the Russians are RT TrumpPutin love."
The alleged hacking of the US presidential election in November outraged Obama, culminating in the expulsions and other sanctions.
- Pinning hopes on Trump -
But outlining why he would not retaliate, Putin cited Trump's imminent accession.
"We will not expel anyone," Putin said in a statement, also inviting children of US diplomats to a holiday party at the Kremlin.
Instead, Moscow will plan its next steps "based on the policies pursued by the administration of president Donald Trump," while warning that the Kremlin reserves the right to respond.
The Russian leader chided the outgoing Obama for "unfriendly steps" amounting to "a provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-American relations."
Putin's confirmed Moscow is pinning its hopes on Trump to help rebuild ties -- which have plunged to their lowest point since the Cold War -- when he takes office next month.
Putin ended his statement on the sanctions by wishing Obama and Trump a Happy New Year, separately congratulating the US president-elect in a New Year message.
Prior to Trump's remarks, a State Department official's limited response illustrated the gulf between the Obama administration and the soon to be inaugurated new US president.
"We have seen President Putin's remarks. We have nothing further to add," the official said.
Obama on Thursday unleashed a barrage of sanctions against Russia over alleged cyberattacks aimed at tilting the November election in Trump's favour.
The move follows years of bad blood with Putin that had seen Washington slap sanctions on Moscow over its behavior in Ukraine and Syria.
In response to the purported hacks, dubbed "Grizzly Steppe" by US officials, Obama announced penalties against Russia's military and domestic intelligence agencies, and gave the 35 suspected "intelligence operatives" 72 hours to leave.
The Kremlin said it was sending a special plane to fly diplomats and their families from the United States, following reports they are not able to purchase plane tickets on such short notice.
Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova told Russian news agencies that 96 people would be leaving the US.
US intelligence has concluded that the Kremlin ordered a hack-and-release of Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton campaign staff emails in a bid to put Trump in the Oval Office.
Moscow has repeatedly denied the hacking allegations.
- 'Americans should be alarmed' -
Trump, too, has questioned whether Russia tipped the electoral scale, painting Obama's accusations as a thinly veiled effort by a Democratic president to cover up for his party's loss.
Trump, however, has said he will meet with intelligence leaders next week for a briefing.
Obama -- who has also clashed with Trump over his Israel policy in recent days -- pointedly stated that "all Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions."
It remains unclear whether Trump will move to roll back the sanctions. Leading Republican lawmakers have publicly warned him to stay tough on Putin.
Beyond the election row, Obama also linked the fresh sanctions to harassment of US diplomats in Moscow, which Washington described as "unprecedented" in the post-Cold War era.
US officials, meanwhile, played down the impact sanctions against the GRU and the FSB could have on intelligence-sharing on issues like counterterrorism, saying cooperation was already limited.
Both agencies will face penalties, as will GRU agency chief Igor Korobov and three of his deputies.
In addition, the US Treasury hit two individuals, Evgeniy Bogachev and Aleksey Belan, with sanctions for "involvement in malicious cyber-enabled activities."
The sanctions freeze any assets they may have in the United States and block US companies from doing business with them.
The US government is also declassifying technical information on Russian cyber activity to help companies defend against future attacks.
Cars drive past the headquarters of the FSB security service, the successor to the KGB, in central Moscow, on December 30, 2016 Vasily Maximov (AFP)
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said his ministry had asked Putin to declare 31 employees at the US embassy in Moscow and four at the country's consulate in second city Saint Petersburg personae non gratae Natalia KOLESNIKOVA (AFP/File)
Russia has also been blamed for cyberattacks on Estonia, Georgia and Ukraine Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV (AFP)
In May, then US National Intelligence Director James Clapper warned of cyberattacks against the US election campaigns, without specific reference to any source Jim Watson (AFP/File)
Death toll from Pakistan toxic liquor incident rises to 39
Thirty-nine people have now died after drinking home-made liquor mixed with aftershave on Christmas Eve in central Pakistan, officials said Friday, including two out of the four suspects accused of creating the toxic brew.
Police and hospital officials added 23 of the 121 people sickened in the incident, which happened in the town of Toba Tek Singh, some 340 kilometres (211 miles) south of Islamabad, are still in hospital.
"So far 39 people have died after consuming toxic liquor," senior police official Atif Imran, who is investigating the case, told AFP. Most of the dead were Christians.
Pakistani Christians carry a coffin for one of the victims who was killed by toxic liquor, during his funeral in Toba Tek Singh, central Pakistan, on December 27, 2016
Imran added that two of the four suspects accused of preparing the mix had died while the other two were had been charged with murder and terrorism related offences.
Though legal breweries exist in Pakistan, alcohol sales and consumption are banned for Muslims and tightly regulated for minorities and foreigners.
While wealthy Pakistanis buy foreign alcohol on the black market at heavily inflated prices, the poor often resort to home brews that can contain methanol, commonly used in anti-freeze and fuel.
Eleven Christians died in October after consuming toxic liquor at a party in Punjab province.
In October 2014 29 drinkers were killed after consuming methanol-tainted liquor over the Eid public holidays.
Clashes erupt near Damascus during fragile Syria truce
A ceasefire was holding across most of Syria on Friday but clashes near Damascus underlined the fragility of the deal brokered by rebel supporter Turkey and key regime ally Russia.
The nationwide truce, the first since September, is intended to pave the way for new peace talks in Kazakhstan being organised by Moscow, Ankara and Tehran.
The agreement comes a week after Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's army recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
Syrian men inspect the rubble of a destroyed house in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern outskirts of Damascus, on December 30, 2016 Abd Doumany (AFP)
On the first day of the ceasefire Friday, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported sporadic violence in the Wadi Barada area, where rebels have cut water supplies to Damascus.
Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said helicopters carried out raids on rebel positions but it was unclear which side had started the clashes.
Syria's government had been shelling Wadi Barada before the truce began at midnight as it pushes rebels there to accept a "reconciliation deal" and leave the area.
The forces there include former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, which Syria's government says is excluded from the ceasefire.
Opposition figures however say the truce applies to all rebel-held territory, even where Fateh al-Sham is present.
Last week, rebels attacked water infrastructure in Wadi Barada and neighbouring Ain al-Fijeh, cutting supplies to the capital.
Four million people in Damascus and its suburbs have now been without water for a week, the UN says.
The clashes in Wadi Barada were the most serious of several isolated incidents of violence since the truce began.
The Observatory reported at least 16 government air strikes across several areas in Hama province in central Syria, but no casualties, but said a person was killed by regime sniper fire in the rebel bastion of Eastern Ghouta near Damascus.
- Tired of war -
In rebel-held Idlib province, however, it was quiet and residents expressed hope for respite from the bloody conflict.
"I support the ceasefire... and I support its continuation," said 31-year-old Ahmed Astify. "Everyone, whether (they are) rebels or regular people, is tired," he added.
Mohammed, 28, said: "We hope that this will lead to the end of the war."
Syria's government and its ally Iran both welcomed the ceasefire deal.
Damascus called it a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, which has killed more than 310,000 people since it began with anti-regime protests in March 2011.
Despite being left out of the process, Washington described the truce as "positive".
Analysts were cautious but said the involvement of Russia, Iran and Turkey could be important.
Sam Heller, fellow at The Century Foundation, said there was "real interest and urgency" from Moscow and Ankara, but expressed doubts about whether Tehran and Damascus were on board.
"All indications are that Iran and the regime want to continue towards a military conclusion," he said.
He said renewed fighting in Wadi Barada or Eastern Ghouta could pose major threats to the truce.
- Talks in Astana -
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he would now reduce Moscow's military contingent in Syria, which has been fighting to bolster the government since last year.
But he added Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" and maintain its support for the government.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also said Ankara would continue the operation it began in August targeting the Islamic State group and Kurdish fighters.
Moscow says seven key rebel groups have signed up to the deal, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, but the truce excludes jihadist organisations like IS or Fateh al-Sham.
But Syria's political opposition and rebels said the truce applied to all parts of the country.
"The agreement includes a ceasefire in all areas held by the moderate opposition, or by the moderate opposition and elements from Fateh al-Sham, such as Idlib province," said Ahmed Ramadan, a member of the National Coalition opposition body.
Despite backing opposite sides in the conflict, Turkey and Russia have worked increasingly closely on Syria, brokering a deal this month to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.
They are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start next month in Kazakhstan's capital Astana.
UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would "pave the way for productive talks", but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue next year.
Russia, meanwhile, submitted a draft resolution to the UN Security Council supporting the ceasefire and the planned peace talks and was hoping for a unanimous vote on Saturday.
Moscow and Ankara say the Astana talks are meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them, and want to involve regional players like Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan.
Washington is conspicuously absent from the new process, but Moscow said it hoped to bring US President-elect Donald Trump's administration on board once he takes office in January.
Key moments in the Syrian conflict Thomas SAINT-CRICQ, Sabrina BLANCHARD (AFP)
A boy sells vegetables in the northwestern city of Idlib on December 30, 2016 as a truce brokered by Russia and Turkey came into effect Omar haj kadour (AFP)
Syrian youths collect wood from rubble to be used for heating and cooking in the Damascus rebel-held eastern suburb of Zamalka on December 27, 2016 AMER ALMOHIBANY (AFP/File)
The nationwide truce was brokered by Russia and Turkey, days after the Syrian regime retook full control of the northern city of Aleppo George Ourfalian (AFP/File)
Syrian boy and a school guard stand outside a school in the rebel-held town of Douma, on the eastern outskirts of Damascus, on December 30, 2016 Abd Doumany (AFP)
China Communist party expels former spymaster Ma
China's ruling Communist Party has expelled the former deputy chief of the country's top intelligence agency, it said Friday, the latest high-ranking figure to face prosecution in a much-publicised corruption crackdown.
Ma Jian, former deputy head of China's ministry of state security, was suspected of taking bribes and abusing power, the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI) -- the party's internal watchdog -- said in a statement on its website.
He "seriously violated political discipline and the code of conduct, confronted an organisational probe, as well as transferred and hid money and property related to his case", it said.
Wang Qishan (L), secretary of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection (CCDI), attends the opening ceremony of the National People's Congress at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 5, 2016 Wang Zhao (AFP/File)
Ma was first put under investigation for "serious disciplinary violations" -- standard code for graft -- in January 2015.
His case is being transferred to the judiciary, the CCDI statement said, where he will almost certainly be prosecuted, convicted and sentenced to prison.
The announcement is part of the ongoing corruption crackdown announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping after coming to power in 2012.
Since that time, the drive has punished more than one million members of the ruling party, from lowly "flies" to powerful "tigers" like Ma and his former boss domestic security czar Zhou Yongkang, although critics liken it to a factional purge.
The campaign has gained "crushing momentum", the CCDI said Wednesday in a statement on its website that looked back at the office's annual achievements.
Moving forward, it will seek to "purge the Party's political ecosystem", it added, suggesting it could intensify its efforts.
It has already swept through the ranks of the party, which has 88 million members.
This week alone, Chinese official media have reported the convictions of a vice-chair of the national legislature and a provincial vice-governor, the trial of a senior provincial official, the indictment of a deputy head of the Taiwan affairs office and a second vice-governor, and a probe into a senior general.
Ma's case is linked to other top officials who were thought to pose a threat to Xi, who last month lashed out at what he described as "political conspiracies" against him.
Earlier this month, Ling Jihua, the brother of a senior aide to former Chinese President Hu Jintao, was sentenced to more than a decade in prison and fined 1.5 million yuan ($215,000) for accepting bribes.
Ma is "closely linked" to Ling, according to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.
Man wrongly arrested for Berlin attack fears for family: report
The Pakistani man wrongly arrested for the Berlin truck attack on Friday said he had told German police he could not even drive and was now afraid for the safety of his family back home.
Naveed Baloch, an asylum-seeker from the troubled province of Balochistan, told the Guardian newspaper he had just left a friend's house and was crossing a street when he saw a police car approaching fast and picked up his pace.
He said he was arrested and taken to a police station, where he was undressed and photographed.
The truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin lead to the wrongful arrest of Naveed Baloch, an asylum seeker from Pakistan Odd ANDERSEN (AFP/File)
"When I resisted, they started slapping me," the 24-year-old, who has been living in a secret location provided by police since his release because he says he is afraid for his life, told the British daily.
Baloch, who sought refuge in Germany as a member of a secular separatist movement in Balochistan, said he struggled to communicate because no translator could be found who could speak his native Balochi.
"I calmly told them I cannot drive at all. Neither can I even start a vehicle," he said.
Baloch was arrested on December 19 in the hours after the attack on a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin in which 12 people were killed.
Police released him 24 hours later, after failing to find evidence of his involvement.
German authorities have since identified rejected Tunisian asylum-seeker Anis Amri as the prime suspect in the Berlin attack.
Amri was shot dead by Italian police on December 23 after fleeing a manhunt in Germany.
- Denial -
Following the publication of the Guardian interview, Berlin police strongly denied that Baloch had been assaulted.
In a statement, police said they had asked Baloch about the allegations on Friday and that he "clearly stated he had not been beaten, injured or mistreated while in custody".
The statement also noted that there was no professional translator present during the Guardian interview.
But the newspaper's correspondent Kate Connolly later said on Twitter that "we @theguardian stand by our story on Naveed Baloch."
"It was an interview that took place over three hours and of which I have a recording," she added.
Baloch, a shepherd by profession, told the daily that members of his family in the village of Mand in Balochistan in southwest Pakistan had received threatening phone calls following his arrest.
"Now they all know I fled to Germany, fearful of my life, and that I am claiming asylum here. It leaves my family very vulnerable and there's nothing I can do to protect them," he told the Guardian.
Baloch said he left Pakistan around a year ago, arriving in Germany via Iran, Turkey and Greece, because of death threats he had received for his activism for the Baloch National Movement.
Iraqis rally for release of female journalist
Around 1,000 people protested Friday in central Baghdad demanding the release of an Iraqi female journalist after she was abducted by unknown gunmen.
"Freedom for Afrah!" cried the demonstrators, who included many women, after Afrah Shawqi was seized on Monday from her home in a southern neighbourhood of the capital.
"We demand the release of Afrah but we don't know who kidnapped her," Sana Rassoul, a woman doctor, told AFP in the capital's Tahrir Square.
Protesters hold protraits of Iraqi female journalist Afrah Shawqi during a demonstration calling for her release on December 30, 2016, in Baghdad SABAH ARAR (AFP)
The journalist's supporters joined members of civil society and backers of Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr who demonstrate in the square every Friday against corruption.
Shawqi, 43, is employed by Asharq al-Awsat, a London-based pan-Arab newspaper, as well as a number of news websites including Aklaam.
"The real scandal is that gunmen were easily able to enter a woman's home and abduct her," said Dhikra Sarsam, another protester.
"The interior ministry has said absolutely nothing about the circumstances of her abduction."
Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi has ordered the security services to do their utmost find Shawqi and track down those responsible.
Iraq is one of the most dangerous countries in the world for journalists, along with Syria and Mexico, according to press freedom group Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
Tunisia says 800 returning jihadists jailed or tracked
Tunisia said Friday it has jailed or closely monitored 800 jihadists who have returned from foreign battlefields in the past decade.
"Some are in prison, some are under house arrest and others are under close surveillance", government spokesperson Iyed Dahmani said of the fighters who have returned since 2007.
A little under 3,000 Tunisians have joined the ranks of jihadist groups fighting in neighbouring Libya, as well as in Syria and Iraq, Dahmani said.
Tunisian Prime minister Youssef Chahed (R) heads a council of ministers meeting with his cabinet in Tunis on December 30, 2016 FETHI BELAID (AFP)
The United Nations puts this figure at 5,000.
On Thursday, Prime Minister Youssef Chahed said all jihadists returning from fighting abroad would be immediately arrested and judged according to the country's counter-terrorism law.
Chahed said authorities had "lists of all (Tunisian) terrorists" and "all the data on them".
Last week, Interior Minister Hedi Majdoub told parliament that 800 jihadists had already returned from the front lines.
Concern about their return has increased since Tunisian Anis Amri, 24, was identified as the suspected attacker who mowed down 11 people at a Berlin Christmas market last week, and also killed the driver.
Tunisians rallied outside parliament at the weekend to protest against allowing jihadists back into the country.
The national union of internal security forces has called on the government to strip Tunisian jihadists of their nationality.
But President Beji Caid Essebsi, citing the constitution, has said the authorities cannot prevent a Tunisian from returning home.
Sprint says 5,000 pledged US jobs to be new positions
Sprint said Friday that the 5,000 US jobs the telecom firm recently pledged to create over the next 15 months are not part of an April 2015 announcement for a different 5,000 jobs.
The confusion -- which prompted the company's chief Marcelo Claure to take to Twitter in defense of the plan -- arose after Donald Trump announced Sprint's jobs commitment this week.
The president-elect claimed credit for the deal as well as an announcement earlier this month by the satellite broadband firm OneWeb of 3,000 new jobs over the next four years.
Sprint has not yet decided where new jobs will be created, saying only that they will be spread across the organization SAUL LOEB (AFP/File)
However, both new job commitments are part of a broader plan announced in October by SoftBank -- which owns 80 percent of Sprint -- to invest tens of billions of dollars in technology globally. The OneWeb project is the result of a $1.2 billion investment from the group.
SoftBank chief executive Masayoshi Son met Trump earlier this month, pledging to invest $50 billion in the US economy and create 50,000 jobs over an unspecified time.
That prompted Trump to take credit for job creation even before he assumes office in January, praising what called "the spirit and the hope" his election generated.
A Sprint spokesperson said on Friday that the 5,000 new jobs announced this week "are not related to our previous announcement about jobs and our Direct 2 You program reported on in April 2015. The announcements are unrelated."
Unlike last year's plan, the newer one is "part of Masa's 50,000 jobs commitment and it was intended to show that we are now working to help fulfill the commitment."
Claure followed Trump's example, taking to Twitter Thursday following reports that the latest Sprint job pledge is not new.
"Stop speculating," he said. "This has NOTHING to do with previously announced @sprint initiatives."
"The 5,000 jobs are NEW jobs that @sprint is creating or bringing back to the US. Great news for the country."
Sprint, which announced 2,500 layoffs in January, said the 5,000 positions will be created or brought back from overseas by the end of its 2017 fiscal year, which ends in March 2018. It has not yet decided where the jobs will be created, saying only that they will be spread across the organization.
DR Congo rivals 'on the verge' of signing crisis deal: mediator
DR Congo's government and the opposition are "on the verge" of concluding an accord to end a political crisis over President Joseph Kabila's refusal to quit power, the influential Catholic Church said Friday.
Kabila's second and final five-year term ended on December 20, but he has shown no intention of leaving office soon, sparking violent protests that have left at least 40 people dead, according to the United Nations.
The informal talks between the foes, mediated by the Catholic Church since December 8, resumed on Friday after a Christmas break.
Democratic Republic of the Congo President Joseph Kabila, pictured, has shown no intention of leaving office at the end of his term JEWEL SAMAD (AFP/File)
The two sides "are on the verge of concluding an accord," said Marcel Utembi, president of the Congo National Episcopal Conference (CENCO), who had pushed for a deal earlier.
"The various delegates have reached agreement on the points where divergences lay," he said, adding that the pact "is set to be signed tomorrow morning".
The working document for the deal, seen by AFP, envisages a "political transition" with fresh presidential elections to be held at the end of 2017.
The vote was supposed to be organised this year, and the government had previously said it was impossible for it to be held before April 2018.
The deal also guarantees that Kabila will not seek a third mandate -- as is banned under the constitution -- and lays the groundwork for a "national transition council" charged with carrying out the agreement.
In return, the opposition headed by 84-year-old Etienne Tshisekedi, accepts that Kabila would stay in power until he hands over to an elected successor, having previously demanded an immediate departure from public life.
Kabila, 45, has been in power since the 2001 assassination of his father Laurent at the height of the Second Congo War.
He was confirmed as leader of the mineral-rich nation in 2006 during the first free elections since independence from Belgium in 1960, and re-elected for a second term in 2011 in a vote marred by allegations of massive fraud.
Constitutionally banned from seeking a third term, he obtained a controversial court ruling in May stating that he could remain in power until a successor was chosen.
US says Islamic State chief alive, still leading
The Pentagon said Friday it believes that Islamic State chief Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi is indeed alive, despite repeated efforts by the US-led coalition to take out the jihadist group leader.
Baghdadi has kept a low profile, despite having declared himself the leader of a renewed Muslim caliphate, but last month released a defiant audio message urging his supporters to defend the northern Iraqi city of Mosul.
It is not clear if he is in the besieged city, where he declared his caliphate in 2014 after the IS group seized territory covering much of eastern Syria and northern Iraq.
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi has kept a low profile, despite having declared himself the leader of a renewed Muslim caliphate
"We do think Baghdadi is alive and is still leading ISIL and we are obviously doing everything we can to track his movements," Pentagon spokesman Peter Cook told CNN.
"If we get the opportunity, we certainly would take advantage of any opportunity to deliver him the justice he deserves," he said.
"We're doing everything we can. This is something we're spending a lot of time on."
In mid-December, the United States more than doubled the bounty on the shadowy IS leader's head to $25 million.
The group has only released one video of Baghdadi, showing a man with a black and grey beard wearing a black robe and matching turban, dating back to 2014.
Cook suggested that Baghdadi is isolated because coalition raids have killed many IS leaders.
"He's having a hard time finding advisers and confidants to speak with because a lot of them are no longer with us," the spokesman said.
US releases detailed look at Russia's election hacking
WASHINGTON (AP) The U.S. on Thursday released its most detailed report yet on Russia's efforts to interfere in the U.S. presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts.
The 13-page joint analysis by the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI was the first such report ever to attribute malicious cyber activity to a particular country or actors.
It was also the first time the U.S. has officially and specifically tied intrusions into the Democratic National Committee to hackers with the Russian civilian and military intelligence services, the FSB and GRU, expanding on an Oct. 7 accusation by the Obama administration.
The report said the intelligence services were involved in "an ongoing campaign of cyber-enabled operations directed at the U.S. government and its citizens." It added, "In some cases, (the Russian intelligence services') actors masqueraded as third parties, hiding behind false online personas designed to cause the victim to misattribute the source of the attack."
Over the summer stolen emails from Democrats were posted by an online persona known as Guccifer 2.0, believed by U.S. officials to be linked to Russia. Outrage over documents that appeared to show favoritism for Hillary Clinton forced the DNC's chair, Debbie Wasserman Schultz, to resign.
The U.S. released the report as President Barack Obama sanctioned the GRU and the FSB, the GRU's leadership and companies which the U.S. said support the GRU.
Thursday's sanctions were the administration's first use of a 2015 executive order for combatting cyberattacks against critical infrastructure and commercial espionage. Because election systems aren't considered critical infrastructure, Obama amended the order Thursday to allow for sanctions on entities "interfering with or undermining election processes or institutions."
The retaliation against Russia, just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office, culminated months of political handwringing about how and whether to respond to Moscow's meddling. U.S. intelligence agencies concluded that Russia's goal was to help Trump win an assessment Trump has dismissed as ridiculous. Trump said Thursday he would meet with the intelligence community's leaders next week for an update on the situation.
The report did not go far beyond confirming details already disclosed by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike, which was hired to investigate the DNC hacks.
It described the intelligence services' use of "spearphishing" fake emails intended to trick victims into typing in their user names and passwords. At least one person opened attachments with malicious software. The report noted that actors "likely associated" with Russian intelligence services are continuing to engage in spearphishing campaigns, including one launched just days after the U.S. election.
The DNC was infiltrated by the FSB in summer 2015 and again by the GRU in spring 2016 using spearphishing emails that often appeared to come from legitimate or official organizations, the report said.
Russian officials have denied any involvement in hacking U.S. political sites and emails.
The report provides clues for cybersecurity workers in the private sector to identify compromised systems and prevent more intrusions. The Department of Homeland Security said it has already included this information within its own cyber threat information-sharing program, which automatically flags threats in real time for participating companies and agencies.
U.S. officials also provided antivirus vendors with two malicious software samples used by Russian intelligence services.
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Associated Press writer Nataliya Vasilyeva in Moscow contributed to this report.
The Latest: Manson victim relative: Probe 'mind-boggling'
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) The Latest on a parole hearing for Patricia Krenwinkel, an accomplice of cult killer Charles Manson and the longest-serving female inmate in California (all times local):
8:40 p.m.
Anthony DiMaria, the nephew of victim Thomas Jay Sebring, said a Los Angeles County prosecutor who attended the hearing told him that the parole officials want to research whether Krenwinkel was a victim of intimate partner battery.
'For this investigation to be initiated at this point is mind-boggling," said DiMaria, who attended the hearing but left before a decision was postponed. "I don't understand where we go from a murder, the killing of eight people (including Tate's unborn child) to an intimate partner battery victim. It's absurd....It seems like the world is turned upside down. How do you kill eight people and now you're the victim?"
Jean Guccione, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, said prosecutors would not comment until the parole panel makes its recommendation after the investigation.
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8:20 p.m.
After a daylong hearing, the panel from the California Board of Parole Hearings postponed a decision on whether to free Patricia Krenwinkel "because they felt information discussed at the hearing was cause for an investigation," spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in an email.
The hearing will be continued once the investigation is concluded, she said
Sharon Tate's sister, Debra Tate, said the parole officials told her the hearing was likely to be postponed about six months while they research to see if Krenwinkel meets the criteria for having battered women's syndrome.
Krenwinkel's attorney, Keith Wattley, did not immediately return telephone and email messages.
"She totally minimized her action and blamed everything on other people the whole hearing," Tate said.
Tate said she didn't buy the concept that Krenwinkel was a victim because she was free to leave at any time and participated in murders two nights in a row.
"We all have to be accountable for our actions. I don't buy any of this stuff. She was there because she wanted to be there. Nobody held a gun to her head," Tate said.
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7:50 p.m.
A two-member parole panel has delayed making a decision on whether to release Patricia Krenwinkel, an accomplice of cult killer Charles Manson and the longest-serving female inmate in California.
The decision to delay Thursday by the panel came after the 69-year-old Krenwinkel was previously denied parole 13 times, most recently in 2011.
Krenwinkel helped kill pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six other people at the urging of Manson 47 years ago.
The hearing was held at the California Institution for Women, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, where Krenwinkel is imprisoned.
She has a clean record behind bars, earned a bachelor's degree and taught illiterate inmates to read.
Gov. Jerry Brown has the power to block the release of inmates if parole is granted. He previously stopped the parole of two other Manson followers.
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10 a.m.
A parole hearing has started for Patricia Krenwinkel, an accomplice of cult killer Charles Manson and the longest-serving female inmate in California.
The hearing Thursday comes 47 years after Krenwinkel helped kill pregnant actress Sharon Tate and six other people, including grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary.
The 69-year-old Krenwinkel has been denied parole 13 times since her conviction in the 1969 slayings.
Los Angeles County prosecutors say she carved the word "war" into Leno LaBianca's stomach then wrote "Helter Skelter" in blood on the couple's refrigerator.
Krenwinkel contended at her previous parole hearing in 2011 that she's a changed woman.
A Texas cop accidentally shot another officer, as well as a man the officer was trying to arrest, during a confrontation following a traffic stop.
Police in Weatherford near Fort Worth say officer Chris Bumpas was conducting the stop on Thursday evening when he discovered there was a warrant for the arrest of one of three people in the vehicle.
Police said in a statement that the man became combative and struck the officer with a flashlight.
The second officer couldn't subdue the suspect using a stun gun and fired multiple shots, striking Bumpas and the suspect.
A Texas cop accidentally shot another officer, as well as a man the officer was trying to arrest, during a scuffle
The shooting happened outside the Tequila Bar Y Grill diner in Weatherford near Fort Worth
Both the officer and suspect were taken to hospital for treatment to their injuries.
Police say Bumpas is in a stable condition, and recovering from surgery on his abdomen.
The suspect, whose name hasn't been released, is in a guarded condition at a hospital.
Sgt. Jason Hayes of the Weatherford Police Department said that there should be video footage for the Texas Rangers to review
The officer who shot both men, who has not been named, has been placed on a routine administrative leave while Texas Rangers is investigating the incident.
The incident happened at about 9.30 pm outside the Tequila Bar Y Grill diner at the 2150 Tin Top Rd, the Fort Worth Star-Telegram newspaper reported.
Turkish committee clears draft expanding Erdogan's powers
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) A Turkish parliamentary commission on Friday cleared a set of draft constitutional amendments that would greatly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The constitutional commission approved the reforms at the end of a 17-hour session that lasted into the early hours of Friday, opening the way for deliberations and a vote in the full assembly in January, with a possible referendum in the spring.
The proposals would turn the largely ceremonial presidency into one where the president enjoys full executive powers. Erdogan, who was prime minister before becoming president in 2014, has long advocated a presidential system, arguing it would give the head of state flexibility to make Turkey one of the top 10 powers in the world by 2023, when the Turkish Republic marks its centenary.
FILE - This is a Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016 file photo of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan as he speaks during an award ceremony in Ankara, Turkey. A Turkish parliamentary commission on Friday Dec. 30, 2016 cleared a set of draft constitutional amendments that would greatly expand the powers of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. (Yasin Bulbul, Presidential Press Service, Pool photo via AP)
Critics fear the proposals would allow Erdogan, who is increasingly accused of authoritarian behavior, to rule with limited checks and balances.
The draft amendments were approved following 10 days of tense debate that at times resulted in altercations between the ruling party and main opposition party members on the committee. The 21 articles that were initially submitted to the committee were reduced to 18, over some objections by ruling-party legislators.
"This is the greatest democratic move in the history of the (Turkish) republic," said Resat Petek, a legislator from the ruling Justice and Development Party, or AKP, following the committee's vote.
The main opposition party, the Republican Peoples' Party, CHP, said the draft amendments amount to a "regime change."
"It is a constitution that will destroy the century-old gains of the democratic republic," said CHP legislator Bulent Tezcan. "It is a constitution that will create a tyrannical state."
The amendments were proposed by the AKP with the newly won support of the Nationalist Movement Party, or MHP. The nationalist party was expected to back the amendments in the general assembly as well.
Erdogan enjoys popularity and has rallied support following a failed military coup blamed on a movement led by U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.
The changes would allow the president to appoint the government, retain ties with his party, propose budgets and declare states of emergency. They would also allow Erdogan to serve a further two terms, ending in 2029.
Other proposed amendments would increase the number of seats in the 550-member parliament to 600, reduce the minimum age of legislators from 25 to 18 and set parliamentary and presidential elections on the same day.
The changes come at a tumultuous time for Turkey, which has been rocked by a wave of bombings, renewed conflict with Kurdish rebels in the southeast, and the failed coup attempt.
The botched July 15 coup set the stage for a sweeping purge of state institutions that has alarmed rights groups and Western governments.
On Friday, the government closed down 94 associations with alleged links to terror organizations, using powers from a state of emergency that was declared after the coup. The Interior Ministry said 42 of the associations were connected to Gulen's movement, 26 were linked to the Kurdish rebels, four were connected to the Islamic State group while 21 were tied to various far-left groups.
Turkey detains 40 suspected IS militants in raids
ANKARA, Turkey (AP) Turkey's state-run news agency says police have detained some 40 suspected Islamic State group militants in raids in southern Turkey.
Anadolu Agency says special forces police, backed by armored vehicles and a helicopter, conducted the raids in the city of Adana early on Friday.
Those detained are suspected of membership in the extremist group and of engaging in IS propaganda, the agency said.
Turkey has, since 2015, suffered a wave of deadly bombing attacks carried out either by IS militants or by Kurdish militants.
3 dead in shootout in Russia's Dagestan
MAKHACHKALA, Russia (AP) One police officer and two suspected militants have been killed in a shootout in Russia's volatile North Caucasus.
Fatina Ubaydatova, spokeswoman in Russia's republic of Dagestan, said on Friday a police squad was trying to stop a car with suspected militants outside the city of Khasavyurt late on Thursday when people in that car opened fire on them. Police identified the two men as local militants who attacked policemen earlier this week in the regional capital, Makhachkala.
Islamic insurgents in Dagestan have mounted frequent attacks on police and officials, and some have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group.
Longtime editor Kai Diekmann leaves Germany's Bild
BERLIN (AP) German publisher Axel Springer SE says that Kai Diekmann, the longtime editor of its mass-circulation Bild daily and one of the best-known figures in German journalism, is leaving the company.
Springer said Friday that the 52-year-old Diekmann will step down Jan. 31 at his own request and pursue "other functions outside the company." It didn't elaborate.
Israel's Netanyahu denies 'baseless' reports of new scandal
JERUSALEM (AP) Israel's prime minister has denied what he calls "baseless" reports that he received gifts from two businessmen.
Benjamin Netanyahu said Friday that "all these so-called scandals have turned out to be baseless and the same will be regarding the allegations published in the media now."
Israel's Channel 2 TV reported Thursday that Netanyahu accepted "favors" from businessmen in Israel and abroad. It said Netanyahu was the central suspect in a second investigation that also involves family members. It said a criminal probe is expected next week.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, center, Israel's Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Gadi Eizenkot, left, and Israel's air force commander Maj.General Amir Eshel attend a graduation ceremony for new pilots in the Hatzerim air force base near the city of Beersheba, Israel, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016. Israel's Justice Ministry and police say they will issue an update "in due time" about an ongoing probe into suspicions surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
An opposition lawmaker is campaigning for Netanyahu to be investigated for corruption over suspicions that donors improperly transferred money for his personal use, as well as reports his personal attorney represented a German firm involved in a $1.5 billion sale of submarines to Israel.
Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu speaks to newly Israeli Air Force pilots during a graduation ceremony for new pilots in the Hatzerim air force base near the city of Beersheba, Israel, Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016. Israel's Justice Ministry and police say they will issue an update "in due time" about an ongoing probe into suspicions surrounding Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit)
China to ease curbs on foreign investment after complaints
BEIJING (AP) The Chinese government said Friday it will ease restrictions on foreign investment in sectors ranging from banking and internet services to rail equipment and motorcycles, in response to mounting complaints from foreign business groups and governments.
An official with China's National Development and Reform Commission, the economic planning agency, said service sectors such as accounting and auditing, architectural design and ratings services will be open to foreign investment.
In manufacturing, barriers to foreign investment will be lowered in sectors such as rail transportation, motorcycles and ethanol fuels, according to an official transcript of a briefing by Ning Jizhe, vice-chairman of the commission.
The moves are part of a set of guidelines approved by China's Cabinet this week Beijing says are aimed at leveling the playing field for foreign companies and boosting investment, which has been slowing. No specific details were immediately released.
Ning said the guidelines would "help ensure and promote fair competition between domestic and foreign companies" and attract more investment. He said foreign investment in China rose 3.9 percent from January to November, slower than the rate of growth in the previous year.
China would also work to open up areas typically deemed sensitive by the government, such as internet services, telecoms and education, in "an orderly way," Ning said. But the extent to which such sectors would be liberalized was unclear. Earlier this year, China passed a law on cybersecurity seen as enabling the ruling Communist Party to exert greater control over the internet and technology products and moved to more tightly control schools.
Premier Li Keqiang, who chaired the State Council's executive meeting that passed the guidelines Wednesday, said China should take measures with "great effectiveness in attracting foreign capital," according to the official Xinhua News Agency.
"China's economy develops as we continue our opening-up strategy," Li was quoted as saying. "Besides advanced technology and experience in management, China also needs capital investment from overseas."
The Chinese leadership is trying to shore up economic growth which has cooled steadily over the past six years as communist leaders try to steer it to more self-sustaining growth based on consumer spending instead of trade and investment.
Washington and Europe complain Beijing blocks access to its markets in violation of its free-trade commitments. Foreign companies complain Chinese regulators are trying to squeeze them out of technology and other promising industries. In an interview with a Hong Kong newspaper published last week, the German ambassador to China said that Beijing was not living up to pledges to open its markets and give unfettered access to foreign investment.
Uber X, Lyft to begin operations at Atlanta airport
ATLANTA (AP) After months of debate, the Uber X and Lyft ride-booking services will finally become legal at the world's busiest airport in Atlanta.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports (http://bit.ly/2iKoaw9 ) that Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International airport will begin allowing the rides Sunday under new regulations. Airport officials say passengers will pay a $3.85 surcharge per ride from the airport.
The newspaper reports that such services were not allowed in 2016 because drivers didn't have permits to serve the airport, and some were cited though enforcement was spotty.
The city of Atlanta, which owns and runs Hartsfield-Jackson, began working on regulations last year. The city council approved the rules and fees in September and set a Jan. 1 start date.
Banned Pakistani group's student wing protests US terror tag
ISLAMABAD (AP) Dozens of activists from a student wing of the banned anti-India Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group have rallied in Islamabad to condemn a recent U.S. ban on their organization.
The protest comes two days after the U.S. State Department designated the Al-Muhammadia Students wing a terrorist organization.
At the Friday protest, Hafzala Ahmed, an Al-Muhammadia Students activist, said that they are being maligned by Washington to appease India. He said they are not linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was founded by Pakistani cleric Hafiz Saeed. India blames Lashkar-e-Taiba for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people.
Pakistan has banned Lashkar-e-Taiba but Saeed still operates openly in the country.
The Latest: Coast Guard suspends plane search; 6 onboard
CLEVELAND (AP) The Latest on the search for a missing plane in Lake Erie near Cleveland (all times local):
7:15 p.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard says it's suspending search-and-rescue efforts for a plane that went missing over Lake Erie near Cleveland with six people onboard to allow the city to begin recovery efforts. The Coast Guard is no longer expecting to find anyone alive.
Capt. Michael Mullen of the U.S. Coast Guard answers questions during a news conference at Burke Lakefront Airport, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Cleveland. The U.S. Coast Guard said there's been no sign of debris or those aboard a plane that took off from the airport on the shores of Lake Erie and went missing overnight. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Coast Guard Capt. Michael Mullen says deciding to end a search is never easy. He says the Coast Guard extends its condolences to "the family and friends of those who lost loved ones during this tragedy."
The Coast Guard had been using planes, helicopters and a 140-foot-long cutter in searching a 128-square-mile area in the lake after the plane lost radar contact late Thursday.
The plane took off from Cleveland's lakefront airport piloted by John T. Fleming, president of a Columbus beverage distribution company. With him were his wife, their teenage sons, a neighbor and the neighbor's daughter.
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5:30 p.m.
An executive with the Columbus, Ohio-based beverage distributor where the pilot of a plane carrying five others over Lake Erie vanished is president and CEO says it's been a difficult day as the search continues.
Joseph McHenry says in a statement Friday that he and others are working to support the families of those on the plane piloted by Superior Beverage Group's John T. Fleming. The statement says others on the plane were Fleming's wife, Sue, their teenage sons Jack and Andrew and two close friends, who have been identified as a neighbor and the neighbor's daughter.
The U.S. Coast Guard has been searching an area about 2 miles out from the Cleveland lakeshore airport where the plane took off Thursday night. A flight-tracking service says it appears the plane rapidly lost altitude.
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2 p.m.
Data from a tracking service indicate a plane carrying six people rapidly lost altitude after taking off from a Cleveland airport along Lake Erie's shore and then vanished from radar.
The Columbus-bound aircraft disappeared about 2 miles over the lake late Thursday. Why remains unclear.
Tracking service FlightAware logged only three location pings for the plane after takeoff, and the last one indicated rapid altitude loss.
The U.S. Coast Guard said Friday that crews were searching for signs of the plane in waters about 50 feet deep. Searchers have found no sign of any debris or of the three adults and three children who were on board.
A Coast Guard official says there were only "faint hints" from an emergency locating transmitter, a beacon that could help find the plane.
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12:40 p.m.
Relatives say the chief executive of a beverage distribution company was piloting the plane that disappeared overnight shortly after takeoff from a Cleveland airport along Lake Erie's shore.
As crews searched the waters Friday, the parents of Superior Beverage Company executive John T. Fleming confirmed to multiple media outlets that he was the pilot.
Fleming's father tells The Blade newspaper in Toledo that the other five people on the plane were Fleming's wife, two teenage sons, a neighbor and the neighbor's daughter. John W. Fleming also described his son as "an experienced pilot."
The Columbus-bound aircraft disappeared from radar about 2 miles over the lake late Thursday. Why it vanished remained unclear.
Searchers have found no sign of debris. They say the waters being searched are about 50 feet deep.
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11:30 a.m.
A U.S. Coast Guard official says crews are in search-and-rescue mode, not recovery mode, as they look for a plane carrying six people that disappeared overnight shortly after takeoff from a Cleveland airport along Lake Erie's shore.
Capt. Michael Mullen says Friday that authorities have "faint hints" but no strong pulse from an emergency locating transmitter, a beacon that could help find the plane.
Three children and three adults were aboard when the Columbus-bound aircraft disappeared from radar about 2 miles over the lake late Thursday. Why it vanished remained unclear. Searchers have found no sign of debris.
Mullen says snow squalls, higher seas and darkness made nighttime searching difficult. He says it would have been the pilot's responsibility to determine whether it was safe to fly.
Authorities haven't identified the travelers.
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9 a.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard says three children and three adults were on the plane that went missing overnight shortly after takeoff from a small Cleveland airport along the Lake Erie shore.
Coast Guard officials say crews searching the water had found no sign of debris or the passengers as of Friday morning, and no emergency beacon was detected.
The agency says the Columbus-bound Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport late Thursday and disappeared from radar about 2 miles over the lake. Why remains unclear.
A Coast Guard public affairs officer said he couldn't immediately confirm whether the passengers were related.
Weather prevented a boat search overnight, but aircraft were being used and a ship was headed from Detroit to help. Waters in the area are about 50 feet deep.
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7:25 a.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard says crews are searching Lake Erie for a plane that went missing overnight shortly after takeoff from a small Cleveland airport along the shore.
The Columbus-bound Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport late Thursday night with six people aboard and disappeared from radar about 2 miles over the lake.
The Coast Guard says there's been no sign of debris or passengers. Coast Guard official James Cox in Buffalo, New York, says no emergency beacon has been detected.
Weather prevented a boat search overnight, but aircraft were being used. A ship was headed from Detroit to help. The agency says waters in the area are about 50 feet deep.
Cox says the plane is kept at Ohio State University's airfield, but the travelers aren't affiliated with OSU.
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6:30 a.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard says there's been no sign of debris or those aboard a plane that took off from a small Ohio airport on the shores of Lake Erie and went missing overnight.
Coast Guard official James Cox in Buffalo, New York, says the search continues Friday for the Cessna Citation 525 that went missing after taking off from Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland, headed for an Ohio State University airfield. He says no emergency beacon has been detected, either.
Cox said the plane is kept at a hangar at the airfield, but the six people aboard the aircraft aren't affiliated with OSU. Their names weren't released, pending notification of their families.
Weather prevented a search by boat overnight. A helicopter was used.
Another helicopter and a ship from Detroit plus a C-130 from Canada are headed Friday to the search site.
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2:30 a.m.
The U.S. Coast Guard is searching for a missing plane that took off from a small Ohio airport on the shores of Lake Erie.
The Cessna Citation 525 took off shortly before 11 p.m. Thursday from Burke Lakefront Airport in Cleveland.
Coast Guard officials tell WEWS-TV that they received a report after the airport's air traffic control lost connection with the plane.
The Federal Aviation Administration says the aircraft was headed to Ohio State University, but is not visible on FAA radar.
It was not immediately clear how many people were on board.
Capt. Michael Mullen of the U.S. Coast Guard answers questions during a news conference at Burke Lakefront Airport, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Cleveland. The U.S. Coast Guard says there's been no sign of debris or those aboard a plane that took off from the airport on the shores of Lake Erie and went missing overnight. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
A search plane flies over Lake Erie, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Cleveland. A U.S. Coast Guard official said crews are in search-and-rescue mode, not recovery mode, as they look for a plane carrying six people that disappeared overnight shortly after takeoff from a Cleveland airport along Lake Erie's shore. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Capt. Michael Mullen of the U.S. Coast Guard answers questions during a news conference at Burke Lakefront Airport, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Cleveland. The U.S. Coast Guard says there's been no sign of debris or those aboard a plane that took off from the airport on the shores of Lake Erie and went missing overnight. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Capt. Michael Mullen of the U.S. Coast Guard walks to a news conference at Burke Lakefront Airport, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Cleveland. The U.S. Coast Guard says there's been no sign of debris or those aboard a plane that took off from the airport on the shores of Lake Erie and went missing overnight. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Ohio court: Tigers' owner can visit seized animals
TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) The Ohio owner of tigers, bears and other exotic animals seized by the state will be allowed to examine the ones that were sent to a South Dakota sanctuary then later relocated because of neglect, a court has ruled.
A state appeals court said Kenny Hetrick and his veterinarian should be allowed to check on the animals that were relocated to a Colorado sanctuary and ordered the state to arrange the visits within the next month.
The court said last week that a report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture detailing the neglect of some of Hetrick's animals is understandably the cause of great concern for him. It also said the Ohio Department of Agriculture had a duty to make sure the animals were receiving proper care.
FILE In this April 4, 2015, file photo, Kenny Hetrick, owner of Tiger Ridge Exotics, holds stuffed toy animals as he speaks to visitors at an Easter egg hunt fundraiser in Stony Ridge, Ohio. Hetrick, who is fighting the state for the return of his tigers and other exotic animals, will be allowed to see some of the animals. A state appeals court said the owner and his veterinarian will be allowed to examine the animals that were sent to a South Dakota sanctuary and later removed from there because of neglect. (AP Photo/Mike Householder, File)
The department took custody of 11 animals from Hetrick's roadside sanctuary near Toledo in January 2015 after officials say he ignored warnings about needing a permit. Officials hauled away the animals under a state law that came about after a man in eastern Ohio released dozens of his exotic animals before killing himself in 2011. Many of those animals were killed by law enforcement out of a public safety concern.
Hetrick's animals eventually were moved to sanctuaries in other states while he and his family continued to fight the state in court, arguing the animals were improperly taken and should be returned.
One of Hetrick's tigers sent to the South Dakota sanctuary before being removed in the fall because it was found in poor health and having trouble eating was euthanized in early December. The tiger was among a dozen animals removed from the Spirit of the Hills Wildlife Sanctuary in South Dakota and sent to another sanctuary in Colorado.
Meanwhile, the same state appeals court ruling that will allow Hetrick to visit his animals denied his appeal to lift a stay of a county judge's order that said the state unfairly denied a permit to him and that the tigers, bear and three other big cats should be returned to Ohio.
In '20th Century Women,' Bening found freedom in the unknown
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. (AP) In 1979, Annette Bening was 21-years-old. A year earlier she had moved from San Diego to San Francisco to study classical drama. She remembers it as a time of tremendous change and uncertainty and the big moments like the day Harvey Milk and George Mascone were killed, but, for the most part her head was in Chekov and Shakespeare and Shaw and Arthur Miller.
So when she read the script for Mike Mills' "20th Century Women," now in limited release, it caught her off guard. Set in 1979 Santa Barbara, he was writing about a time she lived through and a place she lived not too far from, but looking at it in a way she'd never considered. The story about a 55-year-old single mother, Dorthea (Bening), and her 15-year-old son Jamie (Lucas Jade Zunman) was set against a macro backdrop of anxiety, punk rock and Jimmy Carter telling the country that they were in a crisis of confidence.
"Somebody was contextualizing and teaching me about this period that I was in in my life in a way that nobody else had done before," Bening, now 58, said on a recent, rainy afternoon in West Hollywood. "That's why (Mills) wanted to use that Jimmy Carter speech because he's talking about searching for meaning and the materialism of the moment. They're all looking for meaning in their lives, like most of us are, but he's using that point in history when things are really turning."
FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2016, file photo, actress Annette Bening attends the world premiere of "20th Century Women", during the 54th New York Film Festival in New York. Bening is getting some of the best marks of her career for her portrayal of a 55-year-old single mother in 1979 Santa Barbara in Mike Mills 20th Century Women. It marks a new stage for the actress who, even as an ingenue, conveyed a maturity and preternatural elegance beyond her years. Now, shes more comfortable with herself and just letting go. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)
Dorthea is based on Mills' mother, who died of cancer in 1999. He remembers her as mercurial and a trickster and was happy to find that Bening had some of that in her too.
"She's like a real rebel," said Mills, who also directs. "I got the sense that there's this non-compliance and a rascal in there which was the key for me and I hoped was there. Meeting her just proved it. I mean that as the biggest compliment."
Dorthea is the kind of character who's impossible to summarize. She winces at the ugliness of punk, but attempts to understand it anyway. She's truly impressed when she discovers how her son has been forging her signature but also tells him to not do that anymore. She loves Humphrey Bogart and wonders, sometimes, if she's stuck in life. She's both classical and modern. She is someone her son is trying to understand, and she's trying to understand him back.
She recruits two women in his life, an angry 20-something, Abbie (Greta Gerwig) and his disaffected peer Julie (Elle Fanning), to help him become a good man. But while it is her era, Bening doesn't necessarily see herself in the film.
Instead, it's got her thinking about her family, and how she relates to her own parents, who are still alive (Dad's 90, Mom's 87), and her four children with Warren Beatty.
"There's a deep love but there's almost a longing and a searching. Do you really know them? Do they really know you?" Bening wondered.
On set, no one ever knew how Bening was going to play a scene. She changed it up every time, which her co-stars and director weren't expecting for someone with so much classic training.
"If you tell Annette to go sit over there, she'll go sit somewhere else, in a great way, and with the intention to keep the scene alive for herself and to make each take its own experience," recalled Mills.
Gerwig said that it's her way of looking for new "lifeblood."
"She's always finding the truth at the minute that it's happening," she said.
In her prep, Bening worried about Dorthea's contradictions and paradoxes, but realized in time that that's "where the gold is."
"I wanted to be very empty and very clear-headed and not decided," she said. "The further I get away from those (acting) lessons that I very much needed, the more liberated I feel and I don't feel tied down by any of that."
Things are going well for Bening at the moment. On the family front, she's tremendously proud of her husband's film "Rules Don't Apply," in which she has a bit role, and takes its financial shortcomings in stride.
"He has been well rewarded in his life and he knows that," she said. "And, really, at this point in his life, movies mean a lot to him it's his work but he's got the kids and me."
She's also relishing this moment of great freedom that comes when the kids get a little bit older and the parents are allowed to "let go."
"Also, internally you know yourself a little better, you feel a little more free, you feel less concerned with what other people think. It's a new stage of life ... like this fabulous new opportunity. Sometimes you think being younger is always better. Not necessarily."
While the Oscar buzz is swirling around Bening's "20th Century" performance (she's already been nominated four times), she'd personally rather hear from those who've been affected by her work. It's what she wants from art too.
"I love going to the movies, to plays, to concerts, and when I go to those things, I want to be changed, I want to be moved," Bening said. "That idea that we can move people? That's the whole reason we do it."
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Follow AP Film Writer Lindsey Bahr on Twitter: www.twitter.com/ldbahr
FILE - In this Oct. 8, 2016, file photo, actress Annette Bening attends the world premiere of "20th Century Women", during the 54th New York Film Festival in New York. Bening is getting some of the best marks of her career for her portrayal of a 55-year-old single mother in 1979 Santa Barbara in Mike Mills 20th Century Women. It marks a new stage for the actress who, even as an ingenue, conveyed a maturity and preternatural elegance beyond her years. Now, shes more comfortable with herself and just letting go. (Photo by Andy Kropa/Invision/AP, File)
Aircraft carrier group returns from the Middle East
NORFOLK, Va. (AP) Sailing on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower, Lara Runge placed a rare phone call to her wife Jessica in Chesapeake, Virginia, on Election Day.
The women prayed together "for the safety of our country and that equality would remain consistent." Both supported Hillary Clinton, while the majority of the ship's crew voted for President-elect Donald Trump, said Runge, an aviation electronics technician on the aircraft carrier.
"With the election, it was kind of rough there for a while," Runge, 27, said Friday, after stepping off the carrier in its homeport of Norfolk.
In costume and carrying a sign reading, "Have u seen my significant otter?" Melanie Till welcomes her husband, P.O. 3rd Class David Till, home after the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Va., on Friday, Dec, 30, 2016, from a seven-month deployment to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
"You have a lot of diversity in the Navy," she said. "But there are a lot of people who don't feel that's best for the Navy."
Even for sailors who were half a world away and deployed for the past seven months, the tensions of this year's particularly divisive presidential election were unavoidable. But Runge said the ship's leadership kept the crew united and focused on the mission at hand, which included launching air strikes against the Islamic State group in Iraq and Syria.
Runge was among more than 6,000 sailors who returned home on the Eisenhower and supporting ships. The "Ike" pulled alongside a pier to cheers from hundreds of spouses and children clutching balloons and flowers and waving signs.
Justin Wright, 23, an aviation electronics technician from Little Rock, Arkansas, said there was "a little tension. But we're brothers and sisters out there."
"So a conversation about (the election) wasn't going to split us," said Wright, who voted for Trump in part because of the candidate's stances on expanding the military and reducing illegal immigration.
For many, the campaign wasn't a day-to-day concern. There was work to do and real threats to contend with.
In October, missiles launched from the Yemeni coast failed to strike some of the American ships in the carrier's group. They defended themselves by launching Tomahawk missiles against three sites in Yemen.
"The fact that that could happen really put a reality check on the situation," said Takiyah Robinson, 30, a Navy air traffic controller from Spring Hill, Florida.
A baby was born onboard the carrier in September. According to media reports, a sailor who never revealed she was pregnant reported abdominal pains before giving birth to a 7-pound girl. Navy policy requires pregnant women to leave ships after the 20th week.
And if the election divided some sailors, the Navy's short-lived use of gender-neutral titles united many in their opposition to it.
In September, the Navy decided to eliminate dozens of enlisted sailors' job titles, including many that end in "man," such as aviation ordnanceman. But the Navy scrapped the idea earlier this month after getting an onslaught of opposition. Some of the titles were centuries old, fueling pride and identity in a particular job.
"It was a 240-year-old Band-Aid that got ripped off in a matter of seconds," said Jennifer Cotnoir as she waited for her husband, aircraft mechanic Casey Cotnoir, to step off the Eisenhower.
Airman William Samson's grandmother, Cathy Kyles, left, and parents Marie and Tony Jackson wait for his ship - the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - to return home to Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Va., on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, after a seven-month deployment to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Family and friends wave to their sailors as the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower returned to Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Va., on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, after a seven-month deployment to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Ashley Quackenbush, waiting for her husband P.O. 1st Class Justin Bonnega, points out the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower on the horizon to the Bowser family, waiting for P.O. 2nd Class Steven Bowser, during the carrier's homecoming in Norfolk, Va., Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, after a seven-month deployment to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Sailors on the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower wave flags representing different states as the carrier pulled into Naval Station Norfolk, in Norfolk, Va., on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016 after a seven-month deployment to the Middle East and the Mediterranean Sea. (Stephen M. Katz/The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Charles and Benjamin Converse watch for their father Cmdr. Brad Converse, a member of The Wildcats - one of three squadrons of fighter jets assigned to the USS Dwight D. Eisenhower - who returned home to Naval Air Station Oceana on Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, in Virginia Beach, Va., following months of deployment to the Middle East. (Stephen M. Katz /The Virginian-Pilot via AP)
Police make arrest in 1995 killing
WASHINGTON (AP) Police in Washington say they've made an arrest in a fatal shooting that happened more than 20 years ago.
On July 18, 1995, officers responded to a call for a shooting in southeast Washington and found 41-year-old Nathanial Williams suffering from apparent gunshot wounds. Paramedics found no signs of life.
More than two decades later, police say they've made an arrest in the case.
Miley Cyrus, Liam Hemsworth visit patients at kids hospital
SAN DIEGO (AP) Miley Cyrus and her fiancee, Liam Hemsworth, have brought some holiday cheer to patients at a San Diego children's hospital.
On Instagram on Thursday, Cyrus posted selfies with patients and other highlights of the couple's trip to Rady Children's Hospital. She thanked the hospital staff for their dedication and to bettering the lives and health of the patients Cyrus called "the beautiful youngins."
Cyrus made the visit partly to promote her Happy Hippie Foundation; she dressed the part by wearing a green outfit with a hippie-like floral print.
FILE - In this Aug. 8, 2013, file photo, actor Liam Hemsworth and singer and actress Miley Cyrus arrive on the red carpet at the US premiere of the feature film "Paranoia" at the DGA Theatre in Los Angeles. Cyrus and Hemsworth visited patients at a San Diego children's hospital Dec. 29, 2016. (Photo by Dan Steinberg/Invision/AP, File)
Judge denies request to delay Dylann Roof hearing
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) A federal judge quickly denied a request to delay a competency hearing for the white man facing a possible death sentence in the killing of nine black parishioners at a Charleston church.
Federal Judge Richard Gergel on Thursday ordered a psychiatric evaluation of Dylann Roof to take place this weekend and a hearing for Monday. In response, attorneys acting as his standby counsel asked for a delay, suggesting one week. Gergel said no.
In court documents filed later Thursday, the attorneys said they recognize the delay request could be viewed "as a 'tactic.' It is not."
They argue the quick turnaround, over a holiday weekend, is "unreasonable and risks the reliability" of the competency hearing and the sentence.
The documents also reveal why the attorneys sought another exam. Their original request, which again questioned Roof's mental state, was sealed.
Roof wants to represent himself in the penalty phase of the trial, which the attorneys' request would have delayed. Gergel's denial means it's still set to begin Tuesday before the same jurors who convicted Roof of 33 counts, including hate crimes and obstruction of religion.
Roof, a white supremacist who said he wanted to start a race war, opened fire at historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston in June 2015, killing nine people. The emotional testimony earlier this month included two of the three survivors. The massacre occurred after Roof sat with his victims for almost an hour during Bible study.
The attorneys said Roof's announcement earlier this week that he won't call any witnesses or present evidence to defend himself from the death penalty suggests he lacks the mental capacity to be his own lawyer.
This "raises in especially stark fashion the question of whether the defendant is actually unable to defend himself," the document reads.
The standby attorneys note that prosecutors plan to present more than 38 witnesses and hundreds of exhibits.
In his denial, Gergel reminds them he issued a 22-page order Nov. 25 finding Roof competent, following a comprehensive exam and two-day hearing.
"Now, some five weeks later, standby counsel have moved again to challenge defendant's competency, arguing that 'new facts' had emerged," Gergel writes.
He specifies that the doctor who will evaluate Roof at the Charleston County jail this weekend is the same doctor who evaluated him last time.
Gergel reiterates that he ordered the new exam "out of an abundance of caution," but makes clear he will not "conduct a 'redo'" of the last hearing.
Since he's not hearing any evidence he's already heard, Gergel said, this one "should not be particularly arduous." He added that he's "fully confident" that the attorneys are "fully capable" of being prepared.
On Friday, an attorney for media outlets including The Associated Press filed an objection to Gergel's proposal to close the competency hearing.
"Closure serves no purpose," attorney Jay Bender wrote in his objection notice. He adds that Roof "has no privacy rights sufficient to justify exclusion of the public and press."
Bender also represents The State, The Post and Courier, WCSC, WLTX and National Public Radio.
Gergel will consider objections from Bender and others 30 minutes before Monday's hearing.
A Mexican man accused of raping a 13-year-old girl on a Greyhound bus that traveled through Kansas had been deported 10 times and voluntarily removed from the U.S. another nine times since 2003, records obtained by The Associated Press show.
Three U.S. Republican senators including Kansas' Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts demanded this month that the Department of Homeland Security provide immigration records for 38-year-old Tomas Martinez-Maldonado, who is charged with a felony in the alleged Sept. 27 attack aboard a bus in Geary County.
He is being held in the Geary County jail in Junction City, which is about 120 miles west of Kansas City.
Tomas Martinez-Maldonado a Mexican national accused of raping a 13-year-old girl on a Greyhound bus that traveled through Kansas had been deported 10 times and voluntarily removed from the U.S. nine times since 2003
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, from Iowa and chairman of the judiciary committee, co-signed a Dec. 9 letter with Moran and Roberts to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, calling it 'an extremely disturbing case' and questioning how Martinez-Maldonado was able to re-enter and remain in the country.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it has placed a detainer a request to turn Martinez-Maldonado over to ICE custody before he is released with Geary County. ICE declined to discuss his specific case beyond its October statement regarding the 10 deportations.
Court filings show Martinez-Maldonado has two misdemeanor convictions for entering without legal permission in cases prosecuted in 2013 and 2015 in U.S. District Court of Arizona, where he was sentenced to serve 60 days and 165 days respectively.
A status hearing in the rape case is scheduled for Jan. 10. Defense attorney Lisa Hamer declined to comment on the charge, but said, 'criminal law and immigration definitely intersect and nowadays it should be the responsibility of every criminal defense attorney to know the possible ramifications in the immigration courts.'
Nationwide, 52 percent of all federal prosecutions in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 were for entry or re-entry without legal permission and similar immigration violations, according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.
It's not unusual to see immigrants with multiple entries without legal permission, said David Trevino, a Topeka immigration attorney also representing Martinez-Maldonado. Most of Martinez-Maldonado's family lives in Mexico, but he also has family in the United States, and the family is 'devastated,' Trevino said.
'(President-elect Donald Trump) can build a wall 100 feet high and 50 feet deep, but it is not going to keep family members separated. So if someone is deported and they have family members here ... they will find a way back whether it is through the air, under a wall, through the coast of the United States,' Trevino said.
He declined to comment on his client's criminal history and pending charge.
Records obtained by AP show Martinez-Maldonado had eight voluntary removals before his first deportation in 2010, which was followed by another voluntary removal that same year. He was deported five more times between 2011 and 2013.
In 2013, Martinez-Maldonado was charged with entering without legal permission, a misdemeanor, and subsequently deported in early 2014 after serving his sentence. He was deported again a few months later, as well as twice in 2015 including the last one in October 2015 after he had served his second sentence, the records show.
ICE said in an emailed statement when it encounters a person who's been deported multiple times or has a significant criminal history and was removed, it routinely presents those cases to the U.S. attorney's office for possible criminal charges.
Cosme Lopez, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Arizona, declined comment on why prosecutors twice dismissed felony re-entry after deportation charges against Martinez-Maldonado in 2013 and 2015 in exchange for guilty pleas on misdemeanor entry charges.
Arizona ranks third in the nation behind only the Southern District of Texas and the Western District of Texas for the number of immigration prosecutions among the nation's 94 federal judicial districts for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, TRAC records show.
Moran told the AP in an emailed statement that the immigration system is 'broken.'
93 journalists killed in 2016; 29 more die in accidents
BRUSSELS (AP) The International Federation of Journalists says that 93 journalists and media staff were killed in targeted attacks, by bombs or by crossfire in 2016 while a further 29 died in two plane crashes.
The IFJ said in its annual report released Friday that the number was down from 112 in 2015. Iraq still had the largest number of media killings with 15, ahead of Afghanistan with 13 and Mexico with 11.
Despite the slight decrease in deadly violence against journalists, IFJ President Philippe Leruth said that the statistics "give little room for comfort nor ground for hope to see the end of the current media safety crisis."
Some power restored to North Carolina's gov.-elect _ for now
RALEIGH, N.C. (AP) A North Carolina judge granted a small victory to the state's incoming Democratic governor on Friday, temporarily blocking a law by Republican lawmakers stripping him of control over elections in a legislative power play just weeks ago.
Wake County Superior Court Judge Don Stephens blocked the new law, which would end the control governors exert over statewide and county election boards, as Gov.-Elect Roy Cooper is set to take office Sunday. Stephens ruled that the risk to future free and fair elections justified the temporary block and said he plans to review the law more closely Thursday.
North Carolina Supreme Court Chief Justice Mark Martin also could appoint a three-judge panel to hear Cooper's challenge to the law's constitutionality.
FILE - In this Dec. 15, 2016 file photo, North Carolina's Governor-elect Roy Cooper holds a press conference to criticize efforts by Republicans to cut the power of the governor's office during the special session of the General Assembly that is going on a few blocks away in Raleigh, N.C. North Carolina's incoming Democratic governor has sued over a new law passed by Republican legislators to limit his powers as he prepares to take office. Cooper filed the lawsuit Friday, Dec. 30 over the law that ends the control governors exert over statewide and county election boards. (Chris Seward /The News & Observer via AP, File)
Cooper sued on Friday to block the law, which passed two weeks ago. He said the GOP-led General Assembly's action is unconstitutional because it violates separation of powers by giving legislators too much control over how election laws are administered. Under current law, all elections boards would become controlled by Democrats in 2017 unless the legislation in question takes effect.
Though that law creates a new body described as independent, Stephens got a lawyer representing Senate leader Phil Berger and House Speaker Tim Moore both Republicans to admit that legislators would exert the greatest control on the new, combined elections and ethics board.
"That's what I thought the answer was," Stephens said during an emergency hearing Friday.
The new law came as part of two special General Assembly sessions this month. In the first, legislators passed a package of laws limiting Cooper's power in several ways. In the second, legislators came together to repeal the law known as the "the bathroom bill." The controversial legislation directs transgender people to use public bathrooms that correspond with the gender on their birth certificates and limits other protections for LGBT people. But the deal to repeal it was thwarted, dealing Cooper another blow before he even took office.
The changes to the law at the center of Cooper's Friday lawsuit convert the five-member state elections board from one with a partisan majority matching the governor's into a bipartisan body with equal numbers of Republicans and Democrats. County election boards would have two members from each party, rather than the current three members with a majority from the governor's party
Cooper argued that the new law could create longer lines at polling places, less early voting and general difficulty for voters.
"This complex new law passed in just two days by the Republican legislature is unconstitutional and anything but bipartisan," he said in a statement. "A tie on a partisan vote would accomplish what many Republicans want: making it harder for North Carolinians to vote."
But Berger said Cooper was trying to preserve his own power.
"Given the recent weeks-(backslash)long uncertainty surrounding his own election, the governor-elect should understand better than anyone why North Carolinians deserve a system they can trust will settle election outcomes fairly and without the taint of partisanship," Berger said in a statement.
Cooper won the November election against outgoing Republican Gov. Pat McCrory by about 10,000 votes out of 4.7 million. The transition was made bumpier by a protracted debate over vote-counting. McCrory didn't concede until a month after the election.
The state Republican Party and its allies filed dozens of formal complaints about alleged voter fraud. Almost all of the protests were dismissed or sidelined by elections boards on which Republicans held the majority.
Cooper's lawsuit makes good on his previous threats to take Republicans to court over laws cutting his powers passed during a surprise special session two weeks ago.
Another of the laws requires Cooper's Cabinet choices to be confirmed by legislators. The state constitution gives the Senate the ability to "advise and consent" to the governor's appointees by a majority vote, but that provision hadn't been used in at least several decades.
Cooper attorney Jim Phillips Jr. told Stephens that more legal challenges are planned next week against the laws diminishing the incoming governor's powers.
Lawmakers themselves will face unexpected elections in 2017 after a panel of federal judges ruled that Republicans unlawfully clustered black voters when drawing legislative districts to diminish their influence. The judges ordered North Carolina lawmakers to redraw districts by March 15 and to hold new elections in November.
Also Friday, outgoing Gov. McCrory told The Associated Press in an interview that he had a cordial meeting with Cooper a day earlier and showed him around the governor's mansion. But McCrory also complained that his administration had to work through the holidays to prepare for a handover because of Cooper's decision to be sworn in minutes after midnight Jan. 1.
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Associated Press writer Jonathan Drew contributed to this report.
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Zoo euthanizes 25-year-old lion, believed to be oldest in US
PHILADELPHIA (AP) An African lion believed to be the oldest held in an American zoo has been euthanized.
The Philadelphia Zoo says its 25-year-old big cat named Zenda recently experienced a severe decline in mobility and behavior. She was euthanized Thursday.
Zoo officials say Zenda was a popular and much-loved animal. In announcing her death Friday, the zoo noted that lions in zoos typically live about 17 years.
This undated photo provided by the Philadelphia Zoo shows an African lion named Zenda at the zoo. The Philadelphia Zoo says its 25-year-old big cat named Zenda recently experienced a severe decline in mobility and behavior. She was euthanized Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016. (Philadelphia Zoo via AP)
Zenda was born at the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa in 1991. She arrived in Philadelphia two years later, along with three other lions.
The pride relocated temporarily to the Columbus Zoo in 2004, returning to Philadelphia for the opening of the Big Cat Falls exhibit in 2006.
Islanders place goaltender Jaroslav Halak on waivers
NEW YORK (AP) The New York Islanders have placed starting goaltender Jaroslav Halak on waivers.
The team announced the move at noon Eastern on Friday. Any of the NHL's other 29 clubs could claim Halak by that same time Saturday.
Halak is 6-8-5 with a 3.23 goals-against average and .904 save percentage in 20 games this season for the Islanders, who are in last place in the Metropolitan Division. The 31-year-old Slovak counts $4.5 million against the salary cap and has one year left on his contract after this season.
Minnesota Wild's Zach Parise, left, shoots as New York Islanders' Thomas Hickey, center, and goalie Jaroslav Halak of Slovakia defend the net during the first period of an NHL hockey game Thursday, Dec. 29, 2016, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Jim Mone)
Federal regulators weigh in on proposed natural gas pipeline
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) Federal regulators say the majority of adverse environmental impacts from a proposed natural gas pipeline that would cross West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina could be avoided, minimized or mitigated.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission included the finding in its draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which was released Friday.
Dominion Energy vice president of pipeline construction Leslie Hartz says the company believes the draft report confirms that "the project can be built in an environmentally responsible way."
A coalition of community and environmental groups, however, criticized the commission's findings.
Kosovo jails Albanian for 7 years for recruiting extremists
PRISTINA, Albania (AP) A Kosovo court has sentenced an Albanian citizen convicted of recruiting for extremist groups in Syria to seven years imprisonment.
A statement Friday from the court in Ferizaj, 35 kilometers (20 miles) south of the capital, Pristina, said the man collaborated with others to recruit, fund and help transport at least eight people to join the Islamic State group and the Al-Nusra Front in Syria in 2012. The man was identified only as F.R.
A day earlier another citizen, wanted after being sentenced to a four-year jail term as an IS fighter, was arrested in neighboring Albania and handed over to Kosovo.
Zsa Zsa Gabor's life, glamour, honored at funeral Mass
BEVERLY HILLS, Calif. (AP) Zsa Zsa Gabor was remembered Friday during a funeral Mass for being the epitome of Hollywood glamour, an elegant and attention-seeking actress who paved the way for future generations of celebrities.
Around 100 mourners gathered Friday at the picturesque Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills to pay respects to Gabor, who died Dec. 18 from a heart attack at age 99.
Elaborate floral arrangements flanked the altar, where a painting Gabor made of one of her horses and a photo of Hungarian-American actress were displayed, emblazoned with the words, "Farewell My Love."
FILE- In this Aug. 15, 1986 file photo, actress Zsa Zsa Gabor smiles in Los Angeles. Gabor was remembered at a funeral mass Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, at a picturesque Beverly Hills Church not only for her fame, but also what a pastor called her lesser-known compassionate side. The Hungarian-American actress died Dec. 18, 2016, from a heart attack at age 99. (AP Photo/File)
Gabor's husband, Frederic von Anhalt, gave a 40-minute eulogy that focused on Gabor's thirst for the limelight.
"I want to remember the way she walked the red carpet," von Anhalt said. "She loved it so much. Her life was only red carpet, nothing else." He said Gabor would often duck out of events after walking the red carpet because that was the only element she was interested in.
He also recounted his wife's 1989 arrest and conviction after slapping a Beverly Hills police officer, saying Gabor turned the incident into a publicity device and a template for future generations of troubled starlets.
He said his wife's name will live on forever, in part thanks to her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
"She will never be forgotten because she has her Hollywood star," von Anhalt said. "It will always be Zsa Zsa Gabor. It will never end."
During his eulogy, von Anhalt pulled a magazine out of a Louis Vuitton dog bag and spoke about the first cover story featuring them as a couple, and also displayed what he said was her favorite pink pillow from Munich.
At the end of the eulogy, he took a gold box containing Gabor's ashes and placed them inside the bag to take them to a private ceremony at the nearby Westwood Village Park Memorial Cemetery. It is the final resting place of many stars, including Marilyn Monroe, Natalie Wood, Roy Orbison and Gabor's sister, Eva. Von Anhalt said after the service that Gabor won't be interred there, but rather with her father in Budapest.
He interrupted the closing procession and singing of "May Choirs of Angels" to draw mourners' attention to a painting his wife made of one of her horses.
A priest contrasted Gabor's public persona with her private life. "She epitomized and personified Hollywood glamour," Father Edward Benioff said. "She could write. She could act. She had many, many talents."
He said Gabor, who was known for conspicuously flaunting her wealth, also quietly gave to numerous charities including those supporting the homeless and animals. "What a lot of people don't about is Zsa Zsa had a very sensitive side, a very compassionate side," Benioff said.
Long before reality television minted stars for their behavior, Gabor was famous for being famous, despite appearing in several movies including "Moulin Rouge" and Orson Welles' "Touch of Evil."
In the 1940s Gabor began her ascent from beauty queen to millionaire's wife to minor television personality to minor film actress to major public character. Decked out in diamonds and lavish clothes, Zsa Zsa joked often about the droll burdens of wealth and her ability to attract men.
She and her family, including sisters Eva and Magda, emigrated to America around World War II and she married Conrad Hilton in 1942. They had one child together, Francesca, who died last year.
Gabor married nine times, although one shipboard ceremony was quickly annulled and was of questionable legality. She married von Anhalt in 1986, who along with a team of nurses cared for her in their Bel Air home in recent years. Von Anhalt continued to throw her lavish birthday celebrations even after she could no longer attend, and reported her maladies dutifully to the media.
Von Anhalt urged mourners to remember Gabor for her glamorous days.
"Keep her in your heart, the way she was," he said. "The way she was in Hollywood."
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This story has been corrected to change the song title to "May Choirs of Angels" in 11th paragraph.
Prince Frederic Von Anhalt attends Zsa Zsa Gabor's "Celebration of Life" memorial service at the Good Shepherd Church on Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Beverly Hills, Calif. Zsa Zsa Gabor died at the age of 99 on Dec. 18, 2016. (Photo by Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP)
Who is All Quiet On The Western Front's Felix Kammerer? Actor made a name for himself on stage - before his first starring role (and Oscar buzz aplenty!) in WW1 epic
Trump meets with candidates for agriculture secretary
PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) President-elect Donald Trump and his staff are meeting with candidates for one of the last cabinet positions he needs to fill: agriculture secretary.
Former Texas Rep. Henry Bonilla says he is under consideration for the post and believes Trump is close to making his decision.
He says he spoke with Trump Friday about reforming the food stamp program and scaling back farming regulations.
Former Texas Rep. Henry Bonilla talks with reporters after meeting with President-elect Donald Trump and his transition team at Mar-a-Lago, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
The president-elect also sat down briefly with Susan Combs, the former Texas agriculture commissioner. And some of his top advisers met with current Texas agricultural commissioner Sid Miller.
Two other candidates, former Texas A&M University president Elsa Murano and former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado, met with Trump Wednesday.
No additional announcements on appointments are expected from the president-elect before the new year.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller waves as he arrives at Mar-a-Lago to meet with President-elect Donald Trump's transition team, Friday, Dec. 30, 2016, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
1-sentence draft bills criticized for lack of transparency
AUGUSTA, Maine (AP) With the annual return of legislators to the Statehouse comes the predictable pile of one-sentence draft bills that give an idea of what legislators want to do but not how they're going to do it.
Take the one-sentence draft to reform Maine's highly complex school funding formula. Or the brief proposal to amend Maine's constitution to exempt lobster traps from property taxes.
Some lawmakers and advocacy groups are critical of the vague drafts, saying they can shut out the public from important policy discussions, be used as a bait-and-switch tactic or lead to unintended consequences. Several lawmakers said that after drafts have an initial hearing and get fleshed out into formal bills during the committee process, the finished product doesn't always get another public hearing.
"The troubling part for those who advocate is the old adage that the devil is the details," said lobbyist Kate Dufour, of the Maine Municipal Association, which represents nearly 500 cities and towns. "It's very difficult to state a position on a concept."
The Maine Legislature started allowing so-called concept drafts nearly two decades ago.
Since then, lawmakers have submitted 100 or so during each legislative session, according to a review by The Associated Press of public databases of state legislation. Democratic Rep. John Martin said many are fully drafted by the time they make it to committee.
The deadline for all bills was Friday, and lawmakers return Wednesday.
The National Conference of State Legislatures criticized such skeleton bills decades ago and in 1996 identified a dozen or so states that allowed such drafts. Last December, Nevada's Senate adopted a temporary rule prohibiting skeleton bills.
In Maine, the governor, state agencies and specific committees can't submit draft bills, which are put together by bill revisers and sent to committees, which can then make the drafts into bills.
"Obviously there are people who submit concept bills as a way of throwing spaghetti at the wall and seeing if it sticks," said Democratic Rep. Michael Devin, who last session submitted a draft on combating Maine's marine debris that eventually became law and plans to submit another draft on the issue.
He said it's possible he could have worked on the legislation with experts last year but was worried about being re-elected.
Republican Sen. James Hamper, who chairs the Legislature's appropriations committee, said it's normal for his committee to have some bill drafts just in case. But he's not a fan.
"To me, it says the legislator has not taken any time to research and make any suggestions," he said.
In 2014, Republican Sen. Roger Katz, who chairs the government oversight committee, suggested and withdrew a motion to require fleshed-out concept drafts to get a public hearing and work session. Dufour, of the Maine Municipal Association, said she'd support such a solution.
Former Democratic Rep. Sharon Treat sponsored an unsuccessful rule change in 2011 to eliminate concept drafts, which she says waste time and inhibit transparency.
"It encouraged people to have vague ideas about doing something without having to think through the process," said Treat, who helped create the Senate committee that reviews internal rules. "And I don't know what the benefit of it is."
One example of a one-sentence draft turning into a big, complex bill is a 2012 law calling for new mining rules. The sentence went to a committee in March, and a month of work sessions and two public hearings later, it became a 23-page law paving the way for conglomerate J.D. Irving to mine in northern Maine.
"These are big issues. To have those cloaked within a concept draft was, we believe, an intentional and deceptive and misuse of legislative process," said lobbyist Pete Didisheim of the Natural Resources Council of Maine. "Clearly, they had been working months on a rewrite of the law."
Didisheim said because it was an after-deadline bill, it wasn't required to have the normal public notice.
Martin, who sponsored the law, called Didisheim's criticisms "misinformed" and said the act was to help spur northern Maine's economy. "It started as a concept draft because we didn't have time to do a complete draft changing the law," Martin said.
Mexican man charged with rape had 19 deportations, removals
WICHITA, Kan. (AP) A Mexican man accused of raping a 13-year-old girl on a Greyhound bus that traveled through Kansas had been deported 10 times and voluntarily removed from the U.S. another nine times since 2003, records obtained by The Associated Press show.
Three U.S. Republican senators including Kansas' Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts demanded this month that the Department of Homeland Security provide immigration records for 38-year-old Tomas Martinez-Maldonado, who is charged with a felony in the alleged Sept. 27 attack aboard a bus in Geary County. He is being held in the Geary County jail in Junction City, which is about 120 miles west of Kansas City.
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, from Iowa and chairman of the judiciary committee, co-signed a Dec. 9 letter with Moran and Roberts to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, calling it "an extremely disturbing case" and questioning how Martinez-Maldonado was able to re-enter and remain in the country.
This undated photo provided by the Geary County Detention Center In Junction City, Kan., shows Tomas Martinez-Maldonado. Records obtained by The Associated Press show that Martinez-Maldonado a Mexican national accused of raping a 13-year-old girl on a Greyhound bus that traveled through Kansas had been deported 10 times and voluntarily removed from the U.S. nine times since 2003. (Geary County Detention Center via AP)
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it has placed a detainer a request to turn Martinez-Maldonado over to ICE custody before he is released with Geary County. ICE declined to discuss his specific case beyond its October statement regarding the 10 deportations.
Court filings show Martinez-Maldonado has two misdemeanor convictions for entering without legal permission in cases prosecuted in 2013 and 2015 in U.S. District Court of Arizona, where he was sentenced to serve 60 days and 165 days respectively.
A status hearing in the rape case is scheduled for Jan. 10. Defense attorney Lisa Hamer declined to comment on the charge, but said, "criminal law and immigration definitely intersect and nowadays it should be the responsibility of every criminal defense attorney to know the possible ramifications in the immigration courts."
Nationwide, 52 percent of all federal prosecutions in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 were for entry or re-entry without legal permission and similar immigration violations, according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.
It's not unusual to see immigrants with multiple entries without legal permission, said David Trevino, a Topeka immigration attorney who has provided legal advice to Martinez-Maldonado's family. Most of Martinez-Maldonado's family lives in Mexico, but he also has family in the United States, and the family is "devastated," Trevino said.
"(President-elect Donald Trump) can build a wall 100 feet high and 50 feet deep, but it is not going to keep family members separated. So if someone is deported and they have family members here ... they will find a way back whether it is through the air, under a wall, through the coast of the United States," Trevino said.
He declined to comment on Martinez-Maldonado's criminal history and pending charge.
Records obtained by AP show Martinez-Maldonado had eight voluntary removals before his first deportation in 2010, which was followed by another voluntary removal that same year. He was deported five more times between 2011 and 2013.
In 2013, Martinez-Maldonado was charged with entering without legal permission, a misdemeanor, and subsequently deported in early 2014 after serving his sentence. He was deported again a few months later, as well as twice in 2015 including the last one in October 2015 after he had served his second sentence, the records show.
ICE said in an emailed statement that when it encounters a person who's been deported multiple times or has a significant criminal history and was removed, it routinely presents those cases to the U.S. attorney's office for possible criminal charges.
Cosme Lopez, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office in Arizona, declined comment on why prosecutors twice dismissed felony re-entry after deportation charges against Martinez-Maldonado in 2013 and 2015 in exchange for guilty pleas on misdemeanor entry charges.
Arizona ranks third in the nation behind only the Southern District of Texas and the Western District of Texas for the number of immigration prosecutions among the nation's 94 federal judicial districts for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse records show.
Moran told the AP in an email that the immigration system is "broken."
"There must be serious legislative efforts to address U.S. immigration policy, and we must have the ability to identify, prosecute and deport illegal aliens who display violent tendencies before they have an opportunity to perpetrate these crimes in the United States," he said.
___
Man charged with wife's death in Tonga wants his cash back
HONOLULU (AP) A U.S. citizen detained in Honolulu and facing extradition to Tonga where he's accused of beating his wife to death has asked the U.S. government to return cash he had amassed from other countries including Canada and New Zealand.
A public defender for Dean Jay Fletcher filed a motion Thursday saying the government is illegally keeping the currency.
The various denominations of currency from Tonga, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and the United States are the "only means that Mr. Fletcher has to hire an attorney and mount any meaningful defense to the charges in Tonga," Assistant Federal Defender Melinda Yamaga said in the motion.
In this Oct. 4, 2016, file photo provided by the Samoa News, Dean Jay Fletcher, left, is escorted by a police officer after his initial appearance in the District Court of American Samoa in Pago Pago, American Samoa. U.S. citizen Fletcher, detained in Honolulu and facing extradition to Tonga where he's accused of beating his wife to death, has asked the U.S. government to return cash he had amassed from other countries including Canada and New Zealand. A public defender for Dean Jay Fletcher filed a motion Thursday, Dec. 29, saying the government is illegally keeping the currency. (Ausage Fausia/SamoaNews via AP, File)
U.S. marshals brought Fletcher to Honolulu last month. Court documents say he escaped twice from a Tonga jail and sailed to American Samoa.
Fletcher was indicted in the Kingdom of Tonga on murder and other charges in the July death of his wife, Patricia Linne Kearney, according to court records filed in Honolulu.
While in police custody on July 11, Fletcher asked a detective for permission to use the toilet then ran out of the police station and was caught after a brief foot chase, authorities said. The records say officers couldn't catch him when he fled again in September and was last seen sailing away in a boat.
He traveled some 300 miles north to American Samoa, where he was arrested and later taken to Honolulu because there's no federal court in the U.S. territory.
"The murder charge has nothing to do with money," Yamaga's motion on the currency said, noting that U.S. authorities returned items of no worth such as paperwork and a journal but kept the cash, credit cards and Fletcher's boat license.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Larry Butrick said Friday the government seized the money in accordance with a treaty with Tonga. He says the cash is worth about $10,000.
The items returned were copies, Butrick said.
"We kept the originals and we will submit those to Tonga upon his extradition," he said.
Yamaga didn't return messages Friday seeking comment.
Theresa May has distanced herself from outgoing US president Barack Obamas hardline stance on Israel.
In comments which appeared more in tune with the outlook being taken by president-elect Donald Trump, the Prime Minister said it was wrong to focus on single issues like settlement building, rather than the wider peace process.
After US secretary of state John Kerry branded the Israeli government as the most right wing in history, Downing Street said it was not appropriate to attack the composition of the administration of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Secretary of State @JohnKerry comments on U.S. engagement with Israel. pic.twitter.com/CpROmvk5nt Department of State (@StateDept) December 28, 2016
The comments came after Mr Kerry accused the Israeli government of undermining attempts at a two state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians by continuing to build settlements in the West Bank.
While the UK said it opposed such developments in the occupied territories, Number 10 made clear a more broadly-ranged approach was needed to encourage peace.
Secretary of State John Kerry
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: The British Government continues to believe that the only way to a lasting peace in the Middle East is through a two-state solution. We continue to believe that the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal, which is why we supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 last week.
But we are also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict. In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long.
We do not, therefore, believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue, in this case the construction of settlements, when clearly the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is so deeply complex.
Margaret Thatchers deep misgivings over the reunification of Germany are laid bare in newly released government papers.
Files released by the National Archives in Kew, west London, show she had to be cajoled by aides into issuing a congratulatory statement following the ending of Germanys partition into two states.
Meanwhile, British officials worked quietly behind the scenes to scupper a planned ceremony celebrating the event to be attended by world leaders.
The fall of the Berlin Wall in November 1989 marked the end of the Cold War and paved the way for communist East Germany to be reunited with West Germany, ending the division that had been in place since the end of the Second World War.
But while the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe represented a triumph for the West, Mrs Thatcher feared a resurgent Germany would dominate the Continent.
The files show her concerns ran so deep she even had to be coaxed into making a positive statement when she appeared for a photocall with the West German ambassador Baron Hermann von Richthofen, a great nephew of the family of the Red Baron, on eve of formal reunification in October 1990.
The key is to get in the words friend, ally and partner (if you can bear it), Charles Powell, her longstanding foreign adviser, pleaded in a handwritten note.
Otherwise a message risks being judged negatively, which undermines the only purpose of the exercise.
At Mrs Thatchers behest, Mr Powell had already helped to ensure that a reunification ceremony planned by German chancellor Helmut Kohl was cancelled.
Well aware that it would not go ahead if US president George Bush Senior was unable to be there, he telephoned the White House to say Mrs Thatcher would be quite happy if he stayed away.
The prime minister wanted the president to know that October 3 would be very difficult for her and she would not at all mind if the president found that he could not attend, Mr Powell noted.
Former Chancellor of Germany Helmut Kohl with former Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher (PA)
I added that the prime minister thought that the celebrations were in any case more appropriate for foreign ministers to attend.
Mr Kohl did his best to allay her concerns, promising at one Downing Street meeting to keep her personally informed of his plans so as to remove any possible sources of misunderstanding or apprehension.
He would pass on even matters which his Cabinet would not know, Mr Powell reported.
However her hostility ran so deep, it even caused alarm bells to ring in Washington to the intense irritation of No 10.
Bob Blackwill, a senior official in the National Security Council (NSC), told one British diplomat, Andrew Wood, that Mr Bush believed she even wanted an entente cordiale with the Soviet Union as a counter-balance to a united Germany.
Mr Powell said she was flabbergasted by the suggestion and ordered the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) to set Mr Blackwill straight.
Bill Gates has warned the world would be "vulnerable" to a quick-spreading deadly flu outbreak.
The billionaire philanthropist said the Ebola and Zika outbreaks exposed weaknesses in the ability to swiftly tackle health crises.
Mr Gates, whose foundation has pumped billions of pounds into vaccines and improving health systems in developing countries, said the development of new drugs can also be improved.
Bill Gates (Tim Ireland/PA)
He told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme: "When weve seen Ebola or even now Zika, we realise we still havent done enough.
"Our ability to create new drugs and vaccines quickly where we have an emerging disease, our emergency response system where we get people in and try and stop these epidemics - we dont have a strong enough system."
He said countries are grappling with how to ensure that regulatory, liability and organisational boundaries do not slow down the response to health crises.
Chest infections are common, especially after a cold or flu during autumn and winter. Treatment advice: https://t.co/ixZadIZpcL NHS (@NHSuk) December 27, 2016
He said: "So I cross my fingers all the time that some epidemic like a big flu doesnt come along in the next 10 years.
"I do think well have much better medical tools, much better response, but we are a bit vulnerable right now if something that spread very quickly, like a flu that was quite fatal.
"That would be a tragedy, and new approaches should allow us to reduce that risk a lot."
.@KGrieve13 is our newest @NHSflufighter. Have you had yours yet? Protect your family & friends this #winter & get your flu jab! #staywell pic.twitter.com/l4vwpDeO3p NELFT (@NELFT) December 19, 2016
The Microsoft founder said greater global cooperation is needed in the development of new drugs and the deployment of health teams to tackle outbreaks.
If wealthy countries fail to step up and tackle these health problems deadly epidemics will spread across the world, he warned.
Mr Gates said: So its not just the humanitarian goal here, its strong self-interest that we want global health security.
Today's video is on the importance of taking up the offer of a free #flujab if you're pregnant or a child aged 2-7 https://t.co/ip8hMJzct1 NHS Gloucestershire (@NHSGlos) December 29, 2016
He also defended the World Health Organisation, which came in for heavy criticism for what was perceived as its slow response to the Ebola crisis.
The cooperation that weve seen, I think, needs to intensify - its the only way that global problems like epidemics will get solved, Mr Gates said.
And so although people are negative on WHO, the message to take away from that is not that that kind of multilateral cooperative effort is doomed and the money is not well spent.
Rather, we actually need to broaden their capacity, we need to rededicate ourselves to this global cooperation.
He also warned that the over-use of antibiotics and the growth of antimicrobial resistance has endangered everybodys health.
Moves to stop using antibiotics on farm animals alone are not enough and countries must look at how they treat people too, Mr Gates said.
Englands chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies, rated the NHSs preparedness for a major flu outbreak at seven or eight, but warned the economy and social care sectors would also face major challenges.
She said: But its not just the NHS, the NHS looks after sick patients, its how would our social care system cope with people who werent ill enough to be in hospital but need extra support?
Got my flu jab from @EMASNHSTrust at Leicester Royal Infirmary whilst passing with work. Officially an @EMAS_CFR #FluFighters @NHSflufighter pic.twitter.com/ebzwAaXgLD Peter Bee (@SystonCFR) December 22, 2016
Its how would our economy cope if a large proportion are too ill to work where we have a just-in-time ordering policy for delivery of food, petrol, whatever?
She said Britain is very well prepared with stockpiles and an agreement to buy flu vaccine if a pandemic breaks out.
The United States has expressed its surprise after Theresa May distanced herself from outgoing President Barack Obamas stance on Israel.
Downing Street said US Secretary of State John Kerrys description of the Israeli administration as the most right wing in history was not appropriate given that prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu is leading the democratically elected government of an ally.
It came after the US took the unusual step of abstaining in a United Nations Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories.
Theresa May (Stefan Rousseau/PA)
Secretary of State @JohnKerry comments on U.S. engagement with Israel. pic.twitter.com/CpROmvk5nt Department of State (@StateDept) December 28, 2016
But in comments which appeared more in tune with the outlook being taken by President-elect Donald Trump, the Prime Minister said it was wrong to focus on single issues like settlement building, rather than the wider peace process.
Responding to Number 10s intervention, the US state department said in a statement: We are surprised by the UK Prime Ministers office statement given that Secretary Kerrys remarks which covered the full range of threats to a two state solution, including terrorism, violence, incitement and settlements were in line with the UKs own long-standing policy and its vote at the United Nations last week.
The spokesman also pointedly referred to the support for Mr Kerrys comments from around the world.
President-elect Trump, thank you for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel! @IvankaTrump @DonaldJTrumpJr https://t.co/lURPimG0wS Benjamin Netanyahu - (@netanyahu) December 28, 2016
They said: We are grateful for the strongly supportive statements in response to Secretary Kerrys speech from across the world, including Germany, France, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and others.
The UK regards settlement building in the Occupied Palestinian Territories as illegal but Number 10 made clear a more broadly-ranged approach was needed to encourage peace.
A spokesman for the Prime Minister said: "The British Government continues to believe that the only way to a lasting peace in the Middle East is through a two-state solution. We continue to believe that the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal, which is why we supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 last week.
Read Secretary of State @JohnKerrys remarks on Middle East peace: https://t.co/9uMSwplotT pic.twitter.com/GnoCSp08Oz Department of State (@StateDept) December 28, 2016
But we are also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict. In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long.
"We do not, therefore, believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue, in this case the construction of settlements, when clearly the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is so deeply complex.
More patients have been struck down with the norovirus vomiting bug this season compared with the previous five years, according to official figures.
Data from Public Health England (PHE) shows reports of the illness had reached 2,435 this year 12% more than the average for the same period over the last five years.
The figure is also 71% higher than the same period last year, although last winter saw unusually low levels of norovirus.
A hospital ward (Peter Byrne/PA)
If you develop sickness & diarrhoea, make sure to regularly and properly wash your hands to avoid infecting others https://t.co/s5OMrZXL39 UK Health Security Agency (@UKHSA) December 30, 2016
In the week ending on Christmas Day, the outbreaks of vomiting and diarrhoea resulted in more bed closures than during the same period last year rising from an average of 559 beds closed per day to 699.
Hospitals reported 20 outbreaks of norovirus in the first two weeks of December 17 of which led to bay or ward closures and 13 of which were confirmed as the bug.
In total so far this season, there have been 163 hospital outbreaks reported.
Professor Nick Phin, deputy director of the National Infection Service at Public Health England, said: Cases of norovirus are still at the levels that we would expect to see around this time of year in the winter vomiting bug season. Exactly when the peaks in activity occur can vary season to season.
Norovirus outbreaks are more common this time of year. It's easy to identify and treat at home: https://t.co/TMo6tmiBLo pic.twitter.com/WsWOGn9dUL NHS (@NHSuk) December 28, 2016
Those who get infected with norovirus will usually make a full recovery within one to two days. However, it is important to drink plenty of fluids to prevent dehydration, especially in the very young or elderly. Good hygiene is essential to preventing infection, this includes thorough hand washing after using the toilet and before eating or preparing foods.
The number of laboratory reports of the bug rotavirus this season is 1,136, which is also 3% higher than the average for the period from 2003 to 2013.
NHS England also released figures showing there were 291,808 calls to the NHS 111 service in the week ending on Christmas Day as temperatures plummeted and a cold weather alert was issued.
This was nearly 9% fewer than the number of calls to the helpline in the same week last year.
Mauricio Pochettino insists he is happy with his Tottenham squad and does not need to strengthen in January.
Pochettino downplayed links to Ross Barkley, Isco and Wilfried Zaha, suggesting Spurs already boast enough power in their attacking midfield ranks.
The Argentinian boss remains confident Tottenham can still fight for the Premier League title despite sitting 10 points behind pace-setters Chelsea.
Mauricio Pochettino
Toby Alderweireld (@AlderweireldTob) December 30, 2016
No, no, no; I dont expect to do some business, because I am happy with the squad that I have, said Pochettino on the chance of Spurs making any January signings.
I think its not the right moment. Only if its a person who will definitely benefit us otherwise, no.
Former Southampton boss Pochettino revealed he has no plans to send defender Kevin Wimmer on loan next month.
"With the right mentality, you can achieve great things"
Hugo - https://t.co/anv5S22MyS pic.twitter.com/Z5LkLKsYRL Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 30, 2016
Spurs have again been linked with January moves for Real Madrids Isco, Evertons Barkley and Crystal Palaces Zaha, but Pochettino remains convinced he already has enough quality with Dele Alli, Christian Eriksen and Erik Lamela in his squad.
I dont know where that rumour (about Barkley) has come from, he added.
Its not from myself or from my staff, that is sure. Then if some people from the club created that rumour, I dont know, or if its from outside.
TEAM NEWS: "@AlderweireldTob picked up a virus the day before Southampton. He has recovered now and we're hopeful he will be available." pic.twitter.com/fZxgtc23nh Tottenham Hotspur (@SpursOfficial) December 30, 2016
We are very calm and consistent with our philosophy, and the way we are developing our game. We cannot stop rumours, and we cannot confirm every time whether rumours are true or otherwise.
When quizzed on whether anyone would leave Tottenham in the new year, he replied: I dont expect that. Its not sensible. We are not talking about a loan (for Wimmer). For me I am happy with him. Hes still very young, we brought him not only for the present but also for the future.
Hundreds of mourners have bid farewell to the Polish truck driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack.
Lukasz Urban, 37, has been described as the first victim of the attack that killed a total of 12 people in the German capital on December 19.
He had been waiting to deliver a shipment of steel in Berlin when his truck was hijacked by the attacker, believed to be Tunisian man Anis Amri, who was later killed in a shoot-out with Italian police. Mr Urban was shot, and his body was found later in the cab of the truck.
The coffin of Lukasz Urban
Wonderful and emotional. Drivers from Alfred Schuon GmbH - Internationale Spedition for great Polish Hero #LukaszUrban#BerlinAttack #hero pic.twitter.com/I0eMaKQpry Tomasz Borysiuk (@TomaszBorysiuk) December 23, 2016
Polands president Andrzej Duda joined Mr Urbans family, friends and neighbours in a church in the village church in Banie, near the border with Germany.
Several other Polish political officials and a representative of the German embassy to Poland were also there.
A letter from prime minister Beata Szydlo was also read out in which she described her great pain and sadness and expressed her sympathy to Mr Urbans family.
UK lorry driver Dave Duncan (pictured) has raised 92,894 for Lukasz Urban's family. There is still time to donate: https://t.co/WiqeaAnJy8 pic.twitter.com/uoa2QLAQJT UK in Poland (@ukinpoland) December 23, 2016
Poles have fallen victim to terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic fundamentalists but the tragedy that happened in Berlin is unique when it comes to the ruthlessness and cruelty of the perpetrator, Ms Szydlo said.
Bishop Henryk Wejman delivered a homily in which he described Mr Urban as a man who was open to others and conscientious in his work.
His willingness to work and serve others won him the trust of other people and the openness to fellow man, Bishop Wejman said.
As the Mass was winding down the president bowed his head at Mr Urbans coffin before offering his condolences to the dead mans wife and teenage son.
Hollywood has said its final farewell to Zsa Zsa Gabor at the actress and socialites funeral.
Gabor died at the age of 99 after suffering a heart attack at her home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, on December 18.
An intimate memorial service was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills on Friday, hosted by her widower Frederic Prinz von Anhalt.
Zsa Zsa Gabor's "Celebration of Life" memorial service
An urn containing Gabors ashes was taken into the church in a Louis Vuitton bag and placed next to a photograph of the Hungarian-born star with the words farewell my love.
Gabors ninth husband von Anhalt, 73, paid tribute to his late wife and said his life was empty without her.
She left peacefully. It was beautiful the way she passed, he said. She was a good woman. She helped people, especially the homeless. She loved the red carpet. Her life was red carpet or nothing else. Keep her in your heart the way she was in Hollywood.
Zsa Zsa Gabor
Von Anhalt, who married Gabor in 1986, said he had brought his wifes ashes in a Louis Vuitton dog bag because of her love of dogs.
I was my wifes partner. I was her best friend, he added. It was my duty, and its the duty of any husband or any wife, to care for your partner. My wife was my life. Right now my life is empty. I was glued to my partner.
Father Ed Benioff, who led the service, said: She epitomised and personified Hollywood glamour.
U.S. senator says Russia can expect sanctions after cyber attacks
RIGA/TALLINN, Dec 28 (Reuters) - Russia and its president Vladimir Putin should expect tough sanctions after cyber attacks during the presidential election won by Donald Trump, U.S. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Wednesday.
Earlier this month, Republican and Democratic senators including Graham called for a bipartisan panel to investigate cyber attacks against the United States by foreign countries, with a focus on Russia's alleged efforts to influence the U.S. presidential election.
"There will be bipartisan sanctions coming that will hit Russia hard, particularly Putin as an individual," Graham said in the Latvian capital.
NATO members Latvia, Estonia and Lithuania, all ruled by Moscow in communist times, have been alarmed by Russia's annexation of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula in 2014 and its support for pro-Russian separatists in eastern Ukraine.
"It is now time for Russia to understand - enough is enough," Graham said.
He did not elaborate further on what the sanctions could entail.
U.S. intelligence agencies have concluded that Russia tried to influence the Nov. 8 election by hacking individuals and institutions, including Democratic Party bodies.
Russian officials have denied accusations of interference in the election.
"Here's what you can expect in 2017 in the United States - a bipartisan effort in Congress to push back against the Russian interference in our election," Graham said at a stop on a three-day visit to the Baltics with fellow Republican senator John McCain, seen as a bid to soothe concerns over the policy of President-elect Trump.
Separately, the Estonian defence minister said the country was increasing its efforts to defend itself against cyber attacks after NATO recognised cyber attacks as an element of warfare, alongside land, sea and air.
In what Estonian officials say was a wake-up call, the country was hit by cyber attacks on extensive private and government Internet sites in 2007. State websites were brought to a crawl and an online banking site was closed.
Lithuania also said last week the Kremlin was responsible for cyber attacks that have hit government computers there over the past two years. Putin's spokesman dismissed the allegations as unsubstantiated.
Lithuanian intelligence services, in their annual report, say cyber attacks have moved from being mainly targeted at financial crimes to more political spying on state institutions.
"We have almost finished the submission for the government to create the new cyber command and it should be up and running within two years", Estonia's Defence Minister Margus Tsahkna told Reuters on Wednesday.
NATO leaders agreed earlier this year to deploy military forces to the Baltic states and eastern Poland for the first time and increase air and sea patrols to reassure allies on its eastern border.
Medtronic must face revived U.S. lawsuit over Infuse
By Jonathan Stempel and Toni Clarke
Dec 28 (Reuters) - A federal appeals court on Wednesday revived a lawsuit accusing Medtronic Plc of defrauding shareholders by covering up negative side effects from its Infuse bone growth product for nearly a decade.
The 8th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in St. Paul, Minnesota said a lower court judge erred in finding that the plaintiff shareholders sued too late, by waiting more than two years after learning information that could suggest an intent to defraud.
Medtronic did not respond to requests for comment.
The plaintiffs include the West Virginia Pipe Trades Health and Welfare Fund, the Employees' Retirement System of the State of Hawaii and Germany's Union Asset Management Holding AG.
Medtronic developed Infuse as an alternative to bone grafts, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved it for use in some lower back spinal surgeries in 2002.
But off-label uses of Infuse eventually comprised 85 percent of sales. The FDA in 2008 warned against such uses, following reports of life-threatening complications.
Three years later, a June 28, 2011 article in The Spine Journal said clinical studies by doctors with financial ties to Medtronic understated Infuse's risks.
Then in October 2012, the U.S. Senate Finance Committee found that Medtronic was "heavily involved" in shaping the content of such studies.
Shareholders sued Medtronic on June 27, 2013, saying its activities inflated the company's stock price, and caused them to lose hundreds of millions of dollars as the truth came out.
In Wednesday's decision, Circuit Judge Raymond Gruender said it was not until The Spine Journal article was published that reasonable shareholders might have inferred that problems with Medtronic's studies reflected an intent to defraud.
Gruender also said shareholders properly alleged that they relied on Medtronic's alleged misconduct.
"A company cannot instruct individuals to take a certain action, pay to induce them to do it, and then claim any causal connection is too remote when they follow through," he wrote.
"In this way," the judge continued, "Medtronic's alleged manipulative conduct directly caused the biased clinical trial results that the market relied upon."
Shawn Williams, a lawyer for the plaintiffs, said he was pleased with the decision, which returns the case to the lower court for further proceedings.
Medtronic is now based in Ireland, but has offices in Minneapolis.
In March 2012, the company agreed to pay $85 million to settle a shareholder lawsuit claiming it concealed the extent of Infuse's off-label use. (http://www.reuters.com/article/us-medtronic-settlement-idUSBRE82T1A920120330)
Polish government cheers bargain da Vinci purchase
By Lidia Kelly
WARSAW, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Poland's government announced on Thursday it had bought a Leonardo da Vinci painting from a private foundation, in a transaction that forced a federal budget amendment and stirred acrimony about how the deal was arranged.
The State Treasury bought the 1490 "Lady with an Ermine" along with thousands of other pieces of art from the aristocratic Czartoryski Foundation for the equivalent of just over 100 million euros ($105 million). "It is a fraction of the market price of the collection," Piotr Glinski, Poland's minister of culture told journalists.
The government bought the collection, which includes Rembrandt's "Landscape with the Good Samaritan", as part of its broader drive to nationalise important businesses and cultural artefacts.
But the management board of the Czartoryski Foundation has resigned, saying it was not consulted about the purchase.
The da Vinci painting is on public display at the Wawel castle in Krakow.
The year-old government, led by the conservative Law and Justice Party (PiS), has long talked of buying the "Lady with an Ermine" and more than 80,000 items in the private collection, considered one of Europe's most important.
"I felt like making a donation," the Foundation's president and founder, Adam Czartoryski said, when asked why was he was willing to part with the collection for so little. "It's my choice."
The Foundation's board of management said it did not oppose selling the collection to the government but that selling without due diligence, which would provide the basis for estimating a fair price, may be against its bylaws.
Marian Wolkowski-Wolski, chairman of the board, told Reuters the board was also worried the collection was being sold at a fraction of its worth and that there was a risk of its eventual dispersal out of public control.
AMENDING BUDGET
Polish media have reported that the government had been willing to spend up to 1 billion zloty ($235 million) on buying the painting and the entire collection.
The Da Vinci painting, 54.7 cm by 40.3 cm (1'9" by 1'3"), is insured for 331 million euros for travelling, according to government officials, and the entire collection is valued, according to different estimates, at between 8 billion zloty and 10 billion zloty (2.3 billion euros, $2.4 billion).
The government's budget is squeezed but it expects to undershoot its deficit goal this year. This has enabled a budget amendment to allow the formation of a reserve pool for the purpose of "purchase of cultural goods, including historical monuments, and the rights to cultural goods with a special importance for the Polish State".
In 1991, after the fall of Communism, Adam Czartoryski established the Foundation in Krakow and, for financial and logistical reasons, left the collection amassed over two centuries under the National Museum structure.
Minister of Culture Piotr Glinski said the whole collection would now become a permanent part of the Museum.
"This ensures the right of the Polish nation to the collection," Glinski told journalists. "There is a difference between having something on deposit and being its owner."
Brazil police believe body found in Rio is missing Greek ambassador -Globo
SAO PAULO, Dec 29 (Reuters) - Brazilian police suspect a body discovered inside a charred vehicle in Rio de Janeiro is Greece's ambassador to Brazil who went missing three days ago, television channel Globo reported on Thursday.
A police spokesman could not be immediately reached for comment.
Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was last seen Monday evening leaving the home of friends of his Brazilian wife in a poor and violent suburb of Rio's metropolitan area, police had said earlier on Thursday.
A Rio state police official said the ambassador's wife reported him as missing on Wednesday.
Globo showed images of the burned-out white car in the Nova Iguacu neighhourhood where the ambassador went missing. The station reported that the licence plates on the car matched those of Amiridis' rental vehicle.
An official at the Greek Embassy in Brasilia would not confirm the ambassador was missing, saying only that he was on vacation in Rio and expected to return to Brasilia on Jan. 9.
Rio police inspector Evaristo Pontes had earlier told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper that he did not believe the ambassador was kidnapped.
"We're following some leads, but not that one. If it had been (a kidnapping), those who took him would have made contact by now," he said.
Amiridis previously served as Greece's consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004.
More recently he was Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 until he took the top Brazil post at the beginning of 2016.
Brazil's Foreign Ministry said it had no comment on the case, other than to say it was being fully pursued by police.
Starc brilliance earns Australia series victory
By Ian Ransom
MELBOURNE, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Mitchell Starc shone with bat and ball as Australia dismissed Pakistan for 163 to secure an innings and 18-run victory in the second test on Friday, the win giving the hosts an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-match series.
Lanky left-arm paceman Starc smashed 84 with the bat, including a record seven sixes at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, then tore through Pakistan's tail with 4-36 as Australia's bowlers snatched an unlikely win from a rain-blighted match.
Pakistan's capitulation left their captain heart-broken and after falling for a second-ball duck with a rash sweep-shot, 42-year-old veteran Misbah-ul-Haq said he would consider retiring before the series finale in Sydney.
For home captain and man of the match Steve Smith, it was a golden day as he smashed an unbeaten 165 in the morning session and watched Pakistan disintegrate on a sun-bathed afternoon.
After declaring Australia's first innings at 624 for eight just before lunch, Smith gave his bowlers 68 overs to run through the tourists.
In the end, they needed only 53.2 overs of the quota as Pakistan's demise hastened against the reversing ball after tea.
"I said to the boys that cricket's a funny game and anything can happen," Smith told reporters of his morning address to his team.
"I thought Starcy was incredible.
"(It's) pretty surreal to have now wrapped up the series. We have got a lot of belief in the guys around. The guys are doing the hard yards to improve every day."
Pakistan lost the first test in Brisbane by 39 runs but won admiration for their dogged fourth innings resistance, when they put an Australian record total of 450 on the board.
Much of that acclaim evaporated on Friday as their shambolic batting followed an equally abysmal effort in the field in the morning.
LYON ROARS
Pakistan's 52-year wait for a maiden series win in Australia goes on and they have now lost four matches in succession.
"It was sheer pressure, I think," a downcast Misbah said of his team's surrender.
"In the second innings, (Australia) bowled good, really well... I think we should take the blame as a batting unit."
Australia spinner Nathan Lyon shrugged off recent form woes to bowl his best spell of the series, capturing three wickets in the middle session, two of them in three balls to remove stalwarts Younus Khan (24) and Misbah.
Rookie batsman Peter Handscomb was outstanding at short leg, clutching two tough chances to remove Younus and Asad Shafiq for 16.
Pakistan went to tea on a shaky 91-5 and three overs after the break, seamer Josh Hazlewood trapped Azhar Ali, Pakistan's last specialist batsman, lbw for 43.
Paceman Jackson Bird bowled Mohammad Amir for 11 and a sizzling Starc inswinger accounted for wicketkeeper Sarfraz Ahmed for 43, cleaned up through the gate.
Starc returned to bowl Wahab Riaz for a duck and wrapped up the win by having Yasir Shah sky an easy catch to Bird at mid-on.
Following the Hobart thrashing by South Africa, which surrendered the series, Australia's new-look team have won their last three matches in succession.
In Melbourne it was their senior players leading from the front, with David Warner's run-a-ball 143 and Smith's 17th ton setting a platform before Lyon and Starc brought the match home.
"We're still a work in progress. We're a young team and I'm proud of the boys," Smith added.
Mayor of China's Chongqing steps down, paving way for promotion
BEIJING, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The mayor of the major southwestern Chinese city of Chongqing has stepped down, the government said on Friday, paving the way for a promotion to a more senior position, possibly alongside Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing.
Sources told Reuters earlier this year that mayor Huang Qifan was tipped to replace Yang Jing as secretary-general of the State Council, or cabinet, making him Li's right-hand man to help tackle a stalling economy.
The cabinet secretary-general helps the premier oversee the entire spectrum of portfolios, from the economy to finance, industry, agriculture, energy, the environment, state planning and technology.
The Chongqing government said in a brief statement it had approved Huang's request to step down, without giving other details or saying where he might go next.
It named deputy mayor Zhang Guoqing as Chongqing's acting mayor.
Huang is widely respected as an expert on financial and economic affairs, appearing frequently as a commentator in domestic media.
He is also a political survivor, weathering a scandal in 2012 which clipped the wings of his high-flying and flamboyant boss, Bo Xilai, then Chongqing party secretary and a member of the party's decision-making Politburo.
Bo was sentenced to life in prison in 2013 for corruption and abuse of power.
In China, the downfall of a senior politician can often spell the same fate for his closest allies.
China official dealing with Taiwan accused of bribery
BEIJING, Dec 30 (Reuters) - China's state prosecutor on Friday formally accused a former deputy head of China's Taiwan Affairs Office with bribery and abuse of power, setting the stage for his trial.
Gong Qinggai was put under investigation by the ruling Communist Party in January. He is one of many officials targeted in an ongoing crackdown on corruption led by President Xi Jinping, but the case is particuarly sensitive because of Beijing's fraught relationship with Taiwan.
In a brief statement, the state prosecutor said Gong abused his power to "seek benefits for others" and illegally took large sums of money, meaning he will be prosecuted for bribery.
It said his suspected crimes took place while he held various government positions in the southeastern Chinese province of Fujian, which lies just across the narrow strait that separates China and Taiwan.
It was not possible to reach him for comment and unclear if he has been allowed to retain a lawyer. The legal system is controlled by the party, which will not challenge the accusations against him, meaning he is certain to be jailed.
In April, the party accused Gong of a variety of wrongdoing, including taking part in "superstitious activities", which usually refers to religious practices prohibited to party officials. The charge is often levelled at officials already under investigation for corruption.
Gong joined the Taiwan Affairs Office, which is in charge of policy towards the island, in 2013, having previously spent his entire working career with the Fujian government, according to his official biography.
China considers self-ruled Taiwan a wayward province to be brought under Beijing's control by force if needed. Defeated Nationalist forces fled there in 1949 at the end of China's civil war.
China has jailed dozens of senior officials since Xi launched a sweeping campaign against graft after assuming office four years, vowing to go after powerful "tigers" as well as lowly "flies".
Mexico's Maya point way to slow species loss, climate change
By Talli Nauman
FELIPE CARRILLO PUERTO, Mexico, Dec 30 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Maria Yam Perez scrambles eggs over a wood-saving, earth-block stove and stirs in freshly chopped chaya, a spinach-like jungle plant known for its versatility in cooking and medicine.
She points to the black soot from the hearth smoke, accumulated under the thatched roof, like tendrils of grey gossamer, and on the stick walls of the open-air kitchen.
"When a person has sweating, fever, chills, aches and cramps, this is used as medicine, mixed with honey, eggs and lime," she said. "If you go to the doctor and can't get relief, this is the traditional Maya remedy."
This day in December is a customary holiday celebrating the Mexican Virgin of Guadalupe, so later Yam Perez will don indigenous Maya dress to join in feasting, song and dance with her family and 250 others in the community of Felipe Carrillo Puerto.
Before that, she was busy making breakfast for a group visiting the community's eco-tourism centre of Sijil Noh Ha, set deep in the tropical forest of Mexico's southeastern Yucatan Peninsula, some 200 km (124 miles) southwest of the coastal resort city of Cancun.
The venture, an outgrowth of the community's forestry enterprise, discreetly showcases time-honoured native wisdom that protects biodiversity and helps build resilience to climate change - a hot topic at talks on the U.N. Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) held this month in Cancun.
Indigenous and community forestry is key to slowing species extinction and global warming, so governments must do more to guarantee the land rights of forest peoples, as well as their participation in decision-making, experts told the CBD's 13th major conference.
"Engaging with, and supporting indigenous peoples and local communities, is vital," said Maurizio Farhan Ferrari, environmental governance coordinator for the Forest Peoples Programme.
"Biological and cultural diversity together increase resilience to social, environmental and climate change," said Joji Carino, a working group coordinator for the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.
BIRDS AND JAGUARS
This is especially true in countries that are rich in biodiversity like Mexico. Here, in the fifth-most biologically diverse nation on earth, some 13 million people - about half belonging to Mexico's 62 indigenous peoples - live in, and administer, community forest lands, according to the Inter-American Development Bank.
Across Mexico and Central America, indigenous peoples and local communities have legally recognised rights to around 65 percent of the forests, containing one of the world's largest diversity hotspots, the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor, according to Andrew Davis, author of "Conservation and Community Rights", a book recently released by El Salvador's Regional Environment and Development Research Programme (PRISMA).
The world's ability to meet biodiversity protection targets will be a determining factor in the success of the new Paris Agreement on climate change, argues the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
The community of Felipe Carrillo Puerto, besides operating internationally certified lumber and sustainable tourism businesses, is monitoring the endangered jaguar (Panthera onca), which is of primordial importance to the Maya indigenous culture and nature's balance.
Felipe Carrillo Puerto and four other community forest enterprises in the Maya Jungle Alliance are providing ecosystem services to conserve the largest rainforest in Mexico and Central America, located in the Mesoamerican Biological Corridor.
Yam Perez is part of a 15-member team of women and youth who monitor birds in the alliance, which provides goods and services covering an area of nearly 213,450 hectares (527,446 acres).
The team's efforts are making habitat safe for wildlife reproduction and migration in the stretch of woodland between the two biosphere reserves of Sian Khan and Kalakmul, supported by the Global Environment Facility.
Income from the alliance's tourism projects and ecosystem services now outstrips logging receipts in several places. To diversify the portfolio further, Felipe Carrillo Puerto plans to establish a certified sawmill and furniture-making enterprise.
And in a carbon trading project - part of a programme to reduce planet-warming emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, backed by the Norwegian government - community members work banding tree trunks to measure their annual growth.
LEGAL REFORM
To ensure similar successes on the ground, all levels of government need to step up efforts to implement policy and programmes on traditional knowledge and sustainable use of resources in partnership with indigenous peoples and communities, experts say.
In most cases, "there hasn't been the necessary consultation process", said Gustavo Sanchez, president of the Network of Mexican Community Forestry Organisations (Red Mocaf).
Indigenous peoples and forest communities "have had to struggle hard to have their voices heard and to have their right to free, prior and informed consent recognised", said Edwin Vasquez Campos of the Coordination of Indigenous Organisations of the Amazon Basin (COICA).
A study issued this month on forest governance by Mexican research group Environmental Legislation and Policy (Polea) found that Mexico's laws and guidelines must be fine-tuned and financed further to make the community forestry model more effective.
Upcoming legislative initiatives offer that opportunity, according to the Global Legislators Organisation (GLOBE International), which commissioned the study.
Those initiatives include comprehensive reform of Mexico's General Law on Sustainable Forest Development, the creation of a General Law of Biodiversity, a bill to update the inspection process for environmental law violations, and a new General Law of Water.
Syria ceasefire holds after initial incidents - monitors, rebel official
BEIRUT, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A ceasefire deal between Syrian government forces and rebels that took effect at midnight held early on Friday, after initial isolated clashes and gunfire, a monitoring group and a rebel official said.
The truce was violated almost immediately after it came into effect as the warring sides clashed in the northwest of the country. However, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said hours later that the general "calm continues".
Poland - Factors to Watch Dec. 30
Following are news stories, press reports and events to watch that may affect Poland's financial markets on Friday. ALL TIMES GMT (Poland: GMT + 1 hour):
DATA
Poland's statistics office is to release December flash CPI data at 1300 GMT.
The central bank is scheduled to publish third-quarter balance of payments data also at 1300 GMT.
JSW
Coking coal miner JSW issued bonds worth 300 million zlotys ($71.46 million), which were subsequently purchased by the state-run Silesia fund, JSW said in a statement late on Thursday.
****Reuters has not verified stories reported by Polish media and does not vouch for their accuracy.****
Romania - Factors to watch on Dec. 30
Here are news stories, press reports and events to watch which may affect Romanian financial markets on Friday.
NEW PM
President Klaus Iohannis may nominate a prime minister designate to form a leftist-led Social-Democrat government.
Iohannis is widely expected to endorse the leftists' proposed premier - senior party member and former telecommunications minister Sorin Grindeanu.
The government will face a vote of confidence in parliament in the first week of 2017 and should easily win it as the new ruling coalition has outright support in parliament.
DEBT PLANS
Romania aims to sell 3.1 billion lei ($715 million) worth of leu currency bills and bonds in January, and an additional 315 million lei at non-competitive rounds of auctions.
CEE MARKETS
Romania's leu approached three-year lows against the euro on Thursday amid continuing uncertainty over fiscal policy under a leftist government that has yet to be set up.
Other Central European currencies also eased.
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Romania has set the 2017 mandatory renewable energy quota at 8.3 percent.
For the long-term Romanian diary, click on
For emerging markets economic events, click on
For an index of all diaries, click on
China's Xinjiang sets up legal team to prosecute terror cases
BEIJING, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Prosecutors in China's violence-prone far western region of Xinjiang have set up a special team to handle terror-related cases, state news agency Xinhua said on Friday.
Hundreds of people have been killed in recent years in resource-rich Xinjiang, on the borders of central Asia, in violence between the Muslim Uighur people who call the region home and ethnic majority Han Chinese.
The government has blamed the unrest on Islamist militants, though rights groups and exiles say anger at Chinese controls on the religion and culture of Uighurs is more to blame for the unrest. China denies any repression in Xinjiang.
The team will consist of 30 prosecutors in six parts of Xinjiang including Kashgar and Hotan, deep in southern Xinjiang's Uighur heartland, as well as regional capital Urumqi, Xinhua said.
These are all "important regions for targeting terrorism", the news agency quoted Guo Lianshan, Xinjiang's deputy chief prosecutor, as saying.
Attackers drove a vehicle into a government building in southern Xinjiang this week, setting off an explosive device and using knives to kill two people before all three of the assailants were shot dead.
Taiwan says president to transit Houston, San Francisco next month
TAIPEI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen will transit through Houston and San Francisco during her January visit to allies in Latin American countries, her office said Friday, a move certain to anger China which a day earlier urged the U.S. to block a stopover.
Tsai is transiting in the United States on her way to and from visiting Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador in that order. She will leave Taiwan on Jan. 7 and return on Jan. 15.
But Presidential Office spokesman Alex Huang would not comment when asked if Tsai would meet members of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's team while in the United States.
Lead exposure in children: a guide to U.S. standards
By Joshua Schneyer and M.B. Pell
NEW YORK, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The following is a guide to the standards on lead exposure set by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the U.S. public health monitor, and other health authorities. Lead exposure is measured in micrograms per deciliter of blood.
>0 (g/dL): Even at birth, all people have some lead in their blood. However, the CDC says no level of exposure has been deemed safe for children.
1.0 - 1.3 (g/dL): Average blood lead level among U.S. children ages 1-5.
3.5 (g/dL): The CDC is considering using this level as a new "reference value" to identify children under age six with elevated blood lead levels. The threshold is lowered periodically to reflect new data from a national health and nutritional survey.
5 (g/dL): The CDC's current reference level for an elevated childhood blood level that warrants public health action, close monitoring or case management. Some 500,000 U.S. children are at or above this level, which some states define as lead poisoning.
10 (g/dL): Children who reach this threshold require closer attention and action to limit further lead exposure. Many states conduct inspections of the poisoned child's living environment to identify exposure sources. Research shows that a blood lead level of 10 (g/dL) can lower IQ by 4 to 6 points on average.
45 (g/dL): Poisoning that may require hospitalization and chelation drug treatment, which helps the body to excrete lead. The drugs aren't considered effective for children with lower blood lead levels.
>70 (g/dL): Left unchecked, acute lead poisoning can cause seizures, coma and death.
Sources: CDC, state health agencies, poisoning prevention programs, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Bill Gates warns world "vulnerable" to deadly epidemic in next decade
By Emma Batha
LONDON, Dec 30 (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - Billionaire philanthropist Bill Gates warned on Friday that the world was vulnerable to a deadly epidemic of an illness like flu, with the recent Ebola and Zika outbreaks underlining weaknesses in global efforts to tackle health crises swiftly.
Gates, whose foundation invests in improving healthcare in developing countries, said the global emergency response system was not strong enough and the ability to create new drugs and vaccines quickly was lacking.
He added that there needed to be more focus on developing treatments for likely epidemics.
"I cross my fingers all the time that some epidemic like a big flu doesn't come along in the next 10 years," Microsoft Corp founder Gates told Britain's BBC radio.
"I do think we will have much better medical tools, much better response, but we are a bit vulnerable right now if something spread very quickly, like a flu, that was quite fatal."
But Gates defended the World Health Organization (WHO) over widespread criticism of its handling of the 2014 Ebola crisis that killed thousands in west Africa, saying the agency was neither funded, nor staffed, to meet all the expectations.
He also raised concerns over growing antimicrobial resistance to drugs, saying the success of antibiotics had created complacency.
The misuse and overuse of antibiotics is accelerating antimicrobial resistance which is already complicating efforts to treat tuberculosis, HIV and malaria.
Gates said richer countries must help developing nations tackle disease, both for humanitarian reasons and for their own self-interest.
He said international co-operation had almost succeeded in wiping out polio which remains endemic only in Pakistan and Afghanistan.
If there are no new cases in the next three years polio will become the second human disease to be eradicated after smallpox in 1980.
Catalan referendum on independence 'not possible' says Spain PM
By Sarah White and Sonya Dowsett
MADRID, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy on Friday flatly rejected the possibility of any referendum in the northeastern region of Catalonia on a split from Spain, telling local leaders to desist from attempts to hold one next year.
Catalan leaders have vowed to hold a referendum on secession before September 2017 with or without consent from the central government, although they would prefer a consensual vote like the one Scotland held in 2014. Scots voted to remain part of the United Kingdom.
"It is not possible to hold a referendum that will do away with national sovereignty and the equality of Spaniards," Rajoy told a year-end news conference, adding he was always open to talks over other issues but the law was clear that a referendum was illegal.
"This is not going anywhere, I'm offering something which is a lot more reasonable, dialogue," Rajoy said. "I ask that no more steps are taken in the opposite direction."
High unemployment and austerity cuts following an economic crisis have intensified a long-standing separatist movement in the wealthly northeastern region.
Catalans held a symbolic ballot on independence from Spain in 2014 following a legal block by the central government against a formal vote. Nearly two million Catalans voted in favour of seceding from Spain but turnout was low.
Many senior politicians involved in that vote, manned by grassroots pro-independence organisations, have since faced sanctions or trials for pursuing measures which were deemed illegal by Spain's Constitutional Court.
Pro-independence parties came to power in the local Catalan assembly in 2015. Catalan President Carles Puigdemont said on Wednesday the region would have a mandate to unilaterally declare independence if more than 50 percent of residents voted in favour of the plebiscite he wants to hold next year.
However, support for a break with Spain has ebbed over the past six months, a poll showed on Thursday.
The number of Catalans who oppose secession stood at 46.8 percent in December, up from 45.1 percent in November and 42.4 percent in June, according to the regional authority's official pollster.
Romania's Grindeanu named PM-designate, to quickly form cabinet
By Radu-Sorin Marinas
BUCHAREST, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Romania's president accepted Sorin Grindeanu for the post of prime minister on Friday after rejecting the Social Democrat Party's (PSD) previous nominee, clearing the way for a new leftist government to be formed next week.
Grindeanu, 43, a mathematician and former deputy mayor of the city of Timisoara, will seek a vote of confidence on Jan. 4 in parliament, where the PSD and a junior ally have a majority.
The PSD returns to power after being ousted just over a year ago when a deadly fire in a Bucharest nightclub brought public anger and protests over corruption and public administration failings.
Run by an official convicted of electoral fraud, which he denies, the PSD appears to have won the support of many Romanians with promises of increased social spending and economic security.
But its rule will be closely watched by Romania's European Union partners because the PSD is considered to be soft on corruption and budgetary prudence.
"I got an SMS in the morning ... I didn't have this number. It only said: 'Good luck! - Klaus Iohannis'," Grindeanu told reporters about his presidential endorsement.
PSD leader Liviu Dragnea told reporters on Friday a new cabinet should become fully functioning on Wednesday: "We've reached the final stretch so that our governing programme can be enforced the way we designed it," Dragnea said.
The PSD's first pick to lead the cabinet was Sevil Shhaideh, a close associate of Dragnea, whose conviction in a 2012 vote-rigging case ruled him out of the job.
Iohannis rejected the nomination of Shhaideh, a 52-year-old woman from Romania's 65,000-strong Muslim community, without giving a reason.
"The (PSD) are about to rule in a very comfortable governing formula, with solid support in parliament, having a young but experienced politician from the PSD's new generation," said political commentator Cristian Patrasconiu.
"A new budget will surely go as they plan, sometime in January."
Some economists warn the PSD is likely to burst the EU's budget ceiling of three percent of GDP next year.
A cut in value-added tax and a big hike in the minimum wage and state pensions are scheduled for next year, fulfilling PSD campaign promises.
Brazil police suspect wife in murder of Greek ambassador - TV report
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Rio de Janeiro investigators suspect that Greece's ambassador to Brazil was murdered at the behest of his wife and a police officer with whom she was romantically involved, Globo TV reported on Friday, citing police sources.
Greek Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, had been missing since Monday night. His Brazilian wife, Francoise, reported him missing to police on Wednesday. The pair have a 10-year-old daughter.
Police also confirmed to Globo TV that the body has been identified as being Amiridis.
Investigators told Globo TV they believe Amiridis' wife and the police officer, Sergio Moreira, arranged and possibly carried out the murder in a home where the diplomat and his wife were staying in a northern Rio suburb.
Both Amiridis' wife and the police officer were in police custody, and it was not known if they had retained lawyers. The Greek embassy in Brasilia declined to comment.
Police and Rio state security officials along with Greek officials declined to comment to Reuters on the television report, nor would they provide any other details.
In Athens, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Stratos Efthymiou said the government had no comment about the case.
Two other suspects were in custody, but they were not identified, Globo reported.
The O Globo newspaper earlier reported that blood was found on a couch inside the home. Globo TV on Friday afternoon showed police carrying a sofa into police headquarters.
A burned corpse was found Thursday evening inside the car that Amiridis and his wife had rented. It was parked under a highway overpass in the area where the couple had been staying.
On Thursday, police confirmed that the ambassador had been missing since Monday night, when he was last seen leaving the home he owned with his wife.
The incident is another blow to Rio's image, just four months after it hosted the Summer Olympics.
The neighborhood where the car was found is dominated by powerful and politically connected armed groups mostly comprised of off-duty or retired police and firefighters who control vast areas. They are believed to often extort residents in exchange for keeping drug gangs from taking over the areas.
The armed groups have grown in strength in Rio for several years, and often curry favor with local politicians by promising to deliver votes from entire neighborhoods as long as authorities allow them to carry out their crimes.
Crime in Rio has been rising and the state is deeply indebted, often unable to pay police and other salaries on time, if at all.
Philippines may relocate naval drills with U.S. - defence minister
MANILA, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has asked his defence minister to move joint naval exercises with the United States away from the disputed South China Sea as Duterte tries to repair Manila's ties with China.
The Philippines has already decided to reduce the number of drills it holds with its long-term ally and former colonial master after Duterte announced a sudden pivot towards China.
Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters at a military ceremony on Friday that Duterte had advised him to seek a new location for the war games.
"We might move the naval exercises facing the South China Sea to Mindanao area to avoid annoying our neighbour, so let us be sensitive of our neighbours," he said.
Duterte visited Beijing in October and announced that he was loosening ties with Washington, which has provided nearly $800 million in military aid since 2002.
Chinese-Filipino relations were strained in 2013 when Manila asked an international tribunal in The Hague to rule on China's claim to large parts of the South China Sea, where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China but Beijing, which has been building and fortifying artificial islands in the area, refused to recognise the decision.
Duterte reiterated on Thursday that he wanted to avoid confrontation with China and saw no need for urgency in pressing it to abide by the ruling.
Israel warns on travel to India, citing immediate threat of attacks
JERUSALEM, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Israel's anti-terrorism directorate issued a travel warning for India on Friday, citing an immediate threat of attack to Western and tourist targets, particularly in the south-west of the country.
"A particular emphasis should be put on events in the coming days in connection with beach and club parties celebrating the New Year where a concentration of tourists will be high," part of the warning said.
The statement recommended that tourists avoid participation in such parties. It also called on families in Israel to contact their relatives in India and tell them of the threat.
In addition, it recommended avoiding markets, festivals and crowded shopping areas. Unusually, the warning was published on Friday evening in Israel, after the start of the Jewish Sabbath, when government offices close for business.
The directorate did not say what prompted the warning.
In 2012, the wife of Israeli diplomat stationed in India, her driver and two others were wounded in a bomb attack on her car. Israel and India share close military ties.
Brazil says Greek ambassador murdered by wife's policeman lover
By Paulo Prada
RIO DE JANEIRO, Dec 30 (Reuters) - A Rio de Janeiro policeman confessed to murdering Greece's ambassador to Brazil in what investigators on Friday called a "cowardly act" carried out at the direction of the diplomat's Brazilian wife with whom the officer was romantically involved.
Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was missing since Monday night. Francoise, his Brazilian wife and the mother of their 10-year-old daughter, reported him missing to police on Wednesday.
Officer Sergio Moreira, 29, confessed to police on Friday that he killed the ambassador late Monday night in the Rio de Janeiro home the Amiridises owned in Nova Iguacu, a hardscrabble neighborhood in the city's sprawling, violent northern outskirts.
Investigator Evaristo Magalhaes told reporters that Francoise, 40, and Moreira had arranged the murder a few days in advance.
Both Amiridis' wife and the officer are in custody. Police have also detained a cousin of the officer, who Magalhaes said acted as a lookout while the crime was committed and helped carry the body from the house with the promise that he would be paid 80,000 reais ($25,000).
"This was a tragic, cowardly act, but we worked tirelessly to crack this case as soon as possible," Magalhaes told a news conference. "It was a crime of passion."
Brazilian President Michel Temer, in a letter addressed to Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras, said the ambassador's killing had caused him profound sadness and he extended his condolences to the ambassador's family, friends and the Greek people.
The Greek embassy in Brasilia declined to comment. In Athens, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Stratos Efthymiou said the government also had no comment.
Amiridis served as Greece's consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004. He was Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 until he took the top Brazil post at the beginning of 2016.
BLOOD ON COUCH
Magalhaes said that blood was found on a couch inside the home and the ambassador was likely stabbed to death as no shots were reported in the area. However, he said it was not yet possible to determine the exact cause of death because the policeman had burned the ambassador's body in an attempt to cover up the crime.
A burned corpse was found on Thursday evening inside the car that Amiridis and his wife had rented. It was parked under a highway overpass in the area where the couple had been staying.
On Thursday, police confirmed that the ambassador had been missing since Monday night, when he was last seen leaving the Rio home he shared with his wife, which was located near her family's residence in Nova Iguacu.
The incident is another blow to Rio's image, just four months after it hosted the Summer Olympics.
Crime in Rio has been rising and the state is deeply indebted, often unable to pay police and other salaries on time, if at all.
The neighborhood where the car was found is dominated by powerful and politically connected armed groups comprised mostly of off-duty or retired police and firefighters who control vast areas.
They often extort residents in exchange for keeping drug gangs from taking over the areas.
The armed groups have grown for several years and often curry favor with local politicians by promising to deliver votes from entire neighborhoods as long as authorities allow them to carry out their crimes.
Prof. R. Sivachandran, a Central Committee member of Ilankai Tamil Arasu Kachchi (ITAK), in an interview with the Dailymirror by email, advocates the Federal structure of government for the North and East. The ITAK is the dominant ally of the Tamil National Alliance (TNA) at the moment. Expressing views at the time a constitution-making process is underway, he says powers cannot be devolved under a unity form of government as in today, fulfilling the aspirations of the Tamil people. Excerpts of the interview.
Q. There is a strong demand for Federalism from your end. What do you exactly refer to by a Federal solution?
What we mean is two tiers of government. Each acting directly on their citizens. A formal distribution of legislative and executive authority and allocation of revenue resources between the two orders of government. That includes some areas of authority for each order. The provision for the representation of regional views within the central policy-making institutions is also sought in this exercise.
Here, a chamber consisting of regional representatives at the centre to prevent unreasonable encroachment by the centre on regional powers is sought. In a Federal structure of government, a balance has to be maintained. Neither level of government should become dominant. One cannot dictate to the other on decision-making. One should not be legally subordinate to the other.
Devolutionary Federalism should redistribute the powers of the State among its entities that obtain autonomous status within their field of responsibility. The goal is to achieve unity among diverse and pluralist society. This system has been proved to be efficient and congenial, and it restricts the powers and promotes participatory democracy. The people far from the capital city will have greater access to wielders of power. A regional government will be able to focus on the particular concerns of the given area and act according to the wishes of people. It provides for shared rule at the centre and self-rule in the regions with dignity for people.
Q. What are the reasons for you to reject a unitary constitution?
The unitary constitutions which have been made since independence have denied equal rights to minorities. In fact, they have taken away the rights and privileges enshrined in the Constitution made by the previous colonial rule. Post-independence unitary constitutions of Sri Lanka have unfortunately been partisan documents drafted by the successive governments to suit their needs and to toe political agendas. These home-grown unitary constitutions were rejected by the minority communities. These are not consensus and all-inclusive documents at all.
Q. There is an argument that power should be decentralised and not devolved. What are your views?
Decentralisation of power has been followed for a long period of time in Sri Lanka. In the local context, this has not satisfied the needs and aspirations of the people distantly located from the capital. Under decentralisation, some central government powers of decision-making are exercised by officials of the very same central government located in various parts of the country. This lacks participation of people and their elected representations. Therefore, decentralisation is not an effective and efficient system to meet the needs of the people who are far from the capital.
Q. How do you support your argument that the North and East are the exclusive home of Tamil speaking people?
There is no doubt that the North and East are the homeland of Tamil speaking people from time immemorial -- where their language, religions, culture and distinct traits followed for centuries. This has been accepted by the colonial rulers too. In the 13th Amendment to the Constitution, it is said the North and East were historical habitation of Tamil speaking people. The words exclusive homeland can be changed to homeland. Before the settlement of people from other areas of the country through the state -sponsored colonisation schemes since the establishment of the Galoya Scheme in 1930s and other colonisation schemes, Tamil speaking people were the predominant majority in the North and East. The general trend of the world is to demarcate regions on the basis of their linguistic identity. This is applicable to the North and East as well. Tamil speaking people are the majority in the North and East, and they have a legitimate claim for their homeland as the Sinhala people in other provinces of Sri Lanka.
This sub-natural consciousness has been forced upon Tamil speaking people by discriminatory legislations introduced by the successive regimes after independence. If equal rights and privileges are given to all the communities throughout the country, all citizens, irrespective of their race and religion, feel Sri Lanka as their homeland.
Q. What are your views on the 13th Amendment to the Constitution?
The 13th amendment provided for the establishment of Provincial Councils (PCs). The PCs enjoy legislative power over subject matters specified in the Provincial Council and concurrent lists. The 13th Amendment to the Constitution and Provincial Councils Act.No.42 of 1987 did not meet the aspirations of the Tamil people, but they hoped comprehensive power devolution would evolve. This amendment is a starting point for further devolution of power. In short, people have easy access to government services after the establishment of Provincial Councils.
Councils
As the Provincial Council system functions under the unitary system, powers of the Provincial Council are restricted.
The following matters should be considered for further democratisation of the Provincial Council system; The Governor should be made a nominal head; Subjects matters under the concurrent list should be assigned to either Provincial Councils or the Central government. It means it should be abolished; Provincial Public Service should be vested in the Board of Ministers. The national Public Service should be vested with the Cabinet of Ministers; The powers relating to State lands. Police are devolved subjects. They have not been given to the Provincial Councils; The Chief Minister of the Province should be allowed to establish the Chief Ministers Fund and negotiate direct foreign aid projects in the Province.
The 13th amendment made Tamil also an official language of Sri Lanka. There has not been much progress in implementation despite our efforts made. In practice, the Tamil Language has been relegated to the position of a provisional language. Language rights of the Tamil speaking people should be ensured. Bilingual administration in the specified Divisional Secretariats should be implemented.
Q. How realistic is a political solution in keeping with the aspirations of the Tamils under the current political development?
The majority of citizens voted for a change at the Presidential election in January 2015. They voted to preserve democracy and to uphold human rights and good governance. Finding a solution to the ethnic issue is a long-felt need. This issue has affected every sector in the country. The formation of a government by the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) with minority parties has created a conducive condition to find a political solution with that can be reached.
We do not think any citizen advocates separatism. The minorities want a sense of security, peace, equal right with Sinhalese. Some politicians mislead the masses by saying Federalism is separatism. Politicians should not work for their political agenda. They should work for the well-being of the people. The politicians and leading personalities in the civil society should explain to the people how ethnic problems have been solved in developed and under-developed countries after devastating wars. Aspirations of the Tamils can be achieved under an undivided Sri Lanka. If politicians act as statesmen, it is not a major issue.
Two years after he was unseated, former President Mahinda Rajapaksa for the first time explicitly stated his intent to make a political comeback, saying he wants to topple the current government in 2017, the Hindu reported.
While the National Unity government, led by President Maithripala Sirisena and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe, has a majority in Parliament, it may not last as they are fighting each other, he told Colombo-based foreign correspondents on Thursday.
Sri Lankas Constitution disallows dissolution of the Parliament before four and a half years. The Sirisena-Wickremesinghe combine currently has about 155 seats in the 225-member Parliament.
The pro- Rajapaksa faction of the Sri Lanka Freedom Party which President Sirisena leads sits in Opposition, with nearly 50 members.
In a wide-ranging discussion at his Colombo residence, Mr. Rajapaksa, attired in a multi-coloured sarong and half-sleeved shirt, spoke at length about his political project for 2017 and on Western, Chinese and Indian diplomacy in Sri Lanka. He attributed his defeat in the January 2015 presidential polls to the opposition campaign that he accused the U.S. and India of backing. That was too much for us. We didnt know what was going on inside the party, he said, alluding to President Sirisenas unexpected defection to the joint coalition that challenged him.
He blamed his successor-government of failing in management and development of the country. The biggest thing they did was they stopped all the development work and they started taking revenge.
Commenting on the governments contentious joint venture with the Hong Kong-based China Merchants Port Holdings Company Sri Lanka plans to lease 80 per cent of the port in the southern Hambantota district to it Mr. Rajapaksa said his administration only wanted to give the Chinese 750 acres for an industrial park, but the current government had agreed to part with 15,000 acres.
This is the peoples land. No other country would have given land like that, he said, adding he did not oppose investment, but opposed privatisation.
In a strong critique of Indian diplomacy, he said: Those days our Indian friends were shouting at me when a (Chinese) submarine came calling at the Colombo Port, they were very worried... Now they are like a mouse. Suggesting that India had other interests in forcing this apparent shift in its response to Colombo-Beijing ties, the former President said: They [India] also must be getting something. I dont know whether the Trincomalee Harbour is going to them or Palaly [airport] and Kanesanthurai [harbour], referring to projects in the north and east.
He said he opposed the Economic and Technological Cooperation Agreement with India, which Prime Minister Wickremesinghe has been pushing. India should not do this. They have to be very cautious about it. Because when the people go against you all, go against the country it is not good for them, not good for us.
On Indias role during the end of the war, which former NSA Shivshankar Menon speaks of in his recent book Choices, Mr. Rajapaksa admitted to receiving New Delhis help to defeat the LTTE. Yes, I have said that [before]. But they didnt want to come out. Because of South Indian attitudes.
Admitting that there was some truth in the criticism that he failed to unite the country after the civil war ended, the former President said: Unfortunately, I thought people must have their basic facilities I didnt do politics there. I first gave them everything they needed to live.
On whether he had misjudged the peoples requirements the northern Tamils overwhelmingly voted against him in 2015 -- he said politicians and the diaspora had influenced them.
When I wanted to move on political solutions, I invited [TNA leader] Sampanthan and other political parties. They didnt want to have anything to do with me at that time. They didnt even want to discuss with me, he said, adding:
In a scathing attack of the United States, which vocally criticised him during his presidency, Mr. Rajapaksa said the US had spent nearly 650 million dollars to bring about a regime change. Blaming the current government for cosying up with the super power and roping them to train its officials, he said angrily: Let the Americans come and rule the country.
On his political future, Mr. Rajapaksa said he had initially planned to retire from politics following his January 2015 defeat, but the current government "went after him", forcing him to "respond". Asked if he was confident of making a comeback, the two-time President said: Very. Earlier when I said that I am going to defeat Prabakaran, I knew, I could he said, emphasising he felt similar confidence now.
Video by Anuradha Priyadarshana
The suspect remanded on charges of posting anaudio recording on Facebook with death threats on the President, Prime Minister and Opposition Leader was today released on bail by Colombo Additional Magistrate Aruni Attigalle.
The 26-year-old suspect, Dinush Chamara is a resident of Rathgama.
Investigations revealed that he was the administrator of a Facebook page known as 'Sokarina'. The audio recording contained, "The end of Maithripala will be from a Sinhala Buddhist, says an official attached to the President's Security Division..."
The CID said the suspectin his Facebook page also invited people to assassinatethe President, Prime Minister and Opposition Leader.
The case was postponed for January 27. (Shehan Chamika Silva)
President Maithripala Sirisena is seen paying his last respects to late former Prime Minister Ratnasiri Wickremanayake at Mr. Wickremanayakes resident in Horana this morning. Pix by Presidents Media
Sri Lankas rice prices have sky rocketed with Maha seasonal harvest being hit by drought and a alleged foul play by a government minister in releasing the paddy stocks held by the government. Officials say the harvest of the next Yala season in 2017 could also be damaged even if rains return
Pic by Pradeep Pathirana
State Minister of Local Government and Provincial Councils Piyankara Jayaratne is reported to have tendered his resignation to President Maithripala Sirisena today.
The report of the delimitation Review Committee headed by Asoka Peiris was to be handed over to him as the Acting Minister. (Kelum Bandara)
The controversial Economic and Technical Cooperation Agreement (ETCA) currently being negotiated with India may not create market access and competition in the scale that is expected by Sri Lanka due to toxic politics that have prevailed between the two countries for a long time, a leading economist and a policy analyst opines.
According to Prof. Razeen Sally, an Associate Professor at Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy at the National University of Singapore, the politics played at both sides of the negotiation table could undermine the true results intended from the trade pact.
We are not going to see that many new markets opened, new competition and forging of much deeper integration between Sri Lanka and India because of politics of both sides and particularly of politics here (Sri Lanka), he noted.
Prof. Sally, who is also the Chairman of Institute of Policy Studies in Sri Lanka, a State-funded policy think tanknoted that the realizing of the true potential of the agreement is doubtful given the significantly high level of protectionism on the part of India when entering into trade pacts, as already seen from the unresolved non-tariff barriers (NTBs) of the existing Indo-Lanka Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
The current administration and a section of economists appear to believe that the proposed ETCA as a panacea for all economic ills of Sri Lanka. However, they admit that NTBs are a key issue when trading with India.
The defensive mechanisms and the parochial mindset of the Lankans could also weigh on the proposed agreements intended results.
While agreeing that Sri Lanka needs to forge better economic links across the Palk Strait, given its location, Prof. Sally cast his doubts over the success of the final product because Sri Lankas track record in trade negations remain poor.
The negotiations werent prepared here and certainly the communication with the Sri Lankan public was not done, Prof. Sally told a public seminar in Colombo organized by Advocata Institute, an independent public policy think tank, jointly with the business magazine, Echelon recently. He stressed not just the ETCA, but even the other bi-lateral trade pacts negotiated with China and Singapore, will not result in higher trade and other intended economic outcomes without the fundamental reforms in the economy.
None of them (FTAs) is going to make a serious difference to the Sri Lankan economy at the way it operates. It requires much more fundamental reforms, he added.
He insisted on policy makers to forging better links with the four states of South India.We need much better bi-lateral links with four States of South India in addition to the ETCA negotiations, he said.
However Sri Lanka relations with the government of Tamil Nadu is strained over the alleged violation of human rights of the Tamils in the North and the illegal fishing by the South Indian fishers in Lankan waters risking the livelihoods of the Northern fishing community.
Prof. Sally, who is a classical liberal economist, was of the view that Sri Lankan businesses should plug themselves into the South Indian supply chains to make use of those links as a springboard to reach global markets.
But there is a significantly higher trade imbalance between the two countries. Trade data between the two countries for 2015 showed Sri Lanka had imported US $ 4.3 billion worth of goods from India while exporting only US $ 643 million worth of goods to India.
Prof. Sally also said Sri Lanka must invite the first tier, highly respected South Indian business houses to learn from their best practices and create competition in the local market, which is now dominated by a few who do not want competition.
We need more competition and best practice among first tier Indian business houses starting with South Indian business houses like Murugappa in Chennai. This is precisely what Sri Lanka needs and that should be a platform for better Sri Lankan companies to go global, he remarked.
Speaking about the movement of people under ETCA, which is now under negotiation, Professor Sally welcomed the move and said Sri Lanka needs Indian professionals to overcome mediocrity in the local talent pool.
In reality, we need Indian professionals in Sri Lanka. We need professionals and intellectuals from all over the world partly to overcome the mediocrity of those who are in commanding heights in business in Sri Lanka.
False report sends police to McDonald's
COLUMBUS Columbus Police detained a male subject Wednesday evening after receiving a telephone call reporting a man with a gun at the local McDonald's.
Police said the subject was taken to the police station for questioning and later released when it was determined the call shortly after 6:30 p.m. was a false report.
Officer Scott Hanis said the incident remains under investigation.
Detention Center
The inmate count at the Platte County Detention Facility Tuesday was 67, with 44 from Platte County and 23 from out of county.
Police
Dec. 15
9:47 p.m. In the 4300 block of 23rd Street, Davis Harrington, 22, 2211 24th St., was cited for driving under the influence, leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving.
Dec. 23
7:19 p.m. At the intersection of 15th Street and 23rd Avenue, Mary Crumley, 63, 3715 18th St., was cited for a traffic signal violation.
Dec. 25
12:34 a.m. At 2666 Prairie Place, Karell Rodriguez-Alvarez, 34, 2666 Prairie Place, was cited for third-degree domestic assault.
Dec. 27
12:09 p.m. At the intersection of 45th Avenue and 23rd Street, traffic accident. Drivers were Amanda Novak, 18, 2021 26th St., and Duane Klein, 60, Fremont.
Dec. 28
12:30 p.m. Criminal mischief at 2904 18th St., vehicle vandalized, $150 loss.
7:11 p.m. Theft at 2121 25th St., $45 cash stolen.
Sheriff
Dec. 23
8:50 a.m. On Highway 39, 3.5 miles north of St. Edward, a vehicle driven by Heather Colby, 28, Monroe, lost control and went into a ditch.
Dec. 27
1:14 a.m. Traffic violation at the intersection of Highway 22 and 310th Street, Marjie Briscoe of Madison cited for speeding.
Dec. 28
2:45 p.m. Wanted person at the Platte County Courthouse, 2610 14th St., Morgan Fajman jailed on a Platte County warrant.
11:38 p.m. Traffic violation at the intersection of Highway 91 and 310th Avenue, Brent Podliskia of Madison cited for speeding.
11:49 p.m. Theft at 23179 287th St. in Platte Center, $150 loss.
Fire
Dec. 27
8:57 a.m. In the 2400 block of 29th Avenue, medical.
2:02 p.m. On Cottonwood Drive, medical.
7:15 p.m. In the 2200 block of 22nd Street, medical.
11:30 p.m. In the 2200 block of 22nd Street, medical.
Dec. 28
12:08 a.m. In the 2600 block of 18th Avenue, medical.
2 a.m. In the 2800 block of 40th Avenue, medical.
9:49 a.m. - In the 3700 block of Lakeview Lane, medical
11:11 a.m. - In the 2600 block of Ninth Street, medical.
1:57 p.m. - In the 2200 block of 22nd Street, medical.
10:01 p.m. - Fire alarm in the 600 block of South 32nd Avenue.
10:22 p.m. - In the 4000 block of 38th Street, medical.
10:50 p.m. - In the 1500 block of 24th Avenue, medical.
LINCOLN People acquitted of crimes or whose charges are dropped will have their Nebraska court records automatically sealed beginning in 2017.
The sweeping change, which will affect tens of thousands of cases each year, was approved by the Legislature in April at the request of an association representing the state's criminal defense attorneys.
Under the law, which takes effect Sunday, state courts will begin immediately sealing records of cases that end with a not guilty verdict or are dismissed for other reasons, unless they are the subject of an ongoing appeal.
Anyone whose record is sealed may also answer "no" on job applications when asked if they've ever been charged with a crime, assuming they don't have other charges that aren't sealed.
"It's as if it never happened, which is exactly what it should be," said Muirne Heaney, an attorney with Legal Aid of Nebraska.
The change is a "huge deal" for low-income people, Heaney said.
"Because, No. 1, they're policed more, and more likely to be arrested for things that don't stick. And yet they've got this record which would interfere with entry-level employment."
Allowing job seekers to omit the charges from applications will help them get work, she said.
The change applies to cases that end in acquittal, are dropped by prosecutors, resolved through drug court or another problem-solving court or dismissed following a hearing and not the subject of a pending appeal.
Cases dismissed before 2017 won't be expunged automatically. But Heaney believes judges may apply the new law to older records on an individual, as-requested basis.
She is working on "self-help" forms for people seeking to have past cases removed from the public record, citing the new law as justification. The forms will be available at Legal Aid locations in Lincoln and Omaha.
It's unclear exactly how many people will be affected, but the number is significant.
Nebraska courts take on more than 300,000 new cases per year, although state Supreme Court officials couldn't immediately provide data on how many end without convictions.
Police arrest records must already be withheld from the public if a person is never charged or has his or her case dismissed, under a 2007 bill by state Sen. Ernie Chambers of Omaha.
The new law expands to include records found in the state's online court database, known as Justice, as well as printed copies in courthouses across Nebraska, said Omaha Sen. Bob Krist, who sponsored the more recent legislation (LB505).
The court records will still exist, but once they are sealed, they can't be shared with the public unless the subject allows it, is being prosecuted, jailed or imprisoned or is an announced candidate or holder of public office.
Information also may be used for research or statistical purposes as long as the individual isn't publicly identified.
Douglas County Attorney Don Kleine said Thursday that prosecutors and law enforcement agencies are waiting to see how the law affects their investigations.
Even without a conviction, a person's court records can be valuable to investigators, for example, when charges are dropped against cooperating witnesses, he said.
While prosecutors can still request that information, it's unclear how difficult the process will be.
"Well just see how it works," Kleine said.
Other concerns were raised when the change was proposed in 2015.
Alan Peterson, a lobbyist for the American Civil Liberties Union of Nebraska, called a majority of the bill "terrific" but worried about letting people who have been accused of crimes swear they never were.
Employers and other officials are prohibited from asking about sealed records during an application process, but if the question is asked anyway, the person "may respond as if the offense never occurred," the law says.
"I don't know of any place where federal or state law tells somebody they can directly lie about something," Peterson told members of the Legislature's Judiciary Committee.
Media of Nebraska, which represents news outlets including the Lincoln Journal Star, was neutral on the bill.
There might be public interest in knowing about cases even if they end in acquittal, said Korby Gilbertson, a Media of Nebraska lobbyist. To some extent, the law allows people to rewrite history, she said.
"It's a balancing of interests, there's no question about that," said Kim Dunovan, a retired Omaha attorney who crafted the bill with the Nebraska Criminal Defense Attorney's Association.
But the stigma from an arrest record "weighs heavily" on people's ability to get a job or find a rental home, she said, especially now that the internet has made those records easier to find.
A majority of states offer some privacy protection for people who are legally innocent of a crime, Dunovan said. Some even allow for sealing records of convictions in nonviolent cases, including certain felonies.
Said Heaney: "I think Nebraska is late to this game."
Other law changes that take effect Sunday include:
Gas tax increase
Nebraska's tax on motor fuels will go up 1.5 cents, to 27.2 cents per gallon, because of a 2015 legislative bill that increases the tax 6 cents over a four-year period. The bill, LB610, was sponsored by Sen. Jim Smith of Papillion.
Homestead exemptions
Veterans' surviving spouses can keep their homestead exemptions even if they remarry after age 57 under a bill (LB683) sponsored by Omaha Sen. Joni Craighead.
Surgical first assistants
Trained assistants who are not surgeons can become licensed to help with surgeries under a bill (LB721) sponsored by Sen. Roy Baker of Lincoln.
Online accounts upon death
A process is now in place for Nebraskans to designate how their old online accounts (Facebook, email, etc.) should be handled when they die under a bill (LB829) sponsored by Omaha Sen. Burke Harr.
Consumer protection
Minors will be better protected from identity theft with new requirements for consumer reporting agencies under a bill (LB835) sponsored by Omaha Sen. Heath Mello at the request of Attorney General Doug Peterson.
State rules and regulations
A bill (LB867) sponsored by the Legislature's Performance Audit Committee ensures state agencies follow the formal rules and regulations process, which includes public notice and a hearing, when adopting policies that affect people's lives.
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Entrenamiento Capacitacion en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada, Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica SpA, Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centura-SCA Holdings LLC, Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte Surgery Center LLC, Charlotte Surgery Properties LTD., Charlotte-SC LLC, Chatham Orthopaedic ASC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Claims Management Systems Inc., Cleburne Surgical Center LLC, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinton Partners LLC, Clinica Alameda SpA, Clinica Bio Bio SpA, Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.p.A., Clinica Iquique S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica Portoazul S.A., Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.p.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A.S., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Cobranzas Banmedica SpA, Cogent Healthcare IPA of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare Inc., Cogent Healthcare Management of New York Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Arizona P.C., Cogent Healthcare of California Prof. Corp., Cogent Healthcare of Georgia P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Illinois LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Iowa P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Jackson MS LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Jacksonville LLC, Cogent Healthcare of Mississippi Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Missouri Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Montana P.C., Cogent Healthcare of New Jersey P.C., Cogent Healthcare of North Carolina P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Oregon P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Pensacola L.L.C., Cogent Healthcare of Tennessee P.C., Cogent Healthcare of Virginia Inc., Cogent Healthcare of Washington P.C., Cogent Medical Care P.C., Cogent Patient Safety Organization Inc., Cogent/Endion Medical Care of New York P.C., Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada S.A., Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Comprehensive Hospital Physicians of Florida Inc., ConnectYourCare Inc., ConnectYourCare LLC, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Consorcio Regenero S.A., Constructora Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Continuum Physicians Group Inc., Continuum Physicians Group of Washington PLLC, Cornell Surgicenter LLC, Cornerstone Surgery Center LLC, Cornerstone Surgicare LLC, Corpus Christi Endoscopy Center L.L.P., Country Scan Ltda., Critical Care Physician of New York P.C., Critical Care Physicians of Illinois LLC, Critical Care Physicians of New Jersey PC, Critical Care Physicians of Pennsylvania P.C., Cross Timbers Surgery Center LLC, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DSP Flint Real Estate LLC, DSP-Building C LLC, DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., Dallas Inpatient Specialist PLLC, Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Denton Endoscopy Surgery Center LLC, Denton Surgery Center LLC, Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Digestive Disease Center L.P., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Blocker LLC, Diplomat Corporate Properties LLC, Diplomat Pharmacy, Diplomat Pharmacy Inc., Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy Great Lakes Distribution Center LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Chicago LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy of Los Angeles County LLC, Distance Learning Network Inc., Divisadero Holdings LLC, DocASAP Inc., DocASAP India Technologies Private Limited, DocASAP US LLC, Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duluth Surgical Suites LLC, Durable Medical Equipment Inc., E Street Endoscopy LLC, EM Orange Tree LLC, EP Campus I LLC, EPIC Health Plan, EPIC Management Services LLC, East Bay Endoscopy Center L.P., East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Echo Locum Tenens Inc., Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Emerald Coast Surgery Center L.P., Emisar Pharma Services LLC, Emmaus Holdings LLC, Emmaus Surgical Center LLC, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Empremedica S. A., Endion Hospitalist North P.C., Endion Hospitalist of Western New York P.C., Endion Medical Healthcare P.C., Endion Medical Services P.C., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Everett MSO Inc., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center L.L.C., Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., Eye Specialists Surgery Centers LLC, FMG Holdings LLC, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice Inc., Ferrell Physician Services P.C., Fideicomiso Clinica Barranquilla Portoazul FA-517, First Coast Orthopedic Center LLC, First Family Insurance LLC, Florence Surgery Center L.P., For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fort Sutter Medical Building a California Limited Partnership, Fort Worth Endoscopy Centers LLC, Fortified Provider Network Inc., Foundation Surgery Affiliate General of Huntingdon Valley LLC, Foundation Surgery Affiliate of Huntingdon Valley L.P., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GLBESC LLC, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology Canada Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Gladiolus Surgery Center L.L.C., Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Global One Ventures LLC, Golden Gate Endoscopy Center LLC, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grandview Surgery Center LTD., Greater New Haven ASC LLC, Greensboro Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Greenville Surgery Center LLC, Greenway Surgical Suites LLC, Grossmont Surgery Center L.P., Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., H&W Indemnity SPC Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HFHS-SCA Holdings LLC, HMG Holding Corporation, HMG Holdings LLC, HMP of Baltimore USH P.C., Harken Health Insurance Company, Harrison Endo Surgical Center LLC, Hawthorn Place Outpatient Surgery Center L.P., Hays JV Partners LLC, Hays Surgery Center LLC, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Affiliates Medical Group, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthEast Surgery Center-Maplewood LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Healthplex America LLC, Healthplex Dental Services Inc., Healthplex I.P.A. Inc., Healthplex Inc., Healthplex Insurance Company, Healthplex of CT Inc., Healthplex of DC Inc., Healthplex of MD Inc., Healthplex of ME Inc., Healthplex of NC Inc., Healthplex of NJ Inc., Healthplex of TX Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help Seguros de Vida S.A., Help Service S.A., Help SpA, Hemonefro Hemodialise e Nefrologia Ltda, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Medical S.A., Honodav SpA, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of Broome County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Binghamton P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Buffalo P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Newburgh P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Nyack P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physician of New York - Patchogue P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alabama TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Alaska TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Goodyear Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Nogales Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Phoenix Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Sierra Vista Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson II Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona - Tucson Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arizona TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Arkansas TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Buncombe County PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Apple Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Bakersfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Camarillo PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Crescent City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fairfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Fremont PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Grass Valley PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Jackson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oceanside PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Oxnard PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Salinas PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Bernardino PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - San Leandro PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Sonoma PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton II PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Stockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Thousand Oaks PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California - Vacaville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of California TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Brighton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado - Denver PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Colorado TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Manchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Rockville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut - Wallingford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Connecticut TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of DC TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Delaware TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Ft. Lauderdale LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Jacksonville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida - Palm Coast LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Florida TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Fredericksburg LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Atlanta PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - East Point PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Lavonia PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia - Savannah PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Georgia TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii - Kealakekua Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Hawaii TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho - Nampa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Idaho TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Downers Grove LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Elmhurst LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Rockford LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois - Winfield LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Illinois TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Clinton LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Mishawaka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana - Terre Haute LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Indiana TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Cedar Rapids PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa - Mason City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Iowa TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Topeka LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas - Wichita LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Kansas TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Alexandria Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Bossier City Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Lake Charles Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana - Shreveport Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Louisiana TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Bangor PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine - Lewiston PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maine TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cheverly PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Cumberland PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Frederick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Laurel PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland - Rockville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland P.C., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Maryland TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Brockton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Dorchester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Framingham PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Holyoke PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Natick PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Norwood PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Springfield PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Stoughton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Taunton PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts - Worcester PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Massachusetts TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Alpena PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Dowagiac PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Escanaba PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grand Blanc PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Grayling PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Kalamazoo PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Plainwell PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Port Huron PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Saginaw PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan - Tawas City PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Michigan TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Minnesota TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Mississippi TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Bridgeton Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri - Richmond Heights Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri TCG Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Missouri TCS Inc., Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Billings PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Butte PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Miles City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana - Missoula PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Montana TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Multiple Practice Sites LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nebraska TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Henderson II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada - Las Vegas II Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada TCG Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Nevada TCS Bessler PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Hampshire TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Hackensack PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - Paterson PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey - TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Jersey TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Clovis LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - Rio Rancho LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New Mexico - TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of New York PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Burlington PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Clyde PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Elizabeth City PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Jacksonville PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - New Bern PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina - Rocky Mount PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina TCG PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Carolina TCS PC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota TCG PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of North Dakota TCS PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Akron Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Batavia Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Canton Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati III Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Cincinnati Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Circleville Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus II Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Columbus Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Dover Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - East Liverpool Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Fairfield Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - Martins Ferry Professional Corporation, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Ohio - 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Alexandria LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Front Royal LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Mechanicsville LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Midlothian LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond II LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Richmond LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia - Winchester LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Virginia TCS LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Arlington PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Auburn PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bellingham PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Bremerton PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Burien PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - Coupeville PLLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Washington - 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Casper LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming TCG LLC, Hospitalist Medicine Physicians of Wyoming TCS LLC, Hospitalists Management Group LLC, Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation Ontario, IEC Holdings LLC, IHD Holdings LLC, INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, Illinois Independent Care Network LLC, Imagen Technologies Inc., Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., InTouch Pharmacy LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Indiana Endoscopy Centers LLC, Inland Surgery Center L.P., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inpatient Services P.C., Inpatient Specialists of California P.C., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Instituto Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, Inter-Hospital Physicians Association Inc., International Healthcare Services Inc., Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria SpA, Ironman Holdco Inc., Ironman Intermediate Holdco LLC, Isapre Banmedica S.A., JPM Healthcare LLC, Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Jordan Ridge Family Medicine LLC, Joyable Inc., Kansal Inc. A Professional Corporation, Knox Diagnostic Imaging Center LLC, Kokomo Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, LDI Holding Company LLC, LDI Management Services LLC, LGH-A/Golf ASTC L.L.C., LHC Group, La Esperanza del Peru S.A., Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Landmark Group Holdings LLC, Landmark Health Holdings LLC, Landmark Health LLC, Landmark Health NY IPA LLC, Landmark Health NY PO LLC, Landmark Health Technologies Private Limited, Landmark Health of California LLC, Landmark Health of Massachusetts LLC, Landmark Health of North Carolina LLC, Landmark Health of Oregon LLC, Landmark Health of Pennsylvania LLC, Landmark Health of Washington LLC, Landmark India LLC, Landmark Intermediate Holdings LLC, Landmark MSO LLC, Landmark Medical of Idaho PC, Landmark Medical of Massachusetts PLLC, Landmark Medical of Tennessee PC, Landmark Primary Care LLC, Laser Acquisition Holdings III LLC, Leehar Distributors LLC, Lemhi Ventures Fund I LP, Lemhi Ventures Fund II LP, Level2 Medical Services P.C. Alaska, Lexington Surgery Center Ltd., Liberty Anesthesia Services LLC, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeWell. Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Limestone Medical Center LLC, Litomedica S.A., Logan Surgical Suites LLC, Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook L.P., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas Algarve S.A., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., Lutheran Campus ASC LLC, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MCNA Health Care Holdings LLC, MCNA Insurance Company, MCNA Systems Corp., MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, Main Line Spine Surgery Center LLC, Managed Care of North America Inc., Managed Physical Network Inc., Mansfield Endoscopy Center LLC, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care IPA Inc., March Vision Care Inc., March Vision Care of Texas Inc., Marin Health Ventures LLC, Marin Specialty Surgery Center LLC, Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Marlin Holding Company LLC, Maryland Ambulatory Centers LLC, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, McKenzie Surgery Center L.P., MedExpress Primary Care West Virginia Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services LLC, Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memorial Houston Surgery Center LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Orange Coast LLC, MemorialCare Surgical Center at Saddleback LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management Ltd., Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midlands Orthopaedics Surgery Center LLC, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Medical Plaza L.C., Mobile Medical Services of New Jersey PC, Mobile-SC LTD., Modality Accountable Care Organisation Limited, Moen M.D. P.C., Mohawk Surgery Center LLC, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Monument Health LLC, Moore Orthopaedic Clinic Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Morris County Surgical Center LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Murrells Inlet ASC LLC, Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings Inc., NPN IPA Washington PLLC, NSC Channel Islands LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Greensboro West LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Naperville Surgical Centre LLC, National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Navigator Health Inc., Nebraska Spine Hospital LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., New York Proton Management LLC, Newton Holdings LLC, Niagara Hospitalist P.C., Nomad Buyer Inc., North American Medical Management California Inc., North Coast Surgery Center Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, North Dallas Surgical Center LLC, North Kitsap Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgery Center L.P., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northern Utah Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Hills JV Partners LLC, Northwest Medical Group Alliance LLC, Northwest Spine and Laser Surgery Center LLC, Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OCC MSO LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Lda., Omesa SpA, OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., One World Surgery, Ophthalmology Surgery Center of Dallas LLC, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Networks Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Care of New York Management Inc., Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Compounding Services LLC, Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Direct To Consumer Inc., Optum Financial Inc., Optum Frontier Therapies Holdings LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies II LLC, Optum Frontier Therapies LLC, Optum Genomics Inc., Optum Global Solutions Colombia S.A.S., Optum Global Solutions India Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Global Solutions Philippines Inc., Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners Holdings Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology Holdings US Inc., Optum Health & Technology Hong Kong Limited, Optum Health & Technology India Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology Servicos do Brasil Ltda., Optum Health & Technology Singapore Pte. Ltd., Optum Health & Technology US LLC, Optum Health Plan of California, Optum Health Services Canada Ltd., Optum Health Solutions Australia Pty Ltd, Optum Health Solutions UK Limited, Optum Health and Technology FZ-LLC, Optum Healthcare of Illinois Inc., Optum Hospice Pharmacy Services LLC, Optum Inc., Optum Infusion Services 100 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 101 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 103 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 200 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 201 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 202 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 203 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 204 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 205 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 206 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 207 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 208 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 209 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 301 LP, Optum Infusion Services 302 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 305 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 308 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 401 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 402 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 403 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 404 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 500 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 501 Inc., Optum Infusion Services 550 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 551 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 553 LLC, Optum Infusion Services 554 Inc., Optum Insurance of Ohio Inc., Optum Labs Inc., Optum Labs LLC, Optum Life Sciences Canada Inc., Optum Management Consulting Shanghai Co. Ltd., Optum Networks of New Jersey Inc., Optum Operations Ireland Unlimited Company, Optum Oregon MSO LLC, Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Pennsylvania Inc., Optum Palliative and Hospice Care of Texas Inc., Optum Perks LLC, Optum Pharma Services Holdings Inc., Optum Pharmacy 601 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 700 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 701 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 702 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 704 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 705 LLC, Optum Pharmacy 706 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 707 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 800 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 803 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 805 Inc., Optum Pharmacy 806 Inc., Optum Public Sector Solutions Inc., Optum Rocket LLC, Optum SCA CS JV Holdings LLC, Optum Senior Services LLC, Optum Services Inc., Optum Services Ireland Limited, Optum Services Puerto Rico LLC, Optum Solutions UK Holdings Limited, Optum Technology LLC, Optum UK Solutions Group Limited, Optum Venture Global Partners II LP, Optum Venture Global Partners LP, Optum Venture Partners II LP, Optum Venture Partners III LP, Optum Venture Partners LP, Optum Washington Network LLC, Optum Women's and Children's Health LLC, Optum of New York Inc., Optum360 LLC, Optum360 Services Inc., Optum360 Solutions LLC, OptumCare ACO New Mexico LLC, OptumCare ACO West LLC, OptumCare Clinical Trials LLC, OptumCare Colorado ASC LLC, OptumCare Colorado LLC, OptumCare Colorado Springs LLC, OptumCare Endoscopy Center New Mexico LLC, OptumCare Florida CI LLC, OptumCare Florida LLC, OptumCare Holdings Colorado LLC, OptumCare Holdings LLC, OptumCare Management LLC, OptumCare New Mexico LLC, OptumCare New York IPA Inc., OptumCare Portland LLC, OptumCare South Florida LLC, OptumCare Specialty Practices LLC, OptumHealth Care Solutions LLC, OptumHealth Holdings LLC, OptumHealth International B.V., OptumInsight Holdings LLC, OptumInsight Inc., OptumInsight India Private Limited, OptumInsight Life Sciences Inc., OptumRx Administrative Services LLC, OptumRx Discount Card Services LLC, OptumRx Group Holdings Inc., OptumRx Health Solutions LLC, OptumRx Holdings I LLC, OptumRx Holdings LLC, OptumRx Home Delivery of Ohio LLC, OptumRx IPA III Inc., OptumRx Inc., OptumRx NY IPA Inc., OptumRx PBM of Illinois Inc., OptumRx PBM of Maryland LLC, OptumRx PBM of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx PBM of Wisconsin LLC, OptumRx PD of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumRx Pharmacy Inc., OptumRx Pharmacy of Nevada Inc., OptumRx of Pennsylvania LLC, OptumServe Technology Services Inc., Oregon Healthcare Resources LLC, Oregon Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Orlando Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., OrthoNet Holdings Inc., OrthoNet LLC, OrthoNet New York IPA Inc., OrthoNet West Inc., OrthoNet of the South Inc., OrthoWest MSO LLC, Orthology Inc., Orthopedic Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopedic Surgery Center of Palm Beach County LLC, Orthopro Management LLC, Ovations Inc., Owensboro Ambulatory Surgical Facility Ltd., Oxford Benefit Management Inc., Oxford Health Insurance Inc., Oxford Health Plans CT Inc., Oxford Health Plans LLC, Oxford Health Plans NJ Inc., Oxford Health Plans NY Inc., P2P Link LLC, PCCCV Inc., PHC Subsidiary Holdings LLC, PHYSICIANS DAY SURGERY CENTER LLC, PMI Acquisition LLC, PMSI Holdings LLC, PMSI Settlement Solutions LLC, POMCO Inc., POMCO Network Inc., PPH Holdings LLC, PPH Management Company L.L.C., PPH-Columbia Inc., PPH-Gardendale Inc., PS Center LLC, PacifiCare Health Systems, PacifiCare Life Assurance Company, PacifiCare Life and Health Insurance Company, PacifiCare of Arizona Inc., PacifiCare of Colorado Inc., Pacific Cardiovascular Associates Medical Group Inc., Pacific Casualty Company Inc., Pacifico S.A. Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Panama City Surgery Center LLC, Park Hill Surgery Center LLC, Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Patient Care Associates L.L.C., PatientsLikeMe, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peninsula Eye Surgery Center LLC, Penzo Enterprises LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Perham Physical Therapy LTD, Perimeter Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Pharmaceutical Technologies LLC, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians' Surgery Center of Downey LLC, Pinnacle III LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings Inc., Pocono Ambulatory Surgery Center Limited, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center Inc., Pomerado Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Post-Acute Care Center for Research LLC, Practice Partners in Healthcare LLC, Preferred Care Network Inc., Preferred Care Network of Florida Inc., Preferred Care Partners Holding Corp., Preferred Care Partners Inc., Preferred Care Partners Medical Group Inc., PreferredOne, PreferredOne Administrative Services Inc., PreferredOne Insurance Company, Premier Choice ACO Inc., Premier Surgery Center of Louisville L.P., Premiere Medical Resources LLC, Presidio Surgery Center LLC, Prime Health Inc., PrimeCare Medical Network Inc., PrimeCare of Citrus Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Corona Inc., PrimeCare of Hemet Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Inland Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Moreno Valley Inc., PrimeCare of Redlands Inc., PrimeCare of Riverside Inc., PrimeCare of San Bernardino Inc., PrimeCare of Sun City Inc., PrimeCare of Temecula Inc., PrimeDoc St. Francis P.C., PrimeDoc of Richmond P.C., ProHEALTH Care Associates L.L.P., ProHEALTH Care Associates of New Jersey LLP, ProHEALTH Medical Management LLC, ProHealth Physicians ACO LLC, ProHealth Physicians Inc., ProHealth Proton Center Management LLC, ProHealth/CareMount Dental Management LLC, Procura Management Inc., Professional Coverage Services PLLC, Progressive Enterprises Holdings Inc., Progressive Medical LLC, Promotora Country S.A., Pronounced Health Solutions Inc., Prosemedic S.A.C., Prospero Benefits Management LLC, Prospero Care Management LLC, Prospero Management Services LLC, Providence & SCA Development LLC, Providence & SCA Off-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA On-Campus Holdings LLC, Providence & SCA Outreach Markets Holdings LLC, Pulse Platform LLC, QoL Acquisition Holdings Corp., R Cubed Inc., RABessler M.D. P.C., ROC Surgery LLC, ROCS Holdings LLC, RX Ricardo Campos Ltda., Rally Health Inc., ReMedics LLC, Real Appeal Inc., Redding Surgery Center LLC, Redlands Ambulatory Surgery Center, Redlands-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., Reliant MSO LLC, Reliant Medical Group Inc., Reliant Medical Group The Endoscopy Center LLC, Research Surgical Center LLC, Resonancia Magnetica de Colombia Ltda., Resonancia Magnetica del Country S.A., RightCare Solutions Inc., River Valley ASC LLC, Riverside Corporate Wellness LLC, Riverside Electronic Healthcare Resources Inc., Riverside Medical Management LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Meadowlands LLC, Riverside Surgical Center of Newark LLC, Robert A. Bessler MD PLLC, Rockville Eye Surgery Center LLC, Rocky Mountain Health Maintenance Organization Incorporated, Rush Oak Brook Surgery Center LLC, SC Affiliates LLC, SCA AHN JV Holdings LLC, SCA Alaska Surgery Center inc., SCA Athens LLC, SCA Austin Holdings LLC, SCA Austin Medical Center Holdings LLC, SCA Aventura Holdings LLC, SCA BOSC Holdings LLC, SCA Bloomfield Holdings LLC, SCA Cedar Park Holdings LLC, SCA Clifton LLC, SCA Colorado Springs Holdings LLC, SCA Community Service Foundation, SCA Cottonwood Holdings LLC, SCA Danbury Surgical Center LLC, SCA Denver Holdings LLC, SCA Development LLC, SCA Duluth Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville Holdings LLC, SCA Duncanville MSO LLC, SCA ESSC Holdings LLC, SCA Englewood Holdings LLC, SCA Global One Holdings LLC, SCA Greenway Holdings LLC, SCA Grove Creek Holdings LLC, SCA Guilford Holdings LLC, SCA Hays Holdings LLC, SCA Health Value Enterprise LLC, SCA Heartland Holdings LLC, SCA High Point Holdings LLC, SCA HoldCo Inc., SCA Holding Company Inc., SCA Holdings Inc., SCA IEC Holdings LLC, SCA Indiana Holdings LLC, SCA Lutheran Holdings LLC, SCA Maple Grove Holdings LLC, SCA Mohawk Holdings LLC, SCA Murrells Inlet LLC, SCA Northern Utah Holdings LLC, SCA Northwest Holdings LLC, SCA Outside New Jersey LLC, SCA Pacific Holdings Inc., SCA Pacific Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Palisades Holdings LLC, SCA Pennsylvania Holdings LLC, SCA Pinnacle Holdings LLC, SCA Premier Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, SCA Providence Holdings LLC, SCA ROCS Holdings LLC, SCA Rockledge JV LLC, SCA Rush Oak Brook Holdings LLC, SCA SSSC Holdings LLC, SCA Sage Medical LLC, SCA Sage Medical MSO LLC, SCA San Diego Holdings LLC, SCA Skyway Holdings LLC, SCA South Ogden Holdings LLC, SCA Southwestern PA LLC, SCA Specialists of Florida LLC, SCA Specialty Holdings of Connecticut LLC, SCA Stonegate Holdings LLC, SCA Surgery Holdings LLC, SCA Surgicare of Laguna Hills LLC, SCA Teammate Support Network, SCA West Health Holdings LLC, SCA Westgreen Holdings LLC, SCA Woodbury Holdings LLC, SCA eCode Solutions Private Limited, SCA of Clarksville Inc., SCA-Albuquerque Surgery Properties Inc., SCA-Alliance LLC, SCA-Anne Arundel LLC, SCA-Applecare Partners LLC, SCA-Bethesda LLC, SCA-Blue Ridge LLC, SCA-Bonita Springs LLC, SCA-Brandon LLC, SCA-Castle Rock LLC, SCA-Central Florida LLC, SCA-Charleston LLC, SCA-Chatham LLC, SCA-Chevy Chase LLC, SCA-Citrus Inc., SCA-Colonial Partners LLC, SCA-Colorado Springs LLC, SCA-Connecticut Partners LLC, SCA-DRY CREEK LLC, SCA-Davenport LLC, SCA-Denver LLC, SCA-Denver Physicians Holdings LLC, SCA-Derry LLC, SCA-Doral LLC, SCA-Downey LLC, SCA-Dublin LLC, SCA-Encinitas Inc., SCA-Eugene Inc., SCA-First Coast LLC, SCA-Florence LLC, SCA-Fort Collins Inc., SCA-Fort Walton Inc., SCA-Franklin LLC, SCA-Frederick LLC, SCA-Freeway Holdings LLC, SCA-Ft. Myers LLC, SCA-GRANTS PASS LLC, SCA-Gainesville LLC, SCA-Gladiolus LLC, SCA-Glenwood Holdings LLC, SCA-Grove Place LLC, SCA-Hagerstown LLC, SCA-Hamden LLC, SCA-Hilton Head LLC, SCA-Honolulu LLC, SCA-Houston Executive LLC, SCA-IT Holdings LLC, SCA-Illinois LLC, SCA-JPM Holdings LLC, SCA-Kissing Camels Holdings LLC, SCA-MC VBP Inc., SCA-Main Street LLC, SCA-Marina del Rey LLC, SCA-Mecklenburg Development Corp., SCA-Memorial City LLC, SCA-Memorial LLC, SCA-Merritt LLC, SCA-Midlands LLC, SCA-Midway Management LLC, SCA-Mobile LLC, SCA-Mokena LLC, SCA-Morris Avenue LLC, SCA-Morris County LLC, SCA-Mt. Pleasant LLC, SCA-Naperville LLC, SCA-Naples LLC, SCA-New Jersey LLC, SCA-Newport Beach LLC, SCA-Northeast Georgia Health LLC, SCA-PORTLAND LLC, SCA-Palm Beach LLC, SCA-Palm Beach MSO Holdings LLC, SCA-Panama City Holdings LLC, SCA-Paoli LLC, SCA-Phoenix LLC, SCA-Pocono LLC, SCA-Practice Partners Holdings LLC, SCA-River Valley LLC, SCA-Riverside LLC, SCA-Riverside Partners LLC, SCA-Rockville LLC, SCA-Sacred Heart Holdings LLC, SCA-San Diego Inc., SCA-San Luis Obispo LLC, SCA-Sand Lake LLC, SCA-Santa Rosa Inc., SCA-Somerset LLC, SCA-South Jersey LLC, SCA-Sparta LLC, SCA-Spartanburg Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis Holdings LLC, SCA-St. Louis LLC, SCA-St. Lucie LLC, SCA-SurgiCare LLC, SCA-Swiftpath LLC, SCA-VERTA LLC, SCA-VLR Holdings Company LLC, SCA-Wake Forest LLC, SCA-Western Connecticut LLC, SCA-Westover Hills LLC, SCA-Winchester LLC, SCA-Winter Park Inc., SCA-Woodlands Holdings LLC, SCAI Holdings LLC, SCLHS-SCA Holdings LLC, SCP Specialty Infusion LLC, SHC Atlanta LLC, SHC Austin Inc., SHC Hawthorn Inc., SHC Melbourne Inc., SJ East Campus ASC LLC, SRPS LLC, SSSC Holdings LLC, SVHS-SCA Florida JV LLC, Sacred Heart ASC LLC, Saden S.A., Sage Medical Prof. LLC, Salem JV Holdings LLC, Salem Surgery Center LLC, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy Inc., San Diego Endoscopy Center, San Diego Sports and Minimally Invasive Surgery Center LLC, San Francisco Endoscopy Center LLC, San Luis Obispo Surgery Center a California Limited Partnership, Sand Lake SurgiCenter LLC, Santa Barbara Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Cruz Endoscopy Center LLC, Santa Helena Assistencia Medica S.A., Santa Rosa Surgery Center L.P., Santos Administracao e Participacoes S.A., Sanvello Health Holdings LLC, Sanvello Health Inc., Sanvello Health Limited, Scanner Centromed S.A., Seashore Surgical Institute L.L.C., Seisa Servicos Integrados de Saude Ltda., Senate Street Surgery Center LLC, Senior Benefits L.L.C., Serquinox Holdings LLC, Servicios Integrados de Salud Ltda., Servicios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., Servicios Medicos Bio Bio Ltda., Servicios Medicos Ciudad del Mar Ltda., Servicios Medicos Santa Maria Ltda., Servicios Medicos Vespucio Ltda., Servicios de Entrenamiento en Competencias Clinicas Ltda., Serviclinica Inmobiliaria S.A., Serviclinica S.A. Ex Los Leones La Calera, Servisalud Inmobiliaria S.A., Servisalud S.A. Ex Los Carrera Quilpue, Shark Holdings P.C., Sierra Dental Plan Inc., Sierra Health Services Inc, Sierra Health Services Inc., Sierra Health and Life Insurance Company Inc., Sierra Health-Care Options Inc., Sierra Home Medical Products Inc., Sierra Nevada Administrators Inc., Sistema de Administracion Hospitalaria S.A.C., Small Business Insurance Advisors Inc., Sobam Centro Medico Hospitalar S.A., Sociedad de Inversiones Santa Maria SpA, Solstice Administration Services Inc., Solstice Administrators Inc., Solstice Administrators of Alabama Inc., Solstice Administrators of Arizona Inc., Solstice Administrators of Missouri Inc., Solstice Administrators of North Carolina Inc., Solstice Administrators of Texas Inc., Solstice Benefit Services Inc., Solstice Benefits Inc., Solstice Health Insurance Company, Solstice Healthplans Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Arizona Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Colorado Inc., Solstice Healthplans of New Jersey Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Ohio Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Tennessee Inc., Solstice Healthplans of Texas Inc., Solstice of Illinois Inc., Solstice of Minnesota Inc., Solstice of New York Inc., Solutran LLC, Somerset Outpatient Surgery L.L.C., Sound Inpatient Physicians Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Medical Group Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians of Ohio LLC, Sound Inpatient Physicians of Texas I Inc., Sound Inpatient Physicians Michigan PLLC, Sound Intensivists of Nevada RBessler M.D. PLLC, Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati Inc., Sound Kenwood Hospitalists of Cincinnati LLC, Sound Physicians Advisory Services Inc., Sound Physicians Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, Sound Physicians Anesthesiology of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Georgia P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kansas LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Kentucky PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Louisiana Inc., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Michigan PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Nevada Bessler PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Southern California P.C., Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Texas PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Emergency Medicine of West Virginia PLLC, Sound Physicians Holdings LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Arizona Inc., Sound Physicians Intensivists of Georgia PC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Virginia LLC, Sound Physicians Intensivists of Washington PLLC, Sound Physicians Palliative Care of Maryland P.C., Sound Physicians Telemedicine Inc., Sound Physicians of Florida IV LLC, Sound Physicians of Georgia III P.C., Sound Physicians of Hawaii Inc., Sound Physicians of Idaho PLLC, Sound Physicians of Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Indiana LLC, Sound Physicians of Iowa PLLC, Sound Physicians of Kankakee Illinois LLC, Sound Physicians of Massachusetts II P.C., Sound Physicians of Massachusetts Inc., Sound Physicians of New Jersey LLC, Sound Physicians of New York PLLC, Sound Physicians of North Carolina PLLC, Sound Physicians of South Carolina LLC, Sound Physicians of Wyoming LLC, South Arlington Surgical Providers LLC, South County Surgical Center LLC, South Sound Inpatient Physicians PLLC, Southern California Medical Practice Concepts LLC, Southland Hospitalists P.C., Southwest Medical Associates Inc., Southwest Michigan Health Network Inc., Southwest Surgery Center LLC, Southwest Surgical Center LLC, Space Coast Surgical Center Ltd., Spartanburg Surgery Center LLC, Specialists in Urology Surgery Center LLC, Specialized Pharmaceuticals Inc., Specialty Benefits LLC, Specialty Billing Solutions LLC, Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Spectera Inc., Spectera of New York IPA Inc., Sports and Spinal Physical Therapy Inc., St. Cloud Outpatient Surgery Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, St. Cloud Surgical Center LLC, St. Louis Cardiovascular Institute LLC, St. Louis Specialty Surgical Center LLC, Stonegate JV Partners LLC, Stonegate Surgery Center L.P., Summer Street ASC LLC, SunSurgery LLC, Surgery Center Holding LLC, Surgery Center at Cherry Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Cottonwood LLC, Surgery Center at Grove Creek LLC, Surgery Center at Kissing Camels LLC, Surgery Center at South Ogden LLC, Surgery Center at St. Vincent LLC, Surgery Center of Boca Raton Inc., Surgery Center of Colorado Springs LLC, Surgery Center of Des Moines LLC, Surgery Center of Easton LLC, Surgery Center of Ellicott City Inc., Surgery Center of Fairfield County LLC, Surgery Center of Fort Collins LLC, Surgery Center of Lexington LLC, Surgery Center of Louisville LLC, Surgery Center of Maui LLC, Surgery Center of Mt. Scott LLC, Surgery Center of Muskogee LLC, Surgery Center of Rockville L.L.C., Surgery Center of Southern Pines LLC, Surgery Center of The Woodlands LLC, Surgery Centers of Des Moines Ltd. an Iowa Limited Partnership, Surgery Centers-West Holdings LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates, Surgical Care Affiliates LLC, Surgical Care Affiliates Political Action Committee, Surgical Care Partners of Melbourne LLC, Surgical Caregivers of Fort Worth LLC, Surgical Center of Greensboro LLC, Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, Surgical Center of South Jersey Limited Partnership, Surgical Center of Tuscaloosa Holdings LLC, Surgical Eye Experts LLC, Surgical Health LLC, Surgical Health of Orlando LLC, Surgical Hospital Holdings of Oklahoma LLC, Surgical Management Solutions LLC, Surgicare LLC, Surgicare of Central Jersey LLC, Surgicare of Jackson LLC, Surgicare of Jackson Ltd. a Mississippi Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Joliet Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Inc., Surgicare of La Veta Ltd. a California Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Minneapolis LLC, Surgicare of Minneapolis Ltd. a Minnesota Limited Partnership, Surgicare of Mobile LLC, Surgicare of Mobile Ltd., Surgicare of Oceanside Inc., Surgicare of Owensboro LLC, Surgicare of Salem LLC, Surgicenters of Southern California Inc., Symphonix Health Holdings LLC, T.M. Carr M.D. P.C., THE SURGICAL CENTER OF THE TREASURE COAST L.L.C., THR-SCA Holdings LLC, TeamMD Holdings Inc., TeamMD Iowa Inc., TeamMD Physicians of Texas Inc., TeamUP Insurance Services Inc., Tecnologia de Informacion en Salud S.A., Texas Health Craig Ranch Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Flower Mound Orthopedic Surgery Center LLC, Texas Health Orthopedic Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Alliance LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Bedford LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Chisholm Trail LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Irving LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Las Colinas LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Preston Plaza LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Rockwall LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Southwest Fort Worth LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Waxahachie LLC, Texas Health Surgery Center Willow Park LLC, The Advisory Board Company, The Alaska Hospitalist Group LLC, The Chesapeake Life Insurance Company, The Eye Surgery Center of the Carolinas L.P., The Intensivist Group of Langhorne LLC, The Lewin Group Inc., The Outpatient Surgery Center of Hilton Head LLC, The Polyclinic MSO LLC, The Surgery Center of Easton L.P., The Surgical Center of Connecticut LLC, Thomas Johnson Surgery Center LLC, Three Rivers Holdings Inc., Three Rivers Surgical Care L.P., Tmesys LLC, Topimagem Diagnostico por Imagem Ltda., Touchpoint Health Plan, Trails Edge Surgery Center LLC, Trauma Surgery Affiliates LLC, Travel Express Incorporated, Treasure Valley Emerald Properties LLC, Treasure Valley Hospital Limited Partnership, Tri-City Medical Center ASC Operators LLC, Tri-County Surgery Center LLC, Trinity Cardiovascular Care PLLC, Tufts Health Freedom Insurance Company, Tufts Health Freedom Plans Inc., Tuscaloosa Surgical Center L.P., U.S. Behavioral Health Plan California, UCSD Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, UCSD Center for Surgery of Encinitas L.P., UCSD Surgical Center of San Diego LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings I LLC, UCSD-SCA Holdings II LLC, UHC Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UHC International Services Inc., UHC of California, UHCG Holdings Ireland Limited, UHCG Services Ireland Limited, UHCG FZE, UHG Brasil Participacoes S.A., UHG Holdings UK IV Limited, UHG Holdings UK V Limited, UHG Holdings UK VI Limited, UHIC Holdings Inc., UMR Inc., UPHT-SCA Holdings LLC, USHEALTH Academy Inc., USHEALTH Administrators LLC, USHEALTH Advisors LLC, USHEALTH Career Agency Inc., USHEALTH Funding Inc., USHEALTH Group Inc., USMD ASC IV1 LLC, USMD ASC IV2 LLC, USMD Administrative Services L.L.C., USMD Affiliated Services, USMD Holdings Inc., USMD Hospital at Arlington L.P., USMD Hospital at Fort Worth L.P., USMD Inc., USMD PPM LLC, Unidad Medica Diagnostico S.A., Unimerica Insurance Company, Unimerica Life Insurance Company of New York, Unison Health Plan of Delaware Inc., United Behavioral Health, United Behavioral Health of New York I.P.A. Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Medical Park ASC LLC, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., United in Advancing Health Equity Foundation, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Employee Assistance Fund, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group International Finance Ireland Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service Beijing Co. Ltd., UnitedHealthcare Europe S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Global Medical UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare Inc., UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of America, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of Illinois, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of New York, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley, UnitedHealthcare Insurance Designated Activity Company, UnitedHealthcare Integrated Services Inc., UnitedHealthcare International Asia LLC, UnitedHealthcare International I B.V., UnitedHealthcare International II S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International III B.V., UnitedHealthcare International III S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International IV S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International VIII S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare International X S.a r.l., UnitedHealthcare Life Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Parekh Insurance TPA Private Limited, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley Inc., UnitedHealthcare Service LLC, UnitedHealthcare Specialty Benefits LLC, UnitedHealthcare of Alabama Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arizona Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Arkansas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Colorado Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Florida Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Illinois Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky Ltd., UnitedHealthcare of Louisiana Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Mississippi Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New England Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New Mexico Inc., UnitedHealthcare of New York Inc., UnitedHealthcare of North Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oklahoma Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Oregon Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania Inc., UnitedHealthcare of South Carolina Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Utah Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Washington Inc., UnitedHealthcare of Wisconsin Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Mid-Atlantic Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midlands Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Midwest Inc., UnitedHealthcare of the Rockies Inc., Unity Health Network LLC, Upland Holdings LLC, Upland Outpatient Surgical Center L.P., Urgent Care Holdings Inc., Urgent Care MSO LLC, Urology Associates of North Texas P.L.L.C., VERTA MANAGEMENT SERVICES LLC, VPay Benefits Corporation, VPay Inc., VPay Intermediate Holdings LLC, Valley Hospital L.L.C., Valley Physicians Network Inc., Vascular Labs of the Rockies ASC LLC, Vascular Labs of the Rockies PLLC, Via Vitae MSO LLC, Vida Integra S.p.A., Vida Tres S.A., Virtua-SCA Holdings II LLC, Virtua-SCA Holdings LLC, Vivify Health Canada Inc., Vivify Health Inc., WESTMED Practice Partners LLC, Wake Forest Ambulatory Ventures LLC, Walnut Creek Endoscopy Center LLC, Walnut Hill Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Wauwatosa Surgery Center LLC, Wayland Square Surgicare Acquisition L.P., Wayland Square Surgicare GP Inc., Waypoint Minnesota PC, WellMed Medical Management Inc., WellMed Medical Management of Florida Inc., West Coast Endoscopy Holdings LLC, WestHealth JV Holdings LLC, WestHealth Surgery Center LLC, Western Connecticut Orthopedic Surgical Center LLC, Westgreen Surgical Center LLC, Wilson Creek Surgical Center LLC, Winchester Endoscopy LLC, Winter Park LLC, Winter Park Surgery Center L.P., Woodbury Surgery Center LLC, XAS Infusion Suites Inc., XLHealth Corporation, XLHealth Corporation India Private Limited, divvyDOSE, divvyMED LLC, eCode Solutions LLC, gethealthinsurance.com Agency Inc., hCentive Inc., inPharmative Inc., naviHealth Care at Home LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care LLC, naviHealth Coordinated Care SC P.C., naviHealth Holdings LLC, naviHealth Inc., naviHealth Michigan HBPC P.C., and naviHealth SM Holdings Inc..
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First Horizon Corporation operates as the bank holding company for First Horizon Bank that provides various financial services. The company operates through three segments: Regional Banking, Specialty Banking, and Corporate. It offers general banking services for consumers, businesses, financial institutions, and governments. The company also underwrites bank-eligible securities and other fixed-income securities eligible for underwriting by financial subsidiaries; sells loans and derivatives; and offers advisory services. In addition, it offers various services, such as mortgage banking; title insurance and loan-closing; brokerage; correspondent banking; nationwide check clearing and remittance processing; trust, fiduciary, and agency; equipment finance; and investment and financial advisory services. Further, the company sells mutual fund and retail insurance products; and credit cards. It operates approximately 500 banking offices in 22 states under the First Horizon Bank brand; and 400 banking centers in 12 states under the FHN Financial brand in the United States. The company was formerly known as First Horizon National Corporation and changed its name to First Horizon Corporation in November 2020. First Horizon Corporation was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Memphis, Tennessee.
The Toronto-Dominion Bank, together with its subsidiaries, provides various financial products and services in Canada, the United States, and internationally. It operates through three segments: Canadian Retail, U.S. Retail, and Wholesale Banking. The company offers personal deposits, such as chequing, savings, and investment products; financing, investment, cash management, international trade, and day-to-day banking services to businesses; and financing options to customers at point of sale for automotive and recreational vehicle purchases. It also provides credit cards and payments; real estate secured lending, auto finance, and consumer lending services; point-of-sale payment solutions for large and small businesses; wealth and asset management products, and advice to retail and institutional clients through direct investing, advice-based, and asset management businesses; and property and casualty insurance, as well as life and health insurance products. The company also provides capital markets, and corporate and investment banking products and services, including underwriting and distribution of new debt and equity issues; advice on strategic acquisitions and divestitures; and trading, funding, and investment services to corporations, governments, and institutions. It offers its products and services under the TD Bank and America's Most Convenient Bank brand names. The company operates through a network of 1,061 branches and 3,381 automated teller machines (ATMs) in Canada, and 1,148 stores and 2,701 ATMs in the United States, as well as offers telephone, digital, and mobile banking services. It has a strategic alliance with Canada Post Corporation. The Toronto-Dominion Bank was founded in 1855 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
SOUTH SIOUX CITY South Sioux City is planning to reroute more industrial sewage away from a neighborhood that has been afflicted with sewer gas for the past three months.
The city will begin a $60,000 project this week to keep waste from two facilities from traveling east by adjusting two blocks of sewer line near the neighborhood.
The sewage, originating from Archer Daniels Midland Animal Nutrition and Bimbo Bakeries, will instead travel north and return to the lines it flowed through before the city performed a multimillion-dollar project in August that rerouted the sewage east.
About 10 families in the five-block area are still staying in hotels after residents were driven from their homes in October due to potentially toxic hydrogen sulfide gas, which was originally tied to Big Ox Energy. Big Ox is a renewable fuels plant that shared a sewer line with the residences, going online around the same time the strong odors developed.
City officials said tests show hydrogen sulfide levels are back to normal, but that odors persist. The city's latest testing on Dec. 24 suggested there may be one culprit for the odor.
"Sampling results have shown H2S odors from other sources than the Roth Industrial Park (where Big Ox is located). Further investigation is underway to determine the source and extent of the issue," the city said.
Displaced resident Mike Klassen said he's concerned that the waste might just be pushed on to a different residential area, and that there still may be other harmful gases in his home.
"I'm not convinced that I have any H2S in my house, but I'm convinced that there's something horrible when I go in there," he said.
The city said they will monitor hydrogen sulfide gas in the area, and have been adding hydrogen peroxide into the line in order to treat the gas.
Alexandria Real Estate Equities, Inc. (NYSE:ARE), an S&P 500<sup></sup> urban office real estate investment trust ("REIT"), is the first, longest-tenured, and pioneering owner, operator, and developer uniquely focused on collaborative life science, technology, and agtech campuses in AAA innovation cluster locations, with a total market capitalization of $31.9 billion as of December 31, 2020, and an asset base in North America of 49.7 million square feet ("SF"). The asset base in North America includes 31.9 million RSF of operating properties and 3.3 million RSF of Class A properties undergoing construction, 7.1 million RSF of near-term and intermediate-term development and redevelopment projects, and 7.4 million SF of future development projects. Founded in 1994, Alexandria pioneered this niche and has since established a significant market presence in key locations, including Greater Boston, San Francisco, New York City, San Diego, Seattle, Maryland, and Research Triangle. Alexandria has a longstanding and proven track record of developing Class A properties clustered in urban life science, technology, and agtech campuses that provide our innovative tenants with highly dynamic and collaborative environments that enhance their ability to successfully recruit and retain world-class talent and inspire productivity, efficiency, creativity, and success. Alexandria also provides strategic capital to transformative life science, technology, and agtech companies through our venture capital platform. We believe our unique business model and diligent underwriting ensure a high-quality and diverse tenant base that results in higher occupancy levels, longer lease terms, higher rental income, higher returns, and greater long-term asset value.
The United States has unleashed a number of sanctions as well as punitive measures against Russia amidst allegations it engaged in cyber hacking during the recent presidential campaign in the U.S.
This action put pressure on U.S. president-elect Donald Trump not to lift the sanctions after taking office on January 20.
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The government of Russia threatened some type of retaliation and has continued denying the accusations made by the U.S. that it hacked as well as stole emails in an attempt to help Trump to victory.
Trump said U.S. officials should move forward, but as a sign he might not be completely brushing the allegations off, he planned a meeting with leaders of U.S. intelligence next week so he can learn more.
One month following an election that the U.S. said Russia attempted to sway to go in Trumps favor, on Thursday President Obama sanctioned the FSB and GRU, the leading intelligence agencies in Russia that the U.S. claims were involved.
In a response elaborately coordinated by five or more federal agencies, the White House administration sought to expose the cyber tactics of Russia with a report that was detailed and hinted it could still launch its own covert counter measure.
Obama said the U.S. response was not complete and that it could take further action that could be covert, which was a thinly veiled threat to a counterstrike via cyberspace that was being considered by the U.S.
However, Trump could easily pull back the sanction when he takes office. He has insisted that Democrats and Obama are only trying to delegitimize his win in the election.
At the same time, Dmitry Medvedev the Prime Minister of Russia charged that the White House is immersed in anti-Russia death throes.
The Prime Minister, who focused on the improving of ties between the U.S. and Russia from 2008 to 2012 while president of Russia, has called this new diplomatic breach a sad one in a post on Twitter Friday morning.
Part of the sanctions leveled against Russia was the kicking out by U.S. officials of 35 diplomats from Russia in response to the harassment by Russia of U.S. diplomats.
In addition, Russian recreational areas in Maryland and New York were shuttered. The U.S. says those compounds were used by intelligence agencies from Russia.
This was the strongest action taken by the Obama administration to date in retaliation for the cyberattack and was more comprehensive that sanctions imposed last year on North Korea following its hack of Sony Pictures.
The following companies are subsidiares of PPG Industries: AIPCF V Texstars Blocker Inc., AkzoNobel, Alpha Coating Technologies LLC, Alpha Coatings Inc., Broad Range Development Limited, CG Holdings Manufacturing Co., Centro de Investigacion en Polimeros S.A. de C.V., Chemfil Canada Limited, Chorlton Trade Paints Limited, Comercial Mexicana de Pinturas S.A. de C.V., Comex, Comex Industrial Coatings S.A. de C.V., Consorcio Comex S.A. de C.V., Cristacol S.A., Cuming Microwave Corporation, Deutek SA, Dexmet Corporation, Dexmet Holding Corporation, Distribuidora Kroma S.A. de C.V., EPIC Insurance Co. Ltd., Eberle Design Inc., Empresa Aga S.A. de C.V., Ennis Canadian Holding Company, Ennis Paint Canada ULC, Ennis Paint Netherlands Holdings LLC, Ennis Paint U.K. Holding Company Limited, Ennis Traffic Safety Solutions Pty Ltd, Ennis-Flint, Ennis-Flint Inc., Foshan Bairun Chemicals Co. Ltd., Fpu Industrial S.A. de C.V., Grupo Comex S.A. de C.V., Hemmelrath Automotive Coatings (Jilin) Co. Ltd., Hemmelrath International Trade (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Hodij Coatings B.V., Homax Products, Industria Chimica Reggiana I.C.R. SPA, Johnstones Paints Limited, Kalon Investment Company Limited, Kalon South Africa Proprietary Limited, Karl Woerwag Lack-und Farbenfabrik GmbH & Co. KG, Masterwork Paint, MetoKote Corporation, MetoKote Mexico Holdings Inc., MetoKote UK Limited, MetoKote de Mexico S. de RL de CV, Milamar Coatings LLC, OOO Tikkurila, PPG A P Resinas S.A. de C.V., PPG AC - France SA, PPG ALESCO Automotive Finishes Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., PPG Aerospace Materials (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Architectural Coatings (Puerto Rico) Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Canada Inc./PPG Revetements Architecturaux Canada Inc., PPG Architectural Coatings Ireland Limited, PPG Architectural Coatings Italy S.r.l, PPG Architectural Coatings UK Limited, PPG Architectural Finishes Inc., PPG Asian Paints Private Ltd., PPG Business Services S.A. de C.V., PPG COATINGS SINGAPORE PTE. LTD., PPG Canada Inc., PPG Cetelon Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Cieszyn S.A., PPG Coatings (Hong Kong) Co. Limited, PPG Coatings (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., PPG Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Thailand) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings (Wuhu) Company Ltd., PPG Coatings (Zhangjiagang) Co. Ltd., PPG Coatings B.V., PPG Coatings Belgium BV, PPG Coatings Danmark A/S, PPG Coatings Deutschland GmbH, PPG Coatings Europe B.V., PPG Coatings Nederland BV, PPG Coatings S.A., PPG Coatings South Africa (Pty) Ltd., PPG DYRUP S.A., PPG Deco Czech a.s., PPG Deco Polska sp. z.o.o., PPG Deco Slovakia s.r.o., PPG Deutschland Business Support GmbH, PPG Deutschland Sales & Services GmbH, PPG Distribution S.A.S., PPG Europe B.V., PPG Finance B.V., PPG Finland Oy, PPG France Business Support S.A.S., PPG France Manufacturing S.A.S., PPG Guadeloupe SAS, PPG Hemmelrath Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Holdco SAS, PPG Holdings (U.K.) Limited, PPG Holdings Argentina USA LLC, PPG Holdings Latin America USA LLC, PPG Iberica S.A., PPG Iberica Sales & Services S.L., PPG Industrial Coatings B.V., PPG Industrial do Brasil - Tintas E. Vernizes - Ltda., PPG Industries (Korea) Ltd., PPG Industries (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Industries (UK) Ltd, PPG Industries Argentina S.R.L., PPG Industries Australia PTY Limited A.C.N. 055 500 939, PPG Industries Colombia Ltda., PPG Industries Delfzijl B.V., PPG Industries Europe Sarl, PPG Industries France S.A.S., PPG Industries International Inc., PPG Industries Italia S.r.l., PPG Industries Kimya a Sanayi VE Ticaret AS, PPG Industries LLC, PPG Industries Lackfabrik GmbH, PPG Industries Lipetsk LLC, PPG Industries Middle East FZE, PPG Industries Netherlands B.V., PPG Industries New Zealand Limited, PPG Industries Ohio Inc., PPG Industries Poland Sp. Z.o.o., PPG Industries Securities LLC, PPG Industries de Mexico S.A. de C.V., PPG Investment (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., PPG Italia Business Support S.r.l., PPG Italia Sales & Services S.r.l., PPG Japan Ltd., PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes Canada LP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.K. LLP, PPG Kansai Automotive Finishes U.S. LLC, PPG Luxembourg Finance S.aR.L., PPG Luxembourg Holdings S.aR.L., PPG Management (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Packaging Coatings (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., PPG Paints Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Performance Coatings (Hong Kong) Limited, PPG Powder Coatings (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., PPG Refinish Distribution Limited, PPG Romania S.A., PPG Reunion SAS, PPG SSC Co. Ltd., PPG Switzerland GmbH, PPG Trilak Korlatolt FelelosseguTarasasag (PPG Trilak Kft.), PPG Vietnam Co. Ltd., PRC-DeSoto Australia Pty Ltd., PRC-DeSoto International Inc., PT. PPG Coatings Indonesia, Painter's Supply, Paintzen, Peintures de Paris SAS, Plasticos Envolventes S.A. de C.V., Polymeric Systems Inc., ProCoatings B.V., ProCoatings BV, Protec Pty Ltd, Reno A&E LLC, Revocoat France SAS, Revocoat Holding SAS, Revocoat Iberica SLU, Revocoat S.A.S, Road Infrastructure Investment Holdings Inc., SEM Products Inc., Sealants Europe SAS, Sierracin Corporation, Sierracin/Sylmar Corporation, Sigma Marine & Protective Coatings Holding B.V., SigmaKalon (BC) UK Limited, SigmaKalon Group, Sikar (Shanghai) Trading Co. Ltd., Spraylat International Ltd, Texstars LLC, The Crown Group Co., The Crown Group Inc, The Homax Group, Tikkurila Group, Tikkurila Oyj, Tikkurila Sverige AB, Traffic Safety Intermediate LLC, Traffic Safety Parent LLC, VF Specialty Products LLC, Vanex Inc., Vernisol S.p.A., VersaFlex Acquisition Corp., VersaFlex Inc., VersaFlex Intermediate Holdings LLC, Versaflex, Viasa S.A. de C.V., Whitford, Whitford B.V., Whitford Corporation, Whitford Jiangmen Ltd., Whitford Ltd. (HK), Whitford Ltd. (UK), Whitford Pte. Ltd., Whitford S.r.l., Whitford Worldwide Company LLC, and Worwag Coatings.
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Varian Medical Systems, Inc. designs, manufactures, sells, and services medical devices and software products for treating cancer and other medical conditions worldwide. It operates through Oncology Systems and Proton Solutions segments. The Oncology Systems segment offers hardware and software products for treating cancer with radiotherapy, fixed field intensity-modulated radiation therapy, image-guided radiation therapy, volumetric modulated arc therapy, stereotactic radiosurgery, stereotactic body radiotherapy, artificial intelligence based adaptive radiotherapy, and brachytherapy, as well as quality assurance equipment. Its products include linear accelerators, brachytherapy afterloaders, treatment accessories, and quality assurance software; and information management, treatment planning, image processing, clinical knowledge exchange, patient care management, decision-making support, and practice management software. This segment serves university research and community hospitals, private and governmental institutions, healthcare agencies, physicians' offices, medical oncology practices, radiotherapy centers, and cancer care clinics. The Proton Solutions segment designs, develops, manufactures, sells, and services products and systems for delivering proton therapy for the treatment of cancer. The company has a strategic agreement with McKesson Corp. to supply treatment delivery systems and planning, services, and radiotherapy information system solutions to its U.S. Oncology Network and Vantage Oncology affiliated sites of care; and a strategic partnership with Siemens AG to represent Siemens diagnostic imaging products to radiation oncology clinics in the United States and other select markets. Varian Medical Systems, Inc. was formerly known as Varian Associates, Inc. and changed its name to Varian Medical Systems, Inc. in April 1999. The company was founded in 1948 and is headquartered in Palo Alto, California.
Argan, Inc., through its subsidiaries, provides engineering, procurement, construction, commissioning, operations management, maintenance, project development, technical, and consulting services to the power generation and renewable energy markets. The company operates through Power Industry Services, Industrial Fabrication and Field Services, and Telecommunications Infrastructure Services segments. The Power Industry Services segment offers engineering, procurement, and construction contracting services to the owners of alternative energy facilities, such as biomass plants, wind farms, and solar fields; and design, construction, project management, start-up, and operation services for projects with approximately 15 gigawatts of power-generating capacity. This segment serves independent power project owners, public utilities, power plant equipment suppliers, and energy plant construction companies. The Industrial Fabrication and Field Services segment provides industrial field, and pipe and vessel fabrication services for forest products, industrial gas, fertilizer, and mining companies in southeast region of the United States. The Telecommunications Infrastructure Services segment offers trenchless directional boring and excavation for underground communication and power networks, as well as aerial cabling services; and installs buried cable, high and low voltage electric lines, and private area outdoor lighting systems. It also provides structured cabling, terminations, and connectivity that offers the physical transport for high-speed data, voice, video, and security networks. This segment serves state and local government agencies, regional communications service providers, electric utilities, and other commercial customers, as well as federal government facilities comprising cleared facilities in the mid-Atlantic region of the United States. Argan, Inc. was incorporated in 1961 and is headquartered in Rockville, Maryland.
Given the timing of this article and the holiday calendar the last day of December falls on a Saturday your window of opportunity for improving your 2016 tax situation is closing fast.
Jorgen Vik, a partner with the local financial planning firm SKV Group, says that there is no mercy when it comes to the cutoff date.
The basics on that are if youre going to gift something, it needs to be out of your control by the 31st, he said.
If you are sending a check by mail, it needs to be postmarked December 31st or sooner. Go to the post office and make sure it gets stamped, or send it certified mail; dont leave it in your mailbox on Saturday and hope the postal carrier picks it up.
Fair warning: Lobby hours on Saturday vary from one post office to another. In Charlottesville, only the Seminole Trail site is open and only from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Most surrounding locations offer limited Saturday hours, but the post office in Crozet is closed.
If you are reading this and decide youd like to gift securities, youll need to get a move on.
Financial institutions will not be open on Saturday, Vik warned. Call your advisor today and it may be possible for the firm to complete the gifting for you, but it is really pushing it. All the forms have to be signed; all the letters have to be in. If your advisor is local, it might be better to show up in person.
What can you do if you if thats not an option?
Lets say you have someone who says, Oh, Im so glad I read this article, and calls a broker to sell some stock. The trade wont settle for three business days, so if you want to get the deduction for charity, youd need to do it by cash, Vik said.
Its rather like floating yourself a loan you give the charity cash or a check by Saturdays Dec. 31 deadline (in person or postmarked), then repay yourself when the sale of securities is complete.
Whether you try to gift stocks today or are thinking about it for the future, Vik has some broader advice.
A general thing I always say to people regarding stocks is to give away your winners and sell your losers. If you sell a loser, you can use up to $3,000 per year in capital loss to reduce your income; if you have more than that in realized losses, you carry the rest forward to future years. Its like a get-out-of-jail-free card to put in your back pocket.
Matthew McLearen with Robinson, Farmer, Cox Associates agrees.
When you donate stock or mutual funds with an appreciated value from a taxable account, McLearen explains, the donation is deducted as a charitable contribution at the full market value of the stock or mutual fund on the date gifted, subject to limitations. In addition to receiving a deduction for a charitable contribution, you avoid potential tax consequences related to the appreciated value in the stock or mutual fund.
If you are an older adult with a retirement fund, you already know you cant let the money sit there forever.
Unless its a Roth IRA, you generally have to start taking withdrawals (distributions) when you are 70 and your distribution must meet a minimum threshold. McLearnen and Vik both recommend considering a qualified charitable distribution. Taxpayers ages 70.5 or older can gift up to $100,000 per year directly from an IRA.
The transfer of the gift counts as part of the required minimum distribution and is not included in taxable income, thereby lowering adjusted gross income, said McLearnen.
Vik adds an important caveat: People want to have their cake and eat it, too, but when you give a QCD, you cannot add it to your list of itemized deductions. However, while it may not reduce your taxes, by reducing adjusted gross income, it can prevent additional taxation on things like Social Security and Medicare premiums.
One more general way to get a tax advantage is to prepay a charitable gift so that when you file your taxes, your itemized deductions will exceed your standard deduction. Make your gift on Dec. 31, 2016, and let the organization know its for 2017. Its great if you work with a CPA to coordinate this kind of stuff with your financial advisor, says Vik.
Another reason this might be a good idea now? Theres a new administration coming in.
Dawn Heneberry with SunTrust Private Wealth Management cautions that while there hasnt been much talk of rules changing, President-elect Donald Trump said on at least one occasion that he was going to cap charitable gifting. Consequently, she said, Some accounting firms are advising clients to make gifts intended for 2017 in 2016 to ensure theyll get the full deduction.
The bottom line? Get it done and documented today. Remember that if you are mailing a check for your charitable contribution, the mailing date of the check determines when the donation can be claimed. If you are using a credit card, the determining factor is the year in which the charity actually charges your card. Always make last-minute credit card donations by phone, online or in person to ensure that you can deduct them in the correct year.
Why else might it be better to give than to receive?
Its been well-documented that donating to charity has positive effects on a givers physical and emotional well-being. Research published last year in the Journal of Economic Psychology added an interesting twist one that actually relates to the topic of charitable giving and your taxes.
Baris K. Yoruk, associate professor of economics at the University at Albany-SUNY, authored a study that suggested a link between increases in charitable tax subsidies and improvements in health. Further expansions in charitable giving tax subsidies would not only increase the amount of charitable donations, but also may positively affect the health status of the individuals in the United States. What a fascinating possibility.
To learn more from Vik about managing your money, check out his Money and You series, offered at the Senior Center from 10 to 11:30 a.m. on the second Tuesday of every month.
Virginia Peale is the marketing and communications director at The Senior Center.
This calendar, published every Saturday, lists special events of a religious nature. Because of space constraints, notices about regular worship services cannot be included. Items intended for publication, including an address and phone number, should be faxed to (434) 978-7252; mailed to Worship Calendar, The Daily Progress, P.O. Box 9030, Charlottesville, VA 22906; or emailed to ewood@dailyprogress.com. Material must be received by 4 p.m. the Wednesday prior to publication.
Seventh in a 12-part series.
Charlottesville-area nonprofit leaders already have made the soup; Sonjia Smith is just adding some salt to the bowl.
Smith has worked with and donated to countless nonprofits in the community, and when she chooses where to spend her time and energy, she looks at the leadership of the organization.
The thing Ive figured out as Ive grown in my not-for-profit work is that mission and the program matter a lot less than the leadership, she said. Im very attracted to causes and organizations where I think that theres a really strong leader.
Smith attended the University of Virginia as an undergraduate and law student, and then worked in the private sector as an attorney in Chicago and New York.
I was very attracted to not-for-profit work but I had significant law school debt to pay off and then I started having kids, she said.
When she had her children, Smith stopped working and started volunteering and getting involved with nonprofits.
I was fortunate enough to be married to a husband who was incredibly supportive of my staying home, but also of my giving back to the community, and I really couldnt have done any of this work without having picked the right guy, she said.
Smith has served as advisory council of the Legal Aid Justice Center and on the boards of the Charlottesville Free Clinic and the Center for Nonprofit Excellence, among others.
If people are called to do this work, if people are willing to give up the for-profit salaries that they could be making to follow their passion ... if people are willing to do that and to pour in their time and energy, not really for pay but to make the community better, how can I not be supportive of that? Smith said.
Mary Bauer, executive director of the Legal Aid Justice Center, said Smith has helped the organization in myriad ways.
In every way, she has helped make us a better, more sophisticated organization across the board, from our programs to our development to our financial circumstance, Bauer said. That shes been such a public supporter of the Legal Aid Justice Center means the world to us in this community, because what that says to other good donors is that were a great cause.
In the early days when Legal Aid was a much smaller organization and just starting to venture into the world of fundraising, Smith directly helped mentor and cultivate the groups development staff, Bauer said.
She has played an incredibly important role with me personally and with our organization and our board to help us enact best practices in a lot of different ways, Bauer said. She pushed us to be a better organization, she helped us find and provide training.
Ariana Williams, board president of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Blue Ridge, said whats remarkable about Smith is she doesnt just give to an organization with her treasure, but also with her time and influence.
She has taught board members how to cultivate donors correctly, Williams said. She has been a mentor to our past [executive director] and shes recently met our current [executive director] and given us lots of suggestions about how to continue our development efforts. Because she has had so much experience in development around town, what she has to say really is informed and very helpful.
In early 2016, Smith helped fill a gap when the local Big Brothers Big Sisters was going through a difficult time.
We would not have gone under, but we wouldve really suffered, we would have had to lay people off and our program wouldve suffered without her financial backing, Williams said.
For others, Smith has served as a more direct mentor. She has been involved with the Charlottesville-based Ron Brown Scholar Program, which awards talented and economically challenged African-American high school seniors $40,000 scholarships, and has served as a mentor to four scholarship recipients.
Mentoring can be really simple, it can be just talking, but it can also be really practical, Smith said. One of my mentees, I taught her how to drive. She didnt live in a household with a car. She actually hadnt spent that much time as a passenger in a car, and we spent a lot of time just behind the wheel of a car.
Little by little, she has helped the students make connections with others in their desired career field and taught them how to network.
If youre not part of that society and you dont know the rules and what affluent, white people are expecting of you, its hard to translate, Smith said. Part of what I bring is my white privilege to this work and working to use that to help people to translate themselves into a world that theyre trying to get a chokehold in.
The range of guidance she has provided to her mentees has been broad, from helping them find a place to continue their orthodontic treatment while in college to basic financial planning.
That work has had great meaning to me because sometimes I think the only way we really get to change the world is to help one person at a time, and it takes caring about individuals to have impact, she said.
LYNCHBURG The three candidates for the 22nd Senate District special election, as well as the man theyre vying to replace, agree that jobs and the economy are the top issues facing the rural district.
While Republican Mark Peake said his main focus would be preventing government interference with business, Democrat Ryant Washington touted workforce development, and independent Joseph Hines pointed to streamlining the site development process.
The election will be held Jan. 10 to replace Republican Tom Garrett Jr., who in November won the 5th District seat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
The 22nd District includes Fluvanna and Buckingham counties and a portion of Louisa County.
Garrett, who soon will resign the seat he has represented since 2012, said the districts greatest needs are near the middle, such as in Cumberland, Buckingham and Prince Edward counties.
Ive always sort of compared the 22nd to a sandwich. Youve got bread in the south and bread in the north, but we need more meat in the middle, Garrett said.
The Lynchburg-area parts of the district are doing reasonably well, as is the northern part near Fluvanna, Louisa and Goochland counties, where economies are assisted by the Interstate 64 corridor, Garrett said.
We need to create economic opportunity. We need to create circumstances where they can stop the brain drain, brilliant kids who leave Prince Edward and go to [Northern Virginia] or Hampton Roads and never come back, said Garrett, who has endorsed Peake.
Hines, an engineer and economic development consultant from Prince Edward County, said his resume shows hes the best candidate to represent the district on those issues. Hines is the legislative advisory committee chairman for the Virginia Economic Developers Association.
When businesses look for a site to develop, they consider how fast they can complete state and federal permitting processes, Hines said. Coordination among state and federal agencies protecting different interests such as historic or environmental resources should be more efficient, he said.
The agencies need to make a concerted effort to work better together and to realize that the end game is for projects to be built, Hines said.
With the GO Virginia legislation passed in 2016 in development, restructuring to the Virginia Economic Development Partnership proposed and other incentives under discussion, Hines said, I think we need more business people in the legislature.
Theres going to be more economic development policy decided in the next three years than in the recent history of the commonwealth, he said.
Hines is in favor of state money going toward permanent infrastructure that will stay if the business leaves as an incentive to draw in businesses. Appropriate oversight is necessary, he said.
State contributions or investments into private businesses came under new scrutiny in 2016, including concerns over vetting in an Appomattox economic development deal.
In November, the Joint Legislative Audit & Review Commission released a report showing the Virginia Economic Development Partnerships unstructured and inconsistent approach to administering state incentive grant programs leaves the state vulnerable to fraud and poor use of limited resources.
In the 2016 General Assembly session, a new economic development program, GO Virginia, passed with bipartisan support. The program would send money to private interests through state and regional boards.
Its one thing to recruit companies, bring them down, show them what our advantages are. Its a different thing to give a company advantages over existing companies, said Peake, a Lynchburg attorney and longtime GOP activist.
Peake said he did not know details about GO Virginia and couldnt comment specifically on whether he would have voted for it but said, The kind of activity that government should not be involved in is spending taxpayer dollars on private enterprises.
Peake, a former member of the Commonwealth Transportation Board, said Virginia is not spending our money wisely. He said he would like to see a study for an eastern bypass around Charlottesville after the western one never came to fruition after extensive state expense.
Virginia would be better off creating a more business-friendly environment statewide by removing regulations, Peake said.
Washington, the Democrat, didnt speak specifically to GO Virginia or VEDP but said collaboration between the public and private sectors involving incentives is important to attract good-paying jobs to the localities.
Importantly, we need to make sure were prioritizing transparency and accountability when it comes to the taxpayer dollars and how theyre spent, said Washington, a former Fluvanna County sheriff.
In a previous interview, Washington said he sees investments in workforce development as a key to drawing businesses to the region.
When businesses consider moving to a locality, he said, they first examine whether the local workforce has the skills it needs. He said he would speak with local chambers of commerce and educators to learn what they want in that regard, as well as examine what workforce training would best fit the region.
When we talk about the 22nd District, we realize that its rural and that a lot of the skill sets that need to be developed may be in trades, Washington said.
Mumbai: The proposed 710-km Mumbai-Nagpur Super Expressway will be going cashless with the Maharashtra government planning to use modern technology for toll levy as part of its efforts to boost digital payments.
"Instead of toll nakas, there will be RFID censors to enable commuters to pay toll," PWD Principal Secretary Ashish Kumar Singh said. Singh said for digital payments on the Expressway, commuters will have to use tag censor technology.
"There will not be toll nakas on the Expressway but only at entry and exit points. Radio frequency identification (RFID) will be used to recover toll amount from commuters. Toll amount would be deducted from the commuter directly with use of the prepaid RFID tag on the vehicles.
As soon as a vehicle takes the Expressway and till the time it is on the Expressway, the information will be gathered on the computer system at the toll plaza and the toll amount will be deducted from the RFID tag," he said.
The official said the RFID tag is operational on most state highways, but very few people know about it. To popularise the use, government plans to have only one tag on all highways in the state, he added. The proposed Expressway is expected to be completed in three years.
New Delhi: For the first time in four decades, India may open up commercial coal mining to private firms in the new year with the government keen on gradually moving out of the end-use restrictions and cutting down on dependence on imports.
"Yes. I think we could look at that. There is some interest in commercial mining. We are also keen that gradually the country moves out of these end-use restrictions and all these controls because we are seeing the surplus situation. I don't see for the next many years, the country will have any shortages of coal," Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal told PTI.
His Ministry sees the country's dependence on import of fossil fuel coming further down in the New Year.
"In such a situation, I think gradually my next step will be to move out from these end-use restrictions and hopefully in a year or two, we may be in a position that we don't need to have any restrictions. Coal could be an open commodity," the minister asserted.
Asserting that challenges are in some people's mind and he sees no challenges in the coming year in the coal sector, Goyal exuded confidence that the output of the fossil fuel would witness a good growth in 2017.
"I see no challenges (in the coal sector in 2017). Challenges are in some people's mind. For me, these are all opportunities," the Minister said.
"To my mind, we will see good growth in 2017 both in consumption of electricity, particularly thermal as well as the production of coal and bring down the imports even further," Goyal said.
The government's focus in the coming year would to implement all the plans for clean coal so that more washeries are on line. The Coal Ministry would also flex its muscles to see how coal mine operation could be made environment- friendly.
"Our focus for (2017 will be)...to see how coal mines operation can be made environment-friendly so that the people who work there, the villagers around there, don't have to suffer from pollution effects -- to see how the water that come out of the coal mine can be processed so that we don't damage the water quality and the ground quality by injecting bad quality of water in the ground or into the rivers," he said.
"So this is going to be a year where coal will integrate itself with the environmental efforts, with the big push that the Narendra Modi government is giving for cleaner environment in the country," he added.
Mumbai: In a relief to common man, the Reserve Bank tonight said cash withdrawal limit from ATMs will be increased to Rs 4,500 per day from the current Rs 2,500 from January 1.
However, there has been no change in the weekly withdrawal limit, which stands at Rs 24,000, including from ATM, for individuals (Rs 50,000 in case of small traders).
"On a review of the position, the daily limit of withdrawal from ATMs has been increased (within the overall weekly limits specified) with effect from January 1, 2017, from the existing Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,500 per day per card," the central bank said in a notification.
Following demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000 notes on November 9, limits had been imposed on withdrawal of cash from banks as well as ATMs. The Reserve Bank's notification further stated "there is no change in weekly withdrawal limits" and such disbursals "should predominantly be in the denomination of Rs 500".
Earlier in the day, the RBI had permitted White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) to source cash from retail outlets.
Most of the White Label ATMs are running dry since demonetisation as the operators were facing difficulties in sourcing cash from their sponsor bank(s).
Today was the last day to deposit the invalid currency notes in banks. However, people still have time to exchange the currency notes at designated RBI counters till March 31 after giving valid reasons for not depositing defunct notes in their accounts by December 30.
The participants expressed their views on various provisions of the Copyright Law and their effective implementation to counter piracy.
New Delhi: The Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP) has asked the film and TV industry to create awareness about piracy and its ill-effects, especially among the youth.
The issue was discussed during a meeting convened by the DIPP on here on Wednesday. They deliberated upon all the matters related with copyright.
"The department exhorted the industry to undertake measures to create awareness among the general public, especially the youth, about piracy and its ill-effects," the Commerce Ministry said in a statement.
The department appreciated the efforts undertaken by the Telangana Intellectual Property Crime Unit (TIPCU) to curb piracy of copyright protected material and expressed the need for other states to adopt this model to check the menace within their respective jurisdiction.
The participants expressed their views on various provisions of the Copyright Law and their effective implementation to counter piracy, it added.
The meeting was chaired by DIPP Joint Secretary Rajiv Aggarwal.
Mumbai: Though Kangana Ranaut didnt have a single release this year, the actress made headlines everywhere throughout the year, thanks to her controversial legal hassle with rumoured ex-beau Hrithik Roshan.
Soon after her Silly ex comment, the actress found herself in the midst of raging controversy. While Hrithik kept denying the affair and even claimed that Kangana was suffering from Asperger's Syndrome, the actress didnt let anything get her down. A new year is about to begin and the actress still holds her belief in love and happy endings, the reason why she is excitingly looking forward to 2017.
2017s going to a be an exciting year for the actress since she has two awaiting releases, Rangoon and Simran. However, thats not the only thing fans can expect from her. Apparently, Kangana will also be getting hitched next year!
On VH1s Inside Access show, Kangana got chatty and told the anchor I will get married, when asked what fans can expect from her next year. Well, well! When asked who the lucky guy is? The actress grinned and kept mum on the question.
Well, seems like Kanganas love story has found its happy ending in some lucky guy.
There had been widespread agitation over Pakistani artists working in India post the Uri terror attacks, which eventually culminated in a blanket ban.
Mumbai: Amid strained India-Pakistan ties and the blanket ban on Pakistani artistes in the country, a 2011 video of Mahira Khan, who stars as the female lead in Shah Rukh Khans upcoming movie Raees, has gone viral. In the video, Mahira can be seen taking a dig at India and Bollywood at a chat show.
Despite Raj Thackeray's 'go-ahead' to Shah Rukh Khan on a safe release for Raees, the video could land the makers in soup.
While most Pakistani actors have chosen to stay mum on the issue, the video that has surfaced on Twitter shows Mahira being vocal about her patriotism and commenting in what seems like a blatant tone of condescension towards India.
In the video, while she's pretty confident of her patronage of her motherland, she says, "We should never be inspired from Indians. We are not Bollywood."
Watch the video here:
Views of our patriotic Raees's Pakistani co-actress Mahira Khan about India and Bollywood.
Plz sell your self-esteem before watching Raees. pic.twitter.com/OFozL8iEY8 Sonam Mahajan (@AsYouNotWish) December 29, 2016
The excerpt is from a 2011 chat show with Pakistani comedian Omar Sharif.
The Uri terror attacks in September and the retaliatory surgical strike by India had worsened the already strained relationship between the two nations.
Prior to the attack, there had been an influx of artistes from across the border, with the likes of Fawad Khan, Mahira, Ali Zafar and Atif Aslam bagging meaty roles here.
However, after a vociferous call for a blanket ban on Pakistani artistes working in India, led by Raj Thackeray's Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS), the artistes are now prohibited from working in India in future endeavours.
While Gautham Menon is gearing up for the release of his next film Enai Nokki Paayum Thotta starring Dhanush and Megha Akash, news about his next project has already started surfacing. He had earlier announced that he would be directing Vikram for his upcoming venture.
Currently, the team is busy with the pre-production and is all set to go on floors from the second week of January. A source close to the director says, We have planned to roll from January 10 and if that doesnt materialise, we will start shooting after Pongal.
The makers are now finalising the cast and the crew of the untitled film.
There wont be any major changes in the crew and Gautham will mostly join hands with his regular team, the source adds.
According to several reports, it is said that Vikram will be sporting a new look in the film. It is a known fact that the Iru Mugan actor makes it a point to look different in each of his film. Rumours are rife that the actor will shoot for GVM and Vijay Chandars project simultaneously. However, an official confirmation regarding this is still awaited.
After Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyadas success, Gautham is likely to join hands with AR Rahman once again. In the past, the maverick director has reiterated that this film will have an international flavour to it. The film is said to be Gauthams pet project Dhruva Natchathiram, which he had initially planned to make with Suriya in the lead. Also, we hear that Nayanthara is rumoured to be approached by the team.
As sequels are in vogue in Tamil cinema, yet another flick a travel story titled Madurai to Theni that released six years back has now got a sequel, which has been titled Madurai to Theni 2.
While Vishwak and Sivakasi Bala play the lead actors, Sowmya and Thejaswi have been roped in as the heroines. SPS Guhan, who handled the cinematography in the original, now wields the megaphone for the second installment. Comedians Nellai Siva, Muthukaalai, Bonda Mani, and Santhanabharathy who have acted in the prequel will also be seen in the sequel.
Three VisCom students join hands to make a commercial film what happens during their journey in a bus thereafter forms the rest of the story. The makers are also attempting something unique people can watch the film in theaters at a ticket cost of just Rs 19!
Though Kollywood received a lot of flak this year for glorying stalking and violence, we cant dismiss the fact that this year saw several films that touched upon sensitive topics as well. 2016 saw movies that not only brought new dimensions to several issues, but also started a healthy discussion regarding the same.
Karthik Subbarajs Iraivi, which had an ensemble cast, spoke about feminism entirely from a mans point of view and Dhanush-starrer Kodi had a subplot which was inspired by the case of mercury pollution in Kodaikanal.
We also witnessed many filmmakers touch upon politics and communal issues. Though Pa. Ranjiths earlier films spoke about Dalit politics, with Rajinikanth coming into the picture, Kabali became instrumental in raising awareness regarding caste politics amongst youngsters. Even prominent Dalit scholar Stalin Rajangam suggested that the film could have been created as a response to the 2012 Dharmapuri caste riots.
The years surprise package turned out to be Uriyadi. The film boldly dealt with student politics and how certain politicians use caste as a tool to gain votes.
Joker was a political satire on corruption and negligence of government officials in tackling the issue of hygenic sanitation in the rural areas of Tamil Nadu. Guru Somasundaram played a mentally-challenged social worker in the film.
The first half of the year was pretty normal I was shooting for two movies and there was nothing special and truth be said, I was generally feeling low, personally and professionally. Presently, though I cannot claim to be in a happy bubble, things are much better and I am enjoying my success and basking in the love the audience is showering on me. Frankly, I never expected to be acting outside Malayalam but luck favoured me and I got to work with Gautham Menon in Tamil. I am not someone who expects a lot; I used to expect things but the past two years have changed me and now whatever I have achieved is like a dream.
For someone who thought that I would be acting in Malayalam forever, I find no difference in the working environment in the industries. Malayalam has always been home to me since my dad has been working here for years. Most of the industry people do not consider me as an actress but as cinematographer Vipin Mohans daughter and address me by my pet name. Its different when I act in Tamil because that family feel is missing. Other than that, the working style and everything else is the same.
I have worked with Nivin Pauly, Naga Chaitanya, Vikram Prabhu and Chimbu and consider myself lucky to have shared screen space with them. They are all very dedicated. Of course, the level of commitment and acting methodology differs; some prepare a lot before a shot and some do not, but their dedication levels are high.
Working in Chennai has added another dimension to my independence. I was studying there and now I am working at the same place. Otherwise I am a very independent person and my father tells me Listen, it is ok to depend on people sometimes when you have a crisis. I am someone who will keep my problems to myself and depend on my strength to ride it through. I enjoy doing things on my own but I have friends in Chennai who are there for me. I want to go back to Malayalam and do some nice projects.
Pan south presence
Manjima Mohan started her career as a child artiste in the early 2000s. She later went on to debut as a heroine through the Nivin Pauly film Oru Vaddakan Selfie which went on to become a runaway hit. Impressed with her performance in OVS, Kollywood director Gautham Menon cast her as the female lead in his film Achcham Yenbadhu Madamaiyada marking her debut in Tamil.
Popular writer Kona Venkat is directing a web series. Titled Ram and Juliet, all the episodes have been shot in the USA. All the artistes who acted in this series are based in America. It is about a Telugu boy who lands in the US and falls in love with a girl there, says Kona Venkat.
Akshay Reddy, from the New York Film Academy, is the lead actor while the lead actress is a French girl, Aurore Fagnen. Venkat shares that his friends asked him to do the web series and he had a months time to plan it. The response is good as we released two episodes, he says. Nine more episodes are still to come.
Meanwhile, he is doing the screenplay for the upcoming Jr NTR and Bobby (KS Ravindra) film too. He is also busy with a film starring Nani and Nivetha Thomas. The shooting has already begun and we are leaving for another schedule to the US, he says. When asked about his direction plans, he says, I dont know, but I would like to direct and I will surely announce when I decide.
Shes set to play the female lead in director G Karthik Reddys film starring Manchu Vishnu as the lead.
Malayalam and Tamil actress Miya George has signed her second Telugu film opposite actor Manchu Vishnu, even before her debut film releases. The actress is making her debut in Telugu alongside Sunil in a film directed by Kranthi Madhav. The film is still in production stage.
Manchu Vishnu
The films shooting will commence soon after Vishnu completes work on his film, Luckunnodu. G Karthik Reddy, who was supposed to direct Vishnu for the film Sarada, is helming this project. Sarada got shelved and now Vishnu has given another chance to the director. They are going to start this film with a fresh subject, shares a source in the know.
Miya George will be playing the female lead. The shoot is likely to begin in the third week of January. An official announcement about the same is awaited.
KOZHIKODE: 87-year-old NC Ayyappan, from a small village in Shournur- Killimangalam, who has not traveled anywhere outside the State, is all excited to fly for the first time. Soon, this veteran is travelling to Oman to receive the World Craft Councils Excellence Award for best craft worldwide for the specially crafted Kora mats, beating craftsmen from nearly 200 countries worldwide.
It was just a day before Iringal Sargaalaya Craft Village began its sixth edition of the International Crafts Expo that an email arrived in the mailbox of Sargaalaya announcing the international recognition for Mr Ayyappan. He has no idea of what the international recognition is, but this award was a chance for him to embrace the Chief Minister of Kerala Pinarayi Vijayan, who honoured him for this world recognition. Ayyappan has a permanent stall at Sargaalaya Crafts Village to make Kora mats other than a unit at his hometown in Killimangalam.
The year 2016 has been really wonderful because my Kora mats fetched me the Tourism Merit Award from the State Government for best crafts and the National merit award from the Central Government.
The World Craft Councils Excellence Award is the third one, said Mr Ayyappan, who started learning the art of kora mat-making when he was 18 years old. Now he has his whole family working day and night making mats in order to meet the increasing demand for the product.
Talking about the process of making Kora or sedge grass mat, Mr Ayyappan said, The process of creating the mat is painstaking and time consuming. The grass which grows to a height of 3-4 feet is green in colour. The grass is harvested in the months of September- October and February-March and is cut very finely while it is still green. The outer part of the stem is used for weaving while the inside of the stem is removed with a sharp-edged knife and the process of making it is extremely delicate and highly valued, hence we sell one piece of this craft for Rs 1,000 and above based on its size, he added.
Chennai: Chennai airport customs officials on Thursday seized Rs 65 crore worth 3.4 crore Turkish Lira from a parcel booked to Ankara from airport postal customs office during sorting and checking.
The parcel booked as medicines and prescriptions were checked on doubt by customs officials on Wednesday and found it contained high-value notes from Turkey. The parcel was booked at the George Town post office in Chennai, to Ankara in Turkey. Address given in the parcel was found to be bogus.
Following the seizure of foreign currency, which is huge in nature, state and central intelligence agencies had checked the contents.
The seizure and case will be handed over to enforcement directorate, airport sources said. Intelligence agencies were interested in the case because the money parcel was addressed to Turkey, a country fighting against ISIS.
It may be recalled that there were seizures of Turkish Lira worth many crores of rupees in the last few months in other cities in India. There were instances of gangs offering demonetised notes of Turkey for the low exchange rate to the gullible public in a few cities. One Turkish Lira can fetch Rs 19.2 in the exchange market today. So people were buying certain Lira notes for low rate without knowing that those were scrapped notes, police noted.
The cities where the raids were conducted included Chennai, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Thrissur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and New Delhi and as regards one of the firms, the raids were still on, he added. (Representational image)
Chennai: Evasion of central excise duty to the tune of Rs 50 crore allegedly by three leading jewellers in Tamil Nadu has come to the fore during raids at multiple locations over the last three days.
Following intelligence inputs, directorate of central excise Intelligence sleuths carried out simultaneous searches at the premises of the three jewellers in nine cities between December 26 and 29, a top central excise official said on Thursday.
The cities where the raids were conducted included Chennai, Mumbai, Coimbatore, Thrissur, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and New Delhi and as regards one of the firms, the raids were still on, he added.
One of the leading jewellery outlets operating in Tamil Nadu with branches across the country alone has evaded central excise duty to the tune of Rs 40 crore and immediately after the raids, it paid duty of Rs 12 crore. As regards another jewellery where search operations were currently on, (raids) indicate duty evasion to the tune of Rs 14 crore and further inputs are awaited, he said. The third jewellery retailer had not paid excise duty to the tune of Rs 5 crore.
"The institute is examining the vulnerabilities that led to the hacking of the auxiliary sites and is taking steps to address them," it added. (Photo: File phot)
Chennai: Some auxiliary websites of the IIT Madras here have been found hacked and the institute on Friday said it was examining the "vulnerabilities" that led to the hacking episode.
The institute said it runs a "main website and auxiliary sites," and these were "maintained by different entities," such as "centres, labs and student bodies."
"While the main website of IIT-M has not been hacked, some of the auxiliary sites were hacked yesterday. The hacking was discovered early in the morning and the auxiliary sites were taken down and subsequently restored," the institute said in a release.
"The institute is examining the vulnerabilities that led to the hacking of the auxiliary sites and is taking steps to address them," it added.
The hacking episode is also being debated in social media.
Mumbai: In a startling revelation, a police officer who was part of the investigation into the 2008 Malegaon bombing has claimed that two key accused Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangra were killed while they were in police custody.
Media reports on Friday quoted ex-inspector Mahboob Mujawar who himself is facing a trial in a separate case of alleged criminal intimidation and one under Arms Act as saying that the duo has been shown alive over the past eight years. Mujawar was deputed to the case by the then Director General of Police S S Virk.
Mujawar claims Dange and Kalsangra were killed by ATS officers.
Two police officers ACP Rajan Ghule and police inspector Ramesh More have already been under an investigation in a case relative to Dilip Patidar who has gone missing since 2008.
Patidar was brought from Indore to Mumbai for questioning in the same case but never returned home, his family claims. According to media reports Kalsangra stayed at Patidars house as a tenant.
A blast rocked a busy street in Malegaons Bhikku Chowk on September 29, 2008 killing eight and injuring several others. The Malegaon bombing coincided with a synchronous blast in Modasa in Gujarat.
The chargesheet filed by Maharashtra Anti-Terrorism Squad led by the then senior IPS officer Hemant Karkare had made the duo key accused in the case. Karkare was killed fighting with terrorists durig 26/11 Mumbai attacks.
Kochi: The Kochi city police have tightened the security ahead of New Year and will monitor boats, cinema halls, tourist spots, shopping malls, backwaters, waterfront and resorts. A special control room has been opened with helpline numbers. A special team consisting of 1,500 cops would monitor the city.
A police team led by City Police Commissioner M.P. Dinesh and Deputy City Police Commissioner Arul B. Krishna will monitor the celebrations. In a press release, they said the Abkari Act will be strictly implemented. To curb drug abuse, a special team would be deployed which will patrol the city till the morning of January 1.
Stringent action will be taken against drug peddlers and users of drugs. Persons in the list of drug abuse offenders would also be monitored. A separate police team is on the look-out to check drunken driving.
Women cops and plainclothes officials would be posted for duty. Small resorts and home stays and backwaters will be monitored. Security would be provided for all the tourists in the city and 100-odd police jeeps would be deployed.
A separate police team under the Mattanchery ACP would monitor the situation in Fort Kochi. This is for the first time the city police will be keeping a tight vigil ahead of New Year. Recently, the cops had issued guidelines for the conduct of DJ parties in the city and put them under police radar.
Three persons lured a 15-year-old girl with offers in movies and raped her. (Representational Image)
Hyderabad: Three persons who lured a 15-year-old girl with offers in movies and raped her were arrested by the Banjara Hills police on Thursday. The trio Shaik Akbar, 21, from Nalgonda, Tumu Venkareddy, 22, from Prakasam district and N. Paparao alias Ganesh, 31, from Visakhapatnam, work as assistant directors in the film industry. The girls neighbor, Kumar. is absconding.
According to the police, the girl was reported missing and traced 15 days ago, when she complained about the rape.
When volunteers from People for Animals looked into the hall from a window, they found the puppies lying dead.
Hyderabad: Four one-month-old Pug puppies died of starvation after their owner went abroad leaving them in the care of his friend who failed to provide food and water for the animals for eight days.
The owner of the dogs, Elvis Cameroon, a student at Osmania University residing in Shads Villa, Yapral, went back to his home in Africa to renew his passport and entrusted the puppies and the parent Pugs to his friend C Peter. Mr Peter hurt his leg during the Christmas holidays and could not attend to the dogs.
S. Raviteja, a volunteer with People for Animals, said he received a call from a neighbour of Mr Cameroon on Thursday, saying he could no longer hear the puppies bark as they usually did. The hall window was open; we found the four puppies lying dead in the hall while the parent Pugs survived. There was no food or water in reach of the dogs, said Mr Raviteja.
No case has been booked as yet because it is unclear which police station has jurisdiction. The owner is liable to be booked under animal welfare laws for violation of IPC 429, and violation of Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Sec. 11(1) of 1960 said P. Joshi, member of People for Animals.
Central agencies had warned about a possible attack by militants at Kochi and Kozhikode (Calicut) airports in Kerala, after which Bureau of Civil Aviation Security had decided to go for maximum security at airports. (Representational image)
Chennai: Following an alert of possible terror strike in airports in Kerala, security has been stepped up at all airports across south India, since Wednesday midnight, airport sources said here.
Following the heightened security, visitors entry into the airport has been banned with immediate effect till January 31, sources added.
Central agencies had warned about a possible attack by militants at Kochi and Kozhikode (Calicut) airports in Kerala, after which Bureau of Civil Aviation Security had decided to go for maximum security at airports.
Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh): Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) general secretary Ram Madhav on Friday said that around 12 BJP MLAs in Arunachal Pradesh are supporting the government led by suspended Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) leader and Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
"12 BJP MLAs in Arunachal strongly backing government led by Pema Khandu," Ram Madhav said to ANI.
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh BJP president Tapir Gao also extended support to Khandu and said that the latter was unanimously elected and their party still considers him to be the chief minister.
Read: Takam Pario may be next Arunachal CM after Pema Khandus suspension
"Our alliance is with the PPA and at this juncture, I would like to appeal to the PPA for the development of the state for the security of the state. There should not be any such clashes between the PPA legislators," he said.
According to sources, Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) MLA Takam Pario is likely to be the next chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh after Khandu was suspended temporarily last night.
Khandu, his deputy Chowna Mein and five other legislators of ruling PPA government were suspended temporarily for alleged anti-party activities.
Khandu became chief minister in July after exiting from the Congress along with 43 other MLAs to join the PPA in September.
ALAPPUZHA: Steps are afoot to get the release of Santhosh, 47, of Ambalappuzha from a jail in Oman where he has been languishing for some two decades on murder charges.
Gururatnam Gnana Thapaswi, organising secretary of Shanthigiri Ashram, Thiruvananthapuram, met his relatives at his home on Wednesday and said that the ashram representatives would meet the union home and foreign ministers and request them to send an official delegation to Oman to bring Santhosh back home. A memorandum will also be submitted to the National Human Rights Commission to take steps in the matter, he said.
Santhosh, Vadakke Velloor, Ambalappuzha north panchayat, a construction worker, had gone to Oman in 1992. He was framed with murder charge after four Pakistan natives, who were staying near his house, killed two bank security officials during a robbery attempt. They had used a concrete cutter rented out from Santhosh for the murders.
Shajahan, a Varkala native, who was also sentenced to life term in the case, has already been released. The plight of Santhosh, who was jailed in central prison, Sumail , Oman, came to light after NRI business man Habeeb Rahman from Amabalappuzha north panchayat met Santhosh in jail recently. He has also spoken to his sponsor for his release.
His mother Bharathi Amma died six years ago and his father Thankappan lives with six siblings at Ambalappuzha. They had made several attempts through the state and centre governments for his release, but nothing had worked out.
With the setting up of the harbour, 250 motor boats and 200 country vessels can be safely parked benefiting fishermen. (Photo: Representational Image)
Chennai: The Centre has given its 'administrative approval' for setting up a fishing harbour at a cost of Rs 113.90 crore at Mookaiyur in Tamil Nadu, the state government said on Friday.
The state government had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi, through a series of letters in 2014 and 2015, to sanction a special assistance package of Rs 1,520 crore as part of enabling fishermen to take up deep sea fishing activities and to provide infrastructure facilities in Palk Strait area, an official release said.
"Based on the request, the Centre has given its administrative approval for setting up a fishing harbour at Mookaiyur, Ramanathapuram district at a cost of Rs 113.90crore," the release said.
The state government would meet 50 per cent of the project cost, the release said, adding the harbour will comprise berthing and fish drying areas, cold storage facility, fuel station along with an administrative building. Tenders would be floated for taking up construction activities.
With the setting up of the harbour, 250 motor boats and 200 country vessels can be safely parked benefiting fishermen community of Rameswaram, Pamban and Mandapam, it said.
New Delhi: In a rebuff to India, China on Friday finally blocked its proposal to get Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammad (JeM) chief and Pathankot mastermind Masood Azhar banned as terrorist by the UN, evoking a sharp reaction from New Delhi which accused it of "double standards" in dealing with terrorism.
Terming the action by China as "surprising", External Affairs Ministry said it had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism.
"We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar," India said, asserting that its proposal, submitted to the 15-member 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council in February, received the strong backing of all other members of the Committee.
With China blocking New Delhi's proposal with a Security Council veto just a day before expiry of Beijing's "technical hold", India or any other country has to now make a fresh listing request for Azhar to be banned by the global body otherwise it will remain as permanent block, officials said.
China had twice imposed "technical hold" on the Indian proposal since its submission. The block by China is also seen by many here as an action taken at the behest of its "all-weather ally" Pakistan.
However, India said it will continue to push forward with resolute determination "through the use of all options available with us to bring perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice".
"The international community is aware that the Pakistan- based Jaish-e-Mohammed which is proscribed by the UN, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India including the Pathankot air base attack.
"The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism," MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said.
The decision by Beijing is "surprising" as China itself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism, the Spokesperson added.
"As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation. We had expected
China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism," he added.
UN Sanction Committee's listing would have forced imposition of asset freeze and travel ban on Azhar by countries including Pakistan.
Mulayam Singh Yadav has convened a meeting in Lucknow on Saturday of the 393 candidates who have been allotted tickets by him. (Photo: PTI)
Lucknow: With Samajwadi Party (SP) facing a rebellion from Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav over ticket distribution, its supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has called a meeting of all the candidates allotted tickets amid hectic efforts to stave off a possible split in the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh.
The crisis reached a flash point late last night after Akhilesh "circulated" his own list of 235 candidates for the Assembly elections, the schedule for which is likely to be announced any day now.
Shivpal Yadav, the warring uncle of Akhilesh, drove to the residence of his brother and SP chief Mulayam Yadav.
Read: Open war in SP, Akhilesh Yadav releases parallel list of 235 candidates
The two were closeted for nearly an hour, but it was not immediately known what transpired at the meeting as Shivpal did not answer questions of reporters waiting outside Mulayam's residence.
Mulayam has convened a meeting in Lucknow on Saturday of the 393 candidates who have been allotted tickets by him.
Party insiders said the meeting was very crucial as the SP chief was likely gauge the sentiments of the candidates and conduct a fresh review of the list amid fears that the battle for control in SP left the party cadres divided and highly confused at grassroots level.
The meeting will be held against the backdrop of the open rebellion by Akhilesh, who "circulated" his own list of candidates for 235 seats against the official nominees announced by Mulayam.
The list, which did not carry any signature, was made available on social media by defiant party MLAs who failed to get a ticket in the official list.
As the SP grappled with the unprecedented crisis, senior leader and UP minister Azam Khan voiced deep distress over the developments and said, "Bad blood between relatives has damaged the future of the state."
He said the feud in SP was being "celebrated" by its political rivals, especially BJP.
Krishnagar: India's first transgender college principal Manabi Bandopadhyay has submitted her resignation after about one-and-a-half years in office, expressing frustration at "non-cooperation" of a section of teachers and students of her institution.
Nadia District Magistrate Sumit Gupta on Thursday said he had received her letter of resignation from the post of Principal of Krishnagar Women's College in the district on December 27 and forwarded it to the state Higher Education department on Wednesday.
Manabi alleged that she started facing non-cooperation from a section of teachers soon after she took over as the principal of the well-known women's college on June 9, 2015.
On the other hand, the teachers also levelled the same allegation against the principal, resulting in a standoff.
A four-member team, led by Joint Director of Public Instruction (DPI) RP Bhattacharjee, visited the college recently on a fact-finding mission and talked to the principal and teachers.
Manabi said, "All of my colleagues went against me. Some of the students went against me. I tried to bring back discipline and an atmosphere of education in the college. Most probably, that is why they went against me. I always got co-operation from the local administration, but never got it from my colleagues and students."
She went on to say that she had been under tremendous mental pressure and could not take it anymore, forcing her to resign.
"I feel tired due to the agitation and gherao by the students and teachers. I faced a lot of legal notices from their end. I had come to this college with new hopes and dreams but I was defeated...," she said.
Manabi (51), whose earlier name was Somnath, underwent a series of operations in 2003-2004 and became a woman. In 1995, she published the country's first transgender magazine, 'Ob-Manab' (sub-human).
This is the first time that DNA studies will be conducted to ascertain the origins and other historical details of civilisation in Telangana state. (Representational Image)
Hyderabad: Six DNA samples of human skeletal remains from the Megalithic period found in excavations in Piklihal, Raichur district of Karnataka (1954), Yeleshwaram, Nalgonda district (1960) and Pedda Marur, Mahbubnagar (1978) were handed over by the Department of Archaeology and Museums to the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology for detailed studies and DNA analysis.
This is the first time that DNA studies will be conducted to ascertain the origins and other historical details of civilisation in Telangana state.
The objective of the study is to ascertain the ancient population and human settlements in present-day Telangana state, create an individual-wise inventory of skeletal material, and give preliminary observations of the incidence of palaeopathological lesions and anomalies, interpret results in a bio-cultural perspective, trace disease process, human details and other aspects of life in ancient times.
The State Archaeology department on Thursday signed MoUs with CCMB for scientific research and with Deccan College Post Graduate and Research Institute, Pune, one of the top institutions in the world for training archaeologists.
The MoUs were signed by tourism secretary B. Venkatesam, director of archaeology and museums N.R. Visalatchy, CCMB director Rakesh K. Mishra, Deccan College Vice-Chancellor Prof. Vasant S. Shinde, and CCMB senior principal scientist Thangaraj.
Telangana is the youngest state in the country, but has the oldest civilisation over 10,000 years old or more. Excavations of a recent megalithic burial site in Pullurubanda in Siddipet district brought to light skeletal remains. It is absolutely necessary to trace the genetic background of the people who inhabited the region. Bone samples were sent to CCMB that will help ascertain patterns of genetic diversity in ancient human beings and connect them with the present population structure etc. We entered into the MoU to carry out demographical and other studies of the proto historic period in Telangana, Mr Venkatesam said.
Prof. Vasant Shinde said iron was developed in the country in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh way back in 1000 BC.
Korean scientists thought they were pioneers, first to develop and later China but studies proved them wrong. We are undertaking similar studies in Telangana too which is a potential region for historical studies, Prof. Shinde said
Mr Mishra said the country, which has the oldest population in the world, now has technology to throw some light on it and reconstruct the past through DNA.
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Bengaluru: New Year is just round the corner and its used as the reason to indulge in excess boozing. Physicians expect serious health problems if Bengalureans dont know when to put a stop. They claim binge drinking is a growing concern in India especially among youngsters.
This unhealthy habit is often misconceived as a form of recreation with health risks. Apart from the obvious physical symptoms associated with excessive consumption of alcohol, including dizziness, loss of coordination, lack of judgement, abdominal pain, severe nausea and vomiting, even loss of consciousness, it can cause serious health problems including a sudden rise in blood pressure, stroke, heart rhythm disturbances and heart attack," warns Dr. Kaiser Raja, MD, DM, Consultant, Liver Diseases and Transplantation, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore. He added that individuals can also develop serious liver damage known as alcoholic hepatitis as well as inflammation of the pancreas known as acute pancreatitis.
Binge drinking can also result in alcohol poisoning which is often fatal. While its not the same as alcohol use disorder, it significantly increases the risk of developing an alcohol abuse problem. One must keep in mind, that a shift from binge drinking to alcoholism can happen quickly, leading to serious health complications and other harmful consequences.
With the exit of Modi from Gujarat political scene leaving a leadership vacuum in BJP, Congress is hoping to make a mark in the 2017 elections. (Photo: File)
Ahmedabad: Gujarat Congress president Bharatsinh Solanki has not ruled out the possibility of the party projecting a chief ministerial face in 2017 assembly polls to take on BJP, which has been in power in the state for nearly two decades.
Claiming that the Congress is well equipped to take on BJP in the Prime Minister's home state, Solanki dubbed Vijay Rupani as a "rubber stamp" Chief Minister and claimed the change of guard earlier this year did not help the ruling party which has been grappling with Patel quota and Dalit stirs.
The Congress has not fought elections projecting a chief ministerial candidate in the last 20 years in Gujarat.
With the exit of Modi from Gujarat political scene leaving a leadership vacuum in BJP, Congress is hoping to make a mark in the 2017 elections.
"Though it (the leadership question) will be decided by the high command, after Uttar Pradesh and Punjab, we cannot rule it out. Let's wait and see," Solanki told PTI in an interview.
Congress has named former Delhi CM Sheila Dikshit as its chief ministerial candidate for Uttar Pradesh.
In a direct attack on Chief Minister Rupani, who replaced Anandiben Patel, Solanki said he is a "rubber stamp of BJP president Amit Shah."
"By changing chief minister,the BJP has lost on both fronts. Replacing a Patel and a woman Chief Minister by Rupani has not impacted the administration in a positive way. Things have gone from bad to worse," he said, when asked if the change of guard will prove disadvantageous to Congress.
The Congress, after remaining in opposition for last 20 years, is hoping for a revival, as the BJP is facing tough challenges in the form of Patel quota agitation and Dalit protests after the Una flogging incident.
"Gujarat's political scenario has changed due to two agitations - Patel quota movement and Dalit agitation. Come what may, both the communities have decided to defeat BJP in the 2017 elections," Solanki claimed.
New Delhi: A day ahead of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's address to the nation, the CPI(M) on Friday raised a flurry of questions to know if all demonetised money has returned to banks and the estimated loss the move has caused to India's economy even as Centre's demonetisation deadline ends on Friday.
In its statement, party Politburo demanded to know why the government has not constituted probes into alleged Sahara-Birla diaries and Vyapam scam at a time when the Prime Minister was "talking a lot" about ending corruption.
Describing demonetisation as "one man made disaster" which has pushed the "beleaguered" Indian economy into a tailspin, CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury accused the Prime Minister of running away from questions in this regard, raised in Parliament or by media or through RTI.
"Though PM does not like questions either in Parliament, by the press or via RTI. We must continue to do what we must and ask them," Yechury tweeted.
The CPI(M) asked the government to lift all restrictions on the withdrawal of money by people from banks and remove all costs on such dealings given the Centre is pitching for increased digital transactions.
Among other, the party demanded the government to compensate families of 100 people who have reportedly died while queueing up to withdraw money from banks/ATMs and sought to know how many people have lost jobs since demonetisation was announced.
"The PM must publicly declare the quantum of demonetised money that has returned to the banks ... has all of the demonetised money come back into the banks now? What is the quantum and value of new notes that have been printed so far?" it asked.
"What is the government's estimation of the economic loss to the nation as a result of this move? How many people have lost their jobs and livelihood since demonetisation was announced on November 8, 2016?" it sought to know.
Referring to Modi's pitch for ending corruption, the Left party asked the government why it has not instituted probes into the various alleged scams like Vyapam and Sahara-Birla dairies, etc.
Alleging that demonetisation caused "immense misery" to the poor and downtrodden, the Politburo asked the NDA government to double the allocation for the MNREGA to ensure 100 days of employment for all those who are enrolled.
Provide tax rebate to small and medium enterprises and remove all restrictions on deposits and withdrawals of funds from the cooperative banks, it said.
"If there are any specific cases of malpractices against any bank, they should be proceeded against on criminal charges, but the cooperative banking system which is the backbone for rural India cannot be destroyed," it insisted.
Amritsar: Aam Aadmi Party national convener Arvind Kejriwal on Friday promised the Punjab government employees that the 6th pay commission report would be implemented within 100 days of the party forming government after Assembly elections.
Accusing Punjab Congress chief Amarinder Singh of "cheating" the youth of the state by promising them 60 lakh jobs, he claimed that when Amarinder was chief minister, he had imposed ban on the recruitment drive in government departments.
Punjab government had set up the 6th pay commission but its report is not read yet, Kejriwal said at a press conference in Amritsar.
"We will ensure that report is submitted in time bound manner and also implemented within 100 days of forming government," the Delhi Chief Minister said.
The AAP government would ensure that all installments of Dearness Allowance (DA) announced by the Centre were given to Punjab government employees within one month, he said.
"The present SAD-BJP government had not paid arrears of previous DA installments and even pensioner's arrears of 5th pay commission are still pending. We will give Diwali bonus to all employees much before the Diwali Day," he said.
Kejriwal said presently there are only four lakh sanctioned posts in Punjab and the total number of central government employees is around 55 lakh.
He asked Amarinder why he was "cheating" youth of the state with "false promise" of job to every house.
Amarinder was always "against government jobs" and he had completely "banned" recruitment on vacant posts when he came to power in 2002, Kejriwal said.
"During his tenure he didn't fill even a single post" then why people of Punjab should trust him this time, he said.
In fact, it was Amarinder who "imposed a ban" on the recruitment drive in state government departments after issuing a notification in this regard, he said.
Kejriwal claimed that Amarinder started the system of employing people on contract and ad hoc basis.
Also during Amarinder's tenure, the pension scheme for government employees was abolished then how he can promise to give pensions to employees, he said.
"AAP government would restore the old pension scheme for state government employees," Kejriwal said.
Pointing out that during an interview Amarinder had said he lost 2007 and 2012 Assembly elections as he had not made false promises to people, the AAP leader asked, "Is this the reason why you are making so many promises which you can't fulfill."
Claiming that Navjot Singh Sidhu is the "undeclared chief ministerial candidate" of Congress, Kejriwal said, "Sidhu had refused to join AAP when we denied him the Deputy Chief Minister's post. It is a fact that he had decided to support Congress after he was promised CM's post."
Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi was "annoyed" with Amarinder and would "dump" him after using him for campaigning, Kejriwal claimed.
The AAP national convener also questioned Amarinder for his decision to compete polls against him.
Kejriwal said, "Why he is so keen to contest against me and not against Badals or Majithia. I am not selling drugs, it is Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia who was involved in drug racket.
"We are fighting against the Badal family and Majithia because defeating them is more important so AAP has fielded strong candidates against Parkash Singh Badal, Sukhbir Singh Badal and Bikram Singh Majithia," he said.
Kejriwal alleged that Amarinder used his influence with Congress chairperson Sonia Gandhi to save Majithia from CBI in 2013 when he was about to get arrested in a drug case.
"I will advise Amarinder Singh to be loyal to people of Punjab rather than his nephew Bikram Majithia," he said. Replying to a question, Kejriwal said AAP will give the Chief Minister's to a person who will wake up at 5 in the morning and work till 10 in the night and will be available to public all the time.
"Amarinder Singh didn't meet anybody after 6 PM," the AAP convener said.
CHENNAI: Some websites managed by IIT Madras were hacked by unknown persons on Wednesday night and these sites have been brought down to find out the problem.
The websites of six departments, five centres of excellence and central facilities including the central library, central electronic centre were hacked. However, the premier institutes main website (www.iitm.ac.in) and other departments websites were not hacked.
One of the servers for our websites was hacked. It had some dynamic information like conference schedules and registration. It also had six departments sites and few centres, central facilities, said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, director, IIT Madras.
We have to allow outside people to give input like registration for conferences in some of the sites on this server. That makes it a little more vulnerable. This server got compromised. Obviously, somebody has found the weakness. So, we have to see what the weakness is, he said.
There are two servers hosting the websites. The main website and other sites hosted on a different server in which outside people cannot input anything and it is much more secure.
These particular sites have been brought down. We can restore the sites now. But, we are trying to find out the problem and how it got affected. We dont want it to happen again, he added.
The sites of biotechnology, civil engineering, humanities and social sciences, mathematics and mechanical engineering departments were hacked.
Some hacked websites
Biotechnology: https://biotech.iitm.ac.in
Civil Engineering: http://www.civil.iitm.ac.in
Humanities and Social Sciences: https://hss.iitm.ac.in
Management studies:http://www.doms.iitm.ac.in
Mathematics: https://mat.iitm.ac.in
Mechanical Engineering: https://mech.iitm.ac.in/
New Delhi: Love and desperation drove Mumbai engineer Hamid Ansari to illegally cross over to Pakistan from Afghanistan in late 2012 leading to his arrest and subsequent imprisonment in the neighbouring country.
Four years later, the desperation to hear a word from their son has prompted Hamids parents -- Fauzia Ansari and Nehal Ansari -- to pitch a tent in the citys protest hotspot, Jantar Mantar, and knock on the Prime Ministers door.
The last time I spoke to him was on November 10, 2012 when he told me that he will be back in Mumbai by November 12 and was looking forward to take up a teaching assignment, Fauzia said.
Little did she know that, egged on by a group of people in Pakistan who may have trapped him, Hamids false bravado would plunge the family in a state of despair, with virtually no glimmer of hope.
During this period, Fauzia has written to Pakistani Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif, met Union external affairs minister Sushma Swaraj five times, so much so that she recognises me even from a distance.
Allow Hamid to talk to us from prison. We have not spoken to him for over four years now. Please allow him consular access denied to him till date, reads her letter to Sharif.
Sushmaji has been extremely cooperative. Our last meeting was in August this year. She assured us that the government was pursuing the case, Fauzia said, adding that the family would submit a memorandum to the PMO.
Hamid, 31, had entered Pakistan reportedly to meet a girl he had befriended online, who was being forcibly married off by her family, said Fauzia, a lecturer with a Mumbai college.
It was only in January this year that Fauzia and Nehal came to know from Pakistan governments submission in the Peshawar High Court, responding to Habeas Corpus petition, that Hamid was in military custody.
He was arrested soon after he entered Pakistan and was tried by a Pakistani military court, which awarded him three years of imprisonment.
Since he has been in jail since 2012, he has served this sentence already. But there is no clarity about when he will be released. What is intriguing is that a woman Zeenat Shehzadi, who tried to help Hamid, seems to have been targeted by agencies there. She has gone missing, Fauzia said.
Rescue operations underway at a coal mine, where several workers are trapped, in Godda, Jharkhand on Friday. (Photo: PTI)
Godda (Jharkhand): Nine miners were killed and some others feared trapped following a cave-in at Lalmatia opencast coal mine at Rajmahal area of Eastern Coalfields Ltd (ECL) on Thursday night.
"CMD, ECL, has reported that a total of nine bodies of workmen have been recovered from the accident site so far," a Coal Ministry statement said on Friday, adding two injured persons were undergoing treatment.
R R Mishra, officiating CMD of ECL, a Coal India arm, said that the mishap occurred at around 7.30 pm last night when excavators were working there following which rescue operations was launched immediately.
Director General of Mines Safety and senior officials were there to supervise the rescue operation, Mishra said.
The statement said all 10 equipments excavators and dump trucks have been recovered.
An inquiry has been ordered by the Director General of Mines Safety and a high-level committee of experts has been constituted by Coal India to investigate the causes of the accident.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Coal Minister Piyush Goyal, Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and other leaders expressed grief over the loss of lives.
Das said an assistance of Rs two lakh will be given to the families of the miners who died in the accident while ECL also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs five lakh each to these families, in addition to the amount to be paid under the Workmen's Compensation Act.
The PM said Jharkhand Government and Coal Minister Piyush Goyal were "working to restore normalcy".
The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) was engaged for rescue & relief operations. "Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside. Spoke to CM Raghubar Das on the situation," Modi said on twitter.
Das also announced Rs 25,000 to the injured, official sources said.
"CMD, ECL has reported that an incident of overburden dump slide/subsidence has occurred in the second shift of December 29, at about 7.30 PM in the Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project in district Godda, Jharkhand....," the statement said.
Godda is about 250 kms from state capital Ranchi.
All the necessary help to the families of the deceased is being extended by ECL, it said.
"Prima facie, it is observed that the incident is unprecedented, since an area of 300 m length by 110 m wide solid floor of the Over Burden dump area has slid down by about 35 m involving around 9.5 million cubic meters of earth material. This could be due to failure of the bench edge along the hidden fault line/slip," the statement said.
Senior management of ECL and state government officials have been supervising the rescue operations since last evening, it added.
A control room has been set up at the project office of Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project of ECL and R R Amitabh, GM, Mining is in-charge of control room.
Goyal said that he was monitoring the rescue operation since last evening with the Chief Minister.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a tweet "Saddened by the loss of lives in Jharkhand's #Lalmatia coal mine collapse. My prayers for recovery of injured & solace to bereaved families."
People gather near the coal mine in Godda, Jharkhand, where several workers are trapped, after it collapsed on Thursday evening. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: Union Coal and Power Minister Piyush Goyal on Friday expressed grief over the death of people in Jharkhand coal mine incident and said that an ex gratia of rupees five lakh has been announced for the families of the victims.
"This is a very unfortunate incident and in this hour of grief, I extend my deep condolences to the families of deceased. Rescue team was there throughout and we have announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs each to the families of the deceased," Goyal told media in New Delhi.
He further said that all necessary help to the families of the deceased is being extended by the Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL).
Goyal, earlier in the day, took to Twitter, to express his grief over the incident, and said that he was monitoring the rescue operation with Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das.
Read: Jharkhand: 7 dead, many trapped after coal mine caves in
In a tragic incident, a Lalmatia mine of the Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) areahas collapsed here.
Taking stock of the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das and sought details of the tragedy.
Chief Minister Das has announced Rs. 2 lakh to the families of the deceased and Rs. 25,000 for the injured. He also said that stern action would be taken against those responsible for the mine collapse.
"Union Minister Piyush Goyal had talked to me over phone and gave an assurance that an enquiry has been initiated in the incident and stern action will be taken against the ones who are responsible for it, whether it be central government or state government officials," Das told ANI.
As of now, four bodies have been recovered by rescue teams from the Lalmatia mine of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) which collapsed this morning.
According to the Chairman and Managing Director of Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) and Western Coalfields Limited (WCL) Rajiv Ranjan Mishra the rescue work is underway and the team is able to locate one more body under the debris.
Discussing about the reason behind this incident, Mishra said, "A higher committee has been formed and a Deputy General Manager will also enquire. The prima facie which has been found is the entire surface has collapsed. This is a unique phenomenon. But let us see what the reports says."
Misha further said that three excavators and seven dumpers were present there at the mining site.
Three more National Disaster Response Force ( NDRF) teams two from Patna, and one from Ranchi are enroute to the site.
According to the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), around 40-50 workers along with some machinery of a private company are suspected to be trapped under the debris.
"On duty CISF sentry is safe. Rescue operations are underway and electricity supply is also been disrupted" said the CISF in a statement.
Additional manpower comprising one government official, two inspectors, 21 CISF personnel from the Eastern Coal Field Limited, Sheetalpur headquarters have been rushed to the site.
KOCHI: The City Corporation, which has been a good performer in the utilisation of Plan funds, managed to spend only 20 per cent of the total current fiscal allocation of Rs 138 crore. With only three months left for the fiscal year to end, civic authorities are struggling to ensure the maximum expenditure of funds to avoid cut in allocation. Since the current fiscal is the last year of the 12th five-year plan, the unspent funds will not be carried forward to the next year and will lapse.
During the last fiscal, the civic body spent 71.88 per cent of the total allocation of Rs. 146.51 crore which was termed as the highest Plan fund utilisation by any civic body in the state. The Corporation has more than 650 works that are being carried out using Plan funds.
"Plan fund utilisation till date is 20 per cent and the ongoing works are a spillover of the last fiscal. Tenders for new projects have been floated and the works will begin by January. Contractors have been asked to expedite works and the projects can be completed within three months. We expect to achieve a good per cent of fund utilization," said Gracy Joseph, Development Committee chairperson.
The civic authorities blame the frequent changes in specifications brought by the government for the delay in beginning the implementation of projects.
Meanwhile, the Opposition alleges that very few works have been started and many of the projects have not yet received the technical sanction. "If the current progress is any indication, a major per cent of the Plan funds will lapse," said V.P Chandran, CPM councillor.
The Plan fund expenditure is crucial for the civic body as the state government's fund allocation for the next fiscal would be based on the annual spending.
Chennai: Expressing doubts over former chief minister J.Jayalalithaas death, Justice S.Vaidyanathan of the Madras high court on Thursday said if this case comes before his bench, he may even order the exhumation of her body for proper probe to unravel the truth.
The judge, part of the two-judge vacation bench, along with Justice V. Parthiban, made this observation while hearing a PIL filed by AIADMK member P.A. Joseph, seeking the appointment of a commission comprising three retired judges of the Supreme Court to probe the mysterious death of Jayalalithaa, just as the death of freedom fighter Subash Chandra Bose was probed by a commission on the direction of the Calcutta high court.
Media has raised a lot of doubts, personally I also have doubts over the statements reported in the media when Jayalalithaa was taking treatment in the hospital, said Justice Vaidyalingam.
When the case came up for hearing, senior counsel K.M. Vijayan, appearing for the petitioner, referred to the case of freedom fighter Subash Chandra Bose while seeking a similar probe into Jayalalithaas death. Upon this, Justice Vaidyanathan asked advocate general R. Muthukumarasamy what he thought of Mr Vijayans petition. The AG said there was no mystery to Jayalalithaas death and pointed out that a similar petition had already been dismissed by the high court.
Justice Vaidyanathan said, Right to life is a fundamental right. We do not want to go into the issues regarding treatment. Public should know about the same. After the demise, when there is suspicion, anybody can come and question, and added, I also personally have doubt over the things that came out... We saw in newspapers that the chief minister was recovering, and that she was eating, signing papers and even conducting meetings and also that she could be discharged. And then suddenly she was dead. No revenue division officer saw the body, neither were there any medical records furnished.
The court posted the matter for January 9, 2017, while observing that the petition has to be heard at length.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressing the gathering at the DigiDhan Mela in New Delhi on Friday. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: Speaking at the Digi-Dhan Mela in New Delhis Talkatora Stadium on Friday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that the two schemes announced to reward small traders and customers Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana are a Christmas gift to the nation.
Prizes will be given to those who make transactions of more than Rs 50 and less than Rs 3000, so that the poor can win, Modi said.
Over the 100 day period, several families will be given the prizes. These schemes were launched to benefit poor, Modi added.
He said that the mega draw will take place on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar.
Earlier, Modi launched the e-wallet app BHIM to make digital payments easier, and distributed prizes to those who have made contributions to promote digital payments in the country, following a lucky draw.
Launch of the BHIM App is significant. In addition to his role in making of the Constitution, Dr Ambedkar was also a great economist. His thesis offers significant insights of various economic issues, Modi said claiming that a revolution was underway in the country.
Stating that the poor were once called angootha chaap (illiterate people who only knew to sign using thumb impressions), Modi said the BHIM App would soon enable the poor to use just thumb impressions to pay.
Asserting that furthering digital connectivity would do wonders for the nation, Modi said the biggest boon of technology is that it can empower the poor.
Kolkata: Demanding that the prime minister should apologise and resign taking responsibility for his "failure" on demonetisation, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today dared the Centre to arrest all the TMC MPs, charging the Modi government of pursuing "vendetta politics".
"Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately step down taking responsibility for his failure to give relief to the people even after 50 days of demonetisation," she told a press conference at the state secretariat.
Furious over the arrest of her party MP Tapas Pal for his alleged involvement in the Rose Valley chit fund scam, the Trinamool Congress supremo said, "He (Modi) can arrest all of our MPs, I do not care. This is nothing but vendetta politics. We will continue with our protest (against demonetisation).
"I came to know that they (CBI) have arrested one of our MPs. It is only because of our protest against 'notebandi' that this is happening. This is nothing but vendetta politics."
Claiming that she has "all the information" about the Centre's next step, Banerjee said, "I already have the list of my party leaders who will be summoned next (by the CBI)."
Asked if TMC leader in Lok Sabha Sudip Bandopadhyay, who too was summoned by the central agency in the same case, would appear before the CBI, Banerjee said, "He will definitely go. He will be proud to go. He has not done anything wrong.
"The SEBI and RBI did not perform their duties by not acting against the chit fund companies. These companies are not under the jurisdiction of our state. They (SEBI and RBI) have given them protection."
The TMC supremo wondered how could a person, well established in public life as an actor or a sportsperson, be arrested for accepting the hospitality of a company.
"How did these chit fund companies get the permission for uplinking (TV) channels. Sportspersons and actors are brand ambassadors of many companies. I do not intend to show disrespect to anyone, but Amitabh Bachchan too is the brand ambassador of Gujarat and Shah Rukh Khan is the brand ambassador of Bengal," she said.
Banerjee referred to Sahara group, which too is under the lens, and wondered if the central agencies were "sleeping" at that point of time.
Continuing her tirade against Modi, the chief minister said either someone else in the BJP should take over as the prime minister or a "national government" (comprising all the parties) should govern the country till the next generalelection.
"The country has never witnessed such a situation even during the British rule or Emergency," she added.
The court had on December 27 reserved its orders on the bail petitions.
Chennai: A CBI court here on Friday dismissed the bail petitions of sand mining baron J Shekar Reddy and four others who were arrested in connection with alleged seizure of over Rs 170 crore, including new currency notes, from their premises.
The order was passed by Special Judge for CBI cases Vijayalakshmi.
The judge also dismissed a petition filed by CBI seeking their custody for interrogation. The five are in judicial custody.
The court had on December 27 reserved its orders on the bail petitions.
Reddy and his associates were arrested by CBI on December 21 following the "seizure" of 127 kg gold and over Rs 170 crore in cash, including new currency notes, from their premises by the Income-Tax department in coordinated searches.
The five have been accused of converting the unaccounted cash held by them in old currency notes to new notes with the help of unknown public servants of different banks within 24 days from the date of demonetisation on November 8.
Cases have been registered against them for various offences under IPC including criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy and under Sections 13(1) and (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).
When the father of the youth approached Sreelakshmi to beg for forgiveness and request her not to file a case, she asked the old man to tell his son to donate Rs 25,000 to any charitable organisation. (Photo: Representational Image)
Kochi: Sreelakshmi Satheesh, a CEO of an educational consultancy firm in Kerala and a motivational speaker, had a harrowing experience when she attended a call from an unknown number.
What is your rate? Will Rs 3,000 do? Shall I book a hotel room? These were the questions put her by the caller, according to a report in India Today.
To make it worse, her phone then continued to ring a number of times, with unknown numbers calling in. When she chose not to attend the calls, text messages poured in, asking her for her rate. Sreelakshmi eventually switched her phone off, and by this time the rate had reached Rs 25,000.
After over an hour, Sreelakshmi decided to act. She switched on her phone, dialed one of the numbers from which she had got a call earlier, and spoke to the man who answered. While he seemed very enthusiastic in the beginning, the man began to beg for forgiveness after Sreelakshmi told him about her work profile.
The report says that the man got her number from a Whatsapp group. Another individual had shared this number on the Whatsapp group, referring to her as a super item.
More shocking was the fact that the man who she called was an acquaintance of hers. He was also the regional secretary of the youth wing of a national party. After she came to know this, Sreelakshmi decided to approach the police.
Party workers attempted to stop Sreelakshmi from doing so, apologising to her and offering to settle the matter outside court. However, she demanded that the man be sacked from the party.
However, after receiving no response until 8 pm on Thursday, Sreelakshmi decided to file an FIR.
When the father of the youth approached Sreelakshmi to beg for forgiveness and request her not to file a case, she asked the old man to tell his son to donate Rs 25,000 to any charitable organisation and produce the bill as proof.
The man did so, and produced a receipt as proof.
But unable to control her anger, Sreelakshmi then narrated the entire episode in a Facebook post which went viral. While she got much praise for teacher the future leader a lesson, some users also questioned the authenticity of her claims.
I didn't make this Facebook post to gain publicity. I didn't expect it to go viral either," Sreelakshmi later told a local daily. "Since the fellow is a politician, I was also apprehensive about how he would reach. A legal fight would also take considerable time to conclude. That is when I decided to use a popular social media network to unmask the man's character," she said.
Lucknow: Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Mulayam Singh Yadav on Friday issued a show-cause notice to his son for releasing a parallel list of candidates for the state elections.
A show-cause notice was also issued to leader Ram Gopal Yadav, for speaking against the party line in the media.
Mulayam Singh in the press conference declared that Ram Gopal Yadav had been expelled from the membership of the party for six years.
No one has the right to call for a national executive meet other than party chief. By doing this you have hurt the party's interest. How can he call for an emergency national executive meet without my permission? Normally at least 10 to 15 days notice is given before such a meeting is held, the SP chief said referring to Ram Gopal Yadav.
CM Akhilesh Yadav doesn't understand that Ram Gopal is trying to weaken him, Mulayam added.
The show-cause notice issued by Mulayam Singh Yadav to his son Akhilesh Yadav. (Photo: ANI Twitter)
The crisis in the SP reached a flash point late last night after Akhilesh "circulated" his own list of 235 candidates for the Assembly elections, the schedule for which is likely to be announced any day now.
The list, which did not carry any signature, was made available on social media by defiant party MLAs who failed to get a ticket in the official list.
Mulayam Singh Yadav has called a meeting on Saturday of all the candidates allotted tickets amid hectic efforts to stave off a possible split in the ruling party in Uttar Pradesh.
"We have declared list of 325 candidates for the 2017 assembly polls; 78 seats still remain. Name of candidates for rest of the 78 seats will be announced soon," Mulayam said on Wednesday while announcing the list.
Akhilesh's name did not figure in the first list. Mulayam, however, said that his son, being the Chief Minister, can contest from any assembly seat he wishes to
Unhappy with the list released by his father Mulayam on Wednesday, the Chief Minister held a meeting on Thursday with his loyalists, including MLAs, who have been denied tickets. Afterwards, SP MLA Indal Singh said, "Akhilesh is likely to announce his own list of candidates."
These candidates were likely to contest on a separate symbol, other than SP's 'Cycle' symbol, paving the way for a wide split in the party grappling with dissensions and unprecedented feud at a time when the crucial polls were knocking at the door.
New Delhi: Union Information and Broadcasting Minister M Venkaiah Naidu on Friday hailed Prime Minister Narendra Modi's demonetisation move and took a jibe at the Congress by terming its way of opposing it as a 'big flop.'
"Whatever the opposition did, has turned out to be a big flop. They first announced 'Bharat Bandh', which was not supported even by one person. Then, they held an 'Aakrosh rally' which was again a big flop," Naidu told ANI.
Naidu also targeted former prime minister Manmohan Singh for his failure to stop corruption during his decade-long regime and accused the Congress of generating black money in the past.
"Manmohan Singh was the economic adviser, finance secretary, finance minister and prime minister, still he did not do anything to curb black money. Congress is responsible for all the black money that was generated in the past," he said.
He also said Congress and corruption always go together and that it should introspect how it decreased its strength from 440 to 40.
Naidu showed faith in the move to demonetise high-denomination notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1,000 and counted on it as a measure to switch to cashless economy.
"To ensure that the problem of corruption does not recur, we have come up with the concept of digital transfer and digital transactions. This is also done in order to reduce the cash transaction which amounts to 86 percent presently," he said.
The Prime Minister will be addressing the nation on New Year's Eve regarding demonetisation, which has completed its 50 days today.
Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan presents a memento to President Pranab Mukherjee at the inauguration of the Indian History Congress at Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday. Governor P. Sathasivam is also seen. (Photo: A.V. MUZAFAR)
Thiruvananathapuram: President Pranab Mukherjee has said that the freedom to doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually must be protected as an essential pillar of democracy. Nothing should lie outside the realm of reason and, therefore, of discussion and argument. Such freedom is vital for the progress in any field, Mr Mukherjee said.
Inaugurating the 77th session of Indian History Congress on the Kerala University Campus at Karyavattom on Thursday, he said, We must keep our eyes open for unfamiliar ideas and be ready to consider a range of different inferences and assumptions.
Asserting that Indias greatest strength is its pluralism and social, cultural and linguistic diversity, he said the countrys traditions have celebrated the argumentative Indian and not the intolerant Indian.
There has been an unfortunate tendency in the country from time-to-time to take umbrage at the expression of any view perceived to be hostile to our social or cultural institutions, past or present, Mr Mukherjee said. Similarly, critical appraisals of heroes and national icons of the past have been met with hostility or sometimes even violence, he pointed out.
No society is perfect and history must also be seen as a guide on what went wrong and what were the contradictions, deficiencies and weaknesses of the past. An objective pursuit of history, such as our best historians have attempted, requires an impartial mind of a judge and not the mind of an advocate, he said.
He also warned historians against the intrusion of personal prejudice into historical interpretation.
In my view, every branch of knowledge prospers only when clinical objectivity is maintained, he said. It is often the case in history that evidence is either so scarce that the room for speculation is extremely wide or is so massive that the historian is unable to explore more than a small part of the available data, he said.
It is natural to love ones country and see as much glory in its past as one can detect. However, patriotism should not result in blinkered approaches to interpreting history or a compromise with truth to justify an argument of choice, he said.
There is no conflict or contradiction between the promotion of regional history and the pursuit of the history of the country as a whole, he said. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Opposition Leader Ramesh Chennithala alleged that attempts were being made by vested interests to distort history to suit the present government at the centre.
Mr Mukherjee released the first copy of the proceedings of the Congress by presenting it to the chief minister. Governor P. Sathasivam, ministers Kadakampally Surendran and C. Raveendranath, Kerala University Vice-Chancellor Dr P.K. Radhakrishnan and Indian History Congress president Prof Shireen Moosvi also attended the function.
President honours Iravatham
President Pranab Mukherjee presented V. K. Rajwade Award of the Indian History Congress to epigraphist and Dravidologist Iravatham Mahadevan at its inaugural function here on Thursday where IHC secretary Ishrat Alam made the announcement. The award instituted by Prof A.R. Kulkarni for lifetime services to the cause of history carries a sum of Rs 50,000.
Mr Mahadevan is known for his successful decipherment of Tamil-Brahmi inscriptions and his expertise on the epigraphy of the Indus Valley Civilisation, on which he has been working for over 40 years. His publications include The Indus Script: Texts, Concordance and Tables (1977).
A Tamil speaker, he has used historical linguistics and statistical studies to examine the Dravidian components in Vedic Sanskrit, and how these might point to interpretations of the Indus Valley script.
A retired IAS officer, he developed an interest in Indian epigraphy while in service. Upon the suggestion of historian Nilakanta Sastri, he began to study cave inscriptions of Tamil Nadu, and took the world of epigraphy by storm, when he published his work on Chera inscriptions of Pugalur, in 1965.
Thrissur: Home Minister Rajnath Singh does not know who Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil is and about his abduction by the terrorists in Yemen. However, after he was briefed by BJP national council member P.K. Krishnadas and mediapersons here on Thursday, the minister promised to take appropriate action to free the Salesian priest after getting more information about his present condition.
The minister had come to Guruvayur to offer prayers at the Sree Krishna Temple. When reporters asked him about the government plans to rescue Fr. Tom, he was at a loss to answer at first. After he was told about the matter, he promised prompt action.
It may be recalled that External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had made several tweets after the latest video of the abducted priest appeared in the media recently.
Referring to demonetisation, Mr Singh said that the currency shortage had been effectively dealt with. Mr Singh who reached Guruvayur on Wednesday night came to the temple at 2.50 a.m. on Thursday and offered prayers before the main deity for 10 minutes.
Though the minister was expected to leave the temple town at 10 a.m. on Thursday, due to the delay in the Guruvayur-Chennai Egmore Express, the railway level-crossing at Guruvayur was closed at that time and his journey from Guruvayur to the airport was delayed by half an hour.
Relatives meet Alencherry
The relatives of Fr. Tom Uzhunnalil met Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry of the Syro-Malabar Church on Thursday and sought his intervention to release the Salesian priest from the terrorists clutches.
Mr Thomas Uzhunnalil, Mr O.S. Mathew, Mr N.A. Thomas and Mr Roy Mathew of the Uzhunnalil Kudumbayogam urged the Archbishop to take up the issue at the Synod of Syro-Malabar Church to be held next week. Cardinal Alenchery told DC that he had not given any assurance to present the case at the Synod.
On December 19, President Pranab Mukherjee had cleared the name of Justice Khehar as the next CJI. The incumbent, Justice T S Thakur, demits office on January 3 next year. (Photo: PTI)
New Delhi: A plea by a group of lawyers challenging the elevation of Justice J S Khehar as the next Chief Justice of India (CJI) was dismissed on Friday by the Supreme Court which asserted that there was "no question" of him being considered ineligible for the post.
The apex court rejected the arguments that Justice Khehar, while heading a five-judge constitution bench that had struck down the National Judicial Appointments Commission (NJAC), had benefitted himself as the judgement had revived the collegium system for appointment of judges in the higher judiciary.
While disapproving the grounds for entertaining the PIL, a bench of Justices R K Agrawal and D Y Chandrachud noted that there were averments in the petition praising the "quality" of the judge who is to be sworn as CJI on January 4.
"Since the petitioners have praised the quality of Justice J S Khehar, there is no question of him being considered ineligible for being appointed as the Chief Justice of India," the bench said.
"So far as this allegation is concerned, it is sufficient to mention that collegium not only consist of the CJI but also four other senior-most judges of the Supreme Court," the bench said.
The apex court also said that as far as correctness of the NJAC case judgement is concerned, "we are of the opinion that petitioner has the right to apply for review or file curative petition".
"We do not find any merit in the petition and the same is dismissed," the bench said while rejecting the plea filed by National Lawyers' Campaign for Judicial Transparency and Reforms.
Advocate Mathews J Nedumpara, appearing for the lawyers' body, argued that the issue of judiciary's independence and appointment of judges was important and it was "painful" for them to approach the apex court with such a petition.
He claimed that judges in the higher judiciary were coming from "a few families only" and "it cannot be the exclusive domain of some persons".
"This court has to listen to the critics. Democracy is all about criticism," he said, adding that Justice Khehar should refuse to become the next CJI.
As the lawyer was arguing on a high pitch, the bench told Nedumpara, "Mr counsel, can't you argue in your normal voice? Why are you raising your voice? Why are you shouting? Be in your normal voice. We are hearing you".
Nedumpara also claimed that the apex court registry should become citizen-friendly as it raised a lot of objections when a lawyer filed a petition.
The vice president of the lawyers' body also told the bench that Justice Khehar had "restored the collegium" and was its beneficiary and, if he became the CJI, "it will create some doubt in the mind of general public that he had struck down the NJAC for his benefit".
Another counsel for the petitioner argued that "lawyers and judges today are coming from a very small pool of family because these lawyers are entertained in the Supreme Court and the High Courts".
He alleged that 85 per cent SLPs filed by common advocates were being dismissed by the apex court within seconds, as these lawyers do not have the "face value".
The lawyer also referred to the Salman Khan case where Bombay High Court granted him interim bail, without having the copy of the trial court judgement convicting the Bollywood actor in the 2002 hit-and-run case.
He also said that judges, who are part of the collegium, should not be part of constitution bench in matters like the NJAC, asking "how can one be the judge for his own cause".
The petitioners also told the court that they have sought a direction to the Centre to seek review of the NJAC verdict so that there is a transparent mechanism for judges' appointment.
"50 per cent judges in the high courts are from family of judges or senior advocates. The collegium is appointing judges with a narrow view," Nedumpara said.
On December 23, the apex court had termed as "virtually infructuous" a petition filed by the lawyers' body opposing elevation of Justice Khehar as the next CJI observing that the President has already issued a notification in this regard.
The bench had noted in its order that the notification appointing Justice Khehar as the next CJI has been issued on December 19.
On December 19, President Pranab Mukherjee had cleared the name of Justice Khehar as the next CJI. The incumbent, Justice T S Thakur, demits office on January 3 next year.
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday termed the infighting in the Samajwadi Party as a "scripted drama" to divert people's attention from the "all-round failures" of the Akhilesh Yadav government.
"Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has betrayed the people of Uttar Pradesh with the all-round failures of his government. He has not fulfilled any promise. People are feeling betrayed. What is happening in SP is a scripted drama to divert people's attention," its National Secretary Shrikant Sharma said.
People had voted for SP in 2012 as they were angry with the Mayawati government over poor law and order and development but it has also let them down, he said, blaming Yadav for "deteriorating law and order" as his portfolios includes the home ministry.
Voters will not fall in this trap this time, Sharma said, adding that they have made up their mind to vote for BJP. "There is wave in our support," he claimed.
BJP governments in various states have brought development and ensured double digit growth, he said.
Lucknow: The ruling Samajwadi Party was on Friday on the precipice of a split with party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav expelling his son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav and general secretary Ramgopal Yadav for six years after they put up candidates against the official nominees and summoned a party meet on Sunday.
The action, dubbed by a defiant Ramgopal, Mulayam's cousin, as "unconstitutional", as the party plunged into an unprecedented crisis raising questions over the fate of the Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh.
On a day of fast-moving developments, hordes of frenzied Akhilesh supporters, especially the youth, thronged his residence to express their support.
Making the announcement at a press conference here, Mulayam said the new Chief Minister will be chosen by the Samajwadi Party.
With his brother Shivpal Yadav, who has been at loggerheads with the Chief Minister, by his side, Mulayam said he had taken the action against Akhilesh and Ramgopal to save the party which he had built through hard efforts.
"We have to save the party. The party comes first. That is why we are expelling both Akhilesh and Ramgopal," he said.
He explained that the decision was taken after Ramgopal, in his capacity as general secretary, called an emergency meeting of the party on January 1 and Akhilesh "supported" it.
Ramgopal called the meeting after a showcause notice was issued to him and Akhilesh by Mulayam for releasing a list of candidates, parallel to the one issued officially by Mulayam.
"How can he (Akhilesh) release the list when the party has declared its candidates? Both Akhilesh and Ramgopal want to finish the party. I will not let it happen. I have built this party through hard work," Mulayam said.
"I had made Akhilesh the Chief Minister with much fanfare," he added.
With regard to the emergency meeting called by Ramgopal on Sunday, Mulayam said only the party president has the power to convene such a meeting. "The party cannot run on Ramgopal's whims," Mulayam said.
He said Ramgopal has not only indulged in indiscipline but is causing a big harm to the party. "As of now we have expelled him, but we will take further action against him," he party chief asserted.
Pouring scorn on Ramgopal, Mulayam said he has "ruined" the finishing career of Akhilesh who "does not understand".
A defiant Ramgopal termed Mulayam's decision to expel him and Akhilesh as "unconstitutional" and insisted that he continues to be the general secretary of the party.
He accused party chief of indulging in "unconstitutional" activities and said the party meet called by him on Sunday will take place in any eventuality.
"If the top leadership of the party indulges in unconstitutional acts, who will call the party meeting? It is the general secretary who will do it," Ramgopal said. He questioned the list of candidates released by Mulayam, saying no meeting of Parliamentary Board was held to discuss the nominees.
Hyderabad: The TS government on Thursday told the Hyderabad High Court that so far no evidence has been found that the police has been using the services of gangster Nayeem.
The government has filed a counter-affidavit before the court, pursuant to the courts direction in a public interest litigation filed by CPI leader K. Narayana, seeking a CBI probe into the case.
In the counter-affidavit, principal secretary in TS home department Rajiv Trivedi also denied that Nayeem had links with Naxal outfits operating in other states.
The state government has also submitted to the court that the allegation that top politicians used the services of Nayeem and derived some financial benefit is not correct and so far no evidence has been found to support it.
The government told the court that the Special Investigation Team investigating the case has not found any information that proves the allegation that Nayeem had discussions with Pakistan- based Dawood Ibrahim in Dubai.
If such evidence is found, appropriate action will be taken by the SIT.
The government affidavit said that the SIT is investigating the matter of the life and death of Nayeem, his alleged activities and offences committed by him and his associates in the entire state.
Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) chairman Yasin Malik was on Friday detained by police in Pulwama in Srinagar, after he tried to protest against refugees' domicile issue.
The protest was carried out against the issue of identity certificates to West Pakistan refugees living in Pulwama.
National Conference leader and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Farooq Abdullah on December 27 also expressed dissent over the government's announcement to issue 'domicile certificates' to West Pakistan Refuees.
The Bharatiya Janata Party, in coalition with the Jammu and Kashmir's ruling People's Democratic Party, took the stand of initiating steps to fulfil he long pending demands of the refugees, which stirred up controversy in the Valley.
On December 23, the Valley witnessed a complete shutdown on the call of separatists in the wake of the initiative taken by the government.
New Delhi: In a rebuff to India, China on Friday finally blocked its proposal to get Pakistan-based JeM chief and Pathankot mastermind Masood Azhar banned as terrorist by the United Nations.
The move triggered a sharp reaction from New Delhi which termed it as unfortunate blow and a step that confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism.
New Delhi also said it is concerned at the surprising Chinese decision and that it had expected Beijing to be more understanding of the need to tackle the scourge of terrorism.
Sources said that though India is extremely unhappy, it is unlikely to escalate the situation since it does not want Sino-Indian ties to be held hostage to the Masood Azhar issue.
In fact, while the Indian reaction to the developments highlighted its disappointment, New Delhi did not launch a strong frontal attack on Beijing, leaving the door open for further parleys. India is likely to continue its efforts to persuade China, sources said.
Beijing, however, is unlikely to oblige New Delhi even in the future since it has made huge investments on the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and is completely backing Islamabad.
If India wants to try again, it has to place a fresh proposal before the United Nations but there appears to be scepticism in Indian Government circles about the wisdom of immediately going in for such a move.
Bankers are giving priority to customers from Hyderabad city and the nodal branches are supplying more currency to the branches in the city. (Representational Image)
Hyderabad: Hyderabad city is getting the lions share of the currency supplied by the Reserve Bank of India while the rest of Telangana gets much less.
Telangana state has 3,000 bank branches of which 1,000, including corporate/head offices, are located within Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation limits.
AP and TS bank employees federation secretary M.S. Kumar says there is a greater demand for cash in Hyderabad than in other cities such as Warangal, Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam, Kakinada and Tirupati in both the states.
Bankers are giving priority to customers from Hyderabad city and the nodal branches are supplying more currency to the branches in the city. This is leading to problems in rural areas and in other cities in the state, he said. He said banks in TS are unable to issue even Rs 10,000 to each customer while in AP customers are getting cash as per the guidelines given by the RBI.
Its the same situation at ATMs. Nodal branches are sending cash to ATMs in the evening and the machines get empty within one hour. But there is no cash in ATMs in rural areas. The RBI should supply more currency for the convenience of customers, he said.
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry had first described the RSS and Indian political party Shiv Sena as "Hindu extremist and terrorist organisations" on December 15. (Representational image)
New Delhi: India on Friday slammed Pakistan for labelling certain Indian political parties and social organisations including the RSS the ruling BJPs ideological mentor as terrorist outfits, calling it a desperate attempt at deflecting international focus from Islamabads complicity in spawning terrorist groups like LeT, JuD and JeM.
In response to a query on the Pakistan Foreign Ministry's recent comments on Jammu & Kashmir and slander against Indian organisations", the Ministry of External Affairs said, The Pakistan MoFA statement of yesterday is absurd even by their standards.
Labelling bonafide Indian political parties and social and cultural organisations as terrorist organisations seems a desperate attempt to deflect international focus from Pakistan's own complicity in spawning internationally proscribed organisations like LeT, JuD and JeM, which continue to target Pakistan's neighbours from territory under Pakistan's control."
The Pakistan Foreign Ministry had first described the RSS and Indian political party Shiv Sena as "Hindu extremist and terrorist organisations" on December 15.
According to news agency reports, the official spokesperson of the Pakistan Foreign Ministry had on Thursday alleged that "terrorist organisations such as RSS, VHP, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and other terrorist elements" are engaged in a drive to change the demography of Kashmir.
The area where the incident happened doesn't have CCTV cameras. Police have formed teams to trace the accused. (Representational image)
New Delhi: A 38-year-old woman suffered head injuries as she fell out from a speeding auto-rickshaw while trying to save her handbag from snatchers in south Delhi's Defence Colony area.
Sharmila Rai was on her way to Connaught Place with her husband, Rakesh and his nephew Gaurav, from her home in Sanwal Nagar for shopping when three men on a motorcycle came near their auto-rickshaw around the Moolchand flyover area, police siad.
One of the men, snatched the bag and while she was trying to resist his attempts, she fell out of the auto-rickshaw and injured her head, her husband said.
The snatchers fled with the bag that contained at least Rs 7,000 in new currency notes, a mobile phone, ATM cards and some other important documents, he added.
The auto-rickshaw was speeding and when Sharmila fell out, she suffered severe injuries. When Rakesh shouted, the driver stopped the auto-rickshaw and her husband and his nephew rushed to Sharmila's aid.
Sharmila was rushed to Moolchand hospital where doctors referred her to Institute of Brain and Spine (IBS) where she underwent an operation.
Currently she is recuperating, Rakesh said.
Rakesh works as a chef in India International Centre while Sharmila works at a parlour in Nizamuddin area.
The area where the incident happened doesn't have CCTV cameras. Police have formed teams to trace the accused.
The faces of the accused weren't covered but the incident happened within a few seconds hence neither Rakesh nor Gaurav could note down details of their vehicles, said a senior police officer.
Most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments in Srinagar - the summer capital of the state -were shut, while public transport was minimal, officials said. (Photo: PTI)
Srinagar: Normal life was affected in Kashmir Valley on Friday due to a strike called by separatists against the issuance of identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs).
Most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments in Srinagar - the summer capital of the state -were shut, while public transport was minimal, officials said.
They said there were very few street vendors visible in the city today due to the strike.
Reports of shutdown were also received from most of the other district headquarters of the Valley, the officials said.
Security forces were deployed in strength at sensitive places where barricades were also erected. The separatists have also been calling for shutdown on Friday and Saturday every week after scaling down their agitation which followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahdeen militant Burhan Wani.
The more than five-month unrest in the Valley had left 86 people dead and thousands others, including 5,000 security personnel, injured.
The separatist groups - both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF - yesterday appealed the people to observe a complete shutdown on Friday and Saturday over WPR issue.
They alleged that the decision on issuance of identity certificates to WPR was aimed at changing the demography of Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Thursday dared the Centre to get all the appointments made by his government probed after the CBI filed an FIR into the appointment of city Health Minister Satyendar Jain's OSD.
Asserting that he was not afraid of any probe, the AAP chief also wondered whether the Centre would accept a Delhi government-appointed committee to look into the Sahara Birla papers.
Kejriwal alleged that the CBI has filed "seven FIRs" against Jain and "two" against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, but did not elaborate.
In fresh trouble for the AAP government, the CBI has filed an FIR into the appointment of Jain's OSD while the LG office has recommended a probe by the agency into the appointment of his daughter Soumya Jain as a functionary in the Mohalla Clinic project.
"You (Centre) make your committee and get all our appointments probed. And we will form one, and you get the Sahara Birla matter probed with it. Agree?
"We are not scared of any probe as we have not done any wrong. Then why are you scared of a probe?" Kejriwal tweeted.
New Delhi: The Samajwadi parivar on Friday fell apart with father and SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expelling his rebel son and Uttar Pradesh Chief Minis-ter Akhilesh Yadav for anti-party activities. The party supremo also sacked Samajwadi Party general secretary and Rajya Sabha member Ram Gopal Yadav, a confidant and Akhilesh loyalist for calling an emergency meeting of the party on January 1. Both the leaders have been expelled for six years.
To save the party, we have expelled both Ram Gopal and Akhilesh Yadav for six years from the party. For us, the party is most important and our priority is to save the party, Mulayam Singh Yadav, flanked by his brother and state unit chief Shivpal Yadav, declared at a press conference.
Governor may ask Akhilesh to prove majority
The party supremo also sacked Samajwadi Party general secretary and Rajya Sabha MP Ram Gopal Yadav, a close confidant and Akhilesh Yadav loyalist for calling an emergency meeting of the party on January 1. Both the leaders have been expelled for six years. After Mulayam Singh released his list of candidates on Wednesday, a defiant Akhilesh Yadav released his own list of candidates on Thursday, a move that enraged his father. Earlier on Friday, Mulayam Singh Yadav had issued a show-cause notice to Akhilesh for issuing a parallel list.
Taking his father head on after being expelled, Akhilesh Yadav summoned a meeting of SP MLAs at 9.30 am on Saturday. A split in the party is inevitable.
Reports indicated that top leaders of the party have urged Mulayam Singh Yadav to revoke the expulsion of Akhilesh Yadav.
Ram Gopal Yadav, defying the party chiefs diktat, asserted that Mulayam Singhs move to sack him and Akhilesh was unconstitutional and that he would go ahead with the emergency meeting on January 1.
Mulayam Singh appealed to party workers not to attend the meeting. Immediately after SP chief expelled Akhilesh, the BJP swung into action and demanded that the Chief Minister resign on moral grounds. All eyes are now on the Governor, Ram Naik, who said he is keeping a close watch on the developments.
While elections dates are expected to be announced on January 3, the Governor could ask Akhilesh Yadav to prove his majority on the floor of the House in the next 72 hours.
There is no doubt that the incidents of Islamist terrorism, carried out or prevented by the intelligence services and police, originated in these isolated communities. (Representational Image)
To dream a national dream
A nation must be asleep
And lumbered by its slumber
Elect a national creep.
From Selections from Diwan-e-Bachchoo (Ed, by Terry
Marco Polo)
Two reports from official UK bodies were published at the end of 2016. The first one traced the persistent isolation of immigrant communities from the mainstream of British life. The second, with no reference or connection to the first, but with a symbiotic relevance to it, was about the discrimination of race that persists in the practices of employment.
The isolationist report statistically detailed what Britain should be well aware of. In the Midlands of Yorkshire and Lancashire, the centres of towns such as Bradford are almost entirely Asian, mostly the descendants of immigrants from Mirpur in PoK and from Bangladesh. The native population of these towns has moved to the surrounding, still picturesque villages, leaving the town centres to Asian shops and restaurants and churches converted to Islamic institutions dedicated to one purpose or tother.
The mills are gone from these areas and the mosques flourish. The report highlighted the potential dangers of this sort of self-selecting apartheid. There is no doubt that the incidents of Islamist terrorism, carried out or prevented by the intelligence services and police, originated in these isolated communities. The five young British girls of Bangladeshi parentage, who ran away to Syria to volunteer as jihadi brides, came from Londons Tower Hamlets (which, incidentally boasts more mosques per square mile than Mecca).
Birmingham has in recent years experienced what the media called the Trojan Horse penetration of its schools. Several schools, legally established as Islamic institutions, were infiltrated by radical Islamicist governors who then proceeded to appoint radical Islamicist head teachers and members of staff in order to spread their pernicious doctrines. In the same years that the British state has legalised gay marriage, these schools have been detected preaching hatred against homosexuals. Freedom of thought and expression in Britain ensures that one may have ones opinion about homosexuality or gay partnerships; and freedom of expression extends to allowing one to say in print that homosexuality is not sanctioned by God or nature. What is forbidden is the spreading of hatred or the instigation to violence against people of a different religious or sexual orientation.
The report has no instantly implementable solutions to the obvious and growing social dislocation caused by this evolved isolation. To integrate schools through a prescribed ratio of ethnic populations has been mooted but would entail the transfer of children from their neighbourhoods into alien ones and that would undoubtedly meet with parental resistance from all sides.
The only first step, short of legislated solutions to reserve housing stock, places in educational institutions and ethnic quotas in employment, which I can think of, is a change of heart and orientation through the media.
There is no conclusive proof that TV, while it informs, educates and entertains, does anything to directly influence social currents. (The exposure that TV gives presidential candidates in the US may even point the opposite way that voters move in the opposite direction to TV persuasion.) Nevertheless it remains true that TV provides the central forum for national conversation and perhaps even for national awareness. This is not the place for a prescription as to what British TV should be doing to integrate the isolated communities and facilitate a sharing of national, if diverse, values. It can however be the medium for a story of good intentions.
A friend of mine who runs a TV production company has over the last year been researching a chain of very successful Indian restaurants called Akbars, situated in Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield, Bradford and Glasgow. Its owner, a young man called Bashir who likes to be called Bash set the chain up from scratch.
The TV producer friend has come to the conclusion, after the isolation report was published, that he should pitch and do something towards integration. He has observed that the workers in the Akbars chain are all Asian mostly Muslim and Mirpuri. He now proposes that Bash begin to recruit white workers in all departments and capacities to train as chefs, waiters, managers, buyers and any other employment the chain offers.
In a radio discussion on the second report on discrimination in employment, a contributor said he sent the identical CV to several employers under his own distinctly African name and a copy under a pseudo British name. The Brit was summoned for an interview but the African was not.
Another contributor said she wasnt going to see any drama or ballet, which didnt have a racially integrated cast. I would have told her, but didnt, that I have written a pantomime which is running in London today called Bollywood Jack featuring a distorted, ethnicised story of Jack and the beanstalk and all the actors and musicians are distinctly non-British! She should go!
It is hard to understand why the government wants to bring in an ordinance making it punishable to keep old demonetised notes beyond a certain number after March 31, with a stiff minimum fine of Rs 10,000. The old notes will have no value after December 30, 2016, so why should someone be penalised for holding notes that are simply junk or scraps of paper? To say it is being done to prevent people from exploiting poor labourers by giving them old notes doesnt sound convincing at all. Ruling by ordinances is also disturbing, and has already earned the Narendra Modi government the label of ordinance raj. There is also a perception that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has no patience with the parliamentary process. In December 2015, his government issued seven ordinances in a fortnight, amending the land reforms law, allowing FDI in insurance, auctioning of coal blocks, among other things. Finance minister Arun Jaitley proudly claimed it would convince foreign investors the reforms wouldnt be hit due to the chaos in Parliament, but it only exposed the governments weakness, showing it couldnt get the bills through the Rajya Sabha.
While there was only one ordinance this December, was it really necessary? The PM may be a man in a hurry, but it is certainly not a good practice for his government to bypass Parliament as his party doesnt have a majority in the Rajya Sabha. What was the hurry to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes without discussion in Parliament? Some of the 60-plus changes in rules the government was forced to make could have been avoided. Its true tackling black money was among the BJPs 2014 election promises, but did it manage to get any of the enormous amounts stashed overseas?
Contrast this with whats happening in Europe. The 500-euro note is being demonetised from the end of 2018, but the public has been informed well over two years in advance. No secrecy, no surgical strike, though the objectives are the same: to check black money, counterfeiting and terror financing. But see the difference: while the 500-euro note will cease to be general tender, it will retain its value, and anyone can at any time go to a branch of the central bank to exchange it. So the promise to pay the bearer is not being repudiated.
The new ordinance is also a scary reminder of Indira Gandhis Emergency. If the BJP and government claim an ordinance was the only way as Parliament was stalled, it should remember its the duty of the government, not the Opposition, to ensure Parliament functions. The BJP pointed this out repeatedly while it was in Opposition in the decade-long UPA period. If this preference for ordinance raj continues, the Indian politys democratic structure will be considerably endangered.
The year closes on the wholesome note of introspective wisdom from President Pranab Mukherjee, who counselled on Thursday that patriotism should not result in blinkered approaches to the interpretation of history which compromise the truth to justify a convenient argument. Few would fail to notice in this the oblique reference to the recent fervour promoted by the BJP and the Narendra Modi government to brand critics of the government unpatriotic and anti-national. Thus, critics of demonetisation and of the so-called surgical strike against Pakistan were called these vile names by high functionaries of the state as well as leading lights of the ruling party.
Indeed, the rubric of nationalist has been sought to be appropriated solely for the ruling party and its supporters in the narrative pushed by the political establishment these days, with critics suggesting that the BJPs credo is not nationalism but Hindu nationalism.
Addressing the Indian History Congress in Thiruvananthapuram, the President celebrated the argumentative Indian, not the intolerant Indian, and highlighted the necessity to protect the freedom to doubt, disagree, dispute, which he said was crucial to preserving Indias ethos of pluralism and diversity. Mr Mukherjee has had to return to this theme, given that fanatical elements associated with majoritarian groups have acted and spoken in an unrestrained fashion in recent times.
The Law Commission, which has consciously or in innocence sought a public debate on a uniform civil code just when major elections are due, can also heed the Rashtrapatis words since this subject is widely viewed as a part of a socially divisive agenda.
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley has chosen to see the brighter side of demonetisation because his governments treasury has benefited with the increase in direct and indirect tax collection. For the common people and specially for the economically weaker sections like daily workers and sectors that depend on cash transactions, the situation has been painful and it continues to be so as the 50-days that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has asked for to bring the situation to normal, expires today. Labourers in textile hubs like Tiruppur have lost their jobs and returned to their villages as the owners dont have the cash to pay them. This is the same story in agriculture where farmers have seen the price of their produce drop as traders dont have the cash to pay them. GDP growth is expected to see a dip of nearly two per cent. The IIP for November was down. Mr Jaitley seems a little removed from the ground reality. The situation may not be as distressful as it was soon after November 8 but the fact that cash is still not available as it was pre-November 8 is a reality. The RBI is expected to meet the shortfall in currency only in a few months even as the workers at its printing presses have refused to work in three shifts, according to reports.
It is difficult to fathom what Mr Jaitley means when he says that RBI has plenty of cash so there should be no shortage. It is one thing for the finance minister to say that this short-term pain is for long-term gains. But behind this pain are human beings who are going through rough times, being unable to get hold of their own hard earned money. No one doubts the good that will come and has already come for the government at least, from demonetisation. It is supposed to have given a boost to the digital revolution and hit at holders of unaccounted money, thereby curbing corruption. This is doubtful as bribe takers are demanding bribes in diamond and gold.
History is written by the winners. But what happens when hashtags dictate the story?
In a country of nearly 1.3 billion people, with Twitter users numbering a little over 23 million, and Internet subscribers just crossing 350 million, that question may seem odd, even elitist. But as 2016 draws to a close, in the style of a typically Indian paradox, hashtag wars have come to define the hype, hysteria and hope surrounding political debates and public discourse in the country.
Like it or not, today, the tech-savvy vocal few can potentially influence what the rest know, think and feel. Many a story in the mainstream media takes its cues from trends in the social media. In the beginning, this was hailed as breaching the barricades, democratisation of public discourse with everyone pitching in, unmediated by gatekeepers.
But the reality is somewhat different. The social media is hugely useful in times of crisis, during natural disasters, in reuniting lost friends. It boosts causes and commerce in equal measure. But the interactive, inherently compelling nature of the social media is also trapping users in information and ideological silos.
As Warren Buffet famously said, What the human being is best at doing is interpreting all new information so that their prior conclusions remain intact. Today, most of us hear what we want to hear. Perhaps, it has always been that way, and the hope was that the Internet would break the barriers. But the fact is that the social media is not necessarily expanding our minds. Algorithms feed us what we want, or what the computer programme thinks we want, in the name of Internet personalisation.
So where does that leave genuine diversity and freedom of thought?
In the recent Ameican elections, one saw how hashtags contributed to the dramatic shifts in public perception, in delegitimising people perceived to be elite or establishment, and fuelling the flames of public anger. A perception was created that traditional journalism was not the honest arbiter of truth but tweets were. One telling tweet from a Donald Trump supporter: @MSM hates @realDonaldTrump tweeting because they dont get the scoop first. I love it. MSM is the much reviled traditional, mainstream media.
It is true that traditional media in the United States took sides, in some cases blatantly. They chose not to see the writing on the wall. But it is equally true that the social media was also patently partisan, reinforcing existing prejudices, making biases more rigid. People followed those they wanted to follow and ignored, blocked and mocked those who had contrary views. Sometimes the diverse groups met, but only in an uber-aggressive us versus them spirit. That continues.
We are seeing a repeat of the same story in India, with the same cuss words. If the American Right curses MSM and liberals, so do the right-wing trolls in India.
In 2016, the curses grew louder on all sides, and polarisation deeper.
Take demonetisation or notebandi as it is called in street lingo. Social media recorded 650,000 tweets in 24 hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes on November 8. Will history remember it as a marker of Mr Modis dynamism and daring or will it be remembered for the acute distress and uncertainty it triggered? The jury is out.
As I write, tweets hashtagged #DeMonetisation, #IndiaFightsBlackMoney, #RaidPeRaid, #ModiFightsCorruption are jousting with #DemonetisationDisaster. Those on one set of hashtags rarely look at the other set. When they do, it is not to listen or debate, but attack in the foulest language. Mercifully, demonetisation has also led to an explosion of jokes on the social media, some of it inspired by movies. The biting cold as many Indians continue to queue outside banks and ATMs is matched by the biting satire in cyberspace.
Demonetisation inspired one @PriyaSometimes to tweet in true filmy style: Cash me if you can, a takeoff on the famous Leonardo DiCaprio movie Catch Me If You Can. Then there were Amar, Akbar, ATM-money and Cheque De India, after Bollywood blockbusters which need no introduction. Now, the focus and the hashtags have pivoted to Transforming India and Cashless.
Other hashtags which captured the public imagination in India in 2016 include #Surgicalstrike which trended after the Indian Army said it had carried out surgical strikes along the Line of Control on seven terror launchpads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and caused significant casualties. The strikes took place soon after the terrorist attack on a military camp in Uri, Jammu and Kashmir, that left 18 soldiers dead.
Hashtag wars have also seeped into academia. The battle for the Jawaharlal Nehru University Students Union was bitterly fought on the terrain and in cyberspace. The virtual tug-of-war between the ideologically-opposed hashtags boiled down to #StandWithJNU vs #ShutDownJNU.
Now Twitter trolls are targeting Taimur, newborn son of Bollywood stars Kareena Kapoor and Saif Ali Khan. Hashtag warriors angrily ask why the couple named their son after an invader who killed so many Indians. But does any one person own a name? Should we boycott all Josephs because one Joseph went on to be Stalin or New Delhis legendary Nathus Sweets as the name reminds us of the man who pumped bullets into the Father of the Nation? Taimur means iron in Turkish.
A safe forecast: hashtag wars and hysteria will continue, never mind the hacking of famous Twitter accounts including that of Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi by a hacker group which calls itself Legion.
But all is not gloomy on the ground or in cyberspace. Sonam Gupta brings cheer.
In 2016, Indian netizens obsessed about a person who perhaps does not exist. Sonam Gupta Bewafa hai (Sonam Gupta is deceitful) was first spotted on an old Rs 10 note. Soon, the mysterious Gupta had morphed into Google Indias third most searched person. Now, post demonetisation, deceitful Sonam has resurfaced in the social media. Someone scribbled her name again on a spanking new Rs 2,000 note. And a meme was born. Which gives me a flicker of hope. If hashtags make history, perhaps #humour can save it.
Communication is not an add-on to modern government. It is in many ways intrinsic to government and sometimes, in certain conditions, it is what governance is all about. Gifted political communicators who transition into government never lose sight of that reality.
It serves them for two reasons. First, since communication is their strong suit (as politicians), they take it into their ministerial positions as well, leveraging their skills. Second, they recognise that the old binary of communication and access to decision-making and effective messaging being important in political campaigns but less so in the humdrum period of government no longer holds. There is no divide any longer; it is all a continuum. This is true for, and a challenge for, any democracy: be it the United Kingdom, Australia, the United States or of course India.
When she entered South Block as external affairs minister, Sushma Swaraj brought these skills and a practised politicians robust common sense to her office. She could have busied herself in files and meetings and diplomatic jargon and protocol and distanced herself from her voters, her people and ordinary citizens. Indeed she has done all of those. If you draw up a list of BJP Cabinet ministers who diligently read their files and briefing notes and send back thought-out comments, Ms Swaraj will easily rank among the top two or three. She has given much of the limelight to her Prime Minister, but has worked assiduously behind the scenes.
When it has come to drawing a clearcut line, inevitably the government has had to turn to her. Diplomats at the Foreign Office speak of her hard chat with Mahinda Rajapaksa, then President of Sri Lanka; of that no-nonsense press conference in 2015 when the NSA-level talks between New Delhi and Islamabad got called off; and then the visit to Pakistan this past winter for the Heart of Asia conference that brought bilateral relations back on track for a few short weeks at least!
That effort, that willingness to shoulder responsibility, that readiness to lend political weight to a diplomatic message, that gut instinct that can only come from a grassroots politician who knows the limits of public patience as well as the bounds of national interest, and is ready to attempt to find a sweet spot where they meet Sushma Swaraj understands this as few others do.
The external affairs ministry is always a difficult place to be in if the Prime Minister has a strong diplomatic agenda and foreign policy orientation. This was as true of Benjamin Disraeli as Tony Blair, and in India of virtually every Prime Minister from 1947. Jawaharlal Nehru was his own foreign minister, as were for short stints all other Congress Prime Ministers. Indira Gandhi, Atal Behari Vajpayee and Manmohan Singh ran the MEA through the Prime Ministers Office. When Dinesh Singh was ill, P.V. Narasimha Rao managed foreign policy in direct communication with the foreign secretary.
Sushma Swaraj could have worried about these precedents when she became external affairs minister, but rather than fret about the prime ministerial authorship of foreign policy a reality in todays world or perhaps in any world she decided to sidestep the issue and reinvent her role. Using Twitter and the social media with aplomb, she made herself accessible to ordinary people and their concerns. This helped make foreign policy and the workings of the MEA intelligible and relevant to ordinary citizens, and gave them a stake in the ministry, rather than allowed it to persist as some sort of hallowed hall into which ordinary Indians had limited entry.
Ordinary citizens come into contact with the MEA only when there are matters related to passports and visas, being stranded overseas, or a family member being at some risk in a faraway land. In such circumstances, they seek reassurance from their government and their political leadership. The consul-general in a particular overseas city may choose to be helpful but that help is episodic and individual-dependent. Regrettably, this had not been institutionalised in the MEA all these years.
It is to the credit of the Narendra Modi-Sushma Swaraj team that addressing the legitimate problems of Indian citizens at home and the Indian diaspora overseas has now been written into the mandate of all Indian diplomatic missions and of the MEA headquarters. The fact that the minister is ready to respond to that proverbial 3 am tweet gives this mechanism a certain credibility.
Sushma Swaraj has effected this shift brilliantly and has set the bar extremely high for future foreign ministers. In acting as the peoples minister, she has essentially been the first to see the MEA as a public service office, one that must touch the lives of ordinary men and women if it is to get its necessary political weight. In the times to come, they could call this transformation the Sushma Doctrine.
Despite launching its high-end Bolt and 10, HTC hasnt been able to reach its shipment target for this year.
2016 has been a struggling year for HTC. The company has reportedly been experiencing a decline in its sale. Despite launching its high-end Bolt and 10, HTC hasnt been able to reach its shipment target for this year. However, the company plans on turning that around. A latest report from Taiwan suggests that HTC might announce three smartphones in the first quarter of 2017.
The same report suggests that HTC will probably announce the first device at a press conference on January 12. This device is speculated to be its mid-range X10, the successor to last years X9. The X10 smartphone is rumoured to sport a 5.5-inch 1080p display, MediaTeks Helio P10 processor, 3GB of RAM and a 13MP rear camera.
The company will be unveiling the second device, which will most likely be the HTC 11 (codenamed HTC Ocean ) at the Mobile World Congress (MWC) that will take place on February 27 in Barcelona .
The third smartphone is rumoured to be a phablet called HTC Ocean Note. The phablet is speculated to be a bigger version of the upcoming HTC 11.
None of the above given information has been confirmed by the company yet. We will probably have to wait around for more updates.
Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter.
Over 200 girls were captured from the northeast Nigeria town of Chibok in April 2014 by Boko Haram militants. (Photo: Videograb/file)
Abuja: Boko Haram is teaching its child soldiers as young as 13, how to rape hostages, it has been revealed.
According to a report in the Daily Mail, the fighters allegedly told the child recruits that they would have fun at the end of their conquests, in an apparent reference to the sexual exploitation of the hostages they would conquer after the attack.
Senior fighters spent two days teaching the children how to rape their hostages, and were told not to allow women to 'overpower' them.
The claims, made by a child soldier only identified as Ahmed, comes in the wake of the militant group issuing a video statement, claiming that they were not crushed and will fight on until an Islamic state was imposed in northern Nigeria.
One of the victims who escaped the clutches of the dreaded list, told the Daily Beast that she was raped by 'little boys' so little, that she could have fended them off in any other normal situation.
One looked like a 13-year-old having sex for the first time. But he succeeded because he had a gun, she reportedly said.
The group has reportedly turned to recruitment of child soldiers in an attempt to rebound after the terrible losses they suffered at the hands of the Nigerian military last year.
The Boko Haram fighters fleeing an attack on their base by the Nigerian military have also used hostage women and children, taken as hostage from Nigerias Chibok, as human shields, the report claimed.
The reports come in the wake of Boko Haram's elusive leader Abubakar Shekau appearing in a new video on Thursday to dispute a claim that the jihadist group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest stronghold.
"We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere. And tactics and strategies cannot reveal our location except if Allah wills by his decree," Shekau said in the 25-minute video, flanked by masked armed fighters.
The government in Abuja and the military have frequently claimed victories against the Islamic State group affiliate but access to the epicentre of the conflict is strictly controlled.
That has made independent verification of official statements about victories virtually impossible.
Attacks have meanwhile continued, making claims of defeating Boko Haram questionable despite undoubted progress in pushing back the group.
The Boko Haram's insurgency has killed at least 20,000 and forced some 2.6 million others to flee their homes since 2009.
The violence has sparked a dire humanitarian crisis in the region, with thousands of children facing the risk of famine and starvation.
After years of devastating battles and a recent surge in attacks, the fear in Nigeria is that Boko Haram will simply decamp from the Sambisa forest enclave to other areas nearby. (Photo: Representational Image/AP)
Kano: Nigeria has recently trumpeted a major victory in its battle against Boko Haram, claiming that its army has routed the jihadists from their forest bastion, but the war against them is far from over.
After years of devastating battles and a recent surge in attacks, the fear in Nigeria is that Boko Haram will simply decamp from the Sambisa forest enclave to other areas nearby.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari announced on Christmas Eve that a months-long campaign had led to the "final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa Forest".
The Nigerian military said troops were chasing fleeing Boko Haram militants, claiming that the fight against the jihadists was in its final stages.
But on Thursday, Boko Haram's elusive leader Abubakar Shekau appeared in a video to dispute the government's claim.
"We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere," Shekau said in the 25-minute video, flanked by masked armed fighters.
As access to the conflict zones is heavily restricted, claims from both sides cannot be independently verified.
A convenient sanctuary
According to a military source who asked not to be named, Boko Haram jihadists have been "tremendously weakened and are trying to avoid confrontation by hiding in some obscure locations."
Islamists routed from Sambisa have reportedly fled to areas on the edge of the forest, islets on Lake Chad as well as villages on the Cameroon border.
"They were sighted in large numbers in the Kala-Balge area," said a vigilante helping in the fight, referring to a region near Cameroon.
The head of the fishermen's union in Borno state, the epicentre of Boko Haram's seven-year insurgency, said some fighters had regrouped on Lake Chad, which straddles Nigeria, Niger, Cameroon and Chad.
It provides the jihadists with a "convenient sanctuary", with its 400 islets covered with dense vegetation that makes aerial detection and ground operations dangerous, Abubakar Gamandi said.
"The islets are between one and two square kilometres and the fresh water and abundant fish in the lake make them habitable," said Gamandi, who has fished in Lake Chad for 40 years.
Abu Musab al-Barnawi, the leader of a Boko Haram faction recognised by the Islamic State group, has already been living on the lake since his group split from Shekau's leadership in August, residents and vigilantes say.
Should Shekau and his troops move there, it is unclear whether the two rival factions will end up battling each other.
The next battleground
Cameroonian troops have intensified their operations along their nation's frontier with Nigeria, where fleeing Boko Haram fighters have also sought refuge, according to a vigilante in the Nigerian border town of Banki.
"Cameroon has upped security along the border which has forced fleeing Boko Haram (fighters) to head to Kala-Balge, where Nigerian troops are deploying", said the vigilante, who did not want to give his name.
"Kala-Balge may be the next battleground," said Umar Ari, a local trader.
According to Yan St-Pierre, an expert on jihadist groups, cooperation between west African governments fighting Boko Haram has "vastly improved since September."
However, "the army's biggest problem is to secure the areas it recaptures from Boko Haram," he added, referring to a spike in suicide and other guerrilla-style attacks unleashed since the jihadists began to lose ground.
Even though the Nigerian authorities have claimed several times that the end of Boko Haram was imminent, the conflict has merely continued to shift and "the army remains far from gaining the upper hand."
A matter of time
How Shekau escaped from Sambisa remains a mystery.
He "might have escaped in the intense battle to take over Camp Zero," an army source told AFP, referring to the last jihadist bastion in Sambisa Forest to fall to Nigerian troops.
He has since been spotted in Pulka village near Gwoza on the Cameroonian border and is currently believed to be hiding in a forest in Kala-Balge, a security source said.
Shekau's fighters are believed to have taken with them scores of Chibok girls held since 2014, as well as Nigerian army hostages, to use them as human shields.
Despite the odds, Nigerian troops remain defiant.
"We are closing in on Shekau and his remaining commanders," said a military officer speaking on condition of anonymity.
"It is just a matter of time before we get him, dead or alive".
Rio de Janeiro: The discovery of a burned-out car in Rio state with a body inside have sparked fears that it might be that of the Greek ambassador to Brazil, missing since Monday.
Rio police were examining the corpse and scene yesterday but could not say whether it was that of the envoy, 59-year-old Kyriakos Amiridis.
"The information that we can confirm right now is that we have found a car in (the district of) Nova Iguacu with a body and it is being investigated," a source in the homicide squad said.
The source would not say whether the license plate of the car was from the rental the ambassador was using, nor when DNA results on the body would be back.
Amiridis had been on vacation with his family in Rio de Janeiro's northern Nova Iguacu area since December 21.
He was due to fly back to Brasilia on January 9, a Greek embassy official told AFP.
But he went missing on Monday night, after going out of the apartment they were renting and taking the car, according to Brazilian media. His Brazilian wife formally declared him missing on Wednesday.
The Brazilian news website published photos of the burned car found on the slope of a busy suburban thoroughfare. It reported that police "suspected" the body inside to be that of the ambassador.
The Greek foreign ministry had earlier issued a statement saying that after Amiridis was declared missing, "the full mobilization of all the competent Brazilian authorities was requested."
Amiridis was named ambassador this year. He had previously served as Greece's consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004. He served as Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 to 2016.
He is married and has a daughter, according to the embassy in Brasilia.
New York: Russia has ordered the closure of the American School of Moscow in retaliation of US sanctions.
This comes after the United States on Thursday ordered 35 Russian diplomats in Washington and San Francisco to leave the country in the next 72 hours as a retaliatory measure against Russian election hack.
The order from the Russian Government closes the school, which serves children of US, British and Canadian embassy personnel, to US and foreign nationals, reports the CNN.
The order also closes access to the US embassy vacation house in Serebryany Bor, near Moscow.
The US administration described Russia's involvement as "Significant Malicious Cyber-Enabled Activities" and sanctioned four Russian individuals and five Russian entities for what it said was election interference.
However, Russian officials including President Vladimir Putin have denied all allegations regarding meddling in the U.S. presidential election.
Meanwhile a Russian Foreign Ministry official called the U.S. sanctions over cyber-hacking counterproductive, saying it will harm restoration of ties.
Russian spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said about the Obama administration, "It's not an administration; it's a group of foreign policy losers, angry and ignorant."
Michigan: Three Michigan police officers, who shot two dogs for lunging and barking at them during a drug raid, were once again justified in their actions this time by a federal appeals court.
Mark and Cheryl Brown of Battle Creek, Mich., filed suits over unreasonable seizure of their property and a violation of their constitutional rights for the deaths of their pets, according to Daily News.
According to the Battle Creek Enquirer, officers shot and killed the Browns pit bull terriers during an April 2013 operation, with Emergency Response Team members claiming one lunged at them and that the other barked as they executed a search warrant for drugs.
The standard we set out today is that a police officers use of deadly force against a dog while executing a search warrant to search a home for illegal drug activity is reasonable under the Fourth Amendment when the dog poses an imminent threat to the officers safety, wrote Judge Eric Clay in the decision that saw the US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals in Cincinnati side with the U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids dismissal.
Washington: President-elect Donald Trump could reverse President Barack Obama's executive order and allow Russian intelligence officials back into the United States once he takes office, but that would be inadvisable, a senior U.S. official said on Thursday.
There is no reason to believe Russia will cease interfering in U.S. and other countries' elections, Obama administration officials told reporters on a conference call after the president announced sanctions against Moscow.
"We believe these steps are important because Russia is not going to stop," one official said. "We have every indication that they will interfere in democratic elections in other countries, including some of our European allies," the official aid.
$5,40,000 will be given to the Elizabethton Carter County Animal Shelter to expand the dog and cat holding areas. (Photo: Pixabay)
Tennessee: A Tennessee womans $1.2 million estate has gone to the dogs and cats, too.
The Johnson City Press reports Glenda Taylor DeLawders bequest to an animal shelter was announced Christmas Day on the Carter County government website by Mayor Leon Humphrey.
Humphrey says $5,40,000 will be given to the Elizabethton Carter County Animal Shelter to expand the dog and cat holding areas. It also pay for a new van that can be converted to transport dogs and cats to be spayed and neutered.
Construction will begin on the shelter expansion January 9, and Humphrey says the van is scheduled to arrive by March 1. DeLawder, who is described by her family as being an avid animal lover, died in November 2015.
The mayor said the money is a great blessing to the animals and to everyone involved with the shelter. We would not be able to expand otherwise, he said.
Sydney, Australia: Counter-terrorism police have arrested a man in Sydney for allegedly making threats against New Year's Eve celebrations in an online blog, authorities said Friday.
The arrest came a week after police said they had foiled a "significant" ISIS-inspired terror plot for Christmas Day targeting central Melbourne with explosives.
The 40-year-old man was to appear in court later in the day on charges of "making threats relating to New Year's Eve", a police statement said.
Police did not provide details about the threats.
Sydney is gearing up for the giant annual New Year's Eve fireworks party on the harbour with a crowd of more than one million expected.
Acting on a tip-off from the public, officers from the New South Wales Police Force Terrorism Investigation Squad arrested the man on Thursday at Sydney's international airport as he returned from London.
Documents and hard drives were seized after searches of a home and a storage facility in the city.
Police charged the man with possessing "documents containing threats... concerning online blogs".
He was refused bail prior to an appearance at Parramatta local Court.
"Investigations into this matter so far indicate this was an isolated incident," said Deputy Commissioner Catherine Burn.
"As a consequence, we are confident that there are no current or specific threats to New Years Eve... people should enjoy the celebrations."
At least a dozen terror attacks have been prevented in Australia in the past two years, according to officials. But four have taken place, including the murder of a Sydney police employee last year.
Counter-terrorism police have made a large number of arrests since late 2014, with the youth and depth of radicalisation of many of those detained a growing concern.
The coming year will determine whether Britain's surprise decision in a June referendum to walk away from the many benefits of EU membership in favour of establishing firm border controls. (Photo: Representational Image/AFP)
London: Europe's leaders are not expecting a smooth ride in 2017 following a year marked by political upheaval, extremist attacks, unchecked immigration, and a rising military threat from Russia.
Britain is suing for divorce, the far-right is on the march, some former Soviet satellites seem disillusioned with the West even as Russia seeks to regain its influence, and America will soon inaugurate an untested, seemingly Russia-friendly president who has voiced doubts about the usefulness of the NATO alliance. The uncertainty is thick enough to breathe.
It all looks so different from the triumphant panorama presented more than two decades ago when the European Union was expanding. Formerly captive nations freed from Soviet control seemed eager to embrace liberal democracy, capitalism and substantial subsidies - from their wealthier neighbours.
There was rosy talk of an ever-closer union, the development of a single currency, and a cooperative relationship with Russia. It hasn't turned out that way, the EU, with its touted ideals of shared democratic values and free movement of people, has never seem so frayed and vulnerable.
"The risks for 2017 remain very high," said Adam Thomson, director of the London-based European Leadership Network research group. "We Europeans need to recognize that we face a level of risk in the West-Russian confrontation that we have not seen since the 1960s. It is partly because a lot of the security rules of the road have been torn up or suspended, so there are fewer rules and less predictability."
He said most Europeans do not perceive the danger because they have been lulled by the cordial East-West relations that prevailed for years after the Soviet collapse in 1991.
"Europeans have gotten used to 25 years of peace dividend, and a stability they have come to think of as normal but in fact might be the abnormality in Europe's long history of conflict," Thomson said.
There is deep unease in the Baltics, Scandinavia and elsewhere as Russia moves more military forces to its border regions and even places nuclear capable Iskander ballistic missiles into the Russian enclave of Kaliningrad, where they can threaten part of Poland, Germany, and other countries.
Russian President Vladimir Putin seems emboldened by the lukewarm international response to his government's annexation of the Crimea two years ago and his strong intervention in Syria this year and by the growing support he enjoys among far-right political leaders who are gaining ground in Europe.
He has already been making inroads, with a pro-Russia candidate elected president in Moldova and a candidate calling for a European rapprochement with Russia winning in Bulgaria.
Electoral focal points in the coming year are France, where voters may bring to power a far-right National Front government that wants to follow Britain out of the European Union, and Germany and the Netherlands, where far-right parties also stand to make gains.
The increasing appeal of the far-right has been fuelled by public unhappiness with the ongoing influx of migrants, mostly from the Middle East and Africa. Events like the recent extremist attack that killed 12 people at a Christmas market in Berlin combined with earlier assaults on civilians in Paris and Brussels have made it more common for Europeans to view the incoming human tide as a potential threat.
The coming year will determine whether Britain's surprise decision in a June referendum to walk away from the many benefits of EU membership in favour of establishing firm border controls was an anomaly or a harbinger of things to come.
Elections in the Netherlands in March are expected to bring strong gains for Geert Wilders' anti-Islam, anti-EU Party for Freedom, which could emerge as the biggest party. Even if that happens, he will likely find it very difficult to find enough partners to form a majority government in a country where coalitions are the norm due to the voting system and proliferation of smaller parties.
Wilders' outspoken opposition to Islam has gained traction in a nation long known for its tolerance. He wants the Netherlands, a founding member of the EU, to leave the 28-nation bloc.
The first round of French voting in April is expected to bring far-right National Front leader Marine Le Pen into the final round against conservative Francois Fillon.
Both pose a threat to the European status quo: Le Pen wants to take France out of the EU, end its use of the shared euro currency, and close the border-free zone. Both candidates favor closer ties to Russia, including a lifting of sanctions. Both want to reduce immigration and strengthen border controls, though Fillon prefers to do so from within the EU bloc.
German elections expected in September are likely to bring the nationalist Alternative for Germany party into the federal parliament for the first time. The party's strength, stemming from dissatisfaction at the influx of migrants to Germany over the past two years, has put Chancellor Angela Merkel's center-right Christian Democrats on the defensive - particularly after the Christmas market truck attack, apparently carried out by an asylum-seeker from Tunisia.
Some experts believe a Le Pen triumph in the final round in France in May would deal a fatal blow to the EU.
"France is the critical one," said Anand Menon, director of the UK in a Changing Europe research group.
"I don't think she'll win, but if she does I think it would probably mean the end of the EU because she would start to challenge the authority of EU law," he said. "She would ignore laws she doesn't like, unilaterally start to impose border checks, and the sheer fragility of the EU would be brought into sharp relief. People don't understand how fragile it is."
Baloch was arrested on December 19 in the hours after the attack on a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin in which 12 people were killed. (Photo: AP)
London: The Pakistani man wrongly arrested for the Berlin truck attack on Friday said he had told German police he could not even drive and was now afraid for the safety of his family back home.
Naveed Baloch, an asylum seeker from the troubled province of Balochistan, told the Guardian newspaper he had just left a friend's house and was crossing a street when he saw a police car approaching fast and picked up his pace.
He said he was arrested and taken to a police station, where he was undressed and photographed.
"When I resisted, they started slapping me," the 24-year-old, who has been living in a secret location provided by police since his release because he says he is afraid for his life, told the British daily.
Baloch, who sought refuge in Germany as a member of a secular separatist movement in Baluchistan, said he struggled to communicate because no translator could be found who could speak his native Balochi.
"I calmly told them I cannot drive at all. Neither can I even start a vehicle," he said.
Baloch was arrested on December 19 in the hours after the attack on a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin in which 12 people were killed.
Police released Baloch 24 hours later, after failing to find evidence of his involvement.
They instead identified rejected Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri as the prime suspect.
Amri was shot dead by Italian police on December 23 after fleeing a manhunt in Germany.
Baloch, a shepherd by profession, said members of his family in the village of Mand in Balochistan in southwest Pakistan had received threatening phone calls following his arrest.
"Now they all know I fled to Germany, fearful of my life, and that I am claiming asylum here. It leaves my family very vulnerable and there's nothing I can do to protect them," he told the Guardian.
Baloch said he left Pakistan around a year ago, arriving in Germany via Iran, Turkey and Greece, because of death threats he had received for his activism for the Baloch National Movement.
"Most of the people I worked with have been arrested and killed. I knew it was a matter of time before they came for me. That's the reason I came to Germany," he said.
Mineral-rich Balochistan province has been plagued for decades by a separatist insurgency and sectarian killings.
Moscow: Russia on Friday moved to expel 35 US diplomats in a tit-for-tat response after President Barack Obama unleashed a barrage of punishment against Moscow over alleged election interference.
Obama's broadside over cyber attacks sent ties between Russia and the United States already at their worst since the Cold War to a fresh low less than a month ahead of President-elect Donald Trump taking charge.
The outgoing US leader on Thursday gave 35 alleged Russian "intelligence operatives" based at the country's embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco 72 hours to leave the country, and hit Russia's military and domestic intelligence agencies with sanctions.
"We of course cannot leave these stunts unanswered. Reciprocity is the law in diplomacy and international relations," Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said in a televised statement, dismissing the US allegations as "groundless".
Lavrov said his ministry had asked President Vladimir Putin to declare 31 employees at the US embassy in Moscow and four at the country's consulate in second city Saint Petersburg personae non gratae.
Russia is also seeking to ban US diplomats from using a holiday home and warehouse in Moscow, Lavrov said, after Obama ordered the closure two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland.
Making good on a promise to punish Putin's government for allegedly trying to tilt the 2016 election in Trump's favour, Obama on Thursday unveiled a broad range of steps against Moscow including the diplomat expulsions.
US intelligence concluded that a hack-and-release of Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton staff emails was ordered by the Kremlin and was designed to put the Republican real estate mogul in the Oval Office.
"I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election," Obama said in a statement.
In response to the hacks, dubbed "Grizzly Steppe" by US officials, Obama announced sanctions against Russia's military intelligence agency, known as GRU, and the FSB the KGB's successor.
Bull in a china shop
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected the US accusations of cyber-interference and spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused the Obama administration of trying to "definitively destroy US-Russia relations which have already reached a low."
Relations between Washington and Moscow have slumped to their lowest point since the end of the Cold War, and Obama has previously imposed sanctions over Russia's actions in Syria and Ukraine.
Peskov said ahead of Lavrov's announcement that Putin would take into account the fact Obama only has some three weeks left in office when responding, insisting Moscow would try not to act like a "bull in a china shop" in the hope of normalising ties once Trump takes charge.
The moves by Obama could also raise further tensions with his successor Trump, who has expressed his admiration for Putin and desire to improve ties with Russia.
Trump has questioned whether Russia really tipped the electoral scale, painting Obama's accusations as a thinly veiled effort by a Democratic president to delegitimise a Republican victory.
Trump said that while he believes the US should "move on to bigger and better things," he would meet with intelligence leaders next week for a briefing on the situation.
Obama has pointedly stated that "all Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions."
Frosty ties
Obama has also linked the fresh sanctions to harassment of US diplomats in Moscow, which Washington described as "unprecedented" in the post-Cold War era.
US officials played down the impact that sanctions against the GRU and the FSB could have on intelligence-sharing on issues like counterterrorism, saying cooperation was already limited.
Both agencies will face sanctions, along with four GRU officers including agency chief Igor Korobov.
In addition, the US Treasury slapped sanctions on two individuals, Evgeniy Bogachev and Aleksey Belan, for "involvement in malicious cyber-enabled activities."
The sanctions freeze any assets they may have in the United States and blocks US companies from doing business with them.
The US government is also declassifying technical information on Russian cyber activity to help companies defend against future attacks.
"The United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia's efforts to undermine established international norms of behaviour and interfere with democratic governance," Obama said.
That reflects growing concerns that Russia could target upcoming elections in France, Germany and the Netherlands.
Moscow: Russian flights to Egypt will resume soon, Russian President Vladimir Putin told Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi in a phone call, Sisi's office said on Thursday.
Flights to Egypt from Russia were suspended after a Russian plane crashed into the Sinai desert in October 2015. ISIS said it brought down the plane with a bomb smuggled inside a fizzy drink can.
"President Putin affirmed Russia's intention to resume regular flights between Moscow and Cairo in the very near future," the Egyptian presidency said in a statement.
No date was given for flights to resume.
The Airbus A321, operated by Metrojet, had been returning Russian holiday makers from the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm al-Sheikh to St Petersburg. The crash killed all 224 on board.
Russia and Western governments said a bomb had brought the plane down and Sisi later said the cause was terrorism. Investigators have yet to confirm this.
Britain suspended flights to Sharm al-Sheikh as a result, and Russia suspended all flights to and from Egypt, devastating Egyptian tourism, a lifeline of an already battered economy.
Damascus: A nationwide ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides in the conflict, got off to a shaky start after midnight on Friday (2200 GMT on Thursday) in the latest attempt to end nearly six years of bloodshed.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the ceasefire on Thursday after forging the agreement with Turkey, a longtime backer of the opposition.
Monitors and a rebel official reported clashes between insurgents and government forces along the provincial boundary between Idlib and Hama, and isolated incidents of gunfire further south less than two hours after the truce began. Warring sides appeared to have stopped firing in many other areas, however.
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said the United States(US) could join the peace process once President-elect Donald Trump takes office on January 20. He also wanted Egypt to join, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and the United Nations (UN).
A number of rebel groups have signed the agreement, Russia's Defence Ministry said. Several rebel officials acknowledged the deal, and a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loose alliance of insurgent groups, said it would abide by the truce.
One FSA commander was optimistic about the truce deal, the third serious attempt this year at a nationwide ceasefire. "This time I have confidence in its seriousness. There is new international input," Colonel Fares al-Bayoush said without elaborating.
Syria's civil war, which began when a peaceful uprising descended into violence in 2011, has resulted in more than 300,000 deaths and displaced over 11 million people, half its pre-war population. The ceasefire, in the waning days of President Barack Obama's administration, was the first major international diplomatic initiative in the Middle East in decades not to involve the United States.
Previous collapses
The previous two Syria ceasefires, brokered by Cold War foes Washington and Moscow, took effect in February and September but both collapsed within weeks as warring sides accused each other of truce violations and fighting intensified. Putin said the parties were also prepared to start peace talks intended to take place in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan. Syrian state media said late on Thursday that these talks would take place "soon".
The Syrian government will be negotiating from a strong position after its army and their allies, including Shi'ite militias supported by Iran, along with Russian air power, routed rebels in their last major urban stronghold of Aleppo in December.
Moscow's air campaign since September last year has turned the civil war in Assad's favour, and the last rebels left Aleppo for areas that are still under rebel control to the west of the city, including the province of Idlib. Before talks can take place, the ceasefire will have to hold.
In a sign that the latest truce could be as challenging to maintain as its predecessors, there was confusion over which rebel groups would be covered by the ceasefire. The Syrian army said the agreement did not include the radical Islamist group Islamic State (ISIS), fighters affiliated to al Qaeda's former branch the Nusra Front, or any factions linked to those jihadist groups.
But several rebel officials said the agreement did include the former Nusra Front - now known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham - which announced in July that it was severing ties with al Qaeda. The powerful Islamist insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham meanwhile said it had not signed the ceasefire agreement because of "reservations", which it would make clear in due course.
Assad in strong position
The deal also follows a thaw in ties between Russia and Turkey. Talks on the latest truce picked up momentum after Russia, Iran and Turkey last week said they were ready to back a peace deal and adopted a declaration setting out principles for an agreement.
Putin said opposition groups and the Syrian government had signed a number of documents, including the ceasefire, measures to monitor the truce, and a statement on readiness to start peace talks. While Ankara has been a big sponsor of the rebellion, Assad's removal has become a secondary concern to fighting the expansion of Kurdish influence in northern Syria. The chances of Assad's opponents forcing him from power now seem more remote than at any point in the war.
The United States has been sidelined in recent negotiations and is not due to attend the next round of peace talks in Kazakhstan, a key Russian ally. Its exclusion reflects growing frustration from both Turkey and Russia over Washington's policy on Syria, officials have said.
Washington said the news of a ceasefire was a positive. "We hope it will be implemented fully and respected by all parties," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said. James Dobbins, a former senior US diplomat, said the lack of American involvement in the talks between Russia, Iran and Turkey did not preclude the United States being a major player in the region.
In this case, it was frozen out because Obama leaves office in less than a month and because Turkey and Russia are at odds with the United States over its Syria policy and other issues, said Dobbins, a fellow at RAND, a research organisation.
Trump has said he would cooperate more closely with Russia to fight terrorism but it was unclear what that policy would look like given resistance from the Pentagon and the US intelligence community for closer cooperation with Russia on Syria.
The statement further recommended that tourists avoid participation in beach and New Year parties at popular tourist spots. (Representational image)
Jerusalem: Israel today issued an "immediateand severe" travel warning for Western tourists in India, citing an immediate threat of attack on tourist targets during New Year celebrations, particularly in south-west part of the country.
"We are warning Israeli tourists in India of the possibility of imminent terrorist attacks against western targets and tourists, particularly in the southwest of that country," Israel's anti-terrorism directorate said in a statement released by the Prime Minister's office.
"A particular emphasis should be put on events in the coming days in connection with beach and club parties celebrating the New Year where a concentration of tourists will be high," the warning said.
The south-west part of the country -- which covers popular holiday destinations like Goa, Pune, Mumbai and Cochin -- are particularly at risk, it said.
The statement further recommended that tourists avoid participation in beach and New Year parties at popular tourist spots.
"Israeli tourists traveling in India are asked to stay alert and to pay attention to local media reports and security agencies," it added.
Meanwhile, an Israeli Embassy spokesman in New Delhi confirmed the warning and said: "Israel has issued a travel advisory surrounding New Year's Eve celebrations events in south-west India, with specific regard to beach parties, clubs and highly-populated tourist sites. Israeli tourist are advised to avoid such events and other densly-populated areas."
The warning also called on Israeli families to contact their relatives in India and tell them of the threat. In addition, it recommended avoiding markets, festivals and crowded shopping areas.
Notably, the travel warning was published on Friday, after the start of the Jewish Sabbath, when government offices close for business.
The directorate did not specify what prompted the warning, however, additional security arrangements have been made all around the world for New Year eve in view of the Berlin terror attack on a Christmas market last week that killed 12 people. India remains a popular tourist destination for Israeli citizens and according to Jewish Post an estimated 20,000 former Israeli soldiers travel to India every year.
Israeli citizens and Jewish sites in India have been attacked in the past, the most infamous incident occurred during the 2008 Mumbai terror attack when members of the Pakistani-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) targeted the local Chabad House, among other sites, in Mumbai.
In 2012, Tal Yehoshua Koren, the wife of an Israeli Defense Ministry representative, was moderately wounded in an explosion in her car near the Israeli embassy in New Delhi.
The article comes days after a top Pakistani Army General said India should shun enmity" with Pakistan and "join the CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries. (Photo: AP)
Beijing: China is open to India and other countries joining the USD 46 billion CPEC as there is "endless demand" from Pakistan for project finance which Beijing alone cannot satisfy, state-run media reported on Friday.
"There is an endless demand for investment in Pakistan, and although it is possible that Chinese investment in the economic corridor will increase, funding from just one country is unlikely to satisfy Pakistan's appetite," an article in the state-run Global Times said.
"To broaden the scope of investment, China is expected to have an open mind about inviting third parties to join the CPEC (China-Pakistan Economic Corridor). The project could also benefit countries such as Afghanistan, Iran and India as well as other major economies like Russia who may be ideal choices to take part in the CPEC," it said.
The article comes days after a top Pakistani Army General said India should "shun enmity" with Pakistan and "join the CPEC along with Iran, Afghanistan and other Central Asian countries and enjoy its benefits".
It also comes amid reports that China in principle agreed to extend USD one billion soft loan to finance three projects from Sindh, including Karachi Circular Railway and a day after the 6th Joint Cooperation Committee meeting of the project here which was attended by a number of Pakistani officials.
China has already committed to build several energy and infrastructure projects along the route but new projects are being added following criticism from provinces other than Punjab that they have been left out.
As a result, Chinese officials say more projects are being added, scaling up China's investments and the Global Times article reflects Beijing's concerns over "endless" demands from Pakistan.
"The CPEC has made great progress but also has faced criticism in Pakistan over the distribution of projects among provinces in the country.
"At the very least, it has become more urgent than ever to try to ensure an even distribution of the benefits from the CPEC across the whole of Pakistan," it said.
"Some observers have suggested that Pakistani people should think beyond their personal interests and work together to push forward the CPEC. This indeed is necessary, but a more realistic solution would be in trying to enlarge the rewards to incentivise more people to safeguard and stand behind the project," it added.
Beijing: China on Friday said India should conform to relevant UN Security Council resolutions on listing JeM Chief Masood Azhar as a global terrorist, a day before its technical hold blocking India's move to get him proscribed by the UN expires.
"I have repeated a number of times, when it comes to the listing matter of the UN Security Council 1267 Committee, we believe it should conform with relevant Security Council resolutions and the Committee's rules of procedure," Chinese
Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying told PTI.
Hua, however, said she has to verify what China will do when its second technical hold ends.
She had given the same response on December 2 while reacting to India's National Investigation Agency (NIA) charge-sheeting Azhar in the Pathankot attack case.
"Listing in the 1267 Committee must be in line with the relevant resolutions of the UNSC and the rules of procedure of the Committee," Hua said.
China, a veto wielding member of the UNSC, had blocked India's move with a six month technical hold followed by a three month extension.
Officials here say that India may have to apply again to the 1267 Committee with the charge sheet details to press for its case as its present application will lapse following Beijing's two technical holds.
The two countries have been holding talks on the issue as well as India's application to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG). The talks have not made much headway as China on December 12 had said there is no change in its stand on both the cases.
The UN had banned the JeM in 2001 but India's efforts for a ban on Azhar after the 2008 Mumbai terror attack also did not fructify as China did not allow the ban apparently at the behest of Pakistan again.
China was the only member in the 15-nation UN body to put a hold on India's application with all other 14 members of the Council supporting New Delhi's bid to place Azhar on the 1267 sanctions list that would subject him to an assets freeze and travel ban.
Teipei: Taiwan's president will transit through Houston and San Francisco next month while travelling to Central America, stops that will likely irritate Beijing, which has urged Washington to prevent the self-ruled island's leader from landing in the United States.
Citing the presidential office, Taiwan's official Central News Agency said Friday that President Tsai Ing-wen and her delegation will stop in Houston on Jan. 7 on their way to visit diplomatic allies Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador. They will stop in San Francisco on Jan. 13 on their return trip.
China has repeatedly urged the US not to allow Tsai to transit through the US to avoid "sending the wrong signal to Taiwanese independence forces."
US lawmakers often meet with Taiwanese presidents when they transit through the US.
Jampur: Mohammad Ramzan can neither hear nor speak, and he has a childlike mind. But he knew his wife, Saima, was too young when she was given to him as a bride.
The 36-year-old Ramzan smiles, eager to please, as he uses his fingers to count out her age when they married. One, two, three . . . until 13, and then he stops and looks at her, points and nods several times.
The girl's father, Wazir Ahmed, says she was 14, not 13, but her age was beside the point. It mattered only that she had reached puberty when he arranged her marriage as an exchange: his daughter for Ramzan's sister, whom he wanted to take as a second wife.
His first wife, Saima's mother, had given him only daughters, and he hoped his second wife would give him a son. But Sabeel wouldn't marry him until her brother had a wife to care for him.
She would be a bride in exchange for a bride.
"We gave a girl in this family for a girl in their family," Ahmed says. "That is our right."
In deeply conservative regions such as this one in the south of Punjab province, the tribal practice of exchanging girls between families is so entrenched, it even has its own name in Urdu: Watta Satta, which means give and take.
A girl may be given away to pay a debt or settle a dispute between feuding families. She might be married to a cousin to keep her dowry in the family or, as in this case, married for the prospect of a male heir.
Many believe that their Islamic religion instructs fathers to marry off their daughters at puberty.
"If it is not done, our society thinks parents have not fulfilled their religious obligation," says Faisal Tangwani, regional coordinator for the independent Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in nearby Multan.
Ahmed sees the hand of God in his daughter's marriage to a disabled man.
"It was by God's will that he was chosen," he says. "It was her fate."
Ahmed sits inside the mud-walled compound where he lives now with his two wives. Outside, stray dogs roam in packs of three and four. They bite, Ahmed warns.
He says that the fact that Ramzan is nearly three times his daughter's age is irrelevant. But the legal marrying age here is 16, and in a rare move, police did investigate Saima's marriage after they received a complaint, possibly from a relative involved in a dispute with her father.
Ramzan and Ahmed were jailed for a few days, but Saima testified in court that she was 16 and they were released. She says she told the authorities she was 16 to protect her father and husband.
In Saima's world of crushing poverty, where centuries-old tribal traditions mix with religious beliefs, a crippling cycle traps even the perpetrators with a life's burden: a father who longs for a son to help support his family; a wife who must provide that son; a daughter who must become a mother even when she is still a child.
Saima's mother, Janaat, agrees with marrying off her daughters early. She says girls are a headache after they reach puberty. They can't be left at home alone for fear of unwanted sexual activity - or worse, the daughter leaves home with a boy of her choice.
"That would be a shame for us. We would have no honor. No. When they reach puberty quickly, we have to marry them," she says. "Daughters are a burden, but the sons, they are the owners of the house."
She says she accepted her husband's marriage to another woman; after all, it's her fault he only has daughters.
"I feel shame that I don't have a son. I myself allowed my husband to get a second wife," she says.
Her husband's new wife, Sabeel, says she agreed to marry Ahmed because of her brother. She wanted him to have a wife.
"No one had been willing to give their daughters to my brother," she says.
Ramzan is quick to extend his hand to guests who enter through the torn and tattered curtain that hangs over the front door to his compound, tucked away in a narrow alley lined with open sewers.
Ramzan's elderly parents live with him. His father rarely leaves his bed, saying he has trouble walking. His mother begs from morning until night, sometimes knocking on doors, other times parking herself in the middle of a dusty road, her hand outstretched for donations.
Like Ramzan, she can neither hear nor speak. Both her hips and one knee have been broken. She gestures as if breaking a twig to explain her troubled knee.
Ramzan looks at Saima, her hair hidden beneath a sweeping shawl, her large brown eyes downcast.
"I didn't want to marry her so young. I said at the time, 'She is too young,' but everyone said I must," he says through a series of gestures interpreted by those around him. He held his hand up just below his chest, showing how tall she was when they married.
Saima doesn't talk much. Her answers are short, and matter-of-fact.
"His sister and my father fell in love and they exchanged me," Saima says.
"Yes, I am afraid of my father, but it is his decision who I will marry and when."
She picks at the rope bed where she sits with Ramzan. Her husband often reaches to touch the top of her head.
He gestures that he is afraid Saima will leave him one day, and says that God will be unhappy if she does. Saima had gotten pregnant soon after she came to live with Ramzan but lost the child at five months. Ramzan gestures that he wants Saima to take some medicine to help her get pregnant again.
Saima rarely looks in his direction but says she has no quarrel with him, nor does she plan to leave.
Saima says she understands her husband's gestures, but it's hard to know. Most of the translations are done by his 12-year-old niece, Haseena, Sabeel's daughter from the previous marriage.
Haseena was 10 when Saima married her uncle Ramzan and her mother left to live with the new bride's father.
Haseena stayed in the house with her uncle and her elderly grandparents to cook, clean and keep Saima company. She even prepared Saima's wedding dinner.
"When Saima married my uncle, my mother told me to leave school and be with Saima because she will be all alone at home," Haseena says.
Haseena recalls that Saima seemed so young, the family felt sorry for her.
"At her age, she should have been playing."
Back at Saima's old home, her 7-year-old sister, Asma, wanders around, shoeless, her hair matted with dirt and dust. Asma already has been promised to her cousin, who is about 10. They will marry when she reaches puberty.
Officials said the authorities had finalised the dossier which included video evidences of an Indian submarine spying on multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in November - and confession and statements of RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav.
Islamabad: Pakistan on Friday sent dossier against Indian interference and alleged Research and Analysis Wing spy Kulbhushan Yadav, officials said. Yadav was arrested in Balochistan this year on charges of spying for RAW. India accepted he was a former Navy officer but denied he was linked with the government at the time of his arrest in March this year. Officials said the authorities had finalised the dossier which included video evidences of an Indian submarine spying on multi-billion-dollar China-Pakistan Economic Corridor in November - and confession and statements of RAW agent Kulbhushan Yadav.
The dossier, according to the foreign ministry officials, has been sent to Pakistans permanent representative to the UN Maleeha Lodhi in New York who will present it to the new UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres in January.
Six workers were suffocated to death when a fire broke out in a bakery shop whose only exit was locked from outside in Kondhwa area here in the wee hours today.
The victims, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh, used to sleep on the loft inside the bakery shop, 'Bakes and Cakes', which is owned by three partners.
"We received a call at around 4.45 AM today and immediately fire tenders were rushed to the spot. As we reached the spot, we saw smoke emanating from the shutter of the shop, which was locked from outside," a fire brigade official said.
While efforts were on to break the shutter, the bakery shop owner came to the spot and opened it.
"As soon as the shutter was opened, we saw a huge fire inside and got information that there are bakery workers who were trapped at a loft inside the shop," the fire officer said.
The fire brigade personnel wore breathing apparatus sets and climbed a staircase inside to reach the victims.
"There were six workers, who were found in an unconscious state. They were rushed to the Sassoon General hospital, where they were declared dead," said the officer.
The deceased have been identified as - Ishad Ansari (26), Juned Ansari (25), Shanu Ansari (20), Zakir Ansari (24), Faeem Ansari (21) and Zishan Ansari (21).
"Since the main shutter was locked from outside, all the six got trapped inside and died of suffocation," the fire official informed.
Prima facie short-circuit is suspected to have caused the blaze.
"We have registered a case and investigation is on," an officer at Kondhwa police station said.
A day after a Madras High Court judge expressed doubts over the circumstances leading to the demise of former Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa, DMK today sought a comprehensive probe by a sitting HC judge into the death.
"A comprehensive probe must be done by a sitting judge of the High Court and people should be told the truth," DMK Treasurer M K Stalin said.
Against the backdrop of the court raising questions, he said it was imperative for the government to come out comprehensively on the medical treatment provided to the former AIADMK chief.
In a statement here, he said complete medical bulletins, video footage and photos of her getting treatment at the hospital should be released.
Citing Justice Vaidyanathan's observation yesterday that he may consider ordering exhumation of the body of the departed leader, he said "it is imperative for the government to release comprehensive information".
Stalin, who had earlier sought a white paper on the treatment given to Jayalalithaa, said there was no statement from the government ever since she was admitted to the hospital on September 22.
He said the Centre and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister O Panneerselvam had a duty to answer questions related to the treatment provided for the late leader. Doctors from Delhi's AIIMS too had treated her, he said.
If the ruling regime had explained the "true (health) status" of Jayalalithaa and released pictures of her getting treatment, the issue could not have reached the doorsteps of court, he said.
He recalled a statement of his party chief Karunanidhi seeking release of pictures of Jayalalithaa being treated and said, "had the ruling side not viewed it from the prism of politics, the issue would not have come to such a pass".
Only such activities has cast a "cloud, giving room for suspicion," among the people, he said, adding it was the right of the people to know about the treatment given to her and the circumstances leading to her death.
In a bid to further push adoption of e-payments in the country, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched an indigenous digital payments app 'BHIM' that will enable fast and secure cashless transactions using mobile phones.
Named after the architect of the Indian Constitution, Babasaheb Bhim Rao Ambedkar, the Bharat Interface for Money (BHIM) is a simplified payment platform designed to make Unified Payment Interface (UPI) and USSD payment modes simpler and usable across feature phones and smart phones.
"The day is not far, when people will conduct their business through this app...It is a simple app and you can download it on your smartphones or feature phones. You don't even require internet connection for this," Modi said in his address at 'DigiDhan Mela' here.
The government had announced scrapping of old Rs 500 and 1,000 notes on November 8. While this led to a cash crunch and serpentine queues at banks and ATMs, the decision also pushed uptake of digital payments in the country.
Developed by National Payment Corporation of India (NPCI), BHIM is supported by host of banks, including State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, Axis Bank, HDFC Bank, Bank of India, Canara Bank, Kotak Mahindra Bank, Oriental Bank of Commerce and Punjab National Bank, among others.
The app, which can be downloaded from Google Playstore, is currently available in Hindi and English, and support for more languages is expected soon. BHIM is interoperable with other Unified Payment Interface (UPI) applications and bank accounts.
"We all want our country to develop, become economically stronger and a resurgent nation. Through Digital India initiative, the country has take a giant leap towards that direction," IT Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said.
Users can register their bank account with BHIM, and set a UPI PIN for the account. The mobile number then acts as the user's identifier, enabling transactions like sending or receiving money.
NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant said, "It is only a matter of time before the entire country goes digital."
Digital payments company MobiKwik's Founder and CEO Bipin Preet Singh said this will further strengthen digital payment system and add to building of a cashless economy.
"Going forward, we hope that provisions would be made for adding e-wallets on UPI enabling people to pay through bank accounts or e-wallets using the BHIM app," Singh added.
Trupay Co-Founder Rahul Gochhwal said, "UPI is the most advanced payment system in the world. This will develop the overall payments ecosystem in the country."
The Enforcement Directorate has registered a criminal case against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and his organisation IRF under money laundering laws.
Officials said the agency's zonal office here has registered an FIR, called Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in ED's parlance, against Naik and others after taking cognisance of a similar complaint booked by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against them.
The ED, they said, will specifically look into the charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused and the proceeds of crime in its probe.
The agency has already scanned some banking transaction documents and other details against Naik and IRF and is soon expected to issue summons to take the probe forward.
The National Investigation Agency had last month registered a case against 51-year-old Naik under anti-terror laws for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race.
After registering the case against Naik, IRF and others, NIA along with Mumbai police had 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 a 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 charges, in the FIR registered by the NIA's branch here, were also slapped under 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 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. Naik's speeches are banned in the UK, Canada and Malaysia.
The Home Ministry has alleged that the NGO had "dubious" links to 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.
China today finally blocked India's proposal to list JeM chief and Pathankot mastermind Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist by the UN, triggering a sharp reaction from New Delhi which termed it as "unfortunate blow" and a step that confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism.
With China blocking India's proposal, which was submitted in February to the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, New Delhi has to make a fresh listing request for Azhar to be banned by the global body, officials said here.
After its submission, China twice imposed "technical" hold on the Indian proposal.
However, India said it will continue to push forward with resolute determination "through the use of all options available with us to bring perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice".
Asserting that its submission received the strong backing of all other members of the 15-member Sanctions Committee, External Affairs Ministry said, "We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar...
"The international community is aware that the Pakistan- based Jaish-e-Mohammed which is proscribed by the United Nations, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India including the Pathankot Air Base attack.
"The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism."
MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup also said the decision by Beijing is surprising as China itself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism.
"As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation. We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism," he added.
India today signed a pact with Singapore to amend a decade old treaty to begin taxing capital gains on investments routed through the South East Asian nation from April next to check round-tripping of funds, after rolling back similar benefits to Mauritius and Cyprus.
India had in May this year signed a revised tax treaty with Mauritius, triggering a change in the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Singapore.
Mauritius and Singapore are among the top sources of foreign direct investments into India and also account for a big chunk of total inflows into the country's capital markets.
Under the amended treaty with Singapore, for two years beginning April 1, 2017, capital gains tax will be imposed at 50 per cent of the prevailing domestic rate. Full rate will apply from April 1, 2019, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said.
"This year on May 10 we had amended DTAA with Mauritius. Then in September we amended with Cyprus and today we amended the DTAA with Singapore," he said.
"With these three... we have successfully stopped round tripping through this route."
Of the total FDI inflows of USD 29.4 billion in April- December 2015-16, Mauritius and Singapore accounted for USD 17 billion.
Jaitley said the earlier DTAAs with the three countries gave complete exemption from payment of tax on profits made through capital gains as there was no such levy in the host countries. The beneficiary did not pay any capital gains tax in India.
"Therefore there was a reasonable apprehension that these agreements were misused for round tripping and bringing money back in country through this route," he said, adding 2016 has been significant and historic in getting these amended.
Through the revision in the treaty, "we have given a reasonable burial to the black money rule that existed," he said.
The Finance Minister said like the Mauritius pact, all investments will be grandfathered till March 2019. "Capital gains liability will be shared half and half and after that entire capital gain will come to India," he said.
Also, Switzerland will begin sharing with India from 2019 information on all investment or accounts maintained in its banks post-2018.
The CBDT had signed an agreement to this effect with Switzerland about two months back, he said.
These are "milestone in campaign against tax evasion and parking of money outside country," he said. "2016 has been historic as three DTAAs have been rewritten."
Jaitley said "the revisiting of these arrangements was extremely important and along with the battle of black money that is being fought currently in India, it is a very happy coincidence that by amending them, we have been able to give a reasonable burial to this black money route which existed".
Short term capital gain tax is levied at 15 per cent in India, while long term capital gain tax is zero.
As per the revised treaty, investments made prior to April 1, 2017, will be protected from new tax provisions.
While Mauritius was the single biggest source of foreign direct investment into India in 2014-15, accounting for about 24 per cent of USD 24.7 billion FDI, Singapore accounted for 21 per cent.
The taxation treaties with these nations is said to have been misused by many Indian and multinational companies to avoid paying tax or to route illicit funds.
India has been insisting on review of the treaties as it felt a chunk of the funds were not real foreign investment but Indians routing money through these nations to avoid domestic taxes, a practice known as "round tripping".
It wanted to ensure firms in the two nations that invest in India are not just 'shell' companies but instead have substantial operations there, such as paying staff, before qualifying for treaty terms of getting exemption from payment of capital gains tax in India.
India and Singapore today signed a Protocol to amend their bilateral Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreement. The Protocol was signed between Lim Thuan Kuan, Singapore's High Commissioner to India and Sushil Chandra, Chairman of the Central Board of Direct Taxes.
"Singapore and India have reached agreement to phase out the capital gains tax exemption gradually, and have also committed to find new ways to promote bilateral investments," a statement issued by Ministry of Finance of Singapore said.
The revised pact preserves the existing tax exemption on capital gains for shares acquired before April 1, 2017, while providing a transitional arrangement for shares acquired on or after that date.
"For shares acquired on or after April 1, 2017, there will be a two-year transition period, during which the capital gains from such shares will be taxed at 50 per cent of India's domestic tax rate if the capital gains arise during April 1, 2017 to March 31, 2019," the statement said.
Jaitley and visiting Singapore Deputy Prime Minister Tharman Shanmugaratnam also agreed on steps towards a set of new initiatives for joint promotion of bilateral investments with a view to concluding an agreement in the second half of 2017, it added.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee today said no communal clash took place at Dhulagarh in Howrah district and termed it as "local problem".
"It is a small matter. It is a local problem. That was not a communal problem. I will stick to police's version," she told mediapersons at the state secretariat.
Earlier in the day the Chief Minister denied any incident of rioting at Dhulagarh and alleged that "wrong information" was being given on social media.
"In the last 15 days, social media is running wrong information on an incident which did not take place at all," Banerjee said at a programme here in an apparent reference to reports of violence earlier this month at Dhulagarh, which is barely 20 km from the state secretariat.
"In order to break news one must not act irresponsibly. If something has really happened then you (media) have every right to report it but I think a field survey must be done," she said.
Her remarks came even as a senior government official had yesterday said strict actions were taken against those involved in the Dhulagarh violence and the process of giving compensation to the affected has started.
The state government, Banerjee said today, is the first to help a family when their home is damaged or they are affected.
"If there is an accident, we immediately take steps to help the family.... We do it on humanitarian grounds but we do not do any publicity," she said.
District police said inhabitants are wary of returning to their homes at Dhulagarh.
Delegations of BJP, CPI(M) and Congress were stopped from visiting the troubled areas of the district and police superintendent of Howrah (Rural) Sabyasachi Raman Mishra was transferred in the wake of violence within less than a fortnight of his appointment.
BJP has hit out at Banerjee over the Dhulagarh incident. "This is height of politics of appeasement. I want to ask those intellectuals, who cried over 2002 riots in Gujarat and then intolerant India, that when are they going to Kolkata," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad had said yesterday.
A vicar in the UAE has said he has got "strong indications" to believe that Father Tom Uzhunnalil, the Indian priest who was abducted nearly nine months ago from war-torn Yemen, is alive, a media report said today.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia said it is making "all efforts to secure a safe release" of the priest kidnapped from Aden in March, Khaleej Times reported.A video of Uzhunnalil had surfaced this week in which he made an appeal to the Indian government, Pope Francis and Bishop Paul Hinder, to save his life.
Hinder, who is based in Abu Dhabi, is the current Vicar Apostolic of the vicariate."The features of the person speaking in the video bear a close likeness to Father Tom. However, the source of the video, the date of its creation and the circumstances under which it was recorded are unknown. Even though we have no information about Father Tom's present whereabouts, we have strong indications to believe that he is still alive," the vicariate said in a statement.
The church said it has made countless appeals from the highest levels to secure Uzhunnalil's release as well as made concrete efforts by way of working in close collaboration with both international and local diplomatic channels, it reported.
"Paul Hinder is in touch with the different channels, which are working and leading the dialogues to secure a safe release. More details cannot be disclosed at this stage," the statement said.
The bishop has led calls for prayer throughout the churches in the vicariate for Uzhunnalil. During the Christmas mass, the bishop and thousands gathered at the cathedral parish of St Joseph's Abu Dhabi to pray for the priest's safety.
"The Salesian Congregation to which Father Tom belongs and the Catholic Bishops Conference of India has been in touch with government channels," the statement added.
The Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia is a territorial jurisdiction of the Roman Catholic Church covering the UAE, Oman and Yemen. The office of the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia is based at St Joseph's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi.
Father Uzhunnalil, who hails from Kerala, was abducted in March by terror group Islamic State which attacked an old-age home run by Mother Teresas Missionaries of Charity in southern Yemeni city of Aden.
In a big push for cashless transactions, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched a new mobile app BHIM named after Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar that does not need Internet or a high-end smartphone.
He called it as his governments gift to the nation on the New Year. The BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) app is a re-branded version of the UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data) meant to facilitate users with faster, easier and reliable cashless transactions.
In two weeks, we will make one more accomplishment. Its security is being worked on. It will empower BHIM. You will only require your thumb to make a payment, Modi said.
Prime Minister was addressing a Digi Dhan Mela, organised by the Ministry of Information Technology and Communication at Talkatora Stadium. He made cashless payment to the Khadi Gram Udyog using BHIM app, purchasing an item at the event.
Entire business and trade would soon be taking place through the BHIM app. Ambedkars name is going to take the centre stage of the nations economy in the coming days, he said.
The new mobile app, which was made available for download at Google Play, can facilitate users with easy and faster digital transaction with a maximum limit of Rs 10,000 per transaction and Rs 20,000 within 24 hours, according to app specification posted on the Google Play by the developer, National Payments Corporation of India.
As many as 32 banks are currently in the list of the app for digital transaction. The mobile app currently is supported by Hindi and English languages.
More than 100 crore people of this country are enrolled to Aaadhar. The country also has more than 100 crore mobile phones. How big would it be a revolution once this (use of BHIM with thumb) begins in the next two weeks? I see it very clearly that BHIM will emerge as the biggest wonder in the world, Modi said.
Prime Minister said the BHIM app will not only facilitate easy digital transaction but also benefit people of the country in many ways.
A washer man will be able to get loan from bank with the use of BHIM app by showing records of his transaction. Such e-banking system is going to be developed through BHIM platform, he said.
Modi said migration from cash to cashless economy would take India to greater heights and bring back its glory.
In a bid to check tax evasion, India and Singapore on Friday signed a pact to amend the Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement(DTAA). From April, India will start levying capital gains tax on investment coming from Singapore at the rate of 50%.
From 2019, full capital gains tax will be imposed in investments, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said after signing the treaty. A similar treaty has been signed with Cyprus and Mauritius earlier this year.
The year 2016 has been historic and significant on the DTAA front. There was a reasonable apprehension that agreements were used for round tripping. After 2019, Jaitley said the entire capital gains will come to India. We have successfully stopped round tripping through these routes, Jaitley said.
Earlier, India revised its DTAA with safe haven Mauritius, which was regarded as one of the major sources of laundering black money stashed abroad.
Apart from Mauritius, Cyprus and Singapore, we have also been working with Switzerland, he said.
Switzerland will share information of investments of 2018 from 2019 onwards, he added.
This year on May 10, we had amended DTAA with Mauritius. Then in September, we amended with Cyprus and today (Friday), we amended the DTAA with Singapore, he said. Of the total FDI inflows of $29.4 billion in April- December 2015-16, Mauritius and Singapore accounted for $17 billion.
International participants showcased their adventurous side during outdoor activities at 17th national jamboree of Bharat Scouts and Guides at Adakanahalli Industrial Area, on Nanjangud road, near here on Friday. The event concludes on January 4.
The overseas participants took part in over 50 adventure activities, including, commando bridge, snake tilt walk, barbed wire crossing, ladder crossing, monkey crawling, monkey bridge, tyre chimney, tyre crossing, rock climbing and rappelling and rope climbing among others.
For Shuha, a member of Maldives Girl Guides Association (MGGA), the tyre tunnel event was an electrifying and memorable experience. This is my first experience and the events are varied. I want to participate in all the events, she said enthusiastically.
Maldivian Gisama Abdulsalaam said MGGA organises several such events back home including swimming and camp fire but adventure games here are totally different and offer a good exposure to participants.
Expo strengthens bond
There were participants from Pakistan, Abu Dhabi (UAE), Sri Lanka and Saudi Arabia too. Participants felt that jamboree would help strengthen a bond of brotherhood across countries.
The outdoor activities challenged the participants their physical and mental strength apart from giving them a fun-filled experience.
Global Development Village, a concept that provides an opportunity of learning through activities such as pottery and converting waste into wealth attracted many. An awareness on rural development was designed to educate participants about health, hygiene and education, said an organiser.
Mysuru Darshana
Mysuru Darshana, a sight seeing programme, is also being organised as part of the jamboree. Under the programme, around 5,000 participants will everyday get an opportunity to visit historical and popular places in and around Mysuru.
On Friday, the participants took out a parade in Mysuru city and also visited various tourist spots like Mysuru Zoo, Chamundi Hills, Mysuru palace and other places. Organisers have arranged 150 KSRTC buses to ferry participants from Adakanahalli to Mysuru.
Bharat Scouts and Guides Karnataka Commissioner P G R Sindhia told DH that around 30,000 participants from across the country and eight teams from foreign countries are participating in the jamboree.
Murur, a tiny and remote hamlet on the foothills of Western Ghat lacks basic facilities like road, power, drinking water, health care and educational facilities.
The proposed visit of the Social Welfare Minister Anjaneya on the New Year eve (Saturday) has raised the hopes among villagers, especially Marli Koraga, in whose house the stay has been arranged, for better comforts.
Marli Koraga, a 65-year-old woman, is all happy and pleased to serve the minister home cooked dinner. She said she will serve the minister simple home cooked food comprising chapathi, sambar, bele saru, kucchallaki rice, soppina palya, tharakari palya and kadalebele payasa. A room in the middle of the house is unsoiled and cleaned for the ministers stay overnight.
Marli told reporters that she stays with her three daughters and a son. She has seven children and she lost her husband some years ago.
There are no proper transport facilities and health care amenities in the area and the inhabitants are expecting that lady luck to smile on ten Koraga families in the area. There are ten families in eight houses. These people walk 10 kms from Kalthod to reach Murur where they have the market, health and education facilities.
Murur has around 50 Koraga population. There is a primary school at Kappadi, one-and-a-half kilometers away and the students who want to pursue the high school studies should travel seven kms to Areshiroor.
Marli Koragas daughters Susheela and Gulabi said there are two to three buses, which ply only in morning and evening hours. The people should go to Bolamballi, walking five kms to board the bus. The autorickshaw drivers charge too much, they said.
Her another daughter Baby said the hamlet has three wells. But the water of only one well is potable. Two among these three wells dry up in summer, they said. They demanded proper roads and health care for the hamlet. Besides, they sought funds for self-employment and also a new school with better facilities.
They said they receive Rs 2 lakh in four installments for the construction of houses under Integrated Tribal Development Project. But many are people not able to procure the benefits as they do not have money to start the construction of the house and show evidences required for the release of the installments, they said.
Kalthod Gram Panchayat President Annappa Shetty said plans have been chalked out to build a footbridge at Idkallakattu. Rs 65 lakh was released last year and another Rs 35 lakh is required to complete the project, including construction of approach roads. This will provide better transport facilities. There are three wells and one-phase electricity is supplied to these families. Solar lamps are also provided, he said.
For the ministers stay, around Rs 45,000 has been spent on the construction of Western toilet.
ITDP in-charge coordinator Harish Goankar said there are 11,333 Koraga population and 2,568 families in the district. Among them, 276 are self-employed, 197 are government employed, 366 are employed in private sector, 327 are engaged as agricultural laborers and 1,963 are engaged in daily wage works.
The population of STs is 52,897, including Koraga, Marati and Malekudiyas in the district.
A 50-year-old man died on the spot in a hit-and-run accident on National Highway 4 at Kunigal Circle bypass in Nelamangala, 35 kilometres north of Bengaluru, on Friday morning.
Jayaram Lakshmaya was riding a motorcycle to Chikkanayakanahalli to attend a funeral when an unidentified vehicle knocked him down around 7.30 am, police said. He was wearing helmet but the collision was so severe that it ripped his head.
Police said they were searching for eyewitnesses as no CCTV cameras were installed near the accident spot. Jayarams brother Thammaiah has filed a complaint at the Nelamangala traffic police station.
2 held for stealing
The Parappana Agrahara police have arrested two men on charge of stealing batteries and other equipment from a newly installed Reliance Jio tower.
The arrested are Rajashekar and Vasanth Kumar. Police have recovered a cell tower router worth Rs 83 lakh, other equipment and a Tata Indica Vista car from them.
The jurisdictional police said the duo have confessed to similar offences in Parappana Agrahara, Hennur, Ramamurthynagar, KR Puram, Mahadevapura, Peenya and other areas.
As many as 21 cases have been registered against the duo at various police stations across the city. Both of them were produced before a magistrate and were remanded in judicial custody, police added.
A day after the Madras High Court raised doubts over Jayalalithaas death, political parties in Tamil Nadu on Friday sought a detailed report from the Centre and the state government on the treatment given to the late chief minister when she was in hospital for more than two months.
DMK treasurer and leader of the Opposition M K Stalin demanded a judicial probe into the mystery behind the death of Jayalalithaa.
Referring to the high court observation related to Jayalalithaas death, Stalin said the state and the central governments should come out with a detailed statement and release medical reports of her death.
PMK founder S Ramadoss demanded a probe by the CBI into Jayalalithaas death. Referring to reports about amputation of her legs, he said if that was the case, it was not known whether the consent of Jayalalithaas blood relatives was sought before the surgery.
Demonetisation may have been the single biggest decision of the Narendra Modi government in 2016.
But the year also saw many other critical policy decisions taken by the government, which was stung by the Oppositions constant criticism that it was more status quoist than a true performer.
The first two years of Modis term were bogged down by attempts to bring in a new land acquisition bill that finally had to be shelved when rivals accused the prime minister of being anti-farmer and pro-corporate.
Cut to 2016, his government began to craft a strategy that could change that perception and move towards creating a pro-poor constituency that could cut across regions.
In March, Parliament approved the Aadhaar Bill. It gave a statutory backing for the identification numbers to be used for transfer of subsidies and benefits to those eligible. Significantly, it also signalled the prime ministers willingness to wholly adopt a United Progressive Alliances idea, which the BJP had opposed.
In July, the government announced that all Direct Benefit Transfers (DBT) would be linked to Aadhaar by end of 2016. All subsidies and welfare schemes are to be brought under the DBT net by March 31, 2017.
In May, the government brought the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016 which got Parliaments approval to help in solving the crisis in public sector banks already burdened with bad loans and improving the ease of doing business ranking.
As early as March, Parliament passed the Real Estate (Regulation and Development) Bill, 2013, which seeks to create a set of rights and obligations for consumers and developers.
Another measure was the Benami Transactions (Prohibition) Amendment Act, 2016, passed in August well before demonetisation. In fact, it was supposed to be a preparatory step for the big move. But it came into effect only in November. In August, Parliament passed the Goods and Services Taxes (GST) Constitutional Amendment Bill. The aim is to have one indirect tax for the whole nation. However, the rollout of the new tax regime on April 1, 2017, stands put off.
In September, the Cabinet approved the merger of the Railway and General Budgets from 2017-18, ending a 92-year-old colonial tradition. Finally, Modi sprung a surprise with his November 8 announcement to demonetise Rs 1,000 and 500 notes.
As serpentine queues outside ATMs became enduring images of 2016, the Opposition called it the year of state-sponsored disruption. Comparing it with the surgical strikes by the army on terror camps in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, they said Modi was forever seeking glory to write himself into history books.
Modi called it a war on black money with many economists questioning its efficacy to eradicate the ills. If you act with clarity and with the purest of motives, the results will be there for anyone to see. Whatever my critics may say, I seek no personal benefit from all this, only the greater good, was Modis way of summing up his governments actions.
The murder case of Paruchuri Surendra Kumar (51), the founder of Paruchuri Global Foundation (PGF), Global Security Services and Galaxy Capital Investments Pvt Ltd, is likely to be transferred to Central Crime Branch (CCB) for further investigation.
Surendra Kumar was shot dead by two unidentified assailants near his house in Sanjaynagar in Bengaluru on the night of October 30, 2016. Kumar, a bachelor, was staying alone in a rented bungalow in Postal Colony in Hanumaiah Layout.
A police team went to Mathura in Uttar Pradesh and questioned Kapil Saraswath, a former manager of PGF, but failed to get any leads to establish Kapils involvement in the murder. The victim had bought two acres of land in Mathura and reportedly had differences with the builder. Police had summoned the builder but his involvement in the murder was not established.
CCB police and cyber crime police are assisting Sanjaynagar police but there has hardly been any progress. Hence, senior police officers are planning to hand over the case to the CCB, said a police officer.
Recent investigations revealed that a day before the murder, between 11 am and 6 pm, the victim spent a considerable amount of time with his former personal guard Sunil and Kapils brother Maunendra Saraswath. Sunil was Parachuris guard till 2015. He quit Parachuris firm and joined an industrialist from Ballari, citing pay and personal reasons.
He told police that he had differences of opinion with Parachuri over pay but had no personal grudge against him. After a gap of four years, he chanced upon Maunendra in Bengaluru. Police said Maunendra visited Sunils house on October 29 as it was a holiday.
Police said suspicions on Maunendra were aroused when he bought a car, a bike and an expensive watch after Parachuris murder was reported. On being questioned about his source of income, Maunendra did not give a convincing reply.
Police suspect the involvement of Sunil and Maunendra but they are yet to collect evidence in this regard. Police are however, not ruling out the possibility of the two having given supari to get Parachuri eliminated.
The Bengaluru police have made elaborate security arrangements for New Years Eve not only in the popular revelry zones such as Brigade Road and MG Road but also at Lavelle Road, UB City, Indiranagar and Koramangala.
At meetings with representatives of clubs, hotels, pubs, restaurants and similar establishments, police asked them to instal enough CCTV cameras on their premises and post adequate number of security guards and bouncers, including female guards, Additional Commissioner of Police (West) K S R Charan Reddy said.
Polices central division has partnered with the Brigade Road Shops and Establishments Association (BSEA) to ensure smooth revelries. The BSEA has installed two permanent high-resolution CCTV cameras besides 20 temporary cameras along Brigade Road to monitor revellers.
We have requested police to stop traffic from 8 pm onwards and allow people to walk in one direction from Cauvery Emporium junction towards Opera House junction, Suhail Yusuff, president, BSEA, said.
A door metal frame detector will be placed at the entrance of Brigade Road from MG Road side to screen revellers. Policemen will be posted on the rooftops of buildings on Brigade Road, using night-vision binoculars to watch revellers and look out for any suspicious activity.
Police Commissioner N S Megharikh said that while the closure deadline for all restaurants, bars and pubs was 2 am, there would be no restriction on the movement of people.
5 Bollywood Actors Who Won The National Award But Didn't Really Deserve It
Dr. Sam Johnson once observed that "No man is so innocently employed as in the making of money." Alas, that was in 18th century Britain, not 21st century China. Via the Haiti Sentinel: Chinese Plastic Rice Arrives in Haiti.
Authorities in Haiti are just beginning to come to grips with the growing prevalence of plastic rice, said to have been imported from China, first discovered in Haiti in early November 2016. Deputy Abel Descolliens (Mirebalais(1)/PHTK) and the Mayorship of Mirebalais have seized upon the issue only after a family in the town had one of their children, who had consumed the product, fall ill.
The Mirebalais Mayors Office, headed by Lochard Laguerre, told a journalist from Radio Tele Zenith FM that an investigation was underway to determine how much and from what source from which the plastic rice was brought into Haiti. The journalist said Deputy Descollines office said it would be bringing the matter before members of the Chamber of Deputies to exact a response. Neither elected to speak directly on the matter during a segment on the Train Matinal, weekday mornings news and politics broadcast.
The family which was affected by their daughter consuming the rice said it was purchased from a neighbor. The mother intended to make a blended rice juice with it. A female child had consumed some of the first batch of jis diriz, rice juice, before the family discovered something wrong. They discovered that the rice, by the manner of its consistency when other batches of the juice were cooled in the refrigerator, was not a natural produce.
The provisional administration of President Jocelerme Privert has not addressed the plastic rice detected in the Haitian market. A video was posted nearly 7 weeks before the Mirebalais incident on November 7, 2016. In both instances, consumers were attempting to make jis diriz. It appears by this method of preparation, the plastic properties of the rice become more profound. It leads one to believe consumers commonly cooking the rice could possibly consume it unknowingly.
The alert over plastic rice in Haiti is the first consumer-initiated quality control scare since the 2012 scandal of salami. The imported meat product from the Dominican Republic was found to contain high levels of feces. In 2010, it was from a United Nations peacekeeper base in Mirebalais that the water sources in Haiti would be contaminated with cholera. Deaths from cholera, which had never been detected in Haiti before, topped 10,000 in the first five years.
The BBC reported on December 21, 2016 that Nigerian officials had confiscated 2.5 tons of plastic rice that was smuggled into the country by an unscrupulous businessman. The Nigerian customs service said the fake rice was intended to be sold in markets during the festive season.
Tensions have always been high with our neighbours. Pakistan to the east and China to the north. And weve kept up with the camaraderie for as long as the border lines have been drawn. And weve redrawn those lines with the blood of our soldiers over the years. Weve even fought wars with each other ever since 1947, some weve won, some our neighbours have won and some were inconclusive. The current atmosphere seems to be slowly veering towards another conflict but its all hype. Our armies have performed such acts of pre-emptive defence for decades, its just that the recent ones are getting a little too much of the limelight. But that doesnt stop us from wondering
What if?
What if we do go to war with Pakistan in this day and age? Will it ever go as far as nuking each other out? And lets say if it ever does come to that, who comes out on top?
Military Might
If we are to stand toe to toe, then it should come as no surprise that India is way ahead of Pakistan when it comes to numbers. We have 1.325 million active servicemen while Pakistan has 0.620 million. And if we count our reserve forces then the number climbs to an astounding 3.5 million soldiers ready to answer the call, outnumbering Pakistan by 3-to-1. However, war isnt just about numbers. The brave 300 spartans held out against the massive Persian army (were aware the 300 had a lot of help from the other city states) for seven days because they made the best use of local terrain. Similar examples are littered across the history pages. Rather than delving that deep let us compare the armed forces of the two nations briefly.
Naval
India, given its vast coastline, has historically paid a lot of attention towards improving its naval might. Being one of the few blue-water navies in the world, we even have our own nuclear propelled submarine. If we are to compare the best vessels from either navies i.e. the Indian Navys Kolkata Class and Pakistani Navys Zulfiquar Class then the Zulfiquar is at a disadvantage.
Everything from our sensor systems, electronic warfare systems and armament are way ahead of what the Zulfiquar has to offer. While the main cannons on both ships are 76mm, the AK-630 Close-in-Weapon-System on the Kolkata Class ships are much superior to the Chinese made Type 730B. Moreover, the Kolkata Class is capable of carrying 16 BrahMos missiles which are one of the best in class missile systems. Lets just say that given our naval superiority, Pakistan has its work cut out.
Indian Navys Kolkata Class
AirForce
In a similar vein, the Indian Air Force is way superior in terms of numbers in every class of aircraft. Our Sukhoi Su-30MKI is way better than Pakistans JF-17 Thunder which happens to be a light-weight multi-role combat aircraft. However, we lack pilots and thats a well publicised issue. Moreover, weve lost over 170 pilots in MiG-21s and theyve earned the moniker of flying coffins. Our pilot-to-cockpit ratio is 0.81 while that of Pakistan is 2.5:1. Simply put, we cant deploy our full force. Lastly, we are actively developing fifth-generation fighters while there have been no such developments in the PAF. But hey, they can always count on China to help them out.
India's Sukhoi Su-30MKI
Army
The Indian Army has proved its mettle time and time again in three wars and has come out on top every time. The 1965 war was declared a stalemate but Pakistan suffered terrible losses. And while there have been accounts of the Indian Army Chief mentioning that we were low on ammunition, it was later found that wed only used 8-14% of the ammunition stock. We are significantly ahead in armaments thanks to our indigenous weapons programmes. And its pride is the BrahMos supersonic cruise missile and just recently weve announced a programme to double the range of the BrahMos system to cover Pakistan entirely. However, the Arjun Main Battle Tank has been the butt of all jokes for a while, even the army has decided not to order any further of the Arjun MBT and has sought out foreign bids. Pakistans Al Khalid is a better designed tank with a slightly better 125mm cannon.
Overall, were better off than Pakistan but is that all that counts?
Technological Efficacy
Weve said its not about the numbers. Comparing military might of two nations involves a lot more factors such as economic stability, known strategies, surveillance capabilities and more. Most of these are state secrets which makes this comparison a lot more difficult. We do have strong allies and sufficient oil reserves but Pakistan did recently declare at the 22nd Annual Technical Conference that their oil and gas reserves were far greater than previously estimated. We have five military satellites while Pakistan has none so were better off with more reliable surveillance data.
When it comes to intelligence agencies, ISI pulls strings in Kashmir and RAW does the same in Balochistan, both allegedly. However, these agencies deal in clandestine affairs making it difficult to compare them. Then come the defense mechanisms. India has the Prithvi Air Defence missile for high-altitude interception and the Advanced Air Defence missile for low-altitude interception. This two-tiered approach is instrumental in keeping our forces safe against the Pakistans tactical nukes. However, we should remember that Pakistans nuclear arsenal is the fastest growing in the world.
India's Prithvi Air Defence missile
Economy Comparison
With a 40 Billion dollar budget, we are spending a lot more than Pakistan which has to do with a 7 Billion dollar budget. We eclipse Pakistan economically so we can outlast them should we resort to a war of attrition. Also, given our GDP and booming economy we are going to bounce back sooner post war.
Allies
Pakistan will be supported by China, Saudi Arabia and Turkey. India on the other hand, will be supported by Israel, Iran, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Japan. Russia and the United States will fight a proxy war with US standing behind Pakistan and Russia standing behind us. The NATO situation makes it difficult for most of the EU states to take a stance and most of the African nations are steeped in their own issues to get involved.
Cold start vs Paki counter attack
India has always had a defensive strategy, and when the 2001 Indian Parliament attacks happened there was a period when the Indian forces were mobilised and thats when it dawned upon the hierarchy the disadvantages of our existing approach. Hence, Cold Start was devised which allows rapid mobilisation of our forces to strike within 48 hours which is too less for the international community to intercede and too less for Pakistan to mobilise. To counter Cold Start, Pakistan has declared that they will use tactical nuclear payload on the Nasr missiles to halt the Indian advancement. India has a no-first-strike policy and the moment Pakistan uses its nuclear options their might be a nuclear retaliation from us.
Unleash the nukes
If we go the nuclear way, then there are quite a few possible outcomes. Firstly, both countries have missiles which can easily cover the entire gamut of the other nations territory. Pakistans Shaheen III and Indias Agni IV and Agni V are both capable of carrying nuclear payloads. However, in a comparison of the effects on nuclear hits on the top five cities in each country, India will lose 15 million lives and Pakistan will lose 10 million lives, along with widespread injuries and burns.
Indias Agni missiles are capable of carrying nuclear payloads
However, Indias missile defense system will prevent a few missiles from reaching their destined targets while Pakistan is pretty much destined to be reduced to dirt. Given our larger economy, we will be in a much better position but the sanctions that will follow will cripple our economy for quite some time.
Well definitely win the war but not in a state to celebrate the victory. If at all Pakistan does survive the initial nuclear barrage, it will not be in a state to govern itself at all. Even now, the instability of the Pakistani state is a cause for worry, even among their allies. One thing sure is certain, the history books will no longer hold Hitler and Stalin as the worst of humanity. Well have bested them all.
This article was first published in November 2016 issue of Digit magazine. To read Digit's articles first, subscribe here or download the Digit e-magazine app for Android and iOS. You could also buy Digit's previous issues here.
After an extended romance with e-commerce companies, smartphone OEMs are looking at the offline market. While no OEM will ever accept it, online giants in India just do not have the reach needed for a country like India yet. The offline space is huge, and the next billion smartphone users are in tier II and tier III cities. So, it doesnt matter whether youre a Samsung or Xiaomi, you need to hit the offline stores eventually.
Thats exactly what makes phones like the Lenovo K6 Note and Coolpad Cool 1 interesting. Theyre both available offline, and they sport specifications that disruptive online-only phones have been known for. to make the competition even clearer, both phones have 3GB of RAM, 32GB storage, 4000 mAh batteries (4060mAh on the Cool 1), and are priced at Rs. 13,999. They differ in the camera and performance departments, with the K6 Note running on a Snapdragon 430 SoC, against the Cool 1's Snapdragon 652. While we will get to the camera in time, here's a comparison of how these compare in terms of speed and regular SoC performance.
Speed
The Coolpad Cool 1 is the runaway winner as far as speed is concerned. And that was quite expected to be honest. The Snapdragon 652 is almost twice as fast as the Snapdragon 430, and that shows. On regular usage, with things like social networking and emails, theres a sluggish appeal about the Lenovo K6 Note. In comparison, the Coolpad Cool 1 is what we call snappy, and fast.
To explain a simple use case, the Lenovo K6 Note takes a good two seconds longer to launch the camera app and focus on a subject. Where the Coolpad Cool 1 takes a total of 2.35 seconds, the K6 Note takes almost 4 seconds to complete the given task. Similarly, games load faster, as do simpler apps like Facebook and Twitter. When switching apps, the Coolpad Cool 1 handles the transitions faster, too.
Heat
Interestingly, both the phones show similar performance on heat tests as well. With the outside temperature at around 13 degrees celsius, both the Lenovo K6 Note and Coolpad Cool 1 top out at 37 degree temperatures on their bodies, after 15 minutes of gaming. Since the Lenovo K6 Note cant shoot 4K videos, we couldnt use our video test on this one.
However, on shooting 1080p videos, both the phones reach the 32 degree mark. To be precise, the Coolpad Cool 1 registered readings of 33.2 degrees, while the Lenovo K6 Note registered readings of 35.3 degrees. Ideally, 4K video recording is much more taxing on the SoC, but since the Lenovo device isn't capable of the same, at least natively, that automatically puts it at a disadvantage any way.
Bottomline
From a performance perspective, the Coolpad Cool 1 is definitely the faster and more efficient smartphone amongst the two. It is noticeably faster than the Lenovo K6 Note, and given its impressive heat readings, it comes out as more efficient as well. In fact, having reviewed the Coolpad Cool 1, we can attest to its battery life as well. The Lenovo K6 Note is under review right now, but given its performance, the camera and battery will have a lot to make up for.
Buy Lenovo K6 Note at Rs. 17,450 on amazon
Buy Coolpad Cool 1 at Rs.13,999 on amazon
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Passengers in the United Kingdom and Ireland will be able to fly to New York for as little as 56 from next summer as budget airline Norwegian attempts to push down the price of trans-Atlantic flights further.
The new routes from departure points such as Edinburgh and Cork would be set up as a result of the usage of more fuel efficient planes.
The likes of British Airways and Aer Lingus have been dominant forces in the market for flights between the British Isles and the US, but budget carriers are beginning to offer more affordable alternatives.
"We are working on plans for new transatlantic routes from Edinburgh and Ireland which we expect to launch in 2017, and a key part of our plans are to make sure they are truly affordable, allowing as many people as possible to fly," a statement from Norwegian said.
Currently Norwegian already offers fares starting at 149 from London Gatwick to John F Kennedy airport in New York, as well as destinations such as Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Orlando.
"A number of airports are being looked at while we finalise our plans but smaller airports in the US present us with an opportunity to offer some ground-breaking fares to passengers in the UK, Ireland and the US," the spokesperson added.
London stocks edged lower at the start of the last trading session of the year a half day after the index closed at a fresh record high in the previous session.
At 0830 GMT, the FTSE 100 was down 0.2% at 7,109.26.
On Thursday, the index closed at a fresh high of 7,120.26, boosted by precious metals miners such as Fresnillo and Randgold Resources, as gold prices advanced.
Mike van Dulken, head of research at Accendo Markets, said: Note resistance-turned-support building around 7,110 which keeps us above 7,100 and maintains the rising channel since mid-month which bodes well for further upside (another record today?). Bulls want to see overnight highs of 7,123 bettered to inspire hopes that record intraday (7,130) and out-of-hours highs (7,135) can be challenged.
Bears need to see current support at 7,110 give way.
Meanwhile, oil prices ticked higher after data from the US Energy Information Administration showed crude inventories rose by 614,000 barrels in the week 23 December, compared with expectations for a 1.2m barrel contraction. West Texas Intermediate and Brent crude were up 0.4% to $53.99 and $57.10 a barrel, respectively.
With many traders away from their desks in the run-up to the New Year, volumes were light and corporate news was thin on the ground.
Property developer Hammerson inched higher after saying it will sell its 50% stake in the Watermark leisure and dining site near the Westquay shopping centre in Southampton to GIC, Singapore's sovereign wealth fund and the company's Westquay joint venture partner, for 48.5m.
The tenure of the Westquay joint venture will also been extended, with Hammerson receiving a fee from the joint venture for the ongoing management of the shopping centre and the deal is expected to complete before the end of the year.
Elsewhere, Royal Bank of Scotland was in focus following reports that small investors in the bank are pushing for it to set up a shareholder committee to give them a bigger say in areas such as executive pay.
There are no UK data releases of note due, but in the US, the Chicago purchasing managers index is at 1445 GMT.
Market Movers
FTSE 100 (UKX) 7,109.26 -0.15%
FTSE 250 (MCX) 18,008.21 -0.12%
techMARK (TASX) 3,360.84 -0.27%
FTSE 100 - Risers
Convatec Group (CTEC) 239.00p 1.70%
Intertek Group (ITRK) 3,452.00p 0.58%
Next (NXT) 4,967.00p 0.47%
British American Tobacco (BATS) 4,616.50p 0.44%
Whitbread (WTB) 3,750.00p 0.43%
Standard Chartered (STAN) 654.50p 0.41%
Coca-Cola HBC AG (CDI) (CCH) 1,739.00p 0.40%
Randgold Resources Ltd. (RRS) 6,440.00p 0.39%
Royal Mail (RMG) 458.80p 0.37%
Associated British Foods (ABF) 2,739.00p 0.33%
FTSE 100 - Fallers
Shire Plc (SHP) 4,594.00p -0.85%
St James's Place (STJ) 996.00p -0.80%
Tesco (TSCO) 204.80p -0.78%
Sage Group (SGE) 653.50p -0.76%
Fresnillo (FRES) 1,215.00p -0.74%
BAE Systems (BA.) 591.00p -0.67%
Vodafone Group (VOD) 199.10p -0.65%
Smiths Group (SMIN) 1,402.00p -0.64%
BP (BP.) 508.00p -0.63%
Royal Dutch Shell 'B' (RDSB) 2,344.00p -0.59%
FTSE 250 - Risers
Hastings Group Holdings (HSTG) 253.20p 2.34%
Evraz (EVR) 224.10p 2.33%
PayPoint (PAY) 1,015.00p 2.32%
Acacia Mining (ACA) 381.50p 2.20%
International Personal Finance (IPF) 174.60p 1.51%
Ferrexpo (FXPO) 135.70p 1.34%
Vectura Group (VEC) 138.60p 1.24%
Hochschild Mining (HOC) 213.50p 1.04%
Marshalls (MSLH) 289.17p 0.93%
BGEO Group (BGEO) 2,954.00p 0.85%
FTSE 250 - Fallers
Euromoney Institutional Investor (ERM) 1,107.00p -4.16%
Renishaw (RSW) 2,435.00p -2.72%
Synthomer (SYNT) 374.50p -2.30%
Ted Baker (TED) 2,757.00p -2.20%
Allied Minds (ALM) 450.00p -2.17%
IP Group (IPO) 172.90p -2.15%
Countryside Properties (CSP) 235.00p -1.96%
Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group (JLT) 967.00p -1.58%
Nostrum Oil & Gas (NOG) 377.90p -1.33%
Hunting (HTG) 622.00p -1.27%
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Police charge suspect who fired at police, was shot in exchange
Columbus police identified the gunman wounded by police early Thursday morning as Raymond Richard Hampton, 26, of the University District.
Via The Globe and Mail, an important story: How a little-known patent sparked Canadas deadly opioid crisis. Excerpt:
In the fall of 1992, a relatively unknown pharmaceutical company based in Pickering, Ont., filed a 47-page document with the Canadian Intellectual Property Office, seeking to patent a new invention it said could transform the way doctors treat pain.
Like the millions of patent applications before it, the one filed in Gatineau, Que., by the Canadian subsidiary of U.S. drug giant Purdue Pharma promised remarkable things.
The companys researchers had surprisingly discovered a new way to treat pain. Purdues innovative pill would substantially improve the efficiency and quality of pain management, because it didnt need to be taken as often as other medications.
Most importantly, it was safer. In a section of the application called Summary of the Invention, where the benefits of the innovation are recorded, Purdue said its new pill could treat pain without unacceptable side effects.
The drug was awarded Canadian Patent No. 2,098,738. Its official title in the paperwork was listed as: controlled release oxycodone compositions. But Purdue called it OxyContin.
It would go on to become a blockbuster drug the most popular long-acting prescription painkiller in Canada for more than a decade, and one of the most lucrative pharmaceutical inventions to hit the market.
When asked in 2014 how much money the company had made from the drug, Purdue Canada chief executive officer Craig Landau struggled to say. Im honestly not certain. I dont know. Its in the billions of dollars for sure, he told a House of Commons committee examining prescription-drug abuse.
In fact, the profits from OxyContin were massive, and growing every year. In Canada and the United States, where the drug was also patented, Purdue has made more than $30-billion (U.S.) from OxyContin since the mid-1990s.
Seeing this trend, other Canadian drug makers wanted a piece of those profits, and a series of patent wars broke out. Unwilling to wait the standard 20 years for the patent to expire in 2012, at least three pharmaceutical manufacturers went to federal court starting in 2005, seeking to produce their own versions of OxyContin.
In thousands of pages of court filings detailing those cases, which had not been made public until now, Patent 2,098,738 soon became shortened to the more manageable Patent 738, which became short form for one of the biggest backroom battles in Canadian pharmaceutical history, though few outside the business knew it was going on.
But as the drug makers fought over OxyContins spoils, deadly problems were emerging with the drug, and the industry knew it.
I posted about this NKNews report this morning and then deleted it because the report is confused and confusing. But here it is again: North Korea issues guidelines to prevent spread of bird flu. Excerpt and then a comment:
The North Korean government is increasingly concerned over the growing avian influenza (also known as bird flu) epidemic in East Asia, state-run media indicated on Thursday.
But preventive methods issued by media remain primitive, suggesting that an outbreak of H7N9 avian flu which has a 40 percent fatality rate in the country could have a disastrous effect.
If one is infected with the bird flu within one to two days, one will suffer from high fever and headache, followed by coughing and sputum, the North Korean ruling party organ Rodong Sinmun said on Thursday.
One would have to adapt many methods accordingly, including maintaining a high level of hygiene and working out to increase the resistance, as well as gargling with salt water and drinking garlic juice.
Pyongyang so far has remained silent about whether the country is suffering from any form of bird flu outbreak.
But it is frequently updating readers on the status of the outbreak of the disease in South Korea, with 24 articles published this month with the keywords South Korea and bird flu.
South Korea has seen the worst spate bird flu cases in ten years, with some 26 million poultry being culled after the H5N6 strain was detected in public places. There are yet to be any reported cases of humans contracting the disease.
Apart from the preventive methods suggested above, the North Korean government did not provide any other information, such as how citizens should act or where to report to if they suspect they are infected with the disease.
Rodong did not report that the H7N9 avian flu is confirmed to have about 40 percent of fatality rate. So far at least 324 out of 808 cases of infection have died, a Hong Kong government report said.
NKNews appears to cover North Korean media, and not in a friendly way. That's fine, but here the story leaps from "bird flu" to H7N9 (so far a China-local strain) and H5N6 (currently bedevilling South Korea)as if they were the same thing, which they're not.
Unless China is exporting poultry to North Korea, H7N9 isn't an imminent threat to Pyongyang. H5N6 in wild birds might be a problem, but so far that strain is far less serious to humans than H7N9.
And of course we have no idea what's really going on in North Korea. The story goes on to list North Korean mentions of "bird flu" in 2005, 2013, and 2014, but who knows how many others there may have been, and what strains they were?
The real story here is North Korea's chronic failure to report promptly and accurately on its disease outbreaks of all kinds. Whether it's advising its people on measures against this or that strain of "bird flu" is really beside the point.
Nepal and China will for the first time conduct a joint military exercise in February next year.
A Chinese defence ministry spokesperson confirmed this in Beijing today, saying that the Chinese military was looking forward to conducting a joint exercise with the Nepali Army.
''#China and #Nepal will hold their first joint military training in 2017, Chinese MOD spokesperson said on Thu'' China's state-run newspaper People's Daily tweeted. A source said the exercise would focus on preparing each others' armies to combat terrorism.
''The exact date, time frame and venue and other details have not been fixed yet,'' a Nepali Army source told The Himalayan Times. The source further said that it was a low key exercise.
Nepal in the past had conducted such joint military exercises with India and other friendly countries, including the United States.
During a press conference at his office on Thursday, foreign minister Prakash Sharan Mahat said that the drill was yet to be finalised.
India to tax Singapore investors' capital gains from April
India will start imposing capital gains tax on investments coming from Singapore from April and fully withdraw exemptions in two years as the two countries agreed to amend a decade-old treaty after New Delhi rolled back similar concessions to Mauritius and Cyprus earlier this year.
India and Singapore today entered into an amended Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) for the avoidance of double taxation and prevention of fiscal evasion with respect to taxes on income, by signing a third protocol.
With the amendments, announced by finance minister Arun Jaitley, investors based in Singapore will no longer benefit from tax exemptions on capital gains taxes.
This is in line with India's treaty policy to prevent double non-taxation, curb revenue loss and check the menace of black money through automatic exchange of information, as reflected in India's recently revised treaties with Mauritius and Cyprus and the joint declaration signed with Switzerland.
The India-Singapore DTAA at present provides for residence based taxation of capital gains of shares in a company. The third protocol amends the DTAA with effect from 1 April 2017 to provide for source based taxation of capital gains arising on transfer of shares in a company. This will curb revenue loss, prevent double non-taxation and streamline the flow of investments.
In order to provide certainty to investors, investments in shares made before 1 April 2017 have been grandfathered subject to fulfillment of conditions in Limitation of Benefits clause as per 2005 Protocol. Further, a two year transition period from 1 April 2017 to 31 March 2019 has been provided during which capital gains on shares will be taxed in source country at half of normal tax rate, subject to fulfillment of conditions in Limitation of Benefits clause.
The third protocol also inserts provisions to facilitate relieving of economic double taxation in transfer pricing cases. This is a taxpayer friendly measure and is in line with India's commitments under Base Erosion and Profit Shifting (BEPS) Action Plan to meet the minimum standard of providing Mutual Agreement Procedure (MAP) access in transfer pricing cases. The third protocol also enables application of domestic law and measures concerning prevention of tax avoidance or tax evasion.
Changes to the treaty with the Asian financial centre had been widely expected after India this year similarly re-drafted a 33-year old tax treaty with Mauritius.
The tax treaty between India and Singapore had a provision that any changes in the Mauritius treaty would automatically apply to the one with the Asian country.
The move to tighten tax treaties is part of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's anti-corruption drive, which includes tightening loopholes for firms or rich individuals setting up a presence in jurisdictions with tax exemption treaties.
Regulators have long suspected rich Indians were routing cash through these tax jurisdictions, and channeling money back to India in a practice known as "round tripping".
"We are able to give a reasonable burial to this black money route," Jaitley told reporters at a news briefing.
Capital gains tax will be imposed on investments from Singapore that are made from April onwards. The tax rate will be half the prevailing Indian rate for the next two years and rates will then be equated by April 2019. Jaitley said.
Foreign direct investment flows from Singapore stood at $50.6 billion between April 2000 and Sept 2016, contributing more than 16 percent to total capital inflows during that period, second only to Mauritius.
Four suspects have been arrested in what law enforcement officials believe may be related cases of motor vehicle theft within the city limits of Eufaula. Since December 21, three motor vehicles have been stolen, all of which were recovered by law enforcement officers during the Christmas weekend.
Eufaula Police Chief Steve Watkins issued a press release on Tuesday, Dec. 27, stating that three individuals, of who two were 15 year-old juveniles, were arrested in connection with the theft of a Dodge Durango that was stolen on Dec. 21 from a residence in Eufaula. Donnell Green, 20, of Eufaula and the two juveniles were charged with receiving stolen property first degree.
Green is currently being held in the Eufaula City Jail following his a bond hearing, where his bond was set at $15,000. The two juveniles were turned over to the Barbour County Juvenile Probation Office. This case is still under investigation and more charges are pending according to Chief Watkins.
A second vehicle, a Jeep Cherokee, stolen from a Eufaula residence on Dec. 23, was found abandoned by the Eufaula Police Department.
A Chevrolet Silverado that was stolen from a south Eufaula residence on Christmas Eve, Dec. 24, was located by deputies from the Barbour County Sheriffs Office at a bridge on Tiny Mae Road on Dec. 26. At the time of discovery, the vehicle was occupied by a lone subject, 21 year-old Devon Dean of Eufaula. Dean originally told deputies that the vehicle belonged to his uncle and he had gotten it stuck in the mud and had been there since the night before. After deputies told Dean that they knew the truck was stolen, Dean changed his story and stated, according to a report from the Barbour County Sheriffs Office, that he had stolen the vehicle to go joy riding. Dean was arrested by BCSO deputies and charged with receiving stolen property first degree.
Since Deans arrest on Dec. 26 by the BCSO, the Eufaula Police Department has obtained warrants for him for three counts of theft of property first degree.
The Criminal Investigations Unit is still pursuing these cases as well as several other unlawful entries of motor vehicles, Chief Watkins noted. We have recovered some property and are actively seeking the remainder of the stolen items.
Information and advice given on the EPD Facebook page, noted that these crimes were facilitated by opportunity and now is a good time to offer the reminder to always lock your vehicle and remove the keys, even if you leave it for just a minute. Never leave valuable or attractive items in your vehicle.
If anyone has any information related to these or any other case, please call the Eufaula Police Department at 334-687-1200 or the tip line at 334-687-7100.
Holden has had a topsy-turvy turn of small cars over the years.
For decades, the Commodore has done the heavy lifting for the iconic Aussie brand while city cars, such as the Barina, Astra and more recently the Cruze, have played a secondary role. At times they've been good, but mostly they've been forgettable.
But tastes have changed. The Commodore's reign from the top is over, small cars are the most popular segment in new vehicle sales while SUVs and utes are on a charge.
Holden has, fortuitously, foreseen all these changes and is in the midst of a major product overhaul that will see 24 new or updated models in showrooms between 2015 and 2020. A significant pillar in that plan is the latest generation Astra, which takes over from Cruze as the brand's small car stalwart. So, can it withhold the pressure?
WHAT DO YOU GET?
The Astra is fresh out of the development pipeline from Holden's European partner, Opel, and arrives in local showrooms initially as a hatchback only. A sedan is likely to be added in the middle of 2017 while sportier three-door versions of the previous Astra the GTC and VXR hot hatches will continue to be sold until they are replaced within 18 months or so.
The hatch is available in three model grades with a starting price of $21,990 (plus on-road costs) for the entry-level Astra R powered by a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine with a six-speed manual transmission.
The mid-spec Astra RS, which costs $26,490 (plus on-roads) and the range-topping $30,990 RS-V we're testing here have a more powerful 1.6-litre engine and come with more standard equipment, including the latest safety functions which can be optioned into the R.
A six-speed automatic costs an additional $2200 across the range, although it is currently only available on the R with availability in the RS and RS-V models due to commence in March 2017.
As for what you get, the RS-V rides on 18-inch alloy wheels, has push-button start with keyless entry, heated front seats and steering wheel, fake leather trim, dual-zone climate control and the full suite of Holden's Mylink functionality within the 8.0-inch colour touch screen, including digital radio, smartphone mirroring and sat nav with live traffic updates.
From a safety perspective, it has six airbags and a suite of active driver aids dubbed Holden Eye that includes automated emergency braking, forward collision warning, lane keeping assistance and blind spot alert.
A $1990 Touring Pack adds an electric sunroof and adaptive cruise control or the Innovations Pack, which costs an extra $2000, has those items plus full LED headlights. Both packs are exclusively available as options on the RS-V only.
The controversy over Uber staff using the companys tech to track peoples movements was reignited this week when information in a pending lawsuit began circulating in the tech press.
Uber employees can pull customer data at will, alleged Ward Spangenberg, the companys former forensic investigator, in a court declaration filed earlier this fall as part of his bid to prevent the firm from forcing his case into arbitration.
Uber staffers have been able to track high-profile politicians, celebrities and ex-significant others, Spangenberg said.
His originalcomplaint, filed in the Superior Court of California in San Francisco, centers on his dismissal from the company.
Uber continues to allow broad access to users trip information, five security professionals formerly employed at the company told Reveal.
That has been going on, they said, in spite of Ubers assertions two years ago that it had policies prohibiting such actions, following news that executives were taking advantage of its God View feature to track customers in real time without their permission.
Ubers Side of the Story
Its absolutely untrue that all or nearly all employees have access to customer data, with or without approval, maintained Uber spokesperson Sophie Schmidt.
We have built entire systems to implement technical and administrative controls to limit access to customer data to employees who require it to perform their jobs, she told TechNewsWorld. This could include multiple steps of approval by managers and the legal team to ensure there is a legitimate business case for providing access.
Access is granted to specific types of data based on an employees role, Schmidt asserted. All data access is logged and routinely audited, and all potential violators are quickly and thoroughly investigated.
Uber employees must acknowledge and agree to the companys data access policy, CIO John Flynn emphasized in a memo sent earlier this week.
Violators have been terminated, he reminded them.
We want our security and privacy practices and technology to be world-class, and were moving quickly toward that goal, Flynn said. Its the responsibility of each and every one of us to protect customer and driver data.
However, Ubers defense in the Spangenberg case relies mainly on procedural issues.
Its not logical for any company to proclaim that they are secure because they sent an email telling employees what to do, remarked John Gunn, VP of communications at Vasco Data Security.
In the real IT world you dont need these types of emails, because youve implemented limitations on access to sensitive data [that] you monitor and enforce, he told TechNewsWorld.
The Need for Privacy
The latest revelation follows news that Uber has tracked customers even after they left its vehicles.
Uber needs to come clean on whether [the privacy violations] occurred and needs to have full disclosure of how it uses customer data, said Michael Jude, a program manager at Stratecast/Frost & Sullivan.
Frosts research indicates that people take personal security very seriously, he told TechNewsWorld.
On the other hand, consumers are becoming less concerned about exposing details about their personal information, noted Michael Patterson, CEO of Plixer.
They dont like the invasion, but they like the services and appear to be willing to compromise, he told TechNewsWorld.
Still, high-profile Uber customers, including celebrities, could be at risk, suggested Csaba Krasznay, product manager at Balabit, pointing to Kim Kardashians robbery in Paris in October as an example.
We can protect ourselves by not letting Uber and other apps use our smartphones GPS data, Krasznay told TechNewsWorld. It only takes one click.
Or consumers can decline to install the Uber app, use a VPN from their smartphone to a company in-house phone system to call Uber, or use a company credit card under someone elses name, Plixers Patterson suggested.
Ultimately, responsibility for this problem rests on the CEOs shoulders, said Frosts Jude, and the CEO should take personal responsibility for fixing it.
By Ashley Braun
From fake news to phony Twitter support, 2016 was dominated by plenty of falsities surrounding climate change and energy development. DeSmog remains dedicated to uncovering this misinformationand disinformationclouding the national conversation on climate change.
Weve put together a list of 12 of our most important and influential stories covering these issues from the last year.
In addition to shining a light on whats false, we also seek to reveal whats true: the enduring dark money influence of the Koch brothers, the international military ties of the firms policing the Dakota Access Pipeline, the differences between the trains carrying ethanol and the bomb trains carrying oil.
We also keep close tabs on the individuals and organizations that have helped to delay and distract the public and our elected leaders from taking needed action to reduce greenhouse gas pollution and fight global warming (though sometimes those are our elected leaders).
We regularly update our Disinformation Database, so check out some of todays major players, including President-elect Donald Trump and former Exxon CEO and Secretary of State nominee Rex Tillerson.
Dive into some of our biggest stories of 2016 below.
1. Exclusive: Climate Hustles Marc Morano Turns Down $20k Global Warming Bets from Bill Nye the Science Guy
One of Americas most outspoken deniers of the link between fossil fuel burning and global warmingMarc Morano of the conservative think tank the Committee for a Constructive Tomorrowhas refused $20,000 in bets that the planet will keep getting hotter.
2. Senators Launch Resolution, Speech Blitz Calling Out #WebOfDenial Blocking Climate Action
Nineteen U.S. Senators who understand the need to clear the PR pollution that continues to block overdue climate policy action spoke out on the Senate floor in support of the Senate Web of Denial Resolution calling out the destructive forces of fossil fuel industry-funded climate denial.
3. New Koch-Funded Group Fueling US Forward Aims to Promote the Positives of Fossil Fuels
A long-awaited campaign to rebrand fossil fuels called Fueling U.S. Forward made its public debut at the Red State Gathering 2016, where the organizations President and CEO Charles Drevna gave attendees the inside scoop on the effort and confirmed that the campaign is backed financially by Koch Industries.
Instead of Supporting Trump, Here's What the Koch Brothers Are Doing With Their $750 Million https://t.co/fEKjkuLbrt @OpenSecretsDC EcoWatch (@EcoWatch) August 17, 2016
4. Security Firm Running Dakota Access Pipeline Intelligence has Ties to U.S. Military Work in Iraq and Afghanistan
TigerSwan is one of several security firms under investigation for its work guarding the Dakota Access Pipeline in North Dakota while potentially without a permit. Besides this recent work on the Standing Rock Sioux protests in North Dakota, this company has offices in Iraq and Afghanistan and is run by a special forces Army veteran.
5. Ken Bone, Internet Sensation from Presidential Debate, Works for Coal Company Opposed to Climate Regulations
After Kenneth Bone asked a question about energy to presidential nominees Donald Trump and Secretary Hillary Clinton at the presidential town hall debate on Oct. 9, he quickly became a viral internet sensation. Lost in the shuffle of the viral memes, internet jokes and a Facebook fan page is a basic question: Who is Ken Bone and what does he do for a living?
About Viral Sensation Ken Bone and His Presidential Debate Question via @EcoWatch https://t.co/F2vniuB2DA
Is Bone a dirty coal guy? Tyko Kihlstedt (@SwampGreen) October 12, 2016
6. Did an Industry Front Group Create Fake Twitter Accounts to Promote the Dakota Access Pipeline?
A DeSmog investigation has revealed the possibility that a front group supporting the controversial Dakota Access Pipelinethe Midwest Alliance for Infrastructure Now (MAIN)may have created fake Twitter profiles, known by some as sock puppets, to convey a pro-pipeline message over social media. And MAIN may be employing the PR services of the firm DCI Group, which has connections to the Republican Party, in order to do so.
7. The Trump Administration is Filling Up with Koch Allies
On the campaign trail, President-elect Donald Trump boasted that he had no need for the Koch brothers, claiming to have rejected meetings with them and calling his Republican primary opponents puppets for meeting with the Kochs. Yet, today, Trumps transition team and Cabinet are quickly filling with a number of Koch affiliates, confidantes and business associates.
8. Senator Promoting Dakota Access Pipeline Invests in Bakken Oil Wells Named After Indian Tribe
U.S. Sen. John Hoeven (R-ND) recently came out in support of the Dakota Access pipeline, the contested Energy Transfer Partners-owned pipeline envisioned to move oil obtained via hydraulic fracturing (fracking) from North Dakotas Bakken Shale basin. What Sen. Hoevenan outspoken supporter of TransCanadas Keystone XL tar sands pipelinedid not mention, however, is his personal investment in 68 different oil-producing wells in North Dakota under the auspices of the company Mainstream Investors, LLC.
9. Revealed: Most Popular Climate Story on Social Media Told Half a Million People the Science Was a Hoax
The most popular climate change story across social media in the second half of 2016 used a debunked survey from the late 1990s to claim that tens of thousands of scientists had declared global warming a hoax, a DeSmog analysis has found.
10. There is no doubt: Exxon Knew CO2 Pollution was a Global Threat by Late 1970s
Throughout Exxons global operations, the company knew that CO2 was a harmful pollutant in the atmosphere years earlier than previously reported. DeSmog uncovered Exxon corporate documents from the late 1970s stating unequivocally there is no doubt that CO2 from the burning of fossil fuels was a growing problem well understood within the company.
11. Bomb Trains: What Can We Learn From Shipping Ethanol to Improve Oil-By-Rail Safety?
From 2010 to 2015, the total number of tank cars moving ethanol by rail was more than 1.98 million. Thats about 18 percent greater than the more than 1.68 million tank cars of crude oil shipped over the same time period. With more ethanol than crude oil moved by rail in recent years, why isnt anyone calling ethanol trains bomb trains too?
12. Watch Leonardo DiCaprios Climate Film Before The Flood Right Now
From Academy Award-winning filmmaker Fisher Stevens and Academy Award-winning actor, environmental activist and UN Messenger of Peace Leonardo DiCaprio, Before the Flood presents a riveting account of the dramatic changes now occurring around the world due to climate change. Find out how to watch it now.
Reposted with permission from our media associate DeSmogBlog.
Biggest penalty ever given to Qualcomm for unfair patent licensing.
Regulators from South Korea state that Qualcomms patent licensing techniques violate Korean unfair competition laws. As a result, the company is forced to pay a fine of 1.03 trillion won, or roughly $850 million (695 million). Qualcomm said it plans to appeal the enormous fine in court.
The Korea Fair Trade Commission (KFTC) noted that Qualcomm refused to license specific standard-essential patents on its chips to competitors like Intel, Samsung, and MediaTek. The commission required that Qualcomm renegotiate the licenses; the fine is the largest ever issued in Korea.
Its noted in a report that Qualcomm makes a majority of its profits approximately $6.5 billion in the recent year from selling the rights to its chip technology.
Qualcomm has violated its agreement to license patents on fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory terms, known as FRAND, the Commission said in a statement.
Firing back, Qualcomm issued a statement stating that the punishment is an unprecedented and insupportable decision, relating to licensing practices that have been in existence in Korea and worldwide for decades. They also noted that the KFTC showed no evidence of harm to its competition that it suggests is robust among chip and handset suppliers because Qualcomms model promotes competition.
While the KFTC directive will not be official until it issues a written statement and order, which usually takes roughly four to six months, Qualcomm said that it plans to immediately appeal. The company is still required to pay the penalty within 60 days after the written order is out, but it will be subject to refund based on the appeal.
Source: Ars Technica
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Dr. Peter E. Martin PhD
Dr. Peter E. Martin, PhD, 89, of Carlisle, passed away on Tuesday, December 27, 2016 at his home. He was born on June 4, 1927 in Ridgewood, NJ, and was the son of the late Harold T. and Helen (Evans) Martin Stauffer.
Peter graduated from the New York Military Academy with the class of 1945. He served in the US Army at the end of WWII. After being honorably discharged, Peter returned to Yale University and earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in mathematics in 1950. He then earned his PhD from Harvard University in 1958, and in 1979, Peter earned a diploma in computer science from the St. Johns College of the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. Dr. Martin joined the faculty of Dickinson College as a professor of Mathematics in 1965, having previously taught at Rutgers University. He helped pioneer the Computer Science Major at Dickinson. He was a gifted musician, performing on a number of instruments including the harpsichord and guitar. He enjoyed sharing his music, giving concerts at Dickinson College. He loved reading and was an avid train buff.
He is survived by his devoted wife of 56 years, Ann (Vokes) Martin, two sons; Christopher A. Martin of Carlisle and Colin E. (and his wife, Lorraine) Martin of Mt. Wolf and one niece and three nephews.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, January 7, 2017 in the St. Johns Episcopal Church, On the Square in Carlisle, with Rev. David Bateman officiating. Inurnment will be in the St. Johns Chapel of the Good Shepherd Columbarium. A time of visitation and fellowship will immediately follow the service in the church parish hall. Ewing Brothers Funeral Home, Carlisle, is in charge of arrangements. Memorial contributions may be made to the National Parkinsons Foundationhttp://www.parkinson.org/ or to Dickinson College, PO Box 1773, Carlisle, PA 17013. Visit www.Since1853.com to send condolences.
Beaver County preparing for robust Election Day turnout
As the Nov. 8 midterm election approaches, nearly 114,000 people are registered to vote in Beaver County.
BERLIN German prosecutors said Wednesday that they have detained a Tunisian man they think may have been involved in last weeks truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin.
The 40-year-old, who wasnt identified, was detained in Berlin during a search of his home and business, federal prosecutors said.
The mans telephone number was saved in the cellphone of Anis Amri, a fellow Tunisian believed to have driven a truck into the market on Dec. 19. Amri, 24, was killed in a shootout with Italian police in a suburb of Milan early Friday.
Of the new suspect, prosecutors said in a statement that further investigations indicate that he may have been involved in the attack.
Twelve people died and dozens more were injured in the truck attack. The Islamic State group has claimed responsibility.
Prosecutors have until Thursday evening to determine whether the case against the 40-year-old is strong enough for them to seek a formal arrest warrant. That would allow them to keep him in custody pending possible charges.
Investigators are trying to determine whether Amri had a support network in planning and carrying out the attack, and in fleeing Berlin. Theyre also trying to piece together the route he took from Berlin to Milan.
Italian police have said Amri traveled through France, and French authorities said on Tuesday that he made a stop in the eastern French city of Lyon.
On Wednesday, Dutch authorities said it appeared Amri first had fled through the Netherlands, Germanys western neighbor.
Jirko Patist, a spokesman for the Dutch national prosecutors office, said it was highly likely that Amri had been in Nijmegen, in the eastern Netherlands, during his journey from Berlin to Milan.
Camera images recovered in Nijmagen found someone we think, rather of whom we say it is highly likely, is the same person appearing in photos from Lyon in France, Patist told Netherlands public broadcaster NOS.
Patist added that there was no reason to think the suspect was accompanied by anyone while in the Netherlands.
A SIM card found on the fugitive after he was shot led authorities to the Netherlands.
We can see that the SIM cards like this have been distributed in several locations in the Netherlands, he said.
Amri had no phone with him in Milan, only the loose SIM card.
According to Italian police, Amri also had a pocket knife and a few hundred euros in cash in a backpack that he was carrying when officers on a routine patrol stopped him to ask for identification in the Milan suburb of Sesto San Giovanni on Friday.
He also carried a .22 pistol that he then used to shoot a police officer, hitting him in the shoulder.
The Italian investigator said the weapon appeared to be the same one used in Germany to kill the Polish driver of the truck that was commandeered for the Christmas market attack, but that final ballistic tests were still being carried out.
The body of the Polish driver, Lukasz Urban, was returned to Poland on Tuesday, said Aldoma Lema, a spokeswoman for prosecutors in the Polish city of Szczecin.
Ralph Thomas thought at first the crash was the sound of a tractor-trailer banging down North Hanover Street in Carlisle around 10:37 a.m. Friday.
It took a couple seconds to realize it was something else, said Thomas, owner of BetterView Windows & Doors on the corner of North Bedford Street in Carlisle. We got up and ran outside.
People were already on the scene working to free an unidentified woman and two children from an overturned Jeep SUV with New Jersey plates.
While Thomas helped to pull out the driver, one of his employees joined in the effort to rescue the children from the back seat of the vehicle that had tipped over onto its left side.
The whole scene was recorded on video by a security camera mounted outside his 671 N. Hanover St. business.
Witnesses on the scene reported seeing no serious injuries. It is believed the woman and children were transported by ambulance to a local hospital. A call to the investigating Carlisle borough police officer was not returned by press time.
It appears that the SUV was traveling south on North Bedford Street, near the signalized intersection with North Hanover Street, when it struck a vehicle parked across from a Citizens Bank branch.
The parked car was a 2006 Mazda 3 owned by Joanna McDonald of the 600 block of North Hanover Street. The rear of her home fronts North Broad Street where she usually parks her car.
Joanna and her mother, Barbara McDonald, were at home when the crash occurred but did not hear the crash. Joanna heard the arrival of police on the scene and mother and daughter discovered the damage when they left the house to run some errands.
The video shows the SUV clipping the outside corner of the parked Mazda, Barbara McDonald said. She added that while the Mazda took the impact, the Jeep flipped onto its side.
Both vehicles were removed from the scene by flatbed tow trucks. After securing the area and investigating the crash, borough police officers cleaned up the broken glass and other debris from the southbound travel lane.
The crash site is located near where traffic from North Hanover Street can turn right onto North Bedford Street to head south toward downtown Carlisle.
People fly through here, Thomas said. Its pretty bad. I dont park anywhere along there. Joannas father, Norman McDonald, also mentioned how speeding motorists are a real problem in that area of Carlisle.
Down this street from the signal [for] so many cars it is pedal to the metal, Norman McDonald said. They are doing 40 to 45 mph. They are flying down on Bedford Street.
We have been real fortunate, he added. God has blessed us in many ways. No kids have been killed.
I forgive you.
Ive lost count of how many people have told me that since Election Day. Of course, the number pales in comparison with the legions whove told me I was wrong about everything this year and that the election of Donald Trump will spell the end of my relevance, my career and, in a few trollish instances, my life. But its the unsolicited forgiveness that stings more.
My position as a committed Never Trump (and Never Hillary) conservative in the primaries and general election earned the disappointment and wrath of a great many folks on the right, from longtime readers to longtime friends. Although I still feel in my bones that I have nothing to apologize for, it does seem to me that forgiveness, solicited or otherwise, should elicit some introspection.
Are my critics either the forgiving ones or the menacing ones right about me? Just how wrong was I?
I did get the election wrong. Although there were occasions when I wrote that Trump had a shot, certainly at the end I was convinced that hed lose.
And yet, defensive though it may sound, I think the claim that I got everything wrong in 2016 reveals more about my detractors than about me. No doubt I got much wrong this year (this is true of every year ending in a number divisible by 1), but the only sense in which one could plausibly claim I got everything wrong is if Donald Trump is your everything. Indeed, the bulk of those shouting that I got everything wrong seem to be the Trump can do no wrong crowd as well.
There is a weird, not quite fully baked idea out there that if you or me were wrong about Trumps electoral chances, that means you must be wrong about the man in full. There is no such transitive property in politics or punditry. I dont know what George Will said of Richard Nixons electoral prospects in 1972, but even if he had predicted a McGovern landslide, that wouldnt mean he was wrong about the outrageousness of Watergate.
That said, I already feel comfortable admitting that, beyond my electoral prognosticating, I got some things wrong about what a Trump presidency will look like. Though many on the left and in the media see his Cabinet appointments and policy proposals as cause for existential panic, as a conservative I find most but by no means all of them reassuring.
I argued frequently that Trumps conservatism was more marketing ploy than deeply held conviction. But his appointments at the departments of Education, Health and Human Services, Labor, the Environmental Protection Agency and elsewhere suggest a level of commitment to paring back the administrative state that heartens and surprises me.
I am also surprised by the benefits of having a political novice take over the executive branch. From his phone call with Taiwan to his ad hoc bargaining with defense contractors, there is more of an upside to Trump the Disruptor than I had anticipated.
Of course, there is also a downside.
And that brings me to what I think I got right: Trumps character. I am not referring to his personal conduct toward women, a culture-war weapon that Trump and Bill Clinton together have removed from partisan arsenals for the foreseeable future. Nor am I necessarily referring to how he has managed his businesses, though I think those patterns of behavior are entirely relevant to understanding our next president.
What I have chiefly in mind is that rich nexus of unrestrained ego, impoverished impulse control and contempt for policy due diligence. I firmly and passionately believe that character is destiny. From his reported refusal to accept daily intelligence briefings to his freelancing every issue under the sun on Twitter including, most recently, nuclear arms policy Trumps blase attitude troubles me deeply, just as it did during the campaign.
On balance, I dont feel repentant. But I acknowledge that Trump has surrounded himself with some serious and sober-minded people who will try to constrain and contain the truly dangerous aspects of his character. If they succeed, Ill happily revisit my refusal to ask for forgiveness.
Kate Middleton and Prince William will be relocating to Kensington Palace and will be leaving their home in Norfolk. Rumors are rife that this has something to do with Queen Elizabeth's plan to prepare the royal couple for handing down the crown.
As per International Business Times, Kate and William will be moving to Kensington Palace because Prince George is set to start school next year. The royal couple is planning to enrol their eldest child in Wetherby School, the same school that William and Prince Harry had attended as children.
Currently, Prince George is attending nursery school at Westacre Montessori School which is located in Norfolk near his family home in Sandringham.
Kate Middleton and Prince William's house in Norfolk was given by Queen Elizabeth to the couple as a gift during their wedding last April 2011. And according to a certain report, William moved here because he wants to have privacy most especially when it comes to his family.
The Duke of Cambridge really wanted to keeps his life in private and to keep the media away from his life and his family. This is the reason perhaps he and wife Kate want to raise Prince George and Princess Charlotte in the normal way so they can experience the life of a normal family.
It can be recalled as reported by Elle that the Queen handed down several national charities to the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge so they are expected to have additional work in 2017. Reports are circulating that the Queen has a plan to step down from the crown and she might consider her grandson, William to be her successor and that's why she is giving him additional work too.
However, with the absence of Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles is stepping over for the royal family as he led them in the annual church service during Christmas even if Kate Middleton and Prince William were not present too.
If Kate Middleton and Prince William is planning to move to Kensington Palace, the reason has something to do with the welfare of their kids and not because of anything, not even Queen Elizabeth's plan.
Since the tragic passing of Carrie Fisher just this week, one of the questions that are on fan's minds is how much exactly the actress has left for her family. Fisher has been involved in a lot of projects outside of Star Wars. So, she could essentially be worth millions that she probably left to her only heir, her daughter with Bryan Lourd, Billie Lourd.
Aside from being the iconic Princes Leia Organa in the original Star Wars trilogy, Fisher has been involved in different projects as a novelist, a screenwriter, and a producer. Some fans will quickly assume that she probably is worth a fortune because of her many project. However, varying sources have reported different figures as to Fisher's true net worth.
A report from Go Banking Rates reveals that Carrie Fisher could be worth around $25 million. The relatively large figure is, however, still significantly lower than the net worth of her fellow Star Wars co-stars.
This is due to Fisher officially signing away her character and likeness which resulted in her not earning anything from any Star Wars merchandise involving her character. This was cited by analyst as a contractual mishap that could have added a lot more money to Fisher's overall fortune.
Aside from the money she earned in the different Star Wars movies, Fisher also earned some of her total net worth as a novelist. Fisher authored an autobiographical novel titled Postcards From The Edge, which was eventually made into a movie that starred Meryl Streep. Her own autobiography titled Wishful Drinking was also adapted into an HBO documentary.
As per Hollywood Take, Fisher's other sources of income outside of Star Wars, also included her work on different movie projects, including on Hannah and Her Sisters, Shampoo, Soap Dish and When Harry Met Sally among others.
Carrie Fisher died on Dec. 27, 2016, at the age of 60. She was survived by her daughter, Billie Lourd, her mother, Debbie Reynolds, and her siblings Todd, Joely, and Tricia Leigh.
Javeed Alam died on 5 December. His death will be widely lamented. He was an activist of strong will and organisational skill. He was a political scientist of philosophical temperament and humane instinct. He was honourably and unwaveringly committed to communist politics in India, while increasingly of open mind, an undismissive interlocutor even with those who disagreed with him. As a result, his own work became more varied and subtle over the years. He was the sweetest of men. It is reported that someone in Samuel Johnsons circle of acquaintances said that he had wanted to be a philosopher, like the good Doctor himself, but cheerfulness kept breaking in. Somehow, Javeed never let the fact that he was a philosopher break in and undermine his cheerfulness. He was a person of directness and, so far as I could see, without any hostility. There was never a hint of class or intellectual condescension. He had a contagiously warm gift for lively engagement with both people and ideas that fetched him, throughout his life, the companionship of many loving friends. I feel privileged to have been among them.
He was the son of distinguished Hyderabadi parents, an activist mother and a father who was a prominent philosopher. He grew up in the company of siblings who, like him and his parents, were admirably formed from an early age towards political conviction in the service of the common good. Ever since I met him and them, I have envied him this upbringing.
For too long the West has considered itself to be the centre for organised interventions in sovereign states. Any competitor that challenges its monopoly is the villain that deserves the wrath of Western media. In Syria, Russia is the newest among the human rights violators that are being demonised with "fake news."
There is a widely held belief that Muslims in India vote en bloc and strategically to defeat the Bharatiya Janata Party. This misconception has given rise to several wild theories about how Muslims participate in electoral arenathat they vote in large numbers, their decision of whom to vote for is influenced by clerics, they are more concerned about religious issues while voting, and are less supportive of Indias political institutions. This article presents a body of evidence using public opinion and election returns data from Uttar Pradesh to show that the political and electoral behaviour of Muslims is no different from that of any other major community in the state.
South Africa made full use of the second new ball to rip through Sri Lanka's last five wickets and complete a 206-run win in Port Elizabeth, an hour and 10 minutes into day five
South Africa 286 (Duminy 63, Elgar 59, Lakmal 5-63) and 406 for 6 dec (Cook 117, de Kock 69, du Plessis 67*, Elgar 52) beat Sri Lanka 205 (Philander 5-45) and 281 (Mathews 59, Mendis 58, Rabada 3-77, Maharaj 3-86) by 206 runs
Scorecard and ball-by-ball details
Abject SL, awesome Rabada 9 Number of losses from 11 Tests for Sri Lanka in South Africa. They have the third-worst loss percentage in the country behind Zimbabwe and Bangladesh who are yet to win in South Africa.
2.5 Win-loss ratio for South Africa in 2016. They end the year as the second-most successful team after India. South Africa have won five Tests and lost two.
68.22 Average of Angelo Mathews in the fourth innings of Test matches. Only Bruce Mitchell, Jeffrey Stollmeyer and Don Bradman average more (min 500 runs). Mathews top-scored for Sri Lanka with 59.
36.6 Strike rate of Kagiso Rabada in 2016 - the best for any fast bowler this year (min:20 wickets). He also has four five-wicket hauls, which is also the most for any fast bowler in 2016.
South Africa made full use of the second new ball to rip through Sri Lanka's last five wickets and complete a 206-run win in Port Elizabeth, an hour and 10 minutes into day five. Once Kyle Abbott broke through early to dismiss Angelo Mathews and Dhananjaya de Silva, there was little Sri Lanka's lower order could do. The margin of Sri Lanka's defeat belied how comfortable their top-order batsmen had looked on day four, and reflected how so many of them had thrown their wickets away.
Chasing 488, Sri Lanka started the final day 248 adrift with five wickets in hand and their last two recognised batsmen at the crease, one of them batting on 58. That man, Mathews, had added only one run to his score when Abbott nipped one in sharply and had a loud lbw shout upheld. Mathews had taken guard on off stump right through the Test match, and this probably played a major role in his dismissal. Jumping back and across, Mathews had to open up to access the ball that was jagging back into the stumps, and before his bat could come across to meet it, the ball had struck his retreating front pad, right in front. He reviewed more in desperation than hope.
A near-replay, down to the failed review, sent de Silva on his way 3.5 overs later. Again the batsman was standing on off stump, and again was forced to play across the line. Again the review returned an umpire's call verdict on height.
In between, Abbott had also dealt Rangana Herath a blow with a sharp lifter that struck him on the bottom hand. Having strapped up his fingers, Herath lasted a further nine balls before Vernon Philander had him caught and bowled, diving across the pitch to catch it low to his left, landing painfully on his arm, after getting the ball to stop on the batsman.
South Africa were expected to be too strong for Sri Lanka in the opening encounter, but what made the gap between the teams even wider were some of Angelo Mathews' tactics
Angelo Mathews had a front-row seat to the way captaincy could be when you are in control. He spent ten minutes short of three hours in the middle, watching as Faf du Plessis commanded his troops with scant reward on an afternoon that set South Africa up for a dominant win and which would have left Mathews wondering whether he should have been inventive with his own side.
On a fourth day pitch that behaved like a second-day surface, du Plessis was making a plan. He had his quicks bowling to 6-4 offside fields and kept a short midwicket and square leg, or short leg, in place, with only one man on the boundary to try and induce a mistake. He asked his bowlers to mix up their line-and-length disciplines with a short-ball strategy which had not worked against Mathews but which du Plessis thought may eventually overwhelm the Sri Lankan batsmen. He tasked his least effective seamer on the day - Kagiso Rabada - to implement it, just as the afternoon was growing long and Rabada "put his hand up and bowled quickly."
Coming round the wicket, the second delivery of his spell brought reward when Kusal Mendis tried to ramp Rabada over the slips and was caught behind. That brought Dinesh Chandimal to the crease and immediately got du Plessis thinking again. Chandimal was strangled with close-in fielders and his frustration grew. He had only scored 8 off 37 balls - and had already been dropped by Stephen Cook at mid-off trying to go over the top - when he handed a catch to mid-on. With a second new ball still to come, South Africa had made a match-winning breakthrough and opened Sri Lanka up, thanks to their ability to create pressure.
What Mathews was seeing was not revolutionary but it was lacking in his own leadership. The day before, with the pitch in a similarly good-for-batting condition, he had not been able to exert the same authority on South Africa. His bowlers were not as menacing with the bouncer and his spinner was neutralised. Still, instead of instructing Herath to tie South Africa down, Mathews spread the field and gave South Africa too many easy runs, albeit runs that could be scored in a chase if there had been more application from the batsmen.
By South Africa's own admission the target was chaseable although du Plessis was, perhaps, being a little generous. Yes, time was not an issue and the pitch hadn't broken up, but it's not every day that a team gets as close as Pakistan did at the Gabba. Still, even with 488 to defend du Plessis knew there was a job to do for his four-man attack.
It was never going to be easy, especially after South Africa requested more grass on the surface, specifically to stop it from deteriorating. That they were even willing to make that known publicly is in stark contrast to their usual assertion that they take whatever they get, even on home turf. After last season's drubbing in India, perhaps they're not scared to say when they are trying to make work things work in their favour, or to concede that their line-up is not as comfortable against spin as they would like it to be.
But there is a difference between the pitches they played on there - the Nagpur one was even rated poor by the ICC - and the St George's Park one they hosted Sri Lanka on here. Although South Africa were aiming to claim an advantage, it was more about the disadvantage they wanted to impose on the visitors.
A pitch that gets better for batting only suits batsmen, not a specific side. South Africa knew that if it didn't swing or seam - and it didn't do much over the last two days - their attack was unlikely to be able to make use of reverse-swing because the ball would not scuff up. They knew they would have to be disciplined and patient and they trusted that they would be. As Cook put it, they believed they could take Sri Lanka, "to their breaking point." Therein lies the real difference.
Du Plessis had an attack that bowled to the plans he made and the fields he set; Mathews did not always have that. Suranga Lakmal, Nuwan Pradeep and Dushmantha Chameera do not offer as much as Vernon Philander, Kyle Abbott and Rabada, even on an off day, and they are not as accurate. Sri Lanka could not find consistency in the second innings and "bowled in different places," according to du Plessis to help South Africa total over 400 - a total du Plessis wants them to reach more often.
That's not to say everything South Africa did was perfect, not even in the field. They dropped three catches and were sometimes messy but they stuck at it because they suspected that they would be able to overtake Sri Lanka in the long run. "We knew if we can get past Nos. 6 or 7, it is going to happen quickly," du Plessis said.
And it did. South Africa only needed 70 minutes on the final morning to repeat their bouncer barrage ploy and finish Sri Lanka off. In doing so, they also earned their bowlers an extra afternoon's rest, which could be crucial given the quick turnaround.
Colombia passes FARC amnesty law
Published: December 30, 2016
Colombias Congress passed a law granting amnesty to Marxist FARC (Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) rebels as part of historic peace deal reached between rebels and Government.
The Senate passed the bill 69-0 votes after the House of Representatives approved it by 121-0 votes. This is another step to formally end to 52 years of Columbian civil war (Latin Americas longest conflict).
The law grants special legal treatment, amnesty and pardons to members of the FARC accused of political and related crimes. It does not apply to FARC rebels accused of offenses such as war crimes, rape, torture and extrajudicial killings.
Background
The amnesty bill was part of a renegotiated peace pact signed between Government and rebels on November 24, 2016 to end the conflict after nearly four years of negotiations. They had renegotiated the peace deal after voters rejected an earlier peace deal (signed in September 2016) by a narrow margin in the referendum held in October 2016. The Colombian Government had decided to ratify the amnesty bill in Congress rather than risk a second referendum.
About Colombian Civil War
Colombia civil war is one of the longest civil wars in modern times and was the sole remaining armed conflict in the South (Latin) America. The five decade long civil war has killed more than 2,60,000 people and internally displaced close to seven million people. It was started in the 1960s as a rural uprising for land rights by FARC as communist-inspired guerrilla movement inspired by Cuban Revolution. The main aim of FARC was to reduce the gulf dividing rich and poor and land reform for equality in the Andean country. Over the decades, the conflict has drawn in various leftist rebel groups, drug gangs and right-wing paramilitaries. However in recent times, the FARC had shifted from their original ideology and were active in illegal drug trade, kidnapping and extortion activities.
Month: Current Affairs - December, 2016
Topics: Amnesty Law Civil War Colombia FARC International
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Stefan Lehne (Carnegie Europe)
The focal point of the European Unions efforts in addressing migration challenges is a new initiative of the so-called framework partnerships with third countries (Partnership Framework), which aims to strengthen cooperation with individual third countries, especially in Africa. Following the years of unsuccessful attempts at solving the problems of migration, a new impetus is needed, though political pressures stemming from strong anti-immigration sentiments have led in many EU countries to an exceedingly narrow focus of this agreement.
EU requirements under this initiative are presented very clearly: to reduce the number of deaths in the Mediterranean Sea, to increase the number of returnees and to allow the refugees to stay as close to their home without having to risk the journey across the sea. The EU expects a significant reduction in the number of arrivals by the end of this year, which, however, requires an immediate cooperation with its African partners. The EU pledged to grant them 8 billion by 2020 to achieve this ambitious objective, though this amount will be allocated mainly by redirecting the existing development funds.
In order to make this partnership with third countries successful and to meet the above-mentioned objectives, the EU must increase the financial dimension of this concept. Likewise, transparent avenues for legal migration should be specified, such as temporary work, educational visas, scholarships and relaxed visa regime. The EU should also put a greater emphasis on the protection of individuals and provide humanitarian visa and refugee resettlement programs. Further efforts are needed to improve the voluntary return program, which, if correctly implemented, would save a lot of trauma from a challenging homecoming and would be a success for all parties involved.
The concept of partnership is definitely meaningful. It recognizes that migration is a challenge that can only be mastered with the contribution of African countries. However, in times of a political crisis, the EU is almost exclusively focused on keeping people out of Europe or sending them back. Financial incentives are hardly generous and will not be sufficient. Moreover, the agreement does not take into account the interests and needs of the individuals who are subject to this agreement. Effective measures for the return and reallocation of refugees are an essential part of the agreement but they are only one element in the overall strategy for a sustainable and managed migration. A balanced concept of partnership would not only be beneficial for the countries of origin or transit as well as receiving governments, but it should also pay due attention to the rights and the humanitarian needs of the persons concerned.
(The study can be downloaded here)
The European Union has condemned a death sentence that was handed down earlier this week in Belarus to Mr Kiryl Kazachok. This sentence is the fifth in a row after the country executed four persons this year. The EU reminded that this goes against the commitments made by Belarusian authorities to consider the introduction of a moratorium on the death penalty.
Mr Kiryl Kazachok was sentenced on Wednesday (29 December) to death for murdering his two children. A judge found Mr. Kazachok guilty of strangling his 17-year-old son Uladzislaw and nine-year-old daughter Kira at their home in Mazyr on January 31, 2016. According to the prosecution, the man killed his children to take revenge on his wife who filed for divorce in October 2015. Mr. Kazachok had previously been convicted of disorderly conduct and physical violence.
The European Union opposes capital punishment in all cases. The EU sees death penalty as an insufficient and inappropriate tool to deter crime, which moreover represents an unacceptable denial of human dignity. The EU called on Belarus, the only European country still applying capital punishment, to join a global moratorium on the death penalty as a first step towards its abolition. The EU also said in its official statement that steps taken by Belarus to respect universal fundamental freedoms, rule of law and human rights, including on the death penalty, would remain key for the shaping of the EUs future policy towards the country and the mutual ties.
According to Human Rights Watch, there has been almost no improvement in the countrys human rights record except for the fact that in 2015 President Alyaksandr Lukashenka released on humanitarian grounds six opposition figures who had been imprisoned on politically motivated charges. The advocacy says that on top of the death penalty that is still being used, officials pressure and arrest human rights activists and critics on sham charges and authorities regularly harass independent and opposition journalists. Moreover, freedom of expression, in particular Internet freedom, is still heavily restricted.
Its such an easy point. A child can grasp it. You may have all the ingredients you want, in the right quantities, but without a builder, nothing functionally complex will emerge. Here, well bring you tons of lumber, nails, and pipe. Need wire? Have all you want. Anything else? Just ask, and well throw it in at no extra charge: screws, paint, glass. Why, we will even lay a bunch of tools on the ground beside the pile.
Now, let it sit there, exposed to the sun and rain for as long as you like. Billions of years even. How many expect a house or a skyscraper to emerge by natural causes alone?
Evolutionists seem strangely immune to the obviousness of the logic here. They want to explain lifes origin and complexity by reference to the availability of building blocks alone. Remember those who tried to account for the Cambrian explosion by the rise of oxygen? And the origin of life by a pinch of thickener in a jumble of common molecules? Look, we can make it much, much easier for evolution. We will even arrange all the atoms into amino acids, sugars, fats and complex organic compounds and dump them into the oceans. Have some polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, citric acid, purines and pyrimidines, all brought special delivery by comets and asteroids. Plop! Into the primordial soup they go. Here, have some energy! Have all the UV light, lightning, and volcanoes you want.
The only rule is: no chemists, no mind, and no intelligence.
In Illustras film Origin, Discovery Institute biologist Ann Gauger has a pithy way of explaining the hopelessness of natural processes acting on building blocks. If I put amino acids in a test tube in my lab, even if I added heat and shook it up real well, and kept doing that for a hundred years, or a thousand years, or ten thousand years, or a million years, nothing would happen.
Evolutionists must play by the rules they agreed to. Discovery Institutes Paul Nelson explains the rules in the film:
When you come to the origin of life, the rules and this isnt the science itself, this is the underlying philosophy the rules say, to solve the problem, you can use matter and energy, and natural law, natural regularities and chance processes, but that exhausts your toolkit. What youre not allowed to use, fundamentally by the rules, so-called rules of science, is mind or intelligence. If you had to attach a name to this position, you cant do better than scientific materialism: a philosophy that tells you the only acceptable explanation has to be rendered in terms of matter and energy. And if you cant solve the problem using those tools, youre not allowed to change the rules. So from that perspective, how did life come to be via matter and energy alone? Now: try to solve the problem. [Emphasis added.]
To go from microbes to animals presents the same problem, because the same rules apply. Put building blocks into the hand of natural selection, add energy, and once again, nothing will happen. Natural selection is natural, not intelligent. It is matter and energy in motion. It has no foresight. It has no direction. It has no goal. Mindless entities do not compete. They do not try to outdo each other in the struggle for life. Without a mind or plan, natural selection cannot select. In a real sense, natural selection is a restatement of, Whatever will be, will be. If everything goes extinct in the next meteor strike, so be it. Nobody cares in Darwins world.
Yet paper after paper appears that fudges on the established rules. A recent example is found in Nature, where Reinhard et al. try to account for the rise of complex life by linking it to the rise of available phosphorus after billions of years. The news from Georgia Tech reads like a myth:
For three billion years or more, the evolution of the first animal life on Earth was ready to happen, practically waiting in the wings. But the breathable oxygen it likely required wasnt there, and a lack of simple nutrients may have been to blame. Then came a fierce planetary metamorphosis. Roughly 800 million years ago, in the late Proterozoic Eon, phosphorus, a chemical element essential to all life, began to accumulate in shallow ocean zones near coastlines widely considered to be the birthplace of animals and other complex organisms, according to a new study by geoscientists from the Georgia Institute of Technology and Yale University.
Here we go again. Poor animals; they were trying to evolve, but they couldnt breathe. They needed fertilizer.
Picture again our lumber pile, now with bags of fertilizer next to everything. Picture Ann Gaugers test tube. Add some phosphorus. Bubble in some oxygen. Any help? How will simply adding more building blocks build a building?
But, the scientists object, were talking about living cells before the first animals. Right. Saturate the oceans with bacteria, toss in the phosphorus, and watch the oxygen levels rise. Do they really expect trilobites, worms, and crustaceans to appear?
We place our phosphorus record in a quantitative biogeochemical model framework and find that a combination of enhanced phosphorus scavenging in anoxic, iron-rich oceans and a nutrient-based bistability in atmospheric oxygen levels could have resulted in a stable low-oxygen world. The combination of these factors may explain the protracted oxygenation of Earths surface over the last 3.5 billion years of Earth history. However, our analysis also suggests that a fundamental shift in the phosphorus cycle may have occurred during the late Proterozoic eon (between 800 and 635 million years ago), coincident with a previously inferred shift in marine redox states, severe perturbations to Earths climate system, and the emergence of animals.
The emergence of animals. Evidently, those animals were waiting for their phosphorus order to arrive.
Lets review whats required for animal body plans that appeared abruptly at the Cambrian explosion: (1) new cell types, (2) new tissues, (3) new organs, (4) new genes, (5) new gene regulatory networks (GRNs), (6) new systems (digestive, muscular, skeletal, reproductive, central nervous systems, brains, etc.), (7) new levels of hierarchical integration of these systems, (8) new behaviors, (9) new defenses, (10) the ability to grow all these things from a single zygote.
The authors of the paper collected thousands of samples of shallow ocean sediment deposits, and carefully measured their phosphorus levels.
Theoretical predictions and observations from the geochemical record provide strong evidence that the first 80%-90% of Earths 4.5-billion-year history was characterized by limited P burial in near-shore sediments, a pattern that we link to high C/P ratios in primary producers resulting from an Fe-based nutrient P trap. The shale record we present here, when coupled with our ocean-sediment biogeochemical model, illuminates an Earth system state in which dynamically coupled P- and N-limitation stabilized surface oxygen levels on billion-year timescales. However, there is evidence for at least periodic shifts away from pervasive Fe-rich waters in the late Tonian, or Ediacaran periods, coincident with our observed increase in sedimentary P enrichments. We propose that models seeking to explain the transition to an oxygen-rich ocean-atmosphere system in which early animals thrived and complex ecosystems developed should focus on mechanisms for overcoming enhanced P scavenging and transiting the N-fixation barrier that would act to prevent P-driven increases in ocean-atmosphere O 2 levels during nascent global oxygenation events.
Minus the jargon:
The elevated availability of nutrients and bolstered oxygen also likely fueled evolutions greatest lunge forward.
They backpedal a little, saying, The researchers are careful not to imply that phosphorous necessarily caused the chain reaction, but in sedimentary rock taken from coastal areas, the nutrient has marked the spot where that burst of life and climate change took off. So instead, they explain, That first signal of phosphorus in Earths coast shallows pops up in the shale record like a shot from a starting pistol in the race for abundant life.
Ah, now it all makes sense. Someone go over to our pile of lumber and fire a pistol.
Photo credit: Sea floor sediment from 1.9 billion years ago, by Georgia Tech/Yale, Reinhard/Planavsky.
Hi P
I left SF after many years about 3 years back. It is a FANTASTIC city and I would jump at the opportunity to live there for 2 years. You will not be rich.
Expenses: The 'biggies' expense wise are accommodation ... which appears to be taken care of if you can keep it at less than the $3000 level. The next big thing is transport. In the US people use CARS because public transport is NOT that good even if you are close to the bus / tram / BART lines ... as shopping spots are often far apart. Are you prepared to really stay in the city all the time? So location will become important ... keep close to work / the city ... no outlying neighborhoods.
So, if you want to get out and about you will need a car which will be an upfront expense and then you can sell it when you leave.
There is a Cost of Living comparison website called numbeo.com which may help. Bottom-line: SF is really great.
Hope that helps
Hi guys n gals, i posted this topic a while back on another forum but the responses were mixed confusion at bestcould i please get some opinions and advice on the following'I have done a hell of a lot of research and this is a quote from the faq's section on the CIC's website"I am sponsoring my spouse/partner, but he/she has a criminal conviction, how will this affect his/her application?If a conviction is considered spent under the UK Rehabilitation of Offenders Act, this will probably not affect his/her application. However, if the conviction has not been spent or if the offence was committed in another country, it may mean that your spouse/partner is considered inadmissible. This means that he/she cannot enter Canada. In rare cases, special permission to enter is granted."All my offences were dealt with in magistrates, i received no custodial sentences only community orders and fines for which i have completed and in july of 2017 will mark 5 years since completion of final punishmenthas anyone been through something similar to this and gained PR via spousal sponsorship?all my convictions as stands are considered spentdrink drivedriving without due care and attentionfailure to stop at an accidentusing threatening or offensive language with intent to cause distressfailure to adhere to a court ordercriminal damage under 5000 (committed as a minor)the offences between * are ones that were committed as one event so all driving offences are from the same incidenceMy crimes are considered spent as i did no jail time and they were committed nearly 6 years agoquote from pancanada immigration law group" the UK Rehabilitation of Offenders Act automatically pardons individuals after certain periods of time (depending on the circumstances) if the person was sentenced to less than 30 months in prison. Such a pardon is equivalent to a Canadian pardon and would allow the person to enter Canada."all offenses took place in the time period of 9 months where i was immature to say the least and was clearly drinking like an out of control youth, ive since been 5 years sober and as was the case then is still the case now: ive never committed a single offense whilst sobersorry for the novel, any advice appreciated
The decision by the UK to leave the European Union could have a major impact on the number of students being able to study from overseas and on staff recruitment, according to a new report.The Parliamentary Education Committee, which has received submissions from a diverse range of universities, businesses, academics and students, says that there is a degree of concern about the fate of UK universities post-Brexit. Worries relate to a variety of issues concerning freedom of movement, including the prospects for recruiting EU students post-Brexit and the future rights of EU staff to live and work in the UK.Concerns are also being raised about how to maintain the UK as an attractive destination for EU and international students, about the financial viability of universities, and the need to ensure Britain can continue to compete on the international stage as a provider of world class university education.Its crucial that we dont allow Brexit to become a catastrophe for our university sector, said Neil Carmichael MP, chair of the Education Committee.The British Council, which represents UK cultural and educational interests abroad, pointed out that studying overseas is widely recognised as beneficial for students and working overseas likewise for staff and unless this is allowed to continue universities and colleges will suffer.To maintain our global reputation for higher education and research and to remain competitive, the UK needs to attract students and international collaboration from across the globe, the councils evidence said.In particular, it said that the UK needs to support and enhance the countrys access to international research collaboration and ensure public investment, support the UK in being an attractive destination for study and research and support UK students and staff to access global collaborations and opportunities.Research Councils UK, the umbrella body for grant funding agencies, said in its evidence that British universities fear losing large swathes of their research staff as the country faces up to Brexit.Some 31,000 academics at UK universities are non-British EU citizens and it is still unclear what their rights and status will be when the country actually leaves the EU in two years time. It says that unless the UK Government guarantees EU national academic staff the right to remain, it may not be easy for them to stay.It added that many have not lived in the UK long enough to apply for permanent residency under current rules, and a large fraction do not earn enough on academic salaries to be eligible for a skilled worker visa.There are concerns that if EU nationals were to leave the UK, basic science research would be hit harder than other disciplines. Statistics from the Department for Education show that 23% of academic staff in biology, mathematics and physics are EU citizens.Evidence from Imperial College London said that only 30% of non-UK EU staff are currently eligible to apply for permanent residency and it has already experienced examples of scholars choosing not to join Imperial citing the referendum result as a factor.Even if staff can apply for visas the cost has enormous implications. The University of Cambridge told the inquiry that visa costs for its non-UK EU staff would amount to some 1.25 million per year.
Current Affairs Today - Current Affairs - 2021 | Current Affairs - 2022
GKTodays Current Affairs Today Section provides latest and Best Daily Current Affairs 2021-2022 for UPSC, IAS/PCS, Banking, IBPS, SSC, Railway, UPPSC, RPSC, BPSC, MPPSC, TNPSC, MPSC, KPSC and other competition exams. !
1. With respect to the National Film Awards, consider the following statements: Shabana Azmi holds the record for having won the Best Actress Award five times. Nargis won the inaugural Award for Best Actress in 1954. Riddhi Sen is the youngest recipient of the Award till date. Which of the statements given above is/are correct? ..
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The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) warned that several world heritage sites may become glacier-free by 2050. What are the findings of the UNESCO survey? A survey of 18,600 glaciers at 50 World Heritage Sites found that the glaciers at one-third of these sites will perish because of global warming regardless of ..
Month: Current Affairs November, 2022
Category: Environment Current Affairs Reports & Indexes Current Affairs
Topics: Glacier glacier melting UNESCO UNESCO World Heritage Site World Heritage site
October 2022 witnessed the second highest collection of GST since the inception of the tax regime. ContentsHow much GST was collected?What is the trend of GST collection for the past few months?Why is there a surge in GST collection? How much GST was collected? The GST collection for October 2022 was Rs 1.52 lakh crore ..
Month: Current Affairs November, 2022
Category: Economy & Banking Current Affairs - 2022
Topics: CGST Goods and Services Tax (GST) Gross GST Revenue Inflation
1. Seven states including Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh celebrate their foundation day on which day? [A] November 1[B] November 3[C] November 5[D] November 7 Show Answer Correct Answer: A [November 1] Notes:Seven states including Chhattisgarh, Punjab, Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka, Kerala and Andhra Pradesh and Union territories of Chandigarh, Lakshadweep and Puducherry are ..
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Here are Todays News Headlines by GK Today for November 3, 2022 ContentsINDIAECONOMY & CORPORATEWORLD INDIA DRDO conducts successful maiden flight-test of Phase-II Ballistic Missile Defence interceptor off Odisha coast Ladakh: Zojila Day commemorated at Zojila War Memorial near Drass to celebrate action by Indian troops in 1948 Operation Bison PM inaugurates ..
Month: Current Affairs November, 2022
Category: Today's News Headlines
Topics: 2022 Current Affairs Current Affairs: News Headlines Headlines Latest News Headlines News Headlines Today's News Headlines Top Headlines Top News
A single income tax return (ITR) form was proposed for all taxpayers. The draft of the proposed form was unveiled recently by the Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) to receive public inputs until December 15. ContentsHow many kinds of ITR forms are there?What are the changes made in the draft ITR form?How will the ..
Month: Current Affairs November, 2022
Category: Economy & Banking Current Affairs - 2022 India Nation & States Current Affairs
Topics: Central Board of Direct Taxes Central Board of Direct Taxes (CBDT) direct tax Direct Tax Reforms Income Tax
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Many people have questions about the religious funeral traditions for adherents of the Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist and Greek Orthodox faiths. These four separate podcasts on A Good Goodbye Radio with host Gail Rubin, CT, offer in-depth insights.
Jewish Funeral Traditions
Even though Jewish funeral traditions are thousands of years old, many Reform and Conservative Jews today are unfamiliar with those rites. David Zinner, founder and executive director of Kavod vNichum (Honor and Comfort), a nonprofit organization that works to restore Jewish death and bereavement practices, discusses Jewish funeral traditions on this episode of A Good Goodbye Radio.
Topics discussed during the show include:
The differences between Jewish and Christian funeral traditions;
What are the Chevrah Kaddisha, shmira and tahara;
Who can perform the washing and dressing of the dead;
How Jewish burial is naturally green burial;
Jewish traditions around dying, death, funerals, burials, cemeteries, grief and mourning.
For more information, read this blog post.
Muslim Funeral Traditions
There are approximately eight million Muslims in the United States, double the number of Jews in the U.S. Both Islamic funeral traditions and Jewish funeral traditions are remarkably similar. What do Americans need to know about the different observances of these two religions?
Dr. Ahmad-Rufai Abdullah, a leader of the Islamic Burial Society of North America, has trained hundreds of volunteers to conduct the Islamic Janazah ritual to prepare the deceased for burial. He speaks about Muslim funeral traditions on this episode of A Good Goodbye Radio.
The key elements of Islamic funeral and burial traditions
What the Janazah process of body preparation involves
Who does Muslim body preparations and who performs funerals
When funerals and burials are prohibited
Mourning traditions and how they vary by sect and culture
How to respond to a bereaved member of the Islamic faith
For more details on Islamic burial traditions, you can also read this article in the Yemen Times.
Buddhist Funeral Traditions
Buddhist funerals incorporate many elements of other faiths funerals, such as programs, flowers, ushers, and working with clergy and a funeral home. Buddhist funeral traditions also incorporate many aspects unfamiliar to most non-Buddhist Americans the Pillow Service, altar items of fruit, food and flowers, and numerous follow-up memorial services.
Rev. Harry Gyokyo Bridge, the resident minister of the Buddhist Church of Oakland, joined host Gail Rubin on A Good Goodbye Radio to discuss Buddhist funeral traditions. Topics include:
The hallmarks of Buddhist funerals, both Japanese and American.
Specific rituals Americans need to be aware of.
How to express condolences to the family of the deceased.
Buddhist teachings related to memorial services.
Attitudes toward cremation and disposition of remains.
For more information, read this blog post.
Greek Orthodox Funeral Traditions
Did you know that my blog post on Greek Orthodox funerals is the most popular post on The Family Plot Blog? People have many questions about this religion.
In this A Good Goodbye Radio interview, Father Conan Gill with St. George Greek Orthodox Church in Albuquerque, New Mexico talks about his churchs funeral traditions. A few of his eye-opening insights:
Greek Orthodox funerals have several separate services a Trisagion service the night before, usually at a funeral home, a funeral at the church the next day, and burial in a cemetery.
Following the services, a Meal of Mercy, also known as a makaria, may take place at church or the home of the deceased.
The makaria is the time when eulogies and stories are best shared. The services provide no opportunity for others to speak.
At the funeral, the casket is left open during the service. The deceaseds head points to the west, as if they are standing with the congregation facing east.
Cremation is not allowed. To have a Greek Orthodox funeral service, the body must be present.
For more information, read this blog post.
You can learn about more religious funeral traditions in Gail Rubins award-winning book, A Good Goodbye: Funeral Planning for Those Who Dont Plan to Die.
Another good resource is The Perfect Strangers Guide to Funerals and Grieving Practices: A Guide to Etiquette in Other Peoples Religious Ceremonies.
It looked ominous for the oil industry at the start of 2016.
In January and February, oil hit the dark depths of the bust as the price per barrel fell to $26, the lowest since 2003. It was an eye-covering, cringe-inducing moment for the industry, but it wouldnt last.
The Texas oil industry will exit this year with prices that have roughly doubled and brighter prospects for 2017. The global benchmark ended 2016 with its biggest annual gain since 2009, rising 52 percent in London.
Though more than 100,000 jobs have been lost in Texas oil since late 2014, workers have some reason for optimism. In the second half of 2016, job postings in the oil and gas industry were on the increase, according to the job search website Indeed.com.
After soaring for several years and touching off a historic drilling boom across Texas, oil prices peaked in June 2014 at $107 per barrel. The price fell after that, and the oil bust picked up momentum in 2015 as companies went into survival mode. The industry cut billions of dollars in spending and laid off tens of thousands of employees. In the Eagle Ford Shale, the 400-mile oil field that makes a lopsided smile across South Texas, oil production dipped from 1.7 million barrels daily in March 2015 to 978,000 this month. Its the the biggest decline of any U.S. shale field.
The Eagle Ford started 2016 with 71 working drilling rigs, according to service company Baker Hughes. Around 100 jobs are attached to each rig some of them roustabouts who drill for oil, some of them office jobs. The rig count hit a bottom of 29 in late May. The recovery has been slow but steady since then: As of the end of the year, there were 46 rigs working in the field.
But drillers in South Texas spent much of 2016 on the sidelines while the drama played out in another part of the state the Permian Basin in West Texas and in Vienna, where OPEC holds its meetings.
Omar Garcia, CEO and president of the San Antonio-based industry group South Texas Energy & Economic Roundtable, said that at the current price point, companies have shifted their focus to the Permian Basin. The immense and historic behemoth of an oil field in West Texas and eastern New Mexico is now pumping around 2 million barrels daily.
The Permian now accounts for 264 rigs, which equates to more than 50 percent of all the nations oil rigs. The next most active area is the Eagle Ford Shale, according to weekly data collected by Baker Hughes.
Each field added two rigs this week, leading the nation as the overall rig count posted its ninth straight week of growth, according to Baker Hughes. The total oil rig count is now at 525, with shale drillers adding 100 rigs since September. Thats the biggest three-month gain since the boom times of 2014s first quarter.
Both of the big Texas oil fields head into 2017 buoyed by an OPEC decision in November to trim production. The historic deal in Vienna sent the price higher, with the companies that work in the remote shale fields of South and West Texas ending up as some of the biggest winners. No one knows if the deal will stick, but share prices of U.S. drillers rose on the news, and so did oil prices.
West Texas Intermediate ended the year up 45 percent after dipping 5 cents to $53.72 a barrel Friday on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Brent closed 3 cents lower at $56.82 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. Its 52 percent annual gain was its first annual advance in four years.
It was the first deal by OPEC to restrict oil production since late 2008, when the global economy was teetering on the brink of a depression and the international oil cartel agreed to cut production to prop up the collapsing price of a barrel of oil.
The new deal would remove about 1.2 million barrels per day off the world market by January the rough equivalent of taking the entire Eagle Ford offline, or half the Permian Basin.
Much has been made about the showdown between OPEC, the worlds traditional swing producer, and the upstart U.S. shale producers, who have added 5 million daily barrels to world production in a handful of years.
Both OPEC and U.S. producers have suffered during the bust in oil prices. Oils roller coaster ride down started in earnest around Thanksgiving 2014, when OPEC met and declined to cut production. Instead, member countries pumped more and started to compete with each other for market share.
Since then, Saudi Arabia has been spending down its financial reserves. Venezuela has been on the verge of economic collapse, with food shortages and electricity blackouts. North Dakota lawmakers sliced 10 percent from their budget this year. Alaskas governor cut in half the annual oil dividend that goes to residents.
In Texas, more than 101,000 energy workers have lost jobs since late 2014, according to the Texas Alliance of Energy Producers, which tracks oil and gas job losses. That drop has left an estimated 204,600 Texans on oil and gas industry payrolls.
But Houston energy investment bank Tudor, Pickering Holt & Co. expects to see rising oil prices in 2017. It forecast a price of around $55 per barrel in the first quarter of the year, rising to around $75 by year end.
Simon Flowers, chief analyst at consulting firm Wood Mackenzie, said the OPEC deal was a strong signal to the market. This deal is significant. And it should help the market find a balance, Flowers said by email.
Had OPEC not reached a deal, Wood Mackenzie had forecast a potential drop in oil to the $40 level. With a deal, the firm thinks that oil could reach $55 to $60 per barrel in 2017. Its a measure of the significance of the agreement, but theres a caveat: This does depend on OPEC being very careful to meet the terms of the agreement, Flowers said.
The Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas latest Beige Book, an economic outlook report, said oil and gas activity is expected to gradually pick up and that theres a sense that 2017 would be better than 2016, though it also said those expectations have moderated somewhat.
The Texas Workforce Commission reported Dec. 16 that the state added jobs for the second consecutive month in its mining and logging sector, which includes oil field workers. The sector gained 3,200 workers in November after adding 500 in October.
Thomas Tunstall, an economic development research director at the University of Texas at San Antonio, said that if oil can reach $55 and stay in that range for more than a month, The Eagle Ford, Permian, all of them will start ratcheting up.
There are positive economic signs, but Tunstall still expects flat to slow growth in the oil fields in 2017. While producers are eager to return rigs to the fields, the risk is that by adding too much to the oil supply, they could depress prices again. Tunstall also is not convinced that OPEC countries can stick to a deal. Rising prices would create an incentive for OPEC countries to outproduce their quotas.
But Garcia, of South Texas Energy & Economic Roundtable, is optimistic about the long-term health of the Eagle Ford thanks to its network of pipelines and its proximity to major ports, including the Port of Corpus Christi.
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.
That city has become a key player in moving oil out of the Eagle Ford. In 2010, its port had outbound shipments of just 245,000 barrels of oil per year, a fraction of what one large tanker can hold. It now has outbound shipments mostly destined for other U.S. ports of 650,000 barrels per day.
While we have seen a drop in rig counts, the Eagle Ford remains in a prime position with its proximity to the Port of Corpus Christi, Garcia said. South Texas is in a much better position thanks to the shale revolution in the Eagle Ford. New schools have been built, communities have new libraries, quality-of-life amenities have improved and the region has benefited from higher tax revenues. South Texas would look very different if not for the oil and gas activity in the Eagle Ford.
Tunstall also says the long-term picture looks good for the U.S. oil industry.
Were really in a position to change our oil outlook, he said.
And as the industry recovers, drillers should continue to add rigs back into the Eagle Ford. But the Eagle Ford is going to compete with West Texas, Tunstall said. It took a while for West Texas to get going, but it did, and it really took off. Now we have two big shale fields in Texas.
jhiller@express-news.net
Twitter: @Jennifer_Hiller
Bloomberg and Houston Chronicle Staff Writer Jordan Blum contributed to this report.
Li Tang, SUB / Associated Press
BEIJING This nations military, in a move analysts described as a challenge to President-elect Donald Trumps strident criticism of the country, deployed an aircraft carrier to patrol the contested South China Sea, officials said Tuesday.
The ship, which is known as the Liaoning and is Chinas first and only aircraft carrier, was spotted leading five other Chinese warships this week in patrols near the coasts of Taiwan and Japan.
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Three Express News photographers, when reflecting on their top photos of the year, wrote on their experience shooting military members.
Pictures of the year: Jerry Lara
Last summer, I worked on a story about veterans and suicide with photojournalists Kin Man Hui, Carolyn Van Houten and Ray Whitehouse. Hui and I traveled to the Rio Grande Valley to meet Iraqi war veterans Rick Rodriguez, 30, and Alex Almanza, 47.
As they spoke of their struggle with post-traumatic stress disorder and their suicide attempts, I thought of people I knew who had killed themselves, and I became aware of the misunderstandings I had about suicide.
I remembered a friend who took his life soon after graduating from high school. I thought of a relative who did the same, leaving behind a young family. I always blamed them for the devastation left behind. They took the easy way out.
After hearing Rodriguez and Almanza, I saw the strength and support needed to overcome the thoughts and urges that lead to suicide. And to this day, they still fight that war.
It was easy to blame my friend and my relative for their deaths. How wrong I was.
Pictures of the Year: Tom Reel
The Vietnam War Summit in April in Austin became an impressive display of testimonials from journalists, leaders and soldiers who related their stories from the controversial conflict. Old film clips, 1960s music and rehashed news engaged the aging and reflective crowd.
The most poignant moment arrived unannounced when a massive, intimidating guy in a sleeveless jersey approached Luci Baines Johnson to receive a recognition medal. He'd been very noticeable in the waiting line. Tall and muscular, wearing patches denoting struggles with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, resentment seemed to radiate from him.
Who knows what was going through his mind as he approached the daughter of the U.S. president who led the nation during the war that was to create his lifetime of personal misery. A security agent moved in close just in case.
But then the giant melted. A hug brought Anthony Klosky to tears and his speech was choked off with emotion. At his side was his fiancee, Stephanie Ivanjack, left behind in 1967 and now reunited.
In a brief encounter with a figurehead, Klosky had succinctly expressed how Vietnam had changed America forever.
Pictures of the Year: Billy Calzada
Every now and then, a photographer makes a picture that can only be described as a gift.
In April, I was sent to cover the funeral of Medal of Honor recipient Santiago J. Erevia at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery. Erevia did not receive the Medal of Honor until long after his heroic actions in Vietnam. He was deemed deserving only after a review of records that found many soldiers from minority groups had been passed over for decorations because of racism.
The setup for photographers covering the burial was abysmal. I usually take up a position about 30 yards from the ceremony, a respectable distance that does not intrude. But on that day, I was not allowed within about 100 yards of the event.
As the caisson carrying Erevias casket pulled up to the burial site, I proceeded to make pictures from that distance. I could see no real details of what I was shooting, and I felt dejected because I did not believe I was making pictures worthy of a man who had put his life on the line for his fellow soldiers.
However, back at the Express-News, I found that I had made this special picture of Medal of Honor recipient Ty Carter honoring Erevia.
I feel that the image was somehow given to me as a gift, a gift I willingly share. I hope that this image, which shows the deepest respect of one of Americas bravest for another, endures.
Click through the slideshow to see more of our photographers favorite photos of 2016.
Making sense (and, sometimes, nonsense) out of Current News, Issues, Politics
KABUL The young boy shivered beneath a brown blanket as Dr. Habib Rahman placed a hand on his shaved head. After a moment, Rahman, talking in a murmur to reassure him, peeled back the blanket, exposing a stick-figure torso wrapped in white gauze.
The boy, Asadullah Mustafa, had suffered severe burns when he stumbled into a cooking fire, and to describe him as fortunate makes sense only in the context of time.
If his injuries had occurred a year or two earlier, his parents, instead of sitting next to his hospital bed as he recovered, would have stood beside his casket as it disappeared into the ground.
The family owed the change of fate to Rahman, Afghanistans lone pediatric burn surgeon. He runs the pediatric burn ward at the Indira Gandhi Institute of Child Health in Kabul, drawing parents from across the country who bring him the broken bodies of their young.
A San Antonio Express-News reporter met Rahman this fall at the institute. In recent years, aided by international medical groups, he has defied steep odds to save and improve the lives of thousands of children. He performs as many as two dozen surgeries a month, backed by a staff of nine nurses, two pediatric specialists and a relentless sense of mission.
When Im leaving the ward at night, sometimes I think, Im not coming back, said Rahman, 43, who works seven days a week, dividing his time between the institute and a nearby private hospital. But I know the needs of the families. I know I must go back.
Zarmina Mustafa, the mother of 6-year-old Asadullah, feared that her son would die by the time she and her husband arrived at the institute in late summer from Mazar-i-Sharif, a seven-hour drive from Kabul. Weeks later, as the boy gained strength and his smile reappeared, she felt that Rahman had performed not surgery but a miracle.
I was afraid I would lose him, she said, stroking her sons cheek. What Dr. Rahman has done for us, we cannot repay him. Our family is whole because of him.
Three years ago, when treating children with severe burns over 35 percent of their bodies, Rahman knew their chances of survival were small owing to the wards outdated equipment. Now he saves children with burns across twice as much of their bodies.
His patients benefit as much from Rahmans surgical skills refined through training at hospitals in Switzerland and the U.S. as his prowess for soliciting equipment and supplies from Western nations.
Rahman met Dr. Clemens Schiestl, director of the pediatric burn center at University Childrens Hospital in Zurich, when he traveled there for training in 2012. Schiestl has worked to obtain equipment for the Gandhi institute, and Rahman consults him by email and Skype on his most difficult cases.
In Switzerland, we have excellent facilities, a lot of resources and highly educated, well-trained surgical teams, Schiestl said. Habib has none of that in Afghanistan. To stay there and do your best to treat the children when a war is going on is a credit to him. He is one of the most dedicated burn surgeons I know around the globe.
First burn ward
Rahman, a Kabul native, grew up and learned to speak English in Pakistan, where his family fled after the Soviet Union invaded Afghanistan in 1979. His country remains fractured by war almost four decades later, and across its tattered health care system, access to adequate pediatric treatment ranks as perhaps the deepest deficiency.
A pediatric surgeon by training, Rahman began treating child burn victims six years ago, and recognizing the overwhelming need, he decided to devote his career to them. At the time, the country lacked a public hospital with a childrens burn ward, with young and old alike sent to the same doctors.
He persuaded administrators to establish the institutes ward in 2012, and since then, the number of beds has grown from 24 to 60, enabling him to double his caseload to 800 patients a year. Over the same period, he has more than halved the number of patients who die, lowering the toll to two or three a month.
Most of the children brought to the ward are injured in household accidents, burned by a kettle of hot water or cooking fires. In Rahmans view, their plight reflects that of the entire nation.
The parents of the children have very little education, and many of the families live in poor conditions, he said. This is because of war. We have a bad economy and we dont have enough schools. Children are unsupervised, and the parents sometimes are too young to know how to raise them. This is how accidents can happen.
Rahman sat down beside the bed of a 6-month-old boy and held a water bottle to his mouth. Zainab Amarkhil, the childs mother, explained that a teapot had tumbled from a stove and scalded his legs with boiling water.
I feel very lucky that he is healing, said Amarkhil, who has three children and lives in Kabul. I was so worried. I dont know what we could have done if the doctor wasnt here.
Hope amid despair
Rahmans work has earned him a nomination for the 2017 Zora Janzekovic Prize, awarded by the European Club for Pediatric Burns to a physician who contributes to the field while surmounting extreme adversity. Despite his rising profile, he has struggled to recruit colleagues to his specialty, their initial interest dissolving after they realize that patients face an agonizing, uncertain recovery.
When the doctors see the suffering, when they hear the crying and the screaming and dont see good results right away, they dont want to be in this ward, he said. A friend told me when I was thinking about doing this, You will need to have a strong heart. He was very much right.
The consistency of care in the ward lags behind Western hospitals as Rahman confronts faulty equipment, depleted supplies, unsanitary conditions and the limits of his stamina. There are days when the father of eight children feels his spirit rupture.
In those moments, he lies down on the sofa in his office with the door closed, waiting for the despair to recede.
After 15 or 20 minutes, he opens his eyes and stands up. He walks back to the ward, returning to the pain of the children and the anxiety of the parents, returning to provide a whisper of hope.
I want to serve the families, and I want to serve my country, he said. It is my duty as a doctor.
mkuz@express-news.net
Twitter: @MartinKuz
Zubair Babakarkhail contributed to this report.
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REYNOSA, Mexico On a recent December morning, Guatemala native Celinda Aracely Rodriguez limped across an international bridge to seek asylum in the United States. But immigration officials sent her back to Mexico instead.
In Reynosa, within steps of the bridge, Rodriguez, 30, was snatched by a smuggler who is holding the woman until she can pay to cross the river, according to her mother, Rubiluz Lemus.
I dont know if they are good coyotes or bad ones, said Lemus, 50, from an immigrant shelter in Reynosa, voicing fears that the smugger might want more than just the usual money for getting someone into the United States illegally. What if they have bad intentions?
Asylum-seeking immigrants have clogged international ports along the Southwest border in recent months, leading U.S. immigration officials to turn many people back to Mexico until they can schedule an appointment to have their case processed.
Advocates cite federal immigration law, claiming that turning back asylum seekers is illegal.
When a noncitizen arrives at a U.S. port of entry or border and expresses a fear of return to his or her home country or otherwise expresses a desire to apply for asylum, it is unlawful for U.S. authorities to turn the individual back without first providing an opportunity for that individual to make his or her claim for asylum or other protection, said Jennifer Chang Newell, senior staff attorney at the ACLU Immigrants Rights Project.
Still others say the U.S. officials are flouting the nations international commitment to asylum-seekers, including the United Nations 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees, and with little regard for their safety in gang-controlled border communities in Mexico.
What protections are they taking to make sure these people are safe? said Amy Fischer, policy director at RAICES. There are serious consequences to turning away vulnerable populations, especially into areas that are extraordinarily dangerous.
But the sheer volume of more than 35,000 immigrants arriving at land ports in October and November has baffled port officials, who must still maintain the regular flow of commercial and pedestrian traffic.
These immigrants, known as inadmissibles, who dont have legal documents to enter the country but are openly presenting themselves to authorities asking for asylum, joined the swell of more than 90,000 immigrants caught illegally crossing the Southwest border since October, evoking comparisons to the spring of 2014 when Central American families overwhelmed authorities in the Rio Grande Valley.
Non-Mexican families and unaccompanied children still make up a significant part of the immigrant flow trying to get into the United States via ports of entry from Tijuana to Matamoros: 14,718 out of the 35,134 reported as inadmissible from Oct. 1 to Nov. 30 were families traveling together and kids by themselves.
In the Laredo Field Office alone, which includes 24 international bridges from Laredo to Brownsville, there was an increase of 354 percent in unaccompanied children crossing as inadmissible, growing from 289 in October 2015 and November 2015 to 1,312 in October and November this year.
And more are on the way.
U.S. Rep. Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo, said the Costa Rica ambassador told him that roughly 40,000 immigrants from Haiti, Africa, Asia and the Middle East will enter Costa Rica next year en route to the U.S.-Mexican border.
Seeking to address the influx, the Department of Homeland Security opened a temporary processing facility for up to 500 people in El Tornillo, near El Paso, and another by the Donna-Rio Bravo International Bridge equipped to house up to 1,000 people.
At the same time, each port has been forced to adjust operations to manage the flow of immigrants. The immigration agency said it processes people on a case by case basis because there is not enough room at its port facilities for them to wait safely. Those who are not considered a high risk are given a list of social services in Mexico, and an appointment to return to the port of entry for processing, according to CBP.
Once theyve been processed, then were making appointments, theyre giving them the appropriate documents so they go back to Mexico to find the people that can take care of them in Mexico, said Director Field Operations David P. Higgerson during a press event at the the Donna holding facility.
Yet advocates who work with immigrant communities in Tijuana, Nogales and Reynosa say some people are told to go back to Mexico without scheduled appointments or direction on where to go. There have also been reports of Mexican immigration officials refusing to let immigrants pass to the United States.
Mexican immigration officials could not be reached for comment.
In Reynosa, dozens of people lingering on the international bridge and others fortunate enough to find room at a migrant shelter said their asylum requests were ignored multiple times over a period of days. Some said immigration officials told them to try their luck at another international bridge.
One early morning in December, before sunrise, Alejandra Flores, 25, sat on the bridge with her two sons, ages 3 and 10, in her lap. She was fleeing violence in Honduras, but said U.S. immigration officials told her to leave, without reviewing her case. She was denied twice more the following day.
I explained to them I had nowhere to go, Flores said as tears filled her eyes. They told me to go find a church.
With nowhere to turn, the family of three slept in a Reynosa park before returning to the bridge.
Nearby a group of a dozen Eritreans, a small nation in the Horn of Africa, said they had attempted to cross the bridge several times each day for the past week. They had traveled 8,500 miles, spent $15,000 to get this far. They would keeping trying until they got through, they said.
Families from El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala at the Senda de Vida migrant shelter in Reynosa despaired over their situation.
Jorge Alberto Sanchez, 57, said on his fourth attempt to plead his case he was forced to the Mexican side of the bridge.
They shouldnt treat us this way, were people, not animals, Sanchez said.
Juan Matute, 62, wept as he held up police reports documenting the murder of his son and the disappearance of his grandson, which immigration officials refused to read, he said. His wife, two sons and two grandsons had been at the shelter for a month.
We dont have money for a coyote to take us, Matute said. We cant live in our country, theyre killing us.
An 8-year-old boy from Honduras found wandering the Texas side of the bridge on his own no one seemed to know him stood silently in the room.
They all feared being kidnapped in Tamaulipas, which has the highest rate of disappearances in Mexico, according to the countrys National Security System. Many had been in Reynosa long enough to see Rodriguez set out for the bridge, only to be taken by smugglers.
Rodriguez limps because she suffered a broken leg and hip in August when a smuggler transporting dozens of Central American families to the U.S. border flipped the van he was driving. Even as she tried to get into the United States two weeks ago, her body had not fully healed from the horrific accident that claimed the lives of six immigrants, including her 8-year-old daughter.
Mexican immigration officials facilitated humanitarian travel documents for her mother to Reynosa, where Rodriguez endured painful rehab before she was released. Despite the pain, she still wanted to go to the United States.
She came for that American dream, Lemus said. If God opens that door for me, Ill go, too.
RELATED: See statistics on the apprehensions of children and families who cross the border.
anelsen@express-news.net
Twitter: @amnelsen
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The number of immigrants deported from the U.S. fell for the second year in a row in 2016 while the number apprehended at the border rose, trends Obama administration officials on Friday attributed to policies narrowing who gets removed from the country and an increase in asylum seekers who go through the immigration court system.
The Department of Homeland Security deported 450,000 people from October 2015 to September of this year, according to numbers released this week, a decrease of 2.5 percent from the year before. That number includes immigrants who voluntarily leave the country after getting caught crossing the border.
Meanwhile, the number of immigrants apprehended by Border Patrol went up to 416,000, up 23 percent from last year, although officials cautioned thats a significant decrease from the number apprehended 15 years ago, at the height of illegal immigration to the U.S.
Of those deported, 94 percent fell under DHSs top priority for removal from the country, which includes immigrants considered threats to national security, gang members, convicted felons and those caught entering the U.S. illegally.
As has been the case through most of Obamas presidency, the yearly DHS statistics report drew criticism from both pro-immigration and restrictionist groups.
DHS officials said the number of people its deporting has fallen as the department shifted focus away from longtime residents of the U.S, a strategy that has been criticized because it ignores large numbers of those living in the country illegally.
The number of people deported by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement increased about 2 percent to 240,000, the first time those numbers had gone up since 2012. Almost 175,000 of those, however, were caught near the border and turned over to ICE for removal.
ICEs San Antonio field office, which includes wide stretches of South Texas and the border with Mexico, deported more than 72,000 immigrants in FY 2016, a slight decrease from last year.
Breaking immigration law is not a priority for removal under the Obama administration, said Eric Ruark, director of research for NumbersUSA, a group that advocates for restricting immigration. They have to have committed a serious crime, usually a crime against another person in the U.S.
In a statement Friday, DHS Secretary Jeh Johnson said the statistics show a focus on recently arrived immigrants and those whove been convicted of serious crimes and reflect the continued effort by this administration to dedicate the Department of Homeland Securitys resources to smart enforcement of our nations immigration laws, with a particular focus on public safety and border security.
Deportations have slowed as well because of the large numbers of families and unaccompanied children from Central America who cross the border and request asylum, officials said. Last year, Border Patrol agents apprehended more than 137,000 immigrants traveling as families or unaccompanied children, a record. Most of those crossed the Rio Grande in South Texas.
Many families are placed in the immigration detention centers in Dilley and Karnes City, but those facilities are the subject of litigation and at least two federal judges have made rulings limiting how long families can be detained. Once released, their asylum cases can drag on for months or years.
A DHS official speaking with reporters on the condition of anonymity during a conference call about the FY 2016 statistics said that the fact so many families and children seek out Border Patrol agents and request asylum means that fewer aliens are evading detection. However, the official said, DHS cant immediately deport asylum seekers.
Historically, most people apprehended at the border did not make asylum claims, and the great majority of them were either returned or removed almost immediately, the official said.
With most of those asylum seekers, they go through extensive processing first by DHS they may be detained for a period of time then theyre processed through the (immigration courts) as they have their asylum case adjudicated, and ICE follows them through that process as both the prosecuting entity in the case and then also monitoring whether theyre in detention or some kind of alternative to detention program. So you know all of those things impose an extended draw on DHS resources.
Jonathan Ryan, the executive director of the San Antonio-based Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services, criticized DHSs continued focus on deporting recently arrived immigrants, including Central American families who have been living in the U.S. for a year or more while their asylum cases go through the court system. amilies seeking asylum often lose because they cant afford representation, and once their case is concluded, those who came to the U.S. since 2014 are considered priorities for deportation, Ryan said.
Theyre redefining those categories to include people whose only criminal infraction is for having crossed the border, he said.
jbuch@express-news.net
Twitter: @jlbuch
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Federal prosecutors are fighting to have two Houston lawyers banned from representing the former head of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, saying the lawyers are unindicted co-conspirators in a racketeering case involving murder, drug dealing and other crimes.
In federal court papers filed recently, prosecutors ask that Kent Schaffer and law partner James Kennedy be disqualified from the case.
The filings accuse Schaffer of furthering Bandidos operations by reviewing court papers for all members charged in any criminal case, to root out who might be cooperating with the government in exchange for leniency.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Bemporad in San Antonio ruled early this month that prosecutors had succeeded in showing that there was a potential conflict of interest but that they had not shown him anything that convinced him the men should be disqualified.
Schaffer has not yet responded in court to the latest federal motion, but he has previously denied wrongdoing. He said he was never in-house counsel for the Bandidos and never reviewed paperwork to spot informants.
I am incredibly flattered at their latest filing; obviously, this prosecutor is afraid to try the case against me, Schaffer said Thursday. They do just want me off the case.
Schaffer said the court has already rejected the prosecutions claim.
This is a rehash that the court already denied, but for some reason this prosecutor has a sense of desperation, and so they are going back for a second bite at the apple, he said.
An indictment naming former organization President Jeff Pike and others contends that the Bandidos is a criminal enterprise engaged in murder, attempted murder, robbery, extortion and drug trafficking, among other crimes. The outlaw motorcycle gang began in the Houston area in the 1960s.
Bemporad left the door open for prosecutors to show him more evidence against Schaffer, which appears to be included in a document recently filed in court. The judge has since set a Jan. 6 hearing on the matter.
In the document, prosecutors contend that they have recordings of conversations in which Bandidos discuss Schaffers alleged work for the organization, including reviewing all legal paperwork to look for snitches.
Prosecutors said multiple Bandidos will testify at trial that members were required to turn in legal paperwork when they were arrested to higher-ranking members so it could be reviewed for signs of cooperation.
Several members will testify that Mr. Schaffer was one of the attorneys that paperwork was taken to, according to the documents. Two witnesses will testify that the Bandidos (organization) maintained a retainer with Mr. Schaffer for future work in defending its leadership from criminal charges.
Prosecutors further contend that Schaffer is so intertwined in Bandidos business that he cant be permitted to represent Pike, the ex-Bandidos leader, at trial. Schaffer has represented at least two Bandidos who are expected to be called to the witness stand to testify against Pike.
That would put Schaffer in the position of perhaps not only trying to defend his own reputation while representing Pike but questioning people whom he had previously represented. As Kennedy is at the same firm, he would face a similar conflict, prosecutors contend.
Pike, of Conroe, stepped down as leader of the Bandidos this year after he and other top members of the organization were charged in the indictment unsealed in San Antonio.
Philip Hilder, a Houston lawyer who is also a former federal prosecutor, said the judge in the case will have to do a deep dive to determine exactly what is going on, including the motivations of prosecutors and whether Schaffer does indeed have a conflict of interest. He said it could be a move to get the skilled Schaffer off the case.
You are witnessing the chess moves that are expected in a high-profile case like this, Hilder said. Schaffer has a long history of representing the organizations members and has a deep understanding of the dynamics of Bandidos, and it is quite foreseeable the government is attempting to bump him from the case because he has been effective in the past.
Pike is the only Bandidos member released on bail pending trial. John Portillo, who served as Pikes vice president, remains in custody. Two other members, Justin Forster and Frederick Cortez, have been released on bail since entering into plea agreements with the government.
COMFORT New management hopes to revive a beloved local tradition in 2017: the selection each summer of Miss Comfort and her court. But it hasnt been easy.
The tradition stumbled during a milestone celebration in July. The Independence Day merriment surrounding the 50th anniversary reunion of dozens of former members of the small towns royalty was tempered by the realization that an ongoing decline in youthful interest had brought the pageant to a crisis point.
It went great, seeing all of the courts from way back when, recalled Kathy Bohn, who reigned as a duchess in 1967, when she was known as Kathy Kirchoff.
But the former queens, princesses, duchesses and winners of a junior division added decades ago were disappointed, she said, that a new court was not chosen to represent Comfort at parades and festivals in other communities during the upcoming year.
That was what I heard: How in the world can we not have a pageant in the 50th year? said Bohn, a local florist.
The Comfort Chamber of Commerce, the events longtime sponsor, had said recent low turnout by local girls was prompting a rethinking of the calendar, to shift the event to a cooler time of year when school is in session and more kids are around.
But that didnt occur. Instead, a new group took control of the pageant just days after the reunion by filing an assumed name certificate for Miss Comfort Court at the Kendall County Courthouse. It has since then formed a nonprofit to run it.
Nobody wanted it moved to November. The community was very upset, said Reno D. Uballe, director of the new Miss Comfort Court Organization.
He and Nikki Rust, the groups assistant director, announced in a July 8 Facebook post that the pageant would resume next July and that the Miss Comfort Court from 2015-16 would continue serving until new royalty is selected.
The chamber no longer is responsible for any duties regarding the pageant, they said, meaning money was needed for a new float, supplies and to keep awarding college-bound winners with scholarships.
A Dec. 18 raffle of goods and services donated by local merchants generated $1,520 far less than the $4,000 target but the group remains optimistic.
We feel really good about resuming the pageant based on the number of people who are going to try out and the excitement about continuing the tradition, Uballe said.
Among those donating goods for the raffle was Bohnert Lumber, where Travis Bohnert, a past chamber board member, called community and parental support critical to the pageants future success.
Well always contribute to it, said Bohnert, 37, who said hed support giving the chamber float to the new group if he were still on the board.
Chamber President Kurt Solis said the organization reconsidered its role in the pageant for several reasons, including difficulty finding someone willing to devote adequate time to overseeing it and major concerns about potential liability if a girl were injured while appearing as Comforts representative.
I had no interest in subjecting the chamber board to that kind of risk, and suddenly none of the children wanted to participate any more, and then who on the board wanted to manage it? Solis said, adding, Remember, all these people are volunteers.
The chamber published a notice in the local paper in late July wishing the new group luck and severing its affiliation with the event, stating, This assumption of responsibilities by the new organization also includes any and all current and future liabilities, financial or otherwise.
Transition talks with Uballe and Rusk were initially civil, but later, it actually got kind of contentious, Solis said.
Uballe, a 2013 Comfort High School graduate now living in San Antonio, traced the steady decline in pageant participation to chamber disregard for its traditional role in the event. The chamber hadnt wanted to do it in years, he said.
As a past pageant organizer with the chamber, Bohn said she was sorry that the group had ended its role in the event.
There hasnt been a lot of girls participating, so they just let it die, said Bohn, 67. Im a traditionalist, so I would rather see it held at July 4 like its always been,
Anne Wallendorf, like many locals, missed the Facebook and newspaper announcements about the changes but is hopeful about a July restart.
In the old days, local girls looked forward to being Miss Comfort. That was status, said Wallendorf, 65. I was sorry it didnt happen last July because that was something that had gone on for years.
Rusts experience as a parent of girls elected to the Miss Comfort Court in 2015 convinced her of the need for new blood to run it.
We have a lot of girls who are very interested, she said.
Rust said she didnt think that the chamber had intended to follow through on its November pageant idea. Shirley Solis, the chambers executive director and Kurt Solis spouse, said the only reason the chamber didnt proceed was because the new group emerged and the chamber got out of its way.
We wish them well and we hope for the success of it, she said of the new group, which has yet to apply to the chamber to be included in upcoming July Fourth activities.
The chamber is launching a new scholarship program for both boys and girls, Shirley Solis noted.
Without a float, the remaining members of the Miss Comfort Court rode in a pickup bed during the Christmas in Comfort parade and at out-of-town events held since July.
Id like to have a float, but its OK for now. Our organization is trying to get a float, said Miss Comfort Chelsea Rust, 16. Most other courts around the area know that were the same girls as last year, that were volunteering.
Despite the turmoil associated with the transition, Gracie Rust, 11, lived up to her title of Little Miss Congeniality when asked about it.
Its actually pretty fun. Its still exciting, she said.
zeke@express-news.net
Roberto Bobby Barrera, 68, was seriously burned after a 500-pound land mine exploded under his vehicle in Vietnam.
Barrera, who has worn a right-arm prosthesis provided by the Veterans Affairs Departments health system for the past 15 years, describes himself as an impatient man. Recently, when the prosthesis was in need of a new control cable, he thought it would be faster to go to an outside provider.
The provider, he said, wouldnt see him unless he bought a whole new prosthesis.
They were more concerned with making money, Barrera said. I went back to the VA.
He said the VA fixed the control cable and he waited only 30 minutes. The VAs expertise in prosthetics is one reason Barrera said privatizing the VA would be a terrible mistake.
Under a new plan being considered by President-elect Donald Trump, veterans could seek health care from private doctors outside the VA system, an official on his transition team said Wednesday.
On Thursday, local reaction to the proposal was mixed. Though some celebrate that his plan would significantly increase the number of providers available to veterans, others worry the quality of care would be diluted or that it would dismantle the VA system altogether.
During his campaign, Trump proposed a plan to supplement traditional VA care by paying for veterans to go to any doctor who accepted Medicare.
Darryl Brown, a member of American Post 38 in Floresville, said he wishes veterans had more flexibility to get treatment with local doctors. Brown, 66, said hes tired of driving from Floresville through traffic to VA health facilities in San Antonio.
If you feel you want to go to your local provider, the veteran should be able to make that choice and not have to go through a bunch of red tape, Brown said. I'm kind of just waiting for (Trump) to get in office and do what he needs to do.
Trump was careful throughout his campaign to differentiate his plan from total privatization. In May, Trump adviser Sam Clovis told the Wall Street Journal that Trump didnt want to take away the veterans hospitals and the things that are working out.
But some veterans groups see Trumps plan, and those like it, as a slippery slope toward complete privatization.
The plan would shut down VA medical centers over time, sending veterans out into their local communities to receive all of their medical treatment, the American Legion posted on its website in April.
Joe Davis, national spokesman for Veterans of Foreign Wars, said his organization is against privatizing the VA, but believes contracted care can complement the system.
Whats important is the understanding that the VA can be fixed, that its problems are fewer than its detractors, and that private care can complement but never replace the continuity and continuum of care that the VA currently provides our nations veterans, Davis said.
Rhett Rosenquest Smith, 66, like many veterans of his generation, said he has a great distrust of the VA system, calling it hopelessly antiquated.
Smith, who served four years in the Navy, ran and lost this year on the Libertarian platform for the 35th Congressional District. He said he supports more private options for veterans.
I hate to say it, government-only care is going to severely limit what you can do, Smith said. If its possible you could go to private care, that would be great.
Trumps plan is similar to the temporary Veterans Choice Program, which was launched by the VA in November 2014. The Choice Program allows veterans to see participating doctors outside the VA system if theyve waited more than 30 days for care or live more than 40 miles from a VA facility.
Barrera, who served as national commander of the Disabled American Veterans organization, said he uses the Choice program to see a local doctor in Del Rio when minor issues arise.
But he also believes the program has its faults. It was designed help veterans in rural communities, but in Del Rio, a lack of providers means Barrera often ends up driving to San Antonio for care anyway.
The Choice program the intentions were good, but I dont think it is an adequate program, Barrera said. You have to find a doctor that is willing to take the pay, and even if you do find a doctor that accepts the pay, then in some instances you have waiting times.
Even if a veteran finds care in their region, he or she might have to wait weeks for authorization, according to a report released in December by the Government Accountability Office.
A spokesman for the U.S. House Committee on Veterans Affairs said the committee would have to see the details of (Trumps) plan before commenting, but that it sounds similar to proposals made by the VA Commission on Care in July.
The commissions final report encouraged the VA to establish high-performing, integrated health networks that include both VA and community-based providers who meet stringent VA credentialing requirements.
Providers would have to meet specific education, training and experience standards in order to qualify for participation, according to the report.
Trump hasnt said what standards providers would have to meet to qualify, nor has he specified eligibility requirements beyond VA enrollment.
On Wednesday, Trump met with the president of the Mayo Clinic, and chief executives of Johns Hopkins Medicine, Partners HealthCare and the Cleveland Clinic.
Trumps transition official told The New York Times that the president-elect was considering asking the health leaders to participate in a VA advisory panel.
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Whatever your thoughts about Brexit and the presidential election, or the deaths of David Bowie and Prince, its hard to disagree that 2016 was a good year for downtown San Antonio. Years of effort by city officials to encourage development in the district seemed to finally pay off.
Weston Urban, a major local developer, revealed plans in 2016 to build a gleaming 23-story new headquarters for Frost Bank, giving downtown its first new office tower since 1989. Another big-name developer, GrayStreet Partners, renovated many of its downtown buildings into tech-friendly offices, and in December it bought the vacant Depression-era Light building with plans to turn it into state-of-the-art office space.
Thats only the beginning of the news downtown in 2016. An expansion of the Convention Center opened, and the ambitious $175 million transformation of San Pedro Creek broke ground. Developers revealed plans for numerous new skyscrapers full of hotel rooms and offices. CPS Energy bought two towers on the River Walk for its new headquarters, and the renovation of the historic Joskes building at Shops at Rivercenter was completed. A $165 million mixed-use development was announced for Hemisfair.
Near-downtown neighborhoods didnt do so badly, either. Developers released their vision for the $300 million rehabilitation of the vacant Lone Star Brewery, which is expected to transform Southtown. Another mixed-use development is planned for Denver Heights, a struggling neighborhood on the near East Side. Silver Ventures announced plans for a 10-story office tower and a new apartment building at the Pearl.
In some cases, the speedy growth near downtown and in parts of the North Side caused conflicts between developers and residents who are fed up with traffic and overcrowding. There were such faceoffs last year in Mahncke Park, Monte Vista, Ingram Hills and Villa Coronado.
San Antonios housing market boomed in 2016, causing inventory to tighten and sales prices to rise to record levels. As of November, local home sales were almost certain to beat 2015s record sales number.
Growth continued to surge on the far West Side and the far North Side, especially around the intersection of Interstate 10 and Loop 1604. A pair of developers revealed plans for a 114-acre, $320 million master-planned community along I-10 just south of UTSA. Local developer Bitterblue submitted plans to the city to build a 490-acre residential community in a former quarry near The Rim. Growth sped up even in the South Side, as aspiring homeowners sought cheaper homes and more open space.
But 2016 wasnt without its disappointments for those who are cheering on the growth in the center city. Some big projects fell through, including a boutique hotel on Houston Street, a 21-story hotel on the River Walk and a planned renovation of the vacant and historic Scobey complex on the near West Side into a mixed-use development
rwebner@express-news.net
KCR BJP : - ;
Its almost the new year, which means, as of Jan. 1, the Veterinary Feed Directive (VFD), will take full effect. Producers have been hearing about the change and receiving updates along the way, but for those producers who still havent fully prepared for the change, here are some important things to note.
What is it?
The VFD was initiated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Center for Veterinary Medicine to reduce antimicrobial resistance by addressing the use of medically important antibiotics given to production animals in feed and eliminate the use of these drugs for performance enhancement. A veterinary prescription will also be required for water-soluble antibiotics.
The VFD order is a basically a prescription issued by a veterinarian to allow a producer to use a medically important feed in a manner instructed by the veterinarian.
Recent updates
Throughout the year, concerns from livestock producers and veterinarians have resulted in some changes and modifications to the ruling. According to Justin Keiffer, clinical veterinarian for Ohio States Department of Animal Sciences, one of the most recent updates to the VFD was a clarification on minor species use of VFD drugs for small livestock such as sheep and goats.
Sheep and goat producers were in a quandary because there werent many approved drugs for those animals, said Keiffer. The FDA has since made some clarifications to the ruling allowing sheep and goat producers to use VFD feeds in an extra label manner.
Another clarification was made in the use of certain VFD feeds for beef cattle and dairy beef cattle. Beef producers using tetracycline crumbles cannot use that feed to feed dairy heifers because they are a lactating animal, explained Keiffer. Dairy steers intended for the feedlot, however, can be fed these VFD feeds.
Analyze feed inventory
VFD affected drugs and examples of each:
Avilamycin: Kavault
Chlortetracycline (CTC): Aureomycin, CLTC, CTC, Chloratet, Chlorachel, ChlorMax, Chlortetracycline, Deracin, Inchlor, Pennchlor, Pfichlor
Chlortetracycline/Sulfamethazine: Aureo S, Aureomix S, Pennchlor S
Chlortetracycline/Sulfamethazine/Penicillin: Aureomix 500, Chlorachel/Pficlor SP, Pennchlor SP, ChlorMax SP
Florfenicol: Aquaflor, Nuflor
Hygromycin B: Hygromix
Lincomycin: Lincomix
Oxytetracycline (OTC): TM, OXTC, Oxytetracycline, Pennox, Terramycin
Oxytetracycline/Neomycin: Neo-Oxy, Neo-Terramycin
Penicillin: Penicillin, Penicillin G Procaine
Sulfadimethoxine/Ormetoprim: Rofenaid, Romet
Tilmicosin: Pulmotil, Tilmovet
Tylosin: Tylan, Tylosin, Tylovet
Tylosin/Sulfamethazine: Tylan Sulfa G, Tylan Plus Sulfa G, Tylosin Plus Sulfamethazine
Tylvalosin: Aivlosin
Virginiamycin: Stafec, Virginiamycin, V-Max
Drugs not affected:
Injectable medications: No injectable products affected
Ionophores: Monensin (Rumensin)
Anthelmetics: Ivermectin, Fenbendazole (Safeguard)
Beta agonists: Ractopamine (Paylean)
Coccidiostats: Decoquinate (Deccox)
Source: Penn State Extension
Keiffer said now is a good time to asses what VFD drugs have been used in your operation and if they are really necessary. Take inventory of what feed products are currently being used and note any VFD drugs they include. If you are feeding VFD drugs to your animals, ask yourself, why am I feeding them this and are they really working, said Keiffer.
Although feed companies had to update labels to reflect the feed contains a VFD drug, they were not required to include efficacy data, explained Keiffer. That means producers dont really know the effectiveness of that drug unless they have been keeping adequate records. Thats a conversation producers should have with their vet, said Keiffer.
Producers should also note any VFD feeds already being used on their farm will still require a VFD to use after Jan. 1. If producers stockpiled a bunch of this stuff this fall, even if it was purchased before Jan. 1, they still have to obtain a VFD to use it, said Keiffer.
Know your vet
If producers havent already, they really should be thinking about getting a vet out on their farm to get to know their operation, said Keiffer. A veterinarian client patient relationship, or VCPR, is going to be necessary in order to obtain a VFD and continue to use those medicated feeds for the animals health and well-being.
In a VCPR, the veterinarian assumes the responsibility for making clinical judgment regarding the health of the animal (patient), and the animal owner (client) has agreed to follow the veterinarians instructions. The veterinarian must have enough knowledge of the operation and the livestock in order to make a diagnosis and write a VFD and the veterinarian must be readily available for any follow-up treatment or evaluations.
The vet will provide oversight in the treatment process and maintain records of the animal(s) for which any VFDs were issued.
Keep good records
The veterinarian, producers and the feed mill all have to keep records of any issued VFDs for a minimum of two years. Its also important to note VFDs have an expiration date, so just because you get one, that doesnt mean you can give VFD feed to your animals indefinitely.
A duration of use, indicated by the veterinarian, is the actual number of days the producers is allowed to feed the animal that drug. According to an FDA example, a VFD-approved drug for swine, tilmicosin, has a duration of 21 days and an expiration of 90 days. This means the farmer has 90 days to obtain the VFD feed and complete the 21-day course of therapy.
4-H, FFA projects
Small- and medium-scale producers and youth livestock projects like 4-H or FFA are most likely to feel the new directive change the most because those small producers often seek out veterinary help only when there is a medical problem. They are not going to be exempt, said Keiffer. He encourages youth livestock showers to develop those relationships with a local vet now.
Its a good contact for them to have, he said, adding its also a good way to determine if those VFD drugs are really necessary. A lot of livestock health issues that require these VFD drugs can be attributed to their environment, he explained.
Enforcement
As far as the enforcement of this ruling goes, Keiffer says not to panic when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31. The FDA is not going to be heavy-handed in enforcing these rules for the first part of the year, and the FDA has said as much, said Keiffer. Its going to be a transition as everyone works through to figure this all out, he said.
Helpful links
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Donald Trump teased the crowd with his expected presidential candidacy at a Sioux City event where he stumped for Chuck Grassley and Kim Reynolds.
The levy board AHDB has revealed proposals to invest more in boosting exports in the wake of the Brexit vote.
AHDB has launched a series of strategy documents for 2017 to 2020 covering the various farming sectors.
The documents have gone out for consultation, and one proposal is to switch more funding into developing export markets.
AHDB chief strategy officer Tom Hind told FarmingUK that withdrawal from the European Union was likely provide British agriculture with new opportunities for exporting to other parts of the world.
However, at the same time, farmers would be likely to face increased competition in the domestic market from foreign imports.
One eye on the new post-Brexit world
In its strategy for beef and lamb, AHDB referred specifically to a post Brexit approach.
"With one eye on the new post-Brexit world, the draft strategy proposes increasing the weighting of levy funds to export and market access work in 2019 2020."
The report said: "Post-Brexit, AHDB must continue to protect the sectors strategic interests in existing and potential overseas markets. The EU lamb market in particular is critical due to its key role in providing balance to the UK domestic market. We will work in co-operation with the industry and partners to promote exports in new and emerging markets and seek access to new markets and for new exporting companies."
It said that a key focus would be on the Chinese market. Tom Hind said that the UK had already been successful in generating export sales of pork in China.
Chinese pork exports had been increasing year on year and AHDB had played an important role in this, alongside the British pig industry.
Not just limited to pork
But Mr Hind said that the opportunities for exports were not limited just to pork.
He said that AHDB had been working on a road map for exporting beef to China. There were also opportunities for processed and manufactured products.
"And the opportunities for dairy exports are very big in China," he said.
It is not yet known what the relationship between the UK and the EU will be following the country's exit from the European Union, but Tom Hind said that AHDB had drawn up its strategy based on a number of assumptions.
"One of those is that we will be outside the customs union and so we will be free to negotiate trade agreements with other parts of the world," he said.
This assumption was based both on what the Government had been saying and on its actions since the referendum was held in June, said Mr Hind.
'Better understanding' of trade
One of those actions was the creation of a new Department for International Trade headed by Liam Fox. The International Trade Secretary has said he would have a series of trade deals ready with other parts of the world once the UK leaves the EU.
Mr Hind said there would be no need for such a department if the country intended to remain within the customs union with external tariffs set centrally, although he stressed that this did not necessarily mean the UK leaving the EU single market.
Norway was a member of the single market as a member of the EEA but was able to negotiate other trade deals independently because it was not a member of the customs union, he said.
There has been speculation that the UK could seek to retain EEA membership.
Tom Hind said that part of the increased funding would go on analysis to better understand the implications of various trade agreements.
AHDB had already produced a series of studies on the implications of Brexit and more analysis would be needed to further understand what future plans may mean. But he said extra funds would also be switched to the direct work involved in increasing exports and opening new markets.
"It is important to find new markets, anyway," he said, "we already invest in exports but we are likely to invest a bit more."
Dairy was one sector in which export initiatives could make a difference, the sector had not traditionally been involved in exporting but there were opportunities to promote overseas sales.
'Creating a worldclass farming industry'
AHDB's 2017-2020 strategy sets out a vision of "Creating a worldclass food and farming industry inspired by and competing with the best."
CEO Jane King said that AHDB was uniquely placed to deliver a blend of research, knowledge exchange, skills development, market development and economic analysis across all its six levy-paying sectors.
Together, AHDBs sectors represented a significant proportion of UK total agriculture and horticulture output, she said.
Our new vision is of a world class food and farming industry inspired by and competing with the best. We have realigned all our activities with this in mind, she said.
To become world class, farmers and growers need to become more productive not just in terms of the crops grown and livestock reared, but in the way inputs such as fuel, water and labour are used.
There is a need to knit together the industrys fragmented knowledge exchange landscape to deliver innovation and best practice. AHDB can be the lynchpin for this, positioning ourselves at the heart of all the good work going on and becoming the go-to KE (knowledge exchange) organisation. We are exploring how we can work better with agronomists, vets, universities and commercial companies to improve the knowledge exchange pipeline.
We will also be looking to create a new farm excellence platform over the next three years, expanding our current network of monitor farms, focus farms and strategic potato farms across the country. This will put farmers and growers at the heart of innovation delivery on-farm and delivery of the right business skills.
The four strategic priorities in AHDB's plan are: Inspiring British farming and growing to be more competitive and resilient; Accelerating innovation and productivity growth through coordinated R&D and KE; Helping the industry understand and deliver what consumers will trust and buy and delivering thought leadership and horizon scanning.
The National Farmers Union (NFU) has releases its New Year message, saying 2016 was a 'tumultuous' year for the farming industry, and that 2017 'must provide greater certainty'.
NFU President Meurig Raymond said the UK has seen 'continued extremes' in market returns for many farming sectors, leaving family businesses 'staring over a precipice' one moment to be replaced by recovering prices the next.
He said: Alongside the economic realities the historic EU Referendum looks likely to be a game changer for many as over 40 years of European policy is replaced by farm policy controlled at a UK level
'2017 must provide greater certainty'
Mr Raymond said 2016 had been a year of 'growing uncertainty'.
For the sake of farming, 2017 must provide greater certainty and confidence and Ill be looking to the Government, as farmers look to the NFU, to provide this.
I am proud of how the NFU and our members have responded to the Referendum result. Members message during our consultation has been clear make the case for farming to Government; ensure we have a policy that allows farms to be profitable, competitive, and progressive; and dont regret what might be lost - seize the opportunity. NFU officeholders and staff have done just this.
It would have been impossible for the Prime Minister, Defra and Governments Brexit teams to ignore the largest-ever coalition of UK food producers led by the NFU and other UK farming unions. Together, we called for tariff-free access to the single market and continued access to a competent and reliable workforce.
Farming must flourish
Mr Raymond said it is 'paramount' for British food and farming to flourish, post-Brexit.
He said: Our letter was signed by 75 food organisations and food companies which together employ nearly a million people with a turnover of 92billion. Since then weve seen the CBI call that the Government achieves a Brexit that works for the whole economy using farming and finance as examples.
Despite the uncertainty for farms I am pleased to say that public support for British farming remains as strong as ever. We must continue to give people strong reasons to back British food and farming now and in the future.
Mr Raymond concluded: There is no doubt in my mind that 2017 will be an historic, unique opportunity to present a new deal for farming with Britain. We expect 2017 to be busy. Well set out our expectations for a post-Brexit domestic farm policy in the new year as part of our response to the anticipated Defra Green Paper, which will re-visit its unpublished 25-year plan and take Brexit into account.
Warrenton, VA (20186)
Today
Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy in the afternoon. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. High 72F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph..
Tonight
Partly cloudy during the evening followed by cloudy skies overnight. Low 56F. Winds light and variable.
Manassas, VA (20110)
Today
Clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds light and variable..
Tonight
Clear this evening then becoming cloudy after midnight. Expect mist and reduced visibilities at times. Low 46F. Winds light and variable.
Where to eat and drink in the Fayetteville area this weekend
A former senior vice president at General Cable Corporate settled SEC allegations Thursday that he caused FCPA violations and knowingly circumvented internal accounting controls by approving excessive commission payments to a third-party agent in Angola.
Karl Zimmer didnt admit or deny the SEC findings. He agreed to pay a $20,000 penalty.
General Cable agreed Thursday to pay the DOJ and SEC $75.75 million to resolve FCPA violations in Angola, Bangladesh, China, Egypt, Indonesia, and Thailand.
The SEC said Zimmer approved commission payments to the Angola agent totalling just over $342,000. The payments were nearly double General Cables prescribed limits on third-party commissions.
The agent didnt perform any documented services for some of the payments, the SEC said.
When Zimmer approved the payments, the SEC said, General Cable had already launched an investigation of potentially improper payments to the agent. The company had prohibited the payment of past due commissions to the agent while the investigation was pending and without further approval.
In an internal administrative order (pdf), the SEC said the commission payments Zimmer approved violated General Cables Code of Ethics, company policies against excessive payments to third-parties, and executive managements instructions.
The SEC order said,
By approving these commissions, Zimmer caused GCCs violations of the books and records and internal accounting controls provisions of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977 (FCPA), and knowingly circumvented a number of GCCs internal accounting controls.
Zimmer, 40, lives in Douglas, Georgia. His employment with General Cable ended in January 2015.
___
Richard L. Cassin is the publisher and editor of the FCPA Blog.
Prince Harry has been praised for his statement condemning sexism after his relationship with Meghan Markle went public.
Prince Harry
It was "a really important moment" for society when the 32-year-old royal addressed the offensive gender inequality in reports about his new girlfriend when news broke of their relationship in November, says the found of the Everyday Sexism Project, Laura Bates.
She told the BBC: "We saw an unwarranted focus on her clothes, on her make-up, on her hairstyle" and added that "pointing out the inequality being faced by somebody in a position that he would never be in" was "a major positive."
Shortly after their relationship was revealed, the flame-haired royal released a statement claiming his lover had been on the receiving end of a "wave of abuse and harassment " including "outright sexism and racism."
The statement, released on his behalf by Kensington Palace, said: "Prince Harry is worried about Ms Markle's safety and is deeply disappointed that he has not been able to protect her. It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm."
Meghan, 35, was also on the receiving end of racial abuse after she went public with Prince Harry and had previously penned a gut wrenching letter about the comments she endured on social media over her role as Rachel Zane in US legal drama 'Suits'.
In the post published via Elle magazine, Meghan said: "I remember the tweets when that first episode of the Zane family aired, they ran the gamut from: 'Why would they make her dad black? She's not black' to 'Ew, she's black? I used to think she was hot.' The latter was blocked and reported.
"The reaction was unexpected, but speaks of the undercurrent of racism that is so prevalent, especially within America."
Two fake BBC accounts tweeted Queen Elizabeth II "is dead at the age of 90" in a hoax on Thursday (29.12.16) night.
Queen Elizabeth
It was claimed the British monarch had passed away in "unknown" circumstances by the accounts with the handles @BBCNewsUKI and @BBCNewsUKk and the news quickly spread across the social networking site, with the French ambassador to the U.S., Gerard Araud, retweeting the message before realizing it was a cruel prank.
The hoax tweet read: "BREAKING: Buckingham Palace announces the death of Queen Elizabeth II at the age of 90. Circumstances are unknown. More to follow.(sic)"
The fake BBC accounts have now been suspended and Buckingham Palace has refused to comment.
It's not the first time the Queen has been the victim of a morbid hoax.
BBC reporter Ahmen Khawaja shocking posted on Twitter last year: "Elizabrth (sic) has died: @BBCWorld."
She later admitted that she hadn't realised a royal obituary rehearsal she had witnessed at work wasn't was real.
Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth was too ill to attend the traditional Christmas morning service at the church on her Sandringham estate in Norfolk as she was recovering from a "heavy cold," and it was the first time in 30 years that the monarh had been absent.
However, a palace spokesperson told Us Weekly she would "participate in the royal family Christmas celebrations during the day."
Editors note: Over the next several days we will look back on the stories which impacted our readers and filled the front pages of the Daily Journal in 2016. This is a multi-part series.
January
Regarding the subject of dangerous buildings in the city, Bismarck Mayor Seth Radford told the board of aldermen that the process of removing them was underway and two of the three letters had been received by the owners. He reported that the two owners had made contact with the city and hearings would be set up later if it became necessary.
The citys police department received a check in the amount of $8,605.06 through a 2015 Local Law Enforcement Block Grant for the purchase of mobile data terminals. Police Chief Kyle Colyott said the new equipment includes three Panasonic Toughbook laptops and mounts for the citys patrol cars.
Chief Colyott reported that the transmission has gone out on one of the city's patrol cars and he had checked into the cost of getting it fixed. He explained that the cost of repair would depend on whether or not the transmission could be rebuilt or a used one located that could be installed in the vehicle. At that point, the city only had two working patrol cars. Mayor Radford said he intended to check with the city of Desloge to see if Bismarck might be able to purchase one of their police cars they planned to replace.
February
Jack Mentink of Integrity Engineering, Inc. of Rolla presented an engineering report to the board of aldermen regarding suggested water system improvements for the city.
His recommendations included water distribution improvements, including extensive line upgrades to provide much larger flow rates throughout the community, along with additional valves installed to provide proper flow control; adding a SCADA monitoring and control system for both water wells, a central control unit and an IP-based monitoring system, along with the replacement of well flow meters and painting of the well house piping; and the full sand blasting and recoating of the citys elevated steel storage tank.
The estimated cost of the project was $1,880,532. He told the board that the city would be eligible for a DNR loan to cover the cost of 50 percent or more of the project, with the balance covered by the sale of revenue bonds and an increase in city water rates. Following the presentation, the board unanimously approved the city's submission of an application for a DNR loan.
March
Former city councilman J.T. Shy was appointed to fill a vacancy on the board of aldermen and was sworn in as Ward II alderman by City Clerk Garner Kitchen at the top of the board's monthly meeting. Shy, who had resigned his position as Ward I alderman at the boards December meeting after moving into a new residence in Ward II, fills a vacancy left by Ward II Alderman Charles Marcee who resigned in a special meeting held Feb. 25.
The Feb. 29 resignation of Court Clerk Cecelia Ce Ce Amsden was announced by Mayor Radford.
April
In the April 5 municipal election, Bismarck voters overwhelmingly approved continuation of an existing sales tax on the purchase of out-of-state motor vehicles, trailers, boats and outboard motors, passing the measure with a vote of 108 to 66.
At the April 15 board of aldermen meeting, municipal election results were certified and the winning candidates, all incumbents who ran in uncontested races, were sworn into office by City Clerk Garner Kitchens. They included Mayor Radford, Collector Toba Welch, Ward I Alderman Ryan Wallis and Ward II Alderman J.T. Shy.
Mayor Radford announced that the chamber of commerce was combining with the city and VFW Post 6947 to plan a "grand" Fourth of July event with festivities starting on July 3 with a gospel singing and youth rally sponsored by local churches. According to Radford, the central intent of the 2016 "Freedom Fest" would be to give special tribute to veterans of the Vietnam War. Rather than having just one parade grand marshal, all Vietnam veterans, along with all of the auxiliaries, were to hold that honor.
May
Facing a 16.5 percent increase in employee health insurance this year, Mayor Radford informed the board of aldermen that the city would not be able to absorb the $12,000 to $13,000 increase in coverage costs and suggested two alternatives to alleviate the situation.
Id like to take it to the employees that either we not give them their 3 percent raise next year and keep the really good health insurance weve got or they get the raise and well have to go down one tier on the plan to absorb the cost," Radford said.
Buddy Poppy Proclamation Day was announced by the mayor and VFW Post 6947 was given permission to collect donations May 27-28 at the four-way stop.
June
The board of aldermen heard a presentation regarding the creation of a town flag given by city resident Jake Jarvis. The 2013 Bismarck High School graduate said a town flag would give the city a sense of identity. After discussion between Jarvis and the board, it was decided he would bring his finished designs to a future meeting for the aldermen to look over.
A majority of the board approved a fireworks permit to allow shooting or discharge of fireworks on personal property only between the hours of 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. starting June 29 through July 5, except on July 4 when fireworks could be discharged until 11 p.m. Voting against the permit was Alderman Carol Baker.
July
Despite rain, Bismarck's Freedom Fest Parade went off without a hitch as the streets filled with spectators who braved the damp weather to be a part of the popular annual event. This year the Bismarck Chamber of Commerce selected local Vietnam veterans to serve as the parade's grand marshals in recognition of the controversial war's 50th anniversary. Several veterans groups marched in the parade while others rode on the back of trailers as spectators applauded as they went past.
Following the parade, the veterans, along with family members and the general public, gathered at the Bismarck School ball field for a special ceremony held to honor the Vietnam survivors, as well as those who died there in battle, went missing in action, spent time as prisoners of war or have since passed away.
After a discussion of city residents taking advantage of a loophole in the city ordinance covering weeds, high grass and other vegetation, in Mayor Radford's absence, Alderman Baker the city's mayor pro tem told the board she thought it was time for a new nuisance ordinance to remove what she sees as a big loophole for Bismarck citizens who don't keep up with their yard work.
She suggested that errant yard-keepers be given a warning that they have seven days in which to mow their grass or receive a ticket. In the case of a second offense, a ticket will be issued with no prior warning given.
The board voted unanimously to turn the matter over to City Attorney Dan Fall to come up with a new ordinance and present it to the board for a vote at a future meeting.
August
Mayor Radford announced that he and Chief Colyott planned to attend the Sept. 14 meeting of the St. Francois County 911 Board to discuss the poor quality of radio communications experienced between Bismarck police officers and the county's 911 Communications Center in Park Hills. During a discussion about the current state of 911 radio communications at the 911 Board's Aug. 10 meeting, Big River Fire Chief David Pratte said that something needed to be done to find a solution to the problem before an officer was seriously injured or killed.
Bismarck Chamber of Commerce President Matt Jarvis asked the board of aldermen if city workers could put up veterans banners around town purchased by individuals in recognition of family members, friends and others who have served in the U.S. military. The board approved the idea as long as the banners were uniform in size and appearance.
Mayor Radford announced that the long sought after project to put in a short section of sidewalk along Bismarck's South Cedar Street/Route N is progressing well and should be finished sometime in mid-2017.
"The [Missouri Department of Transportation] is paving South Cedar right now," he said. "It's the first step of the project to rehabilitate the road and then go from there. Next we're going to be working on the sidewalks on South Cedar. Approximately a year ago, we got MoDOT's approval that they would be on track for the 2017-18 installation of the sidewalk down to the apartment complex."
September
Local pilot, James "Ted" Villmer of Belleview, told the board of aldermen he wanted to revive the Bismarck Memorial Airport and presented the aldermen a revitalization plan at their monthly meeting. According to Villmer, the objective would be to revitalize the airport and promote local tourism. The plan also included a lease proposal for the board to consider. Mayor Radford thanked Villmer for presenting his plan to the board and assured him that after they had a chance to look over the proposal he would be contacted.
Mayor Radford announced that resurfacing work by MoDOT on Cedar Street has been completed and work on the sidewalk connecting the senior apartments to the edge of the city would be completed some time next fall. He also said the city was going to apply for a TAP grant to help pay for additional sidewalk work in the area of the post office and continuing down South Main Street. According to Radford, the grant required that the project total a minimum of $80,000.
October
Mayor Radford announced that the city would be applying for a federal Transportation Alternative Program (TAP) grant to assist in the cost of sidewalk improvements on Walnut and Cedar streets after a unanimous vote was taken at its October meeting. He asked the board to approve a resolution supporting the citys grant application and pledge to provide a 20 percent cash match, as well as 25 years of maintenance upkeep, for the $134,818 project which will install new sidewalks on Walnut Street from East Main to the alley and from the alley over to Cedar Street where new sidewalk will be installed from Walnut to Elm Street.
Farmington Girl Scout Troop 1181 presented the Bismarck Depot with a toy train set affixed to a 3x5 foot table. This was the final step in the troop earning the Bronze Award, the highest achievement in Junior Girl Scouts.
November
Chairing the November meeting in the absence of Mayor Radford, Alderman Baker updated a list of unfinished city projects that included installing a gas line at Davis Crossing and some much-needed street work.
The board of aldermen approved a contract for the design and construction observation of a new facility for the city's satellite L.I.F.E. Center. The center opened its doors Oct. 31 in an old storefront on Center Street. The non-profit organization that assists individuals with disabilities is planning to build a facility next door to the citys senior center.
December
With the assistance of cold but not uncomfortable temperatures, the city and chamber of commerce, the first Bismarck Christmas parade brought out a number of entries, as well as spectators. The event was followed by the annual Christmas at the Depot which is co-sponsored by the city, chamber and Depot Committee. A large crowd came out to enjoy holiday snacks and let their children have a visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus.
Mayor Radford addressed the formation of a capital improvement advisory committee on city water and wastewater needs at the board of aldermen's December meeting.
...We just kind of hit and miss a lot of times on a lot of our projects," he said. "What Id like to do is get the board of aldermen; get our planning and zoning on board with us; then get our fire chief involved on the committee for fire pressure, because thats a big part of the water system that is a huge part. He can tell us some weak plugs, some areas of concern.
The capital improvement advisory committee is expected to meet for the first time sometime in the spring.
Indian-origin American designer Rachel Roy is Googles most searched designer of 2016 while Indian designer Anita Dongre is on the seventh place. Roy has designed for various well-known names in the West including Michelle Obama. Dongre became an international sensation after the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton wore her design during her visit to India.
Rachel Roy brand that debuted in 2004 has built ready-to-wear and accessories business into a globally recognized brand with categories including jewelry and home products. Dongre is one of the acclaimed celeb designers in the Indian fashion industry. She is known for her designs that are a blend of traditional and contemporary ideas.
Twin sisters Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen, and Angela Simmons are second and third in the list recently launched by Google for the trending fashion designers of 2016. Designers Zendaya, Kendall, and Kylie Jenner and Beyonce are at the fourth, fifth and sixth slots. Zendaya launched her fashion label Daya in 2015 while Beyonce had introduced a new clothing line Ivy Park this year in August.
Indian-origin American designer Rachel Roy is Google's most searched designer of 2016 while Indian designer Anita Dongre is on the seventh place. Roy has designed for various well-known names in the West including Michelle Obama. Dongre became an international sensation after the Duchess of Cambridge Kate Middleton wore her design during her visit to India.#
French fashion designer Sonia Rykiel, who died in August this year from Parkinsons disease, is at the eighth place. Rykiel was known as the Queen of knitwears for her designs and unique fashion techniques. Following Rykiel, Ivanka Trump, eldest daughter of US president-elect Donald Trump and Kanye West round off the top ten series of Googles most searched designers. (RR)
Fibre2Fashion News Desk India
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/29/16 -- AQM Copper Inc. (TSX VENTURE: AQM)(BVL: AQM) ("AQM") is pleased to announce that Institutional Shareholder Services Inc. ("ISS"), a leading independent proxy advisory firm that provides voting recommendations to institutional investors, has recommended that holders ("Shareholders") of common shares ("Shares") of AQM approve the proposed transaction with Teck Resources Limited (TSX: TECK.A)(TSX: TECK.B)(NYSE: TECK) ("Teck") whereby Teck will acquire all of the issued and outstanding Shares that are not already owned by Teck or its affiliates by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) (the "Arrangement") as described in the News Release of AQM dated November 21, 2016.
Recommendation to Shareholders
ISS has recommended that Shareholders vote FOR the special resolution to approve the proposed Arrangement. ISS cites the primary reasons for the recommendation as "the significant cash premium, the favourable market reaction, and the reasonable strategic rationale. Moreover, the proposed transaction would eliminate the need to pursue dilutive financings in the current challenging commodity price environment."
Additional information concerning the Arrangement can be found in the management information circular of AQM dated December 9, 2016 (the "Circular"). Shareholders, as well as holders of options ("Options") and deferred share units ("DSUs") of AQM (collectively, "Securityholders"), are urged to carefully review the Circular and accompanying materials as they contain important information regarding the Arrangement and its consequences to Securityholders. A copy of the Circular is available on AQM's website at www.aqmcopper.com and on its SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
Special Meeting of Securityholders
The special meeting of Securityholders of AQM (the "Meeting") is scheduled to be held at 9:00 a.m. (Vancouver time) on Monday, January 9, 2017 at the offices of Osler, Hoskin & Harcourt LLP, Guinness Tower, Suite 1700, 1055 West Hastings Street, Vancouver, BC.
YOUR VOTE IS IMPORTANT. VOTE TODAY.
How to Vote
A proxy form or voting instruction form will accompany the Meeting materials you receive by mail. Instructions on how to vote, which vary depending on whether you are a holder of Shares, Options or DSUs are provided in the Circular.
Securityholders are encouraged to vote before 9:00 am (Vancouver time) on January 5, 2017, using the internet, telephone or facsimile.
Registered Shareholders
Registered Shareholders may vote in person at the Meeting, by mail or by:
-- Internet: vote online at www.investorvote.com using the control number located on your proxy; -- Telephone: 1-866-734-VOTE(8683), toll free in Canada and United States; or -- Fax: 1-866-249-7775, toll free in Canada and United States or 416-263- 9524 for calls outside of Canada and the United States.
Beneficial Shareholders
Beneficial Shareholders who hold AQM Shares through a bank, broker or other intermediary will have different voting instructions and should carefully follow the voting instructions provided to them on the voting instruction form included in the meeting materials they receive.
For more information, please contact Laurel Hill Advisory Group at 1-877-452-7184 (toll-free), 416-304-0211 (collect calls outside of North America) or assistance@laurelhill.com.
NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE.
Contacts:
Spyros Karellas
Pinnacle Capital Markets Ltd.
416-433-5696
spyros@pinnaclecapitalmarkets.ca
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
ROME (dpa-AFX) - Italy's producer prices continued to decline in November but the pace of decrease slowed from prior year, figures from the statistical office Istat showed Friday. Producer prices decreased only 0.3 percent on a yearly basis in November after easing 0.6 percent in October. Prices fell 0.3 percent on domestic market and by 0.2 percent on foreign market. Month-on-month, producer prices slid 0.1 percent, the same pace of decline as seen in October. This was the second consecutive fall in prices. Prices were expected to grow 0.2 percent. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwired) -- 12/30/16 -- Dealnet Capital Corp. ("Dealnet" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: DLS) today announced that the Board of Directors granted a total of 6,395,000 stock options to directors, employees and consultants of the Company. The grant includes options for 2016 employee performance, long term incentive awards, contractual obligations and options for recent strategic hires. The stock options will vest over a period of 18 months and will be exercisable for a period of five years at an exercise price of $0.57 per stock option.
The Company has also issued 695,890 common shares at a price of $0.57 to settle an advisory fee of $397,000 to an advisor on the acquisition of EcoHome in February 2016. The shares will be subject to a hold period expiring on May 1, 2017. The settlement is subject to approval by the TSX Venture Exchange.
ABOUT DEALNET CAPITAL CORP.
Dealnet is an engagement enabled consumer finance company that is initially focused on home improvement finance solutions including heating ventilation and air conditioning financing and leasing. Dealnet leverages its large scale customer service and engagement technology platform to attract home improvement dealers by providing front and back office services to them resulting in dealer origination growth.
For additional information please visit www.sedar.com.
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Contacts:
Dealnet Capital Corp.
Michael Hilmer
Chief Executive Officer
+1-855-912-3444
mhilmer@dealnetcapital.com
Dealnet Capital Corp.
Nicole Marchand
Investor Relations
+1-416-428-3533
nmarchand@dealnetcapital.com
Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - December 30, 2016) - Gunpowder Capital Corp. (CSE: GPC) (CSE: GPC.PR.A) (FSE: YS6N) ("Gunpowder" of the "Corporation") announced today that it has closed the third tranche of its previously announced (Nov 16th, 2016) non-brokered private placement raise. In total, Four Hundred and Thirty-Five Thousand, Nine Hundred and Forty Dollars ("$435,940.00") CDN was raised via the sale of Forty-Three Thousand, Five Hundred and Ninety-Four ("43,594") a "Class - A" Preferred Shares. No commission or finder's fee is payable with respect to the closing of this tranche of the placement.
In total, combined with the closing of both the first and second tranches of this offering, the Corporation has now raised Six Hundred and Thirty-Seven Thousand, Four Hundred & Forty Dollars ("$637,440.00") CDN via the issuance of Sixty-Three Thousand, Seven Hundred and Forty-Four ("63,744") "Class - A" Preferred Shares.
The "Class - A" preferred shares will pay up to an 8% annual dividend to the holders of the preferred shares. Furthermore, holders of the Preferred Shares will also see a 25% of after tax realized gains on any capital dispositions. No special voting rights will be granted to the holders of the Preferred Shares. In connection with the preferred share offering, a finder's fee may be paid consisting of a cash commission equal up to 8% of the gross proceeds raised under the offering. The placement is expected to close on, or before, February 16th, 2017.
For further information please contact:
Mr. Frank Kordy
Interim CEO & Director
Gunpowder Capital Corp.
T: (647) 466-4037
E: frank.kordy@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com Mr. Paul Haber
CFO
Gunpowder Capital Corp.
T: (416) 363-3833
E: paul.haber@gunpowdercapitalcorp.com
Information set forth in this news release may involve forward-looking statements under applicable securities laws. The forward-looking statements contained herein are expressly qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements included in this document are made as of the date of this document and the Corporation disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by applicable securities legislation. Although Management believes that the expectations represented in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell or solicitation of an offer to buy any of the securities described herein and accordingly undue reliance should not be put on such. Neither CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
- 30 -
We hereby inform that on 30 December, 2016, the Supervisory Council of AB Klaipedos Nafta, legal entity code 110648893, registered at Buriu st. 19, Klaipeda (hereinafter, the "Company"), adopted the decision to elect Giedrius Dusevicius to the duties of independent Board Members of the Company out of the two current vacancies until the term of office of the acting Board of the Company (29 April, 2018). The newly elected Board Member of the Company Giedrius Dusevicius also acts as a Board member of UAB "ACC Distribution". Rytis Valunas, General Counsel, +370 46 391 626
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Carl Paladino, co-chairman of Donald Trump's presidential campaign in New York, reportedly says he will not resign from the Buffalo school board. The board on Thursday voted 6-2 to remove him over his inflammatory and racist statements about President Barack Obama and First Lady Michelle Obama. In an ultimatum delivered to Paladino on Thursday, the board asked him to either resign within 24 hours, failing which it will submit a petition to New York Education Commissioner for his dismissal from the board. The former Republican gubernatorial candidate in New York told a local newspaper that he wanted to see Obama dead of mad cow disease and his wife living with a gorilla in Zimbabwe. The newspaper, Artvoice, asked Paladino and a number of others what they wanted to see happen in 2017. The septuagenarian replied, 'Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Herford. He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarret, who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.' And this was his imagination about Michelle Obama: 'I'd like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.' In a statement, Paladino said he had spoken 'about two progressive elitist ingrates who have hated their country so badly and destroyed its fabric in so many respects in eight years.' He later clarified that his comments were not meant for publication but were nevertheless 'inappropriate.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann.
With the announcement made last week by Gov. Jay Nixon last week that Eleven Point State Park in Oregon County is among three new state parks opening to the public in southern Missouri, residents of the Parkland can't be faulted for feeling less than overjoyed by the news.
The state's plan to turn the 4,167 acres of land into a state park caused an uproar among public officials, environmental groups and ordinary citizens when it was learned that $8 million in ASARCO settlement funds would be used to fund its purchase. The funds set aside in the settlement with ASARCO were specifically meant to be used to restore and remediate the Lead Belt region.
At a public meeting held Oct. 13, 2015, in Park Hills, members of the St. Francois, Madison, iron and Oregon County commissions, as well as city councils representing areas affected by ASARCO lead and zinc contamination complained to representatives of the Missouri Department of Natural Resources that a Sept. 2, 2015, meeting held at Johnsons Shut-Ins where the purchase announcement was made had not been publicized until two days prior to it occurring, and then only on the DNR website.
Despite Missouri Department of Natural Resources Director Sara Parker Pauley insistence that an email list of nearly 500 people were given prior notice of the public meeting at Johnsons Shut-Ins, no one attending the Park Hills meeting, including state representatives and members of the media, said theyd received it.
The DNR presentation was followed by a 40-day public comment period allowing the public to review the proposed projects and provide feedback. Despite receiving major opposition to the plan from the public, state elected officials, county commissions and even the Oregon County Commission who feared a further dip in county tax revenue the council said that after reviewing the comments made, it had elected to fund and implement a suite of six restoration projects involving acquisition of over 5,400 acres and restoration of upland, wetland and bottomland habitats which will benefit migratory birds and other species, as well as improve water quality.
In other words, even though the Oregon County purchase received strong opposition during the 40-day comment period, the state decided to buy it with ASARCO funds anyway.
With intense pressure placed on Nixon by 117th District Rep. Linda Black, R-Park Hills, 144th District Rep. Paul Fitzwater, R-Potosi, 3rd District State Senator Gary Romine, R-Farmington, and Congressman Jason Smith, R-8th District, the governor instructed DNR to fast-track several southeast Missouri ASARCO-funded projects, including the proposed Bone Hole County Park in St. Francois County and the Little St. Francis River Watershed Master Plan in Madison County. The governor even made a high-profile visit to both sites in Dec. 2015 to help stem some of the mounting criticism he was receiving from the state legislature, Lead Belt region county commissions and the general public.
In February of this year, the Missouri Senate approved Senate Bill 682, co-sponsored by Sen. Romine, that expands public notice requirements relating to land purchases made on behalf of any state department.
Responding to the governor's announcement of Eleven Point State Park, Romine said, "It's very frustrating. I talked with the governor and his staff. We're still trying to get the Pilot Knob project ... the Crane Lake project. And what is real frustrating is we're talking about those things and they were not disclosed that these other projects were in the works.
"That's a legacy I don't think the governor really wants, but going out and doing things, I guess behind the scenes or in the dark, is not a good way to leave. If he wants to be upfront and work on those projects and work on our projects it would have been a whole lot better than stiff-arming us on ours and then going ahead and doing his behind closed doors."
Rep. Fitzwater also had a strong response to the governor's announcement of Eleven Point State Park's opening.
"I guess the big thing was is how [Gov. Nixon] acquired it by using money in the ASARCO fund that was I don't like the word 'earmarked' but it was earmarked for cleaning up the areas of past lead contamination. That's a sour subject with me. We have 88 parks in the state of Missouri right now and we can't take care of them and to think that we're going to build three more. They're calculating that it's going to cost $212 million to repair some of the downgrades that obviously needs to be taken care of in our other state parks.
"So, I guess the bottom line is why is the governor out there spending money? I'll tell you why he's spending money because he's leaving and doesn't really care. It's really the same rhetoric we've had for the last eight years with Gov. Nixon. Hopefully we're going to get back in January and do something about what he's doing here. I'm not sure if we can, but we're going to make an attempt."
The two other parks announced by Nixon, neither paid for with ASARCO funds, are the $4 million Bryant Creek State Park in Douglas County, located near the Ozark County line and approximately 22 miles southeast of Ava; and the $2.8 million Ozark Mountain State Park located in Taney County, northwest of Branson along Highway 465. The three new parks bring the total number of state parks in Missouri to 91.
These new state parks ensure that we can protect and preserve these valuable natural landscapes for generations to come, Gov. Nixon said in his announcement of the openings. At a time when other states are closing or even selling state parks or charging day use fees, we are expanding our system of state parks to offer more opportunities for Missourians to experience the outdoors, at no admission cost.
Missouri State Parks Director Bill Bryan said, These new parks were acquired to fill natural history gaps that were not previously represented in the state park system. For more than 20 years, the park system has been looking to add properties with these unique natural features for the public to enjoy.
According to Nixon's office, the new park lands "were selected based on goals identified in the 1992 Missouri State Park and Historic Site System Expansion Plan, which was developed following a nearly five-year process of public meetings, research and staff input. In 2004, Missouri State Parks also completed Missing Masterpieces: A Survey About Missouri State Parks and Historic Sites."
Bryan said plans for development of the properties and future use "are in the preliminary stages" with early development focusing on natural resource stewardship. The park system will hold a series of events to allow members of the public to see the properties and provide feedback on park planning.
The first of these events will be guided hikes on the property. They will take place from 2 to 4 p.m. Jan. 6 at Ozark Mountain State Park, from 1 to 4 p.m. Jan. 7 at Eleven Point State Park and from noon to 2 p.m. Jan. 8 at Bryant Creek State Park.
For information on where these hikes will begin, contact Missouri State Parks at 573-751-0761 or moparks@dnr.mo.gov. For those who cannot attend the hikes, a presentation and opportunity to provide feedback will also be available online at mostateparks.com beginning Jan 6.
MOSCOW (dpa-AFX) - Claiming the intelligence received by President Barack Obama has been either 'incompetent or politicized,' former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani urged president-elect Donald Trump to conduct his own intelligence on Russia. Giuliani argued that comments from Obama downplaying the threats posed by Russia and ISIS prove that the intelligence received under the current administration is faulty. 'I would urge President Trump, when he becomes President Trump, to have his own intelligence people do their own report, let's find out who did it, and let's bang them back really hard,' Giuliani said in an interview on Fox News' 'Fox & Friends.' Giuliani also accused Obama of 'pettiness' with the sanctions announced in reaction to alleged Russian hacking related to the U.S. elections. 'Petty little actions like this don't mean very much. It's almost a mockery to say this is too little too late,' Giuliani said. 'It should have been done 10 months ago, 11 months ago, 12 months ago. If it is really true, the response should be much stronger.' The former mayor, a prominent Trump surrogate, also claimed the sanctions against Russia along with the decision to abstain from the vote on a United Nations resolution banning Israeli settlement construction reflect an effort to box Trump into a foreign policy corner. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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LEXINGTON, KY -- (Marketwired) -- 12/30/16 -- Rhino Resource Partners LP (OTCQB: RHNO) ("Rhino" or the "Partnership") announced today that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Royal Energy Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: ROYE) ("Royal"), Rhino Resource Partners Holdings, LLC ("Rhino Holdings"), an entity wholly-owned by certain investment partnerships managed by Yorktown Partners LLC ("Yorktown"), and Rhino GP LLC, the general partner of Rhino, whereby Rhino has received an option (the "Call Option") from Rhino Holdings to acquire substantially all of the outstanding common stock of Armstrong Energy, Inc. ("Armstrong Energy") that is currently owned by investment partnerships managed by Yorktown. The Option Agreement stipulates that Rhino can exercise the Call Option no earlier than January 1, 2018 and no later than December 31, 2019. In exchange for Rhino Holdings granting Rhino the Call Option to purchase Armstrong, the Partnership issued 5.0 million new common units (the "Call Option Premium Units") to Rhino Holdings upon the execution of the Option Agreement.
The Option Agreement stipulates Rhino can exercise the Call Option and purchase the common stock of Armstrong Energy, a coal producing company with mines located in the Illinois Basin in western Kentucky, in exchange for a number of newly issued Rhino common units to be issued to Rhino Holdings, which when added with the Call Option Premium Units discussed above, will result in Rhino Holdings owning 51% of the fully diluted common units of Rhino. The purchase of the Armstrong Energy common stock through the exercise of the Call Option would also require Royal to issue 51% ownership interest of Rhino GP, currently owned and controlled by Royal, to Rhino Holdings. The exercise of the Call Option in the Option Agreement is dependent upon a successful negotiation with the current bondholders of Armstrong Energy to restructure their bonds as well as the refinancing of the Partnership's current revolving credit facility.
The Option Agreement also contains an option (the "Put Option") granted from Rhino to Rhino Holdings whereby Rhino Holdings has the right, but not the obligation, to cause the Partnership to purchase substantially all of the outstanding common stock of Armstrong Energy from Rhino Holdings under the same terms and conditions discussed above for the Call Option. The exercise of the Put Option is dependent upon a successful negotiation with the current bondholders of Armstrong Energy to restructure their bonds as well as the termination and repayment of any outstanding balances under the Partnership's current revolving credit facility.
Rhino and Armstrong Energy will continue to operate and be governed as independent entities until the Call Option or Put Option is exercised if either such options were to occur.
Rhino also announced today that it has entered into a new preferred financing agreement (the "Financing Agreement") with a group of investors led by Weston Energy LLC, a Yorktown portfolio company. The investors will invest $15 million of cash in exchange for Series A Preferred units of Rhino. Rhino will use the proceeds to reduce its current outstanding debt under its credit facility as well as potentially expand the Partnership's metallurgical coal production in Central Appalachia to take advantage of the recent upturn in the worldwide metallurgical coal markets. The Series A Preferred has a five-year term and requires the Partnership to remit 50% of the free cash flow, as defined in the Financing Agreement, from Rhino's Central Appalachia operations, subject to an 8% minimum annual rate. The Series A Preferred can be converted into Rhino common units once a cumulative return of cash threshold is met under terms defined in the Financing Agreement.
About Rhino Resource Partners LP
Rhino Resource Partners LP is a diversified energy limited partnership that is focused on coal and energy related assets and activities, including energy infrastructure investments. Rhino produces metallurgical and steam coal in a variety of basins throughout the United States. Additional information regarding Rhino is available on its web site -- RhinoLP.com.
About Royal Energy Resources, Inc.
Royal Energy Resources, Inc. is a diversified energy company, with investments and holdings in coal, gas and renewable energy assets in North America. Royal is the majority equity owner of Rhino Resource Partners LP, and its general partner, Rhino GP LLC. Additional information regarding Royal is available on its web site -- royalenergy.us.
About Armstrong Energy, Inc.
Armstrong Energy, Inc., through its 100% wholly owned subsidiaries, is a leading producer of steam coal in the Illinois Basin. Armstrong controls over 550 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves and operates six mines in Western Kentucky. Armstrong ships coal to utilities via rail, truck and barge and has the capability to provide low cost custom blend coal to fuel virtually any electric power plant in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the nation. Additional information regarding Armstrong is available on its web site -- www.armstrongenergyinc.com.
About Yorktown Partners LLC
Yorktown Partners LLC is a private investment manager founded in 1991 that invests exclusively in the energy industry. Yorktown has raised 11 private equity funds totaling over $8 billion. The investors in Yorktown's funds include university endowments, foundations, families, insurance companies and other institutional investors.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for historical information, statements made in this press release are "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Rhino expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Rhino's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on Rhino's business, operating results, financial condition and similar matters. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting Rhino will turn out as Rhino anticipates. Whether actual results and developments in the future will conform to expectations is subject to significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond Rhino's control or ability to predict. Therefore, actual results and developments could materially differ from Rhino's historical experience, present expectations and what is expressed, implied or forecast in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: Rhino's inability to obtain additional financing necessary to fund its capital expenditures, meet working capital needs and maintain and grow its operations or its inability to obtain alternative financing upon the expiration of its credit facility; Rhino's future levels of indebtedness, liquidity and compliance with debt covenants; volatility and recent declines in the price of Rhino's common units; sustained depressed levels of or decline in coal prices, which depend upon several factors such as the supply of domestic and foreign coal, the demand for domestic and foreign coal, governmental regulations, price and availability of alternative fuels for electricity generation and prevailing economic conditions; declines in demand for electricity and coal; current and future environmental laws and regulations, which could materially increase operating costs or limit Rhino's ability to produce and sell coal; extensive government regulation of mine operations, especially with respect to mine safety and health, which imposes significant actual and potential costs; difficulties in obtaining and/or renewing permits necessary for operations; the availability and prices of competing electricity generation fuels; a variety of operating risks, such as unfavorable geologic conditions, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, mining and processing equipment unavailability, failures and unexpected maintenance problems and accidents, including fire and explosions from methane; poor mining conditions resulting from the effects of prior mining; the availability and costs of key supplies and commodities such as steel, diesel fuel and explosives; fluctuations in transportation costs or disruptions in transportation services, which could increase competition or impair Rhino's ability to supply coal; a shortage of skilled labor, increased labor costs or work stoppages; Rhino's ability to secure or acquire new or replacement high-quality coal reserves that are economically recoverable; material inaccuracies in Rhino's estimates of coal reserves and non-reserve coal deposits; existing and future laws and regulations regulating the emission of sulfur dioxide and other compounds, which could affect coal consumers and reduce demand for coal; federal and state laws restricting the emissions of greenhouse gases; Rhino's ability to acquire or failure to maintain, obtain or renew surety bonds used to secure obligations to reclaim mined property; Rhino's dependence on a few customers and its ability to find and retain customers under favorable supply contracts; changes in consumption patterns by utilities away from the use of coal, such as changes resulting from low natural gas prices; changes in governmental regulation of the electric utility industry; Rhino's ability to successfully diversify its operations into other non-coal natural resources; disruption in supplies of coal produced by contractors operating Rhino's mines; defects in title in properties that Rhino owns or losses of any of its leasehold interests; Rhino's ability to retain and attract senior management and other key personnel; material inaccuracy of assumptions underlying reclamation and mine closure obligations; and weakness in global economic conditions.
Other factors that could cause Rhino's actual results to differ from its projected results are described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Rhino undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law.
Investor Contact:
Scott Morris
+1 859.519.3622
smorris@rhinolp.com
WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - U.S. President-elect Donald Trump took to Twitter on Friday to offer praise for Russian President Vladimir Putin.
The tweet from Trump came after Putin made it clear his government will not retaliate for U.S. punitive action against its 35 diplomatic officials.
'Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!' Trump said in the post on the social media site.
The Russian Foreign Ministry submitted a proposal to Putin to declare 35 U.S. diplomats - 31 personnel in the U.S. embassy in Moscow and four in the consulate general in St. Petersburg - persona non grata.
However, Putin did not accept the Foreign ministry's recommendation, saying Russia 'will not resort to irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-U.S. relations based on the policies of the Trump Administration.'
'The diplomats who are returning to Russia will spend the New Year's holidays with their families and friends,' Putin added. 'We will not create any problems for U.S. diplomats. We will not expel anyone.'
Putin concluded his statement by offering season's greetings to President Barack Obama and his family as well as Trump and the American people.
The decision by Putin came after Obama announced Thursday he has ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's alleged aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election.
The actions ordered by Obama include sanctions on nine entities and individuals, including two Russian intelligence services, the GRU and the FSB.
Four individual officers of the GRU and three companies that provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations were also sanctioned.
Obama said the State Department is also shutting down two compounds used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes and ejecting 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the U.S.
Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX
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CALGARY, ALBERTA -- (Marketwired) -- 12/30/16 -- US Oil Sands Inc. ("US Oil Sands" or the "Company") (TSX VENTURE: USO), an innovator of oil extraction technologies, announces that the Company is proceeding with the previously announced share consolidation on the basis of one post-consolidation common share for every 50 pre-consolidation common shares (the "Consolidation") and the outstanding common shares will commence trading on a consolidated basis at the opening of trading on Tuesday, January 3, 2017 on the TSX Venture Exchange under the Company's existing trading symbol "USO". The shareholders approved the Consolidation at the annual and special meeting of shareholders held on May 18, 2016.
No fractional shares will be issued pursuant to the Consolidation and fractional entitlements will be rounded down to the next lowest whole number of post-consolidated common shares. Registered shareholders will be required to exchange their existing share certificates or DRS advice representing pre-consolidated common shares for post-consolidated common shares, by submitting their old certificates or information respecting the applicable DRS advice, together with a completed and signed Letter of Transmittal, to the Company 's transfer agent, Computershare Trust Company of Canada. Letters of Transmittal will be sent directly to registered shareholders and may also be obtained from Computershare Trust Company of Canada, P.O. Box 7021, 31 Adelaide Street E, Toronto, ON M5C 3H2 Attention: Corporate Actions (Tel: 1-800-564-6253) or downloaded from SEDAR at www.sedar.com.
ABOUT US OIL SANDS INC.
US Oil Sands is engaged in the exploration and development of oil sands properties and, through its wholly owned United States subsidiary US Oil Sands (Utah) Inc., has a 100% interest in bitumen leases covering 32,005 acres of land in Utah's Uinta Basin. The Company plans to develop its oil sands properties using its proprietary extraction process which uses a bio-solvent to extract bitumen from oil sands without the need for tailings ponds. The Company is in the pre-production stage, anticipating the commencement of bitumen production and sales once it has completed commissioning and start-up of its PR Spring Project.
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:
US Oil Sands Inc.
Cameron Todd
CEO
+1 403 233 9366
info@usoilsandsinc.com
US Oil Sands Inc.
Glen Snarr
President & CFO
+1 403 233 9366
info@usoilsandsinc.com
www.usoilsandsinc.com
Investor Relations
Jack Copping
Manager, Corporate Development
+1 403 233 9366 ext. 27
jack.copping@usoilsandsinc.com
Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - December 30, 2016) - Canamex Resources Corp. (TSXV: CSQ) (OTCQX: CNMXF) (FSE: CX6) ("Canamex" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has closed the second and final tranche of a non-brokered private placement of units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.16 per Unit for gross proceeds of $245,000 ("Unit Offering").
Accordingly, on December 30, 2016 the Company issued a total of 1,531,300 Units, each Unit being comprised of one (1) common share and one (1) transferable share purchase warrant ("Unit Warrant"). Each Unit Warrant entitles the holder to purchase one (1) additional common share (the "Unit Warrant Share") at a price of $0.20 per Unit Warrant share for five (5) years from the date of issuance of the Unit Warrant.
In connection with the final tranche of the Unit Offering, the Company paid to one qualified party a finder's fee of $14,000 and issued 87,500 compensation warrants, which have terms similar to the Unit Warrants described above.
These securities, including any shares that may be issued on exercise of the Unit Warrants or compensation warrants issued to the finder, will be subject to a hold period expiring on May 1, 2017, and will be subject to such further restrictions on resale as may apply under applicable foreign securities laws.
This news release follows the Company's news release of October 25, 2016, in which Canamex raised gross proceeds of $716,350 in the first tranche of the Unit Offering. In both tranches of the Unit Offering, Canamex raised total gross proceeds of $961,350.
The proceeds from the Unit Offering will be used for permitting, drilling and metallurgy at the Company's Bruner Gold Property in Nye County, Nevada, and for general working capital.
The board of directors and management of Canamex would like to wish all of our shareholders, investors and the general public a very happy holiday season and a very Happy New Year in 2017.
ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SIGNED: "Mark Billings"
Mark Billings, Chairman and CEO
Contact: (514) 296-1641, mbillings@canamex.us
Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
Two Hindi cinema juggernauts are scheduled to release their autobiographies next month as announced by them on Twitter. Quite active on the micro blogging website, filmmaker Karan Johar and veteran actor Rishi Kapoor announced details of their autobiographies from their accounts.
While both of them had announced that they were working on their autobiographies earlier this year, Johar unveiled the trailer of the book on Twitter on the same day as Kapoor announced the release date of his book.
Johar's autobiography is titled An Unsuitable Boy, a reference to Vikram Seth's critically acclaimed book A Suitable Boy. It will explore the director's life in his personal capacity rather than the many professional hats he has donned over the years. Johar, who has co-written the book with Poonam Saxena, was planning to unveil the book on his 44th birthday on 25 May but went on to push the release to January 2017.
He spoke briefly about the book at the ninth Jaipur Literature Festival in January where he discussed his effeminate side and body shaming issues in his childhood. He also added that he has gone no holds barred on the same in his book.
However, Johar is not the only one who is going to narrate the story of his life come January. His collaborator in films like Student of the Year, Rishi Kapoor will also unveil his unabashed and uninhibited autobiography on 15 January, as revealed by the actor on Twitter.
The autobiography is aptly titled Khullam Khulla which is an appropriate adjective to his uncensored commentary on issues as well as a witty reference to his song from Ravi Tandon's 1975 romantic drama Khel Khel Mein which featured Rishi and his wife Neetu Kapoor.
My autobiography-Rishi Kapoor-uncensored! "Khullam Khulla"releases 15th January.This one's from the heart, my life and times, as I lived it! pic.twitter.com/pUyUoto35g Rishi Kapoor (@chintskap) December 29, 2016
While Johar's autobiography is expected to be pensive and intense, Rishi's is touted as a humorous and light read just like the jolly off-screen personality of the actor. Irrespective of the genre, the filmy fans eagerly await January so that they can dig deeper into the lives of their favourite filmmaker and actor.
Country
Afghanistan Albania, People's Socialist Republic of Algeria, People's Democratic Republic of American Samoa Andorra, Principality of Angola, Republic of Anguilla Antarctica (the territory South of 60 deg S) Antigua and Barbuda Argentina, Argentine Republic Armenia Aruba Australia, Commonwealth of Austria, Republic of Azerbaijan, Republic of Bahamas, Commonwealth of the Bahrain, Kingdom of Bangladesh, People's Republic of Barbados Belarus Belgium, Kingdom of Belize Benin, People's Republic of Bermuda Bhutan, Kingdom of Bolivia, Republic of Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana, Republic of Bouvet Island (Bouvetoya) Brazil, Federative Republic of British Indian Ocean Territory (Chagos Archipelago) British Virgin Islands Brunei Darussalam Bulgaria, People's Republic of Burkina Faso Burundi, Republic of Cambodia, Kingdom of Cameroon, United Republic of Canada Cape Verde, Republic of Cayman Islands Central African Republic Chad, Republic of Chile, Republic of China, People's Republic of Christmas Island Cocos (Keeling) Islands Colombia, Republic of Comoros, Union of the Congo, Democratic Republic of Congo, People's Republic of Cook Islands Costa Rica, Republic of Cote D'Ivoire, Ivory Coast, Republic of the Cuba, Republic of Cyprus, Republic of Czech Republic Denmark, Kingdom of Djibouti, Republic of Dominica, Commonwealth of Dominican Republic Ecuador, Republic of Egypt, Arab Republic of El Salvador, Republic of Equatorial Guinea, Republic of Eritrea Estonia Ethiopia Faeroe Islands Falkland Islands (Malvinas) Fiji, Republic of the Fiji Islands Finland, Republic of France, French Republic French Guiana French Polynesia French Southern Territories Gabon, Gabonese Republic Gambia, Republic of the Georgia Germany Ghana, Republic of Gibraltar Greece, Hellenic Republic Greenland Grenada Guadaloupe Guam Guatemala, Republic of Guinea, Revolutionary People's Rep'c of Guinea-Bissau, Republic of Guyana, Republic of Haiti, Republic of Heard and McDonald Islands Holy See (Vatican City State) Honduras, Republic of Hong Kong, Special Administrative Region of China Hrvatska (Croatia) Hungary, Hungarian People's Republic Iceland, Republic of India, Republic of Indonesia, Republic of Iran, Islamic Republic of Iraq, Republic of Ireland Israel, State of Italy, Italian Republic Jamaica Japan Jordan, Hashemite Kingdom of Kazakhstan, Republic of Kenya, Republic of Kiribati, Republic of Korea, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Republic of Kuwait, State of Kyrgyz Republic Lao People's Democratic Republic Latvia Lebanon, Lebanese Republic Lesotho, Kingdom of Liberia, Republic of Libyan Arab Jamahiriya Liechtenstein, Principality of Lithuania Luxembourg, Grand Duchy of Macao, Special Administrative Region of China Macedonia, the former Yugoslav Republic of Madagascar, Republic of Malawi, Republic of Malaysia Maldives, Republic of Mali, Republic of Malta, Republic of Marshall Islands Martinique Mauritania, Islamic Republic of Mauritius Mayotte Mexico, United Mexican States Micronesia, Federated States of Moldova, Republic of Monaco, Principality of Mongolia, Mongolian People's Republic Montserrat Morocco, Kingdom of Mozambique, People's Republic of Myanmar Namibia Nauru, Republic of Nepal, Kingdom of Netherlands Antilles Netherlands, Kingdom of the New Caledonia New Zealand Nicaragua, Republic of Niger, Republic of the Nigeria, Federal Republic of Niue, Republic of Norfolk Island Northern Mariana Islands Norway, Kingdom of Oman, Sultanate of Pakistan, Islamic Republic of Palau Palestinian Territory, Occupied Panama, Republic of Papua New Guinea Paraguay, Republic of Peru, Republic of Philippines, Republic of the Pitcairn Island Poland, Polish People's Republic Portugal, Portuguese Republic Puerto Rico Qatar, State of Reunion Romania, Socialist Republic of Russian Federation Rwanda, Rwandese Republic Samoa, Independent State of San Marino, Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, Democratic Republic of Saudi Arabia, Kingdom of Senegal, Republic of Serbia and Montenegro Seychelles, Republic of Sierra Leone, Republic of Singapore, Republic of Slovakia (Slovak Republic) Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia, Somali Republic South Africa, Republic of South Georgia and the South Sandwich Islands Spain, Spanish State Sri Lanka, Democratic Socialist Republic of St. Helena St. Kitts and Nevis St. Lucia St. Pierre and Miquelon St. Vincent and the Grenadines Sudan, Democratic Republic of the Suriname, Republic of Svalbard & Jan Mayen Islands Swaziland, Kingdom of Sweden, Kingdom of Switzerland, Swiss Confederation Syrian Arab Republic Taiwan, Province of China Tajikistan Tanzania, United Republic of Thailand, Kingdom of Timor-Leste, Democratic Republic of Togo, Togolese Republic Tokelau (Tokelau Islands) Tonga, Kingdom of Trinidad and Tobago, Republic of Tunisia, Republic of Turkey, Republic of Turkmenistan Turks and Caicos Islands Tuvalu US Virgin Islands Uganda, Republic of Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland United States Minor Outlying Islands United States of America Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe
New Delhi: After Airtel, Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank is set to launch its services in the first half of 2017. Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank is a 51:49 joint venture
between Aditya Birla Nuvo Ltd (ABNL) and telecom major Idea Cellular, respectively.
"The first half of 2017 will also see the launch of Aditya Birla Idea Payments Bank," Idea Cellular Chief Corporate Affairs Officer Rajat Mukarji said.
In November, Airtel Payments Bank became the first payments bank to go live in the country with the rollout of its banking services in Rajasthan. Since then, it has expanded services to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana as well. Airtel had said the pilot rollout in Rajasthan saw over one lakh customers opening savings accounts in less than two weeks of commencement of services.
With the objective of deepening financial inclusion, RBI kicked off an era of differentiated banking by allowing SFBs (small finance banks) and PBs (payments banks) to start services. A total of 21 entities were given in-principle nod last year, including 11 for payments banks. Later, three entities -- Tech Mahindra, Cholamandalam Investment and Finance Company and a consortium of Dilip Shanghvi, IDFC Bank and Telenor Financial Services -- backed out of the payments bank licensing.
Payments banks can accept deposits from individuals and small businesses up to a maximum of Rs 1 lakh per account.
Idea Cellular, which holds nearly 900 MHz of spectrum across TDD and FDD bands, also plans to expand its range of Idea-branded digital content across movies, music, TV, games, news and digital wallet, Mukarji said.
With less than 36 hours for the 31 December deadline, the Income Tax (I-T) department staff and officials are burning the midnight oil to complete the scrutiny assessment.
Advancing of the scrutiny deadline, demonetisation and verification of lakhs of bank accounts all have compounded into an unprecedented workload which the department is grappling with.
The direct tax departments offices at Civic Centre on Minto Road, CR Building at ITO, Aaykar Bhawan at Laxmi Nagar in New Delhi to name a few are abuzz even after midnight, as the officials are busy in the disposal of time-barred assessment cases, which was 3.66 lakh as on 1 April.
Scrutiny assessment is the examination of the I-T returns by giving an opportunity to the assessee to substantiate the income declared and the expenses, deductions, etc claimed in the returns with evidences. The purpose of the I-T department is to verify whether the assessee has correctly shown his/her income or not.
Despite assessment, verification, search and seizures being a routine job, why has it become a Herculean task for the I-T department to meet governments demand this time?
Five key reasons
1. Advancing of the assessment deadline: Earlier, the last date of disposal of scrutiny cases was 31 March, which has been changed to 31 December from this year.
2. Demonetisation effect: After PM Narendra Modi announced demonetisation on 8 November, the I-T department got down to verifying bank accounts where large sums of money have been deposited. After 31 December, the banks will compile details of accounts where cash has been deposited and hand over a CD to I-T department by January end. There are 25 crore Jan Dhan accounts and money has been deposited in these accounts. Now the department besides its routine work, will also have to verify the suspected accounts, send notices, follow it uplarge number of cases will come up. Its going to be a mammoth job, an I-T official said.
3. Staff crunch: According to the I-T department, theres shortage of staff at multiple levels. Theres 35% shortfall at staff level. The department is top heavy, with more number of chief and principle commissioners, whereas theres acute shortage at deputy and assistant commissioner and assessment officer levels. Due to shortage of inspectors, field work is getting badly affected. Now, post-demonetisation, pressure on staff will increase multifold, Ashok Kumar Kanojia, president, Income Tax Employees Federation (ITEF), New Delhi said.
4. Infrastructure bottleneck: Government promised laptops but has not yet been given. Privacy is a problem as two officers have to share a single room and an assessee would not like to talk in presence of another officer. Besides, the department has to do online scrutiny, but the capacity of the server is so low that often an officer has to wait for long to download information. Internet bandwidth is very low in comparison to the workload, so it takes long hours to dispose cases, added associations general secretary Ajay Sharma.
5. Jugglery of numbers: Out of nearly 25 crore Permanent Account Number (PAN) registered with the I-T department, only 5.6 crore file I-T Returns. According to I-T department, nearly 3 crore people pay taxes. The department conducts scrutiny on 1% of the total cases of declarations. As on 1 April, there were 3.66 lakh scrutiny cases, which has increased by more than a lakh as on date. This itself speaks about the gigantic proportion of workload, an official remarked.
Tough days ahead
The tax officials have predicted 2017 as a tough time for them.
The workload will increase in days to come as the I-T officials would now deal with the information coming from banks. The department has been facing staff crunch for quite some time and itll have to manage with the existing staff, added former chairperson, Central Board of Direct Taxes, Praksah Chandra.
The department staff and officials have been working without any weekly-offs to meet the deadline. For the last three months large number of staff members hasnt even taken any leave. It has become cumbersome due to shortage of staff and lack of adequate infrastructure. Several times weve communicated it to the government, but to no avail. We dont have any magic wand to complete this humongous workload, added Kanojia.
Meanwhile, the Confederation of Central Government Employees & Workers and Income Tax Employees Federation have given a one-day strike call on 15 February. The 21-point charter of demands of the joint call includes the problems being faced by the tax department.
Yet hopes are alive
There are hurdles, staff crunch, etc, but as the department is accountable towards disposal of time-barring cases, every case will be completed within deadline, how difficult it may be. Despite mounting pressure, we know the department staff will ultimately perform, said general secretary, IRS Association, Jayant Mishra said.
In an attempt to push for digital payments after the demonetisation of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes, prime minister Narendra Modi today launched the BHIM app, which enables easier transaction.
"This is the treasury of the poor to digital payments," the prime minister said in his speech at the first weekly draw for Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana launched to encourage merchants to push adapt digital payments.
"In two weeks, India will radical shift to digital payments with just their fingerprint with this BHIM we've launched today," Modi said.
Here are all the facts you need to know about the app as explained by National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI), which developed it:
What is Bharat Interface for Money?
Bharat Interface for Money is an app that lets you make easy and quick payment transactions using UPI. Its easier than Wallets! You will not have to fill-out those tedious bank account details again and again. You can easily make direct bank to bank payments and instantly collect money using just Mobile number or Payment address.
How fast is a transaction over Bharat Interface for Money?
As fast as it can get! All payments over Bharat Interface for Money are linked to your bank account and transaction can be completed within few seconds.
Are there any charges for using Bharat Interface for Money?
There are no charges for making transaction through Bharat Interface for Money. Note - Your bank might however levy a nominal charge as UPI or IMPS transfer fee which is not under our control. Please check with your bank for more details.
What do I need to start using Bharat Interface for Money?
Bharat Interface for Money app is currently available on Android (Version 8 and above) and iOS mobiles (Version 5 and above). We will be making our app available on other platforms very soon.
Is Bharat Interface for Money app compatible with every Mobile OS?
To start using Bharat Interface for Money all you need is a Smartphone, Internet access, an Indian bank account that supports UPI payments and mobile number linked to the bank account. Link your bank account to UPI through the app.
Do I need to enable mobile banking on my bank account to use Bharat Interface for Money?
Your account need not be enabled for mobile banking to use Bharat Interface for Money. Your mobile number shall have to be registered with the Bank.
Do I need to be a customer of particular bank to use Bharat Interface for Money?
To enable transfers directly using your bank account, your bank needs to be live on UPI (Unified Payment Interface) platform. All the banks, which are currently live on UPI, have been listed in the Bharat Interface for Money app.
How to I set the UPI-PIN for my bank account from Bharat Interface for Money?
You can set your UPI PIN by going to Main Menu -Bank Accounts -Set UPI-PIN for the selected account. You will be prompted to enter the last 6 digits of your Debit/ATM card along with the expiry date. You will then receive an OTP which you will enter and set your UPI PIN. Note - 'UPI-PIN is not the same as MPIN provided by your bank for mobile banking'.
Can I link multiple bank accounts with Bharat Interface for Money?
Currently, Bharat Interface for Money supports linking of one Bank only. At the time of account set-up, you can link your preferred bank account as the default account. In case you want to link another bank account, you can go to Main menu, choose Bank Accounts and select your default account. Any money that is transferred to you using your mobile number or payment address will be credited into your default account.
Why does my mobile number with Bharat Interface for Money and the one registered with my bank account have to be the same?
This is a banking network (UPI) requirement. The mobile number which is used to register with Bharat Interface for Money is used to match the bank accounts linked against it.
Do I have to give Bharat Interface for Money my bank a/c details?
At the time of registartion you will be providing us with the Debit card details and with the use your mobile number registered to your bank account, we will pre-fetch the details from your bank. All the information exchange happens over secure banking networks and we don't store it, your information is safe!
Can I send money to anyone using Bharat Interface for Money?
Yes, you can send money using the Bharat Interface for Money app from your UPI enabled bank account. You will need to register and set a UPI PIN using the debit card details linked to the bank account. If your beneficiarys bank account is also linked to UPI, you can simply use their mobile mobile number or Payment Address to transfer.If not, you can use IFSC code, Bank account or MMID , Mobile number to send money.
Do money transfers happen on Bharat Interface for Money only during banking hours?
All payments are instant and 24/7, regardless of your bank's working hours!
I have paid for my transaction but not received anything. What is that?
Once you complete a transaction, you should see a success status on the Bharat Interface for Money screen and receive an SMS from your bank. In some cases due to operator issues it can take longer time. In case you have not received your confirmation within an hour please contact our customer support at your bank.
How can I view my transaction history?
Go to Bharat Interface for Money Home Screen ->Transaction History. to view all your past and pending transactions.
How do I send money?
From the Bharat Interface for Money app Home screen,
1) Click Send Money Option;
2) Enter or select the receiver's mobile number or Payment Address (you can select from your contact list or enter it) or Aadhaar number
3) Enter the amount you want to send
4) Your default bank a/c gets selected
5) Enter UPI PIN and send
Alternately, you can also scan a QR code and pay via the 'Scan & Pay' option.
How do I request money?
From the Bharat Interface for Money app Home screen,
1) Select Request Money
2) Enter or select the receiver's mobile number or Payment Address (you can select from your contact list or enter it) or Adhaar number
3) Enter the amount you want to request
4) Click Send
This transaction will remain pending until the payment is received. You will be notified when the money is transferred to you. You may also request money by sharing your QR code. Goto Home Screen->Profile->Choose account to get QR code
Can I send money to a friend not on Bharat Interface for Money?
Yes. Payment can be made via (IFSC, Account number) or (MMID, Mobile number) if the person is not registered on Bharat Interface for Money.
What types of transactions can I do using Bharat Interface for Money?
Through Bharat Interface for Money you can make following type of transaction,
1. Request or Send Money via Payment Address
2. Send Money to Aadhaar Number
3. Request or Send Money to Mobile number
4. Send Money through MMID , Mobile No.
5. Send Money through IFSC code, Account No.
6. In addition, you can use the scan and pay option for Merchant payments.
How do I access a record of all my historical transactions?
Every transaction through your bank account will be recorded by the Bank and you can view all your past transactions in the 'Transaction History' section on the Bharat Interface for Money App.
My send money transaction is failing, help!
To avoid transaction failures,
1) Ensure that the UPI-PIN is entered correctly.
2) If the receiver is not on Bharat Interface for Money choose to pay via IFSC instead of mobile number.
The collect request is not reaching the Bharat Interface for Money app. What do I do?
In this case, please first check the data connectivity. If you have entered your Payment Address at the merchant app, please re-check your Payment Address and re-try the transaction. Please check your pending transactions tab to check if the collect request has reached you.
NEW DELHI China has blocked India's request to add the head of the Pakistan-based militant group Jaish-e-Mohammad to a U.N. Security Council blacklist of groups linked to al Qaeda, India said on Friday.India has accused Jaish-e-Mohammad and its top leader, Maulana Masood Azhar, of masterminding several attacks, including a deadly assault on an Indian air base in January.Pakistani security officials interrogated Azhar and his associates after the attack, and said they found no evidence linking him to it.Jaish-e-Mohammad has already been blacklisted by the 15-nation Security Council, but not Azhar, an Islamist hardliner and long-time foe of India.Foreign ministry spokesman Vikas Swarup said that India had requested that Azhar be added to the list nine months ago and had received strong backing from all other members of the council.But China, which put a hold on the move in April, had now blocked it, he said.
"We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism," he said in a statement.Swarup added that the inability of the international community to take the step showed the "prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism".China's foreign ministry said there were different views about the case, so China had put forward a "technical shelving" to give more time for consultation, but that regretfully no consensus had been reached.
China's aim is to maintain the authority and effectiveness of name listing by the committee discussing the case, which accords with Security Council resolutions and is the responsible thing to do, it said in a statement sent to Reuters.China will continue to maintain communication with all parties, it added.
India has long accused its neighbour and rival Pakistan of using Jaish-e-Mohammad as a proxy to mount attacks on Indian soil, including in the disputed Kashmir region, and earlier gave what it called "actionable intelligence" to Pakistan, including telephone intercepts.Pakistan denies giving any aid to Kashmir-based militants.If Azhar was blacklisted by the U.N. Security Council, he would face a global travel ban and asset freeze. (Reporting by Paritosh Bansal in NEW DELHI and Ben Blanchard in BEIJING; editing by Mike Collett-White and Jason Neely)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Rupam Jain
| NEW DELHI
NEW DELHI Cash shortages weeks after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's decision to abolish large currency notes are making allies and members of his ruling party anxious, with some distancing themselves from the move ahead of a series of state elections.Modi removed 500 and 1,000 rupee notes, worth around $7.50 and $15 respectively, on Nov. 8, billing it as an attempt to root out corruption, end terror financing and move the country into the age of digital payments.He promised to replace all old bills with enough new currency notes by the end of this month. But his government has struggled to do that, leading to long lines at banks and a slump in economy activity. Nearly 90 percent of transactions in India used to be in cash.Interviews with six lawmakers from Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and a senior leader of the party's ideological parent, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), show his party cadre is starting to worry that the cash crunch could hurt their prospects in several states that go to the polls next year.Some parliamentarians said that while they thought Modi's decision was good, its execution had been botched and they were faced with constituents who were increasingly upset."There is no doubt that it is difficult to convince voters that everything will be fine," said Santosh Gangwar, the junior finance minister who is leading the BJP campaign in Uttar Pradesh. "Every candidate who will be contesting polls is nervous because they feel people may not vote for the BJP ... There is tension and we cannot deny it," he said. Of the BJP's 71 MPs from Uttar Pradesh, 28 have been to BJP President Amit Shah and the finance minister's office to seek solutions for the cash crunch, said a senior finance ministry official.BJP EXPECTS "BIG VICTORY"
BJP spokesman G.V.L. Narasimha Rao said that despite temporary difficulties, the prime minister continued to enjoy overwhelming support."Party cadres are highly enthused about a big victory in upcoming elections, and if a few are apprehensive, they will realise the reality soon," Rao said. Disquiet within the BJP underscores how Modi's unprecedented bet is turning into a test of popularity, and could go some way to determining his political future.It has become a central issue in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, where the outcome of elections early next year will be key for Modi's expected bid for a second term in 2019. The opposition, led by the Congress party, has joined forces, mocking the government for being ill-prepared for so-called "demonetisation" and blaming it for hardships faced by the poor as a result. It has called for Modi's resignation. The senior RSS official said they had counselled Modi days before the move to take time to prepare the ground for such a massive exercise, including setting up two new mints and expanding the banking network, and to roll it out in phases.
But the prime minister decided to press ahead, and he alone would bear responsibility for its failure or success, the official added. Earlier this month, N. Chandrababu Naidu, chief minister of Andhra Pradesh and a political ally of Modi, abruptly distanced himself from the move. Modi and senior members of his cabinet defend demonetisation. In an interview with India Today magazine on Thursday, Modi said it would give the economy a boost and provide long-term benefits, including forcing the country's vast shadow economy into the open."GRIM SITUATION"
Modi's announcement enjoyed popular support at first, with many people prepared to endure hardship as long as others were forced to give up ill-gotten wealth or pay tax.But shortages of new 500 and 2,000 rupee notes have caused tempers to rise as millions queue at banks and ATMs to draw money. Last week, more than three dozen BJP lawmakers, many of whom came from states that go to polls next year, met with Shah to demand that the government sends more cash to their constituencies, and quickly. The MPs told Shah about severe cash shortages and hardship to local businesses and ordinary people, according to several lawmakers who attended the meeting.They told the BJP president that they did not have the courage to hold election rallies at a time when people still had to stand in line, sometimes for hours, to get money. Some said they had not started door-to-door campaigning. "The situation is grim, and we cannot ignore it," Jagdambika Pal, a BJP lawmaker from Uttar Pradesh who attended the meeting, told Reuters. "It is a challenge for every BJP lawmaker to manage the situation, but we cannot do anything if there is no money in the banks."($1 = 67.9550 rupees) (Additional reporting by Rajesh Kumar Singh and Manoj Kumar; Editing by Paritosh Bansal and Mike Collett-White)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Mayank Bhardwaj
| NEW DELHI
NEW DELHI Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday defended his decision to withdraw high denomination bank notes from circulation, as a deadline to end severe cash shortages passed with Indians still queuing at banks to deposit savings and withdraw money.Modi abolished 500 and 1,000 rupee bills on Nov. 8, taking out 86 percent of cash in circulation, in a bid to fight corruption, end terror financing and turn India into a cashless society.The move, however, caused a major cash crunch as the government struggled to replace old notes with new 500 and 2,000 rupee bills. Modi had asked for 50 days, until the end of this month, to ease the crisis.Speaking in New Delhi at the launch of a digital payment app linked with a nationwide biometric database, Modi exhorted Indians to reduce their dependence on cash."The world is surprised to see the way we've overcome the challenge after 86 percent of cash was withdrawn," Modi said. He is expected to address the nation on New Year's Eve to further talk about so-called "demonetisation".While cash shortages have eased somewhat, bankers and analysts said the situation is far from normal and could last at least another six months. They said the move could hit economic growth and lead to job losses and a drop in demand for goods.
Only 35-40 percent of ATM machines were dispensing cash, according to Ramaswamy Venkatachalam, managing director, India and South Asia, Fidelity Information Services, a banking technology provider. The government has put a weekly cap on how much an individual can withdraw from an account at 24,000 rupees, but many banks were only handing out 10-15,000 rupees to clients because they did not have enough cash to go around, said Harvinder Singh, general secretary of All India Bank Officers' Association, which represents nearly 300,000 bankers.Singh said ATM operations were unlikely to be normal before the end of February.
"I'm here to deposit a few old notes before the deadline expires," said Rakesh Kumar, lining up outside a bank in New Delhi."But I expect the government and RBI (central bank) to quickly replenish banks and ATMs with new notes so that we can withdraw without any trouble."Modi's radical decision is turning into a test of his popularity, and is already a central issue in Uttar Pradesh, India's most populous state, where the outcome of state elections early next year will be key for Modi's expected bid for a second term in 2019.The cash shortages have started to make some allies and members of his ruling Bharatiya Janata Party anxious, with some distancing themselves from the move.
The opposition, led by the Congress party, has joined forces, mocking the government for being ill-prepared and blaming it for hardships faced by the poor as a result. It has called for Modi's resignation."In the last 50 days, the people have been put (through) enormous hardship and suffering," said P. Chidambaram, a senior leader from opposition Congress party and former finance minister."Altogether, the whole exercise has been a case of total mismanagement, administrative collapse and widespread corruption," Chidambaram added, accusing the government of taking the decision in haste.Chidambaram said Modi should make "a categorical announcement" that all curbs on cash withdrawals would end. (Additional reporting by Manoj Kumar and Sudarshan Varadhan; Editing by Nick Macfie and Mike Collett-White)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Jonathan Stempel
| NEW YORK
NEW YORK A founder of Run-DMC on Thursday filed a lawsuit accusing Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc (WMT.N) of selling a wide variety of clothing and accessories bearing the pioneering rap group's name without permission.Darryl McDaniels, the owner of Run-DMC Brand LLC, the plaintiff in the lawsuit, is seeking at least $50 million of damages from the retailers and other defendants over their alleged sale of glasses, hats, patches, T-shirts, wallets and other products that infringe the Run-DMC trademark registered in 2007.McDaniels called the Run-DMC brand "extremely valuable," and said it is the subject of several licensing agreements, including to endorse sneakers from Adidas AG (ADSGn.DE).He said the defendants are confusing consumers into believing that Run-DMC endorsed their products and are trading on the goodwill associated with the name, in violation of federal trademark and New York unfair competition laws.
"Plaintiff will suffer immediate and irreparable injury, loss, or damage" unless the infringements are stopped, according to the complaint filed in the U.S. District Court in Manhattan.Other defendants include Jet.com, an online retailer that Wal-Mart bought, and a variety of companies that do business with Amazon or sell products through Amazon.
Amazon, Wal-Mart and Jet.com did not immediately respond to requests for comment. McDaniels' lawyer did not immediately respond to similar requests.Run-DMC was founded in the New York City borough of Queens in 1981 by McDaniels, Joseph "Run" Simmons and Jason "Jam Master Jay" Mizell. It became one of the best-known rap acts of the 1980s, including for the album "Raising Hell" and such songs as the Aerosmith cover "Walk This Way" and "My Adidas."
In 2009, Run-DMC became the second rap act inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.The case is Run-DMC Brand LLC v Amazon.com Inc et al, U.S. District Court, Southern District of New York, No. 16-10011. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel in New York; Editing by Leslie Adler)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
By Rina Chandran
MUMBAI (Thomson Reuters Foundation) - One of Mumbai's best known colleges has banned female students from wearing ripped jeans, sparking the latest row against dress codes and curfews imposed on women that students say are discriminatory and sexist.St. Xavier's College, which had previously forbidden female students from wearing shorts, sleeveless tops and short dresses, this month added ripped jeans to its list of banned clothing.The Jesuit institution became the latest to incur the wrath of female students across the country who have been protesting rules that they say are discriminatory and distressing.Most universities in India have a 6 pm or 8 pm curfew for women, while men have a later timing, or no curfew. Universities also impose dress codes on women, limit or screen their male visitors, and have other rules that men don't. "In the name of safety, you can't police women and impose these patriarchal, discriminatory rules," said Devangana Kalita, a former Delhi University student who is part of Pinjra Tod, or break the cage, a Delhi-wide campaign protesting such rules."We want universities to recognise that we are adults, and that they should not be curbing our freedom and mobility. Providing a safe environment for women goes beyond just imposing rules," she said.Calls to staff at St. Xavier's College for a comment on the recent ban were not returned.
The Dean of Student Welfare in Delhi University, J.M. Khurana, said he was not aware of Pinjra Tod and that he did not wish to comment on university rules.The safety of women in India came under the spotlight after the fatal gang rape of a college student in New Delhi on a bus in December 2012 that sparked global outrage and led to the tightening of laws for crimes against women in India.Amid a widening debate on women's safety in the country, some politicians, university officials and even the police have asked women to take self-defence training, to "dress decently" and to not loiter outside after dark.
But students have demanded an end to curfews, and asked officials to focus instead on safer public transport, more female campus security personnel and better lighting in and around campuses.Kalita said early curfews are keeping women from internships, employment opportunities and campus activities."Universities say: 'your parents want the curfew'. But it's an absurd argument," Kalita said.Elsewhere, particularly in the more conservative southern states, the situation is worse, said Vandana Venkatesh, who surveyed colleges in Tamil Nadu state earlier this year.
Women students reported physical intimidation and threats of violence from college authorities for questioning discriminatory rules, she said."Many of them complained about feeling claustrophobic, anxious and belittled," she said.Earlier this month, women students in a college in the southern state of Kerala protested the hostel's 4 pm curfew and a rule banning mobile phones."There is a sense of collective strength and power now. The more women there are out on the streets, in public places, the safer we will be," Kalita said. (Reporting by Rina Chandran @rinachandran, Editing by Belinda Goldsmith; Please credit the Thomson Reuters Foundation, the charitable arm of Thomson Reuters, that covers humanitarian news, women's rights, trafficking, corruption and climate change. Visit news.trust.org to see more stories.)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
In a sensational claim, a suspended Maharashtra ATS officer has told a Solapur court that two of the absconding accused in 2008 Malegaon blasts case are in fact dead but falsely shown as "alive" by high ranking police officers.
Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the allegation by Anti-Terrorism Squad's(ATS) former senior inspector Mehmood Mujawar as "quite serious" and said the government will look into the matter.
The application filed in August before a magistrate court in Solapur claimed that Sandeep Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra, who are among the accused in the Malegaon blasts case, are "no more". The details of the application surfaced in public domain on Thursday.
Notably, Mujawar was suspended after a case under Arms Act and criminal intimidation was filed against him in a Solapur court.
"Sandeep Dange and Ramji Kalsangra are in fact no more but are shown alive in Malegaon bomb blast case by high ranking police officers," Mujawar alleged.
The application was filed in the court by Mujawar on 19 August this year seeking early disposal of the case under Arms Act registered against him.
Mujawar, in his application, alleged that the case was filed against him as a conspiracy and was a pressure tactic as he wanted to reveal the truth about the "death" of Dange and Kalsangra.
When asked about Mujawar's claim, former ATS chief KP Raghuvanshi rubbished it, saying, "I don't even remember who this Mujawar is or if he was even part of the team that investigated the case."
"At least, in my tenure in ATS, nothing of this sort has happened," Raghuvanshi told PTI.
A retired police official, who has worked in the ATS, questioned Mujawar's claim, asking as to why the allegation is being made now after eight years.
"Who had stopped this official from revealing these important facts before? We must not believe these claims," the official, requesting anonymity, said.
A bomb strapped to a motorcycle exploded in Malegaon on 29 September 2008, killing seven people and injuring around 100.
"Although the allegations are quite serious, we will have to look into it because why since 2009 no action has been taken. The concerned person says that the letter was sent to DG(DGP) and still there is no action taken.
"So I think we need to verify whether what is stated in the letter is really true, whether it is really genuine. I think, as of now I can only say that we will have a serious look at the entire episode," Fadnavis told reporters when asked to comment on the claim by Mujawar. NCP spokesman Nawab Malik demanded a probe into the allegation.
According to the investigating agencies, the Malegaon blasts was carried out by right wing extremists and a total of 11 persons are presently in jail in the case, including Lt Col Prasad Purohit and Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur.
The state ATS, which was initially probing the case, had charged the accused under various sections of the stringent Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act (MCOCA) and under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA), Indian Penal Code, Indian Explosives Act and the Arms Act.
However, when the case was handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), the agency filed a supplementary chargesheet by which charges under MCOCA were dropped on the ground that there wasn't sufficient material.
The NIA chargesheet also dropped Sadhvi and five others from the list of the accused. Apart from Sadhvi, those given clean chit by NIA are Shivnarayan Kalsangra, Shyam Sahu, Praveen Takkalki, Lokesh Sharma and Dhan Singh.
Sticking to his claims, Mujawar alleged that he was slapped with a false case with the intention of "suppressing the truth" about which he had informed the police top brass eight years back.
"I have filed an affidavit before the Solapur court regarding a false case against me in which trial is going on. Senior officials implicated me in a false case because I am aware about the killing of Sandeep Dange and Ramjee Kalsangra," Mujawar told PTI.
"To suppress this information, a false case was made against me. I won't name anyone. But, will tell everything in court. Whatever I want to speak I will speak in court only. I don't want to do media trial," he said.
"I had given this information to (the then) Director General of Police eight years before. I had sent messages to my seniors in this regard," he said.
With inputs from PTI
The Delhi High Court on Friday, on the Central Bureau Investigation's (CBI) plea, issued a notice to ex-Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi against the bail given to him on 26 December. Tyagi was granted bail by a special court in Delhi which said that the CBI had failed to state the alleged bribe amount and when it was paid. The Delhi High Court on Friday sought the response of ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi on CBI's plea challenging his bail claiming its probe would be "hampered" if he remains out. Justice Vipin Sanghi issued notice to Tyagi and listed the matter for hearing on 3 January.
#FLASH: Agusta Westland case: On the plea of CBI, Delhi High Court issues notice to ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi against bail given to him ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Tyagi, who retired in 2007, his cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan were arrested on 9 December by the CBI in connection with a case which relates to the procurement of 12 VVIP choppers from the UK-based firm Finmeccanica, during the UPA-2 regime. The Patiala House Court on Friday extended the judicial custody of SP Tyagi's cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan for 14 days.The court will decide the bail pleas of Sanjeev Tyagi and Khaitan on 4 January.
#AgustaWestland : Patiala House Court extends judicial custody of SP Tyagi's cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan for 14 days. ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Tyagi, 72, who was interrogated by the CBI in its custody for seven days, had been asked by special CBI judge Arvind Kumar to furnish a personal bond of Rs 2 lakh and one surety of like amount as pre-requisites for his release on bail.
The court had asked Tyagi not to leave the National Capital Region (NCR) without its permission and ordered him not to tamper with the evidence or try to influence the witnesses.
"CBI failed to state as to how much cash was paid to the accused and when it was paid. Admittedly, the CBI has seized the documents regarding properties in 2013 and more than three years and nine months have passed but could not conduct probe in this regard. Accused was arrested after about three years and nine months, LOC was withdrawn by CBI, his accounts were de-frozed after the agency gave 'no objection' and accused was allowed to travel abroad," the court, in its 26 December order, had said.
It had noted that Tyagi had joined the investigation as and when CBI called him and it was not the case that he either tampered with evidence after registration of the FIR or influenced witnesses in the case.
"CBI's apprehension that the accused may tamper with the evidence is without any basis... Accused has been a senior government servant. The correctness or otherwise of the allegation as to whether the accused has taken any kickbacks and in what manner he was connected with the same, can only be looked into during the course of the trial," it had said.
While granting the relief, the court had taken note of Tyagi's advancing age and his health conditions and had said no purpose would be served by keeping him behind the bars.
During the hearing, Tyagi's advocate Manger Guruswamy had said that her client "could not be deprived of freedom if the investigation is taking time to complete".
She had also claimed that in the last four years after registration of the FIR, the CBI has never been able to confront Tyagi with any incriminating evidence till date.
Additional Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the CBI, had opposed the bail pleas of the accused, saying if set free, they might influence witnesses and hamper the "multi-layered probe by various agencies in more than one jurisdictions involving several countries".
"We have evidence where the meetings unofficially took place for the purpose of crime. At this stage, please do not entertain their bail pleas. Let the probe be completed," he had said, seeking dismissal of the bail pleas of all the three accused and adding the matter has "tarnished country's name".
On the court's query whether the CBI had any material regarding SP Tyagi receiving money, the agency replied the former IAF chief had purchased several properties for which the sources of income were not disclosed by him and alleged that he had abused his official position.
Advocate Pramod Kumar Dubey, counsel for Khaitan, had also countered CBI's argument, claiming that the agency was trying to sensationalise the matter and there was no allegation that his client had not joined the probe or tried to influence it.
Sanjeev Tyagi's counsel Manav Gupta had also opposed CBI's contention saying there was no reason to claim that if granted the relief, his client would hamper the probe.
The accused had sought bail on the grounds that the evidence was documentary in nature and had already been seized by CBI and they have cooperated with the probe agency.
The court had on 17 December sent all the three accused to judicial custody till 30 December.
The CBI had said it was a "very serious" and "a very high-profile" case requiring interrogation to unearth larger conspiracy as the "interest of the nation was compromised".
Tyagi's counsel had earlier claimed that the decision to procure VVIP choppers from AgustaWestland was a "collective" one and the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) was also a part of it.
With inputs from PTI
The Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) that made a humble beginning in 1969 with a small strength of 3,129 men, has witnessed an exponential growth in terms of strength, portfolio and revenue earning. Today, with the latest sanctioned strength of 1.8 lakh armed personnel and 12 battalions, the CISF will be the worlds third largest aviation security expert by 2020. The only security force that earns its own salary, CISF has been aiming to be the largest player in the aviation security market by 2030.
On various aspects of the security force that guards the economic installations of the country, the CISFs director-general, OP Singh, a 1983 batch IPS officer of Uttar Pradesh cadre spoke to Firstpost in an exclusive interview. Edited excerpts follow:
Prior to your appointment as CISF chief, you had been the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) chief and had stints in the CRPF and Special Protection Group (SPG). What challenges do you perceive as director-general of CISF?
I have worked with the CISF earlier and was in charge of 59 airports in the country. But it was only for a year. Working in the paramilitary forces is a challenging task and each (unit) has its own different way of performing its duty and dealing with crises and humanitarian work. CISF was created to secure the industrial environment. After the 1956 industrial policy, the country witnessed the emergence of large public sector undertakings (PSUs) and lots of industries. Following economic liberalisation and globalisation, there was a surge in the industrial sector and security of this sector became paramount. It emerged as a futuristic force, where the need was to secure the most sensitive installations and also those sectors like airports, seaports, Metro rail etc that have a direct impact on our economy. Our role is to protect all these vital economic installations in government, public and private sectors. Were even protecting heritage sites.
How challenging is it for CISF to secure airports, especially after the Kandahar incident in which IA flight IC-814 was hijacked in 1999?
After the hijacking incident, the government decided to revamp airport security system in a big way, when the need was felt to give the responsibility of securing airports to a professional, dedicated and strong force. CISF was assigned the job and we were given the responsibility of Jaipur airport in 2000. Earlier, it was looked after by the state police. Ever since, aviation security was a new and highly challenging assignment for us.
The aviation sector is growing by leaps and bounds, and by 2020, CISF will be the worlds third largest aviation security expert. Well be the largest player in the aviation security market by 2030. Besides, aviation security is regulated by international standards and norms; CISF has to catch up with all these challenges.
How does CISF safeguard sensitive installations in nuclear and space sectors?
Different treatment is required to protect various domains in the country. Here, technological advancement comes into play and therefore besides manual training, CISF goes for technological training, and gadgets become one of our most important USPs. From securing airports to nuclear plants and space centres, we require hi-tech gadgets. We undergo a high level of technological training combined with our soft and hard skills, physical reflexes, armed training, etc. So, CISF is a conglomeration of all these tools and techniques.
What is CISFs modernisation plan?
Technology is required in various fields of our functioning. For instance, in access control which is the know-how required to gain access to a particular installation such as an airport building, or in perimeter security the area of the airport which is banned for public and is under constant patrolling. You need different gadgets for these specialised jobs. For a quick response time to vulnerable and emergency situations like any terror threat, you need quick response teams to protect installations. Then screening and frisking all require technical gadgets. All CISF personnel, whether working in airports or in different fields, undergo specialised training as per requirement. Securing an airport requires different skills than for securing a nuclear power plant.
CISF wants to provide an integrated security solution under a single umbrella.
Is CISFs backhand operation equally important?
Of course. We provide training on computerisation, monitoring events via CCTV, post-investigation of incidents, analysis of events etc. On the basis of these, ground-level decisions are taken.
After the Mumbai terror attack (26 November) in 2008, what is CISF's brief in combating terror threats?
After Mumbai, the mandate of the force was broadened to provide security cover to private establishments by amending the CISF Act. We have specialised training for anti-terror activities, which is provided to our people in the training institutes based in Madhya Pradesh and Greater Noida. Then we have VIP security. We conduct mock drills at various installations to measure up our preparedness for any such eventuality.
Is CISF providing security to installations based in the Red Corridor that is home to Naxals?
Yes, in a big way. Our men have risen to the occasion by not only providing security to installations against Left-wing extremism but also in managing a big public domain by providing safety and security to thousands of staff members working in the industrial sector. Our job is to protect all the economic installations like mines, steel and power plants, gas pipelines, rail tracks, etc in the Red Corridor from the Naxal threat looming over them.
Besides the Red Corridor, CISF is deployed in other sensitive areas in Jammu and Kashmir and North Eastern states to provide security to highly vulnerable and critical establishments.
How is CISF's role evolving with the ever-expanding Delhi Metro?
Its one of the most challenging assignments, as lakhs of people commute every day securing them is a big task. The population is increasing and the Delhi Metro network is undergoing its third phase of expansion. By sheer numerical strength of the Delhi Metro, it becomes a gigantic task to manage the network we have to take care of access control, frisking, monitoring, safety and security of commuters, movements, tracking petty crimes, criminal behaviour, women, senior citizens, children safety, issue of human trafficking, missing children, and lost-and-found baggage systems. Were flexible in finding lost baggage both in Metros and at airports. Weve deviced a mobile app for this need.
Can you tell more about this mobile app?
It's called the 'Lost and Found App'. You can register yourself, log in and find your lost item. We can help you in finding your lost baggage. The app has received the 'Ficci Smart Policing Award'.
Does CISF have any expansion plans?
Looking at the way were expanding in various fields, the government has sanctioned an additional strength of 35,000. Recently, the Ministry of Home Affairs increased the manpower ceiling and now from a 1.45-lakh-strong force, we have 1.80 lakh people. We have to undergo a process of recruitment for this and then train them. Weve been sanctioned two additional reserve battalions, one of which will be posted in the Maoist hotbed of Bastar in Chhattisgarh. Now, the CISF has 12 battalions and 1.80 lakh members of personnel.
The CISF is probably the only security force that earns its salary from its-...
Very true. CISF is a cost-reimbursement force. Were the only security force in the country that earns its own salary. We provide security and get paid by our clients. We give security consultancy services to various PSUs. Weve done consultancy for IIT-Kharagpur and Chennai; IDBI and ICICI banks; integrated steel plants; Tata Steel, Tata Power; Allahabad High Court; Tirupati and Thirumala Devasthanam etc.
After the Bhopal jail break incident, the Madhya Pradesh government approached us and we provided them security consultancy. Now they have asked us to do it for Indore, Gwalior and Jabalpur jails.
At present, were providing consultancy in safety paradigm and architecture to eight private installations including Reliance Refinery at Jamnagar (Gujarat), Baba Ramdevs Patanjali Food and Herbal Park in Haridwar, Electronic City in Bengaluru. So far, weve done 134 consultancy services and we earn money out of this. This is our source of revenue as well as salary. We generate revenue for the government and deposit it with the government exchequer.
How important is the role of women in CISF?
Among the Central Armed Police Forces, the CISF has the largest number of women officers and personnel and they work on par with their male counterparts. Airports and Delhi Metro Rail are two areas where women personnel play a vital role. A group of women personnel has been trained in the Filipino martial art Pekiti Tirsia Kali to respond quickly and effectively against the aggressors.
Any overseas assignments?
The first contingent of the CISF went on a UN Mission to Cambodia in 1991-92. Our officers have also served in Mozambique, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, Sudan, Cyprus, and Tunisia, among other countries. The present 8th CISF contingent comprises 140 handpicked, highly-trained armed personnel, who are assisting the Haitian National Police in weapon control and public security measures.
The National Democratic Alliance (NDA) government has cancelled Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) licences of about 20,000 non-profit government organisations (NGOs) ever since it came to power in May 2014. The home ministry, which took the action, has justified it saying these organisations were technically violating various provisions of the Act.
Cancellation of license would mean that these NGOs are no longer eligible to receive foreign funds. It should be noted that several of these NGOs are involved in rights-based advocacy work, especially working in the domain of human rights.
A plethora of civil society organisations have issued statements against this mass cancellation of FCRA licences stating that this is nothing but an 'abuse of legal procedures'.
They also "unequivocally condemned the present use of the FCRA as a tool of repression by the current government".
Organisations such as Greenpeace India, Amnesty International India, TARSHI Delhi and the Centre for Social Justice were all signatories to this statement.
Even the National Human Rights Commission has issued a notice to the home ministry on the issue.
"Prima facie it appears FCRA licence non-renewal is neither legal nor objective and thereby impinging on the rights of the human rights defenders in access to funding, including foreign funding," the apex human rights watchdog in the country said in the notice.
The FCRA is an intimidating law, especially since the original Act came into force in 1976 during the Emergency by the Indira Gandhi-led government. The Act, at that time, prohibited MPs, electoral candidates, political parties, judges from accepting foreign contributions.
Even "correspondents, columnist, cartoonist, editor, owner, printer or publisher of a registered newspaper" were included in the ambit of the definition of candidate under the Act. The objective was certainly to remove all voices of political dissent, though the ostensible legislative intent suggested that the law was to restrain foreign intervention from internal, domestic matters.
The new FCRA, amended by the Finance Bill 2016, has many changes that render it more severe than its predecessor.
For one, the registration under the previous FCRA was permanent; the present law has altered this, mandating that FCRA licences would expire after five years.
A renewal process would mean that prescribed authorities, that is the State, would have arbitrary power to decide whether an NGO can renew its licence afresh.
The new law also puts a 50 percent restriction on the proportion of foreign funds, thereby controlling the way an NGO spends its money.
Another change, and perhaps a significant one, is that the 1976 law targetted political parties. The new law, however, aims at "organisations of a political nature".
The FCRA Rules, 2011, drafted by the United Progressive Alliance government, defines what "organisations of a political nature" may include - farmers' organisations, students' unions, trade unions, workers' unions, youth forums, women's wing of political parties, youth organisations based on caste, community, religion, language and "any organisation... which habitually engages itself in or employs common methods of political action like 'bandh' or 'hartal', 'rasta roko', 'rail roko' or 'jail bharo' in support of public causes". The list is astonishing as it clearly targets people and organisations that want to critique, censure and challenge present political discourse.
It is absolutely appalling that the government would amend the legislation in a way that all "organisations of a political nature" are rendered powerless, while political parties are vindicated for prior violations of the law.
In 2014, the Delhi High Court indicted both the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) as well as the Congress of receiving foreign funds in violation of provisions of Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act (FCRA).
The verdict came after a public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by the Association for Democratic Reforms. A division bench comprising justice Pradeep Nandrajog and justice Jayant Nath asked the government and the Election Commission (EC) to act against the two political parties for accepting foreign funds from Vedanta subsidiaries.
The question, at this juncture, is why is the government apprehensive of NGOs whose work is to democratically interrogate so that constitutional rights and freedoms are not violated. Another question is whether the FCRA is indeed a tool of repression as civil society organisations have declared?
In April 2015, a legal analysis was developed by the UN Special Rapporteur on the Rights to Freedom of Peaceful Assembly and of Association.
It stated that FCRA norms and regulations "are not in conformity with international law, principles and standards". The FCRA violates the right to freedom of association, an integral freedom incorporated within the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, to which India is a party.
The right, though not absolute, are amenable to reasonable restriction; however, the analysis suggests that restrictions such as "public interest" and "economic interest" invoked under the FCRA cannot be termed as legitimate restrictions as they are too ambiguous and may give rise to arbitrary and discretionary powers.
Therefore, should the FCRA be repealed? Perhaps not, as regulation of NGO funding is a significant matter. However, curbing the voices in the civil society by way of a colourable legislation is unacceptable and simply put, draconian.
Krishnagar: India's first transgender college principal Manabi Bandopadhyay has submitted her resignation after about one-and-a-half years in office, expressing frustration at "non-cooperation" of a section of teachers and students of her institution.
Nadia District Magistrate Sumit Gupta on Thursday said he had received her letter of resignation from the post of Principal of Krishnagar Women's College in the district on December 27 and forwarded it to the state Higher Education department on Wednesday.
Manabi alleged that she started facing non-cooperation from a section of teachers soon after she took over as the principal of the well-known women's college on 9 June, 2015.
On the other hand, the teachers also levelled the same allegation against the principal, resulting in a standoff.
A four-member team, led by Joint Director of Public Instruction (DPI) RP Bhattacharjee, visited the college recently on a fact-finding mission and talked to the principal and teachers.
Manabi said, "All of my colleagues went against me. Some of the students went against me. I tried to bring back discipline and an atmosphere of education in the college. Most probably, that is why they went against me. I always got co-operation from the local administration, but never got it from my colleagues and students."
She went on to say that she had been under tremendous mental pressure and could not take it anymore, forcing her to resign.
"I feel tired due to the agitation and gherao by the students and teachers. I faced a lot of legal notices from their end. I had come to this college with new hopes and dreams but I was defeated...," she said.
Manabi (51), whose earlier name was Somnath, underwent a series of operations in 2003-2004 and became a woman. In 1995, she published the country's first transgender magazine, Ob-Manab (sub-human).
Srinagar: JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was on Friday detained at Pulwama as he led his supporters to stage a protest march against Jammu and Kashmir government's decision to issue identity certificates to West Pakistani Refugees.
Malik was detained along with several of his supporters. They were taken into preventive custody, a police official said.
Separatists groups had called for protests on Friday against the government decision to issue identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees living in the state since partition in 1947.
The state government has decided to issue identity cards to the refugees and had to issue clarification after protests from opposition parties and separatists against the move.
Initially, reports had said the opposition was against the government move to issue domicile certificates, but the state government said it was issuing identity certificates.
Other political organisations, including BJP and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, have slammed separatists for opposing the issuance of certificates to the refugees.
The refugees, settled in Jammu and Kashmir, are citizens of India and have the right to vote in parliamentary polls.
However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. They do not enjoy voting rights to the state assembly and local bodies.
Nine bodies have been recovered from a coal mine that collapsed late evening on Thursday in the Lal Matia colliery of Godda district in Jharkhand, reports said. Rescue operations are still on and several more are feared trapped inside.
Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: 40-50 workers feared trapped under the debris, rescue operations on. NDRF team from Patna on the way. pic.twitter.com/fYyK0XAhmI ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
"So far, nine bodies have been recovered," RR Amitabh, a general manager at the ECL project office told Reuters.
While initial reports put the number of trapped at around 10, a CISF official told ANI that around 40-50 workers are suspected to be trapped inside the debris along with 40 vehicles of a private company operating at the site.
Coal India has a poor safety record, with 135 accidents reported last year, killing 37 people and injuring 141, the company said in a report, highlighting concern about working conditions.
IANS said that a heap of mud caved-in at the entry point of the colliery. Rescue operation could not begin due to night fog, the police said.
The incident, a government of India release said, took place at 7.30 pm on Thursday and that a control room has been set up at project office of Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project.
However, the exact number of people and vehicle trapped inside is not known. "This could only become clear after the rescue operation starts," said Harilal Chauhan, Godda Superintendent of Police, earlier.
The locals said that there was a crack in the heap of mud which collapsed and blocked the entry point of the mine.
Mining operations were taking place about 200 feet beneath the ground. Though the cause of the accident is not known, the Ministry of Coal said that "prima facie...it could have been caused by a failure of the bench edge along the hidden fault line/slip".
Police said that rescue operation is underway and that an NDRF team from Patna is already on its way to the site of the accident. It is expected to reach by noon, IANS said.
Jharkhand mine collapse:NDRF team from Patna on the way.Additional manpower comprising 1 Go's;2 insp,21 CISF from ECL sheetalpur hqrs rushed ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Meanwhile, according to The Indian Express, Jharkhand chief minister Raghubar Das directed the DGP and chief secretary to initiate relief and rescue operations at the earliest. As of now, there are different versions of how many machines, vehicles and people are trapped. Relief and rescue operations are being initiated, a police official told the newspaper.
Prime Minister Naredra Modi reportedly spoke with Das who announced ex-gratia of Rs 2 lakhs to the dead and Rs 25,000 to those injured in the accident. Das also tweeted saying:
Raghubar Das (@dasraghubar) December 30, 2016
Meanwhile, Ministry of Coal said that an Inquiry has been ordered in the incident by the director general of mines safety and CIL has constituted a high-level committee of experts to investigate into the causes of the accident. THE ECL also announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs 5 lakhs each to the family of the deceased.
Some of the injured are being treated in a nearby hospital, ANI tweeted.
Godda: Mine collapsed in Lalmatia in Jharkhand last night, many workers feared trapped. (injured being given medical aid in a hospital) pic.twitter.com/ixCjRNT3fS ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Mine roof collapses in Dhanbad
In another incident, four workers suffered injuries, two of them seriously, when the roof of a mine partially collapsed at Putki Balihari area in Dhanbad district on Friday, PTI reported. The mine falls under Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited.
A senior district official said the four contractual workers were taking cable to a shaft of the hydro mines in lift when a part of the roof suddenly caved in trapping them.
The four were rescued and taken to a hospital where the condition of two of them was stated to be serious, the official said.
While the cause of the collapse in the Dhanbad mine is being looked into, more details are awaited of the mine collapse in Godda district.
With inputs from agencies
Srinagar: Normal life was affected in Kashmir Valley on Friday due to a strike called by separatists against the issuance of identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs).
Most of the shops, fuel stations and other business establishments in Srinagar the summer capital of the state were shut, while public transport was minimal, officials said.
They said there were very few street vendors visible in the city today due to the strike.
Reports of shutdown were also received from most of the other district headquarters of the Valley, the officials said.
Security forces were deployed in strength at sensitive places where barricades were also erected.
The separatists have also been calling for shutdown on Friday and Saturday every week after scaling down their agitation which followed the killing of Hizbul Mujahdeen militant Burhan Wani.
The more than five-month unrest in the Valley had left 86 people dead and thousands others, including 5,000 security personnel, injured.
The separatist groups both factions of Hurriyat Conference and JKLF on Thursday appealed the people to observe a complete shutdown on Friday and Saturday over WPR issue.
They alleged that the decision on issuance of identity certificates to WPR was aimed at changing the demography of Jammu and Kashmir.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday dared the Centre to get all the appointments made by his government probed after the CBI filed an FIR into the appointment of city Health Minister Satyendar Jain's OSD.
Asserting that he was not afraid of any probe, the AAP chief also wondered whether the Centre would accept a Delhi government-appointed committee to look into the Sahara Birla papers.
Kejriwal alleged that the CBI has filed "seven FIRs" against Jain and "two" against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, but did not elaborate.
In fresh trouble for the AAP government, the CBI has filed an FIR into the appointment of Jain's OSD while the LG office has recommended a probe by the agency into the appointment of his daughter Soumya Jain as a functionary in the Mohalla Clinic project.
"You (Centre) make your committee and get all our appointments probed. And we will form one, and you get the Sahara Birla matter probed with it. Agree?"
"We are not scared of any probe as we have not done any wrong. Then why are you scared of a probe?" Kejriwal tweeted.
In an official acknowledgment, the Islamic State on Tuesday confirmed the death of Aman Tandel, the Kalyan youth who left for Syria to fight for the Islamic State, a report published in DNA said.
The Islamic State paid tribute to Tandel on Telegram, a social networking site. While hailing him a "martyr", the message added that he died in Raqqah a city under the control of the terror group, the report said.
A report published in The Hindu on Thursday said that security agencies confirmed the death of the Kalyan youth. We cannot say when and how it happened, but on the basis of accounts provided by the family and other foreign agencies, it is confirmed that Tandel died in clashes in Syria, the paper quoted an official as saying.
In November, the family of Aman Tandel received an unknown call from Turkey informing them of his death in an airstrike, reported Mid Day.
Tandel, an electrical engineer, along with two others, travelled to Iraq on the pretext of a pilgrimage in June 2014. He is the second India-born Islamic State fighter to be killed after Saheem Tanki who is believed to have been killed in August 2015, The Hindu reported.
Meanwhile, a Mumbra-based youth Tabrez Tambe, who reportedly joined the Islamic State, came under the scanner of the Maharashtra ATS after the investigation agency refused to accept his claim that he is incarcerated in Libya, reported Mumbai Mirror.
Tambe reportedly called his brother Saud two weeks back and informed him of his arrest by Libyan authorities, the report added.
However, the ATS claims it has not yet received any report on his detention from Libya. The investigative agency believed that Tambe might be faking the story to avoid being arrested in India.
Jammu: One civilian was killed, as Pakistani Army indulged in heavy cross-border firing, targeting Indian positions and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch sector, prompting the Indian side to retaliate.
"Pakistani troops targeted the Indian Army posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Poonch sector with small arms, automatic and mortars at 16:55 hours," an army officer said. He said the army was retaliating strongly and effectively to the ceasefire violation.
One civilian has been killed in the ongoing firing, a senior police officer said.
On 16 December, Pakistan had violated ceasefire by targeting Indian positions along the LoC in Balakote sector of the same district. That had come after a lull of over three weeks, after the Indian troops had launched a counter-offensive on 23 November against the killing of three soldiers in the Machhil sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
In the cross-LoC attack by suspected Pakistani terrorists, three Indian soldiers were killed on 22 November, with body of one of them being mutilated. Following the incident, the Indian Army had vowed a heavy "retribution".
The 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement has virtually become redundant with over 300 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops.
Over 26 people, including 14 security personnel, have been killed in ceasefire violations since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Kolkata: West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday denied any incident of rioting at Dhulagarh in Howrah district and alleged that "wrong information" was being given on social media.
"In the last 15 days, social media is running wrong information on an incident which did not take place at all," Banerjee said at a programme in Kolkata, in an apparent refernce to the reports of violence in Dhulagarh, which is barely 20 km from the state secretariat.
"In order to break a news one must not act irresponsibly. If something has really happened then you (media) have every right to report but I think a field survey must be conducted," she stated.
Her remarks came even as a senior government official had said on Thursday that strict actions were taken against those involved in the Dhulagarh violence and the process of giving compensation to the affected had started. The state government, Banerjee said on Friday, is the first to help a family when their home is damaged or they are affected.
"If there is an accident, we immediately take steps to help the family.... We do it on humanitarian grounds but we do not do any publicity."
It was learnt from sources that the state government was paying compensation of around Rs 35,000 to families whose houses were damaged in the incident.
District police said inhabitants are wary of returning to their homes at Dhulagarh.
Delegations of BJP, CPI(M) and Congress were stopped from visiting the troubled areas of the district and police superintendent of Howrah (Rural) Sabyasachi Raman Mishra was transferred in the wake of violence in less than a fortnight of his appointment.
BJP has hit out at Banerjee over the Dhulagarh incident claiming that Hindus have been targeted in the violence. "This is height of the politics of appeasement. I want to ask those intellectuals, who cried over 2002 riots in Gujarat and then intolerant India, that when are they going to Kolkata," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said on Thursday.
New Delhi: Its not been a great year for wildlife. More tigers and leopards were poached in 2016 than in any year of the previous decade, pangolins were killed in the hundreds while thousands of marine animals perished this, due to the debilitating effect of climate change. Yet, the good news is that the number of tigers still rose.
"Tigers have increased but in the sphere of protection, this year has been worse for animals, including pangolins," Shekhar Niraj, Head of TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network in alliance with the WWF, told IANS.
Interestingly, an RTI application revealed that the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau has no information of poachers arrested or shot, the weapons used by them, or the numbers poached.
However, IANS managed to piece together information from different independent sources. The records of the Wildlife Protection Society of India (WPSI) show that at least 129 tigers and 419 leopards died in 2016 as compared to 91 tigers and 397 leopards in 2015. Of these, at least 50 tigers and 127 leopards were poached, a record in the last 10 years.
"These numbers are not accurate, these are only those reported or caught. The actual figures would be higher," WPSI programme manager Tito Joseph told IANS.
Over 20 elephants, 18 rhinos, multiple bears (sloth, Asiatic brown and black), two snow leopards and several sea-cucumber, which are highly sought-after in Southeast Asia, were either caught being poached or their harvest such as skin and claws were seized till November 2016.
"Fifty leopards, mostly from Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, and at least eight elephants died in road or train accidents alone," Joseph said. He added that a large number of animals had died not just because of poaching but due to negligence in the absence of proper management plans.
Also, nature's wrath, inspired by man-induced climate change, played its part, killing at least 1,800 endangered aquatic and marine animals in first three months alone.
The year, in fact, had begun with the washing ashore of the carcases of 74 short-finned pilot whales in the Gulf of Mannar in Tamil Nadu, a Bryde's whale in Mumbai, hundreds of Olive Ridley turtles in Odisha and several Gangetic and ocean dolphins. This apart, over 250 animals, including 20 rhinos, perished in Assam's Kaziranga National Park due to floods in August.
Ironically, all this happened in the year when India hosted "Third Asian Ministerial Conference on Tiger Conservation", where Prime Minister Narendra Modi pledged to protect the country's feline population. The good news here is that India is now home to 2,226 tigers 70 percent of those in the wild in Asia. Prakash Javadekar, then the Environment and Forest Minister, was quoted at the conference as saying that the number could be as high as 2,500.
Meanwhile, the "17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CoP17 CITES)" held in South Africa in September barred tiger farming (or breeding) and listed pangolins in CITES Appendix I for their protection, considering that the species is now threatened with extinction.
For the pangolin, a nocturnal animal hunted for its expensive scales used in Chinese medicine, the year was ugly. Over 20 instances of the seizure of several kilos of its scales were reported across the country. In New Delhi alone, the CBI, in October, seized 86 kg of pangolin scales.
An adult pangolin produces 2-3 kgs of scales a year while the young produce about 500 gms.
Thus, it's little wonder that WWF's Living Planet Report released in October said the world may lose 68 percent of its wildlife by 2020 the possible prelude to "the sixth mass extinction".
The report says that about 41 per cent of mammals, 46 percent reptiles, 57 percent amphibians and 70 percent freshwater fish are "threatened with extinction" in India. Four of the 385 species of mammals are already extinct in India.
The United Nations Environment Programme and Interpol in June reported that the environmental crime industry worth $258 billion was the fastest-growing among crime syndicates.
Agartala: The opposition Congress in Tripura on Friday said it will hold protests before the government offices against the demonetisation drive which has caused "limitless inconveniences" to the common people.
"Demonetisation has caused limitless inconveniences to the common people throughout the country including our state. So, the state Congress has decided to demonstrate before the offices of DMs, SDMs and other government offices in the state," TPCC President Birajit Sinha told reporters.
"We will demonstrate before the government offices including District Magistrates and Sub-divisional Magistrates on January 5 to protest against demonetisation," he said.
Ramen Barthakur, AICC Coordinator and in-charge of Tripura said, "The process of demonetisation is anti-people and anti-poor. It is a disaster caused by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. People want a relief from it."
Barthakur said, "It is one of the biggest scams aimed at benefiting the corporate. Rahul Gandhi had asked many questions including the quantity of black money recovered due to this step, but he remained silent."
Hyderabad: A keen contest is on the cards when worlds top woman shuttler Carolina Marin crosses swords with Indias PV Sindhu in the inaugural match of Premier Badminton League (PBL) between Hyderabad Hunters and Chennai Smashers on Sunday.
Marin, who is currently ranked world number two, and Sindhu, ranked six, are excited about the competition in PBL.
"I feel excited to be here in India. I am playing for the home crowd. I hope so many fans can come and support Hyderabad Hunters. I will try to do my best. It is going to be an exciting game against Sindhu. The score is going to be very different. Its my first time with this score. So, every point is going to be important. I will try to do my best to win here," Marin, who plays for Hyderabad Hunters, told reporters in Hyderabad.
Sindhu said one needs to be alert from the start in the 11-point game format adopted for the tournament.
"I will do my best. She (Marin) is part of Hyderabad Hunters. The crowd is going to be there. The scoring system is going to be different. Its 11 points. From the starting point, we need to be alert and give our best," Sindhu, who plays for Chennai Smashers, said.
"There would not be much time to think in the 11-point game format. So, every point is important. Every team is equally tough. So, it depends on who plays better on that day," Sindhu said.
Marin and Sindhu famously clashed in the Rio Olympics where Marin won the gold and Sindhu bagged the silver.
Replying to a query, Marin said Sindhu is growing up fast and that she had to give her best whenever she played against the Indian.
"I think she is growing up very fast. She is a good player. Whenever I play against Sindhu, its always a tough match," she said.
Replying to a query, Marin said it was not always the Chinese players who dominate world badminton.
"It's not only China. There are so many countries that now play at the top," said Marin.
Sindhu, who will be playing for Chennai Smashers, is not disappointed that PBL matches will not be played in Chennai in this edition of the tournament and hopes that there would be support for the team during the matches.
The other top players present on the occasion included Jan O Jorgensen, World No. 2 two from Denmark who plays for Delhi Acers, India's Kidambi Srikanth (Awadhe Warriors) and Viktor Axelsen (Bengaluru Blasters).
Asked about Saina Nehwal, Srikanth said that the star Indian shuttler, who recently recovered from a knee injury, was fit.
"She (Saina) is fit. She is fit to play," he said.
Srikanth, who is currently ranked world number 15, said he is looking forward to give his best for his team -- Awadhe Warriors.
Jorgensen said the 11-point game format is going to be different.
"It's very different. Every point is going to be crucial. I think it makes it even more exciting for all the viewers," he said.
In an apparently sudden development, Takam Pario is all set to take over as the next chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh. The move comes after the Peoples' Party of Arunachal (PPA) on early Friday suspended Chief Minister Pema Khandu, Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein and five other party MLAs from the primary membership of the party, temporarily with immediate effect, for alleged anti-party activities, reported India Today TV. The report added that a party meeting will be convened at 2 pm on Friday to make the decision official.
So, who is Takaram Pario? Here is an all you need to know about the next chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
Won 2014 poll on a Congress ticket
The 41-year-old Takam Pario was elected from the Palin Assembly seat in the 2014 elections. He belongs to Sangram (Dokio Langpo) village in Kurung Kumey district of Arunachal Pradesh.
Pario deserted Congress to join PPA
Elected on a Congress ticket, Pario later deserted Congress along with 42 other MLAs, and joined the People's Party of Arunachal (PPA). The PPA is part of the NDA-led North East Democratic Alliance.
Ministerial experience
In the outgoing Pema Khandu government, Pario had been the PHED (Public Health Engineering Department) minister. Pario held the same portfolio when Nabam Tuki was the chief minister.
However, Pario is reported to have fallen out of favour when the late Kalikho Pul became the chief minister earlier this year. Pul was found hanging from the bathroom of the chief minister's bungalow in August after the Supreme Court unseated him and reinstated his rival Nabam Tuki as the chief minister.
Richest Arunachal MLA
During the 2014 state assembly elections, Pario declared assets worth Rs 187 crores. Pario was the richest candidate in the fray during the polls.
With inputs from PTI
By Hugh Bronstein and Luc Cohen
| BUENOS AIRES
BUENOS AIRES An Argentine appeals court on Thursday revived a case accusing former President Christina Fernandez of trying to cover up Iran's alleged role in the bombing of a Buenos Aires Jewish centre in 1994.The prosecutor who first brought the allegation, Alberto Nisman, died mysteriously in January 2015, and a judge later threw the case out for lack of evidence. But that ruling was revoked on Thursday, opening Fernandez to prosecution."The evidence does not allow for a clear dismissal of the possible commission of illicit acts," the country's official CIJ Judicial Information Center said in a statement. "The accusations must be weighed in advance of dismissal."Argentine courts have accused Iran of sponsoring the attack, which killed 85 people at the AMIA Jewish community centre.
Nisman was found in his home shot through the head days after accusing Fernandez of trying to derail the bombing investigation as part of a plan to close the country's energy gap by trading Argentine grains for Iranian oil.She dismisses the charge as absurd.Nisman's death was initially classified as a suicide, but an official investigating the case said early this year that the evidence pointed to homicide.
The hard-charging prosecutor was just hours away from a scheduled appearance in Congress to brief lawmakers on his accusations against Fernandez when his body was found on the floor of his apartment, a 22-caliber pistol by his side.Iran has repeatedly denied any link to the bombing, and an Argentine judge in February 2015 dismissed Nisman's accusations as baseless. A review panel later agreed by a 2-1 vote, finding insufficient evidence to formally investigate Fernandez.
She has faced several criminal charges since leaving office a year ago. She was indicted this week on charges arising from allegations she and top officials from her administration skimmed money intended for public works projects. (Additional reporting by Maximilian Heath and Nicolas Misculin, Editing by Steve Orlofsky)
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RIO DE JANEIRO A Rio de Janeiro police officer confessed to murdering Greece's ambassador to Brazil, possibly at the direction of the diplomat's Brazilian wife with whom the policeman was romantically involved, Globo TV reported on Friday, citing police sources. Greek Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was missing since Monday night. Francoise, his Brazilian wife and the mother of their 10-year-old daughter, reported him missing to police on Wednesday.Globo TV reported on Friday afternoon that officer Sergio Moreira, 29, confessed to killing the ambassador on Monday night in the Rio de Janeiro home the Amiridis owned in Nova Iguacu, a hardscrabble neighbourhood in Rio's sprawling and violent northern outskirts.Globo TV reported that investigators said they believed Francoise and Moreira had arranged the murder in advance. Both Amiridis' wife and the officer were in custody, but it was not clear if they had retained lawyers.Police and Rio state security officials declined to comment on the Globo report and their investigation.The Greek embassy in Brasilia declined to comment.
In Athens, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Stratos Efthymiou said the government had no comment.Amiridis served as Greece's consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004. He was Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 until he took the top Brazil post at the beginning of 2016. Globo reported that two other suspects were in custody, but they were not identified.
The O Globo newspaper earlier reported that blood was found on a couch inside the home. Globo TV on Friday showed police carrying a sofa into police headquarters. A burned corpse was found on Thursday evening inside the car that Amiridis and his wife had rented. It was parked under a highway overpass in the area where the couple had been staying. On Thursday, police confirmed that the ambassador had been missing since Monday night, when he was last seen leaving the Rio home he shared with his wife.
The incident is another blow to Rio's image, just four months after it hosted the Summer Olympics.The neighbourhood where the car was found is dominated by powerful and politically connected armed groups comprised mostly of off-duty or retired police and firefighters who control vast areas. They often extort residents in exchange for keeping drug gangs from taking over the areas.The armed groups have grown for several years and often curry favour with local politicians by promising to deliver votes from entire neighbourhoods as long as authorities allow them to carry out their crimes. Crime in Rio has been rising and the state is deeply indebted, often unable to pay police and other salaries on time, if at all. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Sao Paulo, Paulo Prada in Rio de Janeiro and George Georgiopoulos in Athens; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe, Toni Reinhold)
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By John Davison
| BEIRUT
BEIRUT Clashes, shelling and air raids in western Syria marred a Russian- and Turkish-backed ceasefire that aims to end nearly six years of war and lead to peace talks between rebels and a government emboldened by recent battlefield success.Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the ceasefire on Thursday after forging the agreement with Turkey, a longtime backer of the opposition.The truce went into force at midnight but monitors and rebels reported almost immediate clashes, and violence appeared to escalate later on Friday as warplanes bombed areas in the country's northwest, they said.The ceasefire is meant as a first step towards fresh peace talks, after several failed international efforts this year to halt the conflict, which began as a peaceful uprising and descended into civil war in 2011. It has resulted in more than 300,000 deaths, displaced more than 11 million people and drawn in the military involvement of world and regional powers, including Moscow and Ankara.The agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey, which said they will guarantee the truce, is the first of three ceasefire deals this year not to involve the United States or United Nations.Moscow is keen to push ahead with peace talks, hosted by its ally Kazakhstan. But the first challenge will be maintaining the truce, which looked increasingly shaky on Friday.Syrian government warplanes carried out nearly 20 raids against rebels in several towns along the provincial boundary between Idlib and Hama, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Clashes between rebel groups and government forces took place overnight in the area, the Observatory and a rebel official said.Warplanes and helicopters also struck northwest of Damascus in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley, where government troops and allied forces clashed with rebels, the British-based Observatory reported.A military media unit run by Damascus's ally Hezbollah denied any Syrian government air strikes on the area.An official from the Nour al-Din al-Zinki rebel group said government forces had also tried to advance in southern Aleppo province.There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military on Friday's clashes.A number of rebel groups have signed the new agreement, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday. Several rebel officials acknowledged the deal, and a spokesman for the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loose alliance of insurgent groups, said it would abide by the truce.
PREVIOUS COLLAPSES
The previous two Syria ceasefires, brokered by Washington and Moscow, took effect in February and September but both collapsed within weeks as warring sides accused each other of truce violations and fighting intensified.Putin said the parties were prepared to start peace talks intended to take place in Astana. Syrian state media said late on Thursday those talks would take place "soon".The Syrian government will be negotiating from a strong position after its army and their allies, including Shi'ite militias supported by Iran, along with Russian air power, routed rebels in their last major urban stronghold of Aleppo this month.Moscow's air campaign since September last year has turned the civil war in Assad's favour, and the last rebels left Aleppo for areas that are still under rebel control to the west of the city, including the province of Idlib.In another sign that the latest truce could be as challenging to maintain as its predecessors, there was confusion over which rebel groups would be covered by the ceasefire.
The Syrian army said the agreement did not include the radical Islamist group Islamic State, fighters affiliated to al Qaeda's former branch the Nusra Front, or any factions linked to those jihadist groups.But several rebel officials said on Thursday that the agreement did include the former Nusra Front - now known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham - which announced in July that it was severing ties with al Qaeda.The powerful Islamist insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham said it had not signed the ceasefire agreement because of "reservations" but did not elaborate.RUSSIA-TURKEY DETENTE
The deal also follows a thaw in ties between Russia and Turkey.In a sign of the detente, the Turkish armed forces said on Friday Russian aircraft had carried out three air strikes against Islamic State in the area of al-Bab in northern Syria.
Ankara is backing rebels fighting against Islamic State, which has made enemies of all other sides involved in the conflict.While Ankara has been a big sponsor of the rebellion, Assad's removal has become a secondary concern to fighting the expansion of Kurdish influence in northern Syria. The chances of Assad's opponents forcing him from power now seem more remote than at any point in the war.Turkish demands that fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement leave Syria may not please Iran, another major Assad supporter. Hezbollah has been fighting alongside Syrian government forces against rebels.On Thursday a senior Hezbollah official said the party's military wing would remain in Syria.Hezbollah's mission in Syria was to "confront the terrorist project", Lebanon's National News Agency quoted the head of Hezbollah's political council, Sayyed Ibrahim Amin al-Sayyed, as saying.UNITED STATES SIDELINED
The United States has been sidelined in recent negotiations and is not due take part in the peace talks in Kazakhstan although Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said on Friday the United States would be welcome to attend. The ceasefire, in the waning days of U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, was the first major international diplomatic initiative in the Middle East in decades not to involve the United States.Russia has said the United States could join a fresh peace process once President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. It also wants Egypt to join, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and the United Nations.Trump has said he would cooperate more closely with Russia to fight terrorism but it was unclear what that policy would look like, given resistance from the Pentagon and the U.S. intelligence community to closer cooperation with Russia on Syria. (Additional reporting by Lisa Barrington and Ellen Francis in Beirut, Suleiman al-Khalidi in Amman, Jonathan Landay in Washington, Tulay Karadeniz and Orhan Coskun in Ankara; Editing by Anna Willard)
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Washington: US President-elect Donald Trump will meet intelligence officials next week "to be updated on the facts" after the Obama administration sanctioned Russian intelligence services, expelled 35 Russian officials and shuttered two Russian-owned compounds in the US.
"It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation," Trump said.
Trump's vaguely worded statement, which did not mention Russia directly, came soon after the Obama Administration on Thursday announced a series of punitive measures against alleged Russian hackings during the presidential elections.
A top Trump advisor said that it is time to move on.
"He'll receive an intelligence briefing this coming week. And in the meantime, he believes it's time to move on," Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the president-elect, told CNN.
"I've been reading all the news reports about these retaliations, these sanctions put forward by President Obama and his administration. Some of them seem largely symbolic. The GRU doesn't travel here, doesn't keep its assets here. No reason allies will follow suit. We're yet to see all of the intelligence reports," she said.
Trump, she noted, believes it's time to move on to bigger and better things for the country.
Meanwhile, announcement of sanctions against Russia was welcomed by lawmakers from across the aisle.
"Russia does not share America's interests. In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, sowing dangerous instability around the world. While todays action by the administration is overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia. It serves as a prime example of this administration's ineffective foreign policy that has left America weaker in the eyes of the world," House Speaker Paul Ryan said.
The retaliatory measures announced by the Obama Administration are long overdue, said Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.
"But ultimately, they are a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy. We intend to lead the effort in the new Congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia," the two Senators said in a joint statement.
After years of weakness that have invited and encouraged Russian aggression, the actions by President Obama are long overdue, said Senator Marco Rubio.
"Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear he is not an ally or partner of the United States, and that his interests are fundamentally not our interests," he said as he welcomed the sanctions against Russia.
By Oliver Denzer and Geert De Clercq
| BERLIN/PARIS
BERLIN/PARIS European capitals tightened security on Friday ahead of New Year's celebrations, erecting concrete barriers in city centres and stepping up police numbers after the Islamic State attack in Berlin last week that killed 12 people.In the German capital, police closed the Pariser Platz square in front of the Brandenburg Gate and prepared to deploy 1,700 extra officers, many along a party strip where armoured cars will flank concrete barriers blocking off the area."Every measure is being taken to prevent a possible attack," Berlin police spokesman Thomas Neuendorf told Reuters TV. Some police officers would carry sub-machine guns, he said, an unusual tactic for German police.Last week's attack in Berlin, in which a 24-year old Tunisian ploughed a truck into a Christmas market, has prompted German lawmakers to call for tougher security measures.In Milan, where police shot the man dead, security checks were set up around the main square. Trucks were banned from the centres of Rome and Naples. Police and soldiers cradled machine guns outside tourists sites including Rome's Colosseum.Madrid plans to deploy an extra 1,600 police on the New Year weekend. For the second year running, access to the city's central Puerta del Sol square where revellers traditionally gather to bring in the New Year will be restricted to 25,000 people, with police setting up barricades to control access.In Cologne in western Germany, where hundreds of women were sexually assaulted and robbed outside the central train station on New Year's Eve last year, police have installed new video surveillance cameras to monitor the station square.The attacks in Cologne, where police said the suspects were mainly of North African and Arab appearance, fuelled criticism of Chancellor Angela Merkel's decision to accept nearly 900,000 migrants last year.
The Berlin attack has intensified that criticism.In Frankfurt, home to the European Central Bank and Germany's biggest airport, more than 600 police officers will be on duty on New Year' Eve, twice as many as in 2015.In Brussels, where Islamist suicide bombers killed 16 people and injured more than 150 in March, the mayor was reviewing whether to cancel New Year fireworks but decided this week that they would go ahead.
PARIS PATROLS
In Paris, where Islamic State gunmen killed 130 people last November, authorities prepared for a high-security weekend, the highlight of which will be the fireworks on the Champs-Elysees, which some 600,000 people are expected to attend. Ahead of New Year's Eve, heavily armed soldiers patrolled popular Paris tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and the Louvre museum. Across France, more than 90,000 police and thousands of soldiers will be on duty for New Year's Eve, authorities said.
On Wednesday, police in southwest France, arrested a man suspected of having planned an attack on New Year's Eve.Two other people, one of whom was suspected of having planned an attack on police, were arrested in a separate raid, also in southwest France near Toulouse, police sources told Reuters.In Vienna, police handed out more than a thousand pocket alarms to women, eager to avoid a repeat of the sexual assaults that blighted Cologne's New Year's Eve in 2015."At present, there is no evidence of any specific danger in Austria. However, we are talking about an increased risk situation," Interior Minister Wolfgang Sobotka said. "We leave nothing to chance with regard to security."In Ukraine, police arrested a man on Friday who they suspect was planning a Berlin copycat attack in the city of Odessa. (Additional reporting by Maria Sheahan in Frankfurt, Kirsti Knolle in Vienna, Teis Jensen in Copenhagen, Isla Binnie in Rome, Sarah White in Madrid and Robert Muller in Prague; Writing by Paul Carrel; Editing by Louise Ireland)
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By Hilary Russ
| NEW YORK
NEW YORK New York City will deploy sand-filled trucks and thousands of police officers as part of a beefed-up plan to protect revellers at this year's New Year's Eve celebrations in Times Square, mindful of two deadly truck attacks in Europe this year.As many as 2 million people are expected to gather on Saturday to welcome the new year and authorities said on Thursday they were aware of no credible threat to the annual festivities at the famed Manhattan crossroads.Even so, officials have redoubled efforts to prevent attacks like those in Germany and France this year in which suspected Islamic militants intentionally drove trucks into holiday crowds, killing dozens of civilians. "People will be safe," New York City Police Commissioner James O'Neill said at a news conference, aiming to allay any security concerns about the Times Square celebration, where a giant crystal ball will descend from a tower to mark the start of 2017."We're going to have one of the most well-policed, best-protected events in one of the safest venues in the entire world given all the assets that we deploy here," he said.
New York Police Chief of Department Carlos Gomez said the truck attacks in Europe were taken into consideration in planning New York's security plan.A truck attack at a holiday market in Berlin days before Christmas killed a dozen people and injured 56, while a similar incident in Nice, France, on Bastille Day this summer killed 86 people and injured more than 400.Revellers in New York City on Saturday will find 65 large sanitation trucks filled with sand placed in strategic positions to block potential truck attacks, as well as about 100 other smaller "blocker" vehicles, officials said.
More than 80 sand trucks were used to protect the Macy's 90th Thanksgiving Day Parade in New York after Islamic State militants abroad encouraged their followers to target the event, which drew an estimated 3.5 million people to the streets of the largest U.S. city. [nL1N1DP1DQ]For New Year's Eve, the nearly 2 million visitors expected to gather in the hours before midnight may notice heavily armed police teams, bomb-sniffing dogs, helicopters and bag searches in subways. Coast Guard and police vessels will patrol the waterways surrounding Manhattan.Officers also will make sweeps of area hotels, theatres and parking garages and monitor checkpoints where they scan for radiation and weapons, police said.
Other less visible layers of security include plainclothes officers, hundreds of security cameras, the removal of trash cans, sealed manhole covers and rooftop observation points. All told, the New York Police Department has assigned nearly 7,000 police to Times Square and throughout the rest of the city on Saturday, officials said.Umbrellas, large bags and alcohol are banned and portions of 57th and 59th streets will be closed to traffic. (Reporting by Hilary Russ in New York; Editing by Frank McGurty and Bill Trott)
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MANILA Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has asked his defence minister to move joint naval exercises with the United States away from the disputed South China Sea as Duterte tries to repair Manila's ties with China.The Philippines has already decided to reduce the number of drills it holds with its long-term ally and former colonial master after Duterte announced a sudden pivot towards China.Defence Secretary Delfin Lorenzana told reporters at a military ceremony on Friday that Duterte had advised him to seek a new location for the war games."We might move the naval exercises facing the South China Sea to Mindanao area to avoid annoying our neighbour, so let us be sensitive of our neighbours," he said.
Duterte visited Beijing in October and announced that he was loosening ties with Washington, which has provided nearly $800 million in military aid since 2002.Chinese-Filipino relations were strained in 2013 when Manila asked an international tribunal in The Hague to rule on China's claim to large parts of the South China Sea, where Brunei, Malaysia, the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam also have claims.
The Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China but Beijing, which has been building and fortifying artificial islands in the area, refused to recognise the decision.Duterte reiterated on Thursday that he wanted to avoid confrontation with China and saw no need for urgency in pressing it to abide by the ruling.
He also played down concerns that China was militarising the South China Sea and appeared unperturbed by its dredging work and building activity, much of which falls within what Manila considers its Exclusive Economic Zone. (Reporting by Karen Lema and Manuel Mogato; Editing by Kevin Liffey)
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SAO PAULO Greece's ambassador to Brazil has been missing for three days, and Rio de Janeiro state police said there was still no sign of the diplomat as of Thursday night.Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was last seen Monday evening leaving the home of friends of his Brazilian wife in a poor and violent suburb of Rio's metropolitan area, the police said. A Rio state police official said the ambassador's wife reported him as missing on Wednesday. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to discuss details of the case.Rio police inspector Evaristo Pontes told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper that he does not believe the ambassador was kidnapped."We're following some leads, but not that one. If it had been (a kidnapping), those who took him would have made contact by now," he said.
An official at the Greek Embassy in Brasilia would not confirm the ambassador was missing, saying only that he was on vacation in Rio and expected to return to Brasilia on Jan. 9. Amiridis previously served as Greece's consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004.
More recently he was Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 until he took the top Brazil post at the beginning of 2016.Brazil's Foreign Ministry said it had no comment on the case, other than to say it was being fully pursued by police.
In Athens, Greece's Foreign Ministry had no comment. (Reporting by Brad Brooks in Sao Paulo, Alonso Soto in Brasilia and George Georgiopoulos in Athens; Editing by Phil Berlowitz)
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Moscow: Russian President Vladimir Putin castigated the United States on Friday for imposing sanctions and expelling its diplomats amid allegations of Moscow's meddling in the American presidential election, but said no US diplomats will be ousted in reprisal for President Barack Obama's moves in the wake of hacking attacks.
In a burgeoning controversy surrounding complaints from the Obama administration about a cyberattack against America's political system, the White House on Thursday unleashed a string of sanctions and coupled them with an order that 35 Russians be expelled.
Putin, however, said on Friday that Moscow would not eject American diplomats in response to what he described as "provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-American relations" less than a month before Donald Trump is to take over the White House.
The decision came as a surprise; tit-for-tat expulsions are common diplomatic practice and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had suggested hours before Putin's announcement that Russia would oust 31 American diplomats.
"The Russian diplomats returning home will spend the New Year holidays with their relatives and dear ones," Putin said in a statement published on the Kremlin website. "We will not create problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anybody."
"Moreover, I am inviting all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas parties at the Kremlin."
Putin appeared to aim at playing a long game and at making a barbed reminder that Obama is a lame duck.
"Putin's asymmetric response to Obama's new sanctions is an investment in the incoming Trump presidency," Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Center, said on Twitter. "A different kind of tit-for-tat: Even as Obama seeks to constrain Trump in his Russia policy, Putin counters that step with a show of magnanimity."
The diplomatic confrontation between Washington and Moscow, which had been festering even before Trump won the American presidential election, puts pressure on the billionaire businessman not to let Russia off the hook after he takes office on 20 January.
Russia's government had threatened retaliation, and it continues to deny US accusations that it hacked and stole emails to try to help Trump win. Trump said the US should move on, but in a sign that he was no longer totally brushing off the allegations, he plans to meet with US intelligence leaders next week to learn more.
In his statement published on Friday, Putin said Russia will not bar the diplomats' "families and their children from using their favorite places of recreation during the holidays".
New Year's Eve has been the main holiday in Russia since Soviet times. Russians celebrate Christmas on 7 January.
Obama on Thursday ordered sanctions against the GRU and FSB, the Russian intelligence agencies the US said were involved in the hacking attacks. In an elaborately coordinated response by at least five federal agencies, the Obama administration also sought to expose Russia's cyber tactics with a detailed technical report and hinted it might still launch a covert counterattack. "All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," said Obama, who was vacationing in Hawaii.
Yet the sanctions could easily be pulled back by Trump, who has insisted that Obama and Democrats are merely attempting to delegitimise his election.
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev charged earlier on Friday that Washington has become immersed in "anti-Russian death throes."
Medvedev, who focused on improving U.S.-Russia ties when he was president from 2008-2012, called the latest diplomatic breach "sad" in a Twitter post.
U.S. relations with Russia have suffered during Obama's presidency as he and Putin tussled over Ukraine, Edward Snowden and Russia's support for Syrian President Bashar Assad. Maria Zakharova, a Russian foreign ministry spokeswoman, took to Facebook to call the Obama administration "a group of foreign policy losers, angry and ignorant."
As part of the punishment leveled against Moscow, the U.S. kicked out 35 Russian diplomats, in response to Russia's harassment of U.S. diplomats. Russian recreational compounds in New York and Maryland that U.S. officials said were being used for intelligence were also shut down.
It was the strongest retaliation the Obama administration has taken for a cyberattack, and more comprehensive than last year's sanctions on North Korea after it hacked Sony Pictures Entertainment. The new penalties add to existing U.S. sanctions over Russia's annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Senior Obama administration officials said that even with the penalties, the U.S. had reason to believe Russia would keep hacking other nations' elections and might well try to hack American elections again in 2018 or 2020. The officials briefed reporters on a conference call on condition of anonymity.
Though the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint report on "Russian malicious cyber activity" the government still has not released a broader report Obama has promised detailing Russia's efforts to interfere with U.S. elections.
The report has been eagerly anticipated by those hoping to make it politically untenable for Trump to continue questioning whether Russia was really involved.
Obama's move puts Trump in the position of having to decide whether to roll back the measures once in office. U.S. officials suggested that building the case against Russia now would make it harder for Trump to justify easing up. Putin mentioned on Friday that Russia will be taking steps in the bilateral relations depending on what Trump does once he's sworn in.
Bucharest: Romania's president on Friday named social-democrat Sorin Grindeanu as the nation's new prime minister, bringing to a close weeks of uncertainty since the left won a parliamentary vote on 11 December.
The centre-right President Klaus Iohannis signed the official decree naming Grindeanu, a 43-year-old former communications minister, as the new premier.
Grindeanu now faces a confidence vote in Parliament on his programme and cabinet nominees. The vote must take place within the next 10 days.
The nomination sought to put an end to a political crisis sparked when Iohannis rejected a previous candidate who would have been the country's first female and first Muslim prime minister. The president offered no reasons for his rejection of Sevil Shhaideh, initially put forward by the Social Democrats (PSD), but there was speculation that it was due to her Syrian husband's background.
Sources close to the president had indicated on Thursday that Grindeanu was considered a better solution. "Iohannis is hoping for a smoother, less conflictual coexistence than he had with former prime minister Victor Ponta," who was forced to resign in November 2015 after street protests erupted over a deadly nightclub fire.
Grindeanu is seen in Romania as a "disciplined soldier" within the PSD ranks and said himself in a recent interview that he had joined the party very young as an outlet for his leftist convictions. After his nomination on Wednesday by PSD leader Liviu Dragnea, Grindeanu said he would obey the party chief.
"Mr Dragnea is the president of the PSD, it's very simple," he said. Dragnea had withdrawn his own bid to become prime minister because of a conviction that bars him from office.
Dragnea however made no secret of the fact he was looking for a candidate close to him. "I wanted a man I could trust, a man who wouldn't use his government position as a springboard," he said.
He also said he would not abandon his own ambitions of power, branding as "unjust" the laws barring him from office over charges of electoral fraud.
Before Grindeanu, the PSD had proposed the previously little-known Shhaideh after its thumping poll victory on 11 December, when it won 45 percent of the vote, enough to form a majority coalition with its partners ALDE.
Shhaideh, 52, who has only five months ministerial experience, is from Romania's small and long-established Turkish minority, but her Muslim faith is not thought to have been the problem.
Instead, the focus was likely on her husband, 54, who worked in the Syrian agriculture ministry for 20 years before emigrating to Romania in 2011 and marrying Shhaideh the same year, according to the PSD.
The HotNews website cited unnamed sources as saying that the security services had "strongly cautioned" against Shhaideh's nomination because of the closeness of her husband and his two brothers to President Bashar al-Assad's regime. This might have made giving Shhaideh the necessary security clearances to be the NATO member's prime minister problematic.
On Tuesday, after Shhaideh's rejection, Dragnea said the PSD was considering its options including moving to suspend Iohannis or going to the constitutional court.
However, any attempt by PSD to remove the head of State would have been problematic, because Iohannis was entitled to request a second proposal for premier. The PSD eventually agreed to make a new proposal, stating that it would be their "final" effort to avoid "political war".
The PSD's election triumph came barely a year since anger over the nightclub fire that killed 64 people forced it from office. The inferno was blamed on corruption something Brussels has long complained about since Romania joined the EU in 2007.
Damascus: A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey took effect at midnight (local time), in a potentially major breakthrough in the conflict of more than five years.
The deal, which does not include designated "terrorists" like the Islamic State group, was announced hours earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said there had been "total calm since the start of the ceasefire in many provinces all over Syria" adding that "no violations were monitored in all regions".
According to an AFP correspondent in Eastern Ghouta, the shelling and airstrikes stopped from more than one hour in the region after intensive shelling and raids on Thursday.
AFP correspondents in Damascus and Idlib said there had been no sound of shelling, airstrikes or clashes since midnight.
The agreement, hailed by Syria's government as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.
Putin said Damascus and the "main forces of the armed opposition" had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks.
Turkish president Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a "historic opportunity" to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 3,10,000 people and forced millions from their homes.
Putin said he would also reduce Moscow's military contingent in Syria that has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year.
The Kremlin strongman, however, said Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" in Syria and maintain its support for the regime.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere would be considered "terrorists".
Erdogan indicated Turkey would press on with its four-month incursion into Syria against Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militia. Syria's army said the deal did not include IS and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fateh al-Sham Front.
That could cause complications in areas like Idlib in northwestern Syria, where Fateh al-Sham is allied with rebel groups that have signed on to the deal. Syria's political opposition and rebels had confirmed their backing for the truce, saying it applied to all parts of the country.
"The agreement is for all of Syria and contains no exceptions or preconditions," said Osama Abou Zeid, a legal adviser to rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner.
ISTANBUL A Turkish court remanded journalist Ahmet Sik in custody pending trial on Friday after he was accused of spreading the propaganda of various groups, an opposition lawmaker and a lawyer said.Sik works for Cumhuriyet, one of the few newspapers still critical of the government after Turkey purged tens of thousands of people, largely from the state apparatus, in the wake of a coup attempt last July."Handcuffs have been slapped again onto journalism, reporting and the right to obtain information. Ahmet Sik has been remanded in custody," lawmaker Sezgin Tanrikulu, from the main opposition party CHP, tweeted.Lawyer Efkan Bolac said Sik had been accused of spreading propaganda for the militant Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), the far-left DHKP-C and what Ankara describes as the Gulenist Terrorist Organisation (FETO).FETO refers to supporters of the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gulen who are accused of being behind the attempted military coup on July 15 in which more than 240 people were killed.
The state-run Anadolu news agency said Sik was also accused of insulting the state, judiciary, military and the police.The DHKP-C, which has carried out armed attacks in Turkey, and the PKK, which has fought for three decades for autonomy for Turkey's mainly Kurdish southeast, are considered terrorist groups by Turkey, the United States and European Union.
At least 81 journalists are imprisoned in Turkey, according to the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and more than 130 media outlets have been shut since July. Most of those held are accused of spreading terrorist propaganda.More than 110,000 civil servants, police, academics and others have been detained, suspended or dismissed over suspected links to Gulen. Around 40,000 have been formally arrested.
Turkey's Western allies have been alarmed by the crackdown, but Ankara says it is justified by the threat posed by Gulen's network. Gulen denies the accusations against him.Sik is a long-standing critic of Gulen. In 2011 he was jailed for a year over a biography of the cleric, one of hundreds of imprisoned soldiers and journalists who said they had been the victims of Gulenist judges and prosecutors. The convictions were later overturned and the cases thrown out. (Writing by Daren Butler; Editing by Janet Lawrence)
This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed.
Income investors always look for reliable dividend stocks, and both Philip Morris International (PM -1.16%) and Verizon (VZ -1.49%) have done a great job of paying out much higher yields than the overall market. The tobacco giant and the wireless telecom specialist are large enough that they aren't going to win any prizes for super-fast growth, but they nevertheless have several areas that they're focusing on to drive future gains in revenue and earnings. Right now, though, some investors want to know which one of these two high-yielding favorites is the smarter pick. Let's look more closely at Philip Morris and Verizon, comparing them on a number of metrics to see which one looks more attractive right now.
Stock performance and valuation
Both Philip Morris and Verizon have been good to shareholders over the past 12 months, but the wireless giant has stronger momentum right now. Verizon has posted a total return of 20% since December 2015, compared to just 8% for Philip Morris over the same period.
Usually, you'd expect that a larger share-price advance would result in a more expensive valuation. Yet Verizon trades at much cheaper earnings multiples than Philip Morris does. When you focus on trailing earnings, Verizon stock has a multiple of less than 16 times its net income over the past 12 months. That compares to nearly 22 times trailing earnings for Philip Morris.
Verizon's value advantage persists when you build in expectations of future earnings. The telecom company has a forward multiple of just over 13, compared to Philip Morris' trading at 19 times forward earnings estimates. On valuation and stock performance, Verizon has a commanding lead over Philip Morris.
Dividends
The biggest attraction for most investors looking at Philip Morris and Verizon is their dividend yield. Right now, Philip Morris has a slight edge over Verizon, with the cigarette maker paying 4.5% compared to a 4.3% yield for the wireless network provider.
Moreover, both companies have given their investors a consistent track record of higher dividend payments over time. Verizon's track record of annual dividend increases goes back more than a decade, and Philip Morris has boosted its payouts every year since its 2008 IPO. Until recently, Philip Morris had a huge lead over Verizon in terms of the growth rate of its dividend payouts, with double-digit percentage increases being quite common. Lately, though, Philip Morris' dividend growth rate has slowed to just 2%, giving it no advantage over the 2% to 3% increases that Verizon has routinely given its shareholders.
One concern about Philip Morris is that its dividend payout ratio has climbed to precipitous heights. At 98%, the tobacco king has little room for further increases. Meanwhile, Verizon pays out just two-thirds of its earnings in the form of dividends.
For the most part, Verizon and Philip Morris look quite similar in terms of dividends. There's little basis to prefer one over the other on that score.
Growth prospects and risk
Growth has been one area in which both of these companies have had to work hard to find even minimal gains. In its most recent quarter, Philip Morris did produce some sales growth, but it was small at less than 1%, and its $0.01 per-share rise in adjusted earnings reflected the incremental progress that investors have had to accept as the best the company can do right now. Cigarette shipment volume plunged more than 5%, however, and macroeconomic factors continue to weigh on Philip Morris' results. One potential growth highlight is the iQOS heat-not-burn reduced-risk product, which the company hopes will be able to gain FDA approval and receive greater acceptance worldwide. Early results have been strong in Japan, where iQOS reached 3.5% market share during its most recent quarter. But with the U.S. dollar having once again started its climb, earnings for the multinational could remain under pressure for a while longer.
For Verizon, tough industry conditions have hurt its recent performance as well. In its fiscal third quarter, revenue fell almost 7%, leading to a double-digit percentage drop in net income. Even on an adjusted basis, earnings per share fell 3% from year-ago levels, and net additions in postpaid subscriber counts continued to see slower growth than in past quarters. The biggest question that Verizon investors have right now is whether the company will follow through with its proposed acquisition of Yahoo!, which has drawn criticism especially in light of news of email-related hacking. Some believe that Verizon might try to undo the deal or negotiate a discount, but others see the acquisition as far enough along that it will happen in some form. Whether that will produce greater growth or prove to be a quagmire remains to be seen, and investors don't seem to have reached consensus one way or the other.
Right now, Verizon and Philip Morris face tough conditions that are challenging their ability to grow. Given that uncertainty, capturing Verizon's margin of safety in its lower valuation seems like a more prudent option for most investors. Yet if Philip Morris' vision for a transformation in the cigarette industry works out, the company could end up having far greater growth -- and being worth the higher price investors would pay right now.
Uranium miners like Cameco Corp. (CCJ 0.13%) have been suffering through a rough patch. The immediate problem is falling uranium prices. But that's really a symptom of a bigger issue, which is a supply-and-demand imbalance. Investors looking at uranium as a way to play nuclear power need to understand that dynamic, and what's expected to fix the problem, before they buy into this sector.
Steep drop
In 2011, uranium prices were in the range of $70 per pound. The spot price for the nuclear fuel, which Cameco notes was "down to new 10-year lows," was around $25 per pound in the third quarter of 2016. Luckily, the world's largest publicly traded uranium miner's business is backed by long-term contracts that helped keep its realized price at just over $43 a pound.
Still, though, you see the problem. The price trend is going the wrong way -- which is why Cameco has been directing its efforts to cost-cutting and refocusing around its best mines. For example, the company reduced its capital spending projections for 2016 by around 10% when it reported third-quarter results. And, despite the downturn, it has continued to invest in its Cigar Lake mine because it's relatively cheap to operate. The recent opening of that mine helped to cut Cameco's cash costs of producing uranium by more than 20% through the first nine months of 2016.
These are solid operational moves, and they show that Cameco is working hard to adjust to a difficult environment. In fact, the miner has managed to remain profitable despite the headwinds it's faced. Still, you'll want to ensure the miner keeps making progress in these efforts from a company-specific standpoint. But when you look at the industry, which includes giant diversified miners like Rio Tinto (RIO 0.46%) and tiny upstarts like money-losing Energy Fuels, the supply-demand dynamic is the real key for uranium next year and thereafter.
Japan at the crossroads
One of the biggest issues facing uranium today actually stems from the 2011 Fukushima reactor meltdown in Japan. That event caused Japan to shut all of its nuclear power plants and even led Germany to plan a shift away from the electricity option. In addition to reminding the world of the risks involved in running nuclear reactors, the swift shutdown of so many reactors pushed supply and demand out of whack.
After Japan began to realize that doing without nuclear power was an expensive proposition, the island nation announced its intention to restart many of its shuttered nuclear facilities. However, progress has been very slow. To be fair, Japanese restarts alone won't solve the supply-demand imbalance they helped to create. But once enough of these reactors are back up and running, the uranium market will have passed a key emotional hurdle. Cameco, for example, describes the current market sentiment as "anemic." And a big part of that is the state of Japan's nuclear fleet.
Under construction
Once investors and market participants start to see that the clouds are beginning to lift, they can focus on some of the positives. One of the biggest is that there are currently 57 reactors under construction today. The new reactors are mostly in developing markets where demand for power is growing quickly, like China and India. More important, the opening of new reactors is expected to more than offset demand declines from reactors being mothballed. That, in turn, will help to correct the supply-demand imbalance.
So, as an investor, you'll want to keep a close eye on the progress at the plants that are in a state of development. About two-thirds of these are expected to come on line in the next three years.
The really long term
That said, the really long-term view for uranium isn't three years into the future -- it's decades. Which is why you also need to watch long-term construction plans. For example, the U.S. Energy Information Administration projects that nuclear power production will increase more than 70% by 2040. Emerging markets are expected to account for 86% of that growth, with China alone making up a massive 54%.
The only problem with this really long-term view is that sometimes big construction plans don't pan out as planned. Uranium's future won't be nearly as positive if alternative power options, like solar and wind, grab more share of the market than expected. So you need to monitor those 57 nuclear plants being built today and watch the long-term picture.
That means keeping an eye out for more nuclear power construction news. It also means watching for technology advances that can make the fuel option safer and cheaper to build. Companies like General Electric's GE Hitachi partnership are working on next-generation plants that investors should closely monitor.
Balancing out
Investors watching the uranium market in 2017 clearly should be monitoring uranium prices. But there's a lot that goes into that, both over the short term and the long term. And on that score, you'll want to watch Japan's efforts to restart shuttered nuclear power plants, the progress on the plants currently under construction, and updates on plants and technology planned but not yet built. All of that is the backdrop behind the company-specific moves that uranium miners like Cameco are making today -- with the goal of surviving the downturn so they can benefit from bright expectations for the future.
Get the latest Cameco stock news and facts.
The Boston Beer Company's (SAM 0.76%) stock rallied as much as 15% since the end of the U.S. presidential election on Nov. 8, but its head of steam has recently cooled off. For good reason, too, as the company is struggling amid increased competition that has led to falling sales. After the rebound in the last two months, investors shouldn't be surprised to see the stock resume its slide.
The current state of affairs
The Sam Adams lager parent has had its share price nearly halved from all-time highs in early 2015. The drop in price has come on the back of steep declines in both the top and bottom line.
After such a steep drop, one might expect Boston Beer to now be trading at a discount. That assumption would be incorrect, though, as the trailing-12-month price-to-earnings multiple is 28, and forward-12-month estimated price to earnings is at 26. Such high figures are usually reserved for high-growth stocks, a description the company currently does not fit.
In fact, the last report had management expecting full-year 2016 earnings coming in between $6.30 and $6.70, a drop of as much as 13% from last year's profitability -- and in a year that has an extra week of business. Not much light has been shed on 2017 yet, but initial expectations were for a slight increase in beer shipments at best and gross profit margins 1% to 3% lower than the highs from 2015.
A blown keg with no replacement
What is the root cause of the brewer's woes? In a word: competition.
In the 1970s, total U.S. brewers numbered as few as 100. By the end of 2015, that number had skyrocketed to more than 4,200 and the totals are still increasing. The numbers underline the resurging American interest in the hometown, or even neighborhood, brewpub or taproom, as many of the upstarts operate as local hangouts and gathering places.
Boston Beer management has admitted that the explosion of small competition is indicative of changing consumer trends. Beer drinkers have been gravitating toward smaller brewers in search of new and creative crafts. Management has also acknowledged the Brewers Association, a nonprofit economic organization that represents the craft-beer industry, which says trends are shifting toward smaller and local consumption.
This is beginning to manifest itself in Boston Beer's depletions, or beer shipped from distributors to retailers or end consumers. The metric has been on a downward trend for four quarters in a row now.
While overall shipments were still growing through most of 2015, the fact is that weakness in the company's flagship Sam Adams lineup was being reported as early as the first quarter of 2015. This was glossed over by the more than offsetting performance of the company's newer brands like Traveler and Twisted Tea. Faced with mounting pressure from smaller players, though, even some of those former areas of growth have slipped into the negative.
Waiting for a corner to be turned
The good news is that the king of the craft movement is on it. Boston Beer is working on its marketing, including label refreshes for its original Sam Adams family. It was also announced that a strategic review of the business is under way, not limited to current brands but encompassing future initiatives as well.
While those words are encouraging, I'm not yet ready to call a bottom and personally buy. Boston Beer's management itself said that industry trends suggest a continued slowdown in growth in the short term as increased competition and new-drink introductions continue to pressure the company.
Until material changes are announced at the company, or the numbers indicate a corner has been turned, I'll stick with the view that the post-election stock rally was just too good to be true.
Federal regulators say the majority of adverse environmental impacts from a proposed natural gas pipeline that would cross West Virginia, Virginia and North Carolina could be avoided, minimized or mitigated.
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission included the finding in its draft environmental impact statement for the proposed Atlantic Coast Pipeline, which was released Friday.
Dominion Energy vice president of pipeline construction Leslie Hartz says the company believes the draft report confirms that "the project can be built in an environmentally responsible way."
A coalition of community and environmental groups, however, criticized the commission's findings.
Dominion Energy is partnering with other energy companies on the approximately 600-mile-long project. The commission has the final say on interstate pipelines. It is accepting public comment on the draft report until April 6.
Oil prices settled slightly lower on Friday, the year's last trading day, but attained their biggest annual gain since 2009, after OPEC and partners agreed to cut output to reduce a supply overhang that has depressed prices for two years.
A two-rig rise in the oil rig count in the United States, the ninth weekly increase in a row, as reported by oilfield services provider Baker Hughes Inc, added to bearish sentiments.
But the total count of 525 for the week, the last for the year, was still below last year's level by 11 rigs.
U.S. benchmark West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were down 5 cents, or 0.1 percent, at $53.72 a barrel, while Brent fell 3 cents, or 0.1 percent, to $56.82.
"Some profit-taking ... very light trading - a lot of people have already done what they needed to do for the year." said Elaine Levin, president of Powerhouse, an energy-specialized commodities broker in Washington.
Brent rose 52 percent this year and WTI climbed around 45 percent, the largest annual gains since 2009, when the benchmarks rose 78 percent and 71 percent respectively.
Oil prices have slumped since the summer of 2014 from above $100 a barrel. The price rout, due to an oversupply thanks in part to the U.S. shale oil revolution, was accentuated later that year when Saudi Arabia rejected any deal by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut output and instead fought for market share.
But a historic OPEC agreement struck over three months from September that will reduce production from Jan. 1, marked a return to the 13-country group's old objective of defending prices.
Oman told some customers it will reduce term allocations by 5 percent in March, but did not say whether the supply reduction would continue after that.
The rise in prices can be seen as "proof of international credibility," for OPEC and partners, said Igor Yusufov, founder of the Fund Energy investment firm and a former Russian energy minister.
He said the rise, a "ponderable New Yew present" for producers, is propelled by expectations of expectations of oil demand growth.
Analysts at JBC said major forecasters diverge on their specific predictions.
"We see a big variation in demand growth assessments for 2017, ranging from +1.22 million bpd (barrels per day) ... to +1.57 million bpd," they said in a note to clients.
Smithfield Food Inc [SFII.UL], the world's biggest pork producer, is buying grain elevators and purchasing grain directly from farmers, a move that hits grain handlers already reeling from multiyear lows in corn and soybean prices.
The Virginia-based company bought two Ohio grain elevators in September. For the first time, it can ship grain directly from Ohio to feed the pigs that Smithfield slaughters at its Tar Heel, North Carolina, packing plant - the world's largest, processing about 32,000 hogs daily.
Smithfield now buys 65 percent of its animal feed directly from farmers, up from the 10 percent of feed it directly bought in 2010.
The direct buying strategy aims to lower feed costs and could provide a model for other large meat companies that still largely rely on commercial grain handlers, such as Chicago-based Archer Daniels Midland Co. Grain can account for up to 60 percent of Smithfields costs. The companys expenses in 2015 totaled $4.67 billion.
In 2014, Smithfield canceled a grain handling contract with CHS Inc, the largest U.S. farmer-owned cooperative, which had previously supplied a Smithfield feed mill in Yuma, Colorado. Smithfield has canceled contracts with other smaller grain handlers since 2010.
"They take the Walmart approach and go right to the source," said a CHS Inc employee who declined to be identified because he was not authorized to speak publicly.
A CHS spokeswoman declined to comment.
Smithfield also aims to work directly with farmers to influence farm management, from crop rotations to fertilizer and fungicide applications that could result in higher-quality grain that speeds weight gain in hogs. Smithfield could have a say in the seeds that are planted for the grain to feed the hogs it slaughters to produce the pork it sells.
In a dirt-to-fork story, you have to start with the dirt," said Joe Kerns, president of animal agriculture consulting firm Kerns Associates. This is the first foray.
Smithfield, purchased by China's WH Group in 2013 for $4.9 billion, plans to continue reducing reliance on grain handlers, said Robbie Montgomery, Smithfield's grain origination manager.
"That's key to our strategy, our farmer relationships. It's not us buying from a dealer; it's us buying from a farmer," Montgomery said.
IMPACT ON GRAIN HANDLERS
Smithfield's push to go directly to farmers comes as ADM, Cargill and other leading grain handlers are facing sharp drops in corn and soy prices following record-large U.S. harvests. Handlers make money buying, selling, storing, transporting and processing grains around the world, typically earning small profit margins on each bushel they trade.
Trading fees for commercial grain handling can run to 20 cents a bushel in tight-supply markets, but drop to just a few pennies when grain prices are low.
Juan Luciano, chief executive officer for ADM in an August conference call said weak margins in grain handling contributed to a 26 percent fall in profits during the second quarter, before revenues improved in the third quarter.
He did not mention Smithfield in particular, and ADM declined comment on its relationship with Smithfield. Cargill did not respond to requests for comment on Smithfields efforts to bypass grain handlers.
U.S. farmers built up their elevator storage to better control their harvest, and hold back supplies when prices are low, cutting in to profits for handlers.
In the last quarter of 2016, ADM and others have tried to make up reduced returns on grain trading in the U.S. by selling grain overseas and making money on storage of abundant U.S. supplies.
The Smithfield move alone is probably not enough to hurt the big grain handlers immediately, said Kerns, the agriculture consultant. Smithfield is a long way from quitting the big grain handlers altogether, and still relies on ADM and Cargill to crush soybeans into soy meal, an animal feed.
But such companies could lose substantial business if other meat producers follow Smithfields lead, and smaller grain handlers are already feeling the impact.
Smithfield in 2015 exited a 20-year relationship with MaxYield Cooperative in Algona, in northern Iowa. MaxYield previously supplied a Smithfield-owned feed mill in Algona that can grind 50,000 bushels of corn per day.
"They want control from the ground up," said Karl Setzer, MaxYield's risk management team leader, who was told by Smithfield that the company was not renewing its contract.
Setzer declined to comment on how the loss of the contract affected MaxYields business.
BUYING DIRECT
Smithfield buys about 150 million bushels of corn, soybeans, wheat and sorghum per year to feed its 16 million hogs, according to a Smithfield spokeswomen. "Smithfield has always been uneasy about their dependence on feed," said Chris Hurt, an agriculture economist at Purdue University who has advised the hog industry.
The company also is using a port it helped build in 2002, in Wilmington, North Carolina, to import feed from South America and Europe.
It has imported soy from Brazil and Argentina and feed wheat from Europe when it is cheaper than supplies shipped out of the Midwest, most recently with a bulk vessel of Brazilian corn that arrived in June.
Smithfield's vice president for business development, Joe Szaloky, said the company has become a savvy buyer.
"We think we can buy from farmers just as well as anyone else can," he said.
(Reporting by Michael Hirtzer; editing by David Greising and Brian Thevenot)
Image source: Getty Images.
After decades of rather consistent growth, Magellan Midstream Partners (NYSE: MMP) seemed to hit the ceiling in 2016:
MMP EBITDA (TTM) data by YCharts.
Driving that decline is the company's direct exposure to commodity prices, which were weak in 2016. That said, prices are on the mend, which, when combined with the slew of growth projects Magellan Midstream Partners has in the pipeline, positions the company for a stronger showing in 2017. In fact, it could be the company's best year yet for adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow.
What went wrong in 2016
Magellan Midstream Partners entered 2016 expecting it to be a down year. After producing $1.172 billion in adjusted EBITDA and $942.9 million in distributable cash flow in 2015, the company's initial 2016 guidance for adjusted EBITDA was $1.154 billion, while it saw distributable cash flow slipping to $900 million. However, the MLP steadily increased its guidance throughout the year thanks to stronger-than-expected performance. As a result, it now expects to produce $1.193 billion in adjusted EBITDA and $925 million of distributable cash flow. While that would push adjusted EBITDA to a new record, distributable cash flow would still fall short of 2015's record level.
The primary culprit causing cash flow to slump is the company's refined products segment, where year-to-date operating margin has declined 7.2%. Driving that decline is the partnership's commodity-related activities, which have been under pressure because of weaker commodity prices in 2016. In addition to that, Magellan's marine storage segment has been under some pressure this year because of part to lower ancillary customer activities.
More fees on the way
This past year would have been a whole lot worse if it weren't for the fact that 85% of Magellan Midstream Partners' operating margin comes from fee-based activities. In fact, one of the company's goals is to increase the percentage of its operating margin that comes from fee-based activates to reduce its direct exposure to commodity prices even further. That's why it has invested $850 million in organic growth projects in 2016, which should supply growing fee-based cash flow in 2017.
One of the largest projects is the Saddlehorn Pipeline, which Magellan is building with Plains All American Pipeline (NYSE: PAA) and Anadarko Petroleum (NYSE: APC). Both Plains All American Pipeline and Magellan own 40% of the project, which puts their total investment at $230 million apiece. They expect the project to be fully operational early next year, which is noteworthy given its robust first-year economics. Magellan estimates that it will earn eight times EBITDA on the capital deployed, or roughly $28.8 million in annual EBITDA apiece for Magellan and Plains All American Pipeline on their investment.
In addition to that, Magellan has a $300 million condensate splitter nearing completion. Theeconomics of this project are even better at six times EBITDA on invested capital, or roughly $50 million per year of EBITDA.
The steady fee-based earnings from these and other projects in the pipeline alone could push Magellan's adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to new records in 2016.
Image source: Getty Images.
An improving market
In addition to the new fee-based assets going into service in 2017, Magellan should also benefit from an improving commodity price market. OPEC's recent decision to step in and support oil prices should at least stabilize crude oil prices in 2017 -- if not push them higher -- which should cause crude production in the U.S. to rebound. This improving oil market will benefit Magellan's crude oil segment by reversing the lower transportation and storage volumes the company experienced in 2016 due to weaker U.S. oil production resulting from low oil prices.
Likewise, the company's refined products and marine storage segments also stand to benefit from an improving oil market. Not only should Magellan earn higher margins on its commodity-related activities as a result of improving prices, but it should experience stronger demand for services. These improvements should drive a recovery in the operating margin of both segments, which should push distributable cash flow higher in 2017.
Investor takeaway
Weaker commodity prices marred Magellan Midstream Partners' results in 2016 because its direct exposure to those prices cut into distributable cash flow. However, the company has several large fee-based growth projects nearing completion, and there is growing reason to believe that an improving commodity price market is on tap for the year ahead. These catalysts could push the company's adjusted EBITDA and distributable cash flow to a new record in 2017, making it the company's best year yet.
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Outrage emerged among politicians from both Israel and the U.S. following the United Nations resolution passed last week condemning Israeli settlements.
[Secretary of State John Kerrys] speech was a failed attempt to defend the indefensible, Danny Danon, Israeli Ambassador to the UN, told the FOX Business Network. The resolution that passed last Friday was a bad resolution, a one-sided resolution, a shameful resolution.
Danon added that there is anti-Semitism at the U.N. and that a clear message needs to be sent to officials at the international organization.
Promote peace, build bridges, stop with the hatred and incitement, he said.
The Ambassador said both he and the country of Israel are looking forward to working with the new administration come January 20.
I have met with President-elect Trump in the past and we know that hes connected to Israel, said Danon.
As the debate continues over the Obama administrations handling of the U.N. resolution condemning Israeli settlements, there are signs it is causing a divide within the Democratic Party. Electile Dysfunction author and Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz weighs in on the political fallout from the Obama administrations handling of Israel.
[The New York Times] has a story today saying only right-wing Jews condemn [Secretary of State] Kerry. Hey, Im a left-wing liberal Jew, [U.S. Senator from New York] Schumer is a liberal Jew you know, they just make up the news, Dershowitz told the FOX Business Networks Sandra Smith.
When asked if the issue of Israel was foreshadowing a divide within the Democratic Party, Dershowitz responded, It does, and if they now appoint [Minnesota Rep.] Keith Ellison, who worked with [Nation of Islam leader] Farrakhan, to be chairman of the DNC youre going to see a lot of people leave.
Dershowitz then issued a stern warning to the Democratic Party.
Im going to tell you right here on this show and this is news, if they appoint Keith Ellison to be chairman of the Democratic Party, I will resign my membership to the Democratic Party after 50 years of being a loyal Democrat.
According to Dershowitz, he will support some individual Democratic candidates, but has concerns about the state of the Democratic Party.
I will still vote my conscience and mostly Ill vote for Democrats, but I will not be a member of a party that represents itself through a chairman like Keith Ellison and through policies like that espoused by John Kerry and Barack Obama.
The Force is strong with New York City pizza shop owner Hakki Akdeniz.
After hearing that beloved "Star Wars" actress and author Carrie Fisher had died, Akdeniz decided to honor one of his favorite stars by giving away free slices at Champion Pizza in Manhattan to customers dressed as characters from the iconic George Lucas film franchise.
The cafe owner says he met Fisher in 2005 when she came to a different pizza shop he was working at in Times Square.
Fisher died Tuesday at age 60, four days after suffering a heart attack aboard a Los Angeles bound flight from London.
ICONIC NEW YORK CITY CLOSING AFTER NEARLY 79 YEARS
Akdeniz, 36, now the owner of Champion Pizza in the bustling Soho neighborhood of downtown New York, told FoxNews.com that as a boy, Princess Leia was his heroine. Born and raised in Turkey, he says he believes women werent as respected in the culture as they should have been and Carrie Fishers character was a true hero for him, his sister, and his mother.
Talking about the memorable day Fisher visited 10 years ago, he recalls, I didnt recognize her. I only knew her as Princess Leia. I wanted to give her a hug, but I was so shy. I asked my coworker to tell her how much I loved her."
The love for the pizza-- and staff may have been mutal. "Fisher left the waitress a $100 tip, Akdeniz says.
FOR THE LATEST FOOD FEATURES FOLLOW FOX LIFESTYLE ON FACEBOOK
Lines were out the door at Champion Pizza Wednesday as the shop stayed opened until 2 a.m. to serve the many Chewbaccas and Hans Solos eager for a slice and a chance to honor Leia.
Akdeniz says he learned English watching Star Wars, and was doubly emotional learning of the death of Fishers mother, famed Debbie Reynolds.
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With an impending Champagne shortage due to challenging weather conditions in northeastern France, whats a bubbly lover to do? Stockpile your favorite Champers for later consumption or discover new sparklers (prosecco, anyone?) to enjoy on New Year's Eve?
Before you hit your local vintner, it's important to know what you're getting when it comes to high-end bubbles.
While Champagne and prosecco are both sparkling wines, the similarities pretty much end there. These wines are from different countries, made from different grape varieties and utilize very different production methods and aging regimens.
10 SPARKLING COCKTAILS TO RING IN NEW YEAR'S EVE
The Champagne region of France is considered to be the birthplace of sparkling wine and bubbly can only be called Champagne if it is from this specific region. Even sparkling wine from another wine region within France must use another name, i.e. a sparkling wine from Alsace must be called Cremant dAlsace - never Champagne.
The highly litigious Champenois have sued well-known brands such as Perrier, Apple and Miller Brewing Company due to unauthorized use of the name. Alternatively, prosecco is from Italys northern Veneto region and can only be produced in that specific place.
The grape divide
Champagne is made primarily from three different grapes: Chardonnay, Pinot Noir and Pinot Meunier. Prosecco, on the other hand, is made predominantly from the prosecco or Glera grape-- but can also contain Pinot Grigio, Verdiso, Pinot Bianco and a few others.
In keeping with the concept of terroir, the aromas and flavors of each sparkling wine will vary greatly depending on where the wine is from, the type of grape variety used as well as the method of production.
New versus old production methods
By law, Champagne can only be produced using the Methode Champenoise or, as it is more recently known, the Methode Traditionelle. This time and cost-intensive production method requires that wines secondary fermentation, the process that gives sparkling wine its bubbles, take place in the bottle the wine is later served from.
Once bottled, Champagne must also be aged for a minimum of 15 months to three years before it can be released. Most reputable houses usually go above and beyond this requirement! In contrast, prosecco is made much differently using the Charmat or tank method, which allows the secondary fermentation to take place in a large steel tank. After that, the bubbly is then bottled and can be released on the market for sale after only 30 to 40 days.
WHAT IS A GROWER CHAMPAGNE?
The difference in production method results in a significant difference in taste between Champagne and other sparkling wines. While Champagne undergoes secondary fermentation in the bottle, the fermenting wine remains in contact with the dead yeast cells or lees which impart a desirable toasty, yeasty flavor to the wine. Since the Charmat method occurs in a stainless steel tank, prosecco is characterized by crisper, leaner flavors and a lighter body than Champagne.
Why is Champagne so much more expensive than other sparklers?
Champagne usually commands a much higher price than other sparkling wines, but is it really worth it? Sky high vineyard prices, the time-intensive Methode Traditionelle and a significant post-production aging period all contribute to Champagnes pricey-- sometimes exorbitant-- price tag. It's usually considered a special occasion only wine but if youre a fan of Champagnes complex flavor profile and appreciate the labor behind each bottle, then what's a few hundred dollars for an out-of-this world drinking experience?
Proseccos lower price point and less complex palate, on the other hand, makes it a wonderful everyday sparkler and a great choice for using in sparkling wine based drinks such as Sparkling Strawberry Sangria or Pomegranate Rosemary Royale.
Will there be enough bottles to go around in 2017?
Despite the Champagne shortage rumors, Maggie Henriquez, President and CEO of Krug Champagne, says there's no need to worry-- yet. The shortage this year impacts little. The Champagne region not only allows us to make the most beautiful and amazing sparkling wines in the world, but has also developed a number of rules to help houses and growers to go through the weather changes and the whims of nature.
Since blending is a critical part of making Champagne, most houses have an extensive library of wines from past vintages they use to create their wines. These wines can help significantly in tougher years, Henriquez explains.
In Champagne every year the CIVC, the organization that regulates the Champagne region, announces theamount of reserve [wines] that can be unblocked. Through the years this self-regulatory, long term sustainable measure allows the houses and growers to have reserve wines to go through tough years. In these short years, unblocked reserve wines can be added to the approved year volume and with this assure continuity and avoid zigzags.
WHY YOU SHOULD BE EATING CAVIAR ON NEW YEAR'S EVE
Antoine Collet, Taittinger Champagne Specialist for Kobrand, concurs adding, While it is true the 2016 vintage will be 20 to 30 percent less than last year, there is nothing to worry about. Champagne lovers can rest assured the Champagne will keep on flowing!
Cheers to a sparkling start to the New Year.
A New York City agency has issued the nations first intersex birth certificate to a 55-year-old individual born with male genes, female genitalia and mixed internal reproductive organs. The historic move could pave the way for more of such certificates, which do not indicate male or female in the gender field, but rather intersex, NBC News reported.
Experts say the decision is a step in the right direction toward improving those individuals health care, as well as simplify their efforts to access certain essential documents.
In the United States, birth certificates often provide access to a wide range of public services and critical identity documents, such as state IDs and passports," Paul Castillo, Lamda Legal attorney, who applauded the agencys decision, told NBC. "Having birth certificates with gender designations other than male or female provides an enormous sense of validation for a number of non-binary and intersex people."
NBC reported that Sara Kelly Keenan, who uses female pronouns, grew up with only a vague idea of her anatomy. When she was born in NYC, she was classified as a boy for three weeks but was abruptly issued a female birth certificate. What followed for Keenan, NBC reported, was lifelong hormone replacement therapy beginning at age 16, and doctors recommendations for surgery so she could conform to one sex. At the time, such individuals were called hermaphrodites. Keenans father did not opt for the surgical procedure, and subsequent endocrinological testing revealed Keenan was intersex, NBC reported.
"Not all intersex people will choose to identify legally as intersex," Keenan told NBC Out, "and not all parents will choose to have their intersex child identified as intersex on birth documents. But for those who do, the option must exist."
NBC reported that Keenan, who accepts her intersex status, has been inspired to help other intersex individuals obtain legal birth certificates indicating their gender. She also wants to help reduce stigma in the intersex community.
"It's 4am. My body's trembling. I'm going to die." That was reportedly one of Matsuri Takahashi's tweets not long before she killed herself last year by leaping from a dorm at Dentsu, the ad company where the 24-year-old worked, per the New York Times.
This week, Dentsu's head quit, taking responsibility for Takahashi's suicide and his firm's culture of overwork. That culture is prevalent throughout Japan, and even has its own term, "karoshi," or "death from overwork." Tadashi Ishii offered his "heartfelt apology" Wednesday and said he'd offer his resignation to Dentsu's board in January; he apologized to Takahashi's family in person on Sunday, per the Japan Times.
A labor department probe found Takahashi had been putting in more than 100 hours of overtime a month leading up to her death, and she'd noted on Twitter and to family that her bosses had harassed her and made sexist remarks.
Per the AP, an October survey in the country's first white paper on karoshi found 93 suicides or attempted suicides in 2015 tied to overwork (the Guardian says that number is more like 2,000 suicides a year), with 96 deaths from heart attacks, strokes, and other maladies linked to karoshi.
Business Insider reports Japan "has been trying desperately" to tamp down this deeply ingrained work ethic, including a "work style reform" panel led by PM Shinzo Abe.
Some firms have started encouraging more work-life balance, including Dentsu, which has a reputation as being particularly hard-core (a slogan dating to the '50s implored workers to do their job "even if it kills you").
Now Dentsu flicks the lights off at 10pm and makes workers take a minimum of five days off every six months. "[I want to] change the consciousness of every working person in Japan," Takahashi's mom says, per the Guardian.
(A deeper look at karoshi.)
This article originally appeared on Newser: Japanese CEO Quits After Overworked Employee's Suicide
First of all, please quote me honestly and calmly, and try not to resort to the self-serving, often obscene, sometimes racist ranting that your supposedly polite nation has rained down on me since my Facebook post, which alleged that every Muslim extremist attack since 9/11 has come from the northern, not the southern, border.
Tens of thousands of you, including Pam Lambo the Senior Public Affairs Advocacy Officer at your embassy in Washington D.C., angrily pointed out (in her case politely) that the 9/11 hijackers did not come from Canada.
I never said they did.
I said every attack since 9/11 had come from the north not the south. Merriam-Websters Dictionary defines the word since as:
"In the period after a specified time in the past: Subsequently, (as in) has since become rich."
Other examples given by the dictionary: has stayed there ever since. She graduated four years ago and has since married. And, he left home two years ago and has since become a soldier.
In the common English that the majority of people in our nations have spoken since colonizing the New World, since equals after. In other words, what I said was that the only cross-border Muslim extremist terror attack on the United States after September 11, 2001 came from the Northern (Canada) border not the Southern (Mexico) border, which is the obsession of Americas politicians and pundits alike.
Further, you must know that if I intended to charge absurdly that the 9/11 hijackers came from Canada I would have said so in plain language, your cascade of insults notwithstanding. You are being extremely defensive, intentionally confrontational or blatantly self-serving in accusing me of not knowing where the 9/11 hijackers came from. A native-born New Yorker, I lost friends and neighbors in the 9/11 attacks and, after filing hundreds of reports from Afghanistan, the Persian Gulf and elsewhere, I know exactly where the 9/11 attackers came from.
Now, Ill move on to my contention that subsequent acts of terror emanated from Canada rather than Mexico. First, there have been some previous acts of Islamist terror from Canada into the United States. (There have been none from Mexico).
Abu Mezer and Lafi Khalil were Palestinian-born Hamas terrorists captured when heavily armed cops stormed their Brooklyn New York apartment in August 1997. The men, who infiltrated the U.S. from Canada in July 1997, were shot and wounded by cops. Five pipe bombs, which the terrorists planned to use to blow up Brooklyns Atlantic Avenue Subway, were found in the apartment.
Ahmed Ressam also known as the Millennium Bomber, planned to blow up Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). Ressam, who was trying to infiltrate the U.S. from Vancouver, Canader, was captured in December 1999 in Port Angeles, Washington thanks to the great work of U.S. Customs inspector Diana Dean. Ressams vehicle was jammed with enough explosives to wreak murder and mayhem at the airport, Americas third busiest. Also eventually arrested in the conspiracy were Abdelmajid Dahoumane and Mokhtar Haouri, all illegally present in Canada.
Ressam was later linked with Zacharias Moussaoui, the al-Qaeda member arrested in August 2001 and known as the 20th hijacker.
Americas Government Accountability Office (GAO) said in December 2010, that, the terrorist threat on the northern border is higher, (than the southern border) given the large expanse of area with limited law enforcement coverage.
In February 2011, Senator Joseph Lieberman, then Senate Homeland Security chair, reached the same conclusion, saying that while Americans traditionally view their border with Mexico as more porous and dangerous, the Homeland Security Agency has concluded the risk of terrorist activity across the northern border is actually higher than across the southern border. Why? Because there are more Islamist extremist groups in Canada than Mexico, said Sen. Lieberman.
Indeed, your own 2014 Public Report On The Terrorist Threat To Canada states, The Government is aware of about 80 individuals who have returned to Canada after travel abroad for a variety of suspected terrorism-related purposes.
Now to my point about extremist Muslim cross-border attacks since, that is, after 9/11.
In April 2013, Canadian authorities arrested Raed Jaser, 35, of Toronto, and Chiheb Esseghaier, 30, of Montreal for allegedly attempting to carry out an al-Qaida-linked plot to blow up a Toronto to New York train and possibly key bridges as the train traveled via Niagara Falls and Buffalo into the United States. The pair is charged with conspiring to carry out an attack against, and conspiring to murder persons unknown for the benefit of, at the direction of, or in association with a terrorist group.
This is the first known al-Qaeda planned attack that weve experienced in Canada, said Doug Best, superintendent of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police.
It is also the only Muslim extremist attack on the United States across either the northern or southern borders since, that is, after 9/11.
Fort Lauderdale Mayor Jack Seiler is having a bad day 30 to 40 people, most of them from out of town, are protesting outside his home. I never realized what a bad guy I was, Seiler jokes.
Seiler is actually not a bad guy. But when headlines around the world screamed about 90-year-old Arnold Abbotts arrest by Fort Lauderdale police for feeding the homeless, the mayor became a universally accepted target overnight.
Homeless activists and other extreme liberal groups who have long argued that governments should have the right to regulate, make rules and pass ordinances for the common good are now saying just the opposite. Thats right, the big government crowd has gone small government when it comes to their pet project. Hmm! I asked the mayor, whos a Democrat, about this irony.
You could not have nailed it better, he told me. It is dripping with irony, it is so unbelievable. When we initially began doing this, all these groups were thanking us.
They were thanking the mayor because hes a homeless advocate who until now, thought he had a good plan to accommodate the homeless by making sure enough churches were assigned as homeless outreach centers and were coordinating with the city. However, when headlines screamed of a 90-year-old man arrested, everything changed.
Here are the facts:
The 90-year-old Arnold Abbott was not arrested. He was politely cited for not complying with the citys ordinance, which forbids mass feedings without a permit. The ordinance is aimed at regulating what homeless activists do in public parks, taking into consideration matters like public urination, public defecation, vandalism, loitering and the rights of residents to use the park for their families and children. One other thing, Mayor Seiler likes Arnold Abbott, talks to him regularly and wants to include him in the citys homeless initiative.
"If you actually read the ordinance and read what we have done in terms of a comprehensive compassionate response to addressing homelessness, increasing these programs, increasing locations to feed the homeless, says Seiler, youd see that were trying to establish a reasonable standard so that the homeless are fed in a more humane way."
But that isnt the story that most extreme homeless advocates want told, nor do they want it to go away. They accuse the Mayor of trying to criminalize homelessness and/or criminalize those who want to feed the homeless. I asked the mayor if thats what hes trying to do.
"I would say it is an absolute human right, an absolute right to feed a hungry person, and I agree with that 100 percent, says Seiler. However, we're just saying you can feed them at any of the 100-plus locations in the city, and none of them create transportation issues or barriers for other residents.
Seiler says mass feedings in public parks without a permit are not good for the homeless or the residents who live near the parks. He says that type of hand-out fails to meet the homeless communitys real needs, like mental-health counseling and intervention on alcoholism and drug addiction.
But what about those of us who choose to help the homeless individually?
"We are not going to arrest you for sharing a slice of pizza, says Seiler. The ordinance is worded to address only mass feedings.
Mass feedings could now be available to the homeless. Mayor Seiler has negotiated a deal with one of Fort Lauderdales most recognized churches to allow mass feedings just blocks from where Arnold Abbott was cited. The offer was declined. So Seiler then struck a deal to have the mass feedings at the citys renowned Aquatic Center. Now it appears that offer will also be rejected.
It begins to make you wonder if the issue really is feeding the homeless or if theres a bigger agenda here and why would he turn down legal locations to feed the homeless on Fort Lauderdale beach?" the mayor asks. "And all of a sudden we realized these issues are being hijacked by outside groups not by Arnold, but by a group that comes in from Missouri.
And the groups will be at it again this week, trying to make lots of noise while avoiding any possible compromise with a mayor they are hell bent on making a bad guy.
President Obama appears to be ready to make good on his pledge to move forward with administrative action on immigration.
This is a short-term, temporary solution that may very well protect millions of families. But whether you agree with the presidents move or not, there is no denying that an immigration system this broken requires a long-term fix.
I offer a third way for the congressional leadership to respond: Block administrative action by rolling up your sleeves and getting to work on legislation. Ali Noorani
Rather than cater to anti-immigrant forces and fight the president tooth and nail on administrative action, Republican leadership should seize the opportunity to get credit for creating a new immigration process that works.
Yes, Latinos would give Republicans credit for actual immigration solutions. But so would a range of conservative leaders.
Business leaders want a stable workforce where they dont have to worry about the federal government intruding on their operations. Law enforcement officials want to focus on the pursuit of criminals, not waste valuable resources on civil immigration violations. And faith leaders look forward to the day when fewer families in their congregations are separated by deportations.
Being the party of no makes for a tough road to the White House in 2016.
There are reports of a split within congressional leadership on how to respond legislatively once the president acts. One faction favors blocking the execution of administrative action step by step. The other, more extreme faction favors shutting down the government until the president cries uncle.
Both approaches fall short. A purely political response to administrative action effectively turns the microphone over to extremists, and Steve King and Ted Cruz should not define the Republican position on immigrants and immigration. Public support for immigrants and immigration will plummet, and it will be nearly impossible for Republicans to pass and take credit for their own set of reforms.
The central problem with both responses is this: Immigration isnt about politics. Immigration is about real people.
Even in a toxic political environment, the conservative base of faith, law enforcement and business leaders talk about immigrants as people they know, people they value. They empathize with the dreams, aspirations and struggles of the immigrant community documented or not.
Carlos Gutierrez, President George W. Bushs commerce secretary, put it well: "The Republicans can overreact and give the impression that they're not so much against the concept of executive action but that they're against immigrants. And that would be a big problem."
In the belief Congress represents the overwhelming majority of Americans who want practical immigration solutions, I offer a third way for the congressional leadership to respond: Block administrative action by rolling up your sleeves and getting to work on legislation.
Instead of allowing the Democrats to force you into a political corner, call their bluff.
Spend these precious next few weeks preparing a clear vision and a legislative process for reform to be put in motion on the first day of the 114th Congress.
By taking the reins and actually passing reform legislation, Republicans can claim credit for permanently replacing our broken immigration system. If not, they may get credit only for separating families and further destabilizing the workforce.
Rather than retreating to the corners of rhetorical fire and poisoned wells, now is the time for Congress to come to the table and act on the simple truths that everyone knows: Our immigration system is broken. Our economy suffers as we cannot compete for talent. Immigrant families are deeply wounded. Law enforcement resources are spread thin.
Congress was just handed a golden opportunity by an electorate that gave Republicans control of both houses. Administrative action can be only short-term, and anything it fixes can be only temporary. Only Congress can put in place a solution that is permanent by replacing a system we all recognize is broken.
Kerrville, TX (78028)
Today
Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph..
Tonight
Cloudy. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 66F. Winds SSE at 10 to 20 mph.
Is it a Clash of Titans, or a Titanic crash? President Barack Obama is about to test the limits of the U. S. Constitution-backed government of the people, by the people and for the people.
Immigration reform has created a deep political fissure in the country where one side favors reform and has for several years and another opposes it. Supports comes from Democrats and Republicans, from Anglos, Hispanics/Latinos, Asians and registers overwhelmingly and consistently in national surveys.
The courts will examine this proposed order and whether or not anyone who files a lawsuit asking to enjoin the President from enforcing such an order has standing to sue. The answer is probably no. Raoul Lowery Contreras
Anti-reform people talk about enforcing outdated immigration law designed decades ago; i.e. they demand 100 percent deportation without answering how could we possibly deport 11-12 million people?
They talk about terrorists flooding across a porous border intending to frighten people miles and many states away from the border. They talk of rising crime, destruction of a sovereign United States and invasion by Brown Hordes with scabies.
On Election Day, 57 percent of American voters told Exit Pollsters for the major networks that they support immigration reform.
At this moment, however, the only people who count are House Republicans and the President of the United States, about 250 people not the majority of Americans that favor immigration reform.
The President says he is going to reform the immigration system by himself in the coming days by issuing an executive order that according to the New York Times protect up to 4-5 million people from deportation who are here illegally based on length of time in the U.S., children who are U.S. citizens and a non-criminal status. The leaks also indicate that those working here should be granted work visas applied for by employers.
U.S. Senator Ted Cruz (R-TX) and Senator Jeff Sessions (R-AL) call this amnesty. Without knowing the details we cannot comment on whether the Obama plan is amnesty. These men and their allies in Congress will campaign against the Presidents plan as amnesty no matter what the details are.
Before the President unveils his plan to legalize by executive order, some history.
Facts:
(1) In the Senate, Obama cast the deciding 2007 vote on a Labor-sponsored poison pill amendment to the Comprehensive Immigration Reform bill that originated out of the Bush White House. The bill died.
(2) As a Presidential candidate Obama promised that he would fix immigration in his first year in office. In his first and second years in office, Obama did nothing on immigration despite having huge Democrat majorities in the House and Senate.
(3) He could have passed reform in a months time, but he didnt.
(4) When a bill to legalize those brought here illegally as children (DACA) passed the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives, President Obama did nothing to help push it to 60 votes in the U.S. Senate that would have short-circuited any potential filibuster; enough Republicans voted to pass it to make it a bi-partisan bill but five Democrat Senators voted against it. Those five senators are retired or were defeated by voters. Obama never even made a phone call to those senators asking for or demanding their votes.
(5) Obama claimed that he would issue executive orders on immigration reform by the end of summer earlier this year. He didnt. He declared he would issue the decree by the end of the year and made sure everyone knew he would do so after the November 4th election.
This blatant political move was recognized by voters who rejected Obama and his candidates in many, many congressional districts and states. Americans are not stupid.
Senate Majority Leader-to-be Mitch McConnell and House Speaker John Boehner have both warned that the executive action contemplated will poison the well between the Republican controlled Congress and the White House. In essence, Mr. President, as John Boehner declares, there are many things a President needs from Congress and he is jeopardizing those needs by trying to outflank Congress.
Can the president issue executive orders? Yes, the courts have ruled since 1790 that the President has this power.
Can the President absolve people of coming to the country illegally, or defer deportation of such people? Yes, based on his exclusive power defined in Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution; to wit: he shall have power to grant reprieves and pardons for offenses against the United States Citizenship is not required, only an offense against the United States.
Can the President change current immigration laws passed under Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution that mandates Congress Regulate commerce and establish a uniform rule of naturalization (immigration)? No, the courts will have to examine this proposed order and whether or not anyone who files a lawsuit asking to enjoin the President from enforcing such an order has standing to sue. The answer is probably no.
The Presidents executive order threat is not timely (there is no emergency). It is legally suspect and most certainly will politically destroy Obamas last two years in office. Hispanics will not save him for he cannot run for re-election and those that love him dont write history books.
A recent Gallup poll found that Americans worry most about hacking and cybersecurity than any other crime. Perhaps this is not surprising given the rash of high-profile data breaches, coupled with the fact that hacks have affected one out of four American consumers.
With Black Friday and Cyber Monday looming, now is a good time for consumers to understand key reasons why their financial security is at risk. Although awareness about what they as individuals can do to protect their payment card and financial data has risen significantly, many times, as with the high-profile security breach at Target last year, data thieves are able to exploit weaknesses in the antiquated security features in payment networks and the cards themselves.
The best solution would be for banks to take reasonable action toward use of chip and PIN equipped cards, before consumer demands push policymakers toward regulatory solutions that are likely to be more heavy-handed. Mario H. Lopez
These security challenges are especially salient in underserved communities, where theft and security breaches can have an especially damaging effect on family budgets. Much is at stake in the big picture as well: for example, a recent report found that Hispanics, who make up nearly a fifth of the U.S. population, account for more than $1 trillion in spending power annually.
The U.S. as a whole maintains an aging cyber infrastructure and a high volume of credit card ownership. According to an April 2014 Gallup Survey, Americans own 2.6 credit cards on average. When consumers use these cards, they do so within a woefully outdated structure established in 1970.
Large American banks and credit card networks some of which received massive, government-funded bailouts continue to use magnetic stripe credit cards that the rest of the world has deserted. Since it's one of the last markets in the world where thieves can operate against the easy-to-outsmart magnetic stripe technology, reads a January 2014 CNBC report, there's no reason [data breaches will subside] if [new technology] isn't adopted more quickly.
This leaves many American consumers at risk. Unfortunately, banks have been resisting a transition to computer chip and PIN (Personal Identification Number) technology in use throughout the world. The result for now is grossly inadequate protection of consumers personal and financial data.
Rather than adapt to growing demands for safer measures, banks continue to disregard worldwide trends showing that chip and PIN technology is the clearest way to protect consumers. European nations have already transitioned to chip-equipped cards to combat fraud, while emerging-market nations leapfrogged over the use of outdated magnetic strip cards.
In the U.K., breach-induced losses fell from $356.5 million to $160.5 million in 2008 following chip and PIN implementation. Our Canadian neighbors (who use the modern technology) were largely spared from the financial losses that occurred from recent breaches.
Clearly, chip and PIN technology provides an added layer of security for card users that protect against hackers. Unlike current stripe cards and even chip-enabled cards that require a signature, chip and PIN cards cannot be cloned. This results in a strong frontline defense against cyber criminals who peddle stolen information, helping minimize financial fraud.
Yet here we stand as the last developed nation to adopt common sense chip and PIN technology.
There has been some progress, however. President Obama recently announced the BuySecure initiative, which requires federal agencies to upgrade all federal credit cards from magnetic stripes to chip and PIN technology. Although it only protects government credit cards issued to federal employees, it is a good first step, especially for the American taxpayer who ultimately is stuck with the bill.
Some banks are promising to distribute chip technology and increase identity theft monitoring and protection. But in reality, there will only be a slight improvement in security because the banks insist on issuing chip-equipped cards with the same old flawed magnetic stripes. Consumers will still have to sign after a purchase instead of entering a PIN number, which is vastly more secure.
For card-issuing banks and credit card companies, relying on magnetic stripe cards is less about security and more about making money through the fees they charge retailers to process transactions. It is also cheaper for the banks to maintain the existing infrastructure that supports magnetic stripe cards rather than investing in chip and PIN cards, even though consumers are exposed to more risk.
As leaders in Washington continue to contemplate cybersecurity law and related issues, now is the time to ensure commerce security for all Americans. If the government can do it, so too should the much more nimble, accountable and reliable private sector. The best solution would be for banks to take reasonable action toward use of chip and PIN equipped cards, before consumer demands push policymakers toward regulatory solutions that are likely to be more heavy-handed.
Any day now, President Obama will announce his executive action on immigration, and conservative lawmakers are not happy. "This is the wrong way to govern, said House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio). Senators John McCain (R-Ariz.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) sent a letter to the White House warning the president against taking executive action, and questioning his authority to do so.
Like it or not, the president has authority to act alone on immigration. Not only has the Supreme Court recognized the presidents discretion over immigration matters, presidents have been taking unilateral action on immigration for decades.
Some people are uncomfortable with Obama going solo on such a contentious issue. Still, no matter what he does, his executive orders will be subject to cancellation by the next president. Raul A. Reyes
Under Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution, the president is required to take care that the Laws be faithfully executed. Broadly speaking, President Obama has fulfilled this responsibility. He is responsible for record levels of deportations, and his administration spent $18 billion on immigration enforcement in 2012. Every night, there are roughly 34,000 undocumented immigrants in detention. So it is a stretch to charge that Obama is not faithfully executing immigration laws.
Yet just as the president has the duty to enforce immigration laws, he has the power to set immigration enforcement priorities. Under the doctrine of prosecutorial discretion, he can decide who will be a priority for deportation. In fact, the president has to set enforcement priorities for the Department of Homeland Security, because Congress only allots money to deport about 400,000 people a year and there are an estimated 11 million undocumented people within our borders.
There are only two constitutional limits on the executive branchs discretion on immigration. The president cannot decide to enforce immigration law based on an individuals race, religion, or other impermissible factors, and the president cannot completely abdicate responsibility for immigration enforcement. President Obama is not proposing either of these prohibited moves.
With his executive action, President Obama will likely defer deportations for certain immigrants, and here he stands on solid legal footing. Consider that in September, a group of 136 law professors and legal experts sent a letter to the White House stating that the president has authority to expand deportation relief for undocumented immigrants. They noted that prosecutorial discretion is a common, long-accepted legal practice in practically every law enforcement context, and that its application is grounded in the Constitution. In addition, they pointed out that the size of any potential class of beneficiaries of executive action was irrelevant to its legality.
The Supreme Court has recognized the presidents discretion over immigration law as well. In U.S. v. Arizona (2012), the high court ruled that Arizonas SB 1070 law not only interfered with the federal government authority to act on immigration, it also interfered with the federal governments authority not to act on immigration. As Fox News host Megyn Kelly once explained to Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.) on air, "the president does have prosecutorial discretion when it comes to immigration, the Supreme Court made that clear as recently as 2012."
Legalities aside, executive action on immigration is nothing new. In October, the nonpartisan American Immigration Council released a report showing that presidents have taken executive action on immigration 39 times in the last 60 years going at least as far back as President Eisenhower in 1956. Former Republican presidents Nixon, Reagan, George H.W. Bush, and George W. Bush all took unilateral action on immigration. It was legal when they did it, and it will be legal when President Obama does it too. Actually, President Obama has already taken executive action on immigration; his 2009 decision to expand the Secure Communities program and his decision last summer to expedite the removals of child migrants were both unilateral immigration moves.
Some people are uncomfortable with Obama going solo on such a contentious issue. Still, no matter what he does, his executive orders will be subject to cancellation by the next president. He doesnt have the power to give anyone a green card or citizenship. And hes even offered to tear up his executive orders if Congress sends him a comprehensive immigration bill. The president is simply acting to move away from paralysis on immigration, and towards progress.
President Obamas executive orders on immigration will not violate the Constitution. Although his actions will no doubt be controversial, they will nonetheless be legally sound.
Change is finally coming to America. Despite warnings from opponents of comprehensive immigration reform, President Obama is on the verge of using his executive power to do what Congress has failed to do: address some of the most egregious injustices in our immigration system. Not only is the president well within his constitutional rights to act, but also in doing so he is defending some of Americas most important values.
It would certainly be better if the solution to our current immigration problems were the product of bipartisan collaboration and consensus. But the truth is that President Obama confronts one of the most deeply divided congresses in American history. Jose Calderon
For advocates of comprehensive immigration reform, these last six years have been difficult. The White House and Congress have each insisted that they understand the importance of reforming our immigration system only to have anti-immigrant voices or some other issue (the financial crisis, health care reform, etc.) undercut it. With just two years remaining in his presidency, President Obama, in particular, risks failing to deliver on the promise of one of his most important policy objectives. Time is short and we expect the president to act boldly and decisively.
It would certainly be better if the solution to our current immigration problems were the product of bipartisan collaboration and consensus. But the truth is that President Obama confronts one of the most deeply divided congresses in American history. For years, many Republicans in Congress and some Democrats too, have either dragged their feet on immigration reform or flat out refused to negotiate in good faith with the White House. The result of this political impasse has been a dramatic increase in deportations of undocumented immigrants and a series of other enforcement measures that have inflicted great harm and pain to immigrant families and communities. In the lead-up to the midterm elections, President Obama said that while he hoped that he could work with the new Congress on immigration reform, he was prepared to use executive actions to accomplish what Congress would not. The results of the elections suggest that the president will have few partners to work alongside him in a bipartisan fashion. Simply put, if the worst parts of our immigration system are to be addressed in the next two years, it will most likely be because of the actions of the president.
Opponents of executive action say the president lacks the legal authority to go it alone. Theyre wrong. Historical precedent shows that presidentsfrom Harry Truman to Ronald Reagan to Bill Clintonhave used their executive authority to change immigration policy. Whats more, in many of these cases, presidential action has actually spurred Congress to produce meaningful legislation. We certainly hope that's the case, because as important as the president's planned actions on immigration are, they will only represent a temporary fix that address certain aspects of our broken immigration system.
The truth is also that both parties in Congress have had ample time to craft a comprehensive reform strategy that honors Americas values, protects communities, and keeps families together. In the absence of any leadership from Congress, the president has a moral obligation to use executive action to provide relief to millions of immigrant families in the United States.
The president's executive order must take aim at the most unjust elements of the current system. This is not the time to tinker with the system but to act confidently, courageously, and unapologetically in favor of reform.
Meaningful executive action would include, for instance, an immediate suspension of deportations for undocumented immigrants who pose no threat to our security, as well as broad administrative relief for the overwhelming majority of the nations eleven million undocumented residents to remain and work here legally.
Moreover, the presidents plan should go beyond solely covering immediate relatives of citizens, legal permanent residents and DACA recipients and not be limited to those residing here for 10 years or more. Access to affordable health care should also be an integral part of this plan to improve the public health of all our families and communities.
There are eleven million undocumented immigrants in America. They are our neighbors, our co-workers, our friends, and our families. They cant wait another day for justice and neither should the president. The time for change is now.
The presidents decision to go ahead and take executive action was the right one for millions of families who are working hard, have strong ties to their community and are contributing to our country.
President Obama gave Republicans the space and time to act. But rather than act, Republicans made every possible excuse and refused to move on legislation.
Republicans need to demonstrate willingness and credibility on this issue. Threatening to shut down the government, impeach the President or hold up confirmation of nominees during the 114th congress isn't the way to do that. Rep.-elect Ruben Gallego
In the months leading up to the Presidents decision, Republicans threatened to shut down the government and impeach the President if he acted. They also said that the President issuing an executive order would threaten the future of immigration reform. Despite years of inaction, Republicans insisted that this time they really meant business on immigration reform.
But that argument is just as disingenuous as the rest of the rhetoric weve heard from Republicans for years when it comes to immigration.
Weve seen what waiting on Republicans gets. Its time to act.
Executive action does not prevent Republicans from acting on comprehensive immigration reform. If anything, President Obama is giving Republicans an opportunity to present their own solution to fix our broken immigration system.
Arizona Senator Jeff Flake said yesterday that rather than blocking President Obamas action on immigration, Republicans should be focused on passing immigration reform. While Senator Flake and I disagree on much, I certainly agree with that point.
Flake and the Arizonans he represents know how multi-faceted our immigration issues are. There is neither a simple Republican nor easy Democratic answer to the problems presented by our broken immigration system. And those harmed by our current policies dont fall into any single constituency.
Our schools suffer, our businesses suffer, our communities suffer and our families suffer. If you talk to the people I will soon represent in Arizona, youll hear that everybody is impacted by our broken immigration system. The Presidents executive action recognizes this fact, but we need to keep pushing.
Comprehensive immigration reform is the long-term solution we need and I fully recognize that we wont get there without compromise from both sides. But families are being torn apart right now and Republicans have proven that they are unwilling to move on this issue.
Every President in the past 70 years has taken executive action on immigration and used prosecutorial discretion to set priorities for immigration enforcement.
President Obama took the necessary steps within his authority to move our country forward. Now it's up to Republicans to work with the President and help permanently solve the issues with our immigration system.
I hope more Republicans join Flake and fellow Arizona Senator John McCain in pushing for immigration reform so we can start a real debate. But until that happens, Republicans need to demonstrate willingness and credibility on this issue. Threatening to shut down the government, impeach the President or hold up confirmation of nominees during the 114th congress isn't the way to do that.
Throughout my campaign, I heard over and over again how frustrated people in our community are with Washingtons inability to act. They told me they didnt trust Republicans and were losing faith that Democrats would deliver.
For my district, our broken immigration system isn't an issue to debate it has a major impact on our every day lives.
Like me, many of the people I represent have family on both sides of the border. And many of the organizers who worked for my campaign were DREAMers who are in this country through no decision of their own, but still dont get access to the same opportunities as any other young person raised in this country.
Our immigration problems are complex, but delay only worsens the situation for those waiting on Washington.
President Obama did the right thing by taking executive action. If Republicans are serious about passing comprehensive immigration reform, Ill be among the many Democrats eager to work with them.
In the meantime, I applaud the Presidents leadership in providing temporary relief to the undocumented community and taking action to help our economy and strengthen our national security.
One of the pillars of our constitutional form of government is a separation of powers, vesting in Congress the power to legislate and in the Presidency the duty to faithfully execute the law.
However, by executive fiat this past Thursday, President Obama obliterated that pillar and circumvented safeguards that provide order to our republic.
If the president thinks he has the authority to act unilaterally, what cant he do? What else will he try to do in his final two years? And what further precedent does this set for future presidents of any political party? Sean Reyes
Regardless of how one feels about immigration policy, the presidents process of new policy implementation should be of great concern to us all. There is a proper role for executive orders, in harmony with congressional intent. But this is not it.
The president justifies his actions as being borne out of frustrationas if indignation alone can endow him with a power he has readily acknowledged is not his.
In 2010, President Obama said, I am not a king. I cant do these things by myself. He was responding to the idea of rewriting immigration laws unilaterally. In other words, he was saying he did not have the authority to take executive action on immigration.
Also in 2010, he said such an indiscriminate approach would be both unwise and unfair. In 2011, at a Univision town hall, he said ignoring the laws on the books would not conform with my role as president.
As recently as March of this year, he said I cannot ignore laws that are on the books, noting that he is constrained in terms of what I am able to do.
By one count, President Obama said 22 times that he lacks the constitutional authority for such executive action.
Now, though, hes doing exactly that, ignoring the law and usurping authority the Constitution has vested in Congress, not the White House. He either changed his mind completely in just a few months or lied to the countryover and over again.
As the Attorney General of Utah, it is my job to defend the laws of our state and I take the rule of law seriously. I swore an oath, just as President Obama did, to preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States. Americans should be concerned, outraged even, that our president would ignore that oath for political expediency.
Its hard to understand how the president could go back on his word in such dramatic fashion. What changed?
For one, the president is no longer accountable to voters. Hes not up for re-election and his party lost badly in the midterm elections. And when a new Congress takes office in January, he will face a Republican controlled Congress that is ready to take up immigration issues for the first time during his two terms. Politically speaking, the president has nothing to lose.
Unfortunately, the country has a lot to lose when a president ignores not only the limits to his power but also the will of the American people expressed through our representatives. It weakens the entire constitutional order and our system of checks-and-balances.
If the president thinks he has the authority to act unilaterally, what cant he do? Can he justify any action? What else will he try to do in his final two years? And what further precedent does this set for future presidents of any political party to ignore constitutional safeguards?
In February of 2013, during a White House Google hangout, President Obama said, Im the President of the United States. Im not the emperor of the United States. My job is to execute laws that are passed. That was true then. That is true now. I had hoped, for the sake of our country and constitution, that President Obama actually believed that.
Puerto Ricans are used to being treated as second class citizens. Although they are Americans, the nearly four million who live on the island dont have a representative in Congress who can vote for policies that affect them, they cant vote for a president who sends its citizens to war, and they receive a fraction of the benefits that other American citizens do, while those born and raised on the mainland are sometimes referred to as not real Americans, albeit quite ignorantly.
The one advantage Puerto Ricans have always maintained is that of comprising a well-educated, yet less costly pool of labor. The presidents executive action on immigrants will reduce that advantage, effectively hurting the second largest group of Hispanics in the U.S. as well as the already fragile Puerto Rican economy.
Given the slow recovery from the previous recession, and the several major economies around the world that are teetering on edge, our country doesnt need a reason to further suppress economic growth by creating an even tighter labor force with lower wages on top of additional federal expenditures. Justin Velez-Hagan
Puerto Ricans living on the island are among the most well-educated and skilled in many parts of the Western world, success that is due to prolific and cheap education. With more than 50 institutions of higher learning and tuition costs far lower than the average American university, Puerto Rico graduates nearly 25,000 bilingual students every year, nearly half of these are in highly demanded STEM fields. There is no other place in the country that produces so many Hispanic STEM graduates.
The opportunity for American businesses to partner with these universities helped develop a robust manufacturing industry in pharmaceuticals, and more recently growing industries in technology and aeronautics. Over a period of decades, large manufacturers have relied upon Puerto Ricos well-educated, yet cost competitive labor market (combined with federal and local tax incentives), which has kept its tenuous economy afloat. Companies across the U.S., and from around the globe, interested in adding the label Made in America to their products, while advertising goods that are produced by American labor, can find no other place in the country to do so at such competitive costs. Puerto Rico and its people have relied upon these advantages since it became part of the United States.
Puerto Ricans born and raised on the mainland have the advantage of growing up with American culture and native English language skills, many of whom are also bilingual and have an understanding of Hispanic culture in general. Companies, large and small, are starting to realize the benefit that such diversity in skills and culture can add to their bottom line, often seeking Puerto Rican labor just for this reason. In fact, just yesterday, a large service company based in Texas contacted my organization looking to add Puerto Rican labor, from both the mainland and the island, to its payroll.
When the labor pool of legal American workers increases by millions of people, basic economics teaches us that as the supply of labor, and competition for jobs, increases, wages will be depressed. If there are not enough jobs to fulfill the increased demand (and there arent), unemployment will rise. On the mainland, Puerto Ricans will lose their legal competitive advantage, just like they will on the island, where an increasing number of Dominican migrants are competing for the few low-wage jobs available to the ever-shrinking Puerto Rican labor force.
Ironically, as some mainland Americans complain about Puerto Ricans in the diaspora taking jobs from blue-collar workers, Puerto Ricans also wont be able to compete with the influx of even lower wage labor entering Puerto Rico or in the rest of the U.S. A tight labor market for low-income Puerto Ricans will be made even tighter, pushing many more of these American citizens to reliance on the welfare system, straining the rest of the countrys finances. Fewer win that lose.
Depending on how many of the total number of new legal workers there are in the U.S., Puerto Ricans may find that they cannot be competitive anywhere without some additional, and often unattainable, educational or skills advantage.
Far too many who come to our country seeking opportunity get caught up in a terribly inefficient and outdated immigration system, often punishing those who attempt to comply with the law by pummeling our brightest applicants with paperwork, fees, and never-ending waiting lines. But, near sighted executive action has unintended side effects that the president is clearly not considering, or just doesnt care about any more.
Given the slow recovery from the previous recession, and the several major economies around the world that are teetering on edge, our country doesnt need a reason to further suppress economic growth by creating an even tighter labor force with lower wages on top of additional federal expenditures. For Puerto Ricans, the worse news is that few will notice how millions of us will, once again, suffer the brunt of the consequences.
Bravo Mr. President for having the courage or political will or for doing the hard cold political calculation finally to do the right thing for five million undocumented, but otherwise law-abiding immigrants. Those immigrants who have been here for more than five years, have citizen children, are willing to pay their fair share of taxes and are willing to register for criminal background checks will be able to stay.
They can come out of the shadows and live free of the fear of being wrenched away from their families.
What good is served by deporting and separating parents from their children? Is your life in any way disadvantaged by the undocumented immigrant serving beer in the Irish bar? Geraldo Rivera
I understand that many good citizens are upset that the president, like others before him, is acting outside the legislative process. And that Mr. Obama promises to do something tonight that he up until now has said he had no power to do. It doesn't matter. He's as much a politician as John Boehner and Mitch McConnell, John McCain and Marco Rubio who have all spoken out of both sides of their mouths on this issue.
The real question is whether this is the right thing to do.
Does anyone really have a substantive problem with this proposal? There are 500,000 undocumented immigrants here in New York City tonight as I write this. That is approximately the population of Atlanta or Tucson or Las Vegas. And you never hear about them. Why?
It is because they live their lives, mind their business and otherwise follow the law.
By every indication, they commit fewer crimes than citizen Americans. They raise their children and care for ours; they wash our dishes; mow our lawns; deliver and serve our meals; serve in our military; start businesses, pick our fruits and vegetables, and try hard to do the best they can for themselves and their families.
What good is served by deporting and separating parents from their children? Is your life in any way disadvantaged by the undocumented immigrant serving beer in the Irish bar or selling West African purses on the corner or serving noodles in the Chinese restaurant?
These people have been demonized by hard-right wingers who have found in them convenient scapegoats to blame for whatever ails us from ISIS to Ebola. They have been cynically exploited to serve as a wedge to divide Americans. Get over them. They are here and thanks to Barack Obama they are staying. And America is better because of it.
Memo to Hal Rogers: If you fund President Obama's Executive Amnesty Order, you will own it with him.
Now that the President Obama has announced his executive amnesty order, it puts the spotlight squarely on Republican leaders such as House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, who seems to be at odds with most of the GOP.
Rogers suggested recently to a reporter that the GOP should pass a long-term spending bill even if it should include funding for Obama's upcoming executive order. Mr. Chairman: If the American people wanted Congress to fund amnesty programs, they would have kept the Democrats in charge.
Voters [will not] make the distinction between the one who gives the order vs. the one who funds the order. If funding for the President's amnesty order comes out of your committee, Mr. Rogers, you own it. David Bozell
Whether we are talking about a continuing resolution or omnibus spending bill is completely irrelevant. American voters were not just casually opposed to the presidents naive, unworkable, and unfair policy ideas, Mr. Rogers. Voters put your party back in charge of Congress to stop paying for Obama's unconstitutional schemes with their hard-earned tax dollars, once and for all.
Republicans across the board both conservatives and establishment alike and reportedly even the Speaker of the House himself are calling on Congress to not provide the president with any funding to carry out his plan to grant amnesty to millions of people who entered our country illegally. Why is the Appropriations Committee Chairman seemingly alone on the proverbial island in favor of funding?
Countless conservatives ran against the presidents proposal and were overwhelmingly elected to office earlier this month Joni Ernst, Ben Sasse, Cory Gardner, Tom Cotton, just to name a few. Ernst said, I strongly urge the president not to sidestep Congress by granting executive amnesty. By acting alone, he will only be encouraging more illegal immigration, and worsening the existing crisis on our border.
Conservative incumbents also rallied around this issue Senators Jeff Sessions, and Ted Cruz have implored the GOP to reject the presidents demands. Even establishment Republican operative Karl Rove, certainly not known for linking arms with conservative members of his party, agreed. As he said in a recent interview, Put riders on appropriations bills that say no money shall be spent to execute this [amnesty] policy.
Most importantly, Rogers' own Speaker, John Boehner, reportedly told his Republican caucus last Thursday of the president's amnesty plans, "If [Obama] proceeds, we are going to fight it."
Before the election, the president himself said that his policies were on the ballot. The results are now in and it turns out Americans have emphatically rejected ObamaCare, amnesty, and more out-of-control spending.
Chairman Rogers is acting as if an election didnt happen, as if hes still in the nations capital where his party only controls one-half of one-third of government. Hes still living in the days of the old GOP that caves to Mr. Obama on issue after issue.
But its a new and beautiful day in Mr. Rogers neighborhood, as the GOP has a prodigious majority after double digit election gains in the House of Representatives. Over in the Senate, the GOP has already picked up eight seats and may pick up a ninth next month in Louisiana.
Even Gallup says Americans prefer the new GOP congressional majorities set the agenda going forward, not President Obama. This is not the time to return to cowering and caving; the American people want the GOP to lead.
Nor will voters make the distinction between the one who gives the order vs. the one who funds the order. If funding for the President's amnesty order comes out of your committee, Mr. Rogers, you own it.
Its official! El Papa Francisco will be visiting the United States for the very first time in October 2015. He will be attending the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia, which will be a huge rally in support of the family, an institution that has suffered many setbacks in the last few years. In some of our communities here in the United States, some might say its on life support.
The Meeting will be the culmination of a long process of investigation and reflection on the state of the family that began at the Synod on the Family. Its a process that has stirred up significant interest, debate, and even controversy, as it has touched on some hot button issues like homosexual orientation and life-long fidelity, where long standing Judeo-Christian values conflict with todays everything goes social mentality.
The right of each child to grow up with a father and a mother is a human right; the entire society reaps the benefits when children have their developmental and emotional needs met. Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie
It has been the gleeful assumption in some quarters, and the anxious fear in others, that the Church has finally begun to assimilate itself to the notions of todays modern people, who have been able to shed thousands of years of tradition and consensus in just a few brave decades.
My father, a Latino gentleman who has been a faithful son of the church since his baptism in 1936, picked me up at the airport after my visit to Rome to attend the Synod meeting in October. He asked me wonderingly, Es verdad? Does the Church have to change? I knew then that the terms of the discussion had been framed very effectively (and incorrectly) by the mainstream media, who have trouble seeing past a 24-hour news cycle, let alone comprehending the arc of world history.
I was very happy to send my father this week the whole text of Pope Francis comments at the Humanum Conference in Rome, during which he announced his upcoming visit. This conference brought together religious leaders from many different traditions in order to explore the anthropological reality of marriage based on the complementarity of men and women. In our brave new world, it appears to be necessary to spell out, in the most basic terms, something rationally accessible to a kindergartner: the unique way a man and woman come together is what produces children and starts a family.
Pope Francis said, "we cannot qualify [family] based on ideological notions or concepts important only at one time in history. The beautiful reality that a mother and a father permanently united and raising their children together is the most spiritually and socially enriching unit of any society, is a truth that cannot be obscured or changed by current fads, no matter how aggressive their promotion.
The Pope also explained that the family is experiencing an ecological crisis. He said, social environments, like natural environments, need protectionWe have been slower to recognize that our fragile social environments are under threat as well It is therefore essential that we foster a new human ecology.
He reminded us that when the marriage culture is diminished, it is women, children, and the vulnerable poor that suffer the most, as poverty and other social ills rise. The right of each child to grow up with a father and a mother is a human right, and the entire society reaps the benefits when children have their developmental and emotional needs met. The amazing personal and social benefit of marriage as a permanent and public union transcends the feelings and momentary needs of the couple, a concept that is becoming difficult to internalize in what the Pope likes to call our culture of the temporary.
I think that the clear defense of marriage and family by the Pope in this address will reassure my father and others like him. I hope it gets the attention it deserves. It probably wont, of course. It is much more fun for some to write about the huge fortress of the Church finally surrendering to the prevailing tides and crumbling away. For two thousand years these same types have been waiting in vain.
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At the beginning of the aftermath of Michael Browns tragic death in Ferguson America had little information to guide its understanding. We knew a young, unarmed, black man was shot to death by a police officer. We learned that some witnesses had him raise his hands in the air before one or more of the fatal shots were fired.
But more importantly, we did not know the name of the officer involved in shooting. It took six full days for the police or the prosecutor to reveal the name of Officer Darren Wilson. Of course the police and the County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch knew his identity. It wouldnt be surprising if the prosecutor knew him personally since the prosecutors father and brothers were Ferguson police officers and his mother was a clerk in the department. And of course, Officer Wilsons defense counsel and his union representatives were aware that he fired all the shots in question. Indeed, they assuredly were preparing a defense to the shooting in the interim before anyone can question Wilson on the record.
A tragedy was multiplied last night. Only a federal indictment can rectify some of this harm. Juan Cartagena
This deliberate shielding of an officer involved in shooting a civilian is nothing new in policing. In New York City it was called the 48 hour rule. It was won at the union negotiating table and literally immunized any formal investigation of any member of the Police Benevolent Union until he or she were allowed to consult with union attorneys. The practice was eventually outlawed by legislation but that has not stopped the union from lobbying to repeal the state law and restore the respite every year.
No one else in America gets 48 hours of down time to prepare against criminal charges in advance let alone the 144 hours that Officer Wilson got to prepare a defense.
That was only the beginning of the accommodations granted Officer Wilson in the most watched legal proceeding in years. So if you want to identify who should be held accountable for Mondays travesty of justice look no further than the prosecutors office.
Indeed, in less than a week we have two clear examples of the unique power that prosecutors hold by way of prosecutorial discretion. Last week President Obama ordered his law enforcement apparatus to stand down, announcing that it was more important to maintain families together and urge the Latino undocumented to come out of the shadows with clear benefits to the U.S. economy than to prosecute 5 million more deportations.
On Monday night, St. Louis County Prosecuting Attorney Robert McCulloch announced that his painstaking presentation of every scap of evidence to the Grand Jury in its search for the truth came back with no charges against Officer Wilson.
Each of these decisions is authorized by the discretion we place on the arm of the executive branch that decides who gets charged, what gets charged, what is bail, and what are the sentencing options. We may read quite a bit about the exclusive power of grand juries to indict and how that participation provides community checks and balances on executive power. But the reality is far different. The well-worn colloquial observation that any prosecutor worth his salt can indict even a ham sandwich says it all. Monday nights decision in Ferguson was the handiwork of McCulloch.
All grand juries are led in their deliberations by the local prosecutor. In Ferguson that prosecutor abdicated his role by playing the role of bystander rather than a representative of the victim's family. Who in that Grand Jury courtroom advanced the interest of the victim of the possible crime? Apparently, no one. That is not justice nor will it restore faith in the system for the residents of Ferguson or for black and Latino communities throughout the country.
Instead, McCulloch presented every bit of evidence at his disposal as if the grand jurys role was to decide the guilt or innocence of Officer Wilson. This is patently wrong. What it needed to decide was whether there was probable cause that any of the following crimes were committed: first degree murder, second degree murder, voluntary manslaughter or involuntary manslaughter. The first two are unlikely without some evidence of malice. But the last two are possible with evidence that the officer acted negligently.
Some accounts had Mr. Brown with his hands up at the time of the shooting. That would support probable cause. Instead, on Monday the Prosecutor referred several times to acts of shoplifting by Mr. Brown of cigarillos. McColluch then referred to the officers testimony that he was aware of the robbery. So can shoplifting ever justify the use of deadly force? In Missouri it can only do if it is in the act of a violent felony. So this begs the question of Wilsons negligence in shooting an unarmed person several times.
A tragedy was multiplied last night. Only a federal indictment can rectify some of this harm. The Brown family is in the same position as the families of Anthony Baez and countless others. Everyone now awaits Department of Justice action it will not be easy but it needs to be done to restore some faith in the system.
But at the end of the day Mr. Brown was shot dead unarmed and with his hands in the air. That alone should have forced the local criminal justice system to act. Its failure to do so precisely because the local prosecutor inverted the grand jurys role cannot be excused even if the federal government steps in.
It is all too easy to misinterpret the vast volume of economic data and form bad conclusions. One such case is the well-intentioned but inaccurate editorial by Justin Velez-Hagan, President of the National Puerto Rican Chamber of Commerce, on your site. Mr. Velez-Hagan claims that the Presidents executive order to expand deferred action on a broader base of immigrants will somehow harm the Puerto Rican community.
Immigrants should not be a scapegoat for economic woes that are the result of many decades of bad administration in Puerto Rico by both leading political parties. David Ferreira
The order was designed to keep mixed status families together in a safe harbor while Congress continues to trudge through developing a more comprehensive reform. The design was to provide protection from deportation and legal work authorization to some 4 million immigrant adults that are related to a legally residing or citizen child or through an expansion of DACA, the original Dream Act-like deferred action, to those over 30 that otherwise qualified for the program. As a result, this executive order, like President H.W. Bushs, was targeted to adults in order to keep families together.
As a member of the military, I am frankly surprised that Mr. Velez would oppose this action that will help countless mixed status families, some including military families where men and women in uniform are suddenly forced to find family to look after their children back stateside after a spouse is arrested and deported. This is an appropriate time of the year to remember that regardless of how American any of us may claim to be, for exception of Native populations, our forefathers were all immigrants, and most of them came without some permit.
With respect to the economic arguments made by Mr. Velez, those are easily discredited. He speaks to the negative impacts a large surge of immigrant workers would have on both the labor force and on wages. Mr. Velez paints the picture of four million people suddenly appearing out of thin air. The fact is that these immigrants have been here for a minimum of five years and often for decades as constructive members of our society and laborers in our economy.
A large body of academic economic research has conclusively found that immigration has a negligible effect on wages or the availability of work for U.S. Citizens. According to widely cited studies from the Harvard Business School and the University of California Berkley, immigrants have an impact of +/- 2 percent on wages depending on the state of the economy. The impact on the availability of jobs also varies very little and, like wages, the effects are limited and clustered around zero. According to a CATO Institute report from earlier this year, nowhere will you find a tradeoff where one additional immigrants means that one American loses a job in the economy.
Our hope is that, like other generations of immigrants, these will hopefully take advantage of their legal authorization to gain new skills and education so they improve their economic conditions and pass that on to their children. That said, most of the workers impacted by this order with be low wage immigrants, who pose no threat to the much higher educated Puerto Rican workforce. Mr. Velez does get one thing right Puerto Rico offers a far more competitive workforce than virtually any other place on earth due to its low cost and high education attainment.
One provision in the executive order does allow some foreign graduates with STEM degrees to remain in the United States. Mr. Velez needs only to look at the widely available economic data that shows an insatiable appetitive for STEM graduates in our labor force due to a domestic shortage. A better question would be why does Congress delay on comprehensive immigration reform and continue to allow foreign nations to benefit from the product of our educational system? According to Forbes and a report by The Partnership for a New Economy, 25 percent of high tech companies founded between 1995 and 2005 had at least one immigrant founder. 75 percent of the companies funded by American venture capital had one core foreign born team member...
Mr. Velez also speaks to the timing of the executive order. By his account the recovery in the United States has been slow and the order would tighten the labor force. The problem is that economic data on job growth disputes this assertion, and again we need to remind Mr. Velez that these workers are already part of the labor force. These are not new additions to the economy. They have been here all along raising families, running businesses, and growing roots in our communities. Our economy is recovering, and while I wish we could snap our fingers and get full employment and recover lost net worth from the Great Recession, we are doing ok and things are getting better.
In the end, we can all sympathize with Mr. Velez frustration over the state of the Puerto Rican economy, but would urge him to redirect that frustration elsewhere. Immigrants should not be a scapegoat for economic woes that are the result of many decades of bad administration in Puerto Rico by both leading political parties.
Our Spanish forefathers brought many blessings from Europe to America: horses, Christianity, beef, wheat, rice, government, the concept of private property, literacy, a mean streak of white racism and the mordida, the bite.
Mordida: Corruption, political and financial; bribes to bureaucrats, politicians and the gendarmerie, the cops, Border Patrol, etc.
Coupling the mordida with power and Sir Edmund Burkes axiom that Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely, and applying the two to Mexico, we see a second-world country crumbling before our eyes.
Now with a national turmoil over the disappearance of the 43 students in the State of Guerrero and the direct involvement of a PRD mayor and his wife plus the ineffectiveness and resignation of the PRD state governor, the PRD has reached the bottom of the political well. Raoul Lowery Contreras
The political and economic progress made by National Action Party (PAN) Presidents Vicente Fox and Felipe Calderon between 2000 and 2012 is being frittered away by the return of the 70-year-long quasi-dictatorship of the 84-year-old Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and its ultra-leftist illegitimate offspring, the revolutionary Party of the Democratic Revolution (PRD).
The PRD was founded in 1989 by Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, the son of former leftist private property-seizing President Lazaro Cardenas (1934-1940), who ran for president and lost the 1988 Mexican election by fraud he claimed.
He had served as the PRI governor of the important state of Michoacan from 1980 through 1986. He governed as a leftist PRI governor and ran as a leftist candidate for president. He organized his new political party as a leftist alternative to the entrenched center-left PRI and the center-right up-start PAN.
The PRD was and is ultra-leftist in philosophical orientation and corrupt in practice.
The current political chaos in Mexico is caused by PRD local politicians in the State of Guerrero (Acapulco) being directly involved in the disappearance of 43 college students on September 26th and the subsequent discovery of dozens of burned corpses in mass burial sites.
Local police officers directed by the local PRD mayor and his wife Mayor Jose Luis Abarca and his wife, Maria de Los Angeles allegedly disappeared the 43 students with help from the local drug cartel leader.
More: PRD Governor Angel Aguirre of the State of Guerrero resigned his office in light of the student disappearance just a few miles from the governors mansion and the involvement of PRD officials.
When Mexicans demanded real investigations into the mass disappearance of the students and the dozens of bodies discovered in mass graves, they had to turn to Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto, who thought that his economic policies would divert attention from the war on narcotraficantes drug cartels that his predecessor, Felipe Calderon, waged during his presidency.
President Pena Nieto directly and indirectly pledged to ease up on the war and concentrate on economics, thinking that would raise Mexicos standing in the world economy and that rising prosperity would continue Mexicos march toward a top-six world economy in less than 10 years.
A "war"-weary Mexican nation voted for Pena Nieto in 2012 and he has made some innovative moves on oil, real property ownership, law enforcement and judicial processes as well as public relations to entice foreign investment. Predictably he has fallen short on the war on crime, drugs and now, mass student executions.
Whether or not Mexicans will punish his PRI associates next year in the congressional elections no one knows, but as certain as the disinfecting sunlight showing on the PRD, one can expect a potential political disaster in those elections for the PRD.
Ever since Governor Cardenas founded the PRD, it has been a political problem. In the 2000 election it managed to run second after Vicente Foxs PAN and split the normal PRI vote allowing Fox to win with less than 50 percent.
Six years later, a former PRI Tabasco State governor, Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, ran for president and was barely beaten by PANs Felipe Calderon. The PRD swept southern Mexico and lost Northern Mexico.
Lopez Obrador protested his loss claiming to have won. He called for a nationwide worker strike and shut down downtown Mexico City for weeks. Mexicos economy took a huge hit. He organized a rump government by swearing himself in as the real President of Mexico and traveled around the country appointing officials to his rump government. Mexicans tired of his pompous disregard for their vote and he slipped out of sight.
Now with a national turmoil over the disappearance of the 43 students in the state of Guerrero and the direct involvement of a PRD mayor and his wife, plus the ineffectiveness and resignation of the PRD state governor, the PRD has reached the bottom of the political well.
Cuauhtemoc Cardenas, the PRD candidate in the 1994 and 2000 presidential elections, has resigned from the party he founded.
"I am resigning irrevocably as a member of the Party of the Democratic Revolution," he wrote in a letter to the Party Chairman.
His reasons: the partys direction, leadership and office holder participation in the disappearance of students on September 26th.
After the partys embarrassment of Andres Manuel Lopez Obradors shameless refusal to accept defeat, the resignation of its founder appears to be a political death rattle for the Mexican political Party of the Democratic Revolution. Good!
When David defeats Goliath, it is big news. When two Goliaths go to battle, it is usually bigger news. However, with major policy and political news on a variety of subjects coming from Washington lately, there has been waning attention paid in the latest round of Apple and Samsung, two telecom goliaths in a court battle over smartphone patents.
This is regrettable, especially because millions, in fact potentially tens of millions, of consumers could end up as collateral damage in this legal brawl.
There is no need to turn smartphone users into collateral damage left in the wake of the seemingly never-ending litigation among the Goliaths of technology. Mario H. Lopez
The quick overview: the U.S. District Court in the Northern District of California awarded Apple financial damages of $930 million due to what it called smartphone design infringement by Samsung. Apple has attempted to petition the Court to ban all infringing Samsung devices from the market but has not been successful. The Northern California Federal Court of Appeals is reviewing the amount of financial damages awarded to Apple. The next step in this battle will be a hearing on December 4, 2014.
Patents serve an important purpose to protect intellectual property and innovations. But in this design patent dispute, Apple successfully claimed that Samsung copied a patented rectangular design and graphical user interface. As a result, Apple was awarded excessive damages based upon Samsungs total profit for the devicesa ruling that misinterpreted the law without evidence the patents in question had an impact on consumers decision to choose one device over another. Functionality and new features are the primary market differentiators influencing consumer choice, not only design.
However, in reality the design or shape of a consumer product are not necessarily primary drivers of the sale of a high-tech product. This is particularly true for consumer electronics and an application driven smartphone that contains upwards of 250,000 patents. If Apple can patent a vertical rectangle for phones, can Sony patent the horizontal rectangle for televisions or cameras? Many productslike smartphones and televisionsare a certain size and shape for functionality, not because they are particularly innovative or aesthetically pleasing.
This case matters because the outrageous damages awarded to Apple will increase consumer costs and reduce competition in the smartphone market, an outcome that would impact millions including a large portion of consumers from underserved communities. For example, Hispanics disproportionately depend on lower-cost Android based smartphones as their primary means of accessing the internet. In fact, more than half of Latinos rely on smartphones as our primary connection to the Internet.
The Pew Hispanic Center found that smartphone ownership growth in the Hispanic community is leading other demographic groups. Adopting wireless broadband has helped our communities begin to close the digital divide.
This is why the Hispanic Leadership Fund recently filed an amicus brief in the patent litigation between Apple and Samsung. Unwarranted damages like those awarded to Apple will drive up the cost of technology and is likely to impede or reverse some of this important progress.
In todays hyper-connected digital world, having Internet access has become a necessity in everyday life for students, professionals and families. Reducing affordable access to smartphones can affect everything from access to educational resources, mobile health care, government services and job opportunities. As everyone relies more and more on Internet connectivity and mobile broadband access via our smartphones, policymakers should work to ensure an environment where modern devices remain available and affordable.
On behalf of the millions of consumers that rely on their smartphones as their gateway to the Internet, our organization urges the Federal Court of Appeals to reduce the award in recognition of its unintended consequences. There is no need to turn smartphone users into collateral damage left in the wake of the seemingly never-ending litigation among the Goliaths of technology.
My name is Kimberly Helminski Keller, and I am a Latina.
My Polish surname hides the reality that the other half of my DNA is Puerto Rican, a genetic mix of Spanish, African and Taino Indian. As a child, I described my multi-ethnic heritage as Puertolack, a hybrid of Puerto Rican and Polack.
We lived in Buffalo, N.Y. in a neighborhood where most families were Polish, Italian or a combination of both. My fathers family had been there for generations. They were among the original Poles who came to the U.S. in hopes of making a good living working on the railroad. My father met my mother while he stationed at an Army base in New Jersey. Her family came to the mainland in 1929 to escape Puerto Ricos poverty. She was a definite contrast to the girls back home with her tan skin, dark brown eyes and dark, curly hair.
I was too young to understand what was happening, but all the signs told my young mind that there was something wrong with me and the people I loved most. Kim Keller
Life in Buffalo was confusing to me. When I was with my dad, no one looked twice at me. I was just another little brown-eyed girl. However, the looks changed when my mother and brother were around. My mother was an absolute Latina beauty, and my brother inherited her tan skin and curls. They got stares from strangers. Some of our neighbors looked down their noses at them. I was too young to understand what was happening, but all the signs told my young mind that there was something wrong with me and the people I loved most.
I found solace and identity with my mothers family, especially after my parents divorce. They loved us unconditionally. You couldnt enter a room without my grandmother or aunts plastering your face with kisses. My cousins would tease me about being the whitest kid in the family and told me chocolate milk would make my skin turn brown. I drank a lot of it because I desperately wanted to be like them. My only sadness came from when we were around other Puerto Ricans in the community. People stared at me when I was outside. I knew enough Spanish to understand the muffled conversations about the white girl. They laughed when I called my grandmother, Abuela.
My life today as a multi-ethnic adult has its blessings and its challenges. I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to be a part of two very different cultures. Thanks to my mixed genes, my skin doesnt show age as it does on my Caucasian friends. My hair is somewhat manageable during the summer heat; whereas, my mom, aunts and cousins rely on various straighteners to tone down frizz. I also have the ability to see life from both a white and Latina perspective.
Still, society wants to put me in an easily definable box based on the color of my skin. People get angry when I make my own box. I identify myself as Latina because my greatest influences in life came from that part of my heritage.
Unfortunately, the heritage doesnt always embrace me back. I can speak Spanish, cook traditional foods and talk about shared cultural experiences, but other Latinos often acknowledge me with a patronizing grin.
Ive met a few other people who share white and Latino genealogies. Most live their lives in the culture that best matches their physical features.
Its easier to blend in than to stand out.
I straddle the fence. I want to be part of both cultures, but I know that in reality, society says I am a culture unto myself.
What if you had to choose between your family and your job? Peggy Young was working as a UPS driver, delivering packages, when she became pregnant in 2006. On her doctors instructions, she gave her employers a note saying that she could not lift more than 20 lbs. for the first 20 weeks of her pregnancy. She asked to be temporarily placed in a light work position that did not require heavy lifting. UPS refused, forcing Young to take an unpaid leave. She sued, and last week the Supreme Court heard arguments in Young vs. UPS.
Heres hoping that the high court recognizes that pregnant women cannot be treated as second-class citizens. Existing law and basic fairness dictate that the Supreme Court should rule in Youngs favor.
It is unfair to make pregnant women choose between their families and their job. The Supreme Court should stand with working women and rule for Peggy Young. Raul A. Reyes
UPS maintains that they are not discriminating against Young, noting that they offer accommodations to workers injured on the job, workers with disabilities, and those who lose their licenses because of a failed drug test or accident. UPS will actually make special arrangements for a driver with a DUI, just not for a pregnant woman. But under the 1978 Pregnancy Discrimination Act, employers are required to treat pregnant women the same way they would other employees similar in their ability or inability to work. So Young should be offered the same kind of temporary accommodation that UPS provides to other employees.
When Young was placed on unpaid leave, she lost her income and her medical insurance at the time when she needed it most. Thats why the outcome of this case is so critical. Consider that about half of U.S. workers are women, and that 75 percent will become pregnant during their working lives. Or that Latinas make up 41 percent of the Hispanic work force, according to the Department of Labor. Discrimination against pregnant women also hurts their families and children, and that is simply bad policy.
It is important to note that this case doesnt necessarily apply to all pregnant women. Many women can (and do) work through their entire pregnancies. Young is bringing her suit on behalf of women like herself who may need temporary relief from certain physical duties to safeguard their pregnancy.
Youngs case has won support from legal scholars, womens organizations, and labor unions. In fact, both pro-life and pro-choice groups are in rare agreement that she should win her case. Twenty-three right-to-life organizations submitted a friend of the court brief in support of Young, as did progressive groups like the American Civil Liberties Union and the Womens Law Project. Economic pressure is a significant factor in many womens decision to choose abortion over childbirth, the conservative groups wrote. Protecting the ability to work can increase true freedom for women, promote the common good, and protect the most vulnerable among us. This is especially true for Latinas, who the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports are disproportionately represented among minimum wage workers the group hit hardest by pregnancy discrimination claims.
The fact that we are still having a debate about protecting the wellbeing of pregnant women reflects poorly on us as a nation. The International Labor Organization has found that the laws of 84 countries, including Iran and Afghanistan, already provide pregnancy accommodation to women. In countries like Chile, South Africa, and Vietnam, a pregnant woman who transfers to lighter duties is guaranteed her same pay and benefits.
True, providing temporary work accommodation to pregnant women may be disruptive to UPSs business practices, or might run up costs. These arguments are undercut by the announcement that, effective January 1, UPS will offer pregnant women light work assignments, if needed. That makes it hard to argue that Youngs position is unreasonable. Maybe UPS recognizes that they are on the wrong side of this issue; nine states have recently passed laws requiring companies to make accommodations for pregnant workers. In July, the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission updated its guidelines to ensure that women receive temporary accommodations during pregnancy. Yet UPS believes that providing pregnant women with temporary work accommodation should be a matter of corporate discretion, not law.
It is unfair to make pregnant women choose between their families and their job. The Supreme Court should stand with working women and rule for Peggy Young.
The most likely new U.S. Defense Secretary, Ashton Carter, has plenty on his plate in far-flung corners of the globe like Yemen and Afghanistan. He will also have plenty to keep him awake at night closer to home.
Now that the White House has upped the seriousness meter after once foolishly referring to the Islamic State as the junior varsity, the entire U.S. defense apparatus has calibrated itself around confronting this very real global threat.
Placing Mexico at the same level of importance as countries in the Middle East may be unrealistic, but the country with which we share a border and a complicated security relationship should at least be in the conversation. Nelson Balido
There are gaping holes in the U.S. border security strategy, something made plain when thousands of undocumented minors were streaming across the U.S.-Mexico border this past summer. If the Islamic State is sophisticated enough to develop its own currency, then surely its operatives were paying attention. If kids who arent even old enough to rent a car could figure out how to get into the U.S. without documentation, then we should be very concerned about what a terrorist organization could do with a little motivation.
There are various scenarios with ISIL that could play out south of the border the incoming Secretary of Defense should be prepared to respond to.
Under one possibility, the same smuggling networks that were used to shuttle the Central American kids north could easily be adapted to help facilitate the passage of individuals who are hell bent on bringing their brand of destruction to the U.S. Mexican traffickers are business people always on the lookout for new clients. Its not hard to envision smugglers who are used to shuttling drugs and illegal immigrants being exploited to help out dangerous people for the right price.
Under another scenario, the Mexican smuggling networks could balk at being drawn into any sort of deal with ISIL for reasons practical and personal. Traffickers have established relationships with Mexican law enforcement that often results in law enforcement looking the other way on illegal activity because of either a financial incentive or the threat of violence. ISIL infiltrating Mexican organized crime circles would completely upend the status quo and bring a new level of law enforcement scrutiny from both the U.S. and Mexican governments that could wreak havoc. Mexican crime bosses could determine that any deal with criminal enterprises beyond their bread and butter of drug and human trafficking isnt worth the trouble.
These are admittedly the speculative musings of someone who has observed the ebbs and flows of the U.S.-Mexico security relationship and its effect on cross-border commerce and travel. Sometimes ham-fisted attempts to increase security have resulted in a drag on the ability to conduct legitimate business. Efforts to boost security, while well meaning, have directed limited resources at the wrong place and have relied on bad information. Ask any business if it believes the various government security programs aimed at the border and supply chains have made doing business any easier or made the border any more secure and the answers will be disappointing. Border security is getting better and is getting smarter, but were not where we need to be.
The Pentagon in this new era should seek to knock down the silos that plague all bureaucracies. Leaders at Homeland Security and the Department of Defense should understand each departments priorities, strengths and weaknesses and forge a working relationship characterized by cooperation. Being on the same page is critical and having the courage of the leadership to so will factor in determining success.
President Obama pointed out that the fuzzy alliances between the U.S. and various factions in Syria are contradictions in a contradictory land and a contradictory circumstance. U.S. defense and border security agencies might have to employ that same contradictory thinking if terrorist networks gain a foothold in Mexico and the U.S. is forced to explore a tenuous alliance with elements that have typically been a law enforcement target.
The new defense secretary will face the challenge of getting his point of view across in a White House that has been criticized for turning a deaf ear to the Pentagon. Placing Mexico at the same level of importance as countries in the Middle East may be unrealistic, but the country with which we share a border and a complicated security relationship should at least be in the conversation.
The peace talks in Colombia are ready to be resumed in Havana after the suspended animation created by the now released General Ruben Dario Alzate, who was kidnapped by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) in very contradictory and controversial circumstances on November 16th.
In what can be considered a sign of U.S. support to those negotiations, Secretary of State John Kerry visited Colombia last week to meet with President Juan Manuel Santos.
Now the peace process is ready to be resumed in Havana (...) while the nation remains evenly divided toward the conflict and the prospects of the peace process as conducted by Santos, but with a majority nonetheless hopeful for peace. Leopoldo Martinez Nucete
The plot of the generals kidnapping triggered speculation from all sides of the public opinion spectrum and the facts disclosed later contributed little to clarifying the impasse, which at one point led Colombian President Santos to unilaterally suspend all peace talks.
At that time, President Santos said: The FARC were responsible for this kidnapping, a totally unacceptable kidnapping, and opponents and supporters of the peace process were quick to weigh in, the most prominent voice being that of former president Alvaro Uribe, a fierce enemy of the peace process, who said that the terrorists regard the States efforts to achieve peace not as generosity but rather as weakness.
After the release of General Alzate and his resignation, Santos moved on with the peace dialogue indicating he has turned the page.
Leading newspapers and other media outlets drew attention to the fact that the General, Commander of Fuerza de Tarea Titan (Titan Task Force), was kidnapped, along with Corporal First Class Jorge Rodriguez and lawyer Gloria Urrego, in a remote region in the northeast of Colombia, where the FARC is very active, while he was dressed in civilian clothes and without the appropriate security detail.
Moreover, some media outlets reported the testimony of witnesses in the community, which accounted for a non-violent episode while the general was escorted by what appeared to be unarmed people.
In the midst of great confusion, on November 18th the FARC released a statement admitting they were holding Alzate and those with him hostage on the basis that they are enemy military personnel on active service in a war zone, as reported by BBC Mundo. Here it is important to point out that the armed conflict is not officially suspended by the ongoing peace talks in Cuba, and that the current status of the Colombian conflict has been recognized as of insurrectional nature. As such, kidnappings of this sort are characterized as hostilities.
The details of the generals release add little to no clarity. Telesur, the Venezuelan government-sponsored Latin American news network, showed pictures of General Alzate posing with guerrilla leaders in what seemed to be a non-violent retention. In his resignation letter the general himself admitted a lack of prudence, which threatened the peace process and contradicted government policy.
Almost a month later, several hypotheses are still floating in the media about the incident. Speculation runs from isolated hostile actions of undisciplined cells of FARC that are not in agreement with the peace talks, to a conspiracy against the peace process, and even more, an induced coma intended to reframe the dialogue.
In all this dust, just one thing seems certain: the generals explanations are unclear and insufficient. His whereabouts in an area of conflict without any security protocol - in what he defined as an approach to the community to promote social programs - as well as the non-violent circumstances of his retention as a hostage by the FARC are far from a traditional kidnapping.
Now the peace process is ready to be resumed in Havana, regardless of the fierce opposition of former president, now Senator Alvaro Uribe, in a nation that remains evenly divided about the conflict and the prospects of a peace process conducted by Santos, but with a majority nonetheless hopeful for peace.
Among the many political and social complex issues emerging from the process is the economic dividend of peace for Colombia.
Freeing the budget of military spending to fund infrastructure investment is critical to spike economic activity in Colombia currently Colombia military spending doubles the average in the region, accounting for 3.7 percent of its GDP. This blocks any possibility of increasing investment in infrastructure, key to accelerate Colombias economic growth while promoting competitiveness and productivity.
However, on the other hand, much argumentation and political debate is expected after the financial package presented recently by the Peace Commission of the Colombian Congress, which estimates at US$45 billion the likely amount of potential investment for the coming years should peace be achieved.
Indeed, on October 26th, Colombias Minister of Finance Mauricio Cardenas defended his fiscal reform with the argument that the peace has its costs, but much less than the costs of war.
Cardenas fiscal plan raises revenues in the amount of US$ 6,2 billion and contemplates investments in anticipation to the conclusion of the peace talks, by investing US$ 4.5 billion in compensations to the victims of the conflict, and US$ 2.5 billion in rural infrastructure investments.
Colombias economic performance is undoubtedly a good one: growth is expected to close above 5 percent in 2014 (projected at 4.5 percent for 2015), fiscal deficit is under control at 2.2 percent of the GDP, with the total debt at 34 percent of the GDP. Nonetheless, the road ahead, as it relates to infrastructure investments, presents a significant challenge. From that perspective the peace process is almost indispensable and, more than that, a rational political move in spite of its undeniable difficulties and risks.
The recent events show that, even when fragile, the peace process will continue its course, with its political detractors defeated once again in spite of critical circumstances such as the controversial Generals kidnapping.
Rebuilding trust will not be easy, but is essential if the peace process is to be renewed and existing achievements built on.
Dealing with how we celebrated the Holiday Season when I was growing up was just the most obvious symbol of our struggle to find ourselves religiously. We were half-breeds and both halves represented strong identities. Dad was not only a practicing Catholic when he met and courted my Jewish mom; he was a lay deacon in the Catholic Church. While he nominally converted to marry mom at City Hall, he never really shed his Catholic identity.
We hated Jewish holidays because we were the only kids absent on those days and our friends wanted to know why we had off and they didnt. We were the only kids who didnt have a tree and the only ones who didnt go to church. Geraldo Rivera
It didnt really matter when we lived in New Yorks Lower East Side, or later when we moved to Williamsburg, Brooklyn. Both those neighborhoods had huge Jewish and Puerto Rican communities. We didnt have to pick a lane. It was easy to identify with either side because there was plenty of each. But when we moved to West Babylon, Long Island, we were not just the only Puerto Ricans, we were the only Jews. We hated Jewish holidays because we were the only kids absent on those days and our friends wanted to know why we had off and they didnt. We were the only kids who didnt have a tree and the only ones who didnt go to church.
It got so bad that shortly after my colorful Puerto Rican-dominated Bar Mitzvah I regularly attended Catholic mass and even made my confession because it was all easier than explaining to my friends that I was different.
At 14, I finally got what all my friends had, a Christmas tree. It had been a struggle. Our mom, the former Lillian Friedman, was adamant: Jewish families like ours didnt celebrate the birth of Jesus. But mom, hes Jewish, my sister and I long argued to no avail. We can call it a Chanukah Bush, didnt fly either.
The long battle ended with a sneak attack. Irene, our adopted brother Wilfredo and I convinced our dad, Cruz Rivera of Bayamon Puerto Rico that we should just get it and put it up in the living room before mom got home from her job as cashier at the local E.J. Korvette discount department store (a sort of early Walmart).
We got the tree in place, got it lit and then waited for mom. We had a plan to mitigate her expected rage. As she walked in the living room and gasped, we started singing the old Yiddish holiday classic,
"Oh Chanukah, Oh Chanukah
Come light the Menorah
Lets have a party
Well all dance the Horah
It went over like a lead balloon. Mom started crying and with a shrug and a sigh she spoke directly to God. Looking toward the ceiling, she said I tried. You know how hard I tried. From then until Irene got married and I went off to college, we had a Christmas tree, which disappeared as soon as we were out of the house.
We also celebrated 3 Kings Day because we convinced mom that it was a Puerto Rican holiday rather than a strictly Christian religious observance, but thats another story. I should also note that my Jewish wife Erica does not permit a Christmas tree, but we do watch the classic Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and annually attend the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.
For 53 years, I have wondered if this day would ever come. And now that it has, I cant help thinking of my mom and dad. Im grateful they have lived long enough to see it. I think of my uncle Emilio who has died in Cuba without my getting to know him better, except for one visit to the U.S. where we fished and talked about this day.
I was born during the Cuban revolution in a place called Guanabacoa and left because of the revolution that my parents feared, not for them, but for my brothers and me. I never got to know my grandparents even though they lived and died just 90 miles away.
The table is set for what is one of the most historic foreign policy decisions in half a century. Where it goes from here will be determined by those it affects, from Iowas corn fields to Washington D.C. and Guanabacoa, Cuba. Rick Sanchez
My older brother Rudy had it worse. He was smuggled out of Cuba by the Catholic Church and lived alone and frightened in a convent in Arizona until my mom could muster the nickels and dimes she saved up to go by train from Miami to Arizona to retrieve him.
My story is not too different from that of hundreds of thousands of others like me. We call ourselves refugees "political refugees" is a nomenclature used with pride by Cuban-Americans to separate our experience from those of others.
So what do we say on this day when President Obama has undone 53 years of U.S. policy toward Cuba? The very notion of normalized relations with that very place we were all trained to hate seems abhorrent to every fiber in our bodies. Yet, we like most Americans tussle with its meaning.
The Cuba story is not just our story. It belongs to all of us. All Americans have learned about or lived through the Cuban Missile crisis, the Bay of Pigs, the Elian Ordeal, the Mariel Exodus. All Americans can think back to a time when the name Fidel Castro was only equaled on todays terms by ISIS.
That is why this story matters. President Obama is thumbing his nose at history. He isnt turning a page. Hes preparing to write an entirely new book.
When the president says he will reestablish diplomatic ties with Havana and that in the coming months he will open an embassy in Havana to carry out high-level exchanges and visits between our two governments as part of the normalization process, Im left awestruck. And so are millions of people around the world.
Now the reaction: Whether openly or behind closed doors, conservative Republicans from Midwestern agricultural states will applaud the move as a way to finally be able to compete in a market they have been excluded from in the past.
Social conservatives and those with an eye on the presidency will use it as a perfect wedge issue to all but guarantee a GOP win in Florida by stoking the anger of Cuban-American voters who will now finally have a real reason to distinguish between the parties and show up at the polls.
Democrats will likely embrace the presidents decision and so will the international community.But what about the Cuban community?
Here is how that will break down. Cuban-Americans who came to the U.S. during the first and second waves in the 1960s and 70s will affirm their stance on Obama as a communist and work their tails off to elect a Republican. Cubans who have come more recently and who, unlike the first group, routinely return to Cuba to visit relatives, will tend to back the normalization of relations.
Demographically, it breaks down quite easily. The younger Cuban demographic will tend to agree with President Obamas decision, while the older guard will be more apt to disagree.
The table is set for what is one of the most historic foreign policy decisions in half a century. Where it goes from here will be determined by those it affects, from Iowas corn fields to Washington D.C. and Guanabacoa, Cuba.
Here in Miami, theres a Wall of Martyrs in our sons Jesuit high school, lined with pictures of handsome young men who died in a failed but heroic attempt to save democracy in their little country. It was a flawed democracy, its true, but certain freedoms we take for granted here were taken for granted there: religion, association, press even the ability to travel freely or start a business.
Will economic freedom filter down to them and offer them a chance at dignified work? Cuba is full of people who have never known hope, and it is long past time they had their chance. Dr. Grazie Pozo Christie
Those young Cubans werent successful, of course, and some of them died on the beach or in the jungle. Some of those who survived the battle died in heinous prisons. Fidel Castro, who had attended the same Havana Jesuit school as the martyrs, proceeded to turn the country into a prison, an island of despair and dejection. My father visited last summer for the first time since his forced exile 50 years earlier. When he came home he got in bed and stayed there for two weeks, grief-stricken by the devastation, both spiritual and material, that had overtaken the beautiful island that he had visited nightly in his dreams for so many years.
One of Castros first moves as dictator was to expel the Jesuit priests who had educated him, a few of whom are still alive and educating our son. Now there is a Jesuit in Rome, a Pope who practices radical forgiveness and bridge building, even across chasms of offense and abuse. Heartbroken, Im sure, for Alan Gross, imprisoned for trying to bring some light to Jewish people trapped in this island dictatorship, Pope Francis has helped to create a rapprochement between the United States and Cuba. There has been at least one joyful result: the release of this poor, suffering hostage. If anyone doubts the cruelty of the regime, take a look at the frail and tottering man who emerged from that plane on Wednesday.
It is Pope Francis job to point to Divine Mercy and model radical forgiveness. St. John Paul II did so when he forgave the man who attempted to kill him, even visiting him in jail. I often picture him entering that prison cell when I have trouble forgiving someone who has offended me. Following this lead, even Cuban exiles are asked by the demands of the Gospel to grapple with encounter and dialogue perhaps even to the very men who filled that wall with pictures of Jesuit martyrs.
Like many watching this moment and as a daughter of exiles living among so many others who know the evils of the Castro regime, I am filled with trepidation. The people of Cuba live lives of such wretchedness that its hard to believe it can get worse.
Still, I am trying to transition from a very intimate fear to hope. Pope Francis leads the way, and I will try to follow. I will pray that their hard hearts will finally soften, and that cruelty will end. The people thirst for, need, and deserve freedom. I think of the poor mothers who work as prostitutes in and around luxury hotel lobbies, desperate to feed their children. Will economic freedom filter down to them and offer them a chance at dignified work? Cuba is full of people who have never known hope, and it is long past time they had their chance.
The earth shook Wednesday morning while I sipped my morning coffee and watched President Barack Obama junk 50 years of American policy by prostrating the United States to an official state sponsor of terrorism, Castro Cuba.
There are his previous decisions to cancel a missile system in Eastern European countries to help protect them against Russia. Reason, to curry favor with the Russians. Or his giving in over and over to another official state sponsor of terrorism seeking nuclear weapons, Iran.
Why didnt Obama insist on open and free elections monitored by international observers? Why didnt Obama consult with Congress as he promised to do if anything major was ever discussed with Cuba? Raoul Lowery Contreras
When fanatic terrorists in the Gaza strip commenced firing armed rockets into our ally Israel, Obamas Department of State flipped Israel off and expressed sympathy with the terrorist aggressors. Now comes Cuba.
Obama has been making baby steps to ease American pressure on Cuba. He eased individual restrictions but never publically negotiated with Cuba on the Congressionally-imposed 50-year-old embargo.
The image of Obamas new posture is the release of an American, Alan Gross, whose incarceration was illegal the moment he was arrested five years ago. He was a 60 year-old contractor sent to Cuba to help the Jewish community hook up to the Internet. Gross is back. Hooray!
But what did he cost? Castro made ransom demands that the President gave in to. Will other dictators and terrorists now kidnap Americans to keep as hostages while they negotiate ransoms?
Three convicted Cuban spies serving time in American prisons for conspiracy to murder Americans over international waters were the price. Obama gave them freedom in exchange for Gross and an unnamed intelligence asset in a Cuban prison.
Diplomatic recognition by the U.S. was another demand and Obama gave in. He received nothing in return. An embassy and an ambassador were demanded. Obama gave in, he received nothing in return.
While the President was addressing us about this New Cuban Paradigm, Cuban dictator Raul Castro was addressing his 13-million person island prison while suggesting President Obama use Executive Action to wipe out the embargo which he cannot do as the embargo is re-imposed in what was called the Helms-Burton Act of Congress. Castro prohibited the broadcast of Obamas speech.
Using Alan Gross as an excuse, President Obama embarked on this Grand Diplomacy Tour 18 months ago according to Washington insiders. Was the announcement timed for after the election in case there was a national negative reaction that would draw more votes against Democrats? Certainly no neutral observer would argue with that posit.
How could we possibly measure a negative political reaction? Republican opposition to the New Paradigm, perhaps? Neutral observers would just shrug off GOP opposition. They would also shrug off opposition from older Cuban Americans who fled Cuba and Castro decades ago. Images of desperate people clinging to rafts and inner tubes floating 90 miles to Florida from Cuba might be too emotional, too biased; so they would say.
So who would anyone pay attention to? How about the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman, Democrat Robert Menendez of New Jersey and the son of people who fled the Communist Cuba the Castro Brothers imposed with a gun.
Democrat Menendez crushed Obamas huge change in policy.
Obama claims Cubans will be better off if they have more contact with Americans. More American money sent by relatives in the U.S. will help people, Obama claims. The country is one of the most poverty strangled in Latin America and it is not the fault of a lack of American tourists or cash gifts; Cuba is poverty stricken because of Communism.
Obama claims that this new policy will leave behind Americas former colonizer history in Cuba. That left me speechless what with my five university years studying Latin America. Ill use U.S. Senator Marco Rubios observation to enlighten the America-haters Obama courts with historical and political dissembling.
Senator Marco Rubio: The United States sided with and helped Cubans fighting their Spanish colonizers for independence. Spain had owned Cuba for four hundred years. It was pushed out by Cubans and Americans. The Americans stayed for two years after the war ended with Spains defeat and turned over Cuba to Cubans in 1902. What colonizer Mr. President? Is it a coincidence that Dictator Raul Castro used the exact words in his televised speech in Cuba while Obama spoke here? Was that a Castro demand, too?
Senator Rubio continued that President Obama is the worst negotiator in my (Rubios) lifetime. I agree.
Alan Olsen and one unnamed spy traded for three convicted spies responsible for the deaths of Americans. Allegedly, 53 Cuban-held political prisoners are also involved. Why didnt Obama get the right to send American observers into Cuban prisons and labor farms to interview all political prisoners?
Why didnt Obama insist on open and free elections monitored by international observers? Why didnt Obama consult with Congress as he promised to do if anything major was ever discussed with Cuba?
We must agree with Senator Marco Rubio. President Obama is the worst negotiator weve ever had. He has betrayed those people who sacrificed so much to bring freedom back to Cuba.
Amen Senator.
The protests sweeping across the country in the wake of Ferguson, Mo., and the death of Eric Garner were sparked, in part, by the notion that police can get away with things no other person can.
On Monday, the Supreme Court added fuel to the fire when it ruled, for the first time, that police are allowed to make mistakes of law during the course of enforcing the law.
"Now that the Supreme Court has in essence ruled that to err is human only if youre the police, we are left to wonder how we can go about our daily lives without being suspected of breaking some law, even imaginary ones." Cristian A. Farias
If that doesnt make much sense, youve gotten a taste of how the Supreme Court works. Much of its decision making isnt based on reality, but on legal formalismjudge-made rules designed to bring order to the interpretation and application of the law.
In practice, however, these rules often create more confusion among law enforcement, lawyers, lower courts, and ordinary citizens. And Heien v. North Carolina, is no exception.
The case centered around Nicholas Brady Heien, who was stopped by the police while riding in a car with a broken brake light. That happens to everyone, except that it is not a traffic offense in North Carolina to drive with a broken brake light. The law there only requires that a car be equipped with a stop lamp, not two. Unaware of this distinction, the police stopped the car anyway, and a subsequent search revealed Heien had cocaine in his possession.
He got what he deserved, you may think. But not so fast. The point of the Fourth Amendment, which was at issue in this case, is not to catch criminals, but to protect everyone from government overreach. At the very least, you would think, police need to know the law theyre enforcing.
Suppose for a moment youre in the shoes of Mr. Heien, but you dont have any drugs in your car. Youd still be stopped by police on the basis of the broken brake light, and would perhaps receive a ticket. A big inconvenience. The violation is minor, so you probably wouldnt bother going to court or hiring an attorney; youd simply plead guilty, pay the fine, and call it a day.
But why would you do that? You didnt break the law. The police shouldnt have stopped you to begin with.
To the Supreme Court, none of this matters. Chief Justice John G. Roberts, Jr., who authored the 8-to-1 decision, said that it all boils down to whether an officers mistaken understanding of the law was reasonable.
But whats reasonable? In law, reasonableness means a number of things, but it generally means public officials can get away with conduct you and I cant, so long as they reasonably believed they were doing the right thing.
To be reasonable is not to be perfect, Roberts wrote, and so the Fourth Amendment allows for some mistakes on the part of government officials, giving them fair leeway for enforcing the law in the communitys protection.
That sounds laudable on paper, but in practice, the fair leeway officials are afforded is nothing but fair. It is very broadso broad, a national movement is now afoot demanding more accountability for police misconduct. Rulings like Heien, which hold public officials and citizens to different standards, do nothing to ease tensions. They empower policein the context of everyday interactions with whom they took an oath to serve and protectto be excused for mistakes others without a badge would be penalized.
Sonia Sotomayor, the lone dissenter in Heien and the only justice with criminal trial experience, acknowledged the double standard and would have ruled that an officers mistake of law, no matter how reasonable, cannot support the individualized suspicion necessary for a stop.
That was Sotomayors legal conclusion to her colleagues and scholars. But her practical conclusion reached further: the decision erodes the protection of civil liberties in a context where that protection has already been worn down.
Here shes writing to the peoplethe ones most affected by day-to-day police encounterswhether in Ferguson, New York City, or elsewhere: One wonders how a citizen seeking to be law-abiding and to structure his or her behavior to avoid these invasive, frightening, and humiliating encounters could do so.
Indeed, theres no way to know. And now that the Supreme Court has in essence ruled that to err is human only if youre the police, we are left to wonder how we can go about our daily lives without being suspected of breaking some law, even imaginary ones.
I dont recall the exact November, 1943, date that Mexican government agents hustled my Mother, me, my uncle and great-grandmother (abuelita) onto a train bound for El Norte, the United States of America. The expulsion was ordered by former President Lazaro Cardenas who accused my great-grandmother of treason for helping organize the formal opposition Partido Accion National (PAN) to Cardenas and his Party, the PRI.
What I do recall is that we walked across the American border on a bridge over the Rio Grande. I am told that I proudly handed an American officer my Mexican passport. He stamped it and waved us on with Bienvenidos to America. Years later I discovered I didnt need that passport for I was an American citizen via my mothers birth in California.
Among us, I am told we had $123.00 American dollars.
We boarded a train in El Paso, Texas, headed for San Diego to join relatives. The train was jammed with young sailors, soldiers and Marines headed to the Pacific to make war on the Empire of the Sun. Many of these guys had never been 20 miles from home and probably had never met a 2-year-9-month-old kid or adult who didnt speak English.
I wonder to this day if any of the soldiers, sailors and Marines I saw in newsreels of the bloody battles of Iwo Jima or Okinawa in 1945 were any of these young guys on the train that used to laugh and reward me with chocolate when I made funny faces at them. In later years I would thank them for defeating the Empire, protecting freedom and teaching me that people will pay you to entertain them, sometimes with chocolate.
What I learned from them I used for motivation later on radio and television.
Christmas of 1943, of 1944 and 1945 escape my memory, but Christmas of 1946 stands out as the first American Christmas I remember not just for the festivities, but for who was there.
My job was to grind corn masa for tortillas and tamales. My five-year-old arms almost fell off after an hour from the grinding on a grinding stone like the ones used by our Aztec ancestors. Raoul Lowery Contreras
We started Christmas 1946 with Midnight Mass on Christmas Eve, then went home and opened presents. Being the only kid and only man, the attention seemed to be on me. It was a great night.
Most of the men in the family and in San Diegos Mexican barrio were absent as they had gone to war or, like my grandfather and grand-uncle, to build military bases all over the world for the war effort. Arriving in 1943, I had never met either because they were gone.
My mothers cousin-by-marriage Luis had joined the Army the minute he could (1943) and volunteered for the 101st Airborne (they paid extra and he had just married my mothers first cousin). He was wounded in the Battle of the Bulge.
My uncle was 15 when we arrived in 1943, turned 16 in February of 1944 and joined the Army four months later by telling the recruiter that he had no birth certificate because he was born in a mountain village in Mexico where children didnt have birth certificates. Being a breathing body was his qualification for enlistment, so the Army took him. Off to war with his buddies.
Christmas morning started with my great-grandmother and I having our morning cafe con leche, coffee with milk, mine was mostly milk. Then family women showed up to start preparing Christmas dinner.
My job was to grind corn masa for tortillas and tamales. My five-year-old arms almost fell off after an hour from the grinding on a grinding stone like the ones used by our Aztec ancestors. My abuelita supervised all the women and carefully watched over a giant bird in the oven they told me was a turkey in the United States but a guajolote (wah-ho-loh-teh) in Mexico.
Pork, beef, beans, potatoes, sweet potatoes and rice were cooking in large pots, two women were using the ground corn and making tamales with chicken, pineapple, beef and raisins and steaming them to perfection. Others were organizing the large front/dining room into a large buffet. Target time for eating was 4:00 in the afternoon. Other than helping in the kitchen, that was the only detail I knew about. The women were happy. I thought it was because Santa had brought them nice presents like he did me. It wasnt.
My grandfather and grand-uncle who had been working building Army air bases came up the stairs to the apartment above a liquor store. Then our paratrooper hero cousin Luis arrived from Germany. Some distant men relatives I didnt know bounded up the stairs to be greeted joyfully by their girlfriends and wives. Then came my Uncle Johnny, all of 18-years-old with combat ribbons from fighting in France and Germany.
I cried. I didnt know any of the men, including my grandfather. Id never met them but I knew my Uncle Johnny. I cried like a little girl and didnt care.
It was the greatest Christmas, the first American Christmas I remember. All those people are gone but the memory of Christmas 1946 is in my mind as if it was yesterday. So are they.
Merry Christmas, Feliz Navidad to all, a todos.
Attending college promises a secure path to the middle class, but in its mission of educating low-income students and students of colornamely, Latinosthe public university system is failing. Given that communities of color are only expected to grow, with projected population changes showing that non-Hispanic whites will no longer be a majority of college students by 2050, it is more important than ever to future generations and U.S. economic security that college completion rates reflect the country's changing population.
As things currently stand in the U.S., students from the least advantaged populations complete degree programs at a lower rate, take longer to graduate and are burdened with a greater portion of student loan debt.
While there have been improvements in the college-going rate across demographics, the gap in degree attainment is widening. In 2012, only 14 percent of U.S. Latinos over age 25 had bachelors degrees compared to 34 percent of whites. A focus on outcomes is crucial to achieving success for all students.
Despite schools in general underachieving in helping all its students achieve success, there are some standout public universities that are reversing these trends and together, they provide a model for other colleges to follow.
While there have been improvements in the college going rate across demographics, the gap in degree attainment is widening. In 2012, only 14 percent of U.S. Latinos over age 25 had bachelors degrees compared to 34 percent of whites. Antoinette Flores
As detailed in a recent issue brief by the Center for American Progress, students of color have lower college graduation rates, take longer to graduate and have the highest student debt levels.
In 2012, non-Hispanic white students were 7 percent more likely to graduate on time than Latino students. This graduation gap has slowly decreased over the years, but given that Latinos are one of the fastest growing ethnic groups, more needs to be done. Latino students with high levels of financial need are likely to be debt averse or reluctant to borrow.
Skyrocketing tuition and increased reliance on student loans limit Latinos decision to attend college. Those that do attend are twice as likely to have student loan debt as white students.
Latino students also take longer to graduate and are more likely to leave school without a degree. At public four-year institutions, 61 percent of incoming white students attain a bachelors degree in five years, compared with just 49 percent of Latino students.
This affects students incomes for the rest of their lives: A working adult with a bachelors degree earns an average of $18,000 more per year than an adult worker with only some college education. In other words, the populations with the greatest need are burdened with high levels of debt without the promise of a degree.
Given projected demographic changes in the United States, public universities must do a better job of graduating all students at a lower cost.
Despite these statistics, some universities have closed graduation gaps across racial groups while simultaneously enrolling more students from low-income families. Three such schools are the University of California, Riverside (UCR), the University of South Florida (USF) and the University of North Carolina at Charlotte (UNCC). Sustained university-wide commitment to the success of all students and to providing need-based aid and student support programs have helped accomplish this goal.
As the report shows, all three universities graduate Latino students at a rate equal or higher rate than white students while they have significantly increased their percentage of low income students. Interviews with school representatives detail the policies behind the success.
First, the three universities all discussed the importance of providing need-based state, federal and university financial aid particularly given trends of rising tuition and states decreasing funding toward higher education.
Second, student support services such as Summer Bridge programs, first-year transition programs and a commitment to understanding diverse student bodies and their differing needs all play a role in academic success.
Lastly, all three universities emphasized strong leadership and institutional commitment to improving graduation rates, ensuring degree affordability and student success.
Public universities often explain disparities in student performance as a result of differences in income, academic preparation and the cultural capital of students. These examples show that targeting the success of students from such different backgrounds and their varying needs can change and even equalize student success, regardless of student background.
As the population changes and the share of students of color continues to grow, college outcomes and the disparities across demographics become more important because, for the first time, it would mean that a majority of the population is struggling to finish college while being burdened with higher debt.
Eliminating gaps in degree attainment is not just a student-of-color issue, it is vital for the future of the country. Investing in college completion is important for both the future workforce and the economic performance of the country.
As the path to the middle class, our public colleges and universities must work harder to reverse this trend and assure prosperity for all.
Over the Christmas weekend, Chicago surpassed the 750-murder mark for 2016. But as blacks lay dying on the streets of Chicagos South and West Sides, a Black Lives Matter offshoot is more interested in traveling overseas to learn resistance from terrorists.
The Dream Defenders bills itself as an uprising of communities in struggle, shifting culture through transformational organizing. But an investigation conducted by the Haym Salomon Center reveals the groups embrace of anti-Semitism and collaboration with a State Department-designated terror group.
In August, Black Lives Matter singled out Israel for condemnation, declaring it an apartheid state engaged in genocide. These accusations angered Jewish leaders, many of whom had steadfastly supported the BLM cause. Nonetheless, despite what can only be described as a total lack of relevance to its own agenda, BLM did not back down.
Just like BLM, Dream Defenders proclaims solidarity with Palestinians. DD claims that the black community in America, together with Palestinians in the occupied territories of Israel, are all victims of state-sanctioned violence. As such, the two causes are related and should learn resistance from each other. After leaders from BLM and DD made their first trip to Palestinian territories in January 2015, BLMs anti-Israel advocacy remained steady, mostly lashing out at the Jewish state at rallies and protests. DD stepped up their disdain for Israel, engaging in what the U.S. government defines as anti-Semitism.
Dream Defenders website dedicates an entire page to Palestinian solidarity. While accusing Israel of existing on stolen land, there is no mention of Palestinian terrorism, including the targeting of civilians.
During the 2016 trip, the group was led around East Jerusalem by convicted terrorist and member of the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine Mahmoud Jedda. Jedda served 17 years in Israeli prison for planting bombs.
Jeddas well-known link to the PFLP was cause for celebration among the group of American activists he guided around East Jerusalem and several refugee camps in the West Bank. Last year, PFLP took responsibility for a killing spree in a Jerusalem synagogue, leaving four worshippers dead. This is the repository of wisdom from which Dream Defenders is learning resistance.
One of the Dream Defenders who participated in this past Mays trip was Florida Green Party spokesman Didier Ortiz. During his trip, Ortiz took to social media claiming Jews in Hebron are there simply to try to take as much land as possible and kill as many Palestinians as possible, concluding that #zionism must be eradicated.
As a public speaker representing the Dream Defenders, Ortiz has stated, Zionism is racism, its colonialism, its fascism liberation will not come until Zionism is utterly destroyed.
Terrorism expert and Haym Salomon Center senior fellow Bridget Johnson recently raised concerns about anti-Israel advocates hijacking the Black Lives Matter movement. In an editorial published last week in The Hill, Johnson wrote:
Its critical to ensure that the movement does not get hijacked by interests some claim are intersectional, but are unrelated at best and nefarious at worst.
Johnson singles out the Dream Defenders for scrutiny, taking them to task for their support of the PFLP:
Declaring solidarity with an intifada puts you on the side of terror, not justice or the rule of law.
But is it possible Dream Defenders was set up to do exactly that? The list of its founders and advisory board includes name after name associated with the anti-Israel Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. DD co-founder Ahmad Abuznaid is the son of Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) ambassador and former Yasser Arafat advisor Dr. Nabil Abuznaid.
Strange bedfellows for group that began to protest Floridas Stand Your Ground laws in the wake of the Trayvon Martin shooting.
One of the more disturbing collaborations, presaging violent intentions, is an educational series produced by Dream Defenders that lionizes the PFLP. The curriculum, titled Blacked Out History Rebellion Curriculum Toolkit, justifies acts of violence and terrorism under the euphemism struggle. The common core-compatible curriculum mentions various violent PFLP strategies such as hijackings, assassinations, car bombings, suicide bombings, paramilitary operations against civilian and military targets.
Hasnt black America endured enough violence already?
This year has been like the classic film Its a Wonderful Life the part that brought George Bailey to the bridge in despair. He was despondent over a little financial trouble. Thats nothing next to what happened in 2016.
There were senseless terror attacks in Orlando, Brussels, Nice, Turkey, and too many other places. Civil war dragged on in Syria, producing images of buildings bombed to smithereens and shell-shocked children. Just when Ebola seems to be gone, we have a scary new virus, Zika. Then there were the elections that shook the world Brexit and our own tumultuous, mud-slinging presidential campaign.
But watch to the end of the Frank Capra movie, and youre rewarded with a joyous scene: Georges friends and neighbors crowd into his living room, piling cash on a table to offset his debt. The spontaneous generosity renews Georges faith in humanity and mine too, every time I watch it.
So how about this? Lets make the end of 2016 like the last scene of Its a Wonderful Life. In the remaining days of this difficult year, lets help others have a better life.
If you choose to give financially, youre in good company. According to a new World Vision survey, three in five Americans donate to charity in the last two weeks of the year.
For many its a last-minute chance to get a charitable tax deduction, but whatever the reason, organizations are grateful. Most nonprofits rely on booking a disproportionate amount of their total revenue in the last three months and they need it to tackle some of lifes toughest problems: cancer, homelessness, human trafficking.
World Vision, the organization I lead, brings in more than 30 percent of cash revenue in that period, allowing us to help lift millions of people out of poverty around the world.
There are other ways to give, of course. Give blood a direct way to give life. Volunteer at a food bank or a soup kitchen; donate gently used toys and clothes to a homeless shelter.
Every gift of time, treasure, and prayer makes a difference for someone on the edge of survival. Millions of people around the world felt the blunt force of the bad year, far greater than we did. It was a particularly harsh time for refugees, as we know from news reports from Aleppo and Mosul.
Ive met many of these refugee families. In Bekaa Valley, Lebanon, I sat in a 10-foot-by-10-foot tent with a grandmother and her three small grandchildren. As they fled Syria, the womans husband and the mother of the children were killed, and her son the childrens father is missing. She told me her story through sobs, mourning her loved ones and dreading her future as the childrens sole support.
If only this womans life could magically go back to normal, as George Baileys did in Its a Wonderful Life. But the Syrian war is far from over, and unfortunately, Americans compassion is going in the wrong direction, as World Vision found in a recent survey. Only 33 percent of Americans have done something to help refugees in the past two years, four percent fewer than in 2015. Sixty-four percent say they are willing to help a seven percent drop from the previous year.
This is disappointing, and perhaps its indicative of how Americans are feeling lately.
But if Its a Wonderful Life teaches us anything, its that our lives touch others. It doesnt take a second-rate angel like Clarence to save someone on the brink of despair. You dont need to be a millionaire, either. You can feed a refugee for a week for just $10; give a child clean water for life for $50; spend just $75 to provide a goat to a family in places like Zambia.
Consider the cheerful hearts of Georges neighbors: the bar owner who raids the jukebox; the lovelorn beauty who gives the money she intended to use to start over in New York; even the Baileys housekeeper Annie, who has been saving up to get married. They gave what they had, and it felt good.
See if the same thing happens for you. Close out this crummy year on a note of hope, knowing you gave someone in much worse shape a shot at a wonderful life.
The mainstream American foreign policy establishment is aghast at the idea that a Donald Trump presidency may end the pursuit of a post-Cold War liberal world order and lead to a U.S. foreign policy centered on deal-making. But if we move past the hand-wringing and sky-is-falling rhetoric, such an approach is far more appealing than most in Washington are willing to admit.
The reality is that there isnt, and has never been, an accepted post-Cold War Liberal Order. And worse, the false assumption that one existed has contributed to two decades of decline in American global influence.
With the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the U.S. had tremendous power to shape international security developments. But this opportunity was squandered, under both Republican and Democratic presidencies, as they embraced unrealistic, even utopian, foreign policy agendas.
Both George W. Bush and Barak Obama aspired to transplant the American model around the world, toppling governments if necessary. The problem is, rather than birthing democratic regimes, this approach created failed states and vast areas of lawlessness which have become primary sources of international and regional insecurity. And because this utopian approach ignored that other world powers never bought into an imagined new world order, it has also amped-up tension between the U.S. and Russia and contributed to far-from-cooperative relations with China.
This clearly isnt working. But, having won on a promise of fundamental change, President-elect Trump has an opportunity to dramatically shift the underlying assumptions that have guided two decades of foreign policy. If Trump is serious in his desire to restore American international power, there are some clear lessons that his administration must embrace.
First, the impact of geopolitics is not nearly as diminished as American foreign policy has assumed. The Obama administration frequently condemned Russian President Putin by asserting that he was acting by the rules of 19th Century geopolitics. In fact, Putin has recognized that geography remains both a powerful asset and constraint, while Presidents Bush and Obama each demonstrated a lack of geographic concern by pursuing pet projects that established new landlocked countries, Kosovo and South Sudan. The viability of both is highly challenged by their lack of sea access, while South Sudan is further challenged by its dependence on the agreement of the state it split from to transit its oil exports.
Next, avoid the idealistic assumptions that have led to failed states and ungoverned territories the chief sources of current insecurity. Presidents Bush and Obama helped create five failed states by encouraging the downfall of hardline leaders, despite having no plan for what happens after. Bush did it through military means in Iraq and Afghanistan, and Obama through his Asad Must Go policy that enflamed Syrias civil war. These interventions, which relied on a misbelief that power voids would be filled by democratic movements, have led to far worse conditions for the citizens and neighbors of each state than before the U.S. sought each dictators removal.
Third, maintain cooperative relations with Russia and China or at least one of them. The U.S. has long benefitted from the fact that its two main strategic rivals border each other, and thus, face more threats from each other than from the U.S. However, as has become clear over the last several years, when the U.S. has security conflicts with both China and Russia, the two nations are driven to cooperate more closely.
Fourth, examine the motivations of a state, not just its leaders. Americas options and understanding are reduced when it views Russias policies as being just about Putin or the Syrian regimes actions as being entirely driven by Asad. In recent years, the U.S. has even intervened in domestic politics abroad, believing leadership change could fundamentally re-shape a foreign states policies. In attempts to empower Medvedev over Putin in Russia, Davutoglu over Erdogan in Turkey, Rouhani over Khamenei in Iran, and more, the U.S. was not only unsuccessful, but also counterproductive damaging relations and its leverage to change these states policies.
Finally, President Obama recently implored President-elect Trump to not take a Realpolitik approach and cut deals with Russia and other adversaries. But an examination of Americas decades-long assumption of an idealistic world order has made clear that it is the cutting of deals that can expand policy options and bolster security. Sanctifying some non-ideal situations may at times be distasteful, but it will lead to a far better reality than well-intended policies that create real nightmares, such as we see now in Syria, Yemen, Iraq and beyond.
On Thursday afternoon, President Obama announced new sanctions against Russia for its role in hacking the Democratic National Committee and allegedly interfering in the November presidential election.
Under the sanctions, Obama has kicked 35 Russian intelligence operatives out of the US and forced the closure of two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York. These are very real consequences.
The new sanctions also include travel bans and asset freezes targeting four top officials in the G.R.U., Russias military intelligence agency. The administration also plans to release a series of reports documenting the evidence linking Russian intelligence to the hacks.
While the G.R.U. officials will likely be unaffected by the largely symbolic sanctions, releasing information about the hacks will help the US and other nations preempt and deter future cyberattacks by Russian government operatives.
The new sanctions against Russia are welcome change from an administration that has consistently failed to stand up to Putin, and whose record is marred by Russian successes in Ukraine, Syria, and beyond.
Clearly, the Russians dangerous interference in the elections and direct targeting of American democracy demanded a serious response and, at least this time, the Obama administration has taken a meaningful first step in striking back at Putin/
Indeed, President Obama stated that, All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions.
However, all Americans should be equally alarmed by how late Obamas retaliatory efforts come, with a mere three weeks left in his two-term Presidency.
If nothing else, the Obama presidency represents eight years of weakness in global leadership and bad deals with our greatest geopolitical foe, Russia.
For nearly a decade, the Obama administrations efforts have emboldened our Russian adversaries to violate their neighbors territorial sovereignty, as well as perpetrate one of the worst terrorist attacks since 9/11 in the missile attack on Malaysian Airlines Flight 17.
Needless to say, Russian aggression has served to wholly diminish American global leadership.
From day, the Obama administrations 2009 Russian reset was as much a naive failure that allowed Putin to rebuild his conventional and nuclear military capabilities, which he is putting to deadly use today in Ukraine and Syria.
In the intervening years, Russia also repeatedly violated the already-weak 2010 New START nuclear agreement at every possible turn, while President Obama failed to follow through on the completion of the ever-necessary NATO missile shield, which would protect both Europe and America from Russian or Iranian attacks.
While the new sanctions are a step in the right direction, they will not be enough to stop Putins master plan to destroy free and democratic nations throughout the world and restore Russian power and global influence. That will take real leadership from the next President, not a last-minute scramble from lame-duck Obama.
Russias grand strategy, which I outlined in my recent book, Putins Master Plan, is designed to force the breakup of the NATO alliance and could potentially to war with the West.
While the West currently has no plan, no strategy, and no tactics as a result of Obamas feckless leadership, we must demand that the incoming Trump administration and his foreign policy team will go further to defend our allies freedom and sovereignty, build on these sanctions, and promote further measures to punish the Russians for interfering with the security of the United States and its democratic system.
Douglas E. Schoen has served as a pollster for President Bill Clinton. He has more than 30 years experience as a pollster and political consultant. He is also a Fox News contributor and co-host of "Fox News Insiders" Sundays on Fox News Channel at 7 pm ET. He is the author of 13 books. His latest is "Putin's Master Plan" (Encounter Books, September 27, 2016). Follow Doug on Twitter @DouglasESchoen.
Lets be honest: President Obama is throwing a good old-fashioned foot-stomping world class temper tantrum. He is just beside himself that the stupid American voter elected Donald Trump. How could the country willfully dismiss the erudite recommendation of nearly every news organization in the nation as well as Obamas personal plea that not electing Hillary would be a personal insult to him? How could young people not respond to Obamas call to bend the arc of history in a better direction? It is beyond comprehension.
But it happened, and Obama is having an extremely difficult time dealing with what may be his first-ever serious setback. This is a man described by his closest advisor, Valerie Jarrett, as just too talented to do what ordinary people do. More flattering, Jarrett noted that I think Barack knew that he had God-given talents that were extraordinary. He knows exactly how smart he is. He is so smart, said Jarrett, that hes been bored to death his whole life.
Very few people surround themselves with people capable of such uncompromising adoration. It isnt healthy. But Obama is different. He has been told over and over even by the Nobel Committee that awarded him their coveted Peace Prize on spec that he is extraordinary. So when a man like The Donald bests him, a man Obama clearly considers a joke, he is undone.
That is certainly the way he is behaving. Not for Obama the normal gracious withdrawal into political stasis; no, he wants to prove in these waning weeks of his presidency that he was right all along. That his agenda is what The People want, even if they dont know it. That putting Americas valuable natural resources permanently off limits is the correct thing to do, because only Obama can see the future. That taking over vast swatches of the west is in the best interests of the reluctant residents there, because only Obama will protect our environment. That publicly confronting Russia for cyber misbehavior after years of looking the other way is called for, even if it complicates diplomacy in a number of theaters. Because Obama knows best.
He also knows what is best for Israelis. Upending long-standing tradition, he has allowed our only true ally and the only democracy -- in the Middle East to be further isolated and compromised, in the interests, we are told, of seeking a meaningful peace. The reality is that Obama fully expected that by dint of his winning personality, superior insight and sympathy for the Muslim people, to conquer the divides in that region.
He was shocked that his Cairo speech did not cause the waters to part, and the wounds to heal. And he is angry that, in his mind, Bibi Netanyahu has stood between him and fulfilling this key legacy achievement. As he revealed in 2010 to an interviewer with Time magazine, [Getting peace in the Middle East] is just really hard; notably, this came as a surprise.
Make no mistake: we do need to rein in Russian misbehavior. Putin is a dangerous adversary and should never have been allowed out of the penalty box inflicted by drooping oil prices. But, Obama gave him running room by putting him in charge of the Syrian debacle and making him a key figure in the Iran nuke deal. So important were those quests to Obama that our president chose to ignore Moscows serial aggressions and misbehavior. Indeed, after the conclusion of the Iran accord, Obama called Putin to thank him for his help. Is it any wonder that an emboldened Putin felt he could act out his hostility to Hillary Clinton?
Obama is having a difficult time passing the baton, because he thinks the baton should be his in perpetuity. Unlike most of his predecessors, Obama intends to stay involved in his partys politics, and to continue living in the nations capital, better to keep his finger on the pulse. Whether Democrats want him involved, since after eight years of his leadership the partys pulse is barely discernible, remains to be seen.
Meanwhile, Vladimir Putin has once again outfoxed President Obama. His response to Obamas eviction of 35 diplomats and other grave-sounding but ultimately unimportant retaliatory measures? Instead of engaging in traditional diplomatic tit for tat, the Russian leader has invited the children of U.S. diplomats to the Kremlin for a holiday party. Who looks like the adult in the room?
Twenty-two years ago, the Contract with America promised voters that, if elected to Congress, Republicans would advance legislation to shrink the size of government, balance the budget, and reform major entitlement programs.
Americans voiced decisive support for these conservative principles at the polls in the 1994 electionRepublicans won control of the House and the Senate, and Republican governors held 31 states.
Congress was acutely aware of the peoples desire to return to a limited federal government, and sought to start by empowering the states. As reported in the New York Times, incoming House Speaker Newt Gingrich astutely observed at the start of the 104th Session, [t]he governors are prepared to say to us if we will radically decentralize, give them the job, they will do the job.
Within one year, the Republican Congress delivered on its promise to reform the broken welfare system. As with all major legislation that has stood the test of time, welfare reform took shape on a bipartisan basis and the governors played a lead role in identifying the problems and constructing the solutions.
Unfortunately, the tactics employed by the Obama administration leading up to passage of the ACA stand in stark contrast to the reforms accomplished under the Contract with America.
From a position inside Congress, I had a front row seat as a brand new Democratic president and a Democratically-controlled Congress went about overhauling health care behind closed doors, along party lines, and without state input. Even as Republicans were completely shut out of the process I recall thinking, where are the governors? Why are state legislatures not involved in the discussion?
In the years that followed, our health care system has been plagued with problems. Patients have fewer choices and burdensome mandates, consumer costs continue to spike, and 30 million Americans remain uninsured. In 2016, House Speaker Paul Ryan convened Republican members to develop an alternative way to fix our broken health care systemA Better Way.
Just as they did in the 1994 election, Americans made their dissatisfaction with the status quo clear at the voting booth, and Republicans will control the White House, House, and Senate in 2017.
As the 115th Congress prepares to make good on its promise to deliver a Better Way to the American people, there is understandable anxiety driven by uncertaintywill the ACA be replaced? Will Medicaid be reformed? Will Medicare remain the same? These are all important questions, but I urge the American people to take heart.
I am confident that the new Congress will advance legislation through an open and inclusive process to empower states, patients, taxpayers, doctors, nurses, hospitals, and insurers to participate in discussions that so profoundly affect their lives.
Republicans are already taking steps to do just this. Over the past year, members of the Energy and Commerce Committee have been acquiring a deeper understanding of the challenges in the Medicaid program through the Medicaid Task Force.
On December 2, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy and several Committee Chairmen sent a letter to state governors and insurance commissioners requesting ideas for how to reform our health care system for the benefit of the American people. On December 13, Senate Finance Committee Republicans sent a letter to governors seeking input on potential changes to health care, and announcing a roundtable on the Medicaid program in early January.
In many ways I see the new Congress as the rescue squadthe first responders for citizens damaged and endangered by the excesses of this experiment in nationalizing health care. But the good news is we dont have to do it alone.
By taking a page out of former Speaker Gingrichs playbook from over 20 years ago, we can leverage the power of the state and local governments, those laboratories of democracy, as a force multiplier and ally to correct the errors of the past eight years.
This is the story of how a tiny evergreen branch reminded me that God lives, that he loves us, and that Christmas miracles are real.
On Christmas night I was blessed to visit a fellow church member in jail in a neighboring county. His family had tried to visit him earlier that day but was turned away because of a paperwork snafu. It would have been the first time theyd seen him since his arrest.
This is a good young man who, despite some poor choices, has a tender heart. Hes talented. Hes kind. Hes loved.
When I learned they werent successful, I asked my own family if theyd be willing to drive to the jail with me and wait in the car for a few minutes so we could continue enjoying Christmas together. They didnt hesitate. Lets do it.
Because I am currently serving as Bishop of our local congregation, I had at least some confidence they would allow me in for a clergy visit. Before leaving our home, I made several phone calls and was promised they would do their best, despite visiting hours having already ended.
Meanwhile, the young mans family was in their home praying, praying and praying again for a Christmas miracle.
When I arrived at the jail I waited quite a while for three officers to meet me out front. I was initially told they could not let me visit and they had no record of me having called earlier seeking a clergy exception. Also, for reasons they couldnt explain, I was not in their computer system, though I have visited other inmates before.
Finally, a kind guard permitted me to enter. He led me to one of the tiny rooms where I met my young friend and we spoke by telephone on opposite sides of the glass.
He wept when I told him his family had come to visit but was turned away. Still, he was filled with gratitude at hearing the message I delivered of their overwhelming love and concern.
His longing for his mother runs particularly deep, and he wept like a homesick child that he was missing Christmas with her.
We spoke about his long days, his spiritual well-being and I testified how much God still loves him. I shared a bit of our Christmas morning church service and invited him to follow the invitation of the beautiful closing number our choir sang: Come Unto Him.
In response, he revealed a real desire to rebuild his friendship with the Savior.
As we began our goodbyes, he cried again at how badly he wished he could have seen his mother on Christmas. He wanted more than anything to give her a gift and to be with her. It was both sweet and heartbreaking to hear him bear his soul.
I told him I loved him, believed in him and would see him soon. Then I hung up the phone and pressed the intercom on the wall to alert the guards our visit was complete.
Then, as I turned to look at him again, I spotted something in the middle of the floor.
The room was sterile and spotless, as was the rest of the facility. The jail is less than three years old and youd have to be a detective to find a bit of dirt, a stick or even a stick of furniture out of place.
But there in the middle of the shiny tile floor I found a miracle. It was the small end of what appeared to be a branch from a Christmas tree.
Here it was in a room where no personal contact is allowed or even feasible.
Here it was behind multiple locked doors where nearly nothing is allowed to enter.
Here it was in my hand and two inches from my wide eyes.
I held it up for my friend to see. Your Christmas tree, I smiled, is on the wrong side of the glass.
Tears filled his eyes and even though we were no longer holding the phones to our ears, I heard him say, Please take it to mom. Then he tapped his heart with his cuffed hands. Tell her its from me.
The message was as clear and bright as the Star of Bethlehem.
We took another quiet moment to marvel at the miracle and soon a guard appeared to escort me outside.
My family rushed home and I delivered to his parents two gifts from their son a tiny branch and a huge hug. They were overwhelmed by the Lords tender mercy and everything that humble green branch represents.
I dont know about you, but if thats not a miracle, perhaps there is no such thing.
And thats the story of how a tiny evergreen branch reminded me that God lives, that he loves us, and that Christmas miracles are real.
The sweeping electoral victory of Donald Trump has unleashed a torrent of commentary over how, and to what degree, the iconic businessmans election will influence a wide variety of public policy areas.
One area where President-elect Trumps victory will no doubt resonate is within the domestic law enforcement community.
Few professions or groups of individuals have been as assailed and maligned over the past few years as the American police officer. Detractors and critics have often painted our nations police officers as racist and brutal and the entire criminal justice system as systemically prejudiced.
Innuendo and misinformation in the wake of controversy has become the standard response among many within the public discourse.
Sadly, one area where law enforcement should have reasonably expected a basic sense of solidarity and support has been lacking as well.
The Obama administration, from the White House down through the Department of Justice, has at times done more to undermine confidence in our basic law enforcement institutions than to uphold them a latent sense of skepticism toward any and all actions on the part of law enforcement the norm.
But with the election of Donald Trump to the presidency there is a palpable sense that things are going to change.
Candidate-Trump was unabashed in his support for law enforcement at nearly every campaign stop, vocalizing and emphasizing his respect for the men and women who risk their lives to uphold the rule of law.
And Trumps commitment to the American police officer has not wavered since the election. His nomination of Alabama Senator Jeff Sessions to lead the Department of Justice sent an immediate and forceful sign of his intention to scale back activism within the DOJ.
The election of Donald Trump portends other changes affecting the law enforcement community as well, notably:
Support from the White House
This will likely be the most immediate change. Instead of the default criticism seen from the Obama administration, a Trump administration is likely to adopt a more even-handed approach in response to controversial police-related issues.
Of course, when legitimate indiscretions or outright criminality among members of the police community occur they will no doubt be dealt with swiftly and justly; however, the default presumption of guilt against members of the law enforcement community should come to an end.
Respect for the prerogatives of state and local law enforcement
Some on the ideological Left pine for a day when federal oversight of state and local law enforcement constitutes the norm rather than the exception.
To be certain, in the limited instances where clear and identifiable patterns of police misconduct are uncovered, federal oversight may be the most appropriate remedy to ensure the rights of all Americans are respected; however, state and local law enforcement remedies are often highly idiosyncratic and the most effective solutions to local problems are often community-based.
Under the Obama administration, DOJ investigations into state and local law enforcement and the pursuit of consent decrees have greatly exceeded those initiated by the preceding Bush and Clinton administrations.
A Trump Justice Department headed by Senator Sessions may be inclined to scale back on federal incursions into state and local police issues, instead respecting the local democratic process.
An increase in morale
The law enforcement community is battling not just a crisis in public relations but a crisis in morale as well. As such, recruiting, retention, and productivity efforts within law enforcement have become strained in ways unseen in decades.
The Philadelphia and Washington, D.C. police departments, among many others, are experiencing critical staffing shortages and proactive police work in the city of Chicago investigative stops were down 90 percent in early 2016 highlight the dangerous byproduct of a decline in morale.
Improving morale through an increase in community support, inspired by a greater sense of respect and admiration for law enforcement emanating from the top of government on down, can be an amazing catalyst for turning the tide in the profession.
The American police officer is operating within what is arguably the most difficult and dangerous environment in a generation. No single event can provide immediate relief for the systemic obstacles facing the law enforcement community but the incoming Trump administration should provide a welcome start.
Latino Republican lawmakers expressed their disapproval at President Barack Obamas Thursday announcement on his executive action plan for immigration citing worries over the presidents abuse of power and the eventual political showdown that is expected in the wake of the announcement.
From Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas to leaders of conservative think tanks and policy groups, much of the clamor over the presidents executive action has less to do with the plan itself and more to do with the perceived notion that he is bypassing legislators in Washington to get his immigration deal done before Republicans take control of both chambers of Congress.
"His actions are not only unconstitutional and in defiance of the American people who said they did not want amnesty in the 2014 elections, but they are also unfair to every immigrant who has come to our nation legally," Sen. Ted Cruz in a message posted on Facebook.
"We are all the sons and daughters of immigrants who dreamed of opportunity in a nation where if you worked hard and played by the rules, you could achieve anything," Cruz wrote. "We cant let one president abandon that dream for us all."
The presidents statement and plan, however, were widely praised by a wary pro-immigration community, who has for years been tempted with promises of reform only to have them deferred for political ends.
"For us, this is not policy, this is not about politics, this is about a promise we made to each other and our families," Abraham Diaz, a leader with Minority Affairs Council from San Juan, Texas. "Yes, today is a bittersweet moment. Millions of Dreamers have U.S. citizen and permanent resident siblings, and they will experience the joy of coming home to tell their parents theyll live without the fear of deportation. Were committed to the long-term fight so people who cant experience this joy today will one day find the freedom we all seek."
Among the provisions in the presidents immigration overhaul include protection from deportation for parents of children who are U.S. citizens, expanding the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program and prioritizing deportations to focus more on recent arrivals and known criminals.
The plan will also commit more resources to border enforcement efforts, increase salaries of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers and set different priority levels on the conduct for which immigrants get detained.
In a short speech Thursday night, Obama adamantly defended his actions in going ahead with the executive action and the legality of his plan.
The actions Im taking are not only lawful, theyre the kinds of actions taken by every single Republican President and every Democratic President for the past half century, Obama said during his speech. And to those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill.
Despite the presidents assertions, many conservative lawmakers have drawn up plans to combat Obamas actions, including suing the president and making presidential nominations difficult particularly for Loretta Lynch who has been nominated to replace Eric Holder as attorney general.
There are some in the Republican who want to defund the presidents action in an upcoming spending bill. Appropriations Committee Chairman Harold Rogers (R-Ky.), however, noted that the Citizenship and Immigration Services agency is funded through application fees, so Congress can't stop withhold its funds in a spending bill.
If all else fails for conservative lawmakers, there is the hope that they can stall certain parts of Obamas measures and repeal the rest should a Republican take over the Oval Office in the 2016 presidential elections.
"The GOP should not follow the president off of this cliff but need to bring up their own immigration reform bill," Steven Cruz, a spokesperson for the Washington D.C.-based Libre Initiative told Fox News Latino. "Id wager that Congressional Republicans would be a lot smarter than suing the president or defunding the government or shutting down the government."
While the presidents unilateral action rankled the feathers of many conservative Latino lawmakers, the plan on immigration itself was met with less scorn, as some admitted to an urgent need for a reform of the system in the U.S.
"Todays immigration framework meets neither the needs of our economy nor our security, and it definitely does not represent our national values," said Danny Vargas, the former chair of the Republican National Hispanic Assembly. "We need a practical, pragmatic, principled set of proposals that actually work toward real solutions. The time has come for the Party of Lincoln and Reagan to retake the mantle of leadership on big issues and immigration should be high on that list."
Republican lawmakers reacted with swift condemnation to President Obamas announcement that he plans to grant deferred action status to two groups of illegal immigrants, though Democratic leaders praised the president for his move.
Obama said in a Thursday speech that his administration will grant deferred action to two groups parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents who have been in the country for five years, and young people who were brought into the country illegally as of 2010.
Soon after the speech, the top two Republicans in the House vowed to fight Obamas plan.
While House Republicans will still work to do everything we can to move the country forward, it is our obligation and responsibility to fight this brazen power grab that doesnt solve the real problems, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in a statement.
House Speaker John Boehner said that Obama is ignoring what Americans really want, and has squandered what little credibility he had left."
His my way or the highway approach makes it harder to build the trust with the American people that is necessary to get things done on behalf of the country, Boehner, R-Ohio, said. Republicans are left with the serious responsibility of upholding our oath of office. We will not shrink from this duty, because our allegiance lies with the American people.
Their sentiments were echoed earlier by Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who will become the majority leader in January when the new congressional class is sworn in.
McConnell, R-Ky., said Thursday Obama would regret choosing to ignore the will of the American people and has promised a legislative fight when Republicans take full control of Congress in 2015.
However, Obamas move was praised by prominent Democratic leaders such as House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi. Pelosi, D-Calif., praised Obama for his bold action but said Congress still needs to work together to accomplish more on the issue.
Democrats will continue to demand action on bipartisan immigration legislation that will provide lasting certainty to immigrant families, and secure the billions of dollars in economic benefits Republicans inaction has denied our country, she said.
Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid also praised the move on Twitter. In his speech, Obama referenced a young woman in his speech named Astrid Silva, who came to the U.S. illegally as a child.
Reid had previously referred to Silva, a Nevada resident, as his friend on Instagram and said she inspires him to fight for immigration reform.
President is exactly right, Reid, D-Nev., said. Immigrants like Astrid Silva deserve to welcomed (sic) in the only country they've called home.
Former Secretary of State and possible 2016 presidential candidate Hillary Clinton also showed her support on social media, tweeting: Thanks to POTUS for taking action on immigration in the face of inaction. Now lets turn to permanent bipartisan reform.
However, not all Democrats supported the president. One of those opposed, Sen. Joe Manchin, said he disagrees with both Obamas action and the Houses choice not to vote on an immigration bill that passed the Senate in 2013.
We will only achieve sustainable, comprehensive immigration reform if all sides work together, Manchin, D-W.Va, said in a statement.
Obama said in his speech that the administration will begin accepting applications next spring from illegal immigrants who seek the deferred actions under Obamas new executive action program.
Those who qualify will be granted protections for three years, Obama said.
Mass amnesty would be unfair, Obama said during the primetime address. Mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our character.
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As Republicans in Washington debate how to fight Obamas executive action, the real battle could take place in state legislatures that have a say over how exactly to carry out the plan.
For starters, states will have to provide proper outreach and support to help the immigrants figure out how to apply for deferred action and state governments can vary their efforts in reaching out to undocumented populations offering assistance.
An estimated 3.7 million undocumented immigrants who are parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents are expected to benefit from Obamas new deferred action program. An additional 1.5 million people will be eligible for temporary deportation relief and work permits under the expansion of Obamas 2012 Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals Program or DACA.
About 45 percent of eligible applicants under 2012s DACA have yet to apply, and some attribute that to lack of outreach services in rural and urban communities that are less connected and trusting of government institutions.
Washington can make these orders but these things happen in localities, said Muzaffar Chishti, a lawyer and director of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) at New York Universitys School of Law. How activist or how resistant states or localities are in making this a success will be hugely impactful.
Another instance of the states control has to do with drivers licenses. All those who qualify under Obamas executive action are eligible to apply for drivers licenses; states could have to issue thousands or hundreds of thousands of new ones unless governors or state legislators enact legislation specifically banning these undocumented immigrants from receiving licenses. In 2012, Nebraska and Arizona passed laws banning drivers licenses for those who qualified for DACA, which protects certain young undocumented people from deportation.
States can also decide whether or not these immigrants can qualify for in-state tuition at public universities. Twenty states offer in-state tuition to undocumented immigrant students following action taken by 16 state legislatures and by four university systems.
Another state-by-state decision will come down to whether lawmakers or governors will allow immigrants to apply for state-funded health insurance programs. Some states, such as California, Washington, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New York, and Washington, D.C., have opted to provide health insurance to low-income DACA recipients through state-funded programs. These programs could cost the states millions of dollars which some are already arguing could place a heavy burden on states already strapped for cash.
"The cost to the people of the state of Texas is an extraordinary amount of money that this President is exacerbating with his announcement that he's going to allow for this executive order," said Texas Gov. Rick Perry at the Republican Governors Association in Florida.
If we're paying more in that area, that means less for schools, for colleges, for universities, for higher education overall, Governor Scott Walker (R-WI) told Fox News. It means less money for the things that we find important because of this move.
But others said any added costs to the states would be offset by an increased tax base.
There will be a cost attached to the integration of these people and some states may ask for a federal reimbursement, Chishti said, but on the other hand, you could arguably say that the tax base of the country will increase because the assumption is that these people will now work legally, have social security and pay taxes they havent paid before.
Under DACA, some states went out of their way to accommodate undocumented immigrants, particularly California which passed laws to make it easier for immigrants to get subsidized health insurance, in-state tuition for students, financial aid, and professional licenses to practice law and medicine.
Some immigrant rights groups are already preparing themselves for executive action. In California, the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles told the Los Angeles Times that they were hiring additional staff to help hundreds of thousands of people in the state that may qualify for relief.
However, a spokesman for the group said the announcement will be bitter-sweet because there will be thousands of other immigrants who will not be part of the reprieve.
"There is excitement but there's disappointment at the same time because we know that there are a number of our loved ones who will potentially benefit from this relief and many who will be left out," Jorge-Mario Cabrera, a spokesman for the group, told the Times.
According to MPI data, two-thirds of the 5.2 million people who will be eligible for temporary deportation relief and work permits live in just six states: California, Texas, New York, Illinois, Florida, and New Jersey.
What remains to be seen is how states with newer populations of undocumented immigrants will respond to Obamas new program, particularly in states like Nebraska, Idaho, Pennsylvania, and Maryland some of the seven states that saw their undocumented immigrant population increase since 2009.
States do have choices as to how they can prepare and to what degree they will provide resources, said Adam Hunter, Director of Pews Immigration and the States Project at The Pew Charitable Trusts. The new gateway states dont have the same traditions as long standing immigrant destinations.
Mounting an offensive behind his immigration directives, President Barack Obama on Friday insisted House Republicans must take up a comprehensive immigration overhaul but said the system is so unfair that it needs the type of fixes that he initiated on his own.
"Our immigration system has been broken for a very long time and everybody knows it," he said. "We can't afford it anymore."
Speaking at the Las Vegas high school where he launched his drive for Congress to send him an immigration bill, Obama outlined steps he has taken to help millions of people living in the country illegal. The measures are designed to make nearly 5 million of those immigrants eligible for protection from deportation and for work permits.
But he cautioned that his actions are limited and that only broader legislation would permanently change immigration laws and help the more than 11 million immigrants illegally in the United States.
"The actions I've taken are only a temporary first step," he said.
As if to underscore that point, a heckler interrupted Obama, chiding him for not doing enough with his executive actions to help more immigrants in the country.
"Not everyone will qualify," Obama conceded. "That's the truth. Listen, I heard you and what I'm saying is we're still going to have to pass a bill."
With Republicans accusing him of overstepping his authority, Obama and his allies are seeking to sell the executive actions on immigration as good politics and good policy.
The effort is crucial to Obama as he tries to dampen Republican cries to undo the administrative measures and, at the same time, strives to win the trust of immigrants and get them to participate.
The executive actions, which Obama laid out in a prime-time television address Thursday, would mainly cover parents of U.S. citizens and of legal residents as long as the parents have been in the U.S. for five years or more. But Obama's actions also would change enforcement priorities by emphasizing the deportation of new illegal arrivals and criminals.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Obama, in sidestepping Congress, had damaged his ability to get things done.
"By ignoring the will of the American people, President Obama has cemented his legacy of lawlessness and squandered what little credibility he had left," Boehner said in a statement following Obama's speech.
But Obama countered that it has been Republicans who have stood in the way, noting that 512 days have passed since the Senate passed a comprehensive bill.
"The only thing that's been standing in the way, is a simple yes or no vote in the House of Representatives. Just a yes or no vote," he said. "If they had allowed a vote on that kind of bill, it would have passed. I would have signed it. It would be the law right now."
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Del Sol High School in Las Vegas isnt just a backdrop to President Barack Obamas signing of his executive action on immigration Friday, it also may have kick-started the 2016 senate race pitting outgoing Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid against Nevadas Republican governor, Brian Sandoval.
Reids presence at the signing is explained precisely by the Las Vegas Suns Friday morning headlines: Why Obamas speech may be unofficial launch of Reids re-election campaign, and Why Obama chose Las Vegas to rally public support for immigration plan. The short answer is: Hispanic voters.
Reid needs to begin this election process, said David Damore, associate professor of political science at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and remind people that hes been pushing the Dream Act while drawing that contrast with the Republicans.
Del Sol, where 63 percent of the student population is Hispanic, serves as a reminder to Hispanic voters in the state that hes got their back.
If Reid decides to run for a sixth term in 2016, which Damore and other believe is likely, it is Hispanic voters who are likely to determine his fate. According to Fox News exit polling in 2010, Reid won 69 percent of the Hispanic vote.
A later Latino Decisions poll put the figure at more than 90 percent.
My sense is he will run. Hes not going to go quietly after losing the Senate Majority leader position, Damore said of the 74-year-old Senator. The only caveat will be his health and his wifes health.
Over the last 30 years, the Hispanic population in Nevada has grown by more than 1,200 percent to around 753,000. More than a quarter of the state is Hispanic, which ranks fifth in the country, and Nevada has the highest proportion of undocumented immigrants of any U.S. state, according to a recent report by Pew Research.
Enter Sandoval. The popular governor is viewed by many as the best shot for Republicans to defeat Reid should he run.
Sandoval easily won re-election in November over Democrat Bob Goodman, who was not considered a serious challenger, by a 70-to-23 margin.
In the past, Sandoval has had difficulty getting Latino support, in part because he supported Arizonas controversial SB 1070 law and took a hard-line stance on immigration. As a result, he won the governors seat in 2010 despite only receiving 15 percent of the Hispanic vote.
Sandovals tone on immigration has softened substantially, and he pulled in a respectable 47 percent this time around.
If Sandoval could command those sorts of numbers, he would likely defeat Reid handily. A survey by Harper Polling over the summer showed Sandoval ahead of Reid 53 to 43 in a hypothetical race between the two.
Sandoval and Reid battled this year in what was seen as a proxy-campaign against one another over the states lieutenant governors post. The governors handpicked candidate, Republican Mark Hutchinson, won that election.
The victory frees Sandoval to run for the Senate in 2016. If he chooses runs, he will have to cede the governors mansion to the sitting lieutenant governor.
Longtime Nevada political journalist Jon Ralston noted in a blogpost from August, Sandoval has a history of leaving jobs for better opportunities. He left the Assembly to become a state gaming commissioner. He left the Gaming Commission to run for attorney general. He left the federal bench, where Reid had helped install him in one of Nevada's most delicious historical ironies, to run for governor.
Despite Sandovals popularity, many question whether the former federal judge will run.
There are a number of factors why he would not, Damore said. For one, being governor is a really great job, and if you look at Sandovals career hes never had a tough fight. He would get savagely attacked by Reid. It would be brutal. I think he has ambitions for vice president or going back to the federal bench.
Ralston agrees with Damore. He wrote that the 51-year-old loves being governor as much as any chief executive I have covered, and thats saying something.
He also noted that Sandovals advisers are very careful about keeping his image pristine, and it would likely take a hit in a bruising battle with Reid.
It doesnt help also, Damore says, that 2016 is set to be a good year for Democrats in the state, with liberal ballot measures such as the legalization of marijuana, background checks for guns and same-sex marriage possibly taking center stage.
However, pressure from fellow Republicans impressed by his improved Hispanic voter numbers, might sway Sandoval to battle Reid. The sell, in fact, has already begun.
I continue to believe Sandoval does not want to be a U.S. senator, Ralston wrote recently, adding the warning, History is littered with governors who went to Washington and regretted it.
There were tears, cheers and jeers.
Emotions ran high across the nation as immigrants and activists who have pushed for some relief for the undocumented washed President Obama announce on television his plan for relief from deportations for about 5 million people.
But after the initial burst of emotion Thursday evening at hastily organized watch parties and in living rooms, many said Obama's plan was just the first step in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform.
A snapshot of reactions across the country:
___
"This will definitely help our family no longer live in fear, fear that we will have to drop everything if our parents are deported. But there is still fear, because this is a temporary, and we need something permanent," said Isaura Pena, 20, of Portland, whose father and mother lack legal status.
___
"This is a great day for farmworkers. It's been worth the pain and sacrifice," said Jesus Zuniga, 40, who picks tomatoes in California's Central Valley and watched the speech at a union gathering in Fresno.
___
"They're going to have a chance to be what they want to be and get an education," said Maria Perez, 41, of Fresno, California. She is in the country legally, but she often worries about her nieces, ages 16 and 18, who aren't. With the president's speech, she feels hope that her nieces now can achieve her dreams.
___
Abel Rodriguez, of Phoenix, said Obama's proposal could mean that he and his wife would be able to visit their family in Mexico without fear of not being able to return to the U.S. or getting separated from their daughters. "I have not seen my family for 10 years. I have two grandsons that I don't see," Rodriguez said.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
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(DEVELOPING): President Obama signed two executive orders on Friday that would delay deportation for millions of illegal immigrants. The president, who signed the controversial policies aboard Air Force One, then spoke about his action at Del Sol High School in Las Vegas.
Del Sol is the same school where he laid out his blueprint for immigration overhaul nearly two years ago.
Several hundred protestors lined the streets holding No Amnesty and Impeach Obama signs.
Others chanted worst president ever, as he drove by.
His order will grant deferred action to two illegal immigrant groups- parents of United States citizens or legal permanent residents who have been in the country for five years, and young people who who were brought into the country illegally as of 2010.
Hispanics are a growing and powerful constituency in Nevada and the state serves as fertile ground for the president to rally public support.
During a 15-minute primetime speech Thursday, Obama said his administration will start accepting applications from illegal immigrants who seek the deferred actions.
Those who qualify will be granted protections for three years, Obama said, as he laid out his sweeping plan to the public Thursday night from the East Room of the White House.
Mass amnesty would be unfair, Obama said during the primetime address. Mass deportation would be both impossible and contrary to our character.
Obama, who pitched his plan as a commonsense, middle ground approach, said if you meet the criteria, you can come out of the shadows and get right with the law but warned if youre a criminal, youll be deported.
The president did not specify how many in each "deferred action" group would be granted the new status. According to recent reports, the parental group could involve upwards of 4.5 million immigrants, with those brought into the country illegally making up close to 300,000 new applications. There are an estimated 11 million people living in the country illegally.
But Republicans have been quick to criticize and say the executive action is an example of Obama stretching his powers as president.
Even before the speech, conservatives said they were willing to do whatever was necessary to stop Obamas plan.
Kentucky Sen. Mitch McConnell, who will become the majority leader in January when the new congressional class is sworn-in, said Obama would regret choosing to ignore the will of the American people.
McConnell, who made his statements from the Senate floor Thursday morning, has led the charge against the president and has promised a legislative fight when Republicans take full control of Congress in 2015.
If President Obama acts in defiance of the people and imposes his will on the country, Congress will act, McConnell said.
Utah Rep Jason Chaffetz, who will replace Rep. Darrell Issa as chair of the House Oversight Committee, told Fox News that the presidents timing on announcing the plan was crystal clear.
Its all about politics, Chaffetz said. He just got slaughtered in an election.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, said in an op-ed in Politico Wednesday that if Obama acts, the new GOP majority in the Senate should retaliate by not acting on a single one of his nominees executive or judicial so long as the illegal amnesty persists.
President Barack Obamas much anticipated executive order deferring the deportation of millions of undocumented immigrants came from the White House Thursday night.
But on Friday, the president is heading to Nevada to expand on his remarks at a diverse high school in Las Vegas. At Del Sol High School, Obama is expected to sign his executive order, which will defer deportation for about 5 million immigrants in the country illegally, and call for Congress to pass an immigration reform law.
It will not be the first time the president has been to Del Sol High School. In 2008, he visited the school as a presidential candidate. He also spoke there in January 2013 to lay out his vision for immigration reform.
Almost two years later, President Obama is once again using the predominantly Latino school as the world stage to lay out his vision for immigration reform.
The school which has 1,900 students and is 63 percent Hispanic is in the Clark County School District, consistently ranked one of the poorest performing school systems in the country.
School officials and Clark County School Board members did not respond to requests for comment. No one from the White House has said why the school seems to have become a personal favorite for Obama when it comes to important immigration speeches.
I think the reason he did pick our school is because we have the largest population of Hispanics, said Satah Matus, a sophomore at Del Sol High School.
Students said they are excited to have the countrys commander-in-chief return to their school.
People are pretty interested just because its like a once-in-a-lifetime thing, said sophomore Alex Michael.
Immigration reform is a topic that hits home for many of these students. Nevada has the highest percentage of undocumented immigrants, according to a recent report from Pew Research Center. The state is 27 percent Hispanic and has the fifth-largest percentage of Latinos in the U.S., according to Pew.
At Del Sol High School, about 13 percent of the students are English-language learners.
Many of the students say they know students who come from families of undocumented immigrants.
Theyre nervous and theyre scared about whats going to happen to them, said sophomore Nicki Zuniga. They dont know if they have to go back because sometimes it can be unsafe for them.
Just like the entire countrythe Del Sol students have mixed opinions about immigration reform and pardoning those who are already here illegally.
I feel like its good and bad because, in a way, were solving problems, Michael said. At the same time were, you know, letting these people in which is not a bad thing, this is kind of bringing more revenue into the country. And these people that arent paying their taxes, they have a chance to pay their taxes and become legal.
Zuniga said the undocumented immigrants getting a temporary reprieve from deportation have earned their right to stay in the country.
The people that are here, they worked hard and they should be here because they have jobs and theyve worked hard for it, Zuniga said.
Undergrad students say theyre slightly upset because they have to deal with Secret Service sweeps throughout the daybut the presidents speech is only open to juniors and seniors.
After cruising to an easy reelection for a second term, New Mexico governor Susana Martinez earned another accolade when she was elected Friday to serve as vice chairman of the Republican Governors Association.
Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam will assume the overall chairmanship, the RGA also announced.
The results Governor Martinez has achieved provide a solid foundation for New Mexicos future, and I know she will have the same record of results as vice chairman of the RGA, outgoing RGA Chairman, New Jersey Governor Christie said in a press release. She is fighting every day to make the tough decisions and move her state forward, and I have no doubt her leadership at the RGA will be vital to the success of our new governors-elect and candidates in 2015.
Martinez responded with praise for the RGA and mentioned the overwhelming number of Republican governors currently holding office following this years midterm elections.
The RGA is the most impactful political organization in the country, and Im honored to serve as the groups vice chairman as we enter 2015 with 31 Republican governors, the most for either party in 16 years, Martinez said. Republican governors offer the ideas and solutions that are moving America forward, and Im enthusiastic to work with Governor Haslam to continue the RGAs proud record of success.
Martinez, the nations first female Hispanic governor, proved earlier this month that she is in that small circle of Republicans who can generate a strong level of Latino support she maintained a comfortable lead over her opponent in what's traditionally a Democratic-leaning state.
Martinez made history four years ago by becoming the nation's first female Hispanic governor and the first woman elected governor of New Mexico. She's considered a rising star in a party that's searching for ways nationally to appeal to Hispanic voters.
Her RGA election boosts the governor's national political standing, but Martinez maintains she's uninterested in national office or in becoming a vice presidential running mate. She has pledged to serve the full four years of her second term to fulfill campaign promises of improving schools and the economy.
The kind of appeal Martinez has been able to sustain among Latinos and voters who are not registered Republicans are qualities the GOP has indicated it would like in a presidential candidate in 2016.
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Following President Barack Obamas speech Thursday night laying out his executive action on immigration, sparse protests have sprouted across the country in response to the presidents plan.
From a one-man demonstration freezing South Dakota to a small group in New York City on Thursday night to a planned Tea Party protest to be held outside of the Las Vegas school Obama will visit Friday, opponents of the presidents executive action are gathering in less than record numbers to voice their anger with Obamas decree.
Our president is advocating breaking the law and giving it away to people from other countries, Karen Steelmon, the president of the Las Vegas Tea Party told Fox News Latino. Steelmon said more than 700 protesters showed up outside of Del Sol High School in Las Vegas, where Obama is expected to sign the executive actions during a rally.
Tea Party and other groups from places as far as Alabama, Missouri and California are expected to travel to Las Vegas for the protest, including the Stop The Buses Murrieta" group that gained national attention this summer when the city's mayor and residents blocked buses carrying immigrant children who were going to be processed there.
By about 8:30 in the morning in Las Vegas about 40 people had already gathered in a parking lot across the street from Del Sol High School with people shouting "Secure Our Borders" over megaphones and holding up signs in protest to Obama's executive action. Hundreds more turned up hours later.
"It is outside his powers to do such a thing," Patrice Lynes, an organizer of Stop The Buses Murrieta" told FNL in a phone call from Las Vegas. "He has violated the Constitution. It's Congress' job to make the laws, not his.
Retiring Oklahoma Sen. Tom Coburn warned on Thursday that the presidents speech would trigger violence and anarchy even saying it would parallel the protest in Ferguson, Missouri over the fatal shooting of an unarmed black man at the hands of police.
But the countrywide protests following Obamas Thursday night speech have been sporadic and lightly attended. Some have even been drowned out and largely overshadowed by larger pro-immigration rallies across the country supporting Obama's executive order.
In Philadelphia, pro-immigration protesters outnumbered a Tea Party group that opposed executive action.
"We were aware that some of these actions by anti-immigrants were happening," Erika Almiron, executive director of Juntos, told Philly Now, "and rather than bring hate to a place thats already filled with hate, we would show them what love is about.
But protesters were not deterred.
Braving 19 degree temperatures, Darin McDonnel of Sioux Falls, South Dakota took to the streets of his home town Thursday with a sign that read "Obama is mocking our Constitution."
McDonnel told local news media that he was angry that Obama was bypassing Congress with his executive action and that he was "doubling down" after Democrats suffered major losses in the mid-term elections.
"I'm out here because I love this country, and I think our Forefathers were brilliant," he told the Sioux Falls Argus Leader. "Speed up legal immigration, but I don't think you grant people amnesty. You don't know who is here."
Obama will sign the executive action at 3:55 ET on Friday and is expected to be joined on his trip to Nevada by home state senator and Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J. Immigration advocacy groups scheduled news conferences Friday in multiple states to promote Obama's plans.
The executive actions, which Obama laid out in a prime-time television address Thursday, are designed to make nearly 5 million immigrants illegally in the United States eligible for protection from deportation and for work permits. It would mainly cover parents of U.S. citizens and of legal residents as long as the parents have been in the U.S. for five years or more. But Obama's actions also would change enforcement priorities by emphasizing the deportation of new illegal arrivals and criminals.
"To those members of Congress who question my authority to make our immigration system work better, or question the wisdom of me acting where Congress has failed, I have one answer: Pass a bill," Obama said in his national address.
House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said Obama, in sidestepping Congress, had damaged his ability to get things done.
"By ignoring the will of the American people, President Obama has cemented his legacy of lawlessness and squandered what little credibility he had left," Boehner said in a statement following Obama's speech.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Hillary Rodham Clinton says she supports President Barack Obama's executive actions to protect about 5 million immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, calling it a "historic step" and urging Congress to pursue a measure approved by the Senate last year.
Clinton placed the efforts aimed at changing immigration policy in the context of families, many of whom she said are longtime residents raising children and paying taxes.
"This is about people's lives," she said Friday during an appearance at the New York Historical Society, adding that it was about "people who serve us tonight, who prepared the food tonight."
Clinton is considering a presidential campaign in 2016 and her embrace of Obama's actions come in sharp contrast to Republican condemnation of the changes the president has ordered.
"I think the president took an historic step and I support it," the former secretary of state said in her first public comments on the issue. She had issued a statement shortly after Obama's speech Thursday night expressing support.
Obama's actions were in line with previous moves by Democratic and Republican presidents alike, she said. However, many Republicans in Congress accuse Obama of overstepping his executive powers.
Charging hypocrisy, the Republican National Committee released a Web video earlier in the day that included the audio of an April 2008 Clinton speech in which she criticized President George W. Bush's use of signing statements and other means "to transform the executive into an imperial presidency."
Clinton spoke about the immigration plan during an interview with Walter Isaacson, the biographer and CEO of the Aspen Institute, at the event. She said she was studying the life and presidency of Theodore Roosevelt and discussed the need for Americans to find a "common purpose."
"I think we just need to get back into that can-do, problem-solving spirit that the Roosevelts exemplified," she said.
The former first lady jumped back into the political conversation as dozens of her staunchest allies gathered at a New York hotel earlier Friday even though she has yet to say whether she will run.
Ready for Hillary, a Democratic super PAC unaffiliated with Clinton, convened the meeting of 200 financial backers and Clinton insiders to prepare for a campaign.
"It was a leap of faith," Harold Ickes, who worked in Bill Clinton's White House, said of the Ready for Hillary effort. "We didn't know if people would come to us, but we now have 3 million names, which will be important to her if she runs."
Clinton sits far atop a hypothetical field of Democratic candidates that is beginning to take shape.
Vice President Joe Biden and outgoing Maryland Gov. Martin O'Malley are potential challengers to Clinton, as is former Virginia Sen. Jim Webb, who has opened an exploratory committee.
Discussions at the session included lessons learned from the 2014 election, the media landscape and what the 2016 campaign might look like.
Attendees said they had no inside knowledge on when Clinton would make her decision. But they said the early organizing on her behalf would facilitate the transition from private citizen to candidate. Ready for Hillary has identified 3 million supporters and raised more than $10 million.
"It's given her the luxury of time," said Jerry Crawford, an Iowa attorney.
They cautioned against the notion that Clinton would have a big advantage because of her existing network from her husband's two terms and her own political operation. "She's not inevitable," said Adam Parkhomenko, Ready for Hillary's executive director. "It's not going to be easy."
The ballroom included leaders of Democratic groups Priorities USA Action, American Bridge 21st Century and Correct the Record.
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President Barack Obama has the upper hand in the fierce struggle over immigration now taking shape, with a veto pen ready to kill any Republican move to reverse his executive order, Democrats united behind him and GOP congressional leaders desperate to squelch talk of a government shutdown or even impeachment.
With the public favoring changes in the current immigration system, the Republicans' best short-term response appears to be purely rhetorical: that the president is granting amnesty to millions, and exceeding his constitutional authority in the process. Beyond that, their hopes of reversing his policies appear to be either a years-long lawsuit or the 2016 presidential election.
Neither of those is likely to satisfy the tea party adherents in Congress or the Republican presidential contenders vying for support among party activists who will play an outsized role in early primaries and caucuses just over a year away.
"We alone, I say it openly, we the Senate are waiting in our duty to stop this lawless administration and its unconstitutional amnesty," said one of them, Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas. In remarks on the Senate floor, according to his office, he was channeling Cicero, the ancient Roman orator.
In a portion of the oration that Cruz did not mention, Cicero referred to a Roman Senate decree calling for a conspirator against the Roman republic "to be put to death this instant."
More than 2,000 years later, impeachment in the House and a trial in the Senate stand as the sole established remedy against high crimes and misdemeanors by any president.
House Speaker John Boehner and Senate leader Mitch McConnell want none of that. Nor are they interested in provoking a government shutdown as a way to block spending needed to carry out Obama's order, viewing that as a poor way to embark on a new era of Republican control of Congress.
"We're considering a variety of options. But make no mistake. When the newly elected representatives of the people take their seats, they will act," said McConnell, who will become majority leader when his party assumes control of the Senate in January.
Led by Boehner, House Republicans on Friday filed a lawsuit accusing Obama of abusing his authority in the implementation of the health care law. Officials say the immigration executive order could be added, but it is unclear how long a final judgment might take or who will be sitting in the Oval Office when it does.
In the interim, Democrats interrupted their squabbling over dispiriting midterm election losses. "The last two weeks haven't been great weeks for us," said New York Rep. Joe Crowley. "The president is about to change that."
The political debate is well underway, although the two parties seem to be appealing to different segments of the electorate. Polls show that the country as a whole and especially Hispanics favor allowing immigrants to remain in the country and work even if here illegally. Conservatives tend to prefer deportation.
"The critics are going to call it amnesty," Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., predicted correctly on Thursday in advance of Obama's speech. "But as Sen. Rubio has reminded us, doing nothing leaving the current system in place is amnesty."
That was a reference to Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, a potential GOP presidential contender who was a leader in passing a bipartisan immigration bill that cleared the Senate, 68-32, in 2013. The measure included a pathway to citizenship for millions of immigrants living in the country illegally.
Obama's order didn't go that far. It calls for suspending the threat of deportation for millions, but without the promise of a green card that bestows permanent legal status, much less citizenship.
Republicans also argue that Obama is forfeiting any chance of being able to work with Congress to achieve immigration reform.
Democrats counter that it's been about 17 months since the Senate passed the bipartisan bill.
Since then, opponents in the House have pressured Boehner successfully not to allow it to come to a vote. They also extracted a promise from him not to allow compromise negotiations with the Senate on any other measure that might ease current restrictions on immigrants.
In the hours before Obama acted, Republicans forecast bad outcomes.
"This is ... a major boon to the cartels and other gangs who control Mexico's smuggling networks. And it will almost certainly lead to thousands of people who've committed crimes in this country gaining legal status," said Texas Sen. John Cornyn.
Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., envisioned a different outcome when asked if a future Republican president might reverse Obama's actions, potentially subjecting millions who step forward now to get work permits to being deported in the future.
"I wish that person luck," Reid said.
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Republicans in search of a way to oppose President Barack Obama's moves on immigration without alienating the nation's fast-growing population of Hispanic voters can find a playbook in Colorado.
GOP Rep. Cory Gardner won election to the Senate in the midterms in a state where 14 percent of voters are Hispanic. His GOP colleague, Rep. Mike Coffman, won re-election in a district where 14 percent of residents were born in foreign countries.
Both opposed last year's failed bipartisan effort in the Senate to overhaul the nation's immigration system, a top priority of immigrant-rights groups, especially its centerpiece: a pathway to citizenship for most of the 11 million people living in the U.S. illegally. Both also spoke warmly of the contributions made by immigrants and shifted to the center on other immigration issues. Coffman even learned Spanish.
Coffman went on to win his race by 9 points. Gardner tied Democratic Sen. Mark Udall in two heavily Hispanic counties that normally vote overwhelmingly Democratic on his way to a narrow victory. Democrats acknowledge the two Republicans benefited from a change in how they talk about immigration, departing from a bombastic approach that emphasizes border security and deportations.
"Villainization is a huge issue," said James Mejia, former president of Denver's Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. "If you can stop being nasty about it, people will listen to the things you have to say."
For years, Republicans have struggled to balance a desire to improve the party's standing among Hispanic and Asian-American voters and the rock-solid opposition among conservative to anything they consider "amnesty" for people living here illegally.
Hispanic and Asian-Americans overwhelmingly voted Democratic in 2012, after GOP presidential nominee Mitt Romney called for some immigrants to practice "self-deportation" and Obama responded by allowing many immigrants brought to the country illegally as children to stay and work.
Colorado's Hispanic voters had helped Democrats win every race for Senate, governor and president since 2004. Earlier this year, some Colorado Republicans feared they were in for a repeat when Ken Buck, who as a county district attorney took aggressive action against immigrants living in the U.S. illegally, started the race for the GOP Senate nomination as the favorite.
But Gardner cleared the field when he entered the Senate race and, during the summer, took steps toward the center. After initially voting to repeal Obama's executive order allowing children brought to the country illegally to work in the U.S., he voted in August to uphold it and said he supports citizenship for such immigrants who served in the military. He also said he'd be open to letting people who are in the country illegally "earn" legal residence, though not necessarily citizenship.
Perhaps as important, Gardner spoke warmly of immigrants. Asked at an event whether jobs should go to Americans or people living here illegally, he said the system needs to serve those who want to build a better life for their families.
Some immigrant rights groups were frustrated that Udall's campaign did not do more to highlight his differences with Gardner. Republicans, meanwhile, said if they can talk about immigration without insulting immigrant voters, it allows them to address other priorities.
"Immigration is important, but not as important as a strong economy that creates jobs," said Jerry Natividad, a Colorado businessman who sits on the Republican National Committee's Hispanic outreach committee.
Coffman agreed to participate in a Spanish-language television debate against his Democratic challenger, who is fluent in the language. Like Gardner, he backed a proposal in the House that would have created a path to citizenship for some immigrants who served in the military.
He reiterated his support for that proposal in a statement last week that, on one hand, criticized Obama for using immigration as a political wedge issue but also rejected forcing a government shutdown a popular idea among immigration hardliners to stop the president's actions.
The RNC sent field staff to organize in Colorado's Hispanic community and the state party focused on turning out voters in the Democratic strongholds of Adams and Pueblo counties, which are respectively 36 and 41 percent Hispanic. Gardner's campaign and other conservative groups spent $1 million on Spanish-language ads, featuring GOP luminaries such as Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush.
"That helped win the confidence of a segment of our electorate that is not only of great importance but has contributed so much to our state," said Ryan Call, the Spanish-speaking chairman of the Colorado Republican party.
Patty Kupfer, the Denver-based managing director of the immigrant rights group America's Voice, acknowledged that Gardner and Coffman were successful "muddying the issue" in the election. But she argued they succeeded in part because Obama's previous inaction had angered immigrants. Now that Obama is taking action, duplicating that success won't be as easy.
"I just don't see how Republicans can use the same strategy and expect to win at this point," she said.
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Texas Sen. Ted Cruz said Sunday that President Obama refuses to accept that only Congress has the authority to establish federal immigration laws and that members should block the presidents nominees and some funding until he rescinds his executive action on the issue.
This is a stunning and sad display by the president, Cruz, a Republican, told Fox News Sunday. We need to impose real consequence.
Cruz suggested, as he has since Obama announced the executive action Thursday, that Congress should take action next year when Republicans, who already control the House, will also have the majority in the Senate.
He said Congress, which confirms or votes down presidential nominees for judgeships and top administrative posts, should block all of Obamas judicial and executive nominations for two years, except for those of vital, national importance.
The outspoken, first-term senator would not directly say whether Congress should try to block the nomination of Loretta Lynch, Obamas pick to be the next U.S. attorney general.
Cruz was joined on Fox News Sunday by Greg Abbott, the governor-elect of Texas, which borders Mexico and deals with many illegal immigration issues.
Abbott, the states attorney general, has filed 30 legal challenges against Obama and intends to sue him over his recent executive action, which will delay deportation for an estimated 5 million people now living illegally in the United States.
We have a president who feels completely unrestrained by the Constitution of America, Abbott said
Colorado Hispanic activists are angry that the state's Democratic governor, John Hickenlooper, thinks it's fruitless to pursue citizenship for immigrants who are in the country illegally.
Hickenlooper on Wednesday told the Wall Street Journal that activists and Democrats should stop demanding a pathway to citizenship for those 11 million people and instead settle for five-year guest worker permits while securing the southern border.
On Friday, the Colorado Latino Forum slammed the governor, noting he was just re-elected with support from Hispanic voters and activists. The group said Hickenlooper "is out of touch with our community's priorities and values."
In an interview Friday, Hickenlooper said he hoped President Obama's new order granting deportation relief to some immigrants will spur congressional action. The governor called the proposal "combustible" in his Journal interview.
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President Barack Obama is dismissing criticism that he overstepped his authority by acting unilaterally on immigration to shield millions of immigrants from the threat of deportation.
In an interview with ABCs This Week broadcast nationally on Sunday, Obama said it was important to prioritize the deportation of criminals and recent arrivals while sparing people who have lived in the United States without proper documentation for at least five years and may have children who are American citizens.
Congress has a responsibility to deal with these issues and these are some things that I cant do on my own, he told ABC News chief anchor George Stephanopoulos. What I do have is the legal authority to try to make the system better. Given the resource constraints that we have, we have to prioritize.
The president then challenged House Speaker John Boehner, who charged last week that Obama was damaging the presidency, to pass a bipartisan bill tackling immigration.
If you look the history is that I have issued fewer executive actions than most of my predecessors, by a longshot, Obama said. The difference is the response of Congress, and specifically the response of some of the Republicans. But if you ask historians, take a look at the track records of the modern presidency, Ive actually been very restrained, and Ive been very restrained with respect to immigration. I bent over backwards and will continue to do everything I can to get Congress to work because thats my preference.
Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, rejected Obama's claim of prosecutorial discretion. "Essentially he's gotten in the job of counterfeiting immigration papers, because there's no legal authority to do what he's doing," Cruz said on "Fox News Sunday."
A second Republican, Sen. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina, said his party shares the blame for failing to get an immigration bill through the House of Representatives.
"Shame on us as Republicans for having a body that cannot generate a solution to an issue that is national security, it's cultural and it's economic. The Senate has done this three times," Graham said on CNN's "State of the Union."
Indeed, Obama cast his decision as the result of the failure of the Republican-led House to act on a comprehensive immigration bill the Senate passed with bipartisan support in June 2013, or advance legislation of its own.
He said Republicans still could pass an immigration bill.
Rep. Raul Labrador, R-Idaho, said he had pressed the Republican leadership to start passing legislation two weeks ago on the immigration issue.
"We are going to pass legislation, but it is not going to be the legislation the president is asking for," Labrador said. "We as Republicans don't believe you should give amnesty first and talk about security later, which is what the Senate bill did." Labrador spoke on "Face the Nation" on CBS.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The rhetoric is barbed, but Republican presidential hopefuls generally fell in line behind the voices of restraint in the wake of President Barack Obama's order blocking deportation for millions of immigrants in the country unlawfully.
Former Sen. Rick Santorum, a tea party favorite in the 2012 race, urged the Republican leadership in Congress to "use any means available to stop this unconstitutional attack on our liberty."
Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, who once filibustered the nomination of John Brennan as CIA director in a dispute over surveillance of U.S. citizens, said: "I will not sit idly by and let the president bypass Congress and our Constitution."
Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida, who voted for the bipartisan bill that cleared the Senate in 2013, said the Congress should try to unravel Obama's actions, and he called for Republicans to call a vote early next year on a strict immigration enforcement bill.
Yet he, like nearly all other potential presidential contenders, offered no specifics on what sort of response they favor to try and force a presidential retreat.
Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas has been an exception. He said the new Republican-controlled Senate that takes office in January should refuse to confirm any of Obama's nominees except for vital national security positions as long as the president's order remains in effect.
Interviewed on Fox on Sunday, he also said Republicans should "use the power of the purse" to attach conditions to funding, but offered no details. He disputed the suggestion that the government shutdown of a year ago inflicted long-lasting damage on the party, noting its sweeping mid-term election victories.
Republican leaders in Congress have vowed to take action in response to Obama, but have yet to say precisely how. An attempt to block his actions by restricting the use federal funds is among the possibilities, although the president could veto that. So, too, is incorporating the issue into a lawsuit the House filed on Friday against the administration's moves to implement the health care act.
Another possible response, triggering a government shutdown in hopes of turning back Obama's order, is viewed by incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker John Boehner as a non-starter, particularly at the outset of a new era of Republican control of Congress. Even more so is starting impeachment proceedings.
The general reticence among presidential hopefuls comes at a time on the political calendar when jockeying for support among party activists routinely increases. With mid-term elections in the past, the focus will inevitably turn quickly toward the first caucuses and primaries now little more than a year away.
Public polls suggest immigration is an issue that divides conservatives who form the core of the Republican party from the rest of the electorate.
In exit polls from the Nov. 4 elections, 59 percent of those surveyed said they favored allowing immigrants to remain in the country and work even if they are here illegally, and only 39 percent said they favored deportation.
Support for allowing immigrants to remain in the country was 74 percent among Hispanics, whose impact on Republican presidential primaries is generally negligible, but who represent the fastest growing part of the national electorate.
Among conservative Republicans, only 36 percent said immigrants in the country illegally should be given a way to seek legal status.
In the first few days after the president's speech, pressure from tea party activists who have been influential in the past has yet to coalesce.
Jenny Beth Martin, who heads the Tea Party Patriots, asked for signatures on a petition to Congress to "defund executive amnesty."
More than a year ago, tea party groups were instrumental in pushing GOP lawmakers to defund the president's health care law. Cruz and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah, took up the cause. The ensuing struggle between the GOP-controlled House and Obama produced a partial government shutdown that sent public support for Republicans plummeting.
At a meeting of Republican governors in Florida in recent days, Tex. Gov. Rick Perry said Obama's action was akin to "sticking a finger in the eye of the American people" and said a lawsuit was "a real possibility."
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie, another possible presidential hopeful, blamed Obama for failing to deal with immigration, said a government shutdown should be avoided and declined to say what he would do in response. A request Friday for additional information went unanswered.
In contrast to Republicans, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton tweeted her thanks to Obama on Thursday evening "for taking action on immigration in the face of inaction."
She added, "Now let's turn to permanent bipartisan reform."
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They were criticized for being too provocative and too critical in demanding immigration reform.
When some of them arranged for youths who had been deported to try to come back across the Mexican border, setting up a showdown with the Obama administration over whether they would be allowed to return to the U.S., even the most enthusiastic immigration activists balked at their strategy.
And when these group of young activists, undocumented youths who had grown up in the United States and are known as Dreamers, locked horns with even some Democrats who were leading the push for immigration reform particularly President Barack Obama himself immigration activists grew frustrated, claiming it was wrong to direct criticism at the president, someone who sympathized with their cause.
The so-called Dreamers, however, did not back down in fact, they pushed back harder when immigration reform failed to materialize.
And so when Obama delivered his prime-time speech last Thursday, announcing that he was issuing an executive order that would suspend deportation for up to 5 million undocumented immigrants, the Dreamers felt vindicated.
It was their single biggest victory so far the largest change in immigration in many years. And with that, they recaptured the drivers seat in the fight for comprehensive immigration reform.
We got a lot of backlash for going after Obama, said Erika Andiola, one of the most prominent Dreamers pushing for immigration reform, to Fox News Latino. But he is the president of the United States, he said he supported immigrants, but Dreamers were saying he was getting them and their families deported.
At the end of the day, it was that pressure that created a moral crisis and played a part in pushing the president to issue the executive order.
[President Obama]s leaving in two years, and hed done nothing [about immigration]. This is historic, and its the result of our lobbying, going to Congress, holding vigils, civil disobedience. We took risks to make sure our stories were heard, we tried to put them in our shoes. Lucy Allain, immigrant activist
Since 2009, the Dreamers have taken a fledgling campaign that was focused on getting a law that would provide young undocumented immigrants with a chance to live and work in the United States, and turned it into the engine of immigration advocacy that has broadened to include legalization for many groups of people who are here illegally.
Obamas executive action in large part echoes what the Dreamers often to the chagrin of older, long-established immigration activists and advocacy groups who had preferred a more cautious, diplomatic approach have been demanding to one degree or another for years.
Obama said he was expanding a 2012 initiative, which originally gave a two-year reprieve from deportation to immigrants who had come to the United States illegally before they were 16, who were no older than 31, had no criminal record, and met other criteria. The new executive order lifts the age cap of 31, and extends the deportation relief, as well as the accompanying eligibility to get a work permit, to many other undocumented immigrants, including parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
When I heard the announcement, I was watching TV, and many people were saying Thank God Obama finally did this, he finally realized it needed to be done, said Lucy Allain, a leader in the Dreamer movement who gained national attention when she confronted then-presidential candidate Mitt Romney at a campaign event in New York City about his hard-line stance on immigration.
It wasnt that he finally realized it on his own. The [Dreamer] community doesnt get appreciated. The whole executive action would not have been possible if there had not been a big push [by activists] for him to do it, she said. This is historic, and its the result of our lobbying, going to Congress, holding vigils, civil disobedience. We took risks to make sure our stories were heard, we tried to put them in our shoes.
The Dreamers are named after a congressional measure the Dream Act that calls for providing undocumented immigrants who were brought to the United States as children a path to legal status. It has been introduced several times, but has failed to pass.
To be sure, many advocates of all ages have worked diligently to push for an overhaul of immigration laws that would give opportunities to many of the estimated 11 million undocumented immigrants in the United States to legalize their status.
Let's be clear, wrote immigration attorney Marty Rosenbluth on a Facebook page for human rights activists, We shouldn't just be thanking Obama. We should be thanking the tens of thousands of immigrants and others who picketed, protested, laid down in the streets, wrote letters, and drove time and time again to D.C. and to other cities to get their voices heard.
Yup, he finally did it, Rosenbluth said. But this is a victory for mass organizing, not for politics as usual.
In an interview with Fox News Latino, Rosenbluth said Obama responded to pressure. He said the executive order which Obama had threatened to issue multiple times over the last several years, citing a lack of will by Republicans in the House to move forward an immigration reform bill capped a sweeping and persistent grassroots effort by undocumented immigrants, their U.S. citizen and legal permanent resident relatives, and other supporters.
Obama, after all, he said, presided over the largest number of deportations more than 2 million people since hes been in office of any administration.
We have to see this as not that Obama kept his promise to reform immigration, Rosenbluth said, but that the immigrant community kept him to his promise. They made him keep his promise.
But the Dreamers, arguably, maintained an energy and remained vocal and visible, even when many other activists seemed to grow weary. Often, when hope for immigration reform or executive action dimmed, and activists grew exasperated and stopped to evaluate their strategies, the Dreamers got bolder, and pushed boundaries.
In one case that drew criticism from some of the older immigrant advocates, one group of dreamers even coordinated with deported immigrants in Mexico to try to cross back into the United States; they did, approaching Border Patrol agents, who arrested and detained them. Some got released and are awaiting hearings on their political asylum claims, others were deported.
Andiola, a 27-year-old from Arizona who got a two-year reprieve from Obamas 2012 initiative, has frequently pushed the boundaries to bring attention to the plight of undocumented immigrants.
This summer, she and Cesar Vargas, another undocumented immigrant and activist, went up to Republican lawmakers Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky and Rep. Steve King of Iowa at a fundraiser in Iowa and introduced themselves as beneficiaries of the 2012 program, known as Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA.
King, who has one of the most hardline views on immigration in Congress, has been a vocal opponent of DACA and any other kind of break given to undocumented immigrants.
Andiola reminded King of a notorious comment he had made about how Dreamers smuggle drugs.
King suggested that perhaps Andiola had not understood his comment.
I spoke of drug smugglers, he said in the encounter, which was videotaped. Now, youre not going to tell me youre one of them are you?
Andiola didnt miss a beat and responded: Do I look like a drug smuggler to you?
For many years, others spoke for us, Andiola said. The big non-profits spoke for us. We decided to come out of the shadows, to speak for ourselves, to tell our story directly, to come out of the shadows.
The Dreamers made it part of their modus operandi to publicize and humanize the story of people facing deportation. They put faces in front of cameras, they gave their full names, they wore shirts that said Undocumented and Unafraid.
We were called all kinds of things, she recalled. But the more we spoke out, the more we controlled the narrative, and the more we saw people were connecting with us. We also started seeing we could stop deportations, publicizing someones story actually protected them rather than hurt them.
Adds Allain, We took risks to get our point across. Our story is powerful, people can relate to it.
The Dreamers say they are glad the president finally fulfilled a part of his promise to take action on immigration unilaterally because Congress has failed to bring a reform bill for a vote.
But they say they want deportations suspended for more people, they say too many people are still being left in the shadows, too many families are being separated after an undocumented relative is put in deportation after a traffic stop, or a raid by immigration officials.
We need to move forward, we need to keep fighting, for the people who have been left out of this executive action, said Andiola, whose home immigration agents raided. We celebrate wins like DACA and the executive order, but we also know that our Mom or Dad didnt qualify.
The day after a Missouri grand jury declined to indict a white police officer over the shooting of an unarmed black 18-year-old, Michael Brown, whose fatal shooting sparked weeks of sometimes violent protests predominantly among African-Americans Latino leaders said they sympathize with the pain and outrage that led to unrest in the city of Ferguson and elsewhere in the nation, but also expressed sadness over the violence that has resulted.
U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-Ill.) said in a Tuesday interview that he was devastated by both the grand jury decision and the violent protests, which he said he watched on television with his wife.
We had hoped there would be a trial and a full and complete airing of all of the issues surrounding the death of the young Brown, Gutierrez said. We were saddened for the family, the parents were parents too.
But were also saddened by the violence, violence has no place, Gutierrez said. You need to raise your voice when you see injustice but need to do it in a peaceful, non-violent manner . . . that garners public support.
In California, where there were also protests that turned violent at times, Latino civil rights groups while not condoning the violence said it was a reminder of the sort of experience that all minority communities struggle under.
As a nation, we mourn the tragedy that has befallen Ferguson, and we lament the grand jurys decision not to indict police officer Darren Wilson for the senseless death of a young unarmed man, said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles (CHIRLA), an immigrant rights organization.
As immigrants seeking to be part of the American Dream, we painfully realize the dream for other U.S. citizens is also short-handed, outright denied and fraught with injustice. Life, liberty, and justice still needs to be guaranteed for all citizens.
We call on all residents of this great nation, Salas continued, to use our anger and disillusionment as the fuel that ignites our compassion and support for Browns family and our commitment to continue fighting for justice and equality for all, police accountability and stronger communities.
Latino clergy urged calm.
"The only antidote that will truly alleviate the tension and angst in Ferguson, Missouri, resides in the peace that only Christ can render, said the Rev. Samuel Rodriguez, president of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference (NHCLC)/Conela. The prophetic and conciliatory concept of Shalom a peace where nothing stands missing or broken, presents the prescription for a community divided by race and fear.
We pray for peace, Rodriguez said. We plead for reconciliation. We yearn for all parties to recognize that both Michael Brown and officer Darren Wilson represent individuals created in the image of God. We call upon the God that heals to enable truth, love, justice and forgiveness to silence the voices of hatred, division, strife and violence."
After the Ferguson shooting in August, the Associated Press looked at minority representation in police departments around the country, and found that diversity was lacking, although the hiring of black law enforcement officers had increased.
Latino representation in police departments where Hispanics are a large part of the community, however, still was woefully low, the AP found.
In Anaheim, for instance, where the police department is among the least racially balanced in the nation, the police killings of two Latino men in 2012 set off angry protests. While more than half the community is Hispanic, only 23 percent of the sworn police officers are.
"There's a huge gap between community and police," said Theresa Smith, a member of the Anaheim Community Coalition, which aims to improve police oversight. Police shot and killed Smith's son in 2009. "You can't bridge that gap if people don't trust you."
The executive director of Puentes New Orleans, Carolina Hernandez, said her group has been working with local police to bridge the divide between officers and the Latino community. "If you're here to protect and serve," she said, "it's hard to accomplish that when the community automatically doesn't trust you."
Moments after the announcement by St. Louis County's top prosecutor, Bob McCulloch, crowds began pouring into Ferguson streets to protest the decision. Some taunted police, broke windows and set fire to cars. Within a few hours, several large buildings were ablaze, and frequent gunfire was heard. Officers used tear gas to try to disperse some of the gatherings.
Groups that advocate for undocumented immigrants drew parallels between the tensions and lack of trust between minorities and police and the sometimes tenuous relationship between foreign born residents and their local enforcement officers.
Whether at the border or on our streets, aggressive enforcement has been tearing apart our families and our communities," said Felipe Sousa-Rodriguez, deputy managing director of United We Dream. We need a justice system that protects us all. Our community remains fearful of those entrusted with serving and protecting us, given that many times in reporting crimes against us, were the ones who end up detained or deported.
This is bigger than one decision. Black and brown communities will continue coming together to demand change, and to show the country that young people, united, can win positive change for their families and communities.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A Nevada lawmaker who had recently become the state assembly speaker resigned from his new position this past weekend after a public outcry over comments he made about Hispanics and other minorities.
Ira Hansen announced his resignation as speaker but stuck a defiant tone in an email to the media and his colleagues on Sunday. He claims that his was forced to resign because of his opposition to a tax increase being pushed by other assembly members.
He blamed his ousting on an orchestrated attack by both the media and other lawmakers looking to remove a conservative Republican from the speakers chair.
This whole attack has very little to do with my views, Hansen said. The powers that be are planning a massive, more than one billion dollar, tax increase, and I stood in the way as speaker.
Hansens wrote his controversial remarks during his time as a columnist for the Sparks Tribune going back to 1994. His last column ran in 2010.
Most of Hansens columns are not available online but they gained traction last week after the Reno News and Review published excerpts of them.
Locally, gangs and their associated criminal activity are obviously dominated by immigrants, especially Hispanic immigrants, Hansen wrote in one of his columns. You cannot read a story about criminals or watch a news report locally without noticing a grossly disproportionate amount of Hispanic involvement.
Hansen also criticized the way Latino students allegedly flaunted the Mexican flag at a local school.
At Spanish Springs High School, the large Hispanic population has tended to congregate amongst themselves and boldly flaunt their Mexican heritage by having the green, red and white flag of Mexico displayed in various ways, he wrote.
Hansen also made inflammatory statements about African-Americans, gays and women. He wrote that he proudly keeps a confederate flag in his office, that women should not serve in the military and that pedophiles are overwhelmingly made up of gay men.
For the Nevada GOP, this controversy has put a dent on their recent good fortunes. They recently gained full control of both the state assembly and Senate during the midterm elections. They are now left with having to select a new speaker.
In a statement from his office, Republican Governor Brian Sandoval said that he asked Hansen to resign last Friday. I asked him to step down specifically because of his offensive published writings and statements regarding race, sexual preference and gender," Sandoval said. "I respect Mr. Hansen's decision to step down, in his own words, 'for the greater good of Nevada.'"
Hansen is claiming that Sandoval is one of the politicians pushing for the alleged $1 billion dollar tax increase in next years legislature.
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Rep. Luis Gutierrez, a leading voice in the House in the push for immigration reform for years, said Monday that opponents of President Barack Obamas new executive order, which could suspend deportation for some 5 million immigrants, are trying to scare people into not applying for the relief.
The fear campaign is just starting, Gutierrez said during a press call. They are trying to keep our immigrants from signing up just like they were trying to keep people from signing up for ObamaCare.
The Illinois Democrat, who as far back as 2010 has pushed the president in the absence of congressional action to use executive powers to give temporary relief from deportation to millions of undocumented immigrants, criticized some Republicans who have in recent days suggested that immigrants should not apply for a benefit they say stems from an act that will not stand court challenges.
"There's going to be fear-mongering from the Republican Party, Gutierrez said in the call he held with fellow Democrats Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Rep. Zoe Lofgren of California.
Gutierrez said he is now on a mission to spur as many of the estimated 5 million undocumented immigrants who could qualify for the three-year suspension of deportation to apply. He said he will be traveling across the country to spread the word about who qualifies for relief from deportation a benefit that also allows people to obtain a work permit and often also a driver's license and to encourage people to submit applications.
We received a couple of thousand phone calls, he said of his staff. They want to know if the presidents action applies to them, their families, their next-door neighbors.
He added, Were telling people to be patient and work with us to learn all the details.
Menendez, who long has led the effort in the Senate to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill, said that the president's executive order, which calls for tighter border enforcement as well as protection from deportation among other things, falls short of what he and Gutierrez and others had hoped for, but it still is a game-changer for millions.
More families will be able to stay together without fear of deportation, Menendez said.
He too noted that now supporters of the presidents executive action must put their energy into making sure people sign up, as well as continuing to push for Congress to pass a reform bill that would establish more permanent solutions.
Both Menendez and Gutierrez stressed that the executive order only temporarily addresses the almost 12 million people who live in the United States illegally. They said that only Congress, by way of immigration reform, can put forth an enduring solution.
President Barack Obama, the onetime community organizer, is returning Tuesday to the city where he first forged his ties to the Latino community to pitch his new executive actions on immigration.
Obama is trying to seize the advantage in the heated dispute over the contentious issue while Congress is on a Thanksgiving recess and Republicans scramble to coalesce behind a unified opposition strategy.
The president was scheduled to speak to Chicago community leaders, part of an ongoing effort to defend and promote his decision to bypass Congress and direct sweeping executive actions that could spare millions of immigrants illegally in the United States from being deported.
Obama will speak at a center in the city's predominantly Polish-American far northwest side, underscoring how his immigration measures would affect more than Latino immigrants. Chicago has the largest population of Poles in the United States.
Under a series of measures Obama announced last week, nearly 5 million immigrants will be eligible to avoid deportation and sign up for work permits. The number who could benefit represents about 45 percent of the total number of immigrants who either entered the country illegally or have overstayed their visas.
Republicans have vowed to rein Obama in, but have not fallen behind any specific plan.
Chicago is Obama's hometown he worked in the city as a community organizer in the 1980s and its metropolitan area has the fifth largest Latino population in the country.
Obama is expected to highlight what the White House says are the economic advantages of his executive decision and to counter Republican criticism that his measures exceed his authority. The Chicago visit is his second trip out of Washington to draw attention to his actions since he announced them Thursday. Last Friday, the president spoke in Las Vegas, another city with a large Latino population.
Obama has a mixed history in Chicago over the question of immigration. He conceded in his 2006 book "The Audacity of Hope" that his experiences there led him to reflect on the meaning of citizenship and "my sometimes conflicted feelings about all the changes that are taking place."
In 2006, when he was a senator from Illinois, he denied a request from about 30 Mexican nationals living in Chicago for a special piece of legislation that would protect them from deportation. The decision infuriated immigration activists in the city.
But Obama has also backed an overhaul of immigration law, and while he initially angered advocacy groups by delaying his executive actions until after this month's midterm elections, last week's measures have generally been greeted with enthusiasm from immigration advocates and Latino groups.
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Joel and Maria Flores spent decades saving up their money in order to open up their own business, a Mexican restaurant in St. Peters, Missouri, that they named El Palenque.
They moved their burgeoning eatery to the St. Louis suburb of Ferguson nine years ago, hoping to capitalize on a diverse community with a growing middle-class.
But on Monday night, as the town burned and police clashed with angry protesters, the Flores family were afraid that their lives' work would go up in flames. Twelve commercial buildings were destroyed in the unrest following the grand jury decision not to charge Ferguson police officer Darren Wilson in the shooting death of teenager Michael Brown.
Instead, the front windows were smashed, but nothing much worse.
The people destroying things are criminals they dont care about peoples families or their jobs, Joel Flores told Fox News Latino. Theyre criminals, not protesters.
Business owners in Ferguson continue to be on edge as looting and rioting continue.
The Flores family, who own Fergusons sole Latino-owned restaurant, boarded up the front of the store after Monday night, but they continue to serve reasonably priced fare like enchiladas and camarones al diablo (shrimp in a chili sauce) from the restaurants fortified back entrance.
Were going to get over this. Were a strong community. Joel Flores, owner of El Palenque restaurant
Members of the National Guard which tripled its numbers in the Ferguson region Tuesday were far more visible and remained posted throughout the town over night to dispel any more attempts of arson, looting or rioting, but many shop owners decided to not take any chances even with the military presence.
While the threat of violence Tuesday night wasnt as drastic as the previous evening with the 12 buildings burned plus eight other blazes and a dozen vehicles torched police officers in Ferguson still used tear gas and pepper spray as demonstrators set a squad car on fire and broke windows at City Hall.
Missouri governor Jay Nixon dispatched a large contingent of extra National Guard troops up from the initial force of 700 to 2,200 - in the hopes that their presence would help local law enforcement keep order in the St. Louis suburb.
National Guard units protected the Ferguson Police Department and left crowd control, arrests and use of tear gas to local officers. In one commercial area on Wednesday morning, a soldier was stationed at every few storefronts, and some were on rooftops.
Forty-five people were arrested, most of them for failure to disperse. Outside police headquarters, one woman was taken into custody after protesters hurled what appeared to be smoke bombs, flares and frozen water bottles at a line of officers. Several other protesters were arrested after defying police instructions to get out of the street or out of the way of police vehicles.
"Lives and property must be protected," Nixon said. "This community deserves to have peace."
Joel Flores, a native of the Mexican state of Jalisco who worked in a chocolate factory in Chicago for more than 30 years, said that despite the unrest, the community would soon recover.
Were going to get over this, Flores said. Were a strong community.
While there are not many Latinos in Ferguson they comprise only 1.2 percent of the towns population and just 2.7 percent of that in St. Louis County as a whole Flores said that his restaurant is frequented by members of both the white and black communities and is even a popular lunch spot for the towns much-disparaged police force.
Theyre our customers. They eat at our place, he said.
While business owners believe they can weather the unrest, Flores said that it will be a long time before business bounces back. Until then, he and his employees will have to be watchful that more problems dont threaten his operations.
Were going to keep our eyes open, he said, and just keep doing what we do.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
The Senate Democrats' top message man is urging the party leftward in the wake of crushing midterm election losses, saying working Americans want a robust government that will promote education access, labor bargaining rights, progressive taxes and more.
At a Washington news conference, New York Democratic Sen. Chuck Schumer said his party erred five years ago by putting health care reform ahead of jobs and economic priorities. The vast majority of Americans were relatively happy with their employer-provided health insurance in 2009, he said, and the health care overhaul's message was aimed at about 5 percent of the electorate: those who lacked insurance and who voted.
"To aim a huge change in mandate at such a small percentage of the electorate made no political sense," Schumer said. "Unfortunately Democrats blew the opportunity the American people gave them. We took their mandate and put all of our focus on the wrong problem health care reform."
He said he expressed such concerns at the time. His office later said he "expressed those concerns privately to fellow Democrats."
Schumer's remarks came a few weeks after Republicans won control of the Senate and boosted their House majority in the midterm elections. He said the way back to influence on Capitol Hill is to appeal to voters who support "an active and forceful government" to help them cope with globalization, technology and other forces keeping middle incomes stagnant.
Schumer said Democrats made it easier for Republicans to paint government as bloated and inept with "the rollout of the Obamacare exchanges, the mishandling of the surge in border crossers, ineptitude at the VA (Veterans' Administration) and the government's initial handling of the Ebola threat."
Schumer is one of the Senate's most senior and ambitious Democrats. He oversaw the party's campaign efforts in two highly successful elections, 2006 and 2008, and he now chairs the Democratic Policy and Communications Committee. Some see him as a potential successor to Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid of Nevada.
His comments Tuesday could upset those who say it was wise to make the health care overhaul the first major legislative initiative after President Barack Obama's 2008 election. White House spokesman Eric Schultz told reporters the administration is happy to revisit the health care law "because we believe strongly that the Affordable Care Act is working."
Republicans ridiculed Schumer's call for a more robust federal government. "The failure of big-government liberalism is why liberals were overwhelmingly rebuked at the polls this month," said the conservative group YG Network.
Schumer repeatedly said Democrats must not run away from an active government.
"The 2014 election was not a repudiation of government in general," he said, but "just another sign of a deep frustration that government is not doing enough to fix our country's problems."
Schumer said he and other Democrats will propose specific policies later, but he hinted at several likely areas. He called for making college more affordable; making taxes progressive, or proportionately higher on upper incomes; spending more on infrastructure such as roads and bridges; and "changing labor laws so workers can demand more pay."
Schumer reflected Democratic divisions over expanded trade agreements. He called for "negotiating good trade policies that prevent jobs from going overseas." He said most voters feel "trade has hurt wages significantly" by encouraging imports from low-income countries.
Schumer isn't the only Democrat calling for a more robust agenda for education spending, a higher minimum wage and an end to some corporate tax breaks.
"We did a horrible job as progressives with connecting with voters on these issues because we are too tentative," Seattle-based entrepreneur Nick Hanauer said at a recent post-election forum sponsored by the Center for American Progress.
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Advocacy groups barely waited for President Barack Obama to finish speaking about sweeping changes to the U.S. immigration system to start warning about scams.
"We hear horror stories about people getting taken advantage of horribly," attorney Ginger Jacobs told several dozen people who watched the president's speech at Alliance San Diego offices.
California Attorney General Kamala Harris and Mexican consulates sounded similar alarms after Obama promised executive action that is expected to shield about 5 million people from deportation. For decades, immigrants have fallen victim to attorneys and consultants who disappear with their money or give bad advice that may land them in deportation proceedings.
"Anything related to immigration tends to have this activity associated with it," said Laura Vazquez, senior immigration legislative analyst at National Council of La Raza, a Latino advocacy group. "There are people who really want to get right with the law and seek any opportunity to adjust their status. They'll sometimes believe things that aren't true."
Harris, whose state is home to an estimated 2.4 million people who immigrated to the U.S. illegally, issued a lengthy "consumer alert" Tuesday, saying changes of the magnitude Obama announced often invite con artists. Her tips include making sure that attorneys are licensed and advisers are recognized by the U.S. Justice Department's Board of Immigration Appeals.
The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles warned of fraud when delivering Thanksgiving turkeys Wednesday and will repeat the message at a workshop next month at the Los Angeles Convention Center, said political director Apolonio Morales. The advocacy group recommends working through trusted community organizations.
There have been few reports of efforts to profit from the president's announcement, which promises work permits for parents of U.S. citizens and legal residents who have been in the country for five years and have a clean criminal record. It also makes more people who arrived as young children eligible to stay.
Some are encouraged that a 2012 reprieve for some young immigrants didn't produce widespread abuse. Dan Kowalski, editor of Bender's Immigration Bulletin, credits advocacy groups for aggressive outreach and says social media has allowed word of scams to spread quickly.
The Federal Trade Commission reported 891 complaints for immigration services last year, up from 746 the previous year but down from 1,220 in 2011. The extent of abuse is believed to be underreported.
"A lot of immigrants don't have anywhere to go," said California Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez, a San Diego Democrat who plans to propose disclosure requirements for anyone selling services tied to Obama's moves. "It's in the shadows."
Kowalski, like many attorneys and advocates, believes it is too early to hire anyone because the government isn't expected to publish applications for three to six months.
"There's no application date, there's no form, there's no procedure," he said. "Anyone who pays a dime is gambling."
Waiting is the hardest part for some. A woman at the San Diego gathering to watch Obama's speech asked if someone who gets stopped by police would be deported before applying.
Jacobs said she didn't know but that U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement was unlikely to expel someone who qualifies under Obama's announcement. She recommended carrying children's birth certificates, leases and other documents.
Another attorney, Cesar Luna, agreed that agents were unlikely to deport someone who appears eligible, saying, "They tend to give the person the benefit of the doubt."
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Many immigrants in the United States illegally who apply for work permits under President Barack Obama's new executive actions would be eligible for Social Security and Medicare benefits upon reaching retirement age, according to the White House.
Under Obama's actions, immigrants who are spared deportation could obtain work permits and a Social Security number. As a result, they would pay into the Social Security system through payroll taxes.
No such "lawfully present" immigrant, however, would be immediately entitled to the benefits because like all Social Security and Medicare recipients they would have to work 10 years to become eligible for retirement payments and health care. To remain qualified, either Congress or future administrations would have to extend Obama's actions so that those immigrants would still be considered lawfully present in the country.
None of the immigrants who would be spared deportation under Obama's executive actions would be able to receive federal assistance such as welfare or food stamps, or other income-based aid. They also would not be eligible to purchase health insurance in federal exchanges set up by the new health care law, and they would not be able to apply for tax credits that would lower the cost of their health insurance.
The issue of benefits for immigrants who are illegally in the United States is a particularly sensitive one for the Obama administration. As a result, the White House has made it clear that none of the nearly 5 million immigrants affected by Obama's actions would be eligible for federal assistance. The decision to deny them access to health care exchanges and tax credits has especially disappointed immigrant advocates.
"They were specifically carved out of that, which is deeply unfortunate because it cuts directly against the spirit" of the health care law, said Avideh Moussavian, an attorney at the National Immigration Law Center. "They should have had the opportunity to buy health insurance just like anybody else."
Less clear until now was their eligibility for retirement benefits for which they would have paid into through payroll taxes.
Describing the administration's position, one official said Wednesday that any immigrant considered lawfully present and holding a Social Security number would be entitled to Social Security and Medicare upon retirement because they would have paid into the system.
Stephen Miller, a spokesman for Sen. Jeff Sessions of Alabama, a leading Republican opponent of Obama's executive actions, said making immigrants illegally in the U.S. eligible for Social Security and Medicare "is an attack on working families."
"The amnestied illegal immigrants are largely older, lower-wage and lower-skilled and will draw billions more in benefits than they will pay in," he said.
Beneficiaries would have to be of retirement age and have worked for at least 10 years. Immigrants would also be eligible for survivor benefits if the deceased worker had worked for 10 years. For disability insurance, they would have to work for 5-20 years.
A report by the White House Council of Economic Advisers this week concluded that Obama's executive actions would expand the U.S. tax base because about two-thirds of immigrants illegally working in the United States don't pay taxes.
But many immigrants currently working illegally still pay into the Social Security system because they have obtained an Individual Taxpayer Identification Number. Moussavian said the number has declined because the Internal Revenue Service has made it harder to apply for the identification number.
The Social Security Administration estimates that out of about 11 million immigrants now in the U.S. who either entered the country illegally or overstayed their visas, slightly more than 3 million paid payroll taxes of about $6.5 billion in 2010, with their employers contributing another $6.5 billion.
Those payments would not qualify toward the 10 year requirement needed to be eligible for benefits, the administration official said. The official was not authorized to describe the policy by name and spoke on the condition of anonymity.
"It's one of many reasons why they would want to come forward," Moussavian said. "Many immigrants have contributed enormously through payroll taxes and income taxes and they go to programs that they can't currently access."
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If Christian Avila lived a few hundred miles to the west, he would have a driver's license, qualify for in-state college tuition and a host of other opportunities available to young people granted legal status by President Barack Obama two years ago.
But Avila lives in Phoenix, and the 24-year-old immigrant who was brought here from Mexico by his parents at age 9 still has to navigate the sprawling city in fear as he drives to school or work.
"You get nervous, your legs start to tingle a little bit when there's a cop behind you, when you're doing nothing wrong by driving to work,' said Avila, a community college student and immigration activist. "You're not breaking any rules, you're following the law. But unfortunately it's where we live."
With last week's action by Obama that expanded the deferred action program and added millions of other immigrants, Avila's plight highlights a harsh reality about the president's changes. The president may be allowing them to remain in the U.S., but it doesn't mean their state will let them drive a car, get an education at an affordable rate or obtain health insurance.
A patchwork of rules began to form in states largely along political lines after the president allowed some young immigrants to stay in the country. Conservative states like Nebraska and Arizona kept them from getting driver's licenses while liberal locations were much more welcoming in terms of state services and benefits.
Now, states must make new decisions on how to respond to the president's action that allows millions more immigrants to remain in the U.S.
In California, Democrats, immigration groups and health care advocates are pushing for the immigrants to receive health care under the state's version of the Medicaid program. The California Department of Health Care Services is deciding how to proceed. The president's action excludes immigrants who came to the country illegally from qualifying for federal health benefits.
In Nevada, officials are drawing up a bill for the Legislature making clear that unauthorized immigrants can become teachers in the state. Current rules specify that a prospective teacher must be a U.S. citizen or lawful permanent resident before they can receive a teaching license in Nevada.
A new gubernatorial administration in Arizona will have to decide whether to continue a hard-line approach toward state benefits that outgoing Gov. Jan Brewer took.
After Obama took action in 2012 granting legal status to 1.8 million young people brought to the U.S. as children, Brewer issued an executive order denying them driver's licenses or other state benefits, including in-state tuition at the state's public universities. A federal appeals court ruled the license ban was unconstitutional, and Brewer is considering an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court.
"Our position is unilateral action by the president does nothing to change the fact that an illegal alien's presence is the United States is not authorized under federal law," Brewer spokesman Andrew Wilder said.
Arizona's Republican Governor-elect, Doug Ducey, has said he intends to continue Brewer's current ban, if it survives court challenges.
Maryland's Democratic governor, Martin O'Malley, has taken a decidedly different tack. He's a supporter of state laws granting in-state tuition to people without legal status and grants them driver's licenses. He has even been willing to get into a policy fight with Obama on the stream of unaccompanied immigrant children from Central America over the Mexican border, criticizing the White House proposal earlier this year that could have expedited the deportation of the children.
Arizona remains an outlier in its treatment of immigrants granted work permits and is among the most harsh when it comes to those who remain in the U.S. without legal authorization.
States surrounding Arizona provide in-state tuition to all residents, regardless of immigration status. And in January, California joins nine other states in allowing immigrants who can't prove they're in the U.S legally to get a driver's license.
Utah provides leniency when it comes to driving privileges and education, despite passing a law in 2011 that mirrored Arizona's landmark immigration crackdown, SB1070. The state issues driving-privilege cards that must be renewed annually for those who cannot prove they're in the country legally.
Nearly 36,300 were issued last year, said Nannette Rolfe, the director of Utah's Driver License Division. Utah also offers in-state tuition at public universities and colleges to residents not in the U.S. legally.
To be eligible, students must have attended a Utah high school for at least three years and earned a diploma or GED. They can't hold a non-immigrant visa and must file an application to legalize their immigration status when eligible to do so. In the 2012-2013 academic students, 929 students took advantage of the program.
Despite the fact that life would be easier if he left the state, Avila said he's staying put.
"This is where we got dirty as kids, this is where we learn how to speak English, this is where we learn how to do a lot of stuff," he said. "Here in Arizona is where my friends, my family, live and I don't see it as an option to run away, but rather stand up and change the conditions that we live under."
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Ruling party candidate and former president Tabare Vazquez is favored to win Uruguay's runoff election Sunday on the back of a strong economy, a result that would help secure the country's pioneering marijuana laws.
Five polls show the left-leaning Vazquez, 74, ahead of center-right challenger Luis Alberto Lacalle Pou by a roughly 10 percentage point margin.
Vazquez, who took office in 2005, was the first person to break 170 years of domination by Uruguay's Colorado and National parties.
He pursued moderate economic policies that helped Uruguay outpace neighbors while improving life for the poor. He left office in 2010 with high popularity ratings that put his party's candidate, Jose Mujica, in the president's office.
Now Mujica appears set to return the favor, with his 70 percent approval rating boosting Vazquez's candidacy. Both men belong to the Broad Front coalition.
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"Uruguay is not governed by people, it's governed by parties. In other countries the president has a more important role," said Adolfo Garce, a political scientist at Montevideo's University of the Republic. "This will be the third government of the Broad Front and it will have even more continuity than differences from the previous ones."
Lacalle Pou, 41, has criticized a plan promoted by Mujica to create the world's first national marketplace for legal marijuana in Uruguay. Although he would still allow consumers to grow pot plants at home for personal use, Lacalle Pou has said he would end the government's role in the production and sale of marijuana.
Vazquez has said he would change the marijuana law only if it proves ineffective. He has also promised to continue the coalition's mix of pro-market economic policies and social welfare plans.
A still-practicing oncologist, Vazquez expanded health care and campaigned against the use of tobacco during his presidency. He also vetoed a law to liberalize restrictions on abortion a measure that later passed under Mujica.
Vazquez continued seeing patients one day a week during his previous presidency, but said in a recent interview that he would give up medicine to focus on the presidency if elected on Sunday.
In the first round of presidential voting on Oct. 28, he won 48 percent of the vote against 31 percent for Lacalle Pou of the National Party.
Lacalle Pou has campaigned on promises to curb rising crime and improve education. He also vowed to curb rising prices, and opposes Mujica's plan to resettle six Guantanamo prisoners in Uruguay.
Mujica, who is barred by law from running for another consecutive term, led Uruguay through stable economic growth and better wages. A former leftist guerrilla, his social agenda won praise worldwide for including the legalization of marijuana and gay marriage, although the measures remain less popular at home.
Critics also say that his government failed to bring improvements in education, security and environmental issues.
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Spain's prime minister has visited the northern region of Catalonia 20 days after its government held an informal, nonbinding poll asking residents if they favored splitting from Spain.
Speaking at a rally held Saturday by his Popular Party in Barcelona, Mariano Rajoy said the unofficial referendum had "according to its own figures, failed resoundingly."
Catalan officials said out of 6.3 million potential voters, 2.3 million cast ballots, with most favoring secession.
Rajoy, who was surrounded by many of his Cabinet ministers, said two-thirds of Catalans had not turned out to vote and that the regional government's "international propaganda operation" had fallen apart "noiselessly and without clatter."
Catalonia held the poll after plans to stage a proper referendum were suspended when Rajoy's government challenged its legality in court.
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Republicans in Congress are expected to huddle on Tuesday to hatch a plan for a push-back to President Obamas executive order on immigration.
They are weighing several options, including introducing their own bill, perhaps as early as this week, as well as targeting the funding of agencies that play a key role in the executive action, according to The Hill.
In addition, some of the most conservative GOP members would like to see their party broaden its lawsuit against Obama and the health care bill to include the presidents unilateral move on immigration.
Some political observers see the introduction of a GOP bill as the most prudent way to respond to Obamas executive order, which could spare some 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation, as well as allow them to obtain work permits, drivers licenses and a variety of federal benefits, including Medicare and Social Security.
The best way to criticize governing through fiat is to offer an alternative, said Republican activist Grover Norquist to The Hill.
What appears to be the smart move, and what theyre going to do, is do immigration reform through normal legislative [channels], said Norquist, the president of Americans for Tax Reform. Do it in a way that Republicans find acceptable, meaning take the border seriously [and] think of Americas economic needs. Move forward on that and let him [Obama] be over in the corner stamping his feet.
Obama said earlier this month that he opted to act unilaterally on immigration because Republicans in the House, where they have a majority, had blocked any attempt to move forward on comprehensive reform of the system.
He said that while the Senate last year managed to draft and pass a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill that both tightened border security and provided a path to legal status for millions of undocumented immigrants who meet a strict set of criteria, efforts to do something similar in the House had stalled.
Republicans have said that Obama cannot be trusted because he has circumvented them on such things such as his health care bill, and they said that they were leery of passing a comprehensive immigration bill because they fear he will ignore the enforcement end of it.
Republicans also are divided among themselves on just how to address immigration.
Some, such as Sen. Marco Rubio and Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, both of Florida, have expressed support for a bill that would tighten enforcement as well as give people here illegally a chance to legalize their status. They argue that the U.S. cannot realistically deport all estimated 12 million undocumented immigrants.
But other Republicans, such as Rep. Steve King of Iowa, is firmly opposed to any breaks for undocumented immigrants, saying that giving amnesty would be the same as rewarding people who flout the law, and would encourage more illegal immigration.
Alfonso Aguilar, who headed the Office of Citizenship under President George W. Bush, told The Hill that attacking Obamas executive action by defunding its sources would be futile because much of the presidents order would be under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), which functions on user fees instead congressional appropriations.
Aguilar, who is head of the Latino Partnership for Conservative Principles, said a lawsuit against the White House is not feasible either, according to The Hill.
The case law is not on the Republican side, he said.
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Lame-duck lawmakers return to Washington on Monday facing a stacked agenda and not much time to get it all done before the new Congress convenes in January and a Republican takeover is complete.
Their to-do list includes keeping the government running into the new year, renewing expired tax breaks for individuals and businesses and approving a defense policy measure that has passed for more than 50 years in a row. They hope to get it all done in two weeks without stumbling into a government shutdown.
Also pending are President Barack Obama's requests for money to combat Islamic State militants, battle Ebola and deal with an influx of unaccompanied Central American children who have crossed into the U.S.
Among the lower profile items on the agenda are renewing the government's terrorism risk insurance program and extending the ban on state and federal taxes on access to the Internet.
Obama's move to protect millions of immigrants from deportation proceedings and make them eligible for work permits appears to have made it more difficult to navigate the must-do items through a Capitol where cooperation already is in short supply.
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The No. 1 item is preventing a government closure when a temporary funding measure expires on Dec. 11. The House and Senate Appropriations committees are negotiating a $1 trillion-plus spending bill for the budget year that began Oct. 1 and are promising to have it ready by the week of Dec. 8.
The tax-writing committees are trying to renew a bundle of expired tax breaks such as the deductions for state and local sales taxes and the research and experimentation credit. Some, like tax credits for renewable energy projects such as wind farms, are a hard sell for GOP conservatives but are eagerly sought by Midwestern Republicans such as Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa.
The House has passed legislation that would make several of the tax breaks permanent; the Senate's approach has been to extend them only for 2014 and 2015. Negotiators appeared close to an agreement last week only to have the White House put it on ice with a veto threat. The administration said an emerging plan by House Republicans and top Senate Democrats was tilted too far in favor of businesses.
The president's authority to arm and train moderate Syrian rebels to fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria expires Dec. 11. Lawmakers probably will renew it while postponing action until 2015 on a broader, new authorization to use military force.
Obama also is requesting more than $5 billion to pay for sending additional noncombat troops and munitions to Iraq and cover other military and intelligence costs associated with fighting the militants. He wants $6.2 billion to tackle Ebola at its source in West Africa and to secure the U.S. against any possible outbreak. Also pending is a $3.7 billion request to address the immigrant children.
Legislation to renew the government's terrorism risk insurance program, which expires at year's end, is eagerly sought by the construction, real estate and hospitality businesses. But negotiations between the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee, GOP Rep. Jeb Hensarling of Texas, and Senate Democrats, including Charles Schumer of New York, appear to have stalled. The program serves as a backstop in the event of a terrorist act that causes more than $100 million in losses.
The annual defense authorization bill has passed every year for more than five decades, and the chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services committees are eager to avoid breaking the streak. Rep. Howard "Buck" McKeon, R-Calif., and Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., are both retiring after long tenures in Congress. Negotiators remain at odds over the Pentagon's cost-saving proposals to trim military benefits.
Facing diminished budgets, three defense secretaries Robert Gates, Leon Panetta and Chuck Hagel have said the cost of personnel benefits have become unsustainable and threaten the Pentagon's ability to prepare the military for fighting a war. Military pay and benefits account for the largest share of the budget, $167.2 billion out of $495.6 billion.
The Defense Department has proposed a slight increase in pharmacy copayments and a gradual reduction in the basic allowance for housing, from 100 percent for off-base housing costs to 94 percent.
The Senate Armed Services Committee endorsed the cuts, but the House committee rejected them.
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Tabare Vazquez's victory in Uruguay's presidential election is a show of support for the leftist coalition that has governed the country for the past decade and allows the government to proceed with its plan to create the world's first state-run marijuana marketplace.
Vazquez, a 74-year-old oncologist who was president from 2005 to 2010, topped center-right rival Luis Lacalle Pou of the National Party 53 percent to 40 percent in Sunday's vote.
The runoff vote drew international attention after Lacalle Pou promised to undo much of the pioneering plan to put the government in charge of regulating the production, distribution and sale of marijuana on a nationwide scale. Vazquez, meanwhile, said he would proceed with it, unless it produced negative results.
As results came in, Lacalle Pou called Vazquez to concede and wish him "great success," while supporters of Vazquez's Broad Front coalition poured into the streets to celebrate.
In his victory speech, Vazquez called on the opposition to join him in a national accord to deal with the issues of public security, health and education. "I want to be able to count on all Uruguayans, but not so they follow me, so they guide me, accompany me."
Sunday's win marked a reversal of roles for Vazquez, who shook up Uruguayan politics when he became president the first time, peacefully ending 170 years of two-party dominance. In his first presidential campaign, Vazquez promised changes that would "shake the roots of the trees." But he governed as a relatively cautious moderate, avoiding the constitutional changes and polarization that have shaken countries such as Venezuela.
His popularity on leaving office paved the way for the election of his successor, current President Jose Mujica, a former guerrilla known for his humble lifestyle and straight talk. Both men belong to the Broad Front coalition, which has been in power for a decade and has passed laws same-sex marriage, abortion and marijuana.
This time around, Mujica's popularity and a strong economy helped propel Vazquez into office, where he is now seen as the candidate of continuity, not of change.
Javier Silva, an operator at a state electrical plant, said he voted for Vazquez because he thinks the country is doing well.
"The economy is rising. The country isn't anything like it was 10 or 20 years ago, when it was in decline," said the 35-year-old.
Monica Centurion, an official at a state hospital, said she voted for Lacalle Pou because of his pledge to improve public security, which "is the principal issue."
Vazquez immediately moved to calm fears that he would introduce radical change in his second term.
"Within the Constitution and the law everything. Outside the Constitution and the law nothing," he told party militants after his win was announced.
Lacalle Pou is the son of another ex-president, Luis Alberto Lacalle Herrera, who governed from 1990 to 1995.
During his campaign, he criticized the marijuana plan, saying he would shut down the state-run pot market, while allowing domestic cultivation of the plant. Polls show that despite its international popularity, most Uruguayans oppose the marijuana laws and want them repealed. Uruguayan authorities are still in the process of rolling out the pot marketplace.
Lacalle Pou was hobbled by some voters' wariness of a return to the traditional parties that ruled through most of the country's usually peaceful history, apart from a 1973-1985 military dictatorship.
Vazquez, the tall and trim son of an oil worker, grew up in a working class neighborhood of Montevideo and went on to achieve a medical degree. He continued seeing patients one day a week during his previous presidency, but said in a recent interview that he would give up medicine to focus on the presidency if elected.
In the first round of voting in October, he fell just short of an outright victory, getting 48 percent support against 31 percent for Lacalle Pou. Mujica was barred by law from running for a second consecutive term.
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Hinting that a decision on his presidential ambitions is coming "in short order," former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush on Monday condemned President Barack Obama's recent immigration order for going "way beyond" what other presidents have done including Bush's own father.
Bush, the son of one president and brother of another, also reiterated his support for a pathway to legal status for immigrants in the U.S. illegally, but said Obama may have exceeded his constitutional authority by unilaterally lifting the threat of deportation from millions of such immigrants last month.
"The idea that, well, Reagan did it, my dad did it they did it on a much smaller scale and they did it with consent of Congress. There are a lot of differences," Bush said Monday night at the Wall Street Journal's CEO Council, an invitation-only event in Washington featuring some of the nation's most powerful CEOs.
Obama's move "makes it harder" for Congress to adopt lasting immigration reform, Bush said, speaking publicly about the order for the first time. "It's a shame."
Bushs comments came before Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnsons appearance Tuesday before the House Homeland Security Committee in which he is expected to defend the presidents action on immigration.
It will be the first testimony by a member of the administration on the topic since Obama announced plans two weeks ago to shield some 4 million immigrants here illegally from deportation and offer them work permits. The action applies to people who've been in the country more than five years and have kids who are citizens or green card holders.
"The reality is that, given our limited resources, these people are not priorities for removal. It's time we acknowledge that and encourage them to be held accountable," Johnson said in prepared testimony. "This is simple common sense."
His testimony came as lawmakers returned to Capitol Hill from a weeklong Thanksgiving break still divided on how to stop Obama.
The issue is tied in with the need to pass a government funding bill by Dec. 11, or risk a shutdown. Conservatives have been agitating to use any government funding bill to block Obama's moves, but Republican Party leaders fear that could result in a veto by Obama and a subsequent government shutdown, a scenario they are determined to avoid.
Instead, some lawmakers are pushing a different approach: a full-year spending bill for most government agencies, combined with a shorter-term measure for departments that deal with immigration.
But conservatives want more and circulated bill language Monday stipulating that no money or fees "may be used by any agency to implement, administer, enforce or carry out any of the policy changes" announced by Obama. They hope to include it in any upcoming must-pass spending bill, forcing a confrontation with Senate Democrats and potentially Obama.
All agreed they must stop Obama after November midterm elections where they retook control of the Senate and increased their majority in the House.
"The president's decision to bypass Congress and grant amnesty to millions of unlawful immigrants is unconstitutional and a threat to our democracy," the Homeland Security Committee chairman, Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, said in a statement. "I will use every tool at my disposal to stop the president's unconstitutional actions from being implemented, starting with this oversight hearing."
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New polls published Monday show approval ratings for Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto falling to some of the lowest levels in recent memory.
Just nine months after Pena Nieto appeared on the cover of Time magazine with the headline "Saving Mexico," scandals and crises have pushed his approval rating down to around 40 percent.
It's one of the lowest levels for a Mexican president since Ernesto Zedillo presided over the 1994-1995 economic crisis.
A Buendia & Laredo poll for the El Universal newspaper showed Pena Nieto's approval rating falling from 46 percent in August to 41 percent in November, with a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points. A poll by the Reforma newspaper showed approval dropping from 50 percent in August to 39 percent in late November. It had a margin of error of 3.5 percentage points.
Francisco Abundis, director of the Parametria polling firm, said his company's figures showed Pena Nieto in a similar range of approval, between 42 and 43 percent, and noted that was low for a Mexican president. "It's very difficult for them (Mexican presidents) to fall below 55 or 60 percent."
But he also said that Pena Nieto has never achieved high ratings in Mexico, despite enthusiasm abroad for his market-oriented reforms.
"What we have is a president who is stuck in the high to low 40s ... but there is no tendency," Abundis said.
Political consultant Ruben Aguilar, who served as spokesman for former president Vicente Fox, said the disappearance in September of 43 students in the southern state of Guerrero played a partial role in the president's low approval ratings. The students were detained by local police in the Guerrero city of Iguala, who apparently turned them over to a drug gang that reportedly killed them and incinerated their bodies.
Aguilar also said the execution by soldiers of about 15 suspects at a warehouse in southern Mexico on June 30 played a role. "Not only were these events extremely regrettable, but the government was also slow to react," said Aguilar.
The governmental National Human Rights Commission said Monday that "violence, illegality and impunity are putting the country's stability and peaceful coexistence at risk, as never before."
That contrasts with the administration's ability to strike back-room deals to get reforms through Congress. Pena Nieto has opened the country's state-owned oil sector to private investment, tightened telecom regulation and passed a reform of the country's notoriously bad public school system.
But when events like mass disappearances or executions occur, the government which had long downplayed violence was caught flat-footed. "This appears to be an administration with a lot of skill ... for things that are in their game plan, but an administration that reacts badly and slowly to unexpected events that aren't in its plans," Aguilar said.
In a way, it's not surprising that Pena Nieto isn't lower; he was elected with only 38.15 percent of the vote in a three-way race. Mexico has no runoff elections. And for many other major leaders, like U.S. President Barack Obama, approval ratings in the low 40s have become the norm.
Abundis said Mexicans generally appear to try not to be negative in answering pollsters' questions: "It's for unusual for a Mexican to give a flunking grade to an authority figure."
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House Speaker John Boehner said on Tuesday that the lower chamber, where Republicans have a majority, may vote on undoing parts of President Barack Obamas executive action on immigration.
Many Republicans have denounced Obamas unilateral move on immigration as virtually despotic.
"We're looking at a number of options in terms of how to address this. This is a serious breach of our Constitution," Boehner told reporters. "It's a serious threat to our system of government, and frankly we have limited options and limited ability to deal with it directly."
The move would be mostly symbolic, since Obama would certainly veto such legislation and the Democratic-led Senate likely wouldn't go along with it. But GOP leaders hope it will assuage Republicans furious about Obama's two-week-old actions to shield some 4 million immigrants in this country illegally from deportation, and grant them work permits.
Publicly, the speaker told reporters that Republicans were considering several options and no decision had been made, but aides and lawmakers said that he indicated during a closed-door meeting with the rank and file earlier that the vote on legislation to block Obama was the leading option. It would be on a bill by Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., aimed at blocking Obama from unilaterally allowing categories of unlawful immigrants to live and work here.
Party leaders then hope to move on next week to voting on must-pass spending legislation to keep the government running. In the wake of their midterm election victories last month to win full control of Congress, Republican leaders are eager to show they can govern responsibly without risking government shutdowns. But Obama's administrative moves on immigration and the resulting GOP fury has created complications.
Boehner announced the strategy as Congress reconvened after a week-long Thanksgiving recess. It remained uncertain whether immigration hard-liners who have scuttled past efforts by Boehner to address this issue would be satisfied with the approach.
Some outside conservatives were quick to register opposition, arguing that the approach would do nothing to stop Obama's plans stripping away the money to carry out the policy.
"If conservative members agree to this plan, they are just as complicit in Obama's amnesty as everyone else. Don't be fooled, once this budget bill passes the amnesty will be irrevocable," wrote Daniel Horowitz, a columnist for the Conservative Review.
Meanwhile Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson defended Obama's new immigration plans before a House committee where Republicans took turns denouncing them as an unconstitutional power grab that would incite a new rush of illegal immigration at the border.
"The president's unilateral actions to bypass Congress undermine the Constitution and threaten our democracy," said Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, the chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee. "We will see a wave of illegal immigration because of the president's actions."
Johnson disputed that point and others, arguing the president acted within his executive authority to temporarily defer deportations for certain immigrants who are not priorities for removal anyway. The actions apply mostly to people who've been in the country five years or more and have kids who are citizens or green card holders.
"I'm fully comfortable that we have the legal authority to push forward these reforms," Johnson said. "Deferred action is an inherent executive branch authority that can and should be used from time to time, and we've done so here."
The spending measure the House will vote on next week will top $1 trillion and fund the day-to-day operations of Cabinet agencies through the Sept. 30 end of the 2015 fiscal year.
The Department of Homeland Security whose personnel implement Obama's orders to permit more immigrants here illegally to remain in the U.S. may be kept on a shorter leash and be funded only into early 2015 under a plan floated by Boehner. The idea would be to try to reverse Obama's moves on immigration when revisiting its budget next year.
Boehner said no decision has been made. If GOP leaders go forward with the plan they would be rejecting demands by conservative activists to take a more confrontational approach now and try to attach legislation explicitly blocking Obama's immigration orders to the must-pass spending bill. GOP leaders fear that could have scuttled the spending bill or even could have led to a government shutdown.
Johnson spoke out strongly against such a short-term spending measure for his department, saying it could prevent him from funding needed priorities including hiring protection for presidential candidates heading into the 2016 elections.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
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They gave him a thunderous ovation. They chanted Run, Ted, run!
In recent days Sen. Ted Cruz received a warm embrace by the crowd he addressed during a Zionist Organization of America dinner at a New York City hotel.
Cruz, a conservative Texas Republican, has emerged as a staunch defender of Israel. Just two months ago he made headlines when he lectured hecklers at a Christian Arab event where he was keynote speaker telling them anyone who hates Israel also hates America, and then walking off the stage.
At the dinner in New York, Cruz recounted that event, generating cheers from the crowd.
He also wowed them with his observation that the Hebrew month of Kislev was beginning.
A few jaws went slightly agape. This Cuban-American tea partier, son of an evangelical minister he knows from Kislev and the Festival of Lights? Dallas Morning News
The month of Hanukkah, a month of miracles, Cruz said, referring to the Maccabees victory over an oppressive Greek king. The few defeated the many. The righteous defeated the unrighteous.
The Dallas Morning News noted: A few jaws went slightly agape. This Cuban-American tea partier, son of an evangelical minister he knows from Kislev and the Festival of Lights?
After Cruzs speech, some audience members shared their impressions of the senator, considered a potential presidential candidate in 2016 hence, the Run, Ted, run chants among the New York crowd.
Hes aligned with the Jewish people. Hes aligned with the Jewish calendar. He understands Jewish history. He understands that Jews, even though they have small numbers, persevere and are victorious, Len Getz, a Philadelphia accountant and board member of the Zionist group, was quoted as saying in the News. Because God is on Israels side. He understands that.
Some in the audience conceded that Cruz is a bit too far-right for their taste, though they respect his Zionism.
But many clearly were won over.
His time will come, the News quoted Ferne Hassan, a pro-Israel activist, as saying. If its not in 2016, it will come.
Harvey Friedman, a Zionist group board member, said Cruzs walkout from the Christian Arab conference and his consistent support for Israel had won his support for the senator.
This is a stand-up guy, he said. There arent a lot of politicians you can say that about. He isnt wishy-washy.
Gene Shusman, another board member, told the News that hed love to see a President Ted Cruz because I love my children and my grandchildren and I want America to be restored to its former greatness.
Quoting Genesis, Shusman said: Those who bless Israel, I will bless. And Obama and the Democrats have stuck their fingers in the eye of God. And hes watching. Do you think Santa Claus watches Dec. 25? You wait till we get up there [to heaven]. Theyre not going to get up there.
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About two dozen U.S. mayors will be meeting next week to lay the groundwork for putting in place President Obamas executive action on immigration.
The mayors of Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Baltimore and Philadelphia, among others, have formed a coalition entitled Cities United for Immigration Action, and will hold a summit in New York City on Sunday and Monday.
Last month, the president issued an executive order sparing potentially up to 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation, and prioritizing the removal of criminals and people who recently have crossed into the United States illegally.
Those eligible for a reprieve from deportation are people who have lived here for at least five years, and have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Our cities recognize and celebrate the contributions of immigrants to our nation, and we welcome immigrants in our communities, the mayors coalition said in a statement. The presidents action on immigration will strengthen our cities. It will keep families together, grow our economies and foster additional community trust in law enforcement and government."
"We are ready and together were rolling up our sleeves to turn this policy into a better reality for millions of hardworking people in the communities we serve," the statement continued. "While we continue to urge Congress to enact comprehensive and long-lasting reform, the presidents action will help many immigrants gain the opportunities, skills and status to reach their fullest potential, which will help Americas cities prosper.
States will have to manage applications for driver's licenses, for one thing, arising from newly eligible people who will be benefiting from the president's executive action.
The mayors also vow to continue pressing Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform bill that would tighten enforcement as well as provide a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants who meet certain criteria.
In a statement announcing the meeting, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio, who is hosting it, said on the citys official website: The Presidents soon-to-be-announced reforms will initiate an economic, political and social transformation of our cities and our country.
In New York City, I have directed a series of comprehensive initiatives to provide stability to all our immigrantsnewly-arrived and those that have lived here for generationsthat have already been promoting safer and stronger communities all across the city."
The president's executive action established a new program called Deferred Action for Parental Accountability, or DAPA, slated to launch by next spring. DAPA builds upon a 2012 program called Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, which gave a renewable two-year reprieve from deportation to undocumented immigrants who came to the United States before the age of 16 and met other criteria.
Steven Choi, executive director of the New York Immigration Coalition, told the New York Times that the president's new executive action could generate more than 250,000 applications from New Yorkers.
He said the city could face a massive human services challenge.
Were talking about a tidal wave that could potentially swamp organizations if we dont have the right preparations in place, Mr. Choi said.
The mayors coalition, meanwhile, said that a key objective is "to come out with an unbeatable master plan that truly prepares our localities for swift implementation of changes and also advocates for further reforms from the municipal level all the way up to Washington.
The coalitions announcement listed among its goals the drafting of an outreach plan that would include immigrant communities, local authorities, among others, to inform foreign-born residents about the details of the presidents executive action, eligibility requirements and how to apply.
The mayors also plan to brainstorm ideas on how best to put in place the executive action in their cities.
The mayors say they also want to create a consensus on finding an enduring solution to the nations flawed immigration system.
But some mayors who are not part of the coalition have their misgivings about the president's executive action, and about extending breaks to undocumented immigrants.
Scott Getzschman, mayor of Fremont, Nebraska, which has an ordinance that requires renters to obtain a local license proving their citizenship, told a National Public Radio reporter in Massachusetts: I truly feel that before you would do a blanket amnesty, you must, to go any further you have to seal the borders."
Executive action, he said "is a band-aid approach to immigration reform."
"And truly I dont feel its a solution to the problem, he said.
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Nearing a decision on a presidential run in 2016, Jeb Bush on Tuesday reaffirmed his support for the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba and pushed for a foreign policy that he said could help repair the nation's credibility after Barack Obama's presidency.
"Our allies don't trust us, and our enemies don't fear us. There is no situation worse for stability and peace than that," the former Florida governor told the annual luncheon of the U.S.-Cuba Democracy PAC. "The iron rule of superpower deterrent is 'Mean it when you say it.' And it has been broken by this president."
As an example, Bush cited Obama's decision not to follow through on his statements that there would be consequences for Syria if that country used chemical weapons. To date, the U.S. has not taken any direct military action against the government of Bashar Assad.
"Words matter," Bush said. "Presidents need to set United States aspirations and intentions where there is little gap between words and deeds."
On Monday, Bush told business leaders in Washington that he would decide "in short order" whether to launch a presidential bid. Establishment Republicans and big-money donors see a pragmatic governor who won two terms in the nation's largest swing state in part by appealing to Florida's fast-growing Hispanic population. Conservatives see Bush, the son and brother of presidents, as too moderate on immigration and other issues important to them.
Bush aimed to burnish his foreign policy credentials Tuesday while also solidifying his connection to Florida's powerful Cuban exile community. He did so primarily, for the second day in a row, by offering harsh words about the Obama administration.
He said Obama played politics with his foreign policy, setting artificial timelines for troop withdrawals in Iraq and Afghanistan that ultimately hurt U.S. standing in the Middle East and emboldened enemies such as Islamic State militants. Left unmentioned was Obama's recent decision to send 3,000 troops back to Iraq as trainers and advisers and an aggressive air campaign against IS.
Bush emphasized American exceptionalism and called on the country to play a more robust role on the world stage. He said the United States should strengthen its military and bolster its alliances with Canada, Mexico and Israel while building coalitions with Latin America.
"The United States needs to lead. Lead with humility, lead with respect but lead," Bush said. "We are not an equal partner in a so-called community of nations. We are a leader among equals."
His remarks Tuesday also drew distinct differences between himself and Hillary Rodham Clinton, the former secretary of state and the leading Democrat for her party's presidential nomination, should she decide to seek it.
Bush not only reaffirmed his support for the U.S. trade embargo of Cuba, but said America should consider strengthening it. Without naming her, he criticized efforts by Clinton and others to lift the sanctions.
Clinton, who backed the trade limits when she ran for president in 2008, reversed her position this year and now describes the embargo as "Castro's best friend," arguing that the regime uses it as a scapegoat for the island's problems.
Bush said the embargo should remain until the Castro regime is driven from power or releases its political prisoners and holds free elections. He also pledged his support for the event's host, the U.S-Cuba Democracy PAC, one of the policy's staunchest defenders.
"I am honored to be a soldier in your army," he told the crowd in Spanish.
Some of Florida's most prominent Cuban-American leaders lauded him, citing his tenure overseeing a diverse state that has often served as safe harbor for refugees from across Latin America.
"Jeb knows the world," said former U.S. Rep. Lincoln Diaz-Balart.
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President Barack Obama is hosting incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell for a private White House meeting.
The White House says Obama will meet with the Kentucky Republican on Wednesday afternoon in the Oval Office. Reporters won't be allowed in for the meeting.
It's their first one-on-one since Republicans won control of the Senate in November. The election positioned McConnell to take the helm of the Senate when the new Congress is seated in January.
The meeting comes as Congress rushes to pass a year-end spending plan to avert a government shutdown. Obama and Republicans are also at odds over Obama's executive actions on immigration.
After the election, Obama said he'd enjoy sharing some Kentucky bourbon with McConnell. There was no indication of whether Wednesday's meeting will include bourbon.
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Republicans are opposing President Barack Obama's pick to head the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency over her support for Obama's executive actions on immigration.
Sarah Saldana, now the U.S. attorney in Dallas, would likely be confirmed by the Democratic Senate majority anyway if her nomination is voted on before the end of the year, when Republicans will regain control. She cleared the Senate Judiciary Committee on a 10 to 8 vote Wednesday.
Saldana claimed strong support among Republicans when she was nominated earlier in the year, including from Texas' senior senator, John Cornyn.
But Obama's move to lift the threat of deportation for millions here illegally changed that.
Saldana told senators she believed Obama acted within his authority, and Cornyn announced Wednesday he could no longer support her.
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Texas Gov.-elect Greg Abbott announced Wednesday that Texas is leading a 17-state coalition suing the Obama administration over the president's executive actions on immigration.
The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court in Texas on Wednesday, and names the heads of the top immigration enforcement agencies as defendants.
Abbott, in a news conference in Austin, said the "broken" immigration system should be fixed by Congress, not by "presidential fiat."
He said President Obama's recently announced executive actions -- a move designed to spare as many as 5 million people living illegally in the United States from deportation -- "directly violate the fundamental promise to the American people" by running afoul of the Constitution.
"The ability of the president to dispense with laws was specifically considered and unanimously rejected at the Constitutional Convention," he said.
Abbott specifically cited Article 2, Section 3 of the Constitution which states the president "shall take care that the laws be faithfully executed."
He said the lawsuit asks the court to require Obama to go through Congress before enforcing laws, "rather than making them up himself."
However, a White House official defended the actions as perfectly within the president's authority.
The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that federal officials can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws, and we are confident that the Presidents executive actions are well within his legal authorities," the official told Fox News.
The announcement opens a new front in the roiling debate across the country over the immigration actions.
The legal action comes as a separate legislative battle plays out on Capitol Hill. Some Republicans want to use a must-pass spending bill as leverage to defund the president's immigration initiatives. But House Speaker John Boehner is trying to push off that battle until next year, when his party will control both chambers.
Under Obama's order, announced Nov. 20, protection from deportation and the right to work will be extended to an estimated 4.1 million parents of U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who have lived in the U.S. for at least five years and to hundreds of thousands more young people.
In the lawsuit, Texas is joined by 16 other, mostly southern and Midwestern states, including Alabama, Georgia, Idaho and Indiana.
Abbott argued Wednesday that Obama's action "tramples" portions of the U.S. Constitution.
The lawsuit raises three objections: that Obama violated the "Take Care Clause" of the U.S. Constitution that limits the scope of presidential power; that the federal government violated rulemaking procedures; and that the order will "exacerbate the humanitarian crisis along the southern border, which will affect increased state investment in law enforcement, health care and education."
Wednesday's announcement marks the 31st time the Texas attorney general has brought action against the federal government since Obama took office in 2009. The only other high-profile lawsuit against the immigration action has come on behalf of Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio.
Potential 2016 presidential candidate and current Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who leaves office in January, also spoke out against the executive order earlier Wednesday, saying it could trigger a new flood of people pouring across the Texas-Mexico border. Perry and Abbott also have said the order will promote a culture of lawlessness.
Perry said at a news conference that Obama's 2012 executive order delaying the deportation of children brought into the U.S. illegally by their parents triggered an unprecedented wave of unaccompanied minors and families, mostly from Central America, crossing into the U.S. this summer.
"In effect, his action placed a neon sign on our border, assuring people that they could ignore the law of the United States," said Perry, who has deployed up to 1,000 National Guard troops to the border.
The federal lawsuit involves the following states: Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana, Kansas, Louisiana, Maine, Mississippi, Montana, Nebraska, North Carolina, South Carolina, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, West Virginia and Wisconsin.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Herman Badillo, a Bronx politician who became the first person born in Puerto Rico to become a U.S. congressman, died Wednesday morning. He was 85.
The office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. confirmed the death. Badillo died of complications of congestive heart disease at a hospital in Manhattan on Wednesday morning, according to George Arzt, a political consultant and longtime friend.
"He was a true pioneer of the city. He was the first major Latino to be elected," Arzt said.
In Congress, Badillo concentrated on the problems of inner cities and urged federal help for poor members of minority groups, according to his congressional biography. He also championed the rights of Puerto Ricans, noting in 1971 that they were subject to the draft but couldn't get federal benefits under the food stamp and school milk programs or parts of Social Security.
"I represent the original immigrant," Badillo said. "Everybody says that their parents and grandparents came here and couldn't speak English and they were poor. And in my case it wasn't my parents and grandparents. It was me."
He served in the House of Representatives from 1971 to 1977, when he resigned to become a deputy mayor during New York City Mayor Edward Koch's first term.
"Herman Badillo worked assiduously throughout his career to make a difference in the lives of countless individuals across our borough and city," said Diaz, the Bronx borough president. "He was a true Bronxite and the epitome of a passionate leader who truly cared for his community."
Badillo was born on Aug. 21, 1929, in Caguas, Puerto Rico. His parents died in a 1934 tuberculosis epidemic and he first came to New York with an aunt in 1941. He attended public schools, City College of New York and earned a law degree at Brooklyn Law School.
He started work as a city official in 1962 and his first elected position was Bronx borough president from 1965 to 1969.
He was a delegate to the Democratic National Convention in 1968 and made repeated unsuccessful runs to become New York City mayor.
Badillo sought the Democratic nomination for mayor in 1969, 1973 and 1977. He also mounted brief runs in 1985 and 1993 but withdrew.
In 2001, he waged a bitter primary election campaign against Michael Bloomberg for the Republican mayoral nomination. Like Bloomberg, Badillo was by then a former Democrat, having run unsuccessfully for city comptroller on the Republican-Liberal Fusion line in 1993.
Former mayor Rudolph Giuliani and former police commissioner Ray Kelly will speak at his private funeral on Sunday, Arzt said.
Badillo lived in Manhattan and is survived by his wife, Gail, and his son by a previous marriage, David.
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House Republicans voted Thursday to block President Obama's immigration executive actions, though it was unclear whether the largely symbolic step would be enough to prevent a risky budget stand-off next week.
The House voted 219-197 for the bill, by Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., that declares Obama's actions "null and void and without legal effect."
The legislation is part of a three-step plan by House GOP leaders to both address Obama's immigration maneuvers and approve a new spending bill to avert a partial government shutdown. Next week, the chamber is set to vote on a bill funding most of the government through fiscal 2015, and the Department of Homeland Security through early next year. That would tee up a new fight over funding for Obama's immigration policies when Republicans control both chambers.
However, many conservative lawmakers want to wage that battle now, and use the looming Dec. 11 deadline -- when current government funding expires -- as leverage to defund the immigration plan.
They worry Yoho's legislation is an ineffective tool for doing that, as the stand-alone bill approved Thursday stands little chance of passing the Senate. The White House also has issued a veto threat, calling the bill "non-sensical."
"I'm not happy," Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., said. He said he's concerned that if Republicans don't fight the immigration policy now, it could send the wrong signal ahead of the new Congress.
Conservative sources indicate there are between 30 and 40, or more, conservatives who would bolt on any spending bill next week.
"There's a higher risk of more [members] bolting," said one source. "Let us sort of vent. I don't think [GOP leaders] thought this was going to be as big an issue."
But despite that concern, one source said GOP leaders think would-be defectors will come back to favor the plan at the end.
Asked if he was concerned that opposition could torpedo the spending bill, House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers, R-Ky., said: "I don't think so. I'm hearing good things about it."
Still, House Speaker John Boehner might need Democratic support to carry the spending package across the finish line next week.
House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, who had been coy about whether she'd help pass a spending plan, said Thursday she's reached out to Boehner to extend a "hand of friendship" to keep the government open -- as long as Democrats see a bill they can support.
It's unclear whether the legislation in the works meets that criteria. She indicated Thursday that Democrats might make demands if Boehner needs their help.
"If he has 218 votes, there's no conversation. If he doesn't, we have leverage," Pelosi said.
At a press conference earlier Thursday, Boehner urged his rank-and-file to be patient, making the case for delaying the immigration fight until next year.
"Come January, we'll have a Republican House and Republican Senate, and we'll be in a stronger position to take actions," he said.
Boehner said the current plan is "the most practical way to fight the president's action."
Obama's executive actions would defer deportations and grant work permits to up to 5 million illegal immigrants.
Fox News' Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Emboldened House Republicans issued a stern rebuke to President Barack Obama over immigration Thursday, passing a bill declaring his executive actions to curb deportations "null and void and without legal effect."
Outraged Democrats, immigrant advocates and the White House said the GOP was voting to tear families apart and eject parents.
"Rather than deport students and separate families and make it harder for law enforcement to do its job, I just want the Congress to work with us to pass a commonsense law to fix that broken immigration system," Obama said ahead of the vote.
Even supporters acknowledged that the bill by Rep. Ted Yoho, R-Fla., which says Obama was acting "without any constitutional or statutory basis," was mostly meant to send a message. It stands no chance in the Senate, which remains under Democratic control until January, and faces the veto threat from Obama.
The real fight may lie ahead as conservatives push to use must-pass spending legislation to block Obama.
For now, Republicans insisted they must go on record denouncing what they described on the House floor as an outrageous power grab by Obama.
"The president thinks he can just sit in the Oval Office and make up his own laws. That's not the way our system of government works," said Rep. Steve Scalise, R-La. "This legislation says you can't do that, Mr. President. There is a rule of law."
The vote was 219 to 197, with three Democratic "yes" votes and seven Republican "no" votes. Three Republicans voted "present."
Obama's executive actions last month will extend deportation relief and work permits to some 4 million immigrants here illegally, mostly those who have been in the country more than five years and have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. He also reordered law enforcement priorities and expanded an existing deportation deferral program for immigrants brought illegally as kids.
Compounding the GOP's anger, Obama's executive action came barely two weeks after Republicans trounced Democrats in the midterm elections, winning control of the Senate and increasing their majorities in the House.
Democratic lawmakers rallied behind the president Thursday, and immigrant advocates warned Republicans would be alienating Latinos heading into 2016 presidential elections in which the Hispanic vote is expected to be significant.
"They should remember that this is not a fight between Republicans and the president," said Clarissa Martinez de Castro, of the National Council of La Raza. "They will be picking a fight with the millions of American families who will finally find some relief."
Even as emotions ran high in debate on the bill, many involved acknowledged it was mostly a sideshow as Republicans struggled to find some way to undo what Obama has done not just register their disapproval. Party leaders acknowledged their options were limited given Obama's veto pen, and no clear solution beckoned.
The Yoho bill was part of a two-part strategy by House GOP leadership to appease conservative immigration hardliners without risking a government shutdown. Their hope was that after approving it, Republicans would move on next week to vote on legislation to keep most of the government running for a year, with a shorter timeframe for the Homeland Security Department, which oversees immigration. The idea is to revisit Homeland Security early next year when Republicans will control both houses at the Capitol and have more leverage. The current government-funding measure expires Dec. 11 so a new one must pass by then.
But that approach doesn't go far enough for some immigration hardliners, goaded on by outside conservative groups and tea party senators including Ted Cruz of Texas. They say the only real way to stop Obama is to include language in the upcoming spending bill to block any money for his actions on immigration.
"I didn't come back here to just play games," said Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz. "Our voters who sent us back here in a resounding way in the majority, and retaking the majority in the Senate, expected us to be a little more forceful in our fight."
Republican leaders fear such spending-bill language could court an Obama veto and even a government shutdown. That's something they're determined to avoid, a year after taking a political hit for provoking a 16-day partial shutdown in an unsuccessful attempt to overturn Obama's health care law.
House Speaker John Boehner made clear Thursday that his strategy would go forward unchanged and indicated he anticipated Democratic votes would help pass the spending bill. That gives Democrats leverage, and they haven't indicated whether they will lend their support. It also could anger a bloc of conservatives in the House, but Boehner, who will control a larger House majority next year giving him more room to maneuver, showed little patience for their complaints.
"We think this is the most practical way to fight the president's action and frankly we listened to our members, and we listened to some members who are frankly griping the most. This was their idea of how to proceed," Boehner said.
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President Barack Obamas deportation rate has reached a record once again, but in the other direction.
Fewer immigrants were deported in the last year than ever during the Obama administration, according to the Los Angeles Times, which obtained a draft report by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
The newspaper noted that the drop deportations were down by 14 percent occurred despite a rise in the number of people who illegally crossed the U.S.-Mexico border.
In raw numbers, that means ICE removed 315,943 people in the last fiscal year, which runs Oct. 1, 2013 through Sept. 30, 2014.
The rise in border crossings was very likely caused by a surge of unaccompanied minors arriving illegally from Central America in that period, the newspaper said.
That may have had an impact on the lower rate of deportations as well, since many immigration and border workers had their hands full trying to keep up with processing the thousands of children, and taking care of them.
At the same time, however, the Obama administration which long has been under fire by advocates of more lenient immigration policies for its record number of deportations, more than 2 million made a concerted effort to shift its enforcement focus to criminals and repeat border crossers.
The Times observed that the drop in deportations is likely to give new ammunition to Republicans who accuse the administration of lax enforcement, although it could also boost the president's standing in Latino communities.
The Times quoted Rep. Michael McCaul, a Texas Republican who chairs the House Homeland Security Committee, which oversees immigration enforcement, as saying that the deportation figures demonstrate "lax interior enforcement policies.
"We essentially tell citizens of other countries, 'If you come here, you can stay don't worry, we won't deport you,'" McCaul said in a statement to The Times. "The reality on the ground is that unless you commit multiple crimes, the chances of your being removed from this country are close to zero."
Most of the immigrants deported were from Mexico, followed by Guatemala and Honduras.
"ICE remains focused on smart and effective immigration enforcement that prioritizes the removal of convicted criminals and recent border entrants," said Gillian Christensen, the agency's press secretary, to the Times. "There is no set mandated removal number."
Last month, Obama unveiled an executive order that could spare up to five million undocumented immigrants from deportations for about three years. And that, experts say, is likely to drop the rate of deportations further.
Obama said his new executive order would expand a 2012 initiative, which originally gave a two-year reprieve from deportation to immigrants who had come to the United States illegally before they were 16, who were no older than 31, had no criminal record, and met other criteria. The new executive order lifts the age cap of 31, and extends the deportation relief, as well as the accompanying eligibility to get a work permit, to many other undocumented immigrants, including parents of U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
On Thursday, the House passed a GOP bill that blocks the executive order from being implemented. But political observers say the move is largely symbolic because it will not get passage in the Senate, which is controlled by Democrats.
Christensen of ICE added that a factor also influencing the drop in deportations is that fewer local and state law enforcement authorities are holding people they arrest for immigration agents to interview them and take them into their custody.
Such practices also came under criticism by many political leaders and immigrant advocates, who argued that people who were not public safety threats were being turned over to immigration, eroding trust between ethnic communities and local police.
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Two months after 43 students went missing in the Mexican state of Guerrero, Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto made his first visit to the region.
The disappearance and possible deaths set off the biggest crisis of his administration, and since then the president has tried to temper critics who feel he has has been too lax in trying to find the missing students. On Thursday, Pena Nieto arrived in Guerrero to announce measures to boost the region's economy.
Speaking in Acapulco, he said that the highway toll between Mexico City and the resort city would be cut during the holiday season and that he would create a special fund to support small businesses in cities affected by violence and protests.
The announcement came a day after the government said federal police and soldiers would take over policing duties in Acapulco and 35 other municipalities in Guerrero and three neighboring states.
It was the latest response by Pena Nieto to the widespread anger triggered when police in the Guerrero city of Iguala intercepted the college students on Sept. 26 and allegedly turned them over to members of the Guerreros Unidos gang. The gang subsequently killed the young men and burned their bodies, prosecutors allege.
The case has brought weeks of demonstrations and sometimes violent protests, including in Acapulco, where activists blocked access to the city's airport for several hours one day last month. Hotel occupancy rates have been below normal, threatening jobs in the hospitality industry. In late November, the U.S. Embassy recommended its citizens avoid unnecessary travel to Acapulco.
"Organized crime has extended itself in parts of our country and even coopted authorities and police,"Pena Nieto said.
Earlier in the day, in Coyuca, Pena Nieto called for Mexico to overcome "this painful period."
Erubiel Tirado, a security expert and professor at the Universidad Iberoamericana, said Pena Nieto has reacted late to the disappearance of the students.
The president "is the leader of the Mexican state (and) it was important that he be there since the early days," Tirado said. "They should have sent the message that there was a presence."
Last week, Pena Nieto announced an anti-crime plan that calls for Mexico's municipal police forces to be dissolved and replaced by state police. He also plans to propose legislation that would Congress the power to dissolve local governments.
Based on reporting by The Associated Press.
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Sidestepping immigration hardliners, House Republican leaders are moving to make a deal with Democrats to pass a spending bill that would keep the government running past next week.
The emerging strategy follows legislation passed Thursday by the House declaring President Barack Obama's executive actions to curb deportations "null and void." That legislation wasn't enough for some conservatives, who complained that the only way to stop Obama's actions on immigration would be to forbid them in legislation that must pass if the government is to stay open.
Republican leaders are opposed to that course of action, fearing a government shutdown that they don't want, and plan to rely on Democratic votes to pass a bill to keep the government going.
The spending bill would pay for most government agencies for a year, while extending the Homeland Security Department only for a few months. Homeland Security includes the immigration agencies that would carry out Obama's executive actions, so the approach would allow Republicans to revisit them early next year, once they have control of the Senate and a bigger majority in the House.
"We think this is the most practical way to fight the president's action," House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, said.
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Several conservative lawmakers sounded resigned Thursday to being ignored by Boehner, who, with a bigger majority next year, will have more room to maneuver around balky tea party lawmakers.
"My assumption is that the fix is in and they don't need us," said Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz. "They're going to vote this with a large number of Democrats."
The omnibus spending bill would cover the approximately one-third of the budget dedicated to day-to-day operations of Cabinet agencies. There's slightly more than $1 trillion for the Pentagon and domestic agencies plus more than $70 billion to tackle overseas military operations in Afghanistan and to fight Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria. Obama appeared likely to get most of his $6.2 billion request for fighting Ebola at home and in Africa but not his requests for infrastructure money.
Most of the money issues are largely worked out, House Appropriations Committee spokeswoman Jennifer Hing said. But many so-called policy riders, on environmental regulations, long-haul trucker hours, labor relations and more, are unresolved.
GOP Rep. Harold Rogers of Kentucky, chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, hopes to achieve the framework of a deal with Democratic Sen. Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, chairwoman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, by the end of Friday and release it Monday.
"Until we see the bill, there's no way you can say you support it or not," House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said.
The bill on deportations, which passed 219-197, put the House on record against Obama's actions granting work permits to more than 4 million immigrants in the country illegally. Rep. Mick Mulvaney, R-S.C., was among those who wanted more direct action to block what the president is doing.
"Having said we're going to do everything we can to stop this and then to do nothing to stop it really hurts," he said.
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Veto brinkmanship between congressional Republicans and President Barack Obama was virtually absent in his first six years in office, but it's about to unleash itself on Washington.
Until now, controversial Republican-backed legislation rarely reached the president's desk because Senate Democrats blocked it. Starting in January, however, Republicans will control both the House and Senate, and Obama may have to decide more often whether to sign or veto GOP-crafted bills.
Obama gave lawmakers an early taste of veto politics recently when he forced congressional leaders to drop a proposed package of tax breaks that were popular with many Republican constituents. Some Democrats did support the plan, but liberals and the White House said it tilted too heavily toward corporations, not lower-income workers.
The White House also has promised to veto any bills restricting the president's major changes to immigration policies, setting up likely showdowns early next year.
Obama's threats present the type of bind that Republicans may face repeatedly in the next two years. They can agree to many or all of the changes he demands in legislation, or they can let him use his veto and hope Americans will blame him more than them.
It's a gamble, especially with critical spending bills Congress soon must address. Some Republicans want to amend these must-pass bills to thwart Obama's bid to protect millions of immigrants, now in the country illegally, from deportation.
Assuming Obama keeps his veto promise, Republican lawmakers would have to decide whether to drop their demands or let parts of the federal government close for lack of money. GOP leaders say there will be no shutdowns, but they have yet to explain how they can force Obama to back off on immigration.
The 2013 partial government shutdown occurred under similar partisan circumstances. Polls show the public blamed congressional Republicans more than the Democratic president.
It's unclear how often Obama will face a veto decision. Even in the minority, Democratic senators can use the filibuster, the name for unlimited debate, to block many measures that break strictly along party lines.
But some proposals, such as building the Keystone XL pipeline, enjoy significant bipartisan support. They might attract enough Democratic backing to reach 60 Senate votes, overcoming a filibuster and sending the measure to Obama.
White House senior adviser Dan Pfeiffer said if Congress assembles legislation that Obama opposes, the White House will threaten vetoes and "if Congress decides to pass them anyway, then we'll veto them."
"We're not going to go out looking for them, but we're not going to run from them either," he said.
Should Obama veto a proposal such as the Keystone project, the question would be whether two-thirds of the Senate and two-thirds of the House would vote to defy him. That's the constitutional threshold for overriding a veto.
It will be critical for Republicans to put together veto-proof majorities in the House and Senate. Because any bill would require 60 Senate votes to overcome filibusters, the Senate vote would always be bipartisan and closer to the two-thirds majority needed to override a veto.
But the House would be harder, giving House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California greater sway in the end over the outcome of legislation.
Vetoes have existed since George Washington's day, but Obama issued only two fairly minor ones in his first six years as president. His two predecessors also went light on vetoes in their early years.
Democrat Bill Clinton vetoed 37 bills, all during his last six years in office, when Republicans controlled the House and Senate. Republican George W. Bush issued no vetoes during his first four-year term. After that he vetoed eight bills when Republicans controlled both congressional chambers and four bills when Democrats held both.
Starting next month, lawmakers say, veto clashes are inevitable.
"You're destined to see it," said Sen. Richard Burr, R-N.C.
Lawmakers say veto politics will put pressure on both parties. A veto of any bill that makes it through the Senate will frustrate some Democrats from competitive states, said Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C.. For instance, he said, a Keystone veto "splashes over on Democrats with a political future."
Throughout the next presidential campaign, Graham said, likely Democratic candidate Hillary Rodham Clinton "will always have to answer, 'Would you have vetoed that?'"
At the same time, he said, Republicans must find a way to express their anger over Obama's executive actions on immigration without closing the government. "The politics of dealing with Obama's overreach is tough politics for Republicans," Graham said.
Some Democrats want Obama to use his veto powers on important issues.
"The fact that the president, I think, is determined to use the veto pen when necessary will help protect his legacy," said Sen. Chris Coons, D-Del.
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Mayors from two dozen U.S. cities met in Manhattan on Monday to discuss how to implement President Barack Obamas new executive action on immigration.
In a summit hosted by New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio at Gracie Mansion, the mayors and representatives brainstormed about how they could coordinate resources and ideas for implementing the executive action, which would extend deportation relief and work permits to some 5 million immigrants here illegally, mostly those who have been in the country more than five years and have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Obama also reordered law enforcement priorities and expanded an existing deportation deferral program for immigrants brought illegally as kids.
The Presidents plan to act on immigration reform is crucial to creating a more just country, and the federal government is depending on cities to implement the plan. It is critical that we get it right, said Mayor Bill de Blasio in a statement released by his office.
Mayors are in the trenches and see firsthand the need for comprehensive immigration reform," de Blasio said. "We will take this opportunity to lay the ground work for a deeper national movement from the grassroots up.
The mayors discussed joining forces to push Congress to pass a comprehensive immigration reform measure.The cities represented at the summit included Detroit, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Atlanta, Baltimore and Philadelphia.
The mayors committed to de Blasios Five Point Challenge, which calls for launching a mayoral war room for federal action on immigration reform, establishing local coalitions to work with the newly formed Cities United for Immigration Action, helping protect immigrants from scams promising to help them obtain legal status or benefits, and tracking services and programs to ensure that they encourage the maximum enrollment of eligible immigrants to sign up.
The mayors office added: Following the summit, the cities will take the ideas and expertise discussed and build grassroots support at the local level.
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National Republican Party brass has spoken to him.
Sen. Harry Reid may be spending some sleepless nights envisaging him nipping at his heels.
But as for Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval himself, well, hes got other things on his mind right now besides whether or not to run for the U.S. Senate in 2016 or so he says.
While his hefty 46-point margin win in the November election cranked up the volume on buzz about Sandoval possibly running in 2016 against veteran senator Reid, a Democrat who is Majority Leader for the next few weeks,the governor is downplaying expectations, insisting that hes got his hands full with his current job.
Im focused on my job. I really am. No, theres too much at stake this session to be distracted, Sandoval said, according to the Washington Post. Ive got the inaugural coming up, and even before that the budget.
That doesnt mean there arent back-room conversations taking place in the GOP about the possibility that Sandoval might go for it.
Sandoval conceded that he has spoken with Nevada's junior senator, Republican Dean Heller, about a possible senatorial run.
Weve had conversations, yes, Sandoval said.
Reid certainly is a target of GOP ambitions to keep or increase on their 54-seat Senate majority come January.
Many political experts see him as vulnerable in 2016.
Sandoval will now be working with a state legislature that is predominately Republican. His party colleagues ended Democratic majorities in both chambers of the legislature in November, and they did it partly on Sandovals coattails, the Post noted.
He helped raise and spend more than $2 million on key state senate races in Clark County, which handed his party control, the newspaper said.
But a conservative faction in Carson City that includes some lawmakers who had not been expected to win but did in the big GOP sweep could conceivably pose some challenges for Sandoval, who is far more moderate.
He indicated that he is reaching across to them.
There are some legislators I need to meet, he said.
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Theyre seen as the sleeping giant of Florida voters.
The challenge, though, is getting that giant to awaken, get out the door and to the voting booth, experts say.
Puerto Ricans are the fastest growing part of Floridas Latino voters, and they boast their largest concentration in the state in a critical swing-vote region the I-4 corridor in Central Florida.
But the fervor for voting that envelopes Puerto Ricans who are living on the island, which claims a roughly 80 percent turnout, seems to nearly evaporate once they settle on the mainland, say Puerto Rican leaders and political experts.
Its a phenomenon were seeing with Puerto Ricans, said Alfonso Aguilar, a former official with the George W. Bush administration and the executive director of the American Principles Projects Latino Partnership. In Puerto Rico, politics is a sport. People get excited. They have issues like Puerto Ricos political status whether it should get statehood or be independent. When Puerto Ricans come to the mainland, politics is not as exciting.
In the mid-term election, Latinos had a 14 percent turnout in Florida. Turnout in Central Florida was low, with some towns where Puerto Ricans have a large presence having among the lowest numbers.
It was a disappointing turnout, said Fernand Amandi, a Democratic pollster and partner at Bendixen & Amandi International. It could be a combination of the mid-term effect, which tends to generate less excitement than presidential elections.
Amandi added that neither gubernatorial candidate Gov. Rick Scott, a Republican, nor former Gov. Charlie Crist, a Democrat seemed to capture much interest among Latino voters.
Though Latinos favored Crist in the election, Amandi said, the Scott campaign, at least in paid communications, were much more aggressive at courting them.
Democrats did not pay the type of attention to the Latino vote in Florida, he added, that the Obama campaign did.
Puerto Ricans who have settled in Central Florida by the hundreds of thousands tend to lean Democrat, but they have proven in the Sunshine State that they are not blindly beholden to any single party.
They overwhelmingly support Barack Obama when he ran for re-election in 2012, but more than half voted for former Gov. Jeb Bush, who won some Central Florida counties with large Puerto Rican communities. And his brother, former President George W. Bush, lost Orange County by a small margin, and won Osceola County, home to many Puerto Ricans, in 2004.
Puerto Ricans in Florida are very different from Puerto Ricans in other states such as New York, where they are predominately Democrat, Aguilar said. Theyre mostly middle-class, professional, and many go back and forth to Puerto Rico.
Jorge Duany, an anthropologist at the Cuban Research Institute at Florida International University, reported in his study called: "Mickey Ricans? The Recent Puerto Rican Diaspora to Florida," that Puerto Ricans coming to the mainland these days are better educated and have more financial assets than ever before. "The current Puerto Rican experience in Florida is largely unprecedented," told Yahoo News.
In recent years, Latinos in Florida have tended to be up for grabs more than they have been in the past, when Cuban-Americans were more solidly Republican-leaning.
The task for Republicans is going to be in 2016 whether they can make real inroads among Hispanic voters in the state, Amandi said.
Puerto Ricans are about 1 million strong in Florida, narrowly behind Cubans, who number 1.3 million. Puerto Ricans are 28 percent of Latino registered voters, Cubans are 32 percent. With Puerto Ricans moving to the mainland in large numbers every year, fleeing the ailing economy on the island and the dearth of economic opportunities, it wont take long for them to overtake Cubans in Florida, most likely.
People are leaving Puerto Rico at a rate of 35,000 per year, said former Miami Mayor Maurice Ferre, who was the first Puerto Rico-born U.S. mayor. Theyre coming to Florida, Texas and Virginia because of jobs.
Aguilar, who was born in Puerto Rico, is pushing for political candidates in Florida to take a stand on statehood for Puerto Rico. He believes that is one way that they can get Puerto Ricans more excited about voting.
He said by not addressing the issue at all implies that the issue is not taken seriously.
Its a new community, he said, but they are keeping up with island politics.
President Barack Obama on Tuesday tried to reassure immigrants that if they register under his new executive action they won't be a priority for deportation in the future.
Obama heard from several participants in a town hall at an immigrant community center that they are fearful to give their information to the government. One young woman asked Obama what would happen to them if the next president ends the program.
Obama said although the assurance they won't be deported is temporary, he's confident they will be able to stay in the United States with their children.
"It's true that a future administration might try to reverse some of our policies," Obama said. "But I'll be honest with you, I think that the American people basically have a good heart and want to treat people fairly.
"I think any future administration that tried to punish people for doing the right thing would not have the support of the American people," he said.
He said giving people the confidence they can register will be an important part of the program's success.
Obama recently used his executive authority to extend deportation relief and work permits to some 4 million immigrants in the U.S. illegally. His action would affect those who have been here more than five years and have children.
Republican Tennessee Gov. Bill Haslam, who did not attend Obama's event, said the current immigration system isn't working, but Obama should have worked with lawmakers on a solution instead of taking executive action.
"I think this was kind of rolling a hand grenade in room and blew up the possibility for a good discussion that we should have had, and that long term it will be harmful to really solving the immigration situation," Haslam told reporters after a speech to the Farm Bureau in Franklin, Tennessee.
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The federal judge assigned to rule in the lawsuit over President Barack Obama's changes to immigration rules last year accused the Obama administration of participating in criminal conspiracies to smuggle children into the country by reuniting them with parents living here illegally.
In the case last year, U.S. District Judge Andrew Hanen suggested that the Homeland Security Department should be arresting parents living in the U.S. illegally who induce their children to cross the border illegally and often pay for the trip. Instead, the government has generally been temporarily reuniting such children with their relatives inside the United States pending deportation proceedings, which take many years.
"DHS has simply chosen not to enforce the United States' border security laws," the judge wrote. He said the government's failures to enforce immigration laws were "both dangerous and unconscionable," although he separately noted, "This court takes no position on the topic of immigration reform, nor should one read this opinion as a commentary on that issue."
Hanen was assigned through an automated system to be the judge who will preside over a lawsuit filed by 20 states trying to block Obama's expansive executive actions to spare nearly 5 million people living in the U.S. illegally from deportation and refocus enforcement efforts on "felons, not families." Hanen is one of only two judges in the Brownsville division of the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, so he is assigned to half of all civil cases filed there.
Last December, Hanen wrote a 10-page order in an immigrant smuggling case in which he expressed his frustration over four cases in a month in which a child who arrived in the U.S. illegally alone was reunited with a parent also in the country illegally.
"Instead of arresting (the child's mother) for instigating the conspiracy to violate our border security laws, the (Homeland Security Department) delivered the child to her thus successfully completing the mission of the criminal conspiracy," Hanen wrote.
The judge compared the cases to the government seizing weapons being smuggled across the border and delivering them to the criminals inside the United States who ordered them.
The order highlighted the growing problem of unaccompanied child immigrants being caught at the border in South Texas. During the fiscal year that ended in September, the government apprehended more than 68,000 unaccompanied children at the border.
Most of those young immigrants were from Honduras, El Salvador or Guatemala. Under federal law, those children cannot be quickly deported and are often reunited with a parent or other relative already living in the United States. The government does not generally ask about the immigration status of parents or relatives.
Texas is leading a coalition of states suing the government. It argued in the lawsuit filed last week that Obama's decision "tramples" key portions of the Constitution. The states, including Arizona, Alabama, Georgia, Idaho, Indiana and the Carolinas, aren't seeking monetary damages but want Hanen to block the president's actions.
It's not unusual for plaintiffs in sensitive civil cases to shop for a court jurisdiction friendly to their point of view, but the location of the court generally must have some connection to the case. In this case just about any court in Texas would suffice. Hanen's ruling last year which generated some publicity then likely swayed lawyers for Texas to file the lawsuit in Brownsville, not far from the central point of the summer's crisis over child immigrants in nearby McAllen.
"Texas is uniquely qualified to challenge the president's executive order, and South Texas is at the epicenter of where border security is of concern for Texas and the entire nation," Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott said in a statement. Abbott was elected last month to be the next governor of Texas.
The Justice Department, which is defending the case, did not respond to requests Monday from The Associated Press to comment on the judge.
Obama announced the executive actions in November, saying lack of action by Congress forced him to make sweeping changes to immigration rules on his own.
The administrative actions don't provide legal immigration status or green cards to those in the country illegally, but millions of eligible immigrants will be able to apply for permission to stay in the country for up to three years and get a work permit.
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For President Barack Obamas talk on Tuesday about his new executive order, which could give a years-long reprieve from deportation to some 5 million undocumented immigrants, an apparently unlikely place will serve as the stage conservative Tennessee. But the setting will be more receptive to the president's message than might at first appear.
Obama is scheduled to speak about his executive order, which Republicans in Congress are vowing to block, at an immigrant community center, Casa Azafran, in downtown Nashville.
Sprawling over 28,800 square feet, Casa Azafran houses non-profit groups that serve the immigrant and refugee communities, lending them assistance with improving English skills, finding homes, starting businesses, filing taxes and obtaining health care and legal counsel, among other things.
But Nashville itself has taken steps to help integrate immigrants and to make them feel welcome in Music City.
In September, Mayor Karl Dean signed an executive order to create the Mayors Office of New Americans, whose duties include helping immigrants by expanding educational and economic opportunities, helping them navigate government agencies, as well as referring them to community groups that can help.
The city also offers programs for helping immigrants, who have accounted for more than half of Nashvilles population growth in the last 10 years, prepare for U.S. citizenship.
Nashville is a vibrant community that is home to people from all over the world, and embracing our growing diversity only makes our city stronger, Dean said in a statement on the citys website.
In November, Dean released a statement supporting Obamas executive action, plan which will extend deportation relief and work permits to some 5 million immigrants here illegally, mostly those who have been in the country more than five years and have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Obama also reordered law enforcement priorities and expanded an existing deportation deferral program for immigrants brought illegally as kids.
Congress needs to pass comprehensive immigration reform, but until they do, the President's action will allow some families in Nashville to participate more fully in our community, Dean said, just hours after Obamas executive action announcement. From a local perspective, our Mayor's Office of New Americans will work with our nonprofit partners to help immigrants access the information they need.
Dean said that Nashville would prepare for the executive action by having information available for immigrants in the New Americans Corners located in public libraries as well as community centers such as Casa Azafran.
The White House, it turns out, took notice.
At a press briefing last week, White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said Obama would be visiting Nashville to deliver remarks on his recent executive actions to fix as much of our broken immigration system as possible while urging Congress to pass a comprehensive bill to get the job done.
He depicted Nashville as an ideal forum for the presidents talk, noting that it is home to one of the fastest-growing immigrant populations in the country and that the city has actively worked to welcome new Americans.
Through community-based programs and government initiatives, the city is empowering and engaging new American community leaders, and the citys actions are paying off, Earnest said. In fact, Nashville has been a leader in job growth among cities throughout the South and across the country.
U.S. Rep. Jim Cooper told the Tennessean that it certainly doesnt hurt that the states GOP senators, Bob Corker and Lamar Alexander, supported a bipartisan comprehensive immigration reform bill that passed in the Senate last year.
That effort, which included tightened border security as well as provided a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants, stalled in the House, where conservative leaders vowed not to support any legislation that provides to people who are here illegally what opponents consider amnesty.
And Tennessee so far has chosen not to join the 20 states that are part of a lawsuit challenging the presidents immigration executive action. Some 124,000 immigrants are believed to be living illegally in Tennessee.
Stephanie Teatro, co-director of the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, or TIRRC, an immigration advocacy group that is housed in Casa Azafran, said Nashville is bucking the trend of many cities and states that have adopted hard-line policies to deal with immigrants.
In 2006, TIRRC launched a Welcoming Tennessee Initiative," modeled on an earlier one in Iowa aimed at providing support for immigrants. Tennessee's initiative then spawned similar ones in other states.
"That no doubt was noted by the White House and by other mayors across the country," Teatro said. "They saw a mayor of a new destination city, a new gateway city, who instead of responding to the uncertainty with mistrust or anger that you see in some communities said, 'We are going to do everything we can to make sure people have access.'"
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Herman Badillos family is taking serious offense at New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio for not even calling the late congressman's widow to pay his condolences, much less attending Badillo's funeral.
A photo posted on the Village Voices website showed the mayor working out at a Brooklyn gym while services were being held Monday at the Frank E. Campbell Funeral Home in Manhattan for the first Puerto Rican-born U.S. Congressman.
It was insulting before, that makes it disgraceful, Gail Badillo told the New York Daily News. I see where his priorities lie.
According to the Daily News, the Voice said the photo was taken at 12:15 p.m., the same hour as the funeral.
A City Hall spokesman later said in a statement that Mayor de Blasio regretted he was unable to attend the funeral services. He will be contacting Mrs. Badillo to express the condolences of a New York City grateful for Herman Badillo's extraordinary leadership and service, the spokesman said.
Among those who did show up to pay their respects to Badillo were former mayors Rudy Giuliani and David Dinkins, U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Police Commissioner William Bratton.
Badillo died last Wednesday at age 85.
The office of Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. confirmed the death. he died of complications of congestive heart disease at a hospital in Manhattan last Wednesday, according to George Arzt, a political consultant and longtime friend.
"He was a true pioneer of the city. He was the first major Latino to be elected," Arzt said.
In Congress, Badillo concentrated on the problems of inner cities and urged federal help for poor members of minority groups, according to his congressional biography. He also championed the rights of Puerto Ricans, noting in 1971 that they were subject to the draft but couldn't get federal benefits under the food stamp and school milk programs or parts of Social Security.
"I represent the original immigrant," Badillo said. "Everybody says that their parents and grandparents came here and couldn't speak English and they were poor. And in my case it wasn't my parents and grandparents. It was me."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Good things come to those wait even if takes more than 200 years.
Two centuries, and then some, after Congress vowed to hang a portrait in the U.S. Capitol of a Spanish military leader who played a critical role in the United States victory in the Revolutionary War, it is at long, long, long last happening.
On Tuesday evening, a portrait of General Bernardo de Galvez is being unveiled in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Room, where Sen. Robert Menendez is presiding over a ceremony paying homage to the Revolutionary War hero.
Menendez praised Galvez, after whom Galveston, Texas was named, as a Spaniard who helped give birth to America.
This portrait was destined to hang in the Capitol, said Menendez, a New Jersey Democrat who is chair of the Foreign Relations Committee. A congressional resolution was passed in 1783 honoring de Galvez for not only defeating the British in Pensacola, but ensuring that colonial troops have access to the Mississippi opening a critical supply line.
When we look at the contribution of Hispanics to American history, we need look no further than this man, Menendez said, who, in helping the 13 colonies achieve independence, symbolizes the history of the U.S.-Spain relationship and the contribution of Hispanics to the American journey.
Menendezs office said in a press release that the hanging of the portrait took so long because, among other things, it got lost.
The mission of the congressional resolution of 1783 also fell through the cracks, finally gaining momentum after a woman who was originally from Spain, Teresa Valcarce, a 45-year-old labor union secretary in Washington D.C., learned of the resolution through an article her mother sent her and found herself determined to make the long-promised recognition of Galvez a reality.
Valcarce, who became known in Washington as the Portrait Lady, eventually succeeded after making her way over to members of congress, including Menendez, at various events she attended in the capital.
Recently, Congress passed legislation granting Galvez, who served as governor of then-Spanish-controlled Louisiana, honorary U.S. citizenship.
U.S. Rep. Jeff Miller, a Florida Republican, introduced the citizenship measure, noting that the honorary distinction was a rare and extraordinary ceremonial recognition granted to foreigners who have rendered great service to the United States.
Others who have received honorary citizenship include Winston Churchill and Mother Theresa.
Many congressional leaders conceded that they never had heard of Galvez.
"I would be less than candid if I say this is a familiar name in American history," said Rep. John Conyers, a Michigan Democrat, of the honorary citizenship measure, according to the Los Angeles Times. "But if all of my friends and colleagues, mostly from Florida, say this gentleman deserves honorary citizenship, who am I to block it?"
And how did Valcarce succeed in getting her hands on a portrait of Galvez?
The Washington Post said that the intrepid Valcarce learned that a portrait apparently commissioned of Galvez by the Spanish king to honor the military hero upon his return from battle was in a private collection in Malaga, Spain. A Spanish artist offered to copy the portrait and donate it for Valcarce's mission.
And so it was that in June, Valcarce received a lushly brushed oil painting, roughly 3 feet by 4 feet, of Bernardo de Galvez, the Post said, posed in an elegantly embroidered suit with a medal pinned to his chest.
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Senate investigators delivered a damning indictment of CIA practices Tuesday, accusing the spy agency of inflicting pain and suffering on prisoners beyond legal limits and deceiving the nation with narratives of life-saving interrogations unsubstantiated by its own records.
Treatment in secret prisons a decade ago was worse than the government told Congress or the public, the Senate Intelligence Committee's torture report found. Five hundred pages were released, representing the executive summary and conclusions of a still-classified 6,700-page full investigation.
"Under any common meaning of the term, CIA detainees were tortured," Sen. Dianne Feinstein, D-Calif., the committee chairman, declared.
Tactics included weeks of sleep deprivation, slapping and slamming of detainees against walls, confining them to small boxes, keeping them isolated for prolonged periods and threatening them with death. Three detainees faced the simulated drowning technique known as waterboarding. Many developed psychological problems.
The tactics were so harsh, the report noted, that at times even CIA people carrying them out got teary and anxious, reaching out to more senior people in the agency about whether the actions were legal.
A central figure in the controversy, Jose A. Rodriguez Jr., who was the head of the CIAs Counterterrorism Center and was in charge of the interrogations program, rebuked an officer who questioned the utility and legality of the often degrading and painful methods they used to extract information.
Strongly urge that any speculative language as to the legality of given activities or, more precisely, judgment calls as to their legality vis-a-vis operational guidelines for this activity agreed upon and vetted at the most senior levels of the agency, be refrained from in written traffic (email or cable traffic), Rodriguez wrote, according to published reports. Such language is not helpful.
Rodriguez, who retired from the CIA in 2008, wrote a book in 2012 about counterterrorism tactics titled "Hard Measures," in which he staunchly defended the controversial treatment of detainees.
"We made some al-Qaida terrorists with American blood on their hands uncomfortable for a few days," he said in an interview with CBS shortly after the release of the book. "But we did the right thing for the right reason. And the right reason was to protect the homeland and to protect American lives. So, yes, I had no qualms."
Rodriguez said in the interview that the interrogation methods "included stress positions, nudity and 'insult slaps,'" that aimed at "instilling a sense of hopelessness ... despair ... so that [the detainee] would conclude on his own that he was better off cooperating with us."
In 2005, Rodriguez, who was born in Puerto Rico and now works in the private sector, ordered the destruction of more than 90 videotapes of interrogations at a so-called black site (or secret prison) in Thailand, where two al-Qaida leaders were waterboarded. He said the images captured in the video were too disturbing and could have endangered the lives of CIA officers.
The report released Tuesday argued that the "enhanced interrogation techniques" didn't produce the results that really mattered.
It cites CIA cables, emails and interview transcripts to rebut the central justification for torture that it thwarted terror plots and saved American lives.
The report, released after months of negotiations with the administration about what should be censored, was issued amid concerns of an anti-American backlash overseas. American embassies and military sites worldwide were taking extra precautions.
Earlier this year, Feinstein accused the CIA of infiltrating Senate computer systems in a dispute over documents as relations between the investigators and the spy agency deteriorated, the issue still sensitive years after President Barack Obama halted the interrogation practices upon taking office.
Former CIA officials disputed the report's findings. So did Senate Republicans, whose written dissent accuses Democrats of inaccuracies, sloppy analysis and cherry-picking evidence to reach a predetermined conclusion. CIA officials prepared their own response acknowledging serious mistakes, but saying they gained vital intelligence that still guides counterterrorism efforts.
"The program led to the capture of al-Qaida leaders and took them off the battlefield," said George Tenet, CIA director when the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks occurred. He said it saved "thousands of American lives."
President George W. Bush approved the program through a covert finding in 2002, but he wasn't briefed by the CIA about the details until 2006. At that time Bush expressed discomfort with the "image of a detainee, chained to the ceiling, clothed in a diaper and forced to go to the bathroom on himself." Bush said in his 2010 memoirs that he discussed the program with CIA Director George Tenet, but Tenet told the CIA inspector general that never happened.
After al-Qaida operative Abu Zubaydah was arrested in Pakistan, the CIA received permission to use waterboarding, sleep deprivation, close confinement and other techniques. Agency officials added unauthorized methods into the mix, the report says.
At least five men in CIA detention received "rectal rehydration," a form of feeding through the rectum. The report found no medical necessity for the treatment.
Others received "ice baths" and death threats. At least three in captivity were told their families would suffer, with CIA officers threatening to harm their children, sexually abuse the mother of one man, and cut the throat of another man's mother.
Zubaydah was held in a secret facility in Thailand, called "detention Site Green" in the report. Early on, with CIA officials believing he had information on an imminent plot, Zubaydah was left isolated for 47 days without questioning, the report says. Later, he was subjected to the panoply of techniques. He later suffered mental problems.
He wasn't alone. In September 2002, at a facility referred to as COBALT understood as the CIA's "Salt Pit" in Afghanistan detainees were kept isolated and in darkness. Their cells had only a bucket for human waste.
Redha al-Najar, a former Osama bin Laden bodyguard, was the first prisoner there. After a month of sleep deprivation, CIA interrogators found him a "broken man." But the treatment got worse, with officials lowering food rations, shackling him in the cold and giving him a diaper instead of toilet access.
Gul Rahman, a suspected extremist, received enhanced interrogation there in late 2002, shackled to a wall in his cell and forced to rest on a bare concrete floor in only a sweatshirt. The next day he was dead. A CIA review and autopsy found he died of hypothermia.
Justice Department investigations into that and another death of a CIA detainee resulted in no charges.
During a waterboarding session, Zubaydah became "completely unresponsive with bubbles rising through his open full mouth," according to internal CIA records.
Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, the 9/11 mastermind, received the waterboarding treatment 183 times. Though officers noted he wasn't becoming more compliant, they waterboarded him for 10 more days. He was waterboarded for not confirming a "nuclear suitcase" plot the CIA later deemed a scam. Another time, his waterboarding produced a fabricated confession about recruiting black Muslims in Montana.
After reviewing 6 million agency documents, investigators said they could find no example of unique, life-saving intelligence gleaned from coercive techniques another sweeping conclusion the CIA and Republicans contest.
The report claims to debunk the CIA's assertion its practices led to bin Laden's killing. The agency says its interrogation of detainee Ammar al-Baluchi revealed a known courier was taking messages to and from bin Laden.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Video: Jose Rodriguez, author of Hard Measures, speaks out on Hannity about enhanced interrogation techniques
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The Senate has passed legislation cosponsored by Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., and Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., that would direct President Barack Obama to levy sanctions against Venezuelan government officials or others accused of perpetrating acts of violence or human rights abuses of anti-government demonstrators.
The bill, passed in a voice vote on Monday evening, authorizes sanctions that would freeze the assets and ban visas of individuals involved in violating the human rights of those opposing the South American country's socialist government. During the summer, the State Department imposed a travel ban on Venezuelan officials accused of abuses during a months-long street protest movement in the winter and spring that left dozens of people dead.
"These sanctions will go after Maduro regime officials and thugs," Rubio said in a statement, "who have spent all of 2014 authorizing and carrying out assassinations, beatings, unjustified incarcerations, kangaroo court trials and absurd indictments of its political opponents and innocent Venezuelans demanding a better future."
"For too long, Venezuelans have faced state-sponsored violence at the hands of government security forces and watched their country's judiciary become a tool of political repression," said Sen. Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the author of the bipartisan Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act.
On Tuesday, a leading opposition figure, Maria Corina Machado, learned that she is being charged with conspiracy in connection with an alleged plot to kill President Nicolas Maduro, a move she called an attempt to silence her and other critics of the government. Together with fellow opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, Machado called tens of thousands of demonstrators into the streets to protest the government earlier this year. Lopez was arrested nine months ago for his role in the sometimes violent protests. He turned himself in during an emotional public event.
"Venezuelan leaders like Leopoldo Lopez and Maria Corina Machado have become the target of vicious government-led campaigns that seek to silence them for speaking out in defense of democracy and the rule of law," Menendez said in a statement. "We in the United States have an obligation to shine a bright spotlight on Venezuela's abuses and must object to the severe human rights violations committed by the Maduro government and his paramilitary thugs."
The House passed its own bill in May, and that must still be reconciled with the Senate version.
In his statement, Rubio thanked my House colleagues, particularly Ileana Ros-Lehtinen and Mario Diaz-Balart, for their work in passing Venezuela sanctions legislation earlier this year. Before this Congress adjourns, I am hopeful that, for all the challenges the Venezuelan people have faced this year, we can at least end it on a positive note by turning these sanctions into a law signed by the President and implemented by the administration.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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A huge, $1.1 trillion spending bill funding every corner of government faces its first test in the House, where conservatives are unhappy because it fails to challenge President Barack Obama's immigration policy and many Democrats are displeased because it weakens the 2010 Dodd-Frank regulation of risky financial instruments.
Another provision drawing fire would allow pensions to be cut for current retirees covered by some economically-distressed multiemployer plans, part of a package agreed to unexpectedly Tuesday after secretive talks.
The 1,603-page measure was unveiled late Tuesday and will be scrutinized in advance of a House vote Thursday. But support from the top leaders in both the House and the Senate appears to cement its passage and prevent a government shutdown Thursday midnight, despite the presence of items in the legislation for lawmakers of all persuasions to dislike.
Rep. Hal Rogers, R-Ky., the chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, said the measure "will allow us to fulfill our constitutional duty to responsibly fund the federal government and avoid a shutdown."
The measure adheres to tight budget caps negotiated previously between the White House and Republicans, freezing agency budgets, on average. It also includes several provisions to fulfill Republican policy objectives, including significantly weakening new regulations that require banks to set up separate affiliates to deal in the more exotic and riskier forms of complex financial instruments called swaps. But some top Democrats, including Appropriations Committee member Nita Lowey of New York, supported the provision, and party leaders didn't appear to try too hard to knock it out.
The measure is laced with trade-offs. Democrats won budget increases for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Commodity Futures Trading Commission; Republicans won a big cut to the Internal Revenue Service budget and a smaller cut to the Environmental Protection Agency.
Democrats blocked the most ambitious attempts by Republicans to thwart Obama administration regulations on greenhouse gas emissions blamed for global warming, and on clean water; Republicans again won concessions exempting livestock producers from regulations on greenhouse gases and boosting exports of coal mine equipment.
The compromise spending bill will permit virtually the entire government to operate normally through the Sept. 30, 2015, end of the fiscal year, with the exception of the Homeland Security Department.
Funds for that one agency will run out again on Feb. 27, when Republicans are expected to try to use the expiration as leverage to force Obama to roll back a decision suspending the threat of deportation for an estimated 4 million immigrants living in the country illegally.
The overall spending measure reaches into every corner of government, from a provision to ease standards on school meals that were supposed to go into effect in 2017 to funds to restore the iconic Capitol Dome.
Proponents of campaign finance reforms decried a provision slipped in at the last minute that would sharply increase limits on the amount that an individual may contribute to various national political party accounts and committees each year from $32,400 to $324,000. That means individuals could give $648,000 in a two-year campaign cycle, with a married couple capped at almost $1.3 million for an election cycle.
"It is only millionaires and billionaires who can give these huge, corrupting contributions," said campaign finance activist Fred Wertheimer, president of Democracy 21.
Earlier Tuesday, House Republicans removed one obstacle to passage of the spending measure by announcing they would pass legislation separately to renew a requirement for the government to assume some of the insurance risk in losses arising from terrorism.
In talks with Sen. Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., Republicans led by Rep. Jeb Hensarling, R-Texas., agreed to the renewal, but split sharply over rolling back portions of the 2010 Dodd-Frank law that tightened federal regulation on the financial sector by easing rules on "end users" of complex financial instruments known as derivatives.
The stand-alone bill seemed likely to clear the House, but its fate in the Senate, where Schumer vowed to fight it, was uncertain.
The pension-related talks between Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., and George Miller, D-Calif., were designed to preserve benefits of current and future retirees at lower levels than currently exist, but higher than they would be if their pension funds ran out of money.
"We have a plan here that first and foremost works for the members of the unions, the workers in these companies, and it works for the companies," said Miller, retiring at year's end after four decades in Congress.
The AARP, which claims to represent millions of retirement-age Americans, attacked the agreement as a "secret, last-minute, closed-door deal between a group of companies, unions and Washington politicians to cut the retirement benefits that have been promised to them."
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Conservative radio talk show hosts are taking aim at him for being the architect of a House bill that they say was meant to lull those on the far right into passing a $1.1 trillion spending bill and avoiding a government shutdown.
And groups that want an end to deportations of immigrants who have no criminal background are taking aim at him, too, because the bill which the House narrowly passed recently calls for voiding President Barack Obamas executive order giving a years-long reprieve from deportation to up to 5 million undocumented immigrants.
On Wednesday morning, one of those groups was protesting his pivotal role in that bill outside one of his district offices.
Its a lot of new-found attention for U.S. Rep. Ted Yoho, a Republican from Gainesville, Florida who has been one of the Houses most obscure members.
We feed not only Florida, we feed the nation, said Tirso Moreno of the Farmworker Association of Florida in a statement. We do the hardest work at the lowest pay, and to add insult to injury, Rep. Yoho wants us to fear detention and deportation too? He should know better.
Now, in daily press releases and public comments, Democrats are holding up the Yoho legislation -- originally known as the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act, and later the Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act -- as something of the poster boy for what they depict as the GOPs anti-immigrant and anti-Latino inclinations. Democrats vow to use it as an issue during the 2016 elections, when Republicans hope to take the Oval Office and keep control of both houses of Congress.
It's the kind of buzz that, when it comes to immigration, tends to swirl around the likes of high-profile hard liners like Reps. Steve King or Steve Scalise, not the first-term congressman whom Politico described as an obscure back-bencher and large-animal vet who often interrupted his political campaign to tend to his four-legged patients.
The website noted that during the campaign Yoho -- who billed himself as an outsider running against a Washington establishment type took an opportunity between two press interviews to castrate several miniature horses. When he was done, he held up the lopped testicles and declared: Washington needs a few more of these.
And so it was that when Republicans were scrambling to hit back at Obamas unilateral move at the end of November to scale back deportations and allow those who were eligible for relief also to obtain work permits and a several federal benefits, Yoho presented a measure he had been working on since summer.
After going through some tweaking by Republican colleagues who had been immigration lawyers, and getting House Speaker John Boehners approval, Yoho introduced the measure, originally known as the Executive Amnesty Prevention Act, and later the Preventing Executive Overreach on Immigration Act.
The measure, which was introduced the same day Obama announced his executive order, said that the presidents move to give relief from deportations to a whole class of would be null and void and without legal effect.
It passed 219-197. Seven Republicans opposed it, three GOP members voted merely present."
Many political observers, and even some within the GOP, term the measure symbolic, since it will not advance in the Democrat-controlled Senate, and Obama has vowed to veto any measure that seeks to undo his executive order.
But Republicans leaders embraced Yohos measure nonetheless as something to give to conservatives who were eager to strike back at the president for what they said was an end-run around Congress and a unilateral move to give a break to people who have broken U.S. immigration laws.
Republican leaders hoped the measure would appease conservatives enough to keep them using the spending bill to attack Obamas executive order, risking another government shutdown.
For Yoho, its been a rare moment in the spotlight for a lawmaker who is viewed by conservatives as someone whose support they can count on.
I had people say it was a symbolic gesture. We didnt put it in for symbolism, but if they want to use it for a symbolic gesture, okay, lets use it for that, Yoho said to Politico. And that symbolic gesture is, were going to hold the president accountable to the rule of law, to the Constitution.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) denounced Yohos bill as cold-hearted.
Yoho said he thought her comment was itself cold-hearted.
But Yohos Florida Republican colleague, Mario Diaz-Balart, who supports a path to legal status for undocumented immigrants, defended the vet.
Well agree or disagree with him on a number of different issues but Ive found him to be a really a straight shooter, said Diaz-Balart, who voted against Yohos bill. To me, hes been a breath of fresh air.
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In his testimony before a Senate Judiciary subcommittee on Tuesday on civil rights, Rep. Luis Gutierrez wanted to make a point about how minorities so often are arbitrarily subjected to profiling.
For an example, he reached into his own life, according to Roll Call.
The Illinois Democrat spoke about how he was profiled right on the steps of the Capitol when he was in his fourth year in Congress, in 1996.
I was stopped and refused admission to this very Capitol complex earlier in my career because, as the Capitol Hill police officer said, I didnt look like a congressman, he said, according to Roll Call.
Too many have faced profiling, subtle and explicit, annoying, and yes, potentially dangerous when the profiler has a badge or has a gun, he said.
Gutierrez has recounted the incident other times to point out how even being a U.S. lawmaker doesnt protect a person from bigotry. Gutierrez described it in his 2013 memoir, Still Dreaming: My Journey from the Barrio to Capitol Hill.
The tense exchange with the security aide made headlines when it happened.
A Capitol Hill security aide grew upset when she saw two small unfurled Puerto Rican flags that Gutierrezs then-teenage daughter and niece were carrying theyd taken them to a ceremony for Puerto Rican veterans of the Korean Army and yelled the congressman and girls to put them away.
When Gutierrez tried to diffuse the situation, the aide demanded to know who he was, and scoffed when he told her he was Congressman Gutierrez.
Gutierrez, who was born in Chicago and whose family is from Puerto Rico, recounted how the aide, Stacia Hollingsworth, responded: I dont think so.
Even when he displayed his congressional identification card, Hollingsworth said that my identification must have been a fake, Gutierrez said at the time, according to Roll Call.
Then she said, `Why dont you all go back to the country where you came from. She was rabidly angry.
Hollingsworth was put on leave and assigned to sensitivity training.
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Congress has cleared and sent to President Barack Obama legislation directing him to levy sanctions against Venezuelan government officials involved in a crackdown on anti-government protesters.
Although administration officials expressed reluctance earlier in the year to support the idea of such sanctions it is expected that the president, not wanting to use a veto on a bipartisan effort like this one which was co-authored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) will sign the bill into law.
The Senate passed a bill Monday evening and the House approved the measure by voice vote Wednesday evening.
It authorizes sanctions that would freeze the assets and ban visas of individuals accused of perpetrating acts of violence or violating the human rights of those opposing the South American country's socialist government. During the summer, the State Department imposed a travel ban on Venezuelan officials accused of abuses during a months-long street protest movement in the winter and spring that left dozens of people dead.
"The absence of justice and the denial of human rights in Venezuela must end, and the U.S. Congress is playing a powerful part in righting this wrong," said Sen. Menendez, D-N.J., chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the author of the bipartisan Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act. "When this bill becomes law, a spotlight will shine on Venezuela's abusers and target individuals responsible for human rights violations by applying asset-freezes and visa bans."
On Tuesday, a leading opposition figure, Maria Corina Machado, learned that she is being charged with conspiracy in connection with an alleged plot to kill President Nicolas Maduro, a move she called an attempt to silence her and other critics of the government. Together with fellow opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez, Machado called tens of thousands of demonstrators into the streets to protest the government earlier this year. Lopez was arrested nine months ago for his role in the sometimes violent protests. He turned himself in during an emotional public event.
Venezuela's government made no immediate comment. But legislator Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Assembly, criticized the action.
"We reject sanctions as arbitrary, as immoral and because no one has the right to impose sanctions on anyone else in the world," said Cabello, who is seen as one of the most influential members of Maduro's governing socialist party.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said the bipartisan legislation signals the U.S. will not tolerate impunity of violations of human rights in Venezuela.
"We support the calls of democracy and freedom by the people of Venezuela," she said. "I call on President Obama and the State Department to vigorously enforce the sanctions against Venezuelan officials swiftly."
"Venezuelan leaders like Leopoldo Lopez and Maria Corina Machado have become the target of vicious government-led campaigns that seek to silence them for speaking out in defense of democracy and the rule of law," Menendez said in a statement released earlier this week. "We in the United States have an obligation to shine a bright spotlight on Venezuela's abuses and must object to the severe human rights violations committed by the Maduro government and his paramilitary thugs."
"For too long, Venezuelans have faced state-sponsored violence at the hands of government security forces and watched their country's judiciary become a tool of political repression," said Sen. Menendez, chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and the author of the bipartisan Venezuela Defense of Human Rights and Civil Society Act.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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Four more states have joined a Texas-led coalition suing the Obama administration over executive action on immigration.
The addition of Arkansas, Michigan, North Dakota and Oklahoma brings to 24 the number of states fighting the order in a federal district court in Brownsville.
Announced last month, the president's unilateral move is designed to spare millions of people living illegally in the United States from deportation. But the lawsuit accuses the White House of "trampling" the U.S. Constitution.
Outgoing Attorney General Greg Abbott says Texas is uniquely qualified to sue because its sprawling border with Mexico means it will be especially harmed.
Abbott, the governor-elect of Texas, added Wednesday that the presidential decree "circumvents the will of the American people."
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Theres a date for a court showdown between Arizona Sheriff Joe Arpaio and the White House.
Dec. 22 is the date that U.S. District Court Judge Beryl Howell has set for a hearing in Washington D.C. on a request from the Maricopa County sheriff who has a national reputation for his tough views on undocumented immigrants -- to block President Barack Obamas executive action granting some 5 million immigrants who are here illegally a three-year reprieve from deportation.
The presidents executive order came after what he described as frustration over Congresss failure to pass comprehensive immigration reform legislation.
Arpaios lawsuit, which was filed on the same day, Nov. 20, that Obama announced his executive action, argues that the presidents unilateral move is unconstitutional, according to published reports.
The presidents plan extends deportation relief and, by extension, work permits, to millions of undocumented immigrants, mostly those who have been in the country more than five years and have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Obama also reordered law enforcement priorities and expanded an existing deportation deferral program for immigrants brought illegally as kids.
Arpaios lawsuit echoes the view of many opponents of Obamas executive action that the president cannot unilaterally give a relief from deportation to an entire class of people. More than two dozen states, led by Texas, are suing the Obama administration on the same grounds.
Defendant Obama and the other defendants are not engaging in individualized adjudication of illegal aliens one by one so as to involve prosecutorial discretion, their lawsuit says. These programs are wholesale legislating, not retail adjudication.
White House lawyers, however, say that the executive order falls within the powers of the president and that previous presidents also have given immigrants relief through unilateral action.
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It's now up to the Senate to pass a huge $1.1 trillion spending bill to keep the government running, but not before a battle between old school veterans and new breed freshmen such as tea partier Ted Cruz and Elizabeth Warren, a liberal with a national following.
The smart money's on old school types such as Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and GOP Leader Mitch McConnell of Kentucky.
The measure passed the House on Thursday after a day of drama but by a relatively comfortable 219-206 vote. The vote came after GOP leaders sent the House into a seven-hour recess to give the White House time to lobby Democrats angry that the measure weakens rules on trading risky financial products known as derivatives and allows wealthy donors to pour hundreds of thousands of dollars into political parties.
In the end, 57 House Democrats voted for the bill, including two of the party's top three leaders. Democrats argued that there was too much good in the bill to scuttle it and get a worse deal next year when Republicans seize control of the Senate.
"Hold your nose and make this a better world," Rep. Sam Farr, D-Calif., said.
The measure would fund nearly every Cabinet agency through September 2015, awarding increases for health research, securities regulation, processing a backlog of rape kits and foreign aid. Republicans won cuts to the IRS and the Environmental Protection Agency. The 1,764-page bill is thick with carefully negotiated trade-offs on spending and policy "riders" on the environment, abortion and the lead content of ammunition. Democrats succeeded in getting the most politically toxic riders off the legislation.
Reid said he hopes the measure will clear the Senate for Obama's signature on Friday, though a vote may not come until the weekend.
Hours before the vote, House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi of California delivered a rare public rebuke to Obama, saying she was "enormously disappointed" he had decided to embrace legislation that she described as an attempt at blackmail by Republicans. But Pelosi never lobbied Democrats to kill the bill, and Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland and No. 3 Democrat Jim Clyburn of South Carolina were a steadying force in support of the measure.
Republicans, meanwhile, limited their defections to 67, mostly conservatives seeking an immediate confrontation with Obama over his moves to relax enforcement of immigration laws. Others simply refuse to vote for spending bills.
But Republicans scored many wins in the legislation, seizing on new leverage gained after their sweep in last month's midterm elections.
One provision particularly galling to many Democrats would relax new bank regulations that force riskier trades in financial instruments known as derivatives into separate affiliates unprotected by deposit insurance.
The White House stated its own objections to the bank-related proposal and other portions of the bill in a written statement. Even so, officials said Obama and Vice President Joe Biden both telephoned Democrats to secure the votes needed for passage, and the president stepped away from a White House Christmas party reception line to make last-minute calls.
In addition to the government funding, the bill also sets a new course for selected, highly shaky pension plans.
Despite the day's uncertainty, there was no threat of a shutdown in federal services and no sign of the brinkmanship that marked other, similar episodes. Instead, the House and Senate quickly passed a measure providing a 48-hour extension in existing funding to give the Senate time to act on the larger bill.
Opposition in the Senate will be led by liberals such as Warren, D-Mass., who firmly opposes the banking provision, and conservatives such as Cruz, R-Texas, who is incensed over immigration. But once Reid and McConnell forge an alliance, the fix is in and passage is only a matter of time.
The spending measure was one of a handful on the year-end agenda, with the others including an extension of expiring tax breaks and a bill approving Obama's policy for arming Syrian forces fighting Islamic State forces. A bill extending the government's terrorism insurance backstop could get tripped up by procedural hurdles.
A provision in the big bill relating to financially failing multiemployer pension plans would allow controversial cuts for current retirees, and supporters said it was part of an effort to prevent a slow-motion collapse of a system that provides retirement income to millions.
"The multiemployer pension system is a ticking time bomb," said Rep. John Kline, R-Minn., who negotiated the agreement with Rep. George Miller, D-Calif., who is retiring after 40 years in Congress.
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In small-town community centers, schools, churches and a vast city convention center, immigrant advocates are spreading the word about President Barack Obama's plan to give millions of immigrants living in the U.S. illegally a temporary reprieve.
The November announcement promising work permits and protection from deportation made a splash, but lawyers say the events are crucial to dispel rumors about eligibility, ward off fraud, and help immigrants determine what they might need to apply.
In Los Angeles, advocates are hosting an information session for as many as 10,000 people at the city's convention center Sunday.
"After this big forum, we're going to have daily orientations. That is what we have to do in order to deal with the demand," said Angelica Salas, executive director of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights of Los Angeles.
Immigrants are eager to see if they qualify for Obama's executive actions to spare nearly 5 million people from deportation and to refocus enforcement efforts on criminals.
At least 20 states have filed a lawsuit to try to block the measure, which aims to benefit immigrants who have been in the country illegally for more than five years and have children who are American citizens or green card holders, along with some immigrants who entered the country illegally as children.
For immigrant advocates, the challenge is reaching prospective applicants in diverse communities that speak multiple languages and often know little about the United States' byzantine immigration laws. While some immigrants find strength in numbers, others shy away from public meetings because of fear or stigma over their immigration status.
At recent workshops and on telephone hotlines, immigrants have questioned advocates about who will qualify and what documents they will need. Many want to know how they can prove their identity after living under the radar for so long, and some worry they might face trouble for having worked under a false Social Security number, Salas said.
Workshops for immigrants already have been held at a high school in Knoxville, Tennessee, a church in Goshen, Indiana, and an Islamic Center in New York City. Eben Cathey, a spokesman for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition, said his organization has an event almost every night.
"Every time we do an information session, it is full," he said.
At a recent forum at a San Diego community center, an immigration attorney fielded questions for two hours, and many hands were still raised when time ran out.
Anahi Maldonado, a 32-year-old mother of two American-born children, said she attended to verify that she and her husband would qualify for the program. She's been living in the U.S. for 14 years after crossing the border from Mexico and wanted to ensure she didn't need a visa to apply.
"The thing is, sometimes someone has questions that the president is not going to answer," said Maldonado, adding that she also wondered if she would need a good conduct letter from police, and how she could get one since she didn't have valid immigration papers.
Immigrant advocates are doling out whatever information they have, much of it based on their experiences with a 2012 program to assist U.S.-educated immigrant children. But there is still much that is unknown, and no application form yet.
Advocates are warning immigrants not to pay anyone to get in line to apply and to avoid being duped into filling out fake applications.
Many are also planning one-on-one consultations to help immigrants determine if they're eligible and if that's their best shot at immigration relief, since sometimes people may qualify for a visa or other benefits.
"We're definitely telling people they need to make sure they get screened," said Jorge Baron, executive director of the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, which is holding an event for as many as 650 people in Seattle. "We don't want people to go and apply on their own."
Some groups are already starting individual screenings.
Michelle Saucedo, a legal advocate for Asian Americans Advancing Justice in Los Angeles, said Asian immigrants are more likely to turn out for one-on-one consultations than group sessions because some feel a sense of shame over their immigration status. When advocates advertised large workshops about the 2012 program in the Chinese community, only one or two people would show up, she said.
Saucedo said she expects hundreds of people to seek assistance at an event Saturday.
"It is very private and people often call and say, 'Can I just see you in your office one-on-one,'" she said. "We have learned along the way."
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First it was objections by House Democrats that stood in the way of passage of a $1.1 trillion catchall spending bill. Now it's the Senate Republicans' turn, specifically Ted Cruz of Texas and Mike Lee of Utah.
The two lawmakers demanded a vote Friday night on a proposal to cut funds from the bill that could be used to implement President Barack Obama's new immigration policy, ending any chance the measure could clear the Senate and be sent to the White House with a minimum of fuss.
Officials in both parties said the bill remains on track for clearance by early next week. Even so, the move led Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., to abandon plans to adjourn the Senate for the weekend, and raised the possibility of a test vote on the spending bill shortly after midnight on Saturday.
Senate Republican leaders have pledged to challenge Obama's immigration policy early in the new year, after the GOP takes control of the Senate. But Cruz suggested they shouldn't be entirely trusted to keep their pledge.
"We will learn soon enough if those statements are genuine and sincere," he said, in a clear reference to Senate GOP Leader Mitch McConnell and Speaker John Boehner.
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Ironically, Cruz and Lee played a major role in events slightly more than a year ago that led to a partial government shutdown an event McConnell, Boehner and most Republicans have vowed to avoid repeating. This time, Republican officials said they may have inadvertently given Reid an opening to win confirmation for several of Obama's nominees that might otherwise have languished.
With the end of the two-year Congress approaching, Reid is pressing to confirm about 20 Obama nominees to fill posts such as surgeon general, director of the Social Security Administration and federal judgeships.
The spending measure tops the remaining items on a quarrelsome Congress' agenda. Others include renewing tax breaks for individuals and businesses and a government program supporting the market for insurance against terrorist acts. In one bit of progress, the Senate sent Obama a sweeping defense policy measure by a big bipartisan vote.
Earlier Friday, the controversial spending package won a personal endorsement from Obama and was brought before the Senate.
Obama acknowledged that the measure has "a bunch of provisions in this bill that I really do not like," and said the bill flows from "the divided government that the American people voted for."
Obama has sided with old-school pragmatists in his party like Reid, but he's split from leading liberals such as House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass. Warren blasted the measure in a Senate speech for the third straight day, saying it was a payoff to Citigroup, whose lobbyists helped write a provision that significantly weakens new regulations on derivatives trading by Wall Street banks.
"Enough is enough. Washington already works really well for the billionaires and the big corporations and the lawyers and the lobbyists," Warren said. "But what about the families who lost their homes or their jobs or their retirement savings the last time Citi bet big on derivatives and lost?"
Another provision loathed by many Democrats though backed by the Democratic National Committee raises the amount of money that wealthy donors may contribute to political parties for national conventions, election recounts and headquarters buildings.
Democrats will lose control of the Senate in January because of heavy losses in midterm elections last month and will go deeper into a House minority than at any time in nearly 70 years.
Lawmakers from both parties came to the floor to praise the underlying spending measure, which provides funding to keep nearly the entire government operating through the Sept. 30 end of the current budget year.
The sole exception is the Department of Homeland Security, which is funded only until Feb. 27. Republicans intend to try then to force the president to roll back a new immigration policy that removes the threat of deportation from millions of immigrants living in the country illegally.
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Jeb Bush's big donors and allies are tantalized by his promise to decide "in short order" whether to run for president.
But supporters are struggling to understand what his actions mean and whether they can predict his political intentions.
Bush is scheduled to give the commencement address Monday at the University of South Carolina during his second visit in recent months to the state that's set to host the South's first presidential primary.
On the eve of the appearance, he said he plans to release an electronic book early next year along with roughly 250,000 thousands of emails from his time as governor.
Surely, that's a sign the former Florida governor is in.
Bush also is expanding his private equity business, and advisers insist he's not courting a political staff Iowa and New Hampshire, even as other would-be candidates assemble their 2016 campaign teams in the early voting states.
Surely, that's a sign he's out.
About all anyone can say for certain is that, as Bush himself has said, he's still thinking about it.
"He's begun the journey. How long it will take him, I don't know," said Al Cardenas, a longtime Bush friend and former chairman of the American Conservative Union. "People are interpreting activity to conclude that he's closer to running. I'm not of that school.
"I hope he runs, but I believe the activity is based on getting serious."
Bush has said he expects to make a decision by the end of the month.
As the son of one president and brother of another, he has the power to transform the 2016 contest like no other Republican. He can tap into his family's vast political network, and his campaign would attract strong support from major donors and widespread media attention.
Bush spent much of the recent midterm campaign out of the public eye. But the address at South Carolina will be his fourth high-profile speech in recent weeks. That includes an appearance before corporate executives in Washington, where he called for his party to embrace an immigration overhaul and to focus on governing. He also said would make the call on running for president "not that far out in the future."
In an interview with ABC's Miami affiliate WPLG-TV, Bush said he was in the process of writing an e-book about his time as governor and that it would come out in the spring. At about the same time, he will make public about 250,000 emails from his time in office, in an effort to promote transparency and to "let people make up their mind."
Bush said going through the material has reminded him that "if you run with big ideas and then you're true to those ideas, and get a chance to serve and implement them and do it with passion and conviction, you can move the needle. ... And that's what we need right now in America," he said in the interview set to air Sunday.
Slater Bayliss, a longtime Florida-based Bush aide who helps lead a political action committee founded by Bush's sons, met with strategists in Iowa during a late November trip to his native state.
Former Iowa Republican Party Chairman Chuck Larson was among those who discussed with Bayliss the state's political trends, policy issues and how the state might react to a Bush campaign.
"If Jeb Bush decides to run for president, I believe he will be incredibly well received by conservatives in Iowa," Larson said.
Bush's spokeswoman, Kristy Campbell, like other advisers, said the meetings were unauthorized and unrelated to his decision-making.
She said Bush "has not yet made a decision on whether he will pursue a run in 2016, and has certainly not dispatched anyone to meet with Iowa leaders," Campbell said.
The same week Bayliss met with Iowa Republicans, Bush was named chairman and manager of a new private equity fund, BH Global Aviation. As first reported by Bloomberg, the offshore fund raised $61 million in September.
Bush's team described the investment as an expansion of an existing, and previously reported, private business, which he would review should he run. Most recent presidential candidates, including private equity investor Mitt Romney, formally cut ties with their business interests years before running.
Bush "is very proud of his investment work to grow companies," Campbell said, adding that there is no part of his business interests "that would hinder a run for president if that is the decision he makes."
There is no shortage of pressure on Bush to get into the race, including from members of his family. His older brother, former President George W. Bush, has encouraged his brother to enter the 2016 contest.
"He knows I want him to run," Bush told CNN recently. "If I need to reiterate it, I will: 'Run, Jeb.' I think he'd be a great president."
Still, associates say that the family support and a growing public profile should not necessarily be taken as a sign of anything.
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One colleague called the tactics of tea party-backed Sen. Ted Cruz on the $1.1 trillion spending bill a painful echo of last year's 16-day partial government shutdown.
Another senator said it was a strategy without an end game.
And that sniping came from Cruz's fellow Republicans.
The 43-year-old Texas freshman in a political hurry he's considering a 2016 presidential run infuriated several GOP colleagues with a last-minute attempt to force a vote on President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration.
"I'm concerned that we fight when we can win and get something accomplished. And of course that's what we're trying to set up for next year when we have the majority in the Senate." Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.
The move upended lawmakers' weekend plans and, more troubling for his party, gave Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., an opening to move forward on long-stalled Obama nominees.
When Cruz got his vote Saturday, he lost badly, 74-22, as even Republicans who agree with him on immigration repudiated his effort. Moments later, Congress cleared the spending bill.
"You should have an end goal in sight if you're going to do these types of things and I don't see an end goal other than irritating a lot of people," said Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah.
Sen. Johnny Isakson, R-Ga., said it was a repeat of last year's shutdown showdown over Obama's health care law, when it was engineered by Cruz and Sen. Mike Lee, R-Utah. Isakson said it was a movie he had seen before and "wouldn't have paid money to see it again." He called Cruz's move a problem, not a strategy.
Added Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz.: "I fail to see what conservative ends were achieved."
For once, Democrats opted not to criticize Cruz publicly, a surefire indication they calculated that he was only hurting Republicans.
Cruz was unapologetic. He said the sole purpose of his efforts was to secure a Senate vote to "stop President Obama's amnesty" his description of the president's plan for work visas for an estimated 5 million immigrants living in the United States illegally.
"Both Democrats and Republicans will have the opportunity to show America whether they stand with a president who is defying the will of the voters or with the millions of Americans who want a safe and legal immigration system," Cruz said in a speech to a crowded Senate chamber moments before the vote.
Reid derisively said the "junior senator from Texas" was "wrong, wrong, wrong."
In a Facebook post, Cruz had blamed Reid, arguing that Saturday's series of round-the-clock votes on nominations was to prevent the vote he sought.
Cruz said Reid was "going to an embarrassing length to tie up the floor to obstruct debate and a vote on this issue because he knows amnesty is unpopular with the American people, and he doesn't want the Democrats on the record as supporting it."
Republicans said Cruz's move had the reverse effect of his campaign on immigration, ensuring a vote on the nominee for Customs and Immigration Enforcement who would carry out Obama's executive actions.
Cruz, a Cuban-American with an Ivy League resume, time as Texas solicitor general and a Supreme Court clerkship with the late Chief Justice William Rehnquist, created headlines in his first few months in the Senate with a fierce challenge to Chuck Hagel's nomination to be defense secretary.
Last fall, it was Cruz and Lee who roiled the GOP and Washington with their push to starve Obama's health overhaul of money, a drive that led to the partial shutdown.
Democrats weren't surprised that the conservative duo struck again.
"They're all about headlines. They're trying to get attention for themselves. They've succeeded in doing that," said Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn.
In his current maneuvering, Cruz sent a shot across the bow at incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., and House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, suggesting the two should not be entirely trusted to keep their promise to challenge Obama's immigration policy when the all-Republican Congress takes over in January.
"We will learn soon enough if those statements are genuine and sincere," Cruz said Friday night.
Cruz's moves troubled Republicans looking ahead to next month and their new majority.
"I'm concerned that we fight when we can win and get something accomplished. And of course that's what we're trying to set up for next year when we have the majority in the Senate," said Sen. John Hoeven, R-N.D.
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A federal judge in Pittsburgh is declaring that President Barack Obama's recent executive actions on immigration are unconstitutional.
U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab says Obama's order in November designed to spare millions living illegally in the United States from deportation amounts to "unilateral legislative action" in violation of the Constitution. Schwab issued his opinion Tuesday in a criminal case involving an immigrant here illegally from Honduras.
The administration has said the new policy does not apply to criminal cases. The Justice Department called Schwab's analysis "flatly wrong" and said he had no basis for his opinion because no one in the case had challenged the constitutionality of the president's actions.
Schwab's opinion puts forth some of the same arguments made by Texas and 23 other states in their challenge to Obama's actions on immigration. Schwab was appointed by President George W. Bush.
Case Western Reserve University law professor Jonathan Adler says he's skeptical that Schwab's opinion will stand.
Omar Jadwat, an expert in immigration law at the American Civil Liberties Union, said the opinion would have no effect on the administration's immigration policy. "It's really just the judge taking the opportunity to state his personal views," Jadwat said.
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Last year, Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) stood front and center in the battle against President Barack Obamas health care program, leading an effort that shut down the government because the budget bill did not include a provision to defund the presidents plan.
This year, Cruz was the lead crusader against the spending bill again, this time because it did not include a challenge to Obamas executive action on immigration, which could shield an estimated 5 million people who entered the country illegally from deportation for about three years.
His efforts did not shut down the government this time, but it delayed the vote, forcing very unhappy Democrats and equally unhappy Republicans to work an unusual weekend shift in order to finally pass the $1.1 trillion bill. Cruz's dogged determination to force a vote, unsuccessfully, on Obama's immigration order under Senate rules allowed the lame duck Majority Leader, Harry Reid (D-Nev.), to begin the time-consuming process of confirming nominations on Saturday at noon when lawmakers originally had been scheduled to be home for the weekend.
Some of the harshest criticisms of Cruz this week came from within his own party just as they did after the government shutdown in 2013, which was capped by Cruzs 21-hour speech on the Senate floor.
"You should have an end goal in sight if you're going to do these types of things," Sen. Orrin Hatch of Utah said, "and I don't see an end goal other than irritating a lot of people."
Why is Cruz who is viewed as a possible contender for the presidential elections in 2016 apparently impervious to the wrath of his own party?
Precisely because he is a possible presidential candidate, some political observers say.
Cruz, it seems, is bucking the trend of many with their eyes on the presidency who are trying to appeal to the middle-of-the-road voters, especially independents, as well as the party establishment.
Instead, he is keeping his focus solidly on conservatives, the tried-and-true tea party souls who find his denunciations of Beltway politics even those of establishment Republicans refreshing, according to a National Review article that cited Cruz senior advisers.
Not that he is giving up on support from some groups, such as Latinos, Jews, women and others who tend to lean Democratic. But Cruz is hoping to appeal to some of them while exciting the conservative base enough to make them as much of a factor in general elections as they tend to be during the GOP primaries.
His strategists arent planning to make a big play for so-called independent voters in the general election if Cruz wins the Republican nomination, the National Review said. According to several of the senators top advisers, Cruz sees a path to victory that relies instead on increasing conservative turnout; attracting votes from groups including Jews, Hispanics and millennials that have tended to favor Democrats; and, in the words of one Cruz strategist, not getting killed with independents.
Republican strategist Ford OConnell told the magazine that Cruz must figure out how not to lose his authenticity with the Republican base while expanding his reach.
To be sure, Cruzs opposition to granting a path to legal status to undocumented immigrants has made him something of a pariah to many Latinos and advocates for immigration reform.
But Cruzs advisers note that many Latinos are attracted to his views, noting that he won 40 percent of the Hispanic vote in Texas when he ran for the Senate in 2012.
As for Jewish voters, Cruz has made headlines this year with his defense of Israels actions in Gaza, even lecturing hecklers at a Christian Arab event he was speaking at, telling them that anyone who hates Israel also hates America. After which the senator walked off the stage.
At a Zionist Organization of America dinner in New York City in late November, Cruz recounted that event, generating cheers from the crowd and chants of Run, Ted, run!
The conservative base has proved increasingly important during the GOP primaries, and for the 2012 election, many candidates adopted a stricter stance on immigration during the primaries than they ever had before.
That is one reason, some GOP strategists believe, that while former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush, a moderate Republican, could enjoy wide appeal in a general election campaign, the primaries may prove more difficult for him.
This week, the Washington Post noted that Cruz has shown an absolute contempt for the niceties of the Senate.
And theres a reason for that, it continued, Ted Cruz doesnt care if [Tennessee Senator] Bob Corker or soon-to-be Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell like him. In fact, he revels in the fact that they dont.
This week, unhappy Republicans accused Cruz of giving President Obama a present this holiday season a gift certificate good for the confirmation of 12 judicial appointments, and other long-stalled nominations not long after the voters delivered the Democrats a lump of coal in midterm elections.
Late Monday, the Senate confirmed Vivek Murthy as surgeon general. Cruz disputed the claim.
"Everyone knows Harry Reid planned to jam forward as many nominees as he could," Phil Novack, a spokesman for Cruz, said by email. "Unfortunately, there are many on both sides of the aisle who would rather stoke stories about Ted Cruz to distract from the more important debate over the president's unilateral action to grant amnesty."
But there was no dissent that Senate Democrats, who must turn over power to Republicans in January, suddenly find themselves in a position to confirm not only the judges, but 11 other appointees before the chamber wraps up work for the year.
Cruz paints his opposition to 'the way things have always worked in the Senate as in keeping with his oath to his constituents and to the Constitution, the Post said. Indeed, it went on to argue, he constantly gets confirmation that his strategy is raising his stock among conservatives.
At any sort of conservative gathering, the Post said, he is regularly the star attraction the one person (in the eyes of his admirers) willing to stay true to his convictions in Washington.
But some political observers say the party establishment is very likely to work full-throttle to subvert Cruzs chances of winning the nomination, fearing they will lose another presidential election.
Henry Olsen of the Ethics and Public Policy Center told the National Review that Cruzs apparent belief that conservatives can carry him to the White House is a fantasy.
Olsen said the base isnt big enough to propel Cruz or any other candidate to the Oval Office, and that in order to have a real shot at winning, a Republican nominee would have to energize establishment Republicans and people dont call themselves conservatives.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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A federal prosecutor in Dallas is the new head of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency.
Sarah Saldana, who is the U.S. attorney in Dallas, was confirmed by the Senate through a 55-39 vote on Tuesday.
She is the first Latina to lead the $6 billion federal agency that enforces federal border control, trade and immigration laws.
President Barack Obama praised her confirmation in a statement released shortly after the Senate vote.
"With her years of experience enforcing the law most recently as U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of Texas Sarah is the right person to lead the dedicated men and women at ICE in securing our borders, keeping American communities safe, and upholding our values," Obama said. "Since I took office, illegal border crossings are down and removal of dangerous criminals is up. Im confident Sarah will help us build on this progress while protecting our country in a smart, effective, and humane way."
Saldana had claimed strong support among many Republicans when she was nominated earlier this year, but that changed after Obama took executive actions to grant work permits to millions in the U.S. illegally.
Saldana, 62, backed Obama's move and a number of Republican senators, including senior Texas GOP Sen. John Cornyn, said they could no longer support her. Some said their opposition was meant to send a message to Obama that they opposed his executive moves, which her agency would be partly charged with enacting.
One of the lawmakers leading the charge against Obamas executive action and, by extension, against Saldanas confirmation has been U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican.
Saldana said in written answers to questions by a Senate panel earlier this year that she supported unilateral action by Obama on various aspects of immigration, adding that he had the legal authority to issue executive orders on the matter.
That prompted Cruz, one of the Senates most conservative members, to denounce Saldana as another rubber stamp for illegal amnesty.
Cruz has made it something of a personal mission to defeat Obamas immigration executive action, which could spare some 5 million undocumented immigrants from deportation for about three years, as well as allow them to obtain work permits and, in many cases, drivers licenses.
Over the weekend, Cruz delayed a vote on the $1.1 trillion spending bill by waging a last-minute attempt to force a vote on Obama's executive action on immigration.
While Cruz drew the ire of Republicans, Democrats thanked him for his actions because it gave senators an opportunity to schedule a vote on pending nominations while Democrats are still in control of the chamber.
Im no expert in Senate procedure, White House press secretary Josh Earnest said Tuesday before the vote. I do understand, based on the news reports that Ive read, that some of the shenanigans that he carried out on the Senate floor did create an opening and additional time for these highly qualified nominees to be confirmed. And if thats the case, then it may be an indication that Senator Cruz doesnt know much more about Senate floor procedure than I do. But we certainly are pleased with the outcome.
Saldana has been U.S. Attorney for her district since 2011. In 2011, Hispanic National Bar Association named Saldana as its Latina Attorney of the Year.
Earlier this year, Cruz was quoted in Politico as saying: Ms. Saldana has made it clear in a written statement that as Assistant Secretary for U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement she would enable President Obamas unconstitutional amnesty.
I do not support the Presidents unconstitutional amnesty, and therefore, cannot vote for a nominee who will be another rubber stamp for illegal amnesty, Cruz said. I encourage my colleagues, especially those who oppose Obamas amnesty, to oppose this nomination.
Texass other senator, Cornyn, introduced Saldana at a confirmation hearing in mid-September, praising her qualifications to head ICE. After Obama announced his executive order, Cornyn expressed misgivings about the prosecutor.
The Dallas Morning News scolded the opposition to Saldana by Cruz and Cornyn, saying in an editorial: Such antics should be beneath Texas senators. Their beef ought to be with the president, not Saldana, who carries impeccable credentials. Its ridiculous to attack Saldana and stall countless other confirmations simply to flex political muscle toward the president.
It would be hard to find a more qualified nominee than Saldana, who combines border-state savvy with a tough prosecutors sensibility, the newspaper said.
Saldana graduated Summa Cum Laude from Texas A&M University and earned her law degree from Southern Methodist University.
Before law school, she taught 8th grade.
Her background in public service includes working for the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, HUD, and the Department of Labor. She was described as pivotal to the successful prosecution of the Dallas City Hall public corruption case.
The Obama administration has been looking to fill the ICE position for more than a year after John Morton stepped down last summer after four years in office.
Back in 2011, Texas Republican Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchinson called Saldana a "gutsy lady" who is "known for her tenacity, and fairness." As the U.S. Attorney, Saldana supervised prosecutors in over 100 counties in northern and western Texas from Dallas.
Saldana was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, in 1951 and grew up as the youngest of seven children. According to a profile in her hometown paper, Saldana's mother worked nights as a nurse, and her father was an alcoholic who wasn't around much.
"My parents' lives were full of struggles," she said. "But they taught the importance of working hard."
About her role as U.S. Attorney, Saldana said on a U.S. Dept. of Justice website: To serve my country in this role is the highest of honors and I am humbled by the confidence placed in me by President Obama and Senators Hutchison and Cornyn. Serving in this role, among the fine men and women of the Department of Justice, is a privilege and the highlight of my career.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Shortly before 12 p.m., three men holding handmade posters denouncing President Barack Obama gathered near the coffee counter of Versailles Cafe, the iconic restaurant that has long served as a backdrop for anti-Fidel Castro rallies in Miami, Florida. One protester, a gray-bearded man in a blue shirt, grips a sign with misspelled words that say: Obama Administration Compiracy with Castro Terrorit.
Outnumbered by local, national, and international journalists, the trio chanted: Coward, coward, Obama, coward!
"This president is a friend of our enemy. Pedro Acosta, 69
Yet, as word spread about President Barack Obamas decision to normalize diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, Miamis Cuban-American community has mixed feelings about the announcement. Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro also worked out a prisoner swap involving three Cuban spies incarcerated in the U.S. and two jailed Americans in Cuba. Alan Gross, one of the Americans, has already been released and reunited with his family. In addition, Obama wants to increase travel and cash remittances by U.S. citizens to the island and lift some of the economic restrictions on Cuba.
While older generations of Cuban exiles and prominent Cuban-American politicians are denouncing the presidents action, younger Cuban Americans, some of whom left their home country in the last 10 years, welcome the opportunity to reestablish ties with Americas last remaining Cold War-era foe.
Miami Mayor Tomas Regalado, who stopped by Versailles, told the assembled journalists the United States government broke its policy of not negotiating with terrorists. I dont know why the United States is giving everything and not demanding anything, Regalado said.
His counterpart, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, released a statement echoing Regalados comments. "While I welcome the release of Alan Gross and another person, I am deeply disturbed that it appears that in this negotiation we did not secure freedoms for the Cuban people, Gimenez said.
Republican Cuban-American congressional representatives said they intend to block Obamas actions. In a statement, U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio said he will use his role on the Senates Foreign Relations Commitee to make every effort to block this dangerous and desperate attempt by the President to burnish his legacy at the Cuban peoples expense.
Rep. Mario Diaz-Balart, who sits on two budget committees that oversee the U.S. Treasury and State Department, called Obama the Appeaser-in-chief who gave unprecedented concessions to a brutal dictatorship.
Angel Cusemano, 85, was sitting with a small group of fellow elderly Cuban-Americans in the foodcourt of the Westland Mall in Hialeah, Florida, when he found out. He shook his head with disgust. This country is not supposed to negotiate with terrorists, Cusemano said. It makes no sense to cut a deal with a bloody dictatorship that executed many of our friends and family members.
The mans friends around him nodded in agreement. This president is a friend of our enemy, said Pedro Acosta, 69, who fled Cuba in 1960. Now terrorists in any other country will believe they can do the same thing.
However, a growing number of Cuban-Americans born after the Cold War or who came to Miami in the last 14 years dont share the same hardline beliefs, said Raul Martinez, a former mayor of Hialeah and Democrat who ran unsuccessfully for Congress in 2008.
The younger generations are more open-minded and they will see this as a positive step, Martinez said. You will have some protests from hardliners, but an overall majority of Cuban- Americans will accept what the president wants to do.
Jose Suarez, a 31-year-old plumber who left Cuba in 2005, sipped on a cafecito at the Versailles counter as he watched the protesters. Hes in favor of United States and Cuba reestablishing diplomatic ties. Young and old Cubans should get behind this, Suarez said. It is going to help people in Cuba. After more than 50 years of Cold War tactics, its time to try something new.
Peter Hernandez, a 44-year-old man of Cuban and Colombian descent, said cutting off Cuba hasnt worked for more than half a century. The old guard may just need to accept it, he said. People my age and younger are open to the relaxing of sanctions.
Cuban President Raul Castro said in a nationally broadcast speech that he welcomes the restoration of relations with the United States.
He said differences remain between Cuba and the U.S. in areas such as human rights, foreign policy and questions of sovereignty, but he says the countries have to learn to live with their differences "in a civilized manner."
While recognizing that we have deep differences, fundamentally in terms of national sovereignty, democracy, human rights and foreign policy, I reaffirm our willingness to dialogue about all these issues, Castro said, reading from a prepared text in Spanish.
Castros brother, Fidel, the architect of the revolution who nurtured adversarial relations between the two nations, appeared to have known role in the recent talks and made no speech on Tuesday. White House officials said Fidel had no official role in negotiations.
But his brother said it was a position the former leader had long wanted.
It is a position that was expressed to the U.S. government both publicly and privately by comrade Fidel at different times of our long struggle, with the approach of resolving our differences in the negotiations without renouncing to our sovereignty.
Castro, 83, said the dialogue took an important turn on Tuesday, when he reportedly held a 45-minute telephone conversation with President Obama. He thanked the Vatican, Pope Francis and the Canadian government for facilitating the negotiations.
The Cuban leader then called on President Obama to use his executive power to remove the obstacles that restrict the ties between the two countries and address the issues related to travel, direct postal service and telecommunication.
Even though the embargo measures have become law, the president of the United States can modify its implementation using his executive power, he said.
He added that the progress made in the negotiations so far show that a solution to decades-old standoff is possible.
We have to learn the art of living with our differences in a civilized manner, he said.
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When a police officer in the suburban Pittsburgh township of New Sewickley pulled over Elionardo Juarez-Escobar in April and arrested him on charges of drunken driving, its doubtful that anybody assumed that this routine traffic stop would wind up becoming the center of the U.S. immigration debate.
But after U.S. District Judge Arthur Schwab, in his opinion on the case, called U.S. President Barack Obama's executive order on immigration a "unilateral legislative action" in violation of the Constitution, Juarez-Escobars case has moved onto center stage.
"President Obamas unilateral legislative action violates the separation of powers provided for in the United States constitution as well as the Take Care Clause, and, therefore, is unconstitutional," Schwab wrote in his opinion.
Juarez-Escobar, a 42-year old undocumented immigrant originally from Honduras, was driving with a minor in the car on April 7 when he drove his car around a traffic stop. The New Sewickley officer who pulled him over noticed beer cans in the back seat of the car, and thought that Juarez-Escobar appeared intoxicated.
Field sobriety and blood tests put his blood alcohol level at 0.180 percent way above Pennsylvanias legal limit of 0.08 percent - and he was charged with two counts of driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, corruption of minors, selling/furnishing liquor to a minor and driving without a license.
Juarez-Escobars lawyer, Alonzo Burney, did not immediately respond to Fox News Latinos request for comment.
In June, Juarez-Escobars immigration status was referred to the Department of Homeland Security where it was discovered that he was in the country illegally and had already been deported once from the U.S. back in 2005 after being detained in New Mexico by Border Patrol agents.
During a court appearance in Pennsylvania, Juarez-Escobar said that he snuck back into the U.S. later in 2005 by way of Texas and made his way to New York in a van. His brother, who is a U.S. citizen, owns a landscaping business in Pittsburgh, and Juarez-Escobar made his way to that city, where he worked for his brother's company for at least two years.
"[Juarez-Escobar] presumably came to the United States in an attempt to make money and in search of a better quality of life than he had in Honduras," Schwab wrote. "[He attempted to file income taxes for 'a couple of years,' but was unable to do so because he does not have a Social Security number."
In his opinion, Schwab said that Juarez-Escobar falls into a "no-mans land" under Obamas executive action and that the presidents order may violate the inherent and constitutional rights of some of the undocumented immigrants, such as this defendant.
The Justice Department called Schwab's analysis "flatly wrong" and said he had no basis for his opinion because no one in the case had challenged the constitutionality of the president's actions.
"The decision is unfounded and the court had no basis to issue such an order," a Department of Justice spokesperson told the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. "No party in the case challenged the constitutionality of the immigration-related executive actions, and the departments filing made it clear that the executive actions did not apply to the criminal matter before the court. Moreover, the courts analysis of the legality of the executive actions is flatly wrong. We will respond to the courts decision at the appropriate time."
Schwab's opinion puts forth some of the same arguments made by Texas and 23 other states in their challenge to Obama's actions on immigration and was praised by many Republican lawmakers in the state.
The opinion was especially lauded by U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, who made headlines in 2006 as the then-mayor of the northeast Pennsylvania town of Hazleton who introducing the Illegal Immigration Relief Act, a city ordinance that barred landlords from renting apartments to undocumented immigrants and business owners from hiring them.
"Though this is the first of presumably many court rulings on the presidents unilateral executive amnesty, it is encouraging to see a federal court agree with what I have been saying all along," Barletta said in a statement. "It is clear that the president has overstepped his authority by creating new laws and granting sweeping amnesty to millions of illegal immigrants."
The United States and Cuba have agreed to establish diplomatic relations and open economic and travel ties, marking the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in fifty years, American officials said Wednesday.
The announcement comes amid a series of new confidence-building measures between the longtime foes, including the release of American Alan Gross, as well as a swap for a U.S. intelligence asset held in Cuba and the freeing of three Cubans jailed in the U.S, and the release of 53 political prisoners in Cuba.
The announcement comes amid a series of new confidence-building measures between the longtime foes, including the release of American Alan Gross, as well as a swap for a U.S. intelligence asset held in Cuba and the freeing of three Cubans jailed in the U.S.
President Barack Obama and Cuban President Raul Castro were to separately address their nations around noon Wednesday. The two leaders spoke by phone for more than 45 minutes Tuesday, the first substantive presidential-level discussion between the U.S. and Cuba since 1961.
Under the agreement, the U.S. government has released three Cuban spies in exchange for a U.S. intelligence asset that has been imprisoned in Cuba for 20 years. The three Cubans were part of the so-called Cuban Five a group of men who were part of the Wasp Network sent by Cubas then-President Fidel Castro to spy in South Florida. In exchange, Cuba freed an American intelligence official who was responsible for some of the most important intelligence and counterintelligence to come out of Cuba, according to a senior administration official, and also provided information that led to the prosecution to the Cuban Five.
It was very important that we recovered this intelligence asset. We rejected the notion that Alan was an intelligence asset and we werent going to engage in intelligence asset swaps, a senior U.S. administration official said.
The intelligence asset was not identified and government officials said they would not do so.
The Cuban government also agreed to release 53 political prisoners, a number of whom have already been released. Senior officials say Gross was released by the Cuban government under humanitarian grounds.
As part of the resuming diplomatic relations with Cuba, the U.S. will soon reopen an embassy in the capital of Havana and carry out high-level exchanges and visits between the governments. The U.S. is also easing travel bans to Cuba, including for family visits, official U.S. government business, educational activities, journalistic activity, public performances, humanitarian activities, and professional research activite, through tourist travel remains banned. Those traveling to Cuba will be able to bring up to 400 dollars of consumer goods back into the United States and 100 dollars worth of Alcohol and tobacco products, including Cuban Cigars, as long as goods are for personal consumption and not resold in the U.S.
The U.S. is also increasing the amount of money Americans can send to Cubans from $500 to $2,000 per quarter, or every three months. Early in his presidency, Obama allowed unlimited family visits by Cuban-Americans and removed a $1,200 annual cap on remittances.
Under new changes, Americans will be able to use credit and debit cards in Cuba, and U.S. financial institutions will not be able to work alongside Cuban banking insititions. The new changes will also ease trade for telecommunications and agricultural products in an effort to boost internet access and commerce in Cuba. Easing trade restrictions will specifically apply to goods used by private sector entreprenours in Cuba like restaurants, barber shops, and small businesses, as well as, agricultural equipment.
Meanwhile, the president has instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to launch review Cubas designation as a state sponsor of terrorism. Cuba has been listed as State Sponsor of terrorism since 1982.
Senior US administration officials said President Obama is doing as much as he can within the boundaries of the law and would like to see the Cuban embargo ultimately lifted by Congress. It is the administrations belief that the embargo is not working and that these diplomatic changes will create greater momentum for legislation in Congress to pass that will ultimately end the embargo.
Includes reporting from The Associated Press.
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With his announcement of plans to "actively explore" running for president, former Florida Gov. Jeb. Bush is now in the minds of many Republican donors and other party leaders an early front-runner for the GOP's next presidential nomination.
There are good reasons for that. There are also good reasons why it's far too soon to anoint Bush as the early pacesetter in the Republican race.
A look at a few arguments in favor of, and opposed to, Bush's strong status:
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In Favor:
More On This... Immigration plan draws cheers, criticism across US
1. The Bush Name
As the brother and son of former Republican presidents, Bush's family connections make him the ultimate safe bet for the GOP's biggest donors, who above all want to reclaim the White House. He will inherit the Bushes' national political network, which includes elected officials and activists nationwide, and deep-pocketed donors in New York, Florida and Texas.
2. Hispanic Voters
Bush is a fluent Spanish speaker, is married to a native of Mexico and is the former governor of a state where nearly a quarter of residents identify as Hispanic or Latino. He has continued to support a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the U.S. illegally in the face of fervent opposition among conservatives. Like few other Republicans, Bush has the potential to win over a growing group of voters who have voted solidly for Democrats in the past several elections.
3. Florida Experience
In his two campaigns for governor, Bush won at least 55 percent of the vote in what remains the most crucial of presidential swing states. He established a long record as an executive during his time in office, from 1999 to 2007, and in the years since has grown a private equity business. That's a record he can contrast against many potential White House rivals, whose shorter resumes are focused on serving in an unpopular Congress.
4. Ideas Guy
Bush is viewed as a policy wonk with expertise in some of the nation's most pressing issues. He led a nonprofit education organization, where he made innovation a priority. Bush could paint himself as an ideas man in a party eager to coalesce around a positive agenda.
5. Electability
Many political operatives suggest Bush gives the GOP the best chance of securing the 270 electoral votes needed to win the White House. He gives Republicans a good chance to win his home state of Florida, as well as Ohio, which his brother won twice. He's also poised to do well in states with large Latino populations, such as Colorado and Nevada. As a candidate considered less conservative than some White House prospects, he could help the GOP in swing states such as Wisconsin, Virginia, Iowa and New Hampshire.
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Opposed:
1. The Bush Name
This one cuts both ways. Bush's family connections could turn off conservatives who are still upset about the government growth that took place during George W. Bush's presidency. Some Republicans are already rolling their eyes about another Bush-Clinton contest, should Democrats select Hillary Rodham Clinton as their nominee.
2. Campaign Rust
Bush hasn't been a candidate for any office since 2002, when he won his second term as Florida's governor. That was years before the tea party transformed Republican politics. Twitter didn't exist, nor did the video trackers who now record a candidate's every move. Bush is certainly familiar with the pressure of presidential politics, but it's unclear how he would handle the intensity of a modern-day campaign.
3. Immigration
Bush has made immigration, including providing a pathway to citizenship for immigrants living in the country illegally, one of his signature issues. There is perhaps no more explosive issue among conservatives than what they call "amnesty," and Bush is showing few signs of backing off on a position viewed as a deal breaker by many conservatives.
4. Common Core
Bush has been an aggressive proponent of the Common Core education standards often demonized by conservative activists. The voluntary standards were developed and adopted by governors in both parties before critics painted them as a government takeover of education. Most ambitious Republicans have come out against the standards in recent months, while Bush has stood firm in defense of them.
5. Business Ties
A former commercial real estate developer, Bush missed out on the housing boom of the late 1990s and early 2000s. He's tried to make up for it since leaving office. Bush advised Lehman Brothers shortly before its epic collapse and more recently ramped up his work as a partner in a Florida-based private equity and business advisory group. Opposition researchers in both parties are already sifting through records of Bush's business interests, looking for attack fodder.
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December 28, 2016: A Jordanian court sentenced five members of an ISIL cell to death by hanging for acts of terrorism.
The state security court in Amman also handed jail terms of between three and 15 years to another 16 Jordanians in the same case.
They were found guilty of deadly "acts of terrorism", the manufacture of explosives and "possession of weapons and ammunition for use in terrorist acts" and recruiting people for "terrorist organisations".
The group of 21 were members of an ISIL cell that was broken up in March during a large-scale security operation in the northern town of Irbid, near the border with Syria.
Seven suspected militants and a member of the Jordanian security forces were killed during the operation.
The authorities announced later that they had foiled ISIL attacks in the kingdom, which had already been hit by deadly attacks over the past year.
Ten people were killed in a shooting rampage on December 18 in the popular tourist destination of Karak.
The attack was claimed by ISIL and marked the first time the group had targeted civilians in Jordan.
Two days later, the authorities arrested a man suspected of funding the attack in a raid on a house in Karak province.
December 26, 2016: A state security court sentenced four Jordanians to death for murdering a member of the security forces involved in the fight against drugs trafficking, a judicial source said.
Speaking to AFP on condition of anonymity, the source said the four were sentenced to die by hanging for killing the policeman in September in Aqaba province some 300 kilometres (180 miles) south of Amman.
The four were also convicted of "possession of automatic weapons... leading to the death of a person", the source added.
A fifth defendant in the same case was sentenced to 18 months in jail for possessing an unlicensed firearm.
The policeman had been taking part in an operation to arrest a person accused of drugs possession when he was fired on by gunmen in two cars.
In August, the authorities said more than six tonnes of illegal drugs had been seized and more than 13,000 people suspected of smuggling, possessing or using drugs were arrested during the first half of the year.
The interior ministry says 85 percent of drugs seized in Jordan are destined to be smuggled abroad.
Source: Agence France-Presse, December 26-28, 2016
Security Court hands down death sentence for killer of slain writer Nahed Hattar
December 20, 2016: Jordan's Deputy Director General of the State Security Court sentenced the killer of writer Nahed Hattar to death by hanging, al-Ghad newspaper reported.
Military judge Ziad al-Adwan added in a statement that the court had also investigated a second defendant who sold the weapon to the murderer, and a third defendant who acted as a middle-man in buying the weapon. Each were sentenced to one year in jail and fines.
Riad Ismail Abdullah, the primary suspect in Hattar's murder was convicted on charges of carrying out acts of terrorism, murder, and carrying and possession of a firearm without a license.
Hattar was gunned down on September 25 on the steps of the supreme court, and Abdullah was arrested immediately after committing the crime.
The prosecutor general of the State Security Court concluded its investigation on October 18 and referred the case file to the court for sentencing.
Source: albawaba.com, December 20, 2016
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Floridas Senator Marco Rubio issued a sharp rebuke Wednesday afternoon to President Barack Obamas decision to negotiate a prisoner swap with Cuba and restore diplomatic relations with the communist regime.
Rubio, the son of Cuban immigrants who left the island just before the Castro revolution in 1959, said while hes glad imprisoned American Alan Gross is now free, he believes the U.S. brokered a bad deal with Cuba, should not have negotiated a prisoner swap with the dictatorial regime, and should have demanded more concessions.
This president is the single worst negotiator we have had in the White House in my lifetime, who has basically given the Cuban government everything it asks for and receive no assurances of any advances in democracy and freedom in return, Rubio said in a press conference Wednesday.
He said he would make every effort to use his role as chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations subcommittee in the new Congress to block Obamas actions regarding Cuba.
Appeasing the Castro brothers will only cause other tyrants from Caracas to Tehran to Pyongyang to see that they can take advantage of President Obamas naivete during his final two years in office, he said in a statement. As a result, America will be less safe as a result of the Presidents change in policy.
President Obama said the U.S. agreed to release three Cuban spies in exchange for a U.S. intelligence asset who has been imprisoned for nearly 20 years for spying on Cuba. He said Gross, an aid worker who had been imprisoned for five years, was released separately by President Raul Castro under humanitarian grounds. The deal came about in secret meetings between US and Cuban officials held in Canada since the spring of 2013, and at the Vatican. Obama also declared the new deal marks the beginning of a new approach with relations with Cuba that expands economic and easing travel ties with Cuba while opening up a U.S. embassy in Havana.
These 50 years have shown that isolation has not worked, Obama said in his announcement Wednesday.
Rubio said the problem isnt the economic and travel measures, the problem is the administration should have demanded more in return.
There is no concessions on freedom of speech, no concessions on elections, no concessions on the freedoms of having alternative political parties, no concessions on ever having elections or anything of that matter, Rubio said on Fox News. What democratic concessions? And this notion that somehow being able to travel more to Cuba, to send more money to Cuba, and sell more consumer products in Cuba, the idea that that is going to lead to some democratic opening is absurd.
Obama said he remains seriously concerned about human rights violations in Cuba, but he did not believe the current isolation policy was going to change the governments behavior.
I do not believe we can keep doing the same thing for over five decades and expect a different result, Obama said, adding that he hopes these measures will renew an honest and serious debate about lifting the embargo in Congress.
However, Rubio, a powerful Republican in the incoming GOP-majority U.S. Senate, says debate aside, there is no support in the Senate for lifting the Cuban embargo and said the Obama administration has now undermined the purpose of the embargo in the first place.
I think the embargo is misunderstood. The embargo is not there to punish Cuba or even the Cuban government. The embargo serves as leverage, explained Rubio, who said the Obama administration. The embargo can be lifted tomorrow if Cuba opens up democratically, thats all they have to do for the embargo to be lifted they have to become a democracy.
But Republican Senator Jeff Flake of Arizona said Rubio was wrong to view the embargo that way.
The policy that we have had in place for the past 50 years has done more, in my view, and many view, he said, to keep the Castro regime in power than anything we could have done.
With little fanfare to mark a rare bipartisan achievement, President Barack Obama on Tuesday signed a massive, $1.1 trillion spending bill that keeps the government operating over the next nine months.
The legislation was a compromise that angered liberals and conservatives alike but avoided a government shutdown by putting off partisan clashes over immigration to next year.
The Department of Homeland Security will only receive its money through Feb. 27, a condition demanded by Republican leaders to appease critics of Obama's immigration measures. The department oversees the nation's immigration enforcement.
The spending bill was one of the last acts of Congress under the current Republican House and Democratic-controlled Senate. In January, the new Congress will return with Republicans in charge of both chambers.
The measure retains cuts negotiated in previous budget battles and rolls back some banking regulations. But it also retains spending for Obama's health care law and pays for the administration's fight against Ebola.
The agreement, negotiated mainly by Senate Democratic leader Harry Reid and House and Senate Republican leaders, was the result of a determined effort by House Speaker John Boehner and Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell to avoid a government shutdown like the partial one in 2013 that damaged the GOP's standing with the public.
Still, conservatives such as Sen. Ted Cruz of Texas chafed at Boehner's and McConnell's decision not to use the spending bill to challenge or undo Obama's executive actions on immigration, especially ones that aim to shield more than 4 million immigrants from deportation and make them eligible for work permits.
Likewise, liberals complained about a provision that did away with a requirement that large banks spin off their lucrative derivatives business into separate subsidiaries. They also objected to a provision that permits wealthy political donors to increase substantially their contributions to the Democratic and Republican parties.
The opposition from the political left and right added drama and uncertainty to the spending bill last week. Obama made personal calls to lawmakers appealing for their votes.
Meanwhile, Cruz and liberal Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren captured the spotlight by rallying their respective sides to oppose the legislation, laying bare the kinds of intraparty squabbles that could emerge in any future compromise efforts by Obama and the GOP.
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The state of Arizona must issue driver's licenses to undocumented immigrants who came into the US as children, known as Dreamers, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.
The 6-3 ruling blocks an emergency appeal by Gov. Jan Brewer to stop the Motor Vehicle Division (MVD) from issuing licenses.
The decision is the final nail in the coffin for Brewer's long fight to deny the Dreamers the right to drive.
That fight began in August 2012, when Brewer directed the MVD to deny driver's licenses to those who got deferred deportation status under Obama's executive order. She made that decision within hours of the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program kicking in.
Several immigrant rights activists filed a class action lawsuit challenging Brewer's actions. The lawsuit argued that the state let immigrants with work permits get licenses, and should apply the same rules to young immigrants protected under DACA.
In July, the U.S. 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled in favor of the Arizona Dream Act Coalition and said the state must give drivers licenses to the young immigrants.
Governor Brewer then asked the court to reconsider its ruling that blocked her policy. She stood firm in her belief that the decision to grant drivers licenses should be left to the state and filed an emergency appeal to delay the issuing of licenses.
In their dissent opinion, Justices Alito, Scalia and Thomas indicated they would have granted Gov. Brewers request.
The ruling will affects an estimated 20,000 young immigrants in Arizona.
Nicholas Espiritu, a staff attorney with the National Immigration Law Center, told Fox News Latino that drivers licenses are crucial for the Dreamers development.
The young immigrants who have been granted deferred action and work authorization under the DACA program are students and young adults who are trying to pursue an education, advance their careers, support their families, and fully contribute to their communities, he said.
Espiritu said he sees progress on the issue of immigration reform, but believes Arizona is still not where it needs to be.
We know that while the country is moving forward to find solutions that fix our dysfunctional immigration system, Arizona is firmly in reverse. We will continue to fight against any attempt to discriminate against young immigrants who the federal government has authorized to be here, said Espiritu.
Governor-elect Doug Duceys press aide said he will adhere to the law once a final rendering has been reached" when he enters office.
This should serve as a wake-up call for the new governor: Do whats best for your state by allowing everyone who should be able to get a license to do so, so they can drive to school and work and participate fully in their communities, said Marielena Hincapie, executive director of the National Immigration Law Center.
Nebraska is now the only state denying drivers licenses to 'Dreamers'.
Governor Brewer could not be reached for immediate comment.
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The United States and Cuba will start talks on normalizing full diplomatic relations, marking the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in decades, American officials said Wednesday. The announcement comes amid a series of new confidence-building measures between the longtime foes, including the release of American Alan Gross and the freeing of three Cubans jailed in the U.S.
President Barack Obama was to announce the policy changes from the White House at noon Wednesday.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said the U.S. and Cuba were moving toward normalized banking and trade ties. He also said the U.S. was poised to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months.
"This is going to do absolutely nothing to further human rights and democracy in Cuba," Rubio said in an interview. "But it potentially goes a long way in providing the economic lift that the Castro regime needs to become permanent fixtures in Cuba for generations to come."
Gross, 65, was on an American government plane bound for the U.S. Wednesday morning after being released on humanitarian grounds by the Cuban government at the request of the Obama administration. As part of the secret negotiations to secure his release, the U.S. was releasing three Cuban jailed in Florida for spying.
Obama administration officials have considered Gross' imprisonment an impediment to improving relations with Cuba.
Cuba was also releasing a non-American intelligence 'asset' along with Gross, according to a U.S. official. That official and others spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to be identified by name before Obama's remarks.
Bonnie Rubinstein, Gross' sister, heard the news from a cousin, who saw it on television.
"We're like screaming and jumping up and down," she said in a brief telephone interview from her home in Texas.
Gross was detained in December 2009 while working to set up Internet access as a subcontractor for the U.S. government's U.S. Agency for International Development, which does work promoting democracy in the communist country. It was his fifth trip to Cuba to work with Jewish communities on setting up Internet access that bypassed local censorship.
Cuba considers USAID's programs illegal attempts by the U.S. to undermine its government, and Gross was tried and sentenced to 15 years in prison.
The three Cubans released in exchange for Gross are part of the so-called Cuban Five a group of men who were part of the "Wasp Network" sent by Cuba's then-President Fidel Castro to spy in South Florida. The men, who are hailed as heroes in Cuba, were convicted in 2001 in Miami on charges including conspiracy and failure to register as foreign agents in the U.S.
Two of the Cuban Five were previously released after finishing their sentences.
In a statement marking the fifth anniversary of Gross' detention earlier this month, Obama hinted that his release could lead to a thaw in relations with Cuba.
"The Cuban Government's release of Alan on humanitarian grounds would remove an impediment to more constructive relations between the United States and Cuba," Obama said in a statement.
Gross' family has said he was in ailing health. His wife, Judy, said in a statement earlier this month that Gross has lost more than 100 pounds, can barely walk due to chronic pain, and has lost five teeth and much of the sight in his right eye. He has begun refusing to see his wife and daughter, the new chief of the U.S. Interests Section in Havana and members of Cuba's small Jewish community, who had been visiting him on religious holidays.
Obama has taken some steps to ease U.S. restrictions on Cuba after Raul Castro took over as president in 2010 from his ailing brother. He has sought to ease travel and financial restrictions on Americans with family in Cuba, but has resisted calls to drop the embargo.
Obama and Raul Castro shook hands and exchanged pleasantries last year while both attended a memorial service in South Africa for Nelson Mandela.
The surprise prisoner swap has echoes of the deal the U.S. cut earlier this year to secure the release of Army Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl, who had been held by the Taliban. In exchange for his release in May, the U.S. turned over five Taliban prisoners held at the Guantanamo Bay detention center.
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American officials say the U.S. and Cuba will start talks to normalize full diplomatic relations as part of the most significant shift in U.S. policy toward the communist island in decades.
Officials say the U.S. is also looking to open an embassy in Havana in the coming months. The moves are part of an agreement between the U.S. and Cuba that also includes the release of American Alan Gross and three Cubans jailed in Florida for spying.
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Florida, said the agreement includes normalizing banking and trade ties with Cuba.
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Former New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardsons trip in 2011 to Cuba to press for the release of Alan Gross, the American subcontractor who was jailed on the island and who was returned to the United States Wednesday, did more damage than good, according to sources close to the White House.
Richardson, a Democrat whose long roster of public service includes being a member of Congress and U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, had successfully helped negotiate the release of Americans held as hostages and prisoners in sworn enemy nations.
But this trip, which Richardson, author of "How to Sweet-Talk a Shark: Strategies and Stories from a Master Negotiator, made on his own, not as an emissary of the United States, turned out badly.
Cuban officials were not happy about Richardsons visit, though the former governor has said that they encouraged him to travel there. The officials denied his request to see Gross in jail. Gross, who was working in Cuba as a subcontractor for the U.S. Agency for International Development, brought computer equipment to the Jewish community on the island, reportedly as part of a democracy project that was not authorized by the Cuban government.
Cuban authorities arrested him in 2009 on charges of "actions against the independence or the territorial integrity of the state and sentenced him to 15 years in jail.
Richardson, rebuffed by Cuban officials during his visit, angrily told the press that they were holding Gross as a political prisoner.
Any small gains U.S. officials had been making in securing Grosss release came to halt, it seems.
Richardson decided he was going to go and save the day, Politico quoted a former Obama administration official as saying. He was freelancing.
Richardson admitted as much.
In an interview last year with Newsmax, a conservative news outlet, Richardson said: I screwed that one up.
"I thought we had a deal. I went in and talked to the Cubans. The Cubans were changing their policy at the last minute, he said. Instead of shutting up and waiting for things to calm down, I was in Havana and I went to the press. I said 'Alan Gross is a political prisoner, [and] the Cubans are not playing straight.'"
Richardson said he had lost his touch after years of not working in diplomacy. The Cuba mess was sobering, he added.
"Sometimes you can't go public, you can't show your emotion," Richardson told Newsmax. "You've got to be very restrained and careful when you're negotiating."
On Wednesday, Richardson praised the release of Gross on his Facebook page.
"The release of Alan Gross from a Cuban prison is indeed welcome news especially for his wife Judy whom I know and has suffered enough," Gross said. "I fully support the exchange of Gross for the three Cuban political prisoners. It is a good and proportional deal."
"Several years ago I traveled to Cuba to seek Gross release but was stymied when the Cubans first demanded the release of the Cuban Five," Richardson added. "The removal of Alan Gross as an issue between the United States and Cuba should pave the way for a serious improvement in the relationship on a variety of bilateral fronts such as taking Cuba off of the terrorism list and Cuba improving its human rights record."
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President Barack Obamas move to normalize relations with the communist government of Cuba setting in motion the most dramatic shift in U.S. policy toward the island nation in more than 50 years was roundly denounced by some in Congress who called it another end-run around them and vowed to fight it next year.
Several Republicans, already reeling from Obamas unilateral move to make sweeping changes in immigration and Democratic Senators pushing through votes on more than two dozen judicial and high-ranking administration nominees, expressed outrage over the presidents Wednesday announcement about easing restrictions on travel and commerce between Cuba and the United States.
They said they plan to block Obamas nomination for ambassador to Cuba, as well as block funding for a new embassy in Havana. For decades, both nations have had only so-called interest sections in each others capitals, not full-fledged embassies. Obama announced that that is going to change now.
"I reserve the right to do everything within the rules of the Senate to prevent that sort of individual from ever even coming up for a vote," said Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida in an interview with CNN on Wednesday.
Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican who will be chairman of the appropriations subcommittee that oversees funding for the State Department, said on his Twitter account that he will block money for an embassy in Cuba.
"Normalizing relations with Cuba is a bad idea at a bad time," tweeted Graham.
One of the most prickly attacks on Obamas move came from a fellow Democrat, Sen. Robert Menendez of New Jersey, who, like Rubio, is of Cuban descent.
Todays regulatory changes are clearly intended to circumvent the intent and spirit of U.S. law and the U.S. Congress, said Menendez, who is chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
When the new Congress convenes in January, I urge incoming Senate Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Bob Corker to hold hearings on this dramatic and mistaken change of policy.
In a conference call with reporters Wednesday morning, senior Obama administration officials, clearly mindful of the arguments made by critics of the presidents recent controversial unilateral actions, stressed that the foreign policy shift was within the legal parameters allowed him.
They noted that Obamas policy change was not a lifting of the decades-old embargo, which only Congress can do.
We are authorizing as much travel as we possibly can within the constraints of the legislation, said a senior administration official.
The New York Times noted that Obamas overhaul of U.S.-Cuba policy is the latest and most striking example of a president unleashed from the hesitancy that characterized much of his first six years in office. It follows decisions by Mr. Obama to defy Republicans on immigration, climate change policy, the regulation of the Internet and negotiations with Iran.
Gone are the cautious political calculations that consigned contentious issues to secondary status. Mr. Obama is instead pushing aggressively on his promises and ignoring his opponents in the process, the Times said.
David Axelrod, a former senior adviser for the Obama administration, told the Times that the president is going down a checklist of thorny, longstanding problems, and hes doing whatever he can to tackle them.
These are things that have been tearing at us for decades and generations. My sense is his feeling is, 'Im not going to leave office without doing everything I can to stop them.'
It promises to be a bumpy road for the White House and a Congress with a Republican majority in both chambers.
First Russia, then Iran, now Cuba, said Sen. Ted Cruz, a Texas Republican who has been one of the most vocal critics of Obamas executive order on immigration. This is one more very, very bad deal brokered by the Obama Administration.
Cruzs parents came from Cuba.
Rubio vowed to actively work against the president on the new U.S.-Cuba policy once the GOP takes over the Senate in January.
The Presidents decision to reward the Castro regime and begin the path toward the normalization of relations with Cuba is inexplicable, said Rubio. Cubas record is clear. Just as when President Eisenhower severed diplomatic relations with Cuba, the Castro family still controls the country, the economy and all levers of power.
This administrations attempts to loosen restrictions on travel in recent years have only served to benefit the regime."
A visibly angry Rubio went on to say, I intend to use my role as incoming Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committees Western Hemisphere subcommittee to make every effort to block this dangerous and desperate attempt by the president to burnish his legacy at the Cuban peoples expense.
He added that, Appeasing the Castro brothers will only cause other tyrants from Caracas to Tehran to Pyongyang to see that they can take advantage of President Obamas naivete during his final two years in office.
Many lawmakers, particularly Democrats, but some Republicans as well, surely will be fighting Rubio's and other opponents' efforts.
Opening the door with Cuba for trade, travel and the exchange of ideas, said Sen. Dick Durbin, an Illinois Democrat, will create a force for positive change in Cuba that more than 50 years of our current policy of exclusion could not achieve.
Republican Sen. Jeff Flake of Arizona praised Obama for working toward normalizing relations. Flake has been a long-time critic of the embargo.
"The policy that we have in place has done more to keep the Castro regime in power than anything we could have done," Flake said.
While the headlines and cameras focused on Alan Gross, the American federal worker who Cuba released from jail Wednesday, intrigue swirled around another prisoner who also was set free and put on a plane to the United States.
White House officials described the second man who had spent 20 years in jail in Cuba only as an intelligence asset who had provided crucial information to the United States that had paved the way for the prosecution of Cuban spies working within this country.
Several times, in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday before President Barack Obamas announcement about Grosss release and a major shift in U.S.-Cuba policy, the White House officials said they would not identify the intelligence asset.
But now, several media outlets are reporting that the unidentified man who was swapped as part of the deal between Cuba and the United States is very likely Rolando Roly Sarraff Trujillo, a former cryptographer in Cubas Directorate of Intelligence who did cover work for the Central Intelligence Agency.
Newsweek, the Washington Post, The Miami Herald and The New York Times were among the outlets that pointed to Trujillo as the U.S. spy who was released after 20 years in the Cuban jail.
Newsweek quoted Chris Simmons, a former Defense Intelligence Agency specialist on Cuba, as saying: I know of all the Cubans on the list of people in jail and he is the only one who fits the descriptionI am 99.9 percent sure that Roly is the guy."
Simmons added that Trujillo was an expert on cryptography for the Cuban Ministry of Interior who was arrested in 1995 and sentenced to 25 years in jail.
The Miami Herald, also quoting Simmons, said that Trujillo, now 51, and two other Cubans supplied the CIA with a trove of information, making it possible for the U.S. agency to decipher Cuban spy codes, read secret reports and track down and arrest those doing espionage for Cuba inside the United States.
He just destroyed their communications, Simmons said of Trujillo.
An Internet search for Rolando Sarraff Trujillo turned up a website called RolandoSarraff.com that described in Spanish a man who has been in jail for nearly 20 years and who is suffering a cruel imprisonmentHe has always declared himself innocent.
The site, which includes numerous posts attributed to relatives of his, says he endured harsh treatment for the simple fact that he thought differently and wanted democracy in his homeland, or at least the most basic human rights.
The website had a post on Thursday that said when relatives went to see Trujillo in jail, they were told he was no longer there and had been moved, though they said they were not told where he now was. They said that he had failed to call his family, which he did daily, the site said.
The site said the family hoped that he was among the many political prisoners who were being released by the Cuban government as a result of the U.S.-Cuba deal.
The site also includes a lot of poetry signed by Trujillo.
White House officials on Wednesday described the unnamed spy as someone who had risked his life and wellbeing to provide crucial information to the United States.
Obama said he was one of the most important intelligence agents that the United States has ever had in Cuba.
White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest said at a press briefing Wednesday: We recovered a highly valued intelligence asset, probably the most highly valued intelligence asset on Cuban soil in American history. And that individual is now on American soil.
In their secret negotiation with Cuban government officials about the release of Gross, U.S. officials made it clear that they did not want to treat getting back the American who was arrested five years ago after he attempted to bring computers to Jews living in Cuba and was charged with espionage as an even exchange of spies.
They demanded that Gross be released on humanitarian grounds, based on his fragile health, and that the long-jailed spy who had helped the United States be released as a swap for three of five Cuban spies who were in U.S. jails, having been convicted in 2001 of infiltrating military installations and spying on Cuban exile groups.
Two of the so-called Cuban Five already had been released after serving their sentences.
In Cuba, three men who were providing intelligence to the CIA drew the suspicion of Cuban authorities, who put them under surveillance. The Cuban nationals contacted the CIA asking to be rescued, say published reports.
Two of the men managed to flee Cuba. The Herald said: One, Jose Cohen, lives in South Florida, where hes a top Amway salesman. He did not respond to Herald emails asking for comment. The other has never been publicly identified.
Sarraff, however, The Herald said, was arrested and has been in prison ever since.
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A bill that will sanction Venezuelan government officials accused of being behind a crackdown on protesters that left dozens dead was signed into law by President Barack Obama on Thursday.
The president's signature was widely expected after the measure was approved by both legislative chambers last week.
The bill authorizes sanctions that would freeze the assets and ban visas for anyone accused of carrying out acts of violence or violating the human rights of those opposing the South American nation's socialist government.
Last summer, the State Department imposed a travel ban on Venezuelan officials who were accused of abuses during street protests that left dozens of people dead.
The bill was a bipartisan effort and was co-authored by Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.).
Venezuela's government made no immediate comment. But legislator Diosdado Cabello, president of the National Assembly, has criticized the action.
"We reject sanctions as arbitrary, as immoral and because no one has the right to impose sanctions on anyone else in the world," said Cabello, who is seen as one of the most influential members of Maduro's governing socialist party.
Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, R-Fla., said the bipartisan legislation signals the U.S. will not tolerate impunity of violations of human rights in Venezuela.
"We support the calls of democracy and freedom by the people of Venezuela," she said.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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An Arizona sheriff known for arresting hundreds of immigrants on charges of finding work using fake or stolen identities is planning to close the controversial squad that investigates such cases.
Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio's decision to disband the criminal employment squad will end his last major foothold in immigration enforcement after the courts and federal government have gradually reined in his powers in recent years.
Since 2008, Arpaio has raided 83 businesses, leading to more than 700 immigrants in the country illegally being charged with using fake or stolen IDs to get jobs. The raids have been criticized as focusing too heavily on the workers instead of employers.
"Here is guy who abused these laws and twisted them in such a sick way to do it for political gain. But I am glad that the reign over immigrants is over," said Lydia Guzman, a civil rights advocate who documented many of Arpaio's business raids and immigration patrols.
The agency didn't immediately respond to a request for comment Thursday morning.
The sheriff's office announced the squad's planned closure late Wednesday as part of a legal challenge to the immigrant ID-theft cases. The squad will close in January or February after it completes an investigation.
A memo by a sheriff's official said the agency will be voluntarily halting its work-related ID theft enforcement and that the decision was made after the courts have shelved certain Arizona immigration laws.
Annie Lai, one of the attorneys leading the challenge, said opponents of Arpaio's raids will try to get prosecutors to stop bringing work-related ID theft cases against immigrants arrested by other metro Phoenix police agencies.
The ID theft laws were part of a package of legislation that sought to confront employers who hire immigrants in the country illegally. Only one employer has been criminally charged in those investigations.
But the immigrants arrested for ID theft typically plead guilty to a felony, frequently face deportation and are unable to re-enter the U.S. legally.
Arpaio's immigration powers have dwindled as the federal government curtailed his authority or courts struck down several Arizona laws seeking to confront illegal immigration.
In late 2009, Washington stripped some of his deputies of their power to make federal immigration arrests. The restrictions continued when a judge ruled in May 2013 that Arpaio's office had systematically racially profiled Latinos in regular traffic and special immigration patrols. Arpaio vigorously denies the court's conclusions.
Another squad, focused on enforcing an Arizona immigrant smuggling law, has come under scrutiny from the judge in the profiling case after allegations of misconduct surfaced earlier this year, including whether a squad member had been shaking down immigrants who were in the country illegally.
A federal judge last month struck down the state's smuggling law, which was the legal underpinning for Arpaio's immigration patrols.
Still, a small number of Arizona's immigration laws have been upheld, including a key section of the state's landmark 2010 immigration law that requires police to check people's immigration status under certain circumstances.
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Colorado's top law enforcement official promises to vigorously defend the state's historic law legalizing marijuana after Nebraska and Oklahoma asked the U.S. Supreme Court to declare it unconstitutional, saying the drug is freely flowing into neighboring states.
The two states filed a lawsuit seeking a court order to prevent Colorado from enforcing the measure known as Amendment 64, which was approved by voters in 2012 and allows recreational marijuana for adults over 21. The complaint says the measure runs afoul of federal law and therefore violates the Constitution's supremacy clause, which says federal laws trump state laws.
Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said the lawsuit was without merit.
"Because neighboring states have expressed concern about Colorado-grown marijuana coming into their states, we are not entirely surprised by this action," he said. "However, it appears the plaintiffs' primary grievance stems from non-enforcement of federal laws regarding marijuana, as opposed to choices made by the voters of Colorado."
The lawsuit says Colorado marijuana flows into neighboring states undermining their efforts to enforce their anti-marijuana laws.
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"This contraband has been heavily trafficked into our state," Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning said at a news conference in Lincoln. "While Colorado reaps millions from the sale of pot, Nebraska taxpayers have to bear the cost."
Colorado has raised more than $60 million in taxes, licenses and fees from medical and recreational marijuana, which has been sold in stores since January.
The lawsuit says the sales have strained Nebraska and Oklahoma's finances and legal systems. Police are spending more time and money making arrests, housing inmates, impounding vehicles, seizing drugs and handling other problems related to Colorado pot.
Bruning, a Republican, blamed U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder for failing to enforce the federal law's ban on drugs in Colorado.
In a policy statement last year, the U.S. Justice Department noted it doesn't have the resources to police all violations of federal marijuana law. It laid out eight federal law enforcement priorities that states need to protect if they want to authorize "marijuana-related conduct." They include keeping marijuana in-state something Oklahoma and Nebraska says Colorado has failed to do. The suit doesn't contain statistics to support the claim.
Law enforcement agencies have long said anecdotally that they are feeling the impacts of Colorado's legal weed, making more marijuana arrests and seizing more of the drug.
But there's no way to know exactly how much legal pot is leaving Colorado.
The Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area wrote in a recent report that the amount of Colorado pot seized on highways increased from an annual average of 2,763 pounds between 2005 and 2008 to a yearly average of 3,690 pounds from 2009 to 2013. The weed was headed for at least 40 different states.
Scotts Bluff County Sheriff Mark Overman, in western Nebraska, said Colorado marijuana is extra potent, making it worth more in his region and giving sellers a greater financial incentive to do business there.
"I think this is overdue, and I think other states should jump on board," Overman said of the lawsuit. "I'm very frustrated. I take an oath of office, as does every other police officer in this country. I don't just get to pick and choose which laws I enforce."
Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper told The Denver Post he spoke with Nebraska and Oklahoma officials about their concerns.
"I'm not sure filing a lawsuit is the most constructive way to find a solution to whatever issues they are," he said.
Legal scholars say it's too early to know how the Supreme Court might handle the case or if it will even accept it.
"Right now, these regulations exist in legal no-man's-land," said Sam Kamin, a University of Denver law professor. "It's incredibly unusual for a state to be suing another state. (The lawsuit) certainly was a surprise to me given the movement at the federal level, which seems to be in favor of allowing states to experiment."
It was unclear if other neighboring states would take similar action. Attorneys general in Utah and New Mexico said they had no immediate plans to join the suit.
Brian Vicente, a Colorado attorney and legalization advocate who wrote Amendment 64, said the challenge is "political grandstanding" without merit. He said 23 states have enacted medical marijuana laws, and none have been overturned because of federal law.
"I think it shows they are on the wrong side of history," Vicente said. "Colorado voters passed this measure, and more and more states are passing these laws. If the attorney general has a problem with how federal laws are being enforced he should bring that up with the U.S. attorney."
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It could be several weeks before any Linn County marijuana dispensaries resume recreational sales once new rules take effect Jan. 1.
Saturday marks the end of limited retail sales from the Oregon Health Authority, which began in October 2015 following the statewide passage of Measure 91. On Jan. 1, recreational sales and licenses will be governed under the Oregon Liquor Control Commission.
For medical dispensaries interested in continuing recreational sales seen as a much more lucrative business than medical sales alone that meant a rush to file applications, meet requirements and pay fees before Sundays deadline.
This week alone 50 OLCC staff members were processing more than 100 applications for approval in the coming days, said Mark Pettinger, spokesman for the OLCC Recreational Marijuana Program.
Its a challenging time right now, Pettinger said. There are a lot of moving parts to all of this.
But in terms of recreational marijuana, few areas have had to deal with more moving parts in the last couple of months than Linn County and the city of Albany. No retailers will be able to sell recreational marijuana to start the year, as governmental bans on those sales (later overturned by voters in the Nov. 8 election) have led to delays in the application process.
Pettinger said no Linn County dispensaries will be considered for retail applications until Jan. 3, when the city of Albany is required to reconsider land use compatibility statements, an essential document in getting OLCC approval. That means delays for the Linn County retailers and three producers that have applied for active licenses in Linn County.
Someone could submit a bunch of paperwork and forms that we require to us now, Pettinger said. We could have those, but until we get the land use compatibility statement, we dont move forward. We need that as evidence that the process is approved locally.
Over the last several weeks, the Albany City Council and the staff wrestled with crafting rules and regulations regarding where dispensaries could be located. Those issues only recently were settled. (See related story.)
For Steven Holt, manager of Going Green Albany, the process has been frustrating.
We applied right after we won the vote and it overturned the ban on recreational sales, Holt said. But the city is holding onto the land use application. So we have to wait.
Albany Mayor Sharon Konopa said the City Council was looking out for the communitys interest in banning recreational sales and worked immediately to respond to the voters once the ban was overturned.
We met the night after the election so we did our part, Konopa said. Every city has zoning rules and dispensary owners for Albany and Linn County have known this for a long time. If theyre whining about it, they knew about it.
She added that it was important to prioritize proper zoning for recreational businesses.
What we came out with as a final product is a good fit for Albany, she said. Whether they have to wait another month or so to sell recreational, well, theyve been waiting all these years to sell recreational, so whats going to be another month or so?
Todd Dalotto, a cannabis consultant and owner of Albanys CAN! Research Education and Consulting, said that loss of business could mean a loss of jobs at some dispensaries if the process faces additional delays.
Its likely that its going to take months for (Linn County and Albany dispensaries) to get approved once the land use statement is approved, Dalotto said. So just by virtue of the timing, there wont be any recreational sales in Linn County for a while.
Erin Kennedy, a former Oregon Health Authority inspector who now works with Portland-based Aperture Consulting to assist in application processes, agreed that the ban and overturning of the ban caused several delays.
It put dispensaries in a situation where they couldnt become recreational shops in the same time frame as others, Kennedy said.
Sundays transition to the OLCC could also cause problems for medical marijuana dispensaries: Any products that met approval under Oregon Health Authority regulations before Oct. 1 will no longer be valid on Jan. 1. Recreational retailers were granted an extension to sell those same products until March 1.
They were allowed to keep selling those with a label that said they dont meet current testing requirements, Kennedy said. If they still have those in stock, they cant sell them on Jan. 1.
So what can dispensaries do with the excess product?
They can transfer them back to the vendor, they can put them on sale and try to sell them as quickly possible, or they can destroy them, she said.
Rhea Graham, owner of Albanys 1st Gramsterdam, said she stands to lose dozens of products that met previous regulations.
Were talking thousands of dollars of inventory that I cant do anything with, Graham said. OLCC is letting the recreational market sell it until March but those of us who are medical and serving medical patients cant. So medical patients are getting screwed.
Graham was fighting this week to convince regulatory agencies to extend the deadline to March and in the meantime has offered those products at major discounts.
Ive been offering things at 60 percent off. Its a sale but its more like a forced sale, Graham said. I havent been able to bring on additional people that I need to because I cant sell all of my products. We got into this to get away from the black market and to help medical patients, but they are not helping us do that.
How does one end almost 54 years of hostility toward a next-door neighbor?
That's about to become clear as the Obama administration and the communist government of Raul Castro move to normalize more than a half-century of bitter animosity between the United States and Cuba.
It won't happen overnight. Some of the likely steps:
Restoring full diplomatic ties
While international relations can be subject to laws passed by Congress, the White House enjoys broad discretion in diplomatic recognition. An exchange of diplomatic notes between Washington and Havana would be enough to normalize diplomatic relations, but that must be preceded by agreement on a series of separate understandings that would govern those ties.
High-level discussions to reach those understandings will begin in late January in Havana as part of previously scheduled U.S.-Cuba immigration talks. The top U.S. diplomat for the Americas, Assistant Secretary of State for Western Hemisphere Affairs Roberta Jacobson, will lead the administration's delegation. Jacobson told reporters on Thursday that the process is in many ways "mechanical" and will not be contingent on reaching accords on areas of deep U.S. concern, notably Cuba's human rights record.
Nor are comprehensive settlements of outstanding U.S. and Cuban legal claims against each other and private companies required for normalization, she said. President Barack Obama and others maintain, though, that improving human rights and resolving other contentious issues, including lawsuits, will remain key U.S. priorities moving forward.
Diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba were severed in 1961 but partially restored in 1977 with the creation of U.S. and Cuban interests sections staffed by diplomats in the countries' respective capitals. Those facilities are technically under the authority of Switzerland, which serves as what is known as a "protecting power" for both the United States and Cuba in each other's nation. Once full diplomatic relations are restored, those interests sections would be converted to embassies.
Reopening the U.S. Embassy in Havana and nominating an ambassador
As with recognition, the U.S. Constitution gives the executive branch wide discretion in opening and closing diplomatic facilities. But Congress must approve money to pay for them, and Senate confirmation is required for ambassadorial nominations. Several senators opposed to the administration's policy shift have threatened to withhold funding for an embassy in Havana and to block any nominee for ambassador. Since Congress has for 37 years funded the interests section in Havana and for its staff, who provide vital services to Americans and Cubans, administration officials do not believe Congress will block payments to convert the mission to an embassy. The State Department says it plans to use the building in which the current interests section is located, a six-story structure that served as the embassy from 1953 until 1961, and does not expect the change to cost significantly more than what is currently spent.
The ambassador post could be more problematic. A single senator can block a nomination. Administration officials expect that any nominee will face a difficult confirmation process but note that the functions of an ambassador are often carried out by a deputy chief of mission or charge d'affaires. The administration says it hopes to have the embassy open "within months" but that timetable will be dictated by the speed of the broader normalization effort.
Ending the U.S. embargo and removing the 'State Sponsor of Terrorism' designation
The executive branch does not have the power to abolish the 1963 embargo, but it can take steps to mitigate its effect. Ending the embargo would take an act of Congress, and administration officials admit they are not optimistic that will happen soon. Officials say, however, they believe an easing of sanctions will eventually create conditions in Cuba that will persuade opponents of normalization to vote in favor of ending the embargo.
In addition to the embargo, Cuba is subject to sanctions under other legislation, including its designation in 1982 as a "state sponsor of terrorism." That designation restricts U.S. foreign assistance, bans defense exports and sales, puts controls over exports of dual-use items and sets out numerous financial and travel restrictions. Obama announced he had instructed Secretary of State John Kerry to begin a six-month review of the designation that is required to delist Cuba. Officials refuse to pre-judge the outcome of the review but acknowledge that the White House would not have ordered it without an eye on lifting the designation.
Cuba is also subject to sanctions under the Trading With the Enemy Act, the Helms-Burton Act and other legislation, all of which would require congressional approval to repeal but not necessarily to ease.
Easing sanctions short of ending the embargo
Don't rush to Cuba to pick up cigars and rum just yet. The easing of trade, travel and currency restrictions announced on Wednesday will not take effect until the Commerce and Treasury Departments revise the regulations and publish the revisions in the Federal Register. That could take weeks, at least.
The administration says rules on visits to Cuba by Americans will be liberalized to allow for travel in categories that have in the past required special licenses from Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control. Those categories include: family visits, official U.S. or foreign government business, journalism, research and professional meetings, educational and religious activities, performances, workshops, competitions and expeditions and humanitarian support. Specific licenses will also no longer be required for business related to telecommunications and Internet linkages with Cuba.
In addition, Americans with family in Cuba will now be allowed to send their relatives up to $2,000 every three months, up from $500, and Americans visiting Cuba will be allowed to legally import merchandise bought there with a value of up to $400, including up to $100 in tobacco and alcohol purchases. Those purchases will also be allowed to be made with credit and debit cards issued by U.S. banks.
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Republican Senators Marco Rubio and Rand Paul, who are both mulling a bid for president in 2016, traded barbs on Friday over the controversial U.S.-Cuba deal.
It all started when Paul told a radio station that the embargo just hasnt worked and then said opening trade with Cuba was a good idea. Paul became the first potential Republican presidential candidate to offer some support for President Barack Obama's decision to attempt to normalize U.S. relations with Cuba.
"The 50-year embargo just hasn't worked," Paul said during a radio interview with Tom Roten of New Talk 800 WVHU in Huntington, West Virginia. "If the goal is regime change, it sure doesn't seem to be working, and probably, it punishes the people more than the regime because the regime can blame the embargo for hardship," added the Kentucky senator.
Rubio, a Cuban-American senator from Florida, quickly shot back at Paul during an interview with Fox, saying hes an isolationist.
He has no idea what he is talking about he said. "Whats hurting the Cuban people is not the embargo, whats hurting the Cuban people is the Cuban government."
Paul took to Twitter and Facebook to respond.
"Seems to me, Senator Rubio is acting like an isolationist who wants to retreat to our borders and perhaps build a moat. I reject this isolationism, Paul said.
Senator Marco Rubio believes the embargo against Cuba has been ineffective, yet he wants to continue perpetuating failed policies, Paul wrote on Facebook. After 50 years of conflict, why not try a new approach? The United States trades and engages with other communist nations, such as China and Vietnam. Why not Cuba?
Obama said Wednesday he would ease economic and travel restrictions on Cuba and attempt to partner with Congress to end the trade embargo. His announcement came after Cuba released American Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned for five years, and a Cuban who had spied for the U.S. In exchange, the U.S. freed three Cubans jailed in Florida.
Paul noted that he grew up in a family that opposed communism and at first thought opening up trade with China was a bad idea. But he said trading with China was the "best way to actually ultimately defeat communism."
His father, former Rep. Ron Paul, R-Texas, has supported lifting the Cuban embargo.
"The bottom line is, even the Cuban community is kind of coming around on this," Sen. Paul said.
Includes reporting by The Associated Press.
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U.S. President Barack Obama said during his end-of-year press conference at the White House that he feels confident in the renewed relations between Washington and Cuba but that the Cuban government still has great deal of work to do when it comes to human rights and personal freedoms on the island.
The president on Wednesday announced a diplomatic opening with Cuba, lifting certain travel and economic restrictions. A broader, 50-year-old economic embargo on Cuba remains in place and can only be lifted by Congress.
The historic deal with Havana was negotiated as part of Cuba's release of American Alan Gross, who had been imprisoned in Cuba for five years. The deal also involved a spy swap. Cuba released a Cuban who had been in prison for nearly 20 years for spying for the United States. The U.S. in turn released three Cubans convicted of spying.
"The whole point of having relations is that we can have greater opportunity for influence with that government," Obama said. "I would be surprised if the Cuba government purposely tries to undermine what is effectively their own policy.
"That doesn't mean over next two years we can anticipate them taking actions we might find deeply troubling, either in Cuba or with their foreign policy," Obama added. "But that's true of a lot of countries where we have an embassy.
The president also said that he also sympathizes with dissidents and human rights activists working in the working in the country. One of the U.S.s major gripes with the regime of Raul Castro is the jailing political prisoners and oppression of free speech on the island.
As part of the deal reached between Havana and Washington earlier this week, the Cuban government released over 50 political prisoners along with the two Americans and also said it would allow the International Red Cross into the country both moves being praised by Obama.
"I share the concerns of dissidents there and human rights activists that this is still a regime that oppresses its people," he said. "I dont anticipate overnight changes, but what I know deep in my bones is that if youve done the same thing for 50 years and nothing has changed you should try something different if you want a different outcome.
In regards to any travel plans for Obama to go to Havana in the near future, the president appeared to brush the idea away, but did say that he could make a trip to Cuba sometime in his life.
"We're not at a stage where me visiting Cuba or Castro coming to U.S. is in the cards," he said. "I don't know how this relationship will develop over next several years. I'm a fairly young man so I imagine at some point in my life I will visit Cuba.
Obama also added that the only time that former Cuban leader Fidel Castro was brought up in the discussions was after the presidents opening remarks to Raul Castro, which went on for several minutes. Obama apologized to Castro, but the younger Castro brother jested about how long Fidel used to speak for.
"[Raul] Castro said don't worry about it, you are still young man and chance to break Fidels record. He spoke once for seven hours straight," Obama said. "Then his own remarks lasted at least twice as long as mine allowing me to say runs in the family."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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For decades, the politics of Cuba in Florida were simple: anything less than a hard line stance against Fidel Castro and his regime was a sure way to lose a race for office.
President Barack Obama's surprise decision this week to restore diplomatic relations with the communist nation is the surest sign yet those politics are changing, with some even suggesting it's a political gambit aimed at cracking the Cuban-American community's longtime support for the GOP.
"They want to bring Cuban Americans over to what they view as a Hispanic bloc that supports Democrats," said former Florida Republican Sen. George LeMieux. "If you end the tensions with Cuba, if that's their goal, then I think they believe that they will end some of the reason why Cuban Americans have been affiliated with the Republican Party."
As a whole, Cuban Americans make up a much smaller percentage of Florida's Hispanic population than they did 15 years ago. While Obama's moves are sure to anger older Cuban Americans, especially first- and second-generation exiles, younger Cuban Americans aren't as likely to vote on this issue alone.
Add it up, said Democratic pollster David Beattie, and it has now become politically safe in Florida to make changes America's Cuba policy.
"They just don't understand the point of a policy that they didn't connect with," Beattie said. "It's in some ways politics catching up with where the state is as a whole."
Florida is the nation's largest swing state and most crucial prize in presidential politics, and Obama did not pay a political price after loosening travel restrictions to Cuba in 2011. He not only carried Florida in his re-election effort the next year, but exit polls showed he carried about half the Cuban-American vote.
Florida Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson said you can see "in the polls, and you can see that just by going to Miami and talking to folks," how much things have changed.
"I'm as anti-Castro as they come, but it's time to move on," Nelson said. "It's time to get into the 21st century."
He agrees that if U.S. tensions with Cuba were no longer an issue for Cuban American voters, it would help Democrats win them over on other issues of interest that they share with other Hispanics.
"Bingo," Nelson said.
As expected, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio and former Republican Gov. Jeb Bush both came out firmly against Obama's decision, with Rubio attacking the new policy relentlessly in the days after its announcement.
Beattie, a Democrat, said that puts them at risk of being viewed as out of touch by voters who think normalizing relations with Cuba will help the Florida economy.
"They're talking about a set of issues that voters aren't essentially concerned about," he said. "They're concerned about the economy. They're concerned about the cost of health care."
Rubio said he doesn't care what the popular position is. He said he personally knows people who have suffered under the Castros' rule.
"I don't care if 99 percent of people in polls disagree with my position, this is my position and I feel passionately about it," Rubio said this past week. "I'm glad that I'm the side of freedom and democracy. I'm glad that I'm on the side of human rights."
Republican strategist Ana Navarro said the timing of the announcement, well after the midterm elections, is a sign that Obama knows the changes still carry the potential of political risk for Democrats and others who support them.
"Did he do it when there was a political cost to him? Did he do it in 2012? No," she said.
Nelson noted the issue historically had the power to unite Cuban Americans against Democrats, pointing to the 2000 election, when George W. Bush beat Vice President Al Gore in Florida by 537 votes a victory that led directly to the White House. That year, Cuban Americans supported Republicans by a huge margin after being angered that President Bill Clinton's administration used armed federal agents to return a boy to his father in Cuba.
"That midnight raid to take Elian Gonzalez, that unified the Cuban American community against Democrats," Nelson said.
Navarro said Obama probably had 2000 on his mind and the influence Cuban Americans had in that race when deciding on when to reveal his plans to change the country's relationship with Cuba.
"They were afraid that come November the Cubans would remember, the way they did with Al Gore," Navarro said. "They're still very wary."
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Electricity bills. Speeding tickets. Dentist records. Money order receipts.
The search for documents is on for immigrants who may qualify for a work permit and reprieve from deportation under measures President Barack Obama announced last month. Applicants must prove they were in the country continuously since Jan. 1, 2010 a tall order for many accustomed to avoiding trails. For critics, conditions are ripe for fraud.
The administration has not said which documents it will accept, but advocates are taking guidance from a 2012 reprieve for immigrants who came to the country as young children. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program, known as DACA, allows vehicle registrations, baptism records, mortgages, postmarked letters and those are just some suggestions from the agency that vets applications.
Los Angeles immigration attorney Carl Shusterman uses social media postings. A Facebook photo at Disneyland might work.
"It's not the first thing I would use, but if you're here illegally and getting paid in cash, you may not have as good records as someone paying into Social Security," he said. "How do you prove you were here?"
Laura Lichter, a Denver immigration attorney, has used movie rental receipts, veterinarian bills and customer loyalty programs that detail purchase histories.
"You use what you got," she said.
Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson told members of Congress this month that fraudulent applications could potentially "undermine the whole process" and he promised to review safeguards. Citizenship and Immigration Services, which vets applications and operates under Johnson's watch, says it has grown its anti-fraud unit and increased "the scope and frequency" of vetting.
Some advocate a more aggressive approach.
Louis D. Crocetti Jr., who headed Citizenship and Immigration Services' anti-fraud unit until he retired in 2011, recommends more random interviews of applicants and periodic home visits for recipients of immigration benefits. He said his audits of various visa programs found double-digit fraud rates, including 33 percent for religious workers in 2005 and 13 percent for high-tech workers in 2008.
"Immigration benefits is a production-oriented agency that receives tremendous pressure from the public and the Hill to process applications as quickly as possible," he said.
The government plans to begin accepting applications by mid-February for immigrants eligible for an expanded version of DACA and by mid-May for parents of U.S. citizens and legal residents. Citizenship and Immigration Services Director Leon Rodriguez said the agency will hire as many as 1,000 officers to process applications. The agency says hires will get several weeks of training.
Attorneys expect children's birth certificates will be required for parents of U.S. citizens. School transcripts, bank statements and vaccination records also will be in demand.
Irwin Diaz, a San Diego construction worker who came to the country illegally in 1990, would use paycheck stubs if he applies but says employment records are tricky for anyone who worked under an assumed Social Security number.
"Whatever everyone like me is trying to do is see if we're eligible, see if they have any tickets they owed or things like that," said Diaz, 31. "It's people in the shadows."
School administrators say DACA prepared them. The Los Angeles Unified School District received 16,000 requests for transcripts and enrollment records after the program was announced in 2012, requiring the creation of a new record processing system and hiring. In Houston, hundreds lined up for records each day for months.
"The line would be out the door, down the hall," said Brita Lindsey, the student records manager at Houston Independent School District.
More than 700,000 people have applied for DACA since 2012, with 87 percent approved, 5 percent denied and the rest pending. Applicants must go to a government office to give fingerprints, which are scanned against law enforcement databases. They are typically not interviewed.
Patrick Taurel, a legal fellow at the American Immigration Council who has advised DACA applicants, said officers often ask for additional documents.
"It's a preponderance of evidence standard," he said. "It has to be more likely than not that you meet all the evidence standards."
Advocates warn that rigorously grilling applicants may dampen interest in one of Obama's signature initiatives. An estimated 5 million people are expected to be eligible, but some may worry that admitting they are in the country illegally will expose them to deportation. Permits last three years, and it is unknown how the next president will act.
Application fees, which are $465 for DACA, may also be a deterrent.
"Who's going to spend $500, plus expose themselves to potential backlash?" Lichter said. "It's just not going to work. It's going to sour people."
Prakash Khatri, Citizenship and Immigration Services' ombudsman from 2003 to 2008, said he didn't anticipate "really extensive" questioning. He said there is little incentive to lie because getting caught would erase any prospects of permanent legal status.
Technology advances have made lying more difficult since a 1980s amnesty that was widely perceived to be tainted by document fraud.
"In 1986, we were still dealing with the first generation of computers, no Internet," Khatri said. "Today if you present a document and you say you lived at a certain place, there are so many records that can reveal whether or not you have stated the truth."
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The Pentagon said Saturday that four Afghans from the Guantanamo Bay detention center have been returned to their home country in what U.S. officials are citing as a sign of their confidence in new Afghan President Ashraf Ghani.
Obama administration officials said they worked quickly to fulfil the request from Ghani, in office just three months, to return the four long cleared for release as a kind of reconciliation and mark of improved U.S.-Afghan relations.
There is no requirement that the Afghan government further detain the men, identified as Mohammed Zahir, Shawali Khan, Abdul Ghani and Khi Ali Gul. Afghanistan's High Peace Council, a government-appointed group, confirmed the transfer, but did not identify the men, saying that the four "will be reunited soon with their families."
The council also requested the repatriation of the eight Afghans who are among the 132 detainees remaining at Guantanamo.
The U.S. Embassy in Kabul, the Afghan capital, said in a statement that it had "full confidence in the Afghan government's ability to mitigate any threats these individuals may pose and to ensure that they are given humane treatment." The transfer "demonstrates Afghan sovereignty and U.S. trust in the strength of Afghan government institutions," according to the statement.
The move is the latest in a series of transfers during the past two months. President Barack Obama has been pushing to reduce the number of detainees as he tries to make progress toward his goal of closing the globally condemned detention center for suspected terrorists.
Administration officials, speaking on a condition of anonymity because they are not authorized to discuss the matter publicly, say more transfers are expected in the coming weeks.
Guantanamo now holds the lowest number of detainees since shortly after it opened nearly 13 years ago in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. Those remaining include 64 approved for transfer.
Although the four Afghans have long been approved for transfer, the move sparked debate in Washington. Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel did not immediately sign off after Gen. John F. Campbell, the top American commander in Afghanistan, raised concerns they could pose a danger to troops in the country. Administration officials say Campbell and all military leaders on the ground have now screened the move.
"The United States is grateful to the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan for its willingness to support ongoing U.S. efforts to close the Guantanamo Bay detention facility," the Pentagon said in a statement. "The United States coordinated with the government of the Islamic Republic of Afghanistan to ensure these transfers took place consistent with appropriate security and humane treatment measures."
One administration official involved in the review said most, if not all, the terrorism accusations against the men had been discarded and each is considered a low-level operative at best.
Before he can close Guantanamo, Obama faces the challenge of working out what to do with any detainees who aren't cleared for transfer either because the United States wants to prosecute them or continuing holding them because they are considered too dangerous to release. Congress has passed legislation blocking detainees from coming to the U.S. for detention or trial.
Obama issued a statement Friday objecting to congressional restrictions on closing Guantanamo. He said shutting down the detention facility was a "national imperative." He also noted that the U.S. recently ended its operations of prisons for suspected terrorists in Afghanistan by releasing the final three detainees from the Parwan Detention Center.
"Yet halfway around the world, the detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, remains open for the 13th consecutive year, costing the American people hundreds of millions of dollars each year and undermining America's standing in the world," Obama said.
He added, "The continued operation of this detention facility weakens our national security by draining resources, damaging our relationships with key allies and partners, and emboldening violent extremists."
Some Guantanamo opponents are questioning whether the United States has the authority to continue detaining prisoners captured in the Afghan conflict after the end of combat operations at year's end.
"We will certainly expect to see legal challenges to continued detention at the end of hostilities, which is just in a couple weeks," said J. Wells Dixon, an attorney with the Center for Constitutional Rights. Dixon has assisted on the case of Khan and said hopefully he can reunite with his father and brother after nearly 13 years at Guantanamo.
"He was sent to Guantanamo on the flimsiest of allegations that were implausible on their face and never fully investigated," Dixon argued. "He never should have been there."
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President Barack Obama said his plan to normalize relations with Cuba gives the U.S. a chance to influence events at an important moment of change for the communist nation, and he brushed off critics who accuse him of kowtowing to dictators.
Obama said a half-century of trying to push out the Castro government through isolation has not worked. He said his administration is taking a look at whether to remove Cuba from the U.S. list of state sponsors of terror, acknowledging that Havana's inclusion makes it difficult for the U.S. to pursue closer ties.
"If we engage, we have the opportunity to influence the course of events at a time when there's going to be some generational change in that country," Obama told CNN's "State of the Union" in an interview set to air Sunday. "And I think we should seize it and I intend to do so."
Obama's move to restore diplomatic relations with Cuba elicited cheers from longtime opponents of the strict U.S. position toward Cuba. But his announcement last week also drew fierce opposition, including from some U.S. lawmakers in both parties who said Obama failed to win any commitments from Cuba to democratize before the easing of U.S. penalties and travel restrictions.
On Saturday, Cuban opposition leaders in Miami joined Cuban-American politicians and activists, pledging to oppose Obama's plan.
Cuban President Raul Castro, speaking to his National Assembly, said that Cuba would not renounce its communist system despite the normalization of ties with the U.S. He paraded three convicted spies just released from U.S. prison, and they shook their fists in victory in front of parliament.
Obama said it's wrong to accuse him of letting dictators outmaneuver him, citing Russian President Vladimir Putin as an example. After all, Russia's currency is now collapsing under the weight of U.S. and European penalties, he pointed out.
"There is this knee-jerk sense, I think, on the part of some in the foreign policy establishment that, you know, shooting first and thinking about it second projects strength," Obama said.
"We have been very firm with respect to those countries that we think are violating international law or are acting against our interests. But I have been consistent in saying that where we can solve problems diplomatically, we should do so."
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New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie disagrees with President Obama's decision to normalize relations with Cuba and wants the president to demand the immediate return of a convicted cop killer from the country "before any further consideration of restoration of diplomatic relations with the Cuban government."
In a letter sent to the White House Friday and made public by his office Sunday, Christie pressed for the return of Joanne Chesimard, who was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973 during a gunbattle after being stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike.
Chesimard was found guilty but escaped from prison and eventually fled to Cuba, where she was granted asylum by Fidel Castro. She is now living as Assata Shakur and is the first woman placed on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorist List.
Christie said Cuba's decision to grant Chesimard asylum "is an affront to every resident of our state, our country, and in particular, the men and women of the New Jersey State Police, who have tirelessly tried to bring this killer back to justice."
Bernadette Meehan, a spokeswoman for the White House's National Security Council, said it will "continue to press in our engagement with the Cuban government for the return of U.S. fugitives in Cuba to pursue justice for the victims of their crimes."
Christie expressed "profound disagreement" with the president's decision, but he said the moment marked an opportunity for Cuba to prove it's serious about change.
"I do not share your view that restoring diplomatic relations without a clear commitment from the Cuban government of the steps they will take to reverse decades of human rights violations will result in a better and more just Cuba for its people," Christie wrote. "However, despite my profound disagreement with this decision, I believe there is an opportunity for Cuba and its government to show the American people it is serious about change."
Christie has generally been reluctant to weigh in on contentious foreign policy issues as he mulls a run for president in 2016.
Other potential Republican candidates, most notably Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio, have been publicly disputing one another's opposing stances.
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A federal judge on Monday appeared deeply skeptical of an Arizona sheriff's lawsuit seeking to halt President Barack Obama's plan to spare nearly 5 million people from deportation.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell questioned whether Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio had legal standing to challenge the immigration program announced last month. She suggested the topic is better left for Congress and the Obama administration to sort out.
In the first courtroom battle over Obama's plan, Arpaio's lawyer Larry Klayman said the president violated the Constitution by doing an end-run around Congress. He argued that the program would let more illegal immigrants enter the country and commit crimes, burdening law enforcement.
"It's not policy, he's creating law and he cannot do that under the U.S. Constitution," Klayman said of Obama.
But Justice Department lawyer Kathleen Hartnett said Arpaio's lawsuit seemed to be raising a "political dispute" rather than a legal claim the court could address. The Obama administration has called the case "speculative and unsubstantiated" and has urged the court to dismiss it.
Howell at times seemed exasperated with Klayman, a longtime conservative activist who has filed hundreds of lawsuits against the federal government, including challenges to Obama's U.S. citizenship. When Klayman said his client has been threatened because of his tough views on Obama's immigration policy, Howell responded: "That just doesn't cut it for me."
Howell, an Obama appointee, also said it did not appear that Arpaio could show a "concrete" injury he has suffered from the new policy, especially since it will take months before the bulk of it actually goes into effect.
"If Congress doesn't like it, doesn't Congress have the power to step in?" she asked.
Howell said she would issue a ruling in the case soon.
Arpaio has often clashed with the federal government over the enforcement of immigration laws and he has filed suit to stop new policies announced by Obama. He claims that more than 35 percent of immigrants living in Maricopa County illegally who wound up in Arpaio's jails in 2014 were repeat offenders, signifying in the sheriff's view that federal officials have done a poor job of deporting criminals.
Obama's plan marks the most sweeping change to the nation's immigration policies in nearly three decades and set off a fierce fight with Republicans. The changes include work permits and three-year deportation stays for more than 4 million immigrants here illegally. It mostly applies to those who've been in the country more than five years and have children who are U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents.
Under the program, the Homeland Security Department would prioritize the removal of immigrants who present threats to national security, public safety or border security. DHS officials could deport someone if an Immigration and Customs Enforcement field office director determined that removing the person would serve an important federal interest.
In a separate lawsuit, Texas and 23 other states allege that Obama overstepped his constitutional powers in a way that will only worsen the humanitarian problems along the southern U.S. border. That suit is pending in a federal district court in Brownsville.
The White House has insisted that Obama is acting under proper legal authority to enforce the nation's immigration laws.
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They waited in line in the dark outside motor vehicle offices, cheered when the doors opened and celebrated again upon passing their driving tests.
For many young immigrants in Arizona, Monday marked a landmark day as they were able to get driver's licenses for the first time.
Arizona was one of the last states in the country where officials refused to issue driver's licenses to young immigrants who were brought to the U.S. illegally as children but allowed to remain in the country under a 2012 Obama administration program.
Republican Arizona Gov. Jan Brewer waged a lengthy legal battle over the program to restrict licenses. Courts ruled against the state on several occasions and cleared the way for licenses to be issued Monday.
Immigrants said they were excited about getting a license after driving to their jobs without one and fearing they would be pulled over.
"It's going to be ... peace of mind knowing that I'm legally allowed to drive now, not having to watch over my back and think of, 'Oh, am I going to get pulled over and get a ticket, get my car towed, and how am I going to get to work the next day,'" said Jose Cazares, 21.
After lining up in the dark outside Motor Vehicle Division offices, the immigrants filled out paperwork then took written exams and driving tests, performing parallel-parking maneuvers surrounded by TV cameras.
"It feels pretty nice knowing that I finally have the piece of paper that I have been waiting for over two years," 19-year-old Ramon Maldonado said as he emerged with a license.
Jose Alberto Aguilar, a Mexico City native who was brought to the U.S. by his parents as a child, waited at a Motor Vehicle Division office in Tucson. The 23-year-old civil engineer rides the bus to work each day.
"It's great because it allows me to get a car and be safer too," he said.
Aguilar said he was hired as a civil engineer after an internship made possible when he acquired a Social Security number through the Obama administration program that he said "really opened a lot of doors for me."
State officials expect the rush of applicants to continue in the weeks ahead since about 20,000 immigrants could be eligible for driver's licenses.
A preliminary injunction issued Thursday by U.S. District Judge David Campbell barred the state from enforcing Brewer's license policy.
Young immigrants have said the policy made it difficult or impossible for them to get essential things done, such as going to school, work or the store. Others were thrilled to have a form of state-issued identification that makes their everyday lives easier.
Brewer moved to deny the driver's licenses after the Obama administration took steps to shield thousands of immigrants from deportation.
The president's policy applied to people younger than 30 who came to the U.S. before turning 16; have been in the country for at least five continuous years; are enrolled in or have graduated from a high school or equivalent program; or have served in the military.
In the nation's most visible challenge to Obama's deferred-action program, Brewer issued an executive order in August 2012 directing state agencies to deny driver's licenses and other public benefits to immigrants who get work authorization under the Obama policy.
Her attorneys have argued that the decision grew out of liability concerns and the desire to reduce the risk of the licenses being used to improperly access public benefits.
Despite her belief that issuing licenses is a state matter, Brewer's office confirmed she would comply with the latest development. However, she is asking the U.S. Supreme Court to review her appeal.
Nebraska is the only other state to have made similar denials, and a federal judge this year dismissed a lawsuit contesting that state's policy.
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The majority of an estimated 1,200 Central American immigrants held at a southeastern New Mexico detention center over the last six months have been released, authorities said Monday.
Immigration and Customs Enforcement said more than two-thirds of the immigrants were released before the Artesia facility closed last week, the Albuquerque Journal reported (http://bit.ly/16NlYOq ).
Those more than 800 people face follow-up court appointments before an immigration judge. An additional 370 immigrants were deported, and 15 remaining people will be relocated to a new family detention center in Karnes, Texas, ICE spokeswoman Leticia Zamarripa said.
American Civil Liberties Union officials in New Mexico say most of the immigrants plan to seek asylum, while some want to argue their cases in court.
Immigration advocates say immigrant families are often fleeing drug or gang violence in Central America and should be released to relatives already in the U.S. rather than being locked up. To qualify for asylum, immigrants must prove "credible fear of persecution" in an interview and before a judge.
The Obama administration commissioned two new facilities in Texas amid the recent influx of children pouring across the U.S.-Mexico border. A center in Dilley can house up to 2,400 women and children, while the facility in Karnes has room for 1,200.
The administration has said it wants to send the message that immigrants who cross into the U.S. illegally will be deported. The number of families caught at the south Texas border this year spiked to more than 52,000. That is a 600 percent increase, according to U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
Stephen Manning, a Portland, Oregon-based attorney, organized more than 330 lawyers to represent detained families pro bono in Artesia last July.
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Refusing to rule on the merits of the case, a federal judge has rejected an Arizona sheriff's lawsuit seeking to halt President Barack Obama's plan to spare nearly 5 million people from deportation.
U.S. District Judge Beryl Howell said the role of courts is not to engage in policymaking that is better left to the political branches of government.
The case brought by Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio "raises important questions regarding the impact of illegal immigration on this nation, but the questions amount to generalized grievances which are not proper for the judiciary to address," Howell wrote.
The sheriff filed a notice of appeal saying that he will pursue the case in the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit.
White House spokesman Eric Schultz said the court correctly dismissed the lawsuit.
"Judge Howell's decision today confirms what the Department of Justice and scholars throughout the country have been saying all along: the president's executive actions on immigration are lawful," Schultz said. "The Supreme Court and Congress have made clear that federal officials can set priorities in enforcing our immigration laws, and the actions announced by the president are consistent with those taken by administrations of both parties for the last half century."
In the first courtroom battle over Obama's plan, Arpaio's lawyer Larry Klayman said Monday that the president violated the Constitution by doing an end-run around Congress. He argued that the program would let more immigrants enter the country illegally, burdening law enforcement as some commit crimes.
"It's not policy, he's creating law and he cannot do that under the U.S. Constitution," Klayman said of Obama.
In Monday's courtroom argument, Justice Department lawyer Kathleen Hartnett said Arpaio's lawsuit seemed to be raising a "political dispute" rather than a legal claim the court could address a position which Howell subsequently embraced in her decision.
Arpaio has often clashed with the federal government over the enforcement of immigration laws and he has filed suit to stop new policies announced by Obama. He claims that more than 35 percent of immigrants living in Maricopa County illegally who wound up in Arpaio's jails in 2014 were repeat offenders, signifying in the sheriff's view that federal officials have done a poor job of deporting criminals.
Under the program, the Homeland Security Department would prioritize the removal of immigrants who present threats to national security, public safety or border security.
At issue in the current dispute is the executive branch's use on a massive scale of an enforcement tool known as "deferred action" to implement enforcement policies and priorities.
In the context of the immigration laws, deferred action represents a decision by the Homeland Security Department not to seek the removal of an immigrant for a set period of time.
Even an ongoing threat to Arpaio by undocumented immigrants would not provide him with standing to challenge the deferred action programs at issue, Howell wrote. "The plaintiff must not only show that he is injured, but that the plaintiff's injury is fairly traceable to the challenged deferred action programs and that the injury is capable of redress by this court in this action."
In a separate lawsuit, Texas and 23 other states allege that Obama overstepped his constitutional powers in a way that will only worsen the humanitarian problems along the southern U.S. border. That suit is pending in a federal district court in Brownsville, Texas.
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Vice President Joe Biden plans to be among the mourners at the funeral for a New York City policemen gunned down last weekend.
The White House says President Barack Obama has asked Biden to attend Saturday's service for Rafael Ramos at Christ Tabernacle Church in Glendale, New York. Biden's wife will also attend.
Obama is on vacation in Hawaii.
Ramos and his partner, Wenjian Liu, were ambushed Saturday. New York's police commissioner says Liu's family plans to make arrangements after arriving from China.
The deaths of Ramos and Liu were the final act in a rampage by Ismaaiyl Brinsley that began when Brinsley shot and wounded his ex-girlfriend at her home outside Baltimore, then made threatening posts online, including a vow to put "wings on pigs" and references to high-profile cases of white police officers killing unarmed black men. After shooting the officers, Brinsley ran into a subway station and committed suicide.
The killings have raised concerns and tempers in the already tense nationwide debate surrounding police conduct. Some key developments after the weekend shooting in New York:
Amid calls for restraint, protests go on
Despite calls from New York's governor, the city's mayor and others calling for restraint, hundreds of protesters marched through midtown Manhattan on Tuesday night, with some holding signs saying "Jail killer cops."
The protesters were mostly peaceful as they wound through the city's bustling shopping district.
Mayor Bill de Blasio on Monday called for a pause in protests over police conduct. He faces a widening rift with those in a grieving police force who accuse him of creating a climate of mistrust that contributed to the killings of the officers.
Police Commissioner William Bratton, speaking Tuesday in Rhode Island, said it was "unfortunate" that some protests continued despite the mayor's plea.
Tributes, memorial visits
Landmarks including the Empire State Building and the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree dimmed their lights from 9 p.m. to 9:05 p.m. Tuesday to honor the slain officers.
A makeshift memorial has sprung up at the sight of the shooting, crammed with flowers, cards and candles. A daughter of Eric Garner, killed in a police chokehold, placed a candle at the site Monday and said she was touched by the message Ramos' young son posted online.
"It hit my heart," Emerald Snipes said.
The mayor and his wife quietly visited the site of the shooting on Tuesday morning, spending several minutes there.
De Blasio folded his hands before him and stood with his head bowed. His wife placed flowers among dozens of tributes.
Later, de Blasio observed a moment of silence at 2:47 p.m., the time the officers were shot.
About the victims
Ramos, who celebrated his 40th birthday this month, joined the New York Police Department in 2012 after working as a school security officer. He was a lifelong Brooklyn resident.
He was married with two sons: a 13-year-old who attends middle school in Brooklyn and one who is a sophomore at Bowdoin College in Maine.
The 32-year-old Liu, whose family moved from China when he was a teenager, had been a member of the police force for seven years, after serving in the police auxiliary. He moved this year to a home in Brooklyn's Gravesend section and got married two months ago.
His wife, Pei Xia Chen, gave a tearful statement to reporters Monday evening.
"This is a difficult time for both of our families," she said, expressing her condolences to Ramos' widow and children. "But we will stand together and get through this together."
Brinsley's hospitalized ex-girlfriend, Shaneka Thompson, was upgraded from critical to serious condition.
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Like tens of thousands of Cubans, Gerardo Luis wants to get to the United States and he's suddenly worried that time may be running out.
Across an island where migrating north is an obsession, the widespread jubilation over last week's historic U.S-Cuba detente is soured by fear that warming relations will eventually end Cubans' unique fast track to legal American residency.
For nearly a half-century, the Cuban Adjustment Act has given Cubans who arrive in the U.S. a virtually guaranteed path to legal residency and eventual citizenship. The knowledge that they will be shielded from deportation has drawn hundreds of thousands of Cubans on perilous raft trips to Florida and land journeys through Central America and Mexico.
"If they take away the adjustment law, it would mean Cubans would end up just like all the other Hispanics who want to enter the United States," said Luis, a 36-year-old construction worker who said he may try to reach Mexico and walk across the border if he doesn't get a visa soon.
U.S. officials say there are no immediate plans to change immigration laws or policy. But with the U.S. and Cuba negotiating a return to full diplomatic relations, many Cubans are wondering how long their extraordinary privilege can survive under restored diplomacy, and are thinking about speeding up plans to get to the U.S.
"I don't know if they will take it away," Angela Moreno, a 67-year-old retiree said of the preferential treatment, "but if they do, Cubans who go to the United States will have to do it like people from other countries."
Cubans arriving at a U.S. border or airport automatically receive permission to stay in the United States under policies stemming from the 1966 act, which allows them to apply for permanent residency after a year, almost always successfully.
Seeking to discourage mass migrations by sea, the United States developed its so-called "wet foot, dry foot policy," in which migrants who make it to the U.S. are automatically allowed to stay. Those stopped at sea are either sent back to their homeland or to a third country if they can prove a credible fear of persecution.
U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Florida Democrat, said he welcomed President Barack Obama's move to create a "modern relationship" with Cuba, but Congress is not likely to alter the Cuban Adjustment Act or the U.S. trade embargo, until there have been significant steps by the Castro government.
"Major changes to a law like that or to the embargo are not going to happen unless people like me support those changes, and I'm not going to support them unless I see some movement toward freedom" Nelson told The Associated Press.
However, the restoration of diplomatic relations could cause its own complications.
Illegal immigrants caught right after crossing the border are subject to swift deportation without a hearing, a process known as expedited removal. Cubans are exempted simply by presenting proof of their nationality.
Randy McGrorty, the director of Miami's Catholic Legal Services, which helps migrants settle in the United States, noted that a section of the Immigration and Naturalization Act dealing with expedited removal of migrants excludes people from "a country in the Western Hemisphere with whose government the United States does not have full diplomatic relations" without mentioning Cuba by name. It's unclear how re-establishing full relations would affect that vital section of immigration law, he said.
The Cuban Adjustment Act was designed in an era when politics was a factor in many migrants' decision to leave. In recent years Cubans have increasingly left primarily to reunite with their families and seek better economic opportunities.
President Raul Castro's 2012 relaxation of Cuba's immigration laws means citizens can leave without applying for special permits, and maintain many of the island's social benefits even after moving to the U.S. Along with U.S. measures including the granting of five-year, multiple-entry visas, that has contributed to a rising flow of Cubans and Cuban-American traveling back and forth between the two countries.
U.S. Sen. Marco Rubio, a Cuban-American Republican, has criticized a growing tendency by migrants to constantly travel between the island and the United States, warning that it endangers the special treatment Cubans have long enjoyed.
If the preferential policy is in place to aid exiles fleeing political oppression, such travel "undermines that argument," Rubio said in August. "That sort of travel puts at risk the status Cubans have."
The U.S. Interests Section, which handles American consular affairs in Havana in the absence of a full embassy, approved more than 33,000 non-immigrant visas for Cubans to visit the U.S. last year, a 99 percent increase.
It has also become must faster to get such a visa, with the wait time dropping from 57 months in 2012 to five months this year. Still, it can be a grueling process. Cubans spend hours each day, starting at dawn, in a plaza near the U.S. mission that is known as the "park of sorrows" because of the long waits and the frequent rejection of paperwork.
One waiting outside the interests section this week was 75-year-old Magaly Ruedas, who wants to join her extended family in the United States and hopes the benefits for Cubans will remain in place. If the law changed, "I think that would hurt Cubans and I don't think Obama or Raul intended to do that," she said.
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Californias Department of Motor Vehicles has opened four new offices and hired more than 900 additional staff in an effort to prepare for the law that will allow undocumented immigrants to apply for a drivers license.
The applications, which require individuals to verify their identities and show proof of California residency, will be accepted beginning Jan. 2. The department expects to process approximately 1.4 million new drivers license applications in the next three years.
DMV opened new offices in Granada Hills, Stanton, Lompoc and San Jose to process new drivers license applications, including those of undocumented immigrants after the law goes into effect.
In January, the DMV will extend its Saturday hours at up to 60 offices for new license applicants with appointments.
Individuals have been able to make appointments for a new license since Nov. 12. Officials say they arent sure if there will be an initial surge of applications, but the number of people making license appointments more than doubled to 379,000 during the first two weeks immigrants were allowed to sign up.
Alliance San Diego, a social justice non-profit, has participated in more than 30 community forums to promote the law and help immigrants prepare to apply for a license. Special projects organizer Daniel Alfaro told Fox News Latino that most immigrants have said they would apply for a drivers license.
For families, I think it will make life much, much easier, he said.
But not all immigrant advocates are as encouraging.
"For the vast majority of people, getting a license is a good decision," Alison Kamhi, a staff attorney at the Immigrant Legal Resource Center told the Associated Press. "At the same time, I think it is important people are aware there is some risk."
Anyone who previously obtained a driver's license under a false name or someone else's Social Security number, for instance, or those with a prior deportation order or criminal record might want to speak first with a lawyer, Kamhi said, pointing out that federal immigration and law enforcement officials can access Department of Motor Vehicles data during an investigation.
The list of documents that will be accepted to verify an applicants identity includes foreign passports, consular ID cards, and a combination of documents such as birth certificate and income tax returns.
Applicants also will need to provide a thumbprint and pass a vision assessment, as well as a written and behind-the-wheel-driving test. The tests will be available in various languages including Spanish.
Individuals will also be required to pay a new license fee and show proof of insurance if they register a vehicle.
Experts don't foresee major problems with the rollout of the program because the state has had more than a year to prepare and an ample budget $141 million spanning three years.
In Nevada, about 90 percent of immigrants failed the required written test during the first few weeks a driver authorization card was offered because they were not prepared. In Colorado, the state had no startup funding to issue licenses and couldn't keep pace with demand, leading to monthslong waits.
Jonathan Blazer, advocacy and policy counsel for the American Civil Liberties Union Foundation, told the AP that he expects California to license as many immigrants in the country illegally as the nine other states, Washington D.C., and Puerto Rico combined.
"If California is not able to do this right with the resources it put into this, other states will take notice," Blazer said.
The new IDs will be similar to ordinary California licenses but will include the phrase federal limits apply on the front, and a caution on the back that the card cant be used for official federal purposes.
Pro-immigration groups have argued that the differences could make immigrants more vulnerable to discrimination.
Isidro Ortiz, a professor at San Diego State University whose area of research focuses on immigration policy and reform, said some activists have referred to the licenses as scarlet letters, marking the bearers as being in the country illegally.
I think thats a serious concern, especially here in the border region, Ortiz said.
He said the apprehension is tied to the number of deportations that have been carried out under President Obama as well as and the stricter border security thats also called for under the immigration plan.
Alfaro said that Alliance San Diego is developing a hotline to allow immigrants to report discrimination they may face from law enforcement or other entities as a result of the new licenses.
Abel Rivera, a 37-year-old forklift driver, took a class to brush up on differences between driving in California and his native Mexico, where he was a truck driver for more than a decade. One thing he hadn't considered was how to drive on icy roads, said Rivera, who has an appointment for a license in mid-January.
"The sooner the better, because it will be safer to drive," he told the AP, adding that he hopes to qualify for better insurance coverage and avoid problems like those faced by his brother when he was pulled over and had his car impounded.
The faces of the Republican Party's most ambitious members are changing.
Long criticized as the party of old white men, the GOP's next class of presidential contenders may include two Hispanic senators, an Indian-American governor, a female business leader and an African-American neurosurgeon. In a group that could exceed a dozen Republican White House prospects, all but a few are in their 40s or 50s, while one of the oldest white men is a fluent Spanish speaker whose wife is a native Mexican.
The diverse group is a point of pride for those Republicans who have long pushed for a welcoming "big tent" party.
"This is a diverse nation, and we need to be a diverse party," said Carly Fiorina, the former Hewlett-Packard chief executive and only Republican woman openly weighing a 2016 bid. "That doesn't mean we sacrifice our principles, but it means we need to look like and understand and empathize with the nation."
Republican strategists hope that a more diverse slate of candidates will help appeal to a growing minority population that has given Democrats a decided advantage in the last two presidential contests.
It's unclear, however, whether changing the faces of the GOP's messengers will be enough to take back the White House in 2016. As critics point out, Republicans have alienated some minority voters by pushing for voter identification laws that disproportionately affect nonwhites, while resisting comprehensive changes in the immigration and criminal justice systems.
"They're going to have to make a decision about whether they're going to build a meaningful multiracial coalition by respecting and defending the rights of all people in this country," said Benjamin Jealous, a former president of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, "or whether they're going to continue to play this dog-whistle politics that have besmirched the Republican Party since the days of Barry Goldwater."
The Republican Party has struggled with attracting support from minorities since Democratic President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Civil Rights Act of 1964. Goldwater, the Republican presidential nominee, opposed it. But Jealous and others suggest there are signs of hope in a crowded and diverse 2016 Republican class.
Florida Sen. Marco Rubio and Texas Sen. Ted Cruz are both Hispanic, while Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal is the first Indian-American governor in the U.S.
Former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush recently announced plans to "actively explore" a presidential bid. At 61, he is among the older would-be Republican candidates. Bush speaks fluent Spanish, is married to a native Mexican and lists as one of his signature issues an immigration overhaul that includes a pathway to citizenship for immigrants in the country illegally.
The field of prospective candidates also includes Kentucky Sen. Rand Paul, a libertarian-minded Republican who has already shown an ability to attract younger people and minorities. Paul, who is white, was the only Republican presidential prospect to visit Ferguson, Missouri, as the city was ripped apart by racial tension this fall over a white police officer fatally shooting an unarmed, black teenager.
Retired neurosurgeon and conservative firebrand Ben Carson, who grew up in Detroit, can speak to racial issues from a unique perspective as the early field's only African-American.
"Police have to admit that maybe there are some other tactics and things that can be utilized," he said in a recent Associated Press interview. "People in neighborhoods have to recognize that people who are thugs are thugs. You can't make them into angels. Unless the two sides can admit those things, meaningful discussions will never be had."
The Republican Party's survival may depend on its ability to expand beyond its white, male base. That's according to the Republican National Committee, which commissioned a review of the 2012 presidential election that found its position "precarious" because of the nation's demographic changes.
"America is changing demographically and unless Republicans are able to grow our appeal," the authors wrote, "the changes tilt the playing field even more in the Democratic direction."
As the 2013 report notes, the American electorate was 88 percent white in 1980, according to exit polls. White voters represented just 72 percent of those who cast ballots in the 2012 presidential election. By 2050, predicts the Pew Hispanic Center, the percentage will fall to 47.
Still, GOP leaders are more confident about the demographic shifts today than they were immediately after a painful 2012 election season.
Just last month, Republicans claimed control of both chambers of Congress in part by devoting millions of dollars to minority engagement efforts that will continue in Hispanic communities across swing states like Colorado, Florida and Virginia. They also established permanent field offices in urban areas such as Detroit that have long been ignored by Republicans.
The GOP's success may be misleading, however.
Turnout in the 2014 midterms was among the lowest since World War II, and those casting ballots were older, whiter and more male than voters in recent presidential years.
Republicans have their work cut out for them in 2016, when many Democrats expect to nominate former Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton.
"Because of our successes in the midterm elections we have important building blocks in place for the presidential campaign," said Republican National Committee spokesman Kirsten Kukowski. "We are starting from a strong place."
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The race is on.
Democrats and Republicans have already started their campaigns to win over Hispanic voters for the 2016 presidential election, according to articles in various publications.
An article in Politico argues that the Democratic leadership, upset over low support and turnout by Latino voters in the 2014 midterms in which Hispanics voted Democratic by a 28 percent margin, down from 44 percent in 2012 has responded by upping fundraising efforts in heavily Latino congressional districts, selecting the New Mexico congressman Ben Ray Lujan to head up the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee and forming an Immigration Strike Team earlier this month.
Composed of members of both the White House and the Congressional Democratic Caucus, the idea behind the strike team is to coordinate talking points and media appearances to counter Republican objections to President Obamas executive actions on immigration.
The presidents approval ratings among Hispanics since announcing the moveswhich extend deportation protection to between 4 and 5 million people in the country illegally and increase some border security measuresjumped from 47 percent in September to 57 percent in a Wall Street Journal/NBC News/Telemundo poll released last week.
It was really bad timing for some senators who approached the president and asked him to put off taking executive action on immigration, California Rep. Tony Cardenas, the new chairman of the Congressional Hispanic Caucuss political action committee told Politico. Talking to Latinos, a lot of them were very bothered, a lot of them were very perplexed and confused.
The way many Democrats see it, the presidents unilateral immigration action has put the GOP on the defensive, at least where Latino voters are concerned.
I think Republicans have a problem right now with immigration reform, Lujan told Politico. Republicans are going further and further to the right instead of trying to find a way to work in the middle to get this done. Thats going to hurt GOP chances in the debates, in the presidential campaign, as well as in these House elections.
The veteran political analyst, Larry Sabato, told the International Business Times, Republicans can choose to maximize or minimize this Democratic advantage by how they handle the reaction to the executive order.
Whether that is the case or not, the Republicans have done a much better job over the last 10 years of cultivating Hispanic politicians and grooming them for prominent positions with national recognition.
Senators Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas are widely believed to be among those who will toss their hats into the 2016 ring. And Western governors Susana Martinez of New Mexico and Bryan Sandoval of Nevada are often in the conversation when talk turns to potential vice presidential candidates.
On the Democratic side only the Castro brothers of San Antonio, Housing and Urban Development secretary Julian and U.S. congressman Joaquin, have anything approaching that kind of national reputation.
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In keeping with the newly heightened spirit of brinksmanship and confrontation that seem to have Congress and the White House on a collision course over topics like immigration and the environment, while on vacation in Hawaii President Barack Obama decided to remind Republicans that he has one Constitutional power they will find hard to overcome: the veto.
Since taking office in 2009, Obama has only vetoed legislation twice, both in fairly minor circumstances. But with Republicans set to take full control of Congress next year, Obama is losing his last bulwark against a barrage of bills he doesn't like: the Senate.
"I haven't used the veto pen very often since I've been in office," Obama said in an NPR interview airing Monday. "Now, I suspect, there are going to be some times where I've got to pull that pen out."
He added: "I'm going to defend gains that we've made in health care. I'm going to defend gains that we've made on environment and clean air and clean water."
Obama's notice to the GOP came as he sought to set the tone for a year in which Congress and the president are on a near-certain collision course. Buoyed by decisive gains in last month's midterm elections, Republicans are itching to use their newfound Senate majority to derail Obama's plans on immigration, climate change and health care, to name a few.
To overturn Obama's veto, Republicans would need the votes of two-thirds of the House and Senate. Their majorities in both chambers are not that large, so they would still need to persuade some Democrats to defy the president.
But Obama said he was hopeful that at least on some issues, that won't be necessary, because there's overlap between his interests and those of congressional Republicans. On that point, at least, he's in agreement with incoming Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky.
"Bipartisan jobs bills will see the light of day and will make it to the President's desk, and he'll have to make decisions about ideology versus creating jobs for the middle class," McConnell said in response to Obama's comments. "There's a lot we can get done together if the president puts his famous pen to use signing bills rather than vetoing legislation his liberal allies don't like."
Potential areas for cooperation include tax reform and global trade deals both issues where Obama and Republicans see at least partially eye to eye. Conversely, the likeliest points of friction surround Environmental Protection Agency regulations, the Keystone XL pipeline and Obama's unilateral steps on immigration, which let millions of people in the U.S. illegally avoid deportation and get work permits.
In the interview, recorded before Obama left Washington earlier this month for his annual Hawaii vacation, Obama also offered his most specific diagnosis to date of why Democrats fared so poorly in the midterms. He said he was "obviously frustrated" with the results.
"I think we had a great record for members of Congress to run on and I don't think we myself and the Democratic Party made as good of a case as we should have," Obama said. "And you know, as a consequence, we had really low voter turnout, and the results were bad."
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Just in time for the holidays, a low-profile presidential aide invited long-suffering Judy Gross into his White House office to personally give her the gift she'd been hoping for the past five years. Her husband, Alan Gross, was being released from a Cuban prison and coming home.
The meeting was the culmination of two years of quiet negotiations with Cuban officials. The man who helped handle those negotiations for President Barack Obama was Ricardo Zuniga, an American diplomat born in Honduras to a prominent political family.
The dealings involved much more than just Gross' release from a 15-year sentence, like the re-establishment of diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba after a half-century of Cold War hostility. Obama tasked two aides with the challenge Ben Rhodes, his long-running foreign policy adviser, and Zuniga, a foreign service officer newly detailed to the White House's National Security Council as senior director for Western Hemisphere Affairs.
Dan Restrepo, who previously held Zuniga's job, said he recommended the Cuba expert to replace him in part because he knew that relations with the country could be an important part of Obama's second-term agenda. Zuniga was serving at the U.S. Embassy in Brazil at the time, but previously had worked at the U.S. Interests Section in Havana and led the State Department's Office of Cuban Affairs.
"There's nobody in government who better knew the mechanics, the policies and politics of Cuba," Restrepo said. "That's a very complex set of interactions and laws. And how they interact and what is movable and not movable is not easy to figure out."
Another important skill that Zuniga brought to the Cuba negotiations was his fluent Spanish. He was born 44 years ago in the Honduran capital of Tegucigalpa, the grandson of Ricardo Zuniga Augustinus, a conservative who ran unsuccessfully for president in 1981 and supported the military dictatorship of Oswaldo Lopez. He moved to the United States with his American mother as a boy and got a degree in foreign affairs and Latin American studies from the University of Virginia.
Restrepo said Zuniga is a no-nonsense professional and, although they had talked about his Honduran roots in passing, he never mentioned his grandfather or any personal or family politics.
"That's a testament to his professionalism that I don't know what his politics are, having worked very closely with him," Restrepo said in a telephone interview.
Restrepo said Zuniga had another important qualification for an issue that needed to be handled in utmost secrecy discretion.
"He's not an attention-seeking kind of person," said Restrepo, now a senior fellow at the Center for American Progress. "Cuba policy development has often been notable for how quickly it ends up in the newspaper. That's not something that Ricardo traffics in."
Word of the Cuba negotiations did not leak over nearly two years of negotiations with Cuban officials, in Canada and at the Vatican at Pope Francis' invitation, with Rhodes and Zuniga personally keeping Obama updated. Beyond the negotiations with the small island country, Zuniga had a whole hemisphere of concerns to worry about, including an influx of children coming over the border from Central America and other implications of Obama's immigration policies.
When Obama made a historic phone call going over final negotiations with Cuban President Raul Castro on Dec. 16, Rhodes and Zuniga sat in front of the president on an Oval Office couch, listening with briefing books on their laps. A White House photo taken after Obama hung up shows Zuniga being embraced by his boss, National Security Adviser Susan Rice. Zuniga and Rhodes spent the next day furiously preparing Obama's remarks to announce the thaw, then took a quiet moment to watch the televised speech from Rhodes' West Wing office.
Obama's announcement was an unexpected news development during the holiday season, with Gross flying home on the second day of Hanukkah. Even Judy Gross was skeptical that a breakthrough had really come in her husband's case, which Obama had set as a requirement for improving relations with the communist nation.
Gross family attorney Scott Gilbert was with Judy Gross in Zuniga's office in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on Dec. 12 when she learned a deal had been reached. Zuniga told them Alan Gross would be freed the following Wednesday and invited them to come on the U.S. government flight to retrieve him.
"I think after the five years of this, Judy was still somewhat unbelieving even at that meeting and also somewhat in shock," Gilbert said in a telephone interview.
"My comment to Ricardo was he needed to get this done so that both he and Alan could go home for the holidays," Gilbert added.
He said Zuniga also had spent a lot of time away from wife and two daughters. "He was extremely committed to trying to accomplish this outcome and worked day and night to get it done."
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Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto will be in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 6, to meet with President Barack Obama.
According to the official White House statement, "The two leaders will highlight the importance of expanding dialogue and cooperation between the United States and Mexico on economic, security and social issues, as well as underscoring the deep cultural ties and friendship that exist between our two countries."
But for Pena Nieto much more than platitudes may be at stake.
Once praised, both in Mexico and abroad, for a number of groundbreaking reforms, Pena Nieto has in the last six months seen his standing plummet thanks to the corruption scandals, rampant violence not a small amount of which is carried out by official and unofficial agents of the government and demonstrations that have roiled the country.
And while the U.S. visit wont turn things around completely for the Mexican leader, many analysts say it is crucial for him to secure the continued support of the U.S. in Mexico's fight against drug cartels and, just as crucially, to convince American investors to put their money on Mexico.
"He's coming to Washington to provide a boost for his presidency in 2015," Jason Marczak, the deputy director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council told Fox News Latino. "What Mexicans will be closely watching is: Will he leave Washington with something to show for his visit?"
Pena Nieto began his administration in December 2012 hoping to concentrate on economic and legal reforms and avoid the focus on drug-gang violence that dominated the term of his predecessor, Felipe Calderon. The disappearance of 43 students from the Raul Isidro Burgos Rural Teachers' College in Ayotzinapa, Guerrero, and the alleged collusion between a local mayor, his wife, the municipal police and a drug gang, however, have forced the issue back to the forefront.
"This is not what he would have wanted to come away from a meeting four months ago," Marczak said. "He would have liked to talk about the economy, but the situation has changed."
The meeting between Obama and Pena Nieto may be the Mexican leaders best hope for increasing the United States role in the Merida Initiative also pejoratively known as "Plan Mexico" the 2008 security agreement between the two countries that, among other things, has provided $2.1 billion to Mexico to combat drug trafficking.
While the Initiative is loosely modeled after a similar effort in Colombia, many critics claim that the plan is doing more harm than good citing as evidence the widespread corruption in Mexicos local police forces and a murder rate that has soared since implementation.
The disappearance of the 43 students and the Merida Initiative have sparked outrage in the Mexican community living in the U.S., and some groups are calling for protests and demonstrations in front of the White House and outside Mexican consulates across the country during Pena Nietos visit.
The Ayotzinapa 43 have become a symbol of the over 100,000 murdered and 25,000 disappeared in the last 8 years since the escalation and increased militarization of the Drug War by the U.S. and Mexican governments, The advocacy group SOA (School of the Americas) Watch said in a statement. It is a shameless exhibition of the open support of Pena Nieto's narco-government and a slap in the face of the Mexican people in their rightful clamor for security, well-being, peace, democracy and true justice.
The other main issue facing the Mexican leader is corruption and the scandal surrounding his wife's 2012 purchase of a $7 million mansion from a company that had won extensive contracts from the State of Mexico while Enrique Pena Nieto was its governor.
Whats worrisome here isnt so much the corruption, because corruption has been so endemic for so long, said Carlos Bravo, a political analyst at the Mexican think tank, the Center for Research and Teaching in Economics (CIDE), according to the Dallas Morning News. Whats utterly shocking is that were finding this out in year two of Pena Nietos six-year term. Hes so weakened that you have to ask what does he do for four years? What can he really accomplish?
Polls published earlier this month .
Just nine months after Pena Nieto appeared on the cover of Time magazine above the headline "Saving Mexico," the president can more realistically hope to save some face.
Recent polls show his approval ratings have fallen to around 40 percent. It's one of the lowest levels for a Mexican president since Ernesto Zedillo presided over the 1994-1995 economic crisis.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
A New York congressman who pleaded guilty to tax evasion just days ago has announced he'll resign from office next week because he would not be able to give the job his full attention anymore.
Republican Rep. Michael Grimm issued a statement late Monday saying he will resign effective Jan. 5.
"The events which led to this day did not break my spirit, nor the will of the voters," he said. "However, I do not believe that I can continue to be 100% effective in the next Congress, and therefore, out of respect for the office and the people I so proudly represent, it is time for me to start the next chapter of my life."
Grimm's guilty plea last week to aiding in the filing of a false tax return came after he was re-elected to his Staten Island seat in November, even though he was under indictment.
Following the plea, Grimm said he would stay in Congress as long as he could.
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Grimm reportedly talked with House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, before deciding to step down. Boehner has forced other lawmakers to resign for lesser offenses.
Boehner has not discussed Grimm's future publicly. Boehner spokesman Michael Steel said in an email, "We do not discuss private conversations the speaker has with members."
The new Congress is scheduled to open Jan. 6, and Grimm's presence would have been a distraction for Republicans who will control both the House and the Senate.
House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., and the Democratic National Committee had called on Grimm to resign.
A former Marine and FBI agent with support from former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, Grimm was elected to Congress in 2010, scoring an upset win over first-term Democratic Rep. Michael McMahon.
According to an indictment, the tax fraud began in 2007 after Grimm retired from the FBI and began investing in a small Manhattan restaurant called Healthalicious.
The indictment accused him of underreporting more than $1 million in wages and receipts to evade payroll, income and sales taxes, partly by paying immigrant workers, some of them in the country illegally, in cash.
Sentencing was scheduled for June 8. Prosecutors said a range of 24 to 30 months in prison would be appropriate, while the defense estimated the appropriate sentence as between 12 and 18 months.
After his court appearance, Grimm said he planned to stay in Congress. "As long as I'm able to serve, I'm going to serve," he said.
He also apologized for his actions. "I should not have done it and I am truly sorry for it," he said.
But in his statement Monday, Grimm said he made his "very difficult decision ... with a heavy heart" after much thought and prayer.
The New York Daily News first reported Grimm's plans to give up his seat.
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Cuban officials arrested at least three members of the political opposition Tuesday ahead of a protest art performance seen as the first major test of the government's tolerance for dissent since the declaration of detente with the United States.
Expatriate artist Tania Bruguera returned to Cuba Friday with plans to set up an open microphone for anyone to speak on the Plaza of the Revolution, a square overlooked by the president's office, military headquarters and huge portraits of revolutionary heroes Che Guevara and Camilo Cienfuegos.
Hours before the planned performance, police arrested at least three well-known dissidents and calls stopped going through to Bruguera's cellphone. Her supporters said they did not know where she was and police prevented an Associated Press reporter from approaching the door of her Havana apartment.
By 4 p.m., an hour after the scheduled protest in the symbolic heart of government authority, few people had appeared in the plaza.
Inside Cuba, where the rate of Internet usage is among the world's lowest, few ordinary citizens appeared to know about Bruguera's plans in the absence of state television, radio and newspaper coverage. Some opposition members who did know about the event said beforehand that they weren't certain about going because they saw it as unnecessarily provocative. Others said authorities had warned them to stay away.
In the end, with Bruguera absent, the event failed to materialize as promised.
The day's events appeared to be at least a short-term victory for the government of Cuban President Raul Castro, who pledged this month that the U.S.-Cuban detente both nations announced on Dec. 17 would not lead to changes in the island's single-party system. Cuba's government has long narrowly defined the bounds of acceptable speech, accusing many dissidents of being agents of the U.S. government or right-wing exile groups, and subjecting them to surveillance, temporary detention and harassment.
President Barack Obama pledged this month that easing the embargo on Cuba and normalizing diplomatic relations would be a better way of supporting Cuban civil society. Some experts said that lessening U.S.-Cuban tensions would remove a pretext for repression of domestic critics.
But Obama also said he was "under no illusion about the continued barriers to freedom that remain for ordinary Cubans," and U.S. diplomats cautioned about expecting major short-term changes.
"Freedom of expression remains core of US policy on Cuba; we support activists exercising those rights and condemn today's detentions," Roberta Jacobson, the assistant U.S. secretary of state for Western Hemisphere affairs, tweeted on Tuesday.
Dissident Antonio Rodiles told the AP by telephone that police were taking him away around 12:30 p.m. The wife of Eliecer Avila, the 29-year-old head of moderate opposition group "Somos Mas," told the AP he had also been arrested along with Reinaldo Escobar, husband of renowned blogger Yoani Sanchez
Rodiles' group publicly supported Bruguera's performance plan. It wasn't immediately clear if Escobar and Avila had planned to attend.
Avila had told the AP Monday that he was optimistic that the warming of relations with Washington would lead to positive changes inside Cuba.
"In my case I am fully convinced that the new scenario can be positive for civil society," he said.
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Last year saw a rapid deterioration of relations between their countries, but on New Year's Day, U.S. Vice President Joe Biden and Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro shook hands and expressed their desire for restored ties.
The brief, impromptu meeting in Brazil came two weeks after President Barack Obama signed legislation to impose sanctions on Venezuelan officials accused of violating human rights. Days before the sanctions were approved, Maduro had called on all Venezuelans to burn their U.S. visas in protest of "imperialist Yankee" policies.
A photograph of Biden and Maduro smiling warmly at each other at the swearing in of Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff became a meme Friday, with Venezuelans inventing their own thought bubbles.
According to a U.S. administration official traveling with the vice president, Maduro told Biden he wants to improve U.S.-Venezuela ties, but is concerned about the sanctions. The official insisted on not being quoted by name in discussing what was a private diplomatic conversation.
Biden said that one step Venezuela could take toward improving relations would be to release political prisoners, but Maduro responded that the opposition was destabilizing the country and sanctions would do the same, the official said.
Speaking to reporters afterward, Maduro described the meeting with Biden as "cordial."
"What do we ask of the United States? I told Vice President Biden, and have said it 1,000 times in public and in private, we want respectful relations, nothing more," Maduro said.
The two countries have not exchanged ambassadors since 2010, and public encounters between high-level leaders are rare. Four years ago, the late President Hugo Chavez spoke with then-Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton in Brazil.
Venezuela is suffering as the price of oil plummets. The country derives 95 percent of its export earnings from oil. Earlier this week, Maduro accused the U.S of waging an "oil war" to destroy the South American country's socialist revolution.
On Friday, the director of the Venezuelan polling firm Datanalisis told local TV station Globovision that Maduro's approval ratings had fallen to a new low of 22 percent.
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The 114th Congress that convenes Tuesday will count more minorities and women than ever, although lawmakers remain overwhelmingly white and male in the Republican-controlled House and Senate.
A record 104 women will serve in Congress, and for the first time, African-American members of both genders and representing both parties will be among the ranks on Capitol Hill.
The number of female lawmakers is up slightly from 100 at the close of the last Congress, but represents about 20 percent of the total in Congress. It's far less than the nearly 51 percent of the U.S. population. A total of 94 racial minorities will serve in Congress, about 18 percent.
There are 100 senators and 435 seats in the House.
The House will have 246 Republicans and 188 Democrats. One seat is vacant following the resignation on Monday of Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y., who pleaded guilty to a felony tax evasion charge.
The Senate will have 54 Republicans and 44 Democrats, plus two independents Maine's Angus King and Vermont's Bernie Sanders. Both caucus with Democrats.
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HOUSE
A total of 84 women will serve in the House, compared with 80 in the last Congress. The new lawmakers include Elise Stefanik, a 30-year-old New York Republican who is the youngest woman ever elected to the House. Also making history is Mia Love, 38, whose election to a suburban Salt Lake City district made her the first black female Republican to win a seat in Congress.
Forty-four African-Americans will serve in the House, including Love and another black Republican freshman, Will Hurd of Texas. Hurd made news last month as he was named chairman of an Information Technology subcommittee on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, an unusual distinction for a freshman.
There are 34 Hispanic lawmakers, including 10 Republicans, as well as 10 Asian-Americans and two Native Americans, both Oklahoma Republicans.
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SENATE
The number of women in the Senate remains at 20, following the election of Republicans Joni Ernst of Iowa and Shelley Moore Capito of West Virginia, and the defeats of Democrats Kay Hagan of North Carolina and Mary Landrieu of Louisiana. (Re-elected were Republican Susan Collins of Maine and Democrat Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire.)
Two African-Americans serve as senators Republican Tim Scott of South Carolina and Democrat Cory Booker of New Jersey. There are three Hispanic senators: Republicans Marco Rubio of Florida and Ted Cruz of Texas and Democrat Robert Menendez of New Jersey.
Democrat Mazie Hirono of Hawaii is the only Asian-American in the Senate.
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FRESHMEN
Fifty-eight House freshmen will be sworn in on Tuesday 43 Republicans and 15 Democrats. Three other members are new to Congress but are considered veterans of a few weeks. Reps. Dave Brat, R-Va., Donald Norcross, D-N.J., and Alma Adams, D-N.C., took the oath shortly after November's elections to fill the seats of lawmakers who had left Congress.
The Senate will welcome 13 new members 12 Republicans and one Democrat, Gary Peters of Michigan.
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More than a dozen potential Republican candidates are contemplating White House bids in 2016 in what's shaping up as a crowded and diverse field.
A look at some of the challenges facing them:
TED CRUZ
His uncompromising positions have made him a hero among tea party faithful, but the first-term Texas senator must find a way to stand out in a field that includes several like-minded conservatives, as well as appeal to the independents and moderate voters who largely decide general elections.
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MARCO RUBIO
The 43-year-old first-term senator will need to start any campaign by escaping the considerably large shadow of his political mentor, Jeb Bush. While having failed to impress at times when given high-profile opportunities, Rubio's forceful opposition to President Barack Obama's moves to restore relations with Cuba is a sign of his potential to make a mark.
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JEB BUSH
The early favorite of the Republican establishment, the former Florida governor is sure to face resistance from voters about sending a third member of the Bush family to the White House. Even his mother, former first lady Barbara Bush, while recently more supportive, said in 2013 that "we've had enough Bushes."
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CHRIS CHRISTIE
The New Jersey governor appears to have survived a political scandal involving a scheme to create traffic jams on a bridge that links New Jersey with Manhattan. At one point, it had threatened to destroy his presidential ambitions. Still, it reinforced the perception that Christie's tactics sometimes cross the line into bullying. He will have to overcome that perception in a campaign that will draw considerable attention to his tough-talking personality.
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RAND PAUL
The first-term Kentucky senator's greatest strength may also be his greatest liability: his father, former Texas congressman and two-time presidential candidate Ron Paul. Rand Paul is expected to inherit his father's deeply loyal base of supporters. But the senator also will have to distance himself from his father's unorthodox positions, particularly on foreign policy, to have a real shot at winning the GOP's presidential nomination.
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BEN CARSON
The retired neurosurgeon has caught fire with conservatives and has a base of vocal supporters who are starting to organize on his behalf. But Carson, the only African American in the early GOP field, must convince the broader electorate that his career in medicine and willingness to criticize President Barack Obama qualifies him to lead the nation.
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MIKE HUCKABEE
He won the Iowa caucuses in 2008 and continues to enjoy high name recognition because of a consistent media presence, but the former Arkansas governor must expand his support beyond the GOP's evangelical wing to become a real factor in 2016. He just announced that he was leaving his Fox News talk show as he considers whether to seek the nomination.
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RICK SANTORUM
The former Pennsylvania senator whose main focus is social issues likely exceeded his own expectations in the 2012 White House race. Like Huckabee, he always will be popular among Christian conservative voters, but he must appeal to the broader electorate inside and outside his party.
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PAUL RYAN
The 2012 vice presidential nominee's greatest challenge may be convincing people that he seriously is considering running. Ryan's passion is policy, and he is set to play a central role in the tax debate as the new chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. It will be hard to do that and run for president at the same time.
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BOBBY JINDAL
The Louisiana governor has signaled strong interest in a White House bid, but he needs to find a consistent message while working to convince his party elders and voters to whom he is largely unknown to take him seriously.
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RICK PERRY
With a criminal case pending, Perry could struggle to raise money once he leaves the Texas governor's mansion this month. His "oops" moment from the 2012 contest, however, may loom larger over his presidential ambitions and probably will until he proves himself on the debate stage.
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SCOTT WALKER
Wisconsin's governor has built a national profile for taking on his state's public service unions and winning three elections in four years. Still, it is a huge jump to presidential politics for a man who was investigated by state prosecutors searching for campaign finance violations and has yet to be vetted nationally.
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JOHN KASICH
He is a former congressman and now a two-term governor of Ohio, a critical swing state. Kasich's resume is impressive. But his sometimes-unorthodox personality won him few friends in Washington, and it is unclear how his approach would play in a national campaign.
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CARLY FIORINA
Should she run, the former Hewlett-Packard CEO probably will be the only woman in the GOP field. She lost a Senate race in California in 2010 and has a big challenge in proving she can do more than play a symbolic role in the 2016 primary.
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Sen. Robert Menendez has been one of the leading Democratic critics against the presidents change in Cuba policy and says it will be difficult to confirm an ambassador to the communist country.
The Cuban-American congressman, whos the soon-to-be ex-chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, told CNNs State of the Union on Sunday that Congress can do little to prevent the Obama administration from shifting the existing interests section in Cuba into an embassy.
But what Congress can so is refuse to confirm an ambassador. He said its difficult to see a nominee winning Senate approval.
The New Jersey senator said he wasnt told about the administrations negotiations with Cuba, and that will make him more skeptical when administration officials testify to Congress.
We got nothing in terms of democracy and human rights. We got nothing about political freedoms, Menendez said. At the end of the day, they got absolutely nothing for giving up everything that the Castro regime wants.
He continued: I understand the Castro regime only changes out of economic necessity, not out of ideological change. It seems to me what we did was throw an economic lifeline.
In the same interview, Menendez praised the imposition of sanctions on North Korea as a good first step, but that they did not go far enough to deter future cyber-attacks.
Vandalism is when you break a window. Terrorism is when you take down a building and North Korea here landed a bomb on Sonys parking lot, he said. I think there has to be real consequences to this; otherwise youll see it happen again and again.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Mexican President Enrique Pena Nieto heads to Washington, D.C., on Monday to meet with Barack Obama amid civil unrest at home and uncertainty at his reception here.
Latinos in the U.S. upset about the government's support of Mexico's ongoing militarized war against the drug cartels are planning demonstrations across the country.
The Mexican president and his team started 2014 carrying out a slew of newly passed reforms, from breaking up telecommunications monopolies to opening the nation's energy sector, earning him international plaudits, including a Time magazine cover with his image above the caption "Saving Mexico."
Then came a 1-2-3 punch of scandals: Soldiers killing 22 civilians in a questionable "shootout"; the abduction and presumed murder of 43 college students, allegedly at the hands of local officials and police in league with a drug cartel; and revelations that Pena Nieto and his treasury secretary live in luxury homes built and financed by a favorite government contractor.
What was supposed to be "Mexico's moment," a new era of transparency and reform, felt a lot like the same old age of violence and corruption.
Tens of thousands have taken to the streets since the 43 college students disappeared Sept. 26. Even institutions normally cautious about criticizing the government, including the Roman Catholic Church, have spoken out, and a Mexican protester disrupted the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony in Oslo, Norway, to draw attention to the tragedy.
"The protests are an expression of people fed up with impunity, and indignant at the complicity between some authorities and criminals," said Luis Raul Gonzalez, president of the normally politic Human Rights Commission, speaking directly to Pena Nieto at a recent public event.
Roberto Lovato, one of the cofounders of #USTired2, the group coordinating the Tuesday demonstrations in cities across the U.S., said: President Pena Nietos security forces are responsible for what is hands-down the worst human rights crisis in all of Latin America and deserves our denunciation, not our tax dollars or political support.
Many analysts say that the Washington trip is essential for Pena Nieto to secure continued support of the U.S. in Mexico's fight against drug cartels and, just as crucially, to convince American investors to put their money on Mexico.
"He's coming to Washington to provide a boost for his presidency in 2015," Jason Marczak, the deputy director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin America Center at the Atlantic Council told Fox News Latino. "What Mexicans will be closely watching is: Will he leave Washington with something to show for his visit?"
When Pena Nieto took office two years ago, he promised Mexico would see a new Institutional Revolutionary Party, known as the PRI, which had ruled Mexico for 71 years, often through coercion and corruption. After losing the presidency in 2000, the party portrayed itself as repentant and reconstructed.
Disillusioned by 12 years of opposition party rule, many Mexican voters returned to the PRI on the theory it at least knows how to govern.
But the purported "new PRI" has turned out to be younger politicians operating with the old playbook. Though its leaders were lauded for passing reforms, they had nothing to fall back on when violence knocked them off their message of economic growth.
They sent police to crack down on protesters and called the unrest a plot to "destabilize" the government and undermine the reforms.
Pena Nieto told the country, just weeks after their abduction, that it was time to "move beyond" the case of the 43 students, and he took a month to meet with their families.
The administration has tried to explain away the president's $7 million mansion by saying it belonged to his wife, former soap opera actress Angelica Rivera, and it said Treasury Secretary Luis Videgaray's bought his house before he officially took office, although he was part of Pena Nieto's transition team.
Yet he is facing a Mexico much changed in the years since the PRI left office, when the country was still largely isolated, had very little investigative media and no citizen watchdogs armed with cellphone cameras and social media.
Mexicans have responded irreverently to Pena Nieto's defenses, which they have seen as arrogance and disconnect. One protest sign declared that it isn't demonstrations that are destabilizing Mexico but "your narco-government corruption."
Cabinet chief Aurelio Nuno admitted to the Spanish newspaper El Pais that the government didn't have an adequate plan to deal with insecurity because it hadn't understood the dimensions of the problem. Nevertheless, he said the answer was in the economic reforms.
Pena Nieto maintained the strategy late Sunday when he delivered a New Year's message acknowledging "a difficult year."
"The violence of organized crime hit the country once again," he said, adding that Mexico "can't continue the same." But his answer is that 2015 would be a year of lower gas, electricity and telephone bills, thanks to the reforms.
Pena Nieto's economic strategy has yet to pay off in investment or growth one of the main reasons his approval ratings recently hit 38 percent, the lowest for any Mexican president since the peso crisis of 20 years ago. Oil prices are in the basement just as Mexico is opening its energy sector to foreign bidders, and job growth is stagnant.
Once-favorable coverage in media abroad has turned scathing.
Pressing Videgaray in an interview, CNBC correspondent Michelle Caruso-Cabrera said, "If Barbara Bush were living in a house built by Halliburton, her husband would have been impeached."
All levels of government have been sullied, with mayors and state police found to be in cahoots with organized crime, and prosecutors more interested in solving political problems than crimes.
The military, which has spearheaded anti-drug efforts, was stained by allegations that soldiers shot suspects who had already surrendered, when the army initially said it killed them in a fierce shootout in June. Federal Attorney General Jesus Murillo Karam didn't investigate until three months later, after news media found witnesses who contradicted the official version.
Mexico's major parties are all viewed negatively, leaving few options for those disappointed with Pena Nieto. The city officials directly implicated in the attack on the students and state officials who carried out the initial, floundering investigation were backed by the leftist Democratic Revolution Party that has long crusaded against PRI corruption.
In his Sunday address, Pena Nieto promised to be a better listener, and to "combat corruption and impunity and strengthen transparency."
But once again, he offered no specifics.
Based on reporting by the Associated Press.
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Six dissidents were freed Thursday as part of a deal made between Cuba and the US to release 53 political prisoners, but a key Cuban exile and rights activist group continues to question why the deal is shrouded in secrecy.
Since Cuba agreed with the Obama Administration on December 17th to free 53 detainees, considered to be high priority political prisoners by Washington, neither Cuba nor the United States has publicly identified anyone on the list. In fact, neither government spoke publicly about the releases Thursday.
On Wednesday, the head of Cuba's Human Rights and Reconciliation Commission, Elizardo Sanchez, told The Associated Press that the three released prisoners were 19-year-old twins Diango Vargas Martin and Bianko Vargas Martin and Enrique Figuerola Miranda. On Thursday morning, he said that prisoners Ernesto Riveri Gascon, Lazaro Romero Hurtado and David Piloto had also been released.
The freed twin brothers were members of the Patriotic Union of Cuba, a small dissident anti-Castro group.
While the release is a good sign that the Cuban government will follow through on its deal with the U.S., activists remain frustrated by the lack of transparency.
The Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba, a Miami-based non-profit dedicated to supporting anti-Castro activists and their families, says the fact that the 53 political prisoners have not been publicly identified is an example of an administration that is too trusting of the Castro regime.
"We would like to know the names, because obviously these people are going to need help when they are released, and we want to make sure that they are released," said Francisco "Pepe" Hernandez, co-founder and president of the FHRC told Fox News Latino. "Everyone is mute, why is that?"
The frustration led the FHRC to release their own list of 57 political prisoners calling on the White House and the Vatican to demand their immediate and unconditional release. The majority of the listed prisoners have been arrested within the last two years on what they claim are bogus charges of assault and public disorder. They were sentenced anywhere from a year to life in prison. All six men released Thursday were on the FHRC list.
Hernandez's organization sends humanitarian aid to the families of political prisoners every month and aids the opposition there. He is demanding the names of the 53 political prisoners to ensure that the Castro regime is held accountable if they renege on their promise.
One of the concerns is that Castro regime could release political prisoners and then exile them for life from the island, keeping the prisoners from ever seeing their families. In the past, the regime has freed political prisoners only to exile them in an effort to stop them from promoting freedom on the island. Hernandez also thinks the Castro regime could choose to instead release common criminals, instead of actual political prisoners, because they are afraid of re-energizing the opposition on the island.
"It is something that is very disconcerting for those of us trying to help," Hernandez said. "To tell you the truth, I dont know, after all these years, how this government can be so naive with the Castros."
Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., a Cuban-American, echoed Hernandez's sentiments demanding more clarity on the identities of the 53 Cuban political prisoners in a Jan. 6 letter to President Obama writing the least your administration can do now is hold the regime accountable for fully freeing these 53 political prisoners as well as those who have been detained in recent weeks.
Cuba has released more than half of the 53 political prisoners it promised to free as part of a deal made with the U.S. in December, a Miami-based Cuban exile and human rights activist group confirmed Thursday evening.
Thus far, 28 dissidents have been released from prisons throughout the island, according to the Foundation for Human Rights in Cuba (FHRC). Among the freed prisoners are 16 members of UNPACU, the Patriotic Union of Cuba, considered to be the country's most vehemently anti-government dissident group, as well as members of the Ladies in White, the opposition group made up of the wives and female relatives of jailed political prisoners in Cuba.
Among those released were Haydee Gallardo S., a Lady in White, and her husband Angel Figueredo C. who were both arrested in May 2014 on charges of "public disorder." The independent rap artist Angel Yunier Remon Arzuaga, known as "El Critico," was also released Thursday. 'El Critico" was sentenced to eight years in prison without a trial in March 2013 for "resistance" against the communist regime.
The FHRC told Fox News Latino that some prisoners, particularly members of UNPACU, have been released under the condition that may never leave the island again.
Neither the Obama administration nor the Cuban government have spoken publicly about the releases, or given a full list of names of the prisoners released since both governments brokered a deal on December 17th in which Cuba agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations.
In addition to the 53 political prisoners, the U.S. secured the release of American contractor Alan Gross. For its part, the U.S. let go three Cuban citizens held as spies on American soil.
The FHRC, which sends humanitarian aid to the families of political prisoners in Cuba, said it has not received any details from the Obama Administration as to who is being released and when. The organization has had to rely on their own sources on the ground to confirm the identities of the freed prisoners.
The lack of transparency and the secrecy surrounding the identities of the political prisoners drew criticism from FHRC's leader, Francisco Hernandez, as well as from top U.S. conservatives like Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla, who is also a Cuban-American.
"We would like to know the names, because obviously these people are going to need help when they are released, and we want to make sure that they are released," Hernandez told Fox News Latino. "Everyone is mute, why is that?"
The FHRC is demanding the names of the 53 political prisoners to ensure that the Castro regime is held accountable if they renege on their promise.
"To tell you the truth, I dont know, after all these years, how this government can be so naive with the Castros," Hernandez said.
One of the concerns is that the Castro regime could release political prisoners and then exile them for life from the island, keeping the prisoners from ever seeing their families again. In the past, the regime has freed political prisoners only to exile them in an effort to stop them from promoting freedom on the island.
Hernandez also thinks the Castro regime could choose to instead release common criminals, instead of actual political prisoners, because they are afraid of re-energizing the opposition on the island.
An FHRC press release on Thursday reiterated that there is still work to be done.
"The FHRC continues to call on the Obama Administration and the Vatican to demand the immediate release of all remaining Human Rights activists, permanently and without conditions, including forced exile, parole, house arrest, and or any type of further harassment, detainment, or repression for political motives."
House Republicans plan to vote next week to block spending for President Barack Obama's executive actions on immigration, setting up a potentially explosive showdown with no certain outcome.
The vote will come as the House considers legislation to keep the Department of Homeland Security running past February. Lawmakers said the goal is to keep the agency running on full funding an especially critical goal in the wake of the Paris terror attacks but to stop Obama's immigration actions from taking effect.
Obama's directives in November gave temporary relief from deportation to about 4 million immigrants in the country illegally, along with permits allowing them to work legally in the U.S. His move infuriated Republicans after their midterm election victories, and they vowed to retaliate once they assumed full control of Congress this week.
"We are not going to allow taxpayer dollars to be used to fund those unlawful orders," said Rep. Martha Roby, R-Ala., who is among a group of lawmakers who've been meeting with House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., to develop their response.
Yet it's unclear whether a House bill blocking funding for Obama's move would clear the Senate, where Republicans are six votes short of the 60-vote majority needed to advance most measures. And it could face a veto threat from Obama.
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That leaves the end game uncertain. But by starting the process in early January, House Republicans say they are giving themselves plenty of time to figure that out before Homeland Security funding expires at the end of February.
"The main goal is to fund DHS and make it clear that there are no funds, including the funds that are fee-based, for the president's illegal actions," said Rep. Matt Salmon, R-Ariz. "We fully expect to get the president to sign it and we're going to use every bit of leverage we've got to get him to do so."
The coming clash on immigration was teed up late last year when Republicans kept the Homeland Security Department on a short leash while funding the rest of the government for a full year. Republicans figured they'd be better positioned to respond to Obama's move when they returned to Washington in control of the Senate as well as the House.
Yet Obama's veto pen gives him as much leverage as ever, and it remains unclear whether Republicans will ultimately be able to stop his immigration moves.
It also remains to be seen whether House Republicans will unite around the measure once it's finalized. In past immigration debates, tea party-backed conservatives have pushed for tougher language than that embraced by leadership. McCarthy has included conservatives in his deliberations, and at least one hardliner, Rep. Steve King of Iowa, sounded satisfied Thursday with the direction the legislation was taking.
But an outside conservative commentator, Daniel Horowitz of the Conservative Review, wrote that the House must go beyond blocking Obama's recent executive steps and also eliminate an earlier program that granted deportation reprieves and work permits to immigrants brought illegally to the U.S. as children.
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The campaign for Ann Roe, who is running for Congress against Lyin' Bryan Steil has come out with the best one-liner of this cycle so far: I can't argue...
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President-elect Donald Trump said Thursday its time for our country to move on to bigger and better things after the Obama administration issued sanctions against Russia for its alleged 2016 election hacking.
It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things, Trump said in a written response released four hours after the announcement. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation."
The Obama administration announced sanctions against Russias intelligence services, while ejecting dozens of intelligence operatives from the U.S. as part of a response to what it says are efforts by Moscow to influence the election.
Using an executive order, President Obama sanctioned the GRU and the FSB -- two of Russia's intelligence services as well as other entities and individuals associated with the GRU. The cybersecurity firm hired by the Democratic National Committee to investigate the hack of its emails earlier this year concluded the hacking came from the Fancy Bear group, believed to be affiliated with the GRU, Russia's military intelligence agency.
In addition to the sanctions, the State Department has declared 35 Russian intelligence operatives "persona non grata" in the U.S., giving them 72 hours to leave, and is shutting down two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York.
The Maryland property is a 45-acre property at Pioneer Point, and was purchased by the Soviet government in 1972.
President Obama expels 35 diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm. pic.twitter.com/mleqA16H8D Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) December 29, 2016
The New York property is on Long Island and is 14 acres and was purchased by the Soviet government in 1954.
Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman said in response to the announcement that Moscow will consider retaliatory measures.
"We think that such steps by a U.S. administration that has three weeks left to work are aimed at two things: to further harm Russian-American ties, which are at a low point as it is, as well as, obviously, to deal a blow to the foreign policy plans of the incoming administration of the president-elect," Dmitry Peskov told reporters in Moscow.
The Russian Embassy in the UK took a different approach, tweeting out a picture of a lame duck and blasting what it called "Cold War deja vu."
The Treasury Secretary meanwhile has named two individuals -- Evgeniy Mikhailovich Bogachev and Aleksey Alekseyevich Belan -- it says were involved in "malicious cyber-enabled activities."
"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," Obama said in a statement.
Obama also announced that the Department of Homeland Security and the FBI will release declassified information on Russian cyberactivity to help "identify, detect and Russia's global campaign of malicious cyber activities."
Obama also said that the administration will be providing a report to Congress "in the coming days" about Russian attempts to interfere in the election, as well as previous election cycles.
The president also hinted that his administration intends to do more to hold Russia accountable.
"These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities," Obama said. "We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicized."
U.S. intelligence services have concluded that the Russians interfered in the election to try and help President-elect Donald Trump win. Trump has dismissed the conclusions.
However, House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis. welcomed the move in a statement.
"Russia does not share America's interests. In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, sowing dangerous instability around the world. While today's action by the administration is overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia," Ryan said.
Incoming Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY., also praised the move in a statement late Thursday.
House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul, R-TX., called Obama's actions "long overdue," while House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence Chairman Devin Nunes said he's been "urging" Obama for years to take action and that this "indecision and delay" explains why "American's influence has collapsed."
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
President-elect Donald Trump's incoming counselor said Thursday that Trump does believe its time to move on and look forward to the next administration.
In an interview on Fox News' "Hannity," Kellyanne Conway discussed the US sanctions imposed on Russia. Russia has responded to the sanctions by threatening to retaliate and has said the move was done to hurt the incoming administration.
We have complicated relations with Russia. We have for decades as the United States, Conway said. President-elect has made it clear that he is willing to work with countries who want to work on big solutions together.
Conway also discussed the relationship between the US and Israel saying, You will see President Trump having much stronger relationship with Israel.
Conway said Israel is Americas greatest friend and that we want our friends in Israel to know that help is on the way.
You see this flurry of activity by a tough President Obama as he exits the office, Conway said. You cant put daylight between the US and Israel.
We do wonder about the rush to do all these things the next couple of weeks by the Obama administration, Conway added.
January 20th will be here quickly and its very important to all of us, Conway said of the Trump administration taking office. I think its important to America that you see that peaceful transition of power from administration to administration.
A business owner who posted a sign on the entrance of his eccentric Italian cafe in downtown Honolulu banning President Elect Donald Trump supporters, has removed the sign one day after FoxNews.com broke a story about the severe policy.
If you voted for Trump you cannot eat here! No Nazis, declared owner Robert Warner on a bright yellow, handmade sign, which he taped to his Cafe 8/12s front glass door.
"This is my place and if I don't want to serve a Trump person, I can do that," he told Hawaii News Now on Wednesday, one day after the FoxNews.com report generated thousands of adverse posts in the story comment section as well as on Yelp, Twitter and Facebook.
While Warner claims business has been better than ever since the story went viral in news media across the world, he took the notice down on Wednesday, telling Hawaii News Now: "If somebody came in and said, 'Hey, I know you can't tell who I voted for, but I voted for Trump, would you let me eat?' I would say, 'Sure, if you're nice with me and I'm nice with you and you like my food, sit down, no problem.
Jali Warner, Warners wife, told FoxNews.com the same on Tuesday, noting if a Trump supporter ate there, we dont put anything different in your food. Neither could be reached for comment by phone this week because the phone consistently rang busy.
Warner is known to channel the soup Nazi persona of New York City and Seinfeld fame -- throwing pots and pans, telling off customers, and hanging not-so-friendly reminders on butcher paper for his customers to read.
Honolulu tech guru Ryan Ozawa, who ate at Cafe 8 on Wednesday to show his support, said as long as hes known about the place, it's been provocative and cranky and cheeky.
He's (Warner) got a sharp edge but his wife offsets a lot of it. She's sweet, Ozawa said.
However, not every customer will continue to be loyal. One patron, who said on Yelp he has eaten at Cafe 8 for two years, left with his clients when they saw the sign.
I was so embarrassed as my client read this (sign) out loud. I couldn't believe what I sawMy client immediately turned to me and said I guess we aren't welcomed here. My firm will not patronize any establishment that serves up hate and discrimination and the word Nazi just because of ones political views.
It would not be a surprise if business flourished in the largely blue state. Trump only received 29 percent of the General Election vote in Hawaii. All four members of the congressional delegation, the governor, and 70 out of 76 state legislators are Democrats.
However, celebrity Beth Chapman of the CMT television series Dog and Beth on the Hunt based around her and her husband, Dwayne Dog Chapmans adventures as bounty hunters, spoke out, telling her 500,000 fans on Facebook that shed never patronize the establishment.
In a call to FoxNews.com, Chapman said, I live in Hawaii and I voted for Donald Trump for President. I would never refuse service to someone based on whom they had supported in an election. It's totally unacceptable for anyone to breed such hate in the Aloha State.
President Obama expelled 35 Russian intelligence officials and imposed sanctions as part of a necessary and appropriate response to Russias alleged interference in Novembers elections Thursday. But experts question whether it is strong enough to deter Russian President Vladimir Putin.
I don't think they will have much impact at all, said former United Nations ambassador John Bolton Friday morning in an interview on Fox News Fox & Friends.
Bolton, who was under consideration to lead the State Department in a Trump administration, said Russias actions were an attack on our constitutional system and it is not enough to say, and people should be very careful about this, to say, well, it didn't actually have an impact on the election.
The reaction from Capitol Hill echoed Boltons assessment.
Republican Sens. John McCain of Arizona and Lindsey Graham of South Carolina issued a joint statement characterizing the sanctions as long overdue that was a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy.
McCain, who is chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has schedule a hearing on foreign cyber threats for next Thursday and intends to work to toughen the sanctions.
On Twitter, Sen. Ben Cardin, Maryland Democrat, said the sanctions were a good start, but added that Congressional sanctions still needed.
Russian officials initially condemned the sanctions and promised to retaliate. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin subsequently issued a statement that said he was reserving the right to retaliate.
The statement read further that Russia would nt stoop to the level of kitchen irresponsible diplomacy.
Olga Oliker, director of Eurasia program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, says retaliatory measures will have an immediate impact by demonstrating what can be done, such as imposing sanctions on firms that deal with Russian intelligence.
In terms of the measures responding to harassment of US diplomats, the real proof of the pudding will be Russians actions going forward, she told FoxNews.com.
Other security experts concur the Obamas decision to respond sends a message, but the extent to which it will affect Putin remains unclear.
I am not sure we will see impact in terms of Russia backing down. This is more of a public move from the Obama administration to serve notice to them that we will respond to cyber attacks, Anup Ghosh, founder & CEO of the Virginia-based cybersecurity firm Invincea, Inc. told FoxNews.com
I expect Putin to continue with his propaganda campaign and attempts to influence the discussion by manipulating public opinion. At the same time, he will be welcoming of the Trump administration, he added.
The executive order largely relied on findings in a joint Department of Homeland Security and Federal Bureau of Investigation report which claimed Russian civilian and military services were part of an ongoing campaign of cyber-enabled operations directed at the U.S. government and its citizens.
According to the report, the target of Russias cyber offensive was not limited to the Democratic National Committee (DNC). The campaign sought to infiltrate government organizations, critical infrastructure entities, think tanks, universities, political organizations, and corporations.
New York Republican Lee Zeldin, said the report which accompanied Obamas executive order was miserably brief and lacked the level of detail sought by Congress.
It uses big font and pictures and leaves certain holes in it that are bigger than the paper it is written on. Frankly, it raises more questions than it answers about Russias activities.
Zeldin believes the intelligence briefings President-elect Trump receives next week could help to shape his strategy toward dealing with Putin.
Experts say the direction Donald Trump chooses to take toward Russia is likely to determine whether Putin is deterred from further aggressive behavior.
Susan Hennessey, a Brookings Fellow in National Security Law, tells FoxNews.com that Trump has the authority to overturn the executive order should he choose to do so.
But, she adds, to do so would be politically costly because Congress, including majority of Republicans, favor taking stronger action against Russia.
A Missouri congressman has sparked outrage after a painting he approved depicting police officers as animals was placed on display in the U.S. Capitol building.
The painting, by high school senior David Pulphus, shows the unrest in Ferguson, Mo. after the 2014 death of Michael Brown. The piece won Rep. Lacy Clay, D-Mo.s annual Congressional Art competition in May, and so was selected to be displayed at the Capitol complex.
The piece depicts two police officers, whose heads are replaced by animal heads one of which appears to be a pig -- aiming guns at protesters who are carrying signs saying History and Racism Kills. In the background is a crucified black man in a graduation cap holding the scales of justice.
Clay praised the piece in a press release in May, saying it portrays a colorful landscape of symbolic characters representing social injustice, the tragic events in Ferguson, Missouri and the lingering elements of inequality in modern American society.
The Independent Journal Review, which first reported the development, reports that the controversial piece now hangs in a tunnel between the U.S. Capitol building and the Longworth House Office Building.
DC police expressed outrage at the image, calling it offensive and disgusting.
During a time in our society when tensions are so high that someone can be offended by a single word, this painting does nothing but attack law enforcement to its core, Andy Maybo, president of The Fraternal Order of Police District of Columbia Lodge #1 , told The Daily Caller. The fact that a member of Congress would advocate and praise such a painting is reprehensible.
Congressional Republicans also expressed dismay at the decision to display the painting in the Capitol.
It is disheartening to see this depiction of law enforcement hanging in the hallway of our nation's Capitol where officers work everyday to protect our safety and freedoms, Rep. Dave Reichert, R-Wash., told The Independent Journal Review. Unfortunately, many people of influence have taken part in promoting offensive and inaccurate caricatures of the very people who do the most to protect our families.
Calls to the Clays offices by FoxNews.com were not immediately returned.
A New York school board demanded Thursday that the co-chairman of President-elect Donald Trumps New York campaign resign from its board, after he said he would like to see the president die of Mad Cow Disease.
Carl Paladino, an ally of Trump and a millionaire developer, told a local publication that he would like to see President Obama die of the disease, and see First Lady Michelle Obama living with a gorilla in Africa.
Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Hereford. He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to Valerie Jarrett, who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a jihadi cellmate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her, he said, according to the New York Post.
Paladino later apologized, saying the comments werent meant for publication.
I wanted to say something as sarcastic and hurtful as possible about the people (the Obamas) so responsible for the hurt and suffering of so many others, he said, according to the Post. I was wired up, primed to be human and make a mistake. I could have not made a worse choice in the words I used to express my feelings.
The apology has not been accepted by the school board in Buffalo. It voted 6-2 Thursday to ask the state education commissioner to remove Paladino if he does not resign from office. The two who did not back the motion called on Paladino to apologize to every student. Paladino was not in attendance but has said that he will not resign.
A crowd applauded when the vote was taken, and shouted down Paladinos allies.
Words matter, Mr. Paladino. This community has been rocked, said board president Barbara Seals Nevergold.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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The sun shines down on lush orange mangos hanging from trees that line the road for miles, as farmers sit behind small wooden stands, selling fresh fruit to passersby. Children can be heard laughing and playing in a nearby schoolyard.
Its like a picturesque postcard, but its definitely not the way I imagined the country of Nicaragua, a rugged place torn apart by a rampant civil war that lasted for decades. Where were the gun-toting, camouflage wearing rebels I remember seeing on grainy television news footage years ago?
Apparently its the same image still in the minds of many Americans. "Isn't Nicaragua really dangerous?" one woman asked me. "Are you crazy? You could get attacked, or kidnapped" said another, after learning I was headed to the Central American country for a visit.
While crime and corruption are still a bit of concern in some parts, according to the U.S. State Department, the Nicaraguan tourism bureau is trying to change that perception, and spreading the word that its now a very different country. "This is the safest country in the Americas" local tour guide Ernesto Ramirez told me, on a recent excursion to this rustic land. "The police here are tough, so everyone's afraid to commit a crime" he explained.
In the years since the revolutionary war of the 70's and 80's ended, something of a democracy has developed in Nicaragua. Presidential elections were held and many of the restraints on citizens were lifted. Capitalism is now slowly invading the economy, as more businesses risk development and more services become available.
As a result, curious world travelers are gradually starting to seek out this formerly menacing place. It's no surprise, as word spreads about the miles of white sandy beaches, rain forests and mountains that have become a major draw for hikers and climbers. Unique geologic rock formations left by volcanic eruptions of the past have become sought out tourist attractions.
The climate is typically warm and tropical. Dry in the summer months of November through April and rainy in the winter months of May through October.
How do you vacation? Whether youre relaxing in your own backyard, or traveling across the world, send Fox News your photos!
The Nicaraguan scenery is not so different from the one to the south, in its neighboring country, Costa Rica. The difference is, Costa Rica has become one of the most popular destinations for globetrotters in the world. Visitors flock to its lush terrain, surfers brag about catching the best waves along the coast. Dozens of surf schools and other businesses catering to tourists have cropped up throughout the country and the Costa Rican economy has thrived because of it.
Nicaragua wants that, too. Its leaders are working with travel agencies, looking for ways to make that boon spread over the border.
Since flying to Nicaragua is not on a lot of people's agendas, tour companies try to entice people who are visiting Costa Rica to take day trips over the border. Small buses carrying sightseers travel back and forth across the border everyday. Once there, many surprised visitors want to stay for more than a day.
The effort seems to be working. Travel agents claim tourism in Nicaragua is growing at about 15 percent every year. Part of the reason might be the fact that everything is so inexpensive, especially compared to Costa Rica.
Also the Nicaraguan Tourism Board just announced a partnership with the travel company Orbitz Worldwide to offer great deals on flights and hotels. With three and four star hotels in the $80-$150 a night range, and flights from the U.S. as low as $449, deals are to be had.
While the national language is Spanish, many people in the Central American country speak fluent English. In fact, they learn it in school, often beginning when they are just five years old. New hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars are opening up on the coasts and around the colonial cities, like Granada, which at first glance looks like a pretty but faded postcard. Older Spanish style buildings border the city's center square and decorated horse drawn buggies can be hired for travel around the area.
During the time I visited Granada, dozens of artists from around the country were there, hoping to sell their paintings or sculptures or wooden carvings at the city's cultural festival. Haggling was the exercise of the day.
Local music could be heard from large speakers propped up on benches, and food carts selling things like freshly made empanadas or chicken burritos were all around.
"I'm so surprised. I didn't know what to expect here," said Elsie Freeting, who was visiting from Canada. Freeting's husband Jim agreed. "My friends all thought I was crazy to come here, but I wanted to see it. Now I wish we could stay here longer."
Outside of the cities, the terrain is an outdoorsman's paradise. Nicaragua is home to the largest lake in Central America. A tour in a boat ride across the lake water includes passing of dozens of small islands, each one hosting a large home with a front yard, back yard and boat launch. Many of these homes are owned by people from the United States, my tour guide tells me.
Volcanoes and volcanic craters are the main attraction at the national park, which is well maintained by local geologists. Adventurous people can actually drive up toward the top of the mountains for a spectacular, breathtaking view across the valley. Up at the top, a protective metal barrier crowns the edge of one large crater, which still spews noxious gases from the lava churning deep below. A sign nearby posted in both Spanish and English warns visitors not to linger for more than 20 minutes at a time, for fear of ill effects from the fumes.
"In ancient times, people believed the volcanoes erupted because the gods were angry" one of the park's guides told us. "Animals and young virgins were sacrificed to keep the gods calm."
Apparently since that ritual ended, a lot more people have decided to visit.
Now travel agencies are designing duo country trips that combine visits to both Costa Rica and Nicaragua, and plans are being made for a cooperative marketing campaign to encourage tourism between the countries.
Nicaragua as a tourist mecca is still hard for many to imagine, but since those days of rebels ravishing the country, it seems to have come a long way.
A New York man says he and his husband were removed from a JetBlue flight after his husband "expressed displeasure" about flying with Ivanka Trump and her husband, Jared Kushner.
Matthew Lasner said on Twitter that JetBlue staff kicked him and his husband off the flight from New York's Kennedy airport to Florida on Thursday after overhearing his husband's remarks. Lasner tweeted earlier that his husband was chasing the couple down in the terminal "to harass them."
Lasner has since deleted his Twitter account.
JetBlue cited the possibility of "the risk of escalation during flight" in explaining the decision to remove the men. The airline says the couple was rebooked for the next available flight.
A spokeswoman for the Trump family declined comment but did not dispute the accounts.
Ammar Abdirahmans mother said she sent him from Minnesota to a Somali boarding school to protect him. The teen never returned home.
Sent to Africa to be safe from gangs in Minnesota, Ammar was instead beaten and killed by locals in Somalia in May. His mother told FOX9 the teen may have been targeted because he was American. No formal homicide investigation has been launched and his family is still trying to obtain his remains, according to FOX9.
He was smart, he was inquisitive, he was asking questions, said Omar Jamal, a community leader in Minnesota. And for that, they tortured and killed him.
Ammar was born in Minnesota, the son of Somali immigrants. But his parents sent the 17-year-old to Puntland, a city far north of the infamously volatile Mogadishu, so he could learn about his culture and not get caught up with the wrong crowd in Minneapolis. Federal authorities have charged at least six Minnesota men with trying to support the terrorist group ISIS this year.
But five people attacked Ammar, who died from the beating, according to family members who spoke to FOX9. In graphic pictures of a man identified as Ammar, deep, dark scars are easily visible and multiple whip-like abrasions crisscross his torso.
He was smart, he was inquisitive, he was asking questions. And for that, they tortured and killed him. Omar Jamal, community leader
Ammars mother, Shukri Hersi, said people in her Minnesota community are urging her to remain silent.
They try to destroy my life, my family. Cant say anything, she said.
An attorney brought in by the family, Daniel Kennedy, contacted Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who reached out to the State Department, according to FOX9.
Its sad to see the horror of what happened compounded by the lack of information, and the lack of feeling that theres something that can be done about it, Kennedy said.
Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.
Morality cannot be legislated, but behavior can be regulated. Judicial decrees may not change the heart, but they can restrain the heartless.
A right delayed is a right denied.Like an unchecked cancer, hate corrodes the personality and eats away its vital unity. Hate destroys a man's sense of values and his objectivity. It causes him to describe the beautiful as ugly and the ugly as beautiful, and to confuse the true with the false and the false with the true.
Martin Luther King Jr.
No one is born hating another person People must learn to hate and if they can learn to hate, they can be taught to love, for love comes more naturally to the human heart than its opposite.
Nelson Mandela
We can disagree and still love each other, unless your disagreement is rooted in my oppression and denial of my humanity and right to exist
James Baldwin
There is a fine line between free speech and hate speech. Free speech encourages debate whereas hate speech incites violence.
Newton Lee
The world will not be destroyed by those who do evil, but by those who watch them without doing anything.
Albert Einstein
A two-member parole panel delayed making a decision Thursday on whether to release an accomplice of cult killer Charles Manson who is the longest-serving female inmate in California.
After a daylong hearing, the panel from the Board of Parole Hearings postponed a decision on whether to free Patricia Krenwinkel "because they felt information discussed at the hearing was cause for an investigation," spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in an email.
The hearing will be continued once the investigation is concluded, she said
Sharon Tate's sister, Debra Tate, said the parole officials told her the hearing was likely to be postponed about six months while they research to see if Krenwinkel meets the criteria for having bartered women's syndrome.
Krenwinkel's attorney, Keith Wattley, did not immediately return telephone and email messages.
"She totally minimized her action and blamed everything on other people the whole hearing," Tate said.
Tate said she didn't buy the concept that Krenwinkel was a victim because she was free to leave at any time and participated in murders two nights in a row.
"We all have to be accountable four our actions. I don't buy any of this stuff. She was there because she wanted to be there. Nobody held a gun to her head," Tate said.
The decision to delay by the panel came after the 69-year-old Krenwinkel was previously denied parole 13 times, most recently in 2011.
Krenwinkel acknowledged during her trial that she chased down and repeatedly stabbed Abigail Ann Folger, the 26-year-old heiress of a coffee fortune, at Tate's home and helped kill grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary the following night.
Los Angeles County prosecutors say Krenwinkel carved the word "war" into Leno LaBianca's stomach then wrote "Helter Skelter" in blood on the couple's refrigerator.
Krenwinkel's attorney, Keith Wattley, successfully petitioned the state to hold the parole hearing a year early at the California Institution for Women, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, where Krenwinkel is imprisoned.
"California law officially recognizes a person's capacity to change and to address the factors that contributed to their previous behavior so that they can safely be paroled," Wattley told The Associated Press in an email before the hearing.
Krenwinkel contended at her previous parole hearing in 2011 that she is a changed woman. She has a clean disciplinary record, earned a bachelor's degree behind bars, taught illiterate inmates to read and trained service dogs for disabled people.
Sharon Tate's sister, Debra Tate, said before Thursday's hearing that killers such as Krenwinkel cannot be rehabilitated.
"She was a very prolific killer," Debra Tate said recently. "They may behave well in a controlled environment, but we cannot trust that, given the pressures of life, that they will be able to remain straight" outside prison.
Krenwinkel was a 19-year-old secretary when she met Manson at a party. She testified at her previous hearing that she left everything behind three days later to pursue what she believed was a budding romance with him.
She wept and apologized, saying she became a "monster" after she met Manson.
"I committed myself fully to him. I committed myself to the act of murder," she said then. "I was willing to sacrifice others' lives for my own."
Prosecutors say the slayings were an attempt to ignite a race war after which Manson and his followers would rise from the rubble to rule the world.
Krenwinkel was initially sentenced to death, but the California Supreme Court invalidated the death penalty in 1972.
Gov. Jerry Brown has the power to block the release of inmates if parole is granted. He previously stopped the parole of Manson followers Leslie Van Houten, 67, and Bruce Davis, 74.
Krenwinkel became the state's longest-serving female inmate when fellow Manson follower Susan Atkins died of cancer in prison in 2009.
Anthony DiMaria, the nephew of victim Thomas Jay Sebring, noted that Krenwinkel has lived a long time and denied that opportunity to her victims.
A large bear attacked and wounded a North Carolina hunter who says hes lucky to have survived the encounter.
Mike Wilson was hunting on a hill in Mitchell County, in the mountains of western North Carolina, when he came face-to-face with the 390-pound bear, WLOS-TV in Asheville reported Wednesday.
The bear was coming up the hill, and I was coming down the hill, Wilson told the station.
Wilson said he did what any hunter would do in that situation.
Shoot it, of course. And I did," he said. "But trying to get another shell in my gun, it just overrun me and knocked me down the hill."
The bear also attacked three of Wilsons hunting dogs, killing one.
WLOS reports the bear slashed Wilson in the face and neck with its paw. He said the animal came close to severing his jugular vein.
Doctors stopped the bleeding with 30 stitches.
The bear ran off after the attack and hid in a hole. Another hunter later shot and killed the bear, the station reported.
A prominent Black Lives Matter activist in Los Angeles has been hit with a temporary restraining order requiring him to stay away from the head of the police commission.
L.A. Police Commission President Matthew Johnson told a judge he was seeking the order against Trevor Gerard out of fear for his own and his children's lives.
Johnson said in court papers that he had been stalked and threatened by the Black Lives Matter leader. He charged that at various board meetings Gerard had mouthed threats, including I am going to beat your a-- and I am going to f------ kill you.
The official said that in recent weeks Gerard went looking for him at his private law office and family home. Johnson said police detained Gerard in front of his house.
The conduct and threats by [Gerard] put me in fear of harm to myself, my family and my co-workers when [he] is near, Johnson says in a court declaration accompanying the restraining order request.
The temporary restraining order signed by a judge does not allow Gerard to get within 100 yards of Johnson, his wife and children, and his law partner, except at police commission meetings. There the restriction is five yards. Gerard could be arrested if he ignores the restrictions.
A lawyer for the City of Los Angeles applied for the restraining order on Dec. 19, the day after Gerard paid the unwelcome visit to Johnsons home. The police commission is the LAPD's civilian oversight board.
LA Weekly reported Thursday that Gerard went to the home as part of a group of demonstrators with signs.
Gerard told the paper Johnson was distorting the truth in retaliation for Black Lives Matter LAs confrontational style of activism.
I never told him that he should be afraid of me, Gerald told the weekly. I never told him to meet me outside. I never threatened him with any kind of physical violence.
LA Weekly reports that Johnson advocates sharing more information with the public about police shootings.
The paper reports that Gerard regularly attends meetings of the police commission, where he has derisively addressed Johnson, who is also black, with the epithet houseboy.
The judge set Jan. 10 for a hearing on the restraining order.
Efforts by FoxNews.com to reach Johnson were unavailing.
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A Missouri Republican saw last year's debate over a proposed constitutional amendment that would have protected businesses that deny services to same-sex couples bring lawmakers to tears and grind legislative work to a halt. His potential solution: Take state government out of marriage completely.
"You can stop spending so much emotional energy on the issue, and we can move on to other things," state Rep. T.J. Berry said, adding, "I'm treating everybody the exact same way and leaving space for people to believe what they believe outside of government."
His bill, filed ahead of the 2017 legislative session, would make Missouri the first state to recognize only domestic unions for both heterosexual and gay couples, treating legal partnerships equally and leaving marriages to be done by pastors and other religious leaders.
But such peace could be elusive for several reasons. Some argue that leaving marriage to religious leaders is a way to constitutionally refuse to perform ceremonies for same-sex couples. Plus, there are potential logistical issues with stripping references to marriage in hundreds of state statutes, and the federal government recognizes only marriages for benefits. Berry's idea has been met by skepticism from pretty much all sides of the gay marriage issue.
Other states including Alabama, Indiana and Michigan failed to pass similar bills to limit the government's role in marriage, and Oklahoma representatives passed a bill that didn't make it out of the Senate.
The Missouri bill's chances are unclear, although Republican House Majority Floor Leader Mike Cierpiot, who lives 30 minutes south of Kansas City in Lee's Summit, said the issue needs to be discussed due to impassioned arguments among LGBT rights groups and religious organizations that have continued in the wake of the 2015 U.S. Supreme Court decision legalizing same-sex marriage.
The bill is backed by states' rights group Tenth Amendment Center, whose spokesman Mike Maharrey called it a "great compromise" and referenced county clerks in other states, such as Kentucky, who refused to issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples.
"It removes that type of battle of conscience," he said.
While the bill "would treat all couples the same" at least in Missouri the legal director for the national LGBT advocacy group Human Rights Campaign highlighted a significant issue. The federal government does not recognize domestic partnerships or other alternative unions, so Missouri's same-sex and opposite-sex couples would need to get married in another state to receive federal benefits regarding taxation, social security and military spousal benefits, Sarah Warbelow said.
Berry, who's from Kearney, about 30 minutes north of Kansas City, said he's seeking guidance from the federal government.
The bill also doesn't address the heart of tension between religious groups and gay rights groups: whether same-sex couples should have the right to wed.
Members of the Missouri Baptist Convention are concerned that endorsing Berry's measure would be seen as accepting the Supreme Court's ruling, policy director Don Hinkle said.
"We believe that the Bible is literally the words of God, and we're to keep his commandments," Hinkle said. "And he makes it very clear that marriage is to be only between a man and a woman."
Democratic House Minority Leader Gail McCann Beatty said the issue was settled at the federal level, calling the bill "absolutely unnecessary." She also warned that the whopping 386-page bill has unknown consequences, potentially causing problems for couples in domestic unions who move out of state.
And there's the possibility that the measure could chip away at the significance of marriage.
"If you replace marriage with domestic union, will people still take that contract as seriously?" Missouri Catholic Conference Executive Director Mike Hoey said.
Most Americans "don't want marriage to disappear," Warbelow said.
"There is something about marriage," she said. "People don't grow up dreaming about being in civil unions or domestic partnerships."
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Follow Summer Ballentine on Twitter: @esballentine
A Mexican man accused of raping a 13-year-old girl on a Greyhound bus that traveled through Kansas had been deported 10 times and voluntarily removed from the U.S. another nine times since 2003, records obtained by The Associated Press show.
OPINION: 5 BORDER SECURITY PRIORITIES FOR TRUMP IN HIS FIRST 100 DAYS
Three U.S. Republican senators -- including Kansas' Jerry Moran and Pat Roberts -- demanded this month that the Department of Homeland Security provide immigration records for 38-year-old Tomas Martinez-Maldonado, who is charged with a felony in the alleged Sept. 27 attack aboard a bus in Geary County. He is being held in the Geary County jail in Junction City, which is about 120 miles west of Kansas City.
U.S. Sen. Charles Grassley, from Iowa and chairman of the judiciary committee, co-signed a Dec. 9 letter with Moran and Roberts to Homeland Security Secretary Jeh Johnson, calling it "an extremely disturbing case" and questioning how Martinez-Maldonado was able to re-enter and remain in the country.
MEXICO TO DEFEND NAFTA USING BORDER SECURITY AS LEVERAGE, TOP AIDES SAY
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement said it has placed a detainer -- a request to turn Martinez-Maldonado over to ICE custody before he is released -- with Geary County. ICE declined to discuss his specific case beyond its October statement regarding the 10 deportations.
Court filings show Martinez-Maldonado has two misdemeanor convictions for entering without legal permission in cases prosecuted in 2013 and 2015 in U.S. District Court of Arizona, where he was sentenced to serve 60 days and 165 days respectively.
A status hearing in the rape case is scheduled for Jan. 10. Defense attorney Lisa Hamer declined to comment on the charge, but said, "criminal law and immigration definitely intersect and nowadays it should be the responsibility of every criminal defense attorney to know the possible ramifications in the immigration courts."
Nationwide, 52 percent of all federal prosecutions in the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30 were for entry or re-entry without legal permission and similar immigration violations, according to Transactional Records Access Clearinghouse at Syracuse University.
It's not unusual to see immigrants with multiple entries without legal permission, said David Trevino, a Topeka immigration attorney also representing Martinez-Maldonado. Most of Martinez-Maldonado's family lives in Mexico, but he also has family in the United States, and the family is "devastated," Trevino said.
"(President-elect Donald Trump) can build a wall 100 feet high and 50 feet deep, but it is not going to keep family members separated. So if someone is deported and they have family members here ... they will find a way back -- whether it is through the air, under a wall, through the coast of the United States," Trevino said.
He declined to comment on his client's criminal history and pending charge.
Records obtained by AP show Martinez-Maldonado had eight voluntary removals before his first deportation in 2010, which was followed by another voluntary removal that same year. He was deported five more times between 2011 and 2013.
In 2013, Martinez-Maldonado was charged with entering without legal permission, a misdemeanor, and subsequently deported in early 2014 after serving his sentence. He was deported again a few months later, as well as twice in 2015 -- including the last one in October 2015 after he had served his second sentence, the records show.
ICE said in an emailed statement when it encounters a person who's been deported multiple times or has a significant criminal history and was removed, it routinely presents those cases to the U.S. attorney's office for possible criminal charges.
Cosme Lopez, spokesman for the U.S. attorney's office for the District of Arizona, declined comment on why prosecutors twice dismissed felony re-entry after deportation charges against Martinez-Maldonado in 2013 and 2015 in exchange for guilty pleas on misdemeanor entry charges.
Arizona ranks third in the nation -- behind only the Southern District of Texas and the Western District of Texas -- for the number of immigration prosecutions among the nation's 94 federal judicial districts for the fiscal year that ended Sept. 30, TRAC records show.
Moran told the AP in an emailed statement that the immigration system is "broken."
"There must be serious legislative efforts to address U.S. immigration policy, and we must have the ability to identify, prosecute and deport illegal aliens who display violent tendencies before they have an opportunity to perpetrate these crimes in the United States," he said.
For the next week, not only will there be no U.S. Navy aircraft carrier in the Middle East, but there will be no American aircraft carriers deployed at sea anywhere else in the world, despite a host of worldwide threats facing the United States.
VIDEO: WHAT THE AIR FORCE NEEDS TO KEEP UP WITH GLOBAL DEMAND
The carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and her strike group returned to Norfolk, Va., Friday following a seven-month deployment. The Ike launched hundreds of airstrikes against ISIS in Iraq and Syria from both the Mediterranean Sea and the Persian Gulf.
Two destroyers in the Ikes strike group also saw combat. The USS Nitze and USS Mason were attacked in the Red Sea when Iranian backed Houthi forces in Yemen launched cruise misisles, which were intercepted by the Mason. A retaliatory strike by the Nitze destroyed the radar installations in Yemen in October.
IRAN CONDUCTS 'WAR-GAME' EXERCISES, THREATENS TO SHOOT DOWN TRESPASSING AIRCRAFT
The Eisenhowers replacement carrier, the USS George H.W. Bush, was delayed by more than six months in the shipyards and will not be able to replace the Ike until early next year, according to Navy officials.
While there is no U.S. aircraft carrier in the Middle East right now, there is a large deck U.S. Navy amphibious assault ship with thousands of Marines on board as well as helicopters and some jets to respond to a crisis, according to officials.
In the meantime, the Navy tells Fox News the U.S. military has other jets available to make up for the aircraft carrier gap in the Middle East and elsewhere in the world. The Navy can also surge a carrier now in port to deploy if necessary. But the absence of a deployed U.S. Navy aircraft carrier, long seen as a symbol of American power projection, is noteworthy. It is believed to be the first time since World War II that at least one U.S. aircraft carrier has not been deployed.
We are not going to discuss the timing of operational movements of carrier strike groups into and out of the U.S. Central Command area of responsibility, said Capt. Terry Shannon, a U.S. Naval Forces Central Command spokesman, in a statement to Fox News. Centcom is tasked with control over all U.S. forces in the Middle East and Afghanistan.
Its not the first time there was a carrier gap in the Middle East. Last fall, the U.S. Navy relied on a French aircraft carrier to fill the void when the USS Theodore Roosevelt returned home. At the time it was the first gap in carrier coverage in the Middle East since 2007.
Other factors contribute to the U.S. Navy not having an aircraft carrier deployed anywhere in the world right now. From 2011 to 2013, the Navy maintained two carriers in the Persian Gulf on the orders of Centcom's then-commander, Gen. James Mattis, who is now President-elect Donald Trumps pick for defense secretary.
The congressionally mandated budget cuts known as sequestration have also been felt on the waterfront since 2011. After billions of dollars were cut from the Navys budget, ships such as the George H.W. Bush were forced to prolong their time in the shipyards, which had a ripple effect down the line. If the Bush had left the shipyard on time, she would have relieved the Ike in the Gulf or the Mediterranean, officials tell Fox News.
Fox News recently flew out to the USS George H.W. Bush 40 miles off the coast of North Carolina to see the crew's final tuneup.
With jets landing every 60 seconds, the flight deck crew worked on getting the time between traps (landings) down to 40 seconds.
Aboard the ship, 18- to 22-year-old men and women work 14 hour days on the flight deck, with little rest -- all this before deploying and potentially dropping live rounds on ISIS.
This is the military equivalent of spring training, because once we complete this at the end of December, then we'll be going forward and it'll be real forces that we'll be going flying with and against, said Rear Adm. Kenneth Whitesell, commander, Carrier Strike 2, interviewed on his perch above the four-acre flight deck known as Vulture's Row.
In addition to fighting ISIS, the ship's commanding officer says his crew will be ready to deal with a resurgent Russia or China if necessary.
While we don't have any emergent or pending conflicts with them, certainly, it is fair to say that we have divergent interests in many cases. and so we need to be prepared to understand how we will react to that if necessary, said Capt. Will Pennington.
There is recent history with this ship.
On Aug. 8, 2014, a pair of F-18s from the Bush launched the first airstrikes against ISIS in northern Iraq.
Now, two and a half years later, the ship is headed back to the fight against the Islamic State terror group.
That doesn't mean that three months or six months from now, that will be the priority for our country. So we have to be ready to execute anywhere, anytime, any mission, said Capt. James McCall, commander of Air Wing 8, in charge of all of the aircraft on board.
Fox News' Stephen Scarola contributed to this report.
A two-member parole panel delayed making a decision Thursday on whether to release an accomplice of cult killer Charles Manson who is the longest-serving female inmate in California.
After a daylong hearing, the panel from the Board of Parole Hearings postponed a decision on whether to recommend freeing Patricia Krenwinkel "because they felt information discussed at the hearing was cause for an investigation," spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in an email.
The hearing will be continued once the investigation is concluded, she said
Sharon Tate's sister, Debra Tate, said the parole officials told her the hearing was likely to be postponed about six months while they research to see if Krenwinkel meets the criteria for having battered women's syndrome.
Krenwinkel's attorney, Keith Wattley, confirmed that account but did not comment on the postponement.
"She totally minimized her actions and blamed everything on other people the whole hearing," Tate said.
Tate said she didn't buy the concept that Krenwinkel was a victim because she was free to leave at any time and participated in murders two nights in a row.
"We all have to be accountable for our actions. I don't buy any of this stuff. She was there because she wanted to be there. Nobody held a gun to her head," Tate said.
Anthony DiMaria, the nephew of victim Thomas Jay Sebring, said a Los Angeles County prosecutor who attended the hearing told him that the parole officials want to research whether Krenwinkel was a victim of intimate partner battery.
"For this investigation to be initiated at this point is mindboggling," said DiMaria, who attended the hearing but left before a decision was postponed. "I don't understand where we go from a murder, the killing of eight people (including Tate's unborn child) to an intimate partner battery victim. It's absurd .... It seems like the world is turned upside down. How do you kill eight people and now you're the victim?"
Jean Guccione, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles District Attorney's Office, said prosecutors would not comment until the parole panel makes its recommendation after the investigation.
The decision to delay by the panel came after the 69-year-old Krenwinkel was previously denied parole 13 times, most recently in 2011.
Krenwinkel acknowledged during her trial that she chased down and repeatedly stabbed Abigail Ann Folger, the 26-year-old heiress of a coffee fortune, at Tate's home and helped kill grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, the following night.
Los Angeles County prosecutors say Krenwinkel carved the word "war" into Leno LaBianca's stomach then wrote "Helter Skelter" in blood on the couple's refrigerator.
Wattley successfully petitioned the state to hold the parole hearing a year early at the California Institution for Women, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, where Krenwinkel is imprisoned.
Krenwinkel contended at her previous parole hearing in 2011 that she is a changed woman. She has a clean disciplinary record, earned a bachelor's degree behind bars, taught illiterate inmates to read and trained service dogs for disabled people.
Krenwinkel was a 19-year-old secretary when she met Manson at a party. She testified at her previous hearing that she left everything behind three days later to pursue what she believed was a budding romance with him.
She wept and apologized, saying she became a "monster" after she met Manson.
"I committed myself fully to him. I committed myself to the act of murder," she said then. "I was willing to sacrifice others' lives for my own."
Prosecutors say the slayings were an attempt to ignite a race war after which Manson and his followers would rise from the rubble to rule the world.
Krenwinkel was initially sentenced to death, but the California Supreme Court invalidated the death penalty in 1972.
Gov. Jerry Brown has the power to block the release of inmates if parole is granted. He previously stopped the parole of Manson followers Leslie Van Houten, 67, and Bruce Davis, 74.
Krenwinkel became the state's longest-serving female inmate when fellow Manson follower Susan Atkins died of cancer in prison in 2009.
Police say they came up empty in their search of a house near Pittsburgh for twins who were last seen as children more than a decade ago.
Allegheny County police didn't say what prompted Thursday night's search of a North Braddock house. The search included cadaver dogs. A county detective has testified that he believes twins Ivon and Inisha Fowler are dead.
Police say the twins would be 18 now. They say the twins' mother, Patricia Fowler, has given conflicting statements about their whereabouts.
County social workers raised the question of the twins' whereabouts last summer after they removed four other children for medical neglect from Fowler's home. She faces criminal charges.
Police say a prospective home buyer made a gruesome discovery Thursday afternoon when a mummified and badly decomposed body was found inside a car in the home.
The home on Detroit's east side was up for sale. The prospective home buyer was walking through the home when they discovered a dust-covered car in the garage.
BODY FOUND IN BURNED-OUT CAR MAY BE GREEK AMBASSADOR WHO VANISHED IN RIO
The early 1990s Plymouth Acclaim had been parked there for at least a year. When they opened the car, they made the terrible discovery of the decomposing and mummified body.
The home was occupied and the people who lived in the home said they had no idea a dead body was in the garage. They told FOX 2 they never went inside the old garage. They would not go on camera.
Johnson lives across the street and was speechless.
"I've seen people walking past...I've seen my neighbors, but I don't know nothing, I ain't see nothing," Johnson said.
Detroit police are waiting to see what medical examiners are able to figure out about this unrecognizable body.
Click for more from Fox 2.
Authorities say four people died in a small plane crash Thursday night in Jefferson County, Wash. There were no survivors.
Wreckage found as crews seek missing private plane in Hood Canal area - https://t.co/LeFrjk7Xev pic.twitter.com/hCCAFNtIET KOMO News (@komonews) December 30, 2016
The wreckage was found in woods Friday morning using radar forensics data and the planes emergency location transmitter, according to the Washington State Department of Transportation.
SEARCH LAUNCHED AFTER PLANE REPORTEDLY PILOTED BY CEO VANISHES IN OHIO WITH 6 ON BOARD
The names of the victims have not yet been released. Officials said more information would be released at a later time by law enforcement or the medical examiners office.
The plane, a single-engine Cessna, left Boeing Field in Seattle around 6 p.m. Thursday headed for Port Angeles. The plane lost contact with air traffic control at 6:44 p.m. in the Dabob Bay area, east of Quilcene.
The Federal Aviation Administration then contacted WSDOT which is the agency in charge of all aerial search and rescues in the state.
Click for more from Q13 Fox.
MOGADISHU, Somalia An Islamic group that controls much of southern Somalia executed two girls by firing squad, and hundreds of residents of a town were forced to view the spectacle.
Sheik Mohamed Ibrahim on Wednesday sentenced the girls to death in the town of Belet Weyne for spying for government soldiers fighting the Islamist group al-Shabab. The local al-Shabab administration appoints judges and the only needed qualifications are that the person must be a man who knows the Quran.
Al-Shabab is linked to Al Qaeda and has carried out several whippings, amputations and executions to enforce its own strict interpretation of Islam. This was the first public execution of girls in Belet Weyne, a western Somali town.
Abdiwali Aden, a witness, told The Associated Press by phone that al-Shabab militiamen had walked through Belet Weyne's streets, informing residents about the pending executions by loudspeaker and ordering everyone to attend.
Ayan Mohamed Jama, 18, and Huriyo Ibrahim, 15, were brought before hundreds of residents. Ten masked men opened fire Wednesday on the girls, who were blindfolded, soon after the sentencing. As the girls were shot, they shouted "There is no God but Allah," said a witness who asked not to be named for fear of reprisals.
A woman fainted after she saw the girls being shot, said Da'ud Ahmed, another witness.
An al-Shabab official, Sheik Yusuf Ali Ugas, said the girls had admitted to spying. But Sadia Osman, who witnessed the execution, said one of the girls said she was innocent. Ugas also warned residents against using their mobile phones or cameras to document the execution, saying violates of his rule risked amputation.
Human Rights Watch said in an April report that al-Shabab imposes "unrelenting repression and brutality."
Al-Shabab, which vows allegiance to Al Qaeda and whose members include foreign fighters, controls large parts of southern Somalia and much of the capital, Mogadishu.
Somalia has not had an effective central government for 19 years. The U.N.-backed government controls only a few blocks of Mogadishu, while its allies control much of central Somalia.
About 750 to 1,000 foreign fighters, including American citizens, are now swelling the ranks of Al Qaedas affiliate in Somalia, a senior Kenyan military official tells Fox News.
The group, known as Al-Shabaab, has taken advantage of the Arab Spring to further cement its relationship with the Al Qaeda affiliate in Yemen, the Kenyan military official added.
Amplifying the point, Macharia Kamau, Kenyas ambassador and permanent representative to the Kenya Mission at the United Nations, said that the two Al Qaeda affiliates appear to be on the verge of a fully integrated operation.
We have the bodies to prove it in Mogadishu (the Somali Capital), Kamau told Fox News, referring to the suicide car bombings. Unquestionably, the training capabilities are international and the funding behind these training capabilities are international.
Fox News has learned that in addition to training recruits in Somalia, Al Qaeda in Yemen, which is behind the last two major plots against the U.S. involving aircraft, has begun sharing bomb-making techniques with Al-Shabaab.
This is significant because the Yemeni Al Qaeda affiliate's Saudi bomb maker, Ibrahim al-Asiri, is considered a top target by U.S. intelligence because he has developed explosives that defy traditional airline security screening. Al-Asiri was behind the underwear bomb in 2009 and the cargo printer bombs last fall that were designed to bring down cargo planes over the eastern seaboard of the U.S.
Kamau said there was no convincing evidence that efforts to deter U.S. citizens from joining Al Shabaab have been successful. At least two dozen Americans, mostly of Somali descent, have joined Al-Shabaab since 2007. An Alabama native, Omar Hammami, who is under indictment in the U.S. for allegedly supporting Al Qaeda, is the public face of Al-Shabaab for the West through online videos and lectures.
Kenyan officials say the presence of Americans on the ground in Somalia is making conditions worse. There are now at least three documented cases of American suicide bombers in Somalia, and a fourth case is suspected. A month ago, Kenya began an aggressive military push into Somalia to contain Al-Shabaab.
American citizens makes the situation even more complex because you are bringing a level of competence and training that normally is not found in some of these small communities in some of these failed states," Kamau said.
As for the number of foreign jihadists and the threat they present, Kamau added, It has definitely not reduced ... the actual suicide bombers are sometimes from America or from Sweden ... where they have some of these tentacles linking back to it.
Kenya officials say that almost a third of the council that runs Al-Shabaab is tied up with Al Qaeda elements, adding that the leadership, the strategic thinking ... and the funding is tied up in the same Al Qaeda elements that are spread in many other parts of the world," including Yemen and potentially as far afield as Afghanistan.
A strategic priority is the Somali port city of Kismayo, which is seen as the main supply route for Al-Shabaab and other extremists elements in the Horn of Africa. The Kenyan ambassador said his country wants to see a naval blockade which will require international help. And while grateful for American support, given the current economic climate, Kamau said other nations whose strategic national security interests are at stake in the Horn of Africa should also bear the responsibility.
Asked if Somalia is on the verge of becoming an Al Qaeda safe haven from which it will try to launch global operations, the ambassador said, Without a doubt. Absolutely. The evidence of that is clear. Im sure your own intelligence agencies (U.S. intelligence services) here are aware of it. We (the Kenyans) are aware of it. ... The countries that surround Somalia are aware of it. We are all trying to respond appropriately.
While U.S. officials put the number of foreign fighters in Somalia at about 500 and slightly more in Yemen, they do not dispute that both affiliates are on the upswing when compared to Al Qaeda core in Pakistan that has only several hundred fighters.
While Al Qaedas core in Pakistan is weaker now than it ever has been, the initiative in the organization and attention of foreign fighters is shifting to their affiliates in Yemen and the Horn of Africa," a U.S. official told Fox News. Al Qaeda in Yemen and Al-Shabaab are threats no one is taking lightly.
While Al-Shabaab has launched attacks outside of Somalia in Kenya and Uganda, the intelligence community questions whether the group will remain a regional player or whether it will truly go global by launching international plots. Al-Shabaab has not so far. One lingering concern is that Americans, with clean passports and clean backgrounds, who train with Al-Shabaab can eventually return to the U.S.
Asked whether it is only a matter of time before Al-Shabaab becomes a global player for Al Qaeda, Kenyas U.N. ambassador framed his response carefully.
The next 12 months are critical, Kamau said. It depends how successful we are on the ground. And what support we get from the international community. If we are successful, then we should hope that we should succeed and that should not happen. And if we fail, on the other hand, which we hope we dont, it is hard to tell what the repercussions will be for everyone.
Fox News chief intelligence correspondent Catherine Herridge's bestselling book "The Next Wave: On the Hunt for al Qaeda's American Recruits," published by Crown, draws on her reporting for Fox News into Al-Shabaab, the American cleric Al-Awlaki and his new generation of recruits -- Al Qaeda 2.0.
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At just 13, Radomir Franz already knew he wanted to be a taxidermist.
He credits a boyhood trip to a natural science museum with capturing his imagination. More than three decades later, he's one of central Europe's most sought-after experts in the field and says he has stuffed animals from every country except, perhaps, Greenland.
On a recent visit, some of his 15 staff all of whom he trained because there's no other place to learn the trade in the Czech Republic were stuffing an elephant's ear with a gooey plastic substance. A leopard on the floor was spiked with acupuncture-like needles over its face to keep the skin tight. A false eye was being placed on a huge crocodile. The walls and any available floor space were covered in snakes, lions, birds, bears, deer, gazelles and fish.
Franz, wearing safari-like clothing and a gold chain, said demand for his work never ceases, with orders from all over the world. He spends part of the year traveling to see animals in their natural habitat so that his work is as accurate as possible. He returns with thousands of photos.
He describes the practice as a mix of anatomical knowledge and chemistry.
About 40 percent of all orders come from abroad. An elephant costs more than 750,000 Czech koruna about $37,500. And such animals can take several months. They complete about 1,000 animals a year.
The biggest animal he's worked on? A giraffe.
The al-Shabab stronghold of Barawe, a coastal town in Somalia where U.S. Navy SEALs came ashore in a failed raid last weekend, is gripped by fear and tension as residents worry they'll be accused of spying and the insurgents ready for another attack.
Foreign fighters and Somali members of al-Shabab have in recent years moved into the town, edged by red desert and emerald seas, as African Union peacekeeping troops and Somali government forces pushed the Islamic insurgent group from Somalia's capital and other areas.
Saturday's pre-dawn raid by the American commandoes was aimed at a Kenyan al-Shabab member named as a planner of al-Shabab terrorist attacks. Since the SEAL raid, more al-Shabab battle wagons pickup trucks mounted with machine guns or recoilless rifles can be seen prowling the sandy streets of the town, residents say.
Most of the residents of Barawe, a town which has existed for more than five centuries, rely on fishing and small businesses for income. Al-Shabab maintains strict control of the activities and life of local residents who are told to close shops and other businesses to attend the five daily Muslim prayers at mosques.
The hard-line insurgents also require women to wear Islamic dress that covers the whole body except for the face or eyes.
Residents told The Associated Press by phone that after the SEAL raid on a seaside villa, al-Shabab fighters detained several people on suspicion of spying, an allegation that often leads to public executions without any meaningful judicial process.
"We are really scared. Sounds like they think everyone is spy," said Noh, a resident who did not want to have his surname used out of fear of reprisals.
Barawe, which lies on Somalia's southeast coast between Mogadishu and the Kenyan border, has been under the control of al-Shabab since 2009, when Ethiopian troops pulled out of southern and central Somalia. The militants named a mayor of the city, which is a militant training ground and economic hub.
A July report by the U.N. Monitoring Group on Somalia said that al-Shabab has a "suicide training school" near Barawe.
The town hosts the largest number of foreign fighters in Somalia, most often from Kenya, Yemen and Sudan. In September 2012, militants publicly executed two men they accused of spying for African Union forces. In February the bodies of two beheaded men were found, likely killed by militants who suspected them of having links with the government, the U.N. report said.
Barawe's port is a money-maker for the insurgent group, used by ships bringing in illegal weapons and shipping out charcoal between 600,000 and 1 million sacks per month, according to a U.N. estimate. Each sack is charged a $2 tax, netting between $1.2 million and $2 million a month for al-Shabab.
Since al-Shabab lost control of the port city of Kismayo, the Barawe income and taxes provide an important economic base for al-Shabab, which provides no social services to residents. The fighters have been able to maintain control of the town and its crumbling, arched buildings because the African Union and Somali government forces are too thinly spread to try to invade.
The Somali government and AMISOM, the acronym of the AU peacekeeping mission whose forces currently number 17,000, have repeatedly asked the U.N. for authorization and funding of more troops and attack helicopters, so far to no avail.
In September 2009 a SEAL raid in Barawe killed six people, including Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, one of the most-wanted Al Qaeda operatives in the region and an alleged plotter of the 1998 U.S. Embassy bombings in Kenya and Tanzania.
"The latest attack made the mujahedeen even more vigilant," said Abu Mohamed, an al-Shabab official in Barawe. "Any more attacks by them will strengthen our morale and spirit."
Saturday's SEAL raid occurred 20 years after the "Black Hawk Down" battle in Mogadishu in which a mission to capture Somali warlords in the capital went awry after militiamen shot down two U.S. helicopters. Eighteen U.S. soldiers were killed in the battle, which marked the beginning of the end of that U.S. military mission to bring stability to the Horn of Africa nation.
In 1991, warlords overthrew a longtime dictator and turned on each other, plunging Somalia into chaos.
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The young boy emerged from the rubble of Warsaw, clinging to the skirt of a woman he knew only as Mrs. Wala. Then she turned and walked off, and 7-year-old Mieczyslaw Kenigswein was alone, lost in the Holocaust. It was 1944.
That little boy is now 78, an Israeli with a Hebrew name, Moshe Tirosh. During a recent visit to Warsaw, he recalled surviving the rest of the war not knowing if his parents were dead or alive and how the kindness of strangers and random turns of fate saved his life.
Tirosh's earliest memories are of the hunger, disease and misery of the Warsaw Ghetto.
Affectionately called Miecio as a boy, he was nearly 5 when his mother, Regina, gave birth to her third child under floorboards in the ghetto, biting her knuckles to keep from screaming during labor so the Germans would not discover the newborn.
With death all around, Tirosh said his parents made the excruciating decision to part with the infant to increase his chances of survival.
With the help of a young Pole, Zygmunt Pietak, his mother smuggled the newborn out of the ghetto and left him on a street corner with a card bearing the name "Stanislaw Pomorski" a fake surname meant to hide his Jewish origins.
Soon a Polish policeman came along and took the baby to a home for abandoned children.
The next year was 1943, and Tirosh's father, Samuel, was helping other Jews plan the uprising in the ghetto when he decided to try to flee with his family.
"He was told there was no way to escape," Tirosh recalled. But his father was determined.
Now 6, Miecio and his 4-year-old sister, Stefania, were packed in rag-padded sacks and thrown over the high ghetto walls. The parents climbed over themselves, bribing Polish guards to turn the other way.
They first found shelter with a Polish family, the Raczeks, who took them in for money. There, the family would go into hiding behind the apartment walls or in closets during inspections by Germans or visits by the Raczeks' friends or neighbors. The danger of being betrayed to the Nazis was high and the punishment for helping Jews was severe: death to any rescuer and their entire family.
Terrified, Mrs. Raczek decided after a few months she could no longer bear the risk.
Pietak stepped in again, this time to smuggle the Kenigsweins to the Warsaw zoo, where the zoo director and his wife, Jan and Antonina Zabinski, had been sheltering Jews.
It was a cold and rainy night in late 1943 when the family climbed into a horse-driven carriage for the trip to Warsaw's Praga district, a perilous journey over the Vistula River past German guards on both sides of a bridge.
Pietak sat next to the driver. When they approached the Nazi guards, he pulled out a bottle of moonshine and splashed the horses and himself with it.
"Halt!" the Germans ordered. When they smelled the alcohol, they shouted, "Polnische Schweine, Weg!" "Polish pigs, go away!"
"And that's how we got though," Tirosh recalled. "It was the same at the second crossing and we made our way to the zoo."
By this time, most of the zoo animals had been killed or hauled off to zoos in Germany, and Zabinski had turned it into a pig farm.
Miecio and Stefania stayed in a basement for a few weeks while their parents hid out of sight in animal cages.
It was traumatic for the little girl, who often cried for her mother. Aware of the danger, Miecio covered her mouth to stifle her sobs.
The Zabinskis could not keep them indefinitely and, one day, the zookeeper's wife brought Miecio upstairs and tried to dye his dark hair blond, hoping to make him look more "Aryan." Instead, it came out red, earning him the nickname "Squirrel."
Again with the help of Pietak, the family found new shelter in the tiny apartment of a captain in Poland's underground army, Feliks Cywinski. Cywinski created a hiding place by pulling bricks out of the thick outer walls. But that couldn't serve for long the necessity of buying so much food for such a small household was certain to arouse suspicion.
So it was decided that splitting up the family would increase their chances of survival.
A childless shopkeeper agreed to adopt Stefania but it was more difficult to hide Jewish boys, who, because they were circumcised, were at risk of being uncovered as Jews.
Eventually, Pietak found a place for Miecio with a woman he remembers only as Mrs. Wala. She had a daughter about his age and agreed to take him in for money.
"I didn't want to go, but my father explained I would be safer with her," he said.
During the bombardment of 1944, the merciless German response to the Warsaw uprising, sirens signaled for people to take shelter and Miecio ran into a cellar with Mrs. Wala and her daughter.
The bombing caused the four-story building above them to collapse. Men in the cellar used poles to knock a way out.
The survivors emerged to an apocalyptic scene of destruction.
"The street wasn't a street but a mass of rubble," Tirosh recalled.
"In one hand, Mrs. Wala held a suitcase and, in the other, her little daughter's hand. I held onto her skirt and we ran," he said.
"At one point, we stopped and I lost hold of her. And I remember this exactly to this day: She turned to me and made an expression that said she was very sorry that she was leaving me, and then she walked away with her daughter."
"I was left alone in the rubble," he said.
With Germans shooting Poles in the area, Miecio pressed his hands together and kept repeating "Jesus, where is my aunt?" It was something Mrs. Wala had taught him to do should he ever be caught alone, in an attempt to appear Catholic.
Two Polish underground fighters spotted him and pulled him into shelter.
"This must be a little Jew," one said. They gave him a card saying he was an orphan and sent him on. With the help of another stranger, he made his way to a church-run orphanage.
Soon, the orphans were evacuated to southern Poland, where Miecio lived out the rest of the war in a monastery in Stankowo, near Krakow.
"And there I endured hell," he said, describing hunger, illness, flea infestations and beatings by older boys who discovered he was Jewish after pulling his pants down during a bath.
The children subsisted on turnips and water, and whatever potato scraps they could steal from a nearby pigsty run by Germans. Disease was rife; every day, nuns carted away the corpses of children who had succumbed.
But Miecio enjoyed the protection of a priest, Father Andrzej, who gave him a little of his own soup and ordered the other boys not to hurt him.
"It's a matter of our Polish honor that this child survives the war," the priest told the boys. The beatings became fewer, but did not stop altogether.
Then, on New Year's Eve in 1944, just weeks before the arrival of the Soviet army ended the Nazi occupation, a Polish farmer and his wife came to the orphanage to adopt a boy. With the children lined up, the couple went one by one, looking into their eyes. Lifting Miecio's chin, the wife turned to the priest and said, "Father, we want this one."
"No, you don't," Father Andrzej said. "He is weak, and always sick. Please choose another one."
But the couple insisted, and Miecio was taken by sled through the snow to the farmers' home.
That night, the farmer's wife bathed him. Despite his efforts to hide his private parts, she made the inevitable discovery of his circumcision. She then put him in a warm bed and spent the night sewing new clothes for him.
The next morning, the farmer returned Miecio to the orphanage.
Today, he is grateful the couple didn't keep him. Had he stayed on that isolated farm, he thinks, he might never have been found by his mother after the war.
With 6 million Jews dead and most survivors bereft of loved ones, the Kenigsweins were lucky: Both parents and their three children survived and, with painstaking effort, Regina Kenigswein eventually tracked down her children.
The woman who had adopted Stefania did not want to give her up but was persuaded when offered enough money.
The youngest, Stanislaw, was a sick and underdeveloped 3-year-old. He had been evacuated with other foundlings to the southern Polish city of Czestochowa, where his mother found him.
She found Miecio 10 months later in a church-run orphanage in Krakow, where he was taken after the war. At first he, didn't recognize her. And the orphanage director, not knowing he was Jewish, didn't want to give him up.
"How can he be yours if you are Jewish and he is a Pole?" the director asked.
The boy was told to pull down his pants, his circumcision once again the proof of his Jewish heritage.
After the war, Samuel Kenigswein made a fortune manufacturing shoe polish and in other enterprises, and two more children were born Rachel, in 1946, and Arie, two years later. Then the family's luck ended: Samuel Kenigswein's heart gave out in 1948, soon after his fifth child was born.
In 1957, the rest of the family immigrated to Israel. There, Tirosh became an army officer and married an Israeli woman. Today, he speaks with joy of his three children, six grandchildren and an extended family of 56. He doesn't say it, but it is understood: 56 people who could just as easily not have been here.
A makeshift camp of thousands from the Middle East, Asia and Africa has been dismantled at Budapest's Keleti train station, and its inhabitants have left for Germany. But the loathing of them lingers in Hungary, which hopes to build a border fence strong enough to keep out future waves of asylum seekers.
"We need the fence," said Istvan Szabo, a 43-year-old lathe operator having a beer at a bar next to the station, where hundreds seeking refuge in the European Union still line up daily to buy tickets to Western Europe.
The tent city sprang up last month when the government blocked the asylum seekers from traveling by train to Austria and Germany. Authorities finally gave in last weekend and sent buses to take them to the border with Austria.
Szabo, like many in this socially conservative land of 10 million, says he doesn't understand why they've come.
"If they couldn't solve their problems back where they live, why do they think they're going to be able to solve them here?" Szabo said.
Such lack of sympathy is a striking feature of the massive march this summer from Turkey through southeastern Europe. Many of the trekkers interviewed by The Associated Press say their worst experiences have come in Hungary, where farmers hiss at them in disapproval and the government leaves their care mostly up to unpaid volunteers.
A recent opinion poll sponsored by the Budapest think tank Republikon found that just 19 percent believe Hungary has a duty to take in refugees, while 66 percent deem them a threat and should not be let in. The Ipsos survey of 2,000 people, published Aug. 27 as the Keleti camp was growing, had a margin of error below 3 percentage points.
The findings reflect a country where ethnic minorities barely exist outside Budapest and right-wing beliefs dominate in small towns that strongly support the ultranationalist Jobbik party.
"Many Hungarians are racist. They lack self-confidence and see their identity under threat. And our government exploits these feelings to boost its own popularity," said Zsuzsanna Zhohar, 36, who has helped lead volunteer efforts to give food, water, medical aid and other help to those passing through Hungary.
"It can be hard to convince Hungarians that these people don't want to take our jobs, our homes, our women, our dogs," she said, laughing at the absurdity of the idea.
Yet Hungary at times has become a theater of the absurd, with police expending great effort to marshal the migrants to specific spots, only to watch them walk straight out again to snarl traffic.
Government billboards warn the newcomers to respect the country's laws and culture, but the signs all are in Hungarian, which virtually none of them can read.
Then again, it's hard to find one intending to stay in Hungary anyway.
"The government says they don't want immigrants here and they can't take our jobs away," said satirist Gergely Kovacs, a 35-year-old graphic designer. "But the truth is that nobody wants to come here. Every immigrant would spend just three days here if we kept the borders open. There's no need to hate them because they're leaving as quickly as possible."
Kovacs' tongue-in-cheek political movement, the Two-Tailed Dog Party, has mocked Prime Minister Viktor Orban's anti-immigrant campaign by erecting similarly designed billboards. One of them, in English, notes the hypocrisy in decrying immigration when hundreds of thousands of Hungarians have sought better-paid employment in Western Europe since the country was admitted to the EU in 2004.
"Come to Hungary," the billboard advises asylum seekers. "We've got jobs in London!"
Many Hungarians struggle to get by, and that helps to sour their outlook on the foreign influx. In 2011, Orban seized the public's private pension funds worth $13 billion to cover government debt and help the country exit an International Monetary Fund bailout. Its sales tax is 27 percent, the highest in Europe, and Hungary has one of the lowest average wages in Europe, barely $600 a month.
"The volunteers were throwing food and clothes at the migrants, and they wouldn't give me a stinking sandwich. Why are they so generous with them and not with me?" said Korneliusz Lecz, a former chemical engineer who is homeless. As he sat near Keleti station, he blamed the refugees for an ailment in his left eye, saying they had brought "contagious diseases."
Near the border with Serbia, farmers express resentment of people running through their fields of corn and sunflowers. They wonder how the migrants could afford to pay smugglers more than $3,000 for the journey.
"They are not poor. I am poor," said Denes Csonka, 55, sitting next to his small fields of melons, cabbage and sun-scorched corn stalks near the border town of Roszke. "Yet I have seen them almost every night taking food from my fields and trampling my crops. They are taking food from my own mouth, and they do not even ask before they do it."
Such frustrations find their grass-roots voice in Jobbik (pronounced YOB-ick), which has become the No. 2 party in opinion polls as it assails Orban's Fidesz party for being too soft on immigrants and minorities, including Gypsies, gays and Jews. On Saturday, Jobbik activists demonstrated for sterner action, waving signs that read, "Deportation, not work permits!" and "Border closures! We don't want immigrants!"
"Whoever is a liberal is scum," said Levente Muranyi, a 75-year-old former Jobbik lawmaker at the rally. He called left-wing support for aiding migrants "tantamount to treason."
He said Germany's open door for Muslims fleeing war in Syria, Iraq and Afghanistan would leave Hungary besieged by Islam from both west and east, even worse than when Hungary battled eastern invasion by Ottoman Turks from the 15th to 17th centuries.
Jobbik activists sometimes go to the Serbian border and shout abuse in the face of startled asylum seekers. On Tuesday, a camerawoman for a Jobbik-linked web TV channel took the hostility a step further. Journalists filming scuffles between police and migrants captured Petra Laszlo on video as she kicked a young man and a teenage girl in the knees and tripped a running man carrying a young boy. Her station fired her after the video appeared on social media.
Julia Lakatos, an analyst at the Center for Fair Political Analysis, a Budapest think tank, said Hungary was no more racist or xenophobic than other parts of Eastern Europe; it just has little experience with refugees.
"It's a gut response to fear the unknown," Lakatos said. "My personal experience is that people are really frustrated, there have been hard times in Hungary, and they are searching for a scapegoat. But anyone who came into contact with the refugees, that experience changed their minds. Personal experience overrides fears."
Csaba Toth, strategy director of Republikon, the research institute that commissioned the opinion poll, said he didn't think support for sheltering asylum seekers would ever rise above 30 percent. Most Hungarians "tend to agree with the government view that the migrants are potentially dangerous, they're certainly unwelcome, and they want them to leave for Germany," he said.
Toth noted that Orban's quips that would be deemed racist elsewhere are well- received domestically, such as when he said Hungary's tiny resident Muslim community could provide all the specialty foods Hungarians crave.
"We are truly glad that there are kebab shops on our avenues. We like buying lamb from Syrian butchers at Easter," Orban said Monday. "We are going to honor this Muslim community in Hungary, but we don't want their proportion to grow suddenly."
Orban is determined to build the 13-foot-high (4-meter-high) fence along the 110-mile (175-kilometer) frontier. But analysts don't see how Hungary realistically can block the flow.
Kovacs, the satirist, says he has a better idea: Build an overpass above Hungary "so immigrants could just walk right over us in the clouds. We wouldn't have to see them, and they wouldn't have to see us."
Police in Bahrain say they've discovered 1.5 tons of explosives in a warehouse and an underground bunker south of the capital, Manama.
Police made the announcement late Wednesday night, saying they found explosive material including C4, RDX and TNT in the Nuwaidrat residential district. Photos offered by police showed drums of what it described as explosive material, as well as hand grenades.
Police said in a statement they made "a number" of arrests, claiming those suspected of being involved had ties to Iran and the Shiite militant group Hezbollah.
The tiny Arab Gulf nation of Bahrain has faced low-level unrest for more than four years, sparked by widespread 2011 protests among the country's Shiite majority demanding greater political rights from the Sunni-led monarchy.
Bahrain hosts the U.S. Navy's 5th Fleet.
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Sandwiched between China and Russia, landlocked Mongolia has long tread a middle path, maintaining a balance between Moscow and Beijing while referring to the U.S. and other remote allies as "third neighbors."
Now, with a wealth of mineral resources set to transform its largely agrarian economy, Mongolia is moving to cement that even-handed status by adopting permanent neutrality as a safeguard against outside dominance.
President Elbegdorj Tsakhia says the move would best serve a desire for peace, security and balanced foreign relations in the vast Asian nation of slightly under 3 million people, while boosting its global profile in international organizations such as the United Nations. Draft legislation on adopting that status was submitted to the legislature last week.
Mongolia's permanent neutrality would "contribute to the strengthening of peace, security and development in our region and the world at large," Elbegdorj said in a speech to the United Nations General Assembly in September.
The building blocks of neutrality are already in place, with Mongolia legally eschewing nuclear weapons and military alliances. Mongolian officials say that since the collapse of former sponsor the Soviet Union in 1992, the country has been de facto neutral, despite close relations with the U.S. that have seen it dispatch troops and instructors to Iraq and Afghanistan.
Neutrality imbues a country with protection for its territory and people as long as it refrains from involvement in armed conflict. Switzerland, Costa Rica and the Vatican City are the best-known adherents to that status, enshrined in the 1907 Hague Convention, with a long list of other countries having claimed neutrality at various times in their history.
In his writings advocating neutrality, the Harvard-educated Elbegdorj has cited Mongolia's recent history, along with its geographic location and "the uniqueness of our chosen path of development."
The country has plenty of cause to be wary of encroachments by its immediate neighbors. China is the country's biggest economic partner, absorbing 80 percent of its exports and providing 30 percent of its imports, along with more than $3.8 billion in investment.
Russia, meanwhile, provides all of Mongolia's energy imports. Bonds forged during the Cold War, when Russia dominated political life here, remain strong, with Mongolia abstaining from a United Nations vote condemning Russia over its annexation of Crimea.
Neutrality would end Mongolia's low-level engagement with NATO and the U.S., as well as precluding full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, a regional political and economic grouping that seeks to limit U.S. influence in Central Asia and is dominated by Russia and China. Mongolia has reportedly been invited to join the bloc, although the Mongolian leadership has been cool on the idea.
"Our two neighbors are not interested in us getting close to the U.S. So, if our country becomes a permanently neutral country, we will get out of this pressure," said J. Baysakh, a professor of international relations at the National University of Mongolia.
The law would permit Mongolia to retain its armed forces, and to join a military alliance in the event its sovereignty or independence was threatened.
Yet, the move has little value unless China and Russia rein in their diplomatic and economic pressure on Mongolia, raising doubts about the significance of the exercise, said Enkhsaikhan Jargalsaikhan, Mongolia's former representative to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe.
Mongolia's foreign policy already hews to the principles of balance, pragmatism and flexibility, Enkhsaikhan said. He questions whether Mongolians need to "limit our sovereignty voluntarily."
Regardless, Mongolia seems intent on formalizing its neutral status following further dialogue between Elbegdorj and lawmakers and the passage of the necessary legislation. Foreign Minister Purevsuren Lundeg has already broadcast the country's intentions in visits abroad, including seeking neutral Switzerland's counsel.
"Having permanent neutrality doesn't mean isolation from international community," said Choinkhor Jalbuu, director of the Mongolian Geopolitical institute and former ambassador to the U.S. "In simple words, it is a position that Mongolia will not join any side against any country."
A Lithuanian court has sentenced a former employee of the country's air traffic control service to three years and three months in prison after finding him guilty of spying for Belarus.
The Vilnius district court on Thursday ruled that 57-year-old Romualdas Lipskis had provided information on Lithuania's military and strategically important companies to the Belarusian intelligence service.
Lipskis, who was arrested in 2013, said he would appeal, because "I know I am not guilty."
Prosecutors told the court that that the Belarusian service shares information with Russian counterparts and that the information collected by Lipskis was likely intended for Moscow.
The Belarusian Embassy in Vilnius did not comment on the case.
One police officer and two suspected militants have been killed in a shootout in Russia's volatile North Caucasus.
Fatina Ubaydatova, spokeswoman in Russia's republic of Dagestan, said on Friday a police squad was trying to stop a car with suspected militants outside the city of Khasavyurt late on Thursday when people in that car opened fire on them. Police identified the two men as local militants who attacked policemen earlier this week in the regional capital, Makhachkala.
Islamic insurgents in Dagestan have mounted frequent attacks on police and officials, and some have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State group.
The shootout comes a day after Russia's security agencies in Dagestan arrested seven people suspected of preparing New Year's terror attacks in Moscow on orders from the Islamic State group in Syria.
Since the fall of Aleppo to Syrian government forces last week, the outskirts of the battered city have become a mass of displacement camps where tiny children don't play hide and seek -- they play hide and shoot.
SYRIA'S NATIONWIDE CEASE-FIRE HOLDING DESPITE MINOR VIOLATIONS
According to emergency response workers who are tending to the people fleeing the eastern parts of the city that the rebels held, the mental and physical condition of the children is, as one put it, "unfathomable." Many of these children of war are now playing their own war games to pass the time.
"The little boys play 'regime versus rebels.' They make pistols with their hands and have to shoot each other," 27-year-old aid worker Amjad, whose last name is being withheld, told FoxNews.com. "They like to pretend to be strong and fighting, they pretend to be bombs, count numbers and explode."
NEARLY 100 JOURNALISTS KILLED IN 2016
Scores of orphans are said to be among the refugees stepping off the buses, with children of all ages exhibiting symptoms of depression and even schizophrenia, say aid workers. Amjad stated that "nearly all have psychiatric illness" and there is a dire need for psychologists and trauma specialists, for both the short and long term. Nights in the crowded shelters are filled with nightmares and episodes of aggression and violence among the youngsters.
"Children have been living with the dead for so long now they now live they are dead too, like ghosts," said Amjad. "They say they hate the world."
Syrian families told FoxNews.com that the children scream at the slightest noise overhead and run for shelter. Some play games where they "dive and duck"-- whoever drops the last is out -- while another player makes weapon-like noises.
Beyond the complex of psychological damage, the physical condition of many is also of deep concern.
"Many have lost limbs and have suffered severe burns with wounds infected and not properly treated," Amjad went on. "There is flu and breathing problems, skin diseases."
The cold weather and thick dusting of snowfall this week has worsened the spread of sicknesses.
Since Dec. 15, when President Bashar al-Assad's forces, supported by Russian airstrikes, regained control of most of the city, tens of thousands of Syrians have been evacuated from the worst-hit areas, mostly on buses. After several halts in the evacuation after outbreaks of fighting, it was confirmed late Thursday that the last of the departures had been completed and the government had full control of Aleppo.
Evacuees have been transported to both camps and villages in the western part of Aleppo, as well as the countryside around the nearby city of Idlib, and even to Turkey. When arriving off the buses, the newly displaced children -- many of them starving after the long siege -- are given bags containing bananas and apples. When they can, humanitarian groups supply meals of chicken and rice, rationed into small plastic containers, as well as canned items.
But no settlement of the almost six-year civil war has been reached. Officials from Russia, Turkey and Iran met in Moscow this week to begin devising a deal. The move excludes the United States and the United Nations from the table, effectively assuring that Assad, who is supported by the Russians and Iranians, will remain in power.
"Liberating Aleppo from terrorism is a victory not only for Syria, but for those who really contributed to the fight against terrorism," Assad stated this week, according to his government's news service. "Especially Iran and Russia."
Throughout the conflict, the Syrian president and his allies have maintained that all the rebel factions are foreign-backed terrorists, many of them Islamic extremists, while opposition supporters characterize them as freedom fighters seeking democratic change.
Many in the government-held western side of Aleppo are celebrating Assad's victory, seeing it as a sign the "unnecessary" war, a war that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives, will soon be over and they can start rebuilding their lives. Meanwhile, the uprooted residents of the rebel side of the city are tasting bitter defeat.
But despite talk of peace agreements, for many, the zest to fight has not yet faded.
"Some say they will only go home when Bashar dies or steps down for judgment," one camp worker added. "Even the kids say that now."
Austrian police say they have arrested 50 people and seized cocaine, heroin, marijuana and amphetamines following a three-year investigation into a suspected drug-smuggling ring.
Vienna police said Friday that the detainees include 10 suspected couriers, who transported drugs to the city from the Netherlands, Nigeria and Cameroon, and three organizers, extradited to Austria from the Netherlands. They also include two people who confessed to robbing a bank in Austria.
Authorities say they seized 17 kilos (37.5 pounds) of cocaine and 4 kilos (8.8 pounds) of heroin as well as marijuana and amphetamines worth some 100,000 euros ($104,500).
Police say they found evidence that the ring smuggled a total of 56 kilos (123 pounds) of heroin and cocaine with a street value of at least 6 million euros ($6.3 million).
The discovery of a body in a burned-out car in Rio de Janeiro has sparked fears that it might be that of the Greek ambassador to Brazil, it has been reported.
RIO MAYOR-ELECT PROPOSES TOURIST TAX TO REIMBURSE VISITORS WHO GET MUGGED
Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, had been missing for three days since mysteriously vanishing without a trace on Monday.
The diplomat reportedly phoned his wife, who was at a local shopping center, at around 8pm telling her he was going out, but didnt say where he was heading.
She called police on Wednesday after being unable to contact her husband for two days.
UBER LOOKS TO DOMINATE IN BRAZIL WHILE TAXIS PUSH TO BAN APP
A Ford Ka Sedan car, believed to be rented by Amiridis, was found underneath an overpass at the entrance to the Nova Iguacu district of Rio yesterday afternoon.
A charred body found inside is undergoing DNA testing to find out if it is the missing ambassador.
A police spokesperson would not say whether the license plate of the car was from the rental vehicle the ambassador was using.
But a source in the Greek foreign ministry confirmed that the car was indeed the one used by Amiridis.
Its the car that the ambassador had rented, the source told AFP.
Rio de Janeiros homicide department is now investigating the disappearance.
Police chief Evaristo Magalhaes said nothing has been ruled out but that a kidnap is thought unlikely as no attempt was made to contact Amiridis family.
He added that investigators had already collected CCTV images, and solicited information about the diplomats credit cards and mobile phone activity.
Amiridis had been on vacation with his family in Rio de Janeiros northern Nova Iguacu area since December 21.
He was due to fly back to Brasilia on January 9, a Greek embassy official told AFP.
But he vanished on Monday night after going out of the apartment they were renting and taking the car, according to Brazilian media.
One official reportedly said he last spoke to the ambassador on Monday evening, but could not be sure it was him responding to messages.
Another told the Folha he may just be out of touch and added they are waiting for Brazilian authorities.
Amiridis was named ambassador this year and had previously served as Greeces consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004.
He also served as Greeces ambassador to Libya from 2012 to 2016.
The Nova Iguacu area of Rio, where he and his wife were passing the Christmas holidays, is notorious for crime and its high murder rate.
In the runup to Brazils municipal elections, at least 14 politicians were murdered in the region in nine months, blamed on death squads operating in the region.
In April this year Brazilian senator Aureo Riberito was kidnapped by four armed men in the same region and later released.
In October the well-known president of the Belford Roxo samba school, Reginaldo Gomes, was also kidnapped by four armed men on a street in Nova Iguacu.
The gang also later released him after stealing money and his car.
This story first appeared in The Sun.
People in the streets of a central Romanian town performed a traditional New Year's bear dance on Friday.
NO HORSE? NO PROBLEM: GIRL TEACHES HER PET COW TO JUMP
Locals wearing bear furs and folkloristic costumes paraded in the streets of Comanesti, some 186 miles north of the Romanian capital, Bucharest.
Fifty-two year-old Marauta, from the nearby village of Vermesti, says he's been taking part in the parade for 45 years and that the tradition is passed down from one generation to the next.
CANADIAN MAN SAYS HE PUNCHED A COUGAR IN THE HEAD TO PROTECT HIS DOG
People from all age groups could be seen dancing, playing musical instruments and singing as part of the ritual traditionally performed to mark the end of each year.
In pre-Christian rural traditions, dancers wearing costumes or animal furs toured from house to house in villages singing and dancing to ward off evil.
According to the legend, if a bear enters somebody's house it brings welfare, health and luck.
Despite Marauta's confidence in the tradition being passed from generation to generation, there are fears that this ancestral ritual may eventually disappear.
A large number of young Romanians left the area in recent years, looking for a better life within the European Union, which Romania joined in 2007.
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Mourners in Poland are gathering to bid farewell to a Polish truck driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack.
Poland's President Andrzej Duda joined the family and friends of Lukasz Urban, 37, for his funeral in a church in Banie, a village in western Poland.
The brown stone church was packed and many more people gathered outside to pay their respects.
Outside the church a group of truck drivers honked the horns of their trucks to honor Urban.
Urban was waiting to deliver a shipment of steel in Berlin when his truck was hijacked by the Tunisian perpetrator of the attack on Dec. 19. He was shot and his body was found in the cab of the truck.
Police in Brazil believe that Greece's ambassador to the country was killed by his wife's lover under her orders in a house in the Rio area and have detained three suspects, authorities said Friday.
Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was last seen Monday night, the police said in a statement. A burned body the police believe is the diplomat's was found inside his torched car in Rio.
Francoise, his Brazilian wife and the mother of their 10-year-old daughter, reported him missing Wednesday, Reuters reported.
On Friday, police investigator Evaristo Pontes Magalhaes said that 29-year-old police officer Sergio Gomes Moreira Filho had confessed to killing Amiridis, alleging self-defense.
Globo TV reported that investigators said they believed Francoise and Moreira had arranged the murder in advance.
Francoise has denied any role in the alleged plot. According to Magalhaes, Francoise said she couldn't stop Filho from killing her husband and insisted she was not at home at the time of the crime.
A police investigator said in a press conference late Friday that the "evidence clearly puts the ambassador's wife as a co-author of the crime."
"All our evidence suggests that her motivation was to use the financial resources left by the ambassador so she could enjoy life with Sergio," the police officer, Magalhaes said.
Both Amiridis' wife and the officer were in custody, but it was not clear if they had retained lawyers, Reuters reported.
Rio de Janeiro police investigator Giniton Lages told The Associated Press that blood spots believed to be those of the ambassador were found on a sofa inside the home of the wife.
Another investigator said the ambassador and his wife fought three days before Christmas.
According to the Greek Embassy website in Brazil, Amiridis started his career as diplomat in 1985 in Athens and became Greece's top diplomat in Brazil in 2016.
He earlier was Greece's ambassador to Libya and worked as consul in Rio from 2001 and 2004.
Brazilian news website G1 reported that Amiridis' wife has an apartment in Nova Iguacu.
The Greek foreign ministry said the embassy in Brasilia was informed Wednesday by people close to the ambassador that they had been unable to communicate with him since Monday.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Romania's president has nominated a regional politician as the next prime minister, after turning down an economist who could have become the country's first female Muslim premier.
President Klaus Iohannis on Friday endorsed Sorin Grindeanu, 43, to become premier. Grindeanu is a member of the Social Democratic Party that won Dec. 11 elections, and chairman of the Timis county council. Parliament needs to approve him.
The nomination came after Iohannis declined to endorse Sevil Shhaideh.
As well as her lack of political experience, Shhaideh sparked concerns due to reports about her Syrian-born husband's support of Syrian President Bashar Assad on his Arabic-language Facebook page.
Social Democrat chairman Liviu Dragnea cannot become premier because he was convicted this year of election fraud.
Turkey's state-run news agency says police have detained some 40 suspected Islamic State group militants in raids in southern Turkey.
Anadolu Agency says special forces police, backed by armored vehicles and a helicopter, conducted the raids in the city of Adana early on Friday.
Those detained are suspected of membership in the extremist group and of engaging in ISIS propaganda, the agency said.
Turkey has, since 2015, suffered a wave of deadly bombing attacks carried out either by ISIS militants or by Kurdish militants.
The country sent troops and tanks into northern Syria in August to support Turkish-backed Syrian opposition fighters in clearing a border area of the ISIS group and curbing the territorial expansion of Syrian Kurdish groups.
Among the dozens of Russians punished this week by the Obama administration over election-related hacking, the FBI has pegged two as cybercriminals among the most wanted on the planet.
PUTIN VOWS NOT TO STOOP TO OBAMA'S LEVEL AFTER INTEL OPERATIVES KICKED OUT
The cyber pros, not specifically tied to election hacking, appeared to specialize in fraud, according to the feds. They were identified as 29-year-old Alexsey Belan -- known online as "Abyrvaig" and "Fedyunya" -- and 33-year-old Yevgeny Bogachev -- AKA "lucky12345" and "slavik." The Russian nationals' specific whereabouts are unknown, according to the feds. Combined, their cyberactivity hit victims in the U.S. and abroad costing them more than $100 million, the FBI reported.
The sanctions against both men, freeezing all their assets in the U.S. and making it illegal to do business with them, were among a series of penalties imposed by the Obama administration on Thursday. The U.S. also moved to kick out 35 Russian intelligence operatives from two U.S. compounds. The Russians were declared "persona non grata" and given 72 hours to leave the country.
TRUMP RESPONDS TO SANCTIONS AGAINST RUSSIA, SAYS IT'S TIME TO 'MOVE ON'
Obama sanctioned two Russian intelligence services, the GRU and the FSB, plus companies which the U.S. claimed supported the GRU. The cybersecurity firm hired by the Democratic National Committee to investigate theft of its emails determined earlier this year the hacking came from the Fancy Bear group, believed to be affiliated with the GRU, the Russian military intelligence agency. The FSB is the main successor to the Soviet-era KGB.
"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," Obama said, adding, "Such activities have consequences." The president also sanctioned GRU chief Igor Korobov and three of his deputies.
Photos of Belan showed him with blond and red hair -- which the feds said were dye jobs. They said he was last known to be in Greece, but may travel to Russia, Latvia, the Maldives and Thailand.
Bogachev -- often seen with a shaved head -- would travel to spots along the Black Sea in his boat, according to investigators. They said he was last known to live in Anapa, Russia -- along the sea -- but also owns property in Krasnodar, east of there.
The FBI pinpointed Belan's crimes to breaches of three U.S.-based e-commerce firms between 2012 and 2013 in California and Nevada. The feds said he stole data from millions of accounts -- including encrypted passwords -- before offering to sell them.
As for Bogachev, he allegedly created malicious software -- or malware -- known as "Zeus" to snake into computers, swiping online banking account data as early as 2009. A version of the malware known as "GameOver Zeus" sparked more than a million computer infections, according to the FBI.
The bureau is offering up to $100,000 for information leading to Belan's arrest -- and a whopping $3 million for Bogachev.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
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Ban Ki-moon has joked to hundreds of diplomats and U.N. staff as he left United Nations headquarters for the last time as secretary-general that he feels like Cinderella because everything changes for him at midnight on New Year's Eve.
Flanked by the presidents of the General Assembly and the Security Council, the native South Korean thanked U.N. workers Friday for their hard work and commitment during his 10-year tenure that ends at midnight Dec. 31.
He told his colleagues he had two words for them: "Thank You."
As the top U.N. official over the last decade, Ban fostered a global agreement to combat climate change and new U.N. goals to fight poverty and inequality. But he leaves amid continuing conflicts from Syria and Yemen to South Sudan and Libya.
New U.K. Treasury chief Jeremy Hunt has reversed most of an economic package announced by the government just weeks ago, including a planned cut in income taxes. Hunt said Monday he was scrapping almost all the tax cuts announced last month by the Conservative government of Prime Minister Liz Truss, and also signaled that public spending cuts are on the way. It was a bid to soothe turbulent financial markets spooked by fears of excessive government borrowing. The move raises questions about how long the beleaguered prime minister can stay in office, though Truss insisted she has no plans to quit. She vowed to lead the Conservatives into the next general election, but many in the party want her gone.
UPDATE: The jury sentenced Maldini to 50 years on the rape charge, five years on the attempted sodomy and 20 years for sexual battery and a $100,000 fine.
A full story will be filed this evening.
UPDATE: A Stafford County jury has found Michael Andrew Maldini guilty on all counts. The sentencing hearing was held immediately after the verdict, and the jury will deliberate his sentence this afternoon. He faces up to life in prison.
ORIGINAL POST: After three days of testimony, the fate of a Marine Corps reservist accused of raping a fellow reservist is now in the hands of a Stafford County jury, which deliberated for about an hour Thursday evening before the judge sent them home.
The seven-man, five-woman jury will return to Stafford Circuit Court Friday morning to continue deliberations.
Michael Andrew Maldini, facing charges of rape, attempted sodomy and aggravated sexual battery, spent about four hours on the stand Thursday. His testimony contradicted most of the accusers version of what happened on Feb. 7 and the months afterward.
The accuser, now 20, testified that Maldini, a former police officer, coaxed her into going to his North Stafford townhouse to see a puppy he didnt actually have after they had taken an ill reservist to the hospital during weekend drills. She also said the gunnery sergeant, her superior by rank, all but ordered her to drink alcohol and then forced her to have sex.
In his testimony, Maldini, a 37-year-old Marine veteran who served in Iraq and Afghanistan and is currently a reservist, said the woman willingly went to his house and drank two shots of flavored Vodka. He then described how they watched the movie Minions and then turned on a pornographic movie, after she saw a signed photo of an adult film star on his wall and expressed interest. Then he said the two performed sexual acts on each other and had sex twice.
He testified that she also wanted to perform a sex act on him as he drove them back to their Washington, D.C., headquarters later that day. He said he refused that advance because he believed hed already made a big mistake by violating the Marine rule of fraternization, which does not allow such personal relationships.
Months after the encounter, Maldini told police and Marine investigators that the woman made unwanted sexual advances toward him by touching his crotch while he was driving. He did not tell the investigators that the two had sex at his home.
He testified that he didnt want that information known because it would violate Marine rules and ruin his career.
Maldini said he grew fearful of the womans intentions after she made several calls and sent a text to him on July 18. Later that night, he called a Stafford Sheriffs deputy for advice about the situation, saying she had touched his crotch and that she may be harassing him. The calls and text were part of a sting technique used by detectives to see if Maldini would make incriminating statements.
Maldini transferred from the Marine reserve unit the following day.
Prosecutors hammered away at his testimony, grilling Maldini for about two hours and then criticizing his testimony in closing arguments, calling his version of events a fantasy, ridiculous and absurd. They also said the defense teams case amounted to nothing but Maldinis story.
They also pointed out his background as a police officer, saying he knew the answers to questions he asked the deputy.
He was building a case, George Elsasser, one of the prosecutors, told jurors.
The defense in its closing argument said the case was word against word.
They claimed that the accuser had been jilted and was upset that her Marine career had appeared to hit a roadblock, so she went after Maldini by making the sexual assault accusation.
Defense attorney Corrine Magee criticized the prosecutions assertion that the accuser suffered post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of trauma experienced in the assault. She portrayed it as a ploy cooked up by the prosecution team.
There was no rape, she said.
Magee also questioned the accusers honesty in what she portrayed as discrepancies about when the woman had her cellphone and sent text messages on the day of the encounter.
She said that Maldini admitted to making poor choices and lying to a detective, something she said was strictly an effort to save his Marine career.
His story was crazy, prosecutor Tara Mooney said in her closing argument, during which she animatedly ridiculed Maldinis testimony.
After recounting what she said were numerous lies told by Maldini, the prosecutor told the jury, Someone has not told you the truth.
Willard Wenrich still misses Brownie, his favorite of the 47 goats he lost when the barn at his farm in Caroline County caught fire and burned on July 27.
Brownie was a good milker, docile and generous. She would nurse kids who needed extra milk, even if they werent her own.
Goats have different personalities, like everything else, said Doris Wenrich, Willards wife. [Willard] thinks about [Brownie] and some of the others he liked often, and misses them.
Along with the goats, five horses and 400 bales of hay were lost when flames destroyed the Wenriches 13-stall barn that day.
With hay selling at $5 a bale, that was a loss of about $2,000 from the hay alone.
We did not have insurance on the barn or the animals, Wenrich said.
Capt. Ed Bonham with Caroline County Fire and Rescue said that the cause of the barn fire is still under investigation.
The goats provided meat, milk, cream, butter, and cheese for the Wenriches, who are in their 70s and celebrated their 57th wedding anniversary on Dec. 15. It will be seven months before they will have a fresh supply of these items, Wenrich said, as they have just started reintroducing the male and female goats.
Its five months before the kids are born, and they will need to nurse for two months, she explained.
Around 30 goats escaped the fire. Seven of those animals were badly burned and two of the seven later died from their injuries. Wenrichs favorite goat, Yentel, survived, but has a wound on her back that still hasnt healed. She also lost her ears and her horns.
The goats still lay around the area where the barn burned because that was their barn, Wenrich said.
Without the barn, finding nighttime shelter for the goats has been difficult. Willard built a 10-by-15-foot addition to the goat house for some of them; the rest are disbursed among sheds, lean-tos, and horse stalls around the 42-acre farm at night.
Wenrich said that the couple harvested their hay right after the fire. Recently, 30 bales of it were stolen from a neighbors barn.
The loss of the goats has been hardest on Willard, Doris Wenrich said, and the loss of the horses has been hardest on her. Mocee, a gentle Arabian horse, was the only one she could ride; the surviving horses are not stable enough for the 76-year-old.
I have found the kind of horse that I could ride again, but they are too expensive, she said.
A GoFundMe page set up by a neighbors daughter has brought in $3,612 through 50 donations to date. Doris estimates that it will cost $25,000 to rebuild the barn. She said Willard still hopes to rebuild the barn at some point.
Besides the barn fire, the Wenriches are dealing with a washed-out pond spillway that they cannot repair, and Doris underwent surgery in November to remove a basal cell carcinoma. However, Doris said that the prospect of new baby goats in April offers hope to her and her husband.
[Willard] thinks that when he sees how some of the younger does will doif they have nice personalities, how much milk they give, if they are easy to milkwhen they have kids, and when he has the barn built again, that then, he will be OK, she said.
PetSmart, 9751 Jefferson Davis Highway, robbery. On Dec. 15, between 10:25 and 10:28 p.m., the victim was collecting the abandoned store carts in the parking lot when two black males, dressed in black, approached the victim and asked for a cigarette, and then they asked for the victims wallet. The victim refused and was struck on the face. The victim struck the male on the nose, and then they ran away. CFS 16-117815
Cedar Hollow, 7000 block, breaking and entering. On Dec. 14, between 8 a.m. and 4:15 p.m., unknown person(s) broke a garage door glass and entered the residence. Taken was a Smith & Wesson .357 revolver, model 66, with a crack on the hand grip, and is valued at $100. The other stolen Smith & Wesson is a .38 caliber special revolver, valued at $100 and does not have a serial number. CFS 16-117419
Shenandoah Drive, breaking and entering. On Dec. 19, between 8:19 and 9:16 p.m., someone entered the home through an unlocked door and stole $5, a Sony PlayStation 4 valued at $500, and a Samsung Galaxy 5S cell phone, valued at $100. CFS 16-119047
Windsor Drive, 6000 block, grand larceny. On Dec. 14, 6:39 and 8:20 p.m., someone took $20, two gold diamond rings valued at $250 each, a gold necklace and a silver necklace valued at $100 each. CFS 16-117450
Mossy Bank Lane, 4000 block, grand larceny. Between Dec. 15, 8:20 p.m. and December 18, 8:53 p.m., someone stole a 14 karat gold engagement-wedding ring wrap set it is fused together with three diamonds on each wrap. It is valued at $500. CFS 16-118763
Iron Wood Lane, 200 block, grand larceny. On Dec. 16, between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. while the victim was shopping in the store someone stole a black Samsung Galaxy from the shopping cart. It is valued at $500. The phone was traced to an address, but no one answered when the phone was called. Investigation continues. CFS 16-117935
Home Depot, 5771 Plank Road, grand larceny. On Dec. 20, between 9 and 9:40 a.m. a white male was seen pushing four rolls of yellow electrical wire, valued at $230, through the outside fence in the green house area. The suspect did not attempt to pick up the merchandise and left in a blue Suzuki vehicle. The male is suspected of similar shopliftings at the same store. CFS 16-119154
Tidewater Animal Hospital, 10839 Tidewater Trail, grand larceny. On Dec. 15, between 6:45 a.m. and noon, someone smashed the right front window of the silver 2011 Volkswagen with a brick and stole a beige Dooney purse valued at $250, a Navy Federal credit card and a debit card. CFS 16-117651
Union First Market Bank, 4805 Lassen Lane, grand larceny. On Dec. 14, between 4 and 6 a.m., someone stole the victims wallet from the console of the unlocked Verizon van. The wallet is a brown tri-fold valued at $20, containing a social security card, four charge cards and a drivers license. CFS 16-117581
Capitol Motors, 8608 Jefferson Davis Highway, grand larceny. Between Dec. 16, 5:30 p.m. and Dec. 17, 5:30 p.m. two black males were seen on a video recording removing a battery from a vehicle, a 115 horsepower Honda pontoon boat motor valued at $6,000, and a Jet Ski trailer valued at $1,500. CFS 16-118466
Rappahannock Electric Co-Op Sub-Station, 9724 Lawyers Road, grand larceny. On Dec. 16, between 11:30 a.m. and 10:30 p.m. someone cut 40 feet of 19 strand copper wire, causing damage to other critical equipment. The stolen wire is valued at $300 and $20,000 in damages to the equipment. CFS 16-118090
Fairmont Lane, 7100 block, petit larceny. On Dec. 15, between 3:37 and 3:39 a.m., the victim saw a black male standing near the victims car and the other was inside the vehicle. They saw the victim and ran away. Missing are two rolls of half dollars. One was wearing a red stocking cap, and the other wore a baggy sweatshirt. CFS 16-117558
Avalon Way, 9900 block, petit larceny. On Dec. 15, between 3:36 and 4:28 p.m. someone stole both registration decals from the license plates and broke into the glove box of the black 2012 two door Jeep Wrangler. Damage is $200. CFS 16-117718
Massaponax High School, 8201 Jefferson Davis Highway, petit larceny. Between Dec. 14, 10 a.m. and Dec. 16, 10:50 a.m., someone stole the gray Nike sweat pants valued at $30, and a pair of size 8 and 8 1/2 black Nike shoes valued at $55, from the unlocked gym locker. CFS 16-118560
EXXON, 5123 Mudd Tavern Road, petit larceny. On Dec. 18, between 2:09 and 2:14 a.m., a white male and female walked around the store until they found the lighter display. The male put the two lighters in his pocketed and left without paying for them. The female paid for some items and did not pay for the lighters. He is 60, 160 lbs., wearing a black t-shirt, blue jean shorts, and a black and gray hat. CFS 16-118560
Fas Mart, 2515 Salem Church Road, petit larceny. On Dec. 18, between 9:22 and 9:25 p.m., a male left the store without paying for an 18-pack and a 12-pack of Corona beer, valued at $21.99 and $15.99. He has a very dark black complexion, 56to 58, medium build, wearing a brown stocking cap, blue jeans and a black leather jacket. CFS 16-118780
Massaponax Church Road, 3100 block, petit larceny. On Dec. 18, between 12:30 and 12:58 p.m., someone stole the rear license plate from the victims red Dodge Neon, while it was parked in the driveway of the residence. CFS 16-118662
Marye Road, 8800 block, petit larceny. Between Dec. 16, 4 p.m. and Dec. 18, 9 a.m., unknown persons entered the garage and stole five gasoline containers with four gallons of gasoline in each valued at $32, and $60 for the containers. CFS 16-118636
Cambridge Drive, 5900 block, fraud. On Dec. 17, between 1 and 8: 38 p.m., someone used the victims Naval Surface Warfare Center banking debit card information and purchased $1,821 of merchandise and withdrew cash at a Wal-Mart store in Rockford, Ill. CFS 16-117515
Crestwood Drive, 10900 block, fraud. On Dec. 19, between 9 a.m. and 6:26 p.m., someone used the victims Navy Federal Credit Union account information to make a $461 purchase and attempt a $268.65 purchase that was declined by B.J.s. CFS 16-119009
Spring Creek Drive, 10000 block, vandalism. On Dec. 14, 10:41 and 11:24 p.m., someone shattered the left front door glass of the white 2005 Mazda four-door. Property value is $100. CFS 16-117515
Cottonwood Court, 5100 block, vandalism. Between Dec. 13, 7 p.m. and Dec. 14, 8:30 a.m. someone scratched the right corner of the rear bumper and damaged the chrome molding near the left rear window of the beige 2008 Chevrolet Impala. Property value is $170. CFS 16-117588
Rose Avenue, 3000 block, vandalism. On Dec. 15, between 9 and 9:30 p.m., unknown person sprayed water on the victims vehicles while parked in the driveway. CFS 16-117809
Creek Drive, 10100 block,vandalism. On Dec. 14, between 10:41 and 11:24 p.m., someone broke the left front door glass of the white 2005 Mazda 4-door sedan while it was parked in front of the residence. Property value is $100. CFS 16-117515
Jim Morris Road, 10000 block, vandalism. Between Dec. 15, 4 p.m. and Dec. 16, 7 a.m. unknown persons punctured all of the tires of the black 40-foot Big Tex trailer and broke the windows of the white 2005 Ford E350 box van. Approximate cost to replace the glass and tires is $2,150. CFS 16-117883
After spending the entire day with his son and granddaughter visiting the Marine Corps Museum and Quantico National Cemetery, Jack Short, a World War II veteran, thought his day couldnt get any betteruntil he had dinner at Mission BBQ in Stafford County.
When the waiter handed him the receipt for his dinner, Shorts eyes welled up with tears. The restaurant had paid for the familys entire $50 bill.
Short arrived at Mission BBQ on Dec. 20 proudly wearing his WWII veteran hat. Little did he know, the restaurant strives to do more than just provide good food for their customers.
Mission BBQ is well known in the area for supporting veterans and first responders in the community through fundraisers, service projects and, in this case, paying for a veteran to sit down and have a nice meal.
Especially right around the holidays, someone paying for a meal gives you warmth and comfort, said Mary Short, his granddaughter. There is still good in the world. We had a wonderful time together, that is for sure.
Shorts granddaughter explained that when they arrived at the restaurant, the cashier thanked her grandfather for his service and shook his hand. As she waited for their drinks, her dad, Steve Short, approached with tears in his eyes. He gave her the receipt, which showed a balance of zero.
I was crying and we looked at granddaddy just sitting at his table waiting for his food, she said. They cared not just for him, but for us too.
When they brought her grandfather the receipt, he sat in disbelief for several minutes. Once the restaurants kind deed sunk in, he had a waitress take him around the restaurant to thank everyone, and two staff members posed with him for a picture.
Throughout his meal, random customers approached Short to thank him for his service. As he departed, the entire restaurant waved good-bye. He said it is difficult to describe how he felt as he left the restaurant that day, but the sense of honor and appreciation in the room was palpable.
It felt like the whole world was giving me a thank you for my service, Short said. The sincerity that business showed to a veteranit was amazing.
Short said the hat on his head was the only thing that tipped the restaurant off that he was a veteran. No questions were asked before they decided to pick up his tab.
But if the restaurant had inquired further, they would have heard quite a story.
The man behind the hat
Short and his sister, Ethel, grew up in a house built by their father on Cat Point Creek in Warsaw. In the middle of building that house, their father left to fight in World War I. Short would later follow in his footsteps. In 1944, he joined the Army Specialized Training Programa college military program instituted during World War IIat Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Pa.
But before he could finish the program, it was terminated.
At that point in the war, they knew the United States had gained air supremacy, and they already had enough cadets in supply for the rest of the war, Short said.
After going home, Short spent several months working in a warehouse in Fredericksburg before deciding to enlist as a private in the U.S. Army Air Corps, the precursor to the Air Force. He attended basic training in Mississippi, and just a month later, he was selected for overseas duty in Europe.
On his travels to Germany, Short observed destruction that few could fathom. He recounted witnessing city after city in ruins as he traveled by train from Le Havre, a French port on the English Channel, to Paris, through Belgium and into Cologne, a German city on the Rhine River.
Short explained that the only buildings to withstand the bombs were those with steel structures. So when he looked out on Cologne, he saw a vast expanse of rubble peppered with bare steel structures towering over the flattened city. The only building still standing was the Cologne Cathedral.
All of the beautiful old buildings had collapsed and most of the city was burnt to the ground, Short said. The destruction brought the end of warbut at a cost.
After arriving in Germany, he received his duty assignment: prison guard. Although his military occupational specialty was aircraft mechanic, the need for his skills began diminishing towards the end of the war. As a prison guard for German pilots, he was given simple instructions: keep them fed, keep them clothed, and keep them alive.
Short spent nearly two years in Germany, and then one dayseemingly out of the bluehe received his orders to go home. He explained that with plenty of other Army personnel in the pipeline who could take over his job, he was sent home once his replacement arrived.
One day I was guarding prisoners and the next I was on my way home, Short said.
Shorts fortitude carried over to the home front. When he returned to American soil, he worked at Rappahannock Electric in Warsaw for 9 months, making 45 cents an hour. He then went to work for the Navy at Dahlgren. He retired in 1983 to care for his ailing wife, Mary, who suffered from chronic kidney disease.
Mary died on their 39th anniversary on Nov. 13, 1993. Short credits the Navy with keeping her alive that long. Marys doctor at the naval base was a researcher at George Washington University Hospital studying penicillin. Although the antibiotic was not in common medical use when she was first diagnosed with her condition, the doctor got permission to use it.
It was an experiment that saved her life, Short said.
Although Marys doctors said it would be too dangerous for her to have children, and that she could die from complications related to childbirth, she had three sons: John, Steve and Philip.
Several years after Mary died, Short married a womanFlorahe knew from his neighborhood growing up. She died from cancer last year.
Today, he lives at an assisted living facility in Fredericksburg, and is a member of the King George American Legion. His sons and six grandchildren visit often. It warms his heart when family, friends, and even total strangers take the time to thank him for his service and remind him that his story is not forgotten.
For Short, telling his story keeps the memories alive. Looking at younger generations after nearly 90 years of life, Short feels encouraged. Mission BBQs show of appreciation is something he sees more and more of every day among younger generations.
People todayespecially young peopleare showing more appreciation today than they have since the end of World War II, he said. I dont regret a minute of my service.
ICMediaDirect - Connects With Industry Moguls At Ad:tech 2016 New York Conference
Ad:tech is an annual exhibition and conference designed to highlight the latest technological advances, breakthroughs and developments within the advertising and marketing fields.
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ICMediaDirect, a New York and DC based company specializing in a wide range of services in public relations, marketing, and reputation management, is thrilled to have connected with numerous industry experts at the ad:tech 2016 conference which took place on November 2-3. This year's conference and expo drew in an impressive number of professionals with the collective goal of moving the marketing and advertising industries forward. An ongoing sponsor for the event, ICMediaDirect is proud to endorse ad:tech and all the innovative and progressive thought, discussion, and networking the conference creates.
Ad:tech is an annual exhibition and conference designed to highlight the latest technological advances, breakthroughs and developments within the advertising and marketing fields. Bringing together media and advertising communities from across the world, the conference offers a unique opportunity for countless marketing and technology professionals to come together and advance the state of the industry. Comprised of lectures and presentations, collective networking opportunities, an expo and other events, the conference provides a wealth of opportunities to combine the brightest minds of their respective fields and incubate new ideas for the future. ICMediaDirect always looks forward to collaborating with other companies to identify industry trends and develop new strategies for the future.
Participants, attendees, and sponsors like ICMediaDirect enjoyed the variety of presentations throughout the ad:tech 2016 event. Lectures included a wide breadth of topics designed to better understand and improve marketing success - and the related technology that drives the industry forward. A notable highlight of the 2015 summit was the keynote speaker John Costello, President, Global Marketing and Innovation for Dunkin' Brands, Inc. and the current Global Chairman of the Mobile Marketing Association. During his session, entitled "Bottom Line Branding: Optimizing Mobile and Digital for Deeper Consumer Engagement," Costello discussed how Dunkin' Brands is optimizing mobile across digital touch points to better engage and drive valuable customer feedback.
Inspiration and education are among the top objectives at virtually every ad:tech event. Taking place at the Javits Center in New York, the expo allowed companies to showcase their latest products, services, and developments aimed at reshaping the business world. Ideas, strategies, and business forecasts connected events and participants between sessions. Lectures, presentations, and discussions showcased the current state of technology and helped develop the next step in the evolution of advertising media and service. All attendees of the event, including ICMediaDirect, enjoyed multiple benefits such as a reinvigorated set of skills, techniques, and tools to better compete in the rapidly advancing business world.
Founded in 1996, ICMediaDirect is a full-service Internet reputation and content marketing agency, specializing in online brand repair. Its extensive knowledge of SEO has helped industries and individuals project a positive image through the use of various media channels, building efficient messages with a strong impact on their audience. In 2015, the company has published a game-changing handbook on Google Brand Repair and has been awarded the New York Excellence Award by the SBIEC for two consecutive years. IC Media Direct attends a variety of well-known marketing conferences and events throughout the year, including SES, Affiliate Summit, and LeadsCon, where it shares its expertise and techniques with businesses from all over the world.
ICMediaDirect - PR and Marketing News: http://icmediadirectnews.com
ICMediaDirect.com - YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGYnOjU3KEDbTn2xQR8Rltw
ICMediaDirect - Reputation Reviews - Reputation Management: http://icmediadirectreputationreviews.com
For more information, please visit http://www.ICMediaDirect.com
Contact Info:
Name: ICMD
Email: pr@icmediadirect.com
Organization: ICMediaDirect.com
Phone: 800-595-0821
Video URL: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x3QHOeY8qAM
Source: http://marketersmedia.com/icmediadirect-connects-with-industry-moguls-at-adtech-2016-new-york-conference/157855
Release ID: 157855
For more information visit r
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Free Mold Inspections*: Home Improvement Ideas For Property Owners and Managers
The CleanUp Guys announced the continued availability of their Home Improvement "Black mold inspections" available at Simply call and make you appointment. More information can be found at https://www.thecleanupguys.com/mold-removalremediation.
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Customers looking for an exceptional Home Improvement are now able to receive free mold inspections by The CleanUp Guys. Sherman Robinson, Owner at The CleanUp Guys, has just released more in depth details of mold inspection's development.
Mold inspection is designed to appeal specifically to Home owners, property managers, commercial business owners and includes:
Free Mold Inspections in Chicago area - This was made part of the product, since the company has been here for such a long time. It is a part of this community and as a member of this community The CleanUp Guys feels it has a responsibility to contribute to the welfare of community members. So, The CleanUp Guys is offering Free Mold Inspections to their customers. If the company to comes out and performs a mold inspection and mold is detected, it will deduct the cost of the inspection, when a contract with The CleanUp Guys to do the recommended mold remediation or removal is executed. Customers who buy Black mold inspections should enjoy this particular feature, because according to the Committee on Damp Indoor Spaces and Health, part of the Board on Health Prevention of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academies, there are over 119 million housing units in the United States and nearly 4.7 million commercial buildings (U.S. Census Bureau 2003), and almost all of them experience leaks, flooding,or other forms of excessive indoor dampness at some time. [SEE: Ref 1].
Mold Removal - The CleanUp Guys made sure to make this part of the Home Improvement's development as Excessive indoor dampness is not by itself a cause of ill health, but it is a determinant of the presence or source strength of several potentially problematic exposures. Damp indoor environments favor house dust mites and microbial growth, standing water supports cockroach and rodent infestations, and excessive moisture may initiate chemical emissions from building materials and furnishings. [SEE: Ref 1]. Customers will likely appreciate this because Occupants, health professionals, and others have wondered whether indoor exposure to mold and other agents might have a role in adverse health outcomes experienced by occupants of damp buildings. Prominent among these health outcomes is acute idiopathic pulmonary hemorrhage in infants, cases of which were reported in Cleveland, Ohio in the 1990s. Residence in homes with recent water damage and in homes with visible mold (including Stachybotrys chartarum) was among the risk factors identified in the case of infants. [SEE: Ref 1].
Mold Remediation - This feature was included because the most effective way to manage mold in a building is to eliminate or limit the conditions that foster its establishment and growth. Every organism has strategies for locating a hospitable environment, obtaining water and nutrients, and reproducing. Intervention in one or more of those strategies can improve the resistance of the environment against microbial contamination. [SEE: Ref 1]. This is great news for the consumer as the key to prevention is the design and modification of buildings to limit water and nutrients. The two basic methods for accomplishing that are keeping moisture-sensitive materials dry and, when wetting is likely or unavoidable, using materials that offer a poor substrate for growth. Making modifications to prevent the recurrence of the source is paramount to preventing the return of a mold problem..
Sherman Robinson, when asked about Black mold inspections said:
"The CleanUP Guys is a Chicago water damage restoration company, an industry leader in the Chicago area and suburbs for bringing same day, next day and emergency services to those who need us there pronto! We pride ourselves in being a "one-stop shop" for all your professional cleaning and restoration concerns."
The Free Mold Inspections is just one of many services offered by The CleanUp Guys release of a product and Sherman Robinson is particularly excited about this product because CleanUP Guys are excited about this service, because it offers a complete and comprehensive mold removal service, which includes professional mold remediation, expert mold removal, mold cleanup, mold repairs of all surfaces including hardwood, tile, carpeting, drywall, fixtures, ceramics, bathrooms, kitchens, wet or leaky basements, damp and moisture-ridden areas. The mold removal assessment comes with where the problem is, what caused it, and the methodology for fixing it.
{Ref 1:information used is extracted or derived from The National Academies Press Open Book, Damp Indoor Spaces and Health(2004)}
Those interested in learning more about the services offered can do so on the business website at https://www.thecleanupguys.com/
Those interested in purchasing can go directly to the Contact Page here: https://www.thecleanupguys.com/mold-removalremedia...
Contact Info:
Name: Sherman Robinson
Email: sherm@thecleanupguys.com
Organization: The CleanUp Guys
Address: 6650 North Damen Ave., Chicago, 60645 United States
Release ID: 157314
For more information visit r
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MindStir Media Launches Website To Encourage Donations For Its Recommended Literacy & Medical Charities
MindStir Media is a book self-publishing and marketing company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH. MindStir prides itself in making book publishing easy through its award-winning full-service book publishing, book marketing and author publicity services.
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NH book publisher MindStir Media has rolled out a new website to highlight charities for those considering getting involved in philanthropy this holiday season and beyond.
MindStir Media, an award-winning book self-publisher, recently published a website displaying its recommended charities. Mindstir intends to increase awareness and donations for its favorite charitable organizations through its new website found at http://mindstirmediacharities.org/.
"I wanted to do something creative to promote the charities dear and close to my heart," said J.J. Hebert, founder of Mindstir Media. "I've always felt that giving to charity is one of the most fulfilling acts a person can take part in, but this year I decided to take it a step further and openly recommend my favorite charities to the world."
Mindstir Media supports and suggests five literacy charities listed on its new website, including First Book, which has provided 125 million new books and resources to children in need. St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is among the three medical research non-profit organizations that Mindstir Media endorses and encourages donations.
About MindStir Media LLC:
MindStir Media is a book self-publishing and marketing company headquartered in Portsmouth, NH. MindStir prides itself in making book publishing easy through its award-winning full-service book publishing, book marketing and author publicity services. To learn more about self-publishing, go to http://www.mindstirmedia.com or call 800-767-0531.
For more information, please visit http://www.mindstirmedia.com
Contact Info:
Name: Rob Rop
Email: press@mindstirmedia.com
Organization: MindStir Media
Address: 45 Lafayette Rd Suite 181
Phone: 800-767-0531
Source: http://marketersmedia.com/mindstir-media-launches-website-to-encourage-donations-for-its-recommended-literacy-medical-charities/157908
Release ID: 157908
For more information visit r
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Runaki Introduces Shadow Spy Software
The software is designed to help employers and parents monitor their employees or underage children on a mobile device, reports www.shadow-spy.com.
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India-based software company Runaki Technology announced the introduction of their Shadow Spy software. Designed to be used on a smartphone or tablet, the Shadow Spy application gives employers and parents the power to monitor their employees or underage children as they use a mobile device.
A representative of Shadow Spy commented, "Smartphones and tablets have opened up a whole new world of personal technology that allows people around the globe to connect instantly and on a very intimate level. While these advances in technology can provide more opportunity for business and personal growth, it has also presented dangers that were not previously present."
The representative continued, "Now, parents have to worry about Teen Safe, child safety, while employers are raising concerns about lost productivity among their workforce. Our software aims to solve problems like this, putting parents and employers back in control."
Shadow Spy is compatible with all Android devices running like Gingerbread or a newer operating system. Requiring only an internet connection for data transfer, the application works regardless of the cellular carrier network or the location of the device being monitored. Shadow Spy runs in full stealth mode and is completely undetectable by the person using the device. All monitoring logs are updated instantly.
For those concerned about pricing, Shadow Spy offers several packages with a range of costs suitable to any parent's or employer's budget. The features of each package depend on the needs of the user, allowing them to choose the subscription length that's right for them. All packages include the use of all of Shadow Spy's Child monitoring, mobile spy, and Go Live features.
As the Shadow Spy representative went on to say, "Having access to applications that allow for parental control,employee monitoring, and mobile device logging is a must in the digital age in which we live. With the increased threat to safety and productivity comes an increased need to keep track of what employees and children are doing on their mobile devices. In turn, parents and employers will enjoy greater peace of mind as they go about their day."
About Runaki:
Runaki Technology are the makers of Shadow Spy, a leading mobile application designed for monitoring employees or underage children on a smartphone or tablet. The application runs in stealth mode and silently monitors device activities, including but not limited to call history logs, text messages tracking, GPS location tracking, WhatsApp and Facebook Messenger chat monitoring, key stroke logging, notification logging and more.
For more information, please visit http://www.shadow-spy.com
Contact Info:
Name: Shadow
Organization: Runaki
Phone: +91-8328245848
Source: http://marketersmedia.com/runaki-introduces-shadow-spy-software/157936
Release ID: 157936
For more information visit r
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The Removalists Melbourne Launch New Website To Promote Their Services Locally
The Removalists Melbourne has created a new .Melbourne website to help them promote their services with a local focus, ensuring the right people get access to their services.
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Local companies are finally starting to see the benefit of listing themselves online. For the longest time, national companies could dominate search results because of their large scale advertising and ranking strategies. Now however, algorithmic updates are making it easier than ever to find local providers. The Removalists are a home moving company in Melbourne, Australia. They are tapping into this local revolution with a new .Melbourne web address, together with an all-new locally optimized website, helping people in the surrounding area get access to the best movers available.
Their new website (www.removalists.melbourne) is built within a fully responsive architecture to load seamlessly on any device, and provides comprehensive information on their services, team, and approach. The company promises comprehensive insurance is included, together with an outstanding customer experience. The site includes a contact form for visitors to receive a free, no-obligation quote.
In addition to the content itself, the website is outfitted with the latest local optimization strategies and social media integration, so individuals can contact Removalists Melbourne on Facebook or Twitter for a faster response. The company plans to be the first port of call for Melbourne's moving needs, and these strategies move them closer to that goal.
A spokesperson for The Removalists Melbourne explained, "We are pleased to be able to help as many families and businesses as possible with all their moving needs. We don't just offer a van to transport items; we provide every service possible to ensure a move can be as safe and hands-off as the customer wants. We even provide the packing materials themselves. This new website will help us promote these services in a more focused and targeted fashion, ensuring those who can benefit most from our services can find them quickly and easily when searching online."
About The Removalists Melbourne: The Removalists Melbourne offer a full range of domestic and commercial moving services, including end to end services like packing and unpacking, together with all associated products, including boxes, tape and more. The company aims to facilitate every aspect of a move to ensure it is as efficient, stress-free and economical as possible. Their experienced team are happy to offer free quotes.
For more information, please visit http://www.removalists.melbourne/
Contact Info:
Name: Michael Harris
Email: pr@removalists.melbourne
Organization: Removalists Melbourne
Address: 420 Collins Street, Melbourne, Australia 3000
Phone: 1800 665 127
Source: http://marketersmedia.com/the-removalists-melbourne-launch-new-website-to-promote-their-services-locally/157946
Release ID: 157946
For more information visit r
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Global Market Analysis of Insurance Software leads to Excessive Growth at a CAGR of 4.94% Till 2020
The global insurance industry is a potential market for technology providers. The increased expenditure on technology by the insurance sector has moved the focus on productivity and efficiency, and has brought in a wide range of challenges to insurers.
December 30, 2016 (FPRC), Albany, New York: In todays world, the use of technology is widely growing is various sectors as it provides an ease to the companies and organizations. In the recent years, there has been a positive growth acquired in the insurance industry. To expand this in detail, Market Research Hub (MRH) has recently added a report titled, Global Insurance Software Market 2016-2020 to its research offerings. This study also explains the present scenario and growth prospects of the global market. The global insurance industry has come out as a potential market for technology providers, who are providing one of the best solutions for this sector. According to the key findings, analysts have estimated the global market of insurance software to achieve a CAGR of 4.94% in the time period of 2016 to 2020.
Request Free Sample Report: http://www.marketresearchhub.com/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=902783
Initially, the report briefly highlights the key points of the market including market developments and new regulatory framework. Also, industry overview of the insurance sector is discussed in detail. It has been observed that insurance software services have been one of the key factors which driving the insurance industry. These softwares are smartly designed to resolve complex tasks and actions in such a manner that will help to manage high volume of data of client accounts. Insurance software also helps to update existing offerings, roll out new product lines and gives end-users the speed & quickness to meet rapidly changing client needs and increase their competitive positioning in the market. Also, the rise of robotic process automation in industry is driving the market growth.
Geographically, the market has been segmented into the following regions: Americas, EMEA and APAC. Additionally, it is segmented by deployment model which includes- On-premises and SaaS-based technology. From the rise of mobile users and cloud-based technology to social media interaction, technology trends for insurance agents explains the need to be more agile, efficient and accessible in order to serve todays customers. In terms of geography, adoption rate of insurance software is high in Americas as the insurers are looking to merge policy administration systems to improve efficiency.
Moreover, major market trend observed by the study are-
Increasing demand for cyber insurance
High demand for travel insurance
Advent of SaaS-based insurance software
Market challenge for the industry is also included in the report which is related to data security and adherence to compliance in insurance sector.
Browse Full Report with TOC - http://www.marketresearchhub.com/report/global-insurance-software-market-2016-2020-report.html
The report also studies the competitive landscape of the global market by profiling the key vendors operations. Leading players included in the report are Microsoft, Oracle, Salesforce and SAP. Other prominent vendors are Accenture, Computer Sciences Cororation (CSC), Pegasystems, SAS etc.
About Market Research Hub
Market Research Hub (MRH) is a next-generation reseller of research reports and analysis. MRHs expansive collection of market research reports has been carefully curated to help key personnel and decision makers across industry verticals to clearly visualize their operating environment and take strategic steps.
MRH functions as an integrated platform for the following products and services: Objective and sound market forecasts, qualitative and quantitative analysis, incisive insight into defining industry trends, and market share estimates. Our reputation lies in delivering value and world-class capabilities to our clients.
Send an email to Mark Hub of r
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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...
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March 21, 1934 Dec. 24, 2016
Virginia (Latshaw) Wilson was born March 21, 1934, to Florence and Stanley Latshaw in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. She died in Corvallis on Dec. 24, 2016, in the care of Ts Heart Elder Care. She was a loving wife and mother, and taught mathematics at the secondary and junior college levels. She is survived by her husband, Howard; three children, Cheryl, Randall and Brian; four grandchildren, Catherine, Nathanael, Ari and Eli; and siblings Miriam, David and Carol.
The first of four siblings, Virginia grew up in a Pennsylvania Dutch home, working on the family farm. She enjoyed school and excelled at it, graduating from high school with high honors. After graduating from Pennsylvania State University, she taught junior high mathematics for a few years outside Philadelphia. Virginia met Howard L. Wilson when they were graduate students of mathematics at the University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois. They were married Aug. 27, 1960.
For many years Virginias highest desire was to manage her home, nurture her children and support and love her husband. She accomplished all of these, providing her family with a safe and caring home. She cooked, she celebrated, she mourned, she offered advice, she traversed with care and sensitivity her childrens adolescent years. She supported Howard in his desire to work overseas, living in Papua New Guinea with the family in 1971 and 72. She welcomed wholeheartedly her son-in-law, Mark, and daughters-in-law, Ramey and Katherine, and her grandchildren she treasured. Compassionate and self-sacrificing, she quietly and consistently thought of others before herself.
Virginia returned to the professional world, working at OSU and then teaching algebra at LBCC, from which she derived much satisfaction and where her patience was much appreciated.
In retirement she was able to travel the world with Howard. She volunteered at the OSU Thrift Store for many years. A long-time member of the First United Methodist Church in Corvallis, she served in a variety of ways through the years as an organist, with the United Methodist Women, and on the Congregational Care Team. Her faith was an integral part of who she was, and her dearest friends were members of the church.
Though her last years were clouded by dementia, her compassionate spirit remained to the end. Her family is thankful to have had such a wife, mother and grandmother.
A memorial service will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 14, at the Corvallis First United Methodist Church.
In lieu of flowers, contributions can be made in her name to Benton Hospice Service or The First United Methodist Church of Corvallis.
Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021.
Fire Department called to Bad Godesberg : Suspect lights fire to avoid arrest
BAD GODESBERG On Thursday, Bonn police went to the apartment of a suspect to issue an arrest warrant. The suspect resisted, setting fire in his apartment.
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Armed with an arrest warrant, police showed up at the apartment building of a man living in the Bad Godesberg area of Schweinheim on Thursday morning. They had received information that the suspect was in his apartment in a building on Quellenstrae and they arrived at around 11:25 am. The 45-year-old man was wanted on charges of damaging property and he was to serve a sentence.
The suspect did not respond to the police ringing at his apartment so they gained access to the stairwell to get to his front door. When they got there, they noticed smoke developing from underneath the doorway. The fire department was notified immediately and the building, with 13 rental apartments was evacuated.
At 12:50 pm, the man turned himself over to police. According to GA information, the man was suffering from psychological problems and he lit several Molotov cocktails in his apartment, which caused the smoke. The extent of the damage caused by the fire was also not yet known. He is now being investigated on charges of suspected arson.
bayonel3 at 30-12-2016 10:23 AM (5 years ago) (m)
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan yesterday, alleged that about 808 people were killed in southern Kaduna State with 57 injured. He also revealed that 53 villages were attacked in the state. Governor Nasir El-Rufai has described the attackers as foreign Fulani herdsmen, who were avenging past attacks on them and their livestock. The Governor had earlier revealed that he had to pay them money to stop them from further killing the people of Southern Kaduna, a claim that was brutally condemned.
The Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan yesterday, alleged that about 808 people were killed in southern Kaduna State with 57 injured. He also revealed that 53 villages were attacked in the state. Governor Nasir El-Rufai has described the attackers as foreign Fulani herdsmen, who were avenging past attacks on them and their livestock. The Governor had earlier revealed that he had to pay them money to stop them from further killing the people of Southern Kaduna, a claim that was brutally condemned. While speaking to newsmen, at a news conference in Kafanchan, the Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Ibrahim Yakubu, said the government failed to protect locals.
Yakubu, who addressed reporters along with four other priests, said four local government areas had been attacked with 808 people killed and 1,422 houses, 16 churches, 19 shops, and one primary school destroyed.
He added: Unfortunately, our government both at the centre and state levels have failed woefully. If anything, government has shown outright partisanship in favour of the herdsmen to the disappointment of the majority Southern Kaduna indigenes and Christians.
The cleric, however, called for immediate end to attacks, and demanded compensation for all families that lost loved ones or property. He also called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the crisis. Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) also lamented that Southern Kaduna had become a slaughter house and a cemetery where human lives had become so cheap to destroy.
Sani, who visited his colleague representing Kaduna South, Senator Danjuma Laah, called for security presence in all the villages and towns, as well as civilians Joint Task Force (JTF) to protect the communities.
The way out of this mess is the need for security presence in all the villages and towns in Southern Kaduna. There is also need for Civilian JTF where the communities will be fully involved, funding and supporting, to protect their own communities. It is unfortunate that Southern Kaduna has become a slaughter house and a cemetery, where human lives have become so cheap to destroy.
While expressing his heart-felt sympathy to the people over the magnitude of destruction of lives and property he noted: Southern Kaduna killings is a reality in Nigeria and northern part of this country in particular of what has been happening for years. It is very clear the government is unable to protect lives and property of its citizens.
The tragedy in Southern Kaduna is also translating to Niger State, which is close to Abuja. So you can see the danger of these killings to other cities in the country. There is need for an immediate action to stop the activities of these herdsmen killing innocent people, he said
Sani suggested that there was need for an economic master plan for Southern Kaduna to address the neglect, abandonment, poverty and underdevelopment that have ravaged the zone for a very long time.
The senator argued that neutralising Southern Kaduna is not enough without any economic agenda. We must develop the area and make all parts of the area accessible by providing infrastructure and developing social amenities as the only way we can have a permanent solution.Also, there is need to have consultative community interactions to enable the natives and cattle rearers and others ethnic groups interact for better understanding.
Enough is a word that can only be qualified when there is satisfaction by the side of those who are victims. The first right in the Nigerian constitution is the right to life. The government cannot be seen to say it has done enough until and unless these killings stop. The Federal Government must provide the necessary environment.
I think ending this problem has gone beyond what people are thinking. It should be accompanied with an economic blueprint to face the problem of underdevelopment and neglect of the Southern part of the state. It is very clear that the people of Southern Kaduna are being treated as outcast. They only listen to Plateau media stations to know what is happening in Nigeria.Southern Kaduna depends on Plateau to exist as human beings. It is very unfortunate, Sani said. While speaking to newsmen, at a news conference in Kafanchan, the Vicar General of the Catholic Archdiocese of Kafanchan, Ibrahim Yakubu, said the government failed to protect locals.Yakubu, who addressed reporters along with four other priests, said four local government areas had been attacked with 808 people killed and 1,422 houses, 16 churches, 19 shops, and one primary school destroyed.He added:The cleric, however, called for immediate end to attacks, and demanded compensation for all families that lost loved ones or property. He also called for the establishment of a commission of inquiry to investigate the causes of the crisis. Senator Shehu Sani (Kaduna Central) also lamented that Southern Kaduna had become a slaughter house and a cemetery where human lives had become so cheap to destroy.Sani, who visited his colleague representing Kaduna South, Senator Danjuma Laah, called for security presence in all the villages and towns, as well as civilians Joint Task Force (JTF) to protect the communities.While expressing his heart-felt sympathy to the people over the magnitude of destruction of lives and property he noted: Southern Kaduna killings is a reality in Nigeria and northern part of this country in particular of what has been happening for years. It is very clear the government is unable to protect lives and property of its citizens.he saidSani suggested that there was need for an economic master plan for Southern Kaduna to address the neglect, abandonment, poverty and underdevelopment that have ravaged the zone for a very long time.The senator argued that neutralising Southern Kaduna is not enough without any economic agenda. We must develop the area and make all parts of the area accessible by providing infrastructure and developing social amenities as the only way we can have a permanent solution.Also, there is need to have consultative community interactions to enable the natives and cattle rearers and others ethnic groups interact for better understanding.Sani said.
Post Reply I scour the world wide web to bring you interesting stories from around the globe. +2348055557203 Posted: at 30-12-2016 10:23 AM (5 years ago) | Hero
A young Nigerian officer has taken to social media to share the happy news of his promotion as he becomes the youngest commissioner of police in Nigeria. A young gallant Police officer Abba Kyari has been promoted as the youngest Assistant Commissioner of Police in Nigeria at 41-years-old. He was promoted to the rank of Assistant Commissioner of Police on 16th December, 2016 by the Nigerian Police Force.Sharing the honourable feat on social media, he wrote:
Quote
"Glory be to Almighty GOD and My Sincere Appreciation To IGP Ibrahim Idris, The Police Service commission, My Family, Friends and Well Wishers. I have been Promoted to the Prestigious Rank of Assistant Commissioner of police based on IGPs Recommendation for Gallantry, Exceptional and Superlative Performance. At 41yrs am the Youngest Assistant Commissioner of police in Nigeria Today. Please Join me to Celebrate this Great Moment."
LG G5
The first innovative smartphone kept the year soaring. LG started the year on a big note with its LG G5, but the smartphone failed to impress the masses with its inconvenient approach towards the semi-modular smartphones. Nevertheless, it's a great try from the South Korean smartphone giant.
Blackberry Priv
Blackberry's return to the smartphone area took place in 2016 and that too with Android under-the-hood. The interesting part is Blackberry kept their trademark Qwerty keyboard alive with the Priv as well as it came with support for a keyboard as well. The phone received praise from many but its steep price let it down.
Motorola Moto Z Phones
If one fails to deliver, the other succeeds in doing that. That's the same scenario with Lenovo-owned Motorola. After looking at what happened with the LG G5 and its modular system, Lenovo did not hold back and released their modular smartphones, the Moto Z series of phones.
Unlike LG G5, where you should remove the battery and replace with another mod, Motorola added 16 magnetic pins at the rear of the phone, and you can swap the Moto Mods over there. That said, the Moto Mods and its concept was a huge hit.
Lenovo Phab 2 Pro
Lenovo has consistently been trying to be different from others. While their semi-modular phones under Motorola is an example of that, the company, this time in collaboration with Google, came out with a smartphone called Phab 2 Pro, which has support for some unique Augmented Reality features. But, several international tech blogs termed the phone as an unfinished project.
Xiaomi Mi Mix
Xiaomi surprised everyone with their concept phone, the Xiaomi Mi Mix. The Mi Mix was unveiled a couple of months back, and it was a huge success for the Apple of China. The phone impressed several people over the world, and the only problem with this phone is its limited stock availability.
Huawei Honor Magic
Right at the stroke of 2016, Huawei unveiled their concept phone in China to compete with the Xiaomi Mi Mix. However, the phone has several advantages over the latter because it is the company's take on artificial intelligence. For example, if you visit a theater with pre-booked tickets, then the phone will automatically open the tickets by tracking your phone's location. You can read all the features of Honor Magic's AI by clicking here.
Samsung Galaxy A Series (2017) Prices Leaked Before Official Launch News oi -Rohit Samsung Galaxy A Series(2017) is expected to launch on January 4, 2017 and these might be the official pricing of the upcoming Galaxy smartphones
Samsung is gearing up for a launch event on January 4, 2017 where the Korean tech giant will launch the new Galaxy A series handsets. The devices in the series- Galaxy A7, Galaxy A5 and the Galaxy A3 are expected to offer water-resistant design and will boast an all metal-glass construction.
We at GIZBOT informed you yesterday about the expected specifications of the smartphone, and if some reports are to be believed, these might be the official pricing of the upcoming Galaxy A series smartphones.
SEE ALSO: The New Samsung Galaxy A Series (2017) is Coming in January 2017
Some images have surfaced online (soyacincau) that hints the possible price details of the smartphones. As per the images, the Galaxy A5 (2017) will be priced around Rs. 26,000 and Galaxy A7 (2017) might cost around Rs. 29,000. The pricing of Galaxy A3 (2017) have not yet leaked.
The site further reports that the handsets are now up for pre-order and Samsung is also giving away a Level U PRO wireless headset to sweeten up the deal. The handsets are up for Pre-orders from Friday, 6th January until 15th January 2017 in Malaysia.
SEE ALSO: Twitter Might Soon Allow You to Edit Tweets
As noted, Samsung Galaxy A5 (2017) could feature a 5.2-inch Super AMOLED display offering full HD resolution. The device will be powered by an Exynos 7880 octa-core processor clocked at 1.8GHz and will be coupled with Mali-T860 MP4 GPU and 3GB of RAM. Furthermore, the smartphone will come with 32GB of onboard storage and will flaunt water-resistant design.
The Galaxy A7 (2017) might sport a bigger 5.7-inch 1080p Super AMOLED screen. It is expected to run on an octa-core Exynos 7880 processor coupled with 3GB of RAM and 32GB inbuilt storage, which is expandable via a microSD card. The new Galaxy A3 is expected to sport a 4.7-inch Super AMOLED (720x1280 pixel) display. The smartphone is expected to be powered up by a 1.5GHz octa-core Exynos 7870 processor coupled with 2GB of RAM and 16GB of expandable storage.
SEE ALSO: Samsung Galaxy S8 Plus Rumored to Feature S Pen, Does it Mark the End of Road to Galaxy Note Series?
Image Source: lowyat.net
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Law to prevent spying by retired military personnel passes 1st reading
ROC Central News Agency
2016/12/29 19:41:14
Taipei, Dec. 29 (CNA) A draft amendment to the Republic of China (Taiwan) Veterans Assistance Act, which is aimed at preventing Taiwanese retired military personnel from spying for foreign nations, passed its first reading in the Legislature on Thursday.
According to the amendment to Article 32 of the law, retired Taiwanese military personnel caught trying to breach national security, leak classified information or spy for other nations will permanently lose their subsidies, discounts for medical services, and preferential treatment in the areas of employment and education.
The amendment, which cleared the legislative Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee, is aimed primarily at preventing retired military officers from being lured into spying for China or providing confidential information to Beijing.
Currently, Article 32 of the ROC Veterans Assistance Act stipulates that only retired military personnel sentenced for rebellion, treason, corruption, or homicide, shall be permanently deprived of all the privileges and benefits covered by the act.
The draft amendment bill extends those specific penalties to cover violations under the National Security Act, the Classified National Security Information Protection Act, and the National Intelligence Services Act.
The new bill is being processed in the wake of new regulations pertaining to active-duty military personnel, which were passed by the Legislature in November.
The amendment to the Act of Military Service for Officers and Noncommissioned Officers of the Armed Forces allows for the military officers -- non-commissioned and commissioned -- to be deprived of their pensions not only for rebellion and treason but also for spying, breaching national security and leaking classified information.
The efforts to deter military personnel and retired officers from leaking confidential military secrets or spying for China were launched amid concerns that retired Taiwanese generals might be lured by Chinese authorities to work as spies.
During the hearing in the Foreign Affairs and National Defense Committee on Thursday, Lee Wen-chung (), deputy head of the Veterans Affairs Council (VAC), said a delegation of eight retired generals, led by Cheng Ting-chung (), will visit China on Jan. 5 to attend a cultural festival for generals on both sides of the Taiwan Strait.
The eight retired generals have promised the Cabinet-level VAC that they will not make any controversial political statements during their visit to China, Lee said.
He said it was his understanding that the festival was being organized by a private enterprise, which is believed to have connections with Chinese authorities who handle Taiwan affairs.
In addition to revoking the benefits and privileges of active-duty and retired military personnel who violate the law, some lawmakers are also seeking to extend the period during which retired generals are not allowed to visit China, to more than three years after retirement.
(By Wang Chen-chung and Elaine Hou)
ENDITEM/pc
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Trump Seeks Full Report from US Intelligence Agencies on Russian Allegations
Sputnik News
04:20 30.12.2016(updated 04:50 30.12.2016)
Incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said that Donald Trump will personally hear assessments from across the US intelligence community on the allegations of Russian interference in the American elections.
WASHINGTON (Sputnik) President-elect Donald Trump will personally hear assessments from across the US intelligence community on the allegations of Russian interference in the November 8 elections, incoming White House chief of staff Reince Priebus said in an interview.
"Right now we are not in a position to respond to all of these details before we have a full blown intelligence report on this matter," Preibus told Fox News on Thursday night.
Preibus said Trump would meet with representatives from the major US intelligence agencies to discuss the issue next week, adding "We need to get to a point ourselves where we can talk to these intelligence agencies and say what evidence is there."
Many media reports on the allegations, including ones that had appeared in the Washington Post and New York Times, had cited unnamed, anonymous sources, Priebus added.
"Here is the problem: We have been responding to articles from third parties' unnamed sources in Washington Post in the New York Times, and would say these 17 intelligence agencies didn't agree with each other," Priebus explained.
Earlier on Thursday, outgoing President Barack Obama expelled 35 Russian diplomats from the United States and shut down two Russian diplomatic compounds. Moreover, the Obama administration imposed sanctions on six Russian nationals and five entities.
Sputnik
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Trump to Meet With Intelligence Officials to Clarify Russian Spying Accusations
Sputnik News
02:10 30.12.2016(updated 06:04 30.12.2016)
"In the interest of our country and its great people," Trump promised to meet with members of the FBI, DHS, and other intelligence agencies "to be updated on the facts of this situation," according to a statement from the transition team.
The US slapped sanctions on Russia Thursday as part of retaliation for accusations that Russian intelligence services interfered with US elections. 35 Russian diplomats and their families were ordered to exit the country within 72 hours.
The US must "move on to bigger and better things," Trump's team said, but in order to uphold the American people's interests he will consult with the intelligence community about their recent findings.
"I think we ought to get on with our lives. I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly," Trump said earlier this week when asked if he believed in Russian "election hacking." "The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what is going on. We have speed, we have a lot of other things, but I'm not sure we have the kind of the security we need."
The new round of sanctions constituted an example of "severe" mismanagement by the Obama administration, former Trump adviser Carter Page told Sputnik on Thursday. In fact, Page noted that the sanctions illustrate "complete lack of diplomacy."
The expulsion of diplomats provides "yet another example of why America must redistribute the heavy-handed power of the US government," and put it "back in the hands of the people," Page added.
The Kremlin promised on Thursday that by Friday, Russian President Vladimir Putin will counter with an "adequate and mirror" response that is assured to make Washington "feel very uncomfortable."
Sputnik
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Update: air strikes against Daesh
28 December 2016
British forces have continued to conduct air operations in the fight against Daesh
Latest update
- Thursday 22 December Tornados destroyed a tank south-west of Sinjar in northern Iraq.
- Friday 23 December Typhoons bombed a terrorist position north of Tabaqah in Syria; in Iraq, Tornados hit a weapons cache north-east of Haditha, and a Reaper destroyed an artillery gun near Mosul.
- Sunday 25 December Tornados and Typhoons attacked three Daesh targets in and around Mosul.
- Tuesday 27 December Typhoons destroyed a heavy machine-gun position whilst supporting Syrian Democratic Forces west of Raqqah.
Detail
Operations against the Daesh terrorist network have continued unabated during the holiday period, with Royal Air Force aircraft supporting Iraqi operations to liberate Mosul, and the advance on Raqqah by Syrian Democratic Forces. On Thursday 22 December, two Tornado GR4s, based at RAF Akrotiri, were tasked against one of the few tanks operated by Daesh, which had been spotted by coalition surveillance aircraft hidden under a tarpaulin in an orchard to the south-west of Sinjar. The tank was destroyed by a direct hit from a Brimstone missile. The next day, Typhoon FGR4s, armed with Paveway IV guided bombs, patrolled over Syria and successfully attacked a terrorist position which SDF fighters had encountered to the north of Tabaqah, near Lake Assad. In Iraq, Tornados used Paveway IVs to destroy a weapons stockpile some 50 miles north-east of Haditha, whilst a Reaper remotely piloted aircraft assisted the Iraqi operations in Mosul; its crew conducted a thorough check for civilians who might be at risk before a successful coalition air strike destroyed another weapons stockpile. The Reaper then delivered an attack using one of its own Hellfire missiles to destroy an artillery piece loaded on a trailer - as with the tank, the terrorists had attempted to hide the gun under a tarpaulin in thick woodland to the north-west of the city, but to no avail.
Christmas Day saw Mosul blanketed with thick cloud, but both Typhoons and Tornados were able, by dint of close cooperation with the Iraqi forces on the ground, to prosecute Daesh targets in and around the city. A pair of Typhoons used a Paveway IV to attack a small bridge used by the terrorists, whilst a Tornado flight attacked two Daesh strong-points with which the Iraqi troops were engaged in close combat; the first was destroyed by an Enhanced Paveway II guided bomb, the second from which a machine-gun was firing was struck by a Paveway IV. Both attacks were delivered blind through the cloud, but the Iraqi units reported direct hits which eliminated the threats that they had faced.
Typhoons continued to support the SDF operations in Syria, and on Tuesday 27 December, they used a Paveway IV to strike a heavy machine-gun position located in a building to the west of Raqqah.
UK contribution to the fight against Daesh
Map of UK forces committed to Operation Shader
Previous air strikes
Saturday 3 December: Very bad weather, including violent thunderstorms, seriously hampered air operations for several days. However, conditions improved sufficiently for a Reaper to resume operations over Mosul. It conducted one attack, using a Hellfire, against a mortar, and was able to alert other coalition forces to the location of a large number of civilians potentially at risk in the area.
Sunday 4 December: Another Reaper continued to provide close air support to the Iraqi forces as they engaged in intensive street fighting around Mosul. The Reaper's crew twice exploited the accuracy and small warhead of their Hellfire missiles to strike Daesh terrorists engaged in close combat with Iraqi troops, and also gave surveillance support to four successful attacks by coalition aircraft on heavily defended buildings, including one where a group of suicide bombers had mustered. Meanwhile, two flights of Tornados prosecuted Daesh targets in Syria: one pair joined other coalition aircraft in an attack on a large weapons factory which intelligence had established was being operated by Daesh some 15 miles west of Raqqah. The Tornados dropped three Enhanced Paveway II bombs which scored direct hits on their targets. In eastern Syria, the second Tornado flight used a pair of Paveway IV bombs to destroy a terrorist headquarters, plus an associated vehicle, located some 25 miles north-east of At Tibni.
Monday 5 December: With Iraqi forces continuing to clear Daesh positions in eastern Mosul, a Royal Air Force Reaper flew overwatch for the operation. It performed an important role in tracking the movements of civilian refugees through the area, allowing coalition attacks to be halted or delayed as necessary. The Reaper also identified a group of Daesh fighters who were subsequently struck by Coalition fast jets. The Reaper's crew then spotted a heavy machine-gun firing on Iraqi troops, and destroyed it with a Hellfire missile.
Wednesday 7 December: A pair of Typhoons, armed with Paveway IV guided bombs, and supported by a Voyager air refuelling tanker, attacked a Daesh bunker dug into the hills some 25 miles north-west of Haditha. After the attack, smoke rose from the tunnel entrances some distance away, proving that the strike was successful. A second pair of Typhoons operated north of Mosul, where they used a Paveway IV to destroy a Daesh-held building. Meanwhile, a Reaper continued close air support over eastern Mosul. An armoured truck was tracked as Daesh fighters attempted to hide it in a vehicle shelter, allowing it to be destroyed by coalition jets. The Reaper then conducted three attacks using its own Hellfires against groups of extremists engaged in close combat with the advancing Iraqi troops.
Thursday 8 December: Tornados and a Reaper patrolled over Mosul. The Tornados were able to use the small, highly accurate Brimstone missile to dispose safely of an armoured personnel carrier positioned close to a hospital in the south of the city. Meanwhile, the Reaper hunted targets in the city centre, using three Hellfire missiles to pick off groups of extremists caught moving in the open.
Friday 9 December: Another Reaper enjoyed similar success, when it also operated over central Mosul. It conducted three Hellfire attacks against Daesh fighters, including some armed with rocket-propelled grenades, and a mortar team that was spotted as it opened fire. In the east of the city, Typhoons assisted Iraqi forces as they fought a Daesh group holding a building at the end of a street. Particular care was taken in planning the air attack, as the Iraqi troops were very close to the target, but our aircrew were able to score a direct hit with a Paveway IV, which destroyed the building and removed the threat to the ground forces.
Monday 12 December: Intelligence analysis identified a set of buildings some miles north-east of Bayji, where Daesh were storing weapons and manufacturing explosives. A pair of Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s, supported by a Voyager tanker, were tasked to attack the site. Our aircraft used three Paveway IV guided bombs against different buildings within the compound, and successfully destroyed each of these targets.
Wednesday 14 December: Operations to liberate Mosul continue, with Iraqi troops carefully clearing terrorists from areas in the east of the city. A unit encountered significant resistance from a group of Daesh fortified in a building. RAF Tornado GR4s were overhead, but unable to see the target due to thick cloud cover. Nevertheless, very careful coordination with the ground forces, who were very close to the terrorist strongpoint, allowed the Tornados to deliver a precision strike through the cloud cover with a Paveway IV which the Iraqi troops reported scored a direct hit on the building and eliminated the threat they faced.
Other RAF aircraft have continued to fly reconnaissance missions over both Syria and Iraq, with Airseeker and Sentinel surveillance platforms gathering vital intelligence on Daesh activity in recent days. Hercules transports have also continued their essential work, supporting the large British military training teams which are constantly working with coalition partners to help improve the capabilities of the Iraqi forces so that they are even better equipped to defeat the terrorists.
Thursday 15 December: Despite very heavy cloud over Mosul, Royal Air Force and other coalition aircraft continued to provide support to the Iraqi ground forces advancing into the city. Iraqi troops engaged a large group of Daesh fighters in close combat in eastern Mosul. A pair of Tornados worked in very close coordination with the Iraqi unit to establish both their precise positions and those of the terrorists. As a result, two Paveway IV guided bombs were dropped with great accuracy through the clouds. The Iraqis reported that they had scored direct hits, killing their opponents. The Tornados then provided assistance to troops fighting in the north of the city, who had encountered a building from where Daesh were directing rocket-propelled grenades and heavy machine-gun fire. As before, the Tornado crews were unable to see the target themselves but were able to demolish the building with an Enhanced Paveway II guided bomb without injury to the nearby Iraqi forces.
Sunday 18 December: A Reaper operated over the northern outskirts of Mosul. Its crew observed a number of Daesh fighters on board an armoured truck which proceeded to drive at speed towards Iraqi positions just north of the city. A Hellfire missile from the Reaper brought the attempted attack to an immediate halt, knocking out the truck. The following day, two Typhoons armed with Paveway IV guided bombs attacked two buildings east of Tall Afar, which intelligence had revealed were being used by Daesh as accommodation blocks. One building was completely demolished, the other set ablaze by the strike.
Tuesday 20 December: Operating again in challenging conditions over Mosul, two Tornados were still able to support Iraqi forces as they engaged a Daesh light machine-gun team defending a building in the north-eastern area of the city. As with the attacks a few days earlier, the Iraqi troops were very close to the target, but our aircrew carried out a successful attack with a Paveway IV.
Wednesday 21 December: Typhoons tasked with the destruction of a Daesh-held building some miles to the north-east of Bayji, where intelligence reports indicated a number of improvised explosive devices had been stockpiled by the terrorists. A Paveway IV levelled the building. In eastern Mosul, Iraqi troops came upon a heavy machine-gun team, once again fortified inside a building, and sought assistance from a Tornado patrol which was able to destroy the target with a Paveway IV.
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Strikes Target ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq
From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release
SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 29, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Strikes in Syria
Attack, bomber, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted eight strikes in Syria:
-- Near Abu Kamal, a strike destroyed an oil wellhead.
-- Near Raqqa, six strikes engaged five ISIL tactical units, destroying a fighting position, a heavy machine gun, a mortar system and a vehicle. A bridge was disabled.
-- Near Palmyra, a strike destroyed an ISIL-held tank.
Task force officials also announced today that Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti, an ISIL gang leader in Raqqa, was killed by a Dec. 26 coalition airstrike near Syria's Tabqa Dam. He was a previous member of the ISIL's war committee, officials said, and was involved in their retaking of Palmyra, Syria, before being reassigned to Tabqa to try to improve ISIL's defenses against the Syrian Democratic Forces.
He was involved in the use of suicide vehicles, improvised explosive devices and chemical weapons against the SDF, officials added. Because of his associations with ISIL terror attack planners and war council members, they added, his death will degrade ISIL's ability to defend Raqqa and launch external operations against the West.
Strikes in Iraq
Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft, as well as rocket artillery, conducted three strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:
-- Near Mosul, three strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroying seven front-end loaders, four command-and-control nodes, two land bridges, a vehicle-bomb factory, a vehicle and a steamroller. Twenty-four supply routes were damaged.
Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.
Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
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Kerry: Israel's settlements in Palestinian territory, violation of int'l law
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
New York, Dec 29, IRNA -- US Secretary of State John Kerry has criticized the Zionist regime's officials for their recent stance on the UN anti-settlement resolution (2334), stressing that settlement construction in the Palestinian lands is a violation of the international laws.
', we have an honest, clear-eyed conversation about the uncomfortable truths and difficult choices, because the alternative that is fast becoming the reality on the ground is in nobody's interest not the Israelis, not the Palestinians, not the region and not the United States,' Kerry said during a weekly press briefing in Washington on December 28.
The UN Security Council has recently passed a resolution which declared Israel's settlements on the occupied Palestinian territories 'have no legal validity.'
'Regrettably, some seem to believe that the US friendship means the US must accept any policy, regardless of our own interests, our own positions, our own words, our own principles even after urging again and again that the policy must change.
'Friends need to tell each other the hard truths, and friendships require mutual respect,' Kerry noted during his Wednesday press briefing.
The UN Resolution 2334 was adopted on December 23 by 14 votes in favor and one abstention, the US.
US abstention has infuriated Tel Aviv with the Zionist officials vowing not to abide by the resolution terms.
According to the landmark resolution, the Zionist regime is urged to stop its settelment construction activity and fulfill its obligation as an occupying power under the Fourth Geneva Convention.
Following passage of the resolution, the Zionist regime's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said, "Israel rejects this shameful anti-Israel resolution at the UN and will not abide by its terms."
Netanyahu spokesman has later told CNN: 'We have iron-clad information, frankly, that the Obama administration really helped push this resolution and helped craft it, from sources internationally and sources in the Arab world.'
1483**1394
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Yemeni forces shoot down Saudi Apache helicopter in Najran
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 2:5PM
Yemeni forces have shot down a Saudi Apache helicopter in the kingdom's southern Najran Province in fresh attacks in response to Riyadh's deadly military aggression.
Yemen's al-Masirah television reported that the chopper was brought down on Thursday as it was attacking positions held by the Yemeni fighters.
The report further noted that the Yemeni forces destroyed an Abrams tank and killed five Saudi soldiers at Najran's Qiyadah military base.
Three other Saudi soldiers lost their lives in Talah military base in Najran.
Two more Saudi tanks were destroyed in Najran's Rajla military base and southwestern Jizan Region.
Moreover, Yemeni snipers killed Saudi soldiers in neighboring Asir Region.
Meanwhile, the Houthis and the Yemeni army took control of several positions held by Saudi mercenaries in the Sabrin neighborhood of Yemen's northern Jawf Province.
They also thwarted an attack by Saudi mercenaries in Shabwah Province, leaving a number of the militants dead and injured.
Saudi Arabia has been incessantly pounding Yemen since March 2015 with the purpose of reinstalling the country's former government and crushing the Houthi Ansarullah movement. Since then, the Houthis and the Yemeni army have been defending Yemen against the Saudi offensive.
More than 11,400 Yemenis, including women and children, have been killed in the Saudi military aggression, according to the latest tally by a Yemeni monitoring group.
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4 troops killed in latest confrontation between Armenia, Azerbaijan
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 1:34PM
At least four soldiers have been killed in the latest round of confrontation between Armenia and Azerbaijan along the shared border of the two Caucasus countries.
Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman, Artsrun Hovhannisyan, said Thursday that three Armenian troops had been killed in the shootout that erupted near the Armenian village of Chinari.
"In the early hours of Thursday morning, Azerbaijani armed forces attempted a subversive intrusion into Armenian territory," Hovhannisyan said, adding that the fighting was still underway, "with both sides using grenade launchers and sniper rifles."
Meanwhile, Baku rejected Yerevan's claim that it had initiated the clash, saying it was the Armenians who triggered the clash by sending a "subversive group" to Azerbaijan.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said in a statement that the Armenian group "was ambushed as it attempted to violate the Azerbaijani state border."
"The enemy suffered heavy losses and was forced to retreat," it said, adding that one Azerbaijani soldier was killed in the combat.
For more than 20 years, Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a bitter dispute over the Nagorno-Karabakh region, an area which is recognized as part of Azerbaijan's territory but controlled by Armenia-backed separatists.
A bloody war over the territory, which killed some 30,000 people, ended in a truce in 1994, but cross-border fire has continued along the frontline and across the border. The two ex-soviet states are yet to sign a permanent peace deal.
Hostilities escalated in April, when Armenia and Azerbaijan were nearly on the brink of a full-out war. The surge in violence claimed at least 110 lives from the two sides before Russia intervened and brokered a ceasefire. Attempts for re-launching a peace process have failed since then.
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Colombia passes FARC amnesty law under peace deal
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:18AM
The Colombian congress has approved legislation that grants amnesty to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) as part of a recent peace deal between the country's government and the rebel group.
The bill was passed both in Colombia's Senate and the lower house of the congress on Wednesday, forgoing prosecution against those FARC rebels who are known to have committed only minor crimes during the country's 52-year armed conflict.
The legislation covers most offenses committed by the rebels but will not absolve those who committed war crimes or human rights violations. The amnesty also applies to members of the country's military.
"Thanks to the Congress, which in a historic vote approved the amnesty law, [a] first step toward consolidating peace," Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos said on his Twitter page.
The measure was, however, met with strong opposition by the country's right-wing Democratic Center Party, run by former president Alvaro Uribe and his allies, whose members abstained from voting.
The opposition argued that the deal granted impunity to rebels guilty of war crimes and gave them seats in Congress rather than sending them to prison.
The leftist rebel group and Colombia's government said in a joint statement that they would determine by January 2017 how many rebels were not eligible for the clemency order.
Those rebels found guilty of serious crimes like massacres, sexual violence, or kidnapping will not be entitled to amnesty and will instead serve alternative sentences, such as working to remove land mines.
Bogota and the FARC rebels first reached a deal to end their armed conflict on September 26. That deal, which had taken some four years to negotiate, was, however, rejected unexpectedly by a razor-thin margin in a referendum on October 2, with opponents saying that it was too lenient on the rebels.
The two sides then re-launched talks to modify the deal to the satisfaction of the opponents. A final version, a 310-page document, was signed on November 24 and won unanimous approval by both the Senate and the lower house of Congress in late November and early December, finally ending 52 years of deadly violence. It was not put to a referendum again.
Santos was awarded the 2016 Nobel Peace Prize for "his resolute efforts" to put an end to the civil war in country, which has claimed the lives of at least 260,000 people, left some 60,000 missing and displaced seven million others, according to official figures.
Some 7,000 members of the FARC rebel group are expected to lay down their arms over the next six months under the peace deal.
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Dozens of Boko Haram militants surrender in Niger
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 8:3AM
Dozens of militants with the Takfiri Boko Haram terrorist group have surrendered to Nigerien authorities, less than a week after Nigeria announced that its troops captured the group's last key bastion in the country's northeast.
"Thirty one young people from Diffa, who were enrolled a few years ago in Boko Haram, decided to surrender," Nigerien Interior Minister Bazoum Mohamed said.
The troubled Diffa region, located in the southeasternmost part of Niger, borders Nigeria's volatile Borno State, where Boko Haram hides in the dense Sambisa Forest.
One of the deserters appeared on a Nigerien public television program and recounted why they had decided to give themselves up to local authorities.
"We have deserted Boko Haram because we found that what the organization stands for is not acceptable. We expect a pardon from the government so that we can participate in the development of the country and help us get rid of the trauma," he said.
The Nigerien government has reportedly assured that it will grant an amnesty for all the deserters providing that they undergo a de-radicalization program, after which they will be enrolled in socio-economic reintegration projects.
Back in June, tens of thousands of people were forced to abandon their homes in Diffa as Boko Haram terrorists launched a sweeping offensive across the region, and in September, at least five Nigerien troopers were killed by the terror group near the village of Toumour, about 65 kilometers northeast of Diffa.
Niger has been one of the countries affected by the more than seven years of Boko Haram militancy in Nigeria. The Takfiri terrorist group has routinely launched attacks across Nigerian borders into Niger, Chad and Cameroon.
'Boko Haram likely used Chibok girls as shield'
Also on Wednesday, Major General Lucky Irabor, a Nigerian military commander, speculated that the terrorists, fleeing a major attack on their last stronghold in the Sambisa Forest on Friday, might have used abducted girls as human shields to prevent being hit by warplanes.
Irabor, who was addressing a press conference, showed aerial footage he said was filmed during the operation in the forest, indicating that the terrorists were moving with women and children.
"The haggard militants were just using them as a shield. That is why we did not engage them from the air," Irabor said in the northeastern city of Maiduguri. "We had always believed and hoped that going into the Sambisa would afford us the opportunity to get the remaining Chibok girls. What we can't tell is whether those women we can see were the Chibok girls."
On April 14, 2014, Boko Haram kidnapped 276 girls from their secondary school in the northeastern town of Chibok in Borno. About 80 of the girls managed to escape afterward or were swapped for a number of Boko Harm prisoners, but the fate of the rest remains unknown.
Boko Haram terrorists started their reign of terror in 2009 with the aim of toppling the Nigerian government. In their heyday in early 2015, they managed to control an area in the country's northeast as vast as Belgium but lost most of that territory over the past year as the Nigerian government, along with troops from some affected neighboring countries such as Chad and Cameroon, launched a joint military campaign to eradicate the militant group.
Boko Haram terrorists have so far killed more than 20,000 people and forced over 2.7 million others from their homes.
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At Least Four Soldiers Said Killed In Armenia-Azerbaijan Clash
RFE/RL's Armenian Service December 29, 2016
Officials say at least four soldiers were killed and several others wounded in a border clash between Armenian and Azerbaijani forces early on December 29.
Armenia's Defense Ministry said three of its servicemen were killed and several wounded in a shoot-out prompted by what it described as an infiltration attempt by Azerbaijani troops at the northeastern section of the border between the two South Caucasus countries.
Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry said one of its troops was killed in fighting.
Armenian Defense Ministry spokesman Artsrun Hovannisian wrote on Facebook that sniper rifles and grenade launchers were used in fighting near the Armenian village of Chinari.
Azerbaijan and Armenia have been locked in a conflict over Azerbaijan's breakaway region of Nagorno-Karabakh for years.
Nagorno-Karabakh, populated mainly by ethnic Armenians, declared independence from Azerbaijan during a 1988-94 war that claimed an estimated 30,000 lives and displaced hundreds of thousands of people.
In April, a truce halted four days of fierce fighting in and around Nagorno-Karabakh between Armenia-backed separatists and Azerbaijan's military.
About 75 soldiers were killed in the worst fighting seen in the region since the fragile 1994 cease-fire.
With reporting by AP
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/nagorno-karabakh-armenia- azerbaijan-soldiers-killed/28203932.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Oman, Iran's Closest Gulf Ally, Signals Change By Joining Saudi Alliance
RFE/RL December 29, 2016
Oman, Iran's closest ally in the Persian Gulf region, has signaled that it may be changing course by joining a Saudi-led coalition of Muslim countries fighting terrorism.
Arab news outlets said on December 28 that Oman's defense minister sent a letter to Saudi Arabia's Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman announcing the decision to join the Islamic Military Alliance Against Terrorism.
Gulf sources say the prince will go to Oman in the coming weeks to pave the way for a visit by Saudi King Salman to reestablish security, military, and economic cooperation between the two Gulf neighbors.
Oman's ties with Saudi Arabia have been strained in the past because of its close relationship with Iran, the kingdom's biggest regional rival.
By maintaining good relations with Tehran, the sultanate has previously sought to play the conciliator amid worries that a wider confrontation between the two regional powers could threaten its own stability.
Riyadh formed the Islamic alliance against terror a year ago in a move welcomed by Washington as it encouraged greater regional involvement in the global campaign against Islamic State militants in Iraq and Syria.
The coalition includes neither Tehran nor its allied government in Iraq, though it is not explicitly aimed at countering Iran.
Sunni-ruled Saudi Arabia and Shi'ite-led Iran are on opposite sides of Middle East conflicts from Syria to Lebanon, Iraq, and Yemen. The kingdom suspended ties with Iran last year after its embassy in Tehran was attacked in a protest over the execution of a prominent Shi'ite cleric.
Saudi Arabia's Gulf allies also took diplomatic steps against Tehran, who they accused of fueling Shi'ite dissent throughout the region. But Oman, which sits across the narrow Strait of Hormuz from Iran, did not join that effort to isolate Tehran.
That was in keeping with Oman's role as a regional mediator. It played a critical part in making Iran's recent nuclear agreement with world powers possible by facilitating secret talks with the United States that led to the deal.
While other Gulf Arab countries gave money and political support to Iraqi President Saddam Hussein in his 1980-88 war with Iran, Oman maintained relations with Tehran and helped to mediate a cease-fire that ended the fighting.
Some analysts said Oman may be changing course because it has not seen many benefits recently from maintaining good relations with Iran.
The Arab News, which bills itself as the Middle East's leading English-language daily, said Oman's decision to join the Saudi alliance was a "victory" for Saudi Arabia that heralds "a new chapter in regional and Muslim unity."
A newspaper editorial said the move "will isolate those who have been trying to exploit disunity in regional ranks," in an apparent reference to Iran.
Oman's Foreign Minister Yousef Bin Alawi Bin Abdullah was ambivalent, however, in voicing the nation's current views in an interview with Egypt's Al-Akhbar newspaper published this week.
He said his country "has common interests with everybody, but each country has its own ways of achieving these interests and goals."
With reporting by Bloomberg, Reuters, and Arab News
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/oman-iran-closest -persian-gulf-ally-signals-change-joining-saudi -arabia-alliance-against-terror/28203061.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Oman Joins Saudi-Led Coalition Against Terrorism
Sputnik News
01:12 29.12.2016
Oman has joined the anti-terrorism coalition of Muslim nations led by Saudi Arabia, according to a letter sent to Saudi authorities.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) The letter was sent to Saudi Deputy Crown Prince and Defense Minister Mohammad bin Salman al Saud, the Al Arabiya broadcaster said on Thursday citing Saudi and Gulf sources.
A US-led coalition of over 60 countries has been bombing the positions of the Islamic State (ISIL, also known as Daesh) terrorist group without the approval of the Syrian government since 2014.
In December 2015, a group of 34 Muslim nations from the Middle East, Africa and Asia announced the creation of a new anti-Daesh coalition in a bid to tackle Islamic extremism. The coalition, which now has 40 members, is led by Saudi Arabia.
The Islamic State radical group has ceased vast areas in Syria and Iraq. The group, banned in a wide range of countries, has become notorious for its human rights violations and multiple terrorist attacks staged around the world, including in Europe.
Sputnik
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Somalia: Welcoming new Federal Parliament, Ban urges completion of electoral process
29 December 2016 United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has welcomed the inauguration of the new Federal Parliament of Somalia on 27 December and warmly congratulated the people of Somalia on this historic achievement in their quest for universal suffrage by 2020.
"The successful inauguration of the Parliament marks further progress in ensuring political stability and security in Somalia," said a statement issued overnight by Mr. Ban's spokesman.
The tenth Parliament of Somalia was inaugurated in a ceremony yesterday that saw 283 parliamentarians take an oath of allegiance.
In the statement, the Secretary-General urged the new Parliament to now maintain the momentum by moving swiftly to complete the electoral process, with the election of the Speakers of both houses and the Federal President.
"The Parliament should tackle urgent legislative priorities, including establishing a permanent Constitution of Somalia, in the larger interest of the people of Somalia," the statement added.
Further, the Secretary-General called on the authorities to fill all remaining vacant seats in the Parliament expeditiously, while fulfilling their obligation to ensure that the seats reserved for women are filled by women. He also emphasized that any irregularity, abuse, or malpractice reported by the federal and state electoral bodies should be fully addressed to preserve the credibility of the process.
The Secretary-General commended the hard work of the Somali security forces and the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) in providing a secure environment for the 2016 electoral process in Mogadishu and in the regional capitals, the statement added.
According to the UN Department of Political Affairs, the United Nations has been engaged with Somalia since 1991 to support its Government and people to advance the cause of peace and reconciliation, following two decades of lawlessness and conflict.
The Security Council established the UN Assistance Mission in Somalia (UNSOM) on 3 June 2013 to provide policy advice to the Federal Government and AMISOM in the areas of governance, security sector reform and rule of law, and development of a federal system, including preparations for elections in 2016.
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US: Senior IS Leader Killed in Syria
By VOA News December 29, 2016
U.S. officials say a key leader of Islamic State in its de facto capital of Raqqa, Syria was killed by a coalition airstrike this week, confirming earlier reports.
A statement by the U.S.-led coalition Thursday said Abu Jandal al-Kuwaiti was killed in a strike near near Tabqa Dam on Monday. It said he was a previous member of IS's War Committee.
"Abu Jandal was involved in the use of suicide vehicles, IEDs and chemical weapons against the SDF. Because of his associations with ISIL terror attack planners and War Council members, his death will degrade ISIL's ability to defend Raqqa and launch external operations against the West," the statement said.
The coalition said he also participated in the retaking of Palmyra before sent to Tabqa with the mission to improve Islamic State defenses against the U.S. backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF).
Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which monitors the war, reported Tuesday that al-Kuwaiti was a target by U.S. led coalition aircraft and IS supporters shared on social media that he was dead.
The SDF, a coalition of Kurdish and Arab forces, launched its Raqqa offensive in early November, routing Islamic State fighters from the northern part of the province.
The ongoing offensive consists of two major front lines where SDF units, with the help of U.S. air support, are approaching Raqqa from the west, attempting to encircle the city and cut a highway link between Raqqa and the eastern city of Deir Ezzor, another IS stronghold.
The U.S. recently announced it has assigned another 200 troops to Syria to train and advise local fighters battling IS, joining 300 American fighters already authorized to operate in Syria.
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Kerry: Israeli-Palestinian Two-state Solution in 'Serious Jeopardy'
By VOA News December 29, 2016
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry unveiled broad guidelines Wednesday for an eventual peace deal between Israel and the Palestinians, warning that a two-state solution to the conflict is in "serious jeopardy."
In an hour-long speech at the State Department, Kerry also defended the U.S. decision last week to abstain from a United Nations Security Council resolution that condemned Israeli settlements.
The vote at the U.N. "was about preserving the two-state solution," said Kerry, rejecting criticism that the U.S. was betraying its longtime ally, Israel. "That's what we were standing up for - Israel's future as a Jewish and democratic state." He noted that the vote was "in accordance" with U.S. values.
No major new proposals were included in the six parameters outlined in Kerry's speech. Rather, the address was aimed at preserving the generally agreed upon framework of a two-state solution that has been embraced by the last several U.S. administrations.
Among the principles were a "secure and recognized international border" between Israel and a "viable and contiguous Palestine," as well as an end to Israel's occupation of Palestinian territory. Kerry also said a successful two-state solution must provide a "just, agreed, fair and realistic solution" to the Palestinian refugee crisis, declare Jerusalem as a capital for both states, and satisfy Israel's security needs.
While Kerry stressed that Israel will always be a U.S. ally, he accused Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of allowing Israel to slip into a state of "perpetual occupation."
"Here is the fundamental reality: if the choice is one state, Israel can be either Jewish or democratic, but it cannot be both," said Kerry, warning that the status quo is leading toward an "irreversible one-state reality" that "most people don't actually want."
Backlash
The stern rebuke of Israel, which comes in the final days of Barack Obama's presidency, prompted a fierce backlash from Israeli leaders.
"Like the Security Council resolution that Kerry advanced in the U.N., his speech tonight was skewed against Israel," Netanyahu said in a statement after the speech. "For over an hour, Kerry obsessively dealt with settlements and barely touched upon the root of the conflict - Palestinian opposition to a Jewish state in any boundaries."
In his own statement, Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas reaffirmed his commitment to the two-state solution, saying he is willing to restart peace talks if Israel first agrees to a settlement freeze.
The next step is likely to be determined during the administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has emerged as a staunch ally of Netanyahu.
In a tweet Wednesday, Trump lashed out at the Obama administration for its treatment of Israel.
"We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a good friend in the U.S., but not anymore," Trump said in a tweet, adding: "Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching."
The Israeli-Palestinian issue was a main focus for Kerry when he took the top post at the State Department in February 2013, but years of negotiations, including some intense periods of shuttle diplomacy, have failed to yield an agreement.
One lingering obstacle has been Israel's continued construction of settlements in areas the Palestinians see as part of a future state.
That issue rocketed back to the forefront with last week's U.N. vote.
The U.S. move to abstain from the vote effectively allowed unanimous passage of the resolution.
Israel criticizes US abstention
Netanyahu, who has had a cool relationship with President Obama, has called the resolution "shameful'' and accused the U.S. of playing an active role in its passage.
The prime minister also said he has "incontestible" evidence showing that the U.S. helped craft the resolution and pushed for its passage. U.S. officials have rejected that notion.
Israeli officials also have launched a series of diplomatic retaliatory measures against nations and other organizations who supported the U.N. resolution
However, in a move aimed at cooling tensions, an Israeli committee on Wednesday postponed a planned vote on permits to construct hundreds of new settler homes in occupied East Jerusalem.
Hanan Rubin, a member of the Jerusalem Planning and Housing Committee, said the vote was taken off the agenda for Wednesday at the request of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The proposal involved 492 new homes in the Ramot and Ramat Shlomo neighborhoods located in areas Israel captured during the 1967 war.
Hours later, a Jerusalem municipal panel approved the construction of a separate four-story building for Jewish settlers in a Palestinian neighborhood of Silwan, located in East Jerusalem.
Washington has long said it opposes Israeli settlements, calling them an obstacle to peace, but the U.S. has generally used its Security Council veto to protect Israel from censure.
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New Video: Boko Haram Leader Says Group Is 'Safe' and 'Not Crushed'
By VOA News December 29, 2016
Boko Haram leader Abubakar Shekau has appeared in a video denying Nigerian government claims that the insurgent group has been chased out of its Sambisa forest stronghold.
Shekau said it was recorded on Christmas Day, December 25, but did not say where. He spoke in both Hausa and Arabic.
"We are safe. We have not been flushed out of anywhere. And tactics and strategies cannot reveal our location except if Allah wills by his decree," Shekau said, flanked by armed fighters.
President Muhammadu Buhari said on December 23 that the Nigerian army had captured a Boko Haram camp in the Sambisa forest, one of the jihadist group's last strongholds in the country.
"You should not be telling lies to the people," Shekau said, referring to Buhari's claims.
"If you indeed crushed us, how can you see me like this? How many times have you killed us in your bogus death?" he asked.
Buhari said the capture of Camp Zero marked the "final crushing of Boko Haram terrorists in their last enclave in Sambisa forest" in a statement, following a months-long campaign in the 1,300-square-kilometer forest located in the northeastern Nigerian state of Borno.
The Boko Haram leader also distributed a video in September disputing a claim that he had been wounded in battle by Nigerian military forces.
"Our aim is to establish an Islamic Caliphate and we have our own Caliphate, we are not part of Nigeria," he said.
He also vowed to fight until an Islamic state was imposed in northern Nigeria.
On Tuesday, Brigadier General Victor Ezugwu, an army commander, told the Al Jazeera news channel that his soldiers had made significant gains against Boko Haram.
"We are on top of the situation, all hands are still on deck," Ezugwu told Al Jazeera. "This defeat is final and it [Boko Haram] will not spread to other parts of West Africa."
Boko Haram has stepped up its attacks recently, after a months-long pause in their seven-year uprising that has killed more than 20,000 people. The conflict has triggered a humanitarian crisis.
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South Africa Ruling Party Looks to Zuma's Successor
By Thuso Khumalo December 29, 2016
In South Africa, the next presidential election is still over two years away but the possible candidates are already a hot topic of national debate after the turbulent political ups and downs of the past year.
President Jacob Zuma emerges from 2016 bruised and battered by yet another chain of corruption scandals. He survived an impeachment attempt and a string of motions for a vote of no confidence, and investigations into his conduct continue.
Although Zuma still enjoys support, some both outside and within the party are already talking about his successor as the head of the ruling African National Congress.
The ANC suffered unprecedented losses in local elections in August, losing control of several key cities. The Democratic Alliance (DA) and the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) cut into the ANC support base in those polls.
"There is no longer subject of doubt that Zuma's leadership has actually destroyed the integrity of the ANC. The question now is how long will it take for the ANC to come back from this," says Independent political analyst Ralph Mathekga.
Zuma can't run again in 2019. He will have served his two-term limit. Party rules will not allow him to remain as ANC head either.
A frontrunner to succeed him is his former wife and soon to be ex-African Union Commission chair, Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma. She steps down from the AU post in January. Dlamini-Zuma has strong support in the party's largest province of Kwazulu Natal. However, the opposite camp, largely dominated by the ANC's alliance partners, wants current Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa to take the reins.
Political analyst Karima Brown says both candidates are seen as less tainted than Zuma.
"The factions are basically stacking up. What will be interesting for me is what the combinations are of the top six and it will be interesting to see if Cyril Ramaphosa's availability splits the Kwazulu Natal vote and how that impact the rest of the ANC structure," says Brown.
The ANC has dominated South African politics since the end of apartheid in 1994. The new party leader would still likely be the favorite in the 2019 presidential elections, but it won't be an easy ride.
"First of all, the new leader has to restore credibility of people in government. You have got to restore people's confidence that when wrong-doing happens there will be consequences," says Mathekga. "It doesn't mean the person has to be perfect, has got to come out with perfect policy because there is no such thing. You just need someone who is not interested in being corrupt."
Mathekga warns that a compromise candidate could emerge given the fact that Ramaphosa and Dlamini-Zuma are supported by what looks like opposing factions.
The suspense may not end any time soon. The ANC isn't scheduled to hold the conference where it could elect a new leader until the end of 2017.
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Military Strikes Hit ISIL Terrorists in Syria, Iraq
From a Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve News Release
SOUTHWEST ASIA, Dec. 30, 2016 U.S. and coalition military forces continued to attack Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant terrorists in Syria and Iraq yesterday, Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve officials reported today.
Officials reported details of the latest strikes, noting that assessments of results are based on initial reports.
Strikes in Syria
Attack, fighter and remotely piloted aircraft conducted 10 strikes in Syria:
-- Near Abu Kamal, three strikes destroyed three oil wellheads and an oil tanker truck.
-- Near Shadaddi, a strike suppressed an ISIL tactical unit.
-- Near Raqqah, two strikes engaged two ISIL tactical units, destroying a command-and-control node, a weapons cache and a fighting position.
-- Near Manbij, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed a fighting position.
-- Near Palmyra, three strikes destroyed three ISIL-held artillery systems, a crane, a heavy machine gun and a tank.
Strikes in Iraq
Attack, bomber, fighter, rotary and remotely piloted aircraft, as well as rocket artillery, conducted eight strikes in Iraq, coordinated with and in support of Iraq's government:
-- Near Huwayjah, a strike engaged an ISIL tactical unit and destroyed an ISIL-held building.
-- Near Qaim, three strikes destroyed a vehicle bomb-making facility, a bomb factory and an ISIL-held building.
-- Near Mosul, four strikes engaged an ISIL tactical unit, destroying 11 ISIL-held buildings, five supply caches, three tactical vehicles, two mortar systems, two fighting positions, two vehicle bombs, a tunnel, an observation post, a research lab, a command-and-control node, an up-armored vehicle bomb, two barges and two artillery pieces. Five mortar teams were suppressed, and 20 supply routes and two repeater towers were damaged.
Task force officials define a strike as one or more kinetic events that occur in roughly the same geographic location to produce a single, sometimes cumulative, effect. Therefore, officials explained, a single aircraft delivering a single weapon against a lone ISIL vehicle is one strike, but so is multiple aircraft delivering dozens of weapons against buildings, vehicles and weapon systems in a compound, for example, having the cumulative effect of making those targets harder or impossible for ISIL to use. Accordingly, officials said, they do not report the number or type of aircraft employed in a strike, the number of munitions dropped in each strike, or the number of individual munition impact points against a target. Ground-based artillery fired in counterfire or in fire support to maneuver roles is not classified as a strike.
Part of Operation Inherent Resolve
The strikes were conducted as part of Operation Inherent Resolve, the operation to eliminate the ISIL terrorist group and the threat they pose to Iraq, Syria, and the wider international community. The destruction of ISIL targets in Syria and Iraq further limits the terrorist group's ability to project terror and conduct operations, officials said.
Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Syria include the United States, Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom. Coalition nations that have conducted strikes in Iraq include the United States, Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Jordan, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom.
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Rain or shine, Artillerymen support Mosul counteroffensive
By 1st Lt. Daniel Johnson December 30, 2016
IRAQ -- On Christmas Eve, Soldiers in Staff Sgt. Johnathan Walker's section shiver as freezing rain falls upon their position.
"Fire!" yells Walker as he makes a cutting motion through the rain with his hand. A round leaves the tube of the M777 artillery piece with its trademark boom and smoke, and the artillerymen begin to move again. The sounds of their boots impacting the mud and gravel echo through the gun pit.
It may be the holiday season, but the mission for the Soldiers of Battery C, 1st Battalion, 320th Field Artillery Regiment, Task Force Strike, continues. The Iraqi Security Forces are battling ISIL in Mosul, and the artillerymen are supporting them with indirect fires.
"We provide overmatch capability to the maneuver commander," explained Sgt. 1st Class Scott Young, the platoon sergeant of 2nd Platoon, Battery C, during his rounds of the gun line. "When air support isn't available, either due to weather or not having the assets in the area, we can bring effects onto targets. As long as there is an observer out there, we can shoot."
"Task Force Top Guns" has provided fire support for the Iraqi Security Forces ever since arriving in early May. The battery has fired more than 4,000 rounds in support of their maneuvers.
They're also credited with conducting the first conventional air assault mission during Operation Inherent Resolve, during which they rapidly moved artillery pieces by air to establish a new firing position. At the completion of the fires, the guns were moved back to their starting location.
"We've denied territory so the enemy can't maneuver, obscured friendly movements, and we have precision capability, which is critical in this fight," Young said, pointing in the direction of Mosul to emphasize his point.
"If there is a target in a built-up area, we can hit it while minimizing damage to the surrounding area. We pride ourselves on our accuracy."
RAIN OR SHINE
The rain picks up and a slight fog takes shape in the distance as Walker's crew awaits their next command. The weather has changed in Iraq, and the Soldiers have switched from their summer lightweight combat shirts to multiple layers in an attempt to stave off the wind-chill.
"Fire mission at my command," comes the transmission over the radio, and the artillerymen spring into action, beginning the crew drill to load the artillery piece, just as they have done for the past eight months. The Soldiers move quickly through their tasks, and Walker gives the signal once more. Another boom reverberates in the pit.
"It feels good to know that we're being called on to support the fight and we're having an effect," Walker said, in between missions. During each crew drill, he encourages his men to keep up the effort. "That's the reason why we're out here. We do everything with a sense of urgency and there's no room for mistakes."
Battery C has received multiple calls for fires as the Iraqi Security Forces have moved deeper and deeper into Mosul, the second largest city in Iraq and the site of a major operation with the goal of liberating the city. ISIL has been dug into the city for two years.
"There's a lot more variables in weather like this," said Walker. "People move a little slower, the rounds are slippery, and morale may drop. It's the job of crew chiefs on the line to keep on pushing the sections to complete the mission. Rain or shine, when we get the call, we have to react."
The radio sounds soon after, and the artillerymen are once again called to action.
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National Guard looks back on busy 2016, prepares for 2017
By Tech. Sgt. Erich B. Smith December 30, 2016
ARLINGTON, Va. -- The National Guard saw a busy 2016, meeting challenges both at home and abroad, deploying overseas, responding to large-scale emergencies and natural disasters at home while also taking part in a number of milestone events and transitioning to new roles.
One of those new roles included a change in leadership in September when Air Force Gen. Joseph Lengyel took the helm as the 28th chief of the National Guard Bureau. He took over from Army Gen. Frank J. Grass, who retired after four years as the chief and 46 years of service.
The Air National Guard also saw new leadership, with Air Force Lt. Gen. L. Scott Rice taking the reins from Air Force Lt. Gen. Stanley Clarke III, who retired, and the Army National Guard welcomed Command Sgt. Maj. Christopher Kepner as the 11th sergeant major of the Army Guard.
As he took on the duties of chief, Lengyel emphasized the primary mission of today's National Guard.
"We fight our nation's wars as part of the United States Army and part of the United States Air Force," he said. "Our training for the warfight, our ability to deploy and support it, is our number one role, the number one reason why we exist."
As part of that, approximately 300 Airmen from the Vermont Air National Guard's 158th Fighter Wing deployed late in the year in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, a joint and coalition effort to defeat and destroy ISIS.
"We are excited to generate, execute, and sustain decisive combat airpower," said Air Force Col. David C. Lyons, commander of the 407th Air Expeditionary Group, which oversees the deployed unit.
Army Guard members continued to play key roles overseas in 2016. For the first time since the Korean War, two Army National Guard division headquarters were deployed to a forward location concurrently.
Soldiers from the Texas Army National Guard's 36th Infantry Division deployed to Afghanistan, while more than 450 Soldiers from the Virginia Army National Guard's 29th Infantry Division headed to Kuwait. The 29th ID Soldiers are set to provide oversight and command and control of more than 18,000 service members taking part in a variety of operations throughout the Middle East.
"This is the epitome of the Total Force and displays how the Army National Guard is fully integrated into the Total Force," said Army Maj. Gen. Blake Ortner, the commanding general of the 29th ID, adding that the deployment will see the largest number of troops the division has led since the Second World War.
Numerous other Army and Air Guard units deployed to other locations, took part in large-scale training exercises at the National Training Center or multi-national exercises in Europe and other locations.
Back at home, January saw the East Coast blanketed with snow from winter storm Jonas, prompting governors in 12 states to call out more than 2,200 Guard members to clear snow, assist stranded motorists, provide health and wellness checks and transport first responders and emergency workers.
Later in the month Guard members from the Michigan National Guard responded to the water crisis in Flint, Michigan. With high levels of lead in the city's drinking water, Michigan Guard members distributed bottled water throughout the city.
"This is why I joined the military -- to help people," said Spc. Charles Colwell, a medic with the Michigan Army National Guard's Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry Regiment. Colwell was one of 70 Guard members activated to support water distribution efforts.
Meanwhile, more than 600 Soldiers and Airmen of the Missouri National Guard kicked off the year responding to historic flooding throughout the eastern portion of the state. While on duty, Missouri Guard members supported local authorities by staffing traffic control points, providing evacuation support, filling sandbags and purifying water.
Missouri Guard members weren't the only ones to face flooding during the year. In March, more than 1300 Soldiers and Airmen with the Louisiana National Guard responded to heavy flooding, rescuing more than 4,200 people and 354 pets and assembling emergency levee walls on river banks.
"Anything we can do to save people's businesses and lives, that's what we're here to do," said Army Staff Sgt. Tommy Dunlop, with the Louisiana Army Guard's 844th Engineer Company.
The March flooding was just the start for Louisiana Guard members. A massive, "thousand year" flood from heavy rains affected southern Louisiana in August and saw more than 3,800 Soldiers and Airmen respond. Guard members rescued more than 19,000 citizens and distributed more than 78,000 meals, nearly 500,000 bottles of water and 961,500 sandbags.
The flooding damaged more than 146,000 homes, saw more than 30,000 people leave their homes and was considered by some to be one of the worst U.S. natural disasters since Hurricane Sandy struck New York and New Jersey in 2012.
For some who responded, the large-scale flooding reminded them of Hurricane Katrina.
"It brings me back to when Hurricane Katrina passed in 2005 and I saw the National Guard around in all the neighborhoods," said Army Sgt. Bryan Campo, with the Louisiana Army Guard's 2225th Multi-role Bridge Company. Campo and other members of his unit navigated deep flood waters using boats they typically employ to erect floating bridges used to move units in combat.
"This is one of my proudest moments," he said of taking part in the response.
October saw flooding throughout the Carolinas, Georgia and Florida from Hurricane Matthew. Though the storm stayed offshore, heavy rains resulted in the mobilization of about 6,000 Guard members throughout those states.
For the Florida Guard, it was the first time in close to a decade they responded to a large flood.
"It's been almost 10 years since we've had to do this," said Army Brig. Gen. Ralph Ribas, the joint task force commander for the Florida Guard. "But there's a lot of experience and everyone's going to do what it takes to be successful."
Guard members supported rescue efforts and assisted local law enforcement agencies during the flooding.
While some regions suffered through too much water, a lack of water in other areas meant dry conditions and wildfires.
In September, aircrews from the Nevada Air National Guard's 152nd Airlift Wing battled blazes in Nevada, Oregon and Idaho with C-130 Hercules aircraft equipped with the Modular Airborne Firefighting System. The unit is the newest Air Guard unit to fly the MAFFS mission and saw aircrews fly 142 sorties, dispensing more than 3.5 million pounds of fire retardant and water.
"The actual drops [were] challenging and exhilarating," said Air Force Lt. Col. Tony Machabee, one of the first pilots from the unit to fly the MAFFS mission. "It's a great feeling to see [the] immediate results whether we are dropping a protective line of retardant between the fire and someone's property or dropping it directly on flames leaping from the tops of trees."
In July, historically dry conditions kept California Army National Guard Soldiers busy flying UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters, dropping water on wildfires in the northern part of the state. Members of the Colorado Army National Guard also responded to wildfires near Nederland, Colorado, during the same month. Later in the summer, Soldiers from the South Carolina and Tennessee Army National Guard used Black Hawks and CH-47 Chinook helicopters to drop water on wildfires in eastern Tennessee.
The past year saw continued growth of the National Guard Bureau's State Partnership program, which pairs up National Guard elements with partner nations worldwide. Argentina became the 73rd partner nation in November, teaming up with the Georgia National Guard.
"The SPP allows us to leverage the deep and trusting ties the National Guard has built with a very large group of foreign allies across every combatant command," Lengyel said.
During the year, the Georgia Guard built partnerships in other ways.
Soldiers with the Georgia Army Guard's 48th Infantry Brigade Combat Team were among the first Army Guard units to take part in the Associated Unit program, which integrates active and reserve component units at all levels for training, readiness and deployments. The brigade is aligned with the active component's 3rd Infantry Division, while an infantry battalion from the 3rd ID has been incorporated into the 48th IBCT.
"Much of [the] Army's capacity is resident in the reserve components and we must rely more heavily on them to meet the demands of a complex global environment," said Army Gen. Mark Milley, chief of staff of the Army, referring to the program.
While Soldiers with the 48th IBCT donned the shoulder patch of the 3rd ID, Army Capt. Robert Killian, with the Colorado Army National Guard's B Company, 5th Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, and Army Staff Sgt. Erich Friedlein, with the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, took first place in the Lt. Gen. David E. Grange Jr. Best Ranger Competition, the first time the 33-year-old competition has been won by an Army Guard team.
"It still really hasn't totally sunk in yet," said Friedlein, after finishing the competition. "I'm just really amazed. I can't believe we did it after three days of struggling and just constantly trying to chip away [at the competition for] first place."
Army Guard teams also took first place honors in the Sullivan Cup, which names the best of the best among Army tank crews, the Army's annual best sniper competition and the International Sniper Competition.
The National Guard also expanded cyber capabilities this year with the addition of the 185th Cyber Operations Squadron, an Air National Guard unit based in Joint Base Langley-Eustis, Virginia. The Guard now boasts 40 cyber units in 29 states.
"We are active in nearly every facet of cyberspace operations," said Lengyel. "And we practice our capabilities routinely at all levels."
As the year closed out, Guard members began preparations for the 58th Presidential Inauguration, scheduled for the end January. Guard members from more 40 states, territories and the District of Columbia will be among about 15,000 military service members supporting the event. More than 8,000 Guard members are scheduled to take part in a variety of roles including marching in the inaugural parade and assisting local authorities with crowd control and security assistance.
As Soldiers and Airmen from throughout the Guard look back on the past year, they also stand ready for 2017.
"Although we are proud of our heritage and our past, I am more excited about our future," said Lengyel.
This story was compiled from various reports produced in 2016.
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France hints at plan for 'long' military stay in Chad
Iran Press TV
Fri Dec 30, 2016 6:47AM
Prime Minister Bernard Cazeneuve says French troopers stationed in Chad should "prepare for a long war" against regional militants, in a remark that reveals France's plans for prolonged military presence in its former African colony.
"We must prepare for a long war in an environment that has undergone dramatic shifts," Cazeneuve told French soldiers in Chad, where he arrived for an official visit on Thursday.
In the African country's capital city, N'Djamena, Cazeneuve met with Chadian Prime Minister Albert Pahimi Padacke and President Idriss Deby to discuss security.
"France will always help Chad surmount its difficulties," Cazeneuve said after the meeting with Deby.
This is Cazeneuve's first foreign visit since being appointed prime minister earlier this month.
France has a 4,000-strong contingent in Chad in a declared mission to fight militancy in coordination with the United States.
The so-called Operation Barkhane, which commenced in 2014, aims to combat militant groups across huge swathes of desert land in the Sahel region south of the Sahara Desert. French troops use drones, equipped with cameras and night vision equipment, for reconnaissance flights across the deserts in Mauritania, Mali, Niger, Burkina Faso, and Chad.
Chad is a key Western ally in the region. It became a French colony in 1900 and, despite gaining independence in 1960, remains a close partner of Paris. In the 1970s and 80s, French troops led a crackdown against the Chadian National Liberation Front, or Frolinat, seeking autonomy in the Muslim-dominated north of the country.
Under the pretext of fighting an upsurge in militancy and concerns over global security, France and the US have recently expanded their foothold in the African country.
Chad is rich in gold, uranium and more recently oil. In 2003, a four-billion-dollar pipeline linked its oilfields to terminals on the Atlantic coast for export to Western countries.
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Young Continent, Old Leaders: The Aging Face of African Governance
By Anita Powell December 30, 2016
All 10 of the world's nations with the youngest populations are in Africa, according to United Nations statistics, giving the continent a median age of just under 20 yearsor, roughly half the estimated median age of the United States, (37.9 years according to CIA estimates).
Yet, by latest count, at least eight African leaders have served in office for two decades, with an average age of 72.
"Why is Africa so saddled with leaders who ought to be enjoying their retirement in peace and quiet, instead of in the unforgiving political corridors, campaign trails and taxing political brinkmanship that challenge even the youngest leaders?" asked African politics scholar David Kiwuwa.
Kiwuwa, who teaches international studies at Princeton University, thinks that the willingness of many of the leaders to use violence to quash dissent is one key to their longevity. Kiwuwa, however, says "such leaders still attract reverence and unbridled loyalty from their supporters. Equally, being seen as 'fathers of the nation,' who led independence or liberation struggles, makes them irreproachable, irrespective of their shortcomings, extending their tenure."
The result is that millions of African youth have known only one leader. In many cases, that leader is one who was born before the advent of social media and the internetand, in the case of 92-year-old Robert Mugabe, before the invention of television, electric razors and automatic bread slicers.
One effect is that many youngsters, such as 15-year-old Harare resident Saymore Johns, say they're not inspired to enter public service.
"That's not something that's encouraging the youths," he said. "Because now, some of the youths, some of them want to be president, but then when they know that our president is still there, they won't do anything about it."
In Cameroon, opposition politician Ndansi Elvis is similarly disillusioned. He was born in 1983, the year after Paul Biya became president. Elvis says when the 83-year-old Biya speaks, it would appear that he knows a lot about modernization and digitalization, but in reality cannot keep up with his population.
"When young people use social media to send messages across to him and to let him know that, these are the problems they face, they call social media a weapon of mass destruction," said Elvis. "So that's very contradictory. That shows exactly that this is a president who has lost touch with reality of todayAs to how I feel having one president in my entire life, I would say it's disastrous. I feel like someone who has never experienced democracy. Because democracy, real democracy is when people can actually go to the polls for their leader and actually see the meaning of their vote."
Many of these leaders are still lionized for their roles in bringing independence to their people. Mugabe is the only leader independent Zimbabwe has ever hadsomething that 21-year-old Tavaka Nhikwe finds commendable.
"Thirty-six years. That's a milestone," he said. "I don't think there is any president that has ever done that. That ought to be put in the Guinness Book of World Records. I really love that. Because it's so... exotic."
However, such political tenacity is anything but. Even in African nations that have seen leadership shifts, like Ghana, the new president, Nana Akufo-Addo, ran for the job in 2008 and 2012. Before that, he served as minister of foreign affairs and attorney general.
And it isn't just the victors who have stuck aroundmany notable opposition movements have been led for decades by the same man.
Mozambique's Afonso Dhlakama has led the opposition Renamo since 1979 and runs for president at every contest. Etienne Tshisekedi, opposition leader in the Democratic Republic of Congo, founded his party in 1982, serving as prime minister on three occasions in the 1990s and featuring prominently in several presidential elections. He is 84.
In Uganda, 60-year-old opposition leader Kizza Besigye ran unsuccessfully in the 2001, 2006, 2011 and 2016 presidential elections. He lost every one of those polls to the man who has led Uganda since 1986, Yoweri Museveni. In South Africa, 88-year-old Mangosuthu Buthelezi founded the Inkatha Freedom Party in 1976, helping form South Africa's post-apartheid government in the 1990s, He's remained a fixture in parliament ever since.
Analyst Stephanie Wolters, head of the peace and security research program at the Pretoria, South Africa Institute for Security Studies, says the big names in African politics aren't the problem. The issue, she says, is the lack of strong institutions.
"It is something that really tells us about the kinds of political parties that we have in Africa, which are still very much centered on individuals, on big names, on leaders that have been around for a very, very long time and that haven't really succeeded in building the kinds of structures, whether those are the institutional structures for their own parties and public participation in their parties, or even for succession within their parties," he said. "And I think that's a really big challenge we have on the continent today in terms of the political parties here."
Here are 10 of Africa's oldest and longest-serving leaders:
Equatorial Guinea's Teodoro Obiang Nguema, 74; 37 years in power. Deposed his uncle in a coup in 1979.
Angola's Jose Eduardo dos Santos, 74; 37 years in power. Says he will not stand for the next elections in 2018.
Zimbabwe's Robert Mugabe, 92; 36 years in power. Won his first election in 1980 and was recently chosen as his party's presidential candidate for 2018.
Cameroon's Paul Biya, 83, who has spent 34 years as president, was previously prime minister. He removed term limits in 2008 by changing his nation's constitution.
Uganda's Yoweri Museveni, 72; 30 years as president. Recently won a fifth term in a hotly contested poll.
Swaziland's King Mswati III, 48; 30 years as Africa's last absolute monarch. Took the throne of the landlocked southern African nation at the age of 18 after his father's death.
Sudan's Omar al-Bashir, 72; 27 years in power. Seized power in a 1989 coup.
Chad's Idriss Deby, 64; 26 years in power after taking the helm after the ouster of a dictator. Recently re-elected to a fifth term.
Republic of Congo's Denis Sassou Nguesso, 73; served as president for 19 years, but was also prime minister from 1979 to 1992.
Democratic Republic of Congo's Joseph Kabila, 45; 15 years as president. Took power in 2001 after the assassination of the president, his father. His second presidential term was set to expire Dec. 20, 2016, but he has not set a date for new elections.
Sebastian Mhofu from Harare and Moki Edwin Kindzeka from Yaounde contributed to this report.
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Saddam Hussein
Saddam Hussein was executed 30 December 2006. President Bush called the execution of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein an "important milestone" for Iraq on its path to becoming a democracy that can govern, sustain and defend itself. "Saddam Hussein was executed after receiving a fair trial -- the kind of justice he denied the victims of his brutal regime," Bush said, noting that fair and open trials were "unimaginable" under his regime. We are reminded today of how far the Iraqi people have come since the end of Saddam Hussein's rule, the president said.
Saddam was found guilty by the Iraqi High Tribunal of crimes against humanity for the 1982 killing of approximately 160 men and boys in the Shiite town of Dujayl. The Appellate Chamber of the Iraqi High Tribunal rejected Saddam's appeal on December 26, upholding his conviction and clearing the way for his execution.
Footage broadcast on state television showed an apparently calm Hussein chatting with his masked executioners before the noose was placed around his neck. They wrap a black cloth around his neck, but do not put a hood over his head. The footage did not show the actual hanging.
In Saddam's last moments at the gallows he exchanged angry and sarcastic words with his apparently Shiite executioners. The executioners begin shouting prayers to God and the Prophet Mohammed, then one person calls the name "Moqtada, Moqtada, Moqtada" - a reference to Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr. Saddam then asks them, "Is this manhood?" To which a voice tells him to go "to Hell" and he replies, "You go to Hell!" Saddam, with the noose around his neck, begins to recite the Muslim prayer known as the "Shahada," in which he says "There is no God but Allah and Mohammed is His Messenger." It is during his second recitation of this verse that the trap door opens and the former strongman goes to his death.
The US-based group Human Rights Watch said the trial was "deeply flawed," and condemned Saddam's hanging as "cruel and inhuman," despite his "horrific and widespread human rights violations."
Ten years after the execution of Saddam Hussein the country is stifled by bureaucracy, conflicts and corruption. By 2015 Iraq was ranked 161st out of 168 in the Global Barometer of Corruption established by the NGO Transparency International. And the offensive against the so-called Islamic State has plunged the country into seemingly permanent turmoil with an increase in the number of displaced people.
President of Iraq since 1979 (Vice President from 1968-79), Saddam Hussein [Husayn] was a dictator who stopped at nothing to preserve personal power and regime survival. After the 1968 Ba'athist Coup, he began his career as Chief of Iraq's security services, and he executed opponents and suspected potential rivals, including scores of high-level government officials and thousands of political prisoners. Since the 1970s, he escalated and made routine the systematic torture and execution of political prisoners.
Saddam Hussein ordered the use of chemical weapons against Iranian forces in the 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war, and against Iraq's Kurdish population in 1988. The 1980-88 Iran-Iraq war left 150,000 to 340,000 Iraqis and 450,000 to 730,000 Iranians dead. Saddam Hussein ordered the invasion and destruction of Kuwait in 1990-91 with 1,000 Kuwaitis killed. Directed the 1991 bloody suppression of Kurdish and Shi'a insurgencies in northern and southern Iraq with at least 30,000 to 60,000 killed. he later ordered the destruction of southern marshes to extinguish the Shi'a insurgency.
Saddam was born in 1937, and reared in a mud hut near Tikrit, north of Baghdad. From the age of ten, Saddam was reared by an uncle, who encouraged him to dream of becoming a nationalist Arab hero, like Saladin. The chief influences during Hussein's childhood and teenage years were his mother and his uncle Khairullah Tulfah. Tulfah, an Iraqi army officer who introduced Hussein to the evils of colonialism in Iraq, was imprisoned by the British for his activism against the English-backed monarchy of King Feisal I.
The Baath (renaissance) Party, which Muslim Salah Bitar and Christian Michel Aflaq originally established, became a vehicle for Hussein. He became an enforcer for the party, and like Joseph Stalin, who fascinated Hussein, he left the intellectuals behind and climbed the ladder of Iraq politics, using a combination of intimidation, fear, nepotism, and outright murder.
In 1958, Feisal's monarchy came to a bloody end, and General Adel Karim Kasim took power. A year later, Hussein participated in a failed attempt on Kasim's life. Hussein was exiled to Egypt, where he became enamored of President Gamal abd-al-Nasser, who espoused Arab nationalism. Hussein was also instrumental in organizing Baath cells at the University of Cairo. In 1963, General Abdel-Rahman Arif overthrew Kasim, and the Baaths were in power.
By 1968 close family and tribal ties bound the Baath's ruling clique. Most notable in this regard was the emergence of Tikritis -- Sunni Arabs from the northwest town of Tikrit -- related to Ahmad Hasan al Bakr. Three of the five members of the Baath's Revolutionary Command Council (RCC) were Tikritis; two, Bakr and Hammad Shihab, were related to each other. The cabinet posts of president, prime minister, and defense minister went to Tikritis. Saddam Hussein [Husayn], a key leader behind the scenes, also was a Tikriti and a relative of Bakr. Less than two months after the formation of the Bakr government in 1968, a coalition of pro-Nasser elements, Arif supporters, and conservatives from the military attempted another coup. This event provided the rationale for numerous purges directed by Bakr and Saddam Husayn.
Saddam Hussein was a consummate party politician whose formative experiences were in organizing clandestine opposition activity. He was adept at outmaneuvering -- and at times ruthlessly eliminating -- political opponents. Although Bakr was the older and more prestigious of the two, by 1969 Saddam Hussein clearly had become the moving force behind the party. He personally directed Baathist attempts to settle the Kurdish question and he organized the party's institutional structure. Hussein was put into control of the internal security apparatus, and within a decade, he had created a police state within Iraq that was so oppressive that it has often received criticism from moderate Arab states. Between 1968 and 1973, through a series of sham trials, executions, assassinations, and intimidations, the party ruthlessly eliminated any group or person suspected of challenging Baath rule.
Despite Baath attempts to institutionalize its rule, real power remained in the hands of a narrowly based elite, united by close family and tribal ties. By 1977 the most powerful men in the Baath thus were all somehow related to the triumvirate of Saddam Hussein, Bakr, and General Adnan Khayr Allah Talfah, Saddam Hussein's brother-in-law who became minister of defense in 1978. All were members of the party, the RCC, and the cabinet, and all were members of the Talfah family of Tikrit, headed by Khayr Allah Talfah. Khayr Allah Talfah was Saddam Hussein's uncle and guardian, Adnan Khayr Allah's father, and Bakr's cousin. Saddam Hussein was married to Adnan Khayr Allah's sister and Adnan Khayr Allah was married to Bakr's daughter. Increasingly, the most sensitive military posts were going to the Tikritis.
Beginning in the mid-1970s, Bakr was beset by illness and by a series of family tragedies. He increasingly turned over power to Saddam Husayn. By 1977 the party bureaus, the intelligence mechanisms, and even ministers who, according to the Provisional Constitution, should have reported to Bakr, reported to Saddam Hussein. Saddam Hussein, meanwhile, was less inclined to share power, and he viewed the cabinet and the RCC as rubber stamps. On July 16, 1979, President Bakr resigned, and Saddam Hussein officially replaced him as president of the republic, secretary general of the Baath Party Regional Command, chairman of the RCC, and commander in chief of the armed forces. On July 17, 1979, he was promoted to the rank of Field Marshal.
Saddam had been married to the same woman, former schoolteacher Sajida, since 1958. She was described as a first cousin, not unusual for Mideast marriages of that era. They had five children, three daughters and two sons.
Saddam Hussein was captured by forces from the 4th Infantry Division, coalition forces and special operations forces at approximately 8 p.m. local time on December 13, 2003, in a remote farm house near Tikrit, Iraq.
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FSB arrests suspected Daesh-linked terrorists planning attacks
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 3:34PM
Russia's domestic security agency says its forces have taken into custody several suspected Daesh-linked terrorists, who were planning to carry out terror attacks around the capital, Moscow.
The Federal Security Service (FSB) said on Thursday that its forces had arrested seven suspects in the North Caucasus province of Dagestan.
The FSB said the suspects had been preparing to carry out terrorist attacks using automatic weapons and explosive devices in crowded places of Moscow during New Year holidays.
They were plotting "a series of high-profile terrorist actions" in the Moscow region on the direct orders of a senior Daesh commander in Syria.
This is the latest in a series of counterterrorism operations by Russian security forces which have foiled potential terrorist attacks in the capital as well as Saint Petersburg
Dagestan terrorists have a record of carrying out such attacks on Russian police forces and government officials.
Some of the extremist militants in the restive North Caucasus region have sworn allegiance to Daesh, mainly active in Iraq and Syria.
The Dagestan region and neighboring ex-Soviet Chechnya have been major breeding ground for Takfiri terrorists who travel to Syria and Iraq to join the ranks of Daesh and other terrorist groups.
Russian officials say thousands of citizens of Russia and other ex-Soviet countries have joined the ranks of Daesh.
For its part, Daesh claimed it had established a Vilayat Kavkaz militants' state in Russia.
FSB led a special operation in Talgi, near the southern city of Makhachkala in early December, killing the leader of the Kavkaz franchise, Rustam Aselderov, and several others.
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Trump dismisses talk of imposing sanctions against Russia
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 5:26AM
US President-elect Donald Trump has turned down talk of imposing sanctions against Russia in response to Moscow's alleged interference in the November 8 election.
Talking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Wednesday night, Trump downplayed the allegations of Russian intervention in the election and stressed the need to move forward.
"I think we ought to get on with our lives," Trump told reporters.
"I think the computers have complicated lives very greatly. The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what's going on," he said.
"We have speed, we have a lot of other things, but I'm not sure we have the kind of security that we need," he added.
Trump said he has not discussed the issue of sanctions with senators yet but that he "certainly will be [discussing] over a period of time."
The administration of President Barack Obama has repeatedly claimed that the hacking attacks weeks before the election against some Democratic organizations were carried out by Russia as part of Moscow's plan to interfere in the election process in order to sway the vote in Trump's favor, a claim that has been rejected by Moscow.
According to Obama, US intelligence agencies are in possession of evidence that shows Russian President Vladimir Putin supervised the hacking, which targeted the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and John Podesta, a top aide to defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Several American senators have called on the government to slap sanctions against Russia for its alleged meddling in the election.
'I don't know what Sen. Graham is doing'
Republican Senator Lindsey Graham said on Wednesday that Moscow needed to understand it had gone too far during the election, and that new sanctions would target Russian president. "It is now time for Russia to understand enough is enough."
In addition, Graham told CNN on Tuesday that "there are 100 United States senators... I would say that 99 percent of us believe that the Russians did this, and we're going to do something about it."
"We're going to have the hearings. We're going to put sanctions together that hit Putin as an individual and his inner circle for interfering in our election," he said.
Of speaking with Graham, Trump said, "I don't know what he's doing. I haven't spoken to Sen. Graham. As you know, he ran against me."
US likely to announce Russia sanctions today
According to reports, the Obama administration is expected to announce what it calls retaliatory actions against Russia on Thursday.
The measures are to be introduced despite warnings by Moscow against more US sanctions. Apart from the sanctions, which involve naming Russian individuals associated with the hacking, purportedly covert cyber attacks are also on Obama's agenda.
Meanwhile, Moscow has vowed retaliation if Washington issues further economic sanctions over alleged Russian cyber attacks.
"To be honest, we are tired of the lie about the 'Russian hackers', which is being poured down in the United States from the very top," Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Wednesday.
She warned that the country would respond to any manner of "hostile steps" the US decides to undertake.
Economic sanctions against Moscow were originally introduced in March 2014, after Ukraine's strategic Black Sea peninsula of Crimea joined Russia following a referendum. Since then, the EU, the US and some other Western countries have imposed several rounds of sanctions against Russia.
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Obama orders sanctions on Russia over alleged election interference
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 8:33PM
The United States has announced a series of economic sanctions against Russia over allegations that it interfered in the 2016 presidential election through cyber attacks.
"I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election," outgoing President Barack Obama said on Thursday.
"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm US interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," he added.
According to statements from the White House and the Treasury Department, the sanctions target Russia's FSB and GRU intelligence agencies, four individual GRU officers, and three companies who allegedly provided support to the GRU, and two Russian individuals for using cyberattacks to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information.
Under Thursday's actions, the US also shut down of two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that the United States says are used "for intelligence-related purposes."
In addition, Obama announced that the State Department will expel 35 Russian diplomats, declaring them as "persona non grata".
The diplomats are based out of the Russian embassy in Washington, DC, and the Russian consulate in San Francisco. They have been ordered to leave the US within 72 hours along with their families.
To impose the sanctions, Obama expanded the scope of a 2015 executive order giving the president the authority to punish foreign actors involved in cyberattacks against the country.
The US president also announced that the Department of Homeland Security and FBI will declassify "technical information on Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity" to help networks defend against "Russia's global campaign of malicious cyber activities."
In another unprecedented announcement, Obama said the United States will carry out some covert operations to hurt Russia.
"These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities," Obama said. "We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicized."
The White House said in a statement that there was the consensus from the US Intelligence Community that Russia's intervention in US elections via cyberhacking as "unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
"Russia's cyberactivities were intended to influence the election, erode faith in US democratic institutions, sow doubt about the integrity of our electoral process, and undermine confidence in the institutions of the US government," the statement said. "These actions are unacceptable and will not be tolerated."
The Obama administration has repeatedly claimed that the hacking attacks weeks before the election against some Democratic organizations were carried out by Russia as part of Moscow's plan to interfere in the election process in order to sway the vote in President-elect Donald Trump's favor, a claim that has been rejected by Moscow.
According to Obama, US intelligence agencies are in possession of evidence that shows Russian President Vladimir Putin supervised the hacking, which targeted the Democratic National Committee (DNC) and John Podesta, a top aide to defeated Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton.
Graham, McCain, Ryan hail Obama's move
Several American lawmakers, including Republican Senators Lindsey Graham and John McCain, have called on the government to impose sanctions against Russia for its alleged meddling in the election.
They said in a joint statement that the sanctions were "overdue" yet "a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy."
The Republican senators also said that they "intend to lead the effort in the new Congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia."
In a statement released shortly after the announcement of sanctions, Republican House Speaker Paul Ryan described the Obama administration's response an "overdue" yet "appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia."
"Russia does not share America's interests," the statement said. "In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, sowing dangerous instability around the world."
A spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Moscow would consider retaliating to the sanctions.
President-elect Trump has repeatedly called for better relations with Moscow. He has rejected claims that Russian intelligence agencies were responsible for the alleged hacking.
Talking to reporters at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Wednesday night, Trump downplayed the allegations of Russian intervention in the election and stressed the need to move forward. He also turned down talk of imposing sanctions against Russia.
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U.S. Expected To Announce Measures Against Russia Over Election Hacking
RFE/RL December 29, 2016
U.S. media report that the United States will soon announce retaliatory measures against Russia for allegedly leaking hacked U.S. Democratic e-mails during the presidential campaign in what the CIA and others believe was an effort to help Donald Trump win the election.
The measures could include targeted economic sanctions, indictments of known hackers, restrictions on Russian diplomats, as well as covert leaks of embarrassing information about Russian officials, media outlets including Reuters and The Washington Post reported, citing unidentified U.S. officials.
Some reports said an announcement is expected on December 29.
Officials said the moves will be on par with Russia's own alleged hacking ventures so as to avoid the possibility of a cyberconflict spinning out of control.
The FBI, CIA, and the Office of Director of National Intelligence agree that Russia was behind the hacking into the U.S. Democratic Party organizations ahead of the November 8 presidential election.
The CIA has concluded the hacks and leaks were aimed to help Trump, a Republican, defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton.
President-elect Trump has suggested he doubts Russia interfered, despite the broad agreement in the U.S. intelligence community that it did.
Republican Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham, and Democrat Amy Klobuchar, who are on a trip to the Baltic states, Ukraine, Georgia, and Montenegro, said that Russia should expect a tough U.S. response over the hacking.
Graham said on December 28 that "bipartisan sanctions...will hit Russia hard, particularly Putin as an individual."
"I would say that 99 of [the 100 U.S. senators] believe the Russians did this and we're going to do something about it," Graham said.
He said that Russia "is trying to break the back of democracies all around the world."
"It is now time for Russia to understand -- enough is enough," Graham told reporters.
Trump seemed to suggest the United States should not impose new sanctions on Russia. Asked about Graham's remarks, he told reporters: "I think we ought to get on with our lives."
President Barack Obama said recently that "we need to take action and we will" against Russia for interfering in the U.S. election.
According to the Reuters news agency, Obama may choose to invoke an April 2015 executive order that empowered him to impose sanctions in response to cyberattacks perpetrated by foreign groups targeting U.S. infrastructure or done for economic purposes.
Reuters quoted an unnamed U.S. government official as saying one option would be leaking material on Russian officials or actions that Washington already has obtained in a way that would "parallel what the Russians did, but be impossible to prove."
According to Reuters, another option would be new, tougher economic sanctions against Russia. Washington has already imposed sanctions on Moscow over its seziure of Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 and its involvement in the war between pro-Russia separatists and Ukrainian government forces, which has killed more than 9,750 people since the conflict began in eastern Ukraine in April 2014.
However, according to Peter Harrell, a former senior State Department official, Washington is still unlikely to impose blanket embargoes against Russia because of the danger it could harm the economies of Western Europe.
Harrell, who worked on sanctions policy, said the United States may instead target specific Russian intelligence officials or military divisions believed to be involved in the cyberintrusions.
"The Russian defense sector would be fair game," Reuters quoted Harrell as saying.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, asked about reports of U.S. retaliation, said on December 28 that Russia would respond in kind to any measures announced by the White House.
Based on reporting by Reuters, MSNBC, The Washington Post, CNN, BBC, and AFP
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/us-said-ready- announce-measures-retaliating-russian-hacking-november- election-trump-obama/28203108.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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U.S. Expels 35 Russian Diplomats, Announces New Sanctions For Alleged Hacking
Mike Eckel December 29, 2016
The United States says it is expelling nearly three dozen Russian diplomats as it announced new economic sanctions and other punitive measures in response to alleged Russian hacking during the presidential election.
The moves, announced on December 29 by the White House, had been widely publicized ahead of time, including by President Barack Obama in an interview earlier this month.
But the moves also come less than a month before Obama leaves office and his successor, Donald Trump, assumes the presidency. Trump has repeatedly brushed aside intelligence assessments and White House statements about the alleged Russian hacking, raising the question about whether the new sanctions will remain in place after his inauguration on January 20.
A White House statement said two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York, believed to be involved in intelligence gathering, were ordered closed, and 35 Russians, identified as intelligence operatives, were being expelled from the country.
Additionally, nine top officials and entities associated with the Russian military intelligence agency, the GRU, and the main Russian security agency, the FSB, were being hit with new financial and travel sanctions.
A senior U.S. administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the four GRU officials were directly involved in computer hacking, including that of U.S. political parties. Three companies hit with sanctions provided "material support" to GRU hacking efforts, the official said.
"These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicized," Obama said in a statement.
The Kremlin has repeatedly denied it was behind any computer intrusions of U.S. political parties or e-mail systems, though President Vladimir Putin has also made cryptic comments suggesting possible involvement of Russian officials.
Responding to the White House announcement on December 29, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told news agencies that Moscow regretted the new measures, calling them unlawful and saying they would "destroy diplomatic relations with Russia."
Russia Accused Of Backing Trump Over Clinton
The CIA, the FBI, and the broader U.S. intelligence community have concluded that hackers, likely operating with the authority of the highest levels of the Russian government, broke into Internet servers and e-mail accounts belonging to the U.S. Democratic Party, and other officials during the election campaign.
On December 9, The Washington Post reported that the CIA had determined the intent of the Russia hackers was to help Trump win the presidency, not just to undermine confidence in the U.S. electoral system.
The New York Times also reported that intelligence officials had concluded Russian hackers accessed Republican Party computers but didn't release potentially damaging e-mails or other materials.
That led analysts to conclude that the intent of the Russian hacking was to in fact help propel Trump to the White House. He ultimately prevailed in the November 8 election, defeating Democrat Hillary Clinton.
Those conclusions have been repeatedly dismissed by Trump, most recently on December 28, in remarks at his estate in Palm Beach, Florida.
"I think we ought to get on with our lives. I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly. The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what is going on. We have speed, we have a lot of other things, but I'm not sure we have the kind of security we need," Trump told reporters.
In a December 11 television interview, he asserted that the CIA conclusions were being used by Democrats to undermine his electoral victory.
But Trump has also faced growing pressure in Congress, including by top Republican lawmakers, who have called for a full inquiry into the extent of Russian hacking.
At least three separate Senate committees are slated to launch investigations in January.
Administration officials indicated the targeting of the 35 Russian diplomats, whom the White House identified as intelligence officers, was partly in response as well to what they said was sustained harassment against U.S. diplomats in Russia.
Those U.S. complaints have been mounting for months now, what one administration official called "behavior unprecedented in the post-Cold War era."
In conjunction with the new measures, the Department of Homeland Security released a new report detailing some of the Russian hacking, which included not only state electoral databases but other "critical infrastructure."
"To be very clear here, they have been interfering in the American democratic process and the conduct of American diplomacy, this should be of concern to all Americans and members of both parties," one administration official said.
In addition to punishing Russian activities, U.S. officials said the new measures were aimed at deterring future activity, in the United States and in what they said were U.S. allies.
"Russia is not going to stop. We have every indication that they will continue to interfere in democratic elections in other countries," the official said.
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/us-russia-new- sanctions-over-hacking/28204378.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Obama Hits Russia With New Sanctions
By VOA News December 29, 2016
The Obama administration has hit Russia with new sanctions in response to Moscow's alleged hacking and interference in the November U.S. presidential elections.
"Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election," President Barack Obama said in a statement. "These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior."
The sanctions include the president's order for 35 Russian intelligence operatives to leave the United States within 72 hours, and penalties on Russia's two leading intelligence services.
The Obama administration would like the sanctions to be in place before the president leaves office January 20.
Russian response
The Russian Foreign Ministry is condemning the sanctions.
"To be honest, we are already tired of the lies about 'Russian hackers' which continue to emanate from the very top of the U.S. [government]," said a statement issued Wednesday by the ministry's spokesperson, Maria Zakharova.
"The Obama administration has launched this disinformation [campaign] half a year ago in an attempt to give a boost to its preferred candidate in the November presidential elections, and not having achieved the result it was seeking, it is looking for an excuse for its own failure, thus dealing a double blow to Russian-American relations," the statement added.
Even if new sanctions are successfully imposed, it remains unclear whether they would be maintained by the administration of President-elect Donald Trump after he takes office.
Trump team comments
Trump's press secretary Sean Spicer called for proof that Russia interfered in the election.
"A lot of folks on the left that continue to undermine the legitimacy of his [Trump's election] win; that's unfortunate," Spicer said Thursday. "If the U.S. has clear proof of anybody interfering in our elections, we should make that known."
Prominent Republican U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham insists Russia did interfere in the recent U.S. presidential election, and said Moscow can expect hard-hitting sanctions.
He said Wednesday the U.S. Congress in 2017 will investigate Russia's involvement in the November 8 election.
"I expect there will be bipartisan sanctions coming that will hit Russia hard, particularly [President Vladimir] Putin as an individual," Graham said, without elaborating. "It is now time for Russia to understand enough is enough."
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China Surprises India as It Defends Pak-Based Militant Chief at UN
Sputnik News
17:30 30.12.2016
Despite promising joint efforts to weed out terrorism from the region, China has backed Pakistan at the UN to prevent Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar being designated a terrorist.
New Delhi (Sputnik) India has expressed concern over China's block on an Indian request at the UN to designate Pakistan based group Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as terrorist. India blames the JeM for innumerable terrorist attacks on India including the Pathankot air base attack.
"The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism," read a statement released by Ministry of External Affairs.
Since April this year, China has blocked India's request to add Azhar to the UN Al Qaeda-Daesh blacklist on a temporary basis. Beijing has wielded its veto which means India could not push forward the proposal further to designate Masood Azhar a terrorist. It may be noted that UNSC has blacklisted Jaish-e-Mohammed but not its leader, Maulana Masood Azhar.
However, India says that it will continue pursue the naming of Masood Azhar through all other options available under UN rules.
India and China had held talks on the issue of Masood Azhar several times but failed to reach a consensus while Beijing keeps telling India that there should be no double standards on counter-terrorism, nor should one pursue own political gains in the name of counter-terrorism
Sputnik
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China to Launch Stringent New Anti-corruption System in Beijing, Two Other Provinces
By Joyce Huang December 29, 2016
China says it will soon launch a powerful anti-corruption system in the capital city of Beijing and the provinces of Shanxi and Zhejiang.
Officials say the new scheme is designed to be more independent, with supervision commissions to oversee public officeholders, including within the judicial system.
Some observers praise the establishment of the new scheme, calling it a positive step toward a more integrated and autonomous watchdog system. Others doubt if the commission can be independent of the party and worry that with its expansive powers it may lead to more corruption.
"In China, almost more than 98 percent of comrade leaders or public officeholders are [Communist] party members. So, it's common in China that the party always overrides the government to have a full grip on power," Liao Ran, senior program coordinator of Transparency International, told VOA.
The new scheme has more to do with the party's continued rule in China than Chinese President Xi Jinping's own grip of power, the Oslo, Norway-based observer added, dismissing concerns that the move was connected to power struggles within the party.
State supervisory reform
The National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee on Sunday approved a pilot reform program to centralize the nation's supervisory bodies in a bid to step up the nation's efforts to counter deep-seated graft.
Under the program, supervisory commissions will be established at both the central and provincial level that will report to the NPC. They will run independently from the central and local governments, the judicial and the procuratorate branches to provide a check on public office holders nationwide.
The commissions, whose chairperson and deputies will be appointed by the NPC and their respective local chapters, are further designed to integrate the power and duties of the government's existing anti-graft agencies, including the supervision department and the corruption prevention department.
They will be charged with investigating and punishing bribery, dereliction of duty and prevention of duty-related crimes by those on government payrolls, while transferring cases involving suspected criminal offenses to prosecutors for further court trials, according to state media Xinhua News.
The pilot program will be put to a test in Beijing and the provinces of Shanxi and Zhejiang first before a national rollout.
Expansive powers
With expanded power, the status of the new anti-graft institution will rise in the political hierarchy and enjoy the same legal footing as the government. That, by design, will make it more independent, said Ho Bing, a law professor at China University of Political Science and Law.
"The former design put the supervision department under the government, which wasn't given enough autonomy," Ho said, "The new design will heighten the newly created supervision committees' level of independence, which, in a way, puts the [government's] anti-graft work on the right track."
The professor, however, warned of potential conflicts between the commission and the court, as the new body will be charged with censuring corrupt court officials, whose criminal offenses will then be tried in the court.
"The future relation between the commission and the court is hinged on the independence of judges or how to safeguard the impartiality of judges. Both the impartiality of judges and supervision committee should be upheld, which may lead to conflict," the professor added.
Transparency International's Liao Ran, in addition, argued that because the new supervisory system is under the NPC's monitor it may bend easier to the will of party-elected members, who often serve to ratify decisions handed down by the state.
"China's NPC has long been known as a rubber-stamp [parliament]. The parliament, which has no solid power, is now asked to supervise a [government] watchdog. So, how effective the commission will be remains to be seen," he added.
More corruption?
Lu Liangbiao, a lawyer with Dacheng Law Office in Beijing, described the new plan to tackle corruption as "a risky move" and questioned the new body's check-and-balance of powers.
Lu wrote Wednesday on his WeChat micromessaging account that the new mechanism, deeply imbedded within the power structure, is like "shooing away flies on a pile of dung" and may lead to more corruption given the new scheme's expansive powers.
He concluded that any efforts to counter graft will only succeed in a full-fledged democracy where the rule of law is respected, the judiciary system runs independently and the general public's participation is guaranteed along with the free press and sound elected representation.
In contrast, the ruling Communist party said the country's fight against corruption has gained "crushing momentum" and huge progress has been achieved, with no let up expected in 2017, state media Xinhua News reported late Wednesday, following a meeting of the party's Politburo, chaired by Xi.
Since coming to power in 2012, Xi has waged war against deep-rooted graft, a problem he warned could affect the party's long-term grip on power
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Chinese Carrier Moves Ahead Following Year of Increased Activity in South China Sea
By Steve Miller December 30, 2016
Chinese warships, led by the country's first aircraft carrier, the Soviet-built Liaoning, sailed past Taiwan and into the South China Sea earlier this week. It was a move that caught the attention of both Taiwan and Japan, who closely observed the six-vessel group.
"China is developing a regional military capability," said Brad Glosserman, security analyst at Pacific Forum. "The Chinese believe that they need to have the capacity and the ability to protect their interests as they become increasingly far flung. They see that a power that aspires to the status it has, will have the a fully fledged military... they're going to go from a green water, in other words a close-water navy, to blue water, which is one capable of sailing in the oceans."
Glosserman says part of that progression is possessing an aircraft carrier, and he says the world may be "very quick to tie it to other developments, and I think that we should look at this as something that China is going to do regardless."
Dismissive reaction
In July 2016, the Permanent Court of Arbitration ruled against China's land reclamation efforts in the South China Sea. Beijing dismissed the court's award to Manila saying it didn't have the requisite jurisdiction.
Paul Reichler, the lead attorney for the Philippines in the case, told VOA then, "I have heard what they have said and what they have said for the past several months. The full weight of the responsibility that China has taken upon itself to set itself outside and above the law has not yet come to bear on China."
The lack of consequences also might have contributed to Beijing's further development of reefs in the South China Sea. The Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative noted China had built "significant point-defense capabilities, in the form of large anti-aircraft guns and probable close-in weapons systems" on seven reefs it controls in the Spratly chain.
'Limited options'
Speaking to VOA in August, Greg Poling, the Director of the Asia Maritime Transparency Initiative, forecast these events.
"Ultimately we have limited options. If China is absolutely committed to this strategy - no matter the diplomatic cost - then it's hard to see what the international community or those most involved, like U. S. and Japan, can do," said Poling.
Poling said countries might try to deter China, but ultimately it was a long-term issue and one in which it was hoped that Beijing eventually would realize that great powers don't act outside the law.
And that, Glosserman says, is the most troubling aspect of Beijing's actions because it's "painfully obvious and it is [Beijing's] unwillingness to just be forthright about the capabilities that it is developing [and] its refusal to just acknowledge what it has... builds real distrust."
Victor Beattie contributed to this report.
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Iran has broken grandeur of hegemonic powers: IRGC deputy commander
IRNA - Islamic Republic News Agency
Karaj, Dec 29, IRNA -- Deputy Commander of Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) Brigadier-General Hossein Salami said on Thursday that Iran has broken grandeur of the hegemonic powers.
He made the remarks in a ceremony to mark anniversary of a nationwide rally in support of the outcome of the presidential election in 2009 bringing to office for the second term the former president.
Salami said that regional issues will never be solved, because Iran is an effective neighboring states in the Middle East opposed to the bullying powers.
He said that the Islamic Republic of Iran is the vanguard of international campaign against terrorism and that Islam is spreading across the world and world's big powers have knelt down before the Islamic countries' fighters, he said.
While flames of conflict are spreading in the Middle East, the Iranian nation enjoys full security and peace, Salami said.
Salami said that those who declared vote-rigging in the presidential election in 2009 were the seditionists aiming to undermine the youth belief, but the Iranian nation nipped the plot in the bud.
Noting that the Iranian nation has suffered big ulcers from the US and Britain, Salami said that Iranian nation's foresightedness will never allow the enemies' dreams to come true.
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Iraqi troops geared for fresh east Mosul offensive
Iran Press TV
Wed Dec 28, 2016 10:37PM
Iraqi forces are gearing up for a three-pronged attacked against Daesh terrorists in the city of Mosul following a two-week lull in their anti-terror operations, says a high-ranking Iraqi commander.
The commander of Iraq's counterterrorism forces in eastern Mosul, Lieutenant General Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, made the announcement in an interview published by the Associated Press on Wednesday.
He noted that federal police units have joined units from the military's 9th Division located to the southeast of Mosul and that forces have taken positions alongside units from the army's 16th Division on city's northern side.
Saadi refrained from giving the exact date for the advance but noted that it would begin over the next few days if weather conditions are suitable.
Since the operations to retake the city began, the counterterrorism forces have liberated a large number of neighborhoods in eastern Mosul and have reached within less than three kilometers of the Tigris River, which divides the city into two main parts.
The Iraqi commander noted that since the beginning of the operations, the terrorists have launched over 900 car bombings, 260 of which targeted his men.
"Daesh has by now realized that the battle is in the eastern sector of Mosul, and that's where most of its forces are," he added.
He went on to deny reports that the lull in the anti-terror operations was caused by a high number of casualties among his men.
"We have sustained casualties, but not much," he said, noting that the operations had slowed down to permit the arrival of reinforcement.
Saadi also went on to explain that the large number of civilians renaming in the city was the reason for the operation's slow progress.
"Daesh snipers shoot at us from the rooftops of homes occupied by families. We can only use light arms against them so as not to hurt the civilians," he added. "They fire from side streets lined by homes. Again, we can only use light arms."
On October 17, Iraqi army troops and allied fighters launched a long-awaited offensive to retake the northern Iraqi city of Mosul that fell to Daesh in 2014.
Defeating Daesh in Mosul would be a crushing blow to the Takfiri group that began its campaign of terror in northern and western Iraq more than two years ago.
On Tuesday, Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said that the Iraqi forces needed three months to completely destroy Daesh.
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Iraqi forces launch fresh offensive to retake Mosul
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 9:58AM
Iraqi troops have launched the second phase of a major operation to retake Mosul from Daesh terrorists, pushing deeper into eastern Mosul in a multi-pronged assault after a two-week lull.
Special forces on Thursday advanced into the Karama and Quds neighborhoods, while army troops and federal police gained ground in nearby Intisar, Salam and Sumor neighborhoods.
"This is the second phase of the operation to liberate Mosul conducted by the special forces, the federal police and us on this front," General Nejm Jabouri, a senior army commander, told Reuters.
Army troops and allied fighters launched the long-awaited offensive to retake Mosul nine weeks ago. Since then, they have retaken a quarter of the city but their advance has been slow in the face of fierce Daesh resistance.
The battle for Mosul involves 100,000 Iraqi troops, members of the Kurdish security forces and Shia volunteers and is the biggest ground operation in Iraq since the US invasion of the country in 2003.
Daesh terrorists, who took the city in 2014 when they overran large areas north and west of Baghdad, have executed scores of residents in recent weeks, accusing them of collaboration with government troops.
The militants are currently isolated inside the eastern bank of Mosul, military spokesman Yahia Rassol told state television on Thursday.
"In the coming days, Iraqi forces will liberate the entire left bank of Mosul and after that we will tackle the right," he said.
A senior officer said counter-terrorism forces are now less than three kilometers from the Tigris River which slices the city in half. The elite force is conducting the major part of the operation inside Mosul, with other troops remaining outside the city so far.
The operation for liberation of Mosul was initially scheduled to end by the end of 2016 but Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi said Tuesday it would take another three months to retake the city.
The troops have faced grueling urban fighting, often house to house against Daesh militants. Even in districts that have been recaptured, Iraqi troops have faced surprise attacks, shelling and car bombs. The extremists have launched more than 900 car bombs against Iraqi troops in and around Mosul.
Defeating Daesh in Mosul would be a crushing blow to the Takfiri group and probably spell the end for its ambition to rule over millions of people in a self-styled caliphate.
The operation has been slowed by concern to avoid casualties among civilians, who have mostly stayed in their homes rather than fleeing as was initially expected.
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Israel's attorney general orders criminal probe against Netanyahu
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:0AM
Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit has approved the opening of a full criminal investigation into the financial activities of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu amid allegations of bribery and fraud.
Netanyahu will be investigated following a nine-month police inquiry into two unspecified matters, and will be summoned to give evidence in the coming days, Israel's Hebrew-language Channel 10 television network reported.
An unnamed spokeswoman from Israel's so-called Justice Ministry said in a statement that checks in the matter "are still ongoing and this is neither confirmation nor denial of what has been alleged."
"The attorney-general, the police and prosecutors are working in close cooperation and a public announcement will be made in due course about the investigation," she said.
Netanyahu has long been the subject of scrutiny over his financial dealings.
Mandelblit recently ordered an investigation into claims that Netanyahu accepted 1 million euros (about $1.1 million) from accused French fraudster Arnaud Mimran in the form of donations during his 2009 campaign.
In May, Comptroller Yosef Shapira issued a critical report on Netanyahu's foreign trips, some of which were taken with his wife Sara and children, from 2003 to 2005, when he was the Israeli finance minister.
The Israeli prime minister is also under investigation over the billion-dollar purchase of three submarines from Germany, where media have reported "a serious conflict of interest" on the part of Netanyahu.
Reports emerged last month that Netanyahu's personal lawyer and one of closest confidants, David Shimron, was representing the German arms manufacturer ThyssenKrupp, which is making the submarines.
Channel 10 later disclosed an email it claimed was proof that Shimron used his close relationship with Netanyahu to lobby for the deal.
A separate probe is also underway in Israel into accusation that Sara Netanyahu misused public funds for private expenses.
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Japan Criticized by East Asian Neighbors for Visit to Controversial WWII Shrine
By VOA News December 29, 2016
Japan is being roundly criticized by neighboring countries after its top military official Thursday visited a controversial shrine that honors its war dead, including convicted war criminals.
Defense Minister Tomomi Inada's visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine drew sharp rebukes from China and South Korea, which consider the shrine a symbol of Japan's wartime atrocities before and after World War II, when it colonized or invaded much of the East Asia region.
"Regardless of differences in historical views, regardless of whether they fought as enemies or allies, I believe any country can understand that we wish to express gratitude, respect and gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for their countries," Inada told reporters after the visit.
China's relationship with Japan has been strained by what China sees as Japan's reluctance to apologize for the country's past. China's Foreign Ministry spokeswoman, Hua Chunying, voiced disapproval of the visit, saying, "This not only reflects some Japanese people's obstinately wrong view of history, it also forms a great irony with the Pearl Harbor reconciliation trip."
Earlier this week, Inada accompanied Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on a historic visit to Pearl Harbor, Hawaii, home to the U.S. Navy's Pacific Fleet. Japan attacked Pearl Harbor in 1941, bringing the United States into World War II.
South Korea's Defense Ministry said Inada's visit to Yasukuni was "deplorable," and that Inada visited a shrine that "beautifies past colonial invasions and invasive war and honors war criminals."
Inada's visit to Yasukuni was her first since becoming defense minister in August, although she has visited it numerous times in the past.
She has defended Japan's wartime atrocities and led a committee tasked reevaluating the judgements of wartime judicial panels that were led by the victorious allies of World War II.
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About 50,000 Rohingya Muslims flee from Myanmar to Bangladesh: Dhaka government
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:52PM
Bangladesh's Foreign Ministry says some 50,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled persecution and violence in Myanmar to Bangladesh since early October.
The Foreign Ministry in Dhaka said in a statement on Thursday that thousands of members of the ethnic minority had fled to Bangladesh since an eruption of unrest in Myanmar's western state of Rakhine in early October. Rakhine, home to the Rohingya Muslims, borders Bangladesh.
The ministry also summoned Myanmar's ambassador to express "deep concern at the continued influx" of Rohingya Muslims.
"(We) mentioned that around 50,000 Myanmar citizens took shelter into Bangladesh since October 9, 2016," the ministry said.
Meanwhile, a spokesman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has confirmed that at least 43,000 Rohingya Muslims have taken shelter in Bangladesh since October.
Senior officials in Dhaka have also demanded early repatriation of all Myanmar's citizens who have been living in Bangladesh for years.
Figures show some 300,000 Rohingya Muslims are living in Bangladesh, with the vast majority of them having taken refuge in makeshift settlements, official refugee camps and villages in Bangladesh's resort district of Cox's Bazar.
Many of those interviewed by journalists have told horrific stories of gang-rape, torture and murder at the hands of Myanmar government forces.
Myanmar's military has launched a fresh wave of crackdown on Muslims since an alleged attack on the country's border guards on October 9 left nine policemen dead. The government blamed the Rohingyas for the assault.
There have been numerous accounts by eyewitnesses of summary executions, rapes and arson attacks against Muslims since the crackdown began. The military has blocked access to Rakhine and banned journalists and aid workers from entering the zone.
The United Nations has warned that ongoing human rights violations against the Rohingyas in Rakhine could be tantamount to "crimes against humanity."
The Bangladesh government has also come under fire for pushing back Rohingya refugees, with Muslim groups and the opposition urging the country to open its border to the displaced people.
Rakhine has been the scene of communal violence at the hands of Buddhist extremists since 2012. Hundreds of people have been killed and tens of thousands have been forced from homes to live in squalid camps in dire conditions in Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia and Indonesia.
The government denies full citizenship to the 1.1 million-strong Rohingya population, branding them illegal immigrants from Bangladesh. However, the Rohingyas are believed to be a community of ancient lineage in Myanmar.
According to the UN, the Rohingyas are one of the most persecuted minorities in the world.
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The Year The Collective Putin Died
Brian Whitmore December 29, 2016
Sergei Ivanov and Viktor Ivanov have a lot in common.
In addition to sharing a last name, both are KGB veterans, both are longtime cronies of Vladimir Putin -- and both were thrown under the bus by the Kremlin leader this year.
Viktor Ivanov got the boot in May when Putin liquidated the Federal Antinarcotics Service he ran, merging it into the Interior Ministry, leaving his once-influential pal out of a job and on the outside looking in.
And in August, it was Sergei Ivanov's turn.
With the stroke of a pen, Putin put his longtime cohort out to pasture, firing him as Kremlin chief of staff, one of the most powerful posts in Russia, and exiling him to the meaningless job of special assistant to the president for ecology and transportation.
It was a spectacular fall for a man who had served as Security Council secretary, defense minister, and deputy prime minister; and who was widely seen as a potential successor to Putin.
The fall of the Ivanovs made it crystal clear that 2016 would be the year the "collective Putin" died and big changes were in store for the way Russia was governed.
As political analyst Vladimir Pastukhov noted at the time, it demonstrated that "the age of the collective rule of Putin's friends is coming to an end" and that "in place of a prince who ruled with his entourage, there is now a tsar who rules over his servants."
Touching The Untouchables
Until this year, Putin's 16-year rule had been characterized by the dominance of an inner circle of about a dozen men who had worked with the Kremlin leader for decades, either in the KGB or in the St. Petersburg city government in the 1990s.
Known colloquially as the "collective Putin" or "Putin's Politburo," they were widely viewed as Russia's untouchable ruling clique.
When one of their number, Vladimir Yakunin, was fired as head of Russian Railways in August 2015, it became clear they were, in fact, quite touchable.
And this year's deeper culling of the inner circle put to rest any notion of a ruling clique.
Russian politics essentially became a one-man show and Putin became its solitary man.
Moscow-based political analyst Nikolai Petrov wrote that Putin was abandoning a model of collective leadership reminiscent of Leonid Brezhnev in favor of one oriented on a single leader, as in the time of Josef Stalin.
And in case anybody failed to get the message, in April, Putin set up a powerful National Guard, a 400,000-strong force that absorbs Russia's Interior Ministry troops, the OMON riot police, and the SOBR -- or SWAT -- forces.
The guard force is run by Putin's uber-loyal former bodyguard, Viktor Zolotov, and answers to the Kremlin leader alone.
And in September, Russian media reported that plans were in the works to reconstitute the old KGB in the form of a new Ministry of State Security, which would unite Russia's main security agencies under one roof and have the charming Stalin-era acronym MGB.
"The Kremlin and the Russian government now resemble an old-world royal court, more than a modern state," Mikhail Fishman wrote in The Moscow Times.
"Putin is remodeling the institutional power of Russia's presidency into a force under his personal control."
Ideologues And Kleptocrats
But the story of 2016 is about more than the death of the collective Putin and the rise of the personalized rule of the individual Putin.
The primary reason Putin scrapped his old system of ruling through elite consensus and balancing clan interests was because in a shrinking economy Russia's kleptocratic elite risked undermining Putin's ideological project of restoring Russia's great-power status.
And in this sense, 2016 was also the year when the Kremlin took a decisive ideological turn.
It was the year when what Mark Galeotti of the Institute of International Relations in Prague calls "ideological Russia" became ascendant over "kleptocratic Russia."
According to Galeotti, kleptocratic Russia is "the realm of the embezzling senior officials, the pampered sons and daughters of the mighty, the business people who depend as much on sweetheart deals and covert cartels as any real acumen."
Ideological Russia, on the other hand, is Putin's "vision of a nation restored to its due place in history and the world."
Both of these Russias have been present, and in constant tension, throughout Putin's long rule -- and indeed, through most of Russia's history.
And while kleptocratic Russia reigned supreme for most of Putin's 16 years in power, this year it was forced to take a back seat to the Kremlin leader's grand ideological project.
But by making examples of some of his old cronies, and by replacing them with younger sycophants who owe their careers to him, like the obscure new Kremlin chief of staff, Anton Vaino, Putin has transformed the Kremlin from a collective band of thieves into a one-man band.
And instead of protecting the interests of the collective Putin regime, the system appears now to be geared toward preserving the power of Putin the man -- and advancing his ideological dream of a great Russia.
The views expressed in this blog post do not necessarily reflect the views of RFE/RL
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/the-year-the-collective -putin-died/28204035.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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SPRING CREEK The Battle Born 4-H Club of Spring Creek announces the following activities they completed in the months of October, November and December.
The club participated in the Nevada Day Parade on Oct. 28. Our float honored 100 years of mining. Club members dressed like miners and prospectors. Their costumes included hard hats, reflective vests and gold pans. The float was decorated with mining equipment and spray painted rocks that looked like ore samples.
Our club also has completed a community service by helping clean up the gun range in Elko. Club members joined other volunteers on Nov. 5 for the Elko County Public Shooting Range Cleanup Day. The club helped clean up three different ranges on the complex. The Battle Born 4-H Club has a lot of competitive shooters in the club. It was nice to return the favor by helping clean up the range.
Lastly, our club participated in the Elko Parade of Lights Dec. 10 with a float decorated as Charlie Browns Christmas. Most club members were not dressed up as characters due to the bad weather, but we did have a member dress as Charlie Brown. The float also had a white and black dog acting as Snoopy, and a Buff Silkie Chicken acting like Woodstock. Other club members brought their show rabbits to ride on the float. Other float decorations included a red dog house and a tree branch with a red Christmas ornament on it to look like Charlie Browns Christmas tree. Members rode on the float sitting on straw bales and sang Christmas Carols. It was cold and wet, but all the kids had fun participating in the parade.
Russian Army Gets First Batch of Brand New Tornado-S Rocket Artillery Systems
Sputnik News
21:18 29.12.2016(updated 00:39 30.12.2016)
The army has received the first batch of Russia's newest deadly multiple launch rocket system, the Tornado-S. An upgrade to the formidable Tornado 9A52-4, the Tornado-S includes a new automated guidance and fire control system, improved rounds, and other upgrades.
On Thursday, the press service of the Tula-based Splav State Research and Production Enterprise, the company responsible for delivering the system to the military, confirmed that the first batch of Tornado-S MRLS platforms has been delivered to the armed forces.
"The production of the Tornado-S MLRS has commenced. The first state contract for the systems' supply to the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation has been completed," the company's statement curtly explained. The company did not say clarify exactly how many units were delivered.
State trials for the Tornado-S were concluded earlier this year, and the Ministry of Defense has confirmed that the mass introduction of the system will start in 2017.
The 9A52-4 Tornado, Tornado-S's predecessor, is already the most advanced MLRS system available to the Russian armed forces. Designed through the 2000s and introduced in 2011, the Tornado was built as a lightweight, more mobile version of the BM-30 Smerch heavy multiple rocket launcher system. The Tornado has been gradually replacing older rocket artillery systems, including the famous BM-21 Grad and BM-27 Uragan, available to the Russian army.
Tornado-S is a substantive upgrade to the Tornado. Most prominently, it features a new automated guidance and fire-control system allowing for the simultaneous automated coordination and control of the fire of an entire artillery battalion. The system is also capable of automatically calculating target data.
The new system also has an improved range, thanks to guided rocket rounds, enabling it to fire distances up to 120 km, comparing favorably with the 90 km range of the Tornado's standard 800 kg round.
Tornado-S also has improved accuracy thanks to the integrated use of the GLONASS satellite navigation system, and can be deployed more quickly from full stop than its predecessor.
The Tornado-S will complement existing Tornado artillery battalions as both systems replace older Soviet-era systems.
Splav's production has met with growing demand in Russia and across foreign markets in recent years, with production increasing by 2.5 times in the last year alone, mainly thanks to foreign orders. The company's profits have increased by 38.5% compared with 2015. The company plans to complete the modernization of its production capabilities, in accordance with the federal program on the development of the military-industrial complex.
Sputnik
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Russian Foreign Minister Lavrov proposes expulsion of 35 US diplomats
Iran Press TV
Fri Dec 30, 2016 10:27AM
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov says he has proposed to President Vladimir Putin to expel 35 US diplomats in retaliation for a similar move by Washington.
"Russia's Foreign Ministry... has requested that the Russian president approve declaring as personae non grata 31 employees of the US embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the US consulate in Saint Petersburg," Lavrov said in televised comments.
The ministry is also seeking to ban diplomats from using a holiday home located in western Moscow and a warehouse in the north of the city, Lavrov said, after President Barack Obama said the US would close two Russian compounds.
Lavrov said the two Russian country houses in New York and Maryland were used for children's holidays and ridiculed the notion they were "nests of spies."
"We of course cannot leave these stunts unanswered. Reciprocity is the law in diplomacy and international relations," he said, hoping that Putin approves the requests "promptly."
Obama had on Thursday ordered a series of new sanctions against Russia and ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, accusing them of being suspected spies.
The US president had also imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over allegations that they interfered in the 2016 presidential election in the US through cyberattacks.
In the remarks reported on Friday, Lavrov rejected the hacking accusations and said the sanctions would not go unanswered.
Ties between the Obama administration and the Kremlin have considerably worsened over the past months but he will be in office for only several more weeks.
The incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump is likely to introduce a different attitude to ties with Moscow. Trump has formerly praised Putin and has been critical of the outgoing US administration's anti-Russia stance, including most recently of the new sanctions.
The Obama administration has suggested that the alleged Russian cyberattacks had been meant to tilt the election in Trump's favor. On Thursday, Trump wrote on his Twitter page that it was time to "move on" from the claims of Russian hacking.
Medvedev's lament for Obama administration
In Moscow, Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev regretted the new US sanctions.
Writing on his official Facebook page on Friday, Medvedev said Obama was ending his term in "anti-Russia agony."
"It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia agony. RIP," Medvedev wrote.
'Against international law'
Earlier, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov described the US sanctions as "groundless and illegal from the point of view of international law."
Peskov said on Thursday that Kremlin would consider "adequate" counter measures "based on the principles of reciprocity."
"Such steps by a US administration that has three weeks left to work are aimed at two things: to further harm Russian-American ties, which are at a low point as it is, as well as, obviously, to deal a blow to the foreign policy plans of the incoming administration of the president-elect," referring to Trump.
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Putin Says Russia Will Not Expel U.S. Diplomats
RFE/RL December 30, 2016
Russian President Vladimir Putin says that Moscow will not expel any Americans from the country, opting out of a tit-for-tat retaliation after the United States kicked 35 Russian officials out over allegations of hacking aimed at interfering in the U.S. election, espionage, and harassment of U.S. diplomats in Russia.
Putin's statement came after Russia had signaled that it would hit back with a "mirror" response to the U.S. expulsions, which were part of a package of measures announced by President Barack Obama's administration that also included sanctions against Russian intelligence agencies and the closure of two recreational compounds for Russian diplomats in the United States.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had sent Putin a list of 35 U.S. diplomats and recommended their expulsion, as well as the closure of a vacation cabin and a warehouse in Moscow that are used by U.S. Embassy personnel.
But Putin's statement, posted on the Kremlin website, made clear that he wants to be seen as taking the high road and to make the Obama administration look vindictive.
It also suggested he would like to avoid an escalation of one of the biggest disputes since the Cold War just weeks before President-elect Donald Trump takes office -- and to increase the chances that Trump, who has indicated he wants better relations with Moscow, will scrap the sanctions.
Trump on Twitter later praised Putin for holding off on retaliatory actions, calling him "very smart."
Putin said that the measures announced by the Obama administration on December 29 were "unfriendly" and "aimed at further undermining Russian-American relations. Considering the special responsibility that Russia and the United States have for preserving global security, this will deal a blow to the whole system of international relations."
But he said that while "reserving the right to take measures in response, we are not going to bring ourselves down to the level of irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy, and will base further steps to rebuild Russian-American relations on the policies that President Trump pursues."
"We will not create problems for American diplomats. We are not going to expel anybody," Putin said, pointedly adding that he was inviting "all children of American diplomats accredited in Russia" to traditional New Year and Russian Orthodox Christmas celebrations in the Kremlin.
"It is too bad that President Obama's administration is ending its work in such a way, but nonetheless, I wish him and his family a happy New Year," he said.
The CIA, the FBI, and the broader U.S. intelligence community have concluded that computer hackers, likely operating with the authority of the highest levels of the Russian government, broke into servers and e-mail accounts belonging to the U.S. Democratic Party, as well as other officials, during the campaign for the November 8 election.
In addition to expelling 35 Russian officials it identified as intelligence operatives and closing off access to shoreline compounds in Maryland and New York, the United States also imposed financial and travel sanctions on nine top officials and entities associated with Russian military intelligence (GRU) and the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB).
A senior U.S. administration official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said that incuded four GRU officials who were directly involved in computer hacking, including that of U.S. political parties, and three companies that provided "material support" to GRU hacking efforts.
Trump has repeatedly made remarks casting doubt on those assertions, saying in December that "it could be some guy in his home in New Jersey" rather than hackers working at the Kremlin's behest.
Trump issued a statement on December 29 saying that "it's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things," but confirmed that he will "meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of the situation."
Trump spokeswoman Kellyanne Conway told CNN that "even those who are sympathetic to President Obama on most issues are saying that part of the reason he did this today was to 'box in' President-elect Trump."
In conjunction with the new sanctions against Russia, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security released a new report on December 29 detailing some of the Russian hacking, which included not only state electoral databases but other "critical infrastructure."
"To be very clear here, they have been interfering in the American democratic process and the conduct of American diplomacy, this should be of concern to all Americans and members of both parties," one administration official was quoted as saying.
Republican U.S. Senator John McCain has scheduled a January 5 hearing on foreign cyberthreats to the United States.
Witnesses called to testify include Director of National Intelligence James Clapper and Admiral Mike Rogers, head of the U.S. Cyber Command, according to a post on December 30 on the website of the Senate Armed Services Committee that McCain leads.
Because Obama imposed the new sanctions and expulsions by executive order, Trump could easily reverse them, but analysts say that could be a difficult step politically because prominent Republicans in Congress supported the measures -- with some saying they don't go far enough. Putin's refusal to retaliate in kind adds another factor to the decisions Trump will have to make, potentially increasing pressure he faces from the Kremlin to make concessions to Russia.
U.S.-Russian relations are at a post-Cold War low, hung up on differences over Russia's seizure of Crimea in 2014 and its continuing support for separatists in eastern Ukraine, a number of former Soviet republics' and satellites' embrace of the NATO security umbrella, divergent tacks in warring Syria, and the alleged election hacking, among other things.
Russia had vowed to retaliate in an "adequate" way to the U.S. measures, but had left its plans unknown overnight after the U.S. announcement.
Shortly before Putin's announcement was posted on the Kremlin website, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova denied a report by U.S. television network CNN stating that Russia would close the Anglo-American School of Moscow, which is attended by children of U.S. diplomats and expatriates from some 60 countries, as well as Russians.
"This is a lie," Zakharova wrote on Facebook. "Apparently, the White House has gone completely mad and has begun to make up sanctions against its own children."
Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev wrote on social media that "it is very sad the Obama administration, which began its term of office by efforts to restore cooperation" -- a reference to the so-called reset undertaken when Medvedev was president -- "is ending it with an anti-Russian agony." The post concluded "R.I.P.," an abbreviation for the funeral epitaph "rest in peace."
Peter Harrell, a former State Department official who helped craft U.S. sanctions in response to Russia's seizure of Crimea from Ukraine, said the Obama administration should have taken such measures months ago, given the scope and duration of Russian hacking. But he argued the administration was compelled to act to deter future Russian activity.
"Better late than never," Harrell told RFE/RL. "Either we do something now, or the other outcome, with Trump coming in, is that we do nothing and for the U.S., [with] Russian influencing the elections as these guys didthat would be a terrible precedent.
"We would look weak and invite future action down the road, and for me this is something where we had to respond," he said on December 29.
Harrell also pointed out that the executive order issued by Obama in conjunction with the sanctions effectively detaches the new measures from the older measures imposed in connection with Russia's interference in Ukraine. That means that even if the conflict in Ukraine is ever resolved, the new hacking-related sanctions could still remain in place, he said.
With reporting RFE/RL's Mike Eckel, Reuters, Bloomberg, and Interfax
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-vows-adequate-response- us-sanctions-hacking/28205316.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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U.S. Senators Vow No 'Faustian Bargain' With Russia, Pledge To Target Putin 'Harder'
RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service December 30, 2016
KYIV -- Senator John McCain says that the United States will not strike a "Faustian bargain" with Russian President Vladimir Putin, amid speculation that President-elect Donald Trump could scrap sanctions in a bid to improve ties.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with RFE/RL's Ukrainian Service in Kyiv on December 30 along with two other U.S. senators, McCain (Republican-Arizona) said any possible deal with Putin "would interfere with and undermine the freedom and democracies that exist today."
The U.S. Congress imposed sanctions on Moscow shortly after Russia forcibly annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula in March 2014 and for its ongoing support for pro-Russia separatists in eastern Ukraine.
Senator Lindsey Graham (Republican-South Carolina) said Congress would pursue in 2017 more sanctions against Russia, targeting the energy and banking sectors, as well as "Putin and his inner circle."
"We're going to do two things: We're going after Putin harder with tougher sanctions and we're going to be more helpful to our friends, like here in Ukraine," Graham said.
McCain, Graham, and Amy Klobuchar (Democrat-Minnesota) said there is strong support in Congress to provide Ukraine with "lethal defensive weapons" to help Kyiv in its fight against Russia-backed separatists in the east.
The senators faulted Moscow for failing to fulfill its obligations under the Minsk accords -- a February 2015 agreement aimed at ending the conflict in eastern Ukraine, where more than 9,750 people have died since April 2014.
"How can you have a free and fair election or debate about the power-sharing with eastern Ukraine when you have 700 Russian tanks [in eastern Ukraine]?" Graham said.
Asked whether Trump may recognize Crimea as part of Russia, Graham said Congress would block any such move.
"The president alone can't do this. And the reason the Congress will reject such a notion is because it undermines the rule of law," Graham explained.
McCain also called for tougher action against Moscow for its alleged involvement in hacks into Democratic Party e-mails before the November 8 U.S. presidential election.
"We can make them a lot tougher, ranging from travel to identifying individuals who have been involved in this hacking and specific organizations. There are a lot more stringent measures we should take," McCain said. "After all, it was an attack on the United States of America and an attack on the fundamentals of our democracy. If you destroy the elections, then you destroy democracy."
U.S. President Barack Obama on December 29 ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over what the administration says was their involvement in the hacking.
Putin said on December 30 that Moscow would not respond in kind and would not expel any Americans from Russia, accusing the U.S. administration of "irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy."
On December 30, Trump praised Putin on Twitter for holding off on retaliatory actions, calling him "very smart."
Trump has brushed aside allegations from the CIA and other intelligence agencies that Russia was behind the cyberattacks. But it is unclear whether he will seek to roll back Obama's actions.
"If you have a hard time figuring out who is behind this, that doesn't speak well of you," Graham said. "The Russians are doing it all over the world."
Klobuchar said it wasn't only the United States that was being targeted by Russian cyberattacks.
"We have learned on this trip visiting Estonia and Lithuania and hearing about these cyberattacks in Ukraine -- it has happened for years and years and years. And it's a technique that can be used in the French elections or the German elections," Klobuchar said, referring to two key upcoming elections in Europe in 2017.
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/mccain- ukraine-russia-sanctions-graham- klobuchar/28206263.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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Russia Will Determine Steps in Restoring Ties With US Depending on Trump - Putin
Sputnik News
15:30 30.12.2016(updated 21:04 30.12.2016)
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that Moscow will determine further steps in restoring ties with the United States depending on the policy of President-elect Donald Trump.
"Reserving the right to retaliate, we will not resort to the level of irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy and further steps toward the restoration of Russian-US relations will be based on the policy carried out by the administration of President Donald Trump."
Russia will not expel anyone as a response to US sanctions against Moscow over alleged hacking, Putin said.
However, Putin said that Russia reserves the right to respond to the new US sanctions.
"We regard the new unfriendly steps of the outgoing US administration as provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-US relations."
On Thursday, US outgoing President Barack Obama announced the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats, the closing of two Russian diplomatic compounds in Maryland and New York and new sanctions against six Russian individuals and five entities over Moscow's alleged interference in the November US presidential election, which the Kremlin has repeatedly denied.
"This is clearly contrary to the fundamental interests of both the Russian and US citizens. In view of Russia's and the US' special responsibility for the preservation of global security, [this] also damages the entire system of international relations," Putin said.
Putin said that he regrets that the Obama administration finishes its work in such a way.
"It's regrettable that the President Obama administration is finishing its work in such a way, but I congratulate him and members of his family with the upcoming New Year anyway," Putin said.
Putin said that Moscow will not ban US diplomats' families and children from using their preferred holiday destinations in Russia for New Year celebrations.
"We will not create problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anyone. We will not prohibit their families and children to use their usual vacation spots in the New Year's holidays. Moreover, i am inviting all children of the US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year's and Christmas celebration in the Kremlin."
Earlier in the day, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said that the ministry proposed the president to consider declaring 31 US Embassy in Moscow and four US Consulate General in St. Petersburg employees 'persona non grata' as well as ban the use of a vacation retreat by US diplomats.
Sputnik
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Trump Praises Putin's Decision Against Tit-For-Tat Sanctions
By Daniel Schearf December 30, 2016
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Moscow will not expel U.S. diplomats in response to sanctions imposed Thursday by U.S. President Barack Obama for interference by Russian intelligence agencies in November's U.S. national election.
"We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone," Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin. "As it proceeds from international practice, Russia has reasons to respond in kind. Although we have the right to retaliate, we will not resort to irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy but will plan our further steps to restore Russian-U.S. relations based on the policies of the Trump administration," the statement continued.
A U.S. State Department official said in response, "We have seen President Putin's remarks. We have nothing further to add."
Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov had suggested retaliatory action against the U.S., along with banning U.S. embassy personnel from using a country house and warehouse in the Moscow area.
Obama imposed sanctions on two intelligence agencies, expelled 35 Russian agents and closed two Russian compounds inside the United States. Russia immediately denounced the sanctions as unlawful and threatened to retaliate.
Obama called his actions "a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior."
The U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee will conduct hearings next Thursday on foreign cyberthreats to the United States. Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr. is among those scheduled to testify.
U.S. President-elect Donald Trump, who scoffed at allegations of Russian interference in the election, has said Washington should "move on to bigger and better things."
On Friday he praised Putin for his decision against expelling U.S. diplomats.
Trump, who has intimated he still has doubts about Russia's involvement, did say he would meet with intelligence leaders next week for a briefing on the situation. On Friday, a Trump spokesman said the president-elect had "nothing scheduled at this time" in terms of any talks involving Trump, transition staff and Moscow.
Obama's action coincided with the release Thursday of a 13-page joint analysis by the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security that blamed Russia's intelligence agencies for hacks intended to influence the 2016 election and provided technical details, including samples of malicious computer code said to have been used in their hacking campaign.
Among the actions ordered by Obama are sanctions against nine Russian individuals and entities: the GRU Russia's military intelligence agency; the FSB its foreign intelligence service; four GRU officers; and three companies that provided material support to the GRU.
In addition, Evgeniy Bogachev and Aleksey Belan were sanctioned. The Treasury Department calls them "notorious criminals" who are responsible for the cybertheft of more than $100 million dollars from U.S. banks, companies and other American firms.
Thirty-five Russian government officials in Washington and in the consulate in San Francisco were given 72 hours to leave the United States for "acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status and consular activities."
Russian officials also will be denied access to what the U.S. State Department calls two Russian government-owned recreational compounds in Maryland and New York. This is after U.S. diplomats in Moscow were harassed and physically assaulted.
"In addition to holding Russia accountable for what it has done, the United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia's efforts to undermine established international norms of behavior and interfere with democratic governance," Obama said in announcing the sanctions.
Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vitaly Churkin, criticized Friday the U.S. sanctions decision, saying it affects Russian children who used the compounds that have been ordered closed.
"I think it's quite scandalous that they chose to go after our kids," Churkin said. "They know full well that those two facilities which they mention in their notes, they are vacation facilities for our kids. And this is Christmastime. This is vacation time for our schools from the first of January to the 10th of January. This is the time when the kids go to those two facilities. So to block our access to them just while the holidays were starting, you know, to me was rather cynical of them. So here go their family values," he added.
Putin, for his part, has invited all children of U.S. diplomats accredited in Russia to holiday parties at the Kremlin.
Not the end
A senior White House official said Thursday's publicly announced actions are not the end of the American response. He said other measures will be taken but not made public.
The official said there has been no debate within the Obama administration over whether Russia indeed interfered in the presidential election, primarily by hacking Democratic party emails to harm the campaign of former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and boost Trump's chances of winning the November 8 election.
The official said the White House believes Russia is going to try to interfere in elections in other countries.
Obama also said he has no reason to believe Russia will not try the same thing again in future U.S. contests. The next major American election will be in 2018, for the entire House of Representatives and a number of Senate seats.
Send a signal
Trump has made no secret of his desire for better ties with Moscow.
But Emma Ashford, a foreign policy expert from the Cato Institute, told VOA that Trump would face a lot of opposition from Congress if he tries to undo the sanctions.
"Part of why this has been so difficult for the Obama administration is they were also trying to find something that Trump could not on his first day in office undo," Ashford said.
She added that the Obama administration must "try to send a signal that no matter what Donald Trump might say about how much he likes Vladimir Putin and how we're going to improve relations with Russia, that there has to be some sort of penalty for what the Russians tried to do in the election."
A State Department official said Thursday that reversing Obama's orders would be "inadvisable," adding that it makes no sense to invite Russian intelligence officials back into the United States.
Some political analysts note Russian officials and state media are raising expectations for Trump, whose own Republican Party leaders supported U.S. sanctions and continued tough action against Moscow.
Trump is in a very tough position, according to Pavel Sharikov, of the Russian Academy of Science Institute for U.S. & Canada Studies.
"Since Russians still deny that they have anything to do with this hacking, they should suggest to the Trump administration full cooperation in [the] investigation [of] these hacking incidents and punishing whoever did this," said Sharikov.
Thirty-five is the second-largest number of Russian diplomats ordered out of the United States at one time since the end of the Cold War. President George W. Bush expelled 50 Russians in March 2001 for alleged spying. President Ronald Reagan deported a total of 80 Russian diplomats also suspected of spying during the fading years of the Cold War in 1986.
On the streets of Moscow Friday, Russians lamented the idea of tit-for-tat sanctions with the U.S. "We need to make the opposite not to separate our people, but to unite them," said a woman giving only her first name as Yulia.
"I think that all the politics problems will be resolved and we will come to understanding," said a woman who also gave only her first name, Dasha. "I want the people from Russia and America to be friends."
Elizabeth Cherneff and Candace Williams contributed to this report.
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European states must stop backing Syria terrorists: Assad
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 6:35PM
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has called on European states to stop their support for Takfiri terrorists and recognize the Syrian nation's right to decide its own fate.
Assad made the remarks in a meeting with a joint delegation, comprising Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) and members of the Federation Council, the upper house of the Russian parliament, in Damascus on Thursday, official SANA news agency reported.
If the European countries want to help Syrian people, they must first stop supporting terrorists and lift the unjust blockade, which affects the basics of Syrians' life, he said.
The Syrian head of state also urged European officials to recognize that the solution to the crisis in the country is only in the hands of the Syrian people.
President Assad further called on Western officials to admit that the terrorist attacks taking place in their countries are a result of their wrong policies.
Elsewhere in his remarks, the Syrian president called for eliminating Wahhabism, promoted by Saudi Arabia, saying such a move is needed for the success of any anti-terror operation.
He also hailed Russia's support for Syria, saying it is not only defending the Syrians' security, but is also ensuring the security of Russians and Europeans.
Members of the delegation, for their part, stressed that their trip was aimed at witnessing the realities on the ground in Syria and expressing solidarity with the Syrian people in the war against terrorism.
They further congratulated Syrians on their recent victory in the flashpoint city of Aleppo and rejected any foreign interference in Syria's domestic affairs.
On December 22, the Syrian army announced full control over Aleppo and called it a "crushing blow" for terrorists.
It came after the last remaining Takfriri elements were evacuated from the city along with civilians under a ceasefire deal mediated by Ankara and Moscow.
Over the past almost six years, Syria has been hit by militancy it blames on some Western states and their regional allies.
UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura estimates that more than 400,000 people have been killed in the Syrian crisis. The UN has stopped its official casualty count in Syria, citing its inability to verify the figures it receives from various sources.
Takfirism, which is trademark of some terrorist groups operating in Syria, is believed to be largely influenced by Wahhabism.
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Russia jets conduct anti-terror airstrikes in Syria's al-Bab: Dogan
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 4:1PM
For the first time since launching its anti-terror aerial campaign in Syria, Russian warplanes have reportedly hit Daesh targets around the city of al-Bab, where Turkey and its allied militants are allegedly fighting the terrorist group.
On Thursday, Turkey's Dogan news agency quoted military sources as saying that the Russian air raids took place on Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the so-called Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the "strikes suspected to be Russian" had been hitting al-Bab for the last two days "in support of the Turkish operation."
However, there was no official confirmation of the strikes.
Moscow launched its campaign against Daesh and other terror outfits in Syria at the Damascus government's request in September 2015. Wednesday's air raids were the first such strikes targeting al-Bab.
Turkey also began a major military intervention in Syria in August, sending tanks and warplanes across the border, in a move denounced by Damascus as a breach of its sovereignty.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the operation, dubbed "Euphrates Shield," was aimed at "terror groups" such as Daesh and the Democratic Union Party (PYD), a US-backed Kurdish group based in Syria.
However, the Turkish offensive has left a large number of civilian fatalities in al-Bab and elsewhere in Syria, without scoring any major victory against Daesh terrorists.
Ankara and Moscow have long been at odds over the conflict in Syria, where Russia supports the government of President Bashar al-Assad and Turkey backs anti-Damascus militants.
Russian embassy under fresh attack
In another development, the Russian embassy in Damascus was hit by mortar shell, the third such assault since Wednesday. No casualties were reported due to the attack.
Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova slammed the shelling as a provocation aimed at derailing the latest diplomatic process on the conflict in Syria.
Moscow and Ankara have recently brokered a nationwide truce deal between Damascus and the foreign-backed opposition. The deal, which will take effect at midnight, excludes the Takfiri Daesh and Jabhat Fateh al-Sham terror groups and their affiliates.
Syrian army makes gains
In another development on Thursday, the Syrian army managed to advance on the village of Hazrama in the Damascus suburb of eastern Ghouta.
Syrian forces killed and wounded several Takfiri militants with Jaysh al-Islam, which is in control of the village.
Elsewhere in Dara'a province, the Syrian troops killed a number of terrorist ringleaders and downed a radio-controlled airplane operated by Jabhat Fateh al-Sham militant group, formerly known as al-Nusra Front.
Another Syrian army unit also destroyed a vehicle belonging to Daesh terrorists in the suburbs of the Qaryatayn town in Homs Province, leaving six terrorists dead.
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Syrian army announces halt to fighting by midnight
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 11:49AM
The Syrian military has announced a nationwide halt to fighting starting at midnight, in a move that could promote the diplomatic efforts aimed at ending years of Takfiri violence in the Arab state.
In a statement carried by Syrian state news agency SANA, the Syrian army said the ceasefire, which will come into effect at 0000 GMT on December 30, does not include the Takfiri Daesh and Fateh al-Sham terror groups as well as their affiliates.
"The Army and the Armed Forces General Command on Thursday declared a comprehensive cessation of hostilities across all the territories of the Syrian Arab Republic starting at 00:00 on 30/12/2016 in the wake of the victories and advances achieved by the Syrian armed forces on more than a front," read the statement.
"The ceasefire comes with the aim of creating suitable circumstances for supporting the political track of the crisis in Syria," it added.
'Real chance to end bloodshed'
Later in the day, Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Muallem hailed the ceasefire deal as a "real opportunity" for a political settlement of the deadly crisis plaguing his country since early 2011.
"It is the duty of the factions (militant groups) who have signed it to distance themselves from, and declare that they are not linked to the Nusra Front or Daesh," he said in an interview broadcast live on state TV.
Earlier, Russian President Vladimir Putin said Damascus and foreign-backed militant groups had reached a truce deal brokered by Moscow and Ankara.
Putin said the agreement would be followed by peace talks between the government of Syrian President Bashar Assad and the foreign-backed opposition.
The Russian president also announced Moscow is set to scale down its military presence in Syria following the cessation of hostilities.
"I agree with the proposal from the Defense Ministry for the reduction of our military presence in Syria," Putin said in televised comments.
Moscow will continue supporting Assad and "fighting international terrorism in Syria," he said, adding that the Russian military will maintain its presence at an air base in Syria's Latakia Province and the naval facility in the port city of Tartus.
The Russian head of state also said the agreement is the result of joint efforts by Russia, Turkey and Iran.
"We know that only recently there was a trilateral meeting in Moscow of the foreign ministers of Russia, Turkey, and Iran, where all of the nations made obligations not only to control, but also to act as guarantors of the peace process in Syria," Putin said.
Putin further said he would contact his Iranian and Turkish counterparts to discuss further steps in the Syrian peace process.
Kremlin: Assad ready to observe ceasefire
Later on Thursday, the Kremlin issues a statement noting that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has called his Russian President Vladimir Putin, saying that he was ready to observe ceasefire agreement in the Arab country, the Kremlin said on Thursday.
The statement added that Putin and Assad had agreed that the opening of Syria peace talks in Kazakhstan would be "an important step towards the ultimate resolution of the crisis."
Syrian opposition backs ceasefire
Meanwhile, the so-called National Coalition, Syria's main opposition bloc based in Turkey, said it backed the nationwide ceasefire.
"The National Coalition expresses support for the agreement and urges all parties to abide by it," said the coalition spokesman, Ahmed Ramadan.
In another statement, the so-called Free Syrian Army militant group said the nationwide truce does not include Daesh or the Kurdish militias with the US-backed People's Protection Units, better known as YPG.
The countrywide ceasefire came one week after the Syrian army announced full control over Aleppo when the last remaining militants were evacuated along with civilians from the eastern sector of city under a truce deal mediated by Ankara and Moscow.
Turkey: Ankara, Moscow guarantors of Syria ceasefire
Separately, Turkey's Foreign Ministry welcomed the truce, saying Ankara and Moscow will act as guarantors of the ceasefire in Syria.
"With this agreement, parties have agreed to cease all armed attacks, including aerial, and have promised not to expand the areas they control against each other," the ministry said in a statement.
At the end of the December 20 trilateral meeting in Moscow, foreign ministers of Iran, Russia and Turkey issued a joint statement on the Syrian issue, in which they emphasized the need for expanding the Aleppo truce.
The three sides expressed "readiness to facilitate and become the guarantors of the prospective agreement being negotiated between the Syrian government and the opposition."
Erdogan: Syria truce "historic opportunity"
Commenting on the truce, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said the deal is a "historic opportunity" to end the Syria conflict, which should not go to waste.
"We have an opportunity to stop the bloodshed in Syria with a political solution. We must not squander this chance. This is a historical chance, this window of opportunity should not be wasted," added the Turkish leader.
Earlier in the day, Erdogan held a phone conversation with his Russian counterpart on the ceasefire before it enters into force at midnight, his spokesman said in a statement.
According to the statement, the two sides further held talks on the upcoming peace talks on Syria, which will take place in Astana, Kazakhstan.
Zarif, Lavrov discuss Syria truce
In another development on the diplomatic stage, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov held a phone conversation with his Iranian counterpart, Mohammad Javad Zarif, over the Syria truce deal.
During the talks, the two top diplomats welcomed the Syria-wide ceasefire and stressed the need for keeping up the fight against Daesh and terrorists with the former al-Qaeda-linked al-Nusra Front, now re-branded as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, as well as their allies.
Zarif and Lavrov also agreed for Tehran and Moscow to hold constant consultations in preparation for the upcoming Astana peace talks.
Syria truce 'prelude to peace talks'
In a relevant development on Thursday, the UN special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, issued a statement welcoming the announcement of the deal as a prelude to the upcoming UN-backed talks in Astana, expressing hope that the achievement would facilitate aid delivery to Syrian civilians and lead to fruitful discussions in the Kazakh capital.
"These developments should (also) contribute to inclusive and productive intra-Syrian negotiations to be convened under UN auspices on 8 February, 2017," De Mistura's spokeswoman said in a statement.
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Putin Says Syria Cease-Fire Deal Signed, Russia And Turkey 'Guarantors'
RFE/RL December 29, 2016
Russian President Vladimir Putin says the Syrian government and its opponents have signed an agreement on a nationwide cease-fire and a declaration expressing willingness to begin peace talks.
Putin said on December 29 that a document outlining measures to implement the cease-fire was also signed.
The truce due to take effect at midnight local time would be the first nationwide halt in fighting since a weeklong cease-fire in September that collapsed after several incidents of violence.
The Turkey-based Syrian National Coalition, a major Syrian opposition group, confirmed its support for the truce.
The Syrian Army also confirmed the planned nationwide halt to fighting.
"It has just been reported that an event occurred several hours ago that we had not just waited a long time for but have worked to speed up. Three documents have been signed," Putin said in televised remarks at a meeting with his foreign and defense ministers.
He said that that "all the agreements that have been reached are very fragile and require special attention and patience, a professional approach toward these issues, and constant contact with our partners."
The announcement came days after forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's government took full control of the northern city of Aleppo, forcing out rebels who had held the eastern part of the city since 2012. The key victory for Assad followed an intense offensive that drew condemnation from Western governments, human rights groups, and Syrian activists.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that Russia and Turkey would be "guarantors" of the cease-fire in Syria. He said the cease-fire included more than 60,000 rebels and that "these groups control most of central and northern Syria."
The AFP news agency quoted a spokesman for the National Coalition, Ahmed Ramadan, as saying the group "expresses support for the agreement and urges all parties to abide by it."
Ramadan said that key rebel groups including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham and Army of Islam factions had signed the cease-fire deal, though there was no immediate confirmation from rebel officials.
Russia To Continue 'Fighting Terrorism'
The Syrian Army said the cease-fire did not apply to combat against the extremist group Islamic State (IS) and the Al-Nusra Front, which now calls itself the Fateh al-Sham Front and says it is no longer affiliated with Al-Qaeda.
A spokesman for the Free Syrian Army, Osama Abu Zaid, said the agreement also excluded the Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) militia and that the Syrian Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) political wing would not be part of the upcoming talks to be held in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
That aspect of the deal was a direct concession to Turkey, which fears that a stronger Kurdish fighting force in Syria will further embolden Turkish Kurds.
Ankara supports the Free Syrian Army, a loose alliance of moderate rebel factions, some of which it is backing in operations in northern Syria designed to sweep IS and Syrian Kurdish fighters from its southern border.
Putin said that the Russian military would scale down its presence in Syria, but he didn't say how many troops and weapons would be withdrawn.
Putin said Russia will continue "fighting international terrorism in Syria" and supporting Assad's government.
The Russian military will maintain its presence at both an air base in Syria's coastal province of Latakia and the naval facility in the Syrian port of Tartus, Putin added.
Putin spoke hours after Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Turkey and Russia had prepared a cease-fire agreement and a document outlining a political solution to the conflict. He did not say where the agreements had been signed.
Russia and Turkey have backed opposing sides in the war, which has killed more than 250,000 people in Syria since it erupted following a deadly government crackdown on pro-democracy protests in March 2011.
Moscow has given crucial diplomatic and military support to Assad and helped avert his government's possible defeat by launching a campaign of air strikes in September 2015, while Turkey has supported rebels seeking Assad's ouster.
However, Ankara and Moscow have started to cooperate more closely on Syria in recent months.
Last week, Putin said that Turkey, Russia, and Iran were expected to take part in proposed peace talks to be hosted by Kazakhstan.
A few hours after Putin's announcement, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's spokesman said he and Putin discussed the cease-fire and the planned talks in the Kazakh capital, Astana, during a telephone conversation on December 29.
Erdogan later told a news conference in Ankara that the cease-fire was a historic opportunity to end the conflict.
"This is a window of opportunity that has been opened and should not be squandered," he said.
"The fight against terror groups, including [Islamic State], will continue with determination until the security of our citizens is assured," he said.
During the meeting with Putin, Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on December 29 that Egypt will be invited to join the process and that Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and Jordan could eventually join as well.
Lavrov also said he hopes that after U.S. President-elect Donald Trump takes office, his administration "will also join the efforts in order to channel this work in one direction based on friendly and collective cooperation."
President Barack Obama's administration worked closely with Russia in efforts to end the fighting in Syria, where it leads a coalition combating IS militants and has accused Moscow of failing to deliver on previous cease-fire agreements.
The deal comes after a localized truce, also brokered by Russia and Turkey, that set the stage for the removal of civilians and rebels from the eastern part of Aleppo earlier this month.
Putin's announcement also came amid expectation that Obama's administration will impose new sanctions on Russia over allegations that it hacked and leaked e-mails of Democratic Party organizations and operatives.
The CIA has concluded that effort was an attempt to help Trump -- who has said he would seek to improve badly strained relations with Moscow -- defeat Democrat Hillary Clinton in the November 8 election.
With reporting by Interfax, TASS, Reuters, AP, and AFP
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/turkey-russia-syria- cease-fire/28203509.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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The Elko Daily Free Press is counting down the days until marijuana is legal in Nevada by answering questions concerning the law.
Q: How will recreational marijuana impact Nevadas youth?
Though the impact locally will be difficult to predict, data from other states suggest that recreational marijuana often finds itself in the hands of underage users.
No one under the age of 21 will be able to purchase the drug, but numbers gathered by the Rocky Mountain High Intensity Drug Trafficking Area state that marijuana usage is up 20 percent in Colorado in children aged 12-17 since they legalized it in 2014.
Their data also shows 12-17 year olds using marijuana at a higher rate in Colorado than anywhere else in the country.
PACE Director Laura Oslund is concerned that the numbers in Colorado and other states that allow recreational marijuana could spell trouble for Nevada and Elko County.
If you look at Colorado, Washington and Oregon were going to have more youth use, she said. Were going to have more poisonings.
Oslund also argues that giving access to marijuana, especially at a young age, will encourage users to seek highs from other drugs.
Barbra Caskey from the Vitality Clinic also warns that students who start using the drug at a young age could have their academics negatively impacted.
Our brain is not fully developed until were about 28 or 29 years old, she said. If our basic ability to learn how to problem solve or attend to school matters or other things that require concentration is based on a time frame in which a substance was interfering with that ability to grow and develop, then as an adult were going to have less effective problem-solving skills.
However, not all the data indicates youth will be negatively impacted by recreational marijuana.
The Colorado Department of Public Health indicated that 21.2 percent of high school students in the state had used marijuana in 2015, which is down from 22 percent in 2011.
Putin, Assad Discuss Syrian Ceasefire, Astana Talks in Phone Call
Sputnik News
21:06 29.12.2016(updated 21:13 29.12.2016)
Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Assad "praised agreements on nationwide ceasefire and the transition to the political process, which have been mediated by Russia and Turkey," according to the Kremlin press service.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrian President Bashar Assad discussed in a phone call on Thursday recent agreements on nationwide truce and transition to peace process in war-torn Syria, the Kremlin said in a statement.
According to the statement, the Russian and Syrian leaders "praised agreements on nationwide ceasefire and the transition to the political process, which have been mediated by Russia and Turkey."
"The Syrian leader expressed readiness to honor these agreements," the statement said.
Putin and Assad also agreed that the launch of intra-Syrian talks in Kazakh capital, Astana, "could be an important step towards the resolution of the Syrian crisis," the document added.
Sputnik
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Syrian Democratic Front Unites Internal Opposition Groups, Including Kurds
Sputnik News
15:42 29.12.2016
The newly-created Syrian Democratic Front consists of various political irgranizations, including Committee for National Democratic Action in Syria, the Syria National Dialogue Committee and a Kurdish group, according to the Front's spokeswoman Mais Krydee.
MOSCOW (Sputnik) The newly-created Syrian Democratic Front unites broad forces of the internal opposition and Kurdish groups, the Front's spokeswoman Mais Krydee told Sputnik on Thursday.
The establishment of the Syrian Democratic Front was announced on Monday.
"This front includes many forces, and it is now the most important group uniting the internal opposition representatives," Krydee said.
"It consists of the Committee for National Democratic Action in Syria [political entity made up of left-wing parties and business community], the Syria National Dialogue Committee with its four parties [the National Party, the Party of National Youth for Justice, National Syrian Kurd Coalition, Syrian National-Social Party] and a Kurdish group," she explained.
Mahmoud Marai, the secretary general of the group, said earlier in the day the Syrian Democratic Front was ready to take part in peace talks on Syrian reconciliation in Astana.
On December 17, Russian President Vladimir Putin and his Turkish counterpart Recep Tayyip Erdogan discussed in a phone call the possibility of a meeting in Astana between the parties to the Syrian conflict with Russia, Iran and Turkey as potential mediators.
Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev supported the initiative and expressed readiness to provide a platform for such talks in the Kazakh capital.
Sputnik
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Syrian Command Announces Full Nationwide Ceasefire Starting Friday
Sputnik News
14:57 29.12.2016(updated 15:12 29.12.2016)
'Following the victories and successes' of the Syrian goverment forces, the army command declares a nationwide ceasefire in the country.
BEIRUT (Sputnik) Syrian government forces are ending combat operations throughout the Arab republic on Friday, the Syrian Army command said Thursday.
"Following the victories and successes of our armed forces in a number of areas, the Syrian army command announced the full ceasefire throughout the territory of the Syrian Arab Republic," the command said in a statement.
Earlier in the day, Russian President Vladimir Putin said that the Syrian government and armed opposition groups have reached an agreement on a ceasefire on Syrian territory and on readiness to start peace talks.
"It was just reported that today, a few hours ago, an event occurred which we have not just been waiting for, for a long time, but which we've worked hard to bring about. Three documents have been signed," Putin said.
"The first document [is an agreement signed] between the Syrian government and the armed opposition regarding the ceasefire in the Syrian Arab Republic," he said.
"The second document is a set of measures to monitor the ceasefire arrangement, and the third document is a statement of readiness to start peace negotiations on the Syrian settlement," Putin said at a meeting with the foreign and defense ministers.
He added that the agreements on Syria are fragile, and require special attention and patience, as well as constant contact with partners.
Sputnik
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Turkey's Role in Syria Cease-fire Raises Questions
By Dorian Jones December 29, 2016
Turkey and Russia negotiated intensely throughout December to reach a deal on a cease-fire in Syria. But the two countries still back opposite sides in the fight, which raises questions for Ankara's role in reaching a lasting peace agreement.
"The cease-fire an important step to resolve the Syrian conflict," Turkish presidential spokesman Ibrahim Kalin said Thursday. His statement said the Russian and Turkish presidents spoke Thursday to discuss the cease-fire and next month's planned Syrian peace conference in Kazakhstan.
Kalin confirmed reports that since early December Turkey had facilitated talks between Syrian rebel groups and Russian officials in Ankara.
Some political analysts in Turkey say the fact that Russia and Turkey have backed opposite sides in the war could offer the biggest chance that the cease-fire will succeed where other initiatives have failed.
"They are representing the two opposing sides in the Syrian civil war and they are negotiating," notes political columnist Semih Idiz of the Al Monitor web site. "This is why this may give help and credibility to this process. So anything they agree has some credibility."
The Turkish foreign ministry has said it will work with Russia to support and monitor the cease-fire.
Opposite sides on Assad
Moscow is the main military backer of Syrian President Bashar al Assad and has considerable leverage over his government. Analysts say Russian support was decisive in turning the tide of the war in Damascus's favor.
Ankara, however, has been the most important supporter of the rebels, not only with aid, but also providing their main supply route.
Ankara is still at loggerheads with Moscow over the future role of Syria's President Assad. The Turkish Foreign Minister has reaffirmed Turkey's call that Assad must be removed as part of any peace agreement. Both Moscow and Tehran reject the demand.
Questions remain over how far Ankara's influence extends in the conflict. "Turkey is speaking for the Free Syrian Army, and groups fighting for it," observes columnist Idiz. "But can Turkey can speak for all the groups that make up the conflict in Syria at the moment, that is going to be one of main problems. And then there are lot of proxy wars going on in Syria at the moment."
Seeking cooperation
Turkey has acknowledged that all the countries with influence on combatant groups in Syria must cooperate to secure the cease-fire. To help achieve that, this week Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu held talks with Qatar, another key backer of the Syrian rebels.
Cavusoglu on Wednesday also called on Tehran to use its influence with Shi'ite militias operating in Syria. The foreign minister has pushed for the militias to leave Syria, which some regional analysts suggest is controversial. Tehran and Ankara are increasingly accusing one another of pursing sectarian policies in the region.
The cease-fire agreement does not include U.N.-designated terrorist groups. The Turkish foreign minister says both Islamic State and Jabhat Fateh al- Sham, formally called al-Nusra, will continue to be subject to attacks. But local media report some Syrian rebel groups claim only IS will be targeted.
The cease-fire does not appear to address whether Turkey's military incursion into Syria, operation "Euphrates Shield," will continue to target the Syrian Kurdish rebel group, the YPG. Ankara calls the YPG terrorists, a stance the United Nations does not back.
But Ankara says the YPG is an affiliate of the PKK, which the U.N. does consider a terrorist group. The YPG rejects that claim, as do most of Ankara's Western allies. Turkey's government hasn't yet said what it plans for its its Syria campaign.
Despite the questions, there appears to be powerful momentum behind the process. "This is a last ditch effort, people are looking to see if it provides a result, although this will be harder than thought," says columnist Idiz.
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Fate of Syria Cease-fire Unclear
By Jamie Dettmer December 29, 2016
Much remains unclear about the nationwide Syrian cease-fire Russian President Vladimir Putin announced Thursday a truce that Moscow says can pave the way for Russian-brokered talks on a settlement of the five-year-long war.
But Turkey's participation gives the cease-fire proposal added significance, say Western diplomats, who have been sidelined by the proposal. Ankara can do much to strangle rebel militias that break the cease-fire, having the ability to block arms resupplies crossing its border.
The Syrian National Coalition, the main Western- and Gulf-backed political opposition group, said it would abide by the truce but warned it would respond to cease-fire violations.
The coalition issued a formal statement later Thursday, saying it could count "on all parties to work to ensure the success of the cease-fire agreement and to abide by its terms." But the coalition warned that it feared "Iran will attempt to undermine the agreement as it seeks to further escalate the violence in Syria."
It added: "The coalition confirms that the FSA groups will abide by the cease-fire agreement, but will reserve the right to respond to any violations by regime forces and the Iranian militias who violated all previous cease-fire agreements."
Abiding groups
Russian officials released a list of rebel groups that have so far signed on to the cease-fire deal. They include Faylaq al-Sham, Ahrar al-Sham, Jaysh al-Islam, Thuwwar Ahl al-Sham, Jaysh al-Mujahidin, Jaysh Idlib and Al-Jabhah al-Shamiyah. Their apparent agreement is testimony to Turkish influence.
"The big difference is the role of Turkey," said a Western diplomat based in Ankara.
He and other diplomats say the latest development is part of an unfolding process that has Moscow, Ankara and Tehran increasingly working to plot a mutually beneficial end to the war that could see Syria, in effect, diced into separate zones of influence, although Russian officials insisted Thursday there will be no partitioning of the war-ravaged country.
It was deal-making between Russia and Turkey that cleared the way for the final evacuation of rebel fighters and civilians from eastern Aleppo earlier this month. Moscow and Ankara agreed to several cease-fires that failed, but a final one held, allowing the completion of evacuations of tens of thousands from the city's eastern neighborhoods.
Iran and Russia share an interest in ensuring the survival of Assad regime, a long-term ally of both Moscow and Tehran. For Turkey, the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad has taken a back seat to blocking the emergence of a Kurdish state in northern Syria, the very existence of which would encourage Kurdish separatists in Turkey itself, fear Turkish officials.
"As is known, we have long been working hard to launch negotiations between the regime and the opposition for a comprehensive political resolution of the conflict, to cease violence and to provide humanitarian aid. As a result of our efforts, an agreement between fighting parties in Syria to begin a cease-fire as of 00.00 on Dec. 30, 2016, has been reached. We welcome this development," Turkey's Foreign Ministry declared in a written statement released Thursday.
Geographical considerations
The agreement stipulates the cessation of all armed attacks, including airstrikes. No group including the Syrian regime should try to make territorial gains.
"Groups deemed terror organizations by the U.N. Security Council are excluded from this agreement," Turkey's Foreign Ministry stated, adding that Turkey and Russia would act as joint guarantors overseeing the cease-fire. The deal, in effect, would exclude the Islamic State terror group and al-Qaida-linked Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, the armed group formerly known as the al-Nusra Front.
There also are exclusions of certain geographical areas. Labib Nahhas, a spokesman for Ahrar al-Sham, a powerful Islamist rebel group, told the AFP news agency, "Russia wants to exclude Eastern Ghouta from the cease-fire, which is not acceptable." Eastern Ghouta is a rebel-held suburb of Damascus.
Leaders of the Western-backed Free Syrian Army say Russia also is insisting on the exclusion from the cease-fire of rebel-held Douma, 10 kilometers northeast of the Syrian capital, Damascus.
The exclusions are prompting rebel leaders to complain that Moscow and the Assad regime are gerrymandering the map, excluding areas they want to move on while prohibiting' rebels from trying to seize territory important to them.
"The agreements reached are, of course, fragile, need a special attention and involvement," Putin acknowledged Thursday when announcing the truce. One key challenge will rest in persuading foreign Shi'ite militias, including Hezbollah, the Lebanese movement, to observe the truce.
Remaining issues
On Thursday, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu called for Hezbollah to be withdrawn from Syria altogether, though analysts say it is unlikely Hezbollah commanders will want to withdraw their forces from the strategic mountainous Qalamoun region running adjacent to Lebanon's Beqaa Valley.
Another major challenge for the fate of the cease-fire will rest with the course of any subsequent peace talks. Turkey says it backs political negotiations between the regime and opposition groups in Astana in mid-January. But Turkish officials say they will not sit at a table with Assad's representatives or discuss anything directly with them. The Turks say they still don't believe a political transition can occur while Assad remains in power.
"We have not negotiated the al-Assad issue," Cavusoglu said. He indicated for now that to ensure a cease-fire takes hold, Ankara is prepared to leave aside Assad's future. Another wrinkle could well come with Ankara's insistence that the Kurdish People's Protection Units, or YPG, be excluded from proposed peace talks in Astana.
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Nationwide Syrian Cease-fire Begins
By VOA News December 29, 2016
Reports from Syria say violent clashes broke out less than two hours after the start of a nationwide cease-fire that began at midnight Friday, local time.
The deal includes the Syrian government and several rebel groups, but not certain Islamist groups. That arrangement follows suit with previous halts in fighting.
The monitoring group Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, based in Britain, said Friday that rebels violated the cease-fire by taking over territory in the province of Hama.
But Mohammed Rasheed, a spokesman for the Jaish al-Nasr rebel group, told Reuters news service that government forces violated the deal by shelling areas in Idlib province, which borders Hama.
Russia, which backs Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, and Turkey, which supports rebel groups, have said they would guarantee the truce, which came after Turkey, Syria and Russia last week said they were ready to broker a peace deal in the six-year war.
The cease-fire was expected to be followed by renewed peace talks next month in Kazakhstan's capital, Astana.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Thursday called the cease-fire proposal fragile but said it had the support of the Syrian government and the "main forces of the armed opposition."
"The agreements that have been reached are of course fragile and need special attention and accompaniment for them to be preserved and developed. But nevertheless it's a notable result of our joint work," Putin told a meeting of government ministers.
Reactions
There are dozens of groups fighting in Syria, and it was not immediately clear which of them had agreed to halt hostilities.
Syria's main opposition group, the Syrian National Coalition, confirmed it would abide by the truce but told The Associated Press it would retaliate if attacked.
Ahrar al-Sham and Jaysh al-Islam, two Islamist rebel groups, also joined the cease-fire, according to a statement by Russia's Defense Ministry.
But the Free Syrian Army, a loose alliance of rebel groups supported by Ankara and Washington, said the truce did not include the Islamic State group or the Kurdish YPG militia.
"My answer is clear. This agreement is between the opposition and the regime. That means the cease-fire is between the regime and the opposition," said Osama Abu Zaid, a spokesman for the FSA.
The U.N. Syria envoy, Staffan de Mistura, praised the cease-fire. In a statement, he said the deal would "save civilian lives, facilitate the delivery humanitarian assistance across Syria and pave the way for productive talks in Astana."
There have been three previous attempts to secure a nationwide cease-fire in Syria. The most recent was in September, but it lasted only a little over a week.
Fighting 'likely to continue'
VOA's Moscow correspondent Daniel Schearf said some fighting was likely to continue, regardless of whether most opposition groups agreed to the truce.
"We have to be cautious, of course, because we've seen announcements similar to this in the past, not just with the cease-fire but also with Russia saying it could scale back some of its forces, and then we saw the continued assaults with Russian backing and increased military involvement both in the Mediterranean and in the skies over Syria," Schearf said.
Earlier this month, Moscow and Ankara brokered an agreement for a cease-fire and evacuation of refugees from the rebel enclave in the Syrian city of Aleppo. Last week, the Turkish, Iranian and Russian foreign ministers met in Moscow for talks on Syria.
Russia and Turkey back opposite sides in the Syrian war, but analysts say they have come to recognize each other's importance to resolving the conflict.
"These efforts are significant, but what will really determine their real significance is what results they bear," said political columnist Semih Idiz of the Al Monitor website. "We saw with the evacuation in Aleppo it bore some results. If the cease-fire does work, it will become a very important diplomatic track for Syria."
Ankara and Moscow have stated that terrorist groups will not be covered by any cease-fire. But analysts warn a potential key stumbling block remains over the designation of which rebel groups are considered terrorist organizations.
Earlier this week, Lavrov said Russia, Iran and Turkey had agreed that the priority in Syria was to fight terrorism, not the removal of Assad's government.
Putin said Thursday that he had ordered the Russian military to scale back its deployment in Syria, though he gave no specifics.
Russia's Interfax news agency quoted Franz Klintsevich, the deputy chairman of the Russian upper chamber's defense and security committee, as saying that Moscow would follow the "as low as reasonably practicable" principle in Syria.
"Not a single serviceman of ours who is unnecessary should remain in Syria," he said.
Russia has been a key player, especially since it launched a military intervention in Syria in 2015 in support of Assad.
The United States is not scheduled to attend next month's peace talks. But Lavrov said the U.S. could join the peace process once President-elect Donald Trump takes office next month.
Dorian Jones contributed to this report
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Nationwide Ceasefire Takes Effect in Syria
Sputnik News
01:00 30.12.2016(updated 08:40 30.12.2016)
A major agreement between the Syrian government of Bashar al-Assad and armed opposition groups was reached on Thursday and supported by Russia, Iran and Turkey as guarantors of the peace process. Russian President Vladimir Putin announced the news after emerging as a key peace broker. Last week, foreign ministers from Russia, Iran, and Turkey convened in Moscow to discuss resolutions that could bring peace and stability to the region.
"It was just reported that today, a few hours ago, an event occurred which we have not just been waiting for, for a long time, but which we've worked hard to bring about," Putin said, during a meeting with the Russian Foreign and Defense Ministers on Thursday.
All three parties attending the Moscow talks have vowed to "verify" and "implement" the ceasefire agreement, Putin said. "We realize these agreements are very fragile," he said, requiring "special care and patience" and a continued "professional approach" by Russia and its partners.
The ceasefire will apply to some 62,000 combatants in the region, Russian Defense Minister Sergey Shoigu said. Turkey, which has backed the opposition groups, and Russia, which has supported Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, laid the groundwork for a hotline communications channel for the sides to ensure compliance with the ceasefire, Shoigu added.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's office stated Thursday that the truce represented an "important step to resolve the Syrian conflict.
While the US was notably excluded from the trilateral negotiations in Moscow, the State Department commented Thursday that the Kremlin's deal marked a positive development. "Any effort" that reduces fatalities and "creates the conditions for renewed and productive political negotiations would be welcome," US State Department spokesman Mark Toner said Thursday.
Syrian President Bashar al Assad told Putin on Thursday that Syrian forces are prepared to observe the ceasefire deal, according to the Kremlin.
The current ceasefire will be followed by a comprehensive peace negotiations, according to reports. Kazakhstan's capital Astana will host a peace conference, with the government of Syria and opposition factions participating, comprising "an important step"in "the ultimate resolution of the crisis," according to a statement by the Kremlin.
The ceasefire agreement arrived in the wake of several "successes achieved by the armed forces," according to the Syrian military. The liberation of Aleppo is seen to have proved a decisive sticking point in motivating opposition militants to work toward peace. The four-year Battle of Aleppo reached its end after President Bashar al Assad's troops drove opposition groups out of east Aleppo. The Syrian people immediately broke out in celebrations spurred by the end of the brutal battle.
It was noted that 13 militant factions agreed to sign the five-point peace agreement, public relations official Osama Abu Zeid said Thursday, speaking in Turkey.
Staffan de Mistura, UN envoy for Syria, noted that "these developments should contribute to inclusive and productive intra-Syrian negotiations to be convened under UN auspices on February 8, 2017."
Sputnik
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Russian Jets Strike Daesh Positions Near al-Bab to Support Turkish Troops
Sputnik News
22:04 30.12.2016(updated 23:09 30.12.2016)
After brokering a ceasefire agreement between the Syrian government and opposition rebel groups, Russia bolstered Turkish military operations in the fight against Daesh, with three airstrikes around al-Bab.
Euphrates Shield, a Turkish operation to defend its border from terrorists, received a notable boost from Moscow. Turkish military officials announced that Russian fighter jets eliminated 12 Daesh militants in airstrikes.
The Turkish army and the Free Syrian Army (FSA) are tightening their grip on the Daesh-held city, FSA division commander Taha Atrac told Sputnik Turkey of the progress in the region. The Syrian commander expects al-Bab to be liberated "within the next few days."
One complication stalling efforts to overtake al-Bab is terrorists' use of civilians as human shields, Atrac said. The human rights atrocity of mercilessly using citizens as shields is slowing Euphrates Shield efforts. "Without all these civilians in the town we would have seized the city a long time ago."
Nevertheless, FSA's 1,500 troops have advanced from the north, east, and west of al-Bab, to surround Daesh. The FSA and Turkey must monitor the south, where jihadists can funnel in reinforcements from the Daesh stronghold of Raqqa.
Turkey hopes to secure al-Bab for strategic purposes that extend beyond ousting Daesh, since capturing the city would stop Kurdish forces from claiming the city and unifying their territories.
On Thursday, a ceasefire deal took effect nationwide in Syria, but Daesh was not party to the agreement. Hence, Turkey has looked to Russia and the US-coalition in the region for backup reinforcements in the al-Bab theater. The US has been coy in supporting Turkey as Washington has backed the Kurdish YPG, a group that has long sought to create their own nation, independent of Ankara.
Turkey claims that some 1,171 Daesh fighters and 291 Kurdish troops have been killed since the Euphrates Shield operation began roughly four months ago.
Sputnik
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Kurds to Be Included in Syrian Gov't If They Lay Down Arms - Ankara
Sputnik News
20:08 30.12.2016(updated 23:09 30.12.2016)
The Syrian Kurdish People's Protection Units (YPG) will participate in the formation of the new government on condition they agree to lay down arms and support Syrian territorial integrity, Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu said Friday.
ANKARA (Sputnik) Ankara considers the PYD and its armed wing, the YPG, to be affiliated with the Kurdistan Worker's Party (PKK), which has been designated a terrorist group by Turkey as well as the United States.
"The Syria's Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) will not take part in the talks on Syrian settlement in Astana. As for its armed wing, the YPG, if they lay down arms and support the territorial integrity of Syria instead of forming a terrorist canton, they will be included in the country's government. If they do not refuse terrorism we will continue our struggle against them," Cavusoglu told reporters.
On Thursday, Russian President Vladimir Putin announced that the Syrian government and armed opposition groups reached an agreement on a ceasefire on Syrian territory, taking effect at 00:00 on Friday. Russia and Turkey took the role of the ceasefire guarantors, but other countries may also be invited, according to Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.
The Syrian Kurds have been fighting against the Daesh militant group for years and has been controlling several areas of Syria, including Manbij.
On August 24, the Turkish army with the support of US-led coalition aircraft launched the Euphrates Shield operation to clear Jarablus and the surrounding area of Daesh, outlawed in Russia and many other countries. The operation has been widely criticized both by the Syrian Kurds and Damascus accusing Ankara of violating Syria's territorial integrity.
Sputnik
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Turkish Troops Kill Daesh Military Commander in North Syria
Sputnik News
12:38 30.12.2016
The Turkish Air Force has killed a military commander of Daesh terrorist group in an airstrike conducted in the northern part of Syria, the Turkish General Staff said in a Friday statement.
ANKARA (Sputnik) The statement added that Daesh had exploded a car in Syria's town of Dabiq that had been liberated from Daesh by the Turkish Armed Forces.
"According to the information received from reliable sources, on Thursday the aerial operation of our Air Force has resulted in the death of one of the major Daesh military commanders in Syria Ebu Husen Tunusi, who has been sent from [Daesh-occupied Syria's] Raqqa to Al Bab," the statement obtained by RIA Novosti said.
On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed the Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding area of Daesh. As Jarabulus was retaken, the offensive continued southwest.
The operation has been widely criticized by both the Syrian Kurds and the country's legitimate government, who have accused Turkey of violating Syria's territorial integrity.
Sputnik
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ELKO The community of West Wendover is about to receive a $6,519,000 school remodel.
Once the paperwork and bonds are filed the plan is to start Jan. 9 with the intent of having the project completed by mid-August, said Superintendent Jeff Zander.
MGM Construction out of Utah was unanimously awarded the bid Wednesday after they submitted a second time. Ascent Construction also resubmitted their bid but MGM offered a bid of $257,722 less than their first bid and $595,850 less than Ascents second bid. The winning bid is also $455,517 less than the architects original estimate.
The project involves a remodeling of the old West Wendover Grammar School and gymnasium. This is being undertaken to increase physical capacity and to allow a separate facility for students in seventh and eighth grades. Those students and teachers have been sharing the high school.
A brand new West Wendover Grammar School was completed in October and staff is currently moving classroom equipment to the new building. Grammar school students will be starting the New Year in a squeaky-clean, state of the art building that cost $25 million.
During the remodeling of the old grammar school the rooms will be reconfigured to accommodate the older youth. The building will also have a new science lab and heating and cooling system.
The current gym will gain bleachers and locker rooms. The modular units will also be taken away and all students will be housed in the new building.
Its important to note that we have made a significant investment to the community of Wendover, said Zander. Now we will focus on Elko and Spring Creek.
China warns US against allowing Taiwan leader's stopover
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 5:36PM
Beijing has called on Washington to reject the Taiwanese leader's request to make a stopover in the United States in January and possibly meet the new administration.
China had already given warning to the United States against a change in Washington's decades-long adherence to the "One China" policy and the official recognition of Taiwan as an independent state separate from the mainland.
The US, in 1979, cut diplomatic ties with Taiwan, accepting that there is only one China, and Taiwan is part of it.
However, US President-elect Donald Trump recently announced that he did not feel "bound by a 'One China' policy," signaling a major detour in Washington's diplomatic relations with Beijing.
"I think everyone is very clear about the Taiwanese leader's real intentions in passing through the US. We hope the US can abide by the one-China policy and not let her pass through their border, not give any wrong signals to Taiwan's independence forces," Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said Thursday.
China's Foreign Ministry has repeatedly warned the White House officials that recognizing Taiwan as an independent state would harm bilateral ties between the two countries.
She further said American interests require Washington to "safeguard overall US-China relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan straits."
Earlier this month, the office of Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen said she planned to make a stopover in the US on her way to visit Latin America next month.
Tsai's office said she would visit Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador in that order. She will leave Taiwan on January 7 and return on January 15.
Chinese officials are deeply suspicious of anti-Beijing Tsai, whom they believe wants to push for the formal independence of Taiwan.
Taiwan media outlets have speculated that Tsai plans to meet Trump's transition team ahead of his January 20 inauguration.
Trump caused political tension between the US and China after he spoke to Tsai on the phone earlier this month.
His move was considered in Beijing as undiplomatic and against decades-long commitment by the US to the "One China" policy.
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Furious China Reiterates Warning to US Over Taiwan President Visit
Sputnik News
22:42 29.12.2016(updated 03:16 30.12.2016)
Despite protests from China, Taiwan's Foreign Ministry announced Thursday that President Tsai Ing-wen will stop in the US on her way to a diplomatic trip to Latin America.
The visit will further provoke a China already irritated by a recent telephone call between Tsai and US President-elect Donald Trump, the first such contact between an American and Taiwanese head of state since the administration of President Jimmy Carter.
Since 1979, the US has functioned on the "One China" principle, that holds that Taiwan is a part of China and is therefore incapable of conducting its own diplomatic relations. Beijing still considers Taipei to be a province, and Chinese officials say that Tsai's US visit is a transparent attempt to lobby for the country's full independence.
Increasing tensions between the two countries, a US-deployed research drone was recently intercepted by the Chinese Navy, despite Beijing being made aware that it was US property. Bonnie Glaser, director of the China Power Project at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, told The Guardian that, "This looks like signalling from the Chinese in response to Trump's Taiwan callThe Chinese now have much better control over the military, particularly the navy. It is in China's interest to send signals before Trump is inaugurated, so that he gets the message and be more restrained once he is office."
When news of Tsai's planned US visit first broke, Beijing said they hoped that Washington would "not allow her transit, and does not send any wrong signals to 'Taiwan independence' forces."
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said at a briefing, "We hope the U.S. can abide by the 'one China' policyand not let her pass through their border, not give any false signals to Taiwan independence forces, and through concrete actions safeguard overall U.S. China relations and peace and stability in the Taiwan strait."
Tsai's office announced earlier this month that she would make a diplomatic trip to Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala and Ecuador, embarking on January 7 and returning January 15. It has been speculated that Tsai will attempt to meet with Trump ahead of his January 20, 2017, inauguration.
Beijing conducted military drills near Taiwan this week, which some have interpreted as a threat. Defense Ministry spokesman Yang Yujun claimed the activity was routine, but added the Chinese military is prepared to deal with Taiwan, if the necessity arises.
He told reporters, "The military's holding of exercises is beneficial to raising our ability to oppose Taiwan independence and protecting the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and beneficial to protecting the peaceful development of cross-Taiwan Strait relations and peace and stability there."
Last Tuesday Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi told the People's Daily, "Going forward, China-US relations will face new complexities and uncertain factors Only if China and the US respect each and give consideration to other's core interests and key concerns can there be long-term, stable cooperation."
Sputnik
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China Wants Vatican to Mend Fences With Beijing, Ditch Taiwan
Sputnik News
17:40 30.12.2016(updated 17:42 30.12.2016)
China is ready to engage in constructive dialogue with the Vatican and is hopeful that the Holy See will take practical steps to mend fences with Beijing, a senior Chinese official said.
Wang Zuo'an, Director of the State Administration for Religious Affairs, made the overture in an address to the participants of China's National Catholic Congress.
Earlier, the Vatican held out hope for a normalization of relations with Beijing following its criticism of the recent ordainment of Catholic priests by Chinese bishop.
In an interview with Sputnik China, Ren Yuanzhe, an expert at China's Diplomatic Academy, underscored the importance of normal relations with the Vatican.
"China and the Vatican are trying to improve bilateral ties and Wang Zuo'an statement is fresh proof of Beijing's dersire to mend fences with the Holy See. In 2014, on his way to South Korea, the Pope sent his best wishes to President Xi Jinping and expressed a strong desire to visit China," he said.
China's Catholic community has been growing fast and Beijing's effort to promote religious freedoms in the country has not been lost on the Vatican.
"That's why China, as a major power, pays so much attention to restoring ties with the Vatican," Ren Yuanzhe said.
While reiterating the two sides' shared desire to seek mutually-acceptable compromises, Wang Zuo'an underscored Beijing's wish to see the Vatican breaking diplomatic ties with Taiwan and recognizing the island as part of mainland China.
The Vatican is the only European state that maintains no diplomatic relations with China over the issue of Taiwan.
Lyubov Afonina, an expert with the Institute of the Far East in Moscow, said that the problem of Taiwan in China's relations with the Vatican will be solved when Beijing grants the Pope the right to veto candidacies for Chinese Catholic bishops presented him by Beijing.
Alexei Fenenko, an international relations expert at Moscow State University, believes that Beijing will hardly agree to what could either be seen as its outright defeat or decisive victory.
"It will take time for this mutual interest in resuming ties to mature, otherwise it is not clear why they really need each other," he told Sputnik China.
He added that in 2017 China will be looking for a new chance to mend ties with Europe and Latin America, especially in the face of US pressure that is bound to increase after Donald Trump takes office on January 20.
"Because Latin America is one of the world's few remaining Catholic strongholds and Donald Trump is going to enter the White House, China wants to to play a bigger role in the part of the globe. Hence its desire to improve ties with the Vatican, which Beijing sees as its window on Latin America."
Taiwan too is trying to expand its foothold in predominantly Catholic Latin America.
On January 7 Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen will start a nine-day tour of Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and Salvador.
In June she visited Panama and Paraguay, which Taipei fears could eventually give up diplomatic ties with the island in favor of establishing formal relations with mainland China.
Sputnik
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Turkey: No joint operation with Russia in Syria
Iran Press TV
Thu Dec 29, 2016 10:58AM
Turkish Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu says his country is not involved in any joint military operation with Russia in Syria's northern province of Aleppo.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with the A Haber television news network on Thursday, Cavusoglu stated that there is no such offensive in the Syrian city of al-Bab, located 40 kilometers northeast of Aleppo.
On August 24, Turkish troops invaded northern Syria in a bid to support the so-called Free Syrian Army militants and rid the border area of Kurdish militants. The offensive was launched in coordination with the US military.
The incursion was the first major Turkish military intervention in Syria, which drew strong condemnation from the Damascus government for violating the Arab country's sovereignty.
Cavusoglu said Ankara was working with Moscow to establish a ceasefire in Syria before the end of the current year.
"We are on the verge of an agreement with Russia. If everything goes alright, we will make this agreement. Russia will be the guarantor" of the Syrian government, he said.
Cavusoglu also criticized the United States government for providing weapons to Kurdish militants in Syria.
"The coalition, which the US is in, has not been giving aerial support to our Euphrates Shield operation since a particular time-frame. The US is providing arms to the YPG and PYD," he said, referring to the two main Kurdish groups.
Turkey is said to be among the main supporters of militant groups in Syria and stands accused of training and arming Takfiri elements in Syria and facilitating their passage into the country.
However, a series of bombings claimed by Takfiri groups inside Turkey have apparently forced the country to step up cooperation with Russia which is helping the Syrian government in its fight against terrorists.
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Five senior PKK figures detained in southern Turkey: Interior Ministry
Iran Press TV
Fri Dec 30, 2016 1:51PM
The Turkish Interior Ministry says at least five high-profile figures of the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) have been arrested during a series of counter-terrorism operations against the militant group as well as its affiliate, the Kurdistan Communities Union (KCK), in the southern part of the country.
A Ministry source, requesting not to be named, said the five were arrested in the southeastern provinces of Sanliurfa and Diyarbakir in addition to the Mediterranean southwestern province of Antalya.
They were charged with establishing, controlling and and membership in a terrorist group.
One of the detainees, identified only by the initials H.A., reportedly worked in the northeastern Syrian city of Qamishli on the border with Turkey for Hawar News Agency (ANHA).
Two others, who went by the initials S.A. and E.A., met and held talks with top terrorists at PKK positions in Mount Qandil in the far-flung mountains of Iraq's semi-autonomous Kurdistan region.
A shaky ceasefire between the PKK, which has been calling for an autonomous Kurdish region since 1984, and the Turkish government collapsed in July 2015. Attacks on Turkish security forces have soared ever since.
Over the past few months, Turkish ground and air forces have been carrying out operations against the PKK positions in the country's troubled southeastern border region as well as northern Iraq and Syria.
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Turkey Troops Killed Some 1,170 Daesh Fighters During Euphrates Shield Operation
Sputnik News
12:01 30.12.2016
Turkish forces have killed 1,171 fighters from the Daesh jihadist group, as well as 291 militants from the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK) since the beginning of the Operation Euphrates Shield in northern Syria in August, the Turkish General Staff said in a Friday statement.
ANKARA (Sputnik) On August 24, Turkish forces, backed by US-led coalition aircraft, began a military operation dubbed the Euphrates Shield to clear the Syrian border town of Jarabulus and the surrounding Daesh area, of a terrorist organization outlawed in Russia and many other countries. As Jarabulus was retaken, the joint forces of Ankara, the coalition and Syrian rebels continued the offensive southwest.
"Since the beginning of the Operation Euphrates Shield 1,294 Daesh terrorists have been neutralized: 1,171 killed, 117 wounded, and six more captured. At the same time, 306 militants of Syrian Kurds' self-defense forces the Kurdistan Workers' Party: 291 was killed, four injured and 11 surrendered," the statement said.
The statement added that the Turkish Air Force had also destroyed 883 terrorist targets in the operation.
Sputnik
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Ukrainians Reflect Bitterly On 'Betrayed Hopes' Of Euromaidan
Christopher Miller December 29, 2016
KYIV -- Between classes in Kolkata, India, 17-year-old Svyatoslav Yurash was glued to a video stream of almost a million of his compatriots rallying in Ukraine's capital when he decided to join the protest that would soon swell into a revolt.
The night before in Kyiv -- on November 30, 2013 -- hundreds of demonstrators, most of them students, had been bludgeoned by riot police. The idealistic Yurash couldn't stand by any longer. He flew home and rushed to Independence Square -- better known as simply the Maidan. Soon, he would launch the influential Euromaidan PR agency that amplified voices from the barricades in half a dozen or so languages across almost as many platforms.
Out on the Maidan, the "loss of hope" that had driven Yurash out of Ukraine after the 2010 election victory of pro-Moscow President Viktor Yanukovych faded. As he and his fellow protesters pressed their case for closer ties to the West and greater transparency, fighting back the ranks of riot police, passion swelled within him. He sensed that his country was finally on the right track, which for him meant the path toward Europe as a thriving new democracy and away from Russia's smothering sphere of influence.
Three years later, that passion has turned to frustration.
Yanukovych might be in Russian exile, but many of Ukraine's would-be revolutionaries say they are disillusioned by the lack of progress and complain that the country is now dangerously close to being rerouted from the European track set out by the uprising.
The past year has seen the collapse of the second postrevolutionary government and the departure of a number of reform-minded ministers and other officials. For the most part, they have been replaced by old-guard politicians -- including some with close ties to the president, Petro Poroshenko -- who critics say have resumed the opaque ways of Ukrainian politics.
"The post-Maidan leadership has betrayed our hope for rebuilding Ukraine anew," Yurash, now 20, tells RFE/RL. "These people kept the country together, but there has been little desire to change. Instead, they've worked in the usual corrupt way."
Indeed, corruption remains rampant in Ukraine. Moreover, prosecutors have failed to bring current or former senior officials to justice for serious crimes, including the killings of more than 100 protesters during the unrest.
And Ukraine's economy is still reeling from the 2014 chaos and subsequent conflicts with Russia and Russia-backed separatists. Its currency, the hryvnya, has plunged to historic lows. Some three-quarters of Ukrainians, who make just $200 a month on average, consider themselves poor; almost 82 percent think their lives are worse since the revolution, according to recent surveys.
Meanwhile, the passionate idealism that drove many Euromaidan demonstrators to hit the streets three years ago might have ebbed; only around 1 in 4 Ukrainians in a fresh study by pollster SOCIS expressed a willingness to participate in Euromaidan today. But the perception remains that something is amiss; nearly half of respondents in the same poll think such a protest is "likely" or "very likely" in the first half of 2017.
Chants of "Bandits out!" and "Shame!" -- popularized during the 2013-14 uprising -- are again being shouted during street protests aimed at the government and president. More than 1,000 demonstrators at a Ukrainian Federation of Trade Unions rally in front of Ukraine's parliament on December 8 chided lawmakers, saying they should be ashamed of themselves for not doing more to increase social benefits for workers as utility costs rise. Members of far-right groups returned to Independence Square on November 21, the anniversary of the start of the uprising, to demand the resignation of Ukraine's "criminal" leadership. Kyiv, which has been ground zero for two revolutions in 12 years, has been rife for months with talk of a third revolt.
"I have a strong feeling that if you leave everything as it is, awaiting us is a counterrevolution," Mustafa Nayyem, a former journalist turned lawmaker whose Facebook post on November 21, 2013, is widely viewed as the catalyst for Euromaidan, as the movement came to be called, wrote on that same social media platform on its third anniversary.
Many Ukrainians have placed the blame for the slow pace of progress on one person in particular: President Poroshenko. Several embittered reformers who have quit government accuse him and his perceived cronies of blocking their efforts to fight graft and nepotism. Most recently, a member of parliament now in self-exile accused the president and his inner circle of massive corruption -- which his administration vehemently denies.
Aivaras Abromavicius, the Lithuanian-born former economy minister, quit Ukraine's government in February, saying he wouldn't be a "puppet" for Poroshenko allies, whom he accused of blocking economic reforms and pressuring him to appoint "dubious people" to senior positions in state-controlled companies.
Former Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili last month resigned from his presidential appointment as governor of Odesa in the south, accusing Poroshenko and his circle of unbridled corruption. Saakashvili ally Yulia Marushevska, known for her English-language "I am a Ukrainian" video before Poroshenko appointed her to head the Odesa customs department, tells RFE/RL that in the Black Sea port city she and Saakashvili found their "green light [to reform the region] turned to a red light." Almost immediately, she says, they were confronted by "a complete absence of political will and an absence of any real desire to change" from Poroshenko's allies in government, especially Prime Minister Volodymyr Hroysman. Marushevska resigned a week after Saakashvili.
Anticorruption campaigner Oleksandra Drik, president of the Kyiv-based Civic Lustration Committee, an NGO that monitors anticorruption reforms, says that Poroshenko and the government of Volodymyr Hroysman are treading the line between making "just enough" changes to appease Ukraine's Western backers and preserving the "old, corrupt system" that has enriched oligarchs and bled state coffers since the country's independence in 1991.
Of course, some impediments are beyond Kyiv's control. The ongoing, Russia-backed war in Ukraine's east, which exploded in the weeks after Yanukovych's ouster, and the Kremlin's forcible annexation of the Crimean Peninsula, are also strangling Ukrainian reform efforts. Poroshenko announced during a trip to the front line on December 6 that after 31 months of fighting, the conflict had reached a grim milestone: More than 10,000 people, including at least 2,500 troops and 7,500 civilians, have been killed since April 2014. Moscow has used the war as a lever to destabilize Kyiv, dialing up when it sees fit a war that Poroshenko has said costs Ukraine about $5 million a day.
The West has sought to be supportive of Kyiv. But Washington and Brussels have become increasingly annoyed by the slow pace of reforms in Kyiv and Poroshenko's personal lack of commitment to change, two diplomats from Western embassies tell RFE/RL. Officials from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) visited Kyiv in November but left without assuring it another aid tranche, saying decisive steps must first be taken to combat corruption and prosecute and convict corrupt high-level officials. A European Court of Auditors report published on December 7 said that EU funds meant to help Ukraine reform have had "limited impact."
Dmytro Shymkiv, a deputy head of the presidential administration, tells RFE/RL that keeping a steady pace is more important than being speedy.
"If we stop, that's going to be a challenge for the country," he says. "I don't think there is a way back."
It hasn't been all gloom and doom. Ukraine has managed to launch new government anticorruption agencies, introduce electronic systems for the disclosure of public officials' assets and public procurement, modernize its military, and decrease its energy dependence on Russia (Kyiv has not purchased Russian gas for over a year), among other things.
Perhaps the most visible reform has been that of its police forces, infamous for being corrupt and violent.
"Three years ago, we were standing against the police, and now we are standing for them," says Kateryna Kruk, 25, an activist who gained notice outside of Ukraine by informing the world of Euromaidan events through Twitter.
And in December, the government adopted a series of landmark reforms that the current health minister, U.S.-born Ulana Suprun, tells RFE/RL will overhaul Ukraine's notoriously bureaucratic and corrupt health-care system. Suprun, who played an instrumental role in the makeshift medical services provided at Euromaidan, says the "revolutionary" improvements being unveiled on January 1 will guarantee that all Ukrainians have access to primary health and emergency care.
Ukrainian officials have hoped it is all enough to convince the European Union that it is worthy of a special relationship -- including a freshly minted deal to allow Ukrainians visa-free travel to the EU's Schengen zone, a key demand of Euromaidan.
But it may not be enough to convince many disaffected Ukrainians that there's still momentum for change here.
"The chance for real reforms died with the breakup of the 'Dream Team,'" Abromavicius says, in a reference to the technocratic government that he was a part of under former Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk. It also included an American-born finance minister, Natalie Jaresko, another favorite in Washington. That government was ousted in April.
Now, as 2016 rumbles to a close and Yurash sits in the shadow of the burned-out Trade Unions building that once housed his Euromaidan PR operation, he says he remains optimistic, despite everything. But, he adds, he is disappointed in Ukraine's leadership and what he sees as a squandered opportunity.
"Those now in power don't realize that they missed their chance to go down in history as the new Ukraine's founding fathers," he says. "Poroshenko could have been the Ukrainian George Washington. He's lost that chance."
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ukrainians- reflect-bitterly-on-betrayed-hopes- uromaidan/28203245.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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'Tornado' Trial Tests Kyiv's Ability To Rein In Rogue Paramilitaries
Christopher Miller December 30, 2016
PRYVILLIA, Ukraine -- Eighteen months after the last of the Kyiv-backed militiamen vacated this weary town near the front lines of Europe's only active war, School No. 32 is a crime scene.
A former forward operating base for one of the ragtag "territorial defense battalions" recruited to defend Ukraine in its war against Russia-backed separatists in the east, the schoolhouse is cordoned off with razor wire.
"It's a house of horrors," an elderly woman calls out admonishingly to the RFE/RL reporter photographing it under a gray sky, as she shuffles to the nearby bus stop.
Ukrainian military prosecutors, police, and residents allege that members of the Tornado battalion tasked with policing Pryvillia and nearby communities went rogue, committing violent crimes against at least 13 civilians in the first half of 2015. The list of accusations includes rape and torture, kidnapping, illegal imprisonment, extortion, robbery, and creating a criminal gang.
Tornado was disbanded in June 2015 and 12 of its members were arrested and are now on trial behind closed doors in Kyiv's Obolon district court. The defendants include the defunct unit's leader, Ruslan Onyshchenko, a burly fighter with at least three former criminal convictions who also led a battalion previously disbanded after charges that it had pillaged towns under its control.
Eleven of the defendants have proclaimed their innocence, while the other has pleaded guilty and is said to be cooperating with authorities to build a case against his former brothers-in-arms.
Twelve more of Tornado's 170 or so former members are on a national wanted list for serious crimes.
While questions remain as to individual guilt, there is little doubt that the battalion -- motivated, locals and detectives argue, not by patriotism but by a penchant for anarchy and contempt for eastern Ukrainians they deemed to be pro-Russian -- cultivated a climate of fear and intimidation in the communities it was supposed to protect.
Of more than 20 people, including law-enforcement officials, that RFE/RL approached in Pryvillia and neighboring Lysychansk to talk about the Tornado battalion, just three -- one police officer, one local man, and one journalist -- agreed to let their names be published alongside their comments. Others demanded anonymity to avoid being targeted for retaliation by former battalion members or their sympathizers.
Even from the relative safety of the capital, observers and officials in Kyiv have been reluctant to talk publicly about the case, and media have been careful in their mostly perfunctory coverage.
Litmus Test
Ukrainians have been shaken and divided by the Tornado trial, which observers view as a test of authorities' capacity to deliver justice and hold their own fighters accountable for crimes committed in the conflict zone.
Many of those same observers have also accused Russia-backed separatist militias of war crimes and documented evidence of abuses against civilians in areas under their control.
"The Tornado case can show whether the Ukrainian legal system is willing and able to bring to justice people from the Ukrainian side who are accused of committing the most serious crimes," Anton Korynevych, a Ukrainian lawyer and researcher at U.K.-based Global Rights Compliance who has followed abuses by Ukraine's volunteer battalions, told RFE/RL. He noted that such wrongdoing might constitute war crimes and could, in theory, be taken to the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Rights activists and lawyers note Ukraine's limited success at trying and convicting its own militiamen, despite plenty of opportunity. There was an exception in July when a court in Luhansk, near the front lines of fighting, convicted another Tornado fighter of rape and sentenced him to six years in prison.
But high-profile cases in Kyiv have failed to deliver convictions or even be carried to completion.
In one, a commander and fighter from the volunteer Aidar battalion were remanded to pretrial detention in July on suspicion of robbery and abduction, among other offenses. But the two were released after supporters blocked their transfer to court and influential deputies and the prosecutor-general, Yuriy Lutsenko, intervened personally.
Ukraine "failed completely" in that case, Maria Tomak, a civic activist at the Kyiv-based Center for Civil Liberties (CCL), told RFE/RL, citing what she said was an abundance of evidence.
So the ongoing Tornado trial in Kyiv marks perhaps the authorities' biggest test to date. But it's not so cut-and-dried.
Counterclaims
Tornado's detractors say the battalion's story is one of brutality and depravity and that it has left a stain on the mostly positive reputation of the country's patriotic volunteer fighters. Its supporters blame an alleged smear campaign orchestrated by state officials to conceal some of those same officials' illicit business dealings in separatist-controlled territories. (Officials have denied those accusations.)
Authorities and at least one member of parliament have claimed video evidence exists that proves the rape allegations against the Tornado members in Pryvillia. But the only video known to have been shown in court is a reenactment made with the help of purported eyewitnesses.
The prosecution's case rests heavily on the testimony of six alleged victims. All 12 of the accused Tornado members have refused to take polygraph tests, Current Time TV, the Russian-language network run by RFE/RL in cooperation with VOA, reported, quoting officials.
Tornado commander Onyshchenko's partner, 26-year-old Yulia Marzhut, told reporters outside the courthouse in August that the charges were outlandish and the case politically motivated.
Onyshchenko did not have his own room in the Pryvillia schoolhouse, she said.
"He slept in a room with 10 men," Marzhut said, adding that she was also present on the makeshift base. "Tell me, when could he have raped this woman? Where was I?"
Adding to the complexity of the case, lawyers for the Tornado defendants say their clients were subjected to torture while in official custody, something that human rights officials believe may be true.
In June 2015, Ukraine's ombudswoman for human rights, Valeria Lutkovskaia, reported violence by police officers against the 12 Tornado fighters after examinations that showed "bodily injuries of various severities." Her findings were widely reported, but no legal action has come from them.
The defendants' fates in custody and other details of the case are difficult to track, since judges ordered the trials closed over the sensitive nature of the alleged crimes and because the accused and their supporters have reportedly threatened the judges and accusers.
But even with the courtroom closed to observers, the latest Tornado trial has become a public spectacle. Authorities released video footage from a court session they said shows the defendants interrupting proceedings by shouting and hurling their own feces and urine at judges and prosecutors. One defendant is heard in the video recording threatening a judge, "I'll come after you, bitch, and I'll rape your corpse with a rubber cock."
Outside the trial, Tornado backers like Donbas battalion founder and lawmaker Semen Semenchenko have protested and called for supporters to storm the courthouse. Semenchenko told RFE/RL that he believes the charges are "fabricated." A scuffle involving dozens of police and protesters in front of the courthouse in August landed several officers in the hospital.
"Threats, intimidation, and violence outside and inside the courtroom have plagued this trial and, if continued unchecked, leave no hope for justice," Tanya Cooper, head of Human Rights Watch's (HRW) Ukraine office, told RFE/RL. "Such violence seriously undermines the integrity of the proceedings."
Battalion Beginnings
Ukraine's volunteer defense battalions emerged in April 2014, when they stepped in for an underfunded and inexperienced military that was struggling to combat a sophisticated Russia-backed separatist insurgency in the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. For helping stem the insurgent tide, many Ukrainians view the battalion fighters as heroes and above scrutiny.
Eventually, as the Ukrainian military gained its footing, authorities began bringing such militias into the official chain of military command. Most have complied and continue to fight in the war.
Some battalions have resisted and become problems for the government, however, maneuvering unilaterally on the battlefield and seemingly operating outside the law. The Shakhtarsk battalion was disbanded in October 2014 after repeated instances of looting in towns it was assigned to protect. Two other battalions accused by Amnesty International, HRW, and the United Nations of abuses and war crimes in eastern Ukraine -- Aidar and Azov -- remain in action in a conflict that the UN says has killed more than 9,750 people, including more than 2,000 service members.
'Everything Was Not As It Seemed'
But Tornado, whose insignia was a yin and yang pierced by a sword, is perhaps Ukraine's most notorious battalion. Formed in December 2014 when Interior Minister Arsen Avakov signed an order to create a special police battalion to protect areas in the Luhansk region, Tornado was said to have signed on many fighters from the disbanded Shakhtarsk battalion, Onyshchenko among them.
Chief Military Prosecutor Anatoly Matios has described Tornado as a motley group of mostly misfits forced out of other battalions for misconduct, members of organized criminal groups, and common criminals. In June 2015, Matios said his office had found records showing that 43 Tornado fighters -- nearly one-quarter of its ranks-- had criminal records, including some felonies.
A report in October 2015 by the Center for Civil Liberties cited an interview with a Tornado fighter who -- speaking on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from comrades -- appeared to corroborate Matios's claim.
Tornado's commander, Onyshchenko, has at least three prior convictions, according to court documents obtained by veteran Ukrainian crime reporter Volodymyr Boyko and seen by RFE/RL.
'They Could Do No Wrong'
In separate interviews in September, Nikolai Topolskov, a Lysychansk police colonel, and a local police detective in Pryvillia who requested anonymity recalled in detail the events that followed the battalion's arrival in January 2015.
Topolskov said heavy fighting had already come and gone and "everything was back to relative normalcy" after the area had changed hands twice -- from Ukraine's to the Luhansk separatists' and back -- by the time he found accommodation for Tornado inside School No. 32.
Accusations of violence and abductions arose almost immediately.
"There was one, and then another, and then another," Topolskov told RFE/RL. "At first, we thought that, well, this was a Ukrainian battalion. We didn't believe that they could do something wrong."
The exact number of cases of missing persons is difficult to say for sure, he and the detective said, due to the large number of complaints and because they have been consolidated into one report, currently in state hands, on Tornado's alleged crimes. But both men said they had recorded "very many."
One man came to Topolskov, he said, to tell him about Tornado fighters who forced him and another male detainee at gunpoint to rape a third man who was tied to a pommel horse.
"The man told me, 'We had to do it, because they threatened us with machine guns,'" Topolskov said, recalling the witness's statement.
'Thank God They Are Gone'
On June 17, 2015, Ukrainian authorities detained Onyshchenko and seven other Tornado battalion members. Tornado fighters suggested at the time that the arrests were connected to its members stopping a train that they said was moving illicit cast iron from the separatist-held city of Alchevsk to government-controlled territory the day before.
A day later, Avakov ordered the battalion disbanded, citing a formal complaint from the Luhansk regional governor at the time, Hennadiy Moskal, about a disturbing string of alleged abuses by Tornado. Many Tornado members simply joined other battalions, according to Topolskov and the police detective, who said some still serve in the Pryvillia and Lysychansk areas.
Now, well over a year since Tornado gunmen roamed the streets of Pryvillia, its effects on the town's residents can still be seen and felt. Until they see convictions, many said, they won't rest easily.
Leonid Mikhailovich, a Privilliya pensioner who lives in a cottage across from School No. 32, speaking of a seeming conspiracy of silence among locals regarding Tornado, told RFE/RL: "People hope that by not talking about them, they will be able to forget what happened here."
"But we can never forget," he added. "We can just thank god that they are gone."
Source: http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-tornad o-battalion-rogue-paramilitaries- kyiv-trial-crimes/28205795.html
Copyright (c) 2016. RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036.
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ELKO Rural Nevada residents bid farewell to several prominent citizens over the past year, including a politician, district attorney, civil servant, engineer, and vocalist who each impacted the community with decades-long careers.
John Carpenter Politician and Rancher
State assemblyman John Carpenter died Nov. 19 at the age of 86. A rancher, businessman and politician, Carpenters work in the Legislature secured funding that established or maintained numerous institutions including Great Basin College, South Fork Dam, the Elko Senior Citizens Center, Committee Against Domestic Violence Harbor House, the California Trail Interpretive Center and the Northeastern Nevada Museum.
Carpenter was remembered as a super strong advocate for rural Nevada and particularly Elko and Elko County, by Elko County Commissioner Delmo Andreozzi.
Named to the Assembly Hall of Distinction in 2011, Carpenters legacy will go on for years and years, forever, said friend and protege, Assemblyman John Ellison.
As an activist, Carpenter backed ranchers and rural citizens for use of public lands. With state senator Dean Rhoads, O.Q. Chris Johnson, attorney Grant Gerber, he was a prominent figure in the South Canyon Road issue that drew national attention to the countys dispute with the U.S. Forest Service.
Calling the Jarbidge Shovel Brigade a precedent-setting, grassroots movement, Carpenter helped the Jarbidge Shovel Brigade open the road and continued to fight for local control of Nevadas lands, most recently supporting the Argenta allotment dispute.
Carpenter is survived by his wife, Roseanne, and seven children: John Jet, Scott, Elizabeth, Susan, Doug, Lois, and Linda.
Mark Torvinen District Attorney
District Attorney Mark Torvinen died suddenly in August. A longtime attorney, his first appointment to the DAs office was in 1985, winning election soon after and serving until 1990. In 2001, he was appointed a deputy district attorney and won four-year terms in as district attorney in 2010 and 2014.
Described as one Elko Countys hardest-working civil servants, Torvinen described himself as a working DA due to the increase in cases and staffing problems. He worked 60 hours a week even as he was plagued by health issues.
Appointed Chief Civil District Attorney shortly after his death, Kristin McQueary called Torvinen, a great attorney and a great boss.
A native Nevadan, Torvinen worked at the 6 Bar Ranch in Spring Creek as a teenager before attending the University of Nevada Reno and Pepperdine University. After concluding four years in the U.S. Army, he made his home in Elko with his wife Barbara and daughters Molly, Michaella, and Leah. Torvinen was 64.
Ceasar Salicchi Elko County Treasurer
Elko County Treasurer for 36 years and an advocate for children and adults with disabilities, Ceasar Salicchi died in October at the age of 89.
A native of Elko County, Salicchi grew up on his parents ranch in Lamoille. Contracting polio in 1952, he recovered, but lost most of the use of his legs and needed crutches to walk for the rest of his life. He attended business college in Reno and worked as office manager at Elko General Hospital before being elected as Elko County Treasurer in 1970.
Serving nearly four decades in the Treasurers office before retiring in 2006, Salicchi modernized the department and managed the countys investment portfolio. He was also known for working with people and bringing a friendly atmosphere to the office.
He had real concerns for people, remembered Elko County Manager Rob Stokes.
Becoming a voice for those with disabilities, Salicchi founded what is now the Ruby Mountain Resource Center and was appointed to committees for the Developmental Disabilities Act and Employ the Handicapped Act.
Among his numerous awards, Salicchi was honored by the Elko County Commission for his years of service, named a Distinguished Nevadan by the Board of Regents, and recognized on the floor of the U.S. Senate with a congressional commendation.
Mark Chilton Engineer, Great Basin College Founder
Best remembered for the relocation of the railroad tracks in the late 1970s and early 1980s, Mark Chilton was also a founder of Great Basin College and contributed to several building and improvement projects in Elko.
Arriving in Elko in the late 1950s with his wife Kathryn and children Cheri, Carey and Ward, Mark started Chilton Engineering a few years later. In the 1970s, the company took on Project Lifesaver, a 10-year project that removed the railroad tracks that ran through Elkos business district and next to the Humboldt River. Fifth and Twelfth street bridges were rebuilt to arch over the river and the tracks and a new pedestrian bridge was constructed at Ninth Street.
In addition to Project Lifesaver, Chiltons company was also involved in building and designing South Fork Reservoir, restoring the Henderson Bank Building and Pioneer Hotel, and creating Elko Heat Company which brought geothermal heat to several downtown buildings including his own home.
Joining with other Elko businessmen in 1967, he helped establish Great Basin College which Chilton supported over the years with donations of land and setting up scholarships for engineering students.
In honor of Chiltons contribution to the city, the Elko City Council recently voted to name the Centennial Tower after him to be built in the parking corridor at Seventh Street between Railroad and Commercial Streets.
Chilton died Nov. 9 at the age of 89.
Lynn Rubel Ruby Mountain Symphony
Soprano and executive director of the Ruby Mountain Symphony for 30 years, Lynn Rubel died in July of an apparent heat attack.
Rubel, a classically trained soprano at the American Conservatory of Music, arrived in Elko with pianist and conductor George Rosenberg in 1986. To bring orchestra concerts to Elko, they formed the Northern Nevada Concert Orchestra Association a year later. The concerts gave young and aspiring musicians an opportunity to perform with a professionally trained orchestra.
In 2002, Rubel continued the symphony after the death of Rosenberg, taking on fundraising, grant writing, publicity, and concert managing duties.
The symphony was her baby, her life, said husband Marvin Epstein about her years of dedication to keeping the organization alive.
Jane Brown, current conductor of the symphony, praised her fortitude and dedication in bringing educational and musical opportunities to young people and the rural communities of Northern Nevada.
In honor of Rubel, the Ruby Mountain Symphony dedicated their fall concert to her and performed several of her favorite songs. Rubel was 71.
The Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office is searching for a missing 56-year-old resident.
Timothy Wesley Barbour last was seen in the Gretna community of Pittsylvania County earlier this week, according to a news release issued late Thursday evening.
Police believe Barbour was traveling in a 1999 dark blue Jeep Cherokee with a license plate of SKN-YRD. The vehicle may appear to have front-end damage to the grill area, police said.
Barbour is considered endangered because of medical conditions.
Anyone who knows his whereabouts or who has seen or spoken to Barbour is asked to contact the Pittsylvania County Sheriffs Office at (434) 432-7931 or email sar@pittgov.org.
Four days after New Jersey resident Barbara Briley, 71, and her great-granddaughter, LaMyra Briley, 5, went missing, the two were found by a property owner Wednesday afternoon near their vehicle in a wooded area in Dinwiddie County, according to Virginia State Police.
Both are now in stable condition, according to Hamilton Township police. State police here said Barbara Briley was unconscious when discovered Wednesday and was evacuated by helicopter to VCU Medical Center, where she was listed in serious condition Wednesday night.
No foul play is suspected in their disappearance.
The family posted a message to Facebook on Thursday morning.
"On behalf of the Briley family we are happy to confirm that Barbara and LaMyra Briley have been found. Thank you everyone who has assisted our family during this time. Our prayers have been answered. We ask at this time if you will respect our privacy and a formal statement will be issued later. God bless you all and thank you again for praying for our family."
Her great-granddaughter was alert, talkative and appeared to be in good shape, authorities said. She was taken from the rescue scene for medical evaluation and is now in the custody of a family member.
The two were discovered about 45 feet from their Toyota RAV4 on rural private property in the 16000 block of Nash Road, at least a mile from the nearest public road. They were sitting together against a tree.
According to state police, Barbara Briley appears to have turned off Nash Road and onto a dirt road, which she followed about three-tenths of a mile before pulling off into the woods.
At one point, she drove over a small tree and attempted to back up, only to have the RAV4 get stuck in a remote area of the property, police said. The two apparently had enough drinks and snacks on hand to sustain them for several days.
A Dinwiddie resident called authorities upon spotting the SUV shortly before 5 p.m. The man had seen news reports, realized who the Brileys were and called 911, said Maj. William Knott of the Dinwiddie Sheriffs Office.
This person probably saved them, Knott said.
The FBI got involved Tuesday in what already had been an extensive search by police. Barbara Briley and her great-granddaughter were last seen Christmas Eve at an Exxon station in Caroline County. They were traveling to Morven, N.C., where they were to celebrate Christmas with family.
Prior to the Brileys having been found Wednesday evening, a niece of Barbara Brileys said her aunt used to work as a driver for New Jersey Transit and had made the nine-hour trip to North Carolina numerous times.
Driving is not an issue when it comes to my Aunt Barbara, said Ginger Bittle, who added that she didnt know her aunt to have any medical problems.
Relatives had repeatedly tried to reach her by phone and retraced the route they believed she was traveling, but to no avail.
On Tuesday, Barbara Brileys cellphone pinged off a Sprint tower in Dinwiddie County, prompting authorities to search an area between Petersburg and the county airport.
Surveillance video taken Christmas Eve a little after 5:30 p.m. shows Barbara Briley at the Exxon station in the 23800 block of Rogers Clark Boulevard in Ruther Glen.
Gas station clerk Joanna Strange told local media outlets Briley came inside to say she was lost and that Strange helped Briley with her GPS before she went on her way.
Officers spent much of Monday searching the Ruther Glen area and then shifted their efforts to an area south of Richmond after police in New Jersey learned that the Brileys may have been there early Tuesday, state police Sgt. Stephan Vick said.
State troopers looked up and down the Interstate 85, Interstate 95 and U.S. 1 corridors, going all the way to the North Carolina state line without luck, Vick said. They used a helicopter and hunted for signs of guardrail damage or other evidence that a car may have run off the road, he said.
Police in Hamilton Township, N.J., led the investigation.
Investigators want to know who killed a Liberty man near Barnes Street in Reidsville earlier this month.
Phillip Ray Austin, 43, was traveling on a moped at 7:30 p.m. Dec. 16 from his house in Liberty to Virginia when a vehicle struck him from behind on U.S. 29 North near the Barnes Street exit.
Highway Patrol spokesman Chris Knox said the impact caused Austin to fall from his moped and strike his head on the pavement. The other driver never stopped.
"They would have known they hit something," Knox said. "We believe the lights were working properly on the moped and that there was no reason not to have seen him."
Knox said the impact left little damage to the moped but hitting the pavement proved fatal.
Austin's death left investigators and his family searching for answers.
"Every morning I think I have a breakdown," said Beverly Perry, Austin's sister.
Perry and Austin were the middle children in a family of six. Most of Austin's family live in Tennessee, making his loss and the investigation even more difficult on them.
"My mother is having a hard time with it but she is faithful to the Lord and knows in her heart and she will tell us that even if it does not get solved here, whoever is responsible will pay for what they did in this lifetime or the next," Perry said.
Perry said Austin's daughter is having difficulty dealing with his death. It's a loss Austin and his siblings went through with their own father 28 years ago, and Perry believes learning who caused the wreck would help bring his daughter closure.
Austin first moved to North Carolina to serve at the Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, before moving to Greensboro, where he had visited his aunt, uncle and cousins on weekends. Eventually, he moved to Liberty.
Perry said her brother had "a heart of gold" and would give anyone the shirt off his back.
Coming to terms with what happened has been difficult.
"There's moments where you are mad," Perry said. "You are angry because you wonder if the hit-and-run driver had stopped, would the outcome have been different?"
Would help have gotten to her brother faster, she wonders.
A Reidsville Fire Department incident report shows a passerby performed CPR on Austin until paramedics arrived. He was taken to Moses Cone Hospital where he died the next day.
Perry said he died from multiple head injuries and blunt force trauma, according to the death certificate.
Knox said Austin was wearing a helmet when he was struck. Perry said troopers told the family the helmet fell off at some point after the moped was struck. She said the damage to the helmet troopers described was so severe her mother refused to look at it.
Troopers immediately began investigating how Austin was hit and who struck his moped.
"It's hard to know how to search for this vehicle because there isn't much evidence left behind from a hit-and-run with this small of a vehicle," Knox said.
Knox said troopers believe the vehicle that struck Austin's moped might have minor damage.
Early reports from the Highway Patrol indicate the wreck left skid marks from the unknown vehicle. However, Knox said troopers later determined the marks had been caused by an accident involving a deer a day earlier in the same spot.
"That's what makes this difficult," Knox said. "We really do not have any leads to go on. Really, at this point, we are hoping to generate some public calls to us from someone who saw something that night. "
To the editor:
I recently got a message from a friend who votes as an independent urging me to just get over it regarding the surprising Trump victory in the Electoral College. If by getting over it he means accepting the Republican control of the presidency, Congress, and potentially the Supreme Court as well as the 33 state governments they dominate, then I reject his advice.
I am resigned to the fact Donald Trump will be our next president on Jan. 20, but Im concerned about his flawed character, lack of experience and some of his cabinet and advisory appointments. Most of these individuals are not committed to the aspirations and expectations of the middle and working class citizens responsible for his victory.
Trump promised to drain the swamp, but his team is drawn from Wall Street, big business and opposes organized labor, public schools and environmental protection. These nominees reflect Trumps commitment to the wealthy 1 percent who wants tax cuts for the rich and corporations, no guaranteed increase in the minimum wage, a rollback of the Dodd Frank restraints on Wall Street bankers and the crippling of federal regulatory agencies like the EPA and the SEC.
So what can frustrated Democrats and progressives do in the wake of this Republican coup or, more accurately, tsunami?
First of all, we need to recommit ourselves to the core principles and values of our party, i.e. the role of government in protecting individual rights and the common good. Democrats have been faithful to the separation of church and state, the right of privacy and the protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
Democrats have been the leaders in protecting the rights of women, minorities, the disabled and poor, veterans and immigrants. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and Obamacare, to mention a few, are attributed to Democratic administrations. Now, these are threatened by the TrumpRyan-McConnell triumvirate.
We need to get more involved in local and state governments, where important decisions are made affecting voting rights, Medicaid expansion and police and community relations.
The recent Republican power grab in North Carolina should set off an alarm throughout the country.
Democrats must erect a firewall in our opposition to some of Trumps proposals like the potential mass deportation of illegal aliens, the banning of Muslims from entering the country and his promise to replace former Justice Antonin Scalia with an opponent of Roe v. Wade. Democratic Senators and representatives should feel the heat from constituents who insist on a vigorous opposition to the Ryan GOP agenda and Trumps dangerous initiatives.
Bipartisanship only works when there is mutual respect.
GERALD N. DAVIS
Chatham
CALGARY, Dec. 30, 2016) - Mkango Resources Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:MKA)(AIM:MKA) (the "Company" or "Mkango"), is pleased to announce that it has received regulatory approval for its previously announced agreement (the "Agreement") to collaborate with Noble Resources International ("Noble") in the rare earths sector and for the 450,000 placing (the "Placing") with existing shareholders and new institutional investors.
The press release relating to the Agreement can be accessed via the following link: http://www.mkango.ca/s/news.asp?ReportID=773885. In connection with the Agreement, Mkango has issued 12 million common share purchase warrants ("Warrant") to Noble, aligning Noble's interests with those of Mkango's shareholders. Each whole Warrant will entitle Noble to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of 6.6 UK pence until December 30, 2018. The Warrants give Noble the right to acquire up to a 12.5% interest in Mkango. In connection with the Agreement and in respect of ongoing advice in the Asian and Australian markets, Zenith Advisory Services Pty Ltd. has been issued with warrants to acquire 1.2 million common shares of the Company on the same terms as those issued to Noble.
Complementary to and on the basis of the Agreement, Mkango completed a Placing of 12,857,124 common shares at 3.5 UK pence per common share ("Share") to raise 450,000 (430,125 net of finders' fees). As a result two specialist Swiss mutual funds, the Rare Earth Elements Fund and the Metals Exploration Fund, each hold an interest of 3.6% in Mkango.
The main uses of proceeds from the Placing will be to accelerate the optimisation of the processing flow sheet and evaluation of product marketing options to facilitate further marketing, offtake and partnership discussions, as well as to evaluate additional opportunities and other expenditures.
The Company will pay cash finders' fees totaling 19,875 and issue 567,856 non-transferable finders' warrants ("Finder's Warrants") in connection with the Placing. Each Finder's Warrant entitles the holder to acquire one Share for 3.5 UK pence until December 30, 2017.
The securities issued in connection with the Placing will be subject to the applicable four month hold periods in Canada, in accordance with applicable securities laws and the rules of the TSX Venture Exchange.
About Mkango Resources Limited
Mkango's primary business is the exploration for rare earth elements and associated minerals in the Republic of Malawi, a country whose hospitable people have earned it a reputation as "the warm heart of Africa." Mkango holds, through its wholly owned subsidiary Lancaster Exploration Limited, a 100% interest in two exclusive prospecting licenses in southern Malawi, the Phalombe licence and the Thambani licence.
The main exploration target in the Phalombe licence is the Songwe Hill rare earths' deposit, which features carbonatite hosted rare earth mineralisation and was subject to previous exploration in the late 1980s. Mkango completed an updated Pre-feasibility Study for the project in November 2015. Mkango's strategy for Songwe is to further optimise the project with a view to maximising efficiency and reducing costs, thereby providing a strong platform for entering into partnerships, marketing and offtake arrangements. The main exploration targets in the Thambani licence are uranium, niobium and tantalum. For more information, please visit www.mkango.ca.
Noble Early Warning Reporting
As a result of the Agreement and the Warrants issued thereunder, Noble (whose address is 60 Anson Road, #19-01 Mapletree Anson, Singapore 079914) now owns and controls Warrants exercisable to acquire 12,000,000 common shares of Mkango, and in the event that Noble exercises these Warrants, it would have ownership and control over 12,000,000 common shares of Mkango, representing approximately 12.5% of the common shares of Mkango (post-exercise). The Company is advised that Noble hold these securities for investment purposes and has no present intention to acquire further securities of the Company, although it may in the future acquire or dispose of securities of the Company, through the market, privately or otherwise, as circumstance or market conditions warrant. A copy of the early warning report required to be filed by Noble with applicable securities commissions in connection with this issuance of Warrants will be available for viewing under the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and a copy of the early warning report may be obtained by contacting Noble via noble@thisisnoble.com or +65 6305 4888.
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This news release may contain forward-looking statements. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions, known and unknown risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not occur, which may cause actual performance and results in future periods to differ materially from any estimates or projections of future performance or results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such factors and risks include, without limiting the foregoing, delays in obtaining financing or governmental or stock exchange approvals. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release. Except as required by law, the Company disclaims any intention and assumes no obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. Additionally, the Company undertakes no obligation to comment on the expectations of, or statements made by, third parties in respect of the matters discussed above.
The TSX Venture Exchange has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this press release. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release.
This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any equity or other securities of the Company in the United States. The securities of the Company will not be registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act") and may not be offered or sold within the United States to, or for the account or benefit of, U.S. persons except in certain transactions exempt from the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act.
THIS NEWS RELEASE IS NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES
Contact
Mkango Resources Ltd.
William Dawes, Chief Executive Officer
UK: +44 207 3722 744
Canada: +1 403 444 5979
will@mkango.ca
www.mkango.ca / @MkangoResources
Mkango Resources Ltd.
Alexander Lemon, President
alex@mkango.ca
SP Angel Corporate Finance LLP
Nominated Adviser and Broker
Jeff Keating, Caroline Rowe
UK: +44 20 3470 0470
TORONTO, ON--(Marketwired - December 30, 2016) - Aura Minerals Inc. (TSX: ORA) (the "Company") announces that the Company has completed the continuance and the consolidation, described below, as approved by common shareholders on December 13, 2016.
Effective today, the Company has continued (the "Continuance") out of the jurisdiction of the Canada Business Corporations Act and into the jurisdiction of the BVI Business Companies Act, 2004, as amended. A copy of the certificate of continuance and the Company's Memorandum and Articles of Association will be available on the Company's SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com.
The Company has also given effect to the consolidation of the issued and outstanding common shares in the capital of the Company (the "Shares") on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation Share for each ten (10) pre-consolidation Shares (the "Consolidation"). It is anticipated that the Shares will begin trading on a post-Consolidation basis on the TSX at the opening of markets on January 5, 2017. The Company's trading symbol will remain "ORA".
As a result of the Consolidation, the Company now has approximately 33,420,355 Shares outstanding. The Company has been assigned the new CUSIP number G06973104 and new ISIN number VGG069731047.
A letter of transmittal will be mailed to the registered shareholders of the Company providing instructions to surrender the certificate(s) evidencing their Shares for replacement certificates representing the number of Shares to which they are entitled as a result of the Consolidation. Shareholders holding their shares through a broker or other intermediary and consequently not having shares registered in their name will not be required to complete a letter of transmittal.
Forward-looking Statements
This press release contains certain "forward-looking information" and "forward-looking statements", as defined in applicable securities laws (collectively, "forward-looking statements"). All statements other than statements of historical fact are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements in this press release relate to future events or future performance and reflect the Company's current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, without limitation, statements relating to: the method of delivery of the letter of transmittal, the timing for trading of the Shares on the TSX on a post-Consolidation basis and the number of Shares outstanding.
Often, but not always, forward-looking statements may be identified by the use of words such as "expects", "anticipates", "plans", "projects", "estimates", "assumes", "intends", "strategy", "goals", "objectives" or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions.
Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon a number of estimates and assumptions that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic and competitive uncertainties and contingencies. Forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon, without limitation, the following estimates and assumptions: the Company will be able to obtain all necessary regulatory approvals on a timely basis.
Known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the Company's ability to predict or control could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in the forward-looking statements. Specific reference is made to the factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Circular and the factors set out under the heading "Risk Factors" in the Company's Annual Information Form ("AIF") dated March 24, 2016 and the Company's Management's Discussion and Analysis ("MD&A") dated March 24, 2016, and interim MD&As thereafter, which are available on SEDAR (www.sedar.com).
All forward-looking statements herein are qualified by this cautionary statement. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. The Company undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. If the Company does update one or more forward-looking statements, no inference should be drawn that it will make additional updates with respect to those or other forward-looking statements
While the general consensus is that 2016 was a disaster for Republicans in Nevada, not so for conservatives. An awful lot of culling of the RINO (Republicans in Name Only) herd was accomplished, as well as a thorough mucking out of the RINO stable.
And with that in mind, heres my list of the top ten Nevada conservatives for 2016
10) Ira Hansen. Ira was one of the strongest opponents of RINO Gov. Brian Sandovals $1.4 billion tax hike and one of the biggest behind-the-scenes supporters of conservative candidates who ran against tax-hiking legislators in 2016.
9) Jim Marchant. Jim defeated tax-hiking Assemblyman Glenn Trowbridge in the Republican primary, and went on to win the seat in the general election.
8) Al Kramer. Al defeated tax-hiking Assemblyman P.K. ONeill in the Republican primary, and went on to win the seat in the general election.
7) Danny Tarkanian. Tark dispatched the Prince of RINOs, state Sen. Tax Hike Mike Roberson, in the 3rd congressional district GOP primary and refused to buckle under extreme pressure to dump Trump just weeks before the general election.
6) Dan Schwartz. Despite setback after setback in both the judicial and political arenas, Nevadas state Treasurer has plowed forward, undaunted, with efforts to make Nevadas landmark school choice program, Education Savings Accounts (ESAs), a reality.
5) Ron Knecht. The Nevada State Controller led the successful legal battle to repeal Gov. Sandovals new job-killing Commerce Tax via referendum. Alas, the Nevada Supreme Court dragged its feet and didnt clear the measure until a month before the deadline to submit signatures. As such, it didnt qualify for the ballot.
This year.
4) Wayne Root. Wayne is hands-down the most prolific preacher of the conservative gospel in Nevada. Hes an author, columnist, speaker, and radio talk show host. Wayne was also an early and outspoken supporter of Donald Trump.
3) Adam Laxalt. Nevadas attorney general has been the Energizer Bunny in fulfilling his campaign promise to protect Nevadas sovereignty from federal government overreach. Adam was also unique among Nevadas top elected officials for refusing to throw Donald Trump under the bus.
Governor Laxalt has a certain ring to it, dont you think?
2) Charles Munoz and Michael McDonald. At a time when all the experts declared that Donald Trump had absolutely no chance to win the Republican Party nomination, let alone the presidency itself, Munoz and McDonald defied conventional wisdom and boarded the Trump Train Munoz as Trumps Nevada director and McDonald as chairman of the Nevada Republican Party.
Trump won the Nevada primary easily, and came a heckuva lot closer in the general than anyone thought possible.
1) Victor Joecks. So what did the former executive vice president of the conservative Nevada Policy Research Institute do in Nevada last year to warrant this No. 1 position?
Absolutely nothing.
Instead, Victor spent the year deployed in Iraq with the Nevada National Guard. As George Orwell would put it, Nevadans slept peaceably in their beds at night because rough men like Victor stood ready to do violence on our behalf.
He is now safely home and will soon begin fighting the conservative cause again in Nevada as an opinion columnist for the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
Welcome home, Victor. More importantly THANK YOU!
Spanish police have released a report on Operation Ice, describing the arrest of six students in Madrid on November 5, 2015. Ranging in age from 20 to 26, the students belong to Straight Edge or SXE, an anarchist group that promotes a vegan lifestyle and abstention from drugs and alcohol. Their supposed crime? Setting fire to two banks as well as storing materials to make homemade explosives.
Candela Bosch, Maria Goretty Vergara and Rosa Prieto, mothers of three of the six young people arrested in 2015. Claudio Alvarez
The case has more or less fallen off the radar but the groups alleged leader, Juan Manuel Bustamante, 26, also known as Nahuel, is still in jail and coping with a tough prison regime designed for hardcore terrorists. While his colleagues have been released on bail, Bustamante has been moved five times and denied bail almost as many. When the trial finally comes up, the students will stand in the dock on four terrorism charges that could see them put behind bars for 35 years. But the indictment particularly when it comes to the question of the attacks on banks is far from convincing.
To anyone familiar with the law, it is obvious that what is happening is an aberration
Manuel Cancio, Law professor
Straight Edge is just one of a number of mysterious so-called terrorist groups that have emerged in Spain following reforms to the Penal Code in March 2015, which, after agreement between the ruling Popular Party and opposition Socialists, modified the definition of terrorism with a view to combating jihadism. Terrorism can now apply, among other things, to acts of civil disorder and so when, for example, two policemen and their partners were attacked in a bar in Alsasua, Navarre, in October, their attackers found themselves labeled as terrorists. This triggered debate. Now Bustamantes indictment is under the same kind of scrutiny, as are the rulings of Judge Carmen Lamela, who is involved in both cases.
The Straight Edge anarchists are accused of setting fire to two Madrid bank branches, one in 2013 and the other in 2015, despite the fact there is no direct evidence linking them to the crime. What led the police to become convinced of their guilt was that the groups graffiti had appeared at the scene of one of these crimes two weeks earlier, posts on social networks had urged bank sabotage and a member of the group lived close to one of the bank branches in question. The groups ideology, their anti-establishment rants on Twitter and Facebook as well as several videos on YouTube aiming to subvert the Constitution have also been thrown into the mix. According to Judge Lamela, all the available evidence points to the groups involvement in what amounts to terrorism.
Meanwhile, the materials seized during police raids and alleged to be for the manufacture of explosives consist of smoke-generating canisters, flares and firecrackers all freely available on the open market. But the police report goes on to say that the powders these products contain could be used as explosives if placed in the right container. However, the group has not been accused of planting any of these materials while substances confiscated during the raids have been found to be cooking and cleaning products and, according to police, are not ideal for making explosives, although experts suggest they could be used to make smoke bombs.
Other evidence against the students, particularly Bustamante, includes the fact that they support the Okupas squatters movement and have been involved in demonstrations such as Surround Congress and March for Dignity. Bustamante has been arrested on three occasions, accused of disturbing the peace.
Three members of the Straight Edge group after their arrest in 2015 National Police
With its roots in 1970s America, the Straight Edge movement is named after a song by the punk band, Minor Threat, which rails against the prevalence of alcohol and drug abuse in punk and anarchist movements. Freedom doesnt smoke, drink or sniff; freedom conquers is one of the slogans on the Madrid SXE website, promoting a puritanical approach reminiscent of the original anarchists who saw alcohol as another capitalist tool to enslave the masses. They also promote respect for animals via veganism and deny the existence of a species hierarchy.
Madrid Straight Edge was a splinter group of the 15-M student movement of 2011, which made headlines worldwide. Their radical approach challenges the system and the mediocre reality we live in. They consider themselves anti-fascist and libertarian. As far as Judge Lamela is concerned, the messages they post on social media are an attempt to erode the prestige and credibility of the State, particularly its security forces as well as being a call to arms. As they act collectively, the judge considers them to be an organization with Bustamante at the helm.
In response, the families of the accused gather once a week in the Puerta del Sol in the center of Madrid to demand Bustamantes release. When I tell people whats happened, they look skeptical, says Natalia Bosch, the mother of one of the Straight Edge six, Candela Betancor. They assume they must have done something if they are on a terrorism charge and, of course, I would say they were innocent because Im the mother, but when I hand them the indictment, they can hardly believe their eyes. Its madness. Theres absolutely nothing, not one shred of evidence. Its just about what they posted on social media. I used to believe in the police and the justice system, I studied law, Ive worked as a lawyer but now Im under no illusions.
In total, 46 people have been arrested and accused of terrorism since the demise of the terrorist group ETA
Meanwhile, three legal experts on terrorism have analyzed the indictment and admit to feeling perplexed. I get the idea that once again the definition of terrorism is being trivialized and the measures devised for Daesh or ETA are being applied to groups capable of disturbances and damage but not violence against the person, says Manuel Cancio, professor of criminal law at Madrids Autonomous University. The reforms last year have allowed this to happen and a lot more into the bargain. They have completely obscured our idea of what terrorism is. Cancio goes on to say that article 573 allows for inferences to be made about certain behavior and defined as terrorism in a way that would previously have been impossible. The indictment, he says, refers to ideology, tweets, books and very little thats important, namely which explosives were in their possession, what offenses they had committed and which they were planning. I dont see any evidence of serious crimes that could be labeled as terrorism, a crime that carries a sentence of at least five years.
Jose Luis Diez-Ripolles, a professor of criminal law at Malaga University, confirms that the recent reforms allow for small groups involved in minor unlawful acts to be considered as criminal gangs. Its certainly the case that with such all-encompassing interpretations, it isnt hard to find a criminal gang or group of terrorists if criminal or terrorist means someone disturbing the peace, but its no coincidence that this charge sheet is extremely vague and focuses almost entirely on social media activity. What we have here is probably a group that has never got beyond promoting anarchist ideology via social networks.
According to Carmen Lamarca, a professor of criminal law at Madrids Carlos III University, the indictment is nothing short of absurd. One thing is an anti-establishment group voicing opinions, something that is protected by freedom of speech, she says. Another thing is providing proof that they commit crimes and use violence, both of which seem highly questionable.
This charge sheet is extremely vague and focuses almost entirely on social media activity Jose Luis Diez-Ripolles, Law professor
The reforms mean a shift in the way terrorism is tackled by investigating individuals and small groups considered to be disturbing the peace, subverting the constitution or generally terrorizing the public. And though there is little evidence to prove it, Straight Edge is accused of subverting the Constitution.
Apart from anything else, the attacks they are accused of are small scale, causing no personal injury, says defense attorney Daniel Amelang. You cant even say they have disturbed the peace because the incident was not covered in the press. Another of the defense lawyers, Eduardo Gomez, adds, Its the so-called criminal law of the enemy you are accused more for who you are than for what you have done.
For the last three years, in the wake of ETAs demise, the police have been waging war against the anarchist world and, more recently, applying the new interpretation of terrorism to those they arrest. Operation Ice is the last of five such operations. In total, 46 people have been arrested and accused of terrorism during this time.
The police went onto the offensive after two homemade un-detonated bombs were found in the Almudena Cathedral in Madrid in 2013 and others exploded in the Basilica of Our Lady of Pilar in Zaragoza, causing damage to the building and damaging the hearing of one bystander. The Director-General of the National Police, Ignacio Cosido, made a point at the time of saying that the fight against anarchy was a priority. Those arrested in subsequent operations have been accused of terrorism and a tenuous link to the Zaragoza bombers established by uncovering common membership of the umbrella group GAC Coordinated Anarchist Groups in the case of Straight Edge, the accused had GAC pamphlets.
While the Zaragoza bombers were sentenced to 12 years last March, they were not condemned as terrorists and the sentence has since been reduced to four-and-a-half years.
In light of this, the subsequent arrests and charges seem excessive, to say the least. To anyone familiar with the law, it is obvious that what is happening is an aberration, says Cancio, referring to the sweeping new definition of terrorism. Other countries like ours have nothing like it.
In October 2015, a week before Operation Ice, another operation called Pandora 2 was carried out in Barcelona, with nine arrests, but the charges were dropped this summer due to a lack of evidence. The other two operations pending trial are Pandora 1 dating back to December 2014 and La Pinata, which took place in March 2015.
Leaps of logic The defense for the accused in Operation Ice has bemoaned the warped and flimsy nature of the police reports. As far as materials for homemade explosives are concerned, all the substances seized during the raids have turned out to be no more than sugar, vinegar and bicarbonate of soda while a jar containing a strange liquid labeled Lombarda, was analyzed and found to be stock made from Lombard cabbage. Leaps of logic have also been made about an empty bottle of beer discovered in the home of one of the accused. It would not be relevant if it were not for the groups stance on alcohol and drugs, suggesting no other reason for having this bottle than to make a Molotov cocktail. Investigators also deduced from the fact that this particular member of the group kept a wooden and a metal box that he was in charge of the organizations finances. Among the confiscated items, there are also lyrics from songs by the pro ETA band Piperrak slating the police. Other deductions relate to graffiti associated with the anarchist group in the vicinity of the attacked bank, some of which was of a feminist nature, suggesting that at least one member of the group was a woman.
English version by Heather Galloway.
The parents of a sick child accused of charity fraud and who had been planning to flee Spain have been ordered to post a civil liability bond of 1.2 million. The judge overseeing the investigation into the allegations against Fernando Blanco and Marga Garau, the parents of eleven-year-old Nadia who suffers from the rare disease trichothiodystrophy (TTD), has ordered the father to continue to be held on remand and for the mother to be stripped of custody rights.
Nadias mother (right) gives testimony before a judge in La Seu d'Urgell on December 10. ALBERT GARCIA
Blanco and Garau had been organizing charity drives since 2008, allegedly to pay for cutting-edge medical treatment of a disease, which can delay development and cause intellectual disability.
The investigation now shows that the couple collected 918,000 over this period of time, only a fraction of which was used for Nadias medical therapy.
The investigation shows Nadias parents spent a total of 295 on medication for her
Wiretaps of conversations between the couple show Blanco was considering escape just hours before the Catalan regional police located and arrested him on December 7 in La Seu dUrgell.
The judge has ordered Nadia to remain in the custody of her aunt, who lives in Mallorca. The childs mother will be allowed to visit her under supervision.
EL PAIS and two other media outlets uncovered the fraud shortly after a donation drive in November that raised 153,000 in just four days through a television and social media campaign.
The investigation shows that between 2012 and 2016, Nadias parents spent a total of 295 on medication for her. In the meantime, a search of the family home produced a collection of luxury watches valued at 50,000. The rent on their expensive home was being paid by the charitable foundation that they set up to manage the donations.
Investigators have concluded that Blanco and Garau were living off the donations, as they were both unemployed. Blanco has a history of fraud and has served prison terms for swindling his employers.
If the couple are unable to post the 1.2 million civil liability bond, required by prosecutors in the event of a conviction, a court will arrange for their assets to be seized.
English version by Nick Lyne.
Francesc Homs, a deputy in the Spanish Congress for the Catalan pro-independence PDECAT party formerly Convergencia is now one step closer to joining other senior Catalan politicians in facing legal action for organizing a non-binding sovereignty referendum on November 9, 2014 that flouted a Constitutional Court ban .
Francesc Homs (l) and Artur Mas at a pro-independence rally. S. Saez (EFE)
After hearing evidence in the case, Spains Supreme Court has decided there are grounds to charge Homs with disobedience and abuse of office. If found guilty, he would face a ban from holding public office. The courts decision says that Homs disobeyed the Constitutional Court openly, obstinately, and stubbornly.
On November 4, 2014, Spains Constitutional Court vetoed a non-binding independence referendum being organized at the time by the Catalan regional government for November 9, suspending any related activity clearly and resoundingly.
Catalan politicians gave the impression the referendum process had stopped
Supreme Court judge Andres Palomo, who is overseeing the case against Homs, concludes in the decision that the politician not only omitted to suspend any activity, but also drove the process on the basis of his exclusive will.
Also facing trial for his involvement in the referendum is Artur Mas, the former regional premier of Catalonia. Prosecutors insist Mas is guilty of gross misconduct and disobedience, and he is facing a 10-year ban from public office. As councilor to the presidency of the regional government Homs was Mass right-hand man at the time.
Former Catalan deputy premier Joana Ortega and ex-regional education commissioner Irene Rigau have also been named by prosecutors as accessories in the matter and could face bans from public life of nine years.
Like Mas, the most visible figure in the lead-up to the vote in the region of 7.5 million people, Homs has argued that the Catalan regional government was no longer involved in the ballot after the Constitutional Court veto came into effect on November 4, and which was then organized by volunteers. Prosecutors claim, however, that private companies tasked with the organization continued to operate after that time, carrying out work included mass-mailing campaigns, the maintenance of websites dedicated to the vote, and IT tasks.
Homs faces a ban from office if found guilty
Along with Homs, Mas and his aides developed a complete and effective strategy of defiance after the suspension, says the Supreme Court.
Homs and the others facing prosecution moved off center stage and attempted to generate the impression that the referendum process had stopped, says the Supreme Court.
The court highlights the fact that in the two days ahead of the referendum, two companies, T-Systems and Fujitsu, delivered and set up 7,000 laptops in schools where voting stations were set up for the November 9 ballot.
English version by Nick Lyne.
Wary of a terrorist attack similar to that recently seen in Berlin , Madrid City Hall has imposed a ban on large trucks and buses in much of the center of the capital for two days from January 3, to coincide with the annual Three Kings parades held on the streets of several neighborhoods throughout the capital.
There has been an increased police presence in the capital since the Berlin attack. Fernando Alvarado (EFE)
Municipal police in the city will not fine drivers of trucks and buses weighing more than 3.5 tons in areas that have been cordoned off, and will instead redirect them to other routes, said City Hall.
Ninety minutes before and after each event, large trucks and buses will be kept out of the center of the capital and the 14 neighborhoods where parades are being held, Spanish daily El Mundo reported. Every year, Madrid hosts a huge Three Kings parade along the central Castellana boulevard on the evening of January 5.
All drivers of floats used in the traditional Three Kings parades will be vetted and trucks checked
Heavy goods vehicles have already been prevented from entering the city within the M-30 beltway over recent days as part of City Halls traffic restrictions, imposed in a bid to combat dangerously high pollution levels in Madrid. Trucks weighing more than 12 tons have been banned from the center of the Spanish capital for several years already.
City Hall added that all drivers of floats used in the traditional Three Kings parades will be vetted and trucks checked.
Access to areas where parades are being held will be restricted through a combination of bollards, plant pots, police vehicles, ambulances and fire engines.
Additional police officers have been drafted in to protect Madrids central Puerta del Sol square during the ringing in of the New Year, with access to surrounding streets severely restricted. The capital also hosts the San Silvestre Vallecana fun-run on January 31, which will also involve major constraints on the flow of traffic.
English version by Nick Lyne.
Symbio, the French producer of hydrogen fuel cell systems for transportation, reports that it has delivered 150 commercial hydrogen-electric vehicles which have now travelled a combined 220,000 miles (350,000 km). The company will be showcasing its solutions at CES 2017 next week.
The Kangoo ZE-H2 is based on the Renault Kangoo ZE Maxi. It combined a 22 kWh Li-ion battery pack with a 5 kW hydrogen fuel cell range extender, fueled with 1.7 kg of H 2 at 350 bar or 2.08 kg H 2 at 700 bar. Range is 300 km (186 miles).
Symbios core mission is to engineer complete fuel cell systems for electric vehicles, from prototyping to product. Symbio offers an end-to-end hydrogen fuel cell system compatible to different usage-cycles and types of vehicle (commercial vehicles, van, bus, trucks and boats) and from 5 kW to 300 kW.
A man accused of beating up his wife pleaded not guilty to two felonies and one misdemeanor.
Darrel Lee Montez, 42, of Green River, appeared in the Third District Court of Judge Richard Lavery at an arraignment to two felony counts of aggravated assault and battery and one misdemeanor charge of domestic battery.
If found guilty of the all three counts, he could face a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison, six months in jail and a maximum fine of $20,750.
According to court documents, on Oct. 23, 2016, a Rock Springs Police officer responded to the Memorial Hospital of Sweetwater County to check on a woman who claimed to have been beaten by her husband.
Upon arrival, the officer tried to speak with Victoria Klemetsen, Klemetsen was in obvious pain while laying on a hospital bed. The officer observed a large wound on her left cheek and it appeared to be bruised. The RSPD officer tried to interview Klemetsen, but she was in too much pain and he decided to stop the interview.
Montez was interviewed; and after the interview he was arrested.
The officer then went back to the hospital to interview Klemetsen again. He asked if it was alright to try another interview and she said yes. During the interview, the officer had to take multiple breaks because he could tell Klemetsen was in pain and she would get visibly upset and start breathing hard.
Klemetsen told the officer she and Montez were playing a game; and while they were playing Montez was on his cell phone. She asked him to get off of the cell phone and he got mad and told her to shut up and them proceeded to call her names. Klemetsen claims Montez allegedly hit her three times on the right cheek, once on the left cheek and twice on the top of her left shoulder. She claims he allegedly head butted her too, which caused pain in her nose.
Klemetsen said after she was hit she fell down and hit the bathroom door and toilet while she was falling to the floor. She told the officer she didnt remember where her body hit as she fell because she lost consciousness for a bit. When she tried to stand up, she fell down again. By this time Montez had left.
Klemetsen could not remember which hand Montez used to hit her or if he used and open hand or a fist, but she thought he used an open hand. Klemetsen also told the officer she and Montez had been together for 15 years and they have three children together.
A medical record on Klemetsen obtained by a police officer showed Klemetsen had a fractured shoulder and displacement of that same shoulder.
Will patients benefit from the passage of the 21st Century Cures Act? After listening to politicians and reading the headlines, most people might think its the best thing ever to come along for patients.
A new day for medical research is on the horizon, proclaimed Rep. Fred Upton, the outgoing chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee which had just won a major victory last week. The House and the Senate have passed this bipartisan legislation which will ensure our health system can keep pace with incredible advances in science and technology, Upton said in the GOPs weekly radio address. We needed to do better. And with 21st Century Cures, we will.
Media headlines mirrored Uptons victory declaration. Headlines like this from the Wall Street Journal, House Passes Health Bill to Speed Drug Approvals, Boost Biomedical Research seemed to say it all: faster drug approvals, more money for research, less pesky regulation.
Or was there more to the story? Not everyone thinks the Cures Act will be wonderful for patients. But their voices were drowned out in the slick public relations campaign Uptons committee waged over the past few years using some 200 or so patient advocacy organizations to push for the bill. Most of those groups have strong ties to the drug and medical device industry.
A recent study by Dr. Vinay Prasad, an oncologist at Oregon Health Sciences University, found that three-quarters of 68 cancer advocacy groups he studied disclosed sponsorship from pharmaceutical companies. Some groups received money from as many as 16 or 17.
Prasad told me, Ten years from now, someone with a cancer diagnosis will be worse off with this bill. People will be exposed to more things that dont work. Prasad and others say the Cures Act actually lowers the regulatory standards for drugs and devices. Its a step backward for patients.
In a nutshell the Act turns current regulatory practice on its head.
Randomized trials, the gold standard for medical research, may disappear if a drug company wants to sell a medicine for a different condition than the one its already approved for. Instead it can use real world evidence to show the drug also works for a new indication. Such evidence could be observational studies, which are less reliable than randomized trials, but are cheaper and take less time.
The FDA can use patient experience to inform its regulatory decisions information about the impact of a disease or related therapy on patients lives. The data can come from patients, family members, caregivers, patient advocacy organizations, disease research foundations and drug manufacturers.
The agency can approve new drugs on the basis of data summaries rather than requiring the FDA to independently analyze study results for a new drug indication. Drug makers would have to submit all their data, but the FDA would not have to review it.
And although the bill authorizes billions for new medical research at the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the funding is not guaranteed, and the NIH would have to fight Congress for the money.
The Cures Act is the culmination of a 20-year effort by the drug industry and Beltway think tanks to loosen standards and permit new uses for drugs already approved in order to expand their markets. It can be traced back to the 1997 FDA Modernization Act, which was then - as the Cures Act is now - sold on the promise of getting cures to market faster. The 1997 law loosened regulatory standards and reduced the number of clinical trials needed for drug approval.
Are the changes brought about by the earlier law a harbinger of whats to come?
The reporting by John Fauber and his colleagues at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel offers a cautionary tale. In the last few years the paper has reported how drug and device makers have spent huge sums of money to sell drugs for conditions that were once thought to be part of everyday life.
The reporters found that drug companies turned conditions such as overactive bladder, adult ADHD, and premenstrual dysphoric disorder into medically treatable ailments. They reported that the latter was not even recognized as a mental disorder until 13 years after the first drug treatments were on the market. Drugs used to treat the various medicalized conditions dont work that well and often have side effects that are nearly as common as the benefit, Fauber told me.
Are we turning the calendar back to 1933 when a book called 100,000,000 Guinea Pigs was published exposing the dangers of patent medicines? Federal oversight of drugs was pretty lax then, and patients died. Its obvious drug makers will benefit from looser regulation. It remains to be seen whether patients will, too.
What have been your experiences with new drugs? Write to Trudy at trudy.lieberman@gmail.com.
Dear Editor,
It has been an indescribable privilege to serve Uinta County citizens with the many legislators, staff, LSO, two governors and the many state agencies and their staff over the last 10 years. Only around 1,900 people have served as legislators since Wyoming became a state in 1890. I consider myself blessed to have been part of Wyomings state government, trying to help make the state a better place to live and do business in.
I say thanks to all who have served, those I had the privilege to serve with, and the many people who helped me learn how state government is supposed to work. The legislative process is incredible. It is very hard to get a bill passed, given all the steps a legislator must go through in the House and Senate to get a bill to the governors desk. Among the bills that I sponsored or co-sponsored, the highlight was passing legislation that stuck up for Second Amendment rights, including the right to carry concealed weapons without a permit. I am glad to report that I did not create many new laws to govern Wyoming. I feel we should get rid of a law every time we make a new law that will affect someone. Stopping bad bills is more important than passing new bills that become the laws we are governed by.
I have served during some interesting times.
I am very disappointed at the financial condition of our state. Over the last 10 years, we have expanded state government and the budgets of most agencies, including those of the five top elected officials. Legislators have allowed this to happen by thinking we can make the state better if we have more programs -- spending billions on technology and billions on state buildings, education buildings and UW buildings (with no increase in enrollment). Wyoming has more employees with high salaries and increases raises.
The governor allows contracts to be awarded without competitive bidding, which costs the state tens of millions of dollars. The Legislature and the governor spend more each year.
When the Legislature had more money than it could spend, spend it did. This caused state government to grow. We have about the same funding now that we had in 2002, but we have added many programs, reports, and employees (the state employs around 30,000) and increased salaries, especially for the higher paid employees, including salaries for the UW (which has 500 staff members making over $80,000).
Now with a huge decrease in revenues, the Legislature and governor do not have the funds to pay for what was created in past years. In the last three years, a minority of legislators have been saying we should not be expanding government. These legislators believe we should competitively bid contracts and slow state construction (last years construction totaled $700 million). Agencies should be restrained in their spending.
As a new legislative session approaches, we are faced with a big deficit, around $1 billion. Education faces a $400 million shortfall, our 15-year-old state prison needs major repairs ($80 million or build a new one for $150-plus million) and WYDOT needs millions. The Department of Health faces major expenses, including upgrades to the State Hospital. Some also say the Lander Resource Center needs repairs (although many others feel it needs to be closed as one of only two such facilities in the country). And yet Wyoming continues to add more legislative subcommittees, task forces, bureau. As we left our last budget session in March 2016, the Legislature did make some cuts, but again spent way too much (including $700 million on buildings which most say could have waited for better economic times) with hopes that our economic future would be better. Shortly after the Legislature adjourned, with the CREG report worse than projected, our governor could see we were in trouble and made more cuts to agencies.
Of course, the departments/agencies lamented this would hurt the services they provide, programs and education.
I have continually asked whether the state has a complete list of priorities ranked from highest to lowest.
So what is the remedy? The worst thing, the majority of Wyoming folks feel, is about to happen. While all legislators agree we need to make some cuts (perhaps enough to get us equal to our revenues), they feel the real solution is what we all said should not happen. That is, our leaders and some of the legislators want to raise your taxes of some kind (property, sales tax, etc.). All say Cut government spending, but they claim we cant cut enough, so we have to raise taxes to pay for the state spending we have created. (Many legislators urged their colleagues in the past not to spend as heavily as we have and to cut costs instead. But enough legislators said we could continue to spend, so the Legislature did just that).
As I will not be returning to the Legislature, I want to urge the people of Uinta County and Wyoming to stay in contact with their legislators. Let them know how you feel about what is happening in state government, and with the states roughly 100 agencies and departments. They would appreciate your thoughts about bills, our financial situation, and the things that affect their daily life.
I again say thanks for the opportunity to serve Uinta County, parts of Sweetwater County and our great state, which I really love. God bless Wyoming and the United States.
Allen Jaggi
Lyman
Sweetwater County Child Developmental Center Ryleigh Jeppesen isn't sure if she can eat all of the pizza she has left.
Kids throughout Green River also had an exciting year in 2016.
It didn't matter if they were even in school yet, they still had a good time at toddler and story times the Sweetwater County Library hosts.
When they weren't busy at the library, preschool students were having their parents read more than 2,000 books to them.
Last year, three classes at the Sweetwater County Child Developmental Center accomplished this goal and as a reward they celebrated the achievement with a pizza party.
Sweetwater County School District No. 2 students were busy learning how to swim during school hours. Cla...
Members of the Supreme Courts conservative majority are questioning the continued use of affirmative action in higher education. In lengthy arguments Monday, the justices wrestled with persistent, difficult questions of race. The justices heard from six different lawyers in challenges to policies at the University of North Carolina and Harvard. Those policies consider race among many factors in evaluating applications for admission. One conservative justice likened affirmative action to giving some college applicants a head start in a footrace. But a liberal justice said universities are the pipelines to leadership in our society and suggested that without affirmative action minority enrollment will drop.
Two days after a court indicted her for corruption, former Argentinean president Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner faces investigation for her alleged role in covering up a 1994 terrorist attack on a Jewish center in the capital of Buenos Aires that killed 85 people.
Cristina Kirchner giving a speech earlier this year. Reuters
More information Cristina Kirchner, investigada por el presunto encubrimiento del atentado a la AMIA
A federal judge has ordered the reopening of an investigation begun by public prosecutor Alberto Nisman, who accused Kirchner, who was president between 2007 and 2015, of setting up a sophisticated criminal plan to protect the identity of the Iranians responsible for the car-bombing of the Israeli-Argentina Mutual Association (AMIA).
On January 14, 2015 Nisman accused Fernandez de Kirchner, along with her foreign minister, Hector Timmerman, and two senior officials of conspiring to cover up Irans involvement.
More than two decades on, responsibility for the AMIA attack has not been established
Four days later, the day before he was due to present his findings to Congress, Nisman was found dead in his bath. He had been shot in the head. His case against Fernandez de Kirchner was subsequently shelved for lack of evidence and the circumstances of his death have never been explained.
In 2013, the government of Fernandez de Kirchner signed a deal with Iran allowing five Iranian officials and ex-officials indicted in the AMIA case to give evidence in their own country rather than in an Argentinean court. Nisman alleged that the deal was signed in return for trade agreements and Buenos Aires withdrawing its Interpol arrest warrant.
Now, the Federal Criminal Cassation Court has decided that the allegations do not permit dismissing out of hand the possible commission of illegalities evidence should be pondered before being dismissed. It also removes Judge Daniel Rafecas from the case.
Rafecas last year rejected Nismans accusations, saying that the arrest warrant was never withdrawn and that the trade deals never materialized. He concluded that there was no evidence of a cover-up by Fernandez de Kirchner.
The day before Nisman was due to present his evidence to Congress he was found dead
But in May 2016, an Argentinean court declared the agreement with Iran null and void, while organizations representing the countrys Jewish community called for Nismans evidence against Kirchner to be investigated, a request that has finally been heeded.
This is like a new beginning. We are back to the day before the death of Nisman, this is a beginning to start the investigation the public prosecutor requested. It doesnt matter who the accused are, only the charge counts. We will now see what evidence Nisman had in relation to the crime that had been reported, said Santiago Kaplun, the secretary general of the Delegation of Israeli Associations, to the TN news channel.
Alberto Nisman. Archivo
Kirchner has always denied a cover up, arguing that the bilateral trade agreement could not be the basis for a criminal case. But Nismans lengthy investigation, along with the mysterious circumstances of his death, have led many to suspect Kirchners involvement in protecting Iran.
Nisman accused Fernandez de Kirchner and her officials of deciding to negotiate and arrange impunity for the Iranian fugitives in the AMIA case with the purpose of freeing the defendants and fabricating Irans innocence, Nisman wrote in a 300-page writ.
We will now see what evidence Nisman had in relation to the crime that had been reported Santiago Kaplun of the Delegation of Jewish Associations
After 20 years, it is still not clear who set off the car bomb on July 18, 1994 at the Jewish center in Buenos Aires Once district. It was the worst attack on a diaspora Jewish community since World War II. Subsequent investigations immediately suggested that the government of Iran had been in involved.
In 2006, prosecutors Nisman and Marcelo Martinez Burgos formally accused Iran of planning the attack and Hezbollah of carrying it out. International arrest warrants were issued for suspects in the case, including Irans former defense minister Ahmad Vahidi, who at the time was a commander of a special unit of Irans Revolutionary Guards.
Other suspects include Ali Fallahijan, former Iranian intelligence minister; Mohsen Rezaee, former government advisor; Mohsen Rabbani, the then-attache at the Iranian Embassy in Buenos Aires; Ahmad Reza Asghari, a former diplomatic official; and Imad Fayez Mughniyeh, a senior member of Hezbollah who reportedly died in Syria in 2008.
English version by Nick Lyne.
Achievers
The High Point Fire Department held the graduation of the 46th Fire Recruit Class on Dec. 14 at Wesleyan Christian Academy in High Point.
Graduates included: Clark Brighton, Josh Bryant, Scott Burk, Justin Frank, Joseph Herrington, Jake Powers, Ryan Rathbone, Bailey Reeves, Michael Russell and Gary Wingfield.
***
Six Randolph Community College employees completed the requirements of the Presidents Educational Leadership Academy in the 2016 fall semester at RCC: Beth Arnold, system administrator; Rebekah Kingston, student services counselor; Bryan Marbert, department head for sciences/health/physical education; Garret Parker, department head for computer-integrated machining; Anna Phillips, department head for radiography; and Deanna Schrader, admissions evaluator.
***
CARF International has announced that Goodwill Industries of Central North Carolina (Triad Goodwill) has been accredited for a period of three years for its Community Rehabilitation Program.
CARF accreditation demonstrates Triad Goodwills program quality, transparency and commitment to people referred by the Department of Vocational Rehabilitation Services.
***
Samuel Tesfay, a full-time chemistry teacher at the American Hebrew Academy, was featured in the CNN Money article, The steep cost of underemploying highly skilled immigrants, by Octavio Blanco.
The 34-year-old immigrated from Ethiopia to Greensboro in 2013 and has a masters degree in analytical chemistry from Addis Ababa University.
He first worked at the academy as a dishwasher, began tutoring math and is now into his second year as a chemistry teacher.
***
Andrew Caldwell of Smart Choice has been included in Insurance Business America Hot 100 list, recognizing some of the major power players who are shaping the future of the insurance industry.
***
Veronica Segarra, assistant professor of biology at High Point University, is working with Eric Baehrecke, a prominent scientist in autophagy, her field of scientific study, as a 2017 Keystone Symposia Fellow.
The research-driven fellowship educates early-career scientists on the inner workings of the life sciences community and provides a venue for interaction with established and leading scientists on a national and global scale.
***
The Triangle Business Journal named Greensboro native Chuck Purvis, president and CEO of Coastal Federal Credit Union, as the 2016 Businessperson of the Year.
Purvis graduated from Smith High School in 1975 and from UNC-Greensboro in 1979.
Awards
The High Point Human Relations Commission bestowed Lisa Hawley with its annual Humanitarian Award at the City Council meeting Dec. 19.
Hawley is the owner of Southern Roots Restaurant in Jamestown, and the founder of Feeding Lisas Kids, an organization that provides both food and cooked meals to families each month. Children are identified through the Communities in Schools program, and Feeding Lisas Kids, as well as individual donors, purchases food items, assembles delivery boxes and arranges for them to be taken to families.
Once a month, Hawley also serves a meal at Southern Roots for families at the West End Ministries.
Hawley also assists three families from the Congo, brought to High Point by World Relief. Hawley has sponsored a clothing drive for the families, and provided shoes, washing machines and transportation to them, as well.
Hawley will be the grand marshal at the Martin Luther King Jr. High Point Community Parade on Jan. 14.
GREENSBORO On Saturday, Amber Barlow woke up late, roused her son and jumped into her van, still wearing her pajamas.
It was Christmas Eve Day, and the two were heading out on a long-distance errand, driving for more than four hours from their home in Chesapeake, Va., to Greensboro, not to shop but to adopt an internet-famous black pit bull mix named June Cash.
Barlow had never seen June in person. But she, like thousands of other people, knew the dogs story.
And now, she would have the chance to be part of Junes happy ending.
The first time I saw her picture, I knew she was mine, Barlow said. Nothing was going to keep me from her. This was my baby.
June Cashs adoption story began in September, when her previous owners surrendered her to the Guilford County Animal Shelter.
Shelter staff members filled out her paperwork and took her to a kennel, where the dog, traumatized by the upheaval and scared of the smells and sounds around her, huddled on the floor, her nose pressed into a corner.
She relieved herself on the kennels concrete floor but was too scared to move out of the puddle.
Hours later, Tammy Graves arrived at the shelter to evaluate another dog for an area rescue. Graves, the head of the Greensboro-based Haley Graves Foundation, a nonprofit group that rescues shelter dogs, spotted June hunched in the corner. She couldnt get the dog to respond to her voice or acknowledge her presence.
Shelter protocol required June, like all dogs surrendered by their owners, to stay in the shelter for a 24-hour holding period. Graves couldnt take her home until the next day. Heartbroken, she snapped a photo of the cowering dog, went home and couldnt get June off her mind.
Graves uploaded the photo to Facebook. Underneath, she wrote the dogs story.
It was the first time in a very long time that I cried when I left the shelter because I just couldnt stop thinking about her, she said. It bothered me all day. I cried off and on. So I just wrote what I felt.
A friend encouraged Graves to make the post public, which she did before going to bed.
When she woke up, the post had been shared 29,000 times. That afternoon, Inside Edition called for an interview. Soon, the post had been shared 139,000 times. Junes story popped up on media outlets across the country.
By then, Graves had pulled June from the shelter and placed her in a foster home. Adoption applications began to pour in. More than 500 people wanted to take June home.
About that time, Barlow sat down at her computer in Virginia and logged on to Facebook. Many of her friends own pit bulls, so it wasnt unusual for her news feed to be filled with stories and photos of the breed. But that day, one story in particular caught her eye. It was June, cowering in her kennel in Greensboro.
My heart started breaking, Barlow said. I knew that I needed to find out more about this baby.
She clicked over to the Haley Graves Foundation website and sent a message asking for more information.
I said, This is my baby, she said. I knew it was going to take some time, but I was going to fight for this. This was my baby girl. I knew it.
***
June went into foster care, staying with James Voyatzis, an obedience trainer with Sitzen K9 Training in Greensboro. The 5-year-old dog needed treatment for heartworm, along with time to acclimate to her new surroundings and to learn to trust people. A black dog with white toes and a white chest, June also has white pockmarks on her snout, an indication that she had been abused in the past, Graves said.
Thats from, probably, being hit with sticks, she said. Shes clearly had multiple litters and spent a lot of her life tied to a tree. She was extremely shy, and we knew we had to find a home that would understand that she might take a long time to warm up.
As June settled into her foster home, Graves began contacting every person who had applied to take her home.
Graves was willing to consider an out-of-state adopter, but only if the person was willing to travel to North Carolina to meet June in person and drive not fly her back home.
Most werent willing to do so. Others had applied on a whim after being moved by Junes story but lost interest as weeks went by. Graves whittled the pool of applications down, then whittled it again. Eventually, two applicants were left.
One was a man who split his time between New Jersey and Florida. Graves was ready to approve his application when she received word that the homeowners association presiding over his home in Florida would not permit him to have a pit bull mix.
So she moved to the second applicant: Barlow.
I found out on a Wednesday, she said. I was at work, and they let me know that I would be her mommy, and I started crying like a baby.
Barlow and Graves arranged for a pickup time on Dec. 24. When they met face to face, Barlow explained her holiday pajamas.
She said, Dont laugh because Im in my Christmas pajamas. I wanted to be on time, Graves said. I loved her in that moment, because there was nothing more important to her than being here on time to get her dog.
Barlow waited in the lobby as volunteers went to get June. She came out, tentatively, sniffing her surroundings, before walking directly to Barlow.
It was incredible, Barlow said. She let me pet her and love on her, and I was holding her in my arms the whole time.
After nearly a week at her new home, June is doing well, Barlow said. She loves other dogs, so Barlow arranges a play date with her friends pups almost every day. (Her new best friend is a Great Dane named Tank.) She loves to watch TV, and she sleeps in Barlows bed, nestled against her, every night.
Shell make sure everythings safe at night, and then curl up right behind my back and snore in my ear. She snores pretty loudly, honestly, Barlow said. But I love it. I sleep better at night with her next to me. I feel like she and I have had similar lives, even though shes an animal and Im a human.
She told Graves as much, early in their correspondence.
I explained to her that the white spots on June Cashs face were scars from the abuse in her life, Graves said. And Amber said, Dont we all carry some scars in our lives? Its like her and June connect on that level. Its just one of those matches that is meant to be.
GREENSBORO About 65,000 Guilford County residents received a recorded voice message Thursday night informing them that a 66-year-old McLeansville woman was missing.
The message, sent by county officials using the new Guilford Emergency, Alert and Notification Information System, gave basic details about Shirley Slade McGill, including her age, her clothing and where she was last seen.
She suffers from a cognitive impairment, the message concluded. Please call 911 if you have information.
McGill was found injured but safe Friday morning, in part due to tips received in response to the voicemail. That message, recorded using text-to-speech, was the first deployment of GEANI, a new software system paid for and shared by the county and the cities of Greensboro and High Point.
The three municipalities have had a shared emergency-alert system in place since 2012 but changed software vendors this year, according to Don Campbell, the countys director of emergency management. Both the old and new systems allow emergency officials to send text-message, email and voicemail alerts to residents, but GEANI allows the county to quickly send phone messages to more people.
Weve always had the ability to do phone calls, but on the old system, we could only do 26 at a time so we very rarely used it, Campbell said. Now, we can do unlimited phone messages.
The system uses a database of about 200,000 numbers, gleaned from the white and yellow pages in phone books, as well as self-registration. Residents can register their numbers at www.readyguilford.org and can also specify if they would prefer text, voice or email alerts. Not every registered number will receive a call during every emergency, Campbell said.
We use a map to basically draw a circle or square or whatever shape we want to, which tells it which numbers to call inside of that area, he said of the system. Obviously, we didnt contact everyone this time. People in Oak Ridge didnt receive messages (about McGill). We just contacted people in the area we thought would be most accurate.
Typically, residents wont receive voicemails about missing people unless the situation is urgent, Campbell said. Sheriffs deputies were particularly concerned about McGill given her cognitive impairments and the cold weather expected Thursday night.
The systems main purpose is really emergency notifications evacuation of a neighborhood, something like that, he said.
But the alert system has been successful in other capacities in the past. Tips from a previous phone message helped the Greensboro Police Department find a missing suspect within 20 minutes. And information from this most recent message was helpful in the search for McGill, said Lt. David Pruitt of the Guilford County Sheriffs Office.
We had information that gave us a better timeline as to where people may have seen her, Pruitt said.
That qualifies as a success, Campbell said.
The goal is hopefully to get someone whos seen her and can say, I just saw her walking down the road, he said. Really, its anything that can help in the investigation.
Brazilian police investigating the disappearance of the Greek ambassador to Brazil, Kyriakos Amiridis, suspect a charred body found inside a rental car could be that of the ambassador. Amiridis, 59, was spending his Christmas holidays in Rio de Janeiro but has not been seen since Monday night, when he was last spotted driving his rented Ford Ka in the suburb of Nova Iguacu. His Brazilian wife informed the police of his disappearance two days later.
The Greek ambassador in Brazil Kyriakos Amiridis. MARCOS CORREA (AFP)
More information Desaparecido en Rio de Janeiro el embajador griego en Brasil
A forensic team is now analyzing whether the burnt corpse they found in a vehicle with the same license plate and characteristics as the car the ambassador rented belongs to Amiridis. Police say they are likely to be able to provide more information on Friday.
Armiridis has lived in Brasilia since he was named ambassador in January of this year. He traveled to Rio on December 21 with the intention of returning on January 9, an employee at the Brazilian Greek embassy told news agency AFP.
Nova Iguacu, a city connected to Rio, is not a traditional destination for tourists
Before becoming the Greek ambassador to Brazil, Amiridis held the same post in Libya. Prior to that, he was the Greek Consul General in Rio from 2001 to 2004.
Nova Iguacu, a city connected to Rio, where Amiridiss wife has a family home and where the car was found, is not a traditional destination for tourists. It has a population of around 800,000 and is one of the 13 cities that make up the Baixada Fluminens, a violent territory where paramilitary groups and drug dealers operate with certain impunity.
Between January and November of this year, Baixada Fluminens, with a total of 3.7 million residents, accounted for 40% of murders in the state of Rio de Janeiro, which has a total population of 16.6 million people. During the same period the region saw 1,919 homicides, according to the Institute for Public Security in Rio.
English version: Alyssa McMurtry.
GREENWICH Town and school officials are angry after learning that Greenwich will lose 90.5 percent of its state funding to education more than any other municipality in the state.
I dont think the ECS cuts are equitable and they seem punitive, First Selectman Peter Tesei said in a statement released Friday. Greenwich, which has the largest Grand List (the aggregate valuation of taxable property in a town) in the state, sends a significant amount of money to the state. But as time goes on, what it gets in return continues to diminish.
About $20 million in state education aid for this school year is being slashed, according to a notice sent Thursday by the state Office of Policy and Management. The education cuts will affect all of Connecticut's towns and cities.
For distressed school districts like Danbury, Bridgeport and Stamford, the cut will be held to $250,000 each. In the wealthier community of Greenwich, the cut will amount to $1.3 million.
More News State to cut this school years funding
Greenwichs cut is the largest, in terms of percentage and actual dollars, in Connecticut. According to the Thursday notification from the state, Greenwichs state aid will be reduced to $136,859 for the 2016-17 fiscal year.
Superintendent of Schools Sal Corda objected to the timing of the cuts.
To implement these reductions in the middle of a fiscal year when budgets have already been approved, based on thoughtful estimates of revenue, places an unreasonable and unfair burden on municipalities, he said. Surely the state had been aware of its fiscal capabilities and the challenges it faced as this state budget was developed.
Why were school districts and municipalities not advised, before their budgets were developed, that ECS funding would not be continued at present levels and, in fact, ought to be estimated at significantly lower levels? he asked.
Our communities deserve an explanation, he added.
Education Cost Sharing grants provide education some funding for all students in a district and more money for students with higher needs, like special education students, in an aid percentage determined by the districts wealth.
The loss of this state Education Cost Sharing funding will shift a heavier financial burden onto Greenwich taxpayers, Corda said.
Reducing ECS aid does not negate the responsibility of the school district to provide the required services for youngsters with special needs. By law, those costs must be funded, he said. Therefore, the impact of a reduction in ECS aid has systemic ramifications, which certainly raises concerns.
Tesei called the cuts a hard blow to efforts to bridge the achievement gap in Greenwich. Greenwich has three Title I schools, more than 3,100 people living at the poverty line and 22 percent of all Greenwich students for whom English is their second language.
The bottom line is that perception doesnt meet reality, Tesei said. While we understand that there are communities in Connecticut that are less fortunate than ours, Greenwich does not stand unto itself. It has a population that needs assistance, not only from our generous residents who support social service agencies like the United Way, but for the myriad of agencies who provide the life-saving services residents need on a daily basis.
The reduced school funding will require a hard look at the towns annual budget, Tesei said.
With the current fiscal climate, my office already imposed a hiring freeze months ago. Open positions will be filled only upon review of the Office of the First Selectman, on a case-by-case basis, Tesei said. And with this additional loss of $1.3 million in state aid, it is a shortfall that will have to be made up in the 2017-2018 budget a shortfall that clearly will have an impact on what already is a fiscally tight plan.
He called on local lawmakers and residents to oppose the cuts.
I know that our legislative delegation, as well as our town residents, will do all that they can to convince the state to reverse this decision that financially undercuts the efforts that we continue to undertake on a daily basis, Tesei said. I appreciate our legislative delegations dedication to ensure that the town will receive its fair share an equitable return on the investment that we make in the Nutmeg State.
emunson@hearstmediact.com; @emiliemunson
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VERNON -- The main scapegoat throughout the wrongful imprisonment trial of his former client Michael Skakel, celebrity lawyer Mickey Sherman exhibited an unflagging loyalty Friday to the Kennedy cousin convicted of murdering Martha Moxley.
"Mr. Skakel never admitted to me that he committed this crime and I still have that belief as well," Sherman testified in state Superior Court in Vernon.
Skakel, 52, who is serving 20 years to life in prison for the 1975 slaying of the Greenwich teenager, is seeking a new trial on the basis that Sherman did not represent his best interests when a jury convicted him in 2002.
"My allegiance was to Michael Skakel, only, and the rest of the family knew that," Sherman said.
The state rested its case Friday, calling Sherman as its final witness on what was originally scheduled to be the ninth and final day of the habeas corpus trial.
But a few loose ends need to be tied up, which will force both sides to return to court Tuesday.
Moxley's mother, Dorthy, 80, who has been staying in Vernon throughout the trial, said she was going home to Summit, N.J., and not returning.
"I'm pooped," Moxley said.
A psychological profile of an early suspect in Moxley's murder -- Ken Littleton, the live-in tutor of Skakel -- emerged Friday. The evidence was sealed during Skakel's criminal trial.
The 28-page work-up on Littleton was sent to the Greenwich Police Department and the Bridgeport State's Attorney's Office in 1993, but was kept from the jury's view by Judge John Kavanewsky Jr.
Both sides are entering murky waters from a legal standpoint because the scope of Skakel's habeas corpus case is generally confined to the competence of Sherman.
A major theme of the trial has been whether or not Sherman cut corners on his third party culpability defense, including investigating the theory that Littleton might have been linked to 13 other murders.
"To spend time, effort and, money being the last consideration, frankly, to prove Ken Littleton was a serial killer when law enforcement had already gone down that road, I think, on my part, would have been presumptuous and wasteful," Sherman said.
Contrary to claims by Skakel, who broke his silence and testified Thursday, Sherman denied he photographed the judge and jurors with a camera pen during the criminal trial.
"Mr. Sherman, have you ever called yourself a media whore?" Santos asked, echoing Skakel's testimony.
"No," Sherman said.
Santos inquired whether Sherman ever made tongue-in-cheek remarks that "I'm not a lawyer. I just play one on TV."
"Sounds like something I could have done," Sherman said.
Sherman was asked if he had written a book, "How Can You Defend Those People?"
"Yes," Sherman said, muttering, "Thank you for promoting it."
Thomas Bishop, the judge trial referee in the case, asked Sherman to repeat his answer, appearing less than amused. Sherman stuck to a simple, yes.
Sherman disputed the characterization that he got caught up in the limelight of defending Skakel, saying he was already a commentator for what was then Court TV and a several cable channels.
"It was not my life," Sherman said of his media appearances. "It was more like recreation."
Sherman asserted that his media connections helped Skakel.
"I also believe that's one of the reasons they hired me," he said.
The former head of the Connecticut judicial branch arm responsible for investigating complaints against lawyers also testified in Sherman's defense Friday, saying he is not convinced Skakel had a right to know that his lawyer owed the government back taxes at the time he entered into a fee agreement with Sherman.
In 2010, Sherman pleaded guilty to tax evasion and served a year and a day at a minimum security prison and halfway house.
Attorneys for the state called Mark Dubois, who served for 7 years as the state's chief disciplinary counsel and teaches law at the University of Connecticut, to rebut claims that Sherman jeopardized Skakel's defense by failing to disclose $410,000 in pending liens placed on his property by the Internal Revenue Service and the state.
"I don't think so," Dubois said. "Retrospectively, could he or should he have said that to Mr. Skakel's lawyer? Maybe."
Santos responded that $450,000 Skakel paid Sherman at the time, one of several installments totaling $2.2 million, could have been seized by the government and been diverted from Skakel's defense.
"This was not an ordinary creditor that Mr. Sherman had. This was the IRS," Santos said.
Dubois testified that it was up to the family lawyer, a Skakel cousin who was negotiating fee arrangements with Sherman, to do his due diligence on the skeletons in Sherman's closet.
"What was he supposed to do, hire an investigator to investigate Mr. Sherman?" Santos said.
Dubois said that a simple LexisNexis search could have turned up information on Sherman's liens.
Earlier in the week, Ron Murphy, a professor of trial advocacy at UConn, testified on behalf of Skakel that Sherman's silence on his back taxes constituted a conflict of interest.
Under cross-examination from Santos, Dubois acknowledged Murphy once represented him in litigation.
Close to exhausting all of his legal options, Skakel filed a writ of habeas corpus with the court, claiming he was deprived of a competent defense because of Sherman's obsession with his celebrity status and problems with the IRS.
By law, the judge must render a decision on Skakel's petition within 120 days of the filing of post-trial briefs by both sides. A deadline for filing briefs will be set Tuesday. There is a provision for an extension if both parties are in agreement.
Sherman stumbled when Santos asked him if he could produce canceled checks for outside experts he hired on Skakel's behalf, which were subpoenaed in February. He could not.
"If you paid experts, there would be canceled checks," Bishop said from the judge's bench.
During Skakel's testimony a day earlier, the nephew of Ethel Skakel Kennedy and the late Robert F. Kennedy claimed Sherman ignored his directives on juror selection and strategy.
Sherman said he is receptive to wishes of all of his clients, whether they have a Ph.D. or a ninth-grade education.
"I'd always look to my client and ask him, `What do you think?' " Sherman said.
neil.vigdor@scni.com; 203-625-4436; http://twitter.com/gettinviggy
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The state Supreme Court has ruled that Michael Skakel received a fair trial when he was convicted in 2002 of killing Martha Moxley.
While other legal matters are still pending, the ruling could send Skakel back to prison.
Skakel had spent 11 years behind bars for the 1975 killing of Moxley. Both were 15 years old and neighbors in Belle Haven at the time of her death. But a judge in 2013 reversed his conviction, ruling that poor judgment, financial distractions and mistakes by Skakels defense lawyer, Michael Sherman, cost him a fair trial.
The high court on Friday reversed it back, ruling that Skakels lawyers failed to prove that Shermans performance was deficient.
Skakel has been living with an elderly relative in Bedford, N.Y., since being released.
Hes taken aback, said one of Skakels defense lawyers, Stephan Seeger.
There has been no official communication from prison authorities as to what Skakel must do in the wake of the Supreme Court decision.
The Moxley family on Friday expressed support for the ruling.
The brother of Martha Moxley said he was a little shocked. But John Moxley called the 4-3 Supreme Court ruling the right decision.
Its going to take a while to sink in, but I hope this is the end of it, he said
Moxleys mother, Dorthy Moxley, whos in her mid-80s, added, This is the way it should be. I am very, very happy. It is sinking in, and I could not be more excited, more pleased.
The majority of the courts justices determined that Shermans defense met the constitutional minimum for a fair trial. The highest court in Connecticut rejected claims that Sherman should have found other witnesses and cast suspicion on another suspect in the murder, Tommy Skakel, Michaels brother.
The court stated Shermans strategy to place suspicion on another man, tutor Kenneth Littleton, and not Tommy Skakel, was defensible. It need not have been the best decision, or even a good one; it need only fall within the wide range of reasonable decisions that a defense attorney ... might make, the judges wrote. Littleton, a teacher a Brunswick School at the time, had been hired as a tutor for the Skakel children just before the murder.
The legal team trying to keep Skakel out of prison said Sherman had not called potential alibi witnesses or tried other strategies to rebut prosecution witnesses, but the court said Shermans performance did not fall below an objective standard of reasonableness.
Skakels lawyers in Hartford also argued that Sherman was distracted by financial problems and trouble with the IRS, but the court determined there was no evidence that the concern caused Sherman to otherwise alter his defense strategy.
Seeger, a Stamford criminal defense lawyer working for Skakel, said the ruling came as a disappointment. Skakels legal team, led by attorney Hubert Santos, were considering options and reading the decision closely.
Moving forward, I would contemplate there would be a motion for re-consideration filed in state Supreme Court, Seeger said. A federal motion is also in the works. Those procedures are still open to us, the lawyer said.
Skakel, now 56, has been wearing a monitoring device since he was released.
Theres been no order currently, but well await whatever instructions there are, Seeger said. Michael has never attempted to dodge appearances of any sort during these proceedings, and when an order comes down, well be prepared.
Skakel has been free from prison on a $1.2 million bond.
He has been working with defense lawyers in case he had to face another murder trial which could have occurred had the Supreme court upheld the dismissal of his murder conviction but the possibility appeared to be foreclosed by the high court in its ruling Friday.
The court was divided in its opinion. Dissenting from the majority, Justice Richard Palmer wrote Sherman simply was not acting as the competent counsel guaranteed by the sixth amendment.
But state prosecutors insisted that Skakel had solid legal representation. States Attorney Susann Gill said he received a more than adequate defense during his 2002 trial, telling the justices in Hartford earlier this year, This was a well-planned and thought-out defense.
She also stood by the states position that there was substantial evidence that Skakel killed Martha Moxley.
Santos argued that Sherman made numerous poor decisions, including not focusing on Skakels brother as a possible suspect. Santos told the justices, This defendant did not get a fair shake. The weight of the evidence is that Tommy Skakel killed Martha Moxley.
Santos also said Michael Skakel had an alibi on the night of the killing at 10 p.m., when he said evidence shows Moxley was killed. He cited testimony that Skakel and some relatives left the neighborhood at about 9:30 p.m. to go to his cousins house 20 minutes away to watch a Monty Python movie.
Santos also said there was no forensic or physical evidence linking Skakel to the killing.
Tommy Skakels attorney has said his client had nothing to do with the slaying.
Tommy Skakel was an early suspect in the case because he was the last person seen with Moxley. Santos said Tommy Skakel admitted to investigators hired by his father that he had a sexual encounter with Moxley in which he unbuttoned her jeans and pulled them down between 9:30 and 9:55 p.m. on the night of the killing. Moxley was found dead the next day, Halloween, with her pants pulled down. She was beaten and stabbed with a golf club and its broken shaft.
But prosecutors have said that highlighting Tommy Skakels relationship with Moxley would have bolstered their argument that Michael Skakel killed her in a jealous rage.
Heir to a coal and mining fortune, an relative of the countrys first political family, Skakel had been receiving high profile help to stay a free man. Robert Kennedy Jr., a cousin of Skakel and a law professor, published a book this year that laid out a legal case that Skakel was innocent of the crime. Michael Skakel didnt have anything to do with killing Martha Moxely, Kennedy said following the publication of the book, Framed. He could not be reached for comment Friday.
Much of the 2002 murder trial focused on what Skakel later told classmates at a private rehabilitation center/school in Maine about the killing, as well as his statements to an author writing about the night of the murder. The case has generated morbid fascination for decades.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
Robert.Marchant@scni.com
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STAMFORD Any visitor driving through Shippan Point would admire the large homes in beautiful yards overlooking Long Island Sound, until they got to No. 2267.
That address on Shippan Avenue would give them pause.
The taupe mailbox marks a lot overgrown with weeds 3 feet high and surrounded by unkempt hedges and a falling chain-link fence. The short driveway of cracked concrete ends in dirt and more weeds.
Why would there be an eyesore in such a coveted neighborhood? an outside visitor might ask.
There are few clues.
Two candles in glass holders sit on a stone beside the driveway. The older candle is mud-stained and printed with a Prayer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus too faded to read. The newer candle is filled with bright pink wax and reads Divine Baby Jesus in English and Spanish, followed by a prayer: Bless and protect all those that reside here and guide them to divine grace.
But there is no house for residing, only an abandoned three-car garage at the back of the lot. Beside it are two wooden, weathered Adirondack chairs, child-size and identical.
Someone who is not a stranger to Stamford would wonder whether the chairs belonged to the 7-year-old twins, Sarah and Grace Badger, who died on Christmas Day five years ago in a fire that destroyed the house at 2267 Shippan Ave.
The twins big sister, Lily Badger, 9, died, too.
City property records show the property still is owned by their mother, Madonna Badger, who also lost her parents in the fire. Lomer and Pauline Johnson were visiting when the house ignited in fire before dawn that Christmas.
Firefighers pain
The tragedy quickly made headlines around the world. Stories described how Badger crawled out of her bedroom window, ran along the porch roof, climbed scaffolding on the outside of the house and pulled open a window to her daughters bedroom.
Rushes of heat and thick smoke kept pushing her back. Firefighters arrived and pulled her from the scaffolding, but they, too, could not get past the overwhelming heat and flames.
One firefighter burned his face, two others were injured trying to get into the house, and another inhaled a damaging amount of smoke.
But something hurt more, a captain explained: Our job is to get them out. And we didnt get them out.
After the five bodies were taken away, with the water-soaked house smoldering behind them, firefighters walked down Shippan Avenue crying.
More trouble came.
Ashes or electrical
Michael Borcina, the contractor renovating Badgers century-old Victorian home, also escaped the fire. He and Badger, who was divorced, had just begun dating.
In her hospital room that day, Badger told a fire marshal she and Borcina had swept cold ashes from the hearth into a bag, and that Borcina placed it in the mudroom.
Within hours, city investigators determined the fireplace ashes ignited the blaze. The next day, the city without Badgers permission tore her house down.
Police discovered Borcina was not a registered contractor in Connecticut, and he had several lawsuits against him claiming that he took money without finishing jobs, worked without permits, failed to pay subcontractors and other offenses.
Without debris to examine, Badger began to question whether the embers caused the fire. In 2012, after officials refused her requests for information, she filed a lawsuit against the city, Operations Director Ernie Orgera and Chief Building Official Robert DeMarco. It alleges that they improperly inspected the renovation work, failed to identify that Borcina was not licensed, and tore down the house to destroy possible evidence.
Among the allegations are that city investigators checked the electrical panels, but did not file a report; that there were no permits for two new panels that were installed; and that the new panels were wired into the original one.
The suit, still ongoing, claims city inspectors signed off on Borcinas work, even though it exceeded the scope of his building permit and deviated from the plans he submitted.
Borcina later changed his story to say it was Badger who placed the ashes in the mudroom.
Reclaimed peace
The tumult of the last five years is absent from the tranquil, if unattractive, lot at 2267 Shippan Ave.
In the December chill, birds grazed the tops of weeds when they flitted from hedge to hedge. As the sun set over Long Island Sound, light beams squeezed between charcoal-gray clouds, creating sparkles on the water.
Two teenage girls, perhaps a little older than Lily Badger would be now, laughed as they made a cellphone video of themselves on the rocky beach a few feet from the Badger driveway.
On the guardrail along the sea wall, someone has painted the word love, the answer Madonna Badger gives when someone asks how she endures the loss of her family.
Just before Christmas this year, Badger posted on Facebook a photograph of her retired father, who worked as a department-store Santa, with a smiling Sarah on his lap.
It will be 5 years in a few days since they all went to the other side. The pain is excruciating, Badger wrote. I think I need your prayers. Thank you.
She likely doesnt know about the two printed on candles at the end of her old driveway.
angela.carella@scni.com; 203-964-2296; stamfordadvocate.com/
angelacarella
Plenty of room to Obamas left, too. Photo: Angela N.
Mama Ayeshas is a restaurant in D.C. best known for its giant wall mural that drops the eaterys founder in the middle of every U.S. president since Dwight Eisenhower, including the only one whos ever resigned in utter disgrace. Its exhaustively patriotic, in other words its set on the White House lawn and squeezes in a bald eagle, the Lincoln Memorial, the Washington Monument, cherry-blossom trees, the Capitol Building, and multiple American flags.
What it wont have is Americas 45th president, Mama Ayesha Abrahams family told the Washingtonian yesterday. The way they see it, she exemplified the American dream as a female Muslim Palestinian who emigrated to America and became a successful businesswoman, which, even being generous here, would give Trump about 12 reasons to keep an eye on her. A family member claimed that Our official position is that it is not in the budget, probably with heavy use of air quotes. And who knows, that might be true: Accurately depicting the future POTUS in an image is not an easy task!
Check out Brooklyns newest fried-chicken spot, Pretty Southern. Photo: Melissa Hom
Every month in New York, theres bound to be a bewildering number of new dishes to eat, drinks to imbibe, and food-themed events to attend. It would be impossible to pack in every single thing each month, and the hardest part often is just figuring out whats really worth your limited time. So Grub kicks off each month with a curated collection of dishes, drinks, and events that should absolutely be on your agenda. Make your plans now.
1. Eat Chilaquiles Tacos for Brunch at Lalo
Gerardo Gonzalez has settled into his new digs at the Mexicanish Lalo, where hes now serving brunch. Here, hes taken the essential breakfast dish chilaquiles day-old tortillas that are fried and then sauteed in salsa and given it the breakfast-taco treatment ($10). Also on the menu: butter-toasted kasha with onion agrodolce ($12), vegan cashew grits ($12), and cocktails like a Green Eye Mimosa ($13) with cucumber-and-serrano chili.
2. Head to North End Grills Old-School French Pop-up
From January 5 through the end of the month, North End Grill will transform into Bistro au Nord. For the second year of the pop-up, chef Eric Korsh will cook the kind of nourishing French classics that sound really good right now, like pot au feu ($42), tart flambee ($17), and cheesy French-onion soup ($21). Plus, there will be a special wine menu inspired by whats hip at the wine bars of Paris.
3. Eat a New Burger From One of the Countrys Best Burger Chefs
Brendan Sodikoffs burger at Chicagos Au Cheval is outstanding. Now, you can come as close as possible to eating it (monthly) without stopping at JFK first. The chef has opened the West Village chop house 4 Charles Prime Rib, where hes serving a burger. Its not the exact Au Cheval burger, but its a diner-style double with optional egg and bacon. Just note that at $18 sans fries, its not cheap.
4. Eat Gavin Kaysens Food in New York Again
When Gavin Kaysen skipped town for his native Minneapolis, New York lost one of its most decorated chefs. His fans will be happy to hear that on January 6 through February 4, hes back in town for a brief stint as the next guest chef at the NoMad Bar. But the real hook is that hell cook new dishes from his upcoming Minnesota restaurant Bellecour. What to expect? Tarte aux oignons with fennelcreme fraiche and bone marrow, cod brandade with fried parsley, and oeufs mimosa or deviled eggs with pickled onion.
5. Drink a Fancy Whiskey-and-Coke
The whiskey-and-coke doesnt enjoy much of a reputation, mainly because its the kind of college cocktail usually made to get you as drunk as possible as fast as possible. But like the rum and coke, it can be made well. The owners of Park Slopes popular cafe Hungry Ghost are trying to prove as much at their cocktail bar Sweet Polly. There, theyre serving the Mr. Hyde ($13), made with cherry, alder-smoked cola, and rye whiskey for a truly fancy take on a trash drink.
You can have your chilaquiles and breakfast taco, too, at Lalo. Photo: Melissa Hom
6. Check Out New Yorks Newest Fried-Chicken Spot
New York has plenty of fried chicken, but Sam Talbot thinks it could use at least one more spot. The Top Chef alum and former Surf Lodge chef has opened Pretty Southern, which purports to sell a healthier version of fried bird ($2.50 to $6 a piece). Health claims aside, you can get yours with hot sauce, ranch, and other sauces. There are variations on other Southern staples, sides (all $6) like corn-bread pudding and coconut-milk grits, brown-sugar-benne butter biscuits ($4), and a blackened fish and remoulade sandwich ($13).
7. Have Dan Dan Udon Noodles for Breakfast at One of New Yorks Most Popular New Japanese Restaurants
Bessou on Bleecker Street is a charming but stylish restaurant that has picked up steam lately, thanks to its warm hospitality and inventive home cooking. Think shishomaki ($8), fried shisho leaves stuffed with sendai miso and peanuts, and scallion pancakes ($15) with tofu aioli and pomegranate. This month, owner Maiko Kyogoku and chef Emily Yeun launched with dishes like dan dan udon noodles ($17) with a spicy sesame-miso broth and a green eggs and chashu sandwich ($15) with tomato-braised Berkshire pork belly on toasted milk bread.
8. Eat Farm-to-Table Trashy Desserts at Loring Place
Everyone loves a Blizzard even Dan Kluger. The vegetable-happy, all-things-seasonal chef has concocted a gussied up version ($12) of the Dairy Queen classic for his recently opened Loring Place. Made with a base of vanilla ice cream, its properly packed with pretzels, walnut toffee, chocolate cookie fudge, and unDairy Queen like (Grub will let it pass) Meyer lemon. Thats just the start, though. Hes also serving a take on the Hostess chocolate cupcake, served with orange creme fraiche and tangerine sherbet. Could Ding Dongs be next?
This month, Gavin Kaysen will serve his tarte aux oignons at the Nomad Bar. Photo: Libby Anderson/Bellecour
9. Warm Up With a Bowl of Tontoro Ramen
Add another bowl to the list of exciting new ramen thats recently hit New York. The fantastic Lower East Side ramen shop Nakamura, known for its subtle chicken-based tori paitan, has debuted a richer ramen for the winter. Enter the tontoro ($16), a style made with a chicken and pork-belly broth served with thick noodles, chashu, bean sprouts, and onion.
10. Check Out Il Buco Alimentaris New Menu
In the fall, Il Buco Alimentari e Vineria announced it had hired a new chef in Garrison Price, who previously worked for Jean-Georges, Curtis Duffy, and Jose Andres. This month, the restaurant will debut his revamped menu with dishes like riso nero ($17), a paella-like black-rice dish made with pork sausage and blue prawns, and agnolotti ($28) stuffed with roast duck and caramelized chestnut puree. Restaurant standards like its famous roast short ribs will remain, but there will be new meats to eat including roasted and stuffed lamb saddle ($46) served with lamb broth steeped with pine-smoked tea.
11. Learn How to Make Sausages at White Gold
If your New Years resolution is to start making your own breakfast sausage, youre in luck. April Bloomfields crew at White Gold is bringing butchering classes uptown, with the first class ($100) of 2017 set to run on January 15. Youll learn to make trimmings, grind meat, pipe and twist sausages, and more. Plus, youll leave with your class project.
A new leak from China today claims to show us Meizu's smartphone launch roadmap for 2017. The image you can see below is said to depict an internal document from the Chinese company, neatly detailing every single smartphone it plans to launch next year, along with the month of its introduction and the chipset used.
So let's dive in. The first announcement is coming in February, when the M5S is reportedly coming, powered by MediaTek's MT6753 SoC. The M5 has the MT6750, so this isn't surprising.
Next up, in June the Meizu Pro 7 will arrive with the Helio X30 chip on board. Then in July the Blue Charm S (or MS) will be launched sporting the Helio P25. In September we'll get the MX7 with a Helio P30, while the M6 Note (or Blue Charm Note 6) lands in October with a Helio P20. Finally, in December of next year Meizu will announce a new member of the Blue Charm / M series, which will be powered by Qualcomm's Snapdragon 626 chipset.
Obviously take all of this with a pinch of salt until other rumors confirm any of it, but the contents of this roadmap certainly feel believable enough, given Meizu's past antics. The one surprise is the use of that Qualcomm SoC in late 2017, which if true signifies that the two companies have finally agreed on a settlement for the chip maker's patent infringement claims against Meizu. We assume that the Chinese company has negotiated (or is in the process of doing so) a license agreement with Qualcomm, which means we may see even more Snapdragon chips inside its smartphones from 2018 onwards.
Source (in Chinese) | Via 1 (in Chinese) | Via 2
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Earlier today, we learned that the beta program for Nougat on Samsung's latest flagship pair is officially over. This was shared along with a suggested release time frame of January 2017 for the consumer version.
But, if that wasn't enough to prove Samsung is really working hard on the OTA, it appears the support documentation for both models has now been updated to reflect the OS change and is already spreading across Samsung regional servers and websites.
The originals in English can be found at the source links, if you want to dig through them, but from what we managed to gather, the lengthy PDFs hold little extra info on the upcoming software experience, lined up for the S7 pair. A few screenshots scattered here and there do showcase some aspects of the UI refresh. For instance, we can clearly see how the new top row of quick toggles on the shade is going to look and behave.
Also, a few screen grabs from the camera UI show a more polished appearance and control scheme. The camera can now lock focus on one spot of the viewfinder and then get the expose settings from a different one.
Other notable additions include the adoption of the actionable style lockscreen notifications that made a debut on the now canceled Galaxy Note7. Also, the Smart Manager might be called Device Maintenance from now on, but with no obvious change in functionality.
It is also interesting to note that Secure Folder isn't mentioned in the manual. This fits nicely with an earlier rumor that Samsung will start offering the privacy platform as a download on supported devices. This might actually debut with the OTA as well.
Source 1 | Source 2 | Via
Published on 2016/12/29
Offers are out to Jang Dong-gun and Hyun Bin to star in the ambitious science fiction drama "City of Stars", slated to be released late next year.
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"City of Stars" is still in talks with both actors, but is currently scheduled to start filming in January, for release in the second half of 2017. I'm happy to hear that the drama will be entirely pre-produced, because it would have been difficult to imagine such an ambitious show done on a live shoot schedule. The story is set in a future where Earth is running low on resources, and follows two aspiring astronauts on their way to space to find some more.
I don't think I've seen a Kdrama where the fate of the world hangs in the balance, so I think we can assume that we'll be dealing with problems on an epic scale. If "City of Stars" lives up to its ambitions, it could be a great comeback for both Hyun Bin, who could use a hit after 2015 flop, "Hyde, Jekyll and I" and Jang Dong-gun, who hasn't been in a drama since 2012.
Writer/director/actor Jang Jin is already attached to direct what is shaping up to be the blockbuster drama of 2017, but we'll have to wait and see if either actor signs on officially.
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Only of Noonas Over Forks
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
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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur
EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay
An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".
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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022
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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
New Obama Travel Costs Bring Eight-Year Total over $96 Million
Earth Day Travel Bill Over $1 Million, Hillary Clintons Ride on Air Force One Cost $360,000
News release from Judicial Watch, December 29, 2016
(Washington DC)Judicial Watch announced today that it has received new documents from both the Secret Service and the Air Force relating to Obama travel expenses, bringing the known total over the past eight years to $96,938,882.51. The reports contain information regarding Obamas Earth Day trip to the Florida Everglades, a political fundraising trip to San Diego, Michelle Obamas annual Aspen ski trip, her trip to Morocco, a family vacation in Marthas Vineyard, as well as Hillarys ride with Obama on Air Force One to North Carolina.
Judicial Watch filed two separate Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) lawsuits for Secret Service costs related to Obama travel (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (No. 1:15-cv-01983)) and (Judicial Watch v. U.S. Department of Homeland Security (No. 1:16-cv-00863)). The Secret Service is a component of the Department of Homeland Security.
Secret Service records reveal that Barack Obamas April 22, 2015, Earth Day trip to give a global warming speech in the Florida Everglades cost taxpayers $145,752.36, which brings the total cost of the trip to at least $1,012,367.76.
The Secret Service records for Obamas October 2015 fundraising travel to San Diego reveal expenses totaling $180,187.09. Including the U.S. Air Force expenses, the total cost of Obamas San Diego trip was at least $2,181,655.99.
Michelle Obamas February 2016 ski trip to Aspen with her daughters cost taxpayers a total of $222,875.58. The Secret Service expenses were $165,806.78. Judicial Watch previously obtained records from the Air Force revealing that Michelle Obamas weekend trip to Aspen, Colorado, last year cost American taxpayers $57,068.80 in travel expenses alone for the 7.4-hour round-trip flight.
Judicial Watch obtained records from the U.S. Air Force and the Secret Service revealing that Barack Obamas trip to Cuba and Argentina in March 2016 cost taxpayers $7,146,015.18 in Secret Service and Air Force travel expenses.
Air Force records regarding Michelle Obamas trip to Morocco, Spain and Liberia with her daughters in June 2016 revealed $450,026.40 in flight expenses alone. A C-32A was flown for 28.4 hours.
Judicial Watch recently obtained Air Force records which reveal that the Obamas August 2016 vacation to Marthas Vineyard cost taxpayers $450,295 in flight expenses alone.
Judicial Watch also recently obtained records from the Air Force showing that in July 2016 taxpayers paid $360,236 for Hillary Clinton to accompany Obama on Air Force One for a campaign trip to North Carolina .
Also, in October 2016 Michele Obama joined Hillary Clinton in North Carolina for a rally reportedly to encourage early voting in North Carolina. Documents regarding this trip have been requested but have not yet been received. The First Lady typically flies in a C-32A so the 1.8 hour flight can safely be estimated to have cost taxpayers $28,522.80.
The Obamas notorious abuse of presidential travel perks wasted military resources and stressed the Secret Service. Judicial Watch estimates that the final costs of Obamas unnecessary vacation and political travel will well exceed $100 million, said Judicial Watch president Tom Fitton. President-elect Trump can immediately save taxpayers money by reforming presidential travel.
###
Who spent Hawaiis $1 billion surplus?
by Joe Kent, Grassroot Institute, December 29, 2016
The Hawaii state budget figures show a record high surplus of over $1 billion in 2016. Look at all of the extra money!
However, Governor David Ige said he already spent the surplus. How could this be?
The graph above is a snapshot of the budget taken in July of 2016. But the Governor said that most of the money was spent after the snapshot was taken.
So, where did the surplus go?
Most of the money was used to make catch-up payments into the states $11 billion unfunded liabilities for state health benefits.
Normally, the unfunded liabilities are paid in quarterly installments throughout the year, like paying off a credit card a little at a time. But last July, Governor Ige put $725 million into the Employer Union Trust Fund in one lump sum, to help make payments early.
Governor Ige also put $201 million into a rainy day emergency fund, just in case the state faces hard financial times in the future.
Saving money for the future and paying off debt is a good idea, especially during surplus years. Governor Ige and his team have successfully taken a step towards fiscal health and accountability for Hawaii.
However, public employee unions who were wishing for bigger pay raises may need to dial back on expectations, now that that extra money is all gone. Still, all is not lost as Governor Ige has said that he has planned a 1 percent pay raise for public employee union workers.
So the government surplus may have already been spent, but at least it was spent wisely. If Governor Ige and the state continue to work together, we may be able to keep our economy healthy and keep the states finances in order without raising taxes.
---30---
The District Court of Helsinki on Thursday found the defendant guilty of a total of 22 offences, including six counts of aggravated drug offence, five counts of aggravated abuse of public office, one count of aggravated falsification of evidence and one count of witness intimidation.
Jari Aarnio, a former head of drug enforcement at the Helsinki Police Department, has been sentenced to ten years' imprisonment for a slew of drug and misconduct offences.
Aarnio was also ordered to forfeit a total of 1,306,000 euros in criminal profits and his property in Porvoo, and stripped of his military rank.
He and twelve other defendants were charged with offences related primarily to the import and distribution of six barrels or, almost 800 kilos of hashish in 20112012. Aarnio was found guilty of five counts of aggravated drug offence after the court established that he was an integral part of the drug smuggling and distribution ring.
Aarnio has been shown to have obstructed the investigation into the import of hashish barrels in various ways and sought in other ways to prevent himself and other people involved in the [smuggling operation] from being caught in 20122013, the District Court of Helsinki states in a press release.
He was convicted of several aggravated and lesser offences in office for having unscrupulously abused his position at the Helsinki Police Department.
Aarnio pleaded his innocence throughout the trial proceedings, arguing that his actions had been part of lawful police and informant activities.
Another member of the drug enforcement squad, Mikael Runeberg, was found guilty of four counts of aggravated abuse of public office and five counts of lesser offences in office and, consequently, sentenced to three years and six months' imprisonment. He was ruled to, for example, have been involved in an attempt to frame another man for the drug smuggling operation.
The District Court of Helsinki draws in its press release attention to the detrimental impact of the wrongdoings on public trust in the Police of Finland.
The offences were committed with premeditation while unscrupulously abusing the position of a police officer. The offenders also took advantage of the judicial system and forcible police measures. Police activities must be credible and lawful especially with respect to secret forcible measures. The actions [of the offenders] contributed to reducing public trust in police operations and were therefore damaging for the entire society, it estimates.
Aarnio has announced his intention to appeal the ruling. His defence counsel, Riitta Leppiniemi, estimated in an interview with MTV that the court failed to understand the manner in which an anti-drug force has to operate.
The Helsinki Court of Appeal in October handed down a three-year prison sentence to Aarnio for aggravated abuse of public office, aggravated fraud and aggravated acceptance of bribes in a case related to the acquisition of surveillance equipment for the Helsinki Police Department.
Aleksi Teivainen HT
Photo: Martti Kainulainen Lehtikuva
Source: Uusi Suomi
LOCAL BRIEFS: DAR Good Citizen, Kiwanis surprise, Frostbite race
Shown, from left, are Veritas Christian Academy guidance counselor Margo Prechter, Good Citizen winner Hana Barazi and Nedra Moles, chair of the DAR Good Citizens Committee.
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DAR Good Citizen
The Abraham Kuykendall Chapter, NSDAR, of Flat Rock, honored the 2016 DAR Good Citizen Winner Hana Barazi , a senior from Veritas Christian Academy, on Dec. 8. Shown, from left, are Veritas Christian Academy guidance counselor Margo Prechter, Barazi and Nedra Moles, chair of the DAR Good Citizens Committee. The award winner was nominated by her guidance counselor for her leadership, dependability, service and patriotism. Her essay was on the topic of Our American Heritage and our Responsibility to Preserve It. She presented her essay at our chapter meeting and received $100 and her certificate. The DAR Good Citizen Award was also presented to Addie Elizabeth Lynch, of Polk County High School, and Michael Scott Woolard, of East Henderson High School.
Library launches program to encourage early reading
The Henderson County Public Library is partnering with Smart Start of Henderson County to launch its 1,000 Books Before Kindergarten program in January. The program is geared toward increasing the early literacy skills of preschool children in Henderson County.
1,000 Books before Kindergarten is the result of numerous studies that demonstrate the connection between reading and early stimulation in improving brain development. The program helps guide parents to grow a reader by making reading a regular part of the day.
All babies, toddlers and preschoolers are encouraged to participate and invited to the program kickoff from 10:30 a.m. until noon Jan. 3 at the Main Library and at the Etowah branch. Every attendee will get their first reading log and a bright balloon. If parents read just one book a day with their child, theyll reach the 1,000 book goal in less than 3 years.
For more information, please contact Kathy Kirchoefer at 828-697-4725 x. 2313.
Thrive director speaks at Democratic breakfast
The Henderson County Democratic Party will hold its monthly breakfast from 9 to 11 a.m. Saturday, Jan. 7, at Democratic headquarters, 905 Greenville Hwy. Guest speaker is Kristen Martin, executive director of Thrive, a local mental health agency. All-you-can-eat buffet is $9 for adults $4.50 for children under 10. First time attendees eat for free.
Frostbite race set for Sunday, Feb. 19
Henderson Countys annual 25th annual Frostbite Races will take place on Sunday, Feb. 19, at 2 p.m. at the Leila Patterson Fitness & Aquatics Center, 1111 Howard Gap Road, Fletcher. Presented by Trace and Company, the Frostbite event is oldest and largest footrace in Henderson County. The distance events provide views of Hutch Mountain and are on hilly to challenging terrain, with some steep inclines on both the 10k and 5k courses. A flat and fast 1-mile course makes this premier racing event an opportunity for all running levels and ages.
Registration is now open at https://racesonline.com/events/frostbiteraces. Those who register three or more family members online (at one time) get 15 percent off youre the entry fee.
A portion of event proceeds will be used for the benefit of Big Brothers, Big Sisters and their mentor programs for underprivileged kids in our area.
For more information, or to volunteer to help out, contact events@idaph.net or visit http://idaph.net/events/frostbite-races/.
Kiwanis Club gets Christmas surprise
The Kiwanis Club of Hendersonville received an unexpected Christmas gift at its weekly meeting last week it announced the winner of its first Drawing for Kids raffle.
On Dec. 8, the club drew the winning name for the $5,000 prize. The winner was Worthy Association Management LLC, which manages the Wolfpen subdivision on Chimney Rock Road.
Kiwanis member Dick Lepak, a resident of Wolfpen, had sold the winning ticket to Worthy Association Managements manager, Marion Bachand. Lepak was present at the drawing and called Bachand to let her know her company had won the ticket.
When Kiwanis President Elizabeth Moss presented Bachand the $5,000 check, she accepted it, then told the club she had something she would like to present. Bachand handed over $5,000 check from Worthy Management to Moss. Her generous act brought the Kiwanians to their feet in a raucous ovation.
Thanks to Worthy Management and Bachand, the Kiwanis Club raised more than $10,600, doubling the funds raised for Kiwanis programs that help local children such as Terrific Kids, the Shoes and Socks program and need-based scholarships for graduating high school seniors.
Credit Union raises $1,385 to pay forward
United Federal Credit Union donated $1,385 to local families and organizations across North Carolina during the 2016 Pay It Forward initiative. As part of the Pay It Forward program, UFCU provides $15 to every employee to give to a needy individual, family, or organization of their choice. Many times departments and branches combine funds to create a more substantial donation.
Employees in Fletcher, Hendersonville, Asheville and Statesville raised money to benefit local familiessome dealing with medical or financial difficultiesas well as a variety of institutions that help local children like Hall Fletcher Elementary School in Asheville and the Blessings in a Box program held in Hendersonville.
In 2016 through the Pay It Forward initiative, UFCU collectively donated more than $11,500 to 34 different individuals and community organizations across the six states where branches are located.
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There are lots of ways to celebrate the New Years Eve and welcome the fresh 365 days with a bang. Some families dine in together as soon as the 12 AM of January 1 strikes. some lights up their fireworks to cast away the bad luck.
The way people celebrate and embrace the New Year differs in each and every country worldwide. If you wanted to know what the other nation does in welcoming the fresh brand-new year, read on!
Wear The Right Underwear Latin America
According to the old tradition, the color of the underwear you are wearing during the New Years Eve can determine your luck for the upcoming year. Some says that if you wear the red color, you will find your soul mate in the upcoming year. Yellow should be worn if you wanted more happiness and peace in your life. White if you are wishing for fertility and good health.
Offer White Flowers to the Goddess of the Living Ocean Brazil
In Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, thousands of people wearing white gather together to offer white flowers and gifts to the queen of sea. It is believed that doing this can bring good and positive energy and strength for the brand new year. People toss their offering to the sea while some offers their gifts via makeshift boats hoping that the goddess of the ocean will grant their wishes for the New Year.
Eat 12 White Grapes at Midnight Spain
In Spain, people eats 12 white grapes as the clock hits midnight, signaling the start of a brand new year. The 12 grapes represent the 12 months of the year and should be eaten at each bell strike of the midnight. This Spanish tradition dates back from 1895 and became a must do for the Spaniards at their New Year celebration year after year. According to the old beliefs, this tradition will lead to a year of abundance and prosperity.
Eat Lentils at Midnight Chile
Just like eating the 12 white grapes at midnight (Spain), eating lentils at midnight brings prosperity according to the tradition of Chileans.
Burn a Scarecrow Ecuador
For Ecuadorians, burning a scarecrow on New Years Eve is a surefire way to drive away all the negativity and bad luck of the previous year. Some Ecuadorian also burns photographs that represent the bad luck and negative things that happened in the past year.
Bang Bread Against the Wall Ireland
Banging bread on the wall is a usual thing to do for people of Ireland during New Years Eve. For them, its an effective way to drive away evil spirits while inviting the positive or good ones as the year starts anew.
Take A Cold Plunge Germany
This yearly, traditional New Years Day Dip will surely give you the chills! In Konstanz Germany, people jump into the freezing 6 degree Celsius cold water in Lake Constance as they welcome the brand new year. This old age tradition has been around for quite many years and became a popular event not only for the people of Konstanz but also for tourists and guests visiting their land.
Via boston.com
Ameriabank: At the Vanguard of Armenia's Banking Sector
STATEMENT OF THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARTSAKH
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Armenia-Azerbaijan: EU sets up monitoring capacity along the international borders
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PACE co-rapporteurs on Armenia concerned by reports of alleged war crimes or inhuman treatment perpetrated by Azerbaijans armed forces
There is still 35% gender pay gap: Sona Ghazaryan
Global Finance Names Ameriabank the Safest Bank in Armenia
Mikayel and Karen Vardanyans provided 136 million AMD support for the overhaul of the Myasnikyan statue, which was in unsafe state of disrepair
Believe me, as a representative of a country which uses the Schengen system very often, it is quite important. Vardanyan
I really look forward to having answers from the Azerbaijani side for these alleged gross human rights violations: Secretary General
I call on Armenian and Azerbaijani parliamentarians to use this Assembly as an agora of opportunities President Tiny Kox
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There is no place for the death penalty in a State that respects human rights: PACE General Rapporteur
EU and CoE call on two Member States that have not yet acceded to this Protocol Armenia and Azerbaijan to do so without delay
An urgent debate requested on "The military hostilities between Armenia and Azerbaijan".
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The statement of the meeting between Prime Minister Pashinyan, President Aliyev, President Macron and President Michel of October 6, 2022
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
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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
Rory said the abuse made him think twice about using Twitter
Mrs Brown's Boys actor Rory Cowan has asked his solicitor to try and identify trolls who abused him on social media and compared him to paedophile Jimmy Savile.
The much-loved Dubliner said he received a number of abusive tweets from several accounts after he attended the Crumlin Ward Walk at the Crumlin Children's Hospital before Christmas.
"It was the strangest thing at how quick and viciously it happened," he told RTE Radio One's Today with Sean O'Rourke programme.
"I replied to a tweet and before I knew it, I was being accused of being a molester.
"People were saying 'here Rory, leave the kids alone', 'Rory will fix it' and 'I'd take my kid out of hospital if it was being met with celebrities like you'."
Shock
Cowan, who plays Rory Brown in the hit RTE show, described his shock at the torrent of abuse.
He said he normally reacts to critical tweets like "water off a duck's back", but was surprised at how offensive the messages were.
Cowan said his solicitor is dealing with the matter and they are on a mission to find the people behind the accounts before reporting the issue to gardai.
"This is something that's completely new to me, I don't know what's going to happen," he said.
"There's no point in involving the guards if we can't find out who these people are. I don't want to go and say, 'I'm a victim', you don't know where this is coming from, it could be from the UK or abroad.
"I should have ignored them. In the end, I thought I had to get on to my solicitor about this, it was taking on a life of its own. I was actually sick to my stomach.
"I couldn't believe what was coming in and so quick. It was like a kick in the stomach."
He said Twitter should be a "fun" thing, but now he thinks he will hold back a bit on the social network.
Careful
"I'll think very carefully about responding, or even what I'm writing myself," Rory said.
"It should be no problem but unfortunately, there are people out there who've accused me of the vilest things.
"I will stay on it, I like it. When you've nothing to do you go on Twitter," he said.
"If you're waiting on your TV programmes or the tea to happen.
"But I won't be engaging as much with people anymore."
Irish tourism can expect another great year in 2017, but the industry has warned that Brexit and a lack of hotel beds in Dublin could be challenging.
The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) welcomed this year's record number of 8.8m overseas visitors, most of whom visited or passed through Dublin, but added that 50 new hotels were needed in the city.
According to ITIC, tourism is now worth more than 8bn to the Irish economy.
Chief executive Eoghan O'Mara Walsh welcomed the new highs for the industry, but stressed that dozens of new hotels would be needed for the capital alone to keep up with the demand.
Crash
"There has been virtually no development of hotels in Dublin in the past five to 10 years," he told the Herald, pointing to the impact of the financial crash.
"There are a lot of hotels in development at the moment, which is to be welcomed. However, these hotels will take about two or three years to construct."
Mr O'Mara Walsh added that the impact of the Brexit vote could still pose problems, with weakened sterling an immediate challenge.
"With Article 50 due to be triggered next March, we expect sterling to remain relatively weak," he said.
"It makes holidays in Ireland seem more expensive for British visitors."
However, Mr O'Mara Walsh remained optimistic for 2017, pointing to a strong market for north American visitors.
"Brexit is the main challenge for 2017, but we are still predicting a 3pc to 5pc growth in visitor numbers next year," he said.
Overseas tourists spent 4.7bn in Ireland this year.
The domestic market was also strong, with revenue increasing to 1.75m, and 300m came from Northern Ireland visitors.
ITIC also urged the Government to commit to the creation of 50,000 new jobs in tourism and increase tourism export earnings by 50pc to 7bn by 2025.
Quality
Mr O'Mara Walsh said the quality and competitiveness of Irish tourism was key to this year's gains.
He warned against taking success for granted and called on the Government to act to sustain growth in the sector.
Meanwhile, a Red C poll found Irish citizens are least likely to vote to leave the EU.
Eighty per cent of Irish people would choose to stay in the union, while 62pc believe it is going the right direction.
Gardai believe the notorious brothers may have been behind the late-night arson attack on Karlton Barbers
A barber's shop in the north inner city that was badly damaged by fire just a week after it opened may have been petrol-bombed by two gangland brothers.
It is understood the notorious criminals have a business interest in a rival establishment elsewhere in the city.
Luckily, no one was hurt during the late-night arson attack at Karlton Barbers, at Island Key in East Wall.
Gardai from Store Street Station are treating the fire as "criminal damage".
However, no arrests have yet been made.
The barber's shop is run by a highly-respected 59-year-old man from Mauritius, who has no involvement in crime.
When the shop was contacted by the Herald, a member of staff said the owner did not wish to comment on the incident, which occurred at 1.20am on Thursday last week.
Targeted
One theory being considered by gardai is that the shop was targeted by the gangland brothers who saw it as "bad for their business".
However, the criminals have no business interest in any barber's shops in the area of the city where the petrol-bomb attack occurred.
"These are serious criminals, nasty people. While they don't own a barber shop themselves, the belief is that they have a business interest in another barbers in the city," said a source.
"The suspicion is that they carried out this attack simply to put the barber's shop out of business."
Dublin Fire Brigade quickly established that an accelerant had been used in the fire.
Gardai immediately began a major probe.
They examined CCTV footage from local petrol stations and the East Wall area.
The tightly-knit community of East Wall has rallied around Karlton Barbers and helped repair the damage caused by the fire.
The shop's owner has expressed his gratitude to the community for their help.
People described the fire-bombing as a "cowardly attack" while many posted on the barber's Facebook site that the entire community was behind the business.
Smashed
The petrol-bomb attack is not the first this year.
The Flyefit gym in Coolock, which forms part of a popular chain, had been open only a few weeks when two men smashed a car into the entrance early on July 25. They then set fire to the car.
Gardai believe the ruthless 'Mr Big' drugs mob carried out the attack after deciding the gym was a threat to its own fitness centre.
In October, it emerged that the gym would not reopen.
The Coolock fitness centre incident is not linked in any way to last week's barber shop attack.
Karlton Barbers is expected to reopen in the next few days.
Margaret Thatcher at the signing of the Anglo-Irish Agreement at Hillsborough Castle, 15th November 1985
British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher admitted to Irish officials the UK "got it wrong in 1921" with the Northern Ireland border.
A series of extraordinary admissions between Mrs Thatcher and Taoiseach Dr Garret Fitzgerald have emerged from the 1986 archives released under the 30-year-rule.
Both leaders were in contact throughout 1986 as the UK and Ireland backed the Anglo-Irish Agreement amid furious Unionist and Loyalist opposition to the deal.
Meeting
The pair met on December 6, 1986 in London - and Mrs Thatcher made a series of blunt admissions in assessing the Irish security situation.
"You (the Republic) haven't the resources to maintain protection on the other side of the border," she said.
"I do feel very depressed at times about the whole situation. The violence has not been defeated. The SDLP have not done what we are expecting them to do."
"However, it is Christmas - and I had better stop feeling depressed."
Dr Fitzgerald praised the RUC for the work they had done in co-operating with gardai and wanted all UDR patrols accompanied by the RUC, but warned that "both forces have a next-to-impossible border to watch".
Mrs Thatcher admitted: "Yes, we got it wrong in 1921."
The meeting concluded with one Irish civil servant noting that "Thatcher went onincluding a wistful reference to whether she could continue, in all seriousness, to send young men to their death in Northern Ireland".
COMMUNITY
CENTRAL PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH: Bristol, Va., 301 Euclid Avenue, Every Monday, Wednesday and Saturday: Support group for family, friends of alcoholics, 423-764-0874, 423-878-2831, or 423-323-9886.
KINGSPORT CAROUSEL: Kingsport, Tenn., Wednesdays Saturdays, 17 p.m.: $1. 423- 343-9834 or www.EngageKingsport.com
ALZHEIMER/DEMENTIA CAREGIVERS MEETING: Abingdon, Va., View United Methodist Church, 18416 Lee Highway. For more, call Sissy Frye or Brenda Jones at 276-783-8157 or 1-800-541-0933.Brenda Jones at 276-783-8157 or 1-800-541-0933.
PTERODACTYLS BMW MOTORCYCLE CLUB: Johnson City, Tenn., 2801 Boones Creek Road, 3rd Saturday, 9 a.m. Contact David Robertson, 423-323-2046 or drobertson@btes.tv.
BRISTOL BINGO: Bristol, Va., 516 Birthplace of Country Music Way, Bingo Saturdays and Sundays, 6 p.m. early bird and 6:30 p.m. regular, sponsored by VFW Post 6975. 276-669-2446.
WATAUGA VALLEY FIFE & DRUM CORPS: Elizabethton, Tenn., Sycamore Shoals State Historic Area, 1651 West Elk Avenue. Saturdays, 10 a.m. noon. The Fife & Drum Corps open to anyone ages 13 and up. Musical experience is welcome but not necessary. Meet volunteer coordinator John Large at the visi-tors center. Lessons are free; call and let us know youre coming. 423-543-5808.
WASHINGTON COUNTY JAM: Abingdon, Va., 25236 Hillman Hwy., Southwest Virginia 4-H Educational Center, after-school program, or youth (4th through 8th grade) in Washington County, who are interested in learning traditional, old-time musical instruments and Southern Appalachian culture. Classes will run through May 2016. 276-6676-6180 or programs@swva4hcenter.org.
CHEER WITH THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONS: Johnson City, Tenn., Oakland Ave., Princeton Arts Center, Learn cheers, jumps, splits, tumbling, dance routines, builds with National Champion Taylor Melons. Beginners cheer, ages 3-6, $25 per month; Competition Cheer, ages 7-12, $60 per month. 423-283-5800 or email tricitiestalent@hotmail.com.
MOUNT ROGERS REGIONAL ADULT EDUCATION PROGRAM: Providing free GED classes at the following locations and times: Marion Baptist Church on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 1-4 p.m., Marion Senior High Library on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 4-7 p.m., Northwood High School - Room 105 on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5- 8 p.m., Old Chilhowie High School on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 12-3 p.m. Classes and materials are free to adults 18 and older. 1-800-322-7748 or www.mrraep.com.
JACKSON THEATRE PHOTOS NEEDED: Jonesborough, Tenn., The Town of Jonesborough and the Heritage Alliance are seeking old photos of the Jackson Theatre in Jonesborough. Photos are needed for the exterior of the building or interior, and they can be of any time period going back to when the building was a furniture store in the very early 1900s. 423-753-1031 or virginiac@jonesboroughtn.org.
SENIOR CENTER MEMORIAL PARK COMMUNITY CENTER: Johnson City, Tenn., 510 Bert Street. Join the Senior Chorale Thursdays 10 a.m. No audition required. (423) 434-5750.
FOOD PANTRY
THE TABLE: Bristol, Va., 1754 Kingmill Pike, Community Baptist Church, every fourth Friday 1 4 p. m.: Food pantry, donations are welcome, contact Pastor Todd Crusenberry, 423-646-8760.
PARKS
BREAKS PARK: Breaks, Va., Campground and Rhododendron Restaurant open. Boat dock closed. Front lobby at the lodge will be open daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during the week and 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on week-ends. The administration office will be open Monday-Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Park lodging is open year round. Conference Center is open with regular catering services available. New activities: lodging packages with whitewater rafting excursions and elk tours. 276-865-4413 ext. 3201 or www.BreaksPark.com.
SYCAMORE SHOALS STATE HISTORIC AREA: Elizabethton, Tenn., 1651 W. Elk Ave.: October Bird Walks, Oct. 15, 22, 29, 8 a .m., 90 minute walk led by Bryan Stevens, Bristol Herald Courier columnist. The park grounds open daily from dawn to dusk. Visitors Center: 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; 1-4:30 p.m. Sunday; closed Mondays. Visitor Center open weekends 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. 423-543-5808 or www.sycamoreshoalstn.org, www.tnstateparks.com/SycamoreShoals.
HOW TO SUBMIT INFORMATION
To submit calendar entries, email features@bristolnews.com (put Friday Calendar in the subject line) or fax: 276-669-3696. Deadline is noon on Monday. For information, call Dorothy Hurt, 276-645-2556 or email dhurt@bristolnews.com.
During President-elect Donald Trumps inauguration late next month, the areas apartments will be filled with fans and protesters who have booked rooms on Airbnb. To some, however, the tech upstart is just as controversial as Trump, and activists are demanding that governments across the country hamstring a hugely useful service. Regulators should resist cracking down.
The company, which is valued at $30 billion and operates in 34,000 cities in 191 countries, provides a platform for private homeowners to advertise rooms, apartments and whole houses to short-term visitors.
But it has been accused of enabling racial discrimination, as owners decline to rent to minority customers, and of reducing scarce housing stock for permanent residents in crowded cities such as New York and San Francisco.
Stories of landlords evicting renters in order to make their properties under-the-radar hotels have fueled fears that Airbnb is a menace.
New York leaders reacted recently by slapping massive fines on owners who rent whole units for fewer than 30 days. That is too much, and cities such as Washington, D.C., should be more careful.
Perhaps sensing that it must work with regulators, Airbnb has adopted a reasonable tone lately. The companys chief executive has admitted that unscrupulous landlords are a problem, but also noted that its platform is mostly used by ordinary folks.
The firm produced a report showing that units rented through its platform tend to be more dispersed throughout cities than hotels are, serving poor and minority areas. Among other things, this suggests that renting private rooms can be a valuable income source for distressed communities, even as the service offers visitors more locations to stay.
The company has also promised to restrict what landlords can do on the companys platforms in cities, such as San Francisco, concerned about preserving affordable permanent rental housing. For example: Owners cannot advertise more than one unit on the companys platform in New York and San Francisco, which deters landlords from converting apartment blocks into de facto hotels.
The company has praised a rule in New Orleans that bars owners from renting units for more than 90 days a year if they do not live in them. The company has also said it would work with local governments to pay hotel taxes. Regulations such as these are better than the punitive approach others have taken, and if Airbnb is smart, it will help apply them rigorously.
The companys service should be a win-win-win, giving visitors cheaper and more abundant lodging options, allowing owners to put their unused rooms to good and remunerative use, and encouraging tourism in expensive cities. Regulators should aim to enable that vision not to appease the hotel lobby or activists who shortsightedly favor preserving the status quo.
Armenias Success in EAEU: A Summary of Two Years
It has been two years since Armenia became member of the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU) founded by Russia. Membership in that union was justified by Armenias economic and political interests, as well as security. Hence, the Union of Informed Citizens has prepared a summary of changes in the aforementioned sectors during these two years. Economy Armenias GDP in 2014 was 11.6 billion USD. However, according to IMF, it will make up 10.7 billion USD in 2016. Armenias international reserves have decreased as well. In 2014, they formed 1.8 billion USD on average. Currently, that figure is even less than 1.7 billion USD according to the RA Central Bank. An even greater decline has been experienced in foreign trade turnover. In 2016, import has reduced by 28% compared to 2014. And though export has increased by 16% during the same period of time, it is a result of simple re-export of goods imported from Turkey to Armenia (because of the ban on Turkish products in Russia), rather than strengthening of Armenias trading positions and development of Armenian production. And if we take out the Turkish flow from the export volumes, we can assert with confidence that exports have also suffered a decline. Instead, Armenias foreign debt has increased by 26%, reaching 5.6 billion USD compared to 4.4 billion USD two years ago. Security In 2015, there was a sharp increase in border ceasefire violations (by 103%) compared to 2014, and artillery was first used after a 20-year pause. And in 2016, Azerbaijan launched a war in Artsakh (Nagorno Karabakh), using all the weapons obtained from Russia. As a result, 100 Armenians were killed, including civilians and children. In 2014, 26 soldiers were killed due to ceasefire violations. In 2015, that number reached 40, and more than 110 in 2016. In 2014, there were no deaths among civilians as a result of ceasefire violations. However, 3 such cases were registered in 2015, and 4 in 2016. Democracy As it is known, Armenia was slowly moving towards democratization for years. The Police were making slow but steady reforms year by year, corruption rates were reducing in some sectors. Even the elections were every time more peaceful and less violent than the previous ones. However, the opposite picture was observed in 2015. During the constitutional amendments referendum on December 6, even long forgotten forms of election fraud and violence against observers and opposition representatives were applied. Moreover, in 2014, 52 citizens were detained by the Police during demonstrations and marches. The year 2015 saw an increase of that number by more than 7 times, namely, 380 people were detained. In 2016, more than 900 people were detained during peaceful protests. Previously, peaceful protestors used to be released hours after detention. Conversely, in 2016, hundreds of protestors were forced to pass a few days in prison, and more than 20 peaceful oppositionists are still in prison (not counting the members of Sasna Tsrer armed group). In June 2015, the Police only used water cannons and brutal force to disperse the protests. However, the year 2016 saw use of tear gas, stun grenades and other cruel methods, as a result of which more than 100 peaceful citizens (including journalists) appeared in hospital. Union of Informed Citizens
The German word schrecklich grimly fits last weeks attack on a German Christmas market, even more so than its English translation: horrible. Fewer innocents died in this truck attack than in the one last July in Nice, France. But the mode of the assault plowing a vehicle into a crowd seems to be coming into vogue. A similar incident (and fortunately, one with no fatalities) took place last month in Columbus. ISIS, which has claimed the German attack as its own, has encouraged similar attacks at, e.g., the Macys Thanksgiving Parade in New York.
The principal suspects identity as a Tunisian asylum-seeker has intensified the already fierce debate in Germany and elsewhere over the handling and scrutiny of refugees from Muslim and Arabic lands. One or two or a dozen terrorist sympathizers are a drop in the ocean when millions are fleeing the most barbaric persecution. But one or two or a dozen terrorist sympathizers can still kill an awful lot of innocent people.
Unfortunately, such a debate plays right into the hands of ISIS and like-minded groups, whose aim is to drive a wedge between the West and Islam. ISIS has explained the strategy clearly in its magazine, Dabiq: Terrorist attacks will force Western nations to crack down on Muslims generally. At that point, the Muslims in the West will quickly find themselves between one of two choices, they either apostatize and adopt the (infidel) religion propagated by Bush, Obama, Blair, Cameron, Sarkozy, and Hollande in the name of Islam so as to live amongst the (infidels) without hardship, or they (immigrate) to the Islamic State and thereby escape persecution from the crusader governments and citizens.
Thats rich. The idea that anyone, especially women, would escape persecution by immigrating to the Islamic State is laughable.
Radical Islamist groups and their hangers-on are trying to create a clash of civilizations. They must be stopped. But how? An outright ban on Muslim immigrants is foolish in that it hands ISIS exactly the kind of public relations coup it so desperately needs to convince young Muslims to join its cause. But unlimited immigration isnt the answer either, obviously. A balance must be struck. Where that balance lies, and what form it takes, is something everyone including moderate Muslims in the West must figure out.
Nailbiter: Astros survive in Game 5, take control of World Series in 3-2 win
Justin Verlander wins first World Series game and Jeremy Pena becomes first rookie shortstop to homer in Fall Classic in Houston's 3-2 victory.
Artsrun Hovhannisyan: Five more Azerbaijani soldiers killed overnight
18.20 According to the latest information received from Artsrun Hovhannisyan, a spokesman for Armenias Ministry of Defense, Azerbaijani armed forces have lost another soldier today. .............................. This night, we witnessed the logical development of Azerbaijans provocation on the border with Armenia. In the result of punitive actions taken by Armenian military units, the enemy had another four losses, Artsrun Hovhannisyan said on Friday. "In fact, the enemys adventurism of the last two days caused it to lose more than a dozen of soldiers. I want to remind that the Armenian Ministry of Defense has said several times that it has irrefutable evidence of the Azerbaijani attack and losses," he said. Three Armenian soldiers were killed on Armenias border with Azerbaijan, near the village of Chinari in Tavush marz early on Thursday in a firefight while preventing an attempted infiltration by Azerbaijan military units. Lieutenant Shavarsh Melikyan, Privates Edgar Narayan and Erik Abovyan died while repelling an Azerbaijani commando raid on their military post in Tavush marz. Artsrun Hovhannisyan wrote on his Fecbook page that the firefight erupted at around 10:17 a.m. Armenian army units killed at least seven Azerbaijani soldiers during the fighting that continued until noon. The Azerbaijani side was quick to blame the firefight on Armenia instisting that the three Armenian soldiers were killed at the site of their service while the Armenian Ministry of Defense claims to have irrefutable evidence of the Azerbaijani attack.
TJD shows no sign of rust, IU's freshmen impress again in exhibition
Trayce Jackson-Davis posted 19 points and nine rebounds to lead five Hoosiers in double figures in Indiana's 104-59 win over St. Francis.
Kaj Munk, a Danish cleric, identified as a rightwing political and cultural figure in the Denmark of the 1930s, became the center of moral and intellectual resistance to the Nazi occupation. He was murdered by the Gestapo and Danish traitors in January 1944 as an attempt to silence the growing resistance on the part of ordinary Danish citizens who found in their church a source of moral strength to resolutely oppose the evils of the Nazis. No other clergyman has better explained why Christians must never be pacifists in the face of evil. His words should be recalled today for they are as relevant as in 1944.
When Denmark was invaded by the German army on April 9, 1940, the official line of the Danish Communist Party was that the war was a struggle of rival imperialisms (British and French against German) and that the proletariat was best served by maintaining a policy of neutrality and opposition to military preparedness.
This was fully in line with the Stalin-Hitler Non-Aggression Pact of August, 1939. V.M. Molotov, Chairman of the Council of People's Commissars and People's Commissar of Foreign Affairs, on Oct. 31, 1939, declared that "...Instead of enmity, which was fostered in every way by certain European powers, we now have rapprochement and the establishment of friendly relations between the USSR and Germany."
It must be remembered that not only the Communist Left, but the "moderate" Social-Democratic Parties in the democratic and neutral states of Western Europe, most notably in Scandinavia, preached a policy of demilitarization and a willingness to sign non-Aggression pacts with Germany. Denmark did precisely that on May 31, 1939 (violated eleven months later on April 9, 1940 by a full scale German invasion against completely unprepared Danish military forces).
The Danish Left had consistently advocated a policy of avoiding any military preparedness that might "provoke" Germany together with the full authority of King Christian X, urging the population not to engage in any sabotage activity or armed resistance. This was the line that was dutifully followed for the next three and a half years by the sitting Danish government under German domination. It fell to the lot of history's many ironies that the most influential cultural figure on the Danish political right was the personality who eventually rallied the will of the people to actively resist. This was Kaj Munk.
Lutheran Pastor Kaj Harald Leininger Petersen from the island of Lolland, Denmark was raised by a family named Munk and took this name after the death of his parents. From 1924 onward, the Reverend Munk was the vicar of Veders in Western Jutland. He achieved considerable notoriety in the 1930s as a playwright and was regarded by many observers as an outspoken critic of the Marxism and Darwinism that dominated much of Danish cultural life during this period. His play Ordet (The Word) uses the naive faith of a small girl and a "mad" uncle who believes anything is possible through faith, even a miracle returning the girl's mother to life after death in the face of the accumulated "wisdom" of all those who loved her.
Kaj Munk became known for his "strong characters"-integrated people who fight wholeheartedly for their ideals, and this was regarded as another expression of his disappointment with Danish democracy and the incessant squabbling among many secular parties intent upon dealing with one central problem-dividing the cake among different segments of society.
He very quickly turned against the Nazi program of anti-Semitism in disgust for the persecution without reason of the German Jewish community. In 1938, the conservative Danish newspaper, Jyllands-Posten, published Munk's open letter to Benito Mussolini criticizing the Italian leader's blind emulation of Hitler's anti-Semitism. He also was gravely disappointed by the failure of the Scandinavian countries to come to the aid of beleaguered Finland in 1940 under the massive Soviet invasion and considered this inaction the result of a lack of unity.
Despite the warnings of friends who urged Munk to go underground, he continued to preach against Danish collaborators. In Denmark, Christian X was a puppet king. He did not choose to flee to England and help in the establishment of a government in exile as did other monarchs, such as Queen Wilhelmina of Holland and King Haakon of Norway. During the first three years of the occupation and in full agreement with the Danish government, the king had warned his fellow countrymen not to participate in acts of sabotage against the German occupation forces. This was the government line that he adhered to and which also guaranteed Denmark a special relatively mild occupation status, including no significant discriminatory measures against the Danish Jews until the planned deportation of October, 1943.
The Gestapo arrested Kaj Munk on the night of January 4, 1944, a month after he had defied a ban and preached a sermon at the national cathedral in Copenhagen, reiterating opposition to the Nazis and antisemitism. Danish Nazis were recruited to assassinate him. Half of the January 1944 issue of the resistance newspaper De Frie Danske was dedicated to him and the next page was an obituary with the text of his last sermon. Thousands of Danes attended his funeral and the newspaper published condemnations of his murder from influential Scandinavians.
The words of his last sermon from Copenhagen's Cathedral in December 1943 were a veritable call for insurrection:
This is what our old nation needs; a rejuvenating power, God's rejuvenating strength, that a new people may come forth, which is yet the old, worthy sons of the fathers. The gospel will have to teach the Danish nation to think as a great people; to choose honor rather than profit, freedom rather than a well paid guardianship; to believe in the victory of the spirit of sacrifice; to believe that life comes out of death, and that the future comes out of giving oneself.
The cross in our flag-it is long since we realized that it stands for something, and we have forgotten that now. And yet it is the cross that characterizes the flags of the North.-We have come to church-the few of us who go to church, and we have heard about the cross, about Christ's example of suffering, and Christ's words about self-denial and struggle. We have thought that this was all to be taken in a spiritual sense, and that it did not pertain to our time. We thought we were Christians when we sat in church and sang Amen. But No, No! We are Christians only when we go out into the world and say No to the devil, renounce all his works and all his ways, and say Yes to the Holy Spirit.
Lead us, thou cross in our flag, lead us into that Nordic struggle where shackled Norway and bleeding Finland fight against an idea which is directly opposed to all our ideas. Lead old Denmark forth to its new spirit. Not by the grace of others, or by their promises, shall Danneborg (The Danish flag) again become a free banner. For freedom only God can give; and he gives it only to those who accept its responsibilities. Lead us, cross in our flag, forward toward unity with other flags of the cross. With honor and liberty regained, the old Denmark in the young North.
His body was returned to the parish church, Veders, where it is buried outside the choir. A simple memorial stone cross was erected on a small hill overlooking the site where Munk's body had been dumped.
By the Liberation of Denmark on May 5, 1945, the Communists who had been passive and blindly followed the Moscow Party Line of "neutrality" during the early war years until the German attack on the Soviet Union on June 22, 1941, were widely seen as the most effective underground resistance movement. This was due in part to their greater experience in military training which included several dozen veterans of the Spanish Civil War and the rise in prestige of the Party due to the success of spectacular sabotage actions, especially the destruction of several factories in Copenhagen. Kaj Munk's heroic wartime role and his Christian vision deserve their full recognition by the Danish people and his words recalled.
If there were Jewish saints, my sister would probably be one. Not because she is the devoted mother of three girls, or a busy interior designer, managing a business and a family along with community works. My sister has earned her honorary halo because she does all the above, while also managing the care of my mother, who suffered a stroke almost two years ago.
I am the "long distance daughter," 1200 miles away from 'mom,' who now resides in a care facility in suburban Chicago. My long distance role is appointment scheduler, cable payer, and listening ear. (I also try to come in town whenever I can to give care.) While I schedule said appointments, she serves as driver, visitor, companion, errand runner, and emergency contact. Though my brother visits with his boys on weekends, it's my sister who shoulders the most responsibility.
With a mom in constant crisis, my siblings and I suffer from what has been called "caregiver stress." When my phone rings and a number displays from my hometown area code, I'm never sure if I'm receiving a friendly call, or a catastrophic one. It turns out we are not suffering alone, and are in good company with millions of others. With more than 44 million caregivers nationwide, "caregiver stress" has become something of an epidemic.
Longwood ACE-certified fitness and nutrition professional, author, and motivational speaker, *Bethanne Weiss, also knows something about caregiver stress. Recently, I watched Bethanne in a video excerpt from Growing Bolder https://www.growingbolder.com/confessions-of-a-caregiver-3031717/ in a piece titled "Confessions from a Caregiver." Last week we sat down and had a chat, caregiver to caregiver. Bethanne shared that like most of us, she never imagined taking care of her once highly functioning parents. As their health declined, she found herself unprepared to manage their daily lives and crises. A whopping case of "caregiver stress" ensued.
In a five-year period, her parents, Elaine and Manny, had relocated in and out of more than 20 hospitals, rehabilitation and skilled nursing facilities in South Florida and then Central Florida, with each residing in separate facilities at times to meet individual needs. Needless to say, Bethanne spends countless hours managing their health, and traveled frequently to maintain regular visits. Despite her physical stamina and healthful lifestyle, the fitness professional and "Asset Queen" (specializing in having students move their "assets") found her life spiraling out of balance.
Today, Bethanne's parents live about 2 miles from her house, both in the same skilled-nursing facility, and have been stably located since moving to Central Florida four years ago. Where (and how) did Weiss find her caregiver relief?
At a friend's recommendation, Bethanne reached out to the Orlando Senior Help Desk (OSHD), a no-cost helpline sponsored by the Jewish Pavilion, and open to the entire community. Like many OSHD callers, Bethanne was overwhelmed by the enormous task of managing one crisis after another, and was looking to relocate her parents closer to her own home. She needed help finding a place that could accommodate both parents in the same community, and asked the OSHD Senior Resource specialist for help.
The OSHD specialist spent time listening to Bethanne's concerns, and recommended several homes that could meet both parent's needs. After visiting several places, she chose a Longwood facility that met the family's healthcare criteria, and felt "warm, clean, and comfortable." She shares that placing her parent's lives in other's hands was one of the most difficult choices she has ever made, and found that support from the no-cost OSHD to be "priceless."
Bethanne receives further relief by employing a weekly home care specialist, lifting some of the care-giving burden from her shoulders. The Jewish Pavilion continues to enrich Elaine and Manny's lives, with staff member Emily Newman bringing holidays, companionship, and visits right to their door.
And what about my family? While we still struggle with balance like most other families in our situation, we are very fortunate that my mom is receiving super care from her assisted-living facility, which we also found with help from the Help Desk (future blog). And until my sister is actually sainted, I owe her a big "thank you," as well as a week off for (very) good behavior when I visit later this winter.
*Bethanne will share how the Orlando Senior Help Desk and the Jewish Pavilion have impacted her parent's lives, from their choice of senior-living community to year-round holiday celebrations, at the Jewish Pavilion Gala on Jan. 8th. Register now online at http://www.jewishpavilion.org or call 407-678-9363 for more information.
Tidbits from the Sandwich Generation is a series of blogs by Pamela Ruben, Jewish Pavilion Marketing and Communications Director, about managing the multi-generations. If you are sandwiched in between raising a family of children or young adults, and caring for aging parents, take a bite out of life with this new blog! Just a 'tidbit' is recommended for anyone who spends time with older adults, or is preparing for life's next stages. Laugh, cry, and relate as our blogger is pulled from all sides by family members young and old. Check out additional posts at http://www.jewishpavilion.org/blog.
For no cost help for issues pertaining to older adults contact the Orlando Senior Help Desk, a 501(c)3 nonprofit, at 407-678-9363 or visit http://www.orlandoseniorhelpdesk.org.
I never knew Kristine Luken but I feel like I did. I feel that we were old friends, that I knew her well. It's strange because on one hand I know very little about her, but on the other hand I feel like I know most everything that was important. I feel like I know this because everything about her last day on this earth in so many ways personified her life.
At the same time that I feel like I knew her well, I am sad and I feel a deep sense of loss at not actually having known her, and more so that she was taken in such a cruel way.
Six years ago, Dec. 18, 2010, Kristine was on a hike with my friend, Kay Wilson. Kay is Jewish; an Israeli tour guide who met Kristine on a trip in Poland to bear witness to the unspeakable suffering and cruelty that was the root of the mass slaughtering of six million Jews. Many go to Poland and other parts of the vast European killing field to learn, to bear witness, mourn, pray, look for answers, etc. It's common for Israelis to do that, in fact we send our teens as part of their education. It's common for Jews around the world to attempt to understand the horrors as best as a human being can understand them as a recent part of the persecution we have suffered over the millennia.
But Kristine was neither a Jew nor an Israeli. She was a Christian. What drove her to visit Poland with Kay was her unconditional love for Israel and the Jewish people. She went to Poland in solidarity, to express love for the people she loved, and grieve at the loss of the people who as God's chosen people were shot, gassed, and burned to death.
And so Kay and Kristine became fast friends. Kay invited Kristine to visit her in Israel and on that magnificently clear, sunny, crisp Saturday afternoon, they went to hike in the Judean Mountains to absorb and appreciate the beauty of the Land together.
Despite the pristine beauty of the sunny sky, something lurked in the shadow that was a vivid contrast to the magnificence of the day. Literally lying in wait, two Palestinian Arabs had camped out along the Israel Trail waiting to set upon whomever they could find. Later in court, they not only confessed but bragged about their premeditated plan to be waiting simply to kill Jews. Kay and Kristine had the misfortune to be the ones who found this out personally.
After being bound and gagged and held at knife point for 30 minutes that seemed like eternity, as the terrorists tried to make Kay and Kristine think that they had no ill intent yet making repeated calls in Arabic to members of their terror cell, out of the blue literally, Kay noticed the sun glaring on a large machete moments before one of the terrorists plunged it into her. As Kay was being stabbed (a total of 13 times) Kristine was being attacked and butchered as well. All Kay could do as she was being hacked by this terrorist was look at and listen to the screams of her friend who lay there helpless as well. Before leaving them for dead, one terrorist plunged his weapon into Kay's chest one more time, missing her heart by millimeters.
Kay remained bound and gagged, bleeding profusely, bones crushed, and sure that she was going to die. She had no way to help Kristine so resolved that with all her strength she would find a way to get up and walk back to the main trail, certain that each step was to be her last. She had one mission, to die in a place where she would be found so she and Kristine would not die anonymously and perhaps the terrorists would be caught.
Miraculously, Kay stumbled through the forest, still bound and gagged, barefoot, for over a mile. She came upon others enjoying the beauty of the spectacular day. They called for help and saved her life. The next day, Kristine's lifeless body was found, still bound and gagged. She gasped her last breath overlooking the beauty of the Land that she so deeply loved.
Over the years I have gotten to know Kristine's family. It's one of the reasons that I feel like I know her. They are sweet, thoughtful, caring people but they bear huge invisible scars at the brutal murder and loss of Kristine. While Israelis are far too familiar with the evils of terror, with tens of thousands murdered and injured and many more tens of thousands of bereaved left behind, for Americans even after 9/11, the notion of terror that up close and personal is jarring and hard to comprehend. While there are many resources in Israel to help victims and families of victims, in America, victims and their families are largely anonymous. There are few services if any, and no network of or connection to others like them who have suffered such loss.
Kay and I have teamed up to create a living memorial so that not only will Kristine always be remembered in Israel, but because of her love for Israel it will be in a way that provides comfort to bereaved Israelis children who have suffered the kind of loss that her family has. Through The Koby Mandell Foundation, Israel's pre-eminent organization that provides therapeutic healing for families of terror victims and those who have suffered other loss, we are establishing a scholarship for Camp Koby to enable bereaved Israeli children to benefit from the healing environment that they need.
In the same way that it's rare for Christians to go to Poland to bear witness to the horrors that Jews suffered in the Holocaust, so too is it rare, maybe unprecedented, for Israeli Jews to care to remember non-Jewish non-Israeli terror victims. We're not looking for notoriety, just to do what's right.
Kristine's last day embodied who she was, a Christian who loved Israel and the Jewish people. We'd rather the story had a happier ending. But it's an honor and a responsibility to be sure her life is not forgotten, especially among the people who she loved in the Land that she loved. The Kristine Luken Camp Koby Scholarship will perpetuate her memory, embody her love, and be like a big hug to comfort children who suffered loss, in a way that she would do herself if she were still alive.
Please join us to remember Kristine, her life, and her love by making this living memorial possible.
Jonathan Feldstein was born and educated in the U.S. and immigrated to Israel in 2004. He is married and the father of six. He has a three-decade career in nonprofit fundraising and marketing and throughout his life and career, he has become a respected bridge between Jews and Christians. He writes regularly on major Christian web sites about Israel and shares experiences of living as an Orthodox Jew in Israel. He can be reached at FirstPersonIsrael@gmail.com.
Grandparents were VIP's at this year's Generation Celebration at Jewish Academy of Orlando
On Wednesday, Dec. 21, the last day before the students went on their Winter Break, almost 100 grandparents and special friends joined the students of the Jewish Academy of Orlando for Generation Celebration, an annual event, to share their amazing school with family and friends.
The program began with a wonderful breakfast, followed by a broadcast of the WJAO daily news. The students and their grandparents or special friends then participated in various activities throughout the school, including time in their homeroom, Innovation Lab, library, art room, photo booth and Judaic Studies classes. The program concluded with a special Chanukah assembly featuring songs by the students, the lighting of the Chanukiah (albeit a few days early) and a passionate call to action by Susan Greenberg, grandmother to Alec Sagotsky, a third-grade Jewish Academy student.
"At the Jewish Academy of Orlando, the students value their relationships with their grandparents and special friends," said Alan Rusonik, Head of School. "It was wonderful to watch the welcoming of everyone from near and far to share and truly celebrate the academic excellence and Jewish pride the students receive at the school."
For more information about the Jewish Academy of Orlando or to arrange a visit to the school, please contact Alan Rusonik, Head of School, at arusonik@myjao.org or 407-647-0713.
A Syrian civilian being loaded into a bus by members of the Syrian Arab Red Crescent at a makeshift shelter in Jibrin, on the eastern outskirts of Aleppo, Dec. 22, 2016.
(JTA)-Aleppo, one of the world's oldest cities and Syria's largest metropolis, is synonymous with one of humanity's cruelest conflicts-now surpassing the siege of Sarajevo as the deadliest and longest-running battle for a city in our time.
With an estimated 31,000 deaths, the battle for Aleppo has taken more than double the lives lost in Sarajevo. With total Syrian civilian deaths over the past five years reportedly totaling some 450,000, including 50,000 children, the latest atrocities in Aleppo write another dreadful lament in the 21st-century dirge of savagery and indifference.
The world has failed to stop the carnage and the suffering, let alone adequately condemn it. Witness the morally bankrupt record of the U.N. General Assembly, which singled out Israel 20 times-and Syria just once-in 2016. Ironically this comes at a time when the people and government of Israel not only have spoken out, but have contributed significantly to aid Syrian victims, despite the history of enmity between the two countries.
In Israel, in Chicago, and in Jewish communities and federations elsewhere, indifference to the suffering of innocents is not an option. Through our Aleppo Assistance Fund, members of our community have an opportunity to respond through a Jewish lens. Contributions go to the national American Jewish Coalition for Disaster Relief, of which our federation is a member. During the past three years, the coalition has provided nearly $2 million of humanitarian aid to Syrians, reaching hundreds of thousands of people with medical supplies and assistance, especially for women and children with severe medical conditions due to abuse, torture or mutilation, and worse.
Locally, during the past few years, our federation has fostered relationships and provided educational programs with key Chicago Syrian community organizations. Everyone recognizes that the humanitarian catastrophe transcends political differences. Both Jews and Syrians hope this shared humanitarian concern for innocent civilians can pave the way for improved relations. The Syrian community recognizes and sincerely appreciates the Jewish response to this crisis.
We are heartened but not surprised by these developments. The Israeli government and Israel Defense Forces-most notably the IDF Medical Corps-continue to aid wounded civilians in the field, transferring many to Israeli hospitals. In addition, Israelis have launched grassroots efforts, such as the Just Beyond the Border crowdfunding campaign, to send emergency supplies and other aid to children in Syria. We are inspired by their actions.
During this dark time, Hanukkah brings its distinct message of perseverance and hope. We have a special Jewish obligation to bring light. As individuals, we do this through tzedakah, righteous giving. We do this by helping to bring food, medical care, shelter and other forms of relief to victims of war, terrorism and natural disaster.
The Torah teaches that in any situation of human suffering there are three parties: the oppressed, the oppressors and the indifferent. The indifferent, those who stand on the sidelines with folded arms, are allies of the oppressors. Our deep Jewish memory of persecution compels us to heed the command of the Torah not to join the tribe of folded arms, not to stand silent while the blood of our fellow humans is shed.
At a time in our country and community of overheated political rhetoric coming from all sides, with calls to federations for public statements on all sorts of issues, it is important that we come forward and announce: Enough with requests for political statements that divide a community-more important is to watch what we do. Doing for others -together -is the foundation of a strong and united community. Especially now, as we prepare to celebrate Hanukkah, we know that to ease someone's suffering brings light and turns away evil.
Steven B. Nasatir is president of the Jewish United Fund/Jewish Federation of Metropolitan Chicago.
Mourners laying flowers and candles at a makeshift memorial in Berlin near the site where two days earlier, a man drove a heavy truck into a Christmas market in an apparent terrorist attack, Dec. 21, 2016.
BERLIN (JTA)-Even before the deadly attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, Jews in Germany were divided in their approach to the arrival of hundreds of thousands of immigrants from Muslim countries since 2014.
Citing a Jewish moral duty to aid the displaced, many Jewish organizations, synagogue groups and individuals have rallied to help the newcomers, including asylum seekers fleeing the civil war in Syria. But some Jews have warned that the influx of immigrants risks importing to Germany the homicidal anti-Semitism of Muslim extremists who attacked Jewish targets in France, Belgium, Denmark and beyond.
In Monday's attack, a man described by the Islamic State terrorist group as one if its "soldiers" killed 12 people and wounded 48 by plowing a stolen truck through the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church market. While police hunt for suspects, the attack is likely to further polarize competing views on Muslim immigration in German society in general-especially among Jews who fear they will be among those targeted by Islamists here.
Following the attack, whose perpetrator is presumed to be at large, the top priority is to take on "this army of Muslims from the wildest part of the earth," said Pavel Feinstein, a member of Berlin's Jewish community who supports the far-right Alternative for Germany party, whose manifesto from April declares that "Islam is not part of Germany." AfD, as the party is known, also is accused of being a hotbed for anti-Semites.
Feinstein, 56, told JTA that he came to espouse the AfD view after hearing the slogan "Hamas, Hamas, Jews to the gas" being chanted at an anti-Israel demonstration two years ago in Berlin.
"They weren't just Islamists, they were also normal Muslims, students and so on," he recalled. "And no one was charged or punished.
"Up to then I felt at home in Berlin. And now this feeling is gone."
The hostility expressed by Feinstein, an artist who immigrated to Germany from the former Soviet Union with his family in 1980, may be more common among Russian-speaking Jews, who constitute the largest of the three contingents that make up Germany's present-day Jewish population of some 200,000 people. And such views are likely to only harden after the attack, in which one Israeli was wounded. His wife remained missing on Wednesday and was feared to be among the dead.
Feinstein's sentiment seems less prevalent among Jews who grew up after World War II in a society whose youth were taught to reject any semblance of the murderous Nazi xenophobia and anti-Semitism. His rhetoric seems to be even rarer among the 7,500 Israelis living in Berlin, some of whom say they left for Germany partly over what they see as Israel's rising nationalism.
To be sure, many Russian-speaking Jews, including Sergey Lagodinsky, a Green Party politician and member of the Berlin Jewish community council, do not subscribe to Feinstein's embrace of a far-right vision. Meanwhile, among Jews with deeper roots in Germany, many speak openly and clearly of the risks connected to massive immigration from Arab countries, as do some of Berlin's Israeli Jews.
Jews of all backgrounds here tend to be "skeptical" of the wisdom of letting in large numbers of Muslims, as has been the policy of German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Lagodinsky said. But Russian-speaking Jews in Germany generally express this "through a more populist way," including by "engaging with populist parties and ideas," he added.
Russian speakers of all religions, who make up a large minority of several million people in Germany, are not the only ones showing a proclivity to populism amid what some pundits are calling Germany's immigration crisis.
On the eve of a big election year in this country, the immigration issue is bolstering AfD, which the mainstream representatives of Jews in Germany reject for the xenophobic and sometimes anti-Semitic rhetoric of some of its members.
While the AfD missed the 5 percent mark needed to enter parliament in the last federal elections in 2013, polls from before the market attack predicted the party would win 16 percent of the vote next year. The party currently holds seats in 10 of Germany's 16 state parliaments, up from five a year ago.
Against this background, terrorist attacks may well cost the centrist Merkel her post and send Germany swinging harder to the right than it has in decades. Her decision in 2015 to allow into Germany 800,000 immigrants from the Middle East has already come under attack even inside her own party amid a string of incidents involving that population-including last summer's brutal axe attack in Wurzburg by a 17-year-old from Afghanistan.
Commenting on the attack, the Berlin director of the American Jewish Committee, Deidre Berger, told JTA that she was worried about the "more than 100,000 unaccompanied minors" among the asylum seekers who "are highly susceptible to the easy answers of radical Islamist ideology."
Such events have also brought to a head tensions over this issue within the Jewish community, where some members describe the influx of Muslim immigrants as an existential threat.
The Central Council of Jews in Germany, which is the country's main Jewish umbrella group and has also organized activities to assist Middle Eastern asylum seekers, has warned against a rightward tilt as an answer to the terrorist threat. And Charlotte Knobloch, 84-a child survivor and head of the Munich and Bavarian Jewish communal organizations-told JTA that the AfD is "totally out of the question for Jewish people."
On the other hand, in October 2015, the council's president, Josef Schuster, said in a widely read interview with Die Welt that "there is now fear that with people of Arab origins, anti-Semitism in Germany could increase. I share this concern." Schuster said the issue should be addressed by emphasizing integration initiatives among the newcomers. He also said he supported a magnanimous policy toward asylum seekers, though he added that "eventually" a quota would have to be agreed upon.
But his remarks exposed him to heated criticism by some Israelis In Berlin. Several dozen of them, along with non-Israeli activists, protested Schuster's remarks at a rally in November 2015 outside the council's offices, carrying posters of Anne Frank and of the biblical quote "Love Thy Neighbor."
"I cannot stand by when the president of the Central Council of Jews in Germany assumes a far-right position, supports limiting refugee quotas and instrumentalizes anti-Semitism, homophobia and sexism while pretending to speak for 'the Jews' in Germany," wrote Shaked Shapir in Berlin's Hebrew-language magazine, Spitz, which devoted an entire edition to discussing Schuster's 2015 remarks.
German officials have been careful not to speculate as to whether the church market attack is connected to radical Islam, as many here believe. The caution appealed to some Israelis in Berlin, who contrasted it with what they regard as a tendency to jump to conclusions in Israel.
"We like the fact that in Berlin it is more calm. They are still investigating, and we will wait," said Ido Porat, who lives here with his wife and their two small children.
While most Jews in Germany don't see the influx of migrants from Middle Eastern countries as an invasion, the issue is nonetheless particularly divisive to their communities, according to the German Jewish historian Michael Wolffsohn.
"Every conscious Jew knows or remembers what refugee problems are all about," he said. "At the same time every conscious Jew knows that many Muslims are more hostile to Jews than, say, Eskimos."
Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom officiating at the wedding of his stepdaughter and her fiance in 2014.
NEW YORK (JTA)-Conservative Rabbi Seymour Rosenbloom has been expelled from the Rabbinical Assembly, the movement's rabbis' association, for performing interfaith weddings.
An ordained Conservative rabbi for 44 years, Rosenbloom was expelled last month by unanimous vote, with abstentions, after a hearing of the R.A.'s Executive Council. Since 1972, the Conservative movement has prohibited its rabbis from officiating at or even attending intermarriages.
Rosenbloom told JTA a council member suggested he might be able to retain his membership in exchange for a promise not to perform any more intermarriages. Rosenbloom declined the offer.
"I don't have animus toward the R.A.," Rosenbloom told JTA Friday. "It's a futile policy, a policy that will eventually be overturned because the trend of history is against it. I have no bitterness... I don't feel shunned or like an outcast."
Rosenbloom, 72, is the retired rabbi of Congregation Adath Jeshurun, a 158-year-old synagogue near Philadelphia. He officiated at his first intermarriage, between his stepdaughter and her fiance, shortly after retiring in the summer of 2014. Since then, he has performed four additional intermarriages and has plans to conduct two more.
The R.A. wouldn't comment on Rosenbloom's expulsion, but its executive vice president, Rabbi Julie Schonfeld, said the movement is constantly discussing how to approach the growing number of marriages involving Jews and non-Jews. Still, she said, the Conservative movement's fealty to halachah, or Jewish law, mandates a ban on performing intermarriages.
Reform and Reconstructionist rabbis are allowed to perform intermarriages, while Orthodox rabbis, also citing Jewish law, do not.
"We are a halachic movement and Judaism envisions the marriage ceremony as taking place between two Jewish people," she told JTA. "Through the lens and the vehicles offered by Jewish law and tradition, that's the avenue that's open to us in terms of a Jewish matrimonial ritual."
By performing mixed marriages, Rosenbloom feels like he's simply acknowledging reality. The Pew Research Center's 2013 study of American Jews found that the intermarriage rate among non-Orthodox Jews since 2005 rose to 71 percent. And a recent study from Brandeis University found that interfaith couples married only by a rabbi are significantly more likely to raise their children Jewish than those married by no rabbi or clergy of different faiths.
"We're isolating ourselves from our congregants at precisely the time they need us and want us most," Rosenbloom said. "For many of these couples, once we say no to the wedding, it's very hard for them to overcome that. The experience of rejection is far too great to even consider being part of the congregation."
For Rosenbloom's first intermarried couple, the synagogue has felt more welcoming because of their Jewish wedding, which included traditional elements like a huppah, or wedding canopy, and the breaking of a glass. Stefanie Fox, Rosenbloom's stepdaughter, and her husband recently held a baby naming for their infant at Rosenbloom's home, and the family regularly attends services at Adath Jeshurun. She and her husband have discussed his converting, though he has no immediate plans to do so.
"It's always been my feeling that rather than push away people of other religions, it makes sense to pull them into our Jewish community," said Fox, 32. "My husband is a big part of my Jewish life now. I almost feel like we've increased our Jewish community in the world today."
Expulsion from the R.A., a 1,700-member body that places rabbis in congregations and sets their professional standards, is a relatively rare event. The last expulsion, according to Schonfeld, occurred a year and a half ago, though she could not say why. Because Rosenbloom is retired, the expulsion will have little practical effect on him.
But Rosenbloom isn't the only rabbi breaking from the movement over intermarriage. Rabbi Adina Lewittes decided to leave the R.A. three years ago so she could perform interfaith weddings. Lewittes said she is hearing from an increasing number of Conservative rabbis who agree with her stance privately.
"I'm very intent in using my opportunity with the couple to convey to them we celebrate them but we also have expectations that they will continue to be engaged with Judaism and the Jewish people," said Lewittes, rabbi of Sha'ar Communities, a network of small Jewish communities in New Jersey.
Many Conservative synagogues, while not performing intermarriages, do celebrate the couple ceremonially before and after the wedding, through pre-wedding rituals and by welcoming them as congregants afterward.
"How we work with families where not everyone in the family is Jewish is tremendously important to us," Schonfeld said. "A tremendous amount of effort is invested by the Conservative movement and the Conservative rabbinate in making our synagogues really welcoming places for everyone."
Keith Ellison in letter to Conservative rabbis 'regrets' past ties with Farrakhan
WASHINGTON (JTA)-In a lengthy letter to the Conservative movement's rabbinical arm, U.S. Rep. Keith Ellison said he regretted past positions that have unsettled Jews as he seeks the chairmanship of the Democratic Party.
Secretary of Labor Tom Perez, meanwhile, spoke Wednesday with about 50 Jewish Democrats about his own bid to head the Democratic National Committee and reassured them of his bona fides in the area where the Minnesota lawmaker has come under fire-support for Israel.
Ellison, beginning his three-page letter to the Rabbinical Assembly with a quote from Pirkei Avot, Jewish ethical teachings-"The one who learns, learns from everyone"-expressed regrets, as he has several times since launching his bid to lead the DNC, for his association years ago with the anti-Semitic Nation of Islam.
"At the time, I did not grasp [Louis] Farrakhan's anti-Semitism," he wrote, referring to the movement's leader.
"It was difficult for me to see that the struggle for equality for African Americans could be subverted into hatred of others, specifically anti-Semitism," Ellison wrote. "I focused on Farrakhan speaking to concerns of Black men. When I became aware that he made hateful statements about other groups, including the Jewish community with whom I was so close, I knew that I must reject his teachings. And I rejected them completely."
Ellison's letter was in response to queries from the Rabbinical Assembly.
"We are interested in understanding how will you affirmatively work to ensure that the Democratic Party condemns any and all efforts to delegitimize Israel, including efforts to deny the historic Jewish connection to the Land of Israel including Jerusalem," said the R.A. letter.
Ellison, who has routinely voted for defense assistance to Israel, also for the first time regretted his exceptional vote against additional missile defense assistance for Israel during the 2014 war between Israel and Hamas.
"In my mind, confident that the Iron Dome funding that I have always strongly supported would pass, I cast a vote reflecting my commitment to restoring calm and quiet at a moment of violence," he said, referring to the anti-missile system Israel used to deflect Hamas rockets. "My voice was not being heard and I felt in the moment that casting my vote was a vital way to amplify my message. It was the wrong way to speak out and it was the wrong way to vote. I regret it deeply."
Ellison, who first publicly rejected the anti-Israel Boycott, Divest and Sanctions movement in a statement last month to JTA, says in the letter that he has "fought" BDS with Jewish allies.
"Together we have fought against BDS and continuous attempts to delegitimize Israel in Minnesota, in the United States, and around the world," he said. "I have said time and time again that BDS does not help anyone advance the goal of a two-state solution."
Ellison, the first Muslim elected to Congress, also recalls his years of combating Holocaust denial, including among Muslims.
Perez spoke for about 45 minutes with top Jewish lawmakers and fundraisers for the Democratic Party. Much of his emphasis was on his past work with the Anti-Defamation League tracking and combating hate crimes, but he also emphasized his understanding of Israel's security needs.
He described how he once stood on he Golan Heights, captured by Israel from Syria in the 1967 Six-Day War, and appreciated the nearness of Israel's enemies in Syria and Lebanon.
"It was impossible to walk around during the visit and not appreciate the strategic importance not only of the Golan Heights but of Israel, the only democracy in the Middle East," Perez said.
The electors who choose the DNC chair-close to 450 of them-are state party officials and officials in state government, among others, and Israel and the Middle East will not figure highly in their considerations. They are concerned much more with rebuilding a party devastated by its across-the-board losses in November's elections.
Nonetheless, Ellison's letter and Perez's appeal reflect the importance that some in the party still place on maintaining Jewish support, a mainstay of the party for decades.
Ilyse Hogue, meantime, the president of NARAL Pro-Choice America, an abortion rights group, dropped her bid for the DNC chief. Hogue is Jewish.
WASHINGTON (JTA)-Nearly six years ago, when President Barack Obama was set to elevate one of his top emissaries to the Jewish community to the Israel ambassadorship, Dan Shapiro asked for-and got-the endorsement of one of Obama's fiercest pro-Israel critics.
"Dan has always spoken to us, patiently and carefully explaining the administration's position, and he does so with aplomb, with concern, and with intense appreciation of the other side's position," Morton Klein, the Zionist Organization of America president, said at the time.
Don't expect J Street, or the Reform movement or anyone on the liberal side of the pro-Israel spectrum to extend that embrace to David Friedman, the bankruptcy lawyer who is one of President-elect Donald Trump's top emissaries to the Jewish community and whom he nominated to be ambassador to Israel.
An "intense appreciation of the other side's position" does not describe Friedman's denigration of J Street as "not Jewish" and "worse than" Jewish collaborators with Nazis; his calling Obama "blatantly anti-Semitic," and his lament that more than half of American Jews are not pro-Israel.
The nomination of Friedman has sent shock waves through a chunk of the organized Jewish community because of the signal it sends to the 71 percent of American Jews who voted for Hillary Clinton. While Friedman's nomination was hailed by a hawkish but influential minority as a sign that Israel will get the U.S. support it deserves, it possibly sidelines a pro-Israel mainstream that believes moderation best builds a pro-Israel consensus.
"We're all trying to figure out how to navigate this administration," said Jeremy Burton, the executive director of the Jewish Community Relations Council of Greater Boston. "But the notion that someone who would represent the United States would describe people as 'not Jewish' and 'kapos'"-the Jews who collaborated with the Nazi death machine-"what does that say about respect for civil discourse and what does it say about temperament in a particularly volatile region?"
"It's a very multifaceted position, they do a lot of outreach to Jewish communities in the United States," Ron Halber, the director of the Jewish Community relations Council of Greater Washington, said of ambassadors to Israel. "It's more than diplomatic, it's symbolic. I'm concerned that symbol could be tarnished by someone who has staked out extreme ideological positions on internal Israeli matters."
Those positions include a rejection of the two-state solution and unchecked expansion of the settlements-the former counter to the stated position of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, the latter also a challenge to longstanding U.S. and international policy.
Friedman did not return a request for comment.
A range of liberal Jewish groups have already denounced Friedman, citing his online history thick with broadsides against liberals, many appearing on the pro-settlement Israeli news site, Israel National News, as well as his extensive fundraising for the settlement movement.
Rep. Jerrold Nadler, D-N.Y., a Jewish congressman known for his close ties to the organized community, said in a statement that Friedman's "extreme views and use of such hateful language is an insult to the majority of American Jews."
J Street, the liberal Jewish Middle East policy group, joined a number of groups in pledging to do its best to keep the Senate from confirming Friedman. "Friedman should be beyond the pale for senators considering who should represent the United States in Israel," the group said in a statement last week.
The New Israel Fund launched a fund-raising appeal on Monday based on what they called Trump's "dangerous" nomination of Friedman.
Hawkish Jewish groups have welcomed the appointment, most pronouncedly Klein's ZOA. It said Friedman has "has the potential to be the greatest U.S. ambassador to Israel ever."
In an interview, Klein said he stood by his 2011 endorsement of Shapiro, who strove to reach out to right-wing Jews in the United States and hard-liners in Israel as a staffer on Obama's National Security Council and then as ambassador.
"I said I found Shapiro to be a person of integrity," Klein said. "That's true of Dan and it's true of David Friedman."
Friedman was reported to have said earlier this month at an off-the-record segment of the annual Saban Forum colloquy of U.S. and Israeli influencers that were he to become ambassador, he would not take meetings with J Street.
"He's not there to represent the views of most Jews," Klein said of Friedman, although he said he believed that Friedman's support for moving the embassy to Jerusalem and for settlement expansion was representative of the Jewish community.
Klein said he would not use "kapos" to describe J Street, which opposes settlement expansion and advocates for an assertive U.S. posture in bringing about a two-state solution, but he understood how Friedman might have done so out of "anguish and misery."
The Union for Reform Judaism stopped short of saying it would oppose Friedman, but expressed concerns about his statements and his rejection for the two-state solution.
In an interview, URJ President Rick Jacobs said that the Reform movement has relied on U.S. administrations to represent to Israel, through their ambassadors, the broad range of American Jewish opinion. An ambassador who represented only one segment of the Jewish community would diminish attachment to Israel among Jews already unsettled by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's settlement policies, and by exclusion of non-Orthodox groups from civil matters like marriage and divorce, he said.
"Our larger project has been to keep people connected to Israel," Jacobs said of the URJ. "We may be seeing a series of policy shifts" under Trump "that make it harder for non-Orthodox Jews to see Israel as a place they love."
Larger groups were treading carefully around the nomination. The American Israel Public Affairs Committee, in response to a JTA request for comment, stuck to its longstanding position of not pronouncing on nominees. The Anti-Defamation League was also not forthcoming.
The American Jewish Committee said in a statement that it was noteworthy that nominating a Jew for the job no longer raised hackles and that it wanted to know more about what picking Friedman said about Trump's Israel policies.
Nathan Diament, the Washington director of the Orthodox Union, said in reply to a JTA query that Friedman was representative of the minority of Jews (and a majority in his community) who voted for Trump.
"Trump's selection of David Friedman to be his Administration's ambassador to Israel is consistent with the policy view Trump expressed during the campaign and consistent with the view of most of those American Jews who actually voted for Trump for president," he said.
Burton, whose Boston JCRC called on Friedman to apologize for his past remarks, said that it was key for Jews who object to Friedman not to be drawn into the polarizing invective that characterized Friedman's writings in the past.
"We have to acknowledge that some members of our community are optimistic about the next administration," he said, noting parts of Trump's Israel message that should please most Jews, including his expressions of friendship to the country and his desire for peace. "We do ourselves a disservice collectively if we are in the black or white zone on everything."
On Sunday, Jan. 15, 2017, at 7:30 p.m., Chabad of Orlando will be hosting a special evening at the Embassy Suites located at 225 Shorecrest Drive in Altamonte Springs titled "Kabbalah of Sexuality and Intimacy - Ancient Wisdom to Transform Your Love Life." The event is being headlined by world-renowned author, counselor, lecturer, and philosopher Rabbi Manis Friedman.
Friedman uses ancient wisdom and modern wit as he captivates audiences around the country and around the world. He hosts his own critically acclaimed cable television series, Torah Forum with Manis Friedman, syndicated throughout North America. Over 150,000 copies of his provocative yet entertaining CDs and MP3s, both audio and video have been sold.
Rabbi Friedman's first book, "Doesn't Anyone Blush Anymore?," published by Harper San Francisco in 1990, was widely praised by the media. "Blush" is currently in its fourth printing. Following the publication of the book, he was featured internationally in over 200 print articles, and interviewed on more than 50 television and radio talk shows. He has appeared on CNN, A&E Reviews, PBS, and BBC Worldwide, and has been the subject of articles in the New York Times, Rolling Stone, Seventeen, Guideposts, Insight, Publisher's Weekly and others.
In an effort to empower women in Judaism, he founded the world's first yeshiva exclusively for women, Bais Chana Institute of Jewish Studies in Minnesota. Since its opening in 1971, 22,000 women of all ages, backgrounds, and from all over the world attended the institute.
His most recent film, "The Lost Key to Intimacy" was voted the winner of the Best Documentary at the Houston International Film Festival in 2015. The film was released to the public in January.
Rabbi Friedman is a noted biblical scholar, recognized for his sagacious grasp of Jewish mysticism. From 1984-1990 he served as simultaneous translator for the televised talks of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem M. Schneerson of righteous memory.
Rabbi Friedman is a professionally ranked member of the National Speakers Association. His speaking tours take him to every part of the United States as well as Israel, England, The Netherlands, South Africa, Australia, Brazil, Venezuela, Peru, Canada, and Hong Kong.
Cost to attend is only $15 (before Jan. 10, 2017) and $18 at the door.
Sponsor (Includes VIP seats for 2 and autographed book by speaker) is $180.
Reserve online at www.ChabadOrlando.org or www.JewishNorthOrlando.com
Call to RSVP at 407-644-2500 (Greater Orlando) or 407-636-5994 (North Orlando).
Citizens of Israel, I would like to reassure you. The resolution that was adopted yesterday at the United Nations is distorted and shameful but we will overcome... it. The resolution determines that the Jewish Quarter in the Old City of Jerusalem is occupied territory. This is delusional.
The resolution determines that the Western Wall is occupied territory. This too is delusional. There is nothing more absurd than calling the Western Wall and the Jewish Quarter occupied territory. There is also an attempt here, which will not succeed, to impose permanent settlement terms on Israel. You might recall that the last one who tried to do this was Carter, an extremely hostile president to Israel, and who just recently said that Hamas is not a terrorist organization. Carter passed sweeping decisions against us at the UN of a similar kind, and this was also unsuccessful. We opposed this and nothing happened.
All American presidents since Carter upheld the American commitment not to try to dictate permanent settlement terms to Israel at the Security Council. And yesterday, in complete contradiction of this commitment, including an explicit commitment by President Obama himself in 2011, the Obama administration carried out a shameful anti-Israel ploy at the UN.
I would like to tell you that the resolution that was adopted, not only doesnt bring peace closer, it drives it further away. It hurts justice; it hurts the truth. Think about this absurdity, half a million human beings are being slaughtered in Syria. Tens of thousands are being butchered in Sudan. The entire Middle East is going up in flames and the Obama administration and the Security Council choose to gang up on the only democracy in the Middle Eastthe State of Israel. What a disgrace.
My friends, I would like to tell you on the first night of Chanukah that this will not avail them. We reject this resolution outright, just as we rejected the UN resolution that determined that Zionism was racism. It took time but that resolution was rescinded; it will take time but this one will also be rescinded. Now I will tell you how it will be rescinded. It will be rescinded not because of our retreats but because of our steadfastness and that of our allies. I remind you that we withdrew from Gaza, uprooted communities and took people out of their graves. Did this help us at all at the UN? Did this improve our relations at the UN? We were hit with thousands of rockets and at the UN we were hit with the Goldstone report!
So I will tell you what is clear, I know, to the vast majority of Israeli citizens: We learned this lesson, and we will not go there. But I also want to tell you something else: We are not alone. I spoke last night with many American leaders. I was pleased to hear from members of the American Congress, from Democrats and Republicans alike, that they will fight an all-out war against this resolution with all the power at their disposal. I heard the exact same things from our friends in the incoming administration, who said that they will fight an all-out war against this resolution. And I heard this from across the spectrum of American public opinion and American politicsRepublicans, Democrats, Jews and non-Jews. As I spoke yesterday with leaders in Congress and the incoming American administration, they told me unequivocally: We are sick of this and it will not continue. We will change this resolution. We will not allow anyone to harm the State of Israel. They are declaring their intention to pass legislation to punish countries and bodies that try to harm Israel. They say that this will also include the UN itself. I remind you that the UN receives a quarter, 25%, of its budget from the US alone.
In my most recent speech to the UN, in September, I said that a storm was expected in the UN before it gets better there. We knew that this is possible and we expect that it will come. The resolution that was passed at the UN yesterday is part of the swan song of the old world that is biased against Israel, but, my friends, we are entering a new era. And just as President-elect Trump said yesterday, it will happen much sooner than you think. In the new era there is a much higher price for those who try to harm Israel, and that the price will be exacted not only by the US, but by Israel as well.
Two countries with which we have diplomatic relations cosponsored the resolution against us at the UN; therefore, I ordered yesterday that our ambassadors be recalled from, Senegal and from New Zealand. I have ordered that all Israeli assistance to Senegal be halted, and theres more to come. Those who work with us will benefit because Israel has much to give to the countries of the world. But those who work against us will losebecause there will be a diplomatic and economic price for their actions against Israel. Additionally, I have instructed the Foreign Ministry to complete, within a month, a reassessment of all of our contacts with the UN, including Israeli financing of UN institutions and the presence of UN representatives in the country. But I am not waiting; already now I have ordered to halt approximately NIS 30 million in financing for five UN institutions, five UN bodies that are especially hostile to Israel. I have already ordered that this be stopped, and there is more to come.
We are on a campaign of improving our relations with the nations of the world. And it will take more time, and I have said this as well, until our improved relations with countries on five continents are also reflected in their decisions in UN institutions. But I would like to tell you something else, and listen closely to what Im saying. Contrary to what you might expect, it is very likely that last nights scandalous resolution will accelerate this process, because it is the straw that broke the camels back. Last nights resolution is a call to arms for all of our many friends in the US and elsewhere around the world, friends who are sick of the UNs hostility toward Israel, and they intend to bring about a fundamental change in the UN. Therefore, this evening I tell you in the language of our sources, the sweet will yet come forth from the bitter and those who come to curse will yet bless.
Here, on the first night of Chanukah, I stand next to the Maccabees of our times, IDF soldiers and wounded IDF heroes. I salute you and I say to you clearly: The light will dispel the darkness. The spirit of the Maccabees will overcome. Happy Chanukah.
The Jewish Pavilion will honor two exemplary volunteers, Geanne Share and Ruth Darvin, at its Gems and Jeans Gala-an evening of gourmet dining, live music, silent auction and inspiring motivational speaker Bethanne Weiss-on Sunday, Jan. 8, at 5 p.m. at Sheraton Orlando North in Maitland. Of course, the proceeds from this fun evening benefit the seniors served in more than 70 assisted-living and skilled-nursing facilities throughout Central Florida.
"I feel very honored, very excited," said Ruth Darvin after hearing she was selected to be honored. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me before!"
It is surprising that Darvin hasn't been honored before by the Pavilion. She has been a volunteer with the organization since its beginnings about 14 years ago.
"Arlene Van De Rijn started Jewish Pavilion and she went with me to the facilities and trained me and showed me what to do," Darvin stated. "I think we do a very good service."
A "very good service" is an understatement about Darvin. Every two weeks, like clockwork, she visits people one-on-one in a few of the assisted-living facilities in Winter Springs and Oviedo.
"Jewish Pavilion Volunteer Ruth Darvin has been sharing her time and talents with the elder residents in local assisted-living, independent living, Rehab and Alzheimer living facilities for almost 15 years. She is a wonderful woman who gives freely from her heart," said Judy Appleton, program director of the facilities Darvin visits.
Darvin also serves as vice president of the board of directors and until last April she had been the president of the Friends board for three years.
Her true "specialty" is visiting patients with dementia or Alzheimer's. Not everyone would or could do what she does. She quickly learned to meet her friends at their level (which could fluctuate).
"I listen to what they have to say," she said. "They like to tell me all their problems, vent. I think they like me!"
It has been proven time and again that the residents Darvin visits do like her-a lot. One lady never wants her to leave and will walk with her to the door, asking her to stay. Another gentleman worries about her when she is not there. He knows what day she will be coming and if she is late he starts to worry.
"We've seen miracles there (at the memory care facilities)," she shared. "They say the Passover blessings. They learned them as young people. When we play music, they sing along and stamp their feet."
Darvin visited one resident for more than seven years. She watched him progressively worsen-going from being able to hold a conversation to speaking gibberish and clapping his hands. She learned to be with him "where he was"-if he spoke gibberish, she did too. When he clapped his hands, she mimicked him. Then one day as she was having a "gibberish" conversation with him and clapping hands, he suddenly said, "You are the best." He then kept saying her name over and over.
Darvin has a deep respect for the residents she visits.
"I meet so many interesting people," she said, then shared a story about a man who had come from Austria. "He loved classical music and knew about every composer. Another man said he made the bomb."
Darvin wasn't so sure he wasn't just making up stories. "He told me stories about how he made the bomb."
Then, while visiting her brother, they looked him up on the computer and discovered he had a PhD in biochemistry and was a member of the Manhattan Project, which was a research and development undertaking during World War II that produced the first nuclear weapons.
"Everything he told me was true!" Darvin beamed. "It was hard to think he had Alzheimer's."
"Older people aren't really respected in America," Darvin said softly. "It's sad to say, but they are put in a home and their children hardly ever come to visit them."
What inspired Darvin to visit these forgotten souls, total strangers?
After moving to Florida in 1982, she would visit her parents-who lived in Rockville, Md., near her brother-about five times a year. Darvin was thankful that her sister-in-law's mother visited her parents regularly.
"I just admired what she did and I couldn't see my parents very often. It was my way to pay back for not being able to visit my parents," she said simply.
Darvin's "paying back" has blessed many people, including herself, "I get as much out of it as I'm giving," she said with a smile.
Register now for the Gems and Jeans Gala online at http://www.jewishpavilion.org, special events, or call 407-678-9363 for more information.
(JTA)President-elect Donald Trump said a resolution introduced at the United Nations Security Council against Israeli settlements should be vetoed.
As the United States has long maintained, peace between the Israelis and the Palestinians will only come through direct negotiations between the parties, and not through the imposition of terms by the United Nations, Trump said in an official statement issued Thursday morning, hours after the resolution was introduced by Egypt the previous afternoon.
This puts Israel in a very poor negotiating position and is extremely unfair to all Israelis.
The introduction of the resolution reportedly caught Israel by surprise, though one had been expected before the end of President Barack Obamas term on Jan. 20.
The United States has traditionally vetoed such resolutions, saying the two sides have to work things out, but it is unclear what Obama will do in the waning days of his administration.
The resolution states that the settlements in the Palestinian territory occupied since 1967 are a violation of international law and demands that Israel completely cease all settlement activities, which it calls essential for keeping open the option of a two-state solution. It also calls upon all countries to distinguish between Israel and the occupied territories in their dealings with them and for immediate steps to prevent all acts of violence against civilians, including acts of terror, as well as all acts of provocation and destruction.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel in a tweet sent after 3 a.m. Israel time wrote: The US should veto the anti-Israel resolution at the UN Security Council on Thursday. He canceled a scheduled public appearance on Thursday afternoon in order to deal with the vote, according to reports.
President-elect Donald Trump said during his campaign he wants to move the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem. His nominee for ambassador to Israel, David Friedman, has said he hopes he will work from an embassy in the city.
Trumps transition team has affirmed the intention to move the embassy, albeit without a timeline. And now, Israels ambassador to Washington, Ron Dermer, in a forceful speech at Tuesday nights Chanukah party at the embassy here, encouraged Trump to make good on the pledge, saying it was long past due.
Dermer last night enumerated some of the arguments for the move from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem, and they are also outlined here in a Wall Street Journal editorial.
Heres what the for argument looks like:
The Jewish connection to Jerusalem is ancient.
No other country is denied representation in its capital.
Done correctly (i.e., with lots of pre-move assuaging of nerves in Arab and Muslim lands allied with the West, and with a site in western Jerusalem), it should go smoothly, especially because relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors are closer than ever due to shared interests in crushing the Islamic State and stopping Iran.
Eli Lake at Bloomberg gets at some of the against arguments, particularly regarding tentatively improving relations between Israel and its Arab neighbors.
Heres a summary of the against case:
The Palestinians have a claim to the city and moving the embassy before a final-status agreement preempts their claim.
The city is a tinderbox and any disturbance of its status quo will lead to violence.
Israels allies in the Arab and Muslim world (both unofficial and official) may reluctantly go along, but its enemiesparticularly Iran, which annually commemorates the loss of Jerusalem, and the Islamic Statewill seize the opportunity and stoke violence.
And those Arab allies? Even the dictators have to answer to their constituencies, who would likely be violently against. This could endanger whatever nascent comprehensive peace is in the works.
Beyond the good and the bad, there is also the unpredictable. Here are some things we cant know about the move until it actually happens:
Going native
In the early 1980s, Prime Minister Menachem Begin used incentives to get journalists to move from Tel Aviv to the press center in Jerusalem, Beit Agron, because he wanted them to recognize the city as Israels capital.
Plenty of agencies bit, with an unexpected result: Whereas the journalists occasionally visited with Palestinians while based in Tel Aviv, in Jerusalem they got to know Palestinian leaders well and media understanding of the Palestinian story deepenedand not necessarily to Israels benefit.
The Americans maintain a consulate in eastern Jerusalem, and Israeli officialsand pro-Israel groupscomplain that its staff has gone native, reflecting the interests of the Arab population. The Tel Aviv staff, by contrast, is ensconced in the most western corner of Israel and has a positive outlook on Israel and the diversions it has to offer. What happens to that attitude once they move 40 miles up the hill to Jerusalem.
Who drops by? And what about the consulate?
The Israeli government frowns on diplomats taking meetings with Palestinian officials in Jerusalemit signals recognition of Palestinian claims to the city. Does that policy stick if the embassy moves there? Would Palestinian officials agree to enter its precincts? If they did, would Israel welcome the visits as an acknowledgement of Israeli sovereignty or see them as a threat to that sovereignty?
And what happens to the consulate in eastern Jerusalem that deals with Arab issues? Its continued presence would undercut Israeli claims to the entire city. Does Israels government agitate for its removal? To where?
Jerusalem is protests central
City residents with grievancesthe poor, the haredim, the Arabs, the nearby settlers and their supporterscan organize a demonstration on a moments notice. The American embassy would be a fat, juicy locus for those protests, even if the causes they represent have little to do with the United States. And what will that look like on TV broadcasts?
Dig this
Try building anything new in Jerusalem and youre bound to hit some pottery shards, possibly even bones. Depending on the significance of the find, a construction site could attract a stop order from the Israel Antiquities Authority.
The residence and the schools
The American ambassador currently enjoys spacious digs in Herzliya, a place amenable to July 4 festivities and other bashes, and near some of the best schools in the country. Big spaces are hard to come by in Jerusalem. Harder still if Americans decideas a means of assuaging Arab angerto stick to the citys west in locating both an embassy and a residence.
And the schools! For ambassadors with school-age kids, what a hornets nest. Go for the international choices in Jerusalem and risk accusations youre exposing the kids to anti-Israel views. Go for Israels system and take your pick of whom to offendthe religious, the haredim, the national religious.
Modesty
The American embassy currently employs 800 staff, including 250 Americans, in Tel Aviva city where you can dress however you like. In Jerusalem, dress is (once again) a political statement. Do women on staff have to cover up? How does that play among the diplomatic corps?
The unpredictable
In my years living in Jerusalem in the 1980sand again in the 1990s and 2000sinternational incidents were sparked or almost sparked by religious Jews in the Old City dumping laundry water on Christian Boy Scouts; a nurses aide at the Notre Dame hospital across from the Old City taking a stroll in the nude on its roof; Ariel Sharon taking a stroll on the Temple Mount.
Its a city where anything can happenand often does. Theres a name for the way it makes people crazy: The Jerusalem Syndrome.
One more thing: The city is susceptible to earthquakes. Considering everything else, thats almost an afterthought.
While as Jews we celebrate our own New Year with a religious flourish for 10 days, usually in the fall, tell me you wont do at least a little family and friends this weekend. What a year, right? It looks mightily like we will, in this country of ours have four political parties by the end of 2017. The Democrats are split between the Regulars and the Progressives; the Republicans between the Regulars and the Tea Party. Not to worrywe are one of the last developed nations on earth to have only two major parties. Will things work any better? Dont bet on it.
When Rachel and I were in Israel in October we had breakfast one morning with our friends, Bennie and Ruthie Begin. Bennie has been a Member of Knesset for the past 25 years. He is of course, the son of the late prime minister, Menachem Begin, also a friend of ours. Bennie was most interested in our presidential campaign still underway at that time. I discussed the party splits with him. He said you know in Israel, we have really many parties. Under Israeli law, pretty much anybody can form a party. If your family is large enough, you can do an inter-familial party. So, Benny shrugged, we have to have coalition or it wont work.
So, I asked. How does it work?
Sometimes in chaos, Ill admit, Bennie answered, but if I want something done, I meet with a member of another party. Ill ask what he wants, tell him what I want, we do some negotiatingthen the two of us will round up a third person from yet another party and we will get the votes we need.
Okay, might sound messy, but it works fairly wellnot nearly as dysfunctional as what Washington is today.
David Friedman will be the new ambassador to Israel. Some folks on the left and of course from J Street are upset that he has no diplomatic experience. Take a look at the list of ambassadors under every president from Roosevelt to Obamaexcept in a few instances, their basic experience is as a celebrity or as a major donor.
Friedman does not believe in a Two-State Solution. His reason: Anyone of any power on the Other Side does not really want a Two-State Solutionjust the destruction of the Jewish State. Moving the embassy? Well, maybe not so fast.
Syria is a failed State. Maybe the U.N. or even the U.S. does not want to recognize it, but Assads Regime, like so many others in the region, is a participant in the thousand-year war between Sunni and Shia. It is a war that shows no sign of abating; just a changing of names of the combatants on both sides. Which begs the questionwhy are we involved at all?
The only country that seems to pay attention to history is Israel. They have made it very clear to both sides, like a Revolutionary flag of the U.S.: Dont Tread on Me.
According to Torah, God gave us dominion over the animals and the world around us. I think that means it is our responsibility to care for this earth. So far as the earth itself is concerned, well what can I say when the president-elect wants to put a man who is currently suing the EPA in charge of it. He wants to put an arsonist in charge of the fire department.
Like the country and most of the civilized world, this past year the Jewish Community has become divided. Nothis is not the case of two Jews three opinions. This is spiritual, ideological and political. When I was coming to maturity in the work of the Jewish Communitywhile we had our differences on many subjects, the State of Israel was inviolate. That she could do no wrong? That was almost taken for granted.
Obviously as Israel is full of real live people - most of whom are Jews, Israel by its very nature is going to be messy, even wrong is certain cases, butand I hate to belabor the pointwe dont live under the conditions in Israel, we do not pay taxes to the State of Israelso we have no business lecturing those who do live there and pay those ridiculous taxes.
The problem is with our younger generation, the Millenials and whatever we are calling todays Jewish teenagers. They have no historical perspective. They are exposed to as much fake news as real news (go ahead, Jimwhats real news?). I could blame their parentsbut that probably depends on the relationship between their parents and the generation before them. Dor v Dor.
Yes, like Bette Davis said: Fasten your seatbeltsit looks like a bumpy ride ahead. Heres hoping things are not as dire as some think and that there is a light at the end of this tunnel that is not a train coming at us.
I recently saw worlds being created. My students, 50 Catholic participants in the four-year degree program of the Salesian Pontifical University housed at the Ratisbonne monastery in Jerusalem, together with four priests and I, traveled north to spend a day studying with students at a yeshiva located on Kibbutz Maale Gilboa.
The monastery was built in 1874 to house the Congregation of Our Lady of Sion, an order founded by two Jewish converts to Catholicism, Alphonse and Theodore Ratisbonne. The Brothers and Sisters of Sion were dedicated from the beginning to demonstrate Gods continuing love to the Jews by means of spreading the gospel to Jews. But in the mid-20th century, the members of this congregation came to the realization that Gods love for the Jewish people would be better expressed by helping other Christians to encounter and respect Jews and Judaism. The Brothers and Sisters of Sion have been at the forefront of interreligious understanding in the Catholic Church.
Today, most of the inhabitants of the Ratisbonne Monastery are from a different community, the Salesian order. They join students from other Catholic orders (most prominently the Missionaries of Africa) in their preparation for the priesthood. The curriculum for these students, who come from more than 30 countries, includes courses and lectures about Judaism and Islam, as well as visits to synagogues and Jewish homes. Nevertheless, while the monastery is located in the Jerusalem neighborhood of Rehavia, most of the students have little contact with their Jewish neighbors. When they are not studying, they give of themselves to support the spiritual needs of foreign workers, and to run youth centers in Bethlehem and nearby Cremisan.
There was great excitement for the trip to the yeshiva among students and instructors. In fact, the trip required months of preparation, including finding a yeshiva interested and willing to welcome Catholic students at a time that would work for the schedules of both the yeshiva and Salesian Pontifical.
It has been more than half a century since the Catholic Church produced Nostra Aetate, acknowledging value and truth in other religions. Many documents have since come from the Catholic Church showing appreciation of Judaism and respect for Jews, including guidance on preaching New Testament texts that can paint Jews and Judaism in a negative light.
After a warm welcome from one of the yeshivas rabbis, we began our visit with a class studying a rabbinic text about giving tzedakah (charity). The Catholic students were deeply moved by the open methodology of question and answer, and free discussion of different meanings of the text. Most classes at Salesian Pontifical are European-style lectures, with a bit of question and answer at the end, as well as exams testing for the correct answers. The yeshivas ethic of Torah Lishmastudying Gods teaching for its own sakeand the open method of learning were new concepts for my students.
Jewish and Catholic students mingled over lunch and began to learn about each others lives and backgrounds. Most acknowledged that they had little contact with members of the other group before that day. Many of the Catholics were shocked to learn that even most of the American Jewish students had grown up in neighborhoods where they had no Christian friends. In the same way that few Catholics have experienced lived Judaism, few Jews know of the theological work that has been done by the Catholic Church, work that includes a rejection of all evangelical missionary activity toward Jews, which added to the interest in the yeshiva.
After lunch, the students divided in small groups to study in havruta (learning in pairs). They examined texts about the idea of learning Torah, exploring the connection between intellectual and spiritual experience. A longtime teacher of Talmud myself, I dont remember another time when I saw a beit midrash (study hall) full of students so eager to learn from one another.
Before this day my Catholic students would have spoken of Jews in positive terms, because they are decent people of faith who have respect for others. I suspect, however, that many believed Jews suffer at a disadvantage because they dont have faith in Jesus as the Messiah.
This attitude was changed by one day in a yeshiva, due to the generosity of spirit shown by rabbis and yeshiva students.
My students experienced God and lived Judaism in that beit midrash. They learned that rabbis are not legalistic Pharisees rejecting the spirit of life. They learned that they have much to learn from Jews. They were able to experience an idea that is increasingly emphasized by the Catholic Church generally, and which remains at the core of the teachings of the Congregation of our Lady of Sion, founded by the Ratisbonne brothers.
The yeshiva students were also deeply moved by their experience. They saw that they need not fear that Christians they meet will want to kill or convert them. They met Catholic students who were open, friendly, and respectful. They learned about similarities and differences between themselves and the Catholic students. They learned that openness to the other did not endanger their own faith, but actually created the opportunity to see God in the face of the other.
Dr. Marcie Lenk is a Shalom Hartman Institute research fellow, and the institutes director of Christian leadership programs. She teaches Patristics at the Studium Theologicum Salesianum at Ratisbonne Monastery, as well as Jewish and Christian texts at Ecce Homo Convent, Tantur Ecumenical Center and the Swedish Theological Institute.
In late November, radical protesters in London attacked a Jewish communal building. As they wrestled with police at the gates, they screamed abuse about baby killers! and cried out, Its a Holocaust! According to local media outlets, among them the Jewish Chronicle and the Jewish News, the protesters also daubed the building with graffiti that included a Star of David, a smear about a kosher Holocaust, and references to the Nazi persecution of the Jews.
What was the reason for the protesters anger, the cause of their unashamedly anti-Semitic outburst? Youre probably thinking, for good reason, that this had something to do with Israel. In fact, it didnt.
The building attacked was the kosher Kedassia abattoir (slaughterhouse), and the attackers were members of a militant vegan groupthere is such a thing, apparentlyattempting to prevent the delivery of a truckload of live chickens. Now, as insane as I regard such protestsnot to mention the obscenity of getting worked up over a bunch of chickens when real human beings are being butchered in the thousands in Syriathese people certainly have the right to protest against the production and consumption of meat.
Whats significant, though, is that the character of the protest was entirely determined by the Jewish nature of the target. To even pick on a kosher abattoir when Jews make up less than 1 percent of the British population reeks of anti-Semitism. As Shimon Cohen, a spokesman for Kedassia, observed, There are 760 million chickens a year slaughtered in this country, and the Jewish community is responsible for just under one million. I wonder why there is such a focus on us.
I can think of a couple of credible reasons. To begin with, there has always been a nasty strain of anti-Semitism in the animal rights movement. Its no coincidence that one of the first anti-Jewish measures adopted by the Nazis was a ban on shechita (kosher slaughter). In our own time, the production of kosher meat has been banned in several European countries, such as Denmark and Switzerland, and has faced legal challenges in Poland and the Netherlands. The logic here is that since shechita prohibits stunning the animal before it is killed, it is therefore a more cruel method than that involved with the production of non-kosher meat.
This highly dubious conclusion, motivated more by prejudice than by scientific evidence, is invoked to abridge the civil rights of observant Jewsand also Muslims, whose halal method of slaughter is subjected to similar objections.
Secondly, the obsession among left-wing activists with protesting against Israel in the most visceral manner imaginable has legitimized the use of Nazi imagery in the condemnation of Jewish behavior. The word Holocaust was frequently seen in 2006, when Israel fought a defensive war against Hezbollah in Lebanon, and again during the three conflicts in Gaza during the past decade. If Gaza is a concentration camp, if Palestinians are facing a genocide, if Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is a successor to Adolf Hitlerall themes that have flown around social media with abandonthen it isnt much of a leap to employ the same images with regard to the rituals of Judaism.
All anti-Semites, whether or not their prime motivation is hatred of the state of Israel, believe that a sense of chosenness, handed down by God, is what enables Jews to think and act in ways denied to ordinary mortals. They hate us, in other words, because we think, according to their sleazy worldview, that we are better and thus have greater license to do as we wish.
These trends should worry us, because more and more of the ideas that animate politics in the Western world right now bear little correspondence to actual facts. One result of this has been the dramatic shrinking of the political center. When our own elected politicians on the left and right enable or engage with extremism, when they articulate or enable incendiary rhetoric, they make it infinitely more difficult to combat conspiracy theories and hate-based discourse among the wider public.
Even so, our democracies still contain enough politicians who are willing to recognize the dangers. A round of applause, then, is due for British Prime Minister Theresa May for announcing that her government will officially adopt the definition of anti-Semitism employed by the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance. Loathed by anti-Zionists because of its identification of the demonization of Israel and Zionism with anti-Semitism, the definition is a decent instrument for determining whether or not a particular speech or act is anti-Semitic.
Rightly, the definition asserts that using the historic sufferings of Jews as a stick with which to beat themwhich 99 percent of the time involves comparisons of Israel with Nazi Germanyis a form of anti-Semitism. Talking about a kosher Holocaust, whether in Gaza or in an abattoir in east London, may be legitimate or unlawful depending on where you live, but it is always hate speech.
Theresa Mays announcement is potentially historic, because it paves the way for other countries to adopt the same definition in dealing with accusations of anti-Semitism in their own territories. More broadly, it creates favorable conditions for pushing back against one of the most insidious expressions of anti-SemitismHolocaust abuse.
Holocaust abuse can take different forms. Most common is the type Ive outlined above, where Jewish behavior is analogized to that of the Nazis. But it also comes in more subtle shapes too, for example in Poland, where the nationalist government wants to proscribe any discussion of Polish complicity in the extermination of the Jews during the Nazi occupation. The distinguished Princeton University historian Jan Gross, a Polish American, is currently facing prosecution for his claim that Poles killed more Jews than did the Germans during the Second World War. Instead of leaving this claim to be adjudicated by serious historians, as has in fact been happening, the Polish government has willfully decided to portray it as an outrage (publicly insulting the nation) akin to denying the Holocaust itself
What unites all these examples is the idea that everyone involvedPalestinians, chickens, Polesis locked in a victimhood competition with the Jews. Holocaust abuse is, therefore, a central tactic in winning that competition.
Of course, no such competition exists, except in the minds of those who are fixated upon it. No two victims can ever be exactly alike, after all. But such commonplace observations hold no water for those convinced that the Jews are the prime obstacle between them and a better world, and who wield the Holocaust stick as a consequence.
Ben Cohen, senior editor of TheTower.org & The Tower Magazine, writes a weekly column for JNS.org on Jewish affairs and Middle Eastern politics. His writings have been published in Commentary, the New York Post, Haaretz, The Wall Street Journal, and many other publications. He is the author of Some of My Best Friends: A Journey Through Twenty-First Century Antisemitism (Edition Critic, 2014).
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Amidst the din, dust and hullabulloo raised by the death of Tamil Nadus J Jayalalithaa, even as the AIADMK anoints Chinamma Sasikala Natarajan as the party general secretary, what has gone nearly unnoticed is that, for the first time in nearly 50 years, the states film industry is well and truly out of political power. For a state that witnessed a unique marriage between politics and films, holding millions in its thrall, Jayalalithaas death appears to have ended that synergy.
Neither Jayalalithaas successor Panneerselvam nor Sasikala Natarajan have anything to do with the film industry. The last vestige of the film industry in politics exists in the opposition DMK in the form of its chief M Karunanidhi. But his age, at 92, and indifferent health could mean that his son MK Stalin is a more likely chief minister if the DMK returns to power. And Stalin too has personally not been involved with the film industry.
Read: After Jayalalithaas death, AIADMK appoints Sasikala as interim party chief
It isnt the case that others in the industry havent expressed a desire to get into politics. Vijayakant, known for his roles as the firm but good cop, made the most serious bid for power at the head of a separate party. After an initial encouraging response electorally, he has all but fallen by the wayside. Another successful actor, Bhagyaraj, had forayed into politics a few years ago but quickly withdrew.
In 1996 it looked like superstar Rajinikanth would enter politics. The actor, in the run-up to the 1996 Assembly elections, had said even God cannot help Tamil Nadu if Jayalalithaa returns to power for her purported involvement in corruption. All that was left was for Rajinikanth to announce his entry into formal politics. But that day never dawned. It is not clear why.
Read:The political opportunity for Rajinikanth has come and gone
During Jayalalithaas stay in hospital social media speculated over Rajinis arrival into politics. But that proved incorrect. Another name that did the rounds briefly was Ajit, a moderately successful actor, but didnt fructify either.
The absence of a filmstar-politician will knock the glamour quotient off Tamil Nadus politics. M G Ramachandran and later Jayalalithaa took their roles as do-gooders in films seriously and tried to emulate that in real life. MGRs mid-day meal scheme for children and Jayalalithaas low-cost canteens, among others, made them even more popular with the people.
An accomplished script writer in Tamil movies, Karunanidhis oratory skills are legendary. Cassettes of many of his speeches sell like hot cakes across the state. And they make for riveting hearing.
With movie idols at the helm, the film industry naturally, had unhindered access to the chief ministers door. But there was a flip side as well. With Karunanidhi on one side and MGR first and later Jayalalithaa on the other, film folks often get caught in political crossfire. Kollywood grapevine has it that actors such as Vadivelu and Vivek, among others, reportedly became victims at one time or the other.
With the film industry out of politics, Tamil Nadu looks like going the way of other states where films and politics dont normally mix. For the people of a film-crazy state, it will take some time getting used to the mundane brand of politics.
K S Dakshina Murthy is a senior journalist based in Bangalore.
Views expressed are personal
Politicians are often judged by how they handle the last phase of their political lives.
And that is why with his decision to expel Akhilesh Yadav, Mulayam Singh has squandered his political legacy. Unless reversed immediately, the decision will leave Mulayam Singhs real love, the Samajwadi Party, in ruins. To understand why, trace his career.
The paradox of Mulayam Singh
Mulayam is inarticulate; he is among the worst administrators in political landscape; he has practised communal politics in the most blatant manner for at least a quarter of a century, playing on Muslim insecurities while offering them little in return.
He is also widely perceived as among the most unreliable and untrustworthy political interlocutors who can switch positions and sides at any moment and keeps channels with all sides open at all times.
Yet the man has been extraordinarily powerful in the politics of Uttar Pradesh for three decades. He has won elections repeatedly and he is a truly mass leader. And the secret of that is his rootedness, the manner in which he empowers his base, and the ability to craft social coalitions.
Ask supporters, and they are willing to do anything for Netaji. Few know the vast state of UP as well as Mulayam. In each district, Mulayam knows hundreds of people by name - and in most villages, he would know a person or two. Anecdotes abound about how Netaji went out of his way to support a workers family in times of crisis; how he travelled to remote areas, through rough roads, on a motorcycle, just to attend a wedding in the family of a sympathiser; how no loyalist would return disappointed from his home if he was in financial crisis. SP is what it is because of Mualayams sheer hard work and energetic organisation building.
But there is obviously a political story that goes beyond personal patronage. Groomed in Lohia-ite politics, Mulayam -- like Lalu next door -- recognised that Indias backward castes were political orphans. The Congress decided to focus on Brahmans, Dalits and Muslims and that demographic coalition was enough to see it remain in power for decades. But with the Green Revolution, growing economic power of the backwards, their slow inclusion in government services, OBCs were looking for political might. Mulayam filled in this vacuum. The OBCs may today be the new power elite, but one should not underestimate how their rise was a transformative moment in Indian politics.
And finally, as the Muslims got disillusioned with the Congress after the Babri Masjid demolition, Mulayam smelled an opportunity. Yadavs on their own would not be able to wrest power: in a coalition with Muslims, SP could become at least the single largest party and acquire state power.
Once state power was acquired, Mulayam was dismissive of those who thought universal welfare or development was needed to remain popular. He operated with simple logic -- those who helped him win will be rewarded, and the state exists only for his voters. That is why under the SP there is the democratisation of corruption and goondagardi, Allahabad journalist Anupam Mishra once explained. Cadres are empowered to do as they wish; the administration becomes defunct in front of them.
The riskiest gamble
But there are clear limits to this kind of politics. As the middle-class expanded (and a Yadav middle-class grew too), as there was a generational transformation and as aspirations grew, the electorate wanted not just the recognition of identity and security. Akhilesh Yadav decided to fill in this gap. And Mulayam thought that while he would retain real power, the son could be make a token CM.
But there is nothing called a token CM since power creates its own dynamics. Akhilesh realised that while caste was an essential tool of mobilisation, it could not be the only tool --- which is why he became the first Yadav leader who was not just seen as a Yadav leader. He realised that urban middle-class and opinion makers, in the information age, had far more influence than their size dictated and needed to be nourished. He realised that the younger demographic among the poor and lower middle classes wanted urbanisation, infrastructure, technology as much as the rich. He realised that while patronage and corruption were necessary ingredients of politics, it could happen by expanding the development pie. And he decided that if he wanted to do all this, he needed control over the party structure, resources, finances and build his own cadre of loyalists.
But Mulayam was just not been able to reconcile himself to this shift - and with the fact that his son was becoming more popular than the father. He regretted that he did not become CM himself in 2012.
One should never underestimate the importance of inter-personal dyamics in determining politics. It did not help that the father and son have never been particularly close; it also did not help that everyone Mulayam is close to disliked Akhilesh and vice versa. Mulayams closest associate is Anita Singh, who ran a parallel administration much to Akhileshs anger. Mulayams brother, Shivpal, has felt that he his contribution to the SP is far greater than his nephews and thus he deserved chief ministership; Mulayams second wife, Sadhana Gupta, and her family, are deeply resentful of Akhileshs power; and Mulayams old friend, Amar Singh, is keen to undercut Akhilesh, who in turn feels strongly that Singh had corrupted his father and must be kept at a distance.
There was a school of thought in Lucknow which believed that Mulayam was just being shrewd; that while there was an undercurrent of tension between the father and son, the two were actually playing a good cop and bad act; and eventually, Mulayam would just let these battles play out in his lifetime because at the end of it all, it would help Akhilesh emerge stronger. People would perceive the young CM of having taken on the old guard, and rally around him.
Politics rests on the art of deception, but the expulsion shows this is a conspiracy theory.
A battle of this nature cannot be orchestrated.
There is a divide between the father and the son, between their political styles, between their network of associates, between the grammar and language they choose to employ, and their understanding of how political power can be won and regained. And strange as it may sound, there is a battle of egos, there is envy and there is anger and hurt.
Yet, both needed each other - at least for the 2017 elections. Akhilesh does not have an organisation; Mulayam does not have a face. And that is why conventional political logic suggested they would end up coming together. With Friday evenings move, that door has been closed.
The endgame matters
What you do at the end of your political life matters.
Atal Bihari Vajpayee semi-retired after 2004, leaving people with the memory of his credible term in office. Health has now rendered him inactive but there is a surge of affection whenever his name crops up. He is remembered for the statesmanship and sobriety he brought to office.
LK Advani let ambition get the better of him. He did not bow out after the 2009 defeat, desperate for another bid at prime ministership. He was left humiliated in his party, deprived of power and influence and commands little respect either in his party or broader public.
After a rich career in public life, Manmohan Singh decided, in UPA 2, that staying on in power was more important than asserting himself at key moments - allowing the perception of corruption, policy paralysis and a weak PM to grow and tarnish his legacy. Still respected for his contribution to the economy, he evokes little political admiration.
V P Singh, after leaving office after a short but significant term as PM, moved away from electoral politics and office, and devoted him to public causes and social campaigns. He evokes respect among Indias civil rights activists and most marginalised.
Mulayams political stature may not be the same as these leaders. But he is, undoubtedly, one of North Indias most remarkable political figures.
At the end of his career though, Mulayam has lost the one element that helped him stand out --- the instinct for power. Fridays decision marks the beginning of the end of his political life. He may retain the organisation and party flag; he may still have a loyal core of Yadav and Muslim voters; he may still have enormous wealth. But Mulayam has lost his political platform, his legacy, and his son.
Read| As Yadav family feud erupts again, only a miracle can help SP win Uttar Pradesh
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On November 20, 1921, the Colonial government detained more than 90 rebels in Kerala who were said to be involved in the uprising. They were bundled into a freight wagon to the central prison in Podanur city, near Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu. Podanur prison was running to full capacity. It was ordered that the prisoners be sent back. On their return journey, at least 60 prisoners suffocated to death. The incident, known as Wagon Tragedy, is the inspiration for the charcoal drawings made by Kochi-based artist and filmmaker Madhusudhanan, currently on display at the Vadhera Art Gallery.
Through the works titled Marx Archive- The Logic of Disappearance, the artist has attempted to show the continuous shifting positions of bronze statues of communist leaders such Marx and Lenin in 1991 after the fall of the Soviet Union.
An image from the series Marx Archive- Logic of Disappearance (Madhusudhanan/Vadhera Art Gallery )
Madhusudhanan has named the series Penal Colony based on a 1914 story by Franz Kafka named In the Penal Colony. The central theme of the story is a mechanical instrument designed to kill a man after a terrible 12 hour-long torture. The objective was to understand the Wagon Tragedy against the background of Kafkas story. The tragedy and Kafkas book had very different contexts and we do not see clear similarities. Yet, both are grim and involve annihilation, said Madhusudhanan.
One of the works in the series depicts Tipu Sultan, the ruler of the Mysore state, with a toy, picturising his personal emblem, the tiger.
Power and Knowledge is a series of designs printed on matchboxes. The matchbox industry shifted from Calcutta to Sivakasi in 1921, the year the Wagon Tragedy took place. Images printed on these boxes include that of Tipu Sultan, a ship and hand grenade. They convey conflict in some way or the other, said the artist.
While A Marx Archive- Logic of Disappearance has been shown at the Kochi Muziris Biennale 2014-15, the series Penal Colony has been shown at the Venice Biennale 2015. This is Madhusudhanans first solo show in the country.
What: Exhibition Penal Colony solo show of Madhusudhanan
On till: 10th January
Where: Vadehra Art Gallery, D-53 Defence Colony
Call: 46103550/ 46103551
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A three-year-old child died after drowning in water tank in Bhopal on Thursday here, police said. The child was alone in the house in Kamla Nagar area when the incident happened and was rushed to the hospital by neighbours.
According to police, on Thursday evening at around 5 pm, Dharmendra Singh, who lived with his family at Sabri Nagar slums in Kamla Nagar locality, was playing in the house. His father, Banne Singh who works as a cleanliness worker at Maulana Azad National Institute of Technology (MANIT), was on duty while his mother and two siblings were out.
Dharmendra while playing reached a water tank kept near the bathroom and fell inside it. Some neighbours saw him and rushed him to a nearby hospital where the doctors declared him brought dead, police added.
We got the information about the toddlers death from the hospital after which we have registered the matter under section 174 of CrPC and investigations are on. The body has been sent for post-mortem at Hamidia Hospital, said Jagdish Singh, a police official.
Patients continue to complain against behaviour of doctors and the management of Hamidia hospital in Bhopal that reported clashes between doctors and patients relatives, and irregularities, prompting the chief minister to make a surprise inspection last weekend and order a recast of top officials.
About 20 quintals of expired medicines were reportedly found from the storeroom of the hospital on Wednesday, raising questions about management of the state-run healthcare centre. Some medicines, including life-saving drugs, had expired about 40 years ago.
State minister for medical education, public health and family welfare Sharad Jain said the management of hospital affairs improved after CM Shivraj Singh Chouhans inspection. The condition of the hospital will further improve as the state government is committed to providing best-quality health services to the public, Jain told HT on Thursday.
But a reality check shows that patients are still complaining about mismanagement. I came here with my 9-year-old niece from Betul district three days ago. After she was admitted to the hospital on the first day, doctors said she was suffering from a minor attack of paralysis on her leg, said Rakesh Kumar Soni.
Doctors attended to her on that day only; after that they are not paying attention despite our requests. Doctors misbehaved with us when we approached them.
A junior doctor allegedly assaulted a 50-year-old man and tore his clothes on Tuesday after an argument over treatment to the victims son.
A relative of another patient said conditions have not changed much despite action by the administration after media reports. My sister is admitted here for the last five days. Senior doctors visit her for a few seconds during the routine morning rounds; after that junior doctors attend to her, said Anil Sonkusre.
We have to request them (junior doctors) many times to see my sister and tell us about her recovery. But they do not reply us properly, and leave.
When reporters tried to speak to Hamidia Hospital superintendent Dr Deepak Marawi, he refused to answer any question, and called security guards to remove them out of the premises.
The Chhindwara district police are looking for a Bhopal-based pastor Fr Anil Martin, whose licensed rifle was allegedly used by two men to poach the endangered blackbucks on December 13.
The matter came to light on the eve of President Pranab Mukherjees December 14 visit to the district when Chaurai police station personnel were conducting routine checks on vehicles.
Two persons, Nitin Singh Rajput and Brijesh S Sahu were arrested after police found two carcasses of blackbucks in the SUV they were travelling in.
Police also recovered a .22 rifle which was used by the duo for poaching the blackbucks in Chaurai jungles from the vehicle, sub divisional officer police (SDOP) of Chhindwara district, Shraddha Sonkar told HT on Thursday.
On interrogation, the duo revealed that the rifle belonged to one Anil Martin, who, police found out, was a pastor known to Sahu and had founded a prominent missionary school in Bhopal, the SDOP said.
Were making all possible efforts and hope to arrest Martin soon, she said, adding that he has been untraceable since his involvement in the case came to light.
It was also found that Rajput had been accused in 27 cases of heinous crime, including murder, attempt to murder, extortion and loot.
The accused were booked under sections 429 and 34 of IPC, relevant sections of Wildlife Protection Act and the Arms Act.
At a time when the local traders at tourist sites are crying foul over the impact of demonetization on their business, a press release issued by the ministry of tourism on Thursday has claimed that currency ban has had little impact on inflow of tourists in MP.
The release also said currency ban has not affected foreign tourists arrival or for that matter foreign exchange earnings in the country.
The report shows figures to corroborate the claim. According to the release, there has been a remarkable rise in sale of e-tickets in the last two months. A total of 9131 foreigners visited various sites of Madhya Pradesh in October while in November, 12,445 foreigners visited MP. However, this is the usual trend every year, said Zulfiqar Ali, superintending archaeologist, ASI, Bhopal.
Sudesh Tamrakar, senior tourist adviser said, Local tourist inflow has reduced but the number of foreigners visiting the tourist sites remains the same. Overall, the difference is insignificant.
Madhur Sharma, a tourist operator, however tells otherwise. The tourist guides who are not registered with state government, used to have an easy time drawing Rs 100-1000 from a tourist. But after note ban, most of them are struggling to manage routine expenses.
Alka Kushwaha, a local artifact vendor at Mandu says, This is the best time of the year after monsoon season when people prefer coming to Mandu. I see no difference in number of people visiting but this year, they are hesitant in spending on luxury items.
Archeological Survey of India has smoothly transitioned to cashless mode of payment by simplifying the process of e-ticketing. But the government cares little for local artisans and businessmen. They are finding it hard to make ends meet, said Vikram Manwani, business middleman at Chanderi.
Besides the heritage sites, Madhya Pradesh is also known for religious tourism. When a local vendor in Ujjain, Mahesh Tiwari, was asked about the impact of cash ban on his business, he said, We suffered huge losses in the past month. Now, most of us sell pooja parcels (basket consisting all necessary items for performing pooja in a temple) starting from Rs 500. We have also bought swipe machine so that a customer does not return empty-handed.
Raghu Ram, a bag-seller in Panchmarchi, had to ask to his helper to leave because he was unable to pay him wages. Kishan was working with me for the past six years and was not ready to leave but I was unable to pay him, Ram said.
The Jabalpur unit of the CBI has started a preliminary inquiry into the alleged conversion of demonetised currency worth 3.72 lakh into new ones at the ticket booking counters of Katni railway station, 90 km from Jabalpur.
This comes even as the agencys investigation into similar conversion of the old 500 and 1,000 notes into new currency at Habibganj and Bhopal railways stations is underway.
The suspected conversion of the old notes at Katni railway station was done within a period of 20 days from November 8, the day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced demonetisation of the high value currency, CBI sources told Hindustan Times. The anomaly came to light following scrutiny of documents seized by the CBI and West Central Railways (WCR) vigilance department during a surprise check at Katni stations passenger ticket booking section and its cash division on December 19.
The cash division is tasked with depositing the days collection in the bank.
Earlier, a similar inquiry was registered by CBIs Bhopal office against unidentified accused on December 12 for suspected conversion of the demonetised currency totaling around 11 lakh at Habibganj and Bhopal railway stations. The inquiry was ordered following the scrutiny of documents seized from the cash division of both the railway stations during a surprise check on December 8.
As per the sources in CBI, 6 lakh and 5 lakh in old currency was converted at Habibganj and Bhopal railway stations, respectively.
CBI officials have till date questioned more than 40 employees of both the railway stations. The railways employees have claimed that the conversion was done as part of internal management of cash, which is a routine thing.
The CBI officials, sources said, would now conduct a scrutiny of the cash transactions at the two stations before demonetisation was announced.
Searches at Jabalpur station too
The vigilance department of West Central Railway (WCR) on Thursday carried searches at the ticket booking counters and the cash office at Jabalpur railway station. The searches were carried out to check if the new currency notes received at the ticket counters had been exchanged with the denotified notes of 500 and 1000, WCR chief public relations officer Surendra Yadav said. The vigilance officials are verifying the documents pertaining to cash details of the ticket counters for the period November 9 to December 22. There are six reservation ticket counters and 11 general ticket counters at the Jabalpur railway station.
Bhopal police have sent two teams to Uttar Pradesh to arrest a 35-year-old man, accused of allegedly raping a 31-year-old woman and extorting Rs 9 lakh from her, on the pretext of marrying her.
The victim, a resident of Koh-e-Fiza locality in Bhopal, had on Tuesday lodged a complaint against the accused Mohammad Hussein of allegedly raping her on different occasions and extorting about Rs 9 lakh from her, police said. Hussein, a resident of Lucknow, used to run a business in Mumbai. The victim became friends with him on a matrimonial website in January this year.
In April, Hussein came to Bhopal and stayed at the house of the victim for a couple of days where he raped her, a police official said.
In May, the family of the accused came to Bhopal for Husseins and the womans engagement. Later in June, he came to Bhopal and raped her. He also took about Rs 9 lakh from her by saying that it is needed for his business. The victim went to Mumbai to his place in July to ask her to marry her. Hussein refused to marry her and raped her.
The victim filed a case against Hussein on Tuesday.
The accused hails from Lucknow and some of his relatives live in Kanpur. Police have sent teams to both the places to know about his whereabouts and arrest him. During the initial investigations it was also found that the accused committed similar crimes with at least two other women- one from Pune, the other from Uttar Pradesh, said additional superintendent of police (zone 3), Rajesh Singh Bhadauria.
Hussein has done his MBBS and runs a business in Mumbai.
IAS aspirant says merchant navy officer raped her
A 20-year-old civil services aspirant in Gwalior district has alleged rape by a merchant navy man who is presently deployed in Mumbai.
The woman who hails from Rewa district, but has been preparing for civil services exams in Gwalior since the last two years lodged a complaint against the 30-year-old accused at Padav police station of Gwalior on Thursday.
The alleged rape survivor stated in the complaint that the accused became friends with her over WhatsApp and Facebook a year back.
Subsequently he established physical relations with her several times in Gwalior, promising to marry her soon.
Later, he backtracked from marrying her and even assaulted her recently when she asked him to keep his promise of marriage.
The woman submitted the complaint at Padav police station on Thursday after which a case of rape and criminal assault was lodged against the accused, who is posted in Mumbai, said Padav police station in charge Santosh Yadav.
A sessions court in Jabalpur on Thursday sentenced two men to death and one to life imprisonment for the kidnapping and killing of a 15-year-old boy in March 2013.
Third additional sessions judge DP Mishra awarded death sentence and fine of Rs1000 to Rajesh Yadav alias Rakesh and Raja Yadav and five years jail term and fine of Rs 500. The court also sentenced Om Prakash Yadav to life imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2,000.
Assistant public prosecutor (APP) Anil Tiwari assisted by Ashish Tiwari said the body of Ajit Pal (15) alias Bobby was found in a plastic bag in a dry well on March 29, 2013 near Khandari drain in Jabalpur.
On March 26, 2013 around 9 pm Ajit went missing near his house. Rajwant Kaur, Bobbys mother, searched for him at several places and when he was untraced lodged a missing complaint on March 27, 2013.
Amarjeet one of the family members received a phone call in which a ransom of Rs 50 lakh was demanded to release Bobby, Tiwari said.
On basis of the phone call, Rajesh Yadav alias Rakesh was taken in custody on March 29, 2013 and on basis of the information he provided the body was recovered from a dry well, Anil Tiwari said.
Simultaneously other two convicts Raja Yadav and Omprakash Yadav were arrested.
The knife by which the boy was killed was also seized.
In Bobbys fist, a bunch of hair was found which on DNA test was found to be that of Rajesh Yadav. Similarly the blood stained clothes of Rajesh were recovered and the blood was found to be of the boy.
Ever since the government announced the scrapping of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 in a surprise move on November 8, the rules on movement of the new currency and the exchange of old currency has changed at least 60 times. Here is the list of the ever-changing rules:
Cash Exchange/Deposits
November 8: Government announced that old notes worth Rs 4000 can be exchanged at banks.
November 13: Cash exchange limit over the counter increased to Rs 4500.
November 17: Limit reduced to Rs 2000.
November 24: Old notes cannot be exchanged at banks only deposits allowed. Only foreigners allowed to exchange currency up to Rs 5000 per week.
December 19: RBI imposes deposit cap of 5000 rupees until Dec 30 subject to satisfactory response on such late deposit
December 21: RBI withdraws notification
December 30: Deposit of old notes not allowed anymore at banks. They can be exchanged at RBI offices across the country.
Cash Withdrawal
November 8: Government limits ATM withdrawals at Rs 2000.
November 8: Withdrawal limit from banks fixed at Rs 20,000 for a week and a daily limit at Rs 10000.
November 13: Cash withdrawal limit at ATMs increased to Rs 2500 per day in the recalibrated ATMs.
November 13: The weekly limit for withdrawal from bank accounts increased to Rs 24,000, the daily limit is removed.
November 30: RBI tightens monthly withdrawal rules from Jan Dhan accounts for poor
Use of Old Notes
November 8: Old notes to be accepted at government hospitals, fuel stations, airports and railways.
November 9: Old notes to be accepted even at metro stations, ASI monuments, toll plazas and medicine shops.
November 10: Government announced that now- defunct currency notes of 500 and 1000 will be accepted for making payments towards fees, charges, taxes and penalties payable to the central and state governments including municipal and local bodies, and other utility charges like water and electricity.
November 14: Government extends existing exemptions for acceptance of old Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes up to 24 November, 2016 midnight.
November 24: Old notes of Rs 1000 cannot be used. Government allows use of Rs 500 to pay for fuel, mobile recharges, water and power bills. Government-run school and college fees can also be paid with old notes of Rs 500.
Ordinance
Government passes Ordinance to making holding of more than 10 junked notes an offence punishable with a fine. The rule starts after December 31.
Exceptions for Farmers
November 17: Farmers allowed to withdraw up to Rs. 25000 per week to ensure proper sowing of Rabi crops. Agriculture traders allowed to withdraw Rs 50000 to facilitate smooth operation of mandis.
Exceptions for Weddings
November 17: Families allowed to withdraw up to Rs 2,50,000 from their own bank accounts, in case of a wedding.
The year 2016 will be a momentous one for various reasons.
Indias economy was one of the fastest growing economies in the world in the first half of the financial year. With favourable macro-economic indicators, the countrys economic growth stood at 7.2%.
For the first time, a monetary policy framework was put in place. Moreover, two important legislations were passed.
In August, the Rajya Sabha passed the Goods and Services Tax (GST) Constitutional Amendment Bill that was already approved by Lok Sabha last year. This clears the way for the implementation of the uniform indirect tax regime in the country.
Secondly, the government approved the bankruptcy code that replaces a string of archaic legislations with a modern contemporary law, allowing easy exits to companies.
But the year 2016 will be most remembered for the NDA governments shock demonetisation of high-value notes. The move has significantly slowed down the growth engine.
Read | Why were Rs 1000, 500 notes demonetised? RBI refuses to answer RTI query
On November 8, Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the withdrawal of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes comprising 86% of the cash circulation. This led to an acute cash crunch. While the move was taken to weed out black money from the system, it impacted several sectors of the economy.
Though the Opposition attacked the government, saying the country was in a state of economic emergency, finance minister Arun Jaitley said the growth was on track.
We are extremely grateful to the people of India who have supported the move of demonetisation Life insurance, tourism, petroleum consumption, mutual fund investment has increased during this period, Jaitley said.
This is a spring board year laying the foundation for economic progress in the coming years with more sustainable accountability and economic activity, noted economist Rajiv Kumar said.
The government also launched the four-month window for the income disclosure scheme, providing a chance to all black money holders to come clean. Moreover, the government launched the Pradhan Mantri Jan Kalyan Yojana the second amnesty scheme while the demonetisation drive was on.
In one word, I would call this year eventful ... macroeconomic conditions remain healthy and we had a good monsoon. But this year, the story would revolve around demonetisation and this has offset a few positives, DK Joshi, chief economist, Crisil told Hindustan Times.
While Indias exports market remained a matter of concern, trade deficit declined to $53.2 billion as against $78.2 billion in the corresponding period of previous year.
Read | Reality check: 50 days on, demonetization still a mixed bag across India
Subdued global oil prices helped India in reducing its current account deficit the difference between the inflow and the outflow of dollars. CAD narrowed to 0.1% of GDP from April to June.
Investments this year remained weak, despite efforts by the government to improve the ease of doing business in the country. Despite repeated pleas to India Inc, companies shied away from investing.
Despite high expectations, the Ease of Doing business report, released by the International Finance Corporation, placed India at 130 just a notch above last years ranking.
Meanwhile, the governments fiscal deficit target of 3.5% of GDP for the current fiscal is in range.
However, the telecom spectrum auction did not yield the desired results, while the Seventh Pay Commission will lead to an additional Rs 1.02 lakh-crore outflow for the government. The government has already provided Rs 25,000 crore for bank recapitalisation.
India today amended its tax treaty with Singapore to plug gaps which allow avoidance of tax and routing of black money. First signed in 2005, the amendment will kick-in from April 2017, when capital gains tax will be implemented on investments in Indias capital markets that come from Singapore. For the first two years beginning 2017, the tax will be 50% of the prevailing domestic rate, and the full rate will apply from April 2019.
This amendment follows the changes that India made in its treaties with Mauritius and Cyprus, earlier this year.
For long Mauritius and Singapore have been the favoured destinations for foreign investors to route their money into India, for the capital gains tax benefits that both these countries offered under the treaties with India.
Of the total FDI inflows of USD 29.4 billion in April- December 2015-16, Mauritius and Singapore accounted for USD 17 billion.
This year on May 10 we had amended DTAA with Mauritius. Then in September we amended with Cyprus and today we amended the DTAA with Singapore, said finance minister Arun Jaitley. He added: We have successfully stopped round tripping through this route.
The amendment of treaties with Mauritius, Cyprus and Singapore has been complimented by the Indian governments success in persuading Switzerland to share information on Indians banking with Swiss banks. This information exchange will begin from 2019.
2016 has been significant and historic as we amended these treaties, Jaitley said.
Most experts welcomed the move. The final outcome as regards the Singapore Treaty is not a surprise and most investors were expecting that it would mirror the new Mauritius Treaty, said Abhishek Goenka, partner, direct tax in PwC India.
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The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has asked banks to report details of deposits of old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to it after the close of banking hours on Friday, which is the last date to accept the invalid currency.
With the closure of the facility of exchange of SBNs (defunct notes) at the close of business on December 30, 2016, all banks should report information on collection of SBNs on December 30, 2016, itself at e-mail, the central bank said in a notification.
All lenders, including public, private, rural and cooperative banks, have been asked to make arrangements to gather information on deposits of the Specified Bank Notes (SBNs).
All bank branches -- other than those of DCCBs -- that have accumulated the SBNs as at the close of business on Friday are required to deposit the same at any issue office of the Reserve Bank or a currency chest by Saturday itself.
RBI further said the old-high denomination notes cannot form part of banks cash balances from the close of business as on December 31, 2016.
However, District Central Co-operative Banks (DCCBs) may retain the SBNs received on November 10-14 till receipt of further instructions.
Further, banks maintaining currency chests have been asked to make necessary arrangements to facilitate the deposit of SBNs received through linked branches or other branches of banks and post offices.
Reporting of the transactions in Integrated Computerised Currency Operations and Management System (ICCOMS) will be enabled beyond 9 till all the deposits are received and accounted for.
To facilitate storage of SBNs, banks maintaining currency chests may utilise additional space in their existing currency chest or additional storage space at the same centre with the proviso that it is as safe and secure as a currency chest, RBI added.
The Congress has factored in an anti-incumbency wave in some assembly seats before finalising the first list of candidates for the 2017 polls in Uttarakhand, although the party earlier hinted at repeating its sitting MLAs.
Anti-incumbency in some sitting MLAs seats cropped up during meetings of state leaders with the Congress screening committee, led by Kumari Selja, in New Delhi on December 28 and 29, party sources said.
While granting tickets to the sitting MLAs was being talked about, a section of leaders raised the possibility of an anti-incumbency wave sweeping some seats and the ways to tackle it. A final decision on those seats is likely to be taken during the next meeting scheduled for January 4 or so, a senior Congress leader, who attended the meeting, told HT on Friday on the condition of anonymity.
Party insiders said around 20 sitting legislators were told to assess ground realities in their constituencies, although state Congress office-bearers denied that a final decision has been taken on the sitting-getting formula (fielding all MLAs again).
It (the screening committee) has not finalised anything (about the sitting-getting formula) yet. That our central leadership is studying the partys current standing with such depth by listening to and seeking suggestions from state leaders shows its seriousness towards Uttarakhand, state Congress vice-president Jot Singh Bisht told HT. He denied that anti-incumbency was discussed during the meetings.
Those who met the screening committee included ministers Indira Hridayesh and Pritam Singh, MLA and Womens Congress chief Sarita Arya, Youth Congress president Bhuwan Kapri, around 25 members of the state election committee, and more than 20 ticket hopefuls. The screening committee held one-on-one discussions with the ticket aspirants.
A member of state Congress organisation said issuing tickets to sitting MLAs was an unsaid tradition of the party. Even if theres an issue of anti-incumbency in any seat, the party will find ways to fight it, said the member who did not wish to be named.
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Be it good, bad or ugly, the year 2016 has been a year of change. And, the varsities in Delhi have been no stranger to this. From the admissions in Delhi University going online to actor Shah Rukh Khan collecting his graduation degree from DU after 28 years and activist Kanhaiya Kumar getting arrested, this past year saw the campus go through its fair share of big events. As we bid adieu to 2016, here are 16 biggest things in the University that made news this year.
Admission goes online
The admission process for Delhi University went completely online this year. While the varsity had attempted the same in 2015, offline admissions were still on. What really made news, in this great move, was that the website was designed entirely by the varsity students.
Helmet Alert!
Students of Daulat Ram College participating in the helmet protest on college grounds. (Amal KS/HT Photo)
The students of Daulat Ram College (DRC) took to wearing helmets inside the college after a part of the ceiling of a classroom fell on a few students. The incident that occurred in September, this year, made news as five students were injured due to the mishap.
Star Power
Ranveer Singh and Vani Kapoor pose for a picture with the crowd at Law Faculty. (Shivam Saxena/HT Photo)
From music duo Salim-Sulaiman, singer Sunidhi Chauhan and actor Farhan Akhtar performing at the fests to Aditya Roy Kapur, Katrina Kaif, and Ranveer Singh and Vaani Kapoor visiting colleges to promote their films, DU saw its fair share of star power, this year.
Scoring a 100
Students take a buggy ride as Ramjas College celebrated its completion of 100 years, at Delhi University's North Campus. (Anshuman Akash/HT Photo)
Delhi University has some really old colleges under its belt, and of which, Ramjas College was the one to host their centennial celebration, this year. The event saw a pride march, transgender fashion show, centennial parades, graffiti, performances and more. Not only did the celebrations see students of the host college have a ball, but also other colleges joined in the revelry too.
A Starry graduation
Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan flaunts his degree after collecting it from Hansraj College. (Raajesh Kahyap/HT Photo)
If youve still not collected your degree, you shouldnt feel too bad. Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan collected his degree from Hansraj college, after 28 years, earlier this year. The actor flaunted his degree, reminisced old days and also showered some love on his fans.
Special Selection
As a progressive move, Delhi University opened its doors to transgenders for undergraduate courses. A third gender option was introduced in the centralised admission forms and necessary policies for their admission were introduced too.
Copy That!
University photocopy shops were hit badly when three international publishers filed a suit against the sale of photocopied books and pages in DU. While the companies lost the case, the photocopy shops were later directed to maintain records of course packs photocopied and supplied by it and submit six monthly statements to the court.
What the hostel
Hostel rules in Delhi University have for long been deemed biased and sexist. But, this year saw them hit a new low, when Hindu Colleges newly-constructed girls hostel made headlines for its sanskaari dressing rule. While it was dropped later, students continued their fight against curfew timings and absurd orders.
Book Vs Facebook
Delhi University colleges blocked social networking sites such as Facebook and WhatsApp on their college Wi-Fi and it didnt go down well with the students. While a few understood the reason behind the move, others were furious for it limited the information dissemination in class groups. Some hoped that it was a technical glitch that would go away in a few days, but it didnt.
Great DU Cook-off
Students prepare their ingredients for the cook-off at Shyam Lal College. (Shivam Saxena/HT Photo)
It was a great year for foodies and chefs alike in Delhi University as Hansraj College introduced a first-of-its-kind Culinary Arts Society (CAS) and Shyam Lal College organised the second edition of University Chef a MasterChef-style cooking competition for all colleges.
App like that
While Delhi showed its pride support in November, a DU student revealed that he and his boyfriend are developing a support App for the LGBTQ community. The app, which will release mid-January, will act not just as a support group for the community, but will also help members who need accommodation, protection and more.
From Delhi to France
A still from the movie, In A Free State.
DU student, Lubdhak Chatterjees film, In A Free State was a part of the six Bengali short films that were short-listed for the short film corner at the Cannes Film Festival. The film narrates the story of an aspiring filmmaker and an artist who paints amputated figures.
Dhaba no more
The beloved Ganga Dhaba on JNU campus shut down this year. The eatery that has been an iconic spot on campus since 1984 was served an eviction notice which left the students disappointed.
The JNU situation
Ganga Dhaba wasnt the only reason JNU made news this year. From Kanhaiya Kumar and sedition charges to the university student Najeeb Ahmeds disappearance, the varsity saw its fair share of political and emotional drama.
Bigg Screen Time
Lokesh Kumari Sharma in conversation with Salman Khan on Bigg Boss.
Though it was a brief stint, Satyawati College graduate Lokesh Kumari Sharma made it to the reality show Bigg Boss and received immense support from students in the city. After being eliminated, the student, who was then a star, visited her college and even clicked selfies with students.
Message for the braves
On Diwali, this year, The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, urged people to send sandesh (message) to soldiers. The hit campaign, in the times of heightened tensions on the border, saw students from Jamia Millia Islamia College join in full force that made news.
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The Directorate of Education (DOE) has warned of action if school on government land starts the nursery admission process from January 2 next year.
The order applies to 285 schools such as Delhi Public School, Vasant Kunj, Vasant Valley and Apeejay.
The government had on December 19 issued a circular saying it will release a separate set of guidelines and schedule for these 285 schools. The new set of rules is to make schools comply with land allotment terms.
The terms state that schools running on government land will not refuse admission to residents of the locality. It says the society shall undertake to admit 75% of the students of the neighbourhood or from the locality in which the school is located.
For the remaining 1,400 schools, the nursery admission process will begin January 2.
It has come to the notice of the department that some of these schools have issued the admission notice to start the admission process from January 2, 2017 in violation of the directions, said a circular from the DOE.
Read: Nursery admissions: Shifting goalposts, litigation trouble for parents in Delhi
This order indicates the admission process for the 285 schools will be delayed and there will be two separate schedules for different schools.
All the schools around my house are on government land. I am clueless on what to do. Now I need to devote two days for going around and filling forms, said Rahul Bisht, father of a 3 year old girl and a resident of Malviya Nagar.
School principals are also worried.
It will be very difficult to start the process if the announcement from DOE comes late. It may lead to a situation where two parallel schedules will be running, and it will cause a lot of inconvenience to parents. The same parent will have to follow the schedule of schools build on DDA land and those not built on DDA land, said Ashok Pandey, principal, Ahlcon International School.
Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) teams on Friday visited the office of officer-on-special-Duty (OSD) to Delhi health minister Satyendar Jain to scrutinise documents in connection with its FIR alleging irregularities in his appointment.
Our teams visited the office of Dr Nikunj Aggarwal in the Delhi government secretariat and Nehru Bal Chikitsalya to seek and scrutinise documents, said a CBI official who spoke on the condition of anonymity.
The officer did not term the visit of CBI teams as searches.
The CBI in its FIR has alleged that Dr Aggarwal was appointed first as a senior resident in the state-run Bal Chikitsalaya and later as an OSD to the health minister in contravention of rules.
The agency registered the case on the basis of a complaint from Delhi governments deputy secretary (vigilance) KS Meena. Besides, a private person named Him Gahlot, a resident of Matraon village in the Capital, also complained about Dr Aggarwal to the CBIs anti-corruption unit.
The complaint of Meena now the part of the FIR.
The agency in its FIR named Dr Aggarwal as well as Dr Anup Mohta, the director of Bal Chkitsalaya, and unknown officials of the Delhi government as accused in the case.
Read: Jungs parting shot? CBI registers FIR against Delhi health minister Jains aide
BJP leader Vijender Gupta alleged that Dr Aggarwal is the son-in-law of Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwals sister-in-law.
The case was referred for a CBI probe on the directions of outgoing Delhi L-G Najeeb Jung.
Meena in his complaint said Dr Aggarwal was appointed as senior resident (ortho) in Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya on ad hoc basis on August 10, 2015 even though there was no proposal to engage an SR and no such post was available.
No advertisement was issued by the hospital for the selection of Dr Nikunj Aggarwal as SR. No walk-in interview was conducted for the purpose, it alleged.
In his reaction, deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia said: The CBI is conducting the raid as if the appointment of the health ministers OSD is the biggest corruption that has happened in India. They cannot prevent a small theft. To hide the scam of demonetisation, they are targeting AAP, Sisodia said.
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday dared the Centre to get all the appointments made by his government probed after the CBI filed an FIR into the appointment of city health minister Satyendar Jains OSD.
Asserting that he was not afraid of any probe, the AAP chief also wondered whether the Centre would accept a Delhi government-appointed committee to look into the Sahara Birla papers.
Kejriwal alleged that the CBI has filed seven FIRs against Jain and two against deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, but did not elaborate.
In fresh trouble for the AAP government, the CBI has filed an FIR into the appointment of Jains OSD while the LG office has recommended a probe by the agency into the appointment of his daughter Soumya Jain as a functionary in the Mohalla Clinic project.
You (Centre) make your committee and get all our appointments probed. And we will form one, and you get the Sahara Birla matter probed with it. Agree?
We are not scared of any probe as we have not done any wrong. Then why are you scared of a probe? Kejriwal tweeted.
New Delhi
The deadline for depositing old currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 ended on Thursday, with queues outside banks and ATMs thinning considerably on the last day.
Bankers said most people had already deposited their old currency notes, especially after the government announced in the third week of December that deposits of above R 5,000 in banned banknotes can be made only once till December 30.
Though the decision was revoked later, it sent a message out to the people that the government may stop accepting old notes anytime. Therefore, the number of people coming to exchange demonetised tenders decreased substantially in the last three-four days, said a senior official of State Bank of India.
Some officials also suggested that the banks witnessed lesser crowds as people did not have a lot of money left in their accounts by the end of the month.
Bankers in most parts of Delhi said that there were very few people waiting on Thursday, the last day to get old notes changed.
The lack of queues in the last few days, however, came as a boon for some residents, like Aruna Sinha.
Sinha, a resident of Saket, was among the handful who turned up at State Bank of Indias branch in south Delhi to exchange old notes on Thursday.
I had Rs 2,000 in old notes with me, which I had thought I will use at a Metro station, but couldnt. I had so long avoided coming to a bank fearing long queues. Today, I finally mustered courage to come and luckily the queue was short, Sinha said.
A senior official of Corporation bank in North Delhi said that he got just Rs 35,000 in the form of old notes, which is the least since the demonetisation drive was announced on November 8.
Residents, however, still can get their old notes exchanged through designated RBI counters till March 31, provided they have valid reasons for not having deposited defunct notes in their accounts earlier.
A senior official of Reserve Bank of India said people can get their notes exchanged at Reserve Bank of Indias 29 branches in different states of India.
At ATMs: Small queues, no cash
A number of ATMs in the city too witnessed shorter queues. The average waiting time in some areas, however, was still as high as 30 minutes.
Although the overall situation at banks improved, many ATMs were still out of cash most time of the day.
Sources say that restrictions on withdrawal of cash from banks and ATMs are likely to continue beyond December 30.
After the demonetisation drive was announced on November 8, the government had fixed a limit of Rs 24,000 per week on withdrawal from bank accounts and Rs 2,500 per day from ATMs in view of the currency crunch.
Sources said the restrictions on withdrawal of cash from banks and ATMs are likely to continue beyond December 30.
In ATMs around Connaught Place, queues were thin with less than five people waiting at some places. However, in East Delhi neighbourhoods such as Mayur Vihar and New Ashok Nagar, the queues were comparatively longer with waiting time of up to half-an-hour. At ATMs in Saket and adjoining area too longer queues was the norm at most ATMs.
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Some pubs in and around Delhi are trying to earn a little extra this New Years Eve, with plans to live stream Narendra Modis scheduled address at 7.30pm on Saturday.
The Social cafe and bar in Delhi announced that it would offer a pint of beer or a shot of liquor for Rs31, every time the prime minister says Mitron, at all their outlets across Delhi.
Social media sites such as Facebook have been flooded with a picture shared by the company, captioned 50 days and endless ATM lines later, what does our PM have in store for us?
We are currently considering doing it, but it is subject to the authorities discretion. The special offer will be valid for half an hour between 7.30pm and 8pm, said a representative at Social in Defence Colony.
But not all are willing to jump on the bandwagon. Some said they would not screen the prime ministers address as it did not make sense to do so on a night when people might be inebriated.
Read: Full text of PM Modis address at Digital India dinner
People should not listen to him when drunk, they will not remember what Modiji said. He might have important things to say, so people should be sober, and be able to pay attention to what they are saying, said a guest relations manager at a popular club in Delhi.
Some say that New Years Eve parties start later in the day, so it does not make sense to arrange special screenings. Who will be out at a club at 7pm on New Years Eve? Our parties usually pick up after 9pm. By then Modis address would already be over, said Jaydeep Ray, the marketing manager at Smaaash in Noida.
Organisers are also worried what the actual content of the address and do not want to upset their customers.
Our party is fully booked right now, with tickets completely sold out. We need our customers to be in a good mood. We dont know what Modi will do next in terms of demonetisation, so we have decided not to risk screening the address. Let people party leaving their worries behind, said the manager of another party venue in NCR.
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A school bus helper has been arrested for allegedly molesting a four-year-old girl in north Delhis Sarai Rohilla area.
Police said a case was registered only after the girls mother informed about the incident on Wednesday.
A pre-nursery student of a private school was molested by a school bus helper. A case of molestation was registered on Wednesday. The accused was arrested within a few hours, said deputy commissioner of police (north) Jatin Narwal.
Police officials said that the girls mother noticed that her daughter was unusually quiet since the last few days and decided to ask her what had happened. She said that her daughter broke down and told her that the accused, who was a helper in the school bus in which she commuted in to and fro from school, used to touch her inappropriately. She said that the man used to threaten her that he will start doing this every day if she tells anyone about the incident.
The girls mother immediately told the police about the incident and a case was registered at the Sarai Rohilla police station.
A team was formed to nab Subhajeet, a resident of Wazirpur. He was arrested from his house, said Narwal.
Narwal further added that the girl has been medically examined and counselled. Police officials said that they are probing into whether the man has previously been involved in any such case.
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If connectivity is becoming the basis of a new geopolitics, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) should be rated the years most potent symbol of this 21st century version of the Great Game. A Great Game whose outwards manifestations are multi-lane highways, pipelines and container traffic. The $46 billion CPEC is the flagship project within the even more ambitious Belt-Road programme of Chinese leader Xi Jinping, a transcontinental infrastructure project that would effectively convert the Middle Kingdom into the logistics hub of Eurasia and, potentially, the centre of the global economy.
The CPEC functions on a number of different levels. Symbolically it would be potent evidence of what economic benefits a country that allies with Beijing can expect. A rough comparison would be the Marshall Fund, the programme by which the United States rebuilt war-torn Europe, reworked the very economic structure of that continent and showcased its arrival as a superpower. Chinese officials themselves speak of how the CPEC will not be just about trade and transit, it will be about bringing stability to Pakistan. Taming, as it were, a rogue state with poured concrete. And, if successful, Beijing would be able to argue it succeeded where Washington had failed.
Read: Accept Paks olive branch and join CPEC: Chinese media suggests to India
On another level, CPEC would also be a sign of the ability of the Chinese government to act strategically on a grand scale. This is not something that comes naturally to Beijing. Even the all-powerful Communist Party is known to be nervous about domestic reaction to its foreign ventures. One reason Chinas foreign aid has been grants rather than loans has been the negative social media reaction it gets at home to the gifting of money to foreigners. The Belt-Road has also received criticism. Completing the CPEC would be evidence its public will support an expensive project of questionable economic benefits but great strategic consequence. Beijings recent imposition of capital controls is therefore not a good sign. It signals economic indigestion at the amount of capital flowing out of China.
The CPEC, finally, will be a test of Chinas ability to work holistically in a foreign land. The China and Pakistan relationship has so far been military-to-military. Building CPEC will mean working with almost every stakeholder in Pakistani society, not traditionally a strong point of Chinese foreign policy. The recent report by the Federation of Pakistani Chambers of Commerce complaining that the flood of Chinese capital and firms in the country was marginalising local business is a case in point. And Beijing is rightly nervous about the vulnerability of its workers to Balochi insurgents and Taliban militants. That the CPEC has also become a major thorn in Sino-Indian relations is almost beside the point. In the coming years the corridor will be a test not of Chinese engineering, but of that countrys ability to use its influence on a whole host of fronts and how ready it is to be rules-making superpower.
As poll-bound Uttar Pradesh suddenly descended into a political crisis following the expulsion of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party (SP), constitutional experts ruled out immediate imposition of Presidents rule in the state, saying it didnt mean failure of constitutional machinery in the state.
Speculation was rife after Uttar Pradesh governor Ram Naik said he was keeping a watch on the political developments in SP even as he termed these as an intra-party issue.
According to Article 356 of the Constitution, Presidents rule can be imposed in a state if a situation has arisen in which the government of the state cannot be carried on in accordance with the provisions of the Constitution. However, the expression breakdown of constitutional machinery has not been defined.
Generally, the governor sends a report in this regard to the Centre and its his report that forms the basis for the Union Cabinets recommendation to the President for invoking Article 356 to impose Presidents rule. However, Article 356 also says the President can take such a decision even otherwise (i.e. even in the absence of governors report).
Former Lok Sabha secretary general and constitutional expert Subhash Kashyap said: It all depends upon the President. He has to be satisfied that the constitutional machinery has broken down in the state. Constitutionally, the chief ministers expulsion does not mean anything.
Read| UP CM Akhilesh expelled: With his final play, Mulayam Singh squanders his legacy
He is the chief minister not because he is a member of Samajwadi Party but because he is the leader of the Samajwadi Party Legislature Party. So long as he enjoys the support of the majority of MLAs, he can continue to be the chief minister, he explained further.
Another former Lok Sabha secretary general, PDT Achary said: As of now Akhilesh Yadav continues to be chief minister... He continues to be the leader of the Samajwadi Party Legislature Party. If at all the Governor has any doubt about the chief minister enjoying the support of majority of the MLAs, he can ask Akhilesh Yadav to prove his majority on the floor of the House. He cant be removed otherwise.
Whether a chief minister enjoys the confidence of majority of MLAs or not has to be tested on the floor of the House alone. If the chief minister fails to prove his majority, then the governor has to explore possibility of forming an alternative government. He can recommend imposition of Presidents rule only when an alternative government cant be formed and he has concluded that constitutional machinery has failed in the state, he added.
Political observers feel that having burnt its fingers in Arunachal Pradesh and Uttarakhand where the Supreme Court reinstated the ousted governments, the Narendra Modi-led NDA government may not indulge in another political misadventure. Also, the BJP would not like to make Akhilesh Yadav a martyr.
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said Akhilesh Yadav was no longer the chief minister and the party would decide on who would succeed his son.
The Opposition was already gearing up to demand the dismissal of what they termed a minority government.
Rahul Singh, a leader of the Samajwadi Partys youth wing and a loyalist of chief minister Akhilesh Yadav, tried to immolate himself by pouring kerosene in front of the CMs residence in Lucknow on Friday.
He was protesting against Akhileshs expulsion from the party over alleged indiscipline. Soon after Akhileshs father and party chief, Mulayam Singh Yadav, announced the shock decision, hundreds thronged to the CMs 5 Kalidas Marg residence.
Shouting slogans, they expressed solidarity with the 43-year-old Akhilesh. Singh, who was seeking an SP ticket from Lucknow East, was among them. After his immolation bid, police rushed the Lucknow University student to a hospital nearby.
Security personnel deployed outside the UP CM Akhilesh Yadav's residence. (PTI)
Fire-tenders and police teams were deployed outside the CMs residence, as supporters accused Mulayam of doing injustice by expelling Akhilesh and his (Mulayams) cousin Ram Gopal Yadav.
Later at night, a high alert was sounded across the state in the wake of the ongoing war in the ruling Samajwadi Party (SP). Officials said instructions were sent to all district magistrates and police chiefs following protests.
Security arrangements were stepped up outside the SP headquarters in the state capital, the CMs residence and the house of party chief Mulayam.
(With agency inputs)
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Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to apologise to the nation during his New Year Eve address for his blunder of demonetisation.
The Prime Minister has committed a blunder by imposing demonetisation and pushed the country into a deep economic crisis. Modi had sought 50 days to implement demonetisation but there is no sign of people recovering from its aftershocks, Kejriwal said while speaking at a gathering of party supporters here.
There is no other solution other than to roll back the demonetisation, Kejriwal said.
Demanding a rollback of the November 8 demonetisation, wherein old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes were scrapped, the Aam Aadmi Party national convener said Modi should announce this in his address, scheduled for December 31 evening, to save the country and its economy.
There is no other solution other than to roll back the demonetisation, he said.
The AAP leader said the Reserve Bank of India was tight-lipped on the quantum of demonetised money, the black money seized after demonetisation and printing of the new currency.
As per the initial estimates of the RBI, a total of 14 lakh crore rupees was in circulation, which has returned to the RBI whereas only 4 lakh crore rupees in new currency of Rs 2,000 notes has been made available for circulation.
The Prime Minister should explain how much time the RBI will take to replace the demonetised currency of Rs 14 lakh crore, he said.
Accusing Modi of accepting bribes from big corporates like the Sahara and Birla groups, Kejriwal said Modi should face a probe on the issue.
A CBI court on Friday dismissed the bail petitions of sand mining baron J Shekar Reddy and four others who were arrested in connection with alleged seizure of over Rs 170 crore, including new currency notes, from their premises.
The order was passed by special judge for CBI cases Vijayalakshmi. The judge also dismissed a petition filed by CBI seeking their custody for interrogation. The five are in judicial custody.
The court on December 27 reserved its orders on the bail petitions.
Reddy and his associates were arrested by the CBI on December 21 following the seizure of 127 kg gold and over Rs 170 crore in cash, including new currency notes, from their premises by the Income-Tax department in coordinated searches.
The five have been accused of converting the unaccounted cash held by them in old currency notes to new notes with the help of unknown public servants of different banks within 24 days from the date of demonetisation on November 8.
Cases have been registered against them for various offences under IPC including criminal breach of trust, cheating and criminal conspiracy and under Sections 13(1) and (2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act (PCA).
The BJP is tapping ace boxer Mary Kom for a role in the upcoming elections in Manipur, the third northeastern state it considers ready to become Congress mukt.
A bronze medalist at the 2012 London Olympics, Kom was nominated to the Rajya Sabha on Narendra Modi governments recommendation in April this year.
She met our party president Amit Shah in New Delhi on December 15 where her possible role in Manipur election was discussed, a source privy to the development told HT.
The discussion ranged from chances of Kom campaigning for the BJP, an election ticket for her brother and her becoming the face of the party in Manipur. She is yet to take a decision.
Kom also had a meeting with Assam minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in October. Sarma is also the convenor of North-East Democratic Alliance, the BJPs brainchild for expansion in the northeast.
The party believes Koms appeal cuts across regions and she would be an asset for them. The 33-year-old icon comes from a tribal community but also has appeal among non tribals, particularly the youth.
The BJPs campaign in Manipur is being spearheaded by general secretary Ram Madhav, who oversaw their victory in Assam. Their hope in Manipur is largely driven by the demographic profile.
Meiteis the dominant community in the state are primarily Hindus, whereas the tribal-dominated hills are primarily Christian. Forty of the 60 seats in the state assembly are in and around the valley, with Meitei population this will be the BJPs target even as it hopes to pick a few seats in the tribal pockets.
Read| Creation of new districts could be game-changer in Manipur polls
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Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Friday backed the Centres proposal to have a single permanent tribunal to take up all inter-state disputes over river waters.
There is nothing wrong in it. Instead of separate tribunals for every dispute, one tribunal is good. They can take up all the water disputes and send us (states) their views. Only in India we have to sort out all water dispute problems, Naidu said after laying the foundation stone for concrete works for the Polavaram multipurpose project here on Friday.
Naidu batting for a single tribunal comes at a crucial time when many states, including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Odisha and Chhattisgarh, have been bickering over sharing of water from rivers flowing through the state.
Naidu also pushed for interlinking of rivers to address water shortage in many states. The Polavaram project, he said, is an example of how surplus water from the Godavari river, which flows into the Bay of Bengal, is now utilised and diverted to the drought-prone Krishna basin. We will take the surplus water to other parts of the state. Once there is surplus in the state then we can share with others, he said.
The first phase of the Polavaram project will be completed by 2018. This year we have completed nearly `2,200 crore worth of work. On Wednesday, we were given `1,918 crore by the Centre. Now funds are available. Work is going on schedule. There is no other way as one day of delay costs anywhere between `25 crore to `30 crore, Naidu said.
Polavaram was declared a national project in 2009 with the Centre agreeing to fund the irrigation component. It was first conceptualised in 1941 by the British. The project faced huge delays with the initial cost of `10,000 crore increasing several-fold. It was during former Andhra CM Rajsekhar Reddys time that the project got a fresh impetus.
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China has again blocked Indias bid to get the UN to list Jaish-e-Mohammed chief Masood Azhar as a terrorist, provoking an angry reaction from New Delhi which said it reflected double standards in the global fight against terrorism.
Beijings technical hold on the listing of Azhar as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council has emerged as a fresh irritant in bilateral ties. This was the third time China has blocked the move since March, apparently acting at the behest of its close ally Pakistan.
There was no statement on the development from Beijing, which earlier said its technical hold was meant to allow more time for the (UN) committee to deliberate on the matter and for relevant parties (India and Pakistan) to have further consultations.
Expressing concern at Chinas decision, external affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said: The inability of the international community to list (JeM) leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism.
The proposal to sanction Azhar was presented nine months ago and received the strong backing of all other members of the committee, he said.
China was the only one of the 15 members of the UN committee that opposed the move. Listing by the committee would force Pakistan to impose an asset freeze and travel ban on Azhar.
Read | China to continue opposing UN ban on Masood Azhar, says position unchanged
Swarup said the world community was aware that the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed, which is proscribed by the United Nations, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India, including the Pathankot airbase attack.
Chinas decision was also surprising as the country had been affected by terrorism and had declared opposition to all forms of terrorism, Swarup said. As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation, he said.
India had expected more understanding from China of the danger posed by terrorism, he said. On our part, we will continue to push forward with resolute determination through the use of all options available with us to bring perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice, Swarup added.
Besides the listing of Azhar, China also blocked Indias application to join the Nuclear Suppliers Group this year. Apparently acting at the behest of Pakistan, China said the entry of non-NPT nations would weaken the global anti-proliferation regime.
Read | China blocks Indias move to ban Jaish chief Masood Azhar, again
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Only Samajwadi Party patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav can perhaps answer why he took the suicidal decision to expel his popular chief minister-son from the party months before crucial assembly elections.
He explained that it was done in the interest of the party he had raised and reared. But the reason he offered fails to check the buzz that he sacrificed his party for the sake of his extended family, and some friends.
Party sources say Mulayams second wife Sadhana Gupta, who had never interfered with his political affairs before, started taking a keen interest after the elevation of Akhilesh Yadav.
She made her first public appearance at a political function for her ambitious daughter-in-law Aparna Yadav, the candidate for Lucknow Cantonment.
Akhilesh supporters protest his expulsion from the SP, in Lucknow on Friday night. (Haidar Naqvi/HT Photo)
Akhilesh and Sadhna never shared a close rapport, though they maintain cordial relations in public.
The rising aspirations of Mulayams second family and brother Shivpal Singh Yadav provoked domestic disharmony within the clan, with friend Amar Singh fuelling the fire.
He calls me uncle, he takes me on a round of Janeshwar Park, but does not take my calls or suggestions, if any, on important matters, Singh once said about Akhilesh.
Singh has always been close to Mulayam, who feels indebted to the support from his friend during trying times.
For his part, Akhilesh often said he wouldnt allow interference of outsiders, especially if they get typewriters to write his removal from the state presidentship.
A YEAR OF CHAOS FOR THE YADAVS Fault lines have been appearing in the SP since June 2016 OCT 20: Writer and poet Salil Chaturvedi, who is wheelchair-bound due to a spinal injury, was assaulted for not standing up while the national anthem was being played before the screening of a film at a multiplex in Panaji. Salil also represented India in wheelchair tennis at the Australian Open
Writer and poet Salil Chaturvedi, who is wheelchair-bound due to a spinal injury, was assaulted for not standing up while the national anthem was being played before the screening of a film at a multiplex in Panaji. Salil also represented India in wheelchair tennis at the Australian Open JUNE 2: Akhilesh sacks cabinet minister Balram Yadav for his role in the merger of Quami Ekta Dal
Akhilesh sacks cabinet minister Balram Yadav for his role in the merger of Quami Ekta Dal JUNE 25: Samajwadi Party cancels merger of Quami Ekta Dal. Shivpal sulks AUG 14 Shivpal Yadav threatens to resign
Samajwadi Party cancels merger of Quami Ekta Dal. Shivpal sulks AUG 14 Shivpal Yadav threatens to resign AUG 15: In an apparent warning to Akhilesh, Mulayam says if his brother Shivpal resigned, SP would split
In an apparent warning to Akhilesh, Mulayam says if his brother Shivpal resigned, SP would split AUG 17: Shivpal skips a cabinet meeting AUG 19 SP puts up a show of unity as Shivpal calls upon Akhilesh. Shivpal denies differences
Shivpal skips a cabinet meeting AUG 19 SP puts up a show of unity as Shivpal calls upon Akhilesh. Shivpal denies differences SEPT 12: After the Allahabad HC upholds its order for a CBI probe into illegal mining in UP, Akhilesh sacks two tainted ministers
After the Allahabad HC upholds its order for a CBI probe into illegal mining in UP, Akhilesh sacks two tainted ministers SEPT 13: Akhilesh sacks UP chief secretary Deepak Singhal, who was considered close to Shivpal
Akhilesh sacks UP chief secretary Deepak Singhal, who was considered close to Shivpal SEPT 13: Mulayam removes Akhilesh from the post of state president and names Shivpal to the post
Mulayam removes Akhilesh from the post of state president and names Shivpal to the post SEPT 14: A sulking Shivpal is summoned to Delhi by Mulayam who tries to chalk out a solution to the present crisis
A sulking Shivpal is summoned to Delhi by Mulayam who tries to chalk out a solution to the present crisis SEPT 15: Tension escalates as Shivpal resigns from post of state president and cabinet
Tension escalates as Shivpal resigns from post of state president and cabinet SEPT 16: Mulayam rejects Shivpals resignation and says as long as he is alive party will not split
Mulayam rejects Shivpals resignation and says as long as he is alive party will not split SEPT 20: Shivpal expels seven Akhilesh supporters including three MLCs
Shivpal expels seven Akhilesh supporters including three MLCs OCT 22: SP expels Akhilesh supporter Udaiveer Singh
SP expels Akhilesh supporter Udaiveer Singh OCT 23: Akhilesh sacks Shivpal and three others from the cabinet
Akhilesh sacks Shivpal and three others from the cabinet OCT 24: Mulayam expels Ramgopal Yadav
Mulayam expels Ramgopal Yadav DEC 25: Akhilesh submits his own list of candidates to Mulayam
Akhilesh submits his own list of candidates to Mulayam DEC 28: Mulayam announces 325 candidates; many on CMs list missing
Mulayam announces 325 candidates; many on CMs list missing DEC 29: Akhilesh releases his own list of 235 candidates
Akhilesh releases his own list of 235 candidates DEC 30: Mulayam expels Akhilesh and Ramgopal Yadav for six years from the party in a late evening decision over alleged indiscipline and in a bid to save the Samajwadi Party
Mulayam did not like Akhileshs image growing bigger than him or the party, though he initially wanted his son to be counted as the best chief minister in the country. He wanted Akhilesh to toe the partys traditional line.
Akhilesh had said: My father fighting the hegemony of the upper caste in the state politics might have befriended muscle power. The politics has changed and people will vote for development.
In other words, muscle is not required to win elections. Instead of remaining a puppet chief minister, Akhilesh decided to change the face of the party, and succeeded partly. The SP with a rural face suddenly found support in urban areas.
Mulayam is known to be a shrewd politician and had fought many battles. This time he is up against his own son trained by no other but him.
Eleven workers died and over 50 others were feared trapped when an open-cast coal mine at Paharia Bhodaye in Jharkhands Godda district collapsed on Thursday night.
The mining operation, which forms a part of the Eastern Coalfields Limiteds Rajmahal Opencast Project, was outsourced to the Mahalaxmi Company. Sources said work at the mine had resumed barely three days ago.
Police said the incident occurred during the shift change late on Thursday, and rescue operations could not be launched until the following morning due to fog and low light conditions. The rescue operation was launched at 6 am on Friday. Eleven bodies have been taken out so far. We are focusing on saving the people still trapped inside the mine, said Godda superintendent of police Hira Lal Chauhan.
Major mining disasters in Jharkhand December 27, 1975: In one of the Indias worst mining disasters, 372 miners died in an explosion followed by flooding at the Chasnala coal mine of the Indian Iron and Steel Company (now SAIL) near Dhanbad. September 26, 1995: As many as 64 workers died at the Gajlitand colliery of the Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL) in Katras area when rainfall caused flooding at the mine. February 2, 2001: Twenty-nine miners died at the BCCLs Bagdigi mines near Dhanbad. This disaster occurred when water from an adjoining mine flooded the one in which the victims were working. November 11, 2013: At least three mine workers and an officer were killed when the roof of an underground coal mine collapsed in the BCCLs Basanti Mata coal mine in Dhanbad. Over 160 workers were trapped.
Godda sub-divisional police officer Abhishek Kumar said an FIR would be lodged against the company, as per normal procedure.
The workers who died in the incident were identified as Sanjay Kumar from Ranchi; Javed Akhtar from Garhwa; Brajesh Yadav and Rajendra Yadav from Ballia in Uttar Pradesh; Harikishore Yadav and Sakil Khan from Siwan in Bihar; JP Rai and Nageshwar Paswan from Muzaffarpur in Bihar, and Ajit Patel, Vikas Patel and Nurul Hassan from Madhya Pradesh.
Tala Marandi, BJP legislator from Borio, told HT that over 50 workers were still trapped in the mine, which was nearly 300 metres deep. It may take several months to dig them all out. About 26 Volvo trucks and six to seven bulldozers are still inside, he said.
However, there seemed to be some disagreement over the number of people trapped in the mine. While Godda dub-divisional officer SK Pandey revealed the companys estimate as 17, Indian National Trade Union Congress general secretary AK Jha said as many as 80 workers including vehicle operators were working at the site on the fateful day.
Labourers contracted by the Mahalaxmi Company wouldnt allow the authorities to take away the bodies unless firm officials, who have reportedly absconded, were brought to the site. Two teams of the National Disaster Response Force from Kahalgaon and Patna were assisting Eastern Coalfields Limited personnel in rescuing trapped workers.
Marandi blamed lack of safety measures at the mine for the tragedy. The workers had raised objections in this regard. They even refused to work, but were forced by the management to do so, he said.
Choppers were sought from the state government to airlift workers rescued from the mine. Chief secretary Rajbala Verma and director general of police DK Pandey visited the site to monitor the operation.
Chief minister Raghubar Das announced a compensation of `2 lakh each for the deceaseds families, and `25,000 for the injured. Coal and renewable energy minister Piyush Goyal tweeted that an ex-gratia of `5 lakh would be paid for each person killed, in addition to compensation under the Workmens Compensation Act.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi reportedly telephoned Das, and expressed remorse over the incident.
Calling demonetisation a decision taken without forethought, the Congress on Friday said all its stated objectives have failed and the governments insistence on digital transactions is infested with serious issues, including of privacy.
The opposition party also accused the Modi government of changing the narrative from black money to cashless economy.
It is now abundantly clear that the whole exercise was undertaken without forethought and planning; without consulting key officials; without understanding the crucial role of money in circulation; and without assessing the capacity of the currency printing presses to supply new notes, senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram said.
Altogether, the whole exercise has been a case of total mismanagement, administrative collapse and widespread corruption, he added.
Note ban highlights: Make minutes of Nov 8 meeting public, Chidambaram asks govt
Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the scrapping of high-denomination currency notes on November 8 night, and subsequently sought 50 days to put things in order.
Chidambaram said the Congress would have pledged support to demonetisation if the objectives were to unearth and stamp out black money and end corruption, but that has not happened.
Events of the last 50 days have proved that none of the stated objectives has been served. Hoards of black money in new Rs 2,000 notes have been found. There is no guarantee that black money will not be generated in future or that bribes will not be given or taken in future in the new currency notes, Chidambaram said.
The former Union minsiter said the government had tried to change the narrative of the demonetisation move from black money and corruption to a cashless economy.
No economy can become or has become totally cashless. We support encouraging high-value transactions to adopt the digital mode, but to insist that even low-value transactions should go cashless is an absurd and undesirable goal.
There are serious issues of privacy and cost to the payer and the payee. These issues require serious debate, he added.
Also read | Economy to politics, banks to black money: What demonetisation did to nation
Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) chief Sharad Pawar on Friday said Centres demonetisation move had failed to curb black money in the country and questioned the real reason behind its roll out.
The rural economy has collapsed. Farmers and the cooperative movement have been affected due to denomination. The move has failed to curb black money. Rs 14.38 lakh crore out of Rs 15.42 lakh crore are deposited in banks till date. If this is the outcome of this major decision then what was the real reason behind it? he asked.
Pawar asked the people to come on the streets in a peaceful manner to protest against hypocrisy of the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Central government.
He was speaking at an inauguration function of the refurbished YB Chavan auditorium at a cooperative bank in Ahmednagar, Maharashtra.
Common people are standing in queues since the last 50 days, but no black money-holder has been seen standing there. The farmers have lost the hope due to the falling prices of agri products. All the sensible and common citizens are now worried about the future, he said.
The Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) on Friday said doubts raised by the Madras High Court over late chief minister J Jayalalithaas death has resonated with the doubts of the people as health bulletins issued by Apollo Hospitals contained contradictory reports.
DMK party treasurer MK Stalin has called for an inquiry based on the high courts observations.
We must have an inquiry into the death of #Jayalalithaa based on what the Madras High Court observed: DMK leader MK Stalin @htTweets Aditya Iyer (@Theadityaiyer) December 30, 2016
I think it (court) is resonating the voice of a people because during her entire stay in the hospital, no relevant or true information was forthcoming. Strangest of all things, the Tamil Nadu government did not utter a single word about the health of the CM, which was very strange, DMK leader Sarvanan told ANI.
Apart from that, the doctors reports are very contradictory. 10 news bulletins came, but none of the bulletins were signed by a doctor, except only one bulletin by Satya, she was the medical services director from Apollo Hospitals. Apart from that, everything else was issued by the chief executive officer, who was neither a doctor nor was he associated as someone treating Jayalalithaa, he added.
Justice S. Vaidyanathan of the high court expressed doubts yesterday over the demise of the former All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam general secretary.
Media has raised a lot of doubts, personally I also have doubts about Jayalalithaas death, said Justice Vaidyalingam. He was hearing a PIL filed by an AIADMK worker PA Joseph seeking an inquiry commission to probe the circumstances leading to the death of Jayalalithaa.
I personally find in case if I have doubt, I may order the exhumation of the body of the deceased and you have not told anything when she was alive, Justice Vaidyanathan said.
The AIADMK on Friday appointed Jayalalithaas close aide VK Sasikala as the partys general secretary.
In a unanimous resolution adopted at the partys general council meeting, AIADMK members handed over control of the party to Sasikala.
On November 8, the government yanked most of its currency from circulation, jolting the economy and leaving millions scrambling for cash.
A fifty-day window for depositing or exchanging the scrapped Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes will run out on Friday.
The government has warned that people holding on to junked currency after the last date might invite stiff penalties.
Many small businesses have suffered in the absence of cash and the rural economy has crashed with farmers unable to sell their produce because of a slump in demand.
Read | Farmers forced to dump their produce as note ban turns bumper crop worthless
In cities, huge crowds outside banks and ATMs have got shorter as the currency supply has improved but in smaller towns, many still complain of erratic cash flow.
The government has strongly defended its move with Prime Minister Narendra Modi warning that he will come after black money hoarders in the new year with strict checking and tougher laws against registering properties in fake names a common way to stash illegal income.
He is scheduled to address the nation on New Years Eve and announce sops for the poor.
WHATS HAPPENING AT THE BANKS?
In Delhi, queues outside banks were shorter than the usual crush of people seen over the past two months.
Officials said most people had already deposited their money, especially after the Reserve Bank of India had capped deposits above Rs 5000 to only one, earlier this month. Though the decision was revoked but it gave message among people that government may stop accepting old notes anytime, said a banker.
The situation at ATMS had improved but most vending machines were still running out of cash with an average waiting time of 30 minutes.
Government sources have hinted that restrictions on cash withdrawals from banks and ATMs Rs 24,000 a week and Rs 2,500 a day respectively might continue after Friday.
RURAL HARDSHIPS
Villages are said to be the hardest hit by the cash crunch following the governments demonetisation decision as a vast majority of the rural poor are unbanked and have little access to digital transaction methods.
Small businesses have folded up and farmers across major states have been forced to abandon their produce as wholesale farm prices have crashed. Many say the money they got for their vegetables wasnt enough to even cover transportation costs.
Read | Post demonetisation, banknotes still call the shots in cashless villages
Many villages that have earlier been touted as cashless continue to operate mostly in hard currency as ordinary people say they are reliant on banknotes for day-to-day needs.
BRUISED ECONOMY
Most analysts agree that the immediate impact of demonetisation will be seen in the GDP growth figures next quarter. The RBI has shaved half a percentage point from its forecast for this financial year and most other economist and ratings agencies concur that economic growth might slow down by about a percentage point.
In the long run, the economy is likely to see the benefits of a move to cashless transactions as increased transparency and improved tax collections are likely to boost growth.
Read | Demonetisation is immoral, theft of peoples property: Steve Forbes
But some analysts have expressed alarm over the scale of economic and social disruption, especially in Indias large informal sector. Millions of workers have been laid off semi-skilled jobs and labour, or havent been paid their salaries in weeks.
Real estate, tourism, transportation and gold and gems have been hit the hardest.
BLACK MONEY CRACKDOWN
The avowed motivation behind the demonetisation drive has been to drain illegal currency from the economy. The government has said that any unusual cash deposit will be scrutinised and Modi has said that he wont sleep after Friday in his attempt to uncover black money.
The government has also brought in a tougher law against benami properties that provides for a seven-year jail term for offenders.
A series of income tax raids across the country have recovered large stashes of cash, often in new currency, running into hundreds of crores. The chief secretary of Tamil Nadu was sacked after an IT raid found jewellery and cash disproportionate to his income.
Read | Crackdown on benami properties can help clean up real estate sector: Experts
But many analysts have said demonetisation is a poor way to check black money, which is mostly held in real estate and bullion.
RULE CHANGE CHAOS
The government lost some of its public goodwill with a frustrating string of rule changes over the past 50 days that amounted to at least 60 amendments in norms.
The government fiddled around with ATM and bank withdrawal norms many times but drew the most ire when the RBI capped cash deposits. The order was withdrawn in a day but not before widespread anger at what was seen as proof of poor planning. Many former bureaucrats have said the changes have hurt public confidence in trusted institutions, especially the central bank.
Read | RBI changes rule, exempts all KYC accounts from Rs 5000 deposit norms
POLITICS
Demonetisation deadlocked the winter session of Parliament as opposition parties demanded Modi defend the decision. Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi has said the PM wanted to benefit select industrialists and has leveled personal corruption allegations.
Analysts are divided over how the currency junking is going to influence crucial assembly elections due in about two months. In recent weeks, the BJP has sounded upbeat about its prospects in Uttar Pradesh as top leaders agree that the party is over the hump and the situation was improving. But a number of opposition leaders such as West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee have emerged as the face of protests against demonetisation and have predicted that the rural and poor will teach the BJP a lesson.
WHAT THE GOVERNMENT SAYS
Finance minister Arun Jaitley has said one of the goals of the demonetisation drive is to shrink the paper currency in the country and introduce digital currency.
While many local businesses have heeded the governments call to move towards a digital economy, some industries have ground to a halt and laid off staff, highlighting just how dependent the country currently is on cash.
Read | Note ban effect not adverse, sharp rise in tax collection, says FM Arun Jaitley
Rubbishing critics, Jaitley said on Friday the effects of demonetisation were not as adverse as was predicted and asserted that there has been a sharp jump in tax collections and economic activity including in winter crop sowing.
Ahead of expiry of the 50-day deadline for depositing the junked Rs 500 and Rs 1000 notes, he said the remonetisation process has substantially advanced, significantly without a single incident of unrest anywhere in the country.
With inputs from agencies
The Enforcement Directorate has registered a criminal case against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik and his organisation IRF under money laundering laws.
Officials said the agencys zonal office here has registered an FIR, called Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in EDs parlance, against Naik and others after taking cognisance of a similar complaint booked by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against them.
The FIR has been registered under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA).
The ED, they said, will specifically look into the charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused and the proceeds of crime in its probe.
The agency has already scanned some banking transaction documents and other details against Naik and IRF and is soon expected to issue summons to take the probe forward.
The National Investigation Agency had last month registered a case against 51-year-old Naik under anti-terror laws for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race.
After registering the case against Naik, IRF and others, NIA along with Mumbai police had 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 a 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 charges, in the FIR registered by the NIAs branch here, were also slapped under 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 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 Naiks speeches.
Read| Zakir Naik: From a suave doctor to a polarising preacher on security radar
Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said that from December 31 onwards, the entire currency in circulation will be legitimate, December 30 being the last day to deposit the demonetised Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in banks.
With effect from tomorrow the entire currency in circulation would be legitimate, Jaitley said on Friday.
From Saturday, the legitimate currency will include Rs 100 and other lower denomination notes along with the new Rs 500 and Rs 2,000 notes that the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has printed, he added.
Jaitley refused to give any details on the deposits received in old notes post-demonetisation, saying the data was yet to be tabulated.
The banks will now have the re-circulated currency, plus what the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) is injecting, Jaitley said.
The RBI on Friday asked the banks, which have accumulated old notes to deposit it in the office of the central bank or a currency chest by December 31.
The old notes cannot form part of banks cash balances from the close of business as on Saturday, the central bank added.
From next week onward, those still holding the scrapped currency can deposit it only with the Reserve Bank of India till March 31, 2017.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi had on November 8 announced that Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 rupee notes would no longer be legal tender.
Read | As it happened: From 2019, Switzerland will give real-time info on Indian investments in Swiss banks: FM Jaitley
The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Friday raised the daily ATM cash withdrawal limit from the existing Rs 2,500 to Rs 4,500 a day for an individual from January 1.
However, there has been no change in the weekly withdrawal limit, which stands at Rs 24,000, including from ATM, for individuals (and Rs 50,000 in case of small traders).
Highlights From January 2017, people can withdraw a maximum of Rs 4,500 from an ATM, an increase from the previous limit of Rs 2,500. The weekly withdrawal limits from banks remain unchanged at Rs 24,000. RBI directed the banks that disbursals should predominantly be in the denomination of Rs 500.
Following the demonetisation of old Rs 500/1000 notes on November 8, limits had been imposed on withdrawal of cash from banks and ATMs.
Fridays move came on the last day of depositing the scrapped bills in banks, though people still have time to exchange the currencies at designated RBI counters till March 31.
In its direction to banks on withdrawals, the RBI said: Such disbursals should predominantly be in the denomination of Rs 500.
Earlier in the day, the RBI had permitted White Label ATM Operators (WLAOs) to source cash from retail outlets.
For his part, finance minister Arun Jaitley said the RBI had enough currency and the cash supply situation had improved significantly.
Prime Minister Narendra Modis surprise announcement to recall high-value banknotes sparked chaos and confusion across the country, with millions of consumers queued outside banks and ATMs to change a limited number of old notes for new ones or withdraw cash.
The government said the move was aimed at rooting out black money and corruption.
Banks started accepting deposits in scrapped notes from November 10. However, very few ATMs opened on November 11, as most of the machines had to be recalibrated for dispensing the new Rs 2,000 and Rs 500 notes.
Although the overall situation at banks has improved, ATMs still have to do some catching up. Many vending machines are still out of cash.
(With agency inputs)
Alleging police inaction and improper investigation, the distraught family of a teenaged girl who was allegedly raped and murdered by her friend in Haryanas Sonipat district last month, has sought permission from President Pranab Mukherjee for self-immolation.
The family has written a letter to the President, highlighting the inaction of Haryana Police officials in investigating the rape and murder of the 17-year-old victim, the victims father said on Friday. The family has sought a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the case.
The family wrote to the President after, they alleged, they were not allowed to meet Haryana chief minister Manohar Lal Khattar in Gohana town recently.
The father, who belongs to Bhanderi village in Sonipat district, alleged that the police had even failed to recover the body of his daughter despite pleas from the family.
The victim, a first-year science student, has been missing since November 12 after she left for her college.
Police, as per the victims mobile phone call records, found that the last call made from her phone was to her male friend Vikram, resident of a nearby village.
The victims family claimed that Vikram was called by police during its investigation but was allowed to go despite claims by the family that he was behind her alleged rape and murder. The familys claims were based on statements of the wife of a local hotel owner who told them that the girl was raped and murdered in the hotel by Vikram.
The accused is absconding since then.
Following protests by the family and fellow villagers, the station house officer of Baroda police station was suspended and the Haryana Police announced a reward of Rs 50,000 for any information on Vikram.
District police officers have admitted to lapses in investigation of the case.
In separate cases, CBI arrested two Income Tax officers for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh each, in Pune and Jhalwar respectively.
In Pune, the I-T officer was arrested for accepting a bribe to pass favourable orders in connection with tax liability of complainant, the agency said on Friday.
The officer had demanded Rs 2 lakh for extending the official favour and he was caught while accepting Rs 1 lakh after a trap was laid.
A case was registered under section 7 of Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 on a complaint against Income Tax Officer (ITO), Ward 2(2), Income Tax Office, Swargate, Pune, the agency stated in a release.
Meanwhile, searches were conducted at the office and residential premises of the officer, whose name is not mentioned, which led to recovery of incriminating documents relating to tax assessment of the complainant, it said.
According to the release, during the search, cash of Rs 5,04,030/-(approx); jewellery i.e 4 gold biscuits weighing total 350 grams (approx); (documents of) two flats in Pune, 4.5-acre land at Solapur, nine bank accounts and one bank locker (yet to be operated) was also recovered.
In another incident in Jhalwar, Rajasthan, an I-T officer was nabbed for allegedly taking bribe from an assessee for not imposing penalty on his Income Tax Return.
The agency also found new currency notes worth Rs 24 lakh during searches at his residence, CBI spokesperson said on Friday.
CBI sources said Vinay Kumar Mangla, Income Tax Officer, Jhalawar was arrested red handed while he was allegedly accepting the bribe from the Income Tax assessee.
A case was registered U/s 7 of PC Act, 1988 against Income Tax Officer, Jhalawar on a complaint. It was alleged in the complaint that the Income Tax Officer demanded a bribe of Rs one lakh from the complainant for not imposing penalty due in the scrutiny of his income for the assessment year of 2014-15, CBI spokesperson R K Gaur said.
He said CBI laid a trap and caught the accused red handed while demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs one lakh from the complainant.
Israels anti-terrorism directorate issued a travel warning for India on Friday, citing an immediate threat of attack on Western and tourist targets, particularly in the south-west region of the country.
The Counter-Terrorism Bureau, in a statement released by the prime ministers office, raised the alert level and said it corresponded to a concrete basic threat.
A particular emphasis should be put on events in the coming days in connection with beach and club parties celebrating the New Year where a concentration of tourists will be high, part of the warning said.
Highlights Israels Counter-Terrorism Bureau released a statement raising the alert, saying it corresponded to a concrete basic threat The alert warns Israelis against attending events where large crowds will be gathered, such as beach parties, club events, shopping malls, and so on, where New Years eve celebrations will be on Families in Israel were also advised to contact relative travelling to India, or living here already, to be cautious The alert specifically cited southwest India, which covers places such as Goa, Pune, Mumbai and Cochin that are popular tourist destinations There is precedent though; in 2012, an Israeli diplomats car was bombed, injuring his wife and three others
The statement recommended that tourists avoid participation in such parties. It also called on families in Israel to contact their relatives in India and tell them of the threat.
In addition, it recommended avoiding markets, festivals and crowded shopping areas. Unusually, the warning was published on Friday evening in Israel, after the start of the Jewish Sabbath, when government offices close for business.
The directorate did not say what prompted the warning.
The south-west part of the country -- which covers popular holiday destinations such as Goa, Pune, Mumbai and Cochin -- are particularly at risk, it said.
An Israeli Embassy spokesperson in New Delhi confirmed the warning and reiterated: Israel has issued a travel advisory surrounding New Years Eve celebrations events in south-west India, with specific regard to beach parties, clubs and highly-populated tourist sites.
India remains a popular tourist destination for Israeli citizens and according to Jewish Post an estimated 20,000 former Israeli soldiers travel to India every year.
Israeli citizens and Jewish sites in India have been attacked in the past, the most infamous incident occurred during the 2008 Mumbai terror attack when members of the Pakistani-based terror group Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) targeted the local Chabad House, among other sites, in Mumbai.
In 2012, the wife of Israeli diplomat stationed in India, her driver and two others were wounded in a bomb attack on her car. Israel and India share close military ties.
JKLF chairman Yasin Malik was on Friday detained at Pulwama as he led his supporters to stage a protest march against Jammu and Kashmir governments decision to issue identity certificates to West Pakistani Refugees.
Malik was detained along with several of his supporters. They were taken into preventive custody, a police official said.
Separatists groups had called for protests against the government decision to issue identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees living in the state since partition in 1947.
The state government has decided to issue identity cards to the refugees and had to issue clarification after protests from opposition parties and separatists against the move.
Initially, reports had said the opposition was against the government move to issue domicile certificates, but the state government said it was issuing identity certificates.
Other political organisations, including BJP and Jammu and Kashmir National Panthers Party, have slammed separatists for opposing the issuance of certificates to the refugees.
The refugees, settled in Jammu and Kashmir, are citizens of India and have the right to vote in parliamentary polls.
However, they are not permanent residents of the state in terms of Jammu and Kashmir Constitution. They do not enjoy voting rights to the state assembly and local bodies.
With the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) indicating that there is going to be a shortage of currency notes, Kerala finance minister Thomas Isaac on Friday said the withdrawal of December salaries could be a problem.
Interacting with the media in Kozhikode on Friday morning, Isaac said while the state government will credit the entire amount required for payment of salaries and pensions for the month of December into the bank and treasury accounts of the people, it could be a problem for people to withdraw the money.
The requirement for disbursement of salaries and pensions every month is around Rs 1,400 crore, but the RBI and other banking officials have already indicated to us that they are able to provide only around Rs 600 crore. And hence, the permissible withdrawal which now stands at Rs 24,000 could be hit, said the economist turned finance minister Isaac.
We have not agreed to it and asked all the officials (RBI and other banks) that they are duty bound to see currencies are made available, he said.
Isaac also said that given the present scenario, presenting the budget in January, would be a difficult.
The situation is such that none is able to gauge what the revenue and expenditure is going to be in the light of the demonetisation, Isaac said.
While Union finance minister Arun Jaitley claims that tax collections have gone up, we will have to wait for some more time to see what the actual position is, Isaac added.
He also said: For a budget to be realistic, one should be able to reasonably estimate. We will wait for the Union budget to be presented and once thats done, I will present my budget either at the end of February or early March.
The CBSE has extended till January 16 the last date for online submission of application form for JEE (Main)- 2017.
In a statement released here, the Board said the date has been extended up to January 16, 2017, (11.59 PM) in view of requests from candidates, parents as well as schools.
Candidates may pay fee till January 17 (11.59PM), the statement said.
Other terms and conditions for online submission of application form will remain the same, the CBSE said.
The last date for online submission of application form JEE (Main) - 2017 shall not be extended any further, the CBSE said.
Earlier January 2 was the last date for online submission of the application form.
Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled on Friday Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and general secretary Ramgopal Yadav from the party for six years over alleged indiscipline.
Mulayams shock move came a day after Akhilesh, his son, finalised a list of 235 candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in defiance with the party, which had announced its own picks and snubbed some leaders considered close to the CM.
More live updates here:
11pm: Samajwadi Party warns members and leaders to stay away from emergency national convention called by Akhilesh Yadav on Saturday
10:54pm: Samajwadi Party spokesperson Juhi Singh resigns from the post: ANI
10:50pm: Hundreds of SP workers put up road blocks at several places in Auraiya. Workers block roads in Etawah too, shout slogans against Shivpal Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadav
10:13pm: More than 10 office bearers of the party resigned in Kanpur. In Kannauj, more than 100 village party representatives resigned in protest against Akhilesh Yadavs expulsion from the party
10pm: Supporters start leaving 5 Kali Das Marg where the official residence of chief minister
9:45pm: Akhilesh supporters burn effigies of SP state president Shivpal Yadav in Badaun and Shahjahanpur city. Some of them have left for Lucknow.
9:40pm: Shahjahanpur district president Tanvir Khan, am Akhilesh loyalist, quit the party along with over 200.
9:09pm: CM to meet his supporters tomorrow at 12 noon after meeting with MLAs at 9 am
9:06pm: Akhilesh leaves his office on 5 Kalidas Marg from the rear gate
Lucknow: UP CM Akhilesh Yadav greets his supporters gathered outside his residence as his convoy leaves from the residence pic.twitter.com/Dij8hrxvlA ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016
9pm: More details on the two Shivpal supporters Akhilesh dropped: UP CM replaced senior minister Manpal Singh Verma, the MLA from Kasganj, with Ishrat Ullah Khan. On Karhal seat (Mainpuri), Akhilesh dropped sitting MLA and senior party leader Sovaran Singh Yadav and fielded his nephew, Anshul Yadav. For Patiyali seat (Kasganj), Akhilesh gave ticket to Kiran Yadav. Jogendra Singh Yadav gets Etah seat candidature
8:59pm: People being asked to make way for the chief ministers cavalcade as Akhilesh Yadav wants to leave his office. However, supporters have blocked the way
8:58pm: UP CM Akhilesh Yadav directs DGP Jawed Ahmad to ensure adequate security outside Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadavs residence: ANI
Read| UP CM Akhilesh expelled: With his final play, Mulayam Singh squanders his legacy
8:40pm: Akhilesh Yadav loyalists burn images of Amar Singh and Shivpal Yadav in Varanasi in protest of his expulsion from the party
8:35pm: SP leader Rahul Singh, who attempted suicide, rushed to hospital. Director general of police (DGP) Jawed Ahmad also reaches chief ministers residence
Lucknow: UP DGP Javeed Ahmed reaches CM Akhilesh Yadav's residence to meet him. pic.twitter.com/XEqlOiSdDq ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016
8:31pm: UP governor Ram Naik says hes keeping a close eye on the situation in Lucknow, but says developments are an internal matter of the Samajwadi Party
8:30pm: Akhilesh Yadav drops two Shivpal Yadav supporters from his list of candidates and announces tickets on two more seats
Read| Mulayam should explain why he imposed Akhilesh on UP after 2012 election: BJP
8:27pm: SP leader Rahul Singh attempts suicide by pouring kerosene on himself in front of the chief ministers residence. Singh was seeking a ticket from Lucknow East
Supporters and press personnel at 5 Kalidas Marg where the chief ministers official residence-cum-office is located. Policemen and fire engines were deployed at the spot. (Pawan Dixit/HT Photo)
8:23pm: Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav calls for a meeting with all party MLAs at 9 am on December 31: ANI
8:15pm: As crowds continues to throng outside the UP chief ministers residence, small scuffles break out
8pm: Police deployed around Akhilesh Yadav and Mulayam Singh Yadavs residences: TV reports
Read| Mamata silent on Yadav family feud, says BJP should not get a single vote in UP
7:54pm: Upset supporters of Akhilesh Yadav stage angry protests outside Mulayam Singh Yadavs residence: PTI
7:48pm: Congress avoided commenting on the developments in the SP. There is situation of political instability in UP; its worrisome for democracy.. (but) we dont comment on internal division of any party, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala says: PTI
7:45pm: BJPs Shrikant Sharma says the in-fighting in Samajwadi Party is scripted, meant to :divert attention from Akhileshs all-round failures of his government: PTI
Read| Akhilesh expelled: Cong says BJP dreaming of assuming power in UP through back door
7:44pm: In family-centered parties, if the family breaks up, the party also falls apart, BJPs national secretary Shrikant Sharma says
7:43pm: Party workers supporting the UP chief minister tear up posters of Shivpal Yadav, the Samajwadi Partys state president
7:30pm: Supporters of Akhilesh Yadav gather outside his official residence. Women cry as news of the UP chief ministers ouster from the party spreads
#WATCH Supporters gather outside Akhilesh Yadav's residence, raise slogans in his support after SP Chief expelled him for 6 years from party pic.twitter.com/x5OFePsLVD ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016
7:25pm: Want to urge party workers to come to RM Lohiya University on January 1 at 11am to discuss as to how to stop those doing wrong in party: ANI quotes Ramgopal Yadav as saying
7:20pm: Will know who is more acceptable among the public come elections, says Ramgopal
7:14pm: Netaji does not know the constitution of the party well, says Ramgopal Yadav
7:12pm: This is unconstitutional as both of us were expelled 2 hours after they gave the notice & without listening to our answers: Ramgopal Yadav
This is unconstitutional as both of us were expelled 2 hours after they gave the notice & without listening to our answers: Ram Gopal Yadav pic.twitter.com/ZjfebQ2crT ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
7:10pm: Those who are not even members of the party are now being given tickets to contest, says Ramgopal
7pm: Akhilesh expected to make a press statement after his father and party president expels him from Samajwadi Party
6:58pm: I have worked really hard to make this party, what was their role in this? I work hard and they reap the fruits?: ANI quotes Mulayam Singh Yadav as saying
6:50pm: Throngs of Akhilesh supporters gather outside the chief ministers official residence
6:49pm: For us party is the most important and our priority is to save the party: SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav
To save the party, we have expelled both Ram Gopal and Akhilesh Yadav for six years from the party: SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav pic.twitter.com/dzJZTft0lk ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) December 30, 2016
6:38pm: Samajwadi Party president Mulayam Singh announces expulsion of his son Akhilesh Yadav and cousin Ramgopal Yadav from the party for six years
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of marketing Chinese companies in India in the name of Paytm and sought a probe into the allegations.
I am sorry, I have full respect for a country but in the name of Paytm, the Prime Minister has brought in a few Chinese companies and is marketing them in India, she told the media here.
Why are these companies sponsored by our PM? What is the hidden agenda? We want to know publicly. I am not levelling allegations. I am only stating facts which are reported. Public money is not secure. It is not foolproof. I say Alibaba and four, not thieves, she said in a veiled reference to Chinese e-commerce giant Alibaba Group.
The Trinamool Congress supremo sought a probe as to why the Centre is promoting a company that has been blacklisted by the US Trade Representative.
It is a very serious allegation. Country is not secure. To promote a few companies PM had to become feriwala (salesman) of Paytm. What is the hidden agenda? If somebody has done something wrong, the RBI and SEBI has protected them, she added.
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday declined to comment on the internal squabbles of the Samajwadi Party, but said the BJP should not get a single vote in Uttar Pradesh assembly polls.
It is SPs internal matter. I do not want to say anything on it, she told a press conference at the state secretariat when asked to comment on the developments in that party.
But whoever wins, be it BSP or SP, BJP should not get a single vote. They (Modi government) are threatening Mayawati. They are threatening those who have opposed their (demonetisation) decision. They are only spreading lies and canards. They believe in the theory of Goebbels, she added.
Banerjee had addressed a public meeting against demonetisation in Lucknow last month which had been attended by Uttar Pradesh ministers.
They (BJP) are committing mistakes everyday. They had committed a mistake in Bihar where Lalu (Prasad) and Nitish (Kumar) won the election, she said.
Continuing with her attack on the saffron party, Banerjee said, Within seven days of Jayalalithaas demise, they had conducted a raid (on the Tamil Nadu chief secretary). If Chandrababu Naidu raises his voice, they will conduct a raid on him as well.
One civilian was killed while an army jawan and some cattle were injured as Pakistan shelled Indian positions and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir over the last few days.
The intermittent yet heavy firing which began at 5pm on Friday stopped a little after 6pm.
Mohammed Tanver, a resident of Noor Kot village in Khari Kamara area, was killed after being hit by shell fire from across the border. Some cattle animals were injured by splinters from the mortar shells in the same area.
Residents have been asked to remain indoors.
Pakistani troops targeted the Indian Army posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Poonch sector with small arms, automatic and mortars at 1655 hours, an army officer said, adding they were retaliating strongly.
Sources say the ceasefire violation could be an attempt to provide cover fire to militants trying to infiltrate the border.
Defence spokesman, lieutenant colonel Manish Mehta said, Pakistani Army initiated indiscriminate firing of small arms, automatics and mortars at 4:55pm on Indian Army posts along the LoC in Poonch sector. The Indian Army posts are retaliating strongly and effectively. The firing has stooped at 6:05pm. No casualty has been reported to own troops till reports last came,
Pakistan violated the ceasefire on Thursday too, in which one jawan was injured. Naik PS Patil Suryakant was later airlifted to a military hospital in Jammu.
Earlier, on December 16, Pakistan violated ceasefire by targeting Indian positions along the LoC in Balakote sector of the same district.
The ceasefire violation had come after a lull of over three weeks, and followed the Indias counter- offensive against Pakistan on November 23 against the killing of three soldiers in the Machhil sector of north Kashmirs Kupwara district.
Over 26 people, including 14 security personnel, have been killed in ceasefire violations since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir was out in September.
Overall, in 2016, Pakistan violated ceasefire 437 times and killed 37 people while 179 suffered injuries. Of these, 212 violation were reported along the International Border and 216 along the LoC in Jammu region.
(With inputs from PTI)
Slain Afghan Taliban supremo Mullah Mansour, who was killed in a US drone strike inside Pakistan, was issued a Pakistani national identity card in 2005, interior minister Chaurdhy Nisar admitted on Friday.
Khan, however, blamed the past government of overtly issuing ID cards and passports to foreigners.
The minister said the incumbent government paid enough attention to the issue of fake CNICs and passports, adding that it was not only difficult, rather it is impossible to work honestly in the country.
Mansour was issued a Pakistani computerised national identity card in 2005, Geo News quoted Khan as saying.
Mansour and another male combatant were targeted on May 21 by multiple unmanned aircraft operated by US Special Operations forces as the duo rode in a vehicle in a remote area near the town of Ahmad Wal in Pakistans restive Balochistan province close to the Afghan border.
Mansour had assumed the leadership of Taliban in July 2015, replacing Taliban founder and the one-eyed reclusive long-time spiritual head Mullah Mohammad Omar in Pakistan in 2013.
Khan said, The government cancelled 32,400 passports and blocked 22,3000 CNICs during last three years. It also verified 101 million CNICs across the country. he said.
The past government merely cancelled 500 passports.
Besides this, around 95 million unregistered mobile SIM cards were blocked in just 90 days, he added.
Chaudhry Nisar said the former governments issued passports and CNICs to foreigners, which were used in human trafficking. He, however, said an 18-member committee is being formed to review wrongly blocked CNICs.
He said the ones involved in facilitating issuance of fake CNICs and passports will be taken to task in another phase.
India on Friday slammed Pakistan for labelling certain Indian political parties and social organisations as terror outfits, calling it a desperate attempt at deflecting international focus from Islamabads complicity in spawning terrorist groups like LeT, JuD and JeM.
External affairs ministry spokesperson Vikas Swarup said Pakistan foreign ministrys statement Thursday linking political parties and social organisations to terror was absurd even by Pakistans standards.
Labelling bonafide Indian political parties and social and cultural organisations as terrorist organisations seems a desperate attempt to deflect international focus from Pakistans own complicity in spawning internationally proscribed organisations like LeT, JuD and JeM, which continue to target Pakistans neighbours from territory under Pakistans control, he said.
Swarup was responding to a query on Pakistans comments Thursday on Jammu and Kashmir and allegations against certain political parties and organisations.
The official spokesperson of Pakistan foreign ministry had said, Terrorist organisations such as RSS, Vishwa Hindu Prasad, Shiv Sena, Bajrang Dal and other terrorist elements are engaged in the drive to change demography of Kashmir.
SP general secretary Ramgopal Yadav on Friday blamed state president Shivpal Yadav for the prevailing confusion in the ruling party as he endorsed the list of candidates released by chief minister Akhilesh Yadav for next years assembly polls.
Ramgopal said Samajwadi Partys national president Mulayam Singh Yadav had called for a meeting on January 1 but the list of candidates was released on December 29, indicating Akhilesh was not taken into confidence or consulted before the decision was made.
No compromise is possible now. The candidates announced by the CM are my candidates, Ramgopal, who is member-secretary of SPs parliamentary board, said.
Those opposing Akhilesh Yadav will not see the assembly building after the elections; I will campaign for CMs candidates, he said.
Ramgopal was in Farrukhabad to meet Vijay Singh who figures in the list of CMs candidate and lost his father recently.
In an apparent attempt to deliver a body blow to the chief ministers camp, Shivpal had released the second list of 68 candidates late on Thursday minutes after Akhileshs parallel list of 235 seats was out.
The miffed CM came out with his own candidates list late on Thursday, triggering speculation of a split in the party besieged by a bitter family feud.
The move is being seen as a tit-for-tat response from the 43-year-old son to party patriarch Mulayam, who declared candidates for 325 of the 403 assembly seats on Wednesday and ruled out projecting Akhilesh as the candidate for the chief ministers post.
The states youngest chief minister has been engaged in an intense power struggle with the ruling familys elders, especially uncle Shivpal, who enjoys the backing of his brother Mulayam.
Ramgopal, Mulayams first cousin who backs Akhilesh, was expelled for six years on October 23 for alleged anti-party activities as the family feud began.
While announcing his expulsion, Shivpal had alleged that Ramgopal was conspiring with the BJP to weaken the Samajwadi party and tarnish the state governments image.
One man, all of you know who he is, coaxed Netaji into removing Akhilesh Yadav as the state president, this is where the problem began, otherwise everything was fine in the party, he said without naming Shivpal.
This man is not an outsider but from the party, he cant get 10 votes for anyone, he said.
Asked if the candidates in the CMs list would contest as Independents, he said the Election Commission would take the call on the issue. But dont worry the picture will be clear in next two-four days, he said.
Read| As Yadav family feud erupts again, only a miracle can help SP win Uttar Pradesh
Sasikala Natarajan, who was unanimously appointed the interim general secretary of the AIADMK on Thursday, was for thirty years defined by her association with Jayalalithaa.
Supporters call her a friend, detractors a shadow, and the late chief minister, in an uncharacteristically open statement, a surrogate sister.
The mystery surrounding her exacerbated by her refusal to speak to media has only furthered speculations against her and her family, who have been derided by critics as the Mannargudi mafia because of their influence on Jayalalithaa.
Born in 1957 to a farmer couple, Vivekanandam and Krishnaveni, Sasikala belongs to the influential Kallar communitya sub-caste of the powerful Thevars.
In 1973, she married M Natarajan, then a government employee and a DMK member. Party patriarch Karunanidhi presided over their wedding, attesting to the goodwill Natarajan had with the Dravidian leader.
During the Emergency, when her husband was fired and to make ends meet, Sasikala started a video rental shop in Chennai.
This fledgling business, boosted and marketed by a newly employed Natarajan, caught the attention of Jayalalithaa, an actress-turned-propaganda secretary of the ADMK, who used it to propagate visuals of party chief MG Ramachandran (MGR).
A bond between Jayalalithaa and Sasikala that took birth then, grew as the husband and wife stood by the former through the party split following MGRs death in 1987.
Although Jayalalithaa kicked out Natarajan from her Poes Garden residence in the early 1990s for allegedly conspiring against her, she kept Sasikala by her side. She then went on to adopt Sasikalas nephew, Sudhakaran, for whom she threw a lavish wedding in 1995. The garish and ostentatious display of wealth led to her defeat in the 1996 polls and subsequent separation from Sasikala.
But Sasikala, who was jailed for 10 months in other corruption cases, was welcomed back to the fold with open arms by Jayalalithaa on her release.
The AIADMK chief then began creating an image of herself as Amma: Mother to millions of her supporters and voters, inculcating a sycophantic leadership cult just as her predecessor, MGR.
Sasikala and family, meanwhile, began wielding influence and became synonymous with corruption in the state.
In 2011, Jayalalithaa again expelled Sasikala and her family from the party for allegedly conspiring against her. But, within hundred days, Sasikala having denounced her family was back at Poes Garden.
In a public apology, she pledged her life to the chief minister. I have no ambitions either in the party or in the government. I have always devoted my life to akka (elder sister).
Five years later, after Jayalalithaas demise, Sasikala has been crowned AIADMK chief. Her family, long out of the picture, is now back.
Six people suffocated to death when fire broke out in a Pune bakery, whose only exit was locked from outside, early Friday morning.
According to fire brigade officials, the workers were sleeping on mezzanine floor of the bakes N cakes, a bakery shop located in Kondhwa area of the city. Police have detained three persons, who had recently started bakery in partnership at the ground floor of nine storey building.
Fire brigade officials suspect that the fire broke out in the wee hours at around 4:30 am due to a short circuit inside the bakery.
Immediately after we received a call in control room at around 4:45 am, three fire tenders were dispatched to the spot. There was huge smoke emanating from the shutter of the shop, which was locked from the outside, said fire brigade officials.
The workers were sleeping inside the bakery when the fire broke out. (HT Photo )
When the fire brigade officials were trying to break the lock, the owner of the bakery reached the spot and opened the shutter. After the owner informed the officials that there were workers sleeping in the mezzanine floor, the fire brigade team climbed up the loft to recover the bodies.
Although the shutter was opened soon after we reached, it was too late as the bodies were charred, said an official. The workers were taken to Sassoon Hospital where the doctors declared them dead.
According to Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap, while returning home on Thursday night, the bakery owner had locked the shop from outside due to which all the workers got trapped inside when the fire broke out.
The bakery owner had locked his shop from outside as a result of which the employees of the bakery could not rush out when fire broke out, said Jagtap. With no place for ventilation, all the six employees sleeping inside the bakery died within minutes due to suffocation, he added.
The police have identified the deceased as Ishad Ansari (26), Juned Ansari (25), Shanu Ansari (20), Zakir Ansari (24), Faeem Ansari (21) and Zishan Ansari (21). All the workers were natives of Uttar Pradesh. While a case has been registered at Kondhwa police station, the civic body has ordered inquiry into the incident to find out the exact cause of the fire.
In another incident a few hours later, a fire broke out at a carpet godown in Punes Bibwewadi area. However, no casualties were reported in the incident though the cause of the fire was not known.
Expelled by his father Mulayam Singh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party for six years on Friday, Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav may have a lifeboat in the Congress.
If Akhilesh needs to prove his strength on the floor of the UP assembly, the 28 members of the Congress would come in handy. According to insiders, Akhilesh has 175 loyal MPs in the 403-member House and would need the support of 27 more to stay afloat.
Incidentally, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi had described Akhilesh as a good man a few months ago.
Read | Rahul, Akhilesh mutual admiration may give way to Congress-SP alliance
Akhilesh has apparently faced action following rebellion against his father on a number of issues, including ticket distribution for the polls due early next year and alliance with the Congress.
Amid the contradictory stands of Mulayam and Akhilesh on forging an alliance with the Congress, senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad on Friday said the possibility could not be ruled out.
You cannot rule out any possibility in politics, Azad, in charge of Congress in UP, told reporters in Balrampur on the sidelines of a rally, PTI reported.
Read | UP CM Akhilesh expelled: With his final play, Mulayam Singh squanders his legacy
The Congress also steered clear of the internal matters of the SPs first family. Party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala, however, added there was a need for political stability in the state. There is a situation of political instability. It has to go. The Congress doesnt want to comment on this. Rahul Gandhi had given a new paradigm shift to the issues of development in UP. And we are confident we will win over peoples support in UP.
The BJPs reaction was sharp. After the new development, Akhilesh Yadav must immediately resign, senior BJP leader Yogi Adityanath said.
Zafar Islam, spokesperson of UP BJP, saw the expulsion as a diversionary tactic of the SP. For nearly five years, the SP government didnt do anything. This is an engineered ploy to remove peoples attention from the main issues and failure of the government.
Senior SP leader Ram Gopal Yadav, who was also expelled for six years along with Akhilesh, clarified that the CM would not resign. Why should he resign? He has overwhelming majority in the House.
Read | As Yadav family feud erupts again, only a miracle can help SP win Uttar Pradesh
Arunachal Pradesh plunged into a political crisis on Friday after the ruling party temporarily suspended chief minister Pema Khandu and six legislators, allegedly pitching one of his ministers for the top post.
The 37-year-old Khandu refused to resign, despite the Peoples Party of Arunachal (PPA) reportedly backing public health and engineering minister Takam Pario, the easternmost states richest legislator with declared assets of Rs 187 crore, as his replacement.
Party president Kahfa Bengia suspended the chief minister, his deputy Chowna Mein, and five MLAs for alleged anti-party activities late on Thursday.
There were complaints by most MLAs that Khandu and six other legislators were indulging in activities which were hurting the PPA. Hence, it was decided to suspend them, PPA chairman Kamen Ringu said.
Deputy chief minister Chowna Mein dismissed the allegations as baseless and motivated.
This is a blow from the back to upset a stable government that has been working sincerely for the states development. We were not given any intimation or asked for an explanation, Mein said.
The PPA move met a roadblock with just 12 of its 43 lawmakers backing Pario.
Coalition partner BJP, which has 13 MLAs in the 60-member assembly, decided to support Khandu.
BJP state president Tapir Gao assured that there was no threat to the Khandu government. We continue to support him. Thirty of the 43 former Congress MLAs who joined the PPA also back him. There is no threat to his chair, he said.
Tamiyo Taga, a BJP leader and minister, maintained the partys line, saying it is not going to accept the decision that the PPA took without consulting its partner.
Khandu became chief minister in July following similar sudden and fast-changing events that the hill state recorded early this year. He was with the Congress then.
Prior to his elevation, political uncertainty dominated the state after senior minister Kalikho Pul broke away from the Congress government of Nabam Tuki with 24 MLAs to form a PPA government in February.
His government was removed after a Supreme Court verdict reinstated Tuki. But with most Congress MLAs backing Khandu, Tuki had to make way in July. A dejected Pul committed suicide in Itanagar in August. A month later, Khandu deserted the Congress with 42 MLAs to join the PPA in September.
The CBI arrested popular Bengali film star and Trinamool Congress parliamentarian Tapas Paul on Friday for his alleged role in the Rose Valley ponzi scheme, which is charged with defrauding depositors to the tune of Rs 17,000 crore.
The two-time Lok Sabha MP for Krishnanagar in West Bengal was a board member of Rose Valley Marketing India Ltd and Idea Projects Ltd two companies of the group for brief periods over two financial years since 2009. He allegedly accepted money in cash and cheques, details of which are being probed.
The 58-year-old actor-politician was questioned since morning at the CBIs office in a Kolkata suburb before his arrest.
The agencys action attracted a swift response from the Trinamool, which has maintained that Paul was a brand ambassador of Rose Valley and was innocent of its financial deals.
A lot of BJP leaders enjoyed hospitality offered by Rose Valley. They include Babul Supriyo (Union minister of state for heavy industries) and Rupa Ganguly (a BJP MP from Bengal). Many BJP leaders have accepted money from Rose Valley. Why dont you find out who gave the company permission to launch a TV channel? alleged West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee.
She said more leaders from her party could be arrested.
Read | Chit fund case: CBI summons TMC MPs Sudip Bandyopadhyay, Tapas Paul
The opposition BJP countered that the chief minister was belligerently opposing the notes recall to divert attention from the scams in which several top Trinamool leaders have been charged with wrongdoing.
The BJP said the arrest was overdue. This was bound to happen There is another MP who did not turn up at the CBI office fearing he too will be arrested, said Dilip Ghosh, the BJP state president.
He was referring to Trinamool parliamentarian Sudip Bandyopadhyay, who too was summoned for questioning along with Paul.
The Trinamool tried to pay in the same coin. State education minister Partha Chatterjee alleged that Pauls arrest was part of the Centres strategy to distract the people from his partys campaign against the demonitisation drive, which chief minister had described as a mega-scam.
The Rose Valley scandal is seven times bigger than the similar, Rs 2,460-crore Saradha scam.
The West Bengal-based group allegedly robbed millions of investors, most of them from the low-income group, in at least 10 states by promising exaggerated returns. The little-known groups firms operated unlicenced financial schemes that escaped regulators scrutiny.
The group was into real estate, films, media, jewellery, hotels and resorts.
Rose Valley owner Gautam Kundu and several officials are behind bars for the past one year.
CBI officials said Paul was not cooperating with the investigators and hiding facts. He has been under the agencys lens for some time, and two of the homes in south Kolkata were searched in March last year.
Paul made headlines in 2014 when he was caught on camera provoking his supporters to kill rival CPI(M) workers and rape their women. He was censured by Banerjee, but let off lightly after he apologised for his emotional outburst.
As the Samajwadi Party implodes, two people will be smiling for now, but for different reasons. Among them, only one will have the last laugh after the Uttar Pradesh election.
Amit Shah, the BJP national president and the man who won the party the politically crucial state in the 2014 elections, would be delighted to see the turmoil in the states ruling SP.
Ever since the election climate heated up, Shah has been telling reporters that the partys main rival is the SP. And this was because the BJP felt that Muslims would still consolidate towards Mulayam Singh.
The tallest leader for Muslims in UP remains Mulayam Singh. We know Mayawati is wooing them. But our sense is that Akhileshs face plus the Muslim loyalty to SP makes them our primary adversary, an influential BJP leader had told HT in November.
Read| UP CM Akhilesh expelled: With his final play, Mulayam Singh squanders his legacy
As the news of CM Akhilesh Yadavs expulsion from the SP trickled in, the BJP felt that the winning combination was broken. A Lucknow-based leader said, The minority vote will now get divided between various parties; the opposition is fragmented; it will show only we are capable of providing a stable and decisive government in UP.
But such celebrations could be premature, for a little away from the BJP office on Vidhan Sabha Marg in Lucknow is the Mall Avenue palatial residence of the other person who would be smiling --- Mayawati.
The BSPs primary challenge so far has been convincing the Muslims that it would be a reliable representative of its interests. While the SP has never allied with the BJP, Mayawati has been in alliance with the party several times --- and this has generated suspicion among the community that she could go for a post-poll arrangement.
Read| Mulayam should explain why he imposed Akhilesh on UP after 2012 election: BJP
Conventional political wisdom in the state is that Muslims would -- to a large extent -- vote for the party best positioned to defeat the BJP. With the SP fragmented, the sense in Mayawatis Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is that they can now make a more convincing case to the community. Mayawati has already given 125 tickets to Muslim candidates in a bid to reach out to them.
The other way in which the BSP benefits is it is now the only party in the race with both a leader and an organisation. The BJP has the organisation, but no leader. Mulayams SP has the organisation but no face. Akhilesh will have himself but no organisation, and the Congress has neither.
It is too early to know who will smile on counting day. For now, the battle between the BJP and the BSP has become sharper.
Read| Akhilesh expelled: Cong says BJP dreaming of assuming power in UP through back door
Read| Mamata silent on Yadav family feud, says BJP should not get a single vote in UP
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Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav slapped on Friday two separate showcause notices on Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP general secretary Ramgopal Yadav over alleged indiscipline.
Mulayams move came a day after Akhilesh, his son, finalised a list of 235 candidates for the upcoming assembly polls in defiance with the party, which had announced its own picks and snubbed some leaders considered close to the CM.
Mulayam took strong exception to Akhileshs parallel list and certain remarks made in public by Ramgopal, sources said.
Why shouldnt disciplinary action be initiated against you, asked the notice sent to Akhilesh, and reminded him that the party had already announced its nominees for 325 of the 403 seats in the state.
Akhileshs Thursday move, which triggered speculation of a split in the party besieged by a bitter family feud, came a day after Mulayam made public the SPs official list and ruled out projecting his son as the candidate for the chief ministers post.
Hours after Akhileshs move, SP state unit president Shivpal Yadav released the partys second list of 68 candidates.
The states youngest chief minister has been engaged in an intense power struggle with the ruling familys elders, especially uncle Shivpal, who enjoys the backing of his brother Mulayam.
With SP staring at a possible split, Mulayam also called a meeting on Saturday of all those allotted tickets by him, even as the CMs camp remained adamant on contesting against the official candidates of the party.
Party insiders see the meeting with immense significance as the SP chief was likely gauge the sentiments of the candidates and conduct a fresh review of the list amid fears that the battle for control in SP left the party cadres divided and highly confused at grassroots level.
On Friday morning, Shivpal met Mulayam for nearly an hour, but it was not immediately known what transpired at the meeting. Shivpal did not answer questions of reporters waiting outside Mulayams residence.
Mulayams cousin, Ramgopal Yadav, who is a vocal supporter of Akhilesh, asserted that there was no question of going back on the list prepared by the Chief Minister.
In an apparent attack on Shivpal, he said many in the party do not want to see Akhilesh as the CM again. But, the fact remains that people of the state want him back as CM, he claimed.
He said Mulayam had convened a meeting on January 1 to take a final call on ticket distribution, but due to pressure (from Shivpal), he announced the list on December 28.
Akhilesh, who was present at an official function in the morning, did not take questions from mediapersons.
Though Akhilesh loyalists were enthusiastic to fight the elections in the name of and as the face of the CM, it was still not clear as to whether they would fight as Independents or float a new party.
In a renewed push to turn India into a cashless economy, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday launched an Aadhaar-based mobile payment application that requires only the users thumb impression to operate.
Modi named the new app BHIM, short for Bharat Interface for Money, and dedicated it to Dalit icon Babasahib Bhim Rao Ambedkar. Dr Ambedkars mantra was to work for uplifting the poor, and the biggest power of technology lies in empowering them, he said at the DigiDhan Mela at Talkatora Stadium here.
The Prime Minister said the BHIM app can be used on all mobile devices, be it a smartphone or a feature phone costing Rs 1,000-Rs 2,000. There is no need for Internet connectivity, one only needs the thumb. There was a time when illiterate people were called angutha chchap. But times have changed, and your thumb is your bank now. It has become your identity, he added.
Modi said the government was also working towards launching a new security feature that would enable monetary transactions without the use of a phone or the Internet.
Observers see a two-pronged strategy behind naming the new government-sponsored mobile wallet after Ambedkar.
They believe it may help thwart possible criticism from the Opposition, and help the BJP woo a large number of downtrodden people especially those from backward castes in the run-up to the Uttar Pradesh polls.
Read | Note ban: Jaitley says normalcy restored to a large extent
The new app, a re-branded version of the UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), was conceptualised after a high-level panel headed by NITI Aayog CEO Amitabh Kant recommended changes in the rural payment system to suit villagers who felt more comfortable using fingerprints as security codes.
Read | As it happened: BHIM app is a New Years gift to the people of India: PM Modi at DigiDhan Mela
Modi said that while money lost in scams used to create headlines during the erstwhile United Progressive Alliances regime, the entire nation was now talking about cash re-entering the system. Look at newspapers and video clips from three years ago the news was all about what we lost in scams. However, today it is about what has come back and how much is gained, he added.
The Prime Minister said India still has the potential to become the proverbial sone ki chidiya (bird of gold), a title it once held. Boosting digital connectivity will do wonders for our nation, he proclaimed, adding that it was just a matter of time before its monetary transactions turned completely digital.
Modi dubbed the Lucky Grahak Yojana and DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana as his governments Christmas gift to the nation. Several prizes worth `1,000 will be given to people through lucky draws over the next 100 days. The mega draw will be held on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar.
Also read | Demonetisation done without forethought: Congress Chidambaram hits out at Modi
The water resource departments of Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan are planning to construct a 40-km-long spillway to discharge excess water from Gandhi Sagar dam into Aahu river in Rajasthans Jhalawar district.
Spillway is a channel-like structure for discharge of excess water from a river body.
The project has been taken up on the suggestions of Central Water Commission to ease pressure on four old dams Gandhi Sagar dam, Rana Pratap Sagar dam, Jawahar Sagar Dam and Kota Barrage of Chambal river basin.
Executive engineer of Madhya Pradesh water resource department, JPK Gupta, said, The dams on Chambal river system are more than five decades old now, with average age of each dam considered to be 100 years. At this point, it is very essential to ease pressure on these dams.
Of late, effects of climate change can be seen in the region in terms of excessive rains. It has been observed in the past few years that rainfall received in a week equals that received annually earlier. In such a case, Chambal River receives 10 16 lakh cusecs in a single day. Such heavy pressure can damage the dams and flood surrounding regions, Gupta told HT.
With construction of the spillway, Gandhi Sagar can handle thrice the excess water discharge. This will ensure safety of nearby human habitations and the atomic power station at Rawatbhata in Rajasthan, added Gupta.
The project is in its preliminary stages where we will conduct ground survey, followed by a technical survey and submit reports to state governments. It is anticipated that 25 kilometres of the channel will be in Rajasthan while the rest will be in Madhya Pradesh, said the executive engineer.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA), which is probing Mohammed Mosiuddin alias Mussas links with Islamic State (IS), has found that social networking sites, emails and applications were the main tools used by him or the IS to spread its ideology among the youths across the world. The operatives of Mussa, IS and Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen, Bangladesh (JMB), are well conversant in cyber communication to keep these secret from the security agencies.
After arresting Mussa in the first week of July, the NIA took charge of the investigation into his IS links. The agency retrieved crucial details about his and ISs plans from his mobile phone and an Apple Macbook.
After retrieving the details, especially the discussions between Mussa and IS operatives, the NIA investigators were astonished. The sleuths learnt after going through the details of the chats that JMB was directly in touch with IS while Indian Mujahideen (IM) has joined the IS.
Sources in the agency added that Mohammed Mosiuddin alias Abu Mosa or Mussa had opened his Facebook account, mdmosiuddin, using his mobile number 8870319834. Mussa used to chat with Safi Omar alias Chhotta Moula, a resident of Vatkal in Karnataka, with his ID Yusuf Al Hind.
Safi Omar was an IM operative who later joined IS and is presently in Syria.
After a chatting session, Omar provided his Skype ID, zahirulislam, to Mussa for secure chatting. Mussa used to chat with Omar using his Skype ID, Deen Ke Liye.
Omar used to send links of Islamic sites such as jihadology.net, al-Shabab media and lectures of Anwar al Awaliki.
The NIA also found Mussa used another Facebook ID, sabillakhan, to chat with JMB leader and the mastermind of Dhakas Holy Artisan Bakery shootout, Abu Sulaiman, alias Bengal Tiger (Facebook user ID: Jihadijohn).
Mussa also used secure chat platforms such as Super Spot, Telegram, Threema and Chat Secure. He also opened another Facebook ID Muslimah Hind.
Mussas Telegram id was fakhr Bengal (pride of Bengal), twitter account was Retweet Abu, Threema ID was J96KU52E. An IS operative, Royale, based in Bangladesh had opened rehengehum@jabbar.hot-cilli.net a chat secure ID for Mussa.
Mussa also used various social communication platforms such as protectedtext.com, yandex.com, throwawaymail.com, tutanota.com and chatsecure.com which were more secure than Telegram.
The NIA also uncovered Mussa and ISs plan to attack foreigners at Mothers House, Delhi and Kashmir as well as on Hindus from the application Telegram.
The NIA investigators also found out that Mussa had used another mobile number, 8768283331, to contact IS operatives in Syria. He had asked for videos and pdf files related to explosive belts using this number. Mussa also received the document, How to survive in the West-Mujahideen in pdf file.
Mussa also sent pdf file named 9 mm pistol, EHF handgun_ammo_book, How_to_make_disposable_silencers, BSP semi_auto, (Sahar par fatah karne wale tareeke), 12g-pistol, 9MM schematics, the method of silent killing and many more to IS operatives.
The issue of disappearance of Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose is all set to be raked up once again this new year. Family members of Netaji will knock on the door of Prime Minister Narendra Modi early January and urge him solve the mystery. They will also request the PM to declare January 23 (Netajis birthday) as Patriots Day.
Family members and organisations will appeal to Modi to form a panel of experts to decode the declassified files as only putting them up on government website is leading nowhere, send a high level delegation to Russia to obtain secret KGB files and to either accept or reject with reasons The Mukherjee Commission report which was rejected by Congress government without citing the reasons.
A letter has been already sent to the Prime Minister. We have sought his appointment and hopefully will meet him early January. We want Netajis birthday that falls on January 23 to be declared as Patriots Day. We do not want a holiday but the day should be remembered by the nation. After the Independence, nothing of this sort has been done, said Chandra Bose, grand nephew of Netaji.
Though PM announced declassification of secret files of Netaji in 2016, yet no major headway has been achieved in solving the mystery of his disappearance. The Prime Minister had earlier called on Russian President Vladimir Putin regarding the issue of files with KGB and foreign affairs minister Sushma Swaraj wrote to Russian authorities.
We are happy that files are being declassified but the question of Netajis disappearance has remained unanswered. We will also appeal to Modiji to immediately form a panel of experts to read and interpret the declassified files. We will also request him to send a delegation to Russia as soon as possible to get the KGB files, which are very important, said Bose.
Family members and researchers have been asking for declassification and obtaining files from foreign countries, which may throw light on the disappearance or alleged death of Netaji.
The Bose family, researchers and NGOs have also demanded that the central government either accept Mukherjee Commission report or reject it with cause. The Mukherjee Commission report was rejected by the Congress government which did not cite any reason behind it. The BJP government should either accept or reject it with a cause, added Bose.
In September 2015, Mamata Banerjee declassified files on Netaji kept in the custody of the state government which highlighted snooping activities by the government against family members of the freedom fighter.
Later, a team of Netajis family members and researchers met PM Narendra Modi who announced declassification of the files with the central government. The declassification process started from January 2016.
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Simpleton Kedar failed to finish his graduation after three attempts. Gullible Kedar fell in love with the stern Saraswati.
Dadar Kirti, the 1980 movie, marked the entry of a 22-year-old Tapas Paul into the Bengali film industry. Many still remember his role as protagonist Kedar.
He had no godfather in the industry, yet he became one of the most popular Bengali actors through the 1980s and 1990s. His boyish charm helped churn out Bengali blockbusters such as Guru Dakshina, Saheb, Anurager Chowa and Bhalobasha Bhalobasha.
Now, at 58, he rarely acts in films. He has a dedicated political career to pursue.
Read | Trinamool MP Tapas Paul arrested in connection with Rose Valley chit fund scam
He was a state legislator from Alipore for two terms from 2001 and got elected to Parliament in 2009 on a Trinamool Congress ticket from Krishnanagar.
He retained the Lok Sabha seat in 2014, but hit the headlines for the wrong reasons. He was caught on camera provoking supporters to kill rival CPI(M) functionaries and rape their women.
I am also a goonda (ruffian). I will shoot you guys if a Trinamool Congress worker is ever attacked If you insult mothers and daughters of Trinamool workers, I wont spare you. I will let loose my boys in your homes and they will rape, Paul said.
Read | Tapas Pal issues apology for his rape remark, Mamata attacks media
The harsh rhetoric of a politician was at odds with the dialogues, songs and roles he played in movies for which he is remembered in most Bengali households.
Veteran director Tarun Majumder, who introduced Paul to Bengali cinegoers as Kedar, refused comments on his arrest over the Rose Valley chit fund scam on Friday.
He simply remembered him as a fine actor. He came prepared to the sets. He not only impressed me with his acting but also the people of Bengal.
Pauls onscreen chemistry with Debasree Roy and Satabdi Roy both Trinamool politicians now won the hearts of the audience.
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INCARNATE
Direction: Brad Peyton
Actors: Aaron Eckhart, Carice Van Houten
Rating: 0.5 / 5
The first cut of Incarnate was ready nearly three years ago but was reportedly subjected to multiple rewrites and edit tweaks. Unfortunately, that hasnt helped the outcome a bit.
Brazenly abandoning any attempt at coherent plot or character development, the demonic-possession tale is set in motion when a leggy Vatican official (Catalina Sandino Moreno) tasks a wheelchair-bound scientist (Aaron Eckhart, in phone-in mode) with evicting a malevolent spirit romping through the nightmares of a teenage boy (David Mazouz).
The twist, if one can call it that, is that instead of the usual Catholic priest, its a man of science being called upon to battle the dark forces of evil. Also on hand, for no discernible reason other than to cluster up the narrative, are a couple of the demon hunters nerdy assistants.
Derivative in the extreme, the uninspired direction by Brad Peyton (San Andreas) relies on cheap jolts and clumsy flashbacks into the mindscape of the possessed youngster.
Derivative in the extreme, the uninspired direction by Brad Peyton (San Andreas) relies on cheap jolts and clumsy flashbacks into the mindscape of the possessed youngster.
Theres also plenty of blather about the kids divorced parents (Carice Van Houten-Matt Nable) and a car accident that left the scientist partially disabled.
The preposterous climax is merely a ploy to ensure a sequel a proposition that is scarier than anything else in Incarnate.
Watch the trailer for Incarnate here
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The Congress is stepping up its protests against the Centres move to scrap high-value notes, as the civic elections to be held next year approach.
The BJP government at the Centre announced the demonetisation of Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes on November 8, and gave the country 50 days December 30 to the submit old notes at banks. A day before this deadline, the state units of the Congress announced it would take its fight to the streets, while the city unit got 50 workers to tattoo their arms with a line alleging corruption by PM Narendra Modi.
The demonetisation has over the past 50 days led to a severe cash crunch in the country, leading to long queues outside ATMs and banks and protests by Opposition parties. The Centre had asked the people to bear with it, calling the move a necessary step to weed out black money. But with just weeks to go for the civic polls in Mumbai, the Congress is hitting out hard against its rival.
The state unit announced protests in all districts, while the city unit said it will gherao the suburban collectors office on January 6. The party also announced a protest on January 8 that key leaders including state unit chief Ashok Chavan, former chief ministers Prithviraj Chavan and Narayan Rane and former ministers Patangrao Kadam and Balasaheb Thorat will lead in their respective districts.
The demonetisation announced by the Modi government has resulted in endless hardships to the common people. The deadline of 50 days given by the prime minister is about to end, but there is no solution in sight. Big companies have started retrenchments, farmers are forced to throw away farm produce owing to falling prices. The government should compensate farmers, said Chavan, adding that the Modi government was hiding information related to deposits of black money and deaths of people waiting in queues. Major cash seizure cases were related to banks headed by BJP leaders, but no action was taken.
The party also asked the BJP answers to the allegations levelled by Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi about the alleged corruption by the PM when he was the chief minister of Gujarat.
We have been raising this question, but we have not got a clarification. We wanted to ask this question to the PM during his Mumbai visit, but we were put under house arrested, said Sanjay Nirupam, city Congress chief.
Also read
Economy to politics, banks to black money: What demonetisation did to nation
A day after a suspended police inspector claimed that two wanted accused in 2008 Malegaon blasts were killed by ATS officials, defence lawyers for few accused in the case want fresh probe.
Mehboob Mujawar, a former officer of Maharashtras anti-terrorism squad, has claimed that two key accused Ramchandra Kalsangre and Sandeep Dange, who are currently shown as wanted were not missing but had, in fact, been killed by the ATS on November 26, 2008. Mujwar said the two were picked up with accused Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur and were later gunned down in Mumbai.
After the details given by the officer, some of the defense lawyers asked for a fresh probe in the case. The statement shows how agencies have dealt with the case. We now want chief minister Devendra Fadnavis to order a fresh probe, said Prashant Maggu, lawyer for some of the accused in the case.
The NIA, which is currently investigating the case, is also for probing the claim. On Friday, the issue was also brought up to the notice of the special court hearing the 2008 blast case. Special public prosecutor Avinash Rasal said, The accused on Friday brought the newspaper cuttings of the article and showed it to the court. The officer of National Investigation Agency, who was present in the court has assured the court that they would probe it and come up with its conclusion before the court.
However, not all agree and another set of defence lawyers question the credibility of the statement saying that it is a fictitious theory. Lawyer Sanjeev Punalekar questioned the credibility and timing of Mujawars statement. Mujawars theory seems fictitious as it lacks corroboration with facts. It could not have been possible that they were picked up with Sadhvi. If that was the case, Sadhvi would have raised the alarm. She is not the woman who would have not mentioned it, Punalekar said. He also alleged that the two were also spotted after November 2008 on several occasions. It is known to both the agencies that the two accused were on several occasions spotted and met people. They were roaming around openly until their name was disclosed in the investigation. The officer has some ulterior motives behind giving such a statement, Punalekar added.
The case dates back to September 29, 2008 when an improvised explosive device (IED) hidden in a motorcycle blasted killing six people and injuring 101. The ATS had arrested several people including Sadhvi Pragya Singh Thakur, and Lt Col Prasad Srikant Purohit in this connection and filed a charge sheet against 14 people, including Kalsangre and Dange, who are listed as wanted.
Read
Malegaon blast: Ex-cop claims missing accused were killed by ATS 8 yrs ago
Malegaon blasts: Charges against 6 accused dropped, Cong targets PM
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Terming the allegations by a former officer of Maharashtras anti-terrorism squad that two key accused in the 2008 Malegaon blast case were not missing but had, in fact, been killed by the ATS on November 26, 2008 serious, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said the government would look into it. The Opposition, too, has demanded a probe into the allegations by the police officer.
Fadnavis said the government will verify if the claims by the suspended police officer, Mehboob Mujawar, are true. We will look into the entire episode. We will have to check why no inquiry was conducted if the officer had written to the then director general of police in 2009, he said.
Mujawar claimed he had written to the DGP in 2009, claiming two accused Sandip Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra -- were killed by the ATS and later shown as absconding.
The Congress and Nationalist Congress Party have demanded a probe. The government should conduct an immediate probe to check the veracity of the allegations. Although our government was in power at that time, it is not clear if then home minister RR Patil was apprised of the facts by the police, said Nawab Malik, NCP spokesman.
Congress spokesperson Sachin Sawant said they have demanded an inquiry.
Read
Malegaon blasts: Suspended cops claim makes defence seek fresh probe
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A major fire broke out inside a bakery in Pune, killing six workers in the wee hours of Friday. The fire engulfed Bakes N Cakes, located on Kondhwa Road, within minutes following a short circuit inside the shop, said fire brigade officials.
According to Pune mayor Prashant Jagtap, the bakery owner had locked his shop from outside owing to which the employees could not escape from the bakery when the fire broke out.
The owner was operating the bakery from a small premises. While returning home on Thursday night, he locked it from outside while the workers were sleeping inside, said Jagtap.
All the six workers, who were charred to death, hailed from Uttar Pradesh, said fire brigade officials.
Also read
Fire breaks out in closed company in Navi Mumbai
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Punjab Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief and Union minister Vijay Sampla played the demonetisation card to woo voters at the launch of the Vijay sankalp rath yatra of the party from the Hussainiwala memorial here on Thursday.
Encouraged by the recent victory of the party in the Chandigarh civic body polls after Prime Minister Narendra Modis note ban decision, Sampla and former state BJP chief and poll manifesto committee chairman Kamal Sharma kickstarted the partys election campaign after paying tributes to martyrs Bhagat Singh, Rajguru and Sukhdev at the national memorial at Hussainiwala, 11km from Ferozepur.
TARGETS CONG AS MAIN RIVAL
Under the leadership of the Prime Minister, the country is fighting the battle of economic freedom. Meanwhile, the bugle for Punjab polls has been sounded and two main parties, the Congress and the BJP, are vying with each other to come to power in the state. The Congress is a party which nurtured the British culture in the country. While the BJP is working towards transforming the nation into a Sonay ki Chidia (golden goose), the Congress is trying hard to convert it into Sonia ki Chidia, Sampla said while addressing the gathering.
He said, The bane of corruption, unemployment, poverty and black money has been bestowed upon the nation by the Congress.
Alleging that Punjab has always been given step-motherly treatment by the Congress, he said the party had pushed the state into the black days of terrorism and subjected its water assets and farmers to loot.
Taking a dig at Punjab Congress chief Captain Amarinder Singh, Sampla said, He has no time to meet the people of the state, but he does have ample time to meet his friends across the border.
PUNJABIs WONT FALL INTO KEJRIs TRAP
Sampla said AAP chief Arvind Kejriwal betrayed the people of Delhi and now, voters of Punjab wont fall into his trap.
The Vijay Sankalp Rath Yatra proceeded from the Hussainiwala memorial towards Ferozepur and was welcomed by former chief parliamentary secretary (CPS) Sukhpal Singh Nannu and national vice-president of Bhartiya Janata Party Yuva Morcha at different points in Ferozepur town.
Later, the yatra moved to Fazilka in a cavalcade of cars and motorcycles escorted by cabinet minister Surjeet Kumar Jiyani, state party organisational general secretary Dinesh Kumar and state general secretary Manjit Singh Rai.
A modest double-storey house, nestled in the narrow lanes of Janta Nagar in Ludhiana has become a tourist spot these days and is attracting visitors from far and wide. Reason- the movie Dangal was shot here for three days in January this year and 8-10 scenes in the second half of the film are shot in this house.
The famed house has been daily attracting visitors of all age groups especially guests of their neighbours, who are keen to tour this house and click pictures. That is why inhabitants of the house three brothers and their families have jovially coined a new name for their house Aamir Khan Museum.
As HT team visited this home on Thursday afternoon, the members were already busy giving a guided tour to a group of visitors, of the first floor room where Aamir Khan had shot several scenes and post bidding them adieu, joined us brimming with excitement to share the now epic tale of how their house got finalised for the movie and moments of the shooting days.
I am really grateful to my cousin Jobanpreet Singh, who is an active theatre artiste and was in touch with Aamir Khan Productions while they were finalising locations for the shoot. He found out that the film crew was looking for an old style double-storey house and he instantly suggested our home which was finalised within the next two days. But, we only believed this good news when Aamir finally arrived in front of our eyes, shares 35-year-old elated Amandeep Kaur, a housewife, who was also offered a minute role of washing clothes.
Her father-in-law Daljit Singh Jagdeo, 63, has also penned dialogues of Khan in his little diary that he noted during the shoot at his house and later added a brief about different scenes shot here that the entire family saw in the film, on the first day of the release. As he turned pages, he pointed out the exact dates with timings when the shoot was held January 11 (9am to 8:50pm), 12 (2pm to 9:25pm) and 15 (1pm to 10pm).
On the last day, the family members took group pictures with Khan and on one of the framed pictures they took an autograph from Khan who has written, Thank you for welcoming us to shoot at your lovely house. Wishing you all the happiness! Love, Aamir Khan.
At Kila Raipur and Gujjarwal villages too, some old homes were chosen along with some narrow streets of both the villages which that have been showcased as Bilali village of Haryanas Bhiwani district, the roots of Phogat. Interestingly, majority of the villagers have already seen this film in the first few days of its release. As, some shops were also shot in several scenes, for some shopkeepers it a matter of pride and jubilation to spot their shops in different scenes.
Omkarjot Singh, 20, of Kila Raipur whose home was also a part of the shoot said, Having seen the film, I must say that 80% of the film is made in Ludhiana district, as even many scenes of Patiala as shown in the film are also shot in villages here or in Ludhiana. Many of us were lucky to meet and take pictures with Khan and we learnt that making films is not an easy job.
Guru Nanak stadium of the city was also used to show different tournaments that has made many players proud who come here for daily practice and besides that traditional wresting contest scenes were also shot at Leela village. It was a moment of pride for all the players, that Aamir Khan was shooting here and now having seen the same scenes on screen, our joy knows no bounds, said Harmandeep Singh, 22, a basketball player.
Meanwhile, for Dangal fans in the city, demonetisation blues seem to be meaningless, as all shows including those at single screen theatres are going houseful since the release on the last Friday. Cinema managers maintain that besides Khans huge following, the film being shot in Ludhiana is one of the core reasons for high footfall.
The chaos and the excruciating jams witnessed on the city roads could repeat itself on New Years eve. Jams that had commuters stuck for nine hours on the roads in the Industrial Area, around the Elante Mall, on Christmas eve might happen again with no concrete plan being put in place for the area.
Industrial Area, where all the citys prominent malls are located, and the stretch from Sector 31 to Sector 26 are expected to witness barely-moving traffic. Other than these, the parking of vehicles can be a major challenge in Sectors 17, 35 and 8.
With a capacity of parking of just over 5,000 vehicles inside the mall, the Elante authorities are expecting to have a footfall of around 1.5 lakh on the New Years eve. At an average of five people per car, at least 20,000 cars are expected to converge on the area. The roads leading to the Mall remained fully choked even on Christmas eve with some commuters stuck in the jam for nine hours.
The mall authorities and the police are not on the same page with each expecting the other to bear the major share of traffic burden.
We cannot control the traffic on the city roads. The police should make all possible arrangements. More visitors are expected here on the New Year than the crowd witnessed on Christmas, said Anil Malhotra, chief operating officer (COO), CSJ Infrastructure Private Limited, the firm that manages the mall.
Senior superintendent of police (SSP) Eish Singhal said, We will deploy police in adequate numbers near malls and parking areas in the Industrial Area and other prominent places. However, the mall officials must also come up with a traffic plan of their own as the footfall, on such occasions, is a lot more than the parking space available.
Malhotra, however, added, We always receive much higher than the normal footfall of around 50,000 during holidays and festive season. We do brainstorm on traffic management with the authorities.
Another senior police official added that the mall authorities need to make arrangements for parking before allowing entry to people.
There will be deployment of 300 traffic cops and around 200 home guard volunteers to manage the traffic in the city. We have adequate force to manage traffic on the New Years eve. We expect the crowd to be far more distributed than only on roads around the Elante as there are other places where people will go as well, said another police official.
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Outsourcing of mining operations to private companies and unchecked illegal mining led to the coal mine cave-in in Jharkhands Godda district that claimed at least 10 lives, workers and politicians said on Friday, accusing the Eastern Coalfield Limited (ECL) of negligence.
A private company, Mahalaxmi, was mining coal at the site where the accident took place on Thursday night. Mining operations were suspended at the site for six months and resumed three days ago, local miners said.
Godda MP Nishikant Dubey told Hindustan Times that rampant illegal mining was being carried out in the area in connivance with local leaders, contractors and officials ignoring the risk factor. The ECL outsourced mining work to private companies that did not take safety measures, the BJP leader added.
ECL needs to put a check on illegal mining and press for proper safety measures when it outsources mining operations to private stakeholders, Dubey said, adding that illegal mining in the area led to safety lapses as the miners were always in fear of getting nabbed by the police.
He said a meeting with union coal and renewable energy minister Piyush Goyal has been fixed in the first week of January to decide if private companies should be allowed to undertake mining and discuss safety measures.
In the opencast mining, the weight of the overburden upper layer of the soil, removed and heaped around by miners to reach the underground coal forced the mine to cave in, said RP Singh, vice president of the All India Coal Workers Federation (AICWF).
It is utter negligence on the part of the company. The overburden should have been heaped at a safe distance from the place where mining work was in progress, but the company ignored the risk, Singh said.
This is not the first time a mine has caved in in Jharkhand, where many families dwell over underground fire, risking life 24x7.
Singh said, Opencast mines are least vulnerable to such accidents if the miners are cautious about maintaining a safe distance from the overburden, but private companies usually dont want to use men or machines to remove the overburden.
Accusing the mining company of negligence, Jharkhands first chief minister Babulal Marandi said outsourcing of mining operations to private parties risked the miners lives in the area.
An ECL official from the regional office in Asansol said all safety measures were taken by the company. You should not blame ECL for the mishap. We are a public sector undertaking and safety of miners is of utmost importance to us. We do not work with the sole objective of earning profit, the official said, requesting anonymity.
Chief minister Raghubar Das said those responsible for the incident would not be spared.
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Filmmaker Krishna Vamsis highly anticipated Telugu drama Rythu, about farmers grievances, might bring together Nandamuri Balakrishna and megastar Amitabh Bachchan.
Both Krishna Vamsi and Balakrishna had met Amitji on the sets of Sarkar 3 not very long ago. They pitched the story to him and even discussed the idea of collaborating as theyre very keen on having him on board, even if it means waiting for another six months, said a source close to Vamsi.
The source added that Big B is yet to give his nod.
Apparently, hes busy till June 2017, and its only after he is relieved of his current commitments can he think of taking up this offer, he said, adding both Balakrishna and Krishna Vamsi are ready to wait.
Balakrishna Sir has decided to postpone the films shoot and commence the project from second half of next year. The project will roll with Balakrishna from July 2017, and if Amitji comes on board, he will join the team a month later, the source said.
In 2014, Amitabh Bachchan made his Telugu debut with Manam, in a special appearance.
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Superstar Mahesh Babu, who has taken a break from the shoot of his next yet-untitled Tamil-Telugu outing, is currently holidaying with his wife Namrata Shirodkar and children.
According to a source close to the actor, he will be celebrating the New Year in Zurich, Switzerland.
Mahesh, his wife and children are currently in Zurich. Maheshs sister Padmavathi too has accompanied them on this trip. They celebrated Christmas together. Mahesh is expected to return to India in the first week of January next year, said a source.
Maheshs wife Namrata Shirodkar has been sharing pictures from the trip on her Facebook page.
In one of her posts, she wrote: Christmas with family. Travel diaries. Zurich. Good times.
From January 7, Mahesh will resume shooting for AR Murugadosss upcoming bilingual film.
Also starring Rakul Preet Singh and SJ Suryah in the lead, the film has music by Harris Jayaraj.
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It is probably just the sort of closure that would have worked for Miss Havisham, the wealthy, heartbroken spinster from Charles Dickenss Great Expectations. The clocks in her mansion, stopped at the exact moment of her disgrace, would have found a welcome home at the new Los Angeles branch of the Museum of Broken Relationships.
The original museum opened in Zagreb, Croatia, in 2010 after growing out of a touring collection that crisscrossed Europe, Asia and the US.
On display in Zagreb are artifacts from failed unions, most of them mundane under ordinary circumstances. A single stiletto heel. A wine opener. A worn old Snoopy doll. But when isolated in a glass case or hanging on a white wall and accompanied by a caption, the objects become imbued with heartache or regret. Or freedom.
In Los Angeles, theres a blue chiffon top a woman wore to a cafe where her husband told her he was leaving her. As is an envelope of leaves mailed from Canada to San Diego so a long-distance paramour could experience changing seasons in southern California.
A jar of pickles purchased for a first love who, the donor explained, stopped texting before I could give it to him.
A jar of pickles purchased for a first love on display at the Museum. (AP)
After her husband asked for a divorce, Amber Clisura gave back her engagement ring, kicked him out of the house and tossed everything that reminded her of the ruined marriage. Except for one item: a polished steel barbecue smoker that her ex-husband had fashioned for her from an old oil drum.
It sat there on the patio and rusted and rusted, and it became a sad symbol of the relationship, Clisura said.
The four-legged smoker had been a treasured handmade gift, but eventually Clisura couldnt bear to look at it. She considered giving it to a neighbour or selling it for scrap but then read about a call for submissions at the new Los Angeles branch of the Museum of Broken Relationships.
Amber Clisura poses next to the meat smoker she donated to the Museum. (AP)
After some deliberation, Clisura, a textile artist and fashion designer from LA, decided to donate the smoker and drove it to the museums warehouse.
A woman met me downstairs, and as I was handing it over, I burst into tears, Clisura said, laughing now. It felt like a weight was lifted. The museum representative offered to give her a hug.
Employees have embraced their share of broken-hearted donors eager for closure, said director Alexis Hyde at the museums location on Hollywood Boulevard, a thoroughfare that, she noted, has been called the boulevard of broken dreams. Hyde has been known to brush away her own tears as she opens boxes containing donations.
Its cathartic the way a good, sad movie is cathartic, she said. On some level, you know this persons moving on, and theyve survived.
An envelope of leaves mailed from Canada to San Diego so a long-distance paramour could experience changing seasons in southern California is also on display. (AP)
Hyde pointed out not all the fizzled unions represented in the 3,500-square-foot museum were romantic. One donor had an irreparable relationship with her father. Another split from a church. A California woman who donated a Texas license plate said she separated from the Lone Star State.
My broken relationship was with myself, said Andree Vermeulen, whose donated items are the museums most talked about. The actor sent in a pair of breast implants she had removed after ending a toxic relationship with a man who made disparaging comments about her body.
Vermeulen, who lives in Los Angeles, said the implants never felt right, and since theyve been out, she has reached a place where I feel very grounded and confident. An outpouring of support on social media gave her further confidence to use the experience as fodder during storytelling performances in which she discusses body image and standards of beauty.
Vermeulen said the donation, now displayed in a glass case in the LA museums main room, symbolized the final chapter of the relationship, and her scars mark a story and a time in my life that taught me a lot about myself.
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The scene was hardly conducive to romance. She was a sick Iraqi in a wave of refugees trying to enter Serbia, while he belonged to the stern Macedonian police force keeping guard.
But Noora Arkavazi, a Kurdish Muslim, and Orthodox Christian Bobi Dodevski quickly fell in love after they met at the muddy border in early March -- and celebrated their wedding four months later.
Bobi recalls the rainy day he first saw Noora in no mans land between the two Balkan countries, when he was working only by chance after swapping shifts with a colleague.
It was destiny, the affable 35-year-old tells AFP over tea in his small apartment in the northern Macedonian town of Kumanovo, where he now lives happily with his young wife.
Noora, 20, hails from Diyala, an eastern province plagued with violence in the Iraqi conflict. She says at one point Islamic State jihadists kidnapped her father, an engineer, and demanded thousands of dollars for his return.
Early in 2016, Noora and her brother, sister and parents abandoned their home and began a long journey west, crossing the border into Turkey, taking a boat to the Greek island of Lesbos and eventually entering Macedonia.
Their path was one well-trodden by hundreds of thousands of people escaping war or poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia -- and like many of their fellow travellers, the Arkavazis had set their sights on Germany.
Noora Arkavazi (L) and her husband Bobi Dodevski. (AFP photo)
While her family continued on their odyssey, Noora stayed put in Macedonia after Cupids arrow struck.
I had a simple dream to live with my family in Germany, she says. I didnt imagine a big surprise for me here.
Just dont worry
When she first met Bobi, Noora had a high fever and was desperate to know if her family could cross the border into Serbia. Balkan countries had just begun closing their doors to migrants, so the fate of those transiting through Macedonia was unclear.
The other police officers all directed her to Bobi because he spoke good English, and he made sure she and her frail mother were taken care of with medical aid and blankets.
He said just dont worry, everything will be very good in your life, Noora remembers, now laughing over the fact that he couldnt stop looking at her.
Twice-divorced Bobi says he knew he had found someone special. When I saw Noora for the first time, I saw something good in her eyes.
In the coming days, while the migrants waited in limbo in the Tabanovce transit camp, Bobi and Noora spent more time together -- he would take her and her mother to local markets to buy food and clothes.
Noora, who speaks six languages and began helping the local Red Cross, liked the way the tall policeman would play with the migrants children, unlike some of his more serious colleagues.
The Macedonian force has faced criticism for its treatment of migrants, particularly for firing tear gas at some of those trying to cross the border from Greece.
The proposal
One evening in April, Bobi invited Noora to a restaurant, where she recalls him being extremely nervous, drinking lots of water and shaking. Then he suddenly proposed.
Noora Arkavazi hugs her husband Bobi Dodevski. As a sign of their commitment, the lovers have each others names emblazoned on their forearms in matching swirly tattoos. (AFP photo)
I told him no, you are joking... but maybe ten times he repeated this, will you marry me?.
Noora eventually said yes, but she worried about her parents reaction to her marrying a non-Muslim.
She told them: I chose a good man for my life and I will marry him. I dont want to marry another guy. But they were so nervous and angry, she says.
Noora is reluctant to talk about her family now, except to say she is relieved that they are living safely in Germany.
A beautiful wedding
Noora and Bobi celebrated their wedding in Kumanovo on July 13, her birthday, in front of 120 guests of every religion, including her Red Cross colleagues.
The town is one of Macedonias most ethnically mixed, with Muslim Albanians, Serbs, Roma, Turks and other groups as well as the ethnic Macedonian majority.
It was a very beautiful and fun wedding, says Noora, describing the live music and dancing that continued into the early hours.
The couple now live with Bobis three children from previous marriages, and Noora is expecting their first baby.
Noora Arkavazi (L) with her husband Bobi Dodevski and step-daughter in Kumanovo. (AFP photo)
As a sign of their commitment, the lovers have each others names emblazoned on their forearms in matching swirly tattoos.
Believing in destiny
Noora says she misses Iraq very much, but the welcoming nature of her new neighbours reminds her of the Iraqi sense of hospitality.
I feel like its my country, the life here is so easy. Nobody here watches me like I am a refugee.
Migrant numbers at the nearby Tabanovce camp have dropped off sharply since the so-called Balkan route was effectively shut down, although some still cross the region with the help of smugglers.
Dejan Kladarin, senior protection officer at the United Nations refugee agency in Skopje, says around 200 people are now in Macedonian transit camps.
Nooras experience is a nice story and we would like to have more like this... but most of the people are eager to continue to where there are better economic prospects, Kladarin says.
Bobi hopes their romantic tale will encourage other young people to overcome barriers to be with the one they love. Noora and I want to tell people to believe in yourself and believe in love -- and in destiny.
The scene was hardly conducive to romance: she was a sick Iraqi in a wave of refugees trying to enter Serbia, while he belonged to the stern Macedonian police force keeping guard.
But Noora Arkavazi, a Kurdish Muslim, and Orthodox Christian Bobi Dodevski quickly fell in love after they met at the muddy border in early March -- and celebrated their wedding four months later.
Bobi recalls the rainy day he first saw Noora in no mans land between the two Balkan countries, when he was working only by chance after swapping shifts with a colleague.
It was destiny, the affable 35-year-old tells AFP over tea in his small apartment in the northern Macedonian town of Kumanovo, where he now lives happily with his young wife.
Noora Arkavazi (R) and her husband Bobi Dodevski decorate a Christmas tree in their home in Kumanovo on December 21, 2016. (AFP Photo)
Noora, 20, hails from Diyala, an eastern province plagued with violence in the Iraqi conflict. She says at one point Islamic State jihadists kidnapped her father, an engineer, and demanded thousands of dollars for his return.
Early in 2016, Noora and her brother, sister and parents abandoned their home and began a long journey west, crossing the border into Turkey, taking a boat to the Greek island of Lesbos and eventually entering Macedonia.
Their path was one well-trodden by hundreds of thousands of people escaping war or poverty in the Middle East, Africa and Asia -- and like many of their fellow travellers, the Arkavazis had set their sights on Germany.
While her family continued on their odyssey, Noora stayed put in Macedonia after Cupids arrow struck.
I had a simple dream to live with my family in Germany, she says. I didnt imagine a big surprise for me here.
Just dont worry
When she first met Bobi, Noora had a high fever and was desperate to know if her family could cross the border into Serbia. Balkan countries had just begun closing their doors to migrants, so the fate of those transiting through Macedonia was unclear.
The other police officers all directed her to Bobi because he spoke good English, and he made sure she and her frail mother were taken care of with medical aid and blankets.
He said just dont worry, everything will be very good in your life, Noora remembers, now laughing over the fact that he couldnt stop looking at her.
Noora Arkavazi (L) and her husband Bobi Dodevski laugh in their home in Kumanovo on December 21, 2016. (AFP Photo)
Twice-divorced Bobi says he knew he had found someone special. When I saw Noora for the first time, I saw something good in her eyes.
In the coming days, while the migrants waited in limbo in the Tabanovce transit camp, Bobi and Noora spent more time together -- he would take her and her mother to local markets to buy food and clothes.
Noora, who speaks six languages and began helping the local Red Cross, liked the way the tall policeman would play with the migrants children, unlike some of his more serious colleagues.
Noora Arkavazi (L) poses with her husband Bobi Dodevski (R) and her step-daughter in their home in Kumanovo. (AFP Photo)
The Macedonian force has faced criticism for its treatment of migrants, particularly for firing tear gas at some of those trying to cross the border from Greece.
The proposal
One evening in April, Bobi invited Noora to a restaurant, where she recalls him being extremely nervous, drinking lots of water and shaking. Then he suddenly proposed.
I told him no, youre joking... but maybe ten times he repeated this, will you marry me?.
Noora eventually said yes, but she worried about her parents reaction to her marrying a non-Muslim.
She told them: I chose a good man for my life and I will marry him. I dont want to marry another guy. But they were so nervous and angry, she says.
Noora is reluctant to talk about her family now, except to say she is relieved that they are living safely in Germany.
Beautiful wedding
Noora and Bobi celebrated their wedding in Kumanovo on July 13, her birthday, in front of 120 guests of every religion, including her Red Cross colleagues.
The town is one of Macedonias most ethnically mixed, with Muslim Albanians, Serbs, Roma, Turks and other groups as well as the ethnic Macedonian majority.
It was a very beautiful and fun wedding, says Noora, describing the live music and dancing that continued into the early hours.
Noora Arkavazi (R) and her husband Bobi Dodevski speak in their home in Kumanovo. (AFP Photo)
The couple now live with Bobis three children from previous marriages, and Noora is expecting their first baby.
As a sign of their commitment, the lovers have each others names emblazoned on their forearms in matching swirly tattoos.
Believe in destiny
Noora says she misses Iraq very much, but the welcoming nature of her new neighbours reminds her of the Iraqi sense of hospitality.
I feel like its my country, the life here is so easy. Nobody here watches me like Im a refugee.
Migrant numbers at the nearby Tabanovce camp have dropped off sharply since the so-called Balkan route was effectively shut down, although some still cross the region with the help of smugglers.
Dejan Kladarin, senior protection officer at the United Nations refugee agency in Skopje, says around 200 people are now in Macedonian transit camps.
Nooras experience is a nice story and we would like to have more like this... but most of the people are eager to continue to where there are better economic prospects, Kladarin says.
Bobi hopes their romantic tale will encourage other young people to overcome barriers to be with the one they love.
Noora and I want to tell people to believe in yourself and believe in love -- and in destiny.
The discovery of a burned-out car in Rio state on Thursday with a body inside have sparked fears that it might be that of the Greek ambassador to Brazil, missing since Monday.
Rio police were examining the corpse and scene but could not say whether it was that of the envoy, 59-year-old Kyriakos Amiridis.
The information that we can confirm right now is that we have found a car in (the district of) Nova Iguacu with a body and it is being investigated, a source in the homicide squad told AFP.
The source would not say whether the license plate of the car was from the rental the ambassador was using, nor when DNA results on the body would be back.
Amiridis had been on vacation with his family in Rio de Janeiros northern Nova Iguacu area since December 21.
He was due to fly back to Brasilia on January 9, a Greek embassy official told AFP.
But he went missing on Monday night, after going out of the apartment they were renting and taking the car, according to Brazilian media. His Brazilian wife formally declared him missing on Wednesday.
The Brazilian news website published photos of the burned car found on the slope of a busy suburban thoroughfare. It reported that police suspected the body inside to be that of the ambassador.
The Greek foreign ministry had earlier issued a statement saying that after Amiridis was declared missing, the full mobilization of all the competent Brazilian authorities was requested.
Amiridis was named ambassador this year. He had previously served as Greeces consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004.
He served as Greeces ambassador to Libya from 2012 to 2016. He is married and has a daughter, according to the embassy in Brasilia.
Two anti-India terror organisations - Indian Mujahideen (IM) and al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) have been added to Canadas list of proscribed groups.
Both groups were designated as terrorist entities under Canadas Criminal Code. The announcement was made by public safety and emergency preparedness minister Ralph Goodale on Wednesday.
In a statement, the nodal department Public Safety Canada said the IM had organised training in Pakistan with militant Islamist groups such as Lashkar-e-Tayyiba -- a listed entity under the Criminal Code.
Following the listing, Canada will act against groups or individuals funding or associating with these two terror organisations. The statement said, The Criminal Code mandates potentially severe penalties for persons and organisations that deal in the property or finances of a listed entity.
It is a crime to knowingly participate in, or contribute to, any activity of a listed entity for the purpose of enhancing the ability of the entity to facilitate or carry out a terrorist activity.
Public Safety Canada noted the actions of the two groups meet the legal threshold set out in the Criminal Code.
The statement added: The IMs stated goal is to carry out terrorist actions against non-Muslims for their oppression of Muslims. The groups primary method of attack is multiple coordinated bombings in crowded areas against economic and civilian targets to maximise terror and casualties.
Describing the IM as a Sunni Islamist militant group, consisting primarily of former members of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI), the agency noted it is best understood as a label for a relatively amorphous, decentralised network that operates through a number of modules across India.
Following a mandatory two-year review period for listing entities, other terrorist groups such as the Lashkar-e-Taiba, Jaish-e-Muhammad and Harkat-ul-Mujahideen remain on the Canadian list, which now totals 53 entities, including Khalistani groups such as Babbar Khalsa International and International Sikh Youth Federation.
The LeT designation includes fronts of the group, including Jamaat-ud-Dawa, Paasban-e-Kashmir (Kashmir Brigade) and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation.
The LeTs student wing, Al-Muhammadia Students, listed recently by the US government as a foreign terrorist organisation, does not yet figure in the Canadian list.
Read: US adds Pak student group wing of banned LeT in list of terror organisations
The creation of AQIS was announced by al-Qaeda leader Ayman al-Zawahiri in September, 2014 and the group has been active in Pakistan and more recently, in Bangladesh.
The summer terrorist attack on Holey Artisan Bakery in Dhaka, which claimed the life of an Indian citizen among many others, was attributed to an Islamic State-affiliate in Bangladesh, though there are several linkages between AQIS and IS there.
Antonio Guterres assumes the reins of the United Nations on Sunday hoping to breathe new life into the world body, in the wake of its impotence over Syrias humanitarian catastrophe.
The former Portuguese prime minister, 67, will become the first onetime head of government to lead the UN, succeeding South Koreas Ban Ki-moon for a five-year term.
His unanimous election has energised UN diplomats who see him as a skilled politician who may be able to overcome the divisions crippling the United Nations.
One Western ambassador regretted only that a woman wasnt picked to take the post for the first time, adding with a smile that except for the gender, he is perfect.
Guterres faces a monumental task grappling with complex crises in Syria, South Sudan, Yemen, Burundi, North Korea and elsewhere -- overseeing a clunky entrenched bureaucracy and a bitterly divided Security Council that will leave him little room to maneuver.
Donald Trumps arrival in the White House on January 20 likely will further complicate his task.
Guterres has acknowledged that the secretary general is not the leader of the world, but rather that his work depends on the goodwill of the worlds great powers.
After two terms under Ban, widely criticized for lacking initiative and charisma, some diplomats are banking on a change of style and personality to revitalize the UN.
This image released by the UN shows the UN Security Council taking a vote on a draft resolution aiming to impose an arms embargo (AFP file photo)
Too little, too late
An engineer by training and a practicing Catholic, Guterres fought for migrants rights as the UN High Commissioner for Refugees from June 2005 to December 2015.
He served as prime minister of Portugal from 1995 to 2002, anchoring his country to the European Union and working to raise living standards.
He has laid out three priorities for change: working for peace, supporting sustainable development and improving internal UN management.
One issue looms above the others, however.
My deepest regret on leaving office is the continuing nightmare in Syria, Ban recently declared.
The UN has looked on helplessly as the Syrian army laid siege to the rebel stronghold of Aleppo, the countrys second city, backed by Russia and Iran.
Their sole concession to the UN was to allow a small handful of observers to follow the evacuation of thousands of civilians.
Too little, too late, one diplomat said.
During almost six years of war, Russia has protected its Syrian ally from Western pressure by using its veto in the Security Council to torpedo resolutions over the conflict six times.
Guterres inherits the portfolio with Moscow and Ankara spearheading a nationwide ceasefire effort.
Russia is pushing a political solution to the crisis that would hugely favor Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, reinforced by his conquest of Aleppo.
Western diplomats believe the incoming UN chief should put his own ideas on a settlement forward fairly quickly, without binding himself to any formal peace plan.
For the time being, he is keeping his cards close to the chest, another diplomat said.
Vowing to engage personally in conflict resolution, Guterres has remained vague about his plans.
We need more, mediation, arbitration and preventive diplomacy, he has said.
However, Ban has already gone through two Syria mediators -- Kofi Annan and Lakhdar Brahimi, who both resigned -- before appointing Staffan de Mistura, who has appeared exasperated over the UNs powerlessness over the conflict.
Time for reform
The same helplessness and at times disunity has marked the UNs response to the civil war that ravaged South Sudan for three years. A US initiative to impose an arms embargo failed, winning only seven votes from the 15 countries that sit on the Security Council.
The approximately 13,000 peacekeepers deployed in the country have been criticized for failing to protect the civilians crowding UN bases.
Elsewhere on the continent, accusations of rape have permanently tarnished the reputation of UN peacekeepers in the Central African Republic.
Guterres has acknowledged the criticism, saying it is time for the United Nations to recognize its shortcomings and to reform the way it works.
The United Nations needs to be nimble, efficient and effective.
He has already begun implementing one of his promises -- working toward gender parity -- by appointing three women from developing countries to key positions, including Nigerias environment minister Amina Mohammed as deputy secretary general.
The main unknown is the impact Trumps presidency will have on the UN and global affairs.
The Republican billionaire has shown mistrust and even a degree of contempt toward the United Nations and threatened to revisit the Paris climate change agreement, one of Bans biggest successes.
That has caused concern, given he is the future leader of the UNs main donor, which contributes 22 percent of its budget.
Its also unclear what effect a US-Russia rapprochement -- something Trump advocates -- would have on the Security Council.
Last week, Trump sought in vain to prevent the council from adopting a resolution denouncing Israeli settlement building in the West Bank, after which he tweeted: As to the UN, things will be different after January 20.
A Rio de Janeiro police officer confessed to murdering Greeces ambassador to Brazil, possibly at the direction of the diplomats Brazilian wife with whom the policeman was romantically involved, Globo TV reported on Friday, citing police sources.
Greek Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was missing since Monday night. Francoise, his Brazilian wife and the mother of their 10-year-old daughter, reported him missing to police on Wednesday.
Globo TV reported on Friday afternoon that officer Sergio Moreira, 29, confessed to killing the ambassador on Monday night in the Rio de Janeiro home the Amiridis owned in Nova Iguacu, a hardscrabble neighbourhood in Rios sprawling and violent northern outskirts.
Globo TV reported that investigators said they believed Francoise and Moreira had arranged the murder in advance.
Both Amiridis wife and the officer were in custody, but it was not clear if they had retained lawyers.
Police and Rio state security officials declined to comment on the Globo report and their investigation.
The Greek embassy in Brasilia declined to comment.
In Athens, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Stratos Efthymiou said the government had no comment.
Amiridis served as Greeces consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004. He was Greeces ambassador to Libya from 2012 until he took the top Brazil post at the beginning of 2016.
Globo reported that two other suspects were in custody, but they were not identified.
The O Globo newspaper earlier reported that blood was found on a couch inside the home. Globo TV on Friday showed police carrying a sofa into police headquarters.
A burned corpse was found on Thursday evening inside the car that Amiridis and his wife had rented. It was parked under a highway overpass in the area where the couple had been staying.
On Thursday, police confirmed that the ambassador had been missing since Monday night, when he was last seen leaving the Rio home he shared with his wife.
The incident is another blow to Rios image, just four months after it hosted the Summer Olympics.
The neighbourhood where the car was found is dominated by powerful and politically connected armed groups comprised mostly of off-duty or retired police and firefighters who control vast areas. They often extort residents in exchange for keeping drug gangs from taking over the areas.
The armed groups have grown for several years and often curry favour with local politicians by promising to deliver votes from entire neighbourhoods as long as authorities allow them to carry out their crimes.
Crime in Rio has been rising and the state is deeply indebted, often unable to pay police and other salaries on time, if at all.
South Koreas government closed its website that drew fury for showing the number of women in childbearing age by each city district and region.
The ministry of the interiors website featuring the pink birth map remained closed on Friday, a day after its launch, showing instead a notice that the site is undergoing corrections to reflect public opinion.
The website had gone offline after just a few hours following criticism the government is trying to shame women for not having babies. Some said the government treated the birth rate issue as concerning only women, pointing out that no picture of men was used on the website.
Using pink as the main colour, the site contained information on birth rates, benefits from local governments on child rearing, average marriage age and other data. On top of the website, it showed a picture of a woman kissing a little girl.
In the birth map, the regions with a higher number of female residents aged 15-49 were coloured in dark pink while the regions with a lower number of such women were shown in light pink. The site also featured a ranking of regions by the number of women aged 15-49.
Users could look up how many women who can have a baby resided in their neighbourhood for the past 10 years.
Many users reacted with wonder and anger, saying they do not understand what the number of women who can get pregnant has to do with encouraging people to have more babies.
I felt so angered that it blatantly showed how the government saw womens body as the countrys reproductive tools, not that belonging to the woman, said Lee Min-kyung, a 24-year-old feminism writer. I felt like nothing has changed and the hatred of women that I have experienced appeared again.
The government had touted it as a tool to increase the publics understanding of the countrys low birth rate and compare the benefits from local governments for having a baby or raising a child.
It was established to encourage local governments to learn and compare other governments benefits and to promote free competition, the ministry said in the press release distributed at the time of its launch. Calls seeking comments were not answered Friday.
South Korea is struggling to boost its rock bottom birth rate, one of the lowest among rich countries. This year, the country also saw growth of vocal feminist movements protesting misogynist views reflected in government policies and pop culture.
British Prime Minister Theresa May has taken the unusual step of distancing her government from President Barack Obamas criticism of Israel.
A spokesman for May said the British government does not think it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally.
The comments made Thursday were in response to US Secretary of State John Kerrys outspoken speech challenging the Israeli governments policy on settlement expansion and other issues.
Mays spokesman, speaking anonymously in line with government rules, said it was wrong to focus solely on the settlement issue when the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is so complex.
The comments bring Britains government more closely into line with the view of President-elect Donald Trump, who has said the Obama administration is being far too harsh toward Israel.
A US State Department spokesperson, speaking anonymously in line with government policy, said the US was surprised by Mays statement since Kerrys remarks were in line with the UKs own longstanding policy.
The spokesperson said Kerrys speech had generated support from many countries including Germany, France, Jordan, Egypt and others.
Two glamorous Indo-Canadian sisters, detained in Nigeria on charges linked to extortion and cyberbullying, have apologised for their actions in a video posted by a website in the African country.
The sisters, Kiranjot and Taranjot Matharoo, better known as Kiran and Jyoti and residents of Toronto, appear in the video apologising to Nigerian oil tycoon Femi Otedola and his family.
They were arraigned in a Lagos court on December 23 and remanded to custody, according to reports in the Nigerian media. The local media alleged they operated a notorious website Naijagistlive, which featured salacious gossip about the private lives of prominent Nigerians, and insinuated it was a platform for blackmail.
In the video, Jyoti reads out a statement from a cellphone, in which she says, The intention was not to hurt anyone or to be malicious. The intention was not to extort anyone. She also asserted, We havent received any money from this website.
The Matharoo sisters spent time in Jaipur during their visit to India in 2015 and hung out at a luxury hotel there. (Matropolitan blog)
Politics Nigeria alleged the sisters got into trouble after Otedola, an oil billionaire, filed a complaint against them.
While the scandal has roiled Nigeria in recent days, it also received attention in Canada. Reports in the Canadian media said the government is providing consular assistance to the sisters.
The sisters appear to have modelled themselves after Americas Kardashian clan, according to their posts on Instagram and Flickr. They seem to have maintained a jet-setting lifestyle, travelling to the beach resort of Nassau in the Bahamas, Las Vegas, New York, Paris and Lagos, and even posing in front of the Taj Mahal in Agra.
That trip to India in the summer of 2015 also took them to Ludhiana, New Delhi and Jaipur, where they posed poolside at a luxury hotel.
The Matharoo sisters in India in 2015. (Matropolitan blog)
The sisters have a sizeable social media presence, with more than 50,000 followers between the two on Instagram, where they regularly posted images of themselves.
They also chronicled their chic life on a blog, Matropolitan. Those accounts remain online though the last posts on their blog date back to December 9, just before their legal wrangle in Lagos.
Pakistans foreign office rejected a new formula for evaluation of the candidature of those who are not signatories to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) for the Nuclear Suppliers Group membership.
At a weekly media briefing on Thursday, foreign office spokesman Nafees Zakaria said, This will be clearly discriminatory and will contribute nothing in terms of furthering the non-proliferation objectives of the NSG, Dawn News reported.
Ambassador Rafael Mariano Grossi of Argentina had been appointed as a facilitator for discussions among the NSG members after Seoul plenary meeting of the 48-nation nuclear trade cartel ended in a stalemate over membership applications from India and Pakistan.
Read: NSG draft rule may allow India in, but leave Pakistan out
The deadlock persisted at the extraordinary plenary held in Vienna last month.
Ambassador Grossi this month submitted a two-page revised document to the NSG member countries containing a nine-point proposal on considering the applications of India and Pakistan, both of whom are non-NPT countries.
The NSG members last week again met in Vienna to discuss a document called revised version of a draft Exchange of Notes for Non-NPT applicants.
Pakistan, Zakaria said, continues to emphasise the imperative for a non-discriminatory criteria-based approach for the NSG membership of non-NPT states in a non-discriminatory manner.
Read: Pakistan opposed to exemptions for India to enter Nuclear Suppliers Group
Such a criteria-based approach will further the non-proliferation objective of the NSG as well as the objective of strategic stability in South Asia, he said.
The spokesman reminded the NSG members of the heavy responsibility they bore with respect to admission of non-NPT states. It is important for the credibility of the NSG and the future of the non-proliferation regime that the NSG be seen as a rule-based organisation rather than a grouping which is driven by commercial and political considerations that trump its non-proliferation objectives.
Pakistans former army chief General (retd) Raheel Sharif is expected to be appointed as a defence advisor of a Saudi Arabia-led military alliance of 39 countries, according to a media report.
Sharif, who arrived in Saudi Arabia as a royal guest in a special plane, will attend a grand reception being hosted in his honour in Riyadh, the capital of the kingdom, The News International reported. The reception will also be attended by members of the royal family.
The Joint Command Centre, headquarters of the military alliance, is located in Riyadh.
The Saudi-led coalition, involving several Arab nations, launched a military operation in Yemen in March 2015 after Houthis drove out the government led by President Abdu Rabbu Mansour Hadi, who is believed to be in exile in Saudi Arabia.
According to Saudi Arabia, the alliance is formed to fight the Islamic State and other militant outfits.
At the time of its constitution, there were 34 countries in the alliance which has raised to 39. The countries include Turkey, United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Tunisia, Sudan, Malaysia, Egypt, Yemen and others.
President Vladimir Putin decided on Friday not to expel any US diplomats in a shock move by Moscow after President Barack Obama unleashed a barrage of retaliatory measures for alleged Russian meddling in the American election.
Russia reserves the right to retaliate to US sanctions over hacking but will watch policy moves of president-elect Donald Trump after he enters the White House next month, Putin said in a statement released by the Kremlin.
We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone, Putin said.
Reserving the right to retaliatory measures, we...will be planning our next steps in restoring the US-Russian relations based on the policies pursued by the administration of president Donald Trump.
Putin said he regretted that the Obama administration was ending its term in such a way.
Read: US intel accuses Putin of personally directing election hack
Earlier, Russia appeared poised to respond to Obamas decision to kick out 35 suspected intelligence agents, impose sanctions on two intelligence agencies and shutter two Russian compounds in the US in the furious dispute over alleged election interference.
Trump said while he believes the US should move on to bigger and better things, he would meet with intelligence leaders next week for a briefing on the situation.
Obamas sanctions could easily be pulled back by Trump, who has insisted the president and Democrats are merely attempting to delegitimise his election.
Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said his ministry and other agencies had suggested that Putin should order the expulsion of 31 employees of the US embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the US consulate in St Petersburg.
Another suggestion in response to Obamas sanctions was barring American diplomats from using their summer retreat on the outskirts of Moscow and a warehouse south of the city.
Lavrov said the allegations that Russia interfered in the US elections were baseless. He also said Russia would not let the US sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies unanswered.
Obama delivered on a promise to punish Putins government for allegedly trying to tilt the 2016 election in Trumps favor and unveiled the steps that will inflame tensions with both Moscow and the president-elect.
US intelligence had concluded that a hack-and-release of Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton staff emails was ordered by the Kremlin and was designed to put the Republican real estate mogul in the Oval Office.
I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian governments aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election, Obama said in a statement.
In response to the hacks dubbed Grizzly Steppe by US officials Obama announced sanctions against Russias military intelligence agency, known as GRU, and the FSB, the organisation that was once known as the KGB.
Read: US sanctions Russian intel agencies for poll hacking, Trump says time to move on
President Vladimir Putin rejected calls by his foreign ministry on Friday for retaliatory action against the US expulsion of Russian diplomats and sanctions in the hope of working with president-elect Donald Trump on restoration of bilateral ties.
Calling US actions irresponsible kitchen diplomacy, Putin said in Moscow: In our future steps on the way toward the restoration of Russia-United States relations, we will proceed from the policy pursued by the administration of Donald Trump.
Trump showed a similar willingness to look beyond the hacking and retaliatory action announced by President Barack Obama on Thursday, saying in a statement, Its time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.
The US retaliated against alleged interference by Russia in the recent elections by evicting 35 diplomats posted here and announcing sanctions against two intelligence agencies, top officials and private sector entities. American authorities also cut the Russian embassys access to two recreational compounds it owned in Maryland and New York states, alleging they were being used for intelligence activities.
Moscow could have expelled a similar number of US diplomats in retaliation and announced similar sanctions as it has in the past. But Putin and Trump have seemed eager to work with each other to reverse a worsening relationship.
The US also released a report containing declassified details of how Russian intelligence agencies carry out hacking using commandeered computers around the world without the knowledge of their owners, and the malware they use.
I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian governments aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election, Obama said in a a statement. He indicated more actions might follow.
All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, he said, in a thinly veiled reference to Trump, who has insisted there is no evidence of Russian involvement in the hacking, which could have been carried out by anyone.
But Trump indicated he is willing to look at the intelligence pinning Russian involvement. I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation, he said in the same statement in which he urged every one to move on.
The sanctions and measures announced on Thursday were seen as a move by the Obama administration to force Trump into a corner on improving ties with Russia, a key foreign policy objective, reversing the downward spiral of recent years.
Lifting these sanctions could pit Trump against his own party, as many senior Republican lawmakers have openly called for a congressional investigation into Russian meddling in elections and punishing Moscow for it.
Obama had vowed to retaliate and he did on Thursday. The 35 expelled diplomats were called intelligence operatives but not linked to the hacking. That was for harassment of our diplomatic personnel in Russia in recent years.
For meddling in the elections, the US sanctioned two Russian intelligence agencies, the Main Intelligence Directorate or the GRU, and the Federal Security Service, also known as FSB, the successor to the KGB of the Soviet era.
Their respective bosses four in all too were sanctioned, which would prevent them from travelling to the US and subject their assets in the US, which would probably be nothing, to forfeiture.
The US also named three private sector entities for helping the intelligence agencies carry out the hacking. Two other Russian individuals were designated for misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information.
US authorities released a joint analysis report by the department of homeland security and the FBI containing previously classified information known only to intelligence agencies and the cybersecurity community in the private sector.
The report contains information, for instance, on how Russian hackers used computers around the world to conduct their malicious activity in a way that makes it difficult to trace back to Russia. The report also made public details of the kind of tools malware Russians use, which could help network defenders and cybersecurity firms to block them, forcing Russians to come up with something new.
The report also contains general information about how Russian intelligence carries out attacks, which could help network defenders better identify new tactics or techniques that a malicious actor might deploy or detect and disrupt an ongoing intrusion.
Russian aircraft have carried out three air strikes on Islamic State around the Syrian town of al-Bab over the past 24 hours, the Turkish military said on Friday, in what appeared to be the first Russian support for Turkish army operations in the area.
The strikes came as a nationwide ceasefire in Syria, brokered by Russia and Turkey which back opposing sides in the conflict, got off to a shaky start at midnight. Islamic State is not included in that agreement.
Read: Syria ceasefire comes into effect, rebels clash with forces in some parts
NATO member Turkey launched an incursion into Syria, dubbed Euphrates Shield, more than four months ago to drive Islamic State militants away from the border region. Turkish-backed Syrian rebel forces have besieged al-Bab for several weeks.
In a daily round-up of its military operations in the region, the Turkish military said it had received information that 12 Islamic State fighters had been killed in the Russian air strikes around al-Bab. It said the targets had been in the town and directly to its south.
Separately, the army said one Turkish soldier was killed and five wounded in an Islamic State attack to the south of al Azraq, west of al-Bab.
It said Turkish warplanes also carried out air strikes in the areas of al-Bab and Daglabash, destroying 17 IS targets and killing 26 militants.
Turkey on Monday called on members of the US-led coalition against Islamic State to provide air support for the operation around al-Bab, support which as yet has not been forthcoming.
Turkeys Syrian operations are also designed to prevent the Kurdish YPG militia, which it regards a terrorist group, from joining up cantons it controls along the Turkish border, fearing that would embolden Kurdish separatism at home.
Russia moved on Friday to expel 35 US diplomats in a tit-for-tat response to President Barack Obama unleashing a barrage of retaliatory measures against Moscow for meddling in the American election.
In televised remarks, foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said his ministry and other agencies had suggested that President Vladimir Putin order the expulsion of 31 employees of the US Embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the US consulate in St Petersburg.
Another suggestion in response to sanctions imposed by Obama was to bar American diplomats from using their summer retreat on the outskirts of Moscow and a warehouse south of the city.
Lavrov said the allegations that Russia interfered in the US elections were baseless. He also said Russia would not leave the US sanctions on Russian intelligence agencies unanswered.
Russia began eying retaliatory measures after Obama kicked out 35 suspected intelligence agents, imposed sanctions on two intelligence agencies and shuttered two Russian compounds in the US in the furious dispute over alleged election interference.
Obama delivered on a promise to punish Putins government for allegedly trying to tilt the 2016 election in Donald Trumps favor and unveiled the steps that will inflame tensions with both Moscow and the president-elect.
Read | US intelligence accuses Putin of personally directing election hack
US intelligence had concluded that a hack-and-release of Democratic Party and Hillary Clinton staff emails was ordered by the Kremlin and was designed to put the Republican real estate mogul in the Oval Office.
I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian governments aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election, Obama said in a statement.
In response to the hacks dubbed Grizzly Steppe by US officials Obama announced sanctions against Russias military intelligence agency, known as GRU, and the FSB, the organisation that was once known as the KGB.
The Obama administration also sought to expose Russias cyber tactics with a detailed technical report and hinted it might still launch a covert counterattack. All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, said Obama, who was vacationing in Hawaii. Such activities have consequences.
Trump said while he believes the US should move on to bigger and better things, he would meet with intelligence leaders next week for a briefing on the situation.
Obamas sanctions could easily be pulled back by Trump, who has insisted that the president and Democrats are merely attempting to delegitimise his election.
Read | US sanctions Russian intelligence agencies for poll hacking, Trump says time to move on
A nationwide ceasefire in Syria brokered by Russia and Turkey was in effect early Friday, a potentially major breakthrough in the nearly six-year conflict, despite reports of isolated clashes.
The deal, which does not include designated terrorists like the Islamic State group, was announced hours earlier by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition.
Read: Syria army, opposition confirm nationwide truce
While the truce was standing in most parts of the country early Friday, some fighting broke out near a Christian town in central Hama province with Islamist factions attacking regime forces, according to a monitoring group.
Fierce clashes took place between the two sides pushing regime forces to withdraw from a hill near Maharda, Abdel Rahman, head of the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, said.
Small rebel groups and armed loyalists are seeking to destroy the truce because it puts an end to their presence, he said.
Damaged buildings in al-Rai town, northern Aleppo countryside, Syria. (Reuters photo)
Elsewhere, the ceasefire was reported to be holding.
According to an AFP correspondent in Eastern Ghouta, the shelling and airstrikes stopped for more than one hour in the region after intensive shelling and raids on Thursday.
AFP correspondents in Damascus and Idlib said there had been no sound of shelling, airstrikes or clashes since midnight.
The agreement, hailed by Syrias government as a real opportunity to find a political solution to the war, comes a week after the regime recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
The deal was brokered by Russia and Turkey, which back opposing sides in the conflict, but does not involve Washington, which has negotiated previous ceasefires with Moscow.
Putin said Damascus and the main forces of the armed opposition had inked a truce and a document expressing a readiness to start peace talks.
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan described the agreement as a historic opportunity to end the Syrian conflict, which has killed more than 310,000 people and forced millions from their homes.
Putin said he will also reduce Moscows military contingent in Syria, which has been flying a bombing campaign in support of President Bashar al-Assad since last year.
The impact of Russian forces in Syria. (AFP photo)
The Kremlin strongman, however, said Russia will continue to fight terrorism in Syria and maintain its support for the regime. Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said seven opposition groups, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham, had signed the deal and those who failed to adhere will be considered terrorists.
Erdogan indicated Turkey will press on with its four-month incursion into Syria against Islamic State group jihadists and Kurdish militia.
Astana peace talks
Syrias army said the deal did not include IS and the former Al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Nusra Front, now rebranded the Fateh al-Sham Front.
That could cause complications in areas like Idlib in northwestern Syria, where Fateh al-Sham is allied with rebel groups that have signed onto the deal.
Syrias political opposition and rebels had confirmed their backing for the truce, saying it applied to all parts of the country.
The agreement is for all of Syria and contains no exceptions or preconditions, said Osama Abou Zeid, a legal adviser to rebel groups fighting under the Free Syrian Army banner.
The agreement comes after Turkey and Russia brokered a deal to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.
A boy, evacuee from a rebel-held area of Aleppo, carries blankets received as aid in al-Kamouneh camp, Idlib province, Syria. (Reuters photo)
Moscow and Ankara are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start soon in Kazakhstans capital Astana.
Now we need to do everything for these agreements to come into force, for them to work, so that the negotiating teams that have been or are being formed promptly and as soon as possible arrive in Astana, Putin said.
UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement will pave the way for productive talks in Kazakhstan, but also reiterated he wanted negotiations mediated by his office to continue early next year.
Positive development
Russia and Turkey have both said the peace talks that they will supervise were meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them entirely.
Russian foreign minister Sergei Lavrov said Russia, Turkey and Iran were arranging for the talks and pressing for other key international players to get involved.
Lavrov said Moscow will invite Egypt and try to attract other regional powers such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan.
He added that Moscow will seek to involve US President-elect Donald Trumps administration once he takes office in less than a month, but the process does not appear to involve outgoing President Barack Obamas administration.
The complex web of alliances and relations in the Syrian conflict. (AFP photo)
The US state department called the ceasefire deal a positive development and said it hoped it would lead to fresh negotiations on Syrias political future.
Abou Zeid confirmed the truce deal was intended to pave the way for new talks in Astana, with the High Negotiations Committee -- which has represented the opposition at previous negotiations -- expected to participate.
Turkey has long backed Syrias opposition, and its relations with Russia soured last year after Ankara shot down a Russian warplane.
But the two countries have worked closely of late on Syria, and Turkey was conspicuously quiet as Assads forces retook Aleppo.
A nationwide ceasefire was holding across most of Syria on Friday but clashes near Damascus underlined the fragility of the deal brokered by Turkey and Russia.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government and rebel forces were fighting in the Wadi Barada area, where opposition fighters have cut water supplies to the capital.
A resident confirmed the sound of shelling in the area on Friday morning.
Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said it was unclear who had started the clashes, with both sides blaming the other.
Syrias government had been shelling the area before the truce began at midnight as it pushes rebels there to accept a reconciliation deal and leave the area.
Among the forces present there is former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, which Syrias government says is excluded from the ceasefire.
Opposition figures however say the truce applies to all opposition-held territory, even where Fateh al-Sham is present.
Last week, rebels attacked water infrastructure in Wadi Barada and neighbouring Ain al-Fijeh, cutting supplies to the capital.
Four million people in Damascus and its suburbs have now been without water for a week, the UN says.
The clashes in Wadi Barada were the most serious of several isolated incidents of violence since the truce began.
The Observatory reported early morning clashes in the central province of Hama between the government and jihadist fighters.
Elsewhere, AFP correspondents in Eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held area outside Damascus, and Idlib province in northwest Syria reported quiet.
Real opportunity
The ceasefire is the first nationwide truce to be implemented in the country since September, and is intended to pave the way for new peace talks in Kazakhstan being organised by Russia, Turkey and Iran.
Syrias government hailed it as a real opportunity to find a political solution to the war, which has killed more than 310,000 people since it began with anti-regime protests in March 2011.
It was also welcomed by key regime ally Iran as a major achievement.
And despite being left out of the process, Washington also described the truce as a positive development.
Analysts were cautious but said the involvement of key regime backers Russia and Iran along with rebel supporter Turkey could be important.
Sam Heller, fellow at The Century Foundation, said there was real interest and urgency from Moscow and Ankara, but expressed doubts about whether Iran and Syrias government were on board.
All indications are that Iran and the regime want to continue towards a military conclusion, he said.
He said renewed fighting in Wadi Barada or Eastern Ghouta near the capital could pose major threats to the truce.
The agreement comes a week after the regime, which is backed by ally Russia, recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he would now reduce Moscows military contingent in Syria, which has been fighting on behalf of the government since last year.
But he added Russia would continue to fight terrorism and maintain its support for the government.
Talks in Astana
Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also emphasised that Ankara would continue the operation it began in August targeting the Islamic State group and Kurdish fighters.
Moscow says seven key rebel groups have signed up to the deal, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham faction, but the truce does not include jihadists such as IS or Fateh al-Sham.
But Syrias political opposition and rebels said the truce applied to all parts of the country.
The agreement includes a ceasefire in all areas held by the moderate opposition, or by the moderate opposition and elements from Fateh al-Sham, such as Idlib province, said Ahmed Ramadan, a member of the National Coalition opposition body.
Despite backing opposite sides in the conflict, Turkey and Russia have worked increasingly closely on Syria, brokering a deal this month to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.
They are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start next month in Kazakhstans capital Astana.
UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would pave the way for productive talks, but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue next year.
Russia and Turkey say the Astana peace talks are meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them.
Along with Turkey and Iran, Moscow says it wants to work with regional powers Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan on the talks.
Washington is conspicuously absent from the new process, but Moscow said it hoped to bring US President-elect Donald Trumps administration on board once he takes office in January.
Asli Erdogan, one of Turkeys most celebrated novelists, was released from jail Thursday, looking exhausted after 132 days of pre-trial detention, declaring that she could barely believe she was free.
The writer has been in prison on charges of terror propaganda on account of her links to a pro-Kurdish newspaper, in a case that has caused an international outcry over freedom of expression.
I do not realise it yet, I am in shock, she said, appearing drawn, tired and emotional in front of the Bakirkoy womens prison in Istanbul.
They take you and throw you into a hole. Its very hard, its like Im still inside, she added, before bursting into tears.
An Istanbul court ordered that Erdogan and Necmiye Alpay, an internationally prominent linguist, be released.
The pair were taken into custody in August as part of a probe into the now shut-down newspaper Ozgur Gundem, which Turkish authorities say is a mouthpiece for the outlawed Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK).
But the fate of Erdogan and Alpay, author of widely praised translations of Western novels into Turkish who had been in custody for 120 days, is still unclear.
The case against them remains active and they could still face life imprisonment if convicted. The next hearing is scheduled for January 2.
Asked by reporters what she had missed most in prison, Erdogan -- no relation to President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, the name is common in Turkey -- replied without hesitation: The sea... dancing, ballet, classical music.
I am a writer
The court also ordered the release of Ozgur Gundems editorial director Zana Kaya.
But it then emerged that a leading investigative journalist had been detained in a separate case. Ahmet Sik is accused of making terror propaganda and denigrating the Turkish Republic, the judicial authorities and police said, according to state-run Anadolu news agency.
He was arrested over a succession of tweets about the PKK, as well as articles for the Cumhuriyet opposition daily that criticised Turkish secret services.
Earlier Thursday, in her defence statement to a packed court in Istanbul, Erdogan ridiculed the charges against her. I will defend myself as if the laws existed, she said, quoted by the Hurriyet daily.
I am a writer and the purpose of my existence is to tell a story.
Erdogan, 49, and Alpay, 70, and seven other suspects -- who could also face life in jail -- linked to Ozgur Gundem have been charged in the case but not all have been under arrest.
Erdogan has published several well-received novels including The City in Crimson Cloak, which has also been translated into English.
They are being prosecuted for writings and thoughts that are in no way reprehensible according to Turkish law, said Baris Yarkadas, Istanbul MP for the opposition Republican Peoples Party (CHP).
Activists worry about a drastically worsening climate for journalists in Turkey, in particular since the state of emergency imposed in the wake of the July 15 coup attempt to topple President Erdogan.
According to the P24 Platform for Independent Journalism, 118 journalists have been arrested during the state of emergency, 80 of them within the coup probe.
Imams Army
The author of several books, Sik is one of the best-known journalists in the country and had already endured a lengthy spell in jail from 2011-2012.
He was imprisoned for 375 days during the investigation into the so-called Ergenekon alleged coup plot against the government.
That case was strongly supported by Fethullah Gulen, the US-based cleric whom Ankara blames for the failed putsch against President Erdogan.
But the convictions were quashed and suspects released amid accusations Gulen had perverted the process.
He has won numerous awards, including the UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize in 2014.
Siks books include one of the few full-scale investigations into the group of Gulen, the former ally of President Erdogan and now his arch foe.
The book, called The Imams Army examines how Gulen supporters infiltrated the Turkish bureaucracy and built up an alliance with the ruling party that has since collapsed.
The book had not even been published when Sik was arrested in March 2011 and was eventually released in November 2011 under the title 000Kitap (000Book), causing a sensation with its author still in jail.
A UK-based Sikh campaign group on Thursday said it has launched an appeal to make public the secret files believed to hold details of Britains alleged involvement in the 1984 Operation Bluestar that killed hundreds of people.
Sikh Federation UKs appeal with the UKs Information Tribunal is expected to be heard early next year.
It centres around four files withheld during an official UK government inquiry ordered by former prime minister David Cameron into Britains alleged involvement in the military action on Golden Temple in 1984. The first tier tribunal will consider this case in the New Year and it will be inappropriate to comment any further, a UK cabinet office spokesperson said.
The files include one titled UK/Indian relations: Situation in Punjab; activities of Sikh extremists; proposed visit to UK by Rajiv Gandhi in June 1985. The other documents include a Joint Intelligence Committee file on India; one with details of then British PM Margaret Thatchers meetings with a close adviser of Indira Gandhi; and other papers under India: Political related to events around Indira Gandhis assassination in October 1984.
Sikh Federation UK, which believes the closed files will shed more light on the extent of Britains alleged involvement in the military operation in Amritsar, had earlier complained to the UKs information commissioner to make these documents public but it was decided to keep the files closed as they were too sensitive.
The group has now issued an appeal against this decision on the grounds that the commissioner did not take into account the thousands of civilian casualties during the Amritsar massacre as a public interest factor in favour of disclosing the information.
In 2014, Cameron had ordered the Heywood Review into the exact nature of British involvement in the operation at Golden Temple in June 1984 after documents released previously under the 30-year declassification rule had implied British SAS commanders had advised the Indian government as it drew up plans for the removal of militants from the Sikh shrine. The report concluded that the nature of the UKs assistance was purely advisory and provided to the Indian government at an early stage of planning.
A drone strike in Yemen likely carried out by US forces on Thursday killed a local al-Qaeda chief and his guard, a security official said.
The strike hit a vehicle at Sawmaa in Al-Bayda province, killing Jalal al-Seydi, who was the emir of al-Qaeda in the town of Loder, in the neighbouring southern province of Abyan, the official said.
The United States is the only country operating drones over Yemen, but it only sporadically reports on the long-running bombing campaign against the countrys powerful al-Qaeda branch.
The US authorities consider al-Qaedas Yemen-based franchise, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, to be its most dangerous.
AQAP and the Islamic State group have exploited a power vacuum created by the conflict between the government and Shia Huthi rebels to expand their presence in Yemen, especially in the south and southeast.
The US-led coalition against the Islamic State (IS) group is likely to have killed civilians in an air strike on a hospital car park in northern Iraq on Thursday, officials said.
The Iraqi army, supported by the coalition, began the second phase of its offensive to retake Iraqs second city of Mosul, which has been under IS control for more than two years.
The coalition aircraft targeted a van carrying ISIL fighters in the area, according to CENTCOM, the US military command for the Middle East, using an alternate acronym for the IS group.
The strike took place in what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties, a statement read.
IS fighters had been observed firing an anti-tank gun before loading the weapon in the van and driving off, CENTCOM added, promising the incident will be fully investigated and the findings released in a timely and transparent manner.
The coalition said it was taking extensive precautions to avoid killing civilians during its bombings of IS group targets. It routinely uses precision-guided bombs or missiles to hit targets that are often observed by drones for hours before being hit.
But the coalition has already admitted to killing at least 173 civilians in its strikes in Iraq and Syria since the start of its campaign against the IS group, a number which independent observers believe is greatly understated.
The London-based NGO Airwars estimates the coalition campaign has actually killed more than 2,000 civilians.
The United States retaliated Thursday to alleged interference by Russia in recent elections by evicting 35 of its diplomats posted here and announcing sanctions against its intelligence agencies and top officials and private sector entities.
American authorities also cut Russian embassys access to two recreational compounds it owned in Maryland and New York states, alleging they were being used for carrying out intelligence activities, but gave no details.
And they released a report containing declassified details of how Russian intelligence agencies carry out hacking using commandeered computers around the world without the knowledge of their owners, and the malware they use.
I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian governments aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election, President Barack Obama said in a a statement. He indicated more actions may follow.
All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, he added, in a thinly veiled reference to President-elect Donald Trump, who has insisted there was no evidence of Russian hand in the hacking, which could have been carried out by anyone.
The sanctions and measures announced Thursday was also seen as an attempt by the Obama administration to force Trump into a corner on improving ties with Russia and its president Vladimir Putin, one of his key foreign policy objectives.
Lifting these sanctions could pit him against his own Republican party, whose many senior lawmakers have openly called for a congressional investigation into Russian meddling in elections and punishing Moscow for them.
Its time for our country to move on to bigger and better things, Trump said in a statement, but added, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation.
The entire US intelligence community, comprising 16 separate entities, issued a statement in October fingering Russia for the hacking of Democratic National Committee computer system networks, and later accused Putin of personal involvement.
Moscow, which has denied any role in the hacking or rejected allegations that it interfered in US elections, has said US actions announced Thursday were being studied and a reciprocal response can be expected.
The US has called the 35 expelled diplomats intelligence operatives but did not link them to the hacking. Their expulsion was blamed on harassment of our diplomatic personnel in Russia by security personnel and police over last two years.
For meddling in elections, the US has sanctioned two of Russia top intelligence agencies, the Main Intelligence Directorate (also known as GRU), and the Federal Security Service (also known as FSB, successor to USSRs KGB).
Their respective bosses four in all have also been sanctioned, which would prevent them from traveling to the US and subject their assets in the US, which would probably be nothing, to forfeiture, as of their agencies.
The US also named three private sector entities for helping the intelligence agencies carry out the hacking. Two other Russian individuals were designated for misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information.
US authorities also released a joint analysis report by the department of homeland security and the FBI containing previously classified information known only to US intelligence and the cybersecurity community in the private sector.
The report contains information, for instance, on how Russian intelligence hackers use computers around the world without their owners knowledge to conduct their malicious activity in a way that makes it difficult to trace back to Russia.
The report also makes public details of the kind of tools malware Russians use, which could help network defenders and cybersecurity firms to block them, forcing Russians to come up with something new.
The report also contains general information about how Russian intelligence carry out attacks, which could network defenders better identify new tactics or techniques that a malicious actor might deploy or detect and disrupt an ongoing intrusion.
US intelligence has alleged that Russian state hackers attacked Democratic partys network and passed on the stolen data to WikiLeaks that released them in small tranches in the concluding stages of the presidential campaign.
The intention, US intelligence has said, was to undermine Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, who, as secretary of state, had earned Putins wrath for criticizing his election in 2011 and helped Trump win the presidency.
Clinton has blamed her defeat on the hacking calling it an attack on the US and the release of a letter from FBI director James Comey about investigations into her use of a private email server in the end stages of the campaign.
Death came for Tom Waggoner at the end of a rope strung from a cottonwood tree in Wyoming on June 4, 1891. More than two weeks passed from the time of the lynching before anyone found his body, its feet resting on the ground and legs bent, as the rope had stretched before rigor mortis set in. The rope had cut through the flesh after it became rotten, and maggots held high carnival over the lifeless body, The Newcastle Journal reported. His face had turned black, half his mustache had sloughed off, and his eyes had swollen and burst. According to the June 10 Journal, public opinion handled Waggoners name rather recklessly in connection with the disappearance of livestock.
The hanging was one in a series of violent acts orchestrated by Wyomings cattle barons in the lead-up to the 1892 Johnson County War. Notable incidents included the double lynching of Ellen Liddy Cattle Kate Watson and Jim Averill in 1889, and the attempted murder of Nathan D. Nate Champion and Ross Gilbertson just five months after the Waggoner lynching.
At the time of his death Waggoner was in his early 30s, of medium height and build, with a swarthy complexion and dark, beady eyes. He was not known for being particularly sociable or hospitable, which left locals in the dark about his doings. The cattlemen and their range detectives said Waggoner was an abominable thief and middleman who simply stole any horses he could catch, changed their brands and branded their colts.
The district court had recently indicted Waggoner for living with a woman named Rosa Chuler. That in turn prompted a follow-up visit by local authorities, including Joe Elliott, a range detective for the Wyoming Stock Growers Association who was developing a reputation as a ruthless enforcer. The men compelled Tom to marry Rosa, who some said was mentally deficient. She had borne two children by Waggoner and was expecting a third when he was lynched in June.
The family lived a wretched existence. Everything was squalor and misery and filth, the Journal reported on what investigators found that summer. Their log hovel comprised two rooms separated by a covered way in which a buggy was stored. One room was a stable. The living space held scarcely a stick of furniture, not even a bed. There was nothing but a bench, a few boxes and short logs turned on end as seats.
According to reports in The Buffalo Bulletin, Waggoner worked as a criminal middleman, selling off horses other parties had stolen from as far away as Idaho. Range detective William C. Billy Lykins shared a telling story with Elliott about Waggoners doings, an account that has the ring of authority. Elliott related the story to interviewer B.W. Hope in the early 1940s. Lykins claimed Waggoner had stolen several fine horses from a group of passing emigrants, and once the pilgrims had soaked long enough, he paid them a neighborly visit. When they told him their horses had been stolen, Waggoner, feigning ignorance, said the big cattlemen had stolen stock from him, too. He told them he knew where their horses were, who had them, and offered to get them back. Thanking Waggoner, the unwitting group wrote out a bill of sale to cover him if confronted while bringing in their horses. Waggoner then brought in a bunch of cayuses hed found in the hills and wished the emigrants well in their travels. As soon as theyd moved on, he took the horses hed stolen down to Lincoln, Neb., and, with bill of sale in hand, sold them.
Elliott claimed Waggoner had also stolen a team of good horses from him and changed their brands. The horses, however, got away and came straight back to Elliott. He learned the nature of their disappearance when a pair of Waggoners hired hands informed on their boss. Sometime later Elliott entered a liquor store in Merino (present-day Upton, Wyo.) to find Waggoner perched on a barrel. When Elliott confronted him about stealing the horses and doctoring the brands, Waggoner replied, What the hell are you going to do about it? At that Elliott took off his hat and smacked Waggoner across the face with it.
To Elliotts surprise Waggoner did nothing. I thought hed get up, but he didnt, the cattleman recalled. I threatened then to get him, and when he turned up missing, everybody put two and two together and knew that I was the man who had done that job. Elliott said hed get himand hes done it. Yet even as he seemed to admit his own guilt, Elliott claimed to have learned of the killing through Waggoners wife, Rosa.
About an hour after sunrise on June 4 three riders showed up at Waggoners ranch with a bay packhorse in tow. Rosa thought they were dressed suspiciously, as if to avoid recognition. They asked for directions and left, then returned two hours later. Rosa said one of the men had red hair and a red mustache, which she thought looked false. He was wearing a cap with fur earflaps, goggles, blue overalls and a black leather coat. That man stood 6 or 8 inches taller than her husband. Another she described as heavyset and wearing a full-length slicker. The third, she said, was middle-sized.
Rosa said the bigger man walked up to Tom and said, We want to get rid of you. That should have been warning enough for the couple, but Tom continued to chat calmly with Rosa, telling her he thought the men were cow owners, though he didnt recognize any of them.
But then one of the bigger men drew a gun, while the middle-sized man took Waggoners revolver and handcuffed him. The trio took him to the corral, retrieved a saddle from the stable and readied Waggoners horse. After hoisting Waggoner into the saddle, the men tied his feet beneath the horse.
John Waggoner, Toms brother, lived on the ranch and was present that morning. He claimed to have recognized one of the trio as a former hand with the Hash Knife outfit, and that two of the men had taken part in a recent local roundup. The men, however, claimed to be sheriffs from Sundance and rode off with their captive.
When Toms riderless horse arrived back on the ranch nearly two weeks later, an alarmed John Waggoner headed into Merino to find Ed Fitch, a local who might know something about his brothers arrest. Fitch suggested they ask Elliott, who had been riding that country and would know of any outstanding warrants.
I had a good idea what must have happened, Elliott recalled of his reaction to the news of Toms disappearance. I said, Hes been hung.
According to Elliott, the men then rode out to search the ranch. They [Fitch and Waggoner] went down one gulch, Elliott said, and I went down another, and I found him. To avoid any suspicion of involvement in the crime, however, he said nothing of finding the body and instead returned to the ranch. He wanted the other two to find it. In time they did, then the three men lit out for Merino.
Returning to the ranch with a party of men, they lowered the body into a crude coffin and buried Tom near the cottonwood tree, wearing the clothes, boots and spurs hed had on when found.
News of the lynching caused a stir in the region. On June 26 the Omaha World-Heraldnoting that Waggoners reach had extended from Montana to Nebraskaspeculated that stockmen from the Big Horn Basin had hanged him, as rustlers and middlemen like Waggoner had plagued them severely for years. More of such work is to follow, the paper added. It was frequently repeated that Waggoner was to go by the necktie route. In a strange twist, the paper reported, Deputy Sheriff Fred Coates, though suspicioned as one of the hangmen, was appointed administrator of Waggoners estate.
At the time Elliott denied having had any part in the lynching, claiming instead to have been on the Rosebud River with one Sheriff Willy, pursuing a prisoner for Johnson County Sheriff William Red Angus. That may be true, but Elliott also made many self-incriminating remarks. I know that for lots of people in that country there never was any mystery about who hung [sic] Waggoner, he told interviewer Hope in the early 1940s. They know and always have known that I did it.
That wasnt the end of Joe Elliotts shady doings in Wyoming. By years end he and Sheriff Coates were rumored suspects in the attempted murder of Champion and Gilbertson in a line shack on the Powder River. The lynching of Cattle Kate and Jim Averill two years earlier, the Waggoner lynching and the attempt on Nate Champion and Ross Gilbertson were all precursors of the Johnson County War, which broke out in April 1892 (see Champion of the Johnson County War, by Ron Soodalter, in the April 2011 Wild West) and required the intervention of the U.S. Cavalry before.
Originally published in the June 2015 issue of Wild West. To subscribe, click here.
US President Barrack Obama issued sanctions to the Russian government, including the expulsion of Russia's 35 intelligence operatives on the US soil in relation to the hacking incident that affected the results of the 2016 US Presidential Elections.
Obama issued an executive order to several US government agencies giving them additional authority for responding cyber-attacks that are perpetrated by Russia that undermine the results of US election by breaching into the computer system of various US institutions.
Covered in the sanction orders are nine entities including the GRU and the FSB, two Russian intelligence services, four individual officers of the GRU, and three companies that provided support to the GRU cyber operations. The US State Department was also directed to shut down two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes. The US government has also declared 35 Russian intelligence officers as "persona non grata".
Obama also pointed out that the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are also releasing declassified technical information on Russian civilian and military intelligence service cyber activity to help network defenders in the United States and abroad identify, detect, and disrupt Russia's global campaign of malicious cyber activities.
"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," said Obama in a statement released by The White House.
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News, events, history, and other mid-week tidbits.
Tuesday, October 25, 4:30 7 p.m.
Orr Area EMS Open House
Brats and burgers will be served. Event includes a new ambulance tour and blood pressure screenings. For more info: 218-780-3798.
Orr Fire Hall
4540 Lake St., Orr
Tuesday, October 25, 12 6 p.m.
Essentia Health Job Fair
Talent recruiters and department managers will be on-site at Essentia Health-Virginia. Candidates from all backgrounds are encouraged to attendnurses, nursing and clinical assistants, surgery technicians, radiology technicians, respiratory therapists, human resource professionals, and those interested in environmental services or nutrition services. Essentia staff will greet candidates, conduct an initial screening and filter them to appropriate hiring managers for interviews. Select candidates will be verbally offered a position before leaving. Candidates are asked to bring a resume, but its not required. Attire is business casual. For more info: www.essentiacareers.org.
901 9th St. N., Virginia
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Floyd Mayweather is somewhat of an expert when it comes to strip clubs, so much so that he has decided to open his own spot in Las Vegas called Girl Collection. Floyd announced plans to open his very own strip joint over the Summer and now hes almost ready for the grand opening.
According to the Las Vegas Sun, Girl Collection will be located at 2580 S. Highland Drive, near Sahara Avenue and Interstate 15, the the site of the former Sheris Cabaret, and is expected to open soon.
Emerick [Floyds attorney] said Mayweather acquired a tavern-limited license, which allows for the sale of alcoholic beverages, and a topless club license, as well as the normal business licenses required by Las Vegas. The tavern license carries a $20,000 origination fee and an $800 semi-annual fee. Everything about Floyd is part of the procedure and everything was disclosed. Its all public record, Emerick said. Its gone very smoothly. Floyd lives in Las Vegas. Hes part of the community and he has abided by every procedure and application process and submitted everything timely and successfully.
The 6,000 sq. foot building will serve as a high end cabaret, a topless club that is allowed to serve alcohol, unlike the all-nude clubs that are prohibited from selling booze in Southern Nevada.
Girl Collection will reportedly go after high end clientele and feature multiple rooms that can be reserved for groups, as well as private one-on-one VIP rooms. Each private room has its own TV monitor, as does every urinal in the up-scale mens room. There will also be another bar upstairs in a luxurious private area that can be reserved for parties.
Mayweather is hoping the club will be open within the next month.
Girl Collection
New York City-based streetwear brand KITH are the kings of collaboration. Theyve seemingly teamed up with everyone under the sun, but are adding one more brand to their checklist: Coca-Cola. The soft drink maker may not seem like an immediate fit for a streetwear brand, but KITH makes it work. Check out shots from their latest lookbook in the gallery above.
The designs draw from all over Cokes long history, from their iconic cursive script to the polar bears from their 90s advertisements. Always looking for the esoteric, a number of the designs include Cokes branding in different languages (mostly Asia). The collections includes sweatshirts, denim jackets, hoodies, tee shirts, hats and pins. There will also be Coke Float option in the KITH Treats section of their stores if you can get to a physical location.
The collection is meant to commemorate the opening of two new KITH stores: KITH Miami and KITH Aspen. It drops tomorrow Saturday, December 31 in store and online and will undoubtedly sell out.
Kith-CocaCola
Well heres a great story that probably wont get the attention it should. Out of the kindness of his own heart, Lil Wayne decided to make a stop at the Children Hospital in New Orleans recently, and visit a kid (named Kiron) who was shot back on December 9th and was paralyzed from the waist down after having a bullet stuck in his spine.
Wayne visited Childrens Hospital of New Orleans the day after Christmas while he was at home for the holidays, a rep reportedly told XXL. The purpose of the visit wasnt for any special reason or for publicity. He just had it on his heart to visit these kids in hopes to brighten up their holiday a little more.
If only more artists could be like the best rapper alive and do things like this. Peep the photo captured by LilWayne HQ (above) and Shaderooms (below).
Lil Wayne
Trey Songz was released from the Detroit Detention Center earlier today, after he was arrested following an onstage meltdown at the Big Show at the Joe concert last night. He began acting belligerently and throwing heavy objects after the event staff cut him off mid-performance, as he had apparently gone past his allotted set time. Police eventually rushed the stage, and according to the Detroit prosecutor, Trey struck an officer in the head, causing him to be taken to the hospital with a concussion. Trey was charged with assaulting a police officer and causing injury as well as aggravated assault.
After posting his $25,000 bail, Trey was driven away from the detention center, and on his way out, his car was greeted by a swarm of reporters as well as fans. Trey ignored the reporters, though he took the time to kiss one fan on the cheek and offer selfies to a group of overjoyed young women. Reporters tried to get a statement while he was posing for selfies, but Trey sternly told them to back off, saying, Scuse me, shes trying to take a picture.
While at the detention center, Trey apparently signed autographs for other inmates and even delivered a rendition of Silent Night, reports Koco McAboy of WDIV Detroit.
Trey is set to appear in court on January 5. Find his smiley mugshot below.
Trey Songz
Keith Avila, a 34-year-old Uber driver in Sacramento, had to play crime-stopper once he suspected some illicit activity was taking place in his vehicle. Two women got in his car with a teenage girl and asked to be driven to a nearby Holiday Inn in Elk Grove. Avila was first concerned by the girls dress, which he thought to be inappropriate for someone her age. He then overheard the women speaking as though he wasnt present instructing the girl about what to do once she got to the hotel. Thats when he suspected that he had found himself as a witness to a sex trafficking operation.
The women spoke of delivering the girl to a certain man at the hotel, where a monetary transaction was set to take place. Once he dropped them off, Avila drove to a safe area nearby, called police, and then went on Facebook Live to explain what had just happened in his car.
He relayed the instructions that the women had apparently given to the girl:
First thing you want to do is ask: Do you have any weapons? When youre hugging him, just ask, do you have any weapons? Pat him down. Pat him down while youre hugging him. Get the donation, first. Before you start touching him, going in there, get the donation first.
Police soon arrived at the scene and detained the two women, who turned out to be 25-year-old Destiny Pettway and 31-year-old Maria Westley. They then found the girl in a hotel room with a man who has been identified as 20-year-old Disney Vang.
The girls identity has not been disclosed, though it has been revealed that she is 16 years old and that she is a runaway. Authorities are currently trying to locate her parents or guardians, and until then, she will reportedly remain in an alternative housing situation.
Pettway and Westley were both arrested and charged with pimping and pandering. Their bail has been set at $500,000. Vang was also arrested and charged with suspicions of sexual activity with a minor, though he posted bail and was released on Tuesday.
Watch Avilas Facebook Live video below.
Uber
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The 1940 Air Terminal Museum at Hobby Airport is a relic from the early days of commercial aviation, a romanticized era when flying was still exciting and glamorous.
The art deco building was Houston's main aviation hub from 1940 to 1955, and it created the foundation for Houston's now extensive route network.
"It served a lot of purposes for the city of Houston," said Geoff Scripture, collections manager for the 1940 Air Terminal Museum. "It made access to the city much easier travel wise. It expanded the business end. The ability to get to far-off destinations much quicker and much more safely, including international destinations."
Today, it displays uniforms, photos and other memorabilia from those early years. The Houston Aeronautical Heritage Society began its efforts to renovate the terminal building in 1998, and it took 11 years to open the entire ground floor as a museum. Board members approved a plan in November to guide the museum's next three to five years, which includes renovating the upstairs for new exhibits, cleaning and repainting the building's exterior and improving the museum's marketing.
"It's a very important piece of history, and we all feel so passionate about it," said Amy Rogers, managing director of the museum.
Scripture, 69, has helped develop and create some of the museum's exhibits. When he's not guiding people through the various pins, banners and model aircraft, he works in the archives.
"I really don't want to start a third career, but it's hard not to get really involved in this," said Scripture, who retired from Continental Airlines in 2011 as it was consolidating with United Airlines.
Scripture likes to start his tours with the building's history. The marble floors, Texas limestone around the columns and hallways, aluminum handrails and chandelier are all original. And the terminal's first two airlines were Braniff Airways and Eastern Air Lines.
The Braniff flight attendants were famous for the so-called Braniff strip, where they removed coats and other layers during their service. And at one point, their uniforms involved a bright harlequin outfit with dress, tights and hat in the same pattern.
Near the exhibit on Eastern Air Lines, a checklist shows what flight attendants were evaluated on, such as their personality, smile, appearance, ticketing service and passenger visits. Another throwback is the display of silverware and china.
"You don't see this too much anymore unless you're sitting up in the pointy end of the airplane," Scripture said.
One of the museum's more extensive exhibits is dedicated to Continental Airlines and the carriers that preceded it, including Trans-Texas Airways that first flew in 1947.
Scripture likes to show this history through personal stories. Captain A.J. High, for instance, took his first airplane ride in 1938 from barnstormers. Barnstormers used to fly from town to town providing flights and performing aerial stunts that were impressive for those days. High taught himself to fly and was a pilot in the military before working at Mercury Airlines. He spent four years as the vice president of Trans-Texas Airways/Texas International Airlines, and he eventually retired as a pilot at Continental.
Another plaque accompanied by a string of pearls, wings and buttons talks about Amy Childress, who was a flight attendant at Continental. She worked her way up to assistant supervisor of flight attendants based in Chicago and later Los Angeles. She also became a base manager for flight attendants.
Most of the museum's items were donated by former airline employees. And whatever Scripture can't display, he stores in archives.
Located in an airplane hangar the oldest remaining structure at Hobby Airport the archives have about 300 boxes filled with treasures. Uniforms hang around the room's periphery, old scrapbooks have yellowed newspaper clippings and maintenance manuals are organized by aircraft or engine type.
"I look at it not so much for the monetary value of the item, but for the story it tells," Scripture said. "The history that keeps it alive."
There's also big stuff, like equipment from an old flight service station that provided pilots with weather briefings and flight planning assistance. And a vintage 1964 Piper Cherokee 180 awaits the museum's annual raffle. Participants can win that plane by buying a $50 ticket.
For Scripture, who is a pilot and spent more than 35 years in airport and airline management, the museum keeps him involved in the industry. He began and ended his career in Houston, so it's fun to run into old friends and friends of friends. The museum's visitors have unique stories to tell.
"I like the people that I meet coming in the front door," he said.
SAN FRANCISCO - Seven oil companies, including petroleum giant Chevron Corp., have been given until the end of the week by state officials to stop their decades-old practice of injecting oily wastewater into Central Valley aquifers or face penalties.
The state Division of Oil, Gas and Geothermal Resources ordered the companies to stop pumping wastewater from drilling operations into 10 underground aquifers, which the companies were using despite federal rules protecting the groundwater.
The regulations require 30 active injection wells to be closed by Dec. 31 or "we would pursue legal action and/or penalties," said Teresa Schilling, spokeswoman for the resources agency. Violations carry fines of $2,500 to $25,000 apiece. Schilling said most operators are complying or have already complied with the order.
None of the aquifers is now used for drinking water, but environmentalists say they could be tapped in the future.
"The 10 aquifers in question were supposed to be protected by the state, but a bureaucratic snafu led officials to believe that the oil companies had obtained exemptions under the U.S. Safe Drinking Water Act.
The oil companies had been dumping leftover water from drilling for three decades by the time state regulators found out in 2014 that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had never granted them permission to do so.
There is no evidence that drinking water in the Central Valley has been contaminated, but the revelation caused a furor and prompted lawmakers to demand reforms at the state agency that regulates oil field operations.
"Chevron has developed alternative plans and will not be injecting into the aquifer subject to the Dec. 31, 2016, regulatory deadline," company spokeswoman Isabel Ordonez said in a statement.
California's oil fields contain large amounts of salty water, the remains of an ancient sea. As a result, oil drillers suck up 15 barrels of water for every barrel of oil they reap.
If the water is clean enough, it can be treated and used for irrigation. But most of it contains other substances too, including boron and toxins that can poison groundwater and kill birds. The recommended way to get rid of it is to inject it into the ground, preferably into the oil-bearing formation or deep enough so that it won't seep into an aquifer.
The problem is that for 33 years, state regulators have allowed oil companies to inject billions of barrels of wastewater into aquifers that contained water clean enough to be used for drinking or irrigation. Recent studies indicate that some of the injections may have caused earthquakes.
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Regina Vatterott never imagined creating a tech startup around smart pillboxes for baby boomers.
The idea came from Abe Matamoros, whose grandfather grew sick after forgetting to take his pills three days in a row.
Their joint project, EllieGrid, a pillbox that sends text alerts to loved ones if a person forgets to take their medicine, met its $40,000 fund-raising goal early on Indiegogo. The pair have now raised more than $59,000, acquired angel investors and made plans to begin manufacturing in Houston this year.
EllieGrid is just one example of how Houston's startup scene is tapping into the emerging longevity market, a tech market geared at products and services made for the 50-and-over set.
An annual report from AARP found that the age group generates $7.6 trillion in economic activity, with many in this demographic remaining employed longer and determined to stay active as they age.
Marketing expert Mary Furlong, founder of the Silicon Valley Boomer Venture Summit, said technology can address these desires. The biggest sectors, she found, are health, wellness and housing, be it aging in place or living in a retirement community.
There's growing interest in such service sectors as beauty and travel as well.
Nadia Morris, head of innovation at the AT&T Connected Health Foundry within the Texas Medical Center, said startups are rushing to address the size of the baby-boomer generation.
"There are not enough people to take care of people as they age," Morris said.
With births now declining, and an average of 10,000 people turning 65 in the U.S. each day, there's growing pressure on the generation of adults juggling older parents and children of their own. AARP found that by 2030 there will be 132 million consumers in the 50-plus market.
In part, that's why startups catering to the longevity market won't have too hard a time generating interest in the market, particularly when selling to businesses built around retirement communities.
Charles Turner, president of Houston-based Pinpoint Senior Living, which develops and operates senior living communities across the U.S. through its Lifewell arm, said the company is in the process of creating an investment wing.
"I could see that this market was very underdeveloped in terms of the use of technology," Turner said.
The goal is to invest in technology that can collect data to improve residents' quality of life while also not forcing them to fit a millennial mold for technology use, he added.
For example, the Katy community serves as a testing lab for the company. Exercise machines there are powered by a hydraulic press that can lock at a weight limit to prevent overexertion.
Residents on average see a 286 percent increase in strength.
"I'm much stronger than I was at home sitting in front of the TV," said resident Carol McKinney, 69, who regularly uses the workout machines.
For more general data collection, residents' rooms contain sensors that keep track of how long residents stay in bed or spend in the bathroom. The sensors can send an alert to the staff if they detect significant changes, Turner said.
Turner's company also is set to pilot a smart wearable that tracks motion and can be particularly helpful with residents who have dementia or Alzheimer's and could wander off.
For all the good they can offer, startups hoping to enter the longevity market will face challenges.
It can be more costly and more time-consuming to develop products that, for example, must work for people of varying levels of motor skills and touch screens that allow for more mistakes, said Dougal Cameron, co-founder and managing director of the Houston-based Golden Section Technology software firm.
Cameron, who personally invests in startups in the longevity market and whose firm is starting to tap into the market as well, said it can be harder to get investors' attention. That's especially true when competing against the millennial market.
"In the tech space, it's not sexy," he said. "Nobody wants to develop an app for a grandparent."
Yet startups like iShoe, which makes balance scales detecting a person's risk of falling, continue their work in the longevity market. The company, part of the inaugural TMCx accelerator class, sees opportunity in advances in the Internet of Things and products like wearable technology, CEO Katherine Forth said.
"The time is now to make technology to help older adults," she said.
Earlier in 2016, Patrick Talley opened the first Houston branch of Aging 2.0, a San Francisco company focused on creating startup networks focused on longevity needs.
He cited the Medical Center; the AT&T Foundry, which has a focus on aging-in-place technology like floorboards that detect and send out an alert when someone has fallen; the city's growing number of retirement communities; and the city's growing baby boomer population.
Talley hopes to create relationships between startups, caregiving businesses and investors based in Houston to build up the market in the city as experts say the next few years may show gains in investor activity.
At 103 years of age, George McDowell has earned the right to live by his own rules.
He's got seven of them, a list formed about 30 years ago when he was in his 70s. A couple of his favorites hanging out with younger people and having a cocktail every day ended up forming the highlight of his week: a neighborhood Friday night happy hour.
A decade ago when McDowell's wife Rae died she was 90 he invited his Meyerland neighbors over for a cocktail.
McDowell was 93 then, and admits he was the oldest person there. But it was apparent that his neighbors, all a decade or two younger, were hungry for companionship and conversation, too.
They each had a cocktail and talked about the week's events and agreed to come back again the next week. Eventually they started rotating the host home, but McDowell says the group is still going strong.
Getting around isn't as easy as it once was, and he suffers from macular degeneration, but otherwise McDowell, a retired Air Force colonel, is in good health. He broke a hip last year and suffered a minor stroke so staying at home requires the help of 24-hour caregivers.
One recent trip out of the house was to Gallery Furniture, because McDowell had worn out his favorite recliner, a soft chenille Franklin power-lift version that helps him get up more easily. His daughter Linda Novosad, said it was originally purchased 14 years ago for her mother, who needed the help it provided after she broke a hip. (When Gallery Furniture owner Jim McIngvale learned McDowell's story, he gave him the chair as a gift.)
More Information 7 rules for living past 70 Stay intellectually challenged. When past age 70, associate with nothing but younger people. Exercise every day. (Hire a personal trainer if you can.) Get at least 7 hours of sleep every night between age 70 and 80. Between 80 and 90, get 8 hours of sleep. Between 90 and 100, get 9 hours and over 100, get 9.5 hours. Take a one-hour nap every day between 1 and 5 p.m. After that nap, have a bourbon old-fashioned. When leaving your doctor's office, if he doesn't shout "Whatever you're doing, keep doing it!" get a new doctor! See More Collapse
After her death, it became George McDowell's favorite spot for watching the news on TV.
The Dallas-area native keeps his life interesting now, but his earlier years were even more so.
Born in 1913, he graduated from the North Texas Agricultural College now the University of Texas-Arlington during the Great Depression. Jobs were scarce, so he applied to military schools, ending up at West Point, the U.S. Military Academy, his daughter, Linda Novosad said.
When he talks about the world events he's lived through, he includes his military career, which ranged from initially being assigned to a horse-drawn artillery unit in Oklahoma to working on the staff of U.S. Gen. George S. Patton in Morocco where they planned the invasion of Africa and eventually working in London during the Cold War, installing underground ballistic missiles that were aimed at the then-Soviet Union.
"I've seen remarkable changes," said McDowell, the only living member of his graduating class and the second-oldest West Point graduate. (There's another in Florida who's 105, Novosad said.)
Of the controversial and colorful Patton another West Point grad McDowell said he "stayed away from him" as much as he could.
McDowell shifted into the U.S. Air Force after it was created, and retired in 1961 as a colonel, his daughter said.
She said she lived an exciting childhood, moving between Washington D.C. and various cities around the world until she went to college in Texas. She recalled living in post-war London, where her parents let her roam the city as long as she was with her older brother, Lawrence.
"Some people think if you grow up in the military that your father's a drill sergeant. Daddy wasn't that way; he was very gentle and quiet," Novosad said.
When he finally retired, McDowell and his wife moved to Houston where he helped start Clark, McDowell and Kic Inc., a real estate management company. A certified property manager, McDowell also taught classes in the subject at the University of Houston back in the 1970s.
Today he passes time by living the seven rules he wrote down years ago. He took up oil painting to stay stimulated and goes for walks two or three times a week. He gets plenty of sleep, sees his doctor occasionally and hangs out with his younger friends, who've switched to drinking beer, he says.
He's sticking by what works a bourbon old-fashioned.
Editor's note: Ernie Williamson - who enjoyed a storied career at both the Houston Chronicle and Houston Post and now calls himself a "retired journalist" - graciously allowed us to repost this remembrance of Debbie Reynolds from his Facebook page. Thanks, Ernie!
While working for the Burbank Daily Review during a summer break from college in the '60s , I was assigned to do a story on Debbie Reynolds. She had been Miss Burbank of 1950.
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If spending more time outdoors is on your list of things to try in 2017, Texas Parks & Wildlife has a plan for you.
Start the new year off at one of the 80 state parks hosting First Day Hikes. More than 3,000 people visited the parks on Jan. 1 of this year, and they hiked about 6,500 miles, estimates Brent Leisure, director of Texas State Parks.
First Day Hikes events range from laid-back strolls on scenic trails to backcountry treks.
"We have hikes short and long, bike rides, bird walks, paddling, even polar plunges," said Stephanie Salinas, spokesperson for Texas Parks and Wildlife.
Balmorhea State Park will host a Splash into the Future polar plunge, while visitors can hike with their dogs in Pedernales Falls State Park. Closer to home, Galveston State Park is inviting people to kayak its waters, go beachcombing and take the dog on a walk down the beach.
Sheldon Lake State Park will offer a one-hour First Day Bike Ride in addition to its Bird Walk and Scavenger Hunt.
"Come out and learn something new," said ranger Hannah Buschert, Sheldon Lake State Park interpreter.
Both beginning and advanced birders are invited to scout for ruby-crowned kinglets, yellow-bellied sapsuckers and great kiskadees on an easy 1-mile hike, Buschert said.
At Lake Livingston State Park, visitors can ring in the new year around the campfire - roasting marshmallows, drinking hot chocolate and watching fireworks on the shoreline with ranger Joel Janssen.
"We want to encourage people to start the new year fresh with a helathier lifestlye," Salinas said. "And there's no better place to do that than at a state park."
Here's a rundown of what's happening at nearby parks:
Lake Livingston State Park
11 p.m.-midnight Saturday. At the First Day Campfire, visitors can write down resolutions for 2017 and throw them into the fire in the hope that they will happen. The campfire will be on the peninsula near the park's activity center. Bring a bottle of water and wear comfortable, flat-soled shoes. Leashed pets are welcome. Regular park admission fees of $5 per adult ages 13 and older apply; no additional charge for activities. No reservations necessary.
300 Park Road 65, Livingston, 936-365-2201, ext. 306
Sheldon Lake State Park
All programs are free and will begin at the Pond Center.
8 a.m. Sunday. Kick Off Your List Bird Walk. Take this 1-mile walk through the forest and along ponds while searching for bird species. Bring binoculars, water, closed-toe shoes and bird checklist.
10 a.m. Sunday. First Day Bike Ride. Visitors can ride their bikes through the park. To register for this event, call 281-456-2800 ext. 232.
3 p.m. Sunday. Scavenger Hunt. Park guests can win prizes by finding things in the park. The easy 1-mile hike is suitable for all ages and abilities.
14140 Garrett Road, 281-456-2800
Huntsville State Park
10 a.m.-11:30 a.m. Sunday. Huntsville is offering a guided hike through the Piney Woods.
Meet at the Prairie Branch Loop Trailhead for a 1.5-mile hike lakeside and through the pines. Bring water. Pets on leashes are welcome.
565 Park Road 40 W., Huntsville, 936-295-5644
Galveston Island State Park
The park offers three First Day options with ranger Lisa Reznicek.
10 a.m.-noon Sunday. Be ready for winter weather on the guided Holiday Kayak Tour into Galveston Bay. The adult paddling program has limited spaces available; RSVP is required. Reserve a spot for quick instruction/refresher. Free gear rental. Starting location is the Oak Bayou picnic area.
1-2 p.m. Sunday. Beachcombing expedition includes shell-hunting workshop and identification. Bring: park permit, clothes and shoes that can get wet, water bottle, pail for collecting shells and a camera (optional).
3-4 p.m. Sunday. Happy Tails Dog Stroll. Visitors and their pets meet near picnic tables at the day-use beach, then head onto the sand for relaxing stroll to socialize and exercise your dog.
14901 FM 3005, Galveston, 409-737-1222
Brazos Bend State Park
Visitors will want to read the park's alligator safety tips before they arrive.
10-11:30 a.m. Sunday. Visitors can learn about the native plants and animals as well as park history on a 1-mile guided hike.
1-5 p.m. Sunday. For the Backcountry Trail Hike, hikers will meet at the Nature Center to explore 9 miles of the park's off-the-beaten track trails. Bring snacks and water.
5-6:30 p.m. Sunday. First Day Bird Blizzard and Night Hike. Visitors should meet at the Observation Tower on 40-Acre Lake for a 1-mile roundtrip hike to watch as flocks of migratory red-winged blackbirds settle into the marsh for the evening. Bring small flashlights only, red lens preferred.
21901 FM 762, Needville. 979-553-5101
Federal prosecutors are fighting to have two Houston lawyers banned from representing the former head of the Bandidos Motorcycle Club, saying the lawyers are "unindicted co-conspirators" in the racketeering case involving murder, drug dealing and other crimes.
In federal court papers filed recently, prosecutors ask that prominent Houston lawyer Kent Schaffer and his law partner, James Kennedy, be disqualified from the case.
The filings accuse Schaffer of furthering Bandidos' operations by reviewing court papers for all members charged in any criminal case, to root out who might be cooperating with the government in exchange for leniency.
U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry J. Bemporad in San Antonio ruled in early December that prosecutors had succeeded in showing there was a potential conflict of interest, but that they had not shown him anything that convinced him the men should be disqualified.
Schaffer has not yet responded in court to the latest federal motion, but he has previously strongly denied any wrongdoing. He said he was never in-house counsel for the Bandidos and never reviewed paperwork to spot informants.
"I am incredibly flattered at their latest filing; obviously this prosecutor is afraid to try the case against me," Schaffer said Thursday. "They do just want me off the case."
Schaffer said the court already has rejected the prosecution's claim.
"This is a rehash that the court already denied, but for some reason this prosecutor has a sense of desperation and so they are going back for a second bite at the apple," he said.
An indictment naming former organization President Jeff Pike and others contends the Bandidos is a criminal enterprise engaged in murder, attempted murder, robbery, extortion and drug trafficking, among other crimes. The outlaw motorcycle gang began in the Houston area in the 1960s.
Bemporad left the door open for prosecutors to show him more evidence against Schaffer, which appears to be included in a 20-page document recently filed in court. The judge has since set a Jan. 6 hearing on the matter.
In the document, prosecutors contend they have recordings of conversations in which Bandidos discuss Schaffer's alleged work for the organization, including reviewing all legal paperwork to look for snitches.
Reviewed paperwork
Prosecutors said that multiple Bandidos will testify at trial that members were required to turn in legal paperwork, when they were arrested, to higher-ranking members so that it could be reviewed for signs of cooperation.
"Several members will testify that Mr. Schaffer was one of the attorneys that paperwork was taken to," according to the documents. "Two witnesses will testify that the Bandidos (organization) maintained a retainer with Mr. Schaffer for future work in defending its leadership from criminal charges."
Prosecutors further contend that Schaffer is so intertwined in Bandidos business that he can't be permitted to represent the ex-Bandidos leader Pike at trial. Schaffer previously has represented at least two Bandidos who are expected to be called to the witness stand to testify against Pike.
That would put Schaffer in the position of perhaps not only trying to defend his own reputation while representing Pike, but questioning people whom he had previously represented. As Kennedy is at the same firm, he would face a similar conflict, prosecutors contend.
Chess moves
Pike, of Conroe, stepped down as leader of the Bandidos earlier this year after he and other top members of the organization were charged in the indictment unsealed in San Antonio.
Philip Hilder, a Houston lawyer who also is a former federal prosecutor, said the judge in the case will have to do a "deep dive" to determine exactly what is going on, including the motivations of prosecutors and whether Schaffer does indeed have a conflict of interest. He said it could be a move to get the skilled Schaffer off the case.
"You are witnessing the chess moves that are expected in a high-profile case like this," Hilder said. "Schaffer has a long history of representing the organization's members and has a deep understanding of the dynamics of Bandidos, and it is quite foreseeable the government is attempting to bump him from the case because he has been effective in the past."
Pike is the only Bandidos member released on bail pending trial. John Portillo, who served as Pike's vice president, remains in custody. Two other members, Justin Forster and Frederick Cortez, have been released on bail since entering into plea agreements with the government.
Harris County has been sued in federal court for the third time in less than a year for yet another issue related to the county's tough arrest and pretrial detention practices.
This time, civil rights advocates allege that county officials routinely charge and jail thousands of people each month without a warrant and without ever requiring police officers to supply sworn statements that adequately describe the crimes for which the defendants stand accused, according to a lawsuit filed Wednesday in the Southern District of Texas.
The plaintiffs were arrested and jailed over the Christmas holidays for non-violent offenses.
Lucas Lomas, 26, of Pasadena, was arrested Christmas Eve for allegedly pilfering five DVDs and a speaker, according to a document prepared by a prosecutor and co-signed by an officer. The filing provides no details about how the arresting officer determined Lomas had stolen the items. After a video hearing that is typical in Harris County, a hearing officer found probable cause to proceed with charges. Lomas was released after posting $15,000 bail.
Carlos Eaglin, 27, of Houston, was arrested Dec. 26 for alleged possession of less than two ounces of marijuana. Court papers co-signed by an officer and prosecutor accuse Eaglin of marijuana possession, but do not include a statement from the officer about how the substance was discovered or determined to be marijuana. After his video hearing, Eaglin was jailed on a $5,000 bond - the highest amount specified for any misdemeanor in Harris County's so-called bond schedule. He remains in jail.
The lawsuit, filed by the Texas Fair Defense Project and by the Washington D.C.-based Civil Rights Corps, seeks to compel the county to provide all people arrested with a more detailed statement of facts under oath from a police officer that is consistent with both state and federal law. Those documents then could be reviewed by what the case describes as a "neutral magistrate."
First Assistant County Attorney Robert Soard said Wednesday that county officials were still studying the allegations and preparing a response to the case.
As of Jan. 1, incoming Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg will be overseeing the prosecuting attorneys who handle the intake process for both felony and misdemeanor cases. Ogg, who is not named in the lawsuit, was not immediately available for comment Thursday.
The Civil Rights Corps and other groups previously sued the City of Houston and Harris County over other violations of the rights of criminal defendants.
Houston officials have been sued over increasing delays in the time between arrests and the time city criminal defendants first see a judge.
Harris County faces a more complex civil rights challenge to the way the county's misdemeanor judges and hearing officers set bonds for defendants accused of minor crimes - a system that has resulted in long pretrial detention, jail overcrowding and a higher conviction rate for poor people who can't afford bail.
All three lawsuits remain pending.
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Superintendent Richard Carranza announced Thursday that the Houston Independent School District has decided to conduct a detailed review of the way that it serves students with disabilities.
The effort will include asking "independent, third-party experts to conduct a deep-dive analysis of our special education operation," Carranza said.
The newly-hired superintendent announced the review in a statement, saying it would be the district's "first order of business when the new year begins."
"We will have a tough conversation about the importance of serving all children, regardless of any disability," Carranza wrote. "Together, we will find solutions that serve our children because that is what Houston expects, and that is what Houston's children deserve."
The announcement came one day after the Houston Chronicle published a story detailing how Houston ISD has deliberately denied special education services to thousands of students with disabilities over the past decade.
The story, the latest in an investigation that has revealed a widespread denial of special education throughout Texas, quoted 41 current and former Houston ISD employers speaking about how they were pressured to keep special education numbers low. Many said they were ordered to shut out disabled kids in order to comply with district and state enrollment caps.
"We had long, agonizing meetings where we tried to push as many special ed students as we could into general education," one retired teacher said.
Only 7.26 percent of Houston students receive special education, statistics show. That ranks 49th among the 50 biggest cities in America, ahead only of Dallas ISD.
The national average is 13 percent. The state average is 8.5 percent, due in part of a enrollment target of 8.5 percent that was put in place by the Texas Education Agency in 2004. Outside special education departments, the 8.5 percent target was unknown to parents, lawmakers, even many educators until the Chronicle investigation.
Also unknown until the Chronicle published its findings on Houston ISD earlier this week was that special education administrators here had set an even more restrictive internal enrollment target of 8 percent.
The story has sparked outrage across Houston. On Wednesday, Bob Sanborn, the president of Children at Risk, a prominent advocacy group, called for the immediate firing of Houston ISD special education director Sowmya Kumar.
In his statement, Carranza, who declined to comment ahead of the Chronicle story on Houston ISD, said he had seen "no evidence that such a cap drives these decisions in a systemic way."
"But," he said, "I understand that there are many stories that I have not heard."
During the review, Carranza added, "we will not talk about arbitrary bureaucratic caps that could harm children."
The Houston ISD review is the second such district effort initiated in response to the Chronicle investigation.
In September, Dallas ISD Superintendent Michael Hinojosa said he would conduct a six-month probe to find out why the district had such a low special education rate.
The U.S. Department of Education has also launched an investigation. In October, federal officials ordered the Texas Education Agency to end the 8.5 percent enrollment target unless it could prove that no disabled kids had been deprived of services. The TEA has since suspended the benchmark and said it would ultimately eliminate it.
Earlier this month, federal officials held public listening sessions throughout the state to help determine if further action was necessary. Nearly 1,000 people attended the sessions or have submitted comments online.
A report from the federal government is expected next month.
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GALVESTON - Police began a new search Thursday for a League City mother of two who disappeared three weeks ago.
Police had conducted a brief search last week for Anne-Christine Johnson, 30. This came after volunteers with Texas EquuSearch tramped through wooded areas and thick brush for at least two weeks looking for the missing waitress.
The search launched Thursday is the first major effort involving police officers.
Officer Kelly Williamson said that he could not disclose the areas being searched. "We don't want people going to where we are going to search and possibly compromising a crime scene or compromising evidence," Williamson said.
"We are at this time conducting a geographical target-specific search that is not limited to one location and we are not limiting our search area or areas to League City," he said.
EquuSearch volunteers are assisting police in the most recent search effort, Williamson said.
He declined to say what new information led authorities to conduct the new search spots, which he described as a "non-improved, wooded area."
"We are looking for anything relevant to the investigation, anything that would point to foul play, including human remains," Williamson said.
There's no set end time for the search, he said mid-afternoon Thursday.
"We got there this morning and we're going to stay out until any spot can be included or eliminated," he said.
Stephanie Johnson, the missing woman's mother, said she had an overwhelming rush of emotion earlier in the day after hearing news of a body found to the south in Texas City
"I burst into tears and called the League City Police Department and they confirmed it was not her," she said.
Johnson disappeared on Dec. 8. Police say the last person to report seeing her alive was an ex-husband, Shaun Hardy, who told police he saw her get into a car with a man he could not identify after leaving Hardy's house.
Police said Hardy is a person of interest because of a his volatile relationship with Johnson, who occasionally stayed with Hardy after the divorce.
Johnson accused Hardy of beating and choking her in a June 2015 request for a restraining order, telling the court that she feared Hardy could kill her.
Hardy filed a request for a restraining order about the same time, accusing Johnson of physical abuse.
Hardy, through an attorney, has refused further interviews with League City police, Williamson has said. Hardy's attorney could not be reached for comment.
Stephanie Johnson, meanwhile, is still holding out hope for answers.
"I feel like the police are doing everything they possibly can," she said.
MEDELLIN, Colombia - When Wilson Lopez lived in the jungle, he thought civilian life in the city meant meeting people, walking the streets and having a job. But the former Colombian guerrilla wasn't able to do any of these things.
Lopez went from a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia jungle camp to prison and then to the streets of Medellin after receiving a pardon in January. Since then, he hasn't been able to find a steady job or home, and couldn't go for stroll with his family in Medellin after he received death threats from a criminal group that said it didn't want rebels in its territory.
"I am in the mouth of the tiger," said Lopez, who agreed to speak with The Associated Press inside a warehouse in the capital of Colombia's mountainous Antioquia province. He wore a cap pulled low over his face.
'Hostile welcome'
Lopez was one of 30 rebel prisoners pardoned by the government of President Juan Manuel Santos as a confidence-building gesture to advance peace talks with the FARC, as Latin America's last major leftist guerrilla army is known. Lopez's troubles integrating into civilian life highlight the difficulties that some 8,000 FARC guerrillas and 4,000 prisoners will face in rejoining society as part of the historic peace pact ratified by the country's congress on Nov. 30.
Experts say reintegrating rebels may face an especially hostile welcome in areas with high levels of crime and drug trafficking and in areas that were previously under FARC control.
Trust is difficult to build following a 52-year conflict characterized by brutality. Fighting between guerrillas, right-wing paramilitaries and the armed forces has, according to government figures, left a toll of more than 220,000 dead, some 40,000 disappeared and over 5 million driven from their homes.
'Need for action'
The guerrillas recall how during 1980s peace talks that ultimately failed, the FARC established a party known as the Patriotic Union as its political arm. In just a few years, more than 3,000 leftist activists, rebel sympathizers and two presidential candidates were gunned down by paramilitaries
"There is a need for more action by the government and the creation of mechanisms to protect" rebels who lay down their arms as part of the peace deal, said Todd Howland, the representative of the U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights in Colombia.
Both houses of Colombia's congress on Wednesday approved legislation on amnesty for leftist rebels under the government's peace accord with the FARC. The measure covers most offenses committed by fighters but it does not absolve any guerrillas who committed war crimes or human rights violations.
For Lopez, who had spent two decades in the FARC and was jailed in 2010, the problems for himself, his wife and two children began soon after he was released from prison.
He said he was intercepted in the street by three men who told him that guerrillas were not welcome in the area. Then he received three threatening letters signed by a gang called "The Rastrojos."
He now lives under police guard in a rural area four hours from Medellin - the area that saw the birth of Colombia's paramilitaries.
First-year college students take many intro classes. But do they really need an intro to appropriate behavior regarding sex?
The alarming prevalence of sexual violence at colleges and universities around the country proves that students often arrive woefully unprepared to live on their own in close proximity with students to whom they may be attracted.
Rice University has made an unusually strong commitment to rectify this problem. Starting next fall, Rice freshmen will take a five-week course, "Critical Thinking in Sexuality," featuring lessons in consent and how to intervene in dangerous situations ("Rice mandates course about sex for freshmen" Page A1, Monday).
The more typical informational pamphlets or 90-minute courses during campus orientation weeks on topics such as good decision-making regarding alcohol consumption have proved ineffective to combat sexual violence. Universities and colleges around the country should view Rice's preventative program as a model for how to effect real change.
If Rice's class sounds too politically correct, remedial or even ridiculous, consider the alarming statistics.
One in 4 women surveyed at Rice and 27 of the most prestigious colleges around the country said that they were victims of rape or sexual assault. Six percent of male students nationally said they were victims of sexual assault or rape, and 7 percent of Rice students.
Some experts believe that college rape and sexual assault is underreported.
Generally, students come to college able to identify rape in its most extreme form: the person in the back alley attacking strangers. But in a new relationship, some students may be clueless as to whether they need to confirm each time they have sex with their partner, "Are you OK with this?"
Students' inability to deal with the complexities of healthy relationships shouldn't be surprising. Ingrained attitudes are learned as early as the playground: "The reason he hit you is because he likes you." Parental guidance is too often a missed opportunity. If parents do address the issue, they're more likely to tell their daughters what to avoid than to tell their sons what to do - and importantly, what not to do.
Without meaningful sexual education in high school or middle school, porn and popular culture become youth's unrealistic guide to courtship.
In broader terms, our college students' confusion reflects our nation's confusion. The legal definitions for terms like rape, sexual assault and sexual abuse vary from state to state. Nor is there any single definition of consent.
Rice's leadership in addressing sexual violence on campus could not come at a more critical time.
Special ed
Regarding "HISD keeps special ed rolls arbitrarily low" (Page A1, Wednesday), members of the Board of Education and I have followed closely the statewide debate over Texas' approach to serving students with special needs. The stories of frustrated parents in school districts across Texas, including some in HISD, are heartbreaking. Let me be clear and unequivocal: There is zero tolerance for the withholding of services to any student who qualifies for an individual educational plan in HISD. Schools should be parents' allies, not their adversaries. No child should go without the services they need just because a bureaucrat is determined to meet an arbitrary goal. This is why we vehemently oppose any state-mandated cap on the number of children that a school can identify for special education services.
In my short time in Houston, I have seen no evidence that such a cap drives these decisions in a systemic way. The educators who work with HISD's most vulnerable students are passionate about serving children. But I understand that there are many stories that I have not heard. More important, there may be ways we can improve in how we serve students with special needs.
The Board of Education and I agree that our first order of business when the new year begins will be to discuss how HISD identifies and serves its most vulnerable students. HISD will work with independent, third-party experts to review our special-education operation. With the experts, as well as our special education educators, principals, teachers, parents and other stakeholders, we will quickly and appropriately address any and all concerns. We will have a tough conversation about the importance of serving all children, regardless of any disability. And we'll also talk about the things we can do better. We will not talk about arbitrary bureaucratic caps that could harm children. Throughout this process, the children of Houston will be our north star.
Together, we will find solutions that serve our children because that is what Houston expects, and that is what Houston's children deserve.
Richard Carranza, HISD superintendent
Taxing woes
Regarding "Repeal on medical innovation, devices" (Page A15, Thursday), the medical device industry is OK receiving subsidies from the federal government for research and development, but wants to hoard any profit. As long as it remains shackled to taxpayer dollars, it must abide the consequences.
G. Baker via HoustonChronicle.com
Cycle of poverty
Regarding "Texas rule that denies car registration to parents who don't pay child support in full swing" (chron.com, Wednesday), it just furthers a cycle of poverty.
You essentially need a vehicle to work; you need to work to have money to pay support. If you cannot pay support, you lose the ability to drive, and thus your ability to earn money to pay support.
Everyone does not have a social or family safety net to take them to work, and public transportation is not particularly efficient in a city built around cars. Furthermore, the likely outcome will be people driving without registration, opening them up to the criminal justice system, and specifically the spiraling debt trap that is traffic fees and fines, which Texas makes particularly difficult to escape from.
Hunter James White via Facebook
The city of Houston is finally cleaning our financial house with pension reforms. Now we're asking the Texas Legislature to do its part and approve legislation that will protect Houston's future.
As chair of the City Council's Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee and a committed fiscal conservative, I have been involved with the development of this plan, demanding a remedy that ensures long-term financial health for Houston. Digging ourselves out of this hole means that the city will continue to have the large annual pension payments that it has today. No assertion has ever been made to the contrary. Anyone who has alleviated personal debt knows they must rein in future spending while increasing payments to whom money is owed.
While the city is bound to full, annual funding of the pensions, the pension boards have agreed to cuts in benefits that were simply never sustainable without unreasonable revenue demands placed on Houstonians. And now, as the city operates under a revenue cap, the administration must continue to seek the most efficient and responsible use of your tax dollars to implement city services.
The Legislature should recognize this is a solution derived by, among and for Houstonians. The city itself cannot unilaterally dictate the terms of reform. Fixing the problem required agreement from the city's three pension boards. Ramming demands down the throats of city workers, fire fighters and police would have resulted in a continued stalemate while obligations grew. The three boards make clear that a defined contribution solution has always been a nonstarter and unacceptable to their participants. Defined contribution plans would not provide any cost savings now either. Remedying the imbalance through court-ordered solutions or bankruptcy is a nuclear option we absolutely must avoid. Inaction and continued gridlock now will continue to send us toward a more deeply challenged or altogether impossible financial scenario, with no chance for light at the end of the tunnel.
The opinions of nonpartisan, professional pension experts have approached unanimity on the merits of this proposal. Bill Fulton of the Kinder Institute for Urban Studies called the plan a "national model." Josh McGee, an expert with the largely anti-defined benefit Arnold Foundation, said the plan has the potential to be "one of the better reforms in the country." The credit rating agency Moody's has termed these reforms to be "credit positive." Fitch Ratings spoke optimistically of the reforms in August.
Houston is taking responsibility for itself and implementing a rigidly defined set of parameters referred to as the "corridor." Going forward, we share the risks of pension investment performance with the pension systems themselves. Within each of the agreements approved by each pension board, a process is outlined about how each pension system will meet with the city and agree upon what additional reductions "shall" be made if costs veer outside the corridor. And if an agreement cannot be reached, then specific reductions are required by law. This is not what "may" happen in this scenario - it is what "shall" happen.
The corridor buffers the city and taxpayers from financial pressure we have experienced unchecked in the past. And remember that plan holders will appreciate that the pensions will be fully funded per actuarially determined contributions - maximizing the health of the plans. I am also pleased that the current pension debt will be eliminated in 30 years. As with personal debt on a credit card, the goal is always to pay down what you owe, as soon as you're able. We are realizing this goal with these reforms.
This is a uniquely conservative Houston plan that I believe will be successful.
This is fair treatment of plan participants and is financially rational for taxpayers. Please tell your legislators to do their homework, and approve this plan for Houston. The Legislature should approve the Houston Sustainable Pensions Plan.
Christie is an at-large member of City Council, and chairman of City Council's Budget and Fiscal Affairs Committee.
After six months, countless hours of investigations and argument by Texas County Prosecuting Attorney Parke Stevens Jr., Judge John D. Beger has sentenced a Houston man to seven years in prison for his role in a series of thefts from Texas County cemeteries between April 1 and June 1 this year.
William T. Hebert, 30, of 611 Hawthorn St. in Houston, received the maximum sentence authorized by law after pleading guilty in September for defacing and selling cemetery memorials local residents had placed next to graves of their deceased loved ones.
The defendant likely thought he could get probation. Stevens said.
Hebert requested and received a sentencing assessment report which allowed the many victims to express their feelings without having to do so in open court.
After an investigation by the Texas County Sheriffs Department, with assistance from other local law enforcement, a probable cause statement and evidence was submitted to Stevens for review.
Based on that evidence, Stevens filed a criminal complaint and requested a warrant for Heberts arrest.
This man knowingly tampered with and stole cherished belongings family members left for deceased loved ones, then sold those items for pennies, Stevens said.
Beger, circuit judge of the 25th Circuit, presided over the case and assessed punishment after consideration of all the factors.
Your actions leave me enflamed for what you have done, and I am only left with one course of action, to make you an example for others, Beger said before sentencing Hebert.
Felicia Batchelor, 29, of Summersville, is charged with receiving stolen property as a result of the cemetery theft spree. A pre-trial hearing in her case is set for Jan. 17 at the Texas County Justice Center.
A man was charged Thursday afternoon in Texas County with felony driving while intoxicated and resisting arrest by fleeing.
Dalton L. Corman, 30, of Willow Springs, was taken to the Cabool Police Department for a 12-hour hold following his 4:46 p.m. arrest. Along with the two felony charges, the Missouri State Highway Patrol said Corman also faces charges of careless and imprudent driving as well as speeding.
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Scream Queens star Billie Lourd lost both her mother, Carrie Fisher, and grandmother, Debbie Reynolds, this week.
While the 24-year-old has received many messages of support during this difficult time, the one she received from her stepfather, Bruce Bozzi, is perhaps the most meaningful.
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On Instagram, Bozzi, who is Lourds fathers longtime partner, shared an image of the young actress at her university graduation, smiling alongside Fisher and Reynolds. He then captioned the post with a beautiful memory.
A photo posted by Bruce Bozzi (@brucebozzi) on Dec 29, 2016 at 10:53am PST
It's an honor to be your Stepfather, he began. This day, your NYU grad day we had so much fun! Yankee Stadium your mom and I laughed our asses off, as she kept one fantastic line coming after the other - no less when we all fell asleep the night before in the smaller ceremony because it was so boring. Every time Carrie looked at me she said how are you still awake! Your grandmother with our sweet Ava was the kindest most loving.
So...as Carrie said to me years ago I'm a good stepmother I promise I will always be, he continued. The strength of these women live so vibrantly in you. I've been lucky enough to see this for a decade! Many decades to come.....heaven just got a shit load more fun!!!! I love you @praisethelourd xo Bru Thursday 12/29/16.
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Lourds mother, Fisher, died on Tuesday, days after suffering a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles. Lourds grandmother, Reynolds, then passed away on Wednesday after suffering a stroke.
The 24-year-old has not yet spoken out about her loss. However, family spokesman Simon Halls did release a statement on her behalf following her mothers death.
She was loved by the world and she will be missed profoundly, Lourd said of her mother in the statement. Our entire family thanks you for your thoughts and prayers.
The actress was incredibly close to her famous mom and grandmother, as proven by her Instagram posts.
A photo posted by Billie Lourd (@praisethelourd) on Jun 18, 2016 at 11:09am PDT
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Happy Mother's day to my #marvelousmomby, my #FABadaba & all the #magnificentmamas out there!! A photo posted by Billie Lourd (@praisethelourd) on May 8, 2016 at 1:52pm PDT
happy birthday to my #abadaba (yes that's what I call her hahah granny just wasn't hip enough...) the most incredible grandma a gal could ask for A photo posted by Billie Lourd (@praisethelourd) on Apr 1, 2016 at 2:10pm PDT
The last time the trio made a public appearance together was at the 2015 Screen Actors Guild Awards, where Fisher presented Reynolds with a lifetime achievement award.
Billie Lourd, Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds pose at the 21st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards on January 25, 2015 in Los Angeles, California.
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Hawaiian poke bowls and wood-fired foods were among some of the biggest national dining trends to shape 2016, say the editors of restaurant guide Zagat.
Looking back at 12 months of new restaurant openings and menus, Zagat editors have come up with a list of eight food trends that popped up consistently across the country.
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Overall, they proclaimed 2016 the year of seasoned fish over rice, referring to the wild popularity of Hawaiian poke bowls.
Here are a few of the trends singled out by Zagat:
Hawaiian cuisine and poke
Editors call it "the poke revolution," after seeing the Hawaiian dish made up of white rice and seasoned raw fish pop up in nearly every major US city over the last year, including French chef Daniel Boulud's Cafe Boulud in New York. At the Governors Ball for this year's Oscars, chef Wolfgang Puck also offered a poke bar to his A-list guests. The popularity of poke also sparked increased interest in Hawaiian cuisine in general, with shaved ice and the Hawaiian snack musubi -- spam sushi -- appearing on restaurant menus around the country.
Handmade pasta
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While homemade restaurant pasta is hardly new, this year, editors noted the renewed appreciation for handmade pasta as a culinary art form and edible treat. Readers of food blogs are sure to agree, with cacio e pepe -- a minimalist dish that makes black pepper and grated grana padano or parmesan cheese vehicles for fresh pasta -- one of the most popular pasta dishes of 2016. Editors predict handmade pasta will become the norm at Italian restaurants in 2017.
Vegetables
Vegetables continued to get the star treatment in 2016, with some of the most anticipated restaurant openings of the year giving the humble vegetable the gastronomic treatment. In Los Angeles, for instance, turnip is salt-baked and served with shiso chimichurri. In Chicago, a restaurant serves beet tartare and tempura lemons. And in Denver, sunflower seeds get the risotto treatment.
Wood-fired everything
It's not just pizzas that were thrown into the fire this year. Zagat editors note that everything from clam pies, pork shanks, branzino, squid and even chopped salad got the wood-fired treatment. Different kinds of wood were also used to achieve a variety of smoke and flavor.
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food trends 2016
Other trends on the list include healthy, fast-casual joints, multi-purpose restaurants, Japanese cuisine and fermented foods.
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A year after a cheetah was spotted wandering along a highway in B.C., two people have been charged.
Earl Pfeifer and Carol Plato have each been charged with one count of possessing an alien species without a permit, reports CTV News.
Conservation officers spent several days looking for the animal last December, after a motorist snapped a few photos of the stray cat wandering the side of a Highway 3A in the Crawford Bay and Kootenay Bay areas on Dec. 17, 2015.
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RCMP released photos of this loose cheetah who appeared to be wearing a collar.
At the time, local residents were warned to keep an eye on small children and pets.
The search was called off the following week and a spokesman with B.C. Environment Ministry told the National Post its unclear whether the cheetah was ever found.
Shortly after the stray cheetah was spotted, the B.C. Forests Ministry said they had received a permit application to possess a cheetah in the Kootenay region, and the application was under review.
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According to Pfeifer and Plato's "Runcheetahrun" Facebook page, the couple brought two cheetahs, Robin and Annie Rose, over from South Africa in 2013 to help with rehabilitation efforts for health issues in both cats and to raise awareness and funds to help cheetah conservation efforts.
That year, the couple, who were living in Ontario at the time, were given the go-ahead by town council to bring two cheetahs to the B.C. village of Kaslo, reported the Nelson Star.
Around that time, they told the Port Perry Star that they wanted to start outreach and education programs in B.C. including a program where members of the public could pay a fee to take the cheetahs for a walk.
There was a short period in 2014 where the cheetahs were living at the Discovery Wildlife Park in Innisfail, Alberta. They were removed due to safety reasons, reports CBC News.
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The Facebook page has not been updated since August 2015, when a post wished one of the animals a happy birthday.
Pfeifer and Plato are scheduled to appear in court in Creston in February.
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Conservative leadership candidate Steven Blaney criticized Prime Minister Justin Trudeau for reacting faster to an actress' death than to a terrorist attack.
Speaking in Quebec City on Thursday, the Tory MP compared Trudeau's tribute to late "Star Wars" icon Carrie Fisher to his statement on Dec. 19's Berlin terror attack.
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Well never forget you, Carrie. May the Force be with you always. Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 27, 2016
When Princess Leia passed away, the prime minister only took four hours to react, whereas for a terrorist attack where a truck caused 12 deaths in a Berlin Christmas market, it took him three days to have a decent response, Blaney said in French during a press conference, according to Le Soleil.
A readout of the prime minister's call to German Chancellor Angela Merkel offering his condolences on Dec. 22 stated the two leaders renewed their commitment to fighting terrorism together.
The Prime Ministers Office declined to comment on Blaney's remarks, saying it will not weigh in on the ongoing Tory leadership race.
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Blaney spoke out about the Berlin attack in a fundraising email the following day.
"What took place yesterday in Berlin is a stark reminder that the threat is real, and that we need to remain vigilant," the email read.
His campaign then asked supporters to donate $51 a nod to the Anti-terrorism Act, previously known as Bill C-51, which Blaney helped table as public safety minister under the former Stephen Harper government.
Blaney unveils security strategy
The Tory MP's criticism of the prime minister came the same day as the leadership candidate revealed his security strategy.
The first duty of a government is to keep its citizens safe," Thursday's release read. "As former Public Safety Minister who passed the Antiterrorism Act, I formally ask Justin Trudeaus Liberal to maintain those critical measures to ensure the safety of all Canadians."
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The strategy, aimed at keeping "Canada safe from terrorism," includes plans to create a joint task force with the RCMP and CSIS to handle individual acts of terrorism.
Blaney is one of 13 Conservative candidates vying to be the party's next leader in 2017.
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TolikoffPhotography via Getty Images Winter vacation suitcase.Travel tips
As baggage restrictions tighten, travellers are finding more creative ways to avoid fees. But even the lightest packers find it difficult to forego checking a bag when travelling to chilly winter destinations. These five expert packing tips will help you squeeze all of your winter clothes into a single carry-on, so you can spend your travel savings on lift tickets and hot toddies.
Wear It
Most experienced travellers will advise you to keep layers to a minimum when travelling by air. The less you wear, the less there is to shed when passing through security. But travelling in the winter months is different.
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While donning your bulky winter jacket, heaviest shoes, scarf and hat may be annoying for a moment during the security screening process, it could save you from having to check a bag. And you'll arrive at your destination dressed for the elements.
Don't Pack Outfits
Specific outfits, with a top and bottom worn solely with one another, are not ideal for travelling light. Instead, pack neutral-coloured pants that can be worn with multiple tops. Make sure every shirt goes with each pair of pants, and you'll never have to wear the same outfit twice.
Do Laundry
Don't pack a clean pair of pants for everyday of your trip. Instead, research if the Airbnb apartment you're renting has access to a communal laundry space, or ask the friend you're visiting if you can do a load or two throughout your stay. Wherever you travel, you'll probably find laundry services nearby, which means you can pack much less.
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Think Twice
Packing for cold weather requires much more thought than packing for a week-long trip to Jamaica. Imagine yourself at your destination and which items you'll be wearing. Leave any items behind that you won't be wearing more than twice.
Use Space Savers
It may seem a little over the top to purchase space-saving bags for a single journey, but they can be invaluable if you travel often during the winter months. There are dozens of brands available, but you can also make your own using plastic garbage bags and any vacuum cleaner with a hose.
If that seems like a little too much effort to save yourself $25 to $100 on checked baggage, carefully roll your clothing and use rubber bands to tie each piece. You'll be amazed at how much space you've been wasting by folding your clothing into your carry-on luggage.
Layer Lightly
Chunky sweaters are in style, but they're not practical when packing light. Forego packing your favourite thick wool sweater and opt for a lightweight but cozy cashmere one instead. Thermal underwear or any type of base layer can be worn on its own or under a traditional top for added warmth without bulk. Leggings work great as a bottom base layer for women, because they can be worn under pants or styled on their own.
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Pack Accessories
You should pack more accessories than any other clothing item when heading to cooler temperatures. Instead of loading your carry-on with multiple sweaters or jackets to change your look every day, pack multiple accessories. You can accessorize the same black sweater with several cute hats and scarves to turn one clothing item into countless unique looks.
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Arriving in Cartagena the day the government signed a historic peace deal with FARC (The Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia) heightened both my excitement and anxiety about choosing Colombia for a winter getaway. A peace deal that had been rejected by Colombian voters months before, revised, and has since been approved unanimously by parliament. Luckily, the ceasefire that came into effect between the two groups while peace talks were underway had been extended to the end of the year, just in time for me to safely enjoy my holiday, I reasoned.
Within minutes of being there, any fear I had about venturing into this post-narco controlled country quickly melted away. Cartagena is a photogenic, sexy city for the senses. With the romance and rogue bougainvillea blooms of Capri mixed with remnants of revolutionary eras not unlike Havana, I arrived at so many comparisons. In fact, Cuban flags could be seen throughout the city as Fidel Castro passed away the day after we arrived, signalling the two nations historic ties are still strong. Yet, the Caribbean city has an energy all it's own that simply can't be categorized.
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What struck me most, aside from the Spanish-colonial architecture and street art galore was the kindness, patience and chivalry of its people. When young dance troupes decide to perform in the street, traffic literally halts and waits until they're finished and the crowd had an opportunity to applaud. I even noticed some vehicles had turned on their hazard lights in an effort to safely alert oncoming cars.
Poverty isn't overtly evident in Cartagena, but there are notably some people living on the streets. What felt so different from my experiences in North America, though, was the respect and compassion shown towards these folks. Whether it be a friendly buenos dias or someone popping out of a cafe to offer a bottle of water, these gestures didn't seem charitable, instead they seemed natural.
Whether you're spending a few days, or decide to linger a little longer, here's some tips on eating, drinking and soaking in this stunning city.
What to see
While Cartagena has a modern business district with an expanding skyline of skyscrapers, you'll probably spend most of your time exploring the old city (La Ciudad Vieja). Spilt into four neighbourhoods, El Centro is the most popular, especially when the cruise ships roll in. Visit the iconic Catedral de Santa Catalina de Alejandria, have a coffee in Plaza Santo Domingo and buy an ensalada de frutas from one of the city's famous fruit ladies. Also squeeze in a visit (or an entire afternoon) to Abaco Libros y Cafe, a bookstore with a cafe, full bar and good selection of books by Colombian Nobel prize-winning writer Gabriel Garcia Marquez.
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San Diego to the north is slightly more modern with high-end shops and restaurants. Have a cerveza in Plaza Fernandez de Madrid and see what's playing at the Teatro Heredia.
Spend most of your time in Getsemani, an up and coming neighbourhood with a local feel. This is the epicentre of the street art craze that's been sweeping Cartagena, some of which has been commissioned by the local government. Prepare to go snap happy along Calle de la Sierpe.
Set out early before the searing heat sets in and explore Castillo San Felipe de Barajas, built by the Spanish in the 1500s. For sunset and a panoramic view of the city, take a taxi to La Popa, the highest point in Cartagena.
If it's beach time you crave, venture to Bocagrande, although better beaches and crystal blue water is only a short boat ride away at one of the nearby islands.
Where to eat
You could easily survive off of street food for your entire stay, with ceviche, paella, and fresh fruit for days. Try an arepas de huevo (disk of fried corn masa, slit open and fried again with an egg inside), especially good if you hit the rum a little too hard the night before.
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La Mulata for inventive fish dishes and funky decor. Demente for modern tapas and a retractable roof perfect for stargazing. La Cocina de Pepina for the best meal you'll have your entire trip (reservations recommended).
Where to drink
Nightlife is the cornerstone of culture in Cartagena, in part because it's the most pleasant temperature of the day.
Enjoy a few sundowners at romantic Cafe del Mar (we witnessed a few proposals here), check out Quiebra-Canto for salsa and reggae and popular Cafe Havana for live music that begins at 11pm nightly. If you're looking for something more local and nondescript, buy a six-pack of Aguila, perch on a bench in Plaza de Santisma Trinidad and people watch. Finally, a visit to Colombia isn't legit without sampling the coffee. See a proper coffee chemist at work at Cafe del Mural.
Where to stay
From small, boutique hostels to luxury hotels, there's something to suit any budget. For something charming and low key, book a private room at Mi Llave. The pretty, pink two-story has a view of downtown and is walking distance to everything in the Old City. For luxury in the heart of El Centro, book in a the Movich for it's stellar locale and breathtaking rooftop pool (also available to day visitors for a fee).
Travel advisories encourage you to "exercise a high degree of caution" when visiting, specifically in rural areas and the region bordering Venezuela. While these warnings are reasonable, Colombia has made huge strides in recent years to protect tourists specifically in cities like Cartagena, Bogota and Medellin. Be alert and be smart, just as you would traveling anywhere. But don't rule out this country on the cusp of an exciting and promising new chapter. It's a wonder to see and a pleasure to visit.
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As minister of International Development and La Francophonie, I have visited 15 or so countries and Canada's re-engagement was pointed out to me during each of them. But what does this re-engagement really mean? Here are five major achievements that speak to Canada's re-engagement on the international scene and the impact of our actions.
Policy review: A focus on women and girls
The empowerment of women and girls is at the centre of Canada's vision, as we frame our new development agenda. That means that women and girls will be consulted, take part in decision-making, and be key partners for the implementation of all of our initiatives. Empowering women and girls is essential to all of our development goals.
Accompanied by Dr. Babatunde Osotimehin, Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, Canada announced that it would restore its funding to the fund for the full range of sexual and reproductive health services, including providing access to safe, reliable and high-quality family planning services, which could prevent more than 52 million unplanned pregnancies and 15 million unsafe abortions.
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Crises in Iraq and Syria
Canada announced in February its Middle East strategy in response to the crises in Iraq and Syria. We committed $1.6 billion over three years to help our partners plan long-term interventions on the ground in Syria and in neighbouring countries that are receiving millions of refugees. This funding includes $1.1 billion in humanitarian and development aid. Canadians not only welcomed thousands of Syrian refugees to Canada, but they also generously contributed over $30 million to the Syria Emergency Relief Fund.
Fighting HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria
Canada hosted the Fifth Replenishment Conference of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, in Montreal. Thanks to Canada's leadership, we raised close to $13 billion, which will help to save 8 million lives by 2030 by ending these three devastating global epidemics. Canada contributed $804 million, up 24 per cent from the last replenishment period.
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Support for peace support operations
Canada will re-engage in peace support operations missions by offering the services of up to 600 troops to the United Nations. The new Peace and Stabilization Operations Program is providing $450 million over three years. This new contribution is excellent news for our humanitarian partners on the ground since development is dependent on peace.
Helping the poorest and most vulnerable
In 2016, Canada increasingly focused on those who most need our help, including by announcing support at the World Humanitarian Summit for vulnerable populations in more than 32 countries. We also restored funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), the only UN agency that helps Palestinian refugees in the West Bank and Gaza, Lebanon, Syria and Jordan. This contribution will allow children to remain in school and have access to health care.
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What we've got here is a list of good and bad blockbusters, MOWs, B-movies, and everything in between. And they're decidedly, unabashedly random. Why not roll the dice this week?
Casino Royale
Where to find it: Check local listings
The cast: Daniel Craig, Judi Dench, Mads Mikkelsen, Jeffrey Wright
The synopsis: "Armed with a license to kill, Secret Agent James Bond sets out on his first mission as 007 and must defeat a weapons dealer in a high stakes game of poker at Casino Royale."
Think of Casino Royale as the Batman Begins of the James Bond franchise. Producers finally decided to strip away the gloss, the gadgets, and the myriad catch-phrases. End result: a badass Bond who's seriously cool to watch. Best of all, he's not annoyingly superhuman like other Bonds I could name (I'm looking at you, Roger Moore).
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So anyway, this is the James Bond movie that started it all! Even though, you know, it only came out a few years ago. Hey, time is a funny thing. Regardless, if you like your Bonds playing lengthy games of cards, this is the flick for you. I kid, of course: There's plenty of action, suspense, and even torture. Torture so nasty, there may never be a James Bond Jr. We'll just leave it at that, okay? Okay.
"Please just surrender - my arm is getting tired from this massive gun."
I Am Legend
Where to find it: Netflix DVD
The cast: Will Smith, a dog, buncha zombies
The synopsis: "Years after a plague kills most of humanity and transforms the rest into monsters, the sole survivor in New York City struggles valiantly to find a cure."
Now, this is a story all about how
My life got flipped-turned upside down
And I'd like to take a minute, just sit real pretty
I'll tell you how I became the legend of a town called New York City
In west Manhattan, born and raised
As a military virologist was how I spent mosta my days
Workin' on vaccines, my eye on the prize
When the world's population started droppin' like flies!
And then a couple of zombies who were up to no good
Started making trouble in my neighborhood
I got in one little plague, then it was plain to see
"It appears I'm the last human being alive in in NYC!"
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"Yo burning homes, smell ya later!"
X-Men: The Last Stand
Where to find it: Amazon
The cast: Patrick Stewart, Hugh Jackman, Halle Berry
The synopsis: When a cure is found to treat mutations, lines are drawn amongst the X-Men and the Brotherhood, a band of powerful mutants organized under the nefarious Magneto."
The X-Men should probably be called the X-People, 'cause there's a kick-ass female component at play here. There's the scaly blue naked woman, the saucy sista with the grey hair, the ginger gal who can bend spoons with her mind or whatever, and the teenager who's got grey hair too but not quite as much as the saucy sista with the grey hair. We're talking more Girl Power than 50 Spice Girls.
I'll always prefer classic X-Men like Grandma Catwoman,
Wolfman Fonzie, and Pegasus Circuit Boy. SHARE IF YOU AGREE!
Horrible Bosses
Where to find it: Netflix DVD
The cast: Jason Bateman, Charlie Day, Jason Sudeikis
The synopsis: "Three friends conspire to murder their awful bosses when they realize they're standing in the way of their happiness."
Horrible bosses: You've all had 'em. They're a rite of passage, like taxes, Bar Mitzvahs, and pretending to know all the Game of Thrones character names. And when they're not telling corny jokes or making you give them yet another appointment scheduling software tutorial, they're cutting out early to tee off at a course whose membership fees you'll never afford. But unlike the folks in this comedy, might I suggest you don't actually try and bump off your employer? By my calculations, there's an eight to ten percent chance it won't go too well.
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My dad rocked this hairdo hard for most of the '80s.
The Dukes Of Hazzard
Where to find it: Amazon
The cast: Johnny Knoxville, Seann William Scott, Jessica Simpson
The synopsis: "Cousins Bo and Luke Duke, with a little help from their cousin Daisy and Uncle Jesse, egg on the authorities of Hazzard County."
Gotta love the casting here: There's Seann William Scott, the dude who plays Stifler in those movies where the guy has sex with the pie. And then there's Johnny Knoxville, the dude who plays Johnny Knoxville in that show where Johnny Knoxville gets a bunch of concussions. Throw in a little Jessica Simpson and the moonshine practically smuggles itself across state lines!
A watchdog has issued a safety warning about packs of prawns which carry a risk of food poisoning.
Food Standards Scotland (FSS) has issued a recall notice on two batches of Aldi's Specially Selected Tikka King Prawns in Scotland and Northumberland which it says could contain salmonella bacteria.
A spokesman for FSS said: "Aldi is recalling the affected product from its customers and displaying point of sale notices in stores explaining to customers the reason for recall and the actions they can take if they have bought the affected product.
"No other Aldi products are known to be affected."
FSS has advised all consumers who have purchased the product not to eat it and instead return it to the store where it was purchased for a full refund.
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The batch numbers of the prawns affected are 6K14 and 6K15 and the product carries a best before date of April 13, 2018.
An Aldi spokeswoman said: "Our Specially Selected Tikka King Prawns have been recalled from sale in our stores in Scotland and Berwick-upon-Tweed.
"This is a precautionary measure after testing detected the presence of salmonella in a very small sample of products. No other products or stores are affected and we have removed all affected products from our stores.
Our species is capable of great compassion, kindness and tolerance; it is also capable of cruelty, selfishness and hate. Which of these characteristics dominate depends on another characteristic, namely empathy, defined as "the ability to understand and share the feelings of another". This sharing of feeling could so easily be switched off if the "other" happens to have a different colour, religion or culture.
It is argued that empathy cannot be taught but could happen through our positive non-judgemental interaction with others. We need to listen and to imagine what it is like to be the other. It is always easier to interact with others if they belong to our group, and hence it is easy to empathise with them as they experience sufferings and hardships through life.
So the first step to be taken towards developing empathy is interaction, through which we can jump the psychological barriers that prevent us from reaching out to others who do not belong to our group. Our humanity is the bond that connects us all on this planet that we share with every living thing on it. Our survival as a species depends on cooperation between nations and individuals.
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Exceptionalism applied to a state or to a group who identify themselves by their ethnicity, culture or religion has led to endless wars, genocide and slavery. Exceptionalism is the mechanism by which the "other" is dehumanised and by which our empathy is turned off.
It is a fact of life that a minority in a dominant culture gets judged by the actions of its worst individuals. This, in my view, is due to a lack of interaction between the minority community and the dominant community, the correcting mechanism that tells us that this is a very small minority within the minority group does not function as it should with many people.
So next time you see or hear in the news about a crime, or a heinous act committed by an individual within a minority, resist the urge to generalise and to damn the whole community by that action. We all have the propensity to do that instinctively. What is needed is to resist instincts and to engage our brains to be objective in our reaction and the way we view the minority group.
We must resist the temptation to block our empathy by the barriers of colour, religion or ethnicity. Our humanity should trump such feelings. It is the stronger bond that bind us all to this fragile planet.
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Vast numbers of our fellow human beings are sad and miserable as a result of dislocation, escaping wars and grinding poverty through no fault of their own but the circumstances of their birth and interference by other nations. Mental illness and unhappiness as a result of homelessness, family breakups and dysfunctional relationships are on the increase particularly among our young.
We, as individuals, can't be expected to solve these problems but a little understanding, providing a listening ear that says I understand your difficulties, could bring some happiness to those vulnerable and most in need. Providing some happiness to others would boost our own happiness quotient.
Girl Guides and Girl Scouts are making their voices heard. Credit: WAGGGS
This year, we've put girls firmly in the spotlight.
We've encouraged them to speak out on a global stage, share their stories with the world and be the change they want to see.
In a world marred with challenges and conflict, many of the issues we currently face directly affects girls - and often disproportionately so. From the ongoing refugee crisis to violence and everyday sexism, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts is providing a platform for girls so they can tell the world what it's like to grow up as a girl today.
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Supporting girls to speak out
As the world's biggest Movement for girls, we know that if we support girls to speak out, they will make an impact through their sheer power and passion.
Throughout 2016, I've seen Girl Guides and Girl Scouts inspire leaders, creating change in their communities, their country and internationally.
Earlier this year the UN's Commission on the Status of Women, the leading conference on gender equality and empowerment of women, took place in New York.
As experts on their own needs, Girl Guides and Girl Scouts were given an opportunity to address world leader on issues affecting them.
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Shellmith, 25, from Kenya, was one of them. Shellmith is a young leader with the Kenya Girl Guides Association. She trains girls who live in Kibera, Kenya's biggest slum, so they are able to get a job and enjoy a bright future. She told me how she's passionate about entrepreneurship and how, when girls are given support, they really can change their world
"An empowered girl with entrepreneurial skills can come up with green ventures that sustain our world better, thus be the change we all need," she said.
Shellmith is determined to see girls succeed - and she's just one of our 10 million inspiring Girl Guides and Girl Scouts who are speaking out on important issues, gaining leadership skills and making a difference.
Tackling issues
This year alone, our Girl Guides and Girl Scouts have worked on issues such as mental health, body confidence, violence and sexual harassment in schools.
At Women Deliver 2016, girls from across the world educated the international community about the importance of body confidence, sharing the skills they had learnt from their non-formal education sessions facilitated by the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS).
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They urged leaders to recognise body confidence as a global issue, which affects all girls and young women, and called for it to be taken seriously.
Leading the way
WAGGGS' Regional Conference in Africa saw girls from across the continent share their experiences of what their lives are really like. Undeterred by challenges, these girls and young women are determined not to be bystanders, but rather leaders in their communities.
The work these young leaders are doing in country - whether it's stopping violence, making reusable sanitary pads or educating others about the importance of body confidence - is nothing short of amazing and, again, it's the same for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts across the world.
Girl Guides of Syria stand in solidarity. Credit: WAGGGS
In October, we celebrated International Day of the Girl. We called for our 10 million members to get involved, share messages and photos showing why girls' rights matter. In war-torn Syria, our Girl Guide troop in country bravely shared a photograph of the group united, standing up for girls' rights, sending a powerful message across our Movement and to the world.
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Most recently, we've worked hard to highlight the issue of sexual harassment in schools. Using our U-Report tool, we asked young people from around the world whether they believe it's an issue.
Over two thirds of young people told us sexual harassment is an overwhelming problem for girls, with more than half saying it stops them from studying and taking part in hobbies.
As a parent and as Chief Executive of World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, it is a major cause for concern when girls and young women feel unsafe in a school environment, which is traditionally thought to be a safe space.
While the statistics are shocking, over 1,400 young people also took the opportunity to share how they are tackling violence in school, whether it's involving boys or holding afterschool clubs, while WAGGGS continues to encourage girls and women to speak out about it, through our Voices Against Violence curriculum
Power and passion of girls
Again, it drives home the power and passion of young people involved in our Movement.
We're so glad other people see the true value of Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting. I'd like to extend a warm thank you to all our volunteers and supporters who continue to donate their time and money to our Movement. It's this generosity that ensures our Member Organisations are supported so our Movement is united, thriving and growing.
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In a world beset with shock and disaster, we are committed to ensuring young women and girls have the tools they need to go forward, make their voices heard and tackle issues important to them.
As the year comes to a close and new one beckons, I hope the power and passion of girls and young women will prevail and that'll you continue to stand with us in any way you can.
Last week, I was thrilled to see a photo on Twitter of three Madagascan girls smiling next to the pipes that would bring safe, clean water to their village for the very first time.
I felt particularly touched to follow this amazing development as I met the truly inspiring girls - Noeline, Feno, and Lalasoa - earlier this year when I had the privilege of visiting the beautiful country. I was there to see the amazing work WaterAid is doing in collaboration with the communities they are helping and how Scouts are working with the charity to educate communities about good hygiene and to help campaign for water and toilets for all.
Noeline showed me the small dirty pond that was teeming with bugs from which they collected water for all their basic needs. I joined her and her friends as they carried their heavy 'jerry cans' up a steep hill, which becomes a mudslide during the rainy season. Their daily battle to simply get water shocked me, but the girls were not defeated; completely the opposite! They all spoke to me of their plans for the future and Lalasoa told me how she wanted to teach or be a doctor and to simply help others - a truly heart-warming moment.
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Thanks to WaterAid's work, they will no longer have to make this arduous journey. A safe water source in the village will completely transform the community, helping reduce disease, and giving young people more time to go to school and to play, the chance of a better future. As a result of the education the community has now received around hygiene and how to manage the new facilities, future generations will continue to benefit from this simple change.
This is just one example of the power of effective international aid, and the importance of strong partnerships to widen the reach and help increase the sustainability of the projects, projects such as 'A Million Hands'.
While in Madagascar, I also visited a community that had already gained access to clean water and toilets, and the difference this made was palpable. I also saw Scouts in action, educating their community about hygiene and speaking to politicians and journalists about the need for clean water and sanitation for all.
And such successes are being repeated across the world; every year, 78 million people are turning on a tap or using a pump for the first time. If just 8% more people are reached a year, everyone everywhere will have clean water by 2030. I would be so proud to be part of a generation that helped ensure such a momentous achievement. And I know that Scouts and young people across the globe share this ambition.
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The global water and sanitation crisis is an issue that Scouts, just like me, feel very strongly about. Despite the progress that has been made, one in ten people still live without safe water and one in three people have no access to improved sanitation. As a result, 900 children die every single day from diarrhoeal diseases. By working together, we can help to end this global crisis.
As part of our community impact campaign, A Million Hands, we are taking action on issues we care about, including helping ensure universal access to these basic human rights.
And the Scouts are not alone. I'm so pleased to live in a country that has committed 0.7% of its Gross National Income to overseas aid, and that water and sanitation is an important component of it.
I have seen first-hand how important effective, well planned, collaborative international aid is, and also feel solidarity with young people across the world. As WaterAid highlights in its new campaign, we are all Made of the Same Stuff - 60% water; this basic resource creates a unity that is stronger than the countries and cultures that divide us.
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You can't always choose what happens to you, but you can choose your response.
Viktor Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist who found deep purpose in what it meant to be a holocaust survivor, his sage like insight on how certain individuals are better able to rise above adversity (theirs and others) are more relevant than ever. With deep humility, Frankl observed a behavioural trait that can bring solutions to any problem, he wrote "everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms--to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way".
Image: Kim Pearce
In essence, Frankl is suggesting that solutions to our problems come from behavioural thoughts rather than actions, and we couldn't agree more. From our work with slum communities in India, we have witnessed that the most peacefully disruptive thing you can do to change your world is to change your thinking. It is powerful to note that our insight does not come from a psychology 101 lecture but from the makers of our slow clothing label, some have experienced the worst human rights abuses on earth but want (and need) us to remember that they are not what happened to them, they are what they choose to think possible.
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Image: Kathryn Davis
In deep contrast to what we have seen in the slums, there appears to be an epidemic of victimised thinking in the West, where self-talk (and selfies) demonstrate a belief that others have power over our choices. It's important to recognise that for billions of us, the 'set of circumstances' that we perceive as stopping us from creating the life we desire is mostly in our heads. Never before have the majority of us been better equipped to live freely, so why, as Moby poetically asks 'do so many of us spend our lives doing work that we hate to buy things we don't need'? When Einstein stated 'we will not solve our problems with the same thinking that created them', he too was offering us the opportunity to solve our problems by changing our thinking. The beauty of this approach is that it takes a choice, nothing more, nothing less!
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Image: Kim Pearce
As we welcome the New Year many of us will make re-solutions to do something differently. On a deeper level and judging from the uncertain state of global affairs, many of us truly want change but often opt for less than what is possible. It appears that as we set our intentions, we unconsciously fear the outcome, so we get what we think. What if we could reverse Moby's dilemma for example and spend more time loving our work to buy things that are worthwhile? What if we could choose to turn a scarcity mindset into an abundant one, without the need to change anything other than our minds.
Trust me, as a former economist who bought heavily into the scarcity mindset and the myth that all resources, including self, are limited, (excellent fodder for victimisation by the way) we offer you a simple check list of attitudes to help change your thinking. These attitudes are at the core of everything we have created at The Possibility Project. While it was our intention to build something using what we already had, our engagement with slum communities has opened us to so much more.
Image: The Possibility Project
Our ability to create a slow clothing label has come from four simple attitudes demonstrated to us by these slum communities. Read them slowly.
1. Compassion - Anything is possible.
2. Abundance - We already have what we need to create what we want
3. Mastery - Everybody has a gift to offer
4. Purpose - win - wins create magnificent solutions
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Image: Kim Pearce
Witness your response to each attitude, resistance is normal! When you 'think' about it, how often do we hear or see this message of possibility? Think of our political systems, our work places, our personal relationships, our food and clothing supply chains (don't even get me started on our classrooms). When are we ever reminded of our 'enoughness'? Problem solving is the essential activity of every being human, yet we have forgotten the simplest ways to create solutions.We have experienced first hand how these attitudes of compassion, abundance, mastery and purpose are freely available choices to every human being and how they can transform problems. These can be your enough starting points for 2017. When you change your thinking you will change your world, we simply wish to offer you some greater possibility.
"Steven, your last blog didn't say LGBT once? how unusual" cried my friends... or at least I assume they would have had anyone read the last blog.... But fear not hypothetical and concerned friends! I'm making my rainbow cloaked return to LGBT subject matter!
I was recently having supper with a new acquaintance (this blog partially exists to serve as a humble brag about the fact that I have made a friend) and we were discussing my studies, in particular my dissertation and how I chose to focus upon queer theory. I explained my original starting point to my dissertation was to focus upon the application of queer theory onto the prehistoric archaeological record as a means of investigating the possible existence of a queer prehistoric identity, or as I jokingly named it at the time "Is early Homosapian also Homosexual" (a title that received mixed reviews at best). My friend burst out with something along the lines of "please find some" and seemed quite chuffed when I informed him I had - at the very least- formed a solid argument about the existence of same gendered sexual activity between prehistoric people (humblebrag number 2). In my previous blog I mentioned how archaeology has the prospect to effect social conscious and morals, and I want to use this example to further explain that phenomena.
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To explore the effect of definitive proof of early queer activity (a term I adopt for this article as any other language is too specific to accurately represent this phenomena, though I understand the politically charged nature of this word and wish to clarify I am only using it in a quasi-academic context), we must currently understand the view of current queer activity. While it is mostly accepted, the manner in which it is viewed does change a great deal over different social/religious/class/cultural/geographical landscapes, which I believe to all stem from different theories of why the phenomena occurs, notably "is it natural?" or "is it a modern creation?" Both these ideas can be debated due to the little evidence of or study into queer heritage. This leaves people open to multiple interpretations, queerness may be common now because it is a strictly modern phenomenon (theory A) or queerness is more common now because society is more accepting and people are making themselves known (theory B), people who subscribe to theory A find it easier to justify homophobia and other forms of- both legal and personal- queer based discrimination because the absence of history makes it seem less legitimate. This is where evidence of early queerness comes into play, it's much harder to de-legitimise something when it is has appeared throughout time and been sewn into the fabric of various pivotal societies (such as Ancient Greece, Ancient Rome, Ancient Egypt and Ancient Japan) and possess its own legacy.
Sandel and Nightengale write about how the lgbt community (though this point can be extrapolated to apply to all marginalized communities) are "under-served" by museums. An example of this is how, despite homophobia's prominence throughout history, it is almost entirely absent and/or neglected by both museums and the educational and academic sphere (a phenomena noted by Levin), this is where I think museums are slacking. Not only does the overlooking of queer history and heritage arguably aid homophobia's ability to infiltrate and infect societal spheres, it also misses the opportunity to reach out to the communities they neglect. One of my favorite metaphors for the lgbt community is that they are uncharted volcanic islands (a metaphor put forward by poet Alfian Sa'at), they exist but are often not recognized. A result of this is that members of the community aren't aware of the colorfulness of our own history, or how members of our community have contributed to wider society and above all else, how members of our community are just as good as everyone else. Not only does this absence make it easier for others to delegitimize the community and push us further into the fringes of society (as previously discussed), but it also makes it easier for us to doubt ourselves. A closeted youth will inevitably doubt themselves and their own worth. In my youth my mind was full of the fear that I was not breaking the mould as I liked to hope, instead I was afraid that I was just broken. This is a cavity not explored by museums who- by not reaching back into queer heritage are also not reaching out to the queer community who may need it.
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With Hanukkah starting the same day as Christmas this year, Hanukkah was completely dwarfed by Christmas with its myriad of commercials and store product displays, not to mention the nation-wide broadcast of the Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree lighting. A friend asked me how it is that Hanukkah avoids commercialization. The answer is three-fold: market size, lack of awareness, and nature of practice.
Market Size
Of the 324 million people in the United States (census), 280 million of them are Christian. For companies producing holiday products, this is a very large customer base, offering a worthwhile potential market to amply justify themed commercials, decorations, and product development (of both Christmas-specific products like Santa figurines and Christmas-themed everyday items like red-and-green wrapped candies). Christmas commercialization has reached immense proportion due to a snowballing of companies playing up their holiday offerings to stand out amongst the fray.
The population of Jews in the United States, on the other hand, numbers only 5.6 million (WJC). For most large companies, this is too miniscule a market to cater to. This gap in the marketplace is filled by smaller companies specializing in products targeting the Jewish demographic. Jewish-focused companies manufacture foods, gifts, and specialized holiday products that can be found in local Jewish specialty shops, non-specialized shops in heavily-Jewish areas, and online.
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Awareness
Given that there are 5.6 million Jews and 280 million Christians in the United States, a proportional Hanukkah display would barely be noticeable. Even in New York City, known as being "very Jewish," Christians outnumber Jews by 7.4:1 (Pew). In areas with a high population of Jews, stores often have Jewish holiday displays: apples & honey and shofars (ram's horns blown during the holiday) for the Jewish New Year, matzah and Seder plates for Passover, and Hanukkiahs (the candelabras lit on Hanukkah) and dreidels (spinning tops) in windows and apartment building lobbies during Hanukkah. But with only 1.7 million Jews in the United States outside of the eight top cities, Jews in the rest of the country disappear in a mathematical rounding error.
Practice
With so many Christians in America, school breaks and legal holidays are arranged around the major holidays. This is so well-ingrained that Winter Break has become synonymous with Christmas Break. Christmas and Easter are so significant that the term C&E Christians has come into being, referring to Christians who attend church for the minimum of Christmas and Easter services. The Jewish equivalent of C&E, however, would not include Hanukkah. When celebrated, Hanukkah festivities include a brief candle lighting at home and Hanukkah parties for children and young professionals.
Jewish holidays are generally celebrated either in the home or in the synagogue, but rarely in public. Given how home-based these celebrations are, it would be easy for non-Jews to be unaware of Jewish holidays, particularly given confusion of holiday dates as the Jewish lunar-solar calendar shifts relative to the Gregorian calendar. In fact, placing the Hanukkiah in a window for others to see is about as public an observance as Judaism has.
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In short, there will never be a large Hanukkiah standing alongside the 94 foot tall Christmas tree in Rockefeller Center, and that makes sense. Hanukkah itself is a minor holiday, with neither the observance nor the public awareness to justify a large display.
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With Christmas commercials, decorations, and music everywhere, it'd be hard to mistake the reach of the holiday. It is the anchor for home decorations, retail sales, elaborate window displays, and tourism, with retail sales alone topping $600 billion (Wikipedia). With so much interest and excitement over Christmas and its subsequent economic impact, it is therefore no surprise that there is so much commercialization as companies hurry to join the bandwagon.
President-elect Donald Trump should end the President's Daily Brief (PDB) prepared by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence. It summarizes high level intelligence and analyses about global hot spots and national security threats as seen through the eyes of the Director.
The PDB is suitable for the President of the World. It is a distraction for the President of the United States. POTUS is elected to advance the interests of American citizens, not to go abroad in search of monsters to destroy. Under the United States Constitution, sovereignty lies with "We the People." The President is only a temporary steward of their liberties.
Except to create an invincible self-defense against actual or imminent aggression against the United States, all of President Trump's time and focus should be on providing Americans a fair opportunity to develop their faculties and pursue their ambitions. Among other things, President Trump should champion infrastructure like libraries, schools, hospitals, highways, airports, and universal internet access to all the great books of the world. Equally important, President Trump should put a knife in the back of the morally corrupt crony capitalism industry that is arresting economic growth.
The time-honored engine of prosperity is uncomplex, i.e., a marketplace where the touchstone of success is satisfying consumer wants through skill, foresight, industry, and innovation. In this system, business geniuses rise to the top the top based on building a better or more affordable mousetrap or inventing new products or ways of doing business like Google, Microsoft, Facebook, or otherwise.
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The essential fact about capitalism, according to renowned economist Joseph Schumpeter, is the process of Creative Destruction: incessant product and process innovations or inventions by which new production units replace outdated ones.
Crony capitalism, in contrast, rewards a business executive's political shrewdness in skewing business decisions to benefit key Members of Congress who hold decisive influence or control over the economic fortunes of the companies they manage. Lockheed Martin's nearly $400 billion price tag for the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter--about $140 million per copy--is emblematic.
Companies from 45 states are involved in production. It is no accident that Texas enjoys the lions share. Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-Tex.) is chairman of the House Armed Services Committee; and, Rep. Kay Granger (R-Tex.) is vice chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. In 2015, the F-35 program comprised 20 percent of Lockheed's total revenue of $46.1 billion; and, U.S. government orders made up 78 percent.
The economic costs of crony capitalism are incalculable: the wholesale diversion of the nation's business genius from satisfying consumer wants to satisfying political imperatives. Consumer demand seldom if ever converges with the political needs of a Member.
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President Trump should begin his attack on crony capitalism with an executive order requiring the chief executives of all federal government contractors to certify under oath that none of their business decisions have been or will be compromised to benefit the district or state of any U.S. Representative or Senator.
The PDB should be discarded as the misbegotten child of the American Empire. It has been defined for at least 70 years by presidential quests for global domination and legacies as narcissistic and useless as pharaonic pyramids. The interests of American citizens have been slighted as if they were extras in a Cecil B. DeMille cinematic extravaganza.
To defend the United States from aggression, the President does not need to know the economic destitution of Zimbabwe, political upheavals in Burundi or the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the strength of the Euro, or the implications of Brexit for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization. The President needs to know that our troops in the United States are seamlessly defending our borders, our sea lanes, our air space, and our cyberspace from enemy penetration.
PALM BEACH, FL - DECEMBER 21: President-Elect Donald J. Trump attends a meeting at the Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, FL on Wednesday, Dec. 21, 2016. (Photo by Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Getty Images)
These are early days of course. Nothing has happened yet to directly justify a rush to judgment. But enough happened during the campaign, and enough is happening now in the interregnum between the election and the inauguration, to give genuine cause for concern. These three large concerns at the very least.
THE PROSPECT OF BAD POLICIES TO COME
Had Hillary Clinton won, we would now be contemplating the possibilities of extending access to childcare and healthcare, easing the burden of student debt, protecting a woman's right to choose, anticipating equal pay for equal work, and expecting, among other things, trade union rights to be extended and income inequality to fall. No doubt we would have been disappointed on some of this - but the trajectory of policy emanating from the White House would have been broadly progressive. But it will not be now, for at least the following two sets of reasons.
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One is that the men (and occasionally, the women) already selected by Donald J. Trump to join his cabinet, as the heads of key federal agencies, appear to be uniformly hostile to the use of the agencies they will head for any progressive purpose. Indeed, and to the contrary, many of them will enter their new roles determined to reverse some or all of their agency's recent policy initiatives; and some even have records of actively resisting those policy initiatives in the Obama years. The list of potential cabinet members already available to us is awesome and, from a progressive point of view, truly and consistently terrible. The result will be a cabinet dominated by self-made billionaires drawn from the private sector, joined by a set of controversial generals drawn from the ranks of the militarily retired. What could possibly go wrong with policy initiatives and executive actions crafted by a cabinet dominated by ex-oil executives, Wall Street insiders and the military fringe? Arguably, everything!
The second is that, what might have eased conservative worries about Hillary Clinton as President -- namely the steadfast resistance to any progressive policies she would have experienced at the hands of a Republican-controlled Congress -- is simply not going to be replicated with Donald J. Trump as President. Some of the more populist of his policy promises on the campaign trail -- his defense of Social Security, his commitment to ending free trade -- may meet a similar fate. But the bulk of his program will not, primarily because he doesn't yet have a fully calibrated program. What instead is already in place is a Tea-Party dominated Republican Party in control of both the House and the Senate, one which is publicly committed to using its majorities in both houses to, among other things, abolish the Affordable Care Act and 'reform' into oblivion vast chunks of the already depleted US welfare state. The Trump decision to appoint a leading Tea Party enthusiast to the Directorship of the Office of Management and Budget, and a leading advocate of health privatization to head the Department of Health and Social Security, suggests that this Republican onslaught on what remains of FDR's New Deal and of Lyndon Johnson's Great Society will be fully embraced by a Trump White House, rather than be blocked by it as it was when Barack Obama was President of the United States.
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THE LIKELIHOOD THAT THE WHITE HOUSE WILL DIVIDE RATHER THAN UNITE US
We are currently a deeply divided nation. In fact, the depth of our current divisions is probably one of the few things on which most Americans agree -- that, and the undeniable fact that Donald J. Trump did not win in November 2016 either a majority of the popular vote or indeed as many votes as Mitt Romney did when losing to Barack Obama in 2012. Donald J. Trump used the occasion of Hillary Clinton's phone-call concession to him to announce on election night that he intended to be a president for all the American people. The question, however, is whether he will, or indeed even whether he can, now begin to heal the divisions that his campaign rhetoric so helped to exacerbate. Again, for two reasons at least, that outcome is unlikely.
One is the powerful legacy of the campaign rhetoric itself. Donald J. Trump began his campaign, as we all know, speaking unscripted about Mexican immigrants as criminals and rapists -- and then went on to, among other things, dismiss Megyn Kelly as menstrual, propose a ban on the entry of Muslims to America, and brag about the way in which his fame and fortune allowed him to sexually assault women. At one of his early campaign rallies he mocked a journalist with a serious disability; and at later rallies gave vocal support to the use of violence by supporters whenever dissent manifested itself in the audience. By those means, and by others, Donald Trump's campaign released into mainstream politics ideas long resisted as "politically incorrect" by decent Americans. He gave political oxygen to groups long marginalized because of their excessive bigotry. These bigoted groups are now empowered by the Trump victory -- publicly parading their reactionary ideas and reveling in their new-found legitimacy. Which is why the countless acts of hate that have been perpetrated since November 8 make it imperative -- if Donald J. Trump genuinely wants to unite the country -- that he establish a large and rapid division between his Administration and the white nationalist fringe. Yet despite his brief insistence in late November that he has no wish to re-energize the alt-right, no such chasm has yet been opened- up by either the vocabulary of, or the policy stances laid out by, the President-elect as he prepares for office.
The other is the pattern of appointments and public pronouncements that so far have come from the Trump camp. If social unity was Donald J. Trump's goal, and a transition from campaign mode to governing mode was his intention, then it is hard to understand why Steve Bannon -- the arch conspiracy theorist and previous regular peddler of misogynistic and bigoted by-lines on Breitbart News, should now be firmly ensconced within the White House as chief strategist and senior counselor. It is also very hard, if building fences back to the 54 percent of American women who did not vote for him is part of his intention, that Donald J. Trump should have appointed so few women to senior positions in his in-coming Administration; and it is very hard to make sense of the pattern of content and silences in the tweets through which he daily communicates with us. The slightest criticism of Trump himself gets an immediate and heavily-negative Trump tweet response. Ask the cast of Saturday Night Live, or that of Hamilton, if you want further evidence of that. But when the man who co-directed his campaign in New York state, Carl Paladino, last week issued a horrendously racist set of slurs against both Barack and Michelle Obama, only to attempt later to attempt to laugh them off as a sophisticated joke, there was no equivalent tweet from the President-elect: no tweet condemning either the racism or the sense of humor said to produce it. Donald J. Trump seems not yet to have realized that, as President, what he doesn't say, and doesn't prioritize, can be as politically significant as the things that he does say and do. It is a lesson that he needs quickly to recognize and to heed.
THE SUBLIMINAL THREAT TO THE CONTINUANCE OF AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
Then there is this even more profound worry on which we would all do well carefully to reflect. Donald J. Trump comes to the presidency from the world of business, as he regularly reminds us. So too do many of his inner circle and senior advisers, not least other members of his family. The world of business is not a democratic one; and the world of family-business can often be more like the Godfather than Capitol Hill. In the world of business, hiring and firing is the prerogative of senior management, with everything justified in terms of the bottom-line and the fiduciary duty to shareholders. In the cut-throat world of family business, trimming ethical corners can be vital for survival, and a culture of dog-eat-dog very easy to consolidate. Bringing those kinds of business habits and practices to the role of US president can be incrementally corrosive of the very foundations of American democracy: because that democracy rests on the inalienable rights of citizens that no executive can simply ignore, and because those rights are grounded in a system of laws that no executive can disregard. So the question arises again. How great and permanent a rupture with the practices and ethics of vulture capitalism can we expect the incoming Trump Administration to make? And once again, for the following two reasons at least, the omens are far from reassuring.
First, there is the matter of the Trump entourage itself, and of the managerial philosophy flowing through it from the top. From outside, it is hard to judge of course, but what we know of the Trump temperament, and what we have seen from people like Kellyanne Conway when senior Democratic Party figures criticize her boss, it doesn't look good. Maybe Donald J. Trump himself will develop a thicker skin over time, as he remembers with what ferocity he challenged the basic legitimacy of his predecessor as president, and as he comes to realize that he has actually achieved his life goal -- he is now President of the United States. But even if that mellowing occurs -- and many commentators, struck by the possibility that the new President may have serious character flaws over which he has no control, doubt that it is even a possibility -- we can expect no such mellowing from his entourage. For their hold on power turns critically on their boss's credibility in the wider electorate. Their status and privilege critically depends on the credibility of his; and at least some of them bring to their new role some particularly ethically-challenged business practices from their own past. Donald J. Trump may yet prove to be a leading example of "poacher turned gamekeeper," but we are unlikely to see an equivalent turn from many of his poacher friends.
In fact, just the reverse so far. There seems to be genuine fear in parts of the civil service of an impending witch-hunt against supporters of climate change and women's rights -- the fear of a new McCarthyism in American public life, with anti-Trumpism replacing anti-communism as its driving motif. The most disturbing story that I saw this Christmas was that about the death threats and abuse heaped on a Californian professor who had the temerity to criticize Donald J. Trump in a lecture filmed (and then disseminated) by a Republican student member of her audience. There has been no Trump tweet condemning this, as far as I know: and it needs condemning. It needs condemning partly to offset the right-wing media's echo chamber -- the one that blows every tiny liberal transgression into a major threat to American democracy while remaining entirely silent on the much more dangerous conservative abuses of power. It is touching, after all, to see Fox News outraged at this apparent misuse of a teaching position, when their regular misuse of their position to spread false information, or distort by over-emphasize, is such a defining feature of what they are and do on a regular basis. And if you doubt that, check out Fox News latest contribution to the debate on welfare reform.
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But the danger to the strength of democratic institutions here in the United States runs deeper than just this one case. The danger is this. If double standards are routinely applied by the conservative media -- with them throwing every verbal slur they can at Administration critics while turning a blind-eye to Administration excesses -- the quality of the electoral process will be quickly undermined by the systematic flow of distorted information to would-be voters. Moreover, if people cannot dissent without being exposed to the threat of violence, civilized discourse in a functioning democracy will quickly become impossible. And if the academy cannot be a place in which ideas are freely discussed and critical thinking actively encouraged, then the civil society surrounding the democratic state will be irreparably damaged. The incoming Administration and its supporters are enthusiastic advocates of the Second Amendment. Yet over the last eight years, they have also enjoyed the full protection of the First Amendment -- even when pushing the lies of the birther movement -- which is why it is now time for them to recognize their responsibilities to honor both Amendments with equal determination and force.
GOING FORWARD
Now, however, is not the time for progressives to panic. Now is the time to prepare, to organize and to be ready to resist, planning to use only (but to exhaust fully) all the legal rights of opposition guaranteed to citizens under the Constitution. White racist misogynistic America reared its ugly head on November 8th, to the nation's lasting shame. Progressive candidates were beaten by a tidal wave that Donald J. Trump released but did not originate, as the Trump people organized themselves against a woman for president and against an inclusive coalition for America. Tragically, they got away with it: which is why the struggle before us now is such an enormous one. It is also why that struggle must begin with a clear insistence from progressive Americans that the opposition to the new Administration will make no concessions at all to racism, to sexism, or to xenophobia. There must be no chasing votes on the terms on which Donald J. Trump won them. Votes must be won back on progressive principles, not on reactionary ones, if those votes are going to be worth winning back at all.
There are many political battles to come; and initially many of them will likely be lost. But only initially; for as the gap opens-up between what Donald J. Trump promised he would deliver as President and what he actually delivers, the space for successful progressive politics will reappear. Indeed, it is likely to reappear even more rapidly than it would if Donald J. Trump was its only recruiting sergeant. For he is not. The Republican Party is also now in government. In 2017, it too will now have to put its policy proposals where its mouth has been. There can be no hiding by Republicans behind an anti-Obama blame sheet this time round. There can be no more pointing the finger elsewhere. What happens now will be entirely on the Republican Party's watch; and they will be judged accordingly. We can therefore expect a rapid learning curve there too, as many Republican voters find their health coverage cut and their Social Security threatened by the "reforms" that Paul Ryan and Mitch McConnell jointly oversee. And in the meantime, as we wait for these pennies to drop, we can take some comfort from the thought that one of Donald J. Trump's earliest responsibilities as President will likely be to record a message of welcome to immigrants newly naturalized as citizens. I well remember my own naturalization ceremony long ago -- welcomed by George W. Bush. A Republican President welcomed all of us that day without any mention of criminality or rape. Donald J. Trump will need to do the same -- or if he can't cope with the volte-face required, will need to ask Mike Pence to stand in for him.... or perhaps Alex Baldwin if neither the President or Vice-President fancy the task. Of the three, of course, Alex Baldwin would undoubtedly do the best job!
First posted with full footnotes at www.davidcoates.net
I often experience a series of completely immersive, fully dimensional and cinematic visitations that transport me back, at the speed of enlightment, to any number of precise, laser-targeted moments of time experienced and logged, which feels, during even the briefest moments of self-exploration, both prescriptive and most importantly and despite the occasional feelings of imminent danger, safe.
Most of us stagger amatuerly through life, army defended against a personal civilization of sadistic bosses, rude people, unreasonable spouses, selefish politicans and widly disappointing friends and yet there are moments that arrive, less and less frequently, when we are finally willingly to lay down our shields and swords in order to release God's chest-housed breath and allow in radiant beams of sunshine which allows us, in turn, to bake our fresh bread souls like the true artisans we all secretly all are.
When we live in that fragrant, warm moment of just rised bliss, time stops and all seems impossibly right with the world. We feel tucked in. Read to. We can close our eyes and remember the tactful touch of our mothers as they quietly swiped those few errant hairs from our foreheads as they quickly replaced their child tracing fingertips with their mommy warm, slowly descending, perfectly landed lips.
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When I was really little I had many safe places. There were tented blankets, members only, closet spaces and the exclusive, shadow underworlds of summertime boardwalks and daddy indented, chaise lounges. From those quiet places I was able to pray at the Church of the child and while offering myself to the welcoming angel arms of forever.
What I was not prepared for was this year.
2016, has been nothing more than an endless, unpredictable chain of just stepped on land mine explosions that refuses to stop no matter how many times I to convince myself that all is well
It feels like we have all been forced to stand, glued against our will to the very same spot, saluting stoically little John John, as we mournfully watch the clip, clop of the next horseless carriage of the just now extinguished hero. And the one after that.
And the one after that.
You know the endless list of loss. Prince. Glen Frey. David Bowie. George Michael. Muhammad Ali. Alan Rickman. Patty Duke. And now add Debbie Reynolds whose tiny, let's put on a show, trouper body required the proplusion of one, final massive stroke to propell her into the heavens so she could still be next door neighbors with her beloved and our beloved Carrrie.
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At this point all I can try to do is hope and pray that I run out of memory ink so I can finally breath and stare at a mercifully blank sheet brain paper.
The election, for the most of us, has been yet another land mine exploded. Killed in action, in one blinding, staggering moment of flash, has been decency, ability, talent, ethics, values, truth, facts, science, compassion, civility, inclusion, respect and educated discourse which now lie, on the scorched earth battlefields like quickly decomposing, mortally wounded, soldiers whose bodies will remain both forgotten and unclaimed for at least four more years, because avarice, just like any other chemical weapon, once fully released into the atmosphere, cannot be contained and kills on contact.
Wherever I have traveled, the traumatized, shared-loss cafe conversations have been identical. It's not even January and already those daily George Bailey-like/Potterville wild eyed faces of helplessness appear at every turn, searching desperately for answers.
It feels like, the never ending new normal ritual has been expect the best, while outside Rome burns and the Emperor waves, like a baffled, Walmart Greeter, in the lobby of a tower (which I assure you is his one and only job).
For now, and today only, the obituaries du jour will read:
Historical Hollywood glamour, forever gone.
Savage, brilliant, wit, dies at 60.
But once the dust that we literally go to and finally settles (trust me, it will. For a while at least) know this.
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Despite everything that has slammed us hard in the clay-soft, most vulnerable lunar region craters of our hearts, our individual system of gravity although threatened and endlessly under atatck, works just fine.
What we need now is one small step for a man or woman.
Anna (not her real name) came to see me because she felt 'stuck' and she'd been intrigued by a talk I gave on creating soulful relationships.
Anna was in her 60s and mother to a 'forty-something' daughter, Lily (again, not her real name). Lily was a successful small business owner, a wife and mother of a ten-year-old girl and a three-year-old boy. Lily was also a chronic alcoholic who had been through inpatient rehabilitation programs three times in 20 years and had made countless attempts to stay sober, some lasting years, some only hours. Lily had now, for the last year or so, been drinking heavily again, bringing to the end her longest ever period of sobriety.
Anna came to tell me of her concerns for Lily, or so she framed her visit. It soon became apparent that Anna was intensely focused on her own pain, and biting disappointment and anger that Lily was not the daughter she wanted her to be. Anna felt that Lily had had every opportunity to do well in life, and indeed in some ways she had excelled. However, for Anna, it was unbearable to see Lily sleeping through school pickup times, ignoring her husband and snapping at the children everyday due to alcoholism.
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I asked Anna about the state of her relationship with Lily currently, wondering why after all these years, she was here, now, talking to me.
"Did something different happen recently?" I asked, hoping to understand the situation more deeply.
"Yes, a little" answered Anna "It got worse after I wrote her a letter to let her know how difficult it was that she was drinking again, how disappointed I was and how afraid I am it is actually going to make ME sick having to deal with her like this".
"I guess that didn't help get a conversation going?" I asked, not needing to hear the answer, but hoping that asking the question might spark further reflection.
"No, it didn't" she said.
"You are worried for your health you say Anna, are you unwell?"
"No, I just wanted her to know I am afraid for my health because her drinking again makes me feel, unwell, physically sick..."
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"You wanted her to know that her actions might make you sick?"
"Yes" Anna stopped to take a tissue.
We paused a while to reflect on the situation as described so far.
"Is this the first time you've written Lily a letter about your feelings?"
"Yes. I usually tell her how I feel in person".
"And how does she usually respond to you?"
"Not well. Angrily. She shuts down for a few days and I can't see the kids, my grandchildren, and she won't speak to me or let me into their house."
We spoke for a while about how, just maybe, Lily cannot bear her own feelings easily, that she may be struggling with her own disappointment at yet another relapse, let alone the feelings of disappointment her mother has toward her. Further, Anna expressed not only disappointment, but that Lily is in danger of making her sick. We wondered together how easy that would be for Lily to read, and whether it would be helpful to hear on either side, all things considered. I comforted Anna that her feelings were absolutely normal under the circumstances, and very real.
Yet, holding that in mind, I asked if we might reflect on a question to bring a larger perspective to the situation, a situation where a lot of people are in pain, a lot of people are under pressure and being affected. I wondered with her if we might reflect through a spiritual lens, on the bigger picture of the situation as well as holding her intense feelings of this moment?
Anna agreed.
The question I wanted to ask was from the core of the talk Anna had heard that had drawn her to approach me:
"Is what I'm about to say or do likely to be helpful, to me or the other person, in the bigger picture of this situation?"
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Anna understood, and she quickly replied that she thought it was probably not helpful to criticize Lily and tell her she was making her (Anna) sick. It might be true, but it might not be helpful to Lily, to their relationship, or to staying engaged and helping the grandchildren because Lily shut Anna out of their lives whenever she felt criticized. On reflection, Anna stated that expressing her feelings to an actively alcoholic Lily had no positive outcomes for anyone, except for giving Anna a chance to vent, then regret her venting.
I asked Anna about how she has typically coped with Lily's drinking all these years, and she said she really hadn't coped well. Anna felt that a wedge had been gradually driven further and further between them over time. Anna had coped by asking Lily to stop drinking time and time again, by helping her with the family as much as she could and by praying, asking for help and wellness for Lily and all of them from God. She also prayed for Lily to show more kindness and to be less hard on the three year old boy in particular, who had developed behavioural problems. Anna often wondered why her prayers to her God felt so unanswered, why God could not help them with the change they needed. Anna attended a Christian church every week and enjoyed the fellowship aspect, but felt her faith was weakened by the lack of any perceivable answer to her desperate prayers.
Disheartened that her prayers seem always unanswered she had started looking elsewhere for help, attending different churches and coming to see me. We decided to look at the principles of her faith to see where she might translate them into practice in her relationship with Lily, rather than waiting for them to be applied from outside by praying to an interventionist image of God. We wondered if our own resources are perhaps the way Spirit expresses itself best in our lives and how we might examine that idea.
After some conversation, we came to wonder whether there was great opportunity in which Anna herself could be the carrier of the kind of change she prayed would come from a Higher Power. Did Anna have some power herself to embody a change of perspective towards Lily - whether Lily deserves it or not, whether she is angry with Lily or not?
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Anna named compassion, forgiveness and unconditional loving as the qualities she saw as most important in her Christian faith. Therefore, we decided to look at what Anna was empowered to do, what she could do to activate in herself right now a shift or a new perspective from her spiritual understanding that might bring about better outcomes with Lily.
We discussed that while Anna changing her behaviour consistently to being less judgmental and accusing towards Lily may not change Lily's drinking in the short-term, it may start to rebuild some trust on Lily's side. It may also mean that Lily might be more open to sharing the grandchildren's daily lives with Anna, rather than shutting her out in what seemed to be punitive and defensive action against feeling criticized and judged.
We looked at all the ways in which Anna might lighten Lily's perception of her load in life, without detriment to Anna herself, in order to join forces with Lily and encourage her to feel more empowered rather than exacerbating her shame, low self-esteem and feelings of overwhelm. We agreed that insisting Lily was responsible for keeping her Mum healthy by complying with her Mum's angrily expressed demands was not helpful to Lily, and therefore not helpful to maintaining wider family cohesiveness, particularly under this already strained situation.
Anna decided that the question
"Is what I am about to do or say likely to help the situation?"
was the key question she could ask before expressing herself with Lily. Being less openly critical was not necessarily going to change Lily, at least not directly, but it didn't aim to. It might however, take a lot of pressure off everybody in this crisis period.
More broadly, Anna realised once and for all, that after two decades (or I suspect perhaps even most of Lily's lifetime) telling Lily she needed to change her behaviour and her self, it was Anna who could really model being a bigger person for the sake of those who were younger than her. It was Anna who held the power to very personally embody the fundamental Christian principals she cherished such as acceptance, forgiveness, compassion for pain she may not understand, and healthy self-management of feelings.
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These were deeply Christian understandings for a deeply Christian woman, but they need not have been framed in a way that was specific to religion. Anna grasped these spiritual wellbeing principles in a new way that would also have been theoretically possible without religious beliefs, had she not had them. Anna realised that she didn't have to limit herself to just praying and waiting in seeming helplessness but that she could also activate the spirit of a loving 'higher' power through herself. Prayer could be helpful, but it wasn't always enough on its own.
One of the difficulties of pain is that we cease to see as widely as we might, our vision is narrowed and we can miss recognising the spectrum of growth opportunities possible, evoked by the suffering. We can too easily lose focus on the vast nature of who we are, that we are more than our feelings and thoughts in each moment, and that we may have more power over ourselves, than we realise. We can miss seeing that we are acting in a manner that is the opposite to that kindness, compassion and unconditional love we pray will intervene from outside ourselves.
A spiritual psychology allows us to remember the vast unlimited nature of our consciousness, of our heart, of being a good presence in the world. It helps us to see that other actions may be more helpful and ultimately rewarding than getting to express how peeved and disappointed we are in the moment. A spiritual perspective beckons us to be the 'bigger' person when our body, our thoughts, our emotions feel limiting, diminished and small.
While Lily had not stopped drinking last time I heard from Anna, Anna was enjoying more open communication and more time with Lily and the kids, than for a year prior. Anna felt she was now much better positioned to help the family as a whole. She herself felt more empowered around the situation and proud of herself for having more to share with her daughter than just ongoing anger and disappointment. Anna still prayed and she felt stronger in her spiritual life because she felt she was practically expressing her faith and employing her long-held spiritual values in ways that translated into better relating.
This quote (below) from Danielle Laporte sums up the idea of creating a spirituality that you can really use, not just a spirituality of words or images to look at from the church pews or meditation stools, but an embodied enriching way of life:
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"My version of spirituality has to be practical. It's got to work in my kitchen, it's got to work in my bedroom, and it's got to work in my heart."
Danielle Laporte, The Desire Map.
I shared the quote with Anna and she felt it was worthy of placing on her refrigerator door as a daily reminder. Anna wants to keep in touch and plans to let me know of any further progress with Lily.
U.S. President-Elect Donald Trump speaks at an event at Carrier HVAC plant in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., December 1, 2016. REUTERS/Chris Bergin
The unexpected outcome of last month's election loosed the horrors of the liberal imagination. The America that we all "knew" to exist doesn't. "They" are coming to round up all of society's victims.
Of course, we're still waiting. (With luck, Hollywood celebrities will be the first to go to the camps.) And we're likely to continue waiting for quite some time.
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But while Donald Trump has generally pleased the Right with his Cabinet appointments, he has demonstrated that he cares little for the rule of law and believes not at all in free markets. Arbitrary presidential intervention in the economy "is the way it's going to be," he declared, and "corporate America is going to have to understand." Which should worry anyone committed to free enterprise and limited government. And requires that Republicans in Congress and elsewhere to keep him within legal bounds.
The Carrier deal fulfills the worst of the president-elect's inclinations. Forget the overall argument for trade. Americans are better off if they are able to purchase cheaper products from abroad. Lower-priced goods and services are particularly important for those of modest means, who gain the most from free trade.
Moreover, job growth is stronger if the economy is more competitive. Jack up the price of steel and automobiles are more expensive, etc. If Trump closes off the economy, he shouldn't expect the rest of the world to rush to buy U.S. goods and services. No surprise, the majority of Americans favors a more open economy.
Trying to "save" high-cost jobs is expensive. Indeed, protectionism routinely spends far more per position than workers receive. It would be better to cut out complicated trade restrictions and simply pay people directly. Except that the public would then know how much they actually were pay for other people's jobs. Politicians prefer to hide the expense.
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So it is with Carrier. Those employed are happy to keep their jobs. The rest of us will bear the cost, however. The Donald wanted a high profile political win. The issue well illustrates the lessons of Public Choice economics: visible, clamorous interests gain at the expense of the inert general public.
Congress engages in boundless special interest spending for the same reason. Well-organized looters strip the Treasury bare because Americans won't lobby to save the buck or two that the ethanol producers, sugar growers, exporters, overseas investors, apartment owners, labor unions and so many others mulct from individual taxpayers. Conservatives always decried this process. They shouldn't embrace it with a nominal Republican as president.
The financial pay-off in the Carrier deal is one problem. Vice President-elect Mike Pence is still Indiana's governor, so he was able to raid that state's coffers to the tune of $7 million. Unlucky Hoosiers. (If Donald Trump, who criticized corporate subsidies for job creation during the campaign, is as rich as he claims to be, he should have offered to pay!)
Since Carrier is owned by United Technologies, a defense contractor, one could imagine promises, or threats, also being made regarding the firm's future access to military dollars. Trump claimed not to have mentioned the issue, but he didn't have to. UT's CEO indicated that it was this possibility which caused him to shift course. Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers called the episode "more of a mugging than a bribe."
State subsidies are a common though counter-productive means to pay firms to come or stay. Trump's high profile ploy has increased expectations of future pay-offs, meaning the price will increase. Anyone who could plausibly shift production abroad in the future need merely hint about the possibility while indicating their willingness to be bought off. How can President Trump say no?
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Of greater concern, however are the president-elect's threats. Not his drive-by-tweeting, despite the unease that it might engender simply because of the president's reputation as "the most powerful man on earth." But his threat to punish and reward companies as he sees fit. The rule of law is supposed to treat all who are equally situated equally. Yet Carrier is not the only U.S., let alone Indiana, company with plans to outsource production.
Moreover, taken literally, Trump intends to make the economy quite unfree. For instance, while celebrating his crony capitalist "success" in Indiana, he declared: "Companies are not going to leave the U.S. anymore without consequences." Indeed, he added, "Leaving the country is going to be very, very difficult." Trump tweeted "Any business that leaves our country for another country, fires its employees, builds a new factory or plant in the other country, and then thinks it will sell its product back into the U.S. ...without retribution or consequence, is WRONG!" He threatened to impose a 35 percent tariff in retaliation. That is, he would tax Americans buying those companies' products. Companies should "be forewarned prior to making a very expensive mistake!"
This policy is what one would have expected from a left-wing redistributionist and government planning enthusiast. Everything that has ever been produced here must always be produced here. Consumers should always sacrifice their interests to influential and well-organized bands of producers. Government officials know who should make what where and are entitled to treat companies accordingly.
A similar philosophy appears likely to dominate the incoming administration. At the Carrier plant, supposed conservative stalwart and Vice President-elect Mike Pence declared that "The free market has been sorting it out and America's been losing." Trump added "Every time, every time." Donald Trump's America doesn't sound that much different from Bernie Sanders' America.
But the problem is not just economic. It is the prospect of one person, whatever his intentions, utilizing essentially unaccountable, untrammeled power. And there's no reason to believe that Trump or his successors would feel constrained to only exercise their power for "good" reasons. What if a firm is seen as obstructing what the president sees as "important" national objectives? What if a company's chief executive simply has the temerity to criticize the president or his policies?
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The president-elect attacked Boeing for the potential $4 billion cost of replacing Air Force One, threatening to cancel the contract. Of course the deal is expensive. Any one-off project is going to cost more than a mass production model. Of course money could be saved somewhere, especially if the government reduced its technical requirements. But few people want to skimp when the president's safety and effectiveness are at stake.
It is unlikely that Trump has a clue as to what the new AF1 should include or cost. Yet his verbal assault came suspiciously soon after the company's CEO criticized Trump's counterproductive protectionist plans. And observers have noted that few businesses are willing to challenge policies which would hurt them as well as America. Reported the Washington Post: "At another time, talk of a steep, punitive tariff would have provoked outrage from U.S. corporations. But faced with an impulsive tweeter-in-chief, corporate America's response has been muted."
Pharmaceutical companies also may find themselves in Trump's cross-hairs. The president-elect declared to Time: "I don't like what has happened with drug prices." So what are his plans? There could be no doubt: "I'm going to bring down drug prices." That sounds good, until companies cut research since they can't count on a return sufficient to cover the costs of failures as well as successes.
Ironically, Trump's decision to not just politicize but penalize business decisions in response to market forces will discourage foreign investment, now about $3 trillion. America long has been seen an economic sanctuary in an unstable world. But if the whims of the president rather than dictates of law come to drive U.S. economic policy, companies will have good reason to look for other homes for their money.
Of course, the U.S. is not the only country where even large companies act supine when faced by demands from an overbearing government executive. One element of South Korea's ongoing political crisis is the fact that the president's shamanist friend shook down major firms for foundation contributions. Company executives admitted that they were afraid to rebuff a request that appeared to have presidential backing. Explained Huh Chang-soo, who heads GS Group and chairs the Federation of Korean Industries: "It's a South Korean reality that if there is a government request, it is difficult for companies to decline." It's not a model America should emulate.
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Federal industrial policy long has had its fans, but allowing government to pick winners and losers is bound to be a dismal failure. Worse, though, would be a presidential industrial policy, by which Trump would attack or promote companies based on the phase of the moon, or whatever else happened to motivate him that day. Despite his abundant belief in himself, not everything he does is "terrific."
Donald Trump is a new phenomenon, but the specter of presidents browbeating business is not. President John F. Kennedy was determined to roll back steel industry price hikes, and both yanked federal contracts and loosed antitrust attorneys in an attempt to enforce his will. The companies ultimately capitulated, at least in the short-term. But no one ultimately benefitted from such an abuse of power.
Republican vice presidential nominee Mike Pence attends a campaign rally in Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. November 7, 2016. REUTERS/Carlo Allegri
Put this in the category of be careful what you wish for. The instant that Trump won the White House, the chatter about impeaching him has been non-stop. The reasons many legal scholars, ethics experts, and political analysts give boil down to this. He has business dealings with foreign governments, most notably Russia, his family management arrangement still presents business conflicts, his possible violation of the Emoluments Clause, which prohibits presidents from buying influence with federal officials or receiving special treatment, and influence peddling and gift taking from foreign governments. These are all sticky points that Trump hasn't done much to address.
But even if he doesn't, the move to impeach is a congressional call, and the chance of a GOP controlled House and Senate making that call is virtually nil at this point. However, Trump's business entanglements could continue to run afoul of federal law about money, gifts and influence with foreign entities. This could plop Trump on the congressional hot seat. But it's a seat that would be disastrous. Because with Trump out you get Vice President Mike Pence. Trump is bumptious, obnoxious, and clownish. Pence is the prototypical ultra conservative in the gray flannel suit. He is business like, efficient, and knows how to run a political office. Trump will lean on him hard to do the behind the scenes, in the trenches work with Congress to get his initiatives through.
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This will present no problem for Pence. He knows Congress, and the GOP establishment is comfortable with him. But Pence has his own agenda. It's an agenda that's been honed over time as an arch conservative Indiana governor and congressperson. Civil liberties, civil rights, and education, and environmental groups know him too. They consistently gave him straight Fs on their report cards for elected officials. He got straight As on every conservative and ultra-conservative report card, including, unsurprisingly, the report card of the National Rifle Association.
The checklist of Pence positions on the issues reads like a what's what of the Heritage Foundation and ultra-conservative think tank positions. His stance on abortion and same sex marriage is well-known. He's rabidly against both and every time he's had the chance to vote on the issues or propose initiatives when he was Indiana governor such as defunding Planned Parenthood and forcing most of its clinics to close or signing the most abortion-restrictive regulation in the nation, banning abortion even in cases where the fetus has a "genetic abnormality to do away with both, he's done it with gusto. His fondest wish in his words, "I long for the day that Roe v. Wade is sent to the ash heap of history."
Pence waged a take no prisoners war on LGBT advocates by backing the nation's harshest "religious freedom" law as governor and as a congressman trying to torpedo federal funding that would support treatment for people suffering from H.I.V. and AIDS. He flatly opposed expanding hate crime laws to include violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people. Pence would move fast to smash the firewall between religion and patriotic displays and the schools by mandating prayer in schools, reciting the pledge of allegiance, and making campuses a wide-open recruiting ground for ROTC and other military recruiters.
Trump is lambasted for the nightmarish America he'd usher in. Pence worked hard to bring it about. In the White House, Pence could finish the job.
While Trump talks about building a wall on the border, Pence would figure out a way to get the money and the congressional support to do it. He's been at the anti-immigrant bash game a lot longer than Trump. In 2006 he was calling for guest workers to self-deport, and slammed the door on the relocation of Muslim refugees in his state from Syria and other war torn countries.
Public schools would be almost a thing of the past if Pence had his way. He cut millions from Indiana public schools and poured the money into vouchers, religious schools, and charter schools. He even tried to scrap the Common Core requirement as governor and as a congressperson joined a handful of rabidly conservative GOP congresspersons in opposing George W. Bush's "No Child Left Behind" initiative. The one area of education that conservative GOP presidents, presidential candidates, and most GOP congresspersons tout is more funding for Historically Black Colleges. Not Pence, as a congressperson, he said "no" to a measure that would have earmarked nearly $100 million in funding to HBC and Hispanic colleges.
A Pence run White House would be one that denies climate change, demand that God be put in every aspect of American life, water down hate crime laws enforcement, wipe out public schools, wall build at the border, pump massive spending into the Pentagon, toss out all regulations on Wall Street, slash corporate taxes to nothing, knock out abortion, back unrestricted expansion of the Patriot Act, pack the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary with Antonin Scalia clone judges, and put guns in just about anyone's hands.
Trump is lambasted for the nightmarish America he'd usher in. Pence, though, as Indiana Governor and in Congress, didn't just talk about this kind of America. He worked hard to bring it about. In the White House, he could finish the job. Impeach Trump, and he'd get that chance.
Earl Ofari Hutchinson is an author and political analyst. He is the author of the forthcoming The Obama Legacy (Middle Passage Press) 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.
When I was a child, the Christian church my family attended and where my grandma played the organ felt like home. I loved Sunday school. The youth ministers were like family. I enthusiastically chose to be baptized. I could recite all the books of the bible in order, although now I'm not sure why.
As I got older, my skepticism heightened and my faith lessened. When I attended church, I no longer felt the serenity I once felt after walking in those doors. I felt nothing but a newfound sense of apathy, which made me feel ashamed and profoundly sad. I knew I believed in and had faith in G-d, but I couldn't find G-d within the walls of the Christian church I called home anymore.
Desperate to find G-d again, I began searching elsewhere. I attended virtually every house of worship in my Bible belt community. Every week I was introduced to a new faith community and every week I left feeling disappointed and just as empty as when I entered. I was like an agnostic Goldilocks--this one is too conservative, this one is too hippie, this one gives me the creeps--and I was searching for the one that was just right.
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But I didn't find it. Feeling more dejected in my faith than ever before, I stopped searching. I thought maybe I'd join the growing number of fellow millennials who didn't identify with any particular religion--a "none". But all the while, my faith and desire to know G-d burned like a flame that refused to be extinguished.
During a World Religions course in college, I read and learned more about Judaism and immediately thought 'This is me. This is what I believe. These are my people.' This epiphany left me stunned. At this point in my life, I didn't really even know anyone who was Jewish, had no idea where the nearest synagogue was and really didn't know what my next step would be.
I devoured books on the basic principles of Judaism and the more I learned, the more confident I felt that these principles and beliefs closely aligned with my own. I began learning about the different denominations within Judaism--orthodox, conservative, reform--and choosing which would be the best for me to explore. I was impressed by the emphasis on inclusivity, social justice and equality within the reform community, so it seemed like a natural fit.
As a former Christian, currently living in the Bible Belt (where any Jews must be hiding in the .03 percent that selected "other" as their religion at the last census), to say I felt a bit out of place when I attended a Shabbat service for the first time would be an understatement. I was so anxious, as if I expected everyone to yell, "GENTILE!" when I entered and angrily throw their kippot at me. My mind was racing-- Should I sit here? Am I on the right page? No, I'm not even close to the right page. Is everyone staring at me? Can they tell I don't know Hebrew? I'm just going to mime the word 'watermelon' and hope no one notices.
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I remember that day; I locked eyes with an older gentleman who sat behind me. He looked like someone who would be typecast as "nice grandpa" in an Oreo commercial. He warmly smiled and said, "Shabbat shalom. I'm glad you're here." Despite my awkward nervousness, I was glad I was there too.
After visiting a couple of synagogues, I found the one that was just right. The community was vibrant and welcoming. My inquisitive nature that once brought me guilt and shame was encouraged and nurtured. It was exhilarating to witness and participate in debates during class when even the rabbis seemed to have different opinions. There's a popular quip in Jewish learning--"ask two Jews, get three different opinions." The Jewish culture is extremely open to the difference of opinions. This environment promotes critical and creative thought. Many believe this environment contributes to lifelong success beyond the temple, as Jews are disproportionately high achievers.
Finally, I felt in my heart what I had been longing for--when I entered the temple, I felt like I was home.
In one of the most helpful books I read, Choosing a Jewish Life, Anita Diamant tells an infamous story about Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis:
A story is told about Louis Brandeis (1856-1941), who was a student at Harvard Law School at a time when there were explicit limits on what Jews could hope to achieve. Quotas were in effect and many law offices were completely closed to Jewish attorneys. When Brandeis was in school, his colleagues would say, "Brandeis, you're brilliant. If you weren't a Jew, you could end up on the Supreme Court. Why don't you convert? Then all of your problems would be solved." Brandeis did not respond to such comments, but on the occasion of his official introduction to an exclusive honor society at the law school, Brandeis took the podium and announced, "I am sorry I was born a Jew." His words were greeted with enthusiastic applause, shouts, and cheers. But when the noise died down he continued. "I'm sorry I was born a Jew, but only because I wish I had the privilege of choosing Judaism on my own." The initial response of stunned silence slowly gave way to awed applause. Ultimately, his anti-Semitic peers rose and gave him a standing ovation.
This really influenced my perspective about my own journey. I am incredibly blessed to have the privilege of discovering Judaism's beauty and choosing it for myself.
No matter how many people in the transgender community I meet, and listen to, as they explain how they have and do experience dysphoria in their lives, I continue to be struck both by each person's unique experience, and the common challenges almost all of us have faced.
For the record, back in 2010, I looked forward to receiving a diagnosis of GID - Gender Identity Disorder. That was the diagnosis in DSM-IV-TR, but I knew I was not "disordered," I knew exactly who I was, but alas, was still struggling on what I would do about it.
When DSM-5 was released, a new "label" was created to replace the old one, to at the very least the way I interpret it, that those of us who are transgender or non-binary, are not disordered. The new diagnosis is Gender Dysphoria.
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Symptoms of Gender Dysphoria DSM-5 states that the initial condition for the identification of gender dysphoria in both adults and teenagers is a noticeable incongruence between the gender the patient believes they are, and what society perceives them to be. This disparity should be ongoing for at least 6 months and should consist of 2 or more of the subsequent criteria (American Psychiatric Association, 2013):
Noticeable incongruence between the gender that the patient sees themselves are, and what their classified gender assignment
An intense need to do away with his or her primary or secondary sex features (or, in the case of young teenagers, to avert the maturity of the likely secondary features)
An intense desire to have the primary or secondary sex features of the other gender
A deep desire to transform into another gender
A profound need for society to treat them as another gender
A powerful assurance of having the characteristic feelings and responses of the other gender
The second necessity is that the condition should be connected with clinically important distress, or affects the individual significantly socially, at work, and in other import areas of life.
It is not easy for a therapist, let alone anyone who has not experienced dysphoria, to find the right box to file away all the possible ways someone might experience one or more of the symptoms described above. I often explain that there is no one single or correct way to be transgender. This is hard to understand both in and out of the trans community.
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For many of us, who have been on this journey, I think it is fair to say that somewhere deep inside of us there is a "knowing" of just who we really are. A "knowing" of our truth as it refers to our sense of self, regarding our gender. This may take many forms and be unique to each of us, but in most cultures and families, we may not have the words to express it, or have learned that we could only express it at great personal risk. Gender and the binary model of gender has been promulgated as the sole way of being for many societies for.... perhaps, forever!
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One might never dare to cross the gender line, whether imaginary or real, due to fears of being at the least abandoned, exiled and isolated, and even worse to be beat up, physically/sexually abused or killed.
However, as I hear story after story, week after week, year after year, gender dysphoria appears to provide each person the impetus to dare in one way or another to express their truth whether in private or in public.
For some, it may be the secret piece of underwear of the other gender, that may be tried on in private. There is usually a good hiding place for this as the fear of its discovery is a constant presence.
Once this is dared to do, some may actually wear this under their day-to-day clothing, where no body might know. I remember the days when this was part of my own journey, and I still hear many stories of people doing this.
I know many men who will their hair grow out, under the guise of a mid-life crisis, and the ear piercing also comprise the increasing "dares" that one's truth seems to empower and control.
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For many in relationships, the variety of stories explains these events can vary with a variety of tolerance, acceptance or anger.
I know many in relationships, where their partners will draw "a line in the sand." Many trans people will agree to the line and then will often dare to cross it over and over again. Trans people will of so often agree to every inch, every foot, every mile to express their truth, and yet, for so many the tolerance of each step may not be enough.
Each "line in the sand" is often blown away by the "winds in the desert."
Yet, another line will almost always be drawn, as the Dysphoria takes on a life of its own. Perhaps the symptom that is not described in the official diagnosis is that if Dysphoria is present, one's truth will no matter how knowledgeable about the risks mentioned above, dare to push the line, the risks.
For those of us who have or have had gender dysphoria we have spent our years playing the internal game of Truth or Dare. Some win, some lose, and some never stop playing. There is no one way or right way to play this game, or live one's truth.
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Just for the record, this is true for any type of dysphoria too.
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Grace Anne Stevens inspires people to find their truth and live their authentic life!
She is the author of No! Maybe? Yes! Living My Truth, and Musings on Living Authentically. Grace is available for speaking to all groups who would like to learn the values of, and how to live authentically. Workshop descriptions can be found at her website.
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Grace has been selected as an Amtrak Residency writer for 2016, and will be traveling around the USA in the spring of 2017 while sharing her experiences on the rails
by Bill Sanders, Principal and Sr. Consultant with Roebling Strauss
Time to read: 5mins
Time to implement: The rest of your working life
Now that we've identified three reasons to kill the annual performance review, (it has outlived its purpose, it is primarily one-way communication, and it isn't changing the current atmosphere of employee disengagement.) And we've identified its purpose and function, (measuring and providing feedback, indicating a career path, and providing a basis for adjusting remuneration), it's time to survey the variety of options vying to replace it.
There are any number of solutions available. As a result of my review over the past several months, I've categorized them into the following three areas:
The Increased Frequency Review
Many of the solutions proposed, fall under the heading of "Well the millennials want more frequent feedback, so let's do the review more than once a year." While that isn't the most flattering way to identify this group of suggestions, the results indicate that it's accurate.
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Part of this stems from being caught up in the dominant paradigm of big company culture. The systems are all there; the main complaint is the lack of frequency and thus relevance, so let's require the managers to have these conversations more frequently. It's a Band-Aid for being 20lbs overweight.
While performing the same annual review more frequently may increase the efficacy of the organization's ability to measure and provide feedback, most implementations retain the annual raise (now tied to 4 or 12 reviews) instead of one per year. It is also unlikely to increase engagement if it remains one-way communication, and is more likely to increase frustration if career path expectations are not met.
Software
Sometime in the early 2000's when I was still working for the remnants of what had been Mattel Interactive, I was on a call with the C-Suite as they discussed a major ERP software change that was being discussed as if it were a panacea for all the company's ills. (Names have been avoided to protect the guilty.) It struck me at the time as a "We have a completely dysfunctional family, and I hate my job, let's move to LA and see if that fixes everything" moment. I actually wrote the words "technical panacea" in my notes on the call. The only reason I was on the call was to be informed that we'd be changing our ecommerce platform, which I was running at the time.
As you can guess, I was less than thrilled. I felt strongly then, and even more so now, that technology doesn't solve problems, people do. The beauty of technology is that it is great for reducing transaction costs, the ugly is that most of the time companies implement a technology solution in response to a human problem.
Thus, I'm leery of the new Performance Management software movement. It's not that I oppose the idea. Chris Heuer, Rawn Shaw and I spent untold amounts of time, money, and heart to launch Alynd in the commitment/performance management space. In the end, however, the social change that our software required was not going to come without significant cultural, human transformation. We humans tend to love the idea of holding others accountable, but generally resist the idea of being held mutually accountable in return.
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With any software that replaces the annual review process, the question isn't how well it works, but how well is it going to work within your culture and your organization. Use it, but do your homework and make sure that the objectives, behaviors, and culture that you want to drive in your organization match the key drivers built into the software.
New Frameworks
The final area is best represented by a single book by Reid Hoffman; The Alliance. Recognizing that many of the paradigms that have driven our corporate hiring and retention behavior are relics of a distant past, he lays out a framework for honest conversations and "tours of duty" that benefit both the employee and the organization. It is less a system and more of a guideline for treating employees like human beings instead of "our most valuable resource" (that we can dispose of as we see fit).
One of the key benefits of Hoffman's approach is that anyone can use it. A manager doesn't need upstairs approval to begin to adapt her framework to the way she relates to her team. Nothing else that I've read so far provides this aspect of flexibility. There are few books I recommend all managers read. This is one of them.
Do the Heavy Lifting
Addressing what needs to change in the annual review process isn't easy. We as leaders, managers, business owners and employees are dealing every day with our careers and livelihood. And we are also impacting the livelihood and careers of others. It is incumbent upon us to not accept the status quo as if it were handed down engraved in stone.
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If 2016 didn't confirm that everything is in flux, it missed its calling. Or, the people that don't see that 'Turbulence' is the new 'Black' aren't paying attention. In this environment, we have the choice of moving past the platitudes and engaging in honest conversations about how we are going to work together to meet the conditions of our mutual satisfaction, or we'll end up as the jetsam and flotsam of the new ever-evolving economy.
In Jeffery Hayzlett's most recent book, Think Big, Act Bigger, he relates the story of when Dave Pottruck was asked to step down as Charles Schwab's CEO as a result of the impact of the first dotcom bubble burst. His assistant of 15 years, Colleen Bagan-McGill, cut her vacation short to return, resign, and help Dave find the "next thing." I haven't had the privilege of meeting either Dave or Colleen, but I'd make a substantial bet that Colleen didn't ditch her vacation because Dave gave her 15 great annual reviews.
The heavy work is before us. Research, read, sit in on the software demos, but most importantly, engage in creating the kind of culture of which you want to be a part. We aren't going to be successful in replacing the status quo if we are too comfortable with it. It's your business, your division, your career, your job. Take the risk to have honest conversations, test the various approaches and software and then share your results with the rest of us.
Five years ago, I wrote a blog piece wondering how our country would respond to homelessness if Donald Trump was elected President. That was in 2011 when almost everyone thought a Trump Presidency was simply all talk, and no reality.
In just a few weeks, however, a President Trump becomes a reality - and, not a television reality show, but true reality.
Everyone is scrambling, from environmentalists to union leaders. From immigrant rights advocates to CEOs of multi-national corporations.
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As we enter 2017, those of us in the affordable housing and homeless services world are also grappling over what it means with having a Trump Presidency.
Take the federal Low-Income Housing Tax Credit program (created under President Reagan) that offers tax credits to developers of affordable housing units. Developers in turn sell these credits to corporations, and use the proceeds to building affordable housing.
With a potential lowering of corporate tax under a Trump administration, the demand for these tax credits is reduced, resulting in a lower value for these credits, and ultimately less number of affordable housing units.
The political attacks on the nation's Affordable Care Act - a federal program that provides healthcare coverage for tens of millions of Americans - also threaten our nation's impoverished population, including those who are homeless or at risk of being homeless.
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When most experts and leaders have acknowledged that homelessness is also a healthcare issue, the very idea of threatening a program that provides affordable healthcare could become a calamity for people living on our streets.
Finally, the selection for Secretary of the Housing and Urban Development Department - that has a $47 billion annual budget and supports 5 million low income and homeless families - is worrisome for many advocates.
Most local communities depend on federal assistance in their battle to end homelessness and provide housing for their poorest citizens. Many advocates believe that appointing a HUD leader who has publicly stated that government is incapable of helping America's most vulnerable people, threatens these communities' safety net.
So, for those who advocate for more housing and services for people living on our streets, should they resort to hopelessness?
With people suffering on our streets today, simply waiting until the next election in hopes public policy will change is not a good alternative. Instead, advocates for affordable housing and homeless services need to change how they present their message to a new President and a new Congress.
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For the next four years, the popular theme will be pro-jobs and pro-business.
Investing in housing and homeless services clearly is a pro-employment and pro-business approach to social services. Businesses and tourism desperately need solutions to resolve homelessness, or else their profits will go down.
And, furthermore, through the work of many studies we all know that the cost of housing a person who is homeless is far cheaper than allowing them to flounder on the streets.
In the story of Joseph - last week, this week, and next week, in our Torah - it is easy, and even seductive, to focus on our hero's triumphal rise.
Sold to Ishmaelite traders by his resentful brothers, Joseph comes into Egypt a slave. And, once again, in his early days in Egypt, the sense of specialness that comes with him becomes his downfall, as his master's wife engineers Joseph's imprisonment when he rejects her advances.
Then, and for a second time, Joseph is lifted out of abject depths toward distinction - his gift for dream-interpretation raising him from obscurity to become a favored advisor to the Egyptian monarch. The wording used for the Egyptian dungeon out of which Joseph is lifted up - "Then Pharaoh sent and called Joseph, and they hurried him from the pit" (Genesis 41:14) - directly recalls the hole in the ground in Canaan into which he was cast by his brothers at the outset of the story.
Joseph has always had premonitions of grandeur, those dreams of his - his brothers' sheaves of wheat bowing to his own, the sun and moon and stars paying him homage. Though the compact scriptural story does not spell out such psychological details, one can imagine these visions giving Joseph the courage to distinguish himself in Egypt, emboldening him to rise at every opportunity.
Elevated farther and farther, Joseph seems to discover a flair for grandeur, and not only his own. In this week's reading, the Pharaoh sets Joseph "over all the land of Egypt" (Genesis 41:41), letting him wear the monarch's own ring and ride in the king's second chariot (Genesis 41:42). Next week, in the seven years of famine that he has foretold, we will see how Joseph gradually transfers virtually all the country's gold, silver, and land to the crown.
If the successor-Pharaoh who enslaves the children of Israel feels he has the right to own a whole populace in such a way, it is possible to suggest (and some voices in our interpretive tradition do contend) that Joseph first inculcated the notion in the Pharaonic line. Of course Joseph, himself having been sold as property, did not originate the idea of slavery; but there is a sense in which Joseph's talent for reversing his own situation tends to subordinate everyone around him, from the Egyptians at large to his own siblings, and even his venerable father - with the technical exception of the Pharaoh, who is required for Joseph's elevation.
When Joseph rides out in his royal livery, we are told that criers call out before him, "Avrekh!" (Genesis 41:43) As a command, the biblical Hebrew word means "Bend the knee!" Centuries later, in the parlance of rabbinic academies, Avrekh becomes a noun, denoting a dedicated young scholar - as though the world of Torah-learning were full of Joseph-like lordlings, commanding a semblance of the reverence due royalty. Respect for erudition is well and good - but how Jewish is it to suggest that everyone outside a special class is somehow less-than?
Looking at the part of the story we will read next week, in which "Joseph acquired the land for Pharaoh" (Genesis 47:20), the 1882 Cambridge Bible for Schools and Colleges commented, with perhaps anti-Semitic suggestiveness: "This transaction, by which, at a single stroke of business, Joseph, the Hebrew, was said to have purchased for Pharaoh the whole land of Egypt, and all the people to be Pharaoh's slaves, as the price of seed corn, probably sounded in the ears of an ancient Oriental people a masterpiece of cleverness. In our days it would rank as an outrageous piece of tyranny, that the king's Grand Vizier, taking advantage of his own monopoly in corn and of the people's destitution, should deprive them of the last shreds of their independence."
That account is prejudiced. Howbeit, there is an obnoxious aspect to the Joseph story, and a caution for our own times. The narrative is shot through with a predilection for lordliness, of a variety to which those who have experienced subordinate status (or the apprehension of it) are perhaps especially prone. It is an affinity that can lead to catastrophe for one's own people, if it is allowed to become the way of the land. Whether out of fearfulness, mere opportunism, or a sense of destiny, it is all too tempting to attach oneself to overbearing power when the chance presents itself - and even to feed that power, if it means one's own advancement in the present moment.
In the prophetic reading for the Sabbath of the Hanukkah holiday, another figure is elevated from a lowly state to near-ultimate grandeur. Like Joseph emerging from the dungeon-pit in Egypt, the High Priest Joshua - as espied in the visions of the prophet Zechariah - undergoes a change of raiment, from filthy to pure garments (Zechariah 3:3-5) as he is invited to stand in august company. In this vision, the court into which the lowly one is welcomed is none other than the divine throne room in heaven, where the High Priest of the Jerusalem Temple is admitted and is charged, in the Prophet's vision, as something like an earthly angel of the Lord.
It is perhaps not surprising - in that setting - that the elevation comes with a message of responsibility: "Thus says the Eternal One of Hosts: If you will walk in My ways, and if you will keep My charge, then you, too, shall judge My house and guard My courtyards, and I will give you access among these ones who stand here" (Zechariah 3:7) - where "here," remember, is the highest heavens.
The new year is nearly upon us, sure as the towering wave at Jones Beach that caught me in its undertow when I was a child and kept me there for what seemed a lifetime until it spat me out, mewling and terrified, no more a Jonah than my cat Jumpy would have been.
Last year was certainly bad, even awful in spots, a year that will be known - as long as there is anyone alive to know anything - as one of homelessness and terror, millions of refugees fleeing certain death to be met with ejection and deportation by the democratic nations of the western world, and terrorists of every stripe blowing up people more or less for the fun of it. That's the old year. And the new one? It has me more terrified than any year I've encountered or even thought about in more than seven decades of conscious living. It is the annus horribilis of Queen Elizabeth II (the year Diana was smashed in a car accident beneath the Seine) and then some. The world has moved so far to the right that most citizens of the west - and many outside it - are certain to be deprived of rights and services, of essential needs and of liberties they had taken for granted, much as the air they breathed or (certainly here in the Land of the Free) as the gum they chewed and toilets that flushed. I have spent the time since November 9 in hiding, trying to bury my head like an ostrich. I don't read newspapers, watch tv or listen to my habitual morning NPR. I can't stand even to hear the name, that thumping, humping sound, the morning's plop in the potty.
"Happy New Year" has become an oxymoron. In case some readers are unsure of the term, and unlike what popular derivation might come up with, an oxymoron is not an eight-armed or 8-headed idiot (though the idiot part is right.) An oxymoron is a figure of speech meaning sharp ("oxy") dull ("moron") with both "sharp" and "dull" having their other meanings of "clever" and "stupid." It is a contrast in opposites, like "a wise old Texas saying," or "British cuisine." A happy new year with the orange Dump as Leader of the Free World is another example, and the one that is worrying me now.
I can explain it to my friends - many of whom, thank god or their own generosity, are readers of my blog. But when someone in the elevator wishes me a happy new year as I step out on my floor, what kind of grouch or pedant would I have to be to go into the intricacies of the oxymoron, a term in itself questionable since it is not found anywhere in ancient Greek texts, but came into being much later, via 5th century Latin? And so I answer automatically, "Happy New Year" and I smile, but as well Hamlet knew ("one may smile and smile, and be a villain"), behind that smile I am sneering like a long-mustachio'd scoundrel about to steal either the house or the girl. I talk the talk, I mouth the words and in my heart of hearts (which heart is that?) I am half-convinced these people are all insane, the great wave is rising up in front of them and they cannot see it, the revolution (not the revelation), is at hand; we have come full circle back to where we started from, or at least where I started from, my parents getting out while they still could, leaving behind others who couldn't and who burned or were gassed or both or jumped rather than ride the boxcars to hell. I see dictatorship in the USA, as Philip Roth did when he postulated the election of Lindbergh over Roosevelt and the resulting fascism in The Plot Against America. Or as H.L. Mencken wrote in an article for The Baltimore Sun in 1920 (!), "As democracy is perfected, the office of president represents, more and more closely, the inner soul of the people. On some great and glorious day the plain folks of the land will reach their heart's desire at last and the White House will be adorned by a downright moron."
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And here he is. A President-elect who is supported by the Ku Klux Klan, for Christ's sake! By all the white supremacist groups. By that British monster Farage who master-minded Brexit. Because people voted for what they did not understand (Brexit should never have been offered as a referendum, since it was voted against by those who supported British exceptionalism, in the sense of Britain First - just like the America First crapola we've been given - but who had no idea of the economic and political fallout that would follow), the British voted for what they thought it was about and not for what was in front of them. In the same way American workers, hoping for better jobs and easier lives, felt relieved that someone was crashing through the barrier of privilege that stood between them and the political establishment (represented by Hillary Clinton), and voted for a man who had and has absolutely no values at all, no consistency, no logic except for his need to be worshipped, his need to be the center of attention at all times, his three-year-old's greed and iconoclasm, his inability to tell reality from illusion, his continual mirror-gazing even though we know mirrors reflect things backwards, his alliance with foreign dictators, his total corruptibility and history of past corruption, his stiffing of workers, rape of children (13 is still a child), his refusal to pay debts (he owes Deutsche Bank half a billion dollars for starters), and so much more that I have almost forgotten it by now, after having been driven to near-madness by all of it during the unbearably long and inescapable live feeding-to-the sharks known as the Campaign. So America went the way of old Germany, and Germany went the way of goodness, taking in far more refugees than it could absorb, imperiling Angela Merkel's position as Chancellor. She spoke with her heart, the only world leader to do so. Pope Francis too has been a champion of the poor and oppressed and the expanding waves of refugees. If he were our president now, with Angela at his side (The Pope being the heart and the Chancellor the brains), it would be a Happy New Year indeed. Or if Obama just hangs out, refuses to leave, doesn't recognize the Orange dishrag as commander-in-chief. Or if Joe Biden steps in, as he should have, could have from the start - my choice for Democratic candidate. Good, solid, squeaky clean Joe, a man of the working class who could have won his fellow workers away from the loudmouth billionaire or perhaps no billionaire at all, just a windbag in the Billionaire's New Clothes, a man with no credentials whatever for the job he won in that crazy lottery we called our Presidential election.
Answer by Christopher VanLang, Chemical Engineering PhD from Stanford University, on Quora:
Is there any truth to the claim that the Clinton Foundation schemed with Big Pharma to keep the price of AIDS drugs high in the U.S.? It's sort of true. If you really had to think long and hard about it, the ultimate result of years of negotiations by the Clinton Foundation was that the price of AIDS drugs ended up being high in the US.
But that consequence had the immediate result of enabling the import of millions of nearly free AIDS drugs into Africa to combat the AIDs-Pandemic, forestalling the spread of AIDS.
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So that we're clear, Bill Clinton is very proud of this. He prides himself on understanding the nuances of supply and demand and as a crazy detail oriented policy wonk who understands the needs of multiple stakeholders, this is a remarkable example of him convincing a lot of stubborn groups to compromise on a variety of issues to achieve a common goal. In this case, getting AIDS drugs to Africa. [1]
In fact, here is Bill Clinton talking about exactly this during his TED Prize acceptance speech. Also, watching this video gives a ton of insight about Hillary Clinton's (now former) strategy for healthcare and why she and Bill have strong criticisms of Obamacare.
The Clinton Health Access Initiative worked with George Bush's President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and the Global Fund on AIDS to get drugs into Africa. Drug companies were largely in favor of giving their drugs for free to Africa, it made no sense to make people who earned pennies to pay out thousandss of dollars for drugs. Furthermore, African governments were paranoid that drug companies were a part of a massive conspiracy suppressing their countries.
Enter Bill. He understood that companies were willing to give the drugs for free. African countries were desperate to take them. The only problem was actually getting those drugs into the country without compromising the integrity of the US pharmaceutical industry. A large part was organizing the pathways for large pharmaceutical companies to negotiate with generic manufacturers and giving them licenses to manufacture and sell the same drugs directly into Africa for a fraction of the costs. In return, the African countries and generic manufacturers would respect the IP of the US drug companies and not sell the same drugs in the US markets. The Clinton Foundation enabled all of these discussions to occur and thus received a lot of the credit for making this possible.
That said, one of the beneficiaries of this agreement was Ranbaxy Laboratories (company) which in 2013, was caught for fabricating many of their generic AIDS drugs. [4] [5]
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Thus, by closing a loophole that enabled foreign generic manufacturers from selling in the US, the US pharmaceutical companies were willing to share their IP to generics which allowed for the sales of AIDS drugs with a 90% discount on costs to Africa and in doing so saved the world from the AIDS pandemic.
But with the trade off that US AIDS drugs prices would stay the same since US companies had assurance that generic manufacturers would respect their exclusivity clauses.
So yes, the Clinton Foundation did scheme with Big Pharma to keep the price of AIDS drugs high in the US.
They also helped to save Africa.
Footnotes:
This question originally appeared on Quora - the knowledge sharing network where compelling questions are answered by people with unique insights. You can follow Quora on Twitter, Facebook, and Google+.
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Pedro Almodovar loves women. His films feature memorable female roles: look at Kika, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, Talk to Her, Volver, yet another great part for his protege Penelope Cruz, and now Julieta, the titular protagonist penned for two fine Spanish actresses: Emma Suarez as the mature Julieta, and Adriana Ugarte, Julieta as a young woman. Based on short stories by Canadian author Alice Munro, Julieta further illustrates Almodovar's literary bent--The Skin I Live In, for example was an adaptation of Thierry Jonquet's revenge tale, Migale, but just right for his style, on the verge of melodrama. His women, in every case, are out there. Last fall, I had the opportunity to talk to his stars about working with this unique Spanish auteur, and how he prepared them for playing Julieta.
Penelope Cruz has said she would drop anything to work with Pedro Almodovar. Is that the general attitude among actresses?
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Emma Suarez: He's an amazing director with an international career. So when you work with Pedro you know that film will get international distribution. Not all Spanish directors have that certainty. I have worked with many directors so I know very well what it means to go to Cannes. His movies start with a good script. You have a role. He wants everything and more. That means you also have to find more inside of you.
How did you prepare?
Each of us has to face the project from a personal place. I asked Pedro to give me references. It's not like you can naturally bring out that kind of pain, the kind he's interested in unearthing. Once the tears have dried, then you confront that place again. Joan Didion's The Year of Magical Thinking was the determining piece for me. I had a lot of time to prepare, to read and look at art. I looked at Lucien Freud.
Tell me about his casting you.
I have been working since 1979. Pedro was starting to make cinema then. I ran into him at John Waters' Pink Flamingos. At the San Sebastian Film Festival, he told me about this project. I got some scenes to read. By the third test, Pedro said, I like you a lot. When he told me he wanted to work with me, I was hoping for a comedy.
This film is not comedy, especially the relationship of mothers and daughters.
What Pedro's really after is the mystery of why we abandon the people we love. It could be your mother, lover, someone else. The key is abandonment. Pedro added that to the story. I think that for Alice Munro, this is more a mother- daughter story--and about the generation gap. But Pedro wanted to go deeper than that.
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Almodovar treads a fine line between tragedy and melodrama. Is your character tragic?
I don't think this is a melodrama: Pedro was after was restraint. He wanted to keep things tight. This was difficult for me because the emotion had to be transmitted through the gaze, especially because the adult Julieta is mostly silent. Tragedy can be more spectacular. I don't think you have to be a mother to interpret mothers. The film is also talking about the passage of time, and ways in which the present forces you to look back at a past that remains in fog. Julieta's courage is that she knows she will go into this painful territory, and she goes there anyway. She doesn't have a choice. Maybe that is tragic.
Adriana Ugarte plays the younger Julieta. Pedro Almodovar worked with her in an entirely different way.
How were you cast?
Adriana Ugarte: I did a reading and did not know who the director was. I just was told he was a famous, important director. When I was young, I didn't allow myself to dream one day I will work with Pedro.
How is it to work with Almodovar?
For me, it is an addiction to a drug. It's complicated not to fall in love with him. The process was great. Pedro did not give me any references. I did not read the Alice Munro stories. We wanted to make something new. We built the character together. I need to hear my characters in my dreams. I wait for her voice. When I read the script, I felt that Julieta is a pure woman; she does not prejudge, she is sexual. Maybe in the '80's we were more open-minded and relaxed with our bodies. In the train she enjoyed the moment. Sometimes in life you need to do that, to believe in another reality. I needed to be Julieta.
Does he have a special gift for understanding women?
Pedro gave me advice, when I had doubts about playing Julieta well. He said, "Perfection does not exist. But, you should always look for it. Stop crying. Try again." He's a magician. He can understand women in a deep way, because he is connected with Mother Nature, and the origins of life. Everything interests him: Your mouth. A baby. He focuses on everything.
Take me through one scene and show me how he directed you.
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In the bath scene I was like a zombie; he directed me, "You are not sad, not dead, I want you to be empty. You have nothing inside. You don't have bones, muscles, or oxygen." This was a mix of very physical and psychological training. I am in the bath and the audience thinks Julieta is dead.
In your view, is Julieta a mother-daughter story?
It is about parents and children, family relations that are delicate and fragile. We think our family will not accept us in fear of the consequences. Maybe it is better to show yourself as you are, better to be sorry for the things you say than not say them. Relationships are not perfect. We try to create the perfect family, but all families have problems.
Is Julieta a tragedy?
If life is a tragedy, then this film is a tragedy. We decide many things but matters of love, health, we don't decide. We are trapped in our own drama. Julieta is a tragedy with hope.
As 2017 begins, over 5 million Baha'is worldwide are preparing for major upcoming celebrations. On October 22, 2017, in some 100,000 localities worldwide, they will celebrate the bicentennial of the birth of Baha'u'llah, the Founder of the Baha'i Faith.
The global festivities involving people of thousands of ethnic backgrounds is demonstrative of a key message of Baha'u'llah's life and teachings: that a special time has arrived for the entire human race as it gradually moves from a stage of collective adolescence to one of maturity and wholeness.
The Baha'i writings explain:
In cycles gone by though harmony was established, yet, owing to the absence of means, the unity of all mankind could not have been achieved. Continents remained widely divided ... In this day, however, means of communication have multiplied, and the five continents of the earth have virtually merged into one.... In like manner all the members of the human family, whether peoples or governments, cities or villages, have become increasingly interdependent. For none is self-sufficiency any longer possible, inasmuch as political ties unite all peoples and nations, and the bonds of trade and industry, of agriculture and education, are being strengthened every day. Hence the unity of all mankind can in this day be achieved. Verily this is none other but one of the wonders of this wondrous age, this glorious century.
How to achieve this unity of humankind, while at the same time cherishing the tremendous diversity of the world's cultures, is at the core of the teachings of Baha'u'llah, contained in letters and books spanning over 100 volumes. Luis Gushiken, a member of Brazil's parliament in 1992 when it held a special session to pay tribute to the life of Baha'u'llah, described His writings as "the most colossal religious work written by the pen of a single Man." Readers will find that Baha'u'llah's writings are particularly fascinating because, in addition to restating the essential moral teachings of all the world's major religions which have been the basis of the great civilizations past, He also wrote about global and societal issues such as statesmanship, science, collective security, the role of the news media, international language, economic issues, life elsewhere in the universe, medicine, dreams, the environment, energy, global governance, agriculture, education and many others.
The bicentennial celebrations in the villages of Battambang in Cambodia promise to be particularly noteworthy. Some hundred and forty years ago, while imprisoned in Akka in what was then Ottoman Palestine, Baha'u'llah called on His followers to raise up "houses of worship" that should be "as perfect as possible in the world of being." Over time these edifices of worship would also be surrounded by institutions of service to the community such as a hospital, orphanage, home for the elderly, and educational institutions; thus uniting the spiritual with material, and worship with service. They are open to all and programs include readings from the scriptures of all the world's religions.
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Image: Baha'i House of Worship in Chile
Over the past decades, these houses of worship have been raised in every continent. Particularly notable recent examples include the temple in New Delhi, India, which in some years has been ranked "the most visited building in the world", and the most recently dedicated house of worship in Santiago, Chile.
With the process at the continental level complete, it is now moving simultaneously to the national and local levels across the world. Among the new houses of worship to be raised in this next phase, Battambang's will likely be the first to be dedicated and in time for the bicentennial celebrations later in 2017. In a recent conversation I had with the architect, who is of Cambodian Buddhist background, he expressed the hope that the renewed sense of inner peace and strength to be gained by the many hundreds of thousands of visitors to this building will contribute greatly to uplifting a country that has suffered tremendously over the past few decades. He expressed optimism that with this strength his people could re-discover their remarkable potential - as evidenced by the past magnificent civilizations of Angkor Wat - to make outstanding new contributions to a dynamic, emerging global community.
Image: Model of Baha'i House of Worship in Battambang
Battambang is the first of potentially many tens of thousands of villages and small towns around the world - most of which many have never heard of - to raise such a local house of worship. All these places have been influenced by the teachings of Baha'u'llah in recent years and have seen the flourishing of a systematic program of study and action inspired by His Writings for children, teenagers and adults aimed at the empowerment of individuals and communities.
In a cruel irony, while countless celebrations will take place worldwide and advanced plans are in motion in six additional countries (besides Cambodia) for more houses of worship, many Baha'is in the very city where Baha'u'llah was born (Tehran) will have to celebrate this historic occasion in prison cells. The many decades-long attempt of the Iranian government to eliminate the Baha'i Faith from the land of its birth is as futile as it is embarrassing to the history of a country that claims as its ancient heritage one of the earliest known charters of human rights. While the short term outlook of the Iranian Baha'is remains difficult, they are encouraged and sustained by promises in the Baha'i writings for an extremely bright future for the land and city where, two centuries ago, Baha'ullah's was born: the potential to become "the pride, the admiration and the envy of the peoples of the world."
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Attitudes about the morality or immorality of various lifestyle choices are in constant flux. It may be that opinions about what is morally acceptable have always been fluid, but the current of change is moving faster today than ever before.
The increased speed of change is arguably related to society's connectivity through broadcast and social media and to its lack of connectivity through the more permanent institutions of family, church and community. Today's Americans are exposed to a continual storm of public opinion, and many no longer find refuge in home or church.
According to recent Gallup polls, what Americans think is moral or immoral has been changing across all age groups. The number of people who believe it is morally acceptable to view pornography has jumped by 30 percentage points in little more than a decade, including nearly half of those between 18 to 34.
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Acceptance of premarital sex in general and sex between teens in particular has risen dramatically since 2002. Having children outside marriage, once under strong moral prohibition, is no longer even regarded as a moral issue by most people. Americans today are far more likely to grant the morality of gay and lesbian relations than they were just a decade ago.
Opinion shifts regarding issues of human sexuality are most obvious, but there have also been significant changes of opinion regarding non-sexual matters. For example, more people now consider doctor-assisted suicide to be a morally acceptable option. Fewer people regard the use of embryonic stem cells as morally unacceptable.
It is not just that people are accepting, frog-in-the-kettle like, behaviors that were once considered morally reprehensible. They are also rejecting behaviors that were once considered morally acceptable or at least neutral. Using ethnically insensitive language is now considered a serious moral failure. A growing number of people see the death penalty as morally reprehensible. The number of Americans who consider medical testing on animals to be immoral has increased by 14 percent since 2002.
What was once considered grossly immoral by most of the population now enjoys moral acceptance and, conversely, what was once considered normal by most people is now regarded by many as immoral. The North Carolina bathroom law is a case in point.
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Based on the fluidity of moral opinion in history, some people have concluded that morality is a merely human construct and is entirely subjective. Others maintain that the great body of moral beliefs has remained consistent over time, suggesting an objective morality exists that transcends human opinion. They argue that moral beliefs are like the ocean. The surface is often roiled and undulating but the great depths remain the same.
Although ethicists have not been able to come to agreement on the nature of morality, it is hard for anyone to deny that humans are moral beings through and through. In the 1950s, many people (including ethicists) considered homosexuals to be moral degenerates. In the second decade of the 21st century, many people (including ethicists) consider homophobes to be moral degenerates. What remains true, however, is that humans cannot escape the sense that some things are right and some are wrong. Whether new morality or old, there is always some morality.
Some biologists have tried to explain this inescapable moral compunction through evolutionary theory, though many ethicists have found their explanations philosophically unsophisticated and unconvincing. Even if evolutionary theory could explain how behaviors came to be considered right or wrong on prudential grounds, it fails to provide a bridge capable of supporting the weighty transition to genuine moral values.
It is highly unlikely that an evolutionary past could push us into our current moral state. It is also doubtful that morality has simply been thrust upon us from above by the threat of divine judgment, for this too would reduce morality to nothing more than prudent self-interest.
Water was all over the news in 2016. The World Economic Forum ranked its shortage as one of the top threats facing society this year after listing it as the number one threat in 2015. Water was also central to the Paris climate talks, while the United Nations dedicated Sustainable Development Goal number six to water and sanitation, and the Sioux people of North America put the previously unknown town of Standing Rock on the global map by standing up to protect their water rights.
Fortunately, scores of efforts are underway to meet the challenge, and the Electric Power Research Institute started off the year with a review of its Water Prize-winning Ohio River Basin Trading project. A January webinar outlined a multi-pronged strategy that includes promotional videos and impact investors rather than donor-based finance.
Using the project's funding, Midwest farmers such as Ken Merrick have been able to implement conservation activities to reduce fertilizer and animal waste from running into nearby waterways that flow to the Gulf of Mexico. Merrick, who operates Conser Run farm in Ohio, added a storage area for manure and a buffer strip where his cows are only occasionally allowed to graze. He also lets trees and grasses grow along the creek running through his farm, which mops up excess pollution before it reaches the water.
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The program is still in a pilot phase but, if it evolves as planned, Ohio River farmers can quantify their pollution reductions and generate stewardship credits using a market-based approach called water quality trading. They can then sell these credits to power plants and wastewater treatment facilities interested in meeting sustainability goals or to comply with regulatory requirements.
The Trading Debate
Water quality trading made headlines in 2016 after an organization called Food and Water Watch penned a paper in late 2015 condemning the entire practice and re-labeling it "pollution trading." The group charged that it undermines the Clean Water Act (CWA) and puts US waterways at great risk. Advocates of the practice dismissed the paper in August arguing trading is one of several tools states and utilities can use to improve water quality.
"Trading isn't a silver bullet. It's not a panacea," Brad Klein, a Senior Attorney at the Environmental Law and Policy Center says. "But we need to get on top of this issue of water pollution and water quality trading may be another arrow in the quiver."
This debate between the two camps exposed a bigger question: why doesn't an independent third party review of water quality trading, determining if the practice is indeed successful in improving water quality, exist?
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The trading space says there are enough case studies to draw from for an impartial scientific evaluation.
"As far as determining if trading is going to have environmental outcomes that are useful and increase efficiency and lower cost, I think there is enough experience right now to have that assessment," said Jessica Fox, who heads up the Ohio River Basin Trading project at EPRI.
New Ideas
Many view water quality trading as an innovative way to finance conservation activities that result in water quality improvements. In 2016, organizations looked at a few other inventive ways in which to get the job done.
In August, The Nature Conservancy (TNC) published a report on a new investment model it developed called Water Sharing Investment Partnerships, which leverage existing water markets for conservation.
"We need to get smarter about how we use every drop of water," Brian Richter, lead report author and Chief Scientist for the Water program at TNC, said when the report launched. "We can no longer build our way out of water scarcity. The closer water consumption grows toward the limits of water availability, the more we put ourselves at risk. But new approaches in water management can shift us toward long-term sustainability."
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Essentially, these partnerships solicit investor capital to acquire a portfolio of water rights. Most of these rights are either leased or sold back on the market, giving investors a financial return and ensuring farmers and cities have access to enough water. A WSIP can acquire water rights by outright purchases, but also by collaborating with farmers to implement water saving measures in irrigation.
Both of these methods free up water rights allocations to be used to divert water back to nature, restoring water flows in a manner that sustains healthy ecosystems.
Also over the summer, the water fund, another innovative way to finance and implement watershed restoration got a boost in Ecuador when California-based nonprofit Nature and Culture International established Ecuador's first water school, which will train municipal water workers in the skills required to join and administer a water fund.
"The water school is a tool to scale up and replicate a successful payment for environmental services model to provide clean abundant water to thousands of Ecuadorians while helping conserve Ecuadors incredible biodiversity," Renzo Paladines, NCI Ecuador's Executive Director who also serves on FORAGUA's board of directors, said in a statement.
Later in the year, the World Resources Institute released a study on watershed investment programs in the United States in an effort to increase knowledge-sharing among regions and programs. The report not only showcases success stories in Denver, North Carolina and Flagstaff, Arizona, it also identifies potential solutions to well-known barriers such as raising initial capital for program developers. For instance, report authors note specialized green bonds to finance urban water infrastructure are gaining traction, and a San Francisco-based startup is pushing a forest-resilience bond to address fire and water woes in California.
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Also on watershed investments, Ecosystem Marketplace closed out 2016 by publishing its semi-annual State of Watershed Investment report, which this year focused on payments for green infrastructure for water. The report tracked significant growth in 2015. Governments, water utilities, companies, and communities around the world paid nearly US$25 billion for nature-based solutions to secure reliable access to clean water.
A Year for Nature
Nature was indeed at the center of some high level discussions and policy-making throughout the year. The profile of mangroves, for instance, continues to rise as people, particularly carbon market actors, realize they're carbon storing and storm fighting potential. Ecosystem Marketplace explored this potential on World Wetlands Day in February.
In July, Peru's Ministry of Environment issued formal regulations for the country's Mecanismos de Retribucion por Servicios Ecosistemicos (MRSEs), or "Mechanisms of Compensation for Ecosystem Services" law, which essentially is a legal framework for harnessing public and private finance for conservation activities.
A few months later, California lawmakers passed groundbreaking legislation that defined five critical watersheds as part of the state's water infrastructure. The law makes it possible to funnel billions of infrastructure dollars toward restoring meadows, streams and rivers.
In the corporate world, Coca-Cola announced it met its water replenishment goal five years early during the annual World Water Week in late August. For the most part though, companies are still figuring out concepts like water neutrality and water stewardship. NGOs such as CDP and WWF are offering their expertise and encouraging businesses to set targets on their water use.
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Nature also came up during conversations in 2016 for managing water-related disasters such as this year's Hurricane Matthew that hit hard parts of Haiti and the southeastern US among other areas. As the frequency of these weather events increases, developing with nature in mind is more critical, said Environmental Defense Fund's Paxton Ramsdell. In November, he noted how broad vegetated buffers of a stream restoration site significantly reduced flooding near Raleigh, North Carolina.
Will decision-makers embrace green infrastructure and nature-based solutions to solve pressing water challenges in 2017?
And what new methods and tools are water practitioners planning to unveil over the coming year?
It's tough work, as the cliche goes, but someone has to do it. Part of my job--one of the best parts--is keeping tabs on the best new barbecue and grill restaurants. 2016 has been a banner year for live-fire cooking. The Grillworks wood burner has become the new stove in restaurants from New York to California. Elsewhere, chefs have taken a giant step backwards, installing wood burning hearths that would have been at home in colonial kitchens. Here are six of my favorite new restaurants for 2016.
Boston/Cambridge: The Smoke Shop
It's about time. Boston chef Andy Husbands has had a lifelong obsession with barbecue, and after numerous barbecue contest wins (including the Jack Daniel's for his brisket) and several excellent cookbooks (his Wicked Good Barbecue is a must read), he finally decided to open a barbecue restaurant. Look for pull-apart-tender baby backs, textbook pulled pork and monster beef plate ribs at this Cambridge smoke emporium, and don't miss the crispy grits fries and hot links with homemade pimiento cheese.
Chicago: Lena Brava
No one on the planet knows more about Mexican cuisine than Chicago chef Rick Bayless, and his latest restaurant (the name literally means "Angry Fire") specializes in modern Baja-inspired wood fire cooking. From the wood-burning oven come black cod al pastor and chicken a la lena, while the wood-fired grill turns out smoky octopus carnitas and a monster 32-ounce tomahawk steak. Smoky mezcal-based cocktails (try the Last Pina) and jewel-box-like ceviches round out a menu equally remarkable for its breadth and bold flavors.
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Chicago: Roister
"The restaurant is the kitchen. The kitchen is the restaurant." With this motto, Chicago uber chef Grant Achatz opened this equally uber hip restaurant in Chicago's Meatpacking District, with a wood-burning hearth as its focal point. The menu is eclectic enough to include smoked oysters, hearth-baked lasagna, pork butt with a dark and stormy glaze, and grade A-5 Japanese Wagyu beef with sea urchin. If this sounds too avant garde, there's always a wood-grilled, 30-day aged beef porterhouse. The noise level rivals that of an F-16 engine at takeoff. By the way, if you haven't seen it already, watch Grant Achatz's amazing life story on Netflix, Chef's Table.
Los Angeles: Charcoal
When Michelin-starred fine dining chef Josiah Citrin (owner of Melisse in Santa Monica) decided to open his second restaurant, he built the concept around charcoal. It fires a pair of Big Green Eggs, a Spanish Josper oven, and an open grill where virtually all the cooking at Charcoal is done. Sure, you could order the 35-day aged Sonoma lamb shoulder with coriander and honey or the 21-day aged Liberty duck (you should), but the dish that most stands out is lowly cabbage--the whole head roasted caveman-style in the embers and served with sumac-scented yogurt.
Miami: Kyu
This lively restaurant in Miami's Wynwood Art District is my favorite eating place in Miami. Chef Michael Lewis deftly combines Asian flavors with American smoke and fire, seasoning his smoked Wagyu brisket with sashimi pepper and serving it Vietnamese style, with lettuce leaves for wrapping, Asian barbecue sauces for dipping, and--a first for this writer--chopsticks to eat it. The Asian barbecue theme continues with grilled asparagus with miso and bacon and whole maitake mushrooms grilled with ginger and soy. The dining room is industrial modern; the duck burnt ends are out of this world.
Miami: Quinto la Huella
There are many places to sit at this sleek new South American chophouse (run by the owners of the famous La Huella in Jose Ignacio, Uruguay) at the equally slick new East Hotel in Brickell Village--at sprawling communal tables inside or on the airy spacious terrace. But you'll find me at the U-shaped asado bar in front of the massive parrilla, oak-burning open grill. The grass-fed picanha and other steaks are imported from Uruguay; the grilled fresh local snapper comes with salsa criolla (South American creole sauce), and the crusty mollejas (grilled sweetbreads) are out of this world. Wash them down with one of South America's best-kept wine secrets: a Tannat from Uruguay.
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Kansas men's basketball wins exhibition game against Pittsburg State
The Jayhawks may not have started this exhibition game well Thursday, but they were able to recover and come away with a win.
Imperial County Board of Supervisors Swearing In Ceremony
El Centro, California - Tuesday, January 3, 2017, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors will host a Swearing In Ceremony for the incoming Supervisor-elect Luis Plancarte (District 2) and re-elected Supervisors Michael Kelley (District 3) and Ryan Kelley (District 4) in El Centro. After taking the oath of office, the Board is expected to select a new Chairman and Vice-Chair for the 2017 calendar year. The event will run from 11 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Board Chambers in the Administration Building.
Immediately following the adjournment of the Boards special meeting, there will be a small reception in the adjacent conference room. Everyone is encouraged to attend. Please see below for additional details. For more information, please contact the Imperial County Clerk of the Board at (442) 265-1020.
Dwight D. Eisenhower Carrier Strike Group Returns Home
Washington, DC - More than 6,000 Sailors from Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 10 are scheduled to arrive at their homeports Dec. 30 after completing a highly successful seven-month deployment.
The aircraft carrier USS Dwight D. Eisenhower (CVN 69) (Ike), guided-missile cruiser USS San Jacinto (CG 56) and guided-missile destroyers USS Mason (DDG 87) and USS Nitze (DDG 94) are returning to Naval Station (NS) Norfolk. USS Roosevelt (DDG 80) is returning to its homeport of NS Mayport, Florida.
Commanded by Rear Adm. James Malloy, the Eisenhower CSG is comprised of Ike, embarked squadrons of Carrier Air Wing (CVW) 3, CSG 10 staff and Destroyer Squadron (DESRON) 26 staff and ships.
CVW-3 is commanded by Capt. Marc Miguez and is comprised of squadrons based out of Naval Air Station (NAS) Oceana, NAS Whidbey Island, NAS Jacksonville, NAS Lemoore and NS Norfolk. CVW-3 includes Strike Fighter Squadrons (VFA) 32 "Swordsmen," VFA-86 "Sidewinders," VFA-105 "Gunslingers" and VFA-131 "Wildcats;" Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 130 "Zappers;" Carrier Airborne Early Warning Squadron (VAW) 123 "Screwtops;" Fleet Logistics Support Squadron (VRC) 40 "Rawhides;" Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron (HSM) 74 "Swamp Foxes;" and Helicopter Sea Combat Squadron (HSC) 7 "Dusty Dogs."
While deployed, the strike group performed admirably in the 5th and 6th U.S. Fleet areas of operations while providing maritime security, conducting combat missions and launching F/A-18 strikes against ISIL in Syria and Iraq. The strike group's support of Operation Inherent Resolve, Operation Odyssey Resolve and Operation Oaken Steel was integral to each mission's success.
While conducting operations in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb Strait, USS Mason defended itself and other U.S. ships from multiple inbound anti-ship cruise missiles during the week of Oct. 9. In response to these threats, Sailors aboard Nitze swiftly carried out a defensive Tomahawk strike against three radar sites on the Yemeni coast. These combined actions reduced adversary capabilities in this strategic maritime chokepoint and helped ensure continued free-flow of commerce throughout the region.
Sore Loser Syndrome threatens to disrupt Americas political process
Washington, DC - At year-end, efforts are being made to disrupt the transition process of President-elect Donald Trump by rowdy crowds of disgruntled protestors. In response, Dan Weber, president of the Association of Mature American Citizens published the following opinion article today:
The political left suffers from sore loser syndrome in the wake of the election of Donald Trump as the 45th President of the United States.
Its not uncommon for depression to set in when the candidate of your choice loses an election, but the pathetic parade of despair on display among many of those who were sure that Hillary Clinton was destined to become president has reached new heights. The fact is, the anti-Trumpers are having temper tantrums.
Rather than expressing their dissent in a manner that shows them to be members of the peaceful, loyal opposition, on more and more occasions the anti-Trump protestors seem bent on disrupting Americas political. In particular, a number of radical socialists and progressives have been engaging in activities such as inciting violent demonstrations, voter intimidation in targeting Electoral College delegates, and facilitating voter fraud, which are clearly criminal and may indeed border on treason inasmuch as they are designed to disrupt our Constitutional processes. It has even been suggested that some of them are financially backed by sinister outside sources.
However, whether they are doing what they do wittingly or unwillingly is irrelevant because the future of our democracy is at stake.
When the much-maligned Richard Nixon lost the Presidential Election to John F. Kennedy by a narrow margin, he was urged to demand a recount of the vote. But he said: "Our country cannot afford the agony of a constitutional crisis and I damn well will not be a party to creating one just to become president or anything else."
The situation has grown so threatening that individuals who might, otherwise, be inclined to join the chorus of opposition to Mr. Trumps election, are slowly but surely urging acceptance.
As Juliet Pesner, a contributor to the Harvard Political Review, put it in a recent article entitled, The Folly of Anti-Trump Protests: protests that reject the presidency itself and feature the burning of American flags raise the questionat what point are we threatening the very institutions upon which our democracy stands.
When President-elect Trump takes office on January 20th, instead of a parade to celebrate the occasion a massive, potentially unruly protest is likely to greet the new President. In her Harvard Political review article, Ms. Pesner suggests that tens of thousands of protestors have already accepted online invitations to be there.
It will be a gathering of those afflicted with SLS, sore loser syndrome, and we can only hope that the leaders of the Democratic Party, including Hillary Clinton and President Obama, will intervene. Its the only known treatment that might work on those suffering from the disease.
Look Forward to 2017
Imperial, California - I hope 2017 can be a good year for you. Whatever you can do to assist with the success of your year will be very helpful. A local businessman remarked recently, "The harder I work, the luckier I get." All of us are recipients of some bad luck throughout life. Often some of our bad luck is because of people we are associated with in our lives. What other people do greatly impacts us. A spouse, a parent, a child or work associate all affect us for good or bad. It's good for us when people we are close to are successful and not so great when they mess up. However, the bottom line is that we must all individually take ownership of our lives.
I used to write weekly for a Kentucky paper called Western Recorder. The editor of that paper Chauncey Daley was so great to me. I once submitted three stories one week and he sent them all back to me covered with red marks pointing out errors and things he didn't like. It was a little painful but he was willing to invest his time to help me learn and be better. Having anybody in our lives who cares enough about us to help us with anything is a real plus. We are better benefited from good advice when we seriously listen and make application.
All advice is not necessarily helpful. We all get bad advice throughout life so it's important to be discerning about what we are told and who is doing the teaching. Some of what we hear in life is repeated with almost inerrant credibility. For example eating badly will have eventual negative results on our health. We are told to watch our intake of sugar, fried food, and red meat and to simply use common sense on our daily portions. It's good advice and it's up to us to take it or leave it. We are told to exercise routinely because it's good for our health. Nobody can make us exercise. We have to take responsibility for our physical fitness.
The best way to have a great 2017 is to make our own decisions and take responsibility for our personal happiness. If you are waiting for a fortune to drop out of the sky you are wasting your time. If you are waiting for Mr. or Mrs. Wonderful to show up and take all your despair away you are going to spend most of your life in despair. God is not going to call you on the telephone with a three step plan for the year. However, looking up instead of looking down all of the time is always more uplifting.
Just remember that if you are able to move and think then you are not stuck. I do believe people get stuck. However, if you can think and can apply some activity you are not stuck. Use the mind and life that you have to act. Thoughts lead to action. Apply yourself. Put yourself into something that is meaningful and worthwhile. Serious action and application always net some results. If you want results get up and get going and do it most every day. The end result is that your next year will most likely see some very satisfying results.
Most importantly don't wait on someone to tell you what to do. Tell yourself what to do and do it, and look forward to 2017.
Dr. Glenn Mollette is a syndicated columnist and author of eleven books. He is read in all fifty states. Visit www.glennmollette.com
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A significant chunk of the publicity mill surrounding Rogue One's release focused on rumours of drastic reshoots.
They were fairly easily dismissed as standard practice in Hollywood film-making, and the film's critical success has shown there was never much need to worry about the fate of the first of the planned Star Wars anthology films.
However, looking back at the film's vast swathes of promotional material potentially tells a very different story, with key scenes and action sequences highlighted in Rogue One's various trailers now tellingly absent from the final cut.
How much did the reshoots actually end up altering the film's DNA? Ben Mendelsohn's interview with Collider seems to hint at something very intriguing about what ended up on the cutting room floor.
It seems as if director Gareth Edwards deliberately shot multiple versions of scenes even during principal photography to give some freedom to the editing process. Mendelsohn revealed, "We did have multiple, multiple ways of going at any given scenario, we had multiple readings of it. So should they ever decided to, there would be a wealth of ways of approaching these different things."
[SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Show all 13 1 /13 [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'I rebel' Straight off the bat, that instantly infamous line from Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso - "This is a rebellion, isn't it? I rebel" - is missing from the final cut. Probably a good thing, considering nobody needs Jyn's entire character motivation spelled out in quite such obvious terms. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Moody Orson Krennic This brilliantly moody shot from the film's teaser never makes it into the final cut, but there's a good chance it was never intended to, having all the hallmarks of footage deliberately shot for the trailer. Walt Disney Studios [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Moody Jyn Erso The same goes for this look at Jyn Erso in her Imperial disguise, which definitely has the look of a promotional shot to it. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'What will you become?' The look at Jyn's Imperial outfit coincides with the final line of a cut monologue from Saw Gerrera: "What will you become?" The confusing part here is that Saw is seen with the close-cropped hair he sports only in the prologue scenes, when Jyn is only a child. When she visits him in Jedha, his hair is much fuller and he's sporting a beard. So, was this speech somehow originally delivered to Galen Erso in a cut prologue segment? In the context of Galen's work with the Empire and his later attempts to evade them, Saw's words would make a lot more sense. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film And Moody Darth Vader Potentially another promo shot, considering this was used as the very first reveal of Darth Vader in the trailers. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Krennic and Vader However, this shot also shows a cut scene between Krennic and Vader, in which the former talks about the "power we are dealing with here". [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'The captain says you are a friend. I will not kill you' K-2SO has many similar lines directed to Jyn throughout the film, but they're a lot less sinister than this one. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Captured rebel pilots This shot from Jedha is missing. It doesn't exactly add anything to the story, but it's an added touch of grit which sets the tone nicely in the trailers. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film 'Good.' 'Good.' A cut moment between Jyn and Cassian, though it's a little hard to tell where this comes from - there's no moment where Jyn sits as co-pilot on the U-wing, since it's usually K-2SO in the seat. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn faces off against a TIE fighter What's interesting is that this shot of Jyn limping across the Scarif communications tower is, of course, in the final film. It's just that the TIE fighter is entirely absent. Was this a cut moment? Was Krennic piloting that thing? Or was it even just cut into the trailer to keep audiences off the scent? [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Krennic on the Scarif beaches And what about this great shot of Krennic marching amongst the dead? The set-up and lighting seem to imply he survives the initial battle without getting shot by Cassian, and is on the ground when the Death Star destroys Scarif - if that's indeed the source of the glow in the background. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn and Cassian in the Scarif battle In fact, the trailer footage seems to hint at a drastically different ending, which may point to what exactly got changed during the re-shoots. We see multiple shots of Jyn and Cassian running along the Scarif beach with the Death Star plans. Considering the battle is still in full swing, it suggests the archives and the communications tower may have been separate locations in the original version. [SPOILERS] 13 scenes from Rogue One's trailers cut from the film Jyn, Cassian, and K-2SO running through Scarif base And here, again, we see Cassian, Jyn, and K-2SO running with the data plans through the Scarif base. That means the droid wasn't originally meant to die (or whatever happens to droids) defending the archive room.
"And I know from having seen sort of the crucial kind of scenes throughout it, I know theres vastly different readings of at least four of those scenes," he added; referencing that the rest of the movie has "enormous differences within I wouldve said 20 or 30 of the scenes."
Rogue One follows a wayward band of Rebel fighters brought together for one improbable mission: steal the plans for the Death Star. These events, of course, directly link into the first scenes of A New Hope; when Princess Leia is seen concealing the plans in R2-D2 before she's captured by the Galactic Empire.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story IMAX Featurette
The film largely centres around Felicity Jones' Jyn Erso: a criminal misfit who becomes entangled in the Rebellion's ambitious, and resolutely dangerous, schemes. Donnie Yen, Diego Luna, Jian Wen, Forest Whitaker, Alan Tudyk, Riz Ahmed, and Mads Mikkelsen also star.
Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is in cinemas now.
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It has been a year of political shocks and celebrity deaths but conservationists say 2016 has seen some "landmark" environmental successes.
Some of the world's most charismatic species have seen an upturn in their fortunes, with tiger numbers increasing for the first time since efforts to conserve them began and giant pandas moved off the "endangered" list, the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) said.
Nepal has achieved two years in a row with no rhino poaching, while trade in the world's most trafficked mammal, the pangolin or scaly anteater, has been made illegal by countries meeting to discuss international wildlife trade.
This year saw the UK commit an extra 13 million to tackling the illegal wildlife trade and, elsewhere in the environmental arena, ratify the Paris Agreement, the world's first comprehensive deal by countries to tackle climate change.
In August, Scotland produced enough renewable energy on one day to power the entire country, with wind turbines generating 106% of Scottish demand for electricity.
In other parts of the world, Belize suspended seismic surveying for offshore oil exploration along the longest barrier reef in the northern hemisphere, the world's largest marine protected area in Antarctica got the go-ahead and Spanish national park Donana was saved from destructive dredging.
Glyn Davies, acting chief executive of WWF-UK, said: "The world faces a challenge in keeping its beautiful places and special species.
The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The alley cat, Nayan Khanolkar, INDIA Winner, Urban At night, in the Aarey Milk Colony in a suburb of Mumbai bordering Sanjay Gandhi National Park, leopards slip ghost-like through the maze of alleys, looking for food (especially stray dogs). The Warli people living in the area respect the big cats. Positioning his flashes to mimic the alleys usual lighting and his camera so that a passing cat would not dominate the frame, he finally after four months got the shot he wanted. With a fleeting look of enquiry in the direction of the camera click, a leopard went about its business alongside peoples homes. Nayan hopes that those living in Mumbais new high-rise developments now impinging on the park will learn from the Warli how to coexist with the original inhabitants of the land. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Star player, Luis Javier Sandoval, MEXICO Winner, Impressions As soon as Luis slipped into the water, the curious young California sea lions came over for a better look. He had arrived the night before at the island of Espiritu Santo in the Gulf of California, sleeping aboard his boat so that he would be ready to dive at sunrise. He had in mind a picture that needed warm light, a slow shutter speed and friendly subjects. One of the pups dived down, swimming gracefully with its strong fore-flippers (sea lions are also remarkably agile on land, since they can control each of their hind flippers independently). It grabbed a starfish from the bottom and started throwing it to Luis. Angling his camera up towards the dawn light just as the pup offered him the starfish and another youngster slipped by close to the rocks he created his artistic impression of the sea lions playful nature. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The sand canvas, Rudi Sebastian, GERMANY Winner, Details The pristine white sand of Brazils Lencois Maranhenses National Park offers a blank canvas to the rain. In the dry season, sand from the coast is blown by powerful Atlantic winds as far as 50 kilometres (30 miles) inland, sculpting a vast expanse of crescent-shaped dunes up to 40 metres (130 feet) high. With the onset of the rains, the magic begins. An impermeable layer beneath the sand allows water to collect in the dune valleys, forming thousands of transient lagoons, some more than 90 metres (295 feet) long. Bacteria and algae tint the clear water in countless shades of green and blue, while streams carrying sediment from the distant rainforest make their mark with browns and blacks. Patterns appear as the water evaporates, leaving behind organic remains. Shooting almost vertically down from a small aircraft with the door removed, avoiding perspective or scale, he created his striking image. A few weeks later, the scene had evaporated. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Snapper party, Tony Wu, USA Winner, Underwater For several days each month (in tandem with the full moon), thousands of twospot red snappers gather to spawn around Palau in the western Pacific Ocean. On this occasion, with perfect anticipation, he managed to capture a dynamic arc of spawning fish amid clouds of eggs in the oblique morning light. Still obsessed by the dynamics and magnitude of this natural wonder, he will be returning to Palau next April to witness once again the spectacular snapper party. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Eviction attempt, Ganesh H Shankar, INDIA Winner, Birds These Indian rose-ringed parakeets were not happy. They had returned to their roosting and nesting hole high up in a tree in Indias Keoladeo National Park (also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) to find that a Bengal monitor lizard had taken up residence. They would then harass it when it tried to come out to bask. This went on for two days. But the action only lasted a couple of seconds at a time and was fast-moving. These Indian birds are highly adaptable, and escaped captive parakeets have founded populations in many countries. In Europe, where they are known as ring-necked parakeets, they are accused of competing for nest holes with some native species, such as nuthatches, and even bats, but in turn, other birds such as starlings are quite capable of evicting the parakeets from their nest holes. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The moon and the crow, Gideon Knight, UK Winner, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 A crow in a tree in a park: a common enough scene. It was one that Gideon had seen many times near his home in Londons Valentines Park, which he visits regularly to take photographs. Positioning himself on a slope opposite, he tried to capture the perfect composition. But the crow kept moving along the branch and turning its head away, and so getting a silhouette of it with the moon in the frame meant Gideon had to keep moving, too. Then, just as the light was about to fade beyond the point that photography was possible, his wish came true, and an ordinary London scene turned into something magical. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Requiem for an owl, Mats Andersson, SWEDEN Winner, Black and White Every day in early spring, Mats walked in the forest near his home in Bashult, southern Sweden, enjoying the company of a pair of Eurasian pygmy owls until the night he found one of them lying dead on the forest floor. Pygmy owls, with their distinctive rounded heads and lack of ear tufts, are the smallest owls in Europe, barely 19 centimetres (7 inches) long, though with large feet that enable them to carry prey almost as big as themselves. He found this owl dead, too, and suspects that it and its mate may have been killed by one of the larger owls in the forest, not for food but because, in the breeding season, it didnt tolerate other birds of prey in its territory. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The pangolin pit, Paul Hilton, UK/AUSTRALIA Winner, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single image Nothing prepared Paul for what he saw: some 4,000 defrosting pangolins (5 tons) from one of the largest seizures of the animals on record. These Asian victims, mostly Sunda pangolins, were part of a huge seizure a joint operation between Indonesias police and the World Conservation Society found hidden in a shipping container behind a facade of frozen fish, ready for export from the major port of Belawan in Sumatra. The dead pangolins were driven to a specially dug pit and then incinerated. The live ones were taken north and released in the rainforest. Wildlife crime is big business, says Paul. It will stop only when the demand stops. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Wind composition, Valter Binotto, ITALY Winner, Plants and Fungi With every gust of wind, showers of pollen were released, lit up by the winter sunshine. The hazel tree was near Valters home in northern Italy, and to create the dark background, he positioned himself to backlight the flowers. Hazel has both male and female flowers on the same tree, though the pollen must be transferred between trees for fertilization. And now recent research suggests that bees may also play a role. The catkins are an important source of pollen for early bees and have a beefriendly structure, while the red colour of the female flowers may entice insects to land on them. The hardest part was capturing the female flowers motionless while the catkins were moving, explains Valter. I searched for flowers on a short branch that was more stable. Using a long exposure to capture the pollens flight and a reflector to highlight the catkins, he took many pictures before the wind finally delivered the composition he had in mind. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Entwined lives, Tim Laman, USA Winner, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 A young male orangutan makes the 30-metre (100-foot) climb up the thickest root of the strangler fig that has entwined itself around a tree emerging high above the canopy. The backdrop is the rich rainforest of the Gunung Palung National Park, in West Kalimantan, one of the few protected orangutan strongholds in Indonesian Borneo. He had to do three days of climbing up and down himself, by rope, to place in position several GoPro cameras that he could trigger remotely to give him a chance of not only a wide angle view of the forest below but also a view of the orangutans face from above. This shot was the one he had long visualized, looking down on the orangutan within its forest home.
"Global wildlife populations are likely to decline by 67% from 1970 levels by the end of this decade.
"Without greater efforts, we will face a global mass extinction of wildlife for the first time since the demise of the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.
"The good news is that we know we can make a difference. 2016 has celebrated many landmark successes which will bolster global efforts to protect the natural world.
"Some great victories have been won, but there is still an uphill battle ahead. WWF looks to 2017 as a year where actions will need to speak louder than words.
"We need to see real progress in tackling illegal wildlife trade, climate change and habitat destruction and degradation."
Environmental campaigners have nonetheless warned that global wildlife populations could have declined by two thirds on 1970 levels by the end of the decade, but said 2016 shows that people can make a difference.
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A hard Brexit preferred by Theresa May will be a mission impossible as the EU and the UK would face massive negative effects if Britain leaves the single market, the head of the German automobile industry association has warned.
In October, Matthias Wissmann warned that the UK leaving the single market could force companies to move their business elsewhere. His comments marked the first time a senior figure in the German car industry publicly outlined the consequences from a change to Britains trading arrangements with the EU.
Writing in the Suddeutsche Zeitung on Friday, Mr Wissmann highlighted the deep reciprocal dependency of the two countries automotive industries, and said both the UK and the EU should aim to keep Britain in the single market in upcoming Brexit negotiations.
British car production has boomed over the last five years, growing by a quarter to 1.6 million vehicles in 2015, with German brands accounting for 11 per cent of that figure.
Some 57 per cent of the cars made in Britain are purchased by buyers in the rest of the EU. The next largest market is the US (12 per cent), followed by China (7 per cent).
Mr Wissmann said the EU should force Britain to pay into the Brussels budget and accept the resulting rules, including the free movement of people, which has been ruled out by Theresa May.
The hard Brexit preferred by Theresa May would have severe side effects, he said.
It remains the hope that in the upcoming exit process the realisation of the nearly insurmountable hurdles prevails. A hard Brexit is indeed a mission impossible...
The aim of the talks must be: Britain should remain in the internal market and in the customs union, accept the basic freedoms and make a financial contribution to the EU budget, in return for unimpeded access to the internal market.
The 70bn-a year British car industry has made the case for government backing as the UK leaves the EU at a summit earlier in December
Although the details of the talks were private, members of trade body the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), which hosted the summit, are understood to have pressed Brexit secretary David Davis on the importance of securing tariff-free access to European markets.
Brexit Concerns Show all 26 1 /26 Brexit Concerns Brexit Concerns Brexit will put British patients at 'back of the queue' for new drugs Brexit will put British patients at the back of the queue for vital new drugs, the Government has been warned forcing them to wait up to two years longer A medicines regulator has raised the alarm over a likely decision to pull out of the European Medicines Agency (EMA), as well as the EU itself. ealth Secretary Jeremy Hunt dropped the bombshell , when he said he expected the UK would quit the EMA because it is subject to rulings by the European Court of Justice. Getty Images Brexit Concerns London to lose status as 'gateway to Europe' for banks One of Germanys top banking regulators has warned that London could lose its status as gateway to Europe for the banking sector after Britain quits the European trading bloc. Andreas Dombret, who is an executive board member for the BundesbankGermanys central banktold a private meeting of German businesses and banks earlier this week in Frankfurt that even if banking rules were equivalent between the UK and the rest of the EU, that was still miles away from [Britain having] access to the single market, the BBC reports. Jason Hawkes Brexit Concerns Exodus The number of financial sector professionals in Britain and continental Europe looking for jobs in Ireland rocketed in the months after the UK voted to leave the European Union Shutterstock Brexit Concerns Brexit is making FTSE 100 executives richer Pay packages of many FTSE 100 chief executive officers are partly tied to how well share prices are doing rather than the CEOs performance -- and some stocks are soaring. ritish equities got a boost since the June vote because the likes of Rio Tinto, Smiths Group and WPP generate most sales abroad and earn a fortune when they convert these revenues back into the weakened pound. Sterlings fall also made UK stocks more affordable for overseas investors. Rex Brexit Concerns Theresa May: UK to leave single market Theresa May has said the UK "cannot possibly" remain within the European single market, as staying in it would mean "not leaving the EU at all". Getty Brexit Concerns Lead campaigner Gina Miller and her team outside the High Court Getty Brexit Concerns Raymond McCord holds up his newly issued Irish passport alongside his British passport outside the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns SDLP leader Colum Eastwood leaving the High Court in Belfast following a judges dismissal of the UK's first legal challenges to Brexit PA wire Brexit Concerns Migrants with luggage walk past a graffiti on a wall as they leave the 'Jungle' migrant camp, as part of a major three-day operation planned to clear the camp in Calais Getty Brexit Concerns Migrants leave messages on their tents in the Jungle migrant camp Getty Brexit Concerns The Adventist Development and Relief Agency (Adra) which distributes approximately 700 meals daily in the northern Paris camp states that it is noticing a spike in new migrant arrivals this week, potentially linked the the Calais 'jungle' camp closure - with around 1000 meals distributed today EPA Brexit Concerns Migrant workers pick apples at Stocks Farm in Suckley, Britain Reuters Brexit Concerns Many farmers across the country are voicing concerns that Brexit could be a dangerous step into the unknown for the farming industry Getty Brexit Concerns Bank of England governor Mark Carney who said the long-term outlook for the UK economy is positive, but growth was slowing in the wake of the Brexit vote PA Brexit Concerns The Dow Jones industrial average closed down over 600 points on the news with markets around the globe pluninging Getty Brexit Concerns Immigration officers deal with each member of the public seeking entry into the United Kingdom but on average, 10 a day are refused entry at this London airport and between 2008 and 2009, 33,100 people were detained at the airport for mainly passport irregularities Getty Brexit Concerns A number of global investment giants have threatened to move their European operations out of London if Brexit proves to have a negative impact on their businesses Getty Brexit Concerns Following the possibility of a Brexit the UK would be released from its renewable energy targets under the EU Renewable Energy Directive and from EU state aid restrictions, potentially giving the government more freedom both in the design and phasing out of renewable energy support regimes Getty Brexit Concerns A woman looking at a chart showing the drop in the pound (Sterling) against the US Dollar in London after Britain voted to leave the EU Getty Brexit Concerns Young protesters outside the Houses of Parliament in Westminster, to protest against the United Kingdom's decision to leave the EU following the referendum Getty Brexit Concerns Applications from Northern Ireland citizens for Irish Passports has soared to a record high after the UK Voted in favour of Leaving the EU Getty Brexit Concerns NFU Vice President Minette Batters with Secretary of State, Andrea Leadsome at the National Farmers Union (NFU) took machinery, produce, farmers and staff to Westminster to encourage Members of Parliament to back British farming, post Brexit Getty Brexit Concerns The latest reports released by the UK Cabinet Office warn that expats would lose a range of specific rights to live, to work and to access pensions, healthcare and public services. The same reports added that UK citizens abroad would not be able to assume that these rights will be guaranteed in the future Getty Brexit Concerns A British resident living in Spain asks questions during an informative Brexit talk by the "Brexpats in Spain" group, about Spanish legal issues to become Spanish citizens, at the town hall in Benalmadena, Spain Reuters Brexit Concerns The collapse of Great Britain appears to have been greatly exaggerated given the late summer crowds visiting city museums, hotels, and other important tourist attractions Getty Brexit Concerns The U.K. should maintain European Union regulations covering everything from working hours to chemicals until after the government sets out its plans for Brexit, said British manufacturers anxious to avoid a policy vacuum and safeguard access to their biggest export market Getty
The meeting came in the wake of the controversial sweetheart deal Nissan secured from the Government to keep investing in its giant Sunderland plant.
If Britain failed to conclude a free trade deal with the rest of the EU and was forced to fall back on basic World Trade Organisation rules, British car exporters could face tariffs of up to 10 per cent.
Additional reporting by PA
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The co-chairman of Donald Trumps New York campaign, who said he hoped Barack Obama would die of mad cow disease and Michelle Obama would move to Africa and live in a cave with a gorilla, has said he will not resign from the Buffalo school board.
Despite the fact the Buffalo Board of Education voted to remove Carl Paladino, a New York developer and leading supporter of Mr Trump, on Thursday, he has said he will not be standing down.
The board voted 6-2 for a resolution to remove Paladino, the ninth member, if he did not resign within 24 hours.
Mr Paladino, a former Tea Party star, was accused of racism for his response to a local newspapers questionnaire about what he would like to see happen in 2017.
[Barack] Obama catches mad cow disease after being caught having relations with a Her[e]ford, he said.
He dies before his trial and is buried in a cow pasture next to [senior Obama adviser] Valerie Jarret[t], who died weeks prior, after being convicted of sedition and treason, when a Jihady [sic] cell mate mistook her for being a nice person and decapitated her.
Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural Show all 14 1 /14 Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A lesbian couple kisses in front of mural depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on the walls of a barbecue bar 'Keule Ruke' on May 19, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Barcroft Media/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A lesbian couple kisses in front of mural depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on the walls of a barbecue bar 'Keule Ruke' on May 19, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Barcroft Media/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural VILNIUS, LITHUANIA - NOVEMBER 23: A woman walks past a mural showing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) blowing marijuana smoke into the mouth of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the wall of a bar-b-que restaurant on November 23, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Many people in the three Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are concerned that Russia, because Trump has expressed both admiration for Putin and doubt over defending NATO member states, will be emboldened to intervene militarily in the Baltics. Sean Gallup/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A woman walks past a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural AP Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A child walks past a graffiti depicting Russian President Vladimir Putin, left, and Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, on the walls of a bar in the old town in Vilnius, Lithuania, Saturday, May 14, 2016. (AP Photo/Mindaugas Kulbis) AP Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural People walk past a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A man photographs a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural AP Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A young woman walks past a mural showing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) blowing marijuana smoke into the mouth of Russian President Vladimir Putin with the slogan "make everything great again," in reference to Trump's campaign slogan of "Make America Great Again," on the wall of a bar-b-que restaurant on November 23, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Many people in the three Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are concerned that Russia, because Trump has expressed both admiration for Putin and doubt over defending NATO member states, will be emboldened to intervene militarily in the Baltics. Sean Gallup/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A morning commuter stops to look at a mural on a restaurant wall depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural Restaurant owner Dominykas Ceckauskas pose next to a mural on the wall of his establishment depicting US Presidential hopeful Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin greeting each other with a kiss in the Lithuanian capital Vilnius on May 13, 2016. Kestutis Girnius, associate professor of the Institute of International Relations and Political Science in Vilnius university, told AFP -This graffiti expresses the fear of some Lithuanians that Donald Trump is likely to kowtow to Vladimir Putin and be indifferent to Lithuanias security concerns. Trump has notoriously stated that Putin is a strong leader, and that NATO is obsolete and expensive. / AFP / Petras Malukas (Photo credit should read PETRAS MALUKAS/AFP/Getty Images) Petras Malukas/AFP/Getty Images Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural A passerby photographs a mural showing U.S. President-elect Donald Trump (R) blowing marijuana smoke into the mouth of Russian President Vladimir Putin on the wall of a bar-b-que restaurant on November 23, 2016 in Vilnius, Lithuania. Many people in the three Baltic nations of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia are concerned that Russia, because Trump has expressed both admiration for Putin and doubt over defending NATO member states, will be emboldened to intervene militarily in the Baltics. Sean Gallup/Getty Trump and Putin passionately kiss in street mural Getty
Referring to Michelle Obama, he said: Id like her to return to being a male and let loose in the outback of Zimbabwe where she lives comfortably in a cave with Maxie, the gorilla.
Mr Paladino issued a statement four days after the remarks appeared. He apologised for the comments but condemned his critics who he described as attacking parasites and he suggested Mr Obama was a traitor to American values.
The property developer said he had not intended for the comments to be published but admitted they were inappropriate under any circumstance. He also insisted he was not a racist.
In the Buffalo school board meeting, which was broadcast online, some board members accused Mr Paladino of acting like a bully and making comments which would not be permitted from pupils.
Mr Paladino took an oath to ensure that students are afforded an environment which is free from fear and respects diversity within the school district and the community, the resolution reads.
According to the resolution, more than 70 percent of the district is non-white.
Mr Paladino told a radio station on Wednesday that he would not leave the board voluntarily. I'm the agent of change. I'm the guy that exposed the underbelly of their corrupt and dysfunctional school system, and they want me gone from the scene, he said in the interview.
This is by no means the first time Mr Paladino has found himself at the centre of controversy. During his unsuccessful 2010 run for governor, emails that he had forwarded presenting Ms Obama as a prostitute were leaked.
A representative for Mr Trump did not immediately respond to request for comment but USA Today reported that Trump's transition team has called Paladino's recent comments "absolutely reprehensible.
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A senior adviser to Donald Trump has suggested Barack Obamas actions against Russia were motivated by a desire to box in his successor at the White House.
As the fall out from Mr Obamas decision to deport 35 Russian diplomats over the alleged hacking during the election continued, it became clear Mr Trump had been handed a huge strategic headache even before he takes office.
Russian leader Vladimir Putin surprised many observers when he announced that he would not reciprocate by expelling US diplomats. Yet the RIA news agency quoted Mr Putin as saying he would consider the actions of the President-elect, when deciding on further steps in Russia-US relations.
Mr Trumps only public response to Mr Obamas actions has been to say that its time for our country to move on to bigger and better things.
Yet Mr Trump will very quickly have to decide how to act. Does he continue with the sanctions and risk undermining his desire to build a new relationship with Russia, or does he lift them and leave himself open to criticism of being weak? Republicans on Capitol Hill favour sanctions against Russia.
On Thursday, The New York Times claimed that part of Mr Obamas tactics had been to box in Mr Trump. Subsequently, a senior adviser to the President-elect said it would be very unfortunate if domestic politics were involved.
I will tell you that even those who are sympathetic to President Obama on most issues are saying that part of the reason he did this today was to, quote, box in President-elect Trump, Kellyanne Conway told CNN.
That would be very unfortunate if politics were the motivating factor here. We can't help but think that's often true.
Ms Conway, who will advise Mr Trump in the White House, added: That is not the way that peaceful exchanges work in this democracy.
Trump Tower evacuated after security scare
She also claimed the focus on Russias potential involvement in Democratic Party hacking something that has been alleged by the US intelligence community was a distraction.
All we heard through the election was Russia, Russia, Russia, she said. Since the election, its just this fever pitch of accusations and insinuations.
She said that hacks targeting the Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign chairman John Podesta, did not cause the Democrats to lose as much as their failed campaign strategy.
I dont believe Vladimir Putin deterred her from competing in Pennsylvania, Wisconsin and Michigan, she said.
On Friday, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov had proposed expelling 35 US diplomats after Mr Obama ordered the expulsions and sanctions on Thursday.
But Mr Putin said he would wait to see what steps Mr Trump takes after he assumes office on 20 January. He even invited the children of US diplomats to a party in the Kremlin.
We will not expel anyone, Mr Putin said in a statement. While keeping the right for retaliatory measures, we will not descend to the level of the kitchen, irresponsible diplomacy.
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The cause of George Michaels death continues to be unclear after a post-mortem examination came back inconclusive.
The pop superstar died at the age of 53 of heart failure at his Oxfordshire home on Christmas Day.
Thames Valley Police said further tests would be carried out in due course. The results of these tests are unlikely to be known for several weeks.
A statement from the police force said: A Post Mortem examination was carried out yesterday as part of the investigation into the death of George Michael.
George Michael: a life in pictures Show all 20 1 /20 George Michael: a life in pictures George Michael: a life in pictures 1982 Wham perform at the Hammersmith Odeon Rex George Michael: a life in pictures 1983 George Micheal and Andrew Ridley perform in concert in June 1983 Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1984 May 1984 Exclusive Photocall with Wham When Their Song 'Wake Me Up Before You Go-go' Hit Number One in the Charts at Bbc Tv Centre George Michael and Andrew Ridgeley Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1985 Ivor Novello Awards at the Grosvenor House Hotel, George Michael (songwriter of the Year) and Andrew Ridgeley Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1985 Andrew Ridgeley and George Michael in Tiananmen Square, during their WHAM! in China tour in 1985 Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1986 rank Bruno Boxer 1986 George Michael And Frank Bruno. British And European Heavyweight Champion Frank Bruno Flew Off For A Winning Weekend In Las Vegas Yesterday And Found Himself Sitting Next To George Michael The Wham! Star. Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1986 George Michael is presented with an award by Elton John during the 1986 Brit Awards Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1986 George Michael and Freddie Mercury during a Queen party at the Groucho Club Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1991 WHAM! reunited during the "Rock in Rio" concert in Rio de Janeiro Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1993 George Michael appears outside the high court, a case where micheal fought Sony Music for failing to promote his albumn "Listen without prejudice Vol.1" Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1995 David Frost interviewed George Michael following his Sony contract dispute Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1997 The pop star was visibly moved during the funeral of Princess Diana Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 1998 Michael gave a press conference ahead of his public service for aids charity "Angel Food" following his conviction for engaging in a sex act in a public toilet Rex Features George Michael: a life in pictures 2004 George Michael poses at the Sunset Virgin Megastore where he made an apperance to sign copies of his new CD 'Patience' Getty George Michael: a life in pictures 2005 George Michael poses during the photocall of his documentary film 'George Michael - A different Story' by Southan Morris during the 55th Berlin Film Festival Getty George Michael: a life in pictures 2005 Musicians Pete Townhsend from The Who, George Michael and David Gilmour from Pink Floyd perform 'Hey Jude' with children on stage at the finale of 'Live 8 London' in Hyde Park Getty George Michael: a life in pictures 2007 George Michael arrives at Brent Magistrates Court in west London as he faces charges of driving while unfit through drugs. The former Wham! star's legal team had hoped he could be absent from the trial but he was ordered by District Judge Katherine Marshall to appear on the first day Getty George Michael: a life in pictures 2007 George Michael performs the first concert at the newly rebuilt Wembley Stadium Getty George Michael: a life in pictures 2011 George Michael speaks to the media during a press conference at the Royal Opera House, central London on May 11, 2011. The event was to announce his 'Symphonica' European tour which is set to visit historic venues such as Prague's State Opera House, Paris' Palais Garnier and London's Royal Opera House Getty George Michael: a life in pictures 2012 George Michael performs during the Closing Ceremony on Day 16 of the London 2012 Olympic Games at Olympic Stadium Getty
The cause of death is inconclusive and further tests will now be carried out. The results of these tests are unlikely to be known for several weeks.
Thames Valley Police will prepare a file for the Oxfordshire Coroner.
Mr Michaels death is still being treated as unexplained but not suspicious.
Earlier this week, his boyfriend, Fadi Fawaz, revealed he had been the one who found Michael dead in his Oxfordshire home on Christmas morning.
Its a Xmas I will never forget finding your partner dead peacefully in bed first thing in the morning, he tweeted. I will never stop missing you xx, Fawaz, who is a celebrity hairdresser, tweeted.
Born Georgios Kyriacos Panayiotou in East Finchley in north London in the early 1960s, Michael formed the era-defining pop duo Wham! and fast became one of Britains biggest pop stars of the 1980s.
In the wake of his death, fans have gathered outside Michaels Oxfordshire home in the village of Goring-on-Thames and his house in Highgate, north London, to lay flowers, candles and handwritten notes at his doorstep.
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Shocking footage has revealed the moment a pair of young men threatened two shop workers with a gun and a large knife as they robbed a supermarket in south-east London.
CCTV footage released by police shows two men armed with a black handgun and a kitchen knife enter a Co-op in Eltham and threaten the members of staff, as they take money from the till and steal cigarettes.
During the ordeal, which occurred at 10:25pm on Sunday, a visibly frightened female shop worker can be heard saying: I dont have any money as the men repeat orders for her to hand over cash, brandishing their weapons.
As the two robbers move in and continue to demand money another worker appears and says he will open the till. The man holding the gun can be heard saying: Give me the money, Hurry up and Now as the member of staff enters codes to open the till.
Meanwhile, the robber wielding the knife raids shelves behind the till and steals what appears to be tobacco while the female shop worker stands by apparently shaking with fear.
After one of them has obtained the money in the till and the other filled a plastic bag with cigarette packets, the two men walk out, leaving the two workers in what appears to be a state of shock.
According to police, the suspects made their getaway in a waiting white Range Rover Evoque, driven by a third suspect.
The Metropolitan Police are now appealing for the public to help locate the two men in connection with the robbery. In a statement, the force said: Officers have released the footage after the Co-op store in Westhorne Avenue, Eltham was robbed at 22:25hrs on Sunday 31 July.
UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters 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 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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. 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A quantity of cigarettes and cash was stolen from the shop by two men. One suspect was armed with a knife and the other was armed with a black handgun.
Suspect one is described as a white male, aged 18-22 years. At the time of the robbery he was wearing a dark Ralph Lauren hooded jumper, dark Ralph Lauren tracksuit bottoms, dark Nike cap and a black balaclava. He was armed with a knife.
Suspect two is described as a black male, aged 18-22 years. At the time of the robbery he was wearing black, knee-length, tracksuit bottoms, white socks pulled up and black trainers and a navy blue Nike hooded top.
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A Brexit that protects the bankers in the city and continues to give corporate handouts is not good enough, Jeremy Corbyn has said.
The Labour leader, in his three-minute New Year message, also lamented the governments handling of housing, the jobs market, the NHS and social care.
2016 will be defined in history by the referendum on European Union membership, said Eurosceptic Mr Corbyn, who voted Remain and opted against Common Market membership in 1975.
Labour accepts and respects the result of the referendum.
We wont be blocking our country leaving the EU, but we wont stand by those in charge today [who have] put the jobs market, housing, the NHS, and social care in crisis.
We cant let them mess this up. Its about everyones future.
A Brexit that protects the bankers in the city and continues to give corporate handouts to the biggest companies is not good enough.
The 67-year-old, the party leader since September 2015, has emerged in a relatively safe position after a rocky year.
Three of his junior shadow ministers resigned in January after a reshuffle that was dominated by opinions on Syria and Trident.
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In April, he suspended former mayor Ken Livingstone over his comments about Adolf Hitler and Israel, once again linking Labour to claims of deep-rooted anti-Semitism in the party.
Sadiq Khan won the mayoral election in May, but the party witnessed a net loss of 18 local council seats and a demotion to third place behind the Conservatives in Scotland.
A wave of shadow cabinet ministers resigned after the Brexit vote, after Mr Corbyn generally kept a low profile during the campaign, and he was slapped with a 172-to-40 vote of no confidence by Labour MPs.
His party embarrassingly lost its deposit in the Richmond Park by-election, but since defeating Owen Smith in a leadership challenge by 62 per cent of the vote, his year has stabled somewhat.
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
The Islington MP also said in his message that he understands why 52 per cent of the UK population voted Leave, and appeared to show optimism for the future.
I understand that, said Mr Corbyn. We now have the chance to do things differently.
To build an economy that invests and works for everyone across all our nations and regions.
He also touched upon job insecurity, thanks to zero-hour and temporary contracts, and referenced the 124,000 children who did not have a home this Christmas.
The Independent is currently running a campaign encouraging donations for the new Centrepoint Young and Homeless Helpline.
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Armed units will be among more than 3,000 police officers being deployed to protect Londons New Years Eve celebrations amid concern over the threat of Isis-inspired terror attacks.
Security plans have been adjusted in the wake of the lorry attacks in Berlin and Nice, which followed previous shooting massacres and bombings in Brussels and Paris.
Scotland Yard said around 3,000 of its officers will be on duty across central London on 31 December, both inside and outside of ticketed areas for viewing fireworks along the Thames.
Armed British Transport Police officers will also carry guns on London Underground trains for the first time, having previously been stationed inside Tube stations, as security is increased.
Detective Superintendent Phil Langworthy said there were both over and covert measures in place to protect hundreds of thousands of people expected to gather for the Mayor's firework display.
"Clearly we have been looking at what has happened around the world in terms of Berlin, Nice, etcetera, and have adjusted our plans and continue to adjust our plans, he told the Press Association.
"We police around 3,500 large events every year including New Year's Eve and we meticulously plan those events - we have meticulously planned New Year's Eve - and we look at our tactics and we look around the world and adjust our tactics if need be.
"We have a very extensive planning period, we plan for many months, pretty much we start planning since the last event."
Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Show all 18 1 /18 Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Several people have been killed after a lorry drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Berlin Christmas market lorry attack 'At least nine' people have been killed and more than 50 injured. AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency Services rush a Berlin market victim to an ambulance Associated Press Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Police cordoned off the square at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church following the incident REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers inspect the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Berlin EPA Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency crews inspect the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least nine people AFP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Fire crews attend the scene of the attack AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Armed police secure the site of a lorry attack at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Crushed debris is visible beneath the wheels of the vehicle REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack An injured man is pushed to an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Medics attend an injured person after the lorry attack which killed at least nine and injured more than 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters examine the lorry which was rammed into a Berlin Christmas market REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack A person is carried into an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack View of the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher to an ambulance Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters assess the damage after the lorry rammed the Christmas market, killing 'at least nine', and injuring more than 50 people AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters stand beside a toppled Christmas tree at the site of the suspected terrorist attack in a Berlin Christmas market AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Damaged stalls at the scene of the incident at a Berlin Christmas market where at least nine people have been killed EPA
Det Supt Langworthy said there was no specific intelligence for an attack on the end-of-year event, but added: "I would encourage people on the night if they see anything suspicious or have any concerns to come and speak to one of the police officers or stewards who will be on duty."
Isis has used its propaganda outlets to call on supporters to launch attacks in countries, including Britain, that are supporting air strikes by the US-led coalition on its territories in Iraq and Syria.
The group has released detailed guidance on launching lorry attacks, car rammings, stabbings and manufacturing homemade explosives to inflict maximum casualties and terror.
Its supporters have additionally released unofficial propaganda calling for New Years Eve and the festive period to be made into bloody horror movies for disbelievers in the West.
Heightened security precautions are expected to include concrete barriers designed to shield crowds from attempted car and lorry attacks.
Angela Merkel reacts to shooting of Berlin market attack suspect
They have been deployed around Christmas markets across Germany following the Berlin attack on 19 December, when a Tunisian Isis supporter ploughed a lorry into crowds next to the Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church, killing 12 people and injuring 50 more.
It followed the Nice attack in July, when another Tunisian man mowed down crowds celebrating Bastille Day, killing 86 people and injuring at least 400.
Theresa May urged Britain to celebrate the festive season without being cowed by terrorists following the latest atrocity, saying the security services were continuing their work after foiling several previous plots.
Det Supt Langworthy said police wanted to ensure people stayed safe and have a good time, adding: Officers have been planning for several months for New Years Eve, and that plan remains under constant review. This is not as a result of any specific intelligence.
Major cities around the world are putting security measures in place, with rubbish lorries filled with sand being used to close off streets around New Yorks Time Square. Fireworks at the Eiffel Tower in Paris have been cancelled as a precaution.
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Police are searching for a suspected gunman who appeared to point a weapon at officers following a car crash.
Officers initially tried but failed to stop the vehicle in Harlesden High Street, in Kensal Green, north London, and again pursued it with "blue lights and sirens" after spotting it in nearby Victoria Road.
The man, being originally chased in connection with a burglary, jumped from the car apparently brandishing a weapon after it later collided with another vehicle on the A40 in North Acton.
"Firearms officers were called to the scene along with the National Police Air Service and an area search was conducted," said a police spokesman.
No arrests have been made and no one, including the man in his 50s in the other car, was reported injured.
UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters 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
Detectives from the Trident and Area Crime Command are investigating and enquiries are ongoing after the incident at 8.45am on Thursday 29 December.
The Met Police refused to say why or how they lost track of the suspect.
Police are appealing for witnesses to call Crimestoppers on 020 7230 2171.
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Margaret Thatcher was threatened with a fine for failing to register for the poll tax, despite making it her flagship local government reform. The Prime Minister was warned she would be in breach of the law unless she completed her registration form on time. The embarrassing oversight due in part to a bureaucratic wrangle between the Cabinet Office and Westminster City Council was quickly rectified, but it marked an inauspicious start for a measure widely regarded as the biggest policy blunder of her 11 years in power one which finally cost her the premiership.
In early 1989, as the political storm was gathering strength, Westminster City Council like other authorities around the country began issuing registration forms in preparation for the launch of the tax in England and Wales the following year. One form covering the various residencies in and around Downing Street including Number 10, which Thatcher and her husband Denis had nominated as their main home was sent to the Treasury.
But the Cabinet Office complained that it was most inappropriate to issue a single form asking a number of essentially personal questions on behalf of individual occupants. Individual forms were then despatched, but when there were still no details forthcoming, the council registration officer, David J Hopkins, warned he would be forced to act. In a letter dated 22 May 1989, he said: My records show that the Community Charge Registration form recently sent to you has not been returned. I wish to advise that you are required by law to supply the relevant information within 21 days of this request and failure to do so may lead to a penalty being imposed.
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The letter was addressed to the Resident/Owner at Rooms First Floor, 10 Downing Street, London, W1 9MN. Officials quickly arranged for the Prime Minister to complete the form, only to discover the council had sent the wrong one and she had to do it all again. Thatcher responded cheerfully enough, noting her first effort had been a good practice run. She could not, however, dismiss the wider political crisis so easily.
The poll tax or Community Charge, as it was officially known was brought in to replace the old system of rates, based on property values, with a flat-rate levy on all local residents. Thatcher had hoped it would encourage voters to kick out high-spending Labour councils by making them financially more accountable to the electorate.
UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters 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
But as it became apparent that residents across the country including in many traditional Tory areas were facing huge increases in their bills as a result of the changes there was a furious political backlash, with a wave of protests. National Archive files show Thatcher appeared bewildered by the reaction. In March 1990 she told Chancellor John Major that she had always assumed the public would blame councils for any rises. But in recent weeks that has not happened, she lamented. Rather the general public blamed the high levels of Community Charge on the Government because of their responsibility for introducing the new system.
She acknowledged that with those on low incomes protected through various safety net measures, it was the conscientious middle traditionally her strongest supporters who were being hit hardest. Despite ordering a rapid review of possible changes for the following year, the political damage had been done. On 31 March 1990 days before the tax was due to come into effect a mass march through central London resulted in some of the worst rioting in the capital for decades. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Peter Imbert told the Prime Minister some of his officers came close to being murdered. It was Thatcher, however, who was fatally damaged politically and by the end of the year she was out of office.
Press Association
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Theresa May has distanced herself from outgoing US president Barack Obama's hardline stance on Israel.
In comments which appeared more in tune with the outlook being taken by president-elect Donald Trump, the Prime Minister said it was wrong to focus on single issues like settlement building. Instead the wider peace process should be the aim.
After US secretary of state John Kerry branded the Israeli government as the "most right wing in history", Downing Street said it was "not appropriate" to attack the composition of the administration of prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The comments came after Mr Kerry accused the Israeli government of undermining attempts at a two state solution to the conflict with the Palestinians by continuing to build settlements in the West Bank.
The US took the unusual step of abstaining in a United Nations Security Council vote condemning Israeli settlement building in the occupied territories.
While the UK said it opposed such developments in the occupied territories, Number 10 made clear a more broadly-ranged approach was needed to encourage peace.
"The British Government continues to believe that the only way to a lasting peace in the Middle East is through a two-state solution. We continue to believe that the construction of settlements in the Occupied Palestinian Territories is illegal, which is why we supported UN Security Council Resolution 2334 last week," a spokesman for the Prime Minister said.
The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child
"But we are also clear that the settlements are far from the only problem in this conflict. In particular, the people of Israel deserve to live free from the threat of terrorism, with which they have had to cope for too long.
"We do not, therefore, believe that the way to negotiate peace is by focusing on only one issue, in this case the construction of settlements, when clearly the conflict between the Israelis and Palestinians is so deeply complex.
"And we do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically-elected government of an ally. The Government believes that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the international community."
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Jeremy Corbyn has said he understands some of the concerns behind the vote for Brexit in his official message for 2017.
In a video the Labour leader said the past year will be defined in history by the decision to leave the European Union and said it was not good enough for the Government to bring forward a deal that just protects the bankers in the City.
Mr Corbyn added: People didnt trust politicians and they didnt trust the EU.
And it is clear that in the coming months the Labour leaders team will attempt to capitalise on his outsider status with a populist pitch. The Labour leader added: I understand that, Ive spent over 40 years in politics campaigning for a better way of doing things. Standing up for people, taking on the establishment and opposing decisions that would make us worse off.
But in the year ahead Mr Corbyn will be well aware that the party needs to close the wide gap in the polls with Theresa Mays Conservatives. Since the summer Labour has been languishing in the polls, reaching near historic lows. Rarely have the Tories been fewer than 10 points ahead of their closest rivals in Westminster in this period.
Reflecting on 2016 in a video filmed against the skyline of the London Eye, the Labour leader also reiterated his party will not attempt to block the result of the referendum. He said: Labour accepts and respects the result of the referendum. We wont be blocking our leaving the European Union, but we wont stand by.
Those in charge today have put the jobs market, housing, the NHS and social care in crisis. We cant let them mess this up. Its about everyones future.
A Brexit that protects the bankers in the City and continues to give corporate handouts to the biggest companies is not good enough.
Mr Corbyn, who told The Independent last week his party would be ready for a general election if Theresa May called one, also used his 2017 message to attack the Government over its record on the NHS, social care and homelessness, which has risen sharply in recent years.
A Brexit that protects the bankers in the City and continues to give corporate handouts to the biggest companies is not good enough Jeremy Corbyn
He said the political system is letting down the people of this country and that decisions made in Westminster are making peoples lives harder.
He added: Whether thats elderly people not receiving the care at home they deserve, putting huge strain on them and their family, or whether its the people waiting longer in A&E or on trolleys because our National Health Service and social care system is at breaking point, despite the best efforts of the wonderful and dedicated staff.
Whether its the homeless families who are being priced out of a housing market that only works for the few. This Christmas, 120,000 children didnt have a home to call their own. Thats scandalous.
He said many Britons are struggling with the twin burdens of insecure housing and insecure work. Millions of people cant plan their lives because, whether on temporary or zero-hours contracts, they dont know what job or what hours theyll have from day to day, week to week or month to month, he said.
For many, pay is so low that it doesnt make ends meet.
Mr Corbyn added that Labour was founded to stand up for people and created institutions such as the NHS which improve the daily lives of millions of people.
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Secret plans to sabotage cocaine production abroad by introducing plant-destroying pests were discussed as the Government waged war on drugs, newly released official files reveal.
Margaret Thatcher described the idea, which was proposed by Lord Victor Rothschild in July 1989, as a characteristically brilliant and intriguing way of tackling the growing crack problem.
Lord Rothschild suggested using covert tactics and aerial sprays to introduce a bug which would attack the source of cocaine, Cabinet papers released by the National Archives at Kew, west London, show.
Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Show all 3 1 /3 Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Baroness Margaret Thatcher at Lord Mayor's Banquet, Guildhall, London, Britain, 1988 Rex Shutterstock Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Baroness Margaret Thatcher at the funeral of Denis Thatcher, 3 July 2003 Rex Shutterstock Margaret Thatcher outfits shown at the V&A museum - in pictures Margaret Thatcher Prime Minister With Husband Denis Thatcher Cast Their General Election Votes At Castle Lane South West London 1987. Steve Back/ANL/REX/Shutterstock
Supposing it is possible that such a pest exists or that it is possible to make one, the question arises as to how to introduce it into the relevant parts of the various countries involved, he wrote in a letter addressed to Thatcher.
One might think of aerial sprays, with or without the connivance of the government concerned; and various other methods of introduction, covert as well as overt.
A note from No 10, which was attached to the letter, stated: I am making discrete inquiries about this through the chief scientific adviser John Fairclough. In the meantime you may wish to note Lord Rothschilds suggestion."
Thatcher wrote very interesting on the internal memo and vowed to consider the proposal in her response to Lord Rothschild in August.
Thank you for your most intriguing idea for tackling the cocaine and crack problem set out in your letter of 26 July: it is characteristically brilliant, she said in the letter.
I shall look into this and will come back to you when I have more information about whether it is possible.
UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 3 November 2022 A villager cooks roti bread at the site of the annual Camel Fair in Pushkar, in India's desert state of Rajasthan AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 2 November 2022 A red squirrel gathers nuts in Pitlochry, Scotland Reuters 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
Papers show the Government took further steps to advance the plans and asked Mr Fairclough to investigate.
But biologist Dr Ashley Morton, who contacted the Prime Minister with a proposal to use an indigenous type of moth to control cocaine production in Peru, was told in September: The Governments position is that only the Peruvian government can decide to use biological control in Peru.
The Governments alarm at the arrival of crack cocaine to the streets of Britain is laid bare in other newly-released papers, with several officials associating the drug with the black community.
Home Secretary Douglas Hurd proposed launching a two-pronged drug campaign and recruiting community figures to assist efforts among the African-Caribbean population, according to a Number 10 memo in July 1989.
However, Carolyn Sinclair, of the Governments policy unit, said the plans would need delicately handling in her comments to the Prime Minister.
Afro-Caribbeans rarely take hard drugs such as heroin, but regard cannabis as part of life. It is given to babies, she wrote.
The fact that cannabis is illegal is widely regarded as unjust. Most Afro-Caribbeans do not think that they, as a group, have a drug problem.
But there are good reasons to fearing that crack will get a hold on Afro-Caribbeans in a way that other hard drugs have not.
She added: The police and other statutory authorities all say that it is hard to get messages across to Afro-Caribbeans.
Douglas Hurds proposed use of informal channels may be the only way. It should be tried.
Press Association
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Almost two decades after she ended free school milk Margaret Thatcher still recoiled at memory of the political storm she unleashed, newly released government files reveal.
As Education Secretary in Edward Heaths government her decision in 1971 to stop the provision of milk for junior school pupils prompted the playground taunt Thatcher, Thatcher, milk snatcher.
Files released by the National Archives show that 19 years later, Thatcher by then Prime Minister was horrified when Health Secretary Ken Clarke proposed finally ending free milk for nursery schoolchildren as well.
No this will cause a terrible row all for 4m. I know I went through it 19 years ago, she scrawled in a handwritten note.
Health has enough to do to get the white paper and community proposals through. Any scheme for saving 400m or more I will look at. But not 4m.
Thatcher was also appalled when, six years after the Falklands War, Foreign Secretary Sir Geoffrey Howe suggested he should make a courtesy call on the Argentinian foreign minister, who had just been elected President of the United Nations General Assembly.
I utterly recoil from this, and so I think would the relatives of all those who lost their lives in the Falklands. Argentina has not announced a cessation of hostilities, she wrote.
Her foreign policy adviser Charles Powell added: I must say this rather sticks in my gullet. I dont see why we have to offer to call on representatives of a country which is still technically at war with us. But perhaps I am old-fashioned.
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A body found in a charred car in Rio de Janeiro is thought to be that of Kyriakos Amiridis, Greece's ambassador to Brazil.
Mr Amiridis, 59, went missing on Wednesday following a party with his wife's friends, it was reported.
Brazilian TV channel Globo showed images of a burned-out white car in the Nova Iguacu neighbourhood and reported that the licence plates matched those of Mr Amiridis' rental vehicle.
A Rio state police official told Reuters the ambassador's wife reported him as missing on Wednesday.
Police inspector Evaristo Pontes previously told the Folha de S.Paulo newspaper he did not think Mr Amiridis was kidnapped.
He said: "If it had been (a kidnapping), those who took him would have made contact by now."
The body has been taken to the Legal Medical Institute of Nova Iguacu, Globo said. Police reportedly suspect it is that of Mr Amiridis.
Mr Amiridis was Greek ambassador to Libya from 2012 until this year, when he took up the post in Brazil.
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The US has issued what is believed to be its first ever intersex birth certificate,
Sara Kelly Keenan, 55, was born with male genes, female genitalia and mixed internal reproductive organs.
But an elaborate lie between the New York orphanage where she was placed in as a baby, her doctors and her adopted parents meant the truth was hidden from her for forty years.
But after the city issued her with a new birth certificate, she is understood to be the first US citizen to be designated as intersex on the document, instead of male or female.
She told The Independent: There is nothing about being intersex that needs to be hidden or to be ashamed of. I wanted to change it so that children in the future will have a different experience than I had.
And part of that is bringing intersex out of the shameful shadows speaking about it as just another way that humans are made.
As an abandoned hermaphrodite baby, a lot of people made decisions for me, including my sex and my name without my consent or input.
"It was very empowering for me to return to the scene of the crime.
Although it is difficult to accurately measure, since intersex conditions are not always accurately diagnosed, some experts estimate that as many as one in every 1,500 babies are born with genitals that cannot be classified as male or female.
Despite being lied to about her gender identity for most of her life Ms Keenan, who now lives in California said she always knew I wasnt a normal female.
She had grown to over six feet tall by the time she was 13. From 16, knew she would not ever be able to have children and that she would need to take hormones for the rest of her life to prevent her bones from becoming brittle.
Ive always felt like I was intergender, even before I knew about it, she said.
Ms Keenan says she always knew she wasn't a 'normal girl' (Sara Kelly Keenan)
Around seven years ago, just before her father died, she asked him about it.
He told me that he had found out about it when I was a teenager," she said. "The decision was made not to give me all the information because they thought it would confuse me in life.
They were doing what they thought was the right thing to do. And we know now that its not the right thing to do.
"It results in lifelong depression, suicides, the feeling of not belonging anywhere, ever."
Famous and gender fluid Show all 12 1 /12 Famous and gender fluid Famous and gender fluid Miley Cyrus "I didnt want to be a boy. I kind of wanted to be nothing. I dont relate to what people would say defines a girl or a boy, and I think thats what I had to understand: Being a girl isnt what I hate, its the box that I get put into" Getty Images Famous and gender fluid Tilda Swinton Actress REUTERS/Vincent Kessler Famous and gender fluid Andreja Pejic Transgender model Getty Famous and gender fluid Elly Jackson La Roux singer Getty Images Famous and gender fluid Milla Jovovich Model and actress Getty Famous and gender fluid Jaden Smith All black is pretty much my go-to look. If somebody is just wearing something for the blogs, that's really sad because they're not living for themselves, versus someone wearing a kimono who's having an awesome time. I really look to see, do you care more about what other people think, or are you having fun? Getty Famous and gender fluid Casey Legler Former Olympic swimmer, now models exclusively for menswear designers Getty Famous and gender fluid Jared Leto Actor and musician Famous and gender fluid Glenn Close Actress Reuters/Mario Anzuoni Famous and gender fluid Grace Jones Actress, singer, and model Rec Features Famous and gender fluid Annie Lennox Singer Famous and gender fluid Boy George Musician Getty Images
There are few studies of the mental health of intersex people, but one Australian survey has shown that almost two thirds thought about killing themselves and one in five had attempted to do so.
When Ms Keenan found out, she said "it made me feel angry, naive, like I was played for a fool."
She added: "It made me feel like the people with authority believed there was something wrong with me that needed to be hidden from the world, and me.
Recommended Trans people allowed to change passport gender without medical letter
I really wanted the intersex designation on my birth certificate to say: its okay to be intersex," Ms Keenan said. "Its just another way people come."
And she hopes her birth certificate paves the way for New York City to acknowledge "non-binary" as a designation on official documents.
This will make it possible for trans people not just those with mixed gender anatomies to be recognised.
"Right now the city of New York is acknowledging this as a medical reality, not as a gender reality," she said. "And the next step will be to encourage them to broaden their definition".
She added the current medical definition is leaving many non-binary people in a "limbo of suffering".
"Now New York have opened the door in acknowledging that gender is not strictly binary," she said. "They are not going to be able to close it again."
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A high school student posed as an FBI agent to pressure a prostitute into performing sex acts on him for free, police have said.
Anthony Harris, 18, was arrested after the woman he thought he was talking to online turned out to be a team of vice squad officers from the Tulsa Police Department in Oklahoma.
The student allegedly said he was an FBI agent recently assigned to the Tulsa area, and told someone he thought was a female prostitute that "if you dont want to go to jail, we will have to do some negotiating," Kfor.com reported.
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Officers told Harris, of Collinsville, Oklahoma, a prostitute would meet him at a local hotel, where they arrested him in the car park.
Police records show he has since been charged with false impersonation of an officer, soliciting prostitution and possessing drug paraphernalia.
He is due to appear in court on 4 January.
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President-elect Donald Trump seemed to dismiss the White House announcement of sanctions against Russia by saying that Americans should get on with their lives.
On Thursday, the Obama administration announced public and secret measures against Moscow for alleged meddling in Novembers presidential election. US intelligence agencies have accused Russia of hacking the Democratic Partys email servers to help Trump win the presidency.
"It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things," Mr Trump said in a statement Thursday. "Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation."
President Trump protests Show all 20 1 /20 President Trump protests President Trump protests Patrons hold a sign as people march by while protesting the election of Republican Donald Trump as the president of the United States in downtown Los Angeles, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators rally following the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators march following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests Thousands of protesters rallied across the United States expressing shock and anger over Donald Trump's election, vowing to oppose divisive views they say helped the Republican billionaire win the presidency AFP/Getty Images President Trump protests Demonstrators protest outside the Chicago Theatre in Chicago, Illinois Getty President Trump protests A police officer aims a launcher after demonstrators threw projectiles toward a line of officers during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests An officer examines a vandalized police vehicle as demonstrators riot in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators take over the Hollywood 101 Freeway just north of Los Angeles City Hall in protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests A woman holds up a sign reading 'Trump you are an Idiot' as demonstrators gather during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump outside the City Hall building in Los Angeles, California EPA President Trump protests A masked demonstrator gestures toward a police line during a demonstration in Oakland, California Reuters President Trump protests Demonstrators protest against the election of Republican Donald Trump as President of the United States, near the Trump International Hotel & Tower in Las Vegas, Nevada Reuters President Trump protests Musician Lagy Gaga stages a protest against Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump on a sanitation truck outside Trump Tower in New York City Getty President Trump protests A woman yells as she takes part in a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A man dressed in red-white-and-blue sits on the curb during a protest against President-elect Donald Trump in Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests A protester sets off fireworks during a protest against President-elect Donald Trumpin Seattle's Capitol Hill neighborhood AP President Trump protests University of California, Davis students protest on campus in Davis, California, U.S. following the election of Donald Trump as President of the United States Reuters President Trump protests An Oakland police officer checks out damage after a window was broken by protesters at a car dealership in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests A protester faces a police line in downtown Oakland, Calif AP President Trump protests President-elect Donald Trumpis victory set off multiple protests AP President Trump protests A fire burns during protests in Oakland, Calif AP
Over the course of his campaign, Mr Trump has promised better relations with Russian President Vladimir Putin while dismissing the US intelligence agencies who concluded that Russia hacked the DNC twice in the past two years. On Wednesday, he told reporters that Americans out to get on with our lives rather than speculate over the impact Russia had on this years election.
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A senior Canadian detective who was honoured for his work combating sexual exploitation, has been arrested and accused of the very same crime.
Detective James Fisher was arrested this week and charged with three counts of sexual exploitation, along with sexual assault, breach of trust and attempting to obstruct justice.
Mr Fisher was a member of the Vancouver Police Departments counter exploitation team, which investigates prostitution and criminal exploitation.
Mr Fisher received a citation for his work (Province of British Columbia)
In 2015, he received a citation for extraordinary dedication for his work in the unit, according to the Canada Press.
This week, Vancouver Police Chief Constable Adam Palmer told a press conference that the developments were very troubling news.
It was necessary to keep him on active duty while the investigation unfolded while we gathered evidence, he said. And we had safety plans in place to make sure nobody was in any danger whatsoever.
He said that one of the cases that police were looking into involved a juvenile while another involved an adult. He said that Mr Fisher had been suspended. It is not clear whether he has yet had a chance to enter a plea.
Police say he was released on bail with conditions Thursday morning and is set to appear in court again in January, though reporting restrictions mean details of the bail conditions have not been revealed.
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Chinese customs officials have seized almost three tonnes of pangolin scales being smuggled through Shanghai.
Three people were arrested after the huge 2.9-tonne shipment, said to be the largest quantity ever impounded, was uncovered in a container that was supposed to be carrying timber from Africa.
Xinhua news agency reported that such a quantity of scales meant that between 5,000 and 7,500 of the critically endangered animals had been killed by traffickers.
The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Show all 10 1 /10 The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The alley cat, Nayan Khanolkar, INDIA Winner, Urban At night, in the Aarey Milk Colony in a suburb of Mumbai bordering Sanjay Gandhi National Park, leopards slip ghost-like through the maze of alleys, looking for food (especially stray dogs). The Warli people living in the area respect the big cats. Positioning his flashes to mimic the alleys usual lighting and his camera so that a passing cat would not dominate the frame, he finally after four months got the shot he wanted. With a fleeting look of enquiry in the direction of the camera click, a leopard went about its business alongside peoples homes. Nayan hopes that those living in Mumbais new high-rise developments now impinging on the park will learn from the Warli how to coexist with the original inhabitants of the land. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Star player, Luis Javier Sandoval, MEXICO Winner, Impressions As soon as Luis slipped into the water, the curious young California sea lions came over for a better look. He had arrived the night before at the island of Espiritu Santo in the Gulf of California, sleeping aboard his boat so that he would be ready to dive at sunrise. He had in mind a picture that needed warm light, a slow shutter speed and friendly subjects. One of the pups dived down, swimming gracefully with its strong fore-flippers (sea lions are also remarkably agile on land, since they can control each of their hind flippers independently). It grabbed a starfish from the bottom and started throwing it to Luis. Angling his camera up towards the dawn light just as the pup offered him the starfish and another youngster slipped by close to the rocks he created his artistic impression of the sea lions playful nature. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The sand canvas, Rudi Sebastian, GERMANY Winner, Details The pristine white sand of Brazils Lencois Maranhenses National Park offers a blank canvas to the rain. In the dry season, sand from the coast is blown by powerful Atlantic winds as far as 50 kilometres (30 miles) inland, sculpting a vast expanse of crescent-shaped dunes up to 40 metres (130 feet) high. With the onset of the rains, the magic begins. An impermeable layer beneath the sand allows water to collect in the dune valleys, forming thousands of transient lagoons, some more than 90 metres (295 feet) long. Bacteria and algae tint the clear water in countless shades of green and blue, while streams carrying sediment from the distant rainforest make their mark with browns and blacks. Patterns appear as the water evaporates, leaving behind organic remains. Shooting almost vertically down from a small aircraft with the door removed, avoiding perspective or scale, he created his striking image. A few weeks later, the scene had evaporated. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Snapper party, Tony Wu, USA Winner, Underwater For several days each month (in tandem with the full moon), thousands of twospot red snappers gather to spawn around Palau in the western Pacific Ocean. On this occasion, with perfect anticipation, he managed to capture a dynamic arc of spawning fish amid clouds of eggs in the oblique morning light. Still obsessed by the dynamics and magnitude of this natural wonder, he will be returning to Palau next April to witness once again the spectacular snapper party. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Eviction attempt, Ganesh H Shankar, INDIA Winner, Birds These Indian rose-ringed parakeets were not happy. They had returned to their roosting and nesting hole high up in a tree in Indias Keoladeo National Park (also known as Bharatpur Bird Sanctuary) to find that a Bengal monitor lizard had taken up residence. They would then harass it when it tried to come out to bask. This went on for two days. But the action only lasted a couple of seconds at a time and was fast-moving. These Indian birds are highly adaptable, and escaped captive parakeets have founded populations in many countries. In Europe, where they are known as ring-necked parakeets, they are accused of competing for nest holes with some native species, such as nuthatches, and even bats, but in turn, other birds such as starlings are quite capable of evicting the parakeets from their nest holes. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The moon and the crow, Gideon Knight, UK Winner, Young Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 A crow in a tree in a park: a common enough scene. It was one that Gideon had seen many times near his home in Londons Valentines Park, which he visits regularly to take photographs. Positioning himself on a slope opposite, he tried to capture the perfect composition. But the crow kept moving along the branch and turning its head away, and so getting a silhouette of it with the moon in the frame meant Gideon had to keep moving, too. Then, just as the light was about to fade beyond the point that photography was possible, his wish came true, and an ordinary London scene turned into something magical. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Requiem for an owl, Mats Andersson, SWEDEN Winner, Black and White Every day in early spring, Mats walked in the forest near his home in Bashult, southern Sweden, enjoying the company of a pair of Eurasian pygmy owls until the night he found one of them lying dead on the forest floor. Pygmy owls, with their distinctive rounded heads and lack of ear tufts, are the smallest owls in Europe, barely 19 centimetres (7 inches) long, though with large feet that enable them to carry prey almost as big as themselves. He found this owl dead, too, and suspects that it and its mate may have been killed by one of the larger owls in the forest, not for food but because, in the breeding season, it didnt tolerate other birds of prey in its territory. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 The pangolin pit, Paul Hilton, UK/AUSTRALIA Winner, The Wildlife Photojournalist Award: Single image Nothing prepared Paul for what he saw: some 4,000 defrosting pangolins (5 tons) from one of the largest seizures of the animals on record. These Asian victims, mostly Sunda pangolins, were part of a huge seizure a joint operation between Indonesias police and the World Conservation Society found hidden in a shipping container behind a facade of frozen fish, ready for export from the major port of Belawan in Sumatra. The dead pangolins were driven to a specially dug pit and then incinerated. The live ones were taken north and released in the rainforest. Wildlife crime is big business, says Paul. It will stop only when the demand stops. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Wind composition, Valter Binotto, ITALY Winner, Plants and Fungi With every gust of wind, showers of pollen were released, lit up by the winter sunshine. The hazel tree was near Valters home in northern Italy, and to create the dark background, he positioned himself to backlight the flowers. Hazel has both male and female flowers on the same tree, though the pollen must be transferred between trees for fertilization. And now recent research suggests that bees may also play a role. The catkins are an important source of pollen for early bees and have a beefriendly structure, while the red colour of the female flowers may entice insects to land on them. The hardest part was capturing the female flowers motionless while the catkins were moving, explains Valter. I searched for flowers on a short branch that was more stable. Using a long exposure to capture the pollens flight and a reflector to highlight the catkins, he took many pictures before the wind finally delivered the composition he had in mind. The 10 winners of Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 Entwined lives, Tim Laman, USA Winner, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2016 A young male orangutan makes the 30-metre (100-foot) climb up the thickest root of the strangler fig that has entwined itself around a tree emerging high above the canopy. The backdrop is the rich rainforest of the Gunung Palung National Park, in West Kalimantan, one of the few protected orangutan strongholds in Indonesian Borneo. He had to do three days of climbing up and down himself, by rope, to place in position several GoPro cameras that he could trigger remotely to give him a chance of not only a wide angle view of the forest below but also a view of the orangutans face from above. This shot was the one he had long visualized, looking down on the orangutan within its forest home.
The enigmatic and highly intelligent pangolin is considered a delicacy in parts of Asia. Its scales are also used in traditional Chinese medicine because practitioners believe they can treat conditions like inward-growing eyelashes, boils and poor circulation.
But experts have denounced the "intolerable" trade for its "pharmaceutical pointlessness".
Also known as scaly anteaters because of their appearance, long tongues and favourite snacks, pangolins are mammals that inhabit tropical forests, dry woodlands and the savannah.
There are eight species still in existence found in India, China, south-east Asia and parts of Africa.
Pangolins are so unique they have a mammal order to themselves, Pholidota. Despite frequent comparisons to anteaters and armadillos, they have nothing taxonomically in common.
About the size of a small cat, they are completely covered with scales made of keratin, also found in human nails.
Pangolin are the world's most-trafficked animals. People who catch, kill, buy or sell them can face more than 10 years in prison plus fines, Xinhua said.
Demand has seen prices rocket from 8.50 for a kilogramme of scales in the 1990s to more than 360 today.
The increasingly lucrative trade is driving poachers to capitalise by snaring the creatures in forests and sometimes feeding them gravel to increase their weight and value.
The Smithsonian Institution magazine named believers in traditional Chinese medicine as the driving force behind trade in rhino horn, tiger bone, turtles, shark fins and bear bile.
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A Chinese activist has said he did attempt suicide as authorities claimed and instead was beaten at a detention centre.
Xing Wangli woke up from a coma after his skull was smashed at a detention centre in August.
The detention centre, in Xi county, Henan province, said Mr Xing had attempted to hang himself with a rope made of cardboard. They said he hit his head when another prisoner rescued him.
However, Mr Xing's wife told Radio Free Asia he fell unconscious after he was beaten at the detention centre, the Hong Kong Free Press reports.
China wants to rate its citizens
They said he tried to commit suicide by hanging its impossible", she said. "He said he was beaten."
Mr Xing underwent surgery to repair his skull last Monday, then was taken back to a detention centre in Xi county on the same day, his son, who fled to Thailand after his father's arrest, said.
He was detained in May, 2015, after he called attention to the suspicious death of an activist.
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. 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Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty
He was sentenced to four and a half years for "picking quarrels and provoking trouble" in August and allegedly attempted to kill himself the next day.
But his family rejected police statements at the time and said their request to see surveillance footage was denied.
After they spoke to the media about Mr Xing's condition, his wife, mother and brother were reportedly put under surveillance.
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At least 10 people have died and more are feared trapped after a coal mine partially collapsed in eastern India.
Part of the open cast coal mine in Jharkhand state fell in late on Thursday but heavy smog prevented rescue workers from entering the facility until early on Friday morning.
Estimates varied on the number of people still buried under the dirt. Officials said 13 people were missing but other reports indicated that as many as 50 people could be trapped.
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Photographs from the scene also showed industrial vehicles overturned and buried.
Five teams of emergency workers from the National Disaster Response Force were dispatched to the site to help with the rescue effort.
According to local media, a slag heap collapsed and blocked the mines entrance.
Miners, thought to be mostly from the neighbouring Bihar state, were working more than 60 metres underground, the Times of India reported.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside.
World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty
He added that local officials were working to restore normalcy and that he had been in contact with the Chief Minister of Jharkhand, Raghubar Das, about the incident.
Mr Das announced on social media that the injured and familes of the deceased would receive compensation. He added: God give strength to the families of the dead to endure the suffering.
He visited the site and said those responsible for the disaster would be punished.
The coal mine is owned by the state government but is leased to a private contractor.
Jharkhand is one of India's poorest states but is rich in mineral resources. It has the third-highest coal deposits of India's 29 states and the country's highest deposits of iron ore.
Mining and related industries are the state's economic backbone.
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More than a dozen Nobel laureates have criticised Burmas de facto leader and fellow peace prize winner Aung San Suu Kyi for not doing enough to curb the ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity against minority Rohingya Muslims in the country.
An open letter to the UN Security Council, signed by 23 peace laureates, leaders and activists, warns the offensive has killed hundreds of Rohingya people and condemns Burmese State Counsellor Ms Suu Kyi for not taking any initiative to ensure full and equal citizenship rights of the Rohingyas.
It cautions that the situation has hallmarks of recent past tragedies - Rwanda, Darfur, Bosnia, Kosovo.
The letter, of which the signatories include Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Malala Yousafzai, was delivered as Bangladesh announced around 50,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled the violence across its border.
Access for humanitarian aid organisations has been almost completely denied, creating an appalling humanitarian crisis in an area already extremely poor," it states.
Thousands have fled to neighbouring Bangladesh, only to be sent back. Some international experts have warned of the potential for genocide. It has all the hallmarks of recent past tragedies - Rwanda, Darfur, Bosnia, Kosovo.
It quotes one Rohingya woman describing how her sons were arbitrarily arrested, recalling how they had their hands tied behind their backs and were beaten badly for around 30 minutes, before adding that she had not seen them since.
It condemns Ms Suu Kyi, who was awarded the 1991 Nobel peace prize and won Burmese elections to become State Counsellor last November, for not taking action to ensure Rohingyas equal rights.
Despite repeated appeals to Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, we are frustrated that she has not taken any initiative to ensure full and equal citizenship rights of the Rohingyas, it states.
Daw Suu Kyi is the leader and is the one with the primary responsibility to lead, and lead with courage, humanity and compassion.
In November, Ms Suu Kyi refused to address accusations Rohingya Muslims in her country may be the victims of crimes against humanity, and while she vowed to work towards peace and national reconciliation, she gave no specific details on how her government intends to resolve the violence faced by the long-persecuted Muslim minority.
The letter goes on to urge the UN to do more to allow for aid to get into the country, as well as journalists and human rights observers. We urge the United Nations to do everything possible to encourage the government of Myanmar to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid, so that people receive emergency assistance, it states.
Access for journalists and human rights monitors should also be permitted, and an independent, international inquiry to establish the truth about the current situation should be established.
World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty
The letter urges for the members of UN Security Council to put this crisis on the Security Councils agenda as a matter of urgency and to call on the Secretary-General to visit Burma as a priority.
It is time for the international community as a whole to speak out much more strongly. After Rwanda, world leaders said never again, it concludes.
If we fail to take action, people may starve to death if they are not killed with bullets, and we may end up being the passive observers of crimes against humanity which will lead us once again to wring our hands belatedly and say never again all over again.
Other signatories include former prime minister of Italy Romano Prodi and British business leader Sir Richard Branson, as well as Nobel peace laureates Jose Ramos-Horta, the former president of East Timor and Yemeni opposition activist Tawakkol Karman.
It comes several weeks after Amnesty International said it has documented the militarys vicious and disproportionate security campaign in northern Rakhine state over the past two months, reporting that Burmese security forces have killed, raped and burned down the houses of entire villages.
The rights group accused Ms Suu Kyi, of failing to live up to both her political and moral responsibility an accusation that was met with blanket denials of human rights violations from Burmese authorities.
The Rohingya are a minority of about a million people who, despite having lived in the country for generations, are treated as illegal immigrants and denied citizenship, and are consequently some of the most oppressed people in the world.
Since communal violence broke out in 2012, more than 120,000 Rohingya have been driven from their homes and crammed into squalid camps guarded by police, where they are denied healthcare and education, and their movements are heavily restricted.
The recent bloodshed is the most deadly since hundreds were killed in clashes in 2012 and more than 100,000 were forced into squalid camps.
On Tuesday it was reported that the body of a decapitated Rohingya Muslim man was found in a river in in Burma just days after he spoke to journalists a discovery that renewed international criticism that Ms Suu Kyi has done too little to help the Rohingya.
In 1982, Rohingyas rights to citizenship were removed, and they were rendered stateless, despite living in the country for generations.
Their plight intensified dramatically with the severe outbreaks of violence in 2012, which resulted in the displacement of hundreds of thousands and a new apartheid between Rohingya Muslims and their Rakhine Buddhist neighbours.
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Hundreds of mourners have gathered to attend the funeral of a Polish lorry driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack.
Lukasz Urban, 37, has been described as the first victim of the attack on December 19 that killed a total of 12 people and injured at least 50.
He was waiting to deliver a shipment of steel in Berlin when his vehicle was hijacked by 24-year-old Tunisian national Anis Amri.
Recommended Man arrested in connection with the Berlin lorry attack
Mr Urban was shot and his body was found in the cab of the lorry.
There was initial speculation that Mr Urban had fought Amri seconds before his vehicle drove into the crowd, but this has since been disproved following a postmortem examination confirming the Polish driver had been shot several hours before.
Polish President Andrzej Duda joined Mr Urban's family, friends and neighbours, gathering with them in the village church in Banie, near the Polish-German border.
The wife of Lukasz Urban, the Polish lorry driver who was killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack, during his funeral in Banie, Poland, on 30 December (AFP/Getty Images)
A day earlier, the president's spokesman said Mr Duda would attend the funeral to express his huge respect for Lukasz Urban, who in the eyes of many Poles is definitely a hero, a courageous person.
Several other Polish political officials and a representative of the German Embassy in Poland were also in attendance.
A letter from Prime Minister Beata Szydlo was read out in which she described her great pain and sadness and expressed her sympathy to Mr Urban's family.
Berlin's Muslim community sends message of peace and solidarity after Christmas market attack
Poles have fallen victim to terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic fundamentalists but the tragedy that happened in Berlin is unique when it comes to the ruthlessness and cruelty of the perpetrator, Ms Szydlo said.
A donation page set up for the family of Mr Urban by a British lorry driver raised some 45,000 in its first day and has since surpassed 178,000.
At Mr Urbans funeral service, bishop Henryk Wejman described him as a man who was conscientious in his work.
His willingness to work and serve others awakened the trust of other people and openness to others, he said in his homily.
As the Mass was winding down, the president bowed his head before Mr Urban's coffin before approaching his wife and teenage son, whispering to them, shaking their hands and kissing the wife's hand.
The coffin was then carried out of the church and placed in a hearse, which drove slowly through the village to a cemetery for burial, mourners walking with it.
Before and after the burial, a group of lorry drivers honked the horns of their trucks to honour Mr Urban.
Additional reporting by AP
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Russia's foreign minister has called on Vladimir Putin to expel 35 American diplomats in retaliation against new US sanctions over alleged interference in the presidential election.
Sergei Lavrov proposed the President expels 31 staff members from the US Embassy in Moscow and four more from the consulate in St Petersburg.
We, of course, cannot leave these tricks unanswered, he said.Reciprocity is the law of diplomacy and foreign relations.
Barack Obama: US will act on election hacking by Russia
Barack Obama gave 35 Russian intelligence operatives 72 hours to leave the country with their families on Thursday.
The President also announced the closure of two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York and sanctions against Russian intelligence agencies and supporting companies.
Recommended Russia threatens to throw out US diplomats in retaliation
The moves were a response to Russia's alleged interference in the US elections. The Kremlin has denied any involvement in cyber attacks believed to have benefited Donald Trump, with Mr Lavrov calling the allegations groundless" on Friday.
He said the Obama administration was "accusing Russia all mortal sins, trying to blame us for the failure of its foreign policy initiatives".
All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, Mr Obama said, claiming the extent of data theft and cyber attacks uncovered could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government.
In addition to expelling the 35 intelligence operatives, the President announced sanctions against Russias FSB and GRU intelligence agencies, four GRU officers and three companies supporting its cyber operations.
Two other Russians have been blacklisted by the Treasury for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information and the State Department is shutting down two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York.
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Mr Obama said the actions were a response to the Russian governments aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election and followed repeated public and private warnings to the Kremlin.
These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russias aggressive activities, he added.
We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised.
Dmitry Medvedev, the Russian Prime Minister, said Mr Obama was ending his term in the grip of anti-Russia agony.
It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia agony. RIP, he said in a statement.
Mr Putins spokesman accused the outgoing US administration of harming Russian-American ties and dealing a blow on the foreign policy plans of the incoming administration of the President-elect.
There has been speculation that Donald Trump will seek to reverse Mr Obama's executive orders (Sean Gallup/Getty)
Mr Obama imposed the sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russia's alleged hacking of American political sites and email accounts ahead of the November election.
US intelligence agencies believe that Moscow was behind the hacking of Democratic National Committee emails that were then passed to Wikileaks.
Though the FBI and Department of Homeland Security issued a joint report on Russian malicious cyber activity with examples of malware code used by the Russians, it still has not released a broader report promised by the President.
Mr Trump has repeatedly dismissed allegations from the CIA and other intelligence agencies that the Kremlin was behind the cyber attacks and said he would soon be meeting with security officials.
During the election campaign, he vowed to cancel every unconstitutional executive action, memorandum and order issued by President Obama on his first day in office, without saying who would determine their constitutionality.
A senior official admitted the President-elect could reverse the expulsions once he takes office on 20 January and allow the Russian intelligence officials back into the US.
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Moscow immediately threatened to retaliate to Americas announcement that it was expelling 35 Russian diplomats - saying the USs actions were the death throes of political corpses.
In a development that plunged relations between Russia and the US to a level not seen since the Cold War, President Barack Obama on Thursday gave the diplomats 72 hours to leave and said he was sanctioning Russian intelligence officials believed to be involved in hacking the Democratic Party during the election. US intelligence has said it believes the hacking was designed to benefit Donald Trump.
All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, Mr Obama said, claiming the extent of data theft and cyber attacks uncovered could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government.
President Obama vows to take action against alleged Russian hacking of election
In addition to expelling the 35 intelligence operatives, the President announced Russias FSB and GRU intelligence agencies, four GRU officers and three companies supporting its cyber operations.
Recommended Vladimir Putin rejects allegations over US election cyber attacks
Two other Russians have been blacklisted by the Treasury for using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information and the State Department is shutting down two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York.
Mr Obama said the actions were a response to the Russian governments aggressive harassment of US officials and cyber operations aimed at the US election and followed repeated public and private warnings to the Kremlin.
These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russias aggressive activities, he added.
We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicised.
The US leader reportedly told Mr Putin to 'cut it out' when he confronted him about the hacking (AP)
Within minutes of the announcement, Russia indicated that it was likely to reciprocate. President Vladimir Putins spokesman said Moscow regretted the sanctions and was considering retaliatory steps.
Dmitry Peskov told reporters America's move signalled Mr Obama's unpredictable and aggressive foreign policy.
Such steps of the US administration that has three weeks left to work are aimed at two things: to further harm Russian-American ties, which are at a low point as it is, as well as, obviously, deal a blow on the foreign policy plans of the incoming administration of the President-elect, he said.
Konstantin Kosachyov, a chairman of the international affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, condemned the move and suggested there would be a fast response. He said the USs actions were the death throes of political corpses.
He also said that Russia was waiting to see what Mr Trump had to say about the steps of the Obama administration and needed to consider the circumstances of the transition period and a possible reaction of the US President-elect.
Konstantin Dolgov, Russian Foreign Ministry Commissioner for Human rights, told Interfax that Washingtons actions were counterproductive and are intended to cause harm in the future, including the process of restoring bilateral relations.
Meanwhile, the Russian Embassy in London tweeted a picture of duckling, with the caption LAME, writing: President Obama expels 35 Russian diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl the US people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless administration.
Mr Obama on imposed the sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russia's hacking of American political sites and email accounts ahead of the November election. US intelligence believes that Moscow was behind the hacking of Democratic National Committee emails that were then passed to Wikileaks.
At least some intelligence officials believe the hacks were carried out to try and benefit the electoral fortunes of Mr Trump, who has frequently praised the leadership of Mr Putin and vowed to reset the strategic and political relationship between the two countries.
Mr Putins spokesman, Mr Peskov, insisted that Russia was not involved in the hacking. He also said that Mr Putin had yet to study what the new sanctions involve and work out what retaliatory steps could be taken.
We will certainly response adequatelyand it will be determined in line with decisions adopted by the Russian President, he told reporters, calling the sanctions unpredictable and aggressive.
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The Russian embassy has mocked Britain over its silence the Syria ceasefire deal, by suggesting it is either jealous, "on holiday" or in a state of disbelief.
In a poll on Twitter, the embassy asked why there had been no public reaction from the UK to the truce between Russia, Turkey and Iran, which took effect at midnight local time on Thursday.
The poll asks: "No UK reaction to historic Russia-Turkey-Iran brokered all-Syria truce. Why?"
It then gives Twitter users three options for an answer: Jealousy, FCO on holiday or Cant believe.
The poll currently shows jealously as the most popular choice with 50 per cent of the vote, with FCO on holiday in second place with 28 per cent and Cant believe in third with 21 per cent.
The tweet mocking the British government comes a week after the former British Ambassador to Syria accused the Foreign Office of lying over the countrys civil war, and saying British policy there has made the situation worse.
Peter Ford said the Whitehall department led by Boris Johnson and Philip Hammond before him had gotten Syria wrong every step of the way, and was falsely claiming Syrian President ashar al-Assad could not control the country when he is well on the way to doing so.
The new Syria ceasefire agreement between government forces and rebels in the country was brokered by Turkey and Russia on Wednesday, and has so far held since it despite isolated clashes and minor violations.
As well as having the backing of Russia, Syria's chief ally, and Turkey, which has been supporting the rebels, the agreement has also been praised by Iran, another of the Syrian regime's strongest backers.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said that if the ceasefire holds, the truce between the Syrian government and the country's mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks in Kazakhstan next month.
The US has been sidelined in recent negotiations and is not due to attend the next round of peace talks in Kazakhstan, although Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov has said President-elect Donald Trump's administration would be welcome to join the peace process once he takes office.
Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters
Several previous ceasefires in the Syrian civil war have collapsed.
The country's civil war, which began when a peaceful uprising descended into violence in 2011, has resulted in more than 300,000 deaths and displaced half the country's population.
It has also produced more than four million refugees, many of whom have fled fled into Europe, fuelling anti-immigration sentiment and fears over terrorism that are reshaping the continent's political landscape.
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A Saudi man has been jailed for a year after he called for an end to the ultra-conservative Islamic kingdom's male guardianship system.
The unnamed man was also fined 30,000 riyals (6,500) after being convicted of "inciting to end guardianship of women", the daily Okaz newspaper reported.
He was arrested while putting up posters inside mosques which called for the government to abolish strict rules giving men control over women.
The man admitted to pinning up posters in several mosques and said he solely launched an "awareness campaign" after finding some "female relatives were facing injustice at the hands of their families," the daily newspaper said, according to the AFP news agency.
Thousands of people share cartoon showing how ridiculous Saudi laws are for women
Saudi law states that all women must have a male guardian, typically a husband, father or brother, who gives them permission to study, travel abroad or marry.
A Human Rights Watch report on male guardianship, published in July, found "a woman's life is controlled by a man from birth until death" in Saudi Arabia, as their ability to pursue a career or make life decisions is restricted.
Despite limited reforms in 2009 and 2013 to reduce male control over women, which included no longer requiring permission for women to work and making domestic abuse illegal, the report found the system remains largely in place.
10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Show all 10 1 /10 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In October 2014, three lawyers, Dr Abdulrahman al-Subaihi, Bander al-Nogaithan and Abdulrahman al-Rumaih , were sentenced to up to eight years in prison for using Twitter to criticize the Ministry of Justice. AFP/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2015, Yemens Sunni President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi was forced into exile after a Shia-led insurgency. A Saudi Arabia-led coalition has responded with air strikes in order to reinstate Mr Hadi. It has since been accused of committing war crimes in the country. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Women who supported the Women2Drive campaign, launched in 2011 to challenge the ban on women driving vehicles, faced harassment and intimidation by the authorities. The government warned that women drivers would face arrest. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Members of the Kingdoms Shia minority, most of whom live in the oil-rich Eastern Province, continue to face discrimination that limits their access to government services and employment. Activists have received death sentences or long prison terms for their alleged participation in protests in 2011 and 2012. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses All public gatherings are prohibited under an order issued by the Interior Ministry in 2011. Those defy the ban face arrest, prosecution and imprisonment on charges such as inciting people against the authorities. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses In March 2014, the Interior Ministry stated that authorities had deported over 370,000 foreign migrants and that 18,000 others were in detention. Thousands of workers were returned to Somalia and other states where they were at risk of human rights abuses, with large numbers also returned to Yemen, in order to open more jobs to Saudi Arabians. Many migrants reported that prior to their deportation they had been packed into overcrowded makeshift detention facilities where they received little food and water and were abused by guards. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses The Saudi Arabian authorities continue to deny access to independent human rights organisations like Amnesty International, and they have been known to take punitive action, including through the courts, against activists and family members of victims who contact Amnesty. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Raif Badawi was sentenced to 1000 lashes and 10 years in prison for using his liberal blog to criticise Saudi Arabias clerics. He has already received 50 lashes, which have reportedly left him in poor health. Carsten Koall/Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Dawood al-Marhoon was arrested aged 17 for participating in an anti-government protest. After refusing to spy on his fellow protestors, he was tortured and forced to sign a blank document that would later contain his confession. At Dawoods trial, the prosecution requested death by crucifixion while refusing him a lawyer. Getty Images 10 examples of Saudi Arabia's human rights abuses Ali Mohammed al-Nimr was arrested in 2012 aged either 16 or 17 for participating in protests during the Arab spring. His sentence includes beheading and crucifixion. The international community has spoken out against the punishment and has called on Saudi Arabia to stop. He is the nephew of a prominent government dissident. Getty
The report led to a social media campaign, with women across Saudi Arabia calling for an end to the guardianship system.
Others took to Twitter, using the hashtag #TogetherToEndMaleGuardianship and an Arabic translation, to show their support and demand social reform.
The court claimed the defendant had launched the Twitter campaign.
In September, more than 14,500 women signed a petition calling for an end to the system and leading women's rights campaigner Aziza al-Yousef delivered the petition to the royal court.
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Syrian government forces and their allies have clashed with rebels near Damascus, using helicopter gunships in the latest violence to disrupt a nationwide ceasefire that otherwise appears to be holding, monitors said.
The warring sides clashed in a rebel-held valley North-west of Damascus, the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said.
A rebel official also reported clashes in the area, where the Syrian army began an offensive last week to recapture the area which provides most of Damascus's water supplies.
If it holds, the truce between the Syrian government and the country's mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks in Kazakhstan next month, Russian President Vladimir Putin said as he announced the agreement.
He described it, however, as "quite fragile" and requiring "special attention and patience".
Vladimir Putin announces ceasefire agreement in Syria
The truce has the backing of both Russia, Syria's chief ally, and Turkey, which has been supporting the rebels. The agreement has also been praised by Iran, another of the Syrian regime's strongest backers.
The several previous ceasefires in the Syrian civil war all collapsed, some of them in a matter of days.
Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of have immediately either confirmed or denied signing it.
The latest agreement, like previous ones, does not include extremist factions such as Isis and Jabhat al-Nusra (recently rebranded to Jabhat Fateh al-Sham in an effort to distance the group from al-Qaida).
Russia has circulated a proposed resolution at the UN Security Council that would endorse the ceasefire, the country's ambassador to the United Nations said.
Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters before a Security Council meeting that he hoped the council would vote on the resolution on Saturday.
Syrian foreign minister Walid al-Moallem welcomed the ceasefire agreement and said there was a "real chance" for a political settlement.
In comments made to Syrian TV, he said the Syrian government would attend the peace talks "with an open mind", but suggested it would not be willing to compromise on the fate of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Mr Assad's remaining in power has been a major sticking point in the crisis.
"Everything is negotiable except national sovereignty and the people's right to choose its leadership," Mr al-Moallem said.
Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters
The Syrian government will be negotiating from a strong position, after its army and their allies, supported by Russian air power, defeated rebels in their last major urban stronghold of Aleppo earlier this month.
Moscow's air campaign, since September last year, has turned the civil war in Mr Assad's favour.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the truce would include 62,000 opposition fighters across Syria and that the Russian military had established a hotline with its Turkish counterpart to monitor compliance.
The United States has been sidelined in recent negotiations and is not due to attend the next round of peace talks in Kazakhstan.
Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said US President-elect Donald Trump's administration would be welcome to join the peace process once he took office.
Mr Putin said he ordered the Russian military to scale back its presence in Syria, where it has provided crucial support to Mr Assad's forces.
He did not say how many troops and weapons would be withdrawn, but said Russia would continue "fighting international terrorism in Syria" and supporting the Syrian military.
The United Nations special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, welcomed the ceasefire announcement, saying he hoped the agreement would save civilian lives, allow the delivery of humanitarian aid and pave the way for productive peace talks.
Syria's civil war, which began when a peaceful uprising descended into violence in 2011, has resulted in more than 300,000 deaths and displaced half the country's population.
It has also produced more than four million refugees, many of whom have fled fled into Europe, fuelling anti-immigration sentiment and fears over terrorism that are reshaping the continent's political landscape.
Additional reporting by agencies
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The US military has said coalition forces may have killed a number of civilians after striking a van in a hospital compound in Mosul while targeting Isis fighters.
In a statement, the Pentagon said that a coalition airstrike hit a vehicle believed to be carrying Isis fighters.
The van was struck in what was later determined to be a hospital compound parking lot resulting in possible civilian casualties, it said, citing the Combined Joint Task Force Operation Inherent Resolve.
Mosul father calls for help to adopt his child
It said it took all reports of civilian casualties seriously and would carry out a probe.
The strike comes more than two months after Iraqi operations to free Mosul began. Coalition air support has been a major asset that has enabled Iraqi advances on the ground.
The Associated Press said that on Thursday, Iraqi security forces began the second phase of their offensive against Isis fighters in the the city, pushing from three directions into eastern districts where the battle has been deadlocked for nearly a month.
Since the offensive to capture Mosul began 10 weeks ago, US-backed forces have retaken a quarter of the extremists last major stronghold in Iraq in the biggest ground operation there since the 2003 US invasion that toppled Saddam Hussein.
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Washington has hit back at Theresa Mays criticism of John Kerry's condemnation of Israel, expressing surprise at the UKs response as it was at odds with their vote in favour of a UN declaration condemning increased settlement activity in the occupied territories.
Theresa May had distanced herself from Mr Kerry's comments in a move which has been interpreted as a sop to the incoming Trump administration.
Mr Kerry attacked the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as the most right-wing coalition in Israeli history and warned that the increased building of settlements in the West Bank means the status quo is leading towards one state and perpetual occupation.
A No 10 spokesman said the Prime Minister did not think it was appropriate to focus solely on the issue of the settlements or use such strong words against a foreign government.
He said: We do not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally.
The Government believes that negotiations will only succeed when they are conducted between the two parties, supported by the international community.
But the US hit back with a statement: We are surprised by the UK Prime Ministers office statement given that Secretary Kerrys remarks which covered the full range of threats to a two state solution, including terrorism, violence, incitement and settlements were in-line with the UKs own longstanding policy and its vote at the United Nations last week.
The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Show all 10 1 /10 The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Medics evacuate a wounded man from the scene of an attack in Jerusalem. A Palestinian rammed a vehicle into a bus stop then got out and started stabbing people before he was shot dead AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Israeli ZAKA emergency response members carry the body of an Israeli at the scene of a shooting attack in Jerusalem. A pair of Palestinian men boarded a bus in Jerusalem and began shooting and stabbing passengers, while another assailant rammed a car into a bus station before stabbing bystanders, in near-simultaneous attacks that escalated a month long wave of violence AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Getty Images The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians throw molotov cocktail during clashes with Israeli troops near Ramallah, West Bank. Recent days have seen a series of stabbing attacks in Israel and the West Bank that have wounded several Israelis AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Women cry during the funeral of Palestinian teenager Ahmad Sharaka, 13, who was shot dead by Israeli forces during clashes at a checkpoint near Ramallah, at the family house in the Palestinian West Bank refugee camp of Jalazoun, Ramallah AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A wounded Palestinian boy and his father hold hands at a hospital after their house was brought down by an Israeli air strike in Gaza Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinians look on after a protester is shot by Israelis soldiers during clashes at the Howara checkpoint near the West Bank city of Nablus EPA The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies A lawyer wearing his official robes kicks a tear gas canister back toward Israeli soldiers during a demonstration by scores of Palestinian lawyers called for by the Palestinian Bar Association in solidarity with protesters at the Al-Aqsa mosque compound in Jerusalem's Old City, near Ramallah, West Bank AP The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Undercover Israeli soldiers detain a Palestinian in Ramallah Reuters The IsraeliPalestinian conflict intensifies Palestinian youth burn tyres during clashes with Israeli soldiers close to the Jewish settlement of Bet El, in the West Bank city of Ramallah, after Israel barred Palestinians from Jerusalem's Old City as tensions mounted following attacks that killed two Israelis and wounded a child
We are grateful for the strongly supportive statements in response to Secretary Kerrys speech from across the world, including Germany, France, Canada, Jordan, Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and others.
Mr Kerry accused the Israeli government of undermining attempts to produce a two-state solution and bring about a solution to the conflict, which has plagued the region for half a century.
Earlier this week, the UK backed a UN resolution condemning the continued expansion of the settlements while the US took the unusual step of abstaining rather than using its veto.
The move is seen as an attempt to reign in Israels settlement activity, which has increased in recent years, before the arrival of the Trump administration, which has vowed to protect and reinforce Israels interests.
Donald Trump has indicated that he may move the US embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem in what could be interpreted as unofficial recognition of Israels claim that the city is their capital.
In contrast, the Palestinians say East Jerusalem, which was captured along with the West Bank back in the 1960s, is part of territory they would want for a possible future state.
Washington has previously followed the international line that the citys status should be determined at peace talks.
Additional reporting by agencies
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There's so much to love about the tiny Belgian city of Ghent, but if you don't want to get stuck in tourist-trap restaurants or overpriced gift shops, you need to know where to go. So we've gathered a few tips from locals.
Sweet treats
Galerie Ganache combines two great elements: Belgian chocolate and art. With interesting works displayed on the walls, and delicacate confections on your plate, what more could you want?
Galerie Ganache (Galerie Ganache/Facebook)
For more local delicacies, check out Confiserie Temmerman, where you'll find there's much more to Belgian food than moules frites. Try the cuberdons, also known as Ghent noses - raspberry-flavoured sweets made of acacia gum.
Culture fix
When walking around Ghent, local Bennie recommends downloading the Concrete Canvas Tour Map which highlights 85 eye-catching works of graffiti. One of the spots on the map is the Grindbakken, old pits where sand and gravel was transported from ships into trucks. These have now been transformed into a multi-purpose space where you can check out the art or just hang out. This is one of the city's spots where graffiti is legal; artists can use the white walls as their canvas.
Grindbakken (Bennie de Meulemeester)
"If you havent been to this museum, you havent been to Ghent," says local Nick. Which museum is he talking about? That would be STAM, the Ghent City Museum, where you can get an overview of the rich history of Ghent. You can even do your own investigation into the stolen pieces of the famous Ghent Altarpiece. Some historians say this artwork has been stolen more times than any other relic; two-thirds of the 12-panel alterpiece are now back where theybelong, in St Bavo Cathedral, while the rest is undergoing restoration at MSK (the Museum of Fine Arts) where you can see the restorers at work.
Shopping
If it's a gift you're after, even if it's just a gift for yourself, Piet Moodshop and Mus in een Plas ("Sparrow in a Puddle") are great contenders. Both are stacked with stylish home accessories, shown off in equally attractive interiors.
Mus in enn Plas (Tahnee Naesen)
Spotted by Locals is a series of apps and blogs available on iPhone and Android devices with up-to-date tips by locals in 60+ cities in Europe and North America
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When Anis Amri drove a hijacked lorry into a Berlin Christmas market, killing 12 and injuring dozens more, emotions ran high. It was the week before the festivities, in the heart of Berlin, and the Christmas markets occupy a particular place in German hearts. The sense of violation and the outraged sympathy for the victims were both profound.
But what of the political fallout? With a general election next autumn, Angela Merkel committed to seeking a fourth term and her time as Chancellor so closely identified with Germanys asylum policy, surely anything that so much as hints at a connection between the countrys generosity to new arrivals and an increased threat to its citizens is bound to spell electoral danger. At least, this was the immediate gut reaction and mine, too. But it was quickly tempered.
Merkel herself showed characteristic calm and restraint in the wake of the attack. She refused to be hurried, addressing the nation only the next day. It was with sorrow rather than anger that she broached the possibility that the perpetrator had abused German hospitality, and she thanked all her many compatriots who had been helping with the reception of refugees.
Germans, by and large, have taken their cue from her. A subsequent survey, commissioned by Stern magazine, found that only 28 per cent of those asked agreed that Germanys asylum policy contributed to the Berlin attack, while 68 per cent saw no link at all with asylum policy. It is good news for Merkel and suggests that her chances of leading the centre-right CDU/CSU alliance back into government have barely been troubled, let alone scuppered, by what happened in Berlin. Not only that, but the same survey showed the CDU/CSU gaining two points in the polls, as more trusted on security matters.
Angela Merkel reacts to shooting of Berlin market attack suspect
Yet I wonder whether this is all quite as it seems and, specifically, whether Merkel is quite as certain to gain a fourth term as is assumed.
Take that latest Stern poll. It looks reassuring, but if you were a German, and asked that question about asylum policy and the Berlin atrocity, how would you have answered? You know what is expected of a good modern German; you know that it is wrong to generalise from the particular. You know that all faiths deserve respect and that Islam is a peaceful religion. You know that the vast majority of asylum-seekers are desperate for a place of safety and you were proud of your countrys response to their need.
But how deep do these attitudes run? When you see so many recent arrivals with little prospect of work and hear of the difficulties already besetting integration programmes, how will you vote in the secrecy of the polling booth? It wasnt Stefan or Manfred who commandeered that lorry, and then drove it into the market beside Berlins Memorial Church. It was a failed Tunisian asylum-seeker who left a video in which he pledged allegiance to Isis. The least that can be said of the Berlin attack is that it was a one-off act, committed by a lone criminal with a cause.
Nor is the public mood the only reason why the Chancellor might be less secure than she seems. As Merkel herself has admitted, the Berlin attack raises some serious questions about German security. Amri had been under surveillance, but his tracks were lost. He was free to launch his attack because, it appears, although he had been refused asylum in Germany, the deportation papers were not ready. He was then able to leave Berlin and reach Italy undetected. With an investigation now in train and Merkel herself the author of German asylum policy, the buck could ultimately stop with her.
A forceful consensus maintains that she would be safe in her job even then, for the simple reason that there is no one else to seriously challenge her. In party political terms that is true; whatever happens in September, the right-wing Alternative for Germany (AfD) is not going to top the poll and if security is a central issue then Merkels centre-right CDU/CSU alliance will always be preferred to the centre and further left.
On the personal front, however, the same argument fails to convince. Seen from abroad, including from the UK, Merkel might look even less open to challenge than she does from within Germany. She is the linchpin of Europe, the admirably consistent proponent of European values, the indispensable leader. But since when has the lack of a plausible alternative prevented the removal of a leader who is thought to have become an electoral liability? Think Margaret Thatcher. Think Tony Blair.
Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Show all 18 1 /18 Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Several people have been killed after a lorry drove into crowds at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS/Fabrizio Bensch Berlin Christmas market lorry attack 'At least nine' people have been killed and more than 50 injured. AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency Services rush a Berlin market victim to an ambulance Associated Press Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Police cordoned off the square at Kaiser Wilhelm Memorial Church following the incident REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers inspect the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market close to the Kaiser Wilhelm memorial church in Berlin EPA Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Emergency crews inspect the lorry that ploughed into a Berlin Christmas market, killing at least nine people AFP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Fire crews attend the scene of the attack AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Armed police secure the site of a lorry attack at a Christmas market in Berlin REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Crushed debris is visible beneath the wheels of the vehicle REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack An injured man is pushed to an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Medics attend an injured person after the lorry attack which killed at least nine and injured more than 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters examine the lorry which was rammed into a Berlin Christmas market REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack A person is carried into an ambulance REUTERS Berlin Christmas market lorry attack View of the lorry that crashed into a Christmas market in Berlin, killing at least nine and injuring at least 50 people AFP/Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Rescue workers push a person on a stretcher to an ambulance Getty Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters assess the damage after the lorry rammed the Christmas market, killing 'at least nine', and injuring more than 50 people AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Firefighters stand beside a toppled Christmas tree at the site of the suspected terrorist attack in a Berlin Christmas market AP Berlin Christmas market lorry attack Damaged stalls at the scene of the incident at a Berlin Christmas market where at least nine people have been killed EPA
Merkel herself was a little-known politician from the East certainly not someone seen as destined for great heights when she brought the downfall of Helmut Kohl, the great patriarch of the CDU who had presided over reunification. There will be those in the wings, watching and waiting. If this Chancellor is at risk, the greatest threat will come from within.
Internal pressure has already forced restrictions on her open-door policy. She has curbed the rights of some refugees to permanent residence and tried to increase deportations. She has announced a largely symbolic ban on the full-face veil in some public places. The real crunch will come if a sufficient number of party dignitaries loses confidence in her ability to lead and demand concessions she feels unable to make.
This New Years Eve will be the next big test less for the countrys security against terrorist attack, though that too but to ensure there is no repetition of what happened last year. You can bet your last euro that German police will be out in force and that everything will be done to ensure that everyone, but especially women, feel safe on city streets.
If New Year passes without untoward incidents, Merkel has a chance, but only a chance, of remaining Chancellor through the next election. But the possible departure of Merkel, and where Europe goes from there, could be two of the biggest questions of 2017.
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Is the new Cold War postponed? The expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats and the closure of two intelligence-gathering operations in Maryland and New York by President Obama followed allegations that Russia had hacked into emails of prominent Democrats, including Hillary Clinton, during the election campaign. The conventional response to this, familiar during the days of the Cold War, would have been a tit-for-tat expulsion by Russia of a similar number of US diplomats posted there. This was indeed the request of the Russian foreign minister, Sergei Lavrov. His ministry asked for President Putins approval to expel 31 diplomats from the US embassy in Moscow and a further four from the consulate in St Petersburg. But President Putin turned it down.
The new unfriendly measures by the US administration are regarded as provocative, designed to further undermine relations, Mr Putin said. But he added: We will not create problems for American diplomats. We will not expel anyone.
This is the clearest signal yet that Russia is seeking a reset of its relations with the United States, a sign that it is seeking a rapprochement with the new, inexperienced but evidently friendly to Russia President Trump. There are rational reasons why it should want to do so. Western sanctions have undoubtedly damaged the Russian economy, which barely grew in 2014, shrank sharply in 2015 and almost certainly fell further this year. The fall in oil and gas prices will have played a large part in this contraction, but the measures agreed by the G7 countries in 2014, following the annexation of the Crimea and the incursions into eastern Ukraine, have made recovery much more difficult. These existing sanctions were extended earlier this month by both the EU and Japan, and have now been reinforced by further measures by the US.
Former ambassador to Russia: Putin wanted 'revenge' against Clinton
If President Putins response simply showed a desire to have better relations with the West in general a lets-kiss-and-make-up gesture it would be welcome. Russia has become an increasingly difficult and devious player on the world stage, and some of its actions, notably in the Middle East, have been disgraceful. But there is a disturbing subtext: that Russia is determined to attempt to prise apart the long-standing partnership between Europe and the US. And there is now a very good opportunity to do so.
Europe is distracted by internal tensions over the euro and migration, by Brexit of course, by a series of elections in three major countries the Netherlands, France, and Germany and by the probability of elections in a fourth, Italy. Even more important, the new US President has signalled in a number of ways that he will seek better relations with Russia, even at the expense of its continuing military support for Europe. These include suggestions that if the US is to continue its role in Nato, the EU nations will have to increase their defence spending.
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The President-elects nomination of Rex Tillerson, chief executive of ExxonMobil, as Secretary of State, will if confirmed mean that Mr Putin has someone whom he knows well, and has personally awarded the Russian Order of Friendship, in charge of US foreign policy. As for his own business interests, he signed an agreement last summer (just one, it should be said, of several attempts to do so) to build a Trump Tower in Moscow.
What we are seeing now is a classic test of what the new US administration will do next. Mr Putin wants to see how resolute Mr Trump will be in supporting the defence of Europe, but also how accommodative American foreign policy will respond to Russias other geopolitical interests. A return to the Cold War would prove counter-productive for a host of reasons. Mr Trump should be prepared to dine with Mr Putin. But he should sup with a long spoon.
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Christmas may be over, but for Jews celebrating the festival of Hanukkah festivities still are in full swing. Though the story of the Maccabees fighting their oppressors took place thousands of years ago, disputes over who should control swathes of land in Israel and Palestine are pressing and pertinent to this day.
Following last weeks United Nations Resolution 2334, which describes Israels settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem as illegal and an obstacle to peace with the Palestinians, the Israeli government has made its position clear: settlements in the occupied territories will continue growing, and any states who criticise this are making a declaration of war against Israel. Ambassadors have been recalled; meetings with leaders have been cancelled; Israeli aid to Senegal has been stopped.
This latest resolution isnt much of a development in the history of the region. Back in 1967, Resolution 242 was passed by the UN Security Council calling on Israel to withdraw its military from the West Bank, East Jerusalem, Gaza Strip and Golan Heights. But after years of inaction from many of the worlds most powerful nations, the significance of this latest warning to Netanyahus government cant be underestimated.
Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Show all 12 1 /12 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict The fire in my heart is beyond my ribs. You left me beloved - Soliman Shaheen, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict Let me get enough of you, as Im still hungry for your smile my son - Soliman Shaheen, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict They besiege me in my homeland so I flew to heaven - Rodaina Al Agha, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict And I am still facing the pain all by myself - Lama Shakshak, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict My brother, I watched you go while my heart was tearing - Helen Mo'amar, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict My new doll is lonely in the rubble - Ayah Sha'ath, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict When a soul hugs another soul they never split, even in death - Ismail Matar, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict Everyone is gone and I stayed alone to make the world witness the injustice done to me - Hamza Shaheen, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict The hand that carries the arms carries roses too - Madeeha Al Majayda, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict My eyes tell you about a dream that overcame the fence - Soliman Shaheen, 15 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict A childhood caught in an unjust siege - Hadeel Quidh, 16 Remembering the Israel-Gaza conflict Remembering Israel-Gaza conflict All the details are torn after you - Hamza Shaheen, 17
This may be too little too late from Obamas administration; had such a step been taken earlier on in his tenure such action might have felt more promising, a Trump presidency now being just a matter of weeks away. But even though this attempt by the UN is unlikely to bring the expansion of Israeli occupations to a halt, active supporters of Israel living around the world must take note my fellow Jews included.
A 2015 poll of British Jews found three quarters agreed with the statement that the expansion of settlements on the West Bank is a major obstacle to peace, while 58 per cent said Israel will be seen as an apartheid state if it tries to retain control over borders that contain more Arabs than Jews.
In short, the vast majority of Jews living in Britain simply dont support the Israeli occupation of Palestinian territories. Yet Jewish organisations such as the Board of Deputies remain silent on the matter.
Under Netanyahus administration, this silence is being harnessed as support for Israels actions and used to justify an occupation and expansion of settlements that is breaking international law. Netanyahu is confidently asserting that diaspora Jewry want to be part of Israels success story, giddily encouraging us to move there. The occupation continues in our name.
Jews and Muslims dance as they celebrate Hanukkah together in Bahrain
Whatever your views on the solution for the region, its now more evident than ever that the occupation of the Palestinian territories must come to an end.
Its easy for Arab nations concerns to be dismissed by a right-wing Israeli government, but actions of long-standing allies like Britain and the US cannot be brushed off. The voices of the Jewish diaspora must now join in this growing crescendo calling for the occupation to end.
Tonight, when Jews of all faiths and affiliations light the Hanukkah candles, consider the story we remember afresh. In the very same land in which Netanyahu now rules as leader, our ancestors once lived, forced into hiding as an expansionist power actively and cruelly set out to replace a nations way of life. As we say the ritualistic prayers well also be celebrating the oppressed and their uprising. Its a message we must stand by today.
Netanyahu seems intent on pursuing an expansionist agenda despite international law and condemnation. Jews in Britain might not all share a single vision for the future of Israel and Palestine, but an end to the occupation must be part of any solution. Its about time we made that clear.
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If Jeremy Corbyn had a better grasp of Tudor history he would have been able to make a much stronger point with regard to Brexit and Parliament. There is an ironical similarity in Henry VIII, a Catholic at heart, breaking with Rome and Theresa May, a Remainer in the referendum, breaking with Europe. However, Henry did not rely on royal prerogative to do this, as Corbyn suggests; it was carried out legally through a succession of acts passed by the Reformation Parliament. The constitutional argument that an act of parliament is required for Brexit is an historical argument and thoroughly convincing. So let us get the history right, and not fall back on myth and popular misconceptions.
Michael Windross
Antwerp, Belgium
Jeremy Corbyn is guilty of an outrageous slur on Henry VIII. While there is no doubting the Kings power and his divine right, all of the major changes made during his reign were enforced by acts of parliament. The divorce from Catherine of Aragon, the break with Rome, the dissolution of the monasteries, were all voted on and passed by MPs and the House of Lords. Professor GR Elton, in his book England Under the Tudors, says that Henry could not have established his supremacy by proclamation. When drawing comparisons Corbyn should have gone further, and said that May was more autocratic than Henry VIII.
Patrick Walsh
Eastbourne
Living a lie
Robert Fisk is right: we are obviously being defrauded by those we should trust. But how can we fight back if all our political representatives are morally and intellectually corrupt? The danger of a Messianic leader looms large.
Victor Lawrance
London N12
I am usually exasperated by Robert Fisks analysis but hes nailed it at last: We handed journalism to social media. Except they stole it.
Mike Bor
London W2
Robert Fisk asks where he's heard this Nigel Farage sneer before: You all laughed at me well, I have to say, youre not laughing now, are you? He needs to familarise himself with the works of Bob Monkhouse. This is where most people with any familiarity with popular culture over the past 30 years will have heard this joke before. It wouldn't fit quite so well into his article though.
Graham Hawker
Address withheld
Russia has outsmarted the West
Hysteria has once again reached fever pitch. This time it is triggered by Russian cyber weaponry. We are told that even election results can be manipulated by Moscow. Then there is Putin's fake news. It is apparently so beguiling that it poses a threat to Western democratic discourse quite an achievement for the leader of a relatively impoverished country.
Putins great crime is to have outsmarted the West. This says less about Putin's astuteness and more about the West's ineptitude. The right response is not a new Cold War but a root and branch rethink of Western foreign policy.
Contrary to conventional wisdom, we are not threatened by Iran, Assad's Syria, Hezbollah and Yemen's Houthis. It's time to stop mollycoddling Saudi Arabia and Nato member Turkey, both of whom facilitated the emergence of Isis. As for Ukraine, the West made matters worse by not acknowledging that it was a classic example of a young state that didn't naturally command the allegiance of all its peoples; other examples are Georgia, Moldova and Azerbaijan.
Western foreign policy has, indeed, been exceptional but only in so far as it is characterised by serial failure.
Yugo Kovach
Winterborne Houghton, Dorset
Only one way to end conflict in Israel
Theresa may is right to criticise US Secretary of State John Kerry for his belated criticism of Israel. Israel did little to achieve the desired goal of a two-state solution based on the consensus legitimacy of the international community. However, why did it take Mr Kerry so long to acknowledge and grasp fundamental Palestinian grievances?
We are always being presented with an unprecedented opportunity to reimagine the future and break with the grim past, and for Jerusalem to symbolise a united city for followers of the three monotheistic faiths. As King Abdullah II of Jordan put it: The solution to the conflict lies in an end of the occupation and the establishment of an independent Palestinian state on national Palestinian soil.
Dr Munjed Farid al Qutob
London NW2
What price Scotland?
I agree that it is unfair for Edinburgh residents to suffer higher accommodation costs than the rest of Scotland. A level playing field is obviously the most desirable solution. In which case, perhaps Scotland would give up the Barnett Formula, which subsidises Scottish residents at the expense of the rest of the United Kingdom? Free markets being what they are, perhaps then rents would be lower?
Tom Callaghan
Dubai
Paul Monaghan, SNP MP for Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross, has called Scotland and Catalonia two great nations whose rebirth means the end of their subjugation. He tells the Catalans that Scotland is with you. I have two questions relating to this.
First, what makes Monaghan think that he has the right to speak for Scotland? I am aware that this is something that SNP politicians do routinely, but what is the justification for this presumptuousness? Second, does Monaghan seriously think that his avid and vocal support for Catalan separatism helps the cause of his leader, whose aim is to win the support of European states for a separate Scotland in Europe? No wonder Spain has poured cold water on her hopes.
Monaghan has form, appearing several times on the Kremlin-backed TV station RT and berating President Obama for expelling Russian diplomats for Russian interference in the US election. Are these antics what the good people of Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross elected him to do?
Jill Stephenson
Edinburgh
Healing the health service
I read with interest about the difficulties facing GPs meeting the health needs of patients. As the chair of a patient participation group of an inner city medical practice, I am aware of the serious problems faced when trying to deliver appropriate healthcare. The patients registered with our practice speak more than 28 languages and have a range of needs. None of this is allowed for in the funding. Some services that were provided and funded have had funding withdrawn. At the last meeting, the patients group was informed that up to 200,000 of funding is being withdrawn due to the redirection of money to areas with a higher average age group.
I saw the NHS England response too. The extra money being quoted will not benefit our practice. It is a highly selective in its distribution. The future looks bleak. Traditional services for example, ear syringing will have to cease. If the practice worked to contract it would mean sending patients to hospitals for blood samples and other services withdrawn. I fear that we are being softened up for more privatisation and an end to a free service. If we do not protest and fight, we may well see an end to the delivery of the health care that we seem to cherish.
David Cemlyn
Bristol
I find Dr Helen Stokes-Lampard's classification of lumps and bleeding as non-urgent medical cases profoundly disturbing. These should be classified as urgent and there should be a designated GP in the practice on perhaps a rota basis to see the urgent cases and triage them to the appropriate clinic. The hospital service provides special sessions for breast lumps for example and for upper gastrointestinal-intestinal bleeding. Patients can be dealt with very rapidly once they are set on the right path. It would be quite possible for a suitably trained nurse to take on the triage role in GP setting.
Kenneth Taylor, consultant physician
Birmingham
In memory of journalist Mike Nicholson
After I was shot by a Serbian sniper in besieged Dubrovnik in November 1991 (on Remembrance Sunday, by chance) while covering the conflict for The Independent, I was evacuated with other wounded on a boat which first docked at Herceg Novi in Montenegro. Mike Nicholson, whom I'd known for years, happened to be on the quay, covering the arrival of the wounded for ITN. My left leg had turned dark blue, with a dum-dum (explosive) bullet still in it. Putting me before his story, Mike flew with me to Belgrade and got me on a Swissair flight to London, where my wife met me and took me to the West Middlesex Hospital near my home. The main body of the bullet was removed, although fragments remain.
I can safely say that Mike Nicholson saved, if not my life, at least my leg, which might have had to be amputated had I not been operated on in time. A gentleman journalist of the old school. Rest in peace, Mike.
Phil Davison, former Independent reporter
Richmond upon Thames
Reasons to be cheerful
By common consent, 2016 has been a challenging year; a year of disasters, what with Brexit, the election of Donald Trump as US President-elect and a litany of celebrities who have sadly passed away.
It is therefore often difficult to remember that parallel to this we are living through somewhat of an arc of progress. We are living in a world that is getting richer, with the number of people living in extreme poverty falling below 10 per cent for the first time. Indeed, since 1990 almost 1.1 billion have escaped extreme poverty. World hunger also reached its lowest point for 25 years in 2016.
For the first time ever the death penalty has become illegal in more than half of the worlds countries and the world got healthier, with a World Health Organisation report showing that since 2000 global malaria deaths have declined by 60 per cent. Since their peak a decade ago Aids-related deaths have fallen by 45 per cent and infant mortality has halved since 1990.
Taiwan is on the verge of becoming the first Asian country to legalise same-sex marriage and Tanzania banned child marriage.
For many 2016 may have been seen as the worst of times, but let us not forget it has been on the best of times too. So lets not be too pessimistic as we enter 2017.
Alex Orr
Edinburgh
More reasons to be cheerful
Many thanks for big crossword! Please may we have more?
Tessa Bloodworth
Gosport
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The new ceasefire in Syria will not mean an end to the shooting, but it marks a crucial development in the five-and-a-half year long civil war. It will not stop the killing because the biggest armed opposition groups Isis and Jabhat al-Nusra are not covered by the agreement, and have a strong motive for making sure that it fails. But what is most important about the ceasefire, which began on Thursday night and appeared at first to be taking hold, is not so much what is agreed as who is doing the agreeing.
According to a draft copy of the Russian-Turkish agreement, the Turkish government guarantees the commitment of the opposition in all the areas that the opposition controls to the ceasefire, including any type of shelling. Russia gives similar guarantees on behalf of the Syrian government and its allies.
These are bland words, but what is important here is that Turkey is distancing itself from the armed opposition groups who have depended on its support or tolerance since the uprising against Bashar al-Assad started in 2011. Without such backing, anti-Assad forces may be unable to withstand Syrian government offensives in future. In other words, there has been a decisive shift in the balance of power inside Syria against the rebels and in favour of Assad.
This was the real message of the defeat of the rebels in east Aleppo. Their former allies Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Qatar and, on occasion, the US did nothing to save them. Turkey is giving priority to fighting the Kurds at home and abroad; getting rid of Assad is well down its political agenda. In sharp contrast, Russia, Iran, Iraq and Hezbollah from Lebanon did everything to ensure that the Syrian army and its allies were victorious.
Vladimir Putin announces ceasefire agreement in Syria
But the present ceasefire is not solely the result of Syrian and regional developments. The last hope of the non-Isis opposition in Syria and its foreign allies was that Hillary Clinton would win the presidential election and switch US policy to one more committed to getting rid of Assad and more hostile to Russia. Instead, they were horrified by the election of Donald Trump, a candidate even more dismissive of the non-Isis rebels, focused on destroying Isis and more favourable to a Russian alliance than President Obama.
Will the US acceptance of Russia playing a dominant role in Syria be capsized by new US sanctions against Moscow and the expulsion of 35 Russian diplomats? Probably not, because what Trump is proposing to do openly in Syria is not much different from what Obama was doing without publicity. It is a long time since the US was seriously interested in getting rid of Assad it has instead been concentrating on defeating Isis. This is likely to continue under Trump and might even have done under Hillary Clinton, if she had become president. At this stage, US policy in Syria and Iraq would in any case be difficult to unglue.
But in a broader sense President Obamas measures against Russia and Secretary of State John Kerrys denunciation of Israeli policy towards the Palestinians will have an impact on every aspect of US foreign policy. This is less because of specific policy initiatives, which can be dismissed as the empty gestures of an expiring administration, but because Obamas actions are evidence that political warfare in the US post-election is not going to de-escalate. There may be a shaky ceasefire in Syria, but there is none in Washington.
The Russian-US relationship in Syria will remain a mixture of rivalry and cooperation. The most important decisions here have already been taken by Obama when he did not intervene militarily against Assad in August 2013 and when he accepted Russian intervention in September 2015. But the degree of cooperation with Russia will remain in dispute between different power centres in Washington. This was already the case, which is why the Syria ceasefire negotiated by the US and Russia in September this year almost immediately collapsed in rancour. Both sides were acutely mistrustful of the other: the US claimed that Russian and Syrian planes had deliberately bombed an aid convoy bound for east Aleppo. The Russians and Syrian government suspected that US airstrikes had deliberately targeted and killed 62 Syrian soldiers near Deir Ezzor in eastern Syria.
Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Show all 12 1 /12 Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man crosses a street in Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A vendor sits inside an antique shop in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, December 12, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A view shows part of Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors walk inside Aleppo's Umayyad mosque, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk inside the Khan al-Shounah market, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man walks past shops in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk along an alley in al-Jdeideh neighbourhood, in the Old City of Aleppo, Syria Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Visitors tour Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A general view shows the Old City of Aleppo as seen from Aleppo's historic citadel, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War People walk near Aleppo's Bab al-Faraj Clock Tower, Syria October 6, 2010 Reuters Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War Aleppo before the Syrian Civil War A man stands inside Aleppo's historic citadel, overlooking Aleppo city, Syria December 11, 2009 Reuters
The present Russian-Turkish ceasefire suffers from some of the weaknesses of the two previous Russian-US ones in February and September: several of the major combatants have not signed up and are unlikely to do so because the ceasefire is directed against them. But all three of the ceasefires of 2016 have been serious, even when they failed, because they have involved major players in the conflict: Russia, US, Turkey and, at one remove, Iran.
The interwoven crises in Syria are of nightmarish complexity and not all the arrows point towards peace. Turkey is backing away from supporting a war to overthrow Assad, but it is also weighing up the prospects for fighting the Syrian Kurds and eliminating their de facto state. President Bashar al-Assad has signed up to the latest ceasefire, but he makes no secret of his determination to retake all of Syria. He is probably waiting for the ceasefire to collapse because of its deficiencies before resuming the offensive.
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Isis, which has been on the retreat in Syria and in Iraq, is by no means out of business. As east Aleppo was falling, its fighters recaptured Palmyra and advanced on an important Syrian airbase called T4. At the same time the Iraqi armed forces, so confident two months ago that they could retake Mosul quickly, are suffering heavy casualties in ferocious street fighting in the east of the city.
The Syrian and Iraqi wars are still full of nasty surprises for all participants, as the Trump presidency may soon find out for itself. Every crisis in the region is linked to every other. One of the biggest potential crises hanging over the Middle East is not Trumps attitude to Russia, but to Iran. The role of Russia in Syria tends to be over-publicised and that of Iran, and its loose Shia coalition, tends to be under-reported. Up to the Russian military intervention in September 2015, it was the alliance with Iran that was most important to Assad. Iran certainly has not fought a long war in Syria, or in Iraq for that matter, to see the country impotent on the regional stage and divided up into zones of influence. Peace talks are to start soon in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan, though the pro-Assad powers are not looking for power-sharing or compromise but a virtual surrender by the other side.
One does not have to spend long in Washington these days to find that, while there are many important people who detest Assad and Vladimir Putin, this feeling is far exceeded by the hatred they feel for the victors of the US presidential election. These divisions are bound to further envenom and shape policy decisions towards the crises and wars exploding in the Middle East.
The IRA was able to tap Garda telephone calls, the Irish government accepted.
During a security summit in London in 1986, the British wanted to know about possible infiltration of police communications.
Then-Secretary of State Tom King said the "sophistication" of the Provos was "impressive" and asked Dublin's Justice Minister, Michael Noonan, about Garda precautions.
Mr Noonan responded that the force was switching to a new nationwide radio network for rural divisions and that a contract for something similar was in the pipeline for the Dublin Metropolitan Area.
However, an Irish official intervened to say "we could not commit ourselves at this stage to saying that, in the context of Garda/RUC communications, the new equipment would be secure and this was something that needed to be examined".
Notes of the top-level meeting, just released into the National Archives, said: "As regards telephone communications, it was accepted that at present, these were not secure from IRA penetration."
During the same summit, Mr King said recent arms finds by the Garda in Sligo and Roscommon had "cheered up" the RUC greatly.
He said it would be of enormous assistance if the southern force could now find the IRA's mortar factory, which was successfully being used to make bombs to target RUC stations and was "boosting their morale".
A Red C poll found that 80pc of Irish citizens would vote to remain in the union, an increase of 2pc on 2015. Photo: REUTERS/Francois Lenoir
Ireland is among the least likely countries to vote to leave the European Union, new research suggests.
A Red C poll found that 80pc of Irish citizens would vote to remain in the union, an increase of 2pc on 2015.
It makes Ireland one of the most pro-EU countries on the continent, along with Spain.
The survey also shows that 62pc of Irish people believe the union is heading in the right direction.
Many other member states are also less likely to vote to leave than last year. In France, 32pc of people would support a 'leave' vote, falling from 35pc last year.
Meanwhile, 25pc of Germans said they would vote to exit the bloc compared to 28pc in 2015. However, support for leaving the EU has increased substantially in Finland, rising from 29pc last year to 40pc now.
Greece and the UK are the most in favour of rescinding their EU membership, with 46pc in both countries saying they would vote to leave. In the UK referendum, 52pc voted to leave.
Meanwhile, Irish tourism industry figures say Brexit and a lack of hotel beds in Dublin could prove challenging in 2017.
The Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) welcomed this year's record number of 8.8 million international visitors.
ITIC also highlighted that tourism is now worth 8bn to the Irish economy, but warned against complacency ahead of the new year.
Eoghan O'Mara Walsh, chief executive of the ITIC, welcomed the new highs for the industry but stressed that the impact of the Brexit vote could still pose problems.
A weakened sterling would be the most immediate challenge, he said.
"With Article 50 due to be triggered next March, we expect sterling to remain relatively weak," he told the Irish Independent.
"It makes holidays in Ireland seem more expensive for British visitors."
But he remained optimistic for 2017, pointing to a strong market for North American visitors.
"Brexit is the main challenge, but we are still predicting a 3pc to 5pc growth in visitor numbers next year."
Tourists from abroad spent 4.7bn in Ireland in 2016, a 9pc increase on 2015.
The domestic market was also strong, with revenue increasing to 1.75m and a further 300m coming from Northern Irish visitors.
But Mr O'Mara Walsh said 50 new hotels would be needed in Dublin alone.
Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan has bluntly told the London government it must end delays on revealing its negotiating plans to leave the EU.
With the opening of negotiations now just 12 weeks away, and over six months after the shock British referendum result, Mr Flanagan revealed the full extent of the Irish Government's frustration at delays by Prime Minister Theresa May and her colleagues.
"Six months after the referendum, I regret that we don't have a comprehensive plan from Britain," he told the Irish Independent. "I believe it's imperative that early in the new year such a plan takes shape, that we have sight of it - and that we know what it is."
Mr Flanagan said he and his colleagues had been stressing since the June 23 referendum result that the "bond between Ireland and the UK is unique in Europe".
He said there was growing acceptance across the other EU states that this was the case.
"But that is another reason why we need to see the plan from Britain for managing Brexit," he said.
The minister said that after extensive consultations with counterparts in London, and across the rest of the EU, there were huge problems with the UK keeping free trade status after Brexit, without immigration concessions.
"My objective, and the objective of this Government, is to help keep the UK as close to the European Union as possible," he said.
"But the single market versus freedom of movement is very challenging."
Mr Flanagan said "soundings" at this stage indicated that, even if Britain left the border-free single market, it could still stay in the EU's customs union.
That would be a boon to continuing trade between Ireland and the UK, worth a cumulative 1.6bn per week.
Everyone associated with the upcoming UK-EU divorce talks expects negotiations to open before the end of next March.
The main process is expected to take two years - but working out even more serious details will take a long period of years.
Mr Flanagan again stressed that the status of the North and the insistence that there can be no return of the Border were central to Dublin's concerns.
There could be "no downgrading of the Good Friday Agreement".
"It's far too early to be talking about cameras on the Border or any other such details," he said.
Mr Flanagan was equally insistent that Ireland would approach the negotiations on the firm assumption that this country remained a full EU member state.
"We are - and we will be - 'team EU'," he said.
The minister also argued that 1916 Centenary commemorations were successful and he singled out many different organisers and participants for special praise.
They included Arts Minister Heather Humphreys, the Irish diplomatic corps, who spread the Irish message across the globe, and the Defence Forces for bringing flags to every school in the country.
But Mr Flanagan warned that much bigger challenges were coming in the remaining years of the 'Decade of Commemorations 1912-1922'.
These included next year recalling the Irishmen of both traditions slaughtered in the Battle of Messines, and the demise of the Irish Parliamentary Party in the landmark 1918 general election.
He said everyone would be challenged by the need to contemplate how we would deal with the lead-up to Civil War and the foundation of the Irish State. This was a most divisive period in Irish history.
Taoiseach Enda Kenny should be under no pressure to step aside as he is the "best qualified" person to lead Ireland through the Brexit negotiations, the Public Expenditure Minister said.
In a clear warning to those harbouring leadership ambitions, Paschal Donohoe said Mr Kenny should not bow to calls for him to reveal his retirement plan. Mr Kenny has indicated he will not lead the party into the next election but wants to be Taoiseach when Pope Francis visits in August 2018.
There is speculation some backbench TDs will move on Mr Kenny after he returns from the St Patrick's Day trip to the White House.
Mr Donohoe told the Irish Independent: "The moment a Taoiseach determines the time at which he's going to go has a massive effect on the ability of the Government to function."
He said Mr Kenny is the "best qualified" person to lead the country into two years of Brexit negotiations, and said the decision-making process will be "very, very complicated and political".
The comments will dampen the expectation of leadership frontrunners Leo Varadkar and Simon Coveney as Mr Donohoe is increasingly influential within the party.
The Wild Atlantic way, where coasteering is popular, has benefited from a strategic approach, says a tourist body.
A tourism industry representative group has criticised Junior Minister Patrick O'Donovan's plan to have local authorities become more involved in tourism strategy.
Earlier this month Mr O'Donovan said he wanted every local authority to produce a tourism strategy by the end of March, saying he wanted to see "a key set of actions" that councils were going to take.
That plan was criticised by Irish Tourist Industry Confederation (ITIC) chairman Paul Gallagher yesterday.
"I disagree with that policy. I think we've had far too much of everybody doing their own thing and then nothing's done in a very organised fashion," Gallagher said.
"Wild Atlantic Way has been a cross-county council development. A strategy was agreed and everybody rolled out the same offering.
"I think the funds for hospitality and tourism are so small that any fracturing of that by doing what's good locally, isn't always good for tourism."
"We don't need lots of little bits and pieces everywhere, we need things of scale. The trouble with doing little bits of things everywhere is that if you come up with a great idea in Kerry County Council, a guy in Mayo might want to do the same thing and you end up with the same stuff everywhere, which means no standout for anybody."
Mr Gallagher also said Ireland's tourism industry had benefited from recent terror attacks. "The terrorist attacks across Europe have driven business to northern Europe. And in northern Europe, Ireland has been one of the main beneficiaries of people feeling insecure, because it's very secure," he said.
He was speaking at the ITIC's end-of-year review, which flagged Brexit and a capacity constraint, particularly in Dublin, as industry priorities for next year. "Visitor number targets will not be met unless the deficit in hotel bedroom development is addressed with some urgency," he said.
"If demand and supply is out of sync, there will always be upward pressure on prices and a loss of competitiveness represents the single largest threat to tourism's future growth. Should the planned new hotels not materialise, there will need to be policy intervention to stimulate new builds," Mr Gallagher added.
The move comes after Communications Minister Denis Naughten said that future mobile phone licences will require operators to cover all of rural Ireland rather than the biggest population centres. Stock photo
Ireland's telecoms regulator says it may change future mobile phone licences to require inclusion of remote rural areas instead of just cities and big towns.
In its Electronics Communications Services Strategy Statement 2017-2019, Comreg says that it intends to address the "perception" that mobile coverage in Ireland has "deteriorated".
"Competitive forces, left to their own devices, will deliver services to a certain level and quality," said the report. "However coverage beyond this level towards ubiquitous coverage is unlikely to be provided due to the uncommercial nature of network rollout in some geographic areas."
The telecoms watchdog went on to say that "there are certain regulatory tools available that could be used to incentivise infrastructure rollout into areas currently considered uncommercial".
These included targeted areas of coverage in regions currently suffering from "perceived" bad mobile reception.
"ComReg will consider the use of coverage and rollout obligations," the report said. "In this regard, ComReg observes that the propagation characteristics of the 700 MHz band are favourable to wide area coverage and that the use of coverage and a targeted coverage and rollout obligation to enhance coverage may be appropriate for this spectrum band."
The regulator will also consider obligating site and infrastructure sharing as a further way to incentivise better rural coverage.
The move comes after Communications Minister Denis Naughten said that future mobile phone licences will require operators to cover all of rural Ireland rather than the biggest population centres.
The European Central Bank should have explained more clearly why it nearly doubled its estimated capital shortfall for the ailing Monte dei Paschi di Siena bank, which is being bailed out by the state, Italy's economy minister said.
In unusually critical comments of the euro zone's single banking supervisor, Pier Carlo Padoan said in a newspaper interview the ECB's new capital target was the result of a "very rigid stance" in its assessment of the bank's risk profile.
"It would have been useful, if not kind, to have a bit more information from the ECB about the criteria that led to this assessment," Padoan said.
Monte dei Paschi, Italy's third biggest lender and the world's oldest, said on Monday the ECB had estimated its capital shortfall at 8.8bn compared with a 5bn gap previously indicated by the bank.
The higher capital requirement substantially increases the cost of the bank's rescue by the government after it failed to raise the 5bn on the market.
The treasury is now set to pump in around 6.5bn to salvage the lender, raising concerns that its newly created 20bn bank bailout fund may not have enough money for other weak banks. The government says the fund is sufficient.
The rest of the money Monte dei Paschi needs will come from the forced conversion of its subordinated bonds into shares, in line with European rules on bank crises. The lender fared the worst in EU-wide banking stress tests published in July.
Padoan said he expected the capital increase to take place in two to three months.
The ECB told the Italian treasury of its decision in a letter, which Padoan said was just five lines long and which has not been made public.
It irked the Rome government and has quickly turned into a political issue.
A group of lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party asked Padoan and Italy's foreign minister on Wednesday to explain in parliament what had happened.
"I was a bit surprised to receive the news, out of the blue and on Christmas day," Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni told a press conference.
"It's important that the reasons behind this assessment are shared and that there is a dialogue because we need to handle this issue together ... We will stick to our guns."
The ECB has declined to comment on its rationale for the larger capital shortfall.
A source close to the matter said the bank's estimate of a 5bn capital gap was based on the results of the stress test, conducted on end-2015 data, and included assumptions such as the sale of its whole portfolio of defaulting loans - a key plank of its plan to raise money privately.
Padoan's criticism comes a day after Germany's Finance Ministry called on the ECB and the European Commission to ensure that Italy complies with European rules when aiding its bank.
Precautionary recapitalisation of banks through the government can be part of a solution "only in exceptional circumstances" and "under tight conditions," the Berlin-based ministry said by e-mail in response to questions. "Even then, owners and subordinate creditors should first be called upon."
In the interview Padoan said that the retail holders of a Paschi 2008 bond will be covered under a compensation mechanism that is part of the decree passed by the government. As a Paschi shareholder, the Rome-based Treasury "will have a look" at possible management changes while supporting its chief executive officer Marco Morelli, the minister also said.
Monte Paschi's shares remain suspended from trading in Milan until full details of the bank's capital-strengthening are available.
Dog who travelled from Portarlington to Dublin
The owner of a dog who embarked on a solo road trip to Dublin on board a train has been tracked down.
The stowaway, named Patch, boarded a train at Portarlington and was discovered by Irish Rail workers before being handed over to Kilmainham garda station.
If this is your doggie please contact Kilmainham Garda Station. He took a trip from Portarlington this morning. Hope he had a ticket! pic.twitter.com/9swxHp5ItY Iarnrod Eireann (@IrishRail) December 30, 2016
Irish Rail thanked people for their help in tracking his owners down.
"We won't be pursuing him for a ticket," they joked on social media.
Previously the company appealed for anyone with information to contact the gardai there and joked that they hoped the wandering dog "had a ticket" for his journey.
An artist has paid homage to the dead of 2016, using the iconic cover art for Sgt Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band.
The artist, Chris Barker, began the image the night of the US election.
At that moment, the background was a wasteland, except for a "Make America Great Again" hat.
In addition to celebrities, Barker included an image of Jo Cox, the MP who was murdered by far right extremist Thomas Mair.
Barker told indy100 he would like fans of the Sgt Pepper cover to donate to the Jo Cox memorial fund, as the image itself is not for profit.
A near complete form of the Sgt Pepper cover was posted online in November to much acclaim.
Following the news of Carrie Fisher's death on Tuesday night, Barker updated it to include her hologram from the film Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope.
Speaking to indy100, Barker described his sadness when the time came to add Fisher to the 2016 image: "This is the biggest impact so far and in a way I'm not surprised. Carrie Fisher was the princess of the hearts of a couple of generations."
I'm really sorry everyone. This is so sad. I feel awful. #RIPCarrieFisher #sgtpepper2016 May the force be with 2017. pic.twitter.com/3HJM8mJPVQ christhebarker (@christhebarker) 27 December 2016
Barker also included a personal item, the French Horn located to the left of the 2016 drum.
"The French horn is a personal tribute to my friend Jim who died this year who was a great French horn player and sadly missed by all his friends and family."
Writing on his blog christhebarker.tumblr.com, Barker wrote about his inspiration for the image.
"It wasnt going to be a montage of dead celebrities in the style of Sgt Peppers at first. In fact the Sgt Pepper element came quite late... Initially I was going to have Bowie in the centre and everything else orbiting around him but then I found the full length shot of Bowie that you see on the final piece and it looked so Sgt Pepper I thought I might as well go with that idea."
Video of the Day
He also made reference to one of his exemptions from the image that includes so many stars: "I ignored the millennials talking about Harambe the gorilla. Thats their thing and Im not qualified to talk about it."
Barker has also posted this guide to all the persons and items (spot the proper-sized Toblerone: bottom left) included in the cover.
( Independent News Service)
A Clare man asked his partner to marry him by singing a special version of Fairytale of New York - and the video will melt your heart.
Gary O'Donoghue surprised his partner Verona Houlihan on St Stephen's Day by proposing to her while singing a unique version of Christmas hit Fairytale of New York.
"Gary is always one for changing songs and putting his own words to them," Shona Cleary, who shared the fantastic moment, told Independent.ie.
"At his sister Linda's wedding he changed the words to a song to make it about Linda and Ruairi. At our cousin's wedding last year when he was groomsman he changed the words to Red is the Rose to make it about my cousin and how he met his wife."
"Verona knew nothing but Gary had arranged for his parents, Verona's grandparents and for their daughters Lexi and Cora to be with them in the pub on Stephen's Day. Everyone knew what was happening except for Verona, as you can tell as at the end of the clip she says, 'Are you joking?'"
The surprise proposal took place in the Copper Jug in Ennis and Gary and Verona's immediate family joined them afterwards to celebrate.
"The reaction was brilliant. And the best part was that Verona couldn't believe how the two girls Lexi and Cora had known for weeks and were part of the plan but had managed to keep it a secret," said Shona.
"They are both delighted! Gary would love to have the singing priest Fr. Ray Kelly singing at the wedding if anyone has any leads."
Garret FitzGerald with Margaret Thatcher in November, 1985. (Part of the Independent Newspapers Ireland/NLI Collection)
British prime minister Margaret Thatcher admitted to Irish officials the UK "got it wrong in 1921" with the North's border.
A series of extraordinary admissions between Mrs Thatcher and then Taoiseach Dr Garret FitzGerald have emerged from the 1986 archives released under the 30-year rule.
Both leaders were in close contact throughout 1986 as the UK and Ireland attempted to stand behind the Anglo-Irish Agreement amid furious unionist and loyalist opposition to the deal.
The duo met on December 6, 1986, in London - and Mrs Thatcher made a series of blunt admissions in assessing the security situation along the Border.
"You (the Republic) haven't the resources to maintain protection on the other side of the Border," she said.
"I do feel very depressed at times about the whole situation. The violence has not been defeated. The SDLP have not done what we are expecting them to do.
"However, it is Christmas - and I had better stop feeling depressed."
Dr FitzGerald praised the RUC for the work it had done in co-operating with gardai and pressed for all UDR patrols to be accompanied by the RUC.
But he warned: "Both forces have a next-to-impossible Border to watch."
Mrs Thatcher bluntly admitted: "Yes, we got it wrong in 1921."
The meeting concluded with one Irish civil servant noting: "The prime minister then went onincluding a rather wistful reference to whether she could continue, in all seriousness, to send young men to their death in Northern Ireland."
Both governments expressed their repeated concerns about the security situation in the North given the upsurge in unionist and loyalist protests and demonstrations over the Anglo-Irish deal.
Mrs Thatcher warned that such a reaction was "negative and very dangerous".
"The Unionists are saying they have lost everything and have got nothing," she said.
One briefing note warned that RUC chief constable John Hermon was "genuinely frightened" by the implications of one demonstration at Hillsborough.
Another briefing note warned: "Dublin has not grasped the fundamental reality that Northern Ireland is and will remain ungovernable."
There was also concern in both governments over Libyan arms reaching the IRA.
CIE companies face the threat of industrial action if Dublin Bus reneges on a deal that would push up workers' pensions next month.
Siptu warned there could be widespread industrial action if the operator failed to honour a recent agreement brokered at the Workplace Relations Commission to end a campaign of strikes.
The National Bus and Railworkers Union (NBRU) said it would have no choice but to consult its members on industrial action if Dublin Bus did not honour the deal. The agreement means that pay rises worth 11.25pc over three years should be counted toward pensions from next month.
Sources said the company was in a tricky position as the CIE group had given a commitment to the Pensions Authority that there would be a freeze on pensionable pay as part of a funding proposal.
It is understood that it agreed that pay would not be ranked for pension purposes, there would be no new entrants to the schemes and a defined contribution scheme would be set up. The main unions at the group, Siptu and the Nbru, said they never agreed to this.
Members of the workforce of over 3,000 are set for a 3.75pc pay rise each year for the next three years under the agreement reached following six days of strikes in September.
Read more: Interview: Unions' demand for 4pc pay rise in private sector a 'try on' - Ibec's McCoy
Willie Noone, of Siptu, indicated there could be widespread industrial action. "Our members are not going to accept that their wage increases are not going to be ranked for pension purposes," he said.
"It is the one issue at this moment in time that would unite all grades."
NBRU general secretary Dermot O'Leary said the agreement reached at Dublin Bus was "quite clear" on the issue.
"Come February 1, the pay increases that we successfully negotiated need to be ranked for pension purposes," he said. "If not, we will have no option but to consult with our members on industrial action. We would not accept the breach of an agreement when the ink is barely dry on it."
The Workplace Relations Commission agreement delayed the issue of the pay increases being considered as pensionable pay until January.
"Without compromising the link between pay and pensions, the parties agree to defer the funding of increases in pay until the end of January 2017," it said.
Mr Noone said the pension scheme at Dublin Bus was not "gold-plated" and members with 43 years service came out with around 130 a week at retirement. He said this was because the Wages Grade Scheme, which covers 80pc of employees including drivers, operatives, mechanics and labourers, did not factor in length of service when pensions were calculated.
A further 20pc of workers, including clerical, inspectors and management, are in a superannuation scheme that is calculated on service.
A spokesperson for Dublin Bus would not say whether the company planned to count the pay increases toward pensions.
A Limerick man accused of threatening to kill another man and damaging property has been refused bail by the Special Criminal Court.
Larry McCarthy (37), with addresses at Old Cork Road, Limerick, and Cornmarket Villas in Limerick, is charged with threatening to kill Noel Moore at Windsor House, Donoughmore, Limerick on July 28 2015.
He is also charged with threatening to damage Mr Moore's house in Donoughmore on the same date. The Special Criminal Court previously fixed a trial date of June 19th next year.
Mr McCarthy is facing separate charges, also at the Special Criminal Court, that he and two other people threatened to use "unlawful violence" and that he assaulted David Foran at Cornmarket Villas on November 25th, 2014. A trial date of July 3rd next year was previously fixed for those charges.
Today, the State objected to Mr McCarthy's application for compassionate bail to attend his grandmother's funeral in Limerick.
Detective Sergeant John Cleary, of Roxboro Road Garda Station in Limerick, told the three-judge, non-jury court that there was an objection to bail on the grounds that Mr McCarthy is a "serious flight risk" and there was "potential of interfering with witnesses."
Det Sgt Cleary agreed with defence counsel, Mark Thompson BL, that there has always been strong objections to Mr McCarthy getting bail.
Mr Thompson told the court that his client wanted to pay his respects to his grandmother "in any shape or form." However Det Sgt Cleary said there were no bail conditions which Mr McCarthy could offer to appease his concerns.
Mr Justice Paul Butler said that Mr McCarthy had already been refused bail last week under Section 2A of the Bail Act on the evidence of Chief Superintendent David Sheahan.
Mr Justice Butler said that the court must be "proportionate" and nothing had changed in favour of the applicant since last week.
Mr Justice Butler, presiding with Judge Robert Eagar and Judge Sinead Ni Chulachain, then refused the accused's man application.
Irish authorities are increasingly using Facebook to investigate citizens, new figures show.
The number of State requests to Facebook seeking access to personal content quadrupled in the first six months of the year, according to the company's latest Transparency Report.
Irish authorities made 89 requests about 80 Facebook account holders in this period compared to just 20 requests about 18 Facebook account holders for the same time frame in 2015.
Facebook says that it furnished Irish authorities with some information about account holders in two-thirds of cases. According to Facebook, requests can include applications to access messages, photos, videos, timeline posts and location information.
Typical requests relate to criminal cases, Facebook said in its report, such as robberies or kidnappings.
"We may also supply law enforcement with information to help prevent or respond to fraud and other illegal activity," said the social network's report.
"In many of these cases, the government is requesting basic subscriber information, such as name and length of service. Requests may also ask for IP address logs or account content."
The social network also received 117 requests from Irish authorities to preserve records related to 320 different accounts and prevent them being deleted for 90 days.
Facebook turned down its only "emergency" request during the first six months of 2016.
According to the company, emergency requests "sometime means providing information to law enforcement officials that will help them respond to emergencies, including those that involve the immediate risk of harm, suicide prevention and the recovery of missing children".
Globally, government requests for account data increased by 27pc compared to the last six months of 2015, increasing from 46,710 to 59,229 requests overall.
However, Facebook executives were at pains to say that they do not lightly hand over user information.
"We apply a rigorous approach to every government request we receive to protect the information of the people who use our services," said Chris Sonderby, deputy general counsel for Facebook.
"We scrutinise each request for legal sufficiency, no matter which country is making the request, and challenge those that are deficient or overly broad. We do not provide governments with 'back doors' or direct access to people's information."
In total, Irish authorities made more account requests of Facebook than any other social media or technology company.
Microsoft received 32 requests during the first six months of the year while Google and Yahoo received 19 and 17 requests respectively.
Twitter only received four requests in the same time period.
Apple was served with 268 requests, but only five of these related to iCloud or iTunes accounts - 262 of the requests came in relation to device requests.
A dangerous criminal is the leader of one of Dublins most prolific burglary gangs that gardai believe is committing up to 25 raids a week.
The criminal grouping has been a prime target of gardai under Operation Thor and is suspected of being involved in the theft of a PSNI officers handgun in the North, later used to threaten a teenage girl.
The gangs leader is a 31-year-old criminal from south Dublin, who has been arrested on several occasions for burglary-related offences and for threatening gardai. He is currently before the courts on other matters.
Earlier this month, members of the gang were stopped following a chase with gardai. During a subsequent search, items that were stolen from several properties along border counties were recovered.
The operation in west Dublin helped gardai identify key members of the gang who are mainly aged in their late teens and early 20s.
Gardai now believe the criminal leader is the groups driver, who ferries the younger thugs across the country to carry out robberies and aggravated raids.
The group includes young criminals from Dublin as well as Wicklow and operates from a halting site in south-east Dublin which has been raided on several occasions by detectives.
Two of them are members of the travelling community and are related to each other. One, who is aged just 16, was previously arrested for the knife-point robbery of a 94-year-old woman at her home in Dun Laoghaire.
Despite several members of the gang being either youths or aged in their late teens, they have amassed more than 100 previous convictions for burglary offences.
They are targeting mainly homes in border counties in the Republic and in the North and are carrying out as many as 25 burglaries in one week, a source said.
The gang are also the chief suspects for the theft of a handgun registered to a PSNI officer at his home. The fact that this group now have access to firearms is of huge concern, the source added.
During the robbery in Co Armagh, a woman was held at gunpoint in the Markethill area before the raiders stole her car.
Gardai are currently liaising with their PSNI colleagues to target the crime gang. The sheer volume of burglaries means that the group potentially carried out close to 1,300 burglaries across the country since the beginning of the year.
Gardai have also been on red alert as several notorious burglary suspects were temporarily released from prison for the Christmas period.
Sources previously revealed that officers in south Dublin fear at least half a dozen prolific burglars will be freed over Christmas.
However, a special operation carried out by Dublin Eastern Garda Division in Tallaght earlier this month, against a burglary gang helped stem the flow of criminals in the area.
A baby girl died on Christmas Eve less than a year after her five-year-old cousin passed away.
Five-month-old Margaret Alexandra Burke, from Effin, Co Limerick, was found lifeless in her cot at home on Christmas Eve, almost 12 months after her cousin, Alexandra Costa-Burke, also from Effin, died after suffering a rare form of cancer.
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Now the two little girls lie close to each other in the same graveyard.
Loving granddad Walter Burke paid tribute to the baby girl, born about six weeks premature, saying: She was a beautiful little girl, it was an awful shock.
The baby was only out of hospital 10 days. Shed been in hospital because she couldnt breathe and shed been on oxygen. But she was laughing the night before, he told the Herald.
All we know is she was dead in the morning in the cot.
The hospital is doing tests. The baby seemed fine, this came out of nowhere.
Mr Burke added that the family was getting by thanks to an unbelievable support network.
Margaret Alexandra was born six or eight weeks premature, he said. She had breathing problems but you wouldnt think something like this would happen, to lose this little baby.
Her little cousin died last year and we were just finishing her headstone when this happened. Her [baby Margaret Alexandras] mother is really torn asunder.
The baby was called Margaret Alexandra after my other granddaughter. This is a terrible loss but we have great support from neighbours and friends, its unbelievable.
Walter had seen his baby granddaughter only hours before she passed away. A poignant photograph shows the infant being cradled by Father Christmas.
Hundreds of mourners gathered for the funeral Mass at St Pauls Church in Kilmallock, Co Limerick, on Tuesday.
The infants mother, Margaret, was comforted by her husband Walter during the heartbreaking service.
Fr David Casey told mourners: No mother expects to live through the death of her child. I am sorry that death has come so suddenly. I am sorry your heart is pierced with pain... that life can be so hard.
Minister for Health Simon Harris during a visit to the HSE open recruitment event. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins
Health Minister Simon Harris said there is no "silver bullet" to help recruit health workers back to Ireland.
The minister was speaking at a three-day HSE recruitment drive for nurses and midwives where 52 attended yesterday.
He said the HSE wants to increase the numbers employed in Ireland and is hoping to lure workers back from overseas.
"I'm not suggesting there is a magic wand or a silver bullet but what I am saying is we want 1,000 more nurses working in the Irish health service by the end of 2017," he said.
"2017 hasn't quite started yet and we have a situation where we are interviewing more than 50 people here today.
"We've seen 19 doctors and nurses offered jobs on Wednesday and we've another day on Friday. I intend to see this event rolled out right around the country."
He also expressed his "disappointment" at Siptu's decision to ballot emergency department and support workers for strike action. Those affected include hospital porters, security and catering staff as well as home help.
"I would encourage Siptu to use the mechanisms available to them within the Lansdowne Road Agreement to engage with the HSE as the employer," he said.
Minister for Mental Health and Older People, Helen McEntee has announced a new mental health plan for secondary school students to act as a "preventive measure".
Ms McEntee (FG) revealed to the Irish Sun that students will receive up to 300 hours of mental health classes to help students "maintain their own well-being".
"The Department of Education are going to be rolling out a new health and well-being programme.
This means up to Junior Cert young people will have to do 300 hours of this particular class. We have divided it into three age groups so from 0-12, 13-18 and 19-25.
Obviously the zero to 12 will be looking at the primary school level and what it is we can do to help them maintain their own well-being but also so they can identify if theyre experiencing a problem," Ms McEntee told the Irish Sun.
The Department of Health were given 853m for mental health in the latest budget.
"Its important young people know that while celebs like Kim Kardashian are great and all, they have personal trainers and stylists looking after them and our young people need to be happy with who they are as people," Ms McEntee told the Irish Sun.
A mother who recently shared her story about caring for her disabled daughter on national television has admitted she is disappointed, but not shocked by the lack of response at government level.
Since appearing on The Late Late Show, Johanne Powell says she has been inundated with messages of support from other carers around the country.
However, after highlighting her experience looking after her daughter Siobhan (32), Johanne says she has not been contacted by any politicians or members of the HSE, which is the main reason she went public.
To be honest, I did expect this time that they would be in contact. They try to avoid you like the plague if they can, she told Independent.ie.
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You think they would even be telling us that there is something in the pipe line, but theyve told us nothing.
We have heard nothing from those in power.
Johanne has been contacted by carers from all over Ireland who thanked her for telling it like it is.
Her daughter Siobhan has a rare chromosomal disorder, profound mental disabilities, is unable to walk or eat solid food and only has one kidney.
But Johanne says there are parents who have it more difficult than she does.
There are lone parents with two and three children; there are people who have higher medical needs than Siobhan.
I got a message from someone whose 82-year-old mother with dementia is looking after her 53-year-old disabled daughter. Its awful.
Johanne met her husband Alan in 1975 and moved to Fethard-On-Sea in Wexford.
Siobhan was born in 1984, and Johanne says she hasnt had much of a life since.
There are people in the local village who dont even know who I am as I rarely get to leave the house.
She is our daughter and we love her very dearly, but we are not getting any younger. We have lost so much of our lives because of this.
I dont want to go out every night, far from it, but it is to be able to do it and be able to take up an invitation to go to a wedding, or a christening, or a party.
Originally from Norway, Johanne has a disabled niece who had the opportunity to go to a mainstream school and now has her own flat, with full-time staff caring for her.
She accepts Norway is probably financially better off as a country, but finds it frustrating that carers in Ireland get very little respite.
I know that the cost of care is very expensive and I know Norway have the oil money etc. But all I ask for is even just one weekend every month of respite. Thats not much to ask for, is it?
We are just keeping our heads above water, but what if anything happens to one of us? Theyre telling us not to worry as she will be given care, but why cant they have it now?
She explained how there are just 158 beds available for residential care in Wexford, with 61 names on a waiting list.
As far as we know, there are no plans for an expansion of the services, so 61 people have to die to clear the list, basically.
Siobhans name has been on the waiting list since 2013.
In a statement, the HSE said that high-priority service users are provided with home support, respite and a day service until a residential place becomes available.
However, Johanne says it is not clear what counts as high-priority.
You cant even find out what position you are on the list, or what the criteria is for being on the list, thats the frustrating thing.
For 2017, Johanne hopes that there will be developments in the provision of help for carers in Ireland.
All I want is for there to be regular respite, and the sign of Siobhan being able to move into a residential home in the near future.
Years ago, when Siobhan was first born, I thought how lucky people will be in years to come when developments have been made, and people wont have the same difficulties as us.
Improvements have been made, but thirty years later, they are practically in the exact same position.
A father is pleading with the public to help fundraise money for cancer research rather than scaremongering parents into raising hundreds of thousands of euro to travel to the US for paediatric cancer treatments.
John and Margaret Foley from Co Meath watched as their "beautiful and happy" son Conor battled a rare childhood cancer called Neuroblastoma three times before he sadly passed away in 2015 at the age of 17.
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Conor was four-years-old when he was first diagnosed with stage 4 Neuroblastoma. It is such an indescribable shock as a parent to be told that your child has cancer, Margaret told Independent.ie.
Our life as a family was turned upside down.
Conors family did everything they could to help their young son battle the rare childhood cancer.
Over the next two years he underwent intensive treatment which included six months' chemotherapy, a bone marrow transplant and 25 radiotherapy sessions, followed by another six months of intense treatment.
Seeing our child, our gorgeous son, being pinched and crying - its just so hard. As a parent, every bit of your instinct, of you, wants to protect your child and keep them safe and yet, you have to rail against that instinct and allow this to happen to them. You know it has to be done to beat this cancer but its awful, said Margaret.
Conor was given the all clear and after ten years in remission the family felt as though they had won the battle against cancer.
John and Margaret as well as Conors two older sisters Emma and Rachel were left devastated when Conors cancer returned for a second time in 2014.
Life was getting back to normal. You always have that worry at the back of your mind, but Conor was doing well. He started ticking off the milestones.
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His first communion came and went, he was in 5th class and we were getting him ready for secondary school. He had been 10 years cancer-free but 10 years to the day he relapsed. He was 14-years-old.
Margaret said that devastated doesnt even begin to describe how she felt.
Conor began intense cancer treatment again at Our Lady's Children's Hospital Crumlin.
The world wide centre for paediatric oncology were knocked for six, but the oncology team of St John's ward did their absolute best to save Conors life for a second time and they did as they got Conor back into a cancer free status with no evidence of disease after two and a half years treatment, dad John told Independent.ie.
We did everything for Conor. He tried world-wide treatments and technologies but unfortunately it recurred for a third time in the November 2014.
John said that Conor pioneered worldwide cancer treatments in the hope of finding a cure, but never had to leave Ireland.
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We flew in drugs from Austria, we begged for drug companies to allow Conor the best fighting chance. He pioneered a lot of treatments but there is no guaranteed cure for Neuroblastoma.
On July 3 2015, Conor passed away at the age of 17 after battling cancer three times.
We went to the ends of the world in every country for a cure or a special tablet for Conor but there was nothing and believe me there is still nothing 16 months on. There has been no official trial to prove conclusively that any drug prevents relapse for Neuroblastoma, therefore the idea of people scaremongering and frightening vulnerable parents of these kids to have to raise 300k to 500k for treatment in the US is absolute sickening.
Money should be going to research so we can find a cure and save our kids. Crumlin in Dublin is a centre of excellence and has worldwide consultants, said John.
John said he understands that parents would do absolutely anything to help save their child.
St. Johns cancer ward is a highly stressful environment. We need to raise the hundreds of thousands of euro into research for Neuroblastoma rather than clinical trials.
Margaret said that no family should be told theres no more that we can do for your child, but if you raise 300k you could try save your child in the US.
Recently we celebrated Conors 18th birthday, but not in the normal way. All Conors family and friends were there. The only person missing was Conor.
We love and miss Conor every day. The house is so quiet especially on Saturday and Sunday mornings when Conor would be up at 7:30am, watching his cartoons and having the TV blaring. Our home was always full of noise.
The family have set up the The Conor Foley Neuroblastoma Cancer Research Foundation to focus on funding research into options for children with neuroblastoma who suffer a relapse. The charity is registered with the Irish Charity Regulatory Authority.
We want for families in the future who have to deal with this cancer to have hope, knowing that there is research being carried out in Ireland to try to find as cure- as Conor did not die in vain, said John.
You can donate to the Conor Foley Neuroblastoma Cancer Research Foundation by visiting the website at www.conorfoley.ie.
Fine Gael has begun preparations to fight a general election, its party chairman has revealed.
Martin Heydon conceded his party must work on the assumption that an election could happen in 2017 - and was perhaps more possible in 2018.
The Kildare South TD said the era of Fine Gael being "run by focus groups" was part of the reason for failure in 2016's general election.
Mr Heydon insisted this "focus group era" was now well and truly ended. Work had already begun on renewing grass roots and trying to identify candidates, while recommendations in two damning post-general election reports were being implemented.
Read more: Kenny: I admire Conor McGregor - but my own fight was to form Coalition
The Fine Gael chairman's comments came before Taoiseach Enda Kenny ruled out the prospect of voters going back to the polls in 2017. Although Mr Kenny admitted his biggest challenge in 2016 was getting a government together, he remained optimistic it would last at least another year.
"I do not see an election at all in the very foreseeable future," he said. "We have a three-year confidence and supply agreement with the Fianna Fail party, with a review at the end of 2018.
"We have 600 tasks in the Programme for Government and we are getting on with that business, and the last thing on my mind is the thought of a general election."
But Mr Heydon stressed Fine Gael's tricky role leading a minority Coalition, dependent especially on Fianna Fail, meant it was not in the driving seat when it came to calling the next election.
"An election can be called by people other than Fine Gael and we can't control that. So, we will need to put a back-up plan in place in 2017," he told the Irish Independent.
"We don't intend calling an election and we intend working with everybody, as far as we can, to avoid it. Once we continue to provide good government we will continue to try to do that," he said.
Mr Heydon avoided citing Fianna Fail as the one most likely to cause an election. But there was no doubting what he had in mind with his next reference.
"If others decide it's politically opportune for them to pick an issue to go on, that's up to them," Mr Heydon said.
The issue of water charges will be a major test for all parties in the first quarter - and an election in 2017 arising from this topic cannot be ruled out.
A special Oireachtas committee on the issue, under the chairmanship of an independent chairman, Senator Padraig O Ceidigh, will hold its first full public meeting on January 11.
The 20 committee members have until the end of March to produce recommendations for the Dail. Soundings from the committee's first meeting held in private before Christmas were quite positive.
But Mr Heydon was conscious that once it met publicly things would be different.
"Meetings in public on this issue will have a very different dynamic and a different tone," he said.
He noted that other parties had built their success on opposition to water charges.
"They won't want to see it disappear from the political agenda," he said.
Some form of compromise between the 'big two' parties could stave off a crisis as they comprise 11 of the 20 members. But Mr Heydon dismissed such speculation, insisting that given current Dail numbers a broader consensus was needed.
The scene of the attack in Dalkey, south Dublin, where a 26-year-old man was stabbed in the face with a Swiss Army knife. Photo: Frank McGrath
A young man almost lost his eye in an attack which has been described as "barbaric".
The 26-year-old victim of the stabbing in Dalkey, south Dublin, is recovering following the incident on Christmas Eve.
The attack happened shortly before midnight close to Dalkey village when a row broke out over a teenage girl.
The victim, who is from the Glenageary area of the capital, suffered huge blood loss and was lucky not to lose the sight in his eye when he was stabbed in the face with a Swiss Army knife.
Three students from a prestigious south Dublin school have now been interviewed by gardai.
His suspected attacker, a 17-year-old boy from Killiney, was arrested on Tuesday and questioned at Shankill Garda Station before being released without charge.
A file is now being prepared for the DPP.
Sources said the suspect was a student at one of the country's best-known private secondary schools, which charges substantial annual fees.
Two other 17-year-old boys, who are believed to attend the same school, have also been questioned by gardai but neither was arrested.
These two boys, who have addresses in Dalkey and Glasthule, are understood to have voluntarily presented themselves for questioning at Dun Laoghaire Garda Station hours after the attack took place. They are not considered suspects.
It is understood that the incident happened in The Metals area, near Dalkey Quarry, after an argument started outside a pub on Dalkey's Main Street.
It has been alleged that the private school students followed the victim after remarks were made to a girl in their company.
It is understood that at least three of them confronted the victim and demanded he apologise. It is alleged that a 17-year-old produced a Swiss Army knife and stabbed the man in the face.
Gardai were unable to confirm reports that the stabbing had been recorded on a mobile phone.
"It seems that he [the culprit] used the knife in a punching motion and the knife just missed the victim's eye by a fraction," a source said.
"The knife was then dragged along the injured man's face, all the way to his neck.
"He suffered huge blood loss and terrible injuries to his face. This was a barbaric incident."
Emergency services were called and the man was rushed to St Vincent's Hospital. He has since been discharged.
At one stage it is believed that medics feared his injuries were critical.
It is understood the Dart line in the area was sealed off for a time as gardai carried out a detailed forensic examination in and around the attack scene.
Meanwhile, a man was rushed to hospital after suffering serious hand injuries in a sustained attack on Wednesday evening.
The victim, who is in his 20s, was set upon and assaulted in Mill Lane, Clondalkin, west Dublin, at around 5pm.
It is believed that the man was attacked with a weapon, possibly a hatchet.
Gardai believe that at one point he attempted to protect his face but was struck in the hands with the weapon. He also suffered head injuries.
Emergency services were called to the scene and the man was transported to Tallaght Hospital by ambulance. Gardai arrived after the victim was taken to hospital.
No arrests have been made and gardai in Clondalkin are investigating the incident.
Northern Ireland's future first minister, Peter Robinson, was plotting to declare an independent state amid a feared bloodbath in the aftermath of the Anglo-Irish Agreement, British officials believed.
In one of a flurry of high-level intergovernmental meetings in 1986, British cabinet secretary Robert Armstrong - the UK's top-ranking official - told Irish counterparts that Mr Robinson was "saying things about independence".
"We may be tending to treat this as unthinkable and to say 'they can't really want it', but the issue may become more real," he warned.
Mr Armstrong was head of the British civil service and chief adviser to then prime minister Margaret Thatcher and the Tory cabinet. Notes from the meeting at Whitehall, marked 'secret', were sent from London to taoiseach Garret FitzGerald in Dublin.
Mr Armstrong told officials that unionists, who feared the recently-signed agreement was a precursor to a British withdrawal, would prefer an independent Northern Ireland rather than a united Ireland.
"However, they do not appear to have thought out the full consequences of this course - and enthusiasm for it is far less than widespread," he said. "They obviously have not given full weight to the financial consequences and do not appear to have considered what their position would be vis a vis the European Community and in the international context."
Mr Armstrong told the meeting that a lot of unionist thinking "particularly on the part of [Ian] Paisley", was based on the premise that "at some time the British would pull the rug out and that then Northern Ireland would have to go it alone".
"Paisley wanted to be in a position to blame the British if this happened - and also to be at the top of the heap," he said, according to Irish official notes of the meeting, just released into Dublin's National Archives under the 30-year rule.
Concerns of a Rhodesia-style unilateral declaration of independence (UDI) in Belfast were raised repeatedly during several confidential Anglo-Irish meetings that year, the State papers show.
In a meeting with secretary of state Tom King at the Irish Embassy in London in February, Mr Fitzgerald said a risk with keeping the Northern Ireland Assembly going was it being used "to declare UDI".
Mr King, who wanted to keep the forum going "for letting off steam, if nothing else", agreed that was possible. He said there was "real trouble ahead" as Catholics feared a Protestant backlash to the agreement, citing a television programme that showed the UDA and UVF getting organised.
"The British were unhappy about the role of some politicians," notes of the meeting state.
"Peter Robinson was certainly in touch with the paramilitaries and the British were also extremely dubious about the role of [former UUP deputy leader] Harold McCusker. Even Paisley was now looking over his shoulder to the paramilitaries."
Head of the Northern Ireland civil service Ken Bloomfield also warned Irish officials in April about an attempted revival of Ulster nationalism.
"Unionists are now beginning to realise that the choice facing them is whether to preserve the union or preserve their ascendancy," he said.
Also in April, Mr FitzGerald met with Ulster Unionist Belfast lord mayor John Carson.
One of the mayor's officials, Alfie Redpath, told the meeting there were close links between some politicians and the paramilitaries, saying the "thuggery is being manipulated with a purpose".
"Paisley and Robinson seem to be working with a scenario of UDI in mind," he told the taoiseach. "They will say, when the violence has reached a certain point, that the only way out is for Ulster to look after itself. We could run into a bloodbath."
Mr FitzGerald responded that unionists purported to support the union but "what they are doing is the opposite".
An Egyptian journalist holds a candle and a poster supporting EgyptAir during a candlelight vigil for the victims of Flight 804 (AP)
Rescue workers search for survivors at he wreckage of a chartered airplane that crashed in La Union, a mountainous area outside Medellin, Colombia, Tuesday , Nov. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Luis Benavides)
U.S. Navy LT JG Curtis Calabrese takes notes on board of a U.S. Navy Lockheed P-3C Orion patrol aircraft from Sigonella, Sicily, Sunday, May 22, 2016, searching the area in the Mediterranean Sea where the Egyptair flight 804 en route from Paris to Cairo went missing on May 19. (AP Photo/Salvatore Cavalli)
2016 has been one of the safest years in aviation history, despite recent high-profile crashes, says Oliver Smith.
The recent crashes of LaMia Airlines Flight 2933 near the Colombian city of Medellin, and a Russian military jet soon after departure from Sochi, will have done little to allay the fears of nervous fliers.
But, though it will come as no consolation to the friends and families of those who perished, 2016 has been one of the safest years in aviation history.
There has been a relatively small number of air accidents this year - a testament to the stringent safety standards now in place around the world.
Among 2016s other high-profile tragedies was EgyptAir Flight 804 from Paris to Cairo, which disappeared in the Mediterranean in May, killing all 66 on board, and Flydubai Flight 981, which crashed after an aborted landing in Russia with the loss of 62 lives.
According to the Aviation Safety Network (ASN), which keeps a database of all air travel incidents, 2016 was the second safest year on record.
Expand Close Rescue workers search for survivors at he wreckage of a chartered airplane that crashed in La Union, a mountainous area outside Medellin, Colombia, Tuesday , Nov. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Luis Benavides) / Facebook
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Whatsapp Rescue workers search for survivors at he wreckage of a chartered airplane that crashed in La Union, a mountainous area outside Medellin, Colombia, Tuesday , Nov. 29, 2016. (AP Photo/Luis Benavides)
There were 19 fatal accidents this year, resulting in 325 deaths - down from 560 in 2015. Given that this year will see around 3.5 billion air passengers flown, thats just one death per 10,769,230 travellers. Two of these 19 accidents were on flights operated by airlines on the EU black list.
Only one year saw fewer deaths - 2013, with 265. But with 3.048 billion boarding a plane that year, according to the World Banks data, this amounts to a very similar number of deaths per passenger: one per 11,501,886.
Safest years in aviation history | Deaths per total number of passengers flown
2013 - one per 11,501,886
2016 - one per 10,769,230
2015 - one per 6,144,642
2012 - one per 6,079,831
2011 - one per 5,318,702
2008 - one per 3,755,102
2004 - one per 3,478,821
2014 - one per 3,253,791
2009 - one per 2,960,526
2007 - one per 2,803,299
When one discounts hijackings and sabotage, 2015 was actually the safest year on record. The crashes of a Germanwings A320 in March 2015, deliberately caused by co-pilot Andreas Lubitz, and a Metrojet A321 in October, due to a suspected bomb, accounted for the majority of last year's fatalities.
Safest years in aviation history | Total deaths
2013 - 29 fatal crashes; 265 deaths
2016 - 19 fatal crashes; 325 deaths
2012 - 24 fatal crashes; 476 deaths
2011 - 36 fatal crashes; 524 deaths
2004 - 36 fatal crashes; 543 deaths
2015 - 16 fatal crashes; 560 deaths
2008 - 33 fatal crashes; 588 deaths
1984 - 39 fatal crashes; 676 deaths
2003 - 33 fatal crashes; 703 deaths
1999 - 48 fatal crashes; 706 deaths
2015 also saw the fewest number of fatal crashes involving passenger aircraft - just seven. There has been 11 so far in 2016. The general trend, however - that air travel has never been safer - is easy to see.
Since 1997 the average number of airliner accidents has shown a steady and persistent decline... thanks to the continuing efforts of international aviation organisations such as ICAO, IATA, Flight Safety Foundation and the aviation industry, said ASN President Harro Ranter.
But what of the deadliest year in aviation history?
Expand Close Emergencies Ministry members search the wreckage at the crash site of Flight number FZ981, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Dubai-based budget carrier Flydubai, at the airport of Rostov-On-Don, Russia, March 19, 2016 / Facebook
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Whatsapp Emergencies Ministry members search the wreckage at the crash site of Flight number FZ981, a Boeing 737-800 operated by Dubai-based budget carrier Flydubai, at the airport of Rostov-On-Don, Russia, March 19, 2016
For that, one must go back to 1972, which saw a remarkable 2,370 deaths and 72 fatal accidents. There were 11 crashes that saw at least 100 perish, including four Aeroflot flights, and others involving Iberia, Sterling Airways, Alitalia, British European Airways, Interflug, Spantax and Eastern Air Lines.
10 deadliest years in aviation history
1972: 72 accidents (2,373 casualties)
1973: 69 accidents (2,028 casualties)
1985: 42 accidents (2,010 casualties)
1974: 68 accidents (1,994 casualties)
1996: 57 accidents (1,844 casualties)
1979: 77 accidents (1,776 casualties)
1962: 70 accidents (1,683 casualties)
1969: 71 accidents (1,676 casualties)
1977: 61 accidents (1,652 casualties)
1976: 66 accidents (1,627 casualties)
Fearful fliers should be grateful the Seventies are over.
The following year, 1973, was the second deadliest on record, with 69 fatal crashes and 2,028 deaths. The carriers involved in the biggest disasters that year included Royal Jordanian, Libya Arab Airlines, Invicta International Airlines, Varig and Pan Am. And, of course, Aeroflot, which had a staggering 17 crashes that year.
And 1974 was the fourth deadliest year, with 1,989 fatalities from 68 crashes (eight involving Aeroflot). It should be noted that safety standards have improved drastically at the Russian airline since then - it hasn't been involved in a fatal accident since 1996.
During every year in the Seventies, there were more than 1,000 deaths, making it comfortably the deadliest decade on record (16,766 - more than twice as many as during the 2000s).
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December 20, 2016: Candles burn at a Christmas market at Breitscheidplatz in Berlin, Germany to commemorate the 12 victims of a truck that ploughed into the crowded market on December 19. REUTERS/Christian Mang
November 29, 2016: Brazil's Chapecoense football team pose together for the last time in front of their charter plane which crashed near Medellin, Colombia, killing 76 people.
November 21, 2016: Gardai from the technical bureau examine the scene the morning after an attack on college student Kym Owens (18) in Maynooth, Co Kildare. The young woman was seriously assaulted as she walked from the bus to her college digs on a particularly foggy night. Picture: Colin ORiordan
November 9, 2016: This picture was taken in the early hours of November 9 as Donald Trump watched election results with his family and supporters - just minutes before they realised they could be the winners of the US Presidential Election Photo: PA
November 6, 2016: Ireland face New Zealand's haka in a shape of eight in memory of coach Anthony Foley, who passed away unexpectantly the week before. Photo: INPHO/Billy Stickland
October 10, 2016: Former Isis prisoner Nadia Murad delivers her speech after winning the Vaclav Havel Human Rights Prize in the Council of Europe in Strasbourg, France. Murad escaped sex slavery at the hands of Isis to become the first survivor of captivity to be appointed a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador.
September 5, 2016: The scene of a crash in which Nicola Kenny, a young woman who had just given birth the day before, was killed. Nicola was in the car with relatives and had just received a positive phonecall about her baby who had been brought to a hospital in Dublin when they were involved in the fatal incident.
September 3, 2016: The five hearses carrying the remains of the Hawe Family, Alan and Clodagh and their three children as they made their way to St Mary's Church, Castlerahan near Ballyjamesduff. Dad-of-three Alan Hawe murdered his wife Clodagh and three children before killing himself. His mother-in-law called emergency services when she read a note on the home's back door warning her not to enter the home. Photo: Frank McGrath
August 12, 2016: Olympic heroes! The O'Donovan brothers Paul and Gary do the country proud with a silver medal... and get the nation laughing with their clever quips
July 7, 2016: Members of Tallaght Community Arts perform at the 1916 centenary celebration in St Endas Park, Rathfarnham. The event was just one of many that took place throughout the year to celebrate the centenary of 1916. Photo: Tony Gavin
June 24, 2016: David Cameron makes a speech after the Brexit 'Leave' result outside 10 Downing Street in London, with wife Samantha and children Nancy, 12, Elwen, 10, and Florence, 5, before leaving for Buckingham Palace for an audience with Queen Elizabeth II to formally resign as Prime Minister Credit: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
July 14, 2016: French police forces and forensic officers stand next to a truck that ran into a crowd celebrating the Bastille Day national holiday on the Promenade des Anglais killing at least 60 people in Nice, France. Photo: Reuters
June 12, 2016: Jermaine Towns, left, and Brandon Shuford wait down the street from a multiple shooting at a nightclub in Orlando, Fla., Sunday, June 12, 2016. Towns said his brother was in the club at the time. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack)
June, 2016: Irish and French fans in Lyon before Irelands Euro 2016 clash with France Photo: Mark Condren
April 21, 2016: Fans leave flowers and purple balloons at a memorial outside Paisley Park, the singer Princes home in Minneapolis. The artist's untimely death shocked the world of music and beyond. Photo: Reuters
April 9, 2016: Not a picture exactly, but this video-still was too good not to include. David Mullins (19) was delighted with his unexpected win with Rule The World at Aintree, but it was his younger brother Charlie's emotions that stole the show.
April 8, 2016: Drugs mule Michaella McCollum is freed from prison in Peru under new legislation on early release that was introduced last year. She is pictured in an upmarket area of Peru during a family visit. Photo: Mark Condren
March 24, 2016: A devastated Louise James carries the coffin of one of her sons at the church in Derry as mourners attended the Buncrana pier tragedy funeral. Louise James lost her long-term partner Sean McGrotty, her mother Ruth Daniels, her sister Jodi-Lee (15) and their children, Mark (12), Evan (8) in the incident. Baby Rioghnach-Ann was saved by a heroic passery-by. (Brian Lawless/PA Wire)
March 22, 2016: An unidentified traveller gets to his feet in a smoke-filled terminal at Brussels Airport, in Brussels after 34 people were killed and more than 200 were injured after a suicide bombing. The photo was provided to international wires by Ralph Usbeck
February 26, 2016: Taoiseach Enda Kenny is congratulated as he leaves Leinster House after his historic re-election Photo: Paul Faith
February 19, 2016: In an exclusive photograph for the Irish Independent, Gerry 'The Monk' Hutch is pictured at the funeral of his brother Eddie Hutch Snr, a taxi driver in Dublin's north inner city. The latest victim of gangland violence was not involved in crime and described as a "soft target".
February 5, 2016: A photograph taken outside the Regency Hotel in Dublin just moments before raiders in disguise entered the hotel. One man died and two others were injured in the shooting incident.
January 19, 2016: Members of the Gardai at the scene in the Grand Canal where the body of Kenneth OBrien was found. Photo: Collins Dublin, Gareth Chaney
January 10, 2016: A woman leaves flowers beneath a mural of David Bowie in Brixton, London, who passed away on January 10, 2016 Photo: Getty
They are the moments that make you stop, talk, hope, smile, cry or even pray.
Photographs can depict a whole story in just a few seconds and hold a power that words will never have.
We've looked back at the biggest stories of the year, both in Ireland and abroad, and picked one simple image from each event.
2016 was certainly a busy one.
In Ireland, we had our own General Election, our 1916 centenary commemorations, teams in green that did us proud in France and Rio and a sudden spike in the capital's gangland feud. More poignant moments included the Buncrana pier tragedy that required a heart of stone not to shed a tear, the shock after a number of murder-suicides, some of which included children, and a notable increase in Ireland's road death toll.
Terror still grips Europe and beyond, and 2016 was no exception. Attacks in Brussels, Nice, Florida and Berlin shocked nations across the globe.
Politically, UK made a stand and voted 'Leave' in Brexit and Donald Trump tweeted and rallied his way into the White House.
2016 also saw the loss of some artistic and sporting greats - David Bowie, Alan Rickman, Prince, Mohamed Ali, Gene Wilder, to name but a few.
The above gallery are photographs from Independent.ie's most-read stories, let us know if you have your own notable moment to include.
Swiss Guards arrive before Pope Francis delivered his Urbi et Orbi (to the city and the world) message from the balcony overlooking St. Peters Square at the Vatican on Christmas Day. Photo: Alessandro Bianchi/Reuters
The coming year will mark the fifth centenary of the start of the Reformation. In 1517, the German monk, Martin Luther, hammered his 95 'theses' to the church door at Wittenberg objecting to various practices within the Catholic Church, not least the sale of indulgences.
The year just coming to an end saw an increasingly angry electorate hammer its own set of theses to the door of every single mainstream party in the Western world, setting off a Reformation of its own, except this time a political Reformation. This Reformation will continue into 2017.
At a minimum, Marine Le Pen will do very well in the French presidential election next year, and even if Angela Merkel becomes German chancellor for a fourth time, she will be a greatly diminished figure because of her recklessly generous refugee policy.
There were many other ways to help refugees than her opening of Germany's borders. Her policy was structurally biased in favour of young, single men because it was young, single men who were best placed to make the arduous journey from the Middle East and North Africa.
Instead, she should have flown refugees directly to Germany from the camps in Turkey. This policy would have been fairer. Why should young, single men have a better chance of finding asylum in Germany than other categories, including the old and infirm?
What is ironic is that this good woman, who has done more than almost anyone to set the conditions for Europe's new Reformation, is herself the daughter of a Lutheran pastor, and is therefore also a product of the original Reformation.
She has also set the conditions through her unswerving devotion to the euro.
It is simply a fact that a one-size-fits-all policy, which is what the euro is, and what the European Union itself is becoming, is absolutely doomed to failure in its present form and people are rightly rebelling.
The euro's value is set at a level that suits the Germans far more than the Italians or the Greeks. Or the Irish for that matter.
The interest rate set by the European Central Bank also suits the Germans more than it suits anyone else.
But here is another irony; it doesn't suit the Germans enough either because, to a certain extent, it tethers the fate of the German economy to the likes of 'feckless' Greece. This has given rise to Alternative for Germany, condemned as being 'far right' for wanting to pull Germany out of the euro and to curb immigration.
Defenders of the euro will say the fact it doesn't even suit Germany enough is proof that it involves compromises. But who do these compromises really serve? It is as though the vision of a united Europe which the euro embodies is more important than the practical and often dire effects of the euro on the ground.
Ms Merkel is now the equivalent of the popes at the time of the Reformation. She represents the old order. With Barack Obama departing the scene, she has become the major standard bearer for liberal internationalism. She is for globalisation, tout court, meaning she is for free movement of both goods and people, as well as for an ever-growing forest of international laws that undermine national sovereignty.
This promotes the global and the universal at the expense of the local and particular. Therefore, it completely ignores or denounces as 'bigotry' an absolutely ineradicable part of human nature, namely that we will always feel closest to the things that are closest to us.
Catholicism is also a universal religion. One reason Protestantism went so far, so fast, is that it allied itself strongly with local rulers. Henry VIII went for it partly because it would enhance his power and diminish the power of the Pope in Rome. Today, Rome is Brussels.
However, the Catholic Church had deep ancient local roots in almost every part of Europe. To that extent, it was both local and universal.
The euro and the Euro-federalist project, by contrast, are elitist and top-down from start to finish.
The Catholic Church painted the Protestants as 'heretics', and from its point of view that's what they were, and vice versa. Each sought to crush the other.
The mainstream parties in Europe are today what the Catholic Church was then. So is the mainstream media. Every mainstream party and most of the mainstream media are allied to liberal internationalism.
The populist parties of left and right, plus the alternative media, are the modern equivalents of the Protestants back in the 16th century.
The mainstream parties and media are furious that their power is being so badly threatened and denounce the heretics as 'bigots' and knuckle-draggers.
Just as the Catholic Church didn't trust the laity to interpret the 'Bible' properly, so the modern-day 'bishops' of the European Union don't trust the laity to properly understand the intricacies of the European project.
This is why they hate having to put European treaties to the vote and absolutely loathed Brexit. With Brexit, the British did another Henry VIII and now a modern-day Spanish Armada is determined to stop Britain leaving the fold permanently.
Donald Trump is more radical still, a sort of John Calvin to Brexit's Martin Luther. And lying in wait we have Ms Le Pen and co. Like the Catholic Church in the 16th century, the mainstream parties will hope to crush this heresy, but they will fail, just like the Catholic Church failed then. It will not be put down.
Liberal internationalism's high water mark has come and gone, just like the high water mark of the Catholic Church's power in Europe came and went in the Middle Ages.
A memorial service for the Hungarian-born star was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills
Hollywood has said its final farewell to Zsa Zsa Gabor at the actress and socialite's funeral.
Gabor died at the age of 99 after suffering a heart attack at her home in Bel-Air, Los Angeles, on December 18.
An intimate memorial service was held at the Church of the Good Shepherd in Beverly Hills on Friday, hosted by her widower Frederic Prinz von Anhalt.
An urn containing Gabor's ashes was taken into the church in a Louis Vuitton bag and placed next to a photograph of the Hungarian-born star with the words "farewell my love".
Gabor's ninth husband von Anhalt, 73, paid tribute to his late wife and said his life was "empty" without her.
"She left peacefully. It was beautiful the way she passed," he said.
"She was a good woman. She helped people, especially the homeless.
"She loved the red carpet. Her life was red carpet or nothing else.
"Keep her in your heart the way she was in Hollywood."
Von Anhalt, who married Gabor in 1986, said he had brought his wife's ashes in a Louis Vuitton dog bag because of her love of dogs.
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"I was my wife's partner. I was her best friend," he added.
"It was my duty, and it's the duty of any husband or any wife, to care for your partner.
"My wife was my life. Right now my life is empty. I was glued to my partner."
Father Ed Benioff, who led the service, hailed Gabor as a "Hollywood icon" with a "sensitive side".
"She epitomised and personified Hollywood glamour," he said.
After the service, von Anhalt said Gabor would be laid to rest in Hungary next to her late father.
Gabor had suffered from ill health since being partly paralysed in a car accident in 2002 and suffering a stroke in 2005.
Delivering the eulogy, German entrepreneur von Anhalt claimed Gabor was unaware for many months that her leg had been amputated in later life following an infection.
"She looked down and said 'there's a leg missing'," he told the congregation.
"I said, 'I'm your leg'. We moved on. We had fun."
He also recalled Gabor's friendships with the late Elizabeth Taylor and Kirk Douglas, who von Anhalt said "coached" Gabor as her health problems mounted.
Gabor, the great aunt of Paris Hilton, was better known for her string of marriages - totalling nine if a quickly annulled shipboard ceremony is included - than her work on-screen.
Born in Budapest in 1917, she started her career in the 1940s and went from being a beauty queen to a millionaire's wife and a major public figure.
The late Michael Winner, who directed her in the 1976 film Won Ton Ton: The Dog Who Saved Hollywood, once described her as largely playing a thinly veiled version of herself.
"She played Zsa Zsa Gabor the actress in real life," Winner said in 2013.
She was also known for her wit, having once said: "I am a marvellous housekeeper. Every time I leave a man I keep his house."
Gabor outlived older sister Magda and younger sister Eva, who were also actresses and socialites. Her only child, actress Francesca Hilton, died last year aged 67.
The family was dealt another tragedy following Gabor's death after it was confirmed her adopted son, Oliver Prinz von Anhalt, had died.
He was involved in a motorcycle accident in Los Angeles on December 10 and died on Christmas Day - a week after Gabor's death.
Debbie Reynolds, left, with her daughter Carrie Fisher at the Primetime Creative Arts Emmy Awards in Los Angeles in 2011 (AP)
Hollywood star Debbie Reynolds has died of a suspected stroke barely a day after the death of her daughter Carrie Fisher.
The 84-year-old Singin' In The Rain star died on Wednesday, her son Todd Fisher announced, saying: "She's now with Carrie and we're all heartbroken."
"She said, 'I want to be with Carrie'," he added. "And then she was gone."
In emergency service dispatch audio obtained by celebrity website Tmz.com, Reynolds is said to have suffered a stroke.
Emergency services were called at 1pm local time on Wednesday to her son's Beverly Hills home, where they were making plans for Fisher's funeral.
Actor and director Mr Fisher, 58, speaking outside Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre where Reynolds was taken by ambulance, said the stress of his sister's death on Tuesday at 60 "was too much" for their mother.
Carrie Fisher, who rose to fame for her role playing Princess Leia in Star Wars, died in hospital days after suffering a heart attack on a transatlantic flight from London to Los Angeles.
Fisher's daughter, actress Billie Lourd, 24, was photographed on Wednesday in California with Scream Queens co-star Taylor Lautner just before her grandmother fell ill.
Earlier this year Reynolds was said to be "frail" by her family and had reportedly suffered two previous separate strokes in 2013 and 2015.
Reynolds was just a teenager when she landed a role in the 1950 film Three Little Words, for which she was nominated for a most promising newcomer Golden Globe .
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She was perhaps most famous for playing Kathy Selden in 1952 musical Singin' In The Rain alongside Gene Kelly.
Her first of three marriages was to musician Eddie Fisher in 1955 and with him she had Carrie and Todd.
But their relationship ended sourly after news emerged of his affair with film star Elizabeth Taylor.
Reynolds continued to have a loving relationship with her ex-husband's children, including Joely Fisher, 49, who tweeted: " Some of the magic people have left the tribe ... for the moment I am inconsolable ... "
Reynolds had paid an emotional tribute to her daughter on Facebook.
She wrote: "Thank you to everyone who has embraced the gifts and talents of my beloved and amazing daughter. I am grateful for your thoughts and prayers that are now guiding her to her next stop. Love Carrie's Mother."
The actresses enjoyed a tumultuous relationship, particularly during Fisher's early forays into show business as she battled drug and alcohol addiction.
However, the bond between the mother and daughter grew stronger in later years and their homes shared the same grounds in Beverly Hills.
Earlier this year they premiered mother-daughter documentary Bright Lights: Starring Carrie Fisher and Debbie Reynolds at the Cannes Film Festival which will air on HBO next year.
In 2011 Fisher said she would be "happy" if she was like her mother "in any way".
The actress captured the hearts of a generation as the blaster-toting, bikini-wearing princess and tough resistance leader in the three original Star Wars films.
On Fisher's success as Leia, Reynolds once said: "People used to call her Debbie Reynolds' daughter ... now they call me Princess Leia's mother."
Off screen Fisher battled drink, drugs and mental illness and later emerged as a widely-lauded mental health advocate who inspired others by writing about her struggles.
In 1987 she published her semi-autobiographical novel Postcards From The Edge about a recovering drug addict film star. It became a bestseller and was turned into a 1990 film starring an Oscar-nominated Meryl Streep, Shirley MacLaine and Dennis Quaid.
She wrote and performed in an autobiographical one-woman show, Wishful Drinking, which went to Broadway and was turned into a book.
A fiver given as a festive gift is thought to be worth up to 50,000 thanks to a micro engraving
A rare 5 note thought to be worth up to 50,000 has been found in a Christmas card.
The note is one of four engraved with a tiny portrait of Jane Austen and was found in the Scottish Borders.
The new owner wants to remain anonymous and has decided to keep the note, frame it and hang it on their wall.
They received the note in a Christmas card from a relative in the same area, who thought they were including an ordinary 5.
The Tony Huggins-Haig Gallery in Kelso, in the Scottish Borders, launched the project with specialist micro-engraver Graham Short creating the mini artworks.
The note, discovered on Thursday, is the second of the four Bank of England notes to be found after one was handed over in change from a cafe in south Wales earlier this month.
Two more special 5 notes, spent in England and Northern Ireland, remain in general circulation and their serial numbers are AM32 885552 and AM32 885554.
Mr Huggins-Haig said the latest finder, who works in education, wants to remain anonymous but has been to the gallery to have the note verified.
He said: " They are completely delighted to have it and it's getting framed and going on the wall.
"They were given it in a Christmas card by a relative and they are delighted as well because they didn't know that's what they were putting in the card - they knew it was a 5 but not one that could be worth 50,000.
"Of the two that have been found, both are with people who want to keep them as art. They've both been found by wonderful people who are very deserving.
"We've let the 5 notes go out there and it's been brilliantly received by people."
He said the project has generated worldwide interest and he has been contacted by Russian, Chinese and Indian television companies.
Mr Huggins-Haig spent one of the notes in Granny Jean's bakery in Kelso on December 5 to start the project, sparking a huge surge in custom w hen he revealed the move days later.
Head baker Alan Malone said he was "gutted" to have inadvertently given it away in change.
Mr Short's last piece of art, a portrait of the Queen engraved on a speck of gold inside the eye of a needle, sold for 100,000.
The head of Japan's largest advertising agency has said he will resign following the "death by overwork" of a young employee who put in hundreds of hours in overtime.
Matsuri Takahashi, a 24-year-old graduate who joined Dentsu in April last year, took her own life on Christmas Day last year. She left a note for her mother which asked: "Why do things have to be so hard?"
Her death, deemed by the government as "karoshi" - or death by overwork - was the latest in a string of incidents that have thrown a spotlight on Japan's gruelling working culture and its high rates of suicide.
It is highly unusual for the head of a major Japanese firm to resign over an employee suicide.
Prosecutors
Japanese authorities have referred Dentsu and one of its executives to prosecutors on suspicion of violating labour laws by forcing Ms Takahashi to work illegally long hours.
She was part of Dentsu's online advertising division, which recently had its staff numbers cut from 14 to six, according to the Japan Times.
Ms Takahashi had worked more than 100 hours of overtime every month since joining the company in April last year, Japanese media reported.
In the weeks leading up to her death, she reportedly began writing messages on Twitter in which she complained of being forced to work extremely long hours.
"It's 4 o'clock. My body is trembling ... I just can't do this. I'm gonna die. I'm so tired," one message read.
Tadashi Ishii, the president of Dentsu, said in a statement it was "extremely regrettable" the company had failed to "prevent overwork by a new recruit.
"In order to take full responsibility, I would like to resign as president at a board meeting in January," he added.
Shinzo Abe, the Japanese prime minister, is campaigning for sweeping reforms of employment laws, which could include tighter regulation of overtime.
It is not the first time a Dentsu employee has killed themselves due to overwork.
In 2000, Japan's highest court ruled that a 24-year-old employee hanged himself due to suffering "horrendous working conditions".
It is unclear how many victims of "karoshi" there are each year in Japan, but estimates put the figure in the hundreds, or even the thousands.
Overall, in 2014, there were 25,000 suicides in Japan.
The rigorous working culture - where shifts of 12 hours or longer are often considered the norm - is understood to have begun in the 1970s, when wages were low.
The culture continued through the 1980s boom and is often credited with pushing Japan to become the world's third-largest economy.
But it has also been harshly criticised for leaving workers miserable, exhausted, and in some cases suicidal. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
Telegraph Media Group Limited [2022]
The world's oldest male panda named Pan Pan, has died aged 31 from cancer.
Pan Pan was born in Sichaun in China and was taken into custody when he was a few months old.
The world's oldest panda is Basi, a 36-year-old female who lives in China.
Pan Pan died early on Wednesday morning at the Dujiangyan base of the China Conservation and Research Center for Giant Panda.
Keepers described his death as "heart wrenching".
Keepers said he had stopped moving and eating, and lost consciousness, as his health had deteriorated rapidly.
There is an estimated 1,864 adult pandas in China with some 422 in captivity.
It;s belieevd wild pandas have the lifespan of 20 years.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, center, and Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, left, listen to Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu in Moscow, Russia on Thursday. Photo: Mikhail Klimentyev/Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP
A Syrian army soldier places a Syrian national flag during a battle with rebel fighters at the Ramouseh front line, east of Aleppo. Photo: AP Photo/Hassan Ammar, File
Rebel fighters walk out of a mosque in al-Rai town, northern Aleppo countryside, Syria December 30, 2016. On the gate are seen Islamic State logo stickers. REUTERS/Khalil Ashawi
Clashes, shelling and air raids in western Syria marred a Russian- and Turkish-backed ceasefire that aims to end nearly six years of war and lead to peace talks between rebels and a government emboldened by recent battlefield success.
Russian President Vladimir Putin, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, announced the ceasefire on Thursday after forging the agreement with Turkey, a longtime backer of the opposition.
The truce went into force at midnight but monitors and rebels reported almost immediate clashes, and violence appeared to escalate later on Friday as warplanes bombed areas in the country's northwest, they said.
Asaad Hanna, a political officer in the Free Syrian Army (FSA), a loose alliance of insurgent groups, told Reuters violence had reduced but had not stopped.
"We cannot be optimistic about someone like the Russians who used to kill us for six years ... they are not angels. But we are happy because we are reducing the violence and working to find a solution for the current situation," said Hanna.
The ceasefire is meant as a first step towards fresh peace talks, after several failed international efforts this year to halt the conflict, which began as a peaceful uprising and descended into war in 2011.
It has resulted in more than 300,000 deaths, displaced more than 11 million people and drawn in the military involvement of world and regional powers, including Moscow and Ankara.
The agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey, which said they will guarantee the truce, is the first of three ceasefire deals this year not to involve the United States or United Nations.
Moscow is keen to push ahead with peace talks, hosted by its ally Kazakhstan. But the first challenge will be maintaining the truce, which looked shaky on Friday.
WARPLANES AND HELICOPTERS
Syrian government warplanes carried out nearly 20 raids against rebels in several towns along the provincial boundary between Idlib and Hama, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said. Clashes between rebel groups and government forces took place overnight in the area, the Observatory and rebel officials said.
Warplanes and helicopters also struck northwest of Damascus in the rebel-held Wadi Barada valley, where government troops and allied forces clashed with rebels, the British-based Observatory reported.
A military media unit run by Damascus's ally Hezbollah denied any Syrian government air strikes on the area.
An official from the Nour al-Din al-Zinki rebel group said government forces had also tried to advance in southern Aleppo province.
There was no immediate comment from the Syrian military on Friday's clashes.
Residents of several rebel-held areas, including towns and cities in Idlib province, used the relative calm to hold street protests against the Syrian government on Friday, the Observatory said.
A number of rebel groups have signed the new agreement, Russia's Defence Ministry said on Thursday. Several rebel officials acknowledged the deal, and a FSA spokesman said it would abide by the truce.
Hanna, the FSA political officer, said late on Friday rebels were not yet responding to attacks by pro-government forces and had asked Turkey to make sure the attacks stop.
"If the breaks come again, we will reply to all the sources of fire. We are monitoring the fighting but our weapons are ready," he said.
PREVIOUS COLLAPSES
The previous two Syria ceasefires, brokered by Washington and Moscow, took effect in February and September but both collapsed within weeks as warring sides accused each other of truce violations and fighting intensified.
Putin said the parties were prepared to start peace talks intended to take place in Astana. Syrian state media said late on Thursday those talks would take place "soon".
The Syrian government will be negotiating from a strong position after its army and their allies, including Shi'ite militias supported by Iran, along with Russian air power, routed rebels in their last major urban stronghold of Aleppo this month.
Moscow's air campaign since September last year has turned the war in Assad's favour, and the last rebels left Aleppo for areas that are still under rebel control to the west of the city, including the province of Idlib.
On Friday the Russian ambassador to the United Nations said Moscow had circulated a proposed resolution at the U.N. Security Council that would endorse the ceasefire, and said he hoped the council would vote on the resolution on Saturday.
In another sign that the latest truce could be as challenging to maintain as its predecessors, there was confusion over which rebel groups would be covered by the ceasefire.
The Syrian army said the agreement did not include the radical Islamist group Islamic State, fighters from al-Qaeda's former branch the Nusra Front, or any factions linked to those jihadist groups.
But several rebel officials said on Thursday that the agreement did include the former Nusra Front - now known as Jabhat Fateh al-Sham - which announced in July that it was severing ties with al Qaeda.
A spokesman for Jabhat Fateh al-Sham criticized the ceasefire for not mentioning Assad's fate, and said the political solution under this agreement would "reproduce the criminal regime".
"The solution is to topple the criminal regime militarily," he said in a statement on Friday.
The powerful Islamist insurgent group Ahrar al-Sham said it had not signed the ceasefire agreement because of "reservations" but did not elaborate.
RUSSIA-TURKEY DETENTE
The deal follows a thaw in ties between Russia and Turkey.
Ankara backs rebels fighting against Islamic State, which has made enemies of all other sides involved in the conflict.
In a sign of the detente, the Turkish armed forces said on Friday Russian aircraft had carried out three air strikes against Islamic State in the area of al-Bab in northern Syria.
Ankara has insisted on the departure of Assad but his removal has become a secondary concern to fighting the expansion of Kurdish influence in northern Syria. The chances of Assad's opponents forcing him from power now seem more remote than at any point in the war.
Turkish demands that fighters from the Lebanese Hezbollah movement leave Syria may not please Iran, another major Assad supporter. Hezbollah has been fighting alongside Syrian government forces against rebels.
On Thursday a senior Hezbollah official said the party's military wing would remain in Syria.
The United States, in the waning days of U.S. President Barack Obama's administration, has been sidelined in recent negotiations and is not due take part in the Kazakhstan talks.
Russia has said the United States could join a fresh peace process once President-elect Donald Trump takes office on Jan. 20. It also wants Egypt to join, together with Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, Jordan and the United Nations.
Trump has said he would cooperate more closely with Russia to fight terrorism but it was unclear what that policy would look like, given resistance from the Pentagon and the U.S. intelligence community to closer cooperation with Russia on Syria.
The wife of Lukasz Urban, the Polish truck driver who was killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack (AP Photo/Lukasz Szelemej)
People gather in front of the church for a funeral mass of the Polish truck driver Lukasz Urban, who was killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack (AP Photo/Lukasz Szelemej)
People gather in front of the church after a funeral mass for the Polish truck driver Lukasz Urban, who was killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack (AP Photo/Lukasz Szelemej)
Hundreds of mourners have bid farewell to the Polish truck driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack.
Lukasz Urban, 37, has been described as the first victim of the attack that killed a total of 12 people in the German capital on December 19.
He had been waiting to deliver a shipment of steel in Berlin when his truck was hijacked by the attacker, believed to be Tunisian man Anis Amri, who was later killed in a shoot-out with Italian police.
Mr Urban was shot, and his body was found later in the cab of the truck.
Poland's president Andrzej Duda joined Mr Urban's family, friends and neighbours in a church in the village church in Banie, near the border with Germany.
Several other Polish political officials and a representative of the German embassy to Poland were also there.
A letter from prime minister Beata Szydlo was also read out in which she described her "great pain and sadness" and expressed her sympathy to Mr Urban's family.
"Poles have fallen victim to terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic fundamentalists but the tragedy that happened in Berlin is unique when it comes to the ruthlessness and cruelty of the perpetrator," Ms Szydlo said.
Bishop Henryk Wejman delivered a homily in which he described Mr Urban as a man who was open to others and conscientious in his work.
"His willingness to work and serve others won him the trust of other people and the openness to fellow man," Bishop Wejman said.
As the Mass was winding down the president bowed his head at Mr Urban's coffin before offering his condolences to the dead man's wife and teenage son.
The coffin was then carried out of the church and placed in a hearse, which drove it slowly through the village to a cemetery for burial, as mourners walked alonside it.
Before the Mass, a group of truck drivers honked the horns of their trucks to honour Mr Urban.
It is easy to be sceptical about yesterday's Syrian ceasefire. Half a dozen previous ones all speedily collapsed. There are disagreements about crucial details. If the mighty United States was not able to end the fighting, why should we expect more of yesterday's ill-matched trio of power brokers; Russia, Turkey and Iran?
That may be the point. The US may be mighty but its credibility in the region is at rock bottom. After Obama's "Red Line" fiasco, Western involvement against Assad has been little more than rhetorical.
The Islamisation of the Syrian opposition has left our objectives hopelessly confused. The US, by using the Kurds as its ground army, has alienated the Turks, who are pivotal and who have now joined with the Russians. The Russians have shown no such muddle-headedness. Their aim from the beginning has been to sustain Assad in order to block the Islamist alternative. They have been ruthless - as in the Aleppo bloodbath. It may have worked.
The bottom line is the parties on the ground are more impressed by Russian bombs than US words.
2017, bringing Brexit and President Trump, already looked like an earthquake year. But if this ceasefire holds, then the familiar picture of global politics will have taken another big shock. We all knew that America's post-Cold War dominance was fading - notably with the rising self-assertion of Russia and China. But this felt comfortably slow and manageable.
Now, suddenly, the new world may be upon us. In politics, the appearance of power is as important as substance - and US pretensions in a crucial region will have been exposed as hollow.
The consequences could be drastic. In the Middle East itself,the Iranians would be riding high. The Saudis and Egyptians would be seeking reinsurance for a US guarantee they no longer trusted. Turkey, as a key regional powerbroker, would be even less attentive to the concerns of EU and Nato nations who it increasingly sees as hostile critics.
Then there is Russia; another nation which, after initially looking for cooperation with the West, is now utterly alienated. If the ceasefire sticks, it will surely conclude that there must be other places where an enfeebled West will have to learn to listen. The key lesson is that the only way to earn real respect is readiness to use force.
Enter President Trump, with his repeated emphasis on US national interests supplanting its role as global sheriff. If Mr Trump follows through on this, we in western Europe will have to think more carefully about the extent to which we can hope to isolate and coerce our Russian neighbour.
Indeed, the moment may finally have come when Europe has to face up to its own security responsibilities. ( Daily Telegraph, London)
Barack Obama imposed sweeping punishments in retaliation for Russia's hacking of American political sites and email accounts (AP/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
President Vladimir Putin has condemned the US for imposing sanctions and expelling Russian diplomats amid allegations of Russian meddling in the American presidential election, but said no US diplomats will be ousted in reprisal.
In a growing controversy surrounding complaints from President Barack Obama's administration about a cyberattack against America's political system, the White House unleashed a string of sanctions and coupled them with an order that 35 Russians be expelled.
Mr Putin said on Friday that Moscow would not eject American diplomats in response to what he described as "provocation aimed at further undermining Russian-American relations" less than a month before Donald Trump takes over the White House.
The decision came as a surprise, as tit-for-tat expulsions are common diplomatic practice and Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov had suggested hours before Mr Putin's announcement that Moscow would oust 31 American diplomats.
"The Russian diplomats returning home will spend the new year holidays with their relatives and dear ones," Mr Putin said in a statement on the Kremlin website. "We will not create problems for US diplomats. We will not expel anybody."
He added: "Moreover, I am inviting all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the new year and Christmas parties at the Kremlin."
Dmitry Trenin, director of the Carnegie Moscow Centre, said on Twitter: "Putin's asymmetric response to Obama's new sanctions is an investment in the incoming Trump presidency. A different kind of tit-for-tat: even as Obama seeks to constrain Trump in his Russia policy, Putin counters that step with a show of magnanimity."
The diplomatic confrontation between Washington and Moscow, which had been festering even before Mr Trump won the November 8 presidential election, puts pressure on the billionaire businessman not to let Russia off the hook after he takes office on January 20.
Russia's government had threatened retaliation, and it continues to deny US accusations that it hacked and stole emails to try to help Mr Trump win.
The president-elect praised Mr Putin for holding off on retaliation, tweeting: "Great move on delay."
He added: "I always knew he was very smart!"
Mr Trump has been slow to criticise Mr Putin and has questioned US intelligence linking Russia to the hacking.
He is planning to meet US intelligence officials next week, but has said it is time for the country to move on.
Mr Obama on Thursday ordered sanctions against the GRU and FSB, the Russian intelligence agencies the US said were involved in the hacking attacks. In an elaborately co-ordinated response by at least five federal agencies, the Obama administration also sought to expose Russia's cyber tactics with a detailed technical report and hinted it might still launch a covert counter attack.
"All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions," said Mr Obama.
Yet the sanctions could easily be pulled back by Mr Trump, who has insisted that Mr Obama and Democrats are merely attempting to de-legitimise his election.
Russian prime minister Dmitry Medvedev said earlier on Friday that Washington has become immersed in "anti-Russian death throes".
Mr Medvedev, who focused on improving US-Russia ties when he was president from 2008 to 2012, called the latest diplomatic breach "sad" in a Twitter post.
AP
President Vladimir Putin has said Russia will not be expelling US diplomats in response to a new round of American sanctions.
Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov was quoted by the agencies as saying he had proposed the measures to President Vladimir Putin.
President Barack Obama on Thursday ordered the expulsion of 35 Russian suspected spies and imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies over their involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election.
Lavrov said Russia would not leave the sanctions unanswered and said that allegations that Russia interfered in U.S. elections were baseless.
With reporting from Reuters.
Reports in the US suggest that the front runner to be Donald Trumps Irish Ambassador is a man whose father was an advisor to Joe Kennedy, father of President John F.Kennedy.
Presidential campaign correspondent for The New York Times, Maggie Haberman, has today tweeted that Trump intends to make Brian P.Burns the ambassador to Ireland.
In my minor ambassador obsession, Trump tells me he intends to make Brian Burns, son of Joe Kennedy adviser, the ambassador to Ireland Maggie Haberman (@maggieNYT) December 30, 2016
Burns, a businessman and close personal friend of the President-elect, is the grandson of Irish immigrants, with his roots tracing back to Co Kerry.
He was the leading fundraiser behind the efforts to restore the world-famous Marshs Library at St. Patricks Close in Dublin the oldest public library in Ireland.
He also founded an American Law Library at University College Cork and in 1963, he was named the youngest director of the American Irish Foundation, which was established that year by then-President JFK and Irelands President Eamon de Valera.
A Florida resident, he was vocal in his support of Donald Trumps bid to become president of the US.
IrishCentral also reports that he and his wife Eileen were guests of the Trump family over Thanksgiving at Mar-a-Lago in Palm Beach.
Rumours about Trump's Irish Ambassador have been rife ahead of his inauguration as the 45th President of the United States, which will take place on Friday, January 20, 2017.
Michael George, a Wall Street businessman and native of Belfast, was also considered to be a favourite for the post.
However, Burns now seems to be the prime candidate.
Back in 2013, he was inducted into the Irish America Hall of Fame along with US Vice President Joe BIden.
No-one was injured in the incident
A passenger plane has been forced to make an emergency landing shortly after take-off in Warsaw after hitting a bird.
Warsaw Chopin Airport said on Twitter that the landing occurred without any problem and that the passengers on the Enter Air service are safe.
The plane was scheduled to make a stop in Larnaca, Cyprus, before flying on to Mombasa, Kenya.
Enter Air director Grzegorz Polaniecki told TVN that the plane struck a bird, and that the pilots returned to Warsaw's international airport so the aircraft could be inspected as a precaution.
The airport spokesman, Przemyslaw Przybylski, said there were 187 passengers on board and six crew members.
The plane circled for about an hour and a half to burn fuel before landing.
People pray in front of the coffin with the body of Lukasz Urban, the Polish truck driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack (AP)
Hundreds of mourners have bid farewell to the Polish truck driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack.
Lukasz Urban, 37, has been described as the first victim of the attack that killed a total of 12 people in the German capital on December 19.
He had been waiting to deliver a shipment of steel in Berlin when his truck was hijacked by the attacker, believed to be Tunisian man Anis Amri, who was later killed in a shoot-out with Italian police.
Mr Urban was shot, and his body was found later in the cab of the truck.
Poland's president Andrzej Duda joined Mr Urban's family, friends and neighbours in a church in the village church in Banie, near the border with Germany.
Several other Polish political officials and a representative of the German embassy to Poland were also there.
A letter from prime minister Beata Szydlo was also read out in which she described her "great pain and sadness" and expressed her sympathy to Mr Urban's family.
"Poles have fallen victim to terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic fundamentalists but the tragedy that happened in Berlin is unique when it comes to the ruthlessness and cruelty of the perpetrator," Ms Szydlo said.
Bishop Henryk Wejman delivered a homily in which he described Mr Urban as a man who was open to others and conscientious in his work.
"His willingness to work and serve others won him the trust of other people and the openness to fellow man," Bishop Wejman said.
As the Mass was winding down the president bowed his head at Mr Urban's coffin before offering his condolences to the dead man's wife and teenage son.
The coffin was then carried out of the church and placed in a hearse, which drove it slowly through the village to a cemetery for burial, as mourners walked alonside it.
Before the Mass, a group of truck drivers honked the horns of their trucks to honour Mr Urban.
Detective James Fisher was arrested this week and charged with three counts of sexual exploitation Photo: YouTube
A senior Canadian detective who was honoured for his work combating sexual exploitation, has been arrested and accused of the very same crime.
Detective James Fisher was arrested this week and charged with three counts of sexual exploitation, along with sexual assault, breach of trust and attempting to obstruct justice.
Mr Fisher was a member of the Vancouver Police Departments counter exploitation team, which investigates prostitution and criminal exploitation.
In 2015, he received a citation for extraordinary dedication for his work in the unit, according to the Canada Press.
This week, Vancouver Police Chief Constable Adam Palmer told a press conference that the developments were very troubling news.
It was necessary to keep him on active duty while the investigation unfolded while we gathered evidence, he said. And we had safety plans in place to make sure nobody was in any danger whatsoever.
He said that one of the cases that police were looking into involved a juvenile while another involved an adult. He said that Mr Fisher had been suspended. It is not clear whether he has yet had a chance to enter a plea.
Police say he was released on bail with conditions Thursday morning and is set to appear in court again in January, though reporting restrictions mean details of the bail conditions have not been revealed.
Relatives of Debbie Reynolds and Carrie Fisher are hoping to organise a joint memorial service for the pair as tributes continued to pour in following their deaths.
Singin' In The Rain star Reynolds, 84, died from a suspected stroke on Wednesday, just a day after the death of her daughter Carrie, 60.
The Star Wars actress died in hospital after suffering a heart attack on a flight from London to Los Angeles on December 23.
Fisher's brother Todd said funeral plans were being made and it was "likely" his mother and sister would share a joint memorial service.
He told the New York Daily News: "It's what we want to do, but we're still working on the mechanics.
"We like the idea, if it's at all possible. I think it's appropriate."
Shortly before she fell ill, Reynolds had expressed an interest in laying her only daughter to rest at the spot where she planned to be buried, Mr Fisher added.
He had earlier shared a drawing of his mother and sister, in which they are depicted embracing each other as their most famous movie characters.
The sketch, posted on Mr Fisher's Twitter account, shows his sister Carrie dressed as Princess Leia from Star Wars and Reynolds in a raincoat as Kathy Selden from Singin' In The Rain.
He wrote in the caption: "This is a beautiful love story to witness in my 58 years. I miss them both so much. Love is everlasting."
Video of the Day
Meanwhile, the stepfather to Fisher's only child Billie Lourd penned a heartfelt message saying he was "honoured" to be part of her family following the loss of her mother and grandmother.
Bruce Bozzi, who is married to Fisher's ex-partner Bryan Lourd, posted a photo of Scream Queens actress Billie, 24, with Fisher and Reynolds at her university graduation ceremony.
He wrote: "It's an honour to be your stepfather.
"As Carrie said to me years ago 'I'm a good stepmother' I promise I will always be & the strength of these women live so vibrantly in you."
Mr Fisher announced Reynolds' death on Wednesday as he revealed her last words were about her late daughter.
"She said, 'I want to be with Carrie'," he said. "And then she was gone."
A kissing couple is silhouetted against illuminations celebrating Christmas at Ilsan Lake Park in Goyang, South Korea (AP)
A South Korean government website which drew widespread condemnation for showing the number of women of childbearing age has been closed.
The ministry of the interior's site - which features pink birth maps displaying the number of women aged 15-49 in the regions and city districts - remains closed on Friday, a day after its launch.
It now displays a notice saying that the site is undergoing corrections to reflect public opinion.
The website went offline after just a few hours following claims the government is trying to shame women for not having babies, in light of South Korea's low birth rate.
Some critics said the government treated the birth rate issue as concerning only women, pointing out that no picture of men was used on the website.
Using pink as the main colour, the site contained information on birth rates, benefits from local governments on child rearing, average marriage age and other data.
In the birth map, the regions with a higher number of female residents aged 15-49 were coloured dark pink, while the regions with a lower number of such women were shown in light pink. The site also featured a ranking of regions by the number of women aged 15-49.
Users could also look up how many women who can have a baby have lived in their neighbourhood for the past 10 years.
Many users reacted angrily, saying they do not understand what displaying the number of women who can get pregnant has to do with encouraging people to have more babies.
"I felt so angered that it blatantly showed how the government saw women's bodies as the country's reproductive tools, not belonging to the women," said Lee Min-kyung, a 24-year-old writer.
"I felt like nothing has changed and the hatred of women that I have experienced has appeared again."
The government had touted the site as a tool to increase the public's understanding of the country's low birth rate and compare the benefits from local governments for having a baby or raising a child.
The ministry said of the site: "It was established to encourage local governments to learn and compare other governments' benefits and to promote free competition."
South Korea has struggled to boost its rock-bottom birth rate, one of the lowest among more affluent countries.
This year, the country also saw a growth in vocal feminist movements protesting against misogynist views reflected in government policies and pop culture.
Mr Putin said Russia and Turkey will act as guarantors to the peace deal (AP)
A Syrian army soldier places a Syrian national flag during the battle with rebel fighters at the Ramouseh front line, east of Aleppo (AP)
A nationwide ceasefire between Syrian government forces and opposition rebels has come into effect.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said earlier that the ceasefire, which excludes extremist groups such as Islamic State and an al Qaida affiliate, will be guaranteed by Moscow and Turkey.
It will be followed by peace talks between Syrian President Bashar Assad's government and the opposition, due to be held in Kazakhstan.
The ceasefire will include all parts of Syria, including the eastern suburbs of the capital Damascus.
Syria's military said it agreed to the nationwide truce, paving the way for reactivating negotiations to end the conflict.
It added that the ceasefire comes after the "successes achieved by the armed forces", an apparent reference to the capture of rebel-held neighbourhoods of Aleppo earlier this month.
Russian defence minister Sergei Shoigu said the truce will include 62,000 opposition fighters across Syria, and that the Russian military has established a hotline with its Turkish counterpart to monitor compliance.
Russia's foreign minister Sergey Lavrov said US President-elect Donald Trump's administration will be welcome to join the Syrian peace process once he takes office.
Moscow is a key ally of Mr Assad, while Turkey is one of the main backers of the opposition.
Several previous attempts to halt the civil war have failed, but the recent warming of ties between Turkey and Russia may prove to be crucial.
The move comes on the heels of the Syrian army retaking control of Aleppo, Syria's largest city, ending the opposition's four-year hold over parts of the city.
Mr Putin said he had ordered the Russian military to scale down its presence in Syria, where it has provided crucial support to Mr Assad's forces.
Taiwan's president Tsai Ing-wen has already spoken to US president-elect Donald Trump (AP)
Taiwan's president will pass through Houston and San Francisco next month while travelling to Central America, in a move which is likely to irritate the Chinese government.
Beijing has urged Washington to prevent president Tsai Ing-wen and her delegation from landing in the US as she travels to visit Honduras, Nicaragua, Guatemala and El Salvador.
The delegation will land in Houston on the way, before stopping in San Francisco on the return trip.
China has urged the US to avoid "sending the wrong signal to Taiwanese independence forces" by allowing the delegation to land.
Beijing regards the self-governing island as part of China, and officials have raised concerns after US president-elect Donald Trump this month questioned a US policy which recognises Beijing as Taiwan's government, and has maintained only unofficial relations with Taiwan since 1979.
Mr Trump also accepted a phone call from Ms Tsai in early December, the first time an American president or president-elect has publicly spoken to a Taiwanese leader since 1979.
The Taiwanese news agency's report said Ms Tsai's delegation would arrange banquets with US-based Taiwanese people and visit companies. It did not say whether Ms Tsai would meet Donald Trump or anyone from his transition team.
US politicians often meet with Taiwanese presidents when they transit through the US - most recently in June, when Ms Tsai met Republican senator Marco Rubio of Florida in Miami.
Earlier this week, the spokesman for the Chinese Cabinet's Taiwan affairs office called Taiwan the "most sensitive and complicated issue in China-US relations".
Over multiple weeks of November and December, the Rotary Club of Cabarrus County helped to collect funds for support of the Salvation Army. More than 40 Rotary volunteers rang bells to grab the attention of Sams Club shoppers.
The holiday spirit was contagious as the bell ringers sang, danced and engaged shoppers to make it more than a fundraiser. The hope was to not only raise money for the Salvation Army but to also raise awareness of the impact this organization makes.
Since its inception in 1985, the Rotary Club of Cabarrus County has been giving back to local organizations, deserving individuals and the community. Members raise money to fund grants and scholarships and work tirelessly to solve some of our communitys toughest challenges. Rotary of Cabarrus Countys efforts are supported by Rotary International and The Rotary Foundation. Go to www.cabarrusrotary.org for additional information.
Well, yes, you heard it right! The whole unit of Sony TV 's Beyhadh has been shooting in Mauritius to shoot for an important sequence.
And it was there where Aneri Vajani met a newly found friend. She met a man there who told Aneri that he is like her grandpa. Coincidentally, he used to bump into her every day and they used to sit and chat for 2 hours along with his wife.
We contacted Aneri, who told us, "I used to coincidentally bump into this gentleman, who became my fan and used to tell me that he was like my grandpa. We used to bump into each other every single day and ended up chatting for 2-3 hours with his friends and wife along side. It was a great experience knowing new people in Mauritius while shooting for Beyhadh."
Work surely does takes you to places, and to new people!
Ukraine keeps ban on gold, silver exports in 2017
Ukraine keeps zero quotas for exports of gold, silver and scrap precious metals in 2017.
The requirement is outlined in government resolution No. 1009 dated December 28 approving the list of goods which exports is eligible to licensing and receiving quotas for 2017. The document was published on December 29.
The government decided not to license natural gas and anthracite exports.
"The resolution approves the smallest list of goods which exports is eligible to licensing in the past years," reads the explanatory note to the resolution.
Licensing of exports and imports of goods with ozone depleting substances (ODS) and goods imported from Macedonia under the tariff rate quota described in the free trade area agreement between the two countries.
A couple of days ago, veteran actor Anandraj had announced that he has quit his membership in AIADMK party after the death of its former supremo and Tamil Nadu Chief Minister J.Jayalalitha. He had said that he was in the party for 12 years only based on his loyalty to 'Amma'.
Now in a shocking turn of events Anandraj has filed a complaint in the Nungambakkam Police Station, Chennai stating that he has received death threats over phone calls from anonymous persons. The police have started the investigation. Police security is also provided to his house in Chennai.
It us worth noting that Anandraj went in to register his protest against V.K.Sasikala being nominated for tge party's General Secretary post after the death of Jayalalitha.
Single-digit reduction in NBS rates The revised NBS rates for ensuing Rabi season have been announced by the Government of India. New rates have not seen much steeper cuts as was widely anticipated; therefore, positive for complex (NPKs) fertilizer companies. This brings much comfort to the domestic complex fertilizer companies as a steeper cut would have entailed higher inventory losses. 03 Nov 2022 11:10 AM
October 2022 auto sales: PV and CV segments continue to impress Underlying demand trend has stayed strong for PV and CV segments. Analysts at IIFL Securities estimate October 2022 wholesale dispatches in PV, MHCV and LCV segments to have grown 30%, 24% and 14% YoY, respectively. They expect the above segments to clock 25-35% volume growth in FY23. 02 Nov 2022 11:43 AM
Initial signs of moderation in API cost pressures: IIFL Securities High raw-material inflation, elevated freight expenses, and normalization in marketing spends have impacted margins of Indian pharma players over the past 12 months. However, some of these API/RM cost pressures have started abating in Q3CY22. Cipla, Sun, JB Pharma and Torrent remain IIFL Securities top-picks in the pharma sector owing to lowest risk to IIFL Securities margin and earnings estimates for these companies. 01 Nov 2022 10:53 AM
Yanair airline (Zhytomyr) points out a serious problem with training flying staff in Ukraine, Yanair airline Director General Volodymyr Sobolev has said.
"Veterans like me are dying or retire, while young people are different. Someone has a desire, someone is dragged by the ears by parents and he does not understand what he needs this. Many persons are attracted by high wages, but they do not understand that the money is not paid for nothing. We end up with understanding that we need to train flying staff ourselves, from the green field. Unfortunately, training in Ukraine is of low quality, if to choose my words carefully," he said in an interview with Interfax-Ukraine.
Sobolev said that airlines train pilots themselves. For example, UIA does not train from the green field. The airline signed a contract with Lithuania and guarantees employment to students trained in Lithuania at Baltic Aviation Academy.
"We have own airport [Zhytomyr]. It is likely that we will create a flying school on its base. We have many proposals from pilots from Europe who cannot add flying hours and they are ready to pay to fly with us and get trained," he said.
Ukraine's Health Ministry has proposed to pharmaceutical manufacturers and patient organizations to initiate expansion and amendments to the national list of essential medicines, acting Health Minister Ulana Suprun said at a press conference in Kyiv on Thursday.
"We are waiting for ideas from you to include or remove medicines from the national list. We call on all applicants to file applications and form the unified national list of high-quality financially viable medicines within next two years. We would be able to provide the patients who need these medicines with them," she said.
Suprun said that from 2019 only medicines on the national list would be bought using budget funds. 2017 and 2018 is the transitive period when the medicines are bought via international institutions.
"The national list is essential medicines for which we can guarantee 100% of payment at the hospital level and which would be included in the reimbursement program," she said.
The draft national list is under public discussion that will last for one month and then it will be approved.
Deputy Health Minister Roman Ilyk said that the current list has over 1,000 medicines, while the draft list includes 345 international nonproprietary names (INN), including 265 INN to be used in the hospital segment and 100 INN are on the additional list.
After Taimur Ali Khan, social media users have found a new hot topic to talk about and that's Virat Kohli and Anushka Sharma's 'rumored' engagement in Dehradun. Well, even when there is no confirmation, let us take you through the course of events that took place to make this rumor a little believable for all of us.
Twitter
1. On 24th December, rumored couple Anushka Sharma and Virat Kohli arrived in Uttarakhand. They directly checked into Anandas, an exotic spa resort, where they celebrated Christmas. When fans tried gathering for one glance and selfie with Virat-Anushka, they chose not to interact. Instead of clicking pictures with fans, they chose to be selective about their social media activities. They posted just a few pictures.
In the end, It's all about cherishing the simple things in life #nature A video posted by AnushkaSharma1588 (@anushkasharma) on Dec 26, 2016 at 11:07pm PST
Merry Christmas everyone . Have a good day A photo posted by Virat Kohli (@virat.kohli) on Dec 25, 2016 at 1:11am PST
2. On 27th December, Anushka and Virat had conducted a pooja for continued success and prosperity at Anant Dham, an ashram located at Ambuwala village near Haridwar. They reportedly extended their meeting with the ashram's chief preceptor Anant Maharaj and spent a few hours with him. One of their photos went viral on social media and that was how the rumor was fueled.
Twitter
3. After Haridwar, Anushka Sharma, and Virat Kohli moved to Dehradun, Uttarakhand, where Sharma's maternal side in based. And if reports are to be believed, the couple has planned to bring in the new year at the hill station.
But that's not it. According to several reports, Virat-Anushka have already got engaged or might be planning to get engaged. What further fueled the speculations was the arrival of the Bachchans and Ambanis, who reached Dehradun's Jolly Grant airport in a chartered flight last afternoon and headed straight for Ananda resort, where Virat-Anushka are staying.
Twitter
According to a TOI report, the Tehri district police under whose jurisdiction the area falls claimed that they had not been contacted for additional security at the resort. "We have only come to know that the celebrities would be staying here and will leave after a few days," said N S Napalchiyal, superintendent of police, Tehri. The hotel remained off-limits for all non-guests and according to sources, staff had also been reportedly told to switch off phones to prevent leakage of any information.
Engagement? Really? People close to Virat and Anushka have 'no clue'!
Anushka's 82-year-old paternal grandmother Urmila Sharma, who stays in Dehradun, told TOI that she was "not aware of any impending engagement yet." She added that she "likes Virat and would be happy if the two decide to get married."
She told TOI, "Anushka had last come to visit me when her grandfather expired five years ago. I regularly go to Mumbai to meet her and we also talk on the phone. I had a word with Anushka's father Ajay yesterday but he didn't mention anything about an engagement."
A YRF representative reacted to the 'engagement' rumor and claimed that the rumors are absolutely false. Virats aunt who lives in Katni in Madhya Pradesh told the media that she has no information or invitation for her nephews engagement.
Well, Virat Kohli just took to Twitter to CONFIRM that they're NOT getting engaged. Read his tweets here.
" we aren't getting engaged & if we were going to,we wouldn't hide it. Simple... (1/2) Virat Kohli (@imVkohli) December 30, 2016
1. The infighting in the Samajwadi Party intensified on Friday with party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav expelling his son and UP chief minister Akhilesh Yadav from Samjwadi Party for six years
The move by Akhilesh came a day after Mulayam, along with his brother and state party president Shivpal Singh Yadav, had declared the official list of 325 candidates. Read more here.
2. The Delhi High Court on Friday, on the Central Bureau Investigation's (CBI) plea, issued a notice to ex-Indian Air Force chief SP Tyagi against the bail given to him on 26 December
Tyagi was granted bail by a special court in Delhi which said that the CBI had failed to state the alleged bribe amount and when it was paid. Read more here.
3. The website of Indian Institute of Technology, Madras, one of the country's finest colleges, got hacked and pro-Pakistani messages were posted in a bid to take a dig at India
6 department websites, 5 centres of excellence sites and 5 other sites were hacked. Apparently, the website was hacked by one 'Faisal 1337x', who put up a photo of the Joker from Dark Knight in the garb of the McDonald's mascot on its page. Read more here.
4. The income tax department has stepped up its drive against those "misusing" the demonetization drive to convert "black money" into "white" and has issued over 5,000 notices and detected undisclosed income of close to Rs 4,200 crore
Of the Rs 458 crore cash seizures, Rs 105 crore, which is a tad under a quarter, was in new currency notes of Rs 500 and Rs 2,000, indicating the widespread use of banking and cash mules to convert old currency into new ones, which is stored as cash in offices and homes. Read more here.
5. Airports may soon have lie-detecting kiosks which will ask questions and detect changes in physiology and behaviour during the interview
The Automated Virtual Agent for Truth Assessments in Real-Time (AVATAR) is currently being tested to help border security agents determine whether travellers coming into Canada may have undisclosed motives for entering the country. Read more here.
1. A mother and daughter walk home after a meeting of women from several communities eradicating female genital mutilation, in the western Senegalese village of Diabougo. Tostan, a small Senegalese aid group credited with launching a grass roots campaign to abolish female circumcision in West Africa, will be awarded the $1.5 million Hilton Prize in New York
REUTERS/Finbarr O
2. Cori Walters, 32, (R) hugs her daughter Hannah Walters, 6, at California Institute for Women state prison in Chino, California. An annual Mother's Day event, Get On The Bus, brings children in California to visit their mothers in prison. Sixty percent of parents in state prison report being held over 100 miles (161 km) from their children
REUTERS/Lucy Nicholson
3. Joie Gregory and her daughter Catherine, 4, (R) walk down the street at the Easter Bonnet Parade in New York
REUTERS/Jessica Rinaldi
4. A woman and a girl sit in front of the Mediterranean at the beach in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon. Unseasonable temperatures reaching 32 degrees Celsius were recorded in some areas of Israel
REUTERS/Amir Cohen
5. A girl walks with her mother after her first day of school at the Shimizu elementary school in Fukushima, northern Japan. Over 70 schools began their regular classes on Wednesday in the city of Fukushima, after the earthquake and tsunami that hit the country
REUTERS/Carlos Barria
6. A woman carrying her baby and wrapped with a shawl walks through a sandstorm in Timbuktu
REUTERS/Joe Penney
7. A child eats ice cream with his mother during the hot weather at the South Bank in London
REUTERS/Luke MacGregor
8. Moroccan national Hayat Loukrichi dries the hair of her daughter Hiba before learning that the family's eviction has been suspended in Madrid. Their eviction, which has been caused by their failure to pay the rent to their landlord, has been postponed to October 26, 2012. Spain's bailed-out Bankia is seeking the foreclosure of the house after the landlord failed to pay the mortgage.
REUTERS/Juan Medina
9. Angelica Cagincho and her son Nixon stand at her home next to the Doe Run Peru smelter in the Andean city of La Oroya, east of Lima. Thousands of workers are demanding Peru's government save their jobs at the shuttered metals smelter high in the Andes, even if it means delaying a cleanup at the plant that has turned their town into one of the most polluted places on earth. Union members from Doe Run Peru's La Oroya factory say they will block highways in central Peru starting on Monday unless President Alan Garcia acts decisively to end a months-long crisis at the world's most diversified metals smelter.
REUTERS/Pilar Olivares
10. A woman holds her child at a repatriation centre in Peshawar, located in the North West Frontier Province. U.S. President Barack Obama said on that Pakistan's greatest threat was internal, and not from long-time rival India, as Pakistan troops took back a key town to halt a Taliban advance on the capital.
REUTERS/Adrees Latif
11. A woman, a member of the Krepysh family winter bathing club, carries her child for bathing in the Yenisei River in Russia's Siberian city of Krasnoyarsk
REUTERS/Ilya Naymushin
12. A Christian mother takes her daughter to school in Islamabad
REUTERS/Sara Farid
13. A woman wraps her sleeping baby on her back after a talk with members of the Spanish Non-Governmental Organization Accion contra el Hambre (Action against hunger) about good sanitation and hygiene practices in Niomel, in the Guidimakha region, Mauritania. A full third of the country's population, amounting to around a million people, are at risk of suffering from malnutrition if rain doesn't fall by July, according to estimates from Accion contra el Hambre, which has been warning about the food crisis since the beginning of the year after poor rainfall in 2011
REUTERS/Susana Vera
14. Mercedes Santos (2nd R) shares a laugh with her partner Theresa Volpe (2nd L) while playing cards with their son Jaidon (R) and daughter Ava at their home in Chicago, Illinois. Santos and Volpe are a same-sex couple raising two of their biological children as they struggle to get same-sex marriages passed into law in Illinois.
REUTERS/Jim Young
15. A mother washes her child in the Mahmoud Ladies School which is being used as a refugee shelter for homeless tsunami families. A mother washes her child in the Mahmoud Ladies School which is being used as a refugee shelter for homeless tsunami families in Kalmunai on Sri Lanka's east coast. The death toll from the Asian tsunami, triggered by a magnitude 9.0 earthquake off Indonesia on December 26, stood at 156,193 people, government and health officials said.
REUTERS/Kieran Doherty
16. A Cambodian woman goes to kiss her son while sitting on the crest of the Chuor Phnom Dangkrek Mountain, the site of the 900- year-old disputed Preah Vihear temple. Nearly 200 Cambodian residents living near the temple have taken refuge on its grounds, after recent fighting killed two Cambodian soldiers, a local Cambodia newspaper reported. The International Court of Justice awarded it to Cambodia in 1962, but the court failed to determine the ownership of 1.8 square miles (4.6 sq km) of scrub next to the Hindu ruins, a ruling that has rankled with Thais ever since
REUTERS/Adrees Latif
Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko has signed law No. 5114 on amendments to some laws on restricting access of foreign printed materials with anti-Ukrainian content to the Ukrainian market, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on December 8.
According to the website of the Ukrainian parliament, on December 30 the law was "returned with the president's signature."
The law comes into force on the day following the day of its publication.
At the same time, the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine within three months from the date of entry into force of the law is obliged to ensure the publication of relevant legal acts, bring own regulations into conformity with this law and make ministries and other central executive authorities to bring their normative and legal acts to compliance with this law.
As reported, on December 8, 2016 the Verkhovna Rada with 237 votes banned the distribution in the territory of Ukraine of printed materials, promoting the aggressor state, and restricted its imports to Ukraine from Russia.
As 2016 draws to a close, lets dwell on the most epic device failure of the year. The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was billed to be the most awesome, best Android phone of 2016. As we all know, it turned out to be anything but that. From exploding batteries to being banned on commercial airliners, its probably the only smartphone in history to be hazardous enough to warrant its own fireproof box.
Heres a look back at the timeline of the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 disaster, and the consumer terror unleashed by a hotly-anticipated device that went completely bonkers after being pushed to extreme physical limits.
August launch: The highest point of Samsung Galaxy Note 7s doomed journey
The Samsung Galaxy Note 7 launched in early August and was made available for pre-order at a whopping Rs 59,990. It wasnt as flashy as past Samsung Galaxy Note smartphones but it had all the ingredients to pack a knockout punch to all of the years flagship devices -- including the iPhone 7 Plus -- and be the pinnacle of Android smartphones in 2016. Some of the devices initial critic reviews praised the Galaxy Note 7 and highly recommended it to consumers. But little did the South Korean consumer electronics company know that trouble was brewing in paradise, and it was all going to go horribly wrong for the Galaxy Note 7 in the blink of an eye.
Late August: The curious case of the exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7
That was as good as it got for the ill-fated Samsung phone. It wasnt long before reports started surfacing from all over the world about a number of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 phones mysteriously exploding. Within the US alone, there were over 90 reports of exploding Note 7s, and damage caused to property because of it emerged. A guy even posted a photo of his SUV engulfed in flames caused by an exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 that hed left inside the car.
Late August: Airlines start asking passengers to switch off their Galaxy Note 7
Spurred by reports of exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7s in the US and around the world, the FAA (Federal Aviation Authority) issued a clear advisory to passengers to not charge the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 onboard any aircraft in the US. Similar announcements were made by individual airlines, too, as a precautionary measure. But nothing too severe. Passengers were still being allowed to carry their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 onboard their respective flights. They were just being discouraged from charging the phone, because the initial explosion reports of the Note 7 blamed the devices fault onto its misfiring battery.
September: Official Samsung Note 7 recall begins
After a lot of damning press reports and airline travel advisories putting the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 in extremely negative light, pressure started growing on the South Korean giant to do some sort of damage control. While the company reaffirmed that this was an issue found on some Galaxy Note 7 devices, Samsung officially in early September started recalling the damaged Galaxy Note 7s for exchange. Within a week or so, the company started recalling not just affected Galaxy Note 7 smartphones but all devices that were sold in the US. Similar steps were taken in other affected markets, too.
September: Samsung sends fireproof boxes for owners to return affected phones in
No kidding. They actually did that - sent fireproof boxes with instructions on how to safely turn off and pack their Samsung Galaxy Note 7 for safe return. In total, Samsung recalled over 25 lakh Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smartphones from around the world, and even released a software update which would allow Note 7 owners to find out if their device was affected or not. The company ended up replacing almost 90% of the affected Galaxy Note 7 devices in key markets like the US and South Korea.
Late September - October: Replaced Note 7s started exploding
This was just too much for Samsung. Now, even replaced Samsung Galaxy Note 7 devices were exploding. Not just exploding in isolation, but also damaging property. This was also the time when a lot of speculation was rife on just exactly what was causing the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 to explode. Was it really a battery issue? Or was it something more fundamental that was wrong with the device? Well, we didnt have to wonder long, did we?
Early October: Samsung kills off production of Samsung Galaxy Note 7
On October 11, less than two months after its initial launch, the ill-fated saga of the exploding Samsung Galaxy Note 7 was finally complete, as Samsung stopped production of the Note 7. The company claimed it wanted to safeguard consumers from any further damage from the device which seemed to have a mind of its own.
Following its official death, the FAA and DGCA (in India) wasted no time in putting the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 as a banned substance, not allowed it to be even carried on an aircraft -- even when its switched off. In the US, its a criminal offence to carry or stow away a Samsung Galaxy Note 7 even now, and in India, airline companies make Samsung Galaxy Note 7-related announcements before take-off -- yes, the device is still banned.
RIP Samsung Galaxy Note 7. As 2016 draws to a close, you will always be remembered as one of the most ill-fated devices in technology. No single tech gadget has managed to have such a tremendous impact (for all the wrong reasons, of course) in its short 2-month lifespan. From humorous pranks to causing over US $3 billion of losses to Samsungs annual bottom line, the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 is our most epic gadget failure of the year!
A West Bengal court has ordered a case against three police officials for allegedly detaining a woman for more than 24 hours at Hanskhali Police station in Nadia district. Additional chief judicial magistrate (ACJM), Ranaghat, Sanghamitra Poddar issued the order against officer in charge (OC) Hanskhali police station Aninda Bose, second officer Shibshankar Bose (in charge of Bagula outpost) and police personnel Tapas Ghosh.
They were slapped with charges under IPC sections 341 (wrongful restraint), 384 (extortion), 511 (attempt to commit punishable offences), 166 (public servant disobeying law), among others.
The ACJM also visited police station after ordering the filing of the case against three officials on the complaint of Gobinda Biswas who requested her to rescue 22 year old victim. On her visit to police station, the magistrate found that no complaint had been lodged against the girl whom the cops had detained from December 23-28.
Reuters
She then ordered the OC to call all police personnel to stand in a row and asked the detained girl to identify those who went to pick her up on the night of December 23 and asked the OC on Wednesday to submit a report within 24 hours over the illegal detention of the woman.
The OC submitted the same at Ranaghat Court today in a sealed envelope but refused to comment anything. The petitioner and one of her daughters, Laxmi, appeared in the court as witnesses and evidences were taken.
Laxmi stated that the detained woman had been her friend since last ten years. She alleged in the court room that the cops had demanded Rs 2 lakh from them as bribe for letting the detained girl free.
According to the counsels of Biswas, police had taken the Delhi-based woman to police station from their home on the night of 23 December without any complaint and did not release her until December 28.
The policemen allegedly did not produce her in court and flouted the law which says that police must produce a person in court within 24 hours of picking him/her up.
ACJM Poddar rescued her from police station and took to Ranaghat in her own car.
On November 8, when the Indian Prime Minister brought his ground-breaking move to the public's notice, a lot of us couldn't make sense as to how or why this was needed.
(Also read: After Speaking At Coldplay Concert, Now Modi Will Address The Nation On New Years Eve)
The last couple of weeks have been anything but a peaceful ride. We've seen innumerable protests, ample criticism over the web, and an escalating number of deaths to prove how we weren't ready for anything like demonetization.
Standing one-day away from Modi's speech and the end of 'the-asked-tenure', India is still protesting.
In fact, a 700-km long human chain lined up across the length and breadth of Kerala in protest against Modi's demonetisation.
700 Km Human Chain in Kerala Protest, against #DemonetisationScam
Now that is what I call good communication.https://t.co/xitUcDFdd0 Bhaanu (@BhaanuSays) December 30, 2016
Kerala said, "Burn the dictator"
(Also read: There Might Be No Limit To How Much Cash You Can Withdraw From January 1)
The event was driven by Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and former Chief Minister VS Achuthanandan, and the CPI-M led ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) in Kerala on Thursday, saw the formation of a human chain extending from Raj Bhavan to Kasargode, to show displeasure against the Modi government's demonetisation move.
The rehearsal happened 15 minutes before the actual event and at 5 pm sharp, people started forming the human chain.
A pledge was read out that was repeated by all.
Passing through the national highway and districts like Kottayam and Pathanamthitta, the event created news around the country.
Facebook
Following this, separate chains were formed in the hilly districts of Idukki and Wayanad,
700 km long human chain formation in Kerala starts with meeting addressed by com. Pinarayi Vijayan, Kodiyeri Balakrishnan and com VS. pic.twitter.com/gZMrtfDYmA CPI (M) (@cpimspeak) December 29, 2016
"A record one million people joined the protest and even though similar human chains were formed before, today we could see that there was participation from people cutting across political affiliations... Demonetisation has crippled our economy, all sectors have been badly affected through this Tughlaq-style programme," said Kodiyeri Balakrishnan, State Secretary, CPI-M.
Let's wait for another day and see what new reforms come into action.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday registered a criminal case against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik under money laundering laws. A case has also been registered against Naiks NGO Islamic Research Foundation (IRF). The step comes after the NIA had earlier registered an earlier FIR against Naik and IRF.
BCCL
Officials said the agencys zonal office in Mumbai has registered an FIR, called Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in EDs parlance, against Naik and others after taking cognisance of a similar complaint booked by the NIA under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act against them. The ED, they said, will specifically look into the charges of alleged illegal funds laundered by the accused and the proceeds of crime in its probe.
The agency has already scanned some banking transaction documents and other details against Naik and IRF and is soon expected to issue summons to take the probe forward. The National Investigation Agency had last month registered a case against 51-year-old Naik under anti-terror laws for allegedly promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion and race.
After registering the case against Naik, IRF and others, NIA along with Mumbai police had 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 a 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) besidevarious sections of UAPA.
BCCL
The charges, in the FIR registered by the NIAs branch in Mumbai, were also slapped under 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 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 Naiks speeches.
A lot of people do a lot more than they're expected to for the human race. One such name is Vikram Sarabhai.
Tributes to Dr. #VikramSarabhai, father of Indian Space Program. Nation will remain indebted for his contribution.#DeathAnniversary pic.twitter.com/Enivq6Siww Chuni Gohel (@mpchunigohel) December 30, 2016
An Indian scientist and innovator, Sarabhai is often regarded as the father of India's space programme.
Tribute to the father of Indian Space Program @isro Shri Vikram Sarabhai on his Death Anniversary. pic.twitter.com/IeqwUaioJb Shankersinh Vaghela (@ShankersinhBapu) December 30, 2016
He was a great institution builder and established or helped to establish a large number of institutions in diverse fields. In fact, the establishment of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad (IIMA) was the outcome of one such innovative initiative.
After returning from Cambridge to an independent India in 1947, he also established the Physical Research Laboratory (PRL) in Ahmedabad. He was only 28 years old.
Remembering Vikram Sarabhai- father of Indian Space Program, a pioneer who catapulted India's global standing in space sector to new heights pic.twitter.com/Q0pETmojxm M Venkaiah Naidu (@MVenkaiahNaidu) December 30, 2016
He was also Chairman of the Atomic Energy Commission.
Sarabhai received the Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar Medal in 1962. The nation honoured him by awarding him the Padma Bhushan in 1966 and Padma Vibhushan (posthumously) in 1972.
Tributes to the Great Scientist, Father of Indian Space Program & founding father of @isro #VikramSarabhai on his Death Anniversary. pic.twitter.com/0MEuXDc70w Kanwarjit Singh Rozy (@K_S_Rozy) December 30, 2016
But the establishment of the Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) was one of his greatest achievements.
He successfully convinced the Indian government of the importance of a space programme for a developing country like India after the Russian Sputnik launch. This is how he explained the significance;
Tributes to the Great Scientist, Father of Indian Space Program & founding father of ISRO, #VikramSarabhai on his Death Anniversary. pic.twitter.com/qVZvIQ2ZTV YAD Faridkot (@Yad_Faridkot) December 30, 2016
"There are some who question the relevance of space activities in a developing nation. To us, there is no ambiguity of purpose. We do not have the fantasy of competing with the economically advanced nations in the exploration of the moon or the planets or manned space-flight. "
Dr Sarabhai also started a project for the fabrication and launch of an Indian satellite. As a result, the first Indian satellite, Aryabhata, was put into orbit in 1975 from a Russian Cosmodrome.
#VikramSarabhai is known as the Father of Indian Space program. A great visionary mind of his time, who helped us to become a #space power. pic.twitter.com/NRSDHYxp90 Varun Kumar (@varunkr842) December 30, 2016
In 1973, the International Astronomical Union decided that a lunar crater, Bessel A, in the Sea of Serenity will be known as the Sarabhai crater.
Remembering Dr. #VikramSarabhai, the father of #Indian space program and an exemplar of innovation & vision on his death anniversary. pic.twitter.com/NZmyQSDjti Radha Mohan Singh (@RadhamohanBJP) December 30, 2016
On this day in 1971, he passed away in 1971 at Kovalam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
2016 was a good year for Indian defence. Some major acquisitions were made, while some important milestones were reached by indigenous defence products. This gave India the ability to project its dominance as an emerging superpower.
Agni 5
DRDO
The 5,500 km range missile was tested for the fourth time successfully. Launched in the same configuration as the Army will use it from a hermetically sealed canister the missile brings the entire country of China within Indias nuclear range. The missile is road and rail mobile and can be launched within minutes thanks to its solid motors. Two more tests of the missile will follow both by Strategic Forces Command, after which it will be inducted.
HAL Tejas
BCCL
The Indian Air Force finally commissioned the LCA Tejas with the 45 Sqn based in Bengaluru this year. The light fighter had a successful, if a little long, flight test program and proved its mettle at the Bahrain Airshow. An advanced design, the Tejas has been constructed out of composite materials and will soon have the ability to refuel in-flight.
Rustom-2/TAPAS-201 UAV
DRDO
Indias home-made long endurance UAV flew for the first time in 2016. The UAV will give Indian forces the ability to snoop on the enemy from high altitudes and get real-time battlefield information. At a later date, TAPAS can be armed with air to ground missiles that will let it attack the enemy once it has been spotted.
S-400 Triumf
Reuters
India signed a deal to acquire the S-400 Triumf anti-air missile with Russia in 2016. The missile system has a maximum range of 400 kms and can even target stealth aircraft. India will get 5 systems to keep an eye on the borders with China and Pakistan. Till the time India builds its own missile shield, the S-400 can also act as an anti-missile system.
Rafale
BCCL
After protracted negotiations, India and France finally signed a deal for 36 Rafale fighters in 2016. The twin-engined fighter is capable of carrying nuclear weapons, though what role the Indian Air Force will use it in remains to be seen. A further order may also be on the cards as the MMRCA program was intended for 126 fighters.
HTT-40
BCCL
An indigenous development, the basic trainer is meant to train rookie pilots of the Indian Air Force, and it flew for the first time in 2016. The HTT-40 will be used for basic flight training of flight cadets with an instructor seated in the back. There are even plans to have a weaponised variant of the plane and make it a value-for-money proposition for export to smaller countries.
INS Arihant
The Hindu
Indias first home-made nuclear submarine, the INS Arihant was quietly commissioned into the Indian Navy this year. Capable of carrying either 12 K-15 missiles of 750 km range or 4 K-4 missiles of 3,500 km range, the Arihant will undertake deterrent patrols as Indias second strike. The second boat of the Arihant-class, the Aridhaman, is also under construction in Vishakhapatnam.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi today launched UPI based mobile payment application called BHIM (Bharat Interface for Money) - a re-branded version of UPI (Unified Payment Interface) and USSD (Unstructured Supplementary Service Data), at the Digi Dhan Mela event in Talkatora stadium in New Delhi.
BCCL
The app can be downloaded from Android app store.
"Be it a smartphone or feature phone of Rs 1,000-1,200, BHIM app can be used. There is no need to have Internet connectivity. One only needs a thumb. There was a time when an illiterate was called 'angutha chchap'. Now, time has changed. Your thumb is your bank now. It has become your identity now," PM said at the event.
He dedicated the new app to Dr B.R. Ambedkar and said: "The mantra of Dr Ambedkar was to work for the uplift of the poor. And the biggest power of technology is that it can empower the poor."
Taking a dig at the Congress, Modi said during the earlier United Progressive Alliance rule at the Centre, money lost in the scams made news but now the nation is talking about money coming back into the system.
"Look at the newspapers or video clips from three years ago -- the news was all about what we lost in scams. However, today, it is about what has come back or what is the gain," Modi said.
BCCL
The Prime Minister recalled the days when India was called 'sone ki chidiya' (bird of gold) and said the nation still had the potential to become the same again.
He said boosting digital connectivity will "do wonders for our nation", adding that the day was not far off when the cash-based transaction will turn completely digital.
The Prime Minister also thanked the media for highlight issues related with digital payments. For those with a positive mindset, India has several opportunities, said PM.
The day is not far when people will get loans in five minutes, PM hoped. PM Modi also asked people to atleast do five digital transactions from 1st January 2017.
How does it work?
You have to register your bank account with BHIM, and set a UPI PIN for the bank account. Your mobile number is your payment address (PA), and you can simply start transacting.
BCCL
You can send, receive from friends, family and customers through a mobile number or payment address. Money can also be sent to non UPI supported banks using IFSC and MMID. You can also collect money by sending a request and reverse payments if required.
You can check your bank balance and transactions details on the go.
You can create a custom payment address in addition to your phone number.
You can scan a QR code for faster entry of payment addresses. Merchants can easily print their QR Code for display.
Maximum of Rs. 10,000 per transaction and Rs. 20,000 within 24 hours is allowed under this.
The app supports Hindi and English, and more languages will be added in coming times.
BCCL
Other announcements at the event:
1. At the event Tihar Jail was announced a cashless society.
2. PM also felicitated winners of Lucky Grahak Yojana. At the event, PM also made payment to Khadi using the Bhim mobile application.
3. Making a pitch for digital transactions, Modi said 'Lucky Grahak Yojana' and 'DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana' were a Christmas gift to the nation.
4. Over 100 days, several prizes of Rs 1,000 will be given to people through lucky draws. The mega draw will be held on April 14, the birth anniversary of Dr Ambedkar, he added.
It's not getting any easier for the docs-to-be out there. The draft Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill 2016, unveiled by the Union health ministry on Thursday, said they will have to pass the National Exit Test (NEXT). The test is expected to create a level-playing field in medical education, increasingly becoming privatized.
BCCL/representational image
A central government official said NEXT would improve the quality of medical education in the country and help benchmark students. "It will substitute three tests, including NEET for postgraduate admissions, recruitment for central health services and the foreign graduate medical examination," said the official, adding it will be an outcome-based test.
BCCL/representational image
"The results of how students from individual colleges have performed in NEXT will be made public. If a college has over 90% students clearing the test, it will automatically act as an indicator. Students can make an informed choice while selecting colleges," said the official.
Also Read: Medical Aspirants Can Appear For NEET Test In Eight Languages From 2017
Dr P Shingare, who heads the state's department of medical education and research, said NEXT is a good move. "How can we equate a student from X university with one from Y University? NEXT will bring about standardisation," he said. A professor said inspection by authorities can just rate the infrastructure of a college and only the outcome of NEXT can be a tangible parameter to determine the quality of that college.
BCCL/representational image
However, cardiac surgeon Dr Devi Shetty, a former member of the Medical Council of India, felt the draft's provisions are suitable for an "economy of excess" that has an adequate number of doctors.
Reservation for medical officers evoked the sharpest comments. Dr Shetty said, "The brightest people should be allowed to pursue post-graduate studies. We are here encouraging them to take a break in their education when, ideally, they should specialize before they turn 30 years old."
BCCL/representational image
"In the last 20 years, 100 medical officers took up post-graduate studies every year. But none of these 2,000 doctors ever returned to the government system," said Dr Shingare.
Dr Gautam Sen, a former MCI member, said, "This is nothing but reduction in meritocracy. We already have reservation at undergraduate levels and post-graduate levels. What is the need to introduce another quota?" He said the government should introduce the complete Medical Council reforms instead of such piecemeal efforts.
"The bill has been cleared by Parliament. So why is the government still not introducing the entire bill?" he said.
As of today, more than 6,50,00,000 people are displaced from their homes due to war and strife. The United Nations put out an alarming report, which showed that lives of thousands of refugees are at risk only because no country is willing to take them in.
This is true, particularly in Europe, where the maximum numbers of Syrian refugees flee to, as recent records demonstrate. Most countries are reluctant to open their borders to these people as their local citizens are unwilling to accept them.
These refugees often die from lack of food and shelter, while waiting to be taken in.
licdn
This racial intolerance is so impactful in todays times that dictionary.com has declared Xenophobia as the word of the year 2016. It was the most searched word of the year. This indicates an alarming situation.
The dislike towards people who belong to other races is an anomaly in todays times, where most world leaders are pushing for a world without borders. In a recent example, the Modi government of India allowed for 100 per cent FDI in various sectors, so as to allow ease of functioning to MNCs, and to open up the economy.
On the other hand, Donald Trump won the US presidential election on the promises of pushing out immigrants, and not outsourcing jobs. Prominent American politician Bernie Sanders did not shy away from openly stating that Trump shows signs to pushing programs that support Xenophobia. Major Hollywood actors put out videos and statements making people aware of Trumps intolerance towards people who were from other cultures. Trump has often publicly endorsed his xenophobic views with statements such as building a wall along the America Mexico border, to keep Americans out. A Trump supporter in an interview vehemently argued that Americans needed jobs to come back home, and for those who were taking their jobs, to go back home.
TOI
A London School of Economics study by Eric Kaufmann revealed that for most Trump Voters, immigration seems to be the biggest issue faced by the United States, as on date. The results of this study are eerily similar to another recent shocking event - Brexit. Most of the people who voted in favor of the UK leaving the European Union were only concerned with having persons of other countries leave Britain. They seemed to have not considered its implications.
The Euro was created with the idea of easing out trade, and providing more job opportunities in the European Union. Not only did it allow for the flexibility of finding jobs easily and relocating to most places in Europe, it also accounted for about 5% of the GDP of UK (according to the Confederation of British Influence). A European Union membership, along with helping the United Kingdom draw in revenues of around 200 billion pounds (just from exports), was also helping protect its citizens when they travelled across Europe. Yet majority of Britons chose to vote themselves out of the European Union. Experts have predicted that the impact of Britain voting out of the European Union will severely slow down the countrys economic growth and cause loss of jobs and revenues from trade.
This is a classic case of xenophobia outweighing economic considerations.
Indiatimes
Soon after the vote, reports of racist name calling and abuse reached a record high. The Guardian UK chronicled the story of South East Asian, Lakshmi D Souza, who has been living in the UK for many years. After the results of UK's referendum vote, she was taking her infant son for a stroll and was told by two different Britishers to be careful and leave now.
Forbes lists out nationalism as a strong reason for Britons voting for a Brexit. They state the growing immigrant crisis of Europe as a determining factor- many British citizens were wary of allowing them sanctuary in the UK. People who voted leave showed a general inclination against multiculturalism and a lesser propensity to accept persons of other races. Many voters were completely unaware of the financial implications of their vote.
While the UN and free trade initiatives are trying to demolish walls, and technology is trying to create a world without borders, these global events have brought forward a completely opposite mindset of people.
Better late than never, as they say. Pakistan seem to be getting its act right at least on some terrorists. A military court in Pakistan has give death sentence to top Pakistani Taliban commander, Muslim Khan whos also known as Butcher of Swat.
Khan was convicted for killing 31 people, including civilians and security personnel, the military said. He is among eight "terrorists" whose death penalty was confirmed by army chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa.
The court was setup in the wake of 2014 Peshawar school attack in which a total of 144, most children were killed by terrorists. Others whose convictions were confirmed by the army chief on Wednesday include four gunmen sentenced for involvement in a 2015 bus massacre of Ismaili Shias in Karachi, and the assassination of social activist Sabeen Mahmud, also in Karachi the same year.
But who is Muslim Khan and why is he known as Butcher of Swat?
These are major questions which need to be answered for those who dont much about Khan and acts.
Reuters
Muslim Khan, 62, was the spokesman of Pakistan Taliban till the time he was arrested in 2009. He began his journey in 1960s when he started out as a student activist of a left-wing secular party.
But in early 1990 he underwent an ideological transformation and got associated with pre-Taliban Islamist movement briefly emerged in his native Swat region. He became a chief spokesman of Swat Taliban in 2007 and was the movement's public face during its stranglehold over the region which continued until the winter of 2009.
AFP
He advocated for Talibans policy of killings, beheading and destruction of schools and other institutions in Swat region which earned him the title of Butcher of Swat from Swat Taliban chief Mullah Fazlullah .
Why military court ordered to hang him?
The military's statement said that he was involved in killing innocent civilians, attacking armed forces and law enforcement agencies of Pakistan
Various attack propagated by him resulted in the death of 31 people and injuries to 69 others, the military statement said, adding that he was involved in "slaughtering" four soldiers.
"He was also involved in kidnapping two Chinese engineers and a local civilian for ransom. The convict admitted his offences before the Magistrate and the trial court. He was awarded the death sentence."
A former BBC Urdu correspondent, Abdul Hai Kakar, who met him in September 2009, reported that he spoke several languages, including Urdu, English, Arabic and Persian, in addition to his mother tongue Pashto.
Khan also had reportedly lived and travelled in a dozen of countries in the Middle East, Europe, the US and the Far East.
He has been in custody since his arrest in 2009 during the military operation that drove the Taliban out of Swat.
Ukraine's Cabinet of Ministers on Wednesday amended the rules for aircraft alert forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in peacetime in resolution No. 1012 and allowed the military to open fire on the aircraft after the intent-to-fire message. The corresponding decision was published by the government's press service on Thursday evening.
According to the amendments, "aircraft alert forces use weapons and military equipment after the intent-to-fire message issued from cannon armament of alert interceptors (helicopters)." These changes are aimed at "terminating illegal activities of aircraft, if they are used to carry out a terrorist offense in the airspace of Ukraine, including in the area of Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO)."
The explanation document says that the decision was made "for the adaptation of the basic legislative documents on defense to the modern world and challenges under the conditions of a "hybrid war" with Russia."
I have never been to Iceland but I already know that I love the place. The images that miserably fail to capture the real beauty of the country nevertheless shine with brilliance. There's live music everywhere, as is visual art, handicrafts and locavore cuisine. The warmth of Icelanders is mind-blowing, and it is the people that have converted this place into a living heaven, and a region that can host five times its population each year.
With only some 320,000 people living there, the country is now packed with tourists flying in from all over the world, and it's no wonder why people want to visit.
Here are 15 reasons why you should visit Iceland.
#1 Arctic Fox
#2 Hofskirkja
#3 Litlanesfoss
#4 Glacial River In Iceland
#5 Landmannalaugar
#6 Aurora Borealis
#7 Jokulsarlon
#8 Rainbow Over Kirkjufell
#9 Wild Arctic Fox
#10 Crater Rust
#11 A House
#12 Just A Normal Day
#13 Plane Wreckage
#14 Kirkjufell
#15 Mountains
Pack your bags already?
While the world doesn't care much about the deaths of migrants and refugees who left their countries like Syria, Libya and Iraq in pursuit of better life in Europe, this Cemetery in Tunisia has accepted all those who were forsaken by destiny.
"I'll sometimes get a knock on my door at night when a new body has been found," says Chemseddine Marzoug, a fisherman who assisted the burial of refugees. "Autumn and winter, when the winds are stronger, is when most of the bodies wash ashore," Marzoug was quoted in Al Jazeera.
Al Jazeera
There is nothing to indicate that this is a cemetery, where hundreds of people have been buried after drowning while attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea from Libya to Italy. One of the latest victims, an African woman in her 30s, was found on the beach in Zarzis without any documents after floating in the sea for about a month.
Over 4,400 people have died or gone missing this year while trying to make the deadly crossing, according to the International Organization for Migration's Missing Migrants Project. Most bodies are never found, but the largest number wash ashore in Libya or Italy and are buried there.
AFP
Marzoug, 51, who assisted burying unknown refugees in Zarzis as a volunteer for the Red Crescent for the past two decades is father of five, who earns his living as a fisherman and sometimes as a taxi driver, points towards a slight mound in the sand as the wind whips around him.
AFP
"He was around 32-years-old, buried in March," he explains.
A few steps further along, he points again: "A man without a head." None of the graves are marked. "Some argued that these people were not Muslims or believers. It made me angry. Aren't we all human beings?" Marzoug says.
Whenever the National Guard or the municipality finds a new body on shores of Zazris, they call Marzoug and a Red Crescent volunteer doctor, who must confirm that the person is dead.
"In many cases they have been in the sea for months, so then it's just a skeleton without any flesh," Marzoug says.
He looks over the hilly wasteland. "Doesn't it look terrible? We have been trying to get funds for 15 years to make this cemetery look decent and to arrange more respectful burials."
AFP
Improvements such as a fence, numbered graves and a paved road leading to the site are among the needed changes, he says - along with an archive and DNA bank.
"Unfortunately, we don't have the money and equipment to take DNA," Marzoug says, citing the need for international aid organisations to step in. "It's hard to get money from Tunisians in the current crisis, and if people have money, they would rather give it to poor children than to a cemetery for dead strangers," Aljazeera quoted him.
Are we back in the Cold War era? Not quite, but the way diplomacy is going on between Russia and the United States one is reminded of the 1970s and 80s. The US on Thursday, struck back at Russia for hacking the US presidential election campaign by targeting the countrys spies and diplomats. America said Russia must pay for its actions, and in return Moscow replied by calling the Obama administration losers and threatened retaliation.
AFP
The US asked 35 Russian diplomats to leave saying they were actually intelligence operatives. America also shut down Russian compounds in New York and Maryland and said this move a response to Russias harassment of US diplomats.
Almost a month after Donald Trump won the election, America said Russia helped him win and so President Barack Obama sanctioned the GRU and FSB, leading Russian intelligence agencies, which the US said were involved. Trump can, if he wants, pull back those sanctions and he has often implied that Obama and Democrats are merely attempting to delegitimize his election.
AFP
The Obama administration, in an effort to expose Russias cyber tactics, released a detailed technical report that hinted it might launch a covert counterattack.
All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions. Such activities have consequences, President Obama said.
Trump issued a statement saying it was "time for our country to move on to bigger and better things." Yet in the face of newly public evidence, he suggested he was keeping an open mind.
"In the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation," Trump said.
Now Russia, in response to Obamas expulsion of Russian diplomats from America, tweeted a picture of a duck with the words Lame printed across the image.
President Obama expels 35 diplomats in Cold War deja vu. As everybody, incl people, will be glad to see the last of this hapless Adm. pic.twitter.com/mleqA16H8D Russian Embassy, UK (@RussianEmbassy) December 29, 2016
The Embassy said "everyone," including the American people, will be happy to see the Obama Administration's time end.
A 'lame duck' is a person whose political successor has already been chosen, and is seeing out his last days in his (or her) post. It can also mean an unsuccessful person. Either way, the Russian Embassy's message for Obama was far from laudatory.
With inputs from AFP and Reuters
The Nasarawa State Police Command has arrested five people, including a notable politician for allegedly killing a Chinese miner and three others in the state.
The Commissioner of Police in the state, Abubakar Sadiq-Bello, made the disclosure on Friday in Lafia while addressing journalists on the development.
He said that the suspects were arrested following security intelligence sharing and collaboration with other agencies since the killing on November 28.
The commissioner said that investigations revealed that one Yahuza Yahaya was the leader of the criminal gang responsible for the ambush and killing of the three miners and their police escort.
He disclosed that one AK-47 riffle, military uniform and two photographs of the gang leader were recovered from the suspects.
In one of photographs, the gang leader was dressed in military uniform and brandishing an AK-47 riffle.
Investigation is still on to apprehend other accomplices in the case and all the suspects will be charged to court as soon as investigation is concluded, Sadiq-Bello said.
RIVERS State is on a knife-edge. Its security architecture was sadistically subverted at the highest level during the December 10 national and state assembly rerun elections. Hoodlums called cultists in local parlance warred against the state on several fronts, shooting, bombing, and snatching electoral materials and ballot boxes. Their most bloody and bestial escapade occurred in Ujju, Ogba/Egbema Ndoni Local Government Area, where they ambushed a police patrol team and beheaded two officers. It is an unmistakable sign of a failed state when criminals upstage the security forces and shed their blood with impunity.
The police represent the symbol of authority of the state: they protect, prevent crime and prosecute offenders. But it is not so in Rivers State. Instead, the police are now easy prey for felons. The killing of policemen, however, portends serious danger: if they are mercilessly murdered, how will ordinary, law-abiding citizens protect themselves?
Rivers State has become notorious for election violence. This is a terrible baggage, but it is unquestionably true. The beheading of Deputy Superintendent of Police, Mohammed Alkali, and his aide, Peter Uchi, is a grim confirmation of this bloodcurdling trend. No country surrenders its authority to criminals, as is being witnessed in the state.
Nigeria continues to demonstrate its weakness by allowing criminals to shed blood without let, and it often does nothing to enforce its authority. All we have witnessed so far is a semblance of state control. Obviously, this does nothing to tame crime. Apart from State Security Service agents, military and Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps personnel, the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, deployed 20,000 officers, 20 gunboats and three helicopters for the rerun. In a normal election, this was more than adequate.
Yet, violence erupted uncontrollably in several places, especially in Khana, Oyigbo, Ogu/Bolo and Ikwerre LGAs. The Independent National Electoral Commission, which conducted the rerun, appropriately cancelled the polls in several units because of the brigandage. But some of these areas should have been identified as flashpoints and adequate undercover and overt operations staged to foil attempts by hoodlums to disrupt the election and kill.
Kasimu Abdulkarim, the General Officer Commanding, 6 Division, Nigerian Army, laid bare the security conundrum in the vicinity where Alkali and his aide were beheaded. He said, The patrol vehicle was taken away with weapons; three policemen escaped, while five were missing in action. This is the same area where soldiers of 34 Brigade were ambushed on November 20 when a soldier was killed. Also on November 21, four personnel of the NSCDC were killed and their weapons carted away. This is frightening.
Violence assumed an alarming dimension in the run-up to the 2015 general election, in which about seven people were killed in the same Rivers State. As a result, INEC suspended legislative election in eight of the states 23 LGAs. Perceptively, the European Union Election Observer Team had condemned the violence that occurred during the polls, stressing it was most pronounced in Rivers and Akwa Ibom (states). Normally, government should have investigated the mayhem and prevented a recurrence.
The March 2016 rerun was not different. Gun battles, destruction, arson and death marked it. A National Youth Service Corps member, Samuel Okonta, who served as an ad hoc INEC official, was brutally murdered, prompting an indefinite shift in the polls. An election is not war. African countries like Ghana and The Gambia just concluded elections, while violence is not part of elections in Europe and the United States. Nigeria should not be different.
The blame for the ongoing criminality in Rivers State lies with the government. The Nigerian state is too weak. Any group can undermine it at will. This is dangerous. In May 2013, the Ombatse cult slaughtered 10 SSS officers and over 60 policemen in an ambush in Nasarawa State. Weirdly, the SSS said it forgave the murderers. Just this month, Idowu Taiwo, a Superintendent of Police in the Ekiti State Command, was murdered by criminals. Solomon Sunday, a corporal in the Ondo State Command, was also gunned down by rival street gangs.
In Rivers, arrests have been made by the police. Yet, they had made several arrests in the past, but the lack of will to prosecute the criminals undermines the integrity of our elections. But it is a little comforting that this IG is talking tough. Idris said, I want to assure this country that we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that those found indicted in this investigation, no matter their status, are going to be held responsible for it. These people were killed, not because of any personal issue, but because they answered the call of duty to serve It is sad that their lives had to end like this. It will be a huge relief if the IG can deliver on his mantra. Recently, he lamented that 128 policemen were murdered by criminals in the line of duty in the three months to November.
The political parties particularly the All Progressives Congress and the Peoples Democratic Party are culpable. Governor Nyesom Wike (PDP), John Odigie-Oyegun, the APC Chairman, and Governor Abdullahi Ganduje of Kano State behaved irresponsibly on the campaign train ahead of the polls with their belligerent postures. Both parties incited the voters unnecessarily. This is bad leadership. There should be a way to sanction politicians who encourage violence in their bid to win elections by all means.
Really, the brigandage in Rivers State foreshadows the testy days ahead of the 2019 general election. Save for the 2015 general election, voting in the country always resembles war. This is worrisome. For things to change, anybody that kills must be brought to book speedily. This is the only language that criminals understand.
Source: Punch
Three Ukrainian soldiers have been injured in the Anti-Terrorist operation (ATO) zone in the east of the country over the past day, Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk has said.
"Over the past day, as a result of the fighting, none of the Ukrainian military has been killed, while three soldiers have been injured," he said at a briefing in Kyiv on Friday.
In his words, grenade launcher and small arms fire was intense in the vicinity of Stanytsia Luhanska, Krymske and Popasna.
In the Donetsk sector, hostilities were seen all along the contact line excluding the Donetsk airport. Most shelling incidents occurred in the Avdiyivka industrial zone, the Svitlodarsk bulge and the outskirts of Horlivka, he said.
In the Mariupol sector, hostiles fired mortars near Talakivka and Krasnohorivka. In all, 24 provocations were observed in that area over the day, Motuzianyk said.
A woman has been arrested in Damaturu, Yobe state, north east Nigeria over the kidnap of her 10 year-old son.
The woman, identified as Barakat Daya was arrested on Wednesday by the operatives of the Department of State Services after her 10 year-old son, Mohd Yusuf Daya was rescued from kidnappers. Her friend, Rukayat Danladi was also arrested.
The DSS suspects their culpability in the kidnap case.
The DSS was called in after the boy was kidnapped on Wednesday morning at Ben Kalio Housing Estate, Damaturu. The kidnappers demanded a ransom of N5 million .
However, about 7:20pm same day, the operatives of the Service rescued the boy in Potiskum town, Potiskum LGA. The town is about 100 kms from Damaturu.
The startling revelation about the 10 year-old boys mother acting in cahoot with kidnappers was made by Tony Opuiyo in the end of the year statement cataloguing the crime busting efforts of the secret agency.
In a related development, Tony Opuiyo also revealed that the agency has uncovered a criminal gang which specialises in robbing foreigners, either visiting or living in Abuja.
Members of the gang who robbed an expatriate in a high brow hotel in Abuja and carted away his money and other valuables, have however been arrested.
According to a statement by Tony Opuiyo for the agency, two of the gang members, Ikechukwu Obadlegwu and Ikechukwu Joseph Eke are in the net.
While Obadlegwu carried out surveillance on potential targets for the group, Eke is the kingpin and mastermind of the whole operation.
DSS said it has almost recovered all the stolen items.
The DSS said it arrested a notorious fraudster at Gwaron Dutse, Kano Municipal, Kano State.
The fraudster was identified as Auwalu Abdullahi Yakasai.
He was apprehended for allegedly defrauding Jaiz and Unity Banks of N100 Million and N50 Million respectively.
The Service also arrested one Bashir Shuaibu, on 5 December, 2016 at Tsamiya village, Gezawa LGA of Kano State for obtaining money from unsuspecting victims through threat messages. He was arrested while in the process of defrauding another victim.
Happy wedding anniversary to the Emir of Kano, HRH Sanusi Lamido Sanusi and his wife of 25 years!
The royal couple celebrated their 25th wedding anniversary yesterday, with this lovely cake.
The pair seem just as happy now as they did when a throwback picture of when they first got hitched surfaced online.
The Federal Government has recovered 40 brand new Sport Utility Vehicles (SUVs) and others from a former permanent secretary who single-handedly appropriated them to himself when he left office.
The Minister of Information, Lai Mohammed, disclosed this while defending the governments anti-corruption fight against allegation that it lacks a strategy. He said the government was being guided by a well-articulated strategy that had led to the recovery of the vehicles.
The anti-graft campaign has been dismissed as losing verve as it is only targeted at perceived or real enemies of the ruling party. It has also been condemned for allegedly resorting to extra-judicial measures. The Senates rejection of Ibrahim Magu as the Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) was a fallout of the perception that the campaign had failed. Thus, Mohammeds defence is an attempt to shore up support for the campaign.
Mohammed said the government was working through the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) to commence a trial run of electronic asset declaration to facilitate compliance and also to search and retrieve data on the assets of public officers in 2017.In a statement issued in Lagos, the minister said the Federal Government was not just fixated on prosecution alone but was also taking preventive measures to make corruption unattractive.
He listed the strict enforcement of the Treasury Singles Account (TSA), which has largely reduced the diversion of government funds into various secret accounts, and the constant fishing out of ghost workers in the public service, which many states are now adopting, as some of the preventive measures against corruption.
The minister listed other measures perfected to strengthen the anti-corruption fight as the establishment of the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery and the Asset Tracing; setting up of an Asset Register; and the Whistle Blower Policy.
According to him, the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption is working with relevant Ministries Departments and Agencies (MDAs), especially the National Bureau of Statistics to improve data collection on corruption indicators generally.
Expatiating on the Presidential Committee on Asset Recovery, the minister says it meets regularly to take reports from key law enforcement agencies on governments anti-corruption effort, share information and intelligence, review the challenges faced in the anti-corruption efforts generally and give directives on the way forward.
This same body, on the recommendation of the Presidential Advisory Committee Against Corruption, has directed a centralised management of recovered looted assets through the Central Asset Management Committee under the leadership of Minister of Finance as legal custodian of government asset.
This singular move has reduced the opportunity for re-looting of recovered assets that was prevalent under previous regimes. By this measure, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) and all asset recovery law enforcement agencies are mandatorily required to furnish the Minister of Finance with full details of recovered assets whether cash or otherwise, the minister said.
According to Mohammed, data reconciliation will soon be completed and the information will be made available to the public.
On the asset register, he said it had made very difficult the looting of government physical assets, most notably vehicles, by departing political appointees as well as senior and middle level officers.
He explained that the recently approved Whistle Blower Policy was designed to further enhance governments effort to recover looted funds. People who give credible and useful information to government that leads to the recovery of stolen public assets will be rewarded with between 2.5% and 5% of the recovered fund and government will keep the identity of the whistle blower absolutely confidential.He hinted that the government was finalising the constitution of an asset tracing team to work with international reputable bodies to trace and recover public assets in private pockets.
In this regard, government will also escalate the use of non-conviction-based asset recovery methods to boost revenue and diminish corruption and the perception that crime pays or criminals can keep their loot. The Federal Government is getting Nigerians in diaspora and international civil society organisations involved in the campaign for return of looted assets, the minister added.
Towards the end of every year, the nation is besieged with a different kind of weather. The weather, which comes during the Yuletide season is known as the harmattan. It comes with its own aura and many prefer it to the cold and hot weather. The harmattan is a hot, dry and dusty wind (continental trade wind) blowing over West Africa.
Expectedly, the harmattan brings desert-like weather conditions, which lowers the humidity, dissipates cloud cover, prevents rainfall formation and sometimes, creates big clouds of dust or sand, which can even result in violent dust-storms or sandstorms; but when the haze effect is weak, this dry wind creates beautiful sunny days with plenty of clear skies.
With the haze hitting parts of the country, especially Lagos State, it is expected that the harmattan will come with mixed feeling. Perhaps, one of the disadvantages of this dry weather is disruption of flight operations in the country, especially from Lagos.
Due to the dry weather, the possibility of fire outbreaks is usually high at this time of the year. Also, as the dryness in the atmosphere increases, people are prone to be infected with various airborne diseases.
To forestall the outbreaks of fire, the Lagos State government has warned citizens against indiscriminate bush burning and careless handling of naked fire in cigarettes, firewood and cooking stoves.
Commissioner for the Environment, Babatunde Adejare, who sounded this note of warning at an interactive section with reporters in Ikeja yesterday, said the warning became necessary to avoid disasters in the state.
Adejare, who noted that harmattan currently being experienced in the state would subside by the end of February 2017 with intermittent breaks in January, urged Lagos residents to take precautionary measures by making sure that they install fire extinguishers in homes, offices, market places and motor parks.
According to him: As our environment becomes dusty and hazy with dryness to everything including trees, wooden items, leaves and furniture, we urge residents to be extremely careful with fire to prevent outbreaks because fire is nobodys friend.
Adejare urged residents to always switch off electrical appliances in their offices at the close of work and at homes when leaving for work or other endeavours as a way of preventing fire disasters, which are often rampant during the harmattan period, while motorists should ensure that they have fire extinguishers in their vehicles, maintain speed limits and observe road signs.
He also warned Lagosians to avoid bush and solid waste burning as this may lead to fire outbreak as well as to desist from the storage of petrol and other inflammable materials at homes, offices, shops and markets as their storage could aid fire outbreak, especially at this harmattan period when virtually all objects in the environment are dry and combustible.
Meanwhile, flight operations to northern parts of the country has picked up as poor visibility occasioned by the harmattan haze that crippled operations since Monday has improved.
It would be recalled that many parts of the country experienced zero visibility for a couple of days leading to cancellations and delays of flights.
Flights to Kano and Yola were cancelled on Monday due to bad weather as the harmattan haze crept in from the Sahara Desert, which saw visibility drop to about 400 metres.
Total shut down of flights to northern states was recorded on Tuesday as no flight operated into the Kano, Maiduguri, Kebbi and Sokoto airports, but a few flights were recorded by Wednesday.
An airport official, who pleaded anonymity, said the situation had improved with flights to Maiduguri, Kano and Sokoto.
The Nigerian Meteorological Agency (NiMet) had predicted thick dust haze with visibility expected to be around 1,000m over most parts since Monday.
Source: Guardian
Nigerian newspaper headlines December 30, 2016.
Punch
Over 40,000 bags of rice seized by the Nigeria Customs Service have been shared to Internally Displaced Persons camps, its Comptroller-General, Col. Hameed Ali, has stated.
Guardian
Cleaners in annex one and two of the National Assembly yesterday withdrew their services in protest of the assemblys inability to pay their five months outstanding salaries.
Thisday
Rivers State governor, Nyesom Wike, has accused the leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the state of plotting to bomb him when he is airborne in the state-owned airplane in a desperate bid to get rid of him and capture the state at all cost.
The Nation
The army yesterday dismissed a new video in which Boko Harams elusive leader Abubakar Shekau is disputing a claim that the jihadist group had been routed from its Sambisa Forest stronghold.
Vanguard
There was tension in Enugu, yesterday, following the killing of two persons during a bloody clash between some Igbo and Fulani at Gariki Market, Enugu.
Premium Times
The Federal Government says it has recovered 40 brand new SUVs and other vehicles from a former Permanent Secretary who single-handedly appropriated the vehicles to himself when he left office.
Leadership
The Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs is pushing for Diaspora voting in the coming general elections in 2019, Chairman, Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs, Sen Monsurat Sunmonu has said.
The Sun
The Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Mr Godwin Emefiele, has said that importation of rice and wheat gulped over N1 trillion in foreign exchange annually.
On Monday, emergency crew in Thailand were recorded conducting an unusual rescue removing a large rat snake from a toilet bowl.
A video posted to YouTube shows an animal rescue worker using a catch pole to snare the reptile as it moves inside a toilet in Khon Kaen.
A second rescue worker, wearing a protective glove, steps in to prevent the snake from escaping the noose and slithering down the toilet drain.
The snake, a non-venomous rat snake, was reportedly released the next day in an area considered to be a safe distance from the nearest commode.
2016 has been hard on all of us, and the Kardashians are no exception. According to TMZ, Rob Kardashian is currently being hospitalized after experiencing complications with his type 2 diabetes. The socks salesman checked himself into the hospital on Wednesday night.
Blac Chyna rushed to be by her fiances side, followed by mother Kris Jenner and her boyfriend, Corey Gamble. Chyna and Rob are currently living separately after the reality show stars got into a nasty spat that resulted in the future Mrs. Kardashian taking their 1-month-old daughter, their Eggo waffles and their BBQ sauce before leaving Rob alone in their home. Of course, the whole debacle wasbroadcast over social media.
Rob Kardashian has struggled with his weight in recent years, and was hospitalized for type 2 diabetes in December of 2015. In August, he told People that his diabetes was gone after he started working out and eating the food Chyna made for him. He has since gained the weight he lost back.
TMZ is reporting that the flare up of his type 2 diabetes came when the emotional turmoil over his relationship caused him to over-eat. He is still being stabilized at a medical center in Hidden Hills, California.
Someecards
A group of men from the ultra-nationalist Alperen Hearts protested Christmas and New Years celebrations in Turkey by holding a man dressed as Santa Claus at gunpoint on December 28 in the western province of Aydin.
The men were dressed in traditional clothes and danced to the traditional zeybek dance, while the locals were watching in shock.
The provincial head of the Alperen Hearths in Aydin said they were aiming to bring people back to their roots.
Our purpose is for people to go back to their roots. We are Muslim Turks and have been banner-bearers of Islam for a thousand years. We cannot see why there is such sensitivity for Christian traditions and not for our traditions like Hdrellez, Nevruz and other religious and national holidays. We organized this protest against Christmas celebrations, reminding people that we should be celebrating our own national holidays instead, he said.
Alperen Hearts is the youth organisation of the Great Union Party a far-right Islamist and nationalist political party in Turkey.
There is much uncertainty surrounding the security industry for 2017, and according to experts in the field, a lot of the trepidation is directly connected to what the nations next president will do.
Heres what security vendors and analysts are predicting for the year ahead.
John B Wood, CEO of Telos Corporation, cites a need for cooperation between the government and the private sector. President-elect Donald Trump took a break from his thank you tour to meet with tech executives to smooth over a contentious time between the two sides during his campaign.
President-elect Trump has been vocal about the need for a stronger and more aggressive cyber security posture, and Im confident that hell work with leading members of Congress. Many non-political cyber experts throughout the government, various agency CISOs and [Federal Chief Information Security Officer] General Touhill will also be great resources to further refine cyber security policies to protect U.S. interests in the face of constantly changing threats, Wood said.
He also noted the renewed focus on U.S. Cyber Command. The President-elect has promised to eliminate the threat of defense sequestration and to spend more on the military. This needs to include working to roll back the budget caps for defense spending and providing additional resources for cyber security, including more money for U.S. Cyber Command, which I believe is grossly underfunded, Wood added.
Speaking of funding, Wood does not believe that a change of administration will automatically lead to a change in regulatory policy.
Although there will certainly be a big push by the Trump administration to roll back or modify overly burdensome regulations, I dont see this affecting cybersecurity regulations, like the NIST Cyber Security Framework that has been developed in consultation with the private sector, he commented.
Reuven Harrison, CTO and co-founder of Tufin, a provider of network security policy orchestration solutions for enterprise cybersecurity, said the thought of a Trump administration inevitably failing to uphold regulations will keep IT departments tossing and turning at night. If Trump implements his deregulation promises, and penalties for non-compliance with industry-wide security regulations are relaxed, security teams will need to be self-disciplined to maintain a high level of security by turning to outside resources for security best practices, he said.
Carson Sweet, co-founder and CTO at CloudPassage, said privacy will take center stage over security.
Trumps administration will create a fundamental shift in concerns as it pertains to security. Theres a new sheriff in town, and many posit that he has less regard for privacy concerns than the current administration. Case in point, Trump supported the FBI in its battle with Apple over iPhone privacy and security, Sweet stated. If this new administration demonstrates in their policies a value for law enforcement and intelligence access over citizens privacy, theyll double or triple down on the governments right to inspect data. The impact of such a reality would extend to the use of online services, cloud providers, even personal computing devices and IoT.
What that impact would be is very hard to know, but its safe to bet that it wont be positive, he said. The wars around PGP and personal encryption come to mind (anyone remember the Clipper chip?).
John Bambenek, threat systems manager at Fidelis Cybersecurity, said he never would have predicted last year that we would be talking about the DNC and hacking of elections.
Ransomware will be on the upswing and evolve in new unforeseen ways. It will be more targeted and focus on more valuable targets as we saw with healthcare. And it will continue to attack new, more damaging industries like we recently witnessed with San Francisco BART and Muni, he said.
While 2016 found the election under scrutiny because of alleged hacking by foreign powers, 2017 will continue the trend of identity theft and ransomware.
Forrester predicts that within the first 100 days, the new president will face a cybercrisis. The momentum of winning the election gives new presidents the publics support to follow through on key initiatives of their campaigns. However, the 45th president will lose that momentum coming into office by finding the administration facing a cybersecurity incident.
Forrester suggests that the administration prepare for nation-states and ideologies looking to disrupt and degrade. They believe the U.S. should be on the lookout for China, North Korea and Iran.
Political ideologies use electronic means to both recruit and spread information. DDoS attacks using IoT devices are becoming a common means of disrupting operations for companies or individuals that threat actors disagree with. A company can become a target not just because of its size or global presence but also because of its political donations or public statements. If youve never factored geopolitical concerns into your security risk analysis, you ignore them at your own firms peril.
Civilian casualties in the Cyber Cold War
Corey Nachreiner, CTO at WatchGuard Technologies, follows Forresters way of thinking. Whether you know it or not, the cyber cold war has started. Nation-states, including U.S., Russia, Israel, and China, have all started both offensive and defensive cyber security operations. Nation-states have allegedly launched malware that damaged nuclear centrifuges, stolen intellectual property from private companies, and even breached other governments confidential systems. Countries are hacking for espionage, crime investigation, and even to spread propaganda and disinformation.
Trumps administration will create a fundamental shift in concerns as it pertains to security.
Carson Sweet, CTO, CloudPassage
He believes 2017 will be much of the same: Behind the scenes, nation-states have been leveraging undiscovered vulnerabilities in their attacks, suggesting that these countries have been finding, purchasing, and hording zero-day flaws in software to power their future cyber campaigns.
In other words, the nation-state cyber cold war is an arms race to discover and horde software vulnerabilitiesoften ones in the private software we all use every day, he said.
RFD-TV Interview: Grain and Livestock Markets Blue Line Futures - Thu Nov 3, 6:38PM CDT What's on the radar for grain and livestock markets to round out the week?
Cotton Bounce Continued through Thursday Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT Front month cotton futures ended with another triple digit bounce on the day. December closed at the allotted 4c limit, while the other nearbys were 138 to 353 point gains. Census data reported 703,536... CTZ22 : 82.39 (-0.73%) CTH23 : 80.85 (-1.61%) CTK23 : 80.81 (-1.45%)
Red Thursday for Wheat Market Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT The nearby wheat market ended with mixed but mostly lower. SRW prices gave back 3 to 5 1/2 cents on the day. December stayed at a net 11 1/4 cent gain wk/wk so far. KC wheat held firmer with December up... ZWZ22 : 847-4 (+0.83%) ZWH23 : 866-2 (+0.76%) ZWPAES.CM : 7.7263 (-0.65%) KEZ22 : 950-4 (+0.98%) KEPAWS.CM : 8.9929 (+0.14%) MWZ22 : 950-2 (+0.77%)
Hog Market Fades on Thursday Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT Lean hog futures held onto minimal gains in the December contract on Thursday, while the other nearby contracts dropped by 2 to 20 cents. The USDA National Average Base Hog Price was $3.36 weaker in the... HEZ22 : 83.375s (+0.09%) HEJ23 : 92.550s (-0.11%) KMZ22 : 94.000s (+0.16%)
Weak Thursday for Cattle Market Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT Front month fat cattle futures ended the session mixed with a 55 cent gain in Dec and a 5 cent gain in the August 23 contract. The other nearby futures fell by 2 to 20 cents on a mixed / mostly weaker... LEZ22 : 151.950s (+0.36%) LEG23 : 154.875s (-0.02%) LEJ23 : 158.300s (-0.13%) GFX22 : 178.000s (-0.52%) GFF23 : 179.425s (-0.32%)
Corn Faded on Thursday Barchart - Thu Nov 3, 4:48PM CDT Thursday action in the corn market left futures 2 3/4 to 8 1/4 cents lower. For December contracts that was the lowest close since 10/19. IHS Markit expects the national U.S. corn yield at 172.9 bpa,... ZCZ22 : 682-4 (+0.48%) ZCPAUS.CM : 6.7556 (-1.15%) ZCH23 : 687-6 (+0.44%) ZCK23 : 687-6 (+0.44%)
The Ukrainian Armed Forces suffered losses among personnel in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) zone in Donbas, Ukraine's Chief Military Prosecutor Anatoliy Matios said.
"There are currently losses of eight servicemen at the frontline," Matios said on Facebook.
Matios said later: "I confirm that there were three injuries in combat and five non-combat losses, such as a suicide and four servicemen that were killed in an incident with mishandling an RDG-5 hand grenade. This is war and its consequences are scary."
At the same time, the Ukrainian Defense Ministry spokesman Oleksandr Motuzianyk said that the Ukrainian Armed Forces only lost a serviceman injured in hostilities in Donbas as of 4:30 p.m. on Friday.
Motuzianyk also told Interfax-Ukraine commenting on information from Matios on the Ukrainian Armed Forces' loss of eight servicemen that he receives latest updates only on combat losses from the ATO zone in Donbas, and the complete information regarding the events today will be made public at a briefing on Saturday.
Motuzianyk said a briefing in Kyiv earlier on Friday that no Ukrainian servicemen were killed and three servicemen were injured in hostilities in the past 24 hours.
Officials in Richmond held a public hearing this week on a proposed temporary ban on marijuana retailers and social clubs in the Maine town.
The Kennebec Journal reports the Planning Boards hearing was set for 7 p.m. Tuesday. The Board of Selectmen plans to hold a special town meeting Jan. 18 to vote on the moratorium and other items.
Richmond joins other Maine towns and cities that are taking a cautious approach to the new state law that legalizes marijuana.
Maine voters approved the referendum in November, and the secretary of states office signed off on the results last week. But it could be months before the state completes the rule-making process governing the legal cultivation and sale of marijuana.
Richmond voters had narrowly favored the ballot initiative.
Information from: Kennebec Journal
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Maine
Governor Andrew M. Cuomo has announced that new health insurance reforms aimed at combatting New York States heroin and opioid crisis will go into effect January 1, 2017.
These reforms were part of the legislative package that the Governor signed earlier this year. Once in effect, health insurance plans will be required to cover treatment services provided to New Yorkers suffering from opioid addiction, increase access to treatment, expand community prevention strategies and limit the over-prescription of opioids in New York.
With these landmark reforms fully enacted, we have removed artificial barriers that prevented New Yorkers from receiving the help they need and put into place new safeguards to get these drugs off the street, Governor Cuomo said in a press release issued by the New York State Department of Financial Services (DFS). As families and communities across the nation grapple with the devastating effects of this heroin and opioid crisis, New York is leading the fight to stamp out this disease once and for all.
The legislative package included several best practices and recommendations identified by the Governors Heroin and Opioid Task Force and builds on New Yorks aggressive efforts to break the cycle of heroin and opioid addiction. These new insurance-related protections are the final components of the package to take effect and include four measures to remove burdensome access barriers for inpatient treatment and medication.
These measures seek to end prior insurance authorization to allow for immediate access to inpatient treatment as long as treatment is needed. It will require that insurers cover necessary inpatient services for the treatment of substance use disorders for as long as an individual needs them. In addition, the legislation establishes that utilization review by insurers can begin only after the first 14 days of treatment, ensuring that every patient receives at least two weeks of uninterrupted care before the insurance company becomes involved.
Additionally, the measures aim to end prior insurance authorization to allow for greater access to drug treatment medications. Under the reforms, insurers cannot require prior approval for emergency supplies of drug treatment medications. Similar provisions that also apply to managed care providers treating Medicaid recipients who seek access to buprenorphine and injectable naltrexone took effect in June.
The new rules require all insurance companies to use objective state approved criteria to determine the level of care for individuals suffering from substance abuse. Going forward, all insurers operating in New York State will be required to use objective, state-approved criteria when making coverage determinations for all substance use disorder treatment in order to make sure individuals get the treatment they need.
The rules also mandate insurance coverage for opioid overdose-reversal medication. The measures state that insurance companies must cover the costs of naloxone when prescribed to a person who is addicted to opioids and to members of his or her family on the same insurance plan.
The new insurance coverage requirements apply to small group and large group plans regulated by the DFS that are issued or renewed beginning January 1, as well as plans sold to individual consumers.
These new laws will save lives, said Arlene Gonzalez Sanchez of the New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services in the release. They will make it possible for New Yorkers in need to get help when they seek it.
Source: New York State Department of Financial Services Press Office
Related:
Topics Carriers New York Drugs
Anthony F. Markel, vice chairman of the board at the Markel Corporation will be honored by The Peter J. Tobin College of Business at St. Johns University as the School of Risk Managements 2016 Insurance Leader of the Year at its 22nd annual dinner.
The event will take place on Wednesday, January 18, 2017, at 6 p.m. at the Marriott Marquis in New York City. The Insurance Leader of the Year Award, presented annually since 1995, recognizes the contributions of outstanding individuals whose leadership in the global insurance and financial services industry sets them apart from his or her peers.
The accolade is traditionally awarded to an industry leader for distinguished achievement over a long career, or for special achievement in the year of recognition, said Kevin H. Kelley, Chief Executive Officer of Ironshore Inc. and Chairman of the SRM Board of Overseers, in a press release issued by St. Johns University. Tony Markel, in all respects, is a worthy recipient of the 22nd Annual Insurance Leader of the Year award. Under his leadership, Markel has over decades produced outstanding operating and financial results; he has generously given of his time and energy to a number of industry-wide organizational leadership positions; and he has pursued a wide array of philanthropic initiatives with a deep commitment to the needs of others. Leader, mentor, guide, and benefactor: Tony has done it all.
Founded in 1870, St. Johns is a Catholic and Vincentian university based in Queens, New York. Markel Corporation is a holding company for insurance, reinsurance, and investment operations around the world headquartered in Richmond, Va., and founded in 1930.
Source: St. Johns University
Topics New York Leadership Education Universities
General Motors has been sued over a 2014 car fire that caused more than $450,000 in damage to two central Pennsylvania homes.
Pennlive.com reports that Erie Insurance Exchange and four of its policy holders claim the blaze resulted from a defect GM officials didnt adequately address.
The fire began in the engine compartment of a 2000 Pontiac Grand Prix owned by Bruce and Sheri Dohner, spread to their garage and engulfed their home. A neighbors home also was damaged.
The car was among 1.1 million recalled by GM for a defect that allowed oil to leak onto the engines hot manifolds. The lawsuit says the Dohners got the work done, but the repair didnt work.
On Tuesday, GM asked to have the case moved from Cumberland County Court, where it was originally filed, to federal court in Harrisburg.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Lawsuits Homeowners Pennsylvania
In view of the new U.S. presidential administration coming to power, which has already announced its intention to change its approach to Russia, as well as possible election of political powers in several European countries which intend to make a deal with the Russian leaders, the authorities of Ukraine and its citizens need to agree to a series of painful compromises in order to achieve peace with Russia, Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist Victor Pinchuk wrote in his article for The Wall Street Journal newspaper.
He said that the West cannot make a deal with the Kremlin disregarding the opinion of more than 40 million Ukrainians. Ukrainians have demonstrated since the end of 2013 that they will fight if the prospect of living in a free, democratic, tolerant and fair country is taken away, the businessman said.
"Those looking for a 'realist' solution would be well advised to take this into account. But the instinctive response of many Ukrainians to the new circumstancesto demand the same as before, but with greater intensity and urgencymay not work," the businessman said.
Pinchuk says that Ukrainians should also adapt to the new reality and help the international friends help them instead of issuing new appeals. "The new administration in Washington can be an opportunity for Ukraine to contribute to the solution of Russia's intervention," he said.
He notes that Ukrainians must stand up for the fundamental principles of their struggle - Ukraines right to choose its own way, safeguard its territorial integrity and build a successful country.
"Yes, it goes without saying that Moscow must implement its obligations under the 2014 and 2015 Minsk agreements to end the conflict in eastern Ukraine. It must ensure enforcement of the ceasefire and the withdrawal of its fighters and heavy weapons, which it has failed to do. But this can be part of a larger picture in which we make painful compromises for peace. Consider the following ideas," Pinchuk wrote.
According to him, Ukraine should consider temporarily eliminating European Union membership from our stated goals for the near future. We can build a European country, be a privileged partner, and later discuss joining.
"While we maintain our position that Crimea is part of Ukraine and must be returned, Crimea must not get in the way of a deal that ends the war in the east on an equitable basis. It will take Ukraine from 15 to 20 years to generate enough economic growth and stabilize our infrastructure, social safety net and financial system. Everyone from Crimea will then want to live in this future Ukraine - just as East Germans wanted to become part of West Germany," he said.
Pinchuk believes that the conflict in the east was initiated from abroad and is not a genuine autonomy movement or civil war. There will not be conditions for fair elections until Ukraine has full control over its territory. But we may have to overlook this truth and accept local elections. Such compromises may mean letting down Ukrainians from the east who have suffered enormously. "But if this is what it takes to demonstrate Ukraine's commitment to peaceful reunification, then we may have to make this compromise to save thousands of lives," the businessman thinks.
According to him, we must focus on helping those who had to leave their hometowns, and cannot return to live under repressive and unsafe conditions, by offering them all possible support to rebuild their lives in a new reality.
"Finally, let's accept that Ukraine will not join NATO in the near- or midterm. The offer is not on the table, and if it were, it could lead to an international crisis of unprecedented scope. For now, we should pursue an alternative security arrangement and accept neutrality as our near-term vision for the future," the philanthropist wrote in his article.
Pinchuk says Ukraine will need security guarantees. In the 1994 Budapest Memorandum the U.S., Russia, Britain, France and China gave security assurances in exchange for Ukraine giving up its nuclear arsenal.
"We trusted this agreement but learned painfully when Russia invaded Crimea that assurances are not guarantees. Ukraine must offer realistic, detailed proposals on all of these points. We should also make clear that we are ready to accept an incremental rollback of sanctions on Russia as we move toward a solution for a free, united, peaceful and secure Ukraine," the article says.
Pinchuk says that Ukrainian lives that will be saved are worth the painful compromises he has proposed. Ukrainians must reiterate that Ukraine can be part of solving its own problems and addressing global challenges as part of a broad international coalition.
"When I hosted Donald Trump as a speaker by video link at the 2015 Yalta European Strategy annual meeting, he expressed great respect for Ukraine and the belief that we were not getting the support we deserved. I am hopeful that his sympathy for Ukraine can be the basis for meaningful negotiations, agreements and eventually a peaceful settlement," the businessman said.
Pinchuk is a Ukrainian businessman and philanthropist, an owner of investment and consulting group EastOne and Interpipe metallurgical company.
Value investor Prem Watsas Fairfax Financial Holdings Ltd. won regulatory approval to buy 51 percent of Catholic Syrian Bank Ltd., marking the first time Indias central bank is allowing a foreign investor to purchase a majority stake in a domestic lender.
Catholic Syrian, based in Thrissur in south Indias Kerala state, received notification of the approval Thursday from the Reserve Bank of India, director T.S. Anantharaman said in a phone interview. The 96-year-old Indian lender must now send a list of valuation companies, which can produce an estimate of Catholic Syrians worth, to the central bank for their selection before proceeding with discussions, he said Friday.
The lenders board can then negotiate a deal price with the Canadian investment firm based on the valuation report, Catholic Syrian Director S. Santhanakrishnan said by phone. The parties will need to reach a final agreement within three months of the valuation company being chosen, according to Anantharaman.
The approval for Fairfax to acquire a stake is a game-changer for banks and for Catholic Syrian Bank, Santhanakrishnan said.
Representatives for Fairfax and the RBI didnt immediately respond to e-mails seeking comment. Indias Mint newspaper reported the RBI approval earlier Friday, citing unidentified people.
Voting Rights
Catholic Syrian had 156.5 billion rupees ($2.3 billion) of assets at the end of March, according to its annual report. The lenders network includes more than 430 branches and 240 automated teller machines in India, its website shows.
Indias central bank will require Fairfax to keep its ownership level for at least five years, Santhanakrishnan said. The Canadian firm will need to reduce its shareholding to 15 percent within 12 years, according to Santhanakrishnan.
The Reserve Bank of India approval letter states Fairfax will be allowed voting rights in accordance with the guidelines contained in central bank circulars from November and May, he said. A single investors voting rights in a non-state bank cannot be more than 15 percent, according to the May guidelines.
Catholic Syrian raised about 1.2 billion rupees in October selling stock to investors including Edelweiss Tokio Life Insurance Co., HDFC Standard Life Insurance Co. and Reliance Capital Ltd. at about 120 rupees per share, Santhanakrishnan said. Federal Bank Ltd. and Edelweiss Financial Services Ltd. also own stakes in the lender, according to a regulatory filing last year.
Copyright 2022 Bloomberg.
Topics Mergers & Acquisitions Canada India
Federal investigators said crew fatigue may have contributed to the derailment of a BNSF freight train that spilled more than 20,000 gallons of ethanol last year in western Wisconsin.
The engineer and the conductor scored poorly on the Federal Railroad Administrations fatigue analysis tool, even though they each had more than 13 hours of rest prior to beginning their shift at 1 a.m. on Nov. 17, 2015. The derailment occurred nearly 8 hours later.
Both employees passed alcohol and drug screenings.
A report said the engineer violated railroad guidelines by applying the brakes too suddenly, causing 25 cars to jump the tracks near Alma. Braking rapidly can cause momentum at the rear of a train, which can push cars off the track, the La Crosse Tribune reported.
According to the report, the freight train was traveling at 26 mph when it derailed, and was previously slowed from 54 mph. The maximum speed limit on the track where the incident occurred is 60 mph and the train was restricted to 55 mph, according to the FRA report.
The administration also determined that the layout of the more than 100-car train, which had heavily-loaded cars behind dozens of lighter and empty cars, contributed to the derailment.
The FRA characterized the incident as poor handling. Spokesman Marc Willis said the agency didnt fine the railroad because the engineer did not violate any federal regulations.
BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said as a result of the incident the engineer is no longer employed with the company.
No injuries were reported in the incident which caused about $2.1 million damage to rail equipment.
The derailment was one of several rail accidents last winter in Wisconsin and Minnesota.
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Topics Trends Wisconsin
Emergency rules drafted following the deadly 2011 Indiana State Fair stage collapse expired nearly a year ago and state regulators have not yet drafted a permanent rule intended to prevent such a disaster from happening again.
The rules that established design and construction requirements for outdoor event equipment, such as stage rigging, expired on Jan. 1, 2016, the Indianapolis Business Journal reported.
Indiana Department of Homeland Security spokesman John Erickson said permanent rule-making to replace the emergency regulations has already started, but he acknowledged that process can take up to two years.
Indianapolis developer Craig Von Deylen, a member of the State Fire Prevention and Building Safety Commission, told the newspaper he was disappointed that Gov. Mike Pences administration let the rule lapse. He said the commission could have noticed the rules impending expiration and acted, had it been provided with adequate staff to do its job.
People died in an incident in the state prior to that rule, Von Deylen said. It cost the state a considerable amount of money in both legal fees and settlements.
Seven people were killed and nearly 100 were injured when high winds toppled stage rigging and sent the roof of the stage onto fans awaiting the start of a concert by the country duo Sugarland at the fairgrounds in Indianapolis on Aug. 13, 2011.
Following those deaths, the Washington, D.C.-based public safety and crisis management firm of Witt Associates determined that the state of Indiana should adopt and implement stringent regulation of the type of structure that collapsed during the state fair.
Erickson said the expired emergency rules are still being used as a guideline to assist with outdoor equipment safety. He added that the state Department of Homeland Security has been encouraged by the level of voluntary compliance with these guidelines.
The emergency rule was originally set to expire in 2014, but a bill passed by the General Assembly extended that deadline to Jan. 1, 2016, giving state regulators more time to establish permanent rules.
Commission members, however, told the newspaper the rule-making process only started this fall.
Von Deylen said the building safety commission is behind on its work because key legal and administrative staff positions that had once been in place at the state level to review and update the codes have been eliminated.
He called for Pence, the vice president-elect, to provide (the commission) with adequate staff so we can do our job. Pences term as Indianas governor ends Jan. 9.
Indiana and 19 companies were part of a $50 million settlement reached in 2015 with victims of the stage collapse. The state paid $11 million of that.
Related:
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Topics Indiana
Maryland-based Kite Technology Group and Wisconsin-based AIS Technology are merging their operations effective Jan. 2, 2017. The merged company will operate under the name Kite Technology Group.
Nick Oliver, owner and president of AIS Technology, will join Kite Technology Group (KiteTech) as executive vice president.
Oliver will serve as the executive contact for AIS Technology (AIS) clients and expand Kite Technology Groups footprint to meet the technology needs of insurance agencies nationwide.
Kite Technology Group provides managed IT services to insurance agencies, as well as other service businesses, in the mid-Atlantic region. Approximately 55 percent of Kite Technology Groups current revenue comes from independent insurance agencies.
AIS Technology is an IT managed services provider serving independent insurance agencies in twenty-two states across the United States. AIS also provides IT services to non-insurance companies in Wisconsin.
The combined entity will be owned by Greg DiDio, Nick Oliver and Kite Technology Group founder, Jeff Kite. It will continue to be headquartered in Owings Mills, Md.
Source: Kite Technology Group
Topics InsurTech Tech Maryland Wisconsin
Commissioners in Kansas Shawnee County have agreed to pay a $48,000 settlement to two women who claimed they were wrongfully terminated from their jobs in the prosecutors office because of racial and gender discrimination.
Although the settlement releases the county, the litigation will be allowed to continue against the district attorneys office, and a jury trial is expected to start Jan. 9 in federal court in Kansas City, Kansas. Thats the same day outgoing Shawnee County District Attorney Chad Taylors successor will be sworn into office, The Topeka Capital-Journal reported.
Lisa Anne Moore, of Lawrence, and Krystal L. Boxum-Debolt, of Rancho Rio, New Mexico, filed the lawsuit in 2012. The two were victim-witness specialists in the district attorneys office before they were terminated in 2010.
They contend in a court filing that Taylor had a propensity to use insulting and intensely degrading language and sexual epithets to describe women.
Taylor, who didnt run for re-election in November, has called the allegations inaccurate. He claimed the women deserved to be terminated because their work emails about colleagues featured derogatory and unprofessional comments laced with profanity.
A memorandum from county counselor Jim Crowl to the commissioners said the county denies the claims of Boxum-Debolt and Moore have any merit, (and) this settlement reflects the costs of the defense as well as the risk of an adverse judgment.
The settlement is a compromise of disputed claims, Crowl wrote in the document.
The defense has sought a judges order to exclude any allegedly sexist statements or conduct by any employee of the district attorneys office that werent done in the presence of Moore and Boxum-Debolt and were communicated to the plaintiffs secondhand. The judge hasnt ruled on the defense motion to exclude that testimony.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Lawsuits Kansas
A Texas district court judge in Austin has upheld the states right to regulate fees paid to air ambulances for transporting patients covered by workers compensation insurance, according to Texas Mutual Insurance Co.
This case involved litigation over whether the federal Airline Deregulation Act of 1978 prevents state workers compensation fee caps.
The Airline Deregulation Act was intended to free commercial passenger airlines, whose customers can price shop in competitive markets, from rate regulation, Texas Mutual reported.
Unlike commercial air passengers, air ambulance patients cannot price shop and wont know how much the air ambulance company will charge until after the transport.
PHI Air Medical LLC wanted the court to find that the Airline Deregulation Act preempts guidelines set by the Texas Department of Insurance, Division of Workers Compensation regarding what insurers pay for transports of injured workers and instead requires insurers to pay its full billed charges.
District Court Judge Stephen Yelenosky sided with Texas Mutual, upholding the states workers compensation reimbursement rate at 125 percent of the Medicare-approved fee.
Judge Yelenosky noted that the McCarran-Ferguson Act, passed by Congress in 1945 to protect state rights to regulate the insurance industry, preempts the Airline Deregulation Act as it applies to payment in the workers compensation system.
In the companys announcement, Texas Senior Vice President and General Counsel Mary Nichols said: Air ambulances charge 500 to 700 percent of their costs. These charges are often $40,000 or more versus actual costs of $7,000 or so.
Nichols added that the case is important for all consumers because, although the courts order specifically applies to workers compensation patients, more and more people are winding up with financially devastating medical bills from being balance billed for emergency air transport.
Source: Texas Mutual Insurance Co.
Topics Legislation Texas Workers' Compensation Aviation
Thomas Moore Feed in Navasota, Texas, has been cited by federal safety officials for repeat and serious health and safety violations. Proposed penalties total $91,911.
Federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) investigators inspected the feed manufacturers facility on Aug. 24, 2016. Safety and health investigators found the employer failed repeatedly to guard machinery and protect employees against fall and grain dust hazards.
OSHAs Houston North Area office cited the employer for eight serious violations and two repeat violations. The agency cited the animal feed manufacturer for similar violations in February 2015.
Thomas Moore Feed specializes in manufacturing animal feed and employs approximately 47 employees. The company has 15 business days from receipt of its citations to comply, request an informal conference with OSHAs area director, or contest the citations and penalties before the independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission.
Source: OSHA
Topics Texas Workers' Compensation Manufacturing
A Florida family sued a hospital for malpractice on Wednesday, saying their baby suffered severe burns because it took too long to remove a coin-sized battery that she swallowed.
Parents Cole Parsons and Courtney Thorne said in a lawsuit that Wolfson Childrens Hospital in Jacksonville should have taken out the lithium battery within two hours, which is recommended by poison control centers. They also sued Dr. David Smith, who they say downplayed the dangers. The battery was removed about five hours after the parents arrived at the hospital, the complaint said.
Nineteen-month-old Ava-Kate Parsons has undergone 20 surgeries since she swallowed the battery March 10. Her mother was at home at the time and saw as her daughter swallowed the coin battery that popped out of a remote control. She rushed to get it out, but it had gone down her throat, and she called 911.
The National Capital Poison Center, a nonprofit call center, said more than 1,900 children swallowed button batteries last year and there were 20 fatal or major incidents in children younger than 6. Those batteries are found in remote controls, calculators and other small devices.
At the hospital, the parents wanted the battery taken out right away because they worried the girl would be exposed to dangerous chemicals. But the father said Smith told them the incident was no different than a coin in her throat.
He seemed pretty relaxed about the whole situation, Parsons said. A little while later, we learned there is an electrical burn taking place in her esophagus, and she was rushed to emergency surgery.
The hospital did not comment on the case, citing privacy laws.
Attorney Eric Ragatz said the amount the parents are suing for is yet to be determined. He said they have spent between $300,000 and $400,000 on medical bills, not counting what they spent traveling to Boston to take Ava-Kate for treatment every two weeks. The girls mother, a nursing assistant, also took a leave from work and only returned part time to care for her daughter.
Parsons said doctors have told him their daughter may need to continue treatment to stretch out the esophagus well up into her teens. While other toddlers her age experiment with foods of many textures, she can only eat pureed food, which Parsons says has slowed down her growth.
They really dont have a lot to say about what exactly her course is going to be, Parsons said. We are stressed out about the unknown.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Lawsuits Florida
Federal investigators have concluded that a worker crushed to death by a machine at a Kentucky coal mine earlier this year wasnt wearing an emergency shut-off device, and that his managers had not provided a way to securely attach it.
Citing a U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration report, the Lexington Herald-Leader says managers at Webster County Coals Dotiki Mine knew about the problem but didnt address it, potentially exposing the company to a higher fine.
Thirty-six-year-old Nathan Phillips was pinned to a wall while trying to move a continuous-mining machine in January. The report said his transmitter, designed to shut off the machine if he got too close, had been on the floor of the mine for about a half-hour before he was killed.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Kentucky Mining
Mississippi officials are worried that the state could end up with an opioid problem like other states that have battled with drug addiction.
The Daily Journal reported that Gov. Phil Bryant issued an executive order creating an Opioid and Heroin Study Task Force.
The state hasnt seen the dramatic increases in deaths related to the misuse of prescription pain pills that places like Kentucky and Alabama have seen. Mississippi had 336 deaths in 2014, according to the CDC data. That constitutes a seven percent increase, which is not considered statistically significant. Neighboring Alabama, for example, had a 20 percent increase in opioid-related deaths between 2013 and 2014, with 723 deaths.
But officials are still worried.
People have got to wake up, said John Dowdy, director of the Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics. We are on the same pattern that these other states were.
Part of the worry comes from the fact that Mississippi has a high rate of opioid prescriptions. The paper reports that four out of five heroin users become addicted through the use of prescription opioids. A 2014 CDC analysis found that Mississippians received prescription pain pills at a rate of 120 prescriptions per 100 people.
This is a public health crisis in the making, said Mississippi State epidemiologist Dr. Paul Byers.
Opioids can depress respiration, leading to unconsciousness and death. As people use opioids more regularly, they develop a tolerance and need to take higher and higher doses to achieve the effect.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Trends Mississippi Drugs
Deficit of current account of Ukraine's balance of payments down to $164 mln in Nov 2016
The deficit of the current account of Ukraine's balance of payments in November 2016 continued to decline for the second month in a row and totaled $165 million, which is 1.9 times better than in November 2015, according to the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU).
"The main factor that caused the reduction of deficit was a significant increase in exports of goods (in monetary terms by $343 million), which exceeded the growth in imports of goods (by $281 million)," the central bank said.
According to the NBU, exports of goods increased by 11.3%, to $3.367 billion, while imports by 7.6%, to $3.958 billion.
In November, in particular, exports of oil and oilseeds reached $700 million, which accounted for 21% of total exports of goods and exceeded last year's level by 36%. In addition, exports of services grew, which is uncharacteristic for November, due to the increased volume of gas transit to Europe. Imports rose mainly due to the growth in imports of petroleum products, while imports of machinery grew as well.
The NBU said in November net revenues on the financial account amounted to $84 million ($311 million in October).
The central bank said that in November the trend of the previous months that the pace of reduction of off-bank cash currency slowed. In addition, net outflow of debt capital from the real economic sector was seen mainly thanks to payment of commercial loans by companies ($344 million).
Payment of government domestic loan bonds pegged to foreign currency held by nonresidents resulted in a decline in liabilities of the public sector by $110 million, the NBU said.
The regulator said that in November foreign direct investment (FDI) of $132 million was equally distributed between the real economic and banking sectors. FDI in the pecuniary form and in the form of transactions to transfer debt to charter capital were seen in the banking sector.
In general, the balance of payment in November posted a deficit of $80 million, while in October a surplus of $91 million was recorded.
The NBU said that in January-November 2016 the deficit of the current account was $3.1 billion.
"However the deficit of the current account was compensated by net borrowing in the financial accounts in the amount of around $4 billion," the NBU said.
The surplus of the consolidated balance of payment in January-November was some $987 million.
A lawsuit has accused a Washington school district of failing to protect a female special needs student from a male special needs classmate who sexually abused her in 2012.
The News Tribune reported the lawsuit was filed earlier this month against the Bethel School District for alleged abuse at Bethel High School in Spanaway.
Attorney for the plaintiffs, Loren Cochran, says the alleged abuser was involved in two abuse cases at his previous school district.
Case records say the first sexual assault case happened at Lochburn Middle School in Lakewood in 2011. The boy was then expelled and transferred to Hudtloff Middle School, where he was later was accused of sexually assaulting another boy.
Jerry Moberg, attorney for the school district, said he didnt want to comment on the complaint.
Copyright 2022 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
Topics Lawsuits Washington Education
Santa Rosa, Calif. taxi company A-C Transportation Services Inc. has agreed to settle a $522,300 citation for refusing to provide its 30 drivers with workers compensation insurance coverage and for misclassifying them as independent contractors.
California Labor Commissioner Julie A. Su announced the settlement deal on Friday.
Company owners Kevin and Jennifer Kroh, also doing business as Healdsburg Cab Co., agreed to pay a fine of $200,000 in installments, with final payment in June 2021. If they default on the payments the agreement is void and the full $522,300 judgement will be due. The company also agreed to cease all operations as of Dec. 31.
The agreement comes after the taxi company was issued a stop order judgment in October by a Sonoma County Superior Court judge for continuing to refuse to provide workers comp insurance as required by law.
The labor commissioners office launched its investigation into A-C Transportation Services in 2014 and found that it had failed to provide workers comp coverage as required by law from 2011 through 2014 and was misclassifying drivers as independent contractors. A citation for $522,300 was issued and appealed by A-C Transportation claiming their drivers were independent contractors who leased taxi cabs from the businesses.
The commissioner in January 2015 affirmed the citation and determined that the taxi drivers were employees and not independent contractors. A-C Transportation Services then filed a petition to review the administrative decision in Sonoma County Superior Court.
On Sept. 16, the Court found that there was substantial evidence to support the commissioners determination and denied the petition. When A-C Transportation continued to operate and refused to secure workers comp insurance, the commissioner requested and received a stop order from the courts.
Hard working business owners across California get up every day and play by the rules, even when it isnt always easy. This case sends a powerful message to businesses that break those rules by misclassifying their employees, Su said in a statement.
The labor commissioners office is a division of the Department of Industrial Relations.
Topics California Workers' Compensation Contractors
(Bloomberg) -- The first major act of the unified Republican government in 2017 will be a vote in Congress to begin tearing down Obamacare.
But the euphoria of finally acting on a long-sought goal will quickly give way to the reality that Republicans -- and President-elect Donald Trump -- have no agreement thus far on how to replace coverage for about 20 million people who gained insurance under the health-care law.
They havent come to a consensus in the House and the Senate about the possible replacement plans, said Douglas Holtz-Eakin, a conservative economist and former adviser to Senator John McCains 2008 presidential campaign. They dont know Point B.
Republicans are debating how long to delay implementing the repeal. Aides involved in the deliberations said some parts of the law may be ended quickly, such as its regulations affecting insurer health plans and businesses. Other pieces may be maintained for up to three or four years, such as insurance subsidies and the Medicaid expansion. Some parts of the law may never be repealed, such as the provision letting people under age 26 remain on a parents plan.
House conservatives want a two-year fuse for the repeal. Republican leaders prefer at least three years, and there has been discussion of putting it off until after the 2020 elections, staffers said.
In nearly seven years since Obamacare passed, dozens of comprehensive health-care alternatives have been introduced, but none has gotten off the ground. The most developed plan so far is legislation by House Budget Chairman Tom Price of Georgia, Trumps nominee to run the Department of Health and Human Services, which he introduced in every Congress since 2009. It had 84 cosponsors in the House.
But that bill -- centered on age-based refundable tax credits to buy insurance -- didnt receive a hearing in committee, nor was it included in Prices budget that was adopted by the House last year.
If Republicans stick together, repeal could happen quickly. The Senate plans to move first on a nonbinding budget resolution instructing committees to draft repeal legislation, with the House approving it next. The resulting proposals would be sent for final votes under a process known as reconciliation, which is used to bypass the 60-vote threshold in the Senate.
Key players tasked with executing the plan will be Senate Finance Chairman Orrin Hatch of Utah and Health Chairman Lamar Alexander of Tennessee, and on the House side, Ways and Means Chairman Kevin Brady of Texas and incoming Energy and Commerce Chairman Greg Walden of Oregon.
Replace With What?
To cushion the political blow of upending the system, party leaders are putting out a stream of statements portraying Obamacare as collapsing on its own.
But the Department of Health and Human Services reported that signups reached 6.4 million by the Dec. 19 deadline, an increase of 400,000 over the previous years number at this time. Earlier, President Barack Obama said that more than 670,000 Americans signed up for coverage on Dec. 15, "the biggest day ever for Healthcare.gov."
The overarching challenge is that the Affordable Care Act is the status quo, and disrupting the status quo in health care is always controversial, said Larry Levitt, a health policy expert at the Kaiser Family Foundation and former adviser to President Bill Clintons health-care efforts. There are so many moving pieces to this effort involving lots of money and lots of interest groups. So piecing together the votes is daunting.
Trump and House Speaker Paul Ryan of Wisconsin have been vague on what they want to see, but both released blueprints calling for expanding the use of tax-advantaged Health Savings Accounts, allowing the sale of insurance across state lines and turning Medicaid over to states. Republicans are seeking recommendations from governors and industry leaders on what to do.
We need to put patients in charge of their health-care choices with a free-market solution that increases access and lowers the overall spiraling costs of health care, which Obamacare did nothing to address, Republican Senator David Perdue of Georgia, a close Trump ally, wrote Thursday in an op-ed for the Daily Caller, a conservative website.
Translating slogans and white-papers into legislation will create problems. Undoing Obamacare would increase the number of non-seniors who are uninsured by 24 million over a decade, according to the Congressional Budget Office. Republican aides privately acknowledge that would give Democrats a potent political weapon to fight their efforts, but say their focus will be on lowering costs and expanding choice.
Trial and Error
Unifying the party may require trial and error, said Rodney Whitlock, a former health policy aide to Republican Senator Chuck Grassley of Iowa, adding that Ryan will be a key figure to watch. He may have to get the Congressional Budget Office to provide estimates for how multiple proposals would affect the budget deficit, Whitlock said.
Thats the pathway to get his folks to understand the cost and coverage consequences of their policy decisions, Whitlock said. Thats not going to be easy, but I dont see how he gets his conference to consensus without an exercise like that.
Some Republican aides say they may pursue a replacement through a series of small bills as opposed to one big measure. Leading Republicans such as Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn of Texas have said they want Democratic buy-in on a replacement plan. Breaking a filibuster would require the support of at least eight Democrats.
Obamacare continues to be viewed unfavorably by Americans, but the politics of undoing the law are complicated. A Kaiser Family Foundation poll after the election showed 26% want to repeal it, while 17% want to scale it back. Nineteen percent want to move forward with implementation and 30% want to expand it.
Bring It On
Democrats have made clear they wont go along with Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare. Some are taunting the GOP as it attempts to write a replacement.
Bring it on, incoming Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer of New York said this month. They dont know what to do. Theyre like the dog that caught the bus.
Several of the laws provisions are popular, most notably the regulations prohibiting insurers from denying coverage or raising costs on people with pre-existing conditions. And of the 14 states with the largest percentage of non-elderly people with pre-existing conditions in 2015, Trump carried 12, according to a Kaiser Family Foundation study released last week. He also got one electoral vote in Maine, the 13th state in that group.
Congressional Republican aides say theyre likely to soften those rules by limiting their protections to people who maintain continuous coverage.
The pre-existing condition provisions in Republican proposals are less protective, Levitt said. With fewer protections you could piece together other mechanisms to keep the market stable.
Trump has proposed high-risk pools to cover sick uninsured people, but financing them will be a challenge. A 2010 estimate in National Affairs by conservative health-care experts Tom Miller and James Capretta pegged the cost at $150 billion to $200 billion over a decade to insure up to 4 million people; House Republicans have been reluctant to spend anything close to that.
Funding Challenges Republicans are considering setting up a fund to address the cost, perhaps with savings from repealing Obamacares subsidies.
The funding challenges are substantial. Repealing the law would increase the deficit by $353 billion over a decade, or $137 billion under favorable macroeconomic assumptions, according to the Congressional Budget Office.
As they chart the path ahead, Republicans are trying to calm fears.
The new big lie, after if you like your health care plan you can keep it, is that 20 million Americans will lose their health care. Thats simply not true, Brady told reporters Dec. 15. Republicans will provide an adequate transition period to give people peace of mind that they will have those options available to them as we work through the solutions.
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The fate of the merger between T-Mobile US, Inc. (TMUS) and Sprint Corporation (S) will soon be in the hands of Senior United States District Judge Victor Marrero, who presided over a December trial brought by 14 state attorneys general seeking to block the well-publicized hook-up. Opinions of Wall Street analysts are evenly divided on the court's decision, which may come later this month. U.S. government agencies have already stated they won't block the merger, so a "thumbs-up" here could finally end the legal battle.
T-Mobile US CEO John Legere triggered a stock decline in November when media outlets reported that he was seeking the CEO job at WeWork, the troubled start-up. That didn't happen, but the executive announced his resignation just one week later, effective when his contract expires on April 30. Unfortunately for shareholders, the drama unfolded right in the middle of the merger approval process, triggering an unneeded distraction while raising legitimate questions about his fiduciary obligations.
Even so, T-Mobile US stock is holding support at the 200-day exponential moving average (EMA) in the $70s ahead of the court decision and could gain ground regardless of the final outcome. Sprint's share price performance has deteriorated since the start of merger discussions, and many investors will be happy if the deal fails and T-Mobile gets a golden opportunity to walk away. However, volatility is likely to spike higher in the short term regardless of the outcome.
TMUS Long-Term Chart (2007 2020)
TradingView.com
The 13-year price history combines a number of mergers and acquisitions, as well as accounting changes by parent Deutsche Telekom AG (DTEGY). T-Mobile US stock charged higher after opening in the mid-$20s on the first day of trading in April 2007, entering a modest uptrend that topped out just above $40 in July. The subsequent downtrend hit new lows in September, signaling the next phase of a bearish period that finally ended at an all-time low in the single digits in February 2010.
A bounce into 2011 failed in the upper teens, giving way to renewed selling pressure, followed by a successful retest of the prior low in the second quarter of 2012. That price action completed a large-scale double bottom reversal, setting the stage for a new uptrend that stalled within five points of the 2007 high in 2014. The stock ground sideways around that level into the second quarter of 2015 and broke out, but upside momentum failed to develop until the first quarter of 2016.
That rally impulse posted impressive gains into 2017, stalling in the upper $80s, ahead of a broad and volatile trading range that persisted into a February 2019 breakout. The rally posted an all-time high at $85.22 on July 26, giving way to choppy sideways action between that resistance level and range support in the mid-$70s. The holding pattern remains in force this January, while market players patiently await the finalization of the merger process.
The monthly stochastics oscillator reached the overbought level in September 2019 and crossed into a long-term sell cycle in November, predicting at least six to nine months of relative weakness. The indicator is now accelerating through the panel's midpoint, suggesting that market players believe that the merger will get blocked. Even so, underlying accumulation remains exceptionally strong, and bears should stay on the sidelines as long as price continues to hold above 2017 breakout support in the upper $60s.
The Bottom Line
T-Mobile and Sprint shareholders are awaiting the outcome of a lawsuit brought by 14 state attorneys general, which is seeking to block their well-publicized merger.
Disclosure: The author held no positions in the aforementioned securities or their derivatives at the time of publication.
If human error was somehow eliminated, it's possible that 19 out of 20 cyber breaches may not have taken place at all, making
[For Immediate Release]
Lukfook Group Once Again Commended as
"Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Manufacturing)"
(Hong Kong, 29 December 2016) - Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited ("Lukfook" / the "Group") (Stock Code: 00590) is pleased to announce that the Group has successfully passed the audit of the "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme" co-organised by the Environment Bureau of Hong Kong, the Economic & Information Commission of Guangdong Province and major trade and industry associations in Hong Kong. The Group's subsidiary Maxigood (Guangzhou) Jewellery Company Limited was commended as "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Manufacturing)" once again, in recognition of its contribution in environmental protection.
Mr. Wong Wai Sheung, Chairman and Chief Executive of the Group said, "The Group attaches great importance to environmental protection and endeavours to promote sustainable development. We incorporate relevant environmental strategies in every aspect of our business, and implement initiatives in areas such as energy saving and waste management in manufacturing, administration and daily retail operations to mitigate the impact on the environment. Looking forward, the Group will continue to strive to achieve environmental targets and enhance cleaner production technologies. While providing our customers with high-quality products and caring services, we will actively fulfil our social responsibility to contribute to environmental protection."
Maxigood (Guangzhou) Jewellery Company Limited, a subsidiary of the Group in Nansha, Guangzhou, Guangdong, principally engages in the production and processing of jewellery products. It successfully attained the ISO 9001:2008 Quality Management Systems - Requirements and ISO 14001:2004 Environmental Management System certification in 2008 and 2009 respectively for its professionally recognised standards.
About the "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme"
The Environment Bureau of Hong Kong, in collaboration with the Economic & Information Commission of Guangdong Province, launched the Cleaner Production Partnership Programme in April 2008 to encourage and facilitate Hong Kong-owned factories in Hong Kong and Guangdong to adopt cleaner production technologies and practices. To further galvanise the efforts in promoting cleaner production, the Hong Kong and Guangdong governments jointly launched the "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners Recognition Scheme" in 2009, awarding commendations of "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Manufacturing)" to enterprises which demonstrate active participation in cleaner production with outstanding performance.
Photo of the Certificates:
The commendation of "Hong Kong - Guangdong Cleaner Production Partners (Manufacturing)"
~End~
About Luk Fook Holdings (International) Limited (Stock Code: 00590.HK)
The Group principally engages in the sourcing, designing, wholesaling, trademark licensing and retailing of a variety of gold and platinum jewellery and gem-set jewellery products, with over 1,480 shops in Hong Kong, Macau, Mainland China, Singapore, Korea, Malaysia, the United States, Canada and Australia. The Group will continue to identify new business opportunities in the international market in response to its corporate vision, "Brand of Hong Kong, Sparkling the World".
For more information, please visit the official website of Lukfook Group at www.lukfook.com.
Media Enquiries: Lukfook Group Corporate Communications Department Tel: (852) 2783 2479 Fax: (852) 3009 7509 Email: corporate@lukfook.com
JOVIAN Communications Angel Yeung Tel: (852) 2581 0168 Fax: (852) 2854 2012 Email: lukfook@joviancomm.com
The participation of representatives of both parties Democrats and Republicans in the U.S. Senate delegation confirms the U.S. unwavering support for Ukraine will be in the future, Ukraine's President Petro Poroshenko has said.
Poroshenko met with the Senate delegation led by Senator John McCain (the Republican Party). The delegation also included Senators Lindsey Graham (the Republican Party) and Amy Klobuchar (the Democratic Party), the Ukrainian president's press service reported on Friday.
"The head of state emphasized the importance of traditional bipartisan support for Ukraine in the U.S. Congress and noted that the delegation included representatives of both parties. This confirms that such support will further remain in the struggle against the aggression of Russia, preservation of sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine," the presidential press service said.
"It is crucially important that our people, parliament, government stand side-by-side with the American people in this struggle. We feel this reliable support and assistance. This is extremely important in such difficult days for my country," the president said.
The parties noted the importance of continuing efforts to ensure the fulfillment of Russia's commitments under the Minsk agreements and maintain the policy of international sanctions against Russia until the full restoration of sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, including Crimea.
The Ukrainian president offered senators to visit Donbas and get firsthand information about subversive actions of Russia and its militants that continue provocations and violate the ceasefire regime.
Poroshenko noted the importance of adopting the law on the support for stability and democracy in Ukraine by the U.S. Congress.
The head of state also said that Ukraine was fighting not only for its independence. We are fighting for freedom, values, democracy and defend them in the center of Europe in the XXI century, he stressed.
He also informed them about reforms in Ukraine and highlighted the U.S.' important role in this process.
In turn, Senator John McCain confirmed his determination to assist Ukraine in its struggle against Russia's aggression.
On a whole variety of fronts, 2016 will live long in the memory and will feature strongly in the history books in the years to come, and not for good reasons.
First and foremost, it was a year when electorates around the world rejected what we would regard as conventional politics, and the world became a much more dangerous place.
In addition, we lost many very talented people, particularly in music and the arts. David Bowie stands out for me.
The situation in the Middle East deteriorated in horrific fashion and the optimism that accompanied the Arab Spring a few years back has rapidly become a nightmare. It is very sad to see a cradle of civilisation like Syria descending into tragic chaos.
Apart from the hundreds of thousands who have been slaughtered in that country, it has unleashed a migration problem that Europe is struggling to deal with. It is now threatening the very foundations of the EU project.
In the UK, the Brexit vote unleashed a level of political chaos and uncertainty few would have imagined possible in a country like the UK.
Personally, I cannot see any real economic upside for the UK in leaving the EU at this juncture. I spoke at a Brexit event in London a few weeks after the vote and foolishly expressed those views.
The vitriolic response was quite startling and the interaction of the audience from both sides of the debate demonstrated to me just how divisive the issue is and how difficult it promises to be for prime minister Theresa May to steer Britain through this particular quagmire in 2017.
The Brexit vote was a seismic event that will fundamentally alter the UK and the EU, and most particularly Irelands relationship with the UK.
Recessions are cyclical and come and go with frightening regularity, but the likely exit of Britain from the EU would represent an event of much greater structural significance.
The victory of Donald Trump in the US presidential election was another seismic event.
I was in San Francisco in early September and spoke to a lot of people that I have got to know well in that city over the years. As one might expect in that city, most of them are of a liberal disposition and would typically be Democrat voters.
However, the level of hate directed at Hillary Clinton and the mistrust struck me very forcibly. Basically, they had wanted Bernie Sanders to get the Democratic nomination and were not going to vote for Ms Clinton even if it meant an individual like Mr Trump winning the prize.
I wrote this column from San Francisco at that stage and expressed the view that nobody should be shocked at a Donald Trump victory given the hatred of Hillary I encountered from surprising sources. Nevertheless, I was shocked when Mr Trump swept to victory.
The cabinet he is putting in place does nothing to assuage my sense of shock. The alleged role of Russia in the whole sorry state of affairs should certainly give cause for concern.
North Korea should also give cause for concern. It is growing as a nuclear power and is gradually managing to manufacture the odd missile capable of travelling and doing serious damage.
It is one thing trying to deal with political leaders such as Vladimir Putin, Mr Trump and Mr Assad, but trying to deal with somebody like Kim Jong-un is a much more frightening prospect entirely.
All in all, 2016 was a very strange year. I have always argued that politics render economic forecasting a total waste of time because irrational political developments such as Brexit have significant economic effects that can blow the most sophisticated economic forecasts out of the water.
2016 demonstrated this point forcibly. Finally, I would like to wish all readers a happy and peaceful new year.
Hopefully, political sanity will return in 2017.
Reverend John Dunlop, a North Belfast minister known for his cross-community peace-building and who went on to become Moderator of the church, met with an Irish government official at his home in December 1986.
Notes of the meeting, just released in the National Archives in Dublin, show Reverend Dunlop speculated, that in the longer term, the British Government would decide for financial reasons to withdraw from Northern Ireland.
Doolin unit member Catriona Lucas was the first volunteer member of the coastguard to lose her life on operational service, having been involved in a search off Clare in September.
Acting coastguard director Eugene Clonan, in an end-of-year report issued yesterday, commended all the staff and volunteers who contributed to the many missions undertaken in 2016.
Sadly, at this time, we remember the family of Caitriona Lucas and recall her as a person who so embodied the volunteer ethos, he said.
The coastguard, which coordinated 2,500 incidents throughout the year, focused on the importance of mariners using personal locator beacons and electronic position-indicating radio beacons. The devices had directly saved the lives of five mariners this year.
They included a lone yachtsman plucked from the sea by a helicopter after his vessel overturned 20 miles south of Wexford, along with three fishermen located and rescued after their vessel sunk.
In another incident, a single-crewed yacht that became dismasted off the south-west coast was found and towed into Castletownbere, Co Cork.
Coastguard units and helicopters also assisted with the recovery of 45 bodies as a result of drowning and other missing-person searches.
Through its three Marine Rescue Co-ordination Centres based in Valentia, Malin, and at the Dublin headquarters, a total of 405 people were rescued or assisted.
The numbers are categorised as lives saved on the basis the intervention precluded loss of life or severe risk of loss of life.
The report also noted an increase in kayaking- and surfing-related incidents, with a total of 45 individual incidents requiring a response being recorded.
Countrywide, a total of 43 coastguard volunteer units responded to 1,042 incidents. The units search and rescue boat, and cliff-rescue services, were utilised, in addition to local community support during inclement weather or emergencies.
As part of the service, coastguard helicopters conducted 61 patient transfers from offshore islands this year.
Separately, they transferred nine patients to the UK for emergency procedures, mainly relating to organ transplant, and assisted the HSE/National Ambulance Service on 258 occasions.
Mr Clonan also thanked the Naval Service, Air Corps, RNLI, Community Rescue Boats, gardai, Mountain Rescue teams, the National Ambulance Service, Fire Service, Irish Underwater Council, and other statutory and voluntary services which the coastguard worked with this year.
I want to particularly recognise the many volunteers who responded with such professionalism, whether that be in the coastguard, RNLI, Community Rescue Boats, or Mountain Rescue teams, he said.
Madra Michael, aged 10, was travelling with three older sisters when she became ill on Air Canada flight AC-868 en route to London Heathrow from Toronto.
Crew rushed to her assistance and located a doctor and nurse on board the plane. As they tried to revive the girl, the flight diverted to Shannon and landed at 7.40pm.
Cabinet papers from May 1986 show there were fears that ratification of the convention would also add pressure on the Government to seek the transfer of terrorist prisoners from Britain.
Minister for foreign affairs, Peter Barry, supported the signing of the document notwithstanding concerns there might be difficulty in accommodating such prisoners in already overcrowded facilities in the Republic.
However, he claimed the scale of the issue with terrorist prisoners in Britain had diminished in recent years.
Figures from the British Home Office showed there were 50 Category-A Irish prisoners in British jails at the time compared to 86 in 1983. Mr Barry said many of those prisoners were from Northern Ireland or would not wish to be repatriated here because of family ties in Britain. In total, there were 635 Irish-born prisoners in British jails at the time.
Mr Barry said Ireland was already under pressure from the Irish community in Britain to ratify the convention. He warned the Government that Britains recent ratification of the agreement would open them to greater criticism over a failure to sign.
Most other EEC countries, as well as the US and Canada, had already either signed or ratified the convention which came into force in July 1985.
Mr Barry acknowledged that as under the European Convention the cost of transfers was borne by the receiving country, Ireland could face quite high charges over the transfer of prisoners, especially if they were subversives.
Attorney general John Rogers advised the Government that a constitutional challenge could not be ruled out, although he did not believe the transfer of Irish prisoners back to Ireland from prisons abroad conflicted with any provision in the Constitution.
However, Mr Quinn opposed signing the convention because of stretched prison resources.
He claimed there was no merit in Ireland being party to a convention which it felt it could not properly honour.
Mr Quinn recommended postponement of the signing until such time as the accommodation situation in prisons improved.
Mr Barry said he believed Mr Quinns views were unduly pessimistic. He claimed such difficulties should be considered in the context of ratification rather than signature of the convention and, in any case, there were sufficient safeguards to deal with such problems as they might arise.
The Fine Gael deputy leader said Ireland should sign the convention because of its humanitarian principles.
He agreed with the view of the minister for justice, Alan Dukes, that a reservation or declaration could be entered at the time of ratification which would state that the availability of prison accommodation and the existence of close ties with Ireland would be taken into account when considering requests for transfer.
Overall, Mr Barry recommended Ireland sign the convention, adding there was total liberty to refuse requests under its terms. He conceded that the Government was likely to face strong pressure to support request for transfers and subsequently to commute sentences of returned inmates.
Mr Kenny dismissed any such move as he insisted there are no plans to jettison poorly performing ministers next year.
Mr Kenny said he wants Ireland to address the centenaries of the Civil War and War of Independence very sensitively when they take place between 2019 and 2023.
Saying the raw period should be approached in a mature and reflective way, he rejected any possibility of the two parties most closely linked to that era formally entering government together after any general election. I dont see a coming together of Fine Gael and Fianna Fail as a combined unit, said Mr Kenny.
He said he will not jettison poorly performing ministers as part of a cabinet reshuffle next year, despite concerns over the suitability of a number of key people to their roles.
Mr Kenny rejected any possibility of a reshuffle taking place in the immediate future, saying he is pleased with the achievements of his cabinet colleagues.
Speaking to reporters, Mr Kenny was asked whether he believes the planned handover of the position of junior minister for public works between Independent Alliance TDs Sean Canney and Kevin Boxer Moran would be an appropriate time for a broader reshuffle.
Despite criticism of several TDs over their performances to date including Transport Minister Shane Ross, Skills Minister John Halligan, and Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell OConnor Mr Kenny insisted no further changes are planned.
Im suggesting to you that there certainly wont be any reshuffle this year and Im not giving consideration to it in May either, he said.
The comment is likely to calm concerns within the higher ranks of the Fine Gael-Independent Alliance Coalition, with a number of ministers coming under pressure in recent months to explain their performance in Government to date.
It also means backbenchers who believe they were overlooked after the last election will not be given higher roles, potentially leading to a fresh wave of internal opposition to Mr Kennys leadership.
In recent months a number of ministers have been the subject of intense public scrutiny after a series of difficulties in their roles in Government.
Among the most notable incidents have been those involving Ms Mitchell OConnors achievements in bringing investment into Ireland, Mr Rosss limited budget announcements, and Mr Halligans repeated criticisms of Fine Gael.
Meanwhile, Mr Kenny has dismissed criticism of the amount of legislation being passed by the current Government, arguing that the level of new rules enacted will not necessarily define whether his Coalition is a success.
Asked about the limited amount of legislation passed to date and claims the Dail is stagnating due to the Governments dependence on opposition parties to support laws, Mr Kenny said legislation does not necessarily make good government.
Questioned on whether a general election may be called next year in a bid to address underlying difficulties in the Coalition, Mr Kenny said he does not expect any to take place.
I do not see an election at all in the very foreseeable future. We have a three-year confidence and supply agreement with the Fianna Fail party, with a review at the end of 2018, he said.
The last thing on my mind is the thought of a general election.
Junior minister for skills John Halligan made the claim as he warned the Taoiseach Enda Kenny that if there is any attempt to remove Transport Minister Shane Ross from cabinet, he will also pull out of the Government.
Speaking on Today with Sean ORourke on RTE Radio, Mr Halligan said he and other Independent Alliance TDs want the current Coalition to last, despite continuing friction with Fine Gael.
However, asked to predict how long the Government will survive, he said two or three years.
This has been difficult for some of us, he said.
I come from a left-wing background.
If we pull together, if we ensure everybody is treated with fairness and dignity it will last. I think it will see the two or three years.
The comment comes just days after Mr Kenny said he expects a general election to be held in 2019. He ruled out an election next year, raising the prospect that any change in the Fine Gael leadership may not take place until the end of the decade.
Asked about the issue late last week, Mr Kenny said he is not even contemplating an election, there wont be one for three years, a view he repeated later by saying there will be no election next year.
Meanwhile, Mr Halligan has given a fresh insight into bickering between Fine Gael and the Independent Alliance by claiming he was only told about high-profile launches in his own constituency, just hours before they took place.
Highlighting teething problems in the Coalition since it was formed in May, Mr Halligan said earlier this year, Jobs Minister Mary Mitchell OConnor took part in a Glanbia event in his Waterford constituency at 9am.
He was the local minister, but had not been informed until midnight before the early-morning event.
I was either not being informed or being informed very late. I dont want to use the words [that other ministerial colleagues were] hogging the limelight, but I had difficulties, he said.
(Xinhua) 21:01, December 29, 2016
Construction began Thursday on the Guiyang-Nanning high-speed railway, part of broader efforts to develop the China's less prosperous southwest region.
With a length of 482 km, the railway line will cut travel time from Nanning to Guiyang from over 10 hours to 2 and a half hours, said Ding Rongfu, chairman of China Railway Airport Construction Group Co.
With a maximum speed of 350 km per hour, the line is expected to go into service in 2022.
Construction will be difficult due to complicated geography and landform, Ding said, adding that 106 tunnels have to be excavated along the line.
China has more than 20,000 km of high-speed railways. According to a government plan, mileage will increase to 45,000 km by 2030.
In a year when populist voters reshaped power and politics across Europe and the US, the worlds wealthiest people are ending 2016 with $237bn more than they had at the start.
Triggered by disappointing economic data from China at the beginning, the UKs vote to leave the European Union in the middle and the election of billionaire Donald Trump at the end, the biggest fortunes on the planet whipsawed through $4.8 trillion of daily net worth gains and losses during the year, rising 5.7% to $4.4 trillion by the close of trading on Tuesday, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index.
In general, clients rode through the volatility, said Simon Smiles, chief investment officer for ultra-high-net-worth clients at UBS Wealth Management.
2016 ended up being a spectacular year for risk assets. Pretty remarkable given the start of the year. The gains were led by Warren Buffett, who added $11.8bn during the year as his investment firm Berkshire Hathaway Inc saw its airline and banking holdings soar after Trumps surprise victory on November 8. Buffett, whos pledged to give away most of his fortune to charity, donated Berkshire Hathaway stock valued at $2.6bn in July.
Berkshire Bonanza
The US investor reclaimed his spot as the worlds second-richest person two days after Trumps victory ignited a year-end rally that pushed Buffetts wealth up 19% for the year to $74.1bn.
2016s been event-driven with global news driving prices rather than fundamentals, said Michael Cole, president of Ascent Private Capital Management, which has about $10bn of assets under administration.
The belief that Trump is going to come in and deregulate big parts of the economy is driving the markets right now. The individual gains for the year were dominated by Americans, who had four of the five biggest increases on the index, including Microsoft Corp co-founder Bill Gates, the worlds richest person with $91.5bn, and oilman Harold Hamm.
The countrys richest were largely opposed to a Trump presidency during the election, including Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban, who told the media in May that stocks could fall as much as 20% if Trump were to win the election.
Wealth Administration
US billionaires including Buffett favoured Trumps rival Hillary Clinton. Still, they profited from his victory when they added $77bn to their fortunes in the post-election rally fuelled by expectations that regulations would ease and American industry would benefit.
The New York real estate mogul is building a cabinet heavy on wealth and corporate connections, and light on government experience, a mix that hedge fund billionaire Ray Dalio said last week would unleash the animal spirits of capitalism and drive markets even higher. Dalio is the worlds 63rd-richest person with $14.1bn.
Investors and executives welcomed Trumps picks, including billionaire Wilbur Ross to lead the Department of Commerce and former Goldman Sachs executive Steven Mnuchin as his Treasury secretary, who have a combined net worth of at least $5.6 bn, according to the index.
You know, I was not opposing Trump as much as most people, Saudi Arabian billionaire Mohamed Bin Issa Al Jaber said in a December 11 interview.
Hes capable and as a businessman hes shrewd about the bottom line. The people hes surrounding himself with have baggage but theyre also successful and shrewd.
Frances Bernard Arnault was the sole non-American representative among the five best performers, adding $7.1bn to take his fortune to $38.9bn.
His LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton SE said the Chinese luxury-goods market is improving.
Gates remained the worlds richest person throughout the year. Amancio Ortega, Europes richest person and founder of the Zara clothing chain, was in second place on the index for most of the year until he ceded it to Buffett in November. Ortega, who dropped $1.7bn in 2016, is the worlds third-richest person with $71.2bn.
Wildcatter Hamms fortune was propelled by a strengthening oil price and expectations a Trump administration will slash fossil-fuel regulations. Hamm added $8.4bn to more than double his fortune to $15.3bn. He led the 49 energy, metals and mining billionaires, who were the best-performing category on the ranking, adding $80bn and reversing the $32bn fall they had in 2015.
Billionaire brothers Charles and David Koch each dropped $2bn after Koch Industries reported on its website that annual revenue is estimated to be as high as $100bn, compared with the estimate of as much as $115bn that the conglomerate published on the site previously.
Company spokesman Rob Carlton said in a November 17 e-mail that Koch revenue fluctuates with the price of commodities.
Technology fortunes were the second-best performing on the ranking, with 55 billionaires adding $50bn to their fortunes over the year, despite worries that a Trump presidency might introduce policies that could hurt their companies.
I think well have to see what the policies of the administration are, Google co-founder Sergey Brin told the media gathered on the red carpet of the annual Breakthrough Prize gala in Silicon Valley in December.
I certainly hope they will be pro-science, pro-technology and all the things this world has really benefited from.
Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos, who doubled his fortune to $60bn in 2015, led gains among technology executives again this year, rising $7.5bn in 2016 on robust sales growth at the online retailer.
He was followed by Facebook co-founder Mark Zuckerberg, who added $5.4bn.
Hidden Wealth
Some of the industrys biggest relative gains went to the founders of the worlds leading startups, such as Uber Technologies Travis Kalanick and Snaps Evan Spiegel.
The so-called unicorn billionaires, which include Spotify co-founder Martin Lorentzon, who was identified as a billionaire for the first time in 2016, secured a series of mammoth funding rounds while moving closer to testing their fortunes on the public markets.
Other billionaires uncovered by the Bloomberg index in 2016 included the father and son behind Jose Cuervo tequila, New York real estate developer Axel Stawski and Kosovo construction tycoon Behgjet Pacolli.
The index also unveiled 11 surviving family members of reclusive Thai entrepreneur Chaleo Yoovidhya, the inventor of Red Bull, whose heirs share a combined $22bn net worth, the worlds largest energy-drink fortune.
Three billionaires emerged in Argentina, including the countrys first technology billionaire Marcos Galperin, as markets rose on enthusiasm for President Mauricio Macris finance-friendly economic policies.
Most fortunes outside of the US didnt get the same boost from Trumps victory, and were hurt by fluctuating commodities prices and the rise of the dollar, the currency used for the Bloomberg ranking. Nine of the 10 biggest decliners in 2016 were from outside the US, led by Chinas second-richest person, Wang Jianlin, who lost $5.8bn.
Wang ended the year as the worlds 21st-richest person with $30.6bn.
Nigerias Aliko Dangote, the richest person in Africa, lost $4.9bn or one-third of his wealth as the combined effect of falling oil prices and the June devaluation of the naira pushed him to No 112 with $10.4bn. Dangote was the worlds 46th-richest person in June.
Saudi Arabias Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Al Saud fell $4.9bn, a 20% drop. Alwaleed said in November that all of his stakes in public companies including Citigroup are potentially for sale, reversing a longstanding policy that some of his most prized shareholdings were forever.
Chinese Downturn
Wealth creation in China turned negative for the first time since the inception of the Bloomberg index five years ago, with the countrys richest losing $11bn in 2016 amid a slump in the Shanghai Shenzhen CSI 300 index and a 7% decline for the yuan against the dollar.
Alibaba Group Holding Ltd founder Jack Ma closed the year with $33.3bn, adding $3.6bn in 2016. He dropped in and out of his place as Asias richest person for the first four months of the year before claiming it for good in May after Alibabas finance affiliate, which is laying the groundwork for an initial public offering expected as soon as next year, completed a record $4.5bon equity fundraising round.
China has 31 billionaires on the index with $262bn, trailing the US which has 179 billionaires who control $1.9 trillion, and Germany, whose 39 individuals have $281bn.
Russian billionaires also began to put the negative effects of US and European sanctions behind them, reversing the combined $63bn declines for 2014 and 2015 and adding $49bn in 2016.
Looking Ahead
Wealth managers for the worlds richest are girding themselves for similarly frenetic start to 2017 as the seismic changes voters demanded this year start to take shape.
Expect the unexpected, said Sabine Kaiser, founder of SKadvisory, which advises family offices on venture capital and private equity.
I dont think family offices are overly concerned or getting too nervous but after Brexit and Trump theyve resigned themselves to market volatility.
Burma Nobel Laureates Urge UN to end Arakan Violence
A family stands beside remains of a market which was set on fire, in Rohingya village outside Maungdaw, Arakan State in October. / Soe Zeya Tun / Reuters
NEW YORK, United States More than a dozen Nobel laureates including Archbishop Desmond Tutu and Malala Yousafzai urged the UN Security Council on Thursday to end ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity in Burmas troubled Arakan State.
At least 86 people have been killed in a military crackdown in Arakan State, also known as Rakhine, launched after attacks on police posts near the border with Bangladesh on Oct. 9.
The government of predominantly Buddhist Burma has blamed Muslim Rohingyas supported by foreign militants for the coordinated attacks which killed nine police officers.
More than 30,000 people have fled to Bangladesh, escaping the violence which has renewed international criticism that Daw Aung San Suu Kyis government has done too little to help the Rohingya, who are denied citizenship in Burma.
In an open letter to the Security Council, Tutu and 22 others including fellow Nobel Peace laureates Jose Ramos-Horta and Muhammad Yunus said a human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity is unfolding in Burma.
If we fail to take action, people may starve to death if they are not killed with bullets, the letter said.
The violence had the hallmarks of Rwandas 1994 genocide as well as ethnic cleansing in Sudans western Darfur region, Bosnia and Kosovo, it said.
The signatories to the letter said even if a group of Rohingyas was behind the Oct. 9 attacks, the armys response had been grossly disproportionate.
It would be one thing to round up suspects, interrogate them and put them on trial, the letter said. It is quite another to unleash helicopter gunships on thousands of ordinary civilians and to rape women and throw babies into a fire.
Burmas government has denied accusations that excessive military force was used following the October attacks.
The letter was initiated by Ramos-Horta, according to a spokeswoman for the former East Timor president, and Yunus, who helped revolutionize finance for the poorest in Bangladesh.
A spokeswoman for the presidency of the 15-member Security Council, currently held by Spain, confirmed it had received the letter, which also expresses frustration that Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, the 1991 Nobel Peace Prize winner, had not ensured citizenship rights to Rohingyas.
The letter also called for the Burma government to lift all restrictions on humanitarian aid to Arakan State.
Officials from Burmas mission to the United Nations in New York were not immediately available for comment.
Beijing has denounced as "greatly ironic" the Japanese defense chief's visit to the Yasukuni Shrine, which came shortly after she returned from accompanying Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on his visit to Pearl Harbor.
"This not only reflects some Japanese people's obstinately wrong view of history, it is also greatly ironic given the Pearl Harbor reconciliation trip," Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said on Thursday at a regular news conference.
Hua was asked about Japanese Defense Minister Tomomi Inada's visit on Thursday to the shrine, which honors Japan's 2.5 million dead during World War II as well as 14 Class-A war criminals convicted of plotting and carrying out the war. She said that Beijing would lodge a protest with Tokyo.
The visit came right after Inada returned from the trip with Abe to Hawaii. The two joined US President Barack Obama on Tuesday for the first visit by a Japanese leader and a US president to Hawaii's Pearl Harbor, to commemorate the victims of the Japanese attack in 1941.
The Chinese Defense Ministry also voiced "strong dissatisfaction and opposition" to the shrine visit on Thursday.
"I also want to add that Prime Minister Abe's speech in Hawaii bore no sense of guilt but publicly called Japanese military officers 'brave', " spokesman Yang Yujun said at the ministrys regular news briefing.
During the Pearl Harbor visit, Abe did not apologize for wartime acts, but just conceded that Japan must never repeat the horrors of war again. Yang said, Peace-loving people around the world should be very alert for such remarks and actions.
South Korea's foreign and defense ministries also deplored Inada's visit, summoning Tokyo's diplomats in Seoul on Thursday.
Zhou Yongsheng, a professor of international relations at China Foreign Affairs University, said Inada's visit to the shrine right after she returned to Japan is "apparently a deliberate plan" to clarify the Japanese government's real attitude toward history.
"Abe apparently was putting on a show in Pearl Harbor for practical reasons and hiding Japan's own strategic purposes," he said, adding it is an embarrassment for Obama.
Wang Dong, a researcher of Northeast Asian studies at Peking University, said that although Inada's visit came one day after that of Japan's disaster reconstruction minister, it can be considered more serious given her position.
"After the Pearl Harbor tour, Abe is using the defense chief's shrine visit to respond to right-wing forces," he said. "The US has stepped back again and again on the issue of Japan's history, eyeing collaboration with Japan to counterbalance China. Such an attitude is sowing uncertainty in East Asia."
Last month, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 made its debut at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show where it got a lot of attention. The 2017 CX-5 is set to be delivered in showrooms early next year but Mazda says orders can now be placed in Japan.
The 2017 Mazda CX-5 Launches
According to a report from Car Scoops, the 2017 Mazda CX-5 will officially be launched on Feb.2, 2017. In addition, Mazda is hoping to sell 2,500 units on a monthly basis in its local auto market. In the all-wheel drive (AWD) configuration, the lowest price is at $23,340 and this is powered by a 2.5-liter SkyActiv-G petrol engine. The higher XD trim starts at $24,090 and $26,055 in the FWD and AWD drivetrains respectively, and it is powered by a 2.2-liter SkyActiv-D diesel engine as reported.
The New Design
Prior to its debut at the 2016 Los Angeles Auto Show, Mazda released a teaser image that suggested new designs for the 2017 CX-5. When the automaker lifted the veil of the 2017 CX-5 the assumptions came into fruition. "Our goal in redesigning the CX-5 was to break through the traditional trade-off between driving pleasure and passenger comfort. And to achieve it we have further honed every aspect of the model. Mazda will continue advancing its lineup to offer all customers the joy of driving, aiming to create an emotional connection with customers and become their one-and-only brand," said Masamichi Kogai, representative director, president and CEO of Mazda in a report.
A Long Line Is Coming
The 2017 Mazda CX-5 is considered as the automaker's flagship and given how much hype it was able to generate to date, it is safe to assume that a lot of people are waiting to get their hands on the new model. And with the Japanese automaker now taking orders of the 2017 Mazda CX-5 in Japan, a long line of eager customers is to be expected.
China is taking big steps in space technology. Following the news that China would invest more on space missions, a representative from China reveals the country is planning an exploratory mission to Mars. It outlined its five-year plan to be a leader in space explorations, which includes the China Mars mission.
The China National Space Administration (its own version of NASA), divulged information about the China Mars mission. China is also scheduled to launch the Chang'e 5 to collect samples on moon's surface in 2017. It also revealed possible manned mission to the moon as well as an exploration of Jupiter and fly-by to other planets.
In a white paper released in Xinhua, the official press agency of the People's Republic of China, it was revealed that China intends to execute its first Mars exploration by 2020. The mission includes orbiting and roving exploration to bring back samples.
The year coincides with other Mars missions hosted by other countries. The European Space Agency and Russia are targets to launch the second phase of their Mars mission in 2020. Meanwhile, NASA is planning to send a rover to the red planet that year. Additionally, SpaceX also targets to do some sort of Mars mission also in 2020.
"Our overall goal is that, by around 2030, China will be among the major space powers of the world," Wu Yanhua, deputy chief of China's space agency said at a press conference on Tuesday, Dec. 27, according to China Daily. He added that China is also studying the possibility of sending its first man to the moon, however, there are no immediate plans yet.
China added that its space program is dedicated for peaceful processes to protect its national security. The congress previously banned NASA to work with China on space missions due to national concerns. If the China Mars mission becomes successful, China would be the second country to soft-land a probe on Mars. Previously, China successfully had a soft landing on the moon.
Nokia P1 was recently unveiled as the first Nokia smartphone to be launched at the end of 2016 when the company makes their official comeback to the smartphone market. This Nokia-branded P1 will be released under the technology of Sharp Aquos. It is also been reported to pack the same combination of specs and features with the upcoming Sharp Aquos P1. Nokia fans couldn't wait and really excited for the upcoming Nokia P1.
Meanwhile, the Xiaomi Mi 6, the successor to the Mi 5 smartphone, is believed in the first half of 2017, with some reports earlier this week suggesting that the Xiaomi Mi 6 will be launched in either February or April. Moreover, rumors rounding up that now the Xiaomi Mi 6 will be unveiled on February 6 with sales starting in March. We will expect this Chinese phone will also be a great hit like the Xiao Mi 3 which was sold out in just 5 seconds.
Nokia P1 Camera Features
Nokia is famous for providing top-notch cameras on their phone. For some instance, the Nokia N8 with Carl Zeiss optics and Xenon flash and also the Nokia 808 Pureview With Massive 41 megapixel camera. Currently, there's little word on what to expect from the cameras on upcoming Nokia devices except passing mention of a 22.6-megapixel camera and that the P1 would have an enhanced camera.
Xiaomi Mi6 Camera Features
The camera of Xiaomi Mi6 is expected to be provided with 23 MP rear cameras and 7 MP front cameras. It also includes autofocusing, retina eye scanner, night mode and much more. Xiaomi Mi6 camera is really impressive and for sure you will get a cool picture with this latest camera technology given in this device.
The smartphone camera game has changed and improved more and more in the last few years, but there's still a lot to play for. Camera performance still gets top billing from all manufacturers so there is everything to play for. Stay tuned for more updates.
Aorus released not too long ago its 17.3-inch X7 and followed up with the much smaller 13.9-inch X3. Moreover, it is inevitable that the manufacturer would fill the bare with the new 15.6-inch X5. The X5 continues the Aorus tradition by giving off an insane performance package squeezed into a thin and stunning chassis. To push the envelope even further, the X5 is the first notebook packed with two GTX 965M GPUs and a high-resolution 3K (2880 x 1620) G-SYNC display. Top this off with 4x storage bays and 4x video outputs and you've got all the attention of gamers and enthusiasts around the world.
Aorus X5 v6 Quick Specs
Processor Intel Core i7-5700HQ 2.7 GHz (Intel Core i7). Graphics adapter is NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M SLI - 4096 MB, Core of 924 MHz. A memory of 5010 MHz, 348.10. Battery Life is 2 hours and 35 minutes
The Razer Blade Pro, Once again, the company has somehow managed to squeeze a whole lot of awesomeness into the Blade Pro's 0.88-inch chassis, including an Intel Core i7 processor and a Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 GPU. As if that weren't enough, the 17-inch laptop also comes with Razer's ultra-low-profile mechanical keyboard -- a world's first -- and a 4K touchscreen that uses Nvidia' G-Sync anti-tearing technology. The mind-blowing performance, sleek design, and gorgeous display make the $3,699 Razer Blade Pro feel like it's worth every penny.
The Razer Blade Pro Quick Specs
Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 packed with 8GB of VRAM, the Razer Blade Pro is ready for any battle you can throw at it. Equipped with a 2.6-GHz Intel Core i7-6700HQ processor, A Core i7 CP. However, a Nvidia GTX 1080 GPU do not make for long battery life. The Blade Pro lasted only 2 hours and 45 minutes on the Laptop Mag Battery Test
The Alienware is the first gaming laptop maker to array this truth, updating the company's small yet powerful 13-inch laptop with a jaw-dropping 2560 x 1440 panel. Truly it has to be seen to be believed. However, the Alienware 13 is about more than its tear-inducing display. Also offers impeccable loud audio, blazing-fast transfer speeds, and also subtle graphics performance.
Alienware 13 R3 Quick Specs
Of course, this laptop computer has something bigger than its show and chassis. Under the hood, is an Intel Core i7-6700HQ for eight logical cores. This model of 1060 includes a 6GB of memory in case you favor to recreation at the panel's native resolution of 2560x1440. Comes with 16GB of DDR4 RAM strolling at 2,400MHz. The Alienware 13 lasted only for 3 hours 46 minutes on a battery test.
Tech giant Apple is noteworthy for valuing its appearance, prioritizing ultra clean minimalism. It seems Apple will fight to keep it that way.
Apple has been wrestling its way into manufacturing iPhones in India, however, the tech company is seeking exemption from a certain India's product law. The packaging standards in India typically require products to have information including like name, import address, packaging date, and maximum retail sales price (MRP) in English or Hindi printed on the item. Apple says that this will get in the way with the company products' minimalist aesthetics, according to a report by the Economic Times.
India is now the world's second largest smartphone market, with a subscriber count that is expected to climb up to a billion, a scale up from the 616 million unique users in 2016. Even Chinese smartphone maker, Oppo, will be setting up an industrial park with a manufacturing unit in India. US-based Apple will definitely be there to provide its own gadgets as well.
A formal request to be exempted from that rule has been submitted by Apple to the Department of Revenue and Department of Electronics and Information Technology in India. The company would like provide a list of all the necessary product details in the software instead. Apple has also requested tax incentives.
Officials from India's commerce and finance department will soon hold a meeting early next month to deliberate on the gadget manufacturer's requests. However, according to government sources from the Hindustan Times, Apple should not be seeking additional incentives while it puts up the manufacturing unit in India. Previously, India's government has already rejected a few proposals from the company.
"Several companies in India are manufacturing mobile phones in India," a source said. "Nobody is asking for additional incentives. Currently, the government provides sufficient support to boost electronic manufacturing."
Around half of all Apple's iPhones are made in Foxconn's Zhengzhou factory that exists in large part thanks to billions of dollars of tax breaks and handouts from the Chinese government.
iPhone City's Perks
Foxconn's major iPhone manufacturing production facility in Zhengzhou, China, is locally referred as "iPhone City." According to The New York Times, around $1.5 billion was provided by local government to Foxconn to help the company build large portions of the factory and worker housing.
A report published by Apple Insider points out that the local government keeps paying bonuses for meeting export targets, continues to offer money against energy and transportation costs and is even helping Foxconn with hiring subsidies to recruit and train new staff.
As subsidies haven't been publicly disclosed by either party, it is uncertain what the full extent of Foxconn's government backing is. Officially, Apple declared that it was aware of Foxconn getting infrastructure aid, but the high-tech giant hasn't been party to the manufacturer's talks with the Chinese government and isn't aware of any specific tax breaks, subsidies, and grants.
Reports claim that the city of Zhengzhou allows Foxconn skip both VAT and corporate taxes for five years. For the following five years, the city promises to halve the rates. The amount of money took in social insurance and other payments were also lowered by up to $100 million per year.
The city of Zhengzhou has even built pipelines, power generators, paved roads and offered a five percent discount on energy bills. An airport just several miles away from the Foxconn factory was expanded with a $10 billion investment.
In order to keep its profits high, Apple has also taken advantage of low Chinese manufacturing costs, while deflecting concerns about environmental issues, safety, and labor. The high-tech American company has not completely rectified these problems even if it worked to address them.
These hidden subsidies, tax breaks and perks uncovered behind the scenes of Foxconn's operations are having a significant role in helping the production facility in Zhenghzou to became one of Apple's major global manufacturing plants, according to MacRumors.
History Of Foxconn's Zhenghzou Factory
The iPhone plant kept growing and in 2014 an estimated 230 million smartphones having been exported from Zhengzhou in the years since it had been open. The manufacturing facility includes 94 production lines for the iPhone 6 and iPhone 5s. The Chinese government considers the Zhenghou "iPhone City" as one of the important export centers in the country. Its work force produces 500,000 iPhones a day at peak and has "the size of a national army."
Up to this day, Foxconn remains a loyal partner in Apple's manufacturing processes, gearing up to be a major supplier of the 2017 iPhone and most recently considering expansion into the United States. After the introduction of the iPod in 2001, when Apple's sales took off, Foxconn had the expertise to meet the demand that accompanied the American tech giant's each hit product.
Foxconn's factories could quickly launch new products, build prototypes, increase production and hire hundreds of thousands of workers during peak periods. Joe O'Sullivan, a former Apple executive who worked in Asia, said that the Chinese company has brilliant tooling engineers and it is willing to invest in order to keep pace with Apple's growth.
China's top political advisor on Thursday urged Catholics to run their church independently and better integrate it into society.
Yu Zhengsheng, chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference National Committee, made the remarks when meeting with the new leaders of Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association and Bishops Conference of Catholic Church of China after their latest national congress concluded on Thursday.
The church should adhere to the principles of self-administration, run religious affairs independently and guide believers to adhere to the sinicization path of the religion, Yu said.
Yu, also a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, told Chinese Catholics to better adapt to society and unify patriotism with affection for the Church.
He urged the new leadership of the Church to unite all believers to contribute to construction of the socialism with Chinese characteristics, and a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way.
The religious work is in a new historical period, said Yu, who also appreciated the previous church leadership's contribution to uniting all believers and clergy to follow a path adaptable to the socialist system and to the development of the country.
The Ninth National Congress of Chinese Catholics was held from Tuesday to Thursday, with over 360 deputies from 31 provincial regions attending the congress.
Deputies elected new leadership of the Chinese Patriotic Catholic Association (CPCA) and the Bishops Conference of Catholic Church of China (BCCCC).
Bishop Fang Xingyao was elected chairman of the CPCA, and Bishop Ma Yinglin chairman of the BCCCC.
Artificial intelligence has been one of the tech fields that made important advances in the year 2016.
The Rise Of Artificial Intelligence
Artificial intelligence (AI) can make the quality of life better and greatly impact our society in any aspect from economics to medicine, according to Laughing Squid. Most of the researchers in the field of artificial intelligence are motivated by the positive potential of this emerging technology to keep on pushing for a stronger AI system. However, some scientists say warn that it is possible these machines re-program themselves to become much better than us. In case that such a technological breakthrough knows as "the singularity" happens, humans might not be able to keep up.
According to University Herald, machine learning works typically like the human brain. By feeding a simple algorithm into the computer, the machine will naturally use "experiences" to learn. As it learns, the artificial intelligence system eliminates the need for human control. This is the reason why the quest for a stronger AI brings a fear for the loss of human functionality.
In nature, a much more intelligent species will seize control from a weaker species when it detects that the other one is not as intelligent. There is no way to know at the moment how AI will behave if it becomes more intelligent than us. This concern for artificial intelligence comes, in fact, from the fear of losing control rather than a malevolence of the technology, according to futurelife.org.
Artificial Intelligence In 2016
In a way, the year 2016 is the year when artificial intelligence made the leap with high speed from "science fiction concept" to real life. According to The Guarding, in 2016 the artificial intelligence apps have spread everywhere. For instance, food delivery app Just Eat launched an AI chatbot to ensure that customers receive the best service, period-tracking app Flo uses AI neural networks to deliver "high period forecast accuracy" and restaurant guide Borsch uses AI to help customers discover the best dishes around.
The AI revolution slowly to changes the environment we live in as well as the economic landscape. Neural network-based learning has become the computational technique that defines what we mean by artificial intelligence. Among the major breakthroughs in artificial intelligence in the year 2016 is worth to mention the victory of DeepMind's AlphaGo against South Korean professional Go player Lee Sedol. This victory was one of the last remaining milestones for a machine to reach.
A rare phenomena is about to be witnessed by the residents of the United States of America during the summer of the coming year as a total solar eclipse 2017 is predicted to happen after almost a century. NASA has previously revealed about the upcoming total eclipse of the sun and informed people about its date and path.
The next total solar eclipse that will be visible across the nation of the United States is reportedly happening on Aug. 21, 2016. According to NASA, darkness will be experienced first near the Lincoln City of Oregon at around 10:15 AM. After an hour and a half, the eclipse reportedly will travel across the country towards the east and will end near Charleston, South Carolina at around 2:50 PM. Other states to see the said eclipse include Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, Tennessee, North Carolina, and Georgia as noted by EarthSky. A partial eclipse can also be observed prior and after the phenomena.
Earlier this month, the scientists from NASA, the University of Hawaii and the University of Texas Arlington have talked about the phenomena during the American Geophysical Union fall meeting in San Francisco, California.
"An eclipse teaches us so many things, but the 2017 eclipse is especially unique because of the uninterrupted land masses it will pass over," the NASA astrophysicist Lika Guhathakurta explained as cited by WSOCTV.COM. "This will allow us to maximize our chance to collect data and connect the shadow of the moon to Earth science," he explained further.
The corona of the total solar eclipse 2017 is explained by the experts to present itself in a pearly white aura. This plasma is believed by researchers to help them in understanding the effects of the corona to the planets, stars and natural satellites.
Following this rare event coming to the United States, NASA has warned the people who wish to follow the eclipse to observe safety precautions while looking at the crossover of the sun and the moon. The institution advised the viewers to use specialized filters as it will be dangerous to the eyes to look directly at the total solar eclipse 2017.
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Aircrafts perform during the Israeli Air Force (IAF) graduation ceremony at Hatzerim Airbase near Be'er Sheva, Israel, on Dec. 29, 2016. (Xinhua/JINI)
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China rebutted a recent report that Zimbabwe had sent wild animals, including 35 elephant calves, to China to pay for a military debt, saying it is "sheer nonsense with an ulterior motive".
The Times newspaper in London reported on Monday that Grace Mugabe, wife of Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, had sent safari animals to a Chinese wildlife park to pay for military uniforms for the Democratic Republic of Congo.
"I want to emphasize that this is a normal commercial activity, which is in line with relevant international conventions and laws in both countries" Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a daily news conference on Thursday.
Hua said that wildlife parks in Shanghai, Beijing and Hangzhou recently imported a total of 35 African elephants from Zimbabwe. Payments have been received by Zimbabwean authorities, and the money will be used for the African country's wildlife protection, Hua said.
"It is an international practice for zoos to import foreign safari animals. The technical conditions of Chinese animal parks have met international demands and the parks can take care of the African elephants," she added.
An anonymous Chinese staff member directly involved in the transaction told China Radio International that "all the payments have been brought into the accounts of the Zimbabwe Parks and Wildlife Management Authority and national parks".
He also said Zimbabwe's environmental protection minister inspected the wildlife parks in Shanghai and Hangzhou in January and assessed the conditions of elephants that had been import-ed earlier to Guangzhou.
Li Wentao, an expert on African studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, said the report unfairly speculated about normal China-Zimbabwe trade ties when Zimbabwe is suffering economic difficulties. "The two countries are good partners with close cooperation, and China has been providing economic assistance to the African country. However, this is no reason to make such speculation," he said.
He Wenping, a researcher at the Institute of West-Asian and African Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the misleading report shows the Western media's longtime prejudice against China-Africa cooperation.
"Anyone with commonsense will know such a report is ridiculous. Every country could have ups and downs, and China and African countries have a consensus on overcoming difficulties together," she said.
The N.C. Court of Appeals has blocked an order issued by a Forsyth County Superior Court judge that directed the N.C. Department of Transportation to start making payments to property owners in the path of the Winston-Salem Northern Beltway.
The Appeals Court has issued a temporary stay of an order made by Forsyth Superior Court Judge John O. Craig on Oct. 3. Craigs order would have set in motion a procedure for the DOT to begin paying landowners who won an inverse condemnation ruling last June from the N.C. Supreme Court.
The stay will remain in place while the state files an appeal of Craigs order to the N.C. Court of Appeals.
The blocking action by the Appeals Court was the latest twist in a series of court rulings over several years regarding the fate of properties that are in the path of the Northern Beltway, but which the state has not yet bought.
When the state Supreme Court ruled in favor of landowners in June, landowners and their attorney, Matthew Bryant, cheered and predicted that the property owners long wait for the state to buy their properties would soon be over.
The Supreme Court decision stated that the DOT had caused a fundamental taking of property rights from the landowners. The state now appears ready to argue that the court didnt intend to rule on the propriety of judgment as a matter of law for those landowners, according to a motion the state filed with the Appeals Court on Nov. 28.
Bryant said that the state is now making absurd arguments to delay the inevitable payments it owes to landowners.
All we are trying to do is hold the state to what they should have done years ago, Bryant said.
State officials declined comment, but pointed to the states Nov. 28 motion in which, in part, it claims the state would have to make unauthorized expenditures of public funds if Craigs order were allowed to stand.
Craigs order would force the state to make monetary deposits relating to the lands in question, which the property owners would then be allowed to withdraw at will.
After Craig issued his order in Forsyth Superior Court, the state filed a motion on Nov. 2 to block any further action pending its appeal to the Appeals Court. Craig denied the states motion on Nov. 14. State attorneys then asked the Appeals Court to issue the temporary stay, which that court did on Nov. 29.
The state said that Craigs Oct. 3 order improperly shifted the burden of proof from the landowners to the state in deciding whether landowners had suffered losses, and called egregious that portion of Craigs ruling that allows property owners to withdraw state-deposited money before the court has ruled on the amount of compensation owed.
State attorneys argued that the landowners could immediately withdraw any money deposited, even if it turned out later that the state didnt owe the money.
To say that the property owners are upset over their latest setback would be an understatement:
How many years does it take to beat somebody down? asked landowner Ben Harris, who said he owns five houses in the McGregor Park subdivision that he built in the 1990s and still cant sell because theyre in the path of the beltway. The DOT is thumbing their noses at the people of Winston-Salem.
Paula Smith, a landowner, said shes not surprised that the state is blocking payment.
Of course they did, she said. Ive begun to not have any reaction because you dont know what is going to happen next with the state.
The lawsuits over the states failure to buy beltway properties date back to 2011, when landowners represented by Bryant filed suit in Forsyth Superior Court charging that the DOT effectively took their properties when it placed them in the designated route of the Northern Beltway in 1997 and 2008.
The beltway designation limited the ability of landowners to subdivide or develop their properties. The property owners claimed this amounted to what is called inverse condemnation: The DOT had taken the properties without paying for them, the landowners alleged.
In 2013, Judge Craig ruled against hearing the inverse condemnation claims. The Court of Appeals reversed that decision and the state appealed. The state Supreme Court affirmed that ruling last June and sent the cases back to Judge Craig.
In his Oct. 3 ruling, Craig ordered the DOT to begin the process of recording land descriptions and making compensation payments plus interest to the court for ultimate distribution to the landowners.
Craigs order stopped short of forcing the state to acquire the properties outright. The order left open the possibility that the state could ask its property appraisers to set values and payments based on the extent to which a property was devalued by being placed in the highway corridor.
At the same time, Craig wrote that because the properties would be graded and covered with asphalt, it might make more sense for the DOT to simply buy the properties outright. The full purchase of the properties plus interest is what all the landowners who sued the state have demanded.
Homeowner Elaine Eurey said that ever since the Supreme Court ruling she and her husband have been looking for a new place to live thinking that the state would soon buy her house.
We are anxious to move, she said. We find this news terribly distressing. At the end of summer, it looked like the light at the end of the tunnel was not a train. I will continue to wait until the state will pay me my just due.
A 22-year-old woman was found dead in a Taco Bell restroom in King on Thursday night.
The woman has been identified as Madison Bailey Marini, an employee at the newly opened fast-food restaurant on Ingram Drive.
Police said evidence of illegal drug use was found in the bathroom. An autopsy was performed today, and results are pending, investigators said.
A fellow employee made the discovery late Thursday and called 911 for an ambulance.
Friends offered condolences Friday on Marini's Facebook page, which lists her as a West Stokes High School graduate.
"You had the biggest heart and made so many laugh," friend Roman Barker posted on Facebook. "We all lost an angel, but heaven gained one. Rest in peace Maddie I love you old friend."
BALTIMORE Business historians are protesting North Carolinas controversial transgender law by moving the Business History Conference to Baltimores Inner Harbor.
Business History Conference secretary-treasurer Roger Horowitz tells local media that the event, scheduled for April 2018, is expected to bring 350 guests and $120,000 in spending to Baltimore. The historians announced Friday they would meet instead at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor.
The meeting was originally planned to be held in Charlotte. The new North Carolina law blocks cities from approving protections for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender communities. It also states that in government buildings, individuals may only use restrooms that correspond to the sex identified on their birth certificates.
Horowitz says the conference may have members that the law would affect.
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On Dec. 14, the Conference of Presidents of Major Jewish Organizations (the Presidents Conference), in concert with the Embassy of Azerbaijan, held a historic Hanukkah party in Washington that will be talked about for some time. Controversy continues to swirl over not only who attended the party, but who did not.
The Presidents Conference is comprised of the presidents of 50-plus so-called major Jewish organizations. Malcolm Hoenlein serves as executive vice chair of the conference.
The Conference Hanukkah party was timed to intersect with the official White House Hanukkah party the same evening. Included among the approximate 150-200 attendees were at least 13 ambassadors and other senior diplomatic envoys, many from predominantly Muslim countries, along with Israeli Ambassador Ron Dermer. The senior diplomats hailed from Turkey, Kazakhstan, the Kyrgyz Republic and Tajikistan, as well as Belarus, Romania, Russia, Greece, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic and even the PLO Mission, along with the Azerbaijan Embassy sponsors and Israels ambassador. Attendees happily mingled for two hours.
The highlight of the event was bestowing formal thanks to all the countries who had contributed firefighting forces to Israel during the recent wild blazes. Ambassadors Dermer and Hoenlein used the occasion to proclaim that Israel was not as isolated as many pretend.
This coincided with Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahus state visits to Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan, both Muslim-majority nations.
What normally would have been recorded as a diplomatic breakthrough by Hoenlein and the Israeli ambassador, unfortunately, became mired in boycott by Jewish groups as well as massive misreporting.
True, Israel was finding common ground with predominantly Muslim nations as well as other regional players. But the common ground in question was in a function room of the Trump International Hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue. Hence, everything about the event from the attendees to those who declined all became mired in the miasma of a Trump controversy.
Suddenly, it was not important that the PLO, Turkey and numerous other countries were officially and amicably participating in a Jewish-Israeli celebration of historic national strength. All that was dwarfed to a far back burner visibly appearing at a hotel emblazoned with the moniker Trump.
The hotel was chosen by the Azerbaijani Embassy because it was just a few minutes from the White House. Many on the guest list would be shuttling between both celebrations.
Nonetheless, several Jewish organizations members of the Conference announced that they would be boycotting. For example, the Central Conference of American Rabbis, the rabbinical association of the reform movement, complained, Holding this event at Mr. Trumps hotel is at odds with that idea and with many policies and values of Jewish life and community.
Skipping over the importance of assembling Muslim and regional diplomats to celebrate with Israeli, news of the party was soon dominated with the boycott and ensuing protest.
Beyond who attended and boycotted, confusion arose over the number of protestors outside the Trump hotel event. One major Jewish media outlet claimed in its lead sentence that hundreds of protestors assembled outside the Trump Hotel. Hundreds? That could be 300 to 900. Immediately, this number was scrutinized.
Noah Pollak, from the Emergency Committee to Save Israel, indicated mid-event that he also saw 30 to 50 assembled persons and tweeted as much, pushing back on the estimate of hundreds and calling the report fake news.
Meanwhile, the important numbers inside the function room were not recorded in the first wave of reportage. The first Jewish media outlet to write about the diplomatic attendees and the significance of the event was The Algemeiner in an article headlined Muslim Ambassadors Receive Menorahs as Gifts at Leading Jewish Groups Hanukkah Party at Trump Hotel in DC. A 17-paragraph article the next day in a leading Jewish newspaper, which focused primarily on the protestors, did not even mention the attendance of numerous ambassadors from predominantly Muslim countries as well as the PLO representative.
For its part, a member of the Conference of Presidents decried some of the coverage as fake news. The member derided one of the leading boycotting organization executives as an arsonist, bent on disrupting an important diplomatic event just because a room was rented at a Trump property. Whats more, the member derided another protesting organization as a small, obscure half member that no one has heard of for twenty years.
There is a middle ground between fake news and erroneous reporting. It is slanted news, that is, agenda-driven journalism that cherry-picks information, exaggerates negatives and positives, eschews balance, jumps at the chance to disparage, and leaves in place a false record that is uncorrected, un-retracted and not updated. Reporting on the Conferences Hanukkah party may qualify as all three.
LYNNE PATRICK, Clemmons
No mistakes
This is in response to the Dec. 26 letter God intervened? God does not make mistakes! He gives people free will to do what is right and follow him.
There is another roaming on earth who causes havoc and his name is Satan. Franklin Graham will have to stand before God and answer for this person as stated in 1 Corinthians 10:32, Do not cause anyone to stumble... Meaning do not cause anyone to turn away from God.
I would tell the letter writer to look up to God and believe in him because there is no one or nothing else out there for him to believe in. Maybe things are happening in this country because the U.S. has turned away from God.
***
BEVERLY M. BURTON, Winston-Salem
The tea party
Eight years ago the tea party came to life in reaction to fears that the newly-elected president of the United States would be a power-hungry dictator who would undermine the U.S. Constitution.
They called him Hitler and threw Nazi imagery around indiscriminately. They talked about propaganda ministers and misinformation campaigns.
Of course, President Obama turned out to be nothing like they feared. When the courts ruled against Obama, he backed down. He accepted Republican gains with grace and equanimity. And it looks like hes not going to declare martial law to stay in office after all.
But if there was any validity to the principles the tea party claimed if they were truly opposed to the prospect of a fascist dictator running America where are they now? Those qualities are abundant in President-elect Trump, who speaks openly about violating the Constitution, stifling the media and ruling, not through a system of principles, but through a cult of personality.
Is there anything to the tea partys patriotism? Or were their critics right, was it just a guise to cover their racist instincts in the face of a black president?
Where have you gone, tea party? A nation in search of hope wonders.
***
MARY MARTHA SMOAK, Winston-Salem
Clown college
I really thought the North Carolina legislature was ready to step up and repeal the insane HB2 passed earlier in the year. Instead it appears they moved the Ringling Brothers and Barnum and Bailey Clown College, started by Irving Field and Bill Ballantine, once known as the Mecca for training clowns in America, from Sarasota, Fla., to Raleigh.
The legislature has a responsibility to spend taxpayer money and time spent in session to benefit all North Carolina citizens. The next time North Carolina makes the national news, let it be for the inclusion of all of its citizens so as not to alienate all people created equally.
While leaders are not really clowns, their behavior is like that of clowns, but no one is laughing.
***
PAUL D. WHITSON, Advance
His past behavior
Another tiresome letter (No wonder, Dec. 17) saying that President-elect Trump should be given the benefit of the doubt. What doubt?
Of those who disagree with him he has said, punch them in the face, beat the crap out of them and carry them out on stretchers. He told us how smart he was to use our bankruptcy laws to avoid paying his creditors, driving a number of them out of business, refused to pay workers after the job was done claiming they were illegal, mocked the handicapped, boasted about his despicable threat of women and only a few weeks ago paid $25 million to avoid going to court and facing fraud charges.
I do not need to let a fox into the hen house and see how it behaves to pass judgment. Past behavior is enough.
And then there are our Republican legislators in Raleigh
There are none so blind as those who will not see.
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Today
Considerable clouds early. Some decrease in clouds later in the day. High 71F. Winds light and variable.
Tonight
Partly cloudy in the evening. Increasing clouds with periods of showers after midnight. Low 57F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 50%.
Tomorrow
Steady light rain in the morning. Showers continuing in the afternoon. High 71F. Winds S at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.
In U.S. President-elect Donald Trumps book, Great Again, he said, You go to countries like China...and you look at their train systems and their public transport. Its so much better. Were like a third-world country. Despite his tough talk, Trump admires China for its GDP growth and for its infrastructure investment and engineering. He sees that, while America is aging and falling behind in certain areas, China is growing and moving forward. The U.S. can learn from China on infrastructure building, and benefit from its successes.
China is leading the world in infrastructure investment and engineering. Chinas Beipan River bridge, which connects Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, is a 4,400-feet-long cable-stayed suspension bridge that hangs 1,854 feet in the sky. That is equivalent to 200 stories, roughly the height of four Trump Towers stacked.
Another example is Guizhous high-speed railway bridge connecting Shanghai and Kunming. This amazing achievement caught the attention of some foreign scholars. Duke University Professor Ralph Litzinger (@BeijingNomad) said, Serious infrastructure investment in China. Makes the [U.S.] look like a backward country. Kingston University Professor Steve Keen (@ProfSteveKeen) called it an example of Chinas impressive engineering and said Trump could learn a lot from [China] about infrastructure planning.
America may be the contemporary example on building a great country, but China is the contemporary example on rebuilding a great country. The two massive bridges in Guizhou are a tiny example of Chinas strength in infrastructure investment and engineering. No other country in the world has lifted more than double the size of Americas entire population out of poverty in such a short period of time. Since then, China has opened the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, and is building the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road. These are massive cooperation projects, and the hallmark of modern-day China. Meanwhile, America cannot even realize high-speed rail after years and years of planning. Rather than bash China, perhaps America should learn from and work with China.
Trump wants to spend $1 trillion on infrastructure upgrades in America to rebuild the nation and put people back to work. The problem is how to pay for it and how to do it. China knows how to fund and carry out serious infrastructure building, and deep-pocketed Chinese investors want to invest billions more in America. One way for Trump to realize his plan would be to use Chinese funds and technology. This would help return some of Americas investment in China back to America for the benefit of America, and strengthen the bilateral relationship. Trumps plan to rebuild America is bold, but it remains to be seen if he will be bold enough to do what is best for America.
A report on entrepreneurship among Chinese college students published by Renmin University of China revealed an inverse proportion between the level of students' academic degrees and their intentions to start their own businesses. According to the report, released on Dec. 28, students from prestigious universities were less willing to start businesses, likely because of high opportunity cost.
A total of 430,000 students from 1,767 universities in 31 provinces were surveyed. Of the respondents, 89.2 percent had considered starting a business, with 18.2 percent reporting firm intentions to do so. More than 70 percent said self-realization was the biggest motivation to start a business.
Common industries for college startups include catering, agriculture, IT, transportation, education and culture. According to the report, 13.8 percent of the entrepreneurs were interested in hospitality and catering, while 13.7 percent choose agriculture. Ninety percent of the students believe their universities' guidance on entrepreneurship would help their future businesses. In addition, they professed appreciation for policies intended to encourage entrepreneurship.
The report found that students majoring in art, agriculture and engineering were more willing to start businesses, while those majoring in history and science showed relatively low interest.
A lack of capital and experience is the biggest obstacle for college entrepreneurs, the report suggested, stating that 40 percent of such young entrepreneurs rely on external capital such as loans from banks, investment organizations, schools and the government.
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Special Correspondent | Baghdad | (Niqash.org) |
Controversial videos are common on Iraqi social media. Viewed by millions, they increase social division and violence. NIQASH tries to separate two particularly disturbing examples into fact or fiction.
The divisions between the different components of Iraqi society, whether those are ethnic or religious, has only widened since the security crisis began. The extremist Islamic State group has caused neighbours to become suspicion of neighbours and split tribal groups and families along political lines. This divide is also reflected on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter where Iraqis disseminate video clips and posts that back up their own prejudices. Sometimes the Iraqi media will even pick up on the most contentious of these videos and broadcast them to a wider audience.
As the fighting around the city of Mosul, taken over by the Islamic State, or IS, group in mid-2014, has intensified over the past few months, so has partisan posting on Iraqs social media, locals say. Judging by the number of shares, re-posts, re-tweets and views, which often rise into the millions, this kind of material can have a lasting impact, not just on the current fighting but on Iraqi society long term.
In a recent video, Iraqi soldiers allegedly shoot a teenager, then crush his body under their tank.
This is why it remains vital that that video clips and pictures be properly investigated before they are shared and particularly, before they are broadcast. And that is even if, as the investigations below reveal, the answers are not always easy to acknowledge.
The Teenager Killed By A Tank But Whose Tank Was It?
One of the most controversial video clips circulating on Iraqi social media recently involved Iraqis in military clothing shooting a teenage boy they accused of being a member of the IS group, then running his corpse over with a tank. The video clip was widely shared and the perpetrators were accused of being members of a number of different fighting groups in the country. The clip was also re-published by international media.
The video, which looked as though it had been shot on a mobile phone camera by one of the participants in the violent act, first emerged in early November, around a month after the campaign to re-take the northern Iraqi city of Mosul from the IS group began. Some sources suggest the video was first broadcast by the IS group itself while an Iraqi Kurdish journalist was one of the first to share the clip on the K24 news channel.
The Sunni-majority Iraqi National Forces Alliance was quick to denounce the incident in the video. This is a war crime, their official statement said, and those who committed it should not escape punishment. This new crime is just the latest in a series of those committed against innocent citizens in liberated areas, the same as those that happened in Fallujah and elsewhere, they added; the political group is referring to accusations against Iraqi forces, both official and unofficial, that they take unlawful revenge on ordinary Sunni citizens in areas previously controlled by the IS group, which bases its extreme ideology on its own version of Sunni Islam.
The head of the Iraqi army in Ninawa, fighting the IS group in Mosul, denied that his forces could be involved. He said it was more likely that members of the IS group had dressed up as the Iraqi army and had made this video to spread disinformation about his troops.
After all, it is well known that the IS group had been spreading rumours in and around Mosul about what would happen if the Iraqi military pushed them out, warning of massacres and other misdeeds in an attempt to encourage locals to fight on their side. They had already used footage from unrelated incidents to cause fear among the civilian population in the city.
A still from the video shows the teenager being dragged toward the tank.
The senior military commander then called upon local media and civil society and human rights organisations to verify the events in the video. A team of NIQASH journalists have tried to follow up on this suggestion.
This is what they found: The video is filmed in a desert area and there are no significant landmarks in the video that would allow further research on the location. The tank itself isnt flying any flags that could show who it belongs to. But the make and origins of the tank would seem significant as certain fighting forces inside Iraq only have access to certain vehicles.
A closer look for the tank used in the video seems to show that it is a T-72, a tank of Soviet design that the Iraqi military has used for decades. Some of them were manufactured in Iraq too. Iraqs Shiite Muslim volunteer militias also have some of these tanks.
However, the IS group do not appear to have any of these tanks in Iraq* the extremists have captured equipment from both the Iraqi and Syrian armies but, in parades of their hardware in Iraq, they have not shown off a T-72 tank. The IS groups tanks include US-made Abrams, captured from the Iraqi military in the early days of the security crisis, and other Soviet-era models, possibly originating with the Syrian army.
Also, worthy of closer examination is the conversation between the soldiers and the child they kill. Locals say the dialect is distinctively southern Iraqi. The way that one of the men in the video says the name Haider and then how another of the perpetrators asks the child where have you been hiding? are notable. He uses the word labed (hiding), a term used mainly in southern Iraq.
Given that southern Iraq is mostly populated by Shiite Muslim Iraqis, and that the IS group appealed mainly to Sunni Muslims, in central and northern Iraq, that is a strike against the- IS-did-it theory.
One of the other men in the video tells his colleagues that they shouldnt be doing this. He suggests that the group take the boy to the regiments headquarters. The other man refuses. Of course, this could all be an act. But if real, then the unwilling mans suggestion about headquarters does seem to rule out Shiite Muslim volunteer militias in this particular incident they do not have regiments.
Although it looks increasingly unlikely that it was an IS ruse, it is still not clear who committed this war crime. So far, the Iraqi army has only made one statement about this widely circulated video, denying it was their soldiers. But if justice is to be done, then officials should investigate this video further.
Mosul Locals Protest Arrival of Iraqi Forces Or Do They?
Back in the middle of 2014, when the extremist group known as the Islamic State took control of the northern Iraqi city of Mosul, a controversial video began to circulate in Iraq. It appeared to show the residents of Mosul throwing rocks at an official Iraqi government convoy, including military vehicles.
The video, almost three minutes long, was touted as being a sign of how the locals in Mosul, a mostly Sunni Muslim-populated city, were opposed to the mostly Shiite-Muslim-led government. More worryingly, some antagonists said it was a sign of how Mosul locals were ready and willing to cooperate with the extremist Islamic State, or IS, group, in driving the government out of their city.
The video, the current incarnation of which was loaded onto YouTube in October 2016, was widely spread on social media as well as broadcast by several satellite channels in Iraq. It has been seen almost 1.5 million times in total, probably more.
But even a small amount of research would have shown that the video had been published many times before and that its earliest date for uploading was in June 2013 that is, a full year before the IS group came to Mosul.
Additionally, further geolocation research that is, investigating where the clip was filmed indicates decisively that the event didnt happen anywhere near Mosul. The green and black flags hung around the neighbourhood in which the event took place are the same kind Iraqs Shiite Muslim civilians often hang from powerlines and from their homes and rooves, to indicate their sectarian affiliation. Given that Mosul is mostly populated by Sunni Muslims, that is the first sign that the event didnt take place in Mosul.
Another sign is the dialect of the young men throwing stones at the government cars in the video: Local journalists confirm that its not the way people speak in Mosul.
The final sign that the clip was not from Mosul at all, is provided by the restaurant in the background called Happy Time. Searching on the name, one finds satisfied customers and staff members who have all posted pictures of the restaurants neon sign on various social media platforms. So the location of this event could be pinpointed even more exactly: Dakhel Street in the Baghdad suburb of Sadr City, a well-known and mainly Shiite Muslim area of the Iraqi capital.
Earlier versions of the video also explain that the clip is of locals in Sadr City protesting a procession of government officials through their neighbourhood.
The red circles mark signs for the Happy Time restaurant in Baghdad.
*This story was corrected after it was pointed out that the IS group has captured T-72 and similar looking T-55 tanks in Syria. NIQASH reporters would be very interested to hear from anyone has seen video or footage of these tanks in Iraq.
Via Niqash.org
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TeleSur |
The Russian diplomats will have 72 hours to leave the United States.
The United States new sanctions against Russia prove the foreign policy of the Obama administration is aggressive, Dmitry Peskov, the Kremlin press-secretary, said Thursday, as the Kremlin indicated retaliatory measures against Washington.
In our point of view such actions of the U.S. current administration are a manifestation of an unpredictable and even aggressive foreign policy, Peskov told the media.
We consider this decision and these sanctions unjustified and illegal under international law, he added.
The United States expelled 35 Russian diplomats and closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland on Thursday in response to an alleged campaign of harassment against American diplomats in Moscow.
The move against the diplomats from the Russian Embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco is part of a series of actions announced on Thursday to punish Russia for its supposed campaign of intimidation and interference in the U.S. election.
A senior US official told Reuters the Russians have 72 hours to leave the United States.
According to Vladimir Dzhabarov, the deputy chairman of foreign policy committee of the Russian parliaments upper house, Russia will respond to the sanctions.
You realize, of course, reciprocal steps will be made and the U.S. embassy in Moscow and, quite possibly, the consulates will be cut down to size as well, he told Russian news agency TASS.
In contrast to the move by Obama, Donald Trump, who takes office on Jan. 20, has called for better relations with Russia. It is not clear whether he will be able to immediately overturn the measures announced Thursday.
Via TeleSur
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Related video added by Juan Cole:
CCTV America: Obama orders sanctions against Russian officials over US elections
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By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) |
President Obamas sanctions on Russia are small potatoes and will have almost no effect on the Russian Federation. The high officials sanctioned are unlikely to have assets in the US that Washington can attach. When you hear that the US is sanctioning the FSB (the Russian CIA) and the GRU (military intelligence), that is a sign of measures taken just for show. As for the covert actions, well never know what or if those were.
Moreover, if the charge is that the Russians influenced the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, then either they did or they didnt. If they didnt, they arent very good hackers and might have been safely ignored. If they did, then why no demand that the results of the election be set aside and new elections held? Why are no specific effects of the Russian hacking demonstrated? (As regular readers know, I dont believe anything the Russians did threw the election to Trump. Sec. Clinton isnt a very good candidate, thats all. When they asked her why she took $800,000 a speech to talk to Goldman Sachs, she replied that it was what they offered.)
So why did the Obama administration put on this charade? While I dont deny that Russian hackers may have been active, I think these minor sanctions have been announced at this time as part of a Democratic Party long game against Donald J. Trump. There is nothing wrong with such a partisan ploy most politics have this form.
1. A big announcement of sanctions on Russia for interfering in the US election casts doubts on the legitimacy of Trumps election. In essence, playing the Russian card is sweet revenge on Trump for his birther lies about Obama having not been a US citizen. The Obama sanctions on Russian create the specter in the mind of the public of Trump as a Manchurian candidate. In turn, such doubts could help the Dems in 2020.
2. Placing sanctions on Russia that Trump clearly does not want puts him on the spot. If he actively rolls them back, he can be tagged by the Democrats as soft on Putin. If he does not, he risks giving Putin the idea that he is not a reliable ally.
3. These sanctions make it harder for Republicans to speak out of both sides of their mouths on the Democrats and Russia. Ideally, theyd like at the same time to maintain that Obama and the Dems were weak on Russia and that Trump is right to improve relations with it. Now they have to take one position or the other. Putin may be popular with Trump Republicans but he isnt in the country at large.
4. These sanctions on Russia cast a pigeon among the cats. They have the potential to escalate conflicts between the national security Republicans in Congress, especially, the Senate, and Trump. Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham issued a statement that Obama had not gone far enough against Russia, and pledging to establish an investigatory committee to look into the charges of Russian hacking.
Since Trump himself responded that it is time for our country to move on to bigger and better things and that computers have made all our lives complicated (i.e. he refused to join in the critique of Russia), he is on a collision course with his own party.
5. The timing of the announcement of sanctions on Russia may have been intended to take the shine off of Putins achievement of a new cease-fire in Syria, one arranged between Russia and Turkey (and their respective clients) without reference to the United States. Republicans interviewed on cable tv have been complaining that Obama and the Dems have let themselves become irrelevant to the Middle East. (It is a low, hypocritical talking point; these same GOP politicians made it clear in September of 2013 that they would not vote for US military intervention in Syria over the al-Assad regimes use of chemical weapons in the civil war). In any case, it is a little hard for them to be too fulsome about Putin outplaying President Obama in Syria given the charges of Russian interference in the US political system. Besides, I wouldnt count on that cease-fire in Syria lasting too long; as usual, it excludes the most effective fighters on the rebel side.
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Related video:
President Obama: America Should Be Alarmed By Russias Actions | MSNBC
is something I need?
driverless car
drones
So, are you eager to get yourself an Echo so you dont have to get up off the couch to find your smartphone? Do you say driverless cars and drones, bringem on? Or feh, who needs 'em. Or NO NO NO!
I am in love with Siri.
But an Echo or a Dot? Yes, indeedy. I would get one this instant, but I think they are sold out.
Alexa lives in our kitchen, and I have a Dot (the little satellite) on my desk in the sunporch and one upstairs in our bedroom.
sprinkler system
thermostats
music
news and weather and all sorts of information
Audible books
plays nature sleep sounds for Wren at bedtime
And of course we talk to Alexa as if she were a real person.
Siri and I don't get along,
What do you think Debs, if we don't have an in-home computer expert, could we do this?
DEBS: Roberta, you can do it.
JULIA SPENCER-FLEMING:
We kids got the Echo for our parents
Pandora
fart noises
why can't you just walk over to the thermostat and turn it up yourself?
If she can tell me where they are when I wander into the kitchen again, I'm sold!
[JURIST] A spokesman for British Prime Minister Theresa May [official website] on Friday condemned [Reuters report] remarks made by US Secretary of State John Kerry [official website] on the current Israeli government. In a speech [text] given on Thursday, Kerry criticized the building of Israeli settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, stating that such actions jeopardize prospects of peace in the Middle East. Kerry continued on to state that Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahus [official website] current coalition is the most right wing in Israeli history, with an agenda driven by the most extreme elements. Mays spokesman responded by stating the remark was inappropriate and that a resolution to the current situation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem will require the support of the international community. Later on Friday, the State Department expressed its surprise with the British response and stated that it was counter to both the Britains affirmative vote on the UN resolution that condemned the building of Israeli settlements and to their long-held international policies.
Recent conflicts between Israel and Palestine [HRW backgrounder] over settlements in the occupied West Bank have raised concerns over possible human rights violations. Earlier this month, UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Zeid Raad Al Hussein, expressed concern [JURIST report] over proposed legislation in Israel that would retroactively legalize the Israeli outposts constructed on privately-owned Palestinian land in the occupied West Bank. Last month the Israel High Court of Justice ruled that the controversial Amona settlement in the West Bank must be dismantled [JURIST report] by December 25. Earlier the same month Israels Ministerial Committee for Legislation unanimously approved [JURIST report] the Formalization Bill to legalize the West Bank outposts, which was intended in part to stop the evacuation of Amona outpost. In March the spokesperson for the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights expressed concern [JURIST report] over the apparent extra-judicial execution of a Palestinian man in the West Bank. In January Human Rights Watch urged [JURIST report] businesses to cease operations in Israel settlements. In August 2015 UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urged both sides of the conflict [JURIST report] to reconcile and move towards peace after an attack occurred in the West Bank village of Duma, where Jewish extremists allegedly set fire to a Palestinian home while a family slept inside. In April 2015 HRW alleged [HRW report] that Israeli settlement farmers in the occupied West Bank were using Palestinian child laborers in dangerous conditions in violation of international laws.
North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un ordered the executions of 340 people in the five years that he has been in power, according to a report [materials in Korean] from the Institute for National Security Strategy [website in Korean], a South Korean think tank. About 140 of those executed are believed to have been senior officials in the North Korean government, according to South Koreas National Intelligence Service [website]. The 200 page INSS report details several particularly brutal executions. North Korean Defense Minister Hyon Yong Chol was killed [Korean Times report] in front of an audience with an anti-aircraft gun, with reports [Yonhap News report] that his offense was dozing off at a meeting.
North Korea has been an international source of concern due to the countrys human rights record and instability. In March UN human rights investigator Marzuki Darusman [official profile] urged [press release] the UN Human Rights Council to push for the prosecution of top North Korean government officials for crimes against humanity [JURIST report]. In February Darusman asked the UN to provide North Korea with notice [JURIST report] that Kim Jong Un may be investigated for crimes against humanity. The US House of Representatives [official website] in January approved [press release] legislation that would increase sanctions against North Korea for its continuation of nuclear testing [JURIST report]. Japan and the EU circulated [JURIST report] a draft UN resolution in November condemning North Koreas human rights abuses and encouraging the UN Security Council to refer the country to the International Criminal Court [official website], noting reports of torture, limits on freedom of mobility, restrictions on freedom of speech, restrictions on freedom of religion, privacy infringement, arbitrary imprisonment, prison camps and more.
The Grand National Assembly of Turkey [official website] announced Friday that its Commission on the Constitution approved a draft amendment to the Turkish Constitution which would give the president greater power. If the National Assembly approves the bill, which it is set to discuss in January, a referendum would have to approve the amendment as well, before it becomes law. Under the current Turkish Constitution [text, PDF] the President serves a mostly ceremonial role, while the executive power is entrusted to the Prime Minister and the general Assembly. Current Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has championed the amendment, which would change Turkeys political system, moving the executive power to the president and abolishing the position of prime minister. Apart from the shift of power to the president, the amendment would also change a number of other constitutional provisions, like lowering the voting age to 18, increasing the members of the National Assembly, changing election years from every fourth to every fifth and limiting the president to sit for two terms. President Recep Tayyip Erdogans party supports the bill and, along with the nations more conservative MHP party, have the required votes to approve it. There has been some criticism from the other parties in the National Assembly, fearing that the amendment will let the President rule unchecked and that it could lead to a form of dictatorship.
Since the failed coup in Turkey in July, where Turkish military forces tried to overthrow the Government, the Turkish Government has taken several controversial steps to strengthen its power. In July Amnesty International condemned [JURIST report] Turkey for attacking the freedom of the press by issuing arrest warrants for 42 journalists. Similarly, Turkey also significantly restricted the activities of NGOs [JURIST report] like human rights organizations and childrens groups and arrested opposition party leaders [JURIST report] alleging they were connected to terror organizations. In October, Human Rights Watch warned [JURIST report] that the emergency decrees put in place after the failed coup, had resulted in serious human rights violations.
The White House [official website] on Thursday announced [press release] that sanctions would be enacted against Russia as a response to Russias involvement in hacking during the recent election and for the treatment of US diplomats in Russia. The White House alleged that Russia intentionally tried to interfere with the US election in favor of one of the candidates, by releasing a string of emails obtained through hacking, and that orders to do so could have come from the highest level of the Russian government. The White House further alleged, that Russian police and security forces have been harassing American diplomats in Russia for the last year. The sanctions [press release] consists of deporting 35 Russian officials suspected of being intelligence operatives and shutting down two Russian facilities in New York and Maryland, both suspected of being used for intelligence-related purposes. Sanctions have also been imposed on Russias two main intelligence agencies and four high ranking officers of these agencies, as well as three private Russian companies. Russia responded by criticizing the sanctions and threatening to eject US diplomats, calling the sanctions an effort from the White House to deal a blow to the foreign policy plans of the incoming administration.
The issue of cybersecurity has been adressed several times by the White House under the Obama administration. In 2015 the White House imposed sanctions [JURIST report] and higher penalties on foreign security threats. The Obama administration has also urged Congress to pass stricter cyber security laws, and in 2013 an official from the Obama administration testified before the Senate Judiciary Committee [official website] to urge Congress to amend [JURIST report] the Freedom of Information Act in order to strengthen the governments ability to prevent disclosure of information related to critical infrastructure and cybersecurity. An interesting question is, what the US can do about Russian hacking, if the US has jurisdiction [JURIST commentary] over hacking executed from outside the US.
In 2016, the world underwent profound changes.
With Brexit and the election of Donald Trump, the world witnessed two "black swan" events. The rise of far-right parties and populism in Europe are posing an unprecedented challenge to globalization. Meanwhile, the threat of terrorism shows no sign of abating, indicating that the world needs a new approach to counter-terrorism. Security in northern Asia, which is veering away from the path of peaceful development, has attracted concern from the international community. All the while, China has been steadily moving forward by tackling hard issues and embracing reform.
Amid these often disturbing developments, China has boosted the world's economy by hosting the G20 summit, made essential contributions to activating the Paris Agreement, upped its participation in global financial governance by the inclusion of RMB in the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Right (SDR) basket, and won support in opposing the invalid South China Sea arbitration.
The universe always moves along its own path, and history will never stop marching forward, despite temporary disturbances. Time will flush away fear and tears; peace, justice and inclusiveness are the laws of nature. Looking ahead, the year 2017 is full of hope.
1. Gravitational waves detected, "voice of space" heard by humans for first time
On Feb. 11, the National Science Foundation (NSF) announced the detection of gravitational waves. In June, scientists declared again that they had clearly detected gravitational waves -- a significant physics milestone.
2. Refugee crisis in Europe continued, populism rose
The huge influx of refugees has caused social issues in a number of European countries, prompting members of the EU to tighten refugee policies. In May, the EU Council allowed some countries within the Schengen Area to extend internal border control, and the European Commission proposed extending the measure. In December, Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi resigned after a major constitutional referendum failed. Meanwhile, populist parties such as the National Front in France and the Alternative for Germany are gaining popularity around Europe.
3. Britain voted to leave EU
Over half of British voters voiced their preference to leave the EU in a June referendum, and Britain's prime minister resigned shortly thereafter. The country will officially start working toward Brexit before March 2017. Brexit has left other European countries anxious in the face of economic depression, the refugee crisis and terrorist attacks. This growing anxiety and desire for change is challenging the unified identity of Europe.
4. South Korea, the U.S., North Korea and Japan made momentous decisions, adding to security concerns in northeast Asia
In July, South Korea announced plans to deploy THAAD (Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense). Before and after that, North Korea conducted two nuclear tests. Since March, Japan has implemented new security laws and passed a new version of the Defense White Paper to boost the operational and geographical scope of Japan's forces oversea, which means Japan has abandoned its pacifist constitution.
5. China resolutely safeguarded international rule of law, South China Sea arbitration farce came to an end
From the beginning, China always opposed the South China Sea arbitration launched by the Philippines. China's stance won understanding and support from nearly 120 countries and 240 political parties. During Phillippines President Duterte's visit to China in October, the two countries reached a consensus to solve the South China Sea dispute through negotiation.
6. Fresh global terrorist attacks raised concerns
On July 14, at least 84 people were killed in a terrorist attack in Nice, France. On Dec. 19, the Russian ambassador to Turkey was assassinated. Terrorist attacks have plagued many countries this year, including Belgium, Turkey and Egypt. At the same time, anti-extremism wars are ongoing in Iraq and Syria. In many ways, terrorism has globalized, becoming more fragmented and widespread. China's proposition to consolidate the role of the UN in coordinating counter-terrorism efforts has been widely recognized.
. G20 summit a success in Hangzhou, China contributed to global governance
The Group of 20 (G20) summit was held in the eastern Chinese city of Hangzhou from Sept. 4-5. At the summit, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for the establishment of an innovative, open, interconnected and inclusive world economy, clearly enumerating China's view on global economic governance. The G20 summit facilitated pioneering achievements in economic innovation and financial governance, promoting international trade and investment and pushing forward development.
. RMB included in Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket by IMF, ascending to heart of global finance
On Oct. 1, the RMB officially joined the SDR basket for the first time, in a landmark recognition of China's increased role in the global economy. The milestone demonstrates major progress in the evolution of the international financial system.
. Paris Agreement took effect, offering legal basis for global climate governance
The Paris Agreement, which officially took effect on Nov. 4, is seen as a new chapter in the fight to tackle climate change. The agreement provides a firm legal basis for global actions aimed at solving climate issues. China's efforts in pushing forward the agreement were highly praised by the international community at the November UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Moroco.
10. Donald Trump elected next U.S. president, polarizing citizens
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump beat his rival, Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton, to claim the 45th U.S. presidency. Trump's campaign exacerbated political divisions, which reflected the plight of social segregation in American politics.
Photo captions:
1. U.S. Scientists announce the detection of gravitational waves
2. Refugees on their way back to Turkey following rejection of their applications for
asylum in Greece
3. Anti-Brexit protesters gather around parliament in Britain
4. South Koreans protest THAAD
5. Overseas Chinese in Australia hold massive parade to protest South China Sea
aribitration
6. French people pay tribute to victims of Nice terror attack
7. 11th G20 summit held in Hanghzou, Zhejiang province
8. President of Kenya branch of South Africa's Standard Bank exchanges RMB
9. People gather outside site of UN Climate Change Conference in Marrakech, Morocco,
calling for efforts to protect the environment
10. New Yorkers protest outcome of U.S. presidential election
Bethany with her Art Console
Bethany Brooke is a Connecticut-based, abstract painter whose role as a mother and philanthropist have shaped her perseverance, mission and career as an emerging artist. After working in finance for nearly 10 years, Bethany rediscovered her passion for creativity, and made it priority after her three children were born. She began to look at art as not only a way to express her zeal for life and parenthood, but as the next step of her professional career. The evolution of her abstract pieces and the exhilaration that seeps through the canvas takes form as bold, commanding colors in a delicate, organic composition, reflecting the bountiful layers of her lifes journey.
As an impassioned emerging artist, Bethany has an intense and evolving creative process. In just a short time, she has grown her portfolio tenfold and creates daily, producing works that catch the eye of interior designers and a connoisseurs interest. Symbolic, engaging and beautiful, her paintings stand on their own as captivating chronicles of life.
Grace
Bethanys artistic career doesnt just revolve around self-expression. Her involvement with Als Angels-- a Connecticut based charitable foundation whose mission is to provide comfort, joy and vital necessities to the families of children who face pediatric cancer and rare blood diseases has inspired her to connect her art with a greater cause. Bethany contributes a portion of her art sales to raise donations and awareness of this incredible organization.
When youre finished reading about Bethany and her wonderful work, make sure to visit her website to see more at www.bethanybrookeart.com, as well as follow her Instagram, @bethanybrookeart.
Here, Bethany tells JustLuxe about her majestic art and story.
Insatiable
How would you describe your art work?
My work has an organic component to it. There is fluidity and movement in all of it. However, there is also a dichotomy in my work reflecting two different sides of my personality. Because my art is an extension of me and my lifes journey, it exhibits two defining roles I have played in my life: my role as a mother and my career in finance. My body of work is graceful, fluid and all-encompassing which represents my approach to motherhood, but there are also very strong, aggressive and vibrant dimensions to my work signifying the characteristics in me that thrived throughout my corporate life.You can see the marriage between the two personas in my painting Insatiable, where the abstractness to the piece is soft and nurturing, presenting depth; however, there is a vibrant punch of neon that exemplifies a tenacity in my lifes endeavors. As I painted that piece, I was listening to a friend reflect upon a very challenging time in her career and how she harnessed the stamina to rise above it with dignity. Listening to her story inspired me as I painted and the outcome was this gorgeous piece that is graceful yet sassy. Although someone elses story at the time inspired the piece, it rings true to how I have evolved as a person and the balance between my softness and strength. Even now, there are days when looking at Green Light lifts me up, it energizes me, but there are other times when it reminds me the importance of being refined. For me, the fact that my paintings can evoke different emotions or perspective depending on my day or my mood is what makes this process fascinating.
Undercurrent
What artists influenced you the most?
A few artist that inspire my work are Yves Klein, Agnes Martin, Honza Kalab, Jane Puylagarde and Jeremy Holmes. I relate strongly to artists who create strong yet minimal works. For instance, Yves Klein and Agnes Martin are iconic, each creating works that to me are minimal yet bold. There is something so moving in simplicity. All of the artists I mentioned have a clean sophistication to their art and that really resonates with who I am and how I approach not just my art, but my life.
Guardian and Keep Installed
You worked in finance for a while, how did you make the shift from working in finance to working as an artist?
Motherhood bridged the gap between my career in finance and my career as an artist. My tenure in finance ended upon the arrival of my first child. As an at-home mother, I threw myself into all of my creative outlets, especially painting. It was during this time in my life that I took a step back to reflect upon my passions and aside from my family and friends, painting held quite a heavy weight. For me, it has been a force greater than me. I paint daily and have been for a little over one year. I am literally moved to the canvas. Since I have three very small children, I paint at home which gives me the luxury to paint throughout my entire day and I love that method. This approach to painting feels natural to me and not contrived. For example, when I painted Guardian I had just returned home from dropping my two older children off at school and was moved by how beautiful the view was of the Mill Pond right by our home. Often times when I pass that pond, I think of my father who loved the water. I literally could not wait to return home to paint, but my six-month old son was fussy, so I popped him in a baby bjorn and painted away. The result was this awe-inspiring piece that truly is majestic. My favorite part of Guardian is that I created it with my little guy along for the ride. If you look very closely at the painting in the right light there is a face deep in the center of the piece. It was unintentional, but so perfect. For me, it all came full circle, thinking about my father who has now passed, but painting with my son, a very new addition to our family.
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Dancer
Do you feel that anyway influenced your art?
Absolutely. Firstly, both professions require a thick skin and a sense of humor. I remember a mentor of mine at J.P. Morgan giving me advice when I started working upon college graduation and the advice was you can make any mistake, but only make it once. That really resonated with me. My younger, corporate-self approached my professional and personal life trying to make as few mistakes as possible and never repeating the same mistake. Painting lends a new perspective to that advice. In painting, there are mistakes that turn into new techniques or beautiful masterpieces. How liberating is that?! It can sometimes be the unintentional stroke or drip in a painting that gives it character and emotion. For me, it is that freedom to explore new things through painting that provides a balance between how I approach my life and how I approach my art. Creating beauty from mistakes is something I did not have the freedom to explore in my prior career path and can generally be a challenge in everyday life, but on a canvas it is magic. My painting Dancer exhibits this freedom as it is a work I painted solely with my left hand. I did not expect to love the result as much as I do. Dancer was the first work I started without a color palette in mind. With the brush in my non-dominant hand, I did not have the courage to use color. I began with white and let myself go without direction. The painting evolved into a light hearted sweet abstract with a beautiful lilt to it. You can see a ballerina twirling in her tutu and the color palette evolved organically toward soft neutrals and pinks. When I began the piece, I thought it would be a painting wrought with error, but as I look at it today it reminds me how the artistic process has helped me grow.
Born1 Installed
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a series titled Born that is intuitive for me. This series is a strong representation of myself - it represents a juxtaposition between minimalism and intricacies.The aesthetic of the series is crisp, but fluid forcing the eye to wander through the work. Each piece in this series starts with an organic shape and builds from there. As the work evolves, the color palette lightens and darkens and the shapes meld occasionally providing an optical illusion. To me, this series represents self-exploration and growth. Although we are all born with certain distinctions, we evolve from our life experiences and environment. This series, Born, is a perfect summation to the current chapter of my life as an artist.
Bethany Working on Born Series
What are you currently working on?
I am currently working on a series titled Born that is intuitive for me. This series is a strong representation of myself - it represents a juxtaposition between minimalism and intricacies.The aesthetic of the series is crisp, but fluid forcing the eye to wander through the work. Each piece in this series starts with an organic shape and builds from there. As the work evolves, the color palette lightens and darkens and the shapes meld occasionally providing an optical illusion. To me, this series represents self-exploration and growth. Although we are all born with certain distinctions, we evolve from our life experiences and environment. This series, Born, is a perfect summation to the current chapter of my life as an artist.
All photos courtesy of Bethany Brook
The Hebei district court of Tianjin Municipality has sentenced a women to three years and six months in prison after she was found with model guns deemed by authorities to constitute illegal weapons.
Zhao Chunhua, 51, was arrested on Oct. 12 when police came to patrol Zhao's recreational shooting booth. Police discovered nine gun-shaped items, accessories and plastic bullets. They confirmed that six of the items were real guns powered by compressed gas.
Wang Yanling, Zhao's daughter, believes the guns were artificial, adding that she will appeal to a higher court.
"My mother would not have touched them had she known they were considered real under the law," Wang exclaimed. Zhao operated the booth from August to October, according to the verdict.
A 2010 document on firearms identification, issued by the Ministry of Public Security, stipulates that guns able to fire bullets with a kinetic force of over 1.8 joules per square centimeter are considered illegal firearms.
However, that criterion has been questioned by some scholars, who argue that it is too low and unreasonable a standard. Meanwhile, for most ordinary people, the criterion is nothing but a vague figure, and no authority has given a description of the injury force, according to a procuratorate daily report in August.
Recently, a picture of a 3-year-old girl asleep on an electric bike in the rain went viral online.
The photo was taken by a man surnamed Zhang in Shanghai's Baoshan district. He said he came across the girl when he emerged from his building. Sheltering her with his umbrella, Zhang waited beside the girl until her mother returned. The girl's mother is a food delivery courier. She left her daughter on the bike while she ran inside to deliver an order.
Zhang attempted to persuade the woman not to bring the girl with her to work anymore, but the woman simply extended her thanks and then departed. According to the delivery company for which she works, the woman has no relatives in Shanghai, and her daughter is too young to attend kindergarten. As a result, she had no choice but to bring her daughter to work.
Fortunately, the woman later received a 2,000-RMB ($288) subsidy from her company. After seeing the photo, netizens called for more understanding and sympathy for couriers, who deliver food through rain and storms.
We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on!
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Anakhanum Hidayatova Trend:
Efforts of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) were important for the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict de-escalation, said German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier reviewing the highlights and challenges of the German OSCE Chairmanship.
According to Steinmeier, OSCE's efforts helped to ease the tensions, following the April armed escalations between the sides. Hopefully, this would open opportunities for talks on a political solution, he said.
Steinmeier further said that the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict has probably not been in the limelight of the European public for a while, but it came into notice following the April escalation.
On the night of April 2, all the frontier positions of Azerbaijan were subjected to heavy fire from the Armenian side, which used large-caliber weapons, mortars and grenade launchers. The firing resulted in deaths and injuries among the Azerbaijani population.
Azerbaijan responded with a counterattack, which led to liberation of several strategic heights and settlements. Military operations were stopped on the line of contact between Azerbaijani and Armenian armies on Apr. 5 at 12:00 (UTC/GMT + 4) with the consent of the sides, Azerbaijan's Defense Ministry had said.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
(Details added, first version posted at 13:21)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
Trend:
The State Commission of the Republic of Azerbaijan on Prisoners of War, Hostages and Missing People is implementing measures to receive the body of Azerbaijani soldier Chingiz Gurbanov, the State Commission said in a message Dec. 30.
The State Commission says Armenia carries all the responsibility for the provocation at the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border.
"The Armenian side has once again demonstrated disrespect for the norms of international humanitarian law by distributing photos of the body of the Azerbaijani soldier killed in combat in the media and social networks, and used abusive language against the Azerbaijani people and the mentioned soldier, said the message.
The ministry said in the message that the Armenian side openly demonstrates its inhumane essence, and grossly violates the Geneva Convention of August 12, 1949, which it had also joined.
A reconnaissance group of the Armenian Armed Forces tried to violate the Azerbaijan-Armenia state border on Dec. 29 morning. The Armenian group found itself in the ambush of the Azerbaijani army while violating the borders.
The enemy was forced to retreat, according to the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry's message.
The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations.
Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts.
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We live in a world that is rapidly evolving and changing. The future is uncertain as policies change, as well as politicians. No one can predict what 2017 or future years will herald. We watch as dozens of news stories pour into our mobile apps every time we check in. And for those of us that practice medicine, health care research, and news coverage can change the way we approach our patients almost daily.
While it is hard enough for doctors to keep up with all the advancing technologies and new innovations, patients are also being flooded with information, sometimes making them question if their health care provider is keeping up to date. It seems that patients fall into two main aggregations: people who are genuinely confused and misinformed about the health news they read and hear; and patients who are savvy, educated and empowered as citizen scientists that own their conditions and treatments. Now more than ever, we need to be addressing both sets of patients and facilitating dialogue while also keeping providers current.
The future of continuing medical education
One way that doctors stay atop the learning curve is by participating in continuing medical education (CME) activities. According to the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), there are nearly 1,900 CME providers across the nation. Those in the AACME system provided over 148,000 educational activities in 2015, equaling over one million hours of education.
Yet, there is a divide between where and how CME providers offer education and what clinicians need. Like much of the world, digital technology has changed the way doctors and health care providers learn. Traditionally, doctors took time away from their practices to attend onsite CME conferences. However, doctors time is ever more constrained. As they spend more time in billing and documentation, they have less time to see patients and struggle to attend CME programs in person.
In response, the medical education landscape has been evolving to meet the bandwidth challenges of doctors with an array of digital formats, ranging from live virtual events that recreate the interactivity of in-person learning to on-demand videos, podcasts, peer-reviewed articles, and audio recordings. Online CME is growing in its availability and is already the go-to for time-strapped physicians, 91 percent of whom report having participated in online CME. But the many digital formats available risk diluting the learning experience, and thus, retention of critical information. As doctors become more pressed to find face-to-face time with their patients, its imperative that they have access to comprehensive online programs that equal or surpass traditional in-person CME conferences.
CME needs to translate directly into patient outcomes
Additionally, CME has been challenged on a variety of fronts to prove its effectiveness in recent years and in the wake of the Affordable Care Act and CMS drive towards a value-based health care system. Today, there are higher expectations that CME credits translate directly into better patient outcomes. Independent medical education has fallen under much scrutiny. In one example, the CDC director, Thomas Friedan addresses the failure of his agency to make progress against winnable battles, and it is apparent more help is needed. Doctors cannot do it alone.
Medical education needs to evolve to where there is aligned learning between health care providers and patients. True collaboration and shared decision-making can only occur when this exists, says Christian Rubio of PlatformQ Health, a leading provider of online CME and patient education. Furthermore, we need all health care providers from specialist physicians to PCPs to nurses to physician assistants to pharmacists to anyone interacting with a patient to learn at their own level of training.
Shared education: Aligning clinician and patient education
This is where a shared education model that aligns knowledge and enhances trust between provider and patient has great potential. As stated by Mr. Rubio, everyone in the healthcare setting needs education at their own level, from patients, to nurses, to doctors, to anyone interacting with patients at any level. If anyone in that continuum lacks that shared education, we fail as providers, and we will never achieve the optimal outcomes for our patients.
Life-long learning empowers doctors because it establishes the evidence of what is needed for good outcomes. This begs the question, if we expect a measurable, regulated approach to clinician education, why dont we expect the same from patient education?
Most patient education is too often awareness-focused and light on impact, or it is clinical but meant to induce demand for a specific treatment or brand that a clinician must then confront and clarify, says Rubio. The impact is muted in the former and potentially negative in the latter, and can make for a confrontational experience between the patient and their clinician. Education that aligns patients and clinicians keeps these key stakeholders current and collaborative, at their levels of understanding. And this learning must be aimed at reducing the time to correct diagnoses and maximizing good clinical outcomes.
Empowering patients to make informed decisions
Gone in many ways thankfully are the days of the paternalist model of medicine where doctor knows best is the tagline. Today, patients are increasingly empowered to take part in their own healthcare journeys through access to online information. But they can only do that effectively when their decisions are guided by advanced educational sources. We all know the web is riddled with a confusing mix of good and bad medical advice along with clever swindlers of mythical medicines.
Additionally, patients medication adherence and lifestyle changes are critical aspects of most treatment protocols, a realm where doctors have little control beyond the few minutes of encouragement during visits. And if the history of patient adherence to medications and lifestyle in the areas of obesity and diabetes management are indicators, doctors, and their educators are in for a tough road. Shared Education is crucial in our current medical reality.
In our ever-evolving world of fast-paced medical innovation, this needs to become the gold standard of medical care: properly educated clinicians and patients. Only when we align our knowledge and participate in shared decision making can we truly do our best for patients and allow them to make the best decisions.
Linda Girgis is a family physician who blogs at Dr. Linda.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
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Anti-immigration policies are hazardous to the health of immigrant patients. In the last ten years, there have been over 1,500 anti-immigration laws adopted by states across the country. These laws have come with discriminatory, racist, and xenophobic undertones, which has created a hostile environment for immigrants and citizens perceived as immigrants.
Patients dont need to be deported or detained to be harmed by these policies, laws, and language. Research shows an association between discrimination and negative health effects, such as hypertension, low birth weight, and depression. One study showed African American teens who report discrimination have higher health risk factors such as elevated blood pressure and higher rates of obesity. Another study revealed that perceived discrimination is associated with lower health services utilization which hinders management of chronic diseases. Discrimination and immigration also run along with other social determinants of health such as poverty, housing instability, social isolation, and limited educational opportunities.
Training in medicine has been insufficient in addressing the issue of discrimination in relation to health. Additionally, doctors-in-training are rarely asked to incorporate the effects of structural and political transgressions into their clinical formulation of a patients presenting complaint. The good news: There has been a mounting movement to promote whats called structural competency within the training of medicine. Structural competency is a framework to understand how illness and disease is linked to institutional and structural factors contributing to discrimination and social marginalization.
To be sure, these are complex problems that no one doctor or person can solve. The conversations can be uncomfortable and possibly contentious. Doctors may fear by discussing these issues they are bringing their own personal views and bias into the exam room. Well, guess what? It is already there, and left unspoken, it leaves patients to decide if a physician is caring for them on behalf of the patients best interest or our own. And the evidence showing that patients health is suffering is piling up.
As doctors, we took an oath to care for our patients, and with that we are sworn to protect our patients from physical, mental, and societal harm under our purview. It is for this reason physicians must become familiar with the impact anti-immigration policies will have on the patients we serve. By doing so, we can help protect our patients from unlawful discovery and deportation, which may mean separation from their family and poor health maintenance during detention.
It is our job to inform and work with patients to prevent preventable diseases and relieve suffering. Physicians should inquire about how the recent climate regarding immigration is impacting their family and if it is causing symptoms of anxiety or depression, in addition to physical symptoms of distress. Lastly, physicians should know their rights regarding what to include in medical records, as well as reporting suspected injury related to a hate crime.
Abstaining from the political fray undermines the human rights of patients. It also jeopardizes the public health of the nation by further marginalizing a population with higher likelihood of social and medical needs. Politics has come to rest on our stretchers. Its time for doctors to take a stand, and we should choose to respond by respecting humanity and protecting the health of our patients.
Courtney McMickens is a child psychiatrist.
Image credit: Shutterstock.com
If there is one family name even more closely linked with Kilkenny right now than Liam MacCarthy, it surely must be Smithwicks. John Smithwick in 1709 begun what was to be a 300 year association (to date) with the city.
The site around St. Francis Abbey has been associated with the brewing of beer ever since the 13th century when the records speak of the fulsome brew made there by the monks. Using quality water, taken from the Friars own wells, mixed with natural ingredients from the lands around the abbey, monks began brewing on the site almost as soon as the abbey itself was established. The Abbey grew in size, reach and importance for more than 300 uninterrupted years. The tragic mid 14th century Black Death which devastated the population of Kilkenny was recorded in stark terms by one of their members, Friar John Clynn. His is perhaps the only contemporary record to survive of this devastating plague in Europe. It took Henry VIIIs dissolution of all monasteries in 1537 to force the Abbey to ultimately close its doors and cut for ever the close religious link with the area.
John Smithwick moved to Kilkenny in the early 1700s to forge a life for himself.
He went into the brewing business with Richard Cole on a piece of land that Cole had leased from the Duke of Ormond in 1705. Smithwick worked hard and successfully, quickly becoming the sole owner. In time his business interests expanded. He was one of the few merchants who created a brisk trade selling tea. He worked with skill and diligence to build a fortune amassing wealth in both land and commercial property. Johns sons didnt follow him into the brewing trade and the brewing and other business that had started the familys fortune passed from their hands but fortunately, not for long. Edmond Smithwick, son of John Smithwick II, bought the brewery back freehold and the Smithwick family name once again hung proudly above the door. He proved himself a natural businessman
Edmond was four times Mayor of Kilkenny. He gave generously to the city. When famine hit in 1847, with others he set up a soup kitchen to feed the poor and needy. He also made substantial contributions to the high costs of construction of St. Marys Cathedral and became a great supporter of Catholic Emancipation. This interest cemented his friendship with the champion of that cause, the Irish Liberator, Daniel O Connell who was later to become godfather to one of his sons, Daniel OConnell Smithwick. They still talk of OConnells visit to the Brewery and his electrifying address on that memorable occasion.
Edmond Smithwick is credited with devising and introducing the business strategy of employing the most knowledgeable, the most progressive and the most skilled brewers and work force. He reasoned, correctly they could be relied upon to bring scientific and technical innovation to their task. The results gave Smithwicks beers a quality second to none. He even hired consultant chemists to vet and check the raw ingredients and oversee the final brew. The once, small almost obscure city brewery he had acquired was now a business to be reckoned with.
In the late 1800s export sales to England and Scotland were very difficult. Individual public houses in those countries were tied to specific English based breweries who sought to reduce competition and create for themselves captive markets by this practice. But Smithwicks found a way to survive and the company began selling mineral water and even delivered butter with their ale from the back of their drays. The business not alone survived but by 1892 Smithwicks won 1st prize in Ireland in the Dublin Rotunda Exhibition of Brewers and Distillers.
When James Smithwick took over in 1900 the fortunes of the company were at an all time low. Smithwicks still employed 200 people but output was down and auditors never the most adventurous of advisers - recommended the brewery shut its doors. Instead the Smithwick family dug deep and keep the business going. The range of beers was reduced; new markets were sought; James won military contracts for the sale of beer to garrisoned troops. Output increased. By taking advantage of brewery closures in England he replaced and in the process upgraded his plant and machinery. Sullivans Kilkenny Breweries Ltd, his long-standing rival was bought which again provided vitally needed brewing machinery right on his door step. The new municipal water supply introduced in Kilkenny around that time was extremely pure and low in salt and was perfect for brewing ales. It eliminated dependence on local, well-water sources
Jamess son Walter Smithwick, already a successful solicitor, took control in the 1930s. At that time beer heading west went by canal barge, other destination were served by train and even by horse & cart. Walter purchased petrol lorries to serve customers as he realised distribution was to be a major key to success. On top of their salaries he incentivising his sales men all over Ireland who could now earn a commission on every barrel sold, a new and radical concept in the Ireland of the 1930s
Walter Smithwick was committed to advertising and marketing when that latter concept was hardly recognised as a separate factor in business. Large slogans referring to Smithwicks No.1 began to appear on buses, trams and in newspapers throughout the land. In October 1937 Smithwicks No.1 Ale won first prize at the London, Bottled Beer Competition. A national-wide, brand awareness was the companys far more valuable prize and result.
When the war ended in 1945 business was looking good and by 1949 sales had reached a record 51,500 barrels per annum. The next decade was one of fierce competition with Bass, Double Diamond, Macardles, Perrys and Phoenix all competing for market share. Ultimately none would prove a match for Smithwicks popular taste and sustained, high quality. By 1959 Smithwicks was as popular as ever.
Around this time Walter and his marketing director, the resourceful W. A. L. (Bill) Finnegan visited Munich and attended the long established and world famous Munich Beer Festival there. The verve, colour, music and excitement of it all captivated them both. That night a decision, which was to have a profound effect on the future progress of Kilkenny and the brewery was hatched. Kilkenny, they resolved, would have a Festival bringing all the trappings of a Bavarian Beer Festival to the banks of the Nore. The huge Beer Tent featuring a traditional Bavarian band and serving staff in suitable eye-catching uniforms is for many people one of the fondest memories of growing up in the Kilkenny during the 60. The festival proved an outstanding success for many years and can justly claim to be the first of Irelands marketing led festivals. With the strategic, guiding hand of Walter Smithwick, the drive and promotional expertise of Bill Finnegan and later the organisational skill of Mick McGuinness the festival broke new ground and put Kilkenny firmly on the tourist map, a premier position from where it never retreated but rather continued to grow and expand.
The world wide giant, Guinness & Co, one of Smithwicks oldest malting customers bought a controlling share in the business in 1964. Walter retired from the board the following year after 35 years service and his eldest son, Peter took his place marking the ninth generation this remarkable family has been associated with brewing in Kilkenny.
Peter, also a solicitor, in latter years continued a successful career as a judge and was honoured as President of the Circuit Court and later appointed by the Government as chairman of The Smithwick Enquiry. Meanwhile his high profile brother, Paul Smithwick continues to work to advance the good fortune of Kilkenny from his base in Dublin where he too practiced law for some time.
Meanwhile other branches of the family added to the name, business prowess and range of activities. The large, four story premises of D. Smithwick and Son was an imposing and significant presence on High Street. A second cousin of Walter, Joe Smithwick built up a thriving business in the large premises acquired by his family in 1910 from its previous owners - a Bank, which tradition has it failed in that year. Under his guidance the business prospered and expanded, their famous tea and other groceries being just part of its many services to the public. On his death in 1958 the business passed to his young son Daniel with the faithful John Clifford continuing on as manager. In addition to the business on High Street, Dan converted part of their old Bottling Store on New Street to develop the concept of Cash And Carry Wholesaling to smaller shops in County Kilkenny and beyond.
This was to prove a fortuitous decision when on Sunday, a far from glorious 12th of July in 1970 the entire High Street edifices was engulfed by fire and left a smouldering ruin. To make matters worst the fire took place during the Bank strike of that year and much cash and many cheques, the takings amassed over previous weeks, which perforce could not be lodged, were in jeopardy. Thanks to the quick thinking and bravery of the fire service all was rescued from the blazing building.
To this day the family are proud of the quick reactions that enabled them with the ready help of their suppliers and the generosity of the owner of a nearby vacant shop to declare it was business as usual by the following Friday a remarkable triumph over sudden adversity and achieved in just 4 working days. The tenacity, determination and business acumen of the Smithwick family was never more tested and never more apparent than during that disastrous week. Later the business was moved in total to New Street where it continued until Daniels Smithwicks retirement recently.
It is worth recording the efforts made by the late Ron Girdham then Head Brewer in Saint Francis Abbey Brewery to re-establish the religious connection by having constructed within the walls of the old abbey a small oratory which he was pleased to title, perhaps somewhat grandly, as An International Room for Prayer and Contemplation. Rumour has it he was not much pleased when he overheard someone remark, tongue in cheek, Seems the ideal place to say an Ale-Mary!
The Smithwick name is long associated with Kilkenny, with quality and reliability reflecting the ideal combination of modern technology coupled with tradition values. Their family story embodies the best aspects of courage and confidence, enterprise and business triumph over adversity. How their story will unfold in the future we must leave to the future but if the past is anything to go by then one thing is certain, Members of the Smithwick families with continue to make their mark in Ireland and especially in their beloved Kilkenny.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
Trend:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has expressed deep concern over the recent intensification of provocations of Armenia.
The Foreign Ministry said the Armenian provocations are aimed at undermining the Vienna and St. Petersburg negotiations and the efforts on peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and are aimed at expanding the scope of the conflict.
A reconnaissance-subversive group of Armenian armed forces perpetrated yet another provocative act by violating the state border of Armenia and Azerbaijan on December 29, the ministry said.
This provocative act by Armenian armed forces has been halted and the Armenian reconnaissance-subversive group was forced to retreat with losses.
Serviceman of the armed forces of Azerbaijan Chingiz Gurbanov was killed while preventing the attack and his corpse was taken to the Armenian side, said the Foreign Ministry.
Initially, the Armenian side denied that they have the body of the Azerbaijani serviceman, the ministry said in the statement. However, later the Armenian side with a view of hiding its responsibility for the incident and misleading the international community attempted to present the situation as the violation of the state border of Armenia.
Contrary to the moral and ethic norms and basic human values, Armenian side resorted to dirty propaganda and disinformation by sharing photos of the killed Azerbaijani serviceman in social networks, said the ministry.
The Foreign Ministry added that numerous signs of torture after death were also registered on the bodies of the Azerbaijani servicemen killed during the April battles, which occurred with the provocation and instigation of the Armenian side.
Their photos were also shared in media and social networks by Armenia.
A couple of years ago the body of Mubariz Ibrahimov, a serviceman of the armed forces of Azerbaijan, was also kept by Armenia, acts of vandalism were committed on the body and only after persistent international pressure his body was returned to Azerbaijan a few months later, according to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry.
Ignoring international humanitarian law, the Republic of Armenia pursues a systematic policy of committing acts of vandalism on the bodies of the servicemen killed during combat operations and in a consistent manner makes the return of bodies the object of political speculation, said the statement.
Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the necessary and urgent measures by international humanitarian organizations, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is guided by the principles of compassion and humanism, will be taken to ensure the return of Chingiz Gurbanovs body to Azerbaijan.
Abusing his authority with regard to the abovementioned issue, the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Nikolai Bordyuzha distorted the essence of the incident and claimed that it happened in the territory of Armenia, the statement said.
Besides, addressing the illegal regime established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan as Nagorno-Karabakh republic, Bordyuzha attempted to question the territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, according to the Foreign Ministry.
This irresponsible statement by the CSTO secretary general serves to undermine the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, as well as is contrary to the basic principles of the relationship with the other member-states of the organization which support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, reads the statement.
Bordyuzha has in the past made biased statements on the conflict, the Foreign Ministry reminded.
Attempts by Armenia to bring the armed conflict directly to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and to involve the CSTO in the conflict by misusing the politicians like Bordyuzha who have particular attitude and sympathy towards Armenia serve for the escalation of the political situation in the region and pose serious threats to the regional stability and security, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said.
We reject this irresponsible statement by Bordyuzha and expect other member-states of the organization to come up with the proper assessment, said the ministry.
The Republic of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that continuation of aggression by Armenia against Azerbaijan and the illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is the main cause of the escalation and incidents in the conflict zone and the principal impediment to the political settlement of the conflict, the statement said.
The Republic of Azerbaijan calls upon the international community to enforce Armenia for peace and demand the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said.
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.
Barbara Williamss home is a lively one. Much of the year, there are four generations under one roof. Williams, age 65, shares her five-bedroom Silver Spring, Md., home with her husband, daughter, son-in-law and three young grandsonsand her 91-year-old mother visits for several months at a stretch.
While the multigenerational living arrangement may be messy at times, we had so many reasons to do it, says Williams, a retired editor of scientific journals. It not only saves money, she says, but lets her watch her grandkids grow up, allows her to split household chores with her daughter, and reduces the stress of long-distance caregiving for her mother. Even though theres more work to do, she says, doing it together makes everything easier.
Williams and her family are among the growing number of Americans forming multigenerational householdsthose that include two or more adult generations, or grandparents and grandchildren. Although many people initially turned to multigenerational living to save money during the Great Recession, the arrangements have become even more popular as baby boomers and their parents age. A record 60.6 million people, or 19% of the U.S. population, lived in such households in 2014, up from 51.5 million in 2009, according to a recent Pew Research Center analysis.
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You put more people under one roof, and thats going to save a lot of money really quickly, says John Graham, professor emeritus at the University of California Irvines business school and co-author of Together Again: A Creative Guide to Successful Multigenerational Living (M. Evans, $17). But the biggest advantage, he says, is the interpersonal and social benefit of having family members close by and helping one another out. The arrangements can relieve the isolation often suffered by seniors living alone, offer the reassurance of having caregivers close at hand, give grandparents an opportunity to pass down family traditions to their grandchildren, and give parents a helping hand in caring for young children.
Meanwhile, youre modeling what the next generation will do with their grandchildren and how theyll treat youthe parentswhen youre older, says Susan Newman, a social psychologist and author of Under One Roof Again (Lyons Press, $17), a book about multigenerational living.
But even the happiest of multigenerational homes face challenges. Every family member needs to maintain his or her privacy and respect boundaries. Housework and expenses need to be divided in a way that feels fair to everyone. Ownership of the house itself must be structured in a way that doesnt sabotage a seniors estate plan. And any home renovations or new homebuilding projects must comply with local zoning lawswhich often restrict the very features most desired by multigenerational families, such as multiple entrances or separate kitchens.
Multigenerational living, of course, is nothing new. In 1950, 21% of the population lived in multigenerational households, according to Pew Research. But that figure plummeted to a low of 12% in 1980. In the past 50 years or so, Americans adopted this crazy idea of a nuclear family, Graham says. But the interdependence of the extended family, he argues, is the natural way people have always lived.
Talk It Out
Before Mom moves in with you (or vice versa) hold at least one family meeting to discuss each persons expectations, set ground rules and hash out financial issues. Will this living arrangement be permanent or temporary? If its temporaryperhaps an adult child is living with you while he saves money for his own housemake your expectations clear, says Donna Butts, executive director of Generations United (opens in new tab), a nonprofit group that promotes intergenerational collaboration. The adult child might think that saving 10% of his salary is adequate, Butts says, but the parent might think he should save 80%.
Be realistic about whether you can all survive peacefully under one roof. Dont expect somebody to change just because theyre moving in with you, Butts says. If someone is a slob or a neat freak, theyre going to stay that way. If youre unsure about whether you can all get along, run a short-term experiment. You might go on a long vacation together and see how that works, Graham suggests.
Set some ground rules that help everyone maintain privacy and autonomy. Will you eat dinner together every night or just a couple of nights a week? Will you always take vacations together? Can Grandma have a boyfriend over without raising eyebrows? If there are young children in the house, who will take the lead parenting roles? And do those people have consistent approaches to child-rearing?
Divide the housework, lawn maintenance and other chores. One democratic way to do this: Make a list of all the chores, pass it around, and ask everyone to put his initials next to what he wants to do. It seems to work because people have had a choice, rather than being told what to do, Newman says.
If there will be seniors in the house who need care, discuss who will do the caregiving. If there are adult siblings not living in the house, involve them in the discussion, too. Most of the caregiving burden may naturally fall on the adult child whos living with the parent, but siblings living nearby could take the parent to doctor appointments or invite him or her along on vacations. Also discuss whether caregivers will be compensated. If so, youll need a personal care agreementa written contract outlining the services to be provided and the amount of compensation the caregiver will receive. If you dont define upfront what, if any, compensation theres supposed to be, invariably theres a dispute after Mom passes away, says Bernard Krooks, an estate planner in New York City.
Divvy up the household bills, perhaps using a budgeting tool, such as Mint.com, to help track expenses and divide them fairly. Allow your parents when theyre moving in to contribute in some way if they can, because they then feel they are part of the family and have some ownership of the living arrangement, Newman says. If there are family members who cant contribute financially, discuss other ways they can pitch in. An adult child who is out of a job, for example, might take care of all the yard work.
Whether youre buying a new house, renovating an existing one or simply moving Mom in with you, discuss whose name will be on the deed. If Mom is putting a lot of money into renovations or paying for the addition of an in-law suite, it may seem natural to add her name to the deed. But that can be a bad idea. If Mom later goes into a nursing home and relies on Medicaid to pay the bills, Medicaid could put a lien on the house to recover its costs after she dies.
A better idea, Krooks says, would be for Mom to purchase a life estate in the adult childs home, which gives her the legal right to live in the house for the rest of her life. That interest would automatically end at her death. The life estate protects Mom from being evicted in the event of a family feud (such as the adult childs divorce) and protects assets if Mom ultimately needs long-term care. So long as the purchase price is fair and she lives in the house for at least a year, the purchase should not affect her eligibility for Medicaid. (Typically, transfers of assets made within five years of applying for Medicaid can trigger a period of ineligibility for Medicaid.)
The value of the life estate will depend on Moms age and the value of the property. If the life interest is worth 30% of the value of the property and the property value is $500,000, for example, Mom could pay $150,000 for the life estate without affecting her Medicaid eligibility, Krooks says. If the child has owned and occupied the home for two of the past five years, he can exclude up to $250,000 of any gain ($500,000 if hes married) on the sale of the life estate interest.
If the parent and adult child are buying a home together and Medicaid is not an issue, there are still title issues to consider. If Mom and her son own the house as joint tenants with right of survivorship, her son will inherit the house when she dies, no matter what her will says. If Mom and her son own the house as tenants in common, however, Moms interest in the house will be passed down in accordance with her will.
Housing Options
Private space for each family member, multiple entrances, separate kitchens and plenty of bathrooms to go around: These are high on the list of home features desired by multigenerational households.
Shubber Ali, age 48, bought a six-bedroom house in Novato, Cal., four years ago, anticipating that his 80-year-old mother would soon come to live with him full-time. He and his wife and two children have rooms at one end of the house, while the rooms set aside for his mother at the other end of the house include a bedroom, bathroom, walk-in closet and sitting area. It feels like its almost its own little condo, but its still a part of the house, Ali says.
Perhaps you already have a home ideally suited for multigenerational living. If not, youll need to weigh the costs and benefits of renovating your house, building a granny flat in the back yard, buying an existing home, or designing and building a multigenerational dream house.
If youre adding an in-law suite or making other renovations for an aging parent, consider wider doors and hallways that allow space for wheelchairs and other features designed for aging in place. Go to the National Resource Center on Supportive Housing and Home Modification website at www.homemods.org (opens in new tab) for tips on making your home more accessible for people with limited mobility, vision or hearing.
If you decide to buy a house, youll find a growing number of developers offering homes specifically designed for multigenerational households. Homebuilder Lennar, for example, introduced its Next Gen house design (opens in new tab) in 2011. The homes contain a separate suite with at least one bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette, a door to the main house (lockable from both sides), and in most cases, a separate exterior door. The homes, available in more than 300 communities in 14 states, range in price from about $280,000 to more than $800,000, says Kim Ashbaugh, director of Next Gen brand management at Lennar.
Whether youre renovating or building a new home from scratch, be prepared for zoning headaches. When Lindsay Grise, age 35, recently purchased land in Johnson County, Kan., she planned to build two homes: one for herself, her husband and two daughters, and a smaller one for her parents, who are both in their sixties. But she soon discovered that the small, unincorporated community had six pages of regulations on accessory dwelling units. Sometimes called granny flats, accessory dwelling units are smaller dwellings on the same property as a single-family house. In this case, the community rules limit detached accessory dwellings to 900 square feet.
That wasnt enough space for Grises parents, so Grise has moved on to plan B: building one big house, with two distinct sides connected by a hall and a screened porch. Her parents worked with the architect to design their 1,500 square feet of living space, with their own kitchen, pantry, laundry room, guest room and garage. I just want my parents to feel like this is their house, Grise says. They have control over their part of it.
As multigenerational living becomes more popular, some states and cities are relaxing laws restricting granny flats. A new California law taking effect in January, for example, streamlines parking restrictions and other regulations to make it easier for homeowners in the state to build granny flats. You can find accessory-dwelling rules for many cities across the U.S., along with tips on building your own accessory dwelling, at www.accessorydwellings.org (opens in new tab).
After Mom Moves In
Once youve unpacked the moving boxes, give the arrangement time to work out. It will not be ideal immediately, Newman says. Adjust and lower your expectations.
Schedule family dinners at a restaurant every couple of weeks for the first six months, Graham says. There, you can discuss whats working and whats notsay, the TV volume, Granddads smoking habit, taking out the trash. Holding the conversation in a public place keeps tempers from flying off the handle, he says.
Be wary of resuming old parent-child roles, such as nagging your adult daughter to comb her hair or relying on Mom to do the cooking and cleaning. When her oldest son moved back home, Nancy Meyer, age 69, of St. Louis, Mo., says she told him, Im tired of doing your laundry. You may do your own. They made a deal that he had to keep the shared living spaces cleanand he kept up his end of the bargain, she says. This year, her son moved into his own house after living at home for about 10 years. Now, she says, I kind of miss him.
Also, maintain your friendships and social activities. If your elderly parents are living with you, its easy to feel guilty about heading out to book club or bridge club, Newman says. Dont give up your social life.
Although there may be plenty of adjustments required along the way, many families find that their commitment to multigenerational living only increases over time. Its not all perfect, says Williams, the Silver Spring, Md., grandmother, noting that dirty dishes on the kitchen counter sometimes trigger family tension. When you have three little boys, youre sometimes going to have a mess, she says. But family affection overcomes that kind of stuff. And were committed to staying together at this point. We know were going to make it work.
SYDNEY/WELLINGTON, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The Australian and New Zealand dollars inched higher in thin holiday trading on Friday but looked set to end December lower, extending their losing streak to a third straight month.
The biggest move came against the euro, which shot higher after computer-driven buying against the U.S. dollar tripped stop-loss orders.
The single currency climbed 1.5 cents at one stage to touch A$1.4718 , before fading back to A$1.4565.
Against its U.S. counterpart, the Aussie was up 0.36 percent at $0.7238 and off a seven-month trough of $0.7160 hit last week.
The Aussie is still down nearly 2 percent in December and 0.6 percent for the year, its fourth straight annual loss.
Analysts expect more of the same in the New Year with the U.S. currency and Treasury yields on an uptrend following Donald Trump's upset victory in the U.S. presidential election last month.
Data showing the Australian economy shrank for the first time since 2011 in the third quarter, raising the spectre of a possible recession, has also weighed on the currency.
In comparison, the New Zealand dollar barely moved on Friday to stay at $0.6965, not far from a seven-month low of $0.6863 touched last week.
The Kiwi is set to end the week 1.2 percent higher after two straight losses. For the year, it is on track for a gain of 2 percent following three consecutive years of negative returns.
While the antipodean currencies were hit heavily after the U.S. election, the Kiwi has been supported by a run of strong domestic economic data and a rally in the price of milk, the country's top export earner.
New Zealand government bonds rose, sending yields about 3 basis points lower across the curve.
Australian government bond futures eased, with the three-year bond contract and the 10-year contract off 1 tick each at 97.92 and 97.175 respectively.
(Reporting by Swati Pandey; Editing by Kim Coghill)
China's finance ministry sells 3-month bills at 2.6474 pct
SHANGHAI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - China's Ministry of Finance auctioned 6 billion yuan ($863.37 million) of three-month bills in the interbank market on Friday at an average yield of 2.6474 percent, traders said. The auction yield for the three-month bills came in below Thursday's benchmark secondary market yield of 2.7023 percent for three-month government bills . For stories on Chinese debt issues, click on . ($1 = 6.9495 Chinese yuan)
(Reporting by Shanghai Newsroom; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
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HANOI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official market and indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi at 0059 GMT.
Dec 30 Dec 29 USD/VND mid-point 22,159 22,162
USD/VND interbank 22,777/22,779 22,770/22,780 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.60/36.42 35.63/36.45
NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank quotes are indicative bid/ask prices.
One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co, the gold manufacturer.
Interbank offered rates are indicative, quoted from market sources.
For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom)
Details added (first version posted on 19:40)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
Trend:
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan has expressed deep concern over the recent intensification of provocations of Armenia.
The Foreign Ministry said the Armenian provocations are aimed at undermining the Vienna and St. Petersburg negotiations and the efforts on peaceful settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, and are aimed at expanding the scope of the conflict.
A reconnaissance-subversive group of Armenian armed forces perpetrated yet another provocative act by violating the state border of Armenia and Azerbaijan on December 29, the ministry said.
This provocative act by Armenian armed forces has been halted and the Armenian reconnaissance-subversive group was forced to retreat with losses.
Serviceman of the armed forces of Azerbaijan Chingiz Gurbanov was killed while preventing the attack and his corpse was taken to the Armenian side, said the Foreign Ministry.
Initially, the Armenian side denied that they have the body of the Azerbaijani serviceman, the ministry said in the statement. However, later the Armenian side with a view of hiding its responsibility for the incident and misleading the international community attempted to present the situation as the violation of the state border of Armenia.
Contrary to the moral and ethic norms and basic human values, Armenian side resorted to dirty propaganda and disinformation by sharing photos of the killed Azerbaijani serviceman in social networks, said the ministry.
The Foreign Ministry added that numerous signs of torture after death were also registered on the bodies of the Azerbaijani servicemen killed during the April battles, which occurred with the provocation and instigation of the Armenian side.
Their photos were also shared in media and social networks by Armenia.
A couple of years ago the body of Mubariz Ibrahimov, a serviceman of the armed forces of Azerbaijan, was also kept by Armenia, acts of vandalism were committed on the body and only after persistent international pressure his body was returned to Azerbaijan a few months later, according to Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry.
Ignoring international humanitarian law, the Republic of Armenia pursues a systematic policy of committing acts of vandalism on the bodies of the servicemen killed during combat operations and in a consistent manner makes the return of bodies the object of political speculation, said the statement.
Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry expressed hope that the necessary and urgent measures by international humanitarian organizations, especially the International Committee of the Red Cross, which is guided by the principles of compassion and humanism, will be taken to ensure the return of Chingiz Gurbanovs body to Azerbaijan.
Abusing his authority with regard to the abovementioned issue, the Secretary General of the Collective Security Treaty Organization Nikolai Bordyuzha distorted the essence of the incident and claimed that it happened in the territory of Armenia, the statement said.
Besides, addressing the illegal regime established in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan as Nagorno-Karabakh republic, Bordyuzha attempted to question the territorial integrity, sovereignty and internationally recognized borders of Azerbaijan, according to the Foreign Ministry.
This irresponsible statement by the CSTO secretary general serves to undermine the negotiations on the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, mediated by the OSCE Minsk Group co-chairs, as well as is contrary to the basic principles of the relationship with the other member-states of the organization which support the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Azerbaijan, reads the statement.
Bordyuzha has in the past made biased statements on the conflict, the Foreign Ministry reminded.
Attempts by Armenia to bring the armed conflict directly to the Armenia-Azerbaijan border and to involve the CSTO in the conflict by misusing the politicians like Bordyuzha who have particular attitude and sympathy towards Armenia serve for the escalation of the political situation in the region and pose serious threats to the regional stability and security, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said.
We reject this irresponsible statement by Bordyuzha and expect other member-states of the organization to come up with the proper assessment, said the ministry.
The Republic of Azerbaijan has repeatedly stated that continuation of aggression by Armenia against Azerbaijan and the illegal presence of the Armenian armed forces in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is the main cause of the escalation and incidents in the conflict zone and the principal impediment to the political settlement of the conflict, the statement said.
The Republic of Azerbaijan calls upon the international community to enforce Armenia for peace and demand the implementation of the relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, Azerbaijans Foreign Ministry said.
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.
Hanoi, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Here's a snapshot of Vietnamese dong exchange rates in the official and unofficial markets, indicative SJC gold prices in Hanoi and interbank offered rates at 0420 GMT.
Dec 30 Dec 29 USD/VND mid-point 22,159 22,162 USD/VND interbank 22,764/22,768 22,770/22,780 USD/VND unofficial 23,000/23,050 23,020/23,070 SJC gold (mln dong/tael) 35.73/36.55 35.63/36.45
Interbank offered rates Overnight 3.0-5.0 2.5-4.5
1 week 4.0-5.0 3.8-5.0
1 month 5.0-5.5 5.0-5.5
3 months 5.2-5.5 5.1-5.5
NOTES: As of Jan. 4, 2016 the State Bank of Vietnam has begun setting the mid-point rate on daily basis, allowing dollar/dong transactions to move in a band of +/- 3 percent around the mid point. The dong's exchange rate against other currencies is not restricted by a band. Interbank offered rates are the latest indicative bid/ask prices, quoted from market sources.
One tael is equivalent to 37.5 grams or 1.21 troy ounces. SJC gold prices are quoted by state-owned Saigon Jewelry Co.
For more interbank rate fixings released at 0400 GMT, click on .
For Vietnam market overview click on: Vietnam's bonds market auctions: Bonds auction results: (Compiled by Hanoi Newsroom)
TAIPEI, Dec 30 (Reuters) - Taiwan's government said on Friday it would halve the transaction tax on day trades in local shares, in a bid to bolster thin trading in the island's stock market.
Stock investors would pay a 0.15 percent day-trade transaction tax, from the current 0.3 percent, subject to approval by the legislature, Finance Minister Sheu Yu-Jer told a news briefing.
The news boosted stocks and the Taiwan dollar.
By around 0300 GMT, the benchmark share index rose 0.9 percent and the Taiwan currency was stronger against the U.S. dollar.
Daily turnover on the stock market has dropped to around T$30 billion ($937.5 million) recently, squeezing business for brokerage houses and related sectors.
"It's the turnover that has declined in the stock market, but stock prices are stable. The stock market is healthy at least," Financial Supervisory Commission chairman Lee Ruey-Tsang said at the briefing.
In addition to the proposed lower tax, the Taiwan Stock Exchange would visit major long-term investors including pension funds and sovereign funds.
(Reporting by Jeanny Kao and Faith Hung; Editing by Kim Coghill)
U.S.-based stock funds take in $11.8 bln in weekly period -Lipper
NEW YORK, Dec 29 (Reuters) - U.S.-based stock funds pulled in $11.8 billion in the week ended Dec. 28, data from Lipper showed on Thursday, ending 2016 with an enthusiasm for stocks that has been lacking for the better part of the year. Investors pulled $775 million from taxable bond funds during the same period, marking the third straight week of withdrawals, the data showed.
(Reporting by Trevor Hunnicutt; Editing by Matthew Lewis)
Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication.
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Ghana 91-day bill yield rises to 16.7459 pct
ACCRA, Dec 30 (Reuters) - The Bank of Ghana said the yield on its weekly 91-day bill rose to 16.7459 percent at an auction on Friday from 16.4281 percent at the last sale on Dec. 23. The bank said it had accepted 767.98 million cedis ($179.85 million) worth of bids of the 771.48 million cedis tendered for the 91-day paper, which will be issued on Jan.2. For full details, click here: ($1 = 4.27 Ghanaian cedis)
(Writing by Kwasi Kpodo; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg) Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in precious metal products, commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. kitco news
Fran OSullivan writes:
It is fundamentally absurd to believe Benjamin Netanyahu threatened to declare war on New Zealand in retaliation for co-sponsoring the successful UN resolution against Israel. Netanyahu has far bigger fish to fry than New Zealand.
Fran is correct.
What is at issue now is the controversial report citing two unnamed Western diplomats that said Netanyahu had phoned Foreign Minister Murray McCully and asked him to neither support the resolution nor to promote it. If you continue to promote this resolution from our point of view it will be a declaration of war. It will rupture the relations and there will be consequences, the Israeli prime minister is reported to have said to McCully. Some have misread the reported comments and interpreted them in an overly literal fashion suggesting Israel has declared war on NZ. Obviously it hasnt and wont.
Indeed. First of all the reported comments are that Israel would regard it as NZ declaring war on Israel, not that Israel would declare war on NZ. A vital difference. Also I understand the original story in Hebrew has been lost in translation a bit and it is more that the Israeli PM said that NZ voting for the resolution would be an aggressive act or act of aggression.
So yes a very strong response from the Israeli PM, but not declaration of war or anything close.
Readers might be interested in the full text of the Security Council resolution on Israel and settlements, as opposed to what some people claim was in it.
Personally I support Israel around 95% of the time, especially when it comes to their own security. But Ive never been persuaded that settlements on occupied territory are a good idea, or will lead to a two state solution. A one state solution is worse for Israel as that would mean having to give citizenship to those living in those areas and Jews would become the minority in Israel.
Hamas are evil and Fatah corrupt and the Palestinian leadership bear most of the blame for there being no peace settlement. They have rejected some very good offers in the past, and I remain sceptical that their leadership are interested in a two state solution.
However two wrongs do not make a right. In my view the settlements are wrong and provocative. Israel surrenders the moral high ground when they persist with them. The settlements are not the cause of the conflict, but they aggravate it and make peace much harder.
The settlement policy is divisive even in Israel. Most acts of the Israeli state have widespread support (such as military action against Hamas) but the settlements are a policy most associated with the Likud party. They do have majority support, but also significant opposition. So opposing the settlements is not opposing the state of Israel just the policy of the current Government.
There have been some polls inside Israel on them. They have found:
42% say the settlements hurts security and 27% helps security
41% say Israel should leave the West Bank/Judea and Samaria and 48% are against
But you can be anti-settlements (as I am) but also regard the UN resolution as somewhat unfair to Israel in that the language around the occupied territories implicitly includes some of the holiest sites in Judaism in them. This open letter from UN Watch is a good example of the criticisms against the resolution.
For those interested my views on what should happen (but never will) are:
There should be a two state solution Palestine should be given territory equal in area to the pre-1967 borders based on the original mandate. The territory for Palestine must be good enough to allow them to form a viable prosperous state, not just a series of enclaves, and be agreed between the two parties. The settlements should cease as every extra settlement is less flexibility for agreeing final boundaries. The Palestinian leadership of Fatah and Hamas must agree in words and actions to the right of Israel to exist and cease terrorism Palestine would be a demilitarised state Jerusalem is the most difficult question and is the biggest challenge (after the fact the Palestinian leadership has little interest in peace). In theory it serves as the capital to most countries, with all citizens allowed in all of the city, but different areas under different control.
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On the occasion of the World Azerbaijanis Solidarity Day and the New Year some of UNEC faculty has been awarded for their scientific- pedagogical and labor performances.
Meeting with the teaching staff awarded the honorary Diploma of UNEC, Rector, Professor Adalat Muradov wished them success and solidarity, expressed his gratitude for the affairs implemented together with them at UNEC for education.
Emphasizing that the University has a great cadres potential, A.Muradov spoke about the projects and works to be done to increase the teachers prestige. Saying UNEC teacher diverse the best of all, Rector noted the significance of the projects such as Teacher is a Source of Power and so on.
A group of UNEC teachers were awarded Honorary Diplomas within the event.
In the end, Rector and teachers exchanged their views on the projects that would be implemented in 2017 at the university.
UNEC is the brand of Azerbaijan State University of Economics. The brand of UNEC has been registered and patented by the State Committee on Standardization, Metrology and Patent on January 21, 2016.
Shenandoah, IA (51601)
Today
Cloudy skies early then heavy thunderstorms developing overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 43F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%..
Tonight
Cloudy skies early then heavy thunderstorms developing overnight. Gusty winds and small hail are possible. Low 43F. Winds NW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 90%.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Azad Hasanli Trend:
Azerbaijans Parliament at a plenary session Dec. 30 passed the Law on Regulation of Taxpayers Liabilities as of Jan. 1, 2017, which provides for cancellation of the tax debts of the countrys citizens.
In accordance with the law, two types of tax liabilities will be written off: all the interest accrued for non-payment of the debt and a part of the financial sanctions.
If 30 percent of a financial sanction is paid in January 2017, the remaining 70 percent of the sanction will be written off.
If 50 percent of a tax penalty is paid in January-February 2017, the remaining 50 percent of the sanction will be written off, and if 70 percent of a financial sanction is paid in January-March 2017, the remaining 30 percent of the sanction will be written off.
In total, tax liabilities in Azerbaijan amount to 1.527 billion manats. Of this amount, the interest charged for the late payment of taxes amounts to 386.4 million manats and financial sanctions total 237.1 million manats.
Details added (first version posted on 12:50)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Anvar Mammadov Trend:
Azerbaijans Financial Market Supervisory Authority has revoked licenses of three insurance companies the International Insurance Company, Azerqarant Insurance and Buta Insurance, the company said in a message Dec. 30.
Licenses of all the three companies have been cancelled upon their own requests, according to FIMSA. The shareholders of these companies have made decisions on the companies elimination.
Shareholders of Buta Insurance have decided to liquidate the company and give its active portfolio worth 1.84 million manats to Gunay Insurance company.
A similar decision has also been made with regard to the International Insurance Company [due to low financial indicators] in October, and Azerqarant Insurance in November.
In January-October 2016, the International Insurance Company, Azerqarant Insurance and Buta Insurance collected premiums worth 3.92 million, 0.32 million and 0.59 million manats, respectively. During the period, payments of the International Insurance Company amounted to 3.41 million manats, Azerqarant Insurance 987,890 manats and Buta Insurance 1.2 million manats.
The official exchange rate is 1.7707 AZN/USD on Dec. 30.
Crackdown on illegal fishing boats to get easier
By Nam Hyun-woo
The governments of Korea and China agreed to enhance a crackdown on illegal Chinese fishing boats, allowing the Korean authorities to punish boats equipped with defenses against inspections, immediately.
Also, they agreed on allowing fewer fishing vessels to operate in each other's exclusive economic zones next year. Korea's Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries said Friday it came to an agreement including details on such measures with its Chinese counterpart during their annual negotiations over next year's fishing rules, held in Beijing.
According to the ministry, the agreement bears significance because it allows Korea's Coast Guard to strengthen its patrols. So far, relevant regulations do not allow the Coast Guard to crack down on boats equipped with objects hampering officers to board and inspect. With the agreement, having such objects onboard will result in immediate punishment.
In the deal, the Chinese authority also agreed to deploy its patrol boats in the waters near the western part of the Northern Limit Line and resume cross-boarding of officers and joint patrol in the waters the two countries jointly manage.
Cross-boarding was suggested by Korea in order to show Chinese authorities the seriousness of illegal fishing in the West Sea. However, it was halted after a Chinese fishing vessel in October sank a Coast Guard speed boat off Incheon by ramming it.
The sinking led to a diplomatic dispute between the two countries and China requested a halt.
Since 2001, Korea and China have held an annual meeting to discuss fishing in the West Sea. However, this year's meeting was faced with difficulties because of the sinking, which the Coast Guard countered with use of firearms, and the two countries "managed to" agree on terms just two days before the end of 2016, according to the ministry.
In setting the number of boats allowed and the volume of fishing in the two countries' exclusive economic zones in the West Sea, the two countries agreed on allowing each other 1,540 boats and 57,750 tons of fishing next year, down 60 boats and 2,250 tons from that of this year. Among them, the number of trawlers decreased, which the ministry believes is the most problematic, by 29.
This is the first time the volume and the number of boats have declined since 2013.
Also, the ministry said it decreased the number of Chinese trawlers allowed in protective waters off Jeju Island from 62 to 50.
"The agreement was meaningful because we have urged the Chinese government to take responsible measures against illegal fishing and reduce the volume of Chinese boats fishing in restricted waters," said an official at the ministry.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Maksim Tsurkov Trend:
The State Oil Fund of Azerbaijan (SOFAZ) sold $246 million at the currency auctions held by the Central Bank of Azerbaijan (CBA) in December 2016, SOFAZ said in a message Dec. 30.
In November 2016, SOFAZ sold $301.5 million, while, in total, the Azerbaijani banks bought about $4.92 billion from SOFAZ in 2016.
The state oil fund will continue selling currency through auctions in 2017.
The currency sale is carried out as part of SOFAZs transfers to the Azerbaijani state budget, which are envisaged in the volume of 7.615 billion manats for 2016.
On the days when no auction is held, manats official rate against the US dollar will be set based on the weighted average rate formed in the currency market on the basis of the currency purchase and sale transactions between banks.
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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
By Jhoo Dong-chan
New Year's Day is just around the corner while the nation is going through a political crisis following the Choi Soon-sil gate. Despite the absence of political and administrative leadership at the moment, there are several things to be changed next year.
Retirement age and minimum wage
The newly set retirement age of 60 will be implemented to all workplaces starting Jan. 1.
Government and public agencies as well as workplaces having more than 300 employees has implemented such retirement age so far, but the extension is now expected to be applied in all workplaces across the country.
In April 2013, the National Assembly passed a revised bill guaranteeing the right to retire at the age of 60 despite strong opposition from the business circles. Lawmakers agreed that enterprises and public institutes with more than 300 employees would be influenced by the new revision from January 2016, while the rest will be applied from January 2017.
Along with the extension of retirement age, the minimum wage is also expected to be raised by 7.3 percent to 6,470 won ($5.38) from Jan. 1.
The government has decided to increase next year's hourly minimum wage by 440 won, or 7.3 percent, from this year's 6,030 won.
The wage hike means a daily salary of 51,760 won for people who work eight hours a day, a monthly salary of 1.35 million won for those who work 40 hours per week, or 209 hours per month. The Ministry of Employment and Labor said the pay raise would affect 3.36 million workers in Korea.
Despite the hike, the decision reportedly neither labor nor management.
The labor circles, which has demanded the hourly minimum wage to be raised into 10,000 won for two years in a row, expressed their disappointment, claiming the government has ignored the desperation of workers by not allowing a double-digit increase.
The Korea Employers Federation, which represents employers, also insisted the hike would add to the woes of smaller firms and self-employed business owners already grappling with difficulties, saying the raise will mean that workplaces with fewer than 30 employees have to spend an additional 2.5 trillion won every year.
Income tax hike
The government has decided to create a new top-tier rate for income taxes. Those earning more than 500 million won per year will be subject to a 40-percent income tax rate.
It marks the first time in 16 years for South Korea's income tax rate to reach 40 percent. The highest rate bracket, which hovered around 70 percent in the 1970s, continued to decline over the past decades to reach 36 percent in 2002 and then went up to 38 percent in 2012, which currently applies to those earning more than 150 million won per year.
The finance ministry estimates around 46,000 people will be affected by the change, and the hike is expected to enable the government to collect around 600 billion won more annually.
Birth and childcare leave
Those workers who apply for birth or miscarriage leave are allowed to receive 1.5 million next year, a 150,000 won increase from the previous grant.
Applicant workers are required to submit their applications one month after their leave starts or 12 months within their returns.
In a bid to encourage married workers give births, the government will expand their subsidies to small and medium-size enterprise for child-care leave. It has subsidized 200,000 won so far, but will increase the grant in 300,000 per each worker who leave for the care.
Resident registration number
Starting May 30, Korean nationals are allowed to change their Resident Registration Number (RRN) if satisfying certain requirements.
Those Korean citizens who are considered to be threaten their life, property and rights through Personal information leakage are allowed to change their RNN. Except applicant's date of birth and sex, the last six-digit numbers in RNN will be allowed to be changed.
Eco-friendly vehicle
The government will encourage old diesel-powered vehicle drivers to change their cars next year.
Those drivers who have owned a diesel car for more than 10 years since 2006 are eligible to be exempted 70 percent of consumption tax if they buy a new car within two months after scraping their old ones, next year.
In a bid to introduce more eco-friendly cars in the streets here, the government will continue exempting maximum 4 million won for those who buy and register a new electric, plug-in, or hybrid vehicles until December 2019.
By Nam Hyun-woo
Han Jun-seong Lee Seong-gweon
A number of surprise promotions were made in domestic financial firms' year-end reshuffle, showing the government's meritocracy push is starting to blend into their personnel management.
On Dec. 28, KEB Hana Bank named Han Jun-seong as vice president to lead its Future Financial Group. Han garnered keen attention among industry insiders because he has no educational credentials higher than high school -- a rare case given most of his peers have MBA degrees or graduate school diplomas or are at least university graduates.
Since joining the bank in 1987, Han has spent most of his career at the bank's tech- or future-oriented departments, nurturing his expertise in the field.
Also with the announcement, the 50-year-old became one of Korea's youngest bank executives. Along with Han, two other new vice presidents Chang Kyung-hoon, head of the newly established retail business group, and Chung Jeong-hee, head of the corporate business group are also in their 50s, showing that age, educational background and salary steps are having less influence in promotions.
A day before KEB Hana's announcement, NongHyup (NH) Financial Group also made a surprise promotion. It named Lee Seong-gweon, head of NH Bank's fund management department, as the new CEO of NongHyup Futures. In its announcement, the group described Lee's leap as "extraordinary" because it had been only promoting vice presidents to CEOs before.
"Lee is a specialist in fund management having accumulated field experience," the group said. "Given the rising financial uncertainties and the characteristic of futures, the group believes it would be best to appoint an expert in the field as CEO."
On the same day, KB Financial Group announced that it named Kim Hae-kyung as CEO of KB Credit Information. The 55-year-old is the first female to head a KB group affiliate. She has been serving as head officer of a number of KB Kookmin Bank's regional offices and Seoul branches and the group said it highly appraised her leadership focusing on mid- and long-term planning.
"KB has a corporate culture of prioritizing performance over other factors including gender," a KB Financial Group official said.
Though financial firms made several surprise promotions for those whose showed strong performances, most of them opted to make a "stable" reshuffle in a broader view before scheduled changes in their CEO or chairman positions.
Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Financial Group will face a huge leadership change in March when group Chairman Han Dong-woo and bank President Cho Yong-byoung will see their terms expire.
Amid the scheduled changes, Shinhan opted to maintain 15 out of 27 executives who were subjected to this year's reshuffle. Rumors allege that Shinhan will conduct a large-scale reshuffle after March.
NongHyup Financial Group, whose Chairman Kim Yong-hwan's term will end in April, also had NongHyup Bank CEO Lee Kyung-seob remain in office in order to seek stability.
KB Kookmin, whose CEO Yoon Jong-kyoo's term ends in November next year, also promoted or rehired 12 out of 13 executives whose terms end soon.
The undated reproduction shows a religious book which was found in library of the abbey in Altomuenster, southern Germany. The impending dissolution of a 15th-century monastery in Bavaria is pitting scholars against Catholic church officials. The library in Altomuenster Abbey, accessible only to the monastery's nuns for more than five centuries, contains precious illuminated manuscripts and other treasures. Scholars worry the "holy grail" for Bridgettine Order research could be damaged, broken up or sold off before it can be catalogued and studied.
/ AP-Yonhap
By Kim Rahn
Fifth and sixth-grade elementary school textbooks will contain up to 300 Chinese characters, starting 2019, to help students better understand the Korean vocabulary originating from Chinese words, according to the Ministry of Education, Friday.
The ministry decision came after years-long debate over whether to make Chinese characters part of Korean language and literature textbooks for elementary schoolchildren. Middle and high school students learn Chinese characters but elementary schoolchildren have not been studying them for almost four decades.
It is estimated that around 50 percent of the Korean vocabulary has Chinese influence.
According to the ministry, Chinese characters will accompany Korean words that need clarification, in textbooks for fifth and sixth graders not only for Korean language and literature but for any subject.
The ministry will designate 300 characters first and textbook authors can select from the pool.
"The characters will be used only to boost students' understanding of Korean terms," a ministry official said. "Not to put pressure on students, we will make sure schools do not force students to memorize the Chinese characters or to take a test of them."
One textbook chapter may have up to three characters, he said.
In 2014, the ministry said it would consider including Chinese characters in elementary school textbooks.
But hangeul-related civic groups opposed the idea, saying it will only aggravate academic pressure on students and cause more private tutoring.
"Under the new measure, the pronunciation and meaning of the Chinese characters will be put together with the Korean words, and students without prior knowledge about the characters will have no difficulty learning and understanding them," the ministry official said.
The Dong Ward municipality in South Korea's largest port city of Busan on Friday handed over a confiscated statue symbolizing the victims of Japan's wartime sexual slavery to a civic group, paving the way for it to be installed in front of the ward's Japanese Consulate.
Two days before the handover, the civic group attempted to install the statute on the sidewalk in front of the back door of the consulate but was stopped due to opposition from ward officials and police.
Members of the group seek to install the 1-ton statue, similar to another set up in front of the Japanese Embassy in Seoul, as part of their protest against a Seoul-Tokyo deal made in December last year. Under the landmark deal, Tokyo apologized for its colonial-era atrocities and agreed to provide 1 billion yen (US$9.61 million) to a foundation aimed at supporting the victims, euphemistically called comfort women.
Citing that the statue's installation obstructed a road, the ward office prevented the group from erecting it and seized it.
Following the seizure, the ward office was swamped with calls and messages critical of the office which shutdown its website as sentiment against the move ran high. The office then apparently agreed to return the figure to the group as it has no legal grounds for the seizure.
Later in the day, the ward office and the group will hold talks to agree on the location of for the statue, mediated by the Busan city assembly. The civic group earlier planned to hold a ceremony at 9:00 p.m. Saturday in front of the consulate to unveil the statue.
South Korean victims, liberal civic groups and opposition parties have accused the South Korean government of striking the December 2015 deal hastily without obtaining Japan's acknowledgment of legal responsibility. They also said the agreement was reached without prior consultation with the victims. (Yonhap)
By Park Si-soo
This year started with many people laughing at the hilarious name "Byeong-Sin," which means "idiot."
It was made from combining "Byeong" (which means south, third or red) from the Oriental map of heavenly energy and "Sin" (monkey) from the Chinese Zodiac. The two words were put together for the first time in 60 years and the hilarious sound was considered among optimists as a sign that this year would be filled with events making people laugh and smile.
But has Murphy's Law disrupted the once-in-60-years magic?
In reality, bad news has outstripped good news this year. Inter-Korean relations have gone from bad to worse following North Korea's fourth nuclear test in January. And the political conflict between rival parties reached the point of explosion in February as the ruling Saenuri Party tried to railroad a controversial anti-terrorism bill.
The so-called "toxic humidifier disinfectant" scandal rocked the nation in May and other tragic incidents in the same month highlighted the widening gap between the haves and have-nots, the deep-seated discrimination against women and the dried-up sense of sympathy in the face of fierce competition.
A powerful 5.8-magnitude earthquake struck the southeastern city of Gyeongju in September, the most powerful seismic activity in the nation's modern history.
The march of bad news culminated with a corruption scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil. The ongoing investigation has uncovered a complicated chain of corruption, through which a small group of Park's aides wielded unauthorized influence on state affairs and allegedly embezzled taxpayers' money in recent years.
People were so upset about the scandal that millions joined nationwide anti-president rallies in a self-motivated grassroots movement that pushed lawmakers to vote for the President's impeachment.
While some issues have been settled one way or another, there are many left unaddressed. How will they unfold? Will we see any kind of momentum that will turn the depressed situation around next year? And how, and when?
As British poet Samuel Butler put it, the only certainty is that nothing is certain. But here is one thing that is certain: the year of the "idiot" is coming to a close.
By Chung Hyun-chae
The Constitutional Court is speeding up proceedings toward a ruling on the impeachment motion for President Park Geun-hye by wrapping up three rounds of preparatory hearings, Friday.
It will hold the first and second official hearings on the case on Jan. 3 and Jan. 5, respectively, an unusually fast schedule for a constitutional or even civil or criminal case.
Political analysts interpret the timetable as reflecting the court's intention to make a swift ruling to minimize disorder in state affairs.
"We will review the case thoroughly according to transparent legal processes which people can accept, to make a fair and prompt decision," Constitutional Court President Park Han-chul said in his New Year speech.
According to legal sources, the court is likely to hold one or two hearings every week.
In 2004, the Constitutional Court held seven hearings on the nation's first presidential impeachment of former President Roh Moo-hyun, from March 30 to April 30.
The hearings may be broadcast live based on high public interest in the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park and her confidant Choi Soon-sil, just as the previous impeachment hearings for former President Roh were.
Some expect the court may be able to make its final ruling as early as January if hearings go as planned.
The three preparatory hearings on Dec. 22, 27 and 30 were also part of efforts to expedite the deliberation process.
In Friday's hearing, the court rejected the Assembly representatives' earlier request for the President to appear as a witness. To their request, Park's defense attorneys had said the President has no legal obligation to be present in court.
The court also decided to add more witnesses, previously deciding on three including Choi and two former presidential aides An Chong-bum and Jeong Ho-seong. The witnesses will be called in for the second hearings on Jan. 5.
National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun, center, holds hands with the floor leaders of the four major parties before their meeting at Chung's office, Friday. From left are Joo Seung-yong from the second-largest opposition People's Party, Woo Sang-ho from the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Chung, Chung Woo-taik from the ruling Saenuri Party and Joo Ho-young from the New Conservative Party for Reform. / Yonhap
By Yi Whan-woo
The floor leaders of the four major parties agreed, Friday, to accelerate talks on forming a National Assembly committee tasked with Constitutional revision.
"The parties will make preparations accordingly for the committee to run quickly, possibly next month," Rep. Kim Seong-dong of the ruling Saenuri Party said during a briefing following the floor leaders' meeting presided by National Assembly Speaker Rep. Chung Sye-kyun.
The four were Chung Woo-taik of the Saenuri Party, Woo Sang-ho of the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea (DPK), Joo Seung-yong of the second-largest opposition People's Party and Joo Ho-young of the tentatively-named New Conservative Party for Reform (NCPR).
The agreement came amid growing criticism that the current single, five-year presidency has served its purpose after nearly 30 years and that amending the Constitution concerning the presidency is necessary.
Such calls for amendment especially grew in the wake of a corruption scandal surrounding President Park Geun-hye, who lost control over state affairs as her predecessors did in the final year of their tenure. Park also suggested revamping the Constitution although her offer was believed to be politically motivated to cover up the scandal.
Many potential candidates for the 2017 presidential election support the idea of the Constitutional revision. Depending on their political interests, however, they have collided over when the change should be made and also over whether to shorten the presidential term.
Although he had initially supported the Constitution revamping, Moon Jae-in the leading presidential hopeful from the main opposition Democratic Party (DPK), raised objection against it, Thursday.
His move came amid speculation that other possible contenders who are interested in the constitutional amendment may use it as a link to align with one another against Moon.
"Even a single, five-year term will be too short to clean up the political mess and carry out the reform," Moon said after a ceremony to mark the fifth anniversary of the death of Kim Geun-tae, a late democracy fighter. Other opposition heavyweights, such as Sohn Hak-kyu and South Chungcheong Province Governor Ahn Hee-jung were there, too.
"Raising issues on the Constitutional revision and shortening the presidential term is against the people's will at this moment," Moon said.
Sohn disagreed by saying "Any objection against the Constitutional revision is seen as advocating the imperial presidency."
However, the four floor leaders agreed to actively run a consultative body involving the government and the rival parties to stabilize state affairs.
They said the parties will hold an extraordinary parliamentary session from Jan. 9 to 20 to discuss bills on public welfare and the economy.
The meeting took place after a total of 29 lawmakers aligned against President Park Geun-hye, broke from the Saenuri Party and created a new party, NCPR, Tuesday.
By Rachel Lee
Some gifts and cards foreign envoys in Seoul had given to President Park Geun-hye were found in the house of her longtime friend Choi Soon-sil, according to the independent counsel team, Friday.
The discovered gifts supposed to be kept inside Cheong Wa Dae show how special the relationship between the two was, the team said.
They discovered the items during a recent search of Choi's home and offices. They did not elaborate on the kinds of gifts or who sent them to the impeached President.
"We will look into how the gifts were kept in Choi's home, not at Cheong Wa Dae," an investigator said on condition of anonymity. "As it is not normal to keep presents at a friend's home, this case indicates how unusual the Park-Choi relationship was."
It could also be an act of diplomatic impudence if it is true that Park has kept gifts from ambassadors at Choi's home.
Foreign diplomats in Seoul were cautious about commenting on the news, but showed embarrassment.
"I hope the gift I gave to the President was not among those found at Choi's home," an ambassador said.
Some envoys made it clear that there was nothing "wrong" with the President giving gifts to her close friends or acquaintances.
"It is only common courtesy and diplomatic procedure to exchange gifts with each other so the problem is not about President Park's gifts being at Choi's house. It depends on the actual value of the gift and the purpose of it," a diplomat in Seoul told The Korea Times on condition of anonymity, Thursday.
Another envoy shared the same view the price of the presents and the occasion on which the gifts were given matter.
"Every country has its own rules to accept gifts to a certain value. So at the end of the day, money matters. If the presents were pricier than the limit, it tells there is definitely something wrong," he added.
Some ambassadors declined to comment on the issue, giving reasons that what they gave to the President was no more than greeting cards sent out for occasions including the Lunar New Year and Chuseok holidays.
"Contents of greeting cards and messages are often made public even by the sender," a top envoy said.
Some refused to comment since they were not sure their gift for the President was one of those found at Choi's place.
Choi, who has been in custody since October, is accused of abusing her close ties with the President by interfering in security and economic policies from speechwriting to nominating officials despite holding no official position or security clearance.
At the National Assembly special committee's questioning, Monday, Choi denied allegations, including links to other key suspects in the corruption scandal Kim Ki-choon, Woo Byung-woo and An Chong-bum who are suspected of being involved in Choi's meddling in state affairs to make illicit gains.
Regarding a tablet PC that contained evidence of the allegations, Choi said she first learned about the device in 2012, and does not know how to use such a computer. The President is also suspected of conspiring with Choi, which led to massive candlelight demonstrations nationwide that played a large role in prompting the National Assembly to impeach the President on Dec. 9.
By Choi Ha-young
In Myung-jin, interim leader of Saenuri Party
The interim leader of the ruling Saenuri Party urged loyalists of President Park Geun-hye to leave the party, Friday, saying reforming the party will be impossible as long as they stay.
"Some figures from the Park loyalist faction should be held responsible for making this party what it is today. They ruined the ruling party and disappointed the people," In Myung-jin said in his first press conference since taking office as the Saenuri Party interim leader, Thursday.
In, a former liberal activist, did not specify the names, but sources said he apparently targeted Reps. Lee Jung-hyun, Suh Chung-won and Choi Kyung-hwan leading members of the loyalist faction.
In did not go so far as to ask President Park to leave the party, but indicated that the party should boot her as well.
"The interim leadership will discuss reform measures to restore the people's trust if they all leave. If they resist, there will be no reform," In said.
He asked the Park loyalists to decide by Jan. 6.
The loyalist faction strongly protested, saying In's "unrealistic" demand will drag the party into deeper chaos.
In said there are three groups that should be expelled those who took ranking positions in the Park administration, those who are responsible for the party's defeat in the general elections in April, and those who raise groundless allegations.
Conflict between In and the Park loyalists is expected to escalate. The pro-Park faction has held the ruling party's leadership posts despite the huge scandal surrounding the impeached President.
One day before the press conference, Rep. Suh, an eight-term lawmaker, told journalists, "I will step back from the frontlines to fight in the war as a commoner," implying he will not leave the party.
Rep. Choi also said on the same day he would also not retire. "I will stay in my local constituency except when there is an official schedule in the National Assembly," he said on social media.
After the scandal involving the President came to light, the party's approval rating fell to a historic low, 15.8 percent, Thursday. At the massive candlelit rallies, protesters have demanded the party dissolve.
Further, the anti-Park faction quit the party, Tuesday, shrinking the ruling party's seats to 99. Now the Saenuri Party has less support than the new party, called the New Conservative Party for Reform, standing at 17.4 percent.
Some Park loyalists have fueled public anger for their blindly favorable remarks on the scandal-ridden President. Rep. Lee Jung-hyun was mocked for saying "I will put my hands into a pot of boiling water if the impeachment motion against Park is passed."
Rep. Yi Wan-young downplayed the public anger by saying "Every other administration had a corruption scandal," during a National Assembly hearing into the Choi Soon-sil scandal.
To overcome the crisis, In suggested two ways of taking responsibility. "The first is moral responsibility," he said. "Severely apologize in front of citizens by clearly stating what your faults are. Don't make a vague answer, for example, step back from the frontline. The second is political responsibility, which means leaving the party."
As an outside adviser, In pressed the pro-Park politicians to make their own decision "honorably," calling for the party to bring radical reforms.
"Lack of independent judgment has spoiled the party. They blindly followed faction heads without thinking," In said. "They look like college kids asking their mom which course to take."
By joining the conservative party, In was expelled from the civic organization he established, the Citizens' Coalition for Economic Justice. The Saenuri Party's traditional supporters have criticized his civic activism experience.
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
Trend:
Board of Directors of Russias Gazprom has approved a loan worth 310 million euros to South Stream Transport B.V. to finance the construction of the Turkish Stream gas pipeline, Gazprom said in a message, TASS agency reported Dec. 30.
The loan will be granted for three and a half years.
South Stream Transport B.V. will use the funds granted by Gazprom to finance the costs on the Turkish Stream project, including payments under the contracts for the supply of tubular products and equipment, storage and performance of construction work, contracts for the purchase of goods, work and services, as well as general administrative expenses, according to the report.
An image of a lit candle is made up of 5,000 photos taken of candlelit protests since October. Millions of people took to the streets against the influence-peddling scandal involving President Park Geun-hye and her confidant Choi Soon-sil. Through the peaceful rallies, the people showed their strong will to protect an important value of society democracy.
/ Korea Times photo by Kim Ju-sung
By Kim Bo-eun
The year 2016 will go down in history as the year of the "candlelight revolution" that ignited a drive to unseat President Park Geun-hye and make Korea a more democratic nation.
Despite the people's disappointment with the scandalous Park administration, hopes abound for the New Year.
"The people, who united for better politics and the nation, will serve as an antidote to corruption and a catalyst to change the society," said Shin Gwang-yeong, a sociology professor at Chung-Ang University.
The professor said people will continue to have a bigger say in politics and state affairs through diverse avenues in 2017, including exercising their voting rights in the year of the presidential election.
"The people will evaluate politicians with higher standards than before, and therefore expectations for 2017 are more hopeful," Shin said.
Citizens, who have poured out onto the streets at Gwanghwamun Square every Saturday since October to demand President Park step down, hope their next leader will be different.
"I wish the next President will be less authoritarian, and truly serve the people," said Bae Se-ho, 23, a university student.
The people have already put an end to the Park administration although the impeached President awaits a final call from the Constitutional Court.
They were angry as Park misused the power given by the people at the cost of such social values as democracy, fairness and law and order.
With an early presidential election expected next year, the people have strong hopes for a better president.
"Park was a leader who was intolerant of those who voiced opposition against her or criticized her," said Chung Won-sil, a 55-year-old educator. "We need a more open-minded, democratic and rational president."
Yang Mi-jeong, a 30-year-old resident in Seoul, said, "I hope the next president will be someone who can stick to the basics. I don't want to hear dazzling yet hollow pledges seeking to win votes. I want someone who endeavors to have the law kept and protect the rights of the people."
Of course, there are also many people critical of the candlelit rallies. They say the silent majority of 49 million citizens didn't participate in the protests or that the rallies are nothing more than typical herd behavior often witnessed in Korea.
Still, many say the rallies should not be underestimated.
"The embarrassing scandal disgraced the nation, but at the same time, I think, the candlelit rallies helped recover the nation's image," said Professor Shin.
"The people-led protests, a new phenomenon which spurred politicians, the government and the prosecution, will remain a very important point in politics."
What started as a crowd of 200,000 on Oct. 29 grew to 1 million on Nov. 12, 1.9 million nationwide on Nov. 26 and a record 2.32 million after the President's third national address on the scandal, in which she said she would leave her resignation up to the National Assembly.
Despite such a huge crowd gathering in central Seoul, the rallies have been peaceful. Their collective voice forced politicians to move, inducing the passage of a motion to impeach the President on Dec. 9.
The scale and duration of the protests have been unprecedented in Korea's modern history, far surpassing those of pro-democracy movements in the 1980s as many as a total 10 million are expected to have taken part in 10 consecutive rallies by Dec. 31.
Oh Hyun-chul, a social studies education professor at Chonbuk National University, said, "The nature of the rallies held here which are not led by political parties, labor unions, religious groups or interest groups but held voluntarily by the people, for such an extended period of time is definitely notable."
Lee Seung-hoon skates in the men's 5,000-meter speed skating race during the national team trial for the 2017 Sapporo Asian Winter Games at the Taeneung International Skating Rink in Seoul, Tuesday. / Yonhap
By Baek Byung-yeul
South Korea finalized its speed skating squad for the Sapporo Asian Winter Games after Lee Seung-hoon and Kim Bo-reum topped the national team trials, Thursday.
On the last day of the trials at the Taeneung International Skating Rink in Seoul, Lee won the men's 10,000-meter race in a record 13 minutes, 59.19 seconds, edging out Lee Jin-young on 14:16.71. With the victory, Lee, who won the men's 5,000-meter race on Tuesday, became the overall winner with 157.427 points.
Kim also was the overall winner after taking the 3,000-meter race on Tuesday, the 1,500-meter on Wednesday and the 5,000-meter on Thursday.
Lee, 28, the Vancouver 10,000-meter champion, will compete in four events -- the 5,000-meter, the 10,000-meter, the mass start and team pursuit. He said he aims to win four gold medals.
"It is not going to be easy for me to win the 5,000-meter and 10,000-meter because the Japanese athletes have shown significant improvement, but I will try to win four events as best I can," he said, Thursday. Lee is also a triple-crowned winner at the 2011 Asian Winter Games in the 5,000-meter, 10,000-meter and mass start.
Kim, a short-track skater turned speed skater, said she also wanted to have a good result in Japan. "I aim to win three gold medals in the 3,000-meter, 5,000-meter and mass start events in the Sapporo Asian Winter Games," she said. "As my ultimate goal is to win a medal in the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympics, I will try my best to achieve my goal."
At the end of the trials, South Korea finalized its roster of 10 men and 10 women skaters for the Sapporo games from Feb. 19 to 26.
For the women's 500 and 1,000-meter races, Lee Sang-hwa, two-time Olympic champion in the 500-meter event, Kim Min-seon, Paek Seung-hi and Kim Hyun-young have been selected. Kim Bo-reum, Park Do-yeong, Park Ji-woo, Noh Sun-young and Jang Su-ji will race in the women's 1,500 and 3,000-meter races while Kim Bo-reum also will race in the 5,000-meter event.
For the men, Mo Tae-bum, a gold medalist in the 500 meters at the 2010 Vancouver Winter Olympics, Kim Jin-soo, Jang Won-hoon and Cha Min-kyu will compete in the 500-meter race.
For the 1,500 and 5,000-meter races, Lee Seung-hoon, Kim Min-seok, Joo Hyung-joon, Kim Jin-soo and Kim Cheol-min will take part, while Lee also will race in the 10,000-meter event.
For the men's mass start, Lee Seung-hoon, Kim Min-seok and one undecided skater, who will be recommended by the Korea Skating Union (KSU), will compete. The KSU will also choose one skater for the women's mass start besides Kim Bo-reum and Park Do-yeong.
By Maija Rhee Devine
What were the young women's occupations before becoming comfort women? Who recruited them? Did the recruiters pay and to whom? Were the women sexually violated during transportation? What types of abuses did the women receive? After the war, did they get married? 125 questions, including these, were asked to 192 former Korean comfort women, and their answers were tabulated and published in "The Survey of Korean Comfort Women Used by Japanese Soldiers" by the Center for War and Women's Rights in Seoul in 2002.
Critics question the credibility of this and other surveys conducted by nationalistic Korean organizations. However, the survey contains answers that do not seem self-serving. Nor do the women's responses appear manipulated to demonize the Japanese military. Instead, the answers seem to demonstrate the women's credibility and debunk the claims of the women's numerous and ardent skeptics.
What were their occupations during their pre-comfort-women period? Nearly 80 percent of the women listed themselves as doing household work at home or were maids, agricultural workers, factory employees, students or otherwise engaged in areas outside the sex trade. Some scholars have suggested a great majority of the former comfort women were already prostitutes, who followed the Japanese military camps as contractual sex workers. However, only 4.7 listed "restaurant or wine housework" and the remaining 15 percent fell into the "unknown" category. Since "wine house" work sometimes included providing sex for hire, one might assume these women, along with all of those whose answers were unavailable, were sex workers. However, the combined 20% hardly comprises the "majority" critics claim as the number for those who had already been in the trade.
With whom did the women live before becoming comfort women? Nearly 70 percent responded they lived with immediate family, presumably under watchful eyes of their parents (61 percent of the 70 percent lived with both parents), who most likely enforced the Confucian ethic maintaining vigilance over their female offspring's virginity until marriage. Even if one assumes the 25 percent who lived apart from their families and the 5.7 percent unknowns were all prostitutes, the combined total of 30.7 percent does not constitute a "majority."
Did they receive payment at the time of their being led/lured/forced away? Over 60 percent answered "No," (with a remaining one-third's answers unknown). However, nearly 6 percent said "Yes" and of these, 2.6 percent of the total reported their parents received the payment. Two percent said they themselves did, and 0.5 percent reported their husbands got it. These answers expose their own parents, husbands, and employers as the agents of "selling" them. Some critics have long held the opinion that comfort women's own family members or the women themselves accepted payment from recruiters, and they are right. But the number of those who "sold" their family members or fellow countrymen, 6 percent, seem a small fraction.
Even in a roomful of tinhorn dictators, President Rodrigo Duterte of the Philippines would stand out. He has insulted President Barack Obama and Pope Francis, admitted to killing suspected criminals, called a United Nations official an "idiot" and threatened to burn down the U.N. headquarters. He's also signaled his interest in closer ties with China, a nation with which the United States has conflicts on trade, security and other matters.
Though it's unclear what kind of relationship he and President-elect Donald Trump will have, the United States may have a difficult balancing act ahead in holding Duterte to international standards while preserving its long-important relationship with the Philippines. It will be especially important to ensure that U.S. aid to the Philippines is not used for illicit purposes, such as an extrajudicial war on drugs.
Duterte's outbursts are more unsettling than braggadocio. They give the impression that he's unhinged. In September, Duterte called Obama a vulgarity because of concern that the latter intended to question him about summary executions in the Philippines' war on drugs. To be sure, Duterte was not offended by the suggestion that he did anything untoward; he just didn't feel Obama ought to press him about it.
In recent days. Duterte's comments have become increasingly outrageous, leading to more questions about how the United States should handle him. After publicly admitting to killing suspected criminals when he was the mayor of Davao City, Duterte threatened to burn down the U.N. headquarters in New York, denigrated the U.N.'s top human-rights official for suggesting that his claims of murder be investigated and referred to U.N. officials as his employees because of the membership dues his nation pays.
Now, three U.S. senators, including Marco Rubio of Florida, a state with a large Filipino population, have asked the State Department to determine whether millions of dollars the United States has provided for law-enforcement training in the Philippines were diverted to extrajudicial drug fighting.
The State Department should undertake this assessment and share its findings publicly so that, if the senators' concerns are valid, U.S. and international policy toward Duterte can be modified accordingly. He is not likely to appreciate the scrutiny. If he comes to New York, someone should be assigned to watch him.
This editorial appeared on the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette and was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
By Arthur I. Cyr
Just before Christmas, a summit in Moscow brought together the leaders of Iran, Russia and Turkey. President Vladimir Putin of Russia orchestrated this major meeting. After the discussions, his foreign minister Sergei Lavrov announced significant agreement to extend a ceasefire beyond the devastated city of Aleppo, and to guarantee humanitarian aid and safety of civilians. His government may or may not live up to these promises.
Undeniable is that Putin's power in the Mideast is now dramatically confirmed. Russia and Turkey are traditional enemies. Syria and Turkey have been at odds since 2011. The United States had no role in this important summit.
The decision last year by Putin to intervene with military force in the brutal combat in Syria furthered this expansion of regional influence. In the short term, Moscow greatly increased the staying power of the beleaguered regime of Syria President Bashar al-Assad.
Historically, Moscow has been preoccupied with secure national borders, especially in Eastern Europe, and generally abstained from sending military forces long distances. This traditional approach has now been abandoned by Putin, who has become a daring military gambler in the Mideast.
Russia has a long history of involvement in the volatile region, especially Syria. The profoundly serious Suez Crisis of 1956 resulted in sharp rupture among western allies, as the Eisenhower administration refused to support a combined military assault by Britain, France and Israel to retake the Suez Canal and seize the Sinai Peninsula from nationalist Egypt.
From that time until the end of the Cold War, Moscow had significant influence. Hafez al-Assad, father of the current president, helped instigate a successful 1963 coup. By 1970, he consolidated his position and ruled until 2000. Ironically given developments today, he was regarded as relatively moderate and an economic modernizer, though in the context of a dictatorship.
Syria developed close military partnership with Egypt, and the two nations went to war together against Israel in October 1973. The Yom Kippur War also witnessed American-Soviet nuclear confrontation. This crisis arguably was as serious as the Cuban Missile Crisis of October 1962, though conducted almost entirely outside public view, in great contrast to the confrontation over missiles in Cuba.
The Watergate domestic political crisis colors recollections among some Nixon administration officials. Nevertheless, reasonable conclusions can be drawn.
First, Nixon aggressively pursued the essential need to get aid to Israel. At the same time, Israel was pressured successfully to show restraint regarding encircled Egyptian forces. In short, vital U.S. interests in the region were recognized clearly and protected.
Second, visible actions were taken to demonstrate U.S. military resolve: B-52 bombers were moved from Guam to the U.S., the Army's 82nd Airborne Division was placed on alert.
Third, the U.S. ultimately did not pursue a proposed joint condominium' proposed by the Soviets. Interests were too divergent on both sides. This bears directly on diplomatic efforts by Putin for international collaboration regarding Syria. The Moscow summit is a culmination of his strategy.
President Jimmy Carter brokered Egypt-Israel peace. President George H.W. Bush and Secretary of State James Baker initiated complex multilateral negotiations which resulted in partial Israeli-Palestinian reconciliation. Moscow was involved.
President Barack Obama declared use of poison gas by Damascus would be a "red line," and indicated military retaliation. When poison gas was used, he did nothing.
Putin seized the opportunity and persuaded Syria to abandon nuclear weapons. In the future, this event may be seen as the beginning of declining American influence.
Arthur I. Cyr is Clausen distinguished professor at Carthage College and author of "After the Cold War." Contactacyr@carthage.edu
New Year is all about choosing a capable, caring leader
As Korea enters an all-important presidential election year, it is hard to find good news. Many Koreans are reeling from the worst economic woes since the financial crisis of the late 1990s.
The government's economic policies for 2017 announced Thursday, which contained only shortsighted measures, are not enough to assuage the people's concerns about the economy heading into the New Year. The government recently set the 2017 growth target at 2.6 percent, and this marks the first time since the so-called IMF era that the target has dipped below 3 percent. The job situation facing the nation's youths is particularly worrisome, as the youth unemployment rate is likely to soar beyond the record high of 12.5 percent in February 2016, as many big conglomerates have downscaled hiring.
Under these harsh economic circumstances, Koreans across generations are generally unhappy. Young people worry constantly about getting a job and settling down, while older people fear the hardships of their post-retirement livelihoods. All in all, Koreans need some serious cheering up. This can be done by choosing a leader who can inspire renewed hope and confidence among Koreans.
Depending on the Constitutional Court's final decision on the National Assembly's impeachment of President Park Geun-hye, the presidential election could come earlier than scheduled. There is not much time left for presidential hopefuls.
The nation's next leader has many difficult tasks ahead, but the biggest challenge is how to ease the deep despair of the nation's youths. A recent survey showed that Korea placed lowest among OECD countries on a happiness index of young adults. As seen with the popular term "Hell Joseon," many young Koreans are disenchanted with life in Korea amid rising taxes, lack of stable jobs, a dysfunctional education system and widespread social injustice. The younger generation does not share the faith of their parents' generation in their country, who witnessed the nation's miraculous post-war industrial leap. Also, the Choi Soon-sil scandal that led to the presidential impeachment has taken away the pride some young people had left in their hearts for this country.
To make the nation happier as a whole, a good place to start is to help young people become more hopeful about life. It is imperative that they find a good job and live their lives independently from their parents. Otherwise, they will continue to live in their parents' homes and depend on them for living expenses, which makes it harder for parents to focus on caring for themselves in their old age. Without jobs, blessings like marriage or childbirth are unthinkable for many young adults. It is no wonder Korea ranks among the world's lowest in birthrate and more people are giving up on marriage.
This year, the people should be more vigilant than ever about electing a capable candidate who can open up a new era of hope and erase the shame and fallacies of the Park presidency. Let's choose a president who can cheer up the nation, not let it down. Let's choose a leader who, above all, truly cares about the people's happiness.
The United States imposed sanctions on two Russian intelligence agencies and nine other entities and individuals on Thursday in retaliation for cyberattacks accused of interfering with the U.S. presidential election.
The U.S. also declared 35 Russian intelligence operatives "persona non grata," ordering them to leave within 72 hours, and shut down two Russian compounds in Maryland and New York that were used by Russian personnel for intelligence-related purposes.
"Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response to the Russian government's aggressive harassment of U.S. officials and cyber operations aimed at the U.S. election," President Barack Obama said in a statement.
"These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior," he said.
Obama said the U.S. determined in October that Russia took actions intended to interfere with the U.S. election process, adding that such data theft and disclosure activities "could only have been directed by the highest levels of the Russian government."
"Moreover, our diplomats have experienced an unacceptable level of harassment in Moscow by Russian security services and police over the last year. Such activities have consequences. Today, I have ordered a number of actions in response," he said.
Among those sanctioned are two intelligence agencies, known as the GRU and the FSB. The GRU or Main Intelligence Agency is a Russian military intelligence agency and the FSB or the Federal Security Service is considered a successor to the Soviet-era KGB.
Other blacklisted entities and individuals include four GRU officers; three companies that provided material support to the GRU's cyber operations; two Russian individuals accused of using cyber-enabled means to cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information.
"These actions are not the sum total of our response to Russia's aggressive activities. We will continue to take a variety of actions at a time and place of our choosing, some of which will not be publicized," Obama said.
"In addition to holding Russia accountable for what it has done, the United States and friends and allies around the world must work together to oppose Russia's efforts to undermine established international norms of behavior, and interfere with democratic governance," he said. (Yonhap)
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Maksim Tsurkov Trend:
Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR will pump about 80,000 tons of oil via the Baku-Novorossiysk oil pipeline in January 2017, a source in SOCAR told Trend Dec. 30.
SOCAR will pump about 325,000 tons of oil via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline in the 1Q2017, according to the plan.
It is expected that the company will transport 1.3 million tons of oil via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline in 2016, as compared to 1.27 million tons in 2015.
SOCAR exports the oil produced at its own fields, as well as the oil from joint ventures and operation companies working in Azerbaijans onshore fields, through Russias Novorossiysk port.
Oil is delivered to the port via the Baku-Novorossiysk pipeline operated by SOCAR.
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Follow the author on Twitter: @MaksimTsurkov
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Elena Kosolapova Trend:
Kazakh government appointed Aybatyr Zhumagulov to the post of vice-minister of national economy, the ministry reported.
Minister of National Economy Timur Suleimenov introduced him to the staff of the ministry.
Before the appointment, Zhumagulov served as Chairman of the Board of Kazakhstans Housing Construction Savings Bank.
The head of the national economy ministry has also recently changed. On Dec. 28 Kazakhstans president appointed Timur Suleimenov as a new national economy ministry and dismissed Kuandyk Bishimbaev who had been serving at this post since May 2016.
Before the appointment Suleimenov was a member of the Board Minister in charge of Economy and Financial Policy of the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC).
Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Elena Kosolapova Trend:
Kazakhstan and the United States started mutual issuing of 10-year visas, Kazakh Foreign Ministry reported.
Starting from Dec. 29 Kazakh citizens going to the US for business, private or tourist purposes, are able to get US visas for up to 10 years. The citizens of the US traveling to Kazakhstan can receive Kazakhstans visas for 10 years as well.
The migration services of two countries will determine a period of stay of visa-holders in accordance with domestic laws.
Meanwhile, the US citizens are allowed to stay in Kazakhstan without visas for up to 30 days.
Increasing of visa validity term will contribute a maximum simplification of mutual trips of citizens of the two countries and is aimed at the development of the Kazakh-American cooperation in trade-economic, scientific-technical, cultural, humanitarian, tourism and other spheres, the ministry said.
Follow the author on Twitter: @E_Kosolapova
Tehran, Iran, Dec. 30
By Mehdi Sepahvand Trend:
The National Iranian Oil Company (NIOC) has held talks with two oil giants Shell and British Petroleum for one-year and long-term contracts, according to NIOC Director of International Affairs Mohsen Qamsari.
The NIOC has been selling more and more oil to these two companies since the first consignments were shipped to them earlier this year, said Qamsari, adding that so far two or three consignments of about 1 million barrels have been sold to each European company.
He expects that the amount of trade with these two companies will increase.
On October 4, Qamsari said Iran had started the gas condensate (ultra-light crude oil) sale to BP in the form of spot cargo, adding that the first 1-million-barrel condensate cargo had been delivered to the British company a while before.
Shell purchased one million barrels of crude oil from Iran in June. Before the sanctions, imposed in 2012, Iran was exporting 800,000 barrels per day of oil to Europe.
A Finnish court has sentenced the former head of Helsinkis anti-drugs police to 10 years in prison for drug-smuggling and other offences.
Jari Aarnio was found to have helped a gang to import nearly 800kg (1,764lb) of hashish from the Netherlands and sell it in Finland in 2011-2012.
Aarnio, 59, was found guilty of five drug crimes and 17 other offences.
These included trying to frame an innocent man for being in charge of the drug ring.
An accomplice of the former senior policeman, described as a top local criminal, was also sentenced to 10 years in prison.
Aarnio spent 30 years in the anti-drugs force and was arrested in 2013.
He denied all the charges against him, claiming his actions were all legal and undertaken in a policing capacity.
His legal team said Aarnio plans to appeal the district courts sentence in the Helsinki Court of Appeal.
In a separate case in September, Aarnio was sentenced to three years in jail for fraud.
Crime rates are relatively low in Finland compared with most other European countries.
It ranks as the second least-corrupt country, after Denmark, in the global index compiled by Transparency International.
Follow Us on Facebook @LadunLiadi; Instagram @LadunLiadi; Twitter @LadunLiadi; Youtube @LadunLiadiTV for updates
A project to redevelop a small house on Park Row was heard by La Jollas Development Permit Review committee (DPR) during its Dec. 20 meeting at La Jolla Rec Center. The presentation was slated as a preliminary review, and therefore the board did not vote on whether to approve the requested permits associated with the project. Instead, the board provided a list of items they need to hear more about, so the project will return at a January meeting for additional review.
Applicant Tim Golba requested a Coastal Development Permit and Site Development Permit for the Caplan Residence at 1418 Park Row. The project involves the demolition of a single family residence and construction of a 4,302-square-foot, two-story single family residence with a 579-square-foot garage.
Golba explained the new house would be a four-bedroom house, in a u-shape, with a family room, kitchen, office space and two-level theater (technically two level because there are steps required to access it), along with outdoor decks and terraces. The design is considered a traditional Spanish style, with a maximum height of 26.6 feet. The Floor Area Ratio is under, but near maxed out of, maximum allowances.
Much of the front yard massing comes from an existing tree on the property, which would not be removed with the construction. Golba did not know what type of tree it is, but said he would return with that information.
Because of the eclectic mix and orientation of houses that surround the property, the design was strategic, Golba said. There is a variety of styles on that block, and many are two-story. The immediate next door neighbor built a large blank wall that faces the property (Im going to develop), so we dont have much of a view from the ground floor, but at the second floor, the view gets much better, he said. We put the theater where we did because it is seven feet from a blank wall (which is not a good place for windows or fencing and) does not invite interactions between neighbors.
As such, much of the common areas, especially the bedrooms, are upstairs. Golba said the property is designed that way so were not looking at anyone and no one is looking at us, and we like it that way and to provide a decent view.
He said quite a bit of roof area is eligible for solar panels to ensure that 50 percent of future power is sustainable.
As for landscaping, as posed by DPR member Angeles Leira, Golba said, We dont know yet, but street trees will come up when we apply for building permits. We would try to match whatever the designated street tree is for that area. The unidentified front yard tree would also remain. Several members noted that the addition of palm trees would make the property more consistent with the neighborhood.
Also to be consistent with the neighborhood, DPR member Diane Kane said she would like to see the front fencing opened up (current renderings show a two-foot wall topped with about three feet of fencing) and palm trees installed. But overall, Kane said that she likes the project a lot because its an improvement from the plain vanilla boxes weve been getting.
As such, Golba said he would return with answers to DPR members queries on landscaping, fencing and roof options, and present any available alternative designs.
La Jolla DPR meets 4 p.m. the second and third Tuesdays of the month at La Jolla Rec Center, 615 Prospect St. lajollacpa.org
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 29
By Farhad Daneshvar Trend:
Although Iran and Azerbaijan have made considerable efforts aimed at connecting the two countries through railways, it appears that the mission is unlikely to be completed by 2020.
Tehran and Baku have earlier agreed to connect their railways as part of the North-South Transportation Corridor.
To fulfill the ambitious plan, Iran agreed to construct inland railway segments in northern parts of the country in order to extend its railway network to the Islamic Republics border with the neighboring Azerbaijan.
The plan included Qazvin-Rasht (162 kilometers) and Rasht-Astara (175 kilometers) railways. In the meantime, Azerbaijan has launched a project to extend its railway into Irans territory through the border city of Astara, which is in its final stages and is projected to come on stream within the next three months.
According to the latest reports, the Islamic Republic has launched construction work to build the Qazvin-Rasht segment, which is expected to be completed over the next year.
But what about the longest section, Rasht-Astara?
In an interview with Trend, Nourollah Beiranvandi, an advisor to the head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railways Company in finance and foreign investment, has said that following an earlier agreement on Azerbaijans decision to finance the 175-kilometer segment, the sides have held talks over the procedure of financing the project.
Earlier, Irans Minister of Communications and Information Technology Mahmoud Vaezi told Trend that Azerbaijan agreed to open a $500 million credit line to finance the Rasht-Astara railway project. He said the Rasht-Astara railway project is expected to need $0.9-$1 billion of investment, of which $500 million will be financed through an Azerbaijani loan.
During the interview Beiranvandi said Tehran and Baku have prepared a draft document on the procedure of financing the construction of the Rasht-Astara railway segment.
He forecast that the talks on procedures of financing the project would be finalized within the next six months.
The official added that an international tender will be announced to select contractors for implementing the project once the sides reach a conclusion on the funding issue.
This is while Deputy Head of the Islamic Republic of Iran Railway Company for Operation Affairs Hossein Ashouri has also told Trend that the construction of the Rasht-Astara segment would take about five years.
The International North-South Transport Corridor is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia. It will serve as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia.
The corridor is planned to transport 6 million tons of cargo per year at the initial stage and 15-20 million tons of cargo in the future.
Historic ties of north Meck span throughout region Though the north Mecklenburg area didnt see significant population growth until a few decades ago, its rich history dates back to the Revolutionary War. That was the basis of...
An easier-than-expected first mammogram experience HUNTERSVILLE Scheduling a cancer screening probably ranks somewhere on your to-do list between "clean out the garage" and "donate those clothes that don't fit." Sure, you'll get to it at...
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec 30
By Emil Ilgar Trend:
Irans gas export to Turkey reached 6.14 billion cubic meters (bcm) in 10 months of 2016, remaining almost unchanged from the same period of 2015, the official website of Turkey Energy Regulatory reported.
According to the report, Turkeys total gas imports (including LNG) decreased by 1.65 bcm to 37.3 bcm during the 10 months of 2016.
Iran delivered about 8.6 bcm of gas to Turkey in 2015.
Turkeys gas import
After stewing for a couple of weeks about the Los Angeles Magazine article that asked What's the matter with the Los Angeles Times? and mostly decided it's editor-publisher Davan Maharaj, the Times has responded. The rebuttal takes the form of a letter from co-managing editor Larry Ingrassia that was posted Dec. 23 in the comments to the story on the magazine web site. The story is in the January issue.
The magazine and contributing writer Ed Leibowitz examine the handling of an investigative series into Oxycontin by a Times reporting team and the newsroom reputation of Maharaj. The Los Angeles piece portrays Maharaj as an obstruction to the Oxycontin story (whose two original reporters and main editor have left the Times), insecure about being over his head as editor and publisher, and insulting toward colleagues, especially women. Leibowitz tried to interview Maharaj for the story but says he was rejected each time. Most of the sources for the story's main points are anonymous, but Leibowitz wrote that he spoke to more than 40 present or past Times staffers over eight months of reporting.
The response from Ingrassia goes after Leibowitz's journalism personally and the magazine's.
Los Angeles magazines article headlined Whats the Matter with the L.A. Times? calls for an accurate response. The Los Angeles Times remains the premier newsgathering organization in the West. In the last two years, The Times has won three Pulitzer Prizes and has secured the biggest audience in our history, with more than 50 million unique monthly visitors who read our journalism at latimes.com. Despite the well-documented changes in our industry, Times reporters and editors in California, the U.S. and abroad produce one of the best news reports in the world.
But thats largely missing from the story LA magazine sought to tell. Instead, the writer, Ed Leibowitz, trundles out third- and fourth-hand rumors, supplied by sources hiding behind the cloak of anonymity.
It is an irony that a story purporting to be about the health of a journalism institution would flagrantly violate the core tenets of responsible journalism attribution, verifiability and fairness.
Mr. Leibowitzs piece contains numerous assertions masquerading as facts: about The Times editing of its acclaimed OxyContin series; about a supposed drop in the quality of Times journalism; and about its top editors, including editor-in-chief Davan Maharaj.
Especially misguided are Mr. Leibowitzs summations about the OxyContin investigation, which was the focus of much of his story. His criticism of The Times as slow to publish might more fairly be welcomed as an insistence on accuracy at a time when major media outlets have been embarrassed by avoidable errors.
It is a cardinal principle of journalism that the subject of a critical article must be given a chance, before publication, to respond to negative comments and assertions, especially if those assertions rely on anonymous sources. Mr. Leibowitz refused, despite repeated requests, to provide such an opportunity to set the record straight on many of his negative assertions and we have the emails to prove it.
This is indefensible. Even when a subject declines to be interviewed, a writer is obliged to give the subject an opportunity to know about and to answer critical allegations and conclusions. No responsible journalist would argue otherwise. Why did Mr. Leibowitz refuse to do that? Why did his editors allow it? Perhaps because his premise would fall apart if he had to include our vigorous rebuttal.
It is telling that The Times published a powerful, revelatory investigative series about OxyContin, its manufacturer and its role in the nations opioid epidemic without relying on a single anonymous source. Mr. Leibowitz used only anonymous sources to attack the integrity and achievements of fellow journalists.
He seeks to justify this tactic by saying that former Times staffers who left the paper with early retirement packages were gagged by non-disparagement clauses, which are standard features of corporate severance, including media organizations. Mr. Leibowitz did not tell his readers that The Times before publication informed him and his editors that it would waive non-disclosure clauses for any former staff member who wanted to comment for publication.
The real headline here is: Whats the matter with LA magazine?
Larry Ingrassia
Managing Editor
Los Angeles Times
As far as I know, this is the only official response from the Times. Ingrassia and another co-managing editor, Marc Duvoisin, had earlier ranted on Twitter about the story. The magazine has not posted any response to the Times letter. When the story first went up on Dec. 7, editor-in-chief Mary Melton and the primary editor on the piece, Amy Wallace both of them former LA Times staffers wrote personal notes talking about how and why the topic was pursued. Leibowitz also included in the mainbar his own hopes that the Times thrive as an important civic institution. Here's my original post about all this.
A perhaps interesting sidenote: after the Los Angeles story ran, the Times published another installment in the Oxycontin series, bearing the co-bylines of Scott Glover and Lisa Girion, the two original reporters who have both moved on to other jobs. Glover is at CNN and Girion at Reuters. Neither bothered to tweet the Dec. 18 Times story with their bylines.
Also noted: Maybe it's just the magazine's regular web cycle, but the Times story has surprisingly little presence on the Los Angeles Magazine website for a story in the current print issue that was pushed out to media reporters when it first went up. It's not one of the 30+ stories featured on the home page or on the separate list of 10 best read. It's buried on the fourth page of the Culture Files section, below stories like "The Complicated Sadness of Getting a Gift You Secretly Hate" and "A Look Inside Tarzanas Hypnosis Motivation Institute."
This editorial appears in the December 30, 2016 issue of Executive Intelligence Review.
EDITORIAL
[PDF version of this editorial]
Edited excerpt of the final portion of Lyndon LaRouche and Helga Zepp-LaRouches discussion with the Lyndon LaRouche Political Action Committee's Policy Committee on Dec. 27.
Dave Christie: I have a question, which is, it looks like theyre trying to sort of retool Obama for his after-Presidency. In other words, hes setting up his office at the World Wildlife Fund, and he did quite an insane interview where he claimed he could have beat Trump, and the dream is still alive; and such really narcissistic kind of rant. My thinking is that, first off, I think the American people have already said they reject Obama and theyre not going to fall for itbut any idea of propping him up for some sort of afterlife or being active after the Presidency, would be in effect to intimidate the Democrats, because they never have broken with Obama, and therefore, they have fallen in line with everything that he represents in that sense.
So it would almost be to keep them in line. But on the other hand, here we have these war crimes that are being exposed, mass graves in Aleppo, and the ability to actually have Obama put in prison for these sorts of crimes, well, we should do that I believe. But the question is, how much should that be an emphasis? In other words, as we try to move forward with the New Paradigm, how much effort do we actually want to expend, to have these Nazi forces in the United States brought down, like Obama? How much of an emphasis should there be on that?
Lyndon LaRouche: I dont think itll work. The rejection of Obama, whose chief characteristic was his ability to kill citizens in the United States, regularly, that was his characteristic ... When he is defeated, in a process of being defeated, he will disappear; or turn up in some prison some place. I wouldnt worry about it. Id go at the positive things right away and build them up. Thats what they need.
All the things that used to be skills, productive skills in the working classesits all been shattered, destroyed. We have to build up the people who were destroyed by what the Bush family and Obama did! Thats the issue. Or we call it the New Bush Leaguewhat were getting here, our option is the New Bush League. That means, at the end of Obama.
Helga Zepp-LaRouche: I thought it was funny that Newt Gingrich, who himself is a nasty fellow, used this image of an inflated doll; the air has gone out and it shrinks, and shrinks, and shrinks. That was my first image I had of Obama in 2008, in an editorial I wrote with the headline, Obama, The Souffle. [laughter] You know what happens to a souffle when you treat it badly: it shrinks and collapses.
I agree. I think you should go with the new paradigm, and really go with the idea that we absolutely have to leave this era of misery of sixteen years of the Bush/Obama period behind us.
LaRouche: You have to do something about that Helga, also, just from the standpoint of your voice right now. Youve got to get the people back to understanding what is available to them. Weve got to break the ice on slavery, on various kinds and degrees of slavery inside the United States. And the ruin of our educational system, all these kinds of things. These things have to be rebuilt. Because it is those kinds of things which, when done properly, will lead the recovery of the United States population.
Zepp-LaRouche: Why dont we resume the Weekly [New Paradigm] Reports, and have a series of classes on Lyns physical economy? All the discussion of Hamilton is fine, but Lyn is the author of physical economy, and we havent really been discussing it in depth for quite some time.
Kesha Rogers: Thats good, yes. That is the basis of what we discussed in our revamping of the Hamilton pamphlet, to put the educational aspect around Lyns conception of economics more up front, with the Four Laws, and then the development around that.
I wont start that discussion until were ready for it. But ...
Restore a Human Culture
Zepp-LaRouche: I dont just mean the Four Laws. I mean an in-depth economics class. Lyn has worked on this for 50 or 60 years, he has written numerous articles over this period, and there are a lot of conceptions in it which are not being talked about now, and we should absolutely revive them.
Benjamin Deniston: A few of us were looking back at what Lyn was doing around 2010, in fighting to upgrade peoples understanding of the concept of infrastructure. And this led into the NAWAPA work, but at that time you first started developing the platform conception. Ive been going back and rereading a number of your papers and some of the discussions from around that time, and I think there are a lot of very rich conceptions, and some very important conceptions, that we need to get across right now. Because theres all this talk about infrastructure, and about space, what the space policy should be, but a lot of it is not centered around any scientific conception.
And I think back to what you laid out at that time, for how to think about infrastructure as a sequence of successive stages or platforms. And you said that infrastructure is not an add-on, which is the way people normally think about it. Rather, it is the entire basis of your economy. It creates the actual synthetic environment in which the entire economy operates and which it depends upon. So when youre talking about creating new stages or levels of infrastructure platforms, it means creating anew an entire, higher-order, synthetic environment that supports a completely new level of productivity of mankind.
So thats one arc of development which I think would be really critical to bring back in this exact context right now.
We were also talking about the point you made, Helga, going back as far as Lyns conceptions around the Power of Labor, and that driving his economic discoveries. Lyn, you might have more to say about that. This goes to the question of how you came to understand the increases in relative potential population density. And these ideas that really shaped the development.
Zepp-LaRouche: Without the education of the labor force to a higher level of productivity, and naturally creativity, this cannot work. I mean by this, the tremendous deterioration of the cultural and moral level. I think you can contrast that with what Xi Jinping said about virtue and morality being the key to having the right attitude on the education question. And Putin spoke earlier about how the West has completely deteriorated culturally by throwing out all human values and replacing them with perversions. If you dont correct that, I dont think you can get the kind of productive labor force that is requiredbecause if people are still pornographic in their thinking and full of admiration for violence, how can they be creative? They cannot.
And that is something which is completely lacking in the discussion. At least I havent heard anybody other than us talking about it.
How To Inspire Creativity
LaRouche: Look at the Franklin Roosevelt administrations pioneering of a new way to greater advantages for the people of the United States and elsewhere. Take the way that worked. You have to realize how much, afterwards, was put into destroying the skills, and the minds of the skilled labor force generally, at the end World War II. Everything went rotten. The worst thing we had was not World War II, but the rottenness of the U.S. labor force critics who crushed the financial functions of the labor force. And I know that cold, detail by detail, with bitter memory.
Zepp-LaRouche: Just remember, the oligarchy cant exist if they have an intelligent population, so the moment Roosevelt was dead, the Truman administration really moved in to destroy the axioms which had made Roosevelt possible; and one of their devices was the Congress for Cultural Freedom, which had the deliberate aim of uprooting people from Classical musicTheodor Adorno, the Frankfurt School, and the Congress for Cultural Freedom, they all tried to completely destroy, on the one side to destroy the Classical tradition, but then also destroy what little was left of the Classical tradition to replace it with ugliness. Furtwangler was replaced with Herbert von Karajan, and the right interpretation was thrown out of the window; modern music was mixed with Classical music so that people would just not build up their concentration span. All of these things went into really downgrading the population over a long period of time.
LaRouche: Yes!
Zepp-LaRouche: And that has to be reversed.
Science-Driver Is the Starting Point
Deniston: One reference point weve often looked to for the general idea of educating and training the labor force, was Roosevelts Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) program. I wonder if we could look at that, and how it would need to be expanded, possibly including some of these aspects of Classical education and musical training. What Lyn just said is critical: that were obviously dealing with a deeper and longer degeneration than Franklin Roosevelt dealt with. You must also look at the drug crisis. I think we need to put more thought into all of this: how we actually uplift this population as a whole, and get it trained to the point where it can be productive and creative.
And if were seriously talking about pursuing this whole program, and we dont have that defined, then people are not going to believe us unless we have a real idea and a road map of what its going to take to transform the population. It might take a generation or more to really do . . .
Zepp-LaRouche: And if you look at all of the university teaching: Science has been replaced with algorithms; economic theory is just neoliberal monetarism; medicine is health economicsall of these subjects have been completely distorted. History is the history of imperial order interpretation . . . You can look at practically every field, and you find that there has been tremendous distortion.
LaRouche: But most of the people of the United States have been brainwashed. And I do mean, literally, brainwashed. And thats the thing youve got to correct. Youve got to bring people who are actually ignorant, not just ignorant of particular things, but ignorant in their behavior towards society in general. And if we want to win this, win a recovery of the U.S. economy, youve got to do that.
Zepp-LaRouche: But its the same thing in Germany, except that here the ignorance is paired with arrogance.
LaRouche: Weve got the arrogance all over the place; its not here, its all over the place! Every idiot is his own genius! [laughter]
Deniston: From the standpoint of my understanding of Lyns principles of economics, it seems that the starting point should be the science-driver program, the space program and fusion . . .
LaRouche: Yes. Yes!
Deniston: And the challenge is then linking that all throughout the economy as a whole, because that creates the framework in which you need to uplift the middle class, and the lower class, the downtrodden, to participate in an economy thats organized as a whole from that standpoint.
LaRouche: I think we have the latent optionin the United States for exampleI think we have a latent option for this. I think we can probably get that back again, and can push away the kind of thing that destroyed the financial system, the U.S. financial system, when President Franklin Roosevelt was crushed. It was that simple. And this is what youve got to have, the leadership which goeslike Franklin Roosevelts campaignsto the issue of what is necessary to instruct people to recognize what will make them better in terms of their behavior in society.
Rogers: Right. I think thats very good, because it gives a real direction for the thinking process of our organization as a whole, and what were actually out to create.
LaRouche: Yes. Being an old man, I know a lot of the things which are not secrets, but they were poisonous nonetheless!
Zepp-LaRouche: Yes, and no matter what the Trump team may do, they may even go after drugs, and they may do this and that, but the positive thing, I cannot see where it can come from, unless we inject it.
LaRouche: Yes. You have to educate people by using the kinds of tools of education which make them creative. That used to happen in the United States; that used to happen. And then it went down, when Franklin Roosevelt dropped out. But now weve seen everything, all the dirty business in the United States is still there, and it has to be removed. In other words, all these things from the people who were opposed to Franklin Rooseveltthat has to be removed and a vision of what Franklin Roosevelt accomplished, in a decade, particularlythats what has to be created, and what things must be based on.
Zepp-LaRouche: Okay, good! So, lets work on these things.
PRESS RELEASE
Putin Announces Syria Ceasefire Agreement; LaRouche Gives His Evaluation
Dec. 29, 2016 (EIRNS)Russian President Vladimir Putin announced, during a televised meeting with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, that documents relating to a cease-fire have been signed by Syrian opposition groups and the government of Syrian President Bashar al Assad. Lyndon LaRouche commented, today, that the deal is insecure. "It cant be counted on, because Obama is not nailed down," he said.
"Reports have just arrived," Putin said at the outset of the meeting,
"that several hours ago there was a development that we all have looked and worked for for so long. Three documents have been signed. A ceasefire between the Syrian government and the armed opposition is one. A package of measures to control the ceasefire is another. There is also a declaration of readiness to enter peace talks on Syrian conflict settlement."
Russia, Turkey, and Iran undertook commitments to guarantee a peaceful settlement in Syria. The deal is the result of Russias cooperation with partners in the region, Putin emphasized.
Putin was clear that the really hard work is now beginning.
"No doubt, the agreements reached are fragile and demand special attention and assistance with the goal of preservation and development. But nevertheless, this is a notable result of our joint work, efforts of the Defense Ministry, the Foreign Ministry, and our partners in the regions,"
he said.
"As we understand very well, all the agreements reached are very fragile, they demand special attention and patience, a professional approach to these issues, and a constant contact with our partners,"
Putin stressed.
According to the Kremlin transcript, Shoigu presented Putin with a list of the armed opposition groups that have agreed to the ceasefire, subsequently published on the Defense Ministry website, and a map of their distribution. He reported that the Defense Ministry, with Turkey acting as mediator, spent two months in negotiations with the commanders of these seven groups, which are composed of some 60,000 fighters.
Lavrov reported that the Foreign Ministry will take steps to ensure that the package of agreements that was signed be disseminated as official UN Security Council documents, and that Security Council members are briefed and their questions answered.
"It is important to increase the number of guarantor countries, and we therefore want at this stage to invite our Egyptian colleagues to join these agreements,"
Lavrov said.
"Later, at subsequent stages, we could probably get other key countries with influence on events in Syria involved too, countries such as Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq, and Jordan."
In Damascus, the Syrian Arab Armys General Command announced a "comprehensive" cessation of hostilities to take effect at midnight tonight, local time.
"The Command added that the terrorist organizations of Jabhat al-Nusra and the ISIS and the groups affiliated to them are excluded from the agreement, pointing out that the ceasefire comes with the aim of creating suitable circumstances for supporting the political track of the crisis in Syria,"
reported SANA. The signers on the opposition side, as reported by the Russian Defense Ministry, include Ahrar al Sham and Jaish al Islam, the two largest groups, as well as five smaller groups: Jaish al-Mujahideen, Faylak al-Sham, Suvar al-Sham, Jaish Idlib, and Jabhat al-Shamiya.
PRESS RELEASE
Bring Back U. S. Leadership in Nuclear Energy Based on Atoms for Peace, Says Environmental Progress Group
Dec. 29, 2016 (EiRNS)"We are writing as scientists, economists, conservationists, and citizens, to urge you to take strong action to save and grow Americas nuclear energy sector," begins a letter to President-elect Trump, sent last week by the Environmentalk Progress research group.
"In the 1960s and 70s, the U.S. was the world leader in nuclear technologies," the letter points out. Today, American entrepeneurs go abroad, including to China, to develop new concepts. China is investing in "at least five" different advanced reactor designs, World Nuclear News quotes in its report on the letter. The letter calls for the U.S. to adopt an approach based on President Dwight Eisenhowers 1953 "Atoms for Peace" initiative, starting with the financing of U.S.-made reactors for customers around the world, through institutions such as the Ex-Im Bank and World Bank. They specify loans and loan guarantees to foreign customers who could then buy American nuclear technology. In fact, this is the approach that Russia is implementing very successfully.
Environmental Progress group is also circulating a petition. In addition to the above points, it also states that President Eisehowers program recognized that cheap electricity is a key economic driver, and it "financed the peaceful use of nuclear power around the world to provide abundant electrical energy in the power-starved areas of the world."
The petition urges the President-elect and the Congress to "take bold action to make nuclear great again."
Cathy ONeil calls herself a data skeptic. A former hedge fund analyst with a PhD in mathematics from Harvard University, the Occupy Wall Street activist left finance after witnessing the damage wrought by faulty math in the wake of the housing crash.
In her latest book, Weapons of Math Destruction, ONeil warns that the statistical models hailed by big data evangelists as the solution to todays societal problems, like which teachers to fire or which criminals to give longer prison terms, can codify biases and exacerbate inequalities. Models are opinions embedded in mathematics, she writes.
Although algorithms are everywhere, the most dangerous ones, according to ONeil, have three characteristics: scale, secrecy and the capacity to do harm.
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Recently reached by phone, ONeil spoke about the prevalence of these weapons of math destruction across different industries. The conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
When did you first realize that big data could be used to perpetuate inequality?
I found out that the work I was doing on tailored advertising was a mechanism for for-profit colleges to find vulnerable, single black mothers. Find their pain points and promise them a better life if they signed up for online courses, which in the meantime loaded them up with debt and gave them a useless education. I was like, Thats not helping anyone; thats making their struggles worse, and its happening on my watch because I am the one building the technology for this to work very efficiently.
What is a new example of a weapon of math destruction?
Recently, I was convinced by Mona Chalabi, who is a journalist at the Guardian but who also spent time at FiveThirtyEight, that political polls are actually weapons of math destruction. Theyre very influential; people spend enormous amounts of time on them. Theyre relatively opaque. But most importantly, theyre destructive in various ways. In particular, they actually affect peoples voting patterns. The day before the election, if people think their candidate is definitely going to win, then why bother voting? Polls can change peoples actual behavior, which disrupts democracy in a direct way.
People are trying to analyze how demographics shaped the election results. The answer is that were probably not going to know or have enough information to make an educated guess until much later.
Thats right. Also, there really were new things about this election cycle that we did not have data on, so we couldnt account for them. But Im not suggesting that all we need to do is correct the polls and next time theyll be more accurate and therefore better. Im actually trying to make the argument that we should just not do them. I honestly feel like if we had a thought experiment where nobody did polls and nobody talked about polls and we all just talked about the actual issues of the campaign, then wed have a much better democracy.
In your book, you describe some relatively well-known examples of potentially harmful algorithms, such as value-added models that grade public schoolteachers based on student test scores. You tried to get the source code behind that model from the Department of Education in New York City, but you werent able to. Their defense was probably that if people knew how the scores were calculated, then teachers would be able to game the system to get higher scores.
Well, the very teachers whose jobs are on the line dont understand how theyre being evaluated. I think thats a question of justice. Everyone should have the right to know how theyre being evaluated at their job. And I should have the right to understand those models as well because Im a taxpayer, and the job is a government position. The Freedom of Information Act should apply.
Also, if you use the word gaming, first youre implying that theres a bad actor involved, which sometimes there is. Second, you can really only game a model if its weak. The weakness of the teacher value-added model is that its statistically terrible. Anybody whose job is on the line deserves to understand that weakness. And deserves to, for that matter, take advantage of it if they can. But my goal isnt for a bunch of teachers to sneakily get better scores. My goal is for the model itself to be held to high standards.
In some cases, the policymakers themselves probably dont even know how the scores are calculated.
In the case that I wrote about in my book, nobody in New York City had access to that formula. Nobody. The Department of Education did not know how to explain the scores that they were giving out to teachers.
Los Angeless Department of Children and Family Services has been exploring a risk-modeling algorithm called AURA. It was developed by SAS, a private contractor, and it scores children according to their risk of being abused so that social workers can better target their efforts. Something like this could be a weapon of math destruction it has scale, and the formula is secret or it could be benign.
Or even positive. It really depends on what exactly theyre doing with those scores. It also depends on how those scores are created. Even if theyre being somewhat punitive, if theyre doing it in a way that has been discussed as morally fair, then thats probably still OK. If theyre finding kids at risk of child abuse and theyre removing them from families when they have just cause, then we should think of that as a good thing. What would not be OK is if the score was elevated simply because somebody happened to be black or happened to be poor.
So youre less worried about models that target people in order to help.
Its tricky because there are different stakeholders. People who are advocating on behalf of the children might be perfectly OK with using questionable attributes that are proxies for race and class that also are proxies for other things that actually put these kids at higher risk. Its not a clear-cut case, even when there is a punitive result. You have to weigh the possibility of letting a child get abused when you could have prevented it against the possibility of punishing a parent who wasnt going to abuse their child. That decision could be implemented by the data scientist, but it should not be up to the data scientist to decide the answer to that question.
Should these issues be discussed before the algorithms are deployed?
I want to separate the moral conversations from the implementation of the data model that formalizes those decisions. I want to see algorithms as formal versions of conversations that have already taken place.
In addition to such conversations, you call for the auditing of algorithms, after they have been in use, to see whether they are, in fact, fair. Have you seen this happening in practice?
I just started a business called ORCAA [ONeil Risk Consulting and Algorithmic Auditing]. My goal is to do the auditing of the algorithms. I would love to help the people who want to use AURA, for example.
Does anything like that exist already?
There have been a few algorithms audited. Notably, ProPublica did an audit of COMPAS, a recidivism risk algorithm. Its not a full-blown audit. It didnt go as far as I would have liked in understanding the different stakeholders. Just like there are advocates for the children versus the advocates for the parents in the case of AURA, with COMPAS, there are people the police who care about getting the bad guys, and there are people who care about making sure that black men dont go to prison longer just because theyre black the civil rights activists. The civil rights activists and the police need to have a conversation where they weigh the chances of letting a man go free whos going to commit a further crime versus the chance of putting a man in jail for something that he didnt do and will not do. That same kind of balanced conversation has to take place.
Also, ProPublica is a news organization. You would want to work for the policymakers themselves.
Yes, and I would want to sign an NDA. I wouldnt write it up. If youre trying to use an algorithm, Im going to help you make sure its fair. Alternatively, if theres a class of people who think that theyre unfairly judged by an algorithm and they want me to help them prove that, then I could do that, too.
Have you gotten a lot of demand for these services?
I have zero clients. A bunch of people are thinking about it. Big data is a new field, and people are essentially blindly trusting it. Also, people are still living in the era of plausible deniability. They dont want to know that their data is racist or whatever, and so far, theyve been getting away with not knowing. What would make them want to know? Only if there are legal reasons for them to want to know, or reputational risk reasons for them to want to know, or if theres simply an overwhelming demand by the public.
Have you seen any creative ways in which algorithms are adopted by the people rather than by the powerful?
Ive seen some small examples. I wrote a post a couple of months ago on [my blog] mathbabe about a college that was using big data to help find kids who would need advising.
What are some examples and characteristics of the opposite of a weapon of math destruction?
My theory is that if its scaled and its secret, then it had better be obviously not destructive. Or, if its scaled and theres potential for destruction, then you have to make it transparent. If theres potential, then we need to know more. AURA fits this perfectly. It is potentially destructive, so we need to know that it is not interfering with families that are vulnerable unfairly.
Its not obvious. Somebody really needs to worry about those kids. I speak as a child who was abused, and I would have loved for there to have been [data-driven] interventions when I was a child. We didnt even think about that stuff back then.
One defense of algorithms is that they are less biased than humans.
Some people just assume that. They dont check it.
Is it hard to tell if the algorithm is better?
Its impossible to guess; you have to actually look at the data. Thats the kind of auditing I want to do. I dont want to just audit a specific algorithm by itself, I want to audit the algorithm in the context of where its being used. And compare it to that same context without the algorithm. Like a meta-audit. Is the criminal justice system better off with recidivism-risk algorithms or without recidivism-risk algorithms? Thats an important question that we dont know the answer to. We also have the question of whether a specific recidivism-risk algorithm is itself racist. You could find that a specific algorithm is racist, but its still better than the status quo.
Youve worked in academia, finance, advertising, tech, activism and journalism. What advice would you give to socially conscious data scientists in each of these fields?
Thats a hard question. First of all, Id want them to all take ethics seriously. But it is a challenge. Just taking a job as a data scientist means youre probably working for a company for whom success means profit. So you might find yourself in the same kind of situation I found myself in, where I wasnt directly working for a for-profit college, but I was working in an industry that helped those kinds of places survive and flourish.
Maybe data science courses should also teach ethics.
Thats definitely something Im calling for. Every computer science major and any kind of data science program should have ethics, absolutely.
In July, he was a Twitter pariah. Now, Milo Yiannopoulos is going to be a published author.
The Breitbart editor and prominent gay conservative has inked a book deal with Threshold Editions, a conservative imprint of Simon & Schuster. The book, titled Dangerous, is slated to come out in March.
The Hollywood Reporter, which first broke the news, said the deal was worth $250,000. The publisher declined to confirm the amount; such figures are not commonly disclosed in publishing. But Threshold Editions did share the story from its Twitter account.
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Dangerous will be a book on free speech by the outspoken and controversial gay British writer and editor at Breitbart News who describes himself as the most fabulous supervillain on the internet, the publisher stated in a press release.
Threshold Editions other offerings include Donald Trumps books Crippled America and Great Again, as well as titles by Glenn Beck, Rush Limbaugh, Michelle Malkin and other conservative authors.
Back in July, Yiannopoulos was permanently banned from Twitter after leading an online campaign of harassment against Leslie Jones. He called the Ghostbusters star barely literate and accused her of playing the victim when she complained about being harassed. Twitter released a statement saying Yiannopoulos had violated the sites terms of service regarding targeted abuse.
Currently, Yiannopoulos is making stops on his Dangerous Faggot college speaking tour. Earlier this month, he singled out a transgender student on a stop at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He belittled the students appearance, misgendering her and saying she had failed at transitioning.
Yiannopoulos is well known as a prominent member of the alt-right, a brand of far-right conservatism that generally embraces and promotes white nationalism, racism, anti-Semitism, homophobia, transphobia and misogyny. As an openly gay man, Yiannopoulos has repeatedly disputed this characterization of the alt-right.
In a Breitbart article titled A Modern Conservatives Guide to the Alt-Right, Yiannopoulos and another writer described the movement as a group of young, creative, intellectual meme-makers who arent afraid to push back against the status quo.
@jessica_roy
jessica.roy@latimes.com
Fiat Chryslers Jeep division does well with its Grand Cherokee line, selling just under 200,000 of them last year in the U.S.
So its only logical the company would expand the line to include the Trailhawk badge, which signifies increased eagerness to hit the trail.
For 2017, Jeep has reintroduced a Grand Cherokee with that badge and those capabilities. Falling in sequential order above the Laredo and Limited, but below the Summit, Overland and SRT models, the Trailhawk version aims to offer superior on-road comfort matched with superior off-road capability.
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On road, this Grand Cherokee feels much like its non-Trailhawk sibling. Its a quiet, calm, luxury SUV, built for comfort.
The big wide seats are ventilated and heated. (The rear seats are heated too.) The high ride, which requires a little step up for short people, creates excellent visibility. Front and rear passenger areas have massive head and leg room, and the cargo capacity is more than 60 cubic feet of space, with the rear seats folded flat.
Fiat Chrysler has done well with the ergonomics, and has made piloting the Grand Cherokee Trailhawk simple. The controls for navigation, climate control, radio, phone, and other media, as well as things such as seat temperature control, are all in a small dashboard screen above the center console.
Theyre easy to reach and easy to use, though I had difficulty getting my iPhone to boot into the cars system, as I have had with other Fiat Chrysler vehicles.
The drive controls are a little more complicated because there are so many of them and they do so many things.
The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk is delivered standard with Jeeps Quadra-Drive II and Quadra-Trac II 4-wheel-drive systems, as well as its Selec-Terrain. Together, these allow gear selections that control traction, throttle and suspension settings to maximize power to the ground and minimize wheel spinning.
Settings include auto, sport, snow, sand/mud and rock. Those pair with Jeeps Quadra-Lift system, which can increase the ground clearance to 11 inches and is standard on this vehicle, to help the Trailhawk climb over rocks and ruts without wasting energy.
Theres a fair amount of energy to throw around.
The Trailhawk comes standard with Fiat Chryslers 3.6-liter V-6 Pentastar engine, which makes 295 horsepower and 260 pound feet of torque.
The Trailhawk can also be had with a 3-liter diesel engine or a 5.7-liter HEMI V-8 both of which boost the Pentastars towing capacity to 7,400 pounds, from 6,200 pounds. (Theres even a Grand Cherokee SRT, outside the Trailhawk class, that comes with a 6.4-liter V-8 that makes 475 horsepower and 470 pound feet of torque. Fiat Chrysler is also rumored to be planning a Hellcat version of this vehicle, called the TrackHawk, with more than 700 horsepower.)
For this vehicle, that Pentastar engine is mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission, outfitted with steering-wheel-mounted paddle shifters for easy gear selection.
For a daylong drive around Santa Claritas Rowher Flats, the Pentastar was more than adequate. Though we did not put the vehicle to any severe tests, of the kind the off-road warriors get in Moab at the annual Jeep Week, we chucked it up and over enough steep, unstable slopes to get a feel for its rock-readiness.
Jeep has given this trim line other elements to increase trail credibility. The Trailhawk comes standard with a full-size spare tire, Jeeps signature red tow hooks, fog lamps, roof rack and beefy skid plates covering the transfer case and fuel tank.
Also standard at this level are a power lift gate, keyless entry and ignition, eight-way adjustable front seats, LED tail lamps, an 8.4-inch touchscreen display monitor and rear-view back-up camera.
Options on the model we tested included a set of luxury group amenities such as special headlamps, a sunroof and a telescoping steering wheel, as well as elements from Jeeps active safety group. Among these are Adaptive Cruise Control and Advanced Brake Assist systems that are as good as the best in the business. You cant quite read a newspaper or take a nap in bumper-to-bumper freeway traffic, but almost.
The Grand Cherokee Trailhawk has done well in head-to-head tests with an equivalently equipped Jeep Wrangler Rubicon. Despite its far higher degree of on-road comfort which adds about 800 pounds to its overall weight the Trailhawk was judged by several publications to manage the rough stuff just as well as its tougher-seeming brother.
To win over new buyers, it will also have to compete with Toyotas TRD, Nissans Armada and several vehicles from the Land Rover family.
But the real question isnt how it will hold up off-road, but how well it will hold up over time. The Jeep line, like a lot of Fiat Chrysler products, has been plagued by a reputation for long-term dependability issues.
In October, Consumer Reports ranked the Jeep brand 23rd, out of of 29. Of a possible 100 points for reliability, the Jeep scored a 30 better than fellow Fiat Chrysler brands Chrysler, Dodge, Fiat and Ram, but below Chevy and Ford.
In the last few years, the Jeeps have been subject to multiple safety recalls. One large one was designed to retrofit vehicles whose fuel tank was at risk for puncture and fire. Another massive one, issued earlier this year, involved more than 1 million Fiat Chrysler vehicles and concerns that the dial-up transmission left them subject to unexpected rollaways of the kind that may have led to the death of actor Anton Yelchin, who was killed when his Jeep Grand Cherokee slipped out of gear and crushed him as he passed behind the vehicle.
The 2014 Grand Cherokee was subject to a whopping 14 recalls, involving problems with everything from transmissions, brakes, electrical systems, seat belts and the awesome Adaptive Cruise Control program.
The company has had time to repair and resolve those issues. But early December saw yet another recall, this one involving risk of a fuel leak fire, affecting 30,183 Grand Cherokees and Dodge Durangos all outfitted with the same Pentastar engine used by the Trailhawks.
I hope they get that all sorted out. Jeep is a great American name plate. The fans passionate about their Grand Cherokees deserve the best.
2017 Jeep Grand Cherokee Trailhawk 4x4
Times take: A grand combination of rough and refined
Highs: Plush, powerful and off-road ready
Lows: Plagued by recalls and reliability issues
Vehicle type: 4-door, 5-passenger SUV
Base price: $43,990
Price as tested: $50,125
Powertrain: 3.6-liter V-6 gasoline engine
Transmission: 8-speed automatic
Horsepower: 295
Torque: 260 pound-feet
EPA fuel economy rating: 18 miles per gallon city / 25 mpg highway / 21 mpg combined
charles.fleming@latimes.com
Twitter: @misterfleming
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec 30
By Emil Ilgar Trend:
Irans total crude oil export to Turkey reached 5.062 million tons (equals 124,862 barrels per day) in 10 months of 2016, while this figure in the first half of 2016 was only 2.6 million tons, or 106,888 b/d.
In the other words, Irans oil export to Turkey in July-October of 2016 was 50 percent more than in January-June, the statistics of Turkey Energy Regulatory indicate.
During four months of the second half of 2016, Iran on average exported 151,823 b/d of oil to Turkey.
Before imposing sanctions against Iran, Turkey was importing about 180,000 b/d of crude oil from Iran, but the figure plunged to around 110,000 b/d during 2012-2015 due to sanctions on Iran.
The sanctions were removed in January 2016.
Burger Kings parent company is the latest fast-food giant to take a stand on the use of antibiotics to raise chickens, but food safety critics are not exactly crowing.
Restaurant Brands International pledged Thursday to avoid buying poultry fed antibiotics considered critically important to human health a practice that has been linked to the rise of drug-resistant strains of bacteria that can be lethal to humans.
The policy applies to a relatively narrow category of the antibiotics, leaving ample leeway to feed chickens other drugs used in human medicine, according to the Natural Resources Defense Council, one of the environmental groups that has been pushing for broader bans on antibiotic use in poultry, beef and pork.
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This is a small step that is much less meaningful for humankind than Burger King would have you believe, said Dr. David Wallinga, the councils senior health officer. The fast-food industry is moving away from routine antibiotic use in their chicken supply and the chains that drag their feet will continue to fall behind.
Officials from Restaurant Brands were not immediately available for comment on the policy, which would be phased in over the next two years at its Burger King restaurants in the U.S. and Tim Hortons doughnut restaurants in Canada.
The World Health Organization defines antibiotics as critically important when they are the sole drug available to combat a microbe that can be transmitted from nonhuman sources or that can acquire resistant genes.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administrations voluntary program to phase out antibiotic use in the nations meat supply applies to a broader category of drugs that are medically important in human health. The agency issued several new guidelines this year limiting use of antibiotics to measures considered necessary for assuring animal health under veterinary oversight or consultation.
In 2015, McDonalds and Subway joined Panera Bread and Chipotle Mexican Grill in implementing policies eliminating the use of antibiotics deemed medically important in human health. Yum Brands implemented a similar policy this year at its Taco Bell restaurants, but is under pressure from activists to broaden it to its KFC outlets.
geoffrey.mohan@latimes.com
Follow me: @LATgeoffmohan
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Its been more than a decade since a handful of ambitious entrepreneurs saw their plans to provide global telecommunications service through massive satellite constellations blow up, doomed by runaway costs.
Now, a new generation of satellite entrepreneurs is headed back to the launch pad. Backed by billions of dollars from deep-pocketed investors, they plan to blanket the earth in the next few years with perhaps thousands of miniature satellites beaming cheap, ubiquitous broadband service.
Whats different? Launching one of these smaller satellites can cost a fraction of the price for a larger, school-bus-sized satellite. These new satellites will largely be mass-produced. And consumers now demand high-speed Internet connectivity pretty much everywhere, on airplanes, cruise ships and in the remotest village in Africa.
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Companies such as SpaceX, OneWeb and Boeing have all recently proposed networks of satellites in low-Earth orbit to provide high-speed broadband access around the globe.
Even Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg has aspirations to bring Internet to poorly connected areas a plan that was derailed in September after a satellite set to beam high-speed service to areas including sub-Saharan Africa was destroyed in the explosion of a SpaceX rocket on a Florida launch pad.
If this latest wave of satellite networks gets off the ground, it could pose a challenge to a $224.6-billion industry currently dominated by telecom and cable companies with their miles of fiber optic and copper wires.
Thats going to shake up how these operators are controlling different regions, and its going to allow the consumer a little more of an option, said Taylor Palmer, industry analyst at market research firm IBISWorld.
On Dec. 19, the Arlington, Va.-based OneWeb said it secured $1.2 billion of funded capital in a round led by Japanese technology giant SoftBank Group Corp., which contributed $1 billion of the total.
The money will fund construction of a Florida satellite manufacturing plant, which is set to start production in 2018.
SoftBank is just one addition to OneWebs list of big-name investors, which includes Qualcomm Inc., Airbus Group, the Coca-Cola Co. and Richard Bransons Virgin Group.
One of the main challenges is raising financing from investors, so this proves they are able to continue doing that and theyre still attracting money from these big, established companies, said Bill Ostrove, aerospace and defense analyst at market research firm Forecast International. Thats going to be really vital.
Satellite-provided broadband service is still tiny. It generated revenues of $1.9 billion last year, according to a June report from the Tauri Group that was commissioned by the Satellite Industry Assn. trade group. That compares with $97.8 billion for satellite television.
But interest in satellite broadband is growing as consumers expect high-speed service in places that arent always well-served by fiber or cable.
Earlier this month, Southwest Airlines said it planned to equip its entire fleet of more than 700 planes with WiFi.
Theres a competitive advantage for those that have that service available, said Tom Stroup, president of the Satellite Industry Assn. Broadband has essentially become an expected fact of life.
Analysts say satellite constellations could have the biggest effect in remote areas.
In 2014, almost half of the worlds population lived in rural regions, which are largely unconnected to the Internet, according to a report from ITU, a special agency of the United Nations that handles information and communication technologies.
Internet access is fundamental for understanding of culture, cultural differences, civic understanding and participation, said Greg Wyler, founder and executive chairman of OneWeb. It helps make the unconnected economically relevant to the developed world. When theyre economically relevant, we pay a lot more attention to them.
The company has an ambitious timeline. It plans to launch the first 10 satellites into low-Earth orbit in early 2018 to test their capabilities. More launches will follow, with its broadband access beginning as early as 2019.
By 2022, OneWeb says it will connect every unconnected school to the Internet. Eventually, OneWeb plans a 700-satellite constellation.
OneWebs satellite manufacturing facility in Exploration Park, Fla. is key to these plans. The company will mass produce its micro-satellites with automated assembly capabilities similar to those used in aircraft production facilities, eventually making three a day.
OneWeb has said the satellites will weigh about 330 pounds.
Hawthorne-based SpaceX plans to eventually launch more than 4,000 satellites for its network. Each satellite would be about 13 feet long and 6 feet wide, with 19-foot-long solar arrays.
Last year, the company received a $1-billion infusion from Google Inc. and Fidelity Investments and opened an office in Redmond, Wash., near Seattle, to focus on developing the small satellites. SpaceX Chief Executive Elon Musk has said the whole constellation could cost $10 billion to $15 billion.
After launching an initial 800 satellites, SpaceX said it could provide broadband coverage to the U.S., Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands. By its final deployment, the company said it will pass over virtually all parts of the Earths surface.
Boeings proposed 2,900-satellite constellation is intended to provide broadband access to both commercial and government users worldwide. The aerospace giant said it planned to launch more than 1,300 satellites within six years of the license approval.
The satellite swarms are made possible by advances in miniaturized parts and microprocessors. They could also help shrink the price gap between satellite and terrestrial broadband access, said Palmer of IBISWorld.
In the past, satellite broadband was hampered by slower data transfer based on the long distance from Earth a problem the companies hope to solve by putting their satellites in low-Earth orbit. They will also launch extra satellites to ensure coverage if a few break down.
If theyre really able to optimize the production ... and get it out at a cost-per-unit measurement that makes sense for a household then it really could expand satellite broadband into a major competitor for some of these terrestrial companies, Palmer said.
But first the satellite systems must get approval from the FCC to use specific airwaves. And mobile broadband providers have fought back when proposals for certain frequencies have overlapped with their own plans.
The satellite ventures may be able to lean on their powerful investors. Several of OneWebs backers have ties to the wireless industry, including SoftBank, which has a controlling stake in Sprint Corp., and Sunil Bharti Mittal, founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, a business group that includes leading Indian telecommunications company Bharti Airtel Ltd.
Wyler insists OneWeb will be a partner with the Earth-bound networks, serving as an extension of current networks. OneWebs business model is to sell the broadband connectivity and capacity on its satellites to telecommunications operators.
Were not competing at all, Wyler said. These are areas [where] the current broadband infrastructure are not designed to provide services.
In some cases, he said cellular operators might be able to put a tower in a rural area, but the location is too remote to lay cables or fiber to provide Internet service. Thats where OneWeb could step in and beam service to the tower, Wyler said.
Ultimately, an expanding market for broadband probably can accommodate both technologies, said Ostrove of Forecast International.
I think its just going to be another way for the end user to get that service, he said.
samantha.masunaga@latimes.com
For more business news, follow me @smasunaga
Donald Trump gave himself kudos for the creation of 8,000 U.S. jobs by a Japanese tech mogul, saying it was proof of the spirit and the hope stirred by his victory in the presidential election.
But for those particular jobs, Trump was basically taking a bow for the second time. The jobs were part of a public commitment made Dec. 6 by Masayoshi Son upon emerging from the elevator bank at Trump Tower in New York after a meeting with Trump. Son pledged that companies controlled by his firm SoftBank would invest $50 billion in the United States and create 50,000 jobs.
On Wednesday, Trump celebrated the planned creation of 5,000 jobs by wireless carrier Sprint and 3,000 jobs by OneWeb both companies where Son is a dominant investor.
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Speaking from the front door of his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, Trump did not outright mention Sons previous commitment but used the opportunity once again to declare a victory for U.S. workers. Although 8,000 jobs on their own are unlikely to dramatically move the needle toward the faster economic growth he has promised, the Trump transition team treated the jobs as a preview of things to come.
This is just the tip of the iceberg, spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters Thursday.
Ever the dealmaker, Trump has actively courted and shamed companies. The president-elect has pushed defense contractors Boeing and Lockheed-Martin to reduce their costs, and he fulfilled a campaign promise by preserving 800 jobs at the Carrier furnace plant in Indianapolis that were previously bound for Mexico.
With the Sprint and OneWeb announcement, there may be slightly less than meets the eye. There is one clear winner, though: Son, who is worth an estimated $19 billion. Since the presidential election, Sprint stock has soared roughly 40%. Sons SoftBank controls 83% of the Kansas-based carrier.
Here are some more facts about the SoftBank commitment.
Are all of Sprints pledged 5,000 jobs at the company?
No.
Of the 5,000 jobs Sprint said it would create or bring back to the United States in its upcoming fiscal year, some would be at outside contractors. The jobs will help support its customer service and sales teams, among other divisions at the company. Details about pay and benefits are being finalized, according to Sprint.
The company also said it will discuss with business partners, states and cities about where to create these jobs but a spokeswoman said it will not receive any federal, state or local government incentives for adding the positions.
Still, Sprint probably will have fewer workers than it did when Sons firm SoftBank acquired a controlling stake in 2013. Sprint has shed about 9,000 employees since 2012; it now employs roughly 30,000, according to annual reports.
What are the 3,000 new jobs at OneWeb?
SoftBank invested $1 billion this month in OneWeb, which is building a network of satellites to provide broadband Internet. The investment will help finance the construction of a factory that could produce 15 satellites a week, generating 3,000 engineering, manufacturing and support jobs over the next four years, according to a Dec. 19 statement.
Son linked his investment to meeting with Trump.
Earlier this month I met with President-elect Trump and shared my commitment to investing and creating jobs in the U.S., he said in a statement about the investment. This is the first step in that commitment.
Who are the big winners from this announcement?
In addition to those who get hired for the new jobs, a clear victor is Son.
Trump twice praised the Japanese billionaire in December, signaling that Son might as well have a direct line to the White House. This could be helpful for Sons other business plans. Under the Obama administration, a marquee deal to merge Sprint with rival T-Mobile failed. Regulators opposed combining two of the four largest mobile telecom companies in the United States. Analysts say a Trump administration would be more likely to approve telecom mergers.
The exposure with Trump already has been lucrative for Son. Before the election, Sprint stock was trading for less than it did after SoftBank acquired the company. At the current price of about $8.80 a share, the value of SoftBanks stake has risen by more than $8 billion since Trumps victory. Son founded SoftBank in 1981 and is the companys chief executive, chairman and major shareholder.
Will this boost economic growth?
The U.S. economy is so massive that 8,000 jobs is basically a rounding error representing just 0.36% of the 2.25 million jobs employers have added over the last 12 months. Ultimately, Trumps administration will need to introduce policies to generate faster economic growth, rather than securing promises from individual companies. Trump has said that tax reform and regulatory cuts can help lift overall economic growth to 3.5% annually, substantially above the 1.6% growth expected for 2016.
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The new year begins with two big unanswered questions on the cybercrime front: Did the Russians influence the U.S. presidential election and how did hackers gain access to 1.5 billion Yahoo accounts?
The fact that we may never have definitive answers suggests that 2017 will be just as digitally perilous for most people as last year.
Businesses, meanwhile, will continue grappling with the spread of ransomware malicious software that encrypts and holds computer files hostage until money gets paid, typically in the form of untraceable bitcoins.
Bottom line: Hackers often have everything to gain and little to lose from their criminal activities, which leaves our increasingly techno-dependent society vulnerable to all manner of mischief.
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Someone asked me the other day how much progress weve made on cybersecurity, said James Andrew Lewis, director of the Strategic Technologies Program at the Center for Strategic & International Studies, a Washington think tank. The answer is not so much.
The intelligence community seems to have reached consensus that Moscow was behind cyberattacks on Hillary Clintons campaign for the purpose of helping ensure an election victory by Donald Trump. Lewis said his intelligence sources confirmed that belief.
Its now up to investigators to determine the scope of what happened and what can be done to prevent future election tampering from abroad.
The Yahoo hacks are more easily understood and better represent for consumers the ongoing threat to peoples privacy and digital livelihoods.
Nothing is safe. Not your email, your personal information, your photos, your files. If its stored online, its theoretically accessible to anyone with the skills and wherewithal to grab it.
According to the Identity Theft Resource Center, nearly 900 million records might have been accessed in almost 7,000 known data breaches since 2005. The actual number of breaches is undoubtedly higher because not all security lapses are publicized.
A few weeks ago, Yahoo reported what is believed to be the single largest security breach ever 1 billion user accounts potentially accessed in August 2013. Yahoo said it only discovered the incident recently, which does little to ease concerns.
The attack apparently was unrelated to a separate breach in 2014 involving 500 million accounts, which Yahoo revealed in September. The company blamed that one on an unnamed foreign government.
Other noteworthy breaches taking place or coming to light last year included databases penetrated at the U.S. Department of Justice, the Internal Revenue Service, UC Berkeley, 21st Century Oncology, Premier Healthcare, LinkedIn and AdultFriendFinder.com.
Exacerbating the problem is that few if any corporate and public-sector databases are encrypted, which would make their contents unintelligible to hackers. Thus, any successful breach will result in cyber-loot to be stolen.
Using encryption would be a big improvement, Lewis told me. Big companies should be encrypting data.
The reason they dont is because its expensive and because encryption can slow things down by requiring system users to use digital keys to access data.
With Yahoo in mind, I can think of 1.5 billion reasons why those arent very good excuses.
Ransomware is a particularly insidious problem. IBM reported recently that 70% of businesses infected with ransomware have quietly paid off the perpetrators to regain access to their files and data systems. In half the cases, the ransom was at least $10,000.
Among consumers, IBMs study found that more than half of those surveyed would be willing to pay to recover financial data and 43% would cough up some cash to unlock a mobile device. Ransom demands involving individuals typically run a few hundred dollars.
Jonathan Fairtlough, managing director for cyber-security and investigations at the Los Angeles office of Kroll, said a ransomware shakedown once would have been considered a highly sophisticated crime, requiring great expertise on the part of the perpetrator.
Now its a common one, he said. Its become a self-service crime you can do easily.
In a sign of how bold hackers have become, we learned last month about a new ransomware racket called Popcorn Time. After encrypting the victims computer files and demanding a bitcoin payout, the software offers another choice: Help infect the computers of at least two of your friends.
If you do, and if they pay off the hacker, youll receive a free software key to unlock your own files. Thats just evil.
Fairtlough said there are steps businesses and consumers can take to protect themselves, but there will always be a trade-off between security and ease of use.
The more secure you make something, the less operable and interoperable it will be, he said.
And its important to have reasonable expectations. As security measures grow stronger, so too do the cunning and sophistication of hackers.
Your pricey antivirus software from the likes of Norton or McAfee will get you only so far. Its designed to respond to known threats a not insignificant consideration. However, anything new that hackers come up with often will be beyond the powers of protective software to stop.
You can take a lot of steps to make your house secure, but thats not going to stop a battering-ram bulldozer, Fairtlough observed.
He advised consumers to use so-called multi-factor authentication when available for online accounts. Instead of just a user name and password, such systems may include additional security questions or sending an authentication code to ones mobile device.
Fairtlough also suggested having different email accounts for different needs, so that a security breach wont be catastrophic throughout your digital life, and using a password-management tool such as LastPass (which, ironically, had to patch a security hole earlier this year that could have allowed hackers access to millions of user accounts).
Will such steps keep you safe? In a word, no. Thats no longer the world we inhabit. What youll be is safer than you were before.
And until the private and public sectors step up their cybersecurity game, which they remain reluctant to do, safer is about the best you can shoot for.
David Lazarus column runs Tuesdays and Fridays. He also can be seen daily on KTLA-TV Channel 5 and followed on Twitter @Davidlaz. Send your tips or feedback to david.lazarus@latimes.com.
Chiara Ferragnis No. 1 must-have in her new home was a spare bedroom that could be converted into a closet. The 5,000-square-foot Beverly Hills house she rented 10 months ago fit the bill.
The fashion blogger and designer moved to Los Angeles two years ago from her native Milan and has leveraged her 10 million social media followers into her own brand of shoes, backpacks and T-shirts.
Given her dedication to all things fashion, her walk-in closet is the focal point of her home.
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Why is this room your favorite?
I finally have enough space for all my stuff, as well as plenty of room for my guests. I used to live in a three-bedroom house that was like a cottage in Silver Lake. For my closet, it was important for me to have space in the middle to move around. In my other place, everything was just packed in.
How did you convert the spare bedroom into a closet?
Everything is custom-made. I hired a contractor to put in shelves and racks to hold all my things. It cost about $10,000 to complete. Also, because it was a bedroom, it had its own walk-in closet, which I use to keep my more special pieces.
Ferragni says shes not a crazy shopper. I work with so many designers that I get a lot of stuff. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times )
Any idea how many shoes and bags are in here?
Maybe about 200 of each. Im not a crazy shopper. I work with so many designers that I get a lot of stuff. I like to keep pieces for my archives. My mother gave me my first Chanel bag when I was 18, and I still use it.
Is it all high-priced designer stuff or a mix?
Im all about mixing. I have things that have cost $5, and others that go up into many thousands.
How do you keep the room organized?
I might leave things in my bedroom for one or two days, but then I will bring them here and put them in their place. I know where everything is in this room.
Do you ever get rid of anything?
Sometimes I feel overwhelmed. Or maybe I receive things I wouldnt wear. And I do love giving things away. I do something with my friends I call a bazaar. They come over and select things I dont want any more.
If there was an emergency and you had to race out of here, what would you take?
My Hermes crocodile bag. And my favorite leather jacket.
Is there one item you really want to add to your collection?
I once saw this amazing Chanel clutch bag. It was like a Russian matryoshka nesting doll. It was impossible to find at the time, plus the price was off-limits to me back then. Id love to have that.
hotproperty@latimes.com
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The French may hold animation, graphic novels, comic books and comic strips in higher regard than Americans do, if the crowds at two museum exhibitions here are any indication.
Herge, a survey of work by Tintin creator Georges Herge Remi, is running at the venerable Grand Palais through Jan. 15; across the Seine, Art Ludique-Le Musee is offering The Art of Walt Disney Animation Studios: Movement by Nature through March 5.
Georges Herg Remi in 1969. (Vagn Hansen / Studios Herg)
In 1929 Belgian cartoonist Herge scored a hit with a comic strip about an intrepid boy reporter, Tintin, and his fox terrier, Milou (Snowy in English). It appeared in the childrens newspaper supplement le Petit Vigntieme (the Little 20th). Since then, more than 200 million Tintin books have been sold in 70 languages, and Herge's work has influenced generations of cartoonists, as well as pop artists Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein. This extensive exhibit includes some of Herges previous strips, his Art Deco advertising work and some early paintings.
The Adventures of Tintin: Tintin and Alph-Art, 1978-1982, from the collection of Studios Herg. (Herg/Moulinsart 2016)
The Adventures of Tintin: We Walked on the Moon, 1954, blue coloring of plates 25 and 26, watercolor and gouache on printed proof, from the collection of Studios Herg. (Herg/Moulinsart 2016)
The Adventures of Tintin: Crab With Golden Claws, 1942, blue coloring of the cover illustration, watercolor and gouache on printed proof, from the collection of Studios Herg. (Herg/Moulinsart 2016)
The most interesting pieces in the show are the rough pencil drawings of Tintin, which show the artist looking for the shapes that will make the characters and settings read on the printed page. Herge's direct, immediately recognizable style was based on what he called "the clear line," but his roughs are masses of scribbles, erasures and re-drawn forms that reveal his mind at work.
Unfortunately, the exhibit is poorly laid out. Its often hard to tell which room should follow which, and examples of work by artists Herge cited as influences feel out of place at the end of the show. They belong at the beginning. But nearly 90 years after he went to the Soviet Union on his first assignment, Tintin shows no signs of waning popularity, and the crowds are lining up outside the Grand Palais.
The exhibition at the Grand Palais includes work by those who influenced Herg, as well as non-Tintin art by Herg. (Didier Plowy / Grand Palais / Herg-Moulinsart)
The Movement by Nature exhibition at Art Ludique, although smaller than the comprehensive Once Upon a Time, Walt Disney show held at the Grand Palais in 2006, is a well-curated and well-presented delight.
Working with the Disneys Animation Research Library, museum President Jean-Jacques Launier and his staff have chosen materials that emphasize the technical and artistic innovations Disney introduced, and the links between the classic Disney films and the studios recent string of CG blockbusters. The younger artists have clearly studied the work of their illustrious predecessors and learned from them.
A Mary Blair concept drawing for Sleeping Beauty. (Disney) (Disney )
Brittney Lees concept drawing for Frozen. (Disney) (Disney )
Joe Grants preliminary sketches of the Queen from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs deftly capture her icy vanity; Jin Kims studies of the lead characters in Frozen and Big Hero 6 suggest a comparable level of vitality and psychological insight. Atmospheric studies by Paul Felix for Tarzan and Ryan Lang for Big Hero reflect the influence of Tyrus Wongs exquisite watercolors that set the look of Bambi. Byron Howards digital rendering for Zootopia of disgruntled fox Nick Wild in a commuter car full of rabbits telegraphs exactly what hes thinking as do a series of studies of Pinocchio and Geppetto done in colored pencil decades earlier.
Animation drawings from Pinocchio, Fantasia, Alice in Wonderland and 101 Dalmatians by Marc Davis, Ollie Johnston, Milt Kahl, Ward Kimball, Woolie Reitherman and Frank Thomas six of Disneys celebrated Nine Old Men set the standard for fine draftsmanship and consummate acting. More recent work for The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast and The Lion King by Ruben Aquino, James Baxter, Andreas Deja and Glen Keane showcase the influence of the older masters and the new artists individual talents.
Walt Disney drawing a fawn. (Disney) (Disney )
A studio sketch for the 1942 film Bambi. (Disney) (Disney )
Movement by Nature includes some rarely seen treasures. A page from the scenario for the groundbreaking Steamboat Willie and the accompanying animation drawing by Ub Iwerks mark the birth of Mickey Mouse, still the worlds most famous animated character. A series of watercolors by Mary Blair for Saludos Amigos reveals her transition from the more realistic style of the California School to the brilliant palette and simplified forms that mark her work for Alice and other features. The Alice studies, which pack so much color and life into a few square inches, show why Blair ranks as one of the most admired designers in the history of animation.
Art Ludique-Le Musee is across the Seine from the Cinematheque Francaise, which boasts an unmatched collection of early animation devices that complements the Disney exhibition. Together, they offer visitors to Paris rare insights into the art form. It will probably be a long time before major American museums devote comparable space to Carl Barks, the Hernandez brothers, Studio Ghibli or Aardman Animations.
Our reviewers weigh in with lists of under-seen movies from 2016, as well as trends theyd like to see more and less of.
Krisha: A superior blend of cinematic vivacity and commanding star turn, this turbulent family holiday drama marked a killer debut for director Trey Edward Shults, who cast his aunt Krisha Fairchild as the disturbed wild card at a Thanksgiving get-together. Fairchilds emotional horror show of a portrayal was one of the years strongest.
The Fits: Anna Rose Holmers remarkably self-assured debut feature about aspiring drill teamers is a burst of poetic kineticism, flavored by percolating adolescent emotions and the woozy air of a psychodramatic mystery. Young newcomer Royalty Hightower is a real find, beautifully centering a state-of-mind experience.
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Nuts!: Even a provocative, part-animated curio like Penny Lanes richly entertaining documentary can fall through the cracks. In spilling the bizarre story of an early 20th century Midwestern doctor turned radio celebrity, Lane made a cheeky, rug-pulling corker that now feels like a prescient look at our longstanding fake-news gullibility.
Year in review: Entertainment 2016
The Measure of a Man: Quietly yet forcefully, Stephane Brizes story of a proud working class man (a superb Vincent Lindon) in the soul-crushing miasma of post-layoff survival, is this worlds anti-labor economy made achingly resonant. An everyday tragedy with a labyrinthine despair, it recalls the best work of Jean-Pierre and Luc Dardenne.
The Wailing: Murders, superstitions, demons and village hysteria are the ingredients in this unholy mauling on your most smug Ive-seen-it-all horror sensibilities, thanks to the epic genre acumen of South Korean director Na Hong-jin.
More please: Documentaries that approach their subjects with experimentation and imagination, such as Tower, Fire at Sea and I Am Not Your Negro.
No mas: Comedies that feel like one long raunch-obsessed gag list assembled by gutter-minded hacks increasingly blind to the more satisfying humor of behavior, situation and wit. The shock has long gone, but the vigor with which body parts, fluids and predictable inappropriateness routinely get mixed seems only to escalate.
See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour
Our reviewers weigh in with lists of under-seen movies from 2016, as well as trends theyd like to see more and less of.
Kubo and the Two Strings: In Laika animation studios best film to date, directed by Travis Knight, the Japanese-influenced designs are beautiful. The animation of the origami figures feels spontaneous. If paper could move on its own, it would move like this. Why havent more people seen it? Available on DVD and digital.
Miss Hokusai: Keiichi Haras evocative mixture of fact and fiction recounts the adventures of O-Ei, the unapologetically independent and talented daughter of the great printmaker Hokusai. Hara makes the bustling metropolis of 19th century Edo feel like a character in the story.
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My Life as a Zucchini: In contrast to the polished look of Kubo, the simple puppets and more limited animation in this touching Swiss film suggest folk art. A charming, understated work directed by Claude Barras and set in an orphanage, its slated for U.S. release in late February.
Year in review: Entertainment 2016
Phantom Boy: This modest, noir-inflected fantasy by Jean-Loup Felicioli and Alain Gangol reminds viewers of the intimate pleasures of drawn animation. What Phantom Boy lacks in production values, it makes up for in imagination. Available on DVD and digital.
Your Name: Writer-director Makoto Shinkais runaway hit deftly fuses a gender-bending teen romantic comedy with reflections on the trauma Japan suffered in the Fukushima disaster of 2011. Already a hit in Asia, it will get a U.S. release in late February or early March.
More, please: The current flowering of stop-motion animation, exemplified by Kubo and the Two Strings, My Life as a Zucchini and the lyrical passages in the otherwise disappointing The Little Prince. Good news: Four-time Oscar-winner Nick Park is reportedly at work on Early Man, a new clay-animated feature due in 2018.
No mas: Fart, poop, belch and pee jokes. Return them to the junior high boys locker room, where they seem funny.
See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour
Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band navigated The River 35th anniversary tour all the way to the bank in 2016, pulling in $268.3 million globally to score the top-grossing concert trek of the year worldwide, according to Pollstar, the concert industry-tracking publication.
Beyonce nipped close at the E Streeters heels, grossing $256.4 million from her Formation world tour, followed by Coldplay ($241 million), Guns N Roses ($188.4 million) and Adele ($167.7 million) to round out Pollstars top five.
In what has been a banner year for the concert business, the Top 10 Tours alone grossed a combined $1.67 billion, Pollstar editor Gary Bongiovanni noted in a statement. That is significantly better than the $1.5 billion in 2015.
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It is, in fact, an 11.3% increase.
See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour
Adele is one of just two performers to have emerged in the new millennium to make the Top 10, the other being Justin Bieber, whose tour grossed $163.3 million, placing him at No. 6 on the list.
Thats a bit of a come down from last year, when Taylor Swift had the top-grossing tour of 2015 worldwide and the Top 10 also include such relative newcomers as One Direction and Ed Sheeran.
Following Bieber on the 2016 roster, Paul McCartney posted a worldwide gross of $110.6 million; Garth Brooks, $97 million; the Rolling Stones, $90.9 million; and Celine Dion, $85.5 million.
Coldplay, however, sold the most tickets, moving almost 2.7 million during the year, followed by Springsteen at 2.4 million and Beyonce at 2.2 million.
Dion easily had the top average ticket price of $146.26, followed by McCartney at $127.43, the Stones at $122.33, Beyonce at $114.59 and Springsteen at $111.48.
In terms of average gross per show, however, the Stones dwarfed the competition, taking in an staggering $9.1 million from just 14 performances in 10 cities. Beyonce finished second with an average of nearly $5.6 million at 49 shows in 46 cities, then Coldplay at just under $5.5 million from 60 shows in 44 cities and Guns N Roses at almost $5.4 million from 44 shows in 35 cities.
Brooks can claim the most affordable tour among the Top 10 finishers, tickets averaging just $69.29 for the 102 performances he gave in 25 cities.
Pollstar is still finalizing figures for its annual ranking of the Top 200 tours globally and in North America; results will be posted in its Jan. 6 edition.
Bongiovanni noted that Beyonce took top honors for the highest-grossing North American tour of 2016, but the figure for that portion of her world tour was not released.
Both Springsteen and Beyonce surpassed Swifts field-leading gross of $250.1 million in 2015.
randy.lewis@latimes.com
Follow @RandyLewis2 on Twitter.com
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Whether you considered it a three-ring circus or a welcome change of course, more than anything, 2016 will be remembered as the year that American politics made a sharp turn into the reality-television spectacle it always threatened to be. And it was all underlined by the election of a reality TV star to the highest office in the land.
But theres bad news for anyone expecting a break from the tumultuous political landscape theyve come to know and hate: 2017 isnt a fresh start; its merely Season 2.
Whether you love or loathe the incoming commander in chief, you cant deny that The Apprentice alumnus Donald Trump has a keen understanding that American culture thrives on spectacle.
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Thanks to surprise appearances by Billy Bush, a former beauty queen and John Podestas risotto recipe, America: The Reality Show garnered huge ratings, setting the stage for another round of antics. And for the second season we have the congressional hearing to look forward to.
The last months of 2016 have revolved around President-elect Trumps cabinet picks, several of which will likely face extremely trying (and televised) confirmation hearings.
As though knowing that controversy loves coverage, Trump stacked his cabinet with characters sure to cause a stir.
There will be plenty to hijack our attention in the coming months, from the Senate struggling with questions about Gen. James Mad Dog Mattis eligibility to be Defense secretary to potential Secretary of State Rex Tillersons overtly friendly ties to Russia. And then theres attorney general nominee Jeff Sessions pleading his case that he is less racially problematic than he was in 1986, when the Senate blocked his nomination for federal judgeship.
America loves a televised hearing, be it Benghazi or Iran-Contra or Clarence Thomas, so America: The Reality Show looks to have plenty of material to keep the masses hooked in Season 2.
See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour
libby.hill@latimes.com
Twitter: @midwestspitfire
Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec.30
By Emil Ilgar Trend:
Turkey stopped electricity import from Iran since the end of May 2016, while its cumulative power import from its eastern neighbour stood at 545 million kilowatt hours (kWh) in the period of five months of 2016.
Turkeys power import from Iran plunged in March (beginning of Irans fiscal year).
Turkey's electricity imports from Iran (million kilowatt hours)
Months From Iran January 215,944 February 213,122 March 110,753 April 1,088 May 2,227 Total 545,150
According to Irans Energy Ministrys official statistics, the country exported over 1.7 billion kilowatt hours of electricity to Turkey during the last fiscal year (ended on March 21).
Violent crime increased in Los Angeles for the third straight year as police tried to stem a rash of homicides and gang-related shootings while dealing with a growing homeless population.
With more than 290 people killed in the city this year, homicides also rose for the third year in a row. Still, the city remains far safer than a decade ago, when 480 people were killed and there were 46% more robberies than this year.
For the record: An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated there were two homicides in Oakland in 2016 through Dec. 18, nine in 2015 and seven in 2014. There were 80 homicides in 2016 through Dec. 25, 83 in 2015 for the same time period and 78 in 2014.
According to statistics from the Los Angeles Police Department, robberies were up by 13%, aggravated assaults were up by 10% and rapes were down by 4% through Dec. 17, compared with the same period last year. Homicides were up by 5%.
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Overall, violent crime was up by 10% over last year and 38% over two years ago.
Property crime also went up for the third consecutive year, with a 4% rise that was driven by double-digit increases in car-related thefts.
The upward trend of the last several years marks a reversal of a steady decline that began in the early 1990s, when crime was at all-time highs. In 1992, 1,094 people were killed in Los Angeles.
Similar trends were evident in the areas policed by the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department, where violent crime was up by 9% and property crime was up by 6% through Nov. 30 . It was the second year in a row that crime increased in sheriffs department territory, which includes unincorporated parts of the county as well as cities such as Compton and Lancaster that contract for law enforcement services.
Elsewhere in the state, crime decreased in some Bay Area cities. San Francisco saw an increase in homicides and rapes, but robberies were down 13% and crime was down 10% overall through the end of November. Through Dec. 25, Oakland had 80 homicides, compared with 83 in 2015 for the same time period and 78 in 2014. Overall, crime in Oakland was down 6%.
Early this year, in response to a spike in homicides and shootings, the LAPD sent extra platoons of elite Metropolitan Division officers to South Los Angeles and intensified its use of daily crime statistics to identify problem spots.
By the time the emergency operation ended on Oct. 1, the rate of violent crime had stabilized in South L.A. But with resources concentrated there, some other parts of the city experienced upticks in crime.
Recently, the situation in South L.A. worsened October was the worst month of the year for homicides and the Metropolitan Division has increased its presence there again, said Asst. Chief Michel Moore, who oversees the LAPDs patrol operations.
South Bureau, which includes much of South L.A. as well as the San Pedro area, finished the year with a 6% increase in homicides, 6% more rapes, 10% more robberies and 19% more aggravated assaults.
Overall, violent crime in South Bureau was up 15% over last year and 34% over two years ago.
The efforts of police officers on the streets have had an effect, but the root causes of crime joblessness, homelessness, substance abuse are deep and require the communitys help to solve, Moore said.
It is like fighting fires spot fires, he said. We have a finite number of resources, and at the end of the day, the LAPD isnt going to fix this.
The number of shooting victims in Los Angeles 1,152 as of Dec. 17 -- was up 6% over last year and 23% over two years ago.
Any one of those could have been a homicide by another inch or centimeter, Moore said. Our most pressing matter right now is shooting victims.
Crime was up even in some parts of the city that are traditionally considered safe. In West Los Angeles, robberies were up by 16%, and motor vehicle theft was up by 31%. The LAPDs Topanga Division saw a 41% increase in robberies and a 21% increase in motor vehicle theft.
Moore attributed the crime jump in Los Angeles to a combination of factors, including a resurgence in gang violence and the growth in homelessness. He also pointed to criminal justice reforms such as Proposition 47, which was approved by California voters in November 2014 and reduced some drug and property offenses from felonies to misdemeanors.
In Los Angeles County, the jail population has decreased, from 18,500 inmates just before Prop. 47 passed to about 16,500 inmates this November. Narcotics arrests have dropped, as busy police officers decide that the time needed to process a case is not worth it.
The result, some law enforcement officials say, is that more criminals are now on the streets instead of in jail and are not receiving the drug and mental health treatment the measure had promised. Without the threat of a felony prosecution, they say, defendants are less likely to choose treatment as an alternative to serving time.
Unfortunately, we see that these programs are sold to the voters as having some positive impact, and so far in two years we havent seen that positive impact, said Assistant Sheriff Jacques Anthony La Berge, who oversees patrol for the Sheriffs Department.
But supporters of Prop. 47 dispute the theory that crime increases are connected to the measure. Misdemeanors can still result in sentences of up to a year in jail, and it is up to police officers and prosecutors to enforce those penalties, said Michael Romano, a lecturer at Stanford Law School.
The idea that Prop. 47 has been responsible for an increase in crime in California over the past year or two is fake news, as far as Im concerned, he said. Theres not one shred of evidence supporting the idea that Prop. 47 has had any impact on crime one way or another.
The recent crime increases have also coincided with steep increases in homelessness. The latest homeless survey shows an 11% rise in the city of Los Angeles between January 2016 and the previous year, with a 5.7% jump countywide.
Homeless encampments can provide cover for chronic predators, and many homeless people are victims of crime, said Moore of the LAPD.
This year in Los Angeles, 13 homicide victims were homeless up from six the previous year and there was a 23% increase in aggravated assaults in which transients were the victims, Moore said.
The LAPDs Central Division, which includes parts of downtown, skid row and Chinatown, saw a 59% increase in violent crime in 2015. This year, violent crime was down by 5% in Central, which Moore attributed to inroads made by police officers and social workers in homeless camps.
But crime statistics can sometimes obscure the realities of living in Los Angeles, where a single police station can serve dozens of square miles and hundreds of thousands of people.
Brent Page said his neighborhood of early 20th century Spanish and English Tudor cottages near the Inglewood border defies the image of South L.A. as a dangerous place.
At the neighborhood council meetings he leads, which are often attended by officers from the LAPDs 77th Division, residents typically complain about minor issues such as street vending and illegally parked cars.
Page sees violent crime as largely confined to gang circles.
A lot of people on these blocks know each other. Theyre like family, Page said of his neighborhood, Morningside Circle. I know what the crime stats might say, what the perception might say, but its good to talk to people actually breathing and living in an area instead of going to the LAPD website and making generalizations.
In Compton and nearby unincorporated areas, which are policed by the L.A. County Sheriffs Department, homicides were up by 61%, with 37 through the end of November this year compared with 23 last year.
Most of the killings were gang-related, according to sheriffs officials, including that of a 1-year-old girl in her crib who was hit by a bullet likely meant for her father.
The spike marks a return to the violence of years past: The Compton area had 32 homicides in 2014 and 40 homicides in 2013. Capt. Michael Thatcher, who runs the Compton Sheriffs Station, said an increase in gang conflicts is a likely cause.
I take it personally, Thatcher said. Its our responsibility. Every deputy that works in that station understands that thats something thats very troubling for us.
Times staff writer Richard Winton contributed to this report.
cindy.chang@latimes.com | Twitter: @cindychangLA
maya.lau@latimes.com | Twitter: @mayalau
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The U.S. Navy for decades has deployed bottlenose dolphins to search for underwater mines and detect enemy divers. Now, the versatile sea mammals and their San Diego-based trainers are preparing for an unprecedented challenge: locating some of the few surviving vaquita porpoises in Mexicos Upper Gulf of California.
Members of the U.S. Navy Marine Mammal Program, the dolphins are part of a team being assembled on both sides of the border aimed at capturing live vaquitas something that has never been accomplished. For an international group of scientists determined to save the species from near-certain extinction, it represents a final hope.
Spearheaded by Mexicos Secretariat of Environment and Natural Resources, the plan involves removing vaquitas from the open water in their habitat in the Upper Gulf of California and keeping them safe from illegal gill nets, where they often end up as by-catch and drown.
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A group of experts, including porpoise and veterinary care specialists, is expected to attempt the capture in the spring. It is unknown whether the small sea mammal would even survive captivity.
The operation has to be done in a very careful, staged manner, said Barbara Taylor, a conservation biologist at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administrations Southwest Fisheries Science Center in La Jolla.
Scientists say the vaquita population has dwindled over the past two decades from 567 in an initial survey in 1997 to fewer than 60.
Despite a massive two-year plan launched in April 2015 by Mexican President Enrique Pena Nietos administration that includes an expanded ban on gill-net fishing in the porpoises habitat, the vaquita population has continued to fall largely because of the rampant illegal fishery for totoaba, a large fish whose swim bladders fetch exorbitant prices in China.
The new approach would involve placing vaquitas inside a protective pen off the coast of San Felipe, with the hope that they might have a better chance for survival. If all goes well, they also might breed and reproduce.
We cant afford to be slow about this, Taylor said. We have to give this our mightiest effort as quickly as possible.
Based in San Diego, the Navy Marine Mammal Program uses dolphins and sea lions for a range of tasks, from finding and removing underwater mines to detecting clandestine swimmers and divers in restricted areas.
Dolphins are skilled at locating things beneath the surface through echolocation, or sonar, which allows them to interpret the echoes of sound waves, as well as through their capacity for directional hearing underwater.
The operation planned for May is the latest in a series of efforts aimed at protecting vaquitas, a small porpoise that lives only in the rich and turbid waters of the Upper Gulf of California. The animals, which must surface to breathe, not only are rare but also extremely shy and difficult to spot, as they splash little, travel in small groups and avoid boats.
In recent days, leaders of the World Wildlife Fund and the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society have spoken out against the plan.
Removing the vaquita will allow the fishermen to intensify their exploitation of the endangered totoaba fish, Capt. Paul Watson, Sea Shepherds founder, wrote on his Facebook page.
But defenders say the plan is worth the effort and the risk.
NOAAs Taylor said even as the vaquita capture plan moves forward, enforcement efforts and other programs also must continue. Its not a situation where you can give up on enforcement, and give up on getting nets out of the water.
Dibble writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.
sandra.dibble@sduniontribune.com
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Former prisoner of war Joel D. Sollender, who was catapulted into unlikely fame in crucial swing states after starring in a pair of televised ads for Hillary Clintons presidential campaign, has died. He was 92.
The highly decorated World War II combat veteran died Tuesday of congestive heart failure, said his widow, Dorothy Sollender. A burial with military honors at Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia is pending.
He had a great patriotic feeling about this country, and the war affected him in many profound ways, Dorothy Sollender said.
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Never having been a political man, he told the Union-Tribune in November that he was irked by remarks from presidential candidate Donald Trump during a GOP primary event in Ames, Iowa, last year.
Trump mocked John McCain, a U.S. senator from Arizona and a POW during the Vietnam War, as a Navy pilot who wasnt a war hero because he was captured.
Reports of Sollenders anger reached Clintons election headquarters in Brooklyn, and a camera team taped him soon afterward for two ads.
A 30-second piece showed him and other veterans reacting strongly to a string of Trumps comments about the military. An 80-second ad featured Sollender alone, crying in his Poway, Calif., home as he reflected on his POW experience that was 70 years ago, and yesterday.
Both ads debuted on Sept. 16 National Prisoners of War Remembrance Day and played in heavy rotation in Ohio, Pennsylvania and other battleground states.
He was devastated that Trump won and worried about the future of the country, Dorothy Sollender said.
Sollender was born in Manhattan on Nov. 11, 1924. The World War II draft tore him from his studies at the City College of New York and placed him in the 346th Regiment of the Armys 87th Infantry Division, the Golden Acorn.
He was captured on Dec. 11, 1944, in France and imprisoned in Stalag 3A near Luckenwalde, Germany, according to military records kept by the National Archives.
A half-century later, he brought his wife to the French community of Gros-Rederching, near where he was captured. Villagers led them to the pillbox he had destroyed with a grenade, shortly before his trapped unit ran out of ammo and surrendered.
We went to American cemeteries, but he wanted to visit a German one too maybe because he killed German troops that day, Dorothy Sollender said. It came out of a sense of honor. He was very moved by Normandy and later very moved by those bunkers and all the barbed wire we climbed over to get there, and what he had to do there in 1944.
His decorations included a Bronze Star for valor, the Combat Infantryman Badge and a Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Besides his wife, Sollender is survived by his son, Dr. Jonathan Lee Sollender, and six grandchildren.
cprine@sduniontribune.com
Prine writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune
Los Angeles police are asking for the publics help in locating a young couple who failed to return from a Christmas weekend trip to Big Sur.
A police statement says 20-year-old Olivia Hannah Gonzalez and 21-year-old Brian Fernandez were last seen on Dec. 23 as they departed.
They were expected to return on Christmas Day but their families havent heard from them.
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Fernandez was driving a 2002 four-door tan Honda Civic with a California license plate number of 5VUD295.
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A man who urged an end to violence in Oakland after gunfire killed his son and grandson as they slept three years ago became a victim himself this week as he drove near a street memorial for his slain family.
Melvin Johnson, 39, was shot and killed Tuesday on the east side of the San Francisco Bay Area city, not far from the shrine for his 16-month-old grandson and 20-year-old son, who were fatally shot in August 2013, the East Bay Times reported Thursday.
Police have made no arrests and released no motive for Johnsons killing. They have not said if the shooting was random or if Johnson was targeted. He died at a hospital.
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In three years and four months, three generations of one family has been lost to gun violence in the streets of Oakland, community activist Sherri-Lyn Miller, a friend of Johnsons, told the Associated Press. Melvin Johnson was a giant teddy bear, and the loss has not only devastated the Johnson family, but all that knew him.
Johnson had moved his son, Andrew Drew Thomas, and grandson, Drew Leon Deon Jackson, to the Central California city of Fresno to get them away from Oaklands street violence, but they were slain while in town for a birthday party.
A shooter fired into a relatives home in the middle of the night, killing the sleeping pair. The slayings are still unsolved.
Johnsons mother, Carolyn Smith, spoke of her late son Wednesday as a good person who was committed to his family after a series of tragedies.
Another of his sons, 8-year-old Jahmel Johnson, died last month after a battle with lymphoma.
"[Melvin] helped everybody, he loved everybody, Smith told the newspaper. He didnt mess with nobody; he was like a big teddy bear. Im not saying that because I was his mother, but because I know.
Smith said his business, Drewski Designs, which made T-shirts and clothing for picnics, anniversaries, funerals and special events, helped people in the community.
A lot of people called him, wanting him to make them this and that, Smith said. He was changing his life, helping others.
Authorities are offering up to $10,000 for tips on who killed Johnson. A reward of up to $30,000 for information leading to an arrest in his sons and grandsons killings is still being offered.
In past years, Oakland has seen triple-digit annual homicide rates and been on the FBIs list of the 10 most dangerous cities in the country. Poverty is rampant in some areas, with gangs and drugs linked to as much as 90% of the killings.
This year, the mayor said Oakland has seen a double-digit drop in overall shootings. Violent crime also has dipped. But the blue-collar city of about 410,000 has yet to see the economic boom underway in neighboring San Francisco.
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Christian Guntert was lying on his back, gluing seeds to the bottom of a giant faux pizza for a Rose Parade float when a teenager made a casual comment about his wife.
When the 58-year-old Guntert told the girl that he and his longtime girlfriend actually werent married, she screamed: Youre not married?
The shocked question reverberated in the 80,000-square-foot California warehouse last December, where teams of volunteers were building a dozen floats for the annual, nationally televised parade in Pasadena.
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Soon, volunteers had surrounded Guntert and his girlfriend of 17 years, 56-year-old Susan Brown, offering their various skills to make a wedding happen right then and there on the float. One said he was an ordained minister and could perform the ceremony, another offered to sing during the wedding and a photographer said she could snap photos.
Susan kind of looked at herself and at me, we were all dirty and covered in glue and flower parts, Guntert said. Susan said, You know, Id really like to have a pretty dress.
So the couple decided to postpone the wedding for a year. Now, Brown has a pretty dress, they have a perfectly good float, and the same team of volunteers will help make the ceremony happen on Saturday, two days before the 128th annual parade.
The couple will say I do on top of a float to be ridden by the parades queen and her court. The float will be festooned with thousands of flowers beneath a giant gold crown, which will serve as a makeshift altar for the ceremony.
The unique setting is appropriate for Guntert and Brown, who have spent the past decade volunteering to decorate Rose Parade floats an endeavor that has them working 12-hour days between Christmas and New Years on what would be vacation time from their jobs as government workers in San Bernardino County.
Over the years, the two have formed what they call their float family, people theyve grown close to but see only once a year for the annual decorating. The entire group will be at the ceremony, along with family members and other friends.
The wedding will come 17 years after the couple first struck up a conversation online, when Internet dating was in its infancy. Though neither was looking for romance, their conversations grew into a friendship and not long after, love.
Guntert was living in Northern California at the time, and Brown and her then 6-year-old daughter were a six-hour drive south in Victorville, about 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert.
After a three-year long-distance relationship, Guntert relocated to Victorville. The pair talked about marriage over the years, but Guntert never quite got around to getting down on one knee and proposing one of Browns few requirements.
It took their Rose Parade float family and their near-impromptu wedding last year to spur Guntert into action. On Valentines Day morning this year, he brought a cup of coffee and a ring to Brown and formally proposed marriage.
He put a ring on it, Brown said. It made me cry.
Though the wedding setting on the queens float carries a great deal of meaning for the couple, Guntert said the location doesnt make too much difference.
Ive been waiting for this a lot of years, and I couldnt be happier, he said, his arm around his soon-to-be bride. So long as shes next to me, nothing else matters.
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A six-hour SWAT standoff in Clairemont Thursday ended with the arrest of a woman suspected of firing shots at a neighbor.
One round went through the victims front door, missing her and her children, police said.
We had a very close call this morning, but thankfully no one was hurt, San Diego police Lt. Scott Wahl said.
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The 35-year-old woman was taken into custody peacefully about 2 p.m.
The shooter was upset because police had gone to her Beadnell Way apartment about 1 a.m. and issued her a warning for a noise complaint, Wahl said.
Police then got a 911 call shortly after 5 a.m. from a woman saying her neighbor just shot at her and into her apartment. A round went through the front door and an interior door and lodged in the bathroom, Wahl said.
The woman with a handgun had also threatened a male resident, Wahl said.
Officers went to the complex on the south side of Beadnell near Mount Abernathy Avenue. They began evacuating neighbors as a safety precaution but had the victim and her two children hide inside her apartment. Wahl said it was too dangerous to try to get them out.
A full SWAT team was called in about 8 a.m. Police started closing down roads, including Balboa Avenue between Mount Abernathy and Cannington Drive.
A preschool across Balboa Avenue had children stay indoors while the SWAT operation continued.
Several members of the Metro Arson Strike Team bomb squad also were sent to the incident. A spokesman said they were there in a support role for the police action.
Wahl said negotiators talked to the suspected shooter over the course of several hours, trying to persuade her to surrender peacefully.
At one point, she showed up in a window naked and yelled at the officers. She also told them they werent going to get into her apartment without a warrant.
She finally agreed to come out and was taken into custody a little before 2 p.m. She faces felony charges including assault with a deadly weapon, shooting at an inhabited home and making threats, Wahl said.
For many, 2016 was a billowing dumpster fire doused repeatedly with gasoline. We lost David Bowie and Prince and Gwen Ifill and Carrie Fisher, among so many other artists, leaders, thinkers and dreamers. We watched America tear itself apart from the inside during one of the most contentious elections in our history, all while witnessing far greater destruction in Syria.
We didnt solve racism or sexism or gun violence or police brutality. And world peace is still a faraway concept. The successes dont make up for the losses, but its worth remembering there was some good in a year stymied by the bad and the ugly.
Dear 2016: A letter from the L.A. Times Data Visualization Department
Africa was declared free of Ebola
Liberia is finally clear of the deadly virus, marking its end in West Africa. And just last week, an experimental Ebola vaccine was proven highly effective a milestone that could prevent the spread of another outbreak.
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Giant pandas, manatees and (most) humpback whales are no longer endangered
Pandas have been downgraded from endangered to vulnerable, manatees have been reclassified as threatened and nine of the 14 humpback whale populations have increased since they were classified as endangered in 1970.
23 giant panda cubs make public debut at Chengdu Research Base in China, where world's largest artificially-bred panda population resides. pic.twitter.com/3ejEDPqNLb ABC News (@ABC) September 30, 2016
The viral Ice Bucket Challenge led to a breakthrough in ALS research
You did it. All the water you dumped on your friends and donations you made to ALS research in 2014 paid off. Roughly $115 million was raised, leading to the discovery of an ALS-related gene.
A few firsts for the Library of Congress
The largest library in the world has been overseen by 13 white males during its two centuries in existence. Earlier this year, President Obama appointed Carla Hayden as Librarian of Congress James Billingtons successor. Hayden, the librarys first African American and female librarian, was behind the decision to keep West Baltimores library open in the midst of protests surrounding the death of Freddie Gray in 2015.
A homeless man foiled a bomb attack in New Jersey
When Lee Tyrone Parker, a 50-year-old homeless man, and his friend Ivan White, stumbled upon a backpack in Elizabeth, N.J., they unknowingly helped foil a bombing. After emptying the backpacks contents and noticing what turned out to be five pipe bombs, Parker and White took the items to the police station, where they were questioned by the FBI. The bombs had been assembled by Ahmad Khan Rahami, the suspect in the New York and New Jersey bombings that injured 30 people.
The Cubs won a World Series
It didnt matter if you were never a Cubs fan. It was was a victory America needed to see, and after 108 years, it came not a moment too soon.
Harriet Tubman will become the new face of the $20 bill
Abolitionist Harriet Tubman will become the first woman in over a century and the first African American in history to get front-bill placement on a paper note. Shell replace Andrew Jackson, nearly two centuries after he devastated the Cherokee nation. Jackson will move to the back of the bill, featured alongside an image of the White House. Its possible that well have to wait 10 years to see the change, but theres no set release date.
Hamilton continued to dominate
Sure, Lin-Manuel Mirandas hip-hopera technically debuted in 2015, but its accolades, soundtrack and near-universal obsession spilled into 2016. Well take what we can get.
SeaWorld will stop breeding captive killer whales
After outrage and criticism, SeaWorld made an agreement with the Humane Society of the United States to end its orca breeding program.
In India, more than 800,000 volunteers planted 50 million trees in one day
The world-record-breaking effort was part of an agreement India made at the Paris Climate Agreement and signed on Earth Day to combat climate change.
After Brock Turner case, Jane Doe prompts a change in law
Former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner was convicted this year of sexually assaulting an unconscious woman, identified as Jane Doe. After he was released from jail after just three months, critics were outraged.
But Doe herself issued a powerful response. She penned a public letter to Turner that spurred California legislators to expand the definition of rape and increase the minimum sentence for sexual assault.
NASAs Juno spacecraft reached Jupiter
Five years and 1.8 billion miles later, Juno reached the largest planet in our solar system. Its already sent back flyby images of Jupiters north pole that have given us never-before-seen views.
We had a year to celebrate Vin Scully
Enough said.
Whats missing? Email colleen.shalby@latimes.com or send a tweet to @cshalby.
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Dear 2016: A letter from the L.A. Times Data Visualization Department
As revelers nationwide prepare to pour into the streets on New Years Eve, law enforcement officials are bracing for potential terrorism threats, amplified by recent attacks at public celebrations overseas.
In New York, 65 sanitation trucks weighted by 15 tons of sand will dot city blocks on Saturday night around the legendary ball drop in Times Square. The trucks, along with 100 patrol cars, strategically placed at intersections in midtown Manhattan, are a new addition this year, said law enforcement officials.
It is a changing world. And we have to look around at what is going on not just in the United States, but all around the world, New York Police Commissioner James ONeill said at a news conference this week to discuss security preparations.
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Concrete blocks rest on a sidewalk in Times Square. (Kathy Willens / Associated Press )
The sanitation trucks are meant to prevent terrorist attacks like those in Berlin this month and Nice, France, over the summer.
In Berlin, a man hijacked a 40-ton truck and crashed it into an outdoor Christmas market, killing 12 people. The attack came five months after a cargo truck plowed into a crowd celebrating Bastille Day in Nice, leaving 86 people dead.
Cities around the country are taking precautions of various kinds to avoid similar horrors. In Southern California, law enforcement officials are trying to guard against large vehicle attacks at the Tournament of Roses Parade on New Years Day in Pasadena.
Pasadena Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez, right, speaks on Dec. 28, 2016, about safety issues at the Rose Parade. He is joined by Pasadena Fire Chief Bertral Washington, left, and Rob Savage, special agent in charge of the U.S. Secret Service. (Jae C. Hong / Associated Press )
Pasadena police plan to use parked patrol cars and heavy, water-filled barricades at more than 50 intersections along the parades route.
When [attackers] use vehicles as a ramming tool, typically its because theyre able to generate a lot of speed. So were trying to take the speed out of that equation, Pasadena Police Chief Phillip L. Sanchez said earlier this week.
Several events are planned in the Atlanta-metro area on Saturday. The Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl Parade will blanket the streets of downtown and, according to Atlanta police, about 175,000 people are expected to attend the annual Peach Drop an event similar to the festivities in Times Square.
Law enforcement officials in Atlanta have faced terrorism first-hand. During the 1996 Summer Olympics a blast killed one person and injured more than 100 others.
In Las Vegas, where city officials estimate about 300,000 people will celebrate the new year along the Strip, preparation has been underway for several months.
Michael Rodriguez, a spokesman for the Las Vegas Police Department, said that in previous years the department has positioned barriers to prevent potential terrorist attacks in which trucks are used as weapons. These barriers will form at different junctures of the Strip, Rodriguez said.
This is standard for us, said Rodriguez, who declined to say what kind of barriers or how many the department will use.
While addressing the public this week, law enforcement officials in Las Vegas called on tourists to follow rules put in place for New Years Eve, which includes a ban on backpacks and glass bottles. Rodriguez said about 1,000 uniformed officers will patrol the Strip Saturday night.
ONeill, the New York police commissioner, said his department is working with the FBI and counterterrorism officials to ensure the safety of the nearly 2 million people expected to watch the ball drop.
Can we ensure that nothing will ever happen? You know, this is its an open city, its an open society, but we have the security plan we have in place for Time Square, ONeill said. There are multiple layers there. The NYPD along without law enforcement partners will make sure we do our absolute best to keep people safe.
Among the items New York police have banned party-goers from carrying are large backpacks and coolers.
This fall, a man placed an improvised bomb in a garbage dumpster on West 23rd Street in Manhattan, shattering windows and spewing glass on passers-by. Twenty-nine people were slightly injured. A similar device, made out of a pressure cooker, was found unexploded a few blocks away on West 27th Street.
The sand-filled trucks being deployed for New Years were previously used in November at the Thanksgiving Day parade and have been stationed outside the Fifth Avenue home of President-elect Donald Trump.
Those sand trucks are crucial to our strategic approach this year, said New York Mayor Bill de Blasio, alongside ONeill at press conference earlier this week.
Still, de Blasio insisted that the best defense against any potential terrorist threat is for patrons to be on guard.
The rule is real simple. If you think something is happening that makes you worried, go tell an officer, he said. If you think someones life might be in danger, tell a police officer. Let the professionals do their work that they do so well.
Times staff writer Maya Lau contributed to this report.
kurtis.lee@latimes.com
Twitter: @kurtisalee
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Baku, Azerbaijan, Dec. 30
By Emil Ilgar Trend:
Ceasefire in Syria is a major achievement, Irans Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif tweeted Dec. 30.
Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror, he said.
Russias President Vladimir Putin said Dec. 29 that agreements were achieved on a ceasefire in Syria and the readiness to start peace talks.
Reports have just arrived that several hours ago there was a development that we all have for so long looked and worked for. Three documents have been signed. A ceasefire between the Syrian government and the armed opposition is one. A package of measures to control the ceasefire is another. And a declaration of readiness to enter peace talks on a settlement in Syria is the third, Putin said at a meeting with Russian foreign and defense ministers.
The chief executive of a beverage distribution company and his family were among six people on a plane that disappeared overnight shortly after takeoff from Clevelands lakeshore airport, his family said Friday.
The parents of Superior Beverage Co. executive John T. Fleming confirmed to multiple media outlets that he was the pilot of the Columbus-bound plane carrying three children and three adults when it vanished from radar late Thursday about 2 miles over Lake Erie.
Flemings father told the Blade newspaper in Toledo that the other five people on the plane were Flemings wife, their two teenage sons, a neighbor and the neighbors daughter. John W. Fleming also described his son as an experienced pilot.
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Crews combing Lake Erie for the plane on Friday remain hopeful that the occupants could be found alive, and they are in search-and-rescue mode, not recovery mode, as they ply waters about 50 feet deep, said Capt. Michael Mullen, the chief of response for the Ninth Coast Guard District.
Authorities have detected faint hints but no strong pulse from an emergency locating transmitter, a beacon that could help find the plane, Mullen said. Searchers have found no sign of debris.
Were very hopeful. We will be very hopeful up until the point that we have to turn the search off and we switch over to assisting with recovery, Mullen said at news conference Friday.
But when asked about the possibility of the single-engine jet landing safely on Lake Erie, Mullen said, Aircraft are not designed to float, especially in 12-foot seas.
The search overnight was made difficult by snow squalls, high seas and darkness, Mullen said. Weather prevented smaller Coast Guard boats in the Cleveland area from launching. A U.S. Coast Guard helicopter, a Royal Canadian Air Force plane and a Coast Guard ship from Detroit began the search overnight, and it continued in the daylight hours Friday.
It would have been the pilots responsibility to determine whether it was safe to fly, Mullen said.
The Federal Aviation Administration said the Cessna Citation 525 plane left Burke Lakefront Airport at 10:50 p.m., and the Coast Guard said it was notified about the missing plane by air traffic control at Burke about 30 minutes later. Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board were expected to arrive in Cleveland on Friday.
The aircraft was headed to Ohio State University Airport northwest of downtown Columbus. The plane is kept at a hangar at the airfield, but the six people aboard the aircraft arent affiliated with the university, Coast Guard representatives said.
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UPDATES:
11 a.m.: This article was updated with the identities of the planes passengers and comments from a Coast Guard captain.
This article was originally published at 7:45 a.m.
Democrats draw sharper battle lines in tug of war over party leadership By Chris Megerian Even as Democrats try to move past last years defeats, their internal fault lines show signs of deepening in the campaign for the partys leadership. The latest evidence came Wednesday when former Vice President Joe Biden endorsed Thomas E. Perez, who served as President Obamas Labor secretary, to chair the Democratic National Committee. We have a lot of good people vying for this important job, Biden said in a statement. But I do think for this moment and in this time, Tom Perez is our best bet to help bring the party back. The endorsement was seen as more evidence that key members of the recently departed Obama administration were backing Perez. Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) with Sen. Bernie Sanders. (Alex Wong / Getty Images) It was followed by a statement from Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont reiterating his support for Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.), another leading candidate in the race. Although Sanders lost to Hillary Clinton in the presidential primary, he has continued to try to pull Democrats to the left, and he has emphasized the need to create a grass-roots party. Obama left office with strong poll numbers, but under his watch, Democrats lost power not only in Washington but in states around the country, something Sanders and his allies have stressed in the fight over the party chairmanship. The question is simple: Do we stay with a failed status-quo approach or do we go forward with a fundamental restructuring of the Democratic Party? Sanders said. Read More Facebook
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Border Patrol chief is abruptly out after being brought in as a reformer By Brian Bennett The chief of the Border Patrol will leave his post at the end of the month, likely the result of a change in direction by the Trump administration and a reflection of the new power of the agencys union. Mark Morgan, the agencys head, was hired from the FBI in June to reform the force after a series of corruption allegations and problems with excessive force. He will leave the Border Patrol abruptly after seven months on the job, according to a person familiar with the decision who spoke on the condition of anonymity. Morgans departure was first reported by the Associated Press. Morgan spent 20 years at the FBI and was first brought to Customs and Border Protection, the Border Patrols parent agency, in 2014 to overhaul its internal affairs division. After a subsequent stint running the FBIs training academy, he started the top job at the Border Patrol in June. The Border Patrols union had opposed Morgans appointment, preferring a candidate who had risen through the ranks of the agency. The union endorsed President Trump in the election, breaking with its practice of remaining neutral in elections. News of Morgans departure comes a day after Trump announced he would build a border wall and hire 5,000 more Border Patrol agents, bringing the total force to 26,000. Trump said the Border Patrol union would have a lot of clout in department decisions. Facebook
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Trump was silent on new U.S. sanctions against Russia, but he praises Putins response By Michael A. Memoli After President Obama on Thursday announced retaliatory measures against the Russian government for what the U.S. has concluded were efforts to interfere in the election, President-elect Donald Trumps response was terse and dismissive, saying it was time to move on to bigger and better things. But after Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he would not respond in kind to the U.S. actions preferring to wait until the new administration takes office Trump weighed in with high praise. Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016 Trumps tweet did not appear to be off the cuff. As if to underscore his sentiment, Trump affixed the tweet to the top of his Twitter feed. And he posted an Instagram photo shortly after, quoting himself. View Instagram post Trumps effusive words were particularly striking given the bipartisan view of Putin as more adversary than ally. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said they supported the Obama administrations move to expel Russian diplomats and block access to two properties owned by its government. Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain (R-Ariz.) is expected to call a hearing on Russias cyber activities when the new Congress convenes next week. A Trump transition spokesman was asked earlier Friday whether Trump had spoken or planned to speak with Putin before his inauguration. The priority right now is for the president[-elect] to get an update next week from the intelligence community, Sean Spicer said. Trumps praise did get tacit approval from some quarters. The Russian embassy in Washington retweeted it. Facebook
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Most popular White House petitions included requests to label a hate group and deport Justin Bieber By Colleen Shalby Over the past five years, Americans have produced and signed nearly 5,000 petitions through the White Houses We the People site. How could we ever forget the effort to get the Obama administration on board with building a Death Star? Some, like that one and a petition to deport Justin Bieber, resulted only in conversation. But others made an impact. The Pew Research Center analyzed the petitions in a recent report. They ranged from serious, like an effort to ban gay conversion therapy at a state level that led the president in 2015 to support states bans, to playful. A request for Obama to appear on a previously unvisited talk show, for example, prompted him to appear on Real Time with Bill Maher in January 2016. In 2015, 106-year-old Virginia McLaurin requested a meeting with the first black president, something she never thought shed live to see. Her petition garnered only 19 signatures. But it nonetheless resulted in one of first couples most memorable meetings, this dance party: The petitioning system, launched in 2011, was part of Obamas open-government initiative. The most common topics for petitioning included healthcare, veterans issues and requests to honor individuals, such as Yogi Berra, and create or officially recognize holidays, like Talk Like a Pirate Day. While not every petition made a change or elicited a response from the White House, many captured a momentary pulse of the nation. Here are the five most popular: Legally recognize the Westboro Baptist Church as a hate group, posted Dec. 14, 2012; 367,180 signatures. Establish justice and prevent a great catastrophe, posted April 4, 2016; 331,914 signatures. File charges against the 47 U.S. senators in violation of the Logan Act in attempting to undermine a nuclear agreement, posted March 9, 2015; gained 322,117 signatures. Ask President Obama to appear on HBOs Real Time with Bill Maher, posted Jan. 15, 2016; 314,226 signatures. Deport Justin Bieber and revoke his green card, posted Jan. 23, 2014; 273,698 signatures. Facebook
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Obama slaps Russia with sanctions for meddling in the U.S. election By Christi Parsons In the most sweeping retaliation against Russia in decades, President Obama slapped the country with new penalties Thursday for meddling in the U.S. presidential election, kicking out dozens of suspected spies and imposing banking restrictions on five people and four organizations the administration says were involved. All Americans should be alarmed by Russias actions, Obama said in a statement. Such activities have consequences. Read More Facebook
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How Trump and an Obamacare rollback could affect the growing gig economy By Chicago Tribune Gabby Golub of Chicago does chalkboard art for bars and restaurants in addition to driving for Lyft and working part time at her old high school. (Kristan Lieb / Chicago Tribune) A growing share of the U.S. workforce is reyling on alternative work arrangements, which include on-demand gigs through online platforms like Lyft or Uber as well as work through temporary help agencies, freelance assignments and independent contracts. The Bureau of Labor Statistics plans to conduct a comprehensive survey of these so-called contingent workers next year, its first since 2005, helping policymakers understand the size and makeup of a workforce not covered by many labor protections or privy to the benefits that come with a traditional employer relationship. Whether policy will catch up to the labor shifts is a question experts will watch in 2017. A major conversation point has been how to develop portable benefits that give gig economy workers access to retirement plans, unemployment insurance and paid sick leave even as they move from job to job. Read More Facebook
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Trump touts plans by Sprint and OneWeb to create 8,000 U.S. jobs By Jim Puzzanghera (Don Emmert / AFP/Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump on Wednesday touted plans by telecom company Sprint and technology start-up OneWeb to hire a total of 8,000 workers in the U.S. in what he said was very good news for the economy. He appeared to be highlighting previously made jobs announcements. OneWeb, which is building a network of satellites to deliver high-speed Internet access, said on Dec. 19 that it expected to create nearly 3,000 jobs in the U.S. over the next four years after securing $1.2 billion in funding, mostly from Japans SoftBank Group Corp. And the head of SoftBank, which owns Sprint, said on Dec. 6 that the company had agreed to invest $50 billion in the U.S. and create 50,000 jobs here. The announcement by SoftBank Chief Executive Masayoshi Son came after he met with Trump at Trump Tower in New York City. Trump touted it that day. Speaking at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Wednesday, Trump said Sprint was going to be bringing 5,000 jobs back to the United States. They have taken them from other countries. They are bringing them back to the United States, Trump said. Sprint, though, said in a statement that the jobs would be a mixture of new positions and others that were reinstated. It wasnt clear whether those jobs were part of the 50,000 that were mentioned earlier in the month at Trump Tower. We are excited to work with President-Elect Trump and his administration to do our part to drive economic growth and create jobs in the U.S., said Sprint CEO Marcelo Claure. We believe it is critical for business and government to partner together to create more job opportunities in the U.S. and ensure prosperity for all Americans. Trump also said the OneWeb hiring is very exciting. OneWeb did not immediately respond to a request for comment. 3:25 p.m.: This story was updated with comment from Sprint. Facebook
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Kerry offers fierce defense of Obamas support for Israel, urges resumption of Mideast peace talks By Laura King Secretary of State John Kerry outlines his proposals for resolving the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. (Zach Gibson / Getty Images) With President-elect Donald Trump tweeting from the sidelines, Secretary of State John F. Kerry on Wednesday outlined broad principles for reviving the moribund Israel-Palestinian peace process -- calls that quickly ignited a new burst of Israeli anger against the Obama administration. Kerrys lengthy and impassioned address, delivered at the State Department, marked the latest chapter in an unusually bitter public clash between the United States and Israel -- and the even more extraordinary spectacle of a president-elect again inserting himself into a sensitive diplomatic matter before taking office. In a speech lasting more than an hour, Kerry appealed for a hiatus in Jewish settlement activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, called on Palestinian leaders to explicitly denounce terrorist attacks against Israelis, and warned repeatedly that the prospects for a two-state solution, with Israel and a Palestinian state existing side-by-side, were in jeopardy. We cannot in good conscience do nothing, and say nothing, when we see the hope of peace slipping away, he said. Read More Facebook
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Former California lieutenant governor will meet with Trump to discuss running Agriculture department By Michael A. Memoli Abel Maldonado. (Don Bartletti / Los Angeles Times) President-elect Donald Trump is considering former California Lt. Gov. Abel Maldonado to lead the Agriculture department, a move that would bring greater diversity to the Republicans Cabinet. Maldonado will meet with Trump on Wednesday at his Palm Beach, Fla., estate. Trump spokesman Sean Spicer noted that Maldonado, owner of Runway Vineyards in the Santa Maria Valley, comes from three generations of farmers and has strong roots in the agriculture industry of California. Trump will also meet with Dr. Elsa Murano, the former president of Texas A&M University and a former Agriculture undersecretary for food safety, in connection to the post, one of the few Cabinet positions yet unfilled. Maldonado, 49, was once considered to be the kind of Republican who could break through the partys struggle to attract widespread Latino support. A Santa Barbara County farmer whose parents were Mexican farmworker immigrants, he served as mayor of Santa Maria before being elected to the state Assembly in 1998. Perhaps Maldonados most notable political moment came when he worked with Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to force Democrats to embrace the top-two primary system for California during negotiations on the state budget crisis in 2009. Schwarzenegger rewarded Maldonado with the appointment to the then-vacant post of lieutenant governor in 2010. But Maldonados role in helping push the nonpartisan primary system made him a pariah among many conservative Republicans, and he failed in subsequent races for Congress in 2012 and a brief flirtation with a run for governor in 2014. If nominated and confirmed, Maldonado would be the sole Latino in Trumps Cabinet. Facebook
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Trump attacks Obama over Israel just ahead of Kerrys speech on the Mideast By Michael A. Memoli The detente between President Obama and President-elect Donald Trump, as both aimed to portray a smooth transition of power, appears in jeopardy. Trump condemned the Obama administrations foreign policy on Wednesday, tweeting he was doing his best to overlook inflammatory Obama moves, while engaging in 1990s-style sarcasm. Doing my best to disregard the many inflammatory President O statements and roadblocks.Thought it was going to be a smooth transition - NOT! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 Last week, Obama decided to have the U.S. abstain from a United Nations Security Council vote on a resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity, which allowed the measure to pass. The vote angered Israeli leaders, who accused senior U.S. officials of complicity in drafting the resolution, a claim disputed by the U.S. We cannot continue to let Israel be treated with such total disdain and disrespect. They used to have a great friend in the U.S., but....... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 not anymore. The beginning of the end was the horrible Iran deal, and now this (U.N.)! Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 28, 2016 Trumps postings came just before Secretary of State John F. Kerry delivered a major address on U.S. foreign policy that included a rebuttal to Israeli government criticisms of the Obama administration. Trumps statement of support for Israel was welcomed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has long had a tense relationship with Obama. President-elect Trump, thank you for your warm friendship and your clear-cut support for Israel! @IvankaTrump @DonaldJTrumpJr https://t.co/lURPimG0wS Benjamin Netanyahu (@netanyahu) December 28, 2016 Trump transition spokesman Sean Spicer told reporters that the president-elects tweets speak for themselves, very clearly. He also stressed that White House officials have been helpful and generous with their time, at least in terms of the mechanics of the transition. In a brief statement to reporters Wednesday night, Trump said he had a general conversation with Obama during the day. Very, very nice, was how the president-elect described the chat, which he said Obama initiated. A White House spokesman confirmed the call and characterized it as positive. When asked whether he thinks the U.S. should exit the U.N., Trump repeated his earlier comments that the global body is not living up to its potential. When do you see the United Nations solving problems? he asked. They dont, they cause problems, so if it lives up to its potential its a great thing, if it doesnt its a waste of time. The U.N. seemed to respond to Trump on Monday, in a message pinned to the top of its Twitter feed: Here's a list of 10 ways the UN makes a difference in the lives of millions every day.
See what else we do: https://t.co/MGT7G5uPFL pic.twitter.com/nMxHV0rvkf United Nations (@UN) December 26, 2016 Times staff writer Christi Parsons in Honolulu contributed to this report. 5:10 p.m.: This story was updated with White House comment. 2:45 p.m.: This story was updated with Trumps comments. Facebook
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John Kerry, tireless in his diplomatic efforts, often came up empty-handed By Tracy Wilkinson John F. Kerry is nothing if not indefatigable, traveling to all corners of the world as Americas top diplomat over the last four years. But as he prepares to leave office, he confronts a mixed legacy: a handful of successes coupled with searing defeats, especially in the Middle East. His inability to halt the carnage in Syria, or to block Russias growing influence, ranks as the most serious blot on his record. But he also got nowhere trying to end the Israeli-Palestinian standoff, or to stop Saudi Arabia, a U.S. ally, from bombing civilians in Yemen. Kerrys greatest success was the historic accord to curtail Irans nuclear development program and a landmark climate change treaty to limit greenhouse gas emissions and slow global warming. Read More Facebook
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At Pearl Harbor, Obama says we must resist the urge to demonize those who are different By Christi Parsons Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and President Obama. (Marco Garcia / Associated Press) President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe scattered petals together on the waters of Pearl Harbor on Tuesday in a symbolic act aimed at laying to rest the enmity of the Japanese attack 75 years ago that drew the U.S. into World War II. In a moment consumed with history, both leaders were fixed on the future. They expressed concern that the lessons of the war might be forgotten amid a shifting world order and the anti-internationalist sentiment that has swept over politics around the globe, most notably with the ascendance of President-elect Donald Trump. Read More Facebook
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Obama and Japans Abe to visit Pearl Harbor amid renewed talk of nuclear concerns By Christi Parsons Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu on Monday. (AFP/Getty Images) President Obama and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe are scheduled to honor the war dead at Pearl Harbor on Tuesday, marking the 75th anniversary of the attack that thrust the U.S. into World War II. The visit was planned as a coda to Obamas visit to Hiroshima in May, where Abe hosted him as the first sitting president to visit the site where the U.S. dropped one of two nuclear bombs in 1945 to end the war, the only instances of nuclear attacks in history. But the visit has taken on a new meaning. President-elect Donald Trump reawakened old fears of a nuclear arms race last week by declaring his commitment to strengthen and expand U.S. nuclear capability. In his remarks at Pearl Harbor, Obama will have an opportunity to address those renewed anxieties and to lay out the dangers of an arms race. Obama has fought to stop the proliferation of nuclear weapons and to secure existing caches. The visit is meant to highlight the strength of the relationship between the U.S. and Japan, an administration official said. Several Japanese prime ministers before Abe have visited the Pearl Harbor site. But Abe is the first to go to the memorial at the resting place of the battleship Arizona, where 1,177 American military personnel died in the Japanese aerial attack on Dec. 7, 1941. Facebook
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Will the Feds Janet Yellen take away the punch bowl after Trump takes office? By Don Lee After three years of almost single-handedly juicing up the slow-growing economy, Janet L. Yellen and the Federal Reserve should be looking at easier days ahead. Yellen, in what will probably be her last full year as Fed chair, may finally get help from somewhere else in Washington. Tax cuts and infrastructure spending planned by President-elect Donald Trump, if backed by the Republican-controlled Congress, would lighten the load for a Fed whose easy-money policies have been the primary economic support for the nation. She is already breathing easier on the Feds employment mandate; the jobless rate has fallen to a nine-year low of 4.6%. Inflation, too, is under control and, by all accounts, creeping toward the central banks optimal level of 2%. And yet, Yellen may come under as much economic and political pressure as ever, on both the Feds policy and the independence of the institution. Read More Facebook
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Obama says he could have beaten Trump By Tracy Wilkinson (Carolyn Kaster / Associated Press) President Obama says he could have defeated Donald Trump in last months election by recapturing the same vision of hope that twice carried him to the presidency. Obama also was mildly critical of the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton, saying her campaign didnt do enough to get her message out. The remarks were notable because Obama has been careful since the election to avoid criticizing Trump, or to deliver a post-mortem on Clintons failed bid. Obama spoke in a wide-ranging interview with former senior advisor and now CNN commentator David Axelrod for the Democratic political operatives Axe Files podcast. The interview was released by CNN on Monday. You know, I am confident in this vision because Im confident that if I -- if I had run again and articulated it, I think I couldve mobilized a majority of the American people to rally behind it, Obama said. His comments were part of a wider discussion of what he called ugly sentiments of racism and xenophobia that surfaced during the 2016 campaign. Obama repeated his assertion that Clinton faced a double standard as a woman, which put her at a disadvantage. But he also said a kind of complacency set in that made the Clinton campaign too cautious and thus unable to get its message out sufficiently. If you think youre winning, then you have a tendency, just like in sports, maybe to play it safer, Obama said. During the interview, Obama also spoke of his family, the strength hed gotten from wife Michelle and the improbability of his own political career. And the president said the spirit that his candidacy originally inspired, especially among young people, was never snuffed out despite the last eight years of turmoil. The idealism and the dedication stayed with the staff and got us through some really hard times, he said. Trump later responded to the remarks on Twitter. UPDATE 2:07 p.m.: This article was updated with Trumps response. This article was originally published at 12:28 p.m. Facebook
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Obama personally authorized U.S. abstention from U.N. vote on Israeli settlements By Michael A. Memoli President Obama personally directed Friday that the U.S. abstain from a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement activity, seeing the escalation of settlement building as an increasing threat to the viability of a two-state solution to the regions problems. Ahead of the expected vote, Obama, who is vacationing with his family in Hawaii, convened a discussion Thursday with Vice President Joe Biden, Secretary of State John F. Kerry and other top national security officials. The vote was postponed, but U.S. officials continued to monitor discussions over the Egyptian-authored resolution until Friday. Obama spoke with national security advisor Susan Rice on Friday to issue his final decision. President-elect Donald Trumps intervention in the discussions, which included a conversation with Egypts president Thursday that preceded the delay in the planned vote, did not affect Obamas calculations, deputy national security advisor Ben Rhodes told reporters.. Theres one president at a time, he said. The decision to allow the resolution to pass, rather than cast a veto to block it is consistent with long-standing, bipartisan U.S. policy opposing Israeli settlement activity, Rhodes said. One of the administrations great concerns was that such activity in the West Bank and East Jerusalem has accelerated significantly since 2011, when the U.S. last vetoed a comparable resolution. U.S. officials also have been concerned about continued incitements of violence by Palestinians, and Rhodes said the resolution voted on Friday included greater balance to reflect that than past resolutions. Weve been very concerned that these accelerating trends are putting the very viability of the two-state solution at risk, Rhodes said. In that context, we therefore thought that we could not in good conscience veto a resolution that expressed concerns about the very trends that are eroding the foundation for a two-state solution. He also underscored what he called Obamas iron-clad commitment to Israel and its security, noting that the administration recently concluded a major military assistance package. The U.S. did not vote for the resolution because of continued concerns about the United Nations as a venue for Middle East peace discussions, Rhodes said. He also responded to what he called strident comments of Israeli officials criticizing the U.S. move. It seems like the Israeli government wants the conversation to be about anything other than the settlement activity, he said. Facebook
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Trump team seeks to ease fears on womens programs at State Department By Tracy Wilkinson ( Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) Donald Trumps transition team said Friday its requests to the State Department for details on positions and funding for global womens programs were part of an effort to ensure and protect gender equality. The statement appeared to be an attempt to allay concerns that Trump might seek to cancel or roll back gender-focused programs at the State Department following a request by the transition team on Wednesday for information about them. Most were created or championed by Trumps campaign rival, Hillary Clinton, when she served as secretary of State during President Obamas first term. The transition team statement Friday did not outline Trumps plans for the programs, which seek to promote equality, education and vocational training for women around the world as well as combat gender-based violence. President-elect Trump will ensure the rights of women across the world are valued and protected, the statement said. To help fulfill this promise, the transition team inquired about existing programs at the State Department that helps [sic] foster gender equality, ends gender-based violence, and promotes economic and political participation finding ways to improve them. The statement said the inquiry was one of hundreds of requests it sent to federal departments as part of the transition effort. Facebook
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Trump team asks State Department for details on programs aimed at helping women By Tracy Wilkinson Donald Trumps transition team has asked the State Department for details on programs aimed at benefiting women around the world, including identifying staff members who worked to reduce gender-based violence and promote women in the workplace. In an email sent to numerous State Department offices Wednesday, the president-elects transition team asked for urgent response to its inquiries about gender-related staffing, programming and funding. Many of the programs were begun or were championed by Hillary Clinton, who was secretary of State during President Obamas first term and who lost to Trump in November. The unusual request to the State Department follows a similar email to the Department of Energy. There the transition team asked for names of staff members who had worked on efforts to combat climate change, which Trump has dismissed as a hoax. Several Obama administration officials called that query chilling. The Trump team withdrew the request after it was widely criticized. The latest email suggests the incoming Trump administration will attempt to roll back some of the State Departments most innovative programs and may seek to penalize people who worked on them. People are freaked out, said a senior State Department official who was not authorized to speak publicly. The email asked the State Department to deliver issue papers from bureaus and offices (one paper max per bureau/office) outlining existing programs and activities to promote gender equality, such as ending gender-based violence, promoting womens participation in economic and political spheres, entrepreneurship, etc. It said the issue papers should note jobs whose primary functions are to promote such issues, as well as money allocated for those activities and programs in fiscal year 2017. While at State, Clinton made womens issues a top priority. An office was created to deal exclusively with global womens issues, and money was allocated for programs that promote education of girls, train women in marketable skills and offer microloans. Read More Facebook
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Trump taps seasoned Republican operative Sean Spicer as White House press secretary By Lisa Mascaro President-elect Donald Trump named Sean Spicer as his new press secretary, tapping a seasoned Republican operative as the public face of the new White House. Spicer, a top Republican National Committee strategist who brought a measure of establishment Washington to Trumps operation, is known for his combative but engaging approach to communications. He will likely take over the press podium as the top spokesman at the incoming White House. Two other veterans of the Trump campaigns press operation also will get White House jobs: Jason Miller, who had been Trumps communications chief after moving from the campaign of Republican Sen. Ted Cruz, will stay in that role as communications director at the White House. Hope Hicks, who was Trumps spokesperson on the campaign trail and one of his earliest campaign aides, will be assistant to the president and director of strategic communications, and Dan Scavino will serve as director of social media. Sean, Hope, Jason and Dan have been key members of my team during the campaign and transition. I am excited they will be leading the team that will communicate my agenda that will Make America Great Again, Trump said in a statement. Facebook
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Obama eliminates post-9/11 registry for foreigners, making it harder for Trump to restart it By Brian Bennett (Don Emmert / AFP/Getty Images) The Obama administration is taking apart a controversial, dormant national registry program that tracked visitors from countries with active terrorist groups for several years following the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. A final rule eliminating the program will be published in the federal register on Friday. The move would make it more difficult for President-elect Donald Trump to revive the registry, which hasnt been used since 2011. The Department of Homeland Security determined it was ineffective and didnt improve security. Civil rights advocates have long said the program was discriminatory. On the campaign trail, Trump promised to track Muslims coming to the U.S. and require them to register. He later changed his stance to say he would bar people from countries with a record of Islamist extremism. Trumps policy advisors have been looking closely at ways to jump start the registry, called the National Security Entry-Exit Registration System, after he takes office at the end of January. With the program being officially dismantled on Friday, Trumps team would have to issue new federal rules to restart it, a process that could take several months and would require a period for soliciting comments from the public, which likely would be contentious. The Trump transition team is preparing several executive actions for the incoming president, Trump spokesman Jason Miller told reporters Thursday morning when asked about Obama dismantling the registry. Stopping radical Islamic terrorists from entering the U.S. is of paramount importance, Miller said. He didnt say directly if Trump would rebuild the visitor registry. The American people strongly support tough measures to keep radical Islamic terrorists out of our country, and President-elect Trump has made clear that we will suspend admissions of those from countries with high terrorism rates and apply a strict vetting procedure for those seeking entry in order to protect American lives, he said. When asked on Wednesday if he would set up a registry for Muslims or impose a ban on Muslim immigrants in the wake of the truck attack on a Christmas market in Berlin, Trump said simply: You know my plans. Democratic lawmakers and civil liberties advocates have demanded in recent weeks that Obama dismantle the registry. Theyve cited a 2012 inspector general report that said Homeland Security databases collecting traveler fingerprints, flight manifests and intelligence information on foreigners are more effective at preventing terrorist attacks. Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) praised the Homeland Security Departments decision to strip away dead-letter regulations no longer in use. These regulations symbolized an ineffective program based on religious and ethnic profiling, rather than individualized suspicion a program based on fear, rather than reason, Leahy said in a statement. That has no place in this great country, under any administration. Facebook
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Trump is unwinding some foreign deals but many potential conflicts remain By Joseph Tanfani The Trump hotel in Baku, Azerbaijan, would be among the finest in the world, Donald Trump promised two years ago, another example of our involvement in only the best global development projects. But the dream of a world-class Trump Baku died this month, with Trump saying he was backing out of the deal because of delays and blown deadlines caused by the developer, a 34-year-old with close family connections to the countrys government. The demise of Trump Baku is not an isolated decision. With his inauguration less than a month away, President-elect Trumps company has pulled out of a few international business deals that might have created especially sticky conflicts and controversies for his administration. Read More Facebook
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Trump names UC Irvine professor and fierce China critic to new White House Trade Council By Don Lee Peter Navarro, left, and China expert Gordon Chang attend a screening of Death By China, the film adaptation of Navarros book, in New York in 2012. (Andy Kropa / Getty Images) President-elect Donald Trump, signaling that he intends to follow through on his tough talk on trade, is establishing a new White House-based trade council to be headed by a vehement critic of Chinas economic policies. Trump on Wednesday named Peter Navarro, a Harvard-trained business professor at UC Irvine, as director of trade and industrial policy and head of the newly created White House National Trade Council. The move sends a strong message: The Trump administration will take a much more aggressive posture to shrink the nations large trade deficit and combat what the president-elect and Navarro believe are forces behind Americas manufacturing woes unfair and mercantilist practices on the part of China and other trading partners. Read More Facebook
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The issue of race has hung over Sen. Jeff Sessions like a shadow. Heres why By Del Quentin Wilber (Scott Olson / AFP/Getty Images) Jeff Sessions uneasy history with race can be traced back to the long, winding country roads that cut through the pine forests and farm land in this deep corner of the Deep South. As a boy, Jefferson Beauregard Sessions III began each day before dawn, boarding a segregated bus to his all-white school. En route he and his classmates passed the bus ferrying black students in the opposite direction. The day ended when he sat down to dinner each night with his father, an avowed segregationist until the end of his life. Reflecting on those years, Sessions acknowledged recently that he knew back then that segregation was morally wrong and regretted standing by passively as civil rights leaders in the 1960s struggled and died in the fight for equality. I should have stepped forward more and been a leader and more positive force, Sessions said in February while participating in a ceremony honoring the Selma foot soldiers. Read More Facebook
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Kellyanne Conway will join Trump in the White House By Evan Halper (Gerald Herber / Associated Press) Donald Trump has named his media-savvy campaign manager, Kellyanne Conway, to advise him in the White House in the role of counselor, his transition team announced early Thursday morning. The move comes after Conway sought to put to rest speculation that she would continue to serve as the public face of the Trump team. But the new job is sure to keep her profile high. Conway will will work with senior leadership to effectively message and execute the administrations legislative priorities and actions, according to a statement from the Trump transition team. Kellyanne Conway has been a trusted advisor and strategist who played a crucial role in my victory, Trump said in the statement. She is a tireless and tenacious advocate of my agenda and has amazing insights on how to effectively communicate our message. The appointment would boost diversity in a Trump inner circle made up mostly of older white men. It also sets up another potentially competing power center on a White House staff that already will have several, including Reince Priebus, the chief of staff; Stephen K. Bannon, the chief strategist; and Stephen Miller, the policy chief. Conway had previously turned down other proposals for White House jobs, telling reporters late last month that she did not want to spend long hours away from her children. At that point, Conway said she thought she could best help Trump by forming an outside organization to support his policies. But that role appears to have gone to Brad Parscale, who ran Trumps online operations during the campaign. Conway joined Trumps campaign during the summer when it was beset with infighting and disarray. She is widely credited with helping bring message discipline and professionalism to an operation in desperate need of it. In the run-up to the election and the weeks that followed, Conway was a ubiquitous presence on cable news networks, capably moving through her talking points in tough interview settings often on the firing line and held to account for the exaggerations and incendiary remarks Trump was prone to make on the campaign trail and Twitter. I am humbled and honored to play a role in helping transform the movement he has led into a real agenda of action and results, Conway said in the statement. She is the founder and owner of the Polling Company, inc./WomanTrend, a GOP firm that has been advising candidates for two decades. Trump has not yet chosen a press secretary. But he is believed to be considering several candidates. Sean Spicer, former communications chief of the Republican Party who has served in a spokesman role for Trump through the transition, has been a prominent possibility, although Trump reportedly has considered several women, including conservative talk radio star Laura Ingraham and Fox News personality Kimberly Guilfoyle. Facebook
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Trump Hotel employees in Las Vegas get a union contract By Kurtis Lee (Mike Nelson / Getty Images) Its owned by President-elect Donald Trump and is among a handful of hotels on the Las Vegas Strip to not be unionized. But that will change soon. For more than a year, Trump and his staff at the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas have fought efforts by employees and the Culinary Workers Union Local 226 to negotiate a contract. But a four-year contract announced by the union on Wednesday will offer Trump employees annual wage increases, a pension and family healthcare, among other benefits. In Nevada, the culinary union is the states largest and most powerful, representing nearly 55,000 workers who serve cocktails and prepare food at hotels throughout the state. A majority of the unions members are Latino. Read More Facebook
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Wait! Dont cancel that Air Force One order just yet By Evan Halper Boeing is building a brand new 747 Air Force One for future presidents, but costs are out of control, more than $4 billion. Cancel order! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 6, 2016 After Donald Trump scolded Boeing earlier this month for the escalating cost of building a new Air Force One, the companys CEO projected confidence that Trump wouldnt be following through with his threat to cancel order! The two men met together at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Wednesday. Boeing CEO Dennis Muilenburg said they spoke about a range of issues. The Air Force One project, which Trump complained would cost taxpayers more than $4 billion, invariably arose. Were going to get it done for less than that, and were committed to working together to make sure that happens, Muilenberg said. The company had previously noted that the project did not yet have a firm price tag. I was able to give the president-elect my personal commitment on behalf of the Boeing Company. This is a business thats important to us. We work on Air Force One because its important to our country, and were going to make sure that he gets the best capability and that its done affordably, Muilenberg added. He called the conversation terrific and Trump a good man who is doing the right thing. The presidential aircraft remains a long way from takeoff a new plane wont be ready for use in the next four years. Even if Trump is reelected, he might not get to use the plane, as the earliest projected date for completion is 2024. Boeing is currently doing early development work on the plane a modified 747 that will likely be outfitted with such gadgetry as top-secret communications equipment, countermeasures to foil missile attacks, and aerial refueling capability that would enable it to remain airborne for days at a time if necessary. The timing of delivery was among the topics that came up at Trumps meeting with the Boeing CEO. Thats what were going to work on together, Muilenberg said. We have an active 747 production line, and were eager to get started on the program. We havent actually started the build of the airplane yet, but once we finalize the requirements and make sure that its affordable, well launch on building the aircraft. Weve got a hot production line and were ready to go. The government actually has two planes outfitted to serve as Air Force One, which is the designation given to whichever plane is carrying the president. The current planes, which were put into service during the Reagan administration, are nearing the end of their design life. Facebook
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Fierce China critic and UC Irvine professor to head Trumps new trade council By Don Lee (Richard Hartog / Los Angeles Times) President-elect Donald Trump is establishing a new White House-based trade office that will be headed by a UC Irvine professor known for his fierce criticisms of Chinese trade and economic practices. In appointing Peter Navarro as director of trade and industrial policy and the head of the new National Trade Council inside the White House, Trump is signaling that he wants to follow through on his tough campaign rhetoric in which he blamed the Chinese for the large U.S. trade deficit and manufacturing woes. During the campaign,Trump threatened to slap a 45% tariff on Chinese imports. Navarro, a Harvard-trained economist who advised Trump during the campaign, is the author of the book Death by China: Confronting the Dragon a Global Call to Action. Trump endorsed the 2011 book as well as Navarros film version of the polemical work. I read one of Peters books on Americas trade problems years ago and was impressed by the clarity of his arguments and thoroughness of his research, Trump said Wednesday in a statement announcing the appointment. He will fulfill an essential role in my administration as a trade advisor. Trump said the new trade office would develop policies to shrink the nations trade deficit and curb the off-shoring of jobs, as well as to lead initiatives such as the Buy America, Hire America program. Navarro, in a statement, said he would be honored to serve Trump and the nation and to advise on policies to re-balance our trade, rebuild our industrial base, and restore Americas comprehensive national power by making America great again. Facebook
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Trump stops the drain the swamp talk as new alligators emerge By Evan Halper Newt Gingrich. (Marcio Jose Sanchez / Associated Press) It made for a great slogan during the campaign, but now that hes won, Donald Trump is finding that maybe he doesnt actually want to drain the swamp. In fact, the alligators seem to be doing quite well. Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski on Wednesday boasted about his access and proximity to Trump in announcing a new consulting firm he plans to open with former Trump campaign advisor Barry Bennett. The firms offices will be one block from the White House. Clients who pony up what are sure to be hefty fees for the firms services are being assured by Lewandowski in his marketing materials that he turned down multiple opportunities within the administration so he can serve them. The pitch implies Lewandowski will remain a de facto surrogate for Trump with all the access that implies as he bills those seeking to influence the Trump administration for his services. So perhaps the time is ripe for Trump to stop using the drain the swamp phrase. And that is what Trump has decided to do, according to former House Speaker Newt Gingrich, who describes himself as an outside advisor to the president-elect. Im told he now just disclaims that, Gingrich said in an interview on National Public Radio, referring to the slogan Trump used in the final phase of his campaign to crystallize his promise to cleanse Washington of insiders and self-dealers. He now says it was cute, but he doesnt want to use it anymore, Gingrich said, adding that perhaps all this swamp draining talk isnt presidential. Hes in a different role now and maybe he feels that as president, as the next president of the United States, that he should be marginally more dignified than talking about alligators in swamps, Gingrich said. I personally have, as a sense of humor, like the alligator and swamp language, he added. I think it vividly illustrates the problem, because all the people in this city who are the alligators are going to hate the swamp being drained. And theres going to be constant fighting over it. But, you know, he is my leader, and if he decides to drop the swamp and the alligator, I will drop the swamp and the alligator. Lewandowski, for his part, made no mention of swamps or alligators in announcing his new consulting firm would be open for business. Proud to launch our new venture today to support @realDonaldTrump achieve his agenda in Washington D.C. pic.twitter.com/ZEot6IrvJ4 Corey R. Lewandowski (@CLewandowski_) December 21, 2016 Facebook
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Death penalty in steep decline, but not in Los Angeles County By David Savage Lonnie Franklin Jr. was tried and convicted of 10 counts of murder. (Mark Boster / Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles County and the state of California again recorded the most new death sentences this year, amid a sharp decline across the nation in both executions and new death sentences. Judges and juries in Los Angeles County imposed a death sentence on four murderers during 2016, including Lonnie Franklin Jr., the so-called Grim Sleeper, who was convicted of killing 10 women. No other county had more than one death sentence, according to the Death Penalty Information Center. Since 2010, Los Angeles County has recorded 36 new death sentences, more than any county in the nation. This year marked the first time in more than 40 years where no state recorded 10 or more new death sentences, the group said in its year-end report. California had the most with nine, followed by Ohio (five), Texas (four), Alabama (three) and Florida (two). California has by far the nations largest death row, with 750 condemned inmates, but it has not carried out an execution in the past decade. Overall, the report documented the steep decline for capital punishment over the past two decades. The number of new death sentences had fallen by 90%, from 315 in 1996 to only 30 this year. And the number of executions has fallen from a high of 98 in 1999 to 20 this year. Georgia (nine) and Texas (seven) accounted for most of the executions. The only other states to put inmates to death were Alabama (two), Missouri (one) and Florida (one). Robert Dunham, the groups executive director, says the nation is clearly turning away from capital punishment. Whether its concerns about innocence, costs and discrimination, availability of life without parole as a safe alternative, or the questionable way in which states are attempting to carry out executions, the public grows increasingly uncomfortable with the death penalty each year, he said. But his report noted that Californias voters, by a 53%-47% margin, rejected a ballot measure to abolish the death penalty, and narrowly approved a measure, by a 51%-49% margin, to limit appeals and expedite executions. Facebook
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New survey finds less optimistic Democrats seeking many paths to their future success By Cathleen Decker (Andrew Harnik / Associated Press) Since Hillary Clintons November defeat, Democrats have squabbled over how to return to prominence. Should they continue to court ascendant voter groups in the country, such as women, minorities and young people? Or should they turn to those who have long been in their camp but abandoned the party nominee this year, such as rural and non-college-educated voters. The answer, according to a Pew Research poll published Tuesday: Democrats want to walk both paths, simultaneously. The poll asked Democrats and Republicans whether their parties had spent too much, too little or just the right amount of time meeting the interests and concerns of specific groups of voters. Among Democrats, 64% said the party had spent too little time talking to rural voters, and 58% said the same about non-college voters. Almost two-thirds of Democrats said low-income voters had not gotten enough of the partys attention, and 58% said middle-class voters had been ignored to some extent. But Democratic voters did not want to let up on the partys outreach to its stronger supporters this year. About half said that the concerns of women and African American voters had gotten too little attention, while 43% said the same about Latinos. In the case of women, African Americans, Latinos, low-income voters, rural residents and younger voters, Democrats were substantially more likely than Republicans to say their party had not put enough emphasis on the groups concerns. The poll suggested far more confidence by Republicans than Democrats in their partys current positioning. Much of that may simply be the flood of confidence that accompanies a presidential victory. When the pollsters asked before the election about their view of their party, 61% of Republicans said they were optimistic, as did 77% of Democrats about their own party. After the election those figures reversed, with 79% of Republicans optimistic compared with 61% of Democrats. A key to Trumps success also was evident in the poll: a chameleon-like ability to make the different ideological groups in the party think he was one of them. Almost 3 in 5 conservatives said that Trumps views were conservative. And among moderates, 52% said that Trumps ideology was a mix of conservative and liberal, echoing their own posture. But queries about the new presidents impact on his party drew sharply partisan responses. More than two-thirds of all voters said that Trump had forced major changes on his party. Yet 72% of Democrats cast those changes as bad ones, while 83% of Republicans cast the changes as good ones. Facebook
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The artist and the senator: One built a desert masterpiece, the other a Nevada legacy By Lisa Mascaro When Sen. Harry Reid heard about a reclusive artist building a massive land sculpture across desolate acres in the Nevada desert, he knew they should meet. Its not just that Reid enjoys eccentrics and fighters, which he does. Michael Heizer had found an unusual way to express the majesty and artistry of the same lonely Nevada landscape that formed Reids childhood, when he would escape the dismal, rugged conditions of tiny Searchlight to play in the deserts hidden springs and abandoned fortresses. Both men discovered in Nevada what many outsiders miss. Far from seeing a nuclear wasteland, a dumping site or even a playground for gamblers, they drew inspiration from Nevadas quiet beauty. Heizer created an American masterpiece a milelong complex of dirt, rock and cement rising from the desert floor like modern-day pyramids or the Mayan ruins of Chichen Itza. For Reid, his appreciation for Nevadas unique landscape became a cornerstone of one of the most lasting yet less-familiar pieces of his political legacy. Read More Artist Michael Heizer and Sen. Harry Reid (D-Nev.) speak in the Capitol. (Lisa Mascaro / Los Angeles Times) Facebook
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With 304 votes, electoral college seals Donald Trumps election as president despite more desertions than ever By Michael Finnegan They convened amid unusual scrutiny, widespread protests and rafts of speculation about efforts to alter the outcome, but, in the end, the nations 538 presidential electors mostly stuck to the script Monday, formally sealing Donald Trumps victory with 304 votes in the electoral college, well above what he needed to capture the White House. After all the efforts to lobby Republican electors to desert Trump, only two did a pair from Texas, one of whom voted for former Texas Rep. Ron Paul and the other for Ohio Gov. John Kasich. Indeed, instead of an uprising against Trump, the days voting was punctuated more by small, but persistent, gestures of Democratic discontent with Hillary Clinton. A handful of electors deserted her and a few more tried to, but were deterred by state faithless elector laws. Some of the Democratic dissenters were supporters of Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont, who lost the primaries to Clinton but galvanized the partys left wing. Others were backers of an abortive effort that had tried to recruit Democrats and Republicans to unite behind a third candidate other than Clinton or Trump. In the end, seven electors voted for a person other than the candidate who won their states the largest number of electoral college desertions in a presidential contest in U.S. history, eclipsing a record set in 1808. Read More Facebook
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As electoral college meetings end in Hawaii, Bernie Sanders gets a vote that will stick By Michael A. Memoli David Mulinix, Hawaii elector who voted for Sanders, said Clinton wasn't qualified. Also said @POTUS wasn't progressive, but "conservative" pic.twitter.com/miCnZ6PzXI Mike Memoli (@mikememoli) December 20, 2016 The last of the 50 states gave Bernie Sanders his first electoral college vote that counted. Hillary Clinton received three of the states four electoral votes after winning 60% of the popular vote here last month. But one elector, David Mulinix, said he cast his vote for the Vermont senator because he was the most qualified candidate. They can call me faithless, but the point is if we dont think someones qualified and Hillary Clinton I do not feel is qualified, he said. Hawaiis electors are chosen by the major parties at their state conventions. Mulinix said he joined the party only this election cycle to support Sanders, who he said would have been elected president had he been the Democratic nominee. He had previously told the Associated Press he would cast his vote for Clinton, but said he changed his mind at the last minute. She did not lose the vote to Russian hackers; she lost the vote right there at the convention, he said, referring to the Democratic National Convention, where he said Sanders backers were treated unfairly. They robbed us, and the millennials know it. Mulinix, who, like his fellow electors, wore a lei made of green jade flowers, arrived for the vote with a list of candidates who had received votes in other electoral college meetings across the country. He was aware that an elector in Maine had tried to vote for Sanders but that his vote had been invalidated. An election official said the vote for Sanders here would count. The brief proceedings here in a nondescript conference room on the state Capitols third floor began with another elector, John Bickel, asking whether there was any penalty for electors who cast their ballots for someone other than the winner of the statewide vote. He said later that he had asked because he suspected someone might stray. The electoral college is outdated. If any election has proved the electoral college is outdated, its this one, Bickel said. Dolly Strazar, another elector and the vice chair of the state Democratic Party, said she had long supported the electoral college because it ensured some degree of competition between large states and small ones like Hawaii. It really seems in our times, its thoroughly outdated, she said. Janice Bond, the fourth elector, said she would have voted for Sanders but did not believe she was able to. She also expressed regret that President Obama, who was born in Hawaii and is vacationing here with his family, did not attend the meeting. To have him be on our island and not show face was disappointing, she said. Facebook
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No fireworks as Nevada electors cast votes for Clinton By David Montero Nevadas six electors cast their votes for Hillary Clinton on Monday afternoon in Carson City, reflecting her victory in the swing state despite losing the overall electoral college vote to President-elect Donald Trump. Clinton won Nevada by almost 3 points over Trump, and the swing state was one of her few bright spots on election day. The six electors five from northern Nevada and one from Las Vegas cast their ballots before about 75 people who had packed into the Old Assembly Chambers of the state Capitol. A few brought signs in support of Clinton, and there was some applause when the votes were cast. It all took place in less than a half-hour. No fireworks, said Wayne Thorley, deputy secretary of state for elections. He said about 40 people showed up in front of the state Capitol in the morning in sub-freezing temperatures to also show support for Clinton. Thorley said he hadnt anticipated a lot of controversy as the electors were required to sign a pledge before voting that said they wouldnt deviate from Nevadas Nov. 8 election results. Facebook
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In solemn ceremony, California electors cast votes for Hillary Clinton By Melanie Mason Casting my electoral vote for President and Vice President of the United States of .... https://t.co/jI2FGFCrVg pic.twitter.com/qufSJUM5WF Susan Eggman (@SusanEggman) December 19, 2016 In a proceeding long on formalities and short on speeches, Californias 55 electors cast their vote for Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton on Monday, a ceremony that coincided almost exactly with Republican Donald Trump clinching the national electoral college win. Contrasting with the spirited protests outside the state Capitol, the mood in the state Assembly chambers was muted, even a bit glum, as electors, tapped by the states Democratic establishment, convened to cast their votes for Clinton. California, which overwhelmingly backed Clinton in the presidential contest, requires all 55 electors to back the states winner. Todays solemnity and formality reminds us that in our nation, American greatness and American independence, rests on a foundation of law, said Assemblyman Ken Cooley (D-Cordova), who presided over the event. As written ballots were distributed, the room was completely silent, save for the clicking of camera shutters. Just moments before voting began, Trump, Clintons rival, had secured the electoral college win, with Texas, Californias perennial rival, putting him over the top. His victory went unacknowledged in the ceremony. Among the electors were current elected officials, such as Assemblywomen Susan Talamantes Eggman of Stockton and Shirley Weber of San Diego. Others included Christine Pelosi, daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, and Laphonza Butler, leader of the powerful labor union SEIU in California. Electors did not make individual speeches during the main ceremony, and Trumps name was hardly mentioned. But there were subtle references to the rancorous political season: Rev. Bob Oshita, the Assembly chaplain and former reverend of the Sacramento Buddhist Church, urged leaders to engage in calming self-reflection in an opening prayer. The tone grew considerably sharper at the end of the gathering, when Pelosi offered a motion calling for an investigation into Russian efforts to influence the election outcome. I move that as an Electoral College, we do not normalize this election. We do not accept Russian interference in our election, Pelosi said. Her motion was adopted by electors, with applause. View Twitter post This post was updated at 3:32 p.m. with comments from Christine Pelosi. It was originally published at 3:12 p.m. Facebook
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All of Floridas electoral votes go to Trump By Gray Rohrer Floridas electors applaud as the vote for Donald Trump is announced at the state Capitol in Tallahassee on Monday. (Steve Cannon / Associated Press) Donald Trump officially won all 29 of Floridas electoral college votes on Monday during a ceremony held at the Capitol in Tallahassee, despite pleas from protesters to electors to change their vote at the last minute. About 100 protesters gathered outside the Florida Senate chambers before the vote, chanting love trumps hate and flip the vote and holding signs that read Vote Your Conscience, Dont Make Russia Great Again! The electors, made up of Republican Party of Florida members and high-ranking elected officials like state Atty. Gen. Pam Bondi, Senate President Joe Negron and state party chairman Blaise Ingoglia, did their best to ignore the protesters. Read More Facebook
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Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim was a Trump nemesis. Now the president-elect says hes wonderful By Evan Halper Donald Trump has decided that Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim, one of his favorite villains during the presidential election, might not be so bad after all. Hes even wonderful, Trump now says. The two dined together Saturday at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, after which Trump had only nice things to say about Slim, according to a report in the Washington Post. Trump described the interaction with his erstwhile nemesis as a lovely dinner with a wonderful man. This is not how Trump talked about Slim, one of the worlds richest men, during the election. The Mexican billionaire was a regular target of the then-GOP nominee because of his large ownership stake in the New York Times. Add to that Slims generous contributions to the Clinton Foundation and his citizenship in the country Trump reveled in attacking, and he made for good fodder at Trump rallies. When Trump objected to the New York Times coverage of his campaign and its reporting on the allegations by multiple women of past inappropriate sexual advances by Trump he alleged it was all part of a conspiracy cooked up by Slim. Trump called the outlets reporters corporate lobbyists for Carlos Slim and for Hillary Clinton. The New York Times called Trumps charges a fabrication, saying Slim had never inserted himself in editorial decision making there. And Trump offered no evidence to the contrary. A spokesman for Slim said at the time the two had never met, and the Mexican businessman had no interest in involving himself in the U.S. election. Now theyve met. The takeaway from the meeting, though, is murky. Maybe it indicates Trump is softening his posture toward Mexico or maybe it just indicates billionaires enjoy the company of other billionaires. Facebook
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Meet the California electors By Liam Dillon Among the electors are Janine Bera, the wife of Rep. Ami Bera of Elk Grove; Christine Pelosi, the daughter of House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi and chairwoman of the state partys womens caucus; Eileen Feinstein Mariano, granddaughter of Sen. Dianne Feinstein; and Olivia Reyes-Becerra, daughter of Rep. Xavier Becerra of Los Angeles. State Assemblywomen Susan Eggman of Stockton and Shirley Weber of San Diego, former state Sen. Christine Kehoe of San Diego, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Nury Martinez and Laphonza Butler, president of the Service Employees International Union chapter that represents home care employees, also are on the list. Read More Facebook
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Three Washington state Democratic electors vote for Gen. Colin Powell, one for Faith Spotted Eagle By Rick Anderson (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press) Despite a statute binding the 12 members of the electoral college to vote for the winner of the states 2016 presidential election popular vote, four Washington electors made history and risked a $1,000 fine by voting for someone else Monday. But it wasnt Donald Trump. Hillary Clinton, supported by 57% of the states voters, wound up with eight of the 12 electoral votes at a session held in the State Capitol building here. Gen. Colin Powell received three votes. And Faith Spotted Eagle, an elder of the Yankton Sioux, received one. Read More Facebook
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Colorado elector says he was oppressed by state law into voting for Clinton By David Kelly In Denver, all nine electors voted for Hillary Clinton, after one was replaced for casting his ballot for Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich instead. A boisterous crowd packed the state Capitol and booed when elector Michael Baca was dismissed and another sworn in to take his place. Vote your conscience! someone cried. The new elector voted for Clinton. Hecklers screamed Resign! Resign! at Secretary of State Wayne Williams after he shooed Bacas lawyer off the podium. Suspense had been building for weeks over how the electors would vote. Two courts blocked their attempts to vote for someone other than Clinton. State law here says electors must support the candidate who won the popular vote. On Sunday night they went to court again, this time asking a judge to reject a new oath drawn up by the secretary of state requiring electors to pledge to support the winner of the popular vote. Their motion was denied. As they waited, the crowd sang This Land is Your Land and America the Beautiful. But once the electors filed in, it was over quickly. Elector Robert Nemanich said he was oppressed by state law into voting for Clinton and would go to the U.S. Supreme Court. He did not elaborate. Lance Armstrong, 68, stood outside with an American flag. Im glad some of the electors made a point today, he said. Any point is better than none. Facebook
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Trump officially gets 270th electoral vote, sealing his election as president By Julie Westfall Donald Trump has obtained the required 270 electoral votes to become president. Although electors in dozens of states still have to vote, the electoral balloting in Texas put Trump over the majority threshold, according to a state-by-state tally by the Associated Press. Thirty-six of the states electors voted for Trump, one for John Kasich and one for Ron Paul. The next, and last, official step in the electoral process is for Congress to count the votes. Under the procedure set out by the 12th Amendment to the Constitution, that formal process is scheduled for Jan. 6. Some anti-Trump activists had hoped against hope that they could persuade electors in states that voted for Trump to defect, but their efforts were unsuccessful. Electors are nearly all party loyalists. Additionally, they faced more than two centuries of tradition and, in some states, legal obligations that called for them to cast their ballots according to which candidate won the popular vote in their states. No defectors have ever changed the result of a presidential election. Four electors today successfully defected in Washington state. Instead of voting for Hillary Clinton, who won the states popular vote, three electors voted for former secretary of State Colin Powell and one voted for Faith Spotted Eagle, an environmental activist. Electors in two other states who tried to vote against the states winner were replaced with alternates. There may be additional defections in the remaining states, but since Trump now has a majority of the electoral votes, those would not be enough to change the result. Facebook
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Emotions high in Maryland as electors unanimously vote for Clinton By Erin Cox (Erin Cox/Baltimore Sun) As Marylands 10 electors unanimously cast votes for Democrat Hillary Clinton for president Monday, several said they were privileged to vote for the countys first female presidential nominee. Outside, hundreds of anti-Trump protesters cheered as the solemn ceremony unfolded on live-stream television. A state delegate, who had the ceremonial task of handing the electors votes to another official, wept while executing her duty. This is an emotional moment for many, many women in this country and in this state, said Del. Maggie McIntosh, a Baltimore Democrat. She added later: I guess I didnt cry enough on Nov. 8. Marylands electors were bound by state law to vote for the winner of Marylands popular vote, which Clinton secured with more than 60% of the ballots cast. About 100 protesters who had been chanting and singing around the historic State House grounds for at least four hours before the vote said they came in solidarity with protesters in Republican state capitols, pleading with electors not to endorse President-elect Donald Trump. This is appalling and unacceptable, and Im hoping the Republicans, in particular, rise above and do the right thing, said Cheryl Kreiser, a retired teacher from the Washington, D.C., suburb of Silver Spring. For an hour every day for the last 21 days, Kreiser has protested Trumps win on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial. It was the only way I could cope with the disappointment, she said. Marylands Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, who wrote in his fathers name rather than vote for Trump on election day, opened Marylands 58th electoral college meeting but left the room before electors were sworn in. Each elector had been appointed by the Maryland Democratic Party state chair, Bruce Poole, who reminded the crowd the United States is not a direct democracy ruled by the popular vote. A lot of people lose sight of the fact that were a republic. Were not a democracy, Poole said. The whole idea was that the president would not be chosen just by the whims of the moment, but instead there would be an opportunity for people who were thoughtful, who had judgment, who had integrity to take a step back from the moment of emotion and consider what would be in the best interest of the country. Here is "the old book" where Maryland has recorded its Electoral College electors every year since 1789. pic.twitter.com/GlsaJd3F3X Erin Cox (@ErinatThePost) December 19, 2016 Before he introduced Marylands electors, Poole lamented the state of political discourse in the country. We live in the age of information. It is not necessarily the age of wisdom or age of judgment, he said. People on both sides, on all sides, make decisions at the snap of a finger. Maryland was both the model for creating the electoral college and the first state in the country to vote to bypass it. Framers modeled todays system after the way the Maryland House of Delegates selected Maryland senators, a process the state later abandoned after it was considered undemocratic, according to a history of the electoral college written by staff at the Maryland Board of Elections. Hogan noted the state is one of six to have participated every year since 1789. In 2007, Maryland was the first state to vote to sign the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, a promise designed to award the electoral college to the winner of the national popular vote. It required enough states to comprise 270 votes to sign on for it to take effect. So far, only 10 states including California with a combined 165 votes have signed the compact. The president of Marylands electors, Courtney Watson, also co-chaired Clintons campaign in Maryland. She said she thought changes to the electoral college should be considered and described Monday as a poignant moment for Maryland residents. Its a very emotional time, she said. Many of us have worked long and hard, and for the first woman candidate. The point, though, is that people are still moved and even more engaged. And thats what I find promising for our future and the future of women. Facebook
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Christine Pelosi, daughter of Nancy Pelosi and California elector, demands to know the truth about Russian influence By Jazmine Ulloa Elector @sfpelosi: We won't stand down. #caleg pic.twitter.com/4cM3cE4Wb6 Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 19, 2016 California elector Christine Pelosi on Monday told crowds gathered outside the Capitol that she has been part of a chorus of people demanding to know the truth about Russian interference in the November presidential election. Pelosi, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosis daughter, is leading 10 other electors in a call for an intelligence briefing on Russian influence. Shouting into a microphone Monday, she said Russian hackers aim to turn the American people against each other and had marginalized her and others for speaking out. They trespass on servers, she said. They receive stolen emails. They pump out stories that day after day focus on scandal rather than policy, rather than talking about climate and immigration and human rights. Californias meeting of electors is about to get underway in the state Capitol. Facebook
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After prayer for national unity, Georgia electors vote for Trump By Jenny Jarvie Outside the Georgia Capitol today, some may have held a flicker of hope that a GOP elector would refuse to cast a ballot for Donald Trump as 45th president of the United States. Yet among the inner circle of Republicans who gathered inside the cozy, wood-paneled Senate chamber, there was little doubt about what would unfold. One by one, all 16 electors - dressed in formal business suits and red dresses, bow ties and blazers -- cast their ballots for the contentious Republican candidate. It was a short ceremony, with little opportunity for disruption. Security guards prevented the public from entering the chamber, cordoning off the hallway outside the room with a red rope and locking the main door before proceedings began. The electors chosen by Georgias Republican Party included well-connected attorneys and real estate agents, a high school teacher and a farmer. As they waited for the gathering to begin, many snapped selfies and waved at loved ones above in the upper gallery. After a call to order by the Georgia Republican Party chair, the electors bowed their heads, and Rachel Little, an elector and grass-roots Republican organizer, delivered an invocation. Lord, we know we are a divided country right now, she said. We pray that you will unite us. We pray that [those who oppose Trump] will see our conservatism lived out in a gracious way. In a short speech, Gov. Nathan Deal hit out at activists who had bombarded electors with emails, letters and phone calls in an effort to sway their votes. You have been the subject of harassment by those who perhaps are not as dedicated to the proposition of what this body is supposed to do as they are agitated by the fact that the people didnt do what they wanted them to do. I have every confidence you will not succumb to that, Deal told the electors. My words to you: Do your job. Shortly before the electors cast their ballots, Rep. Barry Loudermilk, a Republican who represents Georgias 11th District, took to the podium to present a short history of the electoral college. Our founders actually despised the idea of democracy because mob rule often results in a decision made out of pure emotion, Loudermilk told the electors, after referencing the noise of protesters outside. It does not result in good government. In fact, our founders often cited the historic trial of Jesus as how mob rule does not work. The electoral college was devised to protect the integrity of government, Loudermilk said. To protect those who live in the rural areas of America, those who work, those who are part of the farming communities and part of the industrial communities, those who live and work every day, that their interests are protected as well of those who make their living on Wall Street. For a moment earlier this year, there was an inkling of a Republican revolt against Trump in Georgia. In August, Baoky Vu, a GOP elector based in Decatur, Ga., admitted he might not cast his ballot for Trump if he won. Within hours, however, he was forced to resign. Trump went on to win 51% of Georgias popular vote. On Monday, Vu did not show up at the Capitol, and he was formally replaced by a solid Trump backer, John Padgett, the chairman of the Georgia Republican party. There seems little chance that Georgia legislators might vote to overhaul the electoral college. Earlier this year, Republican legislators authored two bipartisan pieces of legislation in Georgias House and Senate that would have made Georgias electoral votes based solely on the outcome of the national popular vote. Yet both bills stalled, and Republicans say there is little momentum to revive the debate. The system prevents the tyranny of the majority, said Kirk Shook, an elector who is a high school teacher in rural Oconee County. He scoffed at those who, since the election, had sought to overhaul the electoral college system. Theres all this weeping and wailing and gnashing of teeth, Shook said of those who opposed Trumps win. And rightly so. Theres going to be a Republican president, a Republican Congress and a Republican Supreme Court. With the stroke of a pen, 90 percent of what Obama considered his legacy will be gone. Facebook
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Four Washington state electors defect from Clinton; one chooses Faith Spotted Eagle instead By Associated Press (Elaine Thompson / Associated Press) Four members of the electoral college in Washington state cast their votes for a candidate other than Democrat Hillary Clinton, who won the states popular vote. Its the first time in four decades the states electors have broken from the popular vote for president. Washingtons 12 electors met Monday afternoon in the state Capitol to complete the constitutional formality. Clinton got eight votes while other candidates got the remaining four. Elector Bret Chiafalo, who earlier in the day said he planned to vote for Republican Ohio Gov. John Kasich, said that he ultimately changed his vote to former Secretary of State Colin Powell after conversations with other Washington electors. The exact breakdown of the other four votes wasnt immediately known, although at least one vote was cast for Faith Spotted Eagle. In last months election, Republican Donald Trump won 306 electoral votes to Clintons 232, though Clintons tally will now be lower. A candidate needs 270 electoral votes to win. The last time an elector broke from the popular vote in Washington was in 1976, when Mike Padden, who is currently a Republican state senator, voted for Ronald Reagan instead of Gerald Ford, who had won the state. Facebook
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Hundreds protest the electoral college at Capitol building in Sacramento By Jazmine Ulloa Protesters are now chanting, "hey hey ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go" pic.twitter.com/4nNyTMroI5 Marcus Yam (@yamphoto) December 19, 2016 Cheers and chants of U.S.A and Keep him out filled the air Monday, as dozens of protestors gathered outside the California Capitol in a last ditch attempt to sway the electoral college from voting for president-elect Donald Trump. Speakers called Trump a celebrity and authoritarian unfit for the presidency. And they urged Congress to do away with the electoral college process, which they described as an outdated and broken system susceptible to foreign influence and manipulation. This is a secret system of voting where we are not allowed to see where the votes are actually coming from or how they are counted, Brent Turner, with the movement organization Democracy Spring, shouted into a microphone. John Franco, 52, says the electoral college is an outdated system that can be manipulated with or without hackers. #caleg pic.twitter.com/fs2L2W2HKp Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 19, 2016 John Franco, a 52-year-old business owner visiting Sacramento from New Orleans, said he came to the demonstration with his family to protest that secret process. We dont feel a system that can be manipulated represents the interests of the people who voted for Hillary Clinton, he said. Rochelle Towers was among hundreds to protest at the CA Capitol today: "I'll take any shot that there is. #caleg https://t.co/QcOhWklrpx pic.twitter.com/mtx76NjdEW Jazmine Ulloa (@jazmineulloa) December 20, 2016 Rochelle Towers, 68, said she drove in from Oakland in an attempt to persuade the electoral college from voting for Trump. She said she would not have to live through a lot of what its decision would set in motion. But my children and grandchildren will, she said. Even though this is a real long shot, Ill take any shot that there is. Facebook
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Colorado elector removed after refusing to vote for Clinton By David Kelly A new elector is sworn in in Colorado after one refused to vote for Hillary Clinton. (David Kelly / Los Angeles Times) Eight of nine Colorado electors have voted for Hillary Clinton. One elector, Michael Baca, refused to vote for Clinton and was immediately replaced with an alternate, who was sworn in on the spot. As the crowd jeered, the new elector promptly voted for Clinton. Shouts of Resign! followed Secretary of State Wayne Williams announcement of the results. Protesters at the state capitol in Colorado. (David Kelly/Los Angeles Times) Facebook
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Electors say they have been barraged with emails By Nigel Duara View Twitter post Arizona elector J. Foster Morgan said he had received several letters protesting the election of Donald Trump, but experienced nothing on the scale of some his fellow Arizona electors whose email addresses were distributed to protest lists. They heard the worst thing imaginable, Morgan said. I just got a few letters. Despite protests outside the meeting, Morgan said, the vote went fine. Eleven votes for Donald Trump. Facebook
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Democratic electors in Minnesota and Maine try to vote for Bernie Sanders By Associated Press (Spencer Platt / Getty Images) A second elector this one in Minnesota has refused to cast a vote for Democrat Hillary Clinton in Mondays electoral college tally. It wasnt immediately clear why Muhammad Abdurrahman didnt vote for Clinton, but he was a delegate for Bernie Sanders at the Democratic National Convention. The electors are pledged to cast Minnesotas 10 electoral votes for Clinton since she won the state. Abdurrahman was immediately replaced by an alternate who later voted for Clinton. Earlier in the day, a so-called faithless elector in Maine cast his vote for Sanders, who lost the Democratic presidential nomination to Clinton. David Bright said on his Facebook page that he cast his vote for Sanders because voting for Clinton would not have helped her win. But he ultimately voted for Clinton on a second vote after being ruled out of order. Facebook
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Utah voting goes off without incident six for Trump By David Montero A protest sign outside the gathering of Utah electors (Rick Bowmer / Associated Press) Despite chants of vote your conscience and the whole world is watching from more than 100 protesters, Utahs six electors cast their votes for President-elect Donald Trump today in Salt Lake City. Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox announced the official results within minutes of the votes being cast, but he was drowned out by jeers of Shame on you by the protesters. I hope you know this is what our country is all about, Cox said. I hope all of us here are sincerely grateful we live in a country where we have the opportunity to express ourselves. The six electors -- two small-business owners, a custom metal worker, a farmer, a Brigham Young University professor and a Republican activist -- quickly introduced themselves before casting their ballots. The votes were largely a formality, as the state requires electors to vote for the winner. Trump defeated Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton by getting 45%t of the vote. He also withstood a challenge from Evan McMullin, who garnered 21% in what was largely a protest vote from those, many of them Mormons, who felt uncomfortable casting a ballot for Trump. Cox said the turnout for this years electoral vote was a far cry from 2012, when four people and one camera crew showed up. Im a big fan of the electoral college, Cox said to the restless crowd. You dont have to boo me now. You can boo me later. About 200 protesters and Trump supporters arrived in the rotunda of the state Capitol about three hours before the votes were cast shortly after noon. The room where the votes were cast was too small to accommodate everyone, and the fire marshal sought to limit occupancy to about 130 people. Interest was high, and the vote even drew Hawthorn Elementary School students, who helped lead the room in the Pledge of Allegiance. Cox thanked them for coming and told them they were getting an experience youll never forget. Facebook
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Clinton elector balks in Minnesota One of 10 Minnesota electors has decided not cast a vote, Muhammad Abdurrahan. An alternate is now being sworn in. #ElectoralCollege pic.twitter.com/4eN1PIrZdO Dylan Wohlenhaus (@DylanWohlenhaus) December 19, 2016 In Minnesota, where the 10 electors had all pledged their votes to Hillary Clinton, one of them refused to go through with it. Elector Muhammad Abdurrahman opted not to vote. He was replaced by an alternate, who cast a vote for Clinton. Facebook
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As Pennsylvania went unanimously for Trump, a voice from the back: Thank you By Steve Esack Electors sworn in in Pennsylvania (Matt Rourke/Associated Press) In Pennsylvanias capital of Harrisburg, the states 20 electoral college voters selected Trump today in a ceremony marked by traditional pomp and bellowing protests. Trump won the popular vote in Pennsylvania by 44,292 votes the first Republican presidential candidate to do so since 1988. It earned him the states 20 electoral college votes. When the result was announced shortly before 1 p.m. inside the gilded, ornate House chamber, protesters jeered and supporters cheered. Shame on you, a womans voice called down from the public balcony. Thank you, a male voters voice responded back from the floor. Facebook
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How some electors have reacted to all the mail from voters Facebook
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Protesters outside Florida Senate chambers: Trump is dangerous By Gray Rohrer Protesters gather outside the Florida Senate chambers ahead of the electoral college voting ceremony. (Gray Rohrer / Orlando Sentinel) A group of about 100 protesters huddled outside the Florida Senate chambers Monday morning as Floridas 29 electors prepared to cast their votes for Donald Trump in the formal electoral eollege vote ceremony later in the day. The protesters held signs that read You can fix this, keep America free, What would Hamilton do? and Electors: Protect Us, Trump is Dangerous, pleading for electors to change their minds and not vote for Trump, who beat Hillary Clinton by 112,911 votes in Florida, about 1.2%t of all votes cast in the state. Tallahassee resident Bonnie McCluskey held a sign reading Send it to the House. If enough electors across the country do not vote for Trump, hell fall short of the 270 electoral votes required to win the presidency, sending the matter to the U.S. House. The reason Im here is because I dont trust [Trump]) and I think he will harm the United States, McCluskey said. My grandmothers were suffragettes; their ancestors were willing to be traitors to the British crown to create this democracy and I dont want to see it end. And that sounds awfully dramatic but thats how Im feeling. She said that part of the reason she doesnt trust Trump is because he didnt pay a company she worked for that did promotional videos for his buildings in 1998. They were basically given the opportunity to take 10 percent or go to court. Back then I didnt realize that was his business plan, McCluskey said. I didnt make the deal with him I was just one of the people who saw a company go bankrupt. Despite the pleas from protesters, all of Floridas electors are expected to vote for Trump. Some, such as Florida Senate President Joe Negron, have posted pictures of hundreds of letters theyve received asking them to change their vote but declaring theyll be voting for the Republican candidate. Facebook
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Colorado electors make last-ditch plea to switch votes By David Kelly Crowds await the electoral college vote at the Colorado Capitol in Denver. (David Kelly / For The Times) Colorado electors are trying a last-chance legal appeal to avoid voting for Hillary Clinton, and instead vote for an alternative candidate to replace Donald Trump. A week ago, a district court judge told them they had to vote for Clinton, who won the popular vote in Colorado. A few days ago, a federal appeals court upheld that decision. But just hours before the vote today, two electors filed suit to stop the Colorado secretary of state from requiring them to swear to vote for the candidate supported by the electorate. Their effort is part of a loose national scheme to defeat Trump by persuading Republican electors to join with Democrats, such as those in Colorado, and coalesce around an alternative candidate. There has been no decision so far. Facebook
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Chants of Shame! erupt as Wisconsin electors cast ballots for Trump By Bill Ruthhart Demonstrators erupt after Wisconsin's 10 presidential electors cast their #ElectoralCollege ballots for Republican Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/A0GrASaIbY Bill Ruthhart (@BillRuthhart) December 19, 2016 Wisconsins 10 presidential electors unanimously cast their ballots for Republican Donald Trump as expected Wednesday, but the vote still drew chants of Shame from dozens of demonstrators who had pleaded for them to back away from the president-elect. The typically procedural vote in a fourth-floor conference room in the Wisconsin State Capitol was anything but routine as about 150 protesters greeted the 10 electors with signs pleading for them to vote your conscience not your pledge. In a short 15-minute meeting, the electors quickly cast their ballots for Trump. They did not address the controversial nature of the election and no speeches were made before the
Scientists at the giant multinational energy company then known as Exxon were aware as early as the 1970s that burning products made from oil would contribute to global warming and, eventually, raise sea levels and alter climates.
Investigative reports published in 2015 by The Times and Inside Climate News found that the company made internal calculations about how such changes would affect its business recognizing, for instance, that the polar ice caps were shrinking and that the companys operations in the Arctic could change dramatically as a result. But even as it privately schemed about how to handle the risks and benefits of climate change, the oil giant publicly argued that the science it knew to be right was actually murky. For years, Exxon financed projects aimed at undermining the growing scientific consensus about global warming, and continued to sell stock to investors without acknowledging either the dangers to the world of burning fossil fuels or the threats that rising and more volatile seas posed to the companys own offshore drilling operations and coastal installations, among other climate change-related business risks.
The gap between what Exxon officials knew to be true and what they said publicly suggests both hypocrisy and a lack of concern about the fate of the planet. But whether the company violated securities law in the process is another question. That is the subject of investigations by several state attorneys general, led by those in New York and Massachusetts, who have subpoenaed hundreds of thousands of pages of documents. California has its own inquiry underway, though Atty. Gen. Kamala Harris has offered no details and her department officially has no comment on a potential or ongoing investigation. Separately, the federal Securities and Exchange Commission is also reviewing actions by Exxon Mobil, as the corporation has been known since a 1999 merger.
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Exxon Mobil has responded to the state subpoenas, but it also is trying to persuade a federal judge in Texas to close down the Massachusetts investigation, accusing the state of trampling its 1st Amendment rights. Whether a federal judge in Texas would have authority to interfere in an ongoing state investigation in Massachusetts is the subject of yet more legal wrangling.
At the same time, Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), the oil-friendly chair of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, has demanded documents from the ongoing state investigations, including from Harris office a troubling attempt by Congress to interfere in state-level criminal investigations. Smiths committee also has sought documents from independent environmental groups that, using the campaign against the tobacco industry as a blueprint, are acting in concert to try to hold the oil industry responsible for climate change damages it knew its products were causing.
While New York and Massachusetts have been open about their investigation of Exxon (the Virgin Islands recently abandoned a similar effort, citing lack of resources), California has been quiet. Harris is not long for her job in Sacramento she will replace Barbara Boxer in the U.S. Senate next week. Gov. Jerry Brown has nominated Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Los Angeles) to succeed Harris, pending confirmation by the Legislature. Assuming that happens, Becerra should put the Exxon investigation near the top of his to do list.
If investigations by California and other states find no grounds to pursue charges, so be it. Its clear in any case that Exxon Mobils behavior was at best devious and cynical. The oil giant was at the vanguard of understanding the perils inherent in burning fossil fuels, and could have been a leader in moving the world toward safer and more sustainable energy sources.
Exxon Mobils calculated manipulations cost the world an opportunity to attack global warming earlier than it did. If Exxon Mobil and other oil companies had acted more in the common interest rather than focusing on profit, the world might not be struggling today to ratchet back emissions and avoid catastrophic changes.
With President-elect Donald J. Trumps nomination of Exxon Mobil Chief Executive Rex Tillerson as secretary of State, the companys climate change-denying disinformation campaign demands as full and fast a public accounting as is possible.
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My new years resolution this year is as simple as it is sad: Get a dashboard camera for my car. Once I get the car back from the body shop, that is.
Yes, my holiday season included a slow-speed fender bender. No one was hurt. Just a couple of crunched fenders. Other than the car, the only damage I suffered was my faith in other people. I wont drone on about the details (Ive already bored enough of my friends and co-workers) other than to say that I told one story to the insurance adjusters about what happened and the other person told a different story.
We both took cellphone pictures, but they dont show much other than the damage to our cars, the location on the street and the debris in the street. I dont know how much the insurance adjusters can glean from the amateur snaps taken by dazed and shaken people. Maybe a lot. Maybe enough to confirm my side of the story. Maybe nothing.
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Thats why I want a dash cam recording my journeys through the increasingly hairy streets of Los Angeles. Not just to back me up if theres another accident but because Im hoping that simply having one will make other drivers be better people.
Ever seen people actually stop when the light turns yellow at an intersection with a red-light camera or slowing down on the freeway when theres a California Highway Patrol cruiser at the side of the road? The very act of being observed makes people more likely to follow the rules and even behave better.
What researchers and officers have noticed since police have started wearing body cameras is that people are better behaved on camera. One of the first studies of the effect of the body cameras in Rialto, Calif., found officers were significantly less likely to use force against a suspect when the camera was turned on and a suspect was less likely to be abusive toward officers. Assuming this finding holds up in later, larger studies, thats good news for everyone.
And it makes me think the same principal may apply with drivers. If someone hits my car while it is parked in a lot and notices a dash cam, will they chance taking off without leaving and owning up to their error? Maybe not. Leaving the scene of a crime carries serious consequences.
Apparently dash cameras are the rage in Russia. And after seeing this video compilation of apparently staged accident injuries, I understand why. I hate the idea of being suspicious of everyone. But I hate the idea of being taken for a ride more. Hopefully, having dash cams mean we can avoid both.
mariel.garza@latimes.com
Follow me @marielgarzaLAT
Its time to bid good riddance to everything horrible that has happened in the past year.
From headlines in the Washington Post and BuzzFeed to posts sprinkled across social media sites to casual conversations at holiday parties, were collectively writing off the past 12 months as truly terrible in the hopes that next year will be an improvement. It wasnt a bad year for me personally, a friend said to me this week, but, wow, was it an awful year for the world.
This line of thinking might seem pessimistic, the result of a depressive tendency to highlight only the worst aspects of the past 12 months. Some good things happened too, even if none immediately springs to mind. But worst year ever comments are actually unnaturally optimistic. To declare youre so over 2016 is to assume that everything that made this year difficult will come to a hard stop when the clock strikes midnight on Dec. 31. To declare 2016 the worst year ever carries the audacious implication that we can leave behind the negative things that happened and start fresh.
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The things that made the year so difficult war, economic inequality, broken democracies, entrenched racism and sexism are not going away.
Complaints about 2016 are well-founded. The United States elected a uniquely unqualified president who embraces misogynistic and white-nationalist rhetoric and saw a subsequent spike in hate crimes. The public mourned the deaths of beloved figures including Prince, Muhammad Ali and David Bowie. According to a BBC survey of obituaries, twice as many notable people died in 2016 as did in 2015.
Across the Atlantic, voters in the United Kingdom decided to leave the European Union, even as thousands of Syrian refugees shivered in makeshift camps from Greece to Germany. Venezuelas economy collapsed, and its democracy may follow suit. The Philippine president bragged about gunning down citizens in the streets. And there was a parade of natural disasters (wildfires in California, landslides in Indonesia) corporate scandals (Wells Fargo) and communicable diseases (Zika).
Social media compounded the effect of each piece of bad news. The awful folkways of social media which encourage us to call out bad things in dramatic fashion and then pretend that weve been helpful have led to something of an annual conclusion, Jia Tolentino wrote in the New Yorker. Google searches for worst year ever spike each December.
But 2016 isnt done with us.
The things that made the year so difficult war, economic inequality, broken democracies, entrenched racism and sexism are not going away. Important artists and cultural figures are going to die in 2017. Openly racist politicians with autocratic tendencies will be elected in 2017. Economies will collapse in 2017. Unarmed black people will be killed by police in 2017. Civilians will die in senseless wars in 2017, and many others will become refugees.
This is only cause for despair if were willing to sit idly by. Most of us have the ability to work against the forces that made this year so terrible (with the exception of human mortality, of course). We can support electoral reform efforts and opposition candidates. We can turn up in the streets to demand that our leaders protect Medicare and respect civil rights and hold police accountable. We can support organizations working to counteract the negative effects of civil wars and forced migration.
Action will require a shift in perspective. As consumers of news and social media, its easy to feel we are passively watching an endless number of heart-rending and blood-boiling stories unfold. The worst year ever frame encourages the view that we are powerless to change the headlines we read. But if we can start thinking of ourselves as agents rather than mere observers as people who have an important role to play in changing the circumstances that currently bring us despair the parade of negative news becomes a call to action. These compounding events are, in fact, a to-do list for the coming months.
The past is never dead, as the oft-misquoted William Faulkner line goes. It isnt even past. This is acutely true in the waning days of 2016. While it might be an exhausting truth to recall on New Years Eve, when wed rather sip bubbly wine and toast to a fresh start, next year wont be an improvement simply because its a new calendar year. If we want 2017 to be better, we have to work to make it so.
Ann Friedman is a contributing writer to Opinion. She lives in Los Angeles.
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
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The last year has been invigorating for part of the labor movement as the Fight for $15 campaign progressed rapidly from pie in the sky to, in some places at least, reality, and federal labor protections were expanded.
Get ready for the snapback.
President-elect Donald J. Trump could pose the biggest threat to American workers since President Reagan, who similarly won support from working-class Americans despite policies that undercut their ability to work together for higher wages and better working conditions.
Trumps own history with labor stands as a warning, from hiring and underpaying undocumented workers to clear the site for his Trump Tower in Manhattan, to anti-union stances at some of his hotel properties. And his nominee to run the Labor Department, Andrew F. Puzder of fast-food conglomerate CKE Restaurants (Hardees, Carls Jr.), opposes minimum-wage hikes, the Obama administrations recent expansion of overtime protections and other elements enhancing workers rights.
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Maybe a profoundly anti-worker Trump administration is just what American labor needs a galvanizing force, and a defined target.
If the Senate confirms the appointment, which seems likely, Pruzder will soon be in charge of enforcing the very things he opposes. Under federal regulatory procedures, it will take some work, but Puzder could eventually undo many of the gains achieved under Obama, and roll back protections even further.
More ominously, the National Labor Relations Board is in a similarly fraught position. The board, which adjudicates complaints about violations of labor laws, is a five-seat panel that traditionally swings to a Democratic or Republican majority depending on who is in the White House. Trump will inherit a board, though, with only three sitting members, a 2-1 Democratic majority. The term of the sole Republican, Obama-appointee Philip Miscimarra, expires in late 2017, as does that of general counsel Richard F. Griffin Jr. That means Trump will be in a position to radically reshape the NLRB with three board appointees and a new general counsel in his first year.
Whats at risk? Among other things, the boards recent quickie election rule, which speeds up the calendar for union-recognition campaigns and reduces companies ability to fight off the efforts through compulsory meetings and other heavy-handed tactics, including cynical use of legal challenges to delay the process. The NLRB has also been moving to make franchising corporations such as McDonalds share responsibility for the treatment of workers by franchisees, an effort that seems likely to fade away with a quantum shift in outlook under a Trump NLRB.
But the biggest threat could be to unions themselves. For years, anti-union activists have pushed right to work laws barring compulsory payment of union dues to cover the costs of bargaining and maintaining contracts at state levels with varying degrees of success. But theres also a movement at the federal level, which could get enough support within Congress and the Trump administration to pass.
That wouldnt be a death knell for unions, but it would certainly make an already difficult situation even worse.
So how dark is the future for labor? Its hard to say here on the 80th anniversary of the start of the famous Flint sit-down strike which ushered in the rise of organized labor and, by extension, the rise of the American middle class. It was a difficult fight, one that took deep personal sacrifices of the workers themselves as they fought for their futures, and for the common good.
So maybe a profoundly anti-worker Trump administration is just what American labor needs a galvanizing force, and a defined target. And by expanding and building on the successful fights for higher minimum wages, labor can remind remind workers that the more they fight together, the more they gain together.
Scott.Martelle@LATimes.com
Follow my posts and retweets at @smartelle on Twitter
To the editor: Kudos to The Times for its story on the big projects of big real-estate developers and their obvious and probably natural approval by the elected representatives who get large amounts from them as donations. These worthies include Major Eric Garcetti and other Los Angeles City Council members who get what ought to be called bribes from people like developer Rick Caruso, whose projects are claimed to be discussed and decided in City Hall based purely on their merits. (Political donations flow as Rick Caruso seeks approval for a 20-story tower near the Beverly Center, Dec. 28)
What honesty! What transparency!
These politicians dont care if there is a clear conflict of interest. Would they consider these projects purely on merit if there were no donations to go along with them? Must voters accept this has become an essential part of the political process? The pay-to-play culture pervades and has polluted politics, yet voters keep putting the culprits in power.
Is there no one who will not expect and accept these kinds of donations and rise above the culture of corruption?
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Yatindra Bhatnagar, Tujunga
..
To the editor: Let me say at the outset that I know none of the details regarding the proposal by Caruso to build a 20-story building near the Beverly Center. I am, however, a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, where Caruso and his companies are rebuilding the communitys shopping district.
Throughout the many years of planning and now construction, Caruso has been both transparent and responsive to the community. He has personally presented plans to community groups, listened and responded positively to local input and has worked to mitigate the impact of construction.
I join with many of my neighbors in looking forward to completion of the project in 2018.
James W. Osterholt, Pacific Palisades
..
To the editor: The location of Carusos proposed 20-story tower is one of the most gridlocked intersections in Los Angeles. If the tower is built, it will further tie up traffic in three directions: north-south, east-west and diagonally northwest-southeast on San Vicente Boulevard.
Who will protect the residents of Los Angeles and those of adjacent cities who must deal with the consequences of L.A.s overdevelopment? Does the pay to play endemic to Los Angeless zoning variance approvals violate some law at some level of government?
Daniel Fink, Beverly Hills
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
In the two decades since Ben Santer helped write a landmark international report linking global warming and human activity, hes been criticized by politicians, accused of falsifying his data and rewarded with a dead rat on his doorstep.
He describes it as background noise, and he tries to tune it out as he presses forward with his research from a dim office the size of a walk-in closet at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory east of San Francisco. But the presidential election could crank up the volume for Santer and his colleagues: As federal government scientists, their new boss will be President-elect Donald Trump, who once described global warming as a hoax.
Imagine, if you will, that you devoted your entire career to doing one thing. Doing it as well as you possibly can, Santer said. And someone comes along and says everything youve done is worthless.
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Trumps victory sent shockwaves through the environmental community, but fears are particularly heightened among scientists who are employed by the federal government or rely on the data it generates. There are concerns that younger generations may avoid working for U.S. agencies or decide not to focus on climate change because they dont see a future working in the field.
The election may have already had a chilling effect: Some working in national laboratories declined to speak about the impact the next administration could have on research they consider to be crucial to the fate of the planet.
Santer has responded differently. Although hes soft-spoken in person, the 61-year-old scientist has become more vocal over the years in hopes of beating back claims that climate change isnt real. Noticing the grim mood in his office after the election, Santer wrote an essay that he forwarded to friends to post online.
This is not the time for despair, wrote Santer, who is as meticulous with his words as colleagues say he is with his research. Its time for leaving the sidelines and entering the public arena.
Perhaps, he said, incoming officials can still be convinced of the science to which hes dedicated his life.
Maybe there are people in the new administration who are willing to sit down and be educated and have a conversation, Santer said. I have to hope that there are those people.
While Trump has pledged to keep an open mind when it comes to addressing climate change, hes also expressed doubt about the scientific consensus on the topic. His choice to lead the Department of Energy, which oversees national laboratories like the one where Santer works, is former Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who once suggested abolishing the department altogether. Hes also described climate science as a contrived phony mess.
Scientists have viewed other actions by the Trump transition team with alarm, such as a request for the names of department employees who have worked on climate issues.
They can do a lot of damage in a short period of time, said Andrew Rosenberg, director of the Center for Science and Democracy at the Union of Concerned Scientists. The organization is working on a secure channel for government employees to report alleged attempts by the incoming administration to interfere with their research.
Scientists also worry theyll lose critical information streams from federal agencies such as NASA and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, where Trump and congressional Republicans will manage personnel and determine funding.
In the current administration there is support ... for climate science, and a respect for its findings, said Michael Mann, a professor of atmospheric science at Penn State University. I fear both will simultaneously evaporate in an anti-science presidential administration.
A spokesman for Trumps transition team did not respond to a request for comment about whether or how the federal government will support climate change research under the new administration.
National laboratories could prove to be a flashpoint in the brewing tug-of-war between California and Trump. Although Livermore is better known for its nuclear weapons research, there are also 50 researchers, computer scientists and software engineers focused on climate change, with $16 million in federal funding backing them.
Theyre concerned that they could be blacklisted, said Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Dublin), whose district includes Livermore. Swalwell wrote a letter with 26 congressional colleagues pledging to protect scientists in national laboratories, perhaps with legal action.
Because the laboratory is managed in a partnership with the University of California, Gov. Jerry Brown has promised to protect their work as president of the Board of Regents.
Gov. Jerry Brown has promised to defend climate scientists at national laboratories in California. (Gregory Bull / Associated Press )
I am going to say, Keep your hands off. That laboratory is going to pursue good science, Brown said in a Dec. 14 speech at a science conference in San Francisco.
And, if Trump turns off the satellites, California will launch its own damn satellite, he added. Were going to collect that data.
Santer has spent years examining that data. His specialty is fingerprinting, or identifying the causes of global warming. For example, an increase in the suns output could increase the planets temperatures, but in a different way than greenhouse gas emissions from cars and factories.
The ultimate prize, he said, is the sense that maybe once or twice in your scientific career, you got one tiny piece of the puzzle that nobody else in the world has.
Santer went to Madrid in 1995 to help write the second report from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, which said that the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate.
That sentence changed my life, Santer said. He went on to become a MacArthur fellow and a member of the National Academy of Sciences.
Santer also became a target, as industry-backed groups attacked his research.
The goal of these campaigns is to create the appearance that theres still a scientific debate over the existence of global warming, said Erik Conway, the co-author of Merchants of Doubt, which chronicled attempts by industry to undermine scientific findings. And that debate has been over within science since the 1990s. What the fossil fuel lobby doesnt want is the public debate to shift from science to solutions, because solving man-made global warming means the end of their current business models.
It was a disorienting experience for Santer, who remembers his first time testifying before Congress as terrifying.
It did not feel comfortable or natural for me to be in public settings, he said.
But instead of retreating, Santer decided to speak out more, viewing that as part of his responsibility as a climate scientist. He said he tailored a research paper to combat attempts by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) to cast doubt on whether the planet was significantly warming.
But Santer knows the playing field is uneven. While his research gets published in scientific journals, politicians are invited on popular late-night shows, like when Cruz chatted about climate change with Seth Meyers in March 2015.
I would love to have set the record straight on Late Night with Seth Meyers, Santer deadpanned.
Santer said scientists need to push against misinformation, even if it comes from the federal government that issues their paychecks. And communication is key, he said.
Why do you think Make America Great Again worked? Santer said. My theory is the repetition. A simple message, repeated again and again and again.
He added, Theres an important lesson there for climate scientists. Somehow weve got to find an equally effective way of communicating the message again and again and again.
chris.megerian@latimes.com
Follow @chrismegerian on Twitter
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President Obama deserves our gratitude for designating the rich natural and cultural treasure of the Bears Ears region in southeastern Utah as a national monument. He had to think big. In granting 1.35 million acres of federal land new, needed protections, he preserved for the future a place of learning, grandeur, sanctuary, and healing.
Against political headwinds, Obama used the executive power inherent in the Antiquities Act of 1906 the same legislation that initially protected four of Utahs Mighty Five national parks. Arches, Zion, Bryce Canyon and Capitol Reef were all presidential-proclamation monuments first; Canyonlands was created as a park by Congress.
The president acted on behalf of our children and grandchildren, on behalf of the last canyon treefrogs singing in Slickhorn Gulch along the San Juan River, on behalf of the Navajo medicine man gathering herbs on the forested mesas of the Bears Ears. His action will be a boon to Utahs rural economy.
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For Native people, these canyons and mesas arent desert or wilderness or destination. These redrock labyrinths are home. For millennia, people have woven cultural identity into this ground. Artifacts, ruins and rock art from the Ancestral Puebloans carry essential messages to the Hopi and Zuni of our time and to all of us.
The Republicans who dominate Utahs politics are already threatening to repeal not only the Bears Ears designation but the Antiquities Act itself.
For the first time in conservation history, the primary advocates for this new national monument were Native American tribes. In October 2015, the Navajo, Ute Mountain, Hopi, Zuni, and Ute nations presented the Obama administration with a proposal to preserve and co-manage public lands they consider sacred. The full membership of the National Congress of American Indians supported them. Remarkably, given the history of Indian people and the United States, the government listened.
By establishing this national monument, Obama has protected canyons actively consecrated and blessed by Native prayers, living libraries of indigenous traditional knowledge. All of us, Indian and non-Indian, will deepen our relationships with home as we come to know this landscape.
As Willie Grayeyes of the Bears Ears Inter-Tribal Coalition put it, protecting Bears Ears is not just about healing for the land and Native people. Its for our adversaries to be healed too. I truly believe we can all come out dancing together.
President Obama also established Gold Butte National Monument on Wednesday, at the western edge of the Grand Canyon in Nevada, taking advantage of another opportunity to protect rich archaeological resources from relentless vandalism and amplifying the vision of co-management by tribes, this time with the Moapa Paiute people.
The elected officials in Utah who argued against the national monument including the entire Utah congressional delegation struck the same hackneyed chords used by Utahs governor more than 50 years ago when he opposed creating Canyonlands National Park because the state might need all those rocks for building material.
A so-called compromise plan introduced by Utah Representatives Rob Bishop and Jason Chaffetz would have preserved far fewer acres of incomparable wildlands and accelerated energy development and mining on public lands across much of eastern Utah. The tribes turned to the president when they felt the congressmen were not listening to them.
The Republicans who dominate Utahs politics are already threatening to repeal not only the Bears Ears designation but the Antiquities Act itself. They attack the very idea of federal public lands, and repeat false claims about the monuments effects (it wont prohibit Native uses such as woodcutting and herb gathering). They rail against the exclusion of local voices in decision-making, but at a Dec. 19 press conference refused to speak to the elected tribal leaders from the Ute and Navajo nations.
The president has done right by Bears Ears, and brought into being a never-before-dreamed-of reconciliation in the form of co-management by federal agencies and tribes. He has acted boldly for preservation in Utah and elsewhere, protecting Alaskas Chukchi and Beaufort seas from risky drilling, designating the Katahdin Woods and Waters as a national monument in Maine, and establishing and extending enormous marine preserves.
When Donald Trump becomes president, there is little chance well see such irreplaceable land- and seascapes protected. With a Republican Congress bent on repealing every shred of Obamas legacy, with Bishop (chair of the House Committee on Natural Resources) angrily pushing bills that would open up public lands to development and greed, theres yet more Obama should do.
A proclamation for Greater Grand Canyon Heritage National Monument, a preserve that permanently protects the Greater Grand Canyon watershed, awaits the presidents signature. Between now and Jan. 20 there is time enough to act again. Lyndon Johnson was still signing national monument proclamations as he dressed for Richard Nixons inauguration.
May the president keep using his pen and the power of the Antiquities Act before we lose such opportunities for the next four years, maybe eight, maybe even longer.
Salt Lake City writer Stephen Trimble is editor of the forthcoming Red Rock Stories: Three Generations of Writers Speak on Behalf of Utahs Public Lands.
Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook
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Derogatory emails forwarded by a now former Los Angeles County Sheriffs official while he was with the Burbank Police Department led to his downfall when the messages came to light in April.
Tom Angel, who was hired as Sheriff Jim McDonnells chief of staff in 2015, forwarded messages in 2012 and 2013 using his official Burbank police email account while he was the departments deputy chief. The emails contained remarks about women, Muslims, blacks and Latinos that were deemed offensive.
The emails were first discovered in 2014 after a records request was filed by a Los Angeles attorney. It wasnt until this year that the Leader learned of the emails and subsequently published a story about them.
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One message forwarded by Angel had the subject line Royally Politically Incorrect.
I took my Biology exam last Friday, it stated. I was asked to name two things commonly found in cells. Apparently Blacks and Mexicans were NOT the correct answers.
Another email, with the subject line Short Bar joke/Devout Muslims, ridiculed concerns over racially profiling Muslims as terrorism suspects.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Angel said he didnt mean to demean anyone with the messages, and that they were never intended to be seen by the public.
Anybody in the workplace, unfortunately, forwards emails from time to time that they probably shouldnt have forwarded, Angel said. I apologize if I offended anybody, but the intent was not for the public to have seen these jokes.
When news of the emails broke, McDonnell said he was disappointed, but had no immediate plans to discipline Angel because the emails were forwarded during his time with the Burbank Police Department.
Angel had previously served as a sheriffs official before joining Burbank in 2012 and left in 2015 to serve under McDonnell as part of an effort to reform the county sheriffs department amid allegations of police brutality, racism and sexual harassment.
Numerous civil rights advocates called for Angel to either step down or be fired because of the emails.
Angel resigned from the department one month after the emails were published.
In accepting Angels resignation, McDonnell said in a statement he found the incident deeply troubling.
Despite the sheriffs departments many recent efforts to fortify public trust and enhance internal and external accountability and transparency, this incident reminds us that we and other law enforcement agencies still have work to do, he said.
He said the department will institute random audits of employee emails and that the organization will look at its training and policies to ensure accountability and enhancing cultural and ethnic sensitivity.
For its part, the city of Burbank already has a policy in place regarding email misuse. Employees are prohibited from using their work emails to send demeaning or offensive messages.
Violating the policy could result in email rights being revoked or disciplinary action.
To catch any email misuse, the police department has been randomly auditing messages since 2012; however, supervisors and command staff were exempted.
It wasnt until this year that an audit of messages sent by the entire command staff was conducted.
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Andy Nguyen, andy.nguyen@latimes.com
Twitter: @Andy_Truc
Russia hopes the UN Security Council will take up a vote and unanimously adopt a draft resolution on Syria, which is based on talks and documents issued in Astana, Kazakhstan on Thursday, Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaly Churkin said, Sputnik reported.
Russian President Vladimir Putin announced on Thursday that the Syrian government and armed opposition groups had reached an agreement on a nationwide ceasefire in Syria and on readiness to start peace talks.
Putin called on the Syrian government, armed opposition and all countries with influence on the situation in the Arab republic to support the reached agreements and to take part in the anticipated talks in Astana.
"Today at the consultations, I will present it [draft resolution on Syria] to the UN Security Council members more formally," Churkin said. "We hope that tomorrow morning we can go for a vote and adopt in unanimously for the Security Council to join in this important process."
Churkin said the draft resolution had been circulated as an official UN Security Council document on Thursday night. He explained the talks in Astana had been conducted with seven major opposition groups with substantial military presence in Syria.
Churkin added any opposition group that had serious intentions to join the negotiation process is "welcome to show up in Astana".
A nationwide ceasefire between the Syrian government and opposition factions came into force at midnight on Friday. Russia and Turkey serve as guarantors of the ceasefire deal, which paves the way for negotiations between the warring parties.
Carla Arzente recently moved her Laguna Beach gallery, saltfineart, just 1.2 miles north, next to two established, well-respected galleries, Sue Greenwood Fine Art and JoAnne Artman Gallery.
Together, the three women have created a powerhouse row of contemporary art on the coast highway, and the mutual respect and friendship among the three is apparent.
Sue summed up the situation this way:
Im very good friends with Carla, and Carla called me one morning and shes like, I gotta have coffee with you. Ive got to make a change. And Im like, OK, you need to be our neighbor. And it has created a really good synergy with our block.
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I sat down with them to discuss their new arrangement, their joys and the state of the art industry in general.
Weekend: So why Laguna?
JoAnne: People come to Laguna Beach from all over the world to see the art. Although were known for the plein air and beach-type scenes, what sets our galleries apart a little bit is were more contemporary, so I think it actually works in our favor.
Sue: The majority of my clients own multiple homes. An average client of mine probably owns three homes. I do have one client who has seven homes. And each home has different art collections.
JoAnne: I have clients where I ship to Beirut to London to all parts of Europe, Australia. So its kind of crazy how people come from all over the world to this community.
Sue: The Montage [luxury hotel] brings in some pretty heavy hitters. You never know who its going to be.
JoAnne: It is fun when you Google them and youre like, oh my God.
Sue: Were like an Aspen but by the beach. You get these people and youre like, Are you on Game of Thrones?
Carla: I consider them Lucky Strike extras. Like Im really happy for the fat cats that I manage to get in, but youve got to live off the regular folks.
Weekend: Laguna now has three powerhouse galleries right next to each, all owned by women. Talk about that.
JoAnne: Its really exciting to have all of us on the block together. We all work hard, and I think whether youre male or female, its the relationships with your clients, your artists and your hard work.
Carla: I feel honored to be on the block. I feel theres a tremendous amount of energy a sort of kinetic, moving energy that happens between us that did not happen where I used to be. People are finding it as a destination. I think JoAnne is right. Nothing surpasses hard work. Its a labor of love. Anyone who thinks from the movies that this is a glamorous business has it all wrong.
Weekend: Is there any difference in this industry between galleries owned by women versus men?
Carla: I think women are really good at multitasking. I think that that is a gift we have often from being mothers or something that is just genetically in us that gives us the ability to juggle 10 different balls. And I think very often I find men like to do one thing and focus on that.
Sue: I think women are more relationship-driven. I think were more nurturing. As far as curating, I feel like were more expressive. I think sometimes men can be a little more calculating about what theyre putting out there. I would say were all very genuine.
Carla: Thats an interesting point because I always feel like were curating from the heart and not from the pocketbook. And thats sometimes a detriment, but it is what it is. Each place definitely has an essence of who lives inside of us.
JoAnne: I feel like, yes, were all women, but really the core is how we value the artists and the work. We all want to succeed. So if all of us are succeeding, it makes everyone better.
Weekend: Is Lagunas long art history, particularly plein air, sometimes more of a hindrance, given that all of you favor contemporary art?
Sue: If you look at the museum, its founded on plein air, but its really interesting. In the L.A. Times recently one of the top 10 exhibitions was at the Laguna Art Museum, and it was a minimalism show. So the whole thing is the museum is aggressively curating some pretty progressive shows.
JoAnne: I guess for me, its about showcasing art that youre passionate about. Thats what will garner the attention. You have to connect with the work. Its good to know whats going on around you and whats happening, but for me, I showcase art and artists that I personally have a connection with, that Im passionate about.
Carla: Ill be honest. To survive this long is like keeping a marriage sexy. Its almost ... impossible. You cant go out and change who you are. You have to be that known element, but youve got to somehow keep it interesting fresh at dinner, fresh in bed, fresh on a vacation. Its the same challenge. People want it to be amazing.
Weekend: I want to understand your target market a little more. Explain how you prioritize your marketing dollars or advertising budget.
JoAnne: I dont do any print advertising anymore. When I first opened, I spent a fortune on print advertising, and sad to say, I dont feel like thats the right format for me. We do a lot of social media and we do art fairs. I think social media has become more and more important with any business that you have. So people want to see your Instagram, your Twitter, your Facebook. They want to see that youre doing things, that youre making things happen. It creates an excitement and interest in the work and the gallery.
Sue: I do printing, but since Ive been in business for 15 years, I do have clients who are say 55 to 75, so I have an older collector base.
Carla: We have lived off the door for seven years. I can genuinely tell you that thats what weve done. And for that Im grateful, for the support in the community and the people who have come by. But I want to see what we can do past our door without actually having to pony up the $20,000 to do an art fair. Im interested in seeing how playing with these different platforms might open us up to a broader audience. What intersections are there with other worlds that might bring things in?
Weekend: JoAnne, you recently opened a second location in New York. How do the markets compare?
JoAnne: When I was looking to try and open a second location, I was thinking of maybe L.A. or Palm Springs or La Jolla. But I love New York, and most of our collectors are from the East Coast, so I thought Id throw it out to the universe. Its been exciting and scary and mind-boggling. Its also a community where people come from all over the world. So there are a lot of similarities to Laguna. But I will say that people on the East Coast or over in Europe, theyve grown up with art. Art is a way of life with them. Art has been handed down for generations. Its just a different mindset. Thats not to say California collectors dont feel the same, but its a little bit different.
Weekend: Ive always wondered how much the discriminating collector relies on you for advice.
Sue: They definitely rely on you the whole nine yards: getting the painting to the house, getting it hung properly, getting it lit properly. They definitely put a lot of trust in you. And it turns into a long-term relationship.
JoAnne: I always tell my clients, buy what you love. Thats the most important thing, something that speaks to you. Because youll have your art for the rest of your life. Youll change couches, youll change drapes, youll change interiors. Your art is going to be a part of your life forever.
Carla: You would be shocked at how personal this business is. I feel that every sale is a very intense, personal collaboration. Selling art, Ive always felt there is an element of falling in love. You cannot hurry it, you cannot push it. You can help them take the last step, but you cant create it. So its very interesting to be in a business where you have fixed costs and bills and all this stuff to pay, and youre relying on magic.
Sue: Its very true. When someone comes into the gallery, its like theyre coming into your bedroom. Here, look what I have to show you. You get to work with them intimately and ask them questions about what theyre looking for.
Weekend: Looking ahead to 2017, any significant changes or new trends on the horizon?
Sue: I have a lot of dealers that Im friends with, and I have heard over and over that some collectors are feeling like theres almost too many art fairs out there. Its the same thing over and over.
JoAnne: To me, I dont really look to trends. Again, its a gut feeling. To be successful, you have to go with your gut and what youre passionate about, because a trend may be something that you have no interest in.
Carla: Like JoAnne, I dont do trends at all. I am a dinosaur. I have an email and thats it. I dont know how to tweet, Twitter, Facebook, Instagram, anything. But my gallery director is pretty savvy with this stuff. We did a lot of exploration of the art fairs, and they didnt work out for us. They have proliferated, and theyre expensive. Its almost like a scam.
They say you will get 25,000 people per day. But its like the [Laguna] Art Walk. They came for the cheese and crackers and to walk around. To me whats interesting, weve been pulling a lot of emerging artists that we find scouring Instagram. What Im interested in looking at this year is how do we help that movement. I think all of us want to look past our beautiful street. Sue sometimes does it with art fairs and a lot of collaborations with different nonprofits. JoAnne, of course, actually had the balls to open a place in New York, which is amazing.
JoAnne: Or I lost my mind.
Weekend: If you look across Orange County and Southern California, what excites you? Or has everything become a global market?
JoAnne: I think were all looking to do the best art. It doesnt matter if its in Southern California. And I hope Laguna is responsive and understands that these are some amazing artists that you may not be able to see anywhere else. I dont know that were trying to be unique to Southern California.
Sue: When I think about the amount of clients that walk in from Chicago or Milwaukee, and when they come here, it puts them in a really good mood. The fact that we can do business year-round because of our weather is great.
Carla: I do agree with what Sue is saying, that people come here and its beautiful, but for us it has been a challenge, because when weve gone to New York to different events, weve had a much easier time selling than to the local customer, to be honest. A lot of times theyre more open-minded, or theyre more interested in conceptual work. Sometimes we feel that we are doing an uphill battle because were bringing artists that nobody knows here, but like JoAnne says, theyre world-renowned. In terms of global art, Miami and New York, its much easier to sell. Its not just Orange County. Literally these guys in Los Angeles, hardly anyone knows who they are.
Weekend: Weve had some very good, progressive galleries close in Laguna. Do you think this market will ever embrace that type of art?
JoAnne: Part of it is to have the right location, the right connection and the passion.
Sue: You know up in Bergamot Station [in Santa Monica], its pretty cool. You can pull in there and you can see everything. Were kind of starting to get that here because the museum is doing some really great curating.
Carla: I will say the mile-and-a-half move is like another universe, and Im thrilled to be here, thrilled. But we used to do shows where we had a circus-themed show and I had men on stilts during the opening. We did another show where we had a labyrinth, and we literally covered the entire gallery in cotton. I think I had fiber in my mouth for like two weeks and a weird metallic taste. And we sold one painting from that show. So you do have to moderate a bit. You arent a museum, even though its sometimes fun to curate like one. So you have to find something thats true to the voice you have within you. I do wish there was more support for the kind of edgier stuff.
JoAnne: Thats why I have New York.
Carla: Other than New York, its kind of a hard thing to find. Because most people who are open to conceptual, edgy kind of work dont want to pay anything for it.
Sue: Sometimes you have to feed that passion but it may not have the sales potential.
JoAnne: You have to be cohesive and consistent, but at the same time you always have to be throwing something into the mix where people will have an element of discovery.
Weekend: Any advice for young artists?
Sue: I feel really honored to be involved with LCAD [Laguna College of Art and Design]. Its amazing whats happening down in our canyon. I got in an LCAD graduate and he has taken off like wildfire.
Carla: I think its an exciting time for young artists because they have more tools available to them. They can show themselves on Instagram. They can partner up and take their work to the many different art fairs if they wanted to. But nothing is going to replace hard work. I think theres a lot that the galleries can still offer these artists in guidance and growing a body of work. This is a business thats still about people and relationships, and often they dont get that.
JoAnne: We do work with some young, new artists. They want to create and thats the most important thing, but I talk to them too about construction, materials, the business of art. Theres so much more than the painting.
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DAVID HANSEN is a writer and Laguna Beach resident. He can be reached at hansen.dave@gmail.com.
If Pamela Tom hadnt watched past the end of Bambi, she might never have found the inspiration for her documentary, which will screen this week at the Newport Beach Film Festival.
The filmmaker, who lives in Los Angeles, was enjoying a family viewing of a Disney classic a decade and a half ago when a bonus feature at the end of the videotape piqued her curiosity.
When my daughter was young, around preschool, I was watching Bambi on VHS, Tom recalled. And at the end of the film, they have these little making-of documentaries, and the animators kept referring to this Chinese American artist named Tyrus Wong. I thought, A Chinese American artist in the 1930s? I need to find out more about this person.
Tom, who is Chinese American herself, put feelers out in the community and found Wongs contact information. She then invited the artist to her familys restaurant for lunch, and the two stayed in touch, for more than 15 years, in fact, as Tom raised money for her documentary and shot it in increments.
Tyrus, which tracks its subjects life from his boyhood in China to his latter-day recognition as a Disney pioneer, will be shown Tuesday at the Edwards Big Newport 6. The festival has long created a special berth for Disney on its schedule, and Toms documentary will join other related attractions on this weeks program.
The documentary The Whimsical Imagineer, about Disney artist Roland Fargo Crump, will also show Tuesday at Big Newport. (That film and Tyrus will also screen Wednesday at the Island Cinema at Fashion Island.) In addition, producers Don Hahn and Dave Bossert will host the seventh Disney Rarities, a compilation of little-seen artifacts from the studios vaults, Tuesday at the Regency South Coast Village in Santa Ana.
Like former resident John Wayne, who routinely features in Newport festival screenings, Disney has a prominent history in Orange County. According to Lohanne Cook, the festivals director of special projects, the annual Disney offerings lure a large crowd every year and not just from the outside.
For Disney, we always have a solid audience, she said. Theres always someone who comes out, even our own employees. When they have a break we all get one or two days off at the festival, our own time to spend for leisure a lot of us end up going to the Disney programs, because we know its going to be a great time.
Whatever Hahn and Bossert bring out of the archives, Wongs story may be the greatest Disney rarity of all at the festival this year. The artist, who recently turned 105, endured at Disney for a time, at least during an era when Asian Americans were marginalized.
Wong, who emigrated at age 9 to California with his father, attended the Otis College of Art and Design on a scholarship after a teacher spotted his talent. He later had modest success as a gallery artist and, in 1938, scored a job in Disneys art department.
At first, Wong didnt have much opportunity to showcase his own style; his first duties were to take other artists images and create in-between drawings that would lead a character, such as Mickey Mouse, from one pose to another.
When Wong heard that the studio was beginning work on Bambi, however, he managed to win over Walt Disney with his nature paintings.
Those paintings, as Tyrus illustrates, contributed to the films visual look by contrasting the sharp character designs with spare, soft-focus backgrounds. In some cases, the artists brush strokes are even visible on the screen a traditional Chinese style that, as Tom learned by talking to industry professionals, continues to influence animators.
Still, the documentary makes clear that Wong was far from a golden boy at the studio. Despite Walt Disneys admiration for his work, the two never had an actual conversation, and Wong was sometimes slighted by colleagues. When many Disney artists went on strike in 1941, Wong opted to continue working, and the resulting rancor apparently led to his firing before Bambi was completed.
In later years, Wong drew storyboards for Warner Bros. and Republic Pictures (the documentary lists Rebel Without a Cause, The Wild Bunch and Sands of Iwo Jima among his credits) before he retired from Hollywood. In later years, he kept busy as an artist, designing kites and even dinnerware.
Eventually, the studio that declined to hold onto him years ago came around to celebrate him. At one point in Tyrus, Roy Disney is shown at a Disney Legends award ceremony declaring, He only worked at the studio for three years and, during that time, devoted himself to just one movie, Bambi. But what a film it was.
Tom, who grew to appreciate Wongs influence while making her documentary, hopes that Tyrus will help to introduce its subjects name to those outside the Chinese American community.
Hes our resident artist, so to speak, she said. And then, within the Disney community, they embrace him. Artists today still look to him for influence. But outside of those two core audiences, most people dont know who he was.
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IF YOU GO
What: Tyrus
Where: Edwards Big Newport 6, 300 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach
When: 4:45 p.m. Tuesday
Cost: $15
Information: (949) 253-2880; newportbeachfilmfest.com
It will also screen at 5:15 p.m. Wednesday at the Island Cinema, 999 Newport Center Drive, Newport Beach; tickets are $15.
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While some of the most sought-after coastal properties remain just a click away, Newport Beach city leaders are working to keep track of short-term rentals and collect taxes on them.
The City Council kicked off discussions with staff and the public during a study session Tuesday about how to enforce city laws on short-term lodging that have been on the books for more than two decades.
Websites such as Airbnb, HomeAway and Vacation Rentals by Owner have swelled in popularity, enabling virtually any property to become a vacation rental. The sites also have made it more difficult for cities like Newport to keep track of who should be paying taxes.
The city imposes transient occupancy taxes on short-term rentals, charging 10% of the price of each rental, like it would for hotel guests.
Since before the 1950s, weekly vacation rentals have thrived in Newport Beach, bringing in a variety of tourists and revenue.
In the early days, vacationers often would look to rental companies and real estate agents to help them find a property. The city was able to more easily regulate the rentals and ensure that the property owners were paying taxes to the city, according to city staff.
Cities across Orange County have been grappling with a host of quality-of-life issues stemming from such rentals, including trash, excessive partying and parking headaches.
Laguna Beach has placed a moratorium on new short-term rental permits, while Huntington Beach has chosen to ban them completely.
I think we need to be part of the solution for this and part of making sure it fits comfortably in our community, said Newport Beach Councilman Keith Curry.
In 1992, the city adopted short-term lodging regulations that required property owners to have a city-issued permit before they could list their property to rent for less than 30 days.
While short-term lodgings were previously permitted throughout the city, current law prohibits someone from obtaining a permit to rent out a home in areas zoned only for single-family homes. However, 211 properties had their permits grandfathered in by the city when the regulation was passed, according to city Development Director Kim Brandt.
There are currently 91 active permits, the majority of them in Corona del Mar, the Balboa Peninsula and Balboa Island. Owners of unpermitted short-term rental properties often are not aware that they need to pay taxes to the city, Brandt said.
The city hired a seasonal employee last year to help identify unpermitted short-term rentals throughout Newport. At the time, more than 250 non-compliant listings were identified from short-term rental sites, and the city collected about $218,700 in fees and transient occupancy taxes as a result, according to a staff presentation.
Councilman Scott Peotter voiced support for entering an agreement with Airbnb that would allow the company to collect transient occupancy taxes and give the money to the city.
The city of San Francisco recently entered a similar agreement with Airbnb that requires the company to collect taxes in exchange for the city loosening restrictions on where rentals can be permitted.
Newport city staff said that in their discussions with Airbnb, the company has indicated it would seek a similar agreement with Newport.
I dont want to give up our information or expand our area to Airbnb or any of these other guys, Peotter said. I would like for it to be a level playing field.
Councilman Tony Petros suggested creating a working group of rental companies, city staff and community members to study the issue.
City Manager Dave Kiff said staff likely would go to the council with a recommendation in about six months.
The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerces Marine Committee will meet Tuesday to discuss proposals to place statues around the Newport Harbor area.
Michael Lawler, a boating enthusiast, is the scheduled speaker for the meeting, which will begin at 5 p.m. in the Marina Park Community Room, 1600 W. Balboa Blvd.
According to a notice from the chamber, the following statues are proposed: John Wayne at Dukes Point; a sailor at the harbor entrance on the west jetty; a sea king on the east jetty; statues at three channel markers around the bay; Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo at Bay Island and Vasco Nunez de Balboa on Balboa Island near Turquoise Avenue and South Bay Front.
Organizers said free parking will be available at Marina Park. For more information, call (949) 729-4408.
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Newport-Mesa names its Teachers of the Year
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District and the Newport-Mesa Federation of Teachers this month announced the selection of Kaiser Elementary School teacher Jackie Wiseman and Ensign Intermediate School teacher Jim Blackie as Teachers of the Year for 2016.
Wiseman, who teaches fifth grade at Kaiser Elementary in Costa Mesa, started her career at the district in 1969 and has taught at Corona del Mar Elementary, which has closed, and Andersen Elementary in Newport Beach.
Blackie teaches eighth-grade science at Ensign in Newport Beach, where he has worked for 14 years. He also is an advisor for the Ensign debate team and the Ensign Fellowship of Christian Athletes Club.
These two amazing people serve as inspiration to their peers and hundreds of students, Britt Dowdy, the federations president, said in a statement. We are extremely grateful to learn from these distinguished professionals and their passion to positively influence children.
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Surfing Magazine to hold New Years Eve event in H.B.
Huntington Beach residents can ring in the new year with professional surfers at a party at The Bungalow.
The event, sponsored by Surfing Magazine, will be held from 8 p.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. Sunday at the restaurant, 21058 Pacific Coast Hwy. It will include an open bar, dancing, a disc jockey and a group of professional surfers.
Tickets are limited and can be purchased for $140 at bungalow.com.
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Laguna resident appointed as O.C. Superior Court judge
Laguna Beach resident Richard Pacheco was among three people Gov. Jerry Brown appointed last week to serve as Orange County Superior Court judges.
Pacheco, 60, has been an Orange County Superior Court commissioner since 2001. He fills a vacancy created by the retirement of Judge David McEachen.
Superior Court judges earn $191,612 a year.
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Newport group investigated 7,000 UFO cases this year
The Newport Beach-based Mutual UFO Network said it has investigated more than 7,000 cases of unidentified flying objects this year.
Since 1969, the group has solicited UFO reports from the public and collected data through field investigations, according to a news release.
Our field investigators and ... research team not only do an excellent job helping our witnesses and experiencers deal with what they have seen, but they do so with an eye for research on this important subject, Jan Harzan, the networks executive director, said in a statement.
The research team also handled more than 1,000 reports of encounters with non-human entities, according to the release.
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2017 O.C. Fair Super Passes go on sale
The OC Fair & Event Center in Costa Mesa is offering early-bird pricing on Super Passes for next years Orange County Fair.
Super Passes allow admission to the fair throughout its run, as well as discounts on related attractions and events.
The passes now cost $25 for customers ages 13 through 59 and $18 for those 6 to 12 or older than 60. For more information or to place an order, visit ocfair.com/superpass.
The 127th annual fair will run July 14 through Aug. 13.
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Newport pub crawl raises $15,000 for nonprofit
The 11th annual Newport Beach Santa Pub Crawl raised more than $15,000 for Project Access, a nonprofit that helps low-income children, adults and senior citizens.
The event featured bars near the Balboa and Newport piers offering drink specials to patrons with special wristbands. Supporters dressed in holiday attire.
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UCI launches registry for clinical trials and studies
The UC Irvine Institute for Memory Impairments and Neurological Disorders has coordinated with the UCI Institute for Clinical Translational Science and UCI Health to launch the UCI Consent 2 Contact Registry, which can match adults in Orange County with opportunities to participate in clinical research studies.
The confidential registry will enable UCI researchers to notify people about clinical trials or studies that relate to their interests, a news release said.
There is no obligation to join studies, and participants can withdraw at any time.
To join the registry, visit c2c.uci.edu.
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H.B. to hold first talent show for high school students
The city of Huntington Beach will hold its first talent show for high school students on March 25 at the senior center in Central Park.
The citys Community Services Department is sponsoring the Surf City Showcase, which will start at 7 p.m. at the center at 18041 Goldenwest St.
The free competition is open to high school students who live, work or go to school in Huntington Beach.
The first-place winner will receive $500, second place gets $300 and third place $200.
People can pick up applications at the city gym and pool building at 1600 Palm Ave. or online at HBsands.org.
The applications must be turned in by Jan. 27 to the gym and pool building or emailed to erin.burke@surfcity-hb.org.
For more information, call (714) 960-8884.
Your article in Forum of the Daily Pilot, Hansen: Reviewing 2016 in Laguna, (Dec. 21) was spot-on. Having lived in Laguna since 1984, we seem to be seeing a progression downward in the state of the city.
One thing I would add to your list in reviewing 2016 is downtown buildings and the deplorable condition they are in.
An example is the Fiori building on one of the major corners in the downtown area. How can a city allow such a structure to exist in the condition its been in for years? The city needs to bring the owners of these buildings to task and force some improvements.
On the bright side, the opening of The Ranch in South Laguna and the metamorphosis there are a joy to behold. It would be great if the entire city could get into the spirit that permeates that location.
Ben Jensen
Laguna Beach
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Thank you, Mr. President
Now that Barack Obama is down to a handful of days left in office, I want to express my deep admiration for the way he has conducted himself as president. I know many of my conservative USC fraternity brothers wanted him to disappear years ago, but not yours truly.
The first time I met then-Sen. Obama was in June 2007. He was attending a breakfast meeting with Orange County Democrats, and I was picked to be his wing man for the morning. For 45 minutes, I whispered into his ear little tidbits about each person he was about to meet. He was all business, but I could tell there was something special about the man. When he gave his breakthrough speech in Iowa during that states first-in-the-nation caucus in 2008, I knew I was backing a winner.
Just before he went to Denver to accept my partys nomination for president, Obama made another stop in Orange County. This time it was at the Balboa Bay Club. Having been one of a handful of supporters who helped raise $1.2 million that day, I was eager to see him again. When it was my turn to have my picture taken with Obama, he greeted me with that big smile of his and said, Hey, I remember you. You helped me a year ago.
I was floored. About the only thing I could say was, I remember you too. We both laughed as the cameras zoomed in on us.
As I stepped away, I turned back and said, Were counting on you. Obama looked at me and replied, I wont let you down.
And you know what? He didnt. I have voted in every presidential election since 1972. I was proud to have voted for Barack Obama twice.
Its not every day you get to stand next to a truly remarkable person. I always will cherish the two times I stood literally inches from Barack Obama. A month before he took office in 2009, I wrote the following for Newsweek magazine:
Barack Obamas victory was as significant as George Washington becoming Americas first president, Abraham Lincoln holding the country together during the Civil War or Franklin D. Roosevelt taking office during the depths of the Great Depression. The lasting legacy of Washington, Lincoln and Roosevelt is that they governed wisely. I have every expectation that a soon-to-be President Obama will do the same.
He did, and the nation will forever be grateful. I know I always will be.
Denny Freidenrich
Laguna Beach
In Africa, an elephant is killed for ivory every 26 minutes on average, much of it to supply Chinas voracious market. But China on Friday cemented a timeline to help reduce the carnage, pledging to close down its domestic ivory market within a year.
Trade in ivory was banned internationally in 1989, but a loophole allowed southern African countries to hold occasional legal sales of their ivory stockpiles. In 2008, China was given permission by the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), the international body that regulates the trade in wildlife, to buy ivory legally from several southern African countries.
The move, which was supposed to reduce elephant poaching, was instead followed by a boom. Analysts say legal ivory markets often act as a cover for poached ivory, citing the problems determining which ivory is legal and which is illegally trafficked.
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Across Africa, the population crashed by 30% or around 144,000 elephants in the seven years from 2007 to 2014, according to the Great Elephant Census, a continent-wide count of elephants released in August.
In June, China and the U.S. another significant consumer of ivory announced they would ban the domestic ivory trade. In September, both nations agreed to cooperate in enacting the ban, including a ban on ivory trophies.
China will shut down domestic ivory carving workshops and factories by April. It will phase out registered traders and processors by the end of 2017.
A notice by the powerful State Council said the move would strengthen the protection of elephants and crack down on the illegal ivory trade. The council urged law enforcement officials to take a tougher stance on the sale, transport and smuggling of ivory.
The move represents a remarkable about-face from only a few years ago, when the Chinese government considered ivory carving an important cultural industry worth protecting.
Chinas demand for ivory has been steadily dropping in recent years, the result of rising environmental awareness, a wide-ranging crackdown on official corruption, and a promise from President Xi Jinping last year to ban the trade.
Lo Sze Ping, head of the World Wildlife Fund-China, welcomed Chinas move to close down its ivory trade swiftly, and praised its leadership in taking steps to try to reduce domestic demand for ivory.
Closing the worlds largest legal ivory market will deter people in China and beyond from buying ivory and make it harder for ivory traffickers to sell their illegal stocks, he said. China and the U.S. have shown how quickly markets can be addressed, and the sooner the better for Africas elephants.
Volunteers carry elephant tusks to a burning site for a historic destruction of illegal ivory and rhino horn confiscated mostly from poachers in Nairobi. (Tony Karumba / AFP/Getty Images )
The average wholesale price of ivory dropped from $2,100 per kilogram to $1,100 between 2014 and 2015, according to the organization.
But Ping said the ban wouldnt stop poaching if demand for illegal tusks persists. He added that it was important to continue to raise public awareness in China about elephant poaching and to keep up efforts to cut domestic demand for ivory trinkets.
According to the World Wildlife Foundation, poaching peaked at 30,000 a year in 2011 before easing to its present level of 20,000 annually.
I am very proud of my country for showing this leadership that will help ensure that elephants have a fighting chance to beat extinction, Aili Kang, Asia Executive Director at the Wildlife Conservation Society, said in a statement. This is a game changer for Africas elephants.
Kenya, whose economy relies heavily on wildlife tourism, burned 105 tons of ivory in April, the worlds biggest ivory burn, designed to send a message that there should be never again be a legal trade in ivory. But other countries in Africa, notably South Africa, Zimbabwe and Namibia, maintain large ivory stockpiles.
At a CITES meeting in Johannesburg in October, 29 African countries proposed a total ban on ivory while Zimbabwe and Namibia proposed reopening the ivory trade. Those proposals were defeated in favor of a compromise agreement by 183 countries to shut down domestic ivory markets in countries that contributed significantly to ivory poaching or illegal ivory trade.
Under CITES, 19 African and Asian countries implicated in illegal ivory trafficking have to produce action plans to demonstrate steps they are taking to eliminate the trade.
A stack of burning elephant tusks, ivory figurines and rhinoceros horns at the Nairobi National Park in April. (Fredrik Lerneyrd / AFP/Getty Images)
Hong Kong authorities announced last week they would shut down ivory processing and trade, but only in 2021, creating a potential loophole for traffickers. A World Wildlife Foundation feasibility study estimates Hong Kong could take action within two years.
WildAid, a conservation organization in San Francisco, said in a statement last week that organized crime syndicates in Hong Kong have been running illegal wildlife products through this city with impunity for decades. To date, not a single kingpin has been arrested to date for running serious and organized wildlife trafficking syndicates that are driving iconic species towards extinction.
Another major transit point for illegal wildlife products into China is Vietnam, where authorities have turned a blind eye to the booming trade. Corruption by government officials in African source countries and African destination countries has allowed the trade to flourish. According to a report this year by Save the Elephants, Vietnam has seen a larger increase in illegal ivory carvers than any other Asian country since 2008.
There appears to be little law enforcement within Vietnam against the illegal ivory workshops and retail shops, especially in the smaller locations that few Western foreigners visit, the report found.
According to the elephant census, high numbers of elephant carcasses were found in national parks and protected areas, with staggering declines in Mozambique, Tanzania and Angola.
Poachers killed about half the elephant population in Mozambique in just five years, according to the census. Elephants had been all but wiped out in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo and parts of Zambia.
Dixon reported from Johannesburg and Kaiman from Beijing.
robyn.dixon@latimes.com
Twitter: @RobynDixon_LAT
jonathan.kaiman@latimes.com
Twitter: @JRKaiman
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Vladimir Putin is betting that the smartest move is to do nothing.
The Russian president announced Friday that his government would not expel any U.S. diplomats in retaliation for U.S. punitive measures unveiled by the White House a day earlier in response to Russias alleged cyber-attacks.
Putins sidestep away from confrontation was widely read as a deliberate bow to President-elect Donald Trump -- and a final hard slap at President Obama in the waning weeks of the U.S. leaders tenure.
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We will not create any problems for U.S. diplomats. We will not expel anyone, Putin said in a statement posted on the Kremlin website that followed well-publicized calls from senior Russian officials for a sharp pushback against the U.S. administration over steps that included the expulsions of 35 Russian diplomats.
The Russian leader said the Kremlin would instead base future moves on the policies of the Trump administration. Trump quickly praised Putin for putting off any action, tweeting: I always knew he was very smart!
While Putins statement criticized unfriendly actions on the outgoing presidents part, he pointedly steered clear of the harsh personal mockery aimed at Obama by other Russian officials in the hours before his statement.
Those included a Facebook screed by Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zarakhova, who described Obama and his team as embittered and dimwitted foreign policy losers. Underscoring that point, the Russian Embassy in London put out a derisive tweet featuring a picture of a duck emblazoned with the word Lame.
Analysts said Putins approach seemed to represent a canny calculation that a vehement Russian response to the U.S. punitive moves would have made it more difficult for Trump, once he takes office, to reverse or soften actions taken by Obama during the final three weeks of his White House tenure.
Trumps friendly stance toward Putin was a notable feature of the presidential campaign, and he has derided U.S. intelligence assessments that Russian hacking had been meant to tip the election in his favor.
Had Putin opted to escalate the confrontation over hacking, he would have put the president-elect on even more of a collision course with congressional critics, including some leading Republicans who are deeply wary of Russias intentions. Senate hearings on the Russian cyber-attacks are expected after Congress returns next week.
Putins conciliatory tone, and the scathing anti-Obama commentary that preceded it, were in all likelihood carefully orchestrated, analysts suggested.
I think he is trying to come across as reasonable, and trying to portray Obama as having taken an unfair parting shot at him, said David Kramer, a senior State Department official in the Bush administration. None of what theyre doing is ad-libbed.
Putins decision marked a break with the practice enshrined in the Cold War era and in decades beyond that any use of diplomatic tools by either side to express displeasure would be met with a precisely calibrated response.
Putins foreign minister, Sergey Lavrov, invoked that principle, noting hours before the Russian leaders statement that reciprocity is the law in diplomacy and international relations.
Lavrov had recommended that Putin expel 35 U.S. diplomats 31 from the Moscow embassy, and four from the consulate in St. Petersburg in reply to the American eviction of the same number of Russian diplomatic personnel suspected by the U.S. of acting as intelligence operatives.
The Obama administration also imposed sanctions on leaders of two Russian spy agencies and placed off-limits two Russian-owned rural compounds, one in New York state and one on Marylands Eastern Shore, which it said were used for intelligence-related activity. Russia describes the sites as recreational getaways for diplomats and their families.
Instead of responding in kind by shuttering comparable facilities used by American diplomats in Russia, Putin opted for an elaborate show of magnanimity, even inviting the children of American diplomats to take part in traditional festive holiday gatherings at the Kremlin.
Earlier statements from Russian officials leaned heavily on the hardships for the 35 Russian diplomatic personnel who were declared persona non grata PNGd, in diplomatic parlance and given 72 hours to leave the U.S. The Foreign Ministry said that counting spouses and children, 96 Russian nationals in all would be forced to depart.
Accusations of Russian hacking remain likely to rank as an early foreign-policy challenge for Trump when he takes office on Jan. 20.
The Kremlin has repeatedly rejected claims that Moscow tampered with the U.S. presidential election, although it clearly telegraphed its preference of Trump over the Democratic nominee, Hillary Clinton.
U.S. intelligence agencies determined that the Kremlin had masterminded cyber-attacks on the Democratic National Committee and leaked stolen emails with an eye toward helping Trump.
After initially rejecting those assessments as ridiculous, the president-elect said Thursday it was time to move on from the topic. But he added that he would sit for an intelligence briefing on the matter next week.
Until now, Trump has alarmed many in the foreign policy establishment by skipping most of the classified briefings offered up to prepare him for assuming the presidency.
Special correspondent Mirovalev reported from Moscow and Times staff writer King from Washington.
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UPDATES:
12:45 p.m.: Updated throughout with analysis, Trump tweet.
8:15 a.m.: This article was updated with additional background and comments from Dmitri Medvedev and Maria Zakharova.
This article was originally published at 4:55 a.m.
With the offensive to reclaim the Iraqi city of Mosul now in its third month, smartphones are everywhere on the battlefield, where the appetite for selfie photos is proving to be irresistible and problematic.
Troops and commanders pose atop tanks, Humvees, checkpoints and even on the front lines with bullets flying. They snap pictures of themselves with a mix of generals, civilians, reporters, priests, doctors, babies and anything associated with the Islamic State, including flags, detainees and bodies.
Times reporter Molly Hennessy-Fiske speaks with Iraqi soldiers about the popularity of selfies.
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They document themselves with reality-show glee clearing Islamic State tunnels, hoisting salvaged weapons, pointing to graffiti, prisoners and corpses. The photos are far from an official archive of events. But as questions arise about the Iraqi militarys treatment of detainees and the bodies of dead fighters, amateur images may become evidence.
Human Rights Watch has cited the amateur photos and videos in complaints about extrajudicial executions of prisoners and other abuses during the offensive.
The organization posted photos and video stills online in accusing Sunni militias and allied Iraqi Security Forces of dragging the bodies of at least five dead militants and executing at least one after he surrendered in Qayyarrah, about 40 miles south of Mosul, on Oct. 3. On video, a fighter could be seen stepping on the militants body and posing for a photo, the group said. A man in an Iraqi special forces uniform calls for a razor, saying he wants the head of the dead fighter.
It never ceases to amaze me, nor stops disturbing me, that armed forces take pleasure in photographing themselves during or after committing an abuse. Over the last year, we were able to document the most serious abuses because of forces own photos, said Belkis Wille, senior Iraq researcher at Human Rights Watch.
This week, troops snapped selfies with the top U.S. and Iraqi commanders as the top brass arrived at an army post east of Mosul for an update on the offensive, which began Oct. 17. Among the most popular: Lt. Gen. Stephen Townsend, commander of U.S. forces in Iraq; Maj. Gen. Najim Jabouri, Iraqi commander of the Mosul offensive, and Lt. Gen. Abdul Wahab Saadi, Iraqi Special Forces commander, recognizable thanks to Facebook.
I dont have a Facebook account, but because of the selfies they are posting, I became like a hero, Saadi said as he stood among the uniformed crowd. Many held cellphones aloft.
Saadi said the photos are good for morale, and help reassure families back home.
But they can be risky.
U.S. forces are allowed to take selfies in Iraq, as long as their commanders approve, but they may be restricted based on security classification, operational security, safety, or force protection, officials said.
Islamic State fighters monitor social media, and use it to identify and target commanders. Saadi showed video posted online by militants who recently shot at him in Mosul. The bullet lodged in a camera lens he keeps in his office.
He said Iraqi forces are advised not to take selfies in sensitive locations, including bases and areas where theyre fighting in Mosul, so the enemy will not know our position.
But judging from online posts, its a rule thats rarely enforced. Soldiers post selfies daily from in and around Mosul, especially in recent weeks as the offensive slowed.
An Iraqi soldier snaps a selfie during Shiite militia forces training south of Mosul. (Molly Hennessy-Fiske / Los Angeles Times)
Many see the selfies as the digital continuation of a grand tradition.
Haval Mohamed is a Kurdish police special forces officer, grandson of a Peshmerga fighter whose photos he grew up admiring. They showed his grandfather armed, wearing a traditional red and white headdress and baggy pants, fighting then-President Saddam Husseins army to free the Kurdish north, now an autonomous region.
As Mohamed guarded a displaced persons camp this week, he scrolled through photos of himself in front of sandbags on the front lines southeast of Mosul. Five soldiers in the photo were later killed in combat, he said.
Now Mohamed, 26, snaps selfies for his daughter, 4-year-old Hasti. Her wide-eyed pictures, complete with superimposed animal faces, are mixed with his. Mohamed said his daughter has seen him in uniform, but doesnt understand the significance.
One day if I die, she will know her dad was fighting for his land and will be proud of those photos, Mohamed said.
In Shakoli, a village about 20 miles east of Mosul, Mohamed Garib, 27, showed off selfies taken with would-be Islamic State suicide bombers, who were fatally shot by his unit of Kurdish fighters before the extremists could detonate their explosive belts.
He wanted the photographs, he said, To prove to people we had fierce and hard fighting with Islamic State and to show people how dirty and criminal they were.
Several miles west in the recaptured Christian city of Bartella, special forces soldier Eskander Shamary posed for a selfie atop his Humvee this week with the popular Tiger energy drink, then scrolled through other recent photos.
In one, he wore a black and white ghost mask, used to hide his face from militants, as he guarded a crumbling strip mall. In another, he distributed water to children, making the V for victory sign with them.
The best selfie I took was with the bodies of Daesh, Shamary said, using the Arabic acronym for Islamic State.
In the photo a close, intimate shot in which the backdrop of a Mosul street is barely visible the soldier looms large in the frame above the body of a bearded militant in baggy brown shirt and pants. The man had been shot several times.
Im posting them on Facebook and showing my friends and family, said Shamary, 29.
A fellow special forces soldier, Safaa Sabah, joined him to compare shots.
Sabah showed off selfies taken with a tattered black and white Islamic State flag recovered in east Mosul. In another, Sabah, 29, of Baghdad, pointed his gun at the head of a shirtless detainee an Islamic State captive, he said.
The reason I took a selfie with Daesh was to show my people we are making progress, he said.
The Iraqi armys reputation was tarnished here two years ago when Islamic State seized Mosul, and Sabah sees the photos he takes, especially the ones of soldiers helping civilians, as a way to rebuild credibility. They want to win back not just the city, but its mostly Sunni Muslim people.
He said restrictions on selfies mostly have to do with being careful about showing too much background.
It might be a danger to us: Daesh could figure out our position, he said.
He said selfies also pose the risk of becoming Islamic State propaganda.
Sabahs Facebook account was recently hacked, his photos stolen and used by someone who misidentified the special forces as sectarian Shiite militias who had come to the mostly Sunni city to kill our people.
As they prepared to return to the front line, the soldiers said they planned to continue taking selfies. Shamary had his sights set on the ultimate shot: With commanders, celebrating the last neighborhood we liberate.
molly.hennessy-fiske@latimes.com
Twitter: @mollyhf
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DC Wants Black Women To Use A Pill That Revolutionized HIV Prevention In Gay Men
staff@latinoshealth.com By Aboki Basira Dec 30, 2016 12:07 PM EST
A daily pill that reduces the risk of contracting HIV has changed how gay men talk about the virus. Washington D.C. is now embarking on the nation's first campaign to enlighten black women about this preventive measure. They are second most likely group to contract the virus in the city which is still battling an AIDS epidemic.
Studies have shown that the daily use of the drug called pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) by people who do not have HIV reduces the risk of infection by over 90 percent, so the district's authorities are embarking on this campaign to enlighten and convince women of color on the importance of PrEP and let them know that it is not just for gay men.
One in every six newly infected persons in D.C. is a black woman. Although new cases are declining, nearly 2 percent of residents in the nation's capital are still living with the virus, which is one of the highest rates in the United States.
Condoms are the most popular contraceptive method used to prevent the sexual transmission of the virus. But there are times when sexually active people either fail or forget to use them and most women indulge in sexual activities under the mistaken apprehension that the men are monogamous, public health experts noted.
According to reports, PrEP changes the dynamics of HIV prevention, and women can now protect themselves instead of relying on men to use condoms.
The drug which has been available since 2012, has been unknown to women of color and to counter that, the city is running an advertising campaign on Metro-buses aimed at black women with the tagline "Dominate your sex life," and also gives necessary information about the preventive pill.
"The campaign itself is really about empowering women to take control of their sexuality, control their health and know this is an option for them", LaQuandra Nesbitt, D.C. Health Department Director says. But like condoms, PrEP is not unlikely to fail, and HIV prevention counselors are encountering issues as some black women are still in doubt about the potency of the pill.
Most women equate using the drug with promiscuity, while others are still not sure whether they can commit to daily use, especially when dealing with poverty, mental illness or abusive relationships. Many African Americans do not trust public health campaigns targeted at their community because of past abuses such as the Tuskegee experiments conducted on hundreds of black men who had syphilis in Alabama, according to Washington Post.
Public health advocates compare the challenges of getting women to use the pill to the rise of birth control. Another challenge aside the high cost (more than $1,000 a month) is availability and access to the drug.
Although, Medicaid and other private insurers cover it, and the drug's manufacturer also offer a discount to people without insurance, users face co-pay fees for tests at the beginning of treatment and also follow-up visits to their doctors. District officials have noted that they are looking into ways to cover the costs, according to US pressfrom.
The campaign to get more black women to use PrEP is part of a larger effort to end the District's HIV epidemic and cut in half the number of new infections by 2020.
However, Vans that offer mobile HIV testing are also providing referrals to doctors who can prescribe the drug. The Washington AIDS Partnership in December donated more than $370,000 to three health organizations serving women to incorporate PrEP into their routines.
The MAC AIDS Fund has also donated $1 million to fund the city's PrEP for Her campaign and is closely following the work.
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Russia has one of the quickest growing HIV/AIDS epidemic in the world. In the year 2015, Russians were determined to have HIV that has approximately 95,000, and for the first nine months of 2016, they roughly reach to 75,000. However, there is a little sign that the administration will commit enough resources to stem the speeding up of the virus from high-hazard groups into the general population.
The New York Times reported that since late 1980's, Vadim Pokrovsky, the long-lasting leader of Moscow-based Federal AIDS Center said that around 850,000 Russians carry the HIV and 220,000 died because of it. The general estimate of casualties constitutes about 1 percent of Russia's population that counts 143 million, sufficiently to be treated as an epidemic. Further with that, they said that heterosexual would be soon top intravenous drug use as the main method for infection.
Mr. Pokrovsky said that this epidemic is considered as a threat to the whole country which the caseload is expanding around 10 percent every year. In 2016, 100,000 new infectious disease are foreseen, about 275 day by day. HIV will be the biggest epidemic in Europe and among the highest rates of disease. Under World Health Organization rules, to diminish the spread of the infection, at least 90 percent of HIV-positive patients will receive an antiviral drug.
On The Seattle Times, it stated that there is more than 37 percent who receive the treatment, as indicated to the government statistic. According to Vinay P. Saldana, the UNAIDS provincial executive that prevention projects are not working as the coverage is not adequate to break the curve. As for the UNAIDS figures, Russia is among the five nations that have almost half the new diseases globally; the other nations are South Africa, Nigeria, India, and Uganda. Even though in some of them has a much higher rate of the overall population is infected.
The annual $338 million budget of the Russian government for HIV was spent on medicines, and nothing goes to the preventive education. The health minister, Veronika Skvortsova, has repeatedly asked for extended medication programs that the administration needs. After a profound retreat, however, small new money has emerged.
As many as 40 to 50 workers are feared trapped after a mine collapsed in India's Lalmatia last night.
Apart from the workers, some machineries of private company are also feared trapped inside the debris, the CISF has said, India Today agency reported.
Those injured have been rushed to a nearby hospital.
CISF officials say rescue operations, which could not begin due to night fog, are now underway at the site and electric supply has been disrupted.
NDRF teams from Patna are on their way to the spot of the mishap. An additional manpower comprising 2 inspectors, 21 CISF personnel from ECL Sheetalpur headquarters has been sent to the site.
Chief Minister Raghubar Das is monitoring the situation closely, asks concerned officials to intensify rescue operations.
A plane flying from Las Palmas, the capital of Spains Gran Canaria, to Warsaw had to make an emergency landing in Prague amid a bomb threat, local media reported.
The Boeing 737-800 aircraft had 160 passengers on board, all of them have been safely evacuated from the plane, Czech Radio said late on Friday citing the countrys Interior Minister Milan Chovanec.
The aircraft is being inspected and police have started an investigation into the incident. The suspect has been dealt with, Czech Radio said.
Ankara, Turkey, Dec. 30
By Atilla Caner Trend:
Turkey will tentatively hold parliamentary and presidential election Nov. 3, 2019, a source in the Supreme Electoral Council of Turkey (YSK) told Trend Dec. 30.
It is expected that the parliamentary and presidential election in Turkey will be held on the same day, according to the new draft constitution approved at the meeting of the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee of the country.
Earlier, a source in the Turkish Parliament told Trend that the Parliamentary Constitutional Committee of Turkey approved a number of articles in the countrys draft constitution.
The approved articles increase the number of seats in the Turkish Parliament from 550 to 600.
The draft constitution proposes to allow Turkish citizens to run for the post of the MP from the age of 18. Currently, the lowest age limit for this is 25.
One of the approved articles also offers to hold parliamentary elections every 5 years. Currently, the parliamentary elections are held every 4 years.
A Turkish citizen not younger than 40 and with higher education can become president of Turkey, according to the draft constitution. The Turkish president will also have the powers to appoint ministers and replace them.
The newly approved articles stipulate that the president-elect is not obliged to be a non-party nominee.
All the above mentioned proposals approved by the Constitutional Committee must be submitted to the Turkish Parliaments General Assembly. The constitutional amendments would then be discussed at two parliamentary sessions of the General Assembly.
During the first session, the four political parties in the General Assembly and the government would discuss the proposals as a whole and the articles separately, as well as any motions for amendment. The second session would be devoted only to the discussion of motions on amendments to articles.
If the draft constitution gets more than 367 votes, it can pass directly without the need for a referendum. However, the AK Party, the ruling party in Turkey, has said it will hold a referendum even if none is needed.
Dec 30, 2016, 9:35am ET
Another Faraday Future exec departs ahead of CES unveiling, report claims
The latest sign of potential trouble suggests \"acting global CEO\" Ding Lei has stepped down.
Another top Faraday Future executive has reportedly left the company, further fueling speculation that the company is facing financial and organizational trouble.
The startup has mostly kept its top leadership in the shadows, but sources have told The Verge that "acting global CEO" Ding Lei is the latest departure.
The same news outlet last week claimed brand chief Marco Mattiacci and marketing VP Joerg Sommer recently left the company. Both are industry veterans; Mattiacci previously served as Ferrari North America CEO, while Sommer held leadership roles at Volkswagen and Daimler, among other automakers.
Ding Lei is said to have been considered a leading spokesman, second only to company founder Jia Yueting.
FF's structure is somewhat confusing, as Yueting is also said to be spearheading two other prospective EV startups. The executive's biggest company, LeEco, claims Ding Lei is still employed as a chairman for a separate EV project.
Skepticism surrounding Faraday Future's market ambitions has grown for months, sparked by an alleged failure to pay contractors that are building the company's $1 billion factory in Nevada. The prospective automaker plans to show its first production car in the coming week at CES in Las Vegas.
A 46-year-old New Jersey man was arrested Thursday evening after tipping a drinks server with a Valium at the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem, Pennsylvania State Police report.
David Carnevale, of Caldwell in Essex County, was charged with possession with intent to deliver drugs.
The server reported the 6:50 p.m. incident to a supervisor, and Pennsylvania State Police stationed at the casino took Carnevale into custody.
He admitted to police to having tipped the server $5 or $10 plus one tablet of the tranquilizer after ordering a Coors Light while playing high-limit blackjack, according to court records.
Police seized the tablet and an additional Valium in the same packaging and dosage from Carnevale's pocket.
He was taken to Northampton County Prison to be arraigned at 11 p.m. before District Judge Roy Manwaring II, police said. Carnevale was released without bail, according to court records.
A preliminary hearing is tentatively scheduled Jan. 6 in District Judge Joseph Barner's Bethlehem court.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
This is probably to be expected.
Pennsylvania State Police at Bethlehem say a sobriety checkpoint is planned sometime Friday into Sunday in Lehigh or Northampton counties, as the Lehigh Valley says goodbye to 2016 and rings in the New Year.
In addition, state police say extra patrols focusing on three types of driving violations will be deployed from midnight Friday through midnight Sunday.
These three patrol initiatives are known by their acronyms PADEEP for PA Aggressive Driving Enforcement Education Program, STEADD for Selective Traffic Enforcement Against Drunk Driving and DRE for Drug Recognition Expert.
Capt. Brian Tobin, commanding officer of Pennsylvania State Police Troop M, speaks during the 16th annual Spirit-Free Mix Off held in December 2016 at Lehigh Valley Hospital, Salisbury Township. (Lehighvalleylive.com file photo)
"Enforcement will also concentrate on moving violations such as speeding and reckless driving, as well as seat-belt and child-safety-seat violations," the Bethlehem-based Troop M commanding officer, Capt. Brian Tobin, and the troop's community service officer, Trooper First Class Marc Allen, said in a statement.
During the three-day 2015-16 New Year's holiday period, Troop M investigated 25 crashes, three of which resulted in injuries requiring treatment, across its territory covering Lehigh, Northampton and Bucks counties, according to a news release.
Five of those crashes were alcohol-related, and none resulted in a fatality.
"Troopers aggressively enforced the motor-vehicle laws resulting in the issuance of 998 traffic citations," nearly half of which were for speeding on area highways, the release states. The others included seven child-seat citations and 40 seat-belt citations, in addition to 29 arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
During last weekend's four-day Christmas holiday travel period, Troop M says it investigated 55 crashes that injured 36 people, none fatally and none of which were alcohol-related. Troopers issued 642 citations, again nearly half for speeding on area highways; 14 child-seat citations and 16 seat-belt citations and made 34 arrests on suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol or controlled substances.
"The Pennsylvania State Police, Troop M, urges travelers to 'think before you drink' and be mindful of our continuing efforts to enforce the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's legal blood alcohol limit of 0.08 while operating a passenger vehicle," Tobin and Allen stated. "Motorists need to be aware of the State Police Checkpoint Strike Force initiative which calls for weekly DUI checkpoints in Troop M patrol area.
"Also, anyone under the age of 21 that chooses to drink must be reminded that Pennsylvania's Zero Tolerance Law establishes serious consequences for those who choose to drink and drive with any measurable amount of alcohol in their blood."
Police also ask drivers to slow down and steer clear when encountering emergency vehicles with flashing lights.
Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
A 29-year-old New York City man appeared intoxicated on Thursday afternoon after crashing a 2000 Mitsubishi Montero on North Delaware Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township, Pennsylvania State Police report.
The man, who police did not name, is expected to be charged with driving under the influence of a controlled substance once toxicology tests are returned, police said.
The man was driving north at 4:58 p.m. at Slateford Road when he lost control of the SUV on the wet road and rolled it, police said.
He was taken to Pocono Medical Center for treatment of injuries and a blood draw, police said.
Passengers Lisa Tejada, 22, of New York City, a 8-year-old boy from Hazleton and a 7-year-old girl from New York City were not hurt, police said.
The driver was not wearing a seat belt, police said.
"Upon receiving the toxicology results back, both criminal and summary charges will be filed," in District Judge Alicia Rose Zito's court in Bangor, police said.
The man was taken to the hospital by Suburban EMS, and the township fire department assisted at the scene, police said.
Tony Rhodin may be reached at arhodin@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyRhodin. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.
The media attends the launch of the new Nokia Lumia 920 and 820 Windows smartphones on September 5, 2012 in New York City. (Photo : Getty Images/Spencer Platt)
Nokia is bound to make a comeback and it is expected that HMD Global will use the 2017 Mobile World Congress (MWC) in February 2017 as the venue for launching new Nokia Android phones. HMD Global will reportedly introduce five Nokia phones in 2017.
A new Nokia Android phone, codenamed Nokia D1C, has been making the headlines for quite some time. But now, the Finnish company is developing four more phones for 2017, Digi Times reported.
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The four new Android Nokia phones could sport display sizes between 5 and 5.7 inches, in either Full HD or WQHD resolutions, the publication quoted industry sources as saying. The sources also said that panel suppliers for the devices include Century Technology, LG Display and Innolux. In addition, FIH will reportedly be a production partner.
Other details of these four upcoming Android phones were not revealed, but bits of information about Nokia D1C start to emerge. Nokia D1C is likely the first Android Nokia phone to make a debut at the MWC 2017, a Chinese language site Technews.com reported, as cited by Digi Times. The report added that the device is expected to be available in two variants: one is a cheaper device with 2 GB of RAM and a 5-inch Full HD display, priced at $150 and the other comes with a 3 GB of RAM and a larger 5.5-inch display priced at $200.
Other rumored specs of Nokia D1C include 13-megapixel and 16-megapixel cameras and 16 GB or 32 GB storage options. Nokia D1C is also likely to run on a Snapdragon 430 chip from Qualcomm and carry an Adreno 505 GPU on board.
The latest tip about the new Android Nokia phones for 2017 gives the impression that HMD Global is working on different affordable Android Nokia phones that will target different markets, Tech Shout reported. D1C is said to be not flagship worthy but HMD could be developing a premium phone that should feature a 2K display and a Carl Zeiss camera lens. Meanwhile, check out some of the rumored Nokia D1C specs and features in the video below:
It was a dog's day out for Houdini the wire haired terrier from Portarlington this morning, when he boarded the train to Dublin in Portarlington train station.
Iarnrod Eireann quickly put the call out for information on their Facebook page, looking for his owner to come forward to bring him back home.
"Lost Dog - This dog boarded a train to Dublin this morning at Portarlington. Please contact Kilmainham Garda Station +353 1 666 9700"
The story of little Houdini's adventure took off on social media.
Within hours the post was shared over 500 times. Wisecracking comments included 'he must have slipped the Laois' and 'even the dogs have had enough of Portarlington'.
Houdini walked a mile from the family home to catch his 10am train, where he was met by the Gardai on his arrival in Dublin, brought to Kilmainham Garda station and eventually Castleknock dog pound.
Owner Enya Mulligan has since made contact and is waiting to be reunited with her pet.
The pound closes for the long weekend today, so Houdini will be spending New Year in the pound, if he doesn't escape that too. Enya and her mother Siobhan will bring him back home next Tuesday, on the train, on a lead, in a cage.
"He's a little charmer. We called him Houdini because he is a notorious escape artist. They told us that in the pound in Ballacolla when we rescued him as a pup ten years ago. He regularly escapes to "do his rounds" in Portarlington, but this is his best trick ever," said Siobhan Mulligan.
"It is the biggest adventure he's ever had, and the funniest. He is safe and well, so we can laugh," she added.
Over the next few days, we will be publishing our twelve most read posts of 2016. Many thanks to the 533,000 people who have visited the site over the past tumultuous 12 months.
In our 8th most read post, Caron Lindsay argues that the social media mockery of Diane Abbott by various right wing types is not a sign of a healthy political culture.
Labour MP Diane Abbott is being roundly mocked in various parts of the internet because of a question she asked as Shadow International Development Secretary, a position she held until last week when she was promoted to Shadow Health Secretary.
She asked:
To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what steps she has taken to assist people in the Indonesian province of Province of Davao del Norte affected by the drought in that province.
The reply was crushing:
There is no province called Davao del Norte in Indonesia.
Actually, there is a place called Davao del Norte suffering droughts. In the Philippines. So a staffer in Diane Abbotts office made a mistake. We all do it. Why make a fuss?
The Guido Fawkes blog has been one of those poking fun at Abbott. Its not surprising behaviour from a right wing sensationalist site.
Ultimately, Diane Abbotts question was well-intentioned and focused around helping some very vulnerable people. Her successor, if she has one who stays in office for more than five minutes, can resubmit it with the correct details. Its not a big deal.
I was more concerned seeing the story being shared by Liberal Democrats on social media. Maybe we need to get past being amused by genuine mistakes and concentrate on what really matters.
Abbotts error is a million miles away from the spectacle weve seen over the past few months of self-serving politicians setting out to deceive the country and succeeding purely to further their own ambitions. The tragedy of that is double-edged.
Firstly, that sort of self-serving politician is actually a pretty rare thing. Most of them, from all parties, are decent people who want to make the world a better place.
Secondly, the idea that politicians are just a bunch of self serving useless individuals is most popular amongst those who feel disengaged from politics and who have just been manipulated and deceived by the likes of Michael Gove, Boris Johnson and Nigel Farage and Andrea Leadsom. Two of these are in the running to be Prime Minister. That is scary.
I disagree with Diane Abbott more often than I agree with her, but with so much else going on in politics at the moment, we need to concentrate on what actually is important. There are economic, political and constitutional crises emanating from the Brexit referendum to be sorted. There are many reason to worry about Labour, who seem to be caught up in the most irreconcilable differences when we need a coherent opposition, but this question isnt one of them.
Everyone makes mistakes. The right response to Abbotts is there but for the grace of the Flying Spaghetti Monster go I.
Labour of course would have been all over it had the mistake been made by someone else.
The way we conduct our politics needs to change. Rather than scoring cheap points, we need to be showing that we really are tackling the issues of the day. That way, if people see that their concerns are being heard and tackled, they will regain confidence and thats good for all of us.
First of all, I would like to express my deep sympathy to everyone who has lost close ones this year. Particularly at this festive period, I am conscious of the hell of grief many people are going through.
Im not saying anything new here. But we seem to have lost one heck of a lot of famous icons, heroines and heroes in 2016.
The Mirror has a theory on why this is:
Between 1946 and 1964, there was a massive growth in population.
This means people in their 50s, 60s and 70s now make up a much larger percentage of the population than they did four or five decades ago.
And as a result, more of them are famous, the BBC notes.
These people, dubbed baby boomers, are reaching an age where they are more likely to develop life-threatening conditions such as cancer and heart disease.
What has been particularly moving is that it seems so many of my heroines and heroes, who have been part of my life and growing up, have left us.
I suspect others have a similar feeling, perhaps related to a different list of those who have deceased in 2016. The names that occur to me are: Terry Wogan. He was just such an integral part of my life on Radio 2, that I regarded him as part of me! David Bowie my hero growing up. Jean Alexander Hilda Ogden was rarely off our screens when I was young. Rick Parfitt Status Quo have been my favourite band for yonks. Ronnie Corbett. George Michael. Andrew Sachs Fawlty Towers was another thing that I regarded as part of me. Robert Vaughan Man from U.N.C.L.E was a real passion of mine when I was young. Carla Lane We were always glued to Liver Birds and Butterflies. Muhammed Ali. Caroline Aherne. Victoria Wood another person whose humour was so warm and familiar that we regarded her as part of us. Frank Kelly another loss from the Father Ted cast.
Theres a fuller list here. I am sorry I have missed out some notable names but that is simply because the names above struck a particular personal chord with me as I say others will have a different list.
Perhaps this is all because I am at that age where famous people I have known growing up are increasingly getting to the age where they pass on? Is it just my perception or has 2016 been an extraordinary year for losing much-loved public figures?
I dont want to minimise the pain of grief and loss brought to those who have lost close ones in 2016. I have lost two really close and loved ones this year. And I express my deepest sympathy to the nearest and dearest of all those famous people who have passed. Me losing a hero such as David Bowie is not on the same level, or in the same ball park, as someone losing a loved one or indeed as David Bowies own familys grief at this time. But somehow, the loss of these loved famous people chips away at ones own sense of identity.
Never send to know for whom the bells tolls; it tolls for thee.
John Donne. Devotions Upon Emergent Occasions, Meditation XVII.
The subject of perception based on age brings me to a theory I have considered recently and which relates to memory, including to our memory of famous much-loved stars.
It seems like only yesterday that I was buying Rebel Rebel in its orange RCA sleeve with its orange label and its orange adapter in the middle. It seems like only yesterday that I was listening to Terry Wogan for the first time on the Radio 1 and 2 drivetime show, when he was fresh from Ireland.
We often say that only yesterday sort of thing and, indeed, think it. Memories can be so vivid. But I wonder if recalling memories is a bit like a row of telegraph poles. When you look back on a line of telegraph poles and choose the 25th one back, without seeing the space in between the poles, it seems quite near. Thats what we are tending to do when we recall an incident many years ago without, in that same instant, considering all the things which have happened, or not happened, between when that incident occurred and now. It is only when we look at the line of telegraph poles side on, and consider all the space between the individual poles that we realise how far the 25th pole is back. When you try to remember all the endless days which have gone by since the incident in question, it starts to feel a long time ago.
I raise a glass to all the great people famous and not famous that we have lost in 2016. Let us hope that 2017 is a good year and may it bring you and yours health and happiness!
* Paul Walter is a Liberal Democrat activist and member of the Liberal Democrat Voice team. He blogs at Liberal Burblings.
TRAGEDY struck three families in the Limerick area over the Christmas period when a baby, a child and a teenager lost their lives in separate tragic incidences.
Five-month-old Margaret Alexandra Burke passed away unexpectedly but peacefully in her cot at her home in Effin on Christmas Eve - almost a year after her first cousin, also named Alexandra Burke, and also from Effin, died from a rare form of cancer aged just five.
Fifteen-year-old Sean Holland, from Herbertstown, sadly passed away after bravely battling a long illness, while 10-year-old Canadian girl of Nigerian extraction, Madra, died on board a flight which was diverted to Shannon Airport.
Margaret Alexandra Burke's grandfather Walter Burke from Effin last saw his granddaughter just hours before she passed away on Christmas Eve.
She was smiling mad the night she died, Walter told the Limerick Leader.
They had fed her at two oclock that morning. We are devastated. That was our Christmas, he added.
Hundreds of people gathered at St Peter and St Pauls Church in Kilmallock this Tuesday for the funeral Mass of the little girl.
At the top of the aisle, a single red rose rested on a three-foot white coffin.
A foil pink helium balloon with the word Baby swayed gently from side to side.
Sitting in the front pew, in the shadow of the Christmas crib, baby Margaret Alexandras heartbroken mother Margaret was comforted tenderly by her husband Walter. Margaret always sang Daddys Girl to her baby girl. That was her song. A friend brought Margaret a glass of water from the sacristy, everyone wanted to in some way ease her pain.
The song, Suffer Little Children to Come Unto Me, signalled the start of the Mass.
No mother expects to live through the death of her child. I am sorry that death has come so suddenly. I am sorry that your heart is pierced with pain. I am sorry that life can be so hard, said Fr David Casey, CC, Kilmallock. Baby Margaret Alexandra leaves behind three brothers, John-Ross, William and Michael and her sister Maureen.
The local undertaker had been putting the finishing touches to the headstone of her first cousin Alexandra Burke, who passed away last January, when word filtered through of the second tragedy in the family.
They had done the lovely white stones and blue stones, that Alexandra loved, when they found out about the other baby. The two little girls are buried close to one another in Effin Cemetery, Walter explained.
The little baby is buried with my father and mother, Michael and Margaret, and Alexandra, my other granddaughter who died at the start of the year, is buried with my ancestors, a small bit away, Walter added.
Earlier in the week, the Holland family from Herbertstown were plunged into mourning with the loss of 15-year-old Sean.
On December 19, Sean passed away peacefully in the wonderful care of the Childrens Ark in University Hospital Limerick.
The remarkable teenager was given just two years to live when he was diagnosed with Lissencephaly - a rare brain formation disorder - when he was a baby. Yet the beloved son of John and Pearl and brother of Niamh, from Herbertstown, lived for 13 more years than expected.
It was their love for him that kept him alive, said Fr Roy Donovan, who celebrated the Requiem Mass in Caherline church.
It was sheer love. They said he was the most kissed child in the whole world because he was so loveable. His smile was so disarming, said Fr Donovan.
The parish priest described the Mass as very emotional but also a celebration of the young mans life. Those in attendance will not forget his father, Johns moving words.
Sean had been such a part of his parents and older sisters lives. The four of them were intricately linked together through him. There was a massive bond, said Fr Donovan.
Sean is also sadly missed by his grandmother Celine, uncles, aunts, cousins, neighbours, friends and his friends in St Gabriels School.
The school did a show panel on him with photographs and quite a number of messages from teachers, care assistants and his friends in St Gabriels. They all had wonderful messages. A lot of them said he had such a wonderful smile, said Fr Donovan.
Meanwhile, the family of the 10-year-old girl, who died on a flight that was diverted to Shannon Airport on Christmas Eve, have set up a fundraising page to raise funds to bring her body back to Canada.
The young girl, who lived in Toronto, fell ill while travelling with her three sisters on board an Air Canada flight from Toronto to Heathrow, on Christmas Eve. The girl, Madra, was later pronounced dead at the scene after being examined by a local doctor.
Madra, who had sickle cell anaemia, suddenly fell ill and was found unresponsive by crew members.
Madra was traveling to Nigeria to spend the Christmas holidays with extended family. Their mother was in Nigeria at the time of the incident.
We have been in Ireland since then, waiting to take our dear sister back to Canada. The Irish police and medical teams and Air Canada have been very helpful in this situation. Our family is a single parent family of four children, so we do not have the funds to have a proper burial for our beloved Madra.
Any help you can give will be deeply appreciated by our family during this time of devastation and grief. Our lovely Madra suffered with sickle cell anaemia and any additional funds will be donated to the clinic she attended, who were so good to her always. Madra was the light of our lives, she brought joy and happiness to our household and we will never be the same without her, however we will keep her memory alive. Thank you.
The family of the doctor, who was at the scene of the incident at Shannon Airport, invited the three sisters to stay at their home over the Christmas holidays,
On Tuesday the tragic girl reposed at the doctors home, which is in the Clare region.
Tony McMahon, of McMahons Funeral Home, commended the doctor and his family, and two members of An Garda Siochana in Shannon, who escorted the family to Dublin as the girls body was being examined.
South Korean actor Lee Won-Geun plays the lead character of Jae-Ha in the upcoming film 'Misbehavior.' (Photo : YouTube/Lee Min Sung)
After playing Oh Jin-Woo in "The Net," Lee Won-Geun will star next in the upcoming film "Misbehavior." Recently, the 25-year-old actor opened up about what it is really like to shoot a bed scene with co-star Kim Ha-Neul.
In a recent interview with local media, Lee admitted that it was his first time to do a bed scene. He then revealed how he and Kim were able to manage the intimate scene without feeling agitated.
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"I didn't want to rely on Kim Ha Neul so much, so I talked to the director a lot about the scene," local newsoutlet MBN, as cited by Soompi, quoted Lee as saying. "The shoot ended quicker than I imagined."
Lee then reiterated that he does not have any worries about the said steamy scene. Since it was his first time, the Hallyu star revealed that taking his clothes off and covering certain body parts was fascinating to him.
In the upcoming film, the "Cheer Up!" actor plays a submissive student, Jae Ha, who is keenly aware of his teachers' physical and emotional physical needs. Opposite him is the 'On the Way to the Airport" actress.
Kim plays Hyo Joo, a restrained part-time instructor at an all-male high school. Emotionally torn, she discovers that her junior Hye-Young (Yoo In-Young) has nabbed a full-time position at the school through her connections.
At the "Misbehavior" press conference on Dec. 21, director Kim Tae-Yong said the upcoming film is a story about two women and their delicate personalities. One is loaded with a feeling of inadequacy, while the other audaciously pursues her own desires.
"I wanted to see how far human desire could go, and how low their ego could fall," The Kpop Herald quoted director Kim as saying. "I myself feel a sense of inferiority when comparing myself to others. I came up with this script when I started wondering, 'What is the one thing I could take from them? Could I succeed? Would that satisfy me?'"
Though the packaging of the "Misbehavior" may appear like an illicit love triangle, director Kim stressed that the film delves into the human instincts of desire, emotional dominance, and inferiority complexes.
"Misbehavior" is scheduled to be released on Jan. 5, 2017. Check out the trailer here:
Operation Proposal (Photo : Uchocospirit/YouTube)
Lay, a Chinese actor who is also a member of the popular Korean boy band EXO, said while promoting the Chinese drama Operation Love, that he prefers to do a war or military drama or movie over a romantic show or film.
The reason behind his preference is he feels uncomfortable doing romantic scenes, AllKpop reported. The 25-year-old celebrity explained he is traditional and conservative about kissing scenes since it is something people in a relationship do.
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No to Kissing Scenes
For this reason, Ive never filmed a real kiss scene. If I did, it was actually just filmed to look like a real one, Hall of Fame Magazine quoted Lay. While shooting Operation Love, the Chinese name of the drama - there were rumors that the crew was kicked out of Sun Yat Sen University because they allegedly lacked permits to shoot inside the campus.
The incident happened on Dec. 20. However, the production crew of Operation Love explained that they left the university because of the size of the crowd that gathered to watch their shooting which could compromise the safety of the productions stars. Operation Love is adapted from a Japanese drama with the same title and has a Korean version titled Operation Proposal which stars Yoo Seung Ho and Park Eun Bin.
Plot of Movie
The co-star of Lay in Operation Love is Chinese actress Chen Duling who won a college competition. The plot of the film revolves around Yan Xiaolai, Lays character, a man who was given a second chance to return in time and tell his childhood friend that he loves her. The friend was about to marry another man, according to Asiastarz.
Besides Operation Love, Lay is also in the cast of Jackie Chans movie Kung Fu Yoga and would be the male lead in the upcoming Chinese-South Korean film Unexpected Love, in which he is cast opposite Krystal, his labelmate.
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Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook star in the tvN drama 'Goblin.' (Photo : YouTube/tvN Drama)
The tvN drama "Goblin" has captured the hearts of avid drama lovers given its interesting storyline and talented cast. Recently, the fashionable outfits that were worn by Gong Yoo and Lee Dong Wook became some of the hottest styles in the South Korean fashion industry.
With the tall figures and fit bodies of the "Goblin" actors Gong and Lee, many fashion styles look good on the two celebrities. In the tvN drama, both actors have already displayed their various fashion stylings from casual wear to business attires.
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The "Coffee Prince" star has recently become a fashion trendsetter with the oversized coats that he wore in "Goblin." One of the actor's coats even caught the interest of avid fashion lovers specifically the coat he wore in the drama's episode 3.
Identified as part of the Lanvin Paris 2016 fall-winter collection which costs more than 4 million won (approximately $3,310), the said fashion piece became a sold-out item in many South Korean stores, according to Korea Herald.
Some of Gong's oversized coats in "Goblin" came from the newest collection of famous fashion brands such as Givenchy coats, as well as Burberry and Tom Ford fashion pieces. Moreover, a few of the actor's outfits in the said tvN drama have yet to be released in South Korea.
Meanwhile, Gong's co-star Lee, who mostly wore classic black business suits in the tvN fantasy series, have also captured the interest of many fashion labels. The "My Girl" actor has even received several sponsorship offers from many clothing brands.
Apart from Lee and Gong's fashion stylings, the two actors and their co-stars' acting talents have also made "Goblin" one of the popular dramas in South Korea. The tvN fantasy series even topped the Content Power Index for two consecutive weeks since its release.
The drama posted a score of 313.9 points for the week period Dec. 5 to Dec. 11, according to CJ E&M and Nielsen Korea, as cited by Yonhap News. During its debut week, "Goblin," also known as "Guardian: The Lonely and Great God," reached 302.8 points and even dethroned the previous first placer "Legend of the Blue Sea."
"Goblin" airs every Friday and Saturday on tvN. Watch one of Gong and Lee's funny scenes in the drama below:
Students of the year In 2016, discontent erupted across campuses, cutting across political lines /news/talking-point/students-of-the-year-111647425408207.html 111647425408207 story
The year is ending on a grim note. Najeeb Ahmed, a student of biotechnology at Delhis Jawaharlal Nehru University, went missing on 15 October. The 27-year-old remains missing, reportedly after an altercation with students alleged to be from the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP), the students wing of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Multiple appeals have gone out; Ahmeds mother, Fatima Nafees, moved the Delhi high court, member of Parliament Shashi Tharoor, and Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal spoke up, and the Delhi Police increased its reward for information from Rs50,000 to Rs10 lakh.
The year began on a grim note too.
On 18 January, Rohith Vemula, a 26-year-old Dalit PhD scholar at Hyderabad central university, hanged himself in a hostel room. Vemula was owed Rs1.75 lakhfellowship money for seven months. He was one of five Dalit students at the university who had been suspended for allegedly beating up an ABVP student leader in August 2015; the Cyberabad police contested this in an ensuing case at the Hyderabad high court. Vemulas suspension, and that of others, was revoked but, in December 2015, the universitys executive council barred them, all members of the Ambedkar Students Association, from the hostel and the administrative building, and said they couldnt contest university elections. Student groups termed these measures a social boycott"; the university said these steps were not extraordinary.
What seemed to be out of the ordinary, though, was that Union labour minister Bandaru Dattatreya wrote a letter to the parent Union ministry, of human resource development, saying the university had been a mute spectator" to the alleged clash between Dalit students and the ABVP student. After Vemulas suicide, a criminal case was filed against Dattatreya and others. Protests erupted in the university, with political leaders like Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi, and former Manipur chief minister, the late P.A. Sangma, joining in.
In February, a case of sedition was filed against a number of people after students from ABVP protested against an event that had been organized in JNU to question the hanging of Afzal Guru. Kanhaiya Kumar, then president of the students union, and one of those arrested, was imprisoned for 20 days. This incident, like Vemulas suicide, triggered a national debate, even reaching Parliament. Home minister Rajnath Singh and then HRD minister Smriti Iraniunder fire from the oppositionmaintained that anti-national activities would not be tolerated.
Shehla Rashid, vice-president of JNUSU at the time, says it was this language of intolerance that saw students from around the country, cutting across political lines, coming together to protest. On 9 February, even students who are centrists stood up for the liberal value of letting people protest. That is why there were so many sedition cases on that day.The whole campus united," she says. Her own speech against Kumars arrest went viral on the Net.
This unity was cemented when a group of lawyers in Delhis Patiala House court complex attacked Kumar, JNU students and teachers, and journalists present there. Protests spread across campuses, such as Jadavpur University in West Bengal and Fergusson College in Pune.
If caste, free speech and dissent were some of the issues that students raised, so were patriarchy and gender injustice. Women students in Delhi had started a campaign called Pinjra Tod in August 2015 to fight gender policingstarting with different timings for men and women in campus hostels. Women from Delhi University, Jamia Millia Islamia, Ambedkar University, National Law University and JNU came together for this campaign. In May, the Delhi Commission for Women, issued notices to all 23 registered varsities in Delhi, to examine the different rules for men and women. The University Grants Commission also issued a circular to all colleges, warning them against discriminatory rules for both sexes. In September, they penned a letter to new HRD minister Prakash Javadekar, who was set to inaugurate a womens hostel on the Jamia Millia Islamia campus, pointing out the irony of how they would face disciplinary action if they didnt attend the inaugurationsymptomatic of the administrations control over their movement and choice.
At a time when dissent is readily termed anti-national, student activism has carved out a space for the language of doubt. The events of the past year also prove that the students have been able to come together on key issues. Queer student groups joined in the protests against the sedition charges on Kumar, and expressed solidarity with Hyderabad university students protesting Vemulas death. In November, Kumar and other students from JNU joined the queer pride march in New Delhi. In Hyderabad, students from various colleges joined the queer pride march led by Dalit hijra community members. It is this equitable heterogeneity that seems to have flourished across campuses this year.
(L to R) Seo Ju Hyun or Seohyun, Tiffany Hwang and Kim Taeyeon of Girls Generation arrive at the 24th Seoul Music Awards at the Olympic Park, Seoul, South Korea in 2015. (Photo : Getty Images/Chung Sung-Jun )
Back in 2015, Taeyeon decided to pursue a solo career, wherein it kicked off quite well with her major solo debut of "I." Further showing her full potential as an artist, she released several tracks that were also hitting the airwaves such as "Rain," "Why" and her latest "11:11."
The Girls' Generation member Taeyeon has already released its digital single "11:11" and has been making its way to the top 20 of the Best K-Pop Songs of 2016, according to Billboard. However, with all the hit songs that she has been releasing, Taeyeon also seems to be making a buzz on media not just with her success but also some for the wrong reasons.
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Recently, the producers of Taeyeon's newest track "11:11" have been accused of allegedly plagiarizing other artists' songs.
According to Koreaboo, a popular YouTube channel has highlighted the music and its producers, Christian Vinten and Chelcee Grimes, for plagiarizing the chord progressions of the song from other artists' tracks.
"11:11's" instrumentals has been compared to the Artist vs. Poet's "Kids Again" track, and as well as Jordin Sparks' "One Step at a Time."
After listening to the comparisons, many fans have been left agreeing with the accusations, saying that the only difference between Taeyeon's "11:11" and the other two songs is the octaves of the tracks.
Furthermore, earlier this month, Taeyeon and American rapper Wiz Khalifa were supposed to do a collaborative performance of "See You Again" during the 2016 MAMA. However, the latter claims that the former backed out of the performance, minutes before Khalifa went up on stage. The rapper took to twitter expressing his disappointments.
Meanwhile, Taeyeon posted through Instagram to share her side of the story, saying that the audio issues were the reason. Khalifa fired back, saying that the k-pop idol was lying and claimed that Taeyeon said that she has to go to the hospital the night before the performance.
Taeyeon and Khalifa have been going back and forth on social media, as the latter claimed that the k-pop idol lied about her reasons for cancelling the performance.
Open up when the world shocks you Everybody agrees 2016 was worse than most years in recent history /news/talking-point/open-up-when-the-world-shocks-you-111650556137138.html 111650556137138 story
2016 shocked. And what a task it was to deal with the shocks.
When social and moral orders change dramatically, the job of a journalist becomes more important and more difficult than ever before. I faced a very small part of that challenge.
On a personal level, there are antidotes to such shocks. Open up to the little perfections of your family, friends and the people you meet and interact with often. Open up, fully, to understand the emotion of another person, however flawed that emotion may be. Open up to relationships you have not fully understood before. Open up to awkward dichotomies and opposites.
Everybody agrees 2016 was worse than most years in recent history. Collective trauma was palpable. Let me not get into the specifics, we all know what happenedwho won, who lost, who left the world with big holes, and who stood in serpentine queues outside public sector banks the longest.
The brilliant writers in this issue will help you make sense of the year better than me. I want to talk about anger, reason and emotion. When forces much larger than usgovernments and militia, media conglomerates and voter groups, the untrammelled but short-lived power of the social mediaviolate beliefs that we have embraced and internalized after years of observing, questioning, and feeling, there comes an anger that gnaws at you beneath the walking, eating, driving and mingling, beneath the business of life. This anger is also too easy to vent today. It streams instantly. We have talked a lot this year about the world, shared each others posts, disagreed with each other using reason and emotion, and at times gone completely quiet on each other. The liberal echo chamber was more clamorous than ever beforelittle of liberal discourse disseminated to make a difference to the world. Read Salil Tripathis essay on page 7 for more on the crisis of liberalism.
For journalism, this year threw up challenges we had not foreseen. And the end to these challenges is nowhere in sight. People hated us and questioned our relevance. This years repercussions will unfold over the next few years, and we will need to constantly keep ourselves relevant. How do we do it? There is no one answer that, but one foolproof way is to continue telling stories that reveal lives which the worlds big events affect the most, but which remain in the background as alternative or parallel storiesstories that connect dots far away from each other, stories that matter for reasons other than shareability and traffic numbers.
My mistrust of binary ordersnational and anti-national, left and right, Nehru and Patel, Amartya Sen and Jagdish Bhagwatisaved my year.
That leaves me with the exhilarating ductility of the arts. The arts can best defy binary orders. Freedom of expression is always under threat in India. This year, there were way too many instances, and thankfully, the outcry against censorship was much louder too.
I revisited the works of my grandfathera poet and essayist who wrote only in Assamese, spoke in both Assamese and English, and taught all his life in English. He wrote about the anti-immigrant students movement in Assam, exposing its narrow boundaries and bravado, about the difference between saints and kings, in gentle satire, about the town of his birth and the Calcutta of the 1920s. His words revealed my childhood (spent with him) to me in new ways. I read Malayalam author K.R. Meera (Hangwoman, The Gospel Of Yudas) and Kannada author Vivek Shanbhag (Ghachar Ghochar) in translationto be convinced yet again that the regional is universal, and there is no one authentic global" narrative.
The works of Raul Zurita, the Chilean poet and artist, came to the Kochi-Muziris Biennale. I am visiting the biennale soon, at least to wade through the waters Zurita uses in his installation to give us a semblance of the pain of refugee life. One does not know if one will feel anything at all doing thatafter all, the millions of images of Syrian refugee children that we have consumed through half of 2016 have already conditioned us. But Zurita is the one who said, If poetry ends, the dream is dead," and I want to believe him.
I am on page 123 of Han Kangs The Vegetarianyet to realize the entire effect the book will have on me, but again, the universal in it works its magic. An extreme human life takes me closer to a society and culture that I have perhaps imagined as the other".
Manoj Bajpayees S.R. Siras in Hansal Mehtas Aligarh is the best film performance of 2016. Delicate, haunting and deeply emotional, some of the films moments stayed with me through the year, and they will for many years to come. There are many shades to the characters beauty and vulnerability, and all these shades had some truth in them.
My five-year-old daughter made real friends this year, braved a painful injury and tried to explain to me why only one boy in her class could defeat her in racing. I say what Aamir Khan so triumphantly said in Dangal, the years biggest and most fulfilling crowd-pleaser, Mhaari chhoriyaan chhoron se kum hain ke (Are our girls any less than our boys)?"
I am armed to take more shocks and aftershocks in 2017.
For now, lets not miss the party. Wish you a happy new year.
Sanjukta Sharma
Editor
How Pinjra Tod spread its wings Students from Patiala, Thiruvananthapuram and Cuttack used this collective to speak against gender- and caste-based discrimination /news/talking-point/how-pinjra-tod-spread-its-wings-111647425155912.html 111647425155912 story
In August 2015, an anonymous open letter was sent to the Jamia Millia Islamia vice-chancellor protesting the cancellation of women students right to stay out until late at night. It led to students across Delhi coming out on to the streets. They wanted to speak out against institutions that confine women. And Pinjra Tod, the movement, was born.
In a little more than a year, the campaign to push curfew hours has challenged the ways in which the movement of female students is restricted in the name of safety. Unlike other feminist campaigns and movements, Pinjra Tod has been attentive to gender-based discrimination and its relation to other forms of discrimination based on caste and class.
In 2016, women from educational institutions across the country joined Pinjra Tod to speak about their suppression, taking the fight against curfew hours much further, challenging deeply entrenched attitudes about womens bodiesbe it a ban on wearing shorts in some hostels, or being forced to wear a dupatta over laboratory coats, or the lack of enough accommodation. In 2016, Pinjra Tod challenged it all, facing the brunt of disgruntled institutional heads and harassment, allegedly by male students associated with the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishadthe ABVP has denied any involvement.
Subhashini Shriya, who recently completed her law degree from Delhi University and has been part of Pinjra Tod from its inception, believes its biggest achievement has been the circular issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) last year on the prevention, prohibition and redressal of complaints of sexual harassment of women employees and students in higher educational institutions. In November, Miranda House conducted elections for the appointment of the (internal complaints) committee, but the election was announced just one week in advance, such that the voting turnout was low," she says.
While the UGC circular mentioned punishment and penalties, there was no provision to hold accountable institutions with a previous record of not paying heed to sexual harassment. Shriya adds that when the campaign had begun, there was fear of retribution, and some students faced the wrath of irate teachers and institutions. But in the last one year, Pinjra Tod has been recognized as a movement, and students are less fearful.
In 2016, Pinjra Tod continued to walk the streets at night, especially through the streets in Delhi where most of the hostels are located, shouting slogans, demanding locks be broken. They documented their processes through photographs and video and shared them on social media, inspiring women from lesser-known colleges in other parts of the country to share their experiences. The anger was out on the streets, outside campuses of colleges and universities in Patiala, Thiruvananthapuram, Raipur, Cuttack, Chennai, Aligarh and Thrissur.
According to Shilpa Phadke, one of the authors of the book Why Loiter? Women And Risk On Mumbai Streets and chairperson of the Centre for the Study of Contemporary Culture at the Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, the presence of middle-class women on the streets at night fractures the lines between supposed good" and bad" women.
A Facebook post by Pinjra Tod stated that male students aligned with the ABVP began to scream Bharat mata ki jai!" and one even flashed a Rs100 note at one of the women during the night demonstration and street play series in Delhi in September. On their Facebook page, Pinjra Tod activists wrote: This binary of the good woman and the bad woman is the same as national and anti-national. (We) Refuse to live by their patriarchal, casteist diktats" Pinjra Tod designed a poster that said: We won't be Mother India. Nationalism cages women."
The reason Pinjra Tod is unique, says feminist historian Uma Chakravarti, is that it has been responsive to movements that challenge other forms of discrimination based on caste. Its participants travelled to Gujarat when Jignesh Mevani raised the issue of discrimination against Dalits. They have localized the movement to reflect South Asian patriarchy, which ties in with elements of caste, class and the politics of reproduction," Chakravarti says.
Though the movement made itself heard, expansion and consistency took time. It had no formal structure or set leadership; it is yet to have a face that represents the campaign. Chakravarti, who taught at Delhi University for four decades, says every batch of female students would be jostling for space and their campaigning would be limited to the time they were students. It was the teachers who would sustain the campaigns, by providing the history, context and continuation to it. But Pinjra Tod has spread to other institutions because of their sense of a feminist collective that can be replicated, as opposed to a rigid leadership. Their core team intends the movement to be issue-driven rather than leadership-driven," says Chakravarti.
The metaphor of the cage (pinjra) is reminiscent of the language used in literature by women since the 19th century," she adds. The word evokes the easily recognizable attempt to continue the patriarchal social order. This evocation has hence travelled far, and has opened a way of resistance that resonates with a lot of Indian women."
Other similar groups
Suslu Kadnlar Bisiklet Turu or Fancy Women On Bikes is a multipronged response to the exclusion many Turkish women feel in cities like Istanbul and Izmir. By dressing up in costumes and bright make-up, these women are reclaiming their right to be seen, to be noticed, and to exist.
A few women across Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad coordinate Girls at Dhabas" to raise noise about womens participation in public space. The idea of going to dhabas, which function as sites to relax or do nothing, may not scream out that women are not allowed there, but often men outnumber women at dhabas, and other public spaces.
My Stealthy Freedom is an online social movement that was started by Iranian journalist Masih Alinejad in May 2014. Since the Islamic Revolution in 1979 women in Iran have had to cover their hair in public, but many Iranian women and men feel that wearing a hijab in public should be a personal choice. Their website is an archive of the photos and videos shared by women.
Introduction
(Image credit: Stockxpert.)
Editors Note: This article was updated on Dec. 30, 2017
Whether youre celebrating in New York City or Nashville, Tennessee, New Years Eve follows a pretty similar script: People dress up in their best duds, break out the bubbly and sing "Auld Lang Syne" at the stroke of midnight. If its a particularly rowdy party, some things may explode.
But how exactly did these traditions arise?
Many of these rituals have ancient roots and are similar around the world. It turns out that many are designed to ward off evil spirits as we enter the darkest time of the year, said Anthony Aveni, an astronomer and anthropologist at Colgate University in New York, and the author of "The Book of the Year: A Brief History of Our Seasonal Holidays," (Oxford University Press, 2004).
"This is a transitional period," Aveni told Live Science. "Im looking at my window at all the snow. The worst of it is just beginning because its winter. The sun goes away, and when the sun goes away we have to get it back; we have all these rituals designed to get the sun back."
From popping open a bottle of champagne to watching the ball drop in Times Square, here are the roots of 10 New Years Eve traditions. [10 Christmas Traditions from Around the World]
Smooch your sweetie
(Image credit: Lisa F. Young/Shutterstock.com)
Puckering up at the stroke of midnight is a venerable tradition with ancient roots. Many cultures considered the transition from the warm to the cold seasons to be an intensely vulnerable time, when evil spirits could run amok, Aveni said.
Many of our traditions, including kissing, originally come from the English tradition of "saining," or offering blessing or protection, during the period of Yuletide, Aveni said. (Yuletide was originally a pre-Christian Germanic festival that eventually became synonymous with Christmastide in Europe.)
Kissing, in this context, was thought to bring good luck as people entered the vulnerable, transitional period of the new year, Aveni said.
"You want to be closest to those who support you," Aveni told Live Science.
Bubbly luxury
(opens in new tab) , Shutterstock (opens in new tab) ) (Image credit: Kati Molin
Popping champagne corks at the stroke of midnight is a mainstay on New Years Eve, whether at swanky parties or home celebrations. In general, overindulgence and excess are hallmarks of New Years celebrations around the world, Aveni said.
But when exactly did the peach-colored, bubbly beverage become synonymous with New Years Eve?
Despite its French name, champagnes signature fizz traces its origins back to England in the 1500s, according to "Wine Science: Principles and Applications" (Academic Press, 2008), Live Science previously reported. [Champagne Facts for the New Year (Infographic)]
At that point, people figured out how to create bubbly bottled drinks. In 1662, Christopher Merret reported to the Royal Society of London that adding sugar to bottled wine created a fizzy beverage, thanks to the yeast in the wine, which consumed the sugar to produce carbon dioxide. It took about a century to perfect the fermentation technique, however, according to Imbibe Magazine.
The use of champagne for celebrations has its roots in the Christian ritual of consuming wine during the Eucharist as the blood of Christ. In A.D. 496, a wine from the Champagne region of France was used in the baptism of the Frankish warrior Clovis, according to champagne.fr, a website run by the Champagne Committee of France. From then on, wines from the Champagne region were often used at such religious events as consecrations, and at coronations and soirees, according to the website.
"After the French Revolution, it became a part of the secular rituals that replaced formerly religious rituals," Kolleen Guy, associate professor of history at the University of Texas at San Antonio and author of "When Champagne Became French" (The Johns Hopkins University Press, 2003), previously told Live Science. "You could 'christen a ship' without a priest, for example, by using the 'holy water' of champagne," Guy said.
By 1789, the French had taken the two elements the bubbles and their prized Champagne-region wine and put the two together for royal parties and celebrations. Champagne, however, didnt become the ultimate New Years celebration beverage until producers of champagne tried to link the bubbly to festive occasions with family, and the rise of the middle class increased the purchasing power of ordinary people, according to Imbibe Magazine.
"Auld lang syne"
(Image credit: pressmaster | dreamstime)
Another classic tradition is to sing "Auld Lang Syne," a Scottish poem that was recorded on paper officially in 1788 by the Scottish poet Robert Burns, according to Scotland.org. The melody itself, however, is a much older folk song that was known in Scotland, and the Scottish Museum set Burns words to the tune when he sent it in, according to the English Folk Dance and Song Society.
"There is an old song and tune which has often thrilled through my soul," Burns said in reference to the popular melody in his 1788 letter, according to the Burns encyclopedia.
Burns admitted to drawing inspiration for "Auld Lang Syne" from an old man he heard singing the song, and other variants of the song had appeared earlier in the 1700s.
In English, the literal translation of Auld Lang Syne is "old long times," but it means something more along the lines of "once upon a time." With its touch of nostalgia, it soon became a mainstay at British and Scottish funerals, farewells and group celebrations. It didnt make it across the pond as a New Year's tradition until 1929, however, when the Guy Lombardo orchestra played it at a hotel in New York, Live Science previously reported.
Dropping the ball
(Image credit: Nancy Ann Ellis/Shutterstock.com)
At the stroke of midnight, revelers in Times Square will watch the giant ball drop in New York City. But where exactly did this tradition come from? In the old days, sailors used "time balls" to set their own timepieces while at sea. They would set these chronometers by using a spyglass to scan the harbor, looking for balls that were dropped into the water at certain times, PBS.org reported. The first time ball, which was installed in Portsmouth, England, made its first drop in 1829, and by 1845, Washington, D.C., had one installed as well, according to PBS.org.
By 1904, a big ball was present when revelers began partying in Times Square. But the first version of the ball a wooden and iron orb that was adorned with 100 25-watt lightbulbs dropped in 1907, according to the Times Square Alliance. That year, The New York Times publisher Adolph Ochs was hoping to find a replacement for the fireworks that had been banned by the police. (Hot ashes from the fireworks fell into the streets after the fireworks were deployed the year prior, according to PBS.org.) Ochs asked his chief electrician to conceive of an equally sparkly alternative and the time ball was born.
Since the first ball drop, there have been seven balls, according to the Times Square Alliance. The current ball weighs 6 tons (5.4 metric tons), is 12 feet (3.65 meters) in diameter and gets its bling from 2,688 Waterford Crystal triangles and 32,256 LED lights, according to the alliance.
Balls arent the only things that drop on New Years Eve. In Port Clinton, Ohio, residents watch a 600-lb. walleye fish replica fall, while Boise, Idaho, famous for its potatoes, drops a glowing "GlowTato," WNYC reported.
New Year's resolution
(opens in new tab) ) (Image credit: New Years Resolutions image via Shutterstock
Messing up and promising to do better next time may be a uniquely human instinct that has no season, but making New Years resolutions dates back at least to the time of the ancient Mesopotamians. In Ancient Babylonia, citizens made spoken resolutions in March, during their 12-day-long New Year Festival, called Akitu, Live Science previously reported. The resolutions were not undertaken for mere self-improvement: They required making an oath to the sitting (or new) king, and were considered essential to keep the kingdom in the gods favor. [Most Popular New Years Resolutions]
The Romans also had a tradition of swearing an oath of loyalty to the emperor in March, when their New Year started. Although this Roman tradition didnt directly translate to New Years resolutions, by the 1740s, the Methodist church had a practice of holding renewal services on Dec. 31. The services offer people a chance to look back at the year that passed and renew their commitment to God, Live Science reported.
In general, the act of making resolutions becomes the necessary, purifying ritual that follows the overindulgence of the new year, Aveni said. On Dec. 31, everybody is going to eat and drink to excess, "and then the next day youll wake up and hopefully youll have your resolutions to do the next year better."
Letting sparks fly
(Image credit: Hernan Seoane)
Do people ever need an excuse to make things go boom?
From China to Australia, people ring in the new year with noisemakers, sparklers and fireworks. But how did the tradition of ringing in the new year with a flash of light and a bang start?
It all comes back to the danger lurking in this transitional period, Aveni said.
In cultures around the world, people bang drums, light firecrackers and even beat the corners of their room to spook the spooky creatures lurking in the night.
"Anything to chase away the evil spirits," Aveni said.
Fireworks, for instance, were invented in the seventh century A.D. in China, and one of the express purposes of fireworks was to ward off evil spirits. From the beginning, the Chinese New Year was a reliable time to see the sparkling displays. Yet the tradition of setting off fireworks in the Western world seems to have evolved independently, Aveni said.
Superstitions abound
(Image credit: monticello/Shutterstock)
New Year's traditions around the world often come with a heavy dose of superstition.
For instance, in Brazil some avoid eating chicken in the first few minutes of the new year.
Why? Because chickens scratch the Earth backwards, consuming poultry would mean going backwards in life, rather than forward, the Rio Times reported. To avoid that fate, people eat foods that move forward, such as fish and pork. Italians, meanwhile, are supposed to reserve some of their wine grapes from the harvest to consume on New Year's Eve, which will mean they'll be frugal and financially savvy, according to Italy Magazine.
But why is the New Year so steeped in superstitious rituals? It turns out that rituals act as a buffer against anxiety and uncertainty, and what could be more uncertain than the future year, with all the events yet to come? New Year's and other holiday rituals ease that anxiety by making the world seem more predictable, according to Dimitris Xygalatas, Assistant Professor in Anthropology at the University of Connecticut
Scary start
(Image credit: Shutterstock.com)
While most New Year's traditions are cheerful affairs, others are downright frightening.
In the Japanese village of Oga, on New Year's Eve men dress in grass masks and embody the Namahage, demonic figures who go door to door searching for new members of the community. After screaming at the children and new family members to be obedient, and to study and work hard, the more established members defend the newcomers and youngsters to the demon, who leaves the house, according to the Namahage Museum.
Meanwhile in Peru, an Andean "fight club" on Christmas Day allows people to kick and punch each other to resolve differences, so they can start the New Year with a clean slate and some black eyes, according to " A Christmas Cornucopia: The Hidden Stories Behind Our Yuletide Traditions," (Penguin, 2016).
Money, Money, Money
(Image credit: steved_np3 | sxc.hu)
Whether it's eating pork or leftover grapes, or hopping on one foot a huge number of New Year's traditions are all about the Benjamins or Lira or Euros. Prosperity looms large in the roots of many New Year's traditions.
The Turks, for instance, wear red underwear, run the faucet and sprinkle salt on their doorsteps to ensure prosperity, according to the Daily Sabah, while the Swiss will drop rich dollops of whipped cream to the floor and leave them there to usher in riches, according to the Farmer's Almanac. Filipinos, meanwhile, will wear polka dots, because the rotund shape of the circles symbolizes prosperity.
People in the south, meanwhile, eat black eyed peas, collard greens and cornbread because they resemble coins, dollar bills and shiny gold, respectively.
Traditions around the world
(Image credit: melis/Shutterstock.com)
While there are some commonalities across the world, almost every culture has its unique take on the new year.
This story was originally published on Dec. 29, 2016 and updated on Dec. 29, 2017.
For instance, in Mexico, people may eat one grape for every chime of the church bells at midnight, Aveni said.
Aztecs used to burn all of their mats during the new year, as fire was considered cleansing. They would then take the clean, new fire to their homes to light their hearths, Aveni said.
The English have a tradition of leaving money out on their porch to be purified, taking the cleaned, new money into their house on the new year.
Meanwhile, in Scotland, the tradition of the "first footing" says that, for good luck, the first person to set foot in the house after the stroke of midnight should be a tall, dark male bearing a lump of coal, shortbread, salt, a black bun and a "wee dram" of whisky, according to the History and Heritage Accommodation Guide of the UK.
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on Dec. 29, 2016 and was updated on Dec. 30, 2017 to include additional information on New Year's traditions in other countries.
A "leap second" will be added to the world's official clocks on Dec. 31, 2016, to accommodate Earth's gradually slowing rotation.
For one tiny heartbeat at the stroke of midnight on New Year's Eve, a minute will be 61 seconds long.
World clocks will officially add a "leap second" at 23 hours, 59 minutes and 59 seconds Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), which is the time standard set by highly precise atomic clocks. These official clocks, which set the time standard for the world, will shift to 23 hours, 59 minutes and 60 seconds before turning to midnight on Jan. 1.
The extra second of party time is designed to reconcile two ways of keeping time: atomic clocks, and clocks based on the Earth's rotation. [5 of the Most Precise Clocks Ever Made]
"Earth is slowing down over geological time, and that can lead to a problem when you've got a ton of clocks," Demetrios Matsakis, chief scientist at the U.S. Naval Observatory's Time Service Department, told Live Science last year. "What do you do when the day gets longer?"
Historically, time was hung on the rotation of the Earth in relation to far-flung celestial objects. However, the moon's tug on the Earth slows the planet's spin.
In the past century, however, scientists have shifted to using highly precise atomic clocks to count the ticking of the seconds. These atomic clocks, which are often pegged to the vibration of atoms, are so frighteningly precise that they may not lose a second over the entire age of the universe. The current official atomic clock for the United States bases the second on the vibrational frequency of the cesium atom.
As a result, every day, the rotation-based time loses between 1.5 and 2 milliseconds relative to the atomic clock. That adds up to a full second every 500 to 750 days, Live Science previously reported.
To keep these two types of time in sync, in 1972, the International Earth Rotation and Reference Systems Service (IERS), which keeps time for the world, has snuck 26 leap seconds into atomic clock time. The previous bonus second was added on June 30, 2015.
These leap seconds are always added on either June 30 or Dec. 31, according to the IERS.
Originally published on Live Science.
Interested parties have until 1500 hrs local time on January 12 to submit bids
The Sheriff of the Supreme Court of Singapore is putting an arrested Hanjin Shipping containership up for sale next month.
The 1998-built, 5,302 teu Hanjin Rome has been under arrest at the Eastern Working Anchorage off Singapore ever since the South Korean carrier entered court-led receivership.
The court has given interested parties until 1500 hrs local time on January 12 to submit bids for the vessel. The bids will have to be handed in along with a S$50,000 ($34,529) deposit that will be returned to parties that were unsuccessful in the auction.
It noted that all bids will be valid for three months from the deadline and the vessel will be offloaded on an as is, where is basis.
Additionally, the buyer will have to pay S$639,134, which is the net value of bunker fuel on board the vessel, with the amount non-negotiable.
"The sheriff reserves the right not to accept the highest or any bid," the court said in a statement.
In September, the vessel received an order from the Singapore High Court to unload some of its cargo.
The authorities allowed the ship to discharge the cargoes of five container shipping lines at the port of Singapore, a Hanjin official told Lloyd's List. The official declined to name the five shipping lines mentioned.
However, the vessel remained under arrest due to unpaid charter fees owed to Rickmers Holdings, according to arresting solicitor Asia Legal LLC.
First published on www.lloydslist.com
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Smiling faces lined the aisles of Target as 100 students from Henry Cuellar Elementary School enjoyed a holiday shopping spree Thursday morning.
The spree came courtesy of Target, as part of its Heroes and Helpers outreach program. The program pairs public safety officials with community youth for shopping sprees.
This year, we donated $10,000 to the Laredo community to sponsor 100 kids with $100 gift cards, Louie Rodriguez, executive team leader of assets protection for Target, said.
Rodriguez said Target pairs local law enforcement agencies with children in need that probably wouldnt have otherwise received holiday gifts this Christmas season.
This comes down to a great day for the kids. Theyve already had their Christmas and now because of Target and their generosity they are going to have another round of presents, Garner said.
Garner said LPD is very involved in helping the community, especially small children, and appreciated the opportunity to team up with Target and bring out Blue Santa and officers to take part in the event.
Over 20 Laredo Police Department officers attended the shopping spree, assisting students in their selections of gifts for themselves or their family members.
Students didnt just shop the toy section; purchases included clothes, bedding, pajamas and other items. Shoes were a big hit Thursday, with many students asking officers to help them in finding the perfect fit.
Arlene Salazar, 6, and Pearl Gil, 6, were the first to make it to the cash registers with their selections. Both girls, while shy, said they were excited to choose gifts and glad to have the help of an officer.
It is important to have perfect attendance at school, Justin Ramirez, 9, said. While he wasnt entirely aware of how the whole event worked, Justin knew doing well in school had led to his being selected for the shopping spree.
Targets Store Manager, Daniel Garcia, said being this is the first year Target has sponsored this event in Laredo, the store looks forward to making it an annual event.
Cuellar Elementary chose two to three students from each classroom, so pre-kindergarten to fifth grade was represented at Target on Thursday, Melissa Shinn, principal of Henry Cuellar Elementary, said.
One of the campus goals is perfect attendance, so children were selected from those that had perfect attendance between August and December, Shinn said.
In efforts to raise money for Laredo Crime Stoppers, Constable for Precinct 4 Harold Devally and Dos Marias Kitchen announced January as Menudo Month during a press conference held Thursday morning.
Dos Marias Kitchen, 7720 McPherson Road, will donate $1 to Laredo Crime Stoppers for every bowl, small or large, purchased in the month of January in an effort to fight crime in the community.
The press conference also served as an announcement for the the 22nd Laredo Crime Stoppers Menudo Bowl, set to take place Saturday, Jan. 21 at LIFE grounds on U.S. 59.
Laredo Crime Stoppers is a non-profit program supported solely by fundraising events and donations from individual citizens, businesses, grants and court fees.
Formed in 1981, it is a community program comprised of local citizens who work closely with law enforcement authorities, the news media and the public in the fight against crime in the City of Laredo and Webb County.
Crime Stoppers provides a place for concerned citizens to call anonymously and reveal crucial clues to solve crimes. Informants are eligible for a cash reward of up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.
For every dollar spent in rewards in 2014, approximately $1,000 worth of narcotics were confiscated or stolen property was recovered.
Devally said his offices involvement is to help Crime Stoppers raise money to pay out cash rewards on the tips it receives.
The fundraising efforts assist in paying the rewards and well as continuing the operations of the organization, Colleen Rodriguez, Crime Stoppers executive director, said.
Tips received through the program have assisted in the arrests of more than 4,179 criminals throughout the Laredo and Webb County area since the programs inception in 1981.
All together, more than $296 million worth of contraband, narcotics and stolen property has been seized.
Over $500,000 in rewards has been distributed by Crime Stoppers to individuals who provided information leading to an arrest.
On Dec. 2, two tips to Crime Stoppers resulted in six arrests on unrelated enforcement actions, Laredo police said.
Authorities said both cases were developed through anonymous tips to Laredo Crime Stoppers at 727-TIPS (8477).
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Press Releases
By Long Island News & PR Published: December 30 2016
Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association was awarded a $10,000 Community Connections grant to provide community services to residents of the Village of Hempstead.
Hempstead, NY - December 27, 2016 - Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association was awarded a $10,000 Community Connections grant by Wells Fargo to provide community services to residents of the Village of Hempstead.
Established in 1977, the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association (HHCA) offers counseling and advocacy for housing development, recreational activities and instructional programs, guest speakers, parent leadership training, family counseling, and bilingual tutoring for elementary school children by high school Hispanic students.
We truly appreciate the support Wells Fargo has provided, said George Siberon, Executive Director of the Hempstead Hispanic Civic Association. We will use this grant to fund primarily our summer camp program as well as our after school tutoring program for our kids.
Under the Community Connections program, Wells Fargo team members are able to nominate a nonprofit organization that has had a positive impact in their local community. They may include organizations serving underprivileged youth, community development or other public interests.
Our local branches see which nonprofits are out in the community making a difference every day, said Wells Fargo District Manager Elizabeth Choi. We use this as an opportunity to celebrate and say thank you to HHCA for all of the value they have provided to our community over the past year.
Pets & Animal, Local News, Crime, National & World News, Press Releases
By Long Island News & PR Published: December 30 2016
In the most important step yet to ending the global ivory trade, the Chinese government today announced a one-year timeline for its promised ivory ban.
Beijing, China - December 30, 2016 - In the most important step yet to ending the global ivory trade, the Chinese government today announced a one-year timeline for its promised ivory ban. According to the announcement, China will stop commercially processing and selling ivory and ivory products by March 31, 2017. It will then phase out registered legal processors and traders, shutting down its legal commercial ivory trade completely by December 31, 2017.
In 2015, Chinese President Xi Jinping committed to ban Chinas domestic ivory market. China later committed to deliver a timeline for implementation of the ban by the end of 2016, resulting in todays announcement.
Following is a statement from Elly Pepper, deputy director of wildlife trade for the Natural Resources Defense Council:
China has shown great leadership in the fight to save African elephants. Setting such an aggressive timeline to close once and for all the largest domestic ivory market in the world is globally significant. Its a game changer and could be the pivotal turning point that brings elephants back from the brink of extinction. Now, other countries, including the UK, must follow Chinas lead and close their ivory markets.
Background
Demand for elephant ivory has skyrocketed in recent years, leading to the poaching of approximately 35,000 elephants per year for their tusks. African savanna elephants have declined by 30 percent in the past seven years and if current poaching rates continue African forest elephants could be extinct in less than a decade.
The international commercial trade in ivory has been banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) since 1989. China has maintained a legal ivory market under which the government supplies registered ivory carvers with raw ivory from government stockpiles. However, as in the U.S., United Kingdom, and elsewhere, this legal ivory market has led to a parallel illegal market as it is extremely difficult to determine ivory age.
Over the past two years, the Chinese government has taken major steps to end its domestic ivory market. First, in February 2015, China placed a one-year ban on imports of all carved ivory items. A month later, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised to end Chinas domestic ivory market a commitment he reinforced in September 2015 when meeting with President Obama.
In October 2015, China placed a one-year ban on imports of African elephant trophies. In March 2016, China extended its one year ban on imports of carved ivory items and elephant hunting trophies to December 31, 2019. Finally, at the June 2016 U.S.-China Strategic and Economic (S&ED), China promised to deliver a timeline for its ivory ban by the end of 2016, spurring todays announcement.
According to the announcement, China will stop commercially processing and selling ivory and ivory products by March 31, 2017. It will then phase out registered legal processors and traders, shutting down its legal commercial ivory trade completely by December 31, 2017.
After the market closes, the Chinese Ministry of Culture will help transition ivory carvers and other ivory sector employees to other livelihoods. The Chinese government will also strengthen the management of legally-possessed ivory products and ramp up enforcement and education to combat the illegal ivory trade.
Pepper's blog on the announcement can be found here
The Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) is an international nonprofit environmental organization with more than 2 million members and online activists. Since 1970, our lawyers, scientists, and other environmental specialists have worked to protect the world's natural resources, public health, and the environment. NRDC has offices in New York City, Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Bozeman, MT, and Beijing. Visit us at www.nrdc.org and follow us on Twitter @NRDC.
Local News, Community, Charity & Cause, Travel & Local Attractions, Press Releases
By Long Island News & PR Published: December 30 2016
Nassau County will participate in the New York State STOP-DWI grant aimed at adding additional patrols for the up-coming New Years Eve weekend.
Nassau County, NY - December 30, 2016 - Nassau County Executive Edward P. Mangano and Acting Nassau County Police Commissioner Thomas C. Krumpter announce that the Nassau County Police Department will participate in the New York State STOP-DWI grant aimed at adding additional patrols for the up-coming New Years Eve Weekend.
The Nassau County Police Departments Highway Patrol Bureau will coordinate and plan an effective DWI saturation enforcement strategy targeting areas throughout Nassau County.
The Nassau County Police Department will be utilizing the additional personnel in conjunction with the usual complement of police officers on patrol to aggressively apprehend DWI offenders this holiday weekend.
The police department will be out in full force and will have zero tolerance toward drinking and driving. Let us work together to ensure a safe and happy holiday season.
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
Egypt is to transfer the victims' remains from the EgyptAir MS804 crash to relatives next week, state news agency MENA reported on Thursday, citing an EgyptAir hospitality official.
The Airbus A320 plunged into the Mediterranean Sea on May 19 while en route from Paris to Cairo, killing all 66 people on board, among them 40 Egyptians and 15 French nationals.
Procedures to hand over the remains of the plane crew from the main state morgue will be completed on Saturday morning and a funeral prayer will be held at various mosques in the afternoon, captain Osama Abdel Baset was quoted by MENA as saying.
The remains of the rest of the passengers will be handed over on Sunday, he added.
Civil aviation ministry sources told Al-Ahram Arabic news website that the remains of Egyptians will be handed over starting Sunday until Tuesday, while the remains of foreign passengers to be handed over on Friday.
It is expected that France will send a private jet to receive the remains of the French victims.
Earlier in December, Egypts aviation ministry announced that traces of explosives had been found on the victims' remains.
But France's BEA air crash investigation agency said it is not possible to determine what might have caused the crash. It said no detailed information has been provided on how the samples were taken leading to the detection of traces of explosives.
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Gold Surges Above $1,150, Mining Stocks Rocket Higher, Time to Buy the Dip?
The gold price is showing strength heading into the close of 2016. The gold price has advanced for five straight days and is back above $1,150. The price put in a double bottom around $1,125 during December and the recent really suggests this may have been the bottom. After taking out $1,150, the gold price steadily climbed above $1,160 per ounce today.
The relative strength index (RSI) has been oversold for six weeks and finally bounced higher over the past few days. At a reading of 45, it still has plenty of room to run higher. Of course, the gold price still has a mountain to climb before confirming a near-term bottom. Most importantly, the price needs to climb above $1,200. This price level was resistance in 2015 and support multiple times in 2016. It is also the 50-day moving average and roughly corresponds with the Fibonacci 50% retracement of the 2016 advance from $1,045 to $1,378.
Mining stocks are soaring today and offering extreme leverage to the move in gold. While gold was up 1.3% today, the Gold Miners ETF (GDX) was up a remarkable 7.5%. Over the past 5 days, gold is up 2.2%, while mining stocks are up 13.9%. This represents leverage of more than six times! I believe it is a sign of things to come as the entire sector continues to rally strongly during the first quarter of 2017.
The chart for GDX shows the sharp bounce off $18.50 to $21.75 over the past few trading sessions. This support level was both support and resistance earlier in the year and also the 50% retracement of the H1 2016 advance. Therefore, we view the bounce off this level as significant and encouraging for those invested in gold mining stocks.
The Gold Miners ETF climbed towards the 50-day moving average today, but still needs to climb above $24.50, where the 100-day and 200-day averages converge, to confirm our bullish outlook. The RSI is pointing higher with room to run, so we believe this rally in mining stocks is just getting started and will extend throughout Q1 of 2017.
Obama Announces New Sanctions Against Russia and Expels 32 Russian Diplomats
Part of the move higher today could be related to the fact that President Obama ordered 35 Russian diplomats expelled from the country and closed two Russian compounds. Obama gave those individuals and their families just 72 hours to leave the United States.
The justification he gave was Russian hacking of the Presidential election, but his administration has yet to provide any conclusive evidence of such hacking. This move on the part of the Obama administration is sure to illicit a response from Russia and escalation of the conflict. They have already made it clear that any sanctions would be met with retaliation.
Furthermore, Putins press secretary said the U.S. restrictions wont be left unanswered by Moscow. Peskov promised adequate, reciprocal reaction that will deliver significant discomfort to the US side in the same areas.
Hopefully President-elect Trump will be able to smooth things over and repair relations with Russia. No matter what you think of Putin, it is best to work together and have diplomatic relations with other nuclear powers. Putin recently lamented that the United States and Russia no longer have any open diplomatic lines or cooperation militarily due to hostile actions of the Obama administration.
Gold in 2017 and Beyond
Going into 2017, we fully expect gold to exceed the performance of 2016 and climb well above $1,500 per ounce. Mining stocks have given back roughly 50% of their massive H1 2016 gains. We believe this pullback in precious metals is overextended and that prices are due for a bounce.
Investors have been overly-optimistic about the equity markets since Trumps election, thus inflating the risk-on trade beyond rational levels. Trumps policies will take time to enact and there is only so much that a President can do to impact economic growth. Stocks valuations are very frothy and precious metals are oversold at current levels. This is likely to flip soon and we believe that today could mark the beginning of the next major rally in gold and silver.
We believe investors should take advantage of the dip in precious metals and load up on undervalued mining stocks before the next major rally. We track the progress of over 100 mining companies, looking for opportune times to enter positions ahead of bullish catalysts. This has led to the GSB portfolio racking up gains in excess of 70% this year. To follow our trades, view our portfolio and get the monthly contrarian newsletter, click here to sign up for just $45.
By Jason Hamlin
http://www.goldstockbull.com/
Jason Hamlin is the founder of Gold Stock Bull and publishes a monthly contrarian newsletter that contains in-depth research into the markets with a focus on finding undervalued gold and silver mining companies. The Premium Membership includes the newsletter, real-time access to the model portfolio and email trade alerts whenever Jason is buying or selling. Click here for instant access!
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Gold: No Bold Predictions for the New Year
Im not much of a fan when it comes to New Years predictions. There seems to be an almost fanatical obsession with fortune telling when it comes to the financial markets. And gold is no exception.
Some twenty years ago when I was advising my financial planning clients to own gold shares as part of a diversified investment portfolio, my focus was more permanent and long-term. Of course, that is the way I viewed other asset classes as well. There were certainly no predictions about performance over the next year or so. Since I retired in 2005, I have noticed that the time periods which we consider and focus on with respect to analysis and investing be it stocks, real estate, etc. have become increasingly short-term. In fact, the financial markets seem to be more characteristic of casino-type activity. Investing has become speculation.
Also the volatility is exponentially greater. At times it seems more like a crap-shoot than fundamental investing, with products such as leveraged ETFs, options on futures, and more.
Dont get me wrong. I am not against speculating. Speculators serve the markets well and provide liquidity which otherwise might not be there. Their role is critical to the orderly function of the markets. Things would always be worse without speculators. But the nature of the financial markets has changed radically and investors need to recognize that fact.
The single most serious factor of concern with regard to orderly functioning of todays financial markets is systemic risk. This is true on a world-wide basis and no country or market is immune.
With these things in mind, can anyone really make predictions with any degree of reliability or accuracy? I think not. And the predictions that are made seem to be either too traditionally conservative given the explosive and implosive nature of the markets; or they tend to be just plain ridiculous.
For example, if someone predicts that the S&P 500 will end 2017 up 5% over its current/2016 year-end value, does that really matter to an long-term investor? What about a decline of 5%? Should a long-term investor get out of his stocks? In other words, what is the efficacy of the prediction?
To a trader, whose outlook is more short-term, how does he know when he should get out and when he should get back in? It wouldnt be very productive to sit out an entire year if you are a trader. This is where volatility becomes more important. If the market goes up 10% quickly, and a trader takes profits, then he can wait for the eventual expected year-end results. And without further risk.
But again, the nature of todays financial markets make the reliability of the predictions suspect. Timing and extreme volatility can make peasants out of prognosticators. Case in point gold mining shares.
In 2006, a little over one year after my retirement, I sold all of my gold shares. My reasoning at the time was that physical gold was a better choice. Also, I had accumulated substantial profits. So I pulled the trigger. At the time there was no shortage of predictions about expected potential profits still ahead. Unfortunately, for most of the owners of gold mining shares, the profits were elusive and evaporated quickly. The predictions of leveraged profits turned into sheer folly. (See my article Gold Mining Shares Are A Lousy Investment)
When gold was at $400/oz no self-respecting financial adviser wanted anything to do with it. The gold crowd writers and others at the time were touting $5000-6000/oz, even $10,000/oz. None of these predictions were of any real help to current (then) or potential owners of gold.
As the US dollar price of gold continued its assent, the predictions became more numerous and more ridiculous; and less helpful.
Currently, some are still calling for gold at $10,000/oz or more. And some are projecting gold as low as $700/oz. (And, of course, pretty much anything in between those targets.)
There are perfectly legitimate and plausible scenarios that could make either of the above extremes a reality. In the right context their validity can be enhanced considerably. Otherwise, their value to investors is minimal.
A suggestion to the gold swamis: rather than predictions, how about resolutions? Some possibilities for your consideration
Resolve to view gold for what it is real money (NOT an investment)
Make it a point to continue to accumulate physical gold periodically, consistently
Study and learn the history of gold as money
Understand inflation and the Federal Reserve
Have a fabulous 2017!
By Kelsey Williams
http://www.kelseywilliamsgold.com
Kelsey Williams is a retired financial professional living in Southern Utah. His website, Kelseys Gold Facts, contains self-authored articles written for the purpose of educating others about Gold within an historical context.
2016 Copyright Kelsey Williams - 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.
A nationwide ceasefire was holding across most of Syria on Friday but clashes near Damascus underlined the fragility of the deal brokered by Turkey and Russia.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said government and rebel forces were fighting in the Wadi Barada area, where opposition fighters have cut water supplies to the capital.
A resident confirmed the sound of shelling in the area on Friday morning.
Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said it was unclear who had started the clashes, with both sides blaming the other.
Syria's government had been shelling the area before the truce began at midnight as it pushes rebels there to accept a "reconciliation deal" and leave the area.
Among the forces present there is former Al-Qaeda affiliate Fateh al-Sham Front, previously known as Al-Nusra Front, which Syria's government says is excluded from the ceasefire.
Opposition figures however say the truce applies to all opposition-held territory, even where Fateh al-Sham is present.
Last week, rebels attacked water infrastructure in Wadi Barada and neighbouring Ain al-Fijeh, cutting supplies to the capital.
Four million people in Damascus and its suburbs have now been without water for a week, the UN says.
The clashes in Wadi Barada were the most serious of several isolated incidents of violence since the truce began.
The Observatory reported early morning clashes in the central province of Hama between the government and Islamist militants.
Elsewhere, AFP correspondents in Eastern Ghouta, a rebel-held area outside Damascus, and Idlib province in northwest Syria reported quiet.
The ceasefire is the first nationwide truce to be implemented in the country since September, and is intended to pave the way for new peace talks in Kazakhstan being organised by Russia, Turkey and Iran.
Syria's government hailed it as a "real opportunity" to find a political solution to the war, which has killed more than 310,000 people since it began with anti-regime protests in March 2011.
It was also welcomed by key regime ally Iran as a "major achievement."
And despite being left out of the process, Washington also described the truce as a "positive development".
Analysts were cautious but said the involvement of key regime backers Russia and Iran along with rebel supporter Turkey could be important.
Sam Heller, fellow at The New Century Foundation, said there was "real interest and urgency" from Moscow and Ankara, but expressed doubts about whether Iran and Syria's government were on board.
"All indications are that Iran and the regime want to continue towards a military conclusion," he said.
He said renewed fighting in Wadi Barada or Eastern Ghouta near the capital could pose major threats to the truce.
The agreement comes a week after the regime, which is backed by ally Russia, recaptured second city Aleppo in a major blow to rebel forces.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Friday he would now reduce Moscow's military contingent in Syria, which has been fighting on behalf of the government since last year.
But he added Russia would continue to fight "terrorism" and maintain its support for the government.
Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan also emphasised that Ankara would continue the operation it began in August targeting the Islamic State (IS) militants and Kurdish fighters.
Moscow says seven key rebel groups have signed up to the deal, including the powerful Ahrar al-Sham faction, but the truce does not include Islamist militants such as IS or Fateh al-Sham.
But Syria's political opposition and rebels said the truce applied to all parts of the country.
"The agreement includes a ceasefire in all areas held by the moderate opposition, or by the moderate opposition and elements from Fateh al-Sham, such as Idlib province," said Ahmed Ramadan, a member of the National Coalition opposition body.
Despite backing opposite sides in the conflict, Turkey and Russia have worked increasingly closely on Syria, brokering a deal this month to allow the evacuation of tens of thousands of civilians and rebel fighters from Aleppo.
They are now pushing for peace talks between Damascus and the rebels to start next month in Kazakhstan's capital Astana.
UN peace envoy Staffan de Mistura said he hoped the agreement would "pave the way for productive talks", but also reiterated he wants negotiations mediated by his office to continue next year.
Russia and Turkey say the Astana peace talks are meant to supplement UN-backed peace efforts, rather than replace them.
Along with Turkey and Iran, Moscow says it wants to work with regional powers Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Iraq and Jordan on the talks.
Washington is conspicuously absent from the new process, but Moscow said it hoped to bring US President-elect Donald Trump's administration on board once he takes office in January.
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Bassett
The community fellowship group Morning Glories will meet from 9:30-11 a.m. Wednesday in the fellowship hall of Bassett Church of the Brethren. A representative of EMI will be the guest speaker. Bring finger foods to share; drinks will be provided.
Basset Memorial United Methodist Church, 2805 Riverside Drive, will have a New Years Eve gospel concert from 7 p.m. to midnight Saturday, featuring The Harvesters, Joyful Sound and The Longs. Admission is free. Donations will be accepted.
Star of Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church, 1116 Mary Hunter Drive, Bassett, will have a New Years breakfast at 8 a.m. Sunday, and morning worship at 11 a.m. There will be no Watch Night Service.
Martinsville
First Presbyterian Church will have only one service, at 11 a.m. Sunday. It will include Communion.
Pilgrim Missionary Baptist Church will have Watch Night Services at 7 p.m. Sunday. The guests will be the Rev. John Adams and the congregation of First Galilee Missionary Baptist Church.
St. Joseph Catholic Church will have Blessed Virgin Mother of God Mass at 10:15 a.m. Sunday in English and at 11:5 a.m. Sunday in Spanish.
Shiloh Way of the Cross Church of Christ of the Apostolic Doctrine, 938 Brookdale St., Martinsville, will have a Watch Night Service at 10 p.m. Saturday and a worship service at 10 a.m. Sunday.
Spencer
Christian View Missionary Baptist Church will have a New Years Eve service at 6 p.m. Saturdya. Antioch Baptist Church will be in charge of the service, and the Rev. Kenneth Hairston will preach.
Mayo Missionary Baptist Church will hold a Watch Night Service at 11 p.m. Saturday.
SPRINGFIELD -- The Massachusetts Registry of Motor Vehicles plans to open its new, expanded Springfield office in the Springfield Plaza shopping center, 1250 St. James Ave., on Jan. 23.
The new office will be located in the same former movie theater building near the Chicopee line that houses Bounce! Trampoline Sport.
At 17,000 square feet, it will be 70 percent larger than the existing office on Liberty Street, a facility long considered inadequate, outmoded and landlocked with insufficient parking.
The new location will feature what the RMV calls its dual-line queuing model, which is said to be more efficient. It will have facilities for all license, ID and registration transactions, road tests, suspension hearings and a business-to-business center for car dealers and insurance agents. It will also have sufficient parking, according to the RMV.
Massachusetts Secretary of Transportation Stephanie Pollack discussed the new RMV branch this week when she met here in Springfield with reporters and editors at The Republican and MassLive.
The new office comes during a time of change for the RMV. Massachusetts is transitioning to driver's licenses that meet federal Real ID requirements, and it is working to get more motorists to do their RMV business outside of RMV offices.
Pollack said the Springfield registry project moved forward despite ongoing litigation related to it.
Developers Martone Place LLC and HDC Four LLC in October sued for $50 million the city, Deputy Director of Planning Philip Dromey, Director of Public Works Christopher Cignoli, Building Commissioner Steven Desilets and retired Director of Public Works Allan R. Chwalek.
Martone Place and HDC Four allege that there was a city conspiracy against their proposal to host the RMV at a building they planned at Martone Place and St. James Avenue. Instead, the deal went to politically connected Davenport properties and Davenport Advisors, owners of Springfield Plaza.
At the time the Martone Place location was in discussion, neighbors and city officials complained about traffic in the neighborhood.
The current RMV building at 165 Liberty St. is owned by the state. Its fate is up to the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance.
Pollack this week wouldn't speculate on what the new Springfield office means for the RMV's existing Chicopee office at 1011 Chicopee St.
But she did say that the RMV is reviewing all its locations statewide to make sure the physical layout is compatible with the new federal Real ID rules. That includes security precautions at the building, two lines for customers and other precautions. Some locations might not make the cut, she said.
By 2020 everyone getting on a aircraft will need a state-issued, Real ID-compliant license or other acceptable identification such as a U.S. passport or military ID, according to the Department of Homeland Security.
One thing Real ID won't change is the state's push to get more people to do RMV business -- including license renewals -- online, at kiosks or through AAA.
"We think we might have an agreement with the federal government to do Real ID licenses at AAA," Pollack said.
Renewals are as pressing a security issue.
"The thing with Real ID that is crucial is the transaction that gets you that first license," she said.
Massachusetts will have to change its kiosk program to make sure the kiosks are compatible with disability access rules.
Earns Sears
Sears Holdings has announced the shutdowns of a number of Sears and KMart locations,. In this Tuesday, July 5, 2016, photo, customers shop at a Sears store in Salem, N.H. On Thursday, Aug. 25, Sears reports financial results. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)
(AP FILE)
ENFIELD -- Sears Holdings, the parent of Sears and Kmart department stores, announced this week that it will close its Sears location at Enfield Square Mall, 90 Elm St.
The company will also close three stores in Massachusetts: two Kmart locations in Fairhaven and South Attleboro and a Sears Auto Center in Swansea.
The Sears auto store in Enfield will remain open, according to Sears Holdings.
The stores will begin liquidation sales Jan. 6 and close in mid-April, said Sears Holdings spokesman Chris Brathwaite.
"We have been strategically and aggressively evaluating our store space and productivity, and have accelerated the closing of unprofitable stores as the company previously announced it would do," Brathwaite wrote in an email.
He said Sears and Kmart hope to retain customers in the impacted communities through the company's Shop Your Way membership program and its online website and shopping apps.
He declined to share the number of jobs lost in the store closings. He said most associates are part-time and hourly workers. Those eligible for severance will receive it, and the workers at the stores that will close are eligible for jobs elsewhere at Sears and Kmart locations.
Sears makes a habit of announcing store closings one or two at a time instead of producing comprehensive lists of stores being shut down across the country.
Online retailing has been tough on Sears and on other traditional retailers.
A year ago in January, Macy's announced that it would shut down its Eastfield Mall, Enfield Square and Berkshire Mall locations.
In September, Kmart shut down 64 stores around the country including its Great Barrington location. The Great Barrington store was its last remaining Kmart in Berkshire County.
Sears will keep locations in the Holyoke Mall and at the Eastfield Mall in Springfield, an outlet in Holyoke and an independent Sears Hardware location in Hadley. Kmarts remain in Springfield, Holyoke and Palmer.
In Sears Holdings' most recent financial results, the company said revenues decreased approximately $721 million to $5 billion for the quarter ended Oct. 29, compared to revenues of $5.8 billion for the quarter ended Oct. 31, 2015.
Overall, retailers reported a pretty good end to 2016, with holiday shopping expected to be the strongest it has been in years. But much of those sales were online.
Chris Freeman and Antonio Alcorn of Parsonsfield multi-instrumentalist Ben Gagliardi join forces in the trio Citizen U to open the 2017 version of The Parlor Sessions at the Parlor Room in Northampton.
The show is slated for Jan. 22 at 7 p.m.
The Parlor Sessions, held on occasional Sundays during the winter months, offer comfort food, roots music, and an open jam for all comers.
Tickets for the event are available through Ticketfly.
The Parlor Room is on 32 Masonic Street in Northampton.
Each week, MassLive showcases pets available for adoption at shelters at rescue organizations in Western Massachusetts.
With the participation of the shelters listed below, many animals should be able to find a permanent home.
We also provide some pet-related news items that we hope you will enjoy.
Teddy bear takes Detroit airport adventure after being found
Associated Press
ROMULUS, Mich. (AP) -- For Detroit airport employee Steven Laudeman, the mission this week was simple: No teddy bear left behind.
The Southwest Airlines ramp agent learned through social media that the 8-year-old daughter of an old friend lost her stuffed bear named Teddy after flying from Dallas to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. Eleanor Dewald's mother, Trish Dewald, put out the digital call after having no success with the airport's lost-and-found operation.
This December 2016 photo provided by Steven J. Laudeman shows Laudeman with a stuffed bear named Teddy that Eleanor Dewald, 8, lost lost flying from Dallas to Detroit Metropolitan Airport. (Steven J. Laudeman via AP)
The Detroit Free Press and WDIV-TV report Laudeman retraced Eleanor's steps before his shift began Thursday and found the bear perched atop a garbage can.
He then took Teddy on an adventure -- photographed for posterity -- into a plane's cockpit and service vehicle. Teddy also posed with other stuffed animals in a shop.
The Dewalds were thrilled about Teddy's return and Laudeman's kindness.
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WESTERN MASSACHUSETTS SHELTERS:
Dakin Pioneer Valley Humane Society
Address: 163 Montague Road, Leverett
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 to 4:30 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 548-9898
Website: www.dpvhs.org
Address: 171 Union St., Springfield
Hours: Tuesday-Sunday, 12:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 781-4000
Website: www.dpvhs.org
Thomas J. O'Connor Animal Control and Adoption Center
Address: 627 Cottage St., Springfield
Hours: Monday, Tuesday, Saturday, noon-4 p.m.; Thursday, noon-7 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 781-1484
Website: tjoconnoradoptioncenter.com
Westfield Homeless Cat Project
Address: 1124 East Mountain Road, Westfield
Hours: Adoption clinics, Thursday, 5-7 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m.
Website: http://www.whcp.petfinder.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/westfieldhomelesscatprojectadoptions
Westfield Regional Animal Shelter
Address: 178 Apremont Way, Westfield
Hours: Monday-Friday, noon-5 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 564-3129
Website: http://www.petfinder.com/shelters/ma70.html
Franklin County Sheriff's Office Regional Dog Shelter and Adoption Center
Address: 10 Sandy Lane, Turners Falls
Hours: Monday-Thursday, 9 a.m.-2 p.m., Friday-Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 676-9182
Website: http://fcrdogkennel.org/contact.html
Polverari/Southwick Animal Control Facility
Address: 11 Depot St., Southwick
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-1 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 569-5348, ext. 649
Website: http://southwickpolice.com/chief-david-a-ricardis-welcome/animal-control/
Berkshire Humane Society
Address: 214 Barker Road, Pittsfield
Hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 10:00 a.m.-4 p.m.; Thursday, 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Sunday, 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 447-7878
Website: http://berkshirehumane.org/
Purradise Feline Adoption
Address: 301 Stockbridge Road, Great Barrington
Hours: Monday and Tuesday: Closed; Wednesday, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.- 6 p.m.; Friday,10 a.m. - 4 p.m.; Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.; Sunday, noon-4 p.m.
Telephone: (413) 717-4244
Website: http://berkshirehumane.org/contact-us/
Greyhound Options, Inc.
Address: 43 Sygiel Rd., Ware, MA. 01082
Telephone: 413-967-9088
Website: greyhoundadoptions.org
Brookline police have arrested a man they accused of posing as an HVAC worker in order to infiltrate local businesses and rob them while "working."
Anthony Binsfield, 32, of Duxbury, was arraigned in Brookline Thursday and faces multiple larceny charges. According to Brookline police, Binsfield's alleged robbing spree spread to communities around Massachusetts.
Binsfield would dress up like an HVAC worker and tell employees of local businesses that he was a technician. He would then gain access to the backroom and steal cash and credit cards out of purses in the backrooms.
According to WHDH.com, Binsfield can be seen on some security camera footage climbing on ladders and moving ceiling tiles in some stores. According to defense attorney Timothy Foley, Binfield was once an HVAC worker.
Binsfield had a stolen wallet on him when he was arrested and admitted to entering multiple businesses, WHDH reported. He allegedly identified himself in some surveillance pictures as well.
Foley told the court that his client is a drug addict who upgraded to heroin after abusing painkillers he received to nurse an injury in high school.
A judge set Binsfield's jail at $15,500.
UPDATE: As of 8:36 p.m., the highway has been reopened, according to Vermont State Police.
BRATTLEBORO, Vt Interstate 91 in Brattleboro, Vermont, has been closed in both directions between exits 2 and 3, due to a number of motor vehicle incidents, according to Vermont State Police.
Both northbound and southbound lanes of the highway have been closed, blocking off one of the major thoroughfares into Massachusetts from Vermont.
Vermont State Police say that traffic has been routed from the highway through the town of Brattleboro.
Police have asked drivers to avoid the area "if possible" and have said that the public will be notified when the highway becomes "passable" once more.
ashe 10.jpg
Republican file photo by Don Treeger - Col. William T. Whitman Jr., commander of the 3rd Brigade, 26th Infantry Division of the National Guard, talks with Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. outside the National Guard Armory on Roosevelt Avenue in Springfield. The colonel gave Ashe an order to vacate the armory.
(Staff-Shot)
NOTE: this is a reprint of an article published Feb. 17, 1990 in the Springfied Union-News, a precursor of The Republican. It is being reprinted here as Ashe prepares to step down.
Ashe seizes armory for jail // Tense takeover ensues
by BRAD SMITH and GLENN BRIERE
SPRINGFIELD - Tired of tending a crowded old jail, Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. seized a National Guard armory yesterday, trucked in 17 inmates and vowed to stay the weekend in defiance of surprised state officials who charged him with trespassing.
"My action today might seem extreme, but no more extreme than the danger to the public" posed by convicted criminals going free for lack of jail beds, Ashe said.
State Public Safety Secretary Charles V. Barry, who controls state-owned armories, said Ashe would face criminal trespass charges Tuesday when courts reopen after the Washington's Birthday holiday.
Acknowledging that he and other state officials were caught off guard by Ashe's action,
Barry said the 17 inmates could stay at the Scibelli Hall armory on Springfield's Roosevelt Avenue for the weekend.
"I told the sheriff that you just don't house prisoners in an armory when the building is not up to code," Barry said.
Gov. Michael S. Dukakis was informed of the takeover, but had no comment.
National Guard officials referred all questions to Barry.
Barry said he told Ashe: "This is no way to do business. If you would come to us to discuss the problem, we would see what we could do to accommodate you."
However, Ashe said this week's worsening crowding at Springfield's York Street jail dictated a dramatic move.
In a declaration to the commander of the National Guard, Ashe cited what he considered his powers as sheriff to take over the armory due to the "imminent danger of a serious breach of the peace."
The move drew a confused reaction from lawmakers, who said they were kept uninformed until minutes before the seizure at 1:45 p.m.
State Sen. Brian P. Lees, R-East Longmeadow, said he was unsure of the legality, and expressed shock that his district now contains both the temporary armory jail and the Ludlow site for a planned new, 1,089-bed lockup approved last month for $90 million.
"This is the boldest action I've ever seen anyone take," Lees declared.
State Rep. Paul Caron, D-Springfield, said he was concerned about neighborhood reaction to having inmates housed next door to the 150-unit Independence House, a non-profit complex for the disabled and elderly.
State Rep. Raymond A. Jordan Jr., D-Springfield, said the seizure could set a national precedent for other armories to be used to relieve the national problem of jail crowding.
"Everybody agrees we have a crisis," Jordan said.
After four hours of late afternoon meetings and telephone calls with National Guard and state officials, Ashe said he was ordered to leave the premises, but would keep 17 prisoners under guard at the armory until next week.
"I call upon the governor and the public safety commissioner to support me," Ashe said, adding that he felt compelled to secure a building to keep sentenced drug dealers and violent offenders off the streets.
Ashe said chronic jail crowding and the lack of an immediate solution have been a "great source of anger and frustration." He blamed the executive and legislative branches for not coming to his assistance.
"What I see is a lot of inaction," he said.
Edward McDonough, the sheriff's attorney, said it was unclear which court Ashe would be charged in next week, but the sheriff would respond in Hampden Superior Court in Springfield.
Ashe said he took his action after consultation all week with various District and Superior Court judges on how to relieve jail crowding.
On Wednesday, Westfield District Court Judge Philip A. Contant detained two Hampden County deputies for most of the day when they refused to take a prisoner back to the jail, acting on Ashe's orders.
Contant said he admired the job Ashe has done under trying circumstances, but said he would pursue contempt charges if prisoners were turned away from the Hampden County House of Correction which takes convicts whose sentences are less than 2 1/2 years.
The jail, built to hold 312 prisoners, is under federal orders to house no more than 450 inmates.
But the 102-year-old lockup filled up this week, and Ashe's spokesman, Richard McCarthy, said the other remedies of early release, late sentencing and housing prisoners elsewhere in Western Massachusetts were not providing enough spaces.
It was Contant who suggested that Ashe seize a National Guard armory.
Contant called Ashe's action "politically courageous."
Ashe said he made the final decision on which building to seize and kept the location to himself and key staff until mid-day yesterday.
Ashe said he considered other facilities, but most would be too expensive to renovate as temporary jail quarters, and many would face opposition from residents and elected officials.
Ashe said he has only limited county funds to staff the armory, and will be seeking more.
Deputy Jail Superintendent Nicholas Fiorentino said National Guard officials limited access to most of the armory, and refused the use of showers and kitchen facilities.
Fiorentino said the 17 inmates would be transported back to York Street jail once or twice a day for showers, hot meals and visiting hours.
Jail guards brought in cots, mattresses and cold food for the inmates during the seizure.
Ashe said the armory would be staffed with four guards per shift.
Ashe said all 17 inmates were nearing the ends of their sentences, and none were serious offenders.
In Boston, Barry said other armories have been used for beano games and housing the homeless, but required building safety and sanitation codes must be met to establish a jail.
"Had the sheriff consulted with state officials, it is possible that a plan could have been worked out to do the necessary renovations and install equipment to make the structure suitable for the housing of prisoners," Barry said.
"I understand his problem," Barry said, "but our philosophy is we like to accommodate people in emergency situations. Had he come in here with community support and agreed to do some minor renovations, there is a possibility that maybe we could have done something."
Barry termed it fortunate that no regularly scheduled National Guard drills were on tap for the armory this weekend or "we could have had a couple of hundred National Guardsmen there."
The takeover appeared tense at times during the afternoon, with National Guardsmen, jail officers and city police unsure of each other's jurisdictions.
At one point, the official in charge of the armory, Gen. Chester Gorski, commander of the 26th Yankee Infantry Division, ordered a military truck to block the gates to further jail vans transporting prisoners.
A confrontation followed with Fiorentino, who backed off after threatening to have arrests made.
Meanwhile, public safety officials checked state laws to determine the extent of a sheriff's power.
Although a law dating back to 1698 gives sheriffs broad powers to deal with a "breach of the peace," state officials said there are other laws dealing with such issues as building codes and minimum correctional standards for the housing of prisoners.
Springfield attorney Linda Thompson, who until recently represented inmates in a federal lawsuit over conditions at the York Street jail, condemned Ashe's move.
"My jaw is on the floor," Thompson said. "I just can't imagine. He cites no authority. You can see the man sounds to me like he is suffering from megalomania."
Thompson laughed at Ashe's statement that this was done to "prevent the collapse of the criminal justice system in this county due to lack of correctional facilities."
As for specific concerns about using the armory as a jail, Thompson, who was not informed of the action by the sheriff's department, said, "I don't know anything about the facility. I don't know who he plans to keep there. You notice this is happening Friday with no potential for court action until Tuesday. It seems like really terrible timing to me."
Iran's foreign minister Mohammad Javad Zarif on Friday welcomed a nationwide truce in Syria as a "major achievement" that could lead to renewed peace talks.
On the deal brokered by Russia and Turkey -- potentially a significant breakthrough in the nearly six-year conflict -- Zarif said: "Ceasefire in Syria is a major achievement.
"Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror," he posted on Twitter.
Zarif spoke by telephone Thursday with his Russian counterpart Sergei Lavrov on the latest developments in Syria, where Iran has offered considerable military, financial and diplomatic aid to defend President Bashar al-Assad.
"Both sides welcomed the nationwide ceasefire and emphasised the fight against terrorism, Islamic State (IS) and Al-Nusra groups and their allies," the official IRNA news agency said.
Zarif and Lavrov agreed to "continue consultation and coordination within the framework of the tripartite agreement among Turkey, Iran and Russia to hold talks between the Syrian government and rebels" in Kazakstan, it added.
Turkey and Russia are pushing for talks between the regime and rebels in Astana to begin next month.
The ceasefire, announced Thursday by Russian President Vladimir Putin and confirmed by the Syrian army and opposition, does not include designated "terrorists" such as IS.
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The Holyoke City Council will get a second proposed anti-panhandling ordinance to consider on Tuesday, Jan. 3, 2017.
(FILE PHOTO)
HOLYOKE -- Renewed efforts to limit panhandling at traffic intersections will occupy the City Council in the new year beginning Tuesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall.
Councilor at Large Diosdado Lopez has filed an order calling for a meeting with Police Chief James M. Neiswanger and Michael McManus, general superintendent of the Department of Public Works, to discuss establishing an ordinance to stop panhandling at specific intersections.
Lopez' order seeks discussion about a "prevention ordinance of panhandling at the following locations by creating or erecting barriers for Panhandler's to freely walk along the Road side soliciting money and interfering with the traffic flow ..."
The order identifies the intersections as Hampden and Northampton streets, Dwight and Northampton streets, Main Street at Interstate 391, High Street at I-391, Maple Street and Resnic Boulevard and on Whiting Farms Road entering the Holyoke Mall at Ingleside.
The council is likely to refer Lopez' order to the Ordinance Committee to schedule a meeting with the department heads.
Lopez said in a text message Thursday he wants the discussion to include "some form of education" to the public and panhandlers about the situation that has drawn complaints from drivers and police and had the City Council working on a similar rule for over a year.
Ordinance Committee Chairwoman Linda L. Vacon filed the proposed panhandling ordinance the committee has been considering. Panhandling and complaints from drivers and businesses about them have increased and the city needs to address the practice perhaps by requiring such solicitors get a permit if operating on public property, she said at a meeting in October.
Drivers at intersections have complained of panhandlers shouting and even swearing at them. And business owners have expressed concerns about trying to attract patrons to the city who then must deal with panhandlers, Vacon has said.
Other issues councilors have discussed were whether an ordinance would withstand court challenges if requiring that panhandlers get a permit from the Police Department to do such soliciting on public property such as sidewalks and traffic medians.
In a story in May under the headline "Constraints on Beggars crumble after U.S. Supreme Court Case," Bloomberg.com reported how a ruling that involved a pastor in Gilbert, Arizona posting signs to direct people to church services has formed the basis of lower courts overturning anti-panhandling ordinances.
Lower courts have taken the high court's ruling to mean that government "generally can't outlaw speech on particular subjects," such as panhandlers, Bloomberg.com reported.
Echoing comments officials here have made, the Bloomberg.com story added, "The protection for panhandling comes as cities grapple with the effects of homelessness and the post-recession challenge of promoting development and tourism in struggling downtowns."
train derails shelburne.jpg
Buckland officials say Pan Am failed to properly notify them about a Dec. 18 freight car derailment.
(Shelburne Falls Community Facebook Page)
BUCKLAND -- A freight train derailed in Buckland last month, but town officials didn't learn about it until hours later.
Now efforts are underway to make sure the rail company does a better job of communicating in the future, reports the Greenfield Recorder.
Around 2:40 a.m. on Dec. 18, four freight cars carrying grain derailed in this small Franklin County town. The cars were part of a 114-car train, and it happened not far from the village center, across the Deerfield River from Shelburne Falls.
State Police were notified more than an hour later, and town officials got the word hours after that. Part of the problem is that Pan Am told police the incident was a "mechanical failure," not a derailment, reports the Greenfield newspaper.
A Pan Am official had originally told the paper that authorities were notified "immediately" after the incident.
State Rep. Steve Kulik, D-Worthington, said his office investigated the incident, and that he shares the town's concerns. He said things could have been much worse if the train were hauling toxic materials.
Kulik said he'd like to see Pan Am and State Police adopt new notification protocols, and that he'd be willing to facilitate a meeting. If that doesn't work, Kulik said he would not be opposed to drafting statewide legislation around freight train incidents.
A Pan Am spokesperson said they followed all internal procedures during the derailment, and would be open to meeting with the town to explain their protocols.
In 2015, the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection fined Pan Am nearly $12,000 after the company failed to report a Deerfield fuel spill in a timely manner.
SPRINGFIELD -- When word got out that the Western Massachusetts Recovery and Wellness Center would be moving to Mill Street, the neighborhood reaction was mixed.
While some lifelong residents like Lee A. Vaughn were in favor of the Hampden County Sheriff's Department moving its addiction center to the closed Ring Nursing home, others like Rosemary Morin were not so sure.
"I didn't feel strongly either way," said Morin, who served on a neighborhood advisory council with the sheriff's department during the renovation of the building. "I wasn't totally opposed to it, but I wasn't 100 percent about it either. I was on the council to ask some tough questions."
The sheriff's department entered into a 10-year lease with the property owner, Mill Street Iconic LLC, in February. The addiction center had operated since the mid-1980s at a location on Howard Street in the South End. It was displaced by the construction of the MGM Springfield resort casino, and until several weeks ago, the center was operating out of the former Holyoke Geriatric Authority building.
After months of lawsuits, some protests and many community meetings, the sheriff's department and residents came to an agreement about the guidelines for the facility.
"You can't please everyone, but I think it's very nice. I grew up in this neighborhood and I remember when it was the nursing home," Vaughn, who also sat on the advisory council, said Wednesday night during an open house tour for neighbors of the new facility, most recently known as the Western Massachusetts Correctional Addiction Center. "I think most of the neighbors are satisfied with how it turned out."
The advisory council was formed to make decisions about everything from the type of fencing and lighting used on the property to how the parking would be handled and even the frosting of certain windows.
"They were very receptive. We had some really good conversations and they really listened to what we suggested and what we wanted," Morin said. "We didn't agree on everything, but we came to terms with it."
Certain details were added to the building for the comfort of the community, including frosting all of the windows that face abutting neighbors' homes or the street.
All sheriff's department vehicles will park in the back parking lot of the facility so they cannot be seen from the street, and there is no signage on the outside of the building except "155 Mill Street" in bold, black letters.
"We wanted it to look like a thriving business, not a jail," Morin said. "I think they did an excellent job of making it blend into the neighborhood, and every neighbor I have talked to about it has given me good feedback."
An 8-foot wooden fence will separate the facility from a home owned by Raymon Ray, who was initially a strong opponent of the facility's move and was involved in a federal lawsuit to prevent the facility from moving to Mill Street.
Earlier this year, Holyoke attorney Shawn Allyn filed a complaint with the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development and a lawsuit in federal court against the project on behalf of a Mill Street resident who opposed it. HUD dismissed the complaint in March, and Allyn also withdrew the lawsuit.
"We worked very closely with Ray and with other neighbors who had specific concerns, and I feel we were able to successfully address all of it," said Steve O'Neil, public information officer for the sheriff's department.
Linda and Jim Bartlett both sit on the Maple Hill/Six Corners Neighborhood Council and came to take a look at the facility.
"I am very pleased with their collaboration with the neighborhood," Linda Bartlett said. "I think they took into consideration the residents' requests. Now time will tell if they will be good neighbors, but based on their behavior and cooperation this far, I think it will work out well."
Morin said she hopes the advisory council will continue to meet a few times a year.
"We have been offered the conference room for community events, and we are hoping to collaborate with them on some neighborhood events in the coming year," she said.
O'Neil said the sheriff's department is planning on keeping an open line of communication with the neighborhood council.
"We are a part of this neighborhood and have always intended to be good neighbors," he said.
SPRINGFIELD -- Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr. is stepping down after 42 years on the job, and his resume is packed with numerous accomplishments and innovative programs.
And then there's the time when he and several armed correctional officers took over the National Guard Armory in Springfield to protest overcrowding at the old York Street Jail.
Springfield Mayor Domenic Sarno called the takeover a brilliant move that demonstrated "intestinal fortitude." Political consultant Anthony Cignoli called one of the most daring moves by a politician he can recall.
"It was a Teddy Roosevelt move," Cignoli said.
John Larivee, president and CEO of Community Resources for Justice, a Boston organization that studies criminal justice and correctional issues, said Ashe's legacy will live on through the several vocational, educational and health care programs he introduced at the Hampden County jail over the last four decades.
But in the end, he said, Ashe is most likely to be remembered for the armory takeover.
Ashe, asked during a recent interview with The Republican for his recollections of the takeover, shrugged. Circumstances at the jail at the time simply left him with no choice, he said.
"It was a last resort," he said. "Let's keep in mind, it was the last thing in the world I was thinking."
The facts of the tale are this:
On the afternoon of Feb. 16, 1990, Ashe and a van loaded with 17 inmates from the York Street Jail and several correctional officers armed with shotguns showed up at the National Guard Armory and commandeered the building.
The move was to protest both the dangerous overcrowding at the 102-year-old York Street Jail in Springfield, and what Ashe describes as foot-dragging by politicians in building a modern replacement.
The move not only caught armory staff off guard, the element of surprise also trickled upward to the state Department of Corrections, the governor's office and even to the Pentagon.
Ashe was threatened with arrest for criminal trespassing, but ultimately was never charged.
At the time, funding for a new jail at a site in Ludlow had been approved but the permitting and design process was unresolved. Ashe's takeover placed the project on a fast track, and a new, $73 million jail opened 18 months later.
While present-day Ashe takes an aw-shucks attitude about the takeover, it was at the time at big deal. Suddenly Ashe, his jail and the issue of overcrowding became a national news story that received ink in the New York Times and airtime on the nightly news.
In Ashe's office on Liberty Street hangs a framed copy of a Time magazine article about the takeover. The headline reads, "The Sheriff strikes back," and the article calls the takeover "an act that brought a flush of pride to beleaguered lawmen across the country."
When Ashe recalls the armory takeover, he points out that it did not occur in a vacuum. It was part of a decades-long struggle to get someone -- anyone -- to pay attention to outdated and dangerously overcrowded conditions at the York Street Jail.
Articles in The Republican archive show that Ashe had been raising the issue of overcrowding and the need for a new jail at least as far back at 1980.
The York Street facility, constructed in the 1890s, was designed to hold 256 inmates. But by the 1980s, with the War on Drugs well underway, York Street was packed to the point where inmates were practically being shoehorned into the place.
"We probably had up to 600 or 700," he said.
At the time, the jail and the Sheriff's Department were under the oversight of the Hampden County Commission. The county commission form of governance across the state was eliminated in 1997.
Every Wednesday for several years, Ashe would attend meetings of the county commissioners and report on jail overcrowding. And at every meeting, he recalls, he received "lip service" in return.
"It was passing the buck. No one was confronting the issue that we were faced with," he said.
Ashe in 1988. That year he announced he would not accept new inmates at the York Street jail, which housed 724 at the time.
Eventually the courts got involved. Ashe was under a court order to hold the jail population at 450 inmates. The jail was still required to accept inmates sent over from the courts, however.
"For a long time, for every one inmate coming into the jail, I had to discharge somebody," he said. More and more, inmates were being released several months before completing their sentences, he said.
"On one hand we had overcrowding," he said. "On the other hand we were releasing people onto the streets who shouldn't be released."
In the months before the takeover, jail staff explored several alternatives to easing overcrowding. They looked at getting inmates transferred to other jails without much success. They considered installing large Army tents, equipped with heaters, in the fenced-in jail yard.
They even explored using surplus Navy vessels as temporary housing for inmates. They figured boats could be docked on the Connecticut River near the York Street location, staffed with correctional officers, and the inmates given bunks down below. That plan was scuttled when officials realized there was no way to get Navy boats from Long Island Sound past dams on the river.
"Finally I said, 'I've got to do something. I've got to call attention to the issue,'" he recalled. "And that's what I did."
Days before the takeover, two sheriff's deputies were held in contempt for several hours at Westfield District Court when they refused a court order to return an inmate to the jail. Judge William Conant at the time suggested the sheriff commandeer the state police training academy in Agawam or a state armory.
Little did he know that, two days later, Ashe would do exactly that.
Ashe recalled that the armory takeover sprung out of the realization that things could not continue as they were, and there were really no other viable options.
The entire plan hinged up a little-known state law that gave sheriffs the authority to do what they needed to do to restore order in times of "imminent danger of a breach of the peace." The law was passed in 1696, a full 80 years before the Declaration of Independence.
On a Friday before the long President's Day weekend, Ashe and his van full of inmates pulled up at the National Guard Armory. Ashe knocked on the door, sent the inmates inside, and then delivered to the commander this message:
"Whereas, it appears to the Sheriff of Hampden County that there is an imminent danger of a breach of the peace due to insufficient prison space in this County, and that reasonable and prudent steps must be taken in order to preserve the peace and quell such danger, and to preserve order among and between the prisoners duly remanded to the custody of the Sheriff. Now, therefore, the Sheriff of Hampden County deems it necessary that these quarters be used, temporarily, as a prison, until such time as is necessary to quell such danger, and that you provide such reasonable and necessary assistance to the Sheriff of Hampden County as he may request."
He told The Republican that the key to the whole plan was that he brought inmates with him. The 17 inmates, all low-risk, nonviolent offenders who were nearly finished with their sentences, were hand-picked for the action, he said.
"I had my team all lined up. We knew the key to taking over the armory was not just my knocking on the door, but obviously placing inmates inside the building," Ashe said.
The fallout was immediate. The armory commander, Gen. Chester Gorski of the 26th Yankee Infantry Division, called for Ashe to be arrested for trespassing. So too did Charles V. Barry, then the Massachusetts secretary of the Executive Office of Public Safety, which was in charge of all state armories.
Then-Gov. Michael Dukakis initially declined to speak publicly on the issue. But days later he responded, "We can't have a situation where every sheriff who has a problem takes over an armory. There's a better way to deal with the situation."
Ashe, years later, recalls the governor being furious. "His whole team was in an uproar," he said.
Attempts recently to contact Dukakis, now in his 80s and a professor at Northeastern University, were unsuccessful.
Accounts from the scene of the takeover described it as being tense. Armory personnel and correctional officials glared at each other from opposite ends of a hallway, and Springfield police, armory personnel and Sheriff's Department staff argued over jurisdiction of the property.
At one point, Gorski ordered a piece of heavy equipment to block the front gate to prevent Ashe from bringing in any more inmates. Goski would later compare the surprise and speed of the takeover to "a Gestapo action."
Because the action was planned on the afternoon of a three-day weekend, the earliest anyone could be able to file a complaint against Ashe in district court would be the following Tuesday. That would give Ashe three days of headlines, three days of news coverage about overcrowded conditions at the jail.
On the fourth day, letters from ordinary citizens began to appear in the Letters to the Editor column in the morning newspaper.
"Hooray for Sheriff Mike Ashe! It's about time someone had the gumption to stand up to the 'do nothing but consider it' politicians we have in office," read a letter from Martha J. Fish of Agawam. "If Sheriff Ashe ever decides to run for president, I volunteer to be one of his campaign organizers, free."
By the time the case made it to court after the long weekend, the trespassing threat disappeared. Judge George C. Keady Jr. allowed the inmates to stay at the armory until March 12. He also ordered the sheriff's department and the armory staff to cooperate with each other.
Ashe and Gov. William Weld announced in 1991 that the Holyoke Armory would be used as a temporary jail.
The state then authorized the Sheriff's Department to use the National Guard armory in Holyoke. The gym at the York Street jail was also fitted with bunks for as many as 70 inmates.
As a practical measure, removing 17 inmates would do little to ease overcrowding at York Street. But as a symbolic gesture, Ashe admits the takeover was huge.
"I was hell bent for leather. You've got to understand that no one was listening," he said.
Sarno was working as an aide to then-Mayor Mary Hurley at the time of the takeover. He answered the phone when Ashe called to give the mayor a heads-up about it.
Twenty-six years later, Sarno can laugh easily when retelling the tale. But he recalls that at the time things were pretty tense. Sarno said when he delivered the message, Hurley's one-word response was equal parts question and exclamation: "What?!" Hurley would later speak publicly in support of the takeover.
Cignoli at the time was working as an aide for Paul Caron, the Springfield state representative whose district was the Pine Point neighborhood where the armory is located.
At 5:30 on the morning of the takeover he was awakened by Springfield state Rep. Anthony Scibelli, who called him to tip him off. His message was "Kid, you better be ready." Cignoli's instructions were to go to the Pine Point Community Center and field questions from the public about the armory being used as a jail.
But, Cignoli said, once residents understood that it was Ashe involved, they seemed more comfortable. Cignoli said he would learn this was due to Ashe's skills as a politician and a communicator. Ashe had earned a reputation as sheriff that allowed people to cut him some slack, Cignoli said.
In the days after the takeover, Ashe met several times with people who lived near the armory, and even went door-to-door to reassure people, Cignoli said.
"Every promise he made in the neighborhood, he kept -- every one," he said.
Sarno said when he looks back he still marvels at the degree of guts shown by Ashe.
"It was a brilliant strategic move," he said. "I can't say the street version but it took a lot of intestinal fortitude at the time."
Cignoli said the armory story resonates with people on this end of the state because of how Ashe spun it.
"Boston was not listening," Cignoli said. "It was a classic case of Western Massachusetts not being heard."
It could have been disastrous for Ashe, Cignoli said. He could have been arrested and prosecuted for trespassing. If he had been, he very likely would have been forced to resign or could have lost his seat in the next election. Politicians rarely take a stance that carries that degree of risk, he said.
Ashe, he said, "put it all on the line."
AMHERST -- The man charged with the murder of Jose "Joselito" Rodriguez was released from state prison 16 months before the alleged fatal shooting.
Soknang Chham was one of several people charged in connection with the pistol-whipping of a man in Lowell in March 2010, the Lowell Sun reported. He pleaded guilty to nine related charges in April 2011, according to Middlesex Superior Court records.
He was sentenced to the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Cedar Junction for five years and a day, and was released in June 2015, according to the Department of Correction records.
The charges included two counts of assault in a dwelling, possession of a machine gun, two counts of assault and battery with a dangerous weapon, intimidation of a witness and two counts of possession of a firearm without a license, according to Middlesex Superior Court records.
Last week, a Hampshire County grand jury indicted Chham, 33, on charges related to the fatal shooting of Rodriguez on Oct. 15 at Southpoint Apartments in Amherst. Another man was also shot but survived.
The charges against Chham include murder, armed assault with intent to murder, assault and battery with a firearm, assault with a dangerous weapon (firearm), illegal possession of a firearm (subsequent offense), and illegal possession of a firearm with two prior convictions for violent crimes.
Chham's brother Soksot Chham, 35, faces a charge in Eastern Hampshire District Court of being an accessory after the fact to the killing. He is due back in court Jan. 25.
Both men were arrested Oct. 25 in Flagstaff, Arizona.
SPRINGFIELD The case against city resident Edwin Harrison, charged with shooting a dog on a Forest Park sidewalk on Nov. 18, has moved to Hampden Superior Court.
Harrison is slated for a Jan. 6 arraignment on eight charges. He has already denied similar charges at a Springfield District Court arraignment, but indictments have moved the case to Superior Court.
Harrison, 37, is charged with cruelty to animals, malicious killing of an animal, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of ammunition, possession of a firearm during commission of a felony, resisting arrest, possession of heroin with intent to distribute and possession of cocaine with intent to distribute.
For the firearm and ammunition counts, he is charged as a person with three prior violent or drugs arrests, which increases potential sentences. The prior convictions listed as qualifying were for possession of cocaine with intent to distribute in 2014 and distribution of cocaine in 2007 and 2010.
He is charged as a subsequent offender on the drug indictments.
The owner of the dog a Jack Russell Terrier/Chihuahua mix named "Cookie" told responding officers that a male approached him as he was walking his pet and had a disagreement with him about his identity, according to Springfield police.
Harrison pulled out a handgun, shot the dog and then casually walked away, according to police and witnesses. The dog died instantly from a neck wound.
Harrison was arrested after a brief chase. Investigators recovered from him a .22-caliber semi-automatic handgun reported stolen in New Hampshire in 2007, as well as 47 bags of heroin and eight bags of crack cocaine packaged for sale, police said.
Natural Gas Right-of-Way Otis
This existing utility right-of-way through the Otis State Forest would be permanently widened to accommodate a Kinder Morgan natural gas pipeline project.
(Mary Serreze photo)
PITTSFIELD -- In order to compensate Massachusetts residents for the loss of conservation land taken by eminent domain, Tennessee Gas Pipeline Co. has agreed to pay the state $640,000.
The proposed consent decree, announced Thursday, could cap a fractious legal battle and pave the way for Tennessee Gas to build two miles of new natural gas pipeline through the Otis State Forest in Sandisfield. The section through the Berkshires is part of a larger pipeline project known as the Connecticut Expansion.
Under the agreement, $300,000 would let the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation acquire additional conservation land in the vicinity. Another $300,000 would go toward mitigation and improvements to the state forest and its facilities. The remaining $40,000 is for the fair market value of pipeline easements.
A hearing on the proposed consent decree is set for Feb. 6 in Berkshire Superior Court in Pittsfield.
The battle over the strip of forest land has been protracted, pitting pipeline foes, land conservationists and sympathetic lawmakers against Tennessee, a subsidiary of the Texas-based Kinder Morgan. It also pit the state Constitution against a federal law designed to encourage the development of natural gas pipelines.
Under Article 97 of the Massachusetts Constitution, legislative approval is needed to convey or sell conservation land. But the U.S. Natural Gas Act gives pipeline developers the power to forcibly take public and private land in exchange for fair compensation.
Tennessee sued the state on March 16, moments after a legislative committee buried a bill that would have voluntarily conveyed an easement to the pipeline company. A Berkshire Superior Court judge ruled May 9 in favor of the pipeline company, granting Tennessee the right to acquire the easements.
Judge John Agostini ruled that the Natural Gas Act preempts Article 97, spelling disappointment for anti-pipeline activists, and handing defeat to Attorney General Maura Healey's environmental protection division.
The Connecticut Expansion proposes about 14 miles of infrastructure in Massachusetts, Connecticut, and New York, including the contested portion through the state forest. The project gained major state and federal approvals in 2016, including a certificate from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.
Kinder Morgan, Healey, and Beaton praise agreement
Kinder Morgan announced Thursday that "after months of protracted negotiations and litigation," the company was pleased with the proposed mitigation agreement.
"For more than 30 years, Tennessee Gas has safely and responsibly operated two underground natural gas pipelines that traverse a section of the Tolland/Otis State Forest," wrote Richard Wheatley, Kinder Morgan's public affairs director.
Wheatley said part of the money will refurbish a boat ramp at the state-owned Lower Spectacle Pond, and make other recreational improvements at the Tolland and Otis State Forests.
On social media, anti-fossil fuel activists expressed disappointment. In an email to The Republican, a leading pipeline foe lashed out at Healey, Gov. Charlie Baker, and the state's Department of Conservation and Recreation.
"
While we like to think of the Attorney General as 'the People's lawyer,' her office made clear to us early on that they considered DCR to be their client in this case," wrote Katy Eiseman, director of the group MassPLAN. "And DCR's marching orders from Charlie Baker seem to be that his energy combo platter is more important than our Constitution and the natural treasures of our Commonwealth."
Eiseman was referring to recent energy legislation that requires state utilities to purchase power from offshore wind farms and Canadian hydropower generators.
Eiseman said that m
ore than 20 years ago, DCR identified the Otis State Forest as one of the most significant conservation land opportunities in the state, and that it can not be replaced. "This protected land is not fungible," she wrote. "It was protected for a reason."
In contrast, Healey and Beaton issued words of praise. The agreement "sets a very high bar" for the value of conservation land takings in Massachusetts, said Healey.
"We work hard to protect conservation land across our state, and we are pleased that this settlement requires Tennessee Gas to provide important mitigation relief during the construction of the project and assure no net loss of critical conservation land in the area," the Attorney General wrote.
Beaton said the financial package "represents the tireless work of the state" and will allow for the purchase of conservation land "that will truly benefit generations of people within the Berkshire County region and beyond."
Tennessee must pay for environmental monitoring and other mitigation, bringing the total value of the package to more than $1.2 million, said Healey and Beaton.
The pipeline, designed to serve three natural gas utilities in Connecticut, would be buried adjacent to two existing underground Tennessee Gas pipelines. The new pipeline would permanently widen an existing cleared corridor through the forest.
Tennesee had hoped for a November 2016 in-service date for the $93 million Connecticut Expansion project.
Worcester police are investigating a home invasion on Lovell Street after five men reportedly broke into an apartment and robbed eight people of their valuables.
Authorities responded to a Lovell Street apartment address for a reported home invasion around 6:49 p.m. Thursday. When the officers arrived, they identified eight people in the apartment, including six kids and teenagers and two adults.
Worcester police placed the age of the juveniles between 8 and 17 years old.
The victims told police that the five men forced their way through the back door of the apartment. Their faces were covered, and two of the men were armed with a handgun, police said.
The suspects began demanding the occupants to hand over their cash. The victims ended up handing over their cell phones, jewelry and an undisclosed amount of money,
They were then forced into a bedroom by the armed suspects and told to stay there for a specific timeframe before exiting. The victims waited a few minutes, then proceeded to call the police.
So far, authorities say they only have vague descriptions of the five suspects, other than two being about 6-foot-4 and one possibly having a Jamaican accent.
Authorities are still investigating, with members of the Worcester Police Department's Detective Bureau, Vice Squad, Operations Division and Crime Scene Unit on the case.
Reisa Clardy, as a personal representative of her late husband Trooper Thomas Clardy, has filed a wrongful death lawsuit against David Njuguna, the man accused of being high on marijuana while slamming into the trooper's cruiser, killing him.
The suit, filed in Middlesex Superior Court on Friday and obtained by MassLive, seeks $20 million in damages.
Njuguna, of Webster, crashed into Clardy's cruiser on March 16 while he was pulled over on the Massachusetts Turnpike in Charlton. Clardy, 44, was taken to UMass Memorial Medical Center and pronounced dead.
He left behind his wife and seven children, Timothy, Tyler, Gabryella, Lily, Emma, Eva and Noah.
"He has all those children that he left behind and this is a situation that could have been avoided," Reisa Clardy's attorney, Richard Rafferty, said.
Rafferty said they intend to investigate how Njuguna obtained his medical marijuana prescription, how much marijuana Njuguna's doctor issued the day he received his, and what criteria the doctor was using to prescribe.
The lawsuit says Clardy died "as a result of the grossly negligent or malicious, willful, wanton or reckless conduct of the defendant David Njuguna."
Njuguna is facing charges of manslaughter, motor vehicle homicide, operating to endanger, operating under the influence of marijuana and other motor vehicle charges in Worcester Superior Court.
"On March 16, 2016, the defendant, David Njuguna, so carelessly and negligently operated a motor vehicle causing it to collide with the plaintiff's decedent, Thomas L. Clardy's vehicle," the lawsuit reads. "As a direct and proximate result of the negligence of the defendant, David Njuguna, the plaintiff's decedent, Thomas L. Clardy, was greatly injured, suffered conscious pain and suffering of the body and mind, and died as a result of said injuries."
British Prime Minister Theresa May has taken the unusual step of distancing her government from President Barack Obama's criticism of Israel.
A spokesman for May said the British government does not think it is "appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally."
The comments made Thursday were in response to U.S. Secretary of State John's Kerry's outspoken speech challenging the Israeli government's policy on settlement expansion and other issues.
May's spokesman, speaking anonymously in line with government rules, said it was wrong to focus solely on the settlement issue when the Palestinian-Israeli conflict is so complex.
The comments bring Britain's government more closely into line with the view of President-elect Donald Trump, who has said the Obama administration is being far too harsh toward Israel.
A U.S. State Department spokesperson, speaking anonymously in line with government policy, said the U.S. was "surprised" by May's statement since Kerry's remarks "were in line with the U.K.'s own longstanding policy."
The spokesperson said Kerry's speech had generated support from many countries including Germany, France, Jordan, Egypt and others.
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Congress Rdp_Mand (3).jpg
A new Congress will not have an immediate impact on some of the more headline-making issues that dominate the news.
(Alex Brandon / AP)
When the members of the 115th Congress are seated on Jan. 3, they'll start, like each of the 114 congresses that preceded them, with a clean slate.
This, of course, is because the unfinished work of any Congress ends with the dissolution of that particular legislative body. If the 114th Congress was 99 percent of the way toward completing work on a certain item of business, the next Congress, if it wants to tackle that same issue at all, would begin anew.
While this might not seem the most efficient way to operate, it's the only way possible under our Constitution. And nothing else would make sense, what with new members, new committee assignments, often new leadership and all the rest.
We note this not by way of complaint, but instead to set the stage for what's likely ahead. Those who think the new Congress is likely to hit the ground running and take all sorts of action before you know it are in for a sad surprise.
One fact tells something of the tale: The Senate must confirm from 1,200 to 1,400 executive branch appointments. Though all the focus is on the big ones - Supreme Court justices and heads of major departments and agencies - the rest still have to get done. And confirming the deputy secretary of this and the assistant secretary of that takes some time.
If, as expected, President-elect Donald Trump nominates a new justice to the Supreme Court soon after he moves into the White House on Jan. 20, and if, as expected, his pick sends liberals into frenzied opposition, the ensuing hubbub will suck up an awful lot of oxygen. Threats of a filibuster. Counter-threats to change the Senate rules to forbid the filibuster. Televised hearings and grandstanding aplenty.
And all the while, as there's so much focus on that one big story, the various committees and subcommittees will be doing their work behind the scenes. Stuff will get done. Posts will be filled. Bills will begin to be crafted. Major policy revisions will be considered, debated.
But it will all take some time. Which isn't necessarily a bad thing, of course, as the slow-moving gears of the federal legislature can serve as a check on potential overreach and over-reaction.
John Kerry
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry affirmed U.S. support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity last spring.
(Ronald Zak)
On Dec 29, the attack of the Armenian army across the border with Azerbaijan was effectively repelled.
As a member of the Kremlin-run Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), Armenian president Serzh Sargsyan explicitly confirmed that Armenia will "coordinate its foreign policy with Russia". Armenia continues to occupy up to 20% of the internationally recognized territory of Azerbaijan, a staunch U.S. ally, energy and security partner.
This April, Secretary of State John Kerry affirmed U.S. support for Azerbaijan's territorial integrity, a core principle of international law, violated by Armenia since 1994.
In 1993, UN SC adopted four resolutions 822, 853, 874, 884 calling for immediate withdrawal of Armenian forces from occupied Azerbaijan. As its co-chair, America must call the OSCE Minsk Group to express its indignation with Armenia's never-ending aggression against Azerbaijan and exert pressure on Yerevan (the capital of Armenia and its political center) to comply with international law.
Yadigar Melikova, Chicopee
Charlie Baker
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker addresses an audience Monday, Nov. 21, 2016, during a ceremonial swearing-in for Supreme Judicial Court justice Kimberly Budd at Faneuil Hall, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
(AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker will attend U.S. President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration.
"The Baker-Polito Administration looks forward to working with the Trump-Pence Administration to address the most pressing issues facing our state, region and nation," said Baker spokeswoman Lizzy Guyton. "The people of Massachusetts deserve a federal government that works collaboratively to solve those issues, unite our country and ensure the Commonwealth remains a welcoming place to live, work and raise a family."
The inauguration will be held on Friday, Jan. 20, in Washington. A Baker aide confirmed that Baker has been invited by the Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies, which is the official organizing body of presidential inaugurations.
The inauguration typically involves a day full of pomp and circumstance at the U.S. Capitol, with a procession, a swearing-in ceremony, an inaugural address, a luncheon, a parade and balls. Details of Baker's travel schedule have not yet been announced.
Baker, a Republican, did not vote for the Republican Trump, saying he did not believe Trump has the temperament to be president. But since Trump won the election, Baker has said he will look to work with the incoming administration. Massachusetts, like all states, depends on the federal government for funding for a huge number of programs, ranging from Medicaid to transportation.
Baker first told the Boston Herald Thursday that he planned to attend the inauguration.
"I plan to participate fittingly in the observance," Baker told the Herald. "It happens once every four years, and as governor of the commonwealth, with an invitation like that, I plan to honor it."
Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker on Friday signed a law delaying retail pot shops as marijuana activists protested the move.
The new law does not affect personal possession and home-growing of marijuana products, provisions of a law passed by voters in November legalizing recreational pot.
But the law Baker signed delays by six months key dates for when the Cannabis Control Commission can issue licenses. For example, the state treasurer was required to appoint members of Cannabis Control Commission, the regulatory agency that would license the retail shops, by March 1, 2017, and that's now been pushed to September 2017. That pushes the opening of retail pot shops to mid-2018 at the very least.
Sen. Rosenberg defends lawmakers rushing bill delaying pot shops
The bill also delays when the Cannabis Control Commission must have its initial regulations in place to March 15, 2018, from September 15, 2017.
Baker's office notified reporters of the bill signing as a small band of protesters gathered outside the State House to protest the delay.
Marijuana advocates have called the delay unnecessary, while lawmakers like Senate President Stanley Rosenberg, who rushed the bill to the governor's desk earlier this week, defended the delay as "reasonable."
Many lawmakers opposed the legalization of marijuana, as did Gov. Baker, who campaigned against the ballot measure voters ended up endorsing in November.
The pot delay law also calls for a baseline study on marijuana use.
The Department of Public Health is tasked with choosing a research outfit to look at patterns of use, consumption methods, incidents of impaired driving and hospitalization related to marijuana, along with the economic and fiscal impact of legalization for state and local government. The deadline for the report's findings is July 1, 2018.
Marijuana activists on Friday bashed a new law delaying the regulatory structure for retail pot shops.
The delay, signed into law by Gov. Charlie Baker a few hours before the activists gathered outside the State House, pushes back key timelines by six months. Retail pot shops were originally scheduled to open in early 2018.
The law doesn't affect marijuana possession and home-growing provisions, which remain legal in the Bay State.
Earlier this week, on a quiet Wednesday, Beacon Hill lawmakers signed off on the bill and sent it to the governor's desk. The State House News Service reported that just three state senators and four state representatives were present when it happened.
Beth Waterfall, a Rockland resident, blasted the delay, saying it pushes back the economic boost the state would receive from a nascent marijuana industry.
"For seven legislators to get together and say we can take another six months to wait for jobs, we can take another six months to delay the will of the voters, it frankly disgusts me," she told reporters.
Sen. Rosenberg defends rush to pass bill delaying retail pot
Waterfall said attorneys who crafted the legalization law, which was passed by Massachusetts voters in November, looked to other states and included a reasonable timeframe that didn't need to be delayed.
"These delays are just another way to inject this whole 'reefer madness,' making it seem like marijuana is a bad thing across the board when clearly it is not, because the voters have voted to bring legal marijuana to Massachusetts," she said. "And these delays are just not acceptable."
As she spoke, the Baker administration notified reporters via email that the governor had signed the delay into law.
LUDLOW Nick Cocchi sits behind a tan metal desk that probably hasn't been the subject of an office order since the 1980s and that's being generous.
It's almost comical in a throwback sort of way, and an aesthetically unlikely perch for someone positioned to assume remarkable political power.
After a knock-down, drag-out election, Cocchi sits poised behind that desk to take the post of Hampden County Sheriff Michael J. Ashe Jr., who has held that seat for more than four decades. It's an odd scenario to describe to outsiders: How could a county seat wield so much cache and inspire such a fiery election?
Ashe himself set that stage, but most likely not purposefully. He was a social worker who won the relatively obscure seat in the 1970s and elevated it to one of the most coveted political positions in the region with a progressive, nationally recognized attitude toward corrections.
Along the way, Ashe made scores of hires and collected a legion of political devotees, transforming the department into a notable empire while not forgetting the mission.
Cocchi, 43, of Ludlow, rose through the ranks in the sheriff's department over the past 23 years, ultimately ascending to assistant superintendent, and became Ashe's pick as his successor.
After spending nearly a half-million dollars to win the seat and with the dust settling after the election season, Cocchi is assembling his own administration and considering the next six years as the new Hampden County sheriff.
To his credit, he avoids any cliched "there's a new sheriff in town" jokes.
During a recent interview, Cocchi talks about the whirlwind of the transition period, and meetings with hundreds of department employees to determine where they may fit in in a new administration. There have been several retirements, but Cocchi said he has not fired a single employee.
"I have not let anybody go. Have I had some very difficult discussions? Absolutely. Have I made some transfers? Yes. But I'm very proud to say I have have not had to terminate anybody," Cocchi said.
He said he will not be hesitant to revisit those "difficult discussions" if an employee shows signs of becoming "an obstacle."
He added that he has eliminated five superintendent positions including his own through attrition, in part responding to a frequent criticism throughout the campaign that the administration was top-heavy with upper management.
Many of Ashe's inner circle will leave with him, by choice, Cocchi says. These include Ashe's brother John "Jay" Ashe, who stayed on after his retirement as a high-paid consultant, much to the delight of Cocchi's campaign opponents, and other high-ranking confidantes. Cocchi's opponent in the general election, Assistant Deputy Superintendent James Gill, also has submitted paperwork to retire.
Among a handful of significant promotions, Cocchi has appointed James Kelleher as superintendent, or Cocchi's "number two guy."
James Kelleher
Kelleher was previously the assistant superintendent of operations, and replaces Jay Ashe's position as a full-time employee as opposed to a consultant.
"There hasn't been a (full-time) Jay Ashe since Jay Ashe left several years ago. And in fairness, it's because Jay doesn't want to come back," Cocchi said.
Chris Gelonese, a member of Cocchi's executive committee during the campaign, will be the department's new chief financial officer, replacing outgoing CFO William Christofori, who has chosen to retire.
Gelonese is a housing specialist with a background in payroll, Cocchi said.
Cocchi promoted director of security John Kenney to head operations. Kenney has over 30 years of service within the department, Cocchi said.
"I'm confident that neither inmates nor staff will be hanging from chandeliers under John," Cocchi added. "We hold inmates accountable, and we hold staff accountable."
Lou Weir
Replacing Kenney as new chief of security will be Lou Weir, one of Cocchi's staunchest campaign supporters and a member of the department's investigations team for many years.
Weir, like Cocchi, came up through the ranks at the jail, working stints as shift commander on various shifts. Cocchi said it should be no mystery that he has chosen to promote some of his campaign's inner circle.
"You want to promote someone you know who is going to support you, is going to be loyal to you. They show you day in and day out that they support you, day in and day out. And they share your vision," Cocchi said.
Part-time legal counsel Theresa Finnegan has been promoted to general counsel, and will serve as chief legal adviser to Cocchi in addition to fielding litigation for the department. Cocchi said the agency is handling far more of its legal work internally instead of farming the lion's share out to Egan Flanagan, a Springfield law firm that has acted as Ashe's legal counsel for years.
"Theresa is so competent. I want her on full-time," Cocchi said.
Theresa Finnegan
Rounding out the promotions Cocchi has publicly announced so far: He replaced the former head of human resources with Connie Burke, an assistant superintendent at the women's jail in Chicopee.
He said there will likely be more personnel changes.
One of the most prominent issues in the campaign was Ashe's use of retired employees as consultants. Cocchi said he has terminated all contracts but may review them and bring certain employees back, depending on need and budgetary constraints.
But, they won't be Ashe appointees, they will be Cocchi appointees, Cocchi argues.
In fact, he has not ruled out hiring Michael Ashe as a consultant, but said Ashe will not be paid out of state funds.
"I haven't asked him and he hasn't mentioned it, but if the sheriff is not ready to be totally done and I could use his talent, why wouldn't I?" Cocchi said.
He added that Ashe will not be running the department, nor does he need the outgoing sheriff to "hold his hand."
Cocchi said he is comfortable with the day-to-day operations of the department, security and budgetary concerns. The agency will run a $1.9 million deficit for the balance of the fiscal year because the state did not cover the cost-of-living increases for the staff it had promised, according to Cocchi. But he has plans to bridge the gap, and there have been efforts to secure a supplemental budget item to help.
He says he sees his first opportunity for growth as the new sheriff to model the relationship building and legislative partnerships Ashe built.
"If I want to call someone at MassMutual, for instance, I wouldn't immediately know who to call. But Mike Ashe does, and he knows the history of the relationship. Some people are simply philanthropists, others have family members who are in recovery. Mike Ashe knows all of that background. That's very valuable," Cocchi said.
He will officially take office after his inauguration on Jan. 4 at the Ludlow jail on Randall Road. Cocchi will be sworn in by Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito.
Cocchi said he will be establishing certain policy changes including monthly security forums, and establishing a staff grill to offer employees better food through a self-financed venture. He said he has placed "suggestion boxes" at several spots throughout the department and they're full every day.
Cocchi said he has taken his mentor's advice on fiscal responsibility to heart.
"Between January 4th and January 5th, you won't see much of a difference of who we want to be ... We want to be the best. We want to be caring. We want to be transparent and we want to be responsible to the taxpayers," he said.
Donald Trump
President-elect Donald Trump speaks to reporters at Mar-a-Lago, Wednesday, Dec. 28, 2016, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)
(Evan Vucci)
Although Donald Trump offered a largely ambivalent response to the Obama administration's announced sanctions against Russia, the president-elect praised Russian President Vladimir Putin Friday for announcing he would not retaliate against the U.S. for such actions.
Trump, who has publicly questioned U.S. intelligence officials' allegations that Russian hackers interfered in the 2016 presidential election, touted Putin's response to President Barack Obama's sanctions and expulsions relating to the reported cyber attacks.
"Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart!" Trump tweeted late Friday afternoon.
Great move on delay (by V. Putin) - I always knew he was very smart! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 30, 2016
The president-elect's social media praise came just hours after the Russian president announced he would not retaliate against the U.S. over the sanctions, but rather focus on steps to restore relations between the two countries based on the policies of the incoming Trump administration.
The tweet marked the second time in a week that Trump touted the Russian president on the social media website.
He recently tweeted his agreement with Putin's take on how Democrats handled the outcome of the 2016 election.
"Vladimir Putin said today about Hillary and Dems: 'In my opinion, it is humiliating. One must be able to lose with dignity.' So true!" Trump posted on Twitter last week.
Vladimir Putin said today about Hillary and Dems: "In my opinion, it is humiliating. One must be able to lose with dignity." So true! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 24, 2016
Trump, in a Thursday response to the Obama administration's sanctions, said he believes "it's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things."
He, however, offered that he would meet "with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation."
The CIA, in a recent secret assessment, concluded that Russia intervened in the U.S. presidential election to help Trump win the White House, instead of just influencing confidence in America's electoral system -- findings reportedly supported by FBI Director James Comey and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr.
According to reports, individuals with connections to the Russian government allegedly provided WikiLeaks with hacked emails from the DNC and Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta as part of an operation to boost Trump.
Obama, in response to the allegations, announced sanctions against two Russian intelligence services, the GRU and FSB, as well as four individual GRU officers and three companies that provided material support to GRU's cyber operations.
The White House, among other things, further announced the expulsions of 35 Russian government officials from the country's embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, as well as revealed that it would deny access to two Russian government-owned compounds, one in Maryland and one in New York, effective noon on Friday.
Obama said the sanctions and expulsions mark just one portion of his administration's response to the alleged Russian cyber attacks.
Russian officials, however, have cast U.S. intelligence officials' allegations as "absolute nonsense."
John McCain
FILE - In this Jan. 27, 2016, file photo, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., speaks during a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh, File)
(Susan Walsh)
Russia's alleged interference in the 2016 presidential election is expected to remain a hot topic in Washington D.C. next week, as the U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee meets to consider foreign cyber threats.
The panel, which is tasked with overseeing defense and national security-related measures, will kick off its work in the 115th Congress with a Jan. 5 hearing on foreign cyber threats to the U.S.
News of the hearing came just one day after the White House announced sanctions against Russia in response to alleged cyber attacks that targeted Democratic National Committee and Hillary Clinton campaign emails.
Although the Senate Armed Services Committee's agenda vaguely states that the meeting will revolve around foreign cyber threats, it is expected to focus on Russian interference with Director Of National Intelligence James R. Clapper, Jr. slated to testify.
Also set to address members, the panel announced, are: Under Secretary Of Defense For Intelligence Marcell J. Lettre II and Adm. Michael S. Rogers, the head of U.S. Cyber Command.
The CIA, in a recent secret assessment, concluded that Russia intervened in the U.S. presidential election to help Republican Donald Trump win the White House, instead of just influencing confidence in America's electoral system -- findings which Clapper and FBI Director James Comey supported.
Following the CIA assessment, Senate Armed Services Chairman U.S. Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, joined a bipartisan group of panel members in calling for congressional action in response to the alleged Russian interference.
"Democrats and Republicans must work together, and across the jurisdictional lines of the Congress, to examine these recent incidents thoroughly and devise comprehensive solutions to deter and defend against further cyber attacks," he said in an early December statement. "This cannot become a partisan issue. The stakes are too high for our country."
McCain further argued Thursday that the Obama administration's newly announced sanctions and expulsions targeting Russian officials were "long overdue, but...a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy."
The Senate Armed Services chairman added that he and U.S. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C. "intend to lead the effort in the new Congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia."
U.S. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, and other members of the state's congressional delegation have also called for probes related to the alleged cyber attacks.
President Barack Obama on Thursday announced sanctions against two Russian intelligence services, the GRU and FSB, as well as four individual GRU officers and three companies that provided material support to GRU's cyber operations.
The secretary of the treasury, administration officials added, would designate two Russian individuals for using cyber-enabled means to "cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information."
The White House further announced the expulsions of 35 Russian government officials from the country's embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, as well as revealed that it would deny access to two Russian government-owned compounds, one in Maryland and one in New York, effective noon on Friday.
The sanctions and expulsions, Obama said, mark just one portion of his administration's response to the alleged Russian cyber attacks.
Although Russian officials have cast U.S. intelligence officials' allegations as "absolute nonsense," President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he will not retaliate against the U.S. over the sanctions.
Russia, he added, will plan its further steps to restore relations between the two countries based on the policies of the incoming Trump administration.
Despite reports that Russia may retaliate against the United States over newly announced sanctions, President Vladimir Putin said Friday that he will not resort to such a response, but rather move forward in working with U.S. President-elect Donald Trump.
Putin called outgoing President Barack Obama's Thursday decision to issue nine sanctions, expel 35 Russian government officials and close access to two Russian government-owned compounds "provocative and aimed at further weakening the Russia-U.S. relationship."
The Russian president said while he has reasons to respond in kind, he will not resort to what he called "irresponsible 'kitchen' diplomacy" and "will not create any problems for US diplomats."
"We will not expel anyone. We will not prevent their families and children from using their traditional leisure sites during the New Year's holidays. Moreover, I invite all children of US diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children's parties in the Kremlin," he said in a statement. "It is regrettable that the Obama Administration is ending its term in this manner."
Putin added that instead of retaliating against the U.S., Russia will plan its further steps to restore relations between the two countries based on the policies of the incoming Trump administration -- something he discussed in a mid-December letter to the president-elect.
Trump, who has been at odds with the Obama administration over allegations that Russia-backed cyber attacks sought to influence the outcome of the 2016 presidential election, reiterated his contention Thursday that "it's time for (the) country to move on to bigger and better things."
He, however, offered that he would meet with intelligence community officials for more updated information on the issue.
"In the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation," he said in a brief statement.
The CIA, in a recent secret assessment, concluded that Russia intervened in the U.S. presidential election to help Trump win the White House, instead of just influencing confidence in America's electoral system -- findings reportedly supported by FBI Director James Comey and Director of National Intelligence James Clapper Jr.
According to reports, individuals with connections to the Russian government allegedly provided WikiLeaks with hacked emails from the DNC and Clinton's campaign chairman John Podesta as part of an operation to boost Trump.
Russian officials have cast U.S. intelligence officials' allegations as "absolute nonsense."
Trump, meanwhile, has publicly questioned claims of Russian interference in the 2016 election, as well as whether the Obama administration is politically motivated.
Noting the split between Obama and Trump, Konstantin Kosachev, the foreign affairs committee chairman of the Russian parliament's upper chamber, told the Interfax news agency Thursday that the country should see the president-elect's reaction to the sanctions before stating retaliatory measures, the Associated Press reported.
Obama on Thursday announced sanctions against two Russian intelligence services, the GRU and FSB, as well as four individual GRU officers and three companies that provided material support to GRU's cyber operations.
The secretary of the treasury, administration officials added, would designate two Russian individuals for using cyber-enabled means to "cause misappropriation of funds and personal identifying information."
The White House further announced the expulsions of 35 Russian government officials from the country's embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, as well as revealed that it would deny access to two Russian government-owned compounds, one in Maryland and one in New York, effective noon on Friday.
Obama added that the sanctions and expulsions mark just one portion of his administration's response to the alleged Russian cyber attacks.
IMG_6778.JPG
Snow squall moves through downtown Worcester.
(Noah R. Bombard)
Snow squalls are moving across sections of Massachusetts Friday afternoon blanketing areas with brief snow and white-out conditions.
The National Weather Service reported a squall moving at about 45 mph east along a line extending from Holden to Belchertown and Chicopee at about 12:24 p.m. The squall was seen moving into Worcester at 12:45 p.m.
Visibility in the snow squalls may be briefly less than one-quarter mile.
"If you are driving in the area between Springfield and Boston, such as on the Massachusetts Turnpike, be ready to slow down if these snow squalls approach you," the National Weather Service warned.
A Rio de Janeiro police officer confessed to murdering Greece's ambassador to Brazil, possibly at the direction of the diplomat's Brazilian wife with whom the policeman was romantically involved, Globo TV reported on Friday, citing police sources.
Greek Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was missing since Monday night. Francoise, his Brazilian wife and the mother of their 10-year-old daughter, reported him missing to police on Wednesday.
Globo TV reported on Friday afternoon that officer Sergio Moreira, 29, confessed to killing the ambassador on Monday night in the Rio de Janeiro home the Amiridis owned in Nova Iguacu, a hardscrabble neighborhood in Rio's sprawling and violent northern outskirts.
Globo TV reported that investigators said they believed Francoise and Moreira had arranged the murder in advance.
Both Amiridis' wife and the officer were in custody, but it was not clear if they had retained lawyers.
Police and Rio state security officials declined to comment on the Globo report and their investigation.
The Greek embassy in Brasilia declined to comment.
In Athens, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Stratos Efthymiou said the government had no comment.
Amiridis served as Greece's consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004. He was Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 until he took the top Brazil post at the beginning of 2016.
Globo reported that two other suspects were in custody, but they were not identified.
The O Globo newspaper earlier reported that blood was found on a couch inside the home. Globo TV on Friday showed police carrying a sofa into police headquarters.
A burned corpse was found on Thursday evening inside the car that Amiridis and his wife had rented. It was parked under a highway overpass in the area where the couple had been staying.
On Thursday, police confirmed that the ambassador had been missing since Monday night, when he was last seen leaving the Rio home he shared with his wife.
The incident is another blow to Rio's image, just four months after it hosted the Summer Olympics.
The neighborhood where the car was found is dominated by powerful and politically connected armed groups comprised mostly of off-duty or retired police and firefighters who control vast areas. They often extort residents in exchange for keeping drug gangs from taking over the areas.
The armed groups have grown for several years and often curry favor with local politicians by promising to deliver votes from entire neighborhoods as long as authorities allow them to carry out their crimes.
Crime in Rio has been rising and the state is deeply indebted, often unable to pay police and other salaries on time, if at all.
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FOR decades, automakers have been able to count on a fundamental fact of American life: You pretty much need a car to get around.
But lately, novel technologies, including ride-hailing services like Uber and advances in self-driving cars, are creating new alternatives for commuting, shuttling children and going to the store particularly in urban settings.
There are also demographic and economic trends in play. Many younger Americans do not consider owning a car a goal or necessity or a necessary expense. So carmakers are looking ahead to a day when the automobile plays a smaller role, or even no role at all, in many peoples daily routines.
By NEAL E. BOUDETTE
Full Story: http://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/22/business/automakers-prepare-america-fewer-cars.html?hpw&rref=automobiles&action=click&pgtype=Homepage&module=well-regionion=bottom-well&WT.nav=bottom-well
The University of Wyoming is looking to boost enrollment by increasing transfer students.
Outreach School Interim Dean Alyson Hagy said at a public listening session regarding the schools five-year strategic plan that theres been a considerable dip in the number of transfer students attending UW in recent years.
Transfer student numbers peaked in 2010 with 1,159, but that number steadily dropped before bottoming out in 2015 at 930. Of 12,366 students accounted for on the fall 2016, 967 were new transfer students.
Full Story: http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/uw-eyes-increasing-transfer-students-to-boost-enrollment/article_6902fc0b-3729-59e6-b87d-fd9fd962f138.html
Every year, about 30 Americans die in avalanches, with an additional 110 deaths in Canada and Europe. Skiers and snowmobilers account for the vast majority of these deaths.
Jordy Hendrikx has lost friends and a student to such disasters. An earth sciences professor and director of the Snow and Avalanche Laboratory at Montana State University, Dr. Hendrikx studied the geophysics of snow for a decade before he decided that, to prevent avalanche accidents, human behavior in the backcountry needed to be better understood.
Scientists have a good grasp on how weather and terrain contribute to avalanches. Research suggests avalanche forecasts have about an 80 percent accuracy rate. But human activity is a huge and unpredictable factor in avalanches.
Full Story: http://www.montana.edu/news/16634/msu-professors-research-featured-in-dec-29-new-york-times-story
COVID-19 has reached the shores of Mauritius with a sudden and massive blow and is unfortunately progressing rapidly in our Country. In response to this outbreak, the Government of Mauritius is implementing very strong measures to contain its propagation.
These include: raising awareness of the local population on the nature of the disease, barring entry to arrivals from badly-hit countries, mandatory quarantine of passengers from affected regions, prohibiting mass gatherings, physical distancing, allowing people to work from home and more recently a total lockdown.
Mauritius still faces challenges in the coordination of its response to this pandemic. In order to face this unique crisis, by its magnitude and its impact on our society, the Mauritius Research and Innovation Council (MRIC), through this special call for projects, has earmarked funds to encourage entrepreneurs, academics, researchers, enterprises and start-ups implement short and medium term projects that aim at improving and accelerating the Governments response to the challenges posed by the Coronavirus (COVID-19) and eventually contribute to counter the impacts and planning beyond of this pandemic.
Through this Special Call, the MRIC aims to contribute towards efforts being deployed nationally, through the provision of dedicated and targeted funding for Research and Innovation based actions. The objective of this Special Call is to develop and expedite the production (or adaptation) of technologies and services that will assist the health and relevant authorities in their work and in the deployment of general protection measures in response to the COVID-19 outbreak. This Special Call for Proposals applies to applicants from Mauritius, Rodrigues and the outer islands within the Republic of Mauritius.
The priorities of this Special Call are:
i. to develop innovative and sustained counter-measures to mitigate the direct and indirect impacts of COVID-19 on the country, and
ii. to provide a boost to enterprises and businesses willing to contribute to the response to the outbreak as part of a coherent and integrated national effort and to plan beyond the pandemic.
Projects that can be funded under this Special Call are encouraged to leverage on existing infrastructure, capabilities and networks with local partners.
Support under this Special Call is being targeted on two fronts:
i. Technology-based products and services (the maximum amount per grant is MUR 2 Million over 3 to 9 months.) : e.g. development of products, materials, innovative technologies (including software and apps) and manufacturing/production processes, practical demonstrations, equipment prototypes or the development of a scaling process for the transition from experimental production to large production; and
ii. Social and policy measures (the maximum amount per grant is MUR1 Million over 3 to 9 months): e.g., analyzing and improving logistics of the response to the outbreak; strategies to improve public awareness, knowledge and trust; new approaches to minimise misinformation, stigma and fear; cultural dimensions of the epidemic; evaluating the feasibility and effectiveness of social policies to contain the outbreak (school closures, lockdown, supply shortages, travel restrictions, etc) and identifying improvements or new policies; social dynamics of transmission and vulnerability and how to improve communication of risks, uncertainties and implications as well as the psychological impacts during and after the lockdown.
Deadline for application: Friday 17th April 2020 at 14 hrs
For more information please contact the MRIC : scp.covid19@mric.mu or www.mric.mu
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President Vladimir Putin ruled out on Friday expelling anyone in retaliation for Washington's decision to throw out 35 Russian diplomats and impose sanctions on two of the country's intelligence agencies.
RIA news agency quoted Putin as saying he would consider the actions of President-elect Donald Trump, who takes office next month, when deciding on further steps in Russia-U.S. relations.
Earlier, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov proposed to Putin that Moscow expel 35 U.S. diplomats and ban U.S. diplomatic staff from using two facilities in Moscow, his ministry said.
This followed President Barack Obama's decision to expel the 35 Russian diplomats suspected of spying and to impose sanctions on the two Russian intelligence agencies over their alleged involvement in hacking U.S. political groups in the 2016 presidential election. Lavrov said the allegations that Russia interfered in U.S. elections were baseless.
Putin rejected Lavrov's plan. "We will not expel anyone," he said in a statement. He also said he saw the sanctions as another step to undermine relations between Moscow and Washington, and he regretted that the Obama administration was ending its term in such a way.
Russian officials have portrayed the U.S. sanctions as a last act of a lame-duck president and suggested that Trump could reverse them when he takes over the White House in January.
Earlier Russian Prime Minster Dmitry Medvedev said the Obama administration was ending its term in "anti-Russia death throes".
"It is regrettable that the Obama administration, which started out by restoring our ties, is ending its term in an anti-Russia death throes. RIP," Medvedev, who served as president in 2009 when Obama tried to improve Russia-U.S. relations, wrote on his official Facebook page.
The U.S. sanctions also closed two Russian compounds in New York and Maryland that the administration said were used by Russian personnel for "intelligence-related purposes".
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Rio de Janeiro investigators suspect that Greece's ambassador to Brazil was murdered at the behest of his wife and a police officer with whom she was romantically involved, Globo TV reported on Friday, citing police sources.
Greek Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, had been missing since Monday night. His Brazilian wife, Francoise, reported him missing to police on Wednesday. The pair have a 10-year-old daughter.
Police also confirmed to Globo TV that the body has been identified as being Amiridis.
Investigators told Globo TV they believe Amiridis' wife and the police officer, Sergio Moreira, arranged and possibly carried out the murder in a home where the diplomat and his wife were staying in a northern Rio suburb.
Police and Rio state security officials along with Greek officials declined to comment to Reuters on the television report, nor would they provide any other details.
In Athens, Greek foreign ministry spokesman Stratos Efthymiou said the government had no comment about the case.
Two other suspects were in custody, but they were not identified, Globo reported.
The O Globo newspaper earlier reported that blood was found on a couch inside the home. Globo TV on Friday afternoon showed police carrying a sofa into police headquarters.
A burned corpse was found Thursday evening inside the car that Amiridis and his wife had rented. It was parked under a highway overpass in the area where the couple had been staying.
On Thursday, police confirmed that the ambassador had been missing since Monday night, when he was last seen leaving the home of his wife's family.
The incident is another blow to Rio's image, just four months after it hosted the Summer Olympics.
The neighborhood where the car was found is dominated by powerful and politically connected armed groups mostly comprised of off-duty or retired police and firefighters who control vast areas. They are believed to often extort residents in exchange for keeping drug gangs from taking over the areas.
The armed groups have grown in strength in Rio for several years, and often curry favor with local politicians by promising to deliver votes from entire neighborhoods as long as authorities allow them to carry out their crimes.
Crime in Rio has been rising and the state is deeply indebted, often unable to pay police and other salaries on time, if at all.
Amiridis served as Greece's consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004. He was Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 until he took the top Brazil post at the beginning of 2016.
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3.6 million metres of land has been encroached upon in Cairo, the citys governor Atef Abdel-Hamid announced on Friday.
In press statements, Abdel-Hamid said that the governorate, along with the state, has established a committee to recover land following a comprehensive inventory that revealed that 17,000 pieces of land covering an area of 3.6 million metres has been encroached upon.
He added that the return of such state owned lands was currently ongoing between the governorate, security facilities, and the armed forces, also saying that some of those who have obtained the lands illegally have reached out to legalise their status.
He called on those holding the lands illegally to give them up instead of being involved in a conflict with the state, pointing out that the legal administration of the governorate has been mandated with receiving ownership papers to verify their legality.
The governor stressed that there was no laxity in recovering state owned lands, revealing that a second wave to recover land would take place in the coming days.
A first wave of liberating the land has lead to the retrieval of 135,000 square meters in several areas, worth EGP 1 billion, including in Maadi, El-Basateen, and Helwan.
Egypt has been pushing with efforts to retrieve looted state lands through a committee established in February that aims to redeem stolen state land in accordance with the law governing each authority.
Land recovered by the committee has been held for auction for incorporation into the government's developmental plans.
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Kare 11, Tuesday, December 27, 2016 11:13 AM
Local governments in Minnesota have adopted a new policy to automatically delete emails after 30 days. According to the policy, any email that is not "official" should automatically be deleted after a month. Transparency advocates are concerned about the procedure citing that the language "official" is vague and not retaining records for freedom of information requests.
Read the whole story at Kare 11
by Laurie Sullivan , Staff Writer @lauriesullivan, December 29, 2016
Google and Microsoft redefined the definition of search through messaging technology like chatbots and apps for mobile and desktop by making a case that it can reach across a brand's or retailer's Web site to find and return information on consumer queries.
Messaging creates a new form of search advertising simply by returning information based on chatbot queries. At the November 11 Bing Ads Next event in Redmond, Washington, Microsoft demonstrated how companies like airline ticket site Skyscanner, as well as Delta Airlines in a demo, use a chatbot by pulling information from its Web site to answer questions. Microsoft also demonstrated a chatbot that serves up on bing.com in search results. A restaurant called Moksha is testing the technology in the Redmond, Washington area.
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As consumers warm up to the idea of talk to machines, for brands, agencies and developers integrating the data from chatbots becomes one of the biggest challenges. The disparate systems do not communicate with each other. Apple focuses on Siri, Google on Allo, and Microsoft on Cortana. This next step not too far into the future will play out similar to the integration of advertising channels such as mobile, desktop and television.
Nearly one-third of consumers 28.9% prefer to use a chatbot rather than the 29% who prefer to pick up the phone or the 27% who prefer to email when interacting with retailers, according to [24]7, a provider of chatbot and human agent assistance for retailers, released Monday.
Break down the numbers in the study A Retailer's Guide to Chatbots, Live Chat and Messaging and Millennials lead when it comes to adopting chat technology chatbots and apps. Some 37% of survey respondents ages 18 to 34 rank chat as their favorite way to contact companies when making a purchase, with 30% choosing online chat and 7% selecting messaging apps.
Overall, 39% of consumers are open to interacting with a chatbot in a retail scenario, but when the study broke that down by demographics, it found that only 9% of Millennials prefer to always interact with a chatbot compared with a human. Millennials, 40%, prefer use a messaging app.
Surprisingly, the ability to chat online or through a mobile device has surpassed the use of using a phone and sending an email as the most popular way for consumers to interact with retailers, according to the [24]7 study.
While customer services seems the most popular use for online chat applications such as messaging and chatbots, a study from Support.com found a home for the technology in tech support.
It turns out that millennials are 75% more comfortable using chatbots, compared with baby boomers, when it comes to tech support. Millennials also are 138% more likely than baby boomers to think chatbots are better because they can respond faster than a live agent.
About 60% know when theyre interacting with a machine for tech support and they are not comfortable with it, with 71% of baby boomers and 65% of women agreeing.
Not all believe chatbots improve tech support. In fact 81% dont think chatbots improve tech support interactions or respond faster than a live agent, according to the Support.com study.
The survey of 2,000 consumers reveals expectations for more personalized and automated technology support in the near future. The study focuses on technical support, but through the numbers marketers can clearly see how consumers think about chatbots.
Brands planning to implement a chatbot to support consumers online, will have a lot of things to contemplate. Humanizing technology through virtual assistants and chatbots won't work for all strategies. It will depend on the company's customer base.
Privacy will become one of the biggest issues brands will need to consider when implement a chatbot.
Some consumers are reluctant to share personal information this way. Companies will need to test the waters before they fully jump in.
This column was previously published in Searchblog on November 14, 2016.
by Devon Wijesinghe , Op-Ed Contributor, December 30, 2016
Back in October, a story made the rounds in which Pope Francis shocked the world by endorsing Donald Trump for president. Though patently false, its easy to see why people fell for it: It showed up in the Facebook News Feed alongside traditional news outlets, received a ton of Likes and certainly looked like a real story.
Those elements show why fake news is such an intractable problem. Such bogus items have been capturing the worlds attention lately because they are creating real-life consequences. In addition to possibly swaying the election, there was a recent incident in Washington, D.C., in which a man walked into a pizza joint with a rifle to investigate a supposed child sex ring run by Hillary Clinton. The man had read about pizzagate, an alleged conspiracy fueled by seemingly suspicious references to the pizza restaurant in many Wikileaks emails.
In this Alice in Wonderland environment, brands have an unprecedented opportunity to use their own trustworthiness to align with legitimate news organizations and starve fake news sites of ad income. They can also use true influencer marketing with actual influencers rather than celebs to provide some verity in a sea of misinformation.
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How we got here
There was a time when it seemed that the Internet would provide authority to all claims. After all, once you link to the source, the matter should be settled, right? The reality, however, is that source material can be nuanced and biased ... and in other cases fabricated entirely. This has led to an atmosphere where it can be hard to know whom to believe. A North Carolina man who had previously clicked on stories claiming that Hillary Clinton was indicted and that Mexico built a wall along its nouthern border told The New York Times that he missed the days when Walter Cronkite was a trusted source of news.
As weve seen, this lack of a source of objective truth has had a corrosive effect on public discourse. It also can potentially hurt influencer marketing. Social networks are meant to be a place where you let down your hair as well as your guard. Influencers are technically required to disclose that they are being paid for this activity, but with little regulation and the fact that their credibility would be shot if anyone knew they were being paid, this happens rarely. So when these influencers are paid to talk about a brand they have no real experience with is that not fake news? It teeters on a very thin line.
The way forward
This dilemma has been complicated by the fact that many brands have inadvertently placed their ads on fake news sites via programmatic buys. Those ads confer authority on the brands but over time will hurt the brands as well.
Thats why marketers need to recognize that in this age of relativism, brand names carry a weight of authority that media brands are losing. The old model of advertising was to use a media companys reach to get in front of a large group of viewers or readers. Now, while reach is still important, authority also plays a big role.
Influencers can not only provide an audience but provide a context for purchasing. The net effect is that both the brand and the influencer create their own authority thats separate from media. In the atmosphere of social media, a brand and an influencer can carry equal weight to The New York Times, which faces its own questions of bias and, because it traffics in native advertising, legitimacy as well.
In this strange new media environment, media companies and brands need to recreate trust, almost from scratch. Thats a real opportunity. As Facebook moves forward with a plan to block fake news, media companies will have the same opportunity. This might not be an optimum scenario, but as Cronkite himself used to say, Thats the way it is.
by Erik Sass , Staff Writer @eriksass1, December 29, 2016
It looks like the German government is serious about its proposed ban on fake news. In the latest development, the German Ministry of Justice revealed that it is considering levying big fines on online platforms like Facebook that fail to act expeditiously to delete fake news -- as well as hate speech and other kinds of illegal content.
In order to get Facebook and other online platforms to remove prohibited content as quickly as possible, German Justice Minister Heiko Maas is proposing a fine of 500,000 euros, or $522,000, for every fake news item that isnt removed within 24 hours of being flagged. The same fine would apply to items deemed hate speech, including racism or statements inciting violence, which is illegal in Germany.
The new measures under consideration would also require online platforms to distribute corrections calling out fake news to at least the same people who saw the original bogus report. Individuals who are harmed by fake news stories would also be due compensation. Finally, foreign-owned companies would be required to maintain offices in Germany to handle these requests.
Germany lawmakers are especially concerned about the potential impact of fake news on the countrys upcoming 2017 parliamentary elections, citing speculation that bogus stories may have influenced the recent U.S. presidential race.
Germanys powerful chancellor, Angela Merkel, has previously spoken out against fake news circulating online, particularly made-up stories about the roughly one million Middle Eastern refugees who arrived in the country over the last two years. Many pundits fear fake news stories will work to the advantage of the populist, right-wing Alternative for Germany party, which wants to limit immigration and leave the euro.
For its part, Facebook has denied that fake news items influenced the U.S. presidential election, but has agreed to implement fact-checking by third party organizations, which would be incorporated into the News Feed.
by Richard Whitman , Columnist, December 29, 2016
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Back in October, 24-year-old Dentsu Japan employee Matsuri Takahashi committed suicide after routinely working 100-plus hours of overtime each month. The death was attributed to Karoshi, a Japanese reference to a culture of overwork. The death sparked a study into the culture of overworking, and in addition, Dentsu altered its policy on allowable overtime hours.As a result of this event, Dentsu Japan President Tadashi Ishii has announced that he will tender his resignation in January during a scheduled board meeting. At a news conference, Ishii said: "It is extremely regrettable that we could not prevent overwork by a new recruit. In order to take full responsibility, I would like to resign as president at a board meeting in January."Following the suicide , Ishii had said: "Excessive amounts of work is something that should never be allowed to happen. We deeply regret failing to prevent the overwork of our new recruit. I offer my sincere apologies."There are no plans for replacing Ishii at this point.It was no secret that Takahashi was under a great deal of stress. Her social media posts were filled with such commentary as "I'm physically and mentally shattered. I want to die."
by Laurie Sullivan @lauriesullivan, December 29, 2016
A range of emerging technologies such as augmented and virtual reality and voice-activated search, as well as ways to use the data, could send marketers back to school, requiring forward thinkers to seek higher-ed degrees.
About seven of the top 35 universities in College Choice's ranking have a Master's degree program with a focus on digital. Even at No. 27, one of the more niche degree programs in College Choice's ranking -- the University of Connecticuts School of Business -- has a full-time MBA degree that focuses on Digital Marketing with an added specialty in Marketing Analytics.
College Choice, which ranks colleges and universities, on Thursday published its 2017 list of Best Master's in Marketing. The ranking is based on the programs' reputations along with its average return on investment. The sources for this information are drawn from a variety of publicly accessible records, including a nationwide survey published by the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA, U.S. News & World Report, the National Center for Education Statistics, and PayScale.com.
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University of Pennsylvania took the No. 1 rating, with a score of 100, for those looking to earn an advanced degree in marketing, according to a ranking study.
Students who want to attain a Master's degree in marketing can do so through Whartons MBA program at the University of Pennsylvania. The annual tuition for the institution is about $31,068. There are two available tracks: a marketing major or a joint major in marketing and operations management.
Marketing jobs are poised to increase at a 9% compounded annual growth rate for 10 years beginning in 2014, and jobs in marketing research analysis are expected to rise 19%, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics.
Texas A&M University took the No. 2 ranking with a score of 94.14. The annual tuition runs about $15,125 through the Mays Business School, which offers a Master's of Science in Marketing that can be completed in 16 months or 12 months for Texas A&M undergraduates.
University of Texas, Austin comes in at No. 3 with a score of 93.57 and annual tuition of $20,762. The McCombs School of Business has about 12,000 enrolled students each year, and of those, around 2,000 are graduate students. The Masters of Science in Marketing program at McCombs emphasizes marketing and data.
by Larissa Faw , December 30, 2016
SoftBank Robotics and its agency Midnight Oil recently produced a series of events designed to demonstrate its humanoid robot Pepper's capabilities and value in a traditional retail store setting.
The 4-foot tall robot can recognize key human emotions and adapt its behavior to the mood of the person it's dealing with.
These events, which showcased Pepper interacting with retail customers, took place at the B8ta" tech stores in Palo Alto and Santa Monica, CA, as well as "The Ave clothing store at the University of Southern California (USC) campus in Los Angeles.
Customers were greeted by Pepper, then were introduced to The Ave through dedicated applications built for this particular experience.
Shoppers learned about its patented printing process, shopped the stores top collections, created and purchased custom gear, and discovered the history of The Ave.
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The Ave also hosted an open house, where SoftBank product manager Nicholas Beucher spoke with students about the uniqueness of Pepper as a platform and what it means for the future of business.
The project was promoted via social media plus an editorial in the USC paper.
Peppers three-day activation at The Ave is credited with tripling revenue, bumping up foot traffic by 20% and increasing customer interactions by 98%. Pepper also grew total mentions across social media by 129% through a social media contest in which shoppers who took a selfie and shared it on Instagram or Twitter with #PepperGoesToSchool and #MeetPepper.
Now, Midnight Oil and SoftBank are turning these results into case studies and an awareness campaign aimed at software developers and retailers.
Pepper is relatively common in Japan, where the robot has served as salesperson, waiter and customer service rep in several hundred companies.
by Philip Rosenstein , Staff Writer, December 30, 2016
Many questions about President Trump will be answered in 2017.
Donald Trump said many controversial things during the 2016 campaign and transition period about his priorities and how he might act as president.
Back in April, Trump said: Im going to be so presidential that you people will be so bored. Now that he is the president-elect, weve seen fleeting glimpses of being so presidential. So far, his signature off-the-cuff statements could prove dangerous as president.
He appeared respectful when he met with President Obama at the White House, but quickly fell back into old habits, tweeting about China and Russia with seemingly little attention paid to the diplomatic outcomes or the State Department.
Next year, we will learn how impulsive Trump is and if he can tame his bombastic impulses as president.
With U.S.-Russia relations and his family-business conflicts leading the news, Trumps immigration policies have not been top of mind in recent weeks. But since it was a key campaign pledge, what will Trumps wall look like? How will he enact his promise to deport up to 3 million illegal immigrants with criminal records? (Note: There arent that many illegal immigrants with criminal records.)
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Also of consequence: How the Trump administration acts on its call to ban Muslims, whether partially or otherwise, from entering the United States. These policies will be particularly central should another terrorist attack shake the West.
The Trump transitions approach to the Affordable Care Act, known as Obamacare, has been uncoordinated at best. Though removing it entirely will put undue hardships on millions of Americans, Trump and his GOP supporters have pledged to repeal and replace, no easy task.
Crucial to the future of our countrys relationship with the White House is how Trump will interact with the national press. Trumps Press Secretary Sean Spicer gave some hint, but the most we know concretely is that Trumps press operation wont be business as usual.
Neither, from all accounts, will his presidency.
by Sara Guaglione , December 30, 2016
Recent comScore data reveals U.S. mobile traffic in November propelled the site to a new record, affirming publishers investments this year in mobile.
Originally reported by Adweek, Forbes.com raked in 44.4 million unique visitors on mobile in November. Including desktop and tablet traffic, the Forbes comScore total in the U.S. last month is 56.5 million unique visitors.
Forbes mobile traffic from November is up 17.5% compared to the previous month. The numbers are a 30% increase compared to November 2015.
Chief product officer Lewis DVorkin told FishbowlNY the next step is to further monetize the mobile experience.
Theres life beyond forbes.com and life beyond Forbes magazine, he said. And that life extends to everything people are doing with their mobile phones to access information, like new kinds of mobile experiences: podcasting, virtual reality, messenger services, Snapchat and many others. Thats the path were pursuing as we march forward.
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As Publishers Daily previously reported, online magazine audiences continue to shift from desktop to mobile devices.
According to The Association of Magazine Media's Magazine Media 360 Brand Audience Report for October, desktop and laptop Web audiences were down 9%, while mobile Web viewing was up 12.2%. Of the 125 brands that were included in the report, 94% had higher mobile audiences than Web audiences.
Nearly one-quarter of these brands reported mobile audiences that were 3 times greater than their Web audiences.
Forbes wasnt the only publication to experience record traffic in November, an unusual month due to the presidential election, when more people are reading news regularly.
For example, Hearst Magazines Digital Media reported six of its brands broke individual traffic records in November, including Esquire, Country Living, Harper's Bazaar, Marie Claire, Town & Country and its newest site, Best Products.
The Washington Post had 99.1 million unique visitors in November 2016, marking a 38% increase compared to last year, according to comScore. WaPo says these numbers should be even higher, and are significantly under-reported due to Facebooks miscalculation of iPhone traffic on its Instant Articles platform.
WaPo believes once the numbers are adjusted for October and November, unique visitors will cross the 100 million mark.
by Larissa Faw , December 30, 2016
Publicis New York is using its talents to raise awareness for Syrian refugees through a passion project with Doctors of the World (DOTW), an international human-rights organization that provides long-term medical assistance to refugees in Europe and the Middle East.
In mid-December, DOTW sent a team including Publicis VP creative director Einav Jacubovich, DOTW USAs Tamera Gugelmeyer and filmmaker Cano Rojas to the Syrian border near Aleppo to spend a week documenting the frontlines. While visiting DOTW clinics and hospitals and meeting the patients there, the team discovered a powerful reason to feel fear in the face of this crisisnot fear of the refugees themselves but, fear of the worlds indifference towards them, they say.
Although they were there gathering film for additional content, they were so moved by their interviews and experiences that they moved quickly to create a larger initial film in advance of the later, more in-depth content.
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The Not Like Us film illustrates with simplicity how strangely familiar and incredibly alike everyone is to a refugee. The 1:22 minute clip shows a variety of regular Syrians stating identifying characteristics, such as "I am a nurse," "I am a father," "husband," and "principal" intermixed with computer text printing commonly held statements like "they are all terrorists" and "should go back to where they came from." "Indifference is a disease," closes the video.
It appears on the DOTW Facebook page and YouTube channel, though at this time, there are no additional paid support or additional efforts.
However, Not Like Us" will be followed with several others videos to roll out in the coming months. "While at the Turkey/Syria border, we've filmed numerous interviews with many Syrian refugees, some doctors and some patients," says Jacubovich. "From our interviews and footage we'll be creating content to release throughout 2017."
All the work Publicis NY produced for DOTW was pro-bono, with the agency covering the production costs. "We have the ability to use our capacities as an international advertising agency to aid the world, and we're proud to do so," says Jacubovich. "We're extremely dedicated and aligned with DOTW's goals and beliefs, as a human-rights NGO devoted to aiding the world's most vulnerable populations."
In the past two+ years, Publicis has been producing campaigns for DOTW for numerous initiatives, including raising money and awareness for the Ebola epidemic in 2014, the Nepal earthquake in 2015 and, for the past year, for its work in Turkey and Syria aiding the Syrian refugees.
"We were more than happy to help them, pro bono, and instantly set up time to meet," says Jacubovich. "Within a week of our first meet-and-greet with the clients, we had launched our first campaign. We've been working together ever since."
The human brain is made up of billions of cells. We do not know the identity or exact function of countless thousands of them since comprehensive efforts to catalogue neurons have just recently begun. Studying these many still unidentified cells is an important "hot-spot" in frontier brain research since it offers the discovery of new cell functions that could play important roles in many diseases. In the Department of Molecular Neurosciences at the Center for Brain Research of the Medical University of Vienna, scientists have now described many previously unknown neurons in the hypothalamus and determined the function of a hitherto uncharted dopamine cell. The study has now been published in the leading journal Nature Neuroscience.
An accurate look into the cellular and molecular composition of the brain has recently become possible thanks to a combination of traditional methods, particularly the use of microscopy to determine cellular structure, and "single-cell RNA sequencing". Using the latter method, it is by now possible to extract key molecular information that encodes the identity of each cell - and that means tens of thousands of mRNA molecules per cell.
"The hypothalamus is the area that regulates metabolic processes throughout the body by producing many different hormones. For this reason, it is the region of the brain with the greatest density of structurally and functionally distinct neurons. Considering that as few as 1,000 - 5,000 neurons can control basic hormonal processes such as stress, nutrition and sleep, the discovery of additional neuronal subtypes promises new knowledge to advance our understanding of how fundamental interactions between the brain and the body are triggered and maintained" explains Tibor Harkany, Head of the Department of Molecular Neurosciences within the Center for Brain Research.
The team from MedUni Vienna's Center for Brain Research has distinguished 62 different subtypes of neurons. Thus, it is now possible to investigate their function, including their wiring and modes of communication with other nerve cells locally, as well as in distant regions of the brain. The researchers have already succeeded in identifying the function of a particular subtype of neuron, a dopamine cell with a unique molecular signature. "We think that the secretion of some hormones (e.g. prolactin) produced in the pituitary gland only occurs when this dopamine cell is inactive. Since its activity changes during the day, it also controls circadian fluctuations in hormone levels" explains Tomas Hokfelt, visiting professor at the Center for Brain Research, who pioneered the anatomical mapping of neuropeptide systems in the hypothalamus. The pituitary gland is a sort of interface, via which the brain regulates processes such as growth, reproduction, sexuality and stress via the release of hormones.
Consequently, it might be possible to exploit these exciting findings to pinpoint drug targets in many of the newly identified neurons in order to intervene in metabolic diseases - for example in obesity, contraception, anorexia, insomnia or even narcolepsy. This line of research expects to predominantly influence metabolic processes through pharmacological modulation of hypothalamic neurons. "These findings could therefore help us to devise new ways of combating many of the most common and devastating diseases in our modern society. Our results encourage us to think that new treatment options might exist, and could target hitherto unknown hormones or receptor systems" explains Roman Romanov, lead author and brain researcher at Medical University of Vienna.
"If we continue to catalogue not only neurons but also other cell types in the brain then we will gain comprehensive insights in how complex functions arise", says Tibor Harkany "then, it might be possible to precisely explain connections, relationships and interactions between neurons and even predict how, where and when certain neurons act together, even across distant areas of the brain, to orchestrate fundamental outputs throughout life."
Like many other studies at the Department of Molecular Neurosciences, the European Research Council (ERC) and the European Molecular Biology Organisation (EMBO) frontier research programs funded this project.
Neurons in the brain store RNA molecules - DNA gene copies - in order to rapidly react to stimuli. This storage dramatically accelerates the production of proteins. This is one of the reasons why neurons in the brain can adapt quickly during learning processes. The recent results of a research group at the University of Basel's Biozentrum have been published in the current issue of Neuron.
Our brain is not only the most complex organ of the human body, it is also the most flexible. But how do neurons in the brain adapt their function in response to stimuli within a very short time frame?
The research group of Prof. Peter Scheiffele at the Biozentrum, University of Basel, has demonstrated that neurons store a reserve stock of RNA molecules, copies of the DNA, in the cell's nucleus. These RNA molecules form the blueprint for new proteins. After a neuronal stimulus the stored RNA molecules are mobilized in order to adjust the function of the neuron. The process of RNA synthesis (DNA copying) is very slow especially for large genes. Thus, this newly uncovered mechanism for mobilization of stored RNAs saves time and provides new insights regarding the fast adaptation of the brain during learning processes.
Storage for RNA molecules
The RNA blueprint for proteins is produced by a sophisticated copying process: First a basic RNA copy of the DNA is generated. From this copy, individual sections, so-called introns, are subsequently cut out to provide a finalized blueprint for the production of a specific protein. This process is called RNA splicing.
So far, it was assumed, that neuronal stimuli trigger the complete process for the production of new RNA molecules. However, the team of Peter Scheiffele now discovered that neurons in the brain pre-manufacture certain immature RNA copies which are only partially spliced. These RNA molecules still contain some introns and are stored in the cell nucleus. Signals induced by neuronal stimulation trigger the splicing completion of the immature RNA molecules.
"The copying process of the DNA, the so-called transcription, is already finalized in advance by the neurons. Hence, mature RNA molecules can be produced within minutes," explains Oriane Mauger, the first author.
Prepared copies save time
For large genes, the production of the initial version of the RNAs itself takes dozens of hours. "The fact that the RNA molecules are already available in an immature form and only need to be completed, shortens the whole process to a few minutes", says Mauger. "Since the transcription is very time-consuming, the storage of RNA means a significant time saving. This enables neurons to quickly adapt their function."
"This study reveals a completely new regulatory mechanism for the brain", declares Scheiffele. "The results provide us with a further explanation of how neurons steer rapid plasticity processes."
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestine that includes Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis. It is commonly treated with one of several available biological drugs that block an inflammatory molecule called Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF-alpha), but not everybody is helped by this treatment.
New research by a team of biomedical scientists at the University of California, Riverside, led by David Lo, M.D., Ph.D., now offers a valuable tip that could help make these drugs more effective.
TNF-alpha is a protein produced by the body's cells. It signals other cells that then produce additional inflammatory factors. But Lo's lab discovered earlier this year that TNF-alpha also induces specialized immune surveillance cells, called M cells, which both promote inflammation and suppress it. In other words, TNF-alpha plays a role in the destruction and the healing of tissues - a double-edged sword.
"M cells normally help the immune system detect microbes in the gut, but in the case of IBD, these may also help bacteria enter tissues and worsen the inflammation," explained Lo, a distinguished professor of biomedical sciences in the School of Medicine.
His lab now reports that that while there are two receptors for TNF-alpha, only one receptor, TNFR2, induces M cells. Currently, TNF-alpha-targeted drugs block both TNFR1 and TNFR2.
"Newer therapies might be more effective by targeting only TNFR2," Lo said. "As an analogy, if a soldier knew her enemy was hiding in one of two caves, she would not debate which cave she should target; she might blow up both. But if she knows her enemy is in Cave A, then why would she waste ammunition and risk innocent bystanders by attacking Cave B as well?"
Study results appear online in the Journal of Crohn's and Colitis.
The body's intestinal lining has epithelial cells that form a barrier so that bacteria in the gut do not pass on into the rest of the body. During inflammation that occurs in IBD infection, TNF-alpha triggers an increase in the number of M cells along the colon. The M cells act like selective gates and serve as a conduit for pathogens to get across the barrier and into the body.
"The question is if you have more M cells, do you have better immune surveillance or do you have more bacteria getting across the barrier?" Lo said. "From a therapeutic point of view we might want to tamp M-cell production down just enough so that the immune system can do its job without having a whole lot of bacteria pass into the body from inside the gut."
Lo explained why not everybody with IBD benefits from anti-TNF drugs.
"These drugs target both TNRF-alpha receptors: TNFR1 and TNFR2," he said. "But our research identifies a distinct inflammation-inducible M-cell population that is dependent on TNFR2 signaling, but not TNFR1. If too many M cells are being produced, then the anti-TNF drug being used is not sufficiently blocking TNRF2, which induces the M cells, and is instead blocking the other receptor. If we understand why there are two receptors, then instead of drugs doing a global blockade, more focused therapeutic approaches could target only one of the receptors, resulting in a more efficient suppression of the inflammation we see in IBD."
An ongoing challenge for biomedical scientists doing IBD research is gaining a full understanding of the role M cells play in chronic inflammation. It remains unclear whether M cells help promote continuing inflammation or whether they are critical to initiating immuno-regulatory mechanisms.
"Knowing these roles should lead to more specifically targeted therapies that will promote the regulation and resolution of chronic intestinal inflammation," Lo said.
The research, done using a mouse model, was supported by the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease of the National Institutes of Health.
"We would like to relate this work directly to humans in the near future because we have the same receptors, TNRF1 and TNRF2, and the pattern of inflammation in mice is similar to what we see in humans," Lo said.
He was joined in the study by UCR's Erinn A. Parnell, a postdoctoral scholar; and Erin M. Walch, a graduate student.
Lo is the senior associate dean for research at the UCR School of Medicine. He joined UCR in 2006. Two years later, his lab developed a novel peptide that targets M cells for needle-free vaccine delivery.
Article: Inducible Colonic M Cells Are Dependent on TNFR2 but Not Ltr, Identifying Distinct Signalling Requirements for Constitutive Versus Inducible M Cells, Erinn A. Parnell, Erin M. Walch, David D. Lo, Journal of Crohn's and Colitis, doi: 10.1093/ecco-jcc/jjw212, published online 7 December 2016.
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In India, since ancient times betel leaf is used in religious rituals as it is considered auspicious. Betel leaf is a heart-shaped, deep green color leaf that belongs to the family of Piperaceae. The scientific name of betel leaf is " Piper betle ".
In India, betel leaves are commonly known as "paan leaves" and it is consumed by approximately 15-20 million people. Betel leaves are cultivated in Sri Lanka, India, Malaysia, East Africa, Philippine islands and Indonesia. It is found in different regions of India such as Bengal, Orissa, Bihar and Karnataka. Betel leaf also known as "paan ka patta" has a strong, pungent and aromatic flavor and it is widely used as a mouth freshener.
Approximately 85-90% of betel leaf is water, which means it has high moisture content and low calorie count. About 100 grams of betel leaves contain just 44 calories. It contains 0.4-1% fat and 3-3.5% protein, which makes it a low source of fat and moderate source of protein.
Furthermore, the betel leaf contains moderate amounts of essential nutrients such as iodine (3.4 mcg/ 100 grams), potassium (1.1-4.6%), vitamin A (1.9-2.9 mg/ 100 grams), vitamin B1 (13-70 mcg/ 100 grams), vitamin B2 (1.9-30 mcg/ 100 grams) and nicotinic acid (0.63-0.89 mg/ 100 grams).
Besides these nutrients betel leaves contain essential oils and chemical components such as betel oil and chavicol, betelphenol, eugenol, terpene and campene. These chemical components possess medicinal properties and help in the treatment and management of various diseases and disorders.
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1. Anti-diabetic Agent
Various anti-diabetic medicines have side-effects on the liver and kidneys in the long run. Research has revealed that dried betel leaf powder has the ability to reduce blood glucose levels in individuals with newly diagnosed type 2 diabetes mellitus and this herbal remedy comes without any side-effects.
Individuals with diabetes exhibit high levels of oxidative stress due to continuous high blood glucose levels (hyperglycemia). Such high levels of blood glucose depletes the antioxidant defense system and further inactivate antioxidant enzymes. Betel leaf is a great source of antioxidant that fights oxidative stress by scavenging free radicals. Thus, betel leaf helps in lowering high blood glucose levels and aids in the management of diabetes mellitus.
2. Lowers High Cholesterol Levels
High cholesterol level is a risk factor for heart disease and stroke. Studies have found that betel leaf helps in lowering high levels of total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein (LDL)cholesterol and very low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) cholesterol. Furthermore, it also helps to increase high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol levels. Such a lipid-lowering effect of betel leaf is attributed to the presence of eugenol, a natural antioxidant that neutralizes free radicals. Eugenol further inhibits the biosynthesis of cholesterol in the liver and reduces lipid absorption in the intestine. It further increases the catabolism of "bad" LDL cholesterol. High levels of cholesterol and triglycerides are mobilized from plasma to the liver and then they are eliminated in the form of bile acids. Thus, through various mechanisms betel leaves help in lowering high lipid levels.
3. Anti-cancer Agent
Betel levels when consumed with tobacco and betel nuts increase the risk of oral cancer. However, betel leaf alone is a reservoir of phenolic compounds that possess antioxidant, anti-mutagenic, anti-proliferative and anti-bacterial properties. Studies have revealed chemo-preventive potential of betel leaves against various types of cancer. Furthermore, betel leaves contain an array of phytochemicals (health promoting plant chemicals) that possess cancer-fighting benefits. Oxidative stress plays a huge role in the pathophysiology of cancer. Betel leaves are an excellent source of antioxidants that neutralize free radicals and fight oxidative stress. It further inhibits the growth of cancer cells and its spread to different organs of the body.
4. Anti-microbial Agent
Essential oil present in betel leaves possess anti-bacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria namely, Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aures, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Furthermore, the presence of phenolics and phytochemicals in betel leaves help to protect against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria.
5. Helps in Wound Healing
Studies have observed that betel leaves help in the process of wound healing. It was further found that betel leaf extract has a very strong effect on wound healing in case of burn wound. Increased levels of oxidative stress causes delay in wound healing. Betel leaf is a great source of antioxidants. These antioxidants reduce oxidative stress and further help in quick wound healing. Thus, betel leaf acts as a protective agent in wound healing by increasing the wound contraction rate and total protein content.
6. Anti-asthmatic Agent
Asthma is recognized as an inflammatory condition. Betel leaf possesses antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties and thus, it helps in the treatment and management of asthma. Histamine is an inflammatory mediator that plays a major role in causing asthma. Histamine causes bronchoconstriction, a sign of asthma in which airways in the lungs get constricted due to tightening of smooth muscles. Research has found that anti-histaminic activity of betel leaf may be a causative agent in lowering bronchial asthma cases. Furthermore, betel oil and polyphenols present in betel leaf possess anti-inflammatory properties that further helps in lowering asthma cases.
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7. Helps Overcome Depression
Depression is a psychiatric disorder that affects approximately 5% population of the world. Research has revealed that besides anti-depressant drugs, herbal remedy such as chewing betel leaves have been used since ancient times for its CNS (central nervous system) stimulant activity. It was further found that chewing betel leaves produces a sense of well-being, a feeling of happiness and heightened alertness. Furthermore, betel leaves contain aromatic phenolic compounds that stimulate the release of catecholamines. A strong link is present between low level of catecholamines in the body and increased risk of depression. Therefore, chewing betel leaves is an easy way to keep depression at bay.
8. Improves Oral Health
Pathogens present in the mouth are responsible for dental infections and dental caries. Studies have observed that chewing betel leaves can inhibit the growth and activity of bacteria. Betel leaf is very popular as a mouth freshener and it can be used as a substitute for drugs that are used to treat oral or dental infections. When foods and drinks high in sugar are consumed, acid reacts with bacteria present in dental biofilm. Betel leaf protects against dental caries by inhibiting the acid produced by salivary bacteria.
9. Gastro Protective Activity
Studies have found that chewing betel leaf is an ancient traditional remedy used for treating gastric ulcers. Agents that cause ulcer damage the inner lining of the gut, reduce the production of gastric mucus and increase the level of oxidative stress. Betel leaves inhibit the formation of gastric lesions, increase the production of gastric mucus (important factor that protects against ulcer causing agents) and reduce the volume of gastric acid secretion. Phytochemicals and polyphenols present in betel leaf possess antioxidant and anti-ulcerogenic properties. They protect the inner layer of the gut against toxins and other irritants and thus reduce the overall damage.
10. Anti-malarial Agent
Studies have found that during ancient times in rural regions of Malaysia betel leaves were used as an anti-malarial remedy. Terpenes, a health promoting compound present in betel leaf possesses anti-malarial properties. Flavonoids present in betel leaf possess significant anti-parasitic activity against different parasite strains of malaria. Thus, betel leaves contain novel anti-malarial compounds that can be used in the fight against malaria.
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Armenia President: I will keep Iranian investments under my personal control
I will keep large investments from Iran under my personal control.President of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan, who attended the Armenian-Iranian forum along with his Iranian counterpart Hassan Rouhani, stated the aforementioned on Wednesday.In his words, at the meeting he asked his Iranian counterpart to invigorate the interest of Iranian entrepreneurs towards Armenia.For my part, I promised to present Iran to Armenian businessmen in the same light, Sargsyan said.Referring to investments from Iran, the Armenian President said that the country expects them and he will keep each large project under his personal control. The objective is clear - to bring the economic potential to the level of very developed political relations. We use only a little part of our potential in the trade and economic sphere. There is good experience of cooperation in the sphere of energy, but it should be expanded to other spheres as well, Sargsyan said.Armenia is a beneficial direction for investments, since despite external shocks, it was able to maintain its macroeconomic stability thanks to capable monetary and loan, as well as tax and budgetary policy, Sargsyan added.In the Presidents words, new investment legislation will be drawn out which will help solve possible legal disputes.Armenia also offers good conditions for entrance to large foreign markets. The country is a member of the Eurasian Union, which means that goods produced here can freely circulate in the 180-million market of the EAEU.Together with this, Armenia makes use of the GSP+ preferential regime for the export of 6400 items of goods. GSP is also used for export to U.S., Canada, Norway, Switzerland and Japan.Armenia also offers good opportunities for the transit of cargo from Iran to the Black Sea and all along to Europe. The North-South route along which concrete highway is constructed is the shortest way for this. The trade and investments will become more effective if obstacles in moving goods between the two countries are removed and cooperation is established between the free trade zonesIranian Araz (operating) and Armenian Meghri (planned)on the bank of the Araksriver.Finally, the cooperation in the innovation sphere is also very promising. Despite the limited ties with the external world, Iran has achieved great success in nanotechnologies and other spheres of innovation. Here we can join our efforts and intellectual potential to achieve wonderful results, the Armenian President concluded.
The following companies are subsidiares of Becton, Dickinson and: Accuri Cytometers, Accuri Cytometers Inc., Alverix Inc, Alverix Inc., Atto Bioscience Inc, BD Holding S. de R.L. de C.V., BD Infection Prevention BV, BD Kiestra BV, BD Kiestra Total Lab Automation, BD Rapid Diagnostic (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., BD San Luis Potosi S.A. de C.V., BD Switzerland Sarl, BD Ventures LLC, BD West Africa Limited, BDX INO LLC, Bard (Thailand) Limited, Bard ASDI Inc., Bard Access Systems Inc., Bard Acquisition Sub Inc., Bard Australia Pty. Limited, Bard Benelux N.V., Bard Brachytherapy Inc., Bard Brasil Industria e Comercio de Produtos Para a Saude Ltda., Bard Canada Inc., Bard Chile S.p.A., Bard Czech Republic s.r.o., Bard Devices Inc., Bard Dublin ITC Limited, Bard EMEA Finance Center Sp.z o.o., Bard European Distribution Center N.V., Bard Finance B.V. & Co. KG., Bard Financial Services Ltd., Bard Finland OY, Bard France S.A.S., Bard Global Holdings I LLC, Bard Global Holdings II LLC, Bard Global Holdings III LLC, Bard Healthcare Inc., Bard Healthcare Science (Shanghai) Limited, Bard Hellas S.A., Bard Holding SAS, Bard Holdings Limited, Bard Holdings Netherlands B.V., Bard Hong Kong Limited, Bard IP Holdings Inc., Bard India Healthcare Pvt. Ltd., Bard International Holdings B.V., Bard International Inc., Bard Istanbul Healthcare Limited Company, Bard Korea Ltd., Bard Limited, Bard MRL Acquisition Corp., Bard Malaysia Healthcare Sdn. Bhd., Bard Medica SA, Bard Medical Devices (Beijing) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical R&D (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Bard Medical SA (Proprietary) Limited, Bard Mexico Realty S. de R.L. de C.V., Bard Norden AB, Bard Norway AS, Bard Pacific Health Care Company Ltd., Bard Peripheral Vascular Inc., Bard Poland Sp. z.o.o., Bard Productos Plasticos e Medicos Ltda., Bard Reynosa S.A. de C.V., Bard S.r.l., Bard Sdn. Bhd., Bard Shannon Limited, Bard Singapore Private Limited, Bard Sourcing Office Singapore Pte. Ltd., Bard Sweden AB, Bard UK Newco Limited, Bard de Espana S.A., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Gibraltar) Management Limited, Becton Dickinson (Mauritius) Limited, Becton Dickinson (Pty) Ltd., Becton Dickinson (Thailand) Limited, Becton Dickinson A.G., Becton Dickinson A/S, Becton Dickinson Argentina S.R.L., Becton Dickinson Asia Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Asia Limited, Becton Dickinson Austria GmbH, Becton Dickinson Austria Holdings GmbH, Becton Dickinson B.V., Becton Dickinson B.V. Saudi Limited Company, Becton Dickinson Benelux N.V., Becton Dickinson Biosciences Systems and Reagents Inc., Becton Dickinson Canada Inc., Becton Dickinson Caribe Ltd., Becton Dickinson Croatia d.o.o., Becton Dickinson Czechia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Dispensing Belgium BVBA, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Denmark A/S, Becton Dickinson Dispensing France SAS, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Norway, Becton Dickinson Dispensing Spain S.L.U., Becton Dickinson Dispensing UK Ltd., Becton Dickinson Distribution Center N.V., Becton Dickinson East Africa Ltd., Becton Dickinson Euro Finance Sarl, Becton Dickinson Europe Holdings S.A.S., Becton Dickinson France S.A.S., Becton Dickinson GSA Beteilgungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings I Inc., Becton Dickinson Global Holdings II LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings IV LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings V LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Holdings VIII LLC, Becton Dickinson Global Services Centre Sdn. Bhd, Becton Dickinson GmbH, Becton Dickinson Guatemala S.A., Becton Dickinson Hellas S.A., Becton Dickinson Holdings Limited, Becton Dickinson Holdings Ltd., Becton Dickinson Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Hungary Kft., Becton Dickinson India Private Limited, Becton Dickinson Industrias Cirurgicas Ltda., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy AB, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Holdings UK Limited, Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy Systems Inc. S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson Infusion Therapy UK, Becton Dickinson Insulin Syringe Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings II Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings III Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson International Holdings Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Israel Ltd., Becton Dickinson Italia S.p.A., Becton Dickinson Ithalat Ihracat Limited Sirketi, Becton Dickinson Korea Holding Inc., Becton Dickinson Korea Ltd., Becton Dickinson Ltd., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Global Holdings Sarl, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings II S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings III S.a.r.L, Becton Dickinson Luxembourg Holdings V S.a.r.L., Becton Dickinson Malaysia Inc., Becton Dickinson Management GmbH & Co. KG, Becton Dickinson Matrex Holdings Inc., Becton Dickinson Medical (S) Pte Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Devices (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Products Pte. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Medical Technology (Jiangsu) Co. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Global Holdings II C.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings B.V., Becton Dickinson Netherlands Holdings II B.V., Becton Dickinson Norway AS, Becton Dickinson O.Y., Becton Dickinson Overseas Services Ltd., Becton Dickinson Pakistan (Pvt) Ltd., Becton Dickinson Penel Limited, Becton Dickinson Philippines Inc., Becton Dickinson Polska Sp.z.o.o., Becton Dickinson Portugal Unipessoal Lda., Becton Dickinson Pty. Ltd., Becton Dickinson Research Centre Ireland Limited, Becton Dickinson Rowa Germany GmbH, Becton Dickinson Rowa Italy Srl, Becton Dickinson S.A., Becton Dickinson Sample Collection GmbH, Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.L.P., Becton Dickinson Scot Financing L.P., Becton Dickinson Sdn. Bhd., Becton Dickinson Slovakia s.r.o., Becton Dickinson Sweden AB, Becton Dickinson Sweden Holdings AB, Becton Dickinson Switzerland Global Holdings SarL, Becton Dickinson Technology Campus India, Becton Dickinson U.K. Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing I Limited, Becton Dickinson UK Financing II Limited, Becton Dickinson Venezuela C.A., Becton Dickinson Venture LLC, Becton Dickinson Verwaltungs GmbH, Becton Dickinson Vostok LLC, Becton Dickinson Worldwide Investments Sa.r.L., Becton Dickinson Zambia Limited, Becton Dickinson and Company Ltd., Becton Dickinson de Colombia Ltda., Becton Dickinson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Becton Dickinson del Uruguay S.A., Bee IT Solutions, Benex Ltd., Biometric Imaging, Bridger Biomed Inc., C. R. Bard (Portugal) - Produtos e Artigos Medicos e Farmaceuticos, C. R. Bard Do Brasil Productos Medicos Ltda., C. R. Bard GmbH, C. R. Bard Inc., C. R. Bard Netherlands Sales B.V., C.R. Bard Inc, CME America LLC, CME Ltd., CME Medical (UK) Limited, CME UK (Holdings) Limited, CRISI Medical Systems, CRISI Medical Systems Inc., Caesarea Medical Electronics, Cardal II LLC, Care Fusion Development Private Limited, CareFusion (Barbados) SrL, CareFusion (Shanghai) Commercial and Trading Co. Limited, CareFusion 213 LLC, CareFusion 2200 Inc., CareFusion 2201 Inc., CareFusion 302 LLC, CareFusion 303 Inc., CareFusion Asia (HK) Limited, CareFusion Corporation, CareFusion Corporation., CareFusion D.R. 203 Ltd., CareFusion France 309 S.A.S., CareFusion Israel 330 Ltd., CareFusion Italy 312 S.p.A., CareFusion Manufacturing LLC, CareFusion Mexico 215 S.A. de C.V., CareFusion Netherlands 328 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 503 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands 504 B.V., CareFusion Netherlands Financing 283 C.V., CareFusion Resources LLC, CareFusion S.A. 319 (Proprietary) Limited, CareFusion Solutions LLC, CareFusion U.K. 244 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 305 Limited, CareFusion U.K. 306 Limited, Carmel Pharma AB, Carmel Pharma Inc, Cato Software Solutions, Cell Analysis Systems Inc, Cellular Research, Cellular Research Inc., Clearstream Technologies Group Limited, Clearstream Technologies Limited, Clontech Laboratories Inc, Corporativo BD de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Critical Device Corporation, Cubex, Cytognos, Cytopeia Inc, DLD (Bermuda) Ltd., DVL Acquisition Sub Inc., Davol Inc., Davol International Limited, Davol Surgical Innovations S.A. de C.V., Difco Laboratories Incorporated, Distribuidora BD Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dutch American Manufacturers (D.A.M.) B.V., Dymax Corporation, Embo Medical Limited, Enturia de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Enturican Inc., FJ International Inc., FlowCardia Inc., FlowCardia LLC, FlowJo LLC, Franklin Lakes Enterprises L.L.C., GSL Solutions, Gamer Lasertechnik GmbH, GenCell Biosystems, GenCell Biosystems Ltd., GeneOhm Sciences Canada ULC, GeneOhm Sciences Inc, Gentest Corporation, Gesco International Inc., Gesco International LLC, Glentech Inc, HandyLab Inc, HandyLab Inc., IBD Holdings LLC, Iontophoretics Corporation, JoHome LLC, Kabushiki Kaisha Medicon (Medicon Inc.), Liberator Health and Education Services Inc., Liberator Health and Wellness Inc., Liberator Medical Holdings Inc., Liberator Medical Supply Inc., Limited Liability Company Bard Rus, Loma Vista Medical Inc., Loma Vista Medical LLC, Luther Medical Products Inc, Lutonix Inc., Med-Design Corporation, Med-Design Investment Holdings Inc., Med-Safe Systems Inc, Med-Safe Systems Inc., MedChem Products Inc., Medafor Inc., Medegen LLC, Medinservice.com Inc., Medivance Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NAT Diagnostics Inc., NOW Medical Distribution Inc., NOW Medical Distribution LLC, Navarre Biomedical LLC, Navarre Biomedical Ltd., Neomend Inc., Nippon Becton Dickinson Company Ltd., Omega Biosystems Incorporated, P.R.C. (Isialys) Societe a responsabilitie limitee, PT Becton Dickinson Indonesia, PharMingen, PharMingen., Plasso Technology Ltd, PreAnalytiX GmbH, Pristine Access Technologies Inc., ProSeed Inc., Procesos para Esterilizacion S.A. de C.V., Productos Bard de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Productos Para el Cuidado de la Salud S.A. de C.V., Puls Medical Devices AS LC, PureWick Corporation, Roberts Laboratories Inc., Rochester Medical Corporation, Rochester Medical Ltd., Saf-T-Med Inc, Safety Syringes Inc., Scanwell Health Inc., Sendal S.L.U., SenoRx Inc., SenoRx LLC, Shield Healthcare Centers Inc., Sirigen Group Limited, Sirigen II Limited, Sirigen Inc., Sistemas Medicos ALARIS S.A. de C.V., Specialized Cooperative Corporation, Specialized Health Products Inc., Specialized Health Products International Inc., Specialized Health Products International LLC, Staged Diabetes Management LLC, Straub Medical AG, Straub Medical AG, Surgical Site Solutions Inc., TVA Medical Inc, TVA Medical Inc., Tepha Inc, Tepha Inc., Tissuemed Ltd., Tri-County Medical & Ostomy Supplies Inc., TriPath Imaging Inc., Tru-Fit Marketing Corporation, Vas-Cath Incorporated, Vascular Pathways Inc., Velano Vascular, Velano Vascular Inc., Venclose Inc., Venetec International Inc., Venetec International LLC, Visitec, Y-Med Inc., Y-Med LLC, and ZebraSci Inc..
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ONEOK, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, engages in gathering, processing, storage, and transportation of natural gas in the United States. It operates through Natural Gas Gathering and Processing, Natural Gas Liquids, and Natural Gas Pipelines segments. The company owns natural gas gathering pipelines and processing plants in the Mid-Continent and Rocky Mountain regions. It also gathers, treats, fractionates, and transports natural gas liquids (NGL), as well as stores, markets, and distributes NGL products. The company owns NGL gathering and distribution pipelines in Oklahoma, Kansas, Texas, New Mexico, Montana, North Dakota, Wyoming, and Colorado; terminal and storage facilities in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois; and NGL distribution and refined petroleum products pipelines in Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Illinois, and Indiana, as well as owns and operates truck- and rail-loading, and -unloading facilities connected to NGL fractionation, storage, and pipeline assets. In addition, it operates regulated interstate and intrastate natural gas transmission pipelines and natural gas storage facilities. Further, the company owns and operates a parking garage in downtown Tulsa, Oklahoma; and leases excess office space. It operates 17,500 miles of natural gas gathering pipelines; 1,500 miles of FERC-regulated interstate natural gas pipelines; 5,100 miles of state-regulated intrastate transmission pipeline; six NGL storage facilities; and eight NGL product terminals. It serves integrated and independent exploration and production companies; NGL and natural gas gathering and processing companies; crude oil and natural gas production companies; propane distributors; municipalities; ethanol producers; and petrochemical, refining, and NGL marketing companies, as well as natural gas distribution and electric generation companies, producers, processors, and marketing companies. The company was founded in 1906 and is headquartered in Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Royal Bank of Canada operates as a diversified financial service company worldwide. The company's Personal & Commercial Banking segment offers checking and savings accounts, home equity financing, personal lending, private banking, indirect lending, including auto financing, mutual funds and self-directed brokerage accounts, guaranteed investment certificates, credit cards, and payment products and solutions; and lending, leasing, deposit, investment, foreign exchange, cash management, auto dealer financing, trade products, and services to small and medium-sized commercial businesses. This segment offers financial products and services through branches, automated teller machines, and mobile sales network. Its Wealth Management segment provides a suite of advice-based solutions and strategies to high net worth and ultra-high net worth individuals, and institutional clients. The company's Insurance segment offers life, health, home, auto, travel, wealth, annuities, and reinsurance advice and solutions; and business insurance services to individual, business, and group clients through its advice centers, RBC insurance stores, and mobile advisors; digital, mobile, and social platforms; independent brokers; and travel partners. Its Investor & Treasury Services segment provides asset servicing, custody, payments, and treasury services to financial and other investors; and fund and investment administration, shareholder, private capital, performance measurement and compliance monitoring, distribution, transaction banking, cash and liquidity management, foreign exchange, and global securities finance services. The company's Capital Markets segment offers corporate and investment banking, as well as equity and debt origination, distribution, advisory services, sale, and trading services for corporations, institutional investors, asset managers, private equity firms, and governments. The company was founded in 1864 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada.
Smart & Final Stores, Inc. operates as a food retailer in the United States. It operates in two segments, Smart & Final and Smart Foodservice. The company's stores offer fresh perishables and everyday grocery items, such as produce, meat and deli, dairy and cheese, grocery, and beverage products, as well as paper and packaging, and restaurant equipment and janitorial supplies. It also provides various private label products under the First Street, Sun Harvest, Simply Value, La Romanella, Montecito, Iris, and Ambiance brands. The company sells its products to household and business customers; restaurants; caterers; and various other foodservice businesses, such as food trucks and coffee houses through vendors and suppliers. As of December 30, 2018, it operated 326 grocery and foodservice stores, including 59 Smart & Final stores, 201 Smart & Final Extra! stores, and 66 Smart Foodservice Warehouse stores located in California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Idaho, Montana, and Utah, as well as 15 stores in Northwestern Mexico operated through a joint venture. Smart & Final Stores, Inc. was founded in 1871 and is headquartered in Commerce, California.
The following companies are subsidiares of TransDigm Group: 17111 Waterview Pkwy LLC, ARA Deutschland GmbH, ARA Holding GmbH, Acme Aerospace, Acme Aerospace Inc., Adams Rite Aerospace GmbH, Adams Rite Aerospace Inc., Advanced Inflatable Products Limited, Aero-Instruments, AeroControlex Group Inc., Aerosonic, Aerosonic LLC, Air-Sea Survival Equipment Trustee Limited, Airborne Acquisition Inc., Airborne Global Inc., Airborne Holdings Inc., Airborne Systems, Airborne Systems Canada Ltd., Airborne Systems Group Limited, Airborne Systems Holdings Limited, Airborne Systems Limited, Airborne Systems NA Inc., Airborne Systems North America Inc., Airborne Systems North America of CA Inc., Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc., Airborne Systems Pension Trust Limited, Airborne UK Acquisition Limited, Airborne UK Parent Limited, Aircraft Materials Limited, AmSafe, AmSafe Aviation (Chongqing) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Kunshan) Co. Ltd., AmSafe Bridport (Private) Ltd., AmSafe Bridport Ltd., AmSafe Global Holdings Inc., AmSafe Global Services (Private) Limited, AmSafe Inc., Angus Electronics Co., Arkwin Industries, Arkwin Industries Inc., Armtec Countermeasures Co., Armtec Countermeasures TNO Co., Armtec Defense Products Co., Auxitrol SAS, Auxitrol Weston Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Auxitrol Weston Services China Ltd., Auxitrol Weston Singapore Pte. Ltd., Auxitrol Weston USA Inc., Aviation Technologies, Aviation Technologies Inc., Avionic Instruments LLC, Avionics Instruments, Avionics Specialties Inc., AvtechTyee Inc., Beta Transformer Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Beta Transformer Technology Corporation, Beta Transformer Technology LLC, Breeze-Eastern Corporation, Breeze-Eastern LLC, Bridport Erie Aviation Inc., Bridport Holdings Inc., Bridport Ltd., Bridport-Air Carrier Inc., Bruce Aerospace Inc., Bruce Industries, CDA InterCorp LLC, CEF Industries LLC, CMC Electronics Aurora LLC, CMC Electronics Inc., CMC Electronics ME Inc., Champion Aerospace LLC, Chelton Avionics Holdings Inc., Chelton Avionics Inc., Chelton Limited, Cobham Aero Connectivity, Cobham CTS Limited, Cobham Defence Communications Limited, Cobham Defense Products Inc., DART Aerospace, DDC Electronics K.K., DDC Electronics Ltd., DDC Electronics Private Limited, DDC Electronique S.A.R.L., DDC Elektronik GmbH, Darchem Engineering Limited, Darchem Holdings Limited, Data Device Corp., Data Device Corporation, Dukes Aerospace Inc., EST Defence Company UK Limited, Edlaw Limited, Electromech Technologies LLC, Elektro-Metall Export GmbH, Elektro-Metall Paks KFT, Esterline, Esterline Acquisition Ltd, Esterline Europe Company LLC, Esterline Foreign Sales Corporation, Esterline International Company, Esterline Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Corporation, Esterline Technologies Europe Limited, Esterline Technologies France Holding SAS, Esterline Technologies French Acquisition Limited, Esterline Technologies Global Limited, Esterline Technologies Holdings Limited, Esterline Technologies SGIP LLC, Esterline Technologies Unlimited, Esterline do Brasil Assessoria e Intermediacao Ltda, European Antennas Limited, Extant Components Group Holdings Inc., Extant Components Group Intermediate Inc., GQ Parachutes Limited, Guizhou Leach-Tianyi Aviation Electrical Company Ltd, Harco, HarcoSemco LLC, Hartwell Corporation, Hytek Finishes Co., ILC Holdings Inc., IRVIN AEROSPACE LIMITED, IrvinGQ France SAS, IrvinGQ Limited, Janco Corporation, Johnson Liverpool LLC, Kirkhill Elastomers, Kirkhill Inc., Korry Electronics Co., Kunshan Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Leach Holding Corporation, Leach International Asia-Pacific Ltd, Leach International Corporation, Leach International Europe S.A.S., Leach International Germany GmbH, Leach International Mexico S. de R. L. de C. V., Leach International UK Ltd, Leach Mexico Holding LLC, Leach Technology Group Inc., MarathonNorco Aerospace Inc., Mason Electric Co., Mastsystem Int'l Oy, McKechnie Aerospace, McKechnie Aerospace (Europe) Ltd., McKechnie Aerospace DE Inc., McKechnie Aerospace DE LP, McKechnie Aerospace Holdings Inc., McKechnie Aerospace US LLC, Mecanismos de Matamoros S. de R.L. de C.V., NAT Seattle Inc., NMC Group Inc., Norco, Nordisk Asia Pacific Limited, Nordisk Asia Pacific Pte Ltd, Nordisk Aviation Products (Kunshan) Ltd., Nordisk Aviation Products AS, Nordisk Aviation Products LLC, North Hills Signal Processing Corp., North Hills Signal Processing Overseas LLC, Norwich Aero Products Inc., Palomar Products Inc., Pexco Aerospace, Pexco Aerospace Inc., PneuDraulics, PneuDraulics Inc., Pressure Systems International Ltd, Schneller, Schneller Asia Pte. Ltd., Schneller LLC, Schneller S.A.R.L., Schroth Safety Products, Semco Instruments, Semco Instruments Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Inc., Shield Restraint Systems Ltd., Signal Processing Matamoros S.A. de C.V., Skandia, Skandia Inc., Skurka Aerospace, Skurka Aerospace Inc., Symetrics Industries, Symetrics Industries LLC, Symetrics Technology Group LLC, TA Aerospace Co., TA Mfg Limited, TDG Bavaria GmbH, TDG ESL Holdings Inc., TDG France Ultimate Parent SAS, TDG Germany GmbH, TEAC Aerospace Holdings Inc., TEAC Aerospace Technologies Inc., Tactair Fluid Controls Inc., Takata Protection Systems, Telair International, Telair International GmbH, Telair International Services PTE Ltd, Telair US LLC, TransDigm (Barbados) SRL, TransDigm Canada ULC, TransDigm European Holdings Limited, TransDigm Ireland Ltd., TransDigm Receivables LLC, TransDigm Technologies India Private Limited, TransDigm UK Holdings plc, Transicoil (Malaysia) Sendirian Berhad, Transicoil LLC, Wallop Defence UK Limited, Weston Aerospace Ltd, Whippany Actuation Systems, Whippany Actuation Systems LLC, XCEL Power Systems Ltd., Young & Franklin, Young & Franklin Inc., and exas Rotronics Inc..
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The following companies are subsidiares of Johnson & Johnson: 3Dintegrated ApS, ALZA Corporation, AMO (Hangzhou) Co. Ltd., AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd Beijing Branch, AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd Guangzhou Branch, AMO (Shanghai) Medical Devices Trading Co. Ltd., AMO ASIA LIMITED, AMO Asia Limited (Korea Branch), AMO Asia Limited Taiwan Branch (Hong Kong), AMO Australia Pty Limited, AMO Australia Pty Limited (New Zealand Branch), AMO Canada Company, AMO Denmark ApS, AMO Development LLC, AMO France, AMO Germany GmbH, AMO Groningen B.V., AMO International Holdings Unlimited Company, AMO Ireland, AMO Ireland Ireland Branch, AMO Italy SRL, AMO Japan K.K., AMO Manufacturing USA LLC, AMO Netherlands BV, AMO Nominee Holdings LLC, AMO Norway AS, AMO Puerto Rico Manufacturing Inc., AMO Sales and Service Inc., AMO Singapore Pte. Ltd., AMO Spain Holdings LLC, AMO Switzerland GmbH, AMO U.K. Holdings LLC, AMO United Kingdom Ltd., AMO Uppsala AB, AUB Holdings LLC, Abott Medical Optics, Acclarent Inc., Actelion Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Actelion Pharmaceuticals Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Actelion Pharmaceuticals US Inc., Actelion Treasury Unlimited Company, Akros Medical Inc., Albany Street LLC, Alios BioPharma, Alza Land Management Inc., Anakuria Therapeutics Inc., Animas Diabetes Care LLC, Animas LLC, Animas Technologies LLC, AorTx Inc., Apsis, Aragon Pharmaceuticals, Aragon Pharmaceuticals Inc., Asia Pacific Holdings LLC, Atrionix Inc., Auris Health, Auris Health Inc., Backsvalan 2 Aktiebolag, Backsvalan 6 Handelsbolag, Beijing Dabao Cosmetics Co. Ltd., BeneVir BioPharm Inc., Berna Rhein B.V., BioMedical Enterprises Inc., Biosense Webster (Israel) Ltd., Biosense Webster Inc., Branch of Johnson & Johnson LLC (RU) in Kazakhstan, C Consumer Products Denmark ApS, CSATS Inc., Calibra Medical LLC, Campus-Foyer Apotheke GmbH, Carlo Erba OTC S.r.l., Centocor Biologics LLC, Centocor Research & Development Inc., Cerenovus Inc., ChromaGenics B.V., Ci:Labo Customer Marketing Co. Ltd., Ci:Labo USA Inc., Ci:z Holdings, Ci:z. Labo Co. Ltd., Cilag AG, Cilag GmbH International, Cilag Holding AG, Cilag Holding Treasury Unlimited Company, Cilag-Biotech S.L., CoTherix Inc., Coherex Medical Inc., ColBar LifeScience Ltd., Company Store.com Inc., Conor MedSystems, Cordis International Corporation, Cordis de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Corimmun GmbH, DePuy Hellas SA, DePuy International Limited, DePuy Ireland Unlimited Company, DePuy Mexico S.A. de C.V., DePuy Mitek LLC, DePuy Orthopaedics Inc., DePuy Products Inc., DePuy Spine LLC, DePuy Synthes Gorgan Limited, DePuy Synthes Inc., DePuy Synthes Institute LLC, DePuy Synthes Leto SARL, DePuy Synthes Products Inc., DePuy Synthes Sales Inc., Debs-Vogue Corporation (Proprietary) Limited, Dutch Holding LLC, ECL7 LLC, EES Holdings de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., EES S.A. de C.V., EIT Emerging Implant Technologies GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery (Europe) GmbH, Ethicon Endo-Surgery Inc., Ethicon Endo-Surgery LLC, Ethicon Inc., Ethicon LLC, Ethicon PR Holdings Unlimited Company, Ethicon Sarl, Ethicon US LLC, Ethicon Women's Health & Urology Sarl, Ethnor (Proprietary) Limited, Ethnor Farmaceutica S.A., Ethnor del Istmo S.A., FMS Future Medical System SA, Finsbury (Development) Limited, Finsbury (Instruments) Limited, Finsbury Medical Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics International Limited, Finsbury Orthopaedics Limited, GH Biotech Holdings Limited, GMED Healthcare BV, GMED Healthcare BV (Branch), Global Investment Participation B.V., Guangzhou Bioseal Biotech Co. Ltd., Hansen Medical Deutschland GmbH, Hansen Medical Inc., Hansen Medical International Inc., Hansen Medical UK Limited, Healthcare Services (Shanghai) Ltd., Hickory Merger Sub Inc., I.D. Acquisition Corp., Innomedic Gesellschaft fur innovative Medizintechnik und Informatik mbH, Innovative Surgical Solutions LLC, J & J Company West Africa Limited, J&J Pension Trustees Limited, J-C Health Care Ltd., J.C. General Services BV, JJ Surgical Vision Spain S.L., JJC Acquisition Company B.V., JJHC LLC, JJSV Belgium BV, JJSV Manufacturing Malaysia SDN. BHD., JJSV Norden AB, JJSV Produtos Oticos Ltda., JNJ Global Business Services s.r.o., JNJ Holding EMEA B.V., JNJ International Investment LLC, JOM Pharmaceutical Services Inc., Janssen Alzheimer Immunotherapy (Holding) Limited, Janssen BioPharma LLC, Janssen Biologics (Ireland) Limited, Janssen Biologics B.V., Janssen Biotech Inc., Janssen Cilag C.A., Janssen Cilag Farmaceutica S.A., Janssen Cilag S.p.A., Janssen Cilag SPA, Janssen Development Finance Unlimited Company, Janssen Diagnostics LLC, Janssen Egypt LLC, Janssen Farmaceutica Portugal Lda, Janssen Global Services LLC, Janssen Holding GmbH, Janssen Inc., Janssen Irish Finance Unlimited Company, Janssen Korea Ltd., Janssen Oncology Inc., Janssen Ortho LLC, Janssen Pharmaceutica (Proprietary) Limited, Janssen Pharmaceutica NV, Janssen Pharmaceutica S.A., Janssen Pharmaceutical K.K., Janssen Pharmaceutical Sciences Unlimited Company, Janssen Pharmaceutical Unlimited Company, Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc., Janssen Pharmaceuticals Inc. Japan Branch, Janssen Products LP, Janssen R&D Ireland Unlimited Company, Janssen Research & Development LLC, Janssen Sciences Ireland Unlimited Company, Janssen Scientific Affairs LLC, Janssen Supply Group LLC, Janssen Vaccines & Prevention B.V., Janssen Vaccines Branch of Cilag GmbH International, Janssen Vaccines Corp., Janssen-Cilag, Janssen-Cilag (New Zealand) Limited, Janssen-Cilag A/S, Janssen-Cilag AG, Janssen-Cilag AS, Janssen-Cilag Aktiebolag, Janssen-Cilag B.V., Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Lda., Janssen-Cilag Farmaceutica Ltda., Janssen-Cilag GmbH, Janssen-Cilag International NV, Janssen-Cilag Kft., Janssen-Cilag Kft. Branch Office, Janssen-Cilag Limited, Janssen-Cilag Manufacturing LLC, Janssen-Cilag NV, Janssen-Cilag OY, Janssen-Cilag Pharma GmbH, Janssen-Cilag Pharmaceutical S.A.C.I., Janssen-Cilag Polska Sp. z o.o., Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd, Janssen-Cilag Pty Ltd (Branch), Janssen-Cilag S.A., Janssen-Cilag S.A., Janssen-Cilag S.A. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Janssen-Cilag s.r.o., Janssen-Pharma S.L., Jevco Holding Inc., Johnson & Johnson, Johnson & Johnson (Angola) Limitada, Johnson & Johnson (China) Investment Ltd., Johnson & Johnson (China) Investment Ltd. Beijing Branch, Johnson & Johnson (Egypt) S.A.E., Johnson & Johnson (Hong Kong) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Ireland) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Jamaica) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Kenya) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. (DHCC Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. (JAFZA Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Middle East) Inc. Service Center (DAFZA Branch), Johnson & Johnson (Mozambique) Limitada, Johnson & Johnson (Namibia) (Proprietary) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (New Zealand) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Philippines) Inc., Johnson & Johnson (Private) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Thailand) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson (Trinidad) Limited, Johnson & Johnson (Vietnam) Co. Ltd, Johnson & Johnson - Societa' Per Azioni, Johnson & Johnson AB, Johnson & Johnson AB Eesti filiaal (Branch), Johnson & Johnson AG, Johnson & Johnson AG (Zuchwil Branch), Johnson & Johnson Belgium Finance Company BV, Johnson & Johnson Bulgaria EOOD, Johnson & Johnson China Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Hong Kong) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer (Thailand) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer B.V., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Health Care Switzerland Branch of Janssen-Cilag AG, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Holdings France, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc., Johnson & Johnson Consumer Inc. (Dominican Republic Branch), Johnson & Johnson Consumer NV, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Saudi Arabia Limited, Johnson & Johnson Consumer Services EAME Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Del Paraguay S.A., Johnson & Johnson Dominicana S.A.S., Johnson & Johnson Enterprise Innovation Inc., Johnson & Johnson European Treasury Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson Finance Corporation, Johnson & Johnson Finance Limited, Johnson & Johnson Financial Services GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Financial Services GmbH (Branch Office), Johnson & Johnson Gateway LLC, Johnson & Johnson Gesellschaft m.b.H., Johnson & Johnson GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Guatemala S.A., Johnson & Johnson Health Care Systems Inc., Johnson & Johnson Health and Wellness Solutions Inc., Johnson & Johnson Hellas Commercial and Industrial S.A., Johnson & Johnson Hellas Consumer Products Commercial Societe Anonyme, Johnson & Johnson Hemisferica S.A., Johnson & Johnson Holding GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Inc., Johnson & Johnson Industrial Ltda., Johnson & Johnson Innovation - JJDC Inc., Johnson & Johnson Innovation LLC, Johnson & Johnson Innovation Limited, Johnson & Johnson International, Johnson & Johnson International (Belgian Branch) (European Logistics Center), Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd., Johnson & Johnson International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. (Branch), Johnson & Johnson International Financial Services Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson K.K., Johnson & Johnson Kft., Johnson & Johnson Korea Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Korea Selling & Distribution LLC, Johnson & Johnson LLC, Johnson & Johnson Lda, Johnson & Johnson Limited, Johnson & Johnson Limited (Sri Lanka Branch), Johnson & Johnson Luxembourg Finance Company Sarl, Johnson & Johnson Management Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical (China) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical (Proprietary) Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical (Shanghai) Ltd. Beijing Branch, Johnson & Johnson Medical (Suzhou) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical B.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical Devices & Diagnostics Group - Latin America L.L.C., Johnson & Johnson Medical GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Medical Korea Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medical Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson Medical NV, Johnson & Johnson Medical Products GmbH, Johnson & Johnson Medical Pty Ltd, Johnson & Johnson Medical S.A., Johnson & Johnson Medical S.C.S., Johnson & Johnson Medical S.p.A., Johnson & Johnson Medical SAS, Johnson & Johnson Medical Saudi Arabia Limited, Johnson & Johnson Medical Taiwan Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Ankara Branch), Johnson & Johnson Medikal Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi (Izmir Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East - Scientific Office, Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ - LLC (Lebanese Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC, Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC (Ghana Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC (Kenya Branch), Johnson & Johnson Middle East FZ-LLC Branch (TSO) (Saudi Arabia Branch), Johnson & Johnson Morocco Societe Anonyme, Johnson & Johnson NCB (Belgian Branch), Johnson & Johnson Nordic AB, Johnson & Johnson Pacific Pty Limited, Johnson & Johnson Pakistan (Private) Limited, Johnson & Johnson Panama S.A., Johnson & Johnson Personal Care (Chile) S.A., Johnson & Johnson Poland Sp. z o.o., Johnson & Johnson Poland sp. z o.o. oddzial w Warszawie "Consumer", Johnson & Johnson Private Limited, Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Pte. Ltd. Korea Branch, Johnson & Johnson Pty. Limited, Johnson & Johnson Romania S.R.L., Johnson & Johnson S.A., Johnson & Johnson S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson S.E. Inc., Johnson & Johnson S.E. d.o.o., Johnson & Johnson SDN. BHD., Johnson & Johnson Sante Beaute France, Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision Inc., Johnson & Johnson Surgical Vision India Private Limited, Johnson & Johnson Taiwan Ltd., Johnson & Johnson UK Treasury Company Limited, Johnson & Johnson Ukraine LLC, Johnson & Johnson Urban Renewal Associates, Johnson & Johnson Vision Care (Shanghai) Ltd., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Inc., Johnson & Johnson Vision Care Ireland Unlimited Company, Johnson & Johnson d.o.o., Johnson & Johnson de Argentina S.A.C. e. I., Johnson & Johnson de Chile Limitada, Johnson & Johnson de Chile S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Colombia S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Johnson & Johnson de Uruguay S.A., Johnson & Johnson de Venezuela S.A., Johnson & Johnson del Ecuador S.A., Johnson & Johnson del Peru S.A., Johnson & Johnson do Brasil Industria E Comercio de Produtos Para Saude Ltda., Johnson & Johnson for Export and Import LLC, Johnson & Johnson s.r.o., Johnson Y Johnson de Costa Rica S.A., Johnson and Johnson (Proprietary) Limited, Johnson and Johnson Sihhi Malzeme Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, LTL Management LLC, La Concha Land Investment Corporation, Latam International Investment Company Unlimited Company, Legal Entity Name, MDS Co. Ltd., McNEIL MMP LLC, McNeil AB, McNeil Consumer Pharmaceuticals Co., McNeil Denmark ApS, McNeil Healthcare (Ireland) Limited, McNeil Healthcare (UK) Limited, McNeil Healthcare LLC, McNeil Iberica S.L.U., McNeil LA LLC, McNeil Nutritionals LLC, McNeil Panama LLC, McNeil Products Limited, McNeil Sweden AB, Medical Device Business Services Inc., Medical Devices & Diagnostics Global Services LLC, Medical Devices International LLC, Medos International Sarl, Medos International Sarl succursale de Neuchatel (Branch), Medos Sarl, MegaDyne Medical Products Inc., Menlo Care De Mexico S.A. de C.V., Mentor B.V., Mentor Deutschland GmbH, Mentor Medical Systems B.V., Mentor Partnership Holding Company I LLC, Mentor Texas GP LLC, Mentor Texas L.P., Mentor Worldwide LLC, Micrus Endovascular LLC, Middlesex Assurance Company Limited, Momenta Ireland Limited, Momenta Pharmaceuticals, Momenta Pharmaceuticals Inc., NeoStrata Company Inc., NeoStrata UG (haftungsbeschrankt), Netherlands Holding Company, NeuWave Medical Inc., Neuravi Limited, Novira Therapeutics, Novira Therapeutics LLC, NuVera Medical Inc., OBTECH Medical Sarl, OGX Beauty Limited, OMJ Holding GmbH, OMJ Ireland Unlimited Company, OMJ Pharmaceuticals Inc., Obtech Medical Mexico S.A. de C.V., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Inc., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals Ltd., Omrix Biopharmaceuticals NV, Ortho Biologics LLC, Ortho Biotech Holding LLC, Ortho-McNeil Pharmaceutical LLC, Orthospin Ltd., Orthotaxy, PT Integrated Healthcare Indonesia, PT. Johnson & Johnson Indonesia, Patriot Pharmaceuticals LLC, Peninsula Pharmaceuticals LLC, Pharmadirect Ltd., Pharmedica Laboratories (Proprietary) Limited, Princeton Laboratories Inc., Productos de Cuidado Personal y de La Salud de Bolivia S.R.L., Proleader S.A., Pulsar Vascular Inc., Regency Urban Renewal Associates, RespiVert Ltd., RoC International, Royalty A&M LLC, Rutan Realty LLC, SYNTHES Medical Immobilien GmbH, Scios LLC, Sedona Singapore International Pte. Ltd., Sedona Thai International Co. Ltd., Serhum S.A. de C.V., Shanghai Elsker For Mother & Baby Co. Ltd, Shanghai Elsker Mother & Baby Co. Ltd Minghang Branch, Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Ltd., Shanghai Johnson & Johnson Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Sightbox LLC, Sodiac ESV, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Company, Spectrum Vision Limited Liability Partnership, SterilMed, SterilMed Inc., Surgical Process Institute Deutschland GmbH, Synthes Costa Rica S.C.R. Limitada, Synthes GmbH, Synthes Holding AG, Synthes Holding Limited, Synthes Inc., Synthes Medical Surgical Equipment & Instruments Trading LLC, Synthes Produktions GmbH, Synthes Proprietary Limited, Synthes S.M.P. S. de R.L. de C.V., Synthes Tuttlingen GmbH, Synthes USA LLC, Synthes USA Products LLC, TARIS Biomedical, TARIS Biomedical LLC, TearScience Inc., The Anspach Effort LLC, The Vision Care Institute LLC, Tibotec LLC, Torax Medical Inc., UAB "Johnson & Johnson", UAB Johnson & Johnson Eesti Filiaal (Estonian Branch), Vania Expansion, Verb Surgical, Verb Surgical Inc., Vision Care Finance Unlimited Company, Vogue International, Vogue International LLC, Vogue International Trading Inc., WH4110 Development Company L.L.C., XO1, XO1 Limited, Xian Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd., Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Beijing Branch Office, Xian-Janssen Pharmaceutical Ltd. Shanghai Branch Office, Zarbee's Inc., and Zarbee's Naturals.
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Camp Lejeune Town Halls Aim to Help Those Exposed to Toxic Water. Heres How You Can Go.
Retired Marine Master Sgt. Jerry Ensminger made it his mission to tell the world that if they lived or served on Camp Lejeune...
President-elect Donald Trump met earlier this week with top health care executives on cutting wait times at Veterans Affairs hospitals and allowing vets more choice on private care as he edged closer to choosing a new VA secretary.
There was speculation that Trump could announce his pick Friday from a wide range of names that have been floated, but Trump aides hinted at the same possibility last week. Several people believed to be under consideration are not veterans themselves, which would be a break with tradition at the VA.
Trump met at his Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida on Wednesday with John Noseworthy, chief executive officer of the Mayo Clinic; Paul Rothman, CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine; David Torchiana, CEO of Partners HealthCare; and Delos "Toby" Cosgrove, CEO of the Cleveland Clinic.
For Cosgrove, who served as an Air Force medical officer in Vietnam and earned a Bronze Star, it was the second time in two weeks that he had been summoned to meet with Trump. Several news outlets have named Cosgrove as the frontrunner to replace VA Secretary Robert McDonald, although Cosgrove in the past has voiced support for the Affordable Care Act, which Trump has pledged to scrap.
A Trump transition official told Bloomberg News that the meeting Wednesday focused on "how would you implement a program that could get vets the ability to go to any hospital that they wanted to go to." The VA currently allows private treatment in some cases for veterans who have to wait for appointments in the government-run system, or who have to travel long distances to VA hospitals.
However, major veterans service organizations and advocacy groups have expressed concerns that too much choice could devastate a VA health care system focused solely on vets. More than 20 veterans organizations and advocacy groups have recommended that Trump consider retaining McDonald to continue VA reforms already underway.
During the campaign, Trump pledged that his VA choice would be a "person of great competence" and "not a political hack." He also said that he would set up a hotline at the White House that vets could call with complaints about treatment.
Trump also met last week with Luis Quinonez, founder of a health care company serving the government and the private sector. Quinonez later told Univision he was under consideration for the VA post.
Others reportedly under consideration are: Sarah Palin, the former Republican governor of Alaska and candidate for vice president; Jeff Miller, the retiring Republican chairman of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs; Scott Brown, a former Republican senator from Massachusetts; and Pete Hegseth, a Fox News contributor and former chief executive of Concerned Veterans for America.
-- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com.
Thomas Hickner.jpg
Thomas Hickner stands outside his office on one of his last day's as Bay County executive, Thursday, Dec. 29. Hickner served the county's top position for the past 24 years.
(Andrew Dodson | The Bay City Tim)
BAY CITY, MI -- When Thomas Hickner left Lansing in 1992 as a state representative transitioning to Bay County's executive, he went from the top floor of the state House building overlooking the Capitol Building to the basement of the county building in Bay City across from the boiler room.
"The view wasn't as nice," Hickner said in an interview this week. "But I made it work."
Since 1993, Hickner, a Democrat, has served as Bay County's elected executive, overseeing 24 balanced budgets, managing hundreds of employees and preserving a healthy rainy day and pension fund, which is currently funded at 35 percent and 112 percent, respectively.
Hickner lost his bid for a seventh term as the county's executive following a heated primary race in August. Former state Senator and U.S. Congressman Jim Barcia won the Democratic nominee 9,110 to Hickner's 6,178 (Mark McFarlin garnered 909 votes) and went on to win the general election unopposed. Barcia starts his new job after the new year.
Hickner's last day in his office -- which is now on the fourth floor -- was Thursday, Dec. 29. The Bay City Times/MLive caught up with him to talk about the past 24 years.
After 24 years, this is your last week in the Bay County Building. What has been going through your mind?
Honestly, it's been pretty routine business. We had a budget adopted before Christmas and I've just been talking with staff. There was no need to open up any new projects. I've been cleaning out my office and getting ready to start the new year.
After more than three decades of public service, what's next for you?
I actually had a head hunter contact me about a manager's job in Racine, Wisconsin, but that's something where the learning curve to really know the organization and the people takes at least four years. I have other things I would rather do.
Like what? Another elected office?
No, I'm done with elected offices. Thirty-four years is long enough.
Are you looking at any job opportunities?
I'm going to take a consulting opportunity with Public Sector Consultants out of Lansing. And them I'm hoping to do some development and real estate work, but just need to line up financing. I have a lot of ideas, though.
So, is the story that our former county executive hopes to be the next big developer?
Well, no, probably not. We'll wait and see on that. There's just so much opportunity right now, especially in downtown Bay City, for more development.
Tell me about the consulting job.
They have a variety of different clients, and I have a working knowledge on a lot of different issues, like natural resources, health issues... There's a proposal for a project in St. Clair which is something I would start on right away.
What are you most proud of in your past 24 years as our executive?
The biggest thing is the financial management of the county. To have a more than fully funded pension fund and a rainy day fund is a big accomplishment. I always make it a point, too, to point out that we've had great personnel policies created here that has allowed us to hire the most qualified, experienced people, which makes a big difference in terms of how the county operates.
Did you have a good relationship with the Bay County Board of Commissioners?
We didn't always agree, but by and large, I feel we did have a good working relationship.
Was there anything you weren't able to accomplish that you had hoped to?
No, not that I can really think of. We always had our goals and objectives for the year and I tried to delegate as much as I could to our department and division folks and then work with them on accomplishing those goals.
Jim Barcia will be our county executive after the new year. You two had a contentious election in August. Do you have confidence in Barcia's ability to run the county?
Only time will tell.
What's Bay County's biggest opportunity right now?
Economic development has to continue to be the top priority. The best thing we can do is support Bay Future and the implementation of the Bay County Roadmap to the Future.
What are you going to miss most about your job at the county?
The biggest change will be not working with so many great people. I've worked with a lot of staff here for 24 years and have made a lot of friendships.
Any humorous stories you care to share from your time in office?
Hmmm. Well, one time I had my suit coat on the back of the chair and was leaning back talking to someone and I heard this grinding. I couldn't figure it out. Then I saw what had happened: My suit got caught in the paper shredder. Fortunately, I was able to salvage it and have it repaired.
Best of luck after the new year.
Thank you.
Because of an issue with second-row outboard seating, Honda Motor Co. is recalling more than 630,000 of its Odyssey minivans in the U.S., according to a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The vehicle manufacturer says affected model years include 2011 through 2016, including up to 633,753 minivans produced between Aug. 1, 2010, and Oct. 1, 2015.
Honda says the issue has to do with a release lever that allows the second-row outboard seats to move for easier access to the third row of seats.
The company says this lever may remain in an unlocked position, causing the seats to move unexpectedly, which increases the risk of injury to occupants in the event of a crash.
Honda will notify Odyssey owners come January, and dealers will install an additional bracket and spring to both second row outboard seats for free.
NHTSA reported the recall is expected to begin Jan. 23.
The pilot of the missing plane has reportedly been identified by his parents as John T. Fleming.
The Associated Press, via the Toledo Blade, reports that Fleming, "an experienced pilot," was flying a small plane containing his wife, two teenage sons, and two of his neighbors. Fleming is reportedly the CEO of Superior Beverage Company.
The U.S. Coast Guard reports in a news release that crews are searching Lake Erie Friday, Dec. 30 with the help of the Canadian Coast Guard. The plane reportedly disappeared after taking off from Burke Lakefront Airport near Cleveland.
Air traffic control notified the Coast Guard of the plane on the way for the Ohio State University Airport at 11:30 p.m. Thursday night. The FAA reports that the plane departed the Cleveland-area airport at 10:50 p.m. Thursday.
" ... a Cessna Citation 525 with six people aboard headed to Ohio State University Airport in Columbus, Ohio, had disappeared shortly after takeoff from Burke Lakefront Airport approximately 2 miles into Lake Erie," the Coast Guard reports in a news release.
Coast Guard Capt. Michael Mullen reports that crews have detected "faint hints" from an emergency locating transmitter. The coast guard reports it is in search-and-rescue mode, and not recovery.
"We're very hopeful," Mullen said at a Friday press conference, via A.P. "We will be very hopeful up until the point that we have to turn the search off and we switch over to assisting with recovery."
Search parties have not located any debris as of this Friday afternoon writing.
The Cutter Bristol Bay, of Detroit, is currently on the way to assist in the search. Already searching for the plane and its six occupants is an aircrew from the Detroit base aboard an MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a Canadian aircrew aboard a C-130 airplane, according to the release.
The search area is said to be 50-feet deep, with current winds at about 30 knots (34.5 mph). Weather prevented a boat from searching overnight.
UPDATE:
A Columbus-bound plane with six on-board went missing overnight after taking off from a small Cleveland airport.
The U.S. Coast Guard reports in a news release that crews are searching Lake Erie Friday, Dec. 30 with the help of the Canadian Coast Guard. The plane reportedly disappeared after taking off from Burke Lakefront Airport near Cleveland.
Air traffic control notified the Coast Guard of the plane on the way for the Ohio State University Airport at 11:30 p.m. Thursday night.
The Associated Press reports there are three children and three adults aboard the small plane. It is not known if the passengers were related or not.
" ... a Cessna Citation 525 with six people aboard headed to Ohio State University Airport in Columbus, Ohio, had disappeared shortly after takeoff from Burke Lakefront Airport approximately 2 miles into Lake Erie," the Coast Guard reports in a news release.
The Cutter Bristol Bay, of Detroit, is currently on the way to assist in the search. Already searching for the plane and its six occupants is an aircrew from the Detroit base aboard a MH-65 Dolphin helicopter and a Canadian aircrew aboard a C-130 airplane, according to the release.
The search area is said to be 50-feet deep, with current winds at about 30 knots (34.5 mph). Weather prevented a boat from searching overnight, A.P. reports.
James Cox, a Coast Guard official, told AP. that the passengers are not affiliated with Ohio State University.
Detroit Police Car door.jpg
(Tanya Moutzalias | MLive file)
Detroit police report that a man interested in buying a home in the city discovered a mummified body inside a parked car in a garage.
The Associated Press, via the Detroit Free Press, reports the man went into the garage sometime Thursday and found the decomposed body inside the car. The Free Press reports the body was found in the 19900 block of Spencer inside either a 1990 or 1991 Plymouth Acclaim.
The Detroit Police Department has not returned any messages seeking comment or additional detail in the incident.
Police spokesman Dan Donakowski said, via A.P., that the previous tenants of the home never entered the garage because they were told they couldn't use it.
The Wayne County Medical Examiner's Office reports that it is unclear whether the body belonged to a man or woman, but an autopsy is scheduled for next week.
Steven Rhodes, a retired judge who presided over the city's bankruptcy trial, issued his farewell message as transition manager from Detroit public schools.
He took over the position in February, and was tasked with guiding the school district as legislation to reform Detroit Public Schools Community District and eliminate its massive debt makes its way through the legislature.
"After four state appointed emergency managers and me as transition manager, DPSCD is finally under local control and is virtually debt free," Rhodes wrote in a final statement. "The coming year will be another monumental year for DPSCD. It has an opportunity to start fresh and write a new story for education in Detroit.
"I sign off with a great sense of gratitude for the staff of DPSCD and for the Detroit community that supports DPSCD. I am also grateful for the courage and wisdom of the Michigan legislature and Governor Snyder in creating this fresh start for public education in Detroit."
In 2016, State legislators voted to dissolve the former Detroit Public Schools district and replace it with the debt-free Detroit Public Schools Community District. Sixty-three candidates ran for seven seats on the newly formed school board.
The board is now made up of Angelique Peterson-Mayberry, Georgia Lemmons, Iris A. Taylor, Misha Stallworth, Sonya Mays, Deborah Hunter-Harvill and LaMar Lemmons after the November Election.
Rhodes replaced Darnell Earley, the former emergency manager of Detroit schools who resigned in early 2016. Soon after accepting the position, a group of 20 protesters gathered outside the judge's Ann Arbor home.
Detroit school first came under state-run emergency management in 2009, with around $350 million in debt. Through state intervention, debt continued to pile up as it hit $467 million.
In June, lawmakers signed a package to split the former Detroit Public Schools into two. The DPSCD aims to focus on educating children, leaving the old district to collecting millages and pay off existing debt. Included in the package is $467 million to pay off longstanding debt and another $150 million to invest in the children.
The new board assumes responsibility in January, with the emergency manager position currently running the district will be eliminated.
To read the full statement from Rhodes circulated by DPSCD, see below:
"Today marks a significant moment for the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). After four state appointed emergency managers and me as transition manager, DPSCD is finally under local control and is virtually debt free. DPSCD also has a staff of educators and administrators that have demonstrated their commitment to the children of Detroit.
The coming year will be another monumental year for DPSCD. It has an opportunity to start fresh and write a new story for education in Detroit. Our transition work has enabled this new beginning and with the leadership that DPSCD has in place, it is on a path to success.
I am hopeful that under the leadership of the new board, all stakeholders will collaborate for the good of our children. They deserve the very best.
I urge the citizens of Detroit to celebrate this fresh start with genuine support, with 100 percent focus on the children, and with integrity in all actions.
The goal is excellence in education. All students must succeed.
I sign off with a great sense of gratitude for the staff of DPSCD and for the Detroit community that supports DPSCD. I am also grateful for the courage and wisdom of the Michigan legislature and Governor Snyder in creating this fresh start for public education in Detroit.
It has been my honor to serve the children of Detroit."
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business India to sign DTAA amendment with Singapore today: Sources It would be interesting to see whether the DTAA's modification will have a provision on capital gains akin to the Mauritius Treaty, whereby any investment made by a foreign institutional investor before March 31 2017, will enjoy full capital gain exemptions, says Abhishek Goenka, Partner At PwC.
business India signs revised treaty with Singapore, focus on tax evaders Third bilateral treaty change in 2016 after similar changes in double tax avoidance agreements (DTAA) with Mauritius and Cyprus; Swiss govt to share real time data
business Note ban not right way to weed out black money: Natasha Sarin On the last day of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 50-day grace period to set right the demonetisation woes, CNBC-TV18 takes opinion of foreign experts who have been following this issue closely.
Many Koreans like to make their New Year's resolutions in a beautiful setting as they watch the dawn break on the start of another year full of hope.
One of the most popular places to usher in 2014 is Ulsan's Ganjeolgot Cape, which boasts the earliest sunrise in the country. A lighthouse overlooking the sea and a forest of pine trees adds to the sweeping views so visitors can appreciate a spectacular sunrise over the sea.
Busan is another great option, particularly Haeundae and Songjeong beaches, as visitors can watch the sunrise and then go sightseeing in the southern port city. Songjeong beach, which is less crowded, offers 1.2 km of white sands, as well as a nearby lighthouse and park.
However, locals are more likely to head to Dalmaji Hill, which rises above and between the two beaches, as it also offers sweeping views of Haeundae, Dongbaek Island and Gwangan Bridge.
Meanwhile, Cheonwang Peak at the top of Mt. Jiri provides a spectacular view of the sunrise. The nation's largest national park, which is considered one of the steepest and most challenging mountains in Korea, spans three provinces and welcomes 3 million to 4 million visitors a year.
But catching sunrise here is a hit-or-miss affair as the peak is often shrouded in cloud. According to local folklore, visitors can only see the sun come out if their ancestors performed good deeds for three generations.
To avoid missing the sunrise, find more details on the website of the Korea Astronomy and Space Science Institute at http://astro.kasi.re.kr.
Rabbis installation at Keneseth Israel will get a boost of student creativity
Police in Rio de Janeiro say the Greek ambassador to Brazil has been missing since Monday.
Police said in a statement Thursday that Kyriakos Amiridis, 59, was last seen Monday night in the city of Nova Iguacu, 40 km northwest of Rio de Janeiro.
Amiridis was vacationing in the area and was expected to return to work Jan. 9, according to embassy officials. The embassy did not confirm whether he is missing, only that diplomatic officials are "waiting for further information."
After almost two months of being closed due to the Chestnut Knob wildfire, South Mountains State Park will reopen parts of the park to the public on New Years Day.
Crews have been working since the containment of the wildfire on Dec. 5 to assess and clean up debris in the park and on the trails. The fire, which burned for 29 days, consumed more than 6,400 acres of the park.
There will be two foot trails including the Chestnut Knob trail and the Shinny trail that will still be closed off due to damage to trails and steps, hazardous trees, badly burned steps and exposed rebar, holes in the trail tread from burned root systems and other unknown hazards, according to the parks website www.ncparks.gov/south-mountains-state-park.
The Shinny Creek trail there was about a half mile section on the steepest portion of the trail that burned over to the point that the trail tread disappeared, said Jonathan Griffith, South Mountains State Park superintendent. We are probably going to have to completely reroute that half mile section of Shinny Creek.
The Chestnut Knob trail suffered greatly in that all the trail structure burned up, he said.
It (the Chestnut Knob trail) was not in a really good place anyways, so we are actually going to have to make some decisions about whether we are going to put it back in the same location the way it was or if we will reroute it slightly or if we will put it in a different location, Griffith said.
Fourteen trails, which total ed approximately 27.3 miles or nearly 60 percent of the parks trail system, were affected by the wildfire to varying degrees. Each mile has been carefully inspected for dangerous limbs, trees that might topple over, severe erosion and other hazards, as well as trail signs and gates that were damaged or destroyed, according to the website.
We have made every effort to get down all hazardous trees that we can see, but there are certainly other trees up there that we do not know about yet, he said.
Griffith cautions the public to be aware of tree root systems that may appear perfectly healthy, but have been compromised and are still dangerous. He asks that people report any downed trees or other damages to the park office or any staff member with the specific location.
They are asking the public to stay away from the closed off trails for safety reasons, he said.
Safety is paramount and you need to stay on the designated trails and watch carefully as you are hiking in the burned areas, Griffith said.
The park is planning on organizing trail clean up days were volunteers can help restore the trails.
We were waiting to get all the hazardous trees down to where it is safe to do the trail work, Griffith said. We will start scheduling some of those trail work days when we open up.
Once the days are scheduled, the park staff will post them on their website for the public to see.
I would like to express my sincere appreciation to the community for the outpouring of support that they gave by donating supplies, money, time and just their prayers and thoughts, he said. There were 300 firefighters on the ground here at one time all of them said they had never seen that kind of support from the local community as they saw at this fire.
Park staff have planned a First Hike to the High Shoals waterfall on Sunday to start off the new year, said information from the park. The 2.75-mile hike will last approximately an hour and a half. Bring water, appropriate clothing and footwear. Space is limited, the information said.
Call the park office at 828-433-4772 for more information and to pre-register for this hike.
For more information about the state park, visit www.ncparks.gov/south-mountains-state-park.
Staff Writer Jonelle Bobak can be reached at jbobak@morganton.com or 828-432-8907.
Japan is being roundly criticized by neighboring countries after its top military official Thursday visited a controversial shrine that honors its war dead, including convicted war criminals.
Defense Minister Tomomi Inada's visit to Tokyo's Yasukuni Shrine drew sharp rebukes from China and South Korea, which consider the shrine a symbol of Japan's wartime atrocities before and after World War II, when it colonized or invaded much of the East Asia region.
"Regardless of differences in historical views, regardless of whether they fought as enemies or allies, I believe any country can understand that we wish to express gratitude, respect and gratitude to those who sacrificed their lives for their countries," Inada told reporters after the visit.
John McCain is fond of saying, "It's always darkest just before it goes totally black." According to a February report by Amnesty International, human rights "reached a nadir" in 2015. Not quite. The past 12 months prove that even when you hit bottom, there is always room to sink.
Few recent years have been so unrelievedly grim when it comes to freedom and democracy as 2016. Retreat from the values of human liberty and dignity was the norm. The bleak trend blanketed the globe like volcanic ash.
Rare was the country showing progress. Even the United States succumbed to illiberal impulses electing a president who takes leadership lessons from Vladimir Putin and Saddam Hussein, praises torture, wants to curb press freedom, and endorses surveillance of "Muslim neighborhoods."
The government of China carried out a campaign against internal enemies, arresting hundreds of people to punish even the mildest dissent. "As an old-timer who's been studying China since the Mao era, I have to say it's the worst I've seen since then," University of California, San Diego scholar Susan Shirk told the Los Angeles Times.
In Russia, President Vladimir Putin continued "a sweeping crackdown to silence critical voices that has included new legal restrictions on the internet, on freedom of expression, on the rights of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people, and on other fundamental freedoms," reported Human Rights Watch.
The CIA and FBI concluded that the Kremlin interfered in the American presidential election to help the Republican nominee. A Russian state TV news anchor exulted that "'democracy' and 'human rights' are absent from Donald Trump's lexicon."
Those terms are also not favorites of Putin's ally Bashar Assad. The Syrian despot invited prosecution for crimes against humanity in his waging of civil war, culminating in a murderous siege of the city of Aleppo. With hospitals inundated, a medical administrator told The Wall Street Journal, "death is a thousand times more merciful than being wounded."
After surviving an attempted coup, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan's government arrested dozens of Kurdish mayors and silenced every independent Kurdish news outlet even though the people blamed for the plot are enemies of the Kurds. Turkey now has more journalists behind bars than any other country, double the number in runner-up China.
In Egypt, hundreds of suspected dissidents vanished through "enforced disappearance," which involves secret imprisonment without trial and sometimes torture. Saudi Arabia opened the new year by beheading 47 prisoners on terrorism charges, though a poet given the same sentence for apostasy had his punishment generously reduced to eight years in prison and 800 lashes. Tunisia retained its status as the sole democracy in the Arab world.
Elected president of the Philippines in June, Rodrigo Duterte mounted an anti-drug campaign in which more than 6,000 people have been killed by police and vigilantes an average of 36 every day he's been in office. He bragged that as mayor of Davao City, he personally executed three criminal suspects on the street.
Poland's Supreme Court ruled that a new law to restrict public demonstrations was unconstitutional. Legendary Solidarity leader Lech Walesa, who helped liberate the country from communism, accused the right-wing government of destroying everything he fought for.
Gambian President Yahya Jammeh, who has ruled for 22 years and once promised to rule for a billion, lost an election and agreed to step down, before changing his mind. Joseph Kabila, barred from running for a third term in the Democratic Republic of Congo, insisted on staying on after his term expired, finally agreeing to leave at the end of 2017.
Robert Mugabe, who has held power in Zimbabwe since 1980, announced he will run for re-election in 2018 for a term that would end after his 99th birthday. But Ghana, an exemplary African democracy, carried out its third peaceful transfer of power since 1992.
Cuba's Fidel Castro died at 90, but the persecution of dissent has continued under brother Raul. Venezuela's leftist regime, presiding over economic chaos, blocked a referendum that could have removed President Nicolas Maduro, who rules by decree. Said Venezuelan political scientist Maria Teresa Romero, a critic of Maduro's, "The golden age of socialism in the 21st century is over in South America."
The golden age of democracy, when dictators were falling and freedom was on the march, likewise appears to have ended. In 2016, the world marked another year in an age of lead.
Steve Chapman blogs at /www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chapman. Follow him on Twitter @SteveChapman13 or at www.facebook.com/stevechapman13. To find out more about Chapman, visit www.creators.com.
RALEIGH One key consequence of the 2016 elections in North Carolina was that the states court system drew a great deal of attention. You can expect that attention to continue, and perhaps to lead to constructive change, during the coming year.
Four election stories had the effect of turning the political spotlight to the judicial branch. Democrat Mike Morgan outpolled Bob Edmunds, an incumbent Republican on the North Carolina Supreme Court, thus shifting the partisan balance on the states officially nonpartisan high court from a 4-3 Republican edge to a Democratic one. At the same time, Republican candidates won all of the elections for Court of Appeals, making that 15-member body strongly Republican.
With Democrat Roy Cooper narrowly defeating GOP Gov. Pat McCrory and Republicans retaining their supermajorities in the General Assembly, the partisan atmospherics grew stormy. Republican lawmakers concluded they had inadvertently produced Morgans victory by the following convoluted process: 1) establishing a retention election for the Edmunds seat in 2016, rather than a truly competitive one; 2) then losing the subsequent court case about it; 3) then watching the Supreme Court race revert to the previous nonpartisan system and not intervening to put party labels back on the ballot, as they had for the Court of Appeals races; and 4) then watching Morgans name get placed first on the ballot, the position GOP candidates held in other races, thus leading Republican voters to think they were choosing the GOP candidate when they voted for him.
If you look at vote totals across conservative-leaning counties, you can see why this explanation is the most plausible one. Edmunds got many fewer votes in those counties than did comparatively obscure Republican candidates for appeals court. It strains credulity to assert these voters made such careful distinctions among the Republican judges.
But what was the proper remedy? A few Republicans toyed with the notion of creating two more openings on the Supreme Court and allowing outgoing Gov. Pat McCrory to fill them, with subsequent partisan elections to be held in 2018. But McCrory himself and most other Republicans never thought this was a defensible remedy for the errors that led to Morgans win.
What happened instead was that lawmakers resurrected an old idea Roy Cooper himself had proposed while serving in the North Carolina Senate. Both the state and federal appeals courts handle most of their cases as three-judge panels. But the federal courts also occasionally hear cases en banc, meaning before all the judges of a circuit. During a post-election special session, the North Carolina legislature authorized a similar process for the state appeals court.
Why do this? Because Democrats are about to attempt to re-litigate every court challenge theyve made against Republican-enacted policies (the ones they didnt already win before a Republican-majority Supreme Court, I mean). An en banc hearing before the full Court of Appeals may add another step to the process.
Whatever you think of this change, it does signify that Republican lawmakers are willing to consider changes in the structure and operation of the state courts. Well, they are about to get many more proposals for change. The North Carolina Commission on the Administration of Law and Justice, a panel created by Chief Justice Mark Martin in 2015, will publish its final report in 2017.
I serve on the commission. Our findings and recommendations address every aspect of the justice system in North Carolina, from civil litigation and criminal procedure to technology upgrades and judicial selection. During our work, we found that while most North Carolinians have confidence in our state courts and the judges who preside in them, they are also concerned about the time and money it takes to litigate cases, the independence of judges, and the treatment of juveniles, racial minorities, and low-income people, especially those who represent themselves in judicial proceedings.
The commissions report will offer legislative leaders and the new Cooper administration an opportunity to work together on important issues of mutual interest. Heres hoping they seize it.
John Hood is chairman of the John Locke Foundation and appears on the talk show NC SPIN. You can follow him @JohnHoodNC.
Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn on Thursday defended suspended President Park Geun-hye's controversial deal with Japan over victims of wartime sex slavery.
"It was an agreement that was reached by the two governments and I believe the right thing to do is to have continuity and maintain it." Hwang told reporters in a lunch meeting.
Wednesday marked the first anniversary of the deal, which promised a fund worth 1 billion yen for the surviving victims of the World War II atrocity and represents compensation for the victims in all but name. But the victims said they were not consulted and there have been growing calls for it to be renegotiated or scrapped.
Hwang stressed that terms have already been met, and even if Korea wanted to renegotiate, Japan would be unlikely to accept.
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Mount Pleasant, SC (29464)
Today
Partly cloudy skies. Slight chance of a rain shower. High 76F. Winds NE at 5 to 10 mph..
Tonight
A few clouds from time to time. Low 68F. Winds light and variable.
Political turmoil at the end of the year that is likely to result in the first ouster of a democratically elected president overshadowed most other news of the year. Images of downtown Seoul turning into a deceptively festive sea of lights were beamed around the world as over a million protesters took to the streets demand President Park Geun-hye's resignation over a scandal that keeps getting more bizarre with every fresh revelation. But it has been a turbulent year for Korea on all fronts, from earthquakes to economic woes, not forgetting a spiraling arms race in the region as North Korea accelerated nuclear and missile development and relations between the two Koreas hit an all-time low.
Massive Corruption Scandal Brings Down President The National Assembly on Dec. 9 passed a bill impeaching President Park Geun-hye, only the second time in recent history that a democratically elected president faced a forcible ouster, though all have left in disgrace. Park stands accused of conniving with a longtime friend of no appreciable talent and without official position to squeeze billions from top conglomerates and turning Cheong Wa Dae into a vaudeville peopled by quack doctors, wannabe celebrities and bumbling fools. Park's authority and powers were suspended as the Constitutional Court reviews the impeachment bill. Every weekend until then had seen massive candlelight protests in downtown Seoul since the scandal broke in late October, calling on Park to step down, each passing off peacefully despite the record numbers and setting a new milestone in the Korean peoples political maturity. If the Constitutional Court upholds the impeachment bill, Koreans must vote for a new president within 60 days of the ruling.
N.Korean Belligerence Shuts Kaesong Industrial Complex North Korean leader Kim Jong-un went all out this year to accelerate the North's nuclear and missile programs. The North edged closer to deploying usable nuclear weapons after conducting two more nuclear tests on Jan. 6 and Sept. 9 and conducting no fewer than 24 test launches of intercontinental ballistic missiles. In early February, the government here announced it was shutting down the joint-Korean Kaesong Industrial Complex, which had served as a source of valuable foreign currency for North Korea. The UN Security Council passed two separate sanctions against the North, but the nuclear standoff shows no signs of abating.
Arms Race Hurts Ties with China Seoul and Washington agreed in July to deploy a U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense battery in South Korea to defend allied forces from the increasing North Korean nuclear and missile threat. Seongju in North Gyeongsang Province was chosen as the location of the THAAD battery, but fierce protests by locals prompted a relocation to the outskirts, but protests continue and have gained traction as a crony scandal engulfs President Park Geun-hye. The decision also angered China, which fears that the powerful radar of the THAAD battery will be used to spy on its military maneuvers. Beijing retaliated with economic shots before the bow, making it more difficult for some Korean companies and exporters to do business in China, while the number of Chinese visitors to South Korea declined. Seoul and Washington, however, intend to push ahead with the deployment of the THAAD battery.
Strong Earthquakes Rattle Gyeongju Two earthquakes measuring 5.1 and 5.8 on the Richter scale rattled the historic city of Gyeongju in North Gyeongsang Province on Sept. 12. It was the largest quake yet measured on the Korean Peninsula. The quakes injured 23 people and damaged thousands of properties. More than 540 aftershocks have been reported until December. The quakes spread fears that the country is no longer safe from tremors as tectonic fault lines shift, resulting in growing calls for more stringent measures to protect people and buildings.
Anti-Graft Law Goes into Effect An anti-graft law went into effect as of Sept. 28 seeking to curb endemic small-scale corruption even as the president hoped to get away with graft on a much more comprehensive scale. The law stirred up controversy after it was passed by the National Assembly in March, with critics claiming it infringes on their right to give gifts, but the Constitutional Court gave it the green light on July 28. The law makes it illegal for anyone in a position of influence, from teachers and reporters to government officials, to accept meals exceeding W30,000, gifts in excess of W50,000 and congratulatory or condolence money totaling more than W100,000 (US$1=W1,208). But controversy continues over the legal interpretation, and it has already led to a slump in year-end sales as sweeteners are off the shopping list.
Big Layoffs in Shipbuilding, Shipping Deepen Economic Woes Massive layoffs in the shipbuilding and shipping industries caused unemployment to soar and more households to fall into debt. Hanjin Shipping, once Korea's No. 1 shipping company, went bankrupt while Hyundai Merchant Marine failed to join by the world's biggest container-shipping alliance 2M, dealing a further blow to the domestic industry. Daewoo Shipbuilding and Marine Engineering, which is in the process of laying off huge numbers of workers, is still confronted with mounting losses.
Go Champion Loses to Proto-AI Google DeepMind's proto-artificial intelligence program AlphaGo defeated baduk or go champion Lee Se-dol with a narrow fourth win in a best-of-five series. The international press watched with bated breath as a new age of artificial intelligence arrived. IBM's chess computer Deep Blue already defeated a champion in the 1990s, but baduk is far more complex, which had led to speculation that Lee would win. The match brought huge interest in AI and the scope of its impact on human lives, and kindled an interest in science among many young Koreans.
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United Shore Financial Services has agreed to pay $48 million to resolve allegations that it violated the False Claims Act, according to the Department of Justice.
United Shore is the parent company of leading wholesaler United Wholesale Mortgage. The Justice Department alleges that United Shore knowingly originated and underwrote mortgages insured by the Federal Housing Administration that didnt meet FHA guidelines.
The settlement announced today holds United Shore accountable for its endorsement of ineligible loans for FHA mortgage insurance, said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer, who heads the DOJs Civil Division Over the past several years, the Civil Division, in collaboration with numerous US Attorneys offices, HUD and its Office of Inspector General, has diligently worked to hold FHA-approved lenders accountable for actions that deprived homeowners of their homes, wasted taxpayer funds, and contributed to the financial crisis. The settlement announced today is yet another success in this continuing effort.
The federal government insures loans on the condition that lenders comply with certain rules to safeguard federal funds, said US Attorney Barbara L. McQuade. When lenders breach their duty of due diligence and make risky loans that go bad, taxpayers pay the bill. By holding accountable lenders who fail to comply with underwriting requirements, we hope to send a message to all lenders that they must comply with government standards for federally insured loans.
United Shore acknowledged in the settlement that it failed to comply with FHA requirements, according to John W. Vaudreuil, US Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin.
While USFS deserves credit for acknowledging and resolving its conduct, that conduct not only resulted in substantial losses of public funds, but also put Wisconsin homeowners at risk of losing their homes or ruining their credit, Vandreuil said. This large settlement should send a clear message that such conduct will not be tolerated.
According to the Justice Department, between 2006 and 2011 United Shore failed to comply with certain FHA underwriting and quality control requirements. As part of the settlement, the company admitted that it improperly pressured underwriters to approve FHA mortgages, and that its compensation plan used a formula that expressly tied underwriting compensation to the percentage of loans approved by the underwriter and closed by the company. United Shore also falsely certified that direct-endorsement underwriters personally reviewed appraisal reports before the company approved and endorsed mortgages for FHA insurance, according to the Justice Department.
The agency also alleged that the companys internal quality-control reviews showed severe problems with FHA-insured mortgages, but that United Shore routinely failed to provide any information to senior management regarding its QC findings.
As a result of USFS conduct and omissions, HUD insured hundreds of loans approved by USFS that were not eligible for FHA mortgage insurance under the Direct Endorsement program, and that HUD would not otherwise have insured, the Justice Department said in a release. HUD subsequently incurred substantial losses when it paid insurance claims on those loans.
Midland County Sheriffs Office
A Midland man was arrested Tuesday after allegedly entering a residence without the consent of the owner, according to court documents.
Mickey Lamar Wright, 27, was being held Thursday on a $25,000 bond for a second-degree felony charge of burglary of a habitation, a $500 bond for a Class A misdemeanor charge of evading arrest and a $500 bond for a Class A misdemeanor charge of resisting arrest.
Beiqi Yinxiang Automobile will start selling the Kenbo 600 SUV here in mid-January. The model falls roughly between the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe in size but will cost about W20 million, about W5 million less than its Korean rivals (US$1=W1,208).
Chinese carmakers hope to make greater inroads into the Korean market next year.
Beiqi Yinxiang is an affiliate of BAIC Motor, one of China's top five carmakers, which already sells a minivan and mini-truck at some 30 dealerships across the country.
An importer said there is already some buzz about Chinese passenger cars being good value for money, "so we'll stake our future next year on the sales of SUVs, which are popular here."
Chinese electric vehicle makers are also eyeing the Korean market.
BYD, China's biggest automaker, will start sales here next year after establishing a Korean branch in October. BYD is expected to focus on selling small electric buses.
Foton, China's leading maker of commercial vehicles, is also eyeing the electric bus market here and is currently conducting a test run in Korea, which has drawn interest from some local governments.
But it remains to be seen whether Chinese cars can win over picky Korean motorists. The Chinese cars imported in the first 11 months this year were worth a mere US$60 million, far behind established imports from the U.S., Europe and Japan.
"Chinese automakers have improved the quality of their cars, but they'll have to overcome many obstacles like bias against Chinese products," said Lee Hang-koo of the Korea Institute for Industrial Economics and Trade.
The National Assembly on Thursday held its first plenary session since the ruling Saenuri Party split and resolved to form a special committee that will overhaul the Constitution in the wake of the scandal that has brought down President Park Geun-hye.
The committee, the first set up by the National Assembly in 30 years, will start work in January. This is an excellent opportunity to revise the framework of governance before the next presidential elections and curb the powers of future presidents so they can never again get away with the kind of disgraceful behavior Park indulged in.
Nine revisions have been made since the Constitution was drafted in 1948, but only two were spearheaded by lawmakers, the first in 1960 and the second in 1987. The second revision ensured a five-year, single-term presidency in the "era of the three Kims" -- later presidents Kim Young-sam and Kim Dae-jung and former prime minister Kim Jong-pil.
The fresh overhaul must ensure that governance evolves from an outdated autocratic structure to a more devolved leadership with proper checks and balances. The changes will inevitably result in a division of leadership. The biggest problem facing Korean politics is the "zero sum" leadership battle in which there can be only one survivor. A president who was elected by the support of 51 percent of the public enjoys 100 percent authority, and any type of cooperation between ruling and opposition parties has been unimaginable.
In his or her final year in office, the president becomes a complete lame duck as civil servants fold their hands in their lap and wait for the next big boss to come in. There has been no exception to this rule since the first president, Syngman Rhee.
The public knows this political structure must change, and the time is ripe. Anyone who opposes such changes is simply rejecting the flow of history. Advisory committees have been established under the National Assembly speaker several times, and a revision plan has already been prepared. The changes can be pursued even if the presidential elections come sooner than expected.
The obstacle is the resistance of the main opposition Minjoo Party, which has effective veto power and with more than 100 seats can block the necessary two-thirds majority. There is now talk of pushing for a shorter tenure for the next president and seeking a referendum on the constitutional revisions in the 2018 general election. That is worth considering.
National Assembly Speaker Chung Sye-kyun wants a speedy revision of the Constitution, and the new leader of the People's Party has also vowed to push for the changes quickly. Presidential hopefuls like People's Party heavyweight Ahn Cheol-soo, Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon, Seongnam Mayor Lee Jae-myung and other lawmakers are also backing the changes, and inter-party debates are being held.
Only the Minjoo Party is trying to make hay from Park's downfall and shore up power in a dirty game that could set Korea back years. Moon has performed a volte-face and now says the time before the next election is "too short" if all the reforms sought by the public are to be discussed. But all that really means is that he wants a nice long term for himself under the current conditions because he now fancies his presidential chances.
Any president would be tempted to sit out his or her single five-year term in full splendor rather than, under a new system, have to seek re-election after just four years and cede powers to other bodies. Presidential candidates have advocated changes before but quickly forgotten about them once they were enthroned and beheld all the powers at their disposal.
That is why the special committee at the National Assembly is so important. Lawmakers can propose changes and listen to what the public wants, and the committee will not be tempted, as a newly ensconced president would be, to renege on the pledges. The parties must put their heads together and finally make these long-overdue changes.
New members inducted into Institute of ...
Stone Mill Center View Photos
Sonora, CA The Tuolumne County Planning Commission will meet on January 4th and will discuss a site development permit for construction of three commercial buildings at the intersection of Parrotts Ferry Road and Union Hill Road.
The complex is named the Stone Mill Center and is proposed by Columbia Union LLC. Building A is proposed to be just over 5,000 square feet, building B just under 3,000 square feet and building C is the largest at nearly 8,000 square feet for a total of 15,933 square feet of commercial space on a 2.1 acre site.
Tuolumne Countys Community Resources Agency Director Bev Shane, who will be retiring in January says, Previous commercial projects approved on this site have not been pursued usually because of marketing. [Developers] find that the market is not there or there is a change in the economy, we have had several recessions over the last 30 years that this has been zoned commercial. I cant say exactly why developers choose not to build their projects but it is usually market driven. She also noted on a neighboring property there was an apartment complex approved by the Board of Supervisors in 2013 but the owners decided not to pursue the project due to CEQA (California Environmental Quality Act) litigation against it. The news about that project was reported here.
The planning commission has the ability to give final approval for this new project in January. If someone has an objection to their decision, it can be appealed to the Board of Supervisors. The Board of Supervisors would then conduct a public hearing and decide if they will approve, conditionally approve, or deny the project. If there is no appeal to the planning commissions decision the developers and they approve the project may proceed in getting building and other construction permits to start construction.
The Tuolumne County Planning Commission meets in the Tuolumne County Board of Supervisors Chambers on January 4th at 6:00 PM
Andrew John Labriola next to patrol car View Photos
Sonora, CA A Tuolumne County Sheriffs Deputy pulled over a stolen vehicle because it went through a stop sign illegally.
The 2001 Nissan Frontier pickup truck was pulled over Thursday evening at 10 pm near the intersection of Willow Street and Main Street in Tuolumne. It was being driven by 26-year-old Andrew John Labriola, and the lone passenger was 31-year-old Rachael Lynn Thomas.
The deputy soon discovered that the Nissan had been reported stolen, so Labriola and Thomas were detained while an investigation was conducted. Sheriffs Office Spokesperson, Sgt. Andrea Benson says, Labriola claimed he bought the vehicle in Modesto from an unknown Hispanic male for $1000 and the male did not have the pink slip for the vehicle. Labriola and Thomas both admitted they suspected the vehicle was stolen. Labriola admitted to painting the vehicle black and still had black paint on his hands and clothing.
The vehicle was turned over to the CHP so that it can be returned to its owner, who lives locally. Labriola and Thomas were booked into county jail for possession of a stolen vehicle.
Sgt. Benson adds that a credit card was found in Labriolas wallet, not belonging to him, so a followup investigation is being conducted to see if it was potentially stolen.
Activists across Florida protested plans for a controversial natural gas pipeline project crossing through the state Thursday.
Sabal Trail Pipeline would carry natural gas through 3 states
Activists fear it because it passes through drinking water sources
The Sabal Trail Pipeline will move natural gas through Alabama, Georgia and Florida. The 500-mile pipeline is supposed to meet future power needs for millions of people by providing gas to power plants operated by Duke Energy and Florida Power and Light, among other companies.
Dozens of pipeline protestors marched through Orlando Thursday.
"This is being installed right in our backyards," said activist LaWren Sanderson.
The pipeline runs through several Florida counties, including Lake, Marion, Orange, Osceola and Sumter counties. It will connect with another pipeline to take natural gas to FPL's plant in Martin County.
Environmentalists are concerned about the underground line passing through drinking water sources.
"It makes zero sense," Sanderson said. "We are wanting to be with clean energy, something that will not hurt mother Earth, something that will protect our children down the road."
A Sabal Trail Transmission spokesperson said they held dozens of public meetings and open houses over three years to address concerns from citizens, environmental agencies and others. They also issued this statement:
"Sabal Trail is dedicated to the safe, reliable operation of facilities and the protection of the public, the environment and our employees. Natural gas pipelines monitor and control safety in many ways and use many different tools. Collectively, these tools make natural gas transmission pipelines one of the safest forms of energy transportation. Our safety programs are designed to prevent pipeline failures, detect anomalies, perform repairs and often exceed regulatory requirements. Once the facilities are placed in service, we will implement operations procedures designed to monitor the pipeline 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and we maintain the facilities per applicable federal and state regulations."
Everyone can still say no, we dont want this happening. And lets say it does get installed. We could still stop it and thats just by simply of being aware of whos backing this up, Sanderson said.
Some areas are already being cleared to construct the pipeline. This project is scheduled to be online by the end of June 2017.
Although cold weather has briefly hit Central Florida, the waterways are still cold enough to cause problems for manatees.
Cold-stressed manatee rescued from Brevard waters
Manatee had signs such as white lesions, white ring around tail
FWC says more sea cows could be affected
On Thursday, Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission workers responded to a report of a manatee in distress in Melbourne's Crane Creek.
It turns out, 1,300-pound adult sea cow was suffering from cold stress.
"Generally 68 degrees and below is where they start to react poorly," said Bill Greer of the FWC.
Greer said the water temperature at the time was 63 degrees, and the manatee was showing telltale signs such as white legions on its skin and a white ring around its tail.
The prolonged cold exposure could eventually shut down the aquatic animal's digestive tract and cause it to become dehydrated as well. When it's cold for several days at a time, manatees tend to huddle together in canals and near power plant waters to stay warm.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission workers rescued a cold-stressed manatee from Melbourne's Crane Creek on Thursday. (FWC)
"They are definitely coming in, warming up a bit, then going about their normal activities," Greer said.
Even though this recent chilly weather isn't expected to last long, it's possible more of them could be affected, FWC said.
Ryan Wingard and his kids are visiting family in Brevard County, and seeing a manatee for the first time. They enjoyed seeing a lone manatee floating in the warmer waters of Satellite Beach's Desoto Canal. Being from the Pittsburgh area, he learned that they, too, can be affected by the cold and understands why manatees want to go where it's warmer.
"It think that's why we came down here," Wingard said.
FWC urges people seeing a sick or injured manatee to call their hotline: 1-888-404-FWCC or *FWC.
County Commissioner Precinct 1 Harold King made it clear Friday that his crews will soon be erecting locked gates on either side of a damaged bridge on County Road Z -- at the behest of the Texas Department of Transportation.
Be sure you put it in the paper that TxDOT is closing the road, he said during the county commissioners meeting Friday. The countys not ordering the road closed its the state. Were just doing the dirty work.
The bridge in question is located three-quarters mile south of US-70 and a mile downstream from the citys sewage treatment plant. It is on a portion of the Runningwater Draw that flows with treated waste water from that plant.
Recently the dirt roadway across the bridge developed multiple sinkholes due to deterioration of the metal culverts that make up the bridge. You can look down through the holes in the road and see the little fishies swimming around, joked County Judge Bill Coleman.
To discourage traffic across the hazardous bridge, the county erected barricades and road closed signs on either side of the bridge. King said his crew often finds the barricades moved to the side to allow traffic to continue through.
County Road Z runs along the west side of the TDCJ Formby/Wheeler Prison Unit property and serves several rural residents in the immediate area. It shows evidence of fairly heavy traffic.
Initial estimates to repair the bridge were set at approximately $350,000, however the county was successful in having TxDOT add it to its bridge system. As a result, the state will be responsible for the planning and engineering as well making the repairs, which will be done on a 90-10 cost share with the county responsible for smaller amount.
TxDOT says it could be between two and five years before there is funding available to fix the bridge, and in the meanwhile since the culverts have rotted through, they want the road closed to all traffic for safety reasons, King said Friday. That means we well be putting poles in concrete on both sides of the bridge and will be installing cattle gates which will be chained shut. Well leave the barricades across the road at the top of the hill on both sides, but it wont matter anymore if they drive around the barricades. They wont be able to drive across the bridge until its repaired and safe again. But I want everyone to realize that we may be the ones putting up the gate, but we are doing it because TxDOT wants us to.
In other action Friday, commissioners:
--Authorized Bennie Garcia, Ollie Liner manager, to order multipurpose floor covering for the OLC arena. The removable floor panels will cover a 46x73-foot area and be left in place seven to eight months of the year. They will be removed for stock shows and similar events. The cost is $18,514, which includes carts for the snap-together 3-foot panels.
--Authorized Occidental Petroleum to install two waterlines underneath County Road 320 west of CR C and under CR B south of CR 320.
--Approves an increase in pay for County Corrections Officer Brandon Castillo to reflect him passing the state jailer certification Dec. 12.
--Approved new jail contracts with Tom Green County and Lubbock County. Tom Green County will pay Hale County $52 per day for any of its inmates housed here. In turn, Hale County will pay Lubbock County $65 per day for any inmates it houses there. Hale County has similar agreements with several other counties.
--Approved the hiring of Amanda DeLeon for a 30-hour per week position at the County Clerks Office.
--Approved bonds for the countys elected officials.
--Approved a $155 for tax forfeited property at 520 E. 11th St. in Hale County. The Appraisal District set the propertys value at $500, however the Hale Center City Council, as property trustee, accepted the lower offer since the tract is on a dirt road on the back side of the old rodeo grounds. The offer was made by an adjacent property owner, who likely is the only one interested in the property.
--Adopted a resolution supporting the extension of I-27 to the Midland-Odessa area and San Angelo and ultimately to Eagle Pass, Del Rio and Laredo. The resolution originated with the Ports-to-Plains Coalition.
--Approved a resolution opposing the proposed re:SearchTX system that would make court documents available on a state website. Now, those documents are only available through county and district clerks offices. The countys opposition involves the loss of fees to the state although the county and district clerks offices would still be responsible for filing and digitizing the documents. Its another way for the state to syphon off some of our local revenues, Coleman noted.
--Approved current accounts payable for Dec. 12-30, totaling $303,542.63, and approved the countys financial statement for the end of November. Funds in all accounts totaled $18,384,107.40.
--Approved changing the mileage reimbursement rate, effective Jan. 1, to 53.5 cents per mile, down from 54 cent. Thats to match a similar change in the state reimbursement rate.
--Approved the annual stipends for 2017. They include: $50,000 to the Plainview/Hale County EDC; $36,005 to Central Plains Center; $36,000 to Hale Center Ambulance, Petersburg Ambulance, Hale County Child Welfare, Abernathy Ambulance-UMC; $12,500 to Abernathy VFD, Petersburg VFD, Halfway VFD, Edmonson VFD, Hale Center VFD; $10,000 to Llano Estacado Museum; $9,500 to Unger Memorial Library; $7,500 to Hale County Senior Citizens; $6,000 to Abernathy Senior Citizens, Hale Center Senior Citizens, Petersburg Senior Citizens; $5,000 to Plainview YMCA/SAFE, Parents Place, Hale County Farm & Ranch Museum; $3,500 to Olton Volunteer Ambulance, Hale County Literacy Council, Petersburg Public Library, Abernathy Public Library, Hale County Crisis Center; $3,010 to Hale County Meals on Wheels; $3,000 to Olton Fire Protection; $1,000 to Hale County Historical Commission. Total is $380,515
Hale Center City Manager Dennis Burton isnt quite sure just how old the citys ground storage tank is, but he figures its at least 60 years old. Whats known is that the tank, located north of City Hall, was damaged in the 1965 tornado.
But its days are numbered, following a vote by the Hale County City Council to demolish the decades-old tank and replace it with a new one.
That turns out to be our best option after the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality found an alleged violation during its inspection this summer, Burton said this week. That lone major deficiency involved issues with the roof of the fresh water storage tank.
That could be something going back to the tornado 50 years ago, he speculates. Its hard to tell, but we plan to take out the old tank and install a new storage tank at the same site. We want to do most of the work during the winter and fall, when water usage is at its lowest. As you would expect, our peak usage is during the summer, and that would not be the best time to take that much storage offline. Theres some of the work we need to do during the warmer months, such as painting the inside. It will be the only storage tank taken out of service. Were not planning any changes to our water tower.
During the councils regular monthly meeting in mid-December, the panel heard from Burton and Kenny Friar, a representative from the engineering firm Kimley Horn, on the citys various options and their recommendations.
The option which ultimately was approved carried the recommendation of both Burton and Friar. Estimated cost is $357,000, for removing the old tank and constructing the new tank. Although it is the most costly option, Friar said a new tank will provide the longest service life. Also, there would a minimal disruption to water supply operations, reduced maintenance and a better ability to maintain current operations.
Simply repairing the roof of the current tank would have cost about $197,000. That would, according to the Hale Center American, have including the replacement of the center column rafters, roof plate and coating system along with upgrades to the hatches, ladders and manways. While that option would have met TCEQ standards, the project would have disrupted the water supply system for two to three months. Although the roof of the storage tank would then have passed muster with the TCEQ, the city would still be left with an aging storage tank with an uncertain life expectancy.
The third option would be to take the ground storage tank out of service and ultimately remove it. That option would have cost $210,000, and would limit the communitys ability to meet peak water demand during the summer. Reducing the citys overall water storage capacity by taking that tank out of service also would not provide the necessary reserve capacity needed for adequate fire protection.
While the council agreed to move forward with a plan to remove the existing tank and replace it with a new tank, Burton said the city will be exploring various funding options. Hopefully we will be able to get some funding through the U.S. Department of Agriculture and/or the Texas Water Development Board. What should help us out is that Hale Center is considered economically disadvantaged, Burton said.
The Rotary Club of Plainview is proud to honor Shadee Tye as our Student of the Month for January 2017. Shadee is the daughter of Brent and Codee Tye of Plainview and a senior at Plainview High School. At the high school, Shadee is a member of the varsity volleyball team, Future Career and Community Leaders of America, National Honor Society, National Technical Honor Society and serves as the sentinel of the Plainview FFA chapter. In the community, she is a member of the Swisher County 4-H Club, Swisher County 4-H Horse Club, Junior American Cancer Society, Bar-None Rodeo Drill Team, and the American Shorthorn Association. Shadee has volunteered at the Plainview Humane Society and Pet Paws Adoption, Snack Pack 4 Kids, and One Day 4-H Community Service Projects.
Shadee has been on the A Honor Roll and has received the Merit P, Grand and Reserve Champion Goat, and Steer and Goat Showmanship awards. She was also crowned the current Bar-None Rodeo Queen. Shadee says showing livestock has had the biggest impact on her life and has taught her important leadership skills. While most, including her, hope to win Grand Champion, she believes the greatest honor any shower can achieve is Showmanship . . . given to the participant who shows their animal in the most beneficial way they can. Shadee has been awarded showmanship several times and uses her experiences to help improve the showmanship and sportsmanship of younger 4-H members. Upon graduation, Shadee will have earned certification to become a Veterinary Technician. She plans to attend either Texas Tech or Tarleton State University to major in animal science and hopes to become an Equine and Bovine Chiropractor. If she attends Texas Tech, she says she intends to try out to be the Masked Rider.
City and town leaders learned Thursday how much less the state will be sending their municipalities for education and construction projects for the fiscal year that ends July 1.
The $50 million in midyear cuts announced Thursday afternoon by the governors budget office come after the legislature adopted a budget with $20 million in unassigned cuts to municipalities and $30 million from grants for local construction projects.
While every town is touched by the reductions announced Thursday, the cuts to education largely fall on the states wealthiest communities. For example, Greenwich, the states most affluent community, will loose $1.3 million, a 90 percent cut to its Education Cost Sharing grant. The states poorest community, Hartford, will lose $250,000, a 0.1 percent cut in education aid.
However, this $20 million mid-year cut in education aid comes in addition to the $84 million cut to education in the adopted state budget for the current fiscal year. Those cuts largely fell on the states most impoverished school districts.
Even with the cuts announced Thursday, several communities still come out ahead on state education aid from the previous year. West Hartford fares the best, with a $1.1 million increase over last year.
Although the poorest communities were largely spared from the education cuts announced Thursday, not so with reductions in the Local Capital Improvement Program. Those are expected to land heavily on poor communities. For example, Hartford is expected to lose $1.9 million while Greenwich is hit for $320,000.
In letters to leaders of the General Assembly, the governors budget director said his office had no choice but to make these cuts, given the $50 million built-in hole in the adopted state budget.
The assignment of these cuts does not affect the current fiscal years anticipated budget deficit of $41.6 million. The state budget also faces a $1.4 billion shortfall for next fiscal year.
Municipal leaders were quick to decry to cuts, as was the coalition suing the state for what they say is the states chronic underfunding of schools.
Some of these towns are seeing a sizable cut, so what are they supposed to do midyear?asked Betsy Gara, executive director of the states Council of Small Towns. They have eroded municipal revenue through the car tax cap and the municipal spending cap and other property tax exemptions. All of this hamstrings the towns to respond to cuts in education funding and other areas. They have essentially taken away any tool that we have to balance our budget.
Jim Finley, principal consultant for the Connecticut Coalition for Justice in Education Funding, the group of municipal leaders and educators suing the state, said the reductions bolster the groups case awaiting action by the states Supreme Court.
This latest cut to ECS underscores the importance of judicial action to ensure that the state constitutional right to an equitable and adequate educational opportunity for all public school students is honored by all branches of state government, he said.
The administration has known since August that they would need to hold back these funds from municipalities. But they chose to wait until now to let towns know how much they would lose, after half the fiscal year has already gone by, making these cuts more difficult for towns to absorb. This is poor planning at best, and at worst appears to be an attempt to bury bad news when people are focused on the holiday season, said Senate Republican President Pro Tempore Len Fasano, North Haven.
In a statement, the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, called the cuts untenable.
Towns and cities have already included these aid commitments in their budgetary spending plans for this fiscal year The new $30 million cut in LoCIP funds goes far beyond cuts called for the in the state budget. These cuts occur when towns have relied on agreements with the state regarding ways to address crumbling roads and bridges and other citizen safety projects, the organization wrote in an statement. The education cuts occur at a time when the CCJEF v. Rell case has proven that the state has serious education disparity issues to address. The State must develop state budgets that do not make for these late-December mid-year cuts that harm property taxpayers.
A top Russian diplomat on the West Coast blasted President Obamas order to expel four San Francisco consulate employees Friday, saying the move was unwarranted and inhumane.
Consul General Sergey Petrov brushed aside allegations by the White House that the ejected employees were working as intelligence operatives, describing one of them as the consulate chef and lamenting the absence of his culinary abilities for the offices New Years celebrations.
We will have to cook ... without his help, Petrov said during an impromptu news conference at the Green Street consulate in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Francisco.
Eleven people were packing Friday for their trips home, he said, including the relatives and children of the four consulate employees. Petrov said the employees were bitter and did not have enough time to get their affairs in order.
The consulate office which serves Arizona, Colorado, Hawaii, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon and Utah in addition to California may be slower to process visas and conduct its other duties because of the reduced staff, Petrov said, adding that consulate staff processed more than 20,000 visas in the past year for U.S. citizens.
The persona non grata designations of 35 Russians were made Thursday alongside tough new sanctions by the Obama administration against Russia and its spy agencies for cyberattacks that U.S. intelligence officials have said were intended to influence the 2016 election.
These actions follow repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government, and are a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms of behavior, Obama said in a statement Thursday.
But the expulsions were technically a response to what a State Department briefing paper described as harassment of U.S. diplomats in Russia that has gone far beyond international diplomatic norms of behavior. Complaints of harassment have grown since Russia was slapped with international sanctions for its annexation of Crimea in 2014.
We consider these sanctions completely unsubstantiated, unreasonable, very detrimental to bilateral relations between two neighbors, Petrov said, referring to the actions announced Thursday. Its just not human, frankly.
Later on Facebook, San Francisco consulate officials said in a post they were feeling very undiplomatic and that the expulsions were bizarre and ridiculous.
Petrov said he was inspired to speak publicly by Russian President Vladimir Putin, who said Friday he would not immediately retaliate against the United States and instead wait to see how President-elect Donald Trump handles relations between the two countries.
I always knew he was very smart! Trump said of Putin in a tweet Friday, appearing to side with a foreign adversary over the White House.
Petrov expressed hope that the incoming administration would improve U.S.-Russian relations so the two nations can tackle climate change and fight terrorism. Echoing Putins invitation for children of American diplomats to celebrate the New Year and Orthodox Christmas next week with him at the Kremlin, Petrov invited reporters to the consulates own holiday festivities.
Hopefully, this is the lowest we can go, and we hope that we will be able to restore our relations, Petrov said.
Among the actions announced Thursday, the Treasury Department said it will sanction two Russians for allegedly misappropriating significant U.S. funds through cyberspace.
According to the FBI, one of the two, Alexsey Belan, has an open fraud case in the San Francisco office of the U.S. District Court of Northern California. He allegedly hacked into three major e-commerce companies based in California and Nevada in 2012 and 2013. Federal investigators accused Belan of stealing user databases and millions of encrypted passwords.
A spokesman for the U.S. attorneys office handling the case said he had no public information to provide.
Kimberly Veklerov is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kveklerov@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kveklerov
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Before the children and the move to the suburbs, Joanne Hall checked out a copy of Atlas Shrugged from the local library. The due date was stamped in the front cover: July 13, 1983.
The book is now 33 years overdue. Hall, 62, was recently rummaging through storage boxes in the attic of her Pleasanton home when she found it, tucked in a slippery plastic book jacket. SFPL, read a stamp on the spine. She flipped through its pages, feeling shocked and embarrassed.
It looked like a library book, but I couldnt remember what library I had checked it out of, Hall said. I was 29 back then. I moved around a lot, and I had this book packed in a box. It came with me, and no one could read it over those 33 years. I feel so badly about that.
Hall is among an estimated 55,000 book fugitives who have been granted amnesty from the San Francisco Public Library system. From Jan. 3 to Feb. 14, if they return their overdue materials, their fines will be forgiven along with any previously incurred fines, upon request.
The library caps all fines on overdue items at $5, whether the items are out a year or decades. But even with the cap, library officials say $4.5 million is owed them. They estimate that theyll forgive between $40,725 and $203,775 including Halls $10 fine during the amnesty period.
Its a bargain, they say, because the value of the materials theyll recover in exchange will be greater.
In 2009, the library tried a similar fine forgiveness program with the slogan Whats your excuse? Over two weeks, more than 30,000 overdue items valued at $730,000 were returned. About $50,000 in fines was forgiven.
The slogan this time is We want you back.
This is the nature of people being very busy, said City Librarian Luis Herrera. You check out materials and forget to return them. Our goal is to have those items come back to us, and, more importantly, to eliminate barriers for folks who have accrued fines to the point that their library cards have been suspended.
The fines disproportionately affect low-income patrons, who need library services the most, Herrera said. City data show that the highest fine amounts are concentrated in historically impoverished neighborhoods. Tenderloin patrons owe $302,376, Mission residents are $227,722 in the red, and a Bayview, Hunters Point and Visitacion Valley ZIP code owes $253,302.
In comparison, Financial District residents owe $8,347 and Presidio residents owe $6,495. But any San Franciscan can earn back card privileges by dropping off late materials at one of the librarys 27 branches during the six-week campaign.
The program helps clear the stigma of having an overdue book, said Jen Schwartz, 29, of the Richmond, who has at least one overdue book. Paying a fine is not the deterrent, she said. Its admitting the transgression to a librarian and feeling her body prickle with guilt, shame and embarrassment, she said.
I have a fear that I am going to walk in to turn in the late book, and theyll see I have done this many, many times, Schwartz said. Are they going to think Im lazy and careless? Thats what Im assuming theyre thinking in the back of their minds. I am a repeat offender.
Her current overdue book has sat on her bookshelf for at least a year, she said. Its been there for so many months that she cant even remember the title. She plans to return it on Jan. 3, the first day of the fine forgiveness program.
Now I have no excuse not to march my butt right down to the library, Schwartz said. And Ill probably make a donation since I dont have to pay a fine.
But no one should plan on waiting for the next fine forgiveness program to return a load of overdue books. It might be years before the program is instituted again. Making the program sporadic discourages people from relying on it to avoid paying fees, Herrera said.
We are hoping to have a steady stream of people in here taking advantage of it, he said. Consider it part of your New Years resolution. Thats a no-brainer.
Hall said she will be one of the first patrons at the library. After 33 years with Atlas Shrugged, which she did eventually finish, it was time to return the novel.
Ive been a fugitive because of it all that time, she said. It belongs to the people of San Francisco.
Lizzie Johnson is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ljohnson@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LizzieJohnsonnn
A state parole panel has put off a decision on whether to release Charles Manson follower Patricia Krenwinkel, convicted of seven murders with the Manson cult in 1969, to investigate her lawyers contention that as a teenager Krenwinkel was browbeaten and intimidated by Manson.
Krenwinkel, 69, Californias longest-serving female prisoner, has been denied parole 13 times. After a hearing that lasted all day and into the evening Thursday at the California Institution for Women in Chino, a panel of the Board of Parole hearings postponed a decision because they felt information discussed at the hearing was cause for an investigation, said the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation.
At an earlier hearing, Krenwinkel testified that when she met Manson at a party at age 19, she became infatuated and left everything behind to join his so-called family. Keith Wattley, her lawyer at the parole hearing, said Friday he wants the panel to consider whether Krenwinkel was suffering from intimate partner battering, formerly known as battered-womens syndrome, at the time of the murders.
I pointed out that, despite decades of reports of the ways in which Mr. Manson controlled his followers, the parole board had never conducted an investigation into the degree to which abuse through violence, threats and other coercive tactics influenced behavior in these crimes, Wattley said by email.
He noted that state law requires the parole board to give great weight to any evidence that shows an inmate seeking release was being abused by an intimate partner at the time of the crime.
According to media accounts of Krenwinkels past parole hearings, the board has commended her for good behavior in prison, for earning a college degree and for counseling other inmates, but said she could still pose a danger to the public in light of her role in the crimes.
Even if the board approves Krenwinkels release, it wont have the last word. Gov. Jerry Brown has vetoed the paroles of two other Manson followers, Leslie Van Houten and Bruce Davis, citing the horrific nature of their crimes.
The only Manson acolyte to be paroled is Steve Grogan, who took part in the 1969 slaying of movie stuntman Donald Shorty Shea and helped police find Sheas body in 1977 at the Spahn Ranch in Chatsworth, west of Los Angeles. Grogan was freed in 1985, three years before California voters empowered the governor to override parole decisions. Manson himself has never been approved for parole.
Krenwinkel was convicted of the murders of actress Sharon Tate and four others, at Mansons orders, in August 1969, and of the murders of supermarket executive Leno LaBianca and his wife, Rosemary, the next day.
Prosecutors said Manson hoped the killings would trigger a race war that he called Helter Skelter, after the Beatles song. Witnesses said the words Death to Pigs and a misspelled Helter Skelter, scrawled in blood at the LaBiancas home, were written by Krenwinkel.
Krenwinkel, Manson and three others were sentenced to death for the murders, but the sentences were reduced to life with the possibility of parole after the state Supreme Court struck down Californias death penalty law in 1972. Legislators reinstated capital punishment over Browns veto in 1977, but the law does not apply retroactively.
Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @egelko
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One of two men shot by a pair of assailants on a street near San Franciscos Civic Center died as he was rushed to the hospital, police said Friday.
The double shooting was reported at 5:14 p.m. Thursday on the 200 block of Golden Gate Avenue in the Tenderloin, just north of the Civic Center and U.N. Plaza, according to the San Francisco Police Department. The gunfire broke out near the front entrance of the Service Employees International Union.
Most work places don't require a sick note if you're feeling slightly under the weather. You get an allotted amount of sick days and you use them as needed.
However, some work places are extremely particular with their sick-days policy.
Dear Mr. Premack: With the inauguration less than a month away, I am wondering what to expect regarding changes to the federal estate tax under the Trump administration. My estate is currently exempt from the estate tax and I want to make sure it stays that way. - CV
The official Trump campaign website contains this statement: The Trump Plan will repeal the death tax, but capital gains held until death and valued over $10 million will be subject to tax to exempt small businesses and family farms. To prevent abuse, contributions of appreciated assets into a private charity established by the decedent or the decedents relatives will be disallowed.
Lets analyze the statement. 1) repeal the death tax. Currently, the estate tax is imposed when a single persons assets at death exceed $5.45 million in value, or a married couples assets exceed $10.9 million in value. Expect the new President to support legislation to eliminate the tax, so unlimited amounts of wealth can pass from generation to generation without taxation. Take for example, Bill Gates. His net worth is estimated to be $81 billion. Under the existing system, when both he and his wife have died, the tax would be about $32 billion, 395 million dollars. Under the Trump proposal, Mr. Gates estate tax will be zero.
That is roughly equivalent to the amount that Gates has already donated to charity, largely to the Gates Foundation (which has assets of about $40 billion). His donations helped reduce future estate taxes he would pay. If there is no estate tax, charitable giving will be reduced. Studies estimate that repeal of the estate tax would reduce charitable giving in the US by between 22 and 37 percent. Government revenue will also be reduced (the last available figure from the IRS is that about $28 billion was collected in estate taxes in 2014).
2) capital gains held until death and valued over $10 million will be subject to tax to exempt small businesses and family farms. Currently, inherited assets are given a free-step-up in basis, which eliminates capital gain taxes on inherited assets. It appears that the President-elects proposal will limit the exemption to the first $10 million in inherited value. Most Americans will not be affected while those whose estates exceed $10 million will be exposed. The wording subject to tax to exempt small business and farms is awkward, but likely means the value added to an estate by a small business or a family farm will remain exempt from the capital gain tax.
3) To prevent abuse, contributions of appreciated assets into a private charity established by the decedent or the decedents relatives will be disallowed. To avoid the capital gain tax, people will not be able to utilize private charitable foundations (like the Gates Foundation, the Trump Foundation or the Eric Trump Foundation). The proposal may continue to allow donations to other charities (like the Heart Association or the Animal Defense League).
It is possible, with the upcoming Congress, that a plan like this campaign proposal could become law. Speaker of the House Paul Ryan supports repeal of the federal estate tax. Another possibility (if compromise is necessary) would be an increase in the current exemption from $10.9 million to a much higher figure, still requiring the ultra-wealthy to pay an estate tax (as is supported by figures like Gates and Warren Buffet). Well see what the new Administration brings forward as its formal tax proposal next year and how it affects your estate planning.
Paul Premack is a Certified Elder Law Attorney with offices in San Antonio and Seattle, handling Wills and Trusts, Probate, and Business Entity issues. View past legal columns or submit free questions on legal issues via www.TexasEstateandProbate.com or www.Premack.com.
Albany
City lawmakers want to dive deeper into the municipal hiring process to better understand why some departments lack diversity and to determine if civil service laws are being followed.
A recent Times Union column by Chris Churchill questioning the methodology in hiring a relative of County Executive Daniel McCoy for a job in the Albany Fire Department has prompted scrutiny by the Common Council president and some of council members into how the city selects people through the civil service process.
"It's not so much about the civil service process because many council members are a product of the civil service system, so we know how it works," Council President Carolyn McLaughlin said. "There are so many subjective pieces to this that people need to be made aware of."
The September hiring of Nicholas Vita, 26, as an Albany firefighter raised eyebrows with many wondering how McCoy's nephew had jumped past many of the 75 candidates, including minority applicants, who scored higher on the city civil service exam.
The exam is not the only measurement by which candidates are judged by the Albany Civil Service Commission.
Among other factors in the point-system ranking are city residency, education and professional experience.
During the Wednesday caucus, Councilman Frank Commisso Jr. called for council members to convene committee meetings early next year to look into the matter. He pointed to past issues with hiring, such as the appointment of Matthew Peter to executive director of the Albany Parking Authority, who Commisso said wasn't qualified.
"It's past time for the Common Council to fulfill its oversight duties," he said. "Albany residents should be able to trust that hiring decisions are made in accordance with Civil Service law."
Mayor Kathy Sheehan called the allegations of not following civil service law "completely unwarranted" and bordering on "slanderous."
"I have a director of personnel who takes her job and civil service obligations very seriously," she said. "To make a generalized statement that somehow we are not following civil service is a very serious allegation, and it needs to come with a very specific example of where we're allegedly not following it."
Both McLaughlin and Commmiso are considering a mayoral run against Sheehan next year.
City officials offered training to council members so they can better understand the process, and in an email to Commisso, Human Resources Director Miriam Dixon detailed how Vita surpassed others on the list based on those above him withdrawing, failing the physical tests, not living in the city and other reasons.
McLaughlin said she wants details on how the administration is working to attract the black community into firefighting and other public safety jobs. She said additional points provided for things like city residency or prior experience should be examined.
"We need to really evaluate those things are they fair?" McLaughlin said. "As an HR department that is concerned about increasing diversity in the workforce, what are they doing to address this issue?"
Sheehan noted the city struggles with diversity and invited McLaughlin to help attract the black community to the fire and police departments.
"It has been very difficult, and part of the issue is the lack of the diversity in the people who are taking the test," the mayor said.
City officials have done outreach through Armed Forces' JROTC program at Albany High School and offered mentoring for the various exams and training for the physical exam.
"We've been tabling at all kinds of events throughout the city making sure there's awareness throughout the community the fact that we need firefighters," Sheehan said.
afries@timesunion.com 518-454-5353 @mandy_fries
Albany
The Albany County commissioner of public works is expected to be appointed to the County Legislature in January to fill the seat vacated by Michael Mackey, who was elected to state Supreme Court in November.
New Scotland resident Darrell Duncan was recommended by members of the New Scotland and Bethlehem Democratic committees who reside in the 38th Legislative District to succeed Mackey, who takes his seat on the bench on Jan. 1.
The legislative Majority Office confirmed Thursday that it had received Duncan's recommendation. The legislature could vote as early as Jan. 9 on his appointment.
Between his lifelong New Scotland residency and his experience as a highway superintendent first in New Scotland and now as head of the county's Public Works Department Duncan shined as the candidate who would best represent the 38th District, New Scotland Democratic Committee Chairman Doug Miller said.
"He's a very good go-getter, hard worker and knows the community well," Miller said. "He's had a very good working relationship with county government and with the County Legislature."
County Executive Daniel McCoy appointed Duncan to be the commissioner in 2012, after his 18 years as the elected highway superintendent in New Scotland.
The 38th District includes two election districts in Bethlehem and five in New Scotland. Members who voted to recommend Duncan to the post were from these districts, Miller said.
Duncan will have to run for the seat in November to serve the remaining three years of the four-year term. Mackey has been the district's legislator for five years.
Retired Rensselaer County Democratic Chairman Thomas Wade sent an email to Democrats criticizing Mackey and Rensselaer County Judge Andrew Ceresia who also was elected to the Supreme Court for accepting the Republican endorsement in September. The two ran unopposed for the seats.
Both Ceresia and Mackey said they were ethically bound to accept the GOP line, according to a state Court of Appeals ruling.
Mackey said he's looking forward to taking on the Albany County-based judgeship, after spending decades as an attorney.
"As somebody who has tried a lot of cases and spent over 30 years litigating in Supreme Court, I can bring a longtime practitioner's perspective to the court," he said. "I really understand what attorneys, (other) parties and witnesses go through when they're involved in litigation."
afries@timesunion.com 518-454-5353 @mandy_fries
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Troy
It was an emotional moment for newly sworn in state Supreme Court Justice Andrew G. Ceresia Thursday afternoon when he turned to his father.
"Everything I've ever accomplished has been a result of his guidance," Ceresia told the audience of more than 24 judges from the federal, state, county and local courts and 150 people in the Rensselaer County Court House Ceremonial Courtroom.
Retired state Supreme Court and former Third Judicial District Administrative Justice George Ceresia, 73, smiled broadly after swearing in his 45-year-old son to his newest judicial post.
A graduate of Troy High School, the State University at Oneonta and Albany Law School, the younger justice has followed a trail blazed by his father.
"My dad has been a judge since I was born," Ceresia said.
He left his Rensselaer County Court judgeship after seven years for his new 14-year term and previously served six years as a North Greenbush town justice.
"I was delighted when he told me he wanted to go into law," the elder Ceresia said.
By emulating his father, the new Supreme Court justice also plowed head long into the rough and tumble world of Rensselaer County politics, which its practitioners proudly call a blood sport.
That element was not missing Thursday as retired Rensselaer County Democratic Chairman Thomas Wade sent an email to Democrats criticizing Ceresia and Albany County Legislator Michael Mackey for accepting the Republican endorsement in September. The two Democratic judicial candidates ran unopposed for their judgeships and were also endorsed by their party.
"I regret supporting Andy Ceresia and Mike Mackey after seeing their unscrupulous betrayal of the people who afforded them the honor of a judicial nomination," Wade said.
In a letter to the other Democratic chairmen in the seven-county Third Judicial District, Wade said the two candidates lied to the county chairs in accepting the GOP nominations, acted unethically, and insulted him by not inviting him to their swearing in ceremonies.
Both Ceresia and Mackey said they were ethically bound to accept the GOP line, according to a state Court of Appeals ruling.
"Mike and I did what the Court of Appeals says we have to do ethically," Ceresia said. "I'm not going to compromise my ethics."
County Democratic Chairman Michael J. Monescalchi said he had not seen Wade's email, adding he was celebrating Ceresia's swearing-in as a justice.
During the ceremony, Ceresia thanked his wife, Tracee, and their 10-year-old son, Braden.
He also expressed appreciation to state Supreme Court Justice Patrick McGrath for mentoring him after his election to the County Court bench and state Supreme Court Justice Raymond Elliott, who served on the North Greenbush Town Court with Ceresia.
kcrowe@timesunion.com 518-454-5084 @KennethCrowe
DANBURY - Town officials will spend the first days of 2017 in budget meetings deciding whether to raise property taxes or eliminate programs or jobs due to the states move on Thursday to make $20 million cuts in school aid.
The holidays are supposed to be a time of giving and promise, said state Sen. Toni Boucher, a Republican whose districts include Bethel, Redding and Ridgefield. Instead, these drastic cuts to education funding in the middle of the fiscal year are another rotten apple from Gov. Malloys bag of bad gifts.
Redding would lose 32 percent of the state education aid it was promised by Hartford for the 2016-17 school year, or $84,000. Ridgefield stands to lose 29 percent of state funding that it has already budgeted, or $234,000.
Danbury, along with other big city districts such as Bridgeport and Stamford, had its cut capped at $250,000, because of the extra challenges urban districts have to educate students.
More for you State to cut this school years funding
In contrast, affluent Greenwich will lose 90 percent of its funding, or $1.3 million.
In other greater Danbury towns, Bethel would lose $119,000, New Milford would lose $177,000, and Newtown would be cut by $186,000.
In the end, its Connecticuts children who will feel the pain of a lack of planning and vision by the state, said Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, a likely GOP candidate for governor in 2018.
The education cuts, announced one day before greater Danbury leaders broke for a three-day New Years weekend, include an additional $30 million cut in state reimbursements for municipal improvements to roads and buildings.
It was not clear on Friday whether the cut would affect the state reimbursement Newtown is expecting for the remodeling of its high school auditorium.
Its really hard to tell, said Newtown First Selectman Pat Llodra on Friday, reading from a letter that state Office of Policy and Management Director Benjamin Barnes sent to towns and cities. I have to sit down next week with my finance director and my school superintendent to start looking at the impact.
The state is in a budget crisis. Legislators are expected to begin the new legislative session in January facing a deficit of at least $1.4 billion.
The state is also appealing an order by a judge to revamp its inequitable school aid formula after a landmark lawsuit was argued earlier this year.
Danbury, which was one of the lead plaintiffs in the lawsuit, argued that it does not get state aid in proportion to its need. Danbury taxpayers contribute a greater percentage to the city school budget than most other districts in the state, yet Danbury is near the bottom of all places in the state in the money it spends per pupil. Meanwhile, the city is one of the few places in Connecticut where enrollment in growing.
Boucher took exception to a comment attributed to Barnes in the Hartford Courant that he doubted Danbury would need to lay off school employees, noting that the aid reduction is .8 percent of the $31.5 million the city receives.
Secretary Barnes has no way of knowing the budgets for every school district and municipality, Boucher said in a prepared statement. Most are already operating with lean margins because of years of the states fiscal drought and the loss of so many businesses.
Danbury schools Superintendent Sal Pascarella agreed.
This cut is going to impact us because our taxpayers are already giving us everything that they have, said Pascarella, noting it was too early to say whether layoffs would be needed. We dont have a place we can go to grab more money.
TROY Troy police have made an arrest after a landlord was shot inside a Lansingburgh home Thursday evening.
Police had few other details about the arrest Thursday night.
The shooting occurred around 5:10 p.m. inside a two-family Lansingburgh home at 150 5th Ave. A landlord was shot in the shoulder, and taken to Albany Medical Center Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
His name and age were not released.
Evidence technicians were on the scene Thursday night, located between 102nd and 103rd streets.
Staff writer
One would think that as he faced a possible life sentence in federal prison for would-be domestic terrorism, Glendon Scott Crawford might have dialed back a notch on his love for a radiation weapon he bragged could silently slaughter large groups of Muslims in the Capital Region.
Nope.
If anything, Crawford, 52, spoke at his Dec. 19 sentencing like someone still pitching the X-ray device the very thing that got him investigated and convicted in the first place.
And amazingly, Crawford took this stance while simultaneously claiming he was not involved in any plan to use the device.
"I feared for my nation's and my children's nation's future. It's no fun to be haunted,'' Crawford told Senior Judge Gary Sharpe in U.S. District Court in Albany "Nothing was being done about the metastasizing threat of terrorism. I tried for years from Congressman Gibson to the Israeli consulate to get somebody to see the value of this."
Crawford, from Providence in Saratoga County, acted in court as if his advocacy for the weapon was more John Q. Citizen than John Hinckley Jr.
"I tried to explain physics and its potential for fighting terror," Crawford told the judge. "Everybody looked at me like I got two heads. I don't mind being looked at and treated like a freak. If this thing could be put in the hands of somebody who's going to use it to fight terrorism, that was my goal."
Crawford left out the part where he referred to Muslims as "medical waste" he believed needed to be "sterilized," according to secret recordings made by the government. Crawford left out his "wish list" of terror targets that included the White House, Executive Mansion, United Nations, neighborhoods with large Muslim populations in Dearborn, Mich., and Queens, and an international conference of the Bilderberg Group, which holds an annual event to foster dialogue between Europe and North America.
More Information Contact Robert Gavin at 518-454- 2403 or email rgavin@timesunion.com. On Twitter: @Robert GavinTU See More Collapse
Crawford said with a straight face he "did not want to have any part of the use of the device." He said it even though the judge oversaw the trial and viewed the FBI surveillance tapes of Crawford, some which showed him making up code names for everybody involved in the plot. Crawford called the group, "Proxies For The Guild To Care For the Baby." The baby, of course, was the weapon.
Crawford even told his co-conspirators, two of whom were undercover agents, not to make their plans obvious and make it look like, "Hey, look at us. We're killing people."
It was clear very early that the judge was not buying anything Crawford had to sell. Crawford still tried. The guy about to be sentenced for would-be carnage spoke like he knew he was the smartest person in the room.
Crawford, practically smug, name-dropped several codes of federal law in a bizarre attempt to show he was not guilty of attempting to produce or use a radiological dispersal device, a 2004 law enacted to stop terrorists who would use a "dirty bomb."
"This is a nuclear or fissile event," Crawford lectured from his defendant's seat. "Under Chapter 42, Title 23, Section 2414(c) of the Atomic Energy Act, Congress wrote their official recognition of this in a reflection by the legislature that this is what constituted release. That foundation for statutes means that these statutes were authored for nuclear weapons. These statutes were written by the legislature to accomplish a few things. During the time 2232(a) became a statute ... it was right around the time the Soviet Union was collapsing and Congress was very concerned about worldwide bad guys getting their hands on the Soviet's arsenal. After being in the Navy in the '80s, I can tell you they had all kinds of nasty stuff bad guys were going to get their hands on that they could have cashed on. It was at that point that nuclear explosive devices, as partly code at that point, were made part of the weapons of mass destruction statute under 2332(a)(2)(D). OK?"
Eventually, the judge said: "Let me explain something to you, Mr. Crawford. I do not intend to sit here and listen to a recitation on your view of the science behind the statutes ..."
"May I read the Rule 7 motion that the court refused to consider?" Crawford asked Sharpe.
"No, you may not," the judge said.
"May I get on the record the fashion by which my ex post facto petitions were driven around by the prosecution from the grand jury to this very day and kept from the jurists who had no means to understand that the distinction in the law was written there and didn't know the difference and were unable to distinguish the difference Congress wrote into the statutes without having a degree in law and a degree in physics?" Crawford asked the judge.
"No, you may not," the judge replied. "Those things are beyond the scope of what we're here for."
Crawford never seemed to understand the reason he was there: that was he was the terrorist the government wanted to stop all along. At one point, Crawford criticized his trial lawyer, Kevin Luibrand.
Sharpe had heard enough.
"Mr. Luibrand is an extraordinarily well-qualified attorney. I sat through the trial," the judge said. "To the extent you're trying to impugn him for the record to disclose what, in your view, is ineffective assistance of counsel, what we've really got here is an ineffective assistance of the defendant. It's your failure to recognize your conduct and how that conduct violates the statute."
On this date in ...
1916: Harriet Low, a 16-year-old Emma Willard student, was in serious condition in the hospital after suffering injuries in a coasting (bobsledding) accident that left her unconscious for more than 10 hours. This was the most serious of eight coastings that happened on Albany-area streets, leading police Chief James Hyatt to ban coasting on city streets and instructing his officers to make arrests and mete out punishments for repeated offenders who ignored warnings.
1966: Approved motorcycle helmets and eye-protection devices would have to be used by all motorcyclists and their passengers in the state starting Jan. 1, 1967, according to the state Department of Motor Vehicles. Safety glasses, goggles, face shields and windscreens would qualify to protect eyes. The standards were passed by the Legislature to help reduce the number of motorcycle deaths and injuries.
1991: Troy rejected the idea of building a new public safety complex where the closed Ahern Apartments stood and would instead revamp the existing State Street building, City Manager Steven G. Dworsky said. As the Troy Housing Authority took the first step toward hiring a lawyer to handle selling the 144-unit project, the city manager revealed that he was no longer interested in purchasing the four buildings. To buy the Ahern property, located between Congress and Ferry streets, would cost the city $11 to $12 million. Instead, Dworsky estimated it would cost $3 to $4 million to renovate the existing structure.
Want to read more about the Capital Region's past? See http://blog.timesunion.com/history/
For many people, the recession of 2007-2008 is still fresh on their minds. Going through another downturn, and so soon, would be dreadful. However, terrible policies and unnecessary political confrontations between nations could plunge the world into another recession.
And it's not like we're not feeling the effects of a slow global economic growth, already. Several countries have seen their projections contract.
Related: SMBs Confident in Global Economy Despite Upfront Concerns
However, some business sectors have shown tough resilience in the face of unpredictable economic outcomes. Here is a look at some of those industries and the lessons they can offer on flexibility, and why venturing into one of these particular categories could keep you safe from a serious downturn during a future economic shakedown.
1. Trucking
The growth of the trucking industry is strong -- especially in America. Trucking is responsible for 70 percent of the U.S. freight sector. A primary way to ascertain the strength of any industry is the number of jobs it's created. Truck Driving Jobs currently lists more than half-a-million jobs available.
And that figure doesn't even take into account the other, indirect jobs this industry creates, such as the mechanics servicing the trucks and employees of the companies selling the trucks and their parts.
2. Virtual learning
When the economy slows, people strive to improve their skills, to find better job opportunities. This is where virtual learning comes in. This industry provides the education needed by people seeking to advance their careers in a tough and competitive business world. It just doesn't have the brick walls.
A 2015 growth forecast projected that the elearning industry will exceed $107 billion.
3. Ride-hailing services
Uber operates in more than 500 cities around the globe. In a 2015 Business Insider report, Uber was described as the world's biggest employer, offering 50,000 driving jobs per month. The rise of Uber in the ride-hailing industry has seen several competitors build up around this over-$40 billion dollar industry.
What makes the ride-hailing service particularly attractive is its receptiveness to the technology ecosystem. The most advanced tech companies in the world today have made important contributions to this industry. Even a hard-hitting economic recession is unlikely to its solidity.
4. Online marketplace for homes
From real estate to hospitality -- think Zillow and Airbnb -- online marketplaces are increasing their staff strength to accommodate exploding growth. Airbnb was famously born out of two founders' difficulty in paying their rent. It has since grown into a multi-billion dollar business relied on by families that want to put empty guestrooms or whole homes to use.
Related: Diversity Defines Our Global Economy. Do You Speak the Language?
This sector sees increasing growth. An example is an online marketplace dedicated to manufactured homes, where home sellers do not need to worry about a location before commencing construction.
5. Contract blogging
Blogging is a business that offers several income opportunities. More businesses are moving to include content marketing in their growth strategy or plan to increase content-marketing budgets. Being a blogger means you may well see several businesses competing for your work.
6. Ecommerce
As buyers cut down the number of times they visit brick and mortar stores, in favor of discounted online shopping, ecommerce businesses will see their growth increase. The rise of ecommerce has seen several big-name stores close their outlets.
This development means more ecommerce stores will open in more countries around the world, especially in developing countries where demand is still high.
7. Online sports betting
One of the largest sports-betting platforms, Bet365, boasts of having more than 10 million players. Data from Statista shows that the online sports-betting industry may well top $53 billion dollars by 2018.
8. Online marketplace for professionals
As the gig economy shifts online, and more people get connected to businesses via the internet, online marketplaces for professionals will see increased growth.
We can thank LinkedIn for the rise of this business model. What supports the growth of this business model is that job-seekers and employers alike embrace it. For example, The Sawaya Law Firm, based in Colorado, encourages its attorneys and lawyers to use professional marketplaces to connect with more people.
Related: 3 Proven Ways to Grow Your Business Without a Lot of Money
The unpredictability of our economy will see more customers embrace the notion of lower-cost but still experienced online professionals. And these professionals will be less vulnerable to the economy, come what may.
Related:
8 Businesses Defying the Downturn of the Global Economy
Soulja Boy Is the OG Growth Hacker
4 Keys to Boosting Your Growth Rate in 2017
Copyright 2017 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Even as voters in more U.S. states approved legalized recreational marijuana this November and 28 states have legalized medical marijuana the federal government still lists marijuana as an illegal drug.
However, just north of the border, Canadian leaders have started moving in the opposite direction.
Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada and leader of the Liberal Party, created a committee in the summer of 2016 to look into the issues surrounding making marijuana legal for recreational use across the entire country.
The panel recently submitted its findings. They call for a tightly controlled, heavily regulated recreational market that aims to provide adults who want to use cannabis a safe and legal way to buy it, while at the same time cracking down on the marijuana black market.
Related: How to Retain More Customers Without Spending a Dime
The panel, chaired by former Canadian Deputy Primate Minister Anne McLellan, wrote in its report that if put into action their recommendations will strike a balance between implementing appropriate restrictions, in order to minimize the harms associated with cannabis use, and providing adults access to a regulated supply of cannabis while reducing the scope and scale of the illicit market and its social harms.
Trudeau has said he expects to file legislation based on the panels recommendations in the spring of 2017.
Different approach in Canada.
In the U.S., some in the marijuana industry have voiced concerns about President-elect Donald Trumps position on legalized marijuana, particularly since his nominee for attorney general, Alabama Sen. Jeff Sessions, have been a vocal opponent of legalized marijuana.
In Canada, the Liberal Party has taken a clear stance on making recreational marijuana legal. On the partys website, it states: We will legalize, regulate, and restrict access to marijuana.
Canadas current system of marijuana prohibition does not work, they further state. It does not prevent young people from using marijuana and too many Canadians end up with criminal records for possessing small amounts of the drug.
Related: The Next Entrepreneurial Gold Rush
The party hopes that legalizing recreational marijuana will reduce the amount available to young people and also keep the profits out of the hands of criminals.
Getting there, according to the panel, will take a great deal of work on the part of the national government.
Key recommendations.
The lengthy panel report focuses on taking a public health approach to regulating legalized marijuana. In doing so, the panel considered health issues such as chronic use of marijuana, mixing it with abuse of other substances (such as alcohol) and young people having too much access to cannabis. They also took into consideration the dangers of interaction with the illicit marijuana market.
Some of the key recommendations include.
Regulating advertising so it will not appeal to young people, or associate marijuana with use of other substances such as tobacco or alcohol
Set the legal age limit at 18
Requiring packaging that clearly states what the product contains, including strain of cannabis and amount of tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the ingredient in marijuana that causes the high
Conducting sales only through specialty stores licensed by the government
Homeowners could have up to four cannabis plants, and individuals could carry up to 30 grams in public
Creating a seed-to-sale tracking system for recreational cannabis production
Extending the restrictions on public smoking of tobacco products in Canada to include cannabis
Strengthening penalties for selling cannabis outside the legal system
Related: Entrepreneur.com Staffers Pick Their Favorite Solutions of 2016
While the panel concludes that creating a government-run infrastructure for cannabis sales will take time and effort, they conclude that Canada is well-positioned to undertake the complex task of legalizing and regulating cannabis carefully and safely.
Related:
Canada Takes Next Step Toward National Marijuana Legalization
Thomas Jefferson University Receives $3 Million Marijuana Research Grant
Survey Finds Oregon Residents Support Banks Working With Marijuana Industry
Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
Beirut
A cease-fire agreement between Syria's government and weakened rebel forces is scheduled to start Friday, a potential turning point in a nearly six-year conflict that has claimed hundreds of thousands of lives.
The Syrian government's strongest ally, President Vladimir Putin of Russia, announced the deal Thursday.
Many past efforts to quell the fighting, brokered under the auspices of the United Nations, have failed, and Putin himself pronounced the deal "fragile." But the rebels' loss of their stronghold in Aleppo was a major blow to their movement to oust President Bashar Assad.
The agreement was negotiated by officials from Russia, Iran and Turkey with Assad's government and rebel representatives. Before the end of January, the factions will meet for talks in Astana, the capital of Kazakhstan.
Putin later spoke by telephone with Assad, who "expressed willingness to comply" with the accords, according to the Kremlin's website.
The Obama administration, which has resisted greater involvement in what it sees as a largely intractable conflict, welcomed the news.
"Any effort that stops the violence, saves lives, and creates the conditions for renewed and productive political negotiations would be welcome," said the State Department's deputy spokesman, Mark C. Toner, reiterating its view that "there is no military solution to this nearly six-year crisis."
If the agreement holds, it could solidify Assad's grip on the country's western ridge and lead to a joint effort by Russia and the United States against Islamic State militants. But that is a big if, given the number of parties involved, their competing interests and the scope of fighting.
Joshua M. Landis, director of the Center for Middle East Studies at the University of Oklahoma, was one of many skeptical observers. "The truce will not last because most militias have not signed onto it, but it is important because Turkey is putting the militias on notice that its border will be closing to them and that the world will turn its backs on the military effort to make Assad step aside," he said.
"This points toward the 'political' solution that Assad and the Russians have been demanding, which is that the world must stop supporting the insurgency," he continued. "The regime will negotiate amnesty with militias it can deal with and will kill or chase out of Syria all those who refuse to sue for peace or whom it considers unredeemable or jihadists."
Of the seven rebel groups said to be signers of the deal, five have gotten U.S. military aid. Most are mainstream groups, but the list also included Ahrar al-Sham, a hard-line Islamist group that has close operational ties with al-Qaida's affiliate in Syria.
Explicitly not included are the jihadis: the Islamic State, the Syrian affiliate of al-Qaida and "groups linked to them."
Russia, Assad's backer, and Turkey, which supports some of the rebel groups, will guarantee the truce. Military operations are to halt nationwide.
Three agreements were signed, Putin said: the cease-fire itself; an agreement detailing how it would be carried out; and a third expressing readiness to begin peace talks for a settlement to the conflict.
Russian foreign minister Sergey V. Lavrov said President-elect Donald Trump's administration would be welcome to join the peace process after the inauguration.
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Ninth-grade students at New Canaan Country School collected and delivered dove bags of food for 52 local families on Dec. 16. The Dove Program, in its 48th year, is overseen and organized by Person-to-Person, a nonprofit organization with locations in Darien and Norwalk.
The food was donated by students in grades five to nine, while the 45 ninth-graders split into blue and white teams to facilitate organization and distribution of the 150 bags, loading them into vans and then off-loading them at the food pantry.
In addition to the efforts of the ninth-grade students, the sixth grade at the independent day school spent Dec. 20 at Person-to-Person in Darien, assisting with behind-the-scenes tasks such as restocking the food pantry and organizing clothing donations.
Just in time for Christmas
Continuing a yearly tradition, Marilyn Gifford hand-picked and delivered teddy bears donated by Toys-for-Tots to all of Waveny Care Centers residents and short-term patients just in time for the holiday season.
The Waveny volunteer passed out the bears on Dec. 21.
On the deans list
Lauren Peet, a New Canaan native, qualified for the fall deans list at Belmont University in Nashville, Tenn. Eligibility is based on a minimum course load of 12 hours and a quality grade-point average of 3.5 with no grade below a C.
Studying abroad
Miami University student Nina Church, of New Canaan, spent the summer semester in Italy as part of a study abroad group.
Church is majoring in art and architecture history at Miami University in Oxford, Ohio.
First selectman to speak about town
First Selectman Robert Mallozzi III will address the New Canaan Mens Club Jan. 6 at 10 a.m. in Morrill Hall at St. Marks Church. He will speak on the State of the Town, which will include the past years major accomplishments, finance, development projects, Charter revision and critical issues facing New Canaan in the coming year.
Mallozzi, a graduate of the University of Vermont, is fulfilling his third term as first selectman. He and his wife, Elizabeth Howland, and their two children have been New Canaan residents for the past 14 years, during which time Mallozzi has chaired a number of boards and groups, including the Fund for New Canaan and the New Canaan Advisory Board. He has also been a member of various committees.
For information contact, Kevin Faughnan at 203-966-5702 or visit SMCNC.org.
Opioid Prevention slogan contest
A heroin epidemic is sweeping the country, and Connecticut is no exception, with two people dying from an opioid overdose each day. The Darien Health Department is asking for local students help to get the word out about opioid abuse by participating in the Opioid Prevention Committees slogan contest.
The contest is open to middle and high school studentsfrom Darien, New Canaan, Stamford and Greenwich. Students are encouraged to submit a 30-character slogan that is attention-grabbing and warns readers about the dangers of drug use.
Contest entries must be submitted to norxabuse.com by 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 8. The winner of the contest will get $250 in prizes. Two honorable mention winners will get $100 in prizes. All participants will be acknowledged on the contest website.
The winning slogan will be announced and a public award granted as a component of the Health Needs Assessment presentation by the Darien Health Department on Jan. 19. The award will constitute the official launch of the campaign and the slogan will be the official tagline in the upcoming campaign and marketing materials to raise awareness of the dangers of prescription drug abuse.
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Toquet Hall, Westports teen center, is accepting applications for its middle school and high school governing boards.
Established in 1998 by the Westport Youth Commission as a safe, substance-free place for teens by teens, the Toquet Hall governing boards play an integral role in helping to shape the programs and style of the teen center. Through this opportunity, Toquet Hall provides a forum for youth to serve as community assets, develop leadership skills, planning and decision making skills, and interact with people of different interests and backgrounds.
The governing boards meet bimonthly to discuss upcoming programs, review press kits, assist with fundraising initiatives and create promotion strategies. Students will gain valuable volunteer experience in a fun and unique setting.
Applications are available at toquethall.org and any student who lives in Westport is eligible to join regardless of where they attend school.
Please contact Kevin Godburn or Kiernan Castro at toquethall@hotmail.com or 203-341-1155 with any questions. Also watch for upcoming programs by visiting the website or following Toquet Hall on Instagram, Twitter, or Facebook.
Taxes are due
Westport Tax Collector Peggy Klein reminded residents that third quarter real estate taxes, personal property taxes, and sanitary sewer use and assessment charges are due Jan. 1.
Taxpayers have until Feb. 1 to pay taxes without penalty. Accounts will be subject to an 18 percent penalty charge if paid late. Minimum interest charge is $2.
Real estate taxes, personal property taxes, and sanitary sewer use and assessment bills may be paid by credit card, debit card or direct withdrawal from a checking account online at westportct.gov.
Checks should be made payable to Town of Westport and mailed to:
Tax Collector - Westport
P.O. Box 350
Westport, CT 06881
Failure to receive a bill does not abate the charges or interest.
At the Center for Senior Activities
The Westport Center for Senior Activities is located at 21 Imperial Ave. For further information or to register for activities, please call 203-341-5099 or visit westportct.gov/seniorcenter.
Award-winning miniseries: Eleanor & Franklin, which won a combined 18 Emmy awards in 1976, will be shown at the senior center. The first part, The Early Years, will air on Jan. 5 and 12 at 3:15 p.m. The White House Years will be shown on Jan. 19 at 3:15 p.m.
The event is free.
Pet safety talk: Veterinarian Melissa Shapiro will discuss pet safety (household toxins, car safety, fencing, etc.) for dogs, cats, and other pets on Jan. 7 at 1 p.m. She will also spend time discussing the importance of choosing reliable, safe pet care (dog walkers, pet sitters, kennels).
Shapiro, a graduate of Purdue University School of Veterinary Medicine, will bring two of her rescued shelter dogs who will entertain and visit with the audience. There will be time for an informal Q&A and discussion following the talk.
The event is free and open to all ages.
Safety reminders
Westport has experienced numerous vehicle break-ins during the month of December. In all cases of vehicles being entered, which resulted in thefts, the doors were unlocked. The recent thefts have occurred overnight.
The Westport Police Department reminds residents to please lock your car and bring your keys inside. Please remember to take valuables out of your car for the night, such as cash, purses, wallets and electronics. It is also good practice to keep outside lights on and motion lights activated.
Please notify the police department if it appears your vehicle was entered or you observe anything suspicious in your neighborhood.
Get your flu shot
The Westport Weston Health District still has flu vaccine and would like to remind students returning home for the holidays that it is a good time to get vaccinated as the flu season will peak around February.
This is a good time for older adults to also get vaccinated. Recent studies endorsed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention have found that the standard flu vaccine tended to wear off more quickly in older adults. Therefore, waiting to the end of the calendar year to be vaccinated helps ensure the vaccine lasts through flu season, which runs from October to May.
This year, the types of flu vaccines offered will include injectable vaccine for people three years and older, and high dose vaccine for persons 65 years and older.
The CDC does not recommend using the nasal flu spray this year due to low efficacy rates for the past two flu seasons.
The injectable flu vaccine for those under 65 years of age is quadrivalent, which means it contains four influenza strains; two influenza A and two influenza B strains. The high-dose flu vaccine for those over 65 years of age is a trivalent vaccine and contains two influenza A strains and one influenza B strain.
High dose vaccine has been shown to improve the production of antibodies, thus providing a stronger immune response against the flu. The most important issue is to get vaccinated.
To schedule an appointment call 203-227-9571, ext. 231.
Call for photos
The Fairfield Museum and History Center will hold its ninth annual IMAGES Juried Photography Show to celebrate the exceptional work of talented photographers in our region.
Entries will be accepted through Feb. 5.
Professional, serious amateur, and student photographers from Connecticut, New York, Rhode Island and Massachusetts are invited to participate.
The show will be on display from March 9 to April 30. In addition, the photography of Joe Standart will be on display.
Visit fairfieldhistory.org/exhibitions-2/images for more information or to enter.
Crowdfunding made its much-awaited debut last summer to great fanfare. The new Regulation Crowdfunding rules enacted in May 2016 -- designed to facilitate small-scale investment into private businesses -- permit securities crowdfunding under the JOBS Act of 2012 such that anyone, not just accredited investors, can acquire an equity stake directly in a company. Yet despite the rapturous articles and frenzy of social media postings, early data from the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) suggests that capital raised under Regulation Crowdfunding is likely to remain a small portion of overall 2016 capital raised.
Related: How State and Federal Crowdfunding Regulations Differ
Regulation Crowdfunding was conceived to enable small companies to raise small amounts of capital from ordinary folks. The new rules allow companies to raise up to $1 million over a 12-month period, and investors are able to contribute up to $2,000 or a set percentage of their annual income or net worth (5 percent if an investors annual income or net worth is below $100,000 and 10 percent if it is above $100,000). The transactions take place over intermediary platforms, which face additional requirements for advertising and disclosure imposed largely to protect the investors.
Initial data provided by SEC Chair Mary Jo White shows that only $4.4 million in funds was committed by investors under the Regulation Crowdfunding rules within the first two months. Additional Morrison & Foerster LLP (MoFo) research reveals that, as of the beginning of November, there have been fewer than 150 offerings raising an aggregate of just under $20 million over the 19 platforms regulated and permitted by the SEC.
So why has there been a slow uptake of financing through Regulation Crowdfunding, and what should you be thinking about? Heres the most important question to ask yourself when determining whether to pursue a crowdfunding approach -- Is crowdfunding good for your business?
The question often arises because entrepreneurs need initial capital to launch their businesses. The earliest cash generally comes from friends and family -- and credit cards -- but increasingly, entrepreneurs seek out incubators or accelerators that provide business guidance alongside of initial capital. Angel investors and high-net-worth individuals, either as individuals or through networks like Angels List, can play this role as well to varying degrees.
Arguably, though, some small startup companies may benefit from an increased investor base and easier access to capital that comes from Regulation Crowdfunding. Such democratized financing can enable new products, markets and businesses to grow and succeed organically with strong buy-in from its community and customers. This view also sees crowdfunding as beneficial to investors, and even society at large, since equity ownership is diversified among people who are often not direct shareholders or investors in companies.
Related: 3 Essentials to Succeeding at Equity Crowdfunding
However, Regulation Crowdfunding may not work for some startups, especially those with a social or environmental purpose, that are particularly uncomfortable giving away equity at such an early stage and for potentially little cash. So entrepreneurs -- often those in consumer product markets -- see crowdfunding as their last best alternative to bootstrapping. Beyond this, Regulation Crowdfunding also imposes the following potential significant issues that all startups need to think about and weigh when considering whether it is a worthwhile tradeoff for them before proceeding down this financing road.
Reporting requirements.
A company that elects to take advantage of Regulation Crowdfunding is required to file comprehensive documentation with the SEC before making a securities offering. The filing will contain extensive information about the company -- including names of the companys directors and officers, anticipated business plans, financial data such as debt and the companys risk factors -- and will be publicly available. In addition, the company will need to update this information once a year going forward, and file annual financial statements that may need to be audited. Finally, the company is required to file public progress reports disclosing material changes to investors for any crowdfunding securities offering that was not completed or terminated.
Additional costs.
According to initial assessments, there are likely to be significant administrative and accounting costs, much of which are due to the heavy reporting requirements discussed above. There will also be institutional costs. For example, all crowdfunding transactions must take place through a single intermediary -- a platform that is SEC approved and registered -- which may charge a fee or take an equity position in the company as compensation.
Promotion and advertisement.
Any public announcement about the offering, including advertising and promotions, are limited to:
A statement that the company is making an offering (and the name of and link to the intermediary platform conducting the offering) The offering terms Contact information and a business description of the company.
A company may hire a promoter, but disclosure of whether the promoter received compensation is required on each communication.
Financing limitations.
For companies that want to raise small amounts of capital, Regulation Crowdfunding may be an attractive option. However, the new rules prohibit companies engaged in crowdfunding from raising more than $1 million within a 12-month period, which for many high-growth startups is prohibitively low.
Related: 3 Crowdfunding Secrets From an Entrepreneur Who Raised $11.5 Million
Management challenges.
In addition to the limitations placed on the companies, there are also restrictions on how much each investor can contribute. Because each investors contribution is limited, companies will need to manage many more shareholders than they typically would in a seed financing round. Not only is it a burden on a small company to manage many investors, but institutional investors may not be inclined to invest alongside numerous unknown and unsophisticated shareholders. As a result, companies that take advantage of Regulation Crowdfunding may find it is difficult to bring in later stage capital when ready to scale -- a critical issue since scaling is often an even bigger challenge for startups than finding initial seed capital.
To date, we have not seen any U.S. companies that have raised venture capital from outside funds after first raising capital under the new Regulation Crowdfunding rules -- although a U.K. crowdfunding platform that crowdfunded itself did receive later venture capital support.
Investor relations.
Investing is about more than money since companies often seek strategic investors who can help them with introductions, future capital raising or business guidance. However, crowdfunding is unlikely to become a major source of deal flow for professional early-stage investors. The types of companies that are mainly utilizing these platforms are smaller slow-growth companies and -- largely due to the financial limitations of Regulation Crowdfunding -- are not the types of companies that achieve the scale/return that professional investors prefer. Because of this, a company that requires experienced and strategic investors is unlikely to find them on a crowdfunding platform.
Given all of the challenges noted above, many startups that had hoped to benefit from Regulation Crowdfunding may be better served by electing a more traditional venture capital approach. For some, if not most, the reporting requirements, costs and restrictions, management difficulties and the lack of professional early-stage investors in crowdfunding will outweigh the benefits. From our vantage point, the proponents of crowdfunding have more work to do before their ultimate vision is realized.
The family of a Groves man killed while cleaning an industrial tank in Port Arthur in October is suing two companies for negligence and wrongful death, according to a filing in Jefferson County District Court earlier this month.
Allan Ramirez, 34, and his father Wilfredo Ramirez, 58, were employees of FreeFlow Services, LLC, and were cleaning a tanker delivered by Houston-based Sprint Waste Services, LP, on Nov. 4. A news release from the City of Port Arthur following the incident said the two men became trapped in the tank.
Guns, money and illegal drugs were found recently at a home in Edwardsville.
No charges have been filed although prosecutors are continuing to look into the case.
It began on Dec. 9 when the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office contacted members of the Metropolitan Enforcement Group of Southwestern Illinois about a package they suspected contained illegal items, according to documents filed in Madison County Circuit Court.
The package had been shipped from California and was headed to a home on Homestead Court in Edwardsville.
It arrived there on Dec. 12 after which drug agents showed up at the home and received permission to search it.
They allegedly found nearly 42 grams of cocaine, about 1,500 grams of marijuana, two pistols, and $4,700 in cash, according to court documents.
Four days later, MEGSI agents approached the Madison County States Attorneys office and presented a case for requesting a judge to order the homeowner to forfeit the cash under the Controlled Substances Act, the Cannabis Control Act, and the Illinois Drug Asset Forfeiture Procedure Act.
The homeowner acknowledged not having a job.
The request claims that the cash was found near illegal drugs and/or drug paraphernalia, and was substantial and inexplicable.
It also claims that "the homeowner and others questioned in the investigation made statements that authorities felt were 'inconsistent and lacking in veracity,'" according to paperwork filed by the States Attorneys Office.
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Clarification: The original version of this story said if mold was found in the hallways the remediation cost could surpass $1 million. School officials say this is not accurate and the original estimate of $250,000 to $300,000 still stands whether mold is found in the halls or not. The story has been adjusted.
WESTPORT A mold removal project at Coleytown Middle School appears to be worsening.
School officials believe the process will cost more than originally thought after mold was found in new areas throughout the school.
Over the schools Thanksgiving break, three rooms were inspected and remediated by Brooks Environmental Consulting: classroom 116, classroom 117 and the custodians office. The consultants report states that the observed levels of mold could cause coughing, wheezing, trouble breathing, asthma attacks, irritation and itching. It also mentions that the observed condition may cause biological exposuresand chemicals exposure.
Coleytown Middle School Principal Kris Szabo said, Weve had no reports of allergy onset from any staff or students in the building since all of this has started.
The initial mold problem, which stems from a design flaw in the unit ventilator of the walls and substandard insulation, was first reported by a janitor in August in classroom 133. Szabo said classroom 133 was the only instance of exposed mold in the school and all other mold discovered is concealed.
Classroom 116, where Ellen Hilton teaches French, was found to have potentially toxic mold; classroom 117, where Karen Kupinse teaches Spanish, turned up common molds and the custodians office yielded potentially toxic mold. All three rooms were stripped of mold over the Nov. 23-26 period and both classrooms were deemed to meet acceptable levels to resume instruction in. The janitors office requires further air testing.
Students inhabited the two classrooms from the start of the year until Thanksgiving break, Szabo said. They returned the Monday after break, when all abatement work was finished, and resumed class in rooms 116 and 117.
Out of 34 total rooms and two hallways, 18 rooms have been tested with nine of them containing mold. Although the entire remediation project was expected to be completed by January and cost $250,000, School Business Operations Director Elio Longo said that the hallways will not be addressed until the summer and, currently, the project is expected to cost up to $300,000.
Only two parents have inquired about the mold issue, Szabo said. One of the phone calls was to offer help and the other asked to see the school was following protocol.
John Horrigan, the co-president of the Westport Education Association, a teachers union, issued an emailed statement saying he supports the way the school district is handling the mold removal: ...my only comment would be that the Tools for Schools Committee at CMS..I serve on it as well as the head custodian for CMS and also the district head of building services..has been on top of this situation from the first notice of the problems to reviewing the report and examining spaces. I am confident that the district is doing the best they can to cope with this situation with minimal impact on teaching.
Over the winter break, they intend to inspect rooms: 103, 104, 105, 106 and if time permits, 202, 221 and 222.
Superintendent of Schools Colleen Palmer declined to provide a mapped-out image of the affected rooms, citing security concerns.
@chrismmarquette; cmarquette@bcnnew.com
Washington
The Obama administration struck back at Russia on Thursday for its efforts to influence the 2016 election, ejecting 35 Russian intelligence operatives from the United States and imposing sanctions on Russia's two leading intelligence services.
The administration also sanctioned four top officers of one of those services, the military intelligence unit known as the GRU, which the White House believes ordered the attacks on the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations.
The expulsion of the 35 diplomats was in response to the harassment of U.S. diplomats in Russia, officials said. None of those officials are believed to be connected to the hacking, they said. In addition, the State Department announced the closing of two "recreational facilities" one in New York, another in Maryland that it said were used for Russian intelligence activities, although officials would not say whether they were specifically used in the election-related hacks.
The United States also released samples of malware and other indicators of Russian cyberactivity, including network addresses of computers commonly used by the Russians to launch attacks. Taken together, the actions amount to the strongest U.S. response ever taken to a state-sponsored cyberattack aimed at the nation.
The sanctions were in part intended to box in President-elect Donald Trump who has consistently cast doubt that the Russian government had anything to do with the hacking of the DNC or other institutions, saying U.S. intelligence agencies could not be trusted.
Trump will now have to decide whether to lift the sanctions on the Russian intelligence agencies when he takes office next month, with Republicans in Congress among those calling for a public investigation into Russia's actions. Should Trump do so, it would require him to effectively reject the findings of his intelligence agencies.
Asked on Wednesday night about reports of the impending sanctions, Trump said: "I think we ought to get on with our lives. I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly. The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what is going on."
President Barack Obama, in a statement, said, "All Americans should be alarmed by Russia's actions." He said he acted after "repeated private and public warnings that we have issued to the Russian government" and called the moves "a necessary and appropriate response to efforts to harm U.S. interests in violation of established international norms."
The samples of malware were in what the Obama administration called a "joint analytic report" from the FBI and the Department of Homeland Security that was based in part on intelligence gathered by the National Security Agency. A more detailed report on the intelligence, ordered by Obama, will be published in the next three weeks, though much of the detail is expected to remain classified.
In Moscow, there was a sense that the Obama administration was trying to take unseemly last-minute revenge against Russia and President Vladimir Putin.
"We regret that this decision was made by the U.S. administration and President Obama personally," Dmitri S. Peskov, the spokesman for Putin, told reporters. "As we have said before, we believe such decisions and such sanctions are ungrounded and illegal from the point of view of international law."
Russia is studying the details of what Washington did, he said, and some manner of reciprocal answer can be expected.
Konstantin Kosachyov, the head of the foreign affairs committee in the upper house of the Russian parliament, told Interfax that "this is the agony not even of 'lame ducks,' but of 'political corpses.' "
Jan. 1, 1937: A midnight matinee at the Granada Theater attracted several hundred who made merry and greeted 1937 with a bedlam of noise and greetings.
--More than a score of Hale County and 64th District Court officials took their oaths of office this morning, administered by County Judge H.M. LaFont. New faces in the group were Pat Connelly, county treasurer; R.A. Daugherty, Precinct 2 commissioner; and Elmer Goen, Hale Center constable.
--Mr. and Mrs. Neis left this morning for a short wedding trip to New Mexico. (The first names of the newlyweds were not printed in the brief news item.)
Jan. 1, 1967: Lockney ISD has filed a lawsuit for damages, seeking $265,000 from the contractor, architect and bonding company in connection with Lockneys elementary school which cost about a half-million dollars when constructed in 1964.
--Featured in the News of Area Servicemen column were Airman First Class Bobby C. Olson, whose wife Jelene is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Grady Hill of Hale Center; Pvt. Ronnie Kidd, son of Mr. and Mrs. J.W. Kidd of Aiken; and Airman Scottie Haley, son of Mr. and Mrs. Graven H. Haley of Hale Center.
--Herald proofreaders Nancy Herrington and Sandy Lindeman where shown in a photo turning a table with a Happy New Year sign.
Jan. 1, 1977: Mr. and Mrs. Robert Crofford of Enid, Okla., are parents of the first baby born locally in 1977, Autumn Michelle Crofford. They have been visiting relatives in Earth over the Christmas holiday.
--Roger Pierson of Memphis, Tenn., was in satisfactory condition at Central Plains General Hospital on Saturday following an industrial accident at the United Farm Industries elevator on the Dimmitt Highway.
--Ronald Morris and Henry Rieff were sworn in Friday as new Hale County commissioners by Hale County Judge Henry Heck.
Jan. 1, 1997: Texas House Speaker Pete Laney administered the oath of office to John Thomas Boyd, chief justice of the Seventh Court of Appeals in Amarillo. Precinct 1 Commissioner Earle McDonough took his oath of office from County Judge Bill Hollars. Sheriff David Mull was sworn in by 64th District Judge Jack Miller.
--Whitewater figure Susan McDougal remained in a California jail Monday while California and federal officials argued over who would pay for transporting her back to a federal prison in Fort Worth.
--Jingle All The Way, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, is now showing at the Cinema 6 movie theater.
Saying it is smarter to go after drug dealers than users, Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo said he sees Texas moving toward more acceptance of marijuana.
Acevedo, who recently took office, predicted that in the next few years, Texas will see a "rigorous review" of the medical benefits of marijuana.
He shared his perspectives on radio station 90.1 KPFT's Cultural Baggage program, which is hosted by Dean Becker and is set to air at 4:30 p.m. Friday.
"I think you'll have a really spirited but well-informed discussion, and at some point I could really foresee, in the future, marijuana and some other oils being legalized for medicinal purposes; it will probably be the first step in Texas," Acevedo said.
The chief also discussed his desire to implement a law-enforcement program he used in Austin, where he served as police chief before coming to Houston, that focused on giving street-corner drug dealers a second chance.
Under that program, dealers were rounded up, confronted with iron-clad criminal cases as well as members of the clergy and their families, and faced with an offer to set the charges aside if they would enter a program to turn their lives around.
Becker, a former military policeman, said after the interview that it seemed clear to him during the interview that the chief knows the drug war is not working out.
"He is ready for change," Becker said. "He knows it has been a failure."
The show will be shared with dozens of other stations in the United States and Canada over the next week.
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A Harris County judge has ruled that a death row inmate deserves a new trial because of false testimony by a Houston Police Department ballistics expert during a trial in 1993.
The Texas Court of Criminal Appeals, the highest court in Texas, will decide whether 46-year-old Arthur Brown, who was convicted of killing four people in a drug deal, gets a retrial, his attorney Paul Mansur said Friday.
State District Judge Mark Kent Ellis ruled earlier this month that ballistics examiner Charles Anderson testified falsely in 1993 about whether bullets found at a grisly murder scene matched two pistols connected to Brown.
BOYFRIEND ACCUSED: Man charged with capital murder in missing woman's death
"(Prosecutors) presented this false testimony as part of its attempt to tie these guns to Mr. Brown and his co-defendants," Mansur wrote in court filings.
He said police recovered two handguns in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, where Brown had dealings, then connected the guns to him through friends and family. HPD firearms experts then connected the guns to the killings.
Brown was sentenced to death after being convicted of being part of a cocaine ring smuggling drugs to Alabama when six people were shot execution-style in a massive drug deal in southwest Houston in 1992.
Two of the people survived to testify against him and two other men who were convicted. One of those men is serving a life sentence. The other has been executed.
Experts found the judge's ruling perplexing because disagreements among experts are common but seldom lead to retrials. Assistant District Attorney Joshua Reiss noted that "false testimony" is different from perjury, which triggers different standards.
Read how the court decided the case at HoustonChronicle.com.
Bob Owen, Staff / San Antonio Express-News
The number of immigrants deported from the U.S. fell sightly last year while the number apprehended at the border rose, trends that can be attributed to policies narrowing who gets removed from the country and an increase in asylum seekers who go through the immigration court system, Obama Administration officials said Friday.
The Department of Homeland Security deported 450,000 people from October 2015 to September of this year, according to numbers released this week, a decrease of 2.5 percent from the year before. Meanwhile, the number of immigrants caught by the Border Patrol went up to 416,000, up 23 percent from last year, although officials cautioned thats a significant decrease from the number apprehended 15 years ago, at the height of illegal immigration to the U.S.
REYNOSA, Mexico Immigrants seeking asylum have clogged international ports along the Southwest border in recent months, leading U.S. immigration officials to turn many people back to Mexico until they can schedule an appointment to have their case processed.
Concerned advocates claim turning them back is illegal and flouts the nations commitment to asylum seekers, with little regard for their safety in returning them to Mexicos gang-controlled border communities.
SAN ANTONIO A fireworks hotline will be available New Years Eve for residents to report illegal fireworks within city limits.
That number, 210-207-0202, will be available for calls on Saturday from 6 p.m. until 12:30 a.m., with all calls being used to notify authorities of fireworks use within the city, according to a news release.
San Antonio political brothers Julian and Joaquin Castro didn't fully relax over the Christmas holiday, instead doubling down on their distaste for President-elect Donald Trump on Twitter.
With Julian Castro's days as housing secretary waning, he took to Twitter Dec. 26, calling the president-elect "the shadiest, most corrupt guy to take the Oval Office."
Clay County Sheriff
The 18-year-old man accused of fatally shooting his 3-year-old stepson in the head to keep him from jumping on a bed in May pleaded guilty to the crime in a North Texas court this week.
George Coty Wayman, 18, was sentenced to life in prison Thursday for the capital murder of a person under 10 years old, Big Country reports.
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WASHINGTON President-elect Donald Trump met Friday with two Texas Republicans, ex-Texas agriculture commissioner and comptroller Susan Combs and former Texas U.S. Rep. Henry Bonilla.
The morning meetings were announced by Trump spokesman Sean Spicer, though he didn't say what they were for. Combs has been widely assumed to be under consideration for Agriculture Secretary, one of a handful of open cabinet positions, along with Veterans Affairs and Director of National Intelligence.
She met with Vice President-elect Mike Pence last week in Washington.
Bonilla, a congressman from San Antonio between 1993 and 2007, has not entered into public cabinet discussions until now, though Trump has been under pressure to include a Hispanic in a top White House post.
The meetings come two days after Trump met with former Texas A&M President Elsa Murano, whom the Trump team has identified as a candidate for Agriculture Secretary.
Another Texan angling for the job is current Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller, who said he was scheduled to meet Friday with Trump chief of staff Reince Priebus and senior advisor Stephen Bannon.
Spicer's briefing on Trump appointments for Friday did not mention Miller, even though he was believed to be at the President-elect's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, for his meetings with Priebus and Bannon.
Bonilla was nominated in 2007 by then President George W. Bush to be the permanent U.S. representative to the Organization of American States, with the rank of ambassador. He requested his name be withdrawn after two months when the Senate took no action. Instead, he joined a Washington lobbying firm.
His surprise meeting with Trump Friday fueled speculation that he could be under consideration as U.S. trade representative or ambassador to Mexico, both potentially key posts as the Trump administration negotiates trade deals with its southern neighbor.
Austin GOP strategist Matt Mackowiak, a former congressional aide, said Bonilla remains well regarded on Capitol Hill. Among Hispanics Republicans who could serve in a Trump administration, Mackowiak said, "his name would have to be at the top of the list."
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When Gerry Goldstein took on his first capital murder case in 1975, he was paired with another young attorney trying to build his practice in San Antonio, Van Hilley.
That meeting between men who would become respected members of the San Antonio legal community eventually led to them creating Goldstein, Goldstein and Hilley, one of the premier criminal defense firms in the country. It paired the colorful Goldstein with the calm, collected Hilley.
Im not sure I did much for him, but he certainly complemented me, Goldstein said.
Among his accomplishments as a lawyer were serving as the president of the San Antonio Bar Association and being chosen by the U.S. district judges as the chairman of the U.S. District Court Magistrate Selection Committee for the San Antonio Division.
Hilley died Dec. 23 of brain cancer. He was 70.
A beneficiary of mentoring as a young lawyer, Hilley was always happy to share his much sought-after counsel, said his son Derek.
Despite his fathers position in the San Antonio legal community, Derek Hilley said, he was deeply involved in the lives of his children and, later, his grandchildren.
He was a great father who was heavily invested in our lives, attending events that we were participating in,, said Derek Hilley, himself a lawyer. He was always present, always there for us as kids, but I didnt know my dad was such a great attorney until later in our lives.
More Information Van G. Hilley Born: April 15, 1946, Brunswick, Georgia Died: Dec. 23, 2016, San Antonio Survivors: Wife Grace Connie Hilley; daughter Kara Mowrey; son Derek Hilley; and four grandchildren Services: Held Thursday See More Collapse
As a child in Corpus Christi, he lived seven houses down from the girl he would eventually marry. They went on their first date when he was 18 and she was 16. Van and Grace Connie Hilley were married for 45 years. Derek Hilley said his parents enjoyed traveling together and daily walks with their dog Brooksie.
Hilley was a skilled lawyer and beloved at the courthouse, said longtime friend and fellow lawyer and Longhorn Mark Murray, but was also known for what he did outside of the courtroom.
He would get very involved in trying to help his clients families and children try to get their lives together, Murray said.
Hilley had an ethical rudder that served him well in his professional and personal lives, Goldstein said. Raised Baptist, Hilley continued to attend Shearer Hills Baptist Church in San Antonio, but he wasnt the kind of person who wore it on his sleeve, Goldstein said.
Whether you were in a courtroom or a bar room or a classroom, there was a guy that you wanted to be there with you, Goldstein said.
jbuch@express-news.net
New Year's celebrations can be entertaining and extremely memorable events, but going overboard by excessively drinking and deciding to drive can turn out to be very costly. One particular problem plaguing partiers is that ignorance reins when it comes to DWI offenses.
Not only do many people not know how severely a drunk-driving charge can negatively affect their lives, but they also are largely unaware about what it takes to get them over the legal limit. Everyone getting in their cars on New Year's Eve are absolutely convinced that they are sober.
Here are some points of interest for those who do make the irrevocably irresponsible decision to overindulge in drinking this weekend.
As with any criminal charge, a person charged with driving while intoxicated or driving under the influence is presumed innocent until proven guilty. If guilt is established (often through the defendant's own plea or after a jury trial), the penalty will depend on state law, as well as on any aggravating circumstances (such as the presence of an open bottle of liquor in the car) and the defendant's cooperation with the police.
In all states, first-offense DUI or DWI is classified as a misdemeanor, and punishable by up to six months in jail. That jail time may be increased under certain circumstances.
First offense After your first DWI offense in Texas, you may be fined up to $2,000 and spend between three and 180 days in jail. Additionally, your license may be suspended for up to two years, and there may be an annual surcharge of as much as $2,000 to keep your license for three years.
A number of states' court sentences may include alcohol teaching and prevention programs, treatment for alcohol abuse, assessment of a person for possible alcohol or drug dependency or addiction, and community service or victim restitution. The judge may recommend these steps instead of jail time or paying fines, most likely for a first offender. Or the judge may combine them with other penalties. In Texas, for example, minors convicted of a DUI must perform community service, in addition to any other penalties.
For a DUI or DWI that's been classified as a felony either because the driver killed or injured someone or because it's the driver's third or fourth DUI jail sentences of several years are not uncommon. Again, this depends on state law, the facts of the case, and the discretion of the judge at trial.
I have been on all sides of the courtroom as judge, prosecutor and defender and know the ugly reality of DWI convictions. Your DWI problems don't end at the arrest. This type of conviction will have an extreme adverse effect on your current job, your ability to obtain new employment, and, of course, your finances.
Montgomery County's "No Refusal" policy means that drivers who refuse to submit to sobriety testing will then be targeted for warrants to obtain blood samples, which will be used as evidence for a conviction. No scientific tests are 100 percent accurate. These tests are being performed by human beings, often in the middle of the night. Mistakes do happen.
These are a few tips for protecting yourself in the event you do find yourself pulled over:
Less is more. If you are being detained, don't say anything. Everything is being recorded by law enforcement and can be used against you in the courtroom.
Call a lawyer. From the moment you are pulled over, your every move will be scrutinized. Call a lawyer to represent and advise you through the process.
Politely decline a sobriety test. If you have reason to be concerned, you can decline taking the test. If you are in Montgomery County where the "No Refusal" policy is in effect, you can opt to blow into the meter and face the possibility of being arrested. Or you can refuse and await the blood sample warrant. Your attorney can advise you throughout this process.
Cooperate with law enforcement at all times. There is no need to escalate a DWI stop into something worse. Be polite and respectful at all times. You don't need a motivated peace officer calling up the District Attorney's office to make sure you get what he or she thinks you have coming.
Knowing your rights is your best defense. When that isn't enough, contact an experienced, proven attorney who will fight to defend your rights on your behalf.
Mike Seiler is an attorney specializing in criminal and civil defense for Montgomery County and surrounding areas. He began his legal career as a prosecutor, working for the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office for 16 years before being appointed to the 435th state District Court by Gov. Rick Perry. He resigned from the bench in 2016. Today, Seiler enjoys traveling around the state of Texas representing clients in all types of cases. He is one of very few attorneys in the region who have enjoyed successful careers in all three aspects of a courtroom prosecutor, judge and defender. For more information about Seiler, visit www.theseilerlawfirm.com or call 281-419-7770.
Doc Holliday rang in the New Year in Dallas on Jan. 1, 1875, by shooting a fellow gambler.
With a powerful planter and war hero for a father, John Henry Holliday had a lot to live up to. Not only was Major Holliday top dog in the county, he also had commanded Fannin's Avengers, a company of Georgia volunteers, in the Mexican War.
But the boy's world collapsed when his mother passed away in 1866, a calamity compounded by the sudden intrusion of an unwanted stepmother. Little John never forgave his father for remarrying and spent his adolescence punishing the widower for the betrayal.
Sent to Baltimore to study dentistry, young Holliday learned a lot more than how to pull teeth. Prowling the dockside dives that infested the harbor town, he developed an insatiable thirst for liquor and games of chance.
A licensed dentist at the age of 20, Holliday opened an office in Atlanta but feeling out of sorts consulted a local physician. The diagnosis took his breath away. The cause of Holliday's nagging cough was an incurable case of tuberculosis.
Told that a drier climate might buy him another year or two, the doomed dentist bought a one-way ticket west. Departing Atlanta without so much as a word to family and friends, he rode the train to the end of the line, which in early 1874 happened to be Dallas, Texas.
Doc, as he was known by then, went through the motions of resuming his dental practice while gravitating toward the gambling joints that lined Main Street. A natural genius at poker, he raked in enough cash to make ends meet and gave up his legitimate livelihood altogether. When any day could be his last, the melancholy young man saw no future in living for tomorrow.
The New Year's Day shooting landed Holliday in jail, but he quickly posted bail and skipped town. Beating a Dallas posse to the Red River, he hid out in the Indian Territory before taking temporary refuge at Jacksboro.
Dressing the part of a gentleman gambler, the immaculate Georgian favored gray suits and brightly colored shirts. Beneath the dapper attire, however, he was a walking arsenal. Packing a pair of pistols, one on the right hip and another in a shoulder holster, he also carried a sheath knife in his breast pocket.
Killings were such a common occurrence in rough-and-tumble Jacksboro that the stranger's first offense hardly raised an eyebrow. But the second slaying in May 1876 prompted an immediate change of address since the U.S. Army hated to lose soldiers in private combat. This time, Holliday did not stop until he reached Denver, Colorado.
During his Rocky Mountain retreat, Doc did his best not to attract attention and even adopted an alias. But a low profile was not his style, and he ultimately blew his cover by practically decapitating a poker opponent with his ever-ready knife.
Outdistancing yet another posse, Holliday returned to Texas by way of New Mexico and settled at the notorious Flats outside Fort Griffin. At this West Texas oasis for card sharks and cutthroats, he met in 1877 the lawman who became his one and only friend.
Soon after Wyatt Earp left town, the hot-tempered Southerner gutted a disgruntled customer that dared to question his integrity. Breaking with tradition, Doc stood his ground, insisting he had acted in self-defense, and went quietly off to jail.
In a matter of minutes, Holliday regretted the decision for it only took that long for a lynch mob to gather in the street. Just when it looked like he would not have to wait for the tuberculosis to run its course, a resourceful girlfriend rushed to the rescue.
Cleverly setting fire to a barn, Big Nosed Kate broke her true love out of the hoosegow while the vigilantes battled the blaze. Holliday bid Texas a not-so-fond farewell as he rode north to Dodge City.
At the Kansas cowtown in September 1878, Doc saved Earp from a back-alley ambush. A year and a half later, he followed his pal to Tombstone and the legendary fireworks at the O.K. Corral in 1881.
The next year, Holliday along with the Earp brothers vacated the Arizona Territory. Knocking around the Colorado boomtowns, Doc added several more notches to his fast gun but never saw the inside of a prison cell.
Fourteen years after receiving the medical death sentence, the terminal disease and a fondness for whiskey finally caught up with hard-living Holliday. A bedridden invalid, he lingered for weeks in a deep coma.
Doc Holliday startled the sickroom spectators on Nov. 8, 1887, by suddenly opening his eyes and demanding a drink. He downed a tumbler of whiskey, smiled faintly and said in his Dixie drawl, "This is funny."
Moments later, the Wild West enigma was dead at age 35.
Bartee's three books and ten "Best of This Week in Texas History" column collections are available for purchase at barteehaile.com.
As if it werent bad enough that the Texas Legislature will likely devote far too much energy pursuing a ban on sanctuary cities, comes news that a fight over sanctuary campuses is also percolating. Gov. Greg Abbott is pledging to withhold state funding from schools declaring themselves such.
Students and faculty at several Texas university campuses including the University of Texas at San Antonio are circulating petitions or otherwise urging school leaders to designate themselves sanctuaries. While it is unclear what this term means or whether a campus can, as a practical matter, prevent federal immigration authorities from, for instance, coming on to campuses this is an entirely unnecessary distraction from real problems in Texas.
Sanctuary cities and campuses arent problems. So, what we appear to be left with is a matter of symbology. From the state, a desire to posture as forever tough on undocumented immigration. From campuses, a desire to present a more welcoming face to the students among them who were brought to this country as young children.
In this, the campuses are on the right side from a humanitarian standpoint.
Generally, they want to prevent campus police from, in effect, becoming arms of immigration enforcement. And they dont want their schools to provide information on possible undocumented statuses of students to authorities. On this last item, again, how schools do this is unclear if a campus faces a court order.
But the governor might also not be on much solid ground in his threat to withhold state funding generally such decisions are made by the Legislature.
We wonder if such a decision as not proactively cooperating with immigration authorities and telling campus police to stick with real crime issues even requires a declaration. And we wonder the utility or fairness of denying state funding for a declared sanctuary campus when most students wont be undocumented.
There is nothing fair about exposing undocumented students brought to this country at early ages by parents to any kind of repercussion. They had no choice in coming here.
Does a university or college really need a declaration to do the right thing? Does a state really need the divisiveness and the lack of empathy this demonstrates when it does?
In the not too distant past, auto makers needed bailouts, and financial institutions were crumbling due to bad loans.
Flash forward to the present: Almost weekly, we see stories about the lack of housing for low- or middle-income families. Families must take out large mortgages to afford homes, and I bet a lot of them will wind up defaulting.
In addition, every new car dealer has so much inventory on hand he needs three or four lots to store them. When they are all inundated, what will the manufacturers do? Lay off workers and seek government help?
I am afraid we do not learn from past mistakes, and we are headed for trouble again. We already saw what happens over and over in the oil business boom to bust to boom. Other entities may well follow suit.
Randy Carpenter, Seguin
Some friend
Amid the bromance between president-elect Donald Trump and Russian dictator Vladimir Putin, its time to look at the latters old job with the KGB.
What did he do in the Soviet secret service workplace back in the day? Deliver food to senior citizen homes ... serve as school crossing guard ... man a phone donation bank for stray dogs?
Yes, a dissident journalist was shot to death in recent times next to the Kremlin, but Vlad was watching the Kardashians on TV and didnt know?
Meanwhile, millions of Russians have been sent to the Gulag, voting booth freedom abridged by election monitors and Russian control their internet and television.
Donald, you need to get a better friend. Perhaps put up a photo of Stalin on a White House wall after you move in?
Mary Migliore
By Lambert Strether of Corrente.
Readers, this Water Cooler is a bit light, because I got started late. But an early Happy New Year to you! lambert
2016
Trump Transition
Trumps Extreme Oligarchy [Simon Johnson, Project Syndicate]. US President-elect Donald Trump is filling his cabinet with rich people. According to the latest count, his nominees include five billionaires and six multimillionaires. This is what is known as oligarchy: direct control of the state by people with substantial private economic power. As readers know, I think this is the right message, not the liberal conflict of interest talking point. To be an oligarch is to be conflicted, so yammering about conflict is to miss the point. UPDATE With Russia sanctions move, Obama leaves Trump with tough choices [Japan Times]. FWIW, I view Obamas moves as half-hearted, particularly given that Clintonites regard Trump as a witting agent of Putin (that is, a traitor (hence, should be prevented from taking office on January 20 by any means necessary)). If Obama wanted to send a strong signal, he wouldnt be closing down Russian compounds that have been around 44 years, hed be recalling our Ambassador from Moscow. I think hes out to make life hard for Trump, and to get the Clintonites and The Blob off his back, and not much more. Well see what the long-promised report shows, but my guess is that there will be no exposed evidence, and no named sources. That is, Obamas case will be even worse than the case Bush put together to justify the Iraq War, which at least had the status of a National Intelligence Estimate and the benefit of an inter-agency process that produced dissent (in the form of footnotes).
Our Famously Free Press
UPDATE Milo Yiannopoulos, controversial Breitbart editor, lands a reported $250,000 book deal [Los Angeles Times]. Breitbart and Pantsuit nation peas in a pod!
Realignment and Legitimacy
[A]t least a sizeable number of Americans are quite hopeful that things will get better over the next year, at least in part because of Trumps election. It also might be worth noting that the surveys showed that much of the optimism was among older Americans. With the stock market running pretty much at record highs since November, and older Americans generally more invested in the stock market than younger people, this optimism may be related to or caused by the markets performance. But its not quite clear which is the cart and which is the horse. Are people feeling better because the stock market is doing well, or is the stock market doing well because people are feeling better, or maybe both? [Charles Cook, National Journal]. By all accounts, Bill and Hillary Clinton never had any such qualms, and now their quarter-century project to build a mutual buy-one, get-one-free Clinton dynasty has ended in her defeat, and their joint departure from the center of the national political stage they had hoped to occupy for another eight years. Their exit amounts to a finale not just for themselves, but for Clintonism as a working political ideology and electoral strategy [Politico]. If this article, and Yglesiass Smoking Rubble piece in Vox, are indicative of the political class hive mind, whatever the Clintonites are ginning up with their Russian War Scare isnt going to work (ergo, Trump will take the oath of office on January 20.) A Perez win now would be seen as a major insult to Sanders and his supporters. Precisely because there isnt an overt policy void between the two leading contenders, the Perez candidacy looks to Sanders backers like an effort to punish Ellison for having supported Sanders in the primary or, at the very least, to make sure that those connected to Sanders personally are shut out of power [Vox]. Ellison as chair would go a long way toward redressing the grievances accumulated up over months of a long, bitterly-fought primary. Perez as chair would almost certainly exacerbate them. Pete Buttigieg, the mayor here who national Democrats often mention on the shortlist of rising stars in the party, said he is nearing a decision about whether to run for DNC chair and would step down as mayor if he were to win the job [Politico]. . And Buttigieg, who is gay, has gained attention this year after being the subject of a profile in a New York Times with the title The First Gay President? President Barack Obama also mentioned him as a top Democratic prospect for higher office in an interview with The New Yorker. Buttigieg wrote a prizing-winning essay on Sanders in 2000. In 2016, he supported Clinton. [Chris Arnade] is politically progressive and a week before the election angered his side, and some media folk, by foretelling the victory of Donald Trump. The people he met were voting for him. Many saw the America theyd grown up in slipping away. They wanted a country that was great again. They experienced elite disdain for Trump as evidence he might be the one to turn it around [Peggy Noonan, Shining a Light on Back Row America, Wall Street Journal]. Happy New Year, everyone. May we do work worthy of the moment.
Stats Watch
Chicago Purchasing Managers Index, December 2016: Slowing in orders pulled back Decembers Chicago PMI. New orders continued to expand Backlog orders moved back into contraction, production slowed, while employment held steady. Below consensus range [Econoday]. In a special question, 51 percent of the panel see the new administrations policies helping their business next year, specifically tax reform and deregulation. Forty percent see no impact and 9 percent see negative effects. This index is quite volatile. (Consensus was between 56.0 to 58.6, versus actual 54.6. Econintersect writes that consensus was 50.7 to 54.0.) And: Below consensus [Calculated Risk].
Econintersect January 2017 Economic Forecast: We are continuing to forecast marginal improvement of the economy with the economy frozen in a condition of snails pace growth [Econoday]. USA economic internals are pulsing and out of phase with each other. I could cherry pick dynamics and paint a very positive or very negative picture of the economy. However, barring an unexpected turn of events we expect our index in the future to continue to moderately strengthen. Leading Indicators Conclusion: trends are generally improving, and not indicating a recession over the next six months.
Rail: Rail Week Ending 24 December 2016: An Unbelievably Good Week [Econintersect]. By unbelievable they mean not believable. So this weeks data is an outlier caused by week 51 last year ending in the week between Christmas and New Years (a low volume period) and this year week 51s cutoff was before Christmas. It is too risky to try to logically analyze the data this week.
Shipping: [Deutsche Bahn] operator carried more than 40,000 containers along the traditional Silk Road route this year a new record compared to 35,000 in 2015 [Lloyds Loading List]. This paves the way to increase container units to about 100,000 by 2020, thus tripling the number transported in 2014, said DB board member and former minister of Angela Merkel, Ronald Pofalla, in a statement. Not a very large number.
Shipping: 3D printing no major threat to freight' [Lloyds Loading List]. Interview with Supply chain expert and author Mark Millar. But while Im convinced that AMs time has come, I dont see it revolutionising mass production and global supply chains as some observers are predicting, at least not in the medium term. Nor is [Millar] expecting it to exert a significant impact on intercontinental freight flows and expressed surprise at the conclusions of a research paper published by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) which estimated that as much as 41% of the air cargo business and 37% of the ocean container business was at risk because of 3D printing. Well worth a read for the off-shoring/on-shoring/right-shoring discussion, relevant to policy under a Trump administration.
Shipping: This time last year few would have predicted that as the final day of this very tough 2016 looms the sector with the best fundamentals is dry bulk. Dry bulk owners have been through the mill this decade but finally after much scrapping, the Baltic Dry hitting record lows in the first quarter and massive restraint when it comes to new orders, there is no segment in shipping with better investment potential than this one [Splash 247]. A good roundup of a tumultuous year.
Household Income: According to new data derived from the monthly Current Population Survey (CPS), median annual household income in November 2016 was $58,221 . Median household income at the beginning of the great recession in December 2007 was $57,723 . The Sentier Household Income Index (HII) for November 2016 was 99.7, slightly higher than the October reading of 99.4 (January 2000 = 100). The level of real median annual household income in January 2000 was $58,410 , which marks the beginning of this statistical series [Econintersect]. Sixteen years of treading water.
Todays Fear & Greed Index: 61 Greed (previous close: 65, Greed) [CNN]. One week ago: 66 (Greed). (0 is Extreme Fear; 100 is Extreme Greed). Last updated Dec 30 at 12:31pm. Still drifting lower
Water
As Groundwater Dwindles, a Global Food Shock Looms [National Geographic]. Nearly half of our food comes from the warm, dry parts of the planet, where excessive groundwater pumping to irrigate crops is rapidly shrinking the porous underground reservoirs called aquifers. Vast swaths of India, Pakistan, southern Europe, and the western United States could face depleted aquifers by mid-century, a recent study findstaking a bite out of the food supply and leaving as many as 1.8 billion people without access to this crucial source of fresh water. Hoo boy. And water is what Michael Burry is investing in
Class Warfare
How Little Kids Figure Out Whos in Charge [New York Magazine]. Surprisingly, the form of power that kids recognize latest is perhaps the most obvious one: giving orders, which the study participants didnt seem to grasp until age 7 at the earliest. But as Jarrett noted, its to their advantage to master the subtleties early.
News of the Wired
Its a wonderful world:
Millions of people watch this woman smash her face into bread because lol we give up pic.twitter.com/mUciNaWR86 NowThis (@nowthisnews) December 30, 2016
Water Cooler will return in 2017. I expect continued volatility!
* * *
Readers, feel free to contact me with (a) links, and even better (b) sources I should curate regularly, and (c) to find out how to send me images of plants. Vegetables are fine! Fungi are deemed to be honorary plants! See the previous Water Cooler (with plant) here. And heres todays plant (PS):
PS writes: A eucalypt with tracks in the bark made by scribbly gum moth larvae. Zig-zag pattern and retracement are characteristic.
Readers, Ive gotten many more plant images, but I can always use just a few more; having enough Plantidotes is a great angst deflator. Plants with snow and/or ice are fine!
Readers, Water Cooler is a standalone entity, not supported by the very successful Naked Capitalism fundraiser just past. Now, I understand you may feel tapped out, but when and if you are able, please use the dropdown to choose your contribution, and then click the hat! Your tip will be welcome today, and indeed any day. Water Cooler will not exist without your continued help.
Lambert here: Once again, the subhead: The phrase is a dog whistle, not a demographic. Exactly. I hate to bury this important piece on the Friday before New Years weekend but needs must
By Les Leopold, director of the Labor Institute, is currently working with unions and community organizations to build the educational infrastructure for a new anti-Wall Street movement. Originally published at Alternet.
History warns us to be very, very careful when using the phrase white working class. The reason has nothing to do with political correctness. Rather, it concerns the changing historical definitions of who is white.
Eduardo Porter in the New York Times uses this construction to ask, Did the white working class vote its economic interests? He claims that current data shows white people losing out to blacks and Hispanics in getting their fair share of the new jobs created since 2007:
Despite accounting for less than 15 percent of the labor force, Hispanics got more than half of the net additional jobs. Blacks and Asians also gained millions more jobs than they lost. But whites, who account for 78 percent of the labor force, lost more than 700,000 net jobs over the nine years.
Porter further argues this is happening because blacks and Hispanics live mostly in the thriving urban areas while most white people live in declining rural areas.
Only 472 counties voted for Hillary Clinton on Election Day. But they account for 64 percent of the nations economic activity. The 2,584 counties where Trump won, by contrast, generated only 36 percent of Americas prosperity.
Porter therefore believes that the white working class flocked to Trump as a way to protest their economic decline.
But this conclusion is flawed:
Neither the studies nor Porter provide a definition of white working class. Is it all white people? Does it include management? Professionals? Were not told.
Nor do they provide any evidence that the actual work experiences of white and black working people are starkly different no matter how the class is defined.
Rural America, also, is not lily white. Hispanics and African Americans make up a total of 17.5% of rural and small town America.
Further, the research grounding my book Runaway Inequality shows that working people as a whole (defined as the 85 percent of us who are production and non-supervisory employees) have seen their real wages fall since the late 1970sall shades, all colors.
Finally, most of the new jobs created are low-wage, part-time service sector jobsjobs that often pay poverty wages. As the Wall Street Journal reported in 2015, More than 40% of the jobs added in just the past year have come in generally lower-paying fields such as food service, retail and temporary help. So getting the lions share of these jobs is not a pathway to prosperity.
Dog-Whistle Whites
What these studies and reports do accomplish however is to sound the latest dog whistle about race in America. They create an image in our minds of a coherent white working class, hunkered down in the declining manufacturing sectorwhite rural workers who have needs and interests different from black and brown urban workers. In doing so, this image feeds into a long history of white working class creationism that divides working people by race.
An early instance of this process took place in the aftermath of Bacons rebellion (1675), during which Nathanial Bacon united black slaves, and white indentured servants into a rebellious army against Virginia planter elites. (It was less than a noble enterprise in that Bacon wanted more government attacks against Native Americans.) After the rebellion was put down, plantation owners gave special privileges to poor whites in order to drive a wedge between them and black slaves. It worked.
A dramatic redefinition of white took place during the late 19th and early 20th centuries as mass immigration and colonialization expanded. So called race scientists studied cranial size and shapes, skin color, and hair texture to create a biology of race. By 1911, the U.S. Immigration Commission published its Dictionary of Races or Peoples, that listed 29 separate races. The Southern Italian race, for example, is described as excitable, impulsive, highly imaginativehaving little adaptability to highly organized society.
Race science defined white as a narrow category that excluded virtually everyone who didnt come from northern Europe. By the First World War, U.S. immigration policy was informed by early IQ tests given to immigrants on Ellis Island that supposedly showed that 87% of Russians, 83% of Jews, 80% of Hungarians, and 79% of Italians were feeble-minded.
Management Race Science
These race scientists created a vast hierarchy of races seen in the chart below designed for a Pittsburgh steel company in 1926. It is based on the idea that each race by its intrinsic nature possesses certain skills and attributes that makes it suitable to certain work tasks.
This science provided the rationale for dividing the workforce by ethnic group which had the added virtue of weakening worker solidarity and keeping unions at bay. This became particularly acute after 4 million workers went on strike at the end of WWI. The largest strike involved 350,000 steel workers that finally collapsed after 14 weeks of pitched battles. It is highly likely that the skills chart was designed to prevent such a resurgence.
(One can only speculate why the Jewish race was placed at the bottom of the hierarchy. One reason may be because two of the largest unions in the countrythe Amalgamated Clothing Workers and the International Ladies Garment Workers Unionwere Jewish-led and represented hundreds of thousands of Jewish immigrant workers. So if you hired Jewish workers in the steel industry, the odds were high they might be predisposed to unionism or be union plants.)
The Whitening of America
A confluence of events rapidly changed the definition of white in the 1930s and 40s. The rise of American industrial unionism successfully organized unskilled immigrant workers, blacks and Hispanics into broad-based unions. So much for the race chart.
The mobilization for WWII further melded together all the lower ethnic groups except for black, brown and yellow. And after the atrocities at the Nazi death camps were revealed, the earlier race science industry was thoroughly discredited.
What Causes the Definition of Race to Change?
The definition of white and of race in general depends on the needs of the most powerful elements of society. To justify slavery and Jim Crow, race science gave Southern elites a justification for denying human rights to millions with darker skin colors.
The science of the early 1900s created finely grained racial hierarchies that conveniently justified immigration restrictions and colonialism. Colonial powers argued that since their race was at the top of the ladder, they had the right and the duty to rule lesser peoples and their countries.
To successfully mobilize America against the master race and the yellow peril during WWII, American leaders permitted white to be broadened to include most of what previously had been considered lesser races. (However, racist southern Democrats and their lock-down control of Congress, made sure that black and brown people were denied New Deal benefits and therefore would continue to suffer as separate races. The Japanese internment camps further heightened the idea of a separate race of Orientals.)
So What Color is Obama?
White mother, black father means you are black? White? Half-black? Half white? That kind of question leads us to think about race as a biological as well as a sociological category. Skin color is real biology isnt it? And what about sickle-cell anemia?
But folk science is not real science. One in 13 African-American babies is born with a sickle-cell trait. Sickle cell trait can also affect Hispanics, South Asians, Caucasians from southern Europe, and people from Middle Eastern countries.
Similarly, every effort to construct a black or white race through genetics has failed. No one yet has found a gene that signals a separate race.
Heres a fact of life that may startle you: 85 percent of all genetic variation is among people within a population and only 15 percent of the variation among humans is between different populations and continents. This means that any two black people chosen at random will have far more genetic differences from each other than a randomly selected white and a black person. Biologically speaking the old cliche is true: There is only one racethe human race.
What is race?
Over a century ago, W.E.B. Du Bois put forth perhaps the clearest, most exact definition of race: A Negro is a person who must ride Jim Crow in Georgia.
Du Bois understood, as should we, that race is a social construction, a human invention used to create a hierarchy of power. It is not genetics. It is not biology. And in the case of the white working-class, its not even accurate sociology.
When we invent the white working-class, we whitewash an increasingly diverse manufacturing workforce. Take the workforce at Carrier, which is in the news because of Trumps effort to prevent its jobs from moving to Mexico. Isnt it a perfect example of a beleaguered and declining white working-class in Indiana, looking to Trump for help?
No. The Carrier workforce is 50 percent African American. Half of the assembly line workers are women. Burmese immigrants make up 10 percent of the employees.
Drop the dubious white working-class construction and well see that Porter is asking the wrong question. Its not whether the imagined white working-class voted for its own economic interests by voting for Trump.
Rather, the real question is this: Is it even possible for working people of all kinds to vote their economic interests given the corporate orientation of both parties?
By Lambert Strether of Corrente
A cat may look at a monarch, and so I suppose a blogger can make suggestions to George Soros. Soros recently published an essay at Project Syndicate, Open Society Needs Defending, which has been reprinted across a spectrum of sites, from Zero Hedge to Down with Tyranny. Soros is not my least favorite billionaire he does not, to my knowlege, own a super-yacht (Financial Times, Superyachts magnify billionaires worst traits) and hes funded the Institute for New Economic Thinking, which is certainly a worthier cause than, say, the economics department of Florida State University. So today is my day to be nice! Rather than go through Soross essay in detail, Im going to make two very very simple suggestions:
Soros Should Simply Stop Funding Democrats Soros Should Simply Stop Funding Neoliberal Projects
Soros Should Simply Stop Funding Democrats
Soros has been a major funder of Democrat projects. Not only did he throw $25 million into the money pit that was the Clinton campaign, hes been a major funder of Democrat projects generally. Post Citizens United, its become very difficult to track who contributes what to whom. What is clear is that Soros is a major funder what Politico calls the institutional left (by which is most definitely not meant, say, Bernie Sanders and his supporters, hence not really left at all. Politico:
George Soros and other rich liberals who spent tens of millions of dollars trying to elect Hillary Clinton are gathering in Washington for a three-day, closed door meeting to retool the big-money left to fight back against Donald Trump. the meeting also comes as many liberals are reassessing their approach to politics and the role of the Democracy Alliance, or DA, as the club is known in Democratic finance circles. The DA, its donors and beneficiary groups over the last decade have had a major hand in shaping the institutions of the left, including by orienting some of its key organizations around Clinton. The meeting also comes as many liberals are reassessing their approach to politics and the role of the Democracy Alliance, or DA, as the club is known in Democratic finance circles. The DA, its donors and beneficiary groups over the last decade have had a major hand in shaping the institutions of the left, including by orienting some of its key organizations around Clinton The Democracy Alliance was launched after the 2004 election by Soros, the late insurance mogul Peter Lewis, and a handful of fellow Democratic mega-donors who had combined to spend tens of millions trying to boost then-Sen. John Kerrys ultimately unsuccessful challenge to then-President George W. Bush. Since its inception in 2005, the DA has steered upward of $500 million to a range of groups, including pillars of the political left such as the watchdog group Media Matters, the policy advocacy outfit Center for American Progress and the data firm Catalist all of which are run by Clinton allies who are expected to send representatives to the DA meeting.
Lets look at the record. Where did the money go? The Democrats set all that money on fire and threw it into the air. I wont go into detail again in this post (but see here, here, here, here, and here); rather, Ill simply turn to Matt Yglesias, because when youve lost Yglesias
The whole Democratic Party is now a smoking pile of rubble [Besides the Presidency,] Republicans control the House, and they control the Senate. In state government things are worse, if anything. The GOP now controls historical record number of governors mansions, including a majority of New England governorships. Tuesdays election swapped around a few state legislative houses but left Democrats controlling a distinct minority. The same story applies further down ballot, where most elected attorneys general, insurance commissioners, secretaries of state, and so forth are Republicans. One could perhaps overlook all of this if the Obama years had bequeathed the nation an enduring legacy along the lines of the New Deal or the Great Society. But to a striking extent, even as President Obama prepares to leave office with strong approval ratings, his policy legacy is extraordinarily vulnerable. And the odds that it will be essentially extinguished are high. Due to a combination of bad luck and poor decisions, the story of the 21st-century Democratic Party looks to be overwhelmingly the story of failure.
When does it make sense to reinforce failure? Continuing to give the Democrats money is like putting generals Gamelin, Georges, and Weygand in charge of La Resistance after their debacle in the Battle of France. So write off the sunk costs and call it a day.
Less obviously, but more importantly, Soros should encourage organic small-d democratic institutions doing policy and electoral politics to thrive. Warren Buffet (not my favorite) had a saying: You never know whos swimming naked until the tide goes out. The liberal institutions that depend on outside funding from the wealthy are the ones who are swimming naked. The Sanders campaign showed that organizations that are self-funded by small donors are the future of small-d democratic organizing, and the best way to strengthen them is to stop artificially propping up their competitors, and to let them get on with it. Those organizations are the ones in bathing suits, so let the tide of outside money roll out.
Soros Should Simply Stop Funding Neoliberal Projects
Heres how Soros explains Trump, Brexit, the rise of LePen, and so on:
I find the current moment in history very painful. Open societies are in crisis, and various forms of closed societies from fascist dictatorships to mafia states are on the rise. How could this happen? The only explanation I can find is that elected leaders failed to meet voters legitimate expectations and aspirations and that this failure led electorates to become disenchanted with the prevailing versions of democracy and capitalism. Quite simply, many people felt that the elites had stolen their democracy.
Not to mention their money, as the foreclosure crisis showed.
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the US emerged as the sole remaining superpower, equally committed to the principles of democracy and free markets. The major development since then has been the globalization of financial markets, spearheaded by advocates who argued that globalization increases total wealth. After all, if the winners compensated the losers, they would still have something left over. The argument was misleading, because it ignored the fact that the winners seldom, if ever, compensate the losers . But the potential winners spent enough money promoting the argument that it prevailed. Globalization has had far-reaching economic and political consequences. It has brought about some economic convergence between poor and rich countries; but it increased inequality within both poor and rich countries. In the developed world, the benefits accrued mainly to large owners of financial capital , who constitute less than 1% of the population. The lack of redistributive policies is the main source of the dissatisfaction that democracys opponents have exploited. But there were other contributing factors as well, particularly in Europe.
Therefore, the neoliberal project, considered under the aspect of justice, was destined to implode, and known to be so destined from the very beginning, since ultimately for popular acceptance it depends on redistribution, but winners seldom, if ever, compensate the losers. So why throw good money after bad?
Now, to be fair, some more fair-minded mainstream academics are trying to improve neoliberalism by bringing redistribution forward. First, why after forty years of neoliberalism would anyone trust them? For example, a current popular topic is the replacement of all wage work by robots. And sometimes the topic How to help all those poor losers workers is vaguely discussed. Are we really to believe any help will be forthcoming? Or that, if it comes, it wont be gate-keepered and means-tested to death? History says no. Experience says no. Second, neoliberalism puts markets first. Always. So theres no reason to think that losers will ever be compensated, because theres no market in doing that. In any case, how do you put a price on a destroyed Main Street or a child dead from opiates?
The neoliberal project has finally failed. It cannot secure a popular mandate, and by its nature cannot ever secure one. Therefore, anyone dedicated to an open society should not fund it. One might argue that alternatives to that project should be funded, but I think (see above) that only small-d democratic projects can create such alternatives, and they should be self-funded.
Conclusion
I think philanthropy even on the Nineteenth Century Robber Baron model Carnegie Libraries, the Frick Museum, or genuine scholarship[1] would be preferable to continuing to fund Democrats, or neoliberal projects generally. Soros should consider those alternatives. Short neoliberalism.[2]
NOTE
[1] I put iNet under that heading.
[2] Hat tip ReaderOfTeaLeaves.
Just twenty four hours after hospital management urged people to stay away from South Tipperary General Hospital's Emergency Department except in cases of genuine emergency, the number on trolleys in the Clonmel hospital is again the highest in the country today.
According to the Nurses Organisation's Trolley Watch report, the number on trolleys is 35, joint top in the country with Portlaoise.
The next highest is Tullamore with 30 patients on trolleys.
As the numbers in Clonmel continue to rise, other hospitals that are usually among the highest are experiencing less pressure today - the number for Cork is 18 and for Limerick it's 14.
On Thursday the hospital said that in the previous 24 hours the hospital had seen an increase in presentations, with 118 presentations to the Emergency services at the hospital.
Management asked members of the public to only attend in the case of a genuine emergency, advising that, where possible, a GP or Caredoc out of hours service be consulted in the first instance.
It said that there would be long delays for patients attending the ED as the hospital is currently experiencing a surge in patients and long delays were expected due to the exceptional numbers of very ill people in the department.
The Rural Housing Service is expanding its manufactured housing loan guarantee program to include more refinancings of used or existing manufactured homes.
Previously, the U.S. Department of Agriculture would only refinance existing manufactured home loans that were originally financed via its RHS 502 loan guarantee program or the agency's direct loan program.
That refinancing restriction significantly narrowed the resale market for manufactured homes, according to Doug Ryan, director of affordable homeownership at the Center for Economic Development in Washington.
But that could change in the nine states where the Rural Housing Service is set to conduct a pilot program.
"Now the 502 program can be used to finance existing homes that were not previously financed through USDA," he said. "We do think that will open up the market in these states. This could be very positive.
RHS is conducting a two-year pilot program in Colorado, Illinois, Louisiana, New York, Ohio, Texas, Vermont, New Hampshire and Wyoming.
The RHS pilot comes with restrictions, however, that could limit the number of manufactured housing units that meet RHS' standards.
For example, the unit must have been constructed on or after Jan. 1, 2006, in conformance with the Federal Manufactured Housing Construction Safety Standards:
The home must be on a permanent foundation as certified by an engineer or architect licensed or registered in the state where the manufactured home is located.
The towing hitch and running gear must have been removed.
The unit must not have had any alterations or modifications to it since construction in the factory.
The home must have been moved from the factory or manufactured housing dealer directly to the site and the property must be classified and taxed as real estate.
Despite these restrictions, Ryan is optimistic the refinancing pilot will increase resales of manufactured homes.
"If you have a 1,000-square-foot manufactured home that is a couple years old that is titled as real estate on a permanent foundation and lot, now you have more potential buyers," he said.
RHS-guaranteed loans can be securitized and sold via Ginnie Mae.
Ryan also noted that Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac might be interested in purchasing these manufactured housing loans. Under a final rule issued by the Federal Housing Finance Agency on Dec. 13, the two government-sponsored enterprises are eligible for duty to serve credit for buying manufactured housing loans that are titled as real estate.
Lesli Gooch, a senior vice president at the Manufactured Housing Institute, welcomed the Agriculture Department's refinancing program.
"The pilot program is an important first step. We look forward to working with USDA to take this important change nationwide," Gooch said in a statement.
There is something for everyone looking for lending pitfalls in the coming months.
Mortgages, commercial-and-industrial loans, subprime auto lending and student lending are ripe for setbacks and, in some cases, crises.
Here is a breakdown of each of those risk factors, the reasons behind them and the possible upsides or alternative strategies.
Mortgages
The refinance market has largely carried the mortgage industry over the past few years because consumers took advantage of historically low rates. Now that the Federal Open Market Committee has raised rates twice in the past year, and the benchmark 10-year Treasury has spiked upward since the presidential election, many expect the refinancing market to nosedive.
"We'll see refinancing all but dry up, and the mortgage business is going to really suffer" in 2017, said Donald Musso, CEO of FinPro Capital Advisors, a bank consulting firm in Gladstone, N.J.
The question becomes whether an improvement in the overall health of the housing market can take up the slack.
"It's going to be sales that drive your mortgage lending now," said Jay Pelham, president of the $3 billion-asset TotalBank in Miami.
That may be easier said than done. The incoming Trump administration and the Republican-led Congress have signaled they may reduce the mortgage interest deduction, a move that the National Association of Realtors and other housing industry groups have warned will wallop the housing market.
Banks' mortgage fortunes could vary among geographic markets, too. The South Florida market, especially downtown Miami, appears to be set for a high level of purchase activity, Pelham said.
"If you look at our downtown market, it's full of restaurants, jobs and apartments that both professionals and young people want," he said. "When I look at prices per square foot here, we are still cheap compared to New York, London and Chicago."
C&I
Tough competition for commercial-and-industrial loans has created one of the riskiest situations as many banks are said to have cut pricing to win business.
Banks have crowded into the C&I space for plenty of reasons. One is that regulators have placed a great deal of emphasis on commercial real estate loan concentrations, and banks have responded by improving risk management and bolstering capital levels. Those steps may help limit CRE losses, but they have encouraged more banks to risk expansion in C&I loans as they hunt for places to deploy their capital.
There is so much competition in the C&I market that many players have caved to borrowers' demands for lower rates and better terms, said Jon Winick, CEO of Clark Street Capital, a bank consulting firm in Chicago.
"Underwriting standards have collapsed the most in C&I," he said.
At the same time, C&I loans present significant challenges when they default as they are typically not collateralized by tangible assets.
"If a C&I project defaults, you don't have an automobile you can repossess or a house you can foreclose on," Winick said.
But there are some potential bright spots for C&I. One is that the presidential election is over, which should remove the anxiety that had led many businesses to hold back on capital spending for months because of political uncertainties, Musso said. Talk of tax cuts and regulatory relief has played well in commercial sectors.
"I actually think we may see a modest uptick there because the business community believes we'll see some relief from the Trump administration," Musso said.
Another is that banks may have already suffered through the worst part in two subcategories of C&I lending, energy and taxi medallion loans. A rebound in oil prices dampened the losses at energy lenders, while some banks like the $72 billion-asset Comerica in Dallas reduced their exposure to the sector. And executives at the $38 billion-asset Signature Bank in New York recently said that they have restructured troubled taxi loans.
"I think the new normal has come out in taxi loans," said Dave Etter, managing director of loan review services at Sheshunoff Consulting. "To try to sell taxi loans now is just impossible. You're just looking to generate some cash flow."
Finally, some banks have attempted to carve out specialties within the C&I category to diversify loan portfolios and improve yields. The $28 billion-asset First Horizon National in Memphis, Tenn., for example, has expanded in franchise finance and health care finance to help dilute its C&I exposure.
Auto Loans
For months, regulators have forcefully warned about soaring balances of subprime auto loans and the risks associated with them. The data seemed to back them up.
In March, Fitch Ratings reported that more than 5% of securitized subprime auto loans were at least 60 days late, the highest delinquency rate in 20 years.
And the 90-day delinquency rate for subprime auto loans was 2% in the third quarter, versus 1.9% a year earlier and 1.4% in the third quarter of 2012, according to a Federal Reserve Bank of New York report. Over the same period, delinquency rates for borrowers with higher credit scores were relatively flat. Meanwhile, about 3.6% of overall auto loan balances were 90 days behind in payments.
Lenders have downplayed those concerns, saying that they have applied strict underwriting standards.
Yet some banks have begun to take precautions. The $143 billion-asset Fifth Third Bancorp in Cincinnati and the $147 billion-asset Citizens Financial Group in Providence, R.I., this fall announced plans to scale back indirect auto lending.
At the same time, some community banks have shown greater interest in auto lending as consumer demand for car loans continues to soar. The $4 billion-asset Fidelity Southern in Atlanta and the $9 billion-asset First Interstate BancSystem in Billings, Mont., each posted double-digit increases in auto loans in the third quarter.
Student Loans
The massive pile of student loan debt threatens to send scores of consumers into financial ruin. The Congress and the incoming Trump administration may try to address the situation by getting the U.S. government out of the student loan business. That could create an opportunity for banks to re-enter the private student loan market.
Investors are betting that will happen. Shares of SLM Corp., the Newark, Del., company known as Sallie Mae, rose 54% from Nov. 8 to Dec. 28, to $10.95. Sallie Mae is the largest private student lender.
Only a few banks remain active in student loans, including Citizens Financial. Those banks stand to benefit from the new political environment, KBW analysts wrote in a December report, and other banks may want a piece of the action.
What most analysts agree on is that the amount of student-loan debt that consumers are carrying is unsustainable.
Charles Hartman
CALIFORNIA
ORANGE
LRES has appointed David Sober as its new vice president of national sales.
Prior to joining LRES, he served as business development manager at SingleSource Property Solutions, presently known as SingleSource.
Sober also served as senior business analyst and pricing manager at Chronos Solutions, formerly Matt Martin Real Estate Management.
MARYLAND
BETHESDA
Walker & Dunlop Inc. said that Mark Strauss, senior vice president and managing director, and Rob Quarton, assistant vice president, have joined its capital markets group.
Based out of the company's Irvine, Calif., office, the team will arrange financing for commercial real estate properties.
Strauss and Quarton join Walker & Dunlop from Cohen Financial, where Strauss was a 15-year veteran and founding member of the firm's equity practice.
Strauss has over three decades of commercial real estate finance experience, while Quarton's commercial real estate career spans over 15 years.
MASSACHUSETTS
DANVERS
Mortgage Network Inc. said that James Comosa has been named president.
Comosa, who joined Mortgage Network in 2012 as the director of strategic business development, brings more than 28 years of experience to his new role, having previously served in executive positions with MetLife Home Loans, Countrywide Home Loans and North American Mortgage Co.
WINTHROP
MSA Mortgage has named Dick Lee as its new managing director.
His main role will be to work on product development, sales recruiting, technology advancement and the opening of the firm's new office in Needham, Mass.
Lee has more than 23 years of experience within the industry, having spent the last several years as the president and owner of Independent Mortgage and most recently as the managing director of Luxury Mortgage.
NEW YORK
NEW YORK
Greystone said that Ken Weber has joined the firm as a managing director of underwriting in its agency lending group.
Prior to joining Greystone, Weber served as chief underwriter at Arbor Commercial Mortgage, where he managed operations for its Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac underwriting platforms.
Previously, he held various credit and underwriting positions at RCG Longview, Gramercy Capital and JPMorgan Chase.
VIRGINIA
VIRGINIA BEACH
TowneBank Mortgage has appointed William T. Morrison as chairman and chief executive officer of TowneBank Mortgage and Realty Group.
Morrison succeeds Jacqueline Amato, who will retire as chairman and CEO of TowneBank Mortgage at the end of the year.
Both Morrison and Amato have shared the position of CEO of TowneBank Mortgage since its merger with the Monarch Mortgage division of Monarch Bank in June.
Prior to the merger, Morrison served as the CEO of Monarch Mortgage, after being promoted from executive vice president and chief operating officer in 2011.
Amato will retire after 16 years with TowneBank Mortgage, and over 30 years in the mortgage industry. She held the position of president of TowneBank Mortgage since the company's founding in 2000, until she was promoted to chairman and CEO in 2012.
Are you a mortgage professional who recently changed jobs? Let us know! Send your announcement and photo (if available) to Glenn McCullom at glenn.mccullom@sourcemedia.com.
Friday, December 30, 2016 by: JD Heyes Tags: Amazon , employees , living wage , NaturalNews.com , tents This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
(Natural News) It may be the worlds largest technology giant and retailer, but many of Amazons workers appear to be living like they were deployed in a war zone: In tent cities.
As reported by the UKs Courier newspaper (why hasnt an American media outlet reported on thislike Amazon founder Jeff Bezos Washington Post, which he owns?), which reported exclusively, Amazon workers at one of the companys England-based fulfillment centers are actually sleeping in tents.
Reporters for the paper recently discovered at least three tents in a wooded area beside the online retail behemoths base near Dunfermline, Scotland, which has sparked new concerns that some employees have to sink to depths unheard of for workers of other companies just to survive.
Last month the company came under heavy scrutiny and criticism from local activists who said that some employees at the fulfillment center are working as many as 60 hours per week, and for little more than the going minimum wage. They also said workers were harshly treated in some cases.
Some are forced to live in tents as the dead of winter approaches
As you might expect, Amazon officials have denied those charges, saying they value every employee and try to maintain a culture of direct dialogue with workers. But the news that some staff have been forced to live very simply and without modern conveniences as the bitterly cold winter arrives has led to new questions about the health and welfare of Amazon workers at the facility.
In fact, one employee who asked not to be identified in the story was initially reluctant to speak to the paper, but did describe the company as a poor employer while criticizing working practices at the site.
In addition, the worker added that he chose to stay in a tent because it was cheaper and easier than commuting back and forth between the facility and his home in Perth, though his tent and camping gear disappeared shortly before the report was published.
But another tent that had been set up appeared to be abandoned, with trash, discarded sleeping bags and cans of drink among the items that were thrown about.
Willie Rennie, MSP, the Scottish Liberal Democrat Party leader, has repeatedly called on Amazon to improve its working conditions and its tax record. He once again criticized the company after being told that some of the fulfillment centers workers had been forced to live in nearby woods.
Amazon should be ashamed that they pay their workers so little that they have to camp out in the dead of winter to make ends meet, he told the paper. He added the company needed to take a long, hard look at its business practices.
Company concerned about safety and wellbeing of employees?
He also said that the company only pays a small portion of its earnings in taxes, while receiving millions of the pounds from the government in the form of subsidies, so the least they should do is pay the proper living wage.
Earlier this year, Rennie demanded that Amazon receive no more public funding until executives could guarantee that they would pay their workers higher wages amid reports that some staff were being paid far less than the current living wage.
Amazon employs some 1,500 workers on a permanent basis at the Dunfermline center, but also added another 4,000 seasonal jobs to assist the company with the holiday shopping season.
The company, in a statement, said that it places its employees safety and wellbeing above everything else, as it creates several thousand new permanent jobs at the facility. And the company also said that it was paying competitive wages including overtime pay.
The fulfillment facility in Dunfermline is Amazons largest.
Sources:
TheCourier.co.uk
NaturalNews.com
Friday, December 30, 2016 by: David Gutierrez Tags: cybersecurity , hacking , quest diagnostics This article may contain statements that reflect the opinion of the author
(Natural News) (NaturalNews) Medical laboratory company Quest Diagnostics has announced that hackers gained access to its mobile app in later November, stealing the personal health information of 34,000 people. The company has directly contacted the patients affected.
Its no wonder that Quest Diagnostics was an alluring target for hackers. It is a Fortune 500 company that provides diagnostic services to one in three US adults every single year. Each year, it also provides services to half of the countrys hospitals and physicians.
The breach took place via its mobile app, MyQuest by Care360, which allows patients to manage their appointments and view their test results. The hack gave an unauthorized third party access to patient names, birth dates, lab results and telephone numbers. The hacked data did not contain Social Security numbers or financial or insurance information.
Patient privacy not safe
The hack is only the latest in a surging number of cyberattacks on health care companies. In the first 11 months of this year, 92 separate health care-related data breaches were reported (not including the Quest Diagnostics breach, which was reported this month). Last year, hacks compromised records for more than 12 million patients.
For hackers, developing a targeted attack is a significant effort, so its no surprise that they focus on healthcare organizations that store highly valuable patient data (significantly more valuable than credit cards ), said Israel Levy, CEO of security company BUFFERZONE. He called the Quest Diagnostics hack yet another indication that despite regulations like HIPAA, healthcare organizations still arent doing enough to protect themselves.
The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires health care providers to guard the privacy of patients information. Thus, records stored or transmitted on remotely accessible networks should be protected with the highest levels of digital security which by and large, does not seem to be happening.
In a high-profile case last year, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield the second largest insurer in the country suffered a data breach affecting the records of an astonishing 78.8 million people. In that case, no medical or credit card information was lost, but patients were warned that the information lost names, birth dates, social security numbers, employment information, email addresses and even street addresses was sufficient to fuel various types of identity theft and fraud. It also provided a way for scammers to contact patients, posing as representatives of Anthem, and try to gather more information.
Highly profitable targets
Evidence suggests that the hacked information sells for lucrative sums on the black market. Earlier this year, a hacker claimed to be selling a total of 655,000 patient records from three different health care organizations. The seller was asking for $100,000 to $395,000 per database.
Hackers can also find other ways to make money from the health care industry. In February of this year, Hollywood Presbyterian Medical Center paid $16,664 (40 bitcoins) in ransom to hackers who had shut down its computer network. In this type of attack, known as ransomware, hackers encrypt the victims data and provide the decryption key only upon receiving a ransom payment.
Hospital CEO Allen Stefanek said patient care was unaffected and hospital records remained uncompromised, but that administrators had decided that the quickest and most efficient way to restore our systems and administrative functions was to pay the ransom.
Computer security experts normally advise against paying ransom, although in some cases this is contradicted by law enforcement, said Adam Kujawa, head of malware intelligence for digital security company Malwarebytes.
Unfortunately, a lot of companies dont tell anybody if they had fallen victim to ransomware and especially if they have paid the criminals, Kujawa said, but I know from the experiences I hear about from various industry professionals that its a pretty common practice to just hand over the cash.
Sources:
Baltimore.cbslocal.com
FoxNews.com
FoxNews.com
FoxNews.com
Fox6Now.com
MyQuest.QuestDiagnostics.com
(Natural News) Excuse the brevity of this entry, but theres not enough time to detail all the evil thats unfolding right now. Suffice it to say that Obama is right now attempting to start a raging war before he leaves office. There are two types of attempts hes making: 1) War with Russia, and 2) War against the American people. Hes also hoping to be part of a successful Marxist coup on January 20, but thats very unlikely to go anywhere.
Obama is trying to start World War III before Jan. 20
Check DrudgeReport.com and Breitbart.com to stay up to speed on this. Paul Craig Roberts also has extremely important insight on whats shaping up (he was part of the Reagan administration), and my own contacts inside the bureaucracy are signaling that Obama is setting landmines across the bureaucracy to function as sabotage trip wires that will blow up in President Trumps face.
Barack Obama who is quite literally a sleeper cell agent who has been trying to destroy America from day one is now attempting to provoke Russia into military conflict. He has now begun expelling Russian diplomats from the USA as a cover story for the democrats completely fabricated Russian hacking conspiracy theory regarding the hacking of email accounts belonging to Jon Podesta and the DNC. (It was actually an inside job achieved by a Bernie Sanders supporter.)
Fortunately, it looks like Russia is mocking Obama for his incredible stupidity and not taking him seriously anymore. If cooler heads prevail in all this, Obama will be out of office in roughly 20 days, and a new President Trump will restore sane, stabilizing relations with Russia.
But until Jan. 20 comes, make no mistake that traitor Obama is trying to provoke Russia into an escalating conflict with the USA. This is deliberate, insane and deeply criminal. Im already hearing whispers of desires to see Barack Obama arrested and charged with criminal acts of treason against the United States yet it is doubtful that any such charges could really be leveled against a former President whose actions took place while he was in office (so dont get your hopes up).
Nevertheless, it is increasingly apparent to an expanding number of people that Obama is an active traitor who has deliberately given aid to Americas enemies while destroying trust among Americas allies. (Just two words prove the assertion: 1) Iran. 2) Israel.)
DrudgeReport.com suffered 90 minute blackout due to DDoS attacks
Also today, the DrudgeReport.com website, which has remained a highly effective thorn in the side of the Obama regime, was taken offline for 90 minutes by a coordinated DDoS attack believed to have come from the U.S. government itself.
A tweet from conservative media icon Matt Drudges verified Twitter account Thursday night appeared to accuse the government of interfering with his website, DrudgeReport.com, just hours after the Barack Obama administration announced new sanctions against Russia over election hacking, reports IBtimes.com.
Is the US government attacking DRUDGE REPORT? Biggest DDoS since sites inception. VERY suspicious routing [and timing], the tweet to Drudges 457,000 followers read.
Natural News warned it will be targeted for take down before President Trump is sworn in
A few weeks ago, InfoWars.com personnel received a threat that claimed their site would be taken down in a government censorship purge. Now, that same threat has been made to Natural News via channels Im not yet ready to make public.
The threat asserts that many of the websites falsely labeled Russian propaganda by the fraudulent Washington Post story have been targeted for government take down action before President Obama leaves office all while Obama signs hundreds of pardons to protect the criminals associated with the DNC and the Clinton crime family.
Right now, sites such as DrudgeReport.com and RT are being probed in what are called DDoS stress tests to determine the level of DDoS traffic needed to bring down each site. This result is calculated into the full assault plan which will distribute government cyber attack resources across all the targeted sites in the most efficient manner, dedicating only the amount of DDoS traffic needed to bring down each site. This tactic, by the way, is something Ive heard called DDDoS or distributed-distributed denial-of-service attack. Its conducted at a scale that can only be achieved by nation states such as China, North Korea or the USA. In this case, its the USA, under Barack Obama, that would be engaging in cyber war against the independent media.
In effect, we may be looking at a situation where Barack Obama uses the full resources of the corrupt sectors of his regime to wage cyber warfare against independent journalism in order to halt the only remaining free press from warning Americans about what Obama is actually doing.
Natural News readers should prepare for our website to be subjected to heavy attacks, coordinated DDoS waves, and possibly even attempted DNS hijacking or (Obama) government confiscation of our hosting servers.
In case our DNS is taken over, you can access NaturalNews.com directly from any browser by typing in the following IP address:
162.244.66.146
You should write this down, physically, on a piece of paper and tape it to your monitor. If you ever notice that NaturalNews.com is not responding, try the IP address instead.
If Drudge, InfoWars and NaturalNews all go down, it means WAR has begun
Furthermore, if NaturalNews.com is deliberately taken down, you should interpret this as a sign that Obama is initiating a government war against the American people, and you would be wise to lock and load in preparation for the kind of Second Amendment activation that was designed to save the Republic from tyranny.
To be clear, yes, I am explicitly stating that a coordinated attack against independent media by the criminal Obama traitor should be interpreted as an act of WAR against America the final stage of Obamas long train of subversion to transform America into a Marxist police state under totalitarian control. Personally, I think he will fail in this effort, but like most radical leftists, hes insane enough to try it! (FLASHBACK: Obamas Department of Homeland Security purchases 1.6 billion rounds of ammunition, including sniper rounds.)
We are now entering the most dangerous time for America since World War II
I fully realize that to the uninformed, these warnings may sound unbelievable, but to those working inside the system right now as part of the counter coup operation to save America from Obamas last, desperate effort to destroy this nation, what Im writing here is very well understood and widely known to be true. Those of you reading this from inside the FBI, CIA, DHS and NSA know exactly what Im talking about. If youre on the side of America, I send you prayers for your strength and courage in protecting America for the next 20 days or so, after which things will significantly calm down.
If all goes well and the patriots inside the bureaucracy succeed in their mission, you will never know anything happened at all. There will be no take down of independent media websites, no war with Russia and no successful coup on Jan. 20. That is our desired outcome. We seek a peaceful transition of power to the Trump administration, where highly experienced and patriotic cabinet members will begin the arduous process of unwinding the Obama poison pills, time bombs and trip wires he has planted across the bureaucracy.
But make no mistake: Obama is an active, conscious traitor to America, and hes not going to go away without sabotaging everything in sight on his way out. His targets absolutely include free speech websites that refused to surrender to his anti-American rhetoric and subversive actions. All legitimate free press publications in America and their editors are now at extreme risk for the next 20 days.
Check NaturalNews.com throughout each day. We are now publishing new stories several times throughout the day, and well keep publishing as long as we are able. If we stop publishing or go offline for an extended period of time, you should quite rationally assume the worst.
(Natural News) In Magnolia, Texas, it is now a felony crime to walk your own children home from school. Er, I mean the government indoctrination center. Seriously, parents can now be charged with serious crimes for merely meeting their children at the school and walking them home.
The principal has decided that no matter how close the student lives to the school, the student must either take the bus, or the parent must wait in a long car pickup line, reports Fox 26 in Houston.
Try to walk your student off the campus and you could face criminal charges Fox26 knows of 2 other parents who were just threatened with arrest.
This is yet more evidence that even in Texas, the government thinks it owns your children. Parental rights are being obliterated across the country at a breathtaking pace, including in California where the state can now mandate government injections of your children with aluminum, mercury and other toxic substances that cause autism and neurological disorders.
The same government that has mandated these immunizations has also granted blanket legal immunity to the vaccine industry, so if a mandated vaccine harms your child, its now your problem to deal with and you cant sue the manufacturer for its defective, harmful product. In effect, the government can force you to harm your child, then deny you due process in seeking compensation for damage to your child.
Man charged with DUI for driving under the influence of caffeine
Meanwhile in California, a man was arrested and charged with a DUI for driving while under the influence of caffeine. 38-year-old Joseph Schwab has been fighting a DUI for over a year, despite the fact that he was not under the influence of any illegal drugs at the time, he did, however, test positive for caffeine, reports The Free Thought Project.
[The officer] arrested him and took him to jail so his blood could be drawn for other drugs. His blood tests came back negative for all illegal drugs. But he did test positive for caffeine. For some reason, this was enough to charge Schwab with a DUI.
In doing this, Californias incredibly stupid police state bureaucrats are setting a precedent that could get you charged with a felony crime for drinking Starbucks or Pepsi while behind the wheel.
Indeed, California can now raise all sorts of money to fund its illegal alien benefits programs by arresting and charging coffee drinkers with DUIs, generating huge cash flow revenues for the insane police state known better as Collapsifornia. (Much of the justice system in California is really just revenue generation.)
Solano County DA morons finally drop DUI charges after 16 months, admitting zero evidence
Now, after 16 months of threatening this 36-year-old driver with felony charges, the libtardocrats of Solano County have admitted they have no evidence of anything and must therefore drop the charges.
In their own twisted words, they still imply the driver was on some sort of drugs, but claim they couldnt find them even after administering a forced blood test:
After further consideration, without a confirmatory test of the specific drug in the defendants system that impaired his ability to drive, we do not believe we can prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt, says the county press release.
District Attorney Krishna Abrams typifies the kind of tyrannical bureaucrats you find throughout the California injustice system. They dont care whether theres any evidence at all. Youre guilty just because they want to get you (and the state has granted them exceptional powers to destroy the lives of innocent people).
Ive seen other California DAs ruin the lives of completely innocent people, in Ventura County and LA County in particular. Theres no question that California has the most corrupt bunch of DAs in the entire country, and they all act like salivating tyrants who seethe with anger toward anyone who refuses to bow to their power. They are far more interested in prosecuting independent-minded people than criminal-minded people, it turns out.
What this case illustrates is the arbitrary nature of the state to use any reason possible to find a person guilty, writes John Vibes at TFTP. The police state has claimed a right to search your most private property your own blood. And, whatever they find inside it can and will be used against you in a court of law.
Remarkably, thats true even if they find nothing at all.
Which leads me to ask the obvious question: Whats the point of blood tests when California bureaucrats have already decided youre guilty even before the test results come back?
Ultimately, this gets back to the core falsehoods of liberalism, the new religion of Collapsifornia: Evidence is not necessary when they BELIEVE they are right. This same sort of lunatic, anti-science nonsense is what underlies the entire climate change hoax, too.
See my article The top 10 most outrageous science hoaxes of 2016 to learn more.
In March 2016, a Syrian refugee named Rakan Ghebar started seeing a counsellor. He works as a vice-principal at a school for displaced Syrian children, and when he was asked for advice, he was always told to focus on the present.While the instructions may be hard to follow, it did help him and shared it with his students. And apparently, his counsellor was Karim, a psychotherapy chatbot.
Yes, that's right. According to the New Yorker, Karim is a chatbot designed by X2AI, an AI startup in Silicon Valley. The company was launched in 2014 by Michiel Rauws and Eugene Bann, an idealistic pair of young immigrant programmers who met in San Francisco.
Rauws had a personal investment on the matter, as he suffers from a lot of chronic health issues and manages them by trying to keep his stress levels in check.
According to him, he noticed that conversations he had with therapists were often formulaic, followed by a few templates and paths. When he thought of making this an automated thing, Bann was already working on an emotion-recognition algoirthm, then soon started X2AI.
The company's creation coincided with a torrent of sad news from Syria. According to Business Insider, the Eastern Mediterranean Public Health Network said at that time, nearly half of Syrian refugees living in a camp in Jordan feel very helpless. Addressing these needs the traditional way -- as in deploying thousands of Arabic-speaking therapists -- would be impossible.
But AI counsellors need no planes, tickets, food, protection and salaries.This gave Rauws and Bann reason to believe that their chatbot had a lot of advantages over a human therapist. The two men travelled to three sites in and around Beirut and tested Karim on a group of about 60 Syrians.
Despite initial misgivings, especially since they have to interact over text and their counselling sessions may be monitored, it was overall a good experience.Knowing that they're not talking with a person can be freeing as well, a way of avoiding social stigma that according to some younger subjects surrounds discussions of anxiety and sadness.
However, Karim is just only one member of X2AI's polylingual family of bots. Others include Emma, a Dutch-language bot designed to help those with mild anxiety and fear. There's Nema, an English-language bot that specializes in pediatric diabetes care. There's also Tess, a highly-adaptable English-language bot that can perform cognitive-behavior therapy, motivational interviewing and various other techniques.
This portfolio reflects the company and its altruistic and pragmatic design to satisfy the needs of a particular client or crisis area.
X2AI describes its bots as therapeutic assistants, which means they offer help and support rather than treatment. The bots are also designed to evaluate statements such as "cut myself" in the broader context of a user's personality and history: are they typically sarcastic, isolate and prone to outbursts?
Good data about the efficacy of AI therapists are scarce given it's a new field. However, their diagnostic capacities appear very promising.
The Solano County District Attorney's Office decided Wednesday to drop a DUI charge against a driver who only tested positive for caffeine, after his pupils were dilated and he seemed agitated and "amped up" to arresting officers at the time, NBC affiliate KCRA reported.
The charges were dropped more than 16 months after Joseph Schwab, 36, was pulled over on Interstate 680 near Gold Hill Road as he drove to his Fairfield home. The Alcohol Beverage Control agent who pulled over Schwab in August 2015 said he had been weaving in and out of traffic, and seemed very combative, KCRA reported. Inside Schwab's car, the agent found a number of workout supplements including powders, but all of them were legal.
A blood test showed that only caffeine was pumping through his system.
"After further consideration, without a confirmatory test of the specific drug in the defendant's system that impaired his ability to drive, we do not believe we can prove the charge beyond a reasonable doubt," District Attorney Krishna Abrams said Wednesday in a news release.
Abrams still believes some drug other than caffeine was in Schwab's system, but that testing didn't reveal it, KCRA reported. And he will still be charged with reckless driving, the DA told KCRA, a charge Schwab's attorney said she'd fight. Abrams stressed she was not influenced by criticism from the community about overcharging the case.
"The attention from the press or the media or the social media would never dictate what we do in a case," Abrams said. "As my dad always says, 'shut out the noise and do what's right.'"
Abrams also said that field sobriety and blood tests don't screen for everything.
"Do we wish that it could test for more drugs?" Abrams said. "Absolutely, because then we would know what was in his system."
On Tuesday, Abrams said she was still moving forward with the DUI charge. But she changed course a day later after talking with forensic toxicologists and her top investigators. KCRA reported that Abrams felt she could no longer prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.
Schwab's attorney Stacy Barrett sent KCRA a statement saying her client is relieved the DUI is being dismissed for lack of evidence.
After a 2-year-old dog was paralyzed and later died following a haircut, the pet owner is blaming a San Jose groomer. But the business says it's not responsible for the dog's death.
Peter and Carmen Cruz still aren't sure how their dog Honey died, but they believe it stemmed from a Dec. 21 visit to Showtime Pet Grooming in San Jose.
"She was traumatized, mishandled, and there was some inattentiveness," Pete Cruz said. "Something happened. There was nothing wrong with my dog. They damaged her."
Cruz said when he picked up Honey from the appointment, her back legs couldn't move. Then the next day, her body was paralyzed, and days later, she died from what her doctors called a fractured spine.
"There could have been a neck trauma, but ... I don't know," Cruz said, his voice cracking with emotion. "I don't know what happened."
The groomer, however, believes the pet owner is just trying to ruin their businesses, especially on Yelp, after an emotional ending to a little dog's life.
Showtime owner Lisa Frederito disputes doing anything wrong. In fact, she said Honey had injuries upon arrival that day.
"We see Honey walking from the camera; her legs seem a little stiff then crossed," Frederito said, describing the scenes in surveillance footage. "That's an unnatural position for a dog, and she looks like she's in pain."
Frederito stands behind the affectionate care her groomers show for all of their animal clients, something she says is clear in the video of Honey's handling during her haircut.
"I'm absolutely, 100 percent certain no one on my staff injured Honey," she said. "I would never have someone on my staff lie to me or injure an animal."
Cruz, however, said he won't stop pushing for answers into what really took the life of his close friend.
"We've never had any issues with her before," he said.
The Cruzes are now looking to the California Senate for help with a new pet grooming bill, hoping to put stronger regulations on groomers.
An East Bay woman lost her son to war, her husband to illness and now she has lost a family heirloom that linked the two men together.
The woman on Christmas learned that a gold ring bearing the family crest had been stolen from the mausoleum where her son was laid to rest at the Queen of Heaven Cemetery in Lafayette.
Roxane Langevin went to the cemetery on Christmas afternoon to honor her late son, Army Specialist Sean Langevin, who was killed in Afghanistan in 2007.
"Sean loved life. He loved an adventure," she said. "I keep going for him."
Sean Langevin's personal items and an urn containing ashes are displayed behind a locked glass in a nitche in a mausoleum. When Roxane Langevin visited, she noticed the ring given to her son by her husband, who died last year after a prolonged illness, was missing.
"I was upset, I was angry," she said. "I cried. I couldn't believe that someone would violate a sacred place."
No one from the cemetery was available to provide comment on the story. The Contra Costa County Sheriff's Office said they have no suspects in the case, and anyone with information is urged to come forward.
Roxane Langevin said no glass was broken, but six of the seven locks on the display case were missing. She said her husband researched the family crest and had crest rings made for all the men in their family.
"I just couldn't believe that someone could do something like this to someone who served our country, fought for our country," Roxane Langevin said of the theft.
The ring is solid gold and worth several hundred dollars, but Roxane Langevin said it is not about the money.
"It's the sentimental value," she said. "My husband was all about traditions and those kind of things and carrying the family name. That was a really big deal to him."
Roxane Langevin now knows what she wants for Christmas next year.
"No questions asked. I just want it back more than anything," she said of the ring.
A San Francisco jewelry dealer was left beaten and shaken up Thursday after thieves took him by surprise and made off with up to $400,000 in merchandise.
San Francisco police were investigating the brazen heist that occurred in the North Mission around 6:30 p.m., just steps from the front door of a jewelry store on Utah Street, near Highway 101.
The victim, an independent dealer, was roughed up and robbed by at least three men, police said.
"They probably waited for him to go in, watched him, and when he came out, they ran out and jumped him," said a man who identified himself as the victim's cousin.
He said his cousin was hit in the chest, and his small suitcase full of diamonds and gold was gone.
"Theres no tracking on a diamond or gold items," he said. "Some people might pawn it off for maybe 10 percent of the value, so they might get $30,000 to $40,000 for it."
The security guard inside the jewelry store said he saw three men jumping the victim on one of his security cameras. But by the time he saw the attack, it was too late to press the silent alarm.
"Most people in this business dont carry protection on them," he said. "They should at least use pepper spray."
The victim told NBC Bay Area he believes he was followed.
Police werent providing any information on the case.
The organizers of the Titans of Mavericks surf contest are in the midst of a legal swirl that raises questions about the future of the event.
As NBC Bay Area reported, Cartel Management, which owns the rights to the surf contest, lost a $1 million lawsuit in Los Angeles last month.
The lawsuit concerned an endorsement deal gone bad with a tanning company owned by Segler Holdings LLC. Segler sued Cartel and its client actress Marisa Miller, and a jury forced Miller to pay back $300,000 and Cartel $700,000.
The San Mateo County Harbor District received a letter Thursday from a law firm representing Segler Holdings expressing concern over Cartel's efforts to have a five-year contest permit moved to Titans of Mavericks.
In the letter obtained by NBC Bay Area, attorneys for Segler states: "Segler Holdings considers the assignable permit to be an asset owned by Cartel. It is my understanding that Cartel has asked the district to transfer the permit to Titans Of Mavericks LLC. I am concerned that Cartel has asked the district to transfer the permit to Titans Of Mavericks to liquidate and/or move assets which could be used to satisfy the anticipated judgment against Cartel in the lawsuit. Such a transfer may violate the California Voidable Transactions Act."
The letter has all sides scrambling.
Harbor District Commissioner Sabrina Brennan says it raises a lot of questions on "who will ultimately own the rights to the contest? Who will put it on? Will it be put on? And does this create a financial situation or problem for Cartel to pay expenses and purse prizes?"
Brennan says she's not sure if or when the Harbor Commission might address the issue. Attempts to reach Mavericks organizers were not returned Thursday.
The window for the one-day worldwide surf contest at Pillar Point is now open through March 31.
Four Russian Consulate employees in San Francisco including a chef accused of being a spy are among the 35 Russian diplomats ordered to leave the United States within 72 hours by President Barack Obama, the Russian Consul General to San Francisco announced Friday.
Sergey Petrov didn't want to divulge too many details about the ouster at an impromptu news conference at the consulate on Green Street in Pacific Heights. But he did let reporters in on a "small secret" about one of the the employees told to go back home to the "motherland."
"One of the employees who will be leaving is the chef, who was characterized by the outgoing U.S. Administration as an intelligence operative, Petrov said. He added somberly: On New Years Eve, Dec. 31, we will have to cook ourselves We will not be able to treat our guests to authentic Russian food, his hors d'oeuvres. Moments later, the Russian Consulate posted a photo of their New Year's spread for the party, which included deviled eggs and perogies. [[408833045, C]]
Petrov would not name the chef, nor would the State Department. NBC News said the names of the diplomats are not being released, because they don't want Russia to do the same for American operatives. In their Facebook post, the Consul General called Obama's accusations against their staff "bizarre and ridiculous."
The meeting was a stark contrast to how reporters were greeted by the consulate on Thursday, the day U.S.-Russian foreign relations suffered a major blow after Obama issued sweeping sanctions against Russia in response to election hacking. During that interaction, a voice boomed from an intercom: "Leave this territory." No one would come out to speak to reporters flanking the sidewalk, hoping to learn more about this surprising and mysterious announcement from the White House. Petrov's PR shift was in line with the overall Russian strategy following Obama's serious tone.
The official Twitter feed for Russia on Friday tweeted out New Year's greetings to Obama, President-elect Donald Trump and the American people, inviting "all children of the U.S. diplomats accredited in Russia to the New Year and Christmas children's show at the Kremlin!"
A total of eleven people are leaving the Russian Consulate in San Francisco "within hours," which includes the four employees and their families, including three children, Petrov said.
"The three kids will not see Santa, or gifts under the Firtree (in Russia it happens on the New Year eve)," the Consul General said on its Facebook page. "They only have one day to finalize their financial affairs, terminate their apartment leases, pack their belongings, as well as to prepare for the long trip, first to Los Angeles by car and then by plane to Moscow no tickets left for shorter and more comfortable itineraries."[[408880845, C]]
"It's just not human," Petrov told reporters, adding he was hopeful the Trump administration would be able to retore relations between the two countries.
The consulate said the chef hailed from the historic city of Yaroslavl, and that his "mastery was enjoyed by hundreds of our guests at the consulate for three years." The chef will be leaving with his wife and two-year-old son.
Petrov acknowledged the loss of consul officers would prevent the consulate from being as efficient as they want to be. But he said the doors would remain open for "business as usual" for both American and Russian citizens.
A limited number of people will not allow all the consular services to all the citizens in the manner we want to do it but we will do our best to serve all the Russian people living here as well as Americans applying for Russian visas, Petrov said.
An estimated 100,000 Russians live on the West Coast, Petrov said.
Petrov also made a plea to reporters to respect the privacy of the employees being expelled. Many of them dont even speak English, many speak limited English, he said, explaining that it was one of the reasons for not responding to the media outside the consulate Thursday.
The surprise news conference was perhaps unprecedented, and even Petrov admitted that the consulate usually doesn't comment on things like sanctions. "Today we decided to make an exception as we're trying to change many things in our relations with the U.S," he said. "It's my president who inspired me to do that."
"Is this the first time the media has been inside the consulate?" one of the reporters asked Petrov.
"Maybe it's your first time here; we invite the media to all our events." Petrov replied, smiling. He then made a general invitation to the media to attend the consulate's New Year's Eve party.
"As we are nearing the New Years, I would invite you to have a glass of champagne," he told reporters. "How about that?"
Palo Alto firefighters knocked down a two-alarm fire at a house early Friday morning where they initially thought someone was trapped inside.
Crews quickly figured out that no one was trapped inside, the department tweeted, at the blaze reported in the 2100 block of Louis Road, off US Highway 101 between Embarcadero and the Oregon Expressway. It was reported at 5 a.m.
And the homeowner was safe with one of the battalions, the department said.
Fire investigators were called to the scene to determine its cause.
Since Carrie Fishers death was announced on Tuesday, well-wishers and Star Wars fans have been paying tribute to the late Princess Leia all over the world.
That includes leaving light sabers and flowers at a pop-up star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in Los Angeles for the actress, author and comedian who died at age 60 following a heart attack.
Across the country, Fisher fans held a light saber vigil at Walt Disney World in Orlando Florida.
Fans Pay Tribute to Princess Leia Under Yoda Fountain
Not to be outdone, some Daly City brothers, Matt and Dale Tolosa, and their friends went to the Presidio of San Francisco, and home of Lucas Film, on Wednesday to also pay tribute to Fisher.
"A bunch of us got together to honor Carrie," said Dale Tolosa, 42. "We grew up with the Star Wars movies."
Of course, the makeshift memorial, made of up of red light saber, flowers and a poster board showing a picture of Leias trademark side buns, was placed directly under the iconic Yoda water fountain in the national San Francisco park. On Thursday, the Presidio tweeted: May the Force Be With You, Princess Leia.
Film maker George Lucas, who lives in Marin County, created the first epic space opera, Star Wars, in 1977.
The Presidio is now home to the Letterman Digital and New Media Arts Center, and is the headquarters of Lucas Film. Lucas founded Lucas Film in 1971, which was bought by The Walt Disney Company in 2012.
As for Dale Tolosa's favorite Princess Leia scene? It was when she escaped from the Death Star after Hans Solo and Luke Skywalker posed as stormtroopers. "She was the first princess in cinema to rescue herself," Tolosa said.
A heartbreaking loss for a Brazilian family visiting San Jose suddenly has become a tale of tearful celebration.
Two days after Victor Camara and his family lost $6,000 and other valuables to car burglars within hours of beginning their first-ever visit to the U.S., a stranger generously offered the family $10,000.
The donor, who wished to remain anonymous, saw the family's heartbreaking story on NBC Bay Area Wednesday night and was eager to help.
"Id like to offer you $10,000," the donor told Camara during a phone call Thursday.
"This is something great to hear," Camara replied, his voice cracking as his family cried tears of joy and hugged. "Im really thankful. Im grateful for you, OK?"
"Its my pleasure, Victor," the donor said.
A heartbreaking loss for a Brazilian family visiting San Jose suddenly has become a tale of tearful celebration.
"In the world, there are more good persons than bad persons," Camara said, beaming.
The Camara family was overwhelmed with gratitude. Its been an emotional couple of days for Camara, who had saved for years to take his family on a trip to America.
On Tuesday night, surveillance cameras from a nearby gas station captured two people busting the window of Camara's rental car that he had parked outside Applebee's in San Jose just after leaving the airport on his way to his aunt's house.
What started as a family's unfortunate loss on their first night in the U.S. has now become a reminder of the good in the world.
"Take a message from this good news," Camara said. "Dont lose faith in humanity."
In another bit of good news, Camara said he and his fiancee got their stolen passports back after a homeless man in Oakland found them lying on the street and returned them Wednesday.
A divided Connecticut Supreme Court on Friday reinstated Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel's murder conviction in the 1975 killing of Martha Moxley, rejecting a lower court ruling in an appeal that his trial lawyer didn't adequately represent him.
The state's highest court issued a 4-3 decision ordering a lower court to reject Skakel's appeal.
It wasn't immediately clear if Skakel will be sent back to prison or allowed to remain free if he appeals or asks the high court to reconsider. His lawyer, Hubert Santos, said he was reviewing the ruling and had no immediate comment.
Skakel, a nephew of Robert F. Kennedy's widow, Ethel, was convicted of murder in 2002 in the killing of Moxley in a wealthy Greenwich neighborhood three decades ago when they were teenage neighbors. Moxley was bludgeoned with a golf club. Skakel was sentenced to 20 years to life in prison.
But he was freed in 2013 on $1.2 million bail after a judge granted him a new trial based on claims that Skakel's trial lawyer, Michael Sherman, made a series of poor decisions in representing him. The judge found, in part, that Sherman failed to argue that Skakel's brother could have been responsible for the crime and failed to present a key alibi witness for Skakel.
Sherman had defended his work. On Friday, Sherman told NBC Connecticut he believes that Skakel should have never been convicted.
During arguments before the state Supreme Court, prosecutor Susann Gill told the justices that Sherman did a competent job investigating and trying the case and that Skakel's appellate lawyers had not met the high burden under case law to prove ineffective counsel. She also stood by the state's position that there was "substantial" evidence that Michael Skakel killed Martha Moxley.
Santos argued that Sherman made numerous poor decisions, including not focusing on Skakel's older brother, Thomas Skakel, as a possible suspect.
Santos told the justices, "This defendant did not get a fair shake. The weight of the evidence is that Tommy Skakel killed Martha Moxley."
Santos also said Michael Skakel had an alibi on the night of the killing at 10 p.m., the time that he said evidence shows Moxley was killed. He cited testimony that Michael Skakel and some relatives left the neighborhood at about 9:30 p.m. to go to his cousin's house 20 minutes away to watch a Monty Python movie.
Santos also said there was no forensic or physical evidence linking Skakel to the killing.
Thomas Skakel's attorney has previously said his client had nothing to do with the slaying.
Skakel's current attorneys said they had no comment.
The Obama administration's decision to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia could restrict Donald Trump's efforts to repair U.S. relations with Moscow and puts the president-elect on a collision course with Republican lawmakers.
The White House on Thursday rolled out a set of economic sanctions and other penalties intended to squeeze Russian leaders for interfering in the 2016 election.
Obama's move to punish the Russian government puts Trump in a tough position of having to decide whether to undermine retaliatory sanctions or abandon his calls for better relations with Moscow.
Kellyanne Conway, who served as Trump's campaign manager, accused President Barack Obama in an interview with CNN's Kate Bolduon of issuing the sanctions with just weeks left in his presidency to deliberately "box-in President-elect Trump."
U.S. officials have acknowledged that Trump could use his executive authorities to reverse the sanctions, but that may cause issue with his own party.
Congressional leaders appear to be unified in the conclusion that Russia's government was responsible for hacking its way into tipping the election in favor of the GOP candidate despite Trump's refusal to accept the assessment of the intelligence community.
Republican Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham said the sanctions are a "small price" to pay for interfering with U.S. elections, adding that they'll lead efforts in Congress to impose stronger penalties.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell called the sanctions "a good initial step" but criticized Obama's overall foreign policy and said the U.S. must work to ensure that attacks against the nation are met with "overwhelming response."
Sen. Ben Cardin, the top Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, vowed to introduce bills next month to create an independent commission to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 election and hit the country with "comprehensive enhanced sanctions."
In a statement following the announcement from the Obama administration, Trump reiterated his call for the U.S. to "move on," but said he'd be briefed next week about the issue.
"It's time for our country to move on to bigger and better things," Trump said in a statement. "Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation."
On Wednesday, Trump suggested that the U.S. and Russia lay to rest the controversy over Moscow's computer hacking of Democratic Party officials, saying, "We ought to get on with our lives."
The Intelligence Community has publicly stated Russia was behind hacks of political organizations in the U.S. But the president-elect has held firm to his skepticism of the intel apparatus he's about to inherit.
The president-elect has also belittled the intelligence agencies that he will assume command over on Jan. 20, insinuating in a tweet that they couldn't be trusted.
These are the same people that said Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction, he said.
Russia, which has repeatedly denied the hacking allegations, called the penalties a clumsy yet aggressive attempt to "harm Russian-American ties." Putin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Russia would take into account the fact that Trump will soon replace Obama as it drafts retaliatory measures.
Trump has long had a cozy relationship with Putin, going out of his way to praise the Russian leader during the campaign and resisting joining the chorus of criticism over Russias alleged involvement in the elections. He has said the idea that Russia tried to help him win was ridiculous.
I think its just another excuse, Trump said in December. I dont believe it. No, I dont believe it at all.
Trump said in July that he would consider lifting previously imposed sanctions against Russia, including those against Russian state banks and corporations following its 2014 invasion of Ukraine. While the U.S. has thus far refused to recognize the legitimacy of Russian referendums in Crimea, Trump has hinted in the past that he may be prepared to do so.
Some Massachusetts lawmakers were surprised to learn a few of their colleagues passed a measure changing the marijuana legalization that was approved in last month's election.
"It's funny, everyone talks about 'open and transparent,' except when it comes to the legislature," said State Rep. Jim Lyons.
Lyons, like most state lawmakers, had no idea it was happening during what the legislature calls an "informal session."
"The power brokers use the informal system to pass what they want to pass," Lyons said.
Informal sessions take place between August and December in the second year of the legislative cycle, usually to take care of non-controversial business. They are restricted to less important matters, because it only takes one lawmaker to voice opposition. Conversely, it only takes one Republican and one Democrat to be present to push something through.
"I think this is just a minor change," said Rep. Alice Peisch, who believes the action was necessary because state agencies responsible for implementing the law need more guidance to do it responsibly.
"You can't obstruct or ignore it, but you can tweak it," said former State Sen. George Bachrach. "Simply delaying it a bit to get it right makes some sense."
Lyons thinks there was plenty of time. He agrees with the measure that was passed, but feels the process of pushing controversial legislation during informal sessions is all wrong. He intends to try to change it in 2017, he says.
Rain falls across all of southern New England as low pressure develops across eastern Massachusetts.
We are expecting up to 2 inches of snow from the Interstate 495 corridor east to Interstate 95, 3 to 6 inches across northern Massachusetts, 6 inches to a foot from the New Hampshire border north into southern New Hampshire and Vermont and up to 1-1/2 feet across central and northern New Hampshire and Maine.
Speed limits on the western part of the Massachusetts Turnpike and the southern portion of the Maine Turnpike have been reduced due to the inclement weather. New Hampshire officials are urging motorists to stay off the roads after 6 p.m. if possible.
Though it's school vacation for most, a handful of schools have cancelled classes and several courts in Massachusetts are also closing early due to the snow.
By Thursday night, slight changes have been made to the forecast. As cold air races its way into the area, snow will shift into the I-495 corridor by 9 p.m., with the heavy rainfall we experienced in the afternoon shifting to heavy snow or a wintry mix in areas, which will make for reduced visibility and slippery driving conditions.
Pockets of very heavy snow will continue into southern New Hampshire and north central Massachusetts through this evening with snowfall rates at 1 to 2 inches per hour possible.
The system will continue its track north and east, hugging the New England coastline, and the rain/snow will end for most of New England, besides the threat for snow to continue into the Crown of Maine through Friday morning. Lows will bottom out in the mid to upper 20s for most locations, which could allow for some refreezing overnight into southern New England.
High winds are also expected overnight, with wind gusts up to 50 mph expected along the coast. Some power outages could occur through Friday morning.
Friday features a few clouds and snow showers early before sunny skies move in for the remainder of the day. Gusty winds diminish late morning and highs will peak around 30 degrees north to the low 40s south.
Another weather system approaches from the Great Lakes on New Year's Eve. The first half of the day will feature partly cloudy skies before clouds build in during the afternoon. A fast-moving clipper system brings the threat of snow showers during the evening as it passes overhead. Highs will be in the mid 20s north and mid to upper 30s south.
The clipper moves away from the region by New Year's Day as high pressure noses into the region behind it. We're expecting mostly sunny skies with highs moderating into the 30s north and mid 40s south.
Looking ahead into the start of the work week, high pressure slides offshore toward the Canadian Maritimes on Monday as another weather system approaches from the southeast.
By Tuesday, the system is right over the region, bringing cloudy skies and some precipitation with it. Highs on Monday and Tuesday will be in the 30s to the north and the 40s south.
With budget negotiations halted in Springfield, it seems unlikely that Gov. Bruce Rauner and the states top legislative leaders will be able to reach a new deal before the current stopgap spending plan expires at the end of the year.
But what does that mean for Illinois residents?
The good news is, a large portion of the states spending will continue to be covered through court orders and consent decrees. In addition, elementary and secondary education have been funded through June.
Although many vital state functions will still be funded, health and human services and higher education will likely continue to suffer without a budget, which means some of the most vulnerable Illinoisans will be hit hardest by a prolonged impasse.
In April, Chicago State University was forced to lay off more than 300 employees as a result of the states budget crisis. The school now faces a year-end deficit and could be forced to make further cuts, according to the Chicago Tribune. Additionally, funding for Monetary Award Program grants expires at the end of the year, which could result in students losing tuition assistance.
Lutheran Social Services, the states largest provider of social services, announced they would cut 30 programs and 750 jobs as a result of the impasse. Other groups, like Catholic Charities, have also been affected by the ongoing stalemate.
However, a comprehensive budget deal between Gov. Rauner and House Speaker Michael Madigan remains elusive, as it has throughout the governors first two years in office.
Rauner has made it clear that he wont consider a new temporary budget unless it includes reforms from his turnaround agenda, like term limits and a property tax freeze. The governor halted negotiations earlier this month after House Speaker Michael Madigan and Illinois Democrats failed to put forth a budget proposal.
"The Governor and the Republican leaders remain ready to negotiate on a balanced budget with reforms to grow jobs, lower property taxes, improve schools and implement term limits," Rauner spokesman Lance Trover said in a statement earlier this month. "However, Democrative leaders continue to discuss internally whether they are prepared to present a budget proposal, so we will schedule the next Four Leaders meeting when we receive confirmation that they are ready."
Madigans office claimed Tuesday that the onus is on Rauner to propose a budget.
[Rauners] indicated hes gotten some idea, that while hes the guy who is spending the money and will determine how much he wants to spend, that somebody else should give him a plan, Madigan spokesman Steve Brown told Ward Room. Thats totally illogical, but thats all thats been happening.
While it is Rauners constitutional duty to submit a balanced budget to the General Assembly by the third Wednesday in February, the legislature has the power to make decisions on appropriations and taxes. However, Brown claimed the two sides havent discussed revenue increases, like a potential income tax hike.
The speakers said for nearly two years, it needs to be a balance between cuts and revenue, but weve never gotten beyond that, Brown said. And dont plan to, frankly, at this point.
Brown also reiterated Democrats desire to reestablish working groups, something Rauner has opposed. Brown said working groups were needed on a series of matters, including workers compensation and government consolidation.
Next month, Madigan is up for reelection as house speaker. Rauner spokeswoman Catherine Kelly framed the election as a pivotal decision for Illinois Democrats Friday.
"Members of the majority will face a clear choice when they return to Springfield: reach a bipartisan balanced budget with reforms or support Speaker Madigan's status quo of crisis and higher taxes without any reforms to our broken system," Kelly said in a statement. "Governor Rauner will continue working with both sides of the aisle to reach a truly balanced budget with structural reforms."
Former Chicago Police Supt. Garry McCarthy called the departments response to the citys rising violence a huge problem in a recent interview with 60 Minutes.
When people are dying, yes, theres a crisis, McCarthy said in the interview thats scheduled to air Sunday. No two ways about it.
Despite Chicago seeing more than 700 murders in 2016, 60 Minutes found that police activity has dropped in all 22 of Chicagos police districts. Similarly, a recent Chicago Sun-Times analysis found that the number of arrest in Chicago has fallen by 28 percent since 2015.
McCarthy was fired as the citys top cop in the wake of the Laquan McDonald controversy. McDonald, an African-American teen, was shot and killed by Chicago police officer Jason Van Dyke in October of 2014. After dashcam footage of the incident was released over a year later, public outcry for McCarthys resignation grew.
McDonalds killing has had a lingering effect on community policing in Chicago. In April, the citys new police accountability task force released a report stating the communitys lack of trust in the CPD is justified and noting that McDonald posed no immediate threat to anyone at the time of his killing.
The CPD is currently being investigated by the Justice Department for potential civil rights violations. After the American Civil Liberties Union threatened to sue the department of racial profiling, officers have been ordered to be more selective about who they stop and are now required to write a report on each one, according to 60 Minutes."
Police Supt. Eddie Johnson told the Sun-Times that the arrest numbers reflect the CPDs focus on addressing gun violence and improving community relations.
We want to arrest the right people at the right times for the right reasons, Johnson told the paper. But just indiscriminately stopping people? No. We cannot arrest our way out of this.
Johnson told the Sun-Times that the department is relying less on broken window policing, a strategy that emphasizes heavy enforcement of low-level crimes to send a message to criminals. The superintendent explained that the CPD is prioritizing gun crimes over low-level narcotics offenses. The drop in police activity could be tied, in part, to a new state law decriminalizing possession of less than 10 grams of marijuana that took effect this summer.
Additionally, Johnson rejects the Ferguson effect, a theory that claims violence has risen because cops are holding back amid protests over police violence. However, he told the Sun-Times that many police feel vilified, while some have been slowed down learning new legal requirements for street stops.
Some officers, who spoke to the Sun-Times on the condition of not being named, told the paper that cops are being less aggressive because they're worried about being caught on video making an honest mistake in the line of duty. Others dismissed that reasoning, arguing that body cameras and documentation will help cops do their jobs.
"Those are people looking for an excuse," a veteran North Side supervisor told the Sun-Times. "What they're saying is that I liked it better when no one was recording when I trounced on someone's head."
Former Ald. Sandi Jackson claimed in court filings this week that she is currently out of work, selling her belongings and borrowing from friends to make ends meet, while her husband, former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., has a monthly income of at least $10,250 a month, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Jackson is currently seeking a divorce from the former Congressman. The couple pleaded guilty to a list of felonies in 2013 and subsequently served staggered jail sentences.
The former City Council member reportedly filed for divorce in Washington, while her husband filed in Cook County. The couple is scheduled to appear in court in Washington on Tuesday and again in Cook County on Wednesday, but its still unclear where the case will be heard.
The Jacksons, who have been married for 25 years, are grappling with a list of issues including custody of their two children, and her request for child support, alimony and attorneys fees, the Tribune reports.
According to the report, Jackson said her husband is living in a house without a mortgage while their other mortgage is in arrears. She also claimed Jackson Jr. has failed to contribute to the mortgage or any household expenses since September, something the former Congressmans lawyer refuted.
The former alderman reportedly plans to ask that the Cook County case be dismissed, according to the report.
Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty in 2013 to charges he illegally spent campaign funds on a variety of expensive items, like a $4,600 fedora owned by Michael Jackson and a $1,200 reversible mink parka. Sandi Jackson pleaded guilty to a tax fraud charge that stemmed from the same case.
A man fatally shot a teenager who attempted to rob him Friday afternoon in the West Garfield Park neighborhood, according to Chicago Police.
The 33-year-old man went to the 4800 block of West Ferdinand to purchase something he saw for sale online and was confronted by a 19-year-old man who announced a robbery and showed a gun, police said. A struggle ensued, and the 19-year-old was shot in the chest about 12:25 p.m.
The teen, identified as Carlos James, was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital and pronounced dead at 1:30 p.m., according to the Cook County medical examiners office. He lived in the same block as the shooting.
Police said the 33-year-old suffered bruises during the struggle, and that a single gun was recovered at the scene. Area North detectives were investigating.
The city of Chicago told residents in a North Side neighborhood Thursday to not drink rusty, discolored water after a nearby car washs lack of backflow devices possibly lead to a contaminated waterline.
The city Thursday began handing out bottled water to homes in the 4600 and 4700 blocks of West Patterson Avenue in the city's Old Irving Park neighborhood and took water samples for analysis.
As soon as we have the results indicating that the water is safe to drink, the do not drink the water order will be lifted, the city said in a statement.
Residents in the area told NBC 5 they were having water troubles for months.
Mike and Amy Streff have been concerned about their 3-year-old's health after they say their water began sputtering and coming out discolored.
The bathtub, I was running the stub and it was coming out brown, Mike told NBC 5. Same thing with the laundry downstairs.
Across the street from the Streffs, Freda Johnson worries her pipes rattle so hard theyll soon crack.
It seems like an explosion, she said. Everybody feels like their stuff is just going to go up into space or explode.
Residents like Johnson and the Streffs say theyve been trying to get the city to fix the problems for monthswith no luck.
A day after NBC 5 reached out to the Department of Water Management, the city sent crews to the neighborhood and says it resolved the issuebut found the car wash problem.
Flyers distributed to residents Thursday warned them to wash dishes, brush their teeth or even consume the water coming from their taps.
My grandkids I babysit them and Ive been giving them lemonade, macaroni and cheese, said resident Luz Ojega. Everything I do with the water.
The car wash has been shut down and the do not drink order will remain in effect until tests are completed, which could take up to 48 hours or longer, the city said.
It makes me worried, Ojega said. Weve been calling and they know we have a problemI dont know why it took them so long.
Robberies of two FedEx delivery trucks on Wednesday were the latest in a string of similar crimes reported in the last month all on the South Side.
In all, at least seven robberies involving package delivery trucks have been reported in Chicago in the last month.
Among the recent crimes was a Wednesday morning incident in the Auburn Gresham neighborhood that resulted in charges against a 15-year-old boy, who is accused of stealing a FedEx truck.
About 9:15 a.m. on Wednesday, a car with two people inside pulled up as a 46-year-old woman was delivering a package for FedEx in the 7500 block of South Green, authorities said. The teenager got out of the car with a gun and made the woman hand over the keys to her truck.
He took off in the truck, which was spotted as it crashed into another car at 67th and Wentworth, police said. The truck continued south on Wentworth until it hit a fence.
The teen jumped out and was arrested after a short foot chase, police said. He was treated at St. Bernard Hospital for injuries suffered in the crash and was listed in good condition.
He faces one count each of aggravated vehicular hijacking with a firearm, possession of a stolen vehicle and aggravated fleeing, all felonies, police said.
The safety and security of our team members is always our priority, FedEx spokeswoman Sharon Young said in an email. We are grateful that no one was seriously injured in this incident, and we are working with the authorities in their investigation. FedEx continually evaluates and implements procedures that enhance our security systems.
Later Wednesday, another package delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint in the South Chicago neighborhood. The 40-year-old woman was approached by a gunman wearing a ski mask about 11 a.m. in the 8000 block of South Saginaw, police said. He took two packages from the truck before running away.
Two days before Christmas, a delivery truck was robbed in the Englewood neighborhood. The 35-year-old woman was in the 6400 block of South May at 3:38 p.m. on Dec. 23 when a male approached her, announced a robbery and demanded the truck, police said. The woman was not injured, and officers later found the truck in the 100 block of West Swan with several packages removed.
Four days earlier, another delivery truck was stolen from the Fuller Park neighborhood. Four males walked up to the delivery driver about 6:40 p.m. on Dec. 19 in the 5100 block of South Princeton, pulled out a gun and stole his truck, police said. Officers found the truck at 54th and Shields with several items missing.
On Dec. 8, a delivery driver was robbed at gunpoint in the Chatham neighborhood. The 32-year-old man was delivering packages at 11:52 a.m. in the 700 block of East 80th Street when an armed suspect approached his truck, police said. The suspect ran away with his items, and the delivery driver ran from the scene and called police. It wasnt immediately known if any packages were stolen.
Two more delivery truck robberies happened Nov. 30 in the Greater Grand Crossing and Chatham neighborhoods.
At 8:56 p.m., a UPS delivery driver was robbed of his packages in the Chatham neighborhood. He was in the 8500 block of South Prairie when he was approached by two men with a gun who took multiple packages, personal items and cash from the driver. They also took several packages from the truck before running away.
At 11:34 a.m., a truck was stolen from the 7400 block of South Vernon, police said. The truck was found a short time later in the 7200 block of South Evans with an unknown amount of packages missing.
The delivery drivers have not been injured in any of the robberies, according to police.
Turkish president accuses US of not supporting its offensive on IS
From:chinadaily | 2016-12-30 09:46
Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan prepares for an interview in New York City, US September 19, 2016. [Photo/Agencies]
ANKARA -- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized its NATO allies on Thursday, particularly the US, for not supporting Ankara's struggle against the Islamic State (IS) terrorist group in Syria's al Bab region.Once more, Erdogan accused the US of supplying weapons to Kurdish fighters in Syria."NATO allies must stand by their partner Turkey in Syria, not the terrorist groups," said the Turkish president, referring to the People's Protection Units (YPG), which Ankara considers as an offshoot of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK)."You sent arms to terrorist organizations, then said 'we sent ammunition, not arms,'" Erdogan said. "We're not buying it, nor accepting it.""Despite our NATO alliance, you support terrorist organizations, instead of us," the Turkish president said. "Are the terrorist organizations your partners in NATO?""If we are NATO strategic partners, then you should support us," Erdogan said, addressing the US administration."Terrorist organizations will eventually attack nations supporting them too," he warned.
Sears has announced it will be closing its location at the Enfield Square Mall.
According to company spokesman Howard Riefs, the store at 90 Elm Street will close to the public in April. A liquidation sale will begin on Jan. 6.
Riefs did not say how many employees would be losing their jobs, but said that those associates will be eligible for severance and can apply for other positions at other Sears or Kmart stores.
The Sears Auto Center is not closing.
We have been strategically and aggressively evaluating our store space and productivity, and will be accelerating the closing of unprofitable stores as we have previously announced, Riefs wrote in an email.
We often hear from our members who are disappointed when we close a store, but our Shop Your Way membership platform, websites and mobile apps allow us to maintain these valued relationships long after a store closes its doors. As a result, we hope to retain a portion of the sales previously associated with this store by maintaining our relationships with the members who shopped this location.
Enfield Mayor Scott Kaupin told NBC Connecticut that while he is concerned for the employees who will lose jobs, the closure was not unexpected.
NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters learned that it will cost New Britain nearly $80,000 to respond to a train wreck earlier this month.
City leaders are hoping to strike a deal with Pan Am Railways, Inc. and the Naugatuck Railroad company for reimbursement, according to documents obtained by NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters.
Jesse Suarez owns Leon's Liquors in the busy shopping plaza right near the site of the crash. He was working the day it happened and said "I see the cars all derailed!"
According to paperwork, $78,432.24 is the estimated cost city leaders say it took to respond to the Dec. 6 train derailment in the heart of downtown.
NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters obtained this letter of reimbursement sent to Pan Am Railways and the Naugatuck Railroad Company on Wednesday.
Weeks after the accident that also impacted local business owners, who pay property taxes here in the city.
"We were here that day and I was standing right behind counter and I seen one of the cars fell off. We lose a little money, we had to shut down, no choice," Suarez reminded NBC Connecticut.
The next day, New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart informed the NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters they were already sorting out the costs and figuring out who to seek reimbursement from.
"Our police costs our overtime Costs. Our DPW costs for OT. Building and Inspections Dept. Out here. We had NB EMS, so certainly a big cost to this having a lot of people on staff, on call for 24-hours," Stewart told NBC Connecticut back on Dec. 7.
NBC Connecticut Troubleshooters requested invoices from city department heads; including $24,000 for police regular and overtime duties, a $40,000 bill to replace and repair a damaged brick wall, $7,700 for City Department of Public Works wages and equipment and $3,000 for fire department response.
"They should be asking for reimbursement. Taxpayers from the city of NB should not pay anything in this accident," Suarez said.
Co-owner of Leon's Liquors and the wife of Jesse Suarez, Maria Suarez, stated: "It's not our fault!"
In its reimbursement request, the city offers both companies the chance to remove the remaining brick wall at their expense, in lieu of its $40,000 replacement, leaving both companies, the rest of the $38,400 bill.
Jesse Suarez thinks that is a fair move, "To me it's not much, what they're charging. It could've been a loss of life, which would've been worse!"
A Pan Am Railways spokesman said they haven't received the letter and can't respond until they do.
The Naugatuck railroad company hasn't called NBC Connecticut back.
Meanwhile we've asked the Federal Railroad Administration for a cause and they tell us it is still under investigation. City officials say they haven't heard anything yet either.
Martinis, Manhattans and Cosmopolitans are festive ways to celebrate the new year, but Shaken, Stirred, Styled: The Art of the Cocktail, a new exhibition at the Dallas Museum of Art, celebrates barware and other essential wares used to create these delicious adult beverages as works of art.
"We have a treasure trove of barware from over a hundred years in our permanent collection. This an opportunity to exhibit those wares and tell a story of the development of cocktails and cocktailers through the artwork itself," Samantha Robinson, the DMAs interim Assistant Curator of Decorative Arts and Design, said.
The exhibition is organized chronologically and begins with the ancestor of the cocktail: punch. Large punch bowls with matching cups demonstrate the British elites interest in enjoying large quantities of the beverages signature blend of water, spirits, citrus, sugar and spice.
"It is a result of trans global exploration and exchange. It is an exuberant expression of all things exotic," Robinson said.
The Industrial Revolution changed how people enjoyed alcohol as they desired something more efficient and individual. The cocktail is an American invention and American bartenders began developing cocktail recipes.
An example of the first recipe book of cocktails is part of the DMAs exhibition. How to Mix Drinks: Or, The Bon-vivants Companion was written in 1862 by Jerry Thomas, a flamboyant New York bartender and saloon owner considered "the father of American mixology."
Thomas was also a showman, juggling barware and wearing jewelry while creating drinks. His first edition of the guide is the first book to document the oral tradition of cocktail recipes and includes recipes for Brandy Daisy, Fizz, Flip, Sour, and the Old-Fashioned.
Visitors to the exhibition can flip through a digital version of the book and find their favorite classic cocktail.
"This is an example of the way one individual took contributions of many, published them, and today that is the basis of the cocktails we know," Robinson said.
World War I, anti-German sentiment, and the growing influence of the temperance movement in the late 1800s and early 1900s shaped the cocktail culture in America. In 1919, Congress passed the 18th Amendment, banning the production, importation, transportation and sale of alcohol.
It did not ban the consumption or private possession of alcohol and after World War I, people had money and wanted to celebrate the conclusion of the war. In the 1920s, advertisers preferred to use the word "beverage" instead of "cocktail" and barware designers cleverly disguised alcoholic drinks with whimsical shapes such as roosters.
The beak of the rooster unscrews to reveal the spout for the cocktail. Designers were also inspired by Art-Deco skyscrapers, lighthouses and World War I artillery shells to find creative ways to serve cocktails.
Barware design of the 1930s reflects another societal shift in America as the design is simplified and items are made with silver plate and chrome.
"The excess and extravagance of the 1920s comes to an abrupt halt in 1929 with the stock market crash and the start of the Great Depression. The chrome would have provided the consumers the allure of silver with a shiny surface they wanted, but at lower prices because they could no longer had the income to afford these wares," Robinson explained.
Once President Roosevelt repealed the 18th Amendment in 1933, mass production of bar ware increased and barware was produced efficiently and inexpensively.
Peter Muller-Munks 1937 Waring Blendor, a recent acquisition on display for the first time in this exhibition, marks an important transition in the history of the cocktail.
"It certainly suggests the mechanization of life and consumer products in the 1930s. It really demonstrates this purity of function and form. It also foreshadows after World War II the mechanization of cocktail culture. Battery-powered and electricity-powered wares became very popular in the 1950s," Robinson said.
After World War II, mixed drinks became more popular in American culture and mixing pitchers and beverage stirrers replaces cocktail shakers.
Martini glass, c. 2001
Valeri Timofeev, designer
Dallas Museum of Art, Discretionary Decorative Arts Fund
"Even though the cocktail has receded somewhat in popular consciousness, designers continue to return to these forms again and again," Robinson said.
A striking example of a modern reincarnation of classic barware is Valeri Timofeevs kaleidoscopic martini glass, combining Russian enamel techniques with a distinctly American form.
Crafted in 2001 and on display for the first time since entering the DMAs collection, it is a charming result of 100 years of cocktail history.
Shaken, Stirred, Styled: The Art of the Cocktail, presented by ROXOR Artisan Gin, will be on view through November 12, 2017 and is included in the DMAs daily free admission.
For more information about the exhibition and a special speakeasy event on February 4, visit www.dma.org.
Kimberly Richard is a North Texan with a passion for the arts. Shes worked with Theatre Three, Inc. and interned for the English National Opera and Royal Shakespeare Company. She graduated from Austin College and currently lives in Garland with her very pampered cocker spaniel, Tessa.
It's that time of year again. Flu cases are on the rise in North Texas, health officials say.
A report out Friday from the Texas Department of State Health Services shows the number of cases grew by more than 18 percent in the week before Christmas.
The trend is proving true at The Medical Center of Plano, where doctors say they've seen a 420-percent increase in cases in December compared to November. Most cases, they say, have been since Christmas Day.
Dr. Russell McDonald, with Plano Pediatrics, says usually holiday breaks are when flu cases tend to level off because kids aren't at school sharing germs.
But instead, they say cases are surging.
"If anything, to me, that's the worrisome thing. If flu is surging now and school starts next week, Tuesday, I think the middle, end of January we could be seeing a lot of flu," Russell said.
Despite the increase, it isn't being considered an outbreak. As of Friday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Texas has minimal levels of influenza-like illness activity.
Doctors and the state say they're also seeing more cases of RSV, a respiratory virus considered even more contagious than the flu.
Doctors aren't required by law to report RSV cases to DSHS so it's unknown how many cases have been diagnosed, and how much they may have increased.
Tarrant County struggles with a high infant mortality rate, but doctors say new recommendations from the American Academy of Pediatrics is a step in the right direction.
In October, the organization released its recommendations to help prevent sudden infant deaths
Infants should sleep in the same bedroom as their parents for at least the first six months of their lives to minimize the risk of sleep-related deaths, according to new guidelines. Ideally, babies should stay in their parents' room at night for a full year.
Babies shouldn't share a bed with parents, however, because that increases the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), the guidelines stress.
The safest spot for infant sleep is on a firm surface, such as a crib or bassinet without any soft bedding, bumpers or pillows.
"We never recommend co-sleeping. We recommend feeding the baby in the bed with you if you like and then putting the baby back in their own bed," said Dr. Mickey Hooper, an OB-GY N at Baylor All Saints Medical Center at Fort Worth.
Hooper says the new guidelines reiterate what local health officials have emphasized for years.
Fort Worth has been the epicenter of infant mortality in Texas for years, according to doctors at Cook Children's Medical Center.
A citywide initiative trains hospital personnel on infant mortality and safe infant sleep practices.
Erica Mercado, a mother in North Richland Hills, says she knows the dangers of co-sleeping, but says it was the easiest option with her first child.
"He woke up quite a bit, breastfeeding in the middle of the night, and it was difficult and still is difficult to get him out of the bed and not sleep with us at three years old," Mercado said.
She has a new plan for baby number two.
"We're not going to do the co-sleeping thing and we're gonna have a bassinet and keep him in the bassinet," Mercado said.
Authorities said a high-speed chase ended in Dallas when a driver crashed into a pole near a building Friday morning.
Dallas County Sheriff's deputies said the chase started when they tried to stop a silver Mercedes near Interstate 30 and Hampton Road just after 5 a.m.
The driver refused and led police on a pursuit that reached speeds up to 120 mph, according to police.
Authorities said the chase ended when the driver hit a building along the Interstate 30 service road near Beckley Avenue at about 5:40 a.m.
The driver was transported to Methodist Dallas Medical Center in unknown condition.
No further details have been released.
Check back and refresh this page for the latest update. As this story is developing, elements may change.
This weekend, more than 5,000 people will gather in Dallas for the Marvelous Nerd New Years Eve Expo to celebrate science fiction, fantasy and pop culture.
A major part of the celebration will be a tribute to deceased actress Carrie Fisher who is best known for her role as Princess Leia in the "Star Wars" franchise.
When Carrie passed away, we were asked by so many of our attendees how we were going to honor her memory and her legacy, organizer Devin Pike said. We are actually holding a memorial for Carrie on Saturday morning.
Some of Fishers friends and former co-stars will take the stage and remember her galaxy-sized legacy.
At the time, science fiction heroines screamed a lot and ran around behind rocks and hid behind the captain, Pike said. Carrie Fisher was the one who grabbed the gun, got the heroes out of a jam and was a positive role model in science fiction for women and for everybody.
Pike said Hollywood has spent decades trying to duplicate that strength because there was only one Carrie Fisher.
[She] actually finished the footage for Episode 8 which will be released next Christmas, Pike said. It will be bittersweet seeing her on screen knowing that was her last role in the Star Wars Universe. Its really hard for a lot of fans to wrap their heads around it."
Pike said Fisher did more for movies than just Star Wars.
When we were putting the tribute reel together, five people actually messaged me and said if I didnt include her work in When Harry Met Sally then it would not be complete, he said.
Fans said she meant more to the world than just her movie roles.
She was also an amazingly funny author and actress who spoke out against mental illness and addiction, Pike added. Her strength as a character is what really drew people to her.
The four-day conference is at the Downtown Dallas Sheraton and runs through Jan.1.
Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings wants state investigators to determine whether previous administrators of the city's ailing police and fire pension fund committed crimes that contributed to the fund's financial crisis.
Rawlings said in a Facebook post Friday that he requested the investigation by the Texas Department of Public Safety and has been cooperating with the FBI. Rawlings did not specify what crimes may have been committed or name any specific administrators.
"As I have learned more in recent years and months about how the (pension fund) reached its current crisis, I have come to believe the conduct in question may rise to the level of criminal offenses," he wrote.
DPS confirmed Friday that Texas Rangers will investigate.
The fund spent almost a decade basing its financial health on artificially inflated asset values from risky real estate investments made under a previous director, Richard Tettament, who resigned in 2014. The FBI earlier this year searched an investment firm that once advised the fund.
A spokesman for the pension system released an emailed statement on behalf of the board Friday.
"The Dallas Police and Fire Pension Board and staff have been working with and fully cooperating with the FBI for more than a year on its ongoing investigation of previous activities," the statement read. "We remain focused on working with city and state officials to find long-term solutions that will safeguard previously earned and future retirement funds for Dallas first responders."
The fund devalued its assets by about $1 billion after Tettament left to get an accurate picture of its financial standing. That devaluing dropped its percentage of funded liabilities to 45 percent, which pension experts said meant it would be insolvent in 15 years.
Proposed changes to benefits aimed at addressing the solvency sent members scrambling to withdraw deferred retirement funds from the plan. Members ended up pulling more than $500 million from the plan over a four-month period, moving up the expected insolvency date to about a decade.
The board voted to freeze large withdrawals earlier this month.
Both the city and the board are working on plan changes to present to the Legislature this session in hopes of finding a way to increase the fund's solvency projections.
Dallas police say a 19-year-old woman who had been reported missing Thursday night has been located and is safe.
Dominque Jackson was last seen walking in the 1400 block of North Beckley Avenue at about 8:30 p.m., police said.
In an update Friday afternoon police said Jackson was safe. No other details were provided.
A lawmaker in Fort Worth wants to make it harder to get divorced in Texas by getting rid of no-fault divorce. He's proposing a bill in the next legislative session that would make people cite a specific reason their marriage needs to end.
The idea has sparked a lot of emotional reaction because filing for divorce is a deeply personal choice. In fact, many people call the conservative lawmaker's move to step in and ban no-fault divorce a big government overreach.
State Rep. Matt Krause, R-Fort Worth, doesn't see it that way. He says it's undoing a law that's already been on the books since the 1970s one that he believes has helped break down the family structure.
Attorney Justin Sisemore is about to move into the high season for divorce, when couples who've stuck it out through the holidays decide they've had enough.
"You have so many situations where people need to feel like they can get out of a relationship," Sisemore said.
But Krause thinks it should be more difficult to end a marriage in Texas.
"I think you add a little bit more of the sacredness to marriage when you don't have no-fault divorce," Krause said. "It's more of a, 'What are we getting into here? It's not something we can get in or out of easily or quickly.'"
Under his proposed legislation, couples would have to cite a specific reason to get divorced. It's a process that Robin Hamlin says is already "incredibly stressful."
Hamlin, who has been divorced and works in Sisemore's office, said ending her marriage was the healthy choice for her children.
"It just dawned on me that they're not going to know what a normal, loving marriage can be because the example that's in front of them is not a good one," Hamlin said.
Sisemore argues that nothing will stop people from getting divorced once they reach that point, and he adds that even when there is clear fault, many people choose not to fight it out that way.
"For their children's sake, they don't want to run the other one through the nasty ringer," said Sisemore.
"I'm very sympathetic to that," Krause said. "That's not the intent of the bill. That's not what we're trying to do. But I think for public policy in Texas, we want to do what we can to promote and encourage strong Texas families, and I think no-fault divorce and its impact since the 1970s has worked against that."
This is the second time Krause has introduced this bill. Last session, his proposal made it out of committee and into a hearing.
This time, Krause says he's looking at ways to mitigate costs and to keep details of a divorce off the public record. Both are extra challenges with at-fault divorce. He also suggests there could be a way to codify emotional abuse, to include that as a cause under at-fault divorce.
Chinese Culture Talk debuts in Latvia
From:chinadaily.com.cn | 2016-12-30 11:46
The first Chinese Culture Talk on the Silk Road in Xinjiang and relations between Luoyang and the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty (618-907) was held in Latvia recently.
Wubuli, deputy-director of the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region Bureau of Cultural Heritage, and Zhang Deshui, deputy-director of the Henan Museum, were invited to give the joint lecture.
Wubuli introduced the Silk Road's history and its contribution to bridging Asia and Europe. The Silk Road is an historic route of commerce, pilgrimage and cultural communication between the two continents.
He said the part in Xinjiang is the most important section and that it covers 1/4 of the Silk Road's entire length. The Silk Road was divided into many branches, which went to East Asia, South Asia and Central Asia. Two civilizations based in agriculture and a nomadic lifestyle met in Xinjiang and formed a unique, diversified culture.
Zhang started his lecture by introducing Luoyang and its importance in Chinese history. As the starting point of the Silk Road during the Tang Dynasty, Luoyang was the center of politics, economy and culture in ancient China in that era.
2016 marks the 25th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and Latvia. An exhibition featuring a series of cultural relics from Henan and Xinjiang also was held, along with the culture talk.
About Chinese Culture Talk
Chinese Culture Talk is a series of high-level cultural and academic lectures launched in 2015 by the Ministry of Culture of China. More than 70 lectures had been held in about 30 countries by the end of 2016, including the US, France, Italy, Cambodia and Indonesia. The content varies from philosophy, religion, cultural heritage, literature and art, costume, cooking and Chinese medicine.
A murder warrant has been issued in the case of a Dallas mother of three who disappeared one year ago Thursday and whose remains were discovered in March.
Marisol Espinosa, 34, was last seen alive on Dec. 29, 2015, outside her home on Aurora Street in Pleasant Grove.
On March 6, a man found her remains in a wooded area near Dowdy Ferry Road.
Dallas police announced Thursday that Faustino Valdez is considered a suspect in her murder.
Earlier this year, NBC 5's media partners at The Dallas Morning News reported that family members believed Valdez, Espinosa's ex-boyfriend, killed her and fled to Mexico.
Police ask anyone with information about the case, including Valdez's current whereabouts, to call homicide detective C. Shelton at 214-283-4900.
Crime Stoppers is offering up to $5,000 as a reward for information that leads to Valdez's arrest and indictment. The number to call for Crime Stoppers is 214-373-TIPS.
The Espinosa family released the following statement through their attorney Thursday:
"One year ago Marisol was taken from her children, family, friends and colleagues; on behalf of the family, thank you to everyone who has shared their love and support throughout these trying times.
Today, we learned that Faustino Valdez has been charged with her murder; as we move forward, we ask for your assistance and prayers in bringing him to justice.
We will continue to put our faith and trust in the authorities that have worked so diligently to get us to this point, and will refrain from further comment until the appropriate time. If you have any information that will help bring Faustino Valdez to justice, please contact the authorities, immediately."
As the world awaits word on George Michaels funeral, North Texas remembers his music and legacy.
News of his death echoed through Dallas gay community.
[I am] still a little shocked. I found out Christmas Day, Chris Harvey said. My sister-in-law texted me to tell me about it and it was like the death of an uncle.
Harvey is also a member of the Turtle Creek Chorale; North Texas gay mens chorus.
"He paved the way for many other musicians who are gay and lesbian who did not have role models back in the day," he said.
Harvey said he will always remember the first time he saw George Michael perform in Dallas.
"His voice, his looks, his talent," he recalled.
Michael served as an unintentional Father Figure for a generation.
"He helped them be who they are without worrying what people will say or what would happen to their career," Harvey said.
They said Michael gave them Faith in who they could be and Freedom to simply be themselves.
"He was different. He didn't care. He was unique, Harvey said. He had problems in his personal life and he rose above them and he survived.
In 2005, Michael and his longtime partner Kenny Goss opened an art gallery in Dallas. The Goss-Michael Foundation showcases British contemporary art.
Texas Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller traveled to Florida Thursday for an interview with President-elect Donald Trumps transition team regarding the Cabinet-level position of Secretary of Agriculture.
Miller, called "Donald Trumps biggest cheerleader" by his own spokesperson, has been an outspoken supporter of Trump since early in the primary campaign.
I was out there when it wasnt really popular, when a lot of people a lot of elected officials kind of treated Donald Trump like he was radioactive, Miller said Thursday, prior to leaving North Texas for Palm Beach, Florida, and Trumps Mar-A-Lago estate.
The agriculture secretary position is one of the final Cabinet-level positions to be filled by the President-elect.
Dressed in his signature cowboy hat and six-shooter lapel pin, Miller, a Republican from Stephenville, emphasized his ties to Texas an important Republican stronghold and that as Agriculture Commissioner he has made great strides in the Lone Star State in the area of improving the market for locally-grown produce and streamlining the application and inspection process for a food producer to earn organic status.
A prolific presence on social media, who has drawn more than a fair amount of criticism for his tendency to share fake news, Miller said he likens his approach to that of Donald Trump, who he said, Tells it like it is.
Recently, Miller shared a Washington Post article titled Trump doesnt threaten only President Obamas legacy. He could ruin Michelle Obamas, too. to his Facebook page, and its 367,000 followers, that he said is indicative of the approach he would take to the Secretary of Agriculture position.
If reversing policies that removed school nutrition decision making from locally elected school boards, superintendents, principals, teachers, and parents, and rolling back policies that created healthy trash cans instead of healthy kids means ruining Michelle Obama's legacy than count me in, Miller wrote. In Texas we have empowered local school districts to make school nutrition decisions that are best for their districts and the children in their care. We don't need bureaucrats in Washington, D.C. or in Austin, Texas telling us how to raise our kids!
Among the policies Miller is referencing are his efforts as Agriculture Commissioner to reverse a statewide ban on soft drinks and fried food in public schools. Miller did so arguing that local school districts should have the power to make decisions on food choices at the local level.
About his impending job interview, Miller said he is not entirely sure what to expect whether it will be much like a formal job interview or more of a casual conversation with members of the transition team. But Miller is adamant he did not have his sights set on this move when he decided to back Donald Trump.
It never really entered my mind during the campaign. My sole focus was getting to the winners circle. Its kind of like a dog chasing the bus. We were chasing the bus and then, Ill be darned, we caught it. And then we have to figure out what to do with the bus, Miller said with a laugh. So thats when the negotiation started and then the talks. But I certainly didnt join the Trump team looking for a place in the Cabinet. Ive got a really good deal and I love the job Im doing.
2016 is now drawing to a close, and the last week of 2016 has been very dry. In fact, it has been dry all December.
Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport has recorded only 0.60 inches of rain this month. That is well below the average December rainfall of 2.55 inches. The result is a return of drought conditions to parts of the area.
Extreme drought is showing up in southeast Oklahoma, and moderate drought has even returned to parts of Dallas.
The combination of the lack of rain, gusty north winds and low humidity led to several grass fires across North Texas Thursday.
Low humidity and high winds in excess of 20 mph fueled several grass fires in North Texas Thursday.
Rainfall for the year has had its ups and downs. Rainfall was above average in April, May, July, August and November. But it was below normal the other seven months of the year. As a result, the Metroplex will finish the year a little drier than normal, with a total of 35.48 inches. That's below the average of 36.14 inches we expect in a normal year.
This final week of 2016 has also been very warm. From Dec. 24-28, DFW was in the 70s or 80s every day. We even broke records with a high of 80 degrees on Christmas Day and 83 degrees on Wednesday. Compare that to the average high temperature of 56 degrees at this time of year.
Temperatures will remain mild through New Year's Day, but we will see another blast of Arctic air arriving Tuesday night. There may even be a chance for some freezing rain, sleet or snow next week!
You can see the detailed NBC 5 forecast for the next 10 days here.
Christian Guntert was lying on his back, gluing seeds to the bottom of a giant faux pizza for a Rose Parade float when a teenager made a casual comment about his wife.
When the 58-year-old Guntert told the girl that he and his longtime girlfriend actually weren't married, she screamed: "You're not married?!"
The shocked question reverberated in the 80,000-square-foot California warehouse last December, where teams of volunteers were building a dozen floats for the annual, nationally televised parade in Pasadena.
Soon, volunteers had surrounded Guntert and his girlfriend of 17 years, 56-year-old Susan Brown, offering their various skills to make a wedding happen right then and there on the float. One said he was an ordained minister and could perform the ceremony, another offered to sing during the wedding, and a photographer said she could snap photos.
"Susan kind of looked at herself and at me, we were all dirty and covered in glue and flower parts," Guntert said. "Susan said, 'You know, I'd really like to have a pretty dress.'"
So the couple decided to postpone the wedding for a year. Now Brown has a pretty dress, they have a perfectly good float, and the same team of volunteers will help make the ceremony happen on Saturday, two days before the 128th annual parade.
The couple will say "I do" on top of a float to be ridden by the parade's queen and her court. The float will be festooned with thousands of flowers beneath a giant gold crown, which will serve as a makeshift altar for the ceremony.
The unique setting is appropriate for Guntert and Brown, who have spent the past decade volunteering to decorate Rose Parade floats an endeavor that has them working 12-hour days between Christmas and New Year's on what would be vacation time from their jobs as government workers in San Bernardino County.
Over the years, the couple has formed what they call their "float family," people they've grown close to but only see once a year for the annual decorating. The entire group will be at the ceremony, along with family members and other friends.
The wedding will come 17 years after the couple first struck up a conversation online, when internet dating was in its infancy. Though neither was looking for romance, their conversations grew into a friendship and not long after, love.
Guntert was living in Northern California at the time, and Brown and her then 6-year-old daughter were a six-hour drive south in Victorville, about 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles in the Mojave Desert.
After a three-year long-distance relationship, Guntert relocated to Victorville. The pair talked about marriage over the years but Guntert never quite got around to getting down on one knee and proposing one of Brown's few requirements.
It took their Rose Parade "float family" and their near-impromptu wedding last year to spur Guntert into action. On Valentine's Day morning this year, he brought a cup of coffee and a ring to Brown and formally proposed marriage.
"He put a ring on it," Brown said. "It made me cry."
Though the wedding setting on the queen's float carries a great deal of meaning for the couple, Guntert said the location doesn't make too much difference.
"I've been waiting for this a lot of years and I couldn't be happier," he said, his arm around his soon-to-be bride. "So long as she's next to me, nothing else matters."
The week between Christmas and the new year is usually a busy time at Joshua Tree National Park in the deserts of Southern California.
But this week's visitation is unprecedented.
The Park Service says all campgrounds were full Thursday and visitors could expect up to an hour wait at the Joshua Tree entrance. Officials recommend arriving before 9 a.m. and entering through the fee stations at Cottonwood or Twentynine Palms.
The nearly 800,000-acre park encompasses low and high deserts -- the Colorado on the east and the Mojave on the west, where the namesake Joshua Trees live.
Visitors dwindle during fiercely hot summer months and then increase as weather moderates during fall.
A 59-year-old South Florida man accused of making Facebook threats against President-elect Donald Trump will remain in jail.
Kevin Keith Krohn agreed not to seek release during a brief appearance in federal court in Fort Lauderdale on Thursday.
The Sun Sentinel reports Krohn was arrested last week at Pembroke Pines home after U.S. Secret Service agents said he posted threats against Trump on Facebook.
Court records show he wrote above a picture of Trump: "He's not my president/He's an enemy of the state." He also posted a picture of a man in camouflage holding a scoped sniper rifle.
The comments were posted in a thread of comments about Trump staying in Palm Beach during the holidays.
Krone is represented by Robert Berube, who appeared in court with him.
A perimeter was set up Thursday evening in a Northwest Miami-Dade neighborhood as officers search for a suspect on the run.
The manhunt happening in the area of Northwest 51st Street and 2nd Avenue.
Miami-Dade detectives say an officer arrested one of two people who matched the description of the suspects involved in a shooting earlier.
The shooting happened on Northwest 48th Street and 23rd Avenue near Brownsville Middle School. One male was shot. His condition is unknown.
When officers stopped the suspects' car, one of them bailed out. The second suspect was taken into police custody.
No further information was released.
Authorities have a man linked to a rash shootings since Christmas Day in Dania Beach.
Arvis Brown was arrested Friday by U.S. Marshalls after bailing out of a car in Tallahassee. Detectives believe Brown is behind the string of shootings because he wanted revenge for his brother's murder back in 2011.
The first shooting occurred on Christmas near Northwest Sixth Avenue and Northwest Second Street. Christopher Jordan, 25, was walking home when he was shot. Fire Rescue transported him to Broward Health Medical Center where he died.
BSO deputies say Jordan was a suspect in Brown's brother's death, but the case fell apart. "It was believed by Arvis Brown that Christopher was in fact directly involved," said Sgt. Scott Champagne.
The most recent shooting Wednesday night claimed the life of 8-year-old Rasheed Cunningham Jr. and sent two adults to the hospital. Detectives believe the boy's relative, Brandon Cunningham, was the intended target. "That particular victim was attempting to shield Rasheed from that gunfire," said Sgt. Champagne.
The 8-year-old's grandmother said Brown is no stranger to the family. The 19-year-old just got out of prison last month after serving three years for aggravated battery with a deadly weapon.
Detectives don't believe Brown acted alone. They are looking for other suspects.
A gun was recovered at the time of Brown's arrest. Police have not confirm where it is the weapon used to murder Cunningham and Jordan.
A third shooting happened on Tuesday, deputies responded to 389 Phippen-Waiters Road regarding a shooting of man, who was injured after being grazed by a bullet.
A fourth shooting happened on Monday along 8th avenue, where one man was grazed by a bullet. According to BSO, while the victim was in the area, he was approached by a suspect who tried to rob him at gunpoint. The two struggled and the suspect fired a shot that missed the victim. The victim was injured from a projectile that ricocheted off of the ground.
Broward Sheriff's Office also arrested Gregory Sims, 22, in connection to that shooting. He faces armed robbery and aggravated battery with a deadly weapon charges.
Anyone with any information regarding these recent shootings is asked to contact the Broward Sheriffs Office at (954) 764-HELP (4357) or call Broward Crime Stoppers, anonymously, at (954) 493-TIPS (8477). Anonymous tips that lead to an arrest are eligible for a reward of up to $3,000.
A row of candles still burn along Northwest 6th Avenue in Dania beach where 25-year-old Christopher Jordan's life was taken Christmas day.
It was the first of four shootings in four days that have rocked this small community.
"He was a nice young man full of love. The way he died was a senseless act. This is where he died you can still see the dry blood. So, I put a pink teddy bear to cover it up, said Jeffery Higgs, Jordans friend.
The violence spanned less than a mile across Dania Beach.
On Tuesday, half a dozen shots were fired along Phippen-Waiters Road. One man was hurt but survived.
Broward Sheriff's detectives suspect both acts of violence are related to Wednesday's senseless killing of 8-year-old Rasheed Cunningham.
"We are treating each other like the other man used to treat us back in the day. We need to come together and pray. One wrong ain't going to make it right with another wrong."
Neighbors say Sunday's shooting is revenge for a murder from four years ago.
Police haven't confirmed that, but a message left at Jordan's memorial references retaliation.
One local group - Cease Fire Now - is going door to door to encourage people to come forward with information and stop the violence.
"You kill this person, you kill my family member, I'm going to kill one of your family members, it keeps going back and forth, next thing you know we'll have 6, 7, 8, 9. It doesn't make sense, we have to put a stop to this, said Rashawn Welch, president of Cease Fire Now.
A fourth shooting happened Monday along 8th avenue, one person was grazed by a bullet.
Investigators say that was a robbery case unrelated to the other three shootings.
No arrests have been made in any of the four crimes.
A neighborhood in North Miami was blocked off Thursday as police dealt with a standoff.
A perimeter was set up near Northwest 120th Street and 15th Avenue. SWAT and negotiators were called out to the scene of the standoff situation.
Cmdr. Rafael Estrugo said an armed person was barricaded inside a home. Officers said they don't know if hostages are involved.
North Miami Police said North Miami Beach Police and Miami-Dade Police were assisting them in the standoff. The standoff ended around 1 a.m. on Friday.
Police initially responded to a call regarding shots being fired at officers.
Check back for updates on this developing story.
A cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey went into effect in war-ravaged Syria at midnight Thursday, a potential breakthrough in the six years of fighting that have left more than a quarter-million people dead and triggered a refugee crisis across Europe.
If it holds, the truce between the Syrian government and the country's mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks next month in Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in announcing the agreement. He described it, however, as "quite fragile" and requiring "special attention and patience."
The first half-hour of the cease-fire was one of "comprehensive calm," said Rami Abdurrahman, head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. He said that before the truce came into force, the government was bombing several areas, including the province of Aleppo and suburbs of the capital, Damascus.
The truce had the backing of both Russia, Syria's chief battlefield ally, and Turkey, which has been supporting the rebels. Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one of them denied signing.
Several previous cease-fires in the Syrian civil war all collapsed, some of them in a matter of days. And this latest agreement, like previous ones, does not include extremist factions such as the Islamic State group and al-Qaida's branch in Syria.
Still, the deal raised hopes for a political settlement to the ruinous war, in part because the landscape has significantly shifted recently.
For one thing, the tide has turned in Syrian President Bashar Assad's favor militarily over the past year, with the government retaking the city of Aleppo from the rebels just days ago. Also, Turkey, which is fighting Kurdish and Islamic militants at home, appears more willing to strike a bargain with Russia if it means protecting its borders.
"This is a different political scene, and one would expect some outcomes to emerge," said Hilal Khashan, political science professor at the American University of Beirut. He cautioned, however, against expecting immediate results from the first round of talks.
Syrian Foreign Minister Walid al-Moallem welcomed the cease-fire agreement said there is a "real chance" for a political settlement.
In comments made to Syrian TV, he said the Syrian government will attend the peace talks "with an open mind," but he suggested it would not be willing to compromise on Assad's fate. Assad's remaining in power has been a major sticking point in the crisis.
"Everything is negotiable except national sovereignty and the people's right to choose its leadership," al-Moallem said.
Putin said the cease-fire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey. Turkey has been allowing opposition forces to use its long border with Syria to cross back and forth. The agreement was also praised by Iran, another of Assad's strongest backers.
Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said that the truce will include 62,000 opposition fighters across Syria and that the Russian military has established a hotline with its Turkish counterpart to monitor compliance. Sergey Lavrov, Russia's foreign minister, said President-elect Donald Trump's administration will be welcome to join the peace process once he takes office.
Putin said he ordered the Russian military to scale back its presence in Syria, where it has provided crucial support to Assad's forces. Putin didn't say how many troops and weapons will be withdrawn. He said Russia will continue "fighting international terrorism in Syria" and supporting Assad's military.
The U.N. special envoy for Syria, Staffan de Mistura, welcomed the cease-fire announcement, saying he hopes the agreement will save civilian lives, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian aid and pave the way for productive peace talks.
Earlier Thursday, Turkey called on Hezbollah to withdraw its fighters from Syria. The Iranian-backed extremist group has sent thousands of fighters to support Assad and has been playing an instrumental role in the civil war since 2013.
Foreign fighters from around the world have joined both sides of the Syrian conflict, which has displaced half the country's population and produced more than 4 million refugees. Many of those refugees have been streaming into Europe, fueling anti-immigration sentiment and terrorist fears that are reshaping the continent's political landscape.
Syria's military noted that the cease-fire comes after the "successes achieved by the armed forces," an apparent reference to the fierce fighting in Aleppo.
Osama Abo Zayd, a spokesman for mainstream Syrian opposition groups, told reporters in the Turkish capital of Ankara that 13 armed opposition factions have signed the agreement.
He said the peace talks will be based on the Geneva 2012 declaration that calls for a governing body with full executive powers to run Syria during a transition period. "This means that there will be no presence for Assad in the future," he said.
However, Khashan, the political analyst, said Assad's exit is "out of the question." ''Neither the Russians nor the Iranians would allow it to happen," he said.
Saeed Sadek, a professor of political sociology at Cairo's Future University, said Assad has no power to accept or reject any deals.
"He is now under the control of Moscow, Tehran and Ankara. All these countries will decide his future," he said.
What to Know Billionaire property owner Kamran Hakim is suing Public Advocate Letitia James for $15 million over his place on her worst landlords list
Hakim appeared on the list in 2015 and 2016 as one of the top 50 worst landlords in the city
The estimated value of Hakim's 129 properties throughout the city is $1.8 billion
A billionaire real state investor who made back-to-back apperances on Letitia James' "100 Worst Landlords Watchlist" has slapped the public advocate with a $15 million lawsuit.
Kamran Hakim, who owns multiple buildings throughout the city, was ranked the 52nd worst landlord in 2016 and the 34th worst landlord in 2015. He says Public Advocate Letitia James didn't do her homework and claims most of his buildings cited on the list don't have tenants, DNAInfo reported.
Darren Marks, Hakim's attorney, said the suit has been filed. They'll appear in court within the next few weeks to show cause on a restraining order on the watchlist, which Hakim wants eradicated.
The Iranian billionaire asserts that four of the six buildings cited in James' report are vacant and scheduled to be demolished. Hakim racked up 453 violations in 56 units throughout the four buildings in 2016.
James has previously included vacant buildings on her watchlist. She included the owner of the landmarked Windmere building near 57th Street and 9th Avenue on the 2014 and 2015 editions, but it had been without tenants since 2009."
"Tenants know they can count on Public Advocate James to stand up for them, even when it means taking on poweful landlords," a spokesperson for James told NBC 4 New York in a statement. "The public advocate will continue to use the Worst Landlords List and accompanying litigation and legislation, as a tool to protect New Yorkers from unscrupulous landlords."
A 2014 Bloomberg article estimates Hakim's 129 properties throughout the city to be worth $1.8 billion.
What to Know A Connecticut man was arrested after he allegedly slept while driving a school bus with children on board
Though no kids were aboard Paul Pixley's bus when he was arrested, police said he had been sleeping with kids on board earlier in the day
One student frantically snapped photos of Pixley and sent them to her mother with the captions: "OMGG" and "My bus driver is sleeping"
A Connecticut bus driver admitted to taking cough syrup and methadone before he allegedly dozed off behind the wheel with 30 children aboard earlier this month, according to an arrest report.
Paul Pixley told investigators he had taken 80 mg of methadone prior to his shift Dec. 16, the arrest report says. After initially denying being asleep several times, he confessed he maybe shouldn't have been driving, one reason being, he may have taken NyQuil instead of DayQuil.
The snooze prompted a flurry of frantic text messages to parents from kids aboard the bus. One student, who told her mother she feared for her life, snapped photos of Pixley with the captions "OMGG," "Sleep" and "My bus driver is sleeping."
"She was like, 'Mom, our bus is going to crash,'" her mother Vienna Dipiave said. "She goes, 'Our bus driver's falling asleep.' She sent me a barrage of texts: 'Mom, hurry up,' 'Mom, I'm scared.'"
Shelton Police received calls about a bus driver falling asleep at the wheel and swerving all over the road later that afternoon and pulled him over. Though no kids were aboard Paul Pixley's bus when he was arrested, police said he had been sleeping with kids on board earlier in the day.
According to the arrest report, Pixley is accused of falling asleep nearly a dozen times in little more than two hours on the job.
Pixley was charged with 30 counts of risk of injury to a minor, breach of peace, reckless endangerment and reckless driving. His bond was set at $75,000.
"Be assured that this driver will never drive for our school system ever again," Superintendent Chris Clouet said in a statement.
Greg Walter, vice President of the bus company, Landmark Student Transportation, stressed that they do background checks on all employees and that Pixley's pre-employment background test and drug test came back clean.
"We are cooperating with everyone, we want to know what happened. Our number one priority is safety and if it can't be done safely we don't want to do it," Walter said.
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*This daily briefing will be off Monday, returning Tuesday, Jan. 3.
U.S. Imposes Penalties on Russia
The Obama administration's decision to impose a new round of sanctions against Russia could restrict Donald Trump's efforts to repair U.S. relations with Moscow and puts the president-elect on a collision course with Republican lawmakers. The White House on Thursday rolled out a set of economic sanctions and other penalties intended to squeeze Russian leaders for interfering in the 2016 election. Obama's move to punish the Russian government puts Trump in a tough position of having to decide whether to undermine retaliatory sanctions or abandon his calls for better relations with Moscow. Meanwhile on Long Island, 49-room mansion on a 14-acre compound, purchased by the Soviet Union in 1954, is being shut down by the U.S. government. The White House said Russia had been notified that Russia would be denied access to both that compound and another one in Maryland starting noon on Friday.
Times Square Fortified for New Years
assive 20-ton sanitation trucks, weighted with an extra 15 tons of sand, will surround the iconic New Year's Eve celebration in Times Square, officials said Thursday, describing a security measure meant to stop deadly truck-driving attacks into crowds like those in Germany and France. The placement of the 65 trucks, along with 100 patrol cars, at intersections surrounding Times Square is a new element to an already heavily policed event that will include 7,000 officers, specially armed counterterrorism units and bomb-sniffing dogs. More than 1 million people are expected to attend the annual ball drop countdown in Manhattan, and officials said they didn't know of any terror threats. Here are street closures and subway changes to know about.
Iconic Carnegie Deli Closes After 79 Years
After 79 years of serving up heaps of cured meat to tourists, theater patrons and workaday New Yorkers, the Carnegie Delicatessen will slice its last ridiculously oversized sandwich on Friday. It closes for good at midnight. Fans lined up all week for a last bite at the restaurant, which got a star turn in Woody Allen's 1984 film "Broadway Danny Rose" and remained a stop until the end for out-of-towners looking for the classic New York deli experience. The Carnegie, its walls now lined with photos of celebrities who have eaten there, opened in 1937, drawing its name from Carnegie Hall just a block up 7th Avenue.
Spike in Ambush Shootings of Police
This year was particularly deadly for police officers in the United States, with 21 deadly ambush shootings marking the highest number in more than two decades, according to a law enforcement advocacy group that tracks fatal shootings of officers. Those shootings, including the five officers gunned down in Dallas in July, are a 163 percent increase from 2015, according to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund's annual fatalities report, released Thursday.
Car Leaves Path of Destruction
Authorities on Long Island say a man drove through yards and a home before crashing into a deck, ripping off his clothes and fleeing police. Officers arrived at a home in Suffolk County around 11:30 p.m. to find a collapsed pool and a flooded home with the mans blue car sticking out of it, according to police.
World's Biggest Dog
Guinness World Records says it has found the biggest dog in the world. He's a Great Dane named Freddy and he lives in Britain. See him tower over his owner.
It's Long Island's little-known secret, a Russian compound sitting in the middle of Upper Brookville, and many longtime residents weren't even aware of its existence.
Now the 49-room mansion on a 14-acre compound, purchased by the Soviet Union in 1954, is being shut down by the U.S. government. The White House said Russia had been notified that Russia would be denied access to both that compound and another one in Maryland starting noon on Friday.
About a half-hour before a noon deadline, caravans of diplomatic vehicles, some carrying boxes, left both Russian compounds under the watch of U.S. State Department agents.
Once the last vehicle pulled away, a State Department official confirmed to NBC 4 New York the compound was vacant and under its control.
The longtime getaway for Russian diplomats in Upper Brookville was also used for Russian intelligence purposes, according to U.S. government officials, and President Obama Thursday ordered both the New York and the Maryland compounds shut down, part of several actions the U.S. is taking to punish Russia for election hacking.
"I didn't even really know," a resident named Cornelia said of the compound's existence. "It's kinda really scary, in your own backyard."
Others say they heard the luxurious mansion was Russian-owned, but what went on inside was always a mystery.
"Who knows what kind of activity they're engaged in?" said Jared Greenman. "Are they diplomats, spies, hackers -- who really knows?"
"Ever since the late '70s, that's when I knew about it," said another resident named Johnny. "I was in high school."
"Never seen any activity there. Gates open, gates close, and that's it," he said.
Upper Brookville village mayor Elliot Conway said although he's never actually been invited inside the compound, "they've been quiet neighbors as long as they've been here."
Meanwhile, Penny Hallman, 68, whose home abuts the estate, told The Associated Press that the diplomats were "wonderful neighbors."
"They brought a bottle of vodka and chocolates to wish us a Merry Christmas," she said. "It's mostly a social club, a vacation spot."
The historic website pastvu.com identifies it as a true Gold Coast property, finished around 1920. It's a part of Long Island made famous in F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 novel "The Great Gatsby."
Its main house originally had 27 rooms and 11 baths and was constructed for an executive at a Brooklyn company that made heavy machinery and torpedoes. Later it became the home of a former New York governor, Nathan Miller.
Satellite photography shows that the grounds today include a tennis court, gardens, a soccer field and another large, modern building.
Although the White House announced at the same time it was kicking out Russian officials and closing facilities, it said those were responses to other troubling Russian behavior: harassment of U.S. diplomats by Russian personnel and police.
The 35 Russian diplomats being kicked out are intelligence operatives, Obama said. They were declared "persona non grata," and they were given 72 hours to leave the country. The State Department declined to identify them.
Congressional leaders on both sides of the aisle called the sanctions against Russia long overdue.
"I just wish he had done this several years ago," said Republican congressman Peter King, who represents Long Island. "The Russians have been hacking for several years."
New York's U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer, a Democrat, said in a statement: "I hope the incoming Trump administration, which has been far too close to Russia throughout the campaign and transition, won't think for one second about weakening these new sanctions or our existing regime."
"Both parties ought to be united in standing up to Russian interference in our elections, to their cyberattacks, their illegal annexation of Crimea and other extra-legal interventions," he said.
For his part, Trump issued a statement Thursday saying it was "time for our country to move on to bigger and better things." Yet in the face of newly public evidence, he pledged to meet with members of the intelligence community next week.
Russia responded angrily in anticipation of President Obama's announcement and suggested it might retaliate against American diplomats. A Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman called it a last blow by Obama to U.S.-Russia relations and added, "We are tired of lies about Russian hackers that continue to be spread in the United States from the very top."
Russian U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin told reporters at U.N. headquarters that the Obama administration was destroying holiday fun for the children of Russian diplomats.
"I think it's quite scandalous that they chose to throw out our kids," he said. "They know full well that those two facilities they mentioned, they are vacation facilities for our kids and this is Christmas, and this is vacation time for our schools. This is the time when the kids go to those facilities. So to close our access to them just while those holidays were starting, to me was rather silly."
A short drive away from the Upper Brookville compound, Russian diplomats stay at another grand Gold Coast estate, the Killenworth mansion, not far from the city of Glen Cove. It, too, was bought during the Cold War. Glen Cove Mayor Reggie Spinello said Friday that Killenworth was not being closed down by the government.
Both Long Island properties were the subject of long-running property-tax battles between the Russian government and local officials. Those disputes have been resolved, and for years Oyster Bay has waived parking and beach fees for Russia's U.N. diplomats as a goodwill gesture.
What to Know TJ Allen left his house early Monday afternoon to go dirt biking and never came home
He texted at least one friend that he had crashed his bike and injured his leg, but didn't respond to subsequent messages
State police launched an exhaustive search but suspended their efforts Wednesday; environmental authorities continue to look
The mother of an 18-year-old Connecticut dirt biker missing for four days says she can't even eat knowing her "little boy" is out there somewhere.
"He might be hungry, he might be cold," Christina Moses, mother of Todd Jeremiah Allen, better known as TJ, told NBC Connecticut.
Authorities have been looking for the young man since Monday; he left the house in the early afternoon to go dirt biking with his Honda XR100 and never came home. The family said TJ knows to come home before dark when he takes out his dirt bike and the teen always calls home.
Moses said the family "just knew" something was wrong when her son didn't show up.
TJ texted one of his friends around 1:30 p.m. that day saying he had hurt his leg but didn't respond to subsequent messages, police and relatives have said. Another friend told the family that TJ had texted the same message at 3 p.m.
According to state police, TJs cellphone last pinged in the area of Ross Pond in Killingly, but that area was searched extensively and nothing was found. His phone is now off or has a dead battery, authorities say.
Connecticut State Police launched an exhaustive search Monday night and scoured the air and the ground for days before suspending the search Wednesday. DEEP Environmental Conservation Police continues to engage in limited search activities on its lands as they patrol in areas of eastern Connecticut, the agency said.
Volunteers led the charge Thursday, propelled by concern over increasingly inclement weather and frigid conditions.
TJ is described as being 5'10" and about 130 pounds with shoulder-length light brown hair and blue eyes. He was last seen wearing a camouflage t-shirt, blue jeans and brown work boots with a black helmet.
Anyone with information is asked to call state police.
President-elect Donald Trumps diplomatic relations with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appear to be strengthening.
In recent days, both leaders have condemned the Obama administrations abstention from a United Nations resolution that makes illegal Israeli settlements in the West Bank.
As NBC News reports, Trump announced his opposition before the Obama administration took a position on the resolution. Israelis Ambassador to the United States told MSNBC Thursday that Israeli officials reached out to Trump ahead of his statement and told him they would provide him with intelligence showing Obama took an active role in passing the resolution a charge that U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry denies.
A man tried to flee after crashing a car into a Philadelphia house overnight but he didnt get far.
The driver slammed his white sedan with temporary tags into the front steps of a home near D and E Louden streets in the Feltonville neighborhood around 1 a.m. Friday.
The driver who didnt suffer major injuries ran off but police caught up to him a few blocks away, said Philadelphia Police.
No word on what charges the driver could face. [[238427591, C]]
The former head of a charter school in Dover is facing up to 40 years in prison after being indicted on federal theft charges.
The U.S. attorney for Delaware announced Thursday that former Academy of Dover principal Noel Rodriguez was indicted on four counts of federal program theft. Rodriguez is accused of embezzling more than $5,000 in federal funds the school received from the U.S. Department of Education from 2011 to 2014.
A June 2015 report from Delaware's state auditor said Mr. Rodriguez used school funds to pay for more than $125,000 in personal items over three years.
The report said Rodriguez reimbursed employees for buying alcohol, paid legal fees for a sexual harassment lawsuit and gave arbitrary bonuses. He resigned in 2014.
It's unclear whether Rodriguez has an attorney.
The leader of a Maplewood cub scout troop is petitioning the regional Cub Scouts council allow an 8-year-old boy to join the pack after he was kicked out of his Secaucus troop for being transgender.
Cub Scout Pack 20 leader Kyle Hackler told NBC New York Thursday that he disagreed with the Northern New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts' decision to give Joe Maldonado the boot from Pack 87 following complaints from parents.
"It breaks my heart to see that this little boy is going through this situation," he said. "All he wants to do is be with his friends."
Joe was born a girl but has identified as male for more than a year. He joined Pack 87 in Secaucus in October and was asked to leave about a month later, according to The Record. His mother, Kristie Maldonado, said Joe is accepted as a boy at school.
Though he can't cite any specfic reasons for opposition to Joe's membership, Hackler believes that a lack of knowledge about the transgender community and gender identity is what led to his dismissal. He chose to head the Maplewood troop because of the community's open and understanding nature, which is why the decision to give Joe the boot didn't sit well.
"This is a community that's supposed to be understanding," he said. "People who don't understand his situation are upset because they're letting a girl into Boy Scouts. It's deeper than that."
The Northern New Jersey Council of Boy Scouts did not respond to a request for comment.
Boy Scouts of America Spokeswoman Effie Delimarkos said Thursday in a statement to NBC New York that Joe doesn't meet the eligibility requirements to participate in the Cub Scout program. However, the organization did offer information on alternative program options.
"The BSA grants youth membership to Cub Scout to boys in the first through fifth grades, or 7 to 10 years of age," she said. "If needed we defer to the information provided for an individual's birth certificate and their biological sex."
She added that scouting "teaches its youth members and adult leaders to be respectful of other people and individual beliefs."
In a statement earlier this month, Delimarkos said the organization does not restrict members based on sexual orientation, but considers gender identity a separate issue, and that Cub Scout programs are for those identified as boys on their birth certificates.
Hackler said birth certificates aren't a required part of the application process, but noted that there is a question to indicate gender.
Earlier this year, the Boy Scouts told The Associated Press that it would admit transgender children to its coeducational programs, but not to programs that are for boys only, like the Cub Scouts and Boy Scouts.
Although the private youth organization has the right to do as they choose, Hacker said understanding the complexities of all scouts, transgender members in particular, is important in successfully fostering morality. He implored the Boy Scouts to look beyond the birth certificate, which only tells half the story.
He's got a message for the opposing parents and councilmembers.
"Stop, listen to the situation. Open your mind and you might learn something."
The Philadelphia Zoo is mourning the death of a longtime beloved lion.
The zoo euthanized Zenda, a 25-year-old female African lion, on Thursday, the zoo announced Friday. Zendas mobility had declined as had her behavior.
"At 25, Zenda was the oldest African lion in the United States zoo population by several years, and significantly exceeded the 17-year typical life expectancy for lions in zoos," said a news release from the zoo.
After being born at the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa, Zenda lived at the Philadelphia zoo from the summer of 1993 until 2004 when her pride was relocated to the Columbus Zoo before returning to Philadelphia for the opening of Big Cat Falls in 2006.
"This remarkable cat will be missed by staff and guests alike, particularly by the keepers who catered to her changing needs as she grew old," said Philadelphia Zoo CEO Dr. Andy Baker.
Zenda became a fixture in the large cat habitat at the zoo.
"Despite their already advancing age, Zenda and her pridemates were eager explorers of the habitat time-share system allowed by the design of Big Cat Falls when we opened it in 2006," said Baker. "Their engagement was one of the inspirations for our pioneering Zoo-wide trail system concept. Zoo360 a new way for animals to experience a zoo is part of Zendas legacy."
Six other African lions continue to live in the zoos Big Cat Falls the oldest is just 7 years old.
[NATL] Adorable Zoo Babies: White Lion Cubs Nala and Simba Born in France
Patients at one San Diego hospital got quite the surprise Thursday!
Pop superstar Miley Cyrus and actor Liam Hemsworth stopped by Rady Children's Hospital in San Diego to surprise some very special patients.
A video posted on the hospital's Facebook page shows some of the patients with big smiles of their faces as the celebrities said hello and talked with them.
The visit was made possible in part by The Happy Hippie Foundation, a non-profit organization founded by Miley Cyrus. The organization works to help fight injustice facing homeless youth, LGBTQ youth and other vulnerable populations.
A 21-year-old man was forced into a car by two unknown suspects in Carmel Mountain Ranch, San Diego police confirm.
The victim was driven around the neighborhood and the suspects demanded money of him. He didnt comply and was released in the 11000 block of Stoney Peak Drive.
The kidnapping happened in the 11000 block of World Trade Drive around 10:30 a.m. Friday.
He called police and one of the suspects was later arrested for kidnapping. The other suspect is still outstanding.
There is no suspect description at this time.
A high school music teacher accused of having a sexual relationship with a former student has changed his plea in his case.
Jason Mangan-Magabilin, 38, has pleaded guilty to oral copulation and penetration by a foreign object with one of his former male students, from 2010 to 2011.
Police say Mangan-Magabilin is a music teacher at Bonita Vista High School. The Sweetwater Union High School District is fully cooperating with the police investigation, the CVPD said. The school district is also conducting its own internal personnel investigation on the case.
CVPD Capt. Lon Turner said the teachers alleged relationship happened five years ago with a former student, when that student was between 15 and 17 years old.
The victim recently reported the incident to police because of mandatory reporting at job training.
Further details were not released.
The Sweetwater Union High School District released this statement concerning the case:
"We appreciate that the public has many questions regarding the recent arrests in the District pertaining to alleged inappropriate contacts between students and staff. The District is currently actively working with law enforcement on each of these matters. The District is committed to assisting law enforcement and conducting thorough personnel investigations in each matter, so we are not able to provide further comment at this time."
"We appreciate your understanding and respect of the Districts commitment to protect the integrity of all pending investigations during these challenging circumstances. We ask that you allow our staff to focus their attention during these trying times on the learning environment of our students," the statement continued.
A website for the Club Blue Instrumental Music Program at Bonita Vista High School includes a short biography on Mangan-Magabilin. The bio says he has been with the school for 10 years, and also conducts the Crusader Girls Chorus at Bonita Vista Middle School.
Hes an alumnus of the University of Southern California, where he performed as a member of the Trojan Marching Band. He also earned a masters degree in conduction from the American Band College of Sam Houston State in 2013.
At his sentencing, the judge could sentence him to anything from probation with no jail time to the maximum of three years and eight months in prison.
Regardless of the sentence, he will have to register as a sex offender for life.
The first-ever woman to hold the position of police chief for the Chula Vista police department (CVPD) will be sworn in Friday, marking a major milestone for the City of Chula Vista.
Roxana Kennedy will be sworn in as the CVPD's 24th police chief in a public ceremony at 11 a.m. in the City Council Chambers, according to the CVPD. She will take over the position for the retiring police chief David Bejarano and serve a population of 265,000 residents.
Before she was selected as chief, Kennedy supervised the Patrol Operations Division of the Chula Vista Police Department as Second in Command, said a CVPD official. She oversaw the largest division in the police department, which is responsible for 67 percent of all the sworn personnel.
Her duties included managing Patrol, Traffic, School Resource Officers, Street Team and Gang Suppression Unit, Community Policing Unit, Community Relations and Crime Analysis. According to the CVPD, those divisions involve the use of canine units, Senior Volunteer Patrol, the Reserve Unit, Crisis Negotiations, SWAT, Mobile Field Force, bilingual services and mental health assistance to the Psychiatric Emergency Response Teams (PERT).
The department regards Kennedy highly, who has a well-established reputation for her outstanding work ethic, professionalism and dedication to the community, according to the CVPD.
Her commitment to the community and her passion for police work have allowed her to rapidly shoot up the ranks to become the first ever female Police Lieutenant for Chula Vista and a Police Captain back in 2013, according to the CVPD.
Kennedy has pursued an ambitious career with the CVPD for 24 years. With broad-ranging experience, she worked as the Unit Commander for 12 years for the Crisis Negotiation Team and the Mobile Force Unit. Besides that, she's in charge of a very active Wellness/Peer Support Team for the Department.
Prior to joining the police force, Kennedy graduated from the California Coast University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management. She also graduated from the FBI National Academy in Class #243 and serves on the FBI National California Chapter Board of Directions. According to the CVPD, Kennedy serves as President of the San Diego Chapter of Woman Leaders in Law Enforcement.
In her spare time, Kennedy enjoys spending time with family and friends and volunteering at two non-profit organizations, according to the CVPD. That includes Project Compassion which provides medical aid throughout the world and Athletes for Education which helps disadvantaged youth throughout San Diego County.
Eater San Diego shares the top stories of the week from San Diegos food and drink scene, including a glimpse at a new restaurant in La Jolla cooking up doughnuts, fried chicken and more, and word on an ocean view bar coming to Pacific Beach.
StreetCar Merchants Bring Doughnuts & Southern Food to La Jolla
North Park's popular StreetCar Merchants of Fried Chicken, Doughnuts, & Coffee has opened an expansive full-service restaurant in downtown La Jolla. It serves the concept's signature fried chicken and doughnuts, but the menu has expanded to include salads, sandwiches and an array of traditional Southern dishes.
Oceanfront Waterbar Coming to Pacific Beach
Landing in early 2017 on the Pacific Beach boardwalk is Waterbar, a new dining and drinking destination just steps from the sand. The spacious restaurant, which spans a lounge and two bars, will feature a seafood-centric menu and craft cocktails.
Dinner Destination Two Seven Eight Opens in Hillcrest
A New American eatery has replaced The Tractor Room on 5th Avenue, bringing a refreshed interior and seasonal, small plates to the table. The dinner-only Two Seven Eight will host its soft opening this weekend, with plans to debut its craft cocktail offerings and a limited food menu.
Dining Pros Name Top Restaurant Newcomers of 2016
Eater surveyed a panel of local food media on their picks for the best new restaurants in San Diego. See the top vote-getters, which include a celebrity chef-backed hotspot in Little Italy and a buzzy neighborhood gem in Hillcrest.
Industry Experts Share Top Restaurant Standbys of 2016
Which restaurants do San Diego's dining experts frequent most often? Our panel shares their go-tos, which include a Japanese small plates spot, an Ocean Beach bistro and a cocktail bar with food.
Candice Woo is the founding editor of Eater San Diego, a leading source for news about San Diegos restaurant and bar scene. Keep up with the latest Eater San Diego content via Facebook or Twitter, and sign up for Eater San Diegos newsletter here.
The family of a 5-year-old girl killed in a mobile home fire Thursday in Escondido is dealing with more heartbreaking news.
A family spokesperson told NBC 7 that Diego Flores, a 10-year-old boy injured in the fire, is brain dead and surviving on life support, and that the family has decided to donate his organs.
The spokesperson also said that Diegos father, Domingo Flores, is in intensive care at UCSD Hospital with non-life threatening injuries.
Diego's 5-year-old niece, Ellie Orozco, died in the fire.
Escondido Fire Department investigators say that an unattended candle or faulty extension cord sparked the Christmas tree in the family's living room. They also say that the fire's destruction could have been limited.
The mobile home was without smoke detectors or a fire alarm, according to investigators.
The Escondido community is banding together to help a family suffering a horrific tragedy after a fire ripped through their mobile home, killing their 5-year-old daughter. NBC 7s Dave Summers reports.
So compelled by this tragedy during the holidays, the Escondido community is stepping up to help.
I couldn't process it. I was in shock, Land and Water Restaurant owner Robert Ruiz said.
Ellie's father, Felipe Orozco, works at the restaurant as a line cook. His two sons, Ethan and Enrique and wife Sandra were injured in the fire but survived.
There is nothing you can replace a father-daughter relationship. I know how hurt he is right now, Chef Brandon Nichols said.
Felipe was working Wednesday night before the fire sparked. By the time he got home, the damage was done.
The guy is a little quiet guy, back there smiling and working really hard. He's the last person you would expect to have something like this happen to, Ruiz said.
The cause of the fire is under investigation but it's believed to be electrical, possibly linked to an extension cord where the lights on a Christmas tree was plugged in.
Nine people had been asleep inside the home when the fire began.
Firefighters said they did not find smoke alarms.
At the Mormon Church Washington Chapel, where the family goes for services, they are collecting clothes and money.
Annie Martinez told NBC 7 she doesn't know the family but she just wanted to help.
Christmas just came and I got a bunch of new stuff so I just gave away my old stuff, Martinez said.
Samantha Villa, a mother of two said she heard about the church efforts through social media.
My kids have so much of everything so I gave all their old stuff, because they got a bunch of new stuff for Christmas, Villa said.
The restaurant where Felipe worked also sprang into action Thursday morning. They spread the word through social media, set up an online fundraiser and are accepting donations during restaurant hours.
Ten-year old Diego remained in the hospital Thursday night. He is the last of the victims still hospitalized.
Friends and neighbors of the family living in the mobile home have been dropping off teddy bears and other gifts in remembrance of the young girl.
A ride-hailing services driver convicted of sexually assaulting women while he worked has been sentenced to one year behind bars, officials confirmed.
Jeremy Vague, 37, a former driver with Uber and Lyft in San Diego, pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting two women.
The first incident happened on Sept. 16 at approximately 1:15 p.m., an 18-year-old student at Palomar College San Marcos campus requested a ride to an Escondido home through Uber, police said.
Instead of taking the victim home, Vague intentionally turned off the Uber app and veered away from the route to an area where he sexually assaulted the victim, Escondido police said.
After the assault, the suspect drove the rider home and dropped her off.
The second incident happened on Sept. 7 when Vague gave a woman a ride through the Lyft service. Vague was initially charged with sexually battering the 19-year-old rider and another 19-year-old female who was waiting for her.
Escondido Police say investigators were not aware of the initial report until after the Sept. 16 investigation began.
Police said Vague's employment at Lyft and Uber has been suspended pending the investigation.
On Thursday, Vague was sentenced to 365 days in custody with three years formal probation. He will get credit for time already served: 208 days.
On New Years Eve, city inspectors will be patrolling the San Diego's iconic Gaslamp District, checking for overcrowding and code violations.
San Diego Fire Marshal Doug Perry said it is not to dampen anyones evening, but to make sure venues are operating safely, especially in light of the devastating Oakland, California warehouse fire that killed 36 people.
It was a tragic wake-up call to everyone to stay vigilant. Sometimes the public and law enforcement gets complacent, Chief Perry said. After the incident, I spoke to my inspection team and told them if you see something doesnt look right to take time to talk to someone, check on it.
Chief Perry said everyone should have a mental checklist when they enter any venue, be it a bar, club or restaurant:
Look for exits
Find the fire extinguisher
Does the venue have a sprinkler system?
Is the exit sign lit?
Is the fire alarm system working?
If a venue does not have these basic safety features, Chief Perry urges the public to report it to the city by calling (610) 533-4300. He said his team is committed to checking it every day and following up on credible reports.
My worst nightmare are the things taking place underground that we dont know about because we cant do anything about it, he said.
Some will be ringing in the New Year with a glass of champagne and some may be legally celebrating with a joint.
Marijuana delivery services are counting on cashing-in big on New Years Eve.
Forbes reports a 71 percent increase in marijuana orders on Dec. 31.
But those services, although readily available, are not yet legal in San Diego.
The San Diego City Council passed a temporary ban on recreational marijuana activities on Dec. 13.
That includes commercial cultivation, sales and delivery services.
City leaders said the 45-day ban was meant to buy them time for city officials to set-up land use and public safety regulations.
Under state law, marijuana delivery services are illegal except from a licensed retail medical marijuana dispensary.
There are currently eight legal dispensaries in San Diego, but they say they are getting pushed out of the market by illegally operating delivery services that face no regulations.
Some other legal considerations: The San Diego County Sheriffs Department is reminding people that despite Prop 64, weed remains illegal for people under 21.
It is also illegal to drive with an open container of marijuana in the car, and especially when high.
Finally, it is illegal to smoke marijuana or consume edible marijuana in public, according to a fact sheet by SDSO.
You can see the document here.
A social security employee plead guilty Thursday to stealing thousands of dollars over a period of several months
Josue Edgardo Castro, a San Ysidro resident, admitted to stealing more than $5,700 in money orders.
According to a press release by the U.S. Attorney's office, the theft began in Sept. 2015.
Castro admitted that he had been in charge of accepting payments on behalf of the Social Security Administration. On at least 21 occasions, he accepted the money and deposited it into his personal bank account.
He then waived the fees charges to overpaid social security beneficiaries.
As a result, the Social Security Administration lost $9,000 due to over payment waivers filed by Castro.
Investigators discovered the theft when a victim reported that a payment was not showing up in her records.
Crimes committed by federal employees are some of the most egregious violations of the public trust. Todays guilty plea is a tangible result of my office and the Social Security Administrations commitment to root out crime wherever it may be," said U.S. Attorney Laura Duffy, in a statement.
According to his plea agreement, Castro agreed to return the money he had taken from accounts and pay back the Social Security Administration for extra costs.
If he is convicted, he could face a $250,000 fine and up to 10 years in prison.
His hearing is scheduled for April 3, 2017.
When President-elect Donald Trump takes office in January, Republicans will have the opportunity to pull off something they have wanted to do for years overhaul Medicaid, the program that provides health care to tens of millions of lower-income and disabled Americans.
Any changes to the $500 billion-plus program hold enormous consequences not only for recipients but also for the states, which share in the cost.
Trump initially said during the presidential campaign that he would not cut Medicaid, but later expressed support for an idea pushed for years by Republicans in Congress sending a fixed amount of money each year to the states in the form of block grants. Backers say such a change in the Medicaid formula is one of the best ways to rein in spending, but critics say big cuts would follow.
Currently, the federal government pays an agreed-upon percentage of each state's Medicaid costs, no matter how much they rise in any given year.
Republicans have argued that states have little incentive to keep expenses under control, because no state pays more than half the total cost. Both House Speaker Paul Ryan and Trump's pick for secretary of health and human services, Georgia Rep. Tom Price, want to switch to block grants.
Key questions facing Republicans will be how the funding is structured and how much flexibility will be given to the states.
"It's exciting because you know it's not going to be the same as it was, and it's nerve-wracking because you know it's not going to be the same as it was," said Terry England, a Republican state lawmaker who chairs the House budget committee in Georgia.
Republican control of Congress and the presidency means the GOP can act on its long-held priorities of reining in entitlement programs and repealing President Barack Obama's health care law, which allowed states to expand the number of people eligible for Medicaid. Thirty-one states have opted for the expansion.
It is not clear what the GOP's replacement plan will look like. Democrats have warned of dire consequences, and any proposed changes are likely to trigger a fight in Congress.
Last week, the Democratic Governors Association warned that repealing the Affordable Care Act would end health coverage for millions of people and shift the financial burden onto the states, costing them $68.5 billion in uncompensated care over the next decade. The group said the Medicaid expansion alone has provided coverage for millions of Americans who lacked insurance and that it had been a critical tool for states in combating the opioid epidemic.
In 2012, a plan by Ryan to reduce the federal deficit included a proposal to convert Medicaid funding into block grants with a cap on the amount the federal government would provide. Advocacy groups warned that that approach would ultimately lead to fewer people receiving coverage.
The Congressional Budget Office concluded that under Ryan's proposal, "states would need to increase their spending on these programs, make considerable cutbacks in them, or both."
Earlier this year, Ryan and Republican leaders offered another, more flexible option: States would receive a fixed amount from Washington for each person enrolled. That approach would allow federal payments to grow if, for example, a recession forced more people onto Medicaid.
More than 70 million are on Medicaid, nearly 10 million of them covered as a result of the expansion.
GOP budget documents say federal spending on Medicaid has increased 200 percent in the past 15 years, and the Congressional Budget Office projects it will climb 68 percent over the next decade to $642 billion. In addition, total state spending on Medicaid is expected to rise from about $216 billion in fiscal year 2015 to more than $337 billion in 2023.
How the GOP overhaul is ultimately structured will be critical, said Matt Salo, executive director of the National Association of Medicaid Directors.
"Some of my members are looking at this and saying if this isn't done right, if the money doesn't match what needs to be done, this is potentially the greatest intergovernmental transfer of financial risk in the country's history," he said.
States, many of them struggling with budget shortfalls, could end up covering fewer procedures or medications, instituting work requirements or requiring co-pays or premiums. Those that opted to expand Medicaid could decide it's no longer sustainable.
Among those now covered because of the expansion is 59-year-old Alan Purser of Wynne, Arkansas, who tapped into the program after losing his job in 2014 when the pawnshop where he worked was sold.
A few weeks after signing up, he went to the doctor because of a bad cough. He was diagnosed with blood clots in both lungs and ended up in the hospital for 10 days.
"Honestly, I would be dead without this coverage," said Purser, who is on disability. "I never would have gone to the doctor without insurance."
Purser said he fears having his benefits reduced.
"When you live on $730 a month," he said, "you have to watch where everything goes, and you just can't start paying more and more for your medicines."
The bars at Cafe Milano, Madam's Organ and the Hard Rock Cafe all have permission from D.C. to stay open late during President-elect Donald Trump's inauguration week -- but the bar and restaurant in the Trump International Hotel do not.
The Trump hotel did not apply for approval from the D.C. liquor board to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. during the inaugural festivities, hotel spokeswoman Patricia Tang told News4.
The legal last call at BLT Prime by David Burke, the Benjamin Bar & Lounge and any events at the hotel will be 1:30 a.m., with service ending at 2 a.m.
Forty-four bars and restaurants in D.C. received approval from the Alcoholic Beverage Regulation Administration to serve alcohol until 4 a.m. and stay open 24 hours a day from Jan. 14 to Jan. 22.
The list includes Old Ebbitt Grill, The Ritz-Carlton Georgetown and the National Republican Club of Capitol Hill.
Go here to see the full list of bars that will stay open late during inauguration week.
Trump, who had a brother who died as an alcoholic at age 43, does not drink alcohol, The New York Times has reported.
At the hotel on Friday, a man who said he was the hotel front desk manager said they will charge $100 for anyone who wants to ring in the new year standing at the hotel bar, and at least $250 for a table in the lobby.
A cab driver is in critical but stable condition after he was shot Thursday afternoon in Annapolis, Maryland.
Police say the suspect in the shooting attempted to interfere with an unrelated arrest near the crime scene, ultimately leading police to link him to the shooting.
The 56-year-old victim, a driver for Green Taxi Cab, was shot in the unit block of Bens Drive, the Annapolis Police Department said. Officers responded shortly before 6 p.m.
While at the scene, police found a man who was wanted on a warrant for an unrelated crime. As officers arrested the man, another man -- identified as 18-year-old Davonte Johnson -- tried to push past officers to stop the arrest, police said.
After refusing to back away, Johnson was arrested and was identified as the shooter, police said.
Johnson, of Annapolis, is charged with attempted first-degree murder and 12 other related charges. He is being held without bond.
The victim was transported to the University of Maryland Shock Trauma Center.
Police have not released a possible motive in the shooting.
Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Detective John Murphy at 410-260-3439 or at jhmurphy@annapolis.gov. Anyone wishing to remain anonymous may submit a tip through Crime Stoppers by calling 1-866-7LOCKUP.
What to Know An armed suspect was fatally shot. He's been identified as James L. Rich II, 52, of Edmore Road in Chestertown, Maryland.
Dfc. Warren Scott Hogan suffered a close-range shotgun blast, which a surgeon called "a devastating injury."
A sheriff's deputy, who was shot at close range while helping a victim of domestic violence Thursday, is improving -- though doctors warn he faces a long recovery.
Deputy 1st Class Warren Scott Hogan is now hospitalized in serious condition -- though he had what the sheriff's office called "issues causing some concern" overnight.
Hogan suffered a devastating injury, doctors have said, and "faces additional surgeries and a long recovery period," the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's department said in a Facebook post.
The local Fraternal Order of Police has established a GoFundMe fundraising site to cover some of Hogan's medical costs and help his family.
Hogan was shot as he helped a victim of domestic violence. He was escorting a woman as she got her belongings from a suspect's home, after she reported an altercation between them, authorities said.
Hogan was able to fire back, and James L. Rich II was shot and killed.
Hogan was struck at close range in the torso, said Dr. Thomas Scalea, physician-in-chief at R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Maryland.
"He was awake and talking, but clearly critically injured," Scalea said.
"...[A] close-range shotgun blast is a devastating injury," he said.
Hogan was flown to Shock Trauma, part of the University of Maryland Medical Center, where he underwent surgery. He may need more.
"It's a little early to tell what else we're going to have to do, and we'll see how things go over the next few days and few weeks," Scalea said.
Hogan was wearing body armor, but he was shot below the armor, Hoffman said.
Hogan was wearing a body camera during the incident. Investigators will review any footage available, Shipley said. The footage would be considered part of the ongoing investigation and would not be released, he said.
Hogan is a four-year veteran of the Queen Anne's County Sheriff's Office and served about seven years with another agency, Queen Anne's County Sheriff Gary Hofmann said.
"He's a really great guy," Hofmann said. "We've been here the entire time with him and his family, supporting them and help them get through this very traumatic event."
Hofmann said he visited Hogan as he awoke from surgery and appeared to be in "good spirits." Hoffman said Hogan's family was having a difficult time.
The Maryland State Police homicide unit is investigating the case.
Calls related to domestic disputes are the most dangerous types of calls for responding officers, the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund says.
More police officers were killed in 2016 after they responded to domestic disturbances than any other type of call, according to data the group released Thursday. Overall law enforcement fatalities rose this year to their highest level in five years, with 135 officers killed in the line of duty.
Prince George's County Police are asking the public for help finding a man wanted for the 1999 rape of a teenage girl after a DNA hit linked the suspect to the crime more than 17 years later.
Police identified the suspect as Richard Cedric Taylor, 44.
On June 6, 1999, a 15-year-old girl was socializing with friends, as well as Taylor, whom she didn't know, police said. Taylor offered to give the girl a ride home, but instead he stopped at an empty apartment on Cindy Lane in Capitol Heights, where he assaulted and raped the girl in the apartment, police said.
The case went unsolved for nearly two decades -- but on Sept. 8, police said, a DNA hit linked Taylor to the crime.
Detectives got a warrant for his arrest, but haven't been able to find him.
Taylor's last known address was the 3900 block of 28th Avenue in Temple Hills, Maryland. Detectives believe he uses several aliases, including Damion Taylor, Demetrius Taylor and Michael Scott.
Taylor is wanted on charges of second-degree rape and first- and second-degree assault.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 301-772-4908. Those wishing to remain anonymous may call Crime Solvers at 866-411-TIPS (8477), text "PGPD" plus the information to CRIMES (274537), or submit a tip online here.
Fire trucks and police cruisers have surrounded the Gucci store at an upscale shopping center in downtown D.C. after someone sprayed pepper spray inside, injuring three people, police and fire officials say.
Just after 4 p.m. Thursday, someone came into the CityCenterDC store and sprayed the employees, police said.
It's not known how many suspects were involved and police do not yet know if any store items were stolen during the assault.
D.C. fire officials said three people were taken to the hospital for an evaluation.
A hazmat crew found no hazard inside the store and are ventilating the store, fire officials said.
Stay with News4 and NBCWashington.com for updates to this developing story.
Virginia residents looking for a little "hair of the dog" on New Year's Day can visit Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control stores; it will be the first time the stores have opened on the holiday.
WUSA-TV reported that state law previously banned the ABC shops from operating on Jan. 1, but new legislation that went into effect in July dropped the ban.
ABC stores will be open normal Sunday operating hours.
What to Know As recently as August, Paladino falsely claimed Obama was not Christian
And in 2010, Paladino was criticized after it was revealed he had forwarded to friends racially charged emails that depicted Obama as a pimp
The Trump transition team called his latest comments "absolutely reprehensible"
The co-chairman of President-elect Donald Trump's New York campaign is being asked to resign from a local school board amid ongoing backlash over his statements that he wanted to see President Obama die of mad cow disease and the first lady live with a gorilla in Africa.
Carl Paladino, a millionaire real estate developer who unsuccessfully ran for governor in 2010 as a Republican, made the comments in response to a survey by Artvoice, a Buffalo publication that asked local artists, performers and business owners for their New Year's wish list.
He now says the comments weren't meant for publication but were nevertheless "inappropriate."
At a special meeting on Thursday the Buffalo school board voted 6-2 to ask the state education commissioner to remove Paladino if he doesn't resign within 24 hours.
Paladino didn't attend the meeting. He says he won't resign.
In a statement Tuesday statement, first reported on Buffalo's WBEN radio, Paladino apologized to minorities, saying he "never intended to hurt" them with his anti-Obama remarks. The comments sparked outrage from various political circles, including Trump's transition team, which called the developer's comments "absolutely reprehensible."
The White House has not commented.
The 70-year-old developer ran for governor of New York against Andrew Cuomo in 2010.
Cuomo was quick to denounce Paladino's comments, saying in a statement last week that they were "racist, ugly and reprehensible."
"While most New Yorkers know Mr. Paladino is not to be taken seriously, as his erratic behavior defies any rational analysis and he has no credibility, his words are still jarring," he said. "His remarks do not reflect the sentiments or opinions of any real New Yorker and he has embarrassed the good people of the state with his latest hate-filled rage."
A rare quintuple murder case was before a Vermont judge Friday. That judge must rule on the ability of a man accused of killing five teenagers with a vehicle to comprehend the legal proceedings and allegations against him.
"This case is of the highest priority for our office," said Bram Kranichfeld, a Chittenden County prosecutor.
Suspect Steven Bourgoin was not in court for Friday's status conference.
At his arraignment in October, Bourgoin pled not guilty to five second-degree murder charges. He was accused of going on a wild wrong-way drive on Interstate 89 that ended with a crash that killed a car full of teenagers.
The teens were childhood friends from the Harwood Union School District.
Eli Brookens, Janie Chase Cozzi, Liam Hale, Mary Harris, and Cyrus Zschau have been remembered as positive, upbeat kids who loved the outdoors and who brought joy to their many friends, relatives, and neighbors.
In a critical procedural step for the court case, the defense team for Steven Bourgoin said Friday it would not contest a doctor's finding from a psych exam that their client is able to comprehend the legal proceedings.
Judge Jim Crucitti still must rule on Bourgoin's mental competency before much of the case can advance.
"We are going to do everything we can to ensure that Mr. Bourgoin is held accountable for his actions," prosecutor Kranichfeld said.
In paperwork previously filed with the court, detectives described Bourgoin's personal life and finances as chaotic before that fatal wreck.
Prosecutors stopped short this fall of speculating whether Bourgoin was suicidal. They also have not discussed contents of toxicology tests, pending further investigation.
Lawyers on both sides said Friday they're still awaiting more details from the crash report.
The mother of one of the teenagers killed in the tragedy was in the courtroom Friday, though declined to comment.
Lead defense attorney Bob Katims also declined necn's request for comment.
Oakland officials have adopted an ordinance that prohibits the retail sale of marijuana and the establishment of social clubs in the town.
The Morning Sentinel reports that the ordinance voted on by town councilors Wednesday doesn't ban the legal use and the legal cultivation of marijuana.
Maine voters approved a referendum legalizing marijuana in November, and the secretary of state's office signed off on the results last week.
It could be months before the state completes the rule-making process governing the legal cultivation and sale of marijuana. Oakland Council Chairman Michael Perkins says the board is simply "erring on the side of caution" for the community until that happens.
Other towns and cities in Maine have passed or are considering passing temporary bans and moratoriums on marijuana-related businesses.
A Gloucester, Massachusetts man has been indicted in connection with the shooting death of a Lynn man in October.
Prosecutors say 29-year-old Sean Chandler is charged with first-degree murder in the Oct. 28 death of 38-year-old Donald Yancy in a Lynn apartment. Yancy died at the scene of a gunshot injury to the head.
Authorities say the two men knew each and witnesses reported that there had been some kind of dispute between them before the shooting, but the exact motive has not been disclosed.
Chandler has been held without bail since his arrest two days after the shooting. He pleaded not guilty in district court. His Superior Court arraignment has not been scheduled.
His lawyer has not commented.
For the first time in the history of Bostons First Night New Years Eve festivities, NBC Bostons Phil Lipof and Shannon Mulaire will anchor for an unprecedented 6-1/2 hours of live coverage. The program will air on Countdown NBC Boston and necn from 6 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. Telemundo Boston will broadcast live from Copley Square beginning at 11 p.m. and CSN New England will simulcast the whole program from 6-12:30 a.m.
Several NBC stars will play a part in Bostons First Night festivities, including Phil Lipofs interview with Jimmy Fallon, a performance by Harry Connick Jr, simple and easy New Years Day drinks and appetizers with Rachael Ray, and a check-in with Carson Daly live from Times Square.
Other NBC faces will be sharing New Year messages with Boston viewers throughout the night, including Dylan Dreyer and Lester Holt. Plus viewers will get a special behind the scenes sneak peak tour of the Today Show set with Matt Lauer, Savannah Guthrie and Dylan Dreyer.
During the night, Boston Mayor Marty Walsh will be on-set with Lipof and Mulaire to talk about the history of Bostons First Night celebrations and reflect on the citys year.
The broadcast will include an appearance by the Boston Childrens Chorus, and other special Boston-based guests include Boston Common Magazine Editor-in-Chief Lisa Pierpont to discuss 2017 style trends, Director of Food and Beverage Services at the Fairmont Copley Tim Clapp who will kick off the celebrations with a sabrage demonstration, and an appearance by ImprovBoston. Fairmont Copley Canine Ambassador Carly Copley, a rescue dog who is also the canine ambassador for the Fairmont, will be wagging in the New Year from the set as well.
There will be special live performances throughout the night, including Courtney Harrell, a contestant on the current season of The Voice. Joining for live interviews and taped performances are Jessie Chris, Southboro native and a Radio Disney Country Artist, who was the youngest performer at the 2015 Country Music Association Festival, and Quinn Sullivan, a New Bedford High School senior who has been singing professionally with stars such as Buddy Guy, Eric Clapton and B.B. King for most of his life.
First Night First Day 2017 is produced by Conventures, Inc. in partnership with the City of Boston. The festivities include signature fireworks, a holiday lights display, ice sculptures, arts and musical performances, the Peoples Procession, and more. The celebration culminates with the traditional Copley Countdown in anticipation of the citys dazzling light and pyrotechnics show.
All events are free and open to the public.
Authorities in Rhode Island say a young girl found unresponsive in a hotel pool was pulled out by another child and revived by her grandmother.
Smithfield Rescue Lt. Christopher Fusaro tells The Providence Journal the girl had been playing with other children at the Holiday Inn Express around 9:30 p.m. Thursday when someone noticed she was face-down in the water and pulled her out.
Fusaro says the girl's grandmother performed CPR after determining she didn't have a pulse and wasn't breathing. The girl then vomited and opened her eyes.
He says the girl was conscious and breathing but unresponsive. She was taken to Hasbro Children's Hospital. WJAR-TV reports the girl is in stable condition.
Authorities are investigating after five men, two of them reportedly armed, broke into a Massachusetts home and forced the people inside into a bedroom as they stole valuables.
Worcester police say officers responded to an apartment on Lovell Street Thursday evening for a reported home invasion.
When they arrived, they found eight people - six juveniles ranging in age from 8 to 17 and two adults - inside the apartment.
The suspects, who had their faces covered, allegedly forced their way through the apartment's rear door and demanded cash.
They stole cellphones, jewelry and an undisclosed amount of cash, but before leaving, they forced the victims inside a bedroom.
After waiting a few minutes, the victims called police.
No one was injured in the ordeal.
Police say two of the suspects were described as very tall, and one suspect possibly had a Jamaican accent.
Anyone with information is asked to call Worcester police at (508) 799-8651 or anonymously sent a text message with a tip to 274637 TIPWPD.
Police in Reading, Massachusetts, are searching for an armed robbery suspect.
According to police, officers responded to JK's Market located at 212 Main Street around 8:10 p.m. on Thursday night.
Witnesses told police the suspect entered the store with a black hunting knife then fled with an unknown amount of cash.
Police were unable to locate the suspect and believe he may have fled by vehicle.
The suspect is described as a male between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 11 inches tall.
He was wearing a black hooded jacket, a black mask, black gloves, gray sweatpants, and black and gray sneakers.
Police are investigating whether or not this robbery is connected with the robbery at P&S Convenience Store on Tuesday.
Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
Norfolk surgeon is a world-wide inspiration
The pioneering medical expertise of Norfolk-based surgeon Prof Jerome Pereira has inspired thousands across the world. Mike Wiltshire reports.
The remarkable story of Professor Jerome Pereira, a leading cancer surgeon, began in South India many years before when, as a teenager, he and his family were heartbroken by the death of his 12-year-old cousin, Lyn, through cancer.
Jerome visited the hospital many times before little Lyn died. He determined then to study medicine and, years later, became a professor of surgery and an international trainer of surgical consultants.
Today, the Norfolk-based surgeons pioneering medical expertise and personal Christian faith has inspired thousands. His work has also included intensive research into leprosy which afflicts three million people who face permanent disability due to this disease, mostly in Asia and Africa.
Early in his career, Dr Pereira was himself inspired by another Christian surgeon, the late Dr Paul Brand, author of the well-known book, Ten Fingers for God.
This famous English doctor was the first surgeon in the world to use reconstructive surgery to correct leprosy-caused deformities in the hands and feet. It was said of Dr Brand (who died in 2003 at the age of 89), that he changed the worlds perception of leprosy and leprosy sufferers."
His pioneering tendon transfer techniques are still used today to allow the hands and feet of leprosy patients to function properly. It was because of Paul Brand that Jerome half his age - took up leprosy research. Dr Brand told him: The Lord is bringing young men like you to carry the torch forward.
Dr Pereiras own research and surgical experience with leprosy patients has been foundational in his own career in helping to train other surgeons. He has a special interest in the outcomes of surgery and helped lead the national mastectomy and breast reconstruction programme. This was the first study in the world looking at the outcomes of breast cancer surgery and the largest patient outcomes study ever done in the UK.
As a consultant breast surgeon at James Paget University Hospitals in Great Yarmouth, he welcomes research which helps women make the right decisions about their treatment, with clearer advice from clinicians, thus improving quality of life after surgery.
Dr Pereira now leads advanced master-classes in online learning courses with live-link television seminars on breast surgery in 20 countries. This month has also seen the launch of a national feasibility study for the further training of NHS doctors.
He is a founder member of the Norwich School of Medicine and an honorary professor at the University of East Anglia.
Dr Pereira and his Irish-born wife, Mary, are both committed Christians whose faith that has helped them rise to many challenges in their service to others in the UK and overseas.
My work is so absorbing and our life is very full and we travel a lot. But we relax occasionally as avid walkers, says Dr Pereira, who came to faith in Christ through the personal testimony of his wife, Mary.
With memories of a strict Catholic education as a child, he admits he initially found Marys new-found faith rather strange at first. He also recalled several years of irresponsible social life as an ambitious young medic - a lifestyle that did not help his dream of becoming a successful surgeon in the US.
Nevertheless, Marys vibrant faith impressed Jerome who admitted he felt somewhat empty despite all the eventual advantages of a successful medical career. So he began reading the Bible in spare moments and over a period of six months, the words came alive to me, with the help of the Holy Spirit. He eventually made a personal commitment to faith in Christ and discovered a peace of heart he had not known before.
Jerome considered doing missionary medical work and made a costly decision to work for six years in the area of leprosy research. Today he just stands back amazed at the way God has helped him and Mary make the right career decisions and helped them persevere in their service to others. Mary, a former midwife, has a degree in psychology and is a trained Christian counsellor.
In the last 13 years, in addition to medical work, Jerome and Mary have helped to support training courses for more than 2,000 Christian ministers in tribal areas of India, Bhutan, Sikkim, Assam and Nepal, plus many summer camps for young people in the region.
Speaking recently at an inspirational dinner for Christian businessmen in Norwich, Dr Pereira urged his listeners to take seriously the claims of Christ. Try to find Gods plan for your life, he will definitely show you. In Johns Gospel, Jesus, the Good Shepherd, promises us: My sheep hear my voice.
Pictured above is pioneering surgeon, Dr Jerome Pereira.
INFP: In orice moment se poate produce un cutremur cu magnitudine mai mare de 7 in zona seismica Vrancea / De ce sunt atatea cutremure in zona Vrancea?
By Online Desk
The year 2016 turned out to be a memorable year for Kollywood, where close to 190 Tamil films released. This year proved to be a healthy one, with both high-cost and low-budget movies received well by the audience.
The jewel in the crown in this year is Vetrimaaran's Visaranai being chosen as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards. Produced by Dhanush, the docudrama-crime thriller was the first Tamil film to represent India at the Academy Awards in 15 years.
Before we get into the top 10 movies, let us have a look at the star of the year.
Star of the year
If there is anyone that the year belongs to, it is definitely actor Vijay Sethupathi. The talented hero had six releases in 2016. Hardly can one find a top-notch actor having six releases in a single year in the recent past.
Much to the delight of Vijay Sethupathi fans, they got to see him on the big screen every other month. He delivered successes with all his movies that released this year Sethupathi, Dharma Durai and Aandavan Kattalai declared hits and Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum, Iraivi and Rekka turning out to be profitable ventures for the producers.
With a series of successful ventures, Vijay Sethupathi was counted on as a bankable star of small-time production houses. He is set to have another set of seven movies releasing next year. Will he be able to recreate the same success next year?
Here are the top 10 movies:
The year 2016 turned out to be a memorable year for Kollywood, where close to 190 Tamil films released. This year proved to be a healthy one, with both high-cost and low-budget movies received well by the audience. The jewel in the crown in this year is Vetrimaaran's Visaranai being chosen as India's official entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 89th Academy Awards. Produced by Dhanush, the docudrama-crime thriller was the first Tamil film to represent India at the Academy Awards in 15 years. Before we get into the top 10 movies, let us have a look at the star of the year. Star of the year If there is anyone that the year belongs to, it is definitely actor Vijay Sethupathi. The talented hero had six releases in 2016. Hardly can one find a top-notch actor having six releases in a single year in the recent past. Much to the delight of Vijay Sethupathi fans, they got to see him on the big screen every other month. He delivered successes with all his movies that released this year Sethupathi, Dharma Durai and Aandavan Kattalai declared hits and Kadhalum Kadandhu Pogum, Iraivi and Rekka turning out to be profitable ventures for the producers. With a series of successful ventures, Vijay Sethupathi was counted on as a bankable star of small-time production houses. He is set to have another set of seven movies releasing next year. Will he be able to recreate the same success next year? Here are the top 10 movies:
By Online Desk
Greater Noida Rape Case
A 16-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped and set ablaze by a youth in Greater Noida, succumbed to her injuries. The girl had suffered over 95 per cent burns and was fighting for her life at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi following the incident that occurred on March 7, 2016 at Tigri village in Greater Noida West. The accused, aged 18 years, was taken into custody. He was a neighbour of the victim's family and, according to her father, had become friendly with her. Police said the youth allegedly went to the girl's house and met her on the roof where he raped her and set her ablaze. He then fled the spot.
Ram Vrikshs cult evicted from Jawahar Bagh in Mathura
Two policemen and 22 squatters were killed in an armed conflict in the city of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh on June 2, 2016. The squatters, at Jawahar Bagh public park, an armed group led by a Ram Vriksh, once a follower of Jai Gurudev, had been occupying the site since 2014. Ram Vriksh Yadav, originally from Ghazipur, was running a parallel government, complete with administration, revenue and armed forces, within the park. It is alleged that local administrators believed that Ram Vriksh Yadav was close to some politicians, and were thus unwilling to act. After a court ordered their eviction in 2016, the police tried to forcibly remove them from the premises. The squatters responded violently, killing two senior officers, including the superintendent of police. The cops then returned fire, killing several squatters.
Bihar Topper Scam 2016
The corruption scandal came to light in Bihar on May 31, 2016 when Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Arts and Humanities topper Ruby Rai, science topper Saurabh Shrestha and the third-highest scorer in the science stream Rahul Kumar, while being interviewed by television channels, were unable to answer even basic questions. Ruby Rai, a student of Vishun Roy College, Kiratpur Raja Ram village in Vaishali district pronounced political science as prodigal science and described it as a subject related to cooking. Science topper Saurabh Shrestha was unaware what electrons and protons were and wrongly said aluminium was the most reactive element.
Delta Meghwal rape case
Delta Meghwal, a 17-year-old Dalit girl, was allegedly raped by a teacher at an institute in Bikaners Nokha town and her body was found in a water tank on March 29 this year. It was also reported that she was subjected to caste abuse by her hostel warden who sent her to clean the physical education teacher's room, who subsequently raped and killed her. While the state government claims, Meghwal committed suicide, the opposition Congress said it was murder. The Dalit Community requested a CBI probe, but there has been no movement on the case.
2016 Jharkhand mob lynching
2016 Jharkhand mob lynching refers to the case of lynching of two Muslim cattle traders allegedly by cattle-protection vigilantes in Latehar district in Jharkhand on March 18, 2016. The attackers killed 32-year-old Mazlum Ansari and 15-year-old Imteyaz Khan who were found hanging from a tree. Police arrested five people and identified them as Mithilesh Prasad Sahu alias Bunty, Pramod Kumar Sahu, Manoj Kumar Sahu, Awadhesh Sahu and Manoj Sahu. Three others were also said to be involved in the murders but were not apprehended.
Jisha murder case
Jisha, a 29-year-old Dalit law student, was murdered on April 28, 2016 at her home in Perumbavoor, Kerala. The police found the body mutilated and disturbingly sliced. Forensics concluded the body injuries showed violence, possible torture and the presence of alcohol. The report also noted that the culprit had used a sharp weapon to disembowel her. Jisha was stabbed over 30 times. Her chest was pierced with a dagger. The severe injury inflicted on her neck led to her death, according to the post mortem report. Ameerul Islam, an Assamese labourer was arrested for the rape and murder of Jisha. There were also other reports that Ameerul had an accomplice Anarul Islam and that he is at large. Opposition parties and the public have expressed fears that Ameerul was being made a scapegoat. Jishas father too has sought a CBI probe, saying the polices probe was not conducted in a fair manner.
Swathi Murder Case
Infosys techie Swathi, 24, was murdered on the platform of Nungambakkam suburban railway station in Chennai on June 24 later this year. A week after the murder, a youth named Ramkumar, whom the police claimed was Swathis stalker and murderer, was apprehended by the police and jailed. A few weeks later, police claimed that Ramkumar committed suicide inside the jail premises, raising questions about the veracity of the claims. There have been at least two similar crimes in and around Chennai since Swathis murder, in which alleged spurned suitors and jilted lovers hacked young women to death.
Greater Noida Rape Case A 16-year-old girl, who was allegedly raped and set ablaze by a youth in Greater Noida, succumbed to her injuries. The girl had suffered over 95 per cent burns and was fighting for her life at Safdarjung Hospital in Delhi following the incident that occurred on March 7, 2016 at Tigri village in Greater Noida West. The accused, aged 18 years, was taken into custody. He was a neighbour of the victim's family and, according to her father, had become friendly with her. Police said the youth allegedly went to the girl's house and met her on the roof where he raped her and set her ablaze. He then fled the spot. Ram Vrikshs cult evicted from Jawahar Bagh in Mathura Two policemen and 22 squatters were killed in an armed conflict in the city of Mathura, Uttar Pradesh on June 2, 2016. The squatters, at Jawahar Bagh public park, an armed group led by a Ram Vriksh, once a follower of Jai Gurudev, had been occupying the site since 2014. Ram Vriksh Yadav, originally from Ghazipur, was running a parallel government, complete with administration, revenue and armed forces, within the park. It is alleged that local administrators believed that Ram Vriksh Yadav was close to some politicians, and were thus unwilling to act. After a court ordered their eviction in 2016, the police tried to forcibly remove them from the premises. The squatters responded violently, killing two senior officers, including the superintendent of police. The cops then returned fire, killing several squatters. Bihar Topper Scam 2016 The corruption scandal came to light in Bihar on May 31, 2016 when Bihar School Examination Board (BSEB) Arts and Humanities topper Ruby Rai, science topper Saurabh Shrestha and the third-highest scorer in the science stream Rahul Kumar, while being interviewed by television channels, were unable to answer even basic questions. Ruby Rai, a student of Vishun Roy College, Kiratpur Raja Ram village in Vaishali district pronounced political science as prodigal science and described it as a subject related to cooking. Science topper Saurabh Shrestha was unaware what electrons and protons were and wrongly said aluminium was the most reactive element. Delta Meghwal rape case Delta Meghwal, a 17-year-old Dalit girl, was allegedly raped by a teacher at an institute in Bikaners Nokha town and her body was found in a water tank on March 29 this year. It was also reported that she was subjected to caste abuse by her hostel warden who sent her to clean the physical education teacher's room, who subsequently raped and killed her. While the state government claims, Meghwal committed suicide, the opposition Congress said it was murder. The Dalit Community requested a CBI probe, but there has been no movement on the case. 2016 Jharkhand mob lynching 2016 Jharkhand mob lynching refers to the case of lynching of two Muslim cattle traders allegedly by cattle-protection vigilantes in Latehar district in Jharkhand on March 18, 2016. The attackers killed 32-year-old Mazlum Ansari and 15-year-old Imteyaz Khan who were found hanging from a tree. Police arrested five people and identified them as Mithilesh Prasad Sahu alias Bunty, Pramod Kumar Sahu, Manoj Kumar Sahu, Awadhesh Sahu and Manoj Sahu. Three others were also said to be involved in the murders but were not apprehended. Jisha murder case Jisha, a 29-year-old Dalit law student, was murdered on April 28, 2016 at her home in Perumbavoor, Kerala. The police found the body mutilated and disturbingly sliced. Forensics concluded the body injuries showed violence, possible torture and the presence of alcohol. The report also noted that the culprit had used a sharp weapon to disembowel her. Jisha was stabbed over 30 times. Her chest was pierced with a dagger. The severe injury inflicted on her neck led to her death, according to the post mortem report. Ameerul Islam, an Assamese labourer was arrested for the rape and murder of Jisha. There were also other reports that Ameerul had an accomplice Anarul Islam and that he is at large. Opposition parties and the public have expressed fears that Ameerul was being made a scapegoat. Jishas father too has sought a CBI probe, saying the polices probe was not conducted in a fair manner. Swathi Murder Case Infosys techie Swathi, 24, was murdered on the platform of Nungambakkam suburban railway station in Chennai on June 24 later this year. A week after the murder, a youth named Ramkumar, whom the police claimed was Swathis stalker and murderer, was apprehended by the police and jailed. A few weeks later, police claimed that Ramkumar committed suicide inside the jail premises, raising questions about the veracity of the claims. There have been at least two similar crimes in and around Chennai since Swathis murder, in which alleged spurned suitors and jilted lovers hacked young women to death.
By Express News Service
CHENNAI: The IIT Madrass central library website and web pages of six of the institutions departments were hacked on Thursday by unknown persons who had posted messages reading Pakistan Jindabad.
A few students and alumni of the premium technology institution told Express that they came to know of the hacking of the website around 5.30 am.
Within a few minutes, the messages posted by the hackers were removed and the webpages read that they were currently down and the restoration process was on.
The institutes officials said that a website where information posted on conferences organised by the institute was vulnerable since it was frequently accessed by many.
A few other websites operated by the institute also work out of the same server and the hackers managed to hack those sites as well.
The site for conference information has the same server for six other departments and also a few other webpages. This webpage in which the information on the conferences is posted is accessed by many outsiders also and hence it was vulnerable, said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director of IIT Madras.
He said the websites would be restored soon. He has also asked the website maintenance in charge to make sure that the websites are not hacked again.
They (hackers) will know the password and they can hack again. So I asked the professor in charge of websites to make sure there is stricter security, he said. The websites for cultural fests are equally vulnerable, he added.
The departments whose websites were hacked are Humanities and Social Sciences, Management Studies, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Biotechnology.
Besides, the institutes central library and other websites of other centres like Centre for Technology and Policies, Health Care Innovation Centre, National Cancer Tissue Biobank and National Centre for Combustion Research and Development were also hacked.
CHENNAI: The IIT Madrass central library website and web pages of six of the institutions departments were hacked on Thursday by unknown persons who had posted messages reading Pakistan Jindabad. A few students and alumni of the premium technology institution told Express that they came to know of the hacking of the website around 5.30 am. Within a few minutes, the messages posted by the hackers were removed and the webpages read that they were currently down and the restoration process was on. The institutes officials said that a website where information posted on conferences organised by the institute was vulnerable since it was frequently accessed by many. A few other websites operated by the institute also work out of the same server and the hackers managed to hack those sites as well. The site for conference information has the same server for six other departments and also a few other webpages. This webpage in which the information on the conferences is posted is accessed by many outsiders also and hence it was vulnerable, said Bhaskar Ramamurthi, Director of IIT Madras. He said the websites would be restored soon. He has also asked the website maintenance in charge to make sure that the websites are not hacked again. They (hackers) will know the password and they can hack again. So I asked the professor in charge of websites to make sure there is stricter security, he said. The websites for cultural fests are equally vulnerable, he added. The departments whose websites were hacked are Humanities and Social Sciences, Management Studies, Mathematics, Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering and Biotechnology. Besides, the institutes central library and other websites of other centres like Centre for Technology and Policies, Health Care Innovation Centre, National Cancer Tissue Biobank and National Centre for Combustion Research and Development were also hacked.
By Express News Service
HYDERABAD: Sanitation in the city is about to get a technological boost. Greater Hyderabad is going to be dotted with over a dozen public e-toilets (Electronic Public Toilet) with biodigesters by Janaury 2017. They are innovatively designed for towns and cities.
The proposed model has sleek and appealing aesthetics and mild built. Moreover, e-Toilets are portable, hygienic and eco-friendly. They have easy to maintain components and accessories, besides durable and its vandalism resistant enclosure is expected to address public sanitation. Installation of one eToilet comes to around `7.30 lakh for women and `6.35 lakh for men. Similar eToilets have been installed in Chennai and Bengaluru. These e-Toilets are being constructed under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and few corporates have come forward to extend support to GHMC in setting up e-Toilets at busy public places. GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy held a meeting with representatives of State Bank of Hyderabad and Indian Oil Corporation Limited at GHMC head office on Thursday.
For sustainable sanitation:
The eToilet incorporates sustainable sanitation by integrating electronics, mechanical, web-mobile technologies thereby controlling entry, usage, cleaning, exit, and remote monitoring capabilities with multiple revenue options.
GHMC officials said that eToilets are easy to install, consumes less water, are power efficient and provide enhanced cleanliness through auto flushes. They also have features such as floor washing, unmanned operations, coin-operated entry and free access, on site waste treatment using anaerobic biodegradation and no regular manual maintenance is required. The insertion of a coin opens the door of the eToilet for the user, switches on a light-thus saving energy-and even directs the person with audio commands. The toilets are programmed to flush 1.5 litres of water after three minutes of usage or 4.5 litres if usage is longer. It can also be programmed to clean the platform with a complete wash down after every 5 or 10 persons use the toilet.
HYDERABAD: Sanitation in the city is about to get a technological boost. Greater Hyderabad is going to be dotted with over a dozen public e-toilets (Electronic Public Toilet) with biodigesters by Janaury 2017. They are innovatively designed for towns and cities. The proposed model has sleek and appealing aesthetics and mild built. Moreover, e-Toilets are portable, hygienic and eco-friendly. They have easy to maintain components and accessories, besides durable and its vandalism resistant enclosure is expected to address public sanitation. Installation of one eToilet comes to around `7.30 lakh for women and `6.35 lakh for men. Similar eToilets have been installed in Chennai and Bengaluru. These e-Toilets are being constructed under Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) and few corporates have come forward to extend support to GHMC in setting up e-Toilets at busy public places. GHMC Commissioner B Janardhan Reddy held a meeting with representatives of State Bank of Hyderabad and Indian Oil Corporation Limited at GHMC head office on Thursday. For sustainable sanitation: The eToilet incorporates sustainable sanitation by integrating electronics, mechanical, web-mobile technologies thereby controlling entry, usage, cleaning, exit, and remote monitoring capabilities with multiple revenue options. GHMC officials said that eToilets are easy to install, consumes less water, are power efficient and provide enhanced cleanliness through auto flushes. They also have features such as floor washing, unmanned operations, coin-operated entry and free access, on site waste treatment using anaerobic biodegradation and no regular manual maintenance is required. The insertion of a coin opens the door of the eToilet for the user, switches on a light-thus saving energy-and even directs the person with audio commands. The toilets are programmed to flush 1.5 litres of water after three minutes of usage or 4.5 litres if usage is longer. It can also be programmed to clean the platform with a complete wash down after every 5 or 10 persons use the toilet.
By Express News Service
HYDERABAD: The Telangana government told the Hyderabad High Court that the allegation that the slain gangster Nayeem had ties to the police and politicians from all parties was not correct.
The state government said that a special investigation team (SIT) was investigating the gangsters activities.
They added that there was no need to entrust the investigation to CBI since there are no national or international ramifications to it. The government added that so far no evidence is found that Nayeem is alleged to have had links with various Naxal outfits operating in other states. An investigation has been completed and further investigation is under progress by four teams appointed for the purpose.
The SIT team under the leadership of Additional DGP is working briskly on the activities of Nayeem and his gang, it noted.
Denying the allegation that SIT is conducting probe as an eye-wash and to protect the alleged politicians and police who were linked with Nayeem, it said that a number of persons are still coming forward before the SIT claiming to be victims of the accused.
It is found that Nayeem acquired land and properties in his name and in the name of associates at various places in the state and outside the state and the matter is under investigation, it added. In this regard, the government, represented by principal secretary to home Rajiv Trivedi, filed a counter-affidavit in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by CPI leader K Narayana seeking a CBI probe
CPI leaders PIL
The CPI leader alleged that the investigation by SIT has not made any breakthrough in the case and the reason cited is that many top senior IAS, IPS and politicians had ties to the gangster which led him to build up a vast empire. People are not able to get a hint as to what is happening in the case for a considerable period of time, he said.
HYDERABAD: The Telangana government told the Hyderabad High Court that the allegation that the slain gangster Nayeem had ties to the police and politicians from all parties was not correct. The state government said that a special investigation team (SIT) was investigating the gangsters activities. They added that there was no need to entrust the investigation to CBI since there are no national or international ramifications to it. The government added that so far no evidence is found that Nayeem is alleged to have had links with various Naxal outfits operating in other states. An investigation has been completed and further investigation is under progress by four teams appointed for the purpose. The SIT team under the leadership of Additional DGP is working briskly on the activities of Nayeem and his gang, it noted. Denying the allegation that SIT is conducting probe as an eye-wash and to protect the alleged politicians and police who were linked with Nayeem, it said that a number of persons are still coming forward before the SIT claiming to be victims of the accused. It is found that Nayeem acquired land and properties in his name and in the name of associates at various places in the state and outside the state and the matter is under investigation, it added. In this regard, the government, represented by principal secretary to home Rajiv Trivedi, filed a counter-affidavit in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by CPI leader K Narayana seeking a CBI probe CPI leaders PIL The CPI leader alleged that the investigation by SIT has not made any breakthrough in the case and the reason cited is that many top senior IAS, IPS and politicians had ties to the gangster which led him to build up a vast empire. People are not able to get a hint as to what is happening in the case for a considerable period of time, he said.
By IANS
SRINAGAR: Eight protesters and two security men were injured in clashes on Friday in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, the state police said.
Earlier, the security forces cordoned off the Galander area of then district following an information about militant presence there.
"In order to secure the cordoned off area, the security forces stopped vehicular movement on the highway for sometime," a police officer said here.
"Angry protesters started pelting stones at the security forces as they were withdrawing after the searches."
Reports from the area said the forces used tear-smoke shells and resorted to aerial firing to break the protests.
Two of the injured protesters sustained bullet injuries and were in stable condition, the police said.
SRINAGAR: Eight protesters and two security men were injured in clashes on Friday in south Kashmir's Pulwama district, the state police said. Earlier, the security forces cordoned off the Galander area of then district following an information about militant presence there. "In order to secure the cordoned off area, the security forces stopped vehicular movement on the highway for sometime," a police officer said here. "Angry protesters started pelting stones at the security forces as they were withdrawing after the searches." Reports from the area said the forces used tear-smoke shells and resorted to aerial firing to break the protests. Two of the injured protesters sustained bullet injuries and were in stable condition, the police said.
By PTI
JAMMU: One civilian was killed as Pakistani Army indulged in heavy cross border firing targeting Indian positions and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the Indian side to retaliate.
"Pakistani troops targeted the Indian Army posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Poonch sector with small arms, automatic and mortars at 1655 hours," an army officer said.
He said the army was retaliating strongly and effectively to the ceasefire violation.
One civilian has been killed in the ongoing firing, a senior police officer said. On December 16, Pakistan had violated ceasefire by targeting Indian positions along the LoC in Balakote sector of the same district.
The ceasefire violation had come after a lull of over three weeks after the Indian troops had launched a counter- offensive against Pakistan on November 23 against the killing of three soldiers in the Machhil sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
In the cross-LoC attack by suspected Pakistani terrorists, three Indian soldiers were killed on November 22, with body of one of them being mutilated. Following the incident, Indian Army had vowed a heavy "retribution".
The 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement has virtually become redundant with over 300 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops.
Over 26 people, including 14 security personnel, have been killed in ceasefire violations since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
JAMMU: One civilian was killed as Pakistani Army indulged in heavy cross border firing targeting Indian positions and civilian areas along the Line of Control (LoC) in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir, prompting the Indian side to retaliate. "Pakistani troops targeted the Indian Army posts and civilian areas along the LoC in Poonch sector with small arms, automatic and mortars at 1655 hours," an army officer said. He said the army was retaliating strongly and effectively to the ceasefire violation. One civilian has been killed in the ongoing firing, a senior police officer said. On December 16, Pakistan had violated ceasefire by targeting Indian positions along the LoC in Balakote sector of the same district. The ceasefire violation had come after a lull of over three weeks after the Indian troops had launched a counter- offensive against Pakistan on November 23 against the killing of three soldiers in the Machhil sector of north Kashmir's Kupwara district. In the cross-LoC attack by suspected Pakistani terrorists, three Indian soldiers were killed on November 22, with body of one of them being mutilated. Following the incident, Indian Army had vowed a heavy "retribution". The 2003 India-Pakistan ceasefire agreement has virtually become redundant with over 300 incidents of firing and shelling along the LoC and IB in Jammu and Kashmir by Pakistani troops. Over 26 people, including 14 security personnel, have been killed in ceasefire violations since the surgical strike on terrorist launch pads in Pakistan-occupied Kashmir.
Abhijit Mulye By
Express News Service
MUMBAI: The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections is likely to see a four-cornered fight. While the BJP and Shiv Sena have started targeting each other, the NCP has taken the lead and released a list of 45 candidates on Thursday putting to rest all speculations about an alliance with the Congress.
The NCP would contest the BMC elections with full strength. The decision in this regard was made at a recent meeting held by the party leadership. In accordance with that, we are releasing the first list of 45 candidates, said NCP city president Sachin Ahir. State Congress president and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan also refrained from speaking in favour of an alliance with the NCP. Local party units would take decisions in accordance with the local conditions, he said.
Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Anil Parab fired a salvo against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday.
The responsibility of corruption in the Corporation ultimately lies with the urban development department and hence the chief minister, who has been handling the department for the last two years, he said reacting to Fadnavis remarks last night.
The city has a huge budget of over thousands of crores. Yet the city is not fully developed, Fadnavis said at a BJP function. There is only one reason why Mumbai is not fully developed and that is corruption, he had said without naming the Sena.
While the strength of Sena in the current house is 75, that of the Congress is 52, BJP 31, NCP 13 while the MNS has 28 out of a total of 227 seats.
MUMBAI: The upcoming Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) elections is likely to see a four-cornered fight. While the BJP and Shiv Sena have started targeting each other, the NCP has taken the lead and released a list of 45 candidates on Thursday putting to rest all speculations about an alliance with the Congress. The NCP would contest the BMC elections with full strength. The decision in this regard was made at a recent meeting held by the party leadership. In accordance with that, we are releasing the first list of 45 candidates, said NCP city president Sachin Ahir. State Congress president and former Chief Minister Ashok Chavan also refrained from speaking in favour of an alliance with the NCP. Local party units would take decisions in accordance with the local conditions, he said. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena MLA Anil Parab fired a salvo against Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Thursday. The responsibility of corruption in the Corporation ultimately lies with the urban development department and hence the chief minister, who has been handling the department for the last two years, he said reacting to Fadnavis remarks last night. The city has a huge budget of over thousands of crores. Yet the city is not fully developed, Fadnavis said at a BJP function. There is only one reason why Mumbai is not fully developed and that is corruption, he had said without naming the Sena. While the strength of Sena in the current house is 75, that of the Congress is 52, BJP 31, NCP 13 while the MNS has 28 out of a total of 227 seats.
By Express News Service
NEW DELHI: Criticizing Beijings move to block Indias proposal to list Pathankot terror attack mastermind and chief of JeM Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist by the UN, New Delhi has termed the move as "unfortunate blow" and a step that confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism.
Reacting sharply, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the decision by Beijing is surprising as China itself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism. As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organization.
"The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism, MEA said in a statement issued in the evening.
Officials said that with China blocking India's proposal, which was submitted in February to the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, New Delhi has to make a fresh listing request for Azhar to be banned by the global body. After its submission, China twice imposed "technical" hold on the Indian proposal. However, India said it will continue to push forward with resolute determination "through the use of all options available with us to bring perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice".
External Affairs Ministry also said, "We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar.
"The international community is aware that the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed which is proscribed by the United Nations, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India including the Pathankot Air Base attack.
"As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation. We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism," Vikas Swarup added.
NEW DELHI: Criticizing Beijings move to block Indias proposal to list Pathankot terror attack mastermind and chief of JeM Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist by the UN, New Delhi has termed the move as "unfortunate blow" and a step that confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism. Reacting sharply, MEA Spokesperson Vikas Swarup said the decision by Beijing is surprising as China itself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism. As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organization. "The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism, MEA said in a statement issued in the evening. Officials said that with China blocking India's proposal, which was submitted in February to the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council, New Delhi has to make a fresh listing request for Azhar to be banned by the global body. After its submission, China twice imposed "technical" hold on the Indian proposal. However, India said it will continue to push forward with resolute determination "through the use of all options available with us to bring perpetrators of terrorist violence to justice". External Affairs Ministry also said, "We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar. "The international community is aware that the Pakistan-based Jaish-e-Mohammed which is proscribed by the United Nations, has been responsible for innumerable terrorist attacks on India including the Pathankot Air Base attack. "As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation. We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism," Vikas Swarup added.
SV Krishna Chaitanya By
Express News Service
CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation is upbeat over its moon mission. In December next year, the space agency is all set to launch a spacecraft housing two private rovers (a space exploration vehicle) atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV).
Interestingly, ISRO bagged the commercial launch contract just when its own Chandrayaan-2 mission, a second shot to the moon, is gaining pace with the beginning of landing experiments inside the Science City in Chitradurga.
Bengaluru-based firm TeamIndus will be attempting to become the first Indian private entity to land on the moon by deploying its own rover ECA. This rover will be competing in the $30 million Lunar XPrize, sponsored by Google. The landing site for TeamIndus is Mare Imbrium, the large plain visible to the naked eye on the top left of the moon. The second rover will be developed by Japanese firm Hakuto.
K Sivan, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, told Express that the space agency is up for the challenge. ISRO always wanted the Indian private industry to take an active part in the space explorations mission. Its a very good initiative and we wish TeamIndus all success.
However, ISROs role in the mission is limited to providing launch services and the rest is the sole responsibility of the private firm. For us, its like any other satellite.
Having successfully carried out the Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008, the PSLV is fully capable of pulling off this mission as well, he said.
However, certain key interface systems like mechanical, electrical and radio systems would be analysed to ensure the rocket and satellite support the overall mission, he said.
Sivan said VSSC would design and develop the PSLV. ISRO Inertial Systems Unit at Thiruvananthapuram would develop the inertial systems for the vehicle. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, also at Thiruvananthapuram, would develop the liquid propulsion stages for the second and fourth stages of the PSLV.
On the Chandrayaan-2, the official said the project was progressing at a good pace and several systems were at the developmental stage. The mission consists of an orbiter, lander and rover configuration.
It is planned to be launched as a composite stack by GSLV-Mk II tentatively by early 2018. The scientific payloads onboard are expected to perform elemental studies of the lunar surface.
In 2010, it was agreed that the Russian Space Agency ROSCOSMOS would be responsible for the lunar lander and ISRO responsible for orbiter and rover as well as a launch by GSLV.
However, it was later decided that the lunar lander would be developed by ISRO and Chandrayaan-2, making it an entirely Indian mission.
CHENNAI: The Indian Space Research Organisation is upbeat over its moon mission. In December next year, the space agency is all set to launch a spacecraft housing two private rovers (a space exploration vehicle) atop a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV). Interestingly, ISRO bagged the commercial launch contract just when its own Chandrayaan-2 mission, a second shot to the moon, is gaining pace with the beginning of landing experiments inside the Science City in Chitradurga. Bengaluru-based firm TeamIndus will be attempting to become the first Indian private entity to land on the moon by deploying its own rover ECA. This rover will be competing in the $30 million Lunar XPrize, sponsored by Google. The landing site for TeamIndus is Mare Imbrium, the large plain visible to the naked eye on the top left of the moon. The second rover will be developed by Japanese firm Hakuto. K Sivan, Director of Vikram Sarabhai Space Centre (VSSC), Thiruvananthapuram, told Express that the space agency is up for the challenge. ISRO always wanted the Indian private industry to take an active part in the space explorations mission. Its a very good initiative and we wish TeamIndus all success. However, ISROs role in the mission is limited to providing launch services and the rest is the sole responsibility of the private firm. For us, its like any other satellite. Having successfully carried out the Chandrayaan-1 mission in 2008, the PSLV is fully capable of pulling off this mission as well, he said. However, certain key interface systems like mechanical, electrical and radio systems would be analysed to ensure the rocket and satellite support the overall mission, he said. Sivan said VSSC would design and develop the PSLV. ISRO Inertial Systems Unit at Thiruvananthapuram would develop the inertial systems for the vehicle. Liquid Propulsion Systems Centre, also at Thiruvananthapuram, would develop the liquid propulsion stages for the second and fourth stages of the PSLV. On the Chandrayaan-2, the official said the project was progressing at a good pace and several systems were at the developmental stage. The mission consists of an orbiter, lander and rover configuration. It is planned to be launched as a composite stack by GSLV-Mk II tentatively by early 2018. The scientific payloads onboard are expected to perform elemental studies of the lunar surface. In 2010, it was agreed that the Russian Space Agency ROSCOSMOS would be responsible for the lunar lander and ISRO responsible for orbiter and rover as well as a launch by GSLV. However, it was later decided that the lunar lander would be developed by ISRO and Chandrayaan-2, making it an entirely Indian mission.
Fayaz Wani By
Express News Service
SRINAGAR: Kashmir witnessed shutdown, protests and clashes on Friday against issuance of identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) by the PDP-BJP coalition government while police detained pro-independence JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik when he was leading a protest demonstration.
All shops, business establishments and petrol pumps in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley remained closed while public transport was off the roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was affected by the strike.
Authorities had deployed large number of police and paramilitary personnel in sensitive areas of Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir to maintain law and order and prevent anti-India protests.
Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, who spearheaded the over five month long unrest in the Valley after killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, had called for shutdown and protests today against the issuance of identity certificates to WPRs.
After clearance from Union Home Ministry, the J&K government had started issuing the identity certificates to WPRs. The issuance of identity certificates to WPRs is turning out to be another headache for the PDP-BJP government as separatists, opposition National Conference and Congress and Kashmir-based legislators are strongly opposing the move.
The WPRs are living in seven border districts of Jammu province since 1947 but have not been granted the State citizenship by successive J&K government. They can vote in parliamentary elections but not in State Assembly polls.
At least 5800 families from Sialkote, Pakistan had settled in border districts in J&K after partition in 1947. At present 19960 WPR families, according to West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee, are living in different areas of Jammu.
On the call of separatists, youth tool to roads at uptown area of Batamaloo in Srinagar and protested against issuance of identity certificates to WPRs.
The youth pelted stones on police and paramilitary personnel after they intercepted them. The cops fired tear smoke shells to disperse them and the clashes continued for about an hour during which protestors hurled a petrol bomb towards the police vehicle.
JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik reached South Kashmir Pulwama town early this morning. He led a protest demonstration against the issuance of domicile certificate to WPRs in the afternoon.
However, Malik was arrested by police and lodged in a nearby police station. His arrest triggered clashes in the area, which continued for over an hour.
At least eight persons were injured in clashes between stone pelting youth and security personnel in Samboora area of Pulwama district. The clashes were triggered after security personnel cordoned the area to conduct search operation.
The clashes were also reported from Tral in South Kashmir, Bandipora, Sopore and many other areas in North Kashmir and some other parts of the Valley.
Moderate Hurriyat Conference leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said refugees are refugees, be they from West Pakistan or Rohingya and cannot get state subjects rights. The WP refugees already have Adhaaar and election cards as proof of identification for seeking jobs in India so no one is going to buy the identification certificate theory of the government.
All designs and ploys to challenge the dispute nature of Jammu and Kashmir by BJP and PDP will be opposed and resisted, he added.
SRINAGAR: Kashmir witnessed shutdown, protests and clashes on Friday against issuance of identity certificates to West Pakistan Refugees (WPRs) by the PDP-BJP coalition government while police detained pro-independence JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik when he was leading a protest demonstration. All shops, business establishments and petrol pumps in Srinagar and other parts of the Valley remained closed while public transport was off the roads. The attendance in government offices and banks was affected by the strike. Authorities had deployed large number of police and paramilitary personnel in sensitive areas of Srinagar and other parts of Kashmir to maintain law and order and prevent anti-India protests. Separatist leaders Syed Ali Geelani, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq and Mohammad Yasin Malik, who spearheaded the over five month long unrest in the Valley after killing of 21-year-old Hizbul Mujahideen commander Burhan Wani on July 8, had called for shutdown and protests today against the issuance of identity certificates to WPRs. After clearance from Union Home Ministry, the J&K government had started issuing the identity certificates to WPRs. The issuance of identity certificates to WPRs is turning out to be another headache for the PDP-BJP government as separatists, opposition National Conference and Congress and Kashmir-based legislators are strongly opposing the move. The WPRs are living in seven border districts of Jammu province since 1947 but have not been granted the State citizenship by successive J&K government. They can vote in parliamentary elections but not in State Assembly polls. At least 5800 families from Sialkote, Pakistan had settled in border districts in J&K after partition in 1947. At present 19960 WPR families, according to West Pakistani Refugees Action Committee, are living in different areas of Jammu. On the call of separatists, youth tool to roads at uptown area of Batamaloo in Srinagar and protested against issuance of identity certificates to WPRs. The youth pelted stones on police and paramilitary personnel after they intercepted them. The cops fired tear smoke shells to disperse them and the clashes continued for about an hour during which protestors hurled a petrol bomb towards the police vehicle. JKLF chairman Mohammad Yasin Malik reached South Kashmir Pulwama town early this morning. He led a protest demonstration against the issuance of domicile certificate to WPRs in the afternoon. However, Malik was arrested by police and lodged in a nearby police station. His arrest triggered clashes in the area, which continued for over an hour. At least eight persons were injured in clashes between stone pelting youth and security personnel in Samboora area of Pulwama district. The clashes were triggered after security personnel cordoned the area to conduct search operation. The clashes were also reported from Tral in South Kashmir, Bandipora, Sopore and many other areas in North Kashmir and some other parts of the Valley. Moderate Hurriyat Conference leader and cleric Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said refugees are refugees, be they from West Pakistan or Rohingya and cannot get state subjects rights. The WP refugees already have Adhaaar and election cards as proof of identification for seeking jobs in India so no one is going to buy the identification certificate theory of the government. All designs and ploys to challenge the dispute nature of Jammu and Kashmir by BJP and PDP will be opposed and resisted, he added.
By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance Court here ordered a preliminary inquiry against former chief minister Oommen Chandy, former home minister and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, former chief secretary Jiji Thomson in a case related to the appointment of Shanker Reddy as Vigilance director by the previous UDF government.
While issuing the orders, the court said that the report should be submitted on February 15. The orders were issued on a petition filed by Paichira Navaz who alleged that appointment of Shanker Reddy was illegal. He had submitted that the previous UDF government had posted Reddy as Vigilance director even when he was holding the rank of additional deputy general of police for allegedly protecting UDF leaders and senior bureaucrats from a case pertaining to irregularities in work progressing at the Kannur airport.
The government had this week submitted all documents relating to the appointment of Shanker Reddy as Vigilance director with a covering letter from the home secretary.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance Court here ordered a preliminary inquiry against former chief minister Oommen Chandy, former home minister and Opposition leader Ramesh Chennithala, former chief secretary Jiji Thomson in a case related to the appointment of Shanker Reddy as Vigilance director by the previous UDF government. While issuing the orders, the court said that the report should be submitted on February 15. The orders were issued on a petition filed by Paichira Navaz who alleged that appointment of Shanker Reddy was illegal. He had submitted that the previous UDF government had posted Reddy as Vigilance director even when he was holding the rank of additional deputy general of police for allegedly protecting UDF leaders and senior bureaucrats from a case pertaining to irregularities in work progressing at the Kannur airport. The government had this week submitted all documents relating to the appointment of Shanker Reddy as Vigilance director with a covering letter from the home secretary.
By Express News Service
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday called for the celebration of the argumentative Indian, not the intolerant Indian, underscoring the need to protect the freedom to doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually as an essential pillar of democracy.
Nothing should lie outside the realm of reason, and therefore of discussion and argument. Such freedom is vital for progress in any field, especially a calling and craft like history, Mukherjee said, inaugurating the 77th session of the Indian History Congress at the Kerala University. The freedom of speech, he said, was one of the most important fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
Multiple views, thoughts and philosophies have competed with each other peacefully for centuries in the country. However, there has been an unfortunate tendency from time to time to take offence at the expression of views perceived to be hostile to our social or cultural institutions, past or present. Similarly, critical appraisals of heroes and national icons have been met with hostility and sometimes even violence, he said.
It is my firm conviction that Indias pluralism and social, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity are our greatest strengths. Our traditions have always celebrated the argumentative Indian, not the intolerant Indian, Mukherjee said.
While it is natural to see glory in the past of ones own country, patriotism should not result in blinkered approaches to interpreting history or a compromise with truth in order to justify an argument of choice, the President said. He urged historians to engage in an objective pursuit of history, which, he said, requires the impartial mind of a judge and not the mind of an advocate. Historians should also study how a composite culture and national sentiment have grown in India over the centuries. Such a study, he said, would have valuable lessons for modern-day nation building.
What is the essential chemistry that has bound these millions and millions of people into a single identity? he said.
The President expressed the hope that the Indian History Congress would continue to remain alert and vigilant in the cause of an objective study of history. The President presented the Rajwade Award to eminent epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan for his life-long service to Indian history.
Governor P Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers Kadakampally Surendran and C Raveendranath, Mayor V K Prashanth and Indian History Congress president Shireen Moosvi spoke. The congress, being hosted by the Kerala University after a gap of 58 years, will come to a close on Friday.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: President Pranab Mukherjee on Thursday called for the celebration of the argumentative Indian, not the intolerant Indian, underscoring the need to protect the freedom to doubt, disagree and dispute intellectually as an essential pillar of democracy. Nothing should lie outside the realm of reason, and therefore of discussion and argument. Such freedom is vital for progress in any field, especially a calling and craft like history, Mukherjee said, inaugurating the 77th session of the Indian History Congress at the Kerala University. The freedom of speech, he said, was one of the most important fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution. Multiple views, thoughts and philosophies have competed with each other peacefully for centuries in the country. However, there has been an unfortunate tendency from time to time to take offence at the expression of views perceived to be hostile to our social or cultural institutions, past or present. Similarly, critical appraisals of heroes and national icons have been met with hostility and sometimes even violence, he said. It is my firm conviction that Indias pluralism and social, cultural, linguistic and religious diversity are our greatest strengths. Our traditions have always celebrated the argumentative Indian, not the intolerant Indian, Mukherjee said. While it is natural to see glory in the past of ones own country, patriotism should not result in blinkered approaches to interpreting history or a compromise with truth in order to justify an argument of choice, the President said. He urged historians to engage in an objective pursuit of history, which, he said, requires the impartial mind of a judge and not the mind of an advocate. Historians should also study how a composite culture and national sentiment have grown in India over the centuries. Such a study, he said, would have valuable lessons for modern-day nation building. What is the essential chemistry that has bound these millions and millions of people into a single identity? he said. The President expressed the hope that the Indian History Congress would continue to remain alert and vigilant in the cause of an objective study of history. The President presented the Rajwade Award to eminent epigraphist Iravatham Mahadevan for his life-long service to Indian history. Governor P Sathasivam, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, ministers Kadakampally Surendran and C Raveendranath, Mayor V K Prashanth and Indian History Congress president Shireen Moosvi spoke. The congress, being hosted by the Kerala University after a gap of 58 years, will come to a close on Friday.
Bijay Chaki By
Express News Service
BHUBANESWAR: 2016 was a tumultuous year for the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) which found itself on the back foot for different reasons including the death of more than 100 children due to Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri and malnutrition in Nagada, the Dana Majhi incident which hogged international headlines, killing of innocent tribals and dalits in alleged police firing at Gumudumaha and Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh.
Just when the year was coming to end, a sex video allegedly featuring Bhubaneswar Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena went viral on the social media giving the opposition political parties a much-needed opportunity to take on the BJD.
Congress, the main opposition political party in the State, was also in the news for the wrong reasons during the year because of factional fights between the organisational and legislative wings of the party. Even though the party had enough opportunities during the year to corner the BJD, the organisational and legislative wings functioned in a parallel manner creating confusion in the rank and file.
Things deteriorated to such an extent that several party MLAs, including Congress whip in the Assembly Tara Prasad Bahinipati, launched a frontal attack on general secretary of All-India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge, Odisha BK Hariprasad for his failure to contain factionalism.
The youth and students wings of the party also caused embarrassment to the party when some of their members barged into a hotel room shouting slogans in the Capital City where senior party leaders, including Hariprasad and president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Prasad Harichandan, were busy in a meeting. Their grievance was that the party ignored late Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and did not give him due recognition.
Despite attempts to bring about a rapprochement between the warring factions in Congress, factionalism intensified with a section of senior leaders expressing unhappiness with the style of functioning of the OPCC president.
Situation in the BJP was no better either with some of the senior leaders not happy with the style of functioning of the State leadership. Factionalism also came to the fore in ruling BJD on more than one occasion because of open squabbling between Excise Minister Damodar Rout and his detractors.
Statement by leader of BJD in Lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahatab about the need for an alliance with Congress to defeat BJP and its subsequent withdrawal sparked off a controversy with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik countering it and reiterating the theory of equi-distance between BJP and Congress.
The BJD had to face embarrassment as the story of Dana Majhi, a poor tribal who had to walk over 10 km carrying his wifes body on his shoulder from a Government hospital in backward Kalahandi district after being denied a hearse in August, made international news and exposed the poor healthcare facilities in the State.
The BJD Government was under attack throughout the year over issues such as death of 25 people in a hospital fire in Bhubaneswar, high infant and maternal mortality rates, corruption and power crisis. Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak had to resign taking moral responsibility for the hospital fire.
The Opposition alleged that healthcare crumbled in the State when more than 100 children died due to Japanese Encephalitis in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district within a period of two months.
The State Government also drew flak following the death of 19 children due to malnutrition at Nagada village in mineral-rich Jajpur district during June-July.
Another incident in which five tribals and dalits, including a child, were killed in firing allegedly by security forces on July 8 at Gumudumaha in Kandhamal district also evoked widespread condemnation.
While Naveen, who holds the Home portfolio, came under sharp attack for the incident, politicians made a beeline for the nondescript Gumudumaha village alleging highhandedness of security forces. Following public outrage, the State Government ordered a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the firing incident.
There was much debate over the Mahanadi river water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh with the State Government finally approaching the Centre for constituting a tribunal to settle the matter.
The State Government also filed an injunction petition in the Supreme Court demanding that the Chhattisgarh should stop all construction activities over Mahanadi as it would drastically reduce water flow of the river in Odisha.
While the Chief Minister ignored Opposition demand for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue, all-party meeting convened by Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra on the issue was a huge success though the BJD did not participate.
BHUBANESWAR: 2016 was a tumultuous year for the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) which found itself on the back foot for different reasons including the death of more than 100 children due to Japanese Encephalitis in Malkangiri and malnutrition in Nagada, the Dana Majhi incident which hogged international headlines, killing of innocent tribals and dalits in alleged police firing at Gumudumaha and Mahanadi river water dispute with Chhattisgarh. Just when the year was coming to end, a sex video allegedly featuring Bhubaneswar Mayor Ananta Narayan Jena went viral on the social media giving the opposition political parties a much-needed opportunity to take on the BJD. Congress, the main opposition political party in the State, was also in the news for the wrong reasons during the year because of factional fights between the organisational and legislative wings of the party. Even though the party had enough opportunities during the year to corner the BJD, the organisational and legislative wings functioned in a parallel manner creating confusion in the rank and file. Things deteriorated to such an extent that several party MLAs, including Congress whip in the Assembly Tara Prasad Bahinipati, launched a frontal attack on general secretary of All-India Congress Committee (AICC) in-charge, Odisha BK Hariprasad for his failure to contain factionalism. The youth and students wings of the party also caused embarrassment to the party when some of their members barged into a hotel room shouting slogans in the Capital City where senior party leaders, including Hariprasad and president of Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) Prasad Harichandan, were busy in a meeting. Their grievance was that the party ignored late Lalatendu Bidyadhar Mohapatra and did not give him due recognition. Despite attempts to bring about a rapprochement between the warring factions in Congress, factionalism intensified with a section of senior leaders expressing unhappiness with the style of functioning of the OPCC president. Situation in the BJP was no better either with some of the senior leaders not happy with the style of functioning of the State leadership. Factionalism also came to the fore in ruling BJD on more than one occasion because of open squabbling between Excise Minister Damodar Rout and his detractors. Statement by leader of BJD in Lok Sabha Bhartruhari Mahatab about the need for an alliance with Congress to defeat BJP and its subsequent withdrawal sparked off a controversy with Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik countering it and reiterating the theory of equi-distance between BJP and Congress. The BJD had to face embarrassment as the story of Dana Majhi, a poor tribal who had to walk over 10 km carrying his wifes body on his shoulder from a Government hospital in backward Kalahandi district after being denied a hearse in August, made international news and exposed the poor healthcare facilities in the State. The BJD Government was under attack throughout the year over issues such as death of 25 people in a hospital fire in Bhubaneswar, high infant and maternal mortality rates, corruption and power crisis. Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak had to resign taking moral responsibility for the hospital fire. The Opposition alleged that healthcare crumbled in the State when more than 100 children died due to Japanese Encephalitis in tribal-dominated Malkangiri district within a period of two months. The State Government also drew flak following the death of 19 children due to malnutrition at Nagada village in mineral-rich Jajpur district during June-July. Another incident in which five tribals and dalits, including a child, were killed in firing allegedly by security forces on July 8 at Gumudumaha in Kandhamal district also evoked widespread condemnation. While Naveen, who holds the Home portfolio, came under sharp attack for the incident, politicians made a beeline for the nondescript Gumudumaha village alleging highhandedness of security forces. Following public outrage, the State Government ordered a probe by a special investigation team (SIT) into the firing incident. There was much debate over the Mahanadi river water dispute between Odisha and Chhattisgarh with the State Government finally approaching the Centre for constituting a tribunal to settle the matter. The State Government also filed an injunction petition in the Supreme Court demanding that the Chhattisgarh should stop all construction activities over Mahanadi as it would drastically reduce water flow of the river in Odisha. While the Chief Minister ignored Opposition demand for an all-party meeting to discuss the issue, all-party meeting convened by Leader of Opposition Narasingh Mishra on the issue was a huge success though the BJD did not participate.
By PTI
CUTTACK: Odisha Police today rubbished as "bogus" the complaint about donations being collected from people to raise funds to meet the legal expenses of arrested alleged al-Qaida operative Abdul Rehman.
Reports in a section of media caused flutter after it was claimed that a complaint was filed by one Sheikh Tahimur Ali of Sahipada village under Salepur police station of the state which alleged that some youths of his community were coercing him to cough up a hefty amount as donation to meet the legal expenses of Rehman.
However, a senior police official confirmed that subsequent probes revealed the complaint was bogus and no such exercise was taking place by anyone for the legal expenses of the alleged al-Qaida operative, who was arrested by the Delhi Police last year from his house here in Madhya Kachha area.
"The investigation so far revealed that Tahimur had some past rivalries with the youth of his village over his marital discord. In order to teach a lesson to the youth, Tahimur came up with the complaint implicating the youths for collecting donations for Rehman," Salepur SDPO P K Jena said tonight.
Jena, however, informed that Salepur police have registered a case based on the complaint of Tahimur.
In his written complaint, Tahimur named five youths and alleged that they had demanded an amount of Rs 50,000 from him as donations to meet the legal expenses of Rehman.
He further said in his complaint that the youths have threatened him and his son of dire consequences, if he did not cough up the money. Although, no arrests have been made in this connection
so far, the police are investigating into the development from all angles, Jena said.
CUTTACK: Odisha Police today rubbished as "bogus" the complaint about donations being collected from people to raise funds to meet the legal expenses of arrested alleged al-Qaida operative Abdul Rehman. Reports in a section of media caused flutter after it was claimed that a complaint was filed by one Sheikh Tahimur Ali of Sahipada village under Salepur police station of the state which alleged that some youths of his community were coercing him to cough up a hefty amount as donation to meet the legal expenses of Rehman. However, a senior police official confirmed that subsequent probes revealed the complaint was bogus and no such exercise was taking place by anyone for the legal expenses of the alleged al-Qaida operative, who was arrested by the Delhi Police last year from his house here in Madhya Kachha area. "The investigation so far revealed that Tahimur had some past rivalries with the youth of his village over his marital discord. In order to teach a lesson to the youth, Tahimur came up with the complaint implicating the youths for collecting donations for Rehman," Salepur SDPO P K Jena said tonight. Jena, however, informed that Salepur police have registered a case based on the complaint of Tahimur. In his written complaint, Tahimur named five youths and alleged that they had demanded an amount of Rs 50,000 from him as donations to meet the legal expenses of Rehman. He further said in his complaint that the youths have threatened him and his son of dire consequences, if he did not cough up the money. Although, no arrests have been made in this connection so far, the police are investigating into the development from all angles, Jena said.
By Express News Service
CHENNAI: The AIADMK general council on Thursday decided to take steps for their late leader J Jayalalithaa to be accorded the Magsaysay award and Nobel Peace Prize, and urged the Centre to declare her birthday as National Farmers Day. It also reiterated the recent demands of the Tamil Nadu Cabinet Bharat Ratna for Jayalalithaa and unveiling her statue at the Parliament complex.
One of the resolutions cited the pro-poor schemes implemented by the governments headed by Jayalalithaa and said the general council would take steps required to accord the Ramon Magsaysay award to her.
Another resolution recalled Jayalalithaas speech during the 2009 Lok Sabha poll campaign on farmers welfare. She made her speech on the lines of I have a dream of Martin Luther King Jr. The Farmers Security Scheme implemented by her government and her dreams for uplifting farmers on a par with those in Japan and Germany, are enough to honour her birthday as National Farmers Day, it said.
Another resolution recalled the services of AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran and his successor J Jayalalithaa. The general council decides to observe the centenary year of MGR as a Year of Peoples Service, it added.
In all, the general council adopted 14 resolutions, most of them hailing the sacrifices made by Jayalalithaa and her concern for the poor, courage, untiring work, etc. A separate resolution was adopted condoling the death of 597 persons following the hospitalisation and death of Jayalalithaa. The death of 106 party functionaries during the past months due to accidents and other reasons was also condoled.
The deaths of former Cuban President Fidel Castro, former Singapore President SR Nathan, former ISRO chief MGK Menon, Thuglak editor Cho S Ramaswamy, and Carnatic musician M Balamurali Krishna, among others, were also condoled.
CHENNAI: The AIADMK general council on Thursday decided to take steps for their late leader J Jayalalithaa to be accorded the Magsaysay award and Nobel Peace Prize, and urged the Centre to declare her birthday as National Farmers Day. It also reiterated the recent demands of the Tamil Nadu Cabinet Bharat Ratna for Jayalalithaa and unveiling her statue at the Parliament complex. One of the resolutions cited the pro-poor schemes implemented by the governments headed by Jayalalithaa and said the general council would take steps required to accord the Ramon Magsaysay award to her. Another resolution recalled Jayalalithaas speech during the 2009 Lok Sabha poll campaign on farmers welfare. She made her speech on the lines of I have a dream of Martin Luther King Jr. The Farmers Security Scheme implemented by her government and her dreams for uplifting farmers on a par with those in Japan and Germany, are enough to honour her birthday as National Farmers Day, it said. Another resolution recalled the services of AIADMK founder and former Chief Minister MG Ramachandran and his successor J Jayalalithaa. The general council decides to observe the centenary year of MGR as a Year of Peoples Service, it added. In all, the general council adopted 14 resolutions, most of them hailing the sacrifices made by Jayalalithaa and her concern for the poor, courage, untiring work, etc. A separate resolution was adopted condoling the death of 597 persons following the hospitalisation and death of Jayalalithaa. The death of 106 party functionaries during the past months due to accidents and other reasons was also condoled. The deaths of former Cuban President Fidel Castro, former Singapore President SR Nathan, former ISRO chief MGK Menon, Thuglak editor Cho S Ramaswamy, and Carnatic musician M Balamurali Krishna, among others, were also condoled.
C Shivakumar By
Express News Service
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is seeking the help of Germany in preparing the integrated land use planning and management for Madurai-Thoothukudi Industrial Corridor Project, which will help bring investments of about `25,000 crore and generate employment for one lakh people.
Sources said a two-year Memorandum of Understanding is being planned with German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to prepare land use applications for the State in Madurai-Thoothkudi Industrial Corridor region and Madurai district.
The note of cooperation is likely to be signed by the State Planning Department (SPD) and Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) for two years till October 2018. GIZ will also help the State Planning Commission to develop a State Land Use Policy and develop tools, instruments and guidelines for integrated land use planning and management in consultation with different planning experts and relevant officials from DTCP and SPD.
It is learnt that GIZ will also provide national land-use policy guidelines to the State and feedback at the national level wherever required thus forming a linkage with State and national-level policies and guidelines prepared under the project of Land Use Planning and Management.
GIZ will have a technical expert in the State Planning Commission office to closely coordinate with the State departments, provide technical advisory and develop human capacity under the project of land use planning and management.
It is learnt that the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu has floated a special purpose vehicle for developing the Madurai-Thoothukudi Industrial Corridor project.
Sipcot has 19,000 acres in nine districts - Ramanthapuram, Pudukottai, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Theni, Virudhnagar, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari. The core nodes of development of Madurai-Thoothkudi Industrial Corridor will focus on four manufacturing and business investment regions, two manufacturing and business investments areas, one agriculture business investment region, two knowledge hubs and three special tourism investment zones.
CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu is seeking the help of Germany in preparing the integrated land use planning and management for Madurai-Thoothukudi Industrial Corridor Project, which will help bring investments of about `25,000 crore and generate employment for one lakh people. Sources said a two-year Memorandum of Understanding is being planned with German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) to prepare land use applications for the State in Madurai-Thoothkudi Industrial Corridor region and Madurai district. The note of cooperation is likely to be signed by the State Planning Department (SPD) and Directorate of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) for two years till October 2018. GIZ will also help the State Planning Commission to develop a State Land Use Policy and develop tools, instruments and guidelines for integrated land use planning and management in consultation with different planning experts and relevant officials from DTCP and SPD. It is learnt that GIZ will also provide national land-use policy guidelines to the State and feedback at the national level wherever required thus forming a linkage with State and national-level policies and guidelines prepared under the project of Land Use Planning and Management. GIZ will have a technical expert in the State Planning Commission office to closely coordinate with the State departments, provide technical advisory and develop human capacity under the project of land use planning and management. It is learnt that the State Industries Promotion Corporation of Tamil Nadu has floated a special purpose vehicle for developing the Madurai-Thoothukudi Industrial Corridor project. Sipcot has 19,000 acres in nine districts - Ramanthapuram, Pudukottai, Dindigul, Sivaganga, Theni, Virudhnagar, Thoothukudi, Tirunelveli and Kanniyakumari. The core nodes of development of Madurai-Thoothkudi Industrial Corridor will focus on four manufacturing and business investment regions, two manufacturing and business investments areas, one agriculture business investment region, two knowledge hubs and three special tourism investment zones.
By Associated Press
CLEVELAND: U.S. Coast Guard crews searched Lake Erie on Friday for a plane that disappeared overnight shortly after takeoff from a small Cleveland airport along the shore.
The Columbus-bound Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport late Thursday night with three children and three adults aboard and vanished from radar about 2 miles over the lake. Why remains unclear.
Searchers had found no sign of any debris or the people aboard the plane as of Friday morning, the agency said. Coast Guard official James Cox in Buffalo, New York, also said no emergency beacon had been detected.
Weather prevented a boat search overnight, but a U.S. Coast guard helicopter and a Canadian air crew in a plane were being used. A ship also was headed from Detroit to help with the search.
The waters in the search area are about 50 feet deep, the Coast Guard said.
The plane was headed to Ohio State University Airport north-west of downtown Columbus. Cox said the plane is kept at a hangar at the airfield, but the six people aboard the aircraft aren't affiliated with OSU. Their names weren't released, pending notification of their families.
Petty Officer Joel Altman, a public affairs officer in Cleveland with the Ninth Coast Guard District, said he couldn't immediately confirm whether the passengers were related or provide the ages of the children.
CLEVELAND: U.S. Coast Guard crews searched Lake Erie on Friday for a plane that disappeared overnight shortly after takeoff from a small Cleveland airport along the shore. The Columbus-bound Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport late Thursday night with three children and three adults aboard and vanished from radar about 2 miles over the lake. Why remains unclear. Searchers had found no sign of any debris or the people aboard the plane as of Friday morning, the agency said. Coast Guard official James Cox in Buffalo, New York, also said no emergency beacon had been detected. Weather prevented a boat search overnight, but a U.S. Coast guard helicopter and a Canadian air crew in a plane were being used. A ship also was headed from Detroit to help with the search. The waters in the search area are about 50 feet deep, the Coast Guard said. The plane was headed to Ohio State University Airport north-west of downtown Columbus. Cox said the plane is kept at a hangar at the airfield, but the six people aboard the aircraft aren't affiliated with OSU. Their names weren't released, pending notification of their families. Petty Officer Joel Altman, a public affairs officer in Cleveland with the Ninth Coast Guard District, said he couldn't immediately confirm whether the passengers were related or provide the ages of the children.
By AFP
LONDON: The Pakistani man wrongly arrested for the Berlin truck attack on Friday said he had told German police he could not even drive and was now afraid for the safety of his family back home.
Naveed Baloch, an asylum seeker from the troubled province of Balochistan, told the Guardian newspaper he had just left a friend's house and was crossing a street when he saw a police car approaching fast and picked up his pace.
He said he was arrested and taken to a police station, where he was undressed and photographed.
"When I resisted, they started slapping me," the 24-year-old, who has been living in a secret location provided by police since his release because he says he is afraid for his life, told the British daily.
Baloch, who sought refuge in Germany as a member of a secular separatist movement in Balochistan, said he struggled to communicate because no translator could be found who could speak his native Balochi.
"I calmly told them I cannot drive at all. Neither can I even start a vehicle," he said.
Baloch was arrested on December 19 in the hours after the attack on a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin in which 12 people were killed.
Police released Baloch 24 hours later, after failing to find evidence of his involvement.
They instead identified rejected Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri as the prime suspect.
Amri was shot dead by Italian police on December 23 after fleeing a manhunt in Germany.
Baloch, a shepherd by profession, said members of his family in the village of Mand in Balochistan in southwest Pakistan had received threatening phone calls following his arrest.
"Now they all know I fled to Germany, fearful of my life, and that I am claiming asylum here. It leaves my family very vulnerable and there's nothing I can do to protect them," he told the Guardian.
Baloch said he left Pakistan around a year ago, arriving in Germany via Iran, Turkey and Greece, because of death threats he had received for his activism for the Baloch National Movement.
"Most of the people I worked with have been arrested and killed. I knew it was a matter of time before they came for me. That's the reason I came to Germany," he said.
Mineral-rich Balochistan province has been plagued for decades by a separatist insurgency and sectarian killings.
LONDON: The Pakistani man wrongly arrested for the Berlin truck attack on Friday said he had told German police he could not even drive and was now afraid for the safety of his family back home. Naveed Baloch, an asylum seeker from the troubled province of Balochistan, told the Guardian newspaper he had just left a friend's house and was crossing a street when he saw a police car approaching fast and picked up his pace. He said he was arrested and taken to a police station, where he was undressed and photographed. "When I resisted, they started slapping me," the 24-year-old, who has been living in a secret location provided by police since his release because he says he is afraid for his life, told the British daily. Baloch, who sought refuge in Germany as a member of a secular separatist movement in Balochistan, said he struggled to communicate because no translator could be found who could speak his native Balochi. "I calmly told them I cannot drive at all. Neither can I even start a vehicle," he said. Baloch was arrested on December 19 in the hours after the attack on a Christmas market in the heart of Berlin in which 12 people were killed. Police released Baloch 24 hours later, after failing to find evidence of his involvement. They instead identified rejected Tunisian asylum seeker Anis Amri as the prime suspect. Amri was shot dead by Italian police on December 23 after fleeing a manhunt in Germany. Baloch, a shepherd by profession, said members of his family in the village of Mand in Balochistan in southwest Pakistan had received threatening phone calls following his arrest. "Now they all know I fled to Germany, fearful of my life, and that I am claiming asylum here. It leaves my family very vulnerable and there's nothing I can do to protect them," he told the Guardian. Baloch said he left Pakistan around a year ago, arriving in Germany via Iran, Turkey and Greece, because of death threats he had received for his activism for the Baloch National Movement. "Most of the people I worked with have been arrested and killed. I knew it was a matter of time before they came for me. That's the reason I came to Germany," he said. Mineral-rich Balochistan province has been plagued for decades by a separatist insurgency and sectarian killings.
By Associated Press
BANIE: The bells of a brown stone church rang across a Polish village as hundreds of mourners gathered Friday to bid farewell to a truck driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack.
Lukasz Urban, 37, has been described as the first victim of the attack on Dec. 19 that killed a total of 12 people. He was waiting to deliver a shipment of steel in Berlin when his truck was hijacked by the Tunisian perpetrator of the attack. He was shot and his body was found in the cab of the truck.
Polish President Andrzej Duda joined Urban's family, friends and neighbours, gathering with them in the village church in Banie, near the border with Germany.
A day earlier, the president's spokesman said that Duda would attend the funeral to express his "huge respect for Lukasz Urban, who in the eyes of many Poles is definitely a hero, a courageous person."
Several other Polish political officials and a representative of the German Embassy in Poland were also there.
A letter from Prime Minister Beata Szydlo was read out in which she described her "great pain and sadness" and expressed her sympathy to Urban's family.
"Poles have fallen victim to terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic fundamentalists but the tragedy that happened in Berlin is unique when it comes to the ruthlessness and cruelty of the perpetrator," Szydlo said.
A bishop, Henryk Wejman, described Urban as a man who was open to others and conscientious in his work.
"His willingness to work and serve others awakened the trust of other people and openness to others," Wejman said in his homily.
As the Mass was winding down the president bowed his head before Urban's white coffin before approaching Urban's wife and teenage son, whispering to them, shaking their hands and kissing the wife's hand.
The coffin was then carried out of the church and placed in a hearse, which drove slowly through the village to a cemetery for burial, mourners walking with it.
Before and after the burial, a group of truck drivers honked the horns of their trucks to honour Urban.
BANIE: The bells of a brown stone church rang across a Polish village as hundreds of mourners gathered Friday to bid farewell to a truck driver killed in the Berlin Christmas market attack. Lukasz Urban, 37, has been described as the first victim of the attack on Dec. 19 that killed a total of 12 people. He was waiting to deliver a shipment of steel in Berlin when his truck was hijacked by the Tunisian perpetrator of the attack. He was shot and his body was found in the cab of the truck. Polish President Andrzej Duda joined Urban's family, friends and neighbours, gathering with them in the village church in Banie, near the border with Germany. A day earlier, the president's spokesman said that Duda would attend the funeral to express his "huge respect for Lukasz Urban, who in the eyes of many Poles is definitely a hero, a courageous person." Several other Polish political officials and a representative of the German Embassy in Poland were also there. A letter from Prime Minister Beata Szydlo was read out in which she described her "great pain and sadness" and expressed her sympathy to Urban's family. "Poles have fallen victim to terrorist attacks carried out by Islamic fundamentalists but the tragedy that happened in Berlin is unique when it comes to the ruthlessness and cruelty of the perpetrator," Szydlo said. A bishop, Henryk Wejman, described Urban as a man who was open to others and conscientious in his work. "His willingness to work and serve others awakened the trust of other people and openness to others," Wejman said in his homily. As the Mass was winding down the president bowed his head before Urban's white coffin before approaching Urban's wife and teenage son, whispering to them, shaking their hands and kissing the wife's hand. The coffin was then carried out of the church and placed in a hearse, which drove slowly through the village to a cemetery for burial, mourners walking with it. Before and after the burial, a group of truck drivers honked the horns of their trucks to honour Urban.
By Associated Press
BEIRUT: A nationwide Syrian cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey that went into effect at midnight held Friday despite minor violations, marking a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has disregarded high-level peace initiatives for over five years.
The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes early Friday between troops and rebels in the central province of Hama and near the capital, Damascus. It said that later in the day a man was killed by sniper fire in eastern suburbs of Damascus, becoming the first fatality since the truce went into effect. The group also reported an aerial attack on the rebel-held Barada Valley near Damascus.
The Syrian army denied reports it was bombarding the Barada Valley region saying opposition claims aim to show that the army is not abiding by the truce.
Opposition activist Mazen al-Shami, who is based in the Damascus suburb of Douma, said minor clashes nearby left one rebel wounded. Activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh, in the southern Daraa province, said government forces had opened fire on rebel-held areas.
Several past attempts at halting the fighting have failed. As with previous agreements, the current cease-fire excludes both the al-Qaida-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside other rebel factions, and the Islamic State group.
Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the cease-fire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey, and the agreement has been welcomed by Iran. Moscow and Tehran provide crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has long served as a rear base and source of supplies for the rebels.
If it holds, the truce between the Syrian government and the country's mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks next month in Kazakhstan, Putin said in announcing the agreement. He described it, however, as "quite fragile" and requiring "special attention and patience."
Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the cease-fire a "major achievement" in a tweet Friday. "Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror," he added.
Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one denied signing it.
At U.N. headquarters in New York, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin circulated a draft resolution that would endorse the cease-fire agreement and said he hoped for a vote Saturday morning. But several council members said they needed time to study the agreement and the resolution so it wasn't clear when a vote would take place.
U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien urged the Syrian government in an interview with The Associated Press to give the green light for the United Nations to deliver aid to thousands in need in the war-ravaged country and ensure aid workers' safety.
He called the cessation of hostilities "extremely welcome" and said "incessant and relentless contacts are going on" with the government, but so far there has been no positive response.
Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, told AP the U.N. especially wants to get aid to the 15 besieged areas where some 700,000 people live, but it needs security guarantees from all sides "and we're not given them."
"The reports I have from the field is that there is a decrease, a marked decrease in fighting, in bombing, in violence, compared to yesterday. But certainly there's been a number of violations," he said.
"January needs to be really different," Egeland stressed. "If not there will be starvation, there will be untold, unnecessary deaths."
The truce came on the heels of a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive. The retaking of all of Aleppo marked Assad's greatest victory since the start of the 2011 uprising against his family's four-decade rule.
"The defeat of the terrorists in Aleppo is an important step toward ending the war," Assad said in an interview with TG5, an Italian TV station, adding that the capture of the city does not mean that the war has ended because "terrorists" are still in Syria.
The United States was left out of both agreements, reflecting the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington after the failure of previous diplomatic efforts on Syria.
Assad told TG5 "we are more optimistic, with caution," about the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested greater cooperation with Russia against extremist groups.
"We can say part of the optimism could be related to better relation between the United States and Russia," Assad said, speaking in English.
"Mr. Trump, during his campaign - (said) that his priority is fighting terrorism, and we believe that this is the beginning of the solution, if he can implement what he announced," Assad said in the interview, which was apparently filmed before the cease-fire was announced.
Asked about the possibility of the United States' participation in the peace process in Kazakhstan, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the process would "be open to everyone."
"I hope that this cease-fire holds and turns into a lasting peace so that the deaths of more innocent people, of civilians and children is halted and 2017 brings calm," Yildirim said.
Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency meanwhile quoted the military as saying Russia carried out three airstrikes against Islamic State targets near the northern town of al-Bab, where Turkish troops and allied Syrian opposition forces have been battling the extremist group. The strikes indicated that Russia and Turkey may work together to combat IS once the fighting elsewhere in Syria has been halted.
Turkish Foreign Mevlut Cavusoglu Minister said the U.S.-led coalition forces resumed aerial operations around al-Bab on Thursday, after Turkey complained that it was not getting support from its allies in its fight against IS there.
The Turkish military statement quoted by Anadolu did not say when the Russian air strikes took place, but said they killed 12 IS militants.
Separately, 26 IS militants, including some senior commanders, were killed in Turkish airstrikes on al-Bab and the Daglabash region, and some 17 IS targets were destroyed, Anadolu reported. It said a Turkish soldier was kill in a IS attack on troops south of the al-Azrak area.
It said among those killed was an IS commander known as Abu Hussein al-Tunsi.
Turkey sent troops and tanks into northern Syria in August to help opposition forces clear a border area of IS militants and curb the advances of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are also battling the extremist group.
BEIRUT: A nationwide Syrian cease-fire brokered by Russia and Turkey that went into effect at midnight held Friday despite minor violations, marking a potential breakthrough in a conflict that has disregarded high-level peace initiatives for over five years. The Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported clashes early Friday between troops and rebels in the central province of Hama and near the capital, Damascus. It said that later in the day a man was killed by sniper fire in eastern suburbs of Damascus, becoming the first fatality since the truce went into effect. The group also reported an aerial attack on the rebel-held Barada Valley near Damascus. The Syrian army denied reports it was bombarding the Barada Valley region saying opposition claims aim to show that the army is not abiding by the truce. Opposition activist Mazen al-Shami, who is based in the Damascus suburb of Douma, said minor clashes nearby left one rebel wounded. Activist Ahmad al-Masalmeh, in the southern Daraa province, said government forces had opened fire on rebel-held areas. Several past attempts at halting the fighting have failed. As with previous agreements, the current cease-fire excludes both the al-Qaida-affiliated Fatah al-Sham Front, which fights alongside other rebel factions, and the Islamic State group. Russian President Vladimir Putin said Thursday that the cease-fire will be guaranteed by both Moscow and Turkey, and the agreement has been welcomed by Iran. Moscow and Tehran provide crucial military support to Syrian President Bashar Assad, while Turkey has long served as a rear base and source of supplies for the rebels. If it holds, the truce between the Syrian government and the country's mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks next month in Kazakhstan, Putin said in announcing the agreement. He described it, however, as "quite fragile" and requiring "special attention and patience." Iran's Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif called the cease-fire a "major achievement" in a tweet Friday. "Let's build on it by tackling the roots of extremist terror," he added. Russia said the deal was signed by seven of Syria's major rebel factions, though none of them immediately confirmed it, and one denied signing it. At U.N. headquarters in New York, Russia's U.N. Ambassador Vitaly Churkin circulated a draft resolution that would endorse the cease-fire agreement and said he hoped for a vote Saturday morning. But several council members said they needed time to study the agreement and the resolution so it wasn't clear when a vote would take place. U.N. humanitarian chief Stephen O'Brien urged the Syrian government in an interview with The Associated Press to give the green light for the United Nations to deliver aid to thousands in need in the war-ravaged country and ensure aid workers' safety. He called the cessation of hostilities "extremely welcome" and said "incessant and relentless contacts are going on" with the government, but so far there has been no positive response. Jan Egeland, Special Advisor to the U.N. Special Envoy for Syria, told AP the U.N. especially wants to get aid to the 15 besieged areas where some 700,000 people live, but it needs security guarantees from all sides "and we're not given them." "The reports I have from the field is that there is a decrease, a marked decrease in fighting, in bombing, in violence, compared to yesterday. But certainly there's been a number of violations," he said. "January needs to be really different," Egeland stressed. "If not there will be starvation, there will be untold, unnecessary deaths." The truce came on the heels of a Russian-Turkish agreement earlier this month to evacuate the last rebels from eastern Aleppo after they were confined to a tiny enclave by a government offensive. The retaking of all of Aleppo marked Assad's greatest victory since the start of the 2011 uprising against his family's four-decade rule. "The defeat of the terrorists in Aleppo is an important step toward ending the war," Assad said in an interview with TG5, an Italian TV station, adding that the capture of the city does not mean that the war has ended because "terrorists" are still in Syria. The United States was left out of both agreements, reflecting the deterioration of relations between Moscow and Washington after the failure of previous diplomatic efforts on Syria. Assad told TG5 "we are more optimistic, with caution," about the incoming administration of President-elect Donald Trump, who has suggested greater cooperation with Russia against extremist groups. "We can say part of the optimism could be related to better relation between the United States and Russia," Assad said, speaking in English. "Mr. Trump, during his campaign - (said) that his priority is fighting terrorism, and we believe that this is the beginning of the solution, if he can implement what he announced," Assad said in the interview, which was apparently filmed before the cease-fire was announced. Asked about the possibility of the United States' participation in the peace process in Kazakhstan, Turkish Prime Minister Binali Yildirim said the process would "be open to everyone." "I hope that this cease-fire holds and turns into a lasting peace so that the deaths of more innocent people, of civilians and children is halted and 2017 brings calm," Yildirim said. Turkey's state-run Anadolu Agency meanwhile quoted the military as saying Russia carried out three airstrikes against Islamic State targets near the northern town of al-Bab, where Turkish troops and allied Syrian opposition forces have been battling the extremist group. The strikes indicated that Russia and Turkey may work together to combat IS once the fighting elsewhere in Syria has been halted. Turkish Foreign Mevlut Cavusoglu Minister said the U.S.-led coalition forces resumed aerial operations around al-Bab on Thursday, after Turkey complained that it was not getting support from its allies in its fight against IS there. The Turkish military statement quoted by Anadolu did not say when the Russian air strikes took place, but said they killed 12 IS militants. Separately, 26 IS militants, including some senior commanders, were killed in Turkish airstrikes on al-Bab and the Daglabash region, and some 17 IS targets were destroyed, Anadolu reported. It said a Turkish soldier was kill in a IS attack on troops south of the al-Azrak area. It said among those killed was an IS commander known as Abu Hussein al-Tunsi. Turkey sent troops and tanks into northern Syria in August to help opposition forces clear a border area of IS militants and curb the advances of U.S.-backed Syrian Kurdish fighters, who are also battling the extremist group.
Police confirmed that Santhosh (39) had broken into a house in the city and attempted to sexually assault a female student at knifepoint last December.
Spare Change: Finally! Election TV ads soon will be done
Truth is, I suspect these spots are effective. For instance, Allan Fung is portrayed as a regular Joe from Cranston.
Champaign, IL (61820)
Today
Clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph..
Tonight
Clear skies this evening will become overcast overnight. Low 57F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph.
At 7 months old, Donovan Daniels of Westminster may not understand for some time just how serious his medical condition, biliary atresia, really is. It may be years before he knows he was the 300th pediatric liver transplant ever performed by doctors at Children's Hospital Los Angeles and Keck Medicine of University of Southern California. But one day he'll know his father Dejon Daniels went under the knife so that a portion of dad's liver could help him live a longer, healthier life.
In the meantime, Dejon and Donovan's mother Jessica Valdepena got a glimpse of what that life might look like, thanks to a meeting with a young woman named Lydia Hand.
Lydia, now 18, was CHLA's first living donor liver transplant patient. As an infant, she also was diagnosed with biliary atresia, a rare life-threatening disease where bile ducts cannot expel bile from the liver. In 1998, Lydia received a liver from her grandmother. Today, the Lancaster resident is a college freshman majoring in music, and says her donated liver is still going strong.
"It's pretty amazing how far she has come," says Jessica. "I want Donovan to grow up and have a bright future just like Lydia is having."
CHLA's Liver and Intestinal Transplant Program has since grown to become one of the largest programs in the country - the hospital is now a consistent leader in the volume of living donor liver transplants performed nationwide among pediatric centers, with success rates well above national averages.
"But statistics are not the real story," says Daniel Thomas, MD, medical director of the Liver and Intestinal Transplant Program at CHLA. "It is seeing patients like Lydia Hand grow, accomplish, and live to be a happy young woman with a life full of dreams and hopes."
Coincidentally, the same team that worked on liver patient No. 1 also treated patient No. 300. Dr. Thomas, a Glendale resident, is both Lydia's and Donovan's hepatologist while Yuri Genyk, MD, of La Canada, was their transplant surgeon.
"Donovan's success is truly the culmination of the knowledge and skills from the 299 liver transplants that preceded him, including Lydia's," says Dr. Genyk, surgical director of the Pediatric Liver Transplant Program at CHLA and associate professor of clinical surgery in the Division of Hepatobiliary Surgery and Abdominal Organ Transplantation at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. "It speaks to the expertise and dedication of the entire liver transplant team, as well as the collective support we receive from all the services CHLA provides."
When Donovan's parents brought him to Children's Hospital Los Angeles in October, doctors told them Donovan urgently needed a new liver. Dejon volunteered and was found to be a match. The transplant took place Nov. 18, with Dr. Genyk performing both parts - Dejon's surgery at USC in the morning and Donovan's transplant at CHLA several hours later. Dejon was released and finally was able to visit Donovan just in time for Thanksgiving.
Lydia and Donovan's family met in Donovan's hospital room on Dec. 1, the day he was discharged.
"I've heard all the stories about my transplant from my family, but to actually see and hear what their family is going through is a special experience," says Lydia. "Donovan is me, I was once him, and it's incredible to know that hundreds of other kids have received this life-saving procedure at CHLA in the years between us," Lydia said.
By the day Donovan left the hospital, CHLA doctors had already performed three more pediatric liver transplants.
A new active pharmaceutical ingredient may help against severe forms of testicular cancer, which only respond inadequately to other therapies. In mice, the substance kills degenerated cells and allows testicular tumors to shrink. Researchers at the University of Bonn were able to demonstrate this in a recent study. However, first clinical trials are still pending. The work has now been published in the "Journal of Cellular and Molecular Medicine".
Testicular cancer is the most common malignant tumor disease in men between 20 and 40 years of age. It can usually be treated well. In some cases, however, the cancer hardly responds or does not respond at all to treatment. A substance that was originally destined to be an innovative contraceptive is offering new hope in these cases. An experimental drug with the cryptic name JQ1 blocks sperm maturation and was discussed to be a male contraceptive. Instead, it may be suitable for cancer therapy.
JQ1 belongs to a new class of drugs with far-reaching abilities: its members fundamentally influence which genes in the cell are active and which are not. The hereditary material DNA is similar to an extremely long strip of Morse code, on which the assembly instructions for the cellular molecules are found. To fit into the cell nuclei, this strip of Morse code is wrapped around small protein balls at regular intervals - the histones. Histones and DNA together resemble a string of pearls.
However, the histones do not only play a structural role. They also feature chemical tags - called methyl or acetyl groups. These tags signal to the synthesis machinery in the cell whether the strip of Morse code should be read at this point or not. "JQ1 inhibits those proteins that read these histone marks and thus changes the gene activity in the cell," explains Prof. Hubert Schorle from the Institute for Pathology at the University of Bonn.
The cancer cells react very sensitive to these changes: they activate a suicide program, called apoptosis. "In a testicular cancer mouse model, the tumors began to shrink after administering JQ1," explains the lead author of the study, Sina Jostes. "In contrast, healthy skin cells seem to tolerate JQ1 very well."
Especially effective in combination
Besides JQ1, other drugs that alter the marks of the histones are also known. One of these is romidepsin. The laboratory in Bonn was recently able to show that romidepsin is also very effective at fighting testicular cancer cells. Unlike JQ1, romidepsin is already approved for the treatment of patients with certain types of cancer.
"In our study, we treated mice with both JQ1 and romidepsin," explains Dr. Daniel Nettersheim, who helped in planning and performing the studies. "This way, we achieved a similar effect alike JQ1 or romidepsin treatment alone, but we could reduce the quantities of both substances. Such a combination therapy to treat testicular tumors may be much better tolerated. Chemotherapy-resistant patients could also benefit from this." However, clinical studies are now needed to move the treatment towards the clinics.
A new Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute series of reports explores the impact of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) of 2015, along with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services' (CMS) 2016 proposal for its implementation, on radiologists. The work, conducted by a team of radiologists and health services researchers, is published online in the Journal of the American College of Radiology (JACR).
Under MACRA, most radiologists will initially be paid through the Merit-Based Incentive Payment System (MIPS), which applies positive or negative adjustments to fee-for-service payments. In April 2016, CMS published an initial proposed rule for MACRA, renaming it the Quality Payment Program (QPP) that will ultimately link a very large fraction of physicians' Medicare payments to the quality and value of care. Payment adjustments under MACRA will begin in 2019, although they will reflect performance during 2017.
The first part of the JACR series provides an overview of CMS' proposal for implementing MACRA legislation via the new QPP, paying specific attention to the implications and imperatives for radiologists under MIPS.
"Given that the initial MIPS performance period begins in 2017, radiologists must begin preparing for QPP and taking actions to ensure their future success under this new quality-based payment system," said Andrew Rosenkrantz, MD, MPA, the lead study author and a Neiman Institute affiliate research fellow.
In the second part of the series, the researchers found that CMS' proposed criteria for special considerations in new payment models would result in many radiologists being evaluated using measures not reflective of their practice.
"MIPS will provide special considerations for physicians with a limited degree of face-to-face patient interaction," said Bibb Allen Jr., MD, FACR, chair of the Neiman Institute advisory board and past chair of the American College of Radiology Board of Chancellors. "However, using CMS's proposed criteria for which physicians will receive special considerations, many radiologists will be deemed ineligible for these special considerations and thus be evaluated based on performance categories beyond their control."
"Alternative criteria could help ensure that radiologists are provided a fair opportunity for success in performance review under MIPS," added Rosenkrantz.
The ACR applied concepts developed in these articles to inform CMS that determination of special considerations based on face-to-face patient interaction for payment policy purposes may best be defined in terms of the number of Evaluation & Management services performed, while the number of minor procedures performed is not as useful in that determination. On Oct. 14, 2016, CMS released its final rule for MACRA implementation. This final rule modified the criteria for special considerations under MIPS, consistent with earlier ACR feedback. As now defined, at minimum, nearly 90 percent of diagnostic radiologists and 40 percent of interventional radiologists will be eligible for the special considerations and these numbers could increase to 99 percent and 87 percent if CMS determines that procedural services will not be included in its determination of patient facing status. The protections provided to radiologists by the latest modifications from CMS are supported by the data demonstrated in the second part of the series.
Rosenkrantz, Allen and their colleagues noted that continued investigation is warranted to optimally determine the extent of radiologists' face-to-face patient interactions.
Source: Harvey L. Neiman Health Policy Institute
It's an exciting time to be an elderly mouse. Researchers believe that by removing senescent cells (cells with a persistent damage response), which naturally accumulate with age, senior rodents can regrow hair, run faster, and improve organ function. This strategy may bring us one step closer to the "fountain of youth," but it's important to be cautious and not hype, says researcher of aging Peter de Keizer of the Erasmus University Medical Center in the Netherlands. In an Opinion published December 29 in Trends in Molecule Medicine, he discusses the milestones the field still needs to hit before translation in humans is ready for discussion.
The removal of senescent cells, first discovered in the 1960s, received renewed interest in the 2010s as a therapeutic option to combat some aspects of aging. Researchers noticed that these permanently arrested cells accumulate in mature tissue and that some of them secrete factors that are harmful to tissue function and impair their neighboring cells. To explain what causes this noise in the system, de Keizer proposes a "senescence-stem lock model" in which the chronic secretion of pro-inflammatory factors by these senescent cells keeps neighboring cells in a permanent stem-like state and thereby prevents proper tissue renewal.
"When bringing in a defective car for repairs it is insufficient to remove the rust and broken parts; you also want to replace these," says de Keizer "A perfect anti-senescence therapy would not only clear senescent cells, but also kick-start tissue rejuvenation by stimulating differentiation of nearby stem cells. This may be complementary with, for instance, the exciting approaches recently made in the field of transient expression of stem cell factors (Cell, 10.1016/j.cell.2016.11.052)."
There's still much basic research to be done before humans visit their local rejuvenation clinic for their annual shot of anti-aging serum. Identifying potential safety issues or off-target effects, which is currently understudied in rodents, is a major part of the process. (Senescent cells do have a temporary role in wound healing, so you don't want to eliminate them when you are injured or at the wrong point in time)
De Keizer sees three milestones for realistic translation of an anti-senescence approach:
Milestone #1: Proof of Concept
Several studies have already addressed whether senescence is a cause of aging and whether its elimination stalls this process. By taking out senescent cells, naturally aging mice lived 25% longer, which is evidence that it could be possible.
Several studies have already addressed whether senescence is a cause of aging and whether its elimination stalls this process. By taking out senescent cells, naturally aging mice lived 25% longer, which is evidence that it could be possible. Milestone #2: Safe Therapeutics
Anti-senescent drugs are already being tested, but none of them have yet to be deemed safe because they also target pathways expressed by non-senescent cells. It is likely that this marker will be passed in the near future.
Anti-senescent drugs are already being tested, but none of them have yet to be deemed safe because they also target pathways expressed by non-senescent cells. It is likely that this marker will be passed in the near future. Milestone #3: Reversal of Aging
Finally, researchers will need to identify whether clearance of senescence can also be applied retrospectively to counteract features of natural aging that have already manifested. Although aging does seem like it can be stalled through therapeutic compounds, it remains unclear whether age-related diseases can be completely deterred.
"What if we have a brilliant anti- senescence treatment, then what?" says de Keizer. "How can we hit two birds with one stone--anti-senescence and tissue rejuvenation? I would also advise caution for claiming too much, too soon about the benefits of the fast-growing list of therapeutic compounds that are being discovered. That being said, these are clearly very exciting times, and I am confident we will find applicable anti-senescence treatments that can counteract age-related pathologies."
Researchers will also need to think about when such treatments should be administered (such as before or after the onset of certain conditions) and who would benefit the most. The potentially high cost of an anti-aging therapy, as well as off-target toxicity, could also be limiting factors for widespread market use as it is translated.
De Keizer, who plans to co-found a start-up based on the discovery of anti-senescence compounds from his lab, is hopeful that cell-penetrating peptides that can block specific activities of these retired cells could be the path forward over broad-range inhibitors.
Source: Cell Press
Patient satisfaction has become an important quality measure in the US healthcare system. But some plastic surgeons question the value of subjective patient satisfaction ratings--suggesting that they might even lead to lower-quality care in some situations, according to a special topic article in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
"Increasingly used as a measure of physician performance, patient satisfaction data can be flawed and not broadly applicable," comments ASPS Member Surgeon Terence Myckatyn, MD, of Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis. "While patient satisfaction is important, we think that better rating tools are needed to measure it." Dr. Myckatyn's coauthors were Justin Brent Cohen, MD, and Keith Brandt, MD.
Plastic Surgeons Question Value of Subjective Patient Satisfaction Ratings
Dr. Myckatyn and colleagues share some concerns about the trend toward using patient satisfaction ratings as a measure of physician performance. The focus on patient satisfaction is driven by the fact that the United States spends more than any other nation on healthcare, but lags behind in outcomes. Patient satisfaction is now among the quality of care indicators used in "pay for performance" programs tying financial reimbursement under Medicare and the Affordable Care Act.
But using patient satisfaction ratings in this way is having some unintended consequences, the authors believe. For example, some hospitals are upgrading their physical facilities and adding luxury amenities, in an attempt to improve patient satisfaction scores. "One could argue that these costly expenses have more to do with the perception of healthcare quality rather than actual outcomes," Dr. Myckatyn and colleagues write.
There are even anecdotal reports of doctors altering their medical judgment to improve patient satisfaction and minimize negative reviews--for example, prescribing antibiotics or strong pain medications to keep patients happy and move them quickly through the system. "Behavior motivated by patient satisfaction becomes especially dangerous when ratings are directly tied to compensation," according to the authors.
Meanwhile, it's unclear whether satisfaction and other measures of patient experience are correlated with traditional measures of health care safety and quality. Dr. Myckatyn and coauthors write: "The truth is that there is little high-level evidence to support that patient satisfaction surveys will provide Americans with improved medical outcomes, but there are plenty of contradictory data."
Some studies even suggest that higher-intensity healthcare is associated with increased patient satisfaction but also with increased mortality, with no impact on objective quality measures. While other studies have linked higher satisfaction to better outcomes, interpretation of these studies is limited by the fact that patient satisfaction is "inherently subjective and labile."
As a specialty, plastic surgery doesn't have a strong body of research on patient satisfaction and its relationship to outcomes. Yet especially for aesthetic surgery, plastic surgeons have always been attuned to the importance of patient feedback.
While they don't discard the notion of assessing patient satisfaction, Dr. Myckatyn and colleagues make the point that the rubrics currently used to rate patient satisfaction "do not consistently predict improved outcomes and satisfaction." They conclude: "What is needed are reliable tools that will take into account what constitutes superior quality in a more systematic, meaningful, and validated way."
In a study published online by JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, Kathleen M. Schieffer, B.S., of the Pennsylvania State University College of Medicine, Hershey, Pa., and colleagues examined the association between sensorineural hearing loss and conductive hearing loss and iron deficiency anemia in adults ages 21 to 90 years in the United States.
In 2014, approximately 15 percent of adults reported difficulty with hearing. Because iron deficiency anemia (IDA) is a common and easily correctable condition, further understanding of the association between IDA and all types of hearing loss may help to open new possibilities for early identification and appropriate treatment. For this study, using data obtained from deidentified electronic medical records from the Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center in Hershey, Pa., iron deficiency anemia was determined by low hemoglobin and ferritin levels for age and sex in 305,339 adults ages 21 to 90 years; associations between hearing loss and IDA were evaluated.
Of the patients in the study population, 43 percent were men; average age was 50 years. There was a 1.6 percent prevalence of combined hearing loss (defined as any combination of conductive hearing loss [hearing loss due to problems with the bones of the middle ear], sensorineural hearing loss, deafness, and unspecified hearing loss) and 0.7 percent prevalence of IDA. Both sensorineural hearing loss (SNHL; when there is damage to the cochlea or to the nerve pathways from the inner ear to the brain) (present in 1.1 percent of individuals with IDA) and combined hearing loss (present in 3.4 percent) were significantly associated with IDA. Analysis confirmed increased odds of SNHL and combined hearing loss among adults with IDA.
"An association exists between IDA in adults and hearing loss. The next steps are to better understand this correlation and whether promptly diagnosing and treating IDA may positively affect the overall health status of adults with hearing loss," the authors write.
Looking at before-and-after photos, plastic surgeons and nurses can't tell whether breast augmentation surgery was done using conventional round implants or newer anatomically shaped implants, reports a study in the January issue of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, the official medical journal of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS).
At least in the specific group of patients studied, the results of breast augmentation using round versus shaped implants are indistinguishable, according to the new research, led by Dr. Carlos Rubi of The IMED Hospital Department of Plastic Surgery, Valencia, Spain. The results suggest that routine use of increasingly popular "teardrop-shaped" implants is not justified.
No Visible Difference in Results between Implant Types in Before-and-After Photos
In the study, 30 plastic surgeons and plastic surgery nurses reviewed preoperative and postoperative photos of 30 women who had undergone breast augmentation with round or anatomically shaped implants15 patients in each group. The two groups were otherwise similar: all procedures were done using silicone implants, placed under the muscle (subpectoral), with an average implant size of about 300 cc.
For each set of photos, the surgeons and nurses judged whether the procedure was done using round or shaped implants. The goal was to determine if the aesthetic results of round versus shaped implants could be differentiated from each other.
For all observations, there was about a 50-50 chance that the surgeons and nurses could correctly identify the type of implant used. There was a lack of agreement not only between different raters, but also for individual raters comparing the same images several weeks later.
Plastic surgeons performed slightly better than nurses in identifying the type of implantpossibly because they could deduce which type would likely be recommended, based on the "before" photos.
Introduced recently, teardrop-shaped implants have become increasingly popular for breast augmentation surgery. "A widespread idea is that the anatomically shaped implants give more natural results than the round implants," Dr. Rubi and coauthors write.
But the new study shows that even plastic surgeons and plastic surgery nurses cannot tell the difference between the final outcomes of breast augmentation with round versus shaped implants, in a group of patients with otherwise similar characteristics. The results add to a previous study that showed similar outcomes with the two implant types used for breast reconstruction.
The inability to tell the difference between implant types for breast augmentation questions the preference for shaped implantsespecially since they cost more and carry a risk of complications related to implant rotation, compared to round implants. "The systematic use of anatomically shaped implants is not justified," Dr. Rubi comments. "Natural results are achieved with both types of implants."
A new study indicates that many women with advanced kidney disease are not receiving recommended breast or cervical cancer screening, even though they face a higher risk of developing cancer than women in the general population. The findings appear in an upcoming issue of the Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology (CJASN).
Cancer is a significant cause of illness and death in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD), with an approximately twofold higher prevalence than the general population. The increased risk appears to be specific for urinary tract, viral-related, digestive, and breast
cancers. Therefore, breast and cervical cancer screening is especially important in women with CKD.
A team led by Germaine Wong, PhD, (The University of Sydney, in Australia), Jade Hayward, and Danielle Nash, PhD (Institute for Clinical Evaluative Sciences, ICES Western facility, in Ontario, Canada) examined patterns of breast and cervical cancer screening in women based on CKD stage and age. The retrospective study included information from 2002 to 2013 from the Ontario, Canada administrative healthcare databases. For their analyses on breast cancer screening and cervical cancer screening, the investigators included 141,326 and 324,548 women, respectively.
Older women with co-morbidities and with advanced stage kidney disease requiring dialysis were less likely to undergo routine breast and cervical cancer screening compared with younger women with early stage CKD. The two-year cumulative incidences of breast cancer screening were 61% among women without CKD, 54% for those with CKD stage 3, 37% for CKD stages 4 and 5, and 26% for women with kidney failure who were on dialysis. Similar patterns were observed for the three-year cumulative incidences of cervical cancer screening. Older age, greater comorbidities, and lower income were associated with a lower rate of screening.
"These results reflect the inherent healthcare priorities of dialysis patients: older women on dialysis may not have the capacity to deal with the complexity of dialysis management and may have potentially neglected less imminent issues such as preventive healthcare and early cancer detection," said Dr. Wong. "Given that cancer screening has the potential to improve cancer outcomes, targeted strategies to inform shared decision making in screening is critical."
In an accompanying editorial, Deidra Crews, MD, ScM and Waseem Khaliq, MBBS, MPH, (Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine) noted that "enhanced coordination of care between nephrologists, general practitioners and women's health care providers may serve to promote cancer screening among women with CKD. Ultimately, however, nephrologists may forge long-term trusting relationships with kidney patients that will afford them the greatest opportunity to engage in shared-decision making together and select the cancer screening plan that is most appropriate for the patient's individual health status and personal priorities."
Mumbai: As feud at India's biggest conglomerate continues, Tata Group's interim chairman Ratan Tata on Friday said there has been a willful, well-orchestrated move to destroy his personal reputations through unsubstantiated allegations.
Without naming anyone, he said the ethics and values of the group have been "challenged by people who are known not to practice what they often preach".
Tata, 78, who came back from retirement to take over Tata Sons after his successor Cyrus P Mistry was unceremoniously ousted on October 24, asked employees to put the events behind and re-dedicate themselves to re-establishing the Tata Group's leadership.
"The past three months have been turbulent and wasteful. There has been a willful, well-orchestrated endeavour to destroy the personal reputations of individuals and the reputation of the Tata Group, through unsubstantiated allegations," he wrote to the Tata employees.
In a new year message to employees, he said there has been an "overwhealming groundswell of support" from employees.
"The ethics and values of the group and its leadership, which have been built over the last one and half centuries, have been challenged by people who are known not to practice what they often preach," he said.
A public battle for control of the salt-to-software group is being played with Tata and Mistry trading accusations over missteps.
"As we approach the new year, we must all resolve to put these events of the past few months behind us and re-dedicate ourselves to re-establish the Tata Group's leadership in the many areas in which we operate, as also demonstrating to the world around us that we indeed have protected the vision and values of our fonding fathers," he wrote.
Tata Group, he said, has not just been a business conglomerate but an institution built on sustaining livelihood in the communities it serves through the creation of wealth and its re-distribution to the nation's people through social awareness and philanthropy.
"As we enter our 150th year, we need to reaffirm our resolve to continue to build and progress the Tata Group to be a national institution of which we can all be proud," he said. "I am confident that with your support and dedication we can look forward to a better tomorrow.
@SushmaSwaraj , Mam, please requesting your help in this matter. https://t.co/A0bHhVLeO1 Rohan Shah (@rshahrohan) December 29, 2016
@rshahrohan @SushmaSwaraj On priority basis visa has been issued to Mr. Rohan and his two children. India in Chicago (@IndiainChicago) December 29, 2016
@SushmaSwaraj @IndianEmbassyUS thanka for all the help at Indian consulate in chicago. Our visas were issued in 20 mins. Rohan Shah (@rshahrohan) December 29, 2016
The Indian Consulate in Chicago on Thursday helped an Indian man obtain a visa following intervention by External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj.Swaraj directed the consulate to reach out to Rohan Shah after he sought help via Twitter, stating his father had expired and he was facing difficulty in acquiring a visa to return to India and attend his father's the last rites.Swaraj promptly sprang into action and directed the consulate in Chicago to issue Shah a visa. And following Swaraj's intervention in the matter, the Indian consulate in Chicago issued a visa to Shah in just 20 minutes.The minister, who is recuperating after undergoing a kidney transplant on December 10, is known for her prompt response to Indians who are in distress, many of whom approach her through Twitter for help.With inputs from PTI.
A FEW months ago, actor, activist and supermodel Milind Soman posted a photo on his Facebook page, holding a glass of water, imploring friends and family to join him on a campaign to save Cauvery.
The petition, titled "Stop the railway to Coorg, save River Cauvery & your drinking water", garnered a lot of response since. Soman opened the sluices for more celebrated faces to take up the cause of keeping the innocuous Coorg from a proposed railway connectivity.
The Cauvery in Coorg (Photo: Sundar Muthanna)
One of the smallest districts in India, Kodagu aka Coorg, is not rail-linked to the rest of the country. And the proposed railway track from Mysore is being touted as potentially imperilling. Local Kodavas or Coorgs opine that a rail track would damage the ecologically-sensitive area.
Kodagu/Coorg on the map of India (Image: Soumyadip Choudhury)
Geographically, Cauvery-the river that satiates the needs of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu-originates from Thalacauvery in Kodagu. It also irrigates millions of acres of agricultural land and generates electricity. For a railway track to be built, a considerable expanse of greenery will have to be wiped off.
Poomaale, a local newspaper, highlighting the issue
Kodavas fear this will gradually dry the river. They urgently demand for Bengaluru to oppose the proposed project in their own interest, considering the city-with its 10 million dwellers-receives 70 per cent of its drinking water from River Cauvery.
Certain elements are trying to mislead people Certain elements are trying to mislead people Pratap Simha, Mysore-Kodagu Lok Sabha MP
The Coorg Wildlife Society, an environmental organisation that launched a high-decibel online petition, has received solidarity in almost 20,000 signatures. It has pushed the railway ministry to take cognizance of the matter.
"I really don't know why the government is spending Rs 1,800 crore for a railway track that has been found economically unviable. Earlier studies done by the railway department, of the economic feasibility of this route, have declared that this track is not financially viable. The population of Coorg and the potential traffic of customers do not call for a railway track," Colonel Muthanna of the Coorg Wildlife Society told News18.
Kodagu (Coorg) District
Location: 1156 to 1256 north; 7522 to 7611 east
Temperature: 26.6C (Max) 14.2C (Min)
Average Rainfall: 2,718 mm
Major river: Cauvery
Area: 4,102 sqkm
Headquarters: Madikeri
Population: 554,519 (2011 Census)
Population Density: 134/sqkm Kodagu (Coorg) DistrictLocation: 1156 to 1256 north; 7522 to 7611 eastTemperature: 26.6C (Max) 14.2C (Min)Average Rainfall: 2,718 mmMajor river: CauveryArea: 4,102 sqkmHeadquarters: MadikeriPopulation: 554,519 (2011 Census)Population Density: 134/sqkm
Despite the clamour, attempts have been made in the past to make Kodagu a part of India's railway network. CM Poonacha, a stalwart of Karnataka politics, who was the railway minister in the 1950s, was asked connect the pristine forests via rail. But, the project didn't gather his interest.
Cauvery originates from Thalacauvery in Kodagu (Image: Soumyadip Choudhury)
Erstwhile governments too, made sporadic proposals. But it has been the current government that has reiterated its steadfast desire to put Kodagu on the railway map of India.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a new mobile app BHIM to encourage e-transactions at Talkatora Stadium in New Delhi on Friday. The app is named after Dalit icon Bhim Rao Ambedkar.
PM Modi also felicitated the first set of 7,229 winners of Digi Dhan Lucky Draw under which daily reward of Rs 1,000 will be given to 15,000 lucky consumers for a period of 100 days.
Only consumers using UPI, USSD, AEPS and RuPay cards were included in the draw.
Earlier in the day, Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Friday raked up the attack on the Centre and the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and asked five questions over demonetisation.
The 50-day deadline to deposit the old Rs 500/1,000 notes in banks comes to an end on Friday but those having these notes still have time to deposit it at RBI counters till March 31.
As it happened.
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On the 50th day of demonetisation, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said India had amended an agreement with Singapore to close a tax loophole that allowed black money to be taken out of India and brought back into the country via Singapore as legitimate money.The so-called Double Taxation Avoidance Agreement (DTAA) with Singapore has been amended to prevent investments from Singapore from dodging taxes in India.The Finance Minister said that the amendment will come into force from April 1, 2017.Jaitley said the agreement with Singapore was the third such agreement signed this year with countries to close avenues for black money to be spirited out of the country and brought back via international channels, a process that is called roundtripping. The other DTAAs amended this year were with Mauritius and Cyprus.This is how roundtripping works: undeclared money in India is spirited out through trade mis-invoicing or hawala channels into tax havens abroad. From here the money is routed through the international shadow banking system so that tax authorities in India cannot trace the money trail. The money finally makes its way back into India via Mauritius or Singapore, disguised as FDI (and hence legitimate money) and invested in financial markets in India.It is the last stage where the DTAA comes in handy. The tax treaty stipulates that investments emanating from these countries will only be taxed once, either in India or in the originating country, to avoid double taxation. This is the loophole that individuals and companies use to avoid paying tax in India.Since Singapore and Mauritius do not have capital gains tax, all a company has to do to avoid paying tax in India is to produce a certificate proving it is domiciled in either of these tax jurisdictions, thus automatically triggering the DTAA provision that stipulates that if you have paid your taxes there you dont need to pay in India. However, since those taxes are nil in the originating countries, in effect, the investments are tax free routes for converting black money into white.Critics of DTAA allege that what is being shown as legitimate investment is actually black money being roundtripped into India. Government figures suggest that the argument has merit. Statistics from the Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion show that Mauritius and Singapore and the top two nations for inward bound FDI equity inflows into India. The two nations accounted for 50% of inflows between 2000 and 2016. Cyprus contributed another 3%.
Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: 40-50 workers feared trapped under the debris, rescue operations on. NDRF team from Patna on the way. pic.twitter.com/E0q9MLdDuR ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: 40-50 workers feared trapped under the debris, rescue operations on. NDRF team from Patna on the way. pic.twitter.com/fYyK0XAhmI ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Saddened by the loss of lives at a mine in Jharkhand. My prayers are with those trapped inside. Spoke to CM Raghubar Das on the situation. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2016
Jharkhand Government & Minister @PiyushGoyal are working to restore normalcy. @NDRFHQ has been engaged for rescue & relief operations. Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) December 30, 2016
RAJMAHAL ACCIDENT : Doctors, Ambulance and all medical support deployed since last evening Eastern Coalfields (@easterncoal) December 30, 2016
: At least 9 workers are confirmed dead and over 40 of them trapped along with some machineries belonging to a private coal mining company Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) after a heap of mud caved-in at the entry point of Latmatia mines in Godda district of Jharkhand, a CISF official said on Friday.According to initial reports, the on duty CISF sentry is safe but at the time of the cave-in at the Rajmahal Open Cast Mines of Paharia Bhorya site, more than 40 vehicles were inside.The locals said that there was crack in the heap of mud which collapsed and blocked the entry point of the mine.Mining operations were taking place about 200 feet beneath the ground.A separate team of NDRF personnels have been dispatched from Patna along with additional manpower comprising of one government official, 2 inspectors, 21 CISF from Eastern Coal Field Limited, Sheetalpur, news agency ANI said.The National Disaster Response Force (NDRF) team has reached the spot, officials said."The exact number of people and vehicle trapped inside is not known," said Harilal Chauhan, Godda Superintendent of Police told IANS.On Thursday, 4 workers suffered injuries, two of them seriously, when the roof of a mine partially collapsed at Putki Balihari area in Dhanbad district.The mine falls under Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL), a subsidiary of Coal India Limited.A senior district official said the four contractual workers were taking cable to a shaft of the hydro mines in lift when a part of the roof suddenly caved in trapping them.The four were rescued and taken to a hospital where the condition of two of them was stated to be serious, the official said.The two seriously injured were now under treatment at Central Hospital, Dhanbad while the other two were being treated at a local hospital in the neighbourhood of the mines and were out of danger, the official added.The cause of the collapse was being looked into, the official said.Earlier, rescue operation at Godda district could not start immediately due to the night fog, a police official said.Reacting to news, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted that he was saddened by the loss of lives and was in touch with the chief minister of Jharkhand Raghubar Das regarding the situation.Earlier, Das said he was monitoring the situation closely and has asked concerned officials to intensify rescue operations.Taking stock of the situation, Union Power and coal minister Piyush Goyal said that rescue efforts underway and an enquiry has been initiated.However, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra, Chairman cum Managing Director of ECL & WCL told ANI that the rescue operations started on Thursday and is in full swing."The power cut was restored within 3 hours," Mishra added.Mishra also claimed that 3 excavators and 7 dumpers have been identified at the mining site where incident took place and 2 dumpers managed to flee the spot when the land subsided.(With inputs from IANS)
Maharashtra: Six die after fire broke out at a bakery shop in Pune early this morning ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Maharashtra: Six die after fire broke out at a bakery shop in Pune early this morning pic.twitter.com/cPwSzyj15s ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Six workers were suffocated to death when a fire broke out in a bakery shop whose only exit was locked from outside in Kondhwa area here in the wee hours on Friday.The victims, all hailing from Uttar Pradesh, used to sleep on the loft inside the bakery shop, 'Bakes and Cakes', which is owned by three partners."We received a call at around 4.45 AM today and immediately fire tenders were rushed to the spot. As we reached the spot, we saw smoke emanating from the shutter of the shop, which was locked from the outside," a fire brigade official said.While efforts were on to break the shutter, the bakery shop owner came to the spot and opened it."As soon as the shutter was opened, we saw a huge fire inside and got information that there are bakery workers who were trapped at a loft inside the shop," the fire officer said.The fire brigade personnel wore breathing apparatus sets and climbed a staircase inside to reach the victims."There were six workers, who were found in an unconscious state. They were rushed to the Sassoon General hospital, where they were declared dead," said the officer.The deceased have been identified as - Ishad Ansari (26), Juned Ansari (25), Shanu Ansari (20), Zakir Ansari (24), Faeem Ansari (21) and Zishan Ansari (21)."Since the main shutter was locked from outside, all the six got trapped inside and died of suffocation," the fire official informed.Prima facie short-circuit is suspected to have caused the blaze."We have registered a case and investigation is on," an officer at Kondhwa police station said.
I can request Dr.Padma to examine your child. If a permissible medicine is not available here, we will arrange it from abroad. @Soodmonikam
Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 30, 2016
Pl see Dr.Padma at the given time. AIIMS is our prestigious institution. I am sure your daughter will be well soon. @Soodmonikam
Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 30, 2016
In which country is this medicine available ? https://t.co/vqpdwFeufp
Sushma Swaraj (@SushmaSwaraj) December 30, 2016
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj on Friday extended help to a woman in getting her daughter, suffering from 'absence seizures', examined by an AIIMS doctor.Swaraj's help to the woman, Monika Mittal Sood, came after she wrote to the Minister on twitter seeking assistance in getting some "critical medicines" for her child from abroad as they are not available in India.To this Swaraj said she has spoken to Dr Padma Srivastava at AIIMs and that a wide spectrum of medicines are available to treat her child."I have spoken to a reputed physician Dr Padma Srivastava of AIIMS. There is a wide spectrum of medicines available in India. I can request Dr Padma to examine your child. If a permissible medicine is not available in New Delhi, we will arrange it from abroad," Swaraj tweeted.She then asked Sood to send her contact details by direct message so that the arrangements could be made. The Minister, shortly thereafter, tweeted to the woman to "see Dr Padma at the given time"."AIIMS is our prestigious institution. I am sure your daughter will be well soon," Swaraj said. Happy over Swaraj's help, Sood thanked her.Earlier Sood had tweeted, "@SushmaSwaraj Mam not able to get a critical medicine in India (zarontin) for my daughter to cure her absence seizures. Can you pls help!" Absence seizures are seizures that generally last just a few seconds, and are characterised by a blank or absent stare.
Mumbai: Producer Guneet Monga is relieved that her latest project Haraamkhor has been cleared by the Film Certification Appellate Tribunal (FCAT) after it was denied a certificate by the censor board. Directed by Shlok Sharma, the film chronicles a relationship between a 14-year-old girl (Shweta Tripathi) and her tuition teacher, played by Nawazuddin Siddiqui, in a small town.
Earlier this year, the Examining Committee of the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC) had declined to pass the film citing that its theme was "unacceptable." The Tribunal, however, has cleared the film which is now scheduled to release on January 13. Guneet says the panel at Tribunal was more forthcoming and understood the point Haraamkhor was trying to make. "It took us around six months for the whole case in tribunal. But the panel at tribunal saw the film and said it is actually educational, this should go to the larger audience. This is exactly what we were saying," Guneet told PTI.
"Tribunal was just outstandingly phenomenal. Everybody on the panel were great, there were women on the panel too. I am deeply grateful to them because this is a landmark judgement," she added.
Guneet, who has backed films like The Lunchbox, Peddlers and Monsoon Shootout, says the movie has now been given a U/A certificate with certain cuts which the makers agreed to.
"At the censor board, they outrightly denied to give a certificate. We went to the revising committee and they said cut few scenes and that is what we challenged. If we were to accept those cuts, we would get an A certificate. We challenged that at FCAT.
"There is a scene where he (Nawazuddin) is hitting the girl, and a few scenes, where they (tribunal) have said can you reduce them to a certain percentage. So we are ok in accepting that. We are open to work with reasonable conversation," she said. Guneet says the Tribunal was at least open to have a dialogue and even the makers were not "mindlessly" trying to put up a fight.
"They are not saying to cut the scenes in a flash, they are saying if you do these things we will give you a U/A. It opens up the avenue. I am very happy doing that. We are not trying to mindlessly fight something.
"One wants to have a conversation, but if you say 'this is just not possible' then what is the counter argument to that? In today's day and age, with Internet booming and cell phones, what is hidden from public?," she said.
Haraamkhor premiered at 15th annual New York Indian Film Festival, where Siddiqui received the Best Actor award for his performance. The film was also presented the Silver Gateway of India trophy at the 17th Jio MAMI Mumbai Film Festival.
Who made him (Akhilesh) the CM? I made him the CM. Has anyone before in history given away his power on a platter? But Akhilesh is not even consulting me, he is using the government machinery, Mulayam told media in Lucknow.
"How can he (Akhilesh) release the list when the party has declared its candidates? Both Akhilesh and Ram Gopal want to finish the party. I will not let it happen. I have built this party through hard work," Mulayam said.
Months after it celebrated its 25th anniversary, the Samajwadi Party seemed headed for a vertical split with supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav expelling his son and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav from the party for six years.The SP chairman also expelled his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav for six years for vitiating the atmosphere in the party.I will go to any extent to save the party. We will decide who the CM will be. My priority is the party, Mulayam said, with his brother Shivpal Yadav sitting by his side.He explained that the decision was taken after Ram Gopal, in his capacity as general secretary, called an emergency meeting of the party on January 1 and Akhilesh "supported" it.Ram Gopal called the meeting after a showcause notice was issued to him and Akhilesh by Mulayam for releasing a list of candidates, parallel to the one issued officially by Mulayam.The party supremo said the new Chief Minister will be chosen by the Samajwadi Party.Akhilesh, who left the official address for his personal residence within hours of his expulsion, is scheduled to meet his loyalists at 9.30am on Saturday, a meeting which his rival and uncle Shivpal Yadav warned party leaders not to attend. Mulayam, too, has called for a meeting at 10:30am.A defiant Ram Gopal termed Mulayam's decision to expel him and Akhilesh as "unconstitutional" and insisted that he continues to be the general secretary of the party.He accused the party chief of indulging in "unconstitutional" activities and said the party meet called by him on January 1 will take place in any eventuality.At the January 1 meeting, camp Akhilesh may move a resolution to remove Shivpal as the state president of the Samajwadi Party. Sources say a resolution to appoint Akhilesh as the national president is likely to be adopted.The troubles in Samajwadi Party began a few months ago when Akhilesh sacked his principal secretary Deepak Singhal, a confidant of Shivpal.Ever since, despite rounds of suspensions and rapprochements, tension has been building up within the party between factions led by Shivpal and Akhilesh. Mulayam has been seen as siding with Shivpal.The tensions came to a head this week with Shivpal and Mulayam announcing a list of candidates for the UP polls leaving out many Akhilesh loyalists. A day later, Akhilesh came up with his own list that had many of the Shivpal loyalists missing.Akhilesh loyalist Gomti Yadav said the CM told him he would not resign and would stay on till his last day in power. He claimed that West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called up Akhilesh and offered support, saying you are like my brother.Mulayams surprise announcement in the evening triggered utter chaos in party ranks with several workers thronging Akhileshs official residence and shouting slogans against Shivpal. More than 100 party MLAs had reached Akhileshs house in a show of support. Effigies of Shivpal were burnt and self-immolation attempts were reported.The CM immediately instructed state DGP Javed Ahmed to beef up security outside Mulayam and Shivpals residences.Though no official communication was made to Raj Bhawan, Governor Ram Naik said he was keeping a close watch on the situation. "I am keeping a watch on the issue," he told PTI here. Asked if he viewed the developments as a crisis in the ruling party, Naik refused to comment saying "it is an intra-party issue".(With PTI inputs)
New Delhi: The Congress on Friday expressed concern over growing political instability in Uttar Pradesh in wake of the dramatic developments in ruling Samajwadi Party and claimed the BJP is dreaming of "assuming power in the state through the backdoor" by fishing in troubled waters.
"Congress doesn't delve into internal divisions in another party, but we are deeply concerned about growing political instability in UP," party's chief spokesman Randeep Surjewala told reporters.
"More alarming are reports that BJP is dreaming of assuming power through the back door by fishing in troubled waters," he claimed.
He said BJP earlier tried it in the neighbouring state of Uttrakhand and failed. "The Congress government was similiarly brought down in Arunanchal by engineering defections."
"We sincerely hope that the Modi government would take the cue from strictures passed in the two cases by Supreme Court and will not abuse the powers of the Union government or the office of Governor to disrespect people's mandate," he added.
New Delhi: If Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav ends up forming his own party after being expelled by his father Mulayam Singh Yadav from the Samajwadi Party, Congress might join hands with him, top sources told News18.
While officially Congress has been maintaining that it is an internal matter of the SP, leaders told News18 on condition of anonymity is that if need be, the Congress will align with Akhilesh.
We always had a good equation with him. Besides, he is a young leader and enjoys a very personal friendship with Rahul Gandhi, a senior leader said.
If need be to keep BJP at bay, we wouldnt mind an alliance with Akhilesh. Congress is looking at a long-term relation with him, not just 2016 assembly polls but also the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, he said.
Incidentally, Akhilesh had said earlier that if Congress and SP joins hands and fights the imminent UP assembly polls as a coalition, it will win upwards of 300 seats in the 403-member house. However, Mulayam ruled out any such pre-poll alliance.
Soon after the expulsion of Akhilesh, Congress official spokesman Randeep Surjewala said his party doesnt want Presidents rule in UP.
The statement is significant and could imply that if Akhilesh choses to remain CM, Congress could help him stay on.
New Delhi: With his self-imposed 50-day deadline ending on Friday, the Trinamool Congress asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to own up responsibility for the adverse effects of demonetisation and resign.
"The Prime Minister set a 50-day deadline -- 110 people have died, the economy is in a mess, the original motives he set out with -- ending funding of terrorism, black money, corruption -- nothing has happened," Trinamool spokesperson Derek O'Brien said.
"Tonight the deadline ends and tomorrow is a good day for him to resign. It's the last day of the year, the Prime Minister must and should resign," he added.
The Rajya Sabha member called Modi's November 8 move to demonetise Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes a "complete failure" and attributed electoral motive behind it.
"This (demonetisation) has nothing to do with ending terrorism, corruption or black money. This has been done with electoral motive, in view of the Uttar Pradesh elections," O'Brien told CNN News 18.
"The timing of this is awry, the planning is awry and the implementation is awry. The only thing they are doing good is spinning the narrative of taking from the rich to give to the poor. This is a bogus," he said.
"Modi and (BJP chief) Amit Shah have some serious answering to do. The PM has to answer what has he achieved at the end of this huge exercise," he said.
With Modi set to address the nation on New Year's eve, O'Brien said it was a good day for him to put in his papers.
"I am looking forward to the Prime Minister making a big announcement tomorrow. Maybe if he has a conscience and if he is not running a marketing agency called the BJP and the RSS, on December 31, he may own up responsibility for the entire mess and announce his resignation," added the Trinamool leader.
New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Friday dared the Centre to get all the appointments made by his government probed after the CBI filed an FIR into the appointment of city Health Minister Satyendar Jain's OSD.
Asserting that he was not afraid of any probe, the AAP chief also wondered whether the Centre would accept a Delhi government-appointed committee to look into the Sahara-Birla papers.
Kejriwal alleged that the CBI has filed "seven FIRs" against Jain and "two" against Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, but did not elaborate.
In fresh trouble for the AAP government, the CBI has filed an FIR into the appointment of Jain's OSD while the LG office has recommended a probe by the agency into the appointment of his daughter Soumya Jain as a functionary in the Mohalla Clinic project.
"You (Centre) make your committee and get all our appointments probed. And we will form one, and you get the Sahara Birla matter probed with it. Agree?" Kejriwal tweeted.
"We are not scared of any probe as we have not done any wrong. Then why are you scared of a probe?" he added.
Lucknow: Months after it celebrated its 25th anniversary, the Samajwadi Party seemed headed for a vertical split with supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav 'expelling' his son and Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav from the party for 6 years.
The SP chairman also expelled his cousin Ram Gopal Yadav for six years for vitiating the atmosphere in the party.
Heres are the five key takeaways from the surprise move months before assembly elections:
1. By moving in first and expelling Akhilesh, Mulayam is conveying to the Election Commission that he is in command and the original SP is led by him.
2. The idea is to pre-empt the national convention called by Akhilesh and Ram Gopal on January 1 where Mulayam suspected that Shivpal and he himself could face some action including suspension
3. By reinforcing his position as SP head, Mulayam may have staked his rights on the party name, offices and the all-important cycle symbol should Akhilesh form a new party of his own
4. All eyes are now on Akhilesh who is likely to quit as chief minister and go to the masses as a martyr to the intrigues of the old-guard.
5. Mulayam might have the old guard with him, but Akhilesh enjoys the support of the legislature party. It has 223 seats in the 403-member assembly.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has warned all the officials that if found corrupt they will be thrown out from the helicopter. Earlier accepting the mass killings of the criminals the blazing-tempered president told that "If you are corrupt, I will fetch you using a helicopter to Manila and I will throw you out. I have done this before, why would I not do it again?" he said.
As we have stated previously, we are deeply concerned by reports of extrajudicial killings by or at the behest of government authorities in the Philippines,State Department spokeswoman Anna Richey-Allen said.
Earlier Duterte has repeatedly said "Those killings were part of legitimate police operations, including a hostage incident, and those killed were criminals, not suspects."
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Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled son and Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav from the party for six years on Friday for anti-party activities, making a split imminent ahead of assembly elections next year.
Akhilesh aide and Mulayams cousin Ram Gopal Yadav was also expelled for six years. The announcement was made by Mulayam and his brother Shivpal Yadav at a press conference in the evening.
The move came a day after Akhilesh released a parallel list of poll candidates against the partys official list, which ignored Akhilesh and his supporters.
Akhilesh, who was said be upset but calm, has called a meeting of his loyalists at 9:30am tomorrow. Shivpal, who is embroiled in a bitter power tussle with the CM, has warned party leaders against attending the meet.
Heres a recap of the days developments:
Read all the Latest News , Breaking News , watch Top Videos and Live TV here.
So now political attrocities against those opposed to #NoteBandi and with the movement. We will fight it out Derek O'Brien (@quizderek) December 30, 2016
Many film stars directors,sports persons r brand ambassadors. So what next ? Those from BIP who are brand ambassadors will also be? Right ? Derek O'Brien (@quizderek) December 30, 2016
Actor-turned-Trinamool Congress MP Tapas Pal was arrested on Friday by the CBI for his alleged involvement in Rose Valley group chit fund scam.Earlier on Friday, Tapas was summoned by the investigative agency in connection with chit fund case and he was questioned for 4 hours.Pal, an MP from Krishnanagar constituency in West Bengal, is believed to be a former director with the Rose Valley group, which is in the eye of a storm for a chit fund scam which is allegedly bigger than the Saradha scam.The CBI had raided Pal's residence last year and the Enforcement Directorate (ED), which is also probing the scam, has sealed over 2,600 bank accounts across the country. The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) has been probing the company since 2013.The CBI had earlier this year filed a charge sheet against Rose Valley chairman Gautam Kundu and three other accused.The development comes days after West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the Central government of using the Central probe agencies to put pressure on its leaders, who have been protesting against demonetisation.Union minister Babul Supriyo said, "Personally I am sad to see him under arrest. But the law needs to take its course".In Kolkata, the ruling Trinamool Congress alleged that Pal was arrested because the party has been vociferously opposing the demonetisation move."So now political atrocities against those opposed to #notebandi," TMC leader Derek O'Brien tweeted."Many film stars directors, sportspersons are brand ambassadors. So what next? Those from BIP who are brand ambassadors will also be? Right?" he tweeted.Rose Valley Group has been under scanner of the various probe agencies for almost two years.According to reports, Rose Valley chit fund scam amounts to almost Rs 60,000 crore. The scam is believed to be the biggest ponzi fraud in India and the scam itself is at least seven times bigger than Saradha scam.
Google is refusing to censor the rants of Al Qaeda preacher Anwar al-Awlaki, who reportedly influenced the attackers who committed the 7/7 London bombings.Dubbed the "pied piper of Jihad," al-Awlaki's hateful teachings were, according to RT online, easily searchable using Google's enhanced search function and are believed to have inspired jihadist terrorists and radicalised many more.When users search al-Awlaki's name, Google's autocomplete function - which uses algorithms based on what others have searched before - suggests they view his "quotes" and "lectures," a media report said.An easily found downloadable PDF urges: "Martyrdom operations; we must refrain from calling it what the West labels it, suicide bombings,' since suicide is haram in Islam; and shahada [martyrdom] is not suicide."The top hit for "Anwar al-Awlaki quotes" was a website that includes comments from the preacher such as: "Jihad is still flourishing like a blessed tree sprouting through an earth of waste and pollution."Al-Awlaki, who is an American and Yemeni imam who was implicated in the planning of several Al Qaeda attacks, lived in London for 18 months before moving to Yemen in 2004, where he was a leader of the group.He was killed in an American drone strike in 2011, but lives on in many YouTube videos.The prompting of these extra search terms has been described as "incredibly dangerous" by terrorism experts.Julie Shain of the Counter Extremism Project told the Times: "This incentivizes people to search for these things and suggests it's normal to do so."In combination with the thousands of videos and pages calling for attacks on the West, it's incredibly dangerous."Google recently changed its algorithms to prevent autocomplete suggesting anti-Semitic and misogynist searches. The company has also moved to prevent white supremacist and Holocaust denial websites from appearing in high or top results for certain searches.Google's director, Matt Brittin, told Radio 4's Today programme the company works "very hard" to remove hateful and illegal content, but said autocomplete does save people time."It's algorithmic, and I think people understand that these are suggestions based on what other people are searching for."So we can always improve that and we work hard to do that, but I think people are smart and they realise that not everything you find on the internet is accurate and there's a range of opinions there.A YouTube spokesman said: "YouTube has clear policies prohibiting content intending to incite violence and we quickly remove videos violating these policies when flagged by our users."
Caracas: Venezuela's oldest daily newspaper, El Impulso, a sharp critic of President Nicolas Maduro, is halting production because of a paper shortage, its publisher said on Thursday.
Founded in 1904, the paper will suspend publication from Saturday because the state company charged with importing paper has stopped delivering its orders, publisher Carlos Eduardo Carmona said.
"The government... is blocking us from publishing daily, leaving us no choice but to suspend publication," he said in a statement.
The paper's editor-in-chief, Juan Carmona, told AFP it would give employees a holiday through mid-January.
If no paper is received by then, the company will shut its print edition and maintain only its website -- but will not back off its critical line on the socialist government, he said.
El Impulso is a regional paper based in the western city of Barquisimeto.
It has complained about paper shortages since 2013 and warned several times it would be forced to halt publication if no supplies arrived.
The situation only worsened as shortages became the norm amid a deepening economic crisis in Venezuela, where food, medicine and basic household goods are all scarce.
"This year has been one of suffering," Carmona said. "We run out of paper, we call, they deliver it at the last minute.
Last month, another newspaper lent us a few spools, but now the (import) company isn't even answering our calls."
Just one company, run by the state, is authorized to import paper in Venezuela. Critics accuse the government of abusing it for political ends.
Maduro, whose popularity has plummeted during the crisis, denies accusations of censorship. But he has repeatedly accused private media of supporting the opposition.
Seven Venezuelan newspapers have axed their print editions in the last three years
The three candidates running to replace U.S. Rep.-elect Tom Garrett, R-5th District, in the state Senates 22nd District are expected to meet on stage Wednesday at Hampden-Sydney College for a question-and-answer forum.
Lynchburg attorney and Republican Mark Peake, former Fluvanna County Sheriff and Democrat Ryant Washington and engineering development consultant and independent Joseph Hines will attend the event, according to The Farmville Herald, which is co-hosting the event with the college.
With the special election Jan. 10, less than a week after the forum, it may be the only time all three candidates field questions on stage at the same time. The 2017 General Assembly convenes Jan. 11, the morning after the election.
I think this forum is going to be an excellent opportunity for people to come and learn more about each candidate if theyre undecided or if they want to meet the candidate, Jordan Miles, who will moderate the forum, said this week.
Miles, Herald senior staff writer, said he wrote the questions and is the only one who knows them. He said the forum is meant to address the concerns of district residents and may involve state and local issues.
Candidates will have four minutes each to make their opening statements. Miles will ask candidates eight questions, with each given a minute and 30 seconds to answer. They will not have an opportunity to rebut each other, Miles said.
Those who attend may submit questions on cards at the forum. Crowd questions will be vetted and potentially used if there is time, Miles said.
Doors at Johns Auditorium will open at 6:30 p.m. with the forum commencing at 7 p.m. The forum will last until 8:30 p.m., Miles said.
With the state Senate split 21-19 before Garrett, a Buckingham Republican, and Rep.-elect Donald McEachin, D-4th District, resign their seats, the races to replace them could shape the chambers power balance.
No one challenged Garrett for the 22nd seat in 2015 after he won 58 percent of the vote over a Democrat in 2011 when the district was newly redrawn. He won the 5th congressional seat in November after Rep. Robert Hurt, R-5th District, announced his retirement.
The 22nd District includes eastern Lynchburg and Amherst and Appomattox counties and stretches to Goochland County.
A disagreement over tax billing practices between Petersburg Treasurer Kevin A. Brown and consultants brought in to clean up the citys finances gave rise to deeper concerns this month: What happens when the Robert Bobb Group leaves?
Brown posed that question to members of the group in an email after his offices practices drew sharp criticism from Bobb, a former Richmond city manager and president of the Washington-based turnaround firm.
I want you all to be successful and I want the city to achieve success after you all leave, Brown wrote after raising concerns about unnamed municipal workers elevated to take on more responsibility during the groups tenure. I cant afford for you all to waste my tax dollars on people that cant get the job done.
The questions came in response to a pointed letter from Bobb dated Dec. 18 that directed Brown to begin issuing bills in a way that could boost the citys cash flow an issue so dire, the city this month obtained $6.5 million in stopgap financing to help meet payroll and other obligations.
The Bobb Groups finance experts and other consultants brought in to shore up the citys liabilities and craft a plan for long-term fiscal health are working overtime to move Petersburg forward. But with the five-month contract approaching its midpoint in January, Brown said he is concerned.
Your current contract with the city of Petersburg ends in March, Brown wrote. There are some employees that you are selecting to put your practices in place. We have seen those individuals work in the past and when you leave, we will revert back to our bad habits.
Reached by phone, Brown declined to name the employees he referenced but said he had scheduled a meeting with interim Petersburg City Manager Tom Tyrrell to discuss his concerns.
Chief among them: how to guard against a repeat of findings from this summer, when a team of experts brought in to assess the citys financial health found that Petersburg had started the fiscal year July 1 about $19 million in debt and $12 million over budget.
Leslie C. Strickler, president of ETRE Communications, said in response to Browns staffing concerns that the Bobb Group is working methodically to identify problems, plan solutions and set goals.
The group is looking at each intricate layer of the city of Petersburg to identify what went wrong and who is responsible for the crisis, Strickler said in an email. Part of the solution is putting new personnel in place to continue to execute the plan in place. This is happening at just about every layer.
Bobb said in a pointed letter to Brown dated Dec. 18 that the treasurers office should have been doing more to improve the citys financial situation.
As council members voted to strip funding from schools, cut employee pay and axe a youth summer program to make ends meet, Browns office was not billing for money he had the legal authority to collect.
By Bobbs estimate, the practice of what is known as supplemental billing of personal property taxes could have yielded $6 million more in cash flow in the 2016 calendar year a figure Brown contests.
The money ultimately would have been collected in 2017, but the citys current situation is too tenuous for such a delay, Bobb wrote in a one-page note obtained through a Freedom of Information Act request.
As a management turnaround firm this is unacceptable with the financial crisis in which we find the city, Bobb stated.
Currently, if a Petersburg resident owned a 2000 Honda on Jan. 1, 2016, their twice-yearly bill would be calculated based on the assessed value of the Honda. If that person sold their car and bought a 2015 BMW, their bill would still be based on the value of the Honda until the next billing cycle, or the first billing cycle of the next year.
At that point, the bill would contain charges prorated for the portion of the prior period in which the person owned the more expensive vehicle, and the amount they would owe for the first half of the next year.
Brown has the discretion in deciding how to bill for adjustments to the value of residents personal property that occur throughout the year, according to representatives of statewide associations of treasurers and commissioners of the revenue.
Commissioners of the revenue, who are elected constitutional officers, track changes largely through information available from the states Department of Motor Vehicles and provide the updated value of property such as cars, trucks and boats to treasurers, who then typically bill for the amount of tax owed.
Leroy O. Pfeiffer Jr., treasurer of Cumberland County and president-elect of the Treasurers Association of Virginia, said localities vary in their billing practices.
His office processes adjustments based on updates provided by the commissioner of the revenue between 12 and 20 times annually, Pfeiffer said.
Pfeiffer said that when given updated information, he acts accordingly.
But in Petersburg, Brown said a decision was made in 2013 to stop regularly issuing adjusted bills.
The move came as city officials quietly grappling with growing municipal costs that outpaced revenues decided to increase the frequency of personal property tax billing to boost cash flow.
Officials said that if the city sent personal property bills twice a year instead of once a year, the administration might be able to muddle through a dry season exacerbated by consecutive years of multimillion-dollar deficits.
Officials hopes were up as the first bills went out in January 2014. Work was ramping up on the implementation of a new high-efficiency utility billing system and a comprehensive plan was issued that predicted a reinvented city by 2020.
Our local government services and level of accessibility are unparalleled in the region, the plans introduction predicts of a Petersburg then six years thence. There is a healthy balance of industry, business, residences and services resulting in stable, growing property values and an economically flourishing community.
Then, procurement records show, the utility system cost $1.4 million more than expected; residential bills went haywire during a flawed rollout; property tax collections dipped; and municipal employee turnover rates increased, further complicating efforts to address the citys mounting difficulties.
It seemed like a reasonable decision at the time, Brown said of the decision to abandon the discretionary practice of supplemental billing.
His offices six full-time staff members already had their hands full managing issues with returned notices mailed to incorrect addresses and the volume of bills going out was about to increase, Brown said.
But Bobb said staffing was not a legitimate justification.
Staff shortages must never be a consideration for collecting and billing customers; even if we have to work weekends, nights and holidays, he wrote to Brown. The cash position of the city is too fragile.
Lori K. Stevens, commissioner of the revenue for Dinwiddie County and president of the Commissioners of the Revenue Association of Virginia, said constitutional officers have and need latitude to perform their jobs effectively.
You have to weigh your workload and what your staff can handle and cant handle effectively, she said. There are so many factors to look at before casting judgment.
Bobbs estimate of a $6 million reduction in cash flow was based on a number from Petersburgs revenue commissioner, Brown said. The figure does not account for supplemental billing of business personal property taxes, which Brown said his office does collect. That practice has yielded about $2.2 million in revenue so far in 2016, Brown said.
Other adjustments made as a result of inaccurate billing resulted in revenue of about $3 million below the offices projected collections.
The true value of supplemental personal property taxes that could have been collected in 2016 could be as high as $4.2 million or as low as $1.2 million, he said.
I dont know exactly what the (actual) number is, Brown said. At the end of the day, we are going to work together to make sure this works moving forward.
The real problem, as Brown sees it, is setting a budget that accurately estimates revenues the city can expect to collect.
In order for us to move forward and help the city, we have to figure out what the actual amount of supplemental billing revenue will be and budget accordingly, Brown said.
Brown said he does regularly receive all of the information needed to make adjustments to property tax bills from Petersburg Commissioner of the Revenue Pamela Hairston. Reached by phone Wednesday, Hairston asked a reporter for a copy of Bobbs letter and did not return subsequent interview requests.
For a decade, Esther Boley has fought a project that has loomed as a potential new neighbor in her rural corner of Cumberland County, a landfill that would have accepted up to 7,000 tons of trash per day from Virginia and surrounding states.
Im no politician, and it burnt me slam out, said Boley, 69, who has lived on her family land on Frenchs Store Road her entire life.
Boley said its common knowledge that the proposed 314-acre facility, approved by the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors in 2006 and later permitted by the Virginia Department of Environmental Quality, is no longer happening, but county officials and Republic Services, the waste-disposal company behind the project, arent saying what other use the property might serve.
You would want to be happy. You would want to be ecstatic about it, Boley said. But you cant believe it. Maybe you believe what politicians say. But I dont. Its still a waiting game.
Tracy Skenandore, Republics manager of communications, said in an email that the company will respectfully decline to comment, referring a reporter to Cumberland County.
Vivian Seay Giles, both the county administrator and county attorney, refused to talk about the landfill, or anything else.
Im not discussing that. Thank you, have a great day, she said before hanging up.
Several members of the Cumberland County Board of Supervisors did not return calls.
One, Parker Wheeler, answered his phone.
Its not going forward. Thats about all I can tell you right now, said Wheeler, who would not provide any additional details about the landfill property.
William Hayden, a spokesman for the DEQ, said the agency does not have any information to indicate that the proposed landfill is moving forward.
Hayden added that the air permit issued for the project has expired.
We have had no communication about renewing it, Hayden said. You may want to talk with the county, as they probably have more information.
This isnt the first time county officials have been tight-lipped about the landfill project, which at one point they banked on providing tens of millions of dollars in revenue to bolster the county budget and support debt service on new schools, public safety offices and a community center.
In 2015, the Farmville Herald reported that the county had accepted a $2.5 million payment from Republic as part of the host community agreement between Republic and the county. That document allowed Republic to terminate the agreement with 90 days notice and a $2.5 million liquidated damages fee. The Farmville Herald also reported that the county had received $500,000 a year in annual payments from Republic as part of the agreement.
Giles told the paper that Republic had not exited from the agreement but would not answer additional questions.
Why all the secrecy?
Jim Sharp, former director of Campaign Virginia, a nonprofit that worked on environmental and consumer issues, especially fighting out-of-state trash being brought into Virginia, before it ceased to exist in 2009, couldnt guess.
Im not sure what happened in Cumberland, Sharp said, adding that the economic slump that began near the end of the last decade may have stalled the project. Im thrilled that its not going to become a landfill. My only question is what are they going to do with it instead?
Americans civil liberties and technology have always been in tension with one another, but no more so than in the 15 years or so as Silicon Valleys influence in society has exploded.
One little-known but widely used bit of technology has found its way into the news in the last couple of weeks, thanks to a state court decision in a Fairfax lawsuit: license plate readers.
With special cameras, police officers are able to record images of vehicle license plates, along with location and other specific data, on any number of vehicles. They can then run crosschecks of that data with lists, say, of stolen vehicles to assist in solving crimes.
The technology behind the readers has been around for decades, and their use in other countries is widespread. In the United States, however, the use of the technology has been slower to catch on because of privacy concerns.
The Virginia chapter of the ACLU has filed suit against the Fairfax County Police Department, one of the largest departments in the state using the technology, in an effort to have the courts set limits on how long police can retain the information gathered or whether they can retain it all. Last month, a Fairfax circuit judge tossed the suit, ruling the data collection was not related to personal tracking of private citizens.
The ACLU begs to differ and announced last week it would be appealing to the Virginia Supreme Court. Their lawyers contend the collection and unlimited retention of the license plate data are violations of Virginias Government Data Collection and Dissemination Practices Act. That was the act then-Attorney General Ken Cuccinelli, a Republican, based a non-binding 2013 advisory opinion on that limited use of the technology. Cuccinelli advised that collection of the data for an ongoing case was permitted but passive collection, with no basis clearly established in advance, was illegal. The Virginia State Police immediately began purging its databases every 24 hours, but few other law enforcement agencies in the state followed suit.
The ACLU contends such data collection amounts to little more than mass surveillance of citizens who, under the U.S. Constitution, have the presumption of innocence. And when there is no restriction on how long police can retain the data, what is created amounts to a massive database of the whereabouts of individuals based on the GPS information collected at the time of the reading.
Twelve states have imposed limits on how long data can be retained before purging. North Carolinas limit is 90 days; Vermonts is 18 months. Virginia law, however, is silent. In 2015, the General Assembly passed a bill limiting retention to seven days, but Gov. Terry McAuliffe, acting at the urging of police groups, vetoed it.
No one disputes the technology has legitimate law enforcement uses: Cases of stolen vehicles have risen in departments that use the readers, as have instances of police locating drivers suffering from dementia getting lost.
But without fair and reasonable limits on how long such massive amounts of data on individuals can be retained, there is the very real risk of the creation, by inaction, of a database of hundreds of thousands of individuals. Thats just not acceptable.
We urge the General Assembly, when it convenes next month, to tackle the question anew and devise a common-sense time limit both civil libertarians and police can live with.
Vision, Falcon, Black Widow, and 7 more Marvel characters you might not know date back to the '30s and '40s
Marvel's Golden Age of the '30s and '40s had a much bigger influence on the modern Marvel Universe than you may realize
Man in court for stepsons murder
Joel Pompey, 59, of Peaseville, Upper Seventh Avenue appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar to face one count of murder, one count of possession of an illegal firearm, two counts of possession of ammunition and one count of attempted murder.
The charges were laid indictably and as such Pompey was not called upon to enter a plea. As the charge of murder is non-bailable, the accused will remain in custody pending the outcome of the case. In addition to these offences, Pompey was also charged with assault of Constables Cato and WPC Ramdeen while in custody at the Morvant police station. On these two charges, Pompey entered a guilty plea.
Court prosecutor, Sgt Benjamin submitted to the court the items recovered from the scene which included a firearm, seven rounds of ammunition, a black-coloured cloth and a purple- coloured piece of plastic.
Pompey, a retired employee of the Water and Sewerage Authority (WASA), was expected to appear in court on Wednesday but complained of feeling unwell.
Pompey was expected to return to court following a medical examination at the Port-of-Spain General Hospital, but was unable to do so due to delays at the Hospital.
Pompey was arrested and charged for the murder of his 15-year-old stepson Josiah Martinez who was shot dead on December 16, at the familys Barataria home. The case was adjourned to January 26
Bail for man charged for stealing TV
Malcolm Emmanuel, 24, appeared before Chief Magistrate Marcia Ayers-Caesar charged for being in possession of a stolen Samsung Smart television set which was allegedly found at his home in Upper Wharton Street, Laventille on December 26.
Emmanuels attorney Ronald Daniels asked the court to grant bail as his client has no previous convictions.
He did submit himself voluntarily to police officers when he learned that he was a person of interest in their investigation, and later to the court to answer the charges, Daniels said. I know that it would not be a bold request to offer my client own bail for his cooperation with the investigation thus far. However, the court prosecutor objected to bail being granted on the grounds that Emmanuel had two matters of disturbing the peace and assault and battery pending before the courts. Daniels said that the matters were close to conclusion and that Emmanuel would be prepared to return to court pending the outcome of these matters. Bail was granted in the sum of $5,000 and the matter was adjourned to January 3.
MMSU lifts the people of Mayaro
According to Robert Robbie McIntosh, founder and president of the MMSU , the group was formed five years ago and is focused on creating sustainable development for the people of Mayaro by offering training and also acting as an advocate to generate employment opportunities for the people of the south-eastern community. The organisation also realised the need for social intervention and works to help the less fortunate in the community.
McIntosh explained the idea behind their social programme, I lost my eyesight years ago but I never let that stop me or slow me down in my quest to fight for the betterment of Mayaro. Through hard work, we were able to set up a fund to assist less fortunate persons with minor surgery or even medical tests. The MMSU also provides equipment such as prosthetic limbs, wheelchairs, nebulisers as well as blood pressure and diabetes testing kits. This year we were also able to give out vouchers to deserving persons from across Mayaro. We work every single day to achieve our mission for a better Mayaro. The organisation hosted a small presentation ceremony at their Mayaro offices last week where they gave out medical testing equipment as well as 25 vouchers for groceries worth $1,500 each and 13 vouchers for home repairs worth $6,000 each.
Jaby Phillip, of Lewis and Sucre Street, Mayaro, expressed his gratitude This organisation is doing great work to improve the quality of the lives of the people of Mayaro. I was in an accident recently and could not work so they presented me with a voucher for groceries. I can tell you that my family, including my three kids, are very grateful for this assistance that will go a long way toward making our Christmas merrier. I wish Robbie and the MMSU all the best as they continue their work in helping make a better Mayaro. As indicated by McIntosh, the MMSU currently has over 250 registered members, but their work impacts the entire community as they try to help everyone they can. The organisation receives assistance to achieve their mission from the entire community including corporate stakeholders such as BP Trinidad and Tobago.
Ronda Francis, corporate responsibility manager, bpTT , explained the impetus behind their support for the MMSU , Across the world non-governmental and community-based organisations are critical to driving sustainable development and social change.
Throughout the year, bpTT provides training to make these organisations more effective and empowered in achieving their objectives.
Apart from our own social programmes, we also support positive work like this project by the MMSU . McIntosh explained that they will be offering medical assistance throughout the year and that he was hoping to expand the impact of their organisation with the coming of the New Year 2017.
According to retiree Veronica Rampersad from Rest House Village, Mayaro, The MMSU gave me blood sugar and pressure testing kits so that I can monitor my health and I am truly grateful for this help toward living a healthier and happier life. I may not have many resources, but I would like to help them make my community a better place in any way that I can. They have shown us that we can all work together to lift Mayaro to where it should be as a model community for the nation to follow.
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(Newser) A UK mother who made the news for having extremely premature triplet girls who all survived has herself died unexpectedly. Rachel Park, who died at age 39 just days after taking her 9-month-old babies home from the hospital for Christmas, became pregnant after six years of trying with her husband, Steven, and on her fourth round of IVF. "She idolized those little girls," her husband said. "They were her world." The cause of death is still unknown, but police say the circumstances are not suspicious, reports the BBC. During the pregnancy, Park, a Type 1 diabetic, developed pre-eclampsia, and her blood pressure got so high that her kidneys and liver began to fail.
At just 24 weeks' pregnant, she was sent to a hospital in Newcastle 100 miles from her home, where she suffered what the Mirror calls "a serious bleed." Doctors found a problem with blood flowing to the placenta, and performed an emergency C-section when the triplets were 26 weeks and five days along. Due June 12, the girls were put on ventilators upon their birth on March 11 and, weighing 5 pounds combined, spent two months fighting for their lives. "It was touch and go with all three at some point," Rachel told the News & Star just a week ago. A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Steven and his daughters Poppie, Mollie, and Evelyn. (Just days before the Park triplets were born in the UK, a mother of newborn triplets died in Kansas.)
(Newser) Thanks to a top-secret document on a murdered journalist leaked by Edward Snowden, we may know why US intelligence agencies are so certain Russia was behind the recent hacks of the DNC and others during the election. This is important, the Intercept reports, because the information about the cyberattack so far made public by the government is far from enough to prove Russia was behind it. In 2006, Russian journalist and US citizen Anna Politkovskaya was shot and killed in her apartment. It's been suspectedthough not proventhat the Kremlin had her killed for reporting on Chechnya and criticizing Vladimir Putin.
While it remains unclear who was behind Politkovskaya's murder, an NSA document leaked by Snowden reveals a Russian intelligence group hacked her email account a year earlier using "malicious software" not publicly available. It appears the NSA was able to use "intercept signals" to determine where the cyberattack came from. "If the NSA could use signals intelligence to track a specific hack of an American email account in 2005, its not too much to assume that, 10 years later, the agency possesses the same or better capability," the Intercept states. The cyberattack on Politkovskaya's email account is similar to that on the DNC, and it seems probable the NSA tracked it to the source in the same way. Read the full story here. (Read more Russia stories.)
(Newser) Police say a member of the Kennedy family was arrested after a bar fight in the Colorado resort town of Aspen. Police say 22-year-old John Conor Kennedy was charged with disorderly conduct in the Thursday morning scuffle, the AP reports. Kennedy is the oldest son of Robert Kennedy Jr., an environmental activist, and the grandson of Robert Kennedy. Police say Kennedy and another man were fighting in the street and rolling around on the ground when officers tried to separate them. Officers reported seeing Kennedy punch the man in the head four or five times. According to TMZ, Kennedy, who used to date Taylor Swift, told police that the fight began after the man insulted his friend with a homophobic slur. (Read more John Conor Kennedy stories.)
(Newser) Buffalo's school board voted 6-2 Thursday to try to get rid of a controversial ninth memberCarl Paladino, co-chair of Donald Trump's New York campaign. The board gave Paladino 24 hours to resign over what it called "unambiguously racist" and "morally repugnant" remarks about the Obamas he made last week, reports the Huffington Post. Paladino, who unsuccessfully ran for governor as a Republican in 2010, told Buffalo weekly Artvoice that he wanted to see President Obama die of mad cow disease in 2017, and for Michelle Obama to "return to being a male" and live in a cave in Zimbabwe with a gorilla. The board said that if Paladino won't quit, it will petition New York Education Commissioner MaryEllen Elia to remove him, the Buffalo News reports.
"Words matter, Mr. Paladino," said School Board President Barbara Seals Nevergold at a raucous meeting Thursday, which Paladino did not attend. "The impact on children of color, especially African-American children, is incalculable," she said. "They would like me to tell you, 'You're fired.'" Other board members accused Paladino of racism and other misconduct going back many years. Paladino, who has said he won't step down, issued a statement accusing the board of trying to get rid of him for exposing corruption. Earlier this week, Paladinowhose comments were called "reprehensible" by the Trump transition teamsaid his words were poorly chosen and claimed he had meant to forward his remarks to friends instead of sending them to Artvoice, the Wall Street Journal reports. (Read more Carl Paladino stories.)
(Newser) Tragedy in ski country: A mother died and her two daughters were injured in a fall from a chair lift at a ski resort in Colorado Thursday. Authorities say the 40-year-old woman from Texas and the girls, ages 9 and 12, fell around 20 feet from the lift onto snow at the Ski Granby Ranch, the AP reports. One girl was hospitalized in stable condition and the other was airlifted to a hospital near Denver, around 90 miles away. The resort's operation director says the three were the only people on a four-person lift and they "came out of their chair" somewhere between the loading area and the summit. Police and state regulators are investigating the incident, which ski industry groups say was an extremely rare event.
The National Ski Areas Association says that between 2004 and October of this year, there were just three recorded deaths from ski lift falls. The last chair lift death blamed on a malfunction was in 1993, according to the NSAA. Since the last fatal accident in Colorado, in 2002, "there have been 1.7 billion chair lift rides," a spokesman for Colorado Ski Country USA tells the Denver Post. "It's super rare. It really doesn't happen very often, and it's not something that folks need to be concerned about." Witnesses to Thursday's accident tell CBS Denver that there had been problems with the chair lift over the last few days, with each stop causing the chairs to sway. (Read more chair lift stories.)
(Newser) A man who urged an end to violence in Oakland after gunfire killed his son and grandson as they slept three years ago became a victim himself this week as he drove near a street memorial for his slain family. Melvin Johnson, 39, was shot and killed Tuesday on the east side of the city, not far from the shrine for his 16-month-old grandson and 20-year-old son, who were fatally shot in August 2013, the East Bay Times reports. Police have made no arrests and released no motive for Johnson's killing. They have not said if the shooting was random or if Johnson was targeted. "In three years and four months, three generations of one family [have] been lost to gun violence in the streets of Oakland," community activist Sherri-Lyn Miller tells the AP. She was a friend of Johnson's.
"Melvin Johnson was a giant teddy bear, and the loss has not only devastated the Johnson family, but all that knew him," Miller says. Johnson had moved his son, Andrew "Drew" Thomas, and grandson, Drew Leon Deon Jackson, to the central California city of Fresno to get them away from Oakland's street violence, but they were slain while in town for a birthday party. A shooter fired into a relative's home in the middle of the night, killing the sleeping pair. The slayings are still unsolved. Johnson's mother, Carolyn Smith, spoke of her late son Wednesday as a good person who was committed to his family following a series of tragedies. Another of his sons, 8-year-old Jahmel Johnson, died last month after a battle with lymphoma. Melvin "helped everybody, he loved everybody," his mother said. (Read more Oakland stories.)
(Newser) Police searching for Greece's missing ambassador to Brazil found his burnt-out car in a Rio suburb Thursday with a body inside. Forensic experts are trying to determine whether the body is that of Ambassador Kyriakos Amiridis, who was last heard from Monday when he phoned his wife, the BBC reports. On Friday, a Rio de Janeiro police officer confessed to murdering the ambassador, Reuters reports. Sergio Moreira, 29, told police he was romantically involved with Amiridis' wife, Francoise, and that she asked him to kill her husband. Francoise was the one to report Amiridis missing Wednesday.
Amiridis was visiting Rio from Brasilia to attend New Year's celebrations on Copacabana Beach. Before the grim find, police said they did not believe the ambassador had been kidnapped, since nobody had been in touch to demand ransom, the Guardian reports. Amiridis, 59, took the Brazil post at the start of this year after four years as Greece's ambassador to Libya. He and his 40-year-old wife have a 10-year-old daughter. Moreira told police he murdered the ambassador inside the Rio home the Amiridises owned. Both he and Amiridis' wife have been arrested. (Read more Brazil stories.)
(Newser) A ceasefire brokered by Russia and Turkey went into effect in war-ravaged Syria at midnight, a potential breakthrough in the six years of fighting that have left more than a quarter-million people dead and triggered a refugee crisis across Europe. If it holds, the truce between the Syrian government and mainstream rebel forces will be followed by peace talks next month in Kazakhstan, Russian President Vladimir Putin said in announcing the agreement. He described it, however, as "quite fragile" and requiring "special attention and patience," per the AP. The first half-hour of the cease-fire was one of "comprehensive calm" after government bombings in Aleppo and Damascus suburbs, said the head of the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. The New York Times reports minor violations, but none yet big enough to threaten the pact.
Several previous ceasefires in the Syrian civil war all collapsed, some of them in a matter of days. And this latest agreement, like previous ones, does not include extremist factions such as the Islamic State and al-Qaeda's branch in Syria. Still, the deal raises hopes for a political settlement to the ruinous war, in part because the landscape has significantly shifted recently. For one thing, the tide has turned in Syrian President Bashar Assad's favor militarily over the past year, with the government retaking the city of Aleppo just days ago. Also, Turkey, which has been supporting the rebels, appears more willing to strike a bargain with Russia if it means protecting its borders. Syria's foreign minister notes there is a "real chance" for a political settlement, if Assad is allowed to stay in power. (Read more Syria stories.)
(Newser) Not many would be surprised if Moscow retaliated for fresh US sanctions over what it calls "groundless" accusations of election hacking, and one proposal seemed to point in that direction: Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said he wants to expel 35 American diplomats in return for the US expulsion of 35 Russians, CNN reports. But although Vladimir Putin called Obama and his allies "political corpses," accusing them of trying to sabotage Donald Trump's foreign policy plans and further damage US-Russia ties, per the New York Times, he's now saying he won't engage in "irresponsible diplomacy" by taking the deportation route, opting instead to mend those ties once Donald Trump takes office, the BBC reports.
"We won't create problems for American diplomats," Putin said in a statement released Friday, the Washington Post reports. Prior to that, Russian diplomats around the world slammed the new US sanctions, with a Foreign Ministry spokeswoman calling the Obama administration a "group of foreign policy losers, angry, and ignorant." Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, meanwhile, said he was disappointed, per the AP. "It is sad that the Obama administration that began its life by restoring ties ends it with anti-Russian death throes," he tweeted. Trump said Thursday that it is time to "move on" from the controversy, though some congressional Republicans welcomed what they called an overdue harder line on Russia, the Washington Post reports. Sens. John McCain and Lindsey Graham were among those calling for tougher sanctions. (Read more Russia stories.)
(Newser) An Arkansas high school teacher has resigned as parents and students were planning to boycott school events in response to his references to Barack and Michelle Obama as "spider monkey" and "first chimp." The online posts attributed to Trent Bennett of Malvern High School have since been deleted, though a KATV reporter has posted screenshots to Twitter, per Time. After the Malvern School District announced Monday that it was investigating "inappropriate" comments using "racially charged rhetoric" posted to an employee's personal Facebook page, a special meeting was held Thursday, during which the school board unanimously voted to accept Bennett's resignation.
The Arkansas State Conference of the NAACP had promised to hold protests if Bennett did not resign, per Arkansas Matters. Students and parents had also vowed to boycott school sporting events, reports the New York Daily News. "I am aware of the impact this has had, and though I negate that I have ever conducted myself in a less than professional manner in regard to my students, I have resigned my teaching position," Bennett says in a statement. "I would like to issue an apology for the outrage and hurt feelings caused by these comments. I acknowledge that they were disrespectful and offensive." He also says he's deleted his social media accounts to avoid "future issues." (A West Virginia nonprofit director was fired for a similar post, and a Buffalo school board member may be ousted for his Obama slurs.)
(Newser) He was busted for driving while intoxicated, and now, 16 months later, Joseph Schwab has had his DUI charge dropped. The California man had been pulled over in Solano County in August 2015 after it was reported he was driving erratically, and he was arrested for DUI, although later tests found he had no alcohol or drugs other than caffeine in his system. The DUI charge was kept on the books, however, because prosecutors contended his driving was so all over the place that he had to have had another drug in his system that wasn't showing up in tests, per the San Francisco Chronicle. Schwab was also said to have failed sobriety tests at the scene.
The Solano County DA's office conceded this week, noting in a written statement that it was finally giving up and dropping the DUI charge because it didn't think it could prove it beyond a reasonable doubt, though it still maintains it's "highly likely the defendant was under the influence of a drug," per KTLA. A misdemeanor charge against Schwab for reckless driving remains. (A man in Japan drank himself to death with caffeine.)
(Newser) Three new police officers were fired for making comments on a group chat about using Miami's primarily black neighborhoods for target practice, the AP reports. Officers Kevin Bergnes, Miguel Valdes, and Bruce Alcin were let go on Dec. 23, after an internal affairs investigation concluded that they violated department policies, reported the Miami Herald, citing documents it obtained. The remarks angered local civil rights activists keeping tabs on a department that is currently scrutinized by the US Department of Justice for a pattern of excessive force. The Miami police department said it would only confirm that officers Bergnes, Valdes, and Alcin were fired, but did not explain the reasons behind the dismissals. Attorney Stephan Lopez, who represents the three officers, told the AP that his clients were joking and that the comments were taken out of context.
Lopez pointed out that Alcin is African-American and Valdes has a black grandfather. The incident happened June 30, when the three officers responded to other rookie colleagues' questions about shooting ranges in a WhatsApp chat they often used to communicate, the paper said. According to documents obtained by the Herald, the officers-in-training shared department information on that thread. It said the documents show Bergnes sarcastically suggested the friend looking for a shooting range try a Bank of America, adding "they'll even give you some cash." He then suggested Model Citythe police district that includes Liberty City and handles the bulk of the city's shootingsas another location. Valdes suggested a particular intersection in the Overtown community, according to the paper. It added that Alcin followed up, saying Valdes "wouldn't understand" until he's worked there. (Read more Florida stories.)
(Newser) Connecticut's highest court has reinstated the murder conviction of Kennedy cousin Michael Skakel, the AP reports. Skakel, who was convicted in 2002 of bludgeoning his neighbor Martha Moxley to death when both were 15 years old in 1975, had his conviction overturned in 2013 when a Superior Court judge ruled that Skakel's defense attorney had been inadequate. But the state appealed, and on Friday, the state Supreme Court rejected the lower court finding, ruling that the Skakel's representation was "constitutionally adequate," the Hartford Courant reports. The move sets the stage for Skakel, who was released after his conviction was overturned, to go back to prison. He was originally sentenced to 20 years to life. (Read more Michael Skakel stories.)
Human Immuno Virus or HIV has always been an international concern. The World Health Organization has been undertaking steps to ensure that their goal in ending the virus won't be delayed as the disease keeps on infecting millions of people around the globe.
Social stigma is worsening against people who have acquired this incurable disease. However, it may seem that the stigma will be at its worst. Last December 26, a 26-year old male hairdresser was arrested due to allegations of spreading the HIV virus to men through sexual contact.
It is said that the suspect known as Daryll Rowe had already been hiding from the law for more or less five days. Rowe was arrested at Wallsend, North Tyneside and is now facing multiple charges for this. These charges include seven counts of causing Grievous Bodily Harm (GBM) and one count for the same case. Now the suspect of spreading the incurable disease is now in custody of the Sussex Police while waiting for his hearing at Newcastle Crown Court in January.
This issue may no longer be common not just to United Kingdom but, possible, to other countries where HIV is very prevalent. According to the latest HIV Statistics from the World Health Organization, there are more or less 36.7 million people around the world who are now diagnosed to be infected with the same virus. And yet, around 46% from that count are the only ones who have been receiving the antiretroviral treatment from health institutions.
World Health Organization has been finding many ways on how to address this crucial problem nowadays. In their recent activities, they found out that Partner Notification Services are one of the most effective ways on dealing with some issues concerning people living with HIV.
The said international health organization furthered that their findings revealed about how effective PNS is to families who are having a hard time dealing with a fellow member having acquired the virus. Through this process, diagnosing people with HIV won't take long steps and it will be faster than before.
Many people around the world are expressing mixed reactions over the news about Rowe being arrested. As regards to whether or not the HIV infected people will feel more threatened because of the possible worsening stigma against them, what's very important now is to cooperate to authorities in solving such problem.
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New Delhi:
Twitter is buzzing with news alerts from India and rest of the world. Sudden decision of PPA to suspend Pema Khandu is not acceptable to us- Tamiyo Taga.
#11:45PM
Cash withdrawal limit from ATMs increased to Rs 4,500 from Rs 2,500, effective January 1: RBI (PTI)
# 11:00 PM
Israel issues severe travel warning for India, citing immediate threat of attacks against western, tourist targets: Reuters India
# 10:59 PM
Philippines may relocate naval drills with U.S. - defence minister: Reuters India
# 10:57 PM
More U.S. students are thinking about going to college in Canada because of the election of Donald Trump: AP
# 10:56 PM
Samajwadi Party spokesperson Juhi Singh resigns from the post: ANI
# 10:42 PM
11 miners dead in Lalmatia colliery mishap at Rajmahal area in Jharkhand, rescue operations to resume on Saturday
# 10:31 PM
In Pakistan, the practice of exchanging girls for marriage is so entrenched it even has a name in Urdu: Watta Satta.
# 10:26 PM
Oil prices down, but set for biggest yearly gain since 2009: Reuters India
#9:52 PM
We submitted 2 memorandums to Govt of India seeking Rs 4,702 crores and Rs 386 crores as per norms to deal with situation: Karnataka CM -ANI
# 9:48 PM
This drought is the worst one in 15 yrs with no water in the reservoirs, dried up tanks and serious drinking water problems: CM Siddaramaiah - ANI
# 9:47 PM
Mumbai: Western Railway to run 8 spl local train services b/w Churchgate and Virar on New Year eve i.e during night b/w Dec 31 and Jan 1 '17 - ANI
# 9:46 PM
Met PM Modi in delegation, consisting of Mallikarjun Kharge & all state ministers & explained about severe drought in Ktaka-CM Siddaramaiah -ANI
# 9:45 PM
Turkey says Kurdish YPG should not be involved in Syria talks: Reuters India
# 9:44 PM
Nigeria's 'plastic rice' real but inedible: AFP
# 9:43 PM
Indonesian budget airline fires a pilot who was suspected of trying to fly a plane while he was drunk: AP
#9:30 PM
Polish mourners attend the funeral of Lukasz Urban, the truck driver who was killed in the Berlin attacks, in Banie: AFP
# 9:29 PM
Akhilesh Yadav's supporters stage protest over his expulsion from the party for 6 years, raise slogans against Shivpal Yadav
# 9:23 PM
UP CM Akhilesh Yadav greets his supporters gathered outside his residence as his convoy leaves from the residence
#9:22 PM
Gujarat: 5 dead, 7 injured and 3 critical after a tempo rammed into them during Gram Panchayat polls winner's victory procession in Godhra. -ANI
# 9:21 PM
This is an app that will strengthen digital payments in country & we are delighted B. R. Ambedkar's name is associated with this app: PGoyal - ANI
# 9:20 PM
I think Mamata Banerjee ji is so much engrossed with lotteries, chit fund and prizes that she can't think beyond lotteries: Piyush Goyal - ANI
# 9:18 PM
What she (WB CM) has alluded to 'BHIM' app is app for digital payments & the app has nothing to do with lottery-Union Minister Piyush Goyal: ANI
# 9:17 PM
US released its most detailed report yet on Russia's alleged election hacking: AP
# 9:16 PM
Ex-Maharashtra Dy CM Chhagan Bhujbal, arrested in money laundering case, says plea questioning his hospital stay aims to tarnish his image
#9:15 PM
CBSE extends the last date for online submission of application form of JEE Main 2017 up to January 16: PTI
# 9:14 PM
European cities ramp up security for New Year after Berlin attack: Reuters India
#9:13 PM
Post-mortem on pop icon George Michael 'inconclusive': AFP
#9:12 PM
Ex MP & Former Union minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil passed away on Friday evening in Loni (Maharashtra) after prolonged illness: ANI
#9:00PM
UP CM AKhilesh Yadav directs UP DGP to ensure adequate security is deployed outside Mulayam Singh Yadav and Shivpal Yadav's residence:
#8:57PM
CBI arrests an Income Tax Officer, Jhalawar (Rajasthan) while demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs. 1 Lakk: ANI
#8:56 PM
Hyderabad: PVSindhu and Telangana Tourism Minister Azmeera Chandulal attend the 2nd International Kite Festival: PTI
# 8:42 PM
Developments in SP intra-party issue, I am keeping a watch: UP Governor Ram Naik - PTI
# 8:47 PM
UP DGP Javeed Ahmed reaches CM Akhilesh Yadav's residence to meet him.
#08:33PM
Morally Akhilesh Yadav must resign immediately. SP Govt had failed: Yogi Adityanath, BJP on expulsion of UP CM from SP for 6 yrs (ANI)
#08:30 PM
My husband's arrest is a revenge towards our CM: TMC MP Tapas Paul's wife (ANI)
#08:25 PM
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav calls for a meeting with all MLAs at 9 AM on Dec 31 (ANI)
#08:15 PM
It was necessary to send a across that associations are accountable to public and must abide by the code of conduct: Sports Min. Vijay Goel (ANI)
#8: 05 PM
Non-resident Indians can exchange/deposit junked 500/1,000 rupee notes at specified #RBI offices till June 30: Fin Min Jaitley (PTI)
# 7:55 PM
Holding, transferring/receiving of junked notes is illegal and punishable with imposition of penalty, says Fin Min on Ordinance: PTI
#08:00 PM
The day IOA took this decision to appoint SKalmadi & AChautala as Life Presidents, Govt clarified that they don't agree with it: Vijay Geol (ANI)
# 7:50 PM
There is situation of pol instability in UP,it's worrisome for democracy;we dont comment on internal division of any party-RS Surjewala, Cong - ANI
# 7:47 PM
Lucknow: Protesters tear down the posters of Shivpal Singh Yadav after Akhilesh Yadav was expelled from the party for 6 years
#7:46 PM
Ordinance criminalising holding of 500/1,000 rupee notes gets #President assent: PTI
# 7:45 PM
The President of India has approved today the promulgation of the Specified Bank Notes (Cessation of Liabilities) Ordinance, 2016: Sources
# 7:44 PM
Ferdy Kuebler, the 1950 Tour de France champion, dies at age 97: AP
# 7:42 PM
Delhi HC seeks response of Ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi on CBI's plea challenging his bail in the Agusta Westland chopper scam case: PTI
# 7:41 PM
SC rejects plea challenging elevation of Justice #JSKhehar as next Chief Justice of India #CJI: PTI
# 7:40 PM
UP people had already waved Akhilesh off, his expulsion doesn't have much impact: Shrikant Sharma: ANI
# 7:39 PM
Sasikala to formally take over as #AIADMK chief on Saturday: PTI
# 7:38 PM
In family-centered parties, if the family breaks up, the party also falls apart: #ShrikantSharma, BJP: ANI
# 7:35 PM
It is unfortunate. However it is their internal matter: Sharad Yadav, JD (U) on Ram Gopal and Akhilesh Yadav expelled from party: ANI
# 7:33 PM
Supporters gather outside Akhilesh Yadav's residence, raise slogans in his support after SP Chief expelled him for 6 years from party
# 7:29 PM
Want to urge party workers to come to RM Lohiya University on Jan 1 at 11am to discuss as to how to stop those doing wrong in party-RG Yadav
# 7:28 PM
The elections will prove who is acceptable amongst the people: Ram Gopal Yadav
# 7:26 PM
RamgopalYadav says he is general secretary of SP & party meet called by him on Sunday will take place at all costs
# 7:25 PM
1 civilian killed in firing by #Pakistani troops along the LoC in #Poonch district of Jammu and Kashmir: Police. PTI
# 7:23 PM
He says that we have not made any contribution, but when votes r required from people, then my need is felt: #RGYadav
# 7:20 PM
If the party chief follows unconstitutional route, then who will call conference: #RamGopalYadav
# 7:15 PM
SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav doesn't have proper knowledge fo the party's constitution: Ramgopal Yadav
#7:13 PM
This is unconstitutional as both of us were expelled 2 hours after they gave the notice & without listening to our answers: Ram Gopal Yadav
#7: 12 PM
It's unconstitutional to expel someone without listening to them just hours after issuing show-cause notice-Ram Gopal Yadav on his expulsion
#7:11 PM
RatanTata asks employees to put events of last months behind and rededicate to re-establish Tata Group's leadership: PTI
# 7:10 PM
Group ethics and values challenged through unsubstantiated allegations by people who don't practice what they preach: Ratan Tata - PTI
# 7:09 PM
There has been wilful, well-orchestrated endeavour to destroy personal reputations in past 3 turbulent, wasteful months: Ratan Tata -PTI
# 7:02 PM
Jammu and Kashmir: 10-year-old killed in cross-border firing by #Pakistan in #Poonch sector: ANI
# 7:01 PM
How will Akhilesh apologise? He keeps on fighting, if he accepts me as father, then we will see: MulayamSinghYadav
# 6:58 PM
I had made this party; what was their contribution? #RamGopal and #AkhileshYadav are finishing the party: #SP chief
# 6:55 PM
I will decide who will be the #ChiefMinister: SP Chief #MulayamSinghYadav
# 6:54 PM
I have worked really hard to make this party, what was their role in this? I work hard and they reap the fruits?: Mulayam Singh Yadav
# 6:53 PM
To save the party, we have expelled #RamGopal & #AkhileshYadav for six years from party: #MulayamSinghYadav
# 6: 51 PM
For us party is the most important and our priority is to save the party: SP Chief #MulayamSinghYadav
# 6:48 PM
For us party is the most important and our priority is to save the party: SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav
# 6:45 PM
Mulayam Singh Yadav expels #CMAkhileshYadav for 6 years from Samajwadi Party
# 6:42 PM
How can he (#RamGopal)call fr emergency nat'l exe meet without my permission? Normally atleast 15 or 10 days period notice is given-#SPChief
# 6:41 PM
CM Akhilesh Yadav doesn't understand, #RamGopal is trying to weaken him: #SPChiefMulayamSingh
# 6:40 PM
CM #AkhileshYadav is not understanding, Ram Gopal is destroying his future: SP chief #MulayamSinghYadav
# 6:38 PM
No one has the right to call for a nat'l executive meet other than party Chief; by doing this you have hurt the party's interest: #SPChief
# 6: 35 PM
Ramgopal Yadav expelled from Samajwadi party for 6 years, says SP chief Mulayam Singh Yadav
Also Read: Live updates | Mulayam expels son Akhilesh Yadav, brother Ram Gopal Yadav from SP for anti-party activities
# 6:25 PM
SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav addresses media in Lucknow (UP), Shivpal Singh Yadav also present: ANI UP
# 6:18 PM
Putin condemns new round of U.S. sanctions against Russia but says Moscow will not expel American diplomats: AP
# 6: 14 PM
CBI arrests an Income tax officer, Pune for demanding & accepting a bribe of Rs. 1 lakh: ANI
# 6:10 PM
We keep on getting notice for our statements: RamGopalYadav, SP : ANI UP
# 6:09 PM
Narinder Batra resigns as IOA's Associate VP in protest against appointments of #Suresh Kalmadi & Abhay Chautala as IOA's life Presidents: ANI
# 6:08 PM
Pema Khandu is the Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh with absolute majority. No question in change of leadership: Bamang Felix - ANI
# 6:07 PM
There is no iota of truth in the news that has gone viral about the change in leadership: #BamangFelix, Arunachal Govt Spokesperson: ANI
# 6:06 PM
Obama hits Russia with sanctions for hacking; Syria's cease-fire holding despite minor violations: AP
# 6:05 PM
Total undisclosed income detected post #demonetisation is over Rs 4,313 cr; total cash and jewellery seizure over Rs 554 cr: I-T dept.
# 6:04 PM
Heavy cross-border firing by Pakistan army along the Line of Control in Poonch sector of Jammu and Kashmir: PTI
# 6:03 PM
Russian President Vladimir Putin says Russia will not expel US diplomats: AFP
# 6:02 PM
A lottery app has been named after Ambedkar by Centre; This is crude mentality and insult to backward classes: #MamataBanerjee - ANI
# 6:01 PM
Modi Babu, arrest all my #MPs and MLAs if you want; You don't need to summon us., we are ready; But we cannot be deterred: #WBCM - ANI
# 6:00 PM
Political vendetta has reached a new low. I will not be surprised if they arrest all our MPs: Mamata Banerjee - ANI
# 5:59 PM
BabulSupriyo and #RupaGanguly also were associated with Rose Valley: #WBCM - ANI
# 5:58 PM
BJP is connected to Pearl group chit fund scam worth Rs 50000 Crore: WB CM Mamata Banerjee: ANI
# 5:57 PM
Delhi: India and Singapore sign revised Double Taxation Avoidance Agreements, FM Jaitley and Singapore FM and Deputy PM present: ANI
# 5:56 PM
Even Amitabh ji is promoting a state; Many film stars and cricketers promoted Sahara; Was Centre sleeping?: WB CM
# 5: 53 PM
TMC protesting agnst note ban that doesn't mean they've to be arrested by CBI;Anyone can become ambassador for any state-WB CM on Tapas Paul - ANI
# 5:45 PM
I hope the restrictions on cash withdrawal will be withdrawn; Will normalcy of life be restored now?: WB CM Mamata Banerjee DeMonetisation: ANI
# 5:55 PM
PM promised to bring back black money but couln't do so; PM destroyed economy & endangered the country's external & internal security: WB CM -ANI
# 5:44 PMChennai: #SasikalaNatarajan, who will be taking charge as AIADMK's General Secretary tomorrow, visits former TN CM Jayalalithaa's memorial
# 5: 43 PM
RamGopalYadav issues statement; calls for emergency national executive meet of SP on 1 Jan, urges members to join in party's favour: ANI UP
# 5:42 PM
Today is the end of Modi jis self-set 50-day deadline; the country went through a tumultuous situation: Mamata Banerjee #DeMonetisation: ANI
# 5:41 PM
The mass scale and manner in which some ppl have indulged in currency racketeering itself justifies the PM's decision of Nov 8: #FMJaitley - ANI
# 5:35 PM
Things have normalised to a large extent. Post 31st December would urge (media) to not show queues of Dec 10: #FM: ANI
# 5:34 PM
Since there's been efforts by GoI to eliminate where it can, the black money and its users in India, revisiting of this agreements was imp-FM - ANI
#5:33 PM
After 2019, the entire capital gains tax will come to India: Finance Minister #ArunJaitley -ANI
# 5:32 PM
With effect from 2019, Switzerland will start giving us real time info on investments by India or Indian entities in Switzerland in 2018: FM - ANI
# 5:32 PM
IOA Pres not in India&issue hasn't been discussed with him&law board. Keen to support GoI but need time to discuss-Rajeev Mehta IOA Secy Gen - ANI
# 5:31 PM
Jharkhand Mine Collapse toll increases to 10. Rescue and relief operations continue - ANI
# 5:31 PM
Must say 2016 is historic because 3 double taxation avoidance agreements which provided routes to evade taxations have been blocked- #FM - ANI
# 5:30 PM
Must say 2016 has been historic because 3 double taxation avoidance agreements which provided routes to evade taxations have been blocked-FM - ANI
# 5:29 PM
IOA asked for 15 days from GoI to reply on show cause notice regarding Suresh Kalmadi & Abhay Chautala's appt: Rajeev Mehta IOA Secy Gen
# 5:28 PM
On 10 May '16, we had amended the DTAA with Mauritius,on 18 Nov '16, DTAA with Cyprus was amended and today we amended it with Singapore: FM
# 5:27 PM
Since there's been efforts by GoI to eliminate where it can, the black money and its users in India, revisiting of this treaty was imp: FM - ANI
# 5: 25 PM
On Friday, #India and #Singapore have signed the 3rd protocol for amending DTAA: FM #ArunJaitley: ANI
# 5:24 PM
SP Chief #MulayamSinghYadav issues a showcause notice to #RamGopalYadav for talking against the party line in media: ANI UP
# 5:22 PM
Jharkhand MineCollapse toll increases to 10. Rescue and relief operations continue: ANI
# 5:21 PM
Samajwadi party chief #MulayamSinghYadav sends show cause notice to CM #AkhileshYadav: ANI UP
# 5:20 PM
Compared to 15' number of security personnel who lost lives in J&K doubled in 16'. Situation worsened instead of getting better: Chidambaram
# 5:19 PM
Was there a bill on GST in Parliament last session? Totally incorrect & unfair to blame Opposition for non-passage of bill: P Chidambaram
# 5:18 PM
No evidence that terror is funded by fake currency only; In J&K,since Sept30, 33 security personnel died-#Chidambaram
# 5:17 PM
Single case (of NDA Govt) of mismanagement,administration collapse & widespread corruption: Former Fin. Min. P Chidambaram #demonetisation
# 5:16 PM
Even #RBI has said GDP will take a hit by 0.5% so the FM must pose questions to RBI and RBI will answer: Chidambaram #DeMonetisation - ANI
# 5:15 PM
Increase in tax revenues has no direct correlation with the performance in GDP: Former Finance Minister P Chidambaram: ANI
# 5:14 PM
1.2 crore people have voluntarily given up LPG #subsidies; 1.5 cr poor rural women have been given free #LPG connection: #PMModi
# 5:13 PM
There is a mistake in assuming that people who are patient are not angry: P Chidambaram #DeMonetisation
#5:12 PM
Seizure of new notes shows corruption at RBI,currency chests&banks #DeMonetisation is mismanagemnet & administartive collapse: #Chidambaram
# 5:11 PM
Pak MoFA stmnt of y'day is absurd even by their standards.Labelling bonafide Indian pol parties&social cultural org as terror org.-#MEA: ANI
#5:09 PM
There is no guarantee that black money will not be found and bribes will not be taken in new currency notes: #PChidabaram: ANI
# 5:06 PM
Maharashtra: #Naxals killed three civilians in #Gadchirolidistrict, suspecting them to be Police informers: ANI
# 5:04 PM
Will continue to push forward with determination through options availble with us to bring perpetrators of violence to justice: Vikas Swarup - ANI
# 5: 03 PM
Decision by China to block proposal to list Masood Azhar as terrorist is surprising as China herself is affected by scourge of terrorism-MEA - ANI
# 5:02 PM
Whatever money is coming will be used for the benefit of the poor: #PMModi
# 5:00 PM
The money coming will be used for benefit of the poor. Friends, we have to change the country: #PMModi
# 4:59 PM
Inability of intn'l community to list Masood Azhar as designated terrorist is blow to counter terrorism efforts; shows double standards: MEA
# 4:58 PM
Our country's poorer sections should have the first right on the country's wealth: #PMModi
# 4:56 PM
Israel's PM #Netanyahu denies baseless reports of new scandal: AP
# 4:55 PM
The country has united to finish its internal evils, people have come forward to bear so much trouble, this is our country's strength: #PM
# 4:53 PM
The media can be of huge service in the coming days; in 2017 it will ask that despite carrying 2 mobile phones u r not #cashless? #PMModi
# 4:51 PM
#China blocks proposal at #UN to list #MasoodAzhar as a designated terrorist; MEA reacts,says expected China to be more understanding: ANI
# 4: 50 PM
I am thankful to media as it has helped #Govt formulate schemes and take up initiatives to empower the poor: #PMModi
# 4:49 PM
In last 50 days media while covering me, also questioned the Govt on how will the country become digital when poor don't have mobile-#PMModi
# 4:46 PM
By launching #BHIM, I am providing the people the best gift of 2017: #PMModi
# 4:44 PM
Look at the newspapers 3 years ago, the news was about what is lost (in scams), today it is about what has come back or what is the gain: PM
# 4:42 PM
I don't have anything for pessimists, but for those with positive mindset, India has several opportunities: #PMModi
#4: 40 PM
I don't have anything for pessimists, I congratulate them on their pessimism: #PMModi
4:39 PM
Our country which is known as #illiterate, it can be proud that we have brought revolution in electronic voting; that also successfully: PM
4:37 PM
Mantra of Dr. Ambedkar was to work for the upliftment of the poor. And the biggest power of technology is that it can empower the poor: PM
4: 36 PM
Furthering digital connectivity would do wonders for our nation: #PMNarendraModi
4:35 PM
This money is not of educated ppl, it will provide power to poor folk, small businessmen, tribals farmers: #PMModi
# 4:33 PM
Earlier illiterate people were known as '#anguthachhap'. Now time has changed, yr 'angutha' - thumb is your bank and identity: #PMModi
# 4:31 PM
Furthering #digitalconnectivity would do wonders for our nation: #PMModi
# 4:30 PM
Lucknow: Uttar Pradesh CM Akhilesh Yadav calls for a meeting with supporters on January 1 at his residence.
# 4:29 PM
The #BHIMApp is very simple to use: #PMModi
# 4:28 PM
#DrAmbedkar's thesis offers significant insights of various economic issues: #PMModi
# 4:26 PM
Launch of #BHIMApp is significant. In addition to role in making Constitution, #DrAmbedkar was great economist: #PM
4:25 PM
The mega draw will take place on 14th April, the birth anniversary of #DrBabasahebAmbedkar: #PMModi
4:22 PM
Over the 100 day period, several families will be given the prizes: #PMModi
4:21 PM
Initiatives like the #LuckyGrahakYojana and #DigiDhan Vyapar Yojana are a Christmas gift to the nation: #PMModi
# 4:04 PM
Delhi High Court grants OP Chautala parole for Jan 3 to attend Dushyant Chautala's engagement ceremony; He'll have to surrender by Jan 4: ANI
# 4:03 PM
Union Minister RS Prasad speaking at the Digi Dhan Mela at the Talkatora stadium: ANI
# 4:02 PM
PM Narendra Modi distributes prizes to those who have made contributions to promote digital payments in the country: ANI
# 4:01 PM
Clashes erupt near #Damascus despite #Syriatruce: Monitor (AFP)
# 4:00 PM
Russia moves to expel 35 US diplomats in tit-for-tat response: AFP
# 3:58 PM
ED attaches assets worth Rs 23Crores of Artha Tatwa Group,P.K.Sethy & others in Chit Fund Scam of Odisha. Total Attachment now is Rs 107 Cr.: ANI
# 3:57 PM
ED registers money laundering case against #IRF and #ZakirNaik based on earlier FIR registered by NIA: ANI
# 3:56 PM
Delhi: PM Narendra Modi launches a mobile app to make digital payments easier at the Digi-Dhan Mela at the Talkatora Stadium: ANI
# 3:55 PM
West Bengal: #CBI arrests #TMC MP #TapasPaul in connection with a chit fund scam case : ANI
# 3: 54 PM
Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose's kin to meet PM Modi in 2nd week of January to demand Jan 23rd (Netaji's birthday) be declared as 'Patriot Day
# 3:53 PM
Delhi: CBI conducts searches at Delhi Health Minister #SatyendraJains OSD's office - ANI
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Delhi: Prime Minister #NarendraModi at the #DigiDhanMela at the Talkatora Stadium - ANI
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Jewellery and bullion shops in Mumbai's #ZaveriBazar being raided by #IncomeTaxDepartment: ANI
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ED registers criminal case against controversial Islamic preacher Zakir Naik under money laundering laws (PTI)
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Jewellery and bullion shops in Mumbai's Zaveri Bazar raided by Income Tax Department (ANI)
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Tamil Nadu: DMK treasurer MK Stalin demands probe into former CM Jayalalithaa's death and demands a sitting HC judge to probe the issue. (ANI)
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Uttar Pradesh: Passenger bus falls into a canal in Sitapur, rescue operation underway (ANI)
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Delhi: CBI conducts searches at Delhi Health Minister Satyendra Jain's OSD's office - ANI
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A total of more than Rs 120 crore deposited in Jain Co-operative Bank. It is suspected that most of the money was black money: IT Sources - ANI
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J&K: Separatist leader Yasin Malik (JKLF) detained by police in Pulwama, after he tried to protest against refugees' domicile issue - ANI
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AgustaWestland: Patiala House Court extends judicial custody of SP Tyagi's cousin Sanjeev Tyagi and lawyer Gautam Khaitan for 14 days - ANI
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Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh): Sudden decision of PPA to suspend Pema Khandu is not acceptable to us- Tamiyo Taga, BJP - ANI
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Mumbai: Jewellery and bullion shops in Zaveri Bazar being raided by IT - ANI
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Eastern Coalfields Limited(ECL) announces ex-gratia compensation of Rs5 lakhs each to family of the deceased - ANI
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Naya Raipur: Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Raman Singh inaugurates Boat Club at Jungle Safari - ANI
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Rs 5 lakh in Rs 2000 denomination notes looted from a bank employee in Jharkhand's Giridih district - ANI
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Jharkhand mine collapse: 9 bodies recovered so far, all 10 mining equipment extracted - ANI
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Sasikala Natarajan to formally take charge as General Secretary of AIADMK tomorrow morning at AIADMK's head office in Chennai - ANI
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Government extends tax dispute resolution scheme by one month, till Jan 31 2017; earlier scheme was to expire on 31 Dec - ANI
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Petition by which CBI sought police custody for J Sekhar Reddy, Srinivasalu and Prem Kumar also dismissed by CBI Court, Chennai - ANI
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Petition seeking bail for J Sekhar Reddy, Srinivasalu, Prem Kumar dismissed by Chennai CBI court; all 3 accused of illegal exchange of notes - ANI
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We should not force or put a burden on the society; it is not acceptable: WB CM Mamata Banerjee on Demonetisation - ANI
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West Bengal: TMC MP Tapas Paul at CBI office in North 24 Parganas, he was summoned by CBI in connection with a chit fund scam case - ANI
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SP Chief Mulayam Singh Yadav calls for meeting of candidates declared for UP Assembly elections, on 31 Dec at party office in Lucknow - ANI
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Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley to address a Press Conference on Friday at 5.00 p.m -ANI
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Bihar: Tattered demonetised notes of Rs 500 found by locals in Gopalganj. Police on the spot for further investigation - ANI
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Agusta Westland case: On the plea of CBI, Delhi High Court issues notice to ex-IAF chief SP Tyagi against bail given to him - ANI
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Order on Chhagan Bhujbal's hospital transfer matter adjourned till 9th January by Special PMLA Court - ANI
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SBNs (Specified bank notes) cannot form part of banks cash balances from the close of business as on December 31, 2016: RBI - ANI
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All bank branches(other than those of DCCBs)who have accumulated SBNs as at the close of business on December 30,2016 are required: RBI - ANI
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With closure of facility of exchange of SBNs at close of banks on Dec 30, banks should report info on collection of SBNs on Dec 30 at email: RBI - ANI
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Delhi: Friday being the last day to submit demonetised notes, people seen queuing up outside banks - ANI
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Seven bodies recovered from Lalmatia colliery at Rajmahal area under ECL: CMD - ANI
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Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: High level committee of experts constituted by Coal India Ltd to investigate into causes of mine collapse
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Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: Enquiry ordered by the Director General of Mines Safety says Coal Ministry - ANI
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Situation critical; companies like NCL need to excercise control and follow norms, even walking on road is tough: Sonbhadra Local and NGO member - ANI
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Renusagar Power Co is causing great levels of pollution, what comes out of their chimneys is venomous: Sonbhadra Local - ANI
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SC says no question of Justice Khehar usurping power through NJAC judgment, or being ineligible for appointment as CJI. No merit in the plea - ANI
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12 BJP MLAs in Arunachal strongly backing Govt led by Pema Khandu says BJP General Secretary Ram Madhav - ANI
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Theft at Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia's office in East Delhi, Computers and documents stolen -ANI
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People suffering from diseases due to smoke by coal companies. They are clearly violating NGT's orders; critical situation: Sonbhadra Local - ANI
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Sonbhadra (UP): Coal companies and power plants in area add to air & water pollution causing health problem to residents,violating NGT norms - ANI
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UP: Despite NGT report terming Sonbhadra as one of the most polluted districts in India,no respite in pollution by coal cos. & power plants - ANI
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Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: Death toll rises to 7, rescue operations underway - ANI
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Dy CM Manish Sisodia's office in Vinod Nagar burgled; Thieves decamp with computers, documents, DVR of CCTV camera among other items -ANI
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SC dismisses a plea filed by a lawyers' body seeking stay on appointment of Jagdish Singh Khehar the next Chief Justice of India - ANI
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Arrunachal Pradesh: Pema was earlier unanimously elected, we still consider Pema Khandu as the Chief Minister: State BJP president Tapir Gao- ANI
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Government extends by one month tax dispute resolution scheme till January 31, 2017 - PTI
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PM speaks to Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das,enquires about mine collapse. Das announces Rs 2 lakh for the deceased, 25000 for the injured - ANI
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Takam Pario likely to be next Arunachal Pradesh CM. Final statement to come out after People's Party of Arunachal's (PPA) meeting: Sources - ANI
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Fire broke out at SBI Life Insurance company in Nungambakkam, Chennai. More than 6 fire tenders at the spot -ANI
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Uttar Pradesh: Roof of a godown collapses in Lucknow after fire broke out, labourers feared trapped.
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MHA has extended the date of submission of application for registration as OCI cardholder by the erstwhile PIO cardholders till June 30,2017 -ANI
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Rescue teams have recovered 4 bodies till now, one more body visible; work underway:Rajiv Ranjan Mishra CMD ECL and WCL - ANI
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Virat Kohli rubbishes reports of engagement, says we aren't getting engaged & if we were going to, we wouldn't hide it
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Lucknow: CM Akhilesh Yadav calls SP's core-group meeting at 10.30am at his residence on Kalidas Marg, both youth & senior leaders to take part - ANI
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Certain consultations have to be there, but that has been missing. Complete communication gap between party org & governance: Khafa Bengia - ANI
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We are not happy with leadership of Pema Khandu, he hasn't been able to take party into confidence on policy decisions:PPA Pres Khafa Bengia - ANI
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Acc to rules, 1 person is allowed per equipment & as 2 dumpers fled during incident, so number of ppl trapped may be less than 7: RR Mishra - ANI
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3 excavators,7 dumpers were identified at mining site where incident took place, 2 dumpers fled when land subsided: Rajiv Ranjan Mishra - ANI
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Rescue op started yesterday & is in full swing , power cut was restored within 3 hours: Rajiv Ranjan Mishra CMD ECL & WCL to ANI
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Fire at bakery shop in Pune's Kondhwa area, casualties feared: Police - ANI
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Taking stock of situation, rescue efforts underway; enquiry has been initiated: Power and coal minister Piyush Goyal on Jharkhand mine collapse - ANI
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He has duped thousands of people, took lakhs of money from them and assured of providing jobs. He had fake identities: Police - ANI
#9:26AM
Udhampur (J&K): 27-year-old man arrested by Police on Thursday for allegedly cheating many unemployed youths on the pretext of Govt Jobs - ANI
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Jharkhand mine collapse; One NDRF team from Patna enroute to Jharkhand mine collapse site in Lalmatia - ANI
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Jharkhand mine collapse: CM Raghubar Das monitoring situation closely, asks concerned officials to intensify rescue operations - ANI
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Maharashtra: Six die after fire broke out at a bakery shop in Pune early this morning -ANI
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Uttar Pradesh: People light fire to battle prevailing cold wave conditions in Allahabad -ANI
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Punjab: Amritsar witnessed dense fog in early morning hours, people light fire to battle cold wave conditions -ANI
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Jharkhand mine collapse: NDRF team from Patna on the way. Additional manpower comprising 1 Go's;2 insp,21 CISF from ECL sheetalpur hqrs rushed -ANI
#08:15AM
Jharkhand mine collapse: On duty CISF sentry is safe. Rescue operation is underway & electric supply has also been disrupted says CISF -ANI
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Lalmatia (Jharkhand): Some machineries of pvt company along with around 40-50 workers are suspected to be trapped inside the debris,says CISF -ANI
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Cold wave grips Delhi, fog seen in early morning hours -ANI
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Delhi: Fog blankets the national capital, cold wave conditions continue -ANI
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PM Modi to take part in Digi Dhan Mela in Delhi's Talkatora stadium. Will launch Aadhar pay and rebranded version of UPI and USSD - ANI
#7:59AM
Russian Govt impeded diplomatic ops by forcing closure of 28American corners which hosted cultural prog,Eng language teaching: US State Dept - ANI
#7:54AM
Godda: Mine collapsed in Lalmatia in Jharkhand last night, many workers feared trapped. (injured being given medical aid in a hospital) -ANI
#7:49AM
International flights delayed at Delhi's IGI-Arrival 11,Departure 2;Domestic flights delayed-Arrival 1,Diverted 1,Departure 12 & 2 cancelled due to fog - ANI
#7:40AM
US State Dept informed Russian Govt that it would deny Russian personnel access to 2 recreational compounds in US owned by Russian Govt - ANI
#7:37AM
Declared 35 Russian officials persona non grata operating in US,were acting in manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status:US State Dep - ANI
#7:20AM
Mine collapsed in Lalmatia in Jharkhand last night - ANI
#7:11AM
54 trains delayed (arriving late in Delhi area), 12 rescheduled due to fog and other operational reasons - ANI
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New Delhi:
Chilly winters in Delhi have arrived and its impact is being seen as the fog covers the city during late night hours and the early morning hours.
It has been seen the last couples of weeks that the trains are delayed or being rescheduled for next day.
And according to reports, 54 trains scheduled to arrive in Delhi on Friday are not on time and 12 trains have been rescheduled due to fog or other operational reasons.
54 trains delayed (arriving late in Delhi area), 12 rescheduled due to #fog /other operational reasons. a ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Well, 11 International flights arriving to Delhias IGI airport, 2 departing flights have also been delayed. One domestic flightas late arrival, one diversion, 12 late departures, and 2 cancelled flights have also been reported.A
Patna:
Stressing that every section of the society is affected by black money and corruption, Bihar Governor Ramnath Kovind on Thursday said demonetisation is a"positive effort" to free the society of the ills.
"Demonetisation is a positive effort in the directionto free the society of black money and corruption," theGovernor said at the annual function of Bihar Chamber and Commerce.
"As a result of demonetisation, weaker section of the society would get relief while the financial and tradeactivities would get a boost through greater transparency themeasure would bring in," he said in his address as Chief Guest.
The governor stressed on branding of Bihar for industrial development of the state. He appealed to the Chamber to present a "road map" toboost industries in Bihar to the government.
Kovind said that Bihar which primarily has anagriculture-based economy holds tremendous potential in thefield of industries related to food processing.
Bihar Industries minister Jai Kumar Singh said that the government paid special attention to suggestions made by the leading trade and commerce body in drafting its "growth-oriented" Industrial policy.
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Washington:
President Barack Obama on Thursday imposed sanctions on Russian officials and intelligence services in retaliation for Russias interference in the US presidential election by hacking American political sites and email accounts.
The State Department also has kicked out 35 Russian diplomats from its embassy in Washington and consulate in San Francisco, giving them and their families 72 hours to leave the US.
The diplomats were declared persona non grata for acting in a manner inconsistent with their diplomatic status.
Obama said Russians will no longer have access to two Russian government-owned compounds in the United States, in Maryland and in New York.
Russian officials have denied the Obama administrations accusation that the Russian government was trying to influence the US presidential election.
US intelligence agencies concluded that Russias goal was to help Donald Trump win, an assessment Trump has dismissed as ridiculous.
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Lal Matia :
Several miners were feared trapped in an open cast coal mine collapse at Rajmahal area of Central Coalfields Ltd in Jharkhand late on Thursday night. The company has announced an ex-gratia compensation of Rs. 5 lakhs each to the family of the deceased, in addition to the amount to be paid under the Workmen's Compensation Act.
Here are live updates:A
#Jharkhand Mine Collapse toll increases to 10. Rescue and relief operations continue. (5:20PM)
#Jharkhand mine collapse: 9 bodies recovered so far, all 10 mining equipment extracted.
Godda: Latest visuals from the #JharkhandMineCollapse site, 7 dead. Rescue, restoration work underway. pic.twitter.com/g8jbHwYz6W a ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
A
#Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: Death toll rises to 7, rescue operations underway
Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: Death toll rises to 7, rescue operations underway pic.twitter.com/HE9GjtaKrN a ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
#Enquiry ordered by the Director General of Mines Safety says Coal Ministry
#High level committee of experts constituted by Coal India Ltd to investigate into causes of mine collapse
#A Death toll rises to 7, rescue operations underway.A
#A Prime Minister speaks to Jharkhand CM Raghubar Das,enquires about mine collapse. Das announces Rs 2 lakh for the deceased, 25000 for the injured.
#A Rescue teams have recovered 4 bodies till now, one more body visible; work underway:Rajiv Ranjan Mishra CMD ECL & WCL
#Three more NDRF teams from Patna, and one from Ranchi enroute to Lalmatia mine collapse site.
#According to rules, 1 person is allowed per equipment & as 2 dumpers fled during incident, so number of ppl trapped may be less than 7.
#3 excavators,7 dumpers were identified at mining site where incident took place, 2 dumpers fled when land subsided,
#Rescue op started yesterday and it is in full swing , power cut was restored within 3 hours.
#Taking stock of situation, rescue efforts underway; enquiry has been initiated: Power and coal minister Piyush Goyal.
#One NDRF team from Patna enroute to Jharkhand mine collapse site in LalmatiaA
#CM Raghubar Das monitoring situation closely, asks concerned officials to intensify rescue operations.
Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: 40-50 workers feared trapped under the debris, rescue operations on. NDRF team from Patna on the way. pic.twitter.com/E0q9MLdDuR
Jharkhand (Lalmatia) mine collapse: 40-50 workers feared trapped under the debris, rescue operations on. NDRF team from Patna on the way. pic.twitter.com/fYyK0XAhmI a ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
Unofficial sources, however, said that it could be anywhere between 10 to 15 persons. He said that rescue operations were on in full swing.A A Director General of Mines Safety and higher officials of CCL were there to supervise the rescue operation, Mishra said adding that he is also rushing to the site.
Expressing concern onA incidentA of Jharkhand coal mine collapse, Power and coal minister, Piyush Goyal said that he has been takingA stock of situation and rescue efforts is underway. The minister said thatA enquiryA has been initiated. A A
Jharkhand Chief Minister Raghubar Das is said to be monitoring the situation closely. He has also asked concerned officials to intensify rescue operations.
Commenting on the situation, Chairperson and Managing Director (CMD) A of A Eastern Coalfields limited (ECL) andA WCL, Rajiv Ranjan Mishra said that "rescue operations started yesterday and it is in full swing, power cut was restored within 3 hours. A
Prima facie, it is observed that the incidence is unprecedented, since anA area of 300 m length by 110 m wide solid floor of the Over Burden dump area has slid down by about 35 m involving around 9.5 million cubic meters of earth material. An Inquiry has been ordered in the incident by the Director General of Mines Safety and a High Level Committee of Experts has been constituted by Coal India Limited to investigate into the causes of the accident. A A
A control room has been set up at the project office of Rajmahal Open Cast Expansion Project of ECL and Shri R.R. Amitabh, GM, Mining is in charge of control room and his contact no. is 9771447171.
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New Delhi:
Police have arrested the main accused in the murder case of a youth in northwest Delhis Mahendra Park area, who was also a witness in the murder case of his friend.
Two other accused, Chotu and Bhola were arrested on December 26 while the main accused, Sadaq, was absconding after the alleged murder.
Sadaq has been arrested now on the basis the CCTV footage from the area, police said.
Jeet, who was allegedly shot dead last week, was the prime witness in the murder case of his friend, Vijay, who was beaten to death by some locals in the month of July. Jeet had been receiving threat calls asking him to back off from the case.
In Vijays case, Sandeep and Sadaqs name had cropped up. Four people were arrested but the duo were on the run, police said.
Washington:
US President-elect Donald Trump will meet intelligence officials next week to be updated on the facts after the Obama administration sanctioned Russian intelligence services, expelled 35 Russian officials and shuttered two Russian-owned compounds in the US.
Its time for our country to move on to bigger and better things. Nevertheless, in the interest of our country and its great people, I will meet with leaders of the intelligence community next week in order to be updated on the facts of this situation, Trump said.
Trumps vaguely worded statement, which did not mention Russia directly, came soon after the Obama Administration yesterday announced a series of punitive measures against alleged Russian hackings during the presidential elections.
A top Trump advisor said that it is time to move on.
Hell receive an intelligence briefing this coming week.
And in the meantime, he believes its time to move on, Kellyanne Conway, Counselor to the president-elect, told CNN.
Ive been reading all the news reports about these retaliations, these sanctions put forward by President Obama and his administration. Some of them seem largely symbolic. The GRU doesnt travel here, doesnt keep its assets here. No reason allies will follow suit. Were yet to see all of the intelligence reports, she said.
Trump, she noted, believes its time to move on to bigger and better things for the country.
Meanwhile, announcement of sanctions against Russia was welcomed by lawmakers from across the aisle.
Russia does not share Americas interests. In fact, it has consistently sought to undermine them, sowing dangerous instability around the world. While todays action by the administration is overdue, it is an appropriate way to end eight years of failed policy with Russia. It serves as a prime example of this administrations ineffective foreign policy that has left America weaker in the eyes of the world, House Speaker Paul Ryan said.
The retaliatory measures announced by the Obama Administration are long overdue, said Senators John McCain and Lindsey Graham.
But ultimately, they are a small price for Russia to pay for its brazen attack on American democracy. We intend to lead the effort in the new Congress to impose stronger sanctions on Russia, the two Senators said in a joint statement.
After years of weakness that have invited and encouraged Russian aggression, the actions by President Obama are long overdue, said Senator Marco Rubio.
Vladimir Putin has made it abundantly clear he is not an ally or partner of the United States, and that his interests are fundamentally not our interests, he said as he welcomed the sanctions against Russia.
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Lucknow:
In a shocking series of events on Friday, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav from the party for six years. Mulayam Singh Yadav also expelled party general secretary and brother Ram Gopal Yadav for indulging in anti-party activities.
"New chief minister will be decided by us," said Mulayam while addressing the press conference in Lucknow.
"I made Akhilesh chief minister. Now he does not even consult me," said Mulayam.
Flanked by brother Shivpal Yadav, who has been at loggerheads with the Chief Minister, Mulayam said he had taken the action against Akhilesh and Ram Gopal to save the party which he had built through hard efforts.
Akhilesh Yadav also announced that he will address a press conference at 9 pm on Friday where he is expected to present his reply on the decisions taken by the party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav.
Ram Gopal Yadav, who was expelled by Mulayam second time on Friday, said that the party chief doesn't know the constitution of the party.
ALSO READ | Live updates: Mulayam expels son Akhilesh Yadav, brother Ram Gopal Yadav from SP for anti-party activities
"It's unconstitutional to expel someone without listening to them just hours after issuing show-cause notice," said Ram Gopal Yadav on his expulsion.
He said: "This is unconstitutional as both of us were expelled 2 hours after they gave the notice and without listening to our answers."
After the announcements of expulsion of CM Akhilesh Yadav from the party, frenzied supporters of the chief minister indulge in angry protests in front of Mulayam's residence.
ALSO READ | It's up to me to decide who will be the CM, says Mulayam | Top 10 quotes
Constitutional crisis?
As Mulayam has announced that he will decide the name of new chief minister, it will be interesting to see how Akhilesh Yadav reacts. What will happen if he presents a list of majority of MLAs in his support to the governor? Will UP Governor ask Akhilesh to step down? Will the Governor ask Akhilesh to prove his majority on the floor of the House? Will UP become a fit case to impose President's Rule? These are the few questions which will be answered only by the Governor now.
ALSO READ | Mulayam not aware of partys constitution: Ram Gopal Yadav after SP chief expels him and Akhilesh
What happened in last two days
# Ram Gopal Yadav, a staunch supporter of the Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav, called an emergency meeting on Friday of the party in defiance of the party chief.
# Mulayam issued a showcause notice to son after a defiant Akhilesh Yadav released a new list of poll candidates.
# Mulayam Singh Yadav has called a meeting of all the candidates allotted tickets amid hectic efforts to stave off a split in the party.
# On Thursday night, Akhilesh released his own list of 235 candidates for the assembly elections.
# Akhilesh Yadav's list of 235 includes 187 candidates who also feature in his father's list, and tomorrow's meeting will be watched keenly for how many of these party leaders attend, signalling that they are with Mulayam Singh.
# Mulayam also issued a showcause notice to Akhilesh for 'indiscipline' over releasing a parallel list of candidates.
# Shivpal Yadav, uncle of Akhilesh, had a meeting with brother and party chief Mulayam Singh on Thursday night.
# Mulayam had convened a meeting on Saturday of the 393 candidates who have been allotted tickets by him.
# There were fears in the party cadre that the battle for control will start at grassroots level in SP.
# There were reports that Akhilesh might break away from the ruling party and float his own party.
Akhilesh Yadav had in last two months engaged in a battle of power with his uncle Shivpal Yadav. Mulayam Singh has consistently supported his younger brother.
Elections to 403 assembly seats of Uttar Pradesh are expected to be announced by the Election Commission in the first month of January next year.
New Delhi:
French auto major Renault plans to export its hatchback Kwid to South Africa, Bhutan and Bangladesh from India in 2017 as it prepares to take the popular hatchback to international markets.
The company, which launched the car in India with 98 per cent localisation in 2015, has already started exporting the hatchback to Sri Lanka, Nepal and Mauritius.
"We started exports of Kwid with Sri Lanka, followed by Nepal and now we are going to Bhutan and Bangladesh," Renault India Operations Country CEO and Managing Director Sumit Sawhney told PTI.
Shipments to Bhutan would begin during the second half of next year while exports to Bangladesh would also begin towards the middle of next year, he added.
"We are also working on South Africa currently and shipments are expected to be sent in the first quarter of next year," Sawhney said.
Terming the Kwid as one of the biggest 'Make in India' success story, Sawhney said that the model will be going to a host of markets outside India.
Launched in September last year, Kwid has been a success for Renault in India. Initially, the car was available with an 800 cc engine at a price tag of Rs 2.64-3.73 lakh. Recently a 1,000 cc engine variant and one with automated manual transmission (AMT) have also been introduced.
The company has so far retailed over 1.10 lakh units of the model in India since its launch last year.
When asked if there would be sourcing of parts from India to the company's Brazil plant where manufacturing of the small car is expected to begin next year, Sawhney said: "When we say 98 per cent localisation, we got many suppliers in India so the markets especially, Mauritius and South Africa, the car is going to be built in India and exported.
"But when the car is going to be manufactured in Brazil, we will see that wherever Indian suppliers are competitive, opportunities will come to those suppliers."
To celebrate the first anniversary of Kwid, Renault embarked on a drive with the Kwid from India to France. The car passed through 13 countries covering 18,996 kms before reaching Paris.
The French company has invested heavily towards getting the basics right and creating a strong foundation for Renault in India.
The Franco-Japanese auto alliance of Renault-Nissan has a manufacturing plant in Chennai with an annual capacity of 4.8 lakh units.
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NEW DELHI:
Three men have been arrested for shooting at the mother of a 15-year-old rape victim in south Delhis Jamia Nagar, with the police saying that they were involved with the conspiracy to frame the rape accused due to rivalry.
Mohd Iqbal (46), Wasim (30), and Faisal Hussain (36) were arrested on Thursday, said Romil Baaniya, DCP (Southeast).
On December 23, the mother of the rape victim was shot at when she was taking her daughter to a hospital for a check-up. She had alleged that her daughter was raped by Sajid (36), who was arrested in Uttar Pradeshs Bijnor district.
During interrogation, Sajid confessed his involvement in the rape case but denied his role in the (shooting) incident. He hinted at the involvement of Faisal Hussain as he would have benefited if Sajid went to jail, said the officer.
Ikbal and Wasim were nabbed last night. The two admitted their involvement in the shooting on the direction of Hussain, he added.
Hussain was nabbed in Jamia Nagar last night. He disclosed that Sajid had become a challenge for him, the officer said.
Hussain hatched the conspiracy soon after he came to know that Sajid was involved in a rape case. He also knew that the mother of the rape victim has filed a case against Sajid stating he had threatened her. Hussain thought if any mishap occurred with the woman, Sajid would be held responsible, he said.
Hussain had provided a desi katta and four cartridges to Ikbal and Wasim to shoot the woman.
New Delhi:
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Friday informed media that he, along with a delegation, met Prime Minister Narendra Modi to discuss severe drought situation in the state.
"This drought is the worst one in 15 years with no water in the reservoirs, dried up tanks and serious drinking water problems," CM Siddaramaiah said.
The delegation that met with the PM earlier on Friday included CM, Mallikarjun Kharge and all state ministers, he informed.
The chief minister, during his meeting, submitted two memorandums to Govt of India seeking Rs 4,702 crores and Rs 386 crores as per norms to deal with the drought situation.
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New Delhi:
Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday participated at the Digi Dhan Mela in Delhi's Talkatora stadium, where he launched a mobile app to make digital payments easier. Launching the BHIM e-wallet app, PM Modi said that it will soon only need thumbprint. PM Modi also distributed prizes to those who have made contributions to promote digital payments in the country.A
In a bid to encourage digital payments, PM Modi recently announced two award schemes named 'Lucky Grahak Yojana' for retail consumers and 'Digi Dhan Vapar Yojana' for small businesses during his 27th edition of 'Mann ki Baat' address.
The winners will get a minimum of Rs 1,000 through a lucky draw, while the winners will be chosen on a daily and weekly basis under the Lucky Grahak Yojana, merchants who have won under the Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana will be announced every week.
The first 'Digi Dhan' Mela (fair) was organised in Gurugram, Haryana on Monday and was inaugurated by Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar.
Here are the highlights of PM Modi's speech:
#The money will benefit the poor, it won't go anywhere now
#The poor should have first right on this country's wealth
#Media will ask in 2017 that why are you not cashless despite carrying two mobiles
#I am thankful to the media as this has helped Govt formulate schemes and take up initiatives to empower the poor
#In last 50 days media while covering me, also questioned the Govt on how will the country become digital when poor don't have mobile
#Somebosy said "Khoda dungar aur nikli chuhiya", I was looking for mice only, because she ends up stealing and eating everything.
#BHIM ke roop mein desh ki janta ko saal 2017 ka uttam se uttam nazarana de raha hun
#Kuch log bolte hain ye kuch naya laya hai Modi, kuch gadbad hai. Fir bade log bahut softly bolte hain, ye kaise hoga? mobile kahan hai?
#Look at the newspapers 3 years ago, the news was about what is lost (in scams), today it is about what has come back or what is the gain
#For those with a positive mindset, India has several opportunities
#I don't have anything for pessimists, but for optimists I have opportunity
#Lekin niraasha vadi logo ke liye abhi bhi koi ausadh (medicine) nahi hai
#Kuch logo ab bhi nirash hain aise nirashawadi logn ke liye abhi koi aushadhi nahi hai. Aise logon ko unki nirasha mubarak
#Jis desh ko anpad kaha jata hai woh garv kar sakta hai ki electrionic voting mein humne revolution laya hai, woh bhi safalta purwak
#Mantra of Dr. Ambedkar was to work for the upliftment of the poor. And the biggest power of technology is that it can empower the poor
#Furthering digital connectivity would do wonders for our nation
#In 2 weeks will make one more accomplishment,A it'sA security is being worked on. It will empower BHIM; you'll only require your thumb to pay
#There was a time when illiterate people were called as 'angutha chhap'. Now the time has changed, your 'angutha' is now your bank and is your identity
Ek zamana tha anpad ko 'angutha chhap' kaha jata tha, waqt badal chuka hai, aap hi ka angutha aapki bank, aapki pehchaan hai
#Dr Ambedkar's thesis offers significant insights of various economic issues
#Launch of 'BHIM' App is significant. In addition to his role in making of the Constitution, DrA Ambedkar was also a great economist
#The mega draw will take place on 14th April, the birth anniversary of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar
#Over the 100 day period, several families will be given the prizes. These schemes were launched to benefit poor
#Prizes are given to those who make transactions of more than Rs 50 and less than Rs 3000, so that the poor can win
#These two initiatives, the Lucky Grahak Yojana and Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana are a Christmas gift to the nation
#On the day of Christmas, GoI announced schemes to reward small traders and customers who resort to digital payments
#PM Modi speaks at Digi-Dhan Mela in Delhi's Talkatora Stadium
Highlights of Digi Dhan Mela:
#PM Modi conducts lucky draw for 'LuckyA GrahakA Yojana' and 'Digi Dhan Vyapar Yojana' at the Digi Dhan Mela at the Talkotra stadium
#Digital India, Digital Payment, Digi Dhan are part of campaigns to build a developed India: Union Minister RS Prasad
#Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad speaks at the Digi Dhan Mela at the Talkotra stadium
#PM Narendra Modi distributes prizes to those who have made contributions to promote digital payments in the country.
Delhi: PM Narendra Modi attends the Digi Dhan Mela at the Talkatora Stadium pic.twitter.com/de5GyR3qZ8 a ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
#PM Narendra Modi launches a mobile app to make digital payments easier at the Digi-Dhan Mela at the Talkatora Stadium
#PM Narendra Modi at Digi-Dhan Mela at the Talkatora Stadium, to launch a mobile app to make digital payments easy
#PM Narendra Modi at the Digi-Dhan Mela in Delhi's Talkatora Stadium
Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the Digi-Dhan Mela at the Talkatora Stadium pic.twitter.com/aPXCjBBIzE a ANI (@ANI_news) December 30, 2016
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New Delhi:
The Enforcement Directorate filed a money laundering case against controversial televangelist Zakir Naik on Friday following an earlier FIR registered by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).
The Islamic preacher has been out of the country since reports emerged that his sermons influenced a few 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 killed.
Naik's organisation Islamic Research Foundation (IRF) is also being investigated by the Mumbai Police over alleged foreign funding.
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Kolkata:
With opposition attacking the ruling TMC on the issue of Dhulagarh riots, the TMC on Friday accused the BJP-RSS of spreading canard on social media to give a local incident communal twist.
All the old social media tricks and habits of the BJP-RSS combo. Amplify a local issue. Give it a communal twist. Spread hate even after arrests, TMC national spokesperson Derek OBrien said in a statement.
OBrien said Bengal has rejected communal bigots in historic elections few months back.
Fake photos. Bogus hashtags. Sick mindsets. Millions of dollars pumped into SM... BJP-RSS talk about Digital India but promote Divisive India, he said.
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New Delhi:
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav has cancelled press conference scheduled for 9pm on Friday and has instead announced that he will meet his Cabinet at 9am on Saturday. Attendance at this meeting is likely to decide Akhilesh Yadav's future as the state's chief minister as well as in the political arena in most crucial state.
He has also scheduled a meeting with party workers and his loyalists at 12 noon.
In a shocking development amid the Yadav family feud, Mulayam Singh Yadav expelled his son Akhilesh Yadav from the party. Mulayam has also expelled his brother Ram Gopal Yadav from the party.
Reacting on the news, Ram Gopal Yadav termed the termination unconstitutional, Netaji (Mulayam Singh Yadav) is not aware of of partys constitution. It was unconstitutional to fire two people only hours after issuing showcause notice. (Read full story here)
In a show of support, over 100 SP MLAs gathered outside UP CM Akhileshs house, hinting at where their loyalties lie in a party splitting from the middle. Akhilesh has also called for a meeting with all MLAs at 9 AM on Saturday. (Read full coverage here)
Also read:
Constitutional crisis in UP: Will 'expelled' CM Akhilesh Yadav prove his majority or quit? Here's what happened in last 2 days
Mulayam Pari'WAR' touches new peak: Who said what after CM Akhilesh Yadav's expulsion from Samajwadi Party
It's up to me to decide who will be the CM, says Mulayam after expelling Akhilesh Yadav | Top 10 quotes
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Kolkata:
West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee denied any incident of rioting at Dhulagarh in Howrah district and alleged that "wrong information" was being given on social media.
"In the last 15 days, social media is running wrong information on an incident which did not take place at all," Banerjee said at a programme in Kolkata, in an apparent refernce to the reports of violence in Dhulagarh, which is barely 20 km from the state secretariat.
"In order to break a news one must not act irresponsibly. If something has really happened then you (media) have every right to report but I think a field survey must be conducted," she stated.
Her remarks came even as a senior government official had said on Thursday that strict actions were taken against those involved in the Dhulagarh violence and the process of giving compensation to the affected had started.
The state government, Banerjee said, is the first to help a family when their home is damaged or they are affected. "If there is an accident, we immediately take steps to help the family.... We do it on humanitarian grounds but we do not do any publicity."
It was learnt from sources that the state government was paying compensation of around Rs 35,000 to families whose houses were damaged in the incident.
District police said inhabitants are wary of returning to their homes at Dhulagarh. Delegations of BJP, CPI(M) and Congress were stopped from visiting the troubled areas of the district and police superintendent of Howrah (Rural) Sabyasachi Raman Mishra was transferred in the wake of violence in less than a fortnight of his appointment.
BJP has hit out at Banerjee over the Dhulagarh incident claiming that Hindus have been targeted in the violence. "This is height of the politics of appeasement. "I want to ask those intellectuals, who cried over 2002 riots in Gujarat and then intolerant India, that when are they going to Kolkata," Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said yesterday.
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New Delhi:
2016 proved to be a year of heightened escalation along the Indian borders on the western front, both on the Line of Control and the International Border.
The Indian frontiers were subject to unprovoked firing and cease fire violations from across the border with an end objective to promote terrorism and insurgency in the Kashmir valley.
The brutal terror attack on an Indian army base along the Line of Control (LoC) in Uri, Kashmir which left 19 army personnel dead became an inflection point in India's defence and strategic policy towards their South Asian neighbors Pakistan.
The Surgical strikes done by the Indian Army Para Commandos to destroy terror launch pads across the border in response to the Uri terror lead to a spate of barbaric attacks by the Pakistan forces.
The combat escalation ladder was stepped up by both the Indian and Pakistan security forces post the Surgical strikes with the Indian forces giving a befitting counter to Pakistan's artillery and mortar shelling on forward army posts and civilians residing along the Line of control.
As a matter of fact, India was ranked 7th in the list of countries most impacted by terrorism in 2015, according to the Global Terrorism Index (GTI), 2016, released by the Institute for Economics & Peace, a Sydney-based think-tank. India is one of six Asian countries ranked in the top 10 nations most impacted by terrorism.
Here is the list of major terror attacks which struck our nation in 2016
1. Pathankot Air Force Station - 2 January 2016
The main target of this major terror attack from across the border was fighter aircraft and other strategic assets at the air base. On the morning of January 1, four terroristsearlier believed to be sixbreached the boundary wall and launched the attack at 3.10 am the next day. The counter-terror operation by the army, police and intelligence agencies led by the NSG ended on the evening of January 3 with the killing of the terrorists. Five DSC personnel and a Garud Commando were also killed.
2. Pampore - 25 June 2016
A Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) convoy was attacked at Pampore in J&K. The officers and men who were travelling in the convoy were returning from an annual firing practice session. Two militants fired at a bus which was part of the convoy. Eight CRPF personnel and 22 officers and jawans were injured. The two militants were killed in retaliatory fire from a mobile bunker.
3. Bodo militants attack Kokrajhar City - August 2016
The massacre in the state of Assam was reportedly carried out by Bodo militants - a predominantly Christian armed separatist group which aims to create a separate homeland for the Bodo people.
A group of at least three assailants opened fire at a market in Balajan Tiniali, around two miles from the town of Kokrajhar, possibly using grenades to kill shoppers among the stalls of fruit and vegetables.One of the attackers was killed by security officials, whereas the remaining two managed to escape.
4. Uri Terror Attack - 18 September 2016
Four heavily armed terrorists infiltrated through the Line of Control (LoC) and attacked the administrative camp of an infantry battalion, just seven kilometres from the LoC. Nineteen soldiers were killed in the attack, including 13 who were burnt alive due to the incendiary ammunition fired by the terrorists. About 32 other soldiers sustained injuries in the attack. The slain terrorists belonged to the Pakistan-based terror outfit, JeM.
5. 2016 Baramulla attack - 2nd/3rd October 2016
On the midnight of the second and third of October 2016, militants attacked a camp of the Indian Army's 46 Rashtriya Rifles in the Baramulla district of Jammu and Kashmir, India.The attack was said to have begun at 10:30 PM local time, with at least one officer of the Indian Border Security Force (BSF) killed and a few others injured. Two militants were also reportedly killed. On October 6, the Indian army exchanged fire with militants Kupwara district, and 3 militants were killed.
6. Nagrota Terror Attack - 29 November 2016
Seven soldiers, including two officers, were killed in the attack on an army unit located three kilometres away from a Corps headquarters in Nagrota in J&K. Heavily armed terrorists were disguised in police uniforms. They stormed into the officers' mess complex by throwing grenades and firing at the sentires.
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Patna:
Income Tax officials are probing 600 Jan Dhan accounts in Bihar and Jharkhand for their suspected Maoist connection after they showed a total deposit of over Rs 10.8 crore following demonetisation.
A total of 600 Jan Dhan accounts which have money deposits on an average in between Rs 1 to Rs 3 lakh are being probed in Bihar and Jharkhand for Maoist connection, Principal Director Income Tax (Investigation) Ashok Kumar Sinha told reporters.
He said the 600 accounts now have over Rs 10.8 crore deposits in the two states.
Though he did not provide break-up of the accounts, he said majority of them are in Jharkhand.
Also read | Delhi: I-T dept seizes Rs 39 cr from 9 fake accounts in Kotak Mahindra's KG Marg Branch; Bank denies allegations
Principal Chief Commissioner Income Tax (Bihar & Jharkhand) ST Ahmad said one such Jan Dhan account in Ara witnessed a deposit of Rs 40 lakh after demonetisation which has been freezed.
Ahmad, accompanied by other senior officials were interacting with mediapersons on launch of Taxation and Investment Regime for Pradhan Mantri Garib Kalyan Yojna, 2016 in the two states.
Commissioner of Income Tax (Appeal) Prashant Bhusan said that if Maoist connection is established during probe of these 600 Jan Dhan accounts, the accounts would be freezed.
Also read | Income Tax dept recovered Rs 3,590 crore till Dec 21 post demonetisation
Subrat Sarkar, Commissioner IT (Exemption), said that the department has served notices to 150 society and trusts in Bihar and Jharkhand including some political parties, educational, religious and social trusts enjoying tax exemption under IT Act to probe if cash has flown there after recall of Rs 1000 and Rs 500 notes.
We have asked for details from them about cash deposits from November 8 till December 30 when the demonetisation drive would end, Sarkar said.
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New Delhi:
Simultaneous launch of 83 satellites and fast breeder reactor going critical are some of the targets set by the Departments of Atomic Energy and Space as they look forward to 2017 to put behind the lows of this year of missing out an NSG spot and losing Antrix Devas case.
ISRO is aiming a major feat January with the launch of nearly 83 satellites, 80 of them being foreign, at one go. We are also launching GSLV Mark III and five communication satellites next year, including the South Asian satellite, said ISRO chairman and Department of Space Secretary A S Kirankumar.
Launching of GSLV Mark III will be a crucial development in the countrys space history.
Next year, we are hopeful that Prototype Fast Breeder Reactor (PFBR) goes critical, said Sekhar Basu, Chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and DAE Secretary. If India achieves success in the project, which has been on for over two and a half decades now, it will become the first country to successfully execute the project. It will also see India graduating to a second stage in its nuke energy programme.
2016 saw ISRO launching several satellites, with major one being completion of the constellation of regional satellites, a move that brings Indias regional navigation on par with US Global Positioning System (GPS). The year also recorded ISROs feat of launching 20 satellites at one go.
Apart from it, the space agency also launched GSAT-18, RESOURCESAT-2A, Cartosat-2 Series Satellites for communication, agriculture and weather-related works respectively. The countrys space agency also experimented with projects that would have a long-term impact on its future missions.
For instance, the successful tests of Reusable Launch Vehicles (RLV), capable of launching satellites into orbit around earth and then re-enter the atmosphere, from Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.
India also joined a select club of nations by successfully test-firing its futuristic Scramjet Rocket Engine using oxygen from the atmosphere.
However, its achievements were marred by a few jolts. The space agency lost a major case in Antrix-Devas deal, second such litigation, where ISRO has been asked to cough up several million dollars by a Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) tribunal based in the Hague.
Prime Ministers ambitious SAARC satellite project also suffered a setback after Pakistan backed out of the endeavour. The satellite, which was to be launched this month, has now been renamed as South Asian Satellite.
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New Delhi:
Sunas energetic particles met with magnetic field of the Earth and stirred up an incredible display of northern lights. A NASA satellite has captured this stunning view just after the winter solstice.
NASAas Suomi NPP satellite clicked a view of the aurora borealis using the adayanight banda (DNB) of the Visible Infrared Imaging Radiometer Suite (VIIRS) on December 22.
The northern lights cover British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Nunavut and Northwest Territories, areas that often fall under the auroral oval.
Dim light signals such as auroras, airglow, gas flares, and reflected moonlight are detected by the DNB.The visible light emissions were detected by the sensor as energetic particles rained down from Earthas magnetosphere and into the gases of the upper atmosphere.
When the solar particles and pressure into Earthas magnetosphere collide, the process accelerates particles trapped in the space around Earth (such as in the radiation belts).
Those particles come crashing down into the upper atmosphere of the Earth at altitudes of 100 to 400 kilometers. They then excite oxygen and nitrogen molecules and release photons of light.
The results are incredible and give birth to rays, sheets, and curtains of dancing light in the sky.
NASA shared a picture with this caption on Twitter: aEnergetic particles from sun smashed into Earth's magnetic field Dec. 22, stirring up a display of northern lights.a
Energetic particles from sun smashed into Earth's magnetic field Dec. 22, stirring up a display of northern lights: https://t.co/WntuGJ4fBz pic.twitter.com/R0LmTTA1of a NASA (@NASA) December 27, 2016
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Makhachkala:
A police officer and two suspected militants have been killed in a shootout in Russia's volatile North Caucasus.
Fatina Ubaydatova, spokesperson in Russia's republic of Dagestan, said on Friday a police squad was trying to stop a car with suspected militants outside the city of Khasavyurt late on Thursday night when people in that car opened fire on them.
Police identified the two men as local militants who attacked policemen earlier this week in the regional capital, Makhachkala.
Islamic insurgents in Dagestan have mounted frequent attacks on police and officials, and some have sworn allegiance to the Islamic State (IS).
The shootout comes a day after Russia's security agencies in Dagestan arrested seven people suspected of preparing New Year's terror attacks in Moscow on orders from the Islamic State group in Syria.
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Moscow:
Russia's foreign ministry has requested President Vladimir Putin to turf out 35 American diplomats from the country in a tit-for-tat response to a similar move by Washington over hacking allegations, Moscow's top diplomat said on Friday.
"Russia's foreign ministry... has requested that the Russian president approve declaring as personae non gratae 31 employees of the US embassy in Moscow and four diplomats from the US consulate in Saint Petersburg," Lavrov said in televised comments.
The ministry is also seeking to ban diplomats from using a holiday home located in western Moscow and a warehouse in the north of the city, Lavrov said, after President Barack Obama said the US would close two Russian compounds.
Lavrov said the two Russian country houses in New York and Maryland were used for children's holidays and ridiculed the notion they were "nests of spies." "We of course cannot leave these stunts unanswered. Reciprocity is the law in diplomacy and international relations," he said, hoping that Putin approves the requests "promptly."
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Cleveland:
US Coast Guard crews searched Lake Erie on Friday for a plane carrying six people that disappeared shortly after takeoff from a small Cleveland airport along the shore.
The Columbus-bound Cessna Citation 525 departed Burke Lakefront Airport late yesterday with three children and three adults aboard and vanished from radar about 2 miles over the lake. Why remains unclear.
Searchers had found no sign of any debris or the people aboard the plane as of on Friday morning, the agency said. Coast Guard official James Cox in Buffalo, New York, also said no emergency beacon had been detected.
Weather prevented a boat search overnight, but a US Coast Guard helicopter and a Canadian air crew in a plane were being used. A ship also was headed from Detroit to help with the search.
The waters in the search area are about 50 feet deep, the Coast Guard said.The plane left the airport at 10:50 PM, a spokeswoman for the Federal Aviation Administration said.
The Coast Guard has said it was notified about the missing plane by air traffic control around 11:30 PM.
The plane was headed to Ohio State University Airport northwest of downtown Columbus. Cox said the plane is kept at a hangar at the airfield, but the six people aboard the aircraft aren't affiliated with OSU. Their names weren't released, pending notification of their families.
Petty Officer Joel Altman, a public affairs officer in Cleveland with the Ninth Coast Guard District, said he couldn't immediately confirm whether the passengers were related or provide the ages of the children.
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Video: Syrian refugees light homeless man on fire, laugh as they watch him burn
Refugees being generously provided a safe home in Berlin showed their appreciation by lighting a homeless man on fire and laughing as they watched him burn.
Article by Amanda Prestigiacomo
A total of seven male refugeessix from Syria and one from Libyawere arrested on Monday after the reported attack on the homeless man at Schonleinstrae subway station on Christmas Eve, reports The Daily Mail. CCTV surveillance footage at the station captured the seven males, ranging from 15 to 21 years of age, celebrating the attack as they were leaving the crime scene, laughing and pointing at the helpless man as he burned.
Das sind die Typen, die in #Berlin versucht haben, einen Obdachlosen im Bahnhof Schonleinstrae anzuzunden. Mordkommission: 030-4664-911444 pic.twitter.com/jrAu44LRRg Max Schneider (@MaxxSchneider) December 26, 2016
Thankfully, the victim was helped by witnesses in the area and was able to escape without injury.
According to Berlin Police officials, an investigation has been launched into the attempted murder and all seven suspects have been arrested. The unnamed 21-year-old suspect is assumed to be the main perpetrator in the crime, says Vice Chief of the Press Office at Berlin Police Thomas Neuendorf.
The German capital has been plagued with crime and acts of terrorism carried out by European admitted refugees. Last week, Anis Amri murdered 12 people and injured 48 others on behalf of ISIS by driving a hijacked truck into a busy Berlin Christmas market. Amri, originally from Tunisian, was later killed in Milan by two police officers while attempting to flee.
Read more at: dailywire.com
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Nobel mistake? Ex-Secretary of Peace says Obama did not achieve anything of impact except bad attention
Did you know that Barrack Hussein Obama is the only President to be at war the entire two terms in office? Hes definitely not the peacemaker he sold to Americans back in 2008. In fact, during that campaign, Obama was branded as the antiwar candidate. Based on having done absolutely nothing to earn it at all, Obama was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize just nine months into his first term in office, as if the award was dished out in advance based on some promises he was expected to keep. Well, 300 million Americans and the rest of the world were in for a huge surprise. Obama didnt keep a single promise he made, but rather charged forward in quite the opposite manner, completely escalating his aggressive attacks, including escalating the war in Afghanistan. Obama became the champion of nothing but non-stop war that brought about no victories, no peace, and left nothing but a wake of destruction and desolation in its path.
Obama has launched wars in Iraq, Syria, and Libya, to name a few countries, and instigated conflicts in Somalia, Yemen, Eastern Europe and the South China Sea. Whats worse is that the wars in which America is engaged now have no end in sight, unless President-elect Trump can make that change. Hindsight is twenty-twenty, and looking back, anyone who voted for Obama or celebrated his Nobel Peace Prize is now suffering buyers remorse, including the person who gave Obama the prize.
No PeaceNo Prize Should the Nobel Peace Prize be stricken from Obamas possession?
Since 1901, the Nobel Prize has been awarded to honor men and women around the globe for achievements in physics, chemistry, medicine, and work in peace. If Alfred Nobel knew that Obama still holds one for peace, he would turn over in his grave. Geir Lundestad, Secretary of Peace, told the AP news agency that the committee that awarded Obama the Nobel Peace Prize in 2009 did so hoping that the award would strengthen Mr. Obama. No Nobel Peace Prize ever gained more attention than the one given to Obamapredicated on some hoped-for future achievements that would never come.
Big question: Did Obama know in 2009 that he was not worthy of a Nobel Prize and never would be? Its revealed in Lundestads memoirs that Obama considered not even going to Norways capital to pick up the award. Obamas staff even asked if other winners had skipped the award ceremony, but to Obamas chagrin, that only happens when governments hold back its awarded dissidents.
7 wars in 7 countries is no kind of peace
What kind of leader who is awarded the Nobel Peace Prize has the gall to push for war in seven different countries? A hypocrite and a liar. Much like the Vietnam War, the mass media keeps pushing the same narrative that Were winning, when we most certainly are not. Nothing was ever gained by destroying Iraq or attempting to occupy Afghanistan, a country no other nation has ever succeeded to overthrow. Still, thousands of soldiers come home to America every year from Obamas wars, dead or maimed, while more forces are deployed to fight a war against a faceless enemy that fights without any army, navy or air force. Obama has even been blamed for funding terrorists to overthrow leaders in countries where the US wants to create turmoil in order to seize natural resources.
The Great Nobel Mistake
Currently, Obama has 10,000 troops stationed in Afghanistan, even though he repeatedly promised to end the war there by 2014. This is not just for stability either, in case you were wondering, Obama has resumed night raids and uses drones to bomb locations all across the country. Is this counter terrorism or terrorism itself? A drone war is still a war, responsible for killing nearly 4,000 people in Pakistan, including nearly 1,000 civilians, of which 200 or more were children. Thats not even including those murdered by drones in Somalia and Yemen.
Bottom line: dont let all the fancy war terms trick you. Counter-terrorism operations are still war operations, and the war on terror seems to be a perpetual one with no end in sight. This is not the natural order of things. Keeping Americas borders wide open and trying to grab Americans guns every time there is some domestic attack is never going to solve our problems, nor is giving the Nobel Peace Prize to someone who literally fosters terrorism and perpetual war, while claiming to do just the opposite.
Sources:
BBC.com
News.AntiWar.com
TruthInMedia.com
NobelPrize.org
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Same cereal company that doesnt want GMOs listed on the label also doesnt want positive ID required for voters
What is it with American corporations these days being headed up by a bunch of Left-wing kooks? Is it going to take eight years of fiscally responsible policies enacted by Congress and President-elect Trump to root out these idiots? Lets hope so.
And lets hope the effort starts with Kelloggs. As reported by Breitbart, this company is responsible for financially backing several progressive causes including the promotion of false narratives like so-called white privilege and institutional racism, as well as efforts to defeat voter ID laws and beat back GMO labeling.
But no matter how progressive the companys Left-wing executives become, its never enough for the liberal snowflakes who work for them. The company has now been accused of just standing idly by while employees at one of its New England distribution centers are being daily subjected to alleged mistreatment and racist name-calling, with one black employee even claiming he was harassed with a picture of a baboon, Breitbart reported, noting that the hashtag #dumpkelloggs is now beginning to trend.
Not very progressive
[As an aside, in the early 20th century, white Irish immigrants were also compared to apes and baboons in political cartoons of the period, as you can see here. So while this kind of treatment isnt right no matter which ethnic group is targeted, you should know that it hasnt historically always been directed at people of African descent.]
Several employees at the cereal makers Franklin, Mass., distribution center, where the shipping of the Keebler cookie line originates, have filed formal complaints and even a few lawsuits over what they claim are incidents of racial and sexual abuse by managers, a report by a local Rhode Island NBC affiliate said.
Employees say they were regularly subjected to racial epithets, comments about their sexuality, and images of black faces, baboons and other animals hung throughout the warehouse. In addition, they say they were frequently threatened with being fired and even had to deal with physical abuse in some casesall while Kelloggs managers in the companys main Michigan-based headquarters were aware of what was going on but did nothing to intervene.
That doesnt sound like a good little progressive company, now does it?
Habitual harrassment without any managerial intercession
Complaints by up to a dozen employees allege that their workplace is riddled with bullying, racial slurs and unfair work practices, the Rhode Island affiliate reported.
Sylvester Cyler, an African American employee who has been with the company for a decade, told reporters that hes been called the N work and a monkey, even though he has filed complaints dating back to 2013. He says nothing has been done to stop it.
In a filing with the Massachusetts Commission Against Discrimination (MCAD), he says one manager got in his face and called him a monkey while threatening to fire him if he lodged a complaint.
Nothing was resolved because of the grievance and Arthur continued to badger me, Cyler said in his filing. He threatened to fire me. He got in my face, pointing his finger in my face and called me a monkey.
Cyler isnt alone, Breitbart reported. An immigrant from Angola, Rui DaCosta, who also works for the company, has also filed complaints claiming that he has faced a plethora of racially charged comments and slurs, as well as sexual harassment.
Remember, this is the company of tolerant liberals who lobby for every Left-wing cause that comes down the pipeline. So out-of-touch has Kelloggs become with most of America that a recent call to boycott the companys products drew hundreds of thousands of supporters signing a petition within a few days.
That effort was in response to the companys decision not to spend advertising dollars on news and information sites that promoted GMO labeling; and ironically enough, liberals are the ones who are most concerned about the issue.
Sources:
Breitbart.com
TurnTo10.com
NaturalNews.com
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RIDGEFIELD Boehringer Ingelheim has agreed to divest five types of animal health products in the U.S. to settle Federal Trade Commission charges that its proposed asset swap with Paris-based Sanofi would likely be anticompetitive.
Under the proposed swap, Boehringer Ingelheim based in Germany, with U.S. headquarters in Ridgefield will acquire Sanofis animal care subsidiary, Merial, valued at $13.53 billion, while Sanofi will obtain Boehringers consumer health care business unit, worth $7.98 billion, as well as cash compensation of $5.54 billion.
/ Western Connecticut Health Network
DANBURY - A chorus of middle schoolers from Redding sang Oh Come All Ye Faithful, Dreidel, Dreidel, Dreidel and other holiday favorites during a caroling tour of Danbury Hospital.
The group of 60 students from John Read Middle School brought smiles and tears of appreciation to the faces of patients and visitors, from the oncology unit to the lobby, observers said.
Now that the holidays are over and the new year is in full swing, its time to head back to the lab to formulate fresh, smart, and effective ideas that will grow your organization.
Whatever the size of your firm, whether youre B2B or B2C, and regardless of the industry in which you operate, here are four must dos that you need to launch if youre aiming to increase profits and market share over the next 365 days:
1. 100-Day Plan.
Since the 1930s when Franklin Roosevelt pioneered it as a means of gauging his effectiveness in the Oval Office, the 100-day plan has become a tradition for newly elected American Presidents. The plan consists of achievable short term goals that adhere to a Presidents long term vision for the country. Entrepreneurs should write their own 100 day plans as blueprints for advancing their organizations productivity and profitability. Such a plan establishes 100 tasks, and requires business owners to consider the specific steps and resources that are needed to bring them to fruition. While theres a time and place for visionary long term planning, the 100-day plan allows entrepreneurs to craft and pursue attainable objectives and start the year off with a burst of energy. When the 100-day finish line is reached mid-April, entrepreneurs will know if they should be celebrating or if they need to recalibrate their efforts.
Related: How This Mom Grew Multiple 6-Figure Businesses From Home
2. Declutter
Whether you want to improve the feng shui of your office or just make it easier to find and store your stuff, a comprehensive tidy up of your companys work space is a laborious yet necessary task. To make it happen, set aside a Saturday when your team can come in, rent a dumpster and high capacity paper shredder, and destroy unnecessary documents, presentations and files, and toss out old equipment, brochures, books, product samples, and other unproductive items. Once your space has been tightened and tidied, implement a cloud-based backup system that allows for fast and convenient recovery of your organizations electronic files. The decluttering will not only allow your team to operate more efficiently, it will also help your office to look more streamlined and professional.
Related: 5 Marketing Essentials for Your Business to Appeal to Millennials
3. Fire the person you know you have to fire.
Maybe youve tried to intervene to help turn things around, or youve ignored the problem in hopes that it would eventually take care of itself. But however youve handled the challenge of having weak members on your team, you know that theyre there and that theyre dangerous the to the health of your company. If you didnt have the heart to do any purging during the holiday season, delay no longer. The costs to your firm in reduced productivity, low employee morale, additional supervision, damaged client relationships, and lost revenue that are caused by substandard employees can be as high as $190,000 per year, so make a decision now to either remedy a situation thats fixable --- or to clean house.
Related: Pay Yourself: Why Founders Should Set Aside Profits Every Month
4. Get high or higher.
While 26 states and the District of Columbia have laws legalizing marijuana, the suggestion here isnt that entrepreneurs should light up more. Instead, the first week of the new year is a perfect time to review and possibly raise the prices of your products or services. Too many small business owners try to compete by lowering their prices, and thats often a mistake. Instead, devise a plan by studying your competitive landscape; looking at your firms pricing history; reviewing the calendar to determine the best time to bump up your rate, fees, or prices; and thinking about how you can enhance the value of your offerings in order to justify price revisions. If you detect some white space that would allow for small yet profitable increases, you should absolutely seize it.
After the joy and frenzy of the holidays, its understandable if it takes a minute for business owners to snap back to attention and keep their ships moving forward, but the upside to getting started is significant. Entrepreneurs who have the discipline to leverage these four steps as an annual early January organizational reboot will help to energize their teams, inspire exciting ideas, and generate new opportunities for innovation and growth.
Related:
4 Things Every Entrepreneur Needs to Do the First Week of the New Year
The Best Way to Avoid Your Next Business Disaster
This Is What to Do Now to Hit 2017 Running
Copyright 2016 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved
BETHEL A 51-year-old Bethel man was arrested late Wednesday on drug distribution charges linked to the deaths of two women who overdosed on heroin.
Paul Mignanis federal arrest follows a weeks-long Drug Enforcement Administration investigation into the untimely death of a 54-year-old Bethel woman, and a local Dec. 12 arrest on drug charges after Bethel police found a dead 25-year-old woman in Mignanis Chestnut Street apartment.
The 54-year-old was found unresponsive July 31 in a Codfish Lane home, and she later succumbed to a fatal mix of fentanyl, heroin and cocaine that police say Mignani provided her.
Mignani, who police describe as a divorced father of three who supplemented his taxi-driving income with drug dealing, is accused of selling cocaine, heroin and fentanyl out his colonial-style Bethel apartment for at least the past year.
His federal charge carries a maximum prison term of 20 years. On Thursday he appeared in U.S. District Court in New Haven and was ordered to stay behind bars.
According to court documents, Mignani sold depressants, opioids and amphetamines in Bethel, and housed the 25-year-old, drug-dependent woman for months free of charge before she died in mid-December. She sold drugs for Mignani before her death, police say.
A plus about living here is free lines all the time lol, police say the dead woman sent a friend via Facebook in October.
But on Dec. 2, police claim that Mignani raped the woman.
In the late afternoon that day, she sent a message to a friend, documents show. Im playing nice to stay here and get me sh together til I can go to a program or stop on my own, police say the woman wrote.
She didnt stop. In the early hours of Dec. 3, she composed another Facebook message to her friend.
The person I was staying with forced himself on me yesterday. Hurt me very bad in the process and then kicked me out, police say she wrote. Two minutes later she wrote again: Im bleeding so bad ... Im scared and hope it stops soon. In that 1:47 a.m. message, she also wrote that she wanted to take her own life, police said.
Ten days later, Bethel police found her cold to the touch, in Mignanis bedroom, court documents said. In her purse were three empty wax packets, and six more, full of heroin, were in her jacket, police say.
In later searches, police found three grams of cocaine, $1,531 in cash and several cell phones in the apartment Mignani shared with his girlfriend.
Mignani also faces a local felony drug charge linked to Dec. 12, and he is due in state Superior Court in Danbury on that charge Jan. 25.
blytton@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3411; @bglytton
Madhesi Morcha refuses to join polls till demands are met
Nepal,Indo-Pak/Pakistan,Politics, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Kathmandu, Dec 30 (IANS) The agitating Samyukta Loktantrik Madhesi Morcha in Nepal on Friday said it would not participate in local government elections until their demands are met through a constitutional amendment.
The Morcha issued a strongly worded statement after three major political parties -- the Nepali Congress, Communist Party of Nepal-Unified Marxist-Leninist and Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist Center) -- unilaterally agreed to hold polls to local bodies without approval from Madhes-based parties and without amending the Constitution as they demanded.
"Any elections without fulfilling the demands of various ethnic and marginalised communities will only invite conflict. The Constitution Amendment Bill registered in Parliament Secretariat should be revised and approved, which only will pave the way for elections," a top Morcha leader said on Friday after the Medhesi leaders' meetings.
The Morcha leaders held extensive deliberations on Thursday and Friday for their future strategy in case the Nepal government goes ahead with the planned polls to the local government bodies.
The government is under pressure from the Nepali Congress and CPN-UML to announce the dates of these local polls, which they agreed to hold in accordance with the Local Level Restructuring Commission report.
As per the mandatory constitutional provision, Nepal needs to hold elections to local, provincial and federal bodies within the next 15 months. If any of these elections do not take place on schedule, the new Constitution promulgated last year will become invalid.
In order to hold local polls, the government formed the panel to come up with new numbers of local units reflecting the federal aspirations.
The Madhesi Morcha rejected a report prepared by the Local Level Restructuring Commission on new local units.
Any demarcation of the local bodies should be based on the population ratio, a Morcha statement said. "The commission report is unconstitutional; we are not going to accept it."
In order to address the demands of agitating Madhes parties vis-a-vis citizenship, language, federal boundaries and equal representation to Madhesis and other marginalised communities in various state bodies, the government registered the bill in Parliament on November 29.
However, due to obstruction by the main opposition parties, the government could not table the bill in the house. The Madhes parties have now called on the government to revise the bill since it also does not meet their demands and requirements.
In its four-point statement, the Madhesi Morcha said it will hold demonstrations in major Nepal cities on Monday to protest attempts to announce local poll dates before constitutional amendment.
The meeting criticised the main opposition CPN-UML for continuously obstructing Parliament's meeting to block the government from tabling the constitutional amendment bill and a discussions on it.
--IANS
giri/tsb/vt
Search for Greece's envoy missing in Brazil continues
Greece,Diplomacy, Fri, 30 Dec 2016 IANS
Athens, Dec 30 (IANS) Investigations are continuing into the disappearance of Greece's ambassador to Brazil Kyriakos Amiridis since Monday, Greek Deputy Foreign Minister Yannis Amanatidis said here on Friday.
The minister, however, did not confirm the media reports that a charred body found inside a car in Rio de Janeiro on Friday was Amiridis, and instead hoped the diplomat will be found alive and safe, Xinhua news agency reported.
According to Brazilian police, the car was rented by the ambassador who was visiting the city of Rio for the Christmas and New Year Eve holidays.
The Greek Foreign Ministry on Thursday said its embassy in Brasilia, Brazil's capital city, was informed on Wednesday by the ambassador's family that they had not been able to contact him since Monday.
The 59-year-old diplomat assumed duty as Greece's ambassador to Brazil in January 2016. He once served in Rio de Janeiro as consul from 2001 to 2004.
According to the Greek Foreign Ministry's website, Amiridis also was Greece's ambassador to Libya in 2012. He is married and has a daughter.
The Greek Foreign Ministry said Amiridis reportedly went missing during a trip to Rio de Janeiro on Monday.
His family reported no contact for a ransom in the past days, but the police did not rule out the possibility of kidnapping.
It is highly possible that Amiridis has been killed, Brazilian authorities said on Thursday.
--IANS
py/vt
MONTREAL, Dec. 30, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - SNC-Lavalin (TSX: SNC) announces today that it has signed and closed an agreement to sell its ongoing activities in France and in Monaco to Ciclad and Impact Holding for a nominal amount, including its investment in Societe d'Exploitation de l'Aeroport de Mayotte. These activities in France and in Monaco include approximately 1,100 employees.
The agreement does not include SNC-Lavalin's TC Dome S.A.S. capital investment, which will be governed by a different sale agreement with a separate set of closing conditions, and is expected to close at a later date.
"The sale is consistent with our focus on operational excellence and our efforts to align our activities with our global core business strategy. Despite restructuring and improvement efforts over the past few years, our overall business in France has not generated the expected profitability," said Ian L. Edwards, President, Infrastructure, SNC-Lavalin. "This was the best economic option for our business and stakeholders going forward, and provides for continuity of operations for clients and employees in France and Monaco, who will transition to new owners."
SNC-Lavalin's activities in France cover several markets, including complex buildings, industry and agribusiness, transportation and cities, as well as the operations and maintenance of 19 regional airports. The sale should positively impact the overall EBIT margin of the company's Infrastructure sector.
Both Ciclad and Impact Holding are well placed to position the business in France for the future. They are both active in investments in France, including in engineering, and have previously partnered successfully to grow the companies they have invested in.
About SNC-Lavalin
Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is one of the leading engineering and construction groups in the world and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. From offices in over 50 countries, SNC-Lavalin's employees are proud to build what matters. Our teams provide engineering, procurement, construction, completions and commissioning services together with a range of sustaining capital services to clients in four industry sectors: oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure and power. SNC-Lavalin can also combine these services with its financing and operations and maintenance capabilities to provide complete end-to-end project solutions. www.snclavalin.com
SOURCE SNC-Lavalin
For further information: Media, Louis-Antoine Paquin, Media Relations Manager, Corporate Communications, 514-393-8000, ext. 54772, [email protected]; Investors, Denis Jasmin, Vice President, Investor Relations, 514-393-8000, ext. 57553, [email protected]
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Nextbigfuture has reviewed AI and Computers and Space for 2016 and looked ahead in those areas.
Here we will look at Energy.
France also had a shutdown of some nuclear reactors because of concerns over japanese parts The component in question was manufactured by Japan Casting and Forging Corp., which is based in Kitakyushu. In June, ASN pointed to potential weaknesses of the Japanese steel components, with carbon concentrations exceeding standards. The Japanese part is used at 12 nuclear reactors in France, according to local reports. In June, the French regulator, the Autorite de Surete Nucleaire (ASN), said it had identified 18 French nuclear power reactors operated by EDF of both 900 MWe and 1450 MWe capacity whose steam generators could contain high carbon concentrations.
Only three nuclear reactors are currently online in Japan: two at the Sendai plant and one at Shikoku Electric Powers Ikata station.
Japans Institute of Energy Economics said Dec. 13 it estimates seven reactors will be restarted by the end of March 2017 and another 19 by March 2018.
About two-thirds of 57 nuclear reactors under construction are expected to come on line in the next three years.
Solar and battery production continue to make progress. The cost of solar and batteries continue to look promising for future market share.
Bloomberg forecasts that cheaper coal and cheaper gas will not derail the transformation and decarbonisation of the worlds power systems. By 2040, zero-emission energy sources will make up 60% of installed capacity. Wind and solar will account for 64% of the 8.6TW of new power generating capacity added worldwide over the next 25 years, and for almost 60% of the $11.4 trillion invested.
China is proposing a $50+ trillion global energy grid. Global Energy Interconnection (GEI), a vision of a world power grid, was outlined by the State Grid Corporation of China (State Grid) It would be based upon a global network of Ultra High Voltage power lines connecting global power generation including massive wind farm at the North Pole and solar power from equatorial areas to energy users around the world. It would also be used to distribute inexpensive coal power to India and South Asia from now to 2035.
Future of Energy
Wind and solar costs are going to fall even more quickly over the next 25 years than Bloomberg had previously estimated. Levelized costs of generation for onshore wind and photovoltaics will drop by 41 percent and 60 percent respectively in the period to 2040, taking our global average estimates for the two technologies in 2040 to $46 per megawatt-hour and $40 per megawatt-hour1. The previous year, we had predicted cost reductions of 32 percent for wind and 48 percent for solar.
The reasons we now expect wind to get 19 percent cheaper for every doubling of capacity include faster include turbine size and efficiency, resulting in rising capacity factors, as well as economies in manufacture and reduced operating and maintenance expenses. The reasons we expect solar PV to get 26.5 percent less costly for every doubling of capacity include several of the same factors, plus increases in panel efficiency and a big shrinkage in capex disparities between different countries.
India is projected to increase electricity demand between 2015 and 2040 by 298 percent, and emissions by 215 percent, over the period
Other future energy options will need to be abundant, inexpensive and useful for the local, region areas and nation where it is implemented.
The corporations that implement them will need to have strong political influence and strong economics.
Robotics, big data and technology can enable supercheap oil and natural gas
Technological progress, particularly in big-data analytics, has the U.S. shale industry poised for another, longer boom, a Shale 2.0. Shale companies now produce more oil with two rigs than they did just a few years ago with three rigs, sometimes even spending less overall.
Shale fields will increasingly be developed using advanced automation, mobile computing, robotics, and industrial drones. At present, barely 10 percent of projects use fully automated drilling and pressure-control systems, for example.
Big Data can make oil fracking 4 times more efficient
Many companies are keeping their big-data projects proprietary, some information is publicly available. Halliburton reports that its analytic tools achieved a 40 percent reduction in the cost of delivering a barrel of oil. Baker Hughes says that analytics have helped it double output in older wells.
At present, each long horizontal well is typically stimulated in 2436 stages, with, on average, only one-fourth to one-third of those stages productive. At present, in other words, about 20 percent of stages generate 80 percent of output.
The current state of stimulation technology means that, on average, at least 300400 percent more oil is not extracted. Bringing analytics to bear on the complexities of shale geology, geophysics, stimulation, and operations to optimize the production process would potentially double the number of effective stagesthereby doubling output per well and cutting the cost of oil in half.
Microwave oil recovery could unlock trillions of barrels of oil.
Factory mass production of emerging nuclear technologies will make nuclear part of the future energy mix
Chinas HTR-PM (high temperature pebble bed nuclear reactor) project is squarely aimed at being a cost-effective solution that will virtually eliminate air pollution and CO2 production from selected units of Chinas large installed base of modern 600 MWe supercritical coal plants.
It is a deployment program with the first of a kind commercial demonstration approaching construction completion and commercial operation by mid to late 2018. Major parts of the machinery will be able to be merged into the existing infrastructure. The system can affordably replace the coal burner at Chinese plants while still using the grid and other infrastructure.
Molten Salt nuclear reactors continued to make technical progress in 2016 and have the potential to be competitive in a low cost energy future. Supercritical water nuclear reactors are still under development and research and have the potential to be competitive and would align as a next step for Chinas many pressure water reactor companies.
Nuclear fusion, antimatter, space based solar and technological long shots still being tracked
Nextbigfuture is still tracking super high technology energy possibilities. They still have to prove their technology or their economics and get solid funding.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) has won the 2016 Phillips Consulting/Web Jurists award for best website and overall social media.NNPC defeated all the other federal parastatal agencies in Nigeria to emerge the winner, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, the spokesman of NNPC said on Friday in a statement.The honour was jointly awarded by Web Jurists, a website rating outfit, in conjunction with Phillips Consulting, a renowned business and management consulting company.Reacting to the honour, NNPC Group Managing Director, Dr. Maikanti Baru, said it was a testimony to the Corporations investment in Information and Communications Technology (ICT) over the years.He said that it also testified to NNPCs commitment to openness, transparency and accountability in its business dealings in recent times.Our website as well as other social media platforms have become veritable media where we make public NNPCs monthly operational and financial reports among others, which underscore our commitment to probity, Dr Baru stated.He expressed his appreciation to the award organisers.He added that NNPCs doors were open to meaningful engagement with stakeholders in line with its 12 Business Focus Areas (BUFA) principle of Professionalism and Accountability.Announcing the award last week on their official website (http://www.web-jurist.com/), the organisers said the NNPC website (www.nnpcgroup.com) beat the websites of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC).It also beat that of the Nigerian Customs Service (NCC), which came second and third respectively.The organisers further stated that their assessment process reviewed the technical aspects, aesthetics, site content, web transaction processing, consumers experience and website performance.On the social media aspect, the organisers reviewed indices such as increase in brand awareness and loyalty, managing brand reputation, richer customer (visitor) experiences and ability to generate higher leads on conversations.The Web Jurists assessments have been at the forefront of galvanizing innovation and forward-thinking in website service delivery in Nigeria for more than 12 years.
As we edge closer to 2017, many Nigerian religious leaders have been churning out earth-shaking prophecies. One of such prophecies st...
One of such prophecies state that the First Lady, Aisha Buhari, risks being poisoned by Aso Rock forces.According to the President of Omega Fire Ministry, Apostle John Suleman, in his 50 prophecies for 2017, Aisha must be wary for her life.In a statement issued by his Public Communications Advisor, Phrank Shaibu, said some forces in Aso Rock were planning to poison Aisha and that the same forces will alienate vice-president Yemi Osinbajo.The prophecy states that the Aso Villa forces will make attempts to remove Osinbajo from office, but they wont succeed.The Apostle also said that God will humble Buhari in 2017; and that Mr. President will be bereaved in 2017. He did not elaborate, however.A summary of the prophecies, with focus on Nigeria and the world at large, is as follows:1. I see terrorism on the increase2. Federal Government of Nigeria should not relax yet on Boko Haram. Its a deception.3. Buhari to face impeachment threats.4. America and China to have major face-off5. Crude Oil to flow in Northern Nigeria.6. Abuja to experience major fire explosion.7. Donald Trump to face impeachment attempt as members of congress are divided on his style of leadership.8. I see an airplane that has Nigerias logo (national carrier)9. Things will pick up a bit in Nigeria but hunger will persist.10. I saw people crying over Bamanga Tukur11. Buhari will be bereaved in 2017.12. Ecobank, Diamond, Fidelity, GTB to retrench staff.13. President Buharis health needs attention.14. 2017 budget will have crises.15. More judges to be humiliated.16. MMM to dupe more Nigerians and I see court cases.17. Dollar to exchange for N615.18. Recession in Nigeria to become depression in 201719. MTN and Glo to face hardship.20. A former First Lady of Nigeria needs prayers over her health.21. Forces in Aso Rock planning to poison current First Lady (Aisha Buhari)22. I saw huge number of Chibok girls released; some of them with kids23. Nnamdi Kanus detention to cause international crises. God is angry with Buhari for the continued detention.24. Donald Trump to favour Israel. American Embassy in Israel to be moved to Jerusalem.25. Liberian election: CONTINUITY.26. Ghanas new president to send many to jail.27. Buhari and Senate to have crucial disagreement.28. Nigerias Budget will be delayed.29. I see killings in Ekiti.30. EFCC to come after National Assembly members in Nigeria in a politically motivated arrests because of their refusal to confirm Magu.31. I see kidnappers entering schools.32. Nigeria will lose a great man of God and the New Year is when the Nigerian government will fight the Church like never before.33. Some terrorists will be arrested in Lagos.34. Traditional rulers indicted and arrested for corruption.35. Lufthansa, Dana Air, Ghana Air, Aero Contractors I see staff protests.36. America to have financial crises.37. A serving cabinet minister in Nigeria will die.38. Nigeria to secure foreign funds.39. Doctors will embark on strike in Nigeria.40. A new mega party in Nigeria will swallow up APC.41. I see a new leadership for the APC in Nigeria.42. I see the DSS being taken to court.43. France, Spain, Russia to pray against train going off the rail.44. I saw a huge school building collapse.45. Nollywood to pray. They will get help but will lose two major people. The Yoruba movie industry too; but prayer can avert it.46. Fulani herdsmen again! Taraba, Benue, Imo and Jigawa states.47. Kogi State to organise state prayers to avoid major deaths and natural disasters.48. Edo State; major celebration but pray against road crashes.49. I see presidents being removed in Africa, I see presidents being installed.50. Two times, Nigerias vice president, Yemi Osinbajo, will face removal from office. They will alienate him and they will make attempts to remove him. But God will humble Buhari in 2017.
The Federal Government has commenced the payment of the N30, 000 monthly stipends for beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme -the job creat...
The Federal Government has commenced the payment of the N30, 000 monthly stipends for beneficiaries of the N-Power scheme -the job creation programme of the Buhari presidency.The N-Power programme is designed to engage the teeming and massive numbers of unemployed Nigerian graduates from tertiary institutions across the country.The Senior Special Assistant, Media and Publicity, Office of the Vice President, Mr Laolu Akande, disclosed this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Friday, stating that `` all successfully verified beneficiaries who have provided bank accounts are being processed for payment.According to the presidential media aide, ``some beneficiaries will receive their first stipends today -December 30.Mr Akande said the process of payment would continue after the New Year Public holiday, urging beneficiaries of subsequent batch of the scheme to take seriously their virtual training.``Already, close to 50% of the 200,000 unemployed graduates selected in the first batch of N-Power job program have now been verified and being processed for December stipends' payment.``This process will continue and some will receive their stipends after the New Year public holiday, starting from Tuesday, 3rd of January.`` N-Power Volunteer Corps members are encouraged to take their virtual training seriously over this period, Mr Akande said.Mr Laolu also encouraged states who had yet to conclude the physical verification process to do so, ``as that would enable the N-Power beneficiaries in those states to draw from its benefits & empowerment offers.The unemployed graduates selected for the N-POWER programme are given assignments that will help to address issues in schools, hospitals and other areas in communities across the country.A total of 150,000 out of the 200,000 selected in the first phase of the scheme would be deployed as support teachers to help address shortage of teachers in schools at the basic and secondary levels.Another 30, 000 graduates would work as extension workers in various communities which will expectedly aid the governments diversification agenda.In strengthening community health services in line with the agenda of the Buhari administration, 20,000 graduates would be deployed as community health aides, under the first phase of the programme.The Federal Government is overseeing the programme by way of providing the funding but the project is going to be implemented in the states by the state governments.
Hundreds of residents wept on Thursday as fire engulfed some parts of Dakibiu, a suburb in Jabi area of Abuja.
Hundreds of residents wept on Thursday as fire engulfed some parts of Dakibiu, a suburb in Jabi area of Abuja.The fire which brought activities in the suburb to a standstill razed more than 50 makeshift houses occupied mostly by poor northerners.Many of the occupants and traders were seen scrambling to salvage their goods and properties from the burning inferno.Efforts by residents to put out the fire yielded little or no result as the fire was quick to spread around the wooden buildings, called batchers by residents.The arrival of the federal fire service officials could not help as all the buildings were already destroyed.A motorcycle parts dealer whose shop was gutted wanted to jump into the fire but for the timely intervention of residents.According to Yusuf Toka, a witness, nobody knew what caused the fire, it started around 3:30 p.m. and was first noticed in the middle of the wood houses.An official of the fire service, who spoke in a haste while putting out the little remaining fire, said that the cause of the fire could not be ascertained yet.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit, Zone C, in Edo State has destroyed poultry products worth over N147 million.
The Nigeria Customs Service (NCS), Federal Operation Unit, Zone C, in Edo State has destroyed poultry products worth over N147 million.It said the illegally imported poultry products were impounded during the yuletide season.The products that were destroyed on Thursday in Benin City included 16,422 cartons of imported frozen products.The Officer-in-Charge of the Benin Axis of Customs, Mr. Usman-Shehu Dahiru, said the imported poultry products have a Tax Duty of N29.56 million and Duty Paid Value of N177.36 million.The items were carried inside a container with number GEXU 1329084 and conveyed in a Mack truck with registration number BDG 654 XL.The items were seized by officers and men of Customs on Wednesday at Ovia River, along Benin-Ekiadolor Expressway at about 8:00 p.m.The items were destroyed at Customs House destruction site in compliance with Federal Governments policy on importation of frozen products (chicken and turkey), Dahiru said.
A delegation of Shiite Muslim leaders from the Sheik El Zakzaky group visited former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode on the situati...
A delegation of Shiite Muslim leaders from the Sheik El Zakzaky group visited former Minister of Aviation, Femi Fani-Kayode on the situation in Kaduna.He said the group leaders came to debrief him on the situation surrounding their plights.Fani-Kayode on his social media said: I was horrified by what I heard. These are very patriotic and courages men whose colleagues have been through so much and whose leader is still in custody.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will not join issues with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.
President Muhammadu Buhari has said that he will not join issues with Governor Nyesom Wike of Rivers State.The President said this through his spokesman, Malam Garba Shehu.This followed the latters allegation of a plot by his political enemies to bomb his plane.Wike, who was speaking at a Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) end-of-year party in Port Harcourt, claimed his detractors were desperate to eliminate him.But he insisted that no man could destroy who God has lifted.In response, Shehu simply said: The President will not descend to Wikes level. He is the President of Nigeria.The All Progressives Congress (APC), through its Publicity Secretary, Mr. Chris Finebone, also said Wike was merely frightened by his past.The APC believes that Governor Nyesom Wikes utterances today, (yesterday) at his partys event in Port Harcourt remains typically symptomatic of someone caught committing a heinous crime who has become confused and decides to pour dirt on anyone in sight.Governor Wikes accusation that APC is planning to bomb his plane simply underscores the extent to which the governor has become hysterically frightened by his own shadow and his past iniquities.It is unfortunate that Governor Wike has become helpless in dealing with the outcome of his past actions but constantly suffering psychological relapses," the party stated.
Nigerian soldiers on Friday engaged in a fierce fighting with Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.
Nigerian soldiers on Friday engaged in a fierce fighting with Boko Haram terrorists in Borno State.During the encounter, at least 15 Boko Haram fighters were killed.This is coming as Nigerian military said that the Boko Haram insurgents had been crushed and Sambisa forest capturedThe leader of the sect Abubakar Shekau had on Thursday in a video denied that his fighters had been crushed in Sambisa forest. He boasted that his fighters would soon launch attack against the Nigerian Army.Military insiders told Premium Times that Fridays battle ensued at 6 a.m this morning and did not end until after 9 a.m.Sources said the battle began when fighters of the terror group launched a surprise attack on troops location in Rann, in northern Borno, shooting sporadically.Troops from 3 Battalion and 112 Task Force Battalion are stationed in the area, Premium Times sources said.The soldiers responded promptly, killing an unknown number of the terrorists, and wounding several others.
The Bergen County Prosecutor's Office charged an East Rutherford man with murder Thursday after the death of stabbing victim Monet Thomas.
Thomas, of Kearny, died at Hackensack University Medical Center on Wednesday, Bergen County Prosecutor Gurbir S. Grewal said.
Police had arrested Francis Tattoli, 24, on Dec. 18 in an alleged attack at his apartment on Summer Street. He was initially charged with attempted murder and possession of a weapon.
Tattoli now faces upgraded charges of murder, felony murder and kidnapping. His bail increased by $3 million to a total of $5 million.
He is due in the Bergen County courthouse for a first appearance Tuesday.
Thomas, 25, had been in critical condition in the hospital since the attack. Authorities said she was visiting a friend in Tattoli's building.
She was found in the doorway of Tattoli's apartment that night. Tattoli fled, but was caught a short distance away.
Myles Ma may be reached at mma@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MylesMaNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
COMMERCIAL TWP. -- Tara O'Shea-Watson's son found his mother dead and went to a neighbor's home seeking help, according to the 911 call that a neighbor made to authorities.
"My wife's best friends's son just came down to my house talking about his mother is dead," the unidentified male caller told a Cumberland County 911 operator earlier this month.
O'Shea-Watson, 35, was found in her home in the Laurel Lake section of Commercial Township on Dec. 19. Her estranged husband, Jeremiah E. Monell, who both police and now neighbors say in the call, was at her home the night before her death and is the prime suspect in her murder.
As of Friday, Monell, 32, remained on the run. A $3,500 reward has been posted for his capture.
A recording of the call made to the 911 center by an unidentified neighbor was made at 8:06 a.m. on Dec. 19. And was obtained from the Cumberland County 911 center by NJ Advance Media.
911: 911 what's your emergency
Caller: I need a state trooper over here at 7901 Henry Street.
911: OK, Henry Street you said? Is that in Commercial Township?
Caller: Ah, yes.
911: OK, what's going on there.
Caller: Ah, yeah. My wife's best friend's son just came down to my house talking about his mom's dead.
911: OK.
Caller: Just woke me and my wife up out of a sound sleep. My wife is inside right now checking on her to make sure she is OK.
911: OK. 7109 Henry Street. You said what's going on exactly?
Caller: My wife's best friend's son, ah, best friend, her son, just came down to my house saying his mother is dead.
911: Is dead?
Caller: Yes.
911: OK. ... Are you there? Can you see if she is breathing?
Caller: My wife is inside right now. I am walking through and I am not touching anything in case.
The caller was asked how old the victim was and then suddenly blurts out "She is dead." The 911 operator asks the caller the victim's age, which the caller discusses with his wife.
Caller: My wife just found her on the living room floor.
The caller then told the 911 operator: "Her (O'Shea-Watson's) ex-husband was over here last night (Dec. 18) doing brake line work on her truck."
Asked by the 911 operator if there are any injuries visible, the unidentified caller's wife is heard in the background saying "I don't want to touch her."
Caller: My wife doesn't want to touch her. She is covered up with a blanket.
Asked if he could see any blood or injuries, the caller tells 911, "I don't see any blood."
After a redacted portion of the tape, the caller yells: "Oh, my God, she was murdered!
911: It was a murder? What kind of injuries ...?
Caller: I want to (inaudible) with state police right now.... I need a state trooper out here right now.
The tape seems to confirm what police had said in their complaint filed against Monell, that he had been at his estranged wife's home the night before her body was discovered Dec. 19.
Friends of O'Shea-Watson said she had feared Monell and allegedly been abused by him.
Court records say that Monell violated a restraining order by coming to O'Shea-Watson's house on Dec. 18 and then killed her by stabbing her with a knife "multiple times" in the abdomen, chest, back and face causing her death."
Anyone with information about Monell or his location is asked to contact the New Jersey State Police's Port Norris Station at 856-785-0036 or Detective Mike Legatie at 609-358-1704. Information can also be submitted by email to the New Jersey State Police Fugitive Unit tip line at fugitive@gw.njsp.org.
Bill Gallo Jr. may be reached at bgallo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow Bill Gallo Jr. on Twitter @bgallojr. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
2016 New Year's Eve Ball Relighting
NEW YORK, NY - JANUARY 05: A view of the New Year's Eve Ball ascending to top of its 130-foot pole at One Times Square at Times Square in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images)
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It's just about time to put a bow on 2016 and for better or worse, head into the new year with bright eyes and hope for humanity.
For most of us, that means a New Year's Eve 2017 celebration of some sort, and whether you're heading to a bustling bar or quiet house party, chances are the annual New Year's Eve TV extravaganza will be on.
Here's what you need to know about the New Year's Eve 2017 TV events, as well as some detail on the Times Square ball drop if you are heading into the city.
When to watch on TV: "Dick Clark's Primetime New Year's Rockin' Eve," now with mega-host Ryan Seacrest at the helm, kicks off at 8 p.m. on ABC, and will run until 11 p.m., and then picks back up at 11:30 p.m., and finishes just after 1 a.m.
The show checks in on festivities in New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans, with pop star Fergie and comedienne Jenny McCarthy assisting in the hosting duties.
The main "Rockin' Eve" competitor Dec. 31 will be on NBC, which will air "A Toast to 2016!" at 8 p.m., a two-hour special that recaps the year's top stories and events.
"Late Night With Seth Meyers" airs a special NYE episode from 10 to 11 p.m., and then "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" hops in from 11:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m.
Who's performing: "Rockin' Eve" performers include Mariah Carey, Gloria Estefan the Joe Jonas-fronted pop band DNCE, country star Thomas Rhett and more.
On NBC, "New Year's Eve with Carson Daly" will host performances by Jennifer Lopez, Alicia Keys, Pentatonix and Blake Shelton.
Kelly Clarkson will perform on "Late Night With Seth Meyers," which also features Jennifer Lawrence, Arnold Schwarzenegger and SNL's Leslie Jones as guests.
How to watch online: To watch ABC live online, cable subscribers can visit abc.go.com/watch-live and input their provider information.
To watch NBC live online, cable subscribers can visit nbc.com/live and input their provider information.
Times Square ball drop details: The 12-foot-wide, 11,000-pound geodesic sphere descends from 1 Times Square, at midnight, of course.
To see it best in person, go to Broadway, from 43rd Street to 50th Street, and along Seventh Avenue, as far north as 59th Street, The Times Square Alliance suggests.
Watching the ball drop is a free open event, but arrive early -- around one million people from around the world flood midtown Manhattan to see the event. And bundle up; early forecasts from Accuweather call for a high of 43 in New York Dec. 31, and gusty winds could make it feel as cold as the teens at night, according to AccuWeather's long-range forecast.
Lastly, if you're driving across town on Dec. 31, avoid midtown by the afternoon -- Broadway and Seventh Avenue will be impassable by 3 p.m.
Bobby Olivier may be reached at bolivier@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @BobbyOlivier. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
Zenda
Zenda, a 25-year-old female African lion, was euthanized at the Philadelphia Zoo on Dec. 29 due to her recent, rapid decline in health. (Photo provided by the Philadelphia Zoo)
(Philadelphia Zoo)
The Philadelphia Zoo's lion population is one less today as 25-year-old Zenda was euthanized on Dec. 29.
At 25, Zenda was the oldest African lion in any zoo in the country, and she significantly exceeded the 17-year typical life expectancy for lions in zoos. She had suffered an acute decline in her mobility and behavior recently.
Dr. Andy Baker, chief operating officer at the Philadelphia Zoo, said Zenda will be missed by staff and guests alike, especially the keepers who catered to her changing needs as she grew older.
"Despite their already advancing age, Zenda and her pridemates were eager explorers of the habitat time-share system allowed by the design of Big Cat Falls when we opened in 2006," Baker said. "Their engagement was one of the inspirations for our pioneering zoo-wide trail system concept. Zoo360 -- a new way for animals to experience a zoo -- is part of Zenda's legacy."
Born at the Johannesburg Zoo in South Africa in July 1991, Zenda arrived in Philadelphia in July 1993, along with females Jezebel and Vinkel, and male Merlin. The pride temporarily lived at the Columbus Zoo in 2004, then returned for the opening of Big Cat Falls in 2006.
Zenda is survived by six African lions at Big Cat Falls, including 7-year-old Makini and 6-year-old Tajiri, parents of Kataba, Mali, Msinga, and Sabi.
The lions share Big Cat Falls with Amur tiger brothers Dmitri and Wiz, who have lived at the zoo since March 2014, and an array of other big cats.
The Philadelphia Zoo is open every day except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. For more information, visit philadelphiazoo.org.
Kelly Roncace may be reached at kroncace@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @kellyroncace. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
EXARTT 1 YASUKAWA
In a 2005 photo, Balozi Harvey, sits in the living room where some of his art collection is displayed at his home in South Orange. Mitsu Yasukawa / The Star Ledger
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NEWARK - Balozi Robert A. Harvey, a longtime New Jersey community activist and organizer whose work benefited African-American communities in the state as well as abroad in Africa and the Caribbean died Thursday. He was 76.
Harvey will be recalled as a champion of African-American issues and forged diplomatic ties to foster better cultural and trade relations between the United States and Africa, Newark Mayor Ras J. Baraka said in a statement Friday.
Balozi Harvey.
"I join the citizens of Newark, the local and global community of pan-African nationalists and the many nations in the African Diaspora in mourning the passing of Balozi Robert Alexander Harvey, an extraordinary community organizer and activist in New Jersey and beyond," Baraka said. "Balozi's life was a love story with Africa and with Newark and its people."
Harvey was born in East Orange and graduated from East Orange High School in 1957, according to his website.
He majored in political science at Seton Hall University and later attended the United Nations Language School, where he learned Swahili, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic and Zulu. Harvey served in the Strategic Air Command of the U.S. Air Force from 1957 to 1961.
"Few have done more to build bridges between African nations and the Black communities of America," Baraka said. "As a businessman and diplomat, Balozi Harvey facilitated hundreds of millions of dollars in trade between Africa and the United States, developing trade and investment relationships between American small, minority, and women-owned firms and developing nations."
Throughout his career, Harvey served numerous boards, commissions and companies. From 1977 to 1982, he worked as an aide to Newark Mayor Kenneth Gibson focused on trade efforts.
"In Newark, we remember Balozi Harvey as Mayor Ken Gibson's partner in opening up trade between Newark companies and African and Caribbean nations," Baraka said. "We remember him for his work as a trusted advisor to local governments in promoting cultural diversity, affirmative action, job training, and economic development.
"Balozi Harvey will be sorely missed but he made sure that thousands here and in Africa have the determination, skills and knowledge to carry on his life's work."
Services are scheduled for Saturday with a tribute of dignitaries and imams at 11 a.m. followed by Janazah, or Islamic Funeral, according to his obituary.
Prayer will be held at noon at the National Islamic Association, 231 Roseville Ave., Newark. Interment will be at Restland Memorial Park, 77 Deforest Ave., East Hanover. Funeral services are being handled by Islamic Burial Services.
Jessica Remo may be reached at jremo@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @JessicaRemoNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
NEWARK -- A man accused of assaulting a postal worker in Newark on Christmas Eve made his first appearance in U.S. District Court Thursday on federal charges.
Roger Ross, also known as Orlando Jones, is charged with assaulting a postal clerk during the course of her duties, under a criminal complaint filed by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
Ross, his hands cuffed, gave only yes-or-no answers to questions from Magistrate Judge Joseph A. Dickson.
According to the complaint, Ross threatened and attacked the clerk after his wife accused the woman of stealing her mail and stalking Ross.
Ross' wife had previously visited the North Station Post Office earlier in the day in search of packages that hadn't been delivered, according to the complaint, which states she eventually called 911 to complain the clerks had been "messing with her mail."
She later waited for two of the clerks outside the building after closing, the complaint states, which was when Ross approached the victim and punched her in the face as she tried to walk away.
Ross also allegedly threatened the victim by implying he had a firearm, and told a witness not to call police because his "boys" were watching.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Sara Merin told Dickson that Ross, a citizen of Trinidad and Tobago, would be eligible for deportation if convicted.
Court documents state the alleged attack was captured on surveillance video, but federal public defender Carol Gillen told Dickson the footage hadn't been turned over as of Thursday.
Ross is scheduled for a preliminary hearing on Jan. 12 before Dickson in Newark.
Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
A non-profit group that provides homes for disabled veterans will build its next house in Gloucester County.
Navy veteran Timothy Birckhead suffers from a nerve disorder that has left him largely confined to a wheelchair.
Homes for our Troops, which has built about 230 specially adapted homes nationwide for veterans, has selected Birckhead to receive a home that will be built in South Harrison Township.
Birckhead, 34, learned about Homes for our Troops from a friend who had received a home through the program.
Timothy Birckhead (Homes for our Troops)
He applied and was stunned when he was accepted.
"We were super surprised and at a loss for words," Birckhead said. "I was crying. My mom was crying. It was unbelievable."
Birckhead enlisted in the Navy in 2000 and served on the USS Iwo Jima as an air-launch weapons technician. During his second tour of duty, he began experiencing pain and weakness in his legs and had a hard time walking or running. As a result, he had to leave the Navy in 2007.
He was later diagnosed with hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP), which affects sensory and motor nerves. He suffers from increasing weakness and atrophy in his limbs because of this progressive disease.
Birckhead's story and his experience with Homes for our Troops put him in the national spotlight when he was featured on TV's "The View" in November.
He appeared on the show with his mom, Gloria, and his daughter, Tamyja. The 12-year-old was ecstatic about appearing on TV, her dad recalled.
"She told her friends at school that she was going to be on "The View" and I guess they didn't believe her," Birckhead chuckled. Her friends were excited when she made her TV debut.
Birckhead lives at his brother's house in Philadelphia with his mother, who is his primary caregiver. That house isn't suited for someone in a wheelchair.
The new home, to be built at 105 Victoria Lane, will feature more than 40 adaptations, including wider doorways, a roll-in shower and kitchen features, including pull-down shelving.
One of his biggest challenges where Birckhead lives now is stairs. It's a two-story house with a basement, so getting around is a challenge. He can walk for very short distances but is quickly exhausted.
He also looks forward to being able to shower on his own without help. "Not having to rely on somebody to take a shower is going to be a whole new way of life," he said.
Homes for our Troops will introduce Birckhead to his new Gloucester County neighbors with a special event Saturday, Jan. 7, at Masso's Catering in Glassboro.
A procession will bring him from Glassboro Intermediate School down Delsea Drive to Masso's, where a ceremony will be held at 9:30 a.m., according to organizers.
The event is open to the public. Officials from Glassboro and Harrison and South Harrison townships are jointly supporting the program.
A video crew from "The View" will attend the Glassboro event and one of the show's hosts, Sara Haines, is scheduled to speak during the program.
While he looked around Pennsylvania for a site for the new house, Birckhead settled on South Jersey because of available land.
"We chose New Jersey because they have a lot more open space," he said, adding that he was looking for a place where his family wouldn't have to worry about crime.
Mullica Hill-based Nocentino Homes is building the house. Construction is expected to start soon.
During their appearance on "The View," the show's hosts surprised the family with news that The Home Depot Foundation, which supports various veterans' causes, is donating all of the furniture for the Birckheads' new home.
As Gloria Birckhead put it, "it's one blessing after another."
"We are just so honored that we were chosen for this adventure," she said, "and what a great adventure it is."
Birckhead retired from her job as a school teacher after 42 years in order to care for her son. She doesn't miss her teaching career, she said, because she knows she is needed at home.
"This is what God has given me to do and I'm happy doing it 24/7," she said. "Nothing's too small or too great for my children."
Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook.
Tyheem Stephenson + Tyiskia Harris + Hassan F. McNair.jpg
Tyheem Stephenson (left), Tyiskia Harris and Hassan F. McNair appeared in Central Judicial Processing in Jersey City on Dec. 29, 2016 on gun possession charges. Jonathan Lin | The Jersey Journal
JERSEY CITY -- Two city men who are pending indictment for attempted murder and a pregnant woman were found with a loaded gun in a car, a prosecutor said.
Tyheem Stephenson, who will turn 19 on New Year's Eve; Hassan F. McNair, 20; and Tyiskia Harris, 22 appeared in Central Judicial Processing in Jersey City on Thursday on charges of possessing a handgun without a permit or proper documentation.
Harris and McNair were additionally charged with possessing a handgun for an unlawful purpose, while Stephenson was charged with unlawful possession of a handgun, criminal complaints stated.
Hudson County Assistant Prosecutor Kevin J. Murray said police found a gun in the defendants' car when officers pulled them over in the area of Grant and Bergen avenues around 11:20 p.m. on Dec. 28.
Stephenson and McNair are each currently pending indictment for four counts of attempted murder following a Mother's Day shooting on May 10, 2015, according to Murray.
It wasn't immediately known when they posted bail on their charges from that time, which as of earlier this year reportedly included aggravated assault and weapons offenses.
Three others -- Robert Warren, Decota Chisolm and Steven Howard -- have been accused in the 2015 shooting, which authorities say left four women with gunshot wounds.
On Thursday, Harris, who a court official said has no prior arrests, had her bail set by CJP Judge Ramy Eid at $50,000, cash or bond.
Meanwhile, in a separate court hearing that took place after CJP, Hudson County Superior Court Judge Patrick Arre ordered that Stephenson and McNair be held without bail.
Jonathan Lin may be reached at jlin@jjournal.com. Follow him on Twitter @jlin_jj. Find The Jersey Journal on Facebook.
#Yoon Suk-yeol Yoon pays 5th visit to mourning altar for Itaewon crush victims President Yoon Suk-yeol paid his fifth visit to a mourning altar for victims of the Halloween crowd crush on Friday in what has become a daily routine for the president. Yoon ar...
Black Lives Matter is divisive -- just like every other righteous cause
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.
Arkansas residents can open an ABLE account in other state.
ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level.
Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account.
Arkansas does not yet have an active ABLE program, but if you are an Arkansas resident, you can open an ABLE account in another state.
Save Money Without Penalty
When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits.
As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid.
One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trustee not by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence.
ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits.
Rules for ABLE Accounts in Arkansas
The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are the federal rules:
Disability qualifications. In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.)
In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account.
. Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability.
. Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped at $14,000 per year (in 2017) . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year.
. This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Arkansas, the limit for 529 accounts is $400,000 however, Arkansas does not yet offer an ABLE account, so the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose.
. For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Arkansas, the limit for 529 accounts is $400,000 however, Arkansas does not yet offer an ABLE account, so the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose. Funds must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE). QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more.
QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free.
The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. If the account owner dies with funds in an ABLE account, those funds must be used (in this order), to pay any outstanding QDE bills including funeral expenses, to provide payback to Medicaid for all Medicaid benefits received, and then to be distributed to the account holders legal beneficiaries.
When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for its residents, they may also make rules and policies about:
Minimum amounts required to open an account
Fees
Availability of accounts to non-residents.
State income tax deductions for contributions
Account rollovers
Debit cards
Investment portfolios
ABLE Accounts in Arkansas and Other States
Arkansas is still working on establishing its ABLE Program. In the meantime, you can set up an account in another state that opens its ABLE accounts to non-residents. Keep in mind however, that each person can only have one ABLE account.
You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center.
An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Arkansas on Nolo.com.
Connecticut has adopted the ABLE act, but Connecticut ABLE accounts are not yet available.
ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level.
Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account.
Connecticut does not currently offer ABLE accounts to its residents. However, Connecticut has passed the Connecticut ABLE Act (see Public Act 15-80), and it is working on creating the program that will allow individuals to open ABLE accounts. You can learn more about the Connecticut program and its status on the website of the state treasurer: http://www.ott.ct.gov/about_ABLEAct.html. If you want to open an ABLE account sooner, you can open an ABLE account in another state.
Save Money Without Penalty
When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Any money a person has in a traditional bank account count against that person's ability to qualify for disability benefits.
As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid.
One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trusteenot by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence.
ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits.
Federal Rules for ABLE Accounts
The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are some of the federal rules:
Disability qualifications. To qualify to use an ABLE account, an individual must have a disabling condition that began before age 26.
To qualify to use an ABLE account, an individual must have a disabling condition that began before age 26. Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account.
. Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability.
. Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped annually. The limit for 2022 is $16,000.
The limit for 2022 is $16,000. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, see the state rule, below.
. For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, see the state rule, below. Use of funds is limited. Funds in an ABLE account must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder.
Funds in an ABLE account must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free.
The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. When a person with a disability dies, any funds remaining in an ABLE account will be used to reimburse Medicaid for services the person received from that program.
When a person with a disability dies, any funds remaining in an ABLE account will be used to reimburse Medicaid for services the person received from that program. Read more about the federal rules for ABLE Bank Accounts.
When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for their residents, they may also make rules and policies about:
Minimum amounts required to open an account
Fees
Availability of accounts to non-residents.
State income tax deductions for contributions
Account rollovers
Debit cards
Investment portfolios
ABLE Accounts in Connecticut
Connecticut is currently establishing its own ABLE account program. You can read Connecticut ABLE account statutes in Connecticut Statutes 3-39j to 3-39r. While ABLE accounts are unavailable in Connecticut, you can open one in another state that opens its ABLE accounts to non-residents. Keep in mind however, that each person can only have one ABLE account.
For ABLE account holders who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Connecticut, the limit for 529 accounts is $300,000however, because Connecticut does not yet offer an ABLE account, the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose.
You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center.
An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Connecticut on Nolo.com.
Delaware is developing its ABLE program.
ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level.
Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account.
Delaware does not currently offer ABLE accounts to its residents. However, Delaware has passed the Delaware ABLE Act (see Delaware Laws Chapter 96A), which establishes Delaware's ability to run an ABLE program. Until Delaware offer's its own ABLE accounts, Delaware residents can open an ABLE account in another state.
Save Money Without Penalty
When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Any money a person has in a traditional bank account count against that person's ability to qualify for disability benefits.
As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid.
One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trusts which provide a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trustee not by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence.
ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits.
Rules for ABLE Accounts in Delaware
The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are the federal rules:
Disability qualifications. In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.)
In order to open an ABLE account, you swear under penalty of perjury that you have a disabling "condition that began prior to reaching age 26" and you must fall under the Social Security administration's definition of "disabled" for children. (CFR 416.906.) Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account.
. Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability.
. Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped at $14,000 per year (in 2017) . This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year.
. This limit is equal to the annual personal gift tax exclusion, so it will rise every few years. Also, to be clear, this is per account, not per donor. The owner of the account must keep track of all contributions to ensure that they do not exceed $14,000 for the calendar year. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Delaware, the limit for 529 accounts is $350,000 however, Delaware does not yet offer an ABLE account, so the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose.
. For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, the account can reach the limit allowed for 529 plans in that state. In Delaware, the limit for 529 accounts is $350,000 however, Delaware does not yet offer an ABLE account, so the limit would be set by the provider-state of the plan you choose. Funds must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE). QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more.
QDE are expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Thankfully, this is a fairly broad definition and can include expenses for housing, education, transportation, employment training, health and wellness, financial management, legal fees, and more. Account funds are not taxed if used properly. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free.
The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. If the account owner dies with funds in an ABLE account, those funds must be used (in this order), to pay any outstanding QDE bills including funeral expenses, to provide payback to Medicaid for all Medicaid benefits received, and then to be distributed to the account holders legal beneficiaries.
When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for its residents, they may also make rules and policies about:
Minimum amounts required to open an account
Fees
Availability of accounts to non-residents.
State income tax deductions for contributions
Account rollovers
Debit cards
Investment portfolios
ABLE Accounts in Delaware and Other States
Delaware passed the ABLE Act and is currently establishing its own ABLE account program. You can read Delaware's Achieving a Better Life Experience Savings Accounts (16 Del.C 9601, et seq.). While ABLE accounts are unavailable in Delaware, Delaware residents can still open an ABLE account in another state that allows non-residents.to open ABLE accounts (sometimes with higher non-resident fees).
You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center.
An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Delaware on Nolo.com.
Pennsylvania's ABLE program, PA ABLE, helps those with special needs save money while remaining eligible for disability benefits.
ABLE accounts are bank accounts that allow people with special needs to save money without jeopardizing their disability benefits. ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE (Achieving a Better Life Experience) Act, but they are established and managed on a state level.
Not all states have ABLE accounts (yet), and each state will have slightly different rules and procedures for opening and using an ABLE account.
Pennsylvania does have an ABLE program, called PA ABLE. The program is open to residents and nonresidents, and Pennsylvania residents can open ABLE accounts in other states that allow it. See additional details below.
Save Money Without Penalty
When people with special needs apply for disability benefits, they must show that they do not have enough money to support themselves independently. Money saved in a traditional bank account counts against the ability to qualify for disability benefits.
As a result, people with special needs are not able to build savings with the money they earn or that they receive through inheritance or gifts. On a day-to-day basis, this means that people with special needs must live with very little money if they want to receive government aid.
One workaround for this issue is to use a special needs trust which provides a place to save money that can be used for the benefit of the person with special needs (without affecting his or her eligibility for benefits). But special needs trusts must be controlled by a trusteenot by the person with special needs who benefits from the trust. Not only does this leave a person with special needs with little control over his or her finances, it also limits the person's independence.
ABLE accounts fill this gap by giving people with special needs the opportunity to manage a modest bank account without penalty against their eligibility for SSI, Medicaid, or other government benefits.
Federal Rules for ABLE Accounts
The basic rules for all ABLE accounts come from the federal ABLE Act. (Read the federal act here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/113th-congress/house-bill/647/). When states adopt and implement the ABLE Act, they must follow the federal rules and can also add their own rules and regulations. Here are some of the federal rules:
Disability qualifications. To qualify to use an ABLE account, an individual must have a disabling condition that began before age 26.
To qualify to use an ABLE account, an individual must have a disabling condition that began before age 26. Only one account . Each person can only have one ABLE account.
. Each person can only have one ABLE account. Anyone can put money in the account . Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability.
. Anyone can contribute money to an ABLE account, including the owner with a disability. Contributions are capped annually. The limit for 2022 is $16,000.
The limit for 2022 is $16,000. For many, the account cannot exceed $100,000 . For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, see the state rule, below.
. For those who qualify for SSI, the balance of an ABLE account cannot exceed $100,000. For those who do not qualify for SSI, see the state rule, below. Use of funds is limited. Funds in an ABLE account must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder.
Funds in an ABLE account must be used for Qualified Disability Expenses (QDE)expenses that are "related to the blindness or disability" of the account holder. Account funds are not taxed if used property. The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free.
The income earned from the funds in ABLE accounts is not taxed. Contributions are made with post-tax dollars, and distributions made for QDE are tax-free. Unused funds pay Medicaid. When a person with a disability dies, any funds remaining in an ABLE account will be used to reimburse Medicaid for services the person received from that program.
When a person with a disability dies, any funds remaining in an ABLE account will be used to reimburse Medicaid for services the person received from that program. Read more about the federal rules for ABLE Bank Accounts.
When individual states adopt the ABLE Act and provide ABLE accounts for its residents, they may also make rules and policies about:
Minimum amounts required to open an account
Fees
Availability of accounts to to non-residents.
State income tax deductions for contributions
Account rollovers
Debit cards
Investment portfolios
ABLE Accounts in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania's ABLE account program, PA ABLE, launched in 2016. Here are some details.
Common name: CalABLE
Website: https://www.paable.gov/
Statute:Pennsylvania ABLE Act
Program administrator:Pennsylvania Treasury Department
Program manager: Ascensus
Investment institution: BlackRock, Schwab, and Vanguard
Account limit: $511,758 ($100,000 to remain eligible for SSI)
($100,000 to remain eligible for SSI) Annual contribution limit: $16,000 (If you are working and not enrolled in an employer-sponsored retirement plan, you can contribute up to $12,880 more or the amount of your annual income before taxes, whichever is less, for a maximum total annual contribution of $28,880.)
Open to out-of-state residents: Yes
Minimum amount to open an account: $25
Debit or prepaid card available: Yes
Investment options: 6 options that vary in risk
Account fees: Annual maintenance feel of $60 ($45 if you receive your statements electronically); Checking account option fee: $2.00/month (waived if you receive your statements electronically or your average monthly account balance is $250 or more); Asset-based fees range from 0.34% to 0.38%.
Pennsylvania residents can deduct contributions up to $16,000 per year from their state taxable income. Also, funds in an ABLE account are not subject to Medicaid estate recovery.
You can learn about and compare ABLE accounts across the country at the website for the ABLE National Resource Center.
An ABLE account is just one planning tool for people with special needs. You might also be interested in learning more about Special Needs Trusts or Estate Planning in Pennsylvania on Nolo.com.
To get workers' comp benefits for an on-the-job injury or illness, you need to follow your state's rules for reporting the injury and filing a claim. Learn how to file a claim and where to get more information and help.
If you've suffered a work-related injury or illness, you may be entitled to workers' comp benefits, including medical care, part of your lost wages while you're off work during your recovery, and permanent disability benefits if the injury left you with long-lasting limitations.
To get these benefits, you must report your injury and file a claim according to your state's procedures. While each state has its own workers' comp system, the procedures for filing a claim are generally similar. Below we'll discuss the workers' comp claims procedures that all states share.
Report Work Injury to Employer
In nearly all states, the first step to getting workers' compensation benefits is to report your injury or occupational illness to your employer. States have very different time limits for notifying an employer of a work injury or illness. The deadline is often 30 days or so, but it can be as short as a few days and as long as a year.
Regardless of how much time you have, you should inform your employer of your injury as soon as possible. The longer you wait, the more skeptical your employer or its insurance company will be of your claim. And, the sooner you file your claim, the sooner you can receive benefits.
You should also get immediate medical attention if your injury requires it. For emergency treatment, you can go to the nearest emergency room or urgent care. For all other treatment, you will need to follow your state's rules for seeking medical treatment.
File a Workers' Comp Claim
Once you report your injury, your employer should give you any necessary forms to fill out. Typically, the employer will submit these forms to its insurance company and the state workers' compensation agency. In some states, this will be the official start to your workers' compensation claim. In these states, you will need to file official paperwork with the state workers' comp agency only if your benefits are denied and you want to appeal the decision.
In other states, you will also need to file an official workers' comp claim form with the state workers' compensation agency at the start of your case. The deadline for this step also varies from state to state. While workers often have a year to file the claim, the timeline could be significantly shorter in some states. (Learn more about the various time limits in workers' comp cases and details on the filing procedures for workers' comp claims in certain states.)
You can get information, forms, and assistance from your state's workers' compensation agency. In the unlikely event that your employer refuses to cooperate with you in filing a claim, a call to your local workers' comp office will usually remedy the situation.
Federal employees are subject to a completely different workers' compensation system. You can find forms and instructions for filing claims at the website of the Division of Federal Employees' Compensation.
What Happens After You File a Workers' Comp Claim
The insurance company will conduct an investigation before approving or denying your claim. The insurer must tell you what it decided, usually within two to four weeks. In some states, if your claim isn't denied by the deadline, it will automatically be considered approved.
If the claim is approved, you'll start receiving benefits. If your claim is deniedwhich often happensyou have the right to appeal.
When to Contact a Workers' Comp Attorney
If your claim has been denied, you should speak with a lawyer as soon as possible. There are many reasons for denials, from missed deadlines to disputes over whether your medical condition is related to work.
The appeals process is complicated, with strict deadlines. An experienced workers' comp attorney can help your case in many ways, from gathering evidence that bolsters your claim to negotiating with the insurance company or representing you in hearings.
And a lawyer usually won't cost you anything up front. In almost all states, workers' comp attorneys charge a percentage of your benefits if you winand nothing if you lose.
Welcome to nonleaguedaily.coms news provision, your go-to source for all non league updates, rumours, interviews, and much more besides.
Founded by a team with a genuine passion for the world of non league football, nonleaguedaily.com understands exactly what supporters of the so-called lower leagues are looking for. You want the high-quality reporting, in-depth analysis, and match reporting that matches that is more commonly found in the journalism for the top flights, but with the focus firmly fixed on the national leagues.
We understand that your passion, interest, and dedication is constant, and we believe you need a news service that matches that commitment with its own dedication and thoroughness so thats what you can expect from our site.
The latest non league news, as and when it happens
Conventionally, non league news has always travelled fairly slowly, especially when compared to the instantaneous, constant breaking news cycles found in the upper leagues. Tales are told on terraces, rumours passed between pub patrons and circled between supporters at the latest game, often forced to remain somewhat local initially before word eventually spreads to other locales.
For us, this slow spread may be fairly organic in nature, but it simply isnt compatible with the modern football environment. Its also not conducive to the current fast-paced, always-available media landscape, nor the way that people tend to consume news nowadays. Thats why we have put together a non league news source that fans can turn to for the latest updates, as and when they happen, and as and when you want to read them. Non-league news now is the only acceptable speed at Betting.co.uk.
We update our non-league football news coverage constantly, bringing you all the latest developments and seeking to spread the word as quickly and accurately as possible. So if youre wondering whats happening both with your local team and with the lower leagues as a whole, you can visit us for non league news now, and be confident the stories you find are completely up to date.
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Our efforts to bring you the very best non league football news are undeniably a professional concern, and one that we take seriously. We are if youll excuse the uncharacteristic tooting of our own horns good at what we do, and we know that the efforts we make in this regard are one of the reasons our site has enjoyed such success thus far.
However, everyone who writes for us also shares our readers enthusiasm for non league football. Were not just churning out content in the hopes of cashing in on a professional dream; were here because we want to be, and will always be dedicated and committed to non league football as an entity and thriving in the experience of being able to talk about our favourite subject whenever we can. We create non-league news now that is written by genuine fans and enthusiasts, for fans. We know what you want to know and what matters most to an ardent non league supporter, and we always ensure that focusing on these elements is our guiding principle as we seek to solidify our status as an online non league paper fans can always rely on.
When compiling non league news, we think with the mind of a fan first and foremost. We cover the angles and stories that we find compelling and that we know our fellow non league enthusiasts also care about. News doesnt have to be dry and formulaic, in our opinion. When its written by people who are genuinely as fascinated by the stories they are reporting on as their readership will be, we believe news can be interesting, compelling, and even have a sense of personality and humour.
News content written with passion and expertise
We believe that thanks to our dedication, insightfulness, and commitment to our subject matter of non league today, we are offering the best of both worlds to those searching for an online non league paper. We give you the professional approach we feel is appropriate for news about one of the most intriguing aspects of UK football; an aspect that we genuinely feel does not receive the interest and plaudits that it should be generating. Nevertheless, we dont let that professionalism take over everything we do: we remain committed fans, nurturing our own personal interest in non league football and ensuring every word we compose is infused with a sense of passion and dedication that enhances the posts we create.
Its therefore obvious that our non-league content today isnt ever going to be dry, basic, or put together by a tired staff writer who has never heard of any team below the Championship before they rush off to the pub for the evening. Our writers are genuine experts: were covering non league football because we want to, because we believe in it, and because its where our strengths lie. The result is informed content that capitalises on our deep knowledge of the history, as well as the present-day realities, of non league football in the UK.
Beyond news: the nonleaguedaily.com interview series
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We regularly conduct interviews as part of our news provision, asking the questions that are on everyones lips and providing the best possible view into the non league world. We have reporters pitchside at matches, microphone to hand and plentiful questions ready to be asked. The end result for you, the reader, is the kind of information and close-up looks into the non league world that just cant be found anywhere else.
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A host of other content to enjoy alongside the non league today
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Adams and Cooley Rat Pack Jazz will take their audience on a nostalgic trip to the past with music from The Golden Era of Song in a matinee performance presented by the North Platte Concert Association at 2 p.m. on Jan. 8 at the Neville Center for the Performing Arts, Fifth and Bailey streets.
Sponsors of this concert are Dr. Chris and Julie Johng, and Michael and Julie Jacobson.
Johnny Adams, vocalist, and Ron Cooley, guitar, have worked together musically for many years, though they have known each other even longer, growing up in the same neighborhood in Omaha. Both are versatile musicians who are songwriters and have worked with Chip Davis and Mannheim Steam Roller for many years.
They will be joined by upright bassist Andy Hall, saxophonist Dennis Strawn and percussionist Carlos Figueroa. The combo will play music made famous by Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Tony Bennett and Nat King Cole.
Rat Pack Jazz is well known throughout eastern Nebraska and the Midwest. A member of the Butler County Arts Council praised Rat Pack Jazz for their talent, professionalism and rapport with the audience. Other organizations have also been very complimentary of the ensembles concerts.
Admission is with membership in the North Platte Concert Association. Memberships are available by contacting Pat Hoban, 1412 W. Fourth St., at 308-534-4699. The cost of season memberships is $50 for adults, $100 for families (parents or guardians with minor children) and $15 for students.
The audition for the Missoula Childrens Theatre production of Rumpelstiltskin will be from 4 to 6 p.m. on Jan. 9 in the gym at Saint Pauls Lutheran Church and School located at 312 W. Third St., Ogallala.
There are roles for those students in kindergarten through 12th grade. Approximately 50-60 local students will be cast to appear in the show with the MCT tour actor/director. There is no guarantee that everyone who auditions will be cast in the play. Students wishing to audition must arrive promptly by 4 p.m. and stay for the entire two-hour session. Students arriving late will not be admitted. Please be on time. The first rehearsal for students selected for main roles begins approximately 15-30 minutes after the audition at the Lutheran School.
This is a group audition, and no advance preparation is necessary. Parents are not required to stay, but are welcome to watch from the balcony of the gym if they choose.
After the first rehearsal on Monday night, the remaining rehearsals for the rest of the week will be conducted from 4 to 8:30 p.m. at the Ogallala High School. Although not all cast members will be needed at every session, those auditioning must have a clear schedule for the entire week and if selected, be able to attend all rehearsals required for their role. A detailed rehearsal schedule will be distributed at the conclusion of the audition. Cast members scheduled for the full 4 hours of rehearsal will be asked to bring a sack lunch, dinner or snack.
The performances will be at 2 and 4:30 p.m. on Jan. 14 and will be presented at the Ogallala High School Performing Arts Center. The students in the cast will be called for dress rehearsal before the performance that day. All those cast must be available for all scheduled performances.
The Missoula Childrens Theatre is a nonprofit organization based in Missoula, Montana. This coming year, more than 65,000 cast members across the globe will take to the stage to the delight and applause of their families, friends, community, neighbors and teachers. The residency in Ogallala is made possible by the Ogallala Regional Arts Council and the Ogallala Optimists.
Long a hub of wineries, Southwest Michigan also has blossomed as a craft beer destination to the point where you can go on tours.
The popular and acclaimed Greenbush Brewing helped put Southwest Michigan a nearby and popular summertime getaway for Region residents on the map for craft beer. Now Harbor Country has so many craft breweries that Berrien Springs-based Grape & Grain offers bus tours where people can spend the day sampling India Pale Ales and other beer from various breweries.
The company charges $59 to $149 per person for tours that include stops at Greenbush in Sawyer, Tapistry Brew House in Bridgman, Round Barn Brewery & Public House in Baroda, and Silver Harbor Brewing Company in St. Joseph, while also stopping at the Journeyman Distillery in Three Oaks.
Other breweries not far north of the state line in Southwest Michigan include Arclight Brewing Co. in Watervliet, Cravings Bistro and Brewpub in Benton Harbor, and The Livery in Benton Harbor.
For those who prefer grapes to hops, companies like Fruitful Vine, Royal Excursions, and All Around Limousine Service also offer tours to Southwest Michigan's many wineries, including Free Run Cellars, Round Barn Winery, Lemon Creek Winery, Vineyard 2121, The Lazy Ballerina, and Domaine Berrien Cellars.
The Metro Narcotics Unit in LaPorte and Street Crimes Unit in Michigan City will merge to form the new LaPorte County Drug Task Force and become part of the Indiana High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas, joining forces to combat illegal narcotic sales in and around LaPorte County.
After a nearly-two year application process, the administrations from all four agencies and the LaPorte County prosecutor's office have been accepted into the HIDTA organization, allowing for added resources and funding to combat the illegal sale of narcotics. The new unit will be comprised of 10 investigators from all four police agencies, along with an agent from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives, and will be commanded by Sgt. Andy Hynek of the LaPorte County Sheriffs Department.
GARY A man robbed a downtown store Wednesday of 17 iPhones valued at approximately $9,200, police said.
A woman entered the store T-Mobile store at 1021 Broadway between 7:35 and 7:43 p.m. and asked about an iPhone model, Lt. Dawn Westerfield said. After she left, a man entered and displayed a small handgun, she said.
The man told an employee to show his hands, then gave him a bag and ordered him at gunpoint to fill it with phones, police said. The employee complied, and the man left, telling the employee, "Thank you."
The man headed east after leaving the store. The man was described as black with a light complexion, 6 foot 1, about 170 pounds with a black ski mask around his face. He was wearing a red sweatshirt with the hood up, black pants and gold gym shoes.
Police used a K-9 to search the area, but no suspects were found, Westerfield said.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sgt. William Fazekas at (219) 881-1210. To remain anonymous, call (866) CRIME-GP.
CROWN POINT Police allege a suicidal man in Gary doused himself in lighter fluid Wednesday and fired a gun at an officer before being arrested.
Charles R. Jordan III was charged Thursday in Lake Criminal Court with two counts of intimidation and criminal recklessness.
Gary police officers were dispatched about 8:11 p.m. to the 2200 block of Carver Street after receiving reports of a suicidal subject, according to a dispatch log.
Jordan's sister told police her 40-year-old brother had poured lighter fluid on himself and threatened to shoot anyone who tried to save him, according to a probable cause affidavit.
Two officers attempted to approach the house, but Jordan allegedly yelled a threat through the front door and fired a single shot at one of the officers, the affidavit states.
After a few minutes of negotiation, Jordan allegedly threw a silver handgun out to officers and peacefully exited the residence, the affidavit states.
Officers noted the inside of the residence smelled like lighter fluid, according to the affidavit.
Jordan is being held on a $50,000 bail, according to court records.
No court appearance has yet been scheduled.
HAMMOND Two more people were wounded Wednesday night in the city's third shooting in two days, police said.
Hammond police were dispatched about 9 p.m. Wednesday to the 4900 block of Elm Street for a report of shots fired.
Police learned a 17-year-old Hammond boy and his 22-year-old brother, of East Chicago, were wounded and taken to a local hospital by a family member, police Lt. Richard Hoyda said.
The 17-year-old was shot in the right leg, and the 22-year-old had a graze wound to his chest. Their wounds were not considered life-threatening, police said.
The brothers told police a tan vehicle pulled up on the street just before the shooting.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Detective Lt. Mark Tharp at (219) 852-2906.
Three other people, including another teenager, were wounded Wednesday afternoon and Tuesday night in two other shootings separated by miles.
Police did not believe as of Thursday morning that any of the shootings were connected, nor did investigators have any definitive information they were gang-related, Hoyda said.
Police responded about 12:45 p.m. Wednesday to a shooting at an apartment complex in the 6500 block of Grand Avenue.
An 18-year-old Gary man was shot in the chest. Gunfire struck a 17-year-old Hammond boy in the left arm and chest, police said.
Anyone with information about the shooting is asked to call Detective Sgt. Steve Guernsey at 219-852-2906.
About 5 p.m. Tuesday, police received a report of a shooting in the 100 block of Sibley Street.
A 20-year-old East Chicago man told police he was walking when he heard gunshots, realized he'd been shot in the left arm and waved down a passer-by for a ride to a hospital.
The man told police he saw a red car speeding away after he was shot. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Detective Sgt. James Lietz at (219) 852-2983.
VALPARAISO Porter County Assessor Jon Snyder has failed to convince the state to host a Jan. 18 hearing locally, rather than in Indianapolis for a Hebron apartment complex seeking to hold on to its tax exempt status.
The Indiana Board of Tax Review ended the dispute Thursday, saying there already have been enough delays in the case, each either initiated or agreed to by Snyder's office.
Earlier hearing dates in July, September and November all were continued and all were scheduled for Porter County, according to the IBTR ruling. A December hearing date was scheduled in Indianapolis when Snyder's attorney failed to provide proposed dates as requested.
The matter was rescheduled for Jan. 18 in Indianapolis and Snyder's request to change the location to Porter County would force yet another delay, according to the IBTR.
The IBTR said its offices, its senior law judges and most of the witnesses are in Indianapolis.
The IBTR said it routinely sends its administrative law judges outside of Indianapolis as a courtesy to taxpayers and assessors, but at a cost to the board.
"While I am disappointed with this ruling I look forward to the January 18th hearing in order to defend the decision by our local board to remove the exemption from this apartment complex," Snyder said. "Porter County will vigorously oppose a tax exempt status for this entity no matter where the hearing is held."
The hearing was triggered when Hebron-Vision of Indianapolis appealed the 2013 decision by the Porter County Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals to withdraw the charitable tax exempt status for Misty Glen Apartments. The three-member board agreed that the owners failed to show it qualifies for the breaks through charitable efforts.
Hebron-Vision argues in its appeal the property is used to provide "safe, decent and affordable housing in a charitable manner for ... low-income and very low-income individuals and families."
"Through those acts, a benefit inures to the public sufficient to justify the loss of tax revenue," according to the appeal.
Hebron-Vision accused Snyder of political grandstanding in his attempts to relocate the appeal hearing to Porter County.
"Respondent's (Snyder) true intent in seeking to move the hearing to Valparaiso is to facilitate increased public attendance in order to exert pressure on the IBTR (Indiana Board of Tax Review) in favor of the respondent and against the petitioner all of which is improper," according to the motion opposing Snyder's request.
Snyder said appellate hearings on local issues have always been held in Porter County.
The five-building, 80-apartment complex at 99 Misty Lane was granted tax exempt status in 2009 by the IBTR.
Porter County Board of Appeals member Nicholas Sommer had said the tax exempt status was pulled because there was no evidence presented during the March 2013 hearing of charitable or educational efforts on behalf of the apartment operators.
Hebron-Vision, which purchased the complex in September 2007, argued at the time it received the exemption that it offers services to tenants such as newsletters, referral programs, holiday parties, access to office equipment and free blood pressure screenings.
Sommer said the rental rates are compatible with the Hebron market and not significantly better than competing units.
Property Tax Assessment Board of Appeals member Joe Wszolek said the operators evict residents who are unable to pay their rent.
Sommer said the evidence also showed Misty Glen is generating a profit, which is not being kept in Porter County.
Sandy Bickel, an Indianapolis attorney representing Hebron-Vision, said at the time the affordable housing provided at the complex probably will be lost if the tax exemption is removed.
She said it is very unusual for a county to initiate an effort like this to remove tax exemption granted by the state.
It was a mixed year for Republicans in Porter and LaPorte counties.
While the GOP reclaimed control of the Porter County Council and the LaPorte County Board of Commissioners during the fall general election, they also saw one of their own Portage Mayor James Snyder indicted on federal bribery and obstruction charges.
Snyder, who has pleaded not guilty, said in a guest column in The Times earlier this month, "People who know me well, and even many who know me just in passing, are confident that there is no way the accusations leveled at me are true."
Nearly two weeks after Snyder was indicted, the FBI returned to interview Portage Police Chief Troy Williams, who said no members of his department were mentioned as being the subject of the continued investigation.
Porter County Republican Chairman Mike Simpson said Snyder is presumed innocent.
"I think he's done a marvelous job as mayor," Simpson said.
He said it's been an exceptional year for Republicans at the local, state and national levels, and that means exciting things are ahead at the county level.
"I think we're bringing a lot to the table in financial management and fiscal responsibility," Simpson said.
Dems lose council seat
Republicans won back control of the Porter County Council in November with the victory of newcomer Jeff Larson over Democrat incumbent Bob Poparad.
Republicans will have 4-3 control on the council come Jan. 1 and the advantage of Republicans maintaining a 2-1 majority on the Porter County Board of Commissioners.
Republican County Councilman Jim Biggs, who was elected to return as commissioner after being away for 16 years, said residents can expect to see some positive changes.
Biggs defeated Jeff Chidester, who heads up the county Democratic Party, to step into the post being vacated by fellow Republican John Evans.
Chidester said Hillary Clinton's big loss in Indiana had a trickle down effect on races statewide, including his own.
But he said Democrats lost only one seat at the county level (Poparad) and picked up a seat in the Statehouse.
"Overall, it's not as gloomy as some may think," he said.
County Commissioner Evans is retiring at the end of the year after 40 years of service to county government in that post and with the coroner's office.
Just a day after his peers bid him a fond farewell earlier this month, federal officials declined to say whether Evans remains a target of a criminal investigation.
The inquiry came from the Porter County Council after Evans asked to be reimbursed for $5,000 in legal fees associated with the investigation. The council was advised by its attorney that the law allows for elected officials to be reimbursed, but only if it is confirmed the investigation is over and no indictment is coming.
Changes in LaPorte County
Changes also appear to be in store in LaPorte County after Republicans took control of the LaPorte County Board of Commissioners.
Voters chose former County Councilman Richard Mrozinski, who recently switched from Democrat to Republican, over incumbent Democratic Commissioner David Decker.
Incumbent Democrat Dr. Vidya Kora was re-elected.
Decker was defeated just days after he was arrested and charged with leaving the scene of an accident for a fender bender in a county annex parking lot.
Decker felt what he called the Trump Factor had more to do with his defeat than his arrest.
LaPorte County Democratic Chairman John Jones said the two major parties have volleyed control of the commissioners' office back and forth every few years.
Jones voiced confidence in Mrozinski, with whom he had once served on the County Council.
"He was a good councilman then, and I expect he will bring good leadership to the commissioners as well," he said.
Shaw Friedman, once chairman of the LaPorte County Democratic Party, appears on his way out as county attorney, a position hes held for the past four years.
Mrozinski has said he will propose a salary for the position and bidding out the job, a move he believes will save the county as much as $100,000 or more each year. Until now, the commissioners have made the appointment and the attorney was paid on an hourly basis.
Mike Gonder, the chairman of the LaPorte County Republican Party, was selected at a party caucus earlier this month to fill a vacancy on the board of commissioners.
Gonder will serve the remaining two years of the term of Mike Bohacek, a Republican from Michiana Shores recently elected to the state Senate.
CROWN POINT It was a hard year for local Democrats.
Lake County Commissioner Roosevelt Allen died unexpectedly Jan. 6 after 20 years in public service. A Democratic Party caucus Feb. 3 crowned Gary City Councilman Kyle Allen as his successor.
Marissa McDermott further surprised the party in late January by announcing she would mount a rare challenge to a sitting judge and unseat incumbent Lake Circuit Court Judge George C. Paras.
Her appearance on the spring ballot set off a rancorous inter-party debate.
Hammond Mayor Thomas McDermott Jr., the prior Democratic county chairman and Marissa McDermott's husband, chided 70-year-old Sheriff John Buncich, the current Democratic Party chairman, for a lack of party support for its youngest stars.
McDermott said it should be backing 40-year-old Marissa McDermott. Buncich rejected that story line, arguing Paras, 67, and other, older Democratic candidates were just as deserving of votes.
But Marissa McDermott's use of social media and her husband's overflowing political and financial wherewithal $110,000 from his political war chest staged an upset victory over Paras in May.
One party veteran had reason to cheer
George Van Til, 68, finished his 18-month federal prison term mid-year. He earlier had pleaded guilty to six counts of fraud alleging he assigned political work to his public employees in the county surveyor's office.
The summer saw the obligatory departures of town and city council members on the losing side of a fight over a new state law making it illegal to be both an elected official and employee of the same government unit.
The ban fell on Susan Pelfrey, a New Chicago councilwoman and water department manager; Michael Opinker, a Hammond councilman and fireman; Juda Parks, an East Chicago councilman and policeman; and Matthew D. Claussen, a Hobart councilman and police officer.
They sued in federal and state court, but couldn't convince a judge to overturn the law as an unconstitutional burden on their political activities.
Opinker surrendered his 5th District Hammond City Council seat, and a Democratic Party caucus selected David Woerpel, as his replacement. Pelfrey left her council seat to her daughter, Tara Pelfrey.
Parks vacated his East Chicago City Council at-large seat, and Democratic precinct committeemen named Ronald London, his successor. Matthew D. Claussen's Hobart City Council at-large seat passed to Dan Waldrop.
A giant of Lake County politics
Robert Pastrick died Oct. 29.
He was the longest-serving mayor in East Chicago history from Jan. 1, 1972, to Dec. 31, 2004, and county chairman of the Democratic Party for a quarter of a century, but his last two elections were tainted by voting irregularities that resulted in convictions of city and party officials.
Pastrick never faced criminal charges, but a federal judge did brand Pastricks administration as corrupt and ordered Pastrick and former political allies to pay $108 million in damages in 2011, forcing Pastrick into bankruptcy.
Democratic control of county government suffered a body blow in the Nov. 7 general election when Republican Jerry Tippy defeated Lake County Commissioner Gerry Scheub.
Scheub's 20 years of experience in office couldn't overcome a Republican-inspired redrawing of commissioner district borders that robbed Scheub of much of his former voter support.
The biggest stunner of the year took place Nov. 10 when the FBI and state police raided the Lake County Sheriff's Department and Sheriff John Buncich's home for records of county police-ordered towing.
Only a week later, U.S. Attorney David Capp announced the indictment of Buncich, Tim Downs, the sheriff's second in command, and a Lake Station towing firm owner on allegations Buncich solicited bribes and campaign contributions.
Capp soon disclosed Scott Jurgensen, owner of Merrillville-based Samsons Towing, was cooperating with the government as a witness to payments he made to Buncich. Jurgensen hasn't been charged with any wrongdoing.
Downs gave the government further ammunition earlier this month when he pleaded guilty to doing political fundraising for Buncich, under Buncich's order, while on duty and using a publicly provided police car.
Downs admitted he has been helping investigators and will cooperate in any future prosecutions in return for the government's promise of leniency.
Rumors and damage abound
McDermott said the party's reputation has suffered collateral damage from the indictment.
The year was ending in the midst of unsubstantiated rumors about more public corruption indictments or a quick exit of Buncich as sheriff and Democratic county chairman.
Buncich remains in both posts, but the party is scheduled to elect a new boss in an all-county caucus of committee members in March.
Lake County Councilman Jamal Washington was spared having to resign from office in early December when a special prosecutor dismissed felony domestic violence charges against him.
He pleaded guilty to misdemeanor battery and invasion of privacy over a dispute with two women, one of them his wife, at their Merrillville home.
GRIFFITH The School Board has decided to continue the open enrollment transfer student program through the 2017-2018 school year.
However, the action did not take place without a divided board and a lengthy discussion.
The action means Griffith Public Schools will accept out-of-town Indiana students with the same policy of up to 10 such students per grade level.
Board Secretary Leah Dumezich and Second Vice President Lisa Megquier asked for the vote to be tabled until next month.
However, School Superintendent Peter Morikis noted that a vote must be taken by Dec. 31 for the program to be continued in the 2017-2018 school year.
A motion to table the issue was defeated 3-2 with Dumezich and Megquier voting yes.
Voting against the tabling were First Vice President Jennifer Dildine, Assistant Secretary Ray White and President Gerald Potacki.
George Jerome, the district's director of finance and operations, said there currently are 106 open enrollment students in the system and they draw $625,000 in additional revenue to the district.
Jerome stressed that open enrollment students are not accepted just for the money.
"But some costs don't go away," he added.
In conjunction, Aron Borowiak, director of curriculum and instruction, said several new courses and teachers have joined the system, in part, from using that money.
The board then approved the program for another school year with the same voting outcome.
"For two years as a board member, I have asked for an impact study" to report areas of discipline, class sizes and absentees," Dumezich said after the meeting.
"Our classroom sizes have been affected," she said, adding that at least four classrooms at Ready Elementary School have at least 27 students, along with similar situations in the middle and high schools.
"The community has a right to know how open enrollment has impacted the school corporation," Dumezich said.
The latest U.S. Census data shows that Illinois' population dropped by an estimated 37,508 residents this year.
That's largely because residents have been packing up and moving out of the Land of Lincoln. Illinois has been afflicted by high taxes, rising crime, the highest unemployment rate in the Midwest, and government dysfunction that's been evidenced by a budget stalemate that's dragged out since May 2015. The winter weather isn't always great either.
Indiana has been pulling in more residents from Illinois than any other state, and more go just across the border to Lake County than anywhere else in the Hoosier state, according to a recent Indiana Business Research Center report.
The report, which used Internal Revenue Service migration data, found that nearly 60,400 households moved out of Indiana in 2013 and 2014, while 55,600 households moved to Indiana from another state. That's a net loss of 4,800 households.
Net migration from Illinois to Indiana totaled 2,666 households during 2013 and 2014. Indiana got the second biggest net gain 290 households from its northern neighbor Michigan during that two-year span.
A total of 10,812 households moved from Illinois to Indiana, while 8,146 households relocated from Indiana to Illinois from 2013 to 2014, according to the IRS figures. More than half of Illinois-bound households 4,292 in all moved from the Hoosier state to Cook County.
Indiana University Professor Matt Kinghorn, a demographer with the Indiana Business Research Center, said the data didn't break down demographics but it would not be unreasonable to suppose many Hoosiers headed to Chicago for college or to live in the city after graduating from college, either for a first job, career opportunities or the excitement of urban life.
"Young adults tend to make that move," he said. "And young families in their 30s might move back from Illinois to Indiana when they're looking to buy a home and start a family."
A total of 4,145 Illinois households moved to Lake County during 2013 and 2014, the most recent years for which data are available. Another 461 decamped for Porter County, and 231 blazed a path to LaPorte County.
The bulk of Illinois expatriates relocated to Northwest Indiana or communities along the Illinois border, but more than 1,200 itinerant households from the Land of Lincoln also settled in Indianapolis and surrounding suburbs.
Lake County has been pulling in more than four times as many Illinois households as any other Indiana county. Suburban outflow from Chicago to Lake County however has been slowing down, and has not been strong enough to offset population loss in Northwest Indiana brought about by a shrinking manufacturing base and loss of good-paying jobs, Kinghorn said.
Even with an influx from neighboring Cook County, Lake County has lost residents every year this decade about 8,000 in all so far, he said.
Indiana residents are most likely to move away to Florida, Texas, California, Colorado, Tennessee, Georgia, Arizona, South Carolina, Washington and Oregon.
"With the broader economy, Indiana's economic magnet is not as strong right now," he said.
A total of 2,354 Hoosier households, many doubtless retirees, skipped town for sunny Florida during 2013 and 2014.
A Queens police officer donated nearly 2 feet of her hair Thursday night for a good cause.
Officer Sandra Manani-Campos chopped 22 inches of her locks off at a fundraiser in Ridgewood for the American Cancer Society.
The hair will be turned into a wig and donated to a cancer patient.
"God gave me this beautiful hair, a lot of hair, a lot of volume," Manani-Campos said. "This gift is pretty much for life, so I wanted to share it with somebody else that needs it more than I do."
If you would like to make a donation, go online to relayforlife.org/middlevillageny
Some people here take a cynical view of their kings outreach. Bahrain is a close American ally of great strategic value to Washington. It is near Iran and allows the United States Navy to base its Fifth Fleet here. Many people said the kings overtures were a safe and convenient bid to cement ties with Washington.
We always believe here that control of America is governed by the Zionist lobby, said Salman Kamal al-Deen, a businessman and the head of the Bahrain Human Rights Society. The media and the money are all in the hands of the Jews. We believe if we have a Jewish ambassador and Jews in the Shura Council, this is a positive indicator for the country.
Image Credit... The New York Times
There is also some resentment at the kings support for the small Jewish community. Bahrain is hot with sectarian tensions: the king, a Sunni Muslim, is accused of discriminating against Shiite Muslims, who make up a majority of the native population. Shiites are barred from almost all positions in the military and security services, and they say they are not given the same employment and education opportunities as their Sunni neighbors.
Shiites complain that the 36 Jews are treated better than they are, and that the kings Jewish outreach is intended to make Bahrain appear to be a tolerant society, papering over the systemic discrimination they say they experience.
Because there is some religious tolerance in Bahrain, the kings plan is to undermine the Shiite identity, not increase freedom, said Habib Muhammad, 25, owner of a welding workshop in the Shiite village of Malikiya. He wants to divert peoples attention from demanding their rights.
Those charges are rejected by the nations leadership and do little to dampen the appreciation American Jews and Bahrains surviving Jews have shown for the kings favor.
Modernism is our antiquity, the historian T. J. Clark wrote in Farewell to an Idea, his 1999 eulogy for the art of the last century. By which he meant: As Greece and Rome served as the base line for Western culture from the Renaissance onward, modernism itself had become our model and myth, to be reinterpreted at will but never really understood. Spend half a day in Chelsea, and you will see few gods and heroes but you will trip over archives of failed utopian collectives, photos of crumbling tower blocks, rebooted avant-garde dances and all sorts of fragments of the recent past. Ulysses may be dead, but Ulysses endures.
Few contemporary artists have wrestled with the legacy of modernism as consistently as Simon Starling, a Scottish artist based in Copenhagen, whose previous projects have involved melting Bauhaus chairs down into beer cans or chucking a replica of a Henry Moore statue into Lake Ontario. Now, in an airtight but gratifying exhibition at Japan Society his first at a New York City institution he turns to William Butler Yeats and Ezra Pound, two modernist writers who had their own ornery gazes on the past. Yeatss At the Hawks Well, a 1916 one-act play indebted to both Irish folklore and Japanese drama, provides the tonic note for Mr. Starlings At Twilight, a forking meditation featuring both his own art and significant historical loans on modernisms cross-cultural power and contemporary resonance.
This is a rare outing for a non-Japanese artist at Japan Society, and it has been curated by Yukie Kamiya, the director of the institutes art gallery. It opens with a dark, spotlit gallery featuring exquisite lacquered masks, of the sort used in Japans highly ritualized Noh theater, attached to charred tree trunks. (The masks were newly made from Paulownia wood by Yasuo Michii, an artisan with whom Mr. Starling has collaborated before.) Rather than recreate the props of At the Hawks Well, Mr. Starling riffs on its creators and their colleagues in wartime Dublin, Paris and Tokyo. One mask depicts Yeats with a swoop of lustrous white hair, his jaw shut by knotted strings. The one depicting Pound, who served as Yeatss secretary and translated Noh dramas, is all white and angular, repurposing the bust of the poet sculpted by Henri Gaudier-Brzeska in 1914. Already, then, Mr. Starling is both channeling Yeatss original play and improvising, to create a remake that chases its own tail.
MYRON STOUT
Through Jan. 21. Craig F. Starr Gallery, 5 East 73rd Street, Manhattan; 212-570-1739, starr-art.com.
Myron Stouts black-and-white paintings come with built-in moonlight, which sets aglow their exhibition at the Craig F. Starr Gallery. The show, Myron Stout, contains five of this artists small, taut black-and-whites, as theyre often called more than have been exhibited together since 1990. Stout (1908-1987) started them in the mid-1950s after rereading the tragedies of Aeschylus and Sophocles. Until then, his work had been primarily colorful and delicately geometric. At this point, he abandoned color, distilling his feelings into single blazing white shapes meticulously rounded and textured on smoother black backgrounds.
The shapes can seem almost dimensional, like marble, and related to the sculptures of Jean Arp and Brancusi. Yet they press against the surrounding black, holding the surface in a vibrating equilibrium. These works are pure and formalist, but so suggestive that it almost seems inaccurate to call them abstract. The gently tapered, shieldlike rectangle of Aegis, which takes its title from Zeus magical breastplate, also resembles a (Cycladic) head. Apollo, which has two shapes, evokes a person with arms raised or perhaps carrying something round, as befits a god who transports the sun across the sky.
Other paintings bring to mind a lyre and a yoke or a helmet and a trident. But the strongest is an untitled work that resists meaning: It is simply a fat, truncated archway or inverted U, one side longer than the other, resolved into a perfect asymmetry. The show also contains 11 of Stouts graphite drawings, whose finely textured images range through the gray spectrum and seem almost veiled. In one of the palest, a series of orbs and slices of orbs follows the phases of the moon.
She arrived in 1952 in Stanley Donens Singin in the Rain, playing what she was at the time: a minty-fresh ingenue. She stayed one for most of the decade. She worked again the next year with Mr. Donen in the Marge and Gower Champion vehicle Give a Girl a Break. (Compared with the other movie, this one could have been called Singin in the Mud.) Her character was a brunette starling named Suzy Doolittle, because of course. Theres a part for Bob Fosse, who, with Ms. Reynolds, does the singing and most of the dancing. But in their big number together, Ms. Reynolds is as much an athlete as he is an artist. She spent her career outpacing the other men she worked with Frank Sinatra, Glenn Ford, Leslie Nielsen, James Garner, Dick Van Dyke.
Even after Eddie Fisher, her first husband, outpaced her, leaving her at 26 with two kids, for Elizabeth Taylor, she kept going, never appearing to seek a part that would bring what you would call catharsis. Taylor, meanwhile, kept looking for parts to unleash a darker side. She became drama incarnate. Ms. Reynolds was, as they say, a trouper. So she did what came naturally to her: She trouped.
She watched as her friends were killed in gang wars. She knew others who took lives.
Dania Williams, 23, grew up around crime in East New York in Brooklyn, trying to resist the calls to join a gang and trying to survive the violence that waited outside her front door. Without attentive parents, the temptations were everywhere.
They werent as involved as they should be as parents, Ms. Williams said. So I did what I wanted to do.
That included truancy and the occasional theft and no concerns about securing money in illicit ways. Retail jobs put cash in her pockets, but the work was always seasonal. Selling drugs offered a steadier source of income.
I always had this thing for having stuff that I couldnt normally have, materialistic things that I didnt need, she said. I just wanted to keep up with the latest fad.
Q. I recently had to step over a dog leash that was stretched across the sidewalk while the owner chatted with an employee in a store entrance. What is the law regarding length of leashes? Also, do dogs have to be microchipped?
A. Dogs must be kept on a leash, and that leash cannot be longer than six feet, said Corinne Schiff, the acting deputy commissioner for environmental health at the New York City health department, citing a provision in the citys Health Code. But even if the chatty dog walkers leash was longer than six feet, Ms. Schiff doubts that person was in danger of receiving a ticket or a fine. We ask people to be neighborly about it, she said. As you can imagine, its the kind of thing thats hard to enforce.
As for microchipping the citys squadrons of dogs, there is a law that requires city shelters and pet stores to microchip animals before selling them or putting them up for adoption, Ms. Schiff said. But as a pet parent, you are not required. Theres no law about microchipping for pet owners, but we do think its a great idea as part of responsible dog ownership, she said. If you do lose your dog, or the dog is off leash and runs away in a dog park, its a way to make sure the dog is returned.
(A microchipping primer: A small chip is inserted in the animal, and that chip is registered to one of several microchipping companies, which can read and trace the chips, Ms. Schiff said.)
Theyre pretty immovable, he said.
And that is the point, the police commissioner, James P. ONeill, said at a news conference on Thursday in Times Square with Mayor Bill de Blasio. While there are no specific threats related to the event, he said, the sand-filled trucks serve as a deterrent to the type of truck attacks in France and Germany that killed dozens of people and injured hundreds more.
President-elect Donald J. Trump, who has been at his estate in Florida, is not expected to be in Manhattan for New Years Eve, but the Police Department said Thursday that it expected close to two million people to converge on Times Square on Saturday for the annual ball drop.
Were going to have one of the most well-policed, best protected events at one of the safest venues in the entire world, given all the assets that weve employed here, Mr. ONeill said. And all of this will ensure that New York City has yet another safe and enjoyable New Years Eve celebration, as we do every year.
Sixty-five of the Sanitation Department trucks are part of a security plan that involves close to 7,000 police officers, assigned to guard against crime and terror by land, sea and air, as well as in the subway.
Beyond Times Square, some of the sanitation trucks will be stationed near a planned fireworks display in Central Park. Similar blockades will be put in place on the streets leading to the Coney Island Boardwalk as well as on the promenade itself. More than 100 police vehicles will also be positioned to restrict access to event sites.
It stands to be New York Citys New Years Eve party of the century, or, at least, it took a century to happen.
The soiree is not at the symphony, or a dance club, or a celebritys penthouse, but deep beneath the street where a new subway will push off on its inaugural ride as the clock ticks down to midnight. With a sparkling toast, the new trains along Second Avenue on the East Side of Manhattan will carry an invitation-only group into the new year, including the track engineers, engineers, city bureaucrats and elected officials who worked on the subway over its long gestation. Cocktail attire is suggested.
New Years Eve ushers in new beginnings, and this year, we will be celebrating the ambition and spirit of the New Yorkers who made the Second Avenue subway a reality and achieved what was once deemed impossible, Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo said in an email. There is nothing more New York than the subway, and I cant think of a better place to celebrate this great New York moment.
The agency that runs the citys subway system is under the authority of the governor. For Mr. Cuomo, the opening of the subway by the end-of-the-year deadline is a moment worth boasting about. On Sunday, it will open to the public.
Lawyers for a Brooklyn man imprisoned for more than 20 years in a fatal shooting asked a judge on Thursday to grant him a new trial, saying that the sole eyewitness against him now says she was pressured to identify him by a former detective who has been accused of falsifying evidence in several other cases.
The imprisoned man, Shawn Williams, was convicted of murder in August 1994 in the shooting of a neighbor in the lobby of a building in the Crown Heights neighborhood.
While there was no forensic evidence or motive introduced at Mr. Williamss trial, the jury heard from Margaret Smith, a college administrator who lived across the street. Ms. Smith testified that she had seen Mr. Williams at the scene with a gun at his waist the night of the killing, even though it was dark out and she was standing 100 feet away, looking down from her sixth-story window.
But in an affidavit filed along with Mr. Williamss request for a new trial, Ms. Smith recanted that account. She said she had not seen Mr. Williams that night, but had been coerced into naming him as the killer by the former detective, Louis Scarcella.
In a speech this week laying out the Obama administrations parameters for a final peace agreement between Israel and Palestine, Secretary of State John Kerry stated what has been obvious to most observers for many years: that Israels construction of Jewish settlements on occupied Palestinian land has all but destroyed the two-state solution. Unfortunately, Mr. Kerrys speech offers far too little, and comes much too late.
In 2013, shortly after he became secretary of state, Mr. Kerry warned that there was only a two-year window left for creating a Palestinian state. Now, almost four years later and in the last days of his tenure, he has finally laid out parameters for a two-state solution. But with President-elect Donald J. Trump suggesting he will align the United States with Israels extreme pro-settler government, the Obama/Kerry parameters will most likely be consigned to oblivion like those promulgated by Bill Clinton 16 years ago.
During Mr. Obamas eight years in office, the illegal Israeli settler population has swelled by 100,000, to well over 600,000. Simultaneously, for eight years Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel has directed a barrage of calculated slights, insults and acts of disrespect at the president of the United States. The Obama administration has finally reacted with Mr. Kerrys speech and by allowing Resolution 2334, which condemns Israeli settlement expansion, to pass in the United Nations Security Council. By doing so, the United States simply acted in accordance with international law and the global consensus of nearly 50 years.
Meanwhile, a third generation of Palestinian children is growing up under a brutal occupation and Gaza has been under siege for a decade. Palestinians are obliged to seek the permission of the Israeli military for the most basic of needs, such as medical treatment, or to travel abroad or even just to Jerusalem. As Mr. Kerry asked in his speech: Would an Israeli accept living that way? Would an American accept living that way? It is no wonder that the hopelessness caused by Israeli settlement expansion and land theft in East Jerusalem and the West Bank and the closing of all avenues for realization of the aspirations of Palestinian youth have produced grave social ills, as well as outbreaks of violence.
His latest response shows real teeth, chiefly in the form of sanctions on Russias two leading intelligence services, the F.S.B. and GRU, including four top officers of the military intelligence unit who the White House believes ordered those attacks. Mr. Obama also placed sanctions against a number of other individuals and companies, such as the Special Technology Center, which conducts signal intelligence.
Mr. Obama also expelled 35 Russian intelligence operatives and barred Russian diplomats from using two recreational compounds in the United States. The White House said this action was specifically in response to a two-year pattern of harassment of American diplomats in Russia by Kremlin security personnel.
Mr. Obama should have retaliated against this treatment a long time ago; still, the expulsion adds to the severity of the American response and directly affects Russian citizens, whereas the travel bans and asset freezes imposed by the sanctions may not. Russian intelligence officials rarely travel to the United States or stash their assets here. Sanctions imposed by the United States and Europe over Russias annexation of Crimea and the war in Ukraine have been in place for two years, yet it is debatable how much effect they have had on Mr. Putin. There is thus a legitimate question about whether Mr. Obamas penalties will be sufficient. Already Moscow is threatening retaliation.
Mr. Obama is in a tricky place. He has been concerned, rightly so, about tailoring a response that imposes costs on Russia and acts as a deterrent to further Russian attacks without escalating a cyberwar. At the same time, he would be wise to explore possible covert actions that would reinforce his public responses to further drive home the point that attacks on American elections, by Russia or any other country, cannot and will not be tolerated. One such action, some have suggested, would be to leak detailed information about Mr. Putins vast wealth, which could undermine his credibility with the Russian people.
For Rabbi Gerald Sussman of Temple Emanu-El on Staten Island, the Obama administrations recent confrontation with Israel was a stunning turn for a president who had enjoyed support from many members of his congregation. The word betrayed would not be too strong a word, he said.
But in Los Angeles, Rabbi John L. Rosove of Temple Israel of Hollywood, who is the chairman of the Association of Reform Zionists of America, felt differently. He applauded the speech delivered on Wednesday by Secretary of State John Kerry explaining the decision by the United States not to block a United Nations Security Council resolution that condemned the construction of Israeli settlements in the West Bank. Rabbi Rosove also suggested that many American Jews were broadly supportive of the Obama administration.
I felt Kerry was exactly right, he said. The people who will criticize him will take a leap and say hes anti-Israeli, just as some American Jews are saying Obama is an anti-Semite. This is ridiculous. They recognize and cherish the state of Israel.
The relationship between Israel and the United States, historically the Jewish states closest ally, has seen periods of strain and tension almost from the day of Israels creation in 1948. But rarely has the situation between the two countries been this stressed, with President Obama under attack not only from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, but also from President-elect Donald J. Trump.
Unlike the pipeline project at Standing Rock, however, Peabodys mine plan has the backing of the official tribal governments because the original mine is one of the few sources of jobs and revenue on the impoverished reservations. Peabody has paid about $50 million per year to the Navajo and Hopi tribes since 1987, according to a federal report released in 2012, because the mine was built on tribal land.
But several powerful Navajo nongovernmental organizations, at odds with their leaders, have joined with the Sierra Club to try to curb the mine expansion, arguing that the mine harms air and water quality and that Peabodys initial plan did not include enough protections for so-called cultural resources like graves. While they acknowledge that they cannot stop the mine project, they at least want Peabody and the government to protect ceremonial sites, ruins and graves in the expanding mines path.
To that end, these groups have brought a lawsuit that has forced the government to undertake a Preservation Act study to identify burial grounds and sites of archaeological importance. For projects on or near tribal land, the government must consult with tribes.
The problem, however, say tribal activists and preservation law experts, is that the permitting system is set up in such a way that it usually favors the project proponents while giving short shrift to tribal concerns. Even when tribal consultation does happen, its often not in the spirit of the law, said Anne Mariah Tapp, a lawyer who works on similar cases for other tribes.
The nations jail and prison population decreased in 2015, according to federal data released on Thursday, and the number of adults locked up or on parole or probation fell to a level not seen since 2002 while overall crime continued to drop.
Reasons for the declining incarceration rates include the federal prison system releasing thousands of nonviolent drug offenders in 2015 and states seeking to save money by enacting legislation and policies to reduce prison populations.
In California, for example, Proposition 47 approved by voters in 2014 retroactively reduced some drug and property crimes from felonies to misdemeanors. Other states have offered expanded substance abuse treatment programs, established specialty courts and spent more money on re-entry programs aimed at reducing recidivism.
The 2015 data was compiled by the Bureau of Justice Statistics in an annual report that focuses on the nations prison and jail populations. Data for 2016 will not be available until next December.
PARANA, Argentina An Argentine court reopened an investigation on Thursday into accusations that former President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner sought a secret deal with Iran in connection with the 1994 bombing of a Jewish center in Buenos Aires. The original case was filed by Alberto Nisman, the prosecutor whose mysterious death in 2015 convulsed the country.
Three judges on the Court of Cassation, Argentinas highest criminal appeals court, voted unanimously to reopen the criminal complaint, which accused Mrs. Kirchner and her foreign minister, Hector Timerman, among others, of sealing a deal with Iran to cover up the role Iranian officials were said to have played in the bombing of the Jewish community center, which killed 85 people.
An appeal to the Supreme Court by Mrs. Kirchner is possible, but legal experts say it could face challenges because the Court of Cassation did not issue a final ruling on the case, but rather called for a new investigation.
Of course we are going to appeal, said Alejandro Rua, Mr. Timermans lawyer. This case has been plagued with violations of constitutional guarantees. And if we run out of local instances of appeal, we are going to the Inter-American Commission of Human Rights.
BEIJING The hotline rings, but nobody answers.
Chinas Ministry of Public Security opened the line last month to answer questions about the new law regulating foreign nonprofit organizations, which takes effect on Sunday.
But this week and last, calls went unanswered, exemplifying the uncertainty that still surrounds the law, raising concern among thousands of nongovernmental organizations about their ability to continue their work in the new year.
The law, which places a raft of new requirements on foreign nonprofits operating in China, is another building block in President Xi Jinpings fortification of one-party rule, which he sees as threatened by foreign influence and unfettered civil society.
Under the law, foreign nonprofits such as foundations, charities and many business associations must register with the police, persuade state agencies and organizations to act as their sponsors, and submit regular, detailed reports on their activities.
Since the end of the Cold War, a variety of leaked diplomatic cables, captured operatives and acts of espionage, like this summers hacking of the Democratic National Committee, have served as reminders that Russia and the United States continue to routinely spy on each other.
On Sunday, President Vladimir V. Putin, reacting to expanded sanctions against his country approved by Congress, ordered major cuts in the size of the American mission staff in Russia.
It was just the latest chapter in the history of diplomatic tit-for-tat.
December 2016: A Post-Election Accounting
On Thursday, the United States said it would expel 35 officials, the largest number of diplomats forced to leave since 2001, in retaliation for what American spy agencies said was Russian interference in the presidential election. A day later, Russian officials threatened to expel American diplomats in retaliation, but President Putin said American embassy staff would be permitted to stay.
June 2016: An Embassy Row
The United States expelled two Russian diplomats in retaliation for a bizarre episode outside the United States Embassy in Moscow, in which a Russian police officer attacked an American diplomat.
JERUSALEM The two front-page headlines told very different stories about Secretary of State John Kerrys lengthy address about Middle East peace.
In the view of the right-of-center Jerusalem Post: Kerry exits locked into failed assumptions.
For the left-of-center Haaretz: A very Zionist, pro-Israel speech.
As it turns out, the choose-your-news phenomenon is not unique to the United States.
In Israel, the reaction to the events of recent days, including Mr. Kerrys speech castigating the governments policies and a United Nations resolution condemning Israeli settlements, made it clear that Israelis are just as polarized as Americans.
To borrow an analogy, there is a blue, or more liberal-leaning, Israel that thought Mr. Kerry offered painful but necessary truths in the spirit of friendship that indicted the failed leadership of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
Mr. Harrells series-based work may also signal a shift in dance presentation. Other choreographers working in a similar vein include Maria Hassabi, whose exercises in slow movement feel much like one dance in different settings. Jerome Bels series of portraits focusing on dancers like Veronique Doisneau and Cedric Andrieux, as well as his current work with nonprofessionals, have become his own kind of formula. And not long after Mr. Harrell began presenting his series, trilogies started popping up, notably by the choreographers Miguel Gutierrez and Pavel Zustiak.
It goes against the norm, in other words. In the performing arts world, it is the custom that artists continually create and promote something new, something original. Lili Chopra, the executive vice president and artistic director of the French Institute Alliance Francaise, said, You dont want to say, Its actually going to be the same experience.
Ms. Chopra said this development made her imagine though not, she added, in a cynical way that here we go with artists creating the first, the second and the third, whether its Miguel, whether its Trajal.
And it helps with financing, Ms. Chopra said: Series of works can lead to multiyear grants or longer-term commitments between presenters and choreographers. But I think once you let go of this notion of having to reinvent yourself, she said, or finding this new thing and actually continuing to crack that thing the continuation of that same thread of idea it is very radical.
And what knocked her out about Mr. Harrell, she said, was witnessing the power of the series as a whole when it was presented at the Kitchen as part of the French Institutes Crossing the Line festival in 2014. Trajal owns the context that hes creating, she said. Hes almost imposing it onto the venue and the audience as opposed to us as a venue or as a festival creating a context for an artist.
Early on, Mr. Harrell also envisioned how the audience would increase as his pieces grew in size. Theaters, accordingly, became larger to accommodate more viewers; in the case of XL, because its free and will be available digitally, there is no limit to who sees it. He also embraced the idea of touring works from the series at the same time.
I never thought about that. Even though my grandfather was the president of Italy after the war, he was a very sober, studious person, completely unlike todays politicians who are constantly talking on TV. My father was more eccentric for sure, but even if his publishing house was very famous, he was still very concentrated on his work rather than being a public person.
Is there a genre or category that your music fits into?
I never feel at ease when they try to categorize my work. Also I think labels are in a way restricting. You can put the Beatles and the Rolling Stones in the same category, but the types of music, the colors each band evokes, are completely different. Its the same with Mozart and Beethoven they express two very different aspects of music. Today when they ask me if my music is minimal, is classical, is contemporary I can say yes or no, but it doesnt make sense of what I am doing.
What about classical crossover a genre thats perched between classical and pop music, which some people say vulgarizes or dumbs down classical music?
I dont like the idea of classical crossover, even if sometimes I see this category given to what Im doing. There are many commercial projects in that genre, where they make a quartet out of beautiful fashion models or whatever. I take things more seriously than that. And I dont have a commercial perspective in what Im doing. On the other hand, the idea of crossover, of crossing boundaries, is interesting in the arts, but this is something that has always been true. Stravinsky crossed boundaries he was embracing folk music from Russia and popular music. Mozart was working in a theater and writing songs for a company that was almost like a circus when he wrote The Magic Flute.
When youre writing your music, are you thinking to yourself, I want to make this accessible to the broadest possible audience, to reach people who maybe have never heard a Bach concerto?
To devotees of British comic opera, The Mikado is one of the pinnacles of the genre. But, increasingly, it also represents an embarrassment.
At the heart of this 1885 operetta by the librettist William Gilbert and the composer Arthur Sullivan is a satire skewering British bureaucratic zeal. But its setting is Japan: an imaginary town with the snigger-worthy name Titipu, whose infantilized citizens are ruled by a despot the Mikado with laws that are as draconian as they are daffy. Traditional productions have enthusiastically amplified the Victorian-era casual racism of the work with extravagant amounts of bowing and shuffling and casts of white actors singing in a pinched, nasal tone while sporting taped-back eyelids and yellowish makeup.
On Wednesday, the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players presented a new production of The Mikado at the Kaye Playhouse at Hunter College that makes a solid case that, in the midst of the wreckage of political incorrectness, the work is a comic gem worth salvaging. Armed with great skepticism, I found myself won over by the shows handsome designs, sharp acting and (for the most part) impressive singing, and came to admire the adroitness with which the director, David Auxier, defused the works most damaging cultural land mines.
Getting it right meant a lot to this company. Last year, the Gilbert & Sullivan Players scrapped a planned revival of its older production of The Mikado when posters showing a white actress in yellowface drew sharp protests. Over the course of the following year, the organization convened an advisory panel, diversified its company by hiring more Asian-American actors and brainstormed ways to contextualize the show.
Earlier, it would have been gawking, Ms. Nevins said. But now its a testament of love.
The documentary, whose producers include Todd Fisher, Ms. Reynoldss son and Ms. Fishers brother, was mostly shot a year and a half ago, though it also includes unused offstage footage from Wishful Drinking, a screen adaptation of Ms. Fishers one-woman show of the same name that aired on HBO in 2010, and will be shown again on Sunday. (Some of that footage features Eddie Fisher, Ms. Fishers father, who died in 2010.) It touches on Ms. Reynoldss fragile health, and Ms. Fishers history of mental illness; she has been celebrated for facing her illness with uncommon frankness.
Asked about a memorable moment that landed differently in the wake of the two womens deaths, Ms. Nevins cited an impromptu Christmas Eve duet of Theres No Business Like Show Business, as well as a more offhand scene where Ms. Reynolds and Ms. Fisher, out for a walk, realize they are wearing the same shoes.
I dont know if thats Shakespeare, but its sweet, and its forever, Ms. Nevins said. The love of a mother for a child, especially an aging mother and a wounded child, is incredibly touching.
Comedy
Onstage or Online, Mocking the Absurd
Joe Mande at Highline Ballroom
Mr. Mande is a stand-up comedian who has written for Kroll Show and Parks and Recreation and has appeared on Modern Family and Brooklyn Nine-Nine, but he is perhaps most famous for his internet persona: He once tried to purchase one million Twitter followers, and he often uses his feed to highlight the absurdity of corporate social-media accounts. At two shows on Jan. 4, he will record his first hourlong special, which is being billed as one of the most important nights in stand-up comedy history. ELISE CZAJKOWSKI
See who else is making New Yorkers laugh this week.
Museums & Galleries
A Decisive Break With the Academy
Fragonard: Drawing Triumphant Works From New York Collections at the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Among the 18th centurys lesser-known declarations of independence was that of Jean-Honore Fragonard, the Rococo artist who was a rising star of the French Academy system when he decided, rather abruptly, that hed had enough of it. This rebellion took place largely on paper, in sprightly strokes of red chalk and splashes of brown wash that were, in form and spirit, the opposite of the history paintings he had been trained to produce. As a tale of an artists betting on this robust private market, the Mets show of Fragonards drawings, on view through Jan. 8, evokes todays collector-focused art world. But there are many more compelling reasons to see it, including some truly masterly works on paper and a more holistic, down-to-earth look at an artist best known for his whimsically erotic, decidedly upper-class cabinet paintings. KAREN ROSENBERG
And Theres More
What to cook this weekend and what to read this week.
Why Poetry? Well, yes. Most books of poetry sell a couple of thousand copies, at best. So in a quantitative sense, whats the point of supporting it? With dollars or sense? Would we make the same argument for investing in an endangered species? Like the great Indian bustard, one of the heaviest flying birds, down to a couple of hundred of its kind.
The issue is larger than the number of collections of poetry sold each year. Its about the language our language. Is it, too, endangered? If the depleted language of emails and texts and Twitter is any indication, then theres a case to be made that it might be.
Still, a question I often ask myself is why so many people (and were now talking about millions of people) turn to poetry for all important rites of passage weddings, funerals, toasts, tragedies, eulogies, birthdays. . . . Why? Because the language of poetry avoids the quotidian but the best poetry simultaneously celebrates the quotidian. Language thats focused in such a way that true meaning and emotion is redolent in the air. The poet W.S. Merwin once said: Poetry addresses individuals in their most intimate, private, frightened and elated moments . . . because it comes closer than any other art form to addressing what cannot be said. In expressing the inexpressible, poetry remains close to the origins of language.
Why poetry? I sent out a few emails to see what various people had to say. The poet Louise Gluck, on the subject of book sales, wrote back, The books may not sell, but neither are they given away or thrown away. They tend, more than other books, to fall apart in their owners hands. Not I suppose good news in a culture and economy built on obsolescence. But for a book to be loved this way and turned to this way for consolation and intense renewable excitement seems to me a marvel.
AMERICA THE INGENIOUS
How a Nation of Dreamers, Immigrants, and Tinkerers Changed the World
By Kevin Baker
Illustrated by Chris Dent
262 pp. Artisan. $29.95.
Kevin Baker offers a collection of easy, fast-to-read vignettes illustrating the inventiveness of the American people, mainly from the Industrial Revolution to today. In a now popular genre established by Neil MacGregors A History of the World in 100 Objects, he focuses on 76 innovations or creations, ranging from the Erie Canal to jazz, from the transcontinental railroad to the microprocessor. Each selection gets about 1,000-1,500 words and, in feature journalism style, provides a what, who, when, why and how of the innovation and its impact. Accompanied by sidebar factoids and cartoonish line drawings, the book seems aimed at young adults, serving up interesting bits of history in a Wiki-lite fashion.
The accounts are straightforward and informative without much in-depth context or treatment of historical or biographical nuance and theres no mistaking this for a scholarly treatment. Why 76 cases of ingenuity? No real reason. And why these? Pretty arbitrary. The selections are broken up into categories roaming, building, curing, playing and so on which is fair enough. But one wonders about the absence of some key categories of American creativity like electing, financing, protesting, educating, conserving, cooking and loving.
The categories thus composed obviate the need for a chronological progression, but even thematically, the narrative connection between one selection and another is unclear. Within categories there are puzzling omissions. History ends too soon in Fighting there are no F-15s or drones. With regard to Powering, i.e., energy, nuclear is absent. Producing, i.e., agriculture, ends curiously, or perhaps ironically, with channeling irrigation from farmland to meeting the needs of a growing Los Angeles. Theres a curious category Women Inventors with only two selections, but womens contributions edge in at a few other points perhaps expectedly with the bra, dishwasher and diapers, but also informatively with Kevlar and the Laserphaco probe. Equal rights might also have made a good choice. As a native New Yorker I was personally O.K. with the bias toward that city but objectively the inclusion of the Polo Grounds, Penn Station, the subway, Coney Island, and the Hudson and East River tunnels seems a bit too parochial.
THE MORAVIAN NIGHT
A Story
By Peter Handke
Translated by Krishna Winston
312 pp. Farrar, Straus & Giroux. $27.
Peter Handke commands one of the great German-language prose styles of the postwar period, a riverine rhetoric deep and swift and contrary of current. Since the first of his 100 or so books of fiction, poetry, essays and plays appeared in 1966, his talent has been inarguable, and yet its almost exclusively been a talent for the aesthetic. No one has ever read Handke for his ideas, but for his hostility to ideas; his ambiguous pronouns (have we become they again?), ambivalent punctuation (his infamous (?).) and that petulant, didactic way he has with provocation. Previous generations of the Germanosphere had sought a Nationaldichter a Goethean laureate of nation-state vindication but the war generation had inverted that yearning into a call for writers of chastisement, of self- and governmental punishment. Its not a shock that the best of this cohort would hail from Catholic Austria: Thomas Bernhard, Elfriede Jelinek and Handke, who was born in 1942 in Carinthia, a heavily Slavic province of Austria, in a town just over the Drava River from Slovenia.
The Drava, Sava, Drina and especially the Morava all Danubian tributaries define the banks and the binds of The Moravian Night, which was published in German in 2008 and might be the most important novel of Handkes career. Its title is also its setting. The Moravian Night is a houseboat a Haus-und-Fluchtboot, a house- and escape boat belonging to a former writer whos familiar, or familiarly inscrutable, from Handkes previous work: Hes the Handke-who-isnt, the authors epithetical double. Also known as the abdicated writer, the boatmaster, the host he lives on the run, or on the rudder, in perpetual flight from reporters, women and Pan-European tax assessors. Just before Eastertide, under a full moon, he drops anchor outside the village of Porodin, the last enclave in the Balkans, and in Europe as a whole, and welcomes onboard a gaggle of locals to serve as both audience for, and auxiliary narrators of, a Last Supper dedicated to recounting his life: There were not more than six or seven of us, corresponding, so to speak, to the hours stretching ahead, the episodes, the chapters of the night, until morning.
Note the distancing technique, which is also a disclaimer: Handkes writing about a former writer giving an account of himself, and becoming drowned out by the voices of apostolic friends who, because they werent around to witness the original scenes, or sins, can only repeat, and contradict, with rumor and gossip. The former writer reminisces about revisiting the island in the Adriatic where he wrote his first book, and about encounters with his brother, and with a writer colleague whos become a hack journalist; he recalls a journey to the Harz, the erstwhile border between East and West Germany, and to an academic congress on noise pollution. Interleaved with these scenes are long stretches regarding the long treks taken by the former writer through the wreckage of the former Yugoslavia, in which the novels submerged plot comes up for air; namely, the ways in which the contemporary world, or the contemporary Balkans, have betrayed Handke, or just failed to live up to his imagination:
Ah, you and your damned neo-Balkan inadequacy, obtuseness, mediocrity. Things had not always been this way, had they? At one time no voices more animated, no eyes more wide open, no gestures more inclusive than could be found among you. What had happened to your eloquent gaze, your eloquent shaking and rocking of heads, your eloquent sighs?
Being a largehearted fellow with a deep and abiding faith in humanity, the Haggler likes to take the days between Christmas and New Years Day and look back at the warmth and good cheer he encountered in this column over the past 12 months.
So he did that.
It took four seconds.
Because when he browsed through the episodes of 2016, he found many tales of companies behaving badly. In some cases, very badly. The year was like every other in the Hagglers career of interventions on behalf of consumers. Moments of reconciliation were rare. Moments of enlightenment even rarer.
Which is to say that if youre in the mood for uplift, dear readers, try a forklift. What follows is an update to some of the standout examples of shouting and agita as we once again look back at a year in haggling.
Remember Carl Swenson, the father of the Medal of Honor winner William Swenson? He kept finding fake Facebook accounts in the name of his son. It turned out that the accounts were used for something known as romance fraud, in which scammers wheedle money from women who have contacted them on dating sites. The fake accounts bolster the fraudsters identity.
Tell me about your decision to become an entrepreneur.
I reached a point where I decided Im never going to work for anyone else again. Im going to own my destiny, and Im going to determine how far I can go.
When I turned the switch on my website in April 2002, I was so happy when I had eight orders. It was the best thing ever, that first day. Initially, it was e-commerce only. The big change in my business really happened in 2009, when Target called and wanted to carry my products. That gave us the exposure we needed.
What have been some key leadership lessons for you?
I learned to soften my approach. Because I am a Type A, theres not a lot of room for fluff, typically. Thats my personality, but I had to soften myself with certain people and adapt to different personalities and give each one what they need individually.
I have four kids, and theyre all different. I feel like my employees are the same way. Some need more from me in some areas, some need less, and I had to change that so I could retain my key people. That was an important personal development for me.
Other approaches youve developed?
My employees feel I am accessible to them, so if two of them are having a problem with each other, theyre both going to come to me individually. If that happens, Ill stop the conversation and do a three-way call.
I tell them were going to hammer this out and get to the bottom of it. Were not going to talk about each other, were going to deal with it and put everything on the table and go back to work.
So they know that if they dont want to have that kind of conversation with me talking about a co-worker then they shouldnt call me about it, because were going to square it away right now.
The slowdown stands in stark contrast to the gains made by women in the broader work force. Median pretax income for working-age women more than quintupled between 1962 and 2014, to $20,000. Its still far below the median pretax income for men, which, at $35,000, has stayed roughly the same since 1964, according to the research paper. (The paper uses labor income as its definition of income, which does not include capital gains and certain other sources of wealth.)
The womens wealth gap would be even worse without inherited fortunes. According to Wealth-X, of the 294 female billionaires in the world, only 49 are self-made. The rest owe their fortunes partly or entirely from an inheritance.
Of the nearly 27,000 women in the world worth $30 million or more, a third are self-made. And there are reasons to think that those numbers could rise, as wealth becomes more global and women in countries like China start to prosper. In 2015, more than half of the female billionaires in Asia were self-made, compared with 19 percent in the United States, according to a report from the Swiss bank UBS and the consulting firm PwC.
Yet even as many women are making the rich lists, others are dropping off. In the United States, one of the highest-flying self-made female billionaires, Elizabeth Holmes, recently became the highest-profile financial casualty: As the medical-testing company she founded, Theranos, started to collapse amid fraud allegations, Ms. Holmess net worth plummeted from about $4.5 billion to next to nothing, according to Forbes.
At the moment, the wealthiest self-made woman in the United States is Diane Hendricks, a founder of ABC Supply, a building-materials company in Beloit, Wis. She is worth $4.9 billion, according to Forbes. Oprah Winfrey ranks second at $3.1 billion.
So why are there so few women at the top of the wealth pyramid? And what needs to change?
Julia Pimsleur, the founder of the multimillion-dollar Little Pim language-instruction company and the daughter of the language training entrepreneur Paul Pimsleur, said that discrimination in the executive suite and the world of venture capital remained a stubborn force.
There is unconscious bias in the system, she said. I believe there are many men who would like to see more women at the top.
Attending a cuddle party was one of my fear-conquering New Years resolutions for 2016. My other resolutions I had a long list included speed dating and taking a hike with a mountaineering club.
I never got around to speed dating or hiking, but by August I had worked up the courage to sign up for a cuddle party. And thats how I found myself lying on a foam pad on a strangers floor with my head on the shoulder of a strange man. Strange in that I didnt know him, of course, but also strange in that he was so thin and bony that cuddling with him was no comfort at all.
Soon a young woman settled in on his other side and asked if she could hold my hand.
O.K., I said feebly.
We reached out and clasped hands across the mans chest. I felt rigid, tense, terrified.
A sea of foam pads and quilts and stuffed animals covered the expanse of the one-room carriage house. Even so, I felt the unrelenting pressure of my hipbone against hardwood. How long would I have to lie like this? What is the acceptable length of time to seem open to experience while also preserving my dignity?
WEST HOLLYWOOD, Calif. It was a high-wattage room even by this citys standards. Emma Stone and Jessica Chastain were there, dressed to the nines. So were Judd Apatow and Jeff Bridges. As hunky waiters passed out hamachi tacos and mini bottles of Champagne, Kate Beckinsale, Chris Pine, Naomie Harris and Casey Affleck breezed by.
But the guests of honor at Catch LA that night in November were three young women who are rich but not yet famous: Sophia, Sistine and Scarlet, the spawn just to be alliterative about it of Sylvester Stallone.
Oh, yes. The Stallone Sisters have arrived.
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which bestows the Golden Globe awards, selected them Sophia, 20, Sistine, 18, Scarlet, 14 to serve collectively as Miss Golden Globe at this years ceremony, which NBC will broadcast live on Jan. 8. In many ways, getting picked is the Hollywood version of being presented to society. Over the years, the role has gone to such film-world offspring as Melanie Griffith (the daughter of Tippi Hedren), Laura Dern (the daughter of Bruce Dern and Diane Ladd) and Rumer Willis (the daughter of Bruce Willis and Demi Moore).
We didnt realize the magnitude of this, a gushing Sophia said that night at Catch, flanked by her sisters, her proud papa, and her mother, the model and skin-care entrepreneur Jennifer Flavin.
In one town I visited, the courtroom was actually closed to the public, and I had to get special permission to be present. In another town, when my colleague, Andy Lehren, and I inspected one public record too many, a judge sent police officers to eject us from the courthouse. (Apparently he believed we were grifters trying to prey on the defendants of Pine Bluff, Ark., most of whom have no money out of which they could be scammed.)
For his part, Will, the photographer in Dothan, was having a more intense experience. Though he too had been careful, the police had followed him and pulled him over for failing to use his turn signal early enough. Moments later, a canine unit arrived. The dogs circled Wills rental car and, allegedly, signaled the officers near the drivers seat. On those grounds, the police searched first the car, then Will personally, but found nothing. They did not seem aware that he was a reporter, only that he had been driving around a poor neighborhood and, I later learned, had stopped in front of a known crack house. They let him go with a warning.
Coincidentally, I soon received a call asking if I would like to talk to Dothans chief of police. Yes, indeed I would.
Chief Steve Parrish has a complicated history, but he gave me the impression that, since he had taken charge in May 2015, he had been battling to make the department less vindictive and more professional. I described what had happened to Will as a hypothetical scenario minus the crack house detail, which I didnt know. The chief said it sounded like poor policing. When I take two steps forward in building a positive relationship in the community, and you stop somebody because their tag light is out and write them a ticket, I have to take a step back, he lamented. I dont like taking a step back.
When I revealed that the events in question had actually happened, he seemed mortified. He wanted to apologize personally to Will, but we demurred, not wanting to become part of the story.
A day or two later, I spied the district attorney, Mr. Valeska, outside a law firm getting into his car. I got behind him, just to observe his turn signal habits. The first thing he did was turn without signaling.
Mr. Valeska proved to be extraordinarily elusive journalistic quarry. He deflected our open records requests almost entirely, asking for thousands of dollars to cover the cost of, for example, redacting a bank account number that we already had (it had not been redacted in response to previous records requests by others).
When I returned to the hotel that night, city workers were washing blood and debris from the traffic circle, and hotel employees were busily replacing windows and patching bullet holes in guest rooms. A nearby shopping center, scene of intense fighting, had been gutted. By sheer dumb luck, I had missed it all.
At Baghdad International Airport in 2006, passengers found refuge from the brutal heat under a large billboard under whose shade they stood while waiting for shuttle buses to the terminal. A Times photographer and I waited there for our bus, as we had done many times before, and then proceeded to the terminal.
The next day, I got an email suggesting that I turn on the television news. Two suicide car bombers had killed 14 bystanders and wounded 16 others; video reports showed that one of the car bombs had exploded under the billboard, in exactly the spot where wed been standing 24 hours earlier.
Like other airline passengers, Times journalists sometimes have complaints. Flying to the war in Kosovo in 1999, for example, Albanian Airlines operated castoff former Aeroflot Tupolev 134s between Bologna, Italy, and the Albanian capital, Tirana. The tires were bald, the seats were like medieval torture devices with paper-thin padding and zero legroom, and the surly flight attendants strapped the food cart to the handle of the emergency exit.
I took a ferry back to Italy.
In 2002, a Fox producer and I took an overnight flight to Dushanbe, the capital of Tajikistan. He and I agreed to stick together when we noted, rather disturbingly, that the passenger compartment of Tajik Airs Soviet-era Tupolev 154 was loaded up with tires and kitchen appliances. Tajik merchants, it seemed, routinely overbooked the cargo space, so the aft passenger seats were given over to retail goods.
During a midnight takeoff from Sharjah, a United Arab Emirates city on the Persian Gulf, the nose of the plane I was on gently settled back onto the runway. The plane coasted to a stop and, without any announcement from the crew, sat for an hour in the stifling desert heat until we were bused back to the terminal. The weary passengers uneasily witnessed a mechanic fiddle under the engine cowling for a few hours with what looked like a clowns oversized toy wrench. Then he put down his tool and half-smiled with satisfaction.
Last June, as there was no poplar fluff to bother me yet in Novaya Usman, I got in the habit of spending my days outside. Novaya Usman is a small village in southern Russia near the city of Voronezh, and I have lived here for more than a decade. I am now 80, and at my age it is hard to walk for very long, so I would sit on a lavochka, a wooden bench, near my house and watch the people go by. I also daydreamed about life back at Almaty, thousands of miles away. If nostalgia became unbearable, I headed back home.
I spent my childhood in Northern Kazakhstan. Along with many Russian families during Stalins era, my family had been exiled to the steppe near Aktyubinsk because my father had been an officer of the czars army and a kulak, a Soviet word for entrepreneur. By the time I was 12, both my parents had died. And so my brother and sisters and I lived as orphans in our rickety house without any utilities or winter clothes. Hence, I was fearless and not afraid of hardships.
As I matured and grew capable of work, I took 12-hour shifts as a cook. And yet I stored enough energy for dancing every evening. Those were the happiest days of my life. I was popular: Young men liked me and invited me to dance. I surely broke many hearts.
Hard work brought me to the Communist Parliament as a chief cook, and that is when I moved to Almaty, which was then the capital of Kazakhstan. I worked there almost 40 years and eventually retired.
RE: A.I.
Gideon Lewis-Kraus wrote about how Google used artificial intelligence to transform its popular translation program and how its approach to A.I. is poised to reinvent computing itself.
Creativity defines human intelligence, and contextual interpretation of words is what sets the human brain apart from the machine brain. Its great that a computer can beat the world master of go or chess, but until Google Translate can interpret creatively and not translate literally (try plugging in the Toyota tagline Lets go places and see how many languages accurately capture the intent of the English idiom), its intelligence remains artificial and generic, which, in inexperienced hands, can cause serious miscommunication. Translation is not an easy art; the M.T.A.s public-safety-poster headline Not Yourself? should translate in Chinese to Not Feeling Well? though its possible a machine could miss this nuance and render it as Not You Personally? I would caution us, then, not to become overly reliant on general intelligence, which is far from genuine. Grace Chiu, New York
One difference between robots and humans is that we worry. Articles describing how artificial intelligence will soon surpass humans are fascinating but cause great anxiety for many human readers. The Timess recent article about Googles advances in deep learning neglected to describe the essential role that humans play.
When Carrie Fisher was cast as Princess Leia in the 1977 film Star Wars, she was a 19-year-old with no idea that her character would come to mean so much for so many. Youre not just an actor in this movie, Ms. Fisher said, youre a diplomat to a country you didnt know existed.
Leia proved especially meaningful to female fans, who found their own new hope in Ms. Fishers portrayal of the lone woman at the center of the action. Few movies showcased heroines who showed more guts and ingenuity than many of the men around her. Girls got a new uniform, too instead of putting on a tiara and waving a wand, this princess wrapped her hair into a couple of practical buns and held a blaster in her hand.
Over the past 40 years, generations of female Star Wars fans have made the character their own, using her image and example as a tool in their own lives.
In commemoration of Ms. Fishers life, we asked readers to share what she and Leia have meant to them, and the lessons from the character that they will carry on. Here are their edited responses.
Judith Clark, who drove a getaway car in the infamous 1981 robbery of a Brinks armored car in Rockland County, N.Y., that left a guard and two police officers dead, went into prison defiant, with seemingly little chance of getting out. The judge who sentenced her saw her as beyond rehabilitation, giving her a minimum of 75 years in prison and all but ensuring she would die there.
But Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo, citing what he called Ms. Clarks long sentence and exceptional strides in self-development commuted her sentence on Friday.
Mr. Cuomos action does not undo Ms. Clarks conviction on second-degree murder and robbery charges, but it reduces her sentence to 35 years to life and makes her eligible for parole in 2017.
If Ms. Clark is freed, it would be in recognition of her evolution from radical to model prisoner, and serve as a coda to a notorious case that was among the last gasps of violent left-wing extremism seen in the 1960s and 1970s.
A Bad Year for New Yorkers. However ...
Yes, 2016 was a terrible year for politics, civility, discourse, death. New Yorkers were forced to create bandwidth in their brains to accommodate the reality that one of the citys most storied and ridiculed tabloid personalities would lead the free world. David Bowie left his adopted city, and us. Homelessness rose. The Big Apple Circus, a beloved New York institution that brought the performing arts to poor children at no cost, had to shut down when it could not generate sufficient philanthropic interest. Skyrocketing costs forced the restaurant Da Silvano to close after 41 years in Greenwich Village. We could go on at biblical length before we got to the downsizing of Gracious Home, the Manhattan purveyor of upscale home goods. But lets not. Let us instead, for the moment, consider the reasons we, as New Yorkers, may feel less terrible about the year that was and whats ahead:
Few cities in the world are as closely linked to their subways as New York City the vast network helped shape the city and now carries nearly six million people a day. So when the most ambitious expansion of the subway system in half a century opens on Sunday, it will be a transformative moment, promising to alter the future of a large slice of Manhattan.
The new Second Avenue subway will provide badly needed relief to one of New Yorks most congested transit corridors and is expected to be a boon to the local economy, making restaurants and stores suddenly easier to reach. But even as the city celebrates a line many doubted would ever open, its arrival has prompted fears that rising rents could force out longtime residents and shops the kind of displacement that has swept through many other parts of an increasingly affluent New York and deepened its inequality.
People living near three new stations at 72nd, 86th and 96th Streets could face rent increases as high as $462 per month, according to a report by StreetEasy, a real estate website. Sleek high-rises are already popping up above the walk-up apartment buildings that have served as first homes for many New Yorkers.
One of those is Dina Zingaro, who gravitated to the neighborhood when she moved from New Jersey. She and a roommate pay $2,400 a month for a two-bedroom apartment on the fifth floor of a walk-up building.
SoHo offers a bounty of food each block in this Manhattan neighborhood seems to feature artisanal chocolatiers selling single origin cacao, juice shops extruding vegetables for $9 a bottle and stores peddling cupcakes and Cronuts. Yet while high-end delicacies with gold bullion prices abound, humbler places to buy a jar of nonartisanal peanut butter or a sack of plain old gluten-full flour are much harder to find.
And on New Years Eve at 9 p.m., SoHo will get more difficult for residents without Fresh Direct accounts or Dean & DeLuca-size wallets when Met Food, a neighborhood stalwart for more than four decades, closes its doors on Mulberry Street and shuts for good. According to its owner, Paul Fernandez, he was unable to agree to new lease terms with the landlord. Over Met Foods 25 years at its Mulberry Street location, the stores rent has risen to $90,000 a month from $9,000.
In a neighborhood bursting with food, the closing, residents say, leaves a hole for lower-income and longtime residents whose means have not changed as the neighborhood has gone over the decades from a homely enclave to a glamorous address. For the markets employees some of whom have watched their predominantly working- and middle-class customers grow up in the aisles of Met Food and for the stores regular shoppers, the shutdown is yet another moment in which the ever-gentrifying city becomes that much less livable.
Some guests have been so enamored with the high-tech panels that they have asked if they can buy them. We unfortunately have to let them know that its proprietary to the hotel and not for sale, said Mr. Vitjathorn, 61, a former engineer in the Thai Navy who has been with the company for two decades.
At least they asked. At the Carlyle, guests have been known to walk off with the paper shades adorning the 17-inch lamps dotting the tables at Bemelmans Bar. This is in no small part because of the painstaking craftsmanship of Hector Patino, a mural restoration specialist who paints them to look like the original scenes on the walls.
Mr. Patino has worked at the Carlyle for 16 years. It is his job to maintain every piece of art in the hotel, including Marcel Vertess celebrated murals in Cafe Carlyle and Ludwig Bemelmanss murals of Central Park in Bemelmans Bar. He refinishes furniture, camouflages electrical panels and even deals with graffiti, such as it is.
Someone drew on the wall in the womens bathroom in hot pink marker, said Mr. Patino, 58, who was born in Pereira, Colombia.
To him, its more than a job: Just for fun, he painted a beach scene on a wall in the employee cafeteria. His artistic skills go beyond restoration and painting: In 2011 and 2012, he won first place in the Coney Island Sand Sculpting Contest.
Ward McAllister became the arbiter of Gilded Age society in 1888 when he defined the Four Hundred supposedly the number of true aristocrats in New York, which also happened to match the number of people Mrs. Astor could accommodate in her ballroom.
Less than a decade later, Cornelia Bradley-Martin (who arbitrarily hyphenated her husbands name) lowered the bar to squeeze about 800 professed aristocrats into the old Waldorf Astoria on Feb. 10, 1897, for a costume ball that would cost almost $9 million in todays dollars and epitomized the last gasp of Gilded Age excess. Five years later, the roster of the Social Register had swelled to 25,000 names.
In 1993, Clifton Hood published 722 Miles, a book about the history of the New York subway system, which described in detail the underground arteries that transported New Yorkers between home and work.
Nearly a quarter-century later, Mr. Hood has resurfaced with In Pursuit of Privilege: A History of New Yorks Citys Upper Class and the Making of a Metropolis (Columbia University Press, $40), which explores the blue blood that has coursed through the citys veins since before the American Revolution.
To the Editor:
Reckoning With a Legacy of Insuring Slaves Lives (front page, Dec. 19) documents how major New York life insurance companies supported Southern slavery by insuring owners against the death of their valuable human property. An additional troubling aspect of that history is that such insurance created new incentives for owners to let slaves who suffered a disabling injury die.
The noted Alabama pro-slavery physician Josiah C. Nott warned life insurance companies that as long as the Negro is sound self-interest will prompt the owner to preserve the life of the slave; but if the slave become unsound it ceases to be the interest of the owner to preserve the life of the slave.
MARTIN S. PERNICK
Ann Arbor, Mich.
The writer is a professor of history at the University of Michigan.
Kristofer Goldsmith spent the end of his teenage years photographing mutilated bodies. Mr. Goldsmith knew that he would face bullets and bombs when he enlisted in the Army shortly after Sept. 11, and like almost every soldier of his generation, he volunteered to serve with the understanding that he would go to war. He made sergeant in just over two years and spent an entire year in Baghdad.
The battle that Mr. Goldsmith wasnt prepared for was coming home. He drank to get to sleep. He isolated himself so he wouldnt hurt his friends and family when he suddenly lashed out with rage.
Then he tried to kill himself. Rather than treat him medically, the Army treated Mr. Goldsmith like a criminal. Just a few weeks after his unsuccessful suicide attempt, he was issued a less-than-honorable discharge for what the Army labeled serious misconduct. There was no court-martial finding him guilty. In 2007, Mr. Goldsmith was separated administratively with a few strokes of a pen.
His undiagnosed and untreated post-traumatic stress disorder was hard enough for him to deal with now he had discharge papers that looked like a criminal record.
The conservative Australian government of Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull argues that its policy has stopped the boats at a time when more refugees are on the move across the world than at any time since 1945. The arguments flaw is its inhumanity. Despite being a signatory of all major international human rights treaties, Australia has instituted an indefensible policy of cruelty as deterrence.
Desperate for a resolution, the country last month announced an agreement with the United States to take some of those confined on Nauru and Manus. The accords prospects under a Donald Trump presidency seem poor. In any event, it came too late for Faisal Ishak Ahmed.
Its really tragic that somebody else had to die, said Peter Young, the former medical director of mental health for International Health and Medical Services (I.H.M.S.), the company Australia employs to run clinics in the facilities. There had been representations made and nothing was being done to help him and to get him proper assistance and care, but that is exactly how the system is designed to be. In fact its inevitable that it happened and will happen again.
Young, who quit in mid-2014, added that I.H.M.S., operating on behalf of the Australian border force, inevitably became part of a culture conditioned to see these people as less.
To the Editor:
Re Was Obama Bad for Democrats? (Op-Ed, Dec. 23):
Stanley B. Greenberg and Anna Greenberg suggest that because Democrats lost seats during President Obamas time in the White House it was his fault. This line of thought appears after every single electoral loss somehow Democratic officeholders, especially the president, didnt pull magic out of hats. Can we please move on?
The countrys election showed us who we are: bitterly split, with the right-wing half mostly in thrall to demagogy. This is nobodys fault but the demagogues and the people who fall for it.
Take a look at the videos of Trump rallies. That is all you need to know.
President Obamas legacy will actually shine so bright next to Donald Trumps that it will put him in a pantheon with Lincoln, Jefferson and F.D.R. if not equal to them, then near them.
Mr. Obama represents the sane, sober America that some commenters scorn as professorial. Well, give me professorial any time, if the alt-right is the other option.
BEIRUT, Lebanon Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, three of the Middle Easts major Sunni powers, once equated their standings in the region with the outcome of the war in Syria. Since the uprising broke out in 2011, they have been stalwart if often divided supporters of the rebels in their fight against the government of President Bashar al-Assad.
In the last several months, it became clear they were on the losing side. Recent events, including the fall of eastern Aleppo this month, are compelling these countries to adjust their strategies. A cease-fire agreement brokered by Russia and Turkey and announced on Thursday has only made it clearer that in the Middle East, force drives diplomacy.
The mainstream rebel groups that Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar have backed since 2011 are now morphing into a rural insurgency. This will mean they are less of a threat to the Assad government, but more vulnerable to being defeated by jihadist groups or lured into joining them. Supporting these rebels will soon become even more difficult, especially if President-elect Donald J. Trump follows through on campaign pledges to end American aid to rebel groups and to work more closely with Russia to fight jihadists in Syria.
For Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Qatar, this situation raises major moral and political questions: If military victory is no longer feasible, why should they continue to support rebels at the cost of more Syrian lives? Can they and their rebel proxies carve out zones of influence that will allow them to shape Syrias future? Should the rebellions sponsors cut their losses and force the rebels to capitulate in exchange for whatever favor Russia is able to offer, such as facilitating Turkish policy in Central Asia or helping Saudi Arabia extricate itself from Yemen? Or should they let the rebellion slowly die? Wouldnt doing so only encourage Iranian aggressiveness and prove right the jihadist groups that say Arab countries are impotent and treacherous?
To the Editor:
Re U.S. Punishes Russia Over Election Hacking (front page, Dec. 30):
The Obama administrations sanctions on Russia for meddling in our election put Donald Trump in a very difficult position. If Mr. Trump still wants to be friendly with Russia, he is playing right into its hands and becoming Russias patsy.
If Russia ends up undermining and manipulating us once again, it will make Mr. Trump look like a weak, foolish and naive president and could end up severely damaging American interests.
The sanctions are more of a message to Mr. Trump than to President Vladimir Putin, to show that Russia cant be trusted.
KENNETH L. ZIMMERMAN
Huntington Beach, Calif.
To the Editor:
While I applaud President Obama for enforcing sanctions against Vladimir Putin and the Russian hackers, I think there must also be harsh financial sanctions. Why arent known Russian assets in the United States frozen? Merely kicking spies or alleged spies out of our country and closing compounds isnt enough. Mr. Putin must be made to feel the full weight of our governments and citizens disapproval of his actions.
I came here on an O-1 visa Im an alien of extraordinary ability. That ability is doing comedy and persuading friends who do voice-overs in cartoons to write letters to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, vouching for me. Annie was an unaccompanied minor without documents and she sailed right in. I think about her, and me, and the people who were simply born here, and the people who die trying to get here, and the people who have lived here since childhood, who are American in every way save paperwork, but without any path to citizenship. I mean, the sheer dumb luck involved in it all! I try to make sense of it in a podcast in which I interview a new person each week about their immigration story.
Annie Moores story was told to me by the genealogist Megan Smolenyak Smolenyak, who is an expert in Annies journey. Annie lived her whole life in America just a couple of miles away from Ellis Island, on the Lower East Side. She lived with her parents and brothers before marrying a clerk in a bakery. They had some 10 children, but only five made it through to adulthood. Can you even imagine burying your children like that? No. I tuck that part away in the she must have been different from us, with fewer feelings folder, the delusional one full of current stories from far-off places, too sad to bear. Annie died at 50 years old. Family lore says her coffin was too wide to fit down the narrow stairs of her tenement house, and had to be hoisted out the window.
Not to boast, but I gained weight when I moved to New York, too. It was the citywide availability of soft serve that did it. On Thanksgiving, I went for a wander around Annies old neighborhood, and peeped into St. Marys, the local church founded by Irish immigrants, rebuilt after being burned down by anti-Catholic nativists in the 1830s. By the time Annie arrived, the Irish had a surer footing in the citys political and social life. They were clannish, looking out for their own. I have mixed feelings about this. Im glad that they made it, but sorry they often stood on the backs of other marginalized communities to do so.
What else has happened in the 125 years since Annie Moore arrived? Well, the ban on Chinese immigrants has been lifted, and a ban on Muslim immigrants threatened. Catholic churches are no longer being set alight by nativists, but synagogues and mosques are being vandalized by people on the same tip. A man whose own mother walked through the same Ellis Island doors as Annie campaigned for the presidency by slamming immigrants at every turn, and he won. Were hearing echoes so loud theyve become the sound of today.
I went home for the holidays. I still call Ireland home, but America is my home, too. I stood on the darkening quay side in Cobh on Christmas Eve, and looked at a statue of Annie there. She seems small and capable, her hands lightly resting on her little brothers shoulders, gazing back at a country she would never see again. An Irish naval ship had returned to the harbor earlier that week from its mission off the Mediterranean coast, a mission that has rescued 15,000 people from the sea since May 2015, though 2016 was still the deadliest one for migrants crossing the Mediterranean since World War II.
The Womens March on Washington on Jan. 21 is an apt metaphor for the moment: movement as primal scream. It grew out of a post on Facebook, was unconnected to any established womens organization, and has no set list of demands. Hundreds of thousands of women say they are going, but will their anger turn into a broader movement?
We need a come to Jesus moment, said C. Nicole Mason of the Center for Research and Policy in the Public Interest at the New York Womens Foundation. I feel like the denial is very severe.
In the weeks after the election, in conversations with nearly two dozen advocates for women, I heard the fractures of a movement still regrouping after an unexpected defeat. They know that Mrs. Clinton didnt stand for the feminist movement directly, and that you could vote against her without saying you were voting against feminism. But one of the movements goals was shattering that ultimate glass ceiling. Some say the failure to do so was so devastating that now is the time to rebuild from the ground up. Others insist its time to stay the course.
The challenges are a proxy for the questions the Democratic Party must face over class, race, identity politics and tactics. The womens movement must balance how to broaden its message without losing its base. Courting the white working class could alienate black women still smarting over white women voting for a man whom many saw as racist a choice that seemed to put racial identity over gender solidarity. Some younger women shun the feminist label altogether. Its not clear how far the tent can stretch without leaving some outside.
The overall struggle is to stay relevant in the age of Trump. Before the election, even I was stunned by the sheer number of people I knew who came forward saying theyd been survivors of sexual assault, said Vivien Labaton, co-executive director of Make It Work, which promotes working families economic security. Its amazing to me the lightning speed at which these issues have receded. The story is the total omission of women. Overnight.
When Mr. Obama was elected in 2008, press freedom groups had high expectations for the former constitutional law professor, particularly after the press had suffered through eight years of bitter confrontation with the Bush administration. But today, many of those same groups say Mr. Obamas record of going after both journalists and their sources has set a dangerous precedent that Mr. Trump can easily exploit. Obama has laid all the groundwork Trump needs for an unprecedented crackdown on the press, said Trevor Timm, executive director of the nonprofit Freedom of the Press Foundation.
Dana Priest, a Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter for The Washington Post, added: Obamas attorney general repeatedly allowed the F.B.I. to use intrusive measures against reporters more often than any time in recent memory. The moral obstacles have been cleared for Trumps attorney general to go even further, to forget that its a free press that has distinguished us from other countries, and to try to silence dissent by silencing an institution whose job is to give voice to dissent.
The administrations heavy-handed approach represents a sharp break with tradition. For decades, official Washington did next to nothing to stop leaks. Occasionally the C.I.A. or some other agency, nettled by an article or broadcast, would loudly proclaim that it was going to investigate a leak, but then would merely go through the motions and abandon the case.
Of course, reporters and sources still had to be careful to avoid detection by the government. But leak investigations were a low priority for the Justice Department and the F.B.I. In fact, before the George W. Bush administration, only one person was ever convicted under the Espionage Act for leaking Samuel Morison, a Navy analyst arrested in 1984 for giving spy satellite photos of a Soviet aircraft carrier to Janes Defense Weekly. He was later pardoned by President Bill Clinton.
Things began to change in the Bush era, particularly after the Valerie Plame case. The 2003 outing of Ms. Plame as a covert C.I.A. operative led to a criminal leak investigation, which in turn led to a series of high-profile Washington journalists being subpoenaed to testify before a grand jury and name the officials who had told them about her identity. Judith Miller, then a New York Times reporter, went to jail for nearly three months before finally testifying in the case.
The Plame case began to break down the informal understanding between the government and the news media that leaks would not be taken seriously.
Dai Xiaolei last saw her son in 2014, when he was 17 months old and living with her in-laws in Baoding, a city in Hebei province about 156 kilometers from Beijing.
Her marriage was crumbling and, as relations deteriorated, she claims her husband's family blocked her from taking her son with her back to the capital.
"The last time I saw my son was at the end of this alley. It's like a fortress," the 37-year-old said outside her in-laws former home.
Reuters was unable to independently verify Dai's claim that the family has blocked all attempts to see her son.
Her husband, Liu Jie, filed for divorce, arguing that the marriage had fallen apart due to "conflicts in character, ideas and living habits", according to court documents. Dai pushed for custody, but in April, a judge ruled that it was best for the boy's physical and mental health to stay with his father.
Liu, a movie stunt coordinator, and his parents declined to comment.
As China's divorce rate rises, so too have calls by legal professionals for new laws that would clamp down on aggressive tactics used by some parents to take or retain possession of a child to gain the upper hand in custody battles.
Lawyers say judges tend to favor the parent who already has physical possession of the child in order to avoid further disruption to their life.
Dai appealed the custody ruling and lost. The court said the child's living environment was relatively stable and any change would not benefit his upbringing.
There are no laws against one parent taking sole possession of a child against the wishes of the other, lawyers say, reflecting a traditional view that family conflicts should handled privately.
The Supreme People's Court declined to comment on specific cases, but it said, "Maximizing benefit to the child is the basic principle by which custody decisions are made."
Joint custody rare
China's divorce rate more than tripled between 2002 and 2015, reaching 2.8 per 1,000 people, according to the Ministry of Civil Affairs. This is higher than the most recent estimate for the European Union (2.1 per 1,000 people in 2011) and is not far off the rate in the United States (3.2 in 2014).
While no official data is available publicly, Yan Jun, a district court judge in Beijing, estimated that one parent will snatch a child from the other in 60 percent of cases in which both spouses are seeking custody.
Under the law, parents are rarely granted joint custody, as is the case in some countries. Instead, judges usually give one parent "direct custody", often preferring to maintain the status quo living arrangement for a child aged 2 to 10.
A lawyer at a Beijing family law firm, who declined to be identified, said child-snatching regularly takes place before divorce proceedings, which allows one parent to argue the child has a stable living environment. Li Ying, a Beijing lawyer and advocate for parental rights, said snatching tactics should be prosecuted when a new domestic violence law is enacted in March.
Under this law, beatings, verbal abuse and threatening behavior are considered forms of domestic violence. Some family law experts have said preventing a child from seeing their mother or father, or vice versa, should also be considered psycho-logical abuse.
Even when judges rule in their favor, some mothers complain about a lack of enforcement and sometimes take matters into their own hands.
One, who did not want to be named because her dealings with the courts are still ongoing, said she hired a private detective who found her son living under a fake name with her ex-husband's aunt in northern China.
The court had awarded her custody, but when she complained months later that the order had not been enforced, a court official was blunt.
"She told me: 'Don't just depend on the courts. Are you working hard enough or are you just depending on us to get your child back?'"
(China Daily 12/30/2016 page5)
Every December I read hundreds of long-form essays to select the Sidney Awards, and every year I regret that I spend so much of the other 11 months reading online trivia. Then, every January, I revert to Twitter.
Andrew Sullivan got sucked into the online addiction in a big way, yanked himself away from it and wrote a brilliant essay on the process for New York magazine called I Used to Be a Human Being.
Sullivan was the superstar of what I guess we can call the blogging era, consumed with online volleying all day, every day. Everything else health, friendships atrophied: Every minute I was engrossed in a virtual interaction I was not involved in a human encounter. Every second absorbed in some trivia was a second less for any form of reflection, or calm, or spirituality. He also came to understand that we dont really control our time online. Our clicks are seduced by technologists superbly able to suck us in.
There is also something emotionally comforting, if cowardly, about life through the screen: An entire universe of intimate responses is flattened to a single, distant swipe. We hide our vulnerabilities, airbrushing our flaws and quirks; we project our fantasies onto the images before us.
Ms. Billingsley, a photographer, often has events outside the city, jobs that require her to be on time, which is why she pays $300 a month for the garage. Its not like I can show up late to a wedding Im photographing, she said. I dont have time to wait for a driver to come back whenever it suits them. When I need my car, I really need my car.
Owners are encouraged to report blockages to the police. If an officer is dispatched, a citation can be issued. Then, according to the citys 311 website, If the vehicle has a ticket, and you want it moved, you can contact a private towing company. The vehicle owner is responsible for paying any towing fees.
It is unclear how many private garages or driveways exist in the city, because the Department of Buildings, which issues permits for curb cuts, does not track them. The department issued 1,593 new curb cut permits in 2015, most of them in Queens and Staten Island. That is a steep drop from 10 years earlier, when 5,257 permits were issued.
Application costs include a $130 filing fee and $3 per lineal foot of curb cut for one-, two- and three-family dwellings, and $6 per lineal foot for multiple dwellings and commercial buildings, according to the buildings department. Installation of a cut also requires a $70 repair sidewalk permit from the Department of Transportations Office of Construction Mitigation and Coordination. Actual installation of the cuts averages about $12 to $15 per square foot of concrete being poured or replaced and must be completed by a contractor with a license from the citys Department of Consumer Affairs. The total cost of getting a curb cut can range from roughly $5,000 to $12,000, depending on whether you hire an architect to design it and an expediter to facilitate the permit process.
Proposed curb cuts must meet specific technical requirements, including a seven-foot minimum distance from sidewalk obstructions like trees, fire hydrants and street signs. Parking spaces also cannot encroach on the sidewalk, they must be within the buildings lot lines, and they must measure at least 8.5 feet by 18 feet.
We were together, and then we split up, and then I took her back, Mr. Burke said waggishly.
We got together in 2001 and broke up in 2009, said Ms. Laverde, offering her version of the romance. And then, a year and a half ago, I said, Ill take you back on probation. Well see.
Heres a snapshot of their relationship: Mr. Burke leaves things out on the breakfast bar or perhaps the couch. Ms. Laverde gets tired of the clutter and puts the offending objects most recently, some brand-new shirts into one of the three storage spaces Mr. Burke maintains on the second floor of the building. The spillover goes to the house he bought as an investment in Middletown, N.J.
Im not a hoarder, he said. But I like collecting art and things I dont need.
For example, he doesnt exactly need the 1,200 cookbooks in his collection. He doesnt need the full line of Cuisinart equipment and gadgetry, or every item in the Illy coffee line. But you just never know, and so Mr. Burke holds onto the lot.
And because he doesnt make any distinction between home life and restaurant life, he shifts various pieces of art from one location to the other. A while back, when he saw some blown-glass balloons in a gallery, $100 a pop, he bought a half-dozen and hung them in an Arts and Crafts house he owned years ago in Mountainside, N.J.
I knew I would put them in a restaurant, because they were so festive and cool, said Mr. Burke, who soon dispatched them to David Burke Townhouse, now shuttered. The vintage Bugatti racecar model that hangs on the wall at Tavern 62 was previously tucked into a corner of another Burke restaurant, where it got no love, and then briefly became part of Mr. Burkes home decor before going into storage for a while.
When Mr. Burke sold his nearby condo, he gave the furniture to one of the doormen and bought a sectional, a dining table, a desk and a bed, all with simple lines, for his new quarters, the better to showcase the view and the art: Picasso and Chagall lithographs; a group of blown-glass baskets by Dale Chihuly, who painted Mr. Burkes work clogs as a special favor; an enormous, brightly painted missionary bell; and a driftwood figure that Mr. Burke bought in Sonoma, Calif., and refers to as my butler.
I brought it into Fishtail once and put it at the top of the stairs, and people said, I dont like that, its kind of creepy, he said. But I think its great. I like the fact that not everybody thinks so. Its like an ugly dog.
For a mere flyspeck, Bogoslof Island has been causing quite a commotion recently.
The island is the exposed summit of a volcano that sits in 6,000 feet of water in the Bering Sea about 40 miles west of the Alaskan island of Unalaska, which is part of the Aleutian chain. Bogoslof has had a series of eruptions over the last several weeks, spewing gases and ash into the skies and prompting aviation warnings.
An eruption on Friday, which produced an ash cloud that was believed to rise to about 20,000 feet, was the sixth since Dec. 20. But Michelle Coombs, a geologist with the United States Geological Survey and scientist-in-charge of the Alaska Volcano Observatory, said that analysis of seismic data revealed several more eruptions earlier in the month.
Alaska, where the Pacific Ocean plate is slowly sliding, or subducting, beneath the North American plate, is home to many volcanoes, 52 of which have been active in the last three centuries. But only about 30 of them have seismometers and other instruments to readily detect eruptions.
POINT JUDITH, R.I. There was a time when whiting were plentiful in the waters of Rhode Island Sound, and Christopher Brown pulled the fish into his long stern trawler by the bucketful.
We used to come right here and catch two, three, four thousand pounds a day, sometimes 10, he said, sitting at the wheel of the Proud Mary a 44-footer named, he said, after his wife, not the Creedence Clearwater Revival song as it cruised out to sea. But like many other fish on the Atlantic Coast, whiting have moved north, seeking cooler waters as ocean temperatures have risen, and they are now filling the nets of fishermen farther up the coast.
Studies have found that two-thirds of marine species in the Northeast United States have shifted or extended their range as a result of ocean warming, migrating northward or outward into deeper and cooler water.
Lobster, once a staple in southern New England, have decamped to Maine. Black sea bass, scup, yellowtail flounder, mackerel, herring and monkfish, to name just a few species, have all moved to accommodate changing temperatures.
Pan Pan, a giant panda whose virility helped spawn an entire generation of the notoriously difficult-to-breed animals, died this week at a conservation center in Chinas Sichuan Province.
At 31, Pan Pan was thought to be the worlds oldest male panda. He died early Wednesday morning at the China Conservation and Research Center for the Giant Panda, according to Xinhua, the state-run news agency in China. Pandas in the wild generally live to be about 20, but often survive longer in captivity.
Pan Pan was the equivalent to about 100 human years, but he had been living with cancer, and his health had deteriorated in the past three days, Tan Chengbin, a keeper at the conservation center, told Xinhua.
Pandas International, a Colorado-based charity that supports conservation efforts, mourned the loss of Pan Pan in a blog post that described a visit to China in July to celebrate his 31st birthday.
Hacking has dominated technology news over the course of 2016, with revelations of major breaches at Yahoo and the hacked emails of Democrats.
Now we close out the year with the news that President Obama, in the waning days of his administration, is punishing Russia for its cyberattacks against the United States, which probably affected the American presidential election.
David E. Sanger, a New York Times national security correspondent, writes that President Obamas administration has imposed sanctions against two of Russias leading intelligence services, including four top officers, for their roles in cyberattacks against the Democratic National Committee and other political organizations. The United States also released samples of malware and other indications of Russian cyberactivity.
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The response the strongest American action ever taken against a state-sponsored cyberattack is expected to have repercussions on the relationship between the United States and Russia that will play out for many months.
The clamor for these women has spread beyond Silicon Valleys large public tech companies to privately held start-ups as well, some of which could emerge as the next public giants. Glenn Kelman, the chief executive of Redfin, a closely held online real estate brokerage, said he sometimes had to mount pitched efforts to attract female candidates to his companys nine-member board, because many other start-up chief executives were after the same people.
A lot of executives are trying to do this, Mr. Kelman said. If I dillydallied, suddenly everyone was recruiting the same person.
In November, Redfin brought on two new directors, including Julie Bornstein, the chief operating officer of Stitch Fix, an online personal stylist service. Ms. Bornstein is the second woman serving on Redfins board. In 2014, the company added Ms. Tobaccowala, a co-founder of Evite who was later a top executive at the online polling company SurveyMonkey.
Ms. Bornstein, 46, a former chief digital officer at Sephora, said she had gotten 30 or 40 calls to discuss joining a corporate board over the last few years, even though she had never sat on one. Before becoming a member of Redfins board, Ms. Bornstein said, she also talked to two public companies about a board spot, though she lost out to other women for those positions.
Yet many hurdles still prevent women from joining more tech boards, Ms. Bornstein said. As she interviewed at companies about board seats, she said, she found that many directors typically stuck to their own networks of acquaintances for candidates. That generally led to looking at the same people over and over again.
As a rule of thumb, boards also want experienced members. Part of the reason Ms. Bornstein said she did not land other board positions was because they couldnt get their head around someone who hadnt been on a board before. Because there are fewer natural high-profile women in tech, she said, it requires taking bets on new people.
Efforts are afoot to break down those risks and bring new candidates to attention. Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, the founder and chairman of Joyus, a video and e-commerce start-up in San Francisco, started an initiative called theBoardlist in mid-2015 to highlight women qualified to be on boards. To be on the list, a candidate must be endorsed by a Boardlist member, many of whom are venture capitalists, tech executives and others.
Rates
Starting at 129 euros, or $134.
Basics
The first two hotels from the Hoxton, both in London, earned the budget-friendly brand a reputation for creating spaces as cool to look at as they are to lounge in. The Hoxton Amsterdam, the first property outside Britain, opened in July 2015 with 111 rooms spread across five historic canal houses on the Herengracht canal.
The Dutch design firm Nicemakers created warm, welcoming interiors, and the large lobby, with its worn leather couches, classy U-shaped bar and mezzanine-level lounge, has become a favorite drinking-and-dining destination among hip Amsterdammers and visitors alike. Guest rooms, most with canal views, range in size from Shoebox to Roomy, and among three special concept rooms is the adorably named Tubby in the attic, outfitted with a bathtub.
The odds are good that privatizing education will be part of the agenda for President-elect Donald J. Trumps administration. The Republican platform calls for increasing the role of banks in giving out student loans. And Mr. Trump and the platform advocate an expansion of both vouchers, which enable students to attend the private school of their choice with government funds, and charter schools.
In addition, Betsy DeVos, Mr. Trumps nominee for education secretary, has supported legislation that would establish vouchers in Michigan, as well as the rapid expansion of the states charter school sector.
You might think that most economists agree with this overall approach, because economists generally like free markets. For example, over 90 percent of the members of the University of Chicagos panel of leading economists thought that ride-hailing services like Uber and Lyft made consumers better off by providing competition for the highly regulated taxi industry.
But economists are far less optimistic about what an unfettered market can achieve in education. Only a third of economists on the Chicago panel agreed that students would be better off if they all had access to vouchers to use at any private (or public) school of their choice.
The ongoing show Triple Parade 2016 features jewelry pieces as wearable artworks. [Photo provided to China Daily]
A contemporary jewelry design and art show opened last week in Beijing, presenting jewelry pieces as wearable artworks, from a ring featuring a flying airplane to a necklace that mimics wind chimes.
The show, Triple Parade 2016, features works of more than 100 designers from 14 countries, including the United States, the Netherlands, Denmark, Spain and the United Kingdom. Frog skin, aircraft wood, various metals and LED are applied to jewelry in ways that are sometimes akin to small sculptures or even installations.
"Many jewelry designers are artists. Their artworks can be wearable," says Sun Jie, a designer and founder of the annual show that started in 2014.
He explains that jewelry design in the West has developed as a facet of contemporary art. These fashionable objects are more than simple ornaments; they can express the ideas and thoughts of both the creators and the wearers.
Sun wears a gold fishtail brooch that looks like a real fish trying to jump into his heart. He is displaying two pieces of his Ice Cream series. The various brooches are inspired by Shakespeare's Twelfth Night to convey the feelings of when women fall in love.
The ice cream-shaped brooch that is "melting" with lots of crystal dots shows a girl's fear and shyness when she first falls in love with someone, says Sun.
The term has roots in the early centuries of the church, when the Catholic community living and dead was envisioned as having three parts. These were later called the Church Triumphant (composed of those in heaven), the Church Suffering or Church Penitent (those in purgatory) and the Church Militant (those on earth).
Catholic teaching held that the spiritual efforts of the Church Militant would hasten the ascent into heaven of the souls in purgatory. But how is a concept that was formed during Roman persecution of early Christians and took on a martial connotation during the Crusades meant to be understood in a democratic, capitalist, polyglot, multimedia society like the modern United States?
When you heard the expression the Church Militant, it didnt bring to mind a call to arms or some kind of mobilized, militant action in the way we understand the term now, said John C. Cavadini, a professor of theology at the University of Notre Dame. A lot of the struggle of the Church Militant is against interior temptations that lead you to greed and all kinds of spiritual pathologies. And its about engaging in acts of mercy. Part of the victory of the Church Militant is the victory of love. It didnt have the triumphalist and militarized connotation thats been attached to it now.
While the term remains in the Roman catechism, which was promulgated by the Council of Trent in the mid-1500s, the official catechism produced under Pope John Paul II in 1992 replaced Church Militant with pilgrims on earth. The adult catechism then devised by Catholic bishops in the United States adopted those words, and they are overwhelmingly the norm in Catholic practice in the United States and abroad.
Patrick J. Buchanan, one of Mr. Trumps precursors in running for president on a platform of right-wing populism, embraced Church Militant theology in a 2009 essay in the conservative magazine Human Events. After delineating conflicts between Catholic leaders and Democratic politicians over issues like abortion and contraception, Mr. Buchanan made a more sweeping assertion:
Catholicism is necessarily an adversary faith and culture in an America where a triumphant secularism has captured the heights, from Hollywood to the media, the arts and the academy, and relishes nothing more than insults to and blasphemous mockery of the Church of Rome.
The words could serve as a mission statement for Mr. Vorsis ChurchMilitant.com. A television producer who renounced his earlier life as a gay man, Mr. Voris, 55, has developed a media operation from ChurchMilitant.coms studio in suburban Detroit that produces books, online articles, YouTube videos, podcasts and a daily talk show. These cumulatively attract about 1.5 million views a month, he said.
In a second courtroom setback in two days for Republican leaders in North Carolina, a judge on Friday temporarily blocked a state elections board overhaul that had been condemned as a partisan diminishing of executive power.
The abolition of the existing State Board of Elections was to take effect on Sunday, less than three weeks after the Republican-controlled General Assembly approved a proposal to merge the panel with the State Ethics Commission and, ultimately, reduce the authority of Governor-elect Roy Cooper, a Democrat.
It certainly is not going to harm the state or the agency or any agency to delay that termination for 10 days so that we can have a hearing, a more complete hearing on the legal issues, the constitutional issues, said Judge Donald W. Stephens of Wake County Superior Court, where Mr. Cooper filed a lawsuit on Friday.
The judge, who announced his decision to grant a temporary restraining order at the end of a Friday afternoon hearing, is scheduled to hear more arguments about the disputed law on Thursday. But his ultimate role in the case, which Mr. Coopers lawyers say is rooted in the principle of separation of powers, will be limited: Under North Carolina law, three-judge panels hear and decide constitutional challenges to state statutes.
Mr. Trump seemed open to backing away from those sanctions in an interview with The New York Times in March, when he questioned whether anyone, other than the Obama administration, saw much use in them. His nominee for secretary of state, Rex W. Tillerson, has also been critical, not surprising because they have put a huge crimp in Exxon Mobils hopes for oil and gas exploration.
Syria could be the first area of cooperation. For months, Mr. Trump has talked about working hand in glove with Moscow against the Islamic State and other jihadist groups. That seemed a fanciful notion while Russia was painting all of the Syrian opposition with the same brush and bombing the moderate Syrian opposition more than the Islamic State. But if a shaky cease-fire agreement announced on Thursday holds, it could focus Russian military action for the first time exclusively on the Islamic State and the Islamist group Jabhat Fateh al-Sham, formerly known as the Nusra Front.
The agreement potentially sets the table for Trump in Syria, said Andrew J. Tabler, an expert on Syria at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy.
Still, Mr. Tabler and other Syria specialists said the opportunity came with a number of important caveats. First, the cease-fire needs to hold so that a more enduring political solution to the Syria crisis can be pursued. That will require restraint on the part of the government of President Bashar al-Assad, the Syrian opposition, the Iranians and the Russians.
Second, unless a political settlement is achieved that eventually eases Mr. Assad out of power, Syria may continue to be a magnet for extremists and insurgency, perpetuating the very problem that Mr. Putin and Mr. Trump say they are trying to solve.
While the Obama administration was not included in the cease-fire discussions, Russias foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, extended a hand to Mr. Trump, who has never objected to Moscows growing influence in the Middle East.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell
Favorite TV Moment: Michelle Obama at the Democratic National Convention
The coverage of the 2016 election was perhaps some of the worst and ugliest television of the year. Filled with hate and division, we openly broadcast some of the most shameful sides of our nation. But when Michelle Obama stood up there like the goddess she is during her address to the Democratic National Convention and challenged us all to be just a little better, that was a standout moment. As she spoke of the irony of waking up every morning in a house that was built by slaves, while watching her daughters, two beautiful, intelligent, black young women, playing with their dogs on the White House lawn, tears came to my eyes. I couldnt help but feel hopeful about our future despite the current climate.
At its best, America represents progress and hope. The first lady touched upon what should be a source of great inspiration and optimism to us all. When we consider that her distant ancestors, who toiled in the fields, damned by a life of bondage, shared the bloodline that would eventually give birth to the first African-American first lady, there is no denying that anything is possible.
Jurnee Smollett-Bell stars in Underground, on WGN.
Bill Hader
Least Favorite TV Show: Snapped (Oxygen)
A show I dont miss is about women who kill, and its called Snapped. In most episodes, theres a moment when the narrator says, And thats when she snapped. Its great. There was a case this year that took place in Chicago. I might have the specifics wrong, but I think a private detective found out that this guys wife was moonlighting as a stripper. He said, in an incredibly thick Chicago accent, She worked at a club called Knockers. The guy paused because he didnt know if it was O.K. to say the word knockers on TV. It was hilarious.
Bill Hader is a star and co-creator of Documentary Now, on IFC.
Our foreign correspondents wrote about dozens of captivating people and places in 2016, from pirates in the Amazon to tourists in the nomad lands of Tibet to transgender goddesses in India. We hope their journals and dispatches conversational and visual on-the-ground reports gave you a welcome break from the news.
Here are some of the years highlights.
RIO DE JANEIRO The killing of the Greek ambassador was shocking even by the standards of this crime-weary city: Investigators say his wife had him murdered in a home they owned in Rio by her lover, a police officer, who then set the diplomats remains on fire.
Police investigators on Friday arrested Francoise Oliveira, the Brazilian wife of the Greek envoy, Kyriakos Amiridis, and Sergio Gomes Moreira, the officer who confessed to killing the ambassador while having an affair with Ms. Oliveira.
This was a tragic, cowardly act, said Evaristo Magalhaes, the lead investigator in the case. He said that Ms. Oliveira, 40, and Mr. Moreira, 29, plotted the killing on Sunday before the officer carried it out on Monday.
Ms. Oliveira tried to mislead investigators by saying her husband, 59, had disappeared, Mr. Magalhaes said, insisting that she was innocent before confessing on Friday that her lover had killed him. In tears, Ms. Oliveira said that the ambassadors death could not be avoided, Mr. Magalhaes said.
The case provided a gruesome finish to the year, as Rio reels from a harrowing crime wave, a financial crisis and graft scandals, just months after hosting the Olympic Games.
The suspected murder of the ambassador by an officer also trains scrutiny on Rios police forces, already under pressure over extrajudicial killings, torture, forming militias and assassinating candidates in municipal elections.
Ms. Oliveira is connected to another violent episode in Rio, the 2003 killing of Todd Staheli, an American executive for the oil giant Shell, and his wife, Michelle. The handyman who confessed to the murders was arrested after he allegedly jumped the wall into the nearby home where Ms. Oliveira lived with Mr. Amiridis, who was Greeces consul in Rio at the time.
Until then, no one knew that Amiridis was married, said Hildegard Angel, a columnist who writes about Rios high-society and diplomatic circles, describing the Greek diplomat as outgoing and extremely charming.
The police got a break in the killing of Mr. Amiridis when a man identified as a cousin of Mr. Moreira told investigators that Ms. Oliveira had offered him about $25,000 to assist in the murder. The cousin, Eduardo Moreira de Melo, 24, was also arrested on Friday.
BEIJING A top Chinese official suggested that Catholic churches in China should be run independently of the Roman Catholic Church, the state news media reported on Friday, striking a nationalistic tone as the country negotiates a possible deal to improve relations with the Vatican.
At a meeting with bishops on Thursday in Beijing, Yu Zhengsheng, a senior Communist Party leader, endorsed the notion of a self-governed Chinese Catholic church, according to Xinhua, the state news agency. He said spiritual leaders should work to promote the good virtue of patriotism and adhere to the principles of independence and self-management, Xinhua reported.
China and the Vatican are in talks to heal a rift that began when the party, after taking power in 1949, expelled Catholic missionaries and required Catholics to worship in churches overseen by the state. While the negotiations have gained momentum under Pope Francis, the two sides are still grappling with issues such as who has the authority to appoint bishops in China.
Religious leaders and scholars were divided on the significance of Mr. Yus remarks, which came after a three-day meeting of Catholic bishops representing state-run churches from across the country. Mr. Yu is one of seven members of the partys Politburo Standing Committee, the group of politicians who govern China.
China announced on Friday that it was banning all commerce in ivory by the end of 2017, a move that would shut down the worlds largest ivory market and could deal a critical blow to the practice of elephant poaching in Africa.
The decision by China follows years of growing international and domestic pressure and gives wildlife protection advocates hope that the threatened extinction of certain elephant populations in Africa can be averted.
Chinas announcement is a game changer for elephant conservation, Carter Roberts, the president and chief executive of the World Wildlife Fund, said in a written statement. With the United States also ending its domestic ivory trade earlier this year, two of the largest ivory markets have taken action that will reverberate around the world.
According to some estimates, more than 100,000 elephants have been wiped out in Africa over the past 10 years in a ruthless scramble for ivory driven by Chinese demand. Some Chinese investors call ivory white gold, while carvers and collectors call it the organic gemstone.
This is part of a near-global collapse in diplomatic capacity to handle certain kinds of pressure from China, which is, of course, far more acute for small, landlocked neighbors than major powers, Robert J. Barnett, a historian of modern Tibet at Columbia University, said in an email.
John Delury, a China historian at Yonsei University in Seoul, posted on Twitter that Mongolias reaction was ironic given that it was a Mongolian Khan who invented Dalai Lamaness.
The Dalai Lamas arose from the actions of Altan Khan, a 16th-century Mongolian leader who controlled a region next to northern China, which was ruled by the ethnic Han emperors of the Ming dynasty.
Three centuries earlier, Kublai Khan, the founding emperor of the Yuan dynasty, an era when Mongolians ruled China, had become interested in Tibetan Buddhism and had taken on a Tibetan teacher.
But it was Altan Khan who made Tibetan Buddhism an official religion among Mongols. He did this when the head of the Gelug school of Tibetan Buddhism, also known as the Yellow Hat school, visited him in 1577. On that occasion, Altan Khan gave the spiritual leader the title of Dalai Lama. With Dalai meaning ocean in Mongolian and Lama being a Tibetan spiritual teacher, the title translates as ocean of wisdom.
This bound the Mongols and Tibetans and established a relationship between Mongolian rulers and the Gelug school. Since then, the position of the Dalai Lama has been tied to complex politics in Asia. The two heads of the Gelug school preceding the one who visited Altan Khan were also given the Dalai Lama title retroactively.
The Third Dalai Lama, Sonam Gyatso, the one who had received his title from Altan Khan, died in 1588 in the Mongolian region. A great-grandson of Altan Khan, Yonten Gyatso, was then named by senior Tibetan lamas as the Fourth Dalai Lama and the reincarnation of Sonam Gyatso. (Each Dalai Lama is considered a reincarnation of the previous one.) Yonten Gyatso has been the only Mongolian to be chosen as a Dalai Lama.
BEIJING A former top Chinese security official who reportedly amassed an illicit fortune has been expelled from the Communist Party and will be prosecuted, the authorities announced on Friday.
The official, Ma Jian, a former vice minister of the Ministry of State Security, was said to have taken bribes and used his post to enrich his relatives, according to a brief statement posted on the website of the Communist Partys anticorruption agency. He was also accused of interfering in legal processes, the statement said.
Mr. Ma, who had been under investigation for nearly two years, was the latest victim of a far-reaching campaign against corruption led by President Xi Jinping. Mr. Xi has promised to go after high- and low-level officials alike, and the expulsion of Mr. Ma, a former leader of one of Chinas most powerful and feared agencies, seemed aimed at underscoring the presidents resolve.
Theyre sending a message that they wont go easy on someone just because hes an official, said Zhang Ming, a political scientist at Renmin University of China in Beijing. If a person commits crimes, that person should also be held accountable.
Continent positioned to become the next major manufacturing hub in the global marketplace
Our world is coming off an incredible 2016. If the United Kingdom's vote for Brexit wasn't bad enough, Donald J. Trump will be sworn as president of the United States in January.
And Africa's year hasn't been so rosy either. From protests in Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, to deepening economic turmoil in Nigeria and South Africa, to ongoing humanitarian crises across the continent, Africa has probably more reasons to mourn than rejoice in 2016.
Yet there may be a glimmer of hope. Key stepping stones on Africa's path to industrialization were laid firmly in 2016, creating an important opportunity: The continent can become the next manufacturing hub for the global market.
The Made in Africa Initiative aims to help the continent seize the opportunity for industrialization arising from the pending relocation of light manufacturing from China and other developing market economies. By capturing this opportunity, Africa will achieve sustainable, dynamic and inclusive growth.
However, today's Africa faces serious challenges. What Africa needs now are success stories to provide the aspirations, confidence and experience necessary for it to realize its potential in terms of industrialization and shared prosperity. The Made in Africa Initiative offers a vision to create success in African countries.
The opportunities
Modern economic growth, highlighted by a continuous rise in a country's per capita income, is a process of ever-increasing labor productivity. Making this process possible are continuous structural transformations in technologies and industries - to reduce the factor costs of production and increase output values; and in infrastructure and institutions to reduce transaction costs and risks.
Why have African countries failed to prosper? Because they have not transformed their economic structures from agriculture and mining to modern industry. However, from our perspective, poverty and backwardness is not destiny for African countries. The future can change if Africa seizes the golden opportunity of industrialization.
The developed high-income countries of Europe and North America all started to transform their humble, premodern agrarian economies by developing light manufacturing. The few economies in East Asia catching up to the developed countries after World War II jump-started their industrialization by entering light manufacturing because of rising wages in the higher-income countries. Consider the relocations from the United States to Japan in the 1950s, from Japan to the four Asian Tigers - Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and South Korea - in the 1960s, and from the four Asian Tigers to the Chinese mainland in the 1980s.
China is now at a stage - like that of Japan in the 1960s and the Four Tigers in the 1980s - to begin relocating its light manufacturing to other countries because of its rapidly rising labor costs. Growth in China and in other emerging market economies, such as India and Brazil, will again provide opportunities for other developing countries to jump-start their industrialization.
Africa is potentially an attractive destination for the relocation of light manufacturing from China and other developing market economies. Africa has an abundant supply of young labor. It is close to European and the US markets. And it has zero tariffs on its exports, thanks to the Africa Growth Opportunity Act in the US and the EU's Everything But Arms policy.
The Made in Africa Initiative aims to help Africa exploit this window of opportunity to become the world's next manufacturing hub and to achieve dynamic, sustainable and inclusive growth.
The challenges
To capture this opportunity, African countries faces several challenges that needs to be tackled in the near future:
Lack of technological know-how - how to produce high-quality goods at a competitive price in the global market by using abundant labor and other resources.
Lack of confidence by international buyers in the ability of African manufacturers to deliver goods on time and with the consistent quality specified in contracts.
Lack of infrastructure and a business environment to reduce the transaction costs in reaching international markets.
How can an African country best overcome these challenges?
First, the government must adopt an active investment promotion strategy to attract existing export-oriented light manufacturing companies that have the technological know-how and enjoy the confidence of international buyers in China and other emerging market economies.
Second, governments must use their limited resources and implementation capacity strategically to establish industrial parks and special economic zones with adequate infrastructure and a good business environment to help investors reduce their transaction costs.
A new mission
The Made in Africa Initiative will help African countries generate quick successes in export-oriented light manufacturing through a strategy that includes the following:
Bridging the information gap to help export-oriented light manufacturing enterprises in China and other emerging market economies understand Africa's advantages and set up production there.
Engaging with stakeholders and connecting with policymakers, development agencies, businesses communities and other key parties, globally, regionally and nationally, to share the vision and the approach for capturing Africa's window of opportunity to industrialize.
Advocating triangular collaboration to connect the dots. Advocate win-win cooperation between African countries and prospective investors, such as international retailers in Europe and the US, presenting the comparative advantages in abundant supplies of labor and raw materials.
Working with international organizations and world leaders in the global supply chain to connect the dots of triangular collaboration (manufacturing capability, global retail market and African comparative advantages).
Supporting African countries in identifying their comparative advantages and creating their own development approach, as well as providing intellectual support to African countries to identify their sectors of comparative advantage.
Sharing successes and failures of past industrialization efforts, and support African countries in developing an approach that is green, inclusive, sustainable and environmentally friendly.
Working with governments, including national leaders, to build quick key success examples in industrial development.
Bringing prospective investors who have the manufacturing know-how to visit African countries to facilitate early-stage investment negotiations with the government and to ensure successful investments and implementation to turn the country's opportunities into reality.
Identifying policy constraints through the first movers' operations, and advising the government on further reforms to attract more international and domestic manufacturing investment.
Africa's future
As we believe that the best way to develop a country's economy is to upgrade and diversify its industries by clearly identifying its latent comparative advantages, we see more African countries recognizing the right path to industrialization.
More important, Africa's future prosperity can be foreseen. The efforts of the global community of nations and a private sector committed to supporting African industrialization will promote production capacity cooperation and achieve sustainable development goals through the application of top-level technical expertise and other available tools.
After all, poverty is not destiny.
The author is chief executive officer, Made in Africa Initiative. The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.
(China Daily European Weekly 12/30/2016 page7)
SEOUL, South Korea Bowing to public pressure, an official in South Koreas second-largest city said on Friday that activists could put up a statue representing Korean women forced into sexual slavery by Japan during World War II, a year after the two countries said they had put that emotional issue behind them.
The bronze, life-size statue, of a girl in traditional Korean dress sitting in a chair, had been raised without permission on Wednesday on a sidewalk near the Japanese Consulate in Busan. The police removed the statue, dispersing activists who tried to stop them, but on Friday an official said it could be reinstated.
I apologize to many citizens, Park Sam-seok, mayor of the ward in Busan where the consulate sits, said at a news conference as he announced the statues return. This is an issue between the two nations, and I realize its too much for a local office like mine to handle. Activists quickly put the statue back in place.
Since the statues removal on Wednesday, the wards office had been overwhelmed with angry phone calls, and its website temporarily froze because so many people were visiting to leave hostile comments. Some called Mr. Park a pro-Japanese collaborator, a grave insult in South Korea, where bitter memories of Japans colonial rule in the first half of the 20th century still run deep.
SEOUL, South Korea For years, local officials in South Korea, which has one of the worlds lowest birthrates, have tried ever more inventive plans to encourage women to have babies.
They have offered generous maternity-leave policies, cash allowances and even boxes of beef and baby clothes to families with newborns.
Then the national government tried its hand.
On Thursday, it rolled out an online birth map that used shades of pink to rank towns and cities by the number of women of childbearing age. But the reaction was so overwhelmingly negative, especially among women, that the website was shut down within hours of its introduction.
They counted fertile women like they counted the number of livestock, an angry blogger wrote in an online commentary with the headline Are Women Livestock? Did they think that men would flock to a town with more childbearing-age women?
MOSCOW President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia announced Friday that he would not retaliate against President Obamas decision to expel Russian diplomats and impose new sanctions only hours after his foreign minister recommended doing just that.
Mr. Putin, betting on improved relations with the next American president, said he would not eject 35 diplomats or close any diplomatic facilities, rejecting a tit-for-tat response to the actions taken on Thursday by the Obama administration.
The switch was remarkable, given that Russias foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, had just recommended the retaliation in remarks broadcast live on national television. He called for punitive measures mirroring the ones imposed by the Obama administration, which accuses Russia of intimidating American diplomats and hacking institutions like the Democratic National Committee to influence the 2016 election.
The two countries have a long history of reciprocal expulsions, and Russian officials had been threatening to retaliate for days. Then Mr. Putin abruptly changed course.
LONDON Even the so-called special relationship is subject to limits, it seems.
With a Republican administration under Donald J. Trump only weeks away, Prime Minister Theresa May of Britain scolded Secretary of State John Kerry on Thursday night for his speech criticizing Israel a public jab that would have been highly unlikely any other time during the Obama administration.
In a statement that echoed Mr. Trumps fierce criticism of the Obama administration, Mrs. May chided Mr. Kerry for, among other things, describing the Israeli government as the most right-wing in Israeli history, with an agenda driven by the most extreme elements.
Mrs. May does not believe that it is appropriate to attack the composition of the democratically elected government of an ally, a spokesman for the prime minister said, using the departments customary anonymity.
Mr. Kerrys speech was praised by other European nations, including France and Germany. So the British slap especially after Mrs. Mays government voted last week for a United Nations Security Council resolution condemning Israeli settlement construction was something of a shock to Washington.
For the Russians, the agreement keeps their client, President Bashar al-Assad, in power, cements their military foothold in Syria and increases the Kremlins influence in the Middle East. American intelligence officials told the Obama administration this year that Russias goal was to help Syrian forces retake Aleppo so that Russia could pursue a political settlement on stronger terms. This month, the rebel stronghold in eastern Aleppo fell to pro-government troops backed by Russian air power.
For Mr. Assads government, the cease-fire is an implicit acknowledgment that it lacks the military might to take back all of Syria. The agreement fails to address what role, if any, Mr. Assad will play in Syrias future. Russia has not addressed the issue and is now less likely to press Mr. Assad to step down after the military victory in Aleppo, analysts said.
For Turkey, the cease-fire reflects a changed strategy. A longtime backer of the Syrian opposition, the Turks have in recent months backed away from their demand that Mr. Assad step down and instead have shifted their focus to limiting Kurdish autonomy in northeastern Syria. Turkey has also taken in more Syrian refugees than any other country, causing a crisis that could wane if the cease-fire holds.
This is a window of opportunity that has been opened and should not be squandered, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, referring to the cease-fire, at a news conference in Ankara, Turkeys capital.
While the Obama administration was not included in the cease-fire discussions, the Russian foreign minister, Sergey V. Lavrov, said that President-elect Donald J. Trump could join the process after taking office next month. Mr. Trump never objected to Moscows growing influence in the Middle East throughout his campaign and promoted the possibility of greater cooperation with the Russians in fighting the Islamic State.
The development of free trade zones will create a competitive edge for China to tap supply-side reform and the Belt and Road Initiative, as well as allow inland regions to diversify their manufacturing and exploit their geographical advantages, senior commerce officials said on Dec 26.
Commerce Minister Gao Hucheng said China has introduced 19 practical measures related to the investment environment, administrative reforms and policies to assist innovation in its four FTZs.
The country will open another seven FTZs - the third batch - including Liaoning and Zhejiang provinces, to create new market growth points for both trade and investment. The plan was approved by the central government in August.
FTZs offer global companies the ability to expand in China and for Chinese companies to move their capital to overseas markets in diverse services and financial operations, such as e-commerce, manufacturing and logistics.
A major helicopter expo in China (Tianjin) Pilot Free Trade Zone. Provided to China Daily
"Based on statistics between January and November, China is expected to gain $126 billion (121 billion euros; 103 billion) in foreign direct investment from the nonfinancial sector in 2016," Gao said at the ministry's annual meeting in Beijing.
The third batch of FTZs is expected to be officially launched as early as January, according to Economic Information Daily.
Tang Wenhong, director-general of the ministry's department of foreign investment administration, said the nation will further simplify and modify four foreign investment laws and encourage foreign companies to invest in the country's central and western regions next year.
"China's modern service businesses; its environmental protection, communication and information services; and its high-tech industries will offer more market access to foreign investment in 2017," Tang said.
"Foreign companies have discovered that market demand in China is changing, as both consumers and companies want to purchase more high-value-added products, and there is a surging demand for services," said Li Gang, vice-president of the Beijing-based Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, the ministry's think tank.
Li says that because the service infrastructure facilities of China's central and western regions are not as advanced as those in eastern regions, foreign companies are keen to enter markets that have yet to fully develop.
"The upcoming Hubei FTZ could possibly cut companies' financial costs in the area," says Fu Cheng, chairman of Exsun Electronics and Information Technology Inc, a company that makes satellite positioning systems in Wuhan, Hubei province.
He said if the Hubei FTZ adopts the operating model of Qianhai in Shenzhen, Guangdong province - where intercompany transactions are tax-free and businesses pay taxes annually instead of monthly - then liquidity costs will be significantly reduced. Now companies have to pay taxes as long as transactions are billed, even if customers have yet to pay.
He Fei contributed to this story.
Contact the writer through zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn
(China Daily European Weekly 12/30/2016 page26)
The Hack
Two state-sponsored hackers in Russia are believed to have broken into the Democratic National Committee servers in 2015 and 2016.
Hackers are believed to have created outlets on the internet to make the Democratic documents public. Political bloggers and newspapers reported on the hacked material.
The Rift
Leaks of documents stolen from the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee caused a backlash against Democrats in nearly a dozen House races.
Leaked emails forced the D.N.C. chairwoman to resign and fueled a rift between supporters of Senator Bernie Sanders and Hillary Clinton.
Hacked emails from the account of Mrs. Clintons campaign chairman revealed the campaigns internal dynamics and dominated the news for days.
The Response
In September, President Obama warned President Vladimir V. Putin of Russia to stay out of the American elections.
On Thursday, the Obama administration imposed sanctions on two intelligence services, four top officers and three companies in Russia.
The administration also expelled 35 Russian diplomats and their families. Officials say some may have been linked to the cyberattacks.
Tap to see control of territory in Syria as of:
Recent Developments
Aleppo 1 Rebel-held districts of Aleppo were fully evacuated on Dec. 22, giving complete control of the city to the Syrian government for the first time since 2012. The Syrian governments victory came thanks to heavy military support from Russia, Iran and Shiite militias.
Idlib Province 2 The Syrian government evacuated thousands from besieged rebel-held towns in Idlib Province as part of the truce.
Homs 3 The Islamic State attacked Homs and surrounding areas this month as it attempted to seize a nearby airbase from the Syrian government.
Near Raqqa 4 The Syrian Democratic Forces, an alliance aided by United States airstrikes, has taken several villages north and west of Raqqa from the Islamic State since a campaign to reach the city began in November.
Palmyra 5 The Islamic State retook the ancient city of Palmyra from the Syrian government on Dec. 11.
Beginning in January 2017, Americans will have a minority government, thanks to the greatly disproportionate power vested in small rural states and in rural voters by the Electoral College (for the election of president) and gerrymandering of congressional districts. They belie the notion that equal individual representation is immanent in our constitutional arrangements.
Such imbalances in American politics have been festering for quite some time. Malapportionment in state legislatures had grown to be a serious problem by the 1950s. Each state county had its own representative in the lower state house, irrespective of its population. In Pennsylvania, Forest County with a population of 4,944 had one seat in the lower house. So did the city of Chester, with a population of 66,039. Rural Pennsylvanians enjoyed a lot more than their bucolic setting; they had, on average, four times as much representation as the city folk.
State legislatures refused to cleanse themselves. The U.S. Supreme Court stepped in decisively; in Baker v. Carr, it broke the logjam on March 26, 1962 by a majority of 6-2.
The Electoral College, which prevents the direct election of president by the people, has distorted the political process so much so that Hillary Clinton would be the fifth candidate in American history to win the popular vote but not be elected president. Mrs. Clintons national vote lead over Donald Trump has passed 2.9 million; this is a wider margin than 10 presidents enjoyed. Mr. Trumps winning vote margin in the three states that catapulted him to the presidency Wisconsin, Michigan and Pennsylvania was an exceptionally thin 70,000 votes.
The U.S. Constitution lays out the process (Article II, Section 1) for the election of the president. The Electoral College gives an outsized benefit to smaller and less populous states. The number of electors from a state equals the number of senators and representatives that the state is entitled to in the Congress. Our largest state, California, has a population of 38.33 million and sends 53 members to the House of Representatives. The least populated state, Wyoming, has a population of 584,153 and is entitled to one member in the House. But each state is entitled to 2 U.S. Senators. A Wyoming residents vote weighs 3.6 times more than a Californian.
The less populous states will never agree to amend this imbalance out of the Constitution. But the same clause of the Constitution, cited above, also stipulates that states may allocate their electoral votes however they choose. This is the piquant springboard for the National Popular Vote Interstate Compact, which has been gathering strength in the last 10 years. The vote bill would guarantee the presidency to the candidate who receives the most popular votes in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. It has been enacted into law in 11 states with 165 electoral votes.
The compact would take effect once states representing a majority of electoral votes, currently 270, signed on ensuring that the national popular-vote winner became president. This requires passage by additional states with a total of 105 electoral votes. Most recently, the bill was passed in 2016 by the Arizona House and in 2015 by the Oklahoma Senate. It has passed in one of the two houses in 12 states with 96 electoral votes.
Gerrymandering has the same pernicious effect on our democracy as malapportionment it greatly magnifies the power of one group of voters at the expense of another. It seems to be unique to America among advanced democracies. Creating outlandish voting districts for electoral gain is as old as the Republic itself. The word gerrymander first appeared in the Boston Gazette on March 26, 1812, created in reaction to a redrawing of Massachusetts state senate election districts under Governor Elbridge Gerry.
The U.S. Constitution delegates all power (Article I, Section 2) to elect/appoint members of the House of Representatives to the states; this power has been abused promiscuously. The resulting imbalance is illustrated beautifully in the results of the 2012 election in Pennsylvania. The state sent 13 Republicans and 5 Democrats to the House. However, the Republicans had only 48.8 percent share of the popular vote; the minority Democrats captured 50.3 percent.
Several states have moved forward with independent bodies in charge of drawing constituency borders. The California Citizens Redistricting Commission, an independent state agency created after the 2008 elections, draws the boundary lines for the state legislative districts as well as the states congressional districts after each decennial census. In Iowa, the nonpartisan Legislative Services Bureau is tasked with drawing boundaries of electoral districts.
Unfortunately, the states most prone to gerrymandering are the least likely to rely on independent agencies for drawing district boundaries. As in Baker v. Carr, the Supreme Court is perhaps the only agency in the land that can affect a just outcome across the board.
Sardul Singh Minhas is a business consultant and a writer, a resident of Southern California and the holder of a doctorate in engineering.
One of the most famous violinists of the 20th century Henri Temianka (1906-1992) is honored at Chapman University with a bronze bust in front of Musco Center for the Arts, as well as with a $2.25 million endowed music professorship and scholarship in his name.
The professorship and scholarship were gifted to Chapman in 2013 by his son, Daniel Temianka, and daughter-in-law, Zeinab Dabbah, M.D. (J.D. 12) of Pasadena. Dr. Dabbah, a graduate of Chapmans Dale E. Fowler School of Law, is also a member of Chapmans Board of Trustees.
The globetrotting Henri Temianka, whose effects on classical music reverberated from the 1920s in Europe through his long reign as a music icon based in Los Angeles, has now been honored in his home country of Scotland as well. Daniel Temianka gifted a copy of the bronze bust of his father, created by acclaimed Newport Beach artist Miriam Baker, to the McLean Museum and Art Gallery in Greenock, Scotland, the town where Henri was born.
The unveiling of the bust in Greenock marked the 110th anniversary of Henris birth on November 19, 1906. Daniel Temianka and Zeinab Dabbah flew to Scotland for the event, which, Daniel told the local paper, the Greenock Telegraph, was a source of deep joy for my wife and myself.
The path to the Scottish towns recognition of Henri Temianka was an interesting one. A local historian, Viki McDonnell, who had purchased what she thought was a candelabra at a charity shop, later discovered that it was a menorah. She began researching the history of Greenocks Jewish community, and found out about the world-acclaimed violin star. McDonnell wrote a booklet documenting Henris fascinating life, which was shared with guests at the McLean Museum event.
Henri Temianka was a signal figure in classical music throughout nearly the entire 20th century. One of the eras foremost concert violinists who performed more than 4,000 concerts during his long career Temianka was also a prominent conductor, educator and author.
He arrived in Los Angeles in the early 1940s, and in 1946 founded the Paganini Quartet. That famed ensemble toured the world for many years and made award-winning recordings for RCA Victor.
In 1960, Temianka founded the California Chamber Symphony the first true chamber orchestra in Los Angeles and led its concerts at UCLA for more than 25 years. He was one of the first to speak to audiences from the stage about the music they were hearing.
Temianka also directed the popular Croissants and Chamber Music series on Sunday mornings on the patio of the L.A. Music Center, and conducted 10 seasons of summer chamber music at the Getty Museum in Malibu.
HuffPost complicit in blaming female victims for being raped by predatory migrants
A Syrian refugee columnist from the Huffington Post has said that women are to blame for last years sexual assaults that occurred across Germany on New Years Eve. Aras Bacho, the 18-year-old columnist, frequently writes for the Huffington Posts German website. Bacho tweeted that woman shouldnt be out alone at night, insisting Most of the time the women are to blame. To be alone at night. On the other hand, the refugees should behave.
The tweet was tagged Silvester which is German for New Years. Bachos tweet has been live for days now, but the Huffington Post hasnt showed any signs of condemning his offensive statement. This is not the first time Bacho has made a controversial comment. In October, he demanded that all signage in the country be translated into Arabic. His columns also make demands for more policing to protect migrants, more money from Germans, and even a state-sponsored smartphone program for migrants.
Thus far, there has been no reaction from Huffington Post regarding Bachos status with the publication. Recall recently, a Politico writer was terminated after suggesting in a tweet that Donald Trump was sleeping with his daughter.
Breitbart London recently revealed that only 18 convictions have been made, in Cologne, out of the 1,300 reported sexual assaults that had occurred on New Years Eve. Five years ago, Bacho moved from Syria to Germany. He became a regular columnist for migrant issues across German media. Bacho has also made the outrageous statement that people who are unhappy with Chancellor Angela Merkels open borders policies should leave Germany.
The media covers for the migrant suspects
The left-leaning media have been trying to cover up the migrant rape crisis. The mainstream outlets claimed that only three of the suspects involved in Colognes mass migrant rape were recent refugees. Colognes prosecutor, Ulrich Bremer, said those claims are total nonsense. Mainstream media outlets were misinterpreting facts and reporting in a way that is favorable for the left-wing opposed to reporting the truth.
The Huffington Post claimed that two Syrians, and one Iraqi, had been detained by police. Other headlines had accused hordes of refugees for masterminding the assaults. The Independent, which recently transitioned into an online only outlet, reported that the majority of suspects were Algerian, Tunisian, or Moroccan; none of which had recently arrived in Germany.
The police had not released the information that was falsely reported by the mainstream outlets. The overwhelming majority of suspects do fall into the category of refugees. The papers possibly made the errors by not understanding the migrant crisis. Syrians and Iraqis arent the only types of migrants. Algerians and Moroccans also fall into that category, many of which have been named among the Cologne suspects. Thousands of Algerians, Moroccans, Tunisians, among dozens of other nationalities, have poured into Europe since the beginning of the migrant crisis in early 2015. The news has been controlled by open borders campaigners, broadcasters, and government agencies.
Sources:
Breitbart.com
Breitbart.com
BREA Courtney Chapman had never seen $5,000 disappear so fast fly away really.
In May, one of two toucans she purchased as birthday gifts for her husband and her son, escaped the aviary of her Fullerton home not 15 minutes after being dropped off by the breeder.
The chances of getting her back are slim to none, Chapman said she was told. The toucan had not yet been microchipped.
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On Tuesday, Fern flew into a Yorba Linda auto repair shop, where an Omars Exotic Birds employee, Connor Chubbuck, captured her.
On Thursday, she was reunited with her owner.
While free, Fern gained quite the following.
Fern the Toucan was spotted in trees and on power lines, lounging with crows, parrots and other birds on residential gates and lawn posts.
One man said Fern, named after her Fullerton community, ate berries from his Yorba Linda back yard.
She was quite striking, recalled Allison Howell, whose chance encounter with the keel-billed toucan came on Dec. 20 in downtown Fullerton. Im not particularly an animal person, but it was definitely a sight to see.
Chapman, 39, joined Nextdoor, a private social network app intended for neighbors, shortly after Ferns escape, hoping someone would see her 6-month-old toucan. Before long, pictures of Fern perched around Fullerton were shared on the app. Chapman also started a Facebook page under Ferns name. Videos of the bird were posted.
On more than one occasion, Chapman tried capturing Fern herself. Those who saw the bird in recent months said she flew independently, not with groups of parrots or other feathered friends.
Let the toucan be free, Chapman was told.
Chapman, who owns several other pets, bought a replacement female toucan to breed with her male, Fruity Loops.
But the hunt for Fern continued.
On Tuesday morning, technicians at Yorba Lindas Good Guys Automotive in Savi Ranch saw Fern in one of their garages.
Janine Guy, a service representative, called a bird sanctuary in Silverado, the animal service hotline, the Santa Ana Zoo and Omars, looking for someone to rescue the bird. The employees put apple slices on a shelf to lure Fern down from their 16-foot rafters.
You could tell it was a happy bird, Guy said.
Omar Gonzalez, owner of Omars, said Chapman and a couple other people said Fern belonged to them. He said he exchanged more than 40 emails this week with Chapman to verify her claim. Ideally, Gonzalez said, he wouldve liked to run tests on Fern and the male toucan Chapman bought at the same time to confirm they are a breeding pair. That likely wouldve taken two to three weeks, he said, adding his gut feeling is Fern is home.
Gonzalez agreed to return the toucan if Chapman provided a receipt of sale. Gonzalez accepted no form of payment for the return.
Free all these months, Chapman expects Fern will need time to adjust to domestic life.
In his 32 years in business, Gonzalez said he has captured a handful of loose birds and returned them to their owners.
Chapman called Ferns return the unlikeliest Christmas miracle.
It was awesome seeing all of Fullerton come together and track Fern, well-wishing her constantly, Chapman said. Im glad she got to go out and share her experiences. Everybodys had an experience with her, and I think its awesome that she got to go out and meet friends.
She has a lot of Fern fans now.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7724 or bwhitehead@scng.com
The 2017 Palm Springs International Film Festival is promising to be a behemoth, with a whopping 190 movies from 72 countries as well as plenty of events for film connoisseurs.
Awaiting festivalgoers who want to dive deep into the world of cinema are directors and producers sharing their thoughts at symposiums, dinners inspired by film and a chance to glimpse stars at special events.
From the page to the screen
Screenwriters frequently adapt written works, from fictional narratives to true-life tales.
One of the festivals events, Book to Screen, explores the connection between a page-turner and what ends up on the silver screen.
The two-day event kicks off at 10 a.m. Tuesday with four films at the Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City. The films are Denial, Arrival, The Late Bloomer and 13 Hours, all of which have book equivalents.
On Wednesday, a symposium will take place in the Horizon Ballroom of the Hilton Hotel at 400 E. Tahquitz Canyon Way in Palm Springs. There, authors and screenwriters will talk about the relationship between the two forms of storytelling.
Guests for the symposium include Denial author Deborah E. Lipstadt, Arrival author Ted Chiang, The Late Bloomer author Ken Baker and 13 Hours author Mitchell Zuckoff, as well as a bevy of screenwriters and producers.
An exact schedule for speakers has not been released.
Tickets are available on the festivals website for $200.
A high-end twist to dinner and a movie
Going out for dinner and a movie can be a good date idea or a nice, casual outing with friends, but the film festival has taken a high-echelon approach.
Over two nights Jan. 9 and 11 the festival will pair films about the culinary experience with highly rated Palm Springs restaurants.
On Jan. 9, the pairing will be Juzo Itamis 1985 film, Tampopo, with dinner at Palm Springs Pho 533.
The festival calls Tampopo, which begins when a truck driver stops at a family run noodle shop, a delightful comedy of table manners.
Afterward, viewers will be served a Japanese fusion meal at Pho 533, prepared by chef Andrew Verrier.
On Jan. 11, viewers will see Brett A Schwartzs Insatiable: The Homaro Cantu Story, about a chef who pushes the boundaries of food, followed by dinner at lounge Eight4Nine.
Insatiable follows Cantu and some of his culinary endeavors. At Eight4Nine, sous-chef Stephan Schell and pastry chef Albert Gonzalez cook up dishes based on molecular gastronomy.
Standby tickets may become available.
International directors discuss their work
Festivalgoers will be able to get inside the heads of international filmmakers as they discuss their movies, audiences and exposure.
Hosted by the Hollywood Reporters Scott Feinberg, Eyes on the Prize: Foreign Language Oscar Directors in Discussion will take place 7:30-9 p.m. Jan. 9 at the Mary Pickford Theater in Cathedral City.
The panel of directors has not been announced, but last years consisted of all nine shortlist candidates for the foreign language film category of the Academy Awards.
That list included Paddy Breathnach (Viva), Klaus Haro (The Fencer) and Laszlo Nemes (Son of Saul).
The 2017 panel is expected to be announced in January.
Tickets can be purchased on the festivals website for $25.
Hollywood glitz at the convention center
Amy Adams, Tom Hanks and Mahershala Ali and other stars will be among the honorees who will arrive for a night of Hollywood-esque glitz and glamour.
Described as the festivals showpiece event, the Film Awards Gala runs 5-9 p.m. Monday at the Palm Springs Convention Center, with cocktails, followed by a dinner and the awards show.
Though tickets are pricey (and sold out), guests can see stars as they arrive at the convention center.
Last year, the event raised an estimated $1 million for the Palm Springs International Film Society.
And last the movies
And, of course, the event is a film festival, and there are lots to be seen.
Among the 190 films are 58 premieres.
The festival also has many specialized categories such as Focus on Poland, New Voices/New Visions and Modern Masters.
The Focus on Poland category offers a half-dozen recent movies made by Polish filmmakers. The films often evoke periods in Polands history.
The New Voices/New Visions category examines the work of emerging international directors who have completed their first or second film narrative.
The Modern Masters category looks at established international filmmakers.
Complete film listings can be found at psfilmfest.org
Contact the writer: 951-368-9693, agroves@scng.com or @AlexDGroves on Twitter
This holiday week, Honk is thankful for his readers, who are the smartest, prettiest, most handsome, funniest, most creative and happiest people and the sharpest dressers. This year, the questions from them were so swell that for the first time ever he has a second roundup on what he has learned:
Double-white lines on freeways are the same as double-yellows under the law dont cross em. The federal government wants them white throughout the country, and Uncle Sam has told California to start converting them over.
Cities and the state are not allowed to reimburse businesses that suffer because of lengthy street construction. That would be considered a gift of public funds which is illegal. Governments do try to help by sometimes doing the work at night.
American Red Cross bloodmobiles can carry California-exempt plates, similar to city and state vehicles, which dont require registration fees. The nonprofit gets the perk because it agreed to follow the Geneva Conventions and aid the U.S. military and also provide disaster relief. The plates expire on Dec. 31, 2099.
New vehicles and some used ones purchased at retail outlets have up to 90 days to screw on permanent license plates. Paperwork providing the sale must be on the front windshield.
If your neighbors car has carried paper plates much longer, dont fret they likely paid for registration during the purchase, and cops on special details troll the toll roads on the hunt for vehicles trying to cheat by not having a transponder and real plates.
The terrible Orange Crush is to get a partial makeover by 2020. That interchange where the I-5, the 57 and the 22 freeways all meet will have a connector ramp re-configured and an extra lane added on the 22 from Beach Boulevard.
Though you see violators everywhere, drivers can be cited for heavily tinted windshields and front side windows. There is an exception: A side window can be tinted with a doctors note explaining the health reason so long as the driver can see out the window; at night, rolling down the window might be a must.
Children must ride in the backseat in a childs seat or on a booster until age 8, under the law. CHP officers have told Honk it is best to keep them back there longer because it is more safe.
On the northbound 73 toll road, former cash-only lanes were turned into truck lanes to help overall traffic. There is an electronic toll-collection system and license-plate cameras there as well, so the trucks are not bypassing the system their drivers still pay tolls.
Enjoy the new year, and please, for your sake and others, always drive sober.
To ask Honk questions, reach him at honk@ocregister.com. He answers only those questions that are published.
SACRAMENTO A two-member parole panel delayed making a decision Thursday on whether to release an accomplice of cult killer Charles Manson who is the longest-serving female inmate in California.
After a daylong hearing, the panel from the Board of Parole Hearings postponed a decision on whether to free Patricia Krenwinkel because they felt information discussed at the hearing was cause for an investigation, spokeswoman Vicky Waters said in an email.
The hearing will be continued once the investigation is concluded, she said
Sharon Tates sister, Debra Tate, said the parole officials told her the hearing was likely to be postponed about six months while they research to see if Krenwinkel meets the criteria for having bartered womens syndrome.
Krenwinkels attorney, Keith Wattley, did not immediately return telephone and email messages.
She totally minimized her action and blamed everything on other people the whole hearing, Tate said.
Tate said she didnt buy the concept that Krenwinkel was a victim because she was free to leave at any time and participated in murders two nights in a row.
We all have to be accountable four our actions. I dont buy any of this stuff. She was there because she wanted to be there. Nobody held a gun to her head, Tate said.
The decision to delay by the panel came after the 69-year-old Krenwinkel was previously denied parole 13 times, most recently in 2011.
Krenwinkel acknowledged during her trial that she chased down and repeatedly stabbed Abigail Ann Folger, the 26-year-old heiress of a coffee fortune, at Tates home and helped kill grocer Leno LaBianca and his wife Rosemary the following night.
Los Angeles County prosecutors say Krenwinkel carved the word war into Leno LaBiancas stomach then wrote Helter Skelter in blood on the couples refrigerator.
Krenwinkels attorney, Keith Wattley, successfully petitioned the state to hold the parole hearing a year early at the California Institution for Women, about 40 miles east of Los Angeles, where Krenwinkel is imprisoned.
California law officially recognizes a persons capacity to change and to address the factors that contributed to their previous behavior so that they can safely be paroled, Wattley told The Associated Press in an email before the hearing.
Krenwinkel contended at her previous parole hearing in 2011 that she is a changed woman. She has a clean disciplinary record, earned a bachelors degree behind bars, taught illiterate inmates to read and trained service dogs for disabled people.
Sharon Tates sister, Debra Tate, said before Thursdays hearing that killers such as Krenwinkel cannot be rehabilitated.
She was a very prolific killer, Debra Tate said recently. They may behave well in a controlled environment, but we cannot trust that, given the pressures of life, that they will be able to remain straight outside prison.
Krenwinkel was a 19-year-old secretary when she met Manson at a party. She testified at her previous hearing that she left everything behind three days later to pursue what she believed was a budding romance with him.
She wept and apologized, saying she became a monster after she met Manson.
I committed myself fully to him. I committed myself to the act of murder, she said then. I was willing to sacrifice others lives for my own.
Prosecutors say the slayings were an attempt to ignite a race war after which Manson and his followers would rise from the rubble to rule the world.
Krenwinkel was initially sentenced to death, but the California Supreme Court invalidated the death penalty in 1972.
Gov. Jerry Brown has the power to block the release of inmates if parole is granted. He previously stopped the parole of Manson followers Leslie Van Houten, 67, and Bruce Davis, 74.
Krenwinkel became the states longest-serving female inmate when fellow Manson follower Susan Atkins died of cancer in prison in 2009.
Anthony DiMaria, the nephew of victim Thomas Jay Sebring, noted that Krenwinkel has lived a long time and denied that opportunity to her victims.
MOSUL, Iraq Breaking a two-week lull in fighting, Iraqi troops backed by the U.S.-led coalitions airstrikes and artillery pushed deeper into eastern Mosul on Thursday in a multi-pronged assault against Islamic State militants in the city.
Elite special forces pushed into the Karama and Quds neighborhoods, while army troops and federal police advanced into the nearby Intisar, Salam and Sumor neighborhoods. Columns of dark smoke rose overhead as explosions shook the city and heavy machine gun fire echoed through the streets.
Stiff resistance by the militants, civilians trapped inside their houses and bad weather have slowed advances in the more than two-month-old offensive to recapture Iraqs second largest city, the extremist groups last urban bastion in the country. It is the biggest Iraqi military operation since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion.
The battle began around 7 a.m. on a bright but chilly December day and continued until shortly before sundown.
The counterterrorism forces, also known as the Golden Brigade, captured about half of the Quds neighborhood by early afternoon.
A statement by the U.S.-led coalition said Thursdays offensive opened two new fronts in eastern Mosul, increasing pressure on the militants dwindling ability to generate forces, move fighters or resupply.
It said that, at the request of the Iraqi government, coalition warplanes had re-struck two bridges over the Tigris River in Mosul on Tuesday, and a day earlier disabled the last bridge crossing in the city.
The strikes were conducted to reduce enemy freedom of movement, and to further disrupt ISILs ability to reinforce, resupply, or use vehicle-borne improvised explosive devices in East Mosul, said the statement.
Another coalition statement said an airstrike Thursday that targeted a van used by IS fighters in Mosul was later determined to have been located at a hospitals parking lot, resulting in possible civilian casualties.
The coalition, it added, takes all allegations of civilian casualties seriously and this incident will be fully investigated and the findings released in a timely and transparent manner. It was not immediately known how many, if any, were hurt by the airstrike.
Coalition airstrikes have been crucial in the fight against IS in Iraq, but a report released earlier this month by Airwars, a London-based project that tracks the coalitions airstrikes, criticized the coalitions lack of transparency when assessing civilian casualties.
While U.S. officials have acknowledged that 173 civilians have died in coalition airstrikes since the launch of the campaign against IS in the summer of 2014, the Airwars group said the number of civilian casualties is much greater, putting it at at least 1,500.
Lt. Gen. Abdul-Wahab al-Saadi, commander of Iraqs the special forces in eastern Mosul, said his forces have been bolstered by reinforcements and are were less than 2 miles from the Tigris River, which slices the city in half.
The special forces, officially known as the Counter Terrorism Service, have done most of the fighting, pushing in from the east. But regular army troops on the citys southeast and northern edges, as well as militarized federal police farther west, have not moved in weeks, unable to penetrate the city.
The troops have faced grueling urban fighting, often house to house against IS militants who have had more than two years to dig in and prepare. Even in districts that have been recaptured, Iraqi troops have faced surprise attacks, shelling and car bombs. The extremists have launched more than 900 car bombs against Iraqi troops in and around Mosul. Al-Saadi said 260 of them had targeted his men.
He said he expected Iraqi forces would drive IS from Mosul and the rest of Nineveh province within three months. Iraqi leaders had previously vowed to drive the extremists from Mosul by the end of the year.
IS captured Mosul in the summer of 2014, when it swept across much of northern and central Iraq, and the groups leader declared the establishment of its self-styled caliphate from the pulpit of a Mosul mosque.
The city is still home to around a million people. Some 120,000 have fled since the operation began on Oct. 17, according to the United Nations.
Meanwhile on Thursday, separate attacks in and around Baghdad killed at least 13 people and wounded 35 others, police said. The deadliest attack took place in the capitals southwestern neighborhood of Maalif when an explosives-laden vest was detonated near an outdoor market, killing seven and wounding 12, police added.
Medical officials confirmed the casualty figures.
All officials spoke on condition of anonymity as they were not authorized to release information.
The Costa Mesa Motor Inn closed its doors last month after a handful of residents agreed to leave, but a legal battle still looms as the motels owners hope to replace the structure with upscale apartments.
The remaining residents at the blighted 236-room motel were the last hold-outs, staying on the property for months after being told to vacate by Los Angeles-based property owner Miracle Mile Properties.
The motel is officially closed, said a statement from attorney Ellia Thompson, who represents Miracle Mile. (The) Last few guests left in middle of November.
The company has plans to demolish the motel and replace it with 224 luxury apartments.
Prior to issuing vacate notices over the summer, Miracle Mile offered relocation packages of $6,000 to $8,000 to eligible long-term residents to entice them to leave, Thompson said.
Some took the money and found housing elsewhere.
Others declined, saying the money was a short-term fix, given their bad credit histories and the costly deposits required to secure an apartment. Motor Inn guests paid around $1,000 per month for a room with a small kitchen area.
In September, only around 13 rooms at the motel were occupied.
Some who moved out have found housing in nearby cities or other motels, but are struggling financially, said Linda Tang, project manager with the Irvine-based Kennedy Commission, an affordable housing advocacy group.
It sounds like their housing costs have more than doubled since leaving the Costa Mesa Motor Inn, Tang said. One family said that theyre cutting back on food. Their rent doubled.
In January, the Kennedy Commission and some Motor Inn residents sued the city and Miracle Mile over the luxury apartment plan. The suit said the city approved the redevelopment plan without providing relocation assistance for those who would be displaced.
City leaders should be incentivizing affordable housing, said Cesar Covarrubias, Kennedy Commission executive director.
By putting luxury apartments in Costa Mesa it exacerbates the problem of finding affordable housing, he said.
A court hearing on the lawsuit is scheduled in May.
Supporters of the project argue it would rid the city of the troubled motel, the citys largest, claiming decades of police calls for service and rampant criminal activity. Opponents say the citys motels are a last resort before homelessness for many who cant afford regular housing.
In June, a Los Angeles Superior Court judge issued a preliminary injunction against the project, preventing Miracle Mile from demolishing the motel, but did not bar the company from evicting the remaining guests.
The city is appealing the ruling.
Contact the writer: 714-796-2478 or lcasiano@scng.com
Recently, my patient Shelly lost her health insurance (all names have been changed). She called me in a panic, worried about her insulin. Typically, shes not one to worry. Ive got it covered, she says, whenever I ask how she will manage her job as an aide, her grandchildren and her medical care for advanced diabetes.
This was first time I heard fear in her voice. Ulcers on one foot had already required several operations. Then, blood vessels burst in first one and then the other eye, and she became temporarily blind. Then she tripped and broke her healthy foot. Then, her insurance lapsed.
In years past, I, too, would have panicked. In fact, shes just the kind of patient I used to worry most about American-born, adult, without children or dependents, and unemployed or as I knew them, the uninsurable. But this time, I simply reassured her and suggested that she apply for Medicaid. With Medicaid, she would be able to continue all her medical care until she was back on her feet and caring for others.
I was so grateful to tell her that relief was a simple application away. That was Nov. 1. Now, just a few weeks later, the Medicaid expansion and the Affordable Care Act is in peril. President-elect Donald Trump nominated Rep. Tom Price as his Director of Health and Human Services. Price is a vocal opponent of the ACA and has written legislation that would roll back the advances the ACA has made for my patients.
California is one of 32 states that now extend Medicaid benefits to all adults who meet income eligibility under the Affordable Care Act. Since 2014, California has expanded enrollment from 8 million individuals to 13.5 million individuals, more than a third of the states population. California has the highest Medicaid enrollment in the country.
The case of LaToya, a woman I treated long before the ACA, haunts me to this day. A black woman in her early 40s, she had spent her whole life in South Los Angeles. Her main concern was weight loss, a sign of an underlying medical problem, probably a serious one. She hugged me in relief when I told her that her HIV test was negative. But I hid my mixed feelings. A diagnosis of HIV would have offered a welcome solution, a clear diagnosis with reliable treatment and plenty of public funding.
If she had a qualifying medical condition, she might have been eligible for Medicaid. But LaToya was caught in the health care Catch-22. To qualify for Medicaid, she needed a diagnosis. But to determine the diagnosis, she needed health insurance to cover medical tests. By the time her uterine cancer was diagnosed, after multiple trips to various hospital emergency departments, she died just a few weeks later.
The new Medicaid eligibility rules initiated by the ACA extend coverage to any legal resident or citizen based simply on financial criteria. If LaToya had come to me today, she, like 13.5 million other Californians, would have been covered by Medicaid. She would have had a fighting chance to survive the cancer that ultimately killed her.
At the Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center, a division of Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, where I am now the chief medical officer, the majority of our patients are now insured. Routine worries I used to have, like how to obtain expensive glucose test strips for diabetics, are gone. I no longer remember exactly what medications are provided through the $4 prescription plan at Target, a resource for low-cost medications. I am free to practice medicine.
The health care world that I worked in before the ACA was the abyss, a bottomless chasm of intense medical need that many committed individuals and organizations struggled to fill. We have fought hard to improve systems to deliver the care we could only dream of before the ACA. I dont want to be in the abyss again. We cannot afford to go back.
Ellen Rothman, MD, chief medical officer, Martin Luther King Jr. Outpatient Center.
NEW YORK It was about 8 a.m. on a Monday when Matthew Sabato looked across the paint-splattered studio in the Harlem neighborhood of New York City, where he lives with his partner, Pedro Silva, an artist.
Put down the paintbrush, he recalls saying, as they drank their coffee. Lets go to City Hall.
For months, the couple, who met two years ago on the dating app Tinder, had been discussing their future. But after the presidential election in November, formalizing their commitment became a priority.
Hes foreign, Sabato said.
Silva, who is from Brazil, is in the United States on a tourist visa, which expires in early February.
Were afraid because Trump is going to be our president, Sabato said.
In the weeks before and after the election of Donald Trump, whose promise to deport millions of immigrants was a central theme of his campaign, the number of couples getting marriage licenses has surged in New York City and other cities across the country.
While there is no data explaining why couples are suddenly marrying at a faster pace, many immigrants and their partners say they are feeling an urgency to put a ring on before Inauguration Day.
Couples like Silva and Sabato are forgoing gushy, diamond-studded proposals in favor of frank discussions at the breakfast table. For some, a marriage certificate has become a protective shield.
We dont want anything to separate us, Sabato said.
Five days after Sabatos unromantic, proposal, his parents traveled from Florida to witness the couples ceremony at the marriage bureau in lower Manhattan.
In November, the New York City clerks office issued 6,929 marriage licenses, a 23 percent increase from November 2015, and performed 4,590 ceremonies, an increase of almost 19 percent. Then through Dec. 23, the office issued 5,682 licenses, up almost 16 percent from about the same time period last year.
Michael McSweeney, the New York City clerk, said the election could certainly be a factor, but so could the relatively calm weather or low airfares, making New York a more attractive destination for out-of-towners.
We dont survey our visitors, he said.
Clerks in Illinois, Michigan, Texas, Florida and California also reported a recent rise in the number of marriages.
The Cook County clerks office, which includes Chicago and surrounding suburbs, issued 3,115 licenses in the month after the election, a 40 percent jump from the same period last year.
In November, the Wayne County clerk in Michigan, which includes Detroit, issued 497 licenses, about an 11 percent increase from the same month in 2015, and the Los Angeles County clerk issued 3,465 licenses, a 10 percent rise. The increase was about 8.5 percent in Miami-Dade County, according to the clerks office, and Bexar County in Texas, which includes San Antonio, issued 1,135 licenses in November, an increase of just more than 6 percent.
While same-sex couples are also hurrying up their wedding plans, professionals whose businesses are tied to marriages say that many couples are prompted by fears over changes in immigration policy.
Janay McNeil, a photographer who includes the words last-minute wedding photography on her website, said that in recent months she had received a deluge of emails, some at 2 a.m., from couples flying to New York City to get a wedding portrait and a license the same day.
She has met many couples, she said, in which one partner is here on a visa and they are worried about what might happen in the coming year. Getting a license has become a necessity, she said.
George Taxi, who sells loose rose petals, bouquets of yellow calla lilies and gold-plated rings on the sidewalk in front of the entrance to the marriage bureau in Manhattan, a few blocks north of City Hall, said his sales this November were far higher than in the same month last year.
It could be a Trump bump, he said.
While he talks with his customers, he said he didnt like to be too nosy. But his wife, Maribel, who is Colombian and works with him on Fridays, said she had spoken to some Latino couples who recently confessed that they were getting married in response to the election.
Cheryl R. David, a lawyer who has focused on immigration law in New York City for about 20 years, said, I think people are frightened of the rhetoric and they fear theyll be picked up and deported.
David anticipates that a new administration will pursue changes to immigration policies, though she does not envision the kind of mass deportations that some Trump critics have described.
Undocumented migrants still have legal rights, David said, and immigration courts are severely backlogged.
Marriage, she added, is one way to at least take control of your life when there is uncertainty, especially in the face of overt racism and hatred.
Rebecca Sosa, an immigration lawyer in New York City, said its logical and practical for couples to consider how getting married will help them stay together and provide immigration benefits and protection to the immigrant spouse.
Given that immigrants have been the No. 1 group targeted as victims of hate crimes and discriminatory incidents, she added, acquiring legal immigration status is a natural response to try and defend yourself and your loved ones.
The number of police killed in the line of duty rose sharply in 2016, driven by shootings of police around the country, most notably ambushes in Dallas and Baton Rouge, La.
From Jan. 1 through Wednesday, 135 officers lost their lives. Some died in traffic accidents, but nearly half were shot to death.
Thats a 56 percent increase in shooting deaths over the previous year. Of the 64 who were fatally shot, 21 were killed in ambush attacks often fueled by anger over police use of force involving minorities.
Weve never seen a year in my memory when weve had an increase of this magnitude in officer shooting deaths, said Craig Floyd, president and chief executive of the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund. These officers were killed simply because of the uniform they wear and the job they do. This is unacceptable to the humane society that we are.
In Dallas, a sniper on July 7 attacked at the end of what had been a peaceful rally against police brutality. He killed five law enforcement officers and wounded nine others the largest death toll among law enforcement from a single event since the 9/11 attacks, which killed 72 officers. Months later, Dallas businesses and residents still display blue ribbons and banners declaring, We support our Dallas police officers.
But even amid community support, the police department remains unsettled. Hundreds of officers have retired or left the force over the past six months as the city struggles to find a way to increase pay and save a failing police and fire pension. Former Chief David Brown, who became a national figure in the aftermath, was among those who opted to retire. And interim Dallas Police Association president Frederick Frazier said that morale is almost nonexistent.
A lot of us are going through the motions at work. Were hoping things will get better with our struggle, he said. Frazier added that the attack was a game changer. It changed the perception of law enforcement. It reversed the roll after Ferguson. We were the pursuer and now, were being pursued.
Less than two weeks after the Dallas attack, a lone gunman in Baton Rouge shot and killed three officers and wounded three others outside a convenience store in the weeks after a black man, 37-year-old Alton Sterling, was shot and killed by police during a struggle.
Baton Rouge Police Cpl. Lester Mitchell was partners with Matthew Gerald, one of the three slain officers, and was among the officers who raced to the scene of the shooting that also killed sheriffs deputy Brad Garafola and officer Montrell Jackson. Mitchell has daily reminders of the deadly shootout, driving past the scene on his way to police headquarters.
Just passing there, you cant help but replay it over and over again, he said.
Mitchell said the shooting has made him more alert and aware of potential dangers on patrol, sometimes in situations that wouldnt have alarmed him before, like a hand in a pocket. You learn to cope with it, because if you dont, you can drive yourself crazy, he said.
The National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Funds Floyd said the impact of this year has been profound on law enforcement. Agencies are struggling to recruit officers to their ranks and those who continue to serve talk about how their head is now on a swivel.
Theyre always looking over their shoulder, always worrying about the next attack that could come at any time from any direction, Floyd said.
That was underscored by the slaying in November of a San Antonio detective who was fatally shot and killed outside police headquarters as he was writing a traffic ticket. The man accused of shooting him said he was angry about a child-custody battle and simply lashed out at somebody who didnt deserve it.
Associated Press reporters Claudia Lauer in Dallas and Mike Kunzelman in Baton Rouge contributed to this report.
SANTA ANA A man died after being stabbed in the neck Thursday night, police said.
Just before 8 p.m., police went to an apartment complex in the 2800 block of South Flower Street after receiving a report of a fight, said Santa Ana police Cmdr. Matt Brown.
When police arrived, they found a man in his 40s with at least one stab wound to his neck. The man was taken to Orange County Global Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead.
Police quickly arrested another man in his 40s who lives in the apartment complex on suspicion of homicide, said Brown.
The suspects name was not immediately released and details were not available about the type of weapon used in the stabbing.
It is believed that the suspect and victim knew each other, Brown said.
Contact the writer: 714-796-7767 sschwebke@scng.com Twitter: @thechalkoutline
The delusions of the far-left
Re: OCC professor under attack for Trump talk [News, Dec. 29]: Professor Olga Perez Stable Cox said, Its not my fault, and I didnt do anything wrong. She also said that if she could go back, she wouldnt change her language.
Those are great examples of the demented far-left they are always correct because they never do any wrong.
Her credentials need to be revoked. Shes not qualified to give anyone therapy.
Thomas Chao, Fountain Valley
Life or death for Israel
Re: Kerry: Settlements prevent peace in Israel [News, Dec. 29]: Secretary of State John Kerry doesnt tell the whole truth about the Palestinians and their demands. They dont just want the West Bank, their goal is to destroy Israel. Most of the members of the U.N. Security Council have been duped into also hating Israel.
By giving them the West Bank, they will then demand more and more. They are liars and will not settle for peace until Israel is no longer there. If they are given the West Bank then only Muslims will be allowed to go to Jewish and Christian holy sites.
Israel is the only democracy in the Middle East. None of the other Middle East countries have the freedom that the residents of Israel have. It is one of the safest countries to travel to. Ask any tourist who has been there.
Doranna Cooper, Mission Viejo
Obama is running out the clock
President Obama is proving that he can do as much damage in the final two months of his administration as he had during the previous 94 months.
Lou Banas, Brea
Thank you, Thomas Sowell
Re: Farewell and a few more random thoughts [Opinion, Dec. 27]: I was shocked and saddened to read Thomas Sowells final column. Sowells ability to craft his columns personally, historically, politically, economically or humanistically, in an even tone, were always a joy to read, comforting and informative.
His common sense clear thinking and writing will be greatly missed. All my very best to you, Dr. Sowell, in your retirement years. You are truly an American icon and one of my greatest heroes.
Dennis Sitar, Trabuco Canyon
A mural caught Nyle Schafhausers eye every time he walked down a breezeway while he was a senior at Los Angeles Lutheran High School.
The 24-foot-by-4-foot painting, titled We Witness Now, has 10 panels depicting various Southern California regions such as the Pacific Coast and Mojave Desert from which the private school drew its students.
Schafhauser, who turned 72 Friday, says the painting brings back memories of his teen years and friends. It was created by his high school teacher and lifelong mentor, artist Gerald Brommer.
But the mural has been in jeopardy at least twice when the school relocated. Each time, Schafhauser came to the rescue and moved it to a safe location. He did it out of respect for Brommer.
Hes like an uncle whos always been near and dear to my heart, said Schafhauser, a Costa Mesa resident.
Fifty-five years after Brommer created it for Lutheran Highs Class of 1961, We Witness Now has finally found its permanent home. With help from his high school classmates, Schafhauser installed it last week on a classroom wall inside Concordia University Irvines library, arts and theater building.
Its a major project to move something that big, Brommer, 89, said in a phone interview from his Studio City home. Its really unbelievable.
Brommer taught high school art for 26 years. He has written 23 books for high school and college art classes. As a watercolor and acrylic painter, he has had more than 180 one-man shows across the nation and globe, including in Bermuda, Hong Kong and Taiwan.
We Witness Now is Brommers largest painting. The work depicts landscapes ranging from an ocean harbor and skyscrapers to freeways and farmland. A religious theme also runs through it, with one of the panels showing Jesus Christ welcoming students.
Schafhauser, who graduated from Lutheran High a year after the painting went up in the schools breezeway, said Brommer made his students feel special.
When Schafhauser won a state art contest in high school, Brommer reminded him how great an achievement it was and made sure everybody at the school knew about it.
He was there for us, Schafhauser said. He was just a good man all around.
The school moved out of Inglewood in 1977, but the mural stayed. Noticing his mentors mural had been left behind, Schafhauser and a former classmate moved it to Lutherans new campus in Sylmar.
When the Sylmar campus closed last year, Schafhauser stood up again. This time, he approached Concordia University, which has Lutheran roots.
Brommer had already given some of his artworks to the university and spoke about art there. He also received a Lifetime Achievement Award from Concordia in 2015.
They opened their arms and let us install it, said Schafhauser, a retired marketer for supermarkets who does art on the side.
Paul Massmann, Concordias associate dean who was charged with finding a spot to hang the artwork, is also a Lutheran High graduate.
A member of the Class of 1964, Massmann said he recognized the mural when he saw a photo of it. He got to know Brommer well after working on a high school yearbook with him. Brommer taught him designs skills, which Massmann said he still uses.
Of the teachers Ive had over the years, hes one of the best at relating to his students, Massmann said.
Schafhauser and his Lutheran classmates Kenny Edwards of San Clemente and Bill Basner of Ventura brought the mural from Sylmar to Irvine.
I think theyve done a beautiful job with it, Brommer said. They stuck with it. They saved it twice. Itll be there forever now.
If you struggle to get a handle on some of President-elect Donald Trumps comments, heres a hint:
Dont take him literally.
Sometimes Trump shoots from the hip, before hes thought things through. Sometimes, at least during the campaign, hed repeat lines that roused the crowd.
And theres a growing perception that sometimes, hes doing what hes spent his career doing being a negotiator, not a typical politician whose words you take at face value.
Part of what he may be doing at times is taking a hardline negotiating position as a starting point, said UC Irvine political scientist Carole Uhlaner. Initial policy stances on undocumented immigrants and Muslims entering the country, both of which have softened in recent months, may have served as such starting points.
Also, people not knowing when to take you seriously can be an advantage, she said.
Republican National Committeeman Shawn Steel said fellow committee members have been discussing how to interpret Trumps comments for more than a year. He agreed that the president-elect is essentially a negotiator.
Its a different way of statecraft, the Surfside resident said, adding that Trumps tweets are about tone rather than precision.
The media has taken him literally, but they never took him seriously, he said. The voters took him seriously, but not literally. They didnt expect a 40-foot wall for 3000 miles along the border. It was symbolic. Its what he actually does that matters to me.
Steel said Trumps controversial call with the Taiwanese president which drew criticism from China was a masterful shot over the bow that may be the prelude to a better trade deal.
But other Trump comments are clearly not strategic policy ploys.
In March, an interviewer described a scenario in which abortion was outlawed and asked Trump what should be done with women who had abortions anyway. Trump said they should be punished but within two hours, backpedaled and said it was the abortionists who should be penalized.
Then there are instances where he appears to say things simply for effect.
His campaign vow to hire a special prosecutor to go after Hillary Clinton which frequently led to the Lock her up chant popular at rallies is something he walked away from once elected.
He says what he thinks will get a good response from whoever hes talking to, said Raphael Sonenshein, executive director of the Pat Brown Institute for Public Affairs at Cal State Los Angeles.
Sonenshein agrees with Steel that its Trumps actions rather than his words that people should be paying attention to.
I dont think he takes his own words seriously, Sonenshein said. To me, its a whole lot of work to figure out what he means when it might just be a passing thought.
LEFT VS. RIGHT
Many Democrats are alarmed by both the policy and style of the president elect, even while they question if he has any core beliefs.
Howard Katz, chairman of the Democratic Party of Riverside County, is among those. He dismisses the notion that the skills of a business negotiator are transferable to politics and diplomacy, especially when it comes to staking out extreme starting points.
The problem with those extreme positions with an adversary is that it might end negotiations right away, said Katz, who spent 30 years with IBM, including a stint negotiating to site factories abroad.
Business and diplomacy are far different from one another. Diplomacy is about consensus and business is cutthroat.
While Trump differs from his predecessors in that he has no governmental or military experience, Katz said the president elect is no different from others in terms of needing to catch up on many aspects of the office.
But every other man Ive seen take the job has been humble enough not to say, I know better than everybody else. I know better than the generals. I dont need daily briefings, Katz said.
Katz disagrees that Trumps call with the Taiwanese president was a wise move, saying such behavior could result in China shifting its orders for jets from Boeing to the European Airbus consortium. Over the next 20 years, China is expected to buy $1 trillion worth of Boeing aircraft, and in 2016 ordered 163 jets costing $11 billion, according the CNN. Boeing has estimated the China orders support 150,000 jobs.
Katz also criticizes Trumps tweet that the United States must greatly strengthen and expand its nuclear capability, saying it could lead to an arms race.
I think we should be extremely concerned by his spontaneity, he said. You may end up inciting people to violence that you cannot contain.
But Republican John Cruz applauded that Trump tweet, noting that it came just hours after Russian President Vladimir Putin had said he would enhance his countrys nuclear forces.
That was Trump telling Putin, You dont want to go there were not going to be at a disadvantage, the San Clemente lawyer said. I think he sent just the right message. I think leaders would be much less likely to challenge the U.S. because of his posture and tone.
Cruz, who supports a path to legalization for those in the country illegally, was initially favoring the presidential candidacies of Jeb Bush and Marco Rubio. But he cast his ballot for Trump and says he has become more comfortable and confident with the president elect since the election, thanks to his tone becoming more measured and presidential.
EVOLVING VIEWS
Cruz likes the direction Trump seems to be taking in terms of those in the country without documents, signaling that the president elect is apparently moving away from his initial plan to deport all 11 million.
Trump has also made comments about visas for Muslims, climate change and the use of torture that also indicate he may be evolving to softer positions than those touted in the primaries.
I do get the feeling that hes moderating on some things, said Jodi Balma, a political scientist at Fullerton College. But I dont know what hes going to do. I dont know how his decision-making process works.
Fellow political scientist Uhlaner understands the struggle to make sense of Trumps statements.
He doesnt filter his comments the way leaders usually do and until he does, it would be a mistake to take every comment equally seriously, she said. If he were to put himself in a position where there were questions and answers, it would be a lot easier to understand exactly what he meant.
Instead, were left to read the tea leaves of his tweets.
Contact the writer: mwisckol@ocregister.com
LAS VEGAS Forget Wheres Waldo? How about Wheres Ronda?
The former UFC womens bantamweight champion, who challenges new champ Amanda Nunes for the title Friday, has been rarely seen this week after being given a pass from any media obligations.
UFC President Dana White defended the move Wednesday, citing Rouseys unprecedented media responsibilities before previous fights due to her overwhelming popularity. And because of what she has done for the sport, the UFC and womens MMA, White said the UFC granted her request for no media.
Some fighters on the UFC 207 card who attended Wednesdays media day had different reactions.
Former bantamweight champion T.J. Dillashaw chuckled when comparing his 19-month reign as champion to hers. However, the top-ranked 135-pounder sees this allowance as a slippery slope for the UFC.
Danas always said that no UFC fighter will ever be bigger than the promotion. No one bigger than the UFC, and youre seeing that happen, said Dillashaw, who fights second-ranked John Lineker. Youve got Conor McGregor making his own calls and showing up when he wants to. And Rousey not showing up. So I think it is opening the doors for more fighters to start doing so.
Flyweight Ray Borg was definitely on the fence and didnt seem to want to stir up any problems.
It is what it is, I have no control over it. I have no authority here with the UFC staff, so but if she , said Borg, who takes on Louis Smolka on Friday. You know, honestly, a lot of people would be doing what she wants to do. But we gotta get up and we gotta fulfill our obligations so, it is what it is, man.
Ninth-ranked welterweight Dong Hyun Kim, via interpreter Alan Cho, said Rousey was a fighter and employee of the UFC just like everyone else and should have to follow the rules.
Every fighter is going through hard times this week. Everyone is hungry. Everybodys tired. Just like her. But were all participating, said Kim, who takes on Tared Saffiedine. I think if it was Ronda Rousey in her early career, I dont think she could be able to do this.
WEIGH-IN DRAMA
After a weeklong absence from any media, Rousey was the first fighter to appear at Thursday mornings weigh-ins at the MGM Grand, which was attended by several members of the press.
Rousey weighed in at 135 pounds the limit for a bantamweight title fight and promptly stepped off the scale and headed to the back.
Fighters are customarily asked to remain on the scale for a few seconds so the UFC and the media can take photos. UFC staffers could be heard asking her to get back on the scale, but Rousey left.
Discord continued to grow between bantamweight champion Dominick Cruz and challenger Cody Garbrandt. Their teams reportedly scuffled in the hallway outside the weigh-ins, causing a brief commotion.
And at the ceremonial weigh-ins open to the public later Thursday afternoon at T-Mobile Arena, the two had to be separated by White and others during their faceoff.
Minutes later, after Rousey squared off with Nunes, she exited the stage instead of staying for the traditional brief interview for the fans in attendance. For her part, Nunes stayed and answered a question.
NOT MAKING THE CUT
Borg was one of two fighters to miss weight and by a lot Thursday morning.
Borg weighed in at 129.5 pounds 3 pounds over the flyweight limit with the additional 1-pound exception for non-title fights. Opponent Louis Smolka will receive 30 percent of Borgs pay.
Minutes before Borg, former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks tipped the scales 2.5 pounds over at 173.5. Twenty percent of his fight purse will go to opponent Neil Magny.
Both fights will still take place Friday.
Contact the writer: bmartin@scng.com
After being told that she could not have a horse because they were too expensive, 11-year-old Sarah Simpson, decided to try the next best thing riding a cow. Now 18, Sarah has her own horse, but she still rides her favorite cow, Lilac, just as much, if not more than she used to.
Sarah had been dreaming of having her own horse for as long as she can remember, but after her parents told her that buying one was to expensive, she discovered that riding a cow could be just as fun. It all started when her younger brother, Tim, dared her to try it, and even though she had no riding experience, she jumped on Lilac, a 6-months-old calf living on the family farm. The animal didnt seem to mind, so she kept on doing it for the last six and a half years.
Photo: Hannah Simpson/Instagram
Lilac was only six months then and I was just a midget. It was a dare from my brother to jump on and she seemed OK with it so we kept going. Before then Id only ridden a pony twice, and a sheep, Sarah says. She and her unusual mount have become a popular sight around Invercargill, a town in New Zealands deep south, and theyve recently started attracting international attention, thanks to Simpsons Instagram account.
She is a cow and I cant expect her to ride like a horse, Simpson admits. Without a bit of prodding she wouldnt really do anything, she has a very chilled-out nature. She recently taught Lilac how to jump over obstacles, and she seems to love it. Despite being Quite fat, the cow can leap over obstacles up to 1.4 meters high. She hates cantering and going up or down hills, but bush-walks, long river swims and jumping she seems to enjoy.
A post shared by Hannah Simpson (@hanney_simpson) on Aug 18, 2017 at 2:30am PDT
Sarah tried riding Lilac with a horse saddle, but the 7-year-old cow didnt like it very much, so shes been riding her bareback ever since. Even so, the cowgirl claims Lilac is more comfortable than a horse.
Lilac has bucked Sarah off countless times in the last six and a half years, but compared to other cows she has attempted to ride, she is by far the best.
Interestingly, Sarah Simpson is not the first cow-rider weve ever featured on OC. Back in 2011, we wrote about Regina Mayer, from Laufen, Germany, who rides her pet cow Luna as a show horse.
via New Zealand Herald
Wells Fargo Bank in September was embroiled in a firestorm of controversy after federal and local regulators slapped the San Francisco-headquartered institution with a massive enforcement action over widespread unlawful sales practices. As it turns out, thousands of the companys employees nationwide had for years established millions of fake deposit and credit card accounts in customers names without their consent as a means of boosting employees sales figures, in many cases billing customers for financial services they never authorized.
Fines totaling more than $185 million were levied at the bank in September by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau the heftiest in that U.S. government agencys history as well as fines from the City Attorney of Los Angeles and the Office of the Comptroller of the Currency. Wells Fargo was also forced to pay full remediation to customers who incurred fees for financial products and services sold to them without their knowledge.
The CFPB cited Wells Fargos high-pressure sales culture, where branch employees were encouraged to cross-sell an array of financial products to customers, coupled with a lack of oversight, in setting the stage for the illicit activity. An internal review of five years worth of banking deposit accounts conducted by Wells Fargo resulted in the bank firing more than 5,000 employees as a result of its findings when the bank discovered more than 10,000 cases of customers being billed for services they never asked for, accounting for fees totaling more than $2.6 million.
After weeks-long cries for his ouster from the public, Wells Fargo Chairman and CEO John Stumpf whose brutal verbal takedown before a Senate Banking Committee hearing became a YouTube favorite in October announced his resignation from the company and board. He was succeeded by President and COO Timothy J. Sloan, an effete move seen as inadequate by many, as Wells Fargo essentially retains the same leadership minus Stumpf that took the bank down this path, to begin with.
Samsungs brand goes up in flames
Samsung in August released its flagship Galaxy Note 7 smartphone to much fanfare, breaking the Seoul-based companys pre-order records in many parts of the world. A scant few weeks later, however, reports began circulating that the hot smartphones were literally catching fire. Believing a manufacturing defect in the phones batteries was the culprit, the worlds largest mobile phone maker suspended Note 7 sales, announced a voluntary recall and said it would replace customers batteries.
Incidents of combustion continued with the replacement devices, however, and a month later the brand finally decided to recall all Galaxy Note 7s worldwide and permanently discontinue production. Samsung had thus far still been unclear communicating with the public whether the now-discontinued devices were safe to use or not, and as a result failed to manage its messaging and stay ahead of the crisis until it was too late. In the meantime, several countries banned the phone outright, and the Federal Aviation Administration had barred the Note 7 from being taken aboard any U.S. aircraft, a bad mark against a brand if there ever was one. The financial implications were even more stark: by 2016s third quarter, Samsungs earnings were down 33 percent from the quarter prior, with losses expected to be in the billions.
Samsung in November also announced that it was initiating a second recall, this time involving 2.8 million of its top-loading washing machines, some of which have reportedly exploded.
Teslas crash course in response messaging
Electric car maker Tesla Motors was poised to have a great year, having just unveiled its latest vehicle, the Model 3 sedan. Unfortunately, that announcement was quickly overshadowed by the news in June that Tesla driver Joshua Brown had been killed a month earlier in Florida, when his Tesla Model S collided on a public highway with a tractor-trailer while Brown was allegedly using the cars much-heralded autopilot technology.
In the aftermath of the accident which prompted an investigation by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Tesla Motors boss Elon Musk did what many senior executives do in times of crisis: he turned to the Internet. Unfortunately, his words werent exactly ameliorative. Called by some a case study in how not to handle a crisis, the South African-born business magnate, who was the visionary behind PayPal and aerospace manufacturer SpaceX, penned a eulogy for Brown that read more like a rant and spent more time defending the company than memorializing the employee whod died. Noting that Browns death was the first in the companys 130 million testing miles, Musk later tweeted that: 1.3 million people die a year in car accidents. Yet, 1 person dies in a Tesla on autopilot and people decry driverless cars as unsafe. Musks public reaction had the unintended consequence of trivializing an employees death and making the incident all about his company as if thats any way to save a brands reputation.
It wasnt until September when Musk rolled back some of his comments and noted that improvements in Teslas autopilot technology likely would have prevented the fatal crash in Florida. Meanwhile, it was reported that Tesla was being investigated by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission regarding whether the company failed to disclose the crash to investors in a formal regulatory filing, with Fortune reporting that Tesla had sold more than $2 billion worth of new shares to investors before news of the accident had been announced.
Musk again took to the Internet to air his grievances regarding the report, writing, please, take 5 mins and do the bloody math before you write an article that misleads the public, thus proving the adage that old habits die hard, even online.
Microsofts hate-mongering Twitter bot
The technology and research teams at Microsoft, working in conjunction with its Bing team, in March debuted AI chatbot Tay, the tech giants latest innovation that focused on how technology can better understand human speech.
Billed as the AI with zero chill, Tay was outfitted with a Twitter account and programmed to interact with other users on the microblogging site, mimicking words and language patterns. The bot was designed to improve its communication skills as its interactions grow, ideally becoming more natural sounding over time and better equipped to understand conversational language.
It took less than 24 hours for society to corrupt the bot, as Tay quickly became the Internets id and soon began issuing a series of racist and sexist tweets, with memorable quotables such as Bush did 9/11 and Hitler would have done a better job than the monkey we have now.
Microsoft quickly found itself deleting some of Tays more inflammatory tweets, claiming in a March 25 statement that the bot had been the victim of a coordinated attack by a subset of people that exploited a vulnerability in Tay. Microsoft then suspended Tays Twitter account for adjustments before taking it offline entirely several days later. The company has since stated that it plans to resurrect Tay once it can make the bot safe, underscoring a challenge not only for the future of AI but for humanity as well.
Mylan gouges customers
Pharmaceutical company Mylan, which sells popular emergency allergy treatment EpiPen, has maintained a virtual grip on the epinephrine autoinjector market for a decade, accounting for about 90 percent of the devices sold ever since it acquired the right to market and distribute the life-saving products from Merck.
EpiPen sales in 2015 accounted for $1.5 billion, about 40 percent of Mylans profits, and since 2009 the company has continually raised the price of the devices. When the price of a two-pack of EpiPens skyrocketed this year by nearly $150 without warning accounting for an overall increase of 400 percent in the past 10 years the outrage was palpable, especially considering the products primary users are children.
Headlines were rife with accusations of price gouging, and Mylans stocks and reputation plummeted precipitously as a result. To make matters worse, media outlets began reporting that Mylan CEO Heather Bresch had given herself a multimillion dollar raise the year prior.
The company was quick to respond, with Bresch hitting the TV circuit in an apology tour of celebrity proportions. Mylan attempted amends by introducing a less-expensive but identical generic autoinjector product, and when this didnt seem to move the needle, the company in August said it would double the eligibility for its patient assistance program and reduce out-of-pocket patient costs by 50 percent for the EpiPen through the use of a savings card.
The PR salvo didnt put an end to Mylans problems. Aside from a lingering deficit of consumer trust, the U.S. Department of Justice opened an investigation into whether the company had committed fraud by misclassifying the EpiPen under the Medicaid Drug Rebate Program. This ultimately resulted in the company agreeing to a $465 million settlement in October. Then, in December, attorneys general in 20 states filed a civil complaint accusing Mylan along with a half-dozen other pharmaceutical companies of engaging in a price-fixing scheme to keep drug prices high.
Theranos draws bad blood with regulators
Blood-testing company Theranos is best known for its innovative fingerstick technology, which draws a pinprick sample of blood from a patients hand at a fraction of the cost and pain of traditional diagnostics tests.
When the Wall Street Journal last year kicked off an extensive investigation that questioned the accuracy of its technology, however, the Palo Alto-based company became the subject of probes from federal regulators.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services levied a series of harsh sanctions against the start-up, revoking Theranos CLIA certificate and prohibiting its owners from operating a lab for two years. In its findings, the CMS concluded that Theranos blood tests pose immediate jeopardy to patient health and safety.
The embattled health tech company in October announced it would close its lab operations, lay off 350 employees about 40 percent of its workforce and shift its focus to the creation of miniature medical testing devices. Then, in November, Theranos pharmacy partner Walgreens filed suit against the company in a federal court for breach of contract, allegations which Theranos has disputed. The diagnostics company is also now under investigation by the Securities and Exchange Commission for allegedly misleading investors and government officials about its technology.
Ikea issues delayed recall
In February 2014, a two-year-old boy from West Chester, PA died after a six-drawer Ikea Malm chest tipped over and pinned him against a bed. Four months later, a three-drawer version of the same chest was responsible for killing another two-year-old boy in Snohomish, WA.
Terrible as the news was, the deaths prompted the Swedish furniture giant to issue little more than a mere warning, informing the public that a line of its chests and dressers werent stable if left unanchored to a wall. The company also offered free wall-mounting kits to customers that requested them. Both announcements went notably unpublicized.
Then came the news that more than a dozen additional tip-over incidents had occurred, including a 2016 incident in which a two-year-old boy from Apple Valley, MN died after a Malm's chest fell on top of him (it has since been reported that a fourth child was killed by a falling Malm dresser in 2011).
Like Samsung, it wasnt until this late development that Ikea finally shifted into crisis mode, and in June announced that it was recalling 29 million chests and dressers, and said it would give full refunds to customers that purchased the Malm between 2002 and 2016 (the company also set up a program where Ikea would pick up the dressers from customers homes). The 2016 recall announcement resulted in massive media coverage. Arguably, its what the multinational retailer should have done several years ago.
In December it was announced that Ikea has reached a $50 million settlement with the families of three of the toddlers who died in the tip-over incidents.
The not-so Democratic National Committee
Democracy, as it turns out, isnt the Democratic National Committees strong suit. After a primary/caucus cycle that highlighted horrible inefficiencies, leaked emails later revealed outright corruption in the DNCs ranks, where party members colluded to push its preferred "brand," Hillary Clinton, through the delegate selection process to become the partys choice over Bernie Sanders.
Perhaps its an unpopular opinion, but its also the truth: Clinton is a terrible brand with far too much baggage, and throughout the election, she was always just one crisis away from implosion. She was so bad, in fact, that Donald Trump managed to beat her. The Russians werent responsible for the fact that Clinton received six million fewer votes than Obama in 2012. FBI Director James Comey isnt to blame for the fact that Clinton barely campaigned in Democratic strongholds like Wisconsin, costing her crucial Rustbelt votes that have gone blue without fail for the last three decades. Julian Assange isnt the reason Clinton didnt follow the proper procedure for setting up her email account when she was secretary of state.
If Democrats want to win another election, maybe pick a candidate next time who isnt wildly unpopular and seen by an overwhelming number of Americans as dishonest and untrustworthy. Maybe pick a candidate next time who isnt under investigation by the FBI. Maybe pick a candidate that people are genuinely excited about, someone who actually promises something aside from being an alternative to the other candidate. Maybe listen to your partys members for once. With Clinton, the DNC made the classic PR mistake of overpromising and under-delivering. Now the rest of us have four years to mull over that decision.
As we enter into 2017, many of us are making resolutions to exercise, say no more often, go to church or just have more fun. One thing that we should all resolve to do in 2017 and beyond is keep ourselves and our families as safe and healthy as possible.
I realize there are no guarantees and that we may wash our hands 50 times a day and still catch the flu, but hey, why not try? One area that many of us could focus on is keeping everyone safe in the car.
Do you wear your seat belt when riding in the backseat? I always wear mine no matter which seat Im in, even though the law requires it in the driver and front passenger seats. When it comes to kids, the Nebraska law states that children up to age 6 must ride in a federally approved child safety seat and children ages 6 to 18 must ride in a safety seat or use a seat belt.
The American Academy of Pediatrics goes beyond the state laws. They recommend:
>> All infants and toddlers ride rear-facing until at least age 2, or to the recommended height and weight limits of the car seat manufacturer.
>> Children who have outgrown the rear-facing weight or height limit should use a forward-facing seat with a harness until they exceed the weight or height allowed by their car seat manufacturer.
>> Children who have outgrown the forward-facing limit should use a belt-positioning booster seat until the seat belt fits properly. Thats typically when they are 4-foot-9-inches and are between the ages 8 and 12. Those children should ride in the backseat.
I know many parents are so eager to change their children to forward-facing car seats, because it is easier, the kids can watch a DVD system on long trips or just because they want to. But we all need to take a look at what is safest and not what is easiest.
Just as you are probably buckling up the next time you are heading out in the backseat of a car, think twice about when you are switching your child to the next car seat, or eliminating the car seat/booster seat altogether.
Instead of turning your rear-facing child around at age 1, tell yourself youre going to wait until age 2. Instead of transferring your kindergartner to a booster seat, hold out a little longer. Make sure your childs shoulder strap does not touch his or her neck.
Keep in mind the AAP guidelines as your child ages.
There is nothing more important than keeping our kids and ourselves safe. Cheers to a safe and healthy 2017 for everyone!
For further reading on how to safely use your car seat and what the laws are, visit the Nebraska Department of Roads website and healthychildren.org.
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Jaime Wyant is a 32-year-old Omaha native, wife to Bret and mother to Marin and Liam. She writes weekly for Momaha.com. Read more from Jaime here.
Six months later and there are still disagreements over what happened in June at a Bellevue dentists office between the doctor and the citys then-administrator.
Sarpy County prosecutors say Dan Berlowitz used his position with the city in order to get Dr. Allan Smith to talk to him on June 21.
Berlowitz says he went to the office for valid professional reasons and did not use his position to get in the office for a personal vendetta.
During a sentencing hearing Thursday, Sarpy County Judge Robert Wester repeatedly asked Berlowitz, 63, to tell the court what he did wrong that day and to take responsibility for it.
In an exchange with the judge, Berlowitz called his actions a bad decision.
Wester told Berlowitz a bad decision is not a criminal offense and asked for specifics.
The judge pointed to Berlowitzs refusal to leave when asked, his poking motion toward Smith and an allegation that Berlowitz had threatened to shut the dentist down, which Berlowitz denies saying.
After the hearing, Berlowitz said the incident was an error and said he was not trying to deny that. He said he now wants to move on with his life.
The Sarpy County Sheriffs Office said Berlowitz was agitated, loud and confrontational toward Smith at Bellevue Family Practice Dentistry and did not leave when asked several times. Berlowitzs wife had worked at the dentists office, at 1004 Lincoln Road, before being let go.
Berlowitz initially was charged with three misdemeanors. Two were dropped as part of a plea deal. He pleaded no contest to a charge of disturbing the peace.
On Thursday, Wester fined Berlowitz $50. He also had to pay for more than a dozen therapy sessions, which Wester asked Berlowitz to attend before sentencing. Berlowitz had faced up to three months in jail and a $500 fine. After the charges were filed, he also lost his $144,000 job as city administrator.
Sarpy County Deputy Attorney Scott Earl had asked the judge to sentence Berlowitz to a term of probation. In laying out the allegations against Berlowitz, Earl said Berlowitz had been told by Bellevue city officials not to go to Smiths office.
Berlowitz instead went to Smiths office and said he was there on personal business, Earl said. Berlowitz then used his office by saying he was there on city business when Smith initially refused to talk to him, Earl said. Security camera footage of the incident shows Berlowitz poking his finger toward Smith.
After pleading no contest to the disturbing-the-peace charge in September, Berlowitz told reporters that he was the victim in the case, Earl said.
James Schaefer, Berlowitzs attorney, told the judge that Berlowitz went to Smiths office for a couple of reasons, including to stick up for his wife. Berlowitz used no profanity, no assault of any kind took place and he left within eight to 10 seconds of being asked, Schaefer said.
The dentist is trying to make a mountain out of a molehill, Schaefer said.
Berlowitz told the judge that he wanted to move on.
Wester told Berlowitz that he would be watching news coverage to make sure he didnt tell the reporters something different from what he said the court. It could influence a decision on whether to set the conviction aside in the coming months, the judge said.
The City of Bellevue placed Berlowitz on paid administrative leave after the June incident and fired him in August. He had held the position since 2011.
Joe Mangiamelli, who was the Columbus, Nebraska, city administrator, was hired in October to replace Berlowitz and to oversee Bellevues day-to-day operations.
LINCOLN For the second week in row, the Nebraska Supreme Court has rejected the argument that a 90-year prison sentence is excessive for a teenager convicted of murder.
The court on Friday ruled that Christopher Garzas 90-year sentence for the brutal 1990 murder of a babysitter did not amount to a de facto life sentence, and that it was warranted due to the gruesome nature of the crime.
A week ago, the Supreme Court came to a similar conclusion in an appeal by Douglas Mantich, who was 16 when he participated in the deadly carjacking of 20-year-old Omaha man in December 1993.
Garza was 16 when he and an 18-year-old friend broke into a Millard home, then beat, bound, raped and killed Christina ODay, a 17-year-old high school senior.
Garza was initially sentenced to life in prison. But he was granted a resentencing after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that because juveniles are developmentally immature, they should be treated differently than adults and should not automatically receive life sentences for murder.
Twenty-five juveniles serving automatic life sentences for murder in Nebraska, including Mantich and Garza, were ultimately allowed new sentencing hearings.
The U.S. Supreme Court, in its Miller v. Alabama ruling in 2012, said that while juveniles could still be sentenced to life behind bars, such sentences should be uncommon and reserved for crimes that reflect permanent incorrigibility as opposed to those that show unfortunate yet transient immaturity.
But the Nebraska Supreme Court, in its ruling Friday, said that because Garza was not sentenced to life, but rather a 90-year term in prison, the court was not required to determine if his new sentence reflected irreparable corruption.
The new sentence imposed earlier this year by Douglas County District Judge Marlon Polk fit within the state sentencing guidelines and was appropriate for such a crime, wrote Supreme Court Judge Stephanie Stacy.
The evidence does not suggest Garza acted impulsively, the judge wrote. He carefully planned the attack in advance and spent hours raping, beating, cutting, and strangling ODay before she died.
Garza later tried to conceal the crime by pushing ODays car into the Missouri River, and lied to police, the ruling stated. It also noted that another man sentenced in the slaying, Wayne Brewer, who was 18 at the time, was sentenced to life in prison.
Garzas attorney, Annie Hayden of the Douglas County Public Defenders Office, said an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court is being considered.
We believe these are important issues, Hayden said of appropriate sentences for juveniles.
Under Garzas upheld sentence, he will be eligible for parole in 22 years, at age 65. He would complete his sentence at age 71.
Among those testifying at Garzas resentencing hearing in February was Beth Ann Tuerff, whom ODay was babysitting the night of the murder. Then 8, Tuerff was in another room when ODay was attacked.
Tuerff had urged a life sentence for Garza, saying: I couldnt save Christina that night. But I can do everything in my power to keep Mr. Garza where he belongs today.
The Nebraska Attorney Generals Office, which defended the 90-year sentence, declined to comment.
A trailer turned over on the Interstate on Thursday night, and some of its cargo of cattle went on the lam.
Twelve of them. They wandered the Interstate 80/680 interchange as traffic came to a halt, motorists gawked and law enforcement officers attempted to corral the beasts.
Authorities were mostly successful. But police had to put down four due to public safety concerns, as a State Patrol sergeant put it.
The cattle truck overturned on the lane that leads from southbound I-680 to eastbound I-80 about 9:50 p.m.
The State Patrol said the truck was carrying 31 cows and bulls. Authorities were able to round up eight and pen them with panel gates before another truck arrived to haul away the cattle.
The majority of them stayed right there in the general vicinity of the crash scene, so it was simply a matter of setting up a perimeter, State Patrol Sgt. Eric Kauffman said.
A few cattle never left the trailer.
All of I-680 southbound to I-80 eastbound was closed, as was I-80 eastbound and westbound at 108th Street. The Interstate reopened at 1:40 a.m.
Ivan Kaufman of Wakonda, South Dakota, the driver of the truck, said Friday that he wasnt injured but was sore.
Omaha police, the State Patrol, the Fire Department, Arrow Towing and the Nebraska Humane Society all were at the scene Thursday night, blocking roadways and trying to bring the cattle under control.
Kaufman lauded the job they did, describing a well-coordinated effort.
He said officers had little choice but to shoot some of the cattle. At least one charged officers. One of the shot cattle was injured in the crash and was killed for humanitarian reasons, he said. Five others were killed in the crash, he said. Nine total were killed.
Kaufman said he was taking the cattle from a feedlot in the Wisner area to Nebraska Beef in South Omaha. He was cautiously going through the interchange (I know its a treacherous corner) when a van ahead of him swerved and he had to turn slightly to avoid a crash, he said.
His truck tipped over, and he had to climb out through the drivers window.
He was assisted by two passers-by who were nurses. I dont know who they are, but I definitely want to thank them, he said. With traffic buzzing by, they got out of their cars to check on me.
The loose cattle caused an extensive backup of traffic in the area and also became a sightseeing sensation as people parked near the Interstate to watch.
This is Nebraska. This is standard ... small-town normal, said Priscilla Holmes, 31, of Omaha, whose boyfriend was caught in stopped westbound traffic on the Interstate. Only in Nebraska would you have a tornado on Christmas and cows on the Interstate.
David Spellman of Omaha saw law officers put down one of the animals on I-80.
They were trying to block it and it charged them, said Spellman, 54.
An officer pulled a handgun and shot it. Then another shot it with a shotgun, and the animal was pulled from the road.
The animals body lay in the median, legs sticking straight out.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation Friday.
The interchange was the site of a similar crash in July 2007 that killed 12 cattle.
HASTINGS, Neb. Eight teenagers working as cashiers at the Hastings Walmart have been cited for theft after they stole more than $1,700 worth of merchandise from the store, police say.
The employees were helping one another as well as friends and family steal from the store, said Sgt. Brian Hessler of the Hastings Police Department.
Among those cited were two 18-year-olds, one female and one male, as well as four 17-year-old boys and two 17-year-old girls.
Nobody went to jail. Everybody was issued a ticket, Hessler said.
All eight of the Walmart employees were fired, Walmart spokeswoman Leslee Wright said.
The teenagers were working together, Hessler said.
One employee wanting an item would go through a checkout line manned by one of the other employees in the group.
Either the item would be rung up and then voided, or the cashier would pretend like they were running it across their scanner but not really scanning the bar code, Hessler said. So, if anybody was watching them, it looked like it was being rung up, but in actuality it wasnt.
One of the male employees is accused of stealing just under $1,200 worth of items, Hessler said.
The involvement of Hastings police began several days ago when a Walmart manager called police, asking for help in dealing with internal thefts.
Hessler said the crime is still being investigated to see if it involved other items or people.
IOWA CITY (AP) An Iowa inmate with a history of violence toward guards and one notorious escape has died in a Wisconsin prison one month after he was transferred there, authorities said Thursday.
Justin Kestner, 26, was found unresponsive Dec. 21 in his assigned cell at the Dodge Correctional Institution in Waupun, Wisconsin, the Iowa Department of Corrections said in a statement. Prison staff responded and initiated lifesaving measures that were unsuccessful.
Prison officials and the Dodge County sheriff said Thursday that they are investigating the death, and that no additional information on the suspected cause or manner was available. A medical examiner said autopsy results havent been completed.
Kestner made headlines on July 4, 2015, when he became the first inmate in a decade to escape from Iowas historic maximum-security prison in Fort Madison. An investigation found that he removed screws from the shower to gain access to a narrow pipe chase an enclosed space that houses the prisons pipes. He was able to climb up until he reached the attic, then crawled through a vent to reach the roof.
He descended via a downspout and landed outside a prison fence. He timed his escape to coincide with holiday fireworks in the hopes that guards would be distracted. In his bed, under a blanket, he left milk cartons and insulation to try to fool guards into thinking he was sleeping.
He stole a car after his escape but was captured within hours near Geneseo, Illinois.
Kestner was serving time for robbing gas stations in Sioux City, Iowa, in 2009. A judge in February extended his original 20-year sentence by 15 years after Kestner pleaded guilty to the escape and vehicle theft.
Sometime after the escape, Kestner was transferred to the penitentiary in Anamosa, Iowa. In October, authorities said Kestner managed to get out of a health services room before he assaulted a correctional officer with a crude piece of metal. The officer suffered contusions to the face that required medical treatment.
Kestner, who had previously attacked guards in Fort Madison, was placed in segregation after that incident. On Nov. 21 he was transferred to Wisconsin through the Interstate Commission for Adult Offender Supervision, which governs the movement of offenders from state to state.
Dodge Correctional is Wisconsins intake facility for all new inmates, who are later assigned to specific prisons.
Iowa prisons spokesman Fred Scaletta said it took several days to announce the death because authorities in Iowa and Wisconsin needed to work together to notify Kestners family and victims.
Kestners funeral was held Tuesday in his hometown of Rembrandt, near Sioux City.
In an obituary published in the Storm Lake Times newspaper, Kestner was described as a very passionate young man whose special interests include his love for others, drawing, being outdoors and animals.
Copyright 2016 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
LINCOLN Reactions ranged from bewilderment to outrage over a Nebraska Supreme Court decision earlier this year that allowed two girls to remain in the home of a felony sex offender.
And the decision set a clear precedent, said Brandon Brinegar, the Kearney lawyer who represented the biological father who had tried to remove the girls from the sex offenders residence. Brinegar said lawmakers would have to act to prevent similar rulings in the future.
Thats just what a state senator from Omaha intends to do in the upcoming session of the Legislature.
I wouldnt want my kids subjected to that environment, State Sen. Brett Lindstrom said this week. That just doesnt sit well with me, and it just seems like its something we should do to protect kids.
The senator has drafted a bill that could make it harder for a parent who wants to live with a convicted sex offender to maintain custody of his or her children.
The proposal is in response to an August ruling by the states high court that left the two girls in the home of their stepfather, even though he had served a prison term for sexually assaulting a different 15-year-old stepdaughter from a previous marriage. The court ruled against the biological father, who had attempted to remove the girls from the living situation in a small community in south-central Nebraska.
The current law presumes a child is at risk when a felony sex offender occupies the same residence. But it also allows the parent who chooses to live with a sex offender to present evidence that mitigates the risk.
If a judge finds the risk is not significant, the burden shifts to the parent seeking to remove the children.
In the case in question, the court found that the mother offered evidence that her new husband did not present a significant risk to the girls. The court also found that the biological father had failed to prove that his children were in danger of being sexually abused.
The four-judge majority said the mother had met her statutory burden and they were bound by the law. The majority said it refused to act as a superlegislature by giving a favorable ruling to the biological father.
The Legislature could have created a presumption against custody with a more demanding burden. It is not within this courts power to expand the scope of the Legislatures policy, said Chief Justice Michael Heavican, writing for the majority.
Two other judges, however, wrote strongly worded dissenting opinions. Judge William Connolly said the evidence offered by the mother was flimsy and the majoritys interpretation was a tortuous statutory analysis.
As a south central Nebraska sage I knew would often say, It just aint right, wrote Connolly, who has since retired from the court.
Lindstroms legislation, which he will introduce sometime after the Legislature convenes Wednesday, would amend the current law to say that unsupervised contact with sex offenders shall be presumed to not be in the childs best interests.
It would then be up to the parent to convince the court that living in unsupervised contact with a felony sex offender is in the childs best interest.
Another provision of Lindstroms bill would require one parent to notify the other in writing before allowing a sex offender to move in.
In the case before the Supreme Court, the father of the girls stumbled upon the legal status of their stepfather while doing an Internet search after the stepfather had moved in.
Chris Johnson, a Hastings attorney who specializes in family law and child custody cases, said the changes proposed by Lindstrom are appropriate. Situations similar to the one that prompted the Supreme Court decision may not be common, but theyre not unheard of either, he added.
I would think the Legislature would very rapidly get behind that bill, Johnson said.
LINCOLN With a deadline looming, 11 people have been nominated so far to join the Nebraska Hall of Fame, which sits in the State Capitol Building.
A new inductee will be chosen in August 2017 to join the likes of Ponca Chief Standing Bear, Buffalo Bill Cody, and writers Mari Sandoz, Willa Cather and John Neihardt in the Hall of Fame.
The deadline for nominations is 5 p.m. on Saturday.
Nominations must be delivered to the Nebraska State Historical Societys headquarters building in Lincoln by then to be considered, according to Lana Hatcher, who is overseeing the process for the panel that makes the final selection, the State Hall of Fame Commission.
Among those nominated as of Thursday was Thomas Kimball, an architect who was instrumental in setting up the selection process for the architect for Nebraskas unique skyscraper State Capitol.
Kimball is also known for designing the old Omaha Public Library and St. Cecilias Cathedral in Omaha, as well as the Hall County Courthouse in Grand Island.
Others nominated so far are:
Solon Hannibal de la Mothe Borglum, a sculptor known for his works of cowboys, Native Americans and other frontier inhabitants. He grew up in Fremont and Omaha, and is the younger brother of Gutzon Borglum, the sculptor of Mount Rushmore.
State legislator and publisher Charles Gere, who helped push for the founding of the University of Nebraska and organized the Nebraska Press Association. A city library in east Lincoln was named for him.
Thomas Vincent Golden, a newspaper publisher and mayor of ONeill, who was instrumental in bringing Irish immigrants to Nebraska. He also built the historic Golden Hotel in ONeill.
Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Howard Hanson, who was born in Wahoo. He was the longtime director of the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, New York, and is credited for raising the level of musical education in the U.S.
George E. Johnson, chief engineer and general manager for the Central Nebraska Public Power and Irrigation District. He helped lay out the chain of lakes fed by water diverted from the Platte River, including Johnson Lake near Lexington, which was named for him. As state engineer, he also helped lay out the state highway system.
Omer Madison Kem, a Populist leader who represented Nebraska in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1891 to 1897.
Rachel Abbie Holloway Lloyd, a professor of analytic chemistry at the University of Nebraska. She was the first American woman to earn a PhD in chemistry when she graduated from the University of Zurich in 1887.
Omaha lawyer Francis Patrick Matthews, who was Secretary of the Navy from 1949 to 1952 and later served as U.S. ambassador to Ireland. He was also director of the United Services Organizations (USO) during World War II.
Anna Sadilek Pavelka, the real-life protoype for the character Antonia Shimerda in Willa Cathers 1918 novel, My Antonia.
Pioneer Nebraska aviator Matthew Savidge, who built gliders and eventually a self-powered airplane with six brothers near Ewing. He is thought to have made the states first successful airplane flight in 1911.
Kimball was nominated by Bob Ripley, the state official who oversees the preservation and conservation of the historic capitol.
The State Hall of Fame Commission is scheduled to meet on Feb. 3 to verify that those nominated are eligible for induction. Nominees must be Nebraska-born or had either gained prominence while in Nebraska or been influenced by their time in the state. A person must have been deceased for at least 35 years to be eligible.
Public hearings in each of states three congressional districts will be scheduled this summer to discuss the nominees. The commission will then select the inductee. A bronze bust will be produced in 2018 and the new inductee will join the Hall of Fame in 2019.
The last person inducted into the State Hall of Fame, in 2013, was Alvin Saunders Johnson, an economic theorist, historian and professor at several American universities. He co-founded and led the New School in New York City for several years.
Seventeen people were nominated the last time a new member was inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Such selections have sparked controversy in the past.
In 2004, former U.S. Sen. Kenneth Wherry was selected, but the action was nullified after it was determined that the Hall of Fame Commission had not followed public meetings laws in choosing him via secret balloting.
His nomination was later dropped after controversy erupted over Wherrys views on homosexuality during the McCarthy era of the 1950s.
Malcolm X, the civil rights leader born in Omaha, has been nominated three times in the past. But some have questioned whether the two years he lived in Omaha after being born there meet the qualification.
The writer is the editorial director of Antiwar.com and the author of Reclaiming the American Right: The Lost Legacy of the Conservative Movement. He wrote this for the Los Angeles Times.
The country is in the throes of a major epidemic, with no known cure and some pretty scary symptoms. Its called Trump Derangement Syndrome, or TDS, and its rapidly spreading from the point of origin the political class to the population at large.
In the first stage of the disease, victims lose all sense of proportion. The president-elects every tweet provokes a firestorm, as if 140 characters were all it took to change the world.
Donald Trump set up a single phone call with Taiwans president, and suddenly TDS patients were insisting that our One China policy was no more. But the reality is that telephonic communication isnt the same thing as official diplomatic recognition. Besides, in their eagerness to highlight Trumps alleged recklessness, the president-elects critics misunderstand our policy. One China means that we dont recognize Taiwan as a sovereign country or Chinas sovereignty over Taiwan. Weve never considered Taiwan a mere province, and the Taiwan Relations Act obligates us to defend the island against attack.
The mid-level stages of TDS have a profound effect on the victims vocabulary: Sufferers speak a distinctive language consisting solely of hyperbole.
Politico recently ran a piece that noted Trumps decision to continue using his private security force, which provoked former independent presidential candidate Evan McMullin to tweet: A predictable move for a kleptocratic authoritarian who wants to operate outside the bounds of law and basic ethical standards. Even more troubling, he may use the forces lack of government oversight & presidential veneer to carry-out extralegal acts of force.
Its quite a stretch to suggest that a desire to keep trusted lieutenants is actually a sinister plot to create a version of the brownshirts, but such illogical leaps are the pathway to the next stage of TDS: a state of constant hysteria.
Especially when discussing Trumps views on immigration, hysterical TDS victims assume theres no difference between the president-elects rhetoric and his proposed policy (deporting known criminals who are in this country illegally).
As Reince Priebus, Trumps chief of staff, put it: Hes not calling for mass deportation. He said, No, only people who have committed crimes. And then only until all of that is taken care of will we look at what we are going to do next.
As TDS progresses, the afflicted lose the ability to distinguish fantasy from reality. Despite Trumps expressed desire to work something out for the so-called Dreamers those brought here as very young children Trumps critics continue to harp on this issue.
TDS victims routinely compare Trump to Hitler: Time magazine ran an opinion piece that asked Just how similar is Donald Trump to Hitler? The answer: The comparison between Hitler and Trump is so poignant because both men represent their personal character as the antidote to all social and political problems.
Since Hitler has been dead for more than 70 years, though, victims may feel the need for a more potent bogeyman, a tyrant with more currency. And theyve found one in Russian President Vladimir Putin, whom they insist ordered a hacking campaign to help Trump win the election.
The other day, Tucker Carlson of Fox News interviewed TDS-riddled Rep. Adam Schiff, D-Calif. Carlson asked for evidence that Putins alleged machinations had any effect on the election. Unable to come up with a coherent answer, Schiff morphed into J. Edgar Hoover: Youre carrying water for the Kremlin, he said, youre going to have to move your show to Russia Today.
If you ask a TDS victim what might help them feel better, theyll use the word normalize. As in, we mustnt normalize Trump.
What theyre really saying is that normal means of dealing with him arent enough. Which raises the question: If hes another Hitler, if hes in league with Putin, then what response is out of the question?
The writer is an assistant professor at the University of Oklahoma, where she teaches fiction and nonfiction writing. She wrote this for the Dallas Morning News.
She was a princess, a senator and a general, and her unflinching competence inspired rebel soldiers, starry-eyed dreamers and scruffy-looking smugglers to trust her with their lives. Swashbuckling Jedi did her bidding.
When captured by the most terrifying creature in the galaxy, she scolded him like a child: Darth Vader, only you could be so bold. The Imperial Senate will not sit still for this. And no one, not once, ever looked down at her very young and almost fragile and asked, Who do you think you are?
Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan always knew exactly who she was. As we pay our respects to the woman who created her, we cant allow ourselves to confuse the two women, one real and one not, but perhaps we can be excused for occasionally allowing that line to blur.
Carrie Fisher gave Leias voice its grit. She carried off the costume, flawlessly designed for a rebel princess on the move with its high and tight neckline, easy-to-move-in flowing skirt, and sensibly flat-heeled boots. She convinced us that this was a princess who fought on the front lines and fomented espionage. And she did this at a time when the women watching her on the big screen lived lives that were limited in ways that are hard to grasp today, even for those of us who remember 1977.
There were no women in the U.S. Senate when Star Wars brought us Imperial Sen. Organa. In fact, no woman had ever been elected to a full term in the Senate without her husband having previously served in Congress. Nancy Kassebaum achieved that milestone a year later. There had never been a female general in the United States Marine Corps and the swearing-in of the first female Army general was only seven years in the past.
How did Fisher, living in that world, make us believe that she was a critical leader in a galactic rebellion? I have no idea, but Im glad she did. I was a 15-year-old girl sitting in the audience watching Star Wars in 1977, imagining my own exciting future, and I had no idea that Harvard was only then preparing to begrudgingly admit its first women. My world was doing its best to throttle any dreams I might have, but I was blissfully unaware of it because I was watching Princess Leia save the galaxy.
She was the princess I was looking for, and I cant move along without saying so.
I cannot tell you how many times my sister, Suzanne, and I have watched the original Star Wars movie, but every time Princess Leia picked up a blaster and announced to her clueless rescuers that, Somebody has to save our skins, Suzanne said, I want to go to the princess school that she went to!
So did I. Dont you?
Heck. The woman didnt just wield a blaster. When the spaceship standing between her body and the heartless vacuum of space got damaged, she didnt get flustered or fall apart. She picked up a welder and she fixed it.
Its not just our imaginations that blur the line between Fisher the actress and the iconic character who dominated her life but whom she never came to resent. Fishers surviving Star Wars script shows that she edited her own dialogue, helping create a smart, sharp-tongued, articulate character who had more than a little in common with the woman who has kept company with Leia for all these years.
Because she was open about her troubles, we know that Fisher struggled for the rest of her life with mental health issues that would have floored most of us. She was Hollywood royalty, so she could have traded on her fame for the rest of her life. Instead, she acted and wrote and spoke out about important causes. She lived her life. She played the cards she was dealt.
In the end, isnt that what Leia did? When a fascist empire threatened, she fought back. When it destroyed her home, her family, her entire planet, she picked herself up and went on. She lived her life. She played the cards she was dealt. We could all learn a lot from Princess Leia and Carrie Fisher.
Rest in peace, Your Worshipfulness.
51 days of demonetisation: The nightmare at the ATMs persist
India
oi-Vicky
By Vicky
New Delhi, Dec 30: It has been 51 days since the decision on demonetisation and today is the last day that people can exchange their demonetised currency at banks. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought 50 days time to ease the situation, but the question is whether things are any better?
The problems at ATMs still continue. Most ATMs are still not dispensing the Rs 500 note as yet and this has led to a change crunch with people holding currency of the higher denomination.
There continues to be an acute shortage of currency in the ATMs. While most of the ATMs have been dispensing cash, the problem is that it does not function 24/7. The value of currency being routed through the ATM network is also low. The cash withdrawal limits remain. While the withdrawal limit is Rs 2,500 from an ATM, most ATMs dispense only Rs 2,000 and this is due to the non-availability of the 500 notes.
The ATM nightmare:
Although there has been a marked improvement in the functioning of the ATMs it is not consistent. The currency notes being filled into ATMs continues to be negligible and this has only ensured that these machines do not work all the time.
Out of the total 220,000 ATMs in the country, 60 per cent are outsourced. A look at this statistic would give a fair idea of how grave the problem is. The CMS Infosystems which manages around 55,000 ATMs has seen a drop in the number of visits to the ATMs. Prior to the decision on demonetisation CMS would visit nearly 30,000 ATMs on a daily basis. However post the decision the number of visits have dropped down to anything between 11,000 and 13,000 ATM visits per day.
The drop in the number of visits is due to the cash crunch. The number of visits depends on the cash availability. Most ATMs do not have the Rs 500 notes. A majority of the ATMs have been dispensing only the Rs 2,000 notes and due to this many times there are no queues outside the banks. What do we do with the Rs 2,000 note asked one customer. None are willing to give us change, he also says.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi will address the nation at the dawn of the New Year. It is not clear what he would be speaking about. Some say he will take up the issue of demonetisation. After all he is the one who had sought for 50 days time. That deadline has ended and problem persists.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Friday, December 30, 2016, 8:30 [IST]
AgustaWestland: HC notice to Tyagi on plea challenging his bail
India
oi-Vicky
New Delhi, Dec 30: The Delhi High Court on Friday issued notices to former Air chief SP Tyagi in connection with the AgustaWestland case. The notice was issued on a plea by the CBI which challenged the bail granted to Tyagi.
[Also Read: AgustaWestland: SP Tyagi granted bail, asked to co-operate]
The CBI contended that granting bail at this juncture was fatal to the probe. Tyagi is needed for questioning as he is a key accused in the case the CBI also contended. The CBI said fresh leads have come up after replies came from 8 countries.
A special CBI court on Monday had granted bail to Tyagi. The court directed Tyagi to cooperate with the investigations. Futher the court also directed Tyagi to furnish a bail bond of Rs 2 lakh and also not leave Delhi until further orders.
The bail plea of the two other accused Sanjiv Tyagi and Gautam Khaitan will be pronounced on January 4.
Tyagi's counsel during the course of arguments informed the court that all documents relevant to the case had been handed over to the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate. Banks accounts, foreign trip details and details of properties had been handed over the counsel also submitted.
Meanwhile the Patiala House court has extended the judicial custody of two other accused Gautam Khaitan and Sanjeev Tyagi by 14 days. On Monday the court had reserved orders on the bail plea filed by the two accused. The same court had granted bail to Tyagi.
OneIndia News
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Delhi: CBI raids minister's OSD's office, Kejriwal cries foul
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Dec 30: The CBI on Friday raided Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain's OSD Nikunj Aggarwal's office at the Delhi Secretariat, drawing strong criticism from Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and his deputy Manish Sisodia.
A separate Central Bureau of Investigation CBI team raided the office of Anup Mohta, Director of Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya in east Delhi's Geeta Colony.
"Our team visited Aggarwal and Mohta's offices to recover some documents related to the case," said a CBI official.
The agency took the step a day after registering a case against Aggarwal, a senior resident at Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya, and Mohta on charges of criminal conspiracy and under the provisions of the Prevention of Corruption Act on the basis of a complaint from Delhi government's Deputy Secretary Vigilance K.S. Meena.
Reacting to the CBI raid, Kejriwal said Prime Minister Narendra Modi takes money from the corporates but conducts raids on honest people.
"You (Modi) take bribes from Sahara and Birla groups, papers of which are in the public domain, but you conduct raids on the honest people. Do whatever you want, but we are not afraid of your CBI threats," Kejriwal said in a video message.
Kejriwal, who is visiting Punjab, said Modi raided minister Satyendar Jain's office on Friday while a year back, he had conducted raid at his (Kejriwal) office too but got nothing.
"You (Modi) have unleashed all official agencies, including the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and the Income Tax Department on us but got nothing," the Aam Aadmi Party national convenor said.
Kejriwal said he will tell the people that Modi took bribe from corporates like Birla and Sahara as Gujarat Chief Minister.
"I challenge you (Modi) to get all our works investigated but we will also set up a committee to probe Sahara and Birla bribery scams. Are you ready for this? Tell me, if you have the guts," Kejriwal said.
"Last year, I said Modi ji is a coward and a psychopath. It will be proved if you don't agree for the probe."
The Vigilance Department complaiant said Aggarwal was appointed Senior Resident (ortho) in Chacha Nehru Bal Chikitsalaya on an ad hoc basis on August 10, 2015, even though there was no proposal to engage a Senior Sesident and no such post was available, the CBI official said.
The complaint said no advertisement was issued by the hospital for Aggarwal's selection and no walk-in interview was conducted.
A few days after Aggarwal's appointment as Senior Resident, his services were requisitioned for appointment as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to the Delhi Health Minister, the complaint said.
As per the residency scheme, the Resident Doctors are engaged for working in hospitals, and not for other duties, it added.
Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Sisodia accused Modi of harassing the AAP government with the help of agencies like the CBI, saying raids were carried out to divert attention from the evidence on Modi taking bribes from the Sahara and Birla groups and from the failure of demonetisation.
"We will not be intimidated but continue to tell the country of your (Modi's) corruption, show them evidence of you accepting bribes. You should fear for your role in the Sahara-Birla bribe case," Sisodia said.
Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP's) Delhi unit President Manoj Tiwari said Aggarwal's appointment as OSD was a clear case of nepotism.
"Had Kejriwal taken lesson from his Secretary Rajendra Kumar's matter and rectified irregularities in his government, today's (Friday) raid could have been avoided," he said.
IANS
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Delhi: Manish Sisodia's office robbed; police investigation on
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Dec 30: Delhi Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia's office was burgled late night on Thursday, the city police said. "There was a robbery at the Patparganj office of Deputy CM late night on Thursday. The exact time is not yet known," Deputy Commissioner of Police (East) Omvir Singh said.
[Also Read: We did good work for Delhi with Jung: Sisodia]
"The district forensic team has lifted finger-prints from the crime scene," Singh said.
"The office was being shifted and most of the articles were already moved. However, some documents and two computers were stolen," he added.
Aam Aadmi Party worker Pankaj Singh told IANS that the lock of the office was broken and some documents, including letterheads as well as CPUs of two computers, were missing.
"The burglers also turned away the CCTV cameras and took away the DVRs that had the recordings," Upendra Kumar, who is in-charge of the party office, said.
The police, along with a dog squad, came to Sisodia's office on Friday morning to investigate the theft, he added.
IANS
The much needed amendment and why SPG wont be a status symbol anymore
Former union minister Balasaheb Vikhe Patil passes away
India
oi-PTI
Mumbai, Dec 30: Former Union Minister and Congress leader Eknathrao alias Balasaheb Vikhe Patil passed away at his residence in Loni village in Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra on Friday evening following prolonged illness, his family said.He was 84.
Last rites of the veteran leader would be conducted with full state honours at Loni tomorrow noon, district collector Anil Kawade told PTI.
Vikhe Patil largely kept away from public life in the last couple of years due to his illness. His son Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil is a senior Congress leader and currently the Leader of Opposition in the state assembly.
Though a Congressman most of his career, Balasaheb was elected to Lok Sabha on Shiv Sena ticket in 1998 and became Minister of State for Finance in the NDA government.
He was subsequently elevated as Minister for Heavy Industries. He returned to the Congress fold in 2004. His father, Vitthalrao Vikhe-Patil, was instrumental in setting up Asia's first cooperative sugar mill at Loni.
PTI
Shallow water, rocky bottom may have led to so many deaths in Morbi tragedy
Gujarat:Mini-truck ploughs into procession, leaves 5 dead
India
oi-PTI
Ahmedabad, Dec 30: Five persons, including three children, were killed and three others were injured when they were run over by a mini-truck at a victory procession of a sarpanch in Sehra taluka of Panchmahal district on Friday, police said.
The accident occurred when the truck driver lost his control on the vehicle while going downhill on a road near Jethli-Bor village in evening. The deceased included a 6-year-old girl, two boys in age group of 16 to 17 and two men.
"Around 50 to 60 persons took out a procession to celebrate the victory of a local sarpanch who won in Gram Panchayat polls after Wednesday's counting. The deceased were also among the revellers who were walking ahead of the mini-truck which was also part of the procession," said Sehra police sub-inspector A A Chaudhary.
On Wednesday, counting of votes was held across Gujarat for more than 8000 Gram Panchayats, which went to polls on December 27. Primary facie, brake failure on a gradient caused the accident.
"As soon as the procession reached downhill slope, the truck, which was behind them, lost control and ploughed into the revellers. Five of them died on the spot while three others were injured.
"Since the truck was very old, there is a high possibility that its breaks failed," Chaudhary said. He said a case is being registered in this regard.
PTI
India slams China over Masood Azhar, calls it double standards
India
oi-IANS
By Ians English
New Delhi, Dec 30: With Beijing blocking its move to list JeM chief Masood Azhar as a UN designated terrorist, India on Friday said the development reflected "double standards" in the fight against terrorism and was "surprising" as China was itself a victim of terrorism.
"We note with concern China's decision to block the proposal to list Masood Azhar as a designated terrorist under the 1267 Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council which had been presented nine months ago and had received the strong backing of all other members of the Committee," said the Ministry of External Affairs in a statement.
"The inability of the international community to list its leader Masood Azhar is an unfortunate blow to the concerted efforts to effectively counter all forms of terrorism, and confirms prevalence of double standards in the fight against terrorism," it added.
In April, China had blocked India's move to label the Jaish-e-Mohammad chief a terrorist, a decision that had angered New Delhi which has been trying to convince Beijing to reconsider the decision. In September, it had extended its decision to put a technical hold on the UN's 1267 Committee declaring Azhar a terrorist by three months.
Calling the action surprising, the MEA statement said: "This decision by China is surprising as China herself has been affected by the scourge of terrorism and has declared opposition to all forms of terrorism.
"As a consequence of this decision, the UN Security Council has again been prevented from acting against the leader of a listed terrorist organisation," it added.
Seven Indian security personnel lost their lives when terrorists from across the border attacked the Indian Air Force base in Punjab's Pathankot early on January 2.
The Pakistan-based JeM claimed responsibility for the attack in which all the six terrorists also were reportedly killed.
"We had expected China would have been more understanding of the danger posed to all by terrorism and would join India and others in fighting the common challenge of terrorism," the statement added.
JeM was listed in the Security Council Committee 1267 list on October 17, 2001 for being associated with the Al Qaeda, Osama bin Laden or the Taliban for "participating in the financing, planning, facilitating, preparing or perpetrating of acts or activities related with terrorism".
IANS
Mehbooba Mufti gets notice to vacate official bungalow 'meant for J&K CMs'
Accession Day: Valley lights up on this day when J&K became part of India
Jammu and Kashmir: 3 injured as stone-pelting protesters clash with security forces
India
oi-PTI
Srinagar, Dec 30: Three persons were injured on Friday in security forces' action against a group of stone-pelting protesters in Pampore area of south Kashmir Pulwama district.
[Also Read: No stone pelting in Kashmir since PM's daring move: Parrikar on demonetisation]
Security forces conducted search operations in Naristan and Samboora areas of the district in the morning following information about movement of suspicious persons there, a police official said.
As the security forces were withdrawing after concluding the operations, some youth started pelting stones at them, he said.
Three persons were injured as security personnel fired a few rounds to disperse the mob, the official said adding the injured have been admitted to a hospital in Srinagar for treatment.
PTI
Masarat Alam: J&K separatist who has 'anti-India written in his blood'
India
oi-Vicky
By Vicky
Srinagar, Dec 30: In April 2015 a senior official from Jammu and Kashmir had said separatist Masarat Alam should be tried and convicted failing which he will keep coming out of jail only to be re-arrested. The officer was not wrong. Alam, one of the most dreaded separatists of the Valley was ordered to be released by the Jammu and Kashmir high court only to be re-arrested in a matter of a few hours.
Alam was to fill in the vacuum that has been created with the popularity of Syed Ali Shah Geelani fading. Alam is known for fanning an anti-Indian sentiment. When he was detained in 2015, his detention order read, "This man has anti-India written in his blood."
[Why Masarat Alam is worse than Geelani]
The man who has anti-India written in his blood:
Alam's anti-India sentiments are well known to all. He is considered second only to Syed Geelani when it comes to fanning such sentiments. He is the one who had written a song called 'Bharat ko de ragda' which means stamp India out.
Alam is also famous for painting the walls of Kashmir with anti India messages and the most popular one was Go India Go. It is almost 20 years now since he has been undertaking this tirade and over the years he has grown from strength to strength. Alam, 43, was first arrested when he was 20 as he had declared open support to the armed struggle of 1989 against India. That was the first time that the Public Safety Act was slapped on him. He then remained in jail until 1996.
In June 2014, an order by the deputy commissioner of Sringar which slapped the Public Safety Act against him read, "The hardline separatist has anti India sentiment in his blood." This order was issued in a bid to stop street violence that occurred in 2008 and 2010. After his release in 1996, he joined the Muslim League and was very vocal in his views that Kashmir should be part of Pakistan.
Since then, there have been at least 27 cases against him which include attempt to murder and sedition. As a part of the Hurriyat, he raised the Amarnath land issue for the first time in 2008. He had opposed tooth and nail the decision to grant forest land for the Amarnath pilgrimage.
He was immediately arrested and then released in 2010. The year 2009 witnessed massive street protests in the Valley. The protests continued the next year and after his release from jail, he only joined the movement and fanned the sentiments against India further.
This was the same time that he had penned the 'ragda' song. The street protests resulted in over 110 deaths. The protests had left India extremely worried as it was seen as a situation going back to square one after all the efforts that were put in to restore peace.
OneIndia News
Mulayam calls meet of those allotted tickets by him on Dec 31
India
oi-PTI
Lucknow, Dec 30: With the Samajwadi Party staring at a possible split due to open rebellion by Akhilesh Yadav, party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav has called a meeting on Saturday of all those allotted tickets by him. The Chief Minister's camp, however, remained adamant on contesting against the official candidates of the party.
Hectic attempts were said to be underway on Friday by Mulayam to avert a split after the crisis reached a flash point late last night when Akhilesh "circulated" his own list of 235 candidates for the upcoming Assembly elections, parallel to the party's official list of 393 nominees.
Mulayam has convened a meeting in Lucknow on December 31 of the 393 candidates who have been allotted tickets by him. Uttar Pradesh Assembly has 403 seats. Party insiders see the meeting with immense significance as the SP chief was likely gauge the sentiments of the candidates and conduct a fresh review of the list amid fears that the battle for control in SP left the party cadres divided and highly confused at grassroots level.
This morning, Shivpal Yadav, the uncle of Akhilesh, met his brother Mulayam for nearly an hour, but it was not immediately known what transpired at the meeting. Shivpal did not answer questions of reporters waiting outside Mulayam's residence.
Mulayam's cousin and SP General Secretary Ramgopal Yadav, who is Akhilesh supporter, asserted that there was no question of going back on the list prepared by the Chief Minister.
In an apparent attack on Shivpal, Ramgopal said many in the party do not want to see Akhilesh as Chief Minister again.
"But, the fact remains that people of the state want him back as CM," he claimed.
He said Mulayam had convened a meeting on January 1 to take a final call on ticket distribution, "but due to pressure (from Shivpal), he announced the list on December 28".
Akhilesh's list, which did not carry any signature, was made available on social media last night by defiant party MLAs who failed to get a ticket in the official list. Party observers said since names of 170 to 180 candidates figured in both the lists, it would be interesting to watch if they attended the meeting convened by Mulayam or opt out.
Akhilesh, who was present at an official function this morning, did not take questions from media persons. Though Akhilesh loyalists were enthusiastic to fight the elections "in the name of and as the face of the CM", it was still not clear as to whether they would fight as Independents or float a new party.
Prominent among those figuring in the list of Akhilesh are his hardcore loyalists -- ministers Arvind Singh Gope, Pawan Pandey and Ram Govind Chaudhary, who were denied ticket by Mulayam.
PTI
PM finally meets all party delegation from Karnataka
India
oi-Anusha
By Anusha Ravi
Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah led an all party delegation to meet Prime Minister Modi on Friday. The meet comes weeks after Siddaramaiah highlighted failed attempts to secure an appointment with the Prime minister. He had alleged that the Prime minister wasn't willing to give an appointment to the all party delegation by Karnataka.
Siddaramaiah led delegation included Union minister's Nirmala Seetharaman, D V Sadananda Gowda and Ananthkumar. Other BJP leaders from the state including former Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and K S Eshwarappa were also present. Ministers in the Siddaramaiah cabinet Krishna Byregowda as well as H D Revanna from the JD(S) were part of the delegation.
The delegation briefed the PM of the water woes that the state is facing. The delegation appraised the PM of the drought situation in the state. Highlighting the Mahadayi river water sharing issue, the state once again urged for centre's intervention to help riparian states reach amicable agreement.
During the meeting, Karnataka asked for drought relief of Rs 4702 crore. A crop relief of Rs 386 crore due to flooding was also sought.
OneIndia News
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Story first published: Friday, December 30, 2016, 21:29 [IST]
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Triple talaq goes tech-savvy: Now valid on email, phones and messsages
India
oi-Vicky
Bengaluru, Dec 30: There is a raging debate on triple talaq and the Supreme Court of India too has seized off the matter. But Islamic seminaries in Deoband have decided to go ahead and state that triple talaq over the phone is valid. The fatwa says that triple talaq can be pronounced through emails and messages too.
Also read: HC verdict will boost Muslim women's rights, says SC petitioner
From Islamic point of view, triple talaq pronounced by the husband to his wife over phone would be valid, the Fatwa department of the seminary has said. Maulana Arshad Farooqi of the department, however, clarified that divorce over phone would be valid only if the husband is in his senses.
Farooqi goes on to state that the husband can also divorce his wife through a letter, email or even a message. He says that in this age of technology, divorce through such electronic communication is necessary provided the same is verified that it was pronounced by the husband.
The SC is hearing a matter pertaining to triple talaq in which it has been sought to declare the practise as illegal. The court has sought the opinion of the Union government on the subject as well.
The government is in favour of declaring this process as illegal. However, the All India Muslim Law Personal Board has objected and says that this practise must continue.
OneIndia News
'If Delhi is to be saved from Islamic State': Giriraj Singh urges people to vote for BJP
Rahul should be sent back to school to know what ministries exist under Centre: Giriraj Singh
Union MSME minister provides assistance under 'Mudra Yojana'
India
oi-PTI
Port Blair, Dec 30 Union Minister Giriraj Singh today praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for taking a bold step like demonetisation. He was attending a 'Mudra Loan Distribution & Solar Charkha' demonstration function at the Dr B R Ambedkar auditorium here today.
For the first time since Independence, the nation got a Prime Minister who brought smiles on faces of poor people, acknowledged vulnerability of women and initiated anti-corruption movement without worrying about results, the Union Minister of State for Micro Small and Medium Enterprises said.
"Narendra Modi took a bold step in demonetising old Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes to check corruption and black money and the whole nation is with him," he said. Speaking on the occasion, the minister also said that Prime Minister launched various schemes which are aimed at helping the poor section of the society, especially women and differently abled persons and Mudra Yojana is one such scheme, which provides financial assistance for setting up micro, small and medium enterprises for self employment.
He also said that these islands are fortunate to have a Lt Governor, who takes in account the grievances faced by the economically weaker section while preparing the plans. Besides, he expressed hope that the motto of the Prime Minister, sabka saath, sabka vikas will not only flourish in the Islands but every islander will be provided employment opportunity.
The minister then provided financial assistance to 11 women under Mudra Yojana at a Mudra Loan Distribution & Solar Charkha Demonstration function. The minister also launched a BMC website, www.greenwearbuy.com with Lt. Governor, Prof Jagdish Mukhi and distributed e-rickshaw keys to as many as 6 women on the occasion. The programme was organized by the Bharatiya Micro Credit (BMC), Port Blair.
The Managing Director of BMC, Vijay Pandey demonstrated the solar charkha functioning, which is powered by solar energy and informed that the charkha is easy to operate. It can be provided with solar looms, dying and colouring machines to enable women prepare garments in their home and generate income, he said.
PTI
Body in burned car raises fears for missing Greek ambassador
International
oi-PTI
Rio De Janeiro, Dec 30 The discovery of a burned-out car in Rio state with a body inside have sparked fears that it might be that of the Greek ambassador to Brazil, missing since Monday.
Rio police were examining the corpse and scene yesterday but could not say whether it was that of the envoy, 59-year-old Kyriakos Amiridis. "The information that we can confirm right now is that we have found a car in (the district of) Nova Iguacu with a body and it is being investigated," a source in the homicide squad told AFP.
The source would not say whether the license plate of the car was from the rental the ambassador was using, nor when DNA results on the body would be back. Amiridis had been on vacation with his family in Rio de Janeiro's northern Nova Iguacu area since December 21. He was due to fly back to Brasilia on January 9, a Greek embassy official told AFP. But he went missing on Monday night, after going out of the apartment they were renting and taking the car, according to Brazilian media.
His Brazilian wife formally declared him missing on Wednesday. The Brazilian news website published photos of the burned car found on the slope of a busy suburban thoroughfare. It reported that police "suspected" the body inside to be that of the ambassador.
The Greek foreign ministry had earlier issued a statement saying that after Amiridis was declared missing, "the full mobilisation of all the competent Brazilian authorities was requested." Amiridis was named ambassador this year.
He had previously served as Greece's consul general in Rio from 2001 to 2004. He served as Greece's ambassador to Libya from 2012 to 2016. He is married and has a daughter, according to the embassy in Brasilia.
AFP
China, Nepal to conduct first ever joint military drill
International
oi-PTI
Kathmandu, Dec 29 Nepal and China will hold their first ever joint military exercise early next year. Chinese Defence Ministry Spokesperson Yang Yujun said China and Nepal had been in "initial communication" on the military exercise, and that the details would be released in due course of time.
Although Nepal has been holding joint military exercises with other countries including India and the United States, this is the first time Nepali military would be holding such an exercise with China.
According to reports, the military drill will be held in February next year and will focus on training Nepali soldiers in dealing with hostage scenarios involving international terror groups, My Republica reported. The new development is seen as China's growing interest in the Himalayan republic since the deterioration of relations between Nepal and India due to the border blockade last year, the daily said.
PTI
Nobel laureates urge UN to intervene in Myanmar's Rohingya crisis
International
oi-PTI
United Nations, Dec 30 More than a dozen Nobel laureates have urged the United Nations to "end the human crisis" of Myanmar's Rohingya minority group, whose members have been fleeing to Bangladesh to escape a bloody military crackdown.
In an open letter addressed to the UN Security Council yesterday, 23 Nobel laureates, politicians, philanthropists and activists said "a human tragedy amounting to ethnic cleansing and crimes against humanity is unfolding in Myanmar." They also criticised the country's leader Aung San Suu Kyi -- herself a Nobel Peace Prize winner -- for what they called a lack of initiative to protect the Rohingyas.
"We are frustrated that she has not taken any initiative to ensure full and equal citizenship rights of the Rohingyas," the group wrote. In recent weeks, more than 27,000 people belonging to the persecuted Muslim minority -- a group loathed by many of Myanmar's Buddhist majority -- have fled a Burmese military operation in Rakhine state launched in response to the attack of border posts by armed groups.
Rohingya survivors say they suffered rape, murder and arson at the hands of soldiers -- accounts that have raised global alarm and galvanised protests around Southeast Asia. Bangladesh's government has been under pressure to open its border to the fleeing refugees, but it has reinforced its border posts and deployed coastguard ships to prevent fresh arrivals.
"The Rohingyas are among the world's most persecuted minorities, who for decades have been subjected to a campaign of marginalization and dehumanisation," said the authors -- among them peace prize winners Desmond Tutu, Shirin Ebadi and Jose Ramos-Horta.
They asked the 15-member Security Council to add the "crisis" to its agenda "as a matter of urgency, and to call upon the secretary-general to visit Myanmar in the coming weeks" -- either current UN chief Ban Ki-moon, or his successor Antonio Guterres, who will take over the post next month.
"If we fail to take action, people may starve to death if they are not killed with bullets, and we may end up being the passive observers of crimes against humanity which will lead us once again to wring our hands belatedly and say 'never again' all over again," the letter said.
The Rohingya have languished under years of dire poverty and discrimination from a government that denies them citizenship. The UN and other rights groups have repeatedly called on Myanmar to grant them full rights.
AFP
Pakistan: LeT's student wing protest US terror tag
International
oi-PTI
Islamabad, Dec 31: Dozens of activists from a student wing of the banned anti-India Lashkar-e-Taiba militant group have rallied in Islamabad to condemn a recent US ban on their organisation.
The protest comes two days after the US State Department designated the Al-Muhammadia Students wing a terrorist organization. At Friday's protest, Hafzala Ahmed, an Al-Muhammadia Students activist, said that they are being maligned by Washington to appease India.
He said they are not linked to Lashkar-e-Taiba, which was founded by Pakistani cleric Hafiz Saeed. India blames Lashkar-e-Taiba for the 2008 Mumbai terror attacks that killed 166 people.
Pakistan has banned Lashkar-e-Taiba but Saeed still operates openly in the country. He often addresses rallies against India on the issue of Kashmir, which is divided between Pakistan and India and claimed by both.
PTI
Ukraine grain deal: UN says shipments are still going out
UN envoy welcomes announcement of nationwide ceasefire in Syria
International
oi-IANS
By Ians English
Geneva, Dec 30 UN Special Envoy for Syria Staffan de Mistura welcomed the announcement of a nationwide ceasefire between the Syrian government and the country's armed opposition groups, which is to come into effect on Friday.
The special envoy on Thursday, through a statement issued by his spokesperson, noted that a comprehensive cessation of hostilities remains a "cornerstone" for the peace process in the war-torn country, Xinhua news reports.
He wished that the implementation of the agreement will save civilian lives, facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance across Syria, and pave the way for productive talks in the Kazakhstan's capital city Astana.
"These developments should contribute to inclusive and productive intra-Syrian negotiations to be convened under UN auspices on February 8 of 2017," Mistura added.
The Syrian government and the core groups of the so-called moderate opposition reached a ceasefire agreement and expressed their readiness to start intra-Syrian talks on Thursday. The Syrian army then declared that a nationwide cessation of hostilities will go into effect as of midnight Friday.
IANS
Half baked measures? An 'oops' moment for BJP on demonetisation
New Delhi
oi-Vicky
New Delhi, Dec 30: The BJP which is facing a fierce opposition over the issue of demonetisation had an 'oops' moment thanks to a banner slip-up. BJP's Udit Raj, who took out a march in New Delhi, had to face embarrassment due to a banner slip up. The banner in Hindi read 'ardh vyavastha' (half-measures) instead of 'arth vyavastha (finance).'
The rally taken out by Raj was meant to mark the 50th day of demonetisation. The BJP MP was trying to tell people about the importance of a cashless economy and also promote e-banking.
The banner had all that the MP was trying to convey about the importance of a cashless economy as well the importance of digital transactions. The only problem was that instead of spelling the Hindi word as 'arth vyavastha' the banner read 'ardh vyavastha' which means half-measures.
Ironically this is exactly what the opposition has been accusing the Union government of. The opposition has torn into the government stating that the arrangements made after the November 8 decision on demonetisation have been half baked or incomplete.
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Yes it's that time of the year again end of year stock market performance review season. And predictions for 2017.
Which market sector outperformed all others in 2016? Knowing which sector has been hot could point to where you should invest in 2017.
Investors looking for the strongest performer for the U.S. stock market's price action this year need look no further than stocks in the energy sector. Yes, you heard it right.
With a market-thumping +25% return, 'Energy' has been the top performing sector S&P sector in 2016 proving that oil is indeed alive and kicking.
The Year in Review
Oil's 2016 journey was marked by sudden sharp sell-offs followed by swift recoveries. However, with crude's wild ride, we saw some big winners and big losers as well. So essentially, investors with good stock-picking skills made a lot of money, while those who bet on the wrong stocks got absolutely hammered.
By February, prices plunged all the way to a low of $26 per barrel, thanks to the boom in shale oil production and rising output from OPEC. The dramatic slide prompted several analysts to make bold calls on a potential bottom. While some suggested prices might drop as low as $20 a barrel, gloomier estimates called for a sensational $10-per-barrel floor.
But thankfully, none of these bone-chilling forecasts were correct.
A historic OPEC production cut agreement, together with help from non-OPEC producers and slashing investments (in existing and new wells) have seen oil prices more than double from their February lows to $52.
Energy Roadmap for 2017
Yes, oil had a great 2016 but what about 2017? Will history repeat itself?
While its hard to predict whether oil will double again and energy will outperform all other sectors next year, there's reason to believe that 2017 could be an excellent one for oil stocks.
After a 2 year bear market, the rig counts both U.S. and International have bottomed and activity is starting to bounce off slowly. Oil has rebounded from its multi-year lows reached earlier in 2016 and while the commodity may not be at a level many thought it would be at the end of the year, even at todays price certain companies are in a position to earn profits.
Story continues
Throughout the downturn, producers worked tirelessly to cut costs down to a bare minimum and look for innovative ways to churn out more oil from rock. And they managed to do just that by improving drilling techniques and extracting favorable terms from the beleaguered service producers.
With these efforts, many upstream companies have repositioned themselves to thrive even at lower prices. Moreover, lower capital expenditures have led to numerous project cancellations and production losses - another step in reducing the glut of crude.
The deal by members of the OPEC oil cartel to cut output is expected to bring much needed stability to the market with prices set to improve steadily. Multinational oil enterprises, on the back of greater certainty, will now be able revive spending on drilling activities.
Thus, there's a possibility that the sector will see a replay of 2016 - with attractive upside potential and good returns.
Momentum Investing to the Rescue
As evident from the energy market story, stocks can take a sudden turn for the good (or bad), making stock picking a risky game. Every good stock also has its bad day, which further adds to the risk. At the same time, this volatility can be exploited to make significant profits, which is where the Momentum Style Score enters the picture.
The Momentum Style Score is an indication of the time to buy a stock to benefit from rising share prices. The highest score is an A, so getting in on an A and out on a B or C could be a strategy for short term gains. For a more in-depth understanding, check out our Style Score System.
But investors should bear in mind that this is a speculative strategy and not meant for the weak-of-heart.
That said, we pair the Momentum Style Score of A with a Zacks Rank of #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy), which as you know indicates stocks with high chances of outperforming the market over the next 1-3 months. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
One of the main factors driving the Zacks Rank is estimate revisions, so stocks with high ranks as well as high momentum scores have even greater chances of short-term appreciation.
Here, weve picked out five energy stocks for momentum investors based primarily on these two factors.
Our Choices
Newfield Exploration Co. NFX: Sporting a Zacks Rank #1, Woodlands, TX-based Newfield Exploration is an independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas onshore in the U.S.
Royal Dutch Shell plc RDS.A: The Hague-based Royal Dutch Shell is one of the largest publicly traded oil and gas companies in the world, based on proved reserves. Shell currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
InterOil Corp. IOC: InterOil holding Zacks Rank #2 is a U.S.-listed, independent oil and gas company with assets in Papua New Guinea.
Stone Energy Corp. SGY: Lafayette, LA-based Stone Energy is an independent oil and gas exploration and production company engaged in the acquisition and subsequent exploration, development, operation and production of oil and gas properties located primarily in the Gulf of Mexico. Stone Energy currently has a Zacks Rank #2.
Bill Barrett Corp. BBG: Headquartered in Denver, CO, Bill Barrett with a Zacks Rank #2 is an independent oil and gas developer in the Denver-Julesburg Basin of Colorado and the Uinta Basin of Utah
Bottom Line
If you are looking for fresh picks that have potential to move in the right direction, definitely keep the 5 abovementioned stocks on your list as these looks well-positioned to soar in 2017.
Where Do Zacks' Investment Ideas Come From?
You are welcome to download the full, up-to-the-minute list of 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buy" stocks free of charge. There is no better place to start your own stock search. Plus you can access the full list of must-avoid Zacks Rank #5 "Strong Sells" and other private research. See the stocks free >>
Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report
INTEROIL CORP (IOC): Free Stock Analysis Report
ROYAL DTCH SH-A (RDS.A): Free Stock Analysis Report
NEWFIELD EXPL (NFX): Free Stock Analysis Report
STONE ENERGY CP (SGY): Free Stock Analysis Report
BILL BARRETT CP (BBG): Free Stock Analysis Report
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Brazil Regulation Vote Put On Hold Again
Published December 30, 2016 by Lee R
Corruption and moral decay are major deterrents to the court of public opinion.
Brazils gambling legislation has been delayed many times over the last 25 years, and it looks as if 2017 will not be an exception.
Half Year Imminence
A recent Congressional vote rendering Brazilian regulation imminent has already turned into an approximate half year real time wait for licenses to be issued and operations to commence--hopefully.
Corruption Interferes
Gambling legislation only requires one more vote. However, the Brazilian government has more pressing issues to address first, such as the Supreme Court injunction removing Senate President Renan Calheiros from office as a result of his indictment for embezzlement.
Vote to Cancel
A vote of 44 to 19 has cancelled the prospects of a final vote originally for December to choose one of two competing gambling bills the Senates 186/2014 and the Chamber of Deputies 442/1991.
Back to Committee
The reroute was announced Tuesday by gambling proponent and Senator Fernando Bezerra Coelho, who informed Radio Jornal de Pernambuco that Bill 186/2014 had been sent to the Committee on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship (CCJ).
Rationale
The reason given for the vote to return PLS 186/2014 to the CCJ House Committee on Constitution, Justice and Citizenship was to continue discussion and research on individual points of the current bill.
Spring Hope
As for a time frame for a final Parliamentary vote, Coelho suggested it might take until March, April, (to) gather support necessary for the activity of gambling to be legalized in Brazil.
Moral Argument
In addition to public distrust of corruption, the moral issue came to the forefront when Brazils Catholic clergy urged the nation to oppose gambling liberalization in order to prevent irreparable moral, social and family damage.
Prospects
With the stigma of corruption and fear of moral decline real, Brazils final vote on iGaming legislation could be the longest wait, despite the promise of supporting lawmakers of the much-needed boost regulation offers to Brazils struggling economy.
Codeta Casino Enters UK Market with New Gaming Licence
Published December 30, 2016 by Mike P
Codeta Casino is ready for business in the UK after securing a new licence to share more than 70 dealer games plus hundreds of video slots.
Codeta Casino is an ambitious new brand that has been opened by Swedish gaming experts. The casino places a strong emphasis on live dealers, but it also has hundreds of video slots that are compatible on mobile devices. After launching with Malta and Curacao licences, Codeta Casino is now accessible to Great British residents after securing a licence with the UK Gambling Commission (UKGC).
Live Dealer Games
Codeta Casino has amassed more than 70 live dealer tables after acquiring software from NetEnt and Evolution Gaming. The blackjack tables and roulette wheels are loaded with variants like French and America, plus standard or VIP. Outside of these live variants, the casino is also able to share baccarat, Ultimate Texas holdem, Caribbean Stud, and more.
Video Slot Software
NetEnt, IGT, and Microgaming are three of the most recognisable slot providers, but Codeta Casino also has content from Booming Games, Authentic Gaming, 1X2 and, Playn GO. The slot games have a number of the biggest releases in 2016, including Jungle Jim: El Dorado, Jimi Hendrix, Guns N Roses, Motorhead, Lost Vegas, and Fairytale Legends: Red Riding Hood.
Compatible Setup
Codeta Casino attained its UKGC after meeting quality standards in a number of areas. In terms of compatibility, this is a casino that does not require installation. Players can have instant access to Codeta Casino simply by using their account to sign in on different devices, including Android and iOS as the principal mobile platforms.
Drew Dhanraj Benedicte Gravrand, Opalesque Geneva for New Managers:
Grand Cayman-based Bell Rock Group, a provider of Cayman Islands hedge funds governance services, is launching the Evolution Offshore Emerging Manager Platform in the first quarter of 2017. The platform aims to support new and existing fund managers who want to launch an offshore fund, build a track record and raise capital.
"We can welcome an unlimited number of funds to the platform," executive director Drew Dhanraj told Opalesque. "From discussions, certain managers may want to run different strategies or share classes for specific investors and separate funds can be launched on the platform if they so wish. This is also useful to many managers who have traditionally been running managed accounts but perhaps wish to run a single investor offshore fund. However, we expect new managers to launch on the platform where they have traditionally been employed at a leading financial institutions but now wish to spin-out and run their own offshore fund, lock in seed capital, start building a track record and raising investment capital."
The turnkey fund launch solution includes independent legal counsel, board support, corporate services, independent directors, fund administrator, custodian and auditor. Other optional services available include introductio......................
To view our full article Click here
There is no other way to put it, the non-stop demonizing and provoking Russian President Vladimir Putin and nuclear armed Russia is absolute insanity.
Read investigative reporter Robert Parry's latest, "Escalating the Risky Fight with Russia" [1] with his thorough analysis of the Russia bashing by the Obama administration, the neo-con and liberal interventionists, the New York Times, Washington Post editorial writers plus the reactionary fools in Congress pushing for "crippling sanctions against Russia" and one comes away believing madness has gripped "official" Washington and all its complicit enablers.
Accusations, allegations abound yet no factual evidence is given to substantiate Russian hacking in the election favoring Trump. Russia's successful intervention in Syria on the side of Syrian President Bashar Assad is condemned as is the recent liberation of the people from the beheading al Qaeda jihadist terrorists in east Aleppo by the Syrian Arab Army. After the US inspired coup in Kiev, Ukraine in 2014 it was Russia "invading" Crimea rather than the reality of the Russian military legally stationed in Crimea preventing any violence and assisting the mostly Russian speaking people in Crimea to vote overwhelmingly in a referendum to secede from Ukraine and join the Russian Federation. Or Russia "invading" in eastern Ukraine on the side of the Russian speaking people when in fact it was the post government in Kiev sending in its "Right Sector" neo- Nazi militias to invade and kill the ethnic Russian speaking population in the east. Or the downing of the Malaysian passenger jet in July, 2014 immediately blamed on the Russian backed rebels in eastern Ukraine when in fact it was only the post coup Kiev governments forces that had ground to air missiles and fighter jets capable of downing the airliner.
Then there was Putin accused of building up his military forces to invade the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia. An inane accusation considering Putin is no fool as all NATO countries would then be required to come to their aid.
What seems gone down the western "memory hole" is the agreement between the Bush Sr. administration and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev in 1989 that NATO would not "move one inch to the east" if East and West Germany were allowed to reunite.
That pledge was first reneged by Bill Clinton, then "Dubya" Bush and now Obama with NATO expanding to all the former "Warsaw Pact" countries of Poland, Hungary, Bulgaria, Romania, Czech Republic, Slovakia, Albania, the Baltic countries of Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia and the former Yugoslav countries of Croatia and Slovenia. Then with the US backed coup in Ukraine in 2014, though not a member, NATO is literally on the doorstep of Russia.
Such provocations are not lost on Putin or the Russian people who are no longer the pathetic remnants of Russia under President Boris Yeltsin after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991.
As Putin related to the Russian Defense Ministry prior to the Christmas holiday, "We can say with certainty: We are stronger than any potential aggressor". "Anyone". Undoubtedly this was meant not only for the Russian people but also "official" Washington.
The question is: Is anyone in "official" Washington listening? Or are they so consumed with their own self importance, arrogant, exceptional, entitled of the "indispensible" country believing its "Full Spectrum Dominance" hypothesis still prevailed, that Russia remains a two bit non entity that eventually will accept US hegemony or crumble under some neo-con inspired "regime change".
Consider, the Soviet Union suffered some 27 million casualties during WWII. No family was left untouched by Hitler's Nazi invasion. The Russian people know war and its tragic consequences. They do not want war but are prepared to defend their country at all costs.
Yet madness has gripped "official" Washington with regards to Russia.
While a new administration is coming to power in three weeks and Trump has indicated he wants to work with Putin it may be stretch to expect him to pull it off considering the neo-cons have been in control of US foreign policy and want no detente re-set with Russia.
From here this is Trump's most important foreign policy challenge. Let's hope he prevails.
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When you learn that a coworker in a similar position is making more money than you, it can stir up intense feelings of jealousy and amplify your insecurities. You work just as hard! You do the same job! Why don't you get the pay you deserve?
Instead of focusing on your personal flaws, take note of what your coworker is doing right. There are lots of variables that go into determining how much to pay employees. Even when you think you're doing all the right things, chances are you could be doing more.
Gaining that competitive edge that brings a higher salary is probably simpler than you think. Just make sure you're not overlooking these key reasons your co-worker may be earning more than you:
1. She negotiated more aggressively
One of the worst mistakes you can make going into a job is accepting an offer without doing your research. Companies don't want to hand out more money than they need to, so their first offer is likely on the conservative side. Pushing back on an initial offer is necessary in order to get the salary you want and deserve.
But make sure you do your research first. Coming back with a counter offer that is much higher than the industry standard is a surefire way to show that you aren't salary-savvy.
"You need to figure out your market value and negotiate for a market adjustment," says Caroline Ceniza-Levine, career expert at SixFigureStart. "If the idea of negotiating makes you nervous, work to get over this because you'll need to negotiate to fix your situation, regardless of the underlying reason."
Whether you are negotiating an initial offer or a raise, you need fair numbers and a strong understanding of why you're worth the money.
2. His timing was better
As frustrating as it may be, if you were hired during a season of economic scarcity, chances are that you may not be making as much as employees who were brought on when the company was prospering. If you know that you were hired at a time when business was tough, asses the current economic climate and see if it might be time to revisit your salary.
Story continues
"Sometimes new hires join a company at a higher salary because the company pays more to attract them," says Ceniza-Levine. Make sure you know the current market value for your job, and make sure you're broaching the subject at a stable time.
If the timing is right, make sure you have a strong case for your increase. Bring up your contributions and how you have helped your company move past those times of economic hardship. Coming into the fold during a difficult time may actually set you up for more success now, because it shows your adaptability and hard work.
3. She doesn't let a good job go unnoticed
In the workplace, humility can be overrated.
If you want your boss to recognize your efforts, keeping your nose to the grindstone isn't always going to do it. You need to keep track of how your hard work benefits the company and other employees, and bring attention to yourself when the timing is appropriate. Tooting your own horn may be uncomfortable for you, but if you want to earn more, you need to demonstrate why you deserve to.
4. He remembers to dress to impress
In a perfect world, perhaps looks wouldn't factor into a person's money-making ability, but the reality is, the way you present yourself matters. Taking pride in your appearance in business and in social situations can have an impact on your earning potential.
Those who dress the part and keep spirits high are more likely to be noticed in a positive way, so make sure you are putting your best foot forward, especially if you are looking to ask for a raise. You want to make sure everything about you leaves a good impression, from your work to your wardrobe.
5. She has a better background
Before landing a similar position to you, your coworker may have done some impressive work elsewhere to attract a higher salary. Or she may have developed skills that you didn't. More general experience, more functional expertise in that role, or more industry knowledge relevant to the company can a have a big impact on salary negotiations, according to Ceniza-Levine.
"To bridge the gap, you need to shore up your expertise, knowledge or skills," says Ceniza-Levine. First, she recommends evaluating whether or not you're worth what you're asking. "Confirm that your job is as valuable as you think are you working on projects and clients that are important to the current strategy of the company? Are you delivering results that matter?"
Just because you're jealous of your coworker doesn't mean you are owed more money. Ceniza Levine also warns that roles that appear the same might actually be more different than you think. "Just because you work in the same group or sit side-by-side doesn't mean your projects, clients or results have the same value."
So make sure you work is actually worth what you think it is, and then make your case.
Gemma Hartley is a full-time freelance writer whose work has appeared in The Washington Post, Glamour, Women's Health, Redbook Magazine, and more.
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On January 3, 2017, a very important window will open. All constitutional experts agree that President Obama has the power to appoint a justice of his choosing and fill the vacancy on the Supreme Court, without a Senate confirmation hearing. On that day, and that day alone.
The process is called, as he knows, an inter-session recess appointment. It would without question succeed in placing a justice of his choosing on the court for at least one year. Failure to do so would guarantee a politically motivated, right-wing majority for decades to come.
Obama's critics say that a recess appointment would be bad form, or an expression of bitterness after a failed election. Far from it. The New York Times is quite correct in dubbing the open court seat as The Stolen Supreme Court Seat. It bears repeating that this appointment was President Barack Obama's to make. Open and shut.
Should Obama walk away from that, he would validate and legitimatize the Republican act of piracy. Moreover, he would be complicit in the greatest judicial coup in U.S. history. He would in effect become an active partner, a facilitator to the injustice.
While the appointment is Obama's to make as President of the United States, the seat belongs to the American people, and it is the American people whose best interests Obama is sworn to act upon.
There are two arguments that are often cited against a recess appointment. The first is that it would only be guaranteed to last one year, until December 2017. The second is that Judge Merrick Garland is currently Chief Judge of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit. It's a very prestigious post, and Garland might not want to give up that position for an appointment, even a Supreme Court appointment, that might only last a year.
To the first point, that a recess appointment would only last a year and that presumably not much changes in a year: Senator Mitch McConnell laid waste to that argument. He bought a year and stands poised to reshape the court for decades. A lot can change in a year. If McConnell finds himself on the receiving end of a one-year delay, he will probably call it treason.
To the argument that Garland might opt to return to the D.C. Court of Appeals rather than accept a one-year stint on the Supreme court: Obama is not tethered to the Garland nomination. He can place Garland or any qualified candidate of his choosing during a recess appointment.
Obama must not lose sight of what is at stake. It is not just his approval rating. It is the composition of the U.S. Supreme Court for decades to come. Obama acts in this regard not just on behalf of all Americans, but particularly on behalf of those who supported his ascension to the presidency. Among those constituents, support for a recess appointment would be overwhelming.
The perception of American voters is that Democrats don't fight. It cost them dearly at the polls this time and it will cost them every time, until they demonstrate that they will.
The composition of the Supreme Court is arguably of greater consequence than the office of the president. This is an enormously important decision. People are waiting to see a Democrat, any Democrat, stand up and make a fight.
Obama can lead that fight or run away from it. But he can't do both.
Reader Supported News is the Publication of Origin for this work. Permission to republish is freely granted with credit and a link back to Reader Supported News.
Static and Rotating Equipment (Oil and Gas) Market To Reach US$ 35,500.00 Million By 2022
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New York, December 27: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Static and Rotating Equipment (Oil and Gas) Market by Static Equipment (Valves, Boilers, Furnaces, and Heat Exchangers [Shell and Tube, Air Cooled]) and Rotating Equipment (Compressors, Turbines, and Pumps) - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2014 2022The static and rotating equipment (Oil and Gas) market is expected to exceed more than US$ 35500 million by 2022 growing at a CAGR of more than 3.5% in the given forecast period 2014 to 2022.Browse Full Report:Static and rotating equipment will structured or form an important and necessary component such as oil and gas static and rotating equipment infrastructure. Based on quality, consistency and reliability of this static and rotating equipment depends various activity such as downstream, midstream and upstream activity. Due to falling oil price in recent year and expenditure on exploration & production action will decrease the demand of oil and gas equipment in future. The key actions in the oil and gas production depend on the reliability and quality of static and rotating equipment. So these static and rotating equipment machines form a key element of oil and gas infrastructure.The major driving factors of static and rotating equipment (Oil and Gas) market are as follows: Quick infrastructure growth in oil and gas mid stream sector Development in construction Creation of new plant and growth of presented servicesThe restraints factors of static and rotating equipment (Oil and Gas) market are as follows: Fall in basic price can reduce the investigation and production spending by oil and gas keysDownload Free Sample Report:The static and rotating equipment (Oil and Gas) market is segmented on the lines of its classification and types. Based on classification market is segmented into oil and gas static equipment and oil and gas rotating equipment. Under type the oil and gas static equipment is segmented into valves, boilers, furnaces and heat exchangers. The oil and gas rotating equipment market is segmented on the line of its type like comprise, turbines, pumps and compressors. The static and rotating equipment market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for static and rotating equipment (Oil and Gas) and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2022.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for static and rotating equipment (Oil and Gas)4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Alfa Laval AB, Atlas Copco AB, Pentair plc, General Electric Company, Metso Oyj, Siemens AG, Tenaris SA, Sulzer Limited, FMC Technologies Inc., OAO TMK, Technip SA, Flowserve Corporation, Doosan Group, Wartsila, and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Ltd. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary,business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Static and Rotating Equipment (Oil and Gas) Market has been segmented as below:By Classification AnalysisOil and gas static equipmentOil and gas rotating equipmentBy Oil and Gas Static Equipment Type AnalysisValvesBoilersFurnacesHeat exchangersBy Oil and Gas Rotating Equipment Type AnalysisCompriseTurbinesPumpsCompressorsby Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:
Lignosulfonates Market to Reach US$ 960 Million by 2024
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New York, December 28: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Lignosulfonates Market by Product (Calcium Lignosulfonate, Sodium Lignosulfonate, and Magnesium Lignosulfonate), by Application (Additives, Concrete Admixture, Animal Feed Binder, Dust Control & Others) - Global Industry Analysis, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024The lignosulfonates market is expected to exceed more than USD 960.0 million by 2024 growing at a CAGR of more than 3.7% in the given forecast period 2016 to 2024.Download Free Sample Report:Lignosulfonate is made up of different components created from the spent sulfite liquor in the mashing of soft wood in paper manufacturing and used particular for disperse and binder agents. Lignosulfonates are improved from the spent mashing liquids such as red and brown from sulfite pulping. To split lignosulfonates from the spent mashing liquid ion exchange and ultra filtration techniques are used. Lignosulfonate is the important chemicals used in the concrete admixture industry globally. These are anionic polymers having economical prize, lignosulfonate is get from the manufacture of paper. Lignosulfonate having variety of forms such as magnesium lignosulfonate , calcium lignosulfonate and sodium lignosulfonate .These are eco friendly so used in many applications such as dust control, concrete admixture and feed blinder applications.The major driving factors of lignosulfonates market are as follows: Increasing Construction production growing in demand from animal feed businessThe restraining factors of lignosulfonates market are as follows: Application specific replacement is restraint for lignosulfonate market.Browse Full Report here:The lignosulfonates market is segmented on the lines of its product and application. Under product segmentation it covers calcium lignosulfonate, sodium lignosulfonate and magnesium lignosulfonate. The lignosulfonates market is segmented on the lines of its application like animal feed, dyestuff and dust control. The lignosulfonates market is geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for lignosulfonates and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2014, estimates for 2015 and 2016, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2024.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for lignosulfonates4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for various types of coatings with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include Borregaard LignoTech, Tembec Inc., Sappi, Flambeau River Papers, NIPPON PAPER INDUSTRIES CO., LTD., Domsjo Fabriker AB, Burgo Group Spa, Green Agrochem, Shenyang Xingzhenghe Chemical Co., Ltd., and Qingdao Newworld Material Co., Limited. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary,business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide our buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players.The Lignosulfonates Market has been segmented as below:by Application AnalysisConcrete AdditivesAnimal FeedDyestuffDust ControlOthersBy Product AnalysisCalcium LignosulfonateSodium LignosulfonateMagnesium LignosulfonateBy Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Implantable Drug Delivery Devices Market Worth US$ 27 Billion by 2021
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New York, December 28: Market Research Engine has published a new report titled as Implantable Drug Delivery Devices Market by Applications, by Product Types and by Technology - Global Market Analysis and Forecast 2016 - 2021How Big is the Implantable Drug Delivery Devices Market?The implantable drug delivery devices market is expected to exceed more than US$ 27 billion by 2021; Growing at a CAGR of more than 8.6% in the given forecast period.Browse Full Report:Implantable devices having many functions such as it vascular stents preserve flow of blood. The electro-stimulation devices control heart block spurious in the brain. Implantable drug delivery devices permit site specific drug management where that drug requires more. There has been rising union between drug therapies and implantable devices such as devices that carry drugs as prime action.The major driving factors of implantable drug delivery devices market are as follows:Driving factors for the global contraceptive drug delivery implants marketNGO and government initiatives to support contraceptive goodsIncreasing frequency of unwanted pregnanciesDriving factors for the global intraocular drug delivery implants marketIncreasing patient group for diabetic retinopathy and diabetesGrowing aging population globallyDriving factors for the global implantable drug infusion pumps marketHigh predominance of chronic pain causing disordersIncreasing frequency of colorectal cancer globallyDriving factors for the global brachytherapy seeds marketAppearance of new disease appliancesGrowing prevalence of prostate cancer globallyDriving factors for the global coronary stentsIncreasing many interventional cardiologistsRising frequency of cardiovascular diseasesThe restraining factors of implantable drug delivery devices market are as follows:Strict CE and FDA approval norms.The introduction of internal product substitutes, lawsuits and product recalls.Download Free Sample Report:The implantable drug delivery devices market is segmented on the lines of its product type, technology, application and regional. Based on product type segmentation it covers implantable drug infusion pumps, implantable brachytherapy seeds, implantable intraocular drug delivery devices, implantable contraceptive drug delivery devices, implantable bio absorbable stents and implantable coronary drug eluting stents. Under technology segmentation the implantable drug delivery devices market contains non biodegradable implantable drug delivery device technology and biodegradable implantable drug delivery device technology. The implantable drug delivery devices market is segmented on the lines of its application like oncology, birth control/ contraception, cardiovascular, ophthalmology and others such as chronic pain causing diseases and diabetes. The implantable drug delivery devices markets geographic segmentation covers various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, Middle East and Africa. Each geography market is further segmented to provide market revenue for select countries such as the U.S., Canada, U.K. Germany, China, Japan, India, Brazil, and GCC countries.This report provides:1) An overview of the global market for implantable drug delivery devices and related technologies.2) Analyses of global market trends, with data from 2013, estimates for 2014 and 2015, and projections of compound annual growth rates (CAGRs) through 2021.3) Identifications of new market opportunities and targeted promotional plans for implantable drug delivery devices.4) Discussion of research and development, and the demand for new products and new applications.5) Comprehensive company profiles of major players in the industry.REPORT SCOPE:The scope of the report includes a detailed study of global and regional markets for Implantable drug delivery devices with the reasons given for variations in the growth of the industry in certain regions.The report covers detailed competitive outlook including the market share and company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market, current market trends and situations. Key players profiled in the report include Allergan Inc, Bayer HealthCare, Medtronic Inc., Nucletron, Merck, pSivida Corp., Boston Scientific Corporation, Abbott Laboratories and Bausch and Lomb Inc. Company profile includes assign such as company summary, financial summary, business strategy and planning, SWOT analysis and current developments.The Top Companies Report is intended to provide the buyers with a snapshot of the industrys most influential players and potential market covered.The Implantable drug delivery devices Market has been segmented as below:By Product Type AnalysisImplantable drug infusion pumpsImplantable brachytherapy seedsImplantable intraocular drug delivery devicesImplantable contraceptive drug delivery devicesImplantable bio absorbable stentsImplantable coronary drug eluting stentsBy Technology AnalysisNon biodegradable implantable drug delivery device technologyBiodegradable implantable drug delivery device technologyBy Application AnalysisOncologyBirth control/ contraceptionCardiovascularOphthalmologyOther (chronic pain causing diseases, diabetes)By Regional AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificRest of the WorldAbout MarketResearchEngine.comMarket Research Engine is a global market research and consulting organization. We provide market intelligence in emerging, niche technologies and markets. Our market analysis powered by rigorous methodology and quality metrics provide information and forecasts across emerging markets, emerging technologies and emerging business models. Our deep focus on industry verticals and country reports help our clients to identify opportunities and develop business strategies.Media ContactCompany Name: Market Research EngineContact Person: John BayEmail: john@marketresearchengine.comPhone: +1-855-984-1862, +91-860-565-7204Country: United StatesWebsite:Address: 3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8942, Deerfield Beach, FL 33442, United States
Global Medical Laser Systems Market Share, By Key Players 2018
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The global market for medical laser systems features a large number of domestic and international vendors and is highly competitive, observes a recent report by Transparency Market Research (TMR). Low options of product differentiation and availability of cheaper products manufactured by local companies make price rivalry increasingly intense in the market. The effect of these challenges, however, is expected to be subsided due to the presence of vast growth opportunities, especially across developing economies. Some of the key vendors in the market are Lumenis Ltd., PhotoMedex, Inc., Spectranetics Corporation, Novadaq, Syneron-Candela, AngioDynamics Corporation, BioLase, Inc., and Iridex Corporation.Transparency Market Research states that the global medical laser systems market will exhibit a healthy double-digit rate of growth over the forecast period and rise to US$2,031.0 mn by 2018.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:Diode Lasers, North America to Continue to Hold Dominant PositionsOf the key varieties of medical laser systems examined in the report, the segment of diode lasers holds the dominant market share and is expected to retain its dominant stance in the global market over the forecast period as well. This can be chiefly attributed to the use of these lasers in a wide array of medical applications such as photodynamic therapy and numerous aesthetic treatments. However, the segment of solid state lasers is expected to exhibit the most significant rate of growth over the forecast period. Factors such as availability of several variants of these lasers, each of which find specific applications in medical treatments such as tattoo removal, periodontology, and skin treatment will be the key growth drivers.In terms of geography, the global medical laser systems market is dominated by North America, chiefly owing to the increased prevalence of chronic diseases such as diabetes and obesity in the region. However, the Asia-Pacific medical laser systems market will exhibit the most promising growth over the forecast period and will benefit from the presence of high growth opportunities in terms of unmet medical requirements in emerging economies such as India and China.Significant Rise in Age-Related Ocular Disorders to Augment Markets Growth ProspectsWith the significant and rapid rise in the geriatric population of the globe, the number of patients suffering from age-related ophthalmic disorders such as macular degeneration, presbyopia, diabetic retinopathy, and cataract is also rising globally. Cataract is one of the most common of these diseases and the corrective surgery commonly involves medical lasers. Recent statistics denote that the number of cataract surgeries performed in 2020 will be nearly 4 mn, representing a rise of more than 1 mn of that in 2010. Along with this factor, the prevalence of other eye disorders and the necessary corrective surgeries involving lasers will act as high-impact drivers for the global medical laser systems market over the reports forecast period.Strict and Globally Variable Regulatory Standards to Hamper Market GrowthOne of the key challenges of using lasers in the medical field is the need for compliance with several safety-related procedures and norms. Laser safety norms also differ with countries and laser manufacturers require several certifications and approvals before commercializing their products. This need to adhere to a vast array of different rules and regulations across several countries, owing to factors such as variation in stringency level of approval bodies and presence of several approval bodies, dampens the spirit of companies, especially small-scale ones, and may result in lesser number of companies wanting to foray into the field.Browse Full Research Report on Medical Laser Systems Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Global Super Resolution Microscopes Market Key Trends & Analysis 2023
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A new market research report by Transparency Market Research presents a comprehensive analysis of the global market for super resolution microscopes. The research report, titled Super Resolution Microscopes Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2015 2023, covers the markets overview, current market trends, market drivers and restraints, product segmentation, major geographical segments, and competitive analysis of the market. The research study further provides the historical data and forecast figures of the global super resolution microscopes market with the help of infographics, charts, and tables. The study also includes valued inputs by industry experts to assist the new as well as existing players in formulating their business policies effectively.The research report has segmented the global market for super resolution microscopes on the basis of technology into stochastic function resolution technique, deterministic functional resolution technique, combination resolution techniques, and true super resolution technique. The market share and market size estimates are further discussed in the scope of the research report.Download Complete Healthcare Analytical Brochure:Furthermore, on the basis of application, the global market for super resolution microscopes has been classified into nanotechnology, geo-material research, life sciences, material sciences, research laboratories, and semiconductor manufacturing. Among these, in terms of volume, the life sciences segment accounts for the largest share in the overall super resolution microscopes market. The life sciences segment is further sub-categorized into biopharmaceutical companies, science universities, and forensic laboratories. On the other hand, in terms of value, the nanotechnology and material sciences segments are considered among the largest segment in the global market.The research report on the global market for super resolution microscopes has been divided on the basis of geography into the Middle East and Africa, North America, Latin America, Asia Pacific, and Europe. The Asia Pacific and North America markets are considered as the most promising regions in the global market. The demand for super resolution microscopes is expected to grow substantially, exhibiting a significant growth rate in the forecast period. China, Australia, and Japan are the major markets in the Asia Pacific region. The super resolution microscope market in the Rest of the World is anticipated to grow at a stable rate, compared to other major economies around the world.The research study further talks about the competitive landscape of the global market for super resolution microscopes, focusing on the company profiles of major players and their contact information, financial overview, business policies, SWOT analysis, and recent developments if any. Some of the major players operating in the global market for super resolution microscopes are Nikon Corporation, Olympus Inc., Carl Zeiss AG, Hitachi High Tech Corporation, GE LifeSciences, JEOL Ltd, Bruker Corporation, FEI Company, and Leica Microsystems.Browse Full Research Report on Super Resolution Microscopes Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Talc Market Explores New Growth Opportunities By 2021
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Talc is a mineral composed of hydrated magnesium silicate and is an important industrial and commercial mineral. It has broad applications as an industrial mineral due to its resistance to heat, electricity and acids and oil and grease adsorption. Talc has extensive commercial use because of its luster, softness, purity, fragrance retention, softness and whiteness. It is the softest known mineral and has a rating of 1 on the Mohs hardness scale. It can be scratched by a fingernail and is also sectile that means it can be cut by a knife. It has a specific gravity of 2.5 -2.8 and has clear luster. Talc is slightly soluble in dilute mineral acids and insoluble in water. It is a metamorphic mineral and occurs due to metamorphism of magnesium minerals such as olivine, amphibole, serpentine and pyroxene in presence of water and carbon dioxide. Talc is a tri-octahedral layered mineral and has a similar structure to that of pyrophyllite.Request to view Sample Report @Talc can be used as an ingredient in paints, roofing materials, ceramics, insecticides, rubber, talcum powder and insecticides among others. It is also used by the cosmetics industry, pulp and paper industry and food industry. Talc is often used to manufacture laboratory countertops and electrical switchboards due to its resistance to heat, acids and electricity. It is used by the cosmetic industry as a lubricant and as a filler by the pulp and paper industry. Talc is extensively used to make astringent baby powders that prevent rashes covered by a diaper. Talc is used by the pharmaceutical industry as a glidant (a substance that is added to powder to improve its flow ability) and by the food industry as an additive. In the European Union the additive number is E553b. In medicine, talc is used as a pluerodesis agent to prevent pneumothorax or recurrent pleural effusion. Talc is also an effective dispersing agent and anti caking agent and helps fertilizer plants and animal feeds to function efficiently and can be used for fertilizers.The paper and pulp industry remains the largest global end market for talc and is the key driving factor for the talc Industry. The automotive industry, ceramics industry and the paint and coatings industry are the other major consumers of talc. The use of talc as a filler in the paper industry is declining today but the use of talc for the manufacture of under the hood automotive parts is substantially increasing that has further lead to surge in demand for talc by the automotive industry.Asia Pacific is the largest market for talc with China, India, Japan, Bhutan, and South Korea being the key markets in this region. The Indian talc industry is the worlds third largest and continues to grow due to increase in domestic consumption. North America and Europe are other regions with a substantial market share of talc. Austria, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Macedonia, Norway, Portugal, Romania, Sweden and United Kingdom are the major consumers of talc in Europe.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major companies dominating the talc market are Imerys talc, Mondo Minerals, Golcha Group, American Talc, IMI FABI, Nippon Talc, Minerals Technologies Inc, the Jai Group, Aihai Talc, Behai Talc, Shuiquan Talc, Xin Talc, Haumei Talc, Guiguang Talc and Xin Talc among others. Imerys talc is the worlds leading producer of talc followed by Mondo Minerals.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Trimellitates Market Will Continue to Grow by 2021
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Trimellitates are additives that increase the plasticity or fluidity of a material. Trimellitates have applications in automobile industry and are used in automobile interiors where resistance to high temperature is required. Trimellitates are colorless to slightly yellow liquids with high boiling points and low vapor pressures; these properties contribute to their high physical stability. In addition, trimellitates have extremely low volatility. Trimellitates are soluble in numerous organic solvents and miscible with ether, alcohol and oils, but essentially insoluble in water. Because of the similarity in structure as well as physicochemical properties, the trimellitates are grouped into a single category containing four substances with carboxylic side chain ester groups ranging from C8-ClO. Trimellitates are manufactured by esterification of trimellitic anhydride (TMA). The basic structure is an aromatic ring with side chains in the 1,2 and 4 positions. Some examples of trimellitates are n-octyl trimellitate, tri-(2-ethylhexyl) trimellitate, tri-(n-octyl,n-decyl) trimellitate, trimethyl trimellitate, and tri-(heptyl,nonyl) trimellitate among others.Request to view Sample Report @Majority of trimellitates are manufactured for flexible PVC applications. Trimellitates have low volatility and blend with the highest-molecular-weight phthalates and are typically used in high-specification electrical cable insulation and sheathing. Trimelliates have advantage over other plasticizers due to their superior chemical properties and high permanence which increase the shelf life of PVC compounds subjected to elevated temperatures. In addition, trimellitates have applications in construction materials, food packaging, toys, medical devices and automobile industry.The growth in the end user industries is expected to be a major driving factor for the consumption of trimellitates. The growth in wire and cable industry is expected to increase the consumption of trimellitates. Demand for trimellitates is also influenced by general economic conditions. Hence, demand for trimellitates follows the patterns of the major world economies. In addition, rising consumption in emerging economies is expected to boost the consumption of trimellitates. However, availability of substitutes could hamper the growth of this market.Asia Pacific is currently the largest market for trimellites, followed by Europe, North America and rest of the world. The growth of trimelliates market was slow in Asia Pacific due to economic recession but has quickly recovered. India, china, Mongolia, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, Vietnam, Philippines, Pakistan, Republic of Korea and Japan are the major markets in Asia Pacific. China has moved towards self sufficiency in manufacture of trimellites but the industry remains highly fragmented. Demand for trimellitates in North America is expected to grow at a moderate rate while demand in Europe is expected to grow at comparatively higher rate.Request to view Table of content @Some of the key players in this market are Exxon Mobil Chemical(U.S.), Shell Chemicals ( U.S), BASF (Germany), Dow Chemical (U.S.), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Mitsubishi Chemical (Japan), LG Chem (South Korea), AkzoNobel (Netherlands), Sumitomo Chemical (Japan), Mitsui Chemicals (Japan), Toray Industries (Japan), Eastman Chemical Company(U.S.), and Evonik Industries (Germany) among others. Exxon Mobil Chemical manufactures trimellitate plasticizers under the brand name Jayflex. Jayflex trimellitate plasticizers have applications in wire and cable industry that require resistance to high temperatures over long durations and in automobile interiors. BASF manufactures trimellitate plasticizers under the brand name Palatinol. Palatinol TOTM (tri octyl trimellitate) provides desirable properties in vinyl applications which require low volatility, good plasticizer compatibility, resistance to extraction by soapy water and good electrical properties. Palatinol tri octyl trimellitate is suitable for interior automotive applications and wire insulation.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Valeraldehyde Market Revenue Predicted To Go Up by 2021
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Valeraldehyde is an alkyl aldehyde used in flavorings, resin chemistry and rubber accelerators. Valeraldehyde is also known as PENTANAL, FEMA 3098, Valeral, n-C4H9CHO, n-valeral, 1-pentanal, N-PENTANAL, butylformal, pentan-1-al, n-C4H9CHO and Pentanenal among others. Valeraldehyde is chemically stable but highly flammable. Valeraldehyde vapor is denser than air and can travel long distances and accumulate in coastal areas creating an explosion hazard. It is incompatible with strong oxidizing agents, acids, strong alkalies and strong reducing agents. Valeraldehyde occurs as a colorless liquid with a pungent odor. Valeraldehyde is slightly soluble in water and less dense than water.Request to view Sample Report @Valeraldehyde is an important industrial chemical and is used as a chemical building block in the production of valeric acid and amyl alcohol. In addition, it is used as a fragrance additive and rubber accelerator additive. Valeric acid is used as a precursor or chemical intermediate to manufacture synthetic lubricants, perfumes, agricultural chemicals, flavors and pharmaceuticals. Valeraldehyde is also used as a flavoring agent in foods. Commercially, valeraldehyde is prepared by reduction of n-valeric acid or by oxidation of the corresponding alcohol, 1-pentanol. Valeraldehyde can be industrially prepared by the oxo process, which involves the reaction of olefins with hydrogen and carbon monoxide in the presence of a catalyst. In addition, valeraldehyde is used as a synthetic and natural flavoring agent. It is used to flavor a product to give it a specific taste (fruity or nutty flvour) and is an ingredient of rose oil used to flavor chewing tobacco, beverages and food.The growth in the end-user industries is expected to be the major driving factor for the growth of valeraldehyde market. The growth in the fragrance industry is expected to increase the consumption of valeraldehyde. In addition, the demand for fragrance in expected to increase substantially in emerging economies due to rapid economic development and rise in disposable incomes. The increase in demand in emerging economies is expected to boost the consumption of valeraldehyde. However, availability of substitutes could hamper the growth of this market.Valeraldehyde is a versatile chemical, which has a global demand due to its features and broad range of applications. Valeraldehyde is the fastest-growing oxo chemical and has steady demand in the major economies. Demand for valeraldehyde in the U.S. is expected to grow moderately while consumption in Asia Pacific is expected to grow at a high rate. Asia Pacific, Europe and North America are the largest markets for valeraldehyde. China, Japan, Republic of Korea, Malaysia, Taiwan and Singapore are major consumers of valeraldehyde in Asia Pacific. The long-term prospect for valeraldehyde in Western Europe has improved considerably due to consolidations and capacity reductions which have resulted in improved efficiencies and capacity utilization. Many of the key players are shifting their manufacturing facilities to the Asia Pacific due to availability of land and cheap labor.Request to view Table of content @Some of the key players in this market are BASF (Germany), Dow Chemical (U.S.), E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company (U.S.), Mitsubishi Chemical (Japan), LG Chem (South Korea), AkzoNobel (Netherlands), Sumitomo Chemical (Japan), Mitsui Chemicals (Japan), Toray Industries (Japan), Eastman Chemical Company(U.S.), and Evonik Industries (Germany) among others. Dow chemical manufactures valeric acid using the oxo process. Butylene is reacted with synthesis gas (hydrogen mixture and carbon monoxide) in the presence of a catalyst which yields valeraldehyde. Valeraldehyde is then oxidized to valeric acid.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Cellulose Acetate Fibers Market : Global Market Snapshot by 2021
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Cellulose acetate is the acetate ester of cellulose. It is processed from wood pulp for commercial purposes. The wood pulp is first processed using an acids known as acetic anhydride which goes on to form acetate flakes from which products are then manufactured. As this fiber is processed from wood pulp, which is a renewable source, it is biodegradable unlike other fabricated fibers. Besides wood pulp, the other technique involved in the manufacture of cellulose acetate is treating cotton with acetic acid and using sulphuric acid as the catalyst.Request to view Sample Report @The main applications of this fiber include its use in spectacle frames, film media, use in some coatings, synthetic fibers, cigarette filters among others. Its main use lies in the textile and cigarette-manufacturing industries as these industries are rapidly growing. The key properties of cellulose acetate fibers include high transparency, very lustrous, good toughness and a very soft and natural feel. Its biodegradable quality makes it the most wanted fiber globally. The trade name for this acetate includes Acele, Avisco, Celanese, Chromspun and Estron. This acetate has very similar properties as that of rayon and were earlier believed to be the same textile. However, the two textiles differ from each in the use of acetic acid in the production of acetate fibers. The two fabrics are now treated and used very differently. Rayon resists heat while cellulose acetate burns or melts when heated. Cellulose acetate fiber textiles should be laundered gently and either hand washed or dry cleaned. Due to its rich and smooth, satiny texture is is a good synthetic alternative to silk and is usually used in bridal clothing and other attire.The main factors that drive the market for cellulose acetate fibers is its use in cigarette products. The demand for cigarettes is increasing rapidly for the past few years. Cellulose acetate fibres are used in the production of cigarette buds and hence the demand for this material is expected to grow rapidly in the near future. The textile industry also makes use of this fiber in the manufacturing of garments and as the material is rich, smooth and satiny, it is a cheaper alternative to silk with similar qualities. the use of this material in textile industries is expected to drive the market continually especially its use in wedding gowns as the wedding industry is also a huge multimillion industry and generates huge revenues throughout the year. This material is considered biodegradable as it is made from wood pulp. Hence more industries would prefer to use this material as a raw material in order to manufacture their end product. The end users for this market include ophthalmologists, textile industries, cigarette industries which are rapidly growing industries globally and demand for these end product is still high and is expected to grow over the next few years.The key segments for this market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. the usage of this fiber in the U.S. was the maximum for the past few years and was a mature market for this material.China follows the U.S, after which comes the rest of Asia Pacific and then Europe. The market for cellulose acetate fibers is expected to rise in Asia pacific countries as the number of textile industries is increasing and is anticipated to rise in the next few years. The demand for biodegradable fabric is very high and its use will enhance the sale of end products especially in North America and Europe as there wont be any stringent regulation against its use.Request to view Table of content @The main companies profiled for the manufacture of cellulose acetate fibers include BASF AG, Formosa Plastics Group, Sinopec, Du Pont- Akra Polyester LLC, Bayer AG among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
As the debate continues over the Obama administrations handling of the U.N. resolution condemning Israeli settlements, there are signs it is causing a divide within the Democratic Party. Electile Dysfunction author and Harvard Law Professor Emeritus Alan Dershowitz weighs in on the political fallout from the Obama administrations handling of Israel.
[The New York Times] has a story today saying only right-wing Jews condemn [Secretary of State] Kerry. Hey, Im a left-wing liberal Jew, [U.S. Senator from New York] Schumer is a liberal Jew you know, they just make up the news, Dershowitz told the FOX Business Networks Sandra Smith.
When asked if the issue of Israel was foreshadowing a divide within the Democratic Party, Dershowitz responded, It does, and if they now appoint [Minnesota Rep.] Keith Ellison, who worked with [Nation of Islam leader] Farrakhan, to be chairman of the DNC youre going to see a lot of people leave.
Dershowitz then issued a stern warning to the Democratic Party.
Im going to tell you right here on this show and this is news, if they appoint Keith Ellison to be chairman of the Democratic Party, I will resign my membership to the Democratic Party after 50 years of being a loyal Democrat.
According to Dershowitz, he will support some individual Democratic candidates, but has concerns about the state of the Democratic Party.
I will still vote my conscience and mostly Ill vote for Democrats, but I will not be a member of a party that represents itself through a chairman like Keith Ellison and through policies like that espoused by John Kerry and Barack Obama.
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Smart Grid Sensor Market is Expected to Rise at a Remarkable CAGR During 2015 to 2021
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A smart grid sensor is a small and lightweight node that serves as a detection station in a sensor network. Smart grid sensors enable the remote monitoring of equipment such as transformers and power lines, and the demand-side management of resources on an energy smart grid. Smart grid sensors are generally used to monitor weather conditions and power line temperature, which can then be used to calculate the lines carrying capacity. This process, known as dynamic line rating, helps in increasing the power flow of existing transmission lines for power companies. A smart grid sensor can also be used within homes and businesses to increase energy efficiency. A smart grid sensor can be of four types: microcomputer, transducer, power source, and transceiver .Request to view Sample Report @Transducers can be used to generate electrical signals based on phenomena such as power-line voltage. Microcomputers can be used to process and store the sensor output. The transceiver receives command from a central computer and transmits data to that computer. The power for each sensor can be derived from the electric utility or from a battery. Smart grids require monitoring, control functions, and multiple sensing at various levels. Smart grids can solve various problems in managing current electric grid infrastructure by enabling broad knowledge and control of operations at all levels, from generation to transmission and distribution to end use. All these functions, such as monitoring, control functions, and multiple sensing, depend on real-time collection and communication of a wide range of data throughout the grid, which creates significant opportunities for various types of sensors.Based on the sensor type, the global smart grid sensor market is divided into four segments: energy conservation sensors, humidity and temperature sensors, current sensors, and oil moisture sensors. On the basis of application, the global smart grid sensor market is divided into four segments: advanced metering infrastructure (AMI), smart meters, SCADA, lead management, and others .In terms of geography, North America dominates the global smart grid sensor market. The U.S. represents the largest market for smart grid sensor, followed by Canada in North America. In Europe, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, and the U.K. hold the major share of the smart grid sensor market. However, Asia Pacific is expected to witness high growth rates in the next five years in the smart grid sensor market. China and Japan represent the largest markets in Asia Pacific.Convergence of severe weather, growing interest in green technologies, ageing infrastructure, and inefficient power balancing are some of the major driving forces for the global smart grid sensor market. Smart metering and meter data analytics, grid management, and renewable energy grid integration create opportunities for the global smart grid sensor market.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major companies operating in the global smart grid sensor market are Alstom, Atmospheric Systems, Corp. (ASC), AT&T, ABB, Axiom Power, IUS Technologies, Toshiba, Ford, Elster Solutions, GE's Digital Energy, Silver Spring Networks, Cisco, Google, FreeWave Technologies, Honeywell, Honda, Schneider Electric, Mitsubishi, Eaton, and Siemens.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Chlorofluorocarbon Market Expand Their Businesses With New Investments
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A chlorofluorocarbon is an organic compound that consists mainly of 3 elements which are carbon, chlorine and fluorine which are produced as a derivative of ethane. These are most often known by the DuPont brand name Freon. Dichlorofluoromethane is the most common representative of this organic compound. Chlorofluorocarbons are non-toxic, non-flammable and do not react with other compounds. However, the production of such compounds has been slowly phased out under the Montreal protocol, which is made to stop production of substances that contribute in the depletion of the ozone layer.Request to view Sample Report @The main application of this organic compound lies in a variety of industrial, commercial and household applications. Along with non-toxic, non flammable and non-reactive these substances also have stable thermodynamic properties and this makes them ideal for various applications which include coolants for commercial and home refrigeration set up, aerosol propellants, electronic cleaning solvents and blowing gents. Out of these, their wide application lies as refrigerants, propellants and as solvents. However, in the recent past it was discovered that this compound causes harm to the environment especially chlorine which contributes largely too the depletion of the ozone layer. Hence, these compounds are being replaced with products such as hydrofluorocarbons.The main drivers for the chlorofluorocarbons market is its use in the refrigerant industry. The automobile industry is one of the main factors that drives the refrigerant industry. The primary application of chlorofluorocarbons is in the refrigerant industry in the manufacturing of refrigeration and air conditioning products. Other applications, which drive its market, include its use in solvents, foam blowing agents, plastics, and electronics among others. The market for chlorofluorocarbons is expected to rise especially in developing countries. Nevertheless, due to the harmful effects it causes to the environment related to the depletion of the upper layer of the ozone, the compound is being replaced by hydrofluorocarbons, which is being accepted to a huge extent globally as it is safe as compared to chlorofluorocarbons. But the use of hydrofluorocarbons also cause bad effects to the environments but on a smaller scale hence demand for green refrigerants in the market is increasing and is expected to replace chlorofluorocarbons and hydrofluorocarbons in the near future.The key segments considered for this market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). The market for chlorofluorocarbons is mature in North America and Europe and is not expected to rise by much in the next few years. This is due to the stringent and restricted policies passed by the respective governments due to the harmful effects they cause to the environment especially the upper layer of the ozone and due to the green house effects that it causes. In these countries, the demand for green refrigerants is expected to rise in the next few years. The market for chlorofluorocarbons is still high in India, Latin American and Middle Eastern countries and is expected to rise due to its ever-growing economy and fast expanding manufacturing bases and lack of laws and regulations against its use. India and China manufacture chlorofluorocarbons to a huge extent and the market demand for the compound is still large here and not expected to decline anytime soon over the next few years.Request to view Table of content @The main companies profiled for the manufacture of chlorofluorocarbons include Arkema SA, which is based in France, Daikin Industries which is based in Japan, E.I. DuPont de Nemours & Company and Honeywell International which is based in the U.S, Mexichem Flur SA which is based in Mexico, Solvay SA which is based in Belgium, Dongyc Group which is based in China, Navin Fluorine International Ltd. and Gujarat Fluorochemicals Ltd and SRF Ltd. which are based in India among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Vacuum Pumps Market Growth with Worldwide Industry Analysis 2015 to 2021
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Vacuum pump is a mechanical device which is used to create vacuum by removing gas molecules from a sealed volume. Growing adoption of vacuum pumps in power, oil & gas, chemical processing, and semiconductor industries is driving the demand for vacuum pumps. Moreover, rising investment in these industries is also expected to benefit the market of vacuum pumps globally.Request to view Sample Report @On the basis of types, vacuum pumps market is segmented into five categories: liquid ring vacuum pumps, dry vacuum pumps, rotary vane vacuum pumps, turbo molecular vacuum pumps, and steam jet ejectors. Out of all these segments, liquid ring and dry vacuum pumps are currently dominating the global market by capturing over 60% share of the market. Strong growth in semiconductor industry is leading to a surge in the potential of dry vacuum pumps, whereas liquid ring vacuum pumps find wide application in pulp and paper, and oil and gas industries. In order to reduce the overall operation cost, demand for high vacuum quality (clean and dry vacuum) and energy efficient pumps is increasing which is also supporting the growth of dry vacuum pumps.North America and Asia Pacific are the key contributors to the growth of the global vacuum pump market where China and the U.S. are registering a majority chunk of the market share. Demand for vacuum pumps in these two countries is driven by a strong domestic production base of chemical, oil and gas, semiconductors, and pulp and paper industry. The global pulp and paper production in China stood at 86.3 million metric tons in 2009 and increased to 102.5 million metric tons in 2012, whereas production in the U.S. increased from 71.7 million metric tons to 74.3 million metric tons for the same year. China and the U.S. are also the most promising markets for the semiconductor industry. Vacuum pump market in Europe is growing at a moderate rate. Growth in the semiconductor industry is the key driver behind the growth; however, some end-user industries have started to shift their manufacturing facilities outside Europe to developing countries such as China and India, where less strict environmental regulations are in place.On the basis of end-users, the global vacuum pumps market is segmented into: oil and gas, power, chemical processing, pulp and paper, and semiconductors. Chemical processing industry, followed by semiconductors remains the largest customers of vacuum pumps globally. However, the semiconductor industry witnessed the largest growth among all end-users. Due to growing consumption of smart phones and tablets, the global semiconductor industry is showing double digit growth and consequently, driving the growth of vacuum pumps market. Increasing investment in oil and gas industry is also boosting the demand for vacuum pumps, primarily in North America. Emerging markets such as LED lighting are generating strong growth opportunity for the global vacuum pumps market.Request to view Table of content @Some leading global players operating in the vacuum pump market include Gardner Denver, Inc. KKR, Pfeiffer Vacuum GmBH, ULVAC, Inc., Oerlikon Corporate Switzerland, Edwards Group Ltd.- Atlas Copco, Tuthill Vacuum & Blower Systems, Graham Corporation, Dekker Vacuum Technologies, Inc., Gebr. Becker GmBH, Gast Manufacturing, Inc. IDEX Corporation, Dr. - Ing. K. Busch GmBH, KNF Neuberger GmBH, Tsurumi Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Ebara Corporation, Sterling SIHI GmbH, Cutes Corp., Samson Pump A/S, PPI Pumps Pvt. Ltd., Vooner FloGard Corporation, and Kashiyama Industries, Ltd.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Automotive Fuel Tanks Market : New Business Opportunities & Investment Research Report 2015 to 2021
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Fuel tank is a storage tank for fuel and a safe container for flammable fluids. In the past, steel fuel tank has been the mainstay for automotive fuel tanks, whereas in the recent scenario, plastic fuel tanks are mostly used by automobile industry. The main factors behind the drop in the steel fuel tanks are permeability, weight, packaging, safety, and cost associated with it. Around 95% of fuel tanks in Europe, 85% in U.S. and 40% in Asia are made of plastic. Some of the major factors contributing to the increasing use of plastic fuel tanks are its resistance to corrosion, light weight and ease of molding into unusual shapes.Request to view Sample Report @Plastic high-density polyethylene (HDPE) fuel tanks are made by blow molding and metal (steel or aluminum) fuel tanks are welded from stamped sheets. Blow molding technology is increasingly used as it shows its capacity to obtain very low emissions of fuel. Plastic high-density polyethylene can be converted into complex shapes, allowing the tank to be mounted directly over the rear axle, saving space and improving crash safety. On the other hand, the technology used in metal fuel tank is very good in limiting fuel emissions. In the event of crash or an accident plastic fuel tanks are safer than steel fuel tanks. Unlike metal fuel tanks, many can bend and flatten, rather than tearing, rupturing and spilling gasoline, thereby safely eliminating fuel leakage as a cause of a fire or explosion. Due to the plastic fuel tanks car designers can optimize the space that is available for the fuel tank since they can be produced using very unusual shapes. Plastic can be molded around specific parts. In addition, plastic fuel tanks are corrosion resistant, whereas steel tanks require stainless steel to provide a similar level of corrosion resistance, which also means a greater cost.On the basis of type automotive fuel tanks market is divided in two broad categories: plastic fuel tank and steel fuel tank. Based on the technology automotive fuel tanks market is divided in three broad segments: Multilayer technology, barrier technology and others.North America is the largest market for automotive fuel tanks, followed by Europe and Asia Pacific. APAC region is expected to be the fastest growing market in terms of sheer volume. China and India hold the key for future market trends in automotive fuel tanks market owing to large population, increase in living standards due to higher disposable income and high growth rate of automotive industry in these regions. Germany, France and Italy are hub for some of the major automobile manufacturers in Europe where as the U.S. is the largest market in North America.Some of the major drivers contributing the overall market growth of automotive fuel tanks include high growth rate of automotive industry, government regulation and increase in environment friendly fuel tanks.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major companies operating in the automotive fuel tanks market include Kautex Textron GmbH & Co KG, Benteler AG, Fuel System Solutions, Inergy Automotive Systems, Magna International Inc., TI Automotive Ltd., YAPP Automotive Parts Co Ltd, Kongsberg Automotive, Toyoda Gosei Co., Ltd. and Visteon Corporation.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Epigenetic Market Is Expecting Worldwide Growth By 2026 - Says PMR
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Epigenetic procedure involves stable changes in genome, which are reversible in gene expression. These changes can be transferred generation to generation, but contains no permanent changes in DNA. The epigenetically controlled genes are repressed or activated with no genotypic change in DNA. Epigenetic changes occur phenotypically but will have no genotypic change in the gene. This changes can occur naturally but can also be initiated by the environment changes, aging, lifestyle and some disease conditions. The Epigenetic procedures end up having both positive as well as damaging results. Positive expression results in differentiation of cells like skin cells, liver cells, pancreatic cells and lung cells etc. and the damaging expression of epigenetic changes can leads to formation of different cancer cells.Request to view Sample Report @The epigenetic process includes phosphorylation, methylation, sumolyation, acetylation and ubiquitylation etc. of DNA as well as histones resulting in changes in Phenotypes. These changes are modified with environmental conditions. Epigenetic market is now an emerging field. There are various diagnostic tests available now that detect epigenetic changes. There are some FDA approved epigenetic drugs. Other than many diagnostic companies, many biopharmaceutical and pharmaceutical companies are also very active in the field of epigenetic. The worldwide ongoing research in finding the role of epigenetic in different disease and disorders is fueling the epigenetic market. Within the diagnostic segment of the epigenetic, most of the focus has been on the detection of DNA methylation. Most of the activity and interest of the companies is focused on the therapeutic segment of the epigenetic field.The global market for epigenetic device market is expected to be driven by the advancement in technology. The key drivers of the market are the increasing cases prevalence of cancer, growing ageing population and increase in obese population. Moreover, the increasing research activities, increasing research on oncology diseases and the growing collaboration between research institutes, Biotechnology and Biopharmaceuticals companies is also acting as a fuel to the market and is expected to drive the market within the forecast period of 2016-2026. However, the high cost of the procedures and the lack of fund can be the restraint for the growth of this market.The number of companies developing methods to detect modification in DNA due to methylation has not significantly changed in recent years. The increasing investment by the pharmaceutical and Biotechnology companies is expected to drive the market. Based on the product type the market is segmented to Enzymes, Kits and Reagents. The enzymes are further classified to DNA modifying enzyme that includes all DNA ligase and DNA polymerase. RNA modifying enzyme includes all methyltransferases and acetylases. RNA modifying enzymes includes Reverse ligases and Reverse Transcriptase.By end user, the global epigenetic market has been segmented into Academic research institutes, Biotechnology Companies, Biopharmaceutical Companies, Diagnostic Companies and Contract Research Organizations. Epigenetic procedures are performed in many research oriented areas such as developmental biology, oncology, drug discovery and others.By regional presence, Epigenetic market is segmented into five key regions viz. North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa. North America will continue to dominate the Epigenetic market for due to high availability of funding for research. Europe is expected to hold second largest market share in global Epigenetic market. The growing government initiatives and increasing number of Biotechnology and Biopharmaceutical companies in APAC is also driving the market of epigenetic in APAC.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major players in global epigenetic market include Illumina, Inc., QIAGEN N.V., Abcam plc., Merck & Co., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, New England Biolabs, Inc., Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc., Diagenode, Inc. and Active Motif and othersAbout UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Hydroquinone Market to Register a Strong Growth By 2021
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Hydroquinone also known as quinol is an aromatic organic compound that features two hydroxyl groups bonded to a benzene ring. This aromatic organic compound is a white granular solid and derivatives of this parent compound are also referred to as hydroquinones. In the past hydroquinone was derived from the dry distillation of quinic acid. Hydroquinone exists in many forms naturally as well. It is present in the defensive glands of the bombardier beetle, it is one of the chemical constituents of the natural product propolis and it is a chemical compound found in castoreum, which is gathered from beaver plant food.Request to view Sample Report @Hydroquinone as a variety of applications which are essentially links with is action as a reducing agent that is soluble in water. This organic compound is a significant component in almost all black and white photographic developers for film and where using the compound Metol, silver halides are reduced to elemental silver. Being a strong reducing agent it is extensively used in the production of antioxidants, inhibitors, medicines, dyes among others. Hydroquinone has its biggest market application in the manufacture of skin depigmentation creams where it is used to lighten dark patches, in hyperpigmentation conditions, melasma, spots caused during pregnancy or injury to skin. It is the main ingredient in bleach creams. However, the EPA and the EU has put numerous restrictions against the use of these products that contain more than 4% of hydroquinone. These skin creams are not to be sold over the counter in pharmacies in the U.S and many other European countries due to potential carcinogenic diseases that they are known to induce. A number of companies are trying to switch to natural products that help in the depigmentation of skin instead of hydroquinone as they do not react violently with the skin and are non-allergent. These substitutes include products like arbutin, azelaic acid, bilberry extract, kojic acid, lemon, licorice extract, malic acid, vitamin C among others.The global market for hydroquinone is mainly driven by various factors, which include the high and rapid growth of a particular industry such as paint, construction and the cosmetic market. Its use as a skin depigmenter is what increases its demand especially among female population. The need to look presentable and get rid of unwanted spots and marks on the body are what accelerate its demand among the women population. However, the stringent rules and regulations that have been posed by the EPA and /the EU against its usedue to its various bad effects which include allergies, immunotoxicity, organ system toxicity, cancer, developmental and reproductive toxicity, ecotoxicity, persistence of the product in the environment and bioaccumulation is what may restrict this market. However companies inverting into extensive research and development programs in order to come up with safer and natural alternatives that can be used for skin depigmentation.The key segments considered for this market include Europe, North America, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (RoW). The main manufactures of hydroquinone were North America and European countries. Now most of the countries are shifting their manufacturing units to Asia pacific countries due to lack of stringent laws and regulations by the government against its use. The demand for hydroquinone is high North American and Euroopean countries but is not expected to increase by much over the next few years as natural substitutes for this product is expected to come out in the market there due to the ill effects caused by hydroquinone on people and the environment. The market demand for this product is expected to increase in developing countries like India and China owing to the rapid grown of the dye, paints, cosmetic and fashion industry among others.Request to view Table of content @The key manufactures of this product include Rhodia, Genetic Ridge, Harrison Specialty, and International Shield among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Inorganic Color Pigments Market to Maintain Healthy CAGR By 2021
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Inorganic pigments are obtained from mixed metal oxides and are produced by a high temperature calcinations process. These pigments are not affected y strong acids, base and oxidizing agents. Also inorganic pigments are non-migratory, do not bleed and are non-warping. Most inorganic pigments can withstand various temperatures and bad climatic conditions; they are heat resistant, have resistance to other chemicals and are easy to disperse. There are a variety of inorganic pigments available and are classified primarily from the source they are derived from. Some of the inorganic pigments include Chrome, which is derived from lead, Cadmiums, which are derived from cadmium compounds, and Irons that are derived from various iron oxides among others. Inorganic pigments are solid materials that obtain their transparency owing to their extremely small size and shape.Request to view Sample Report @Inorganic color pigments are used in various industries, which include coil coatings, powder coatings, industrial coatings, architectural coatings among others. They are also used in the coloring of plastics, buildings, constructions etc... It finds its application even in the automotive segments as a colorant for engineering plastics. Owing to the quality of industrial products, which have been improving over the past few years, the demands on their appearance and durability are increasing as well. Due to their fastness properties and their tolerance to adverse conditions, they are the most preferred pigments used in constructions. Inorganic pigments are the most stable class of pigments that have been manufactured as of today.The key drivers for the inorganic pigment market include rapid growth in urbanization, the paints and the coatings market, the construction agency, the building material and plastic industry. The demand for inorganic pigments is expected to be the highest in developing countries. These inorganic pigments are mainly used in the automotive industry due to its durable properties. The market for automotives in developing countries along with the plastic, paint and coatings industry is growing at a rapid pace especially in emerging economies like India and China and hence the demand for inorganic pigments is anticipated to be high in these countries. The main setbacks of the inorganic pigment industry are coping with continuous globalization, markets that are mature in a few applications and regions and the excess production of commodity pigments. The adverse environmental effects inorganic pigments cause can be a restrain for its market especially in Europe. However due to the lack of stringent regulations in Asia Pacific countries especially in countries like India and China, inorganic pigments are used produced and used on a large scale.The key segments for this market include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the world (RoW). The most widely used pigments are manufactured from iron oxide. The largest manufactures of inorganic pigments is China, followed by North America and finally Europe. Demand for inorganic pigments is seen to be declining in western countries while demand in Asian countries is increasing especially in China. The inorganic dye market is mature in Japan and is not likely to increase by a huge margin over the next few years. The consumption of inorganic pigments is expected to grow significantly in India and China in the near future.Request to view Table of content @The key companies profiled for pigments include Ferro Corporation GmbH, Shepard Color Company, Bayer AG, Rockwood, Atlanta AG, Apollo Colors, Honeywell International and Todo Kogyo among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Malathion Material Market Is Expected To Generate Huge Profits by 2021
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Malathion is an organophosphate insecticide and specifically an organophosphate parasympathomimetic, which binds to the enzyme group cholinesterase. Malathion products are usually available in the form of dusts, liquid, powder or emulsions. Their toxicity was believed to only affect pests and insects. In the past few decades however, malathion was found to exhibit low levels of human toxicity as well. When used with caution and in the right amount, mosquito and insect infestations are treated with the chemical without causing any harmful effects on human and animal life. The chemical was known as carbophos in the former USSR, as maldison in Australia and New Zealand, and mercaptothion in South Africa. The U.S. first registered its use in the year 1956.Request to view Sample Report @Malathion is a widely used pesticide, which helps to get rid of insects and pests in the soil and on the plants. It kills insects by stunning their nervous systems, thus preventing them from functioning normally. it helps in the eradication of mosquitoes and fruit flies and are used in public health programs. Malathion is also used in small quantities in lice-killing shampoos. Hair lice and body lice are killed using malathion, but some studies have shown that only some of the lice were killed and that it had absolutely no effect on lice-eggs. Most agricultural programs make use of this chemical in order to stop the infestation of insects in fields. In order to get rid of pests, tanks of malathion were mounted on trucks or aircrafts and were sprayed in the infested surroundings. In order to reduce health effects, the people in that area were advised to close their windows and stay indoors in order to avoid physical contact with the chemical. Malathion is also used in medical applications in the treatment of scabies.Pesticides and insecticides are the main drivers for the malathion market. Pesticides are used globally as remedial methods for various agricultural issues caused by mosquitoes and fruit flies.. Agriculture is one of the most important industry segments that drive the market for malathion. Recent studies have proven that if not used with caution this material can cause serious health issues to human population and animals as well. Malathion itself is less toxic but when inhaled or ingested metabolizes into malaoxon, which is comparatively more toxic than malathion itself. When exposed to the chemical for too long, it has been found that cancer-risk could increase. Many countries have not yet banned the use of this insecticide, but have put forward regulations for the safe usage of the product in public environment so as not to cause any inconvenience to people. At the same time, the U.S. has come up with a safer alternative for this insecticide called spinosad. As it is one of the newest findings, availability of the pesticide is relatively low. However, the market for malathion is still mature and is expected to exhibit a healthy growth rate over the next few years in some regions.The key market segments include Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, Rest of the World. Asia Pacific exhibits the highest demand for malathion, especially in countries such as India and China, owing to their booming agricultural sector. The U.S. being one of the biggest manufacturers of malathion has huge demand for the chemical as well. Malathion was off the market in Europe for a while owing to its ill effects but has been recently brought back into the European market by public demand. Due to its harmful properties, most of the countries have stringent regulations about its use in areas, which are heavily populated but can be used with extreme caution to get rid of their pest infestation.Request to view Table of content @A few of the companies that manufacture malathion include Dow AgroSciences India Pvt. Ltd., Suven Life Sciences, Paramount Pesticides Ltd. among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Multi-Service Business Gateways Market: Headed for Growth and Global Expansion by 2021
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A multi-service business gateway is a device that integrates multiple network data and voice communication tasks into a single device. The multi-service business gateway solution combines crucial functions such as VoIP (voice over internet protocol), routing and security of firewall, virtual private networking and intrusion prevention into a single fault tolerant platform. It also involves functionality related to filtering and email-server, storage and wireless networking. Multi-service business gateways enable OEMs (original equipment manufacturers) and SMEs (small medium enterprises) to differentiate themselves in the market place by incorporating additional functionalities such as session border control and trans-coding and other call management capabilities in their organizations infrastructure. Multi-service business gateway security framework consists of various components such as access, routing, firewall, VPN (virtual private network), MGW (media gateway), SBC (session border controller) and IP (internet protocol) PBX (private branch exchange).Request for Sample Report:In recent years, most of the small and mid-sized companies have increased the installations of new multi-service business gateway devices due to various benefits offered. Increasing demand for converged voice and data services among large and small to mid-sized enterprises is driving the growth of the market. Furthermore, rising popularity of hosted and managed services, and growing migration of enterprises to cost effective services to reduced total cost of ownership is expected to fuel the growth of multi-service business gateways market over the forecast period.The global multi-service business gateway market can be segmented based on its end-users and security threats. Depending on the type of end-users, the multi-service business gateway market can be segmented into three major categories as OEMs (original equipment manufacturers), large enterprises, and SMEs (small medium enterprises). The multi-service business gateway market can be segmented on the basis of security threats into four categories which include communication session threats, network level threats, media threats and application level threats. The global multi-service business gateway market can also be segmented based on major geographical regions into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World (Middle East, Latin America and Africa). Among all the regional markets, Europe is dominating the global multi-service business gateway market owing to the increased adoption of these devices in countries such as France, Germany, UK and Italy. Asia Pacific is expected to exhibit fastest growth due to increasing industrialization, international business expansion and rising enterprise mobility in emerging economies such as India and China. In addition, benefits such as low cost and reduced initial cost are increasing the demand for hosted multi-service business gateway services in this region.Request for Sample Report and Table of content @:Some of the key players in multi-service business gateways market include ADTRAN Inc., AudioCodes Ltd., Cisco Systems Inc., Fortinet Inc., LSI Corporation, Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., Freescale Semiconductor Inc., Allied Telesis Inc., Avaya Inc., Edgewater Networks Inc. and Nuera Communications Inc. among others. In order to outperform competitors, multi-service business gateway solution providers are emphasizing on offering advanced and cost effective solutions to solve security threats prevailing in enterprises. In addition, key players are focusing on acquisition and merger activities to increase their penetration into the market. For example, in 2011, Frontinet Inc. acquired TalkSwitch to further expand its product portfolio in existing multi-service business gateway market.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Growth Predicted for the Global Nuclear Cardiology Market by 2021
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Nuclear imaging in cardiac disorders aids in accurate diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases and blockages in blood flow. Nuclear imaging is a technique for producing images of various body parts utilizing radioactive materials. This technique has applications in diagnosis of various cardiovascular diseases such as angina, aneurysm, atherosclerosis, stroke, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Accurate diagnosis of such chronic diseases is essential to plan precise and cost-effective therapeutic module.Request to view Sample Report @The nuclear cardiology market is focused mainly on three major segments namely, radiology devices, picture archiving and communications systems (PACS) and radiology information systems (RIS) and radiopharmaceuticals. Gamma cameras and positron emission tomography scanners are major imaging devices used in cardiac procedures. SPECT imaging has been the mainstream modality for nuclear cardiology procedures performed worldwide. Radiopharmaceuticals such as nitrogen-13, rubidium-82, fluorine-18, oxygen-15 and other radioisotopes are used in the nuclear imaging process. PACS is an emerging and promising technology in nuclear imaging sector with its potential benefits over other imaging technologies.Geographically, this market is categorized into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World. Better capacities to handle new and highly advanced technologies have kept North America ahead of the other regions in terms of the nuclear cardiology market. However, catering to the untapped opportunities in the Asia-Pacific and Latin American regions will drive these regions at a faster growth rate.Aging population and rising cardiovascular incidences are the major driving factors for the nuclear cardiology market. Besides, the demand for graying equipment in the established diagnostic facilities will provide with demand for new equipment with improve patient outcomes and reduced radiation exposure. In addition, new cost effective technologies such as PET and PACS imaging equipment will lead to growth in the demand for nuclear cardiology devices.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major players in this market include 3mensio Medical Imaging BV, Bracco Diagnostics, Inc., GE Healthcare, Shimadzu Corporation, Siemens Healthcare, Astellas Pharma US, Inc., Philips Healthcare, Covidien plc, Positron Corporation, Fujifilm Medical Systems USA, Inc. and UltraSPECT, Ltd.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Standard Based Communication Servers Market: Outlook Continues to Remain Positive by 2021
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Standard based communications servers are open computing systems that function as a carrier-grade universal platform for an extensive assortment of communications applications. These servers enable the equipment providers customize the system architecture as per the requirement by adding potential value to it. Irrespective of the differentiated features and specification, the standard based communications servers offer attributes such as open platform, carrier grade and flexible. The standard based communications are designed in accordance with the industry standards and provide interoperability with the architecture. Moreover, standard based communications servers offer carrier grade attributes as they provide extended lifecycle support, high availability, and longevity of supply. Additionally, these servers are upgradable without any disruption and offer high speed for real time communication applications to ensure high quality of service.Request for Sample Report:The standard based communication servers offer an introductory platform for building a network infrastructure using the several equipment for applications such as IPTV, wireless broadband and other IP multimedia subsystems. These servers are based on managed industry standards such as Advanced Telecommunication Computing Architecture (ATCA), Advanced Mezzanine Card, Micro Telecommunication Computing Architecture, High Platform Interface (HPI), Carrier Grade Linux and Application Interface Specification (AIS). The Advanced Telecommunications Computing Architecture (ATCA) refers to string of specifications by Peripheral Component Interconnect Industrial Computers Manufacturers Group (PICMG), which is developed to meet essential necessities for carrier grade equipment. In addition to these standards, the standard based communication server is governed by different industry associations and vendor alliance programs. The industry associations include SCOPE Alliance and Communication Platforms Trade Associations. The vendor alliance programs include Intel Communications Alliance, Motorola Communications Server Alliance and Mobicents Open Source Communications Community.ATCA integrates the latest interconnect technologies, manageability and serviceability, improved reliability and next generation processors. The specifications provided by PICMG for Advanced Mezzanine Card (AMC) identify the base-level necessities for a variety of mezzanine cards that are optimized for ATCA Carriers. AMC enhances ATCAs flexibility by widening bandwidth and provides multi-protocol interface to individual servers. MicroTCA specification is basically a framework for directly combining AMC modules, instead of using an ATCA. Moreover, MicroTCA is designed for smaller equipment for application running on low entry cost, small physical size and high scalability. This framework is primarily used for Wi-Fi, wireless base stations, VoIP access gateways and WiMAX radios.Carrier Grade Linux is basically an enhanced version of Linux that is used by the communication servers to offer high security, high availability, scalability and easy maintenance. HPI and AIS are defined by Service Availability Forum (SA Forum) for telecommunication platform to maintain the availability of communication services. The HPI specifies the interface used between the middleware and the primary hardware and the operating system. The AIS specifies the interface between the application and middleware. Moreover, AIS enables applications to run over a variety of computing modules and provides easy migration between the platforms.The standard based communications servers market is primarily driven by the rising demand for high speed and compatible servers across the communication industry. The progressive and vigorous communication server ecosystem consists of several hardware and software providers, server vendors, standard bodies, vendor alliance programs, industry associations and the end-users.Request for Table of content:Leading players in standard based communication servers market are NEC Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, AltiGen Communications, Inc., Emerson Network Power, Barrcuda Networks, Inc., Fenestrae B.V., Estech Systems, Inc., B Labs, Toshiba America Information Systems, Inc., Siemens Enterprise Communication GmbH, Cisco Systems Inc., Sun Microsystems, Avaya, Inc. and IBM Corporation.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Human Identification Market : Recent Industry Trends, Analysis and Forecast 2021
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Forensic identification technologies are used to identify specific objects from the various types of traced evidences at the place of accident and disaster. Human identification techniques are mainly used in forensics for the identification of criminals. Fingerprints are used as a source of identification of human beings.Request to view Sample Report @Human identification process is based on the recognizing of ridges present on the fingers of the suspect. Every human being has a unique formations and sequences of ridges on their figures. This philosophy is used in forensics along with the analysis of hair, skin, blood, DNA and semen. In addition, samples are also collected from teeth.DNA analysis is one of the most powerful techniques used in forensic investigations. Forensic scientists use short DNA fragments (known as short tandem repeats [STRs]), collected from human cells and measured by fluorescent labels and automated instruments. STRs are found in the human genome. Scientists around the world use between 13 and 24 STR locations, known as loci, to create DNA profiles for individuals involved in a crime.The global human identification market is categorized based on various types of technologies, applications and product. Based on technology, the report covers polymerase chain reaction (PCR), automated liquid handling, microarray, capillary electrophoresis, next generation sequencing, nucleic acid purification and extraction and rapid DNA analysis system. The application segment is further sub segmented into forensics, paternity identification, disaster victim identification, population genetics, migration or home trafficking and anthropology. Based on product, the report covers consumables, assay kits and reagents, DNA extraction kits, DNA amplification Kits, DNA quantification kits, electrophoresis, rapid DNA analysis, software and other consumables.In terms of geography, North America dominates the global human identification market. This is due to increased government funding on forensic science in the region. In addition, expansions of the U.S. DNA database have also fueled the market in North America. The U.S. represents the largest market for human identification in North America, followed by Canada. In Europe, Germany, France and the U.K. hold major shares of the human identification market. The human identification market in Asia too, is expected to show high growth rates in the next five years. This is due to various initiatives taken by government to increase awareness about the forensic technologies in DNA analysis. In addition, increased investments by many foreign countries have also propelled the growth of the human identification market in the region. India, China, and Japan are expected to be the fastest growing markets for human identification in Asia.Advanced applications of forensic technologies is a key driver for the global human identification market. Also, increased government supports in the form of funding and rapid technological advancement have fueled the growth of this market.However, price erosion in genomics instruments and services obstructs the market growth. Moreover, integration of technology also restricts the growth of DNA analysis instruments market. Increasing number of mergers and acquisitions of nucleic acid isolation and extraction consumables manufacturing companies and rapid product launches are key trends of the global human identification market.Request to view Table of content @The major companies operating in this market are Agilent Technologies, GE Healthcare, Bode Technology, Illumina, Orchid Cellmark, Inc., LGC Forensics, Promega Corporation, Thermo Fisher Scientific, Inc. and QIAGEN N.V.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Wireless Surveillance Systems Market: Latest Innovations, Drivers and Industry Key Events by 2024
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Safety and security from possible threats is essential for every person. Wireless surveillance system is a useful solution which provides efficient and effective security to people as well as other applications such as businesses, malls, and public spaces. Wireless surveillance system are mounted easily anywhere with less space requirement as they does not require wires to power the devices. These system get their power from batteries which makes them flexible. These devices can be set-up for indoor and outdoor use, and can be transported easily. These systems monitor the area, send recorded feed to the server and alarms for informing an unusual activity. A single building or more than one building can be kept under the surveillance with help of wireless systems. These systems also contains motion detector and night vision features which provides effective surveillance at day or night depending on the requirement.Request for Sample Report:Wireless surveillance systems are convenient, reusable, and portable security solutions, available at low cost. These attributes are expected to have positive impact on security applications. Increasing number of theft and burglary issues, and chaos and vandalism resulting in security concerns are expected to drive market for the wireless surveillance systems during the forecast period. However, to keep wireless surveillance systems working, batteries are required to be replaced frequently over the life cycle. Furthermore, as these systems use Wi-Fi network for video transmission, the available bandwidth for transmission is less which affects the video streaming and the quality of the video. Also security issues make this system vulnerable from other users who are connected to the same network. All these factors may restrict the use of wireless surveillance systems and hence impede the market growth.Wireless surveillance system have lucrative growth opportunities in the long term as the businesses, shops, retailers, and others are willing to use wireless surveillance systems to ensure safety and security of their assets. In addition, governments worldwide are providing funding and promoting the use of surveillance systems which will help lessen number of criminal activities. Furthermore, increasing awareness about public safety helps to increase the market demand for these systems. As an alternate to Wi-Fi, use of Internet Protocol (IP) surveillance systems has grown in recent years, due to compressed and better quality surveillance videos captured. Thus, market growth in the long term is expected to be driven by IP based security surveillance systems.Wireless surveillance system market is segmented on the basis of product, technology, application, and geography. By product, wireless surveillance system market is segmented into hidden, outdoor, backup wireless security camera system. By technology, the market is segmented into analog system and digital systems. By application, wireless surveillance systems market is segmented into residential, commercial, and military. By geography, this market is segmented into North-America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and Latin America. Of these regions, North-America and Europe have seen large scale adoption due to increased public safety and security awareness. Asia-pacific, and Middle East and Africa are expected to see healthy growth in the use of wireless security system over the forecast period due to increasing security concerns and technology adoption in long term.Request for Table of content:The prominent players in wireless surveillance system market includes Icontrol Networks, Inc., Funlux, ADT LLC dba ADT Security Services, Vivint, Inc., FLIR Systems, Inc., Zmodo, Annke Security, Inc., Swann Communications Ltd., Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd., VideoSurveillance.com LLC.About Us:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact Us:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.commedia@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb:
Europe IT-enabled Healthcare Services Market Revenue and Forecast, by Type, 2014 - 2020
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The IT-enabled healthcare segment of the overall healthcare industry is one of the most promising and rapidly expanding markets today. Research indicates that the IT-enabled healthcare market around the world will expand at an 11.80% CAGR from 2014 to 2020, rising from its valuation of US$96.8 bn in 2013 to US$210.3 bn by 2020.Even though developed regions such as North America and Europe being the early adopters of eHealth solutions currently dominate the global IT-enabled healthcare market, the focus is fast shifting to developing economies in Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East, despite the late penetration of IT-enabled healthcare. These regions offer immense growth opportunities and are projected to witness remarkable expansion over the next few yearsBrowse Full Report:Countries in Latin America Gaining ProminenceThe World Bank recently reported that universal healthcare in Latin America is on the rise, with countries such as Costa Rica, Colombia, Panama, Jamaica, Guatemala, Chile, Brazil, and Mexico witnessing a transformational growth in the healthcare sector. This boost indicates that Latin America has immense potential when it comes to IT-enabled healthcare.Earlier this month, International Living magazine listed Colombia, Panama, and Costa Rica among the top four countries with the best healthcare in the world. Factors such as high quality healthcare, affordable health coverage, state-of-the-art hospitals, presence of top-notch private healthcare providers, and growth of medical tourism drive the healthcare sector in this region, and these factors make Latin America an ideal destination for IT-enabled healthcare.Download exclusive Sample of this report:With Promises Galore, India Attracts Several Market PlayersLike many other Asian countries, India too has been undergoing rapid technological changes in almost every industry and the healthcare sector is no exception. The IT-enabled healthcare market in India has been greatly impacted by the efforts of the government in the form of publishing of various e-health journals and formation of key organizations such as the Medical Informatics Society of India and the Telemedicine Society of India. IT-enabled healthcare is one of the successful ways by which India has been transforming its healthcare industry. One of the most prominent factors that works in the favor of the IT-enabled healthcare market in India is favorable patient demographics. In addition, the rising adoption of mHealth, electronic health records, web-based services, and telemedicine also presents a host of opportunities for players within the IT-enabled healthcare market.Last month, the Central Government of India put into practice several IT-based healthcare initiatives. These include an IT-enabled tool to help tobacco users quit their addiction, an audio-based mobile service that delivers weekly voice messages on pre- and post-natal healthcare, a helpline for patients suffering from tuberculosis, an IT-enabled out-patient department registry block at the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), and a mobile app to train accredited social health activists.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Phenolic Resins Market Expecting Worldwide Growth by 2026
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Phenolic resins or phenol-formaldehyde resins are the synthetic polymers obtained by the polymerization of phenol and formaldehyde. Phenolic resins possess good physical and chemical properties such as high mechanical strength, low toxicity, good heat resistance, low smoke formation and high thermal stability. Due to such high properties, phenolic resins find their applications in myriad industrial products. From molded products such as billiard balls to coatings and adhesives, phenolic resins are used for different applications across various industries such as automotive, electrical & electronics, construction etc. Besides, by mixing phenolic resins with other polymer, they can also be used in applications like corrosion coating, adhesive, etc. Due to their rising demand from various industries, the global phenolic resins market is expected to register high growth rate over the forecast period of 2016-2026.Request to view Sample Report @Construction, automotive, furniture and electrical & electronics industry are the major end-use sectors for phenolic resins. The holistic growth in these industries is expected to drive the demand for phenolic resins in the global market. Phenolic resins find their huge application in different wood products, which is majorly driven by the construction industry growth. Construction industry, which slowed down during 2014-2015, is expected to return to its growth phase post 2016. The growing construction industry output is further expected to have a positive impact on the global phenolic resins market through 2026. Moreover, increase in demand for various molded products in automotive and aerospace industry is also expected to contribute to the global phenolic resins demand through the forecast period.Volatility in raw material prices is a major challenging factor for the growth of phenolic resins market. With global focus growing towards the development of green and sustainable products, bio-based resins are expected to gain popularity among consumers, which could also hamper the growth of the conventional synthetic phenolic resins market.Regionally, global phenolic resins market is segmented into seven key regions, namely, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East & Africa and Japan. APEJ is expected to emerge as one of the fastest growing regions in the global phenolic resins market due to high rise in demand from construction and furniture industry, majorly in China and India. China is expected to remain a prominent consumer of phenolic resins in the global market throughout the forecast period.Some of the key player of global phenolic resins market are Chang Chun Plastics Co. Ltd., Mitsui Chemicals Inc., Georgia Pacific Chemicals LLC, Prefere Resins, Kolon Industries, Inc., Momentive Specialty Chemicals Inc., SI Group, Sumitomo Bakelite Co. Ltd, BASF SE, Hitachi Chemical Co. Ltd., and others.Request to view Table of content @The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to categories such as market segments, geographies, types and applications.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA - Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Analysis for Tele-intensive Care Services Market Trends & Forecast 2024
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A new market research report by Transparency Market Research, titled Tele-intensive Care Services Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024, provides a comprehensive understanding of the market. The report is compiled by utilizing both primary and secondary research and presents key insights into the prime market dynamics. Some of these dynamics are drivers, opportunities, challenges, and inhibitors impacting the development of the market from 2016 to 2024. The chief trends prevalent in the global tele-intensive care services market have also been presented. A review on the macro and micro factors benefitting the established players and the emerging players also forms an integral part of this report.Request a PDF Brochure with Report Analysis:The first section of the study throws light on the significance of tele-intensive care services. The implementation of tele-intensive care services aid medical practitioners in monitoring any significant signs in patients. The employment of these services also impede any issues that may otherwise take place owing to hospital-settings.As stated in the report, the rate of mortality is approximately 10% and may even touch up to 28% within intensive care units (ICU) settings, globally. Thus, a number of hospital managers and healthcare professionals have been actively working on introducing various tele-intensive care services in order to lower the count of ICU deaths. Tele-intensive care units have aided in lowering the duration of stay in ICUs and keep the errors that may occur in providing medications under check. All these benefits will raise the demand for tele-intensive care services, thus bolstering market growth, as per this study.The report further opines that the increasing implementation of tele-intensive care services globally will also boost the growth of the market. In addition, the time and cost saving benefits related with the utilization of intensive care services will positively impact the development of the overall market. Furthermore, the growing confidence and interest amongst healthcare professionals in remote patient monitoring will drive the growth of this market.On the basis of product, the report categorizes the tele-intensive care service market into software and hardware. Of these, hardware components are sub-segmented into therapeutic devices, computer systems, communication lines, physiological monitors, video feeds, and display panels. In terms of type, the market is categorized into intensivist, co-managed, open, and open with consultants. Geographically, the report segments the market into Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World (RoW).As stated in this report, the prime players in the global tele-intensive care services market are Advanced ICU care, UPMC Italy, inTouch health, INTELEICU, INOVA, Philips, and iMDsoft, among others.Browse Full Research Report on Tele-intensive Care Services Market:About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who us e proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.ContactTransparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Browse market research blog:
Refrigerated Vehicles Market is Expected to Boost Up Over the Period of 2015 to 2021
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Refrigerated vehicles are used for transportation of vulnerable food, pharmaceutical and healthcare products. The increasing population and consumer spending on food products has surged their production globally. Among food products, dairy products and fresh fruits and vegetables require cold storage and transportation for their sustainability. The increasing global warming has been emerging as a matter of great concern for the food producers globally which is reducing the shelf life of these products in non-refrigerated conditions. Most of the pharmaceutical and healthcare products need protection from heat and light to maintain their chemical and biological formulation. All these concerns have been driving the refrigerated vehicles market globally and are expected to increase in terms of growth rate during 2014-2020.Request to view Sample Report @Refrigerated vehicles include a large types of vehicles used in several transportation requirements based on loading requirement. Some of their types include refrigerated vans, refrigerated trucks, refrigerated trailers, refrigerated railcars, refrigerated ships, refrigerated transport by air, refrigerated containers, atmosphere controlled containers, intermodal refrigerated containers, insulated containers, integral reefer containers and multimodal temperature containers. The increasing consumer awareness about fresh products is one of the important factors which have been escalating the demand for refrigerated vehicles globally.The developing and underdeveloped countries have an underdeveloped cold-supply chain infrastructure which leads to destruction of a large quantity of food products every year. This also increases warehousing charges of the food manufacturers and the distributors as they have to maintain local distribution points in the area of demand. The growing population and increasing per capita income in these countries is boosting the demand for food products which is further creating demands for the refrigerated vehicles in these countries. The dairy product consumption in Asia Pacific countries have also been increasing to a great extent in recent times. The pharmaceutical and healthcare industries have also been growing at a rapid pace in these developing countries which is creating demand for the refrigerated vehicles in this domain as well. The shortage of skilled labor and unstable fuel prices are the key hurdles for the refrigerated vehicles market. The companies operating in the refrigerated vehicles market are improving the fuel efficiency and noise reduction of these vehicles.There have been several technology development and introduction in the recent times by the refrigerated vehicle manufacturers. They include CorroGuard and ThermGuard by Great Dane, Strip door solution for refrigerated trucks by R.O.M, GRIPTM by RTE, LED based indicator by Carrier, economical cold plates by Johnson, reefer monitoring system by PAR, reefer-trak sentry solutions by Star-Trak, Secureseal system by OEM Group, new alternator by Robert Bosch and Fleetview by Terion.Request to view Table of content @Among regions, North America dominated global sales of refrigerated vehicles market, followed by Europe. There are a large number of market players in the refrigerated vehicles market which are operating in a particular country or globally through their subsidiaries. The global refrigerated vehicles market is fragmented however; it is increasingly advancing towards consolidation with a number of companies engaged in merger and acquisition activities.The key market players include Great Dane Trailers, Ingersol Rand Company Limited, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries Limited, Schmitz Cargobull, R.O.M., Thermo King, Carrier Transicold, Johnson, PAR, Star-Trak, GE, OEM Group, Robert Bosch, Terion, Northgate Plc and Fraikin Limited.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Automotive Door Module Market Revenue Predicted To Go Up by 2020
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An automotive door module is an arrangement of a rubber-sealed carrier, onto which an array of automotive door components such as the window sliding mechanism, the wing mirror arrangement, loud speaker, wiring harness, door latch inner and outer release cable, door locks and various switches are fitted.Request to view Sample Report @The various component of automotive door module include latches, lift gate switches, power lift gates, variable boot openings, composite panels, and plastic panels.Based on the various design module of the automotive door, the global automotive door can be classified as door trim modules, structural door, door platform module and two-sided door module.The automotive door module controls various functionalities such as latching or locking function, wing mirror movements, on mirror fitted indicator light, defroster and door indicator lamps. The automotive door module technology is advancing particularly by the increase use of automotive sensors for passenger convenience and safety. One such example is introduction of advanced trapping detection for the automotive window system. It reduces the risk of injury to the passengers by stopping the movement of the window when a body part such as finger, or hand or an arm is introduced into the window during window climbing.The global automotive production is going through a surge particularly led by the emerging economies of Asia Pacific. The increase demand of automobiles is in turn driving the automotive door module market. Moreover the advancing automotive sensor technology and increasing application of mechatronics system in vehicle automation is expected to drive the door module market in forecasted period. The increasing prices of raw materials such as natural fiber, steel, and plastic coupled with lack of aftermarket for automotive door module is acting as one of the major challenge for the industry.Asia Pacific is the largest market of automotive door module attributed mainly to the large scale production of passenger vehicle in China and India. It is then followed by Europe and North America. Asia Pacific and rest of the world (RoW) are fastest growing market for automotive door module and with rising demand of goods carriers and passenger car in these regions.Request to view Table of content @Some of the major companies operating in global automotive door module market include, Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., Brose Fahrzeugteile GmbH & Co. KGDura, Automotive Systems, LLC, Faurecia SA, Grupo Antolin Irausa, S.A., Inteva Products, LLC, Kuester, and Magna International Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Wireless Car Charging Market Growth with Worldwide Industry Analysis 2015 to 2021
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Based on type, electric and hybrid cars can be charged in three ways namely plug-in charging, wireless charging and battery swap. The plug in charging can be done at home through the electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) at home or at public EVSE stations where they have to pay for charging. In battery swap, the charged battery is swapped with the discharged one either manually or robotically from the rear of plug-in electric vehicle. Wireless car chargers are used in electric and hybrid vehicles wherein they are charged through an electromagnetic field created by an inductive pad when they are parked over it.Request to view Sample Report @The demand for electric and hybrid cars is increasing in the global market due to its emission-less operation. These cars are powered by electric motors that run on rechargeable battery packs. Their fuel-independence benefits also minimize worry of the user on account of the unstable fuel prices. Wireless car chargers provide a high degree of convenience to the electric and hybrid vehicle users due to its safe and hassle-free feature. Wireless charging charges the cars at a faster rate with an efficiency of over 90%, as compared to the less efficient and slow wired model of charging. The wireless car charging manufacturers are expected to roll out wireless charging products with more than one wireless charging stations over the next few years. The tightening of emission norms are leading to the growth of electric and hybrid cars market and also laying growth opportunities for wireless car charging market. Toyota and Nissan are amongst the key electric and hybrid car manufacturers using wireless charging in their cars.One of the key restraints for the wireless car charging industry is lack of unified standard of products from the manufacturers. However, efforts in this area are made to standardize the products and avoid wastage of resources. For instance, in 2013, the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) announced to issue a standard frequency for wireless power transfer in electric vehicles in 2014. Hybrid Electric Vehicle Optimization (HEVO Power) Power, a New York based wireless charging solutions company are planning to introduce wireless charging manholes in 2014 in the U.S. in the form of a pilot project. The increasing government funding on EVSEs are posing threat to the wireless car charging market wherein the customers inclination towards the purchase of electric cars with wired charging facility is expected to increase.Request to view Table of content @Among the regions, Europe dominated the global sales of wireless car charging market in 2013, followed by North America. The market for wireless car chargers is expected to grow at a fast rate in Asia Pacific countries; especially China where the government is making efforts to make transportation clean. The economic downturn in Europe has affected the growth of electric and hybrid cars market which has also impacted the sale of wireless car charger market. However, the region is recovering and the wireless car charger market is also expected to recover during 2014-2020. The key companies operating in the wireless car charging market include Bosch Group, Energizer, LG, Evatran Group, Intel, Witricity, Qualcomm, Alliance for Wireless Power (A4WP), Conductix-Wampfler and Convenient Power.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Automotive HVAC Market Revenue Predicted To Go Up by 2020
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HVAC stands for heating, ventilation (replacing air in any space to provide high indoor air quality) and air conditioning (altering the properties of air to make the indoor air more comfortable). Ventilation is the process which includes both the exchange of air to the outside as well as circulation of air within the space. HVAC is a technology that provides indoor and vehicular environmental comfort. Automotive HVAC systems main purpose is to provide thermal and acceptable air condition within the vehicle.Request to view Sample Report @Present generation vehicles are equipped with many innovative technologies which differ in functions performed, cost and application. These features make the vehicle more comfortable for the traveler. Global Automotive HVAC market can be divided on the bases of vehicle type (passenger cars, LCVs (light commercial vehicles) and HCVs (heavy commercial vehicle) and technology component (automatic and manual). Passenger cars dominate the global automotive HVAC market due to increasing demand for private vehicles. In case of technology, automatic technology dominates over manual technology.Asia-Pacific has the largest market share for automotive HVAC market, followed by North America and Europe. Asia-Pacific region is expected to maintain its dominance in the coming future owing to larger vehicle production and demand in countries such China, India, and Japan. India and Chinese markets are expected to dominate global automotive HVAC market owing to their increasing population and increasing domestic production.In current era, people spend a large portion of their time on road travelling in their private vehicle or other means of public transport. Hence rising amount of time spent by people in travelling is driving the global automotive HVAC market. Also, growing popularity of private vehicle over public transport is further expected to increase demand for automotive HVAC technology. Additionally, increasing income level coupled with wide choice of private financing has made it easy for the customers to spend more on private vehicle rather than traveling on public transport. This may further add on to the increasing demand of automotive HVAC technology especially in the developing nation such as India and China.Request to view Table of content @Automotive HVAC market is dominated by established players. Some of the major companies operating in the global automotive HVAC market are Air International Thermal Systems, Brose GmbH & Co., Xiezhong International Holdings Limited., Valeo SA, Toyota Industries Corporation, Sanden Corporation, Keihin Corporation, Johnson Electric, Gentherm Inc., Denso Corporation, Delphi Automotive LLP., Calsonic Kansei Corporation, Japan Climate Systems Corporation and Visteon Corporation.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Automotive Suspension Systems Market Evaluation of Recent Industry Developments For 2015 to 2021
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Suspension systems in automotives minimize shocks to the body of the vehicle while moving on a surface. They also keep the tires in constant contact with the surface regardless of the contours. The global automotive suspension market is growing mainly due to increase in demand for automobiles. Rise in disposable income in developing countries is a key factor driving the market for passenger cars. Also, increasing commercialization is fueling the demand for commercial vehicles globally. Consequently, the demand for automotive suspension is also increasing.Request to view Sample Report @A basic suspension system includes springs, shock absorbers, control arm, struts, and ball joints. Springs are a key component of automotive suspension systems. The main types of springs include leaf springs, coil springs, and torsion bars. Most passenger vehicles use light coil springs, while light commercial vehicles use coil and leaf springs in their automotive suspension systems. Heavy commercial vehicles mostly use leaf springs or air suspension.There are three types of automotive suspension systems: passive, semi-active, and active. In passive suspension systems, vertical movement of the wheel mainly depends on the surface, while semi-active and active suspension systems actively control vertical movement. Major drawbacks of active suspension systems include high costs and frequent maintenance requirements.There are two types of automotive suspension systems based on type: hydraulic and electromagnetic. Electromagnetic suspension systems are growing at a fast pace due to increasing number of high-end vehicles that offer better ride quality and superior control. These suspension systems minimize rolling of the vehicle while cornering, accelerating, and braking. Despite its benefits, high prices remain the key restraint for the growth of electromagnetic suspension systems. However, during the forecast period, the companies are expected to slash the prices of these systems.Technological advancements in automotive suspension systems have led to the evolution of electrical generator suspensions. These suspensions serve their usual purpose and also act as a source of power for certain energy needs of the vehicle. This technology is in its nascent phase and is expected to grow at a significant pace during the forecast period. For example, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, a car parts manufacturer based in Germany, uses the GenShock energy-recovery suspension, an electrical generator suspensions system. Although the automotive suspension market is growing exponentially, certain restraints such as lack of standardization and high prices of independent suspension systems are hindering its growth.Request to view Table of content @Asia Pacific dominated the global automotive suspension systems market in 2013, followed by Europe. China, Japan, South Korea, and India are the major automotive suspension systems markets in Asia Pacific, while Germany, France, and the U.K. dominated sales in Europe. Major companies in automotive suspension systems market include the Benteler Group, Continental AG, KYB Co., Ltd., Magneti Marelli S.p.A., Mando Corporation, Schaeffler AG, Tenneco Inc., TRW Automotive Holdings Corporation, WABCO Holdings Inc., and ZF Friedrichshafen AG.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Air Cargo Security and Screening Systems Market Expected to Be Biggest Emerging Market by 2021
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Aviation security has been one of the key concerns in the aviation industry. The need for air cargo security and screening systems has become even more pronounced after the September 11, 2001 attack on the World Trade Center. The customary security and screening practice in this area include physical inspection and canine methods (detection through trained dogs) which are not error-free. The new technologies in this area reduce the potential threats from terrorist activities and ensure safety by tracking explosives inside the air cargo. The air cargo industry and international and national regulatory authorities have been continuously making efforts to increase the screening levels of the air cargos with minimum of shipping hindrance through known shipper programs. These programs allow known shippers to screen their own cargo and check that they adhere to a common set of standards.Request to view Sample Report @The enhanced security programs carry certain limitations in the form of large size of the industry and high costs incurring in the enhancements. However, the dire need to increased security has been compelling the industry to include air cargo security and screening systems. The expansion of these security measures across the supply chain lays significant business opportunities for the manufacturers of air cargo and security and screening systems. The screening process in the air cargo and screening systems include screening systems based on x-ray, explosives trace detection (ETD) and explosives detection systems (EDS) technologies. The air cargo security and screening systems based on x-ray screens the entire shipment swiftly and accurately.X-ray based screening produces high penetration of detection in products ranging from meats, fish, paper, liquid and metals. ETD is the most popular technology used by the aviation industry and freight forwarders for screening air cargo. In this technology, samples of particles are collected from the pieces of cargo being screened which are then screened for traces of explosives or vapors which explosives may release. ETDs are relatively cheaper than its counterpart technologies are cost about USD 10,000. For screening efficiency with ETDs, the cargo needs to be divided into smallest packaging components. EDS system consists of an apparatus which examines the physical characteristics of an object; and a software component that processes the images and data to analyze the mass and density of that object. In EDS a rotating-ray source is used to take large numbers of images in order to give a visual presentation of the objects contained in the examined piece. EDS are costlier than its counterparts and its maintenance charges are also high, however, its automated nature makes its less-labor intensive. With the scarcity of skilled labor, EDS is expected to be a fast growing segment of air cargo security and screening systems market.Request to view Table of content @Among the regions, North America dominated the global air cargo security and screening systems in 2013 followed by Europe. The dominance of North America is due to its large aviation industry and increasing industrialization and trade. Asia Pacific is also witnessing high growth due to increase in trade activities and industrialization in the region. The key companies in air cargo security and screening systems include American Science and Engineering, L-3 Security Detection Systems, Morpho Detection Rockwell Collins, Rapiscan Systems, 3DX-RAY, Armstrong Monitoring, Astrophysics, AUTOCLEAR, CEIA, Gilardoni, Nuctech and Smiths Detection.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. We have an experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, who use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each PMR Syndicated Research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemical, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With a wider scope and stratified research methodology, our syndicated reports strive to serve clients and satisfy their overall research requirement.For information regarding permissions, contact:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway,7th FloorNew York City, NY 10007United StatesTel: +1 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWebsite:media@persistencemarketresearch.com
Global Prefilled Syringes Market Analysis and Forecasts, By Distribution Channel 2016 - 2024
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The global sales of prefilled syringes amounted to US$3.5 bn in 2015 and is projected to reach US$7.9 bn, expanding at a CAGR of 9.3% over the period of 2016 to 2024.Prefilled Syringes Market: SnapshotParenteral is one of the most commonly used route of drug administration, oral administration being the most preferred one. A steady rise in the development and availability of parenteral drugs has resulted in the increasing demand for several advanced drug delivery devices that promise cost containment as well as ease of administration.Prefilled syringes are one of the most rapidly expanding segments of the injectable drug delivery devices market. There are several benefits of prefilled syringes over traditional delivery systems: improved safety, ease of administration, accurate dosing, and reduced risk of contamination. These advantages form the basic foundation for the success of prefilled syringes and are likely to continue driving the market during the forecast period.Read Full Report:Technical advances in the sector, rapid growth in the biologics market, and the growing preference for self-administration using autoinjectors, prefilled syringes, and pen injectors are the key factors boosting the global market for prefilled syringes.Glass Prefilled Syringes to Lose Market Share Despite being Most Preferred SegmentPrefilled syringes are available in two key types plastic (polymer) and glass depending on the kind of material used to develop the barrel of the syringe. Despite the fact that the industry has been reporting a growing use of polymers by many manufacturers of syringes, glass is still considered to be the top-most choice and will continue to dominate the market in terms of volume as well as revenue. This is attributed to the fact that changing the perception of healthcare practitioners and manufacturers over the preference of glass over plastic is expected to be a rather gradual process. The segment of glass prefilled syringes is anticipated to lose market share toward the end of the forecast period, which will be replaced by plastic syringes. The latter is expected to grow at a CAGR of 10.8% from 2016 to 2024.By application, the market is segmented into vaccines, monoclonal antibodies, and others. On the basis of distribution channel, the prefilled syringes market is categorized into hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, and mail order pharmacies.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Japan Most Promising Market in APAC Prefilled Syringes MarketEurope has maintained its position as the leading regional market for prefilled syringes in terms of volume (unit consumption) as well as revenue. However, the APAC market for prefilled syringes is anticipated to exhibit strong growth at a CAGR of 11.3% during the forecast period. The presence of leading drug manufacturers in the region requiring prefillable syringes and the high conversion rate from vials to prefilled syringes are the primary factors likely to support the growth of the APAC market.Asia Pacific is perceived as a follower rather than a leader when it comes to the development and adoption of new technologies. Although the prefilled syringes market is presently in its stage of infancy in APAC, factors such as improving economic conditions, the rising purchasing power of the people, the growth in awareness regarding the advantages of prefilled syringes, and the presence of a large patient suffering from various chronic diseases are expected to drive the market to register a double-digit CAGR. In Asia Pacific, Japan accounts for the major share in the market by revenue as well as volume.Major players in the global prefilled syringes market include Becton Dickinson & Co., Gerresheimer, Medtronic, Baxter International, SCHOTT AG, West Pharmaceuticals, Vetter International, Unilife Corporation, Stevanato Group, and Terumo Corporation.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a U.S.-based provider of syndicated research, customized research, and consulting services. TMRs global and regional market intelligence coverage includes industries such as pharmaceutical, chemicals and materials, technology and media, food and beverages, and consumer goods, among others. Each TMR research report provides clients with a 360-degree view of the market with statistical forecasts, competitive landscape, detailed segmentation, key trends, and strategic recommendations.Contact us:Transparency Market Research90 State Street,Suite 700,AlbanyNY - 12207United StatesTel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Europes ICT Spends In Telecommunications Sector - Future Perspective To 2019
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Europe's ICT Spends in Telecommunications Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; report is a comprehensive outlook built using Kables extensive market research covering spends across ICT markets in Europe. The statistics within the report provides a top-level overview and detailed insights into the operating environment of the Technology and Telecommunications sector in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom).Kable has considered buying behavior / ICT spends across hardware, software, services, communications and staff. It acts as an essential tool for companies active across the ICT market and for new players considering entering the market; ensuring right business decision making.*This is an on-demand report and will be delivered within 2 working days (excluding weekends) of the purchase.Request For Sample Copy Of This Report:Key Findings"Europe's ICT Spends in Telecommunications Sector - Future Perspective to 2019" provides the readers with potential spends value on ICT within Telecommunications sector of Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom) during the period 2016 through to 2019In particular, it provides information of potential spends by individual countries for the following categories at segment level:BPO ServicesCloud ServicesEnterprise Communications ServicesIT HardwareIT ServicesSoftwareSynopsisEurope's ICT Spends in Telecommunications Sector - Future Perspective to 2019; is an exhaustive research report outlaying future perspectives of ICT project spends in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom). The report provides year on year opportunity spends value within the Telecommunications sector; split across BPO Services, Cloud Services, Enterprise Communications Services, IT Hardware, IT Services, and Software categories and further at segment levels for the period 2016 to 2019.ReasonsToBuyUnderstand the opportunities for ICT market in Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom) Telecommunications sector and how it is set to change in future.Make effective business decisions by recognizing the opportunities within each of the core areas of ICT sectorRealign your sales initiatives by understanding the current strategic objectives of the Europe (Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Russia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, United Kingdom) ICT Sector.Enhance your market segmentation with detailed breakdown of opportunities within selected technology categories.MarketResearchReports.biz supports your business intelligence needs with over 100,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz
Polyisobutylene Market will generate new growth opportunities by 2021
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The report covers forecast and analysis for the Polyisobutylene market on a global and regional level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on volume and revenue (USD Million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes a study of opportunities available in the Polyisobutylene market on a global level.Get a copy of free Sample Report @In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the Polyisobutylene market, we have included a detailed competitive scenario and product portfolio of key vendors. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters five forces model for the Polyisobutylene market has also been included, strategic development along with patents analysis is included in this report. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, where in type segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.Get in-depth TOC (Table of Contents) with Tables and Figures @Medium Molecular Weight Polyisobutylene and Others are the major types of Polyisobutylene. Polyisobutylene finds widespread applications in Automotive, Additive, and Other Applications. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021.The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa with its further bifurcation into major countries including U.S. Germany, France, UK, China, Japan, India, and Brazil.Inquire more before buying this report @The report covers detailed competitive outlook including company profiles of the key participants operating in the global market. Key players profiled in the report include BASF SE, Exxon Mobil Corporation, LANXESS, TPC Group, INEOS, Berkshire Hathaway Inc., Chevron Oronite Company LLC, Infineum International Limited, Proteus Corp, and Kothari Petrochemicals.Browse detail report @This report segments the Polyisobutylene market as follows:Polyisobutylene Market: Type Segment AnalysisMedium Molecular Weight PolyisobutyleneOthersPolyisobutylene Market: Applications Segment AnalysisAutomotiveAdditiveOthersPolyisobutylene Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaU.S.EuropeUKFranceGermanyAsia PacificChinaJapanIndiaLatin AmericaBrazilMiddle East and AfricaAbout Us:Syndicate Market Research provides a range of marketing and business research solutions designed for our clients specific needs based on our expert resources. The business scopes of Syndicate Market Research cover more than 30 industries including energy, new materials, transportation, daily consumer goods, chemicals, etc. We provide our clients with the one-stop solution for all the research requirements.Contact Us:Joel John3422 SW 15 Street, Suite #8138Deerfield Beach, Florida 33442United StatesToll Free: +1-855-465-4651 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-386-310-3803Email: sales@syndicatemarketresearch.comWebsite:
Chocolate Market - Global Industry Size 2024
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Global Chocolate Market: OverviewOne of the most consumed and popular food product among consumers across the globe is chocolate. Based on the amount of cocoa employed during preparation, different varieties of chocolates are produced globally. As the global chocolate market is highly driven by the taste preferences of consumers, it is imperative that companies focus on product development and marketing strategies to gain a wider consumer base and capture new markets.Download exclusive Sample of this report:The report presents an in-depth analysis of the growth trajectory of the global chocolate market along with the principal trends. The study also highlights the factors that are likely to affect the global chocolate market in a positive or negative manner. It also evaluates the prime elements at play in the market. To offer a clear outline of the market, the report utilizes Porters five forces analysis and examines the competitive landscape. It also presents an assessment of the products, key strategies, and shares of the companies operating in the global chocolate market. Information on the degree of entry and exit barriers present in the market has also been provided in the intelligence report.Global Chocolate Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe growth of the global chocolate market is primarily driven by the rising awareness among consumers regarding the health benefits associated with cocoa-rich dark chocolates. This trend is anticipated to boost the popularity of chocolate across the globe. The popularity of dark chocolate is expected to rise over the forthcoming years owing to the fact that it helps in preventing cardiac diseases, in addition to other benefits.The growing disposable income of consumers in developing countries of Asia Pacific is one of the primary reasons behind the mounting demand for chocolates. In countries such as South Korea, Japan, India, and China, the presence of regional brands has stirred the sales of chocolates over the last couple of years. Multinational brands such as Ghirardelli, Mars, Ferrero, and Hersheys have also gained popularity in these countries owing to the changing taste preferences and increasing brand loyalty.The demand for chocolate is at its peak during seasonal and festive occasions. The expanding applications of chocolate is another factor that is likely to positively impact the growth of the global chocolate market. However, fluctuating prices of raw materials, especially cocoa, the instability of its supply, and the political instability in cocoa producing countries are likely to restrain the growth of the market over the next couple of years.Global Chocolate Market: Regional OutlookRegion-wise, the global chocolate market is categorized into Europe, North America, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World. Amidst these, Asia Pacific emerged as one of the leading consumers of chocolates due to the rising influence of Western culture and habits in countries in the region. The success of several international chocolate brands is expected to further intensify the demand for chocolate in the region.Companies Mentioned in the ReportThe leading companies operating in the global chocolate market are focusing on product differentiation in terms of taste, flavor, and price to gain a strong hold over the market. Some of the key players are Kraft Foods, Nestle SA, Moonstruck Chocolatier Co., Mars Inc., Ghirardelli Chocolate Co., Ferrero Group, and Hershey Foods Corp.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Natural Antioxidants Market - Global Industry Share 2019
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Natural antioxidants are mostly found in fresh food. They have the ability to remove harmful/toxic substances from body. They are chemically free radicals and stable in their own way and hence do not give away electrons. Antioxidants convert harmful toxins into harmless products which are excreted from body as waste products. They prevent the body from oxidation which produces free radicals and damages cells. Foods which are rich in natural antioxidants helps prevent cancer and also act as anti-aging agents. They also reduces risk of heart disease by significantly absorbing bad cholesterol.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Major factors driving the growth of the market are increasing concern over food safety, demand for natural ingredients and awareness regarding benefits of antioxidants. Rising prices of these natural antioxidants is one the major barrier to the growth of the market which are likely to be addressed as more R&D initiatives are directed towards the sector. With increase in livestock population the demand for natural antioxidants will increase, companies will be able to lower the cost with economies of scale. The markets for Natural Antioxidants have huge opportunities in the future and may act as replacements for synthetic products which cause health related concerns.The global natural antioxidant market by application can be segmented as global meat & poultry market, baked goods market, snack foods market, fish & sea food market, oil, fat & margarines market and other application. North America and Europe are the market leaders currently, however the competition is likely to increase in the Asia Pacific region in the future. The overall regional segmentations may be done as North America, Europe and Asia Pacific.Some of the major players in the market are Danisco A/s, Basf Se, Adisseo France S.a.s, Novozymes A/s, HR. Hansen, AB Vista, and DSM.Browse Full Report with ToC:This research report analyzes this market depending on its market segments, major geographies, and current market trends. Geographies analyzed under this research report includeNorth AmericaAsia PacificEuropeRest of the WorldThis report provides comprehensive analysis ofMarket growth driversFactors limiting market growthCurrent market trendsMarket structureMarket projections for upcoming yearsThis report is a complete study of current trends in the market, industry growth drivers, and restraints. It provides market projections for the coming years. It includes analysis of recent developments in technology, Porters five force model analysis and detailed profiles of top industry players. The report also includes a review of micro and macro factors essential for the existing market players and new entrants along with detailed value chain analysis.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Smart Grid Cyber Security Industry :- Market by Type, Application, and Geography Global Trends & Forecasts to 2021
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Research Beam added a report United States Smart Grid Cyber Security Market Report 2016Description:About Smart Grid Cyber Security Market:The Smart Grid Cyber Security Industry Research Report is a comprehensive study of the recent market trends and consumption analysis in the United States industry. The report provides an in-depth analysis for the historic period, 20112016 and the forecast period, 20162021. Market overview is offered on the basis of product overview and scope of Smart Grid Cyber Security. Furthermore, the study covers a detailed segmentation in terms of types, applications, and regions.Download Sample Report @Regional analysis for the Smart Grid Cyber Security market is provided based on revenue, sales, and growth rate. In addition, sales and market share for each segment are included for each region.Major manufacturers are analyzed in the report in terms of basic information, manufacturing base, product specifications, and business overview. Furthermore, comprehensive analysis of sales, revenue, price, and gross margin of each manufacturer is covered.Following manufacturers are analyzed: BAE Systems IBM IOActive Lockheed Martin Symantec AlertEnterprise AlienVault Black and Veatch Cisco Systems ElsterRequest for Discount @Manufacturing cost analysis is offered based on raw material analysis and cost structure along with manufacturing process analysis. The research offers industry chain analysis in terms of upstream raw material sourcing and downstream buyers. Moreover, an extensive analysis of production, consumption, and revenue for each segment is offered for the forecast period.Data & statistics are provided with the help of tables and figures to help manufacturers, investors, and shareholders gain comprehensive understanding. Research conclusions are offered at the end of the report.Enquire about Report @Table of Contents:1 United States Smart Grid Cyber Security Overview2 United States Smart Grid Cyber Security Competition by Manufacturers3 United States Smart Grid Cyber Security (Volume) and Revenue (Value) by Type (2011-2016)4 United States Smart Grid Cyber Security (Volume) by Application (2011-2016)5 United States Smart Grid Cyber Security Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis6 United States Smart Grid Cyber Security Manufacturing Cost Analysis7 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers8 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders9 Market Effect Factors Analysis10 United States Smart Grid Cyber Security Market Forecast (2016-2021)11 Research Findings and ConclusionAbout Us:With the arsenal of different search reports, Research Beam helps you here to look and buy research reports that will be helpful to you and your organization. Our research reports have the capability and authenticity to support your organization for growth and consistency. With the window of opportunity getting open and shut at a speed of light, it has become very important to survive in the market and only the fittest and competent enough can do so. So, we try and provide with latest changes in the market that can suit your needs and help you take decision accordingly.Contact Us:5933 NE Win Severs Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United StatesU.S. & Canada Toll Free: + 1-800-910-6452International: + 1-503-894-6022UK: + 44-845-528-1300India: +91 20 66346070Fax: +1 (855) 550-5975Email: help@researchbeam.comWeb:
Global Aviation Test Equipment Market Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2015 2021
Global Aviation Test Equipment Market
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Aviation Test Equipment Market (Electric Systems Test Equipment, Hydraulic Systems Test Equipment, Pneumatic Systems Test Equipment) for Commercial Aviation Test Equipment and Military Aviation Test Equipment Application: Global Industry Perspective, Comprehensive Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Segment, Trends and Forecast, 2015 2021Global aviation test equipment market is expected reach USD 7,254 million by end of 2021The report covers forecast and analysis for the aviation test equipment market on a global, regional and country level. The study provides historic data of 2015 along with a forecast from 2016 to 2021 based on revenue (USD million). The study includes drivers and restraints for the aviation test equipment market along with the impact they have on the demand over the forecast period. Additionally, the report includes the study of opportunities available in the aviation test equipment market on a global level.Request Sample Report:In order to give the users of this report a comprehensive view on the aviation test equipment market. To understand the competitive landscape in the market, an analysis of Porters Five Forces model for the aviation test equipment market has also been included in the study. The study encompasses a market attractiveness analysis, wherein application segments are benchmarked based on their market size, growth rate, and general attractiveness.The report provides company market share analysis in order to give a broader overview of the key players in the market. In addition, the report also covers key strategic developments of the market including acquisitions & mergers, new product launch, agreements, partnerships, collaborations & joint ventures, research& development, product and regional expansion of major participants involved in the market on the global and regional basis.Browse detail report at:The study provides a decisive view on the aviation test equipment market by segmenting the market based on system and application. All the segments have been analyzed based on present and future trends and the market is estimated from 2015 to 2021. System segments covered under this study includes electric systems test equipment, hydraulic systems test equipment, and pneumatic systems test equipment. Key application segments covered under this study includes commercial aviation test equipment and military aviation test equipment. The regional segmentation includes the current and forecast demand for North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America and the Middle East and Africa. This segmentation includes demand for aviation test equipment based on the individual product in all the regions.The report also includes detailed profiles of end players such as Boeing, Honeywell International, Inc., Moog Inc., SPHEREA Test & Services (SPHEREA), Rockwell Collins, Airbus, and Teradyne Inc. The detailed description of players includes parameters such as company overview, financial overview, business strategies and recent developments of the company.Read Report TOC:The report segments the global aviation test equipment market as:Aviation Test Equipment Market: System Segment AnalysisElectric Systems Test EquipmentHydraulic Systems Test EquipmentPneumatic Systems Test EquipmentAviation Test Equipment Market: Product Segment AnalysisCommercial Aviation Test EquipmentMilitary Aviation Test EquipmentAviation Test Equipment Market: Regional Segment AnalysisNorth AmericaEuropeAsia PacificLatin AmericaThe Middle East and AfricaAbout A to Z ResearchA to Z Research is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We feature large repository of latest industry reports, leading and niche company profiles, and market statistics released by reputed private publishers and public organizations. A to Z Research is the comprehensive collection of market intelligence products and services available on air. We have market research reports from number of leading publishers and update our collection daily to provide our clients with the instant online access to our database. With access to this database, our clients will be able to benefit from expert insights on global industries, products, and market trends.Contact US3422 SW 15 Street,Suit #8138,Deerfield Beach,Florida 33442, USATel: +1-386-310-3803GMTTel: +49-322 210 92714USA/Canada Toll Free No.1-855-465-465Email: martin@atozresearch.comWebsite:
Dashboard Camera Market (By Product Type - Basic Dashboard Cameras, Advanced Dashboard Cameras and Smart Dashboard Cameras) - Worldwide Manufacturing Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2020
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Dashboard cameras are real-time video recording devices usually attached on the windshield of vehicles and integrated with dashboards in the vehicle. These devices are designed to record real-time videos that capture the inward as well as outward sides of vehicles. Dashboard cameras find its applications in private cars, law enforcement vehicles, and rental and other commercial vehicles. These cameras provide continuous video recording, which could be used as evidence in event of an accident or civil or criminal lawsuits. Dashboard cameras are categorized based on technology, type and geography. The demand for dashboard cameras is majorly driven by their numerous advantages, especially their utility in case of accidents, emergency services, and for evidence gathering, among others. Dashboard cameras help insurance companies to expedite claim settlements as these cameras provide lucid evidence of the incidents. Various insurance companies offer discounts on insurance premiums for car owners who equip their vehicles with dashboard cameras. Rising support from insurance companies to install dashboard cameras is another major factor influencing the growth of this market.Get More Information:The report on the dashboard cameras market provides the current scenario as well as the future market potential of dashboard cameras, globally. The market for the dashboard cameras has been extensively analyzed on the basis of product type, technology and geography. Based on type, this market is also segmented into basic dashboard cameras, advanced dashboard cameras and smart dashboard camera. The market size and forecast in terms of revenue (US$ Mn) as well as volume (thousand units) for each of these segments have been provided for the period from 2012 to 2020, considering 2012 and 2013 as the base years. Based on the technology, dashboard cameras are categorized into single lens (single channel), multi lens (dual channel) and rearview dashboard cameras. The report also provides the compound annual growth rate (CAGR) for each segment of the market for the forecast period from 2014 to 2020 and analyzes the contribution of sales channels i.e. OEMs (car manufacturers and retail). This would help dashboard camera manufacturers to select ideal distribution channels according to their requirements. The report also highlights the views of car manufacturers about integrating dashboard cameras with their new cars.Geographically, the market for dashboard cameras has been segmented into regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and the Rest of the world. The market size and forecast for each region have been provided for the period from 2012 to 2020 along with the CAGR (%) for the forecast period from 2014 to 2020. The report also includes country level analysis for major markets in Europe (Russia, France, Germany, UK, Norway and Sweden) and Asia Pacific (China, Korea, Japan and Oceania). The dashboard camera market report includes the quantitative analysis in terms of unit shipment (thousand units) as well as revenue (US$ Mn) and forecast for the period 2014 to 2020. The report also highlights attractive market segments in each regional and global market which helps manufacturers and suppliers in their tactical decision making. The study also includes qualitative analysis of the competitive scenario in these regions. The market overview chapter in the report includes qualitative analysis of the overall market highlighting the factors determining the market dynamics such as drivers, restraints, and opportunities along with market attractiveness analysis and value chain analysis. This report also highlights demand supply trends, product and technology trends, original equipment suppliers and manufacturer trends in the global as well as in regional markets.The report also provides a section on the competitive landscape, wherein the market positioning of leading players in the global dashboard cameras market in 2013 has been analyzed. The report concludes with the profiles of major original equipment suppliers (OESs) and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) in the global dashboard cameras industry such as Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) US LLC, Delphi Automotive Systems Pvt Ltd, Papago Inc., Toyota Motor Corp, Harman International Inc, Garmin International Inc, Qrontech Co., Ltd. (Lukas), Pittasoft Co. Ltd. (BlackVue), DCS Systems Ltd. (RoadHawk UK), and others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Soft Contact Lens Global Industry Analysis and Research Report 2016 | New Release
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Soft Contact Lens Industry 2016 Market Research Report" to its huge collection of research reports.The Global Soft Contact Lens Industry 2016 Market Research Report is a professional and in-depth study on the current state of the Soft Contact Lens industry.Firstly, the report provides a basic overview of the industry including definitions, classifications, applications and industry chain structure. The Soft Contact Lens market analysis is provided for the international market including development history, competitive landscape analysis, and major regions development status.Secondly, development policies and plans are discussed as well as manufacturing processes and cost structures. This report also states import/export, supply and consumption figures as well as cost, price, revenue and gross margin by regions (United States, EU, China and Japan), and other regions can be added.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Then, the report focuses on global major leading industry players with information such as company profiles, product picture and specification, capacity, production, price, cost, revenue and contact information. Upstream raw materials, equipment and downstream consumers analysis is also carried out. Whats more, the Soft Contact Lens industry development trends and marketing channels are analyzed.Finally, the feasibility of new investment projects is assessed, and overall research conclusions are offered.In a word, the report provides major statistics on the state of the industry and is a valuable source of guidance and direction for companies and individuals interested in the market.Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Soft Contact Lens1.1 Definition and Specifications of Soft Contact Lens1.1.1 Definition of Soft Contact Lens1.1.2 Specifications of Soft Contact Lens1.2 Classification of Soft Contact Lens1.3 Applications of Soft Contact Lens1.4 Industry Chain Structure of Soft Contact Lens1.5 Industry Overview and Major Regions Status of Soft Contact Lens1.5.1 Industry Overview of Soft Contact Lens1.5.2 Global Major Regions Status of Soft Contact Lens1.6 Industry Policy Analysis of Soft Contact Lens1.7 Industry News Analysis of Soft Contact Lens2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Soft Contact Lens2.1 Raw Material Suppliers and Price Analysis of Soft Contact Lens2.2 Equipment Suppliers and Price Analysis of Soft Contact Lens2.3 Labor Cost Analysis of Soft Contact Lens2.4 Other Costs Analysis of Soft Contact Lens2.5 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Soft Contact Lens2.6 Manufacturing Process Analysis of Soft Contact Lens3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Soft Contact Lens3.1 Capacity and Commercial Production Date of Global Soft Contact Lens Major Manufacturers in 20153.2 Manufacturing Plants Distribution of Global Soft Contact Lens Major Manufacturers in 20153.3 R&D Status and Technology Source of Global Soft Contact Lens Major Manufacturers in 20153.4 Raw Materials Sources Analysis of Global Soft Contact Lens Major Manufacturers in 20154 Capacity, Production and Revenue Analysis of Soft Contact Lens by Regions, Types and Manufacturers4.1 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Soft Contact Lens by Regions 2011-20164.2 Global and Major Regions Capacity, Production, Revenue and Growth Rate of Soft Contact Lens 2011-20164.3 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Soft Contact Lens by Types 2011-20164.4 Global Capacity, Production and Revenue of Soft Contact Lens by Manufacturers 2011-20165 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Soft Contact Lens by Regions, Types and Manufacturers5.1 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Soft Contact Lens by Regions 2011-20165.2 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Soft Contact Lens by Types 2011-20165.3 Price, Cost, Gross and Gross Margin Analysis of Soft Contact Lens by Manufacturers 2011-2016Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Dental Software Market Key Trends, Size, Growth, Shares And Forecast Research Report 2016
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Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Dental Software Market Research Report 2016" to its huge collection of research reports.This report studies Dental Software 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, coveringAce DentalDovetailDentrixDenticonCurve DentalQSIDental WebDentiMaxDataconCarestream PracticeWorksEasy DentalMarket Segment by Regions, this report splits Global into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue, market share and growth rate of Dental Software in these regions, from 2011 to 2021 (forecast), likeNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanKoreaTaiwanSplit by product type, with production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, can be divided intoPatient records management dental softwareDental treatment planning softwareDental internet and ethernet communication softwareComputer-aided dental educationSoftware for usage of dental instrumentsOthersSplit by application, this report focuses on consumption, market share and growth rate of Dental Software in each application, can be divided intoAdministrativeClinicalFor internetTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Table of Contents1 Dental Software Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Dental Software1.2 Dental Software Segment by Type1.2.1 Global Production Market Share of Dental Software by Type in 20151.2.2 Patient records management dental software1.2.3 Dental treatment planning software1.2.4 Dental internet and ethernet communication software1.2.5 Computer-aided dental education1.2.6 Software for usage of dental instruments1.2.7 Others1.3 Dental Software Segment by Application1.3.1 Dental Software Consumption Market Share by Application in 20151.3.2 Administrative1.3.3 Clinical1.3.4 For internet1.4 Dental Software Market by Region1.4.1 North America Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.2 Europe Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.3 China Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.4 Japan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.5 Korea Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.4.6 Taiwan Status and Prospect (2011-2021)1.5 Global Market Size (Value) of Dental Software (2011-2021)2 Global Dental Software Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Dental Software Production and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.2 Global Dental Software Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.3 Global Dental Software Average Price by Manufacturers (2015 and 2016)2.4 Manufacturers Dental Software Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Dental Software Market Competitive Situation and Trends2.5.1 Dental Software Market Concentration Rate2.5.2 Dental Software Market Share of Top 3 and Top 5 Manufacturers2.5.3 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion3 Global Dental Software Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2011-2016)3.1 Global Dental Software Production by Region (2011-2016)3.2 Global Dental Software Production Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.3 Global Dental Software Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2011-2016)3.4 Global Dental Software Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.5 North America Dental Software Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.6 Europe Dental Software Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.7 China Dental Software Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.8 Japan Dental Software Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.9 Korea Dental Software Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)3.10 Taiwan Dental Software Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2011-2016)4 Global Dental Software Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.1 Global Dental Software Consumption by Regions (2011-2016)4.2 North America Dental Software Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.3 Europe Dental Software Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.4 China Dental Software Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.5 Japan Dental Software Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.6 Korea Dental Software Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)4.7 Taiwan Dental Software Production, Consumption, Export, Import by Regions (2011-2016)5 Global Dental Software Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global Dental Software Production and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.2 Global Dental Software Revenue and Market Share by Type (2011-2016)5.3 Global Dental Software Price by Type (2011-2016)5.4 Global Dental Software Production Growth by Type (2011-2016)Make an Enquiry of this report @About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.Mr. NachiketState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @
Global Intelligent Virtual Assistant Market size worth over $11bn by 2024
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Intelligent Virtual Assistant Market size is expected to exceed USD 11 billion by 2024; according to a new research report by Global Market Insights, Inc.Growing focus on customer engagement to enhance user experience is expected to drive the intelligent virtual assistant market size in the future. Virtual assistants are deployed in mobile devices, enterprise websites, and social media that enable them to have constant communication with clients. For instance, companies install them to provide brand or product information to clients.In addition, it helps in promotions by asking new users to sign in to the companys loyalty account. Customer engagement solutions emphasize on providing enhanced direct experience and help companies to increase revenue and improve customer satisfaction and retention.Request for a sample of this research report @Growing focus on streamlining business activities to lower the overall operating cost will also propel the intelligent virtual assistant market size. IVAs have application across several business processes such as interviewing, employee training and advertising that allow enterprises to minimize the cost.With the help of smartphones and other mobile devices, tasks such as checking in with staff, location based reminders, searching through emails, and scheduling meetings makes the work life of the employee more efficient. Thus, the increasing penetration of mobile devices is expected to provide a fillip to the intelligent virtual assistant market share.Browse key industry insights spread across 180 pages with 130 market data tables & 100 figures & charts from the report, Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) Market Size By Technology (Speech Recognition, Text-To-Speech, Voice Recognition), By Service (Customer Service, Marketing Assistant), By Application (Automotive, BFSI, Retail, IT & Telecom, Healthcare, Education), By End-Use (SMBs, Large Enterprises, Individual Users), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Brazil, Mexico), Application Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2016 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Key insights from the report include: Speech recognition is expected to witness significant growth with a CAGR of over 37% from 2016 to 2024 owing to the high demand for speech recognition technology across the medical and automotive applications. Moreover, increasing focus of technology giants including Microsoft and IBM to minimize the error rate is expected to significantly contributes towards high intelligent virtual assistant market share. The ability to covert a persons voice into a recognizable data pattern is projected to propel the demand for voice recognition over the coming years. IVA market share as service assistant is anticipated to witness high adoption over the future as it is capable of assisting businesses on customer requirements and work flow balance, thereby, delivering immediate productivity. Intelligent virtual assistant market share as customer assistants is projected to grow considerably at nearly 35% CAGR over the forecast timeline. The technology provides advantages such as enhance support, low operating cost, high customer satisfaction, personalized service to customers, multiple language & device support. Furthermore, it proves to be a key differentiator that increases consumer loyalty, income and sales. Intelligent virtual assistant market size is expected to witness significant demand across the retail industry owing to the features they offer such as responding efficiently to consumers queries and issues in a cost-effective manner. IVA offer personalized and expert service to customers irrespective of time, geography and channel without any sale support. This increases consumer satisfaction and lowers cost, which is expected to impel demand over the next few years. Enterprises are witnessing high adoption rate as it provides user friendly self-service feature which is much faster and convenient as compared to talking to a live agent. High IVA market adoption rate is further accredited to increasing focus on customer satisfaction and cost reduction. For instance, Nuances Nina is the first virtual integrated assistant in the UK insurance sector. Dominos Pizzas Dom, ING Banks Inge, and JetStar Airlines Jess are virtual assistants designed to deliver a convincing, multi-channel, automatic customer service experience for the enterprise and consumer segment. U.S. intelligent virtual assistant market size contributed significantly to the overall revenue in 2015, with CAGR forecast to exceed the global average. Companies contributing to the intelligent virtual assistant market share include IBM Corporation, Nuance, Clara Labs, InteliWISE, eGain Communications, Creative Virtual, CX Company, 24/7 Customer Inc., Artificial Solutions and Anboto among others.Make an inquiry for buying this report @Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. 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Why Cyber Security Services are the most necessary in 2017?
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Just as in 2016, Cyber Security Services will continue to be decisive for most of the organizations in 2017. A market research by Gartner has suggested that organizations globally spend about 5.6% of their budget on IT security and risk management. But this figure varies from one organization to another depending upon the nature of business, geography, industry sector as well as size of business. Some businesses are trying to incorporate industry best practices for security into their operations to reduce the overall numbers of security vulnerabilities. With a steep rise in technology integration in our day to day lives, security attackers will find new ways to trouble. A couple of cyber security features have become imperative for businesses. Do you have these?Suma Soft Pvt. Ltd. is a global IT risk and security management company that has been actively providing top-notch Cyber Security Services to businesses for over 16 years. Here are a list of must-have IT risk management features that will help you stay away from security breaches:Basics:1)Continuous IT Risk Analysis and Intrusion Detection2)Anti-virus and Malware protection, SPAM and Web filters3)Firewall validation, IDS verification, password cracking4)Business logic testing to prohibit authentication bypass, privilege escalation, unauthorized access to restricted data, etc.5)Social Engineering Attack assessmentAdvanced:1)Security Incident and Event Management tool in a SaaS-delivered format2)Real-time monitoring and reporting3)Static Application Security Testing for thorough source code analysis4)Digital Forensic Investigation and Awareness5)Internal Audit and Vulnerability AssessmentAbout Suma Soft:Suma Soft offers proactive IT risk and security management services for Automotive, Healthcare, Logistics, BFSI, Ecommerce and other industries. Suma Soft is credited with ISO 27001:2013 Information Security Management System, STQC and CERT-in empanelment.URL:Suma Soft has been providing Cyber Security Services in USA for past 16+ years.Name: StuartCompany Address: 7880 San Felipe Street,Ste 120,Houston TX 77063-1647Telephone: +1 281 764 1821Email: info@sumasoft.com
Increasing Healthcare Expenses Drive the Growth of Healthcare Information Systems Market to touch US$53.2 Billion by 2019
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North America has the largest healthcare information systems market and Asia is the fastest growing healthcare information systems market. Some of the fastest growing markets for healthcare information system are China, India, Japan and the U.S. Adoption of wireless and cloud computing is constantly on the rise, which is resulting in reduction in operational costs. For instance, the number of patients who used home health monitoring systems was about 2.8 million in the world in 2012. The growth rate is projected to increase to 26.9% in the near future. Similarly, About 5.7 million patients are expected to be monitored with a wireless medical device in 2014.Healthcare information system is an extensive integrated system which captures, stores, manages and transmits information related to the health of individuals or the activities of organizations that work within the healthcare sector. Globally, increase in aging population is playing a major role in increasing the demand of healthcare information system. Older people have less regenerative abilities and are more prone to disease, syndrome and sickness. As a result, healthcare information systems market is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 7.1% during 2013 2019.Download PDF Brochure of Report -Some of the key driving factors for the healthcare information systems market are aging population, rising healthcare cost, rising government initiatives, rising need for integrated healthcare system and rising investments by healthcare IT players. However, the market faces some restraints such as lack of experienced professionals, high maintenance & service expenses and interoperability issues. North America has the largest healthcare information systems market and Asia is the fastest growing healthcare information systems market. Some of the fastest growing markets for healthcare information system are China, India, Japan and the U.S. Adoption of wireless and cloud computing is constantly on the rise, which is resulting in reduction in operational costs. For instance, the number of patients who used home health monitoring systems was about 2.8 million in the world in 2012. The growth rate for home health systems is projected to increase to 26.9% in the near future. Similarly, About 5.7 million patients are expected to be monitored with a wireless medical device by 2014.Hospital information system is the largest application segment in healthcare information systems market and it is expected to grow at a CAGR of about 6.9% during 2013 2019. Based on delivery mode, the healthcare information systems market can be classified into web based technology, on-premise technology and cloud based technology.GE Healthcare is the leading player in the hospital information systems market. Other major players of healthcare information systems market include Philips Healthcare, McKesson Corporation and others.Browse Report with Complete TOC -About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Waterproofing Membrane Market - Global Industry Analysis 2016 - 2024
Waterproofing Membrane Market
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Global Waterproofing Membrane Market: Brief AssessmentCoating that prevents passage of water into structural components of a construction is known as waterproofing membrane. Waterproofing activity of the membrane retains structural integrity of a foundation. Structural units of a building such as roof, walls, and basements are protected from intrusion of moisture and water with the aid of waterproofing membrane. Hydrostatic pressure exerted by molecules of water, both in liquid and vapor state, is controlled by application of waterproofing membrane. This type of membrane is composed of plastic, rubber, or coated fabric with water-resistant activity. Waterproofing membrane can be applied to interior side of the building (negative-side waterproofing) as well as exterior side of the building (positive-side waterproofing).Single or multi-layer materials such as rubber, elastomer, bitumen, PVC, polyethylene, polypropylene, polyurethane, and other polymers are major components of waterproofing membrane. Based on composition, waterproofing membranes are classified into different types such as PVC (polyvinylchloride), TPO (thermoplastic polyolefin), EPDM (ethylene propylene diene monomer), HDPE (high-density polyethylene), and LDPE (low-density polyethylene).GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECH-NICAL INSIGHTS:The most important feature of the membrane is to provide water adsorption activity. Waterproofing membrane has wide industrial applications due to its efficient water-resistant performance. Construction (such as roofing, walls, and building structure), water and wastewater treatment, mining, civil, and transportation (tunnel liners, bridge, and highway) industries are key end-users of waterproofing membrane.Global Waterproofing Membrane Market: Trends and OpportunitiesTPO waterproofing membrane is widely employed as roofing material in several end-user industries. This is anticipated to drive demand for TPO waterproofing membrane. Easy installation steps, eco-friendly nature, and high performance efficiency are key benefits of TPO membrane. Energy efficiency, durability, and heat resistance features are primary factors boosting rise in demand for waterproofing membrane globally. Lightweight feature and environment sustainability are chiefly responsible in enhancing the popularity of waterproofing membrane in its end-user industries.Booming construction industry in China and other countries in Asia Pacific contributes to rising demand for waterproofing membrane. Increasing awareness about saving energy and environment-friendly usage fuels consumption of waterproofing membrane in developed as well as developing countries. Key players focus on market expansion through mergers and acquisitions, product innovation, and research initiatives. However, companies need to follow stringent rules and regulations empowered by the U.S. EPA to ensure their products are eco-friendly.Global Waterproofing Membrane Market: Regional OutlookThe global waterproofing market witnessed significant growth in the last few years, and this positive trend is estimated to continue in the next few years. Size of the global waterproofing membrane market is anticipated to rise significantly in the next few years. Enormous growth in construction industry and wastewater management system in Asia Pacific due to rise in urban population is fueling the waterproofing membrane market. Asia Pacific accounts for the largest share of the waterproofing membrane market. Increased usage of waterproofing membrane in roofing, mining, water, and wastewater treatment in this region is likely to boost market prospects. North America accounts for second-largest market share of the waterproofing membrane market. The market in North America is projected to experience steady growth in the near future. Sluggish growth in construction industry in Europe results in a relatively smaller market for waterproofing membrane, whereas the Middle East and Africa appears to be an emerging market. Establishment of new production plants in the developing nations indicates increase in demand for waterproofing membrane.Global Waterproofing Membrane Market: Companies Mentioned in the ReportKey manufacturers of waterproofing membrane include The Dow Chemical Company, Carlisle Companies, Inc., Siplast, BASF SE, W. R. Meadows Inc., Johns Manville, Soprema Group, Firestone Building Products Company, LLC, GAF Materials Corporation, and Sika AG.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insights for decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Virus Filtration Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2016 - 2024
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The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Virus filtration is an important procedure in the pharmaceutical industry. It ensures the purity and steady consumption of valuable products, besides optimizing the economic process and preventing loss. Virus filtration feed streams generally exhibit high purity and heavy product concentrations. Retrovirus and parvovirus filtration membranes are two ultrafiltration membranes tested (and their performances compared) using realistic model feed streams consisting of minute virus of mice (recommended from FDA). This approach provides an industry-relevant benchmark for the engineering competence of virus filters. Asymmetric membranes operate in direct flow and in a constant pressure mode in accordance with the industrial practice of virus filtration. However, new developments in research and development using flux method allow to image at the performance of virus filtration and similar ultrafiltration membranes, which also provides insights into designing virus filtration membranes.Download PDF Brochure of Report -Hike in R&D expenditure, development of the biopharmaceutical industry, and increasing government funding for the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries are driving the global virus filtration market. According to the parenteral drug association, parvovirus filters in the downstream process have become an industry standard and a common regulatory expectation in the recent years. The filters consistently demonstrate highly effective retrovirus retention without impacting the quality of the product across a wide range of parameters and are an effective method to reduce virus risks in biopharmaceutical manufacturing. The filtration technique needs to be approved by the U.S. food and drug administration (FDA). Regulatory agencies in Germany and France require the manufacturing processes to be evaluated and the units to be cleared of the multiple models of relevant viruses before being marketed as authorization. These stringent government validation practices are expected to be a hindrance for the global virus filtration market.The market has been segmented by product type, application, end-users, and geography. In terms of product type, it is classified into the following categories: virus filters, kits and reagents, filtration systems, and others. It majorly has biological applications, besides being employed in medical devices, water purification, stem cell products, vaccine & therapeutics, and others. Based on end-user, its divisions include pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies (which use virus filtration techniques in order to prevent unavoidable contamination in products), medical device companies, and contract research organizations. Filtration systems and devices are becoming popular because they deliver a high level of retention assurance and productivity across a broad range of feed stream characteristics. Rising industrialization coupled with the rapid evolution of the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, and water purification sectors, along with demand for medical devices & implants are likely to propel the virus filtration market by 2024.Geographically, the market is distributed over North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America is the dominant region due to the increasing modern industrialization, sophisticated infrastructure, patient awareness, and high per capita health care expenditure here. Moreover, the emerging trend of single-use techniques provides a boost to the pharmaceutical & biotechnology market, in turn motivating the virus filtration market. This is followed by Europe where there exist favorable government policies regarding health care infrastructure and awareness programs about the various diseases which can spread among the population through the air, water, or even products generated from industries. In 2013, the ICH (international conference on harmonization of technical requirements for registration of pharmaceuticals for human use), a project that brings together the regulatory authorities of Europe, Japan, and the U.S., discussed the scientific and technical aspects of drug registration in order to streamline the testing requirement for research and development of new medicines and eliminate unnecessary delays in their global development. The market in Asia Pacific is projected to expand swiftly due to rising population, changing lifestyles, rising number of awareness programs for patients, and the ever-increasing per capita expenditure. In addition, economic growth supports pharmaceutical and biotechnology units in developing countries such as India, China, and Singapore. All these factors collectively support the virus filtration market in Asia Pacific.Key players operating in the market include Merck KGaA, GE Healthcare, Thermo Fisher Scientific Inc., Lonza Group Ltd., Pall Corporation, Charles River Laboratories International, Inc., Sigma-Aldrich Corporation, Sartorius AG, Asahi Kasei Medical Co., Ltd., and WuXi PharmaTech (Cayman) Inc.Read Report with Complete TOC -Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather, and analyze information. Our business offerings represent the latest and the most reliable information indispensable for businesses to sustain a competitive edge.Each TMR syndicated research report covers a different sector - such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals, energy, food & beverages, semiconductors, med-devices, consumer goods and technology. These reports provide in-depth analysis and deep segmentation to possible micro levels. With wider scope and stratified research methodology, TMRs syndicated reports strive to provide clients to serve their overall research requirement.US Office Contact90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Medical Transcription Services Market Global Industry Analysis 2013 - 2019
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In the past, medical documentation involved lots of paper work and was time consuming. Such documents were sometimes handwritten or typed on paper and gradually started occupying space in healthcare institutes, hospitals and clinics. Apart from being space consuming, retrieving any particular patient record from piles of record files posed as a bigger issue. Documentation and maintenance of patient records was not only a burden on hospitals but also on physicians and other healthcare staff which thereby created demand for a medical documentation process which involved less manpower, space and processing time.Medical transcription process involves transcribing the patient information dictated by physician into text format. Physicians record patient information using audio recorders and send such recordings to medical transcriptionist for further process. This process has not only reduced writing work and efforts of physicians across the globe but has also helped in reducing space required for the saving of such documents. Apart from efficiently recording patient records medical transcription services also turn out to be instrumental in reducing the risk of legal disputes and insurance reimbursement issues.Download exclusive Sample of this report:Many medical transcription service providers are offering both transcription services and transcription software. Audio recorders are being rapidly replaced with speech recognition software that allows automatic conversion of audio into text format. Medical transcription service providers offer services mainly to transcribe History and Physical reports (H&P), Discharge Summary (DS), Operative Notes (OP), Consultation reports (CONSULT) and other reports. Medical transcription services can be offshored or outsourced. Many developed countries prefer offshoring medical transcription jobs to the companies situated in developing countries such as India, China and Philippines. Medical transcription demands high end accuracy and hence requires skilled manpower. Developing in-house manpower capable of transcribing medical information with accuracy along with developing and maintaining infrastructure necessary for providing medical transcription services is a costly affair. Hence many healthcare professionals outsource their transcription jobs to save both time and monetary resources. Healthcare institutes prefer offshoring medical transcription activities over outsourcing as it is more beneficial for labor as well as healthcare institutes to avail the transcription services in exchange of dollars (currency rate benefits).Medical transcription has extended definitions of healthcare services by enabling physicians and specialty physicians to treat patients across the globe, refer documents in history for special cases and guide for physicians in case of transfer of patient from one physician to another for better treatment. Developing countries in Europe are investing more on building medical transcription service organizations (MTSOs). Countries in Asia-Pacific are focusing more on medical transcription service industry rather than on availing medical transcription services. Governments in India, Philippines and China are providing subsidies, incentives, cost benefits in internet services and tax benefits for developing infrastructure required for set up of medical transcription company, developing skilled manpower and improving technology.View exclusive Global strategic Business report:Geographically, North America dominates the global medical transcription services market due to increased medical documentation in the U.S. Contribution of the U.S. in availing medical transcription services is going to increase further as effects of passing of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act. Furthermore, most of the healthcare professionals availing medical transcription services are domiciled in the U.S. thus giving more scope to in-shore outsourcing. Many major MTSOs are coming up with cost effective products in the market that is driving cost reduction in this market. Growing awareness of medical documentation and its implementation by many healthcare professionals, hospitals, clinics and healthcare institutes is driving growth of medical transcription market.Moreover, factors such as increased awareness about the benefits of electronic patient recordkeeping, government initiatives, increased geriatric population worldwide; reimbursement processing and availability of various software leading to competitive cost reductions are driving growth of medical transcription services market. Use of novel recording system, which combines different type of automatic audio recorders and speech recognition technology, is a rapidly progressing trend. Medical transcription services is a promising and a fast growing segment in the field of next generation patient documentation and healthcare database and is changing the perception and look of healthcare industry.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
Diabetes Devices and Drugs Market to Reach US$83.0 bn by 2019 due to Introduction of New Insulin Formulations
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Diabetes mellitus, commonly known as diabetes, is a group of metabolic disorders wherein either the body isnt able to produce insulin or isnt able to use the already generated insulin. The former happens in case of type-1 diabetes and the latter in case of type-2 diabetes. Thus, the raised sugar levels result in a number of symptoms such as weight loss, increased thirst, frequent urination, and high appetite. Diabetes, if left untreated, may cause numerous chronic or acute potentially-fatal complications. Thus, a number of devices and drugs are being introduced for the treatment of diabetes.Forthcoming Market Trends of Diabetes Devices and Drugs at:As per this report, the rising diabetic population globally and the increasing incidence of chronic diseases as a result of diabetes are amongst the key factors propelling the growth of the market for diabetes devices and drugs. In addition, the continuous activities of research and development have also positively impacted the growth of the market. Furthermore, the rising technological advancements will further augment the development of the market. The introduction of non-invasive diabetes diagnostic and drug delivery devices and the launch of new insulin formulations in the market are the key growth opportunities in the market.On the other hand, the profitability of players is being hampered by patent expiry and the high cost of treatment and diagnosis. In addition, the unsupportive reimbursement policies will also impact the diabetes devices and drugs market negatively in the forthcoming years.On the basis of device, the global diabetes devices market is segmented into diabetes monitoring and diagnostic devices and insulin delivery devices. Amongst these, monitoring and diagnostic devices are further segmented into analog glucose meters, glucose test strips, lancets and lancing devices, continuous glucose monitoring devices, and others.Insulin delivery devices are further segmented into insulin syringes, insulin pens, insulin pumps, and insulin injectors. The segment of continuous glucose monitoring devices is predicted to rise at a 6.60% CAGR between 2013 and 2019. On the other hand, insulin pens are also witnessing substantial demand in the global market.By therapy, the global diabetes drugs market is segmented into insulin, non-insulin injectable anti-diabetes drugs, and oral anti-diabetes drugs class. Of these, insulin is further segmented into short-acting insulin derivatives, intermediate-acting insulin derivatives, long-acting insulin derivatives, rapid-acting insulin derivatives, and premixed insulin derivatives. The oral anti-diabetes drugs class is further segmented into sulphonylureas, biguanides, meglitinides, thiazolidinediones, alpha-glucosidase inhibitors, DPP-4 inhibitors, and SGLT-2 inhibitors. Non-insulin injectable anti-diabetes drugs are further segmented into GLP-1 analogs.Geographically, the report segments the market into North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World (RoW). Amongst these, North America leads the market for diabetes devices and drugs. This is due to the rising diabetic population, advanced medical infrastructure, and the increasing technological developments within this region.However, Asia Pacific is projected to be the most lucrative market for diabetes devices and drugs in the forecast horizon. This is owing to the growing occurrence of diabetes and the rising awareness about self-management and monitoring of diabetes in this region.Read Present Analysis of Diabetes Devices and Drugs Market at:As mentioned in the study, the prominent players dominant in the market are AstraZeneca plc, Abbott Laboratories, Inc., B Braun Melsungen AG, Becton, Dickinson and Company, Bayer HealthCare AG, Ingelheim GmbH, and Boehringer, among others.Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company, providing global business information reports and services. Our exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trends analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMRs experienced team of Analysts, Researchers, and Consultants, use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.Our data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts, so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With a broad research and analysis capability, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques in developing distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:
LNG Re-Gasification Market - Global Industry Analysis 2020
LNG Re-Gasification Market
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Increase in the oil and gas exploration activities to satisfy the global energy needs can have direct implications on the global LNG Re-gasification industry. The global market for LNG Re-gasification industry depends upon the demand for LNG, and hence any factor driving LNG demand could also drive the LNG Re-gasification market. Re-gasification is a process of converting back the Liquefied Natural Gas into its original form. The stringent environmental laws advocating the use of cleaner fuels can have positive impact on the demand of natural gas, and hence re-gasification equipments. The need to meet the energy and climate targets by various countries is one the major driver for the LNG re-gasification industry. LNG re-gasification plants can be located on both onshore and offshore locations. The offshore plants are usually located on the floating barges equipped with all necessary technologies for re-gasification.Segmentation of the LNG Re-gasification market can be done on the basis of technology, plant location (Onshore and Offshore Re-gasification), end user industry and geography. Some of the major LNG-re-gasification technologies include the use of open rack vaporizers, submerged combustion vaporizers, shell and tube vaporizers, intermediate fluid vaporizers and ambient air vaporizers. The LNG Re-gasification industry can also be segmented depending upon the location of re-gasification plants. The LNG Re-gasification plants can be located both on the onshore and offshore areas. The Floating Storage and Re-gasification Units (FSRU) are purposely built tankers that can be used for designed for re-gasification of LNG. Natural gas is widely used as a fuel for gas powered cars, buses and trucks. Besides that natural gas can also be used as fuel for power plants.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECH-NICAL INSIGHTS:The segmentation of the LNG Re-gasification market can be done by indentifying the major LNG importing and producing countries. Major natural gas importing and producing countries include the United States, Canada and Mexico; Australia, India, Singapore, China, Korea and Japan; Italy, Spain, Germany, Russia and the United Kingdom in Europe; Oman, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia. Rest of the World segment includes countries from Africa and Latin America. Major countries in this segment are Angola, Nigeria, Venezuela, Brazil and Ecuador. Recent natural gas discoveries in West Africa and Central Asia are also having the positive impact on the world LNG Re-gasification industry.Increasing onshore and offshore natural gas exploration activities, advancements in re-gasification technologies, increasing demand for natural gas, stringent environment regulations advocating the use of cleaner fuels are the major drivers for the LNG Re-gasification industry. Moreover, the development of offshore re-gasification units can also have a positive impact on the LNG Re-gasification industry. High cost of installation for LNG re-gasification units is one of the major restraints to the LNG Re-gasification industry. Moreover, the development of bio-fuels and renewable energy technology can also be a restraint to the LNG market and hence the LNG Re-gasification industry. Increase in the number of vehicles especially in the Asia Pacific countries such as India and China can act as the opportunity for the LNG Re-gasification industry. Both of the countries import LNG in large quantities and hence can act opportunities for the companies planning to invest in LNG Re-gasification.Some of the major companies involved in LNG Re-gasification include KBR, Inc., Golar Management Ltd., Hoegh lng AS, John Wood Group PLC, Wartsila, Excelerate Energy, L.P and others.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insights for decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Global Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) Market 2016 - Quantum Hi-Tech, Ingredion, Beghin-Meiji, Sensus, Cosucra, Beneo, Meiji Food Materia, CJ CheilJedang, Tata
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This report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) from 2011-2016, and provides extensive market forecasts (2016-2021) by region/country and subsectors. It covers the key technological and market trends in the Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) market and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for Fructooligosaccharide (FOS), and the opportunities/challenges faced by industry participants. It also acts as an essential tool to companies active across the value chain and to the new entrants by enabling them to capitalize the opportunities and develop business strategies.Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) also sometimes called oligofructose or oligofructan, are oligosaccharide fructans, used as an alternative sweetener. FOS exhibits sweetness levels between 30 and 50 percent of sugar in commercially prepared syrups. It occurs naturally, and its commercial use emerged in the 1980s in response to consumer demand for healthier and calorie-reduced foods. Fructooligosaccharides are prebiotics with numerous health benefits within which the improvement of gut microbiota balance can be highlighted, playing a key role in individual health. Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) was initially discovered in plants, it exists in fruits, vegetables and cereals widely.Download sample report atGlobal Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) Market Outlook 2016-2021, has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) market collected from specialized sources. The report covers key technological developments in the recent times and profiles leading players in the market and analyzes their key strategies. The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players. The major players in the global Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) market areQuantum Hi-Tech (China), Ingredion (USA), Beghin-Meiji (France), Sensus (Nerthland), Cosucra (Belgium), Beneo (Germany), Meiji Food Materia (Japan), CJ CheilJedang (Korea), Tata (India), Victory Biology Engineering (China), Baolingbao (China), Qinghai Weide (China), Bailong Chuangyuan (China), Yunnan Kangwei (China), Shandong Arabian (China).The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World. In this sector, global competitive landscape and supply/demand pattern of Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) industry has been provided.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Global Spiramycin Base (Spiramycin) (CAS 8025-81-8) Market 2016 - Sanofi-Aventis, CLL Pharma, TOPFOND, Fortune Pharmaceutical
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Spiramycin is a macrolide antibiotic and antiparasitic It is used to treat toxoplasmosis and various other infections of soft tissues. Although used in Europe, Canada and Mexico, spiramycin is still considered an experimental drug in the United States, but can sometimes be obtained by special permission from the FDA for toxoplasmosis in the first trimester of pregnancy.Spiramycin has been used in Europe since the year 2000 under the trade name "Rovamycine", produced by Rhone-Poulenc Rorer and Famar Lyon, France and Eczacibasi Ilae, Turkey. It also goes under the name Rovamycine in Canada (distributed by OdanLaboratories), where it is mostly marketed to dentists for mouth infections.Spiramycin is a 16-membered ring macrolide. It was discovered in 1952 as a product of Streptomyces ambofaciens. As a preparation for oral administration it has been used since 1955, in 1987 also the parenteral form was introduced into practice. The antibiotic action involves inhibition of protein synthesis in the bacterial cell during translocation. Resistance to spiramycin can develop by several mechanisms and its prevalence is to a considerable extent proportional to the frequency of prescription in a given area. The antibacterial spectrum comprises Gram-positive cocci and rods, Gram-negative cocci and also Legionellae, mycoplasmas, chlamydiae, some types of spirochetes, Toxoplasma gondii and Cryptosporidium species. Enterobacteria, pseudomonads and pathogenic moulds are resistant. Its action is mainly bacteriostatic, on highly sensitive strains it exerts a bactericide action. As compared with erythromycin, it is in vitro weight for weight 5 to 20 less effective, an equipotential therapeutic dose is, however, only double. This difference between the effectiveness in vitro and in vivo is explained above all by the great affinity of spiramycin to tissues where it achieves concentrations many times higher than serum levels. An important part is played also by the slow release of the antibiotic from the tissue compartment, the marked action on microbes in sub-inhibition concentrations and the relatively long persisting post-antibiotic effect. Its great advantage is the exceptionally favourable tolerance-gastrointestinal and general. It is available for parenteral and oral administrationDownload sample report atThis report provides detailed analysis of worldwide markets for Spiramycin Base (Spiramycin) (CAS 8025-81-8) from 2011-2015 and provides extensive market forecasts 2016-2021 by region/country and subsectors. It covers the key technological and market trends in the Spiramycin Base (Spiramycin) (CAS 8025-81-8) market and further lays out an analysis of the factors influencing the supply/demand for Spiramycin Base (Spiramycin) (CAS 8025-81-8), and the opportunities/challenges faced by industry participants. It also acts as an essential tool to companies active across the value chain and to the new entrants by enabling them to capitalize the opportunities and develop business strategies.Global Spiramycin Base (Spiramycin) (CAS 8025-81-8) Market Outlook 2016-2021, has been prepared based on the synthesis, analysis, and interpretation of information about the global Spiramycin Base (Spiramycin) (CAS 8025-81-8) market collected from specialized sources. The report covers key technological developments in the recent times and profiles leading players in the market and analyzes their key strategies. The competitive landscape section of the report provides a clear insight into the market share analysis of key industry players. The major players in the global Spiramycin Base (Spiramycin) (CAS 8025-81-8) market are Sanofi-Aventis (France), CLL Pharma (Italy), TOPFOND (China), Fortune Pharmaceutical (China), among others.The report provides separate comprehensive analytics for the North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa and Rest of World. In this sector, global competitive landscape and supply/demand pattern of Spiramycin Base (Spiramycin) (CAS 8025-81-8) industry has been provided.Fior Markets is a leading market intelligence company that sells reports of top publishers in the technology industry.Our extensive research reports cover detailed market assessments that include major technological improvements in the industry. Fior Markets also specializes in analyzing hi-tech systems and current processing systems in its expertise.We have a team of experts that compile precise research reports and actively advise top companies to improve their existing processes. Our experts have extensive experience in the topics that they cover.Fior Markets provides you the full spectrum of services related to market research, and corroborate with the clients to increase the revenue stream, and address process gaps.Contact UsMark StoneSales Manager2566, Lincoln StreetPrinceton,New Jersey 08540USAPhone: (201) 465-4211Email: sales@fiormarkets.comWeb:Blog:
Power Transmission Towers and Cables Market Report - Trend, Growth & Forecast Analysis
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DecisionDatabases.com offers Power Transmission Towers and Cables Market Research Report. This Report covers the complete Industry Outlook, Growth, Size, Share and Forecast Till 2021.Get Free Sample Copy @Power transmission towers and cables are imperative components which transfer electricity over a huge distance from source to user. Power transmission towers are huge vertical structure made of wood, cement or lattice. These towers carry and support overhead transmission of cables through a long distance which are known as power cables. Electric components are fitted on power transmission towers and with the help of power cables, high voltage electricity can be transferred from power source to the end user.Modern power transmission systems have the ability to transmit high power as compared to conventional systems. Power transmission towers and cables are used in transfer of electricity for commercial as well as household purpose. Global power transmission towers and cables market is analyzed and segmented on the basis of its type into power transmission towers and power transmission cables.Huge power transmission ability and modern infrastructure of power transmission towers and cables has led to the replacement of conventional transmission systems and in turn empowered the growth of this market. Moreover, adoption of electronic railway systems by government of India is a remarkable factor to surge the growth of this market. Demand for energy sources especially renewable energy sources due to increasing populations is expected to augment the growth of this market for the forecast. Use of modern electronic components and technology is expected to open key opportunities for this market. Volatile cost of raw materials is expected to restrain the growth of this market to some extent.Asia Pacific is prominent region of this market with highest market growth. Presence of major developing economies like India and China facilitate the growth of Asia Pacific. Followed by Asia Pacific, North America is the second largest region with fast market growth. MEA and Latin America are emerging regions expected to show steady market growth. Key players in the global power transmission towers and cables market are Prysmian S.p.A., Nexans S.A., General Cable Technologies Corporation, Sumitomo Electric Industries Ltd., Southwire Company LLC. Kalpataru Power Transmission Ltd., Zhejiang Shengda Steel Tower Co. Ltd., Nanjing Daji Iron Tower Manufacturing Co. Ltd., ShanDong DingChang Tower Co. Ltd and KEC International Ltd.Access full report at:DecisionDatabases is involved in providing research reports and company profiles in the global power transmission towers and cables market in terms of revenue and output/volume. Market drivers, opportunities and restraints are thoroughly studied which influences the market. This study is further utilized for the overall analysis of the market. The power transmission towers and cables market is segmented based on the global applications, geographic presence, by products and ingredients. We offer an inclusive category-specific market outlook. We provide access to a comprehensive collection of companies in the industry. The companies can strategize and execute business operations through our competitor analysis. Find the global industry analysis, market size, share, growth, and trends information in our power transmission towers and cables profiles.Major Table Of Contents:1. INTRODUCTION2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY3. MARKET ANALYSIS OF POWER TRANSMISSION TOWERS AND CABLES4. POWER TRANSMISSION TOWERS AND CABLES MARKET ANALYSIS BY TYPE5. POWER TRANSMISSION TOWERS AND CABLES ANALYSIS BY REGION6. COMPETITIVE LANDSCAPE OF POWER TRANSMISSION TOWERS AND CABLES COMPANIES7. COMPANY PROFILES OF POWER TRANSMISSION TOWERS AND CABLES INDUSTRYOrder a Complete Power Transmission Towers and Cables Market Research Report @DecisionDatabases.com is a global business research reports provider, enriching decision makers and strategists with qualitative statistics. DecisionDatabases.com is proficient in providing syndicated research report, customized research reports, company profiles and industry databases across multiple domains.Our expert research analysts have been trained to map clients research requirements to the correct research resource leading to a distinctive edge over its competitors. We provide intellectual, precise and meaningful data at a lightning speed.3rd Floor,Fountain chambers,Nanabhai Lane,Fort, Mumbai - 1E-Mail: sales@decisiondatabases.comPhone: +91 99 28 237112Web:
Lignite Mining Market - Global Industry Analysis 2020
Lignite Mining Market
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The global market for lignite mining is influenced by the increased need for energy and the rising prices of various energy production resources. Also, with the development taking place in the economies such as India and China, the demand for energy will rise, thereby, increasing the price of energy and its resources. This rise in price tends to shift the interest of industries towards other resources of energy. Recently, countries such as Germany has stopped its nuclear power generation business and switched to other electricity generating resources. AWE AG, a German electric utility company has ramped up coal use to generate electricity from lignite and, according to Bloomberg Businessweek; presently the firm generates about 52% of power in Germany. Henceforth, the global market for lignite mining is expected to grow with the rising energy prices and nuclear hazard concerns.Lignite coal is mostly used as a fuel, in steam to electric power generation units. The presence of high content of volatile matter makes it easier to convert coal into gases and liquid petroleum products. Moreover, lignite is more accessible than other coals as the location of lignite veins are relatively nearer to the surface. This eliminates the need of underground mining and the risk of carbon monoxide or methane buildup, which is a primary safety concern in underground mining. Due to low energy density and high moisture content, lignite is often burned in power plants, near to the mines. Lignite is a major source of electricity in many countries and also reduces the import liabilities of countries with large production capability.GET PDF BROCHURE FOR MORE PROFESSIONAL AND TECH-NICAL INSIGHTS:Renewable sources of energy are being promoted by government, but the proportion of coal in worlds energy basket is difficult to replace by renewable resources in near future, due to their high initial investment or lack of technologies with many countries. However, lignite mining also involves risks such as collapse of sloped earthen walls after heavy rains. The occurrence of such incident is rare due to the development of constant monitoring system, which helps to forecast the weather effect on mining conditions. The most common accidents in lignite mining industry are related to the maintenance and operations of heavy equipment used in the industry.Coal to liquid (CTL) technologies provides a huge scope for lignite mining market. Coal to liquid (CTL) technology is used in many countries, including, South Africa with some under way projects in China, Philippines and India.Lignite mining market can be segmented on the basis of end use as: electricity generation, fertilizer based production and synthetic natural gas generation. Electricity generation consumes more than half of the worlds lignite coal production.Geographically, Lignite mining market can be segmented as: North America, APAC, Europe and Rest of the world (RoW). Among these, Europe has the largest lignite coal reserves in the world. In 2011, 1041 Metric Tons of lignite/brown coal was produced with majority of the share from Germany, followed by China and Russia. Some of the worlds main lignite mines and deposits are found in eastern, central and southern Europe Serbia, Germany, Poland, Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Romania, the Czech Republic, Bosnia, Italy, Turkey and Russia. In North America, primarily the mid-western and southern states, including Montana, Texas, Louisiana, North Dakota and Mississippi, have lignite deposits. In Asia; China, India, Indonesia, Thailand and Pakistan are major producers.Some of the major players in Lignite mining market include SRK Consulting, ZEMAG Maschinenbau GmbH, Joy Global Surface Mining, Neyveli Lignite Corporation Limited, Environmental Clean Technologies Limited and RWE.About UsTransparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The companys exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insights for decision makers. TMRs experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information.TMRs data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, TMR employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports.Contact Us:-Transparency Market Research90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-618-1030USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.comWebsite:Visit Blog:
Oregon 99W runs about 100 miles from Southwest Portland to Junction City, passing through suburbs and sleeper communities directly to Oregon wine country, taking on the character of its communities along the way. In Tigard, 99W is a transportation planner's nightmare of red lights and stop-and-go traffic. In Dundee, it's a bottleneck. South of Corvallis, it's a dream, the road twisting and turning through hazelnut farms and open vistas.
And, like its twin sister, 99E, it's a great place to get tacos, with fast-food chains and family-style restaurants giving way to restaurants and food carts run by longtime local families and chefs from some of the Willamette Valley's grand dame dining destinations.
Earlier this year, we drove the highway's length, searching for great tacos within one block of 99W wherever we went. In the midst of this fall's costly avocado shortage, we found large tacos made with house tortillas (albeit from dried corn flour, not fresh masa) and ate well at restaurants, truck stops and outdoor bazaars, particularly in Newberg and McMinnville. And we found at least one taco truck that's worth a trip all on its own. Here are our 10 favorites.
Inexpensive tripe and carnitas tacos from Tigard's Taco Del Sol.
No. 10: Taco del Sol
13165 SW Pacific Hwy, Tigard
Park near the still-working drive-through (can you guess which fast-food chain Taco Del Sol took over?) and slip your way across the just-mopped tiles. Taco del Sol's tacos ($1.25-$1.50) are petite, barely larger than two half dollars, but are surprisingly good. The star of the meats is the crisp tripe tacos which hold their crunch nicely even when doused with salsa from the salsa bar. Skip the pollo, but consider the carnitas, for its super-rich crunch.
Order this: Tripas tacos
No. 9: Taqueria La Fuente
12198 S.W. Pacific Hwy., Tigard
Comfy booths sit under photos of Uruapan -- Michoacan's second city and the heart of Mexican avocado-growing country -- at this downtown Tigard restaurant. Of the four tacos ($2.75 each) we tried, the barbacoa didn't pack much punch, the steak tasted a bit like Korean bulgogi and the carnitas were insanely rich, all three coming inside the wide, floppy tortillas we associate with Tigard, probably because of Sanchez Taqueria nearby.
Order this: Super-rich carnitas tacos
No. 8: Martha's Tacos & More
440 Third St., Lafayette
This family-friendly restaurant in sleepy Lafayette makes some of the best tripas tacos on 99W, sliced thick and fried crisp like crunchy bacon. We didn't have much luck with chicken on the trip, but Martha's pollo tacos ($1.75), lightly braised and served with a dollop of salsa, were among the best we ate.
Order this: Tripas tacos
No. 7: Sanchez Taqueria
13050 S.W. Pacific Hwy., Tigard
If Portlanders know about any 99W taqueria, it's probably this one, either for its silly taco mascot or its tasty weekend menudo. The tacos ($2.50) are huge, with pale tortillas that approach burrito size. They come folded around cilantro, onion, cabbage and various meats, including juicy chicken tinga, ground chorizo and our favorite, the charred al pastor, or spiced pork.
Order this: Chorizo tacos, al pastor tacos
Longanisa and ranchera tacos at Pastorcillos in Newberg
No. 6: Pastorcillos Tacos
105 S. Main St., Newberg
This simple taco cart on the western edge of downtown Newberg serves at least two tacos ($1.75) worth seeking out. The longanisa, a cousin to chorizo, is probably the specialty of the cart, but the ranchera, a sort of pork-fried steak with bacon, onions and jalapeno, was the surprise of the day.
Order this: Ranchera tacos, longanisa tacos
No. 5: Ricky's Tacos
2505 E. Portland Rd., Newberg
This graffiti-covered taco truck sits one block away from our favorite taco truck on 99W (see below). No pressure! We enjoyed the truck's street-style tacos ($1.75), with tortillas gently fried in oil and topped with thin-sliced steak, rough-chopped chicken and good carnitas, and the fish tacos topped with sour cream and diced tomato.
Order this: Carne asada tacos
No. 4: Taqueria Kopitos
501 E. First St., Newberg
You're not necessarily here for the tacos ($2-$2.75), though they're very good, especially tucked inside the pillow-soft house tortillas, which you must request. There are huaraches and gorditas and other masa bases worth exploring as well. What you're actually here for is one of Oregon's most intriguing salsa bars, with chile, chile-nut and chile oil sauces in a rainbow of muted colors. Try the campechano, a mix of seared steak and chorizo, with a few drops of the dim-sum-style chile de arbol oil.
Order this: Campechano tacos
McMinnville's Tacos El Gordo has a colorful DIY salsa bar and the vibe of an outdoor bazaar.
No. 3: Tacos El Gordo
Behind Tequila Grill, 325 99W, McMinnville
This sheltered taco kiosk is something of a wine country legend, a place locals and noted chefs talk about with equal reverence. It's not the quality of the meat, though that's fine, nicely spiced carne asada and chicken piled up in little hillocks to be quickly spun into giant burritos and the fat tacos that give this place its name. It's the totality of the experience, the fact that the cart is parked just outside a full two-story restaurant that no one seems to prefer, that it's indoor seating seems to have been hollowed out from a former hotel, its walls plastered with fake rocks, its windows mostly covered with plywood. It's the lightly crisp tacos ($1.95), the DIY salsa bar, with its bright pink pickled onions, carrots, juicy limes and quietly deadly pale green and orange salsas.
Order this: Carne asada tacos
No. 2: Sanchez Cantina and Restaurant
10075 S.W. Barbur Blvd., Portland
This mom-and-pop restaurant sits on Barbur a literal stone's throw from I-5 and has no connection to Taqueria Sanchez farther down 99W. The walls are purple, there's Univision on the flatscreen, there's a full bar, and boy are we glad we didn't pass it by. The street-style tacos ($2; $2.50 with house-made tortillas, which we opted for), were very good, with seared steak and achiote-rubbed chicken, crisp buche (pork stomach) and tender carnitas served with cilantro and onion and fresh tomatillo and habanero salsas. Ordinarily there are fried chicharrones simmered in green or red salsa, but they were out on our visit. We'll be back.
Order this: Buche tacos, carne asada tacos
Dos Mundos, a Newberg food cart along Oregon 99W run by Jesus Hernandez (left), Miriam Cuenca and their son Eddie Rodriguez (right).
No. 1: Dos Mundos
Near the Starbucks, 2401 Portland Rd., Newberg
This six-month-old food cart in the parking lot of a pawn shop makes cheeseburgers, burritos and one of the state's best fish tacos, each with a freshly fried hunk of rockfish dressed to the nines with pico de gallo, cabbage mix, pickled onions and chipotle crema. Dos Mundos owner Jesus Hernandez alternates between tradition -- al pastor with pineapple, shredded chicken in a dark mole -- and more modern expressions -- beautifully braised pork belly with a creamy avocado-tomatillo salsa -- all elegantly tucked into pillowy soft handmade tortillas, each for $2-$3. This isn't just one of the best taco spots on 99W, it's one of our favorite food carts in Oregon.
Order this: Fish tacos, pork belly tacos
Bonus: If you continue down 99W past Junction City, where it merges with 99E and becomes plain old 99, and into Eugene, you'll find $2 tacos and other masa-based creations at El Buen Sabor, 650 Blair Blvd., plus non-traditional (but tasty) $3.50 tacos, including hunks of carnitas topped with whole clementine lobes, nearby at Tacovore, 530 Blair Blvd.
-- Michael Russell and Samantha Bakall
By David Ignatius
WASHINGTON -- For America, 2016 was a dark year. The country was still at war. Our election was a brutal grudge match that left us more polarized than ever. Our closest allies were rocked by terrorism and turmoil. Adversaries toyed with our politics. Even the basic facts about life and science seemed to be in dispute.
However you voted, this was a year few would want to repeat. Now, as the calendar is about to turn, many of us look to the new year with a mix of hope and concern.
If you're like me, this holiday season is a time for reflection, sometimes with anguish, about how we got here and where we're going. I found comfort in the image at the center of the Christian faith, of an innocent baby arriving in a dark land -- the beginning of a story that has been more powerful over the last 2000 years than all the tyrants and tax collectors.
Americans are optimists, by birth or affirmation. We pledge allegiance to a country that is "indivisible, with liberty and justice for all." We believe in "The Fair Land," the abundant nation evoked by the Wall Street Journal in its Thanksgiving editorial, which has been printed every year since 1961: "We can remind ourselves that for all our social discord we yet remain the longest enduring society of free men governing themselves without benefit of kings or dictators. Being so, we are the marvel and the mystery of the world."
The year ahead will test how well the system devised by our founders works under stress. Our new president Donald Trump proposes radical changes welcomed by his supporters but feared by many who voted against him. He won't succeed if he drives the country to the breaking point.
How hard will Trump push to undo existing laws and agreements? Will Congress play its role in checking raw executive power, or will Republican majorities be loyal to party first? Will officials who swear to protect and defend the Constitution demonstrate by their behavior in office that they mean it?
As Trump's inauguration approaches, he remains a mystery to many of us. He seeks to be a disruptive agent of change, but what are the limits? What if Trump tries to place himself above the law? He wouldn't be the first president to do so, but are the country's institutions still strong enough to resist? What if he tries to subvert investigations of Russian hacking that are being conducted by our intelligence agencies and Congress? The cliche "profiles in courage" may actually get a test in 2017.
This coming year, America will face the severe strains that accompany change and political division. We're a soft target for our adversaries right now -- a country whose nerves are raw and jangled, whose tribal fault lines are exposed and easy to exploit.
Our national heroes are the men and women who get up every day and serve the country -- in the military abroad, in schools and hospitals and fire stations at home. We want to be as steadfast in adversity as they are. We'll find out in 2017 how healthy our body politic really is, and whether our democratic institutions remain resilient.
This holiday season, I got a burst of sunshine in a production of "Carousel," the Rodgers and Hammerstein musical, produced at the Arena Stage in Washington. Many strands of our national myth come together in this sentimental story of a carnival barker who falls in love with a sweet, shy girl who works in a factory. It's a hymn to blue-collar America, to rebellious young people who insist on being free spirits despite the prissy elitists and censorious prudes who want to tell them what to think. Like "Oklahoma," it describes the America many of us have in our heads when we think about the way life used to be.
How did this quintessential American story of working people in Maine emerge? It was adapted from a 1909 Hungarian play. The 1945 Broadway version was written by two Jewish-Americans and directed by an Armenian-American. Nowadays, the phrase "melting pot" is sometimes taken as a "micro-aggression." Not then.
When Trump says "Make America great again," he evokes the national mythology that binds us together, whatever racial or other biases it may conceal. After a bruising 2016, perhaps this is a theme that we all can embrace. America is at its greatest when it's united, confident and inclusive of all its citizens. Let's hope that's what Trump has in mind for this country. We need to be great in that way again.
David Ignatius' email address is davidignatiuswashpost.com.
(c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group
Trump25.JPG
President-elect Donald Trump
(AP Photo/File)
By Greg Sargent
Donald Trump is once again claiming credit for beating back the scourge of outsourcing, this time insisting that he is the reason that Sprint has announced plans to move thousands of jobs back to America from other countries.
"Because of what's happening, and the spirit and the hope, I was just called by the head people at Sprint, and they are going to be bringing 5,000 jobs back to the United States," Trump said, adding that the news of jobs "coming back into the United States" marks "a nice change." Trump later added that the jobs were coming back "because of me."
But based on what we know right now, it is not at all clear what role Trump -- or whatever "spirit" of "hope" his victory has created -- had in bringing these jobs back to the U.S.
Yet here are some of the headlines that greeted Trump's claim:
-- CNN: "Trump declares victory: Sprint will create 5,000 U.S. jobs."
-- The New York Times: "Trump Takes Credit for Sprint Plan to Add 5,000 Jobs in U.S."
-- USA Today: "8,000 U.S. jobs? Trump takes credit for Sprint, start-up decisions."
-- ABC News: "Trump claims Sprint to create 5,000 jobs 'because of me'."
-- The Associated Press: "Trump takes credit for 8,000 jobs from Japanese mogul."
-- The Washington Post: "Trump touts thousands of new jobs in deal with Softbank CEO."
To be sure, you could find the facts of the situation buried in the body of these stories. (Some of these headlines refer to 8,000 jobs, rather than 5,000, because of an additional 3,000 jobs that Trump announced.) But the 5,000 jobs seem to have been previously decided, and the broader plans of which they are a part seem to have predated the election. As the Times write-up explained:
---
Sprint later said that the jobs were part of a previously announced commitment by Japan's SoftBank, which owns a controlling stake in the mobile phone carrier, to invest $50 billion in the United States and create 50,000 positions. That announcement, made by Masayoshi Son, the chief executive of SoftBank, followed a meeting with Mr. Trump this month.
SoftBank is also a major investor in OneWeb, a satellite start-up that Mr. Trump said Wednesday would create an additional 3,000 jobs in the United States.
---
Trump previously met with Son in early December, after which Son announced this $50 billion investment in the United States. Trump took credit for that at the time, too. But if you click through to the linked story about SoftBank's announcement at that time, you learn this:
---
The $50 billion investment pledge is not an entirely new initiative that SoftBank is undertaking. Instead, the money is projected to come from the Japanese company's previously announced Vision fund, a $100 billion vehicle for investing in technology companies worldwide.
The fund - which includes Saudi Arabia, a target of Mr. Trump's ire during the presidential campaign, as a key partner - was always expected to strike a significant portion of its deals in the United States.
---
Now, in fairness to Trump, we don't really know whether he did or did not play some kind of role in ensuring that these "expected" deals in the U.S. will now actually happen. Maybe he did.
But that's exactly the point: We do not yet know whether he played any role or, if he did, what that role might have entailed. Indeed, it's perfectly plausible that he may not have played any role at all, or if he did, that it might have been largely incidental. Which is to say that we have no way of knowing whether the Trump claim reflected in all of these headlines -- that he does deserve credit for this happening -- is true or not.
Some headlines did manage to convey this basic underlying problem. Politico noted in its headline that Trump was touting "previously announced" jobs. Bloomberg was even better, stating flatly in its headline: "Trump seeks credit for 5,000 Sprint jobs already touted."
A suggested rule of thumb
I would like to propose a rule of thumb for these situations: If the headline does not convey the fact that Trump's claim is in question or open to doubt, based on the known facts, then it is insufficiently informative. The Bloomberg headline does accomplish this. If the headline merely conveys that Trump claimed credit for something, without also conveying that this is open to doubt, then it risks being misleading, particularly since people often scan headlines without digging deeper into the stories and the factual details.
Why is this a risk any news org would choose to take, when it doesn't have to? Look, it's obvious that Trump has adopted a strategy of actively trying to game such headlines in his favor. Trump's claims about Carrier jobs staying in Indiana turned out to be significantly less rosy upon closer inspection. And remember when Trump falsely claimed credit for keeping a Ford plant here that was going to stay anyway? It really doesn't take much to convey it in a headline when Trump's claim is in doubt.
What's more, all this is exacerbated by another problem here: It may be in the interests of the companies in question to play along with the story that Trump is telling. When Trump falsely takes credit for a company's decision to keep or move jobs here, why would that company want to set the record straight, when so doing could incur the wrath of the new administration, and when allowing Trump's self-serving tale to stand could conceivably lead the new administration to view it favorably? The full story will be even harder to come by in these situations -- making it more important that headlines inform readers and viewers when Trump's claim is unverified or suspect.
Pretty much everyone already accepts that Trump's nonstop lies and embellishment pose an unprecedented challenge to the news media. What's more, we've already seen news orgs actively adjust their
editorial
approaches to cope with it. When the New York Times famously broke with precedent and called Trump's birtherism a "lie" in a front page headline, executive editor Dean Baquet explained that this was necessary because Trump was going beyond the "normal sort of obfuscation that politicians traffic in." In other words, Trump is forging new frontiers of dishonesty, and news organizations must adjust accordingly.
Now that it's obvious that President Trump will strategically employ exaggerated announcements of "saved" jobs to rig the headlines in his favor, maybe it's time to rethink how to handle that, too.
And this should go without saying, but I'd like to add one additional point to my proposed rule of thumb for Trump headlines: If the known facts show that his claims are false or outright lies, the headline should clearly indicate that, too.
(c) 2016, The Washington Post
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In this Nov. 8, 2016, file photo, Dennis Richardson, Oregon Republican Secretary of State candidate, pumps his fist at an election night event at the Salem Convention Center in Salem, Ore. Richardson became the first Republican to win a statewide race in 14 years.
(AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)
It may seem a modest milestone, but Dennis Richardson's election as Oregon's next secretary of state signals something more significant than the outcome of one race. Richardson not only is the first Republican elected to a statewide office since 2002, but voters decisively chose him despite his socially conservative views that surely gave heartburn to many who cast their ballots for him anyway.
There are two takeaways: First, voters deserve more credit than Democratic opponent Brad Avakian gave them. Avakian emphasized his support for abortion rights, gay rights and other social issues to market himself for a position that has nothing to do with such protections. At the same time, he vowed to champion causes and candidates despite the secretary's responsibility to ensure fair and impartial elections. Voters saw through his pandering and sided with the more disciplined candidate who promised to keep personal views out of public business.
http://media.oregonlive.com/opinion_impact/photo/agenda-2013jpg-da8a3522a991b9c6.jpg
Editorial Agenda 2016
Get Oregon centered
Better leadership in education
Make Portland a city that works
Build Oregon prosperity
Protect and expand personal freedom
Get pot right
_______________________________
Second: The election of a Republican to the secretary of state's office provides at least a little balance to Democratic dominance in the rest of state government. For example, Richardson's office, which oversees state audits, can highlight inefficiencies in programs that might otherwise get a pass by those more interested in preserving party unity than demanding accountability.
Certainly, Oregon staunchly remains under one-party rule, a phenomenon that's unhealthy no matter which party is in charge. While Richardson won the secretary of state's office, Republicans gained no new seats in the House and only one in the Senate. The new year could well be a repeat of 2015 and 2016 with urban Democrats pushing through controversial bills with little consideration of concerns raised by rural Republican legislators about the impacts to their communities. Already, House Speaker Tina Kotek, D-Portland, is killing a rural issues legislative committee. A session dominated by an urban agenda is the last thing this already divided state needs.
Democrats would do well to remember the Richardson vote and the surprisingly close result in the state treasurer's race. Despite the Democratic registration edge and Democrat Tobias Read's massive cash contribution advantage, he prevailed over Republican Jeff Gudman by only 2 percentage points. Both Richardson and Gudman also netted tens of thousands more votes than the number of Republicans who returned ballots. Both Democrats underperformed, however; their vote tallies were tens of thousands lower than the number of returned Democratic ballots.
With the number of nonaffiliated voters surging under the state's Motor Voter registration program, Democrats should rediscover bipartisanship and the importance of legislating for the state as a whole, not just for the urban centers.
Oregon seems conflicted between expanding personal freedom and trampling on it. For example, this is the state that smartly rolled out pot legalization and succeeded in legally securing the right to gay marriage. At the same time, this is a state where Avakian, Oregon's labor commissioner, ruled that comments made by a bakery owner in TV interviews and in a sign, which expressed his religious opinions and criticized the state, violated the law.
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First, on the plus side: The state's education department issued clear guidelines to schools recommending that they recognize transgender students by the gender and name they identify and allowing them to use the corresponding bathrooms. Certainly schools face a difficult task of supporting transgender students without vilifying those who are uncomfortable with the recommended changes. But these guidelines are a call to educators, families and students that Oregon values and stands for the health and safety of students regardless of their background, identity, beliefs or orientation. That is the very definition of supporting personal freedom.
Other issues, unfortunately, show the state at its worst. The Oregon Department of Human Services dragged its heels on a public records request by the Freedom Foundation. The organization had requested names and addresses for home health care workers to alert them of their right to not pay fees to a union if they didn't want to join. But as the state delayed for months on fulfilling the legitimate request, legislators passed a law signed by Gov. Kate Brown to specifically exempt the information that the Freedom Foundation sought. So much for letting people learn about their rights.
And the appeal of the discrimination case against the Sweet Cakes by Melissa bakery also shows how the state persists in ignoring personal freedom in one particular aspect. While Avakian rightly found the bakery discriminated in refusing to bake a cake for a lesbian couple's wedding, he went too far in ruling that bakery co-owner Aaron Klein's comments made during TV interviews and on a sign in the shuttered bakery broke state law. While the ACLU of Oregon calls out Avakian's "confusing" order as potentially "chilling protected speech," Attorney General Ellen Rosenblum defended Avakian's free speech assault. So much for an agency that claims to protect Oregonians' civil rights.
- The Oregonian/OregonLive Editorial Board
By Maria Carolina Marcello
BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil will seek to simplify its tax code in 2017, President Michel Temer said on Thursday, aiming to expand business-friendly reforms following proposals to modify the pension system and labour laws.
Since taking office after the ouster of his leftist predecessor Dilma Rousseff, Temer has pledged to pursue structural reforms to lift Brazil from its deepest economic recession in decades.
This month, Congress sanctioned his proposal to limit growth of public spending for the next 20 years, clearing the way for votes on other measures. Brazil's generous pension system must be overhauled if the spending cap is to have real effect, officials say.
In a news conference in the capital Brasilia, Temer said he expects Congress to swiftly approve his plans to simplify the hiring of workers on temporary contracts, saying lawmakers have shown "strong support" for his agenda.
"Why not pursue tax reform now that plenty of bills have advanced?" Temer said, adding that his government would work hard to achieve the reform next year.
Economists have long criticized Brazil's complex tax system as a barrier to long-term growth. Companies in Brazil spend on average 2,038 hours to do their taxes or about 12 times the average in the wealthy OECD group of nations, according to the World Bank's "Doing Business" index.
Temer's advisers have floated a proposal to unify the federal PIS and Cofins taxes to fund social security. The government could also negotiate with states to unify an inter-state tax known as ICMS, a measure considered crucial to reduce legal uncertainties.
A government source familiar with the matter told Reuters on Thursday that the reform could include simplifying the tax regime of the oil and gas industry, as well as changes to levies on the financial system and the reduction of red tape in general.
"These are the general ideas of what should be done. It is still in embryonic stages," said the official, who asked not to be named because he is not allowed to speak publicly.
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On Thursday, Temer also promised to support any Congressional efforts to reform Brazil's political framework, a messy multiparty system that critics say makes Brazil's electoral politics complicated and often corrupt.
"The theme of political reform belongs to Congress, but we'll incentivise it and support it," he said.
Some lawmakers have called for rules limiting the proliferation of parties, blamed for fostering corruption by demanding broad coalition and deal-making in Congress.
There are currently 35 parties registered in Brazil's electoral court, with 26 represented in the lower house of Congress.
(Reporting by Maria Carolina Marcello; Writing by Bruno Federowski; Editing by W Simon and Lisa Shumaker)
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Students in Oregon's public schools have long complained of overcrowded classrooms and strained teaching conditions. Some hope that lawmakers will pass a tax increase in the coming session that could stabilize school funding.
(Wendy Owen/staff)
Bravo to Adam Lininger-White for his efforts and articulate call to action to address the critical status of the public school system in Oregon ("Stable school funding: The perfect graduation gift, Dec. 26). Crowded classes, inadequate resources, horrific comparisons to national data - what more will it take to make definitive and sustained improvements to reverse these conditions in our public schools?
Legislators, listen to the call of our students to enact effective legislation to provide permanent funding for essential resources. Voters, listen to the call of our students to lobby for and support effective legislation to ensure our students graduate with the necessary knowledge and skills to contribute to and excel in society. We should be proud of, not disappointed with the conditions in our public schools.
Michael A Pagliarulo, Southeast Portland
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Rachel E. Barkow, Professor of Law, New York University School of Law, speaks during a Supreme Court Bar Memorial in honor of the late Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia, Friday, Nov. 4, 2016, in the Great Hall of the Supreme Court in Washington.
(AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
By Noah Feldman
If there were to be a legal man of the year for 2016, it would have to be Antonin Scalia. The justice died in February and has cast a long shadow over the whole year. His seat remains unfilled. His jurisprudence seems likely to be the touchstone for Donald Trump's nominee.
Indeed, if Trump gets two or more Supreme Court picks, Scalia's judicial legacy stands a chance of being vindicated rather than forgotten -- which seemed almost unthinkable when he died. Scalia's legacy is therefore poised to set the tone for future constitutional battles in a way not seen since the 1935 death of Oliver Wendell Holmes, another great dissenter.
When Scalia died, many commentators, myself included, noted that his originalist constitutional legacy consisted mostly of dissents. (His textualist statutory interpretation legacy was another matter. There Scalia wrote plenty of majority opinions and significantly influenced even liberal justices.)
At the time, Scalia's passing also appeared to herald the end to originalism as a dominant constitutional doctrine. With nearly a year to go in the presidency of Barack Obama, it was assumed that Scalia would be replaced by a liberal or at least a moderate justice. The appointment would change the balance of the court to decisively liberal for the first time in more than a generation.
And if Hillary Clinton had been elected, as polls suggested she probably would be, the liberal court could have been assured for a generation to come with the replacement of as many as three more justices, all of Scalia's approximate age.
What a difference 10 months can make. By blocking Judge Merrick Garland, the Republican Senate changed the rules of the confirmation game. The election of Trump means that Scalia will almost certainly be replaced by a justice who espouses some form of his originalism -- and probably cites him as a judicial model, in the way Trump has done and probably all the judges on Trump's list would.
And if one or more of Justices Ruth Bader Ginsburg, Anthony Kennedy or Stephen Breyer steps down while Trump is president and Republicans control the Senate, the generational transition on the court may be toward greater conservatism, not liberalism or stasis.
The consequences for Scalia's legacy are enormous. Great judicial dissenters don't just write to make a historical record of their beliefs. They hope for their dissenting opinions to be redeemed by later judicial majorities, to use a term coined by the legal scholar Richard Primus in a seminal 1998 article.
One of Primus's examples of a redeemed dissent is that of Justice John Marshall Harlan (the first of two justices of the name) in the repulsive case of Plessy v. Ferguson, which held that the equal protection clause wasn't violated by the doctrine of "separate but equal" facilities for whites and blacks. Harlan wrote: "In view of the Constitution, in the eye of the law, there is in this country no superior, dominant, ruling class of citizens. There is no caste here. Our Constitution is color-blind, and neither knows nor tolerates classes among citizens."
The other greatest redeemed dissenter in the U.S. constitutional tradition is Holmes. He saw his "clear and present danger" test for free speech vindicated, despite articulating it partly in dissent. And his dissent in Lochner v. New York, where he objected to the majority's use of the liberty of contract to strike down a progressive law limiting bakers' working hours, eventually became a basic principle of liberal jurisprudence.
Several of Scalia's dissents now stand a real chance of being redeemed. Scalia argued repeatedly over the years that there was no fundamental constitutional right to an abortion. His dissent in Planned Parenthood v. Casey, to take one example, asked rhetorically whether abortion was a "liberty protected by the Constitution of the United States" and answered bluntly that "I am sure it is not." Scalia explained that he reached that conclusion "because of two simple facts: (1) the Constitution says absolutely nothing about it, and (2) the longstanding traditions of American society have permitted it to be legally proscribed."
In the Casey dissent, Scalia also pointed to his concurrence in Webster v. Reproductive Health Services, in which he wrote that Justice Sandra Day O'Connor's "assertion that a 'fundamental rule of judicial restraint' requires us to avoid reconsidering Roe, cannot be taken seriously."
On affirmative action, Scalia used Harlan's color-blindness ideal to argue that racial preferences would violate the Constitution. He wrote: "To pursue the concept of racial entitlement -- even for the most admirable and benign of purposes -- is to reinforce and preserve for future mischief the way of thinking that produced race slavery, race privilege and race hatred. In the eyes of government, we are just one race here. It is American."
Scalia's most impassioned dissents came in connection with gay rights. It still seems unlikely that the court's landmark decisions on the rights to gay sex and gay marriage will be overturned, given the court's history of rights expansion. But it isn't entirely unthinkable on a court dominated by Trump appointees chosen in the mold of Scalia.
Liberals lionized Holmes in his old age, and after his death they redeemed his opinions within a couple of decades. Scalia's redemption may come faster. Whether it does will depend on Trump's appointments to the court. Regardless, the jurisprudential battles of the next decade are likely to continue to be fought on Scalia's terms. That in itself is a surprising victory.
Noah Feldman is a Bloomberg View columnist. He is a professor of constitutional and international law at Harvard University and was a clerk to U.S. Supreme Court Justice David Souter. His books include "Cool War: The Future of Global Competition" and "Divided by God: America's Church-State Problem -- and What We Should Do About It."
For more columns from Bloomberg View, visit http://www.bloomberg.com/view.
(c) 2016, Bloomberg View
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(Photo by Sarah Rice/Getty Images)
The hatred epidemic: For the umpteenth time a gun-toting nutcase provokes murder and mayhem. Now an Oregon State Police trooper fights for his life. I cannot fathom how many police, loved ones and strangers must die before we stop this.
How did we get here? Why so many crazed citizens? Why is road rage an epidemic? Why is public discourse so raw and hateful? Why is it acceptable to slur and insult different people? If you think this is not the case look at the Republican rhetoric around Mr. Obama's presidency.
Perhaps the beginning of the hatred epidemic is Ronald Reagan stating at his inauguration that "government is not the solution to our problem. Government is the problem." Perhaps it was GOP Leader Newt Gingrich's mid-1990s GOPAC memo delineating a long list of pejoratives that GOP entities must use when mentioning Democratic activities. It contains words like ""bizarre," "sick," "pathetic," "corrupt," and many other insults.
Perhaps it was when GOP Rep. Joe Wilson of South Carolina, in an unprecedented breach of Congressional decorum shouted "You lie" at President Obama as he addressed a joint session of Congress.
Hence, the result is a constant tirade of lies, fear mongering and slander pointed toward America by Republicans. Watch out for those blacks. They are different. Immigrants and Hispanics will rape our women and steal our jobs while living off welfare. Those gays are going to rape our children and turn them gay. Fight the "gay agenda." What about the Muslims? They are going to come here, kill us and make "Sharia Law" the rule of the land. After all, every last one of them are evil as is their Holy Book, the Koran. Be afraid. Clutch your guns and bibles. Vote hate.
Hence we have President-elect Donald Trump filling government positions with haters of average Americans and their hopes and dreams.
Fred Brown, Dallas
Oregon's intolerance: Post-election, I've been shocked by the hateful, divisive nature of the debate and arguments regarding Donald Trump's victory and his upcoming presidency.
Portland in particular - but the rest of the state as well which is generally known for its progressive ideology and tolerant outlook - has in many ways become the epitome of intolerance. I do not mean intolerance regarding race, religion, or sexual identity, but intolerance in regards to one of the most fundamental premises of this nation, namely the right to openly express one's political opinion without being met with hostility.
"Trumpsters," "RWN," "LWN," "Hitlerites," "Libtards," "Obozos," "Trump racists," "Putin puppets" and the all-encompassing term "idiots" (tossed about freely by people on either side of the political divide) are but a few of the terms used to continually insult and demean the "other side" only because they chose to vote for a different candidate. Why is this? What benefit is it serving? To childishly gloat over a win? To mitigate the shock that much of the rest of the nation doesn't think like you do? Simply to be mean?
Face it. We must live in this nation and work towards a better future together. Adding to the division by being hateful and divisive does nothing but entrench the other "side" in their belief that they are right and you are wrong. Think about it. Have you ever changed your mind when being insulted by someone who thinks differently than you do? No, and neither will those you insult.
Tony Stewart, Edmonds, Washington
Scott Pruitt
President-elect Trump appointed Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the Environmental Protection Agency, a move the author says is a hopeful sign for science and environmentalism.
(Andrew Harnik/AP Photo)
Gordon J. Fulks
Count me as a believer in abrupt climate change. The political climate changed so abruptly on Nov. 8 that most were stunned. It led to rioting in Portland, profound mourning among Obama followers, and panic among those who have lived off Obama's generosity with taxpayer money.
For me, it was incredibly good news.
Donald Trump not only defeated Hillary Clinton, he defeated the elitist ruling class in a magnificent return to the political center, even redefining where that center really lies. Thanks to President-elect Trump, status quo Democrats and Republicans will no longer run this nation. Replacing them will be hard-working Americans who have a much better sense of where reality lies, from economic and defense policy to the social issues of poverty and racism.
While Trump concentrated on hot-button campaign issues, I realized that he was also headed in positive directions on issues most important to me, the survival of science and environmentalism. In one magnificent turn of the political winds, Americans ditched the Orwellian world of Obama doublespeak, where everything had become the opposite of what it really was.
'Obama science' and 'Obama environmentalism' are sad footnotes to history. We will no longer be led by a person dedicated to misusing science for ideological and political purposes, lavishing huge amounts of money on institutions and scientists who supported the science that he considered politically useful and denigrating as "flat-earthers" and "deniers" any scientists who dared disagree with him.
President Obama never understood elementary science yet tried to dictate the correct science through the federal agencies under his control. He did this as an end run around the Congress, by misusing the "deference" given to these agencies by law. The law presumes that government agencies are telling the truth even when they are not.
When we pursued Obama's climate alarmism all the way to the United States Supreme Court, we encountered justices unwilling to consider our arguments even though they conclusively demonstrated the fatal flaws in the Obama administration's scientific case for regulating carbon dioxide. Obama's Environmental Protection Agency was given complete deference to dictate the science, despite lacking the expertise to do so. Eventually, the high court did stay Obama's efforts for procedural reasons. We were grateful but remained concerned that Obama's pursuit of power would continue to crush science.
Environmentalism also took a huge hit during the Obama years as he spent vast sums on crony capitalist schemes to solve a problem that does not exist: catastrophic anthropogenic global warming. Even some of the most strident scientific supporters of 'global warming' have backed off of the primary selling point: catastrophe. The still raging scientific debate centers on the amount of warming to be expected for a doubling of atmospheric carbon dioxide. Alarmists say two or three degrees Celsius, while skeptics say one degree or less. This issue will be easily solved once the federal gravy train stops delivering so much money to the alarmist side.
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Obama's entourage never understood that industrializing our last open spaces with giant wind machines and solar arrays that do not competently address major concerns is outrageous. They kill endangered birds and bats while not even reducing carbon footprints, because the power produced is of such poor quality that backup is difficult and inefficient.
Will Trump be no better than Obama, abusing science to achieve his different political agenda? We do not really know. But as a very successful businessman, he has to have more respect for the objective considerations that build businesses.
Trump's appointment of Oklahoma Attorney General Scott Pruitt to head the EPA is a very strong signal that Obama's misuse of science and environmentalism is ending. That is very hopeful.
Gordon J. Fulks holds a doctorate in physics. He lives in Corbett.
By Eugene Robinson
WASHINGTON -- The opportunity for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict may already have expired. The question going forward, then, is what kind of democracy Israel intends to be.
The Obama administration's frustration with the situation is understandable. The continued building of Israeli settlements in the occupied West Bank is indeed unhelpful, and the decision to abstain on a U.N. Security Council resolution declaring the settlements illegal brought renewed focus and urgency to the problem. To what end, however, is unclear.
When everyone stops shouting, Israel will remain one of the United States' closest allies -- and, courtesy of President Obama, the recipient of a $38 billion aid package that will ensure the Jewish state's military dominance over its neighbors. Palestinian leaders in the West Bank will remain wary of negotiating any sort of two-state deal from a position of weakness. And the passage of time will make facts on the ground -- expanding settlements and the ongoing security threat -- ever more stubbornly entrenched.
Secretary of State John Kerry's speech Wednesday on the conflict reflected his and Obama's annoyance with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has stayed in power by indulging the Israeli far right and the settler movement. But why would Netanyahu listen to Kerry's advice when Donald Trump is about to be inaugurated as president? "Stay strong Israel, January 20th is fast approaching!" Trump tweeted this week.
Kerry argued that Israel would never be able to improve relations with Arab states until it made peace with the Palestinians. But Israel and key nations such as Saudi Arabia and Egypt now have a common enemy in Iran, which is growing in power and confidence. The proverb about the enemy of my enemy being my friend is always relevant in the Middle East.
Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas said he would restart peace negotiations if Netanyahu, in the wake of the Security Council vote, declared a freeze on further settlements. I see no reason to expect Netanyahu to comply, especially since doing so would cost him vital political support -- and since the next American president is already encouraging him to "stay strong." So the bitter stalemate continues.
What vexes Obama -- and increasingly angers leaders in Europe -- is that the map of a two-state solution was drawn years ago and is gathering dust on disappointed diplomats' shelves. It involves swaps in which Israel annexes parts of the West Bank that are heavily populated by settlers and the Palestinians receive slices of Israeli land in return. Israel insists that a Palestinian state be essentially demilitarized, which would make it less than fully sovereign. Netanyahu also demands that the Palestinians recognize Israel not just as a state, but as a Jewish state.
Which raises the question of what Israel becomes in the absence of a two-state deal.
"Today, there are ... a similar number of Jews and Palestinians living between the Jordan River and the Mediterranean Sea," Kerry said. "They have a choice. They can choose to live together in one state, or they can separate into two states. But here is a fundamental reality: If the choice is one state, Israel can either be Jewish or democratic -- it cannot be both -- and it won't ever really be at peace."
In several interviews with me over the years, Netanyahu has essentially countered that it is easy to make such observations from the comforts of Foggy Bottom, Whitehall or the Elysee Palace, far beyond the range of the deadly rockets that too often fall on Israeli towns and cities. He is right in this.
But Kerry was also right when he said that "the status quo is leading towards one state and perpetual occupation." And Netanyahu is dreaming if he does not think this has profound long-term implications for Israel.
How long will it take for the world to conclude that a de facto one-state solution exists? Another year? Five? Ten?
The moment will eventually come, and focus will shift to the political rights of the 2.8 million Palestinians living in the West Bank. With Arabs constituting about 35 percent of the population living under Israeli government control (including 1.7 million who already live in Israel proper), how can such a huge minority be permanently denied full participation in the nation's civic life?
Israel is a vibrant democracy that takes seriously the moral and ethical requirements of Judaism. These are incompatible with perpetual occupation of the West Bank and the denial of basic rights to those who live there. There is no way around this contradiction. Something has to give.
Eugene Robinson's email address is eugenerobinsonwashpost.com.
(c) 2016, Washington Post Writers Group
Belgian archaeologist Christian Casseyas shows the latest explored area as he gives a tour of the Goyet cave, where 96 bones and three teeth from five Neanderthal individuals were found, on December 19, 2016 (AFP Photo/Emmanuel Dunand)
Goyet (Belgium) (AFP) - Deep in the caves of Goyet in Belgium researchers have found the grisly evidence that the Neanderthals did not just feast on horses or reindeer, but also on each other.
Human bones from a newborn, a child and four adults or teenagers who lived around 40,000 years ago show clear signs of cutting and of fractures to extract the marrow within, they say.
"It is irrefutable, cannibalism was practised here," says Belgian archaeologist Christian Casseyas as he looks inside a cave halfway up a valley in this site in the Ardennes forest.
The bones in Goyet date from when Neanderthals were nearing the end of their time on earth before being replaced by Homo sapiens, with whom they also interbred.
Once regarded as primitive cavemen driven to extinction by smarter modern humans, studies have found that Neanderthals were actually sophisticated beings who took care of the bodies of the deceased and held burial rituals.
But there is a growing body of proof that they also ate their dead.
- Neanderthal bone fragments -
Cases of Neanderthal cannibalism have been found until now only in Neanderthal populations in southern Europe in Spain, at El Sidron and Zafarraya, and in France, at Moula-Guercy and Les Pradelles.
The caves at Goyet have been occupied since the Paleolithic era. The 250-metre- (820-feet-) long galleries were dug into the limestone by the Samson, a small stream that still flows a few metres below.
They began to reveal their secrets in the middle of the 19th century thanks to one of the fathers of palaeontology, Edouard Dupont (1841-1911).
A geologist and director of the Royal Museum of Natural History of Belgium, he searched several caves, including that of Goyet in 1867, and collected an enormous quantity of bones and tools.
Just a few years after Charles Darwin first expounded his theory of evolution, Dupont published the results of his own research in his book "Man During the Stone Age".
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But his discoveries remained in the archives of the museum (now called the Brussels Institute of Natural Sciences) for more than a century.
That was until 2004, when the institute's head of anthropology Patrick Semal discovered, hidden in amongst the drawers of what Dupont thought were human bones, a jaw tip that clearly belonged to a Neanderthal.
Scientists have since been painstakingly sorting through fragments that Dupont thought were animal bones to see if there are other traces of ancient man.
- 'Extract the marrow' -
Now an international team led by Helene Rougier, an anthropologist at California State University Northridge in the United States, has proved from the bones found at Goyet that the Neanderthals there were cannibals.
The bones show traces of cutting, "to disarticulate and remove the flesh," said Christian Casseyas, who also leads tours for the public at the caves.
The Neanderthals "broke these bones in the same way that they broke those of the reindeer and horses found at the entrance of the cave, certainly to extract the marrow", he adds.
Rougier, whose work on the Belgian cave was published last July by Scientific Reports, a journal of the Nature group, told AFP that "indeed, we can conclude that some Neanderthals died and were eaten here", which is a first in Northern Europe.
"Some of these bones have also been used to make tools to touch up the edges of flints to re-sharpen them," says Rougier.
But the reasons for the cannibalism remain a mystery, as to the extent to which the Neanderthals ate their dead.
"Was it systematic? Was it only at certain particular moments?" she asks. "I don't know how to interpret the reason behind this cannibalism. It can be purely food, but it can also be symbolic ... The reason remains open," she says.
Vladimir Putin
The FBI and Department of Homeland Security released a joint report Thursday on Russian "malicious cyber activity" that included a thorough list of code names for the malware used by Russian hackers.
The joint analysis report which refers to the Russian activity headlined by its efforts hack into US government and political organizations as "GRIZZLY STEPPE" included a list of code names used for software the reported actors associated with the Russian military and civilian intelligence service who engaged in various phishing schemes aimed at foreign targets used in the process.
Some of those absurd names included "SEADADDY," "HAMMERTOSS," "Energetic Bear," and "Carberp." Many of the names include "duke" or "bear," such as the more well-known "Fancy Bear."
The "alternate names" as listed in the report, were created mostly by American companies. The two groups of Russian hackers were labeled APT28 and APT29.
Here's the full FBI/DHS list of code names:
Screen Shot 2016 12 29 at 2.53.46 PM
The report was released shortly after President Barack Obama announced new sanctions against Russian officials, which includes the removal of 35 Russian intelligence officials currently in the US, in addition to sanctions from the Treasury Department against two other Russian individuals.
In a Thursday statement, Obama said the actions were "not the sum total of our response" and that his administration would provide a report to Congress in the coming days related to Russia's "efforts to interfere in our election, as well as malicious cyber activity related to our election cycle in previous elections."
Russia swiftly responded, assuring that Washington would "receive an answer" if "new hostile steps" were taken.
"This applies to any actions against Russian diplomatic missions in the United States, which will immediately backfire at US diplomats in Russia," Maria Zakharova, a spokeswoman for the Russian Foreign Ministry, said in a statement. "The Obama administration probably does not care at all about the future of bilateral relations, but history will hardly forgive it for this apres-nous-le-deluge attitude."
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Recent public revelations showed that US intelligence tied the election-related hacking of Democratic political organizations and operatives such as Clinton campaign chair John Podesta to senior Russian officials. The CIA has concluded that Russia intervened in the US election to try to tip the scales toward President-elect Donald Trump, though other agencies haven't gone as far in their assessments.
Both Republicans and Democrats have called for action to be taken against Russia for its role in the hacking. Republican Sens. Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and John McCain of Arizona have been two of the loudest voices on that front.
Meanwhile, Russia has repeatedly denied its involvement, and Trump has refused to acknowledge that Russia had involvement in election-related hackings. He said on Wednesday that "we ought to get on with our lives."
"I think that computers have complicated lives very greatly," he told reporters outside his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. "The whole age of computer has made it where nobody knows exactly what is going on."
In a Thursday statement, Trump again insisted it was time to move on to "bigger and better" things, but that "nevertheless" he would meet with intelligence officials to discuss the matter.
Correction: This article previously referred to the list of names as those the FBI and Department of Homeland Security claimed were secret code names used by Russian hackers. The list of names were actually alternate names to label the malware used by the groups of Russian hackers, who were known as APT28 and APT29.
NOW WATCH: Donald Trumps connection with Vince McMahon and WWE spans decades
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The Level of Stupidity Among Many Trump Supporters Is Staggering
By Dustin Rowles | Politics | December 30, 2016 |
Yesterday, The Washington Examiner ran a piece with the following headline: California Democrats legalize child prostitution. This is a twisted and incredibly misleading characterization of SB 1129, a law that will go into effect in California on January 1st. But that didnt stop Trump conservatives from pouncing on the legislation in all likelihood before doing any research at all on the legislation, or probably even reading the Times article in full.
California Democrats began trending this morning on Twitter. Tweets like this were abundant.
Unfreaking believable! Sick ass bastards are so stupid. https://t.co/QvckQbG8wm Brian (@baweights) December 30, 2016
Just FYI, California Democrats just legalized child prostitution. CHILD. PROSTITUTION. DEMOCRATS. DID. THIS. Xavier Barber (@xavierDbarber) December 30, 2016
Thank you Electoral College for not letting sick deranged California Democrats, void of decency and and morality, control our country. ClintonNewsNetwork (@ShillForHillary) December 30, 2016
Just when you think the liberals running California can't do any more harm than they have already. https://t.co/9yegYCJJD6 Gary Aminoff (@aminoff) December 30, 2016
California Democrats just decriminalized child prostitution if anyone was wondering how much lower they could go. Leah the Boss (@LeahRBoss) December 30, 2016
California Democrats legalize child prostitution. Yes, Really! https://t.co/qqUy4WEdYk Stefan Molyneux (@StefanMolyneux) December 30, 2016
California Democrats have finally put to rest that they are ALL spawned from Satan. https://t.co/9LA42CTyvy Women4Trump (@majority4_trump) December 30, 2016
Does SB 1129 actually legalize child prostitution? No. No, it does not, and thats an incredibly unfair reading of the law. What the law does is to actually transform a child prostitute who is not legally capable of providing consent from a criminal into a victim. The law is designed to aid child prostitutes pimped into the system by sex traffickers.
Sex traffickers and pimps will still be prosecuted. Men and women who sleep with child prostitutes will still be prosecuted. However, rather than arrest child prostitutes and put them in the juvenile detention system, the law provides money to pay for social services so that these children are protected. Police will continue to temporarily detain underage prostitutes, but rather than lock them up in jail, they are diverted into the dependency system, which centers on caring for abused and neglected children.
Is it possible that pimps and sex traffickers will take advantage of the fact that children will be immune from prosecution? Perhaps. But we cannot continue to treat children forced into prostitution by sex traffickers as criminals. They dont consent to sex with adults, because they cant consent to sex with adults.
Its a well-intentioned law, and whatever the consequences, it most certainly does not legalize child prostitution.
California Democrats being attacked for protecting trafficked children shows me that American conservatives are the dumbest people on Earth. Joshua David (@bathroompolice) December 30, 2016
Dustin is the founder and co-owner of Pajiba. You may email him here, follow him on Twitter, or listen to his weekly TV podcast, Podjiba.
BLOOMINGTON Bond will not be lowered for a Chicago man who allegedly sold 2 ounces of fake cocaine to a confidential police source while carrying a loaded gun in a Bloomington hotel.
Dion Williams, 37, will remain in the McLean County jail until he can post $50,035, Judge Scott Drazewski ruled Thursday.
Assistant State's Attorney Jeff Horve argued that the allegations against Williams warrant a steep bond.
The suspect took $2,400 from a police informant and in return handed over what was determined to be fake drugs, said Horve.
A minute after the drug transaction, Bloomington police stopped Williams as he left a room at a west-side Bloomington hotel with a loaded handgun in his waistband, said Horve.
Citing Williams' prior convictions for armed robbery and possession of a stolen car, Horve called Williams "a gun-toting felon."
Williams is charged with armed violence, unlawful use of weapons and manufacture/delivery of a lookalike substance.
In her argument for a lower bond, public defender Jennifer Patton pointed to a pretrial bond report that recommended release with supervision from court services.
In denying the bond reduction, the judge acknowledged that the current bond is high "but sometimes a high bond is the appropriate bond."
BLOOMINGTON The new year is resulting in flashbacks for some McLean County-based human services agencies.
Will they be paid money owed by the state? Will they be paid next month?
The state's six-month stopgap spending plan ends Saturday, meaning money that human services agencies receive from the state because they have contracts with the state to provide services ranging from help for the home-bound elderly to support to keep mentally ill youths at home will dry up once again.
At many agencies, the stopgap budget resumed the flow of state money. But frequently those dollars came late and many agencies still are owed money by the state, meaning they have had to make cuts, spend down savings and borrow money.
"Without a responsible budget, some services will go away because some agencies no longer have the reserves they once had," said Tim Glancy of Center for Youth and Family Solutions. "The sad part about Springfield is no one governs anymore."
"The state needs to finalize a budget," Dianne Schultz of The Baby Fold said Thursday. "The state of Illinois has gotten too comfortable with not solving its budget issues and then expecting public schools, mental health and social service agencies to figure out a way to provide necessary services without providers knowing how or when we will be paid."
"We are frustrated, angry, sad and scared by the state of Illinois," said Liz German of YWCA McLean County. "If this continues long term, we will have to make some very tough choices and perhaps YWCA will look very different as an agency."
Here's a sample of the impact on some McLean County-based human services agencies:
The Baby Fold
The Baby Fold is owed $1.1 million by the state, with most of that for an adoption preservation program that provides home-based therapy to 200 families who adopted children with mental illness, Schultz said.
"These services ... prevent these children from being placed in more expensive forms of treatment, such as 24-hour residential care," she said.
Baby Fold maintains services by using a line of credit, but further delays will mean the agency dipping into investments, she said.
"Going two years without a state budget is unprecedented," Schultz said. "This mode of inaction by state government will continue to erode the health and safety of every citizen in our state and will leave Illinois at the bottom of the list of desirable places to live or do business."
YWCA McLean County
State payments to YWCA McLean County are running behind to the tune of $380,000 for Young Wonders child care, Medivan, Home Care Services and Stepping Stones sexual assault prevention and response, German said.
YWCA has increased fees but, even so, "without state money (beginning Jan. 1), we cannot keep all operations going long term," German said. Cuts to home care would mean more nursing home stays and cuts to subsidized child care would mean more parents couldn't work or children being left home alone, she said.
Project Oz
Project Oz has received state payments that equate to 32 percent of its annual contract with the state for homeless and runaway youth services and 28 percent for homeless youth services, Executive Director Peter Rankaitis said.
"For now, Project Oz will continue to provide services as per our contracts," he said. "As far as the political climate, it's unconscionable to me that our local legislators let this continue, with a chief executive of the state who has yet to pass a budget, even though that's a basic duty of the governor."
Chestnut Health Systems
Delays in payments to Chestnut Health Systems amount to millions of dollars, Chief Operating Officer Alan Sender said. "We will continue to provide mental health and chemical dependency services and expect that the state will meet its contractual obligation when a state budget is passed," he said.
"Organizations like ours and the clients we serve are bearing the brunt of the gross dysfunction that has taken hold these last two years," Sender said.
Collaborative Solutions Institute
Collaborative Solutions Institute has not received money since June for its Avert program, which teaches new skills to domestic violence perpetrators, said CEO Cheryl Gaines. The agency has been able to keep the program going by borrowing money but "we can't keep doing that forever," she said.
So, effective Monday, Gaines is laying off one part-time facilitator, but the program will continue with existing staff.
The agency won the bid from the state to provide the program and the state still expects program reports without providing any money, Gaines said. "It's so frustrating."
"The governor and the legislators need to roll up their sleeves, reach across the aisle and collaborate," she said.
Other agencies that previously made cuts because of delays in state funding include LIFE Center for Independent Living, PATH, Children's Home + Aid and Mid Central Community Action.
More friendly, socially interactive, rash and potentially happy these words best describe what babies born in the United States are, as compared to the infants in other parts of the world. A recent study compared the behaviors and attitudes of babies from twenty-three different countries across the globe and found that American babies were generally more cheery.
This difference can be attributed to a number of factors. More generally, American children are brought up under the huge influence of the banner of freedom that hails under the American flag. This freedom creates children who are highly sociable and more often than not, extroverted.
The study also included Chile, Poland and South Korea, for these three countries provided the chance to compare the behavior from both the East and the West and the communist and nonconformist places. Questionnaires were handed over to the mothers who were supposed to record a great range of behavioral aspects of their babies' personalities at the tender age of six months and then at one year.
Psychologists have linked the differences in the babies' behaviors to their parents' natures and personalities, as well as the environment in which the infants were raised. It was also discussed that an understanding of the features, which affect the babies' temperaments and attitudes will help parents in coming up with better ways for childcare, according to Time.
These ways would eventually allow the parents to raise their kids in ways that are socially and culturally proper. According to North Korea Times, the babies from Chile were found to be very physically active and they displayed short attention spans since they couldn't focus on a single task for a long period of time. This was in stark contrast to the South Korean infants who exhibited impressively long attention spans and were not very much involved in physical activities like running.
These babies were also easily calmed down by cuddles, which they were very fond of. The babies from Poland, on the other hand, were not very cheery, happy, and gave a hard time to whoever tried to pacify them when they cried.
A mix-up of sperm and egg cell for use at a Dutch Center for In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) is being investigated by Center officials. The mix-up could have fertilized the egg cells of up to 26 women not by the intended sperm but from other men.
The fiasco was blamed by the Utrecht's University Medical Centre (UMC) to a procedural error, which occurred sometime between April of 2015 and November of 2016. Unfortunately, some of the IVF programs involving the mixed-up sperm cells were successful with half of those who availed of the IVF already pregnant while other already have children.
UMC said the remaining frozen embryos at the Center may have also been contaminated and fertilized with other men's sperm cells. Deutsche Well reported that the mix-up has already been communicated to the concerned couples.
"The UMC's board regrets that the couples involved had to receive this news and will do everything within its powers to give clarity on the issue as soon as possible," a statement released by the UMC read.
The Center said one treatment couple's sperm cells could have fertilized the egg cells of the other couples leading to the fertilization of the egg cells by a man other than the intended father. Yahoo said that while there is a small chance that the mix-up will happen, UMC said it could not exclude such possibility.
BBC said the mix-up could have resulted from the Intracytoplasmic sperm injection technique used by the Center, which made use of a pipette to directly inject the single sperm into the egg. The mistake could have been due to the use of a pipette with the same rubber top without the required filter. A DNA test could be taken by the couples after they have met with the UMC doctors.
Freya, a Dutch fertility group, was shocked with the news and said non-traditional methods of conceiving a child should have a 100 percent confidence rate considering that child-bearing is a delicate issue. This is not, however, the first time that a suspected mix-up happened since a similar incident was reported in 2012 when a clinic was sued by a Singaporean mother after she discovered that an IVF clinic mixed-up the sperm of her Caucasian husband with that of another person resulting to a baby with a different hair color and skin tone.
Kelleyanne Conway, Donald Trump's former campaign manager and now his counselor, is reportedly having a hard time enrolling her kids. Several Washington D.C. private schools have apparently not welcomed her inquiries and are instead giving her the brush-off.
Page Six reports that Kellyanne Conway was supposed to have told other parents at her twins' current New Jersey school about getting cold replies from D.C. schools. Trump's counselor is moving to the state come January with her husband George, a lawyer, and their kids, so they are already making the preparations.
"Kellyanne is asking everyone with connections to DC schools for help," a source told the news outlet. The mother-of-four is said to be amused by the situation after friends, who have been asking DC private schools on her behalf, have told her that they are getting "silence and sighs on the other end of the phone."
Last Wednesday, Kellyanne Conway was reportedly in D.C. to look into some private schools herself. She felt disappointed over the fact that these institutions profess "diversity" and "open-mindedness," yet she's experiencing being unwelcomed.
Washington's elite private schools don't want Kellyanne Conway's kids anywhere near them https://t.co/oK4CA438HN pic.twitter.com/xEgZt5B9i0 Salon (@Salon) December 29, 2016
Private schools in Washington have a rather selective and stringent process for admission. None of the reports have indicated why the schools are turning her down. Daily Mail reports that she feels she is being singled out because of her strong ties with the president-elect.
Kellyanne Conway was supposed to be part of Donald Trump's cabinet as his press secretary but the strategist turned down the post because she has four kids - aged 12 (twins), 8 and 7 - to look after. She agreed, however, to be a counselor in his new government.
"Everyone has to do what's best for their family and that's why I didn't jump immediately on a position that was offered to me early in the transition because there's a lot to weigh," Kellyanne Conway said, according to AOL. She believes she can still be an effective contributor to the Trump government while being an involved parent to her kids.
Parents are allegedly outraged over a non-Islamic school in Netherlands that teaches its students how to pray in mosques. The activity is supposedly part of the curriculum and has been recorded on video and captured in photos that have been going viral.
The students visited the Ghulzar e Madina mosque, located in Zwolle in Holland, to learn about Islam culture and tradition. An Imam, which is the term for the leader of the mosque, was seen in the video talking to the students and subsequently teaching them how to pray. Their teachers are also seen in the video watching the kids with smiles on their faces.
Daily Mail reports that the mosque is known to have been frequented by radical Muslim preachers like M Anas Noorani Siddiqui. The said school trip to the mosque happened a few years ago but the video recently surfaced on the internet.
The news outlet further reports that Freedom Party MP Harm Beertema got wind of the viral video and has appealed to parents of the students to disallow their children from participating in such an activity in the future. Describing the mosque visit as an "away-with-our-culture excursions," the MP said that ultimately the decision to join should lie on the parents.
But Americans have used the viral video and its screenshots for a different political agenda altogether. On social media, cropped photos of the video have been shared as a propaganda against Common Core.
But Snopes has debunked the false information, citing that it is actually from the Netherlands and it was about teaching the children about other cultures. "All questions that the students had were answered in a fun and understandable way," the report stated.
According to Gatestone Insititute, the Netherlands has one of the largest Muslim population among European countries at 925,000 as of 2013. Mosque visits from non-Islam students and even other visitors happen regularly.
Two parents in Texas were found unconscious inside their vehicle and their children were in the backseat. The couple was arrested and officials found cocaine and heroin in the possession of the parents.
Round Rock Police said in a statement the drugs in possession of the parents were cocaine and black tar heroin, as well as Xanax. Two babies were in the backseat and are said to be one-year-old and one-month-old.
Breitbart reported that they were found in a Target parking lot and were identified as Cory Holloman, 26, and Amirah Silver, 23. Officials said they were dispatched on Dec. 22 at the parking lot to conduct a welfare check on two people asleep in their vehicle. The parents were found unconscious in their front seat and the two kids were strapped in car seats at the back of the vehicle.
Holloman told officers that he and Silver were driving from Austin to Maryland and they stopped in the parking lot because they were tired since they have been traveling for three days with no sleep, Fox 35 reported. However, drugs and paraphernalia were found in their vehicle.
Track marks were also found on their arms, which are signs of chronic intravenous drug use. For the Xanax, it was found on the purse of Silver and she did not have a prescription for the pills.
The total amount of drugs found in the vehicle includes 9.5 grams of cocaine, 2.9 grams of black-tar heroin, and 2 and Xanax pills. For the paraphernalia, officers found two used syringes and three spoons with residue. All these items were said to be found in a box under one of the babies.
Holloman has been charged with a state jail felony for child endangerment with criminal negligence and two charges for drug possession of cocaine and heroin. The bond for Holloman was set at $20,000. In July 2016, Holloman was also charged with possession of a prohibited weapon.
Silver, on the other hand, was charged with state jail felony for child endangerment with criminal negligence and one drug charge. She has an outstanding warrant for a misdemeanor expired license plate violation.
Silver also had a previous charge of driving with an invalid license. The couple posted bond on Dec. 26 and have been released. No available details were provided regarding the two children and when they are due back in court.
Here is another video of parents overdosing. Their five-month-old baby died of starvation.
Photo: (Photo : TODAY/YouTube)
For businessmen, being charitable can be a great benefit. But in a world suffused with conflicts and strife, the value of charity is often seen as a hopeful prayer to have a much kinder place to live.
On this modern day of parenting, parents are seem so keen in teaching their children about resilience, empathy and kindness. But what about the value of charity? Is being charitable still important among kids?
Fortunately, Kids That Do Good (KTDG), a charitable platform that aims to provide access for children who are below the legal working age to become involved with various organizations, is encouraging the youth to give back to the community. Twin founders Max and Jake Klein, both 14 years old and from New Jersey, aim to provide opportunities for kids to volunteer despite the age restrictions and to value the importance of charity.
"For as long as we can remember, we've been trying to help make the world a better place," KTDG Co-founder Max Klein said in a press release forwarded to Parent Herald. "When we realized we weren't alone in running into the challenge of finding charities that allowed kids of all ages to participate, we decided to launch KTDG to do just that."
Jake Klein, on the other hand added, "Our goal is simple- to connect kids with ways to give back on a local, regional or even national level. It's a simple concept but we hope that the impact it has on the community will be extraordinary."
Due to the Klein brothers' inspiring and unique initiative, Parent Herald had a chance to do an exclusive interview with the boys. As for what pushed the boys to launch such a project, please read their responses below.
Parent Herald (PH): What is Kids That Do Good all about? Or can you please give us a short description about your organization?
Max and Jake Klein: Kids That Do Good is all about helping people at any age find ways to give back. Either on a local, state or even national level, we are a resource for kids to see how easy it is to make a difference in someone else's life.
PH: How did you come up with Kids That Do Good concept?
Max and Jake Klein: We wanted to volunteer serving meals at a homeless shelter when we were 7 because a family friend who is a retired chef cooks for them. We were turned away because you had to be at least 14. We were not discouraged and found other ways to give back but not everyone would consider finding other ways to make a difference. That's why we knew we needed to become that resource.
PH: What is your main mission and vision when you launched Kids That Do Good organization?
Max and Jake Klein: Everyone at any age can make a difference. You never know what people are going through until you take the time to help. We want people to look at the world in a different way. Not just what's in it for me, but what can I do to help one person today.
PH: As founders, do you believe the youth of today should volunteer and give back to their respective communities? Why?
Max and Jake Klein: It's so important. Kids don't realize what's going on around them. We are lucky and unlucky to have so much technology that sometimes we get lost in it and don't take time to look around us. Maybe take a minute to walk an elderly neighbor's dog or ask a friend at school to join you in planting flowers at your school. It's easy!
PH: Why do you think being charitable is important?
Max and Jake Klein: Because we all don't realize how lucky we are. Being charitable allows us to make the world just a little bit better and if every kid thought that way now, when they grow up the world would be a much kinder place.
Meanwhile, as for the latest campaign of KTDG, the group had recently organized a food drive, in collaboration with the Center for Hope and Safety, which collected Thanksgiving meals for 190 families. This January, KTDG founders Max and Jake Klein are aiming to concentrate on animal welfare so they might collaborate with the Best Friends Animal Society.
Klein Brothers Max and Jake share quick ways your family can give back this holiday season with @_workingmother_: https://t.co/YpWOA1Cytg pic.twitter.com/7VynL4M9sF Kids That Do Good (@KidsThatDoGood) December 13, 2016
So parents, what do you think about the Kids That Do Good project? Do you want your kids to join Max and Klein in their pursuit in making the world a better place to live?
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In 2014 Patently Apple posted a report titled "CEO of Foxconn: Robots will play a Crucial Role in the World's Third Industrial Revolution." In May 2016 we did a follow-up report titled "Apple Supplier Foxconn Reduces Workforce from 110,00 to 50,000 due to In-Plant Robotic Program." Since that time Foxconn has been pushing ahead at full speed to get their robotic plants up to speed through their three-phase plan with the third phase introducing full robotic automation for production.
It's being reported today that "Foxconn's factories in Chengdu, western China, Shenzhen, southern China, and Zhengzhou, northern China, have been brought into the second or third phase, Dai said.
There are 10 fully automated production lines at some factories, including table one in Chengdu, AIO (all-in-one) PC and LCD monitor lines at a factory in Chongqing, western China, and a CNC line in Zhengzhou, Dai indicated.
Foxconn has deployed more than 40,000 Foxbots, industrial robots developed and produced in house, at factories in China, Dai said. Foxconn can produce about 10,000 Foxbots a year.
Whether phase-three robotic automation will ever be applied to iPhone production is unknown. But all-in-one computers in some plants are fully automated and you have to wonder if that includes Apple's iMac. Once full robotic automation is a reliable reality, nothing will stop Apple products from being made in the U.S. at close to the same profit margins than in China. We may be a little ahead of ourselves at this point in time but Foxconn is determined to move more and more production into the third-phase and Terry Gou is one determined individual. He'll make it happen in the not-too-distant future.
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Iran's 'Grave Sleepers' Prompt Calls For Action
12/28/16
By Frud Bezhan, RFE/RL
Images like this of homeless people living in graves has sparked outrage in Iran
(see more photos)
The images are morbid -- homeless men, women, and children so desperate for shelter that they would resort to living in open graves.
Yet that is what some 50 Iranians have reportedly been doing for years, holing themselves up in concrete dugouts at a graveyard outside Tehran.
Images and video of the men living in squalor have sparked shock and outrage in Iran -- including at the highest levels of government -- and prompted mounting calls for action.
The existence of the graveyard shantytown was exposed by the daily newspaper Shahrvand on December 27. A front-page feature discussed the lives the homeless, many of them drug addicts, were eking out at the site in Shahriar, a town outside Tehran.
/ pic.twitter.com/UpnS4OE4nq (@shahrvand_paper) December 27, 2016
Photographs from the story spread quickly on social media, eliciting reactions from ordinary and prominent Iranians alike.
President Hassan Rohani called the grave dwellers' situation "unacceptable for both the government and the people."
"The government is responsible and the nation is responsible for poverty, deprivation, and problems," Rohani was quoted as saying on December 28. "I have heard about people in Western countries who sleep on cardboard under bridges out of poverty, or those who sleep in metro stations, but not in graves."
Rohani added that in order to "solve these issues, we must all unite and leave aside partisan issues and differences and address the basic problems of the country."
The president was responding to Oscar-winning Iranian director Asghar Farhadi, who expressed "shame" and "regret" about the condition of those "men, women, and children who spend their cold nights in a graveyard."
Asghar Farhadi on front page of Iranian daily Shahrvand
Read related report by Shahrvand
"I intend to share my shame with you and all those who have had any responsibility in this country," Farhadi wrote in a letter to Rohani on December 27.
'No Honor...No Fear'
Many vented their frustrations and anger on social media.
Koohe Sefid, a Facebook user, accused the government of making foreign projects like "rebuilding [the Syrian city of] Aleppo" the "priority" instead of solving social and economic problems in Iran.
Javad Siadat, another Facebook user, posted the message: "My God, what are we witnessing?"
Mohesen Eb said on Facebook that the government "has no honor, no fear, and no shame."
In a follow-up story on December 28, Shahrvand said the homeless were forcibly removed from the graveyard by security forces after local officials pledged to take action. Shahrvand reported that some of the occupants of the cemetery had lived there for a decade.
'Hardcore Addicts'
Sayyed Hossein Hashemi, the governor of Tehran Province, described the dwellers as "hardcore addicts," according to the semiofficial ISNA news agency.
"The publication of reports that these people had nothing to eat and were hungry was unkind and ill-advised because it should be taken into account that these people are hard-core addicts," he said in remarks on December 28, adding that the dwellers had been transferred to a nearby rehabilitation camp.
Iranian officials have said there are about 15,000 homeless people living in Tehran, including 5,000 women.
But activists believe the real number to be twice that figure.
Many of the homeless are drug addicts. There are 1.4 million registered addicts in treatment programs, but activists say that number, too, is much higher -- more than 2 million people out of a population of 80 million.
The number of drug users is believed to be rising, despite harsh penalties for users if they are caught.
One of the main reasons for the rising number of addicts in Iran is that the country is the main gateway for the drug trade from Afghanistan, the world's main source of opium, which is used to make heroin.
In October, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) said Afghanistan's cultivation of opium poppy had risen to 201,000 hectares, a 10 percent increase from 2015.
About the author:
Frud Bezhan covers Afghanistan and the broader South Asia and Middle East region. Send story tips to bezhanf@rferl.org
Copyright (c) 2016 RFE/RL, Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave., N.W. Washington DC 20036. www.rferl.org
The Case for Sending Secretary Kerry to Tehran
12/30/16
by Navid Hassibi (source: LobeLog)
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry with Iranian Forign Minister Javad Zarif
(cartoon by Mohammad Tahani, Iranian daily Arman)
Although it is unclear what will happen to the Iran nuclear deal (the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, or JCPOA) once President-elect Donald Trump assumes office, President Barack Obama still has a few weeks left to try to reinforce his signature foreign policy achievement by sending Secretary of State John Kerry to the capital of one of the signatory members-Tehran. While it is unlikely that the Iranian government would welcome Kerry in what would be a historic bilateral visit, due to political complexities and ramifications at home (particularly as the Rouhani administration prepares for reelection in a few months), it may be possible to pull off a last-minute Kerry visit within the confines of a JCPOA ministerial visit in Tehran. Kerry's attendance at such a meeting would represent the first visit to Iran by a senior U.S. official in decades. It would monumentally reconfirm the P5+1 and Iran's commitment to the nuclear deal and possibly make it more difficult for the incoming Trump administration to either tear it up or to go along with new sanctions that would put it at risk.
To be sure, Trump has repeatedly called the nuclear deal a disaster-most recently on Wednesday this week. As president-elect, he has surrounded himself with Iran hawks who have publicly expressed their disdain for the deal. His choice for CIA director, Rep. Mike Pompeo, tweeted that he looked forward to rolling back the deal just hours before his nomination. Trump's pick for National Security Advisor, Gen. Michael Flynn, and his nominee for Secretary of Defense, Gen. James "Mad Dog" Mattis, are both hyper-critical of Iran and the nuclear deal, as is John Bolton, a potential nominee for the number two spot at the State Department and a veteran proponent of war with Iran.
Defending the Agreement
To counter the threat that the agreement might be undone, Iran deal supporters have been highlighting its merits, pointedly noting, among other things, that Tehran has fully complied with its obligations to date and that the deal has effectively pushed back any possible nuclear "break-out" by the Islamic Republic from only about two months to at least a full year-thus, for now, peacefully resolving a major international security concern without firing a single shot. As President Obama said after the election: "We now have over a year of evidence that they [Iran] have abided by the agreement." In other words, the deal is working. Indeed, under the agreement, Iran has dismantled and limited key aspects of its nuclear program in exchange for sanctions relief.
In an effort to solidify the Iran deal, the Obama administration has reportedly been issuing more licenses to U.S. companies to do business with Iran and waiving additional sanctions before leaving office. Iran has already signed a $16 billion deal with Boeing, which will support tens of thousands of U.S. jobs, a business reality that the Trump administration cannot easily ignore. The Obama White House should go even further to protect the deal by probing, via the Kerry-Mohammad Javad Zarif channel, whether a ministerial gathering of the P5+1 and Iran within the next few weeks in Tehran would be welcomed by the government. While bold, such a meeting would send a powerful message in support of diplomacy and the nuclear deal.
Meeting within the "business as usual" framework of the JCPOA could provide sufficient cover against any political backlash facing both the Rouhani government and, to a lesser extent, the outgoing Obama administration. Limiting Kerry's presence in Tehran solely to attending the meeting would further limit adverse political consequences for both parties and could in fact bolster the Iranian president's stature in advance of the May election. The meeting would also enable the P5+1 and Iran to touch base on the deal's progress to-date, as well as new and anticipated challenges to its implementation, such as the extension of the Iran Sanctions Act. More importantly, it could help reassure the international community, including the parties themselves, about Washington's commitment. A high-profile-albeit potentially controversial-meeting this close to Inauguration Day is hardly unprecedented, as Kerry will be attending the French-led Israeli-Palestinian Peace Summit on January 15.
Limiting the Damage Trump Can Do
Not only has the nuclear deal removed any near-term threat of Iran's nuclear "break-out," it has also established official channels between U.S. and Iranian officials. These channels have been leveraged for non-nuclear matters such as last year's prisoner swap, the release of U.S. naval detainees by Iran, the settlement of a longstanding financial dispute, and some limited cooperation through the International Syria Support Group. Sabotaging the nuclear deal would remove any ability the United States has to pursue and defend its interests directly with Iran, particularly at a time when Iranian hardliners are arbitrarily detaining dual nationals.
What is certain is that the Trump administration's unraveling of the agreement would severely undermine U.S. credibility in the world. It would significantly impact the United States' relations with its key European allies, especially the EU3-France, Germany and the United Kingdom-which are already worried about Trump's position on NATO. It would further complicate the relationship with China, which Trump recently angered due to his stance on Taiwan and his threats to impose tariffs against Chinese exports. It would also throw a wrench into the incoming administration's desire to rehabilitate relations with Russia.
Sending Kerry to Tehran within the framework of a JCPOA ministerial meeting would be a public show of commitment to the deal and could make it harder for the Trump administration to unravel what has been hailed as Obama's greatest foreign-policy achievement. It could also help to ensure that the U.S.-Iran relationship does not deteriorate to pre-2013 levels, which were marked by regular displays of brinkmanship and threats of military action. Obama is still in office until January 20. He can still make sure that diplomacy speaks louder than what he once described as the "loose talk of war."
About the author:
Navid Hassibi is with the Council on International Policy. He tweets @navidhassibi. The opinions here represent his own.
The casket of slain Russian ambassador to Turkey Andrei Karlov is pictured during his funeral ceremony in Moscow on December 22, 2016 (AFP Photo/Alexander NEMENOV) (AFP/File)
Rabat (AFP) - Morocco has arrested five youth members of the premier's Islamist party who allegedly celebrated last week's murder of the Russian ambassador to Turkey, a party source said Thursday.
Authorities arrested the five from the youth movement of Prime Minister Abdelilah Benkirane's Justice and Development Party (PJD), the source said, after the assassination of Andrei Karlov on December 19.
The Akhbar Al-Yaoum daily reported a sixth person had been called in for questioning.
The PJD, whose leader has been tasked with forming a new governing coalition after winning October parliamentary polls, has yet to comment on the arrests.
But the head of the party's lawyer association, Abdessamad al-Idrissi, said he would be defending those detained.
Under Moroccan law, the crime of justifying terrorist acts can be punished by up to six years in prison and more than $19,000 in fines.
On December 22, the justice and interior ministries said they were opening an investigation after a group of people "clearly celebrated on social media the assassination of the Russian ambassador in Turkey".
In early December, Benkirane caused a diplomatic stir by criticising Russia's military intervention in Syria in support of President Bashar al-Assad's regime.
After Moscow's envoy in Rabat expressed concern over the comments, Morocco's foreign ministry slammed the premier's remarks and said it respected Russia's role in Syria.
Iran, US likely to start re-negotiations on nuclear deal: Olli Hainonen
12/30/16
Interview by Javad Heirannia, Mehr News Agency
A former IAEA fellow and its deputy director-general has told Mehr News that it should not be surprising if Iran and the US were to start some pre/re-negotiations on JCPOA once Trump takes over as president.
The narrowing road of Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA)
Source: Iranian business magazine Tejarat Farda
In an interview conducted by Mehr News International Service, Olli Hainonen talked about the possible scenarios for Iran's nuclear deal once Donald Trump takes over as President of the United States. The following is the full text of the interview:
President-elect Donald Trump noted during his presidential campaign that Obama gave more points to Iran on nuclear agreement and voiced his intention to hold a new round of negotiations with Iran in regard to the nuclear deal. What will Trump ultimately do about the deal?
Currently the transition teams of President Obama and President-Elect Trump are meeting to review issues, including topics related to US national security. Mr. Trump is also receiving other security briefings. This gives the Trump team additional insights, which they may not have had available publicly. It is also customarily for a new Administration to conduct a thorough review of US policies. Such a review has taken in the past about 100 days on major topics.
When we look back to the deal's negotiating history, the US initiated some of the negotiations through the "Oman channel" parallel to the P5+1 process. Also during the recent JPA, JPOA, and JCPOA processes, many details were first negotiated between the US and Iran, before bringing them to the P5+1 framework. We should not be surprised if Iran and the US were to start some pre/re-negotiations, noting also that for example, Mr. Salehi [Iran's nuclear chief] recently expressed his dissatisfaction on some of the JCPOA's language.
In sum, the President-elect has a number of choices relating to the Iran nuclear deal, from relooking at the UN Security Council Resolution; to amendments and fixing deficiencies of the JCPOA through side understandings between the involved parties.
Olli Hainonen
The circle around Trump is composed of staunch opponents of Iran and JCPOA. How much impact do you think this circle will leave on Trump's foreign policy toward Iran?
Certainly the new administration of Mr. Trump is firmly in the driving seat, but there are all the reasons to believe that his staff will include in their decision-making inputs from the US interagency process as well as gather information and interpretations made by the P5+1 during the negotiation process in crafting policy and direction.
Some argue that Trump will not violate the JCPOA and instead, it will place sanctions on Iran under the pretext of terrorism and human rights violations. How do you evaluate this move in regard to the future of JCPOA?
There is wide dissatisfaction not only in the US, but also in Europe and beyond with regard to Iran's ballistic missile activities as well as aspects of Iran's involvement in events in Iraq, Syria and Yemen which these countries view as counterproductive and objectionable. Whether these issues including human rights issues are dealt with related or separate from the JCPOA, it would not be surprising if it has some form of effect on the nuclear deal.
In case Donald Trump violated the nuclear deal, how do you predict the reaction of US's European allies?
It is unlikely that the US will see itself violating the JCPOA. The JCPOA for the P5+1 is essentially a way to ensure that Iran stays within the limits drawn on its nuclear program. The US and others provide sanctions relief in return. Where violations occur within the JCPOA, there is an arbitration process to handle disputes and non-compliance, which progresses from the Joint Commission, arbitration panel, to the UN Security Council. This gives an opportunity for all sides to express their views as the handling of cases proceeds.
Olli Heinonen is Senior Advisor on Science and Nonproliferation at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies in Washington, DC.
A convicted felon accused of trying to ignite a fire inside a Riverside credit union during a botched holdup was charged Thursday with attempted arson and attempted robbery.
Brian Paul Buell, 35, was apprehended Tuesday by Riverside police. He pleaded not guilty Thursday afternoon. He is being held at the Robert Presley Detention Center in Riverside with bail set at $205,000.
On the afternoon of Dec. 22, a man approached tellers in the Altura Credit Union at 14th and Lemon streets and demanded money, but was refused, Riverside police said.
He spit and poured gasoline throughout the bank and threatened to burn down the building unless he was given the money, according to a police statement. He also tried to light a roll of toilet paper on fire to ignite the trail of gasoline but was unsuccessful due to the rain that afternoon.
Employees called 911, but the man fled before officers arrived.
According to police, a patrol unit spotted a transient matching the would-be robbers description near Main Street and the 60 Freeway on Tuesday and detained him. Credit union staff identified Buell as the man who tried to rob them, police said.
Buell has prior convictions for robbery, burglary and auto theft, court records show.
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Two Orange County residents face arraignment in a Chino identity theft case that began after a phony name and credit card were used to rent a motel room, according to police and jail records.
Scheduled for arraignment Friday, Dec. 30, are 32-year-old Chad Nicholas Jensen and 27-year-old Ashley Villareal. Their cities of residence were not released.
Both were arrested at 4:18 p.m. Wednesday at a Motel 6 along South Garey Avenue in Pomona and booked for investigation of grand theft, possessing 10 or more pieces of identification with intent to commit identity fraud, and other ID theft-related charges, jail records show.
Jensen and Villareal also face drug-related cases in Orange and Los Angeles Counties, according to their booking records.
The investigation began when police were summoned to a Chino motel along Central Avenue where a room was rented using an apparently fictitious name, police officials said in a written statement.
Officers determined that the name and credit card were bogus, but the suspects were no longer in the room. Jensen and Villareal were traced to the Pomona motel where they were arrested.
A search of both motel rooms turned up more than 40 counterfeit drivers licenses, over 100 counterfeit credit cards and several computers and printers capable of producing the licenses and cards, according to the statement.
Anyone with additional information may call Chino police at 909-334-3093.
Julie Gerson hiked the Pacific Crest Trail beneath a deep blue sky flecked with mares tails clouds in southwest Anza-Borrego Desert State Park.
Gerson, the Anza-Borrego Foundations land-acquisition coordinator, crunched down the hard-packed, sandy-brown trail, past granitic boulders and desert agave, to 40 acres of newly acquired property near the base of Granite Mountain.
Accessible only by hiking the Pacific Crest Trail, the parcel had been adjacent to the park but so remote its former owners had never been able to find it.
The land had been for sale and could have been developed if the foundation hadnt joined forces with the Pacific Crest Trail Association and bought the quarter-square-mile plot for $16,000.
The foundations new acquisition increases the amount of protected desert, which means more land for wildlife and more protection there for the Pacific Crest Trail corridor and the view from the trail.
Pointing out the trail descending the side of the mountain, Gerson recalled her excitement when the title deed came in the mail Sept. 30.
Anything can go wrong right up until the last second, she said. People see open desert and think, Wow. This is wide open. But its so fragile.
That parcel is now part of the roughly 650,000-acre desert state park the Anza-Borrego Foundation has helped build and protect for 50 years.
A season-long anniversary celebration includes field trips, hikes, classes and other special events through April 1.
Since April 1, 1967, the nonprofit group has provided more than $32 million for land, programming and other services, and financial support to a park stretching from the Santa Rosa Mountains in Riverside County nearly to the Mexican border.
MAKING PARK WHOLE
Dropping into the park from a twisting ride down Montezuma Valley Road, you get the sense Anza-Borrego is a world unto itself.
A world of ancient fossils and mysterious mirages, lush palm oases and hidden waterfalls, ocotillo forests, remote hiking trails and captivating wildlife from tarantulas and chuckwalla lizards to golden eagles and desert bighorn sheep, or borrego.
With help from the Resources Legacy Fund in Sacramento and other partnerships, donations and state and federal funds, the foundation has been working to make that world whole procuring about 54,000 acres in the last half-century.
About 67,000 acres of private parcels within the park, known as inholdings, existed when the foundation was formed to acquire inholdings or adjacent land to help preserve the desert, wildlife habitat and cultural heritage.
Foundation Executive Director Paige Rogowski estimates there are still 20,000 acres of inholdings that could be acquired to complete Californias largest state park, offering free primitive camping throughout.
A Pasadena native, shes come to cherish the deserts serenity and wildness while overseeing the foundation for seven years.
You can still have that wild experience here, she said over lunch at Keslings Kitchen in Borrego Springs. Our souls need that to be able to be in open space and have that restore and heal us.
Gerson spends hours studying county maps and contacting people about land bought, won or traded in years past. This year, she bought 7.5 acres in the Badlands at $250 an acre that someones father won in a 1930s poker game.
Shes still trying to purchase 10 acres of Borrego Badlands a man traded his shotgun for. His grandchildren are asking $1,000 an acre, but Gerson said the foundation can offer only $450.
Last year, the organization completed a notable two-part acquisition the 3,805-acre Lucky 5 Ranch and a conservation easement, preserving wildlife corridors between coastal environments and the deserts and mountains of Anza-Borrego and Cuyamaca Rancho state parks and Cleveland National Forest.
The foundations six-month anniversary celebration began in late October, when cooling temperatures brought the start of desert season and the return of those who flee each summer.
Thats also tarantula mating season at Anza-Borrego.
One morning, a large tarantula crawled outside the Steele/Burnand Anza-Borrego Desert Research Center, a field research station established by the foundation, UC Irvine and park.
The black arachnid froze and appeared menacing.
State Park Ranger Steve Bier, using his hat to encourage the gigantic spider to shelter beneath a palm tree, said the creature was likely just trying to look like a shadow to potential predators.
Unbroken desert
In winter, Anza-Borrego is known for starry nights and mystifying mirages called Fata Morgana.
Optical illusions of castles or islands floating in the sky are created by sunlight passing through the atmosphere. The mirages occur and are seen over long distances of open space preserved largely by the foundation, explained Bier, driving east through the desert on State Route 78.
The vast expanse of unbroken desert ahead of you is just very calming and awe-inspiring to me, he said.
Bier and other rangers patrol the backcountry, watching for problems such as reptile poaching, cactus theft or illegal off-roading, giving emergency first aid, rehabilitating damaged areas, fighting fires and answering questions from those whove come for a desert escape.
In my experience, even the bad guys are relaxed out here, he said.
Tuesday mornings through April, he leads hikes to show foundation members what their donations do.
People who only know deserts from TV or movies envision a scary place where people are half-dead from lack of water.
There are deserts like that in the world. But this is not one of them, Bier said.
On that day, he drove up Fish Creek Wash past red sandstone cliffs and Waterfall Canyon to areas rich with remnants of ancient life.
Getting out of the ranger truck, Bier pointed to the sunlight-sparkled Mud Hills, ancient marine sediments made of gypsum and fossil shells metamorphosed into limestone.
Further back in the wash, Bier spotted a tarantula hawk wasp, queen butterflies and 3-million-year-old fossilized tracks, or ichnites, apparently made by the elephant-like gompothere and ancient relatives of the coyote and bobcat.
The ephemeral fossils, set in sandstone, can be destroyed by earthquakes, flash floods, rockfalls, wind-blown sand and humans, so they should be photographed but never touched, he said.
Native American artifacts also should be left untouched.
Much of what Bier drove through was added to the park by the foundation.
Wide-open aesthetic
Through the years, the organization has also offered field trips, hikes and workshops to more than 13,000 children and adults, often with help from rangers like Bier.
The organization, together with California State Parks and San Diego County, has introduced more than 1,000 inner-city fifth-graders to the desert and camping through Camp Borregos outdoor educational program.
The foundation also raised funds to help build The Stout Paleontology Laboratory, Begole Archaeological Research Center and the Steele/Burnand center, whose campus was enlarged with a 75-acre foundation land donation.
The Steele/Burnand center was created at the repurposed mid-century modern Borrego Springs Desert Club to offer affordable lodging for researchers who could help inform management of the parks natural and cultural resources.
Researchers are currently studying such things as Split Mountain region geology, invasive Saharan mustard and inhabitants of rotting barrel cacti, center Manager Jim Dice said on a tour. The center, part of the UC Natural Reserve System, is open to classes and all researchers.
Through its work, the foundation has not only saved wildlife habitat and cultural resources its protected the aesthetic of the wide-open desert, preserving a wild place where people can relax and breathe easier, Bier said.
That has a profound effect on my mind, anyway, he said. It gives you this impression that youre the first person to step foot there.
Contact the writer: 951-368-9444 or shurt@scng.com
Two brothers suspected of committing back-to-back burglaries at Corona restaurants, culminating in a vehicle and foot pursuit, were arrested Wednesday, Dec. 28.
A third suspect who eluded officers remains at large, Corona police said in a news release.
Long Beach residents Rodney Lavon Shorter II, 21, and Rodney Shorter III, 19, were booked into jail on suspicion of burglary, receiving stolen property and evading a police officer, police said.
The elder Shorter also was booked on suspicion of conspiracy to commit a felony and concealing a firearm that had been stolen, and his bail was set at $100,000, jail records show. His brother was not listed in jail records Thursday evening.
According to a police news release, the suspects broke into Chronic Tacos at 160 Ontario Ave. about 3:30 a.m. Wednesday and took property. They then are suspected of driving a half-mile to Grazianos Pizza at 333 Magnolia Ave., forcing their way inside the closed eatery and stealing a safe and cash drawers.
While that burglary was in progress, someone called police who was able to provide a description of the alleged getaway car, a white Dodge Intrepid, which a patrol unit spotted moments later, the release said.
The car didnt stop when police tried to pull it over, triggering a roughly 3-mile pursuit that crossed underneath Interstate 15 into the 1600 block of Leeson Lane, where the vehicle struck a curb, flattening several tires, police said.
The cars occupants took off. The Shorter brothers were captured; jail logs show the elder Shorter was arrested at 4:50 a.m. at Magnolia and Temescal streets, a few blocks from where the vehicle pursuit ended.
The safe from Grazianos was inside the Intrepid, the release said. Police also found burglary tools, two cloth masks and a firearm that had been reported stolen in Los Angeles County, police said.
A day after a shotgun-toting man held deputies at bay for nine hours near Loma Linda, the 28-year-old San Bernardino gang member faces arraignment on five criminal charges, sheriffs officials say.
Isaac Michael Castillo is scheduled for his first court hearing Friday, Dec. 30, on charges of residential burglary, false imprisonment, being a felon in possession of a firearm, making criminal threats, and being under the influence of narcotics while armed with a gun, investigators said in a written statement.
Castillo was arrested about 7 p.m. Wednesday at his girlfriends home along the 29800 block of Romero Road, a dirt road just north of San Timoteo Canyon, according to sheriffs officials and jail records.
Deputies were dispatched to the house at 8:22 a.m. to check on a reported man with a gun.
A sheriffs helicopter crew spotted a man with a shotgun breaking into the house through a window. At the same time, the victims confirmed to 911 dispatchers that a man with a shotgun had broken into the house and was holding them hostage.
Deputies from San Bernardino, Loma Linda, Grand Terrace and Highland swarmed the area, along with Redlands police.
About that time, a woman escaped but reported that her cousin was still inside with her boyfriend, Castillo, who had a shotgun and was threatening to kill her, according to the sheriffs statement.
Deputies surrounded the house, evacuated nearby residents, and used a public address system to urge a surrender. When that didnt work, a SWAT team was summoned.
After eight hours of negotiations, Castillo surendered to SWAT, investigators wrote.
The second woman was found unharmed.
After searching the house, deputies reported finding a stolen, loaded, sawed-off shotgun.
A records check showed that Castillo was on parole after being imprisoned for weapons violations, investigators wrote. He also was wanted for parole violation and is a documented member of a street gang with a history of violence, they said.
Castillo had stolen the shotgun on Christmas Day, deputies wrote.
Anyone with additional information may call detectives at 909-387-3545.
Riverside County sheriffs deputies on Thursday, Dec. 29, arrested a 32-year-old man on suspicion that he tried to kidnap two young girls in Calimesa.
Luis Lozano of San Bernardino was arrested on suspicion of attempted kidnapping and booked into Larry D. Smith Correctional Facility in Banning, according to online jail records.
The records showed that his bail was set at $55,000 and he had not been released as of Friday afternoon.
About 1 p.m. deputies went to the 1300 block of Lone Star Court in Calimesa after receiving a report of an attempted kidnapping, according to a Riverside County sheriffs news release.
Officials say that when the deputies arrived, they learned that a man in a gray Toyota Venza told a 10-year-old girl and a 5-year-old girl to get in the SUV.
Lozano was identified as a suspect in the incident and arrested at his home without incident, according to the release.
The release does not provide specifics on what led deputies to suspect Lozano.
The sheriffs department is asking anyone with information about the incident to contact investigators by calling 951-922-7100.
Tips can also be made anonymously on the departments CrimeTips form or WeTip.com.
Contact the writer: 951-368-9693, agroves@scng.com or @AlexDGroves on Twitter.
An error by Covered California has left about 24,000 policy holders at risk of losing their federal tax credits in January if they dont give the state health insurance exchange permission to verify their income.
Covered California is engaged in a last-minute scramble to reach those individuals and families before the end of the month, spokeswoman Lizelda Lopez said.
For policy holders who dont give the agency their consent by Saturday, federal tax credits will not be applied to their January premiums. That means they may need to pay the full, unsubsidized amount of those premiums until they rectify the situation, she said.
It was our mistake, Lopez said. We thought we had their consent. We dont.
Covered California needs consent from its enrollees to verify their income against a federal database.
Heres why: The tax credits consumers receive to reduce their monthly premiums are based on income. Because incomes often fluctuate from year to year, tax credits do, too.
Some enrollees give the agency their consent every year, while others give it for multiple years at a time.
In August, Covered California started reaching out to current enrollees whose consent had expired, Lopez said.
The approximately 24,000 policy holders affected never respond to the agency, but it thought they had, Lopez said. As a result, Covered California sent those policy holders incorrect information about their tax credits for next year that was based on their previous income levels, she said.
We realized looking over our data that we didnt have their consent, and didnt tell them that their (tax credits) would be zeroed out next year as a result, she said.
Once the agency realized its mistake, it started reaching out to affected consumers by phone and email on Sunday.
If those consumers respond by Saturday, their tax credits will be recalculated and applied to their January bills, she said.
If they dont, their tax credits wont be applied to their January bills and they could owe the full amount of their premiums.
However, once consumers see their bills in January and realize their tax credits werent applied, they can contact Covered California to give their consent. At that point, the agency will recalculate their tax credits and apply them retroactively to the beginning of the year, Lopez said.
It will also contact the insurer to reissue a new bill, she said.
A handful of affected consumers called QuoteBroker, an insurance firm based in Valencia, this week for help, said Myles Pappadato, a managing partner. QuoteBroker has roughly 600 Covered California clients.
Its the easiest fix in the world, Pappadato said. Its one button, but it means the world to these people. If its not clicked, theyre not going to get the tax credit.
Pappadato is most concerned about the consumers he hasnt heard from.
Im really worried. I have no idea how many of our folks are among them, he said. I know there are others in our book of business, but theres just no easy way to go about finding them.
Lopezs advice for consumers who have been contacted by the exchange is to immediately give their consent online, call Covered California at 800-300-1506 or get help from the person who helped them enroll in the first place, such as an insurance agent.
This affected a very small number of our enrollees, she said. If you have mail from Covered California that you havent opened, please do so.
Dr Mahamadu Bawumia, head of the Economic Management Team of the incoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) government, has promised to remove tax obstacles to greatly lessen the plight of people.
The Vice President-elect, who disclosed this recently in an interview with Joy Fm, an Accra-based radio station, bemoaned the low growth of Ghanas economy.
We want to see the economy growing. Right now were growing around three percent. We used to grow in the big days around 2011 about 14 percent when the oil was coming, 8 percent coming down but were now at 3 percent. You need to increase the growth rate of the economy. And the way you are going to do it of course is to make sure that the private sector is energized.
And so we are going to see a transformation even in mindset that youre going to build the most business-friendly and the most people-friendly economy that you can, so that we encourage both local and foreign investment. Well remove the obstacles and bring down the tax burden on people. We will make sure that the health service is better managed and people can actually get better and quality access to healthcare.
He also pledged to protect the countrys business environment, adding that the business climate would influence the enterprising prospects of the private sector.
According to the former Deputy Bank of Ghana governor, there were clear cut policies set by the incoming administration to reposition the country as the most business and people-friendly economy in Africa.
He mentioned that an Akufo-Addo led administration would evolve policies that would expand and transform Ghanas economy.
I want to also make sure that Nana Akufo-Addos call that we should have no village that has water problem in the next two years be realized. And we believe for example that the $1 million per constituency each year, the equivalent which is GH4 million a year per constituency, if the constituencies identify those needs and the executing agencies address them, we should not really have water problem.
This one-village-one-dam promise, we should realize it, so that we can get the agriculture sector moving. Because if youre going to transform this economy and you dont transform agriculture, then you have done nothing. So we are going to see a major focus on agriculture so that we can begin the process of transformation. We also want to see jobs being created and move the economy from focus on taxation to focus on production.
Source: Daily Guide
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This article is the first in a series on the "Future of Politics" that investigates the effects of election 2016 on the future of policy, parties, candidates, campaign style and the overall political environment going forward.
Verbal attacks in politics are nothing new.
Cyber-attacks are.
Indeed, election 2016 could be considered a turning point in the history of America's electoral process as brazen hacks on the Democratic National Committee and Clinton campaign chair John Podesta, carried out by Russia, according to the Obama administration, were "intended to interfere with the U.S. election process."
The attacks that Hillary Clinton has blamed in part on her Electoral College loss to Donald Trump raise a critical question: will cyber-attacks targeting political organizations and prominent political players become the new normal?
I fear the answer is yes.
Though Trump has so far denied Russian involvement, prominent politicians on both sides of the aisle are calling for an investigation. That's a crucial step going forward. To better prepare for the possibility of cyber-assaults on our voting outcomes, we need to understand what sort of tactics were used in past attacks and what kind of new malicious strategies might we see in future. And we must devise strategies to counter them.
In cyberspace, the past is prelude to the future. The DNC hacks are a prime example of efforts to alter election outcomes without having to tamper with voting machines themselves. This case illustrates what happens when information is disclosed that undermines the credibility of an institution, in this case the Democratic Party.
Some of the hackers behind DNC attack may have had access to the organization's network for about a year according to DNC officials, giving them ample time to hunt for the most damaging documents without fear of detection.
Now is the time to guard against subterranean attacks that could be going on in other political organizations and structures, from state capitals to the U.S. Capitol.
Story continues
Creating "fake news" is another type of voter manipulation aimed at influencing public opinion. Independent researchers claim the Russians were behind the creation of a number of misleading articles with the goal of harming the Clinton campaign, including bogus pieces about Hillary's fatal health problems, using botnets, networks of websites and social media accounts to distribute them.
Facebook (FB), a major disseminator of fake news during the election, is taking steps to limit distribution on its site. Other sites must follow its lead.
Other potential strategies for altering voter outcomes include gaining access to election databases so hackers can quietly attain personal information like emails and telephones numbers, which can then be used to manipulate voters.
What's more, hackers could delete names of voters from voter registration lists specifically from those demographic groups or socioeconomic strata more likely to vote for one candidate than the other.
Has this ever happened? It's not clear, but in August 2016, the FBI said it uncovered evidence that state election databases in Arizona and Illinois may have been hacked. In Illinois, hackers associated with foreign actors are suspected of downloading personal data on up to 200,000 state voters.
States must fortify their systems against hacking and remain vigilant to any breaches. Russian hackers gained access to the DNC's and Podesta's systems through simple phishing attempts, according The New York Times. Educating users is one simple way to prevent such breaches in the future.
Hacking into the voting machines themselves is certainly the most chilling of all scenarios, though the evidence that this actually occurred is inconclusive at best.
Prominent computer scientists have claimed that presidential voting results in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania could have been hacked and urged the Clinton Campaign to challenge election results in all three swing states.
Other arguments suggest that evidence of tampering with electronic voting machines is thin. Part of the thinking is that the machines could not have been hacked, primarily because they are not connected to the internet.
Truth is, regarding claims that electronic ballots are not connected to the internet: it actually doesn't matter. Clever hackers have successfully penetrated such "air-gapped" devices in the past, through what the cyber community calls an "insider attack." One malicious employee or contractor can penetrate a device by plotting from within. With a willing insider, an internet connection is irrelevant. Think Edward Snowden.
Again, the issue is still open, but there is a strong case to be made for carrying out an investigation, to conclusively determine the integrity of voting outcomes, and, perhaps equally as important, to figure out what sort of techniques were used if tampering is discovered so we can better protect the integrity of voting systems in the future. State level actors are certainly the most sophisticated, often using large numbers of attack vectors over long periods of time, so the importance of analyzing and understanding their patterns is mandatory for creating equally if not more sophisticated defense strategies moving forward.
We can expect a repeat performance of attacks designed to alter election outcomes, in one form or another. That's the history of cyber-security; there is always more to come. It will likely come from the same hacker groups and use similar tactics, techniques and procedures (TTPs), with some advanced variations we haven't seen yet.
The best way to keep safe is by studying previous attack patterns, turning diverse threats into a common language so that security professionals can "read" what is happening, no matter what the source. This will protect our democratic system because it allows threats to be instantly understood and proactively managed.
It also means upping cooperation at national, state and local levels. Since voting is always done at a local level, and since local authorities certainly don't have the resources to fend off malicious campaigns backed at state-levels, then more needs to be done to provide resources and know-how from the top down.
All of this becomes even more important as we strive more and more to utilize technology to encourage voter accessibility. E-voting encourages more participation but also widens potential attack vectors and raises risk. How do we maximize access while at the same time guaranteeing security? These are issues we need to continue grappling with.
The bottom line is that as dangerous as actual attempts to compromise voter outcome are, the perception that voting results are flawed is also capable of delegitimizing the democratic process. If citizens believe the vote has been rigged, then why bother voting at all? The future of democracy will be in balancing voter access with the integrity of the system and cyber-security will play an enormous role in this reconciliation.
Commentary by Avi Chesla, CEO and Founder of empow, a cyber security company. Prior to empow, Avi was CTO and vice president of security products at Radware, where he was responsible for defining and leading the company's strategic technology roadmap and vision including the foundation and management of Radware's Security Division, a provider of cyber-attack mitigation solutions. Chesla has authored a number of articles for major publications on advanced network behavioral analysis, expert systems and information security and has earned numerous patents in these areas. Follow him on Twitter @cheslaavi.
For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCopinion onTwitter.
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Mahto Suraj, A 22-year-old man has abandoned his 19-year-old wife Latila, and is said to have married his mother in-law, Asha Devi.
Mahto claims he fell in love with his 42-year-old mother-in-law after she paid them a visit in the village of puraini in Bihar, in the north-eastern part of India.
According to India Times, Asha left her husband who is a factory workers home in Delhi and started living with Suraj and had a court marriage and a formal temple wedding in June.
Suraj, however is now pleading for the marriage bond to be broken so that he could return to his former wife, Latila.
He said he had now realised his foolishness.
I have come to realize my foolishness. I admit I have committed the mistake, but will never repeat it in future. Now, I no longer treat her (Devi) as my wife, rather, I have started paying her regard as a mother and an in-law that she is. I am on my knees, Im begging Lalita to take me back home for the sake of our son, Mahto added.
Source: Kemifilani.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.
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Mr Stephen Ashitey Adjei, Leader of the former workers of Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), says he and colleagues will protest against the pay rise for the President and other Article 71 office holders.
He said the recommendations by the Presidential Committee on Emoluments for a 10 per cent pay rise, was in a bad state and so the former workers would demonstrate when it was recommended.
The sixth Parliament of the 4th Republic resumed sitting on Tuesday, December 20, considered among other things, emoluments to be paid to the Article 71 office holders led by the President.
In an interview with Ghana News Agency in Accra, he said the workers, who were laid off 14 years ago, have not been paid since 2002 and had since appealed to the Executive including President John Dramani Mahama over their plight.
He said so far only five of their colleagues have been paid their full severance benefits.
Mr Ashietey Adjei said the ex-workers petitioned the former President John Evans Atta Mills over their plight, who ordered that they should be paid.
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.
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President John Dramani Mahama has disclosed that parliament has agreed an amount of 45million for the construction of the University for Environment and Sustainable Development in the Eastern Region.
President Mahama, who revealed this during the inaugural ceremony at Somanya in the Yilo Krobo municipality on Thursday, December 29 indicated: Parliament has approved a 45million commercial agreement [between the government of Ghana and an Italian firm for the development of the university].
Mr Mahama thanked all individuals and organisations who have contributed from the conception of the idea to its current state of construction.
Mr Mahama also urged the incoming government to do its best to ensure the completion of the tertiary educational facility.
The University of Environment and Sustainable Development is aimed at providing higher education, dissemination of knowledge relating to developments in environment and agro-business and creation of the needed environment that fosters exchange of knowledge and the pursuit of national development.
Source: classfmonline.com
Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority.
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A. INTRODUCTION
The Progressive People's Party (PPP) was formed in 2012 largely as a reform movement with leaders who were determined to press for positive, fundamental change in the lives of Ghanaians.
After four years of existence, the PPP has not won elections to produce a Member of Parliament or President, but has established itself as the up and coming alternative political party to the NDC and the NPP.
After two elections in a row, 2012 and 2016, our party has placed third in presidential elections admitedly with fewer votes than we had expected.
The PPP in 2016 also placed second in some parliamentary contests in four regions. We are here this morning to fulfill a pledge we made to the nation that we will not be a political party only during election years.
We will stay active to push our change agenda and promote job creation. That is what we are here to do today.
During this Fourth Republic, it has become abundantly clear to us that Ghana cannot continue this "see-saw", "forward then backward" growth and development.
The only way out is to implement fundamental change to strengthen our foundation and provide springboard to ensure prosperity that is not limited to a few but one that spreads to the majority of citizens. Ghana must become more democratic, disciplined and decentralized.
B. NATIONAL IDENTIFICATION
An essential public policy decision occurred when Parliament passed into law, Act 707 which was given assent by the then President on 18 April 2006.
This brought into being the National Identification Authority. According to the law, "The object of the authority is to create, maintain, provide and promote the use of national identity cards in order to advance economic, political and social activities in the country."
The PPP believes that the mandatory use of the resultant national identification number by all citizens from birth until death will help greatly to bring about greater discipline into all aspects of our national lives.
All areas - banking, broadening the national revenue base, criminal justice, voters registration, etc. will benefit from the implementation of the national identification system.
It is our understanding that a lot of work was done and progress made In this direction by the National Identification Authority. Therefore, we are asking the incoming Administration to provide adequate financial, human and technical equipment support so that this work can be completed by the end of 2017.
C. 1992 CONSTITUTION
Ghanaians have since January 7, 1993, chosen to run their nation under constitutional democracy. Despite Ghanas high democratic credentials, it has yet to attain the status of good governance.
Democracy is a social contract between the rulers and the ruled, but for good governance to exist, the government must exhibit transparency, responsiveness, accountability, consensus-building and effective and efficient State institutions.
We believe that there are some aspects of the 1992 Constitution which has to change to reflect the urgent need for reform in our governance architecture.
We acknowledge that we are not the only political party that has recognized the need for making changes to our Constitution. During the first term of the NPP's Kufuor Administration, the promise of change to the Constitution was written into the first Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy. It did not happen.
The late President John Atta Mills went a few steps further by appointing a Constitutional Review Commission in January 2010. This Commission travelled throughout the country, spent a good amount of rresources and documented the views of many Ghanaians.
Indeed, I was one of the first people to make a written submission to the Commission. Unfortunately, we did not get the change we were looking for.
The PPP after the 2012 elections made changing the 1992 Constitution a national crusade - we went out in many parts of the country on demonstrations to create public awareness on this important matter.
We submitted petitions to the Council of State, Parliament and President John Dramani Mahama. During the recent elections, this was the centerpiece of our campaign.
We wish to rekindle our crusade for immediate and complete constitutional reforms to make our constitution a development oriented document that responds to the present and future challenges. We specifically would like to see that the following reforms are undertaken in the next 24 months.
1. Appointment of Majority of Ministers from Parliament
We are of the view that the current arrangement where Ministers of State or majority of Ministers of State must come from parliament does not support good governance and it must be changed.
This arrangement as captured in article 78(1) that Ministers of State shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of Parliament from among members of Parliament or persons qualified to be elected as members of Parliament, except that the majority of Ministers of State shall be appointed from among members of Parliament, disables parliament from performing its oversight responsibility role effectively.
This is because those who are appointed by the president are compromised and those yet to be appointed will be conducting their affairs in such a way to catch the attention of the president for future appointments.
It also defeats the principle of effective separation of powers and allows the president and the executive arm of government to control the legislature.
It is obvious from previous records and appointments that about 20% of the members of parliament are under the direct control and influence of the president.
This number is likely to increase with an increase in the number of ministers and this, we are afraid, has been the trend since 1992. This is why we disagree with the government white paper on the CRC recommendation that the President be given a free hand to appoint Ministers from within or from outside Parliament and the person appointed from parliament may retain his or her seat in Parliament.
This arrangement is more dangerous since a president can decide to appoint all his/her ministers from parliament or increase the number of ministers of state and by extension increase the number that will come from parliament in order to control the legislature.
We believe that the strict separation of powers between the executive and the legislature will make available for governance a large pool of qualified, experienced Ghanaian talents whose expertise is currently unused and therefore lost to Ghana.
It will also allow members of parliament to concentrate on passing good legislation to ensure accountability and have effective oversight over the work of the executive.
2. Election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executive (MMDCEs)
Article 240 (1) of the Constitution says that Ghana shall have a system of local government which shall, as far as practicable, be decentralized.
It is the same Article 240 that gives authority to Parliament to enact appropriate laws to ensure that functions, powers, responsibilities and resources are at all times transferred from the Central Government to local government units in a co-ordinated manner. But Parliaments ability to bring about full decentralization is hampered by the Constitution.
However, there are parts of the Constitution that are most offensive in terms of usurping the powers of the people:
1. Article 242 A District Assembly shall consist of the following members:
(a) One person from each local government electoral area within the district elected by universal adult suffrage;
(b) The member or members of Parliament from the constituencies that fall within the area of authority of the District Assembly as members without the right to vote;
(c) The District Chief Executive of the district; and
(d) Other members not being more than thirty per cent of all the members of the District Assembly, appointed by the President in consultation with the traditional authorities and other interest groups in the district.
2. Article 243 which reads, 243 (1) There shall be a District Chief Executive for every district who shall be appointed by the President with the prior approval of not less than two-thirds majority of members of the Assembly present and voting at the meeting.
3. Article 243 (3) which says that:
The office of District Chief Executive shall become vacant if:
(a) A vote of no confidence, supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of all the members of the District Assembly is passed against him; or
(b) He is removed from office by the President; or
(c) He resigns or dies.
Our local areas remain underdeveloped mainly because the leaders, the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives are selected by one person, the President, based on political patronage.
Sometimes the people who become Chief Executives are the ones rejected by the same people when they stood for elections to become Members of Parliament.
As a result, they listen to Accra and NOT the people they are put there to serve. When the people freely elect their Chief Executives, they will remove them if they do not deliver at the next election.
The problem of empowering the people at the local level has persisted in Ghana because the Constitution we are working with took a big part of that power and gave it to the President.
This problem many believe is still with us due to the usual problems people in power have had in parts of Africa and other less developed countries.
What else accounts for the fact that we are still talking about the people electing their own MMDCEs when the first Ghana Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS 1) promised to remove all constitutional impediments by the end of 2004?
Those who kick against the election of MMDCEs citing the cost of another election forget that we already have an election of Assembly Members every four years.
The Electoral Commission will only have to add one more ballot for the election of MMDCEs.
The others who wonder what will happen if the MMDCE and the President have different ideologies or political party affiliation should consider how this works in other countries it happens in London, New York, Cape Town, Abidjan, etc. and it works.
Those who say we are not ready should consider that if we are able to cast a vote to elect a President and Members of Parliament, then we are certainly ready and better placed to elect our own local Chief Executives.
What is at stake today is the existing White Paper the government issued on the mode of selecting Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives in the wake of the work of the Constitution Review Commission:
Government does not accept the recommendation that Parliament should be empowered to determine specific mechanisms for choosing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives.
Government does not also accept the recommendation that in Metropolises, Metropolitan Chief Executives should be popularly elected. Government is of the view that in decentralizing in a unitary state, a delicate balance ought to be struck between central control and local autonomy.
Consequently, Government is of the view that article 243 (1) of the Constitution should be amended for the President to nominate a minimum of five persons who would be vetted by the Public Services Commission for competence after which three nominees would contest in a public election.
If the Constitution is amended as stated above, local development will continue to be dictated by Accra and will therefore not be based on the urgent priorities and needs of the local people.
Our local areas will consequently continue to be under-developed. Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives must be elected at the local level by the people so that they, the people and not Accra, will have control on the development agenda of their local areas based on their established priorities. This is the only way to ensure sustainable development at the local level.
We are urging the incoming administration to rather accept the recommendation by the CRC that Parliament should be empowered to determine specific mechanisms for choosing Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives and also accept the recommendation that the election of MMDCEs should be by popular election.
If citizens are capable of electing the president and members of parliament, they should be credited with the wisdom to decide who governs them at the local government level.
3. Separate the Attorney General from the Minister of Justice
According to article 88 (1) There shall be an Attorney-General of Ghana who shall be a Minister of State and the principal legal adviser to the Government.
This Attorney General (AG) who shall be a Minister of State and by extension a member of the Executive and Cabinet has been given enormous powers when it comes to criminal prosecution.
Corruption is an offence under our criminal offences laws and the AG per article 88(3) has the power for the initiation and conduct of all prosecutions of criminal offences.
In more disturbing cases, the AG has supervisory jurisdiction over the Economic & Organized Crime Office (EOCO), CID and even prosecution of findings of corruption by the Commission for Human Rights and Administrative Justice (CHRAJ) is at the instance of the Attorney General.
This makes the AG, a cabinet member, the most important and powerful person when it comes to the fight against corruption. This makes political corruption impossible to fight, reduce and eventually eradicate. Political corruption is the abuse of political office for private gain, the over-pricing of infrastructure projects, deliberate schemes designed to syphon funds from the State, tax evasion and pure stealing by political appointees. This phenomenon causes this country to lose USD3billion every year.
The current phenomenon whereby one person serves in the positions of the Minister for Justice and Attorney-General does not allow for transparent and accountable governance.
We are of the strong belief that the establishment of an Independent Public Prosecutor who will have the security of tenure and have the powers to prosecute all crimes including those committed by the political appointees will solve this problem of pervasive political corruption with the use of the powers of the AG as an insurance against prosecution.
The Independent Public Prosecutor, the Attorney General, Special Prosecutor or however the position will be described shall prosecute all criminal and civil matters of the State and should only be answerable to the Supreme Court or Parliament. This recommendation is ably supported by the National Anti-Corruption Action Plan adopted by parliament of the Republic of Ghana.
4. Income Tax by the President
Article 68(5) exempts the president from paying tax. This is wrong and does not permit the president o set a good example for the citizens to follow. The president and the vice president should be made to pay tax on their emoluments and other allowances.
This is supported by the Constitutional Review Commission and supported by the government White Paper. This amendment to the Constitution will provide the moral authority on the part of the president to go after tax evaders whether they are the appointees of the president or ordinary citizens.
5.Public Declaration of Assets
According to article 286 (1) A person who holds a public office mentioned in clause (5) of this article shall submit to the Auditor-General a written declaration of all property or assets owned by, or liabilities owed by, him whether directly or indirectly.
However, article 286 (3) shields the declared assets from public scrutiny by concealing the contents of the assets declaration form until a court, a commission of inquiry or CHRAJ requests for it to be produced as part of evidence gathering during a trial or an investigation.
This arrangement is absurd and does mean that until a complaint is made and an investigation is underway, the people of Ghana will not be privy to the assets declaration forms of our public officers.
We believe that those who are given complete access to our public finances, resources, power and responsibilities of the State, should be prepared to live by a certain high code of transparency and accountability. We need to amend the constitution to implement a real public declaration of assets regime.
This arrangement is fully supported by the Constitutional Review Commission which recommended that clear provision are made for a more effective assets declaration regime and provide for how the public will verify the contents of such declarations.
6. Ghanaians in the Diaspora
Ghana amended its nationality law in 2000, to the 2000 Ghana Citizen Act Dual Citizenship Scheme, which came into effect from Friday, November 1, 2002 in accordance with the provisions of the Citizenship Act 2002.
Ghanaians in the diaspora are a great source of human and financial capital and the PPP does not only want immigration of skilled labor but full rights to jobs in the public sector, voting and all areas of human endeavour. We must make sure that we amend the Constitution to give equal rights and benefits to all of our people.o
What will be Needed to get this Done
We believe that this exercise will not be an easy task but we must commit to the process and initiate the first step so that we can have these amendments effected within the next 24 months.
Postponing this exercise further is to continue to delay our quest for efficient governance system that will give us the rapid development required to take care of the huge population of Ghana.
We need to appreciative the anti-developmental tendencies of these current provisions and have the required leadership, muster the courage and the political will to take up the processes for the various amendments.
The provisions on constitutional amendments are spelt out under chapter 25 of the 1992 Constitution. Some of the present proposed amendments are classified under the entrenched provision under article 290 and that include the separation of the powers of the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, the appointment of Ministers from
Parliament and the provision on the payment of taxes by the president. These provisions are entrenched clauses and therefore the country requires a referendum to effect the desired changes. We urge the new administration to take immediate steps to initiate the processes of amendments. This category can be classified as part of the phase two of the constitutional reform project.
However, we can begin with phase one where the provisions are non-entrenched and the procedure requires a resolution of two-thirds of all the members of parliament to effect an amendment.
This rule applies to the provisions on the election of MMDCEs and all District Assembly members under articles 242 and 243. This phase one exercise will demonstrate clearly to the people of Ghana that the new administration is committed to the constitutional amendment process and the desire to end the intensely exclusionary political system, also known as the winner-takes-all.
This national exercise calls for tactical, committed, pragmatic and visionary leadership to bring along all sides together to support this all important agenda.
Ghanaians have voted for change but there will be no significant changes in our socio-economic status if the governance and the constitutional arrangements do not see all these five fundamental and important changes. Let us all support this crusade to make our nation great and strong.
D. ELECTORAL PROCESS
On 11 December 2012, the PPP wrote to the Electoral Commission to provide suggestions for "...Urgent Reforms in our Electoral Process and System".
I wish to reproduce the letter sent on the Party's behalf by our National Chairman Mr. Nii Allotey Brew-Hammond.
"The Progressive Peoples Party (PPP) wishes to bring to the attention of the Electoral Commision (EC) the fact that we identified serious lapses in the voting, collation and declaration of Presidential and Parliamentary results.
The PPP finds the anomalies identified very disturbing as they indicate a real likelihood of compromising the integrity of the entire 2012 results and future ones as well.
For example, in the Assin South constituency, the PPP was initially assigned 134 votes for both the Presidential and Parliamentary contests but upon a protest to recount by the Parliamentary Candidate our parliamentary vote count was confirmed at 1,487 and that of the presidential result was changed to 521.
This is only one example of the problems we recorded. We find it unfortunate that the EC did not take its time to re-check the provisional results before declaring a winner in the presidential election.
If that had been done, it would have guaranteed the integrity of the results. It would have also been better if the EC had published the numbers from the verification machines to enable proper cross checking with the results obtained by our polling agents. The question is why the haste in declaring the results?
The PPP has come to stay and is a party for the future. Therefore, we are interested in the long term viability and credibility of the electoral system.
Since our registration as a political party, we have identified problems with the implementation of the Political Parties Law that if not resolved can lead to chaos in future elections. The EC must enforce the political parties act and disqualify parties that do not meet the minimum criteria within the next six months.
The Political Parties Law requires that that parties meet the following requirements:
1. Be national in character.
2. Have offices opened in at least two-thirds of all districts in the country.
3. Have officers elected at the constituency, regional and national levels under the supervision of the EC.
4. Provide financial reports.
The EC since 1992 has failed to audit the ability of the existing parties to meet these requirements. No political party has been disqualified or removed from the register of parties as a result of not meeting these and other requirements.
It is clear that the Law places limits on who can make contributions to fund political parties and campaigns. However, the EC has not made any attempt to enforce the provisions of the Law in this area.
We have every reason to suspect that foreign governments, individuals and companies are funding the campaigns of political parties in Ghana.
The 2012 election is one case of blatant participation of foreigners in the funding of political parties and their campaigns. This places parties like the PPP that are self-funding from its members and Ghanaian supporters at a huge disadvantage.
This is one of the reasons why we the PPP cannot agree that the 2012 elections have been truly free and fair. We recommend that the EC begins the process immediately to put steps into place for the verification, documentation and auditing of campaign funding.
On the matter of voting we recommend that the EC moves to a fully electronic voting system similar to those found in Brazil, Mexico etc. with some minimum conditions:
Votes are transmitted electronically to two separate locations.
International observers are allowed full access to the entire process, no closed door sessions at the polling stations.
Two internationally recognized audit firms, under 50%/50% contracts with local audit firms, audit the results independently and cross-check each others work.
The electronic voting machinery should be designed by a Ghanaian technology firm in partnership with an international major in technology. It will be designed such that "rejected ballots" shall be zero. Each political party that meets the Political Parties' Law criteria to become a political party will be granted a seat on the board of the voting machine company. We can no longer accept a system where over 250,000 votes are not counted. 250,000 votes are enough to decide an election.
We would appreciate the opportunity to meet and discuss our concerns. Our aim is to ensure that the EC, an important independent institution is strengthened for the benefit of all Ghanaians.
God bless our Homeland, Ghana."
Unfortunately, we were not even given the favor of a reply to our letter.
Subsequently, the Supreme Court and others have Ade firm recommendations in these areas. We are asking that the the Electoral Commission opens a big window for reformsto make our system ore credible.
In conclusion, he PPP will redeem its pledge to Ghanaians to continue to be an active agent for change as a political party in opposition. E are glad to note that the leader of the incoming NPP Administration has repeatedly committed himself to the implementation of many of the reforms we are advocating for.
We will be there to advocate, support and play whatever positive role will ensure the legal adoption and implementation of the change agenda. At the same time, given our recent experience, we will hold the incoming leader of the nation to his word - his promises must be redeemed.
Thank you for your kind attention.
We remain, wide Awake!
Papa Kwesi Nduom
Chairman, National Committee
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.
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While Australia may be a chunkier monkey (as a land mass) than say, the UK and a plethora of European countries that surround it, a lot of our land thats girt by sea is flat-out uninhabitable and drier than a nuns scalp.
No complaints here tho just means that the vast majority of us lot live within 50km of Strayas coastline, including the fuck-off beaut East Coast.
Even if you cont find yourself living on the EC, chances are youll visit it at least once in your life. Be it for Sydney, Brisbane or somewhere in between, theres a shit-ton to see and do on the A+ coastline something you can help control on your upcoming summer road trip.
Below, dear sunset seekers, are places your should fang into your itinerary.
CARLO SANDBLOW, QLD
Photo: Instagram / @australia.
Its dooooope! Its this huge sand dune area, kind of shaped like a half pipe carved out of the hills, right next to the water in Rainbow Beach. Its a 10-minute walk through some rainforest and then it opens up into this huge, huge area. You can do some wicked tobogganing on esky lids and stuff. Ben McLeay.
Oh, its also hailed as one of the best places everrr to watch the sunrise or the sunset.
SPRINGBROOK NATIONAL PARK, QLD
Photo: Flickr / Michael Lynch.
Dodge the Gold Coast and head straight to this fine piece of land instead. JUST LEWK. Its filled with glow worms after dark as well, which is, you know, ace. Just remember a torch.
BRUNSWICK HEADS, NSW
Photo: Facebook / @Brunswick Heads.
Its basically a more laid back and less touristy version of Byron, which were betting youve already been to. If you havent its legit only a 15 min drive, so why dont you have both?
SEALS ROCKS, NSW
Photo: Facebook / @Treachery Camp, Seals Rocks, NSW.
Seals Rocks is a goodun for camping overnight, cracking open a frothy and curing your hangover with a surf and sand dunes in the morn. Theres plenty of other young punters around the grounds of Treachery Camp, and many a hookup stories have developed because of it. If youre going to have sexy time in the showers tho, bring plenty of spare change (yeah, your scrub time will cost ya) so you dont run out of water and necessary muffling noise.
ROYAL NATIONAL PARK, NSW
Photo: Facebook / @Royal National Park.
Photo: Flickr / donnnnnny.
The Royal National Parks got it all, whether you want beaches (Marley, Garie, Era), falls (Winifred Falls or Watamolla), or walks (Bundeena to Otford, for the big mumma of bush walks, and Eagle Rock or Burning Palms for smaller ones).
For a bite to eat, check out Audley Cafe. Bundeena, also in the royal national park, is a cute bohemian town close-ish to the city, with no franchises etc. Paigge Warton
SCARBOROUGH, NSW
Photo: Instagram / @christiehayes_
The P.TV office raves about Scarborough Hotel because of the seacliff view down the coast and the A+ seafood grub. Its only around a 15 min drive from the bottom of the Royal National Park.
BERRY, NSW
If youre en route to Jervis Bay, Berry is the ultimate stop off for shopping / lunch / walking round and taking in the serenity.
HYAMS BEACH, NSW
Photo: Visitnsw.
Appreciated for its white sand (like, legit the worlds whitest its been crowned by The Guinness Book of Records) and crystal-clear waters, this stop off will be a lot more luxurious than all the hangover situations which precede it. Theres no better way / place to dive into summer.
EAST LYNNE, NSW
Photo: Facebook / @East Lynne Store.
Literally there is nothing else in the town East Lynne Store just a pie shop on the highway on the south coast but SO AMAZING. Chloe Patterson.
MACLEAN, NSW
Photo: Visit NSW.
This ones a bit more of a novelty but fuck it, theres a Scottish town called Maclean on the Clarence River and well be damned if we dont stop in for Haggis and and Irn-Bru.
Photo: Flickr / Michael Lynch.
LEXINGTON, KY--(Marketwired - Dec 30, 2016) - Rhino Resource Partners LP (OTCQB: RHNO) ("Rhino" or the "Partnership") announced today that it has entered into an option agreement (the "Option Agreement") with Royal Energy Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: ROYE) ("Royal"), Rhino Resource Partners Holdings, LLC ("Rhino Holdings"), an entity wholly-owned by certain investment partnerships managed by Yorktown Partners LLC ("Yorktown"), and Rhino GP LLC, the general partner of Rhino, whereby Rhino has received an option (the "Call Option") from Rhino Holdings to acquire substantially all of the outstanding common stock of Armstrong Energy, Inc. ("Armstrong Energy") that is currently owned by investment partnerships managed by Yorktown. The Option Agreement stipulates that Rhino can exercise the Call Option no earlier than January 1, 2018 and no later than December 31, 2019. In exchange for Rhino Holdings granting Rhino the Call Option to purchase Armstrong, the Partnership issued 5.0 million new common units (the "Call Option Premium Units") to Rhino Holdings upon the execution of the Option Agreement.
The Option Agreement stipulates Rhino can exercise the Call Option and purchase the common stock of Armstrong Energy, a coal producing company with mines located in the Illinois Basin in western Kentucky, in exchange for a number of newly issued Rhino common units to be issued to Rhino Holdings, which when added with the Call Option Premium Units discussed above, will result in Rhino Holdings owning 51% of the fully diluted common units of Rhino. The purchase of the Armstrong Energy common stock through the exercise of the Call Option would also require Royal to issue 51% ownership interest of Rhino GP, currently owned and controlled by Royal, to Rhino Holdings. The exercise of the Call Option in the Option Agreement is dependent upon a successful negotiation with the current bondholders of Armstrong Energy to restructure their bonds as well as the refinancing of the Partnership's current revolving credit facility.
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The Option Agreement also contains an option (the "Put Option") granted from Rhino to Rhino Holdings whereby Rhino Holdings has the right, but not the obligation, to cause the Partnership to purchase substantially all of the outstanding common stock of Armstrong Energy from Rhino Holdings under the same terms and conditions discussed above for the Call Option. The exercise of the Put Option is dependent upon a successful negotiation with the current bondholders of Armstrong Energy to restructure their bonds as well as the termination and repayment of any outstanding balances under the Partnership's current revolving credit facility.
Rhino and Armstrong Energy will continue to operate and be governed as independent entities until the Call Option or Put Option is exercised if either such options were to occur.
Rhino also announced today that it has entered into a new preferred financing agreement (the "Financing Agreement") with a group of investors led by Weston Energy LLC, a Yorktown portfolio company. The investors will invest $15 million of cash in exchange for Series A Preferred units of Rhino. Rhino will use the proceeds to reduce its current outstanding debt under its credit facility as well as potentially expand the Partnership's metallurgical coal production in Central Appalachia to take advantage of the recent upturn in the worldwide metallurgical coal markets. The Series A Preferred has a five-year term and requires the Partnership to remit 50% of the free cash flow, as defined in the Financing Agreement, from Rhino's Central Appalachia operations, subject to an 8% minimum annual rate. The Series A Preferred can be converted into Rhino common units once a cumulative return of cash threshold is met under terms defined in the Financing Agreement.
About Rhino Resource Partners LP
Rhino Resource Partners LP is a diversified energy limited partnership that is focused on coal and energy related assets and activities, including energy infrastructure investments. Rhino produces metallurgical and steam coal in a variety of basins throughout the United States. Additional information regarding Rhino is available on its web site -- RhinoLP.com.
About Royal Energy Resources, Inc.
Royal Energy Resources, Inc. is a diversified energy company, with investments and holdings in coal, gas and renewable energy assets in North America. Royal is the majority equity owner of Rhino Resource Partners LP, and its general partner, Rhino GP LLC. Additional information regarding Royal is available on its web site -- royalenergy.us.
About Armstrong Energy, Inc.
Armstrong Energy, Inc., through its 100% wholly owned subsidiaries, is a leading producer of steam coal in the Illinois Basin. Armstrong controls over 550 million tons of proven and probable coal reserves and operates six mines in Western Kentucky. Armstrong ships coal to utilities via rail, truck and barge and has the capability to provide low cost custom blend coal to fuel virtually any electric power plant in the Midwest and Southeast regions of the nation. Additional information regarding Armstrong is available on its web site -- www.armstrongenergyinc.com.
About Yorktown Partners LLC
Yorktown Partners LLC is a private investment manager founded in 1991 that invests exclusively in the energy industry. Yorktown has raised 11 private equity funds totaling over $8 billion. The investors in Yorktown's funds include university endowments, foundations, families, insurance companies and other institutional investors.
Forward Looking Statements
Except for historical information, statements made in this press release are "forward-looking statements." All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Rhino expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on Rhino's current expectations and beliefs concerning future developments and their potential effect on Rhino's business, operating results, financial condition and similar matters. While management believes that these forward-looking statements are reasonable as and when made, there can be no assurance that future developments affecting Rhino will turn out as Rhino anticipates. Whether actual results and developments in the future will conform to expectations is subject to significant risks, uncertainties and assumptions, many of which are beyond Rhino's control or ability to predict. Therefore, actual results and developments could materially differ from Rhino's historical experience, present expectations and what is expressed, implied or forecast in these forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, the following: Rhino's inability to obtain additional financing necessary to fund its capital expenditures, meet working capital needs and maintain and grow its operations or its inability to obtain alternative financing upon the expiration of its credit facility; Rhino's future levels of indebtedness, liquidity and compliance with debt covenants; volatility and recent declines in the price of Rhino's common units; sustained depressed levels of or decline in coal prices, which depend upon several factors such as the supply of domestic and foreign coal, the demand for domestic and foreign coal, governmental regulations, price and availability of alternative fuels for electricity generation and prevailing economic conditions; declines in demand for electricity and coal; current and future environmental laws and regulations, which could materially increase operating costs or limit Rhino's ability to produce and sell coal; extensive government regulation of mine operations, especially with respect to mine safety and health, which imposes significant actual and potential costs; difficulties in obtaining and/or renewing permits necessary for operations; the availability and prices of competing electricity generation fuels; a variety of operating risks, such as unfavorable geologic conditions, adverse weather conditions and natural disasters, mining and processing equipment unavailability, failures and unexpected maintenance problems and accidents, including fire and explosions from methane; poor mining conditions resulting from the effects of prior mining; the availability and costs of key supplies and commodities such as steel, diesel fuel and explosives; fluctuations in transportation costs or disruptions in transportation services, which could increase competition or impair Rhino's ability to supply coal; a shortage of skilled labor, increased labor costs or work stoppages; Rhino's ability to secure or acquire new or replacement high-quality coal reserves that are economically recoverable; material inaccuracies in Rhino's estimates of coal reserves and non-reserve coal deposits; existing and future laws and regulations regulating the emission of sulfur dioxide and other compounds, which could affect coal consumers and reduce demand for coal; federal and state laws restricting the emissions of greenhouse gases; Rhino's ability to acquire or failure to maintain, obtain or renew surety bonds used to secure obligations to reclaim mined property; Rhino's dependence on a few customers and its ability to find and retain customers under favorable supply contracts; changes in consumption patterns by utilities away from the use of coal, such as changes resulting from low natural gas prices; changes in governmental regulation of the electric utility industry; Rhino's ability to successfully diversify its operations into other non-coal natural resources; disruption in supplies of coal produced by contractors operating Rhino's mines; defects in title in properties that Rhino owns or losses of any of its leasehold interests; Rhino's ability to retain and attract senior management and other key personnel; material inaccuracy of assumptions underlying reclamation and mine closure obligations; and weakness in global economic conditions.
Other factors that could cause Rhino's actual results to differ from its projected results are described in its filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including its Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and Current Reports on Form 8-K.
Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date hereof. Rhino undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements after the date they are made, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, unless required by law.
Marine Le Pen France
We're nearing the end of 2016, and Wall Street economists are focusing on Donald Trump and the potential impact of
his proposed policies.
There's another major issue however that could have dire economic consequences for the US and the potential to create another 2008, according to Markus Schomer, the chief economist of PineBridge Investments.
He's talking about the upcoming European elections in Germany, France, the Netherlands, and most likely Italy.
Populism has already swept through the UK with Brexit and the US with a President-elect Donald Trump. In 2017, it will be Europe's turn, with major elections that could have dire consequences.
"A major part of our outlook [for 2017] is the story in Europe with the elections," Schomer said in an interview with Markets Insider. "We never looked enough at elections, and the consequences of elections, but now everybody is completely and totally aware of it."
The elections could be "hugely consequential," according to Schomer, and could have a "very serious, damaging impact" on the European Union and the euro. "If just one of the elections goes wrong, theres going to be another major, major euro crisis," said Schomer, "and that could be worse than the one in 2010 and could create another 2008. I think markets will be very sensitive to that over the course of 2017."
Vocal populists have won the two major popular votes in the western world this year, Berenberg's chief economist Holger Schmieding and senior UK economist Kallum Pickering said in a note to clients in the aftermath of the US presidential elections. "The success of Boris Johnson and Donald Trump raises an obvious question: could it happen elsewhere in Europe?"
According to HSBC's chief European economist, Simon Wells, there is a risk that the Trump victory could boost the popularity of anti-immigration and populist parties across Europe.
Populist movements have been growing in Europe as the continent has grappled with ongoing large-scale economic and political challenges in recent years, including the European debt crisis, the migrant crisis, terrorism, the Turkey-EU refugee deal, and Greece.
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"The risk is very, very high," said Schomer, "and we need to pay very close attention to whats happening in Europe."
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